Stories in Stone, Lost Empire

Chapters

Forgotten Song [1]
Missing Feathers [2]
Lost Innocence [3]
Losing Sleep [4]
Lost Causes. [5]
Misplaced invitation [6]
Wasted Summers [8]
Hidden Truths [9]
Missed Chances [10]
Void of light. [11]
Absence of Meaning [12]
Hearths Warming Special, Rhede Pelt saves Hearths Warming [13]
Final Goodbye [14]
One More Day (To Regret...)[15]
Shatter me [17]
Cadence of Her Last Breath [19]
The Last Worthless Evening [20]
End of all Hope [21]
Don't Stop Believing [22]
Carry On [23]
Step Up [24]
The Final Countdown [25]
Changes, part1 [26]
Changes, Part 2 [27]
Changes, part 3 [28]
Changes, part 4 [29]
Bad Moon Rising [30 ]
SiS Nightmare Night Special 2
Honor for All [32]
Legion of Monsters [33]
Invisible Wounds [34]
Magic Dance [35]
Scaretale [36]
Holding out for a hero [37]
Shout [38]
Sound of Silence [39]
Slow, Love, Slow [40]
Cosmic Love [42]
Prologue
Thoughts Led Astray [7]
Fuel [16]
Everybody plays the fool. [18, Holiday Special]
Gone Home [ Journey's End ] [41]

Forgotten Song [1]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR
Forgotten Song

[Ten Years after the war of Gods]

“Alright, take it from the top, one more time.”

There were a few groans of annoyance, though they were quickly quieted by a scowl from the instructor. A brown earth pony in the back of the room fiddles with some dials on a board in front of him before waving to the instructor who nods, signaling the group to start.

A single violin begins playing a rather mellow, if slightly repetitive tune. After a single cycle, a set of drums and wood blocks get added to the mix, the singer chimes in next, singing without words, her voice simply adding to the beat for a few cycles of the tune. Her voice cuts off as she inhales to begin singing.

“When in the springtime of the year

When the trees are crowned with leaves

When the ash and oak, and the birch and yew

Are dressed in ribbons fair.”

“Adjust your tone, bring down the volume of the instruments a little, raise the main mics, she's trying to sing over them again.”

“When owls call the breathless moon

In the blue veil of the night

The shadows of the trees appear

Amidst the lantern light.”

“Good, good, pick up the tempo more now.”

“We've been rambling all the night

And some time of this day

Now returning back again

We bring a garland gay.”

“Jasmine, slow it back down, keep the time with the drums, this isn't a race.”

“Who will go down to those shady groves

And summon the shadows there

And tie a ribbon on those sheltering arms

In the springtime of the year”

“Good keep it up, that's it.”

“The songs of birds seem to fill the wood

That when the fiddler plays

All their voices can be heard

Long past their woodland days”

“Watch your pitch, your voice is cracking. Don't force it. Ease it out.”

“We've been rambling all the night

And some time of this day

Now returning back again

We bring a garland gay.”

“Alright big finish, almost there.”

“And so they linked their hooves and danced

Round in circles and in rows

And so the journey of the night descends

When all the shades are gone”

“Last of it.”

"A garland gay we bring you here

And at your door we stand

It is a sprout well budded out

The work of the spirit's land."

“Alright give us the slow exit, good! Go take a sip of water and rest you throat, you're starting to strain there. Alriiiight, let it trail off….and great! Okay, drop the blocks and drums…now the rest… Brilliant, that's a wrap, almost perfect. One or two more sessions and this will be down pat ready to go for graduation. Everyone, break for the day, you earned the time off.” Bleu smirks, baring a rather impressive set of fangs that nopony pays any mind as they relax.

Sweetie Belle exhales, blowing a strand of her mane from out of her eyes before stepping off the stage with a sigh, her mane bouncing lightly as she moves. She nods to the other band members, offering a few brief compliments back and forth. Though after grasping a glass of water in her magic she moves around them and the pony sized blue dragon instructor, heading to the back of the room where the young stallion was fiddling with the sound board.

“Did you get it?” Sweetiebelle asked, taking a drink.

“Yeah I got it, I wish I could have gotten it without thunder tail over there speaking over everything, but I got it.” the colt sighs. “Jeez that sounded perfect to me, I don't know why she's got to get all perfectionisty here.”

“Well, this IS the honors class, she's harder on us because she knows we can do what she wants.” Sweetie Belle chuckles. “Besides, your opinion doesn't count Button. I could scream into a tin can and you'd love it.”

Button Mash smirks. “Yeah maybe, though I might ask for that one day as a sound byte, so don't tease.”

Sweetie Belle smiles, if she was told ten years ago that she would be dating the geeky loner of Miss Cheerilee's class, she likely would have screamed “Ewww!” then denied it savagely.

Of course a great deal changed in ten years. She and Button hit it off fairly well after being set up on a date during a crusade gone awry, as if there was another type, the two had been dating for the last six years at least. Button even switched what he planned to major in, to follow her into music.

She thought it was sweet, if foolish to do that, he had no talent with any sort of instrument and his singing sounded like the time she had tried to give her sisters cat a bath. That he was going to try to get into the most prestigious music school in the the world was almost a joke. He found a loophole somehow and submitted an application for a technical scholarship to run the sound equipment. He was the predominate party working the lights and soundboard during the school talent shows, so he knew his way around the devices. His application had even attracted the attention of one of the Platinum School of Music's founders, a one Vinyl Scratch. After some debate he was accepted and would be joining her here full time when the classes began in the next fall.

She herself had been personally invited by the Dean of the School, Bleu Scale, after a talent show entry the crusaders put forth a few years ago. She remembered Scootaloo was going to sing again though she caught a cold and was a little hoarse when the time came. Applebloom couldn't remember the lines at all, so Sweetie had to take over.

Not only did they win with their rendition of Platinum's song, Last Dance, but she also gained her cutie mark finally. Two lavender music notes with a classic silver microphone in front of them. Bleu had been willing to take her along with some others for some training before their school year ended, which is how this small group wound up here. The song they were preparing was going to be preformed at their graduation from primary school. This was the last year for both Button and herself, though the others still had at least a year left with Miss Cheerilee.

“So, what exactly are you doing tonight Button... or do I have to ask?” Sweetie Belle chuckles.

“Same as I always do on a Friday, playing games til dawn, then, sleeping all day to do it again!” Button chuckles, fiddling with the control board as he starts to shut it down.

-Typical Button – thought Sweetie. He hadn't changed much since she first met him. She had been worried for a little while that he was going to wind up being overweight from his inactivity though he had instead filled out rather nicely. He wasn't overly muscular, but he wasn't lanky either, he never really had an awkward teenage phase, he went from a slightly pudgy colt to a smaller version of his dad in only a year and a half. When asked he would claim it was from all his time playing some dancing video game, though his Mom let it slip to her that he had been doing a lot more exercise to remain in shape so Sweetie Belle wouldn't dump him.

While rather surprised Button of all ponies would worry about that, she secretly enjoyed the fact that he was willing to do so much just to keep her attention, she rather liked him as he was, though she did slip on that and get him to give up that silly beanie of his. He switched it for a official X-Pony UFO Defense ball cap, but unless some pony knew what the symbol on it meant, it would just seem a random design.

He had invited her to the Prom earlier in the year as well, thankfully Rarity managed to convince him that a bright orange tux was not going to work, thus sparing her a bit of embarrassment. Still he did turn out to be a better dancer than she thought too, even though most of his moves seemed based on either video game dances or some sort of techno mosh pit thing. Well, he was better than Twilight at any rate.

Judging by the reactions of most of the colts around her age, the glares they gave Button, and the glares the other fillies gave her, she had filled out decently as well. Of course her sister took advantage of it and had her modeling her new dresses whenever she could. She became sorta famous for a little while, though the novelty wore off quick and she started to loath going anywhere near Rarity's for a few years.

Something she was not sure her sister ever quite realized. Still she couldn't help remember being compared to the famous model Fluer De Lis, who had vanished and was presumed dead after the end of the war.

“I mean, of course, unless you wanted to do something else. I can always wait and play Colt of Duty later.” Button quickly added. He hadn't changed much, but what did change was for the better, still, he needed some prodding every so often. “I think teach is playing somewhere down town, we might be able to get in with their underage deal if you wanted to go dancing“.

She thought about that a moment before shaking her head. “No, go ahead and play your game, just make sure you get me a copy of the song for mom before she freaks out about it.”

“Sure! No problem, I can have that done in an hour or so,easy!” Button smiles, trying to hide a bit of relief that he was getting free time to himself. Still, he wasn't going to say that in front of her, he preferred to stay on his marefriend’s good side. ”What are you gonna do then?”

Sweetie Belle smirks, leaning over the soundtable and kissing Button lightly on the cheek before turning to trot towards the door, grabbing her bag with her magic. She glances back to see her colt friend still frozen in place from the kiss and she giggles, loving the effect she had on him.

“I think I'll just do a bit of crusading.”

Author's Note

Alright here we go with this. Part three of Stories in Stone series,starring the CMC.

Song is 'Mummer's Dance', by Loreena McKennitt

Editing by Alfamaxis

Missing Feathers [2]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
by TDR

Missing Feathers

The wind whipped and tore at her mane, playing over her form as she stared down at what lays below her, planning everything out before she even began. She shivered briefly, wondering if she should have grabbed a training suit from the lock up before coming out here, but it was too late to go back, besides, the exercise would warm her up faster than anything else.

She reaches with a hoof up, tugging on the headphones, pulling them tighter over her ears to make sure she wouldn't lose them. They were an older set; the Wonderbolts used them to communicate with each other in the air during shows to keep coordination. They had a newer set that were little more than tiny ear pieces now and the older stuff was boxed up and put into storage.

Her mom would likely be annoyed she had a pair of them, but she liked listening in to the flight teams’ chatter when the Wonderbolts practiced. The course was clear this time of day however, and generally that's when she enjoyed it the most, no other pony around to watch or judge her, she could just cut loose.

The orange coated pony stretched fanning her tiny wings, looking over the clouds again. She had her fathers build, tall and muscular for a pegasus, most would consider that she would wind up in the same bracket as Soarin because of this. A distance flier, her fathers mass and size allowed him to continue on long after most other pegasi started to feel the burn of prolonged flight.

She did sort of take after him there, she rarely got tired when she flew, not since she was much younger and first learning to fly anyway. She also took after her mother in nimbleness; despite her being slightly larger than a normal female pegasus, she was very agile. Still, it was her mentor she took after the most.

Scootaloo taps on the side of the headset she wore, activating their secondary function as an audio recorder. She could also play things back off a record crystal if she wanted; this was what she primarily used these for. She smirks, hearing the faint chime as the command was registered and the headphones started the playback of a Pontera song she liked.

She pulls down her goggles as the first notes begin to pump through the headset.

Yep, everypony knew she took after her mentor the most, because, much like Rainbow Dash, when it came to flying, she was bucking nuts.

“Revvin' up your engine

Listen to its howlin' roar

Wings under tension

Beggin' you to touch and go.......”

Scootaloo grins as her wings burst into green flame, spreading wide and quivering in anticipation. The heat from her wings washes over her body canceling the chill of the cold wind.

“Highway to the Danger Zone

Ride into the Danger Zone “

She launches herself off the cloud as the drum line picks up falling though the air in a slow spiral. She keeps her wings tight to her body letting the flame play out as her mane and tail whip behind her as she plummets towards the ground.

“Headin' into twilight

Spreadin' out her wings tonight

She got you jumpin' off the track

And shovin' into overdrive.”

Scootaloo snaps her wings open, the light from them brightening as her decent all but stopped, a single jerk to the side sent her at an almost ninety degree angle to where she was falling at near terminal velocity. She tucks her legs tighter to her body as she zips through a series of rings. Her wings snap open again and a single hard flap sent her spiraling back into the air.

“Highway to the Danger Zone

I'll take you

Right into the Danger Zone”

This was the sort of flying that her mother was worried about, this was the sort of maneuverability that her mentor wished she had. Reckless and wild looking to any one who might be watching the near impossible angles she was making in flight. She knew she could make turns that no other pegasi would even try with ease.

“You'll never say hello to you

Until you get it on the red line overload

You'll never know what you can do

Until you get it up as high as you can go..”

Unlike most pegasi who had to worry about the strain they were putting on their wings with tight maneuvers and hard turns, Scootaloo didn't have to worry about any of that. She could still black out if the drag of gravity was too much, but constant practice pushed that threshold so far back she was not even sure what her limit was now. The flame that comprised her wings provided more than enough lift and momentum to allow her to fly, though the lack of wind resistance and friction allowed her to fly circles around any other pony in the air. She might not be the strongest, or the fastest, but out of the current set of Wonderbolt hopefuls and even those on the team already she was -by far- the most maneuverable.

“Out along the edges

Always where I burn to be

The further on the edge

The hotter the intensity”- she smiled as the song started drawing to a close, ripping through a slalom of clouds and sending them spiraling before the heat from her wings puffed them into mist. The song was supposedly written about the dragon migration, though for some reason she felt it fit her perfectly. When she first started flying ten years ago she had never wanted to stop. A late bloomer in her cutie mark, an even later bloomer with being able to fly properly, finally being able to soar was like the fulfillment of her greatest wish. She smirks remembering the reactions of the pegasi who used to tease her about her wings when she started winning young flier competitions, practically destroying all of them.

“Highway to the Danger Zone

Gonna take you

Right into the Danger Zone

Highway to the Danger Zone “

“Does your mom know you're out here?” a voice crackles over the headset, cutting off the end of the song and forcing her to come to a sudden stop in the air, right before she was going to try The Big Finish.

Scootaloo sighs seeing a pair of pegasi fly towards her, one of them had a wide smirk on her face, the short rainbow colored mane billowing back over her neck, her wings spread wide as she glides closer, a Wonderbolt uniform covering the rest of her.

Scootaloo chuckles, tapping the ear piece again activating the com before Dash got closer.

“Does my mom know you never take that uniform off Dash?” Scootaloo smirks.

“Hey I take it off kid, Mac only put up with the cosplay for the first few months.” Rainbow Dash chuckles.

“Ewww.” Scootaloo winces sticking her tongue out as the other pegasus rolls her eyes.

“Yes, thank you for that Dash. While it is wonderful that you and Big Mac are getting along so well, Granny Smith and I are still waiting for grand foals.” Starfall retorts.

“Pfftt~! I'll have kids when I’m ready.” Dash grumbles not meeting the other mares gaze as she mutters about something. Scootaloo perks her ear hearing part of the mutter through the headset, something about 'won't you be surprised.'

Ignoring that, Scootaloo smirks, landing lightly on a cloud, listening to the two bicker. Turns out Starfall was a great, however, many times, grandmother of Rainbow. Scootaloo still was not sure how that worked out, but she was pretty cool as well as being the only other pony aside from Rainbow Dash who could do the Rainboom. Still she wasn't quite as awesome as Dash, but then again, nopony was.

She was, unfortunately, also a stickler for the rules. Granted most of that probably came from her being appointed the Wonderbolt's liaison to the 42nd, and Field Commander for military operations. She wasn't one to let things slide for anypony, not even Dash. Impressive for a pony who was the same age as her mother, Spitfire, still she seemed to be getting a little plump around the middle, not like any one would say a thing about that.

“So then Scootaloo, I somehow doubt the Air Commander would allow you to use the course unsupervised, let alone with some of the old gear...” Starfall mutters.

“Geez, I wasn't even using all of it. There's no training today anyway, so there's no way I would have gotten in anyones way.” Scootaloo sighs, pulling out the recording crystal with her music on it and handing Starfall the headset. “Not like any pony even knows this stuff's down there any way. Seems a shame to let it collect dust.”

“Doesn't matter, no one uses the course without somepony else as a spotter. I know you don't get cramps, but then again no one knows enough about what your wings can and cannot do yet to say what might happen.” Starfall states

Scootaloo stifles a smirk as Dash drifts behind the other pegasus starting to mimic her scolding.

“You would figure after ten years if anything was gonna go wrong it would. I already know my limits of endurance and g-force tolerance. I didn't come any where close to that practicing out there.” Scootaloo sighs stifling a smirk.

“Rules are rules, Scootaloo.” Starfall says jerking her forehoof back and shoving the band of the headset into Rainbow Dash's mouth to end the pantomime. “You are going to have to learn to follow them sooner or later.” She glares back at Dash who simply grins trying to look innocent. “No matter how good you are.”

“Right, right... But I still have a few months left before I've got to go all gun ho when I join the academy full time. Still have a few days of school and then a whole summer before I’m under your iron hoof.” Scootaloo grins.

“It's not me you have to worry about. Your mothers been waiting for a chance to try and work that rebellious streak out of you.” Starfall sighs.

“Bit of advice though.” The gray pegasus smirks.”Don't lose it all. Sometimes you do need to know when to break the rules for a better result. But you didn't hear that from me.”

“He he,she's been trying for years, even before I got my wings. Dad says I take too much after her for that to happen.” Scootaloo chuckles.

“Anyway can I jet now? I’ve got someplace to be.”

“Fix the clouds you broke first, and then you can get out of here.” Starfall smiles.

“Really leaving so soon? We were gonna work though a few maneuvers, wouldn't mind a cheering section.” Dash chuckles.

“Sorry Dash, I've got something to do today, otherwise I would love to.” Scootaloo states noting the hint of disappointment on her mentors face.

“Huh? And what's so important you're missing me practicing?” Dash boasts clearly not really all that upset by it.

“Just a bit of Crusading.”

Author's Note

I have to wait until i post the next Epilogue for MoT before i can post chapter 3 of this.

Song is DANGER ZONE - KENNY LOGGINS

Editied by Alfamaxis

Lost Innocence [3]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
by TDR

Lost Innocence

The colt sighed, shifting uncomfortably in the heavy padded armor he wore. The unicorn stallion standing across from him looked as if he would rather be anywhere else, and the colt couldn't blame him. Here he was being asked to spar with a pony half his age in front of his commander. Win or lose, it would be a bad day for the unicorn.

The colt shifts his hoof, tracing the large ring on the end of his training swords grip. His Ma had designed the blade for him since he didn't have magic, the ring was wide enough for his hoof to fit through, and the grip was long enough that he could easily switch which side he was holding or even grip the ring in his teeth. His uncle said it looked like a big throwing dagger he had seen used called a “kunai” or something like that.

The colt exhales, bouncing on his hooves and limbering up a little more. This wasn't his first spar, though it was the first real one he had against somepony who wasn't directly involved in his training.

“You sure about this sir? I don't want to hurt the colt.” the mottled blue and red unicorn mutters glancing back at a gray unicorn standing on the sidelines. An orange unicorn mare with long silver hair sits next to him one hoof on a medical bag.

“I'm sure Corporal. Don't hold back. Pip, you ready?” the unicorn questions.

The white and brown colt nods shifting his training sword up to his mouth.

“Yah, da, anytime now.” Pip states flicking his tail.

The unicorn sighs leveling a wooden training sword before glancing back at his commander nervously.

The large training room they were in was by no means crowded, though there were a number of members of the 42nd utilizing the enclosed gym for their own practices. Most were pointedly trying to ignore the General and the colt with him, though a couple were watching the spar with interest.

Pip bites down on the blade grip looking up at the unicorn that was nearly a head and a half taller than he was. Even at sixteen Pip was rather short, living up to his full name of Pipsqueak. His body still had a bit of the gangliness of coming of age with it, though he knew he was never going to be as tall a pony as his Da and definitely not as tall as Ma, though there were very few ponies that were as tall as she was. Really, only aunt Celestia was taller, though uncle Rhede came close.

His ears perked, hearing the strains of singing from a music box someone had playing on the other side of the gym. He flattens his ears, trying to ignore distractions, though a drum heavy song had come up and he couldn't help tap a hoof to it.

“Begin.”

The unicorn had seen Pip starting to tap his hoof and shifted himself to deal with a an attack once the song began in earnest. Pip was darting across the floor one beat from the start of the proper rhythm, moving counter productive to the music and throwing off the unicorn's expectations as he closed the distance.

“Buddy you're a colt make a big noise

Playin' in the street gonna be a big stallion some day

You got mud on yo' face

You big disgrace

Kickin' your can all over the place

Singin'”

Pip went low, his legs splaying out as he practically slid under the blow aimed at his chest. He could feel the unicorns training sword whisk through his mane. He spat out his own blade lifting a hoof to slide into the ring, spinning the wooden sword towards his opponent.

“We will we will rock you

We will we will rock you”

The unicorn raised a shield blocking the shot, he was clearly not expecting that sort of speed from an earth pony, though he quickly adjusted and tuned out the beat of the song as well. Pip was used to dealing with someone who used shields and was already spinning away with his weapon as it bounced off the barrier. He reared up on his back legs, slipping the blade from his hoof and gripping it in his teeth, jerking his head to knock aside a strike from the unicorn.

“Buddy you're a young colt hard colt

Shoutin' in the street gonna take on the world some day

You got blood on yo' face

You big disgrace

Wavin' your banner all over the place.”

The unicorn steps back, barely avoiding a hoof strike by the smaller pony. His commanders words of don't hold back finally sinking in that he was speaking to both of them. Even with the training armor they both wore the strikes the colt was attempting were going to hurt if they hit.
Though the young pony was small the muscles under his patchwork coat were easily noticed when he burst into action. The unicorn growls lightly leveling the wooden sword before him with his magic, finally realizing he needed to get serious.

“We will we will rock you

(Sing it!)

We will we will rock you”

Pip dodged aside feeling the tingle of the stun bolt fired by the unicorn pass too close to him for comfort. He jerks his head throwing the blade at the unicorns face charging in behind the flying weapon. The unicorn raises a shield from the sudden charge, the sword clacking off of it though Pip had already changed his angle and slipped alongside of the shield to the Colonels’ side past the shield. His tail flicks back hooking about the ring and pulling the deflected weapon along with him. The small earth pony plants his fore hooves spinning around to lash out with his weapon and rear hooves at the side of the surprised unicorn.

“Buddy you're an old horse poor, horse

Pleadin' with your eyes gonna make you some peace some day

You got mud on your face

You big disgrace

Somebody better put you back into your place.”

Pip's eyes widen as his hooves connect with the air and the unicorn vanishes with a light popping sound. He whirls in place rolling to the side as the pony drops down from above hooves slamming into the spot where he had been.

“We will we will rock you

(Sing it!)

We will we will rock you”

Pip turns to face the unicorn only for the pony to vanish again reappearing next to him with a blink.

(Everybody)

We will we will rock you

(Alright)

The music suddenly turns to a guitar wail as Pip brings his blade around only to have it bounce off a shield. He jumps to the side though not fast enough to avoid a solid impact of wood against his armored side sending him tumbling across the mat. He rolled with the blow wincing in the knowledge it was gonna bruise, but at least the armor soaked up most of the blow and the Guard had finally gotten serious.

“Alright stop.” Jer'rahd shouts watching both of the ponies freeze in place along with a number of other ponies training who reacted to the sound of their commander’s voice before realizing he was shouting at others. Old habits from the 42nd's training were hard to shake.
Pip pants a bit, shaking off the impact before nodding to the unicorn on the mat and moving to pick up his blade again.

“Alright tell me what you did wrong.”

“As should have expected a teleporter when he started using spells and shields at tha same time. Shouldn't have pressed my attack an not gave away any tricks before ah saw an opening. Ah shouldn't have fallen into the beat with the music.” Pip states.

“The first is a bit much to expect anyone to know, though you are right that you should have tested him a little more before trying something that would leave as big an opening as you did.” Jer'rahd smiles. “Still you did better than I expected against a combat trained unicorn.”

Pip laughs lightly. “Still lost.”

“If it bothers you that much, don't next time.” Jer'rahd nods. “Corporal you need a bit of work too, don't think I didn't notice your hesitation at first. That sort of thing can get you killed. It doesn't matter who or what your opponent is, you go after them as if they are the worst threat you have ever faced. You think a changeling won't try to hide as a colt or filly so it can take advantage of a precived weakness. If somethings coming after you, I don't care if it looks like your mare friend you take it down and ask it questions later if it's still breathing. Understand?”

“Yes sir!”

“Good, I understand it will not always be as easy to tell friend from foe, but when you identify the target you put it down.” Jer'rahd sighs.

“Alright Pip, lets get the armor off of you. Orange, you mind checking on your little brother?”

“I wouldn't need to if you didn't put him through the ringer all the time, Jer'rahd.” the mare scoffs trotting closer to the colt her magic pulling up the side of the training armor allowing her to look over the spot he was hit. It also exposed his cutie mark, a silvery circle shield with a globe map in the center of it with Equestra on the facing side.

“Jeez sis I'm fine, s'why there's padding.” Pip grumbles as Orange checks him over.

Orange sighs letting the armor fall back over his side. “It'll bruise, though there's nothing else wrong with him aside being a stubborn fool. Just like you Jer'rahd, I'm letting you tell Luna though.” Orange chuckles.

Orange Danish had grown up to be a rather pretty petite mare, with a cutie mark that at first looked like a bowl and spoon though on closer inspection it could very well be a mortar and pestle. Her orange fur was more of a cream coloration and her long silvery hair was done up so that it fell over half her face hiding it and the burn scars covering her face and most of her neck. Despite her scars quite a number of the guards were more than willing to to flirt with her and seek her affections, that number only dropped slightly when Jer'rahd put a stallion, who was a little too forward with his intentions through a wall. Related by blood or not Jer'rahd still treated her like his and Luna's daughter even if she didn't fully return the sentiment.

At twenty five she was already an accomplished doctor though she had joined the Guard regiment as a 'in house doctor' rather than go to work at a Major horsepital. She claimed that she felt she owed Jer'rahd and Luna for their help in getting to where she was, despite the pair of them denying she owed them anything. While she considered the others the pair had adopted as siblings, she still didn't refer to Luna or Jer'rahd as her parents like the other three did.

“Sure, throw me under the cart why don't you.”Jer'rahd grumbles with a smirk.

A few chuckles draw his attention upward to the gathered ponies though he offers a small shake of his head in return.

“Laugh all you want, but those of you who have children probably remember what your mare friend or wife was like when she was with foal.”

There were a few nods and a couple of shouts of encouragement.

“Yes, well consider that, now add in that Luna's a goddess and this is our first, and you can see why I'm worried.” Jer'rahd chuckles getting a few more laughs. “I don't need her thinking I'm letting Pip get hurt too.”

“Actually Da... I think I'm up for another go or two. Got a better idea of what tah deal with now.” Pip states stretching a little. “S'ides she did tell us we couldn't practice in the castle anymore.”

“You sure?”

“Ya.”

“Corporal?”

“If he's up for it sir.”

“Alright, one more round. Your mother will be raising the moon soon and she'll probably want to check on you to make sure you survived the day with me.” Jer'rahd states as Orange grumbles about her adoptive family being masochists. “Don't tax yourself too much Pip, You've still got a few years of school yet before you can start training for the Guard in earnest. No need to act like you're preparing for a crusade.”

Author's Note

Song {like i need to name it.}

fine.....

We will rock you, - Queen.

And thus Pipsqueak [Pip] has been reintroduced.

Editing by Alfamaxis

Losing Sleep [4]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Losing Sleep

It was nearly always the same.

Fire, screaming, armored monsters, and death.

Those dreams were bad enough to wake her with shivers and the occasional scream, though they were nothing compared to the other dreams. The forest ablaze and the screams of the dying and fighting she could wake from, find an escape once she realized it was a dream.

The dreams of blood though, she could never escape until the end of it. There was no fire in these dreams. She was surrounded by figures who's faces she couldn't see. She could feel the warmth and love and caring from them however and the security that came from being with them. Like a family. They were rarely the same figures but the feeling was always the same.

It always ended too soon too often with a crash like thunder and it was all gone. Dark figures burst into the scene shouting things in a incomprehensible language, screaming at her protectors, her loved ones.

The intruding figures screamed again and one by one the ones she cared for were struck down and the monsters reached for her.

She ran fleeing though a place she had never been, but knew well. Her hooves carried her swiftly and surely away from the ones chasing her, but she was not fast enough. A searing pain lanced through her side and she fell, little more than a length from the safety of the woods before her.

Her eyes turned back to see the blood pouring from the wound in her back leg. Crimson liquid pouring around a barbed arrow. She turned trying to crawl towards the woods, the protection it offered when a hoof shoved her to the ground pinning her there as the monster screamed at her.

She looked up with her tear filled eyes towards the forest her eyes meeting another pair that stared back at her with horror. A figure wearing her own face gripping the leg of a cloaked form. She watched as her own visage turned away from her to vanish into the night as a heavy weight met with the back of her head and everything was made dark.

Applebloom woke with a yelp falling out of her bed with a crash and a curse that would have made a solider blush.

She whimpered lightly rubbing her head as she slowly got to her hooves, her ears perking as she listened to see if she woke any of the others in the house. She sighs stretching a little, she really shouldn't have worried about it, she woke with nightmares so often now that even Angel Bunny usually just snorted and rolled over to go back to sleep now.

Applebloom sighs reaching over to turn on the light turning from the glare and catching a glimpse of herself in her mirror. A tall, thin wisp of a mare that took far too much after her brother in height stared back at her. A mop of red mane fell over her shoulders like a waterfall partially covering her face. She sighs sitting down and pulling the mess of hair back behind her head into a large wavy ponytail and tying it with a ribbon. It had been a while since she stopped wearing her bow, though the accessory of her youth still rested atop her dresser.

She rubs her eyes checking the clock with a curse noting it was barely after three in the morning. She knew she wasn't going to get back to sleep that night. She never did after that particular dream. Uncle Rhede had asked Princess Luna to see if she could help, evidently Princesssness or Princess-hood or however that was said, came with some sort of dream power. She had been surprised when the Princess agreed, though Luna couldn't find anything. She did not see any nightmares or even find evidence that Applebloom was dreaming at all.

Twilight and some other smart ponies looked into it but none of them came up with anything and she had given up hope of having a normal nights sleep after a few years of it and just choked it up to another disaster in her life.

She had graduated last year, the only pony in her class, heck the only pony ever, anyone had ever heard of that didn't have a cutie mark by that time of her life.

She moved silently down the hall, she had no worries that she would wake up Big Mac or Rainbow Dash. But Applejack was always a light sleeper, Fluttershy was even worse and Angel Bunny could hear an apple fall on the other side of the orchard. Granted she was more concerned with the three little little ponies Applejack and Fluttershy had adopted when Fluttershy finally moved in with her sister.

Applebloom pauses looking back in the house her ears perked for any sounds before she pushes open the front door.

Wynona lifts her head looking up at the mare with a soft wag of her tail before she rested her head back on her paws to doze off again.

The cool air hit her like a splash of water as she stepped outside trotting out the door careful not to let it bang closed as she headed out towards the orchard.

She had done everything she could think of, every thing her friends could think of to try and gain her cutie mark. Including a few things that her family was not pleased about in the slightest. The Cutie Mark Crusaders exploits had become legendary in New Canterlot, though they had gotten even worse after Scootaloo gained her mark.

The trio had done a number of things that made the Gabby Gum incident seem like forgetting to put out a fork at dinner. Still her family and friends had been accepting of nearly all of it. At least until they had found her mothers old journals and tried out something they found there.

Applejack, Granny and Big Mac all practically lost it when they found out that the tree of them had tried it out.

Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle couldn't get any of what they read to work. Applebloom however, well when a eleven year old filly rips a stump out by the roots by herself ponies take notice.

She was grounded for a couple of months and forced to take some long boring training class with some angry crystal pony. And that was after Twilight refused to wipe her memory like Applejack wanted.

Unlike Big Mac she could turn it on and off as she wanted though it left her exhausted that was evidently what was supposed to happen according to Major Rose. Still it wasn't long after all that, that the nightmares started. So grounded, stuck in more classes, having nightmares, and forced to put up with her sister's ' I told you something bad would happen' smug look.

All that and she still never got her Dragon magic user cutie mark.

Still that was years ago and forgiven if not forgotten. The only thing else that came of it was the one time she hit Diamond Tira so hard she was held back a grade.

Still, if any one deserved to be in traction it was DT. She had missed so many classes while she was injured that she couldn't pass the classes and had to repeat them. Silver Spoon was still in her class but without Diamond Tiara around Silver Spoon was almost an alright pony.

Pip and his brother had thanked her for it even if every one else was mad at her. He and Brushstroke had been planning to do something to her the moment they found that Tiara had been picking on Berry Ice for not only being orphaned but being mute and anything else she could think of. Applebloom had over heard and simply wanted to shove DT away from the crying filly, but had wound up hitting her hard enough to send her though a few lockers and at least half the school house. Her training sessions on control had been doubled after that.

Applebloom paused at the edge of the orchard her ears perking as she heard something. She blinks lifting her head up trying to identify it. It sounded like... Singing?

“Thin hung the web like a trap in a cage,
The fox lay asleep in his lair.
Fang's frantic paws told the tale of his sin,
Far off the chase shrieked revenge.”

She couldn't identify the song ,but it sounded like many voices were chanting the tune from the edge of the grove.

“Outcast he trespassed where no wolf may tread,
The last sacred haunt of the dead.
He learnt of a truth which only one wolf may know,
The scepter and crown of a king.”

She paused at the fence next to the road looking across the field to the edge of the EverFree forest beyond.

“Howling for blood, One-eye leads on the pack,
Plunging through forest and snowstorm.”

She turned her gaze towards New Canterlot in the distance. Though the city was awash with lights she didn't think the singing was coming from there. It sounded like it was coming from the Everfree forest itself.

“Steep rose the ridge, ghostly peaks climbed the sky,
Fang sped through jungles of ice.
Hard on his tail, One-eye drew from the pack -
An old hero conquered by none.”

The chant remained steady though the pitch constantly changed and shifted. She turned her gaze up to the silvery moon above and sighed wondering if she had finally gone crazy.

“Steep, far too steep, grew the pathway ahead,
Descent was the only escape.
A wolf never flees in the face of his foe,
Fang knew the price he would pay -
One-eye stood before him
With the crown upon his head,
Scepter raised to deal the deadly blow.”

Her ears perk at the sound of shuffling behind her and she glances back to see a bleary eyed Fluttershy trotting towards her with smile, an ornery white rabbit curled up on the pegasus' back pretending he had nothing to do with this, though he was likely the one who woke Fluttershy when Applebloom went out.

“Fang, son of Great Fang, the traitor we seek,
The laws of the brethren say this:
That only the king sees the crown of the gods,
And he, the usurper, must die.
Snarling he tore at the throat of his foe,
But Fang fought the hero in vain.
Dawn saw the white mountain tinted with red -
Never would the crown leave again.”

“Are you alright Applebloom?” Fluttershy asks yawning.

“Ah guess so.”

“Nightmare again?”

“Yeah... Fluttershy do ya hear anything out here?”

The yellow pegasus blinks perking her ears up to listen as the last strains of the song fade.

“One-eye his the crown and with laurels on his head
Returned amongst the tribe and dwelt in peace.”

“Umm I do hear something. “

“You do?”

“Yes I think it's timber wolves howling. Oh my, I've never heard them carry on like that before.”

Applebloom drops her head smacking it against the fence rail.

“Oh I’m sorry .. was it something else you were hearing?”

“Ah coulda sworn there was singing........... wait did yah say timber wolves were howling?”

“Why yes, I used to hear them occasionally from my cottage, but I never heard them howl like that. …. Applebloom where are you going?”

The young mare turns suddenly nearly falling as she looks back at the pegasus her hooves bouncing and she prances in place excitedly the dream and the song forgotten.

“Tha timber wolves are howling, that means tha Zappapples are coming, ah gotta get every pony up we got work tah do.” Applebloom hollers back as she turns to rush off again.

Fluttershy blinks watching the young mare run off shouting at the top of her lungs and a number of lights start to cut on in the farm house. The pegasus sighs reaching back to pet the sleeping bunny with her wing.

“Oh dear, at least she's not going off to do any crusading this time.”

Author's Note

Song is White Mountain, By Genesis.

The last introduction is complete. And now it begins

Lost Causes. [5]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Lost Causes.

[One Year ago
Tall Tail,Western lands of Equestria,
bordering the Diamond Dog lands. ]

A hill sat among giants.

The rocky outcropping could scarcely even be called that in truth. It seemed little more than the piled remnants of an avalanche that lay piled in a valley tucked deep within a mountain range surrounded by forests. It was leagues from any sign of civilization, though this stony hill was of great interest to a large number of creatures.

Four such creatures stood just inside the treeline of the forest watching the hill for any signs of life,waiting patiently for something.

The ground rumbles a little and a fifth figure, a small diamond dog , emerges from the ground nearby shaking off the dirt and grit of his tunneling fluffing out his vest and the pair of patches marking him a member of the Diamond Dog forces as well as a member of the 42nd. Looking up at the four gathered he was clearly not thrill to be there.

“Report.” questions one of the figures.

“Dig teams have sealed off all tunnels leaving the site. A few targets were encountered and neutralized or avoided. No sign of alarms have been heard and all exits have been sealed as ordered. We have full control of under mountain.” Tunnel Rat barks out softly.

The beat of wings was scarcely heard before the sixth figure lands in their midst folding her wings across her back as she stares out at the rock pile. A blue pegasus stallion lands lightly behind her nodding to the group.

“Air space is covered too. The overcast skies are offering a perfect cover for my squads and the pegasi you brought. “ Dusty states looking back at Breezy who nods. “We're ready when you give the word Princess.”

“Tis not my call at this point Regent. We are merely here to aid in this task, not control it.” Princess Luna states glancing down at the gray unicorn next to her, who simply shrugs.

“You told me to play nice princess. So I am.” Jer'rahd grins back turning to look at the last figure watching the mountain. “Besides part of our deal with your wife was to make sure nothing happened to you out here. So that comes before my desire to simply start busting heads.”

The large diamond dog figure with them chuckles patting the last figure on the head with a amused growl.

“Worry not pony, you only have one wife who do this to you. A dog has many and when all of them decided to nag at once..... Even a god is fearful.” The large white Diamond Dog God, Grimjaw, smirks shifting in his crystalline armor and looks up at the hill. “ Still we would not know of this place save for your ponies hunt. That make it your call pony. Give the order Pony, and we shall begin.”

“It's already started Lord Grimjaw. We are here to finish this.” Shining Armor states his horn glowing as the spell takes hold, and next words boom over the rocky hill and the entire valley.

“ALL UNITS, MOVE IN ON THE HIVE!”

===========================================================

[Current Day]

“Alright Apple blossom, Dandelion, Butterscotch y'all ready for this?”

“Yes aunt Applebloom.” the three foals chant. The colt and two fillies sit there smiling though Butterscotch seems more than a little annoyed at the large floppy ears on his head, particularly since they keep falling over the yellow and cream colored colt's blue eyes.

“Alright now let's do this like I showed yah.” Applebloom states pulling on a pair of pink bunny ears.

“Okay” The foals chime again following along as their mother's sister hops over the first pitcher of water.

“A, beeee, ceeeee, deeee, eeeee ,f ,geee.....”

The quartet bounced between the water pitchers dressed in bunny outfits and singing loudly and energeticly though highly off key.

The adopted apples kept up with their much larger aunt as she hopped around in a circle over the pails.

Apple blossom following the instructions perfectly her little red feathered wings beating rapidly to help her flutter over the top of the pitchers her dark blue hair pulled back and tied with a great big yellow bow just like her favorite aunt's had been in all the younger family photos.

The lime green coated Dandelion hopped along happily as well, the little peach maned unicorn seemingly rather happy to pretend that she was a bunny.

Only Butterscotch seemed annoyed, though it was really all show, as he tried to be tough and prove he wasn't really enjoying himself.

Applebloom was cheered up considerably watching the foals bounce around with her. Normally they would be clustered around Fluttershy, but she had sent the mare into town to pick up some specific pots for the preparation. Dash was off training and both Mac and AJ were in the field setting up the buckets after the zap apple trees had sprouted. Granny would have been the one to handle this if she was still around, but with her gone it fell on Applebloom this year to make sure the harvest went off perfectly.

A light cough caught her attention and she winced visibly seeing a pony she had expected, but really did not want to see, standing nearby.

“Alright you three keep going, ah want another three choruses.” AB stated.

“Can we sing Twinkle twinkle little star instead?” Butterscotch complains.

“Nope the water only likes ABC's” Applebloom states.

“But it's the same song.” Whines the foal.

“No but's, do it right or they'll be no jam.” she points out as Butterscotch sighs continuing with the others as Applebloom walks away towards the stallion.

She had been able to avoid talking to this stallion for a long while, and after the conversation last year she really did not want to speak with him, though there was not much a choice in the matter.

“Errr good morning Mr. Rich. Ah didn't expect you til later today.”Applebloom mutters with a forced smile.

The older stallion stares at the mare coldly. Applebloom was easily a apple or two taller than the older pony was yet she felt he was looking down at her as she would a apple louse.

“I am simply here to check upon the progress for my end of this business Miss Bloom. “ the stallion states with a voice cold enough to freeze a mug of hot cider solid in seconds. “ With Ms. Smith gone I wanted some assurance that that you would be able to handle your portion of the deal.”

“Errr yeah... ah did last season's batch on my own, Granny jus pointed out what was needed. Ain't no problem at all.” Applebloom tries to respond cheerfully though withers under the stallion's gaze.

“Did you now? I thought the quality was lacking last year. Thankfully no one else noticed. “ Filthy Rich snaps. “I expect that to improve this year Miss Bloom.”

“Jeez Filthy, cut the girl some slack already. I thought last years crop was was pretty good myself.” chuckles another voice, as a figure saunters out of the shadows. The tall red stallion was easily the same height as Big Mac though much less bulky. His left hoof was black all the way up to where the limb joined his body. His right side was a criss cross of black fur and white scars that ran from his jaw to his cutie mark, a trio of silver arrows crossed in the middle and facing down with hearts as arrow heads A knowing, if smug, smirk rested on his face part of it covered by the long mane of black hair that hung over one eye until he flicked it back with a hoof in a showy fashion that would have been more in fitting with Rarity than him. Crystal blue eyes regarded the two as he trotted up.

Applebloom looked up and grinned wide.

“RHEDE! Are the twins here?!?!?!” AB asked as she bounced on her hoofs a few times as Rhede sighed.

“Oh sure AB I'm doing great, was a bit of a trip, but I'm fine, thanks for asking, how are you?”

“Oh right, sorry, ummmm, so how are you?” Applebloom questioned sheepishly Her bouncing ceasing a little as she droops her ears a little.

“Oh yes that was heart felt. Wolf and Fox are with Velkorn at the house, we came back with Fluttershy she's got the pots for you too. Go on ahead, I'll watch the foals and catch up after... what ever they are doing is finished.” Rhede sighs as Applebloom takes off for the house more than happy to get away from Filthy Rich.

“Mr. Pelt.” Filthy states as Applebloom runs off.

“Filthy.” Rhede holds up a hoof. Yeah, yeah, I know you prefer Rich. I would prefer you not to torment the poor girl. It's been six years since it happened. Are you going to hold that over her forever?”

“I am speaking with her Mr. Pelt. For what she did to my daughter I am surprised I am able to do that without wishing to strangle her.”

“She did you a bit of a favor in truth. Considering who your daughter was tormenting.”

“Do not think I am like the rest Mr. Pelt. Mr. Kaisur and the Princess do not frighten me. At most I would have had to speak with them and perhaps punish my daughter after she apologized to their child. That option was taken away quite spectacularly though wasn't it?”Filthy Rich snarls. “This is the best you will ever get from me when I am forced to deal with her Mr. Pelt. I am aware of how she was punished as a result and I do not find it fitting enough at all. That filly nearly killed my daughter. What would you do if some one hurt one of your children?”

Rhede's look darkens. “ Mr. Rich I can assure you. You don't want to know what I did the last time some one hurt one of my kids.”

Rhede lets that linger a little before sighing.

“I'm not asking you to like her. I'm asking you to try to be a little less intimidating and perhaps a bit more civil. Failing that you could always send some one else to check up on the harvest this time of year. That would remove any chance you would have to encounter her at all.”

“I may have inherited a good bit of my wealth from my father, but I do not shirk the duties I take upon myself. My father always came to check on progress and I shall continue to do the same. Likely I will be the last who does this since my daughter refuses to come any where near this place so long as Miss Bloom is here. So I shall be overseeing this venture until I am no longer able. I regret that I come off as cold Mr. Pelt and I bear none of you any ill will. But I cannot look at Miss Bloom with out seeing the vision of my only child strapped into a hospital bed for most of a year because of her.”

“I regret I consider that understandable.”

“If that is all Mr. Pelt. I have other business to attend to today. Good day.” Filthy Rich states turning to head back down the path away from the farm, leaving Rhede alone with the three foals still singing loudly and off key.

==================================================================

[One Year ago
Tall Tail,Western lands of Equestria,
bordering the Diamond Dog lands. ]

“REINFORCE THE NORTH FLANK! “ shouts Shining Armor, his spell booming as he tries his best to ignore the two ponies trotting along with him towards the main entrance of the hill. The rest of the troops swarmed the mountain moving in small squads. Most of the Diamond dog forces were moving in from below and a number of griffons were making their way into some of the cracks and crevices in the upper parts of the hill. Several squads of ponies pushed ahead of him spreading out though the maze of the hive. All had been instructed to avoid the throne room and any contact with either Chrysalis or Sombra. Those two would be his job along with the pair accompanying him.

He had expected to fight something sooner or later but with Princess Luna on one side of him and General Kaisur on the other Most of the changelings had opted to run the other way. The few that did get close enough were smacked down in a matter of moments by one or the other. He grumbled lightly turning off his spell as they enter the hive proper, leaving Grimjaw to command the forces outside.

One of the not so bright changelings slid down the wall becoming a groaning lump on the ground. Shining twitches glad these two were at least trying not to kill them out right....still though....the pair were rather brutal.

“Huzzah that makes twenty points.” Luna chimes.

“Princess I yell at my soldiers for taking a point tally, I am not doing that with you.” Jer'rahd sighs.

“You are just mad because you are losing.” Luna chuckles sticking her tongue out at him.

Jer'rahd rolls his eyes, though he smirks none the less as the trio move deeper into the hive's twisting tunnels, making sure nothing got close to Shining. The white unicorn clearly getting more and more annoyed at his protection.

“You do realize I can fight. Major Rose has been training me nearly nonstop since the war.” Shining grumbles.

“Yep” Jer'rahd comments.

“Tis part of the deal we have with Princess Cadence. She only agreed to our request so long as you returned unharmed.” Luna states.

“I still don't like this deal. You realize what sort of trouble this will cause for every pony down the line?” Shining whines.

“Shouldn't cause any. By the time anyone finds out, it will be too late to do anything about it.” Jer'rahd points out.

“You both should know better than that. But if Cadence agreed then I’ll stand by it. Despite my protests. Now then, according to the scouts we should be nearing the main chamber soon. I can deal with Sombra's creations and keep him occupied, you two......

“We know the plan colt.” Jer'rahd sighs. “We helped make it.”

“If you are going to pretend to be under my command then at least you could pretend to call me by my proper title.” Shining grumbles his eyes widening as he realized the Princess of the Moon was one of the ones he was being short with. “Right then. Let's go.” Shining states pressing forward quickly as Jer'rahd blinks curiously looking after him.

“Princess what exactly is his title since he married a Princess?”Jer'rahd questions.

“Well I think it may be Lord, Sir, or even Prince. Though in all honesty it is mostly based on what Cadence prefers. If she took up the proper mantle of Empress of the Crystal Empire he would be Emperor. At the moment she prefers Princess however which makes him one of the former.”

“Lovely, any way I can skip getting any more new titles?” Jer'rahd sighs.

“Of course not. Tia is already considering making ribbons or medals for each of the ones you already possess.” Luna smiles following after Shining as Jer'rahd groans.

==============================================================

[Present day]

The twins, Wolf and Fox, stared up at Apple Bloom as she made crazy faces and strange sounds at the pair of them trying to get the two to smile.

The two foals took more after their mother than their father, for all purposed being adorable little bundles of black and white striped fluff like all zebra foals. Granted both had their fathers piercing blue eyes rather than their mothers amber ones and the colts stripe patterns were exactly the same as well something that Zecora had mentioned was unusual though not unheard of. Applebloom sat back with a huff looking down at the two zebra foals on the rug before her, the pair stared back at her almost condescending as if they expected better of her.

“Ah can't even get them tah smile.....” Apple Bloom whines. Fluttershy chuckles softly as Velkorn smiles.

“Do not fret about my little boys, to tell the truth they just enjoy noise.” Velkorn sighs looking down at the black maned pair as they continue to stare at their cousin.

“Noise?” Applebloom questions though she runs off digging in the cabinet a moment before she digs out a coffee can and fills it with a few apple seeds before closing the lid over it and returning to the twins.

She shakes it a little letting the seeds bounce around in the tin. Velkorn winces lightly at the noise though both the foal's tiny ears perk and they stare eagerly at Applebloom as she shakes it again

[“They have been quiet all day and now this.”] Velkorn mutters to herself.

[“Sorry about that, I just wanted to see them smile or laugh.....”] Applebloom mutters back as Velkorn smiles.

[“Not bad, your grasp of zebra has improved a great deal since last time I was here. Is my niece still teaching you?”]

[“Big Mac too. When Dash doesn't drag him off for something else.”] Applebloom grins watching the two foals struggle to reach for the jar giggling at the rattling sound as they try to climb up Applebloom to get to the can she held. [“Does Zecora know you are back in town?”]

[“If not she likely will soon. She always seems to know when to show up somehow.”]

“Ummm if it's not too much trouble could you maybe speak in pony? I'm afraid I don't speak zebra.” Fluttershy interjects.

======================================================

[One Year ago
Tall Tale,Western lands of Equestria,
bordering the Diamond Dog lands. ]

The stone door leading to the main chamber explodes inward sending changelings flying, scattering across a crudely carved throne room of some sorts.

“Ding dong mother bucker!” Luna chimes out happily, as Jer'rahd and Shining both face hoof.

“Princess, please don't repeat what Bleu yells out when she breaks in some where.” Jer'rahd sighs. “it doesn't make sense when she says it , and it makes even less when you do.”

“Is it not customary to shout something when bursting into a place? It has been a while since I have raided any where. Perhaps I have forgotten the proper approach to it. Should I try again? There must be another door around here some where.” Luna smirks.

“Found you.” Shining snarls.

Luna and Jer'rahd look across the dust, and now rubble filled room to a pair of thrones carved of red and green crystal dominating the center of the chamber.

The green one was empty, though the other held a gray unicorn with black scales and a crimson horn. The stallion sits calmly despite the explosion his head propped up on a hoof, his green eyes opening to regard them, a purple aura flickering from the edges.

“I expected you lot years ago.” King Sombra states with a bored tone.

“Surrender Sombra, you can't win.” Shining shouts out.

“See that's something better to shout out, properly dramatic too.” Jer'rahd mutters as Luna nods in response.

“Fine, I surrender.” Sombra responds with a shrug.

“We will defeat...., wait what?” Shining states completely thrown off by Sombra's agreement.

“I agree to the surrender. With a few conditions mind you, only two really. It does no good to just agree to giving up.” Sombra drones on slipping out of the throne his hooves clicking on the floor as he moves closer looking at the three of them with out any real emotion.

“What terms?” Luna questions as both she and Jer'rahd move to either side of Shining. The Princesses eyes remained on the Love Cursed King while Jer'rahd continued to scan the room for any sign of Chrysalis.

“I want your assurance colt that no harm will come to my wife's subjects. As you are currently Prince of the Empire you have the power to do just that. I wish them to receive the same protection you give your own subjects.” Sombra drones on ignoring the two flanking Shining.

“A fair request. If surprising.” Luna states.

“You are aware by now of what was done to us by Avaiana, with her destroyed there is little reason for us to continue hostilities.” Sombra states.

“We already have a number of the changelings under guard....” Luna begins.

“I did not ask for you to take them in Goddess of the Night. This is for the Prince.”

“And if he doesn't?” Jer'rahd questions.

“Then the fighting will continue. We will likely loose, but the cost for your own will be high.” Sombra states flatly. “Well colt? You have a chance to end this now.”

“Fine. Those terms are agreeable.” Shining responds.

“I want your word colt. I wish for them to be to be cared for as if they were your own. All of them. From the eldest changed Diamond Dog to the youngest pupa.” Sombra snarls. “ I would have you stake your life or honor on it. Which ever you value most.”

“You are pushing it Sombra.” Shining retorts.

“You want a near bloodless victory, I want my subjects to live. Now swear, the longer we talk the more on both sides die.” Sombra growls.

“There is a trick here....” mutters Luna.

“Fine then, If it will end this, I swear on my life I will do what I can to see the changelings are as protected as my own family.” Shining snaps. “Is that enough for you Sombra?”

“Better than I actually expected to hear from you colt. You worded it much better than I could have hoped and with a Princess and a renowned figure as witnesses. I doubt even if you were not trustworthy you would not break that word now.” His horn glows lightly before fading just as quickly. “My golems are passing on the order to stand down to the rest of the changelings. There may be a few hold outs, but most will follow my command.”

“You sure about this colt? There's a lot that can go wrong in deals like that.” Jer'rahd mutters.

“Cadence and my sister were already looking over a way to use the Crystal Heart to try and restore them. This is just something else that was going to happen any way. Though I didn't expect to be welcoming them into the Empire until after they were changed back.” Shining sighs.

“You claimed two conditions Sombra and while one is agreed to you have not yet stated the other.” Luna questions. “I expect it has something to do with your self and your queen.”

“Indeed.“ Sombra says with a sigh looking back at the thrones.

There was a puff of black smoke as the King whirls, lunging at Shining. He didn't make it more than a few paces before Luna had blasted him out of his shadow form with a spell and Jer'rahd had driven the Waning Moon though his torso stopping him a apple's length from where Shining's own drawn sword would have finished him.

The half dragon grins, coughing a spurt of blood on the ground at Shining's hooves.

“My second stipulation is that you bury me with my love. I cannot live with out her again.” Sombra wheezes looking up at Shining with a last gasp. “ Do not break your vow to me Prince of the Empire. “

The Love Cursed King coughed a last time before the glow faded from his eyes.

===================================================================

[Current day]

Zecora grins stepping out of her house, her tail flicking back to pull her door shut. There was a certain feeling she had begun to associate with her aunt and her children when they were near, and that faint tug was a little stronger today. Likely they were either in Canterlot or at Sweet Apple Acres already. And since they always went to the farm when they came back to New Canterlot, if they were not there now, they would be soon. Zecora chuckles always happy to find an excuse to see her little cousins.

A sudden surge sent her stumbling a bit as it stopped her cold, her tail wrapped around the door handle tighter as she looked around in shock.

Something was happening.

The zebra mare turns pushing back into her home, shutting the door behind her and slipping free of her saddle bags she searched for the feeling again. She let her disguise slip, black stripes turning red , like the black coloration had been washed off like dust.

It was stronger in here. She needed something that was already in her home?

She cursed her power, having lost count of how often she did so. She was always annoyed at the vague hints it gave her most times, but something this strong was surely important enough that it required her focus. She had once thought to ignore her feelings and things had turned rather bad for her in the zebralands because of it. Likely only she and her mother remember why she fled, but by the same token that hardly mattered now.

Now where was it?

Cabinet? No.

Alchemical table? No.

Brewing stand? No. It was never the brewing stand, she risked the nether getting that blasted golden rod and she never used the thing she made with it. Even as a goddess she viewed that trek as a waste of time.

Curio cabinet........ Yes?

She turns moving to the wall pushing a few masks away from the a large shelved box hanging on the wall. Her horn glows red as she opens the glass door looking over the assorted contents on display. The shadow box was filled with assorted small items she had acquired on her travels. There was nothing of any real importance here. Nothing that should trigger her power at this level.

A purple scale from Spike, some golden ring that she had taken from a rather twisted little Diamond Dog after a contest of riddles, a copper bell with the logo for a casino in Las Pegasus, a moon rock from her mothers last trip visiting there, a dried starfish from her trip to Tahiti, truly a magical place, A phoenix feather, a small jar with a lock of hair from Elvis Prancly, and various other pointless bric-a-brak.

She rummaged around in the shadowbox before another twinge made her pause and she pulled free a glass marble about the size of a ponies eye, wrapped in steel wire and connected to a chain like a necklace. She lifts the glass bauble up to the light, looking at a small brown seed resting within.

This? This was what had set her off? This was nothing, a artifact of a bygone age that would never return. But if this was it, then that would mean.....

A wide grin crosses the zebra's face as she felt the tug in another direction. One that went where she wanted to go in the first place though she could feel it was to a different pony than her relatives this time. If she was correct about the seed, it would be a very interesting couple of years for everyone. And one young pony in particular.

She puts her disguise back on, picking her bags up again and tucking the necklace securely into one of them. She had to be sure however, her ability had only steered her wrong once and even then it had been the proper path to choose. She now had another reason to visit the Apple farm, one that did not involve her aunt. She steps out the door muttering to herself as she set out to be the bearer of potential bad news yet again.

“Fate has something in store for you Applebloom, will it bring your desire, or lead to your doom?”

========================================================

[One Year ago
Tall Tale,Western lands of Equestria,
bordering the Diamond Dog lands. ]

Jer'rhad looks back at the still form of Sombra laying on the ground in the throne room. Shining had removed the half dragons cloak and used it to cover his body before going to speak with a small group of Guards at the door. It seems Sombra had been telling the truth about the surrender. There were a number of changelings who still fought, drones predominately, and a few who were found to be trying to protect young Changelings. The information was a little surprising to all three of them despite having been told that the creatures bred true.

Both he and Luna took the time to look around the room and spotted a small sunken alcove in the back wall at the same time. They also spotted the female changeling watching them at the same time, though Luna's magic was the first to grab her and pull her out of her hiding spot.

The changeling was a smaller one, perhaps once having been a pegasus mare or even born a changeling, it was hard to tell with out a rather invasive study. She was unarmed though both of them had seen the creatures shape their own limbs into spikes and blades.

“So should we ask this one?” Jer'rahd wonders.

“Indeed. It is clearly not one of the fighters, perhaps it is one of the smarter ones.” Luna sighs, neither of them quite felt right about Sombra's end, nor what it likely meant. “ Where is Chrysalis?”

The changeling froze in Luna's magical grip it's eyes widening as it slowly pointed back into the gap in the wall it came from.

“Shining, The bug says she's this way.” Jer'rahd states.

“Right … let's go finish this then....”Shining sighs. “ Put her down Princess I doubt she would be a problem even if she wanted to be with you two here.”

Luna looks at Jer'rahd who shrugs.

“Tis best you do not get complacent just yet. There are still dangers here.” Luna scolds.

“I'm aware Princess. But we both know what Sombra said and what it means. Take us to Chrysalis.” Shining orders the changeling, as Luna lowers it. The small creature steps away from the group and turns moving rapidly down the path into the rock. The trio follow with Luna taking the lead followed by Shining and then Jer'rahd.

Shining glances back at Jer'rahd as they follow a relatively winding path. “ With as protective as you are I am surprised you are letting her lead.”

“She's tougher than I am really. “Jer'rahd responds. “ Besides I've got no issue with watching her flank.”

“I can hear you you know. “Luna calls back.

“And?” Jer'rahd responds with a chuckle leaving Shining to mutter about getting set up for that one.

The trio follow the changeling to a large chamber ,lavishly decorated with silks and ornate furniture, two open archways on either side of the room were blocked off with some hanging silks. A massive bed rests in the center of the room with a large mirror and a few cabinets and dressers against the far wall made of carved wood and decorative silver..

Luna moves off towards a door to check it out while Jer'rahd moves to the other. The changeling moves up to the bed pointing at it before slipping back to the far wall closer to Luna, trying her best to not make any sudden moves around the trio.

Shining steps closer to the bed his eyes narrowing as he looks down at the figure on it with a sigh reaching up to rub his hoof against his temple.

“Found Chrysalis. She's dead.” Shining states looking down at the changeling queen encased in red crystal. Her body was heavily scarred and sunken in, the wounds were old, likely from the fight with Aviana nine years ago, though she looked like she had been wasting away during that time.

“How long?” Jer'rahd questions ignoring the bathroom he had found.

“Th.... three days.... The queen never recovered from her conflict, despite all that our King did for her. She passed three days ago after.......” the small changeling started before a wailing cry rose up from the room Luna had entered. The small changeling darted in after the Princess followed by Jer'rahd and then Shining who wondered briefly how the gray unicorn had crossed the room so quickly.

Shining slips into the room, it was much more garishly decorated , with bright colors and images of birds and balloons painted haphazardly every where . A smaller bed rested in the center of this room and this is where Jer'rahd and Luna both stood looking at the figure in it as the Changeling mare bent over the bed making small shushing sounds. Jer'rahd looks up at Shining wincing a little meeting the other unicorn's gaze with a bit of worry on his face.

Shining moves forward looking down at the bed and the tiny black carapace covered and red maned changeling foal that lay squirming on the bed.

“Our Queen died giving birth, and our King died with her, yet his body continued. His name is Prince Metamorpho.” the changeling mare mutters softly.

Luna narrows her eyes staring at the small colt. “ He is a godling.” she turns looking at Shining. “This is what Sombra meant when he asked you treat them as your own. Why he was amused with your wording.”

“I think my wife is going to kill me.” Shining mutters.

Author's Note

This is a bit of a experiment on my part. Chapter breaks of past events will be a bit of filler for shorter chapters to stretch them out a little and add to things that happened during the time jump.

Misplaced invitation [6]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Misplaced invitation

[1 year ago.
New Canterlot Castle]

“So are you sure about it? I mean absolutely sure?” Jer'rahd states skeptically, looking up at a equally worried Princess Luna as the pair trot down the halls of New Canterlot castle.

“Cadence and I both checked the foal out extensively, much to the chagrin of Locust. Seems with Sombra in the state of mind we found him in the changeling maid was the only one who was around to care for the foal after he was born. She was not happy to be separated from him for any length of time. But yes, neither of us could find any trace of the Book's corruption in the foal.” Luna states.

“We should still speak with Grace. She might have done something while Chrysalis was in Tartarus that would account for this.” Jer'rahd mutters.

“You act as if this is bad news.” Luna frowns, glaring down at the unicorn.

“No, it's far from bad news and you know that, but forgive me for being a bit paranoid here. There's no guarantee it would be the same for us. If Grace didn't do anything I will be more inclined to believe it.” Jer'rahd smirks. “i know you don't like Grace, and I hate to be the pessimist here, but one of us has to be. There's far too much at stake to simply accept it how we see it now. On a different note though, Shining and Cadence are going to take care of him?”

“Shining swore he would, and while Cadence was clearly not happy, she is going along with his word. I am sure he will never hear the end of it though. She wanted to have a foal with him and he winds up adopting one instead” Luna chuckles.” Although if I am not mistaken she might actually already be with foal.”

“She looked the same to me as the last time I saw her. How would you even know?”

“Mare's intuition.”

“So in other words don't ask just accept it.”

“And Rhede said you were a slow learner. “ Luna laughs lightly.” Still we returned Shining unharmed and Cadence up held her end of the agreement.”

“Well at least that was done without any worry or fuss. Last thing we need is the chaos something like that might cause.” Jer'rahd shakes his head, then smirks.” So then, about the last name......”

“Do we really want to start this conversation again? It tends to end in us fighting.” Luna grumbles.

“True, though I do enjoy making up after a pointless fight quite a bit.” Jer'rahd grins as Luna snorts in both annoyance and amusement as a response.

The pair turn down a side corridor trotting though one of the meeting halls in an effort to avoid the main part of the castle and Celestia's gathered day court, which should be in full tilt at this time of morning.

Half way through the darkened room they both freeze in place.

“Did you feel that?” Jer'rahd mutters.

“Indeed. A teleportation lock. A powerful one as well.” Luna mutters.

They both glance back as the double doors behind them slam closed, a large shadowy figure moving in front of the doors as several other figures block the door they were heading towards. With the doors closed the only light in the unused room came from the pair of stained glass windows depicting the first fall of Discord and Pinkie Pie helping to save the crystal empire.

Jer'rahd and Luna shift, sides pressing together as they both face a different way watching each others backs. The pair move themselves between the two pools of light from the windows staring down the shadowy forms milling about the edges of the room in the darkness.

“This cannot be good.” mutters Jer'rahd.

===============================================================

[Present day]

“Yo Sweetie wait up!”

Sweetiebelle pauses, mid step, her ears perking as she recognizes the voice even before she hears the sound of the crackling flames that she had come to associate with her friend.

She turns her head to look up watching as a orange and purple maned pegasus barrels towards her at high speed as if she was falling from the sky. At the last second the green wings of fire snap out from the mares back lighting up the street stopping the flying mare dead in the air. A single sweep of her wings forward launches the pegasus mare into a small back flip, her wings go out and she lands lightly on her hooves a few paces before the white unicorn. She flicks her small wings a few errant green sparks flitting down to the cobblestone as she folds her wings against her back.

Scootaloo grins as a couple of smaller foals and a few adults nearby claps their hooves at the showy landing before continuing on with their day. Scootaloo grins taking in the praise while Sweetiebelle just rolls her eyes.

“Honestly you pick one of Rainbow Dash's most annoying traits to copy. Did you develop her ego too?” Sweetiebelle snarks.

“Hey if I did, I always have the marshmallow dictionary to insult me til I’m grounded again.” Scootaloo chuckles.

“Right because that's my job, curtailing the ego of a roast chicken.” Sweetiebelle giggles.

“Hey you're good at it. You should have gotten a cutie mark for insulting Scootaloo instead of singing. So you heading to see Applebloom too?” Scootaloo questions practically bouncing along beside her friend who until that point had been trying to carry herself with some air of grace, though her friends hopping made that near impossible.

“Depends, you're not going to bounce the whole way to Sweet apple Acres are you?” Sweetiebelle questions.

“Maybe, good exercise and keeps your legs limber.” Scootaloo states bouncing a bit higher her tiny wings flapping a bit to give a little extra height to the bounce.” Why? Is it bugging yooooooou?”

“First off you look ridiculous, the only pony who can bounce like that and not look silly is Pinkie Pie., and she still looks silly. Second every time you hop up your tail bounces too and you flash your flank at any one behind us.” Sweetiebelle states with a smirks watching the orange pegasus stop bouncing and turn a bright red.

“I am not!!” Scootaloo yelps her tail curling down over her flank.

“Wow look how red the little chickens gotten. Poor little dodo. Seriously Scoots we have got to find you a colt friend. I bet Button knows a few nice colts who are looking for a date...... “ Sweetiebelle teases watching her friend try and stop her wings from sparking up.

“I don't need a colt friend, I am perfectly fine focusing on my training....” Scootaloo states, practically yelling with almost robotic repetition as Sweetiebelle laughs louder.”Let's just go see Applebloom before my hoof want's to date your face.”

“Of course.” Sweetiebelle giggles. “Although I will say if you're not really into colts I know a few mares that swing that way, they just might be interested in an athletic little roast chicken like yourself.”

“I am not gay!” Scootaloo yells back at the unicorn drawing far more attention from those around her than she liked. She blinks, ears flattening and her red face spreading to her neck as she glares at Sweetiebelle who smiles innocently then takes off like a shot galloping away from Scootaloo laughing hysterically.

The pegasus stares after the fleeing mare for a moment before growling and launching into the air to chase after her.

“Get back here you damned dictionary!”

===============================================================

[1 year ago
New Canterlot Castle.]

“So did we make a plan for this?” Jer'rahd mutters.

“Yes, several in fact, although most are ruined at this point given that the situation has clearly changed. Let us simply see what they want, there is no way they could know, every pony involved was sworn to secrecy.” Luna whispers back.

“Oh ho, that may be true, but I am no pony!” a voice from above them announces with a loud bark of laughter.

Jer'rahd and Luna look up to see Discord hanging by his tail from the rafters. The draconequus was painted a shiny gold coloration and was holding several different types of light bulbs with his hands and feet as if attempting to be a chandelier.... at least this explained why it was so dark in the room.

“Who would have thought a little favor for ole sun butt would have such delightful repercussions. She didn't believe me at first of course. I had to Pinkie Pie Swear twice before she would accept it. Such a waste of a cupcake too.” Discord cackles. “ Oh the looks on your faces, this is priceless and I didn't even have to do anything this time.”

“That is absurd, why would Tia have you follow us?” Luna questions before wincing at the sound of a flame igniting and a wash of heat and light coming from the far side of the room.

The Princess of the sun strode forward and Luna took a step back from the blast of heat that radiated from her sisters direction, her tail and mane crackling with fire.

“I asked Discord to follow you in case you needed help. He has been willing to make some amends for past deeds including this little trip. If nothing else he would have been able to help if Chrysalis and Sombra were stronger than they let on. While it seems that was not necessary, the information he brought back was more than enough for me to offer him a little past forgiveness. “

“She keeps a tally of it. Little bits of candy in a jar for all the bad I did and when I play nice I can eat a few. Almost makes me want to cause more chaos just to have more candy.” Discord smirks.

“Making deals with the god of Chaos? You've sunk pretty low there Celestia.” Jer'rahd snarks though he flinches at a crackle of electricity from the other side of the room and a rather large and pissed off looking blue dragon moves out of the shadow of the doorway lightning dancing over her scales.

“Give it a rest ….'boss' Lesti's not the issue here you two are, this time you went way too far. “ Bleu snarls. The dragon slaps one balled fist into the palm of her other clawed hand, glaring down at the pair. “ I can't believe you never even let on about this.....”

“We were trying to be a bit discreet.” Luna mutters, her ears flattening.

“Yeah well you two suck at that sort of thing. After all the fuss and work we went through?” Rhede snorts, snapping at the pair as he steps out of a shadow with a very pregnant Velkorn right behind him.

“You know how I hate being in the lime light......” mutters Jer'rahd.

“Like that is an excuse in this instance. Do you have any idea how long some of us have waited for this to happen and you two blow us off completely?” Starfall snarls snapping her wings closed as Rainbow Dash stands behind her muttering something about 'real Loyalty'.

“We were going to bring it up......” Luna protests out sheepishly backing away from the glares and pushing back against Jer'rahd more.

“Bleu and I were gonna plan the whole thing as one big party and you ruined it!” Pinkie shouts from atop of Bleu's head pointing menacingly at the two with a hoof.” And you took that away!!!”

“This isn't something that should be kept from the ponies of Equestria. It is a fairly big deal that would be of great interest to a large number of creatures.” Twilight states stepping from behind the burning Solar Princess, her horn glowing brightly.

“I'm supposed to be family colt, yah think I wouldn't have issue?” Rose states leaning on a rather large spear with easily half of the 42nd standing around him, all with rather vicious grins on their faces as they watched their commander squirm.

“I have been holding off and planing for my self and Lion Heart this long because I did not wish for my day to be over shadowed by you two and you do this and completely ruin any back up plans I have!!?” Rarity shouts with a rather confused looking Lion Heart behind her. “And you also would deny me the chance to make a master piece? For shame.”

“Considering Maw Pelt adopted you way back when that makes yah part of the Apple's too Jer..... And this sorta sneakiness doesn't sit to well with tha family.” Applejack mutters glaring at the pair from under her hat with Big Mac standing on one side of her and Granny Smith with a rolling pin standing on the other side.

“This wasn't a very nice thing to do to your friends..... “ Fluttershy huffs actually looking a little angry. Orange Danish, Pipsqueak and the Lilys stand behind her, also clearly not thrilled.

“As it stands I cannot believe my own sister would stoop so low as to run off an elope like this......” Celestia roars. “I may not like the lout, but to think you would try and force me to miss something like your wedding? We are going to have a nice long chat about why this is not okay sister. As well as discuss the punishment for it.”

Luna shifts her gaze at the figures surrounding them with a wince as Jer'rahd does the same.

“What was the plan again Luna?” Jer'rahd mutters.

“Well we have two choices in this. We can stay here and discuss this all out like reasonable adults.”

Jer'rahd looks up at Bleu , then to Celestia and Velkorn.

“And what's the plan we're going for?”

“Run away and hide in the mountains for a few centuries while all this blows over.” mutters Luna.

“Plan B it is.” Jer'rahd states rushing off the the side suddenly towards the wall and leaping up through a stained glass window with Luna hot on his hooves.

“My window!” shouts Pinkie at the shattering of glass.” It was just fixed!”

“STOP THEM!” bellows Celestia, while Discord giggles madly still spinning from the ceiling by his tail.

===============================================================

[Present day]

“You didn't have to hit me so hard.” mutter's Sweetiebelle to the annoyed pegasus walking next to her.

“You're lucky I didn't knock you into next week for setting me up like that.” Scootaloo grumbles.

Sweetiebelle grins lightly, rubbing her shoulder where Scootaloo had walloped her. “ Jeez it's just a joke. I kinda figured you were a late bloomer after the whole thing with your wings and all.”

“You want another date with my hoof ?” Scootaloo growls.

“Not really, I wouldn't want you to think it was cheating on you...” Sweetiebelle smirks as she looks back at the confused expression on her friends face. She stops walking waiting for a moment or two before groaning in annoyance that her friends brain was not engaging properly.” It was a clopping joke, dodo....”

“I knew that.” Scootaloo mutters.

“I doubt it.”

“Any pony ever tell you that you talk too much?” Scootaloo grumbles.

“All the time, any pony tell you, you're a violent psychopath?” Sweetiebelle snarks.

“Aside from you and Applebloom, never more than once.” Scootaloo grins.

“Well happy to be in the former group then.” Sweetiebelle chuckles lightly. “So what have you been up to anyway. I see you around, but you're either racing some where in a hurry or I don't have time to flag you down myself.”

“Yeah the last few months have been rather nuts. Training, finals and projects, getting graduation stuff together. Finally have a full week to myself though. Gonna try and spend it avoiding mom. Swear if she tries to get me into one more graduation dress I’m gonna scream.” Scootaloo sighs as Sweetiebelle giggles.

“Been just as busy with singing as well. Tests are done at least and I’m looking at a week free as well. Celestia bless the sophomores and their insane demands this time of year. Miss Scale was so tired of them whining about having so much to do, she just gave in to the demands and we all get a week off. I think we impressed her enough that she's willing to let us be a little lax. We still have two weeks before the ceremony so if we slip too much there's still plenty of time for her to drill the songs back into our heads.”

“Pfft like you need that. I bet you remember everything you've ever heard.” Scootaloo chuckles.

“Not everything. I thankfully can't remember any of the lines to that song you wrote for that first talent show.” Sweetiebelle smirks.

“Hey I wrote that and we won an award for it!”

“Yeah best comedy act.”

“We beat Snips and Snails to get that award thank you.” Scootaloo smiles. “Speaking of those two, have you seen them lately?”

“Snips I think will be graduating the same as us with the Ponyville classes, Snails graduated with Applebloom last year. I think he went into entomology.”

“What?”

“Bug stuff.”

“Oh. Should have known.” Scootaloo sighs. “Hard to keep up with what every pony's doing now.”

“Well most of the foals we went to school with in Miss Cheerilee's class are graduated or still in school down in Ponyville. You moved back in with your mom and dad when your aunt's home burned down and my house was rezoned into the Canterlot school district same as Button's.” Sweetiebelle rambles off. “I'm rather surprised it's something you're worrying about.”

“I'm not really, it's just we used to see Applebloom and the others every day almost and now it's like once a week or two or even longer. I mean it's not even a twenty minute walk and we still never manage to meet up cause we're always too busy. Heck I barely see you any more and we go to the same school.” Scootaloo mutters. “ I mean, she still doesn't even have a cutie mark either. I kinda feel like we failed her as crusaders.”

“I know what you mean. Well we have a week of nothing planned, so we can spend the whole time trying to get Applebloom's cutie mark to show up.” Sweetiebelle stops dead a wide grin crossing her face.”Oooooh ideaaaaa!”

“Please don't do that again, your sister creeps me out when she does it …...”

“We need to get Applebloom and go on a road trip! Nothing we did here got her a cutie mark so we need to head out into the world and see what might happen. We can go visit the Crystal Empire, the Half dragons in the Gallopagos, and hit Las Pegasus, and any where else we can pack into a week. It's been forever since we did something together.”

“Yeah, there's a reason for that remember the standing order from the Princesses. But that still sounds like a great idea...... though why the Gallopagos?” Scootaloo questions.

“Rarity's there with Lion Heart.” Sweetiebelle grins, her face some how becoming covered in shadow leaving only glowing red eyes visible for a brief moment. “ I need to make sure he's treating her right.”

The pegasus flying past with a cloud moved on pushing the shadow past the unicorn mare as if nothing had happened, though Scootaloo had to suppress a shiver regardless.

“Please don't do that again either.”

===================================================

[1 year ago
New Canterlot Castle.]

“Wow.... Celestia went all out.” Jer'rahd mutters looking up at the glowing magic wall preventing the pair of them from escaping the castle grounds.

The pair of them stood half hidden in a small collection of trees on the far side of the castle. Jer'rahd had thrown up a shield after they broke out of the room and that gave them time to hide here.

Luna sighs looking up at the dome.”This is Twilight's work and likely also what is keeping me from teleporting away.”

“Well. I'll apologize for the headache I’m about to to give her later.” Jer'rahd mutters pulling the Waning Moon from it's scabbard. The weapon was swung quickly at barrier only to bounce off as if it had hit a wall leaving no visible damage. “Uh oh.”

“Uh oh? What is this uh oh, why is there no hole?” Luna questions wincing as a series of pops fill the air around them and the group of ponies they had fled from teleported into being around them.

“Found them!” announces Twilight as the Guards and Bleu leap at the pair.

“She's been practicing with the Brilliant Dawn.“ responds Jer'rahd, diving to the side as Bleu lands where he and Luna had been. “ Her magics gotten resistant to the star metal same as mine.”

“Break and regroup later at A4” Luna shouts taking to the air over the castle with the attacking fliers in hot pursuit. Jer'rahd looks over the larger group of Guards and upset relations running after him and curses, galloping away. He turns suddenly and quickly dives through another window , back into the castle emerging in a lower level of the structure. He quickly raised a shield behind him blocking pursuit. He didn't know what would happen if their friends caught him. Though he rather would prefer not to find out.

===========================================================

[Present day, New Canterlot Market Square]

“Okay so we take the train to the empire, then a train and a boat to Gallopagos?” Sweetiebelle states.

“We should wait and see if Applebloom wants to go some where too. I figure she might want to visit family or something.“ Scootaloo points out stopping suddenly and putting out a hoof to stop Sweetiebelle as a pair of massive chocolate glazed doughnuts roll past with a madly giggling Pinkie Pie and Discord in the middle of them. The doughnuts continue down the street and roll around another building before vanishing from sight. The white unicorn and her friend sigh and continue on through the market square.

“Well that was new.”Sweetiebelle states with the lack of interest in the strange that could only come from being raised in Ponyville. “I hope Applebloom doesn't though, she's got family everywhere. They would take a lot longer than a week to go visit.” Sweetiebelle sighs. “Oh maybe we can go visit Babs. We should be able to fit Manehatten in our trip. We can meet the crusaders she started there. What do you think Scootaloo?....... Scootaloo?”

Sweetiebelle stops in her tracks looking around, and above herself before spotting her friend a few paces away looking through the crowd at something on the other side of the market. The orange mare's ears were pinned back against her head and her short tail was whipping in annoyance.

“Scootaloo? Hello? Chicken? Any pony home?” Sweetiebelle questions waving a hoof in front of her friends face.

Scootaloo glances at the taller unicorn with a frown before galloping off suddenly towards a small ally between shops. Sweetiebelle blinks galloping off after her with a huff.

She was half way across the market before she spotted what her friend had seen and it made her run just a little faster.

The ally wasn't empty. There was a very familiar light pink earth pony in the ally staring down at a much smaller pony. Sweetie couldn't tell who the smaller pony was but it's position against the wall partially pinned there by the larger mare made it clear, it didn't want to be there. The mare had a dark smile plastered over her face, and a while sweetie didn't know who was trapped, she knew the mare who was smiling all to well.

Diamond Tiara.

Getting away from her was one of the few upsides to being placed in a different school district. The last she had seen of the bully was not long before Applebloom had knocked her through a wall and been grounded practically forever. The pair of them had been banned from associating with their friend for quite some time as well a punishment made some what pointless as the adjustment of the school district made it so they no longer went to class together any way. Despite that Scootaloo blamed herself for not being there to try and stop Applebloom from hurting the obnoxious filly, despite how much Diamond tiara deserved it.

It was a rather miserable time for all three of them, though they figured at least Diamond Tira might have learned something. Seeing the pink filly with a smaller pony cornered in an ally showed this was clearly not the case and the bully had not learned anything.

Scootaloo reached the ally mouth first and probably would have flown straight in and tackled the mare if Sweetie hadn't grabbed her tail with her magic to prevent it. Last thing that they needed was something to ruin their plans, and scoots was hot headed enough to punch first and then start kicking to get questions answered.

“Seems somethings never change no matter how much time passes. “Sweetie snarks.

DT looks up spotting Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle, her eyes going wide a moment. She shifts her head pretty much ignoring the two, but her gaze darts over the ally clearly panicked as she seemed to be seeking Applebloom. Her tense form relaxes a little seeing the third CMC member was not there.

“Go away pests. This doesn't concern you.” Diamond Tiara grumbles.

“Yeah well guess what, I’m making it my concern. “ Scootaloo pops her wings, the feathers of flame snapping out and casting a green glow over the ally.

“Trust me pest you don't want to even try anything with me.” Tiara turns slightly shifting her hooves into a stance in a way Sweetiebelle immediately recognized.

“I see you took some lessons from Master Li. “ Sweetiebelle states sliding up onto her back hooves adopting another stance. “You see the pictures of me on his wall with the trophies I won?”

“Of course. But I have more of them. Daddy wanted me to be able to defend myself against that monster of yours.” DT states.

“Oh fer ma's sake will tha lot of yah stop that posturing and posing. O'm not gonna allow any of ya ta fight here. Specially not on account of something stupid as this.”

All three of them look at the smaller pony who was clearly fed up with the three of them. The brown and white patch work colt shifted his gaze between the three mares , the motion shifting the harness wrapped over his shoulders holding a long sword and marked with a old patch that Sweetie recognized as being from the old Lunar Republic.

“Pipsqueek?” Scootaloo questions surprised.

“Ah tend to go by Pip now, but yeah.” Pipsqueek sighs, moving between the three mares. “If yah start a fight ah'm obligated as a Junior Guard member tah stop you. And don't think ah couldn't even if tha three of yah worked together.”

“Don't get too full of yourself kid.” Scootaloo sighs rolling her eyes.

“Ah'm only two years younger than you, and as tha chipmunk fiasco proved, I’m at least twice as mature. So don't go calling me kid.” Pip snorts

“You are never going to let us live that down are you?” Sweetiebelle sighs.

“Yah nearly got me stuck being the manager of a group oh singing rodents. Mah ears still hurt from that high pitched noise So no.” Pip states with a grumble. “What are you two doing here any way?”

“Thought I was rescuing some one from a bully. Not sure why you would need rescuing though.” Scootaloo sighs though her glare was still directed at DT.

“Well t'was a rescue of sorts.” he looks at Diamond Tiara who glares back at Scootaloo though her expression softens a bit as she looks down at Pip.

“Oh whatever. “ the pink pony sighs turning her gaze away from Pip. “ Just make sure you do it like I said Pipsqueak.”

“Yah should be doing it your own self.” Pip grumbles. “ Ah'm not yer pet.”

Diamond Tiara huffs looking down at the smaller earth pony who simply rolls his eyes. “ Fine whatever ah'll do it. This is ridiculous yah know.”

The pink pony smiles slightly and turns walking towards the pair of crusaders pushing between them and heading out into the street.

“You know I miss all the quiet that happened when she was in a full body cast.” Sweetiebelle grumbles.
“We should make that happen again.” Scootaloo nods.

“No yah won't. All that trouble that happened last time she got hurt? Yah really want tah go through that again? Specially since this time you're old enough tah go tah jail for it?” Pip points out.

“Aww pippy you wouldn't tell on us would you?” Sweetiebelle grins batting her eyelashes.

“Tell on yah? Of course not. I'd be the pony bringing you two in.” Pip chuckles.

“I think you hang around your dad too much. “ Scootaloo sighs.” What did she want any way?”

“Nothing of importance.” Pip sighs. “She's not as bad as you two make her out tah be. She's graduating this year same as my brother. She's kinda quiet most of the time.”

“Yeah she looked real quiet trapping you against the wall there.” Scootaloo mutters.

“That's a different story. She's still annoying and rude, kinda like you Scootaloo.” Pip grins ducking a swat from the annoyed pegasus.

“Well no love lost between us. Sorry you have to deal with her though. Wait why do you have to deal with her? I thought you lived in Canterlot, shouldn't you go to school there?” Sweetiebelle questions.

“Ma thought it was a good idea fer me to stay close to the friends I made in school after the war. She has a couple of Night Guard's fly me down here in a chariot every morning. After a while it just kinda stuck. Paint Brush and IceBerry came along with me so we could all go to the same school as Brush lost the few friends he had, and Berry wasn't old enough to be in school yet. So me and cousin Applebloom were set to keep an eye on them.” Pip explains seemingly happy to change the subject away from DT.

“You two down here tah see Applebloom too then?” Pip responds trotting to the end of the ally before looking back at the two taller mares. The poor colt was still tiny even with the amount of muscle he had put on. Scootaloo had a apple on him in height and she was the shortest mare in her class.

“That was the plan. I figured you would be training with your dad.” Scootaloo states.” That's usually where I see you.”

“Ma's keeping Da busy as of late. She's due in a month or so and tha whole castle's gone nuts. Only so much baby talk ah can stand, so I came down here when I heard uncle Rhede and aunt Velkorn were at the farm.”

“They're here? That means the twins are here!” Sweetiebelle smiles in glee as both Pip and Scootlaloo groan.

“What is the fascination with those two? Yah they’re cute, but it's like every filly that hears about them goes nuts.” Pip sighs looking at Scootaloo who shrugs.

“Can't say I’ve actually seen them. I'm not related to any one who really knows Mr. Pelt.” Scootaloo says. “You headed to Sweet Apple acres then?”

“T'was the plan. Figure my cousin might have something interesting happening. Has tah beat listening to every one in the castle freak out about a baby that ain't even born yet.” Pip sighs.

“Aw poor Pippy, not gonna be the smallest and cutest any more are you.” Scootaloo chuckles.

“That was always Ice Berry and you know it.”

“Wait a baby? Princess Luna is having a foal?” Sweetiebelle gasps her brain finally catching up to what she had heard once she could get past the thoughts of the fluffy zebra twins.

“Been tha big news all over fer a few months now, once she was far enough along that she couldn't hide it. Any more. Granted tha family all knows but it came out to tha public a bit ago.” Pip states some what in shock that Sweetiebelle didn't know about it.

“Well yeah. Dash and Starfall have been going on about it for a while now too. “Scootaloo shrugs.

“How do I miss out on these things?” Sweetiebelle groans throwing her fore hooves in the air dramaticly.

“How do you keep up with information on some pony like Snails, but miss out on this sort of news?” Scootaloo asks in an annoyed tone.

==========================================================

[One year ago,
New Canterlot Castle. East Wing.]

Jer'rahd pressed himself up against the wall glancing around the corner as a group of the 42nd rush past. Stealth was not something he excelled in, but he could do it in a pinch when he needed to. He wasn't as good as Rhede, Bleu, or even Luna, but at least he never tried to hide in a cardboard box like Starfall did once.

He slipped out of hiding, glancing down the hall before moving along the corridor away from where the Guards had gone.

A4 was the location of the Black Princess on the chess board. Well at least in Luna's games any way. It was considered the home tile for the piece and he expected she meant her room in this context.. The other option depending on the board layout was the white Princess's home tile and he doubted very much she wanted to meet in Celestia's room.

Where he was now was the new East wing of the castle, built on the spot of the old Royal vault before it exploded. It was comprised of a number of smaller structures connected to great hall and various meeting rooms. Each of the structures was designed to accommodate a ambassador of a various species or another with a environment similar to what they were used to back hat home.

The griffons was built with high ceilings and a number of perches and enchanted to circulate chilled air to simulate the high mountain aeries that most griffons preferred. To contrast was the Zebra area which was kept dry and warm, Celestia and Rhede had worked out a number of different things that would make the creatures visiting feel more at ease in pony lands, and more willing to talk.

The wing had grown rather massive after the war as well. News of the Changeling invasion and Aviana's attempted to take over had spread beyond the borders of Equestria like wild fire. Races that had previously considered Equestria's forces a joke, and their leader a toothless fool to take advantage of were suddenly forced to reevaluate their stances. The new scar on the moon, the hordes of captured changelings and tales of the 42nd and it's leaders were enough to give many pause, particularly as some older gods remembered the War of Night.

That the new 42nd, The Five Beasts of the Moon, The Elements of Harmony, The Goddess of War, The Solar Flare and the fact The God of Chaos himself, now resided in Equestria made it so everyone suddenly wanted to be friendly.

It was a bit depressing to be honest. What good was a solider without a war to fight? Sure there were bandits and the occasional monster, but that that was a bit one sided to tell the truth. After all this time he finally had gained control of the monster that dwelled within him and there was nothing to do with it. Celestia and Rhede called him a deterrent, he called it a waste.

Jer'rahd pauses for a moment rubbing his head with a hoof, maybe he was too violent for his own good. When there was a war he wanted peace as quickly as possible, when there was peace he wanted a war.

His train of thought was derailed by the thunder of hooves rushing down the corridor. He cursed lightly, pressing against a locked door and shouldering it open as quickly and quietly as he could before ducking inside, closing it behind him as gently as possible. With luck they wouldn't notice the broken lock as they were running past.

“Hey wait a sec. This doors been broken into, look at the splinters on the ground.” some one shouts outside the door bringing the armored march to a sudden halt.

Jer'rahd curses grabbing a table in the room and propping it under the door handle as the first Guard checked the door. It was his own damn fault for making sure his trainees were always observant about their surroundings. He made a small note to himself to offer some praise to the Guard that noticed the door, but much much later after he was no longer hunted.

Still that would hold them for a bit hopefully until he found another way out, or made one.

He quickly scanned the room. It was just a small meeting room with a few stylized chairs that had been around a table and a cabinet probably holding some documentation or another. There were no windows in the room either, just his luck to duck into a room in the middle of the wing.

Spotting a door at the far end of the room he darted over to it finding a wide stair case leading down, likely to the residence of what ever race was housed here.

He smirked at the chance in his luck. This had to be the Diamond Dog's embassy rooms. The guards had had a rather difficult time keeping an eye on them as the ambassadors were know to pop up in bars out in New Canterlot even after they had been escorted to their quarters. It was a pretty safe bet they had tunneled a way out of the grounds. He would be sure to close those tunnels off behind him and report them, but for now he was rather happy the Dog's didn't follow the rules.

An ax striking the the door forces the decision for him as he darts down the stairs yanking the cabinet from the far wall to seal the door behind him before locking it and breaking off the handle.
With luck they wouldn't notice the door with the large cabinet in the way. If they did he still gained a few precious seconds by sabotaging the door.

The end of the stair well ended at the start of another stone corridor, he didn't even pause before running down it noting the lights were getting dimmer the further down the slope went.

The air was also damp and there was a steady annoying dripping sound echoing down the tunnel,echoed enough to sound louder than his own hooves in his ears. Adding to that he was starting to see his breath as the air was noticeably chilled here. He ran past a few spit off points glancing down the other halls into more darkness. What sort of race wanted a cold, dark wet place to serve as a reminder of their home? Wait.......

The unicorn ponies eyes widen suddenly and he skids to a stop looking around

“Oh buck me.” Jer'rahd curses.

“Took you long enough.” states a voice crackling from some where in the tunnel, likely over an crystal intercom.

“Rhede damn you!”

“Now now, you brought this on yourself. I am a little disappointed that you didn't realize the Guard's were driving you this way though. I taught you better than th GAAAH!.”

“Seriously Jer'rahd how could the two of you do this? See this is the crap I’m talking about and why I never introduce you to any of the colt's I wanna go out with.” fusses Orange, also over the speakers clearly having shoved Rhede away. “You two go nuts when I keep who I like a secret, but then you run off and get married without telling any one.”

“Ummm can I....” Rhede interjects.

“YEAH YOU TELL UM GIRL!” Bleu shouts drowning Rhede out.

“Right cause the wedding of a Princess can be a quiet affair. You know neither one of us want anything to do with that sort of publicity.”Jer'rahd shouts back prancing a little in place. Was the dripping getting louder?

[“This isn't about you, do you have any idea how many of us have been waiting for you two to get hitched and then you go an do this?”] Velkorn shouts.

“What did she say?” Jer'rahd questions.

[“GAH!!! A thousand and forty years and he learns a dead language before leaning one that gets spoken around him all the time!”] Velkorn yells and could be heard storming off. Orange and Bleu were shouting at each other and Rhede seeming to be fighting for control of the microphone. It was almost comical at this point. Though it didn't take long for Rhede to wrestle control back.

“Jeez can I freaking do my super villain bit now? I've wanted to try this out for a while..” Rhede grumbles.

Jer'rahd tries to ignore the arguing and gallops back up the darkened corridor trying to make his way back to the stairs, better to face the Guards than a trap set by Rhede. He jerked to a stop yanking his hoof back as if he had been stabbed.

Freezing cold water dripped off his hoof and pool of water continued on, the tunnel leading directly into and down into the softly rippling liquid.

“I suppose I should get started then. See I know you Jer. There's no possible way I could beat the crap out of you straight up for this thing. Velkorn could of course, but I don't want her straining her self with the foals. I mean heck, even if you let smack the shyt out of you a bit, it's not like you can't take more pain then I would feel comfortable dishing out.” Jer'rahd could almost hear Rhede grin as he spoke. “ But that doesn't mean I don't know how to make you suffer.”

“You don't want to do this Rhede. I can just bust out of here you know. I' don't have to worry about reigning in the Beast any more now that I have Troph out of my head.”Jer'rahd shouts the pitch growing in his voice as he races down another corridor his hooves again splashing in water before he skids to a halt leaping back out of the water like it was lava.

“You could, but you won't. Your friends, Luna, and your kids are all above you and they would get hurt if you tried to bust out. Granted you could always give up now.”

“Like heck I’m gonna do that, the Princess is gonna need my help to hold off the rest of you later, and I’m not gonna let her down.” Jer'rahd shouts clearly starting to panic

“I was knew you would say something like that, though to be honest I think you are getting off light compared to what Starfall and Celestia are doing to her. “

“What!!? This is considered light?!” Jer'rahd trembled.

“Okay maybe not. Still this is payback.”

“What for not throwing you a proper bachelor party? Velkorn threatened to skin me if I hired strippers.”

“That shouldn't have mattered.”

“I am stallion enough to admit when something scares me and your wife is high on my list. I am rather attached to my skin and you know she would have done it literally.”

“It would have grown back. Any way moving on, I fully planed to show you how to properly throw a bachelor party , but NOO you had to take that away from me too. Any way, I have some one here I would like you to meet. Ambassador Sailfin, say hello would you?”

“Um are you sure about this Ambassador Pelt. I don't mind lending my quarters to you for what you are doing, but I am not sure this is a very good idea.” A soft mare's voice mutters.

“It probably isn't, but that's not really the point at the moment. Just ignore the stallion in the hall. I am rather curious at what you said earlier that you enjoyed singing? I am quite sure something from you might put him more at ease while we deal with the situation. Perhaps the classic song we discussed? “ Rhede states smoothly. Jer'rahd could hear the charm being laid on and the grinding of Velkorn's teeth as well. “Tell you what I’ll cut his mic so he can't complain, just sing for us I'm sure Bleu would love to hear it as well.”

“Not really.” mutters Bleu barely under her breath ignoring Rhede's shushing sound.” I was there too you know....”

“Well I mean if you insist.” Sailfin giggles a bit before clearing her throat clearly falling to the red stallions charms.

“I'm gonna kill you Pelt.” Jer'rahd snarls, shuddering violently as another corridor he ran down ended with him tripping and falling bodily into the chest deep water ,surfacing with a panicked sputter. How had he gotten this lost going down one tunnel?

“Shoo be doo shoop shoop be doobie......” sings the sea pony ambassador as Jer'rahds screams fill the tunnels.

=========================================================

Applebloom stares down at Zecora, the zebra mare suddenly becoming rather self conscious at how much shorter she was than the much younger mare. Clearly Applebloom was taking more after Big Mac than Applejack.

[“I'm still not understanding what you are saying Zecora. What do you mean somethings gonna happen? Why do I have to go on a trip?”] Applebloom questions.

Zecora sighs rubbing her forehead with a hoof, realizing she hadn't thought that far ahead in this situation. A normal pony would just fall for the old mystic seer shtick that she used. Applebloom knew her too well. Plus this was rather difficult to explain with out letting on just how long she really had been alive.

She had shown up on the farm and sought out Applebloom before even taking more than a glance or two at the stripped fluff balls that where her aunt's twins. That in itself took a great deal more effort than she liked. Still Applebloom usually followed her advice and suggestions with out much question.

Well she used to any way.

[“Err, It is just a feeling. You know how I sometimes get those and it allows me to show up where I am needed.”] Zecora mutters.

[“I always thought it was just listening for the screams from town and dropping by at the right moment.”] Applebloom states. [ “Being observant to yer surroundings is what yah taught me.”]

[“Well sometimes it is that too....Still this is something clearly important or I would not have been guided thus far.”]

[“Sorry, but I think you might be wrong this time Zecora. I'm not going any where, and even if I was with the Zapp apples coming I can't.”] Applebloom looks a bit pensive about something however and this catches Zecora's attention.

[“What is it?”]

[“Nothing.”]

[“I have known you long enough to tell when something is bothering you Applebloom. Is it the nightmares again?”]

[ “No, well yeah they are still bugging me, but no more than usual. I mean.....Well,.... Have you..... have you ever heard singing from the Everfree?”]

[“Singing? Like bird song or the Breezies?”]

[“No I mean.... oh I don't know how to even begin to describe this. I heard a song that sounded like one of those old chants you used to do at times. And after Talking with Fluttershy I realized I was hearing the Timberwolves howling and I was hearing them sing. Kina like how even when speaking zebra my mind translates it to pony so I can understand it. “] Applebloom winces clearly not liking the idea that some one might think she was going crazy, though if any one would believe her the zebra mare would.

[“I cannot claim that I have heard singing like that.”] Zecora states shaking her head. [
I cannot think of any reason how you could understand them either.....”] Zecora blinks glancing back at her saddlebag as she felt a light tug on her mind.

[“I have to be going crazy. With all the nightmares and everything else. I figure if I ever do get my cutie mark it will be in going insane.”]

[“ Well you did once say you would like any sort of cutie mark.”] Zecora smirks.

[“Yeah well not in going crazy. What would that even look like?”] Applebloom wails.

[“Most likely it would be an image of Discord.”]

[“Yeah cause I really want a picture of him on my flank.”] Applebloom grumbles, though she did smile finally so that was something at least.

Zecora chuckles glad to see her friend in better spirits. She turns digging into her saddle bag pulling the necklace out and offering it to the yellow mare. [“Here”]

Applebloom takes it, looking over the little wire cage and the item inside.

[“Errr this is nice and all, but why are you giving me a rock in a necklace?]

[“It is tied to the feeling I had. I suggest you not lose it as it is likely the only one like it that exists any more. It is also far older than either of us. I do not know what you will do with it, but I feel this is the right thing to be doing.”] Zecora states.

[“Thanks, but you should keep it. I know I won't be going any where. There's to much to do every day around here even without the Zapapples. I don't even have a trip planned, there's not even any where I wanna go.....” ]

“HEY APPLEBLOOM!!” bellows a voice with enough volume to make both of them wince.

“Crikie, I think I’ve gone deaf.” grumbles a much quieter voice.

“Warn us next time you bellow like that you blasted Dictionary. Oh wait there she is.”

[“I think you might need not have anything planned at all for a trip to come to you.”] Zecora smiles as Pip, Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle trot around the side of the farm house and spot the pair of them standing next to the barn.

===============================================================

[1 year ago. New Canterlot Castle]

A squad of pegasi flew past one of the tall towers eyes scanning the ground and the windows and balconies of the castle searching for some pony.

A pair of glowing eyes opened in the shadows under the eaves of the tower's roof watching the squad pass before slipping out of the darkness and dropping lightly onto a balcony startling a small collection of birds before she slipped into the room.

Luna spare a glance back outside before pulling the door closed and drawing the curtains before the glass doors.

It seemed she had given Starfall and Rainbow Dash the slip somehow. A difficult task, but not impossible if one knew how the pair of them flew. She did not expect however for the flying members of the 42nd to be joining in the chase. Her sister evidently thought them the only ones capable of capturing herself and Jer'rahd. Luna smiles softly, Tia was cheating again, but it wouldn't work this time.

She rather hoped that Jer'rahd could make it past the others with out being able to fly. Still considering Starfall was the only one who could regularly beat Jer'rahd in a spar, and that the pegasus was after her, his escape would likely be easier than her own.

This was a completely ridiculous situation however, she expected their friends to be a bit upset at the revelation that she and Jer'rahd had secretly wed, and she knew her sister would be mad, but to this level? Making the pair of them fugitives in their own home was a too far. She really needed to have a word with Tia about over reacting, that would certainly be a interesting conversation.

The room she had found her way into was a unused guest quarters, one that Rarity had been in not terribly long ago if Luna was not mistaken. That would make getting down a little annoying as the stair well was exposed. Still she could hide out in here until the patrols died down.

She grumbles again starting to wonder if the secret marriage had been a good idea after all. It had been done to avoid fuss, not make matters worse as it clearly had.

She had much she needed to tell her sister and running away from her was not the way to do it. Still Tia had started this challenge and Luna was not about to let her win just to hold a conversation with her, even if it was about the changelings.

Shining and Cadence had set aside a unused area in the Empire to create spot for the changelings to occupy. The general population clearly was not happy with that fact, but at the same time since Shining and Cadence were adamant about it, they could not do much more than be upset.

The changeling population that had been captured was no where near the size of the one that swarmed Canterlot. The maid Locust had informed them that most of the changelings that were involved in the attack were drones with no real mind of their own anyway. Luna was unsure of what that meant of if they could trust the female, but Locust did not have anything to gain or lose by lying. In any case Luna was sure Twilight would love to study them when she had a chance.

The light click of hooves on the stone stairs outside snapped her back to her senses and derailed her thoughts. She winces hearing soft voices at the door and the sound of keys jingling at the lock. Luna turns ducking back out onto the balcony, better to slip free and avoid any conflict, she could always hide in the rafters again.

Luna's eyes go wide and she back peddles furiously as she comes face to face with a pink haired, yellow pegasus with a small flock of birds fluttering around her.

The pegasus mare hops off the railing walking slowly towards Luna, glaring at the Princess as she backs up into the room.

“Fluttershy what....?”

“I am sorry Princess. I am sure you and Mr. Kaisur had your reasons for hiding your marriage, but you upset a lot of ponies by doing that .”

“That was not the intent.” Luna protests.” Why are you here? I did not think this would bother you of all ponies.”

“Oh it doesn't bother me at all. I always feel uncomfortable at weddings and parties like this. I am rather happy for you two in fact.”

“Then why?” Luna glances over to the door wincing as a trio of young ponies step in looking up at her.

The Pegasus colt was the tallest and the lankiest as well. Paintbrush Lily, or Brush as his friends had been calling him, had just turned sixteen and had not yet gotten past his growth spurt yet. The dark blue colt had a shock of bright blue hair for his mane and tail and his cutie mark was a paint brush that was coloring a cloud white. He was attempting to give her a mean glower, though on his young face it was more of a cute pout.

The smallest of the three was also the most fit and well muscled. Pipsqueak had taken to Jer'rahd's offer to train them like a duck to water, so much so that for his fourteenth birthday last year Luna had helped craft him his own sword. She worried at first he might out grow it, but since he was only a little bit bigger now at fifteen than he was at ten , she did not expect him to out grow the blade. The white and brown spotted earth pony colt was taking good advantage of his size and how his brown hair fell over his face to try and look sad and disappointed. He pulled it off a little too well.

The only filly was Ice Berry Lily. Her brother and Pip called her Berry, though she didn't call them anything. She and her brother were the pair that was rescued from the storm drains of Canterlot nine years ago. Unlike her brother the thirteen year old filly had yet to get over her nightmares. The unicorn filly also never spoke, and no one knew for sure why. Despite that the light blue and dark blue haired filly still acted as if she was a normal child, simply one rendered mute. She had also not yet gained her cutie mark. Still she did not need to speak for the teary eyes she was showing to make the Princess of the night whimper slightly.

Luna flinches as if she had been slapped and back peddles until her rump hits a wall her eyes wide as she looks at the sad stares they were giving her. The three approached her along with Fluttershy cornering the Goddess of War.

“I don't mind what you did, but they do. And Mr. Kaisur is part of the Apple family and you know how Applejack gets when something happens with her family. Weddings are just another big family gathering to her and she loves those. She was very upset that you tried to take that away from her.”

Fluttershy frowns her wide eyes glaring down the Princess of the Night.

“And I don't like it when some one makes my Applejack upset.....”

===============================================================

[Current day]

“You wanna do what?” Applebloom questions.

“Go on a road trip. You know head out have fun with just us girls?” Sweetiebelle states.

“Yeah, the ban on the three of us being alone together only covers New Canterlot.” Scootaloo points out.

“Aunt Celestia had it extended after the Noodle incident. It now covers all of Equestria.” Pip mentions as he slowly slices into an apple with with his sword cutting out a wedge before eating it.

“That was not our fault!” Applebloom yells back.“Why are you even here!?”

“Because of that ban of course.” Pip states matter of factly tossing a apple wedge to Scootaloo before eating another one himself. “ The three of you are not allowed to be alone together with out some sort of supervision by a competent pony. Sides ah know Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo want to grill me about DT and ah figger it would be rude to run off before then.”

Applebloom rolls her eyes grumbling at her adopted cousin as Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo nod. “Look it sounds nice. But Zapapple season has just started and with Granny gone....”

“Wait, Granny Smith is gone? When?” Sweetiebelle questions.

“About seven months now. Seriously how are you considered the gossipy one?” Scootaloo sighs. “ You're like a broken dictionary, you know what you don't need to, and miss what you should know.”

“Ah think that's a encyclopedia.” Pip points out receiving a glare from Scootaloo. “ I’ll shush now.”

“Like ah said, with Granny gone ah have to stay here and make sure the Zap apples are harvested correctly.” Applebloom mutters.” Last thing ah need is for Mr. Rich to have another reason to hate me.”

“Geez why bother trying to appease that guy. He's never gonna forgive you.” Scootaloo snorts. “It's his own fault for raising such a bully anyway.”

“Still mah family needs me here to help out. Every ponies counting on me to make sure this season goes off without a hitch and ah'm gonna make sure it happens.”

“Maybe we can speed it up a little. I can yell at the jars for you.” Sweetiebelle states.

“Ah need them tested for weakness, not shattered tah a million pieces. Uncle Jer'rahd should be coming by tah do that.” Applebloom states. “Granny let him do it last year and she said he seemed to enjoy tha yelling.”

“We could help pick them.” Scootaloo suggests.

“Dash, Uncle Rhede, and my brother and sister are doing that.” Applebloom shakes her head.

“Sing to the water?” questions Sweetiebelle

“Nah the foals are doing that.”

“Help make the jam?” Scootaloo asks.

“Nah Fluttershy and Velkorn are taking care of that. They helped out last year and they have the recipe down pat.”

“So what exactly is there left for you then?” Pip queries.

Applebloom opens her mouth to answer her cousin before closing it as she did the calculations in her mind and her ears flatten to her head.

“Run around and make sure everything is going as it's supposed to like Granny did.....” Applebloom sighs.

“Which according to your own words, it is. So all you have to do is sit back and watch.” Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo grin wide looking at Applebloom as Pip rolls his eyes at the pair. “So you could sit around and watch everything get done like it already is, or you can come with us.”

“Ah walked inta that didn't ah?” Applebloom sighs.

“Eeyup.” Pip states eating another slice of his apple.

=========================================================

[1 year ago, New Canterlot]

Princess Celestia had dealt with a great many trials and tribulations in her long life. Discord, Chrysalis, Aviana, the great cake batter scare of 703, Discord, Nightmare Moon, Forge Scale,the Noodle Incident, Sombra, and Discord to name a hoof full.

She had not expected the turn out, nor the result of Discord's information. Granted the draconequus seemed to have seen it coming, judging by the fact he was still pretending to be a chandelier and cackling madly as the two escapees were brought in. She had expected him to follow the chaos and go after them but he had just waited around and it prevented Celestia from locking him out of the room when the others came back.

She wanted to punt the annoying creature out of the city, but for now at least he was staying out of trouble. Of course now Discord was not even a contender for the most annoying thing in the room, and she was developing a nervous twitch in her eye as she looked down at the gathered group. Twilight who had returned to her side, surveyed the scene and simply face hoofed.

Her sister, the Goddess of War, The Princess of the Night, the terrifying creature who became Nightmare Moon, sat before her bound up in Applejack's rope ,babbling apologies and bawling like a foal who just had a sucker stolen from her.

She looks to the ones that brought her in. Starfall and Rainbow Dash seemed both confused and worried over Lulu's state. Applejack didn't seem certain of what was going on either despite her rope binding Luna. Her sisters adoptive children however all pointed as one to the yellow pegasus hiding behind Rarity as soon as Celestia's gaze fell on them. Fluttershy squeaked and tried to hide in Rarity's tail apologizing profusely.

Bleu had carried in Jer'rahd who was also bound up, though in a sizable amount of chains that made him look more like a caterpillar in a cocoon than a pony. Celestia's other eye started to twitch at the sight of him, and Twilight had started to beat her head against the wall.

General Kaisur, Leader of the Five Beasts of the Moon, The Demon of Dullahan, the most feared solider of several wars, was lying on the floor twitching in spasms, his eyes were rolled back into his head, he was drooling, and frothing at the mouth, clearly catatonic.

She looked up at Bleu, Velkorn, and Orange Danish, who all promptly pointed at Rhede. She turns her glare to the sheepishly smirking pony.

“The Seapony ambassador from Sandy Shoal says hello Princess.” Rhede chuckles halfheartedly.

Celestia rubs her hoof against her temple, wanting very much to join Twilight in beating her head against the wall.

“You were just supposed to capture them. Not break them.” Celestia growls.

====================================================

[Current Day Sweet Apple Acres]

[“I Told you there was a trip coming.”] Zecora chuckles looking up as Applebloom stomps back into the kitchen along with her. The pair had found Applejack and after a short conversation with Zecora, Applejack had agreed to let Applebloom go on the trip.

“Ah dun wanna hear it.” Applebloom grumbles heading up stairs as the other CMC and Pip look up from the kitchen table. “Ah still wanna know how you convinced mah sister so fast.” she shouts back down.

“Hey Miss Zecora.” Pip states. “They're all yours. Ah'm gonna go see my uncle now.”

“Hello to you as well little Pip, Your uncle is in the front of the house, so there is not much of a trip.” Zecora responds waving a hoof at the small pony's salute. Zecora shakes her head.” So the ban on you three is still going on? Memories of the Noodle incident I thought would be long gone.”

“Not our fault!” shouts Applebloom from upstairs.

Pip sighs slipping out the door before either of the fillies at the table remembered to question him about Diamond Tiara.

“Soooo ummm yeah.” Scootaloo rubs her hoof against the back of her head trying not to look at the zebra mare.

“Do relax Scootaloo I do not blame the fire that happened on you.” Zecora sighs. “It has been a long time since then, I am sure you have more control now then you did way back when.”

“Yeah , the Princess did show me a few things to keep my wings in check. Though she's a little disappointed that I can only make wings of fire.” Honestly I'm kinda glad that's all I can do.” Scootaloo mutters.

“Princess Celestia is not upset with you, she was likely simply hoping for another who could control fire too.”

“Wait the Princess was hoping the fried chicken here could control fire like she can? That would have been awesome..... “ Sweetiebelle chimes in.

“Forget it you pyro. I told you before I am not here for your amusement.” Scootaloo grumbles.

“But it's soooo pretty .” Sweetiebelle monotones, a blank look crossing her face that made Scootaloo wince, before the unicorn giggled.

“Don't do that. It's creepy. “ Scootaloo scolds.

“Not to be a wet blanket now that your trip is set, but have either of you told your own parents yet?” Zecora questions, rolling her eyes at the looks of terror the pair suddenly developed.

“Awww crap......” Scootaloo curses under her breath.

===================================================

[One Year Ago, new Canterlot.]

Celestia and Twilight had relocated and now sat across the table from a red eyed sniffling Luna and a still comatose Jer'rahd. The Sun Princess had shoo'd all the others away, particularly Discord who had some how convinced Pinkie Pie to pretend to be another chandelier a little further down the hall. Something Twilight seemed content to let happen as it kept both of them quiet for at least a little while.

Luna at least had stopped sobbing uncontrollably from the after effects of Fluttershy's stare, though the yellow pegasus would likely be apologizing for it for a few months.

“Fine then sister get on with your punishment or what ever it was you had planed. I doubt, mine suffering has been deep enough for you to yet be appeased by it.” Luna bemoans.

“Do not even start to paint me as the one wrong here. While I admit this was a little excessive.....” Celestia trails off looking at the puddle of froth filling the bowl some one had placed under Jer'rahd's head.” Umm.... is he going to be alright?”

“He shall recover. He just needs his brain reset and will likely have worse nightmares for a while. This is not the first time this has happened. Do recall the fits he had at that minor flood a few years ago.” Luna mutters.

“We really need to find a way to fix his fear of water.” mutters Twilight

“Tis only deep water thankfully. “ Luna points out.

“Yes, anyway. I am quite upset with you running off and getting married without telling any one. I thought you more responsible than that Lulu.”

“We did not want any of the fuss a public wedding would bring.” Luna sighs

“And as such you robbed Pinkie and Rarity of the opportunity to design the wedding and reception, something both of them have been rather adamant about wishing to do. Your friends were rather disappointed to not see the pair they worked so hard to get together wed. And well you know the effect it had on your adoptive foals first hoof.” Celestia explains

“Not to mention after everything another Royal wedding would definitely bring some interest and a bit of cheer to every pony. Nine years after the war and there are some who are still trying to adjust to the way things are now. While all of us are consider heroes of the conflict, Jer'rahd's name is actually known as the one who challenged the attacking god directly thanks to that weird broadcast spell Aviana used. The wedding of a hero and a Princess would be one of the biggest things ever. Just the positive focus and the bits that it could bring into the economy would be monumental.”Twilight rambles.

“Then you and Tia should wed. I am sure the subjects would be more interested in thine wedding then mine.” Luna snorts.

Twilight flushes though Celestia shakes her head.

“Unlike you and Kaisur here we are not quite ready for that sort of thing yet. You two have proven otherwise with this stunt. “Celestia sighs at that looking at Twilight who sheepishly looked away.

“Besides this is also a very good opportunity for you to see that every pony does care for you as well , not just Princess Celestia.” Twilight points out. “ Or at least show everyone at once they have nothing to be scared of in regards to you.”

Luna blinks staring at the pair of them. Not at all happy that Twilight would bring up her complaints about Nightmare night after all this time.

“I am not sure I like the influence you have on her Tia. You are both playing dirty.” Luna mutters

“Not nearly as dirty as Fluttershy and Rhede do evidently. “ Celestia smirks looking at the still comatose Jer'rahd. “Remind me not to get them annoyed at me.”

===========================================================

[Current Day, Sweet Apple Acres]

“So she is with a foal? Damn, Jer doesn't waste any time. The news that Changeling foal couldn't have been out for longer than a few months, and if she's that far along.... I guess the wedding is on hold then?” Rhede chuckles. “Caught red hooved and yet they still manage to make things go the way they want. I taught them well.”

Pip stares up at his uncle who looked far too proud of himself for some reason and sighs.

“Aunt Tia was a bit mad, then excited, then mad again, then giggling like a school filly when she was told she could plan the baby shower.” Pip continues. “ Was really creepy.”

“Yeah she does that some times. How'd she take the news that the wedding needed to be pushed back til after the birth of the foal?”

“She and Ma argued a bit though Ma was more than willing to fight her on this one. How come you didn't hear about this? Whole city's talking about it.”

“We just got back from the Zebra lands today. We came here first so I wouldn't get swamped in paper work right after getting home. I hate the fact everything always needs to be documented.”

“S'what Da said. Though with more swearing. Ah, think he's a bit overwhelmed with what's happening too.“

“Knowing him he probably has gone into super protective mode.” Rhede grumbles.

“Ah gotta show three forms of ID just to get to the bathroom.” Pip confirms.

“Owch. Planning to ask AJ if you can stay here? It's a bit crowded, but I’m sure she'd find a spot.” Rhede suggests.

“Was a thought, but I think ah got an idea bout a mission that might keep me outta the way fer a week or so.”

“Oh?” Rhede states watching the three foals hop the other way around the water. “ I don't suppose it has to do with a mare? Bout time a colt your age started looking.....”

“Ah me ears, not this conversation again.” Pip groans dropping his head to the ground and covering his head with his hooves. “ What is it with yah adults and trying tah play matchmaker!?”

“Cadence?”

“And Ma and Aunt Tia and tha castle maids, and a couple of tha female Guards, and grandma Moskau and Aunt Bleu....... Seriously, is that all yah adults have tah think about all day?” Pip bemoans. “Shipping tha younger ponies tagether?”

“Owch I didn't think it was that bad. I'd be careful though. You've seen how Jer got last time Orange had a date, I expect Luna might be the same way.”

“Oh yes thank you so much fer that encouragement. Now ah really ain't gonna tell um anything about......” Pip blinks as Rhede grins. “Crap....”

“So Pip's found himself a little filly friend? Or a colt friend?” Rhede's grin grew wider. “I had quite a few fillies myself when I was your age.....”

“If I tell yah, will yah not tell me those stories......”

“Deal.” Rhede pretends to pout, though he can't hide his grin. Pip was way to easy to sway, much like Jer'rahd used to be.

“Yeah there's a filly ah like. She's a little pushy and she's made a lot of ponies angry at her. She puts on airs but she's actually rather nice when yah get past all that.”

“Oh, what's her name?”

“SCOOTALOO, YAH DAMN FIRE CHICKEN, YAH SET THA CURTAINS ON FIRE AGAIN!”Applebloom's voice shouts from inside the house.

Pip had opened his mouth to respond when the scream rang out from the building and a orange pegasus with burning green wings is flung out of a window, tumbling over her flank before righting her self, wings spread wide.

“IF YOU HADN'T JUMPED DOWN THE STAIRS AND SURPRISED ME I WOULDN'T HAVE YAH FREAKISH GIANT!” Scootaloo shouts back.

“Oh not not again.” Rhede mutters rising to his hooves. “Pip watch the foals....”

Rhede runs off as the two friends continue to shout at each other while smoke billows out of the window.

Pip blinks then slaps his face with a hoof.

=======================================================

[ One year ago, New Canterlot.]

“You going to be alright?” Luna questions

“Just find a vat of that northern vodka stuff and toss me in it.”

“Wouldn't that set off your fear of water as well?”

“No, cause I would drink my way out of that in a hour or so and be too blitzed to care. Best thing about getting that damn dragon out of my head I can drink myself comatose again when I need to.”

“At the cost of a bar's entire stock. And at least eighty percent of your paycheck.”

“Small price to pay for being able to get drunk again.” Jer'rahd grumbles sitting on the floor of Luna's quarters his head laying on her bed as the Lunar Princess plays with his mane with a hoof.

“You should grow this out again.” Luna mutters in his ear.

“Maybe in a few years......”

“Spoil sport. So what sort of punishment did Tia hit you with?”

“A promotion.”

“You are kidding?”

“No, which means I get another silly dress uniform redesign and another few dozen medals. Also an office job until the wedding happens. So all I have to look forward to is paperwork. A LOT of paperwork, she's not even letting me have an assistant this time. What about you?”

“She's cutting off my sweets intake for a few months as well as banning me from making any more trips. She also doubled up the cases for my Night Court.”

“She's getting too good at knowing what will most bother us the most. “

“Tempted to try and over throw her again just for some of the red velvet cake the royal baker makes on Tuesdays.”

“I'll schedule a raid. Pip, Pinkie, Discord, and Bleu will probably want in on it.”

“Won't be any cake left after those four get done.”

“ So did you manage to tell her about the new godling?”

“No, we got rather distracted by wedding planning before you woke up. Well she and Twilight did. They didn't really ask my opinion.” Luna smirks slightly. “ I am not looking forward to this.”

“Look on the bright side. I try to.”

“There is a bright side to this wedding?”

“Hmm what did Pinkie say was the line. Ah yes. To quote the best Princess.” Jer'rahd clears his throat before shouting in the loudest, highest pitch voice he can manage. “ HA HA, The Marriage has been doubled!”

“By the stars do not ever try to imitate my voice again. I will end you Jer'rahd.” Luna laughs.

“No promises. I thought it was funny.”

Luna shakes her head a small grin remaining on her face however. She lowers her head nuzzling lightly against his her smile getting a bit wider.

“So do you think you can deal with all the paper work that will be sent to you?”

“I'll forward most of it to Corporal Peach Blossom and make sure I sign it from Starfall. He won't even blink before taking care of it.”

“Poor fool is stuck on her.” Luna smirks.” Not unlike another pony I know.”Luna chuckles pulling her head back to look down at him.

“Yes well like that 'other pony you know' it's not just one sided. They have gone on a few dates already and they both took a few days off a couple months ago for something.”

“Good for them. It will be nice to see Starfall somewhat cheery for a change.”

“You know as well as I do that she's too damn cheery around Rainbow Dash already.” Jer'rahd sighs.

“Yes well enough about that. We spent far too long trying to avoid the others.....”

“Only to end up where we were going any way......” Jer'rahd shrugs.

“............. and it is too early in the morning and we should be in bed.”

“You are already in bed Luna....” Jer'rahd mutters looking up at her.

“Yes well you are not. Cut the lights out before you join me and perhaps I can make you forget about seaponies for a while.”

“As you wish Princess.” Jer'rahd grins hopping up to do just that.

===================================================

[Present day, Sweet Apple Acres]

“It was sooooo preeety.” Sweetiebelle monotones like she was in a trance, only to have both Applebloom and Scootaloo smack her in the back of the head. “OW!”

“Ah think ah changed mah mind.” mutters Applejack looking at the remains of the curtains and the scorch marks on the wall. “ Ya'll three shouldn't be doing anything on yer own.”

“Not to point this out Miss Applejack, but what was granted cannot be taken back.” Zecora responds.

“Ah dun wanna hear it from you, this happened while you were watching them.” AJ snorts.

“And because I was doing that so well, you have only ruined curtains, your house is not a burned out shell.” Zecora responds.

Rhede sighs looks at the damage with a small smirk. “I can't say this was really a bad thing. Those curtains really needed to be replaced any way . They clashed something fierce with the rest of the room.”

“Oh I agree. Something in a pastel green or blue would suit the room much better.” Fluttershy chimes in.

“Funny I was thinking more of a warm orange or burnt umbra to play off the brick in the fireplace.” Rhede points out.

“Oh I can see that, though it might be better to use something that could match all the seasons so one wouldn't need to change them too often.” Fluttershy states not noticing Applejack's face hoof.

“I'm not letting them go on a trip if they can't even leave tha house without destroying something.” Apple jack mutters.

“It was an accident!” Scootaloo yells from outside the window.

“You say they was all accidents. Including tha noodle incident and look what happened there!” AJ yells back

“THAT WASN'T OUR FAULT!” Applebloom screams out.

Applejack grumbles shutting the window with the three fillies out side with Big Mack and Rainbow Dash watching them.

[“You seem rather intent on making sure they go Zecora. Why is that?”] Velkorn states.

[“A bit of a premonition. I get them from time to time. Normally they are a prelude to something important. It has helped me know where to be or who to guide several times in the past and it has always wound up being for the best in all cases. This time it is telling me for certain that Applebloom needs to make this trip. Past that I do not know the details or what might happen only that I know it is a very important task that will change her fate.” ] Zecora responds.

[“Still we can't let them go on their own. Applejack wouldn't allow that. And to be honest neither would princess Celestia.”] Rhede mutters.

[“Yer darn right I won't”] AJ states loudly also in zebra causing the three of them to look at her in shock then to Fluttershy.

“Oh um sorry I’ve been teaching her Zebra and a few other languages, she picks them up fairly quickly.” Fluttershy whispers trying to hide behind her mane.

“Remind me to get you to try and teach Jer zebra sometime.” Rhede responds flattening his ears. “Alright so we get a pony to go with them to keep them from destroying the world or causing another noodle incident.”

“NOT OUR FAULT!” screams Applebloom from outside again. Applejack growls shutting the window again.

“Any way. Jer would be the best bet, he'd probable kill to get out of the paperwork Princess Celestia has him doing.” Rhede suggests.

“Da is waiting on ma to give birth remember.” Pip points out as he looks up from playing with the three foals on the other side of the room. The trio clatter across the floor back and forth between him and Fluttershy still hopping about as they bounce around in the bunny suits. Fluttershy softly coos at their cuteness and pulls them into a hug much to Butterscotch's annoyance.

“Right forgot about that then. Twilight maybe?” Rhede suggests.

“She's doing that book thing ah hers. She's hard pressed tah remember tah eat lately.” Applejack responds. “ What about Bleu?”

“She took off with Spike to do something. She mentioned there were a couple of stubborn dragons not wanting to cooperate. You know how those two are on the Cindervale thing, very hush hush.” Rhede sighs. “ And all of us are dealing with the Zap Apples....”

“Perhaps it should be you, you are most insistent about what they are allowed to do.” Velkorn suggests looking at Zecora.

“I have my own reasons for not being able to go, simply put this is Applebloom's show.” Zecora responds.

“You an me are gonna have a long talk about what is going on here. Normally ah'm kinda lenient on yer advice considering all that you've helped with Zecora, but this is involves family, an is a little mysterious even fer you.” Applejack states getting a sigh from the zebra.

“I'll do it.” Pip offers.

“What?”Fluttershy questions. Both the zebra's look a bit surprised as well, though Rhede and AJ seem to consider it.

“That might work.” Applejack states as Rhede nods.

“But … Pipsqueak’s still a young colt...” Fluttershy protests.

“True, but he acts like an adult more so than some adults ah know.” Applejack states, glaring at Rhede.

“Not to mention Jer and Luna have been training him so he's probably able to deal with anything they might encounter on a road trip.” Rhede states though he looks at Pip .”What I wanna know is why would you volunteer to chaperone the walking disasters?”

“Ma's having a foal, which has got the entire castle going completely nuts. Da's a wreck, and he's running ta Guards and every one else ragged with security. Orange is trying to figure out how tah prepare for a goddess giving birth and driving most of the hospital staff nuts. Aunt Tia is excited and giddy and is driving the castle staff nuts. And Discord an Pinkie are visiting and some how managing to be the calmest things there.” Pip lists off. “ Safer for me tah be with those three tah be honest.”

“Ah kinda doubt that.” Applejack mutters.” Still if Yer Ma and Pa say it's alright I expect it'll be okay. Ah know yah ken be trusted. Besides they're only going tah visit Rarity, and Cadence any way.”

“And Los Pegasus as well if you listen to Sweetiebelle.” Fluttershy points out.

“Ugh” Applejack winces at that.”..... Ah well I trust Applebloom not tah spend all her bits in gambling.
An I suppose ah ken trust Pip tah make sure the others don't do something stupid.”

“I'll make sure they leave a plan of where they are going.” Rhede comments. “I need to know the places to prepare disaster plans for.”

“The other two still have their parents to tell. But if my feeling is right they will be allowed as well.” Zecora points out.

“So there's a plan. Still something still feels wrong about this whole thing.” Applejack mutters.

“Dread, that feeling is dread.” Rhede responds.

Author's Note

Sorry this took so long. It took me forever to be happy with it.

Wasted Summers [8]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Wasted Summers

[ Two years after War of the Gods, Sweet Apple Acres ]

Bird song filled the trees in the small clearing and a family of squirrels darted around the limbs collecting nuts and chasing each others tails. The bird song stopped suddenly and the squirrels paused, ears perking up at the sound of thuds against the dirt approaching. Larger hoof steps coupled with many smaller ones echoed in the clearing drawing closer. They animals didn't bother to wait and see who it was before darting back up the trees to hide and to see what was going on.

A gray unicorn with a sandy blond mane and tail trots towards the clearing. His muscular form was crisscrossed with scars and a leather harness was wrapped around his chest holding a curved double bladed sword made of a strange dark metal on his right side. A silver kite shield adorned his flank on one side, a black chess knight in the center of it. His left side bore a massive scar that cut though his cutie mark, obscuring a large portion of it.

A small white earth pony colt with patches of brown over his form trots along doing his best to keep up with the gray unicorn. His brown mane and tail bounce as he skips forward doing his best to keep up with the adult pony. A stubborn look of concentration rests on his face clearly straining with the effort.

On the other side of the unicorn trotted a young unicorn mare, clearly older than the colt, though still quite young. She wore a dark blue cloak that covered most of her form, though a orange cream colored muzzle poked out a bit from under the hood, along with a few strands of silvery hair. She was clearly reluctant to be there and she kept glaring up at the unicorn stallion with her bright orange eyes, annoyance evident on her features. Some of that might have stemmed from the bandages she still wore that covered part of her face.

A small pegasus colt, slightly larger than the earth pony colt flitted around the small group landing to walk a little while when his wings grew tired before fluttering in the air again. His bright red mane and tail bounced lightly as he flitted around on his dark blue wings. His red eyes flicked back and forth between their surroundings and the small bundle on the gray unicorns back.

A small, dark blue, that almost seemed purple, unicorn filly sat on the gray unicorns back wrapped in a thick purple blanket, her gold eyes and small horn all that could be seen along with the occasional wisp of hair from her red mane the same color as her brothers. She glanced around fearfully from her perch her small hooves digging into the larger unicorns back.

“We're here.” Jer'rahd states simply. Slowly he crouches to the ground to let the small filly scramble down off his back, her brother moving to her side quickly.

“And where is here Sir?” Pipsqueak asks, panting softly.

“A place I've been wanting to bring you all for some time now. But I wanted to make sure all of you were alright to travel, even if it is only to the farm.”

“Another grave site Jer'rahd? Haven't we seen enough of those?” mutters the larger unicorn mare with a sigh of annoyance.

Jer'rahd looks around at the clearing and the single tree left in the middle with an old grave stone wrapped in it's roots. Several other markers had been raised around the tree in the clearing, marking the resting places of the few other Pelts he and Rhede could remember, though the tree sat in the middle of it all, with just the old stone in it's roots and a stone plaque before it.

“This is a old one Orange. No one you would know directly, more of a monument any way at this point, the bodies buried here have long ago returned to the earth. This is where my parents and grandparents are buried.”

“You lost your parents too?” the pegasus colt questions some what hesitantly, looking up at Jer'rahd.

“I did Brush. At about the same age you are as well. My mother and grandmother then, years later my father and grandfather. The only ponies I had.”

“Are we supposed to feel sorry for you?” Orange grumbles.

“No and I wouldn't ask you to either. I lost them a long time ago, so it would be some what pointless to feel bad for me now. Though I still come out here every time I feel a need to talk, I suppose I find some solace in telling them what has happened in my life. Though that's not why I brought you here either.”

“Then why Sir?” Pipsqueak questions.

“Just to explain a few things and hope you all can understand where I am coming from with this.” Jer'rahd states slowly rising back up to his hooves.” Back when they died I was taken in by another family. They cared for me and treated me as their own even though I was in not of their blood, in truth I was barely even friends with one of them at the time. I didn't know them, and they really did not know me. So believe me when I say I think I know how you all feel in the situation you are in. I still come out here, I still talk to them and I still miss them, despite having another family that took me in.“

Jer'rahd sighs his ears perking a little at an experimental chirp of bird song in the air.

“They understood that I didn't see myself as part of their family. Not fully, any way, but they didn't care. Ma and Pa Pelt still treated me like I was their foal, for better or worse with that family to be honest.” Jer'rahd smirks a little at that. “But that's what Luna and I are trying to do. We are not trying to be replacements for who you all lost. We are just trying to do the best we can to make sure you all have some one you can consider family. To know that there are still those who care about you whether you are related to them or not.” Jer'rahd lets out a held breath he wasn't aware he was holding in..

The group sat there for a little while looking at the markers in silence before Berry slips out from under the blanket moving over to reach up and pat Jer'rahd's leg with her tiny hoof..

“Berry and I like you.” Brush states with a small smile as he looks at his sister.

“I know you're doing your best sir.” Pipsqueak explains.

“That was a lame speech Jer'rahd.....” Orange sighs though a small smile crosses her muzzle. “ Nice thought anyway.”

Jer'rahd returns the smiles with a small chuckle.“Hehe, I keep telling ponies that Orange, and they keep insisting that I give great speeches. Anyway enough with the depressing bit... I suppose it's time for the real reason I brought you all out to the farm today. Time to meet every one else in the family.”

“Everyone else?” Brush asks as Jer'rahd's horn glows forming a small shield ramp that Berry canters up to sit on his back again pulling her blanket back over her head..

“Well on Luna's side there's Princess Celestia and Zecora.” Jer'rahd responds.

“Wait tha Zebra that lives in the Everfree forest is related to Princess Celestia?” Pip questions.

Jer'rahd nods. “Yep, best not to ask the connection though unless you want a long winded rhyme... my side of the family gets a little stranger. Briar Rose is my great grandfather on my grandmothers side, Bleu is pretty much an adopted Sister, Rhede's family are the ones that adopted me so we are technically related. They were the Pelts who became the Apples so I’m technically a member of the Apple family..... the Bluebloods are in there some as well from my mothers side.....”

“Holy crap how many ponies are you even related too?” Orange states clearly amazed.

“Yeah it was a bit of a surprise to me as well when I first started looking into it. I was trying to find out about my grandfather a long while back and then recently a bunch of information and connections were dumped on me as well.”

“Wow, any one else famous? “ Brush asks.

Jer'rahd winces a little thinking about ForgeScale, Avianna and Sombra, but mentioning the ones responsible for their families deaths likely wouldn't be good.

“None that I know of yet, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn I was related to Starswirl or a Ursa Major at this point. Now let's head back to the farm house. Apple Jack and Pinkie Pie are supposed to be preparing a party of some sort. Hope you are all hungry, If the Apples are like the Pelts they will be cooking a lot for their family gatherings.”

========================================================

[Current Day, East bound train to The Great Hooper Sea.]

Applebloom slowly turns a page in her book looking over some of the plants and herbs within, as well as the helpful mixtures they could provide, trying to commit them to memory. She had long ago given up trying to get her cutie mark in potion making, but she still found creating mixtures highly interesting and fairly rewarding. Even if she never got her cutie mark for it, she liked mixing potions and remedies enough to possibly make a career of it. After all there were a number of ponies who didn’t have cutie marks that matched what they did with their lives. Miss Cheerilee, Rarity, heck even Scootaloo, what the heck did a burning phoenix have to do with flying any way? That was normally a symbol of death and rebirth, not burning wings. Heck the only two phoenix she had even met were fat little things content to be waited on hoof and talon. Though perhaps Peewee and Philomena were not the best examples of their kind being a baby and a Princesses pretty pampered pet.

Despite all that, Applebloom planned to keep practicing. Zecora was still willing to teach her despite the disasters that had happened, and she had already used her abilities to improve on the Apple Family Cider recipe. Every one agreed the last years had been the best ever. It had been easy too just mixing in the right amount of nutmeg and cinnamon, she was surprised they never thought of it before. The hardest part about the whole thing was keeping Rainbow Dash, Bleu, and Jer'rahd from drinking all the barrels they made.

If nothing else she found the pursuit calming, which helped her keep her temper even. This was something she had drilled into her head by Briar Rose after the incident with Diamond Tiara. It was harder to hold onto control of your strength when you were angry. The power was always there too any time she had her hooves on the ground she could feel the earth. Great grandpa Rose said she had a better connection with it than most ponies, it was something he had never seen before. Most ponies had to draw on the power like a unicorn starts to cast with their horn, but she could access it in the time it took to think about it.

That thought scared her, made her think for a while she might turn out like Big Mac, who had to be careful all the time cause he couldn't easily control his own strength. She seen a number of times where Mac managed to hurt himself with out meaning to cause he over exerted himself. Kinda made her glad it was Rainbow Dash who had shacked up with him cause she was a tough pony.

She herself hadn't done anything damaging in the years since the incident with Diamond Tiara, well nothing involving the dragon spell anyway, but after the event she was terrified that she might do something like that again. Rose claimed that the chance of her losing her control in anger again was very minor after her training, but she was still paranoid she might use it and hurt some pony else so she did her best to suppress the connection, pretend she didn't even have it. There were always reminders however, like Mr. Rich.

It was Big Mac that helped her through that fear more than any one else. He was permanently stuck with his power active. This kept it drained for the most part, so it wasn't as strong, but he knew what it was like to be afraid of hurting some pony more than anything else. Despite a few close calls, and some property destruction during hearts and hooves day, he managed never to hurt any one, she had.

She snapped the book shut before the memories of that got the better of her. She was on a trip with her friends, she should be enjoying it , not dwelling on bad memories

Looking up and around the small cabin she saw Pip and Scootaloo looking over a pair of small green gem stones that were resting on the table between them under the window.

“Alright So how do these things work any way?” Scootaloo questions looking to Pip who was writing a note back to make a report once they got off the train. The small colt's hoof writing was only passing at the best of the times, though he was putting a concentrated effort to make everything legible and official looking as he wrote.

“Well ay don't know the specifics, but I can use this to send one of these treated bits of paper back to auntie Celestia. Miss Sparkle says it has something to do with dragon fire concentrated in a special type of crystal from the Empire. The Guard uses them for scouting missions and the like and Aunt Celestia and Uncle Rhede have a number of them set up to link Embassy's they have to the one in the castle. Problem is the spell to bind them like that is really expensive. It's cheaper to make crystals that send voice back and forth, that requires a direct connection though with at least one unicorn acting like a hub, so it's not autonomous like these are. The replay crystals like you and Sweetiebelle use for music are much simpler as they just repeat the same things on loop. A lot of musicians are using them as of late with the influx of specialized crystals being brought in cheaply from the Empire.”

“Geez and I call Sweetie a encyclopedia.” Scootaloo huffs.

“It's important to know what your equipment is and how to use it as well as at least a bit of why it works just in case. I left out all the stuff on repetition harmonics, so that kinda was the short version at least.” Pip sighs.

“Okay smart guy, then what about those things.” Scootaloo points a stubby wing to Sweetiebelle who was laying on her back with a little box floating in front of her face making blip sounds and the occasional scream. “Those game things are everywhere now.”

“Well I know they use junk crystals ground up into paste and then some liquid is added to make a display. They've gotten a lot fancier and smaller over the last few years too. I'm not much into the games, but Ma is a big fan. That probably helped the development of them a bit to be backed by a Princess. Particularly now since she's with foal, and isn't allowed to do much else. Da likes a few of them like the X-pony one with the aliens and stuff, but he likes anything with strategy to it. He played this one chess game for a couple of days straight when he first found out about it. Maw likes the adventure ones, she's been playing the new Fallout Equestria game, Record of Beryl Wars lately.” Pip explains looking up as Sweetiebelle makes a noise and sits up to look to them.

“So the Princess is a gamer then?” Scootaloo shrugs. “ Who would have thought it.”

“You have no idea. Most of us stay away from any of the new games she's interested in so we don't spoil anything. She tried to have a couple of Guards beheaded for talking about the ending in that Stratusedge game she was playing at the time. Auntie and Da managed to talk her out of it, though the pair quickly got shipped to an border post well out of her line of sight....... Ma's been a bit moody lately.” Pip rambles

“Oh Buttons and I played that, Stratusedge is fun, you play as someone who's descended from dragons and you have to save the world from evil dragons and a whole bunch of other stuff. I made a Fluffle pony who's a master of sneaking and spells.” Sweetie comments, butting into the conversation. “ Button made an Orc that smashes everything. Wanna hear me do the shout thing?”

“NO” Applebloom and Scootaloo shout out.

“Rather not, I like having my hearing and Ma doing it with the Royal Canterlot voice got rather old quick.” Pip explains.

The trio continue to talk games for a moment before Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle started trading insults again.

Applebloom couldn't help but chuckle as the pair start to bicker like old times leaving her cousin flabbergasted in the middle of the rather venomous sounding insults the pair used.
She opened up her book again, reaching into her bag and taking out the bit of jewelry Zecora gave her, looking at the little rock within curiously. It kinda looked like a seed, but not to any plant she had ever seen before, and nothing in her books seemed to even come close to matching it. Maybe she could find something on it in Gallopagos, there were different plants growing there that grew no where else, so she wanted to check the library there. It wouldn't be long before they passed through Manehatten and they should get to the ferry before nightfall. A rather slow start to the trip, but this should be fun. She couldn't help to think it would be more fun if she could stop thinking about the necklace

===========================================================

[ Two Years after the War of the Gods Sweet Apple Acres.]

This was going better than he and Luna had hoped. All of their children had been surprised and a little shy at the mass of introductions from all those there that they were related to, but they quickly opened up. Nearly every one he knew in this age was there and it surprised him to count some of them among the numbers of ponies he knew. Most of them were happy to see each other again, this being the first gathering in two years where every one could simply relax with out looking over battle plans or recovery efforts. While most of the focus was on every one meeting his and Luna's adoptive children, every one was more than happy to see each other again with out any world threatening thing going on.

Predominately Pinkie Pie and Discord seemed to be hosting the party. Jer'rahd didn't really trust the Draconequus, but considering that he an Pinkie had spent the first fifteen minutes after the introduction trying to get Berry, Brush, and Pip to laugh, he couldn't say anything bad against the creature. Besides Celestia hated him and that brought him up a notch or two in Jer'rahd's eyes. At least so long as he behaved anyway.

Rhede and Velkorn were even more inseparable than usual and it was fairly clear that Velkorn had finally gotten him right where she wanted him and Rhede oddly didn't seem to mind. Granted he did think Rhede was offering Orange a little too much flattery, but it seemed to make the young mare feel better.

Velkorn had heard of Orange's desire to join the medical field and was currently doing her best to talk with the girl despite Orange not knowing a lick of zebra. The cream colored mare was of course fascinated by what she was being told and Zecora joining the conversation was getting the young mare to talk more openly, in tones that were not laced with sarcasm and depression.

Rhede had been placed by Celestia and Luna at the head of a new group of ambassadors. Celestia saw fit to extend an olive branch nearly immediately after the war to every other race on Equus. She wanted to show that Equestria might have made a show of their might, but they were still more in favor of peace than anything else. Rhede adapted to the new age and a thousand years of information faster than any one else and thus was well suited to the position, as well as being trusted by both Princesses.

Velkorn didn't follow along with Rhede every where as she used to, something that seemed to bother the earth pony. However she was focused on catching up with the advances in medicine and studying the changelings that had been captured to learn all she could from them. It turned out there was not much she could learn from modern doctors,as it was a primarily a unicorn dominated field, though with her notes as well as the skill she displayed in the aftermath of the war there would likely be more earth ponies and pegasi seeking to enter the medical field than ever before.

Twilight, Spike, and Rarity were there, though the trio were staying off to themselves having a bit of a heated discussion. He caught Spike glancing his way once or twice with a hint of fear, that was quickly followed by a glare or two from the unicorn mares. When Spike informed Luna and Celestia of his intent to Restore the dragon nation and Cindervale, he had informed the dragon on no uncertain terms what would happen if there was a repeat of what happened the last time dragons held power.
Luna and Celestia were not amused and Twilight had hit him with part of the wall, but the point had been made.

Pip already knew Applebloom, and Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo were here as well. Pip managed to introduce the trio to the Lily’s and Brush at least was getting along with the older fillies. Jer'rahd certainly hoped he wouldn't take after Rhede, though Brush did seem to gain the fillies attention with out any real effort on his part.

Pip however had gone off and was trying to chat Briar Rose, Lion Heart, Moskau, and Peach Blossom's ears off. He wasn't exactly sure why the older zebra mare was there, though he figured it had something to do with Rose.

Peach Blossom was there, because Starfall was there, and Starfall was there because Rainbow Dash was there, and Rainbow Dash was there because Big Mac was there. And both of the latter were cornered by their respective relatives and subjected to a barrage of questions and discussions revolving around marriage and the number of foals Dash should be expecting by this point. He made a note to see if he could cause a distraction enough for the pair to slip away. He still didn't care much for Dash , but he rather liked Big Mac. The farm stallion was quiet, but Jer'rahd liked the conviction the stallion had.

Fluttershy was around somewhere, judging by how Applejack kept ducking into the kitchen, he assumed the shy mare was in there.

Bleu he could hear caterwauling outside already, evidently she had gotten it into her head to try and teach the 'Cutie Mark Crusaders' how to sing, with middling success. Applebloom and Scootaloo could hold a tune fairly well, but the noise that came out of the little unicorns mouth made his ears hurt. He seriously doubted that one would get a cutie mark for singing.

After New Canterlot had been restored Bleu had set to work on making sure the Platinum Music School was reopened as quickly as possible. She accepted the offer from Octavia as the new dean and set to work. Even while waiting for the structure to be rebuilt she had not been idle after she recovered from her injury. Bleu had fallen back on her ESO days and had brought together as many musicians and entertainers as she could and had them holding concerts across Equestria to try and raise bits and supplies to help with the rebuilding process. The shows that were held in New Canterlot were given for free and often followed the distribution of said donations.

She had also been introduced to a few new forms of music by one of the schools founders, a one Vinyl Scratch. Jer'rahd thought the music sounded like some one pushing a dumpster full of irate monkeys down five flights of stairs, but Bleu and much of the younger generation seemed to like it so he didn't complain.... much. Still the concerts had an added effect of promoting the school with a much broader audience, it seemed as now Bleu was stuck dealing with a influx of applications from all over Equestria and the Crystal empire, there were even a number of non pony applicants which was a bit of a shock all around.

Jer'rahd himself was unsure of his position any more. With the success of the 42nd, he was placed in charge of the new Guard training program. The basic training for all the various branches of the Guard had to go through his training before they could progress into each branches specialized training. The Royal Guard, The Wonder Bolts, the 666th, the Lunar Guard, and the Equestrian Guard all started with his training now, in fact most of the older Guard was being recycled back through training as well. Jer'rahd briefly debated going easier on the ones who had fought, but then that would defeat the purpose of the training.

His set rank now was still General, though he was the only one and it carried the same status as a Major overall. He still had to answer to a few higher officers as well as the Guard Captains. There had been a bit of a fuss about that at first as well as a few arguments and one overly high and mighty pegasus officer who thought he could chew Jer'rahd out for some perceived insult tho his nobly purchased rank.....

Suffice to say that pegasus was on the list for the 42nd training the moment he recovered. The other officers tended to be a bit more respectful after that. He also had the added task of making sure both Luna and Celestia's personal Guard were the best of the best, something That he took care of with far more seriousness than any other task. He also refused to let any one other than himself be in charge of Luna's personal Guard. In the short year since he had taken over Luna's Royal Night Guard had become a unit that's individuals were greatly feared. Any pony who survived and thrived with what he put them through was not one to mess with.

Celestia thought he went over board. His friends understood however. If he couldn't be there to protect Luna and the foals, he was damn sure going to make sure that some one he thought was good enough could be.

The retraining of the old guards and the new training program caused a fairly big stink with many of the nobles that remained. With the new program they couldn't simply purchase a cushy safe position for their worthless children to occupy any more. Despite Celestia's issues with him she didn't change the new requirement in the slightest. Still he wound up surprised in finding that a number of the nobles children still signed up for the training, evidently eager to prove themselves, rather than just exist off their parents position and money.

His first new batch would be this spring and both he and Briar were more than a little excited about it. Bleu offered to help a little, but her schedule would be rather hectic with the music school and helping Spike. Starfall would be there if for nothing else then to scout talent for the Wonderbolts. Evidently Spitfire had been impressed enough with her after the war that she offered a position of liaison between the Royal Guard and the Wonderbolts. The job was relatively simple with her main job being a talent scout to see if any of the pegasi entering training would make a decent Wonderbolt. Despite the Wonderbolts being part of the 666th Moskau seemed to have no issue with Spitfire doing what she wanted as head of the team.

Spring would decidedly be a interesting time as Rainbow Dash had already signed up for the training.
The mare was dead set on being a Wonderbolt and with the new rules she would have to pass the Guard training to do so. Jer'rahd had no doubt she would pass the basic training and move on to the Wonderbolts academy, though he needed to make sure Starfall didn't go easy on her. Dash would do much better in the long run if his friend hit her with everything.

He smiled, something that felt like a rare occurrence lately and settled back on the couch, content to let everything go on around him. Foal's playing, good natured arguments, and discussion. No world threats , no upcoming battles, nothing pending. Not to say there were not things to worry about. The books of Orbsah had vanished, the Love Cursed Pair was still out there somewhere, as were Scarlet and Claymore, or at least their bodies had not been found. Still the entire world was on the look out for those four and neither he nor Luna had heard a peep from the Books so at the very least they were hiding quietly.

Still if this was what peace felt like, he was quite content to have it.

He was brought out of his slight daze by the feeling of a small form pressing up against his side. Looking down he saw Ice Berry, still curled up in her blanket laying against his side. She looked up at him a moment her gold eyes glimmering before she yawned and curled up against his unscathed side. He smiled softly, looking over at Brush who seemed a bit torn about leaving Berry alone though another look at Jer'rahd and he reluctantly went off to play with the others, leaving his sister alone for the first time since they had been rescued. Jer'rahd blinks at that, though he softly chuckles, glad to see that he was at least being trusted by some of he and Luna's new foals, now only if Orange would stop glaring at him.

==============================================================

[ Current Day Gallapagos Ferry, The Princess Bride III ]

“How the heck did I let you talk me into this?” Scootaloo groans clutching the railing trying not to heave into the water below.

“What are you talking about? I don't recall you ever being seasick before, I mean we made a boat and sailed it when we were young.” Sweetiebelle questions munching on from Pipcolt lunch box she had set on the small table on the ships deck. Pip sat on one side of her sharing what ever came out of the Lunch box while Applebloom had her own lunch bag.

The four of them rested on the deck of the ship eating lunch,well save Scootaloo. The ferry had been traveling for a few hours now making good time meaning they should be in Gallopagos just after moonrise.

“That thing sank as soon as it touched the water, no surprise since we made it out of newspapers, and I'm not seasick I was fine until you convinced me to try some of those so called taco's you made!” Scootaloo shouts looking back at a half eaten.... something on a plate where she had been sitting.

Sweetiebelle narrows her eyes, her voice turning threatening . “Tacobelle makes the best tacos......”

“Don't give me that, you don't have your stupid mask on and those are NOT tacos!!” Scootaloo yells putting a hoof over her face and turning a brighter shade of green again,quickly leaning back over the railing.

“Ah tried to warn you Scoots.” Applebloom states. “I told yah Pip wasn't a valid measure of if ya could survive Sweeties's cooking or not.”

Scootaloo glares over at the brown and white earth pony who was happily eating his second 'taco', where Scootaloo had not even finished her first before getting ill.

“Are you even a real pony?” growls Scootaloo.

“Yup.” comments Pip.

“How are you still alive?”

“Ma likes to cook.”he states flatly.

“What's that supposed to mean?”asks Sweetiebelle.

“Ma likes to cook, but Ma can't cook. Her last bowl of soup was declared a level three potential disaster by the Guard. That Da eats whatever she makes without dying or even flinching, has more ponies in the castle afraid of him than anything thing else he's ever done. Even Auntie Celestia blacked out when she tried Ma's cabbage Souffle'. Compared to that these taco's aren’t that bad.”

Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle stare at him though Sweetiebelle smirks.

“See the noodle incident was only a class two, so Princess Luna's cooking is worse than us.”

“Potential disasters are graded the other way, they count down from five to zero and then start going up when they become disasters The noodle incident was a class 2 disaster by itself. You three are a class Four on your own.” Pip states in a monotone as if reading off a list he memorized.

“That noodle thing was not our fault!!” Applebloom snorts.

“I know that and so do Ma and Auntie Celestia,it's why you are all not under constant guard and separated to different parts of the country. Heck Da is listed as a class two on his own. Most of the rules are there because bad things tend to happen when you three get together without supervision.
But it's not like it's only been one thing. There was the Cutiemark sickness.” Pip begins to list

“Zecora fixed that before anything really bad happened......” mutters Applebloom. “ An that was mostly just me....”

“The release of Discord.”

“Like we knew we were gonna free him?” Sweetiebelle whines. “ Besides he's nice now.”

“The incident with Gabby gums, that almost caused riots.”

“Not our brightest moment...” grumbles Scootaloo.

“The Noodle incident of course.”

“NOT OUR FAULT!” screams Applebloom.

“The Great market fire.”

“That was an accident.” whimpers Scootaloo still bent over the railing. “I didn't realize flour was that flammable....”

“The Spanish inquisition.”

“No pony expected it.” cackles Sweetiebelle.

“In short even if you're not the cause, disaster follows you three. S'why they always try to have at least one other pony watch you when you three are together. Supposedly three is supposed to be some magic number and adding another messes that up.” Pip finishes.

“That's ridiculous. And I'll prove it!” Sweetiebelle states with a rather high level of indignation grabbing Applebloom and Scootaloo in her magic.

“Sweetiebelle put me down!” Applebloom shouts as she flails.

“By Celestia's pointy ears don't squeeze me,” groans Scootaloo.

Sweetiebelle ignores the pair marching across the deck to a pair of doors in the side of the ferry stopping to glare down at Pip as he follows them.

“We are going in here and you are staying out here, and when nothing bad happens you'll see how ridiculous this notion is that we are disasters. We might have done some things as little fillies but we are far older and wiser now and we are not a force of chaos or anything else.” Sweetiebelle huffs.

“I'm not supposed to leave you alone together, ever.” Pip snaps back standing firm against the unicorns glare.

“And you are not supposed to go into the little fillies room either.” Sweetiebelle states pushing open the door to the rest room and pulling the other two inside with her.

Pip blinks looking up at the door and the sign 'mares only' printed on it before slapping a hoof to his face and moving back to the table, sitting down to watch the door with a sigh.

“Criminy,this is bad.... okay … never mind it's fine.... I need to relax, it's not like they are any where but the bathroom. How much trouble ken they get into alone in there?”

======================================================================

[Two Years after the War of the Gods Sweet Apple Acres]

Jer'rahd was trying his best not to move with the small filly pressed against him. The Lily's still had nightmares when they slept and as such they had not gotten a good nights sleep in a while, Berry seemed the most prone to them and he expected her to wake up at any given point in time now in a panic. Luna was usually the one there to comfort her, and he hoped he could do as good a job.

“If I was told I would see this long ago I would think it silly, but here we have the hardened warrior tending a sleeping filly.”

“Yes, yes, be amused all you like Velkorn. Keep in mind I grew up with Rhede so I’m not that far removed from tending children, having to watch him all the time.”

The zebra chuckles settling onto a spot on the couch next to him looking over the bundled unicorn at Jer'rahd's side.

“I know it is the middle of the day, but should we expect Luna anyway?”

“I don't know, she said she would like to show up, but with as busy as she has been she hasn't been getting much sleep. Better to let her get a bit of rest when she can. I'll catch Tartarus for it later but if she's awake enough to be mad at me, she's finally gotten enough sleep.”

“The question then remains then my friend, have you gotten enough sleep on your end?”

“I don't need much, It's not like I’ve been able to do anything while recovering, but sleep. There's a lot of work to do on my end..... oh don't even give me that look. All I do is paperwork now, I get way more sleep avoiding that than I need.” Jer'rahd rolls his eyes at the zebra's glare though he smirks suddenly changing the subject. “So how are you and Rhede doing?”

“Every time I plan to leave the brute and let him go back to his life of sin, he does something unexpected and pulls me back in.” she flattens her ears though Jer'rahd notes the wide grin she was developing. “ I am going to be stuck with him forever soon I suppose, I have a bit of a hint he is going to propose.”

“Really now? What makes you think you finally managed to lock down the most eligible bachelor in New Canterlot?”

“Lately he has seemed a bit distant and aloof, but I know he has asked both Zecora and Luna permission to ask for my hoof.”

“Really? I can under stand Zecora being you decedent, but why Luna?”

“I suppose it is a small matter of pride, but for our wedding he wants her to preside.” “Hehe, she would love that I think. Still I wouldn't mind if she just walked down the aisle with me as a bridesmaid. It'll be up to her in the end what she does. Still any suggestions I can give him when he inevitably comes to me asking for help on a ring?”

“While I do appreciate a bit of gold, I prefer silver as it is not quite as bold. Also your opinion he might pass by, as Rarity can help him with a designers eye.”

“You and Luna have the same taste in jewelry. Even if he does get help from Rarity I’ll keep that in mind just in case.“ Jer'rahd looks down at Berry who was starting to squirm a little at his side. He shifts reaching a hoof down to run over her back through the blanket trying to sooth her a bit. “So did you ever think we would end up like this when you decided to follow me on that mission?”

“A great deal has happened since we met, still I feel it safe to say, that life is not done with us yet.” Velkorn smiles looking down at the small unicorn between them.

“I like that answer.” mutters Jer'rahd as he wraps his leg around Berry as she jerks awake with a small cry shivering against him. He looks down at her trying to offer a bit of comfort as she huddles against him shaking off her nightmares.

=====================================================

[Isle of Gallopagos, 45 minutes later.]

Pip stared blankly out across the water from the end of the dock. A blanket draped over his shoulders half hiding him from view as he looks at the water as the last of the wreckage of The Princess Bride III sinks beneath the waves, the fire finally going out as it becomes a new shipwreck just off shore of Gallopagos island.

He had no idea what happened, he had waited for the trio for what could not have been two minutes, before he heard a noise like the deal wail of a grapefruit his mother was trying to prepare for breakfast. Sweetiebelle had come tearing out of the bathroom followed by Scootaloo, Applebloom, and a flood of seawater that seemed to be on fire.

Scootaloo lay over the edge of the dock not far away still having stomach pains from Sweetiebelle's tacos. Sweetiebelle herself sat next to him also covered in a towel watching the ship go under.

“This proves nothing.” the white mare states suddenly.

Pip slowly turns his head, doing his best imitation of his Da's thousand yard glare, something the white unicorn seemed to miss entirely. Before he could respond the sound of hoof beats on the wood drew his attention to Applebloom walking up behind them.

“Okay, good news, great news, ehh news, and bad news.” Applebloom states suddenly . Scootaloo lifts her head up, at least looking a little less green.

“The great news is they ain't gonna charge us with anything, as they have no idea how the toilets flooded the ship with seawater, and they can't connect us to the fire cause we weren’t near nothing flammable anyway. The good news is that the ships owner had CMC insurance so there's no real reason this'll get back to any one before our weeks are up. The bad news is word got around to tha other ships and we'll probably have a hard time finding a boat back to the mainland any time soon. The ehh news is we're gonna have a armed escort of at least four Half Dragon Royal Guard with us the whole time we are here.”

Pip slowly turns his head back to Sweetiebelle.

“Well that's better than I thought, guess Rarity knows we are here now, so much for surprising her. I'm sure she knows a way to get us back to the train tomorrow.” she glances to Pip, finally noticing the glare. “What? What's wrong with you?” Sweetiebelle questions.

“From now on you're not allowed to even go to the bathroom together!” Pip orders. “It's not even been a day and you're already making me fail my first mission!”

==============================================

[ 2 years after the War of Gods, Sweet Apple Acres.]

Jer'rahd smiles feeling the small fillies forelegs wrap tighter around his neck. He was moving slowly so she didn't feel like she might fall off, though he doubted she would with the death grip she had on him.

He really wasn't doing much at the moment aside from a bit of intervention. He had gotten Pip to leave Lion Heart and Peach Blossom alone to go play with the other foals. And he had used Berry to distract both Granny Smith and Starfall away from Big Mac and Rainbow Dash. The pair had seized the chance and vanished faster than Rhede could. He had also brought Berry around introducing her to the others trying to distract her enough to shake off the nightmare she had had. Currently he was standing in the kitchen where he had went to try and find something sweet for the filly.

He wasn't surprised that Fluttershy was there, But he was surprised she seemed just as skittish of him as ever. Still she had giving Berry a apple fritter to munch on, though the small unicorn refused to leave Jer'rahd's back to eat it so he simply sighed and resigned himself to pick sticky crumbs out of his mane later.

“So how have you been holding up lately?”Jer'rahd asks trying to break the ice with Fluttershy.

Fluttershy blinks looking back at him clearly a bit nervous about being alone with him.

“Umm not that bad really.”

“Are you staying out here on the farm now?”

“Yes....”

“Has Bleu managed to get you over your fear of dragons?”

“Some what.....”Fluttershy mutters.

Jer'rahd rolls his eyes. “So should I expect a wedding invitation for you and Applejack soon?” Jer'rahd asks Fluttershy a bit off hoofed .

The yellow pegasus suddenly turns bright red, mumbles something and shoots out the door like a cannon blast.

Jer'rahd blinks at the swinging door a moment before looking back to Berry. “ Was it something I said?”

Berry shrugs taking another bite of the apple fritter as Applejack pushes into the room with an angry glower on her face.

“Jer ya wanna tell me why Fluttershy rushed out the door, and is hiding under mai bed again?” Applejack demands, her eyes narrowing. “What did you say ta her?”

“Calm down... I was trying to make small talk..... I guess I can add talking about you and her getting married to the list of taboo topics.” Jer'rahd responds as Berry nods backing him up with half a fritter in her mouth.

AJ stares at him as he shrugs lightly careful not to dislodge the foal on his back. The farm pony finally sighs shaking her head.

“Ah was hoping she'd git less skittish moving in here, not more.”

“Well this is me. I do tend to unnerve most ponies.”

“Yah ah spect so. Been meaning tah ask, how're you and Luna gitting along? Specially with four little un's tah take care of now.”

“Well enough. She sorta surprised me with them, when she adopted , though she also referred to them as 'ours' rather than hers.”

“Well that sound's like a good thing. Still yah sure yer able tah take care of a buncha youngings? You Two ain't exactly tha most calm typa ponies ah know.”

“No I suppose we are not, but I'm not at all against it, I’ve plenty of free time until training starts again next spring. Luna's been rather busy lately though. I don't see nearly as much of her as I like.”

“From what Twilight says you ain't gonna have no trouble seeing her later once things calm down since yer supposed tah be her consort or what ever all that fancy talk is.

“Well that's if she wants me to....”

“Shut up.”

Jer'rahd blinks looking up at the annoyed earth pony.

“The two of ya'll practically inseparable in most conversations now. She's busy now, but we're still seeing the war's after effects. She clearly thinks yer worth helping her take care of her foals. Ah figure yah would be long past questioning if she want's yah any more, but noooo yer almost as bad as Twilight an tha Princess. Get over it , every pony but you seems tah see that she cares fer yah. Face it you an Princess Luna are a couple, so shut yer mouth about not believing that.” AJ rants. “So stop second guessing yerself and just accept it.”

Jer'rahd blinks at the outburst only to feel Berry tap his ear forcing him to look back to her as she pointed a hoof at her open mouth.

“You want another fritter?” Applejack asks with a sigh.

Berry nods.

“Alright , but last one, we got some real food coming soon.” Apple Jack states offering another of the treats to the filly smirking at Jer'rahd who's mane was full of sticky crumbs. “ Ah dun mean tah yell but yah gotta remember me and Fluttershy hid ourselves fer a while an ah dun wanna see you two miss out on anything cause yer still reluctant.”

“Fine, I'll take the Bearer of Honesty's word for it.” Jer'rahd chuckles. “So like I asked Fluttershy, when are you two getting married?”

“Prolly in the next year or two. Gonna announce it at tha next reunion in Appleloosa. Yah wanna come ta that?”

“Yes actually. I need to head out there to thank all of the ones who came to fight when they didn't have to.”

“Princess Celestia already did that.”

“But I didn't”

“Right fine. Ah keep fergettin yah got a thing about those who helped out. Back on topic. When did yah plan to propose ta Princess Luna?”

Jer'rahd blinks.

“Hadn't thought about it. Tradition would state I would need to ask her sister Celestia before I did, and we are not exactly on good terms. Plus with her history of being a Valkyrie I’m not sure if I need to propose or I should just expect her to throw me over her shoulder and run off with me. I'd rather not upset her by over stepping.”

“That is not how it works. Though I am amused you would think I would do that.”

Jer'rahd freezes feeling Berry lifted from his back He looks over at Apple Jack’s smile and sighs . He tilts his head back coming nose to nose with a dark blue alicorn with a small filly holding a Apple fritter nestled in her wings.

“Ahh I see you woke up finally Princess.” Jer'rahd smirks sheepishly.

“Yes, no thanks to a consort who didn't wake me up when he should have.” Luna grins humorlessly. “ One who almost made me miss my foals welcoming party to this side of the family?”

“Oh …. oops.” Jer'rahd chuckles halfheartedly.

“A'hm gonna let you two work this one out.” Applejack chuckles rising “ Ah got a mare friend to pull from under mah bed.”

=======================================================

[Current Day. Gallopagos Island, Darwhinny Keep.]

The CMC and Pip looked up at the structure before them with a bit of surprise and a little bit of confusion.

Darwhinny Keep was a relatively simple structure, a main building constructed mostly of sandstone that rose perhaps only three stories and was surrounded by a low wall that with a gate that perhaps only came up to the chin of a normal sized stallion. A shallow moat surrounded this and was more decorative with a number of carp and other ornamental fish swimming around. The structure it self was rather bulky and clearly built to last even if the defenses were merely decorative. It was not even the tallest building on the island and was slightly off center in the middle of the city covering most of Gallopagos island right next to the market district on one side and a residential sector on the other.

The castle itself was not what caused the small groups jaws to drop, it was the garishly colored banners hanging outside off the battlements. Bright blue and purple things that off set the faint orange of the sand stone and drew the eye away from the drab walls to the silver and gold threaded designs in the middle of the the banners with the Galapagos royal crests as well as the Equestrian night and day symbols.

A number of guards stood outside the doors and at the low wall. Most of them were half dragons though the occasional griffon and pony spotted the ranks. Each one wore something that at best could be described as straight out of a fashion magazine. Predominately in reds and blues a few guards wore silver mostly denoting their rank. Despite the strange designs all of the armor looked functional despite seeming decorative. The pair of guards walking with the small group had the blue designs and up close Pip could see the slight differences in the shades of blue seemingly tailored to match the dragons scales and coloration better.

“Ah see your sisters been busy.” mutters Applebloom

“Ugh, I'm starting to remember why I wasn't too upset when she moved.” Sweetiebelle groans. “ If she tries to get me to dress up and model again we are leaving.”

“Can't do that when we can't get a ship off the island....” Pip glowers.

“Sweetie, DAHLING.” shouts a voice from the castle gates.

“Oh boy, here we go.” grumbles Scootaloo.

Pip had only met Rarity a few times, so he never got to know her very well. Lion Heart on the other hand was nearly always around Da so he got to know the half dragon fairly well. Two years ago Lion Heart's Guard service was up. He decided he had learned enough and made plans to head back to the Gallopagos to take over for his brother in ruling the island.

He and Rarity had been dating for close to eight years by that point and rather than simply go home to attend to things, he proposed to her. Rarity had been rather shocked by the sudden proposal as well as the invitation to come back to the island with him, though she accepted. Rather than take her time she left with him and only came back for her things once everything had been settled in the new place.

He had not seen the wedding, which turned out to be much smaller than many ponies expected. Primarily it only consisted of her friends and family, along with a number of Guards and half dragons. Ma and Da had attended along with Starfall and Peach Blossom, but of the crusaders only Sweetiebelle had been invited, though she had brought Button and he had heard she was the one to catch the bouquet.

The white unicorn mare coming into view was flanked by a pair of guards as well as a pair of half dragon mares, in nurses outfits. He wasn't sure why until he took a good look at Rarity, the rather large gown she wore hid her form rather well, but simply from her rather labored gait as she trotted up to Sweetiebelle he could tell a few things.

“Oy ,ah just got away from all tha baby talk too.....” Pipsqueak bemoans as Rarity hugs her younger sister. The others noting along with Pip that the mare was clearly pregnant.

“Yeah maybe this part of the trip might have been a mistake.” Applebloom sighs trying to ignore Sweetiebelle and Rarity's rather excited reunion.

“Least it's only a day.” Scootaloo mutters her ears perking as she watches a rather large black pegasus trot out of the castle. The half dragon looked over to Rarity and her sister with a small smirk though he trotted a wide path around the pair and moved to the three sitting apart a bit. Pip was immediately up on his hooves with a salute to which the half dragon sighed in response to though he returned.

“At ease Pip, I'm not in the Guard any more you do not have to salute me. Good to see you again regardless, How's you Da, still running ponies ragged?”

“Of course Sir. Ya can't expect him tah calm down any, he'd get bored, which would make things worse. Course he's gotten worse any way with Ma being with foal.” Pip responds.

“I understand that feeling, going through it myself here.” he glances back at Rarity.

“Um Pip who's this?” Scootaloo questions.

“Oh this is Lord Lion Heart, ruler of Gallopagos.” Pip explains. “He's also Rarity's husband.”

“Not so much ruler, we are still part of Equestria, I’m more of a Governor than anything else.” Lion Heart explains as Scootaloo and Apple Bloom look to the half dragon, wondering if they should bow.

“Ah remember you, we met after Spike sent us back to the castle with his fire. Celestia had yah watch us fer a bit.....” Applebloom states noting the half dragon flinch a little. “Aheh... sorry about that.”

“It's fine. It's been a long while since then.” Lion Heart states with a fanged smirk which made Scootaloo flinch. “Now then I don't suppose you can explain what happened to the Princess Bride?”

Pip winces before he explained “My fault sir , I was supposed tah be their watcher and Sweetiebelle decided to prove the rule wrong and pulled the others into the little mares room, Sir.”

“The report I read did say the disaster started there. What happened inside?” Lion Heart questions looking to Applebloom and Scootaloo.”

“Beats me, I was too busy trying not to vomit over everything. Word of warning if Sweetiebelle cooks anything while she's here, don't eat it.” Scootaloo bemoans.

“I have already been warned of that with tales of liquid burnt toast.” he sighs looking to Applebloom.

“All I did was try and wash mai face and when ah turned the knob tha sink exploded.” mutters Applebloom. “Look ah already told tha Guard everything.”

“I am aware, but a ship that has been around for two hundred years was destroyed today and I want to make sure I know the full details of why so I might prevent it from happening to anything else.....”

“Pippy!”

“Oh, by Ma's tail she noticed me......” Pip mutters as Rarity prances over to him sweeping the small stallion up into a hug.

“Oh look how much you've grown...... well bulked up any way.” Rarity squees as Pip mouths “help me' to the other two who only back up a few paces. “Oh you are going to have to tell me how everything is going at the castle it's been months since I’ve been there.”

“Only two, Mrs. Rarity.” gasps Pip.

“Oh I know, but a great deal can happen in a few months. Princess Luna is due any day now isn't she? I still have a few months left before I’m expecting though I’ve got an entire wing already decorated for her. Oh you simply must come and see it and tell me what you think.”

“Err actually I need to take a look at the library here, err it's kinda important.” Applebloom states.

“Yeah and I need to tag along with her for things and stuff. I'm sure Sweetiebelle and Pip would love to see everything though.....” Scootaloo states earning a death glare from Pip.

“My vengeance shall be swift and merciless” mutters Pip still hugged tight in the white unicorns forelegs.

“Oh well if you must, “states Rarity either missing completely, or ignoring Pip's mutters. “Talia and Electria can show you the Library, though I warn you Twilight already raided it during her last vist so I am not sure what books she borrowed though I do know she borrowed a great number of them. Oh any way come along Pip I want to hear all about what's going on.”

The pair watch Rarity wander off with Pip, with Sweetiebelle bouncing around her sister excitedly.

Scootaloo and Applebloom look to Lion Heart who simply shrugs and nods to the Guards. “ Dinner will be a little later tonight, about ten,so you will have around three hours or so for the library. I expect you to not make a mess, and not use your wings or other abilities.” The half dragons jade eyes narrow as he looks between the two fillys. ”Some of the tomes in the library are older than the island itself. I have guest quarters arraigned for you all, as well as a private ship to return you to the mainland the day after tomorrow in time to catch your train.”

“Oh um... thank you.” Applebloom states.

“No need to thank me. But given how close Rarity is to her own delivery date I do not wish to take any chances with another accident happening nearby.”

“It was not our fault.” mutters Applebloom.

“I am not blaming you directly. But it is no secret that things happen when you three are all together. And rarely are they good things. You best go before the library closes.” Lion Heart concludes turning back towards the keep. “I will see you at dinner.”

===========================================================

[ Two years after the War of gods. Sweet Apple Acres]

“This is undignified.” Jer'rahd grumbles.

“You should have thought of that before not waking me up to come out here with you.”

“You needed the sleep.”

“Not an excuse, though if you are so concerned that I do not exert myself you shouldn't care how undignified this is.” Luna explains.

“I don't care, I meant undignified for you.”

Jer'rahd sighs feeling Luna shift a little, the larger mare settling onto his back like he was a moving throne. Berry was cradled in her wings looking rather excited to be as high up as she was and looking down at every thing. Of course she was still eating a fritter and raining crumbs down on Jer'rahd's head as he walked around the orchard outside the farm house.

“Please Jer'rahd, every pony here knows me, so all of them have seen me far less dignified than this. There's also that whole Valkyrie thing you thought of. Yes we were all female warriors though we didn't treat stallions as objects like you seem to think, we were not savages.” Luna smiles reaching over to tickle his nose with a wing feather. “ Besides if I recall, some pony told me I needed rest.... now mush once more around the orchard should do for the punishment for now.”

His ears perk as he hears Berry giggle a little though he smiles and shakes his head.

“As you wish Princess.......”

===================================================

[Current Day Darwhinny Keep Library, Gallopagos island.]

Scootaloo lounges in one of the chairs glancing over at the Guards then over at Applebloom pouring over a couple of books..

“Ugggh this is boring. It might almost be worth it to see what Rarity is doing.” Scootaloo bemoans. “ Seriously why are we in here? Why are you all book worm all of the sudden? And what are you even looking for ?”

Applebloom sighs sitting back noting the guards though she didn't really think this was any big secret, she was a bit reluctant to let to many know what Zecora said. She reaches back pulling the necklace out of her saddle bag and sets it on the table. Scootaloo as well as the two guards move a little closer to look at it, though Scootaloo lifts it up with a hoof and rattles it a little.

“What is that a rock?” Scootaloo asks.

“Ah think it's a seed, but ah've never seen one like it before and ah was hoping ah might find something on it here, but so far no good.” Applebloom sighs.” Ah don't suppose either of you have seen anything like it?”

Both the guards shake their heads one muttering a small apology before stepping back to her post by the door, the other remains seemingly lost in thought for a moment.

“There is a gardener who tends the gardens at the Keep. He might know something, I suppose we can set up a meeting tomorrow.”

“Thanks that would be great.” Apple Bloom smirks .

“So what's the deal with the seed any way? Why all the fuss?” Scootaloo questions putting the small bauble back down on the table.

“Zecora gave it to me, she said it was something important an ah should hold onto it cause it had tah do with this trip.”

“Zecora? What did she get one of her feelings again?” Scootaloo asks suddenly rather interested in this. Applebloom had told them about Zecora's strange ability and all three of the CMC had seen it first hoof a number of times, though they just choked it up to a zebra thing. Still when Zecora said something was up, it was always good to listen.

“Yeah that's what she said, but she couldn't tell me anything about it. Ah know her talent is growing plants, so ah don't know why she didn't try tah grow this on her own. It's gotta be somethin important an it's drivin me crazy.”

“ Well she sent it with you so somethings gotta happen that involves it. All her predictions seemed to work out before, all you have to do is sit back and wait. No need to even stress about it. You'll figure out what it is when you need to.”

“But ah wanna know nao!” Applebloom whines.”What if it has tah do with me finally getting a dun cutie mark? Ah been waiting eighteen years fer that.....”

“Geez calm down. You know Sweetie and I have your back in this AB. You're the last one of us without a cutie mark. Keep in mind the crusaders motto, we won't stop til we all have our cutie marks.” Scootaloo grins.

Applebloom smiles slightly. “Yeah Scoots ah know. Ah ain't worried about that. It's just ah kinda gave up hope on it after all this time.”

“Don't be like that, hey I know.” Scootaloo hops up her wings flickering a little as she acted like she was about to take to the air though quickly stopped herself as the two guards shifted. “ Oops sorry, any way, you're the one he called Talia right?” Scootaloo asks looking at the unicorn half dragon who spoke earlier.

“I'm Elecktra, she's Talia.” The half dragon points to the red armored Guard with wings.

“Right okay sorry, you guys all look alike in that armor, same color an everything. Any way, we need some new stuff to try for AB so how did you get your cutie marks?”

The pair look at each other before Talia shrugs.

“We don't have cutie marks.” Talia states. “ Very few half dragons do, we take more after our draconic ancestors in that regard. “

“What? Why's that? Ya'll are at least half pony, Ah know hippogryphs and half zebra's get cutie marks.” Applebloom states.

“It's theorized that our connection to the earth and the use of dragon magic that flows though us innately makes us closer to our dragon kin in that regard. “ Elecktra comments. “While a number of gain some aspects from our draconic kin, it is usually only a very special case for one of us to earn a cutie mark.

“Dragon magic prevents cutie marks from forming? Huh that's odd..... wait..... Oh crap Applebloom......” Scootaloo gasps looking over to Applebloom as the earth pony starts beating her head on the table.”This just turned into a loooong trip.....”

Author's Note

I know i said by the weekend, but it's only monday... so i was close ..... right?

Hidden Truths [9]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Hidden Truths

[Gallopagos Island present day]

“...... of course there were a large number of ponies and even some half dragons that said the only reason I was marrying Lion Heart was because of his station and wealth. Since it seemed that my past accomplishments and my own fiscal standing meant nothing to these neighsayers, I would have to do something about it. After all I did not want any pony to think any less of Lion Heart simply because he proposed to me.”

“Uh huh...” Sweetiebelle comments.

Rarity continued on despite the blank stare her sister was was giving her. Sweetiebelle looked like she was listening intently though she was also sorting through a number of musical crystals on the table occasionally nodding or smiling at her sister, but with the vacant stare of one long used to a mare who carried on a one sided conversation for hours.

“......So after a few weeks of all these rumors I decided to do something about it. I reopened my boutique here and contacted my friend Coco, I met her in Manehatten, such a wonderful town, there was a bit of a issue there of course ,but that is a story for another time, I really should tell you about that though you know what our connection is.....”

“Lovely,” mentions Sweetiebelle.

Pip did not have the lifetime of experience with this sort of thing that Sweetiebelle had. With the exception of uncle Rhede and Aunt Celestia, his family was not really the talkative type. He was used to ponies that said what they wanted to say and that was it. Ponies like Rarity seemed to enjoy the sound of their own voice to the the point that they forgot where they were going with what they were saying. Despite this he was desperately trying to pay attention if nothing else but to be polite. He was doing his best to view this as endurance training, though at the same time he couldn't help to casually plot what he would do to pay back the other two who had abandoned him here. Well maybe just Applebloom, Scootaloo had enough issue to deal with, with the food poisoning from the tacos........

“..... but any way when Coco arrived with a few other friends of hers and we all started to work on some new designs utilizing the cloth and materials that the book Princess Luna gave me. Now I know I am supposed to be Generosity and all but Princess Luna entrusted the information to me so I was reluctant to share it freely. Of course I took a bit of time while the others were working on the designs to find a way to mass produce the material and the best applications for it. Still after the first show and some stress testing by the local Guard it took next to no time for the word to get around and the orders from all over Equss to start pouring in. It barely took a year, but the designs and the material have become the Gallopagos chief export. Not only did it silence the neighsayers but it attracted quite a bit more business to the island and greatly increased the revenue. I dare say it pushed Gallopagos to the forefront of the fashion world, perhaps more so than Prance and New Canterlot. Oh and the designs.....”

“That sounds nice.” notes Sweetiebelle, not even looking up

Pip was debating how hard he needed to fall out of the chair to receive a head injury that would knock him out rather than outright kill him when Scootaloo and Applebloom returned.

“Ahh welcome back you two, you're just in time for dinner, Pipsqueak, Sweetie, and I were just having a delightful conversation on how my fashions saved the day.” Rarity chimes out in a greeting to the pair.

Scootaloo winces realizing what they left Pip to suffer through, though Applebloom blinks a bit surprised.

“Umm ya said mai cousin was here? Ah dun see him.....” Applebloom questions.

“Why he's sitting right......” Rarity explains turning and pointing a hoof to an empty chair next to her. She blinks in surprise at the empty seat turning to look around the room and even taking a glance under the table. “Well he was here, perhaps he had to go to the little colts room.”

“ we forgot what she was like.... He's gonna kill us....” mutters Scootaloo to Applebloom who shivers.

“Uh huh.... “states Sweetiebelle flipping through a music magazine, still not paying attention.

[Three years after the War of Gods, Camp Ruin, border of the Everfree Forest on the far side of the Maneterhorn from New Canterlot. < named after Luna's General, not what the Guard trainees think.> ]

A small office sat at the edge of the camp overlooking the lake and the river that fed it. Three ponies sat inside pouring over notes and calenders ,making plans and going over the training goals for the period. While the Guard training was supposed to start in the spring, a number of delays kept it from happening until the end of summer, partially coinciding with the foals going back to school. This was done to aid a number of the trainees and instructors with foals.

“ …. Alright so we have Bleu for this month to do the claw to hoof fighting and some other exercises, she can take a break from being Dean for only that little bit of time. Rhede and Velkorn are still on their honeymoon, and I doubt that will end before next year knowing Rhede and how long Velkorn was after him, so we won't have her as a medic. Zecora has offered her services, though she's not so much a medic as a potion maker, it will help for some of the stranger ailments we might come across. Still that likely means we have to hold back a little to keep from hurting too many of them.” Jer'rahd states pointing at a calender. “The week after Bleu heads back to her school is when split them up among the three of us for specialty training, same as last time.”

“This groups three times tha size as that first. Just ponies and half dragons this time, but tha Guard Captains want all of the Guard to pass what we throw at them, that includes the old Guard instructors. Gonna have a hard time training trainers. Doubt they will wanna listen. We're looking at being worked tah death just as much as tha trainees are with only tha three of us.” Rose grumbles.

“We have a few of them from the first group to help out. Lion Heart and Peach Blossom have already volunteered. I can probably get a few of the others as well.” Starfall states.” Should take a bit of the burden off of us any way.”

“Tiberius is right out. That pony doesn't need any sort of leadership roll, too much of a cowcolt. I wouldn't mind Dusty and Breezy, those two managed to actually surprise me in the end.” Jer'rahd remarks.

“We can't get those two. Dusty was called back to her fathers aerie and Breezy requested a transfer to accompany her.” Starfall sighs. “ Princess Celestia approved it and Rhede told me to tell you not to worry about it. Which of course means you will.”

“Great. Any other pony in the Empire willing to lend a hoof Rose?” Jer'rahd asks.

“Nah, most of um are focused on tha fact Sombra is still out dhere.” Rose mutters. “On tha plus side dheir training dhere own recruits so we won't get any more from tha empire fer a while.”

“Well it looks like we will have our work cut out for us then. On the plus side we have the roster lists set and the Guard Captains know we can only handle so many. “ Jer'rahd sighs. “I don't care how skilled the first batch we trained seems and how well they did, if they keep rushing things and trying to change the program they are going to get sub par Guards again. Still seventy ponies at once, I'm getting tired of all these surprises they keep throwing at us.”

A heavy knocking on the office door gets a slight smirk from Starfall as Jer'rahd slams his head onto the table.

“Yer cursed Lad.” Rose mutters.

“At least he didn't say anything about being clever.” Starfall chuckles.

“Don't even joke about that Starfall.” Jer'rahd cautions before looking at the door and sighing.”COME IN.... oh this better not be another change and so help me if it's Moskau with more paperwork, I don't care if she's my boss and your mare friend Rose, I will....… oh it's you.”

Jer'rahd and Rose both frown as the tall white pony with the flowing multicolored mane ducks her head to get in the door. She flutters her wings lightly looking at the three in the room a bit pensively, noting Starfall's partial bow and the two stallions glare.

“What do you want!?” Jer'rahd and Rose both bark glancing to each other then up at Celestia.

“What ? Am I not allowed an inspection of the training area before it is fully opened?” Celestia questions.

“We've had six inspections by the three Guard Captains, eight by the Wonderbolts, twelve by the nobles, and at least six by concerned parents and spouses of the trainees, and once by the CMC which set us back a week and a half on repairs alone, all of them cleared by you to do so. We have also been checked out almost nightly by Princess Luna and Pip.” Jer'rahd sighs.”Granted she was bringing me dinner and trying to avoid some of her Night Court Duties so I can't blame her for the visits.”

“Plus it's pitch black outside, dun you need yer beauty sleep mare? Cause it certainly looks like yah do to me.” Rose snorts.

Celestia glares at the crystal pony though decides to ignore him.”Fine then I suppose I do have an ulterior motive.

“What? You have an ulterior motive? Naaaaaaaah..... say it ain’t so, not you!” Rose taunts in mock surprise slapping his hooves to the side of his cheeks in shock.

“What is it Celestia?” Jer'rahd cuts in before she snaps back at Rose. The crystal pony was likely the only one out there who disliked Celestia more than he did. Of course Rose showed the same dislike to Luna, but when Jer'rahd was around he didn't push her as far as he did with Celestia.

“We still have a great deal to do Princess and if we want everything done on time we can't have any more issues come up.” Starfall attempts to placate.

Celestia sighs, she would have preferred to meet just Starfall or even just Jer'rahd for this conversation. But Rose was also part of this, despite her hope he would have gone back to the Crystal Empire. Not that she wanted to foist the old goat on Shining and Cadence again, but at least he tolerated them. Still all three would find out eventually, better to get this over with now. She figured it would be easier to deal with these three than it would be to deal with Twilight. Not like her student could say anything about the time spent apart when she was doing the same sort of thing while writing her book.

“I have an additional pony to add to your training for this class Kaisur.” Celestia states flinching as Starfall and Rose face hoof and Jer'rahd smashes his head against the desk again.

“Are you daft mare? We're already at our limit, if not already over it. Yer recruiters are too damn good at their jobs.” Rose grumbles.

“He is right Princess we are already at our limits for how many we can have in training, even one more pony would force us to use less individual time then we need on this group. We were already looking to extend the training to thirteen weeks. We also are pulling from the first class we did to fill out the rosters so the three of us don't have to do everything, and we need time to train them in what to do as well.” Starfall explains. “We really cannot take in any more.”

“Who's the pony? “ Jer'rahd questions suddenly, his head head impacted on the desk. “Must be some one important if you came down here personally to ask us to include them rather than sending it as an order like you usually do.”

Trust Kaisur to catch on quickly, Celestia sighs once more. “I am sure the importance of the trainee is subject to some debate, particularly by those of you in this room. I wish to join the training my self.”

Starfall's eyes widen, Jer'rahd looks up the desk where he face planted, shock on his face as well. Rose chokes on the flask of, what certainly wasn't water, he was trying to discreetly sip from.

“What?! Las have yah finally gone daft in yer old age? This ain't exactly a picnic, and yer being a high and mighty god type pony, which I will say annoys tha piss outta me like a bladder infection, you ain't even gonna be winded by tha stuff we put tha average louts through.”

“If some one as crotchety as you can do this Rose, I should have no issue with it.” Celestia mutters.

“Ain't a matter of being crotchety. Though I mean yer not one tah talk, despite yer living life vicariously through a mare a couple thousandths of your age like you are. It's more along the lines of this training ain't designed fer yer flappy bits and mystic mumbo jumbo at that same time. It's made fer three separate types of ponies and maybe a griffon or what have you. In any case they all are one thing you ain't, mortal. Side's despite all ya did in the recent conflict all yah done before it and since, is sit on yer ponderous rump eating cake. Tha most exercise yah been getting is tha stuff they make clop stories out of with yer little purple tart....”

“Rose if you continue insulting Twilight I will melt your crystal pony flank down to sand and make a latrine out of you to be placed in the mess hall, which will from then on only serve spicy zebra food.” Celestia snarls.

“Well that's fine as long as yer fat flank don't try and use me. Until ah saw ye again ah didn't know they made toilets in wide load.” Rose fire's back.

“Rose enough.”Jer'rahd interrupts, looking at Celestia. “Why?”

Celestia looks at the gray unicorn as if expecting some sort of jab from him as well, though Kaisur simply sat there staring at her waiting for the answer. “Several reasons, though the foremost of which is I could have done better than I did.”

“The evacuation of Canterlot? I doubt any one could have pulled off moving that many ponies and the defensive coordination of that magnitude as you did Princess.” Starfall points out.

“It should have never come to that.”Celestia grumbles. “I've become far too complacent, I’ve not done any sort of war preparation for myself since the Discordian War...”

“Yeah and we see how well that worked out fer yah.” snaps Rose.

Celestia glares at the crystal pony her mane smoldering, though she continues on as if he hadn't spoke.
“The first training exercise you had here produced a hoof full of soldiers the likes of which have not been seen in Equss since the Equestrian Civil war. Out of all the Guards the 42nd saved more ponies and suffered less casualties than any other group. To the last every one of them cited something you trained them in as how they survived and saved so many. I could sit in and watch what you do to understand it , but I feel that if I want to understand it I will have to take the training myself. You claimed before I should be better so that is what I am attempting to do Kaisur. I have been blind sided far too often lately. Twice by Chrysalis, and the same mortal dragon, as well as my own mentor. I do not want that to happen again.”

“In your defense, you did take Aviana down rather quickly.” Starfall mutters.

“The point is the books are still out there as are Sombra and Chrysalis. I want to be as prepared as possible for when they come again.” Celestia states.

“There is also the fact that other nations might see Equestria as weakened from all these attacks despite the new soldiers. If the goddess trying for a peaceful solution could also beat the tar out of any one of them is offering the olive branch herself, it would make negotiations go smoother.” Jer'rahd ponders out loud. “Same as it did when every one thought you beat Nightmare Moon on your own.”

“When did you start following politics?” Starfall questions.

“Starfall I’m Luna's consort and one of my best friends is Rhede. I deal with more politics than I even want to think about.” Jer'rahd sighs.

“Point.” concedes Starfall.

“Yah realize that yer sisters the one who helped design half this training right, last I checked she was still tha Goddess of war and it's her job tah make the other nations wary of us not yers.” Rose snaps.

“That's not how Luna wishes to be viewed.” Celestia states receiving a small nod from both Starfall and Jer'rahd.

“It's another reason she adopted the foals. She's tired of being feared.” Jer'rahd remarks. “She wants to care for them first and foremost, but she also wants ponies to stop being afraid of her. She thought this might be a start of it. Some one willing to be a mother is less likely to be feared.”

“Unless you mess with said mothers children.” Starfall points out.

“Buncha hogwash, yah do what yer good at.”snaps Rose. “She does the fighting , you do tha bitching, been that way fer as long as I recall.”

“You are good at being an ass does that make you a donkey?”Celestia grumbles.

“Still doesn't change the fact we don't have the room or the training tah deal with this.” Rose grumbles.

“Ask Luna.” Jer'rahd states.” Get her permission, as well as Pip, Berry, Brush and Orange's. If they don't agree, you can forget it for now. “ Jer'rahd offers.

“Why, what for?” Celestia blinks.

“ This training is going to take me away from the foals a lot more than I like, adding you to the list will remove me further as I will need to work more to include you. If you are here training Luna will have to cover your duties, because I am not letting you leave to hold court or whatever once this starts, you stay here in the barracks like every other Guard. And since you are taking both their parents away from them for your own personal reasons, they need to allow it. This is going to be thirteen weeks Celestia. There will be other conditions as we go, but they won't matter unless you meet this one first.”

“Ya can't be serious?” Rose grumbles.” We dun have the time tah take special care of this bint.”

“Rose, I was put in charge of this operation, what I say goes. You don't have to like it, you just have to accept it. Either that or you can go complain to Princess Luna, who will probably tell you to go home, at which point Moskau will be mad at you.” Jer'rahd responds, strangely calm. “Now, if that's everything you might want to go talk to Luna now before she gets to embroiled in listening to some one whine in her court.”

Celestia blinks at all this looking at Jer'rahd curiously before she nods turning back to the door. “Thank you Kaisur.”

“Don't thank me Celestia. If you hated Rose and I before, you are just setting yourself up to hate us on a unprecedented scale now. I've been told some of the Guards I’ve trained have nightmares about me.” Jer'rahd quips as she walks out the door.

The trio waited a few moments staring at the door before Starfall and Rose look at Jer'rahd, more specificly the rather large grin spreading over his face.

“Took her long enough to finally listen to something you said.” Starfall sighs ”I did tell you to use the carrot more often than the stick after all.”

“Seriously what tha buck are we gonna do about this? We can't deal with a goddess, how tha heck can we break her down tah build her back up?” Rose grumbles.” She's gonna buck up red phase before we even begin.”

“Let me worry about that. I plan to do most of her training. Pushing her past her limits might be a good warm up for me. I still expect Starfall to handle her flight training.” Jer'rahd smirks. “we all know how badly she needs that.”

“By the stars I’ll need to get Spitfire and some other Wonderbolts out here, she flies like a wounded watermelon launched from a catapult by a griffon with leprosy.” Starfall grumbles her ears flattening to her head..

“And what of the rest of the trainees? Only half of them are green recruits, the rest are guard who actually know something. We can't keep all of them on their tippy hooves and watch over her too.” Rose snaps. “We got too many to just focus on her like she needs.”

“Leave it to me Rose as I said, I already have a plan for this. That half the group are Royal guards already makes this even easier. Besides you are missing the fun parts of this.” Jer'rahd grins.

“And what are those pray tell colt?” Rose snaps

“Every pony in Equestria saw that flare on the moon and knows who did it. She's got the reputation of beating both Nightmare Moon, Discord and ,Sombra across Equss. She's also known now as a ridiculously powerful Goddess who many even outside of Equestria both fear and respect.” Jer'rahd smirks wider, as does Starfall though the mare tries to hide it as she catches on.

“Yer point colt?”Rose asks still not putting things together.

“We are going to have her jumping through hoops and acting like every other trainee. What exactly do you think will happen to the reputation of the 42nd when we are ordering the Goddess of the Sun around like she's nothing and she actually does what we tell her to do?” Jer'rahd states and Starfall gives up trying to contain her smirk.

“It may be a harder session for us this time, but we have a chance to make our jobs much easier in later sessions as every pony will be absolutely terrified of the instructors who trained the Princess.” Starfall chuckles. “After all I doubt any of us are going to go easy on her, with that information out there no pony will even consider that we will be easy on them, it should shut down any frivolous trainees and nobles making a station grab. The only ones who will join after this will be the ones who really want to join the Guard. The ones we actually want.”

Rose flicks his ears a moment reaching up to scratch the green crystalline growth under his chin that was supposed to be a beard but didn't match his rust colored mane and tail. “Ah see. Fine then ah'll agree tah this under one condition.”

Jer'rahd and Starfall both stare at the older, white crystal pony in confusion.

“And what's that? Starfall finally asks.

“Yah have tah agree with my earlier suggestion.” Rose grins.

“The one about what trainees uniforms and mane styles are allowed?” Jer'rahd asks.

“Aye that's the one....” Rose smirks.

Starfall and Jer'rahd look at the grinning pony then back to each other, then to the door that Celestia had gone out before both of them fall over laughing.

“Ah'll take that as a yes then.” Rose chuckles.

========================================================

[Gallopagos Island present day, Darwhinny Keep.]

Pip leaned on the battlements of the keep, looking out over the island, bathed in his mother's moonlight. There was only just so much girly talk and rambling he could take in one sitting. It was one of the reason's he didn't mind dealing with the CMC, with the exception of Sweetiebelle, none of them really got into any sort of discussion like all the other fillies he knew. Heck half the time dresses, fashion, and gossip was all Diamond Tiara and his other female classmates even talked about. He could handle it to a point, and he couldn't deny some of what miss Rarity talked about was interesting, but she went so far around the point to get to it, he had no idea what half of what she said meant.

“Three hours. I think that is a record for listening to Rarity whine. The diamond Dogs count her as a weapon I’ve been told.”

Pip turns at the voice as Princess Luna steps out of a shadow walking towards him slowly. She seemed a bit off to Pip as she approached. It took pip a moment to realize why however. Luna didn't have the swollen belly she had when he left and she had a rather large glowing wicker basket nestled between her wings.

“Wha? Ma? …. oh....” Pip lifts his leg up biting it lightly, lowering it back to the stone floor without feeling any pain. “Ah musta dozed off huh.”

Luna rolled her eyes. “That both you and your father seem set on doing that every time, is rather irritating you know that?”

“Da says it's better to make sure somethin's a dream rather than assume it is and get fooled.” Pip states .” What are you doing here Ma?”

“We got the message about the ship. I decided to check on you.” Luna sighs

“Wha? I haven’t even sent off that letter.... oh Lion Heart.......” Pip sighs.

“Yes.”

“Ugh, ah was hoping my screw up would take a little longer tah get back.” Pip grumbles hearing Luna chuckle a bit at that. “It's not funny.”

“You definitely take too much after Jer'rahd, little Pip. Every pony makes mistakes and no one was hurt.....”

“This time...” grumbles Pip.

Luna sighs trotting over and putting a hoof on his head ruffling his mane to which he halfheartedly tried to swat her hoof away in a huff.

“Way too much like Jer'rahd. You do realize that you took on a bigger responsibility than even my sister could handle. Those three are considered a disaster for a reason, even Discord was caught unaware by several of their antics.” Luna smiles. “No one was injured and Celestia and I never really liked the name of that ship any way.....”

“Not the point Ma, something happened I coulda stopped and I didn't.” Pip grumbles.” Ah let Sweetiebelle do what she wanted for a second and then every thing bucked up....”

“Language....”

“Sorry ….”

“It's alright Pip. I know you will be more careful from now on, but I wouldn't even expect Jer'rahd to be able to go on a trip with those three without something bad happening at least once. And you know how he gets when he does something he thinks he screwed up on.” Luna sighs her ears flattening and her tail whipping.

“Ah don't plan to sulk for three months straight if that's what you're worried about Ma. “ Pip chuckles remembering his Da after the flood in Ponyville a few years ago. “ It's just I shouldn't ah let her go off like that and I knew I shouldn't have, but I did any way.”

“I assure you Pip you are by no means the first colt who made a mistake because of a pretty mare.” Luna chuckles.

“Wha Sweetie!?! NO, NO, NO, EWW, JUST NO, Ma seriously stop trying ta match make? Even if she wasn't dating Button Mash, I want nothing tah do with her.” Pip bemoans “ That mare is flips between annoying an down right terrifying at tha drop of a hat. I dunno how Button deals with her at all.”

“Well I didn't expect that sort of reaction.” Luna chuckles.

Pip sits down against the battlement again looking up at Luna with a half smile “I didna think yah could come intah my dreams when I’m way out here. Yay planning tah keep an eye on me after all?”

“I'm close enough to you, Berry, Brush , Orange, and Jer'rahd that I can connect to your dreams no matter where you are. I can do the same with my sister and my friends, every other pony there needs to be something that draws my attention. As for keeping an eye on you well.... I would like to, but your father has convinced me not to. Granted if something else does happen, I do plan to check up on you then, just not the whole trip. I also expect you want to know when your little sister is born too.” Luna shakes her head at that. “ Though I doubt I will be able to inform you faster than the gossip papers can.”

“You know Miss Rarity's expecting too.... I got about an hours worth of chatter bout that.”

“Yes, trust me I know, despite this being her first she seems keen to inform me of how I should do things. Honestly, I think she believes this is a competition.” Luna sighs. “Keep in mind Pip you wanted to go with them. If nothing else, I do hope you will have some fun on this trip, no need to be all business, you might miss out on something if you act that way. It would also be good if you were not as high strung as your Da....”

“Ah'll keep that in mind, though ah have tah as Ma..... errr why aren’t you with foal here and what's with the glowy basket?”

“Hmmm? Just now noticed? I expected that question earlier. Well to answer both questions......” Luna picks the basket up from her back with her magic floating it down so Pip can see inside.

Pip peeks over the edge of the wicker basket seeing little but a rolling mass of colors and shapes with no form or substance. He stares at it a moment looking up at Luna confused.

“This is your little sister or brother. She's near enough to being born that he has her own dreams and thoughts, but he has no reference for any defined shapes as she hasn't seen the world yet, so he does not even know her own body yet to take it's shape in his own dreams. It is quite common for foals not yet born. It's considered a sign of health to have this much activity in their minds this young. “

“Wait, can't she, err he, what ever, see us now?” Pip asks.

“No as I said she has not yet learned to perceive anything yet, even here. He knows me simply by instinct, but has yet to identify me by any other senses. Though she knows enough to stay close to me like this and he has no desire yet to wander off. After she's born I expect he will have a whole different shape in her dreams. Though young foals tend not to remain in a static form in their dreams until they fully identify themselves which can take months or years.”

“Ah'll take your word for it Ma, this is a little beyond me.” Pip sighs as Luna chuckles.

“Alright, I won't lecture, still Pip, be careful.” Luna smiles leaning down to kiss him lightly on the forehead. “Also get up and go sleep in a real bed or you'll wake up with a crick in your neck.” Luna smiles putting the basket back on her back and ruffling the colts brown mane with her hoof getting a playful whine of complaint from him, before she pushes him over gently.

“Ma come on now....... wha, WHAAA!” Pip yelps waking up mid ruffle and falling over on his side on the stone battlement atop Darwhinny keep.

He sits up with a groan rubbing his head and muttering to himself glancing around and noting a rather amused looking half dragon sitting on one of the parapets not far from him. She was dressed in the brightly colored Guard armor Rarity designed and seemed to be keeping an eye on him, she was clearly a younger generation of the half dragons, she had more fur than scales and looked more like a bat pony than a dragon.

“Errr hello?” Pip questions.

“Finally awake I see? Lord Lion Heart sent a few of us to find you when you didn't show up for dinner.” she states.

“Urrgh dinner.... I fergot about that trying tah get away…. How long ago was dinner?”

“Yes well, Lady Rarity can do that to a pony not used to her. She's not normally this bad however. And it's near midnight so at least by two or three hours” the mare states fanning her wings.

“Bugger.... wait.....”

Pip bites his limb again with a faint wince before standing up getting a odd look from the half dragon.

“I am sure we can find you something to eat. I doubt any one would appreciate you resulting to self cannibalism.” the mare states.

“That's not …... never mind. If it's not too much trouble ah wouldn't mind a snack, I hope no one was too worried.”

“I don't think that is the case, though most wondered where you went.” she hops down from the parapet and walks towards the door glancing back at him. “Shall we go? I need to report I found you to Lord Lion Heart.”

Pip nods though his mind travels back to what his Ma had said about the accident with the Princess Bride. She sugar coated it he was sure, but Ma didn't think he could keep the three in line. He didn't like that, it made him feel like he was a disappointment to Ma and Da, whether he really was or not, and he hated feeling like he had upset them. Orange was a well respected doctor already, Brush was a highly talented painter, and even Berry was the assistant to the Bearer of Magic at such a young age. What did he have? Sure he trained and saw himself as a Guard in training, but if he couldn't complete a simple assignment, like keep three young mares from getting into trouble, how was he supposed to be a proper Guard?

===========================================

[Three years after the War of the Gods., Camp Ruin, Fall]

“Pathetic, completely pathetic. The lot of you are, I've half a mind to send you sorry lot back home to become party clowns for a foal's parties, but I expect you would some how screw that up. On the plus side, at least you had the guts to try and take me. I can work with that.” Jer'rahd shouts down at the pile of groaning ponies.

He had almost wanted to skip this part of the training with as many of them as there were, he knew that some of the Guards who were retraining knew how to work together, they might have been a problem save for two factors.

First there were a few more rookies than Guard trainees, that former group had the expected show of arrogance and they all rushed in at him after a few insults. He showed them getting into a fight or two in school was not the same as taking on a properly trained war pony. Better still, the newbies got in the Guard trainees way while they tried to coordinate. That helped immensely. Still he would probably go back to the hat target his own instructor had used for the next batch.

The second factor was Celestia. Not a single one of them expected the Princess to be there, and even less of them expected to see their ruler with a mane cut that left her mane and tail shorter than an apples length from her head and rump. Rose went a little far, but he doubted that would last long, he knew how fast his own hair grew back from cuts and he figured hers would do the same if not even faster.

She didn't enter the brawl either, but the majority of the Guards did so in her name, or were trying to impress her or something. It was pathetically cute, though he would need to make some adjustments to the training to ensure that the other trainiess didn't try to make her training easier for her somehow.

In fact only two ponies didn't enter the fray, Celestia and a red scaled half dragon unicorn he immediately recognized. He let a wide grin split his face as he trotted over to the mare standing before her and looking up at the taller half dragon.

“Well, well, nice of you to join us again Night Feather. Planning to test your hoof to hoof combat on a bee swarm again this time?”

“Sir, No Sir.” the mare responds quickly causing Jer'rahd to offer a small chuckle.

“You have a great deal to catch up on. That batch of screw ups you were partnered with last time actually managed to do well enough to impress me in the end. Think you can do the same?”

“Sir, I will try sir!” the half dragon shouts.

“Good to hear.” He moves away from her, rather glad that she followed his order and came back. He wasn't entirely certain he had the power to remove someone who failed from the Guard itself, despite claiming that power. There was also the issue of Celestia, he had hoped she would make an attempt on him. But so far she simply stood there watching.

“There a reason you didn't try your luck Celestia?” Jer'rahd grumbles.

“I thought you liked this training ground, if we fought there wouldn't be much left of it.” Celestia states matter of factly.

“And here I figured you would try to take the easy win. You had a chance, beat the trainer and get a free pass. Out of every pony here I figured you would want that to get back sitting on your flank as soon as possible.”

“What I want is to experience this training Kaisur. I already do not like your methods, but it has been proven that they work. Since I plan to be here for all of it, skipping out would be pointless.” the princess glowers

“Amazing, I’m in charge here and you still somehow manage to talk down at me.”

“It is rather easy considering you are shorter than me.” Celestia barely stifles a smirk and Jer'rahd made a note to add a few more hours of PT just for that. ”Besides you said we would need to beat a trainer, you never specified which, every pony else just assumed it was you because you were standing in front of us. I am well aware Rose is hunkered down over there with that tree of his waiting for the moment I made a move.”

“No I'm not!” shouts Rose from behind one of the buildings.

Jer'rahd suppresses a smirk.” Celestia I have no intention of making this easy for you, Rose sure a buck is not. So here's what's going to happen, we are going to work you to the point of exhaustion and bring these trainees along for the ride. Your being here is going to make them suffer far more than they would have because we have to gear everything to your strengths. Which means to push you, we need to go far beyond what a normal pony can deal with. We are either going to have a batch of soldiers this time that makes the first group look like a Colt Scout Troop, or we are going to have a whole group drop out or fail. Keep that in mind Celestia, if any one drops out of this class due to difficulty, that it is your fault the training was so tough.” Jer'rahd states craning his head up to meet Celestia's gaze with a glare from under his hat, his voice almost a low growl. “Can you deal with that? Is your ego going to let you accept that your very presence is going to cause ponies around you suffering?”

Just for a moment he was sure the Goddess of the Sun flinched a little under his glare, but it was brief enough that he might have been mistaken.

“ROSE! Put down the stick and get this lot running, they all have been resting too long already!” Jer'rahd bellows.

“What ya mean? She's not gonna try anything?!?” Rose shouts from behind the building.

“No, she's not.” Jer'rahd responds turning away from the white alicorn.

“Damnit!” Rose shouts, as what might have once been a adult pine tree flew through the air and crashed to the ground on the other side of the recruits, sinking in a quarter of it's length into the hard packed earth.

Jer'rahd rolls his eyes at the collective gasp at the display of power shown by one of their trainers. They knew now that two of their instructors were monsters from the fight and Rose's little show. That should put a bit of fear into them, which would make things much easier.

“What the heck are you all standing aroundstaring for? MOVE!! ” screams Rose starting the mad rush along the running trail. “ I think a nice stroll up to Canterlot and back is in order. I know this neat little trail that goes uphill, both ways!” shouts Rose cheerfully as a pair of pegasi training assistants from the first class took to the air to make sure every pony stayed with the group as Rose shouted at them. “If I see any of you flying or using magic I will personally rip the offending limb off and make you a official earth pony am I clear!!!?”

Celestia took a last worried glance at Jer'rahd as Starfall landed next to him before turning to run along herself, followed by an terrified looking Night Feather who over heard the talk with the Princess.

“So that go well?” Starfall mutters.

“Seeds been planted, with luck she'll over tax herself trying to make sure none of the others fail. Night Feather will probably help that info spread a bit too. Once word gets out, I’m sure a number of the trainees will do their best to make sure they don't need Celestia's help and work even harder so she doesn't suffer thinking it's her fault. The ones that don't seem to care about her or the other troops suffering because of their actions are ponies we don't need any way.”

“So you are pushing for a collective loyalty thing then?” Starfall hums to herself. “It could work or it could back fire spectacularly.”

“I think they can pull it off. And she should be able to handle the extra strain and worry I dropped on her head. Keep in mind she asked for this.”

“Was that a compliment? Did you just compliment Celestia?” Starfall taunts.

“I'm impressed she's actually doing something finally. It's one thing to sit on a throne and order ponies to die for you, it's a whole different thing to live like they do, and go through what they go through just to be able to serve.”

“Heh, with that logic, should we expect to see Luna in here any time soon ?” Starfall smirks.

“No. Luna doesn't really need the training, she still spars with Velkorn and I from time to time. She's trying to be feared less, not more. She doesn't need an angle to be feared like Celestia does. Besides we would both have to sit out that training and I don't trust Rose alone with her. On the subject of sitting out of training, is Dash still pissed at me?”

“Oh yeah, she was trying to convince Zecora to make a voodoo doll out of you when she found out you canceled her spot in this training session.” Starfall smirks.

“Well we had too many as is, even before Celestia. Besides you would have to sit that out and there's no other fliers from the first group that can challenge her.”

“Spitfire is signed up for the next class. When she passes she might be inclined to sit in for Rainbow Dash's session as an instructor.” Starfall states.

“That confident Spitfire will pass already?” Jer'rahd glances over at the pegasus.

“She didn't become the youngest Captain of the Wonderbolts by throwing names around. Most of that lot is pretty good, but they can be better. I'll see to that.”Starfall grins.

“Then lets make sure this group passes so we have a chance to have another.” Jer'rahd responds.

============================================

[Current Day, Gallopagos, Darwhinny Keep, Gardens, Early morning.]

“Fraid I can't help you there miss. Doesn't look like any seed I’ve ever seen before.” the old gardener Mossflower states with a small rasp of breath.

Applebloom sighs softly looking down at the small seed in the glass bauble.”Well thanks any way Miss Mossflower. Maybe Ah'll have better luck when we get to the Empire. I shouldn't be surprised I couldn't find anything out ah suppose.”

The old gray mare ponders a moment.” Nah, I don't think you will in the Crystal Empire. See I might not know what kinda plant that's from, but I can tell you some things jus by looking at it. “

“Really?” Applebloom perks up watching the older mare tend to a blue rose bush.

“Yep, It looks like it's got a thin shell, so likely it was part of a bigger seed pod with a buncha others just like it, maybe like in fruit or judging from the size, a berry or cone. It's a little odd cause it's shaped like a simple flax seed but it's got some spots that looked like it had coarse hairs like wheat. It's definitely not a tundra type of plant like where empire is. Seeds from there tend to be fatter and some times barbed to hitch rides on animal hide. I'd say it's temperate or subtropical at best. Prolly from the Zebralands or close to it, if I had to hazard a guess.”

“That doesn't narrow it down as much as I like.” Applebloom sighs.

“Sorry hunnie, but look on the bright side least I didn't suggest going to the Everfree forest. No telling what you might find there fer seeds, I went a time or two myself when I was younger, swhere I got my cutiemark,” Mossflower glances back at the faintly withered flower on a patch of what might be moss on her flank. The old gray mare grins a bit. “I ain't what I used ta be though.”

“Still this is a step in the right direction at least. Thank you again Miss MossFlower.” Applebloom smiles trotting away from the garden to leave the older mare to her work.

“Good luck in yer search hunnie.” she calls out after the young mare.

Applebloom tucks the bauble away in her saddlebag as she trots off. Today was starting pretty well she had at least something to go on now, she hadn't thought of looking up similar seeds. Applebloom rounds the corner of the garden's gate and freezes in place. Pip was sitting on one of the benches talking rather animatedly with a Guard about something. She had been trying to avoid him ,expecting some sort of retaliation for being left alone with Rarity while Sweetie was out to lunch as it were. She sighs , she couldn't avoid him forever. She slowly trots up to the pair getting noticed by the guard first then by Pip.

“Umm hey cousin errr, not still mad about us leaving yah with Rarity are you?” Applebloom smiles sheepishly.

“Huh? Oh, na, revenge isn't really my thing.....” Pip shrugs. Waving to the guard as he moves off back on his patrol.

“Yeah but your Da said the same thing and well...there's a reason no pony messes with him on April Foals day any more.” Applebloom states, shuddering as the pair head back towards the keep, a pair of Guards watching them from the entrance. “So what's up then?”

“I was talking to tha guard Talia and she said you were looking for information on the thing Zecora gave you?” Pip questions.” I know was urging you tah go on this trip, but I didn't know she gave you something. Since I’m suppose to be watching over you three I kinda wanted to know what you found out.”

Applebloom sighs, she really didn't want either Sweetiebelle or Pip to worry about the seed. She wasn't trying to keep it a secret, but Sweetie would likely go over board and maybe even destroy it and she didn't want Pip to make it his quest as well.

“Zecora gave me a seed and said it was important that I take it with me cause I would need to use it sometime on this trip.”

“ Ahh, is that all, No worries then. I just want to know if you found anything out.” Pip responds somewhat disinterested sounding, as the pair walk into the keep.

“Nothing new though it's a temperate or subtropical seed. Might be some kinda fruit as well.” Applebloom explains.

“Huh. Ah'm not quite sure what that means.” Pip states wandering down the hallway.

“Oh temperate plants live in the zone that have discernible seasons unlike the near constant cold of the Crystal Empire and the Griffon Lands. Sub tropical is like the area's just north of the zebra lands that tend to stay warm in the winter and not get much snow if any.” Applebloom explains as the pair walk on, happy to be explaining something she knew something about to some one..

“So something like Las Pegasus? Pip suggests.

“Yeah that's..... oh yeah, we are going there. Maybe I can find something out there.” Applebloom beams rubbing her hoof roughly over the much shorter ponies mane mussing up his brown hair and getting a loud shout of protest from the colt. “ Yer smarter than yah look sometimes lil cousin.”

Pip growls and Applebloom smirks, bouncing ahead of him though a doorway keeping out of Pip's reach as he moves to make a grab for her. Applebloom laughs, though she freezes noting a rather evil smile on Pip's face as he stops in the doorway not pursuing her at all.

“Huh what's that about.....? Something wrong Pip?” Applebloom questions getting a bad feeling about that smile.

“There you are darling, I've been looking all over for you. “states a chipper voice that makes Applebloom's blood run cold. She flinches a little feeling a fore hoof slide over her back and the rasp of measuring tape.

The pale yellow filly turns her head meeting the beaming gaze of Rarity in full fashionable mode. Behind her stands a dazed looking Sweetiebelle and a excessively annoyed looking Scootaloo, both in in various states of fashionable dress.

“I've been meaning to ask if you could model for me for a time given your unique body type. Little Pipsqueak said you would be delighted to help me out. I have a number of delicious ideas to try out. I just needed the proper forms to fit and you girls are perfect. He was sure you wouldn't mind and even went to find you for me so I could concentrate on my ideas here. Sure a thoughtful and well mannered young colt, it seems Princess Luna has brought him up properly.......”

Rarity continues on with her monologue dragging the larger Applebloom along with her towards the piles of clothing and fabrics filling the room. A brief glance back to the door she saw her cousin had already vanished.

Applebloom sighs as Rarity moves her about like a doll before starting to test some materials against her fur color.

“Not tha type fer revenge huh?” Applebloom mutters sarcasticly. “He ain't ever gonna carry tha Element of Honesty....

“Of course he knows this means war right?” Scootaloo growls wearing a poofy blue hat and a dress that looks like something Granny Smith once wore.

“Uh huh...” Sweetiebelle mutters flipping though a music magazine and not really paying attention to anything.

================================================================

[Three years after the War of the Gods., Camp Ruin, Fall]

“Come on maggots. Those rocks are not going to carry themselves.” Rose shouts.

Jer'rahd watches on as the earth ponies of the group, as well as a couple of half dragons, and Celestia, half march, half crawl up a hill carrying massive boulders on their backs, or in Celestia's case carrying one and dragging three. Though it was something to note that several of the others were dragging a second bolder as well as they tried to keep up with their Princess. That this was happening only three weeks into the training was far ahead of his expectations.

The schedule for the split training had worked out quite well. Celestia would start in Rose's group as it had the highest chance of wearing her out. While Sparkle's spell group at lunch and Starfall's was at the chess boards. She would then go to Starfall's group for flight training while Rose's group ate and Sparkle's hit the chess boards. Finally when Starfall's group went to mess she would go to Sparkle's group for the magical training.

It was set up in such a way that the casters were fed and focused for the spell training, the pegasi were hungry and not weighed down by a meal, and the earth ponies burned off anything they might stuff their faces with and were more relaxed for the chess matches to work their minds.

Celestia would get a couple of oat bars and a apple in there somewhere after Starfall's flight lessons, but she was deliberately kept going with little to no break for as long as possible.

It seemed to be working as one of the first things Sparkle noticed after her short cut mane and tail was that she had thinned down and toned up considerably. Jer'rahd had not noticed as he had been here the whole time with her, but Sparkle was only coming in for this part Granted Rose had cut her hair again that morning and Jer'rahd took a bit of interest in noting her mane and tail came back faster than his did.

He planed to sit in on the training with Sparkle to make sure that she didn't go easy on Celestia, though with luck the talk they had earlier he expected the purple unicorn would remain focused. would keep Sparkle focused.

” I would prefer that Sparkle be looking for Grace you know,”<< stated a voice in his head.

“Both she and Rhede are looking, Celestia and Luna have ponies searching the archives as well. There's not much more that can be done past that Troph. Particularly since The Books seemed to vanish at the end of the war. We can't even find one to question. “ Jer'rahd states to himself, it was not like anyone would hear him talking to himself at the edge of the field and if they did it would just be a bit more fear he might generate.

” I was promised results for my aid host. Not being forced to watch as you play teacher to a bunch of foals playing at being soldiers.”<< Troph mutters.

“And what would you have me do? Go running about Equss at random? Sparkle says she has a lead to follow, but it's taken us this long just to get New Canterlot back in order. You know all this, why are you harassing me now?”

” I am tired of waiting, and you seemed complacent. I do not wish you to think I am going to forget what you promised.”<<

“Trust me I want you out of my head just as bad as you want to be out. You have to keep in mind every one is leery of letting you free.”

”Still? After what I have done for you ponies..?!”<< Troph snarls.>>” I helped stop your precious City from crushing another and that was after I fought a dragon god to prevent him from killing every one in that garish castle. What more do you want from me?”<<

“Look at it from our standpoint Troph. You were controlled by The Books for how long? And what items are currently still running about in the world unchecked?”

Troph growls incoherently though Jer'rahd simply shakes his head.

“I have not forgotten the deal and I'm sure something will come up. You know damn well I am not going any where for a while and after all this time I figure waiting a bit longer won't kill you.”Jer'rahd sighs “ It didn't kill me to wait a little longer despite being freed.”

”That you know the feeling is the only reason I am being calm about this host. Keep me waiting too much longer and I will not be as pleasant. It has been far too long and I know she is here in this world some where. My friends have confirmed this during our short meeting. I have never been this close to being free before and I will not let anything stop me now. Especially not you.”<<

“Like I said the sooner I’m rid of you the better I’ll be as well. But we all have our jobs to do. I made a deal and you are going to have to trust that I will honor it.“ Jer'rahd suddenly grins baring his fangs as he chuckles to himself. “I'd even be willing to let you out to play a bit if you would behave. As a show of faith on both our parts.”

” What?!”<<

“I've got an idea. It might help a few of the trust issues that exist and might speed things up in regards to the search for Grace.”

”I'm listening Host.”<<

==========================================================

[Current Day, Gallopagos, Darwhinny Keep Training Grounds.]

The clatter of wooden weapons connecting sounded in the air as a pair of figures lashed out and shifted around a sandy circle outside the keep that overlooked the Harriet river, that ran through the city to the sea.

A small figure in black padded armor was bouncing around a larger figure, lashing out at the larger pony with a wooden sword in his mouth. A few of the Guards stood around watching the display curiously. The larger pony was using a spear to knock aside or block the smaller ponies attacks with no apparent effort, although every so often he was forced to side step or dodge the smaller ponies attacks.

“You extended too much on that swing, pull back your strike a bit, you leave your throat bare for any one attacking you when you do that.” the clack scaled pony states shifting to knock aside another strike from the smaller figure. “Better Pip, but you put more strength than you needed into that blow, ease your attacks a little, a blade down not need to have that much force to it to do damage if it is properly sharpened.”

Pip hops back a few paces kicking up sand as the training spear from the larger figure lances out striking rapidly at the smaller pony putting him on the defensive. Pip grits his teeth avoiding most of the blows and turning aside the ones that he couldn't dodge with his sword.

“Your defense is impressive. I see you have picked up a few things from Princess Luna as well as from General Kaisur. It is a interesting style you are developing, a strange mixture of the two.” Lion Heart states stepping back as Pip lashes out with a few low strikes with the training weapon as well as his fore hooves.

“There are a number of flaws in it however, you use the General's strange 'bull rush' style, though you do not have his resistance to pain and damage. You utilize Princess Luna's more agile style to compensate, though much of her ability requires the use of wings to aid with her mobility.” The half dragon parrys another strike with his spear, lashing out with another attack of his own only for Pip to flip back wards over himself to avoid it. “Despite that you are far more dexterous than you look at your stature and the mixture of styles is not without it's own merit. You do need to refine it more before I would consider it a acceptable style on it's own. I look forward to seeing what you will be able to do with it in a few years.”

It was hard to tell if Pip was listening or not. The half dragon was using his wings, fore hooves and tail to move his spear about, while Pip mostly relied on his mouth as the straight training sword was not the type of blade he was used to using.

In all honesty he was some what surprised that Lion Heart was willing to spar with him. The half dragon was one of the few that was able to beat his Da in a spar and was about even in wins and losses with Starfall, he still lost more, but he was the closest behind Ma in sparing with the small pegasus.

The leader of Gallopagos was doing much the same thing Da did in training, correcting his form as he went,and keeping him active and moving while doing so. Still Pip noted he was pulling his hits, something Da had to force himself to stop doing from time to time so as not to go easy on him. No pony wanted to go all out against the adoptive son of the Demon of Dullahan, and the Goddess of War.

Still Pip didn't want training, he wanted to beat the large half dragon. He wanted some indication that he could be something special. Beating one of the best fighters in Equestria in a spar would be the sort of indicator he needed to let him know he had a chance to be worthy of all the time Da and Ma put into him. Defeating Lion Heart might at least show him that he had the potential for that.

He pressed his attacks more against the half dragon, doing his best to try and make Lion Heart take this as more than some training. The black pony continued to deflect or side step the attacks making no showing that he noticed an increase in Pip's efforts aside from increased critique.

“You guard is too low, adjust the angle or your opponent's blade may be deflected the wrong way and cut off your muzzle.” Lion Heart states as he blocks another blow. “You are not swinging a hammer, your blows do not need to have that much force…..... I think you are getting worse now, let us stop here.”

The half dragon steps back, though Pip hesitated before sighing and stepping back as well. He wanted to keep going, but he doubted it would be a good idea to do so, if Lion Heart called a halt to the spar. He moved out of the sand pit tucking the training blade into his harness and pants heavily trying to catch his breath, not realizing he had gotten so worked up.

“So what is bothering you so much that you forget what should be basic sword play? I doubt General Kaisur skimped any on your training.” Lion Heart asks, the large pony not even seeming winded.

“Nothings wrong.” Pip mutters.

“I do not believe that at all. I suspect this has something to do with the ferry?”

Pip flattens his ears wondering if he was that easy to read or if the half dragon was just that good at reading ponies, it might be how he was so good at combat.

“I am not sure what the problem is. I understand you helped a number of ponies to the life boats and were one of the last off the ship after ensuring every one else had made it to safety. Rather impressive for one so young.” Lion Heart states.

“I should have made sure it never happened. I let the three of them go off on their own....” Pip mutters.

“Yes, that was a bad idea, but it was not as if you knew what was going to happen. That you reacted as well as you did to the disaster speaks highly of you. I believe you were a good choice to watch those three.”

“But the ship.....”

“.....Is an object. It can easily be rebuilt or even raised from the sea floor and repaired. That there were no lives lost and barely any injuries to speak of, is far more important here. You made a mistake, but nothing of any real value was lost because of it. It may also be that your actions are the only reason it did not become a worse disaster. You saw your error, accepted it, and worked to correct it rather than trying to pass the blame, or hide from it. That speaks highly of your character Pip.”

“Ah bet some pony else could have prevented it from even happening.”

“I assume you are thinking of your family, how the Princess or the General could have done better? Do not. You are not either of them and I will not regal you with the mistakes they have made in their life before they came to be how you know them. I expect you wish to be out of their shadow and as such you are pressing yourself harder than you need to. I was the same way with my grandfather. Yet I never managed to do so. How does one outshine a pony that saved our entire race?” Lion Heart smirks slightly. “My advice is do not try to outshine them. Find your own path and you will make your own light.”

Pip stares up at the half dragon his eyes narrowing.

“Ah've gotten straighter answers out of aunt Velkorn. Ah'm not trying tah outshine um, ah jus wanna do something that they'll be proud of.”

“I feel I should be insulted.” Lion Heart snorts, though the smile remains on his face. ”I thought that was a moving speech myself..... I am quite sure they are happy with you and your siblings. I doubt you need to do anything aside from your best to make them proud.”

Pip sighs.

“Ah don't think yer getting it.”

“It seems not. At any rate go and get cleaned up, lunch will be served soon and I have found a vessel willing to take you back to the mainland in time to catch your train this afternoon. I will go see if my wife is still in her zone or not, perhaps I can rescue the others if she is in it too deeply.”

Pip nods as Lion Heart walks off. He moves to the side of the sparing circle to put the training weapon back on the rack before making his way back to the provided quarters. He thought over what Lion Heart said to him, though it wasn't doing much to improve his mood or the feelings of failure.

[Three years after the War of the Gods., Camp Ruin, Fall]

Jer'rahd rubbed his temples with his hooves, feeling a headache forming. Starfall and the other ponies he had put on assistant instructor duty at least tried to look embarrassed about the situation.

Rose, on the other hoof, had fallen over on his flank choking on his own laughter.

Bleu had come to assist in the training earlier in the week and they had come up with a war game involving paint to show who had been 'killed'.

The trainees were split into teams, given a paint color, and wooden poles covered in sponges to use as weapons. The goal was to take out the other teams while keeping as many of your own team alive as possible. Splatters of paint didn't count, though a solid hit by one of the training weapons would be easy to tell apart from slung paint. Flight and magic were allowed during this though attack spells were still banned. The twelve teams were then turned loose in the Everfree forest and set to hunt each other down.

The pegasus instructors watched from the air reporting back about the events in the forest. Of note were several alliances that were formed, ambushes, and outright battle royals of bright colors. About half way into it Jer'rahd unleashed Bleu and Rose into the fray to add as much chaos to the conflict as they could. Nothing could ruin the best laid plans and alliances faster than a third party getting involved who couldn't be negotiated with..

That was all of thirty minutes ago. At the moment, nearly every trainee was currently 'dead' and Bleu was in her large size using a comically flailing pegasus to paint an abstract mural on the side of one of the barracks, dunking the pony in several different barrels of paint and using him like a brush.

Jer'rahd wasn't sure what the pony had done to annoy the dragon, though he made sure Bleu wasn't hurting him at least.

“Alright who's still missing, we are three units short still?” he questioned noting immediately that the horde of bright blue ponies that Bleu and Rose had taken out did not contain Celestia, or Night Feather.

Starfall looks up to a trio of trainers still flying over the forest. Two of the trainers were near each other and the third pegaus was moving towards them.

“All three groups are converging near the falls. Seems the Princess and Jackdaw's group are fighting and Night Feather's is moving up to ambush them both.” Starfall states.

“Bleu, Rose, you hear that?” Jer'rahd states glancing at the pair who were still sitting around the training compound.. “ Have at them.”

“No can do Boss.” Blue states dragging the pony along in another long stroke.

“Like wise, colt.” Rose grumbles.” Got ambushed by Night Feather. She was using some of the tunnels the dogs dug in the last training exercise to move around in. Rather clever, that mare.” Rose states showing a red line running along his chest. “Still, I took out two of her team before I went though.”

“Yep and Celestia got me..... she's got that light teal coloration so it doesn't show up well on my belly scales, but it was a pretty good hit. I think she's taken the lessons from Sparkle to heart cause she was teleporting around the battle field like it was nothing.”

“Wait why are you still doing this to me if you were taken out !” shouts the pony being used as a paint brush. Jer'rahd thought it might be Mapleseed, but he couldn't be sure with the multitude of colors the pony was at the moment.

“Cause I needed a paint brush.” Bleu states simply. “And I wanted seeing how far you would take this playing dead thing.”

“Bleu let him down.” Jer'rahd rolls his eyes. “Rose if you are done then, take the tally of points and get every one cleaned up for chow. Come on Starfall, let's see how this plays out.” Jer'rahd states trotting off into the woods along with his friend gliding along behind him.

===================================================

[Present day, Gallopagos, Darwhinny Keep.]

Pip was doing his best not to smirk. He had a bit of practice not laughing from the few times he had been around Da while he was training Guards, but this was straining that self control.

He had cleaned up and was waiting for the others to arrive for lunch in the dining hall. He also wanted to hear if Lion Heart had anything else to say that might clarify his earlier speech. Failing that information on the ride back to the mainland would be good. He had forgotten all of that the moment the girls came in the room.

Sweetiebelle was the first to come in. She walked like she was in a trance still though she some how managed to get her head though the door with out effort. Pip was not sure how considering she was wearing a massive blue and light gray hat that looked like the ripples one got in a still puddle of water when a rain drop hit it. The dress she wore was the same color blue and gray and it cascaded down her back like a waterfall, the ends of it dragging the floor with puffs of white. Her legs were covered in long stockings that kept the aquatic theme and were a darker blue with a bit of white trim though they had the same ripple effect that the hat had. Her little hoof held gaming system floated in her magic before her eyes making Pip wonder how she managed to move without hitting anything.

Applebloom came in next, glaring daggers at Pip. She was in some sort of tight body suit that made her look like a bright yellow and green super hero, or a stalk of wheat, he wasn't sure what Rarity had been going for with this one. He suspected it was the latter with how her hair had been spiked up atop her head and touched up with some sort of gold ribbons that seemed more like spikes than bows with the sharp angles. The material seemed to shimmer as she walked and the ends of the pant legs seemed to flare out like a bell over her hooves.

Scootalloo came in last, with Rarity bouncing around her, still making adjustments to the outfit. The pegasus's mane and tail were slicked down, and far neater than he had ever seen. She was in some sort of a pin striped business suit that matched the color of her hair. Her small wings were stuck out at odd angles though the back of the jacket and he was pretty sure it was not comfortable..

“Oh wait, I forgot the tie, wait here you three. I will be right back.” Rarity states before trotting off humming to her self.

Scootaloo and Applebloom both glared bloody murder at Pip and the colt couldn't help himself any more There was a time and place to hold ones tongue, this wasn't it.

“So ah see you have your Nightmare Night costumes already. Everfree river, a clown and a lawyer. Ah think at least Scootaloo might scare some ponies with her costume.”

“I will destroy you colt.” Scootaloo snarls.

“Not as such Manelock, keep in mind tha pair of yah ran off and left me with her yesterday. This is jus payback fer that........ and ah see Sweetiebelles still out tah lunch?” Pip responds waving off the threat.

“It's a defense mechanism. She loves her sister, but she has to shut down the higher functions of her brain in order to deal with her fer too long. “ Applebloom sighs. “That caused all sorts of trouble when we were younger.”

“Wouldn't she have to have higher brain functions to shut them down?“ Scootaloo chimes in.

“Uuhh huh,.... hey wait a minute...” Sweetiebelle gasps, finally looking up from the game at Scootaloo as if to snap back with a comment of her own, though the words freeze in her mouth as she regards her friend as if seeing the orange pegasus for the first time. “Scoots, why are you dressed like Phoenix Wright?”

“Oh goody now she comes back down to Equss. “ sighs Applebloom, glaring at Pip as his laughter causes him to fall out of his chair.

==================================================

[Three years after the War of the Gods., Camp Ruin, Fall]

“This is the worst idea I think you have ever had.” Starfall snaps “ And I know nearly every bad idea you have ever had.”

“I agree.” Luna states staring down at the gray unicorn.

“Nah this is gonna be damned awesome.” Rose grins.

“I am curious about this. I haven't seen it in a controlled situation and I do kinda want to study the phenomena.”Twilight explains.

“He Sparkle, not it. He has agreed to help and this sort of confrontation is something that they will all need to know how to deal with, particularly her. I may never do this again with other training classes, but I like the idea of some variation in training in case some pony wants to give tips to the rookies. I was denied the cockatrices, so this is the next best, and more controlled thing I came up with.” Jer'rahd explains.

“I almost wish I had agreed to the Cockatrices now.” Luna sighs. “I gather I am here in case things do not go as planned?”

“Of course. I'm willing to extend him some trust, but I’m not stupid. Still I don't expect him to do anything aside from what we agreed on, but you are here just in case.” Jer'rahd states.

“You sound like you are explaining this to him as well.”Starfall mutters.

“I am. Rose are the trainees in position?”Jer'rahd asks.

“Yep. We have a mock village set up in the middle of the woods too. A couple of straw ponies meant to be civilians fer rescue as well. They don't know what's going to happen, but they have been told to go weapons free. I kinda hinted at a exercise versus you again though. Most were thrilled with that idea.”

“Are you sure you will be alright Jer'rahd?” Luna asks.” My sister can be dangerous.”

“Don't worry Luna. Troph isn't bothered much at all by Starmetal and he's made of the same stuff as the books. I doubt Celestia could do much more than give him a suntan. Particularly since it will be him that shows up, not The Beast.”

“I guess we are go then. Alright every one get in position. Get out your notes Twilight because the change is rather fast.“ Starfall sighs moving away from the gray unicorn.

Jer'rahd looks up at Luna who frowns at him as the others move away, though she leans down kissing his nose lightly. “I hope you know what you are doing. Jer'rahd.”

“When has that ever stopped me before?” Jer'rahd grins as a number of dark shadows begging to swirl about him.

===============================================================

[Present day, Gallopagos, Beagle Docks, afternoon.]

“It was lovely seeing you again Sweetie, you simply must come and visit more often. Thank you again for all the recording crystals, I love hearing those yet unreleased songs you have.” Rarity chimes. Not to say I would brag about that t any of the fancy parties or anything.....”

“I expect I’ll see you again when you come to my graduation. At least you better, the birth of my niece or nephew is the only thing that should keep you.” Sweetie glares at Lion Heart who visibly flinches from it.

Pip, Scootaloo, and Applebloom were already on the small patrol boat that had been assigned to take them back to the mainland. They had boarded the boat about an hour ago and Sweetie and Rarity were still saying their goodbyes to one another.

“Ugh why couldn't that rule about dramatic goodbyes be at the docks too?” Scootaloo growls.

“Primarily because she's the wife of the Governor of Gallopagos. She can pretty much do what she wants.” One of the guards on the boat sighs, checking the sails yet again. “ Thankfully she is rarely this bad, usually only when family is visiting.”

“I technically outrank her.. I could try something...” Pip mutters.

“Nah, ah've had enough of this mai self.” Applebloom grumbles. “ SWEETIEBELLE GIT YER BUTT ON THA BOAT OR WE'LL MISS OUR TRAIN!!!”

Scootaloo winces at the volume, as Pip glances up at his cousin. “ Taking lessons from Ma in the Royal Canterlot voice?”

“Tried tah get a cutiemark in it one time.”Applebloom admits sheepishly.

“I was legally deaf for three days after that. “grumbles Scootaloo.

It still took another ten minutes before the pair of unicorns parted,of course they still kept calling out to each other. During which Scootaloo and Pip were forced to hold Applebloom back from going to retrieve Sweetie herself. Of course the moment Sweetiebelle had a hoof on the boat Scootaloo yanked her on all the way and Pip and Applebloom cast off the mooring lines in a effort to get moving away as fast as possible.

As the boat sailed out of the dock, Sweetiebelle finally put her hoof down after waving to her sister and shouting back to her until they were out of ear shot.

“Whew glad that's over. “ Sweetiebelle explains dropping down onto one of the benches at the back of the boat.

“Coulda fooled us.” Scootaloo grumbles looking up into the sky. “ If I knew you were gonna take so long I woulda flown for a bit.”

“Why not do it now?” Applebloom questions.

“Sail boats and open flame don't go well together, there's not a big enough spot to land on the boat that I wouldn't risk setting something on fire. “ Scootaloo sighs. “ I mean I could easily land with no problems but I think Pip is stressed enough without having to worry about another boat sinking while on fire.”

“Yes, thank you very much for the tact Scootaloo.” Pip exhales with a small smirk towards the pegasus.
“So since we have some time tah kill, how about you explain a little more about that seed of yours. Did you find anything out in the library yesterday?”

“Ah told you about that earlier,” Applebloom retorts as Sweetiebelle's ears perk up.

“Umm yeah well I wasn't paying much attention I was trying to get you to be distracted for the trap...” Pip admits as Applebloom facehooves.

“You went to the library? I thought you went shopping.” the white unicorn comments.

“Might as well tell them AB. We can avoid the wacky hijinks of them trying to figure it out for themselves this way.” Scootaloo sighs laying her head on the railing one hoof lifted and moving in the air before in the faint ships breeze as she acts like shes flying along the waters surface with her hoof.

“Ah don't do wacky hijinks.” Pip protests

“She's not talking about you Pip.” Applebloom states looking at Sweetie who tries to look innocent.

“I have no idea what you are talking about.” Sweetie states.

“Remember when you got the idea to get us to disguise ourselves as you so you could hang out with your sister, your colt friend, and your parents at the same time?” Scootaloo mentions.

“That would have worked if every one didn't decide to go out to the same cafe for lunch.” Sweetie admits.

“Ah dun know how they even fell for it, we look nothing alike.” Applebloom states.

“Or the time you convinced Button that you wanted a specific flower from the Everfree forest for your birthday. Then you felt bad and convinced us to go after him to stop him from getting hurt and we ran into the ursa major, and the hydra and then ran though the poison joke and ran into a rockadile? And then after all that, when we finally got back to town we found Button just went to the florist for the flower and not into the forest.” Scootaloo grumbles.

“Oh I forgot about that.” Sweetie smirks “That was kinda fun.”

“You screamed and cried for the entire trip cause you thought he got eaten and ah was plaid for two days until Zecora could mix a potion up.” Applebloom grumbles. “Argh fine I'll tell you, just no wacky hijinks.”

“Well ah was interested in what you were doing before, but now ah wanna know more about these hijinks.” Pip points out.

“Arrrgh” Applebloom groans.

====================================================

[Three years after the War of the Gods., Camp Ruin, Fall]

“Well that went better than I expected.” Luna sighs. “I was quite ready to get involved there at the end. I am glad I didn't need to.”

“True, it's good to see that Troph is keeping his end of the deal. I should probably put my research aside and look into the leads we have to find Grace for him. Still it was rather interesting to see him cut loose like that, I still doubt that is the full power of a old god, but it was impressive non the less.” Twilight nods. “I wonder if he's weaker because he's stuck inside Kaisur?”

“I agree, it was clear the general had a hoof in everything as well, using the dragons power to deny the soldiers who had trained in using draconic abilities that connection. A very effective strategy, we need to know if normal dragons can do that just in case.” Starfall comments. “That the trainees managed to save the villagers even while losing so many of their own was impressive as well, this was a better batch of ponies than I had hoped for.”

“Indeed, it was quite clear my sister took to the training well, she displayed an aggression I have not seen in some time, and this time it was finely tempered instead of just a rampage. That she took command so readily in a combat situation was also an improvement of her usual wait and see policy too. I was unaware however that Jer'rahd was planning this to be a Kobayashi Maru however.” Luna sighs. “Tia will not be happy learning that.”

“A what?” Twilight asks.

“Kobayashi Maru, sea pony term, it means 'no win scenario'. It was first used after Neighlantis fell when referring to future conflict with the Lunar Republic.“ Starfall points out with a hint of a smile on her face. “He had no intent of letting them have even a small chance to win this. He meant to teach them some humility as well as to see how far they could go when a situation was hopeless. A Kobayashi Maru is a exercise to show how well one will act when one knows the situation is hopeless. It's more a judge of character than ability. Still I am surprised they didn't figure out this was part of the training.”

“I believe that had something to do with Twilight Sparkle's rather impressive illusions, making them think that a hoof full of actual ponies were running from the creature and fled to the village for shelter. It also likely helped that none of them have seen Troph's fully dragon form. Even Tia has only seen the Beast. I was impressed at how they all reacted, Night Feather has remarkable leadership ability as well. Her tactics are perhaps why even the hoof full that survived did as well as they did even after she fell.” Luna regales. “ I think she might be the proper pony to take over my sisters personal guard.”

“What, not good enough for your own personal guard?” Twilight chuckles lightly.

“You think the General would allow any pony to be in charge of that but himself?” Starfall smirks. “ Still I doubt we will be allowed to do this again any time soon. The results were nice ,but well the aftermath of the Princess and Troph fighting... well...”

“Are yoo three lasses DAFT?!?! THIS WAS FAR BEYOND WHAT SHOULDA GONE ON!!” Rose shouts clearly on the verge of freaking out as he clung to the side of the building the trio stood on top of. The crystal pony was struggling not to be swept away by the water swirling around the building from the flooded river nearby.

Much of the forest, most of the training facility and even a good portion of the side of the Maneterhorn was devastated. The river now ran through the remains of the camp and poured down into a crater that was all that remained of the parade grounds in front of the camp. The lake was vaporized and the whole area was shrouded in a thick steamy mist.

Thankfully, New Canterlot was on the other side of the Maneterhorn, though even they probably felt the fight going on. Luna expected a contingent, or six, of Guards to be arriving soon.

A shouted cadence along with a thunder of hooves could be heard approaching. A few of the trainers were marching the rather ragged looking group of trainees back towards the camp. Most of them were covered in dirt and grim and a few were bloodied. One or two of them were being carried though it seemed the most serious injuries were a broken leg and a split lip.

Troph had been rather effective when fighting the trainees. Most had been 'killed' and shunted through the earth to a small cavern under the battlefield where several of the trainers had been waiting to inform the trainees that they had been 'killed'.

No one took it that well when they wound up there. Judging by the smoke still rising from Celestia's shortened mane she was highly pissed about the whole thing even this long after her 'defeat'

“Ah yes. I know that look. I don't think I’ve met any pony who's as good at pissing off Princess Celestia as Jer'rahd is. How long do you think it took her to figure out this was still a training exercise?” Starfall smirks.

“Probably not until the end judging by how hard she was trying to take Troph out.” Luna chuckles waving at her sister with a wing and getting a scowl in return as she was marched past to the remains of the barracks.

“Hmm short hair... not too bad, though I liked it better long gives a better grip........” Twilight mutters to herself before realizing both Starfall and Luna were looking at her.” Ahem... any way , doesn't Jer'rahd usually pass out when he changes back? “

Luna blinks and slaps her hoof against her face. “I'll go find him.” she sighs before launching herself into the air flying towards the spot where Troph had last been seen at the end of the battle.

“Will one of you bucking help me up already!!” shouts Rose from water below them.

=====================================================

[Present day, Mainland, Shrewsbury port, afternoon.]

The boat nears the dock finally and the small group gather their things, making ready to disembark. Scootaloo swore that Sweetiebelle's luggage collection had doubled in size.

“So that's what the deal is. Auntie Zecora didn't give all the details as to what was going on, just she had a feeling that you needed to go.” Pip states with a small shrug.

“Why do you call her auntie?” Sweetiebell asks.

“That's classified.” Pip retorts before muttering under his breath. ”and it makes more sense than cousin.....”

“What?”

“Nothin.”

“So what are you gonna do about it then?” questions Applebloom nervously.

“Wot do you mean?” Pip asks.

“Aren’t you gonna take it over as part of your mission or somethin?” Scootaloo asks.

Pip raises a brow at that, though as he glances back at Applebloom and sees her expression, it seemed a valid fear of hers. He sighs and shakes his head. “Ah got mai hooves full just keeping you three outta trouble, why tha heck would I wanna add researching a seed to that list? So long as yah don't do anythin stupid or dangerous tah figure out what it is ,this quests all yours. Though ah can ask Ma or auntie Celestia if they know. Miss Twilight would have been a good bet too.”

“Yeah but if that was all it was we wouldn't have been sent on this mission.” Applebloom sighs. “ specially as she knew we weren’t going any where near tha Princesses or Twilight.”

“We can always ask if we get back to New Canterlot with out any leads.” Scootaloo points out climbing onto the dock and stretching her wings out with a crackling of green flame. An act that causes a number of shouts from ponies on the boats around them and further up the docks.

“Wait til we get off the very flammable wooden docks please Scootaloo. “ Pip sighs “Ah'm not sure why ya were worried about me having an issue with this. Sweetie ah ken understand with her penchant fer wacky hijinks.......”

“Hey I thought it was a mask when I tried to pull Old farmer Brown's head off!” Sweetie yells out.

“..... but yah shoulda known ah wasn't gonna do anything about it. Specially since Auntie Zecora put yah up to it. “Pip finishes.

“Well that's good, I guess. Hopefully I can find something about tha seed in Manehatten or the Crystal Empire. Though I figure the best bet will be Las Pegasus.” Applebloom sighs

“Seed ? What seed?” Sweetiebelle asks as she floats her luggage along with her as she walks up with the others as they head down the dock.

“The seed we have been talking about for the three hours it took us to get to shore...” Scootaloo states.

“I don't remember that.” Sweetie complains.

“Did you fall asleep while ah was talking?”Applebloom asks with a roll of her eyes. “Again?”

“Maybe....” Sweetiebelle admits.

“Criky, I need to learn that sleeping at full attention trick of hers then. Wot was the last thing you remember?” Pip grumbles.

“Button going to get that flower I wanted for me from the Everfree. He can be such a romantic at times.” Sweetiebelle giggles
as the others all facehoof.

======================================================

[Three years after the War of the Gods., Camp Ruin, start of Winter]

Jer'rahd yawns rubbing his forehead with a hoof looking down at the last of the paper work on his desk. After the training exercise with Troph, as well as few rounds of shouting and screaming from both Guard Captain Moskau and Guard Captain Nicker Fury, almost immediately after he woke up any way. Things had gone rather smoothly for the rest of the training.

Aside from yelling a lot neither of the Guard Captains did anything to him given that both Princesses were present, and at least one of them had given the green light for the exercise. Both of them were just pissed he went over their heads and directly to Luna. It was going to take some time to get used to following orders and the chain of command again after being at the top of the chain for so long.

Granted he could probably make a play for the position of Guard Captain again when one of them retired, though he didn't have the desire to do so right now. He was content to simply be in charge of the training of the new Guards and Luna's protection detail, not that she needed it, but a few extra hooves watching out for the foals helped him feel a bit more at ease at least.

The first official class had gone through their graduation ceremonies this morning. Out of seventy ponies, seventy one counting Celestia, all but ten of them graduated. One of them went A.W.O.L. Early on and no one had seen him since, though it was expected he went home, with how badly he was dealing with the training and the pressure it was probably for the best. Still he needed to be caught and punished if for no other reason than to be an example to others not to run away. He doubted the punishment would be severe, but something still needed to be done. He had just finished signing off on the paper work for that investigation earlier.

There were four major injuries that forced ponies to withdraw, three older guards and a rookie, they were given the same ultimatum as Night Feather had been given He still wasn't sure if he could make the threat to strip them of their Guard positions, but it didn't matter all of them had promised to come back and try again, even the rookie, after they recovered.

Four of the others simply dropped out, all rookies who couldn't handle it at all. They were discharged and left to go do what ever it was civilians did in this age. If the awol pony had dropped out instead of running away it would have saved him a lot of paper work. That might be the real reason he wanted to punish him, oh well.

The last one, the last one gave him a headache the likes of which he had never had before.

Techtronic was a unicorn, the son of some minor noble or another, while he was not the only noble offspring in the training, he was the only one who acted like Equss owed him everything just for being born.

He had started out simply being irritating and pushing the other trainees around like a school yard bully, simple thinks , like pranks, twisting words around, spreading rumors and lies. It moved into trying to make himself look good by making others look bad, more malicious pranks, thefts, direct insults and threats. Celestia did her best not to get involved with it and Techtronic wasn't stupid enough to try anything with her that could be traced back to him..

However with Celestia ignoring his actions and the instructors not noticing anything he did directly, he grew more confident ,and the bullying and degradation of those around him got worse. There were several reports of blackmail and intimidation to get the other trainees to do what he wanted, including a number of the training Guards. Up until the end he had managed to keep his actions hidden from the instructors, but when his ego finally got the better of him he decided to try his hoof at forcing some of the instructors to do what he wanted as well.

That's when things blew up in his face, rather spectacularly too. One of his first targets was the smallest and visibly weakest of the instructors. The one he clearly thought he could bully the easiest.

Two broken legs, three cracked ribs a broken muzzle, loss of a sizable number of teeth and a small crack in his horn at the base of his skull were how he found out that trying to bully Starfall was not his best plan.

Jer'rahd smirked a little despite himself at this, Starfall never even laid a hoof on him. Peach Blossom had been nearby when the other pegasus had attempted to intimidate her. Techtronic had evidently taken a swing at her when Peach Blossom got involved. Techtronic apparently fought back enough that the Captain had to make sure he stayed down, hence all the injuries.

Peach Blossom, of course, took full accountability for his actions though in his report he simply stated that ,'he actually saved Techtronic's life by stopping him from getting in a fight with Starfall.' that was something that Jer'rahd could agree with completely.

There would still be an investigation, though Peach Blossom's report of the incident was confirmed by Starfall and no one would dispute the word of a Pony who once bore the Element of Honesty. Then adding that report to the other trainees reports on Techtronic's behavior that surfaced after wards.

There would be a fuss and it wouldn’t amount to much, at worse the Captain might get a bit of unpaid leave, or maybe a demotion, though likely it wouldn't even come to that. Techtronic on the other hoof might be facing jail time, if half the charges lobbied against him were true. The black mail alone and threatening the other trainees and their families was serious enough for that, but in the end it was up to the courts to decide on, not him.

Celestia was less than thrilled about the whole incident as well. She had ignored his actions and simply accepted what he was doing around her as she tried to be 'normal' and tough through everything. Granted he and Rose had not exactly made themselves easily accessible for any pony to complain about anything, so it was just as much a failure on their part as her's. Thankfully it was all dealt with early on, and the rest of the training went well despite Peach Blossom no longer being able to help.

He made sure to make a note to keep an eye out for that sort of thing in the next class to avoid a repeat of this incident. It would probably be a good idea as well to make himself or at least one of the other trainers more open to complaints and grievances with in the training group.

Jer'rahd sat back in his chair again looking at the piles of paper work still on his desk. Some of the rookies had done well enough that he could suggest a promotion before they even got to their assigned duties and a few of the other retrained Guards deserved a commendation or two as well. There of course was a great deal of paper work to set up and he had already picked a few of the retrained Guards to assist in the next bout of training. Mostly pegasus as the next batch seemed to be primarily Wonderbolts, to be honest Starfall would be the one to have her work cut out for her next class.

He glanced up as a knock sounded at his door.

“Come in.”

The door was opened by a Royal Guard who took a quick glance around the room before stepping back and letting Celestia trot into the room. Jer'rahd rolled his eyes at the Guards caution, but was rather glad to see some pony taking their job seriously. Still he didn't like the interruptions, unless it was Luna or one of the foals.

“So what do you want? I figured you would be off with the others celebrating being free from under my hoof. Or did you come here to try and pay me back for all that?” Jer'rahd questions glancing up from the paper work briefly, though he largely pretends to ignore her.

“Do you actually think I am petty enough to punish you for something I asked you to do?” Celestia comments taking a seat in one of the chairs in his office. Her mane and tail were already growing back rather well despite Rose's almost fanatical dedication to making sure they were all but non existant during training. Rumor was he was having the hair made into a throw rug for his office.

“Probably not, but I’m not ruling out the possibility. So if it's not that, why are you here?” Jer'rahd snarks.

“I wanted to talk, Kaisur. “

“Rather odd, usually you just tell me to do something and I do my best to ignore it.”

“Just stop, alright. I don't feel like going through this again. You hate me, I get that but does every conversation with you have to wind up being a fight?”

“I don't hate you, I just don't like you.” Jer'rahd responds sitting up in his chair. “ Rose... now Rose hates you, and Luna, a lot. I don't think anything you do will change that. He still sees that you broke a promise to him, and his family is gone because of that. Me, I just hate how you do things. I have since you sent your sister and my friends into the Dark lands with just an idea that we needed to find Discord's Castle to get a book. I hated how you handled the war, I hated how you dealt with the nobles as if they were small children who only needed to be guided and taught, and not the power hungry adults most of them were. I hated how you looked at everything as a chess piece on the board to be moved around and sacrificed at your leisure.”

“I never treated any one that way Kaisur, and you know it!?”

“How many lost their lives because you wanted to play politics and did your best to keep peace by giving up land, supplies and anything else to prevent a full on war?”

“I was looking at how many I could save by avoiding the wars.”

“Some times conflict is the only way things get done. We saved more lives by destroying the threat then you did by trying to bribe it.”

“I am aware of that Kaisur. I am also aware that had things happened differently we would not be having this conversation now and I would not have lost my sister for a thousand years. I had hoped after I survived that madness you put me through that we might be able to have some form of civil conversation without an argument from the past being brought up. So much for that.” Celestia growls rising to her hooves and storming towards the door.

“Well if it makes you feel any better, you are improving. You're not hiding in your tower any more. You've now experienced what ponies go through in order to be worthy of serving as those that protect you and Equestria. And you stopped putting so much faith in that pacifistic crap as well. I'll admit you had a good run while I was gone,it was built on our failure, but you still managed it, so it wasn't a total waste. Still doesn't mean I like you.” Jer'rahd stars rather nonchalantly watching the white alicorn twitch.

“Thank you …. that sort of does make me feel a little better. I could do with out the round of insults and arguing however.” Celestia snorts.

“Not happening. There's no other pony willing to face you down with your failings enough to keep your ego in check.” Jer'rahd smirks.

“Really, and who keeps your obviously inflated ego in check?” Celestia glares back at him.

“Starfall, Bleu, Luna, Velkorn occasionally, Rhede mostly, Applejack's getting fairly good at it, Orange too.... Rose tries....Moskau's getting better....”

“Then I believe they need to hurry up and bring you back down. You seem a little too smug behind that desk.”

“I hate the desk, I’m more than happy to be almost done with it for a while. I haven't had any time to spend with the foals in a while.” Jer'rahd sighs, though he smiles still. “And after they go to bed I’ve thirteen weeks of time to make up with Luna....”

“I do not need to know that Kaisur.” Celestia winces.

“Seriously I don't know how I managed to last this long after a brief taste...., I mean have you seen her flank... her legs... well all of her really....” Jer'rahd makes a gesture in the air with his hooves getting a snort of disgust from Celestia.

“That is my sister you speak of Kaisur, you have been spending far to much time with Pelt if you believe I think of her that way.”

“Yeah, well that sort of thing between you two was always one of Rhede's fantasies if I’m not mistaken.”

Celestia shakes her head moving to the door though she at least had a small smirk on her face now.
“With allies like you lot, I doubt I need enemies.”

“With allies like us Celestia, you shouldn't have enemies for very long.” Jer'rahd grins.

Author's Note

This was bigger and less progressive than any chapter i have made in a long time. I also couldn't help giggle like a mad man at the plethora of Darwin puns in this thing.

A few more chapters and the focus will shift almost entirely to the present.I simply need to cover a few other back stories of what happened in the past before i get to that point. The real story will start at that point.

Missed Chances [10]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
by TDR

Missed Chances

[Four years ago, New Canterlot Royal library]

“SPIIIIIIKE!!! SPIKE, WHERE ARE YOU I NEED THE BOOK ON THE PENNYWORTH TREATY........... oh... right....” Twilight shouts before slowly trailing off, her ears drooping.

It had been a year since Spike had left to try and remake the Dragon Empire, and she still found herself getting so wrapped up in things that she forgot he wasn't there any more. They had parted on better terms this time and Bleu had said she would keep an eye on him and keep her informed of what was going on when she came back from a trip to the dragon lands. Bleu had decided she was going to help Spike as well as run the school, though she had Octavia covering for her while she was away.

Still with her number one assistant gone Twilight was having a harder time of it than she liked. She was working on compiling a book about the assorted gods of Equus and Spike's deific abilities were beyond helpful in that regard.

She sighs running her hoof though her mane. Princess Celestia had appointed her to the position of Royal librarian, something she had always wanted, even if it was little more than a title without any real backing. She was supposedly in charge of the main library in Canterlot, but the former librarian, Dewy Decimal, was still here. Even though she was his boss, the ancient unicorn always made her feel like she was a little filly who had accidentally spilled marmalade on a book and tried to return it. He never did let her live that down. Of course it was also his day off or she never would have yelled in the library in the first place.

Personally she would be much more comfortable in her old tree house library on the other side of town, but that was no longer hers. After a talk with Rhede and Rarity she had given up her home to Trixie, and her newborn colt Trevor. She still felt guilty about not trying to stop Trixie from running off after the alicorn amulet incident and because of that she was captured and enslaved by Claymore. Giving her self proclaimed rival a place to live and a job was probably the least she could do. It was not like Trixie could travel any where before the foal was born, and after wards he should be allowed to grow up and go to school in one place instead of traveling around like she did before. It actually took Miss Cheerilee to convince Trixie to stay put for Trevor's sake. Trixie had a bad case of wanderlust it seemed, still the teacher and show mare had hit it off rather well in the end, so Trixie had a friend here as well.

Twilight flattens her ears. She was getting distracted by reminiscing again. She was only twenty five she shouldn't be old enough to reminisce this much yet. Besides she needed to find that book herself now that Spike had left, and this was a rather big library.

Twilight turned back to her table to gather her notes before going hunting when a book that had not been there before catches her attention. She picks it up in her magic looking over the cover before flipping to the table of contents with a small gasp of surprise. While this wasn't the exact book she was looking for, it had a rather detailed description of the Pennyworth treaty that she needed.

Where had this come from? Did she have some innate power herself? Did Spike's power work at a distance? Who built that book fort in the corner of the room? Did Trixie speak in their person in her own mind? Why was she narrating her own questions? By the Stars were Pinkie Pie and discord here?

Her ears perk up as she hears a rather soft 'no' that sounded like Pinkie pie shouting from a long distance away.

“How does she do that ,”mutters Twilight her brain finally catching up with the rest of her. “Wait... book fort?”

The purple mare sets the book back down and trots over to the small structure. Most of the books comprising it were newer tomes, and dictionaries. It all was set up quite sturdily, with small pamphlets and thesaurus’s making up the parparits and a few battlement towers. It looked like a some what rough reconstruction of Castle Whinnyshire in the Everfree forest. She ducks her head down looking through the opening at the front of the fort spotting a unicorn filly wrapped in a blanket and reading an older Daring Do novel.

The dark blue filly looks up at Twilight as she look into the fort. Her red mane was a bit frizzled and hung over her face and upon seeing Twilight she eeps and pulls the blanket down over her head.

“Ice Berry?” Twilight asks curiously.” What are you doing here?”

The hidden bundle made no response.

Ice Berry Lily, the youngest of Princess Luna and Jer'rahd's adopted foals, Twilight wasn't sure but she thought she might wind up being ten this year. Despite that she was still tiny, smaller than Pip though just barely, even though the colt was going through a some what growth stage right now. If Berry followed her brothers example she would probably be about the same height as Twilight once she reached her teenaged years. Despite six years having past since the war she still had not uttered a word, and was still beset by nightmares, though Luna said they were not nearly as bad as they had been before. None of the doctors could figure out why she wouldn't talk and there was no luck with any therapists either. Luna and Celestia were going to see about different kinds of therapy, when Luna noticed that some of the nightmares she was having were about doctors now, and thus stopped trying to find out what was wrong with her and let her speak when she was ready. Jer'rahd pointed out he had suggest that to start with and was promptly ignored again by the Royal sisters. Her brother, Paint Brush, still had the occasional nightmare, but other wise he was a normal colt for his age.

Berry hadn't really stood out in any way, though Twilight had been amused to note she was an avid reader, mostly fantasy books according to her library card check out slips, but a few history books and a couple of nature books as well.

Dewy had been quick to point out 'that unlike a certain purple unicorn who some how got her placement clearly only due to knowing those in charge of everything, Berry always returned what she borrowed on time and had yet to cover a expensive tome in a sticky mess.'

Twilight sighs softly looking back at the table then ducking her head down to the forts entrance.
“Berry did you find that book for me?” Twilight blinks as the blanket nods a pair big gold eyes staring back at her. Seriously the filly could give Fluttershy lessons in being shy, but also like Fluttershy, that made her freaking adorable to the point that Twilight had to make a mental note to schedule a dentist appointment to check for cavities.

“Did you hear me calling for Spike and went looking for the book yourself?”

Another nod.

Twilight considers for a moment a small smile crossing her muzzle as she came up with an idea. She would have to get it past Berry's overly protective and some what violent parents and aunts, but it may help the filly out in the long run to be doing something different, at least that's what she told herself.

“Berry would you like to help me out more? To be my assistant?”

===============================================================

[Present day, Manehatten train station]

“Are you sure you are reading that map right?” Sweetiebelle grumbles as Applebloom looks over the rather sizable city map that she had unfolded, and unfolded , and kept unfolding until she was buried under the mass of paper.

“This ain't a map it's a bed sheet!” Applebloom whines struggling to get out from under the giant map.

“If we don't figure out where that store is we're gonna miss meeting Babs as she gets off work. “ Scootaloo grumbles picking up the edge of the map to let Applebloom out.

Pip sighs noting the number of stares and smirks the group was getting trying to unfold the map at the train station. At least they had taken his advice and moved to the side before looking it over.
“Do you want me to help you find the shop, maps and directions are kinda my thing....” Pip remarks pointing to his cutiemark and the silvery shield with the globe in the middle of it adorning his flank.

“Nuh uh ah'm gonna do it. Babs is my favorite cousin ever and ah'm gonna find that shop and surprise her when she gits off work. “Applebloom states.

Scootaloo flattens her ears.”Hey now, isn't Pip your cousin too? And your gonna say that in front of him?”

Applebloom winces and looks back at Pip who had his ears drooped and a look like a puppy that had been smacked with a newspaper.

“Sorry Pip , ah didn't mean it like that....” Applebloom starts to try and placate.

“It's okay Applebloom,” Pip chuckles softly dropping the fake look of sadness.” Babs is my favorite cousin too.”

“Yah see that Scootaloo everything’s alright then . Babs is his favorite..... hey wait a minute......”Applebloom starts with a bit of relief in her voice until she finally catches on to what he said and turned to glare at the grinning colt.

“ARRRGH YOU ARE TAKING TOOOOoooooooo long..?..” Sweetiebelle shouts before her voice trails off her ears perking up as she stares at a spot on the train station wall. “Hey guys, listen!! Do you smell that?”

The other three blink looking at the white unicorn as she rushes off suddenly heading out of the train station and galloping down the street

The three of them look at one another before taking off after Sweetiebelle, Applebloom still holding the map that billows out like a massive cape behind her.

========================================================

[Four years ago, New Canterlot]

Jer'rahd and Luna looked at each other , then back at Twilight who sat on the other side of the table. The pair then looked at each other again , then over at Berry who was on the other side of the room poking her brothers side in the most annoying way possible as he was trying to paint.

The group of them were in the main room of Luna's quarters, the new set up had taken over a number of the ambassador suites, requiring a new wing to be built. Still the expansion was enough for all four of the foals to have their own room as well as a spare guest room and a few other rooms that served other functions, including a room with a exceedingly uncomfortable couch for when Luna got mad at Jer'rahd.

“So you are saying she agreed to be your assistant?” Luna questions her eyes narrowing as she stares at Twilight.

“Well she didn't say it, but when I asked she nodded.”Twilight admits, wondering why in Equus she thought this might have been a good idea. These two were more protective of their children than a mother Ursa, more dangerous too.

Jer'rahd and Luna looked at each other then to Berry, who had finally been run off by Brush after he painted her nose yellow. Luna sighs getting a napkin and wiping the paint off the foals nose shooting a glare at Brush who does his best to hide behind his easel while still painting as if he had done nothing wrong.

“Berry, Sparkle says you want to help her out?” Jer'rahd asks as Luna finishes wiping off most of the yellow paint before the filly nods.

“You know that it's going to be a lot of work right?” Luna asks before getting another nod. “Alright , go finish washing your nose, and wash the rest of yourself as well. You might as well get you bath out of the way at this point. That goes for you too Brush, finish up and get ready for a bath when Berry gets out of the tub.”

Berry frowns at that her ears flattening as she glares back at her brother though she pulls away from Luna and trots off blowing Brush a raspberry in annoyance, which the older colt returns.

“I am hesitant about this Twilight Sparkle.” Luna sighs. “ Not because we do not trust you...”

“....But because we don't trust you.” Jer'rahd finishes before getting smacked in the back of the head by Luna's wing.

“I know, I know, it's not like I planned to bring her along on any field research or anything, for the most part I’m just researching books and things in the castle's library. I won't even be that far from any one if something does happen.” Twilight interjects.

“You are like us in regards that trouble seems to follow you.” Luna sighs

“Or in my case it calls ahead to make reservations, then brings unexpected guests.” Jer'rahd adds shaking his head a little. “She's not like Orange, she's not really that confidant, nor is she social in the slightest. Even at school she tends to hang around one of her brothers or cousins. She's not made any friends or even acquaintances, she acts like a normal, if silent, little filly while home or at Sweet Apple Acres, but to some one she only sort of knows she's much shyer. It's gotten to the point that she has been known to run away in a panic from some one she doesn't know at all. I have to personally introduce her to any new guard on duty here just to keep her from hiding under her bed from the stranger at the door.”

“We think before Brush got her out of their home during the attack she witnessed the changelings killing some one, perhaps even her mother, as the mare's body was found in their home after everything was over. She doesn't do well with surprises either, she has a routine that only has a little variation to it. It's one she set up and follows on her own. She tends to have issues when that is changed as well.” Luna states.

“I didn't realize she had that many problems “Twilight sighs, “I guess that's a no then? I suppose I expected that even before you told me what was happening with her. I knew she had some problems but not like this.”

“Neither of us said 'No' Sparkle.” Jer'rahd explains. “ We're just telling you what to expect.”

“What?” Twilight asks.

“Berry actually decided to do something beyond what she normally does. Normally she only goes to the library on Tuesday and Thursday,but it's Wednesday and she changed her pattern for some reason, and now there's this. I am hoping it means she is finally starting to adjust. I am willing to allow her to be your assistant so long as you do not over work her or put her in any sort of danger.” Luna explains.

“I … I don't know what to say... I’ll try my best to keep her safe and see if she'll open up more...”Twilight stammers.

“Of course there is the standard warning that I give the Guards who get stationed as one of Luna's Guards, if something happens to her, your corpse better be between where she is and whatever the problem is, if it isn't, it will be.”Jer'rahd growls getting another cuff on the back of his head with Luna's wing.

“Excuse him, as Orange will tell you he takes over protective to a new absurd level.” Luna sighs looking at the rather nervous Twilight.

“So says the mare who teleported all four of them to the Crystal Empire the moment the alarm sounded during the Noodle Incident.” Jer'rahd grins as Luna blushes. “ Orange was not thrilled as she was in the middle of taking a final exam she had been studying for, for weeks. And yet she still calls me the over protective one.”

“You threw one of Oranges colt friends through a wall Jer'rahd.” Luna grumbles

“And you flung another one of her colt friends off the castle tower and into the lake on the other side of Ponyville.” Jer'rahd counters.

“Well.... Thistle bloom was an ass.......” Luna huffs as Jer'rahd smirks.

“Ummm can I go now?” Twilight mutters nervously.

============================================================

[Manehatten, Current day]

“Where the heck is she going!?” growls Pip as the group of them rush after the galloping Sweetiebelle.

“How the heck should I know? With all the classes and training we have I barely get to see her any more and we go to the same school.” Scootaloo snaps.” I blame that crazy aunt of yours.”

“Which one? A'hm evidently related to a buncha females that are thought to have a screw loose or two.” Pip shouts back glancing at Applebloom before sliding under a cart as Applebloom slips around it and Scootaloo soars over head while they try to keep up with Sweetiebelle.

“The blue one!”

“I'm pretty sure Breezy's a stallion, though I’m not sure why I’m supposed to be related to him past Da wanting to screw with him.”Pip states, 'Though Da screwing with his head might be the reason he introduced Breezy as my aunt.....”

“Not her, errr him, I mean Bleu!”shouts Scootaloo nearly crashing into another pegasus. Her wings flare and she changes her direction nearly instantly avoiding hitting the startled stallion.

“Guys ah think she's running in circles cause this is tha second time we've run past tha train station entrance.” Applebloom yells sliding to a halt looking over at the train station entrance nearby.

“We've been what?” Scootaloo stops in mid air to try and figure out what was going on when Sweetiebelle leaps out of the crowd tackling the flying pegasus.

“Tha buc.....?” Pip states catching himself in the swear as Sweetiebelle hops off the groaning Scootaloo and dances around in place.

“Do you guys hear that? This is awesome, professor Bleu was right you can hear it eeeeeeeEEEEeeeEEEEEEeeeee.” Sweetiebelle squees prancing in place her hoofs starting to click in a rhythm.

“Yer aunt Bleu is a Professor?” Applebloom questions.

“Nah, but she calls herself that, and what sane pony's gonna argue with a big, blue, easily excitable dragon that's friends with tha Princesses and Discord?” Pip sighs.

“Point.” Applebloom nods watching as Scootaloo launches herself back into the air with a number of choice swears after shaking free of the unicorn.

“What is wrong with you, you dictionary!?!” Scootaloo growls clearly barely holding back from throttling the white unicorn.

“Can't you guys here that? The city is singing, there's music here!” Sweetiebelle giggles. “Seriously listen!!”

Applebloom and Scootaloo tilt their heads to listen trying to figure out what their friend was talking about, though Pip simply gets a horrified expression on his face.

“I don't hear anything” Scootaloo grumbles. “ Just a bunch of noisy ponies and a hobo playing a guitar for change over there.”

“HEY!!” the raggedly clothed pony yells at her. ”I'm not a hobo, I'm a liberal arts major!”

“Oh sorry, hobo in training.” Scootaloo grumbles.

“Don't say anything, don't say anything.” mutters Pip.

“Sorry Sweetiebelle, ah don't hear nothing but noise.” Applebloom responds.

“Crap!” Pip snaps.

“Well I guess I’ll have to point it out then won't I?” Sweetiebelle shouts excitedly before darting off again.

“Okay that's weird.... what are you complaining about any way Pip.” Scootaloo asks glaring at the spot Sweetiebelle ran off towards.

“I know what's gonna happen.....Da warned me about this.” Pip groans.

“An what's that?” Applebloom asks.” What's going on?”

“Da said aunt Bleu learned a trick from aunt Celestia a long while back. He says it's tha worse thing ever and aunt Celestia used tah use it to punish ponies every year.” Pip explains, “I don't think Da knew she was gonna teach it to any one else, but he forbid aunt Bleu from using it as he said it was far too dangerous.”

“Awww crap, what's going to happen? What was the trick called?” Scootaloo asks.

“ Gala flash mob.” Pip states, flinching as the unmistakeable sound of hoof steps marching to a beat fills the air.

========================================================

[Four years ago, New Canterlot]

“There are four kinds of gods in Equus. Five if you count the Books of Orbsah as gods. Considering they make other gods and can't be destroyed that's not a bad way to look at them, though sentient artifacts might be better. What do you think Berry? Artifacts?” Twilight questions looking up from her book to the small unicorn on the other end of the table pouring over a tome of her own. The golden eyed filly looks up, rests a hoof on her chin lightly as if considering, and then nods once.

“Alright, we'll change that for the final publication, at least the non public publication any way.”

Twilight scratches something down in the book with a quill and fills out a scroll with some notes.

“Okay, there's the natural born gods that most races have. A child that grows up to have the best traits of their species, basicly a paragon with an additional power seemingly chosen at random. Examples of this include Lord Talon or as Pinkie called him, Fred, who could control lighting, Discord, with .. well what ever it is he does, though I need to talk to him about that a little more I guess, and Zecora with her premonition ability.” Twilight blinks and looks over at Berry. “Don't tell any one about Zecora, especially not your uncle Rhede and auntie Velkorn. I figure your ma and Da would flay me if they didn't get to see your uncles reaction to that bit of info.”

Berry nods again smiling a little.

“Let's see there are the inherited gods. They can be anything before they inherit the power, though afterwords, like the natural gods, they become paragons of their species, though the power isn't random, it's the same as the god they gained their power from. It is possible that all natural gods can pass their powers on like this though the only evidence for this theory is Spike who was granted his powers while in the egg by a dragon assumed to be a natural god. Both Princesses are also in this category, with Luna's deity like power being the dream walking and Celestia's ….. well fire I guess. Berry remind me to think of a more technical term for what Princess Celestia does.”

Berry nods writing her own note on a piece of parchment as Twilight continues writing.

“The third type of god are the first ones. Hmmm I suppose the Gray Grimiore counts as this type. Might have to reevaluate the rating on the Books. Any way there are only six of the First Gods, seven counting that book... of course for all purposes all but two of them are considered little more than spirits, or ghosts inhabiting the Element's of Harmony. So I’m not sure they can count at all, if it wasn't for Grace and Troph, though grace did say that their bodies won't last forever and they will likely return to being little more than spirits when they die or destroyed. Ugh this whole thing chapter is messed up and it's almost all speculation, and it's giving me a headache.” Twilight grumbles smacking her head into the table.

Berry leans over the table, patting the purple unicorn on the head with a hoof, bringing a small smile to Twilight's face.

“Okay, thanks I needed that Berry. “ Twilight starts writing again.” Lastly is the artificial gods, or the demi gods. Ones granted power from another source like the Books. Notable members of this set include the six monsters from the war, Jer'rahd, and Mooshroom, the leader of the Minotaurs on Mycelium Island. Demi gods have the same resistances and life span of other gods, though they have less power and only have access to one of six power types depending on which aspect of the Element's of Harmony they bore.” Twilight glances up to see Berry still writing.

“Loyalty can summon The Beast, which as far as we know summons one of three types of monstrous creatures that are near impossible to kill and seemingly uncontrollable most of the time. Or maybe that was just Troph because Jer'rahd seems in full control of it now that Troph's gone. Uggh more things I don't under stand.” Twilight groans.

Berry holds up a book and points to a picture of the Element of Magic.

“Oh right, if there was a book changed Element of Magic they could control the Beast as well. Thank you Berry.” Twilight states scribbling more notes. “Moving on the corrupted Element of Laughter has some sort of reality warping properties. Another reason to talk to Discord... ugh. “

Twilight grumbles to herself as Berry keeps looking through the book she was reading.

“Okay Corrupted Honesty produced the changelings and other shape shifters and Corrupted Generosity produced Sombra who has some odd kind of dark shadow magic. Thing is any one can learn to use that magic, maybe it's an aspect of Generosity still in there, giving ponies something that they really don't want?” Twilight ponders. “ I wonder if the two of them together are why the changelings became a race, if Sombra gave his power to others and tied it to Chrysalis then maybe that's how they were created, and the Love cursed queens desire to be loved was what started the whole feeding on emotion issue with them. Arrrgh we need to find those two so I can ask them questions, or study them....the only other one who would know is Discord!”

Berry looks up at the shout, cocking an eyebrow at Twilight's mane getting more and more frazzled.

Need to refocus, okay, Compassion we know corrupted into some one who had the ability to charm and control others, like Clopopatra from the history books. I guess Bloodtail had it and never managed to use it past getting a bunch of ponies to fight for him. Hmm not much on that either And then Magic had a little bit of all five other powers plus boosted the hosts natural powers, of course that's all information directly from your Ma, Berry so at least that I know is true.”

Twilight slides back with a sigh setting down the pen and rubbing her eyes glancing over at the clock. It had not been that long since she had started today and it wasn't even near sunset. Berry had been helping her for a little over a week now and while the small filly wasn't nearly as helpful as Spike had been she had made Twilight's work a bit easier as well as kept her from getting distracted enough to pull all nighters when she shouldn't. Last thing she wanted was Princess Luna to show up wondering why her daughter wasn't in bed.

Still they hadn't done much but sit in the library the whole time, Twilight supposed she needed to get out and judge Berry's reaction a little better. Besides she had a Draconequus to find, and attempt to question. And to find him, she had to go find the most unpredictable pony she knew.

“Berry I think it's time for a break, have you ever been to Sugar Cube Corner?”Twilight asks

=====================================================

[ Current Day, Manehatten]

The beat of numerous hooves was unmistakeable now as was the pattern of a large group of ponies as they marched. A lithe white unicorn strode along in the lead of the group, all of them moving to the exact same beat. The guitar playing hobo in training on the corners music changed tempo as well, changing from a rather crappy Pontera cover to a more upbeat random tune.

“Well, you can tell by the way I use my trot,
I'm a important mare, no time to talk.”

The trio winces as Sweetiebelle starts singing, and all the other sounds in the city seem to change to match the tune that she was setting up, the cement mixers and the jack hammers of a construction yard nearby, even the train whistles and the clack of the engines running over the tracks out of town matched the rhythm.

“Music loud and stallions warm,
I've been kicked around since I was born.”

The parade of ponies seems to swell to the point where Pip started seeing parade floats with back ground dancers spinning around on them in time to the beat. The trio had to move out of the way as a float that looked like it belonged in Maredi-gra passed by complete with a brass marching band.

“And now it's all right, it's O.K.
And you may look the other way.
We can try to understand
The Manhatten Times' effect on mares.”

The trio step back further as a group of ponies tumbles past adding their own voices to the chorus.

“Whether you're a brother
Or whether you're a mother,
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive.
Feel the city breakin'
And ev'rybody shakin'
And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive.
Ah, ha, ha, ha,
Stayin' alive.
Stayin' alive.
Ah, ha, ha, ha,
Stayin' aaaaaaallllllllllllllliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvve”

“What tha heck is this song even about?” Applebloom shouts over the music that seemed to be filling the whole city.

“Heck if I know, it's got a catchy beat though.” Scootaloo responds.

“Doomed.” moans Pip.

“Well now, I get low and I get high
And if I can't get either I really try.
Got the wings of heaven on my hooves
I'm a dancin' mare and I just can't lose.”

A number of ponies in suits dance past while the crowd grows even larger. A police officer runs past chasing a purse snatcher and even they were some how moving in time to the music, at least until Pip tripped the purse snatcher allowing the cop to catch him.

“You know it's all right, it's O.K.
I'll live to see another day.
We can try to understand
The Manehatten Times' effect on mares.
Whether you're a brother
Or whether you're a mother,
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive.
Feel the city breakin'
And ev'rybody shakin'
And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive.
Ah, ha, ha, ha,
Stayin' alive.
Stayin' alive.
Ah, ha, ha, ha,
Stayin' alive.”

“Ah don't git it. I mean this is weird, but ah remember Pinkie Pie doing this and nothing bad came out of it. Though ah really dun like the idea that Sweetiebelle has this much power....” Applebloom states as the chorus starts to fade out.

“Kinda confused as well, but da did say it was circumstantial. Oh that must be it then.” Pip admits.

“What's the issue?” Scootaloo asks.

“There's always the chance uncle Rhede might be around and try to join in the singing.” Pip mutters.

Applebloom and Scootaloo both flinch at that.

“All in favor of never letting Sweetie do this again?” Scootaloo asks raising her hoof, something the other two also quickly do.

“Life goin' nowhere.
Somebody help me.
Somebody help me, yeah.
Life goin' nowhere.
Somebody help me, yeah.
Stayin' aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiviviviiiiive!”

=============================================================

[Four years ago, New Canterlot, Old Ponyville district, Sugar Cube Corner]

Twilight hadn't even pushed open the door when a blur of pink slammed into her and flung her back out of the shop over the top of the now cowering Berry.

“TWILIGHT!!” Pinkie Pie shouts cutting off the purple unicorns air supply in a bone crushing hug.” I haven't seen you since I was a chinchilla . What's going on how are you doing? What did I miss? Are you still writing the book? If a tree falls in the forest and lands on a mime does it make a sound? Did you and Celestia get married yet? Is Jer'rahd still a sour puss? Is Bleu going to visit any time soon? What year is it? Why do hotdogs come in packs of twelve and the buns come in packs of eight? Who's this filly? Did Discord blow up the castle again? How are Breezy and Fred's daughter doing? Why do we drive on a park way and park on a drive way? Are you coming to the Apple's hearths warming party?Why do we say black as night to mean dark when the night is kinda bluish purple and not really black? Did you shrink? Why aren't you responding? Did you see how big gummy got he can fit his mouth around my whole head now? Is that a new mane style? How's Rarity doing? Wanna see me make bubbles with my spit?”

Before Twilight could even think of any of the answers, she was rescued by a rather large cup cake with blue frosting being shoved into the pink ponies mouth by a clawed hand. Pinkie was then lifted into the air as she munched on the baked good. Twilight looks up to see Discord rolling Pinkie Pie into a ball and rolls her from his hand down his arm and across his shoulders to his other hand all while the balled pony giggles madly.

“Why Twilight Sparkle what a surprise to see you here. It has been far too long since Celestia's luv muffin has graced us lowly plebs with her presence. How's the fame and noble life treating you Sparkle butt?” Discord taunts.

“Sparkle butt!! Hehehehe I’m going to have to remember that.”giggles Pinkie Pie unfurling herself from a ball and hopping up and down on Discord's head. Discord sighs with a hint of annoyance, but seems to be doing his best to hide the annoyance, even though his eyeballs started bouncing around in their sockets every time Pinkie landed.

“Ugh don't remind me, the first few years of that were insane, if I didn't know any better I’d say you were behind the media frenzy.” Twilight grumbles dusting herself off as she gets up. “Proper pony princess picks particularly perfect pony partner.”

“Who me? “Discord grins tucking a badge labeled 'Press Pass ' into a nonexistent pocket on his chest.

Twilight rubs her temples with a hoof. “I came by to see Pinkie and to ask you a few questions for my book.”

“Oh.... how dull, you're still working on that.” Discord drones. “I’ll pass.”

“It must be super important and super long, like all those terms of service things that pop up for any new software.” Pinkie states.

“Oh I love those! I've made a few and I've tossed in a number of clauses that require a bit of chaos for the system to even work properly. Must wear your pants on your head, do the hokey poky before hand. Quite delightful really as no one ever reads them.” Discord chuckles tilting his head and then spins it all the way around as he finally notices the small pony in the cloak hiding behind Twilight. “Oh and who is this ? Don't tell me you traded in poor Celestia for a younger model already my dear Twilight.” Discord chuckles reaches down picking the small filly up with both his hands ignoring her struggling to get down.

“Discord put her down, that's Ice Berry.” Twilight snaps. She was starting to remember why she didn't like him.

“That's Ice Berry? “ Pinkie shouts climbing up onto Discords head again trying to peek under the hood she wore. “ Wow I haven’t seen you in years!”

“Why does that name sound familiar?” Discord questions, stroking his beard leaving Berry floating in the air a moment and ignoring Pinkie Pie using him as a jungle gym.

“Oh she's Lulu and Jerry's daughter” Pinkie states.

“Jerry and Lulu....? “ Discord questions pondering, his eyes suddenly widening larger than his head as the color literally drains from him to puddle on the ground leaving him monochrome. He very slowly, very deliberately and very very gently sets the filly back on the ground. He pats her on the head lightly once and steps far back away from her. He whirls suddenly on Twilight. “Why didn't you tell me that was Kaisur's daughter!?!?!?”

“You didn't ask.” Twilight snarks watching as Discord poofs out of existence and Pinkie fall lightly to the ground. A moment later a much smaller Discord appears cowering in Pinkie's mane.

Twilight watches this as Pinkie completely ignores it and starts chatting and rambling on to Berry. “Why Discord, could it be you are actually afraid of Jer'rahd?”

“Afraid? Me? Of a mere pony? Of course not, don't be absurd.” Discord states waving his lions paw in the air. “ I am absolutely terrified.” he states before sinking into Pinkie's mane more.

“You have got to be kidding.” Twilight sighs. “I doubt he'd be much of a threat to you in a fight even in your weakened state. Besides I’m pretty sure star metal doesn't bother you very much.”

“Fight? Star metal? Forget that crap!” Discord shouts. “I was forced to tag along with him last year on April foals day. I have seen first claw how that pony thinks and plans things out. I do NOT want that pointed in my direction. I'd rather deal with ten, no twenty, angry Celestias.” Discord wails.

Twilight represses a shudder at the memory, only the noodle incident last year had been more horrific than the April Foal's day rampage. Princess Luna and Princess Celestia had created a whole new disaster rating system, just so they could put both Jer'rahd and the CMC on it. Of course this was something Jer'rahd was immensely proud of, despite Princess Luna making him sleep in his office for three months. In any event she had forgotten that Discord had been there to witness it all first hoof, yet had some how been spared when almost no one else in New Canterlot had.

Still the idea that Discord was scared of something amused her and Twilight had to stop her self from teasing the draconequus ruthlessly. He might be considered 'reformed', but he was still annoying, and she didn't trust him, besides she had a better idea.

“Fine. I won't tell him you were tormenting his youngest daughter.....” Twilight can't help hide a grin as Discord shudders. “ If you tell me what I want to know with none of your usual run around, just straight facts.”

The tiny Discord in Pinkie's mane blinks then narrows his eyes and points at her accusingly, briefly turning into an angry looking evil monkey. Pinkie Pie still didn't seem to notice though Berry switches her attention between the tiny draconequus and the chatty pink pony who was rambling on about chimicherries.

”You have been spending far too much time around Celestia!” Discord accuses.

“Is that a no?”Twilight grins wider.

“GAH, I’ll talk, I’ll talk!” Discord wails.

==================================================

[ Manehatten, current day.]

Applebloom, Pip and Scootaloo stared at Sweetiebelle as she trotted back over to them. No sign of the parade or the dance number was left and the ponies around them simply were going about their business as if nothing had happened at all.

Scootaloo, Pip, and Applebloom look at each other , then to Sweetiebelle, then back to to each other, then back to Sweetiebelle..

“What the BUCK WAS THAT!?” Scootaloo finally shouts.

“What was what?” Sweetiebelle asks innocently.

“Oh no, I’m not falling for that, I am not Buttons and your cute doesn't work on me! “ Scootaloo rants as Sweetiebelle giggles.

“Okay that wasn't so bad. Why did uncle Jer warn you about this? Uncle Rhede's not around so it shouldn't be a problem.” Applebloom asks ignoring Scootaloo trying to choke Sweetiebelle.

“Yeah I kinda expected worse myself to hear him talk about it. He said all his friends got caught up in one once for Nightmare Night.” Pip states looking around expecting some sort of devastation and instead he didn't even see any of the confetti that the parade had been tossing into the air.

“Well guess, we lucked out that there’s no one hurt.”

“Aside from Scootaloo trying ta kill Sweetiebelle you mean.” Pip points out.

“Nah that's normal.” Applebloom smirks,her grin growing a bit wider as she looks up over Pip's head.

Pip blinks, suddenly felt a chill run up his spine. He glances down seeing another larger shadow over take his as someone moves up behind him.

“Oh bugger.” the small pony manages to utter before a pair of forelegs wrap around him and lift him up into the air, swinging him around like a doll while giving him a rib cracking hug.

“PIPPY! H'ow's my lil'est couz doing?!?” Babs shouts spinning him around.

Applebloom tries not to laugh, fails utterly, and collapses onto the ground holding her sides laughing at Pip's plight. Scootaloo notices Babs and drags Sweetiebelle over, still holding the white unicorn in a head lock and tickling the fool out of her with her short wing feathers.

“Oi should have known it was you guise, Pinkie and Discord only show up on Thursdays.” Babs grins finally setting Pip down, though one foreleg was still wrapped around him a little too tightly.

Babs Seed had grown up much the same way Applebloom had, nearing the height Big Mac and some of the other stallions in the family. Unlike Applebloom however, she didn't grow up lanky, she filled out rather well keeping some of the pudge from her foal hood, though all of that was just cover for the wall of muscle underneath. She had kept her mane and tail short, though there was enough to pull it back into a pony tail now and it didn't cover her face save one errant strand that wouldn't stay put. Also unlike Applebloom, she had gained her cutiemark. A red apple sitting on a small wooden cutting board with it's front half missing exposing the seeds and core, and three perfect apple slices laying on the board in front of it, cut from the same apple. She claimed it meant she had a flair for cooking, though she also had a thing for knives and had a collection of them.

She had met all of Luna and Jer'rahd's adopted foals a few years after the War of Gods during a ceremony to honor the Appleoosians and Buffalo that had fallen in the conflict. She and Orange had gotten along fairly well, though Berry was scared of the towering earth pony. Babs had fixated on Brush and Pip however leaving the skittish filly alone. She considered both of them insanely adorable and enjoyed teasing and picking on the pair, nothing malicious, though she treated the much smaller colts like plush toys at times. Brush eventually filled out and grew enough that she couldn't treat him as such any more. Pip had not been as lucky. Still neither of them seemed to mind much, either that or they were as terrified of her as Berry. Pip's expression at the moment was leaning more towards the latter, though it might also be due to lack of air.

“Babs seriously let the poor colt breath.” Scootaloo snorts with a small smirk.

“Ah ken ask tha same of you. Sweetie's turning tha same color as Aunt Plum.” Babs snarks getting a giggle from Applebloom and more flailing from Pip and Sweetiebelle both.

[ Manehatten, current day, VIP suite in the 48th floor, Crystal Empire Building.]

Velkorn flits around the lush room, doing her best to try and calm the two screaming twins, the octave of which was rattling the windows.

The pair of still fluffy baby zebra's had been napping quietly until the music started from below. Even then they seemed to be enjoying it, something she was quite happy with. Music often lulled them back to sleep no matter what the volume of it was, and the pair had not been napping that long before it started. She could use a few more hours of peace.

Of course that might have happened, but then her idiot husband had gotten caught up in the music and started singing as well.

There were a great many things Rhede was very good at, so many in fact that he seemed to defy logic and reason itself and was the perfect stallion. All those things he was good at were balanced out by his singing voice. While his normal voice could cause a mare to swoon with just a few words, his singing voice could peel paint off walls that were not even painted and wake the long dead just to tell him to shut up.

So one could imagine the reaction of two foals to hearing it for the first time.

She had fixed the situation readily however, Rhede was now in a crumpled, but silent, heap on the floor taking a forced nap of his own as she struggled to get the foals to calm down.

“Your father really should give up trying to sing, it is quite clearly not his thing.” Velkorn mutters trying to sooth the crying twins.

====================================================================

[Four years ago, New Canterlot, Old Ponyville district, Sugar Cube Corner]

Twilight wasn't sure what to do with the information Discord was giving her. He all but confirmed his species was a created race. One brought into being by a powerful spell caster who had wielded the Element of Laughter and then fallen to the power of the books. He didn't know what had happened to the one who made them as Discord was fourth generation of draconequus and had never met them. He did however point out that he was a god of his race before he came any where near one of the books and his reality warping potential stemmed from that and only got bigger the more he did.

She was sure there was a larger story there, but she could tell that Discord was only giving her this information because of her threat. She figured if she pressed too much he would stop and even the threat of getting Kaisur involved wouldn't loosen his tongue any. It was quite clear he did not want to remember any of this. It was worrying to see him in this state too, a depressive Discord could not be a good thing for any one, particularly if he reacted as Pinkie Pie and Bleu did when they got like that. Still there was a small part of her who couldn't help enjoy his suffering for all that he had done to Celestia and her friends in the past. That part of her worried her too.

“So you're the only one left.” Twilight asks as he finishes.

“Indeed.”Discord mopes.

“Are you sure?”

“Noooooo, I simply spent a thousand years twiddling my thumbs and watching a glacier move south for the winter. Of course I’m sure, there isn't a corner or curve of Equus I didn't look in, the damn griffon got everyone but me, and if he had shown up personally instead of sending his hit squad he would have gotten me too. As you said before star metal means nothing to me.” Discord growls at the memory.

The pair of them were sitting at a table in Sugar Cube Corner. Pinkie Pie was trying her best to get berry to smile or laugh with middling success, at the very least Berry didn't seem to be afraid of the pink pony any more. Twilight herself had to focus rather hard not to be distracted by the standup routine Pinkie was going through.

“Sorry, but I figured I would ask. Your motives are rather hard to understand at times.”

“My motives are easy Sparklebutt. I want to have fun and forget about everything. It's not that hard of a concept to any one but you, who wants to know and remember everything.” Discord growls.

“No need to get snappy.”

“This is the perfect reason to get snappy.....” Discord blinks a moment then lifts his tail to pull Gummy off the end of it, before throwing the small alligator at Pinkie Pie who catches him and starts ranting about him to Berry who had gone back to terrified the moment there was a flying alligator involved. “You are digging at a sore subject now with me, when it was just me it was one thing, but now you are digging into history I don't want to deal with.”

“Some one should know, and you did offer to tell me of your connection to Avianna before as well.” Twilight points out, not wanting to let him forget that.

“Yes, but that was going to be when I chose to do so, not because you threatened to sic the traffic light on me.”

“Traffic light?”

“Yes red eye yellow hair green eye.... never mind, that went over your head, your reflexes were too slow.” Discord sighs.

“Fine I have what I need regarding your species as well as placement in my book.... which is a whole new category to tell the truth. Though I have another question.”

“What a surprise.” Discord bemoans.

Twilight glances over at Pinkie who was celebrating finally getting Berry to smile with cupcakes, though the filly was still leery of the alligator on the table. This was the perfect opportunity to ask something had been bugging her for a while.

“What's going on between you and Pinkie Pie?”

“Excuse me?” Discord asks his head tilting a little.

“You know what I mean. She was dead, you brought her back and now you two are never seen separate. What's going on.”

“I don't see how that is any of your business.” Discord huffs.

“I'm looking after my friend, you don't have a very good track record Discord.” Twilight snaps only to have Discord shove his face back in hers.

“Neither do a number of your new friends, and yet I don't see you watching them like hawks or worrying what they are doing.”

“Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it's not happening” She shoves back her own glare matching his. “And at least they are predictable.... well maybe not Bleu, but the others are. You are not. So I ask again what is going on between you two.”

“What are you her mother? Cause I’ve met her mother and if you are the new her, I need to tell Clyde about how his wife is shagging sun-butt now.”

“Discord!”

“I am doing nothing wrong and neither is she. Of course she seems to be the only one who believes me in this case. Do you think you are the first pony who has wondered about this? I've been questioned by everyone,EVERYONE. You are very late to the party in this regard, after your rampage at her death and her subsequent return I thought maybe you were past this. Clearly not. The only ones who believe anything I say are Pinkie, Bleu, and strangely enough Jer'rahd. I've lived here for how many years now and aside from the usual complaints from ponies who can't take a joke, I’ve been a model citizen. Heck Rainbow Dash and the mail mare cause more destruction and chaos than me lately..... I'm loosing my edge.” Discord admits.

“I'm looking out for my friend, you can't blame me for that.” Twilight grumbles.

“No, I suppose not, but you also don't have to accuse me. After this long I figured I would at least be tolerated , but noooooo the first chance any pony gets they let the accusations fly in my direction. I suppose I can understand it from Sun Butt and Moon Butt, and maybe even you considering how brown your nose is getting hanging around the former... but every one all comes to me with their questions, accusations and threats. No ones asked her yet why she lets me stay around, or follows me, it's always 'why are you following Pinkie Discord?' and 'What did you do to Pinkie Pie, Discord?” and of course 'Why is my living room upside down Discord?' Though to be fair that last one doesn't really relate.”

“Discord....”

“It's been six years Sparklebutt. That may not be a long time to all these gods running around but to us it should mean something.” Discord snaps with a growl a look of anger on his face. Something that was very out of place on the draconequus.”This conversation is over.”

“Wait what do you mean us...” Twilight starts though the draconequus had already snapped his fingers and left in a puff of pink smoke. “ Well buck.”

“Made him mad huh?” Pinkie Pie questions, suddenly appearing on one side of Twilight causing the purple unicorn to yelp and fall over onto the floor.

“Pinkie Pie wha..?” Twilight stammers.

“He's been a bit moody lately since talking to Pa. Not sure what they talked about, but he was kinda flustered and worried afterward. Maude says it was nothing to worry about cause Paw did that to her all the time to colts she knew as well. Any way, you all need to stop picking on him.”

“Picking on discord? What?”Twilight stares at the pink pony who doesn't meet her gaze.

“Everyone acts like he hasn't changed, like he's going to try and destroy New Canterlot first chance he gets, when he isn't. Heck every ones accepted Jer'rahd and he's caused more problems than Discord has since he was first turned to stone. I mean Discord's antics got two episodes and Jer'rahd's got a nearly feature length novel with three full books and more words than War and Peace....”

“What..?” Twilight stammers, not following even half of what Pinkie said.

“Don't make me choose between friends Twilight....just leave him alone. I'm not a filly I can decide who I want to be friends with on my own.” Pinkie sighs.

“I'm not trying to do that Pinkie. I just don't trust him still.”

“Sooner or later you are going to have to Twilight. I don't like seeing him upset like this. He's annoying when he sulks, cause then I get depressed and then he gets more depressed which makes me more depressed and it's a never ending cycle, that only ends in cupcakes and Mrs. Cake said she'd throw us both out if we binged on her products like that again.”

Twilight rubs her temples with her fore hooves. This is not the conversation she wanted to have today. “Alright, I'll leave him alone, but the moment he does anything wrong, you had better let me know.”

“He won't, at least not to me. I don't think he can.” Pinkie shrugs. “Also, you might want to get Ice Berry home, I don't think she is used to that much sugar.”Pinkie adds.

Twilight blinks looking over at Berry at the next table watching the small unicorn vibrate in her chair. The wooden seat making laps around the table with the filly still sitting in it.

“Luna is going to kill me....” Twilight sighs smacking her head into the table.

===================================================

[ Manehatten, current day.]

The rest of the day was spent touring Manehatten, though Babs was reluctant to let Applebloom know where the library was as she didn't want to see her cousin vanish for the whole trip. Still persistence won out and while Applebloom searched the library for information on the seed, Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle decided to hit a few shops they had seen on the tour. This left Pip and Babs alone on the steps of the library waiting for the others to come back.

“So have ya talked to her yet?” Babs asks suddenly.

“What do yah mean?”Pip questions.

“You know what I mean.”

“Oh that. Yeah I’ve talked to her.” Pip sighs.

“Really? Last time I was in town yah hadn't said a word.“

“Things umm change?”

“Yer a terribly liar Pippy.”

“I have talked to her.”

“About yer crush on her?”

“Okay, not about that.....”

“Thought so.” Babs chuckles. “I can understand why, she's a intimidating filly that one. Terrified me the first time I met her.”

“You don't know the half of it.” Pip sighs sinking further down on the great stone step of the library.

“Ah think I do. But soona or latah your gonna have tah get ovah it and just go for it. Otherwise some other colt's gonna snatch her right up from underyah. She's a choice piece of flank even if yah don't take into account her family line. That alone might attract some ones nohtice” Babs comments.

“There's too many differences it's wouldn't work anyway.” Pip sighs.

“Dun gimmi that crock, yer Da is marrying a Princess, one of yer uncles married a wonder bolt and another married a zebra, seriously yer surrounded by odd couples and yer stuck on what? Station? Please.” Babs snorts ruffling his hair. “Tha only thing that should matter is if she likes some pony else and even that's not a total wash. Jus lay on the Lil Pipsqueak charm and yah win.”

“I'm pretty sure there is someone else. At least from what I’ve heard. Not sure who it is though.” Pip sighs.

“Bah. If she ain't said nothing then there is nothing. At this point ah'll have tah make yah my special project. Operation get Pip laid.....”

“Ugh no. No hiijinks. “ Pip groans.” And aren’t you a cook, or did Princess Cadence give you her calling?”

“Hey, I’m a mare, we like ta meddle in affairs that ain't ours.”Babs chuckles as Pip groans.

“While we're on the subject hows your love life going?” Pip grins evilly only to lose the look as Babs waves her hoof dismissively.

“When ah find a colt who doesn't mind his girl being bigger than him, I’ll have found mai husband. Until then I ain't gonna stress it.”

“Right, good luck with that.”

“Oh I dunno. Know any younger Guards who might be like um big Pippy? Think yah ken hook a mare up?” Babs leans over batting her eyes.

“Ugh no why would you ask me... gah …. go find out yourself....” Pip growls as Babs laughs.

“Yep this hasn't got old yet. So then back to the matter at hoof. How tah hook up you and….........”

“SCOOTALOO!!! YOU COW!! GET BACK HERE!!”screams Sweetiebelle.

The two earth ponies on the steps look up in time to see a orange blur tear over the road in front of them , leaving a trail of green flame behind it. Right behind Scootaloo was an irate white unicorn covered in shopping bags and screaming at the pegasus in front of her.

“THAT'S THE LAST BOX OF POCKY THEY HAD!”Sweetiebelle screams out as Scootaloo pauses long enough to take a slow bite out of the candy tormenting the unicorn by over acting how good it tasted before racing off again with the unicorn in hot pursuit.

Babs and Pip watch after them a moment before glancing to each other and getting up as one to go into the library before any one connects the pair to them.

Void of light. [11]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Void of light.

[New Canterlot, 4 years after the War of Gods. Two weeks after Hearth's Warming]

It was the beeping that got to him.

He could deal with the waiting, he was used to that. He could deal with the worry in regards to her, that was something he often did. The stress of the situation weighed heavily on him as he sat there, but he was used to stress as well. He could deal with the anger he felt too, he could push that aside and hold it in a small ball to unravel later when he had the time so that he could direct it better. Even so, he knew this was the calm before his storm, when he finally did focus and could feel anything he was going to have a great deal of anger. That was not something he was used to having or holding onto, but he knew he would this time, there was no way he couldn't.

He had heard from her friend and some of the others who had been there seen what happened. Most of them even thought she deserved this. To be taken down a peg or three, he knew she was an issue, often times insufferable even to him. But he loved her regardless, he had worked on trying to change her with little to no success unfortunately, but there was still time, she was young yet and had all the time in the world to change. Or she did.

He worried every day that she would come home bruised or bloodied after some pony she had tormented had had enough of her. He expected one day to get a message from the hospital that she had been in a fight and hurt and was there crying for him. He was ready for that, he was ready with comforting but firm words to make her see that she had been in the wrong, and that this is the sort of thing happened when you pushed some pony too far.

He did not however expect when he received the message to come in to find her like this.

His little girl, his little Diamond, strapped to a plank on a bed, bandaged and on a respirator, laying unconscious in a hospital, partially crushed and unmoving. She was pale,her fur a mess and covered with dirt and blood save a few spots where the doctors had cleaned her up before bandaging and setting her in body braces. Several of her ribs were shattered along with her rear legs and her hip. One of the broken ribs had punctured a lung and the tubes going into her mouth were draining the fluids building there while helping her to breath as well. Her back was heavily bandaged from where they had pulled most of the stone splinters from where she was driven into the wall. Her fore hooves were remarkably undamaged, but with her ribcage in the state it was in even if she was able she wouldn't be allowed to move them.

A number of surgeons were looking over the best way to go about fixing her, or even if they could help her. His wife had been led off by his sister in hysterics and he was left alone with his little Diamond.

He said nothing, he wasn't sure she could even hear him at this point, so he simply waited and watched. The only sounds in the room were the rise and fall of the respirator making sure she could breath, the soft hum of the healing crystal that was set low enough to keep her from getting worse, and the beeping of the device monitoring her faint heartbeat.

Filthy Rich couldn't handle the beeping, but it was better than the alternative.

===========================================================

[Manehatten, Current day]

“You better make it to the next reunion Babs, or ah'm gonna have tah come and drag you there maiself.” Applebloom threatens her cousin.” It already feels weird without Granny there and you not being there didn't halp last time either.”

“She'll do it too.” Pip chuckles.” Granted I would pay to see her hauling you all the way from Manehatten.”

The group of them were all standing on the platform at the train station. They had only stayed with Babs for a day, though the entire time the CMC had been trying to convince her to tag along with them on the trip. Pip had even offered to pay her way, though he most likely just wanted another pony with some sense with the group despite the torment he would endure from all of them together. Still she had refused citing that she had a lot of work to do and couldn't simply up and run off like they could.

Sweetiebelle was already in the train, with a mass of new purchases she had made. To be honest Pip wasn't sure what she did with everything she bought, but he was fairly certain her baggage fees were beyond what most of the group had brought with them bit wise.

“Nah, no need for all that cuz. I'll be there.” Babs grins wide ,suddenly looking at Pip who had a very bad feeling about that grin of hers. “Sides Ah gotta make sure this un's keeping his end of tha bargain. So I really need tah be there.”

“What bargain?” Scootaloo asks ignoring the flailing and head shaking Pip was suddenly doing in Babs general direction.

“Oh that's simple Scoots, he agreed tah bring his sweetie tah tha next reunion!”Babs grins

“I DID NOT!” Pip yells out, suddenly turning red faced as every pony in the train station suddenly looked at him from his outburst being a little too close to the Royal Canterlot voice.

“Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww” Sweetiebelle, Scootaloo , and Applebloom croon behind the flustered colt. “ Lil Pippy's got a filly friend? That's adorable!”

Pips ears flatten and he lunges at the larger mare his hooves flailing as the other three drag him into the train car.

“You will rue this day Babs Seed. Mark my words! You will rue it!” Pip rants as the three girls drag him inside as the door closes blocking his path to the cackling Babs. “ RUE IT! WELL GO ON! START RUEING!”

==============================================

[Current Day, Tartarus]

“So where were we?” the voice softly rumbles from the great beast.

“SoMe WhErE bEtWeEn OuR nOoN dAy CuDdLeInG aNd OuR oNe O'cLoCk mAkEoUt SeSsIoN.” a smaller figure stretched out on the beasts belly chuckles.

“Ah I was hoping it was that time.” The massive dragon lightly growls as he stretches out on his back , feeling the zebra mare laying on his chest shift a little.

Time and even reality flowed strangely in this place. He knew how much time was passing on Equus, only six years had passed there. On this side of the gate however it had been closer to six thousand.

There had been a few visits from those on Equus, most often the zebra god Zecora who had made friends with Grace when they were trying to free him from his host. Though often the flow of time was not constant. The last time she had come in for tea and stayed perhaps a hour, and a month had passed on Equus. Grace had a great deal of control over this place, but even she wasn't sure what Tartarus really was. To him it seemed like some sort of nexus where a great many realities converged. There were rules of course, and if you played by them you could do an visit any when you wished. If you didn't or one of the denizens decided they didn't like you the place could become a prison formed of the worst fears and pain of the one who was trapped. Still even if trapped in such a state if one was strong willed enough they could still get free. This had happened before and would probably happen again. Grace had been cast out here when she was pulled free of her Element and the rifts into Equus opened as a result.

Still aside from something to occupy his thoughts if Grace fell asleep before him the only thing he kept track of was time, and even that was primarily so that he would know how long he had been back together with her. Other wise time meant nothing to him.

He had seen his former host once since they split, while that had been interesting , neither of them were upset when that meeting was over. The only one who came about as much as Zecora was the current Bearer of Magic, Twilight Sparkle.

The first time she arrived it was only to ask questions, very few of which either of them really felt like answering. Certain knowledge should not be shared with mortals, she seemed to accept that and afterward focused most of her questions on the other first ones and the books.

He was wary of that, some what concerned with the idea she might seek their power and given her already impressive abilities, she would be a great threat if she fell.

At least he thought like that until the last time she visited, three of her years ago and brought some of the other bearers of the Elements with her and Celestia, and the Elements themselves. The reason for why became clear when the four ponies willingly allowed the spirits of the Elements to possess them again.

There were no words created in any tongue he knew that he could express the feelings of seeing a group of friends that he had only glimpsed briefly since the beginning of history of this world. Even if they could only remained as they were for a few hours as none of them would risk injuring their bearers.

The first part of the reunion was spent getting Bonnie to stop apologizing for everything. Then there was a bit of time getting Mirth to calm down enough to stop trying to hug everyone to death. A bit more time getting Bonnie to stop apologizing again, although that was quickly turned into heavy blushing as Munificence tried to get her and Forth together finally

It barely seemed like a heartbeat and they had to leave again. The circumstances that brought he and Grace into being were too horrific for the others to even think about trying them. Though Bonnie and Forth did put a dampener on the meeting by revealing that Troph and Grace's forms would not last forever. Time would eventually mend the rift that separated them from the Elements. When the bodies they were in finally faded they would return to how it was before the Jade Scroll separated them from the others.

It was a sobering end to a joyous meeting, though Mirth seemed to act as if she knew more than the others did about something. As usual her taunting and teasing drove Forth and Bonnie insane as they tried to figure out what the griffon was on about. No amount of prodding or questioning would get Mirth to reveal what she knew however and they all had to leave before they could pry it from the griffoness. She simply told them not to worry about it.

He felt Grace's tears as the others faded away. The zebra mare had spent most of her time pressed against him almost the whole reunion and after ward she had not let him be more than a pony length from her.. That was hundreds of years ago for them, and she still clearly worried about it.

He had considered bringing it up, trying to figure out how, or at least how to prepare for the time when they would have to be apart again. He had decided against it, better to enjoy the time they had left , rather than dwell on how it would end. Was this what mortals felt? He had new appreciation for his Host and others at that point, they continued to live despite knowing it would all come to an end one day.

His musings were interrupted as Grace suddenly jerked up right with a scream and tumbled off his chest to crash to the ground. The pair where in a place that was similar to the grasslands of the Zebralands, so her landing was not harsh, but he still worried as the world around them changed.

Troph had never bothered to memorize most of the places they had been in this place, nor had he bothered to remember the visage or names of those others that actually lived here, though that was for sanities sake in some cases. He did however know very well the cavern that the gate connected to and as the grass lands faded away that was where they wound up, a massive cavern of limestone and gems lit by the glow of the gate to Equus, which was set into a massive blank stone wall at one end of the cavern.

Only now it was dark, there was no gate.

Grace was scrambling across the cavern floor her hooves striking against the rock wall as if searching in a panic for the gate. He moved closer to where she was striking and pulled her aside with his tail before cutting loose with his claws and digging trenches deeper than his love's body in the formerly unmarked stone. There was nothing behind it but rock.

He glanced down at Grace, his six eyes blinking at the mare as she reverts to her skeletal state.

“What is going on love?” he mutters.

“ThE gAtE. SomEoNe ClOsEd ThE gAtE.”

“Is that possible?”

“No, No It Is NoT.”

“That is clearly no longer the case, can you open it?”

“I dO nOt KnOw. It WiLl TaKe TiMe To FiNd OuT.”

“We have time.”

“I aM nOt SuRe Of ThAt. WiTh ThE gAtE cLoSeD wE cAnNoT gIvE oUr PoWeR tO tHe ElEmEnTs. WhOeVeR dId ThIs MaY hAvE kNoWn ThAt.”

“ Zacherle? Or his lot? I would not put it past our 'creator' to do this.” Troph growls.

“I dO nOt ThInK sO. iT dOeS nOt SmElL oF tHiEr StInK.”

Troph looks down at the mare again with more than a bit of worry. He had not considered what would happen if they were isolated from the Element they were supposed to inhabit. At the very best, it was likely they would simply not work if needed, at worst, …. at worst it would be likely better for the ponies if Avianna had won the war.

============================================================

[Sweet Apple Acres, 4 years after the War of Gods. Two weeks after Hearth's Warming]

Applebloom buried her face deeper into her pillow, trying to cover her ears from the screaming going on downstairs. Applejack had completely lost it when she heard what happened. Fluttershy couldn't even calm her down and it was only the intervention of Granny, Big Mac and Fluttershy that Applebloom had been allowed to go to her room at all despite the fact it was approaching midnight.

Guard ponies had been around all day asking questions of everyone. To her they all seemed ready to drag her off at a moments notice and throw her in jail somewhere then lose the key. That was bad enough, but then once they finally left, Applejack had laid into her. That was the worst part, Applejack was furious enough when she found out Applebloom had learned how to access Dragon magic. Now that she had actually used it, and hurt some pony, her sister had become unhinged. Granted that pony was Diamond Tiara, so she almost didn't feel bad about it, and that made her feel worse.

She wasn't even sure what happened. One moment she saw Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara, picking on Ice Berry and the next Miss Cheerilee's desk was imbedded in the wall and covered with blood. Silver Spoon was screaming and the only part of Diamond Tiara any pony could see was a bent and broken silver tiara on the floor and a lot of blood.

There was a pause in the screaming, the sudden silence nearly as deafening as the yelling. Applebloom briefly wondered if her sister had finally passed out from all the screaming. It only lasted a moment before it started up again before it started right back up again, but it seemed it was directed at some one else as there was a counter shouting match going on now with some pony with a deeper voice yelling back at her.

It wasn't Big Mac, her older brother knew better than to try and argue with Applejack when she was on a tear. She was still trying to identify the voice when her door was pushed open slightly and a dark blue pegasus colt nudges his way in closing the door behind him before pushing a lock of his red hair out of his face with a wing tip.

“Yer supposed tah knock before entering a young ladies room Brush.” Applebloom tries to joke, her voice sounding hollow even to her own ears.

“First off you would need to be a lady, which I know you are not. And second I could hear you crying from outside even over your sister's screaming.” Paint Brush Lily sighs. His voice was calm and fairly mellow with a few changes in pitch here and there that colts of a certain age tended to experience.

Brush was an odd little pony. He almost always seemed calm and collected in any situation. The only exception to this was when his sister Berry was concerned. He had gotten into a number of fights because he thought some one might be insulting her, granted Pipsqueek was the same way, but the younger colt tended to have more success in his fights than Berry did.

Berry often seemed humorless, not laughing at things others thought funny and seemingly unphased by what should be moving music or stories. He reminded Applebloom a great deal of Pinkie Pie's sister Maud in truth, though she was pretty sure the pair were not related. Were it not for the effort and emotion he clearly poured into his paintings and interactions with his sister, most would likely consider him devoid of any feeling at all. Most ponies were ready to chalk it up to the same trauma his sister experienced, but those who knew the colt before the war said he hadn't changed much.

That said the young pegasus was considered a savant in his paintings. Some ponies had taken interest in his work at first, simply because he was Princess Luna's son, but it didn't take long for the experts to find he was an insanely gifted artist already at his young age. Applebloom was a little jealous of him as he already had his cutie mark despite being younger than she was. He claimed he hadn't even noticed when he got it as he was busy working on something. His cutie mark was strange as well, it was an easel with a pot of brushes and paints around the bottom of it . Though there was a canvas on the easel with a painting depicting a moon lit field. The image was so close to the same style he painted with that he was often accused of painting his own flank, an accusation he tended to ignore. Still such detailed cutie marks were very rare, and his was the most detailed any pony had seen in some time, though no one was quite sure what it meant until they saw the depth he put into his paintings. Then it became clear that his talent was shown by the detail of his cutie mark, not just what the image was.

“Why are you here?” Applebloom manages to utter, watching the colt pull the chair away from the desk in her room to sit down.

“I came here with father. He has a suggestion or two of what to do in this situation.” Brush states flatly.

“He does...... oh no......” Applebloom bemoans. “Ah didn't want this.... and now tha Princesses are involved.....”

“No they are not. Despite mother and aunt Celestia wishing to, they cannot get involved with this without any issues arising politically, Princesses cannot play favorites in situations like this. Fortunately father neither cares for nor bothers with politics. Because of this no one really pays his actions any mind any more in truth. If your sister would calm down I am sure she would see the merit of his and uncle Rhede's suggestions. Unfortunately I believe she is hysterical, and I doubt my father would wish to try and snap her out of it in the usual way by striking her, so he is simply trying to out yell her. He does a fairly good impersonation of the Royal Canterlot Voice when he try’s.”

“That ain't good news either.”

“I did not claim it to be. Father and uncle Rhede are willing to pay for the medical bills to prevent Sweet Apple Acres from shouldering the burden, neither of them really have much use for bits given their respective positions. When I left to came up here your sister was screaming about not taking a handout while father was trying to convince her it wasn't a handout if it came from family.” Brush sighs. “ I do not expect that argument to end soon, so I came up here.”

“So what's going tah happen to me?”

“I do not know. It primarily will hinge on whether or not Diamond Tiara survives the night. I have heard that the doctors are hopeful however, Orange is one of the nurses helping out and she had kept us informed. As it stands you will likely be heavily restricted in what you can do for some time. And then there will be what ever Applejack decides to do as punishment. You will also be given training to help you better control what you know from Grandpa Rose. Despite your sisters requests neither my mother, aunt, nor Miss Sparkle are willing to wipe the information from your memory.”

“I wish they would .. ah dun wanna know this any more. Now mai sister hates me...”

“I doubt she hates you or she would have simply been rid of you. She is mad, loud, and upset you know what you do. However she has yet to blame you for sticking up for some pony who needed it. I want to thank you for that as well. I might not have done as much damage as you did, but I am sure I would have hurt her as well if I had seen her picking on Berry.”

“Really?”

“You know my temper when it comes to Berry. If I was a stronger colt I would have done considerable damage in the fights I entered on her behalf.”

“Ah seem tah recall you losing most of those until Pip showed up.”

“ Yes well, fighting is more my brothers thing, not mine. Still I also do not have the control he has either. He undergoes enough teasing about his size as it is, even with most of his bullies knowing he could wipe the floor with them. I do not think I could deal with that when it only takes a snide remark about Berry before I want to hurt some one. Better I just paint than learn to fight, despite how much I might want to.” Brush comments as if he is reading off a menu. “Still, however, I am surprised at you Applebloom.”

“About what?”

“That you did not get a cutie mark for finally shutting Diamond Tiara up. I would think that would be something impossible enough to warrant a cutie mark.”

Applebloom stares at Brush, far more unnerved than she was before, Brush had just cracked a joke, no wait he had dropped several over the course of the conversation, yet his face was as impassive as it had been when he first came in. Brush, was making jokes.........

“Tha worlds gonna end......”Applebloom whimpers.

=================================================

[Current Day, Train to the Crystal Empire]

“TELL US!”

“No.”

“Tell us!” the three singsonged again, being joined by a small pear colored filly, a few seats up in the common car, who was thankfully silenced by her mother. The trio, and the small filly, had been pestering him for the last four hours of the ride. Considering that the Crystal Empire was still a good ten more hours worth of travel, despite the girls insistence that it took less an hour from Ponyville, this would be a horrific trip. He would likely have a less difficult time if he just told them, but he was afraid of their reactions to it. No, better they just pester rather than know who.

“No” Pip growled back, crossing his fore hooves over his chest as he stared out the window. Oh yes Babs was going to get it.

“Now now girls, lets give him some space. If he dun wanna talk about it we dun need tah force it.” Applebloom finally states waving her hooves placating.

“Thank you Applebloom, at least some pony sees.....” Pip starts

“Ah'm sure we ken figure it out on our own any way” Applebloom finishes.

“Okay Braeburn is now officially my favorite cousin.” growls Pip.

“So who do we know that's in lil Pippies class, that's got to be a good start.” Sweetiebelle asks.

“Yeah well Applebloom's the only one who might know that.” Scootaloo states.

“Not really, It's been years since ah went tah that school. Ah only remember a few of tha filly’s in class. Let's see there's at least six of um I know of that might be a good start. Graceful Obsidian,
Sandy Comet, Sugary Sprinkles, Spring Concert, Kiwi Sun, and Misty Anvil.” Applebloom states.

“ So what are they like? “ Scootaloo asks. “ I figure he'd be like his dad and not want some fru fru girl.”

“I dunno, have you SEEN Princess Luna in a dress? She makes my sister look like a pig in a potato sack smock.” Sweetiebelle points out.

“Hmm. Well I dunno if any of them count as fru fru, though Misty is probably the least girly, but ah think she's dating some pony already. I bet it's Sandy, she was tha adventurous sort.” Applebloom comments.

“Sandy moved to Trottingham with her family two years ago Applebloom. Misty and Stained Glass are off and on again like a light switch.” Pip grumbles. “ Why are you digging like this when you don't even know who's in my class?”

“Ahh maybe Sugary then? Applebloom asks causing Pip to growl and bury his head in his fore hooves again.

“Would you three seriously stop this?” Pip sighs.

“That's who it is!” Sweetiebelle states suddenly.

“What Sugary?” Applebloom asks.

“No no Scoots remember who we saw Pippy with when we were walking through the market a couple of days ago?” Sweetiebelle asks.

“Oh yeah .. WAIT HER!?!” Scootaloo asks. “Crap, don't say anything!”

“Don't do this Sweetiebelle Bunny Reignolds. Do not go there.” Pip growls getting an odd look from Scootaloo that he knew Sweeties full name.

“What who was it?” Applebloom asks.

“Diamond Tiara.” Sweetiebelle states chipperly. “There were doing something in the ally and we couldn't see what, but she wasn't picking on him and he wouldn't talk about it. Maybe they were making out!”

Scootaloo blinks as a sudden silence settles over the group when Sweetiebelle finishes speaking. She glances over to Pip seeing the colt had had darted off and covered the ears of the little filly who had been listening, despite the odd looks her mother was giving Pip.

Looking back over at Applebloom, Scootaloo slid a little further back in her seat away from the earth pony, as her friend seemed to develop a rather nasty twitch.

“Uh oh.” Scootaloo mutters as the oblivious Sweetiebelle finally notices something isn't right.

========================================================

A pair of phoenixs glance up as the train rattles past their nest, though they pay it little mind otherwise as the strange pony device went by so often that it was normal to hear it now. Besides it was at the bottom of the hill and far enough away that it was just a low rumble with the occasional whistle.

The pair were looking at the nest they had built and putting the finishing touches on it when a cry rang out that sent both birds soaring into the air as the very forest shook with the outrage in the cry.

“PIP IS DATING DIAMOND MOTHERBUCKING TIARA!!!??”

===================================================

[Current Day. Location Unknown.]

“This is getting tedious, I am starting to wonder why I brought any of you into existence.”
“Hey I did my part asshole, don't even try to blame me for this!”
“zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz”
“Teal you don't say 'z' when you are asleep so stop faking it.”
“Our calculations about her were incorrect. I do not like being proven wrong.”
“......”

The former griffon, now the Book of Orbsh known as the Jade Scroll was getting tired of this. They had been arguing like this since their flight from Canterlot as it fell, carried away by troll minions. As the only one of the books that had possessed any sort of autonomous motion in centuries he was quite annoyed with needing to be carried around by a mindless thrall every where. The trolls were useful in truth, but they were foul and stupid. At the moment the entire collection of them was in a cave somewhere placed on an alter of animal bone the trolls built. All the others had done since then was bicker, for the last ten years they did nothing but argue non stop. He admitted he had joined in as well until Silver had blamed him for the failings one to many times and he simply stopped talking to them. He was used to being alone with his thoughts and didn't need any sort of contact or discussion as the others seemed to.

He was debating getting a couple of trolls to take him back to his cave in the badlands when a sudden flash of power washes across him like a splash of cold water. The energy back lash was enough that he was sure the others felt it as well. Unlike them, he knew what had caused it and for the first time since he became a book he felt fear.

“Jade. What was that?” Gray asks directly, the others going silent as the first tome spoke over them all drowning out their chatter with a weight his voice didn't normally carry.

“What makes you think I have anything to do with it?” Jade snaps back defensively.

“I recognize your magical taint, while it is faint, that magic carried it. Another of your crimes against nature I assume?”

“Should have guessed you would notice that. And yeah, you could say that used to be mine.”

“What is it then?” Purple buts in, the gluttonous fool not wanting anyone to know something he didn't. Infuriating really, but he still wished he had even half what the Purple book had in terms of knowledge. It still felt good to lord the information over them however.

“Are you going to tell us this century?” the Silver script curses.

“Just shut up a moment bitch.” Jade snarls continuing before the prissy bint could say anything else. “The gates of Tartarus are closed.”

“Really , no big loss there that place was a hole.” Red states with a menacing chuckle.

“That should effectively seal two aspects of the Elements away as well. So we should not have any more problem with those in our efforts. I do not see why you seem worried. This will work to our advantage.” Purple points out.

“No, no it doesn't not with that thing.” Jade admits.

“What closed the gate Jade? What did you do?” Gray asks seeming to be the only one of them who recalled some of the things Jade had done in his time apart from the others. Jade couldn't help have a little bit of amusement in that the Prideful book knew he did this , though that feeling was fleeting.

“It wasn't supposed to still be alive. “ Jade mutters. “I even helped kill it myself.”

“What is it?” snaps Red.

“Just the start of the end of the world.” Jade comments. ”That's all.”

=======================================================

[Current day, Train to the Crystal Empire.]

“So on a scale from one to ten how pissed off is she?” Pip questions as Scootaloo comes back into her and Sweetiebelle's train cabin. He and Apple Bloom had their own room and Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo shared another with all of Sweetiebelle's luggage.

“I'd say some where around thirty six.” Scootaloo sighs.

“Maybe I can just tell her I'm not dating Diamond Tiara.” Pip grumbles.

“And what happens when she finds out other wise? She won't believe you.”Sweetiebelle points out.

“But it.......” Pip begins before Scootaloo cuts him off.

“Shut it Sweetie, it's because of your big mouth that this even happened. You know how Applebloom gets when Diamond Tiara is brought up. Even after all that happened she still manages to make Applebloom suffer and now it's without even trying.”

“But.....” Pip protests.

“Oh like you were doing anything! I didn't see you try and stop me from saying anything and we already talked about this. One of us was gonna have to bring it up at some point..” Sweetiebelle rants.

“Yeah, but gently rather than like a freight train which is how you did it.”

“Better to yank the bandage off and loose a few hairs than pull it off slow!”

Pip sighs, rising from the bed and heading to the door as the two start to bicker. It would probably end in a fight, but despite Sweetiebelle's martial arts training , and Scootaloo's Wonderbolt training it would probably devolve into a slap fight or hair pulling before any pony got hurt. He just felt bad for any stallions who noticed and came to watch or any one who tried to interrupt it. The pair often turned on a third party during their fights if one presented itself. At least they were in their room so interruptions were not likely to happen.

He slipped away as Sweetiebelle tackles Scootaloo beginning the brawl. Applebloom had left to their train compartment not long after her outburst and aside from Scootaloo checking on her the three of them hadn't managed to build up enough courage to go after her before the fight broke out. Seems he was on his own, which given how the other two were , was probably for the best.

He pulled on the door finding it locked before he pulled out his copy of the room key and opened the door.

“Scootaloo ah told yah tah leave me alone.” Applebloom growls from her bed. Pip couldn't tell if she was crying or trying to rip the pillow in half , best to start this off bluntly.

“She's terrified of you, you know that? Won't even come into the same shop if she thinks you might be visiting it. It took her about two years before she would even come out of the house alone.” Pip sighs.

“What......?” Applebloom turns glaring at Pip with red eyes. .

“Diamond Tiara. She's absolutely and utterly terrified of you. It's been six years and she's still jumping at shadows. She can't even talk to any pony with a coloration even close to yours. She went through a year being unable to move as she healed and nearly two after that in physical therapy recovering from the damage done. Another year after that was spent in therapy. Her nightmares got bad enough that Ma needed to get involved so she could actually sleep with out hurting herself by thrashing around at night.”

“That supposed tah make me hate her less? Cause it don't. I went through two years being hated by mai sister, a year getting yelled at by Brier Rose away from every thing ah knew, another four years not even able to attended a proper school and prolly tha rest of mai life being hated by tha entire Rich family, despite tha fact ah have tah work closely with um fer a month every year.”

“No it's not supposed to make you feel sorry for her , and to be honest compared to what she went through you got off light.” Pip says, hopping up onto his bed. “ That said you know I don't blame you for hitting her with the desk. She deserved it, it's forced her to become a better pony. She's no where near perfect mind you, but she's nothing like she used to be. It took her a long while to have anything to do with Brush or myself either because we were related to you. She didn't even want to go back to school if you were there. That's why you were moved to the other side of town and the others were sent to Canterlot's district.”

“Figured that was punishment fer tha noodle incident. That place was a hole.....” Applebloom mutters.

“Partially. ah mean you spent a year with Grandpa Rose in the Crystal Empire training. And the moment you got back and had that party, the Noodle incident happened. Seriously did you expect they wouldn't send you guys to different schools after that? Some of us are surprised they didn't send you to different planets”

“Wasn't out fault.” mutters Applebloom.

“Give it a rest. I know yer mad and pissed at me. Would it help any if I told yah I wasn't dating her?”

“No....”

“Yeah that's what Sweetiebelle said.”Pip sighs.

“So where are they at?”

“Still fighting in their room I expect.”

“They break somethin they ain't getting the deposit back.”

“That's their problem.”

Applebloom chuckles, though goes silent quickly. 'Yah know spend half my time worrying a'hm gonna hurt some pony else Pip. Ah get reminded of that every time ah hear her name. D'yah know what that's like?”

“Not the reminder of hurting some one , but yeah, actually ah sorta do. I may not be able tah tap into tha power of tha earth or whatever, but that doesn't mean I've not trained myself enough that it wouldn't take me much tah hurt some pony. That's what you did fer a year after all, worked on managing yer anger and trained how to control yerself.”

“It's not tha same.”

“Isn't it? Yah can accidentally kill some pony if yah get mad. I can intentionally kill a pony if ah get mad.
Either way some pony is probably dead and ah got a better chance than you of making sure they really are dead. Ah bet unicorns feel tha same way. Probably doesn't take much tah stop some ponies heart with magic or liquify a bone or three.”

“There's too many calculations needed fer a unicorn tah do that unless they planed ahead far enough or are insanely powerful......”

“Or Guard trained. Pa's had to track down a couple of rogues from his training. One of them was using what he learned tah murder ponies. Da was depressed fer a while after he came back after that. “ Pip snorts “All tha stuff he's seen and done and one sadistic deranged pony upsets him. Every pony's got the potential tah be a dangerous monster. That yer this worried about it means yer less likely to let it happen.”

“Ah guess.”

“ Good now that this is settled lets go stop tha others two from putting each other in tha hospital..... I’ve got 5 bits on Scootaloo, though.” Pip snarks.

“Pfft sucker bet. Sweetie'll get distracted by something shiny mid fight.” Applebloom gets up wiping her eyes with a fore hoof. “ Still upset though, and ah have issues with your taste in mares lil cousin.”

“But I’m........ fine whatever, so long as you don't mope or become pissy the rest of the trip I don't care any more. Lets see if they've stopped yet.” Pip growls hopping off his bed and walking out the door.

================================================================

[ Current day. Canterlot General Hospital.]

This was ridiculous, what the buck were all these ponies doing here any way? This was not a some stupid speech or award ceremony.

Starfall had brought him the news, before going to find Bleu and he had galloped here from the Guard training grounds where he had been running some new recruits though exercises. The last year since the annulled wedding had been bad enough and the last few months had been filled with false alarms and sleepless days.

He was still taking flak from Celestia and a number of nobles with some of his actions, though at least Celestia's issues were made in good humor now a days. Though the Sun Princess was clearly not happy about her derailed wedding plans for her sister.

Bleu and Starfall had caught up to him already, clearly there were advantages to flight, though in the packed hall way there was little hope that would be a help. This may call for something drastic. He snarls, fangs bared at the mass of reporters and minor nobles hoping to be here for what they considered the event of a lifetime.

“Oh crap... I know that look, Boss calm down.... we got this. No need to lay into any pony.” Bleu mutters changing size suddenly and and standing over the unicorn glaring down the hall way, her form taking up most of the cavernous pathway.

“EVERY PONY GET THE BUCK OUT OF THE WAY!”the dragon roars over the mass of subjects gathered.

Jer'rahd smirks slightly as all of them stop suddenly looking back at the dragon, then at the angry unicorn under Bleu, before diving for cover with out any more prompting. He loved that his reputation proceeded him at times like this. Still there were a number who didn't move fast enough and found themselves flung aside as he barrels through the hall. He felt Bleu land on his back as Rhede stood at the door sporting a rather large lump on his head and the twins in saddlebags on his sides. Rhede and Velkorn had been in Manehatten when all this started and Celestia and Twilight simply teleported them here to make sure Velkorn was present being the only expert on alicorns alive, Orange was with her as well though she was still learning about alicorn physiology.

“You're late Jer, Celestia's gonna murder you for sure this time.” Rhede chuckles closing the door behind the galloping pony. Jer'rahd glances back experiencing the strangest sense of deja vu before skidding to a stop near the hospital bed.

Celestia, of course, was glaring at him for being late, and he, of course, ignored her. Twilight was watching Berry and Brush, though neither really needed a baby sitter at their age, it was still part of the agreement made for when this happened. He managed to make it to the bed side just as Velkorn was pulling back from Luna who lay on the bed looking exhausted and panting. Still it was the soft cry of the newborn foal that had his full attention.

“Before you get your tail in a whirl,”Velkorn smirks.” I suppose I should tell you, that it is a healthy baby girl...”

“ A baby girl what though is the thing....” Orange comments getting a glare from Velkorn and a questioning glance from every one else.

Luna shifts a little as Velkorn finishes cleaning the baby up and gently lays the bundle in Luna's fore hooves. Luna blinks curiously peering at the filly as Jer'rahd leans closer to look at his new daughter.

The first thing he noticed was she did not have a horn, this really wasn't unexpected given Luna was technically a full pegasus and he was only a half unicorn. The second thing he noticed was her coat coloration was almost a perfect match for his, though the little wisps of wet mane he could see matched Luna's silvery platinum hair from when she wasn't an alicorn. The next thing that both he and Luna noticed at the same time judging by her soft gasp was a small pattern of orangish scales around her eyes and little hooves. The small filly suddenly yawns showing a tiny set of fangs, before she nuzzles against Luna's chest.

Celestia and Bleu lean over as well as the two new pony parents stare down at their half dragon daughter.

“Hmmm, I was wondering if this would be the case.” Celestia sighs. “ I suppose I owe Bleu twenty bits now.”

Bleu simply grins before looking at Luna and Jer'rahd's confused expressions.

“Hey don't blame me boss, you're the one with the weird ass family line.”

“Not to rush you if it's all the same,” Velkorn interrupts. “But I don't suppose she has a name?”

Jer'rahd doesn't respond simply staring at the tiny foal like he can't even hear any one else. Luna however manages to speak.

“Dawn....” Luna smiles. “Her name is Dawn Star.”

======================================================

[Current Day, former location of the gates of Tartarus.]

He looked out over the countless graves as he rested against a rock panting heavily. This had cost him greatly, but it was done. He had spent centuries since he escaped, hidden among the wretched masses,
doing nothing, but sealing bits of that place off from this world. There had been many rents in the fabric between the worlds, and he had painstakingly tracked them all down and sealed them.

There had been several times he thought himself captured or found out by the Ferrymare or what ever the local authority was, but luck had been with him and he was never caught. Still it would have taken him another thousand plus years to collect enough power to close the main gate if not for the war ten years ago. The amount of power flowing around made things easy for him. He could simply pluck it like a ripe fruit from the air itself. Despite that he was unable to gather it as efficiently as he normally did so a great deal of the energy was lost, but he gained enough to do what he needed.

Even so, if the Ferrymare had not been distracted by the dragon, or that mutt of hers was still alive, he would not have succeeded. It had taken all the energy he had gained from the conflict to seal the gate, but the last thing he feared was no longer an issue. He doubted this would hold the pair of them forever, but by the time they got out he should have enough power to claim them them as well, particularly after having claimed the others.

Not to say there would not still be obstacles, but he had planned for them, there were a number of creatures he wanted to meet now. But he needed to start small again before he went after them. He was in no condition to go after gods like this.

Still a smile crossed his face, it wouldn't be long and once he was back to his old self, he would of course make his play then. Celestia and Luna could not stop him, and with his brother long dead they could expect no aide from him either. But even those two were low on his list compared to the others he wanted first.

The strongest unicorn mage in Equus, and the one known as the Demon of Dullahan were prime on his list, the pair of them had power to spare.

“We will meet very soon Twilight Sparkle and Jer'rahd Kaisur. Very soon.” Tirek smiles.

Author's Note

And thus the main arc kicks itself into high gear.

Absence of Meaning [12]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Absence of Meaning

[Current Day, Canterlot Hospital]

Jer'rahd shifted on couch moving only a little to adjust the tiny foal he held against his chest, moving with agonizing slowness so as not to wake her. The room was quiet now as was the rest hospital though that had been a fiasco in the making itself. Celestia had needed to bring in a contingent of Guards just to drive all the media, and 'important ponies' who wanted to be there at the historic event of a Princess giving birth. All of them claimed to be there to see the important event, but none of them could understand exactly how important it was to the pair involved.

Celestia, Zecora, and Twilight both had both checked over Dawn extensively while Luna and Jer'rahd both looked on in borderline panic, something that was not usual for either of them. After countless tests the trio agreed there was no trace of the Book's darkness within her. She also was not a god or anything like it, in truth aside from the oddity of her being a orange half dragon , she was a normal filly.

After that monumental reveal Luna had nodded off, the stress of the events, the odd schedule, and the effort being a bit much for her. So Jer'rahd finally got to hold Dawn and he spent the entire time sitting where he was practically unmoving for fear he might hurt her. With the others, even Berry, they were all old enough to where he didn't think he would hurt any of them,though he was still careful with Pip. Dawn was a tiny thing, something he was hesitant to even breath near for fear of hurting.

“You still awake Jer'rahd?” mutters a voice as the door to the room cracks open.

“I am, and if this is about a interview you have until I put down the foal to run before I decorate the door with your entrails as a warning to others.” Jer'rahd growls lightly debating in his mind whether he would do it or not as he didn't want to wake Dawn or Luna.

The door opens wider and Orange steps in closing it behind her in a bit of a huff as she glares at him.” So you're threatening your daughter now?”

“Why are you only my daughter when it makes me look bad? “ Jer'rahd sighs. “Besides that's been my standard greeting all day and you know that.”

“Don't trust the Guards to keep them away?”

“I do to a degree, Celestia brought in the ones I've trained primarily, so I trust them more than the ones who haven't gone through my training. But they still found one pegasus crawling through the air vents trying to get in a spot to get a picture. I trust them to do their jobs, but I also expect the media to go far beyond sane to get what they want.”

“Well at least they are out of the hospital.” Orange sighs.

“Where's every one else?”

“Bleu said she had to get back to what she was doing, something about some rogue dragons she and Spike were tracking down near the empire. Celestia and Twilight took Berry and Brush back home. Celestia is taking over Luna's Night duties for a little while as well. Twilight said she would let the others who didn't make it know whats happened. Starfall went to keep the trainees in line as they don't expect you to be there for a bit either.”

“No. I planned to be the one watching Dawn primarily. My job is less important than Luna's. Hard to get any new recruits to take you seriously when you have a foal in one saddlebag and a diaper bag on the other. Still, might need to ask Lionheart to send some pony here that knows about half dragon foals or at least a book..”

“Doesn't surprise me, though what happened to Rhede? I know he had one lump when he showed up , but last I saw him he had several.”

“He decided now would be a good time to try and hook one of the twins up with Dawn. Velkorn and Celestia got to him pretty quick.” Jer'rahd chuckles.

“Ahh. Well the group of them went back to their house, Rhede's going to cancel his assignment in order to stay around for a few weeks, in case he's needed here. I think he sent some one back to Manehatten for his luggage though.”

“I see. So what do you and the Lillies think?”

“Figured you would ask that. “ Orange sighs sitting down next to Jer'rahd.

“Well?”

“I've known those two for ten years and I still don't understand Berry, though she seems interested. Brush still sounds like he's reading a menu and is as impassive as ever.”

“And you?”

“ I don't know what to think. This is going to be a little different than raising a four year, old a pair of seven year olds, and a mare nearly legally an adult.”

“Don't think we can do it then?”

“I'm sure you can, though I do have some doubts that Dawn is going to like you in her teenage years. You two are already way too protective of me and Berry. I don't even want to think of what you'd do with your natural born foal.”

“If you think that's bad you should hear what Luna has planned for the first filly that breaks Pip or Brush's heart. You can heal and even avoid serious injury getting thrown through a wall, but what Luna plans is insidious.” Jer'rahd chuckles.

“I was adopted by monsters...” Orange sighs looking down at the gray muzzle poking out of the bundle of wraps that Jer'rahd held.” She's going to be a flier too, Judging by how big her wings are already, At least if it's the same with half dragons as it is with pegasi. Do you have any idea why she's a half dragon?”

“Bleu and Celestia know, I'd figure out a way to make them tell me, but I'm not sure I really care at this point. Dawn's healthy, so that's all that really matters.”

Orange smirks as she stares at him in a bit of disbelief before shrugging softly and finally noticing something.

“You haven't moved since Velkorn gave her to you about six hours ago have you?”

“Nope.”

“Afraid you might hurt her?”

“Terrified.”

“You'll do fine I'm sure. Rhede didn't manage to screw up yet.” Orange laughs though she stops as Dawn shifts on Jer'rahd, gasping with a tiny cough before she throws up all over Jer'rahd's shoulder.

“That makes three times. I don't know how something so tiny can hold so much vomit.” sighs Jer'rahd looking for the towel he had been using.

==================================================

[Three years ago, Sub basement C, Twilight's lab.]

Twilight sighs looking at the formula she had written out, and then over at the remains of the table where the formula was clearly wrong. She glanced back as the door is pushed open and a concerned looking Berry pokes her head in with a pair of safety goggles and a clear face shield on.

Twilight smirked at that, she had drilled lab safety into her new assistant before they started anything , though she had found that Berry just liked wearing the goggles whether there was a safety concern or not.

“I'm fine Berry. I hope you have been having more luck than I have with your project.” Twilight states noticing Berry's nod.

Well it was not like she could do much else until the smoke was filtered out of the lab any way.

“well let's see how your crystal experiment is going.”

Twilight ducks out the door after the filly, casting a spell to get the soot from her fur and thinking back to their last trip to the Crystal Empire.

The pair of them had taken a trip up to see Princess Cadence and her brother about a week ago. It was really only a day trip as Twilight had enchanted one of the tunnels with a long range teleportation gate spell with the help of Princess Celestia. This sped up the travel to the empire considerably, granted there was a limit to the mass that could be transported, so the train to the Crystal Empire generally had fewer cars and no pullers to off set this issue. It also saved millions of bits on track repair and brought New Canterlot more business as it was slowly becoming a much larger train hub for central Equestria now that the tracks didn't have to go up a mountain.

Berry had been fascinated by the Crystal Empire when they arrived it wasn't her first time there either. She still seamed fixated on the crystal Dragon flies of the region. She tried to adopt at least eight of them while they were there this time and Cadence told her there was a whole swarm of them who would avoid the entire city if they even caught wind that the filly would be in town. Berry wasn't cruel, but there was only so much hugging the crystalline creatures could take. Twilight wasn't sure what the standing of the creatures were in the empire, but she didn't think they were classified as pets as they were highly intelligent and most could speak at least some pony, even if it was old Equestrian..

The had also met a unexpected pair while there as well.

“BERRY!!!” shouts a voice going far into a higher pitch than Twilight was comfortable with. Oddly Berry seemed to get excited rather than hide as she normally did when some one surprised her, it didn't take long for Twilight to find out why as a mass of blue scales and wings scooped the filly up and spun her around while cackling madly.

Twilight looked up at Bleu who continued to dance around like a loon with the giggling filly. She hadn't expected to see her here, though if the blue dragoness was present did that mean...

“Umm, Hey Twilight.” mutters another voice.

Twilight turns glancing up at the purple and green drake. Spike towered over her by at least two pony lengths, his fairly pudgy form of his youth and the awkward half growth he was in the last time she had seen him had been replaced by a larger, leaner form. He had the same build as Bleu though it was clear even without the pair standing next to each other that he was the more massive and muscled of the two. The most striking feature however was that the young drake had a fair sized pair of wings folded tightly along his back and all his spines seemed larger, and sharper.

Twilight took all this in at a glance before looking back at Bleu as the dragoness' scales changed a myriad of colors to the delight of Berry. The rainbow oscillation simply made Twilight a little ill.

“Hello Spike.... what are you two doing here?” Twilight asks trying to ignore the size difference between them as well as the fight they had last time they saw each other.

“There's a bit of a land cross between the newly restored Crystal Empire and the former lands held by the Dragon Empire. Bleu and I came here to talk with Princess Cadence about how to settle it. I didn't expect you to be here.”

“I came up to pick up a shipment of crystals for my studies. Berry came along to assist.”

“Oh so she's my replacement then?” Spike asks rubbing the back of his head trying not to seem off put by that.

“Like any one could replace my number one assistant.” Twilight smiles. “No, Jer'rahd and Princess Luna think that her willingness to tag along with me might help her out. She's not entirely unskilled though, she doesn't seem to like Owlowicious either.”

“Told yah there was something with that owl.” grumbles Spike with a smirk.

“So you're here to speak with Cadence on land dealings? I guess that means restoring the empire is coming along better than I thought.” Twilight points out.

Spike looked like he was going to respond when Bleu interjects, while balancing Berry atop of her head.

“Pfft of course not. Whole things a disaster. The few dragons who are old enough to remember Cindervale want nothing to do with it and the younger ones think the idea's a joke. We've managed to get a clawful to listen and help out through talking, and the rest I had to beat into submission. Literally... like with a rock, dragons tend to listen to strength and Spikey here is a piss poor dragon to start with.” Bleu rants ignoring Spike's growing annoyance. ”I had to teach the poor whelp how to be a dragon course that worked out for the best cause I mean look at him. He's not even full grown yet and DAAAAAAYM GUUUURL......”

Twilight takes all this in then decides to ignore Bleu and hope she doesn't say anything that Berry might repeat around Luna and Jer'rahd. She then thinks about that for a second before slapping her face with a hoof recalling the filly in question was pretty much a mute before she looked back at Spike who was mostly red in the face from Bleu's ranting, which was still going and was about spray cheese or something now.

“Dragon training?”Twilight can't help but ask, teasing her 'little' brother of sorts.

“She says it like that , but it's not as if she's had any experience with draconic culture past killing them. I will admit some of what she knows is useful, other stuff isn't even plausible. She's like Pinkie Pie in dragon form some times.” Spike admits, though seems rather reluctant to continue for a moment. “Still I doubt I would have gotten this far without her help. A few other dragons thought to challenge me for my godhood. I didn't even know that was a thing and she pretty much just beat the crap out of all of them with out bothering to find out what that might entail. There's still issues with some of them doing what they want despite what they should be doing though. We've had to keep an eye on the border of the empire to make sure none of them are sneaking over to try and make snacks of the crystal ponies.”

“What about the other dragon gods?”

“We only found one, that smoker that you and the girls evicted, and he's still asleep. I've not seen any one else despite trying to get the word out. The only other one that's shown up is Steven Magnet, and he's not much help since he's confined to the waterways. Also he doesn't like Bleu very much.” Spike grumbles , lowering down onto his forelegs , claws scraping the crystal floor as she lowers his head to Twilight's level. “So have I missed anything in New Canterlot?”

“Aside from two pony made disasters and countless Pinkie Parties,no not really.”

“How's Rarity?” Spike asks reluctantly as Twilight tries to hide a flinch.
“She's fine. I know you don't want to hear it but she and Lionheart are quite happy..... well I think he is any way.”Twilight sighs knowing this conversation had been coming, that and his departure had been the crux of their last argument. Bleu continued to rant to any one who would listen, which happened to be Berry and a yellow crystal dragon fly she had grabbed and trying to huggle to death. The blue dragon was talking about Kumquats or something.

“That;'s good to hear.” Spike drones looking more nervous about the tone of the conversation.

“The girls have asked about you a few times. Especially Scootaloo, she seems the most upset by your leaving.” Twilight struggles to change the subject.

“Yeah well it's something I needed to do. I couldn't, just sit around any more. I've the chance not only to learn about my kind , but shape their very future. That's not something I can pass on.”

“I never thought it wasn't something you should do.... I just didn't really want you to go any where ….” Twilight admits.

“Yeah.....” Spike mutters leading everything into another awkward pause.

“Look I'm sorry ab....” They both start before laughing about it.

“Go ahead...” Twilight states.

“Yeah sorry about how I left. I know you were trying to help , I shouldn't have snapped at you...”

“It's okay … I wasn't exactly very helpful, despite the six page check list.”Twilight admits.” So still friends?”

“Of course.” Spike agrees.

“Good now that the re-bonding is out of the way can we go get something to eat? I'm hungry enough to eat another lamp post.” Bleu protests.

“Yeah that might be an idea. Berry and I haven't had anything for lunch........ wait, ANOTHER lamp post'?” Twilight questions.

“Shining Armor was not happy with us about that.” Spike sighs.

“If they didn't want dragons eating the utilities they shouldn't have made them out of such delicious crystal.” Bleu states.

“Everything is made out of crystal here!” Spike growls slapping his face with a claw.

“Well nice to see you two are getting along.” Twilight chuckles.

===================================================

[ Current day, Crystal Empire weigh station, at the border of the Crystal Empire.]

“This is all your fault you know.” snaps Scootaloo.

“My fault? I'm not the one who set fire to our room.” Sweetiebelle snaps.

“No but you made it worse by trying to blow up the fire.” Scootaloo retorts.

“It was a valid tactic. Fighting fire with fire.” Sweetiebelle protests.

“Yeah if it was a forest fire, not a bed spread.” Scootaloo growls.

“Both of you need to shut up or so help me I'm turning this cart around and we are going back to Canterlot if I have to walk there myself.” Pip snaps at them both from the front of the cart.

“Ah ain't hauling all yer fat flanks back tah Canterlot, ah ken still get a train ticket and ride back while you all walk.” Applebloom snaps from where she was pulling the cart.

On the way back to Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo's room Pip and Applebloom could tell something was wrong. The sudden lurching stop of the train was the first indication. The second was the smoke that was filling the hallway and third was the screams of two fillies who were still fighting, only now over something else.

Some how they pair had managed to not only light their room on fire, but to blow out the wall of the train car along with most of the roof so it looked like a dragon had attacked the side of the train. The conductor and the Guards present were not thrilled at all and wanted to toss the pair off the train immediately.

Between Pip and Applebloom they managed to at least convince them to not to throw them out in the tundra just drop them at the next outpost, which happened to be at the edge of the Empire's territory. From there Pip had secured a cart from the outpost and argued with Applebloom over who was going to pull it. Since neither Sweetiebelle nor Scootaloo had the leg strength to pull everything Sweetiebelle had bought, it was left to the two earth ponies.

Pip finally relented to let Applebloom pull it a while so long as they switched when she started feeling tired. Granted Applebloom immediately tapped into the draconic connection with the earth and barely even felt the cart behind her as she pulled it. Still what had been three more hours left of a train ride now had turned into another five or six on hoof. Thankfully it was nearly summer so most of the snows around the empire had melted and aside from a few stubborn passes further north all the roads were clear.

To be honest Pip was not in the slightest bit surprised at the rolling disaster he was part of any more and he had set to work writing a note to send back to his parents detailing the damage this time. Again no pony was hurt, but the property damage was rather high, yet this time it wasn't insured for the CMC. With the Princess Bride, Rarity had been the one to suggest the insurance, no one thought about that for the train to the Crystal Empire.

Pip finished the letter pulling out the crystal to send the message noting that the receiving crystal was glowing faintly.

“Wot's this then?” he mutters pulling the crystal out and tapping it lightly to discharge the spell.

The argument between the girls behind him ended at the flash of green flame that erupted from the gem forming into a scroll. Pip snatched it out of the air , before it fell. Applebloom stopped as well to look back at him curiously.

“What's that?” Sweetiebelle asks.

“It's a scroll stupid. What's it look like ?” Scootaloo snaps starting the argument back up again.

Pip ignores them and unfurls the scroll reading it over a few moments before smiling though that fades a bit and he turns his head as if rereading part of it curiously before he smirks again.

“Who's it from Pip?” Applebloom asks.

“Auntie Tia. You have a new cousin.” Pip grins.

“Really? What is it a colt or a filly?" Applebloom asks the cart lurching forward again sending the bickering pair crashing into the luggage. Both the earth ponies ignore the complaints.

“Filly. Dawn Star, not sure which surname they are going to use though Aunt Tia wants Ma to use her last name And Da wants to use his. Suppose that won't matter til they actually get married again.”

“So what is she? A pegasus like Luna?” Scootaloo asks shoving Sweetiebelle's face into the bottom of the cart.

Sweetiebelle flips Scootaloo off of her, sending the pegasus spiraling into the air where she catches herself with a sudden flap of her burning wings. “ It's probably a unicorn like Jer'rahd.” Sweetiebelle points out.

“Could be an earth pony. Uncle Jer'rahd's half earth pony.” Applebloom yells back.

Pip sighs re reading that part of the message. He doubted Auntie Tia had spelled something wrong this grossly, even if she did she wouldn't have put 'it is a completely valid possibility given your fathers linage' right after it.

“Well. What is she?” Sweetiebelle asks impatiently. Scootaloo lands on the cart again looking over at Pip curious as well. Applebloom was still walking, though much slower as she kept looking back at Pip for the answer.

“Well Auntie Tia says she's a half- DRAGON!!”Pip shouts dropping the scroll and shoving Sweetiebelle down as a massive red scaled from drops out of the sky atop of them.

==================================================

[Three years ago, Sub basement C, Twilight's lab.]

Twilight followed after berry who was prancing ahead of her excitedly. This part of the east tower had been claimed by Twilight not long after she actually decided to move in, so to speak, with the Princess. While she didn't quite need her own room, given how big Celestia's quarters were she still wanted a place she could work on things. All she had wanted was a room or two, though Celestia had given her a whole tower that used to be part of the guest wings until the new ambassadorial section was built.

Celestia justified it with the architects working on the castle and the nobles who wanted the section for themselves, by mentioning a long list of Twilight's mishaps in some of her earlier labs. After Celestia finished they all suggested a fortified bunker in the badlands instead.

Still with as heavily warded as the tower now was it could also double as a fallout shelter if the rest of the Manterhorn fell on it, or if another Noodle incident happened. Most of the tower was filled with books and a number of various experiments all running at one time. She did have one room at the very top that she had a special reason for keeping apart that so far had nothing in it but a few pictures of some ponies she knew that had died during the war, and one image of herself as a filly with a goldfish bowl.

Berry had take over one of the few rooms that was not in use and made it into her own lab. There were a number of books as well and Berry often did some minor experiments in there as well, nothing like Twilight did, but a number of them were a bit more advanced than what one found in the starting science textbooks.

Right now she was fiddling with some of the spare crystals that Twilight had gotten from the Empire. Twilight wasn't sure what she was doing with them, but she was willing to let the filly fiddle with them. It's not like they were inherently dangerous without any spells powering them.

Trotting into the lab she was greeted by something skittering for cover under the boxes and books on Berry's work bench. Twilight yelped leaping back, wondering if she needed to get an exterminator in here. Berry seemed more annoyed at it and went over tapping her hoof on the table top a few times . Very slowly the skittering thing came out of hiding.

It looked like a very rough made spider formed out of a number of different crystals that seemed to have shaped and grafted together to make the form. While it was pretty, bits of it fell apart as it moved about, showing at it's rather novice construction.

Twilight crouched down looking at the small golem in surprise, a soft pulsing glow the same blue coloration as Berry's magic throbbed in the middle of it.

“Wow Berry. You put this together?” Twilight blinks as the small filly nods with a grin.

“Hmmm. Well he's a little rough, but this is your first one right?” Twilight asks as Berry nods again, her ears perking up at the start of the critique. “Well I'm surprised you can shape crystal already , it took me a long time to learn it from Cadence. You did put too much magic into animating him though. A little guy of this size might not even need half of that......”

Twilight pauses mid sentence as Berry's horn glows a little and the light in the spider dims as the filly take some of her magic back.

“What...? What did you do?” Twilight asks.

Berry moves over opening a book on the side of the table flipping through it to show a page of a some one using a crystal to hold a spell.

“That wasn't a spell though Berry, that was raw magic..... How did you...?”

Berry shrugs, and points to the list of spells that could be put in a crystal. Twilight looks them over briefly noting that a few were very advanced and others were combat based. Of the few that were at Berry's level, Twilight was rather certain Berry didn't know them.

“You don't know any of these spells.....do you?”

Berry shakes her head as Twilight looks over the now slightly duller crystal figurine as it skitters about, with less magic it was a bit more sluggish, but still moving about sluggishly though that was more to how it was shaped.

“Can you do that again?” Twilight asks. “I mean, make another one move and glow?”

Berry nods.

“Can you show me ?”

Berry smiles and nods.

==================================================

[ Current Day, Quartz forest, just outside the Crystal Empire.]

Well this day was not getting any better, Pip sighs.

The four of them had been snatched up by a trio of dragons. A large red one with a massive spiked over bite and a orange fin running the length of his body had grabbed the cart hauling it into the air and dragging Applebloom along in the harness. Scootaloo had launched herself out of the cart only to get snatched out of the air by a second purple and blue spotted drake with a shock of lavender spines and sweeping horns. Pip had a moment of panic until he saw Scootaloo struggling to get out of the dragons grip. A third dragon, a dark purple one with yellow belly scales With an odd patch of what seemed blond hair that fell over his eyes flew up along side of the others as they climbed higher into the air.

Pip paced as best he could in the back of the small cart as he thought, Sweetiebelle hid under her luggage behind him. He wanted to show these dragons exactly how bad of an idea it was to attack him, but he doubted he could fight off three dragons even if there wouldn't be a massive fall from the sky if he succeeded.

On the plus side the three of them seemed to be more interested in carrying them some where , rather than killing them outright. Looking out over the edge of the cart at the snowy ground far below, he could make out the gleaming spires of the Crystal Empire in the far distance, though the dragons looked like they were headed to a set of mountains to the west and not towards the city itself.

The glint of something near the mountains caught his eye and after watching it for a bit longer he smirked, at least until the trio started talking.

“I still dun know about this Grabble. You know what's gonna happen if they find out.” comments the blond dragon.

“Stuff it Spines. The more that runt tells us to do something the more fun it is to do the exact opposite.” Grabble snorts.

“Yeah , but you've seen what those ponies can do...” Spines retorts looking down at the cart Grabble was carrying and Pip staring back at him. “I mean their leader freaking nearly blew up the moon.”

“Pfft you worry to much Spines.”the one holding Scootaloo snapped back. “That's the leader, a pony god, these are just a couple of young ponies, if they were any one important they would have been on the train. “

“Exactly right Bulk, and once we get them to the cave , no ones even gonna know where they went. We can eat pony meat and find out if the brat is trying to hog the best stuff for himself. There's got to be a reason he keeps going to that pony city.”

“Yeah but then there's her.....” Spines comments, Pip feels the large red dragon Grabble shudder enough to shake the cart.

“Shut up, don't mention that one to me, ever. She's nothing special any way . The three of us could deal with that pony lover easily.” Grabble snorts , not entirely sounding confident.

“When ah git my hooves back on tha ground, ah'll show yah a thing or two.” Applebloom growls still dangling from the carts harness.

“HAH now that I'd love to see.” Bulk snorts in amusement.

Pip blinked and grinned again. There was no way they could fight these three, but that forced him to work on another tactic that could use the CMC's particular set of skills. He didn't have his Ma or Da's flair for strategy, but he wasn't a slouch either being drilled in it by his Da almost as much as everything else, and the wisps of a plan were forming. One that should be enough to prevent them from being lunch.

==========================================================

[Current day. Canterlot Hospital]

“So how is she?” Luna mutters looking at Jer'rahd who still had yet to move.

“Cleaner than me and a bit bitey.” Jer'rahd responds feeling his daughter shift again against him. “ I didn't expect foals to have such sharp teeth after just being born.”

“Well that comes from your side of the family according to Bleu and Tia. “ Luna smiles her magic gently wrapping around the bundled blanket and pulling the small foal away from Jer'rahd, who all but leaps up in celebration at finally able to move before rushing off to the bathroom.. Luna shakes her head as he returns. “So how long have I been asleep?”

“Most of the day, not that far off your normal schedule.” Jer'rahd yawns. “Did you need anything?”

“No, I'm fine. Although I am rethinking my idea of breast feeding her now that I know she has fangs.” Luna mutters watching Dawn yawn again showing off said fangs.

“Velkorn figured that, though she has her own issues at the moment. Seems she's needed in Gallapagos. She Rhede and the twins took a couple of Guards and a flying chariot thereabout an hour ago, she plans to send a doctor used to half dragon foals back when she gets there.”

“Hmm? Whys that? I figured she would be here for a while.” Luna sighs as she unbundled the gray half dragon foal running a hoof along her back lightly as Dawn flutters tiny wings.

“Given the situation it's unavoidable. Besides she already cleared you and Orange is still here just in case. Rarity evidently gave birth about three hours after you did.” Jer'rahd comments standing at the rooms sink trying to wash the rest of the foals vomit out of his fur.

“I know she's not trying to, but I swear that mare seems like she's trying to upstage me. To have pregnancies and deliver dates so close.....of course I could also blame that on our companions....”

“'Not our fault our mares decided that they wanted to be amorous at the same time. Lion Heart and I are both Guards, we're not about to pass when an attractive mare is all but throwing herself at us.”Jer'rahd grins.

“I'm going to remember that comment Jer'rahd....”

“Good, remember that you should do it more often...”

Luna rolls her eyes looking down at the foal with a smile as the light gray creature squirms up against her. “ Wait, why would Velkorn need to go to Gallopagos for Rarity, wouldn't the doctors there know more about treating half dragon births even with a normal pony?”

“Know more than Velkorn? No, not likely, but that's not why she went there.” Jer'rahd snorts seeming content that he got most of the mess off of himself.

“Oh? Planing on telling me what's going on or do I need to guess?” Luna frowns wincing a little as the foal worms a bit lower to start suckling. “Owch. Yes defiantly bottle fed after this.”

“Huh ? Oh sorry bit distracted and I still need a shower. Rarity had a colt, Elusive LionHeart, Reignolds.....”

“She kept her last name?”

“Lionheart doesn't have one. And the Lionheart name is usually passed on to each generation so it's his middle name, the names not the important part though.”

“Then get on with it.” Luna sighs.

“Right right. Elusive's a god.” Jer'rahd states flatly watching as Luna lifts her head up from their foal to look at him.

“A god?”

“Yes, that's what has been reported at any rate. Velkorn is headed there to find out for sure. As soon as I can get back to the castle Twilight is going to head out there as well.”

“This is a rather big deal, this means that the half dragons can now be counted as a separate race from ponies and dragons. This is going to cause quite the uproar among the other races as they will need to be counted among the counsel.”

“Calm down. It won't be any concern of yours for a few weeks any way. Though there's more news.”

“Give me a moment I am still pondering the shock of there being another god brought into the world. By Rarity no less.”

“We have more than enough to worry about with the little bundle of fangs and vomit right here.” Jer'rahd chuckles leaning down to nuzzle against the tiny half dragon's back. “ Let Rarity and Lionheart worry about their foal. We have our own to think about.”

Luna chuckles then sighs.” Why does that seem like a lead up into something?”

“Because it was. Pip and the CMC were thrown off the train on the way to the Empire after setting fire to one of the rooms. The Guard outpost reported they bought a wagon and continued on hoof.”

Luna lets her head drop back onto the pillow with a groan. “Why did you let him go?”

“Because you pointed out he wanted to prove himself to us. Besides the damage is much less that we accounted for any way. One old boat and a train car? I owe Starfall ten bits that they didn't collapse a building in Manehatten. Don't worry about Pip, Bleu was headed up that way to meet back up with Spike when we got the message, so she'll keep an eye out for them.”

“Well there is that at least. Is that everything?” Luna sighs.

“Hmm, almost. Nicker came by too.”

“Guard Captain Fury? What did he want?”

“To offer congratulations primarily, and to tell me they the last of the Red Hooves have finally been found. Scouts found a compound tucked away in the hills to the south, not far from the gate of Tartarus actually. Seems they built up some rather impressive defenses in the last ten years. It's a good location to hit both sides of the mountain and they've been smart on where they attack which is why it took so long. He wants me to head out there with a small force and deal with them, seems they've been recruiting..”

“Did you tell him no, you have a foal now? Of course you didn't.” Luna growls. ”It's a fight.....”

“It's fine, there's only a dozen or two tops and I'm bringing three score guards with me. “

“Yet you will be the one going into the vipers nest.” Luna hisses at him.

“It wouldn't be a pretty fight, the Red Hooves already showed they won't be taken alive again and after the first time they were captured it's a safe bet the places is full of traps. Me doing the job means some other pony won't get hurt or killed. The rest of the Guards are going to be there to make sure they don't get away this time.”

“And you will be doing all the work of course.”

“Yeah well it won't take more than a couple of hours tops and I can swing by the Gate and see if Troph and Grace have any foal shower presents to give.....” Jer'rahd trails off at the growl from Luna. “ Or I'll just stay far away from Grace so you don't freak out.”

“I am not freaking out....”

“You are. Jealously doesn't suit you very well Princess.” Jer'rahd snarks.

“I am not jealous. I simply do not like the way she looked at you.”

“She doesn't have any eyes, and she was looking at Troph any way.”Jer'rahd smiles. Leaning in to nuzzle Luna's neck. “ You don't need to worry about another mare getting me any way. Don't forget what Element I bore.”

Luna snorts and smirks a little. “I am well aware. I am also aware that you really need a bath....”

“Hey most of that smell came from your foal.”

“Oh, I see she is only going to be mine when she does something smelly?” Luna growls with a smile.

“Just like how you say the others are mine when they get in trouble.” Jer'rahd chuckles.

===========================================================

[Current Day. Some cave in the mountains. Near the Crystal Empire.]

Pip watched as the dragons flew into the cave trying to ignore the cursing coming from one of the dragons claws that was Scootaloo. Judging by the plethora of selection in the verbal assault she was still alive and not terribly hurt at least. Applebloom had also started in on the cursing as the harness dug into her torso, she at least had the common sense enough not to struggle as she hung there so she didn't slip free.

He had a good idea what she was going to do the moment they were on solid ground again and he actually wanted that.

“Okay were far enough in we can eat now.” Bulk grins.

Grabble nods dropping the cart with a crash to the ground. Both Pip and Applebloom had expected that however and had braced for it. Sweetiebelle was flung screaming from the cart however to land and roll across the caves floor only to start cursing about how her fur was getting dirty. The unicorns selection of curse words crossed into every language Pip knew of and into a couple he had no idea about, though he thought that one string might be Hungarian.

“Bloom go for the fat one.” Pip states leaping out of the cart as Applebloom gets her hooves under her.

The dragons stare at Sweetiebelle's tirade somewhat in shock and some what amused at the same time. . Applebloom glances back at Pip as he leaps out of the cart before turning herself suddenly. The whole cart leaves the ground and spins through the air before smashing fully into the fat dragon named Bulk destroying the cart and sending the large dragon crashing into the cave wall. Most importantly, he droped Scootaloo.

The pegasus scrambled free of the claw hopping over the remains of the cart .

“Stop her before she flies off.” Grabble shouts, his maw opening wide and releasing a gout of flame that engulfs the orange pegasus and the remains of the cart. Applebloom yelps and pulls free of the harness bouncing away from the blast of fire.

“MY STUFF!” screams Sweetiebelle.

“HAH nice shot Grabble. Little over done for my taste though.” Bulk snorts as he climbs back to his claws rubbing his face. “ That one hits hard.”

“Is that the best you have? Cause if so the only thing dangerous about you is how bad your breath smells.” Scootaloo growls stepping out of the blaze of the cart shaking some ash off her coat, both she and her saddlebags remaining unharmed by the dragons flame.

“What the Tartarus?” Spines questions looking at the non burnt pegasus and the earth pony pulling herself out of the remains of the harness.

“Well we ken ferget getting tha deposit back fer tha cart.” Applebloom states.

“I hope you three idiots have big hordes because some of that stuff was expensive and the replacements are coming out of your pockets!” Sweetiebelle rants.

“What is wrong with you ponies? “ I set you on fire and you knocked Bulk out of the way with a cart? And you want us to pay for that shit... we brought you here to eat you we ain't paying for anything.” Grabble rants.

“Really? I didn't know dragons were cannibals too.” Pip states not seeming the slightest bit worried about the red dragons posturing and shouting.

“We... wait what.... “ Grabble blinks leaning over to Spines to whisper.“ What's a cannibal?”

“He means we eat our own kind. You know, dragons eating dragons and stuff.” Spines states.

“What we don't eat dragons, we eat ponies! What the pluck are you talking about?” Bulk roars.

Pip grins. “Well they are dragons, or at least connected to them. Applebloom here just rattled the scales of the fat one here.....”

“I'm not fat, I'm festively plump.” Bulk growls.

“Like I said the fat one, and Scootaloo just showed she's immune to your dragon fire......”Pip continues.

“Only partially, I think I'm gonna be ill. Do you even brush your teeth.” Scootaloo snaps.

“What other creatures other than dragons could do that?” Pip continues.

“Errrr.... so being a cannibal is bad?” Grabble mutters to Spines who nods.

“One of the few real taboos dragons have. We'd be hunted by everyone, not just ponies.” Spines admits. “It's one of the old taboos, that's still around. Reaaaally bad if we break it.”

“Well that still leaves you and the unicorn....” Bulk mutters looming over Sweetiebelle.

“Nah she is too.” Pip states.

“I am?” Sweetiebelle asks confused.

“Yep, you're dragon born remember.” Pip smirks.

Sweetie's brain takes a moment to click into gear during which time the other three ponies all cover their ears to the confusion of the dragons. Sweetiebelle grins as she finally get's it and takes a deep breath.

================================

[Gallopagos General Hospital ]

Rarity sits up suddenly her ears perking as she looks around, her fore hooves reflexively wrapping around her foal.

Lionheart looks up as she does his own gaze shifting around the hospital room.

“Did you hear that?” Rarity asks.

“I heard something.”Lionheart responds rising from the bed side to check the door. Unlike in Canterlot the half Dragons had a little more respect for a new families privacy so aside from a couple of Guards were were also looking around at the noise, the halls were silent.

“It sounded like my sister.” Rarity comments.

“She and the others should be in the Crystal Empire by now. It couldn't have been her.”

“I suppose you're right darling. I'm not even sure what a Fuss Row Day is any way.”

==================================

[Current Day. Some reverberating cave in the mountains. Near the Crystal Empire, which some how didn't shatter though the main tower did show a few cracks.]

“That enough of a breath weapon for you?” Pip shouts.

“WHAT?” Spines yells.

“WHAT DID HE SAY?” Grabble roars.

“My brother doesn't swing that way.” Bulk shouts back.

After a few moments of this and a barrage of draconic curses that Pip was sure the girls were adding to their vocabularies, the dragons hearing it seemed was finally recovered enough for something of a normal conversation, though they all still shouted.

“Alright so can't eat the unicorn, but that leaves you as lunch. Or are you going to tell me you're a dragon too?” Grabble snaps.

“Nope. I'm all earth pony.” Pip smiles.

“Oh good I'm Starving.” Bulk utters.”I'll show you fat all the way down pony.”

“Buuuuuuuuut.” Pip continues.

“Oh by the stars, WHAT? WHAT? WHAT?!?!” Grabble shouts pounding on the cave wall.

“I am related to a dragon.” Pip continues.

“What? Did some one in your family marry a dragon or something?” Spines questions.

“Nah, Da's sister is a dragon so she's my aunt.” Pip continues his grin getting wider as the three dragons look down at him.

“That doesn't make you a dragon! That means he's still lunch” Bulk states nearly drooling.

“Aren't you going to ask what dragon? You might know her.” Pip tilts his head a little seeming unconcerned by the three of them as he looks past the trio.

“Fine you little morsel. I'll humor you this last time. What flapping dragon are you related to?” Grabble growls half laughing.

“Me.” states a voice from behind the trio.

The three dragons slowly turn their heads around to see the cave mouth dominated by a very large blue dragon with lightning crackling around her maw.

“Hi Auntie Bleu!” Pip shouts.

The next noise to come out of the cave was a collective 'eeeeew ' from the ponies as the three drakes pissed themselves before Bleu even took a step further into the cave.

======================================================

[Three years ago, Princess Luna's living room]

“I'm not sure I am following what you are saying.” Jer'rahd states with a sigh looking down at the roughly cut crystal dragon fly crawling across the table in front of him. It was barely recognizable as such, and it kept breaking and rejoining itself as it moved.

“I thought you studied magic?” Twilight grumbles.

“I did, as a colt, and that was over a thousand years ago. The Crystal Empire didn't exist then and healing crystals and message crystals were still new magic when I was well past that age.” Jer'rahd snorts.” Not to mention the theories and practices of spell matrix's and other casting tips are all evolved way past what I understand.”

“So sorry our new fangled spells confuse you grandpa.” Twilight snarks.

“Shut up Sparkle.” Jer'rahd growls.

“So you are saying that Berry has strong magic for her to be able to do this?” Luna asks pointing at the dragon fly as it tries to skitter across the table completely ignoring the casually tossed insults.

“No she doesn't. She's not any stronger than any other unicorn of her age. What I'm saying is that she might have found her talent. “Twilight sighs looking to the other side of the room where Berry was trying to scare Pip by directing a crystal spider to crawl up his flank. “The Paragoth therom shows that inanimate objects will require constant power and supervision to work properly.......”

Twilight pauses as Pip yelps, though the colt jumps carefully enough that he doesn't damage the spider, clearly humoring his sister.

“Berry seems to have stumbled on a way to simply ignore that rule which means that the entire theory needs to be revised and debunked and everything about it in the library is obsolete and I really don't want to tell that to Dewy because I know he would hate the paper work involved.....”

“Sparkle focus. What exactly does this mean?” Jer'rahd snaps.

“You mean aside from your daughter rewriting a fundamental rule of magic?”

“Yes....” Luna rolls her eyes stopping Jer'rahd from what ever he was going to say. “What exactly are these crystal things?”

“ Berry shaped the animals from some junk crystals I got from the Empire. There is nothing special about the crystals at all. Trust me I looked and I can't repeat what she did with any sort of ease. She put bits of her actual magic in the crystals, unformed and raw, and that animates them. “

“How much power?” Luna asks.

“Barely enough to make a light spell and yet it animates these things perfectly. “ Twilight winces as one of the dragonflies wings falls off and the tiny thing falls onto it's back legs kicking feebly in the air. “ Almost perfectly.”

“I am sure she will improve their design in time. Her real parents were artistic types, though there was no mention of any talent with crystal with either of them.” Luna states watching Berry chase Pip around the room with the spider on her head.

“They shouldn't be able to do even half of what I've seen them do. They act independently of her , but they also follow what I assume are her directions. I've been testing one at the lab and the energy finally dissipates close to three hours after it was made. But I had the test one walking on a tread mill and the control just sitting on a shelf. The test one gave out, but the control's power level didn't move at all.”

“So if all they do is sit there they may never run out of power?”

“It seems that way. I'll keep watch on the control to see how long it lasts , but Berry can give or take the power from the crystals however she wants. Her own magic recovers with rest like every other unicorn, but anything she powered with these little figures remains. I've never seen anything quite like it.” Twilight sighs.

“Yes, yes you have , we all have. Though I don't see a connection.” Jer'rahd comments getting a stare from Luna and Twilight.

“Who do you mean Jer'rahd?” Luna asks.

“Sombra. He had all those crystal golems and they could all run around without any direct control at all.” Jer'rahd explains. “This seems similar if not less powerful.”

“His golems were powered by the shadow magic that came from corrupted Generosity. I could easily take control of one or two of them with my own connection to shadow.” Luna states.

“Yet the spider you stole collapsed as soon as he took his power back from it.”

“You think Berry has some connection with Sombra?” Twilight asks.

“No. nothing like that.” Jer'rahd placates. “ It's just that there might be notes or information in the books that he left in the Crystal empire that could expand what we know about this ability. At the very lest it might allow her some direction with this ability. She hasn't gotten a cutie mark from it yet so it may not be her talent though it could be related to it. So long as there's nothing too dangerous I would suggest encouraging her to do what she likes in this regard.”

“I can head back there and check, but that library is massive. Not that I mind, but I reaaaaaly don't want to annoy Dewy by missing too many days.” Twilight mutters.

“Are you not his boss?” Luna asks.

“Yes.” Twilight mutters flattening her ears.

“I wouldn't worry too much about it. We can send a message for the librarians there to check for any books fitting what we need. We'll be heading up there any time now.” Luna responds.

“The Crystal ponies, Diamond Dogs and a few Griffon Aries are tracking down and eliminating a number of Changeling nests that have popped up. They haven't found Chrysalis or Sombra yet. Cadence wants us there when they find it as it seems Shining is insisting on being there to take down the hive himself and she wants to make sure he stays safe.” Jer'rahd rolls his eyes at the thought of playing baby sitter.

“They have also set up a small community for changelings that have been captured. It's a prison work camp to be honest, but they are treated fairly and considering the griffons and Diamond dogs both want them all killed, it is a much kinder solution.” Luna responds.

“Yeah I know. Mom and dad are still up there studying them trying to find a way to change them back to the ponies they were.” Twilight sighs. “ No progress on that from what I understand.”

“I doubt there will be progress in that.” Luna sighs. “ Jer'rahd and I know first hoof what the books can do. The changelings are not likely going to be able to return to normal.”

“But the Element's restored you two to normal....” Twilight trails off at the looks Jer'rahd and Luna shared .

“Err not really.” Jer'rahd mutters.

“While they weakened the hold the corruption has over us and reduced the power that was provided that taint still exists within both of us and Discord as well. I doubt anything short of our deaths will rid us of it completely....”

“I can attest that is not the case. Death won't either. “ Jer'rahd snarks getting a glance from Luna as she flattens her ears clearly not happy to be reminded how many times Jer'rahd had died.

“Well this conversation got dark fast.” Twilight sighs.

“Yes, well that is why we try to stay clear of the topic. I do not doubt your parents are formidable in their fields of study , but I do not think anything will come of it. A number of the changelings do not even have a normal form to go back to as they were born changelings. Most of the true changelings are as intelligent as a normal member of the race they most resemble. It seems that only those that have been turned are considered drones, the process removes their higher thought processes and makes them a subservient race. Tia has pointed out that was the case with all of them in the past.”

“Yes I have heard that as well, but we don't know what the books did to them supposedly Solomon had Generosity and Crystal bore Honesty, but we do not even know what a corrupted honesty really can do since Claymore had a fake.”

“It's far better that way trust me.” Jer'rahd growls.

“Grace was not even sure what happened. Chrysalis was trapped in a pocket dimension inside Tartarus.. That place would be a gold mind for study.” Twilight sighs.

Jer'rahd glances over to Luna noting her bristle as Twilight stated Grace's name and had to suppress a chuckle.” Forget it Sparkle, I've been there and that place is as confusing as anything Discord came up with. Best I can figure it's less a place and more of a crack between multiple worlds. You'd probably need several gods lifetimes to get even part of it understood.”

Luna's ears remain flat to her head as the discussion continued, only perking them up as Jer'rahd moves closer to her. He lightly flicks his tail along her side, the amber colored strands much longer than usual due to Luna fussing at him to grow his hair out again. It usually only lasted a month or so before he hacked it down again, but he still did it every time she asked him. The flick was likely a subtle reminder of that, particularly since neither of them were too comfortable in displays of affect in company. Though Jer'rahd was happy to do so around Celestia if for no other reason than because it annoyed her.

“So what do we do about this?” Twilight comments looking at the flailing crystal dragonfly on the table.

“I suppose if they will stay still we can have some shelves built for them. I expect she 'll make more if we get some more crystals. We are running out of wall space with all of Brush's paintings. It's a good thing Pip isn't so artisticly inclined or we'd have to takeover another wing of the castle.” Jer'rahd smiles.

“He is so artisticly inclined.” Luna scoffs.

“A macaroni picture he made when he was seven doesn't count as being artisticly inclined.” Jer'rahd rolls his eyes only to be knocked off his seat next to Luna as she snaps her wings open in annoyance sending him crashing to the floor.

“How dare you, that macaroni picture is a masterpiece!” Luna shouts.

“Ow. “ utters Jer'rahd from the floor.

“Yeeaaaah I should go....” comments Twilight, noticing that the pairs children had already vanished from the room.

===================================================

[Current Day. Some cave in the mountains. Near the Crystal Empire.]

Pip sat outside the cave with the others rubbing his head with a small grumble. The spot Bleu had wacked him hurt a bit , though the damage was more to his pride than anything else. While she thought it funny, she didn't like the idea that he had pulled a billy goat gruff ploy with his own life as well as the lives of the others he was supposed to protect. Thankfully Spike saved him more scolding by pointing out he didn't have much a choice against the three dragons. And his stalling them, plus Sweetie's yelling enabled them to be found much easier.

The three older dragons were still in the cave , the occasional groan of pain emerging from the cavern, going silent as soon as Bleu glared back into it. Sweetiebelle was sort of helping by bouncing around asking Bleu a million plus questions, having never seen her teacher at full size before.

Applebloom was off to side trying to wash her hooves in a small stream not far from the enterce. she had been a little to close to the dragons when Bleu came in.

Spike sat across from the cave on a rock his wings folded across his back in a pony sized form as Scootaloo fluttered about him chatting up a storm, almost as bad as Sweetiebelle was. Spike for the most part seemed rather happy to see his old, friends / annoyances, again and was asking Scootaloo a few things about her wings.

The trio of dragons couldn't really be punished much as they hadn't managed to actually hurt any one, just terrify them. Something Bleu ensured everyone they would pay for. Spike didn't bother to try and calm Bleu down and only interrupted the dragons 'punishment' when she looked like she was going to yank off a limb. Pip wasn't going to ask where Bleu found a Donkey Lucahdor mask in her size but the fact she even had it to put on terrified the trio of dragons even further.

Pip decided to at least try and talk with Spike since Bleu was probably still annoyed with him.

“So I guess the dragon empire's not going so well?” Pip asks walking closer to Spike as Scootaloo pauses to take a breath.

“Hmm, you mean because of these three?” Spike asks, his voice was still cracking a little, but it was developing a rather deep baritone to it that he had only heard from Big Mac and once when Fluttershy was afflicted with poison joke. “ No it's going fairly well now, a lot has changed in three years. A great number of dragons have warmed up to the idea. Some are tired of the migration and the few older ones that remember the old Dragon Empire don't have as clear of a memory about it as they claimed. Most of them however were else where when the Empire was destroyed, though one black dragon in particular had met Bleu personally when the empire, err.... fell, she's the reason he and most of the eggs were still alive. They are all afraid of her, though they nearly all understand what I am trying to do an generally support it. It took a lot of work , but it seems it might be a reality soon.”

“So basicly Aunt Bleu instills terror and you instill wisdom?” pip asks

“Well that's the simple way to put it. Granted Bleu adds her own logic at times and I've had to fight a few myself.” Spike adds chuckling a little at the thought.

“Well that sounds fairly good. I guess you two make a good team...” Pip notes Scootaloo's wince at that comment.

“Don't try it Pip I get enough attempts at some pony playing match maker when I visit Twilight or Princess Cadence. I don't need it from you either.” Spike growls. “ My personal feelings are my own business.”

“I know, but Twilight said I should ask if I saw you. So did Ma, aunt Celestia, Uncle Rhede, and even Aunt Starfall.”

“Oh geez all of them..?” Spike face claws.

Pip watches Scootaloo as she lands near Spike patting his side at the frustration before she glares at Pip.

“Don't worry Spike none of us are gonna bring it up again .. We don't care who you're in love with ….” She flattens her ears staring daggers at Pip.” Do we Pipsqueak?”

Pip blinks at the glare his ears drooping a little at the implied threat, though it upset him more that she was mad at him, still it explained a few things. “Nah, like I said I was asked to.......”

Pip grumbles the response cutting off as a scream draws his attention, his ears snapping up. The whole group of them look up as Applebloom runs out of the treeline with a fairly large stripped creature growling and chasing her.

Applebloom runs off to hide behind Bleu as the honey badger slides to a stop. It sniffs the air looking up at the group of ponies, and the pair of dragons. The creature blinks once and snorts before turning and trundling off back into the woods thinking better of continuing it's chase. The group stares after the creature a moment as it crashes back through the tree line.

“Well I guess honey badger do care.” Sweetiebelle chimes.

Hearths Warming Special, Rhede Pelt saves Hearths Warming [13]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Hearths Warming Special

[Sweet Apple Acres, 2 years after the War of gods. The Five Beasts second Hearths Warming since awakening.]

“Pick that one.” Sweetiebelle demands.

“Ah ain't singing something written by Pinkie's friend Cheese Sandwich. No telling what'll be about.” Applebloom grumbles with a yawn. “ Prolly Santa going crazy or bombs falling or somethin.”

“Don't be so cranky, “ Scootaloo snaps back. “It's a Hearths Warming Carol, they're all weird. I mean Rudy the red nosed reindeer? A red light wouldn't be worth anything if fog that sort of light would just reflect off the clouds. What Santa needed was a good weather pegasus not a caribou with a flashlight on his face. Heck he'd ruin his own night vision with that thing.”

“ Stop over thinking them. Maybe we should just pick something simple. Something Berry could at least hum along with.” Pip points out. “We only have a hour at best before we get sent to bed.”

“She doesn't want to join us.” Brush comments in a monotone as he looked over the books of carols. “She has yet to leave Luna's Side.”

“You could at least try to call her Ma or something, she did adopt you.” Pip grumbles at Brush. “It makes her feel bad.”

“I try to when I address her, but it is not been exactly easy you know. Not all of us can forget our parents as easily as you can to accept others in their place.” Brush comments back with no emotion.

“You think this has been easy for me?”Pip growls leaping to his hooves.

“Okay knock it off you two.” Rhede orders trotting quickly over to the small group. He spares a glance back across the room to the kitchen where most of the adults were talking. Thankfully neither Luna or Jer'rahd had heard the conversation of the foals. While Jer might have been a little upset he would have dealt with it better than Luna. The last thing anyone needed was for Luna to get depressed again due to her adoptive foals fighting about not calling her mother.

This was the first Hearth's Warming Eve party that every one had been able to attend since the war and despite being regulated to foal watching duty he was doing his best to be every where at once. Still if they young ones were fighting it was time to intervene.

New Canterlot was still barely a city, Jer had only been let out of the hospital about six months ago and both he and Twilight were still magically burned out, though Sparkle was able to use smaller spells at least. There were a number of ponies who couldn't claim to be that fortunate, and despite the best attempts of the Princesses the holiday season was still a reminder of what, and who, many had lost.

Rhede had spent the last year as newly appointed head ambassador, again, trying to build up lagging relations with the other nations. He had also spent most of that time doing his damnedest to actually woo Velkorn for real. Granted the latter was only slightly less challenging that the former.

Still despite the difficulty of the last two years, he thought he had made some progress and was about ready to make the ultimate play for her. He just needed to find a ring that he thought was worthy of being worn by her.

Of course that was then, now he had drawn the short straw and was stuck watching the CMC and two of Luna and Jer's adopted foals. Orange was here, but she was doing her best to try and be adult. Of course she had spent all night asking Velkorn questions about everything medical related. While Velkorn was happy to answer the burgeoning doctors questions, it made it impossible for Rhede to get close to her. He had finally given up when he heard the shouting and decided to actually do what he was supposed to.

“He started it.” Brush states flatly.

“I did not!” Pip snaps.

“I don't care, no fighting, please.” Rhede placates. “ Look how about you just sing here comes Santa Hooves, that's a classic. That one was around when I was a foal.”

Rhede glances back noting Berry start to creep closer to the group having finally left the kitchen and where she had been hiding under Luna's wings all night.

“What is the point of singing something about some one who doesn't exist?” Brush grumbles.

“Hey take that back...” Applebloom fusses.

“Yeah.” Sweetiebelle shouts as well.

Annnd there Berry went back into the kitchen. So much for the little one opening up any Rhede sighs as the argument continued.

“I dunno... Brush has got a point. I never got what I wanted.” Scootaloo chimes in. “ And you guys never got your cutie marks despite asking every year.”

“Yeah well you got yours and you can fly now so at least you don't need to ask for that stuff any more....” Sweetiebelle grumbles.

“Not exactly helping yer side ah tha argument.” Pip sighs.

“Santa doesn't give out cutie marks or flying lessons, those are things you have to do for yourselves, there are no short cuts to that sort of thing.” Rhede explains. “Why don't you believe Brush?”

“He didn't bring back my parents last year and I doubt he will this year either.” Brush states flatly. “Berry hasn't said anything since........., mom could always get her to talk....”

Rhede exhales looking at the kitchen, he wasn't cut out for this sort of thing. He was certain that was the most emotion he had ever heard in Brush's voice and sad foals were one of his great weaknesses, right up there with pretty mares in striped socks and singing. Still he needed to set Brush, and the others straight.

“Santa can't do that either, trust me I know that from personal experience.” Rhede mutters.

“Personal experience? What personal experience?” Pip questions.

“I asked him once, after I saved him.” Rhede says off hoof.

“WHAT?!” the group of them shout sending Berry scurrying back into the kitchen and forcing Applejack to duck her head out at the noise staring at the group curiously before heading back into the kitchen with the others once she was sure nothing was wrong.

“Calm down, calm down. Alright I’ll tell you a story, all of you gather around listen up. I've only been an ambassador for a year, but I’ve already traveled all over Equss.....”

The foals settle down staring up at the tall pony wondering what sort of story this would be. Rhede smiles a little at the rapt attention he was getting, even if it was from foals.

============================================

[One Year After the War of Gods. The Frozen North.]

The scrape of steel runners on snow did little to comfort Rhede as he hunkered down further in the sled.
Not that his attempt at hiding from the cold mattered, the frigid air could hit him no matter where he sat. Snow boots, several scarves two coats and a couple of blankets were piled over his sorry flank and a massive furred hood over his face and he was still freezing.

He didn't recall it being this cold last time he came up this way, granted that was before the events of Nightmare Night and maybe it had gotten colder. It was that or he was just getting old, though he liked the idea of the former better.

Velkorn had suggested he stay in the Crystal Empire while she ventured up to visit the Windigo and the snow ponies. He had of course dismissed that and told her after the meeting with Princess Cadence about the Changelings he would join her. He was of course regretting that now, but he wasn't about to tell her that, especially after she managed to talk one of the Windigo into coming back to pull a sled for him. He had loaded the sled down with a number of bright colorful things to give as gifts, recalling the snow bound ponies interest in such things. The Windigo towing the sled was a somber one, or a cheerful one, or an angry one, honestly the wispy snow spirits where as emotionless as ice. Still ice cube horses aside he was going to make sure the gifts he had were brought to the snow ponies. Velkorn would be happy to see them happy , and he wasn't about to not bring some gifts this close to Hearths Warming, or as the Windigo called it, 'The day when the noisy neighbors finally left for good.' Actually the emotionless things probably called it 'year one' or something just as boring.

Velkorn was playing hard to get for once, or she really didn't care for him any more. The latter he could live with, even now he thought she could do better than him with practically any stallion out there. The idea that it might be the former however drove him insane. He was used to having a female wrapped around his hoof with little more than a wink and a smile. That was all it took for any mare with even a small interest in stallions to melt like warm butter in his hooves. There were exceptions to that of course. Starfall, the Current Element Bearers and the Princesses primarily, but it still drove him nuts that Velkorn was on that short list now.

Then again that was probably the point, payback for the years he avoided her........

=========================================

“Okay, okay, now hold it.”Pip interrupts.

“What?” Rhede asks.

“What does any ah this have tah do with Santa Hooves?” Pip fusses. “ It's just ya going off on how yer all lovey dovy fer Miss Velkorn.”

“That is true. There has barely even been a mention of Hearths Warming in this story.” Brush comments. “ Close to the holiday is also subjective, it could be moments or weeks.”

“Oh. Well this all only happened last year about this time. Don't you all remember those toys I sent back from the Crystal Empire for you?”

“No,” chime Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo.

“You two don't count, I'm not related to you.” Rhede grumbles.

“I think mine exploded.” Applebloom comments.

“We were kinda swamped with gifts last year. It was our first Hearths Warming in the castle after all. I dun remember who sent who what.” Pip sighs. “ Sorry. We couldn't even see the tree with how much stuff the nobles and other ponies sent trying to curry favor, I couldn't tell what came from who.”

“ This is true. It was rather odd and we sent a great deal of it to those less fortunate.” Brush mentions.

“You gave away Heaths warming gifts?” Scootaloo gasps. “From rich ponies?”

“It was the proper thing to do. We didn't need all of it. Others did.” Brush mutters as Pip nods.

“You're not supposed to grow up that fast.” Rhede mutters to himself as brush glances over to Berry.

“Wait did you send Berry the stuffed dragon fly?” Brush asks.

“Yeah that was one of them.” Rhede nods.

“She still sleeps with that.” Brush comments as Berry sinks back behind the couch to avoid others looking at her.

“Well that's one of you at least....””Rhede chuckles his ears flattening suddenly as he glances over to Applebloom.” Wait, it exploded? How did you make crystal wind chimes explode?”

“Well, ah, Isn't it sweet Brush cares about others enough tah give things away?” Applebloom changes the subject.

“Yah really sweet” comments Sweetiebelle.

“Blah...” gags Scootaloo.” Can we get on with this? I expected you of all ponies might have something interesting to tell, not a snooze fest love story.”

“Hey I am getting to the action. I simply needed to set the mood.” Rhede snorts.” Let me get back too it.........”

=========================================

The sled continued to rush across the frozen wastes leaving Rhede with his thoughts and the scraping of runners along the ice. The Windigo ran along the top of the snow with nary a sound nor a hoof print in the fresh white powder..

To have such swift travel come to a dead stop, mid stride was jarring to say the least and Rhede was snapped out of his thoughts by a sudden impact with sleds floor.

Jerking up to his hooves, he looked over the top glaring at the Windigo puller who was staring at something laying in the snow.

“What is it?” Rhede asks hopping off the sled and sinking down into the snow until just his head was showing.

“Caribou. There is a den of them not far from here. “ The Windigo says coldly , it's voice echoing in it's throat, making the voice sound hollow and far off. “ It is not a threat, return to the sled we shall........ where are you going?”

Rhede bounds through the snow cursing the chill of it as he approaches the fallen Caribou. The reindeer was fairly large, a little taller than he was at the shoulder, and counting the antlers on his head the creature would tower over even Princess Celestia. The caribou was lying on it's side in the snow, small puffs of mist escaping it's nostrils with shallow breaths let Rhede know it was still alive. It's chest and forelegs were encased in a tattered bright green outfit with a number of gaudy frills and even silver bells. It had a cutie mark that looked like a short pine tree decorated with bright colors and lights.

“A Hearths Warming tree as a cutie mark?” Rhede mumbles crouching to look over the creature closer noticing what appeared to be some rather large shards of ice clinging to it's flank and back legs. There was no blood, but from what he could tell the damage was more bludgeoning than slashing. There was a rather large bump on the creatures head as well and Rhede briefly thought something had shot his eye out, but it was simply a impressive bit of swelling like it had run into a low hanging icicle.

“Smoke.” the Windigo states flatly, looking out over the expanse of white to a column of black smoke rising up from between some hills.

“Hmm. Somethings up. I always thought Caribou were peaceful. Come on help me get this guy into the sleigh so we can go check this out. There might be more like him injured.

“No.”

“What?”

“That area is off limits to us a powerful god resides there who does not like company, nor us and the meals we gather. Also I was told to bring one summer walker back to the village. I will only carry one of you.”

“Good well run him to Velkorn and let her fix him up and when he comes back home after healing up I can ask directions.” Rhede snorts pushing the caribou up into the sled with a wince at the beasts weight before turning to start trudging towards the smoke. Having to hop out of the deep snow from time to time to make sure he was going the right way.

“What? You would stay here? The snow is deeper than you are.”

“Yeah well this is clearly an attack. We're missing a couple of criminals so I need to make sure this isn't their hoof work. Equestria's trying to clean up after itself. Checking this out is sorta my job.” Rhede smirks.

“Meddling in affairs not of your business is your job?” The Windigo asks in what could be considered sarcasm if it didn't come from a creature nearly devoid of emotion..

“No that's my hobby. Any way get going, the poor tree butt might freeze out here if we keep yammering and that fire's not getting any closer for me .” Rhede states continuing to march and hop though the snow towards the smoke.

The Windigo snorts before turning and darting off. Rhede was rather surprised at how fast they left, fully amazed at the speed the Windigo could pull off. He sighs looking back at the smoke then at the sun in the sky hoping he could make it there before dark.

===========================================

“So the windigo didn't want to help?” Scootaloo asks. “Why not?”

“Windigo tend to be very isolationist. They care for their charges the snow ponies and very little else. We've been trying to open trade with them for years, but they refuse. That they live so far north helps them keep out of the worlds problems , but they know what's going on. They're immortal creatures composed primarily of snow and ice, materials that can cure a great many ills with some rather unfortunate side effects.” Rhede gestures to his black scared and striped side.” Velkorn knows more about them than any other creature on the planet, including some of the gods.”

“Still it was mean that he wouldn't help.” Sweetiebelle says.

“It's just their nature, you know changelings feed on the energy of Love , Windigo feed on the energy of strife and hate. The only difference is they don't need to be close to feed on that, and they don't need nearly as much to survive.”

“I bet they got a great meal from the war. “ Pip grumbles,

“I'm sure you are right, but also unlike the changelings , they don't try an cause this emotion. They just let it happen. I don't think they want to see any one suffer, but they don't want to starve either so they have this odd sort of gruff mindset. Still I'm only alive because of the boon they gave Velkorn that they waited a thousand years to repay, so I can't exactly call their compassion and loyalty into question. They helped Celestia as well in payment for something Velkorn, Luna, and Starfall did for their snow pony charges. But that's a story for another time. Now where was I … Oh yes.”

==========================================

After what seemed like a much longer walk than it actually was though the deep snow. Rhede finally burst through a snow bank and tumbled down a incline landing in a field of green grass with a single building in the middle of it.

The field itself was little more than a flat grassy plain that one could find in many places in Equestria. The oddity was in it's location in the frozen north, the air was still cold , but the grass was soft as if it was fresh spring shoots. A number of smoldering spots dotted the field along with pooled water and shards of ice as if a battle had taken place

There were no bodies that he could see though there were a small number of Caribou running back and forth from the edge of the field with buckets of snow which they were throwing on the fire burning on the thatch roof of the cottage in the fields center.

The building was a one story affair that looked like it was only big enough to hold one room. Despite the roof being on fire, Rhede though it looked rather homey, and comfortable. The only other thing of note was a red and white candy cane striped pole jutting from the ground not far from where the cabin was marked with a sign that read, 'North Pole' in several languages

The caribou seemed to have the fire under control when one of them noticed Rhede at the edge of the field still covered in snow from his trip here. The reindeer were all dressed like the one he had found out in the snow, though some of the others also wore red and white socks or pointy green hats that were as gaudy and festooned with bells and tinsel as the shirts.

“We missed one! YES.“ one rather burly looking reddish furred one shouted rushing towards Rhede with a rather convincing battle cry. He scooped up an ax in his mouth that was imbedded in a chunk of half melted ice as he thundered across the field towards Rhede.

“Dunder Wait!” shouts another.

“Hey, what? Wait a moment, I just got here.....” Rhede tries to explain before he was forced to dive aside as the ax slammed into the ground where he had been.

The Caribou yanked the ax free with a shower of dirt and lashed out at Rhede again. There was no skill or finesse to the attacks, just brute force. Rhede had little trouble dodging the attacks though he could feel the strain of muscles he hadn't used since Scarlet nearly killed him over a year ago. He had let himself get soft and that was going to be a problem in the long run here. Thankfully the attack was rather short lived as three other Caribou tackled the first to the ground. Rhede blinks at the pile a moment as the three others seemed to have trouble holding the larger caribou down and no luck trying to calm him.

Rhede took the moment to catch his breath. He really needed to get back in shape. He spared a glance up as an older looking caribou approached. He had a long blue scarf decorated with snowflakes. The elder was graying and had a fairly long beard white beard hanging from his chin almost to the ground..

The old caribou seemed to be fighting off a cold with the amount of sniffling and sneezing he did just getting over to Rhede. His nose had turned a bright red from the illness, and he constantly had to stop and wipe it with a tissue he pulled from a large box of them nestled in his antlers. Above the box a massive scroll covered in what looked like names rested between the tines on his head and seemed not to have any weight at all the way he was moving his head with each sneeze.

The caribou looked down at Rhede blinking as the pony shook off the snow, a small smile crossing his lips.

“Greetings Rhedric Pelt. I am Rudy.”

=================================

“How did it know your name?” Sweetiebelle asks.

“Patience I’m getting to that.” Rhede sighs at the interruption though by this point he was expecting it.

“No no no, I always wanna know all the things all at once, like when I was reading the Ballad of Smoke and Steam and I skipped to the end.” Sweetiebelle explains. “ Really weird how Daneilla choked to death on a pretzel.”

“WHAT?” Shouts Pip.

“SPOILERS!” holler both Scootaloo and Applebloom.

“Deal with it.” Sweetie taunts.

“Any way …. like I was saying.” Rhede continues.

=================================

Rudy led Rhede inside the no longer burning building, to speak with him and Rhede felt a slight chill along his spine as he crossed the thresh hold, though that was quickly forgotten as he saw the inside.

There was no way the inside of the one room cottage could hold what he saw in front of him.

The place was like a massive factory. Conveyer belts criss crossed the room trailing into machines or vanishing from sight as they spiraled towards the back and out of view in the tangle of other machinery. Strange devices blinked with lights, let out steam or smoke, whistled and blipped and whirled as far as he could see. Hundreds of the gaudily dressed reindeer moved among the machines fiddling with this or moving that. And it all seemed to be for toys! He watched a number of reindeer finish painting a toy pony in a super hero costume before dropping it in a box labeled ' Turbo Mare' , and sending it down a convenor belt to vanish from sight.

“How in Equss...?” Rhede muttered.

“Hmm? No bigger on the inside comment? Odd the Doctor said that was a common response to this sort of thing but I’ve never heard any one say it. Any way, you came at a rather bad time Mr. Pelt, or perhaps the perfect time.” Rudy mutters.

“What? What are you talking about, what's going on .. what is this?” Rhede stammers gesturing to the factory with a hoof.

“Hmm I’ll answer in reverse. This is Santa Hooves workshop at the north pole, that one is kinda obvious, in truth we have the pole and everything outside, though I’ll forgive that due to the ax thing. What's going on is we are trying to recover from an attack while still finish the toys in time for Hearths Warming, yes we'll just use that since you are a pony and all. What I am talking about is your arrival here.” Rudy lists before turning to head along a catwalk towards what seemed to be a small office suspended over the work floor. “This way please Mr. Pelt.”

Rhede stared after the Caribou as he walked, looking down at the general chaos of the plant floor. On closer inspection he noticed a number of damaged machines, piles of ice and snow and a fair number of destroyed toys.

His ear flatten at the sight, wondering why any one would attack here. He saw a few of the gaudily dressed Caribou staring up at him , some with curiosity, some with annoyance, though most with confusion as if he wasn't supposed to be here. He stepped away from the rail trotting to catch up with Rudy.

Once inside the office Rhede's ears flattened as he looked up at the ballroom style impossibly high vaulted ceiling above him decorated with a multitude of mosaics depicting things such as a blue griffon surrounded by teeth, a overly large rabbit surrounded by eggs, a very fat diamond dog with sand billowing around him, to name a few.

The rest of the office was decorated in a plethora of styles from a multitude of races Rhede recognized most as variants of Hearths Warming, though there were a number of festive things he didn't recognize.

=========================

“Wait, other races celebrate Hearths Warming?” Applebloom questions. “ Ah thought it was tha celebration of when the three tribes founded Equestria?”

“It is, though there's also Glacier Day, celebrated by the Griffons and harpies, Yule celebrated by the Zebra and the Elk...” Rhede pauses with a small wince. “ And cold ground day celebrated by the Diamond Dogs. In truth Cold Ground Day is a heck of a lot more festive than any of the others despite the name. Diamond Dogs know how to party. The Dragons also celebrated a Holiday called Hearth Warming, though it has nothing to do with our holiday and involves a lot more fire. All of them have differing decorations and this office was covered by all of them, fresh gemstones, candy canes, stockings, crystallized snowflakes and so and so on. Rudy was probably using Hearths Warming as a term because that's what I celebrate.

“But Santa celebrates all of them? That doesn't make any sense.” Sweetiebelle chimes in.

“Yes. While most of the holidays are celebrated on or around the same day of the month, none of them fall on it exactly, heck some of the official starts of the events are not even in the winter. Hearths Warming for instance is historical placed in early spring, not the middle of winter. “ Rhede explains.

“ What?” Several of them chime.

“The date for the holiday and gift giving actually started before the migration to Equestria. Often in the middle of winter some ponies either didn't have enough food stored, or some accident cost them what they had. So some ponies who had more than enough started giving what they could to those who had under prepared, had accidents, or just had too many mouths to feed. Some of the early ponies didn't even have issue sharing with the other races if they were in need and so the generosity spread to the other races as well. Before long the event sort of became kind of a end of the year party with ponies actually saving up anything they could just to make sure everyone had enough.” Rhede explains.

He glances to the small group seeing that they all still seemed interested in the history lesson before he cleared his throat and continued.

“Pretty much every race had some sort of seasonal event close to the closing of the year and given the lean times most of them put the events together into one much larger event simply out of practicality.
When Equestria was formed the Winter holiday already existed and the ponies simply lumped the founding of Equestria into it. Since Santa has been around before the events of Hearths Warming it's fair to assume his origins were on the original days of thanks the races had before they all became what they are today.”

“So that means that every one is celebrating pretty much the same thing only in a different way with a cultural mask pulled over it. “ Brush ponders.

“There's more to it that that, but that's the short version, yes. Still it does mean that any one wishing you well around this time of year, no matter how they say it, should only be responded to with a 'Thanks, you too.' “ Rhede grumbles. “ Too many ponies don't get that. The war on Hearths Warming groups are idiots. ”

=============================================

Rhede shook his head focusing on the massive desk at the end of the room rather than the multitude of murals. Thankfully Rudy didn't go towards the massive and highly decorated desk covered in snow globes. He simply moved to a desk close to the door that was much smaller, though was highly cluttered with paper work and multiple unfinished mugs of what Rhede assumed was hot chocolate.

Rudy groans as he sat down on a padded bench shifting uneasily.

“Getting to old for this shit.” he mutters.

“Tell me about it...” grumbles Rhede getting a small chuckle from the older creature.” So you mind telling me what's going on?”

“Not a problem, though how was Holy when you put him in the sled? Not too bad off I hope, we were going to send some one to get him once we put out the fire. Poor boy spooked at the first sign of trouble ran right into a icicle hanging off the edge of the building and kept going.”

“He should be fine. I sent him to see Velkorn. I'm sure she wrote a book on Reindeer a while back.”

“Ah yes. We are aware of her, and you Mr. Pelt.” Rudy says looking up to meet the stare of the black striped earth pony.“Yes well I suppose I don't have time to dotter too much and I doubt you are much the patient type any way. This is Santa Hoove's work shop. We are Santa's reindeer and Santa himself along with most of the toys we made for good little children of the world have been taken.”

“You're joking.”

“No Mr. Pelt I am not. Santa has been kidnapped and your timing is far too perfect to be accidental some one or something guided you here, most likely the spirit of the Element you once were a bearer of. Knowing your record I can see how a ahhhh ,hmmm, ah, an infiltration expert such as yourself could be useful in resolving this crime.”

“This is ridiculous. I have seen a great deal of strange things in my life, but you are expecting me to believe that, One, there is a real Santa Hooves? Two, this real Santa with all his supposed powers has been kidnapped. And three, that I am supposed to be able to help?”

The old Caribou smiles and reaches up to the scroll in his horns unraveling the massive length of the scroll. The end he pulled on vanished into the air before him and the scroll seemed to spin faster and faster without shrinking at all, despite the yards and yards of scroll that unrolled and vanished.

The parchment suddenly stopped and Rudy reached up pulling down a bit more reading over the paper in front of him.

“Rhederic Pelt, Age 3, A stuffed rockodile,
Age 4 A black and white striped puppy named Spot,
Age 5 a little sister, we didn't field that one.
Age 6, The adventures of Captain Grit vs the Moon Mare and for us to take the little sister back, We didn't field that second request either.
Age 7-9 your Cutiemark, We can't field that one.
Age 10 for Spot to come back. We couldn't field that one. Sorry.
Ages 11-14 Coal, it was about this time you became a bit of a holy terror to everyone and started getting into fights quite often and became a bully. When you finally calmed down and grew out of this phase you thought yourself too old to believe in Santa and thus were off the list.”

Rhede stared a moment as the scroll rolls back up and closes in the Caribou's antlers.

“How could you know about.......Spot.... what...is this?”

“You are in Santa's Workshop, at the north pole and I am in charge of the naughty and nice list as I have been for the last fifty years. “ Rudy states with a little bit of smugness dripping from his words.
“Now that it has finally started to sink in I would like you to help us get Santa back. There are only scant few days left til Hearths Warming and we have much to do and precious little time.

==================================

“So you asked Santa for your cutiemark too?” Applebloom asks.

“Yeah, I didn't get it until fairly late either, Jer got his a long time before I got mine. But it was Spot that kinda got to me. I was the only one who called him Spot. He was a striped collie mix. “

“So what happened to him?” Pip questions.

“My brothers and I were attacked by a wild cat. Spot fought it off but died from the wounds. Wanting him back was the only thing I asked Santa for on Hearths Warming. When it didn't happen I sorta shut out everyone for a couple of years. Like Rudy said a holy terror. Santa can't bring back those we lost no matter how bad we want it, or how good we are.”

Pip, Berry and even Brush looked a little dejected by this revelation.

“Any way this is supposed to be a Holiday story not a time to be mopey. A lot more happened so listen up...”

=====================================

“So what am I supposed to do?”

“Rescue Santa of course.” Rudy states.

“Okay back up a bit then, who am I rescuing him from, and where is he being held? And other useful bits of information please.”

Rudy frowns a bit though shrugs before blowing his nose again.

“There's a yeti named Sourpuss, he calls himself some other stupid name or another now, but that's not important. Sourpuss has always been around, though he's never bothered us before. He has the magical ability to bring ice and snow to life and he uses this ability to rule over a small town called Whatville, that's inhabited by his golems. We figure that is where he took Santa. He showed up this morning with a bunch of his golems and simply started wrecking the place. He didn't seem intent on really hurting any one, but the moment Santa came out to stop him he acted. Sourpuss tied Santa up in something after an argument he and a few minions climbed on the back of a giant snow goose the yeti made and flew away. That was a little before the time you showed up.”

“Errr how did snow creatures set the roof on fire?”

“They didn't we have a few spell casters in our ranks for various purposes . Fire melts the snow golems quite well, though our casters are not skilled with attack spells..... and clearly do not know the concept of aiming.....” Rudy mutters the last.

“Alright so how far is this place from here on hoof?” Rhede asks.

“About two days travel. Hence why time is of the essence. If we get Santa and the gifts stolen back we might still make it in time. Other wise there will be a great deal of children out there who are going to be quite disappointed when they wake up on Hearths Warming.”

“Alright, I can do this. It's been a while since I’ve done a rescue mission. I might need some help though. I'm not exactly built for cold weather marching.”

“That's because of the Windigo. They healed you, and one of the side effects is you are more susceptible to cold. I'll have Vixen make up some Mint Coco. That should alleviate the issue for a while. I'll call every one together, I'm sure we can get a small escort for you. I'm quite sure Dunder and Blitzen will be all for it. Those two hot heads are probably itching for a fight.” Rudy sighs.

“Vixen sounds interesting.” Rhede grins.” And Dunder was the one with the ax earlier right?”

“Vixen is indeed a interesting buck. And yes that was Dunder. Come on,” Rudy groans getting up from his seat and winces as his old hooves hit the floor again. “ Let me call every one together.”

“This is a rather daunting task here.” Rhede grumbles following along.

“It's not like I’m asking you to crawl though air vents and walk on broken glass to fight off terrorists. To top it off, I'm sure with the resources here we can even present a suitable reward for your help.” Rudy smirks.

“I don't need a reward for this.”Rhede states.

“Ever the Element of Generosity ehh?” Rudy chuckles walking back out of the office.

=================================================

“Hey, my sisters the Element of Generosity, not you!” Sweetiebelle states.

“I was the Element Bearer before her . A thousand years ago.” Rhede points out. “ I thought you knew this?”

“Oh yeah... sorry I forgot.” Sweetiebelle mutters.

“She gets a bit defensive about her sister.” Applebloom whispers.

“You're one to talk if I recall the sister hooves social thing..” Scootaloo grins.” Still you're no where near as bad as Brush and Pip over here. When it comes to protecting Ice Berry they go over board..”

The two colts did their best to be paying attention to something else as they were mentioned.

=============================================

“So that's the situation lads.” Rudy states to a rather sizable group of Caribou gathered below the catwalk they were on. Rhede was not even sure where they all had come from, the building surely couldn't hold a tribe this big. Even with the size of this odd factory the area was wall to wall Caribou, a one festively dressed Diamond Dog with fake antlers Rudy had called Buddy, and then suggested Rhede simply not ask further.

“I'm not gonna force any of your to go , but I am sure Mr. Pelt here could use the help to at least get to Whatville. “

There was a great deal of muttering among the gathered reindeer, though none of them spoke out or set themselves to join the red pony. It was fairly clear that most of them were afraid of what might happen to them if they tried to fight that army of snow golems. Sour Puss had managed to kidnap Santa, what chance did they have.

“Hmm, seems I under estimated most of their skittish natures. You might be going alone, still interested Mr. Pelt.” Rudy sighs.

“I said I will do it. I'll do it. I'll rescue Santa Hooves.” Rhede mutters a bit not liking the idea of dealing with something that caused a whole heard of creatures to panic like this. It was not as if he was in the shape he should be. While not suffering much from his injuries, aside from a pang here and there, he hadn't really practiced his craft aside from keeping tabs on some nobles.. He hadn't fought anything since Scarlet over a year ago, nor had he trained any.”Though I don't exactly know the way to where he's held.”

“I will help you as I can Mr. Pelt as long as you aid us.” Rudy nods.

A young looking reindeer with a black mane and a short beard of the same coloration stepped forward looking up at Rudy and Rhede. He wore an odd armor made of what looked like discarded and broken toy parts covering a harness and the gaudy green outfit most of them wore. A large sword made of plastic hung from his side. He wore an over sized hoof ball helm that had an advertizement for 'Hay, proud sponsor of the Reindeer games' emblazoned on the side. A pair of large holes were cut in it for his antlers and a green ball with an inordinately large yellow feather was stuck on the top of it, to Rhede the adornment looked like a cat toy. His cutie mark was barely visible under the toy armor but it seemed to be of a tin solider with one leg missing.

“If by my life or death I can guide you I will.....” he reaches back drawing out what seemed to be a plastic toy cutlas muttering around it. “ You haf mai smorfd...”

“Dasher... ever the dramatic one.....” Rudy mutters to Rhede.

“And you have my bows!” shouts a brightly dressed and rather feminine looking reindeer with longer ears than the others as he holds up a mass of brightly colored wrapping tinsel made into a very fancy looking bow in one hoof. The cutie mark on his flank was much the same a brightly colored green bow.

“Vixen....” Rudy rolls his eyes. “ Don't ask.”

“And my AX” the gruff looking Dunder shouts holding up the wood cutter ax he had attacked Rhede with earlier. The large caribou's cutiemark seemed to be a single present simply wrapped in gold paper.

A large blond maned reindeer steps forward staring at Rhede. His cutie mark was of what looked like a toy train riding on rails made of lightning.

“You carry the fate of the holiday with you my little pony.”

“I'm as tall as you are you know.” Rhede grumbles.

“If it is the will of stars I Blitzen will GAAHAHHH!!”

The dramatic ranting was cut short as four others shove forward pushing Blitzen out of the way.

“Oh you ain't doing this without me. I got a bone tah pick with that yeti.” shouts a decidedly feminine voice from the smaller caribou.

Rhede blinks not really able to tell the difference between the males and the females he was seeing as they all seemed to be about the same build and most had beards and antlers. The one doing the most shouting was a light haired caribou with a image of a sleigh. A nearly black furred female stood next to her with a cutie mark of what looked like a rat with a crown on it's head dancing with a griffon solider in full pomp and fluff uniform. The other two seemed a near identical brown save one had a patch of white fur over her left eye and the other had a patch of white fur over her right. The one on the left had a green ball ornament with red stripes and the one on the right had the same as a red ball with green stripes.

Deciding they were all females a number of interesting thoughts ran through Rhede's mind about the twins he was looking at before he slaps his face hard with a hoof reminding himself about a pretty stripped mare he was supposed to be courting. Rudy chuckles at the self inflicted hoof punch before speaking.

“Dancer, Prancer, Comet, and Cupid, not bad lasses but they are young and prone to trying to prove they are better than any one else.” Rudy comments as an argument breaks out between Blitzen and Comet.” Especially Blitzen.”

“Nine companions...... so be it “ Rudy states his words getting drown out as the pair start bickering.... you shall be the fellowship........ You...... OH FOR SANTA'S SAKE YOU TWO SHUT UP OR GET A ROOM!” Rudy bellows suddenly making every one including the two bickering caribou freeze in place. Rudy snorts in annoyance before speaking in a measured tone again.“ Honestly we have more important things to worry about here than petty bickering. You lot go get to the sled, the rest of you clean up this mess and lets try to get as many toys built as we can before they get back. A rescue won't mean a thing if we can't keep up the quota. NOW MUSH.”

The assorted reindeer and one diamond dog, scramble over themselves thundering around to get back to work.

Rhede whistles as the area before them was cleared in only a few seconds.” Wow, Jer could take some pointers from you.”

“I've been at this a long time Mr. Pelt. I am sorry that there were not more volunteers.” Rudy sighs.

“Nah, that's fine, if I had too many we'd loose any element of surprise. I tend to work better alone most of the time any way.” Rhede shrugs as Rudy heads back into the office to get a few things.

Rhede was going to follow the older caribou when a odd beat caught his attention and he turned his gaze to goings on around the workshop.

“Laughing at the smoke from the factory chimneys.”

A number of the Caribou finished setting up a broken conveyor belt locking it back in place.

“Marching to the beat of a heart within me”

Rhede couldn't see a source for the beat aside from the construction and repairs that were going on. A few of the machines started to chug to life adding to the tune.

“hi-ho, hey-o, we're off to work again
bells are ringing
we are singing
joyous in our industry”

He realized suddenly that the noise was from all over the sounds of the repair and clean up some how lined up in a melody along with a singsong chant.

“I love my job
he loves his job
pull that lever
start the engine”

He spotted who he thought was the lead singer . She was moving around the machines deftly dropping off supplies or parts as she moved, bouncing with the melody. She was a rather lithe looking Caribou, and the first that Rhede could tell was female at a glance. She had a pale coat and a bright red mane and tail. A musical note of some kind dotted her rear as a cutie mark.

“pump the water
build the pressure
push the piston
press the button

pump the water
build the pressure
push the piston
press the button

It's the perfect job”

Rhede's ears perked as the others started singing as well, the mixture of tones only adding to hers.

“Happy workers
Happy workers, yes
Happy workers, hee
Happy workers”

The singing stopped for a moment though the tempo and the beat seemed to increase as he lost sight of the lead singer.

When she started again she had sped up her singing matching the increased tempo.

“I love my job
he loves his job
pull that lever
start the engine

pump the water
build the pressure
push the piston
press the button

pump the water
build the pressure
push the piston
press the button”

It's the perfect job”

A whistle sounds nearby making him jump as the music seems to die for a moment before picking right back up again.

“Happy workers
Happy workers, yeah
Happy workers, hee
Happy workers”

“I love my job
Oh, he loves his job
pull that lever
sister, start the engine
pump, pump the water, yeah
ooh, yes
honey, build the pressure
oh, yes”

“pump the water
build the pressure
press the button
oh, yeah

It's the perfect job”

The chorus starts up again humming and chanting something along with a beat that rises to a higher pitch and then drops off as the music kicks off again. Rhede looks around in surprise noticing that the machinery all seemed fixed and the assembly line had started rolling again.

“Happy workers
Happy workers, yeah
Happy workers, hee
Happy workers”

“I love my job
Oh, he loves his job
pull that lever
sister, start the engine
pump, pump the water, yeah
ooh, yes
honey, build the pressure
oh, yes

pump the water
build the pressure
press the button
oh, yeah”

“It's the perfect job “

==============================================

Rhede blinks his ears perking as he looks at the foals.

Sweetiebelle was on her back in what he assumed was a dead faint. Applebloom was driving her head into the floor. Brush had his ears covered with his hooves. Pip seemed to be trying to pull his own ears off. Scootaloo was doing an ostrich impersonation into the couch cushions and Berry had run off back to the kitchen.

“What?” Rhede asks confused.

“Never ever ever do that again.” Applebloom whimpers.

“Do what?”

“Even attempt to sing, ever!!. Wynona sings better than you and all she does is howl.”Applebloom whined.

“ Our cutie mark crusaders song was better than that!”

“It wasn't that bad.” Rhede mutters.

“You sing again and I will set you on fire.” Scootaloo threatens.

“Seriously?”

“Yes!” they all shout.

“Fine …. I’ll get back to the story then..... in a moment.” Rhede looks up as the door to the kitchens squeaks open Velkorn trots into the living room balancing a plate on her head and wearing an apron. Berry is following along with her , eyes locked on the tray balanced on Velkorn's head. Rhede smirks a little at the homemaker look the curly haired zebra had going, more than a few dirty thoughts were running rampant through his mind as well. That train of thought is cut off quickly as the zebra tosses her head and a chocolate chip cookie lands on Rhede's nose.

[“ Mind out of the gutter Rhede, you are starting to drool. “] Velkorn smiles.

[ “Well you are giving me a very good reason to do so.”] Rhede snarks back.

“Since you all are doing so well minding Rhede, I expect you are good enough for a cookie or two before bed.” Velkorn chuckles flipping the plate down to her hoof and holding it so the foals could scramble around it. “ I know tis the season for a bit of fun, but bed time is still coming soon, so only take one.”

They all glance to each other and then try to grab the largest cookie they can, with Berry managing the prize out from under the others.

[“So how's it going in there?”] Rhede asks in zebra.

[“As we expected. Celestia and Jer'rahd are arguing about everything, with Luna trying to make sure they keep it civil as possible. Rarity is flirting hard with Lionheart and trying to get him under mistletoe. Twilight had too much hard cider, and by too much I mean half a glass, and she is out like a light. Bleu and Discord have kept themselves busy redyeing her coat and mane to look like Rainbow Dash. Dash and Big Mac ducked out the first chance they got to go make out somewhere. Fluttershy and Applejack are pretty much cuddled in a corner ignoring every one else. Starfall is watching Discord to make sure he doesn't do anything, though she is adding pointers to the proper coloration and pattern they should use for Twilight’s coloration. Peach Blossom is of course trying to flirt with her … badly I might add. And Pinkie Pie just started making cookies for some reason, which brings me out here with said cookies.” ] Velkorn finishes.

[“Don't I get any hard cider?”] Rhede pouts.

[“What Rainbow Dash didn't drink, Jer'rahd did. I am starting to believe that the powers the Bearers of Loyalty get also include iron livers. Besides I heard you attempt to sing a moment ago, no cider is the punishment for that.”] Velkorn threatens trotting off back to the kitchen as Rhede watches her go with a sappy grin.

“Wow. You. Are. Gone.” Scootaloo comments.

“It's still sweet.” Sweetiebelle chimes.

“Blargh.” Pip expresses getting a sage nod from Brush.

“Heh some day you'll understand it colts. Still not sure how she feels though, she's kept it hidden pretty well and I can't read her like I used to.” Rhede grumbles.

“Yup she likes you. That's easy tah tell.” Applebloom states nomming on her cookie.

“How do you figure?” Rhede asks.

“Take a look at yer cookie. She gave yah tha one with tha most chocolate chips in it. She's gotta like you.” Applebloom states matter of factly as Rhede looks at the cookie with a smirk.

“Good eye.... suppose I should continue before it gets too late.” Rhede chuckles taking a bite of the cookie. “Rudy was correct in it took exactly two days to reach Whatville.”

“So what did you make some friends with the reindeer and have other adventures?” Pip asks.

“Of course we all became fast friends and learned important lessons like check your Hearths warming tree for squirrels first, a dog house can win first price in a decorating contest, and Bumbles bounce.” Rhede rolls his eyes. “This isn't some foals tale Pip........”

The group of foals look strangely at Rhede and he slaps his face with a hoof.

“You know what I mean, it's not a fairy tale, Argh, never mind. The trip was mostly made in silence. I got to know a few of them, particularly with how talkative and flirty Vixen was gah. “ Rhede shudders at that memory “Still most of them didn't like me because while they ran and pulled a sleigh I was the outsider in that sleigh and none of them were thrilled that they needed an outsider for help. Still when we arrived I had a plan formed already.”

==================================================

“I have no idea what I am doing here.” Rhede mutters peeking up from the other side of a snow drift with a couple of the caribou, looking down at the city proper. It really was a city of sorts with tall buildings and structures made of ice and snow, wide ice streets and what looked to be hundreds of snow golems milling about.

The creatures where made of three balls of rolled snow, each smaller than the last and stacked on top of each other. They all had a corncob pipe, button noses , and two eyes made out of coal. Several had small jackets, carried brooms, or had three bits of coal on their middle ball like buttons. Their arms were little more than sticks jutting from their sides like arms, scarves of multiple colors and oddly, top hats. All of them wore fancy top hats.

“There's a lot more of them than I recall having attacked us.” Prancer mutters.

“Must have been mustering his forces here for defense.” Blitzen points out.

“They don't seem like they are defending.” Rhede mutters. “Looks like they are just milling about.”

“Clearly waiting for an attack. I say we oblige them.” Dunder grins.

“No, Dunder,.... down boy...” Rhede hisses. “ Look. Most of them seem to be around that building in the middle that looks like a city hall. That group is patrolling, the rest are just milling around. What's the sign over the door say? I can't read yeti very well.”

“It says town hall. That's got to be where Sourpuss is.” Dancer states.

“From the description of him I was given, I figured he would have some sort of castle looming over a cliff or something.” Rhede sighs.

“Nah that was sooooo last season, this season he decided to go with the mayor bit, modern era is more stylish and chic.” Vixen coos.

“There is something that is holding their attention over there as well.” Dasher points out offering Rhede a toy spyglass.

Rhede sighs taking it to look, rather impressed that the thing actually worked. ”Good eye … seems like there's a good fifteen to twenty of them clustered around something..... looks like a toy robot?” Rhede questions.

“Red ears, bright blue body with glowing green eyes?” Prancer asks.”

“Looks like a visor not eyes, but the colors right..” Rhede states.

“Model 734814 poni-robot. Rather popular a couple of years ago, orders have been waning lately.” Comet lists.

“ Hmm either way they seem fixated. I have an idea. Vixen how many bows do you have ?”

“Dumb question honey. I've got all of them.” Vixen giggles in a very deep tone that doesn't seem like it could come from the other wise effeminate caribou.

“Okay that is really unnerving please stop doing that.” Rhede shivers. “Right, they might be like the snow ponies and easily distracted by colors. If we can distract them maybe we can sneak in and actually get some where warm. “

“It's not bad out here? Really almost swimming weather.” Cupid taunts.

“Alright here's the plan. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, you four go out and leave as many toys and bows around as you can with out being seen. Anything to occupy as many of the snow golems as possible. Comet, Cupid , Dunder, Blitzen and I will sneak into the building once the guards are distracted and try and track down and free Santa.”

“And bring that yeti to Justice.” Dunder snorts.

“Not on the list alright you four go , lets get this Rhede says.”

==================================

“So what went wrong?” Pip asks.

“What makes you think anything went wrong?” Rhede questions.

“Because if it worked properly it wouldn't be much of a story.” Pip points out

“Weeeelll.” Rhede mutters.

===============================

“Alright so what went wrong?” Rhede curses glaring at the reindeer around him.

The entire group of them were hanging upside down by their rear legs from a frozen ceiling, all of them bound in chains made of ice in a cell made of ice in the basement of mayors office which was of course, made of ice.

“Well, Dasher didn't want to give up his armor for a distraction and while he and Dancer were arguing over it they got jumped by snow goons and Prancer and I got caught trying to save them.” Vixen states flatly annoyance in his tone.

“Dunder rushed in and challenged Sourpuss directly before getting his flank stomped before he even found the yeti. The rest of us just kinda walked into the ambush that his charge brought about.” Comet rolls her eyes.

“Well it happens, this is the first mission for you all and since you are all still alive I’d say there's hope yet.” Rhede comments looking up at the chains he was hanging from eying the locks.

“How is this a good thing, we didn't find Santa or the toys.” Prancer grumbles.

“And I heard Sourpuss eats reindeer.” Cupid shivers.

“I some how doubt that or you'd be having more than one raid every so often.” Rhede points out sitting up with a faint groan showing a good bit of flexibility his foreleg wrapping around the chain to hold himself up as he digs around for a lock pick in his robe with the other.

“On the plus side Dunder is still knocked out so we have some peace and quiet.” Vixen chuckles.

“Yeah except we all know when he wakes up he won't stop complaining about it.” Blitzen sighs.

“Well there is that, we are also still inside the enemy base. Which means we are that much closer to finding Santa.” Rhede states falling free of the chains and landing lightly on the ground.

“I don't see how this is helping us considering we are hanging from the ceiling here Pelt.” Dasher growls.

“Oh no, you shut up, you're partly at fault along with Dunder at least Pelt had a plan. You just have that stupid armor of reject toys.” Comet snaps back.

“Oh don't give me that, I needed this armor to survive the fight.” Dasher yells.

“What fight? Your toy sword broke the first swing and your armor didn't last any longer.” Blitzen curses.” All you've got left is that stupid feathered helmet you made.”

“I'm still awake and Dunder is not, I’d say that's a good use of my armor.” Dasher snaps back.

“He's got a point there, it's not 'very' effective armor but it was better than nothing.” Rhede states pushing open the cell door, the locks had been surprisingly simple. “ Anyway I’m gonna look around you guys hang out a bit.”

“Okay we'll do that and thank you for that it's nice to know some one appreciates.....” Dasher starts to rant again though he cuts off as the cell door closes, all of them suddenly realizing Rhede was no longer hanging from the ceiling or even in the room with them.

“He's buggered off” Vixen states.

“So he has...” mummers Cupid.

==============================================

“You left them there?” Sweetiebelle growls.

“They were not in the slightest bit effective at any sort of stealth mission. The fact we got caught at all was proof of that. Half of them wanted to fight and the other half wanted to be heroes. I just wanted to find Santa and get somewhere that wasn't absolutely freezing.” Rhede grumbled. “ Besides with how they acted they were safer in the cell anyway. I planned to go back and rescue them later once I found Santa.”

“You better have … Sweetiebelle stares. The glare making Rhede a bit nervous for some reason.

=====================================================

The place was a maze made of ice,and packed with sticks, coal and snow. Strangely there was a warm breeze blowing down the hallways and Rhede figured that following it was as good a direction as any to start.

There were a few snow golems moving around in the halls, but all of them seemed to be sneaking away rather than patrolling. Rhede watched as one paused, looked around nervously, before stroking the head of some sort of red furry monster thing with a big smile and googly eyes. The toy suddenly giggled that it had been tickled and the golem panicked clutching it close and rushing off down the hall.

Rhede winces a little hanging from ceiling, thankfully unnoticed by the creature that had stopped below him. Rhede drops down freezing in place as a pained, angry yell echos down the hall. The red pony freezes in place a moment before realizing it wasn’t directed at him .

Rhede moved on, coming into a massive room with a high ceiling, made of ice of course. In the center of the room sat a throne, made of ice. Covering the throne and filling most of the massive room were piles and piles of toys. Race carts, plush pigeons, hoofballs,creepy bug eyed bird things that stared into your soul, red rider bb guns,video game crystals, scooters, trolls with strange bright hair and gems in their bellies, balls, chess sets, Equestrian girls figures, A-10 models, skateboards, bike, sock monkeys,
everything and anything that could ever have been something a colt or filly desired, was in this room in massive piles.

It was massive enough that even Rhede had to hold back a whistle at the horde. A sudden curse from the center drew his gaze back to the throne. What he had first thought was an overly fluffy yellow stuffed cat was flailing around atop the ice throne throwing toys and other objects across the room as it pulled them out of a large red sack.

The creature did not look like any sort of yeti Rhede had ever seen. Normally a yeti came about as the very rare child of a Diamond Dog and a Windigo. While the Windigo were very protective of the children they had with normal ponies, they seemed to have no interest in the yeti. The yeti however seemed fine with this as most of them tended to be even more reclusive than the Windigo were and inhabited the lands closer to the top of Equss where the cold made even the Windigo shiver.

This small bundle of yellow fluff looked like a hoofball that was more than half fanged mouth with stubby arms and legs large green eyes that took up half it's head a short tail and cat like ears and features.

“NOT IT. NOT IT. NOT IT!!” screams the little yellow furry ball creature.

Rhede watches it as it all but climbs into the sack throwing things out of it and screaming loudly. Across the room was a large door, not made of ice,for once, but of metal, crudely worked metal, but it was different enough that Rhede wanted to investigate.

Rhede snuck across the room, ducking behind toy piles and crawling though valleys of various children's gifts to cross the massive room. He was nearly at the door when a sudden voice at his feet made him jump.

“Let's fly to the castle!”

Looking down Rhede could see he had stepped on what looked to be a pink mockery of Princess Celestia and pressed a yellow button hidden on her cutiemark.

Rhede froze as the creature suddenly popped out of the bag clamoring up to t he top of the throne like a monkey, claws gouging chunks out of the ice as it stood on the tall back looking over the horde of toys it's ears perked.

“Well, thief! I smellz U I feelz U air. I hearz U breath!” the creature snarled, it's voice far deeper than something of it's tiny size should have been able to muster.

Rhede dove into a pile of toys without a sound. He was tempted to simply take out the yeti, but if Rudy was correct Sourpuss was a potent spell caster, perhaps even a god. It was a real possibility, no one knew how many yeti there really were and if he created all of the snow creatures running around outside he had access to a great deal of power. Considering he didn't have that star metal dagger any more he needed to be careful, just in case.

“Well thief come take thing, I haz plenty, feelz free.”

Something this size probably had a bit of a ego, maybe if he could stroke it a little it might not notice him moving to the door. At the very least if he threw his voice properly he could cause the mini yeti to look else where.

“No thank you, ummm, your tremendousness! I did not come for presents. I only wished to have a look at you and see if you were truly as great as tales say. I did not believe them. But I see they truly did not do you justice.” Rhede yelled out, his voice seeming to come from the other side of the room.

The yeti whirls staring and sniffing in that direction looking for anything before his gaze swept back around over the rest of the room.

“Does you naow? U haz nice manners forz a liar and thief.” The yeti bristled, it's ears perked up as a faint blueish glow flickered over it's fur like a static charge. “ And who are U to come thus uninvited?”

Rhede winces at the glow around the yellow creature. The flowing flickering light causing the moisture in the air to freeze and snow to fall down around the creature where the glow touched. Rhede slid out of the pile creeping closer to the door freezing again behind a giant teddy bear as the yeti looked his way. There was definitely something about this creature that was making his fur itch.

“I have many names. Blackhoof, Death of Song, Silent Blade, Red Death, the Love Machine..... “ Rhede continued to rant off names making up a number of titles, making each seem to come from a random point in the room. He even threw his voice to the metal door a few times just to make sure the yeti didn't think any part of the room was silent enough to warrant further interest. “.... Twinkle Hooves, The Snow Cursed, Black Sheep, Beast of the Moon....”

“SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!” the yeti rants clawing at the ice chair. “ U is thief and little more than that. Do U not think I knowz U are with them horned miscreants that invade I home? I can smellz them on U as plainly as the nose on I's face. U titles are meaningless to us. I IS DR. DOOMSDAYER!! I shall not allow U to steal what I have come so close to finding, This bag mine along with it secrets and if what I seek not here. I rips it from the ignorant clawz of that which does not even have any. Him got hooves for ice's sake ,where does he get off calling himself clawz anything?”

The small yeti continued to rant about names for a while, which left Rhede the perfect opportunity to slip into the door leaving the yellow fluff ball to his babbling rampage.

===================================================

“The villain was only this big?” Applebloom asks in shock holding a hoof about to her chest.

“A little smaller than that , but yes.” Rhede admits.

“Well that doesn't seem very dangerous.” Pip grumbles.

“Keep in mind he made an army of snow monsters, an entire city of ice, and trapped Santa Claws on his own. So yes I was quite wary of him, because that is very dangerous.” Rhede states. “ Size is never a indicator of how dangerous something is. Proof enough of that is how many ponies scream and run away from spiders and bees. Those are tiny and every one knows they are dangerous. “

“Yeah but you described him like a overly fluffy cat, that can't be all that dangerous.” Scootaloo protests.

“My sister's cat is fluffy.” Sweetiebelle mutters quivering in fear.

“I withdraw my complaint.” Scootalloo shudders.

======================================================

It looked like Sour Puss was going to rant for a while so Rhede took the chance to to try the door. Finding it unlocked he slipped inside while Sourpuss was still going on about pointlessly lengthy titles.

“Geez his name should have been 'complains about names'. “ Rhede mutters quietly closing the door his gaze shifting around the room.

” He is throwing a tantrum. He has been doing that quite a bit.”< a voice whispers yet booms at the same time, seeming as if it echoed down the side of a mountain like an avalanche, a very quiet avalanche at that.

Rhede freezes, ears perked as he looks around the darkened room, then his gaze lifted, then lifted a little more, and then a little more.

Towering two stories over him, while sitting down, was Santa Hooves. The massive Caribou wore a bright red suit that seemed strained against his chiseled form. It was trimmed around the neck and sleeves with enough white fur to have left a good dozen polar bears naked. His hooves were black as coal and easily as large as Rhede. His chin was covered with thick coarse white haired beard that fell nearly to the floor. A pair of antlers erupted from his head like great trees fanning into numerous points as they spread upward. Tinsel and glimmering lights stretched around his antlers the tines covered in ornaments, sliver bells, stars, and in one instance a tiny red Santa hat that looked as if it was sized for a normal pony. Piercing blue eyes that had depth and color beyond anything any artist had ever tried to convey stared down at Rhede locking him in place with a look as his eyes met the great Caribou's.

”Rhederic Pelt. Quite a surprise to meet you here.”<

=============================================

“No way.” Applebloom protests.

“ What now?” Rhede sighs.

“Santa Hooves isn't huge like that and he sure isn't built like a mountain.” Applebloom fusses.

“This is true. He his large, but he is fat and jovial. You describe him as if he is built like a tank.” Brush states in his flat tone.

“Huh yeah he was about the size of a tank.” Rhede ponders. “ Never the less this was Santa. The fat rolly poly one you see every where that's often a variety of races is a marketing gimmick by that one drink company that had the polar bears.”

“Colta Cola?” Scootaloo offers.”

“Yeah them. If you look into history Santa was often depicted as much thinner and taller. A bit more menacing as well. Well, a LOT more menacing in reality. The chubby one is far more child friendly.” Rhede explains.

“ I do remember reading something about that.” Sweetiebelle mutters.

“Trust tha dictionary tah know that .” Pip chuckles getting a glare from Sweetie and a laugh from the other CMC.

“Alright any way ...” Rhede continues.

“Hold up. Why was Sourpuss ranting about Santa Claws?” Applebloom asks.

“Different races have differing names for him, Santa Claws, for the griffons, dragons and Yeti it seemed. Santa Hooves for the ponies and Caribou. Fish Cringle for the sea ponies. And Saint Nick for the Diamond dogs, as well as a bunch of others.”

“Oh … kinda like Hearths Warming stuff we talked about?” Applebloom pieces together.

“Exactly.” Rhede nods.” Any way it's close to bed time I need to speed this up.”

==========================================================

“Whoa...” Rhede mutters his head craned back to look up. “Um yeah hello... I'm here to rescue you … though I have a hard time believing that little guy out there managed to catch you.”

”Not half as surprised as I was. Though he had a weapon I did not expect.”< Santa claims lifting a hoof slightly and sending the tinsel and bells jingling. Rhede blinked looking at it closer. No, it wasn't tinsel and it wasn't just wrapped around his horns. The thin silvery lines were wrapped around his whole form, pulled tight into the fluff of his fur and suit but clearly there. The chains were crudely crafted and seemed more like melted globs than chain in some places. The shaping was pointless however as it was the metal itself that Rhede recognized as the issue.

“Star metal. Where did he get this much star metal? There's got to be a ton of it wrapped around you.” Rhede asks.

“Rock from sky fall here bunches. I simply had I's army collect rock and we makez into chainz.” growls a voice from behind Rhede.

“Oh buck....” Rhede sighs.

”Language Rhedric.”< Santa chides.

Rhede whirls around seeing a bristling yellow ball of fluff standing in the now wide open doorway a blue glow flowing around him, the wisps of magic sprinkling snowflakes around the tiny yeti.

“So you haz come to free Santa without clawz named Clawz. That not happenz until I can haz precious!” Sourpuss yells.

“What?” Rhede asks looking up at Santa.

”He did not get a present last year. He is some what understandably upset about it, if a little overly proactive in his complaint, but I do not know what happened to it. “< Santa sighs.

“I was good. I can haz present, like always, but wake up find nothings under tree. NOTHINGS!” Sourpuss screams throwing his claws up in the air , the magic swirling about faster. The energy arcs off hitting the walls and floor of the room. Soon snow golems begin forming and rising from the ice and snow of the buildings construction.

“Okay seriously, you kidnapped Santa and the presents right before Hearths Warming because you didn't get a gift last year? Seriously how old are you? Two?” Rhede snarks glaring at the cat creature who was no longer listening as he ranted about his missing gift.

“Around six actually. Well in mental years. He's been around for about two hundred now being a god and all. He's usually a good boy, but easily gives into his emotions.< Santa calculates.

“Lovely....” Rhede mutters looking at the massing snow creatures all starting to gather around Sourpuss. It would take a few seconds for them to all make it though the door. He could use Santa as a tree and get out of their reach. Maybe he could free Santa from the chains or at least get a hold of one to use against the snow creatures and Sourpuss. But he wasn't sure if that would work as neither the snow creatures nor Sourpuss seemed bothered by the presence of the metal.

“FOR SANTA!” shouts a voice from the other side of the toy filled room room as eight tiny, compared to Santa, reindeer charged across the field of toys slamming into the gathering snow creatures with reckless abandon.

Sourpuss hisses looking back at the attackers his claws whipping about as he summons more and more snow creatures.

Rhede rubs his forehead with a hoof as the snow creatures start flinging snowballs at the attacking reindeer and they are deftly knocked out of the air by a hail of brightly colored bows.

“Just out of curiosity Santa, what was the gift?” Rhede mutters as Dasher gets flung through the air by an overly large snow creature.

” Same thing he always got and was going to get this year. A feathered catnip mouse.”< Santa grumbles flinching as Prancer took a snowball to the face and went down.

“A feathered catnip mouse....... yellow feathers?” Rhede blinks.

” Yes he thinks it looks like a canary.”< Santa admits. >” He likes Canaries.”<

Rhede slowly blinks a moment staring into the other room as the complete absurdity of this conflict and kidnapping finally hit him. He had just barely lived through a real war and to see a mock up that was almost like children playing at war being waged before him. There was an audible snap as he gritted his teeth and flattened his ears, it could have been his tolerance breaking, but more likely it was a stick arm of a snow creature.

“Oh for the love of... EVERY ONE STOP. HOLD YOUR FIRE. CEASE FIGHTING. HALT AND WHOA!” Rhede bellows tapping into the Royal Canterlot voice.

While not even close to as impressive as Luna could do, or even Jer, any one who ever had to delegate between the Harpies and Griffons knew the value of being extremely loud. The effect of the booming voice was nearly instantaneous , every one froze, even Santa and Sourpuss.

Rhede storms into the room with all the toys ignoring Sourpuss as he walks past the ball of fluff and the golems and caribou. He got a number of looks and fearful stares as he made a beeline for one reindeer in particular.

Dasher looks up from where he had landed and been jumped on by a number of snow creatures. The constructs back quickly away as the glowering Rhede storms up. Dasher blinks looking up at him though before the reindeer can say anything Rhede yanks the hoof ball helmet from his head and turns around storming right back towards the metal doors. He stops in front of Sourpuss staring down at the cat creature who simply looked back in confusion and a hint of worry like a child who had made a parent mad.

“It was evidently in the discarded toy pile, an accident I’m sure. These things happen, don't be so dramatic about it.” Rhede grumbles yanking the feathered cat toy off the top of the helm and dropping it before the shocked Sourpuss. “There you go problem solved, some one wake up Prancer and help me get the chains of Santa. I'm taking those away from you by the way.”

Sourpuss stares at the feathered toy for a moment before pouncing happily on it and flailing about on the ice floor. The snow creatures look at one another before starting to move away themselves, grabbing a toy here or there and greatly dwindling the horde as they head outside to the cooler weather.

Rhede and the others freed the giant reindeer and head back to Santa's workshop with a surly Dunder and Dasher. The latter due to the loss of his helmet and the former due to the lack of actual fighting he was allowed to do.

The trip back was uneventful and cold.

===============================================

“............Yada, yada, yada, the end.” Rhede finishes his ears perked up as if he was hearing something in the distance.

“What? That's it ?” Scootaloo complains.

“What a gyp” Sweetiebelle snorts.

“That cannot be it.” Pip whines.

“It pretty much is and since it's close to bedtime I had to speed it up.” Rhede admits.

“Well then what else happened?” Brush asks.” There has to be more than just that. You said the snow things took the toys.”

“They did, Santa returned to his work shop though not in enough time to remake all the toys needed for every one. So I went back to Sourpuss and set up an equitable trade deal that gave back all the toys that he and his snow people had taken. Pretty much I just told him if he didn't give them back he would be on the naughty list for sure and not get another toy of any kind. Between the returned toys that were not damaged, and the snow creatures help, offered with only a little prompting, the caribou were able to meet the quota needed. Thus Santa took off and managed to deliver all the presents to the good fillies, colts, chicks, pups, excreta excreta.” Rhede continues rising from where he was sitting with a brief wince and a glance to the black striped scars along his side. “The rest of it was negotiations, deals and my attempts to woo a certain striped mare. Santa offered me a gift of anything I wanted in return for my help, but as he couldn't let me see or talk to Maw, there really wasn't anything I wanted. “

“But...” Scootaloo chimes in getting interrupted by the kitchen door opening.

“Ah'll right now time fer ya'll git ready fer bed.” Applejack calls as she pushes open the door from the kitchen with a passed out Twilight across her back and a concerned Fluttershy over her making sure that the sky blue unicorn didn't fall off.

“Wow, she is out like a light.” Rhede comments smirking at the new coloration the previously purple passed out pony possessed.

“Yup, ah don't even think what I gave her is alcoholic.” Applejack states dropping the unconscious unicorn down on the couch where Rhede could see that Bleu and discord had even managed to give her fake wings and masked her cutie mark with paint. “ Scootaloo, you an Sweetiebelle git ta stay here tonight Yer mom's will be coming by in tha morning.”

“I thought I was going home with Rarity.” Sweetiebelle whines.

“Umm well she and Mr. Dragonheart had a few things to do and they figured you would rather be here with your friends.” Fluttershy points out.

“Yah mean Lion Heart Sugar.” Applejack corrects with a grin.

“Yes... but he is a dragon, sorta and terrifyingly tall....”Fluttershy notes.

“Right anyway you three git. Brush you an Pip ken take Big Mac's room, he's going to make sure that Dash gets home safe.” Applejack says muttering the last to herself. “An if'n he thinks ah believe that fib he ain't as smart as he doesn't let on he is.”

“So Ma and Da arn't headed back to the castle?” Pip asks.

“Nah. Jer's in trouble fer arguing with Princess Celestia all night. He's staying here cause he claims tha guest room beds more comfortable than tha couch at home and yer Ma left early tah take care of tha night duties. Not every pony ken git outta work even on Hearths warming Eve. An Celestia got dragged along tah help Luna with something as punishment fer arguing with Jer all night. Since ya'll were coming here tomorrow fer dinner any way this jus saves a trip. Now git tah bed Santa ain't coming if yer awake.”

“Berry can stay with the girls or with Jer'rahd if she likes... oh my. Where did Rhede go?” Fluttershy asks looking around before Twilight lets loose with a loud snore startling the pale yellow pegasus and the orange farm pony too.

“Who boy, Spike was right bout that snoring....” Applejack chuckles.

=================================================

Rhede steps outside, his hooves crunching in the snow as he makes his way to the edge of the orchard just past where the lights of the house reach. He shivered wishing he had put on his coat though he didn't expect the guest would stay that long.

“I thought I heard sleigh bells. I didn't think you would be out this early.” Rhede comments looking up at a massive shadow.

”It is Hearth's Warming Eve Rhederic. This is the night my power works best. I am not only here I am also every where else delivering gifts.”< Santa states looking down at Rhede from the trees.

“So what did you want? I figure bells only I was hearing had to be you.”

” I have brought you something Rhedric. A gift for your aid.”<

“I told you before I didn't want anything.” Rhede pauses looking back at the house. “Unless you can do something about the nightmares Jer and Luna's foals have, I know you can't do anything in regard to their parents, but....”

” For tonight they will dream only of sugar plums dancing and other sweet things, but I can only grant that this night.” Santa snorts and smiles .>”Considering that was still not a gift for you I still feel I owe you something. So here.”< Santa raises his hoof to Rhede. >” I know you will not refuse this.”<

Rhede stares at the coal black hoof a moment before finally seeing a tiny green box in the center of the massive hoof. Rhede sits down in the snow reaching to take the box in his fore hooves It was about the size of his own hoof and rather simply wrapped.

“So what is this? “

”Open it and you will know. Tis the nature of a gift Rhederic.”<

Rhede sighs tearing the paper and pulling open the box, looking down at the inside. He narrows his eyes and flips the box over dropping a gold band in his hoof with a tiny chip of a diamond set in one side of it. Rhede blinks a moment tilting it, his eyes latching on to something carved on the inside. He reads it out his eyes widening.

“To my love. Everything I have and am is yours.” Rhede mutters nearly trembling his ears drooping on his head as he stares at the ring's inscription.

” Given how you and your mare friend are getting along I expected you would propose before too much longer.”<

“This..... this is my mothers wedding ring...... how … how..... Granny Smith had never even heard of it she ..... is this real?” Rhede stammers.

” That is her ring yes. It was lost, but it was not unfindable. Rest easy knowing that the one who had it has been compensated for it and shall not miss it. I gather you accept it then? Good. Sometimes the best gifts are ones you do not know you wanted or needed.”< Santa Claws smiles turning to leave Rhede sitting in the snow staring at the ring. >” Happy Hearths Warming Rhederic.......”< Santa pauses a moment looking back. >”... And to you as well little one.”<

With little more than a whisking sound and a sudden rush of wind that smelled of peppermint Santa was gone leaving Rhede still sitting in the snow with the ring in his hoof. After a moment his ears perked at the sound of tiny hooves crunching in the snow. He glances back seeing Ice Berry half hidden behind an apple tree and buried in a coat looking up at him in awe.

Rhede smirks getting a faint smile from Berry before he rises to head back into the house with the filly. Countless plans for how to propose to Velkorn now rushing rampant through his head. He glances down at Berry and chuckles softly.

“Told you I met him.”

Author's Note

I am NEVER doing another holiday special again...

* Glances over at the April fools Special he had planned.*

Damnit!

Final Goodbye [14]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Final Goodbye

Fire, a whole forest in flames, screams of the dead and dying filled the air as the village burned. The smell of smoke, ash, and cooking flesh filled the air clinging to ones nose and building bile at the back of the throat.

“Awww buck not this again, every freaking time ah try an get tah sleep, least this ain't tha dream about blood........ wait....” Applebloom grumbles before realizing something was very different this time. “ Ah'm... ah'm still me?”

She shifted her gaze seeing shadowy forms run past her, the fleeing elk and the demonic looking soldiers. This time however the forms were much clearer, the soldiers did not seem demonic. They seemed worried, and in most cases very angry. She had seen the symbol that was emblazoned on their armor before as well. Her uncle Rhede, Starfall, and aunt Velkorn had been wearing that symbol when she first met them in the Garden. It was the symbol of the Luna Republic, of Nightmare Moon.

“What tha hay.....”Applebloom questions.

The soldiers were not killing every one either, the adults were being cut down like wheat, but the children were being herded into a building that wasn't burning and several of the soldiers were standing outside protecting it. Applebloom blinked at that. The dreams of blood always had her as a foal being cut down. Who was attacking in the other nightmare then?

While the answer of who was in the dreams of blood remained unanswered, it seems the foals here were not to be saved wither. When the villagers rallied they began attacked the building with arrows and fire, thinking it the enemy HQ to be so well guarded. Many of the soldiers fell trying to protect it, their bodies filled with arrows or fried by lightning and fire. The building was set ablaze by the villagers themselves, they never bothered to look inside, and burned it to the ground.

Applebloom winces watching the soldiers, who were unable to approach and save the screaming foals within due to the hail of arrows. She watched them turn into the rage fueled monsters that her nightmares always showed charging through and destroying everything. Through it all the dark figure stood on the edge of the basin watching everything going on below.

Applebloom narrowed her eyes, she was here, none of the ponies or elk running around saw her. She had seen far more than she wanted down in the basin. She needed to know who that was, why he haunted her nightmares. She wanted answers and this was the first time she might be able to get them. She galloped towards the cliff seeing a number of soldiers running up and down a path along the side. She rushed up this, ignoring the soldiers as she ran up the cliff face, making it half way up in next to no time at all. She wasn't going to be stopped this time, that figure had to have the answers.

“You will not like what you find.”

She skids to a stop at the voice, she moves to the ledge looking out over the crater , certain it had come from there. All she could see was smoke and burning trees Her gaze swept around for the source, glancing at several of the soldiers running by. One stumbles as part of the path breaks away though his fellow catches him, stopping him from falling.

Applebloom was not so lucky as the crumbling rock that almost claimed the soldier continued and took out the large part of the ledge she was on. The gangly filly screamed as the rock gave way and the ground rushed up towards her.

===========================

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Applebloom screams scrambling against something hard and unyielding feeling herself start to slide before a pair of strong hooves grab her and pull her back steady.

“I told yah falling asleep on dragonback was a bad idea there cus.” Pip smirks as Spike cranes his neck back looking worried. “Oy she's fine Spike, jus dozed off an had a nightmare. Getting tah be a normal thing it seems.”

“Still having nightmares? I wish there was something I could do Applebloom, Twilight asked me to look a while back but I couldn't find anything about nightmares that even Princess Luna couldn't deal with.” Spike comments his voice carrying back to them as they soared though the air.

“Sokay Spike, ah'm sorta used to them by now..... thanks fer tha save Cos. I always feel a lil strange when off tha ground nowadays.” Applebloom responds her mind mulling over the change in her nightmare.

“Likely due to you connection to dragon magic. Even dragons feel a little off flying until they get used to not being near the ground... well most dragons...” Spike states.

Spike soared over the frozen north towards the Crystal Empire with Applebloom and Pip sitting on his back. The three dragons that had tried to eat them flew ahead of Spike looking rather subdued and carrying Sweetiebelle's luggage. Most of the gifts and trinkets she had picked up were burned away but her suitcases and personal bags were still intact if slight chard. Not only had they survived the dragons breath but they seemed to have grown in size somehow judging by how the dragons labored under their weight. The white unicorn attributed the fire resistance of her luggage to being friends with Scootaloo and claimed the luggage had been recommend by a pony named Joe, who claimed his set had survived a volcanic eruption.

They should have been at the Empire an hour ago save for an argument between Scootaloo and Bleu.

Pip wasn't entirely sure what had happened, he knew that Bleu and Scootaloo were not getting along however. When he asked Sweetiebelle about it she mentioned that the pegasus had had a crush on the purple dragon well before the war. Apparently the crush had only gotten worse when his fire had been responsible for her gaining a cutiemark, and being able to fly, two things she had always longed for.

Evidently Scootaloo had been more than ecstatic when Rarity married Lion Heart,seeing the white unicorn as her only real competition for Spike. But now she was face to face with Bleu who also seemed to be after Spike.

The information did not sit will with him, this was as bad as one of those dramatic romance novels his auntie Celestia seemed to like, love quadrangle and all. It had come to a head when the pair started arguing about flying. While it was a interesting argument on speed versus mobility, it had quickly gotten to the point where it was all gibberish to any non fliers. Still with most arguments it had come down to a gauntlet of sorts being thrown down. Pip wasn't sure what it had been but the results were clear.

“Here they come again.” growls Spike snapping Pip from his flashback.

“Here what again?” Applebloom stammers.

“You must have really been out of it if you slept through the first three times.” Pip sighs flattening his ears.

The argument had been about speed as Scootaloo claimed the dragons were slow fliers. Unless they were falling.

Bleu had taken great offense to that. Spike had explained that blue dragons tended to be the 'flier' types of the dragon race. Despite Bleu's disregard for most draconic practices the longer she stayed around Spike the more information she picked up, including a few tricks from some of the other 'rare' blue scaled dragons that they had met.

One such trick was something Spike called the draconic version of the Sonic Rainboom.

A large blue blur shot past the spot where the trio of dragons were flying ahead of Spike. The wind hit the three first sending them scrambling to remain in the air. The blue blur was gone by the time the noise hit, a rush of the wind filling the vortex of nothing leaving a violent boom like thunder. There was no light show, no explosion, just the roar of wind. Though in this case there was also the joyous screaming of Scootaloo and the horrified screaming of Sweetiebelle who decided to ride to the Crystal Empire on the back of her teacher for some reason.

Pip had seen Bleu show off her new tricks when she first learned them a few years ago. It was nothing like a Sonic Rainboom in anything but noise, Dash and Starfall could still fly rings around Bleu, but in a straight shot once she had her speed going even they couldn't keep up with her. Spike and Twilight had both gone into lecture mode at the same time when he asked about it and every pony else had fled leaving him to his fate of getting dryly lectured by a pair of scholars.

He had picked up that most dragons draw their power from the very earth of Equss. Blue dragons and a few others however drew their power from the air and the sky. There was a lot more to it than that though, Pip only really remembered being unable to convince Ma that being lectured for several hours should entitle him to a free day out of school.

“How long ken she keep this up?” Applebloom asks,

“I've never seen her get tired.” mutters Spike.

=======================================

[ 1 year ago, the Crystal Empire ]

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza looked nervously across the table at the large white alicorn and the smaller purple unicorn staring at her.

“I promised them I wouldn't tell you Auntie. This was all part of the deal to get them to go with Shinning Armor when they found Sombra and Chrysalis.” Cadence explains trying to placate the pair. “ I didn't think this would be that big of a deal really.”

“It is not really.” Celestia considers.” Well except to pretty much every one in New Canterlot, and several surrounding nations, and the Elements of Harmony, well two or three of them any way, at least four gods and every one who has bore the Elements of Harmony for the last thousand years. Given who the pair of them are and that all of Equss knows them by name their marriage would have been the largest positive event undertaken in my memory.”

Shining Armor took this moment to walk in the room. He made it about half way across it towards Cadence when he saw the looks Twilight and Celestia were giving. He spun on a hoof and walked the other way in one fluid motion.

“Get back here and save me..” whines Cadence.

“From my lil sister and Princess Celestia? The couch is safer.” Shining calls out from the hallway, his voice fading along with his galloping hoof falls.

“Told you my brother was smart. “ chuckles Twilight. “ Relax Cadence we're not mad... well I’m not. Not about you marrying Jer'rahd and Princess Luna any way.”

“Oh that's good, at least you are on my side.....” Cadence sighs.

“However I am a little annoyed you didn't tell me I was going to be an aunt! Twice!”Twilight shouts. “How did that even happen?”

“Well, when a mommy pony and a daddy pony love each other very much....” Cadence starts.

“Don't.” Twilight grumbles.

“Look aunt Celestia, I am sorry about presiding for your sister and her husband...” Cadence continues.

“Fiancee, I annulled it.” Celestia.

“You don't have that power in the Crystal Empire Auntie....” Cadence sighs.

“Fine then you annul it. If you wish to preside over it again then we will be sure to invite you to do so in New Canterlot.” Celestia states as if it is fact.” But they are not married until I say they are allowed to be.”

“You adopted a foal and are going to have another any day now. Pinkie Pie knew about it before I did. PINKIE PIE!” Twilight blurts out clearly annoyed though she stops a moment to consider her words. “Okay, I admit it's Pinkie Pie so that's not really a good argument, but you could have sent a letter or something!”

“Okay seriously auntie what is the big deal with your sister and her husband....” Cadence asks ignoring Twilight for a moment.

“Fiancee. “ Celestia corrects.

“What ever. What's the issue with them? Do you have a problem with the marriage or something? I can tell the pair of them love each other very much so that isn't the issue.”

“Of course I have a problem with the marriage, he's an idiotic violent lout. But I long ago accepted that she loved him. At the very least I should be able to attend their wedding, not just hear about it second hoof as they sulk around like thieves.” Celestia snorts.

“Really so does that mean that there will be a third wedding then as well? Or are you and my daughter going to, how did you say 'sulk about like thieves'?” comments a voice from the door.

Celestia and Twilight freeze in place as Cadence lets out a small sigh of relief.

“Err hi mom.” Twilight mutters.

“Don't you 'hi mom' me Missy. We moved up here six years ago and not once in all the times you visited did you ever say you and Princess Celestia were dating.” Twilight Velvet fusses. “ I had to hear about it from Pinkie Pie when she was here with that Discord fellow. Nice enough lad, but strange, I suppose she might like that though...”

Celestia smiles a little watching Twilight blush as her mother continues the tirade. She turns her attention away when she notices Twilight's father Nightlight take a seat at the table next to her with a case. He opens the case while his wife fusses over his daughter, pulling out what looked like griffon styled double bolt crossbow. She blinks in confusion a moment wondering what he was doing with the weapon as he strings it. wiping down the wooden grip of it with a rag before cocking it and setting a pair of bolts onto the table. Bolts that looked suspiciously like star metal.

Celestia's eyes widen at that, Nightlight pointedly seems to be ignoring her as he continues to wipe down the weapons handle before slotting the bolts into it before checking the sights.

“Sooo , Princess.... I hear you are dating my daughter.......” Nightlight states nonchalantly.

Cadence smiles watching Twilight Velvet nag and tease her daughter until Twilight was nearly completely red. She turns her head slightly as Nightlight held a very soft conversation with Celestia while polishing a crossbow he had recently acquired. Her aunts full attention on him as he mentioned a few rules for dating Twilight.

She glances back feeling Shining Armor move up beside her and kiss her cheek.

“Sorry about that dear. I needed some back up.”Shining grins.

====================================================

[Two years ago, New Canterlot.]

Peach Blossom looks sadly down at the small box he held in his white wings. The orange cream maned pegasus flipped it open and closed it listening to the faint thud of the box lids slapping together. The Gold band inside caught the light each time he flipped it open glimmering softly as the light caught the purple and white multifaceted gems set into the band. It had taken him time to figure out what to get for the band.

Traditionally unicorns used small horn rings, while earth ponies had bands that wrapped around their foreleg. Pegasi tended to use small wig bands, though that could interfere with flying, particularly high maneuver flying. Big mac had given Rainbow Dash an earth pony bracelet when he proposed and she still wore it. He had finally opted to do the same though instead of the rainbow of gems Mac had given Dash he opted only for two colors that he knew she liked..

Still after eight years of actually 'dating' Starfall, Peach Blossom wasn't sure if he was any further along with her than he was at the beginning. They got along well enough, they had gone on a number of dates, a few family gatherings on both sides, quite a number of more...... intimate nights as well. Still they lived in separate quarters despite often winding up staying over at one anothers place.

Then there had been tonight. They dressed up a bit and went out to dinner at a place she had liked, took in a show at a theater in Canterlot, one Rarity had recommended, and during a small break in the performance he had proposed. Not the most romantic thing that had ever been done he was sure, but given how well they had been getting along he had actually thought she might accept.

What he did not expect was her eyes to get wide in panic and for her to run away from him with enough speed to set off a sonic rainboom that blew out the windows of most of the theater and a number of buildings nearby.

That had been an hour ago. Right now he was sitting in a Guard station after being brought in for questioning in regards to the damages done. Peach Blossom didn't think he could get too much lower than this. A few moments ago the questioning Guard had left, leaving him sitting alone in the room half sprawled over the table flipping the box open and closed idly.

He barely noticed the door opening, expecting it was another officer come to ask him the same questions over again. Not like he had lied about any thing, he doubted Starfall would want him to lie for her even if it wasn't obvious who made the rain boom.

“Well you called it, he looks like shit.”

“Of course I called it. You think I wouldn't know how he would react given the situation? I have known him for years.”

Peach Blossom slowly lifts his head, his blue eyed gaze falling on a pair of very tall stallions standing in the door way of the room. One was a solid black stallion wearing a rather immaculate charcoal colored suit that some how managed to set off the black scales around his face and hooves. His green reptilian eyes looked down at the depressed pegasus with a good bit of pity.

The other was the same height, though with a long black mane and tail that fell nearly to the floor, both perfectly groomed. His red fur was criss crossed with black marks and white scars on his left side giving him the appearance of a half zebra, though only one of his forelegs was colored and it was a solid black.

“Come on Peach Blossom. You are being turned over to our custody.” Lion Heart states with a smirk.

“Seriously he still has the ring too. I figured he would do something stupid like toss it in a lake or something.” Rhede chuckles.

“He is far too practical for that.” Lion Heart sighs.

“Why are you in a suit?” Peach Blossom asks getting a small laugh from Rhede.

“It was a gift from Miss Rarity.....” Lion heart mutters.

“I think considering you are engaged now you can stop calling her Miss Rarity.” Rhede smirks. “ Any way, get up we need to go.”

“What's going on?” Peach Blossom questions slowly rising to his hooves, tucking the box back into one of his coat pockets.

“We're going out.” states another voice behind the two large ponies.

Lion Heart moves quickly to the side revealing a much smaller gray, heavily scarred unicorn with amber colored hair and a curved double blade hanging from a scabbard along his side. The red and green eyes of the unicorn focused on Peach Blossom causing the pegasus to freeze in place.

“Major Kaisur........”

“It's just Jer'rahd, neither of us is on the clock. Now get your flank in gear there's a number of bars I want to try out tonight and the moon isn't getting any higher.”

======================================================

[ 1 year ago, the Crystal Empire ]

“So how is he doing?” Celestia asks still casting nervous glances at Nightlight. She was considerably more worried about his 'rules ' after she was told he had become drinking buddies with Major Briar Rose while he was in the Empire.

“Surprisingly well. From what we can tell he is a true changeling. He drinks a formula like other foals, but the energies he draws also are similar to the emotions changelings feed on. It seems that the Crystal Heart is doing quite well at sustaining him as well as the rest of the swarm we have here.” Twilight Velvet explains. “It may be the only reason those who are still comatose are alive at all.”

“What are their numbers at now any way?” Twilight questions.

“Of active and aware changelings there are only three hundred and fifty one, counting the godling. Of the comatose drones however there are nearly a thousand. We have full documentation of their prime race as well. Every Changeling that is comatose was something else and was changed into what they are by the rest of the hive. All the ones that are awake are natural born changelings. Doctor Velkorn was quite helpful with our studies when she was here.” Nightlight adds.

“I will ask her to swing by again when she is able. I do not suppose there are any leads as to why they have yet to wake up? There are a number of families in New Canterlot who wish to know the fate of their family members.” Celestia responds.

“We have no real answers and the natural Changelings are not sure either. The most popular hypothesis has to do with the hive mind. When Chrysalis was alive she commanded all of them. The drones followed her orders perfectly, but were other wise mindless. That said even the ones who were not drones were forced to do what she commanded through the link. It is possible that they will not wake up nor move until a new ruler commands them. We expect Shin will in time, but for now he's barely figured out how crawl.” Twilight Velvet explains.

“Shin?” Twilight asks.

“Sombra and Chrysalis's son. His name was supposed to be Metamorpho or something like that, though that was a bit of a mouthful. Velkorn and Zecora called him Shintsha in their native tongue and it stuck better than Metamorpho. We call him Shin. “ Cadence points out as the group continues along the corridors.

“So you did adopt him? How did the Crystal ponies take that?” Twilight questions.

“Surprisingly well actually, but then the Crystal Empire wasn't the city that was attacked by them. Every one is wary mind you, particularly since Shin is Sombra's son, but no Crystal pony has so far paired the sins of the father on his child.” Shining states having been largely silent.

“I noticed you specified 'no Crystal Pony' brother....” Twilight points out.

“We've had a few ponies travel up from Equestria just to attempt to kill changelings. We've lost several trade agreements with other races who claim we are harboring terrorists. Griffons and the Minotaur mostly, though we have had some zebras and a lot of ponies cut their losses. Some of the businesses that moved in when the Empire returned pulled up stakes and moved out. And worst of all we were denied the chance to host the Equestrian games without a representative even showing up.” Shining snorted.

“It's not all bad, we struck a rather impressive trading deal with Spike and Cindervale for quarry stone and gems. Bleu has even added to the deal by purchasing a great deal of specific gems for musical and image recording. Her insistence on the gems we produce here and her position as Dean of the most well known musical school in Equss has made business for that sort of gem explode almost over night. Any musician worth their salt is buying crystals from us. With the influx of Changelings to the work force mining and preparing the crystals is relatively easy, though we still can barely keep up with the demand.“Cadence points out. “ So it is not as if there is no work or the Empire is in any sort of crisis. We even had a griffon playwright show up to see if he could recruit some of the changelings for his next venture. Something about cutting out the makeup and costume department.”

“Changelings are viewed as evil, much as the half dragons were a thousand years ago.” Twilight states.”So long as nothing else happens to add to that mind set, give ponies time and eventually things will calm down.”

Cadence smiles at that stopping before a door flanked by two Crystal pony Guards who saluted Shining before one tapped lightly on the door. A small pale brown earth pony mare with lime green hair pulled back into a bun glances out of the door spotting the group and bowing suddenly.

“How is he Locust?” Cadence whispers.

“He is still awake at the moment Princess. I just set him in for his nap however so he may be dozing.” the small mare responded.

“We will make this quick then. I'm sure Aunt Celestia would care to see him and Twilight would like to see her adopted nephew. “ Cadence says.

Celestia glances between Cadence and Shining.” So you did decided to keep him then. Luna explained that you were not very happy with Shining Armor.”

“I wasn't, but I do understand why he agreed to it as well. Besides if he is raised properly there's no telling what he could do with his abilities. Perhaps the changelings might wind up following the same path as the half dragons.” Cadence explains.

“I did have to sleep on the couch for three months however.” Shining sighs.

“And I had Major Rose think up a new training regiment for him.” Cadence grins.

“Wait that was your idea?” Shining questions glaring at the innocent look Cadence was trying to pull off.

“Whoops wasn't supposed to say that out loud.” Cadence grins as the group moves into the room.

Twilight glances back as the door is closed blinking at the green flame that suddenly surrounds the maid reverting her back to a changeling.

“Ummm...” Twilight begins as both she and Celestia stare at the revealed changeling.

“Hmm oh right. Locust was the changeling that was taking care of Shin after Chrysalis died and Sombra broke down. She's done every thing we asked so that she could to continue to do so. Her insight has been invaluable in regards to his care.” Velvet Sparkle explains.

“I am not sure I like the idea of a changeling that served Chrysalis and Sombra being this close to a new godling.” Celestia states.

“It is a little suspicious that she would work to stay close to him?” Twilight adds.

“You say it as if I had a choice in the matter in who I served Princesses. Chrysalis controlled most of us and when her power waned Sombra killed a large number of deserters.” Locust comments. “As for the rest Miss Sparkle do you not have ponies who willingly serve your gods? Do you expect us to be that different?”

“Hmm no I suppose.” Twilight mutters.

“I still worry because you are rather old to have been born after Chrysalis escaped Tartarus.” Celestia states coldly. “I still remember what happened when I first sealed your kind. Better now than I did before in fact.”

“I was born in Tartarus Princess. Our personal cell, island, or what ever you wish to call it gave us enough substance to stay alive, but we were always starving. That is where I was born and grew up along with a number of those who are left. When we were offered the chance to leave we took it. “ Locust looked annoyed that it had been brought up. “There were a large number of us living without incident in your kingdom for years before Chrysalis attacked the first time. After that we were hunted by your people and I lost everything I built and cared for. I had little choice but to return to the hive or be killed by those that had been friends. I along with a number of others here have suffered greatly due to your bounties and edits, and then we suffered more due to a mad mare bent of revenge.”

“You don't even know what suffering is.” Celestia growls glaring back before a series of multi colored shields suddenly appears between the Princess and the Changeling.

“If you two want to hold a 'woe is me' pissing contest you can take it outside. As in outside of the city.” Shining Armor states. “ Locust take a break for an hour or so. Twily control your mare friend before I punt her back to New Canterlot.”

Celestia glares at Shining noting that the entire family including Twilight had raised shields between the two. She also noticed her mane and tail were on fire. She was about to offer a counter threat to Shining when a foals cry cut though the tension building.

“And you woke the foal.” Cadence sighs poking Shining with her wing.

“And I woke the foal.......” Shining grumbles turning away from Celestia and heading into the nursery with Cadence and his parents.

Locust bows and changes back to the earth pony form before heading out the door. Leaving Twilight and Celestia in the room. Twilight glances up at Celestia curiously before shaking her head and moving into the next room with the others leaving Celestia alone.

===================================================

[Two Years Ago, New Canterlot]

Starfall landed heavily on a cloud curling up into it as she stares down at the lights of, what ever town she had stopped over. What the buck was she doing? She had been enjoying herself and then terror, depression, panic, and boom, here she was on a cloud well above some city. She had been flying for what felt like hours doing little more than just flying.

She really wasn't even sure why but the very idea of being proposed to terrified her. She liked Peach Blossom … but thinking of him much past that caused her to think of Loc and that sent her into a mess of over thinking. It wasn't as if he was bad, in fact he was probably the second stallion in her life she had feelings for. Which was part of the problem.

She was married with a child...... granted both of them had died a thousand years ago, but she always felt that sort of betrayal when she agreed to a date and it she hated feeling like she was leading him on. She didn't want to yet ….

“I can tell you have a very conflicted mind, that fact alone made you rather difficult to find.”

Starfall blinks glancing back to see a zebra mare standing on the cloud behind her. The striped mares poofy mane and tail seemed unaffected by the wind at this height and she was without her usual saddle bags.

“Velkorn what?”Starfall blinks lifting her head and looking back wondering how the zebra was standing on the cloud.

That question was answered as a massive blue scaled head pokes up through the under side of the cloud as well, the zebra standing atop of it as the dragon rose.

“Wow she was that far out of it she didn't even hear me fly up.“ Bleu chuckles.

“What are you two doing here!?” Starfall stammers.

“We were informed of what Peach blossom planned tonight......” Velkorn begins.

“... And we figured you would run so we tracked your flight!” Bleu finishes the rhyme getting an angry glare from Velkorn.

“Damnit... just go back to Canterlot I’ll figure this out on my own.” Starfall growls dropping her head back into the cloud again.

“No, I do not think we will do that Starfall. Your own stubbornness is preventing you from getting on with your life.” states another voice that caused Starfall to flinch.

The light gray pegasus looks up as Princess Luna landed softly on the cloud in front of her.

“Consider this a intervention of sorts Starfall. “Luna smiles softly.” I do not like seeing a friend suffer so for no reason. Perhaps we may talk of this and find a solution?”

“This is payback for my screwing with you and Jer'rahd isn't it?” Starfall grumbles.

“No......” Luna states with a smile.

“She says it is not the case, but she cannot hide the smile on her face.” Velkorn snarks.

“It totally is” Bleu cackles.

Starfall stares at the Goddess of Night before sighing and smashing her face into the cloud fluff.

“I am definitely going to need a drink.....”Starfall mutters.

=======================================================

[One Year ago]

“He doesn't really look like a changeling.” Twilight comments looking down at the tiny black foal in the crib.

Shin looked more like a baby Sombra than anything else his primary color was black with a bit of red on his mane and tail. He had a tiny slightly curved horn and his legs were solid without the holes most changelings had. The only real signs of his parentage were that he had a tiny pair of green insect like wings, and his eyes while not bug like were still multifaceted green as if gems had replaced his eyes.

“We hear that a lot. The holes in changelings legs and other parts are to reduce mass if they change into forms that require more than hooves. It allows them to shift their extremities into things like griffon claws or Diamond dog paws enough to allow movement.” Night Light begins. “According to our studies this is something that develops over time, it's not something they are born with. Like the half dragons they can acquire their own cutie marks it is just not something that happens often.”

“It is possible Shin will gain one due to his mixed parentage, but we don't know yet.” Twilight Velvet states lifting the small foal out of the crib with her magic. The little colt kicks and figits a bit, but doesn't seem to worried about his sudden flight. “He is a rather unique little colt, and how he grows up and what he does will likely cement or destroy the Changelings place in the world.”

“Nature versus nurture hmm?” Twilight sighs. “That is an awful lot to be placing on the head of a colt that's not even a year old yet.”

“Auntie Luna said the same thing. Although she was less worried about the parentage and more worried about the possibility of the books tainting him. We've run every test we can and there's no sign of anything out of the ordinary.” Cadence points out. “ We tested Jer'rahd and Auntie Luna and we could easily detect the influence of the books in them, especially in Jer'rahd. I would have to say he draws more power from them then Luna does.”

“He turns into a giant monster thing. Most of the energy he pulls from what ever the books did to him goes is converted into mass rather than energy. So yeah he draws a lot of power, but over all he doesn't use much of it.” Twilight explains, noting the stares of the others. “What, you think I haven’t been studying this too? I've looked into ways to remove the taint and all I’ve found is the only way to remove it is for the ones tainted to die. Even Discord is not fully free of it, the powers just weakened from repeated blasts from the elements of Harmony.”

“I suppose that would be why they were curious as to if Shin had anything wrong with him.“ Nightlight ponders reaching up a hoof to tickle the colt's belly until he giggled. “It wouldn't be good if he had to deal with being tainted on top of everything else.”

“Actually my sister is more worried about her own foal.” Celestia states trotting into the room finally. “Her concern is not removing the books influence from herself or Major Kaisur, but in making sure that her child isn't affected.”

“Luna's pregnant?!” Twilight stammers.

“Yes she is, and as such she wants the newly planned wedding to be put on hold until afterwards. Particularly since Rarity has already designed a wedding dress for her and she doesn't want to be re-sized.” Celestia rubs her temple with a hoof.

“Well that explains why you are grumpy.” Twilight sighs.

“There is far more to it that that Twilight. You know my history with the Changelings, and I find myself struggling not to reduce any I see to ash. Luna's actions have only compounded my headache.” Celestia trails off looking at the little colt floating in the air before her curiously. “ This is Shin?”

Cadence nods reaching out with her wings to take the colt from her mother in laws magic.

Celestia blinks looking down at him, tilting her head to the side a little as she regards him.

“He doesn't really look like a changeling.”

=========================================

[ Two years Ago, New Canterlot.]

“.......then she took off like a bat outta Tartarus. Shattered the front door and trashed pretty much every shop on the street with the rain boom.” Peach Blossom whined, tilting his head back and draining his cup.

“That's coming out of her pay so don't worry about it.” Jer'rahd comments knocking back another drink in annoyance. There was already near fifteen empty glasses in front of him, and that's just what the bar maid hadn't taken away yet. He barely even felt a buzz, granted when Troph was still with him, he never even felt this much. Still with as much as he needed to drink, even he could only afford to go out every so often. Particularly after he had been banned from a number of bars for abusing their one bit drink nights.

“She's skittish. Likely she's not sure what to do. She was fine with you as she didn't have to think about it very much. Now that you proposed she freaked out because she's still loyal to her husband in that regard.” Rhede mutters swirling the liquid in his glass. “ I'm actually impressed she agreed to date you at all.”

“She just needs to get over it already. Loc's over a thousand years dead.” Jer'rahd mutters.

“I am not sure you are the best one to comment on that sort of thing Jer'rahd.” Lion Heart points out. The half dragon seeming to be the only one of the group aside from Jer'rahd who was not feeling the effects of his drinks. “ From what your partner said you went into a depressive funk rather easily after the war due to some songs.”

“That's because I got to hear the voice of a mare I liked, who was killed in front of me, EVERYWHERE!!” Jer'rahd growls.” And not just her voice, the freaking song she was singing when she died in front of me. There is no way in Tartarus you can tell me that something like that wouldn't screw with any one. Bleu was a bigger mess than me, she just hid it better.”

“Bet Luna was thrilled about that.” Rhede mutters.

“She was understanding. It is not as if she doesn't have her own issues when it comes to lost loves.” Jer'rahd sighs.” She was a pretty big mess last time we went to Gallopagos.”

“I'm still not seeing the point of this conversation.” Peach Blossom mutters.

“The point is that she should move on already.” Jer'rahd growls slamming back another drink. “It's fine to remember what was lost, but you need to move on.”

“Not sure you should give out relationship advice Jer.” Rhede chuckles. “ After all, all of your mare friends either betrayed you, tried to kill you, or died.”

“Buck you Pelt. Like you are much better? I swear at times you seemed little more than a dick on hooves.”Jer'rahd grumbles.

“That does make me worry a little about his relationship with the Princess.” Lion Heart ponders.

“Don't worry about that. She's betrayed him, tried to kill him and 'died' at least once already. Granted so has he.” Rhede smirks slapping Jer'rahd on the back.

“All of you are horrible at helping.” Peach Blossom grumbles.

====================================================

[One Year ago, Crystal Empire.]

Celestia stared at the foal.

Shin stared at the Princess.

The pair of them simply looked at one another for a quite a while now. She wasn't even sure how Cadence had given her the foal or when, but here she was holding the child of a pair of monsters that she had ruined her young life and that she had fought for years. Monsters whose defeat made her a god and led to a long life of problems and and conflict, both with her self and others. She knew that without Chrysalis the Changelings were likely not even a threat any more, but that anger was there. She had come to terms that likely she could be just as angry as Kaisur, if not more in certain situations.

The height of it was her pursuit of Discord, she suppressed it as much as she could after that. She managed a state of serene calm after centuries of practice. Next to nothing could phase her. And then she met Kaisur and his group, cracks started to form in her armor from their antics. She regained her calm after a thousand years, until once again those five showed up and began poking at her again. Then Rose returned, while she did feel sorry for him, he took his anger with her almost as far as Kaisur did.

Centuries of repressing her rage almost seemed like an impossibility to her now. Over the last few years it had been a struggle to keep calm. When the truth of Aviana came out and what she had done it seemed the flood gates had opened and she was having a hard time holding herself in check.

Despite what many said, placing Rhede as head of the ambassadors again and pulling back from doing many diplomatic missions herself was not the result of her being lazy, nor wanting to spend more time with Twilight, although the latter did wind up being true. It was mostly because during the last political meeting she was a part off she found herself getting worked up over every little thing that was done. Small mannerisms and ticks the other gods and ambassadors she dealt with had, things that before , she ignored or didn't notice of, had now seemed to come to center stage in her mind and nearly everything they said annoyed her.

The explosion at the nurse maid earlier was just one more thing in a long list of issues that she had been developing. Thankfully both Kaisur and Rose were quite good at keeping her anger focused on them, so few noticed. Well save Twilight and her sister of course. Twilight had suggested therapy, her sister had suggested a good swift kick in the flank. She had refused both, though she was getting to the point where she might not be able to any more. Ten years after everything happened and she was still a mess.

Her musing was cut off as she felt a bit of pressure and a sharp pinch on her nose. Refocusing her eyes from where she was staring off into space she noted that the small changeling colt had clamped onto her nose biting her.

Celestia blinked hearing a few giggles and some worried tones from those around her. She sighs softly flattening her ears and glaring at Cadence and Twilight who were doing their best not to laugh.

“A widdle helf here?”

===================================================

[Two years ago, Hossenfeffor, Large mining community at the edge of the Foal Mountains]

“ …..... so I panicked and took off like a bat out of Tartarus. Shattered the front door and trashed pretty much every shop on the street with the rain boom.” Starfall whined tilting her head back and draining her cup.

“We'll take that out of his pay so don't worry about it.” Luna comments knocking back another drink in annoyance. There was already near fifteen empty glasses in front of her, and that's just what the bar maid hadn't taken away yet. It was rather hard to get a good buzz going when you were a goddess , granted at the moment she had disguised herself as a gray unicorn with a platinum blue mane. Bleu had joked that she looked like a female version of Jer'rahd. Luna had run with that a little more making her cutie mark look like his though with the Queen chess piece instead of the knight. That set Bleu into even more giggling fits, but it cheered up Starfall as well.

With the amount of alcohol she and Bleu were drinking she was glad she had a royal account to draw from. Perhaps offering to pay was not the best idea.

“Well you need to just get over it. You're still young, and I think you two would make a cute little feather duster foal....” Velkorn giggles, already having had enough drinks that her rhyming had all but vanished.

Bleu chuckles softly at that. “Hey boss pulled it off, you should be able to do the same. Getting over it I mean … not the feather duster thing. I mean there's only one forth pegasus in the mix there. Speaking of which hows that going there Lulu?”

“Yes, I know I should but I still feel like I’m betraying Loc by marrying some one else. “ Starfall bemoans. “I mean what am I gonna do if Loc's waiting there for me when I die and then Peach Blossom comes along? “

“Well then you oil them both up and let them wrestle it out. “ Velkorn giggles.” No matter who wins you get a nice show.”

“I expected that from Bleu.....” Starfall mutters.

“Don't worry I was thinking it.” Bleu grins, the small dragonling had shrunk down enough that she was sitting on the bar top downing what ever was put in front of her, often along with the glass if it was fancy enough crystal.

“I am not sure, you should be eating those Bleu. “ Luna mutters. “ The account for this is already going to be fairly high. Though at least I am finally starting to feel these drinks.”

“Don't worry about it there Loony. We've had stallions buying us drinks for a while now.” Bleu chuckles.

Luna blushes a bit glancing back and noting that the entire bar was full of rather burly stallions from the mines. Nearly all of them were watching the three mares and small dragon sitting at the bar.

“Nice to see even after twins I can turn heads like I did when I was younger,” grins Velkorn.

“Your not that old either.” …... mutters Starfall.

“I am older than you. Luna is the only one here who has me beat in terms of age.” Velkorn chuckles.

“The thousand years don't count.” Bleu mutters.

“Why do I feel like fresh produce being ogled?” Luna comments trying to hide her flank with her tail.

“Cause you are, likely a lot of single stallions in this place and then boom in walk three gorgeous females... and Starfall.” Bleu giggles.

“Bite me lizard.” Starfall grumbles.

“Only if you ask me nice.” Bleu flirts.” I bet Peachy would bite you if you're into that sort of thing.”

Starfall blushes a bit at the implication though choose to down the rest of her drink rather than respond.

“Pity I’m married. I could have some fun here...” Velkorn chuckles softly.

“Hey isn't that Rhede's line?” Luna protests.

“Why does everyone think I was some sort of pure virgin growing up?” Velkorn mutters. “ I got into medicine to find a way to make a cheap birth control when I was sixteen.”

“I am so saving that information for later use.” Bleu cackles.

“Why do I have the feeling I am the most sane one out of the four of us right now?” Luna sighs emptying another glass savoring the cheerful buzz she was finally getting. It had been a long time since she allowed herself to do this sort of thing.

“So then ladies what brings you out here tonight?” comments a rather smooth voice behind them.

Starfall glances back to see a rather well muscled looking, dusty gold colored stallion with short cropped white hair looking down to them where they were sitting at the bar. Luna glances back but doesn't respond.

“Quite a few things really.” Velkorn chuckles softly.

“Oh? Looking for a bit of fun then?” the stallion grins wider.

“I cannot say we are.” Luna comments taking another sip of her drink.

“Aww don't be like that ,I bet I can show you a great time....” the stallion mutters leaning closer to Luna. She was about to respond when she felt his hoof slap lightly against her flank. “Pretty little mare like you looks like you could use a big strong coOORFAHHHHH!!!”

What ever he was planning to say was cut off rather quickly as Luna whirls, her hoof mashing her glass against the side of his head sending the stallion staggering away from her.

“Tha fuck!!?... YOU BITCH!”the stallion hollers.

A large number of the other stallions rise as well, not taking to kindly to the stranger injuring their friend and coworker.

“Most sane one here huh Loony?” Bleu sighs watching as Luna roars rushing the group intent on laying waste.

“Eh what the buck, I was getting bored any way.” Starfall sighs draining her drink before she whirled about and smashed her stool against one of the stallions that ran up to surround Luna. Velkorn shouted something in a language that sounded like garbled zebra and lept into the fray as well.

Bleu sits on the bar top blinking before snatching up a crystal goblet full of ale and tossing the whole thing into her maw. She was about to eat another when a thrown pitcher hits her and knocks her off the bar top with a crash.

“Okay THAT'S IT!” shouts the dragonling from the floor.

=====================================

[One year ago, Crystal Empire.]

Celestia rubbed the tip of her nose with a hoof. While she was surprised the little colt already had a small pair of fangs, the bite had'nt hurt anything more than her pride. Still, in listening to Cadence try not to laugh while apologizing for not warning Celestia that the small colt was a nibbler, she missed out on the Sparkle families talk and only caught bits and pieces of it.

“...... alright I am still trying to wrap my head around this. What do you mean Chrysalis didn't create them?” Twilight questions.

“It's another theory your father and I have put together based on what we found in the Crystal Empire archives. Spike has been rather invaluable in this as well and one day we really need to test the limits of his abilities.....”

“Focus Dear. “ Nightlight counters.

“Umm yes,” Twilight Velvet corrects herself. “ We have found some evidence that seems to make us believe that the Changelings were around much longer than we first thought, perhaps even predating both Chrysalis and Sombra.”

“What sort of evidence?” Twilight asks.

“Primarily there are a few books and even a crystal stone tablet that we know predates the formation of the Empire itself that make references to things like shape shifters and green flames creating monsters....”

“The proper translation is Guardians not monsters.” Nightlight corrects.

“It's ancient, ancient Equestrian dear. Tomato translates to fruit and vegetable in that language.” Twilight Velvet sighs.

“Any way there are a number of things we found in documents. We even found notes on Starswirl the Bearded, hints that he may be much much older than any one considered.” Night Light chuckles.

“The biggest thing however that you two are dancing around are the dragonflies.” Shining interjects.

“Shiny dear, that isn't really admissible as important data.” Twilight Velvet states.

“What's with the Crystal Dragon flies?” Twilight asks.

“Most animals are afraid of the Changelings, most of them can sense the wrongness about them whether they are hidden or not.” Shining explains ignoring his mothers annoyed look. “We confirmed this with your friend Fluttershy and we started training dogs to help us spot changelings so we didn't need to tap everyone with starmetal all the time. Once we set up a area in the city for the captured Changelings we found out that the Crystal Dragonflies could tell too. Not only that, but they are not afraid of the changelings, and actually seem to prefer them to normal ponies. The changeling camp now also houses the largest number of Crystal Dragonfly nests. The dragonfly’s like to be near the changelings.”

“Why?”

“We don't know. We speculate that perhaps there is some sort of common ancestry, but we have not had a chance to pursue this line of inquiry, and the dragonflies themselves don't seem to know either.” Night Light responds. “ They say only that they feel like other dragonflies.”

“The dragon flies had all but fled from the Empire when I was a child. There were swarms of changelings, but no dragonflies. They only started to come back years after Chrysalis and Sombra were sealed. One of their number, Greenwitch, flew all the way from the empire to Canterlot to warn my sister and I about Sombra's return. With that warning we were able to cut Sombra's reign short, though his spell locked the empire away with him.“ Celestia interjects. “Well you all know the rest.”

“I remember him, he was the one who talked to Rhede in the garden before he died and warned about Sombra's return.” Twilight muses.

“Greenwitch. That name is familiar.” Twilight Velvet considers. “I have seen it some where.”

“That was the name of Queen Crystal's pet.” Nightlight comments.”There's an old painting of her with the dragon fly and King Sombra in one of the store rooms.”

“It can't be the same one, how long do Crystal Dragon flies live?” Celestia questions.

“Seems they live as long as they want. They hibernate for years at a time by turning themselves into crystal after they find a nice spot to perch. There are some families here who have had the same dragonfly in their family for generations. Every so often they freeze in place usually after saying their goodbyes and they simply becomes decoration for a while.” Cadence chimes in.”The only problem with that is they can be damaged or killed if some one tries to wake them up before they are ready.”

“Hmm that is what Greenwitch did. He landed in the garden and turned to crystal claiming he needed to rest. Discord's spell must have been what woke him and he died due to it.” Celestia fumes. “ Remind me to pass that information onto Rose later.”

“Stop trying to murder Discord indirectly Princess.” Twilight sighs.

“What about Directly?”

“No.”

“Fine....” Celestia sighs.

============================================================

[Two Years Ago New Canterlot, Luna's chamber.]

“KAISUR!” shouts an angry Sun Goddess bursting into the common room of her Sister's suite of rooms in the castle.

“Uh oh, Da. What did you do this time?” Pip asked looking up from his seat at the table. Ice Berry lifts a hoof waving to her, defusing Celestia's tirade for the moment.

“Beats me. I think your aunt just gets mad at me because she happened to hear some one say my name.” Jer'rahd chuckles closing Pipsqueak's lunch box before floating it over to tuck it into his bag.
“Alright every ones packed you better get going or you'll be late.”

Berry wanders over getting a hug from Jer'rahd before doing the same from Celestia before trotting out the door with Pip and Brush right behind her.

“Now then that they are headed out what's the issue this time?” Jer'rahd grumbles picking up the dishes from breakfast and putting them in the sink.

“The issue Jer'rahd is the news I got this morning about the riot you caused last night in Hossenfeffor. First you set up a royal expence tab then rack up nearly thirty thousand bits worth of drinks. Then I have reports of at least three dozen injured miners, six constables, five shop keepers and seven Royal Guards. Four structures were destroyed and many others vandalized or damaged. The grand total has come to near seven hundred and fifty thousand bits!” Celestia fumes. “Why is it the first thing I am greeted with in the morning is the after effects of your drunken rampage?”

“Okay first off, I was back here by midnight so Rarity could go home after keeping an eye on Berry, Brush and Pip, not that they need it, and Velkorn and Rhede's newborn foals. Second, I don't even know where Hossenfeffor is. Third I took out the tab for my drinks and Peach Blossoms. Rhede and Lion Heart paid for their own. I still have the receipt for that. We were at the Beryl Wyrm all night.”
Jer'rahd rants grabbing a strip of paper from the counter and waving it in Celestia's face. “ The tab was barely three hundred bits.”

“Then what is this? The reports claim a gray unicorn with a shield and chess piece cutiemark, a stripped pony, a dragon thing and a pegasus were the primary perpetrators of all this?” Celestia states. “That sounds like you, Rhede, Lion Heart, and Peach Blossom to me.”

Jer'rahd was about to respond when the door to the chambers opens and a very tired looking gray unicorn mare staggers in. Jer'rahd and Celestia watch for a moment as the mare stumbles a bit with a giggle and shushes the chair she bumps into.

“Luna?” Jer'rahd asks. The mare turns shushing him as well showing off a rather prominent black eye as she giggles again

“Quiet, you dun wanna wake the foals.......” Luna whispers very loudly before wandering down the hall making it half way into the bedroom before collapsing onto the floor in a fit of giggles and dragging herself the rest of the way into the room, showing off her altered cutiemark for a moment.

Jer'rahd and Celestia blink looking after her before they look to each other again. Celestia sighs throwing the list into the air in exasperation. “You know what I don't even want to know any more.”

“You might not want to know, but now I really, REALLY, want to now.” Jer'rahd grins.

==================================================

[ New Canterlot Current Day. ]

“Alright I want the recruits to come by tomorrow by noon for clean up detail” Jer'rahd orders pointing at the map laid out on the table.

“You sure there's going to be a need, Sir?” a green earth pony sergeant asks. “ I understand the idea of getting them used to being around the aftermath of a combat situation, but do you really think it will require a clean up at all? They might just surrender.”

“I doubt they will Hunter, keep in mind they didn't surrender the first time Celestia just ordered the Guards to stone the lot of them. Even then we suffered some heavy losses.” Jer'rahd responds.

“That's why they're sending you in huh? Equestria's nigh invulnerable tank.” A blue maned pegasus in glasses chuckles looking over the map on the table. “Makes me wonder sometimes why they need the rest of us Guards.”

“Can it Sterling, I can't be every where. Besides Celestia always needs some stallions to look pretty in armor around her.” Jer'rahd smirks.

Drill Sergeant Hunter and Drill Sergeant Sterling were a pair of ponies he had hoof picked two years ago to help him in training new recruits and retraining older ones. He had picked a few others as well, but they had often taken promotions or positions else where after a few classes. These two had stuck with him the longest and they had gotten nearly as good at inspiring terror as Jer'rahd and Rose were.

“Alright it'll be a days march to get there if we cut straight through. Knowing how green most of this unit is I want to follow the river and steer clear of the gate of Tartarus here. No need to let too many ponies know it's location. Sides there's some nasty stuff living around that area too.” Hunter points out. “That will delay us by a day, but it will give you more time to secure the area.”

“Make sure you get some trap finders in there right after you too, Sir. From my understanding the Red Hooves were really good at that sort of thing. They might have the whole camp wired to drop into the gorge.” Sterling points out.

Jer'rahd nods looking over the map. The Red Hooves camp was perched rather precariously on a cliff over a deep cleft in the earth. The other end of that ridge was where the main gate of Tartarus was, thankfully there wasn't an easy way to get to the gate that didn't run through the Everfree. Granted if the Red Hooves had found the Gate Troph likely would have gotten to them and this task would be moot. “Alright an extra day is fine. If I have to kill them then the bodies shouldn't be too ripe just yet for the cremation detail.

“Before I forget sir, Congratulations.” Hunter comments changing the subject.

“So hows the Princess and the new Kaisur doing any way? Saw the paper myself though most of them are complaining about you and the Guard forcefully removing the press from the premises.” Sterling snarks.

“Luna and Dawn are both doing fine, as soon as this is all settled we plan to make an an official announcement on her birth. It's stupid, but according to Celestia and Rhede it's what we are supposed to do.” Jer'rahd sighs.” I don't suppose you have any advice on a newborn Sterling?”

“What with my four kids? Loads of it. Though what is she pegasus or unicorn?” Sterling asks.

“Errrr pegasus... mostly.” Jer'rahd mutters.

“ Don't tell me we have another alicorn Princess? “Sterling gasps.

“No not another godling.” Jer'rahd stops him. “Well, not from us any way.”

“Wait so how come you didn't ask my advice?” Hunter questions.

“Because you don't have any foals.” Sterling points out. “Or a mare friend. Or any prospects.”

“Hey I'm just hunting for the perfect mare.” Hunter grins. “Still kinda annoyed Orange isn't available any more.”

“Do I need to put you through a wall again Hunter?” Jer'rahd growls.

“No sir once was enough and I apologized for that. Still, it doesn't mean my interest in her went away.” Hunter placates.

“Yes well, if she had shown interest in you in return, you wouldn't be working with me.” Jer'rahd sighs his ears flattening at the idea she was still with Blueblood..” She has terrible taste in stallions.”

=======================================

[Two Years Ago New Canterlot, Officers Quarters]

Shot from outer space, tearing through the atmosphere and speeds unmatched by even the fastest fliers on Equss, it effortlessly missed clouds on its way to it's target. Slipping in the window and passing through a small gap in the blinds it strikes unerringly, and with deadly precision.

Starfall groans flailing her fore hooves in the air as the beam of sunlight falls over her closed eyes. As if on cue the curtains are flung open wide bathing the bed in sunlight. Starfall hisses pulling the blanket up over her head and trying to bury her face in her wing.

After a moment or two her sleep addled brain notices several things. First was the pain, this had to be the worst hangover she had had since she had been woken from stone. Two she smell like a bar room floor and ash. Three some one else was in the room with her. Four that some one was a dick for opening the blinds on her. And five, her bedroom didn't have a window.

She slowly sits up with a groan, the blanket still over her head.

“Good you're finally up.”

Starfall whimpers a bit reaching up and rubbing her eyes with her hooves, flinching and pulling the blanket further over her head.

“Ahhh there's the hang over. While I find it amusing that I was the one your drunk brain thought of, I am less than amused that I had to get up at four am because you smashed through the window in the living room.”

“Peach Blossom?” Starfall mutters.

“Yeah.....” Peach Blossom responds. She could hear his hooves thudding on the wood at the end of the bed. “What the heck did you get up to last night?”

“Got ambushed by Luna, Bleu, and Velkorn, ruined a good sulk. Went out drinking..... other stuff happened and I don't know after that... maybe a fire, a small flood, and a ton of circus peanuts. I really don't think I want to remember what the circus peanuts were for.”

“I see. Had the same thing happen with me.... though with less, ummmm…. memory loss. Basicly Major Kaisur, Rhede Pelt and Lion Heart tried to cheer me up a bit. It sorta worked.”

“Same with me though they just tried to drive home how stupid I am.”

“I wouldn't say you were stupid...... well at least not until you smashed in my window at four am, gave me a necklace that was made out of pony teeth, threw up in my fern, and then passed out in my bed.” Peach Blossom sighs. “Now I won't call you stupid cause I like my teeth.”

Starfall chuckles wincing as she did so.

”So did you figure anything out?” Peach Blossom asks hesitantly.

“About?”

“Me, you, us.... if there is a thing.” Peach Blossom sighs.

Starfall groans pulling the blanket further over her head.” Close the window and I’ll talk....damn Celestia cursed sun......”

Peach blossom raises an eyebrow at that though he pulls the curtain back closed darkening the room again.

“Thank you.”

“.... well...”

“Give me a damn moment, I’m fighting a hangover.....”

“You're bitching so I guess it's not that bad of one.” Peach Blossom smirks. “ I've seen you worse.”

“That was because I tried to out drink Bleu.....”

“I'm amazed your liver didn't fail. I've seen how much she can put away.”

“Right, any way....” Starfall sits up looking to get this over with, though she pauses a moment considering. “ Why do you even put up with my crap...? I'm a damn mess and you know it.”

“Same reason I proposed. I'm in love with you...”

“That doesn't make any sense.....”

“Didn't think love was supposed to.”

“You have me there. You've put up with me for eight years now....”Starfall grumbles. “ You know about Loc and you're still here...”

“Yup....”

“Damn it ….. right, so about the time I was shoving one stallions head up another's ass I kinda realized my issues are pretty stupid and I’m dwelling too much in the past that I couldn't have.......”

“Wait what was that about a stallion's head....?”

“Don't interrupt I’m on a roll here. Basicly like I’ve been told a lot I should dwell much on what I lost when there's a lot of things I can still do with the time I’ve left. While it might always be an issue it's not something I need to freak out over......”

“Well that sounds promising. So what does that mean?”

“Yes... it means I accept your proposal.” Starfall smirks a little from under the blanket.

“That has got to be the least romantic acceptance I have ever heard.”

“Bite me. You're the one willing to put up with my crap.” Starfall smiles. “This is part of that, along with a lot of olive oil.....”

“What?”

“Never mind, that won't come up for a long while I think.” Starfall grins.

=============================================================

[ New Canterlot Current Day. ]

Jer'rahd looked over the chariot before him. He hated traveling like this but he wanted to get there and back as quickly as possible, so a pegasus pulled chariot was the way to go, particularly since Bleu was likely at the empire by now.

Aside from himself and Luna, Bleu was the last of his friends who were unattached, though she did seem fixated on Sparkle's companion Spike. He wasn't much a fan of dragons, but the purple lizard seemed to have a fairly decent head on his shoulders, despite what he wanted to do with Cindervale.

“So you really are leaving, geez and my wife says I’m a workaholic.”

Jer'rahd glances back to the black maned, red stallion trotting up to him.

“I don't want to hear it Rhede, from the reports you spent your honeymoon with Velkorn fending off a swarm of parisprites that were eating the Diamond Dog kingdom.” Jer'rahd grins.

“Yeah, but that was the honeymoon, as my two foals show, sexytimes were not halted.” Rhede chuckles. “ And I wasn't working when they were born.”

“I would think the fact you've already got a third coming would be proof of that.” Jer'rahd grins stepping away from the chariot.” How long until we get a new Pelt?”

“Still two to four months from what I’ve been told.” Rhede smirks. “ If it's a colt we're naming him after my Da, if a girl after her Grandmother. So why are you heading out?”

“It's not very often I’m needed for something like this any more. Aside from a few missions here and there, Equestria's pretty much peaceful. Still Nicker isn't afraid to send me into place that might get some of the other Guard hurt or killed. I don't mind so much for the same reason, plus it's nice to have a use aside from Luna's consort.”

“Careful they don't get too attached to you doing the hard lifting. I know you're pretty much nigh invulnerable and immortal but you're not invincible.”

I know, Starfall and Luna show me that every spar. Any way, once the Red Hooves are finished off everything that escaped from the Garden and Tartarus will finally be locked down.” Jer'rahd chuckles fidgeting with the harness for his sword. “This shouldn't take me more than a day at most. Get in there take out whatever resistance the remaining Red hooves have, remove them from being a threat, destroy the encampment so no other bandits think to use it, and come home.”

“Don't make it sound so easy, that's sure to invite trouble.” Rhede smiles.

“I'm not. It's why I’m given myself a day rather than the couple of hours it will really take. So what did you need any way Rhede?”

“Nothing much, I'm staying here while Velkorn's in Gallopagos. Fluttershy agreed to watch the foals while I took care of a bit of business here and swung by to see you off.

“Well that was nice of you. Any particular reason?”

“Do I need a reason to see an 'old' friend?”

“Usually, though I expect slipping 'old' into the conversation was reason enough.”

“I don't want to hear it from you. Applejack let slip you've been trying to get Wolf and Fox to say' My moma said my daddy's name is Rhede Pelt.' as their first words.” Rhede grumbles.

Jer'rahd laughs. “Because that would be the funniest thing ever.”

“I can't wait until your daughter is old enough so I can convince her to call you grandpa.”

“Rose might have issue with that, since by technicality he is her grandpa.... four generations back, but still.” Jer'rahd mutters.

“Yeah we have a bit of bucked up family lines.” Rhede chuckles.

“Of course we have bucked up family lines. I'm supposed to be your brother.” Jer'rahd smirks.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever Jer. Any way here.”

Rhede ducked his head back pulling out a box from under his robes holding it in his hooves as he opened it showing a selection of cigars.

“Since when do you smoke?” Jer'rahd questions.

“I do occasionally, and yes when I’m not on fire as well. Besides these are kinda rare. Diamond dogs have a tradition of passing them out when a foal is born. Usually the father gives them out to close family and friends. Since you suck at traditions I figure I’ll pass them out and we can all go out for a drink, light them up, and choke to death on the smoke together. Of course I planned to do that today, but NOOOOO you had to go to work. Your first foal was born Jer you're supposed to be partying. Heck Celestia let Pinkie, Bleu, and Discord raid the treasury, they stuffed an entire store room in the castle full of fire works to use when you and Luna announce Dawn to the public.”

“Fine. But not the bar.” Jer'rahd states taking one of the cigars in his magic tucking it into a saddle bag after a cursory look.

“What? Have I been talking to a changeling?” Rhede questions.

“Don't joke on that. Dusty and Breezy.... or should I say Lady Dusty and Lord Breezy..... nah screw that, I don't care if they are married, in charge of a kingdom, and have a hippogryph god as a kid, it's still private buck up and her cheering squad to me. Any way they sent me a bottle of something from her fathers private stash.” Jer'rahd smirks.”Seems Talon found some one to brew some kind of clear alcohol that has the same effect on gods as a Rainboom has on normal ponies.”

“ Damn... that sounds a bit potent.....”

“It's a potential disaster class four on it's own. Luna wouldn't let me touch it, but I found out where she hid it. I'll crack it open when I get back and we can give it a shot.”

“I think I’ll bring my own drink, thank you very much Jer.” Rhede chuckles.

“More for me then.“ Jer'rahd grins nodding to the Guard pegasi who set themselves into the chariots harnesses. “I'll see you when I get back Rhede. We'll get every one together for a party or something. When was the last time we pulled that off?”

“If you don't count your annulled wedding.....”

“I don't because I was comatose for a good deal of that thanks to you.”

“Yeah yeah Celestia told me to get you she didn't say how. The last time we all got together would have been Starfall's wedding two years ago.”

“Has it been that long?”

“Getting senile there grandpa?”

“Stuff it Pelt, We'll figure it out when I get back. Keep an eye on Luna and everything while I’m out.”

“Don't I always?” Rhede smirks watching the chariot take off into the air and vanish over the castle walls.

Author's Note

I dropped trying to make the title some parody of 'Lost'

Also pay attention here cause this and the next chapter is where the shit starts hitting the fan.

One More Day (To Regret...)[15]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

One More Day [To Regret...]

[ Current Day, edge of the Crystal Empire]

Spike and the other dragons had already landed, spoken with the Guards, and off loaded the luggage onto a cart by the time Bleu finally came in for a landing.

Scootaloo practically launched herself off Bleu's back shouting in excitement about a number of things and buzzing around Bleu like a erratic satellite.

“So believe dragons can be fast now?” Bleu grins.

“That was absolutely ridiculous!! The only time I’ve gone that fast was with Rainbow Dash when I was little!! You still can't turn for crap at that speed, but with your mass you'd rip your wings off any way if you tried.....” Scootaloo rambles.

“Did you just call me fat?” Bleu growls.

“Don't even start!” Scootaloo fusses.

Pip ignores the pair as they get back into bickering, though at least the aura of murder they had earlier was gone. Besides he and Applebloom were more worried about the stiff legged Sweetiebelle staggering towards them.

Sweetiebelle's hair was all blown back, her mane and tail were standing out stiff from her body and it looked like she had suddenly gained a interest in punk rock the way it was spiked back by the wind, her tail was not in any better shape.

“Umm Sweetiebelle are you alright?” Applebloom asks looking on rather concerned about the glazed expression in her friends eyes.

“Gotta go fast …..” the spike haired pony mutters before collapsing to the ground in front of them.

“Ummmm,” Pip mutters looking at Applebloom then the collapsed, twitching Sweetiebelle.

“Oh get up you wus, “Scootaloo mutters landing lightly next to the group. “She only did six barrel rolls.”

“I think I will call this the ground, maybe it will be my friend.......” mutters Sweetiebelle from the ground as she tries to hug it tighter.

“So what was our plan here any way? I forgot why we wanted to come to the Empire.” Scootaloo asks.

“Pippy!.”Bleu interrupts. Landing fairly hard on the small ponies back in her tiny size. “We need to head out of here shortly to take these three oxygen thieves back to Cindervale. I wanna talk at you alone for a moment so wander over that way a bit will yah! Mush mush!”

Pip rolls his eyes and shrugs trotting off to stand by the luggage cart on the road, leaving the others in the landing field at the edge of the Empire.

“What was that all about?” Scootaloo asks.

“Beats me.” Applebloom shrugs.

“.... I’ve had this ice cream bar since I was a child!!!” flails Sweetiebelle.

“Okay that's it, some one get me a bucket of water.” Applebloom snorts.

======================================

[Six Years ago. Sweet Apple Acres.]

“Anything?“

“No nothing. It is like she is not even dreaming. I cannot even tell she is asleep. I have never seen anything like it.” Luna mutters softly looking over at Granny Smith and Fluttershy.

“Well lets tell the others. Ah spect they're wondering if anything happened.” Granny sighs gesturing for every one to leave Applebloom's room. “Thanks fer trying tah figure it out Princess. She's likely tah wake up in a minute or two any way.”

“You are nearly family to me now Granny. I would not have refused, I only wish I could tell you more.” Luna smiles.

“Yah ain't married him yet, an tha rate every ponies going, Rhede an Velkorn's tha only wedding Ah'm ever gonna see happen afore ah kick off. Already given up on any great gran babbies from any one else.” Granny looks over at Fluttershy who flinches a little.” Calm down deary I’m fussing bout Dash an my grandson mostly. But ah figured Rhede and his wife woulda had six foals by now.”

That is something that surprises me as well.” Luna chuckles heading down the stairs.

The trio walk into the living room where Rhede, AppleJack, Twilight, and Velkorn sat expectantly. Rhede was looking through a small weathered journal with Twilight, while Applejack looked on annoyed.

“This is still all griffoneese to me.” Twilight sighs.

“That's because it's earth pony magic. This spell here helps to tap into Draconic magic. As an aura user you would be some kind of impossible savant if you understood both aura and earth.” Rhede comments. “ Probably even become a goddess yourself.”

“Pfft a goddess of what?”Twilight snarks

“I dunno Books? No, that would be Spike thinking on it.” Rhede shrugs leaning over to give the Journal back to Applejack who tucks it into her hat. “There's nothing in there that is any different from how we train the Guards who can learn to access the draconic magic. Whatever is causing these nightmares has nothing to do with her learning to tap into it.”

“Says you. She was fine before she went snooping and now she can't even sleep a full night without waking up screaming.” Applejack snorts putting her hat back on her head.

“Big Mac didn't have any nightmares at all, lest you count all tha times he was afraid he was gonna hurt some one.” Granny Smith states. “Ah keep telling yah tah burn that thing and be done with it.”

“An ah keep saying it's all ah've left of ma and ah ain't gonna burn it.” Applejack grumbles glaring at Granny smith. “ So stop saying it.”

“Where is big Mac any way?” Luna questions.

“Errr he and Rainbow Dash went back to her place earlier after I cast a cloud walking spell on him.”Twilight mutters.

“Huh, off the ground like that he wouldn't have access to that unchecked strength of his.” Rhede muses. “ Guess Dash wanted to be dom tonight....”

Velkorn was about to smack Rhede when a cane lashes out smacking him in the head instead.

“Don't you dare even start tonight Mister.” Granny Smith snorts. “Ah fer one ain't putting up with none of that subtle hinting you do. Or any not so subtle hinting neither.”

“Right, right, sorry.” Rhede grumbles.

“Sooo any way. Did you find anything out Princess?” Twilight asks.

“No, I cannot find anything.” Luna admits.

“Is it being blocked or hidden?” Rhede asks.

“No it is as if she is not even asleep, there is nothing for me to find, no connection to the slumbering world. I felt her as she drifted off and then just before she started the dream she was gone.” Luna sighs sitting down on the couch. “I have gotten better at dealing with nightmares after looking after my foals, particularly Ice Berry. But I do not know what this is.”

“Perhaps she's dreaming in another reality, or going deeper into the dream world than you can see.” Twilight speculates.

“That is possible, there are many rules and limitations to my power. It would not be unheard of to encounter something I have never experienced before. I do not use this ability often.” Luna nods.

“Is that the power that came from being a goddess?” Twilight questions.

“Yes, among other things. By the standards of the gods it is not that useful.” Luna mutters.

“I dunno I can think of some nasty things to use it for.” Rhede comments.

“You said before Princess that the scrying spell I used was not unlike the dream world, correct?” Twilight asks.

“It is, though considering Tia and I designed it, it is no surprise it is similar. Tia does have the same power as I do though with day dreams.” Luna states, watching as Twilight adopts what Tia called the 'pondering expression.'

“Wait yah mean tah tell me that tha power you two have is only tah look inta peoples dreams?” Applejack questions.

“Well that and the insane amount of power that comes with being a goddess, the spells Starswirl created to move the sun and moon and our own not inconsiderable power we had before becoming alicorns. Also in my case there is a little extra that I would prefer not to think about.”Luna sighs.

“Ah don't see how that could be useful at all.” Applejack mutters.

“Celestia likes long boring meetings that drag on and on. No matter who she's talking with they always tend to let their mind wander when some one drones on. When they do Celestia can see glimpses of how they might respond, or what they might choose to do in a situation. It's actually a rather impressive power for a diplomat” Rhede explains. “ And Luna's power to peer into the sleeping mind is a great power for intelligence gathering. There are a number of reasons they were the Gods of War and Peace. On that note how come you never used it back in the day?”

“Errr... I um first used the power when I ascended and I wandered into the wrong dream and was rather traumatized by what I saw there. I attempted to do so again when Jer'rahd was having nightmares, but that only made things worse on my end. It was not until Twilight and I worked together that I found the full extent of control and a number of fail safes.” Luna explains.

“Wrong dream? What the heck could traumatize you in a dream?” Rhede questions.

“I would think that for a young mare, a young stallions dreams might offer a good scare.” Velkorn points out.

“Hey now my dreams were never that freaky....... wait no never mind there was the one with the pineapple and the yoyo. Okay yeah I can see it now.” Rhede admits getting stared at by all the females in the room, though he still manages to duck another attack by Granny's cane. Velkorn made a mental note to press for an answer on that later.

“Any way..... let's wait for Applebloom to wake up and see if she can describe these dreams for us.” Twilight states.

==================================================

[ Current day, Crystal Empire]

Bleu hops off Pips back dropping down with a faint thud against the crystal walk way. She spares a glance over at the four dragons on the other side of the field. Spike was currently talking with them and in once case, smacking one of their claws with his tail as the fat one tried to eat a section of crystal fence.

“Sorry about earlier Pippy, but I’m not that comfortable with you being in danger like that. Particularly when it was something I should have dealt with already.” Bleu mutters.”I should have gutted those three when I had the chance, but a couple of the older dragons are fond of the idiots. They might actually even be their children. Spike sees it as a good sign that they care,but I see it as a pain, still he's trying to keep the others happy and working with us so... no murders. No matter how richly they are deserved.

Pip flinches a little, it was never a good thing when his aunt started talking serious. “ Can't always stop that auntie. Yah got yer own stuff to do. Considering I’m working on being a Guard, ah'm gonna be in danger a lot whether yah like it or not.”

“Yeah yeah I know and you did great Pippy, then I show up and yell at you. Not the sort of positive reinforcement I’m supposed to be giving here.” Bleu grumbles. “Suppose I’m upset about the others being in danger too.”

“What like your star singer?” Pip smirks slightly, though the smile fades as Bleu didn't return the grin.”Really auntie you were worried about Sweetiebelle that much? It's just a high school musical thing, she's already famous....”

“Gah no, I don't give a flap about the school event or even if she never sings again.” Bleu growls lightly though it wasn't directed at Pip. “ It's just....”

“Then what....?” Pip asks.

“No one else sees it but me, but no one knew her like me, the mannerisms, her voice, buck even her cutiemark is similar........”

“What?”

“Never mind Pip. Just...., your friend reminds me a lot of some one I used to really care about and I find my self worrying about her far more than I should be. Sweetiebelle isn't her, despite what I wanna think.” Bleu sighs rubbing her head with a claw. “ Any way I don't have too long. I wanted to apologize and ask what is the deal with the orange one?”

“Scootaloo?”

“Yeah.”

“According to Applebloom she has a crush on Spike.” Pip shrugs slightly.

“Huh, well too bad I saw him first......”

“Actually they've known him well before you came to town......”

“Don't get nitpicky Pippy.” Bleu grins. “Besides I noticed something else too that I wanna know about. Rather interesting expression you had when she was doing her pathetic flirty bit with Spike.”

“What are you talking about?” Pip questions.

“You know what I mean, was that jealousy? Does little Pippy have a filly friend!?!” Bleu taunts watching Pip turn bright red. She squees at the blush only making it worse for Pip.

“Wha!? What are you talking about, nothing of the sort is going on. “ Pip grumbles.”I was annoyed cause I got yelled at is all and that we were still stuck on a mountain.”

“Uh huh.....” Bleu grins. “ Soo not interested in the cute athletic mare at all huh? The blush means nothing?.....”

“I am not....”

“......Quite the little firebrand too it seems... literally, make sure you have protection.....”

“Auntie.....”

“....And I don't mean just wrapping your junk, though do that too, I mean like a fire proofing spell. I hear pegasi tend to lose control of their wings when excited and nothing kills the mood faster than third degree burns....”

“BLEU!!”

“Yessss Pippy?” Bleu grins leaning closer to her nephew.

“One, I am still considered underage so keep it clean....”

“Please, you hang out with Guards ponies... this is clean compared to the normal conversations they have.....”

“TWO. Applebloom said she was interested in someone already.”

“Yeah, but that's Spike. That ain't gonna happen......” Bleu grins wider.

“Three. Do not play match maker with me auntie. I have enough issues without you trying to pair me up with some pony. Ma is bad enough.”

“Wait Luna knows who you're interested in?” Bleu blinks grinning even wider making her look uncomfortably like her face was all teeth..

“What, well yes she's seen her in my dreams but...” Pip begins.

“EEEEEE that is PERFECT!!” Bleu squees. “We can get together and plan it out like a story book romance hahahhahaha. Well gotta go, see you soon Pippy”

Bleu cackles fluttering off leaving Pip starring after her slack jawed. She flags down Spike and the group launches into the air in a rush.

“By Auntie Celestia's pointy horn, this will not end well.” Pip groans.

===========================================================

[ Six Years Ago Sweet Apple Acres]

Applebloom swallowed a little as she looked up at the adults staring at her.

Her uncle Rhede had his usual unreadable smirk, Aunt Velkorn, Twilight, and Fluttershy all looked worried. Princess Luna didn't have an expression she could read, and Granny Smith had fallen asleep waiting already. Apple Jack though, her sister had the same expression she always had when some one mentioned the dragon spell. Angry and disappointed. Applejack was convinced she was having the nightmares because she read her moms journal and learned how to tap into the 'strength of the land', as uncle Rhede had called it.

“If possible Apple Bloom, would you mind describing the dreams you have?” Princess Luna questions softly.

Applebloom looks up at her still feeling tired, though also knowing she wouldn't get back to sleep. It had been blood tonight, she almost never got back to sleep after those. She exhales as the Princess looks at her with a bit of concern. Princess Luna was no where near as scary as when she had first met her, it might have something to do with her caring for the foals she adopted, but Applebloom didn't know for sure. Still she was practically part of the family by this point, even if she and uncle Jer'rahd weren’t married yet.

“Which one you wanna hear about? They're not always tha same, but it's like ah see um from different view points. There's ones about fire, which're scary, but ah ken usually go back tah sleep from them. Then there's tha ones about blood, that's usually tha worse ones cause I feel like ah'm in them, not just watching. Usually they end up with me getting killed....” Applebloom explains.

“We can't see what you are seeing so would you please describe everything you saw as best you can?” Twilight asks. “ Any little bit might help us understand how to stop them.”

“Ah'll try.” Applebloom mutters focusing on trying to remember everything as she starts to tell them about the dreams.

========================================================

[Current Day, Crystal Empire Palace dining room.]

“Hi Auntie Cadence.” chime Pip and Applebloom as the small group walks into one of the dining rooms of the palace, with Shining Armor right behind them. The pink pegicorn looks up from the end of the table with a bit of surprise though she smiles seeing who it was.

“Pip and Applebloom and … errr Sweetiebelle and Scoobaroo right?” What brings you all here?” Cadence asks. “Oh and please try to keep it down Shin might be used to surprises but Glimmer is still getting used to everything and loud noises frighten her.”

“Right auntie. Sorry.” Pip chuckles. “We saw Uncle Shining and Grandpa Rose on the way to the hotel and we asked if it was alright to visit. I haven’t seen you in a couple of years since you and shining crashed that last Apple family reunion.”

“And I haven't seen you since that time we saved Canterlot!” Sweetiebelle chimes.

The two of them trot over to cadence looking down at the dark form Of Shin in one basket and the pale rose colored form of a little filly in the other.

“Seriously it's Scootaloo, not Scoobaroo....” Scootaloo grumbles stopping Applebloom from heading over to the foals as well.”Hey Bloom, when did you wind up related to Princess Cadence?”

“Well Auntie Cadence is Princess Luna's niece, in name any way, and since Pip's her son and my cousin that ties us tagether. Then of course there's uncle Jer'rahd who's related tah tha Blueblood family same as Auntie Cadence is so there's another tie in, one by blood an not just name.” Applebloom explains.

“Geez is there any important pony you are not related to?” Scootaloo grumbles.

“Ah don't think we're kin tah tha Sparkle's aside from marriage with Shining Armor, an ah'm pretty sure we ain't related to Rarity an Lion Heart.” Applebloom grins. “Dun tell me yer still mad that Rainbow Dash is mai sister in law now, which kinda relates me tah Starfall as well.”

“I told you not to bring that up.” growls Scootaloo.

“....... so Princess Luna had her foal finally? I heard something about a message earlier today about that but I have yet to get all the details.” Cadence explains talking to Pip as Sweetiebelle and Shin stared at each other from either side of his basket.

“He doesn't really look like a changeling.” Sweetiebelle comments softly as she lightly boops the little foals nose with her hoof.

“Careful he's a nibbler.” Cadence warns as Shin latches onto the white unicorns hoof.

============================================

[ Six Years Ago Sweet Apple Acres]

Fluttershy had already left the room and Both Applejack and Twilight looked a little green. Rhede was no longer smiling and rose to leave the room as well. Luna and Velkorn both looked at each other and rose to follow him with Twilight joining the pair, which left Applebloom alone with her sister.

“So … you doing alright?” Applejack mutters, no longer looking angry though she stills seemed worried and a bit disappointed.

“Yeah ah guess.” Applebloom mutters as Applejack drops down onto the couch next to her. “You still mad?”

“Have been most of tha year now. Ah ain't happy, but ah ain't that mad any more. Least yah didn't have tha same problems as Big Mac.” Applejack sighs. “ That he can't turn it off caused all sorta problems. Ah know he did it with tha best interests of tha farm in mind, but it caused more trouble than it's been worth.”

“Ah just wanted my cutie mark, nearly every one else has theirs an ah ain't even a clue. Everything Ah'm good at ah tried an nothings working.” Applebloom mutters. “ Thought maybe this might be something.”

“Well Twilight and tha Princess don't think tha dreams are cause of what ya learned. Shoot, Big Mac never had nightmares, specially not ones like what you just talked about.” Applejack sighs.

“How come you never wanted to try out tha spell? Maw and Paw used it to get the farm to what it is and you never even tried it?” Applebloom yawns.

“Never wanted to before ah saw what it did tah Big Mac. Felt like magic was cheating. Still feel that way and ah ain't never gonna use it. Got no need to, specially now with as much help as we got on tha farm with all tha new family. Shoot money ain't even ah thing any more when both Jer and Rhede practically throw it at us if they even catch hint of that we might be in a spot. Can't hide nothing from either of them either.........”

Applejack trails off noting that Applebloom had dozed off leaning against her side. She reaches back yanking the blanket off the couch to drape over her sister but doesn't move away from her.

She takes off her hat, pulling the journal from it and flips through the book with a sigh. This little thing had caused all sorts of trouble. Even now, knowing that the instructions inside of it were not any sort of curse, but just a different way of doing magic, she didn't like it. She slowly flips a few pages looking over the writing, remembering watching her mother write in the little notebook when she was as young as Applebloom. Those memories were the only reason she kept the thing at all. She couldn't even picture her mother doing anything else but writing in this any more.

When they died she had left the farm to try to live in Manehatten, a different life away from what had killed her folks. She found she couldn't do it and came back without hardly having done much of anything at all but feel even more miserable.

Her idea for even going out there had been to ease the burden on Granny Smith for taking care of three foals, one not even out of her cradle yet. In the end she wound up taking everything on herself. She didn't want that for Applebloom. She wanted her sister to have a normal foal hood, something she and her brother weren't allowed to have. Of course with the war, the journal, and the dreams, it didn't seem like Applebloom was having a very normal foal hood either, but at least she wasn't ever on the verge of starving or working herself to death to make ends meet.

Applejack blinked feeling another blanket settle over her shoulders and glanced up to see Fluttershy draping it over her. The pegasus smiles softly before floating over the couch and slipping under the blanket as well nuzzling lightly against the farm ponies side.

Applejack smiles tucking the journal back into her hat. It might have been tough getting to this point in her life, but she wouldn't change the results for anything.

========================================================

[ Current Day, Canterlot Hospital.]

Luna sighs softly, tracing her wing along Dawn's back , the small filly nuzzled closer against her side breathing softly, and making what for now was an adorable little snoring noise. Luna was quite sure after a few months of it the sound might get annoying, but for now it was immensely cute.

She looked up as the door clicked open and her sister poked her head in. Luna holds a hoof to her lips in a shushing motion as Celestia slips into the room. The white alicorn moved over to the bed and sinks down on a stool next to it looking down at the foal at her sisters side with a soft smile.

“Despite all his other faults he did provide you with an adorable filly.” Celestia chuckles softly.

“Jealous?” Luna smiles sticking her tongue out at her sister.

“A little, not enough that I would run out to get knocked up or ask Twilight to.” Celestia grinned.

“Knowing Twilight she would probably develop a spell to make one of you a stallion for just long enough to do it.” Luna chuckles, the smile fading from her face. “Where is she any way?”

“Twilight went to Gallopagos with Velkorn to see Rarity's foal. Likely planning to add more to that book of hers. The birth of a new god is a rather historic event. Almost as much as a Princess giving birth.” Celestia states watching Luna's expression dim again. “ What's wrong?”

“Nothing really, just worried.”

“What about? Dawn has been cleared of any issues, the doctor even said he has never seen a healthier foal. I doubt it is about Kaisur and his mission. You know better than I do that nothing short of a swarm of gods can stop him, and even that is questionable.”

“While I am worried about him, I know he can take care of himself. It is Pip I am worried about.”

“Why? I know he's with those girls, but they are not nearly as bad as they were when they were younger. Besides I received word from Cadence they are already in the Empire. Bleu brought them in earlier today.”

“It's not that... it is.....how do I put this. You know how I got when Orange moved out of the palace.”

“I do, but foals do grow up.” Celestia sighs.

“I know.... but every day reminds me that I’m going to out live them. That Jer'rahd and I will be there to bury them.... even Dawn..... and it will be the second time I have buried Pip.” Luna muses.

“Do you often get depressed like this?”

“Only when I have nothing to do but think. Why do you think I enjoy the games so much? I was never as good at handling loss as you were.”

“If you call having a secret shrine to everyone I knew 'good'.” Celestia sighs blinking a moment.” What do you mean the second time you would bury Pip?”

“You know how I have told you before that in a dream I can some times see ponies as who they were. With the very young in particular, if they are not new souls, I can sometimes see who they were before......”

“It is the same with day dreams of the very young, often they imagine their own past.”

“When Pip was younger and had nightmares like the others I spent a long time trying to quell them. Pip shook them faster than the others. Even Berry still has a nightmare occasionally though far less since she has spent time with Twilight.”

“I am sure Twilight would like to hear that.”

“I've told her, she was. But in regards to Pip, I recognized who he was. I recognized what he was dreaming about as well. Since he has gotten older it's changed and the memories of his past life are faded behind the images of his new one.”

“You recognized him?”

“Even the globe that makes up part of his cutie mark is the same Tia. Pip was Hooper.”

“Ahhh.... and?”

“What do you mean and?”

“Exactly what I mean 'And?'Nothing else has changed except some one you used to care about is now still some one you care about. Also it's been ten years since you adopted him. If there was any sort of issue you would not be cradling Kaisur's foal.”

“What? Oh no eww. No I am not attracted to.... by the stars Tia you are sick sometimes.”

Celestia blinks a moment before catching on and flattening her ears to her head with a snort.“Lulu please, my words were innocent. It is clear hanging around with Bleu and Rhede has made your mind easily go to the gutter.”

“Right....” Luna rolls her eyes. “ Any way that was not the point I was trying to make. The point is I don't want him to be a Guard and that is all he seems to want to do. I do not wish to see history repeat itself.”

“I doubt any one will create another smooze. And if they did we know cold weather kills it now so it wouldn't manage to eat any one before we destroyed it.”

“I meant in his dying to defend us. It is always a possibility for the Guard. But Jer'rahd was eager to teach him and Pip was eager to learn so I didn't stop him. Now they are out in the world and I worry.”

“Pip was trained by Kaisur, Lulu. I doubt there is anything he wouldn't be prepared for. Besides this is a little trip. The worse that could happen is they spend all their bits in Las Pegasus. And he's too smart a colt to do that. You are worrying for nothing. “ Celestia states. “At any rate onto why I am here.”

“Oh ? Not just come to see your sister and her foal?”

“Well of course that, but also to speak of your now upcoming wedding. I expect it to happen within the month. It needs to happen before we need to worry about Velkorn's next foal. So I am thinking perhaps pink. You would look lovely in a pink wedding dress, it wouldn't take much magic to change the color of the one Rarity made for you. Berry would look adorable as the flower filly, and Kaisur would be annoyed at all the pink, it would be perfect.....”

“By the stars...” Luna mutters rolling her eyes.

=====================

[ Six Years Ago Sweet Apple Acres]

Rhede plops down in the grass leaning back against the picket fence near the house. A chill wind blew over him as he stared into the night. He lets out a long sigh and smacked his head back against the wood a few times with a growl.

[“ So I take that was indeed what it sounded like?”] Velkorn mutters her hoof stopping him from smacking his head against the fence again.

“In nearly every detail. She even got the armor right and what parts I had them hit first.” Rhede growls.

“And the stallion on the cliff?” Luna asks looking down at Rhede as she trots up with Twilight. “ That was you?”

“Yes and the darkness behind me was Dogwood. It's barely even symbolic, it's almost exact.” Rhede grumbles.

“You had them drag foals out of their homes and kill them?” Twilight states coldly.

“No.... no... I ordered it to start with, that every one of them was to be killed, but my second didn't relay that fully and had two groups, one razing the place and the other taking the fawns and putting them some where safe. When I managed to calm down enough, I agreed with it, but the fawns were all killed any way. We took over one of the tree houses on the edge of the pit, put them all in there along with a few expectant mothers. We put up a guard on the place as well a group of ponies there to keep them in side and away from the fighting. I didn't trust the adults at all , expectant or not. The elk thought it was our HQ. They killed the Guards sealed the doors and windows and set fire to it. They held us off long enough for it to burn to the ground. Medic said the smoke killed the ones inside before the fire even got to them.” Rhede sighs his ears flattening.

“Then what is this she calls the dreams of blood?” Luna asks. “ The killing of young ones is exactly what she described in those dreams in...., well, rather graphic methods of torture.”

“I don't know. We never did any of that. I don't know how she saw herself watching herself either. The ones she calls dreams of fire... yes that was me all the way.... the ones of Blood. I don't know.” Rhede mutters.

Twilight considers a moment as Velkorn strokes Rhede's back with a hoof sinking down on the fence next to him.

“Perhaps we should go back and have a look at the place for clues?” Luna offers.

“I have been back. It's nearly all over grown except in two places. The crater is nothing more than a pit of black soil, stumps and burnt fallen trees. Where Dogwood was strung up is also a black place devoid of life. The tree he was nailed to has petrified into almost black stone. His skeleton has long since worn away, but my daggers are still in that tree. Rusted, but there.” Rhede smiles a little. “There are elk there however. Seems I missed a bunch of them. It's a small tribe, but very rambunctious. They did a nice job driving me off and trying to kill me , but there's barely a hundred in a village on the lip of the crater.”

“That is promising.” Luna states.

“She's not dreaming......” Twilight states.

“What?” both Rhede and Luna ask.

“Well not in a sense. Alright this is just a hypothesis but hear me out. The dream world is connected to the starry void that we witness when two or more unicorns share spell power. They are also connected to the starry void that I saw during my study session. That was also the first time I met Harmony... or Bonnie, the Element of Magic. I met her when Jer'rahd died, I saw her, he saw his grandfather. I've also met your previous Element Bearers.” Twilight states pointing a hoof at Luna.

“Err.....” Rhede blinks and Luna simply stares in confusion..

“What you are saying when she goes to bed, it is not dreams she has but visions of the dead?” Velkorn muses.

“I think so. I think there's a connection there some where.” Twilight sighs. “ Not sure what though.”

“Any idea why Applebloom is doing this?” Rhede questions.

“Not at all. Keep in mind this is all just speculation on my part. I've never heard or read of anything like this at all.” Twilight tilts her head thinking. “Who knows it might actually have something to do with her cutiemark. If we can figure it out she might actually get one.”

“Yes I am sure she would be thrilled to hear her cutie mark is giving her nightmares, she is already stressed about that enough.” Rhede grumbles smacking his head back against the fence again. “But why about something I did?”

“Perhaps with the amount of things you've killed your presence is attracting them.” Twilight suggests. “Her real ability could be like a medium or something.”

“Rhede stop trying to damage the fence post, so you think her talent will deal with a ghost?” Velkorn asks.

“There's no such things as ghosts.” Twilight says flatly.

“But you just said...” Rhede comments.

“A magical echo of a dead pony has already been proven to be possible in highly enchanted items. This seems to be an echo of some kind that doesn't require an item to hold it. “Twilight says.

“So a ghost?” Rhede repeats.

“If there was a white sheet wandering around saying 'boo', then it's a ghost. There are no such things as ghosts.” Twilight snaps. “ This is a magical echo of an event.”

“I would agree with your hypothesis Twilight save one thing.” Luna finally speaks up.

“Oh whats that?”

“Jer'rahd and I have been around her just as much as Rhede and our kill count is much larger than his. Why is she only seeing what Rhede has done?” Luna states.

“Perhaps simply because his actions were worse. Then again it could be a family curse?” Velkorn adds.

“True Rhede is the only one related by blood to the Apples.” Twilight points out.

“Rhede is related by blood to half of Equss and this is the only mention I have ever heard of a dream like this.” Luna sighs. “That is not the connection. Or at least not the only one.”

“So there's something else going on too. I was a little worried that this was Dogwood's 'Spirits' revenge or something.” Rhede sighs.” Keep checking on this for me would you Twilight? If I can do something to stop it, I will.”

========================================================

[ Current day, Red Hoof Bandit encampment.]

“What I want to know is why the heck they went back to being bandits. It's been thirty years since any one saw any of them. They could have gone and melded back into society and no pony would have noticed. Especially not after the war.” states a lime green pegasus Guard.

“It's easy for a peaceful pony to pretend to be a violent one. It's not that easy for a violent pony to pretend to be a peaceful one.” blue and golden maned unicorn states.

“Well sir, what about Major Kaisur?” The armored pegasus questions looking up as a chariot flies down. “ He's a violent pony whose doing pretty well being peaceful.”

The unicorn twitches a little at that.”Him peaceful? You do remember your training don't you colt?”

“Well yeah, Sir. But I was mostly trained by Drill Sergeant Sterling, Major Kaisur wasn't in that class very often due to something with the changelings.”

“Lucky bastard. Don't ever let it be said that Major Kaisur is not a violent pony. He simply directs his violence in ways that are more agreeable to civilized ponies.” grumbles the unicorn starting forward as the chariot lands and the gray unicorn gets off.

The Guard camp was seated on the side of a massive chasm between two sheer cliff faces. There was only a small flat area with which to make a camp along a trail leading along side the cleft. A number of Guards had arrived here and set up here a blockade long the road, just out of sight of the bandit stronghold.. Another camp was on the other side of the mountain along the opposing path, this sealed off the only known ways into and out of the small constructed fortress embedded into the cliff side.

The fortress itself looked rather like a demented foals tree house. Wooden walkways,haphazard walls, and sharpened stakes were every where. Walls were built out of sawn wood, stolen metal and stone. All of it was spiked into the rocks on either cliff face, leaving the rickety looking structure hanging precariously over the chasm itself.

The only way in for ground bound ponies was a massive iron drawbridge that looked like it had once been part of a train's boxcar. A few windows here and there covered the front of the structure, too narrow for a pegasus to slip through easily, though they were there to launch arrows and spells out,not let anything in. There was a two wagon length gap between the cliff edge and the hanging structure.

The chasm itself was deep, a fine mist clung to the bottom though there was nothing down there save rock, garbage from the fort and the shattered bones of animals and others that had been unlucky enough to fall into the gap. One could not even see the bottom from the cliffs edge.

There were a number of small windows and arrow slits along the top, sides and even the bottom of the structure, something a few of the pegasi scouts found out the hard way when they tried for a closer look.

“Colonel Well. Nice to see you again.” Jer'rahd states trotting over to meet the dark purple furred unicorn, his eyes traveling up to the path where it curved and hid the strange structure a short distance away from the main blockade along the road.

“Major. Shouldn't you be calling me sir?” Well asks.

“This is a combat situation. I'm supposed to rank General in those.”Jer'rahd grins. “You should be calling me sir.”

“I didn't receive any orders about that Major.” the unicorn sighs.

“Then don't worry about it. Just brief me on the way. I have a wife and new daughter to get back to.” Jer'rahd comments.

“Really? The Princess gave birth? Congratulations Major. Been stuck out here for a while, I didn't even know she was this close.””Well nods. “ How are they doing?”

“Thank you. She and Dawn are doing just fine.”

“Alright, lets get to work then and get you back to them as quick as possible. We've scouted the area, and there are only two ways in and out of that camp and we have both of those blocked. We had some Diamond Dogs check and there's no tunnels or caves that connect to that wasp nest up there. There's a well spring on the other side of the camp, but we have that blocked off too. We were going to starve them out, but they claim to have hostages so we have been feeding them with some air drops.”

“Did you try to add a knock out spell or a drug to the food?”

“We considered it but we know they have at least three mages to check for spells and we don't know the state of the hostages. A dose too strong of any potion might kill them. Any of our Guards get to close to the thing and they are fired on by the mages and archers. Same with pegasi, we can't even come up underneath it as they have some one watching the waste chute for any thing flying under the place. I've never seen such a crappy looking building more defensible than this place.

“I've heard they were a pain when they were first free.”

“Yes, I was there then which is why I am in charge now. Finishing what I started so to speak.”

“How did you get them last time?”

“A school teacher they were keeping hostage got away, snuck out of a hidden passage and showed us where it was. She went through a ton of shit while she was captured. Heard she's teaching in Ponyville now though. Any way this morning everything stopped. We dropped packages of food though no one gathered them. Sent a scout near the door and no one fired at him. We were going to head in when the courier brought word you were coming. So we held position. There should be about fifteen to twenty or so of them in there. At least five civilians, at least that's how many captives scouts have been able to make out.”

Jer'rahd stops at the edge of the barricade looking up the path to where the fortress was.

“I've been told there is a possibility they might take their own lives rather than surrender.”

“Maybe, but I doubt we would be so lucky. I actually hope they did not Major as they would likely take the hostages to Tartarus with them out of spite.”

“True, though it would be nice to have a easy one for once. I've got recruits marching up here for clean up duty in a day or so. I'll take out any resistance and once that's cleared I want your troops to check the place over for any sort of traps or anything particularly dangerous. The fools I’m training now need to get used to the shock of combats aftermath, not traps and such, that's a later class.”

“Ugh .. I still recall that hydra you had us clean up. Never thought to get the smell out of my hooves.”
Colonel Well grumbles. “ I've got PFC Brickwork with his squad in the air ready to come down if you signal him. You sure you're gonna be alright on your own?”

“I'm here to make sure all of you get to go home. I should be able to deal with everything the Red Hooves can dish out. Keep your eyes on the gate, treat any one who comes out of it as a hostile until proven otherwise. I don't want any of them trying to slip away posing as a hostage.”

“I'm not a raw recruit Major. I know protocol.”

“Right, sorry. Keep in mind what my day job is.”

“Understandable. Good luck Major.”

Jer'rahd nods smiling a little as he trots up the path further. The Guards now a days were a far cry from the rent a cops they had been when he first woke up. In a few more years they likely wouldn't need him around at all. He found himself rather amused by that and part of him was looking forward to retirement, well as retired as he could be as Luna's consort,or was it husband now? Of course he still wouldn't let any one else be in charge of Luna and the foals Guard. Though this time next year Pip would be joining the Guard training proper. He needed to make sure that Pip's trainers were picked out before then, preferably ponies who disliked him personally and would take out their frustrations training Pip. Thankfully the other Guards knew that he planned to make sure Pip went through Tartarus and back in his training. Any cries of him playing favorites with his son would be little more than that, crying.

He shook his head clearing his thoughts as he trotted away from the barricade towards the structure, he needed to focus. He stopped before the draw bridge looking up at the structure, watching the arrow slits for a moment and not seeing any movement. As he studied the structure he could see that the haphazard looking construction was mostly for show. There was an underlying solid base support that could probably hold up to even the most severe storm. Some pony clearly had a talent in building, though why that pony turned to banditry Jer'rahd didn't even care to consider.

His horn flares to life making a path of shields for him in the air from the cliffs edge to one of the arrow slits near the draw bridge. The slit was wide enough for him to push his way in though he nearly tripped over the pile of arrows and spears scattered on the other side of his access point. He drew the Waning Moon from it's scabbard with a soft whisk of cloth and poked his head out of the guard tower his gaze shifting over the inside of the structure proper.

The inside of the 'wasp nest' looked like a massive common area that one might find in a proper keep. There were a few doors and archways lining the walls leading towards what were probably personal quarters. One of them had a door and was likely the leaders chambers, though otherwise there didn't seem to be any other exits, the main door opened right into this massive room. A number of cages were set against the walls, ensuring that if the structure was fired upon the captives would be the first to die. The rest of the room was filled with crates and boxes, likely from the last raid that had gone on before the place was surrounded..

What drew Jer'rahd's attention however, were the bodies. A sizable number of ponies lay strewn about the open area, mostly stallions, though there was a mare here and there. A few of the cages had ponies, a griffon and other figures in themas well, also in the same state, though the griffon appeared dead.

Jer'rahd moves slowly over to the closest body, crouching to place his foreleg gently against the ponies neck after a moment he felt a pulse. It was weak, but there. He looked over the light brown and black pony a bit closer. He wore patchwork padded armor and had a curved sword strapped to his side. The older looking stallion looked like he had dipped his hooves in red paint, a sure sign of the bandit gang. What struck Jer'rahd as odd however was that he had no cutiemark.

Glancing around he noted most of the others also carried weapons and wore armor, clearly bandits, though a few seemed to be hostages that had been pulled out of their cages only to fall victim to whatever happened here. From what Jer'rahd could tell however, none of them had a cutie mark. Was this something new with the gang? His questions remained unanswered for a moment as he heard a groan from one of the cages and a figure covered with a ratty blanket shifted as if trying to rise.

Jer'rahd glanced around before darting over to the cage slicing through the binding holding the cage closed. He noted the ponies dark gray flank was also devoid of a cutie mark though unlike the others he seemed to be struggling to sit up. He appeared old and emaciated though he seemed healthy as he struggled to sit up, the blanket wrapped tight around his head and shoulders.

“You're alright now. The Guard is here, you've been rescued.” Jer'rahd comments lifting his head to glance back to see if his words might have attracted anything else.

“Who are you...?” the ponies wizened voice questions hesitantly.

“I'm Major Kaisur of the Guard. I'll get you out of here in a moment.”

“Major Kaisur? Major Jer'rahd Kaisur? I've heard of you.....”

“Well that's good, you know my rep then. Do you know what went on in here?”Jer'rahd asks glancing back again looking over the bodies.

“Ah, I do.”

“Oh? What happened?”Jer'rahd looks back at the pony noticing that his head seemed rather oddly shaped under the blanket.

“I happened.”

“What?!”

Jer'rahd jerks back from the pony as a red furred arm shoots out from under the blanket making a grab at him. He brings his sword around, though not fast enough to block the things other hand from gripping his horn.

Before the gray unicorn could do anything else he felt the grip on his horn tighten and his magic start to flood out of his horn like a torrent of water from a burst dam. The Waning Moon clatters to the wooden floor as his magic fades. He watches as the figure holding him rises, the sound of breaking bone and tearing sinew filling the air as the arm holding him grew thicker and more muscular, the figure growing taller. The floor creaks as the figure increases in size, the ratty blanket shredding revealing a black furred face with a white beard and mane. A pair of onyx black horns jutting from it's head like a minotaur steadily growing into an impressive set of horns. It's lower body thickened and bulked up as well though it remained that of a pony.

As the creature grew Jer'rahd felt himself slipping towards unconsciousness rapidly. He lashed out with a foreleg only to have a green paneled shield form suddenly and deflect the blow.

“You are quite the powerful creature Jer'rahd. I have been watching you for some time. Though I never expected for you to have this much power, ha ha. I feel as if I could take on the goddesses even now.” The strange creature smirks looking down as the silver shield fades from Jer'rahd's flank followed by the black fanged chess knight, leaving him blank flanked and finally unconscious.

“Pity. You faded before I could gloat fully. I suppose it doesn’t matter, but I feel I need to continue. Though I need an audience.” he sighs waving his other hand towards the wall. A blast of wind whips through the room, blowing out a wall and sending rubble and several bodies falling into the abyss of a chasm below.

The explosion did not fail to draw the attention of the pegasi group flying around and the four pony squad dove down to see the strange a creature holding Major Kaisur in the air by his horn. PFC Brickwork didn't wait for any other sign and he and his squad dove in to attack. Brickwork veered off a little flying under his wing mates making a bee line for the Major in attempt at rescue. The others drew their wing blades. The team work was flawless, all of them knew how to move without getting in each others way, a credit to their trainers, one of which was limp before them.

Unfortunately it was useless. The strange black and red creature gestured again, the blast of wind erupting from his outstretched hand, shredding armor, fur, and feathers from one of the pegasi's body. The single blast ripping the pony to shreds sending the tattered pony falling into the chasm, the only mercy was that the blast had knocked him out so he wouldn't be aware of his doomed fall. The blast also knocked another mare to the side with the force of it, before she could regain control she slammed into the wooden structure, impaling herself on a number of shattered stakes and wooden poles.

Brickwork and another mare managed to get past the attack, The mare's wing blade cutting deep into the creatures side slicing open his flesh and slashing along it to expose the creatures ribs. Brickwork was able to make a move for Major Kaisur as the creatures attention focused on the pale lavender mare.

The creature bellowed in pain, his free hand grabbing the mare's green tail as she flew past yanking her backwards by it, slamming her into the floor. Brickwork was knocked to the ground as well by the creature using Major Kaisur's body as a club.

Brickwork winced scrambling quickly to his hooves, watching as his wing mate went limp, her cutiemark fading from her flank. The creature snorted slamming her body to the floor again, before lifting his hoof and stomping down, crushing her head like an over ripe grape against the structures support beam. The monster turns it's head, glancing down at it's side, where the wound was already closing up before it's attention focused on the remaining pegasus.

“What the buck are you?” Brickwork growls, drawing his wing blades.

“Finally one of you asks.” the thing grins wide baring fangs.” My name is Lord Tirek. Not that you will live long enough to herald my coming.”

Brickwork launched himself forward. He expected the creature to dodge his attack and he would fly past and go back to the camp and warn the Colonel. Instead he slammed headlong into a green shield. Before he could recover he felt something grab his wing and yank.

He couldn't suppress his scream as his wing was ripped from it's socket and torn free of his body. He shudders hard watching Tirek drop Major Kaisur on the ground and reach up to grab Brickwork by the neck holding his bleeding form over the edge of the hole he had made. The creature studies him a moment before reaching up and yanking the blade off his intact wing looking the weapon over curiously. He glances at the pegasus's cutiemark with a small sigh.

“Another base mark. There are so few of you with any worth while skills. Still I found use for a ponies talent that was little more than closing doors. Perhaps whatever yours is will help me subjugate your kind as well.” Tirek mutters mostly to himself.

The brick oven that was Brickwork's cutiemark fades from the pegasus. As the stallions eyes roll back Tirek drops him, letting the body fall into the crevasse.

The red and black figure looks at the sword again before crouching and picking up the unconscious form of Jer'rahd looking him over.

“You seem to have had quite the suit of powers. The shields, regeneration, and a well of magical power that I could not even fantom you possessed just from watching you.” Tirek sighs. “No matter, you have simply made my task easier for your hidden talents. Though I also know you have an ability to some how defy the odds simply with your presence. I prefer a stacked deck myself.”

The monster looks back to the wing blade with a small shake of his head. “Such base tools, but useful.” Tirek mutters before shoving the blade into Kaisur's chest, the tip bursting out of his back.

The creature regards the pony a moment more watching the blood drip down from his wounds. Before with a quick jerk of his arm, he sends the impaled gray unicorn flying out of the hole in the wall into the chasm below.

“Worry not Jer'rahd Kaisur. You will see everyone you care about again very soon.” Tirek laughs watching the body fall out of sight into the depths.

Author's Note

Title is by Mushroomhead [ One More Day ]

So i'm kinda glad i got this one out of the way and 2 things now.

I now have time to work on redoing some SiSLRG chapters and maybe adding a few more to some of my other stories...
for those who comment...... Be careful what you predict. It might come true.

Shatter me [17]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Shatter me

This place again.

The same village, the same warmth, she always felt surrounded by what felt like family. Safety, security, love, she knew it wasn't going to last, it never did in this dream, such comfort always ended in horror, in blood.

Wait.

How did she know that? How did she know that this was going to end in blood? That is was a dream?

“This again? What's going on?” Applebloom asks, though no one in particular seemed to notice the question.

The figures around her were indistinct, she couldn't make out faces or any real details, but she could make out masses of color, and their scent. It felt like she was wrapped in a fuzzy blanket that messed with her eyes as well.

“This is how it started.”<

Applebloom looks around trying to see who said that, though all she managed to do in her search was pull away from the fuzzy feeling. She staggered a few steps away from the warmth, feeling the bite of the cold. Everything snapped into focus as she stumbled away.

A number of gasps and shouting in another language drew her attention back to the figures behind her. Looking back she was witness to a family of elk. Two older ones who looked to be parents or the grandparents one with an impressive set of horns and another with a slightly less regal pair though she knew one was male and one was female. Between them with her forelimbs wrapped around to small figures in blankets was a exceptionally pretty doe with a small pair of nubs for horns. This one seemed about the same age as her sister and was gripping the blankets before her tighter as she stared at Applebloom. A pair of noses and curious eyes looked at Applebloom from under the blankets. The older ones said something in another language, before pulling back trying to draw the others with them. The younger watched curiously asking something that Applebloom didn't understand.

“What's going on here?” Applebloom asks.

“This is the other side of Blood.”<

“Who said that?” Applebloom asks looking the room spinning in place before noticing movement through a door way to her right. She yelps jumping back at the sight of a Timber wolf staring at her from the next room. The wolf jumped away as well. Applebloom peers at it curiously , the wolf mimicking the stare. It only took her a moment to realize that she was the wolf. She sat down hard, her actions having caused no end of noise from the family.

She expected they had never dealt with a Timber wolf in their house before, maybe they didn't even know what it was. Granted she was new to the whole being a Timber wolf thing herself so it was hard to say which of them were more taken aback by this. Applebloom still felt like she was breathing and she still felt like she was flesh, though she could see the wolf that was her and she could move it's claws like she was really was it, but she still felt like she was a pony too.

It was then she noticed the two young fawns. The pair had slipped out of their blanket and were slowly circling her chatting away at each other. The pretty doe hissed something at them though they largely ignored her and moved around risking a prod or a poke against Applebloom as they looked over the 'wolf'. Applebloom watched them rather amused at the small fawns bravery. One of them stopped shouting something and pointing at the other. The other looked back to her own flank and started chattering excitedly about something.

It was then she noticed that the two of them looked identical. Clearly the pair were twins, both were of a scarlet coloration with patches of white. Both had short black manes and the smallest nubs of horns on their temples. There were some decidedly odd things about them however as well. Both had hooves like a pony, their mother had cloven hooves as did the grandparents. They also both had cutie marks, though evidently one of them had only just gained it. The first had a paint brush over an easel, she evidently had hers for a while, the other had a tree with twisted and entangled roots, the branches of the tree twined and twisted around themselves as well all of it forming a near perfect circle with a line from left to right across the middle marking where the dirt was at the base of the tree.

”We tired to tell him. But he no longer listened to us. He only listened to the darkness that fueled his own madness. This was the best we could do, we were too weak to stop him directly. These young were who he wanted most, they and their mother.<

Applebloom suddenly knew exactly what was going to happen.

She jumped up in panic, yelling at them to run, to hide, to get out of the house.

It seems all they heard was excited barking.

” This is long done, the past is set in stone, you cannot change their fate. The fires will come, growing from the blood like a weed and cleansing the land of the diseased and sick. We do not blame the fire bringer. One does not blame the lightning for striking, or the river from flowing inevitably on.”<

“Like Tartarus I’m accepting that! There's always hope!” Applebloom snarls. The mare turned wolf rushed forward and scooped up one of the foals by the nape of her neck. She moved to grab the other as well though the mother got in her way, diving for the fawn Applebloom had snatched up. The pony turned wolf darted around the room and down the hall, with the foal in her jaws crying out as they ran. The others moved to give chase, which is what Applebloom was hoping for. It was then Applebloom heard the front door burst open and a great deal of shouting start in the other room.

There was a scream and the sound of weapons being drawn. Applebloom recognized it immediately as the start of the horror. Pushing aside the mirror she yanked a thick curtain from over a window and whipped it over the pair of them with a claw before she lept though the glass, the makeshift cloak protecting them both from the shards. She felt the foal go limp moments before she covered them, and heard the sound of the mother's last cry.

Applebloom landed hard on the ground on the other side of the house, galloping away and into the woods. Hearing more shouting she ducked behind a thick bush before setting down the fawn wrapping one paw around the tiny elk, looking her over to make sure she was alright. The fawn was shaking, her eyes locked on something as she looked though a gap in the bush. Applebloom heard a scream and crying as something landed on the other side of the bush not far from them.

Lifting her head up to look though another gap in the bush she saw the fawns twin sister laying on the ground a arrow though her back leg. A pair of larger elk advanced on the downed fawn. One armed with a club in his jaws and the other with a bow string between it's horns the faint glow of magic pulling back another arrow.

Applebloom curled her leg around the foal clutching her defensively as the club came down on the small foal with a sickening thud. She glanced up at the door of the house watching as the other three were dragged out already dead or unconscious. An older elk with massive horns the like of which she had never seen shouted something at the form of the doe. When the unconscious female didn't respond he lashed out kicking hard at her, tearing her soft skin and marring the pretty doe.

Applebloom couldn't take any more, she couldn't fight them, she didn't know how to do that in this body, plus there was the fawn clutching her leg to think about. She reached her head down gently
picking up the fawn again noting she had saved the one with the tree for a cutiemark. This was possibly the worse cutie-cena she could imagine.

”Hope, hmmm?<”

Things became a blur after that. She wasn't sure how long she was with the foal, but she was no longer in control of the wolf. The dream had sped up so that the nights and days were little more than flashes in her eyes. It had to have been weeks, the fawn was ragged, but still healthy as she caught glimpses here and there of the timber wolf version of herself feeding the small fawn and the sight of the forest behind them in flames.

Time slowed again to normal as the pair stopped at the edge of the forest along a road. The clatter and creak of carts caught Applebloom's wolf ears and she crouched down, the fawn following her lead the small thing having learned to follow the strange tree wolf's example.

A number of ponies were walking along the trail pulling a collection of wagons that seemed loaded down with every worldly possession they owned. Most of them looked tired, a number of them had depressed looks or at least the expressions of those who were beaten down with no chance of fighting back. They looked like farmers primarily, though judging by the manner of dress some of them could have been merchants and one or two Guards. Applebloom glanced back at the fawn, realizing she couldn't care for her like this. This was only a dream, but she would be damned if she let both of the elk fawns die, she fought with herself a moment regaining control of the wolf for a few seconds. Once that was done Applebloom lifted a paw and shoved the fawn forward, hard.

The fawn yelped as she was shoved out of the bushes managing to keep on her hooves though only just. She glanced at the spot were Applebloom hid, then up to the ponies in a panic as the wagons stopped and several of the lead ponies looked down at her. The fawn cries out starting to gibber something in elk causing the stallions to look at her curiously.

“HEY MAW!” one of the stallions who had been pulling the cart shouts. The earth pony was covered with scars and had an eye patch over one eye that he had lost.

“WHAT!?” was the shout back.

“COME UP FRONT AND HURRY!” the stallion yells.

“I swear Higgs if this is another ploy so you can stop pulling and check on Sable and your foal, I will.......” A tiny pastel light blue mare, whose coat had started to gray hopped out of one of the wagons and trudged towards the front, a large gray shawl that seemed to cover the mare like a cloak was draped over her back, her bright blue hair was streaked with gray and pulled up in a bun. Her blue eyes remained sharp however hidden behind a small pair of glasses. While her voice had boomed at first it quickly softened as she noticed the terrified little elk fawn in the road.

The matron waves the others back gesturing for a few to check the woods around them before slowly approaching the fawn and saying something softly in a soothing tone that Applebloom couldn't hear from where she was. The effect was instant the fawn froze looking up at the mare, her bright blue eyes shining as she responds back to the ponies soft words in elk again. The one known as Maw moves closer as the fawn starts ranting in elk again. The older mare nods responding softly and simply, seeming some what surprised that the little elk fawn understood pony. The fawn mutters a few more things, tears welling in her eyes before the tiny thing starts bawling. Maw pulls her close wrapping her shaw around the whimpering fawn as it falls against the larger mare.

The older mare picks the small fawn up putting her on her back and walking back towards the rest of the wagons. She pauses looking at the others who were staring after her.

“She says her name is Bloom. She says she's got no one else so unless we find otherwise she's one of ours now.” Maw Pelt/Apple states as if her word was law.

The others nod in soft mummers, the others not having seen anything in the forest past the odd pile of logs and grass that made up Applebloom's timber wolf form. The one eyed pony finally smirks to himself.

“Heh one of ours huh? Guess that makes her an Apple Bloom?”

“Higgs if you have the time to try and be cute you have time to git back tah pulling!” Maw bellows from the other side of the cart.

“Yes ma'am.” Higgs shouts nearly saluting before starting to pull the wagon again starting the caravan forward again.

======================================================

[Train to Las Pegasus, 1 day after the attack on Gallopagos, 2100 hours, Thursday]

Applebloom jerks awake whipping her head back and forth, her red hair flying everywhere. She shudders for a moment before reaching up to clear her eyes. She was alone in the cabin aside from the gently snoring form of Sweetiebelle.

Okay gently was too nice of a word, particularly since Applebloom couldn't hear the train she was riding in over the snores that mare put out. Applebloom winced at a particularly loud, window rattling snore before moving over and pushing Sweetiebelle off her back and onto her belly.

The effect was nearly instant, mid dragons roar snore, the sound suddenly dropped countless octaves to a lighter, less raspy, almost squeeing sound that one might think a mouse or bunny made when it slept.

Applebloom shook her head having long ago given up on figuring out the mysteries of Sweetiebelle's existence.

The group of them had left the Crystal Empire after having lunch with Grandpa Rose and doing a great deal of shopping to replenish what Sweetie had lost from dragon fire. There had been a bit of issue at the station as evidently a number of trains had not arrived when they were supposed to, though there was no news as to why. Thankfully the overnight express to Las Pegasus was there already and ready to travel down the west coast from the Crystal Empire. The train itself was powered by crystal energy that was charged from the sun. Applebloom wasn't sure on the specifics, but the trip down the coast would take only a day at best due to the trains speed. That was even counting when it slowed down at night to conserve power. This also gave any pegasi the chance to spread their wings outside as the speed dropped considerably.

Stepping out of the cabin and closing the door slowly behind her she made her way towards the social car, expecting Pip or Scootaloo might be there if they were not in their room. Moving quietly past the other sleeping rooms she wondered briefly how any one slept with Sweetiebelle's snores. She slid open the door to the next car stepping inside, wondering how she had gotten to sleep herself with that roaring.

The car was mostly empty, there was a older unicorn stallion in a suit at one table writing something furiously on a sheet of paper. An older mare was further along at the other side of the car, though she had dozed off in the middle of knitting what looked like a foals bonnet.

Pip was also in the room, sitting at a table by the window, his gaze was fixated on something outside as if he was watching something. Applebloom noted the odd expression on his face though before she could approach or say anything about it a green streak of light flashed outside trailing by the window leaving a trailing after image.

Applebloom barely got a glimpse as it streaked past but the color was all she needed to know that it was Scootaloo. She turned her attention back to Pip approaching slowly taking note of the dopey half smile on his face as his eyes followed the green blur of flame outside the moving train car. Realization dawned on her as she recognized the look, her brother had that look when Rainbow Dash was around. Uncle Jer'rahd and Uncle Rhede had that look around Princess Luna and Velkorn.

“By the stars, yer hot for Scootaloo?!' Applebloom gasps as the bits fall into place, the lingering images of her dream fading away fully at the dawning realization.

Wrapped up in his own world Pip had not even seen her until she was practically on top of him and the sudden accusation nearly in his ear caused him to yelp and fall out of his seat with a crash. The business pony glanced over at the noise before continuing to write and the older mare woke up, looked around and started knitting again like nothing had happened.

“Applebloom?!? Wha....Ah dun know wot yer tallkin bout.” Pip stammers struggling back up to his seat.

“Don't even gimmi that, ah recognize that look you had on yer face an yer Trottingham accent comes out heavy when yer nervous or embarrassed.” Applebloom grins leaning closer to her off balance cousin.” That's why Babs dropped the hint when she did an why she was asking Scootaloo if she was seeing some pony before we left. That's why Bleu was cackling so hard, she figured it out too!”

Pip didn't say anything though Applebloom's grin only widened taking his silence as confirmation, as well as his head hitting the table top with a thud.

“This explains so much, though why her, ah didn't even think yah knew her that well?”Applebloom continues.

“How often did we meet and hang out when we were younger? All of us? Quite a bit, even before the war.” Pip mutters. “Then when Starfall took over as liaison, the Guard and the Wonderbolts started doing a number of joint exercises together. She was always there with her mother and Dash and I was always there with Da. At one point I just kinda I dunno........”

“Jeez,but she's so much older than you...”

“Two years... and not even a full two years.”Pip mutters

“Creepy stalker much tah find that out?” Applebloom smirks.

“It's simple math and ah was invited to her birthday parties when younger, and her cutie-cena. “ Pip grumbles.” So help me if you tell Sweetiebelle ah hava crush on Scootaloo …....”

“She doesn't need to, cause you just did.”Sweetiebelle states popping up between the two from under the table, causing both earth ponies to yelp and fall off their chairs.

The business pony pauses again,looking at the group of them a little longer this time before putting his paperwork away and storming out of the car. The older mare woke up again and continued knitting.

Sweetie grins about to say something when Pip rushed forward, his fore limbs wrapping around both their necks and pulling the two fillies into a choke hold. Applebloom flails realizing that Pip was mostly muscle despite his size, and with her hooves not on the ground she couldn't even call a bit of the dragon power to get away.

“Ya listen and ya listen good. Ya tell 'er bout this and oy 'll make sure yer sisters become only children.” Pip growls.

“What about Big Mac? Sweetiebelle gasps causing Pip to have his thoughts derailed again.

“What? Well ah mean okay maybe GAH... just … “ Pip grumbles. “Just oy'll do somethin yah won't like!”

“Why are you so scared of her finding out?” Applebloom gasps rubbing her neck as Pip finally lets the pair of them go.

“Ah dunno, what do ah do if she doesn't return the interest? What if she does? “Pip grumbles clearly starting to panic at the idea the two of them now knew, which was enough to worry Applebloom. “This is way out of my comfort zone. Then ah gotta deal with everyone elses reaction.... and me showin interest is practically a sure sign to sic Ma on her. Ah wouldna wish that on any one specially not some pony ah like.”

'Well you did it to Diamond Tiara.”Sweetiebelle points out.

“What...? Oh crap ah fergot ta warn her..... Ma's gonna flay her...” Pip moans.

“I'm okay with that.” Sweetiebelle adds.

“Well jus tell her, ain't like she's seeing anyone, she ain't gonna hold ya being an earth pony against yah. Heck with how she views Rainbow Dash, yah prolly have a better chance since her hero married a earth pony.”Applebloom smiles.

“Yeah, well..... ah really don't have the nerve fer this. Fighting, danger, public speaking that's nothing.....”Pip sighs. “ This though......”

“Come on you're the bravest pony I know.... wait no there's Jer'rahd, and then Lionheart did all that stuff, and there's Princess Luna and Twilight.... then Fluttershy stared down a cockatrice..... well, you're on the list somewhere.” Sweetiebelle rambles.

“You'll do fine cuz.” Applebloom pats him on the back.

“OOOOh, IDEEEEEAAA!” Sweetiebelle squees.

“Oh buck.” the two earth ponies mutter.

“Las Pegasus! You can ask her out there, there's dinners and shows and the two of you can have a lot of fun. I'm sure we can set it up that you two can be alone the whole time and you can make your move then! We only have a day so we need to plan it out though.” Sweetiebelle smiles.

“Say that ain't ah bad idea. Yah don't even have tah ask her out, tha two of us can jus split and you two ken spend the whole time with each other. Yah ken see if she really is interested in yah and then ya'll know!” Applebloom theorizes.

“So we have a plan “ Sweetiebelle grins.

“Ah'm doomed.” Pip moans slapping his face with a hoof. “Wait is this a Sweetiebelle plan or a crusader plan?”

“Well since Applebloom is on board and Scootaloo's the target it's a crusader plan.” Sweetiebelle answers.

Pip smacks his head against the table again.”Las Pegasus is doomed......”

=========================================================

[Las Pegasus, west coast of Equestria, Two Days after the attack on Gallopagos, 500 hours Friday]

The train started to slow further the next morning as it crossed from scrub land into a desert as it neared its destination. The San Palimeno desert stretched far to the south eventually turning into a jungle that marked the border of Equestria and the Zebralands. To the west was the Capricorn Ocean, the lands far across the ocean home to Japonies, Minotaurs, and several other exotic races that had settled on the far continents. To the north was a small mountain range with a great mountain at it's center that made all the others look like hills. The mountain was called Ever-rest, named after the many who died trying to climb to it's peak and whose graves now littered the trail to the summit. The range itself was covered in thick forests that eventual spilled out further to the north and north west, the beginnings of Whitetail Woods.

As the train slowed Applebloom felt a sense of something from the north, something felt odd about the mountain there, no, not the mountain, the forest, but she couldn't put her hoof on it. All thoughts of the woods were pushed aside as the train rolled up on the city of Los Pegasus.

The faint light of Celestia's sun was just beginning to creep above the horizon to the east, but it seemed little more than a candle compared to the blinding mass of search lights, glowing buildings, neon lights, and sparkling flashes that they were headed towards. All four of them and a number of other ponies were staring out the widows at the city that looked as if it had used an entire crayon box worth of colors to decorate it's buildings and structures, and then invented new colors to put up as well to add to the glaring shine. If Princess Luna ever thought any place was waging war on her night, it had to be here.

As the clacked along slowed to a near crawl as it started to pull into the station, both sides of the tracks were covered by a constant stream of billboards. The signs blinked and shown brightly advertizing casinos, hotels, various shows in the area, and a number of other things that were best summed up the mothers on the train covering their foal's eyes.

Pip and Applebloom however couldn't fail to notice what the signs hid however along the outskirts of the city. Rows of run down buildings and houses that could be near condemned or abandoned, a number of foreclosure signs and other things. It was a clear warning against falling fully into the sway of the cities lights and glamor, and the dangers of gambling. A warning that the billboards tried their best to hide from potential customers.

“Ah didn't think any pony lived like that....” mutters Applebloom.

“A large number do out of choice. They live in the slums so they can spend all their bits towards whatever vice has them. Many of them reduce themselves to this because they can't control themselves and can't limit it.” Pip sighs.

“Like Spike used tah be with ice cream.” Applebloom chuckles.” So why do you seem to know so much about this?”

“Remember back in school they did that whole 'say neigh to drugs ' thing?” Pip sighs.

“Yeah.”

“Well ah went a little gung-ho in regards tah that and tried to get da to stop drinking.”Pip sighs.

“Bet that went over well.”

“Bout as well to be expected, though I found out that half the stuff is like water to him and the other halves like fruit juice. He's got to drink an insane amount of anything to feel it. Still he only drinks when there's a celebration or at the end of a graduating class. He said he used to drink to forget a lot of things he stressed and worried over, he claims he doesn't have that now. Still he stopped going out for a long time when I was doing that, and he stopped again when Berry did that program. I don't think he's a really good meter stick for that sort of destructive behavior.”

“Ah spect not. We get a lot of that sort of thing round cider time, particularly from Dash, Pinkie, and Berry Punch. Though Berry owns a bar...” Applebloom mutters.

“Still not something I get.”

“Well not like we're old enough tah drink any way. All we gotta worry about is keeping Sweetiebelle from running off.” Applebloom sighs glancing over to the white unicorn who was staring wide eyed at every billboard muttering something about each of them a large smirk on her face. Scootaloo glanced at Applebloom from the other side of Sweetiebelle with a worried expression on her face as the white unicorn was practically vibrating in excitement.

“If she tries tah do another flash mob ah am stuffing her in her own suitcase.” Pip grumbles.

===================================================

[ Las Pegasus 800 hours, Friday ]

“So why are we staying at this place again?” Scootaloo asks curiously looking up at a massive neon sign depicting a swirling night sky with small comets trailing showers of sparks from them. A model of Equss sat in the middle of it all with the name 'Stardust' in bold lettering resting on it.

“I like that they got most of the stars and constellations right in their sign.” Pip states. “ ma would be happy.”

“They did?” Applebloom asks looking at the sign again.

“We came here cause Miss Lulumoon at the library said she got her start here. She said a magic show she saw here when she was a filly pretty much showed her what she wanted to do with her life and she got her cutiemark. Maybe Applebloom might find something like that here.” Scootaloo grins.

“Ah doubt it.” Applebloom mutters.

“Hey there's always hope.” Scootaloo grins as the group walks into the main entrance. “Though I wanted to stay at Planet Wonderbolt. They've got a collection of rare Wonderbolt memorabilia the Canterlot Museum doesn't even have.”

“Err well we can go have a look at that later if you want.” Pip mentions a bit of nervousness in his voice. The other two pause looking at Scootaloo who doesn't quite notice the looks.

“Nah that's okay, I’m not too worried about it.” Scootaloo mentions nonchalantly as she looks around. She sniffs the air a little glancing back at her small wings , one feather igniting brightly.

“What's wrong?” Applebloom asks.

“They're pumping air into room.” Scootaloo mutters.

“I thought it smelled fresher in here.” Sweetiebelle mentions.

“So what's wrong with fresh air?” Pip asks.

“Well it's purified air. Too much of it tends to make ponies a little loopy. It lowers perceived limitations a little, not much a problem normally, but it's something stunt fliers look out for as we don't need even the slightest bit of impaired judgment.”

“Why would they be pumping it in here?” Applebloom asks.

“Lowers judgment? Oh they are clever ponies.”Sweetiebelle grins not noticing Pip's wince. “It's a casino of course they want ponies spending bits to have impaired judgment.”

“Ah thought this was a hotel?” Applebloom mutters glancing up as Sweetiebelle points.

Directly across from the entrance on the other side of a massive night sky themed archway row after row of shimmering and blinking boxes sat on short tables. Beyond them a number of bright green card tables and bars sat. High on the wall a pegasus flipped tabs on a board showing numbers next to strange names like 'Santa's little helper', and 'Doc a mundo', the tag at the top of the board listed them as 'greyhound races'.

The whole area was a mess of blinking lights clattering coins and the cries of winners and losers.

All four of them stare into the room blinking in confusion.

“How tha heck did we miss that?” Applebloom asks.

=====================================================

[ Las Pegasus 1100 hours ]

As the group set themselves up in the room Scootaloo headed down stairs to take a shot at a black jack table leaving the other three alone for a moment.

Sweetiebelle grins grabbing pip and dragging him into the bathroom before grabbing a brush and some styling gel and trying to get him prepared to woo their friend.

“Gah Sweetiebelle what are you doing!?!” Pip fusses.

“Alright, here's the plan, you go ask Scootaloo if she wants to go see that Wonderbolt museum...” Sweetie states.

“Ah was gonna do that any way!” Pip complains trying to get the unicorn away from messing with his mane.

“While there ask her if she wants tah git something tah eat, according tah this flier, there’s a music an a fancy restaurant at Planet Wonderbolt, so yah could easily get tha dinner an a show.” Applebloom adds.

“Hey.. okay that's actually not a bad idea......” Pip mutters.

“Me and Applebloom will follow along and make sure you say the right thing and that Scootaloo stays near you.” Sweetiebelle adds.

“Okay now it's starting to look like hijinks.” Pip adds.

“Ah'll go ahead an make sure that everything's all romantic like fer you two when yah get there. Yah know reserve a table fer yah and all that.” Applebloom adds.

“Still sounds like Hijinks, but that's still a good idea....” Pip admits.

“And I’ll talk to the band and make sure they play something Scoots likes.”Sweetiebelle adds. “I've got the perfect love song they can sing.”

“Shouldn't I get flowers or something?”

“Not sure yah ken find honeysuckles, she loves those.” Applebloom comments.

“You know ah was a bit worried about you two trying something, but these are kinda all good ideas an advice.”

“Why shouldn't it be?” Sweetiebelle mutters.

“Well you've been dating the same colt for years now, a colt you could charm by burping loudly. Applebloom's never had a successful date that didn't end in property damage and or some sort of trauma.” Pip admits.

“Seriously do you want our help or not.”Sweetiebelle grumbles.

“Ah have so had successful dates.....least until they found out ah was related tah Big Mac an Rhede..... their reputation kinda precedes them.” Applebloom mutters.

========================

[ Las Pegasus 1800 hours ]

“This place is nuts. How do they even sleep around here with all these lights.” Scootaloo asks bouncing along on the sidewalk looking up at everything in amazement. the sun had started to set and lights of the city shown even brighter in the encroaching dark.

“Thick curtains, like in the room we have ah spect.” Pip admits smiling despite himself. It had been fairly easy to convince Scootaloo to go along with him to Planet Wonderbolt. Granted he didn't understand why she saw the appeal, her mother and father were the current heads of the Wonderbolts, and her idols great grandmother Starfall had practically founded the military application of the team. Pip decided next time they met up with Bleu to get the dragon to tell Scootaloo about the Wonderbolts first team that was part of the ESO. That would be a good way get them to stop fighting. Aunt Bleu loved to talk and Scootaloo would love to hear about the first group, even if they were just entertainers.

To be honest he would be enjoying his time more if not for the fact that the two of them were being followed. If Scootaloo wasn't so excited, she probably would have noticed Applebloom and Sweetie following them as well. Applebloom had tried to disguise herself, granted the disguise was a empty cardboard box made to hold oranges.

Still at least she was trying. Sweetiebelle had simply dressed like a ninja and was floating a small tree branch in front of her face acting as if she was fully disguised as a tree while wearing black silk pajamas.

Oddly the pair of them barely got a glance from the other ponies milling around on the street, clearly this wasn't the strangest thing they had ever seen in Las Pegasus.

“Alright here it is!” Scootaloo squees.

Pip blinks, shaking off how adorable that was, and looks up at the massive globe of a building before them. A trio of life sized wax manikins dressed as wonder bolts circle around the globe on poles jutting from the replica of Equss. The figures floated around the globe as if they were flying before vanishing into some clouds that float around the edge of the globe before they burst out again on the far side of their spin. The massive structure behind the globe seemed to be all made of clouds, though here and there Pip could see the real building underneath. Scootaloo grins, getting impatient and pushes him onward into the entrance of the building.

Applebloom pops her head out of the box and Sweetiebelle lowers the branch as they look at the building.

“Alright their in, starting Crusader mission Bravo, Unicorn, Charlie, Kilo. “ Sweetiebelle grins.

“Seriously we are not calling it that.”Applebloom deadpans.

“Why not?” Sweetiebelle asks.

“Think about what tha letters spell out.” Applebloom sighs.

“Yeah I know, cause that's what we want for the pair of them to be doing right?”

“NO, this is a first date. One that Scoots doesn't even know is a date, they are not gonna be doing that!” Applebloom shouts. “ An Pip's underage any way, they ain't old enough tah be doing that!”

“Pfft whatever I'm not changing it. Like I should take naming advice from a pony who thought hiding in a cardboard box was a good idea. There now way you will understand the intricacies of my mission naming.” Sweetiebelle scoffs.

“Hey, this is an Orange box!” Applebloom snorts.

“Yeah so?” Sweetiebelle mutters.

“No one would look for a 'Apple' in an orange box!” Applebloom explains.

=============================================================

[ Las Pegasus 1830 hours ]

Applebloom flattened herself against the side of a machine glancing out from behind it as Pip and Scootaloo paid for their tickets. Applebloom smiles noting how Pip covered the cost of admission before the pair of them went.

“Perfect, now all I gotta do is wait here tah let Sweetiebelle know when they come out so she ken get that music ready.” Applebloom grins scooting her orange box next to another machine where a old green mare was dropping bits into a one armed bandit.

The plan was simple. They already reserved a spot at the restaurant attached to the casino. Sweetiebelle should be over there now working to make sure the band played a romantic set of songs for dinner. Applebloom was watching the museum entrance to make sure that the pair didn't leave early or miss the time frame for their reservation. Pip was reluctant to use his full name or status, but both of them were sure he never would have gotten a spot in the posh place if he hadn't.

“Alright if ah stay here ah got a clear view of that museum.”Applebloom grins then tilts her head a moment. She blinks in confusion trying to figure out what her brain was trying to tell her. She thinks a moment tracing her steps backwards mentally before her eyes widen.

Applebloom bursts out of the box staring wide eyed at the old green mare dropping bits into a one armed bandit.

“Granny Smith!?” Applebloom gasps.

“Why hello there darling...... what are you doing in a boxa oranges?” Granny states looking over as she yanks down the lever.

“What am ah doing? What are you doing here? Applejack told me you were gone!”

“ What? She said ah was dead?” Granny frowns.

“What? Nah, tah Coltcune like you was saying yah was going when yah retired.” Applebloom shakes her head.

“Oh that, me an yer uncle Apple Strudel.........” Granny explains gesturing to an older stallion as he leans over from another machine tipping his hat with a hoof to her before going back to putting bits in the machine. “.... are staying at tha Coltcune hotel. We're not allowed tah gamble there any more after we broke tha bank in craps. Now then why are you here, ain't it zapapple time?”

“Yeah but we got so many ponies helping out they dun even need me there and me, Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle decided ta visit a couple of places around Equestria.” Applebloom states as both Granny Smith and Uncle Strudel get wide eyed in a panic that the CMC was here. “Pip came with us too.”

“Oh whew. Okay dear.... So what have ah missed in tha last couple o months on tha farm? How're the youngings?” Granny Smith grins as Applebloom starts firing off everything that had happened since Granny went on vacation.

===============================================================

[ Las Pegasus 1900 hours ]

Pip along with the others in the tour stared at Scootaloo as she chewed out the tour guide. Pip wasn't quite sure what had set her off, something the guide had said about Spitfire he supposed, but he hadn't been listening. Besides he was a little distracted by the orange mare going off almost as good as his Da did with the Guards he was training.

The museum was far less impressive than advertized. There were a couple of old uniforms, tons of images and a couple of ticket stubs for early shows. He could tell it was a disappointment to Scootaloo who had clearly expected more than a two room museum. There were a number of life sized wax pony replicas of the current Wonderbolt roster … oh right that's what set her off.

Pip had gotten so used to the snide comments and innuendo from hanging around Guards all the time, the mares were worse than the stallions, that he mostly ignored it. The guide, a yellow pegasus stallion in a rather inaccurate Wonderbolts costume had jokingly referenced that the statues had every detail right. He then muttered something rather ribald about Spitfire's plot to the chuckles of a few other male ponies on the tour with them. Scootaloo however didn't find it funny and was currently ripping the guide a new one, as well as correcting him on every single mistake he had made on the tour.

Pip didn't think the guide deserved the fussing about the details, but the crack about Scootaloo’s mom clearly warranted this. Granted the guide was getting off light compared to the noble who had said something like that about his Ma within earshot of his Da.

“..... how do you even call this a museum!?! You have nothing at all on the history, nor do you have anything at all on any one other than the last twenty years worth of team members. Rainbow Dash has a better collection than this in her living room and you have the gall to charge fifty bits for this sham of a tour....” Scootaloo rants.

Pip couldn't help but smirk at her raging and the look of absolute horror on the guides face and the interest that the others on the tour now had in the information she was spouting. Still he made a note that if this turned out to be more than just one half date, to not piss her off, he doubted he could take as much abuse as the guide was...... oh wait. The guide had fainted standing up.... that explained it.

Pip sighs as Scootaloo pauses for breath and noticed the pegasus was out cold and still standing there. The orange pegasus blinks tapping the guide on the shoulder watching as he fell like a cut tree to crash heavily to the ground.

“So is she really the daughter of Spitfire and Soarin?” a unicorn in the tour leans over and asks him.

“Yeah.... “ Pip chuckles.

=========================================

[ Las Pegasus 1955 hours ]

“I'm really sorry about that.” Scootaloo grumbles her ears flat against her head.

“ Yah don't have tah apologize. Ah think yah went rather easy. Yah ever heard of a Noble stallion named Stained Glass?” Pip mentions.

“No.”

“Let's just say he said something like that about Ma while Da was in earshot.” Pip smirks as Scootaloo considers this a moment and winces. “ Da didn't touch a hair on his head, but tha poor fool now soils himself every time Ma's name in mentioned.”

“Well that explains why you're not upset at least. “ Scootaloo chuckles a little.” Where are we going any way?”

Pip smirks a little. “Figured with all that ranting, might wanna get somethin tha eat. Supposed tah be a good restaurant attached to tha casino. Might be a bit fancy, but ah heard tha foods good.”

“Oh okay. Don't think I’ve had anything to eat since the train this morning.” Scootaloo admits.

Pip opens the door for her as they pair of them enter the restaurant. The foyer had a few other ponies sitting around waiting for an open table. A couple of shady looking stallions sat at the head of the group waiting spared the two a small glance, though one seemed to focus his attention more on Pip as the two passed,walking up to the small stand.

Pip gestured to Scootaloo to come along with her as he made his way to a rather regal looking black and white griffon, dressed in a suit that matched his coloration standing behind the podium. The imposing figured looked down at the pair of them cocking one eyebrow.

“Is there something I can help you children with?” the griffon asks, giving the pair a look between annoyance and boredom.

“Ah reserved a table fer two at eight. We're a couple minutes early.” Pip states glancing back as Scootaloo looks around , her ears flattening a bit at some annoyed grumbling from a couple of the stallions waiting.

“Name?” the griffon asks.

“Should be under Pip..... no wait... Sweetie woulda used mai full name......” Pipsqueak mutters with a sigh .” Should be under Pipsqueak Smalls Kaisur.”

The griffon looks down flipping open the notebook on the stand running a claw over the names seeming surprised when he came across Pip's.

“ I see. Right this way sir, madam.” The griffon comments turning and leading the pair of them into the restaurant proper.

The shady group of ponies sitting in the waiting area stare after them in shock for a moment, though one of the earth ponies in the group taps his chin in thought.

“Pipsqueak Smalls Kaisur...? Isn't that one of the foals Princess Luna adopted after the war?” the stallion muses gaining the attention of the others in his group.

=====================================================

[ Las Pegasus 2000 hours ]

“By Celestia's flappy bits, seriously they want how much for a salad?” Scootaloo gasps looking at the menu.

The pair of them were at a booth within sight of a central stage. A five creature band sat on stage playing a mixture of instruments, a sign near the edge of the stage proclaimed them as 'The Moonbeams'. Pip didn't think they were that bad, though they were playing low and slow songs for the moment with occasionally a peppier one at some ponies request. It wasn't loud enough to drown out conversation, but it dulled the back ground noise of clinking dishes and other chatter.

A grayish purple unicorn mare dressed in a suit much like the griffon at the front of the restaurant stood near the table, the white glow of her magic holding the tablet to take their order.

“Ah didn't think it would be this bad.” Pip mutters whistling lightly at some of the prices

“I could get my body weight in hay burgers for the price of one here. There was a burger joint on the corner we should head there....” Scootaloo mutters ignoring the stare the waitress gives her for that.

Pip flinches a little and shakes his head.” Nah dun worry about it. Ah'll pay fer it. Ah've not even touched what ah expected tah spend from my account.”

“We dang if you were gonna be that generous we should have brought the others.” Scootaloo chuckles.

“You heard um. They both had somethin else they wanted tah do.” Pip comments hiding behind the menu.”Oh hey this looks good. I'll take the broccoli Alfredo.”

“Think I’ll go with the salmon with the baked potato side.” Scootaloo comments. As the waitress takes it down leaving them to place the orders.

“Fish?” Pip asks.

“Yeah, the Wonderbolts do a lot of shows and I’ve been tagging along with most of them lately. We hit a bunch of festivals including ones near griffon and Diamond Dog lands. I had it once a long while back and I kinda liked it . I know ponies don't normally eat meat and it's not like it would be easy to get in New Canterlot any way. Figure if you're buying might as well. Surprised you haven’t had any before.”

“Ah have, aunt Velkorn actually cooks it from time tah time, jus surprised you've had it. Most ponies without a mixed family like mine wouldn't even think of it. Although I had chicken once too when we went tah visit the griffon kingdoms. Da ate it without issue, so did Berry and Ma, but ah don't think Brush an ah'll ever have a taste for it.”

“Ugh, I don't think I ever want to try chicken. I helped take care of Fluttershy's pets to many times.”Scootaloo mutters taking a sip of water. “So why'd you tag along with me any way? I figure you would have had something you want to do, or at least go hang out with your cousin.”

“Ehh still a year or two too young to actually gamble.” Pip comments wishing he still had the menu to hide behind. “Museum might be all I could check out.... granted ah got a show along with tha trip so ah can't complain.”

Scootaloo mutters something to herself her ears flattening. Pip glances around wondering what he could do to stop her from being embarrassed about that.

“So yer actually gonna join tha guard training this year?” Pip questions changing the subject as best he could.

“Summer of next year actually. I kinda wanted a year to myself. I'm practically guaranteed a spot in the Wonderbolts if I can make it through Jer'rahd's training. I fly better than a bunch of the team members already.”

Pip sighs in relief as she continues. It might not be the most romantic conversation, but it stopped her from asking about the why of this dinner, and ended her feeling bad about the museum. He still had to work up his own nerve to tell her how he felt, however. Sweetiebelle had said she would do something with the music that should help, he wondered what and how, but it was best not to think on what the white unicorn might do. He glanced at the stage noting the music had stopped and saw the band had left a note on their sign saying they were breaking for lunch.

============================================

[ Las Pegasus 2030 hours ]

Two dark gray griffons male and female, a yellow earth pony mare, a green unicorn stallion and a large diamond dog that was chewing on a wooden drum stick stared at the white unicorn in the room with them. Given that Sweetiebelle had already released three albums before she even hit the age of eighteen all but one of the griffons knew who she was and the the earth pony and Diamond dog were fans.

Sweetiebelle had explained the situation and while the griffon lead singers were not entirely thrilled the rest of their band convinced them to give it a shot.

“Cosmic love?” The gray griffon female, Silver Spire, asked.

“No his dad and aunt have break downs when they hear that one, I doubt it has good memories.”
Sweetiebelle shakes her head.

“Love of my life by Cowcolt Mouth?” Asks the male griffon, Gray Spire, the two griffons were twins.

“That ones about a mare rejecting him and his getting over it, not a love song.”Sweetiebelle sighs.

“Slow love slow?” The Diamond Dog , Pete, asks rubbing the long braided blue gray beard dangling from his chin.

“I don't know that song well enough to play it.” The unicorn stallion, Jellybean states.

“That's too slow for Scootaloo's taste any way, she likes faster songs. Hmmm I got it.”Sweetiebelle grins “ Do you know 'Morris Bray?”

“An The mother bucking Time? “ The earth pony mare, Sasha, grins. “Jellybean was one of the founding members.”

“Excellent.” Sweetiebelle grins.

========================================

[ Las Pegasus 2050 hours ]

Pip and Scootaloo were just finishing up their meal, the conversation having died off when the food arrived. Pip paid with the bits he got from the bank earlier along with a tip that went a good ways to improving the attitude of the ones serving them. Now near the end of their meal the band was once again taking the stage, along with a white unicorn with pink and purple mane and tail.

“Is that Sweetiebelle?” Scootaloo asks nodding to the stage.

Pip glances over his eyes widening. “Oh no, she wasn't supposed to sing.....”

A long guitar riff from one of the griffons breaks into something that sounds like hooting drawing the attention of every one in the restaurant to the stage. The music picks up as most of the band shifts around moving with the music as if lost to the beat of it already.

“I, I've been watching you,
I think, I wanna know ya” Sweetiebelle sings.

“Know yah” the rest of the band choruses still jamming out.

“Said I, I'm a little dangerous,
Mare, I'd love to show ya”

“Show Ya!”

“My jungle love, oh!”
“Ohweeoweeoh!”

A few of the ponies in the tables near the stage start nodding along with the music.

“What the heck is she doing?” Scootaloo questions as she stares at the stage watching the white unicorn practically bounce across it.

“I think, I wanna know ya!”

“Know yah”

“Ooohooo
Jungle love, yah”

“Ohweeoweeoh!”

Several members of the crowd start tinging along with the chorus.

“Girl, I'd love to show ya”

“Show yah”

“Wait a minute.
You, you've got a pretty cart
I think I wanna drive it”

“Drive it”

“What the heck is she singing? This isn't even a love song” Pip grumbles.

“Love song?” Scootaloo asks.

“I ain't playin' baby,
said I drive a little dangerous
Take you to the crib, rip you up”

“HOOAH!”
Jungle love, look out
oh yeah yeah yeah yeah

“Ohweeoweeoh!”

“Pip what's going on?” Scootaloo glares.

Pip lowers his head a moment ears flattening to his head. Well this hadn't turned out exactly like he thought. Maybe he could just run with what aunt AppleJack and aunt Starfall were always on about and just stop beating around the bush and just be honest about it.

“Come on I’ll tell you outside.” Pip sighs rising from the table.

“I think, I wanna know ya oh hoo
Jungle love”

“Ohweeoweeoh!”

“Girl, I'd love to show ya...”

“show yah”

“Wait a minute....” Sweetiebelle stalls noticing that Scootaloo and Pip were gone. She shrugs and continues on after the short breath.

==============================================================

[ Las Pegasus 2100 hours ]

Pip glances back as he steps out onto the side walk in front of Planet Wonderbolt, looking back at Scootaloo. The music behind continuing on as if Sweetiebelle was not even aware they had left..

Pip moves off to a small park with a bench across the street from the casino with Scootaloo following along slowly.

“Pip what's going on?” Scootaloo asks looking a little worried.

“Ehh the other girls found out who ah had a crush on....” Pip mutters.

“Oh? Well that doesn't explain...” Scootaloo responds.

“ Actually it does, cause it's you........” Pip mutters glanced back to see Scootaloo's eyes widen before he turns focusing on the bench, not sure if he could look at her and still talk.
“Sorta started kinda liking ya years ago, but then yah had your stuff to do and ah had mine and we didn't really hang out that much, but you kinda had the same interests as me an ah thought maybe it was nothing. Babs found out at one of tha reunions cause ah had tah tell some one and then Ma knows cause well,never mind. Then all that Diamond Tiara stuff started an the others convinced me tah say somethin here an........”

Pip trails off at a flash of green light that lit the small park. He flinches before bringing himself to look back to see that Scootaloo was gone. Looking up a green streak of fire was arcing through the night sky slowly fading, lost in the multi hued glow of the city below.

Pip stared after it a moment his ears drooping as he lowered his head with a sigh turning to walk back towards the Stardust, not feeling like doing anything else that night.

He was a block or so away from the hotel when strong hooves suddenly grabbed him yanking him into the darkness of an ally.

“Got him boss.”A voice states.

“Great! We'll make a mint with this kid.” comments another gruff voice in the darkness. “ Spected some guards with him didn't even need to bring the rest of yah.”

“Umm he ain't hurt is he? He ain't fighting or anything.” another voice comments.

“Good point , hey colt you alright?”The first voice asks moving his hoof from in front of Pip's mouth.

“Oh yeah, ah'm gold.” Pip suddenly grins wide his accent laid on thick. “Lemmi jus thank you gents fer giving me a noice distraction from wots otherwise been a shitty noight.”

=========================================

She could hear the screaming, hear the cries of pain and the sound of conflict. The ash fell heavily around her as the forest burned. Applebloom ignored it all, there were only so many times you could see something like this and have it bother you, unless of course you didn't know you were only watching it like she usually was.

Applebloom had a goal now, once again she was herself in this dream. Like last time she was trying to make it to the top of the cliff. Unlike last time she knew to avoid the edge.

“You will not like what you see.”<

“Yah keep saying that but yah never 'splain anythin!” Applebloom shouts pushing past some soldiers who do not even notice her.

” As we said before. We do not blame the Fire bringer. You may.”<

“ What tha buck's that supposed tah mean?” Applebloom growls skidding to a stop at the top of the cliff.

Her gaze scanned quickly around as more soldiers ran past her. To the left of her, past the tree line there was a black stain in the air, something so dark she could taste it, something foul enough that palatable disgusted her. Through the trees she could just make out a figure of an older elk pinned to a tree, he was wounded and broken, but still alive. She recognized him as the one shouting at the fawns mother before kicking her in the dream of blood.

She shook her head turning to the figure on the cliffs edge. She moved closer to him looking out over the fire ravenged land scape. Past the natural barrier of the woods, the ground suddenly gave way dropping into a massive crater that held another forest within it. The cliffs of the crater were sheer, as if the ground had simply sunk down the depth of the Manterhorn before Avianna had ripped the top off. The bottom of the crater was bowl shaped with the middle being the deepest. Applebloom couldn't believe she had run that far up so quickly. She could barely see the far side of the crater, and if the whole thing had not been on fire she probably wouldn't have been able to see it in the night like this.
In the center of this circular crater, towering over the forest both in the crater and around it, was a giant tree. The base of it easily as big around as Canterlot itself. The city she had run from filled this crater, lying among the roots of the great tree.

And all of it was burning.

As she watched the massive tree groaned and cracked, fire licking along it's roots along with flickers of spell blasts and the sound of hacking. With a sound as if the world itself was dying, the massive tree fell back and toppled smashing into the far wall of the canyon as it fell tearing up the ground around it flinging a dirt cloud into the air that obscured the entire crater and created a gust of wind that shoved Applebloom away from the edge, the shock wave from the impact sent her tumbling back to the ground as it finally hit before she could get up on more than two legs. The stallion standing on the edge didn't even blink when the great tree crashed down.

This close to the figure Applebloom became uneasy, the stallions red form was clearer, his cutie mark of three crossed cupid's arrows was readily visible, the single black leg he had, the long black mane and tail and a weapon harness festooned with daggers. There really was only one pony this could be.

“Uncle Rhede?” Applebloom questions her eyes looking up at the tall stallion as he stared into the crater his red fur was covered in dirt and ash and she could see clean rivulets running down his cheeks from where he had been and still was crying.

“What tha hay is this ?” Applebloom shouts.

“This is the past.”<

“WELL DUUUUUUH!” Applebloom taunts

”This is the act that doomed the world. Brought about by shame and love and anger.”<

“Stop speaking in riddle and tell me what's going on, why am ah even having these dreams!?!” Applebloom shouts into the air whirling around and coming face to face with a nose.

The nose was easily larger than she was looking up past it along the tree trunk length of a snout she met two glowing green eyes and a tangled mane of brush and limbs. The fire and the smoke froze, everything every where was still save the breath of this monstrous creature and the filly's own trembling.

The mammoth timber wolf lifts it's head up staring down at Applebloom who had fallen over on her rump staring up at it.

”Your world is ending. Mote by mote, soul by soul.”<

“What tha heck are yah telling me fer? Go nightmare at tha Princesses!”

” They will not win everything is doomed, this world will never be the same.”<

“Well ain't you a cheerful ray of timber wolf filled sunshine!” Applebloom shouts. “ Why tha heck are yah even telling me this stuff, let me be stupid an enjoy mai last vacation then before everyone dies!”

”Because young one. “< The massive timber wolf leans in it's nose hairs breath from hers. >“As you said to us before. There is always hope.”<

=================================================

[Next morning, Three Days after the attack on Gallopagos 700 hours, Saturday]

Applebloom yawns sitting up in her bed and whipping her head , her red mane falling about her face.
The faint hiss of the shower in the next room as well as the fairly decent singing marked Sweetiebelle as having claimed the bathroom first.

She ran her hooves through her mane struggling to keep her eyes open as she sat up. Just when she thought her dreams couldn't freak her out any more this trip had happened. She brought an elk foal to what she assumed was her own family in the past and she found her uncle had wiped out an entire race of creatures for some reason.

She wasn't sure she exactly believed what she saw, it was all a nightmare after all, but for some reason she didn't think the dream was lying. In any event she needed to ask her uncle about it when they got back. She could wait a day or so to do that. She felt he might just have some answers at least. She should probably try to warn the Princesses as well.

She lifted her head as the hotel door opens and a orange pegasus walks in. She had large bags under her eyes, but also some rather large bags hanging from her sides that clinked with bits every step she took. Oddly she also had a small bucket held between her wings.

Applebloom blinks wondering where Pip was as Scootaloo closed the door behind her.

“Oh you're up.” Scootaloo mutters with a sigh slipping out of her bags and dropping them near the door with a thud.” Where's Sweetie?”

Applebloom points to the bathroom and Scootaloo nods walking over to the door and shoving it open. Applebloom blinks hearing Sweetiebelle fuss then scream out bloody murder as Scootaloo dumps the bucket of ice on the showering mare before storming back out.

“You ever try to play match maker with me again I will do a lot worse than dump ice on you!” Scootaloo shouts back tossing the bucket aside before hopping up and crashing down on the empty bed.” Ugh how long have we got until we need to catch the train?”

“About six hours, but we only have five til we need tah check out. What tha heck did you do last night, an where's Pip?” Applebloom asks.

“Gambled. I cleaned up at blackjack..... Need to stop at bank again on the way out I'm headed home with like four times the bits I came here with. Seriously you should do a bit of gambling, maybe get a cutiemark.” Scootaloo mutters into the pillow.

“An Pip?”

“Dunno left him at Planet Wonderbolt.”

“Well how did the date go...?”

“Don't appreciate you two making Pip do that just to try and get me a date, figure Sweetie talked you into it so I’m willing to pass on my revenge, too tired. Not thrilled with him fer going along with it either. To tired to be pissed at you and Sweetie both at the moment.“ Scootaloo curses pulling a pillow over her head.

“We didn't force Pip tah do nothing...... awww crap......” Applebloom grumbles putting it together and looking up as the pegasus starts snoring. Sweetiebelle steps out of the bathroom in a huff slightly shivering with her mane and tail wrapped up in a towel.

“Sweetiebelle ah think this back fired. Scootaloo thinks we set Pip up ta try and hook her up.” Applebloom comments.

“Yeah yeah I got that impression, along with an ice shower. Where the heck were you any way you were supposed to let me know when they left the museum I barely had time to get in with the band. Granted we tore that stage up the rest of the night.” Sweetiebelle grins.

“Sorry , Granny smith was here ah got tah talking to her an well it was nearly midnight by tha time ah noticed. Did you see Pip? He ain't with Scootaloo.” Applebloom comments a bit worried.

Sweetiebelle's response was cut off as the door was opened and a bleary eyed Pip sulks into the room shutting the door behind him. The colt was covered in dirt, what looked to be a good bit of blood and had a bandage over one cheek that almost reached his eye.

“Pip! What happened to you?” Applebloom gasps.

“Spent mosta the night at tha Guard station. Buncha stallions found out ah was a prince and tried tah foal nap me for ransom.” Pip yawns heading for the closet he claimed for himself.” Spent tha night filling out paperwork an proving credentials at the Guard post. Tha kidnappers broke one ah tha gems so ah couldn't use that tah ask some pony in New Canterlot. Ah lucked out that one of them remembered me hanging around with Da during training. Still forms.....Seems there's at least four forms fer crippling a pony and six if they might walk again, an there were ten foal nappers. Three of them ain't walking again.”

“What about the date what happened?” Sweetiebelle asks as Applebloom tries to process her cousin got foal napped, even briefly.

He pauses looking at the pair of them then over to Scootaloo with a wince.

“Thanks fer trying tah help. Dun do it again. Wake me up about eleven.” Pip sulks shutting the closet door after himself.

Sweetiebelle and Applebloom wince as the door shuts the pair looking at each other nervously.

“Well what now?” Applebloom asks as Sweetiebelle shrugs.

=============================================

[Two Days after the attack on Gallopagos 1300 hours, Friday]

“Whata yah mean it's canceled …. we got tickets!” shouts a older brown unicorn mare at the conductor, her cry accompanied by a large number of others who were gathered around the black earth pony conductor.

“I'm sorry, but like I said, an order has come down that at least for the next few days all train travel is to be halted. I don't know the details I just know that the order came from Mr. Jewel himself.” The earth pony would have continued but the shouting and complaints of the gathered crowd drown him out again.

The CMC plus Pip stood a bit back from the chaos on the other side of the platform.

“Well looks like we aren’t going any where for a while.” Pip sighs, not looking any better for his nap, though he at least had managed to grab a shower so the blood and dirt was gone.

“What da yah think happened?” AppleBloom asks, before glancing up at Scootaloo who was draped over a cloud that she had grabbed and set to floating a little more than a pony length above them as she snoozed on the fluffy white mass.

“I don't know, but I don't want to wait around here. I've got a concert to play at on Wednesday. I need to get back to New Canterlot.” Sweetiebelle fusses looking around before pointing at a line of carts and chariots heading down the road beside the train tracks. “Let's rent a cart and head back that way, we can be back in New Canterlot by dinner tomorrow.”

“More like Lunch Monday, the road wraps around the mountain to skirt the desert. It's a long walk to New Canterlot.” Pip grumbles.

“Awww poor Pippy afraid of a forced march? Isn't that what you are training to do in the Guard?” Sweetiebelle smirks.

“More like ah recall what happened last time we took a cart an not tha train.” Pip grumbles. “Help me out here Applebloom. Yah know this ain't gonna end well.”

Applebloom didn't respond at first. Pip blinked noting his cousin seemed fixated on the mountain in the distance that they would have to travel past.

“Bloom?” Sweetiebelle asks noting the odd stare as well.

“Huh? Oh sorry kinda zoned out there. What was going on?” Applebloom asks looking back at the pair of them.

“Please tell Sweetiebelle what a bad idea it is to try walking back home.” Pip explains.

“Oh well.... Ah'm not sure it is. Ah could use a little trot after riding around fer so long, feel some real dirt under mai hooves. Ah kinda wanna just head out mai self. No telling how long it'll take fer tha train tah be running again, an even then we'll have tah fight all that others who are waiting. Heck walking might be quicker in tha long run any way. You and Scootaloo've had some survival training an ah know herbs and stuff..... and Sweetie...... well we ken buy some supplies , it'll be like camping on tha road. Unless of course yah wanna try an convince tha conductor yer a Prince tah get priority fer seats.”

“ What? Yer kidding? Come on some pony has to see this is a bad idea, other than me!” Pip asks.

“Sooner I get back home the better. This trip has already gone on too long.” Scootaloo says coldly causing all three of them to flinch. The pegasus had not spoken to any of them since she got up aside from telling them she didn't want to talk about it. She had gone so far as to ignite her wings and threaten Applebloom when the earth pony wouldn't get out of her way. She apologized a bit later, but still refused to talk.

Pip took it a little worse than the others, he spared a glance up to the low cloud seeing the orange pegasus was staring right at him over the edge of her cloud.

“Right … fine... I give up...... Applebloom you up for pulling it?”Pip mutters deflating a bit.

“Yeah.” Applebloom mutters patting her cousin on the shoulder.

“I'll go pick one out.... Sweetiebelle comments as the others look off towards the mountain and the forests beyond it and the long road that would take them home.

Author's Note

Title is Shatter Me by Lindsey Sterling

Sweetiebelle's song [ Morris Bray] Is Jungle Love [ Jay and Silent Bob Strike back Version] by Morris Day and the Time

I hope you all enjoy this chapter as it marks the end of the slice of life chapters for a while. Consider this the peak of the roller coaster, every things kicking off in high gear with the next chapter.

For a bit of clarification The CMC left on Sunday, spent Monday in Gallopagos, Tuesday in Manehatten, Arrived Wednesday in the Crystal Empire and left Thursday afternoon to arrive Friday in Las Pegasus.

The attack on Gallopagos took place late Wednesday night. Dawn was born on Tuesday morning, Rarity's son was born Tuesday afternoon. The order to stop the trains was passed on Wednesday morning it was done quietly to not cause a panic so the word spread slow but all trains are currently stopped.

The next chapters go over what happened from Wendsday night until Saturday morning

Cadence of Her Last Breath [19]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Cadence of Her Last Breath

[ Gallopagos Island, Darwhinny Keep, 1900 hours, Wednesday 1 day after Jer'rahd Kaisur's death]

Rarity chuckles looking over at Twilight who sits back down quickly after showing the scar on her belly.

“Laugh all you want. Trolls are not a joke.” Twilight mutters dropping back onto the couch across from the white unicorn blushing lightly.

“After that story you told it is not much a surprise, that Celestia gave Jer'rahd paper work up to his eyes.” Velkorn chuckles, taking a sip of her tea from where she rested on the other end of the couch.

“It isn't even that bad of a cut it only was about ten stitches.” Twilight mutters. “It's not like he threw me out there to fight them on my own.”

“That is a bit of a shock in itself Miss Sparkle. The Major does tend to have the mentality of, 'throw you in a lake to see if you can swim'.” Lion Heart comments from the other side of the room where he stood over the crib looking down at his son. The little foal barely heard to be snoring softly.

“I would think Luna and his own foals would have calmed him down considerably, particularly since she had little Dawn Star.” Rarity chuckles. The white unicorn was bundled up on the couch under a few blankets. She still felt tired from the labor yesterday, but she preferred to be in the familiar rooms of Darwhinny Keep rather than the sterile 'and tacky' walls of the hospital. “Any way scars aside, the exercise seems to be doing you good. I would say the only other mares I know who have the muscle tone you have are Rainbow Dash and AppleJack.”

“For a book worm to be that strong likely took a good bit of pain, though I seriously doubt we will hear Celestia complain.” Velkorn grins as Twilight's face turns bright red as Rarity smiles at her friend as well.

“What is this pick on Twilight day?” Twilight grumbles with a sigh.

“So back on the subject, that is why you have so much luggage? A bunch of trolls?” Rarity sighs. “ Here I thought you were finally learning to dress properly being the consort of a Princess.”

“No, I've got … other things in my luggage besides clothes. And seriously Rarity? Dress properly as a Princesses consort? What would that even entail? Have you seen Jer'rahd? “Twilight sighs. “He's the only other 'consort' of a Princess out there and I could wear a burlap sack over my head and be better dressed than he is.”

“Well there is your brother, though those sweat bands didn't do much for him last time we saw him for the games preparation. Still I suppose I cannot argue your logic. All I have ever seen Jer'rahd wear is that harness and his sword. Frankly I am amazed we got him in anything for the weddings he's been a part of lately. He doesn't even have the decency to wear that delightful Lunar armor I designed for Luna's Guards.” Rarity sighs.

“Given that I know how he fights, he would have destroyed any armor he wore in less than two nights.” Velkorn chuckles.

Rarity smiles looking over at Velkorn changing the subject. “ I know I asked once darling, but when is your next due? No offense but as round as you are it cannot be long.”

Velkorn smiles. “I am due again in a month or two, though I will add that Starfall is pregnant too.”

“What?!” Rarity gasps. “She and Peach Blossom finally are having a foal? They've been married for what three years now?”

“Bout time, I say.” Lion Heart chuckles. “I need to tease him next time I'm in Canterlot.”

“Be nice.” Rarity mutters.

“Where would the fun be in that?” Lion Heart smirks glancing down at a soft cry from the cradle.” Seems he woke up.”

“Given when he was put to bed, I expect he is wanting to be fed.” Velkorn states as Lion Heart picks up the foal in his wings, carrying him over to Rarity.

Twilight smiles as Rarity gently takes the wiggling foal in her fore hooves, her friend cooing softly at her son.

Elusive Lion Heart Reignolds

Twilight was a little confused on the naming structure though it seemed Lion Heart was a family name that had been passed down for three or four generations and was tied to the half dragons nobility. Lion Heart himself didn't have a last name so he had accepted Rarity's.

The foal himself was adorable even without being a tiny godling. His build was not unlike Lion Heart's and it was clear already he was going to be a big stallion when he grew up. His fur and scales however matched Rarity's coat making the little colt seem to glimmer softly as his scales and fur caught the light. His eyes had only been open briefly but they were a brilliant green like his fathers. The tiny leathery wings on his back and the little nub of a horn on his head were the first signs that he wasn't a normal pony. Twilight had already checked to find the foal was indeed a half dragon god. She was withholding confirmation however from any one but those here in the room with her. If nothing else but to simply avoid the same media nonsense she and Velkorn had left in New Canterlot with Luna and Jer'rahd's foal. Not that there were not a good three dozen of the paparazzi camped outside of Darwhinny Keep. Unlike Canterlot General where Dawn Star was born, Lion Heart had full control of who or what was allowed anywhere on the island. It also helped that the half dragons tended to terrify normal ponies. Still the media persisted.

“So any way Twilight, darling, you've told me about Luna and Jer'rahd, and of course Velkorn has regaled me with Rhede's antics with their twins, what is every pony else up to?” Rarity asks shifting on the couch to let Elusive feed while Lion Heart practically hovered over her, the long teal scarf Rarity made to wrap around Elusive draped over his neck.

“Well you know about Starfall and Peach Blossom now too. Seriously though that stallion is a credit to persistence. Starfall is more stubborn than Applejack.” Twilight comments. “ Of whom, Fluttershy and Applejack are doing well, really nothing has changed for them. Fluttershy still tends the animals and Applejack tends the farm. The three foals they adopted are doing well. To be honest those two are the model of stability for every pony. Both of them are still doing exactly the same thing they were doing when I first met them, just now they are doing it together and sharing it with some little ponies as well.”

“The farm is usually where I leave the twins as well, Rhede is a fine father, but he is easily distracted by work as I am sure you could tell.” Velkorn sighs.

“Well he doesn't seem distracted enough not to work on increasing your family.” Rarity smirks as Velkorn blushes. Dare I even ask about Rainbow Dash?”

“Not changed a bit. Big Mac still works on the farm and she flies with the Wonderbolts, though she's not gone out on tour with them for a while. She and Mac set up a sort of split level house near the farm that's part cloud home. I enchanted his wedding band to allow him to walk on the clouds. He seems to enjoy that, knowing that as long as he's off the ground his strengths not out of control.”

“Good to know......” Rarity winces a little causing Lion Heart to lean down a little over her in concern. “I think I agree with Luna in terms of bottle feeding. He's already a biter..... What about Pinkie...... and Discord?”

Twilight frowns.

“I don't know, I've hardly seen them. I know Pinkie Pie still works at Sugar Cube Corner and will hang out with Bleu when she's in town, but beyond that I don't know. She's not living at the bakery any more. Mrs Cake needed the room now that the twins are getting into their teens and didn't want to share any more. I don 't know where she is living though, still in the Ponyville district I'm sure. She's gotten considerably more secretive than she used to be. Still she still tends to pop up randomly when you least expect it. Granted she also seems to be keeping Discord in line some how, he never appears without her nearby some where. I can't remember the last time he made any real trouble. At least not any trouble that the CMC or Jer'rahd didn't some how out do.”

“You don't think the two of them...?” Rarity asks.

“It's possible, but she won't give me a straight answer. I think she's still mad at me that I don't trust Discord.”Twilight sighs.” So it is likely going to be a very long time until I get an answer , because I still do not trust him a bit.”

“How much of that dislike is your own, and how much is from what Celestia has shown?” Velkorn questions causing Twilight to consider that.

“I don't know. Celestia has had a few issues since the war particularly coming to terms with the pony she considered her mother betraying her and every one else like she did. Most of the anger she focuses on Jer'rahd....”

“That is because he can take it. I expect he intentionally aggravates her so she doesn't take it out on any one else.” Lion Heart comments.

“I expect that as well. The geas Avianna placed on Celestia kept her anger mostly in check for a long time, now that it's gone she's trying to adjust to not having that crutch on her emotions. She's gotten a great deal better. But she still has a much shorter temper than she used to.”

“And you are alright with this?” Rarity questions.

“It's not like she's violent, she just has moments where she becomes more argumentative or lets her anger cloud her judgment a bit. Usually all it takes is a reminder and she's fine. The only exception to this is Changelings. She will take forever to calm down if she's forced to deal with them. I actually expected trouble when we went to the Empire last time, but she didn't have any issue with Shin..... until he bit her nose.... even after that it was more wary than angry at him. She was ready to kill his nurse maid Locust though.....”

“Worrying, but I am glad the Princess is doing alright. I certainly hope your relationship with her can keep it that way.” Rarity sighs. “How are Princess Cadence and your brother?”

“Both are fine and already planning their second foal. They say they are going for three, though I'm not sure if that takes Shin into account or not. Still Princess Glimmering Sparkle is a healthy little unicorn, a pink crystal one at that. Mom and Dad were thrilled.” Twilight chuckles.

“I expect they were hoping their daughter would give them a grand foal at some point too..” Rarity grins.

“Oh don't you even go there. I'll figure out how to have a foal when I'm good and ready. You think they would be happy with the fact I'm an Element Bearer, or helped save Equestria every other week, or that I'm the Princesses Royal Consort, or that I'm the most skilled unicorn mage on the planet, but nooooooooooo. ' When are we gonna see a grand foal Twilight?' 'Are you and Celestia going to adopt like Princess Luna did?' ' Maybe you should find a nice stallion to help you two out....' GAH! They already have two grand foals from Shiney and Cadence. And if you want to get really technical ,Jer'rahd claims Bleu as a sister, Bleu is the sister of Platinum who is the aunt of Silver, who married into the Sparkle family and thus they can go bother Jer'rahd and Luna!” Twilight rants.

“Sounds like a hint of jealousy there dear.” Rarity chuckles getting a glare from Twilight.

“I'm not jealous. What I am is annoyed. I'm just tired of every pony trying to tease, guilt, or force me into having a foal. I'll have one when I'm good and ready and I have way to much to do to consider that.” Twilight rants.

“Well you are getting older dear.....” Rarity tries to placate.

“Don't, just stop okay, stop. I've got a good twenty to thirty years before I can't conceive and with magic I can chock another twenty to thirty on top of that.” Twilight fusses.

“Really another twenty to thirty years? Why on Equss would you look up that sort of information?” Rarity smiles slyly as Velkorn stifles a chuckle.

Twilight blinks, then frowns, then slaps her own face with a hoof. “ Just …. drop it Rarity.”

Any further taunting by the white unicorn was cut off by the sound of a bell clanging loudly from the court yard.

=============================================================

[ 1845 hours]

A dark purple sea pony speckled with teal scales sat on the end of the dock, the aged creature had a gray beard and mane that was half hidden under a white captains hat. The elder creature shifted pulling a long pipe from his mouth squinting out into the encroaching darkness of the night as he took a puff. His long tail swished back and forth, the long fins sloshing in the water under the dock, flashing the cresting wave cutie mark on his flank.

“Hey anchor hoof. C'mear!” The sea pony calls out towards a couple of ponies working on unloading a ship a bit further up the dock. A green scaled half dragon pony grumbles setting down a crate and trotting over to the elder sea pony.

“It's Anchor Chain, and what do you want you old coot, shouldn't you be turning in for the night? I know for a fact Dock-master Buoy already came in for the night shift, your shifts over, go home Sea Spray. Let us have a couple hours without your mouth at least. ” The green scaled black furred half dragon grumbles.

“Stuff it colt.....”

“I'm a mare....”

“Whatever. That a ship coming in?” the sea pony points a fin.

“Of course not, there's not a ship expected after hours and all berths are filled on this side any way.” Anchor Chain grumbles. “You're falling asleep already and dreaming things, go home I've still got work to do before I can leave.”

“Stuff it colt....”

“Mare...”

“Whatever, look with your eyes not your precious schedules I can hear the waves echoing across her hull. Sounds like a fishing ship, sitting pretty low in the water too. Might be in trouble.” Sea spray comments taking another puff on his pipe.

Anchor Chain grumbles squinting to look out to sea.” I don't see anything you old sea cow...... wait.......”

“Nothing huh? What is it there colt?” Sea Spray grins.

“Mare”

“What ever.”

“Looks like a fishing trawler...... sitting low in the water.....” Anchor Chain growls. “How the buck do you do that?”

“Been at sea as long as I have yah learn a few things.”

“ At sea... you've been a dock hoof since you were twelve. She's coming in pretty fast too. Faster than I expected a trawler could go. I don't think she's gonna stop.” Anchor Chain turns yelling back at the others who were off loading the ship, the fishing vessel drawing rapidly closer. ”Clear the docks, some pony get Warf Master Buoy we have a ship incoming that looks like it's in trouble, get the emergency teams ready!”

“She's headed right for us colt, time tah get off tha docks.”

“Mare......, oh buck me....” Anchor Chain yells galloping down the dock as the sea pony dives into the water. A moment or two later the ship smashes into the end of the dock where they were standing with enough force to tear through the pier, flinging timber into the air and shoving aside pylons until it finally came to rest just shy of smashing into the stone wharf. The ship that was being unloaded groans as the wake of the fishing trawler rocks it heavily to the side, the unfastened crates inside sliding across the deck. Screams and even more shouting from the inside of the second craft fill the air along with the crash of wood as the creates shatter or punch through the side of the rocked craft. The cargo ship rapidly begins taking on water as it lists tot he side and eventually topple. A number of ponies still inside scream out in panic as the ship capsizes it;s mast falling and smashing another ship smaller moored next to it spilling the craft in half.

The Dock Master on duty rushes out of his office, the portly red and white earth pony with a fishing bobber as a cutie mark, bellows orders for the rescue crew to start pulling ponies out of the capsized freighter. He glares at them making sure they did as he told them before trundling down the remains of the dock looking up at the large fishing trawler parked in the middle of one the piers. He glanced over watching a number of the Guard that were stationed at the port and a school of sea ponies work to get the trapped ponies off the sinking freighter. He turns his attention back to the craft that started the domino effect, regarding it all with a frown.

“Wot tha bucks goin on here?” Buoy demands as Anchor Chain trots up next to him

“Ship just came barreling in sir. Sea Spray spotted her, but she was on us before I could do more than shout a warning.”

“Where is he any way? “Buoy mutters looking over the ships shattered hull. ”The Cuckoo ehhh? This looks like it came out of Trout Scale to the south. What's it doing all the way up here? Sea Spray! Where are yah? Get your fishy tail out here!”

Buoy and Anchor Chain both blink in surprise as a muffled shout sounded from inside the wrecked ship.

“Ah'm inside tha ship already checking fer survivors yah louts. Great big hole in her prow I could swim inta. Dunna see any one aboard down here though it's still dark....'old on.” Seaspray comments from inside the wreckage. There was the sound of flickering and a faint light shines out of the cracks and between the separated planks of the ruined ship. “ I dun see.... wot tha buck is this then? Hey, lemmi go yah scallywag!! Wha? No... GRAAAAAAAAAAAH!!”

“Sea Spray!!” Buoy and Anchor Chain shout as the pair of them start tearing at the side of the ship ripping the wood away to get to the old sea pony as a sickening crunch ends the screams.

There was another flash of light from inside the hull and the boards Anchor Chain was pulling on disintegrated along with her forelegs and most of her upper torso. Buoy jerked back away from the ship, as the remaining lower half of the half dragon mare fell sizzling to the ruined dock before slipping off into the water with a splash and hiss of steam. The tubby stallion back peddles staring at the corpse as it falls into the water.

The top of the ship explodes in a shower of wood and debris as a massive hand knocks the deck away. A large black and red creature rises from the rubble flinging the remains of the ship aside and stepping onto the dock. His glowing eyes slowly seep across the docks before noting and focusing on the earth cowering pudgy earth pony.

The massive creature brings his hand up taking a bite out of something and slowly chewing as he regards the Dock Master. He swallows then smiles, blood covering his sharp teeth.

“Ahh good there are a few of you mud ponies here as well. I was afraid I would have to settle for nothing but seafood, that would get old after a time.” Tirek chuckles tossing the half eaten and cutie mark less, corpse of Sea Spray onto the dock next to the pudgy Dock Master. The earth stallion screams as Tirek grabs him though the cry dies off as he falls limp, his cutie mark vanishing.

“Bah too many fishing and sailing cutie marks. I should have found more warriors than just those damn guards around the bandit camp. No matter, I should still have enough power to deal with Sparkle.” Tirek mutters to himself looking up as several Half Dragon Guards that were aiding the capsized ship rush towards him. “I do wish I had not eaten that pony whose power was monologuing to himself however. Ah well, at least I'm no longer rhyming.”

The monster grins at the charging half dragons, flinging the prone form of the Dock Master at them, Buoy's body smashing into a armored flying half dragon with a sicking crunch of bones from both of them, knocking them from the sky to fall striking and bouncing at least once on the stone pier, neither of them rising again.

“COME FOOLS FROM YOUR LIVES YOU WILL BE PARTED, LET US GET THIS GENOCIDE STARTED!” Tirek bellows.”Blast it, there's that rhyming again. Damned zebra......”

=======================================

[1910 hours]

“I'm coming with you.” Twilight states slamming a massive trunk down on the ground between her and Lion Heart. “If what the Guard said is true about the monster, you need help.”

“I cannot recommend that Miss Sparkle, we do not know what this thing wants or even why it is attacking.” Lion Heart comments pulling on what looked like a black suit made of silk with Rarity's aid. The material seemed thin around him although the over coat on it was reminiscent of some of the dusters Twilight had seen the cow ponies in Applelooza wearing, though of a much finer material.“ Elecktra, stay here with Rarity, Elusive, and our guests. Talia fly to the Docks on the north side and have the Guard start an evacuation I want my wife and son on the first ship out of here.”

The winged half dragon nods darting off immediately taking flight as soon as she was out the front door.

“That was not a question Lion Heart.“ Twilight growls. “I'm not going to sit by while something else attacks. I didn't train with Jer'rahd for ten years to run away from trouble. Besides I've probably got more magic power than every pony else on the island combined”

“I am sorry Twilight, but I don't have a suit for you....“ Rarity mutters as she closes the last of the clasps on Lion Hearts black suit. A number of runes flare to life in the silk like material. Twilight blinks counting a good dozen plus enchantments for protection and enhancement woven into the material.

“Wow.... “ Twilight mutters looking at Rarity rather surprised at the clothing her husband was wearing before shaking her head quickly and yanking open the top of the chest. “Don't worry, I have my own.”

Velkorn sniffs the air as the chest is flung open.

“I recognize that scent,” Velkorn grins, “So earlier this is what you meant.”

Rarity frowns looking into the box filled with bones as a lavender glow surrounds the skeletal remains of a great beast, pulling the armor over and onto Twilight.

The a fanged skull floats up covering her head her horn sliding through the hole, leaving her chin and mouth uncovered for her to wield her sword. Her back and spine were covered with hard plates of bone and a ridge of spikes ran along her back. Her legs and chest were covered with thick spiked bone as well. The entire suit of armor was in shades of gold and the faded ivory of bone, the signal of the Solar Guard was painted on the bone of one shoulder with the mark of the Night Guard emblazoned clearly on the other.

The last thing lifted out of the chest was a double sword, simple and straight edged on both sides. The grip itself was white and the blade bright silver. The weapon was devoid of ornamentation though a golden flame danced along the edge of the blade, reflecting the light of the sun that had already set.

“The Brilliant Dawn.” Lion Heart mutters. “You do indeed come prepared Miss Sparkle.”

The large half dragon leans over kissing his wife lightly before doing the same to the forehead of his bundled son held up to him in her magic. One wing stretches out, pulling a black spear etched with blue glowing runes from a rack on the wall. Twilight flinches as dust falls from the weapon, though the runes flare the moment Lion Heart's wing touches the metal.

“Be safe dear.” Rarity smiles.

“You as well. Get out of here as quickly as you can, I will do better knowing you two are safe.” Lion Heart smiles kissing her again, turning to stride towards the door to the front gate. “Let us go Miss Sparkle, I see arguing with you is pointless. This thing chose the wrong day to come here.”

“Velkorn keep an eye on them too, but don't put yourself at risk, I don't want to have to explain if you get hurt to Rhede.” Twilight smirks her armored hoof falls thudding with a weight the small unicorn shouldn't posses as she follows.

Rarity swallows. “Alright well lets get going, no need to stand around staring.”

“I expect those two will quickly bring what ever is attacking to it's knees, though why do I have such a sense of unease.” Velkorn mutters following Rarity and the remaining Guard though another door deeper into the keep.

=================================

[1920 hours]

“So I have to ask, what's with the spear?” Twilight questions as the pair of them run along with a formation of Guards towards the water front district.

“It was presented to my Grandfather by General Kaisur during the War of Night. A number of weapons like it were crafted for the Lunar Republic, but the ones for officers were made specially. There are traces of star metal in the blade and haft, while not enough to disrupt a casting it makes the weapon far sharper and more durable than it would of normal steel. The blade is also enchanted some how, hence the runes. The star metal prevents any unicorn from getting a good look at the enchantment and I am afraid I am unsure what it is aside from offensive in nature. Still the weapon is the best on the island and I will wield it. This one was even given a name by the General. Thurkear Ner. old draconic for 'dark spear'. Thanks to Princess Celestia's order to destroy star metal weapons after the War of Night there are only three other weapons like this known to still exist. I only know of one sword in the museum of Baltimare left there by it's founder and the third is in a private collection. They are little more than twigs compared to the Waning Moon or the Brilliant Dawn, but they are better than any average crafted weapon these days.” Lion Heart comments, knowing Twilight's interest in that sort of thing, and rather proud of his grandfather's spear. He slowed his run a little glancing up as a pegasus half dragon glides over head flying lower to move along side of them.”

“Lord Lion Heart.” the Guard states. The dull gold colored stallion seeming a little confused as to why Lion Heart wasn't flying, or maybe it was the bone armored pony running along side him, but he didn't say anything about it.

“What is the situation on the monster?” Lion Heart asks.

“It is simply running amuck and smashing and killing everything it can. Any one it managed to get a hold of it either kills outright or drains and tosses aside or kills. We don't know what it wants and it doesn't seem to have any direction aside from towards what ever it hasn't destroyed yet.” the pegasus states. “ It's leveled nearly the entirety of the southern docks and waterfront district. It's started on the warehouse and industrial sector now. We've lost a full platoon trying to contain it as well as nearly all of the dock Guards”

“It's just one monster?” Twilight asks. ”And it took out a full platoon already? It's barely been on land for half an hour if the alarm sounded right.”

“Every pony it drains seems to spur it on more. It only drains sea ponies and normal ponies, it's been killing every half dragon it can find. It's currently just a block ahead of us now.” the pegasus reports.

“Good, pull all the fliers back and have them warn the rest of the city. I want every one on a ship or in the air heading to the main land as soon as possible. Miss Sparkle and my squad will deal with it, but I want an evacuation just in case.”

“It will take a few hours to clear the island fully Sir, there's close to four thousand residents.” the pegasus comments.

“Then the faster you get started the quicker it will go. You are granted permission to utilize all assets including all public, private, and Guard craft to evacuate. Leave three fliers here with us for recon. You have your orders Brass” Lion Heart commands getting a salute from the pegasus who veers off into the sky calling for the rest of the aerial squad.

===============================================

[1930 hours]

“We just received the orders Lady Rarity.” Talia yells over the blaring of alarm bells as she glided down to land lightly before Velkorn and Rarity. The red half dragon mare looked over at the other Guards surrounding the pair, all of them loaded down with bags and boxes. The mare snorts glaring at the black scaled Elecktra who simply shrugs. “I don't think you needed to pack for a vacation Lady Rarity, or dress for a ball.”

Rarity, Velkorn, and the host of Guards stood on a high scaffolding overlooking the north docks watching as a large number of ponies were lined up and boarding any ship they could get their hooves on to head off the island. The white unicorn mare was dressed in what, for her, was a simple black dress, though for any other pony it would be something they would wear to a Gala. A large harness was around the white unicorns neck holding Elusive close to her body, the tiny foal was bundled up like a caterpillar in a cocoon with only his tiny white snout poking out from the long teal colored scarf wrapped around his form that Rarity had made for him.

“Oh don't be so nit picky Talia. Besides it's not for me, and it's just in case any way. I couldn't let my dear husband not be part of matched set.” Rarity waves a hoof at the half dragon mare after a sweeping gesture indicating her dress. “You know the evacuation plan. We will be heading north, and it is always cold at night there. I had the guards clear out my sewing room. The fabric might not be much, but there's enough for blankets and shawls to keep some of the older and younger ponies warm.”

“I am not sure we will do that well Lady Rarity. While we have plans to evacuate the whole island in case of disaster, that was back when there were only really the half dragons here. Gallopagos's numbers have swollen since your wedding to where we rival New Canterlot in numbers. I am not sure how we can evacuate the whole island with only the northern docks to rely on.“ a Guard behind her adds in.”

“Hmm that is true. Talia dear, go and grab a few of the smaller flying chariots from the keep and find any one who can pilot a boat. There are a number of ore barges on the east side of the island we can use. If we can get those running we can carry far more ponies than the scant ships we have here. Have some one start telling ponies to head that way as well. If any are full just dump the ore in the water we'll get it later. The important thing is to get away from the island in case this creature has friends.”

“Yes Lady Rarity.” Talia states launching into the air again.

“North towards the Empire is quite the span, I am surprised you even have an evacuation plan.” Velkorn comments moving up beside Rarity.

“Oh you have my darling husband to thank for that. After the attack on Canterlot he didn't think we would get that lucky twice and had a plan implemented. He just built up on what his grandfather set up after the events of Nightmare Night a thousand years ago. It's still rather impressive that there are a number of the first half dragons still around today who could discuss it with him. Don't let Twilight know however, she'll simply bore them into their final rest with her questions.”

Velkorn chuckles softly already having met a few of the elder half dragons, most of whom remembered her. Half dragons had odd lifespans, the first generation took more after their draconic kin and had exceptionally long lives the oldest known was a mare who had hit her 1016th birthday a few months ago. The second generation however had their life spans cut in half. The eldest of them having only reached six hundred and one. Lion Heart was third generation and he was in his sixties, age wise however he was about mid twenties by pony standards. Most of the third generation lived close to two or three hundred years. The generations after that tapered off to live around a hundred years with a hundred and fifty or two hundred not being uncommon.

“Lady Rarity pardon my confusion, but you seem rather calm about all this.” the Guard comments again.

“Dear, I have faced down Nightmare Moon, Discord, Avianna, Chrysalis, Sombra, and a ridiculous amount of other threats and dangers. I can assure you some big stupid monster is not something I will worry about.” Rarity sighs.”Besides my husband and Twilight Sparkle are off to deal with it. We've also sent word to New Canterlot and likely the Guard are on there way with Jer'rahd probably leading the charge. I almost pity the foul beast. Almost.”

=================

[1940 hours]

Twilight's eyes narrow under the bone helm. She hated to use cliches like this but it was quiet, too quiet. Eerily quiet as if the world itself was worried about making a noise. Moments before She and Lion Heart had stepped into the street there were screams and the crash of buildings and structures being destroyed. The creature had nearly leveled everything from the harbor to the middle of the warehouse district now even the crackle of flames eating at the buildings seemed muted. The Guards with them fanned out, some taking to the air and circling the place trying to pin point the attacker in the rubble that was left of the street. The Guard unit that came with them from the keep was joined by a number of other non flying Guards and a few armed security who had made it from the docks.

“SHOW YOURSELF MONSTER!” Lion Heart's voice booms out over the silent street, making Twilight and several of the Guards jump a little at the sudden volume.

The air remained silent for a moment as the booming echo faded. Lion Heart shifted a little as if to shout out again when a voice called back from the rubble.

“Well now. Here I expected to have to tear half the city apart to find even one of you, and now both Lord Lion Heart and Twilight Sparkle have appeared before me at once,” the voice chuckles as the thud of hooves on cobblestone announced the presence of the monster before it stepped out of the ally. The creature towered over the pair of them, nearly standing at two stories from hoof to horn tip. “Ah where are my manners. I am Lord Tirek.

Twilight tilted her head with a good bit of curiosity as she regards it trying to identify anything she might have read about the creature. Unfortunately she drew a blank, which worried her.

Lion Heart looks over the destruction and the scattered bodies with a frown.

“I do not suppose you will surrender to let proper justice be served?”

“Of course not.” Tirek grins.

“Pity. And what is it exactly you want here?”Lion Heart asks glancing at the Guard's behind the creature checking the bodies and taking some who only seemed unconscious out of the rubble and away from the creature. None of the ones left alive were half dragons.

“I would think that obvious. I want all of your kind to die. Petty in truth, but it's not as if I can get back at Slate Quake, so his people will have to do in his stead.” Tirek snorts waving his hands in a wide sweeping gesture. “You are such a nuisance that I cannot even harvest you. To think another full race developed in my absence that I cannot devour. Such a pity.”

Twilight and Lion Heart glance to each other at that and Twilight shrugs. “Sorry I have no idea what this thing is.”

“I am your Doom HAHAHAGAAAAAAAAAH!!” Tirek yelps as a lance of magic from Twilight's horn slams into his chest sending him tumbling back over his own hooves to crash into a pile of rubble.

“I see you have been taking well to your lessons from the Major.” Lion Heart snorts.

“Don't give me that, this things evil and needs to be put down fast.” Twilight snorts. “ Besides who monologues in a fight any way?”

“I agree. Every pony fan out and try to help survivors. Alpha squad, watch each others back and strike at this thing when you have an opening” Lion Heart orders.

“Yes Sir!” the groups of Guards shout as they move off to check the rubble or move to a better position to attack.

Tirek growls pulling himself out of the rubble of a ship builders warehouse with a growl.

“Seems the fight has begun. I expected as much any way.” Tirek grumbles his hand closing around a thick anchor chain as he rises. He grins wildly ripping the massive steel chain out of the collapsed building, lashing it out like a whip at the pair of them. While he wanted Twilight alive for now, the half dragon had no such protection.

The two ponies simple hop away from each other letting the chain slam into the ground between them. Tirek blinks as the tall half dragon and the purple mare in the bone armor both smirk slightly, a number of alarm bells going off in his head as the stolen memories inform him of exactly what sort of training the pair under went with Jer'rahd, Rose, and Moskau.

“Seems I have made a small miscalculation.” Tirek mutters as Twilight vanishes with a pop and Lion Heart leaps into the air.

==================================

[2000 hours]

Rarity winces at a series of explosions that light up the night sky around the industrial district, or as she had been trying to get it called, Old Town, that was a much nicer name. The sheer power of the spell raining destruction down on something made the entire island shake. She looks down from her perch at a number of the ponies and half dragons below her starting to panic and cry out.

Her horn glows a little as she lightly coughs, the faint sound echoed over the gathered mob snapping all of their attention to Lady Rarity.

The white unicorn smiles slightly at the attention as well as the calming effect that seeing one of the islands rulers completely unphased by the explosions.

“Please do not panic and continue boarding in an orderly fashion, there will be plenty of room on the barges.” Rarity states, her voice still echoing as she points to the dark shapes moving closer to the north docks from the east. “ I am sure this will be over shortly. Lord Lion Heart and Lady Twilight Sparkle are dealing with the situation. Now please remain calm.”

Rarity cuts the magic voice amplification as Talia glides down to land next to her.

“We have a situation Lady Rarity. There is something disrupting the crystal communication to New Canterlot, some sort of magical interference that the com ponies don't understand. Shortwave said everything was fine until about an hour ago, now he can't get them to work. Something about a interfering harmonics... I don't even know half of what he said.”

“Lovely. Unfortunately I take that to mean this is not a random attack, but planned. Go inform the barge captains to move a little faster, then tell the craft still off shore to head north immediately, we can no longer treat this as a drill. Take the river to the Crystal Empire send the few aircraft we have ahead to warn them and then have a pair of our best fliers make their way towards New Canterlot with the news.”

“Yes Lady Rarity.” Talia states taking off again.

============================

[2210]

The anchor chain bounces off Twilight's shield , destroying a section of the paved street beside her. Lion Heart whips across in front of her, his spear lashing out, severing the massive iron chain and leaving Tirek with barely two pony lengths worth of metal links left.

The creature snorts and whirls about on his front hooves, his arm snapping around to sling the shortened chain at a Guard behind him. The unicorn half dragon dives under the whirling chain , though the spinning length smashes into and takes out an old town house.

The black and red monster had a number of spears and a host of arrows embedded in him, though he had also claimed the lives of three of the Guards that were with Twilight and Lion Heart. He was also not even evidently aware of his wounds. The creatures fighting style was very familiar to both of them as well. While it used magic from time to time, mostly it attacked with brute force relying on size and it's weapon to over power it's targets. It was time to crank this up a notch.

“Is every one clear of the area?” Twilight questions. A nod from Lion Heart was her answer as she growls watching the Guards move back.

Lion Heart and many of the Guard had adopted a form of sign language developed to help deaf and mute ponies communicate that involved positions of the ears as a form of sign language. It was a ingenious form of communication that was developed by foals of all ponies. Twilight only knew a little of it herself, but most of the Guard were being trained in it now as a form of silent communication.

Twilight's horn flashes brightly, hundreds of hoof sized globes of purple light burst from her sparking horn, screaming wildly as they cut through the air swirling about randomly leaving trails of white energy in the air, before spiraling around and streaking towards Tirek.

The large creature bounds back out of the way, his eyes widening as the mass of swirling lights follow him spiraling around the remains of walls and carts he attempted to hide behind gaining on him quickly.

The street suddenly explodes in a series of bright rumbling flashes of light as the spell impacts Tirek and the ground around him. The street all but liquefied as the impacts seem to shake the entire island.

Lion Heart hops into the air off the shaking street, though a few of the other soldiers fall from the violent shaking. Twilight exhales as dust and rumble fall around the impact site.

“An Itano circus? A bit much there Miss Sparkle.” Lion Heart grumbles.

“Nothing else we were doing was even bothering him. Besides that's barely a mid level spell for me. Princess Luna has taught me far worse.” Twilight comments noting the terrified look Lion Heart gave her. “Princess Luna's daughter's my assistant, she wanted to make sure I could protect her...”

“Well it seems you will have a chance to use bigger spells then.” Lion Heart grumbles as the smoke clears, wisps blown away by the sea breeze.

Tirek's form was visible in the crater, illuminated by a series of green panel shields. It was clear he had not raised them fast enough as his body was covered with burns, though they were quickly healing, the burnt fur and skin falling off in flakes showing undamaged flesh underneath.

“Green shields......” Twilight mutters.

“His fighting style is familiar as well. This thing fights like the Major.” Lion Heart mutters as Tirek rises finally, glaring at Twilight with a wide grin on his face.

“What does that mean? Is this Jer'rahd? Something else that took him over?” Twilight considers.

“Doubtful. If it was the Major the island would have fallen by now, he would not have wasted time talking, nor would he have wasted a surprise attack on the docks furthest from his evident goal. No this is something that knows of the Major and has some of his abilities. Perhaps a mimic of some kind?”

“Makes sense could even be another form of changeling. In any event choosing to mimic Jer'rahd and attack a place that has three of the five individuals who regularly beat Jer'rahd in a spar was a mistake.”

“I only beat him three times.” Lion Heart mutters.

“You only spared with him three times.” Twilight grins. “Come on, let's finish this before any pony else gets hurt. Even if a creature can regenerate enough damage will overload the ability. If we pile on the damage he won't be able to recover fast enough then we can either subdue it or finish it off with the Brilliant Dawn..... where the heck is he going?”

The pair of them blink as Tirek suddenly bolts to the side smashing through a ruined building, crushing a Guard under hoof who was to slow to get out of the way of the sudden burst of speed.

Lion Heart winces at the loss of another of the islands Guard, but that anger turns to panic as he realizes the direction the monster is running.

“He's headed to the Keep!”

=====================================================

[2230]

Rarity smiles a little as the first of the barges pulls off with several hundred ponies aboard. The second barge was already almost full though her Guards had almost carried her aboard it. Velkorn had run off some where after hearing that there were a number of injuries in the gathered ponies. Occasionally Rarity spotted the striped mare moving among the crowd with a few other doctors and nurses from the hospital. A third barge was already pulling up and she had been informed that three others had left ore mines loaded down with ponies as well.

Still on an island of close to seven thousand inhabitants, a ship that at most carried three or four hundred was not enough. Groups of sea ponies swam around the base of the ships in case any one fell and there were a number of lights off in the distance over the water showing a number of smaller private ships, and aircraft that had set out as well. When she looked back from where she stood on the prow of the barge however there were a great number of ponies still on the docks waiting to board the ships.

“I should be the last one off the island. You could fit two foals in my place here.....” Rarity grumbles.

“No one is going to fault you for being on a ship with your newborn, Lady Rarity. Particularly since you fought us the whole time.” Elecktra grumbles glancing down at the bundled foal she was carrying still. “I'm amazed he slept through all this, particularly when you kicked Swallowtail so hard he howled like a newborn himself.”

Rarity winces looking at one of her other Half dragon Guards, a earth pony one, who was still doubled over leaning against the railing.

“Yes, well perhaps I did get, a bit, carried away in trying to prevent my departure, but I could have sworn I made sure the more delicate areas were covered when I designed these new armors.” Rarity sighs.

“You did, it's just not in plus size.....” Elecktra smirks a little turning red around her ears, something not missed to Rarity.

“Oh dear, I do hope I didn't damage anything permanently.” Rarity bites her lip.

“If you did, he won't be the only one complaining about it.” the unicorn half dragon states.

=============================================

[2220]

Tirek slams into a building, his arms in front of his face as he plows through some pony's house. The sense of direction and location he had gotten from the zebra goddess's power was correct, this was the place he should be. However he should have known better than to consider fighting Twilight Sparkle directly, the stolen memories he took along with the powers of Jer'rahd showed the folly of it. That the war horse had regarded the purple mare's skill with a good deal of respect should have been the tip off. Adding the half dragon leader to the mix was not good as well. The spear he was wielding as well as his armor was unfamiliar to any memories he scanned through as anything more than a fleeting image of it being presented to a half dragon in the past.

Still he knew the pairs weakness.

The foremost memories coming about in Jer'rahd's mind had been his own daughter and the godling son that was born nearly the same day. Getting to that child and mother would make things much easier. He was not headed to the keep however, but the docks beyond it, The Dock Masters he had claimed when he first arrived were well versed in evacuation plans if the island needed to be fled due to storm or attack. By their memorized plans he knew that the Lady Rarity would have left the keep to head to the north docks.

Plowing a straight line through anything in his path. The magic he pulled from the earth ponies bolstered his strength and toughness, much as the pegasi magic raised his speed and dexterity, though with out wings, flying was off the table for the moment. He was unaware of any sort of wing spell he could use the unicorn magic for, thus it would need to wait. His access to unicorn power was some what limited, even more so by his miscalculation on how much spell power Jer'rahd truly had. Tirek had siphoned foals barely old enough to have their cutie marks that had larger pools of power. That his shields were as strong as they were and his manipulation magic was as potent as it was, all while barely using any of his small mana pool was his real talent. A strategic usage of what was available to him. Of course he could always access the other thing he took from the gray unicorn, though the warnings of the loss of control that would develop, and the chance that the Bearer of Magic might have some control over him in that form left it as an emergency action.

Pity because he would have loved to have stomped through the city as a giant.

Now was not the time to consider what could have been with the pair of them and a host of Guards behind him, or rushing ahead to the keep, thinking he was headed there. As soon as he had a hostage worthy enough, he would end this, claim Twilight's power and destroy everything else.

This thought was rudely interrupted as he burst through the far side of a building only to find an armored purple unicorn waiting for him her horn glowing brightly.

The resulting impact of magic flung the massive taur up into the air, through the upper floors of the building and into the direct path of the flying half dragon. Lion Heart was already descending at high speed and his spear swing impacted in the middle of Tirek's back The wide blade of the weapon severing his spine and nearly cutting through the equine portion of his body in the single hit.

Tirek screams out as he's flung back towards the ground, watching as the Half dragon climbed in the air again as he fell. He expected to hit the ground only for another blast of magic from Twilight to send him soaring back into the air, to meet the end of that spear once more. The taur was bounced between the two, long rents being carved into his body, only for a blast of magic to sear his flesh, closing the wound, briefly though skewing his regeneration as the wounds were seared closed. Tirek growled forming a shield above him , bouncing off that before he was hit with the spear again, and then one below him as he fell to stop himself in the air before dropping back to where Twilight could blast him. His body was healing, though the damage was almost over whelming, they much have planned for that exact thing.

“Clever ponies.”

A sharp flash of memories crossed his mind at the utterance. Oh dear he shouldn't have said that.

A faint pop in the air before him, made him snap his head up suddenly as Twilight appeared in the air before him her horn unleashing a blast of energy that flung him out of his sandwich of shields and sent him spiraling through the air to crash into the ground tearing through a cobble stone street and leaving a furrow that ran through what smelled like a candy shop and becoming soaked in caramel and melted chocolate, before crashing down into basement in the next block and getting buried in fabric

============================================

Twilight dropped a bit as gravity took hold before feeling the fore hooves of Lion Heart catch her.

“Do you think we got him?” Twilight pants.

“I could hope, but those attacks would have killed any lesser creature. I do not think he is done just yet.” Lion Heart growls flying towards the market district where Tirek had landed. “ We need to get between him and the evacuation. I'm going to set you down when we get closer, signal the Guards we left behind and try and get to ahead of him.”

====================================

Tirek curses himself throwing himself free of the remains of what he assumed was a dress shop. Carousel..... whatever, the name mattered not, why would dresses even be a thing when most of the races in this world did so unclothed any way?

He curses to himself, struggling back to his hooves and ripping the fabric free of his sticky form. The slash though his spine was healing faster than the others, but his rear legs were still not responding properly. He was starting to have his doubts about the supposed ability to be at the right place at the right time he took from Sunshine. He was still shocked to find out she was a god. Although the power he took from her was massive, she had no proper skills which used it. She was an infant in terms of spell casting only knowing a claw full of spells, the solar blast was a interesting one, but most of her talent involved growing plants. Still the spell was slightly more potent than a normal unicorn's magic attack spell. Well, 'slightly more potent' until he put Kaisur's talents of strategy to use.

Tirek narrowed his eyes as he spotted the dark shapes of his prey, the leader and the remaining Guard approaching him from the air, several of the flying ones carrying those who could not fly. A small part of his stolen memories noted the commendable teamwork, though he ignored the compliment to his enemy.

He stood up as best he could, forming scores number of small green panel shields to his left and right. The small squares of light turning and moving as he commanded. Jer'rahd had never been able to adjust them once placed. He was not limited by that weakness.

He held his hands out to either side of him pointing at the shields waiting for the group to draw a little closer. A bloodied grin split his features as his hands started to glow with the light of the sun. A single wide beam fired from each of his hands strikes the shields, each of the shields catches a bit of the energy reflecting it away as thin beams of light. The thin beams of sunlight lance into the sky towards the flying group. Multiple beams of super hot light fill the night sky, slicing though anything they touched like a hot blade though butter.

The building itself was unable to take the heat that struck the shields and most everything in the shop quickly caught fire. The beams that struck nearby buildings ignited them almost instantly as the light sliced through stone and wood alike. The lasers all missed his intended targets, but a small adjustment to a shield here or there made the beams shift and change, moving the energy across the sky, cutting down the laden Half dragons and pegasi until the remaining ones down down to the streets to avoid the beams of light. Tirek did not wish to risk Twilight's death from a fall until he got his hands on her , so he let them descend.

His attack bought him the few moments he needed for his spine to heal fully. As soon as he had the chance, he was moving again, trampling smoldering clothing under hoof as he broke though another wall, galloping towards the dock, the strangely carnival like structure collapsing into a burning pile of rubble behind him, he glanced back as the sign fell from over the door.

Carousel Boutique, that was the name.

===================================

[2235]

Rarity's gaze snapped up from looking after Elusive as the screams filled the air around the docks. A massive horned figure smashed through a wall of a warehouse baring down on the gathered ponies still trying to board the next ship. Her own freighter had pulled away and was moving away from the island, though on the back of the ore freighter she had a clear view of the docks.

Velkorn darted and dodged among the crowd, heading for the charging figure though she was being knocked back and pushed along by the stampeding ponies.

The massive red figure roars out in pain as a smaller black form smashes into the side of his face forcing the figure to one knee as blood gushes out of a massive gash now running across his face. The wound was healed as he rose, his eye slowly popping back into it's socket and reforming

Lion Heart shifts his stance holding the long spear in his wings staring down Tirek as the monster rises towering above him. The swarm of ponies continue to push against each other trying hard to get onto the ship, some of them being knocked into the water as they rushed the gangplank forcing along an annoyed zebra.

“Stand down monster. You cannot win.”

“Actually I seem to be doing rather well little dragon kin.” Tirek grins sweeping his arms together, a massive wave of golden energy flaring out from the sweep of his arms. Lion Heart made to dodge before hearing the screams of his people behind him. The half dragon gritted his teeth and braced himself instead, the spell slamming into the tall half dragon.

The flare felt like the sun itself had come down to set him on fire. His scales and fur crackled and burnt, the suit his wife had made flash burned away runes bursting as the magic discharged around him. Lion Heart gasped in pain, inhaling nothing but fire into his lungs. His hooves dug in, he knew fire, knew flame it had been a part of him since he was born, but he had never known fire like this, it seared him, it cooked him and it stole away his life.

As the smoke from the blast cleared a blackened figure stood in the spot the the spell had impacted. A black spear untouched by the flame leveled before him. The ground at his hooves bubbled and roiled like lava from the heat of the blast, though it did not go more than a pace past him towards the crowd.

Rarity watched on, seconds seeming like hours as the spear fell with a loud splat, the blade sticking into the molten stone as it started to harden, the wings of the figure starting to dissolve into ash as the blackened form of Lion Heart disintegrated dissolving away into ash and blowing away on the sea breeze.

==============================================

Tirek smirks as a scream from one of the boats was echoed by another nearby, and then by the whole crowd at the docks. He whirled quickly tossing up a shield as Sparkle teleported into the ruined warehouse behind him, her bone armor glowing orange as if it was containing immense heat. Flickers of flame danced around the eye sockets and the horns. The paint and markings on the armor melting and burning away as the bone armor became blackened from the heat radiating from it. Black energy started flowing from the skeletal eye sockets, turning even the flames color to that closer to dancing shadows.

The magical burst of energy The screaming Twilight fired was enough to blow him back away from the warehouse and closer towards the crowd as the green shields he raised splintered and cracked under the onslaught.

Tirek's eyes widened at that, rapidly forming more and more shields between him and Twilight as the stone and wood framed ware house around the mare and between the two melted like candle wax. Even the wooden structure sloughed away so fast from the heat it didn't have time to catch fire. Still the easiest way to take down a hero, particularly since her anger had positioned him so.

He flung his arm out sending another blast at the crowd. Twilight, as predictable as she was, tossed up a shield to stop it. He dropped the green panels, just as quickly channeling another blast of solar fire at the unicorn. His eyes narrowed as that too was met with a shield. Though it cracked and splintered under the strain as he poured more power into both his blasts, his right arm sweeping over the crowd, forcing her to keep adjusting her power to meet where he aimed.

Tirek dropped the blast suddenly, rushing sparkle and smashing bodily through the cracked shield she was protecting herself with before bringing his fist down and crushing the smaller unicorn into the stone, the force of the blow sending impact ripples though the now soft stone like he had tossed a rock into a still pond. Molten stone and wood was flung into the air raining down and setting the very air on fire around them. Tirek glances back , his eyes widening as the shield was till around the half dragons on the dock.

The monster howls in pain yanking his hand back, one of his fingers spiraling away trailing black blood. He grabs his hand glaring down at the mare as she leaps out of the crater going for his throat, her growl heard easily from around the grip of the glowing double bladed sword gripped in her teeth.

His stolen memories told him about the weapon, the Brilliant Dawn, a god forged weapon of star metal, crafted by dragons and blessed by the goddess of the sun itself, the counter point to the Waning Moon. A blade he had been unable to lift when he went to retrieve it from where he had killed Kaisur. He had blown the structure from under the weapon instead letting it fall into the chasm , with several tons of rock and rubble brought down atop of it and it's master.

He dodged to the side as the mare popped out of existence re appearing and blinking in and out of reality around him. He jerked dancing around raising shields that barely slowed the blade enough to keep the flickering mare from striking anything vital.

Tirek roared again lashing out with his bloodied hand firing a lance of fire at the crowd for a third time, the impact cracking her shield finally and causing it to collapse. The shield rose again and Tirek swung once more instead of using magic feeling the blade spear through his palm as he grabbed her, the blow catching the mare off guard and he squeezed tight ignoring the pain of the blade trying to crush the air from her lungs before she could cast another spell.

“I have you Twilight Sparkle.” Tirek growled looking down at the struggling mare in his grasp.

He touched into Jer'rahd's magic tugging at the armor and pulling it off as easily as if he owned it himself. He savored the purple mares wide eyed panic before he started to feed. Twilight struggled and squirmed in his grip,the blade tearing into his hand, though her energy soon faded along with her cutie mark.

Tirek's grin widened like a Cheshire cats, the power was his... Twilight Sparkle, greatest unicorn caster on Equss, her power was now his. He felt the energy surge in him, there was not much, she had used up a great deal fighting him, but that would recover in time and the sheer number of spells and powers that this mare had at her disposal was beyond anything he had even dreamed of acquiring. He had swallowed gods with less power at their beck and call that this simple unicorn.

He squeezed the unconscious mare tighter, feeling bones crack in his grip looking at the crowd trying to board the boat and to one zebra who was attempting to charge him.

Time to test this new power out, he cackled lifting his free hand to the crowd.

===========================================

Rarity and those on the ship stared in shock as Twilight fell limp, then in horror as the dock under the fleeing half dragons exploded with blasts of magic and the cackling of the monster. Bodies fell from the sky crashing to the water and the ground, screams filled the air as some who had survived the blasts thrashed and writhed on the dock.

Rarity stared in horror as Velkorn's body crashed back onto the stone dock, her form bloodied and her chest and forelegs missing in the shower of blood and meat raining down from the explosions. The captain of the ship still docked had kicked his ship into drive pulling away from the docks, the gangplank tearing away from the dock with several ponies clinging onto it for dear life. A large hole had been blown in the side, just above the water line and a number of ponies were leaping into the hole as the ship started moving.

The fashionist shudders softly looking over everything, her ears flattening to her head at the screams. She then exhales calmly turning to the Guards around her, her voice cold.

“Talia get any pegasus who can fly and gather up the survivors on the dock, do it as fast as you can you will only have a few moments to grab them and run. Try and get them to the other ship I don't care if they are civilian or not, if they are alive save them.”

“ We will need some sort of distraction or that thing will fry us.”

“You will have one, now do it.”

“Yes Lady Rarity.” Talia swallows hard at the order and takes off.

Rarity turns to Elecktra as Tailia's shouts get nearly every flier off the ships deck in one wave. With a small sigh She pulls off Elusive's bag draping it over her Guard's neck. She leans down kissing the white half dragon foal's forehead lightly.

“Mommy will be right back little one.” Rarity smiles a moment before a rune on her dress lights up and she vanishes with a loud pop.

==============================================

Tirek grins looking out over the carnage with a grin , the cries and screams from the dock causing him to chuckle darkly. He smiled lifting his hand to point at the ships. None would be spared. With Twilight's powers he could ravenge the land as never before, total destruction from mountain to shore.

Damn zebra rhyming, why the buck did that count as a talent?

He paused a moment noting a swarm of pegasi and half dragons heading towards him and raises his hand towards them instead briefly wondering if they thought they could do anything to him now.

A loud pop near his ear snaps his attention to his left, as he quickly turns his head he is greeted with a heavy impact against the side of his face and a blur of white, purple, and black.

Tirek staggers to the side a bit from the sudden impact only for another pop from his right side to have a followup boot to the head connect to his other cheek, he swore he felt some of his teeth crack.

He lashes out at the white blur with his free hand only to have it pop away again. A sudden sharp pain in the hand holding Sparkle caused him to scream out as the Brilliant Dawn, the bone armor and Twilight were suddenly yanked upward and out of his hand by magic. The legendary weapon slicing through his hand and nearly cutting off his thumb as it was removed.

He howls grabbing his hand and glaring down at a white unicorn mare in a black dress that seemed more suited to a ball room. Runes dotted the dress and glowed brightly as Twilight was laid across her back.

He growls down at the mare as she looks up at him impassively though her face is streaked with tears, her makeup starting to run. He glanced over as the pegasi and half dragons descend on the dock grabbing any one they could, including a half blown away bloodied zebra mare. He turns back to the mare muttering a healing spell on his hand to stop the bleeding.

“And who are you supposed to be?”

“If I gave you my name ruffian, you would get it dirty” Rarity snaps. “I have met incontinent Diamond dog pups less offensive than you are. You may have made me a widow... but I will not allow you to harm any one else I care about so long as I draw breath.”

“Then we shall fix that then yes?” Tirek growls rearing up and slamming his hoof down on the pair of them. A faint pop told him he missed. Looking around he saw her with Twilight on her back straining a little near the end of the ruined dock. The flight of pegasi had already launched back into the air carrying the wounded towards the fleeing boats.

Tirek growls at the escaping figures grabbing a spell from Twilight's memories, one that she had used on him earlier. The flare of the spell gathered in his hands before he fired it at the unicorn only to have her pop away again , and the trailing spell devastate the empty dock. Tirek roars firing a blast towards the ships pouring the rest of Twilight's stolen power into it.

==========================================================

Rarity lands at the end of the dock with Twilight on her back, she had hoped she could get rid of the armor or the sword to free up some weight, but the armor wouldn't move and the unconscious Twilight had a death grip on the blade. Granted that had been useful in causing that creature some pain. She glances over to the ships figuring another hop would be enough. She pops away as another spell arks toward her ripping apart where she was standing.

Rarity pops into existence in mid air a few cart lengths away from the back of the third ship. Her eyes widen as she starts to fall towards the water, time seeming to slow down around her.

Some screams fill her ears as ponies on the boat saw the blast coming at them. She glances back to the dock, before spinning in mid air and kicking Twilight hard in her armored belly Flinging the mare up and onto the deck of the ship as she herself was pushed back towards the blast coming at them. The runes on the dress she wore all flared to life at once as she brought up a shield between her subjects and the on coming blast, pouring all her power into it.

The magical shot slams into her shield cracking and splintering the glowing wall, the water under her turning instantly to steam as the very air around her catches on fire. She glances back to the far ship and the little bundle hanging from Elecktra's neck, and the horrified look on the mare's face..

“Sorry dear... I guess mommies not going to be back.” Rarity mutters, the shield shattering, the blast engulfing her, burning Rarity away to nothing in an instant.

=====================

Talia winces, hitting the deck of the ship hard, dropping Velkorn to the deck as well as the blast's shock wave catches most of the fliers. Knocking them about, though no pony was dropped and all of them made it to the deck of the ship.

“Get a medic over here, this mares still alive!”Talia shouts pointing to the bloodied zebra, before rushing to the end of the ship staring out into the wall of steam that was billowing out from the water where Lady Rarity had been. Her shield had held enough of the attack back so that there were only a few steam burns from ponies at rear of the ship and on some of the slower fliers.

Lady Rarity however was gone.

Talia flattens her ears scanning the water a moment more before yelling at the ships Captain.

“North. Take us north now as fast as this thing can go.” Talia shouts looking back at the wall of steam. “I only hope the Crystal Empire is safe.”

========================================

Tirek growls looking at the massive wall of steam filling the air and clinging to the surface of the water. The fog didn't seem natural even with that big of a blast. Still he could no longer see the ships and there were plenty of others on this island he had left to eat or destroy. A few freighters of those he could not consume would not be enough to threaten him now that he had Sparkle's power..

The giant form of Tirek glances at the spear embedded in the cooled stone before heading back towards the center of the island.

He was tired, but there was still killing to do.

Author's Note

Some of you are likely not going to be happy with this chapter. i hate to say it but this death has been planned since Memories of Twilight when i first hinted at a chapter called Last Dance.
In Last Dance however Rarity was suppose to be a old mare who still looked young, who was then killed by Blue Blood who lost his mind in his old age and was bitter about the mare he lost. Blue Blood was going to end up in the Garden after Jer, Bleu, and Luna stop a rampaging Twilight and Spike from murdering him out right in revenge.

This wound up unfortunately fitting the story better.

I told you people, that you wouldn't want this chapter.

Title is Cadence of her Last Breath, by Nightwish.

The Last Worthless Evening [20]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
by TDR

The Last Worthless Evening

[700 hours, 1 day after the attack on Gallopagos, Thursday. New Canterlot Castle War Room.]

“Have we gotten anything else yet?” Celestia demands.

“ No Princess.” Nicker admits. “Patrols of Gallopagos have shown no sign of him aside from the massive destruction he left behind. We are finding an occasional survivor, but none of them have any new information past an evacuation was called. It looks like a hurricane blew over the island, its been nearly leveled flat. The creature even blasted down a couple of the mountains for some reason.”

“How are the half dragons who flew here last night?”

“Tired princess, but other wise unharmed save a little wing strain. Lady Rarity had them sent out before the attack ended so they don't know much past the description of the creature and that it seemed to eat some sort of energy it draw from ponies.” another pony Guard states looking over some paperwork.

Celestia had canceled her court for the day and had moved all operations into the castle's Emergency conference room. The place was buzzing with activity, dozens of ponies on communications crystals and digging through paper work and old tomes of creatures seeing if they could find anything. Celestia still felt like they were not doing enough. She had called the Wonderbolts back from their break along with most of the 63rd airborne and sent them to Gallopagos as quickly as she could. It didn't seem to be fast enough for her still.

“Sir we have just gotten a report that they found something.” A unicorn who had been monitoring the crystal communication blurted out.

“Report.“ Nicker orders.

“Sir, the reports state they found a lifeboat moored near one of the navigation buoys between Gallopagos and the mainland. There's some sort of device connected to it. The communications officer states it looks like it was cobbled together from some spare parts and is using a crystal power source to make a wide band jamming frequency. They think it's why we couldn't get in contact with them during the attack. They had to destroy it to even make the call back the frequency was that strong.”

“Crystal communication is a rare science, the Guard are pretty much the only ones to make use of it. How would this thing know how to make a jamming device?” nicker growls.

“Nicker was one of the ponies that had their cutie marks taken a comm officer?” Celesita asks.

“Yes Princess. She was one found on the train, a one Transistor.” Nicker states. “You think it's stealing their talents?”

“What about the survivors. The report said that some sort of evacuation took place.” Celestia asks.

“Yes Princess. We have the Wonderbolts flying north right now to search. The plan for evacuation was to board any ship and head north to the Empire. They have a good number of hours head start and they were probably running like Tartarus itself was behind them. We've sent word ahead to the Crystal Empire that they should prepare for refugees. The half dragons will likely get there before we do.”

Celestia sighs dropping down into a chair.

“Don't worry Princess I am sure Twilight is fine.” Nicker placates.

“Nicker they found that spear of Lion Hearts practically sealed in rock. Most of the island looks like it was melted and set on fire then melted again. Twilight is not the sort to run, and if she is she would have found some way to contact us. After what happened to Sunshine.....” Celestia's ears droop.

“Sunshine is alive and healthy Princess, just unconscious.” Nicker sighs. “ I think it may be more of a concern to us what happened the Major Kaisur.”

“His fate is one of the last things I am worried about. He has an annoying tendency to keep turning up like a bad half bit.”

“Really, then there is another reason you have Major Starfall and Wing Commander Dash keeping your sister distracted?” Nicker questions.

“I really wish Moskau wasn't in the Empire, I wouldn't have to explain to her what my sister is capable of. You should worry more about finding out what happened to Twilight, Velkorn, the Royal Family and the location of this monster. I want this thing dead Nicker. I want it's head on my wall, and I want it mounted there yesterday.”

Nicker narrows his eyes pulling the map away from the Princess with a hoof as her mane begins to spark. He should have retired three years ago like he first planned, but noooo he had to try for that extra couple hundred bits in his pension by staying just a little longer..

===========================================================

[?]

“HE KILLED RARITY!!!I'm going to choke him to death with his own tail!!” shouts a female sounding figure.

“You are going to do nothing of the sort. We wouldn't last a few seconds against him. Especially if he grabs you.” the other figure sighs.

“Why didn't we do something?”

“There wasn't anything we could do. Neither of us has the power to stand up to any thing that was going on. We would have been in the way. He got here before we did so we couldn't even warn them. The best we could manage was the steam and even then I think Tirek noticed.”

There should have been something.... Rarity........” The figure whimpers getting a hug from the other.

“I'm sorry, there wasn't anything that I could have done... you know that.”

“It doesn't make it any easier.”

“Twilight was rescued, so there is at least that. Velkorn too... I think.”

“She's not going to make it you know. “

“Anything is possible.”

“Maybe once, now..... now I don't know.”

The male sounding figure sighs reaching down and ruffling the first figures mane. “Don't go moody on me yet, we need to get to New Canterlot before he does. If what we were told in the Crystal Empire is true he's going to go after those two next.”

“What about the trap?”

“If he had gone to the end of the train line it would have worked. Still we managed to stop the train from hurting any pony when it crashed . Now that he ate Twilight, the same trap wouldn't work. Not sure I can muster that much power again soon any way.

“So let's get going then, I'm not letting him get away with this without tasting my vengeance.”

“Does your vengeance come with sprinkles?”

“Yeah.... black licorice sprinkles.” the female sounding voice growls.

“Blargh. You are horribly evil.”

=====================================

[800 hours, Luna's quarters. ]

“So she's been making these things?” Rainbow Dash asks looking at a black crystal preying mantis that was crawling across the table with a plate on it's back offering the three of them a biscuit.

Luna smiles glancing over to the rainbow maned pegasus on one side and the purple haired pegasus on the other side of the table. Dash was just starting to show signs of her pregnancy and Starfall was only a bit further along. It would be a question whether her second foal would arrive before or after Dash's first. Granted mentioning that Starfall's first child was born over a thousand years ago tended to bring a lot of confusion if it was mentioned so the knowledge it was her second was not brought up often. Starfall seemed content with this plan.

“She has ever since she started as Twilight's assistant. Berry has gotten progressively better at constructing them as well. She still has every one of them she's made however though a number of them are in her work shop in Twilight's lab I think most are here either serving as decoration, or small aids. She even made a crystal Tiberus that Tibbers can play with.” Luna smiles remembering when the crystal Tibbers first met the real one, it was quite funny watching the two play fight. “Not that I am not pleased with your visit, but I am some what surprised by it. With the Wonderbolts on vacation I figured you two would be spending as much time with Peach Blossom and Big Mac as you could.”

“Ugh if I wanted to be treated like a invalid I’d crash more often. Big Mac, Fluttershy, Apple Jack and Grandma here are all treating me like I’m made of glass. I'm not even three months along.” Rainbow Dash smacks her head against the table. “She won't even let me go flying on my own and she's further along than me.”

“This isn't my first and only by a month.” Starfall adds. “I'm just trying to make sure you're alright and.......I'm doing it again aren’t I?”

“Yes.” Dash moans.

Luna chuckles a little at that. It had taken some time, but Starfall had curbed some of her more excitable notions involving Rainbow Dash. Luna expected her restraint would be thrown out the window the moment Dash and Mac's foal was born though.

“Right. Any way Princess Celestia asked us to come by and keep you company this morning since Jer'rahd's not back yet. The trainees should have gotten there today so he's probably overseeing them.” Starfall explains.

“He should be here with me and Dawn. He's getting put on foal monitor duty for the next three months now.” Luna smirks.

“Where is she any way? I never got a chance to see her.“ Dash admits nomming a biscuit the mantis gave her. “ And your other foals for that matter. I know Pips off with the CMC some where, but what about the others?”

“Dawn is asleep for the moment Dash. I'm content to let her stay that way so please keep your voice down. Berry and Brush are outside in the court yard. He has a date tomorrow of sorts and he is trying to figure out what he should do. Berry is teasing him about it.” Luna sighs.

“How? I thought she still didn't talk?” Dash blurts out ignoring Starfall's attempts to shush her about the subject.

“She has her ways. Her nightmares have significantly lessened since she became Twilight's assistant as well. She's improved more in the last few years than anything we have done before. She still seems to have no desire to speak however.”

“Oh as a side note, we saw Rhede when we came in, he seemed preoccupied with something and ran off with some of his ambassadorial staff of his before we could say anything to him.” Starfall points out changing the subject, still not sure if Luna viewed Berry's silence as a failure on her part.

“Ugh he probably left the twins with Fluttershy again. Knowing her she couldn't say no and now I’m gonna have to be on tippy hooves around the farm when I head back there again.” Dash moans.

“Hehe, don't think badly of AJ's little mama bear. I'm sure you'll be asking her for help quite often too. Once your foal is born.” Starfall chuckles.

“Nah, I'm not gonna dump one of my kids on Fluttershy, she'd never be able to keep up. Besides I don't need Flutters to foal sit, I got 'granny Starfall' to help out.” Dash grins wide causing Starfall to flatten her ears to head and stare daggers at the younger mare. Luna covers her mouth with a hoof trying and failing to hide her laughter.

==================================================================

[1000 hours new Canterlot Castle War Room]

“We have word back from the Crystal Empire. They are preparing to receive the refugees, but they are asking aid from Canterlot as the Changelings they are are housing are already taking up a great deal of resources.” Nicker comments.

“How? The bugs are just feeding off the heart shove them all in one room and leave them they'll be fine. Or better yet put them to work building shelters.” Celestia snaps.

“Princess you need to calm down. I'll have some of the Guards gather supplies and load a train or two to send north. It should be there before the refugees if we utilize the warp tunnel Miss Sparkle enchanted....... bugger....” Nicker sighs as Celestia's mane bursts into flames at the mere mention of Twilight Sparkle. Thankfully he was saved trying to calm Celestia down again by Guards shouting outside.

“Hey, stop, you're not allowed in here!!! Turn around and I won't have to hurt you. Wha are you.? Hurrk! GAAAAAH!!”

There were several clangs of metal before the door exploded inward, the limp form of a Royal Guard smashing through the wooden door and tumbling to a stop before Nicker with a groan.

Looking up at the door he could see two other guards laying in whimpering heaps on either side of the hall way. Striding into the room and making a beeline towards Celestia was a tall red stallion with a long black mane and tail. His left foreleg and hoof were a solid black coloration and his left side was covered in black slash mark of scars giving him an odd appearance of a half zebra. He wore a black harness covered in small pockets and bristling with blades. He had clearly gotten to big for the harness, a few extra pounds and a bit of fat sagging around the straps showing a sign of his easy living for the last ten years. His crystal blue eyes met Celestia's as he storms across the room towards her, stopping nearly nose to nose with the alicorn Princess. Nicker only had a small glance at the look in the stallions eyes and he was backing away preparing to rush out of the room as fast as he could to rouse the entire Royal Guard to get in here to prevent the two from leveling the castle.

Celestia met that gaze equally, though in the end it was the Princess who looked away first.

“What are you doing here?” Celestia questions.

“Cut the shit Celestia, I've been getting second hoof reports for the last hour. Now what the buck has happened to my wife?” Rhede Pelt snarls.

=============================================

[ Tartarus. Everywhen]

Troph looked back with concern at Grace. She had been progressively getting weaker once the gates were sealed. The pair of them had searched everywhere, though all of the exits from this plane to Equss were sealed. While probably a good thing for the ponies on the other side to not have a dimensional rift or four in their world, it was much worse for the pair of them. Despite being separate from the Elements of Loyalty and Compassion, the two of them still drew their energy from the artifacts. With the gate sealed, that energy was cut off.

In short, Grace was dying in front of his eyes. Troph was not sure what that would do to the Element of Compassion, and he didn't honestly care in the slightest. He was more concerned with Grace herself. He had been carrying her around for the last few months they spent searching, doing everything he could to prevent her from using her dwindling energy. She no longer held onto her zebra form and was little more that the collected pile of bones most ponies knew as the Ferry Mare, the form she was bound to when she was first pulled from the Element of Compassion. She couldn't muster the energy any more to do anything else.

Troph wasn't sure why he didn't feel the drain like she did. It was there of course, the seeping away of his life force. Perhaps it had something to do with his time inside Kaisur, though he probably just had a much larger reserve of power than the small zebra.

There were a few more places they had to check for holes before they went back to where the gate had been located. Grace had already told him he couldn't burrow out like Forge Scale did, as even the dragon god had followed a hole that had already been there out into the Darklands. There was no way to make a new hole from this side.

Troph growled despite himself, the massive blue first dragon stormed through the twisting realities. He was going to find who did this, and they were going to learn new definitions of pain for making his love suffer.

===================================================

[1500 hours new Canterlot Castle War Room]

Both Rhede and Celestia were looking over the map now ignoring the hammering of some ponies putting the door back up behind them. The Guards had resumed their post at the new door. Thankfully Rhede had not hurt the trio before too much in anything but their pride. It was unlikely they would live down that they were beaten in seconds by an aging ambassador. Nicker didn't bother to inform them fully of who Rhederic Pelt was. The ambassador preferred to not be known that widely for what he was in the past.

He and Celestia had explained the situation, and Rhede had not calmed in the slightest, he did however refocus where that anger was directed much to every pony in the rooms relief.

“If Lion Heart's plan hasn't changed they should be traveling up the Sapphire river from this tributary here. The water is deep enough for the barges to pass. The issue is this spot here further up the river. If they have the ore barges like we think the water there isn't deep enough for them to pass.” Celestia points out.

“It's summer, the melt water from the mountains has the river flooding the banks almost this time of year. They won't have much issue passing there if the ship captains are even remotely skilled. Still there's a chance they may be pushing it and we can catch up with them at this point. Have the Guards look for water displacement, not the ships themselves, if they are running from this monster of yours they probably have all the unicorns aboard doing what they can to hide the ships under illusions. It's a whole flotilla with sea pony escorts, there will be signs of it passing. Did any pony think to check with the sea pony cities around Gallopagos?”

“Yes all of them are abandoned and in the same state as the island. We've sent word to Sandy Shoal, though we have not gotten word back from Princess Tidal yet.” Nicker adds in.

To be truthful things could have gone a lot worse. Nicker was one of the few ponies who was fully informed of what the Five Beasts had done a thousand years ago. He was very much aware of the fate of the Elk after Pelt found out that a foal, he didn't even know he had, was killed. Nicker didn't want to think what he would do if his pregnant wife was killed.

Thankfully Rhede and Princess Celestia had turned their attention to the matter at hoof instead of trying to argue or place blame. He doubted it could be the same if it was Kaisur, or Princess Luna. He was not relishing the moment when she found out that the Guards sent to deal with the Red Hoof bandits had all gone silent. A messenger had been sent out, but he had not come back yet either. Nicker only hoped that when the training group arrived there they could send some pony back with information. That should be later today if they were on schedule.

An explosion rocked the castle causing every one in the room to freeze in place. A second explosion sounded and he could hear the thunder of hooves down the halls as the Guards mobilized. Wait......... they sounded as if they were running away from the explosions.... what was going on?

“Oh buck this! This is way above my pay grade.“ The Guard outside the door suddenly shouted, before there was the clatter and crash of the Guards outside the door diving for cover.

The newly rebuilt door exploded, and then imploded into a swirling mass of shadow before any of the splinters could harm any one in the room. The clatter of the toothpicks the door had become was the only sound for a moment until the heavy hoof steps approached again and a figure stepped into the room.

The figure was a mass of blackest night. A tempest of dark blues and purples whirled around it's head, tiny points of light filling the mane at various points that seemed fixed in the swirling mass of shadowy darkness. Eyes glowed green with wisps of energy flickering out of the sides of them as the mare growls, teeth bared flashing sharp fangs, her horn glowing a bright, yet some how dark color of blue. The imposing figures wings were tight against her side, though they twitched, as if ready to explode into movement. Behind her a gray pegasus mare with a purple mane and tail sighed softly rubbing the back of her head, though her glare was no less fierce than the other mares. The pair of them shifted their stare between Celestia and Rhede who were frozen in place.

“Sister. What hath happen to mine husband?” Luna snarls.

===================================================

[Crystal Empire, Nursery. 1400 hours ]

The room was silent save the faint humming coming from a back carapaced mare with green hair standing over a pair of cribs. The humming was soft though the tune seemed to be a some what sad one. Her green eyed gaze shifts between the two foals, lingering on the bundled form of a baby changeling colt. The changeling mare sighs softly her ears flat against her head.

“Locust? Are you in here?” calls a voice.

The changeling mare shifts to her pony form briefly her ears perking up, though she lets the disguise fall away seeing Princess Cadence peeking her head in the door.

“I am Princess. I was just checking on Shin and Glimmer.” Locust states.

Cadence smiles walking over to the cribs with a light chuckle.

“The way you dote on the foals like this makes me believe you will make a wonderful mother yourself one day Locust.” Cadence states leaning over to lightly nuzzle Glimmer then Shin. The action made her completely miss the wince and crestfallen look the maid had adopted at her words. “ I've been looking for you. Shining wants you to ask the Changelings to all move into the shelter with the ones who are comatose. We will also need to adopt the Ladybug tactic.”

“You want us all to imitate ponies with ladybug cutiemarks? Why, what is going on?” Locust asks her ears perking up.

“I'm not sure. Canterlot has sent us word that there are going to be a number of refugees from Gallopagos incoming. Seems they had to evacuate for some reason, something about a monster attack. We'll know more when they get here, but if it's as bad as they say we don't want any issues between the Changelings and the Half Dragons, best if you all lie low a bit until this is all sorted out. The Crystal ponies might be used to undisguised Changelings here but I doubt any one new will be.”

“Why are you telling me this any way? I'm just a nursemaid.....”

“Because they all listen to you Locust. They listen to Shining and me as well, but when you say something they fall over themselves to do it without question. Nightlight thinks it has to do with you being the last contact with the previous royal family. I'm sorry to have to use you like this, but I have a feeling this is going to get worse before it gets better.” Cadence sighs. “ Barely ten years of peace and something else happens......”

Locust nods. “Alright Princess, I'll go talk to them. Keep an eye on Shin. Something seems to scaring him greatly, and Glimmer picked up on it, it took me forever to get them to sleep.”

“Really? We haven;t made any changes to the nursery? I wonder what's scaring him?” Cadence mutters glancing back as Locust changes to a blue mare with green hair and a lady bug cutie mark before heading to the door.

“I am not sure Princess, but I will ask to see if any other Changelings might know.” Locust states heading out the door.

“Thank you Locust.” Cadence nods watching her leave, despite Shin not being her actual child she still treated him as such, and worried about him.

Locust nods to the Guards as she leaves, heading down the hall towards her quarters. She pushes the small door closed behind her as she enters. She manages a few steps into the room before the Changeling mares disguise drops and she sinks to the floor shuddering heavily, her teeth gritted as she quivers in what seems a mix of rage and fear.

“He's returned.......Why now....?”

====================================================

[New Canterlot Castle 1600 hours.]

Nicker had watched Princess Luna's face get steadily angrier and angrier as Princess Celestia explained the situation.

“And thou did not think to inform us as soon as thine knew mine consort was missing and an entire city was destroyed?!” Luna snaps, slipping back into old Canterlot as her anger grew. Nicker was happy for his eardrums that she hadn't started using the Royal Canterlot voice yet.

“Forgive me for wanting my sister to have at least a day or so of happiness after her child was born before another disaster strikes. We know nothing about what happened to Jer'rahd and until this morning we thought it was a sickness.” Celestia snaps. “In case you were not listening Twilight is also missing and my daughter has been claimed by this monster as well.”

“My wife and unborn child are there as well Luna. Excuse me for focusing on them before my nearly indestructible friend.” Rhede growls.

The three of them continue to glare at one another before Starfall finally steps in.

“Every pony calm down. This isn't helping any pony right now to have you arguing. Luna you are NOT going to rush off any where, and neither are you, Celestia OR Rhede! If this thing eats cutie marks we do not need the strongest and most dangerous ponies we have hunting for it. We don't know yet what it's capable of we need more information. I can get a couple of Wonderbolts to do a HALO patrol but it will take time to get the gear....”

“We have a sighting!” shouts one of the ponies on the com. Something the small beige unicorn immediately regretted saying as every one suddenly looked at him, including the two angry Princesses and Rhede.

Nicker trots over placing himself between the Princesses and the pair of Beasts in the room, before the poor pony soils himself. “ Where Sergeant?”

“A Guard station in the Ponyville district reported that a river pony came by and claimed that she saw some strange monster moving along the river to the south while she was on her way back from Froggy bottom bog collecting water cress.” The Guard starts rambling everything that he had been told. ”She stopped to report it because she had never seen anything like it and she said it was muttering to itself. She couldn't understand much from where she was hidden, but it sounded like it was looking for something. She said it moved away from the river heading south east. Her description of it matches the ones we've already collected.”

“What's south east of Froggy Bottom?” Starfall asks.

“Nothing but the Everfree for Leagues and then it opens to the plains. The closest town after that is Dodge City.” Celestia points out. “That the creature is this close after being in Gallopagos last night worries me at the speed it seems to have.”

“Send a Guard contingent there to start preparing for a possible evacuation. If they come across it they are to observe and not engage. We need to know more about this creature before we can fight it.” Rhede comments.

“Pull in all the rest of the Guard who might be on leave to New Canterlot. This thing is closer than I am comfortable with to us. Even if the river pony was correct about the direction, I would not put it past this creature to turn around. If the destruction of Gallopagos is any indication it is probably headed here very soon.” Luna orders.

“We don't want to panic every pony just yet, but bring in every available watch officer and Guard in. Say it's a drill, but I want every pony ready to get to a shelter at a moments notice for the next few days.” Celestia adds.

“Yes Princesses.” Nicker salutes.

==============================================

[Everfree Forest 1900 hours]

Tirek's gaze shifts over the darkness of the cave, the faint drip of water from the stalactites falling to the floor and into small puddles echoed around the other wise silent cavern. In truth he never would have believed this place existed. He certainly never would have found it himself if Twilight Sparkle had not studied it excessively after she was made aware of it's existence. Even knowing it's location it took him hours to find.

He looked down at his hand, bound up tight in cloth the stitching holding the wound together was rather rough and it still bled a little, the black icor soaking into the bandage. His lower finger was missing still, as despite having the knowledge of several dozen skilled doctors and medics, one could not sew a finger back onto ones hand after it had been vaporized by ones own spell. The attack on Gallopagos showed despite having skill and magic, he was not fully invincible. Not yet. A lesser god and a zebra god were not enough to make him unbeatable, despite their skills. Even with all Twilight knew he was very much aware that Princess Luna and Princess Celestia had depths of power and skill that Twilight had not seen yet, particularly Princess Luna. Then there was Discord and the remaining Beasts of the Moon. His Memories from Twilight were particularly focused on a one Rhede Pelt, and the knowledge that the zebra he had killed had been Pelt's mate. Twilight's memories supplied very graphic details of what happened to the Elk, the violence was enough to make even Tirek shudder and mark that stallion as a main target during his attack. At least he knew now how he had been freed of that blasted tree, he needed to thank Rhede Pelt for that, before destroying him.

And this... this was the way to do that. Such a delicious thing to have left out in the world unguarded save by a bolder over the cavern's mouth. Now how did that limerick go? There needed to be a few changes to it of course.

"And into his own reflection he stared, yearning for one whose reflection he shared, and solemnly sweared not to scared at the prospect of of his life being squared!" Tirek rants stepping into the pool at the bottom of the cave.

Author's Note

Bit of a segway into the next chapter. Most of this chapter was stuff i refrained from putting in the last chapter or pulled from the next chapter because it fit here better.

Next chapter also catches everything up to date with the CMC+Pip. Friday. So i can write a more flowing stories without so many flashbacks and bouncing around.

Title is 'The Last Worthless Evening', by Don Henley

End of all Hope [21]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

End of all Hope

[New Canterlot Castle, 1100 hours. Friday ]

Diamond Tiara was beyond ecstatic. She was also slightly terrified, but Princess Luna hadn't out right done anything to her aside from be absolutely terrifying. Still if this was planned right the Princess should be asleep so it would just be her and Brush.... well and Berry, but she wasn't too worried about Brush's little sister. At least not as worried as she was about Princess Luna, though she had an uneasy feeling she should be..

She had initially thought to show up at one or so, but upon thinking about it she decided she was going to bring lunch. She had spent all morning in the kitchen, driving the servants mad with her attempts to make anything. After a number of panic attacks and, a small fire, she managed to put together something that she doubted Brush had eaten before, even with the castle staff cooking his meals. One of her daddies servants was highly familiar with Japony cuisine and showed her how to make something he called a Bento box.

It was surprisingly simple mix of vegetables, mostly rice and beans, though she had sampled most of what went into it and thought it would be perfect. She had the servant make one for her and extras for Berry, Princess Luna , and Major Kaisur, just in case they happen to be there. However she made sure she made Brush's herself. According to the servant the ones made with love supposedly always tasted better.

Collecting them all and thanking the servant who stared at her in shock, along with the rest of the kitchen staff, she was out the door and headed down the street trying to get to the castle as quickly as she could while balancing a box of lunches on her back. It really wasn't that difficult, the grace and poise classes she had been forced to take as a filly sometimes had some practical use.

She hoped to actually make it to the castle before they started what ever emergency drill they were planning today. It had been a long time since they had any sort of evacuation or shelter drill, she supposed some new officer or noble had decided it would be a good day for everyone to be miserable for a while. Every pony stuck in a cramped shelter for hours at a time while they walked around and pretended to look like they cared.

For once Diamond Tiara didn't mind the idea of being stuck in a dark cramped shelter, provided she got to be stuck in one with Brush. Granted she figured the ones under the castle would be nicer, in any event she had to get there first. Hopefully before he ate lunch too.

The trip to the castle was a short one, quite possibly because she felt like she was floating. Really she skipped along, doing a very close imitation of Pinkie pie's normal pronking movement. She was aware she was being stared at by a number of ponies she knew, though she didn't care, she was far too excited that Brush had actually wanted her to come by today and that he had accepted her asking him to the dance. She knew it was supposed to be the other way around, though Diamond Tiara didn't think Paint Brush Lily would ever ask any pony. Just in case he did think to however she had to strike first.

The only thing that worried her, more than anything else was his relation to Applebloom. She was going to have to deal with that sooner or later whether she wanted to or not. The smile flickered on her face a little as she swallowed hard, her skipping stalling to a more sedate pace as she entered the castle grounds.

Wrapped up in her thoughts as she was she didn't notice the over abundance of Guards rushing around, nor the curious stares she was getting from some of them until one of them finally stopped her at the main door to the castle.

“Hold it Miss. The castles on lock down until after the drill.” The large pegasus Guard was dressed in the gold and white of the Royal Guard, while his companion was a unicorn dressed in the gray and purple of the Lunar Guard. Diamond Tiara would have wondered why the Lunar Guard was awake this time of day if she wasn't mortified by the fact she was this close to her goal only to be turned back.

“But... I'm expected today, they made me sign a list and everything.”

“Sorry miss, but all visitors today are being turned away.”

“But he told me to come to day... I even made lunch........ ” Diamond Tiara pouted a moment, then grinned evilly. “ Hey we're supposed to go to the closest shelter when the alarm sounds right?”

“Indeed miss.”

“Do you know when the alarm is going to sound?”

The Guard looked to his companion who shook his head lightly. “No miss, it wouldn't be a test otherwise.”

“So right now the castle has the closest shelter, I'd have to be in the market district before I was closer to another one right?”

“Well yes......”

“So if the alarm sounds before I got that far you would have to let in here any way correct?”

“Well that's technically correct.......”

“So how about we spare the trouble and I go in now. I can give Brush his lunch and be ready in case the alarm sounds. Since I would already be in the castle I wouldn't have to distract you by making you open the door during the test to let me in either.”

“Errr..... Shut up Dream Catcher, you're not helping.” The Guard snaps turning to glare at the Night Guard as he tries to hold back a laugh.

The unicorn stallion finally stops laughing long enough to speak. “What was your name Miss?”

“Diamond Tiara, I'm here to see Paint Brush.”

“Yeah she's on the old list, I figure we can let her through, she has a valid point and we're mostly supposed to turn away court petitioners. Besides, if she's brave enough to be interested in one of the Major's kids I wouldn't want to mess with her any way.” Dream Catcher grins.

“Fine.” the Pegasus snorts, drawing a metal rod free with a wing and setting it before the pink mare. “Touch that first. Stay out of the patrolling Guards way and go only where you are supposed to be.”

Diamond Tiara sighs, though she touches the metal rod without any ill effect. She wasn't sure what the deal with the rods were, but since they war they had been used anytime there was a high security situation. She had heard they were some sort of changeling detector, though it only looked like a bit of metal with a jagged tip to her. After touching the thing the door was opened by the unicorn to allow her inside.

“If we get in trouble for letting her in, I'm blaming you Dream Catcher.” the pegasus snaps.

“Please, like any one would believe you Blue Light. Every pony knows all a pretty mare has to do is look at you and you'd be eating from her hoof.”

“Says the pony who can't get a date, to the one who has too many....” Blue Light grins.

===============================================================

[1200 hours]

Starfall raises an eyebrow as she watches the four ponies pace around the room. Dawn was in a sling on her side, the little foal managing to have slept through everything, including Celestia's use of the damned Royal Canterlot voice.

The group had moved out of the War room and into the throne room after Celestia had nearly set the place on fire for a third time. Thrown out was the proper description, but Guard Captain Nicker Fury was trying to be nice. Nicker had the Guards set up a larger map room and had them bring the table with the magical display of Equestria on it out into the throne room.

Rhede had already sent a number of ambassadors that had been staying in the castle out on the supply train headed to the Crystal Empire that morning to move them out of possible danger. Before they left they had all been allowed to contact their respective nations with certain information.

“Alright the com ponies say they can boost the signals going out here enough that even with interference they can still broadcast and receive, so communication shouldn't have any disruption. Two of the eight griffon aeries have offered to send a sizable force for aid if need be. Three others are offering some supplies though the rest are either arguing about it , or just stalling so they don't have to do anything. The Diamond Dogs are offering aid as well and both they and the Zebra's are offering to accept refugees.” Rhede lists off.

“A hollow gesture given that they know it is easier for us to go north” Luna grumbles.

“At least they are offering, that's not something they would have done a thousand years ago.” Starfall comments shifting a little in her uniform.

Both she and Rainbow Dash were in jet black and purple armor with yellow lightning trim. A pony skull with skeletal pegasus wings adorns the flank, and both of them were sporting a pair of blue crystal wing blades. The armors enchantment changed their mane, tail, and fur colors as well leaving them both with the same white mane and gray coat. If not that Starfall was a little smaller than Dash and that she was carrying Dawn around with her, no one could have told them apart.

“Was the Shadowbolts gear necessary?” Celestia asks.

“High damage resistance, coupled with enchantments for speed, strength and endurance? Yes Princess, they are.” Starfall retorts.

“Plus they can do this!” Dash exclaims suddenly fading out of view as if she had pulled a zebra cloak over her head.

“Stop playing with it.” Starfall snaps as Dash sheepishly returns.

“There are only six Shadowbolts. Starfall, Rainbow Dash, Spitfire, Soarin, Breezy, and Fleetfoot. No one else managed to survive the training put together by a joint effort of Jer'rahd, Starfall, myself, and the Wonderbolts. “Luna states, reading something before her.” They are the best fliers and airborne combatants on Equss, just as the Lunar Guard are the best of the Guard trained by my husband. If something happens they have their orders to get Berry, Dawn and Brush to safety.”

“What about Orange?” Rhede asks.

“She and her.... 'companion' claim they are fine in his estate. I disagree, but saying so simply makes her more stubborn. I left the offer to retreat here open for them both and let the matter drop.” Luna sighs. “ It has been hours is there nothing more? Have the patrols not found anything else?”

“Wonderbolts Black ops.” Rhede snorts. “Even I only heard rumors that the Shadowbolts had restarted.”

“Nice to know I can still one up your little network Rhede.” Starfall smirks.

“Yeah, this is great, cause I always dreamed of joining the Wonderbolts and now I get to go a step beyond them. How cool is that!?” Dash grins fluttering in the air a bit.

“Just so you know you are not allowed to fight this thing, your mission is to get every one to safety.” Celestia states. “ We do not need this monster to know how to do a rain boom.”

“We know Princess.” Starfall and Dash both monotone.

“Have we considered using the Elements of Harmony?” Nicker asks.

“No, unfortunately that's right out. We have two teams of bearers, but we can't cross them even if we could get everyone here quickly. Dash and Fluttershy couldn't take the place of our old teams missing Loyalty and Compassion. Luna, and I can't take the place of their missing Magic and Generosity either. The only ponies who can use the Elements together are the ones who gained them together.” Rhede explains with a sigh. “Trust me we've tried.”

Any further suggestions are cut off as a Guard rushes in.

“PRINCESS, We have sightings.” the Guard pants.

“Where?” Luna asks.

“Here.” the unicorn Guard's horn lights up and a spot appears on the map as it zooms in on New Canterlot. Then another appears. Then another. A second Guard runs in and passes off a paper to the first. The Guard checks the paper, pales a little, and his horn glows, adding two dozen more red lights to the map around New Canterlot

The group looks over the map and noting all the sightings were at various places around the city, too far apart to all be the same sighting. Celestia takes the paper from the next Guard to rush in, her own horn glowing, more dots forming until a ring of red dots surrounds the city. The group stares at it a moment as Celestia growls.

“Sound the alarm.” Celestia orders.

================================================

[1200 hours New Canterlot Castle]

Diamond Tiara was having a hard time holding still after lunch. Princess Luna and Jer'rahd were no where to be found. Berry hadn't said anything about the meal, though she had eaten it and then vanished into her room, leaving her and Brush alone.

Brush said he liked the meal, and Diamond Tiara was ecstatic, this must be what walking on clouds felt like, no wonder the pegasi were always doing it. Granted she had an even harder time remaining calm when he offered to paint her while they discussed what they would wear to the dance. Berry had made a reappearance long enough to get something to drink out of the ice box and make a gagging motion with her hoof before vanishing again. Berry had lead her outside into the court yard where his easel was still set up in the same place as the last time she had been here.

Diamond Tiara had fixed her hair as best she could, letting her long mane loose a little more to fall down her shoulders. She didn't have much in the way of jewelry as she no longer wore the first tiara she had made any more. The encounter with Applebloom had destroyed it when she was hit by the desk, though did wear a more subdued necklace and earrings she had created. Jewel crafting was not something she had thought she would enjoy, it was her mothers talent. Though the first day she had made that tiara and gotten her cutie mark had been one of the happier ones in her life. It wasn't long after that that her mother and father split up she spent a long time thinking her cutie mark was the cause of it.

Her friend Silver Spoon had developed a talent for tea ceremony. Basically it was like a fancy party for a bitter drink, but tea was a big thing for most nobles since Princess Celestia liked it. Rumor was that Princess Luna preferred coffee. Diamond Tiara thought both drinks were rather nasty.

Still after all that it was difficult to stand still for the painting, though Berry never said anything about it, perhaps painting his rather hyperactive little sister allowed him not to notice too much movement. She was also surprised at his suggestions for colors given his dark blue coat and short, bright red mane and tail, and her own silver and pink she hadn't thought there were many colors that complimented both. She had rather liked the idea of a red dress for her accented in deep blue, and a silver tux for him accented in pink. He viewed it as something like finding the right paints to mix, she viewed it as insanely romantic.

Unfortunately, like always she was having a hard time telling if he was as interested in her, as she was with him, or if he was just going through the motions. All she really had to go on was his rather muted sounding replies and the word of Pipsqueak that he was interested in return.

In truth her biggest worry was that every pony was going to think she was only to date him due to his station. She fully expected to hear that a lot, it was one of the first things in fact to come out of Pipsqueak's mouth when she had finally talked to him. It had taken a good bit of convincing to prove to him otherwise. Of course after the meeting with Princess Luna and Major Kaisur last week that she came back should have been enough to dissuade any rumor like that, those two were terrifying. She didn't understand how some one not infatuated could risk dealing with them. Granted even that was annoying, because they were his parents he wouldn't see how much of an effort she was going through not to be terrified around them to be with him. Thinking on it that was a really good idea for a book or a movie, she should write that down. 'Parents from Tartarus' was an appropriate sounding title.

“That should be enough.” Brush states softly stepping back a moment looking at the canvas. “I need more red and white paint.”

She blinked a moment her brain slowly registering that he was done and that he was simply idly mentioning the colors he needed to mix for her coat.

“Can I see it?” Diamond Tiara asks.

Brush seems to consider a moment. “It is not done yet, would prefer to finish it before you see it. If that is alright.”

“Um … okay....” Diamond Tiara stammers, struggling to think of what else to say. A loud crash and the shattering of wood draw both of their attentions back towards the open door into Princess Luna's quarters.

“Berry?!” Brush gasps rushing past Diamond Tiara into the house. Diamond Tiara bites her lip moving forward a little to try and glance at the picture, yanking herself back as the alarms start to blare for the drill.

She glances to the easel before following in after him.

Diamond Tiara slides to a stop her hooves scraping on the tile floor of the kitchen as she nearly runs into the back of Brush. Looking past him though the arch way between the kitchen and dining area she could see a large and strange looking creature that was nearly filling the dining room.

The creature looked like some one had glued a minotaur's upper body where a ponies head should be and brought it to life. The thing was a mix of black, red, and gray with a white beard, mane, and tail. It was stroking it's beard with a hand that was wrapped in bandages as it regarded several of Brush's paintings hanging on the walls. Diamond Tiara looked to the front door on the other side of the mud room, seeing a massive hole and a number of Guards laying scattered around on the ground, armor torn and bloodied, none of them were moving.

“I had heard you were quite the painter Paint Brush Lily. I must admit seeing your skill for myself I do agree. I rather admire the skill in truth, it is rather a proper gentle pony's talent. Painting is something I've always wanted to pick up, and since Princess Luna is not here as I predicted, now may be the time to learn....” The monster grins, gesturing with a hand, a series of green panel shields springing to life between Diamond Tiara and Brush cutting off his escape. The creature moves closer reaching a hand out to grab Brush. “I wonder what your mother will say when she finds your corpse?”

“NO!”snaps a voice, the booming echo of it shaking the room as the word was spoken with the force of the Royal Canterlot voice.

The creature whirls back clearly expecting Princess Luna to have arrived, though all that was in sight was a small dark blue unicorn filly with red hair standing in the hallway that led to bedrooms. Her golden eyes glared up at the massive monster as she grit her teeth.

“Berry?” Brush asks in surprise.

“NO ONE ELSE IS HURTING FAMILY!” Berry's voice cracks a little with the booming echo as her horn lighting up.

The monster seemed as surprised as Brush that she was talking, though he quickly got over it and was about to retort when the hall way behind Berry suddenly shifted and squirmed with life and countless faint glows of gold magic.

Thousands of black crystalline sculptures, flew, scurried, crawled, scampered, and hopped out of the rooms behind her, climbing out of cabinets and cubby holes, stampeding down shelves and from the places they had been on display.

Diamond Tiara shrieked as a horde of half finished sculptures rushed past her from the small workshop in the court yard and scurried around the gaps in the shield. The monster took a step back as the crystal creatures swarmed over him clawing and biting like a horde of ants on a dropped sweet roll.

Diamond Tiara stared in shock watching as the wounds the crystal creatures were inflicting closed up almost as fast as the little golems made them. The monster flails, crushing the sculptures to powder as he struggles to get the biting things off of him. All at once all of the creatures stopped and fell off of the monster, the little lights of magic inside them winking out.

“What the buck was that....” Tirek snarls looking back at Berry his eyes going wide. “Shit....“

The light around Berry's horn was brilliant, blinding, the golden energy enough to catch a number of the paintings on the walls and some of the shelves around her on fire. Diamond couldn't even look at the mass of power gathered around the fillies horn. All the power two years worth of storing it inside little crystal figures came back to the filly, all at once.

Berry screams out as she lets loose the blast, striking the monster directly in the chest and sending it sailing backwards through the room, smashing it out into the hallway and pushing the monster along , breaking a tunnel all the way through the castle flinging the monster out towards the front gates of the castle, collapsing several walls after it.

The green shields flicker out and Diamond Tiara rushes forward with Brush to his sister. The filly smirks says something in what sounds like draconic and collapses. A flash of light flickers from her side as a glowing golden crystal cutie mark forms on her flank.

Brush panics as she falls over practically running in circles. Diamond Tiara frowns moving closer and crouches down to check on her.

“She's okay … she's okay she's still breathing.” Brush pants heavily as Diamond Tiara looks over her noting that her fur around her horn was singed, and wisps of steam were coming from it.

“It looks like she's had magical burn out...” Diamond Tiara theorizes getting a odd look from Brush.

“How would you know!?” he snaps. Then looks away ashamed before he exhaling. “Sorry... I mean how do you know?”

“I spent a lot of time in a hospital. I saw a couple of unicorns come through with the same thing. She should be fine, but she's probably going to be asleep for a while. Any way we have to get out of here. I don't think that stopped it.” Diamond Tiara states trying to hide her own shaking.

“FEED!” snarls a voice from behind them. Diamond Tiara whirls about with a shriek seeing the monster striding in through the hole Berry had blasted seemingly unphased by the attack. The creatures grin widens at the sight of the three of them and it moves forward licking its lips.

Diamond Tiara continues shrieking before turning suddenly to lift up on her rear hooves. She grabs one of the burning bookcases, yanking it from the wall, and throwing it at the creature as if the heavy oak bookcase weighed the same as an apple.

“Feed?!” The monster questions before the massive slab of burning furniture and books smashes into it's face sending it flying back to impact the wall. The figure was crushed between the stone and the burning wood, the book case splintering and the wall cracking from the force of the blow. They hear a loud pop and a sudden hiss of steam as the creature turns to water, dousing the fire on the book case.

“Wha... What!?” Brush stammers.

“Did... did I kill it? …. oh no.....” Diamond Tiara pants whimpering a little as she dropped back down to four legs with a shudder.

“I .. I don't think it was alive, it turned into a puddle.” Brush points out.” What did you do?”

“Daddy didn't want me to be afraid of Applebloom. He didn't think the martial arts I learned was enough so he hired a crystal pony to teach me how to use the same dragon power as Applebloom. Diamond Tiara shudders. “ It didn't help, its terrifying and knowing fully what Applebloom could do just made it worse. Mr. Rose didn't help not make it terrifying with all the shouting.”

“Crystal pony, Rose... Grandpa?” Brush exclaims.

“You're related to him too?!” Diamond Tiara whimpers before flattening her ears and trying to regain her composure. Brush couldn't help but notice the sudden change from scared filly to snobbish mare who looked down on every one.” You are really lucky I like you or I would be leaving you here right now.”

“Umm thank you, I um like you too.......... but we umm, we need to get out of here. We don't need to encounter any more of them.” Brush states with a bit of a blush, lifting Berry up onto his back and holding her with his wings.

Diamond Tiara perks her ears up turning a bit red herself though she whips her head trying to keep her focus. She nods in agreement picking her way forward through the rubble to look down the hall, trying to avoid glancing at the dead Guards. “This place is annoyingly big, so much wasted space, which way do we go?”

“The throne room. Ma is there and she needs to know about this thing if she does not already.” Brush states picking his way though flinching at the sight of the Guards before heading down the hall.

Diamond Tiara would much rather have found a shelter though she nods. “I'm impressed with your sister. I thought she didn't speak.”

“She doesn't.”

“What was the last thing she said? It sounded like it was in draconic.”

Brush sighs. “It was. Something she picked up from Da. He doesn't swear in Equestrian around us. He uses old Draconic. I guess Berry picked up on it even without saying anything. What she said translates closely to 'Buck you'.”

“I don't think we should tell your mother that part then.”

“Probably for the best.”

===================================================

[1230 hours, New Canterlot Castle main courtyard.]

“Well that was unexpected.” Tirek growled pushing a few tons of stone work off himself and standing looking up at the hole in the side of the castle he had just been blown through. “I am getting quite sick of surprises.”

“HOLD IT RIGHT THERE MONSTER!” a voice shouts behind him. He glances back to the group of Guards then continues to ignore them.

“Odd that Twilight did not even think of that sort of use for the crystals. Even Jer'rahd did not know about the ability. Hmm Still a pity Luna was not asleep, that would have made things so much easier.

The sound of fighting begins behind him as two of his mirror pond clones pop in and fall on the Guards. The duplicates had most of his powers, though only the first few had his intelligence, it had descended from there until most of his army was full of idiots who didn't absorb the powers from ponies, so much as literally trying to eat them. Horrifying, but that sort of terror would be perfect to use against his enemies. Pity none of them could actually absorb a ponies talents. He could have stayed out of danger himself and simply ate clones as they came back with power.

Still if Luna was not in her quarters she would either be in the castles war room or the throne room. As of yet he had seen no sign of either Princess, Pelt, Discord, or any of the other Bearer's of the Elements past or present.

He expected Applejack, Rhede, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy were at the farm. By the time they made it here to the castle he would already have what he needed. The Princesses were a prime goal, once he had them, he would have enough power to absorb the elements of Harmony themselves, and then nothing would stop him. After that he would come back for those annoying foals of Kaisur's.

He glanced back as one of the clones wiped blood from his maw, the other little more than a puddle of water, though a half dozen more clones teleported into the court yard with a pop.

“Go now. Destroy and consume.” Tirek orders, the clones all roar and rush off popping away as they teleported around the castle.

==============================================================

[1245 hours]

“GET OUT OF HERE NOW!” Luna shouts at Starfall and Rainbow Dash. Clouds of steam fill the air as the pair of pegasi nod and vanish from view along with Luna's youngest daughter.

“West wings gone silent! We don't have any contact with with the the main garrison as either!” Nicker shouts stamping out a fire that had caught onto one of the maps. Two unicorn ponies carrying a bandoleer of communications crystals were ducked under the map table shouting out reports to him.

“HOW MANY OF THESE BASTARDS ARE THERE!!” Celestia booms, the far wall of the throne room little more than a chard black mass of seared stone stone, melted metal, and hissing steam.

“They're all turning to water, the bucker must have found the mirror pond. Why in Tartarus didn't we destroy that thing?!” Rhede shouts a barrage of daggers pinning another clone to the wall before it turned into a puddle.

“Because it would have relocated itself, it's done that before. Do you know how hard it is to permanently get rid of an underground spring?. Besides there was no water left in it and we sealed the cave, it should have taken centuries to restore!” Luna shouts her shadows ripping apart two of the clones.

“It must have refilled during the damn floods, we never even thought to check the damn thing.” Celestia snarls, her mane and tail burning brightly.”NICKER WHERE ARE THE LILYS!”

“We've got them reported at the emergency shelter. The Guards there are escorting everyone to a new location after a couple of clones appeared in the shelter. We're bringing every pony to the dungeons, there's an escape route though the mines there. They were on the way here when some Night Guard found them, the Guard at Princess Luna's quarters were wiped out. Berry is unconscious, but other wise fine, there's some screaming about a giant rat by the pink mare with them, though it seems it's just Tiberius hanging on her tail.” Nicker shouts.

“I should have brought them here myself....” Luna growls.

“Not like here is any safer than any where else Princess. Besides we expected the monster to come here first.” Rhede snarls, glaring at the main doors to the throne room were broken into a horde of the clones rushing in trampling the Guards at the door.

A savage growl had the throne of the moon flung into and through a number of the clones rushing the door, a blast of fire turned it into a molten shower of silver and steel that smashed over the encroaching clones like a wave.

“Be careful Tia there are still ponies around here.” Luna shouts as another explosion rocks the walls.

“Says the mare flinging thrones around. I am being careful Lulu, that's why everything is not turned to glass and slag right now.” Celestia snaps, her hooves charring the marble floor as she strides across it, her horn flaring and turning the new attackers to little more than steam.

The floor of the throne room suddenly lurches knocking every pony inside off their hooves and sending them crashing to the ground. A second earthquake sends ripples along the stone under them, shattering the legs of the map table and dropping it onto the two unicorns under it.

“Son'of a bitch. Some pony help me here!” Nicker shouts rushing over to lift the table off the two pinned unicorns.

Luna turns to grip the table in her magic just as the floor under the three ponies turns into molten slag. The stone explodes up like a volcano yanking the table from Luna's magic as molten stone, liquid metal support, the near vaporized corpses of the com ponies, a badly burned Nicker Fury and a shattered map table flinging them all into the air.

The Guard Captain bounces once on the ground, struggling to rise before the remains of the massive table comes down smashing him like a grape against the stone floor.

“NICKER!” Celestia shouts whirling to her hooves and lashing out at the clones bursting up through the new hole in the floor.

“Princesses.... come out and play......” calls a voice in sing song from the hole. “Float on down with your little Princessy wings. Twilight and Sunshine are waiting.... we all float down here....”

“GRAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!” Celestia screams diving into the hole like a blast from the sun itself. The on rushing clones barely have time to turn to steam before they were evaporated by the solar diarch rushing though them.

“TIA NO!” Luna screams out trying to follow after her, though she was forced back due to the heat. The wave of fire suddenly cut off as a green shield formed over the hole blocking Luna or Rhede from entering.

====================================

Celestia slams down into the area under the throne room. It was at least a story down through stone, but this was the primary Royal Canterlot Wine Cellar. It was in disuse due to most of the bottles that had been in the old collection having shattered when the city plunged down the mountain. The old wine steward had a heart attack at the sight of his precious wines thus destroyed, and had subsequently retired immediately after he got out of the hospital. Celestia had not gotten around to restocking or hiring a replacement as she had never really developed a taste for wine and the number of bottles it took to get her drunk would have been a waste of expensive vintages any way. Still it served it's purpose with visiting diplomats, and the kitchen staff currently used the space as an extra store room. The cavernous space was no where near full even with the boxes of dried goods lining the walls between wine racks.

The darkness of the vaulted cellar was peeled away by Celestia's presence. A massive figure stood before her as she landed, grinning wildly and she did not even hesitate to pour on the power and flash fry the creature before her.

Her eyes narrowed as the figure turned to steam only to be surprised as a hand whipped out and grabbed her her by her burning mane, flinging her across the room and into a wine vat. The large barrel exploded with a gush of fire as the wine caught and surged over the stone floor flowing like a river of fire.

She burst free of the vat trailing liquid fire behind her as she shrieks out, setting the whole cellar ablaze as she rushes Tirek as he pulls himself out of the remains of some piled goods. Her charge was short lived as she plowed bodily into a green panel shield. A series of them rapidly forming around her flaming form trapping her in a brightly glowing box.

Tirek steps out of the shadows rubble of the supplies , shaking loose the mash of potatoes he had stepped on from a hoof. His focus was on the box, he couldn't make it air tight and he needed to constantly change the shields on the Princess prison as they shattered and cracked within seconds, even with Twilight and Sunshine's power this was harder than he had expected. Luna had nearly broken through the one above several times and only the sudden surge of new clones in the throne room had kept her from doing just that. The Sun Princess had let herself go fully to the rage that burned in her, she was smashing herself bodily against the shields forcing Tirek to keep the power going to keep her contained. It seemed Twilight and Jer'rahd's memories were correct about her temperament.

“Such a pity I cannot touch you Celestia..., well Solar Flare is more fitting name in this case. Though thanks to your students amazing knowledge, I no longer have to.” Tirek grins holding his hand up towards the molten shield feeling for the energy of the raging sun goddess, once he had it, he began to pull.

The flailing of the Princess continued for a good few moments before she started to weaken. Tirek's eyes widen with greed at the glowing ball of energy that was forming on this side of the shield, power gathered from the pony goddess of the sun. It was almost his, but he was not about to leave the mare with a drop.

The temperature dropped sharply as her flame went out, the tall white mare,s wings and horn fading away to swirl into the gathered magic before Celestia's cutie mark of the sun faded leaving her a normal earth pony with a cutie mark of a burning tree. Tirek dropped the shields grabbing her by the throat before she fell yanking that last little taste of her normal pony mark from her personally before casting her aside for the main course. He was unsure if he needed to be fire proof to touch the stolen sun, but it was better to be safe and steal that immunity from the mare before attempting the larger meal.

He could hear Luna again pounding on the shielded hole, feel the protection splintering, but once he devoured the Sun gods power before him she would be nothing.

“At last, one down... one more goddess to go.” The monster grin reaching a hand up, grabbing the floating sphere of burning light.

“EEENOPE!!” shouts a voice right next to him as a black, purple, and blur blue whips between him and the glowing ball. Tirek screams out as his arm is cut through at the wrist and elbow, the chunks of flesh falling to the ground as he turns glaring at his attacker. He only caught the glimpse of a pair of blue crystal swords and a shadowy figure before it was lost in the darkness again. He growls, his arm rapidly reforming.

“YOU WILL NOT STOP ME SO EASILY!” Tirek bellows.

He makes another grab at the ball of energy only for a hunk of wood with the words ' Louisville Slugger' etched into it to swing past his hand hitting the ball with a crack and sending it soaring across the wine cellar.

Princess Luna finally bursts though the shield landing hard in the wine cellar her magic flaring as she looks around only to get hit right in the face by the ball of energy and get flung backwards out of the hole with a loud shriek.

“HOME RUN!!!! BIG POPPY WINS IT ALL!!!!” screams a voice right in Tirek's ear.

Whirling on his attacker he rears back in surprise at a strange creature. It had the head of a pony, two different types of antlers with a body and legs that seemed to be made up of a number of different animals. It was also currently wearing a sports jersey for some team called the Red Sox and shouting about how it had one the world series for the first time in eighty years as it hoped about swinging the bat in the air.

“A draconequus!?” Tirek growls. “You must be Discord.”

“Oooh! Good answer, GOOD ANSWER!” Discord cackles suddenly wearing a leisure suit and a obvious toupee and standing behind a podium taping some note cards on the top of it.” Lovely assistant tell him what he's won!”

A pink pony wearing an overly sequined red dress, a beehive hairdo and a very wide grin pops up on the other side of the startled Tirek, before darting over to where a massive bright red curtain hung between two support pillars. Tirek blinked not having seen that there a moment before.

“Of course Dissy, our contestant has won a delightful one way trip!” the pink pony yanks the curtain aside.

Behind the curtain was what could best be described as a massive metal cylinder, the end of it was as big around as Tirek's torso and the length of it could not have possibly fit into the wine cellar with out his noticing, let alone hidden behind the curtain. The mare was now at the far end of the thing wearing a pith helmet and a monocle. Etched on the side of the metal tube were the words ' Bleu's Party Artillery Cannon.'

“And where's that trip too Pinky?!” Discord grins from behind a great pile of sandbags nearby. A pegasus pulls a pair of goggles down over her red eyes as she yanks Celestia's prone form behind the sandbags. Tirek had a brief moment to worry that the thing was pointed at him before the pink mare shouts.

“TO PAIN!” the cannon roars as the mare smashes the button and for the second time that day Tirek found himself being blown through numerous castle walls, bedrock, and back out into the sun filled courtyard.

“So awesome.” Rainbow Dash squees.

=============================================

“WHAT THE BUCK JUST HAPPENED!?! screams Rhede dragging a twitching Luna down into the cellar with the help of another Guard. “Dash what the heck are you doing here!?”

“Slight change of plans. Starfall's gone to Sweet Apple Acres to warn them before heading to the Empire with Dawn. I had to go get something myself before we bugged out of here. I didn't want to leave them in that guys grimy claws.” Dash snorts looking at Luna, whose horn was sparking wildly , her eyes glowing brightly behind her closed lids.” Is she okay?”

“Well given she just absorbed all of sun butts powers,soooo probably not. “Discord chuckles lifting one of Luna's eyelids to see the word 'tilt' printed there. “There's always supposed to be two prim pretty perfect pony princesses and there wasn't another unicorn horn around I could aim that hit at. Moon butts gonna have to deal.”

“Yeah Poor Celestia got vacuumed right up.” Pinkie sighs. “It sucked.”

“Right and this is the best you can do? You're the god of chaos for bucks sake.” Rhede grumbles crouching to check on Luna.

“Former god of Chaos.” Discord corrects. “ In case you hadn't noticed, I'm not nearly as potent as I was before.”

“They have pills for that now.” Rainbow Dash chimes in getting a glare from everyone and a snerk of barely contained amusement from Pinkie Pie.

“Any way it's a long story, blah blah blah blasted by Elements, blah blah blah, I can't do anything major any more, blah blah blah.” Discord sighs. “Other wise I'd have cuffed the fool and thrown him in Tartarus by now, baring some misconceived notion of friendship I thought he was giving me which would have just been a trap that I fell for that then led to the open of a stupid box and a new castle and rainbow magic but that's something for a kid show. This is real life......”

“What about my magic?” Rainbow Dash asks not catching any of it.

“Look I don't have time for this we need to get these ponies out of here and I need to get to the Crystal Empire to see if Velkorn's alright.” Rhede growls.

Discord and Pinkie look at each other, the merriment suddenly gone from their faces.

“She's not.” Pinkie says. “I don't think she'll survive the trip. Tirek messed her up pretty bad.”

“What!?”Rhede snaps.

“We've been following him since he hit the Pie rock farm. Every ponies alive, but …. well they are all like Sun butt there, drained. Only Maud and Cheese Sandwich were missed. They came back from their honeymoon early to take care of the family while Pinkie and I chased after him. We tipped off the Guards to the stricken farms, the attack on the train and we set a trap to catch him only for him to slip past.” Discord sighs “By the time we caught up with him again he had already wrecked Gallopagos.”

“Rarity's dead, so's Lion Heart. Twilight is like Princess Celestia and Velkorn........ she's messed up pretty bad.” Pinkie mutters, her hair deflating. “ Sorry....”

Rhede looks between the two of them, neither of the pranksters willing to meet his gaze. The earth pony looks at Luna as she groans then at the hole Tirek had been blown through.

“First Jer and now Velkorn....... “ Rhede growls. “It feels like that damn test again after all this time....”

“What?” Discord questions.

“I'll tell you later.” Pinkie whispers.

“So hot.... I feel like... I'm burning...” Luna groans pushing herself shakily to her hooves before sitting down hard with a wince.” Tia..... what? Discord? Rhede what's going on?”

“The shit has hit the fan Princess and some one keeps throwing more. You've currently got power of the sun and moon in you.” Rhede glances down at her and smirks. “Took a thousand years but I guess we can do that New Lunar republic thing now.”

“Gahh, don't even joke. Still I can feel it, this is nothing like the moon, it's all heat and fire and rage, Starswirl was not that violent......... What.. what is going on?” Luna shivers

“Discord and Pinkie stopped the monster from draining your sisters powers Princess. Unfortunately it seems that the power had to go somewhere and that wound up going back into you.”

“We didn't save everything I think Tirek got some of the new blank flank here's power. Not sure what.” Discord mutters.

“Her talent for growing and her first flames. What she was before she was a Princess most likely. That couldn't be given to me. Just the goddess and Sun powers.” Luna mutters. “ Starswirl..... well the image of him said that much...

Rhede glances down at her flank frowning noting that Celestia's sun now adored Luna's flank, with the familiar crescent of Luna's moon in the center of it, the cutie mark was flickering and that in itself was unnerving. Still he had no time to dwell on it.

“I need to finish this.....” Luna grumbles trying to rise.

“Not a chance Princess. He drained your sister he could easily do the same to you particularly with you fighting the power you have ..... Besides I have a better plan.” Rhede order moving over to the Guard watching the hole up to the throne room and pulling the star metal Changeling detecting rod from the holster on the ponies leg.” What's your name solider?”

The pegasus ruffles a bit in surprise before answering.” Blue Light sir.”

“Good you are going to stay here and defend the Princess with your life, use this, it should disrupt the clones if you just so much as smack them with it. If you hit something and it doesn't turn to water. It's the real one. Keep in mind you are going to have to hit it like you are trying to kill it, there's only a sliver of star metal in these things and that bit on the tip has to break the skin for it to work.”

“Yes Sir.”

“Luna, I need you to focus, you know that spell you used during the noodle incident that sent your foals to the Crystal Empire?” Rhede asks.

“Yes... but that was prepared far in advance, I had to store power for some time......” Luna mutters.

“You've got about thirty minutes. That's best guess for how long I can keep him occupied. Discord help her out if you can she needs to move the whole population of New Canterlot this time.” Rhede snaps. “ No one needs to be left behind to be lunch for this thing.”

“That's a bit much.....” Discord mutters. “ Shouldn't you be worried about him eating your cutie mark?”

“Yeah cause he's gonna be really skilled at wooing mares if he gets me. Leave the dead and dying, focus on ponies who are still alive and moderately healthy, use Pinkie sense or what ever. Do that Unicorn trifecta thing.” Rhede mutters.

“But Pinkie Pie isn't a unicorn.” Luna protests glancing up to frown at Pinkie who had styled her hair into a big pink horn.

Rhede looks at Discord who sighs.” It will work, but we'll be sitting ducks down here.” the draconequus turns into a white duck in a blue sailor suit and no pants.

“Hey you got me.” Rainbow Dash chimes in, being largely ignored.

“Good, hide under a barrel or something. Luna can supply the power you two can fandangle it .”

“Yes sir captain sir!” Pinkie Pie salutes.

Rhede glances back and grins, though the expression was without humor. “ I'm not a Captain. I'm a General.”

The red pony yanks a cloak from his pouch pulling it over his head and vanishes from sight.

============================================================

[1200 hours. Red Hoof encampment. ]

“What the buck is this?” Sergeant Hunter questions. The green earth stallion shifts his gaze over the hastily built shelters and the collection of Guard ponies placed underneath said shelters. Hunter tosses his lime green mane with a sigh. He advances ducking under the flapping bit of tent to walk among the ponies laying on the ground, all of them in their own bed roll, all of them unconscious.

The pegasus Drill Sergeant, Sterling glances back motioning a few of the trainees with high medical scores forward to have a look.

“A couple of these aren't Guard. I recognize one or two from wanted posters, they're members of the Red Hoof.” Sterling comments.

“There's more to it. Look there.” Hunter comments pointing further up the path to a line of stones resting over mounds of earth.

“Graves?” Sterling asks flitting over to have a look at them.

“DRILL SERGENT WE GOT A LIVE ONE!” shouts one of the trainees.

Hunter turns galloping over towards the voice finding the trainees surrounding a rather weary looking white pegasus in scout armor.

“Oh thank Celestia... I couldn't keep doing this by myself … I have no idea how he did it.” The pony collapses dropping the buckets of water he held in his wings to the ground as he slumps.

“MEDIC!” hunter bellows crouching down next to the pony. “ What's your name Corporal?”

“Pin Feather sir.” the stallion pants. “Guard messenger 96th division. I'm normally stationed out of Chiacolt, but I'm on rotation.”

“What happened here?”

“I don't know I got here two days ago and everything was like this. There was some massive thing, something wearing a tent like a cloak, digging graves over there. He buried the last when I arrived. He grabbed me before I could get away and started telling me how to care for the unconscious ones. Told me their life was in my hooves now and then he just left. I've been feeding, giving water and trying to keep all 53 of these ponies alive on my own for two days... I haven't slept....... I need to report back... to let them know what's going on at Canterlot.”

“It's alright Guard, rest we have this. I need you to explain to these trainees what they need to do . We've got about thirty ponies to help out here. But I need you to think. Did this cloaked creature say anything else?” Hunter asks.

“No sir... wait no, he did ask me where he could find Twilight Sparkle. I told him I didn't know and he left. What would some one want with Princess Celestia's consort?”

“HUNTER!!! GET OVER HERE!” Sterling bellows.

“I'll be right back.” Hunter turns rushing over to where Sterling stood over one of the graves. What looked to be dragon and pony tracks criss-crossed the grave site and a shovel nearby had claw marks in the wood handle. A number of them had helmets or weapons decorating the simple unmarked stones clearly left to identify the bodies buried there. There was another mound of dirt near the cliff edge that didn't have a stone, but what it did have, was a well worn battle harness marked with the crest of the Lunar Guard, and a unadorned dark metal sword. Composed of two slightly curved blades with a simple dark blue cloth grip wrapped around the middle.

“Is that what I think it is?” Hunter asks.

“The Waning Moon.” Sterling agrees.

“TRAINIESS SEARCH THESE CAMPS, FIND ME A FLYING CHARIOT AND I NEED TWO PULLERS FOR A EMERGENCY RUN BACK TO CANTERLOT!”

“Take this with you Hunter. Princess Luna will need to know.” Sterling mutters gesturing to the sword.

“See what you can find on this grave digger, some one's going to have to answer for this and I pity any one who gets in the Princesses way.” Hunter sighs.

==============================================================

[ 1300 hours.]

“AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!” Blue Blood screams galloping away from the massive creature chasing him though the front gates of his mansion. Orange Danish and a number of servants were hot on his hooves with one of the Tirek clones right behind them.

One of the maids screams as she was snatched up by the monster and shoved into it's mouth with a sickening bloody crunch. The creature chewed making a bloody mess , but didn't seem to try and swallow any of the unfortunate maid, just wear her.

“Split up! It can't follow all of us! Make for the Castle!” Orange yells galloping along beside Blue Blood who seemed to be rapidly running out of breath. “Stop yelling, focus on breathing.”

The other ponies split off rushing down various roads and alleys, the monster ignores them focusing on the screaming white unicorn stallion.

“It's still following us!!” Blueblood yelps.

“Stop screaming... look the castles not that far now.. We can make it.” Orange puffs doing a better job of controlling her breathing than Blueblood.

“”I'm not .. cut out for this sort of thing.” Blueblood stammers.

“You'll be fine just calm dow.... AHHH!” Orange yelps as she stumbles crashing to the ground. She glances down noting a golden glow wrapped around her fore hooves, looking up as Blueblood continues to run, his horn was glowing with the same magic.

“With your help I can, thank you love!” Blueblood shouts still galloping away.

“That.. that..... asshole...” Orange shrieks after him struggling to get her legs out of the magical bonds glaring after the fleeing Blueblood. A shadow falls over her and she turns looking up in the blood flecked maw of the creature towering over her.

Feeed.....” the monster growls reaching for the mare as she freezes wide eyed.

“CANNON BALLL!!!!!” Screams a voice from above.

The monster looks up in time to have four earth pony hooves and a spear slam into it's face. It's skull indents from the impact and the piercing strike before it suddenly turns into a massive puddle of water that splashes over Orange and drops the green earth pony off his perch in the monsters face sending him tumbling to the ground.

“Ow!! Son of a ….. why the buck did it pop!?” the Guard shakes his lime mane out flinging water every where before, looking up into the sky at the two pegasi pulling a small chariot he had just been in. “KEEP GOING TELL THE PRINCESSES, I'LL MAKE MY WAY TO THE CASTLE ON MY OWN!”

One of the pegasi salutes and the pair rush off.

Orange stands up sputtering water as the Guard approaches grinning and leaning heavily on his spear.

“Well well well, look who it is I thought the cute mare on the ground looked familiar. Howdy Orange. I must say the wet mane look looks damn good on you.” the Guard grins.

“Hunter what are you doing here?” Orange grumbles glaring at him from under her sodden hair.

“You mean aside from saving you from a monster like a hero of yore?”

“And breaking your leg in the process.” Orange snarks back.

“It's a sprain at worst.”

“I'm a doctor Hunter. I heard the crack.”

“Does that mean you'll kiss it and make it better?”

“No..... come on I'll help you get to some shelter at least. I can try to patch you up there.“ Orange sighs. “What on Equss made you think jumping off a chariot was a good idea?”

“Hey I kept telling you before I was falling for you, figure maybe if I showed you literally....”

“Oh by the stars stop there...” Orange growls pressing against his side to help the green earth pony keep the weight off his foreleg.

“Oh come on that was funny.” Hunter grins with a faint wince.

“Maybe a little.”

==============================================

[1315 hours]

Rhede was soaked, there was a veritable river running over the cobblestones around him and still more of them were coming. Despite it being little more than water any pony looking at him could have sworn the courtyard was running red with blood.

Rhede had emerged from the tunnel into the thick of fighting and had informed the Guards to retreat to the cellar to protect Luna. He collected a few of the star metal rods off fallen Guards. He had put them to very good use, every one he collected put down five or more of the clones before being broken beyond recovery. Still the clones continued to attack. Every so often he found one that used magic and thought he found his target only to pop them and find they were just smarter clones.

Rhede was starting to doubt he would find the real Tirek and decided to Tartarus with it.

“TIREK COME OUT AN PLAY!!!” Rhede bellows in a sing songy voice mimicking and mocking the earlier call to Celestia. The Royal Canterlot voice hurt his throat, but he was past caring about a minor pain.

Tirek pauses at the bellow, he had been trying to move around the throne room to another entry point and had made his way to the second floor, planing to bring the rest of the throne room down on the ponies in the basement, he doubted Luna or Discord would be killed, though their injuries from the structures collapse should make them easy prey.

Glancing out the window at the red pony in the court yard, he almost dismissed it as he saw two of his clones rushing the doomed fool from either side. The pony didn't move as he looked over the building, blue eyes searching for the real Tirek. When he finally did move, it was only his long black tail, two quick flicks to the left and the right and both of the clones rushing him suddenly cried out clutching their throats, turning to water as they crashed to the cobble stones on either side of the pony splashing him a little, though other wise not disturbing him in the slightest.

Tirek's eyes widen as the name finally matches the face in his stolen memories.

“Rhede Pelt.” Tirek snarls.”I should have expected I would have to deal with you.”

Tirek gathers energy in his hand snapping it towards the pony, who looked up at the glow and bounds away as the fireball explodes in the courtyard, boiling away the standing water and setting the very stone on fire. He growls hearing a window shatter. Looking over to the shower of glass further down the hall he was in, he flings another spell at the sound, the hall exploding with a blast of lightning, only striking a metal rod that was flung inside. Before the spell had even fully finished it's explosion, the broken window he had sent the first fireball through, shattered the rest of the way, showering him with glass as four heavy hooves slammed into his back. The red pony used Tirek as a spring board leaping up to bounce off a wall slinging a hail storm of daggers at Tirek with a heavy whip of his tail as he leaps back at the monster.

Tirek raises a shield quickly still feeling a few of the daggers slam into his flesh, the pony hits the shield as well back flipping away leaving a cluster of small apple sized devices behind to fall to Tirek's hooves. The explosion of fire blinded Tirek for a heart beat though the pony had landed further down the hall and was staring at him. His back burned where the pony had bounced off him, though he ignored it.

“Seems you did get some of Celestia's power. Those should have flash fried you. I suppose shrapnel bombs are the order of the day now.” Rhede states, his voice cold. “You killed my wife.” Rhede utters, his tail whisking like a cats, his ears flat to his head as he takes a step towards the massive creature.

“I've killed a lot of ponies. You'll have to be more specific.” Tirek chuckles.

“Velkorn.”

“Ah yes the zebra. Such a lovely scent that was, charred Zebra flesh.” Tirek taunts with a grin. A grin that slowly fades as the pony doesn't rush him, didn't scream any outrage or revenge, he simply advanced slowly, unnervingly. His mind was giving off a multitude of warning signals about Pelt when he acted like this. Both from the memories of Twilight and Jer'rahd.

“All that aside I suppose I should thank you for freeing me. After all if you hadn't slaughtered those elk and cut down the tree, I never would have gotten out.” Tirek's grin widens as the pony stops a flash of emotion crossing his face.

“Well then. I suppose it's my job to put you back then.” Rhede snarls finally flicking his head, the motion flipping a hood up over his face. He then promptly vanishes from sight.

Tirek's eyes widen as he raises a number of shields only for a long gash to form in his side as the pony reappears past the shields, his hooves slam again into the monsters side as he runs up Tirek's back leg stabbing him repeatedly with metal rods, leaving the things piercing his flesh right down to the bone.

The monster roars lashing out with a hand a wave of energy obliterating the wall behind him, though the pony had vanished again until a number of other stabs embed into his upper chest, more rods slammed into him all the way to the bone. Tirek yanks one of them out, noting that the tip had broken off and the wound burned like fire. Tirek growls bursting into flames with the scant power he had snagged from the Princess forcing his attacker back.

Rhede reappears before him staring up at Tirek a dagger hilt gripped in his teeth, the end of the weapon dripping a viscus green gray liquid. Tirek takes a step back looking at the poisoned blade the memory of the coloration and the feeling of the pain he was feeling settling into his mind from stolen memories. He looks back at his own body where necrosis was already starting to set in around the first hoof imprints in his back. The flesh around the metal rods was also starting to turn black, along with all the cuts. Tirek flinched as he realized there was star metal in the wounds and the necrosis was going faster then the shards of the metal would allow him to heal, leaving gaping patches of rotted flesh around each of the embedded rods and each cut.

“Wind Serpent Venom.... “ Tirek gasps, flinching.

“I doubt it will kill you unfortunately, but it's going to hurt like the fires of the sun.” Rhede smirks around the blade.

“You told Kaisur you didn't use poison!” Tirek snaps.

“I told Jer a lot of things. Doesn't mean any are true. ” Rhede snorts flicking his head and vanishing again. “I'm not the Bearer of Honesty.”

=================================================

[ 1315. Starry void of the magic plane]

“GAWDDAMN THAT'S A HUGE BITCH!” a voice shouts suddenly from no where in the starry void as Discord and Pinkie Pie look up at the massive eye of Luna staring down at them like the moon itself.

“Discord that isn't very nice... Despite being absolutely correct, some pony ate her Wheaties.” Pinkie Pie gawks.

“We do not have much time.” Luna's voice rumbles, her form flickering between white and her usual coloration.

“Don't worry your pretty little head about it Moon Butt.” Discord waves a claw pulling a top hat from no where and yanking a giant frog from it. He squeezes the frog and a massive scroll pops out of it's mouth hitting the ground and unrolling. He tosses the frog over his shoulder into the void, the amphibian shouting something that sounded like' Believe it' as it poofed out of existence. As the scroll unrolls a map of New Canterlot and the surrounding area forms on it. The city itself slowly starts to rise as clockwork gears and pistons form, pushing the city up into a three dimensional map of churning gears and pistons. Discord hums to himself as he watches the city grow and Pinkie glares at him.

“Rains of Castamere? How could you!?” the Pink mare snorts.

“Sorry it's a catchy song. Not like this is a wedding after all....” Discord sighs, looking down at the map multiple points of light appearing, many of them clustered around large buildings or under the map itself.

Pinkie pie leans down poking at a barn in Sweet Apple Acres. “ Hi Apple Jack! Hi Fluttershy!”

=========================================================

[1315 Sweet Apple Acres]

Fluttershy looks up from where she was guiding the foals into the storm cellar. Applejack was standing by the barn nearby looking around confused.

“Applejack did you hear that?” Fluttershy asks.

“Yeah sounded like Pinkie Pie....” Applejack admits.

===============================================

[ 1315. Starry void of the magic plane]

“Enough with the playing. How am I supposed to do this?” Luna states looking down at the map.

“Just focus on the dots Moon Butt. Pinkie and I will take care of the rest.” Discord smirks. We got this. All you have to do is push when we say and everything will at least be fairly sorta maybe okay

“As you say. Though tell me. What is the meaning of the line of energy connecting you two?” Luna asks.

Discord and Pinkie both jump looking to each other and then down to the flickering rope of energy running between the pair. They both jump to each other trying to hide it and manage to crash into each other instead.

“Never you mind. Focus Moon Butt.” Discord yelps.

“Stop calling me moon butt, Discord.” Luna snaps.

Pinkie Pie falls over in a fit of giggles as Discord smiles and holds out a clawed hand for Pinkie to drop a sack of bits in it.

“Told you I could do it.”Discord smirks.

“What?” Luna asks.

“You said 'butt'...” Pinkie snorts cackling.

“I am having doubts about this plan.” Luna sighs.

=================================================

[ 1330 hours ]

Tirek screams out vaporizing another wall. There were patches of black covering his body, chunks of his skin and flesh falling off of the bone. A section of his upper rib cage was showing the flesh of the lung seen beating underneath. He looked much like a porcupine with all the metal rods sticking out of him. Black blood soaked the ground around him, only rage, stubbornness, and the magic of two gods he had eaten kept him from collapsing. He couldn't fall, if he fell Pelt would find a way to kill him.

He had not been able to hit the damn pony, he couldn't even see the damn pony. None of Sparkle's spells stuck to the cloak long enough for it to appear. Pelt had never let the purple unicorn study the zebra cloaks, he had let Rarity have a look at one however to make something for Starfall. Tirek had destroyed the white mare not absorbed her, so the knowledge was lost. He needed to stop doing that, anything was critical at this point.

Still in the flailing and slinging of magic he had finally gotten lucky. The relentless attacks had stopped and there was a large splatter of bright crimson blood on the rocks of the collapsed wall. He narrows his eyes waiting for a trap though as the lightning and fire burning the stone around him die down, he could see the splatter of blood trail off to a black object on the ground pinned between some fallen rubble.

It was a black furred leg with a hoof.

Tirek grins, eyes following the trail of blood as it goes back into the castle.

“I will see you suffer for this Pelt.” Tirek mutters casting a number of healing spells on himself trying to fend off the onset of the poison, he couldn't fall now. He climbed up into the ruined hallway following the blood splatters, yanking out the rods one at a time as he moved, trying not to break off any further star metal slivers inside of himself.

Oh yes this pony was going to pay.

===================================================

[1350 hours. New Canterlot Castle store room.]

Tirek growls ripping one of the double doors off it's hinges and flings it aside. The light from the door way falls in a darkened room, a narrow path of light shows the outlines on a cavernous room packed wall to wall with barrels and boxes covered in tarps. The blood splatters lead right into the middle of them where Rhede Pelt was leaning back against a crate glaring up at him, the zebra cloak was bunched around his missing foreleg, a lit cigar dangling from his mouth.

“Took you long enough. I figure I was gonna bleed out before you even found me.” Rhede smirks snorting a bit of smoke from his nostrils. “I do hope that crap still hurts, more than my leg any way.”

Tirek growls striding forward a shield raised, though as he gets closer he notes how pale the red pony was, and how little the stump was bleeding.

“Hey if Jer's in there some where, tell him sorry, but it doesn't look like I'm gonna manage that drink with him when he comes back.” Rhede chuckles softly. “Already started on the new born cigar thing though. These things are pricey, couldn't let it go to waste.”

“He's not going to come back Pelt. You can have your drink when you meet him in what ever pony afterlife you two find yourselves in.” Tirek growls reaching down and grabbing Rhede off the ground.

The monster blinks a moment, looking at the limp pony in his grasp before dropping him back onto the floor.

“I can't take your power? What is this madness?”Tirek snarls

“Well there's a pretty simple reason for that. I've been dead for about two minutes now.” Rhede chuckles.

“Impossible.”

“Nah it's a very very old assassins trick. One where you keep your body going through sheer force of will, and a lot of drugs, but that's not important. It doesn't give me long, maybe ten, fifteen minutes at best, usually it's used so you can complete the mission before dying. Since that's kinda out of the question here, I just want to see the look on your stupid face in the end.”

“What are you babbling....” Tirek snaps his head up feeling a massive surge of power, one that passes over himself, a wave of energy radiating outward, not disturbing anything around him, including the pale pony before him. “What was that!?”

“Luna saving every pony I'd imagine. “ Rhede grins reaching up and pulling the cigar out of his mouth with his remaining hoof looking at the bright cherry red glow on the end. “That's not quite the look I was after though. I expect this will be though.”

Rhede flicks the cigar to the side, the brown cylinder bounces once and lands in what looks like a pile of ash.

“Heh, first try, good thing I don't miss.” Rhede smiles looking up at Tirek watching the monsters expression change from confusion to horror as the ash sparks and catches fire. The flash trailing towards the door and blowing up a number of bombs the pony had place over the entrance collapsing it turning the room black. The sparkling ash continues going the other way as well sending flickering light over Tirek's face before the trail vanishes into a barrel. A sudden hiss and a screech sound as a number of rockets shoot out of the barrel soaring to the cavernous ceiling, bouncing off the stone and raining down on the tarps and boxes filling the room. Rhede watches Tirek's expression become more and more panic as the rockets exploded and new hissing, much louder hissing was heard.

“Yeah, Pinkie and Discord bought 'A LOT' of fireworks for Jer and Luna's wedding.” Rhede grins at Tirek's expression, his eyes closing. “See yah soon Velky.”

And then the castle exploded.

=====================================================

[1430 hours Crystal Empire]

It was the screams and the crying that got to her, the air was full of the sounds. Those of the injured, those who had learned of their loved ones deaths. It was beyond anything she had seen before. Even the War of Gods wasn't this bad.

An hour ago six barges and a host of smaller ships and air craft arrived along the river from Gallopgos. The full tally was not in, but there was less than two thousand ponies, sea ponies, and half dragons on the ships. Gallopagos had been a settlement of close to seven thousand counting the surrounding river pony settlements.

Princess Cadence had learned that both Lord Lion Heart and Lady Rarity were dead. Shining's sister was with them, in a sense. She was badly wounded with several broken ribs and the signs of magical burn out, she also had no cutie mark and wouldn't wake up. Ambassador Pelt's wife Velkorn was also with them. The whole front of her body was burned black, her fore legs were both gone and if she survived this she would likely never hear, see, or even speak again given that her skull was visible in some parts of her face. One of the medics had cut a hole in her neck and put in a tube so that she could still breath. Even with medical magic Cadence had no idea how the mare was still alive.

The Half Dragon Guard Elecktra had sought her out with Lady Rarity and Lord Lion Hearts foal, Elusive. The foal had not stopped screaming and crying since he had gotten here. She and Locust had done their best and barely gotten the colt to sleep. Elecktra had refused to leave the foals side after Rarity's last order and had taken up a spot in the room with him. Talia and the other Guards were doing what they could to gather the names of the missing and the known dead, though they were having difficulty keeping order even with the aid of the Crystal Guard.

Then thirty minutes ago it gotten worse.

Thousands of ponies suddenly started appearing in flashes of light around the city, some of them dropping from the air as they appeared, high off the ground. Some popped in atop of buildings or in homes. Several had appeared in the palace itself . Nearly all of them were confused and in a panic about what was going on and where they were. The chaos from that was only made worse when Princess Luna herself appeared in the throne room with a host of Royal and Lunar Guard, a gray pegasus mare in a black and purple outfit, Pinkie Pie and Discord.

Luna managed only two steps before collapsing near an already prone white earth pony mare that Cadence had to be told was her aunt Celestia. Discord and Pinkie Pie promptly collapsed atop of each other as well, leaving the Guard and the pegasus freaking out.

Cadence was not exactly in the right mind set any way to deal with this and once she was done shouting at the group of them sending the Royal and Lunar Guards out to help Shining and the Crystal Guard. One of the Guards stayed behind to help clear everything up for her. Cadence was a little leery about the mare claiming to be Rainbow Dash until the mare pulled off her goggles and tried to explain what was going on faster than Cadence could keep up.

It was after the arrival of Starfall, carrying Dawn, Applejack and Fluttershy that things finally got under some semblance of order and the explanations of what happened were given.

“Sorry to dump this on you, but we didn't have much choice Princess.” Starfall sighs.” Where's Rhede?”

“I'm sorry,” Pinkie Pie mutters. “We couldn't find him, we didn't see his star any where in that voidy place.”

“Voidy place, what does that mean?” Cadence asks.

The remaining Guard, Blue Light and Rainbow Dash both wince.

“It means he's dead. Princess Luna, Discord, and Pinkie Pie were trying to grab everyone and Rhede told them to ignore the dead and dying and focus on the living. If they couldn't find him, he was one of those.”Rainbow Dash states slowly.

“No way.... Rhede.... “Starfall's eyes widen and she stumbles a bit as she turns moving away from the group.

“By the stars.” Cadence shudders sitting down hard. “This is the worst thing.”

“Hey sugar not to interrupt, but what's with all tha half dragon around here? Thought you only had a bunch of changelings?” Applejack asks.

“The same thing that happened to Canterlot happened to Gallopagos.” Starfall mutters.

“Oh no. Is Rarity and her family okay?” Fluttershy whimpers.

“No...... no..... Rarity and Lion Heart are dead.....” Cadence mutters her ears drooping as the yellow pegasus starts whimpering than then outright crying and Applejack seeming on the verge of it herself. Dash simply flopped to the floor as everything finally hit her and AJ cradled the sobbing yellow pegaus.

“What about Velkorn and Twilight?” Starfall asks. “She's not going to be happy about Rhede.”

“Twilight is injured but fine, she's not waking up though.”Cadence frowns hating to do this again, but it was not as if she could do anything else to help out at the moment and they would learn soon enough. “Velkorn is only being kept alive though what ever stubbornness she has and magical life support. There's not much of a chance she'll make it.”

Cadence winces as Starfall collapses trying hard not to be bawling like Fluttershy.

“Luna ain't gonna like this when she wakes up. Neither is Jer.” Apple Jack mutters her voice cracking a little.

“I am afraid the Major is missing and presumed dead as well Miss Applejack.” Blue Light states. “ No one has heard anything from him or any of the others sent on the mission to deal with the Red Hoof Gang.”

“I'll find some rooms for you all.” Cadence mutters. “And a doctor to check on every one here.“

“Big Mac's got tha foals and Rhede's twins....... well ah guess we better count um as ours unless Velkorn recovers..... Ain't tha way ah wanted to adopt any more......” Applejack sighs.

“I'll go find them for you Miss.” Blue Light states following after Princess Cadence.

“Find Air Commander Peach Blossom as well.” Starfall calls out with a choked sob. “Tell him I'm here.”

Cadence lowers her head as the Guard nods, her wings drooping as well as she and Blue Light walk out of the throne room, leaving the mourning ponies.

Starfall slowly pushes herself back up, tears running along her muzzle, though there was a furious expression one her face.

“Dash, did you get what I sent you for?”

“What? oh... yeah, yeah I did.” Rainbow Dash stammers wiping her own eyes with the back of her hoof. “ Will they even work? Rhede said you needed the ones who bonded with each other.”

“What they hay are you talking about?” Applejack asks, watching as Rainbow Dash pulls a box from under her wing, opening the cover to reveal the Element's of Harmony.

“Rhede doesn't....... didn't know everything. The Element of Honesty allowed me to wear my armor again when I went after Wind Razor. There might be other things they can do to help.”

“Well they spoke to us,.” Applejack mutters. “Took over a couple of us too so that they could help stop Canterlot from Crushing Ponyville. Might be at the very least they ken tell us what tha heck we're dealing with here...... awwww shit.....”

“What? What's wrong now?” Rainbow Dash questions.

“Applebloom and tha others weren't in Canterlot and they were supposed to be coming back by train today!” Applejack grinds her teeth in worry.”

“Trains were stopped yesterday. They should all be stuck in Los Pegasus.” Starfall explains.

“Well that's good at least. They're safer there, than here I spect.” Applejack exhales.

================================================

[1500 Hours Remains of Canterlot Castle. ]

“GRAAAAAAH!!!!” a large stone was shoved aside as a massive figure pushes itself out of the rubble. The figure was covered in burns and patches of rotting flesh, black icor dripped from a number of wounds and several metal rods were jabbed into his flesh. It looked more like a half formed zombie than any sort of creature that should be alive

Tirek's gaze shifted over the remains of the castle. He was standing in what had once been the throne room. All around him was devastation. The massive structure of Canterlot Castle was completely leveled. He could see a number of stones embedded into houses all the way in the Ponyville district. The monument arch remained unscathed, though Tirek had a strong desire to knock it over out of spite.

He growled looking back at the rubble, if he had not poured all his energy into his shields, that blast might have actually killed him. As it was his body had stopped healing itself all together and he had burned through his reserves just trying to get out of the rubble. The poison Pelt had pumped into him was stopped, but until he recovered, sections of his flesh would remain rotted. This was going to take far longer than he liked.

Tirek stumbled away from the hole his eyes not seeing anything moving but the flicker of flames. No ponies, no clones, nothing. Had he not left two of the smarter ones at the pool making clones until the pond was dry, he would be a bit worried about losing seven score of the things. Right now his main concern was that his ears wouldn't stop ringing. The monster reaches up to rub his ears with a wince, so help him if Pelt had made him go deaf, he'd find a way to resurrect the damn pony just to kill him again.

Tirek pauses his eyes widening. His hands left his ears as he tried to look up at his own head, one hand gripped his long black horn, the other grasped at nothing. His left horn was little more than a jagged stump, not even an apple length from his temple.

“GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!” Tirek bellows.

===============================================================

[ 1500 hours, south East of White Tail Woods]

“By Celestia's fluffy tail this is taking forever!!!” Sweetiebelle moans falling back in the cart and kicking her legs in the air.

“Ah dun wanna hear it Sweetiebelle. It's barely been two hours an you were just as adamant about walking as every pony else.” Applebloom snorts from where she was pulling the cart. “Only one who gets ta complain about tha time it takes is Pip, since he didna wanna come this way any way.”

“I'm good.” Pip mutters looking over the map as he sat in the back of the cart trying to avoid looking at Scootaloo who still floated above them on a cloud, her small wings slowly fanning her along, the only sign of movement from her.

The group of them had come across a cross roads shop an hour ago and Pip had picked up a map of the area for a few bits. Sweetiebelle had nearly cleaned out the shop replacing some of the souvenirs that had been lost from the dragon attack. Applebloom had found out she was related to the shop keeper and chatted for a bit, while Scootaloo stayed outside with the cart, still not talking to any of them. Pip had been going over the map for lack of anything better to do.

“We're just now getting around Ever Rest and coming up on White Tail Woods.” Pip explains, glancing up when the cart shudders as Applebloom stumbles. “ Something wrong Applebloom?”

“No.. yes … maybe.... somethin about this place. Ken any of you feel it?” Applebloom blurts out.

“Can't say I feel anything but bored.” Sweetiebelle mutters as Pip shakes his head.

“Fraid ah don't feel anything.“ Pip comments.

“Think it might have to do with that seed of yours?” Scootaloo asks, that she suddenly spoke again caused most of them to jump.

“ I dunno... What's tha map show is around here?” Applebloom asks, starting to pull the cart again.

“Well the path should start running along side a river here soon, then it follows the edge White Tail woods following the river. There's not much more to that map then that in this area. White Tail woods is pretty much just a green blob. Which is kinda weird given how detailed most of the map is. I expect it's due to the fact no ones really mapped out the place.” Pip explains.

“Wonder why that is. I figured Equestria had been mapped out to every little stone by this point.” Sweetiebelle waves a hoof.

“Well it might have something to do with the warning. 'Here there be deer.' “ Pip comments.

“Here there be deer? Was the map maker a zebra or something?” Scootaloo snarks.

“They might mean Elk. From what I recall from history and what I've heard White Tail Woods used to have a sizable population of them. Though the place has been left alone for over a thousand years, and supposedly a lot of Elk have returned to the place. Ta tell the truth I wouldn't mind having a look. Like Sweetiebelle said, there's not many unexplored places left in Equestria.” Pip glances up to the woods along the path. His cutie- mark was some what based of exploration, and his uncle Rhede figured he would make a great Guard scout.

“What's an elk?” Scootaloo asks.

“Dunno. Never seen one.” Pip admits.

“Supposedly they're like ponies, but taller and thinner with short tails like a rabbit, cloven hooves like a goats, and antler like things on their head instead of horns like the Caribou. Some older races call them Fey. They're supposed to know all kinds of natural magic and have spells that focus on the spirits in living things. They have their own language which is supposed to be unpronounceable by most races making them hard to talk to. They also have the life span like dragons, and often steal newborn foals and replace them with baby Elk to be raised by ponies before they're stolen away again after they come of age.

“Do I want to know how you know all that?” Scootaloo grumbles.

“They're in a bunch of Button's games.” Sweetiebelle states proudly.

“I was right I didn't” Scootaloo sighs.

“Elk........” Applebloom comments mostly to herself before stopping the cart again.

“Now what?” Sweetie asks.

“Elk are what ah keep seeing in those nightmares..... Rhede musta known though.....”Applebloom comments, muttering the last bit to her self.

“I thought all you ever saw was vague shapes?” Pip comments.

“I used to, but lately everything's been a lot clearer in mai dreams.“ Applebloom sighs. “Sweetie just described what I've been seeing and I heard them called Elk once in that dream ah had on tha train.”

“Nightmares, strange feelings, that weird seed rock thing in the necklace....” Scootaloo lists.

“Zecora saying that thing is important....” Pip comments.

“Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?” Sweetiebelle grins.

“I'd need to loose more brain cells to think down at your level, but yeah I get the gist.” Scootaloo grins.

“I think I'm glad I mentioned this trip might take two weeks to Ma and Da.” Pip sighs. “Head up along the road here until we get to where the river forks, we ken follow the bigger water way into the woods.”

“What ….. Seriously you guys?” Applebloom asks.

“Hey, I did say we were gonna try to get you a cutie mark if we could on this trip. You're lousy at gambling so maybe this is it.” Sweetiebelle points out.

“I'll send a message tah auntie Celestia, least tha sending crystals working. Da's gonna have a fit ah broke one of them still.”Pip grumbles.

“Yeah lets goo... hey wait Scootaloo that was mean!” Sweetiebelle grows.

=======================================================

[1530 hours ruins of New Canterlot]

Tirek growled sitting on the toppled remains of the throne of the sun. This had been a bad day. All of the clones he brought with him to New Canterlot were gone, he had only managed to absorb a few score of ponies and had barely managed to get a taste of Celestia's power.

The only advantage he had now was that this was not ALL the clones he had made. The mirror pool had been flooded he had made dozens of direct clones of himself before letting the first generation of clones make their own army. Even the first generation of his clones were weaker than he was, though not by that much. They also knew they couldn't steal powers, and they had the same goals as he did.

Right now there were armies of himself marching and teleporting to all the major cities in Equestria and others were working on mimicking Twilight's warp gate enchantment so that they could easily lay siege to the other nations of the world.

Despite how much this day had sucked, it was only a minor setback at worst. His forces would gather up all the ponies they could grab and bring them back to New Canterlot, where he would be waiting to drain them. He briefly considered digging through the rubble of the forbidden wing to see if he could find a way to raise the drained ponies to add to his army. Granted he was certain Twilight had read everything there and all he needed to do was think long enough. It would give him something to do while he waited for his regeneration to renew the rotting flesh that Pelt had inflicted on him.

“Hello? Auntie Celestia? “ crackles a voice.

Tirek lifts his head looking around as the voice repeats itself. Staring down at the throne he was perched on, he rises, pulling aside the chard couch cushion to find a green message receiving stone.

“Hello auntie Celestia, it's Pip... I guess you might be in court sorry if I'm interrupting something. “Pip states

“Hi Princess!!” shouts a female voice

“Sweetiebelle shut up.” another female voice with a southern drawl hisses.

“Um any way, everything's fine it's just we might have a lead on something to do with Applebloom's nightmares and that thing she was given. We probably won't be back for a few more days, we'll be in...”

“Don't tell her this could be an unsecured line!” Sweetiebelle shouts.

“It's not an unsecured line it's a bleeding one way message crystal........ Oh for Ma's sake.... The things blinking, it's run outta charge, I filled tha thing up before ah left Las Pegasus. Just tell Ma to pop into mai dreams again if she's got tha ti.....” Pip was cut off as the crystal beeps.

“Well that was pointless....” Tirek mutters tossing the crystal to the side letting it shatter on the ground. He sighs grumbling a little a few stray memories from Sunshine floating into his mind about Applebloom and her nightmares. Little by little an image of what the filly had been given came to his mind.

“A necklace with a stone in it, one that some how unnerves me to think of?” Tirek ponders. “Blast this power to the sky, it tells me what's important, but not why.”

Tirek growls .

“And there's the bucking rhyming again!”

Author's Note

Title - End of all Hope - Night wish

I am sure a number of you are absolutely hating me at this point. I can also see a number of theories die just as i watch others spring to life....

I've never quite gotten this dark before, though in the Last Dance plot line that i rolled into this one, what happened in this chapter happened there as well. Though much like Rarity it was again due to Blue blood.

Now before any of you go bashing me about Blueblood in this, i follow a number of Stories were Blueblood is neither scum, and in two of them he's rather heroic. My Blueblood is pure scum however.

I dumped quite a lot on people in this one and i hope that those that claimed Rarity and Lion Hearts ends were too short are happier with this one......

Well relatively i mean , i expected every one would be happier if i didn't kill them , but ... yeah.

Don't Stop Believing [22]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Don't Stop Believing

[Crystal Empire Saturday, 600 hours]

“Darling! You're alright I was so...HURRRK!” Blueblood starts to say as the cream colored mare approaches him.

The resounding crack following her wind up as she slammed her fore hoof to his jaw made every pony in the hospital waiting room wince. A number of teeth flew from the white stallions mouth clattering across the floor as his whole jaw swung at an odd angle and he collapsed like a sack of potatoes dropped off a cliff.

“Damn Orange......Feel better now?” questions the Guard that had been hobbling along with her.

“Quite a bit, Hunter. Thank you for escorting me to the hospital. Now I've got a lot of work to do and you need to get off your leg.” Orange Danish grins, shaking her hoof a little and glares at the green earth pony.” Doctors orders....”

“Yes Ma'am.” Hunter states dropping into an open seat as if her father had ordered her to sit.

Orange smirks stepping over the collapsed form of Blueblood as if he was discarded trash. There were a lot of injured ponies, though it was what she had heard of one pony in particular that had brought her to Empire Hospital and away from the medic tents set up in the field by the palace.

One zebra in fact.

==============================================

Princess Luna woke with a start. She had been having some rather horrific nightmares involving her friends dying and a pair of Starswirl the Beardeds screaming at each other, one on fire, the other seemingly cold and much darker.

As she woke she realized that this was not her quarters, it was far too... pink. It didn't take her long to wish she was still asleep. At least a night mare could be disbelieved. She rose finally her hooves clicking on the floor, her head still hurt and she could feel the swirl of power an anger in her still. She yanked back a curtain on the window, her magic pulling too hard and ripping the dark pink cloth from the window. She winces at the sudden blast of sunshine hitting her face. The sun was in the same position it had been in the day before, the late afternoon light of the sun still lay on the horizon as if it was ready to dip down for the night.

She panicked briefly, thinking she had been asleep for the entire day after an attack before her own internal magical timekeeping informed her that the sun should have just risen. Moving the sun was not an odd thing for her, but having the power of her sister along with it made things a little odd.

The sun wiggled and squirmed as she reached out to guide it, the solar orb seeming to have issue with her attempt to move it, though it slowly gave in and Luna moved the sun to where is was supposed to be this early in the morning. She couldn't imagine what some ponies might have thought about the sun being stuck in one position for so long, though with it back where it was supposed to be perhaps some of them would be comforted by the normalcy.

“I see you're up Princess.” comments a voice behind her.

Luna glances back to see the familiar, and rather haggered face of Starfall, the mare looked tired, and the small blue dragon perched on her back didn't seem in much better shape. It wasn't the small dragon that held Luna's attention though. It was the sword she was carrying.

Luna's gaze fell on that blade and she sat down hard. He wouldn't leave that behind, that Bleu had it and the looks on their faces. They already knew about Rhede... she had felt that when she teleported. But Jer'rahd.... there was always the hope he was just distracted by something.... but now with his sword here.

Princess Luna, Goddess of War, Nightmare Moon, and countless other titles, collapsed sobbing at the sight of the dull blade of the Waning Moon.

=============================================================

[ Foal Mountains Saturday, 800 hours ]

“Grabble are you sure about this? I mean we just got our tails kicked by Bleu and Spike a couple of days ago. What if they catch us again?” Spines whines, the dark purple dragon with yellow belly scales was still showing bruises from their encounter with Bleu.

“Of course. Those two will be so busy with what ever emergency is going on in the Empire that they won't even think to look for us for days. “ Grabble smirks, the red dragon though himself clever for coming up with the plan, even though Spines had been the one to tell him about the emergency.

“I don't even care as long as we get something to eat this time.” Bulk grumbles. The purple and blue spotted drake glides along slower than the other ones his small wings flapping twice as hard to keep up with his larger size.

“You always want to eat, and I'm still not sure why you two are fixated on ponies. Do we really want to mess with a pony who can do what happened last night to the sun? There's plenty of gems around to feed on.” Spines comments dodging a kick from Grabble.

“That's not the point idiot. And we aren't going for the pony Princess any way. We used to eat ponies when ever we wanted before the shrimp and the bitch came along. Now we're not allowed, well forget that!” Grabble growls.

“I don't ever really remember wanting to before we were told not to though.” Bulk mutters.

“Any way if you're gonna keep complaining, you don't get any when we find one. “ Grabble snaps at Spines who sighs.

“More for me!” Bulk chimes in.

“That's not what I.....” Spines begins only to be cut off by Bulk.

“Look there! There's a pony, lets get him!” Bulk yelps.

Spines looked down, blinking a little at the rather large looking figure wearing what appeared to be the tattered remains of a tarp covering its body like a cloak. Something about it just seemed odd to Spines, the figure was wandering around the base of the mountain, seemingly lost and alone and he looked and smelled like a pony... or at least it smelled of pony blood. A LOT of pony blood.

“Guys I don't think that's a pony....” Spines begins only for the other two to ignore him and dive for the figure screaming about an easy meal and hooting and hollering.

Spines sighs following the others down, he needed new friends.

===================================================

[ Edge of White Tail Woods, Saturday , 900 hours. ]

Pip stares up at the sky noting the sun hadn't altered it's usual course across the sky since it had done that weird thing that morning.

Pip had thought he was imagining things yesterday when the sun didn't seem to go down. For a few hours he was starting to wonder if Sweetiebelle's theories about the road taking forever because of a temporal displacement spell were true. Granted he had little clue what that meant, but it sounded bad. He even bit his leg to make sure it wasn't a dream, though the sharp pain told him he was indeed awake.

In any event when the others started to notice as well, to the point of every one starting to doze off, Pip realized it was much later than it looked with the sun up and had every one pause to make camp for the day, night, whatever. Applebloom protested saying she wanted to go on until sun down, though after arguing with her a bit they had found a place to set up camp, and the mare was out cold the moment her head touched the bed roll.

Pip had picked up a good bit of camping gear to load into the cart at the shop, something he was glad he had done now. Despite Applebloom growing up on a farm, and Sweetiebelle's plethora of random information, neither of them were very good at camping. Scootaloo was a little better due to some training in survival with the Wonderbolts and constant camping trips with Rainbow Dash, but she wasn't that sure what to do if the camping gear wasn't available either. Da would take care of that part of the training, or uncle Rhede. He had been camping once with both of them and uncle Rhede was a wealth of survival knowledge. Pip had taken to it with great gusto and Rhede was willing to teach him everything he knew. He called it preparation to take his own sons out camping, by answering all of Pip's questions.

Because of his uncle, Pip was certain he could survive in a desert, with nothing more than a spoon, a tarp, and a play colt magazine for a few weeks easy, and the last thing in that list was optional.

Right now though he was rather concerned about what was going on at home. He had taken morning watch, waking Sweetiebelle, who had fallen asleep on her watch despite her protests of resting her eyes, before sending her to bed. Scootaloo had taken the first watch simply due to her lazing about all day on her cloud left her feeling awake enough to take the first, he expected she had taken much of the second watch as well.

Pip had not dreamed, no nightmares or anything. He expected his Ma to have questions about that short note, and he doubted having a foal would have stopped her from sleeping long enough to talk to him. Then there was the weird way the sun had been acting. It was up all night in one spot and the moon never rose, then a few hours ago it had wiggled a bit, then shot across the sky to where it was supposed to be this early in the morning. Since then he had tracked it and it's slow movement across the sky was back to normal.

Did something happen? Did Ma die in foal birth? Did she not care about him any more since the new foal was born? Had some ancient awoken evil attacked New Canterlot and eaten every pony and forced the rest to evacuate? Had she turned back into Nightmare Moon and gobbled up everyone else? Wait no the sun had stayed up. Did aunt Celestia turn into Daymare Sun and over throw every pony?

Pip slaps his face with his hoof. He was sounding like Sweetiebelle with her tin foil hat theories.

Likely the stupid crystal died before the message went through, and auntie Celestia had gotten distracted by Twilight or Ma's new foal and forgotten to lower the sun and raise the moon. Da was going to have a field day taunting her about that.

It wouldn't be the first time Celestia had slipped up in his memory. Still he felt stupid for letting his imagination get away from him.

“Morning Pip.... I think” Applebloom greets from behind him with a yawn.

“It is. The sun fixed it's timing finally.” Pip grumbles.

“Any idea why it was up there all night?”

“Nah, seems to be working fine now. Auntie Celestia probably just forgot.”

“Heck of a thing tah ferget.” Applebloom mutters sitting down next to him.

“Her sister just had a foal and a new god was born. “ Pip smirks.”Besides it's not like it's the first time she forgot. How'd ya sleep?”

“Same as ever. Fire dream, all blurry and stuff like normal, but ah think ah was more annoyed then scared this time. It wasn't clear or explaining anything, jus tha same blurry, dread crap it used tah be. You and Scootaloo talk any?”

Pip winces. “Nah, ah'm just gonna let her be. Dun need her mad at me any more'n she is.”

“Yeah but she's mad for the wrong reason. She's mad cause she thinks it was a set up, not cause yah were interested.” Applebloom hisses.

“Ah know. S'why ah'm gonna give her time tah cool off an try again. There is that end of that year dance coming up.”

“You dance?”

“Nope.”

“Ah ken believe that, with all tha training you do. I hate tah say it, but she does dance though, an she's pretty good.”

“I'll get auntie Bleu to teach me, she claims she taught Da.”

“Now that ah don't believe.”

=======================================================

[900 hours Crystal Empire]

A loud resounding crack filled the room. Twilight Velvet staggers from the hit, stumbling before crashing to the ground, felled by a blow dealt to her by the Princess of the Night.

Cadence had brought Luna to the room where Celestia, Twilight and a few others were being kept and cared for while they were in the odd coma. She had barely walked in the door before Twilight's mother started fussing at her. Blaming Luna for the monster and the attacks and her daughters condition and dozens of other things. Her husband was not having any luck calming her down neither was her son. Luna could tell she was simply freaking out over her daughters condition, but she was not in the mood to humor the mare.

She briefly considered muting the mare with magic, though with how her powers continued to fight each other she would just as likely burn her to a crisp as silence her. A simple slap across the face with her hoof did the job well enough.

Luna glares down at the mare her own fur flickering between white, dark blue, and black, her mane was little better. Her cutie mark shifted and changed from her normal one, to her sisters to an odd mixture of the two. The only constant was the straps holding the Waning Moon to her side.

“Be glad you daughter is even alive Mrs Sparkle. There are precious few who can say the same of their loved ones and friends. Now you will calm yourself or the next time I hit you will ensure that I am left in peace until your return from the hospital, and they are already over worked as it is.” Luna glares at her. “ I did not send your daughter, out to Gallopagos, nor did I tell her to fight. If the reports are correct she did all that on her own and many more would have died if she had not. I did not create this creature nor do I know what it is fully. Now is there a specific reason you are blaming me for this or need I have you imprisoned for false accusations against royalty bordering on treason in a time of war?”

“That is a bit harsh auntie....” Cadence begins before Luna cuts her off.

“Several of my friends are dead, my sister is in a coma, one of my children is missing, my kingdom is lost, and my husband is dead. I am going light compared to what I will do to any nobles who think to try and take advantage of this situation. Now explain yourself Mrs Sparkle.”

“We read Twilight's book. The one about you.” Night Light speaks up.

Luna looks up at him expressionless.

“And?”

“The chapter about Rhede Pelt... Cadence dear help your mother in law a moment, take her out and get some tea or something.” Night Light noting Luna's flinch at the name.

The Princess of Night watches as Night Light moves to dig through the saddle bags. She glances over at Shinning Armor as he approaches.

“Hit my mother again, and I don't care if you are Princess or not I will beat the stupid out of you.”the white unicorn growls.

“You are welcome to try Shining Armor. It may be enough of a distraction to keep me from slamming the sun into Equestria just to make sure Tirek dies.” Luna responds. “Right now Pip being in Equestria is the only thing stopping me from that course of action.”

Shining's eyes widen at that as he takes a step back from the flickering mare.

“No I don't think I'll be letting you do that Princess.” comments a voice from the door way. Luna looks back as a pony sized purple dragon steps in the door with a slightly smaller blue dragon right behind him.

“You think you would be able to stop me?” Luna snaps.

“Yup, easily, now calm yer teats.” Bleu responds glaring at the moon princess. “You're being stupid, and focusing on the wrong target same as Mrs Sparkle was.”

“Spike I can't find the book on the third age, the one with the tree... do you think you can?” Night Light asks. “ It was in my bag..”

“Yeah, not a problem dad....” Spike responds shoving his hand suddenly into Luna's mane and pulling out a book.

“What in Equss?” Luna stammers, her anger derailed.

“Ooh, good one Spiky... “ Bleu chuckles.

“Don't call me that. It's the main aspect of my power. I can get any book I want from any when so long as I know generally what it's about or what the title is. It also sometimes works if I just have a question that a particular book can answer. Thing is it doesn't just appear in my hand, I have to be pulling it from some place. Either where there a lot of other books, or some place that I can't see into that a book might fit into.” Spike explains. “ I usually have a bag for that, but I left it in Cindervale in the rush to get here.”

Night Light took the book and flipped through the pages. “ Ahh here we are. Third age. This book starts out with the creation of a warrior race to deal with a pair of monstrous threats after everything else had been tried. There is little viable in the pages to the current situation. Mostly a bunch of names of those killed and such and such begat such and such. This is the part that caught both my wife and my interest, particularly after reading your history Luna. There are a number of references to a tree that sealed a great evil that nearly destroyed the Equss. There is only a vague description of the monster as a black horned devil with a mane of snow. The tree itself however is named. Yggdrasil, the world tree, because the fate of the world depended on it's life. In my daughters book it was the name of the tree that Mr. Pelt destroyed.”

“So you blame Rhede then?”

“In a sense yes.” Night Light states. “My wife is just not a emotionally grounded as I am in this situation.”

“If it were not for him we would not have managed to evacuate New Canterlot.” Luna snaps.

“If it were not for him we would not have needed to.” Night Light states. “I am not one for meddling in politics, but the lot of you got off far too light for all the damage you have caused.”

“Rhede Pelt gave his life so we could even be having this conversation now Mr. Sparkle. My now late husband has done everything in his power to make amends for what was done in the past. I was made a widow before I was even allowed to wed and less than three days after the birth of my foal. I have lost two of my only friends and my love AGAIN in the course of this week alone. If you speak ill of the dead one more time Mr. Sparkle I will remove your tongue.”

Luna whirls at the sound of a blade being drawn. She narrows her eyes, the button holding the clasp of the Waning Moon closed tearing free to fly off hitting the wall.

“KNOCK IT OFF ALL OF YOU!” Bleu roars shoving Spike out of the way and walloping Shining off his hooves with her tail. She spits a bit of lightning towards Night Light singeing the wall over his head and making him duck. One large claw grabs Luna by the muzzle yanking the alicorn to eye level with the dragon.

“Sparkle, shut the buck up, Shining, sit your ass down, Luna you calm the buck down before I have to slap the stupid out of you.” Bleu growls her fangs bared lightning dancing along them.

“Release me at once Bleu or else...” Luna growls only to be headbutted by the dragon.

“Or you'll what? Yank out my tongue? Slap me? Kill me? Running a little low on those who like you to get rid of another, aren't you?” Bleu snarls. “You and Boss just love these pity me parties like you are the only ones who have ever suffered. I thought you might have gotten it out of your system after the little break down this morning, but I'm glad we tracked you down again. You need to calm down, think rationally and fix this. A thousand years of peace followed by two massive shit storms in ten years time since you came back? It's small wonder most every one is either afraid of you or ready to blame you for this shit. Stop whining and work on fixing it.”

Bleu turns her head glaring at Shining.

“You pull your blade on her again and I will be forced to apologize to Princess Cadence for your losing the ability to sire another foal with her.”

She turns her head to Night Light.

“And you, quit placing blame and help us think of a solution. If you and Mrs Sparkle each gave half of your smarts into what made Twilight, you're both pretty bright. Use that find out how to get rid of this thing, or at least think of what might have made it in the first place.” Bleu snarls. “Also think for a moment about what would happen if you tell any one Rhede might have let this thing loose. Do you want riots? Cause that's how you get riots.”

Bleu whips her gaze over to Spike.

“And you!”

“What did I Do?” Spike yelps.

“Nothing, just sit there and keep looking cute.” Bleu grins before looking back at Luna with a frown her free claw sweeping out to the comatose forms of Twilight, Celestia, and the others. “Now do I have to wipe the floor with the lot of you, or are you all finally calm enough to be civil? This is a med bay after all.”

============================================================

[ White Tail Woods 1200 hours ]

Pip looks over the river not able to help but smile a little at the massive rushing thing running before him. The water was dark and deep in the middle, and slightly shallower and sandy closer to the bank ripe with geodes. It was a raging river that ran down from Ever Rest and flowed west towards the sea.

The Wild Thorn river that came down the Maneterhorn, around New Canterlot and through the Everfree forest split into large river that continued south all the way to the Zebralands and a smaller stream that crossed the path they were taking until it joined this river. The map had no name for this massive waterway and Pip was practically dancing in excitement over what to name it.

Sweetiebelle had offered her two bits, but they all shot down her idea to name it after herself. Of course Pip wasn't even sure that the river was nameless, if there were Elk in the area they likely had a name for it. The map had showed that the smaller stream went into the woods, but past that there was nothing show for White Tail Woods. The forest ran almost to the coastline tucked away behind the mountain chain Ever Rest was a part of. All of it on the map was a green blob, completely unknown.

“Yah done staring at the water now?” Applebloom mutters.

“ Well considering we haven't found a way to cross this thing yet unless we go back.” Pip calls back. “Not much else to do but press on and hope it get's shallower, or go back a couple hours until it gets thinner.”

Pip glances back to the cart where Applebloom had already taken the wheels off and was sealing the seams of the cart with some mix she had put together from tree sap.

“Still not sure it's a good idea to try and float it across. The waters going pretty swift out there in the middle.” Pip states. “Hey Scootaloo, you mind getting an look from the air see if there might be something further down?”

“Was wondering when some pony was gonna ask. Scootaloo yawns kicking off her little floating cloud and launching herself into the air, wings flaring green as she spirals up past the canopy of trees.

“We shoulda asked her first.” Pip sighs. “Seems she's still mad as she's not helping unless we ask.”

“She'll get over it. This isn't the first time I've pissed her off, just the first time I've done it and been legit.” Sweetiebelle shrugs moving around on the inside of the cart looking for any more holes for Applebloom to patch.

“How long's that stuff take to set?” Pip asks.

“Instant when it comes in contact with water, Zecora used tah spit on it and it hardened right up. Takes forever to get off though which is why I'm using this stick.” Applebloom states dipping a wide tree branch she had found into a wooden bucket Pip had grabbed at the store. “ Still can't believe you bought a bucket, 50 paces of rope and a rowing oar.”

“I like being prepared. Though Sweetiebelle bought the rope.” Pip admits.

“You can never have enough rope.” Sweetiebelle chimes.

“You and your stupid rope.” Applebloom mutters with a grin. Suddenly the young mare froze in place lifting her head, the stick gripped tight in her teeth. The end of the stick dripped the sap mix to the ground as she didn't move anything but her eyes and ears. Her ears perk up shifting as she looks around finally focusing on a spot across the river.

“Huh? What's wrong Applebloom?” Sweetiebelle asks hopping over the side of the cart to see what her friend was looking at. The unicorn mare stops her own ears perking as she hears a whistling in the air before a loud thunk draws her attention to where she had been standing inside the cart and the large arrow embedded in the wood.

“We're under attack! Get to cover!” Pip shouts darting to the side as the girls drop behind the cart. A series of arrows hits the sand where Pip had been standing. The patchwork colt snarls, looking across the river, not seeing anything at first until another arrow launches from the tree line striking his shoulder as he tries to dodge, sending him tumbling across the sand from the force of the hit.

“PIP!” Applebloom shouts.

The colt snarls pushing himself up on three hooves finally spotting several pairs of antlers in the treeline with vines strung across them. There was a barely precivable glow as another arrow was notched and the vine cord was pulled taught.

Pip curses as another three arrows launch towards him. He throws himself flat to the ground trying to protect his vital spots when a blast of heat washes over him. Lifting his head finally, three smoking stone arrow heads fall to the ground before, him a brilliant green glow lighting the small beach.

Looking up Pip sees Scootaloo in the air above him her wings burning brightly as she knocks another arrow out of the air, the wood and vine shaft turning to ash before her wing even fully touches it. The pegasus mare growls launching herself across the river in a beeline for the attackers.

“Scootaloo, don't!!” Pip yells as the mare races across the river.

One of the creatures finally steps from the treeline the figure was tall and draped with moss and plants in some sort of ghillie suit that hid everything but it's horns. The figures fore leg snaps forward flinging something into the air before Scootaloo. The mare dodges to the side as if it was nothing, though an arrow followed the thrown object from another, shattering the thrown jar and causing it to explode in a white burst of powder that envelops the flying mare.

Scootaloo yelps as one of her burning wings is nearly doused by the powder causing her to careen out of control and splash down into the river.

Pip growls shoving himself to his hooves and ignoring the pain of the arrow with every step as he dives into the river after Scootaloo.

The exposed creature watches a moment before notching an arrow to shoot Pip, when a bucket smashes against the side of it's head covering it and the area around it in sticky sap.

“Sweetiebelle get tha cart in tha water, and git after them, ah got this.” Applebloom growls standing up on her back legs. Her fore hooves grip a river rock twice the size of the cart out of the river bank. She stands there a moment with sand and water falling off the rock before she takes a step forward on her back legs and hurls the massive bolder across the river at the figures.

Four of them dive out of cover as the massive bolder slams down in their midst, the one soaked in sap barely able to duck under the massive stone. The bolder explodes showing the area with crystal shrapnel as the geode shatters flattening several trees and forcing the group of attackers back away from the impact point, one of them getting clipped by a piece of the rock and falling to the ground.

The cart glows dropping into the water, Sweetiebelle leaps into it as it starts to get caught in the same current that swept Scootaloo and Pip away. “Come on AppleBloom!”

Applebloom glares at the panicked figures on the other side of the river. One of them was staring at the remains of the bolder and the other two were looking wide eyed at the mare across the river.

” If any of mai friends die from your actions, I'm going to make what mai uncle did to your people seem like a weekend cookout!”< Applebloom snaps dashing off down the bank after the floating cart.

The Elk stand there in silence a moment more.

”Did that pony just speak our tongue?”< one questions.

”Impossible.”< another responds.

===================================================

[Crystal Empire 1400 hours. ]

Luna was not calm, she was not rational at the moment either. Despite Bleu's interference and attempt to calm or cow her, it only worked a little. Still she had excused herself soon after, letting Spike, Bleu and Night Light try to figure something out. They had already ruled out her simply giving the power back to Celestia. Tirek had taken her core cutie mark thus making her little more than an earth pony again. Even if she put the power back into Celestia, her sister would remain asleep.

Luna briefly debated giving the power of the Sun to Cadence though upon reflection, she did not want to give up the power. She would likely need it to destroy the monster that had run rampant though her life ruining the scant years of peace she had been given.

Shining and Rose both were following her around now, she didn't really care, but she felt less inclined to hurt Rose than she did Shining right now. She had finally stopped her pacing and moved herself to a balcony sitting down finally as she stared across the Crystal Empire.

Tents and festival canopies were being raised and moved around to provide shelter for the refugees. Nearly all of the Crystal Empire's residents had opened their homes to the ponies and Half Dragons that had come here for shelter, but there were still those who were forced to remain in the tents. Luna's gaze was drawn to a building on the far side of the open field, one that some Crystal Guards were keeping ponies away from.

“I take that is where the Changelings are?” Luna asks quietly.

“At least the ones who are still comatose. The others are milling about in the crowds helping out. Pretty much any pony with a Ladybug cutiemark here is a Changeling. “ Rose states. “You feeling better? Your coat and cutie mark stopped changing.”

Luna blinks glancing back noting her coat was a pale bluish gray now and her cutie mark had stopped flickering and was a radiant golden sun with a black crescent moon in the middle of it. Her wings were spotted with black and white feathers seeming to overlay each other almost like a chess board. Her mane and tail had taken on the ethereal swirling that Celestia's had had, though the color of it shifted and changed as the day went on, being brighter at noon. She felt it would change to match the night when it finally came. She couldn't see her horn, but it felt longer, heavier on her head.

“The sun is full of fury. I do not know how my sister maintained her composure with it's rage.”

“Practice most likely.” Rose shrugs.

“I am sure you are correct Rose. Have any of you seen Discord or Pinkie Pie. I wish to speak with them.” Luna asks.

“Miss Pie has been running around making baked goods and trying to cheer every one up since she woke this morning. It is working a little as she is still considered a national hero here since helping with the driving off of Sombra. No one has seen Discord.” Shining finally says. There was still anger in his voice, but at least he was talking.

“No one's seen me because I didn't want to be seen.” A voice above them states.

Looking up there was nothing at first, until one of the crystal gargoyles above the balcony moved and looked down with a grin before it dropped down between the three of them, the crystals falling off of it, leaving Discord in a white suit covered in rhinestones that had made up his gargoyle disguise.

“Thankya, thankya very much.....” The draquonus comments in a strange accent before the suit and the remnants of his disguise poof away.

“To be honest Little Loony I do not want to be having the conversation that we are about to start, but if I put it off too long I'm sure bad things are bound to happen.“ Discord frowns. “There has been enough of that already.”

“Indeed.” Luna states. “If you know what I want then get on with it.”

“Mmmm no, this is super secretive information. The rock head and the Pink Princess Pet Pony need to step away for a bit.” Discord gestures.

“I'm not going any....” Shining begins before both he and Rose vanish as Discord snaps his fingers.

“Not like you could do much to her any way if she did get pissed.” Discord scoffs a recliner appearing out of no where as he sits down in it.

“Where did you send them?” Luna questions.

“The Hospital, with the crowds it will take them some time to get back, that's even if Pinkie doesn't manage to slow them down even further. And she will. Now lets get this over with.”

“Fine, I want you to tell me how you brought Pinkie Pie back to life.”

“Why? So you can bring back Pelt and Kaisur?”

“Yes”

“No then.”

“Discord....”

“Hold on, hold on, I expect you think I am just being difficult? Well of course I am, but there is a bit more to it than that.” Discord placates waving his hands.

“And what might that be? I do not have time for these games.”

“Actually, you have plenty of time for games and anything else, you are the last pony that needs to confront Tirek right now, he'd suck you up like he was drinking from a crazy straw. Then we would have the Cycle crisis all over again. This time with something much stronger than a mad griffon god.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just a little of my history, but we are getting off topic. Have you noticed anything about me lately? Anything special? I figured you would, even Kaisur noticed, of course he hung out with me a bit more than you do.”

“Discord get to the point!” Luna snarls.

“I am at the point, it's not my fault you can't see it.” Discord snaps back. “Fine. Let's talk about the harpies a moment shall we.”

“I don't need politics and I am having a hard time not wanting to murder you right now....”

“Have you noticed that despite being on the council of races, zebra and the harpies have no gods of their own? Something that the council practically requires? Well we know the zebra's kill their gods, or used to when they knew about them. The harpies however have another little thing. See they used to have gods, being as prolific as they are, one would expect to. Well it was a little before yours and Sun butts time but the Harpy gods came across a book. A rather tragic and dark book that they shouldn't have had access to. The book taught them some spells including one that brought the dead back to life. Now in that time the Harpies had close to fifteen or twenty gods ruling various roosts across the mountains they fought the griffons over. Pretty much all of them were natural born gods and for a while every thing was fine. Then their loved ones started growing old and dying, their mates passed before them, or they had children who were killed in the constant war with the griffons. Until that point the spell to bring the dead back had been ignored forgotten, because the cost was too great. Then in their grief some of them did something dumb. They decided to use the spell to bring the ones they loved back.”

“Discord I understand you are leading to something, but this is wearing on my patents.”

“I didn't know you were a doctor? Any way to make a short story even shorter, the harpies cast the spell and now there are no more harpy gods.”

“What?”

“By the stars I thought you were the smart one of the pair of the Butt sisters.” Discord sighs tossing the chair off the balcony and leaning forward poking Luna in the nose with a claw.

“Ponies have two gods Luna, that is all they every had or will have no matter how big their race gets. They are the only race with this limitation, with all the others it's about how many of their kind exist. It's part of the blessing and the curse brought about from the beginning of all things. There will always be two. If you use the spell bring back two who have died then the ponies will have no gods any more. The last time they had no gods they split into three warring tribes. Alicorns being a joining off all three of the tribes keeps some of the more speciest of your kind in line. With out that chaos will reign, and I don't mean me. You probably won't live to see it because you would only be alive as long as the one you brought back lives, bringing back two would mean that when one dies all of you would. And forever after there would never be another pony god unless the Books made a corrupted one.”

Luna blinks, her ears flattening.

“That means that you....”

“What does it matter? I am the last Draconequus, even if I boinked every female from here to the zebra lands all I would do is make hybrids. There never will be another of my kind Luna. My race is dead, and who wants to be a god of a dead race?” Discord snaps, the expression on his mismatched face approaching terrifying even for Luna.

“And Pinkie Pie?”

Discord's expression softens back to his usual dopey grin. “I've always been a bit of a hopeless romantic. It's why I fell for Avianna as hard as I did. She was nice to me when no one else was. Well we all saw how that turned out.”

“And the three that you claimed as your children? The ones who stole the Sun and Moon from Griffon King?”

“Never should have given the power back to the Griffons, I don't care what Ruin said...” Discord grumbles. “ They were constructs. My attempt to make life, something only the insanely powerful, or corrupted could manage. I fit both back then. Now a days, after a few cleansing blasts of Harmony, I'm lucky I can affect the local area around me with chaos. Two of them are dead mind you and the third is quite happy with her life right now. Though she sent me a fathers day card last year.”

Discord shrugs.

“Any way, as for Pinkie Pie. Well after I was turned to stone by the Elements led by Sparkle Butt, the towns folk wanted to smash my statue to bits, they drug me into the Everfree to do just that. Wouldn't have killed me mind you, would have just been very uncomfortable. Pinkie Pie didn't know that it wouldn't have, and replaced the statue with a pinata. I would have loved to see the face of those ponies who smashed what they thought was my statue and candy came out. They probably thought it was supposed to happen, Chaos and all.”

Luna rolls her eyes as the Draconequus cackles to himself.

“ Now, I was rather annoyed with her at first mind you, getting stuck in a corner and buried under party favors was almost as dull as being in the garden. It didn't help after all that she was one of the mares who put me back in stone any way. But she talked to me... tried to entertain me and generally was just Pinkie. And like before... hopeless romantic. This time however it won't end with me being in stone, it'll end with me being gone for good. Only so much I can give of myself, you know?” Discord sighs then smiles wide. “But at the same time, given the nature of our relationship now? Totally worth it.”

Discord shrugs hopping off the balcony to float in the air.

“But you, you've got a multitude of ponies who need you to stay a god. I won't tell you the spell and I will say don't seek it out. You will cause far more grief than you will alleviate. That said your eldest daughter wants you at the hospital.”

“Orange? What would she need?”

“Stay strong Princess. The living still need you.” Discord mutters before he poofs into nothing.

==========================================================

[ White Tail Woods. 1210 hours ]

Applebloom leaps off a rock near the waters edge, landing hard in the wagon turned boat. Sweetiebelle was paddling furiously with the oar trying to steer the craft around the rocks as the current pulled the wagon down the river.

“Where are they?!” Applebloom shouts.

“I don't know I've been trying to hard to not sink to look much!” Sweetie shouts back as Applebloom rushes up to the front of the wagon looking over the edge of the wagon and over the the water frantically. The farm pony winces uttering something in a language Sweetie didn't under stand.

“What did you say!!?” Sweetie yells.

“RAPIDS!” Applebloom shouts as the cart suddenly dips sending Sweetiebelle tumbling across the wagon floor to be caught by Applebloom before she falls into the water.

“Okay, okay this is bad this bad, no wait... I got this, I got this!” Sweetiebelle rants, her horn lighting up and enveloping the wagon. “Keep looking for them!”

Sweetie's magic tugs the cart around dodging a number of the rocks and keeping the cart from over turning as they are spun and flung along the water way. Normally Sweetiebelle would be having a great deal of fun with this, though with her friend in danger, and the strain holding the cart was putting on her horn, it was much less fun. She never had a very deep reserve of magical power and this was taking what she had.

“Ah see um! Pip's got Scootaloo, but they're way ahead of us.... where'd they go?” Applebloom shouts, her shout turning into a scream of panic as they get closer to where the others vanished. There was nothing before them but air.

The river ran to and fell over the massive lip of a huge crater. Applebloom couldn't even see the bottom from the amount of mist that the falling water was kicking up. The crater was so deep and wide Applebloom couldn't even see the far edge, and clouds floated in the air below them raining on some part of the massive sink hole. Just as the cart reached the edge despite Sweetiebelle's magic and her own frantic rowing, Applebloom saw the remains of what looked like a massive tree that had fallen on it's side and collapsed against one side of the crater.

“I know that tree.” the earth pony mutters before shrieking as the cart topples over the falls.

================================================

[ Crystal Empire, Empire Hospital 1430]

Luna shivers looking down at Orange. The unicorn mare had a impassive look on her face, but Luna could tell that was because she had been forced to give out news like this since they all arrived here. The mare wore a blood splattered smock and surgical gear that she was currently stripping off to replace with clean gear.

“How... how could you ask me that sort of question.” Luna stammers.

“It was not a question. We've already made the decision to do so, there are ponies we can save who need the life support she's on. Miss Applejack is her closest living and awake relative and she deferred to you. I already knew your answer, so we are going ahead with it.” Orange states.

“You are asking me to choose between my friend and an unborn foal Orange........” Luna stammers.

“As I said Luna. It's not a question. We are already setting up to save the foal. Even if Velkorn recovers somehow, which would take a miracle far beyond what even you can do, she will not be able to walk, see, hear or speak ever again. To be honest none of us are sure how she managed to survive this long, she should be dead. Every scan and machine we have says she is dead, but her heart is still beating and she's still breathing. We have a theory on why she is still alive, but we won't know for sure until we remove the foal. It's going to be two or three months early so it's going to require a lot of care on it's own.”

“If you knew my answer why did you ask me to come here Orange?” Luna stares at her adopted daughter.

Orange falters a moment at that.

“So you could say goodbye to Velkorn. It's something you weren't allowed to do with Jer'rahd or Rhede. It's the best I can do for you at the moment.”

“........ take me to her....” Luna mutters.

“This way then.” Orange exhales leading Luna into the operating room.

=================================================================

[Whitetail Woods. 1220 hours]

Applebloom gasps loudly clawing her way to the surface struggling against the current and trying to make her way to what she thought was the shore. Everything around her was pitch black, if not for the light steaming down from a hole far, far above her, where the water fall came down , she would have thought she had been blinded.

“Applebloom over here!” Sweetiebelle yells her horn lighting up, illumination the mare and the surrounding area.

The unicorn mare was perfectly dry and standing atop of one of the massive luggage trunks that she had brought with her, two of the others floated nearby in the debris of the cart.

“Ah have got to get me one of these suitcases.” Applebloom mutters climbing up onto one of them.
“Where are we?”

“How would I know that?” Sweetiebelle mutters rubbing her head. “ I've got a head ache like you wouldn't believe and it's only getting worse keeping this light going.”

“Hey ah see something over there on tha shore.” Applebloom hops onto the trunk Sweetiebelle was on scooping a bit of wood from the water and paddling towards what looked like the shore and a something on the sandy bank.

Getting closer Applebloom saw the orange form of her friend. Forgetting the paddle she leapt off the trunk crashing down in the shallower water and rushing over to the prone pegasus.

She heard Sweetiebelle run up behind her, still without a drop of water on her somehow. Applebloom dropped down putting her ear to Scootaloo's chest.

“She ain't breathing! Ah can't hear her breathing!” Applebloom panics.

“I got this” Sweetiebelle states dramatically. “I took a CPR class once. I must do the kiss of life!”

The unicorn mare darts forward tilting Scootaloo's head back, taking a deep breath, and puckering up her own lips before leaning down to meet Scootaloo's.

Before she managed to connect however an orange hoof shot up shoving into Sweetiebelle's face causing the white unicorn's exhale to puff up her own cheeks around the orange hoof.

“”I'll take the drowning over Sweetiebelle kissing me, any day.” Scootaloo grumbles with a coughing fit. She yanks her hoof from Sweetiebelle's mouth, shaking off the drool as she sits up. “ Where's Pip?”

“Ah dunno, we saw you an kinda panicked.” Applebloom admits. “Your sure you're alright?”

“Yeah... I'm fine. What ever those jerks hit me with doused one of my wings. I've flown though rain storms that you could swim though and my wings stayed lit. I dunno what that crap was.“ Scootaloo grumbles rising to her hooves and snapping her wings open, one lights up as normal, though the other barely sputters it's fire past her feather tips. “Well I'm not flying out of here any time soon until I figure out what they did to me.”

“Hey is that him?” Sweetiebelle questions pointing to a figure further up along the shore. The trio rush over skidding to a stop in the sand as the colt's form was illuminated by the green fire of Scootaloo's wings.

The arrow in the brown and white colts side had snapped off, though the wound was bleeding heavily the arrow head having been worked in deeper from the impacts with the rocks. The fur on the colts back was torn and ripped in places soaking his back in red. Evidently when saving Scootaloo he had taken the brunt of the impacts of the rocks the river tossed him into rather than let her get hit.

“Dun look that bad does it?” Pip groans a little trying to chuckle. “Uncle Rhede said mares dig tha scars.”

“Most of us prefer that a stallion that is skilled enough not to get himself cut up or nearly killed. “ Scootaloo mutters.

“Well buck.” Pip coughs stifling a laugh. “Every pony okay?”

“Yeah except fer you. Come on we got tah git him up away from tha river and set up a camp. Sweetiebelle grab what yah can of our stuff, Scootaloo, help me git him up from that water then go see if yah ken find some fire wood. I just hope there's enough plants down here that ah ken whip up something tah stop infection.”

“Where's my sword?” Pip mutters, “Gonna need that to teach those guys a lesson.”

“It's still on your side Pipsqueak.” Scootaloo grumbles trying to lift him by her self. “Holy crap for such a little pony you're freaking heavy.”

==============================================

[ Crystal Empire, Castle Nursery.1600 hours]

Luna sits quietly looking down in the cradle at the wiggling form of her youngest daughter. Elusive, Shin and Glimmer were already asleep on the other side of the room. Dawn had some how figured out her mother had come in and was also upset and she was now doing her best to match Luna's mood with her whimpering and fidgeting. Luna wasn't sure if she should let Dawn feed from her, she wasn't sure what the flood of power she had in her would affect her milk. Granted she had been doing her best to switch the little fanged foal to formula nearly from day one. Dawn had fought back of course refusing the mix and Luna had caved in each time. Now she couldn't, not even five days old and her first born was already suffering from something.

She had cast a small silence spell between Dawn and the other infants in order not to wake them. Since her power had settled down a little she felt confident she wouldn't blow anything up, but she still cast it on a chair in another room before carrying the spelled object into the room with her, just to be safe.

Her feathered wings ran slowly down along the little orange half dragons belly. The visit to the hospital had been horrific for her, particularly the end and the sight of what remained of one of her friends. If not for her cutie mark Luna would not even have recognized Velkorn. She had broken down a second time there in trying to say goodbye. Orange had helped her out to the waiting room before going back into assist with the surgery. With Velkorn dead Orange was possibly the most skilled doctor on Equss now. A title the unicorn mare was not proud of inheriting this way.

She had seen Applejack and some of the others on the way out, but she couldn't bring herself to say anything to them and she had taken to the air as soon as she was outside soaring back to the palace. She hadn't paused in coming to the nursery, she needed something positive to watch for a while and her daughter was the only thing she knew. Cadence had found her here a while ago, though the pink mare had let her be.

She wasn't sure how long she had been there simply watching Dawn fidget and try to eat her wing. The little fillies front claws had quite a grip, Luna still wasn't entirely certain how Jer'rahd had sired a half dragon, though given his odd linage that included both Rose and Sombra, she didn't doubt that perhaps little Dawn was a throw back in his genetics. Like how the Cake's had a pegasus and a unicorn foal rather than a earth pony, granted their third foal had been an earth pony and looked just like his older brother minus the wings. Like the twins Bunt Cake was adorable.

Luna sighed softly letting the silence spell fall away as Dawn drifted back to sleep. Luna remained looking down at her daughter for a while. She had no where else to be and nothing else to do but this right now.

Even though she had canceled the spell herself she was still surprised when the door lightly creaked open and soft hoof steps started moving over the carpet towards the foals. Looking up she caught the eyes of a green maned blue earth pony mare, who jumped some at seeing her and quickly bowed.

“Oh I am sorry Princess. I didn't think any one was in here. I just came to check on the foals.” the mare stammers.

Luna smiles a little noting the lady bug cutie mark that Rose had told her was the mark of a Changeling. From what she knew there was only one of them that would allowed in here.

“ You are Locust correct?” Luna asks.

“Yes your highness.” Locust stammers.

“Don't worry about titles....right now I'm just a rather depressed widow with few friends left. One trying hard to keep calm by focusing on her foal....” Luna sighs.

“ I understand that Princess. I do understand what it' like to lose a husband and those you care about.” Locust mummers.

“Oh ? Did something happen?” Luna asks trying to remain calm.

“A lot of us died in the war and in the aftermath, Princess. Far more than the number of ponies who were killed. In the Queen's anger she saw no problem breaking up families to have us fight. She saw her error in the end, but by that time it was too late.” Locust sighs.

“I was unaware of that.”

“Few are, and fewer still even care. After all we did attack Equestria twice, three times if you count Sombra's attack here in the Empire.” Locust flattens her ears. “He could have lived on you know, but he chose to die along with his wife. Stupid really. There was no purpose for him to die, he had a son that needed him, but he couldn't let go of her. I suppose a love like that, created falsely or not couldn't end in anything but tragedy hmm?”

“So it seems.” Luna sighs. I have had enough tragedy however to last even my lifetime.”

“Pardon me for asking Princess, but shouldn't you be preparing to go fight this thing and take back your kingdom?”

“That was my plan, though it seems that those with cooler heads think it's a bad idea. Evidently the monster Tirek can take power from anything with a cutie mark. We are not sure why however, or how, and even that is a theory as he simply kills anything without a cutie mark.”

Locust is quiet a moment as if she's considering something or hesitant to say it.

“Something on your mind?”

“Oh sorry Princess it's just. Well it reminds me of something that the Sparkle's asked me about during their research. They found something that seemed similar to what this thing did in a few of the older books. I think I recall the titles, maybe I could bring them to you and you might be able to figure something out?”

Luna glances at her foal a moment.

“Yes. Thank you Locust. That would be nice. I can't sulk forever.”

====================================================

[ Foal Mountains, Saturday, 830 hours ]

Spines pushed himself back against the rock, his eyes wide as he stares at the cloaked figure before him. The only reason the dragon had not pissed himself was because he had already done it after what happened to Grabble, and there wasn't anything left in his bladder.

The trio had dove down on the 'pony' they saw. Grabble and Bulk had opened up with blasts of fire shot towards the figure before they even landed. The creature had dodged the cones of flame and shouted something at the pair of them that Spines couldn't make out as he landed away from the fight, not wanting any part in this.

Neither Grabble nor Bulk seemed to care what was said as the pair rushed him as soon as landed. The creature shouted something again as Grabble took a swipe at him.

The figure moved and dodged the pairs clumsy attacks before it became clear he had had enough.

Spines watched as a white glow flickered under the creatures hood and a blast of fire so white it blinded Spines briefly even from where he was, for a few seconds. Though he could hear Grabble's scream, it took him a moment to clear his eyes to look. Spines watched as the white fire burned the red dragon like he was made of paper, the red scales blackening as the white flames flickered, eating though the scale, muscle, and fat burning the dragon all the way to the bone and starting to set those on fire as it spread over his flailing friend.

It was only heartbeats before Grabble was not anything more than a pile of smoldering ash on the ground.

Bulk did not fare much better. Another claw swipe from the fat dragon had been caught by the smaller figure. Spines winced as the figure yanked, tearing the arm out of it's socket with a sickening pop and ripping it free of the larger dragon. The creature held it for a moment, before shoving the severed arm back up and impaling Bulk in the throat with bone of his own arm. Before the fat dragon even managed to fall properly the figure was advancing on Spines.

From what he could see of the creature under the tattered cloak it looked like a large pony. It's rear legs had hooves and were covered in blue gray fur, it's forelegs however ended in clawed hands like a dragons, both of them were covered in Cobalt blue scales. A thick tail swung from under the back of the massive hooded cloak covered with the same scales, though ending in a tuft of fur that looked to be amber colored.

“Are you going to attack me as well whelp?”<

Spines blinked, what the creature said was gibberish, but he understood it some how. He rapidly shook his head no, hard enough for his spines to clack together and rattle.

”Good, then you have nothing to fear from me. I need to find a Twilight Sparkle. Do you know her?”<

“No.. no I don't... is is that a pony name?” Spines stammers.

”Hmmm, yes it is... I suppose you would not know of her. Ahh the whelp... Do you know a Spike Sparkle then?”<

“Spike? Big purple dragon? Kinda a nerd hangs around with a dragon named Bleu Scale?” Spines gushes out.

”Bleu Scale? Of course I should have asked about her first. Yes those two, where are they?”<

“I think the Crystal Empire right now. There's something going on with the ponies.”

” You have no idea, whelp. Take me to them I am unused to this era, even the land has changed. You will fly me there.”<

Spines wanted to protest, but something about this thing prevented him from doing anything but nod in agreement. Even as close as the creature had gotten he couldn't see what it's face was like under the hood. As the creature climbed up onto his back the only thing Spines could see under that hood was six glowing red eyes.

Author's Note

Title is Journey - Don't Stop Believing.

Things are gonna get interesting now the flow of the story has picked up a bit.

Carry On [23]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Carry On

[ White Tail Woods, Sunday 800 hours]

The steady drip of water falling from above was the only real sound on the dark underground lake. The steady drips plunked out a odd rhythm that echoed though the underground at random points. There was a faint sloshing as a figure climbs onto a large trunk and pushes it off the bank into the water letting it drift with the faint current.

“There's no earthly way of knowing
Which direction we are going
There's no knowing where we're rowing
Or which way the river's flowing......”

The figure leans over the side of the chest looking into the dark water.

“Is it raining, is it snowing
Is a hurricane a-blowing “

The voice picks up volume as well as a underlying tone of menace.

“Not a speck of light is showing
So the danger must be growing
Are the fires of Tartarus a-glowing
Is the grisly reaper mowing “

The voice builds nearly to a scream as the speed and inflection of the words increases.

“Yes, the danger must be growing
For the rowers keep on rowing
And they're certainly not showing
Any signs that they are slowing …..“

“Sweetiebelle!! Quit yelling in that freaky voice an start looking for supplies!” Scootaloo yells out from the shore.

“But I'm BOOOORED and my magic's giving me a head ache trying to keep a light going. Why don't you come and look?” Sweetiebelle shouts back.

“I would but I'm trying to preen this crap out of my wing, it tastes like soap and cat piss, so I'd gladly trade!” Scootaloo fusses.

“How do yah know what cat piss tastes like?” questions Pip weakly from where he was laying on one of the only dry bedrolls they had found.

“Opal.” both of them call out at the same time with enough certainty that Pip was afraid to ask any more.

“Sorry ah asked.” Pip mutters.

==================================================

[New Canterlot, Sunday, 900 hours. ]

Angry eyes stared at the creature sitting in the rubble, he wanted nothing more than to rip this creatures head off and then defecate down it's neck. She would have been mortified for him thinking such thoughts, but she usually was when he got angry.

Still like any good General he could tell that attacking the creature would just lead to pointless death, thus all he could do is seethe. He hated to think that he would have to wait for the others to make the first move, but at the very least he had respect for the one who commanded them.

Ten years ago he had lost far too many of his friends and family in the war, despite the victory that they achieved. The greatest insult was that only a scant few even acknowledged their sacrifice. They built a towering arch to their own and buried his friends along with the enemy. He shouldn't have expected much more than that, but he had, and it left him even angrier than before.

But then he came, one who's very presence set his nerves on fire, screaming at him to run, bolt for some where safe and pray that the he was looking for something else to feast on.

He spoke with the Caretaker and the Caretaker in turn then asked his army. Names were given, family lines, friends, anything that was important was given, not even he could resist long if the Caretaker asked for something.

Some time later it was with great surprise that they found something added to the edge of the forest, behind the caretaker's home, in a place where his kind would primarily be the ones to see it, so it was clearly for them.

It was a large marble statue covered in engravings depicting every sort of creature one could think of. It rose from the forest floor like a massive pillar, the top was in a bowl shape to allow the birds to bathe in the rain water it collected, a garden of various plants and herbs, for meals was placed around it and engraved around the base were names. Names of all the fallen that had been given to the caretaker, the names of family, the friends that had died.

There were only two ponies he respected enough to even bother remembering their names, and grant them titles.

The Caretaker, Fluttershy.

The General, Jer'rahd.

Only those two had proven themselves worthy of Angel's respect.

Now it was war again. He was old, but he was far from finished, the ponies were gone, whisked away some where. He was not worried, he knew the Caretaker was safe and the General could take care of himself.

Age had caught up to him where conflict did not, in truth it was only stubbornness that he was still around at this point, he doubted that drive would keep him going many more years, but he knew when his time came the Caretaker would be devastated. He only hoped her young would be able to comfort her when his time came. They were dumb, but like any cubs they were the Caretaker's joy.

None of that was here or there now though. He had a job to do.

He glanced to either side of him to some of his most loyal minions.

His second in command was slow, but tough, his advice came at a far more sedate pace than Angel liked, but it was always sound. Despite his lack of speed he had racked up an impressive kill count in the last war and his shell was covered with the scars.

Tank

His air commander was a creature that usually preyed upon his kind, though an agreement had been reached between the two after a vicious battle when they first met. There were none more intelligent in his group. The avian was devastating with his claws, and he saw everything.

Owlowiscious

The third was his brute force, a figure even Harry the bear was loathe to anger lest he face her sharp teeth. She was as old as he was and in command of his ground forces as no one would argue with a creature that could take down others five times her size and change the course of a stampede with her voice.

Winona

The last.... well even Angel wasn't sure what the deal with the last member of his inner circle. It seemed like the dopiest thing ever, a strange little creature that didn't even seem to acknowledge that anything was going on around it. It didn't respond to questions and the gumming got old after a while, but Angel had seen what had happened with he finally got serious and it was a sight to behold. He never left any foes behind to tell the tales of him.

Gummy

There were others of course. His intelligence commander had passed a few years ago in her sleep, despite the arguments they had he rather missed Opalescence .

Then there were the new pair. He wasn't sure what to think of them just yet, though they had proven themselves.

The first was a fire brand, a raging avian of fury the likes of which Angel had not seen since Elizibeak died years ago. His current air commander needed to watch himself of the new comer would take over. Despite her rage she was far older than any of his other companions, including tank, though she rarely acted it.

Philomena.

The last was a new comer though his skills were already showing and placing him in a position where he could take over for the lost Opal. He was the one who brought information of the current war to Angel's attention. He was the one who assured him the Caretaker was safe. He showed signs of learning things from the General, and constantly spared with the pony, to keep his skills sharp.

Tiberius.

The group of them ducked back down behind the rubble, a frontal assault would mean death, a rear assault would be death, any assault would be death. They needed another plan.

The group conferred and a plan of action was under taken.

The others went out to tell the waiting army the plan leaving Angel, Tank, and Philomena behind. The phoenix took off not long after seeking to carry information to his mistress whom Tiberius said was far north in the cold city.

The ponies were gone, but their homes, and things they cherished were not. The first war had cost many of them such things, and there was little Angel and the others could do for the places already destroyed. But the ones that were not, they could watch over and tend, ensuring that when they came back, they would have a place to come back to.

It was not much, but it was the safest way for his army to help.

==================================================

[Crystal Empire 1000 hours.]

The night had come and gone, and Luna had not left the small room she was in. Barely a day since she had her sisters powers forced into her, the lowering and raising of the sun had come to her naturally. There were still surges of course, but she had better control of them.

Locust had been true to her word and brought her piles of dusty tomes and scrolls that Luna wondered if they might be older than herself. Being sealed away for so long the Empires libraries had tomes and hidden wealth's of knowledge that most had thought lost to Equss forever. It was no Library of Vollerei of course, but it explained why Twilight spent so much time here. If nothing else she had to be impressed with Sombra's collection.

Locust seemed to know what was in most of the books she gave to Luna. She pointed out a few things here and there that she claimed the Sparkle's had noted to her before. The Changeling had her own duties and could not stay long before she left Luna to study on her own.

Her friends and the rest of the Palace staff let her be. After her displays yesterday, she was sure they wished to give her time to compose herself. So long as the sun and moon continued their cycle normally they were content. She didn't like that her mindset could so easily be noted by fluctuations of the moon and sun in the sky, but it was simply one more thing that she needed to deal with.

She had made herself known yesterday when she tracked down Brush and Berry before seeing what Orange had wanted. Berry was unconscious and Brush was staying with her in the Hospital. Applejack had promised to keep an eye on them both, and Luna was sad to say she had forgotten them both again after the revelation of Velkorn's state.

She had felt ashamed she had let her grief for her friends show stronger than her worry for her foals, but she knew Berry would recover and Brush was a strong little colt.

The only other thing of note was that Mrs Sparkle had come to apologize. It had taken her a moment or so to respond, but Luna did the same for her. The matron Sparkle had suggested Luna try her dream ability to see if she could contact Celestia or Twilight.

It was a sound idea, but one that bore no fruit. It did not take Luna long to realize that those in a coma had the same odd non presence that Applebloom did in her dreams.

It was enough of a reminder for her to be ready to find Pip in his dreams that night and speak with him. She planned to tell him to take the girls and hide some where away from a city. She knew he could survive some time on his own. Applebloom was skilled in herbology and growing things, and Scootaloo had gone though some of the same training Pip had at the hooves of Spitfire. She would be fine on her own as well. And Sweetiebelle.... well, every group needed some sort of mascot.

The idea of dream walking to her son was pushed aside when Locust came with all the books. The information within hinted at a number of things, all of them surprising to her, though one book in particular had her pouring over it more than any other. It was the one Locust had suggested the most that Luna should look through. She had no reason to doubt the information within, as it coincided with a few things she had already known, and some things she had heard both Twilight and Tia discuss.

When the Changeling mare came to check on her, Luna shoved the open book before the mare indicating she read the pages.

“Can this be done?” Luna questions waiting for Locust to finish the passage.

“Umm yes .. I think so your highness, but...” Locust stammers.

“Do it.”

“It it will take some time.”

“Can you have it ready tonight?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Good. Do it.”

“Of course Princess.” Locust comments heading back out the door.

Luna briefly thought she saw a smile on the mares face, but she was likely mistaken.

The cost would be high, but it would see Tirek's end she was sure of it.

Luna closed her eyes, resting her head on the table. She couldn't touch Pip's dreams at this hour, but perhaps she could find his daydreams if he was having them, to make sure he was alright at the very least. Her sisters power could be useful after all.

==========================================

[Crystal Empire, Empire Hospital, 1100 hours]

Brush looks up at the knock on the door. He hadn't been expecting any one though it might just have been Orange or Applejack checking up on the two of them. Mother had come by the day before, though he could easily tell she had a great deal on her mind and had not bothered her with what happened. He didn't think she needed to know how much he and Berry's life had been in danger. He was worried about her, but he knew everyone else needed her too so he was content to settle back and watch after his sister so his mother could at least be at ease in that regard.

Despite how he looked he was having to try very hard not to break down sobbing. He knew the death toll, and he knew which of his family members were on it. While he hadn't really been that close to any of them, not even really his father, it didn't make this easier for him. He remember his birth parents much better than Berry did, and this seemed just like a repeat to him. It was going to be worse when Berry woke up and he had to tell her what had happened. She was more attached to their father and practically worshiped the ground her uncle had walked on, that her teacher Twilight was incapacitated as well, only made him dread the conversation.

As for himself, aside from Berry most of his concern was for his Aunt Celestia. She had been the one who encouraged him the most with his painting, not to say no pony else had, mother was fanatical about it and his father actually seemed happy that Brush was not going to be a Guard. Aunt Celestia however had showed him a number of tricks and different styles of painting she had picked up over the centuries. She had actually brought him to a room she had in the tower and showed him the portraits she had painted herself.

There were hundreds of them, all insanely life like, and each had it's own story of the pony or other creature in it. Most of them seemed to be done with the brush strokes of a master, the few that were not, still showed remarkable skill. All of them struck Brush as very sad.

He didn't have his paints or easel here, but he had gotten a sketch book and some charcoal and had been working with it to pass the time and keep himself occupied. Given all that was going on, he and Berry were left alone, he rather preferred that sometimes, though he wasn't how he felt about it now.

The knock on the door had distracted him from his sulk, and he was rather grateful for it.

“Come in.”

Diamond Tiara leans in slowly her eyes meeting Brush's causing her to freeze in place noting his expression. The green earth pony Guard minding the door smirks a little shaking his head recalling he had the same expression as the filly when he was around Orange.

“You going to go in, or just stare at each other?” Hunter smirks.

Diamond Tiara yelps stumbling forward and glaring back at the grinning Guard as he closes the door.

“Um, hey, Brush …. err are you okay?” Diamond Tiara asks. “ I heard about your Aunt and Uncle and umm father.......”

“ Word got around rather quickly I guess. I suppose I'm as well as to be expected. How about you?” Brush sighs watching as the young mare moves closer.

“Daddy's fine, though rather annoyed at the current accommodations, he had a store branch up here and he's pretty much taken it over. Silver Spoon and all our class mates are alright as well. I saw Miss Cheerilee and she was checking up on everyone, it was really just your brother and you two that she hadn't seen yet.”

“I wouldn't worry about Pip, he's probably better suited to this sort of thing than we are. He's gonna be a mess when he finds all this out though. Probably blame himself for not being around to help.” Brush smirks a little, trailing off and dipping his head as he thinks about it.

Diamond Tiara blinks slowly moving closer to brush, her ears flattening to her head as he slumped. She stops just in front of him leaning down to see his face her eyes widening as she sees the tears running down his muzzle.

“Brush? EEP!!” Diamond Tiara yelps a little as Brush grabs her hugging her close and burying his face into her shoulder as he cries.

She looks down at him her ears drooping lower. She remembered breaking down like this when her own mother left, and Brush had it worse, he couldn't even expect a birthday card from his lost family. No one was there for her at that point in her life and she became a bit of a pain to everyone afterwards. This wasn't what she wanted her first date to be like, but this was the first time she had seen him show any real emotion other than anger when something happened to his sister.

She remained still until his sobs slowly die off before she spoke trying to be soothing as possible.

“You know you're ruining the conditioning of my coat, I doubt I'm gonna be able to treat it for a while up here. They probably only have gem polish, not any decent hair care products.” Diamond Tiara snarks.

“Sorry...” Brush mutters.

“It's alright. Take as long as you need.” she smiles to him.

===================================

[ Whitetail Woods 1100 hours]

Applebloom looks up in awe at the sight before her. She had left the others at the makeshift campsite to go see if she could find some herbs that could be used to prevent infection and possibly speed up the healing of Pip's back. She had removed the arrow head before she left, highly relieved it didn't seem to be covered with any sort of poison, and had set out to find what she needed.

Zecora had shown her how to make healing potions as well as countless other mixes to fight everything from infection to 'the runs'. Thankfully she knew she could substitute a number of ingredients with subterranean plants and herbs for some of the treatments. The healing potion would be harder, or so she had thought any way.

The under ground lake was wide, but it didn't take the entirety of the underground cavern. It eventually flowed into small river on the far side of the lake that led deeper into the cavern. To be honest Applebloom wasn't sure which was bigger, the crater above, or the cavern bellow. There was life down here as well, she could hear bats flitting around and saw a number of bugs and salamanders, none of them seemed afraid of her and often watched her curiously rather than run away from her. Some how that comforted her because it likely meant there were no big predators down here if all the small animals didn't run.

She started coming across smaller pools of water that glowed with their own soft light, towering stalagmites joined with the stalactites from above making this part of the huge cavern look almost like the royal throne room with all it's pillars. The pools had some sort of luminescent fungus along the inside of the pools though she saw a few glowing fish swimming around as well.

Applebloom approached one of the pillars, there was a certain type of Blood moss that only grew where there was something for the moss to spread up and climb. Checking around the base of the pillar she noticed something however, the pillar wasn't made of lime stone like she thought, it was wood. An old root to be exact, thicker around than even the golden oaks library. She moved around it looking past to the massive cavern seeing the countless others just like it, roots she had thought were pillars. They were all spread out, digging down from the ceiling above, the huge things bathed in the faint light from the pools looking more like stretching fingers now. She noted a brighter pillar of light coming down from the earthen ceiling not far away and moved towards it. If there was light then some things might be growing nearby she could use.

It was then she found the garden.

The light was reflected off something in one of the roots and it covered a larger area that she had first thought. In the beam of that light however was a plethora of plants. Applebloom had never seen the variety of plants here in one place like this before. They were growing wild, spilling over into the darkness surrounding the spot of light. Some of them seemed to have adjusted to the life under ground and had grown away from the sun, others were fighting for it trying to climb higher to meet the light.

Applebloom approached the collection of plants in awe, she had never dreamed of finding all this down here. She listed off a number of them she saw in her mind realizing there was enough here to make a couple of healing potions easy. Pip might be back on his hooves in a day or so if she could set this up right, and Sweetiebelle remember how to sew enough to close his wounds back up.

She moved forward again tripping suddenly and crashing to the ground with a wince.

“Ow....”

Applebloom pushed herself up right with a groan, glancing back in a huff at what she tripped over. Her ears flattened and her blood went cold at the sight of it.

The object had been pulled out of it's sandy resting place and rolled after her a little when she hit it. Dark holes stared up at her from it's new position.

A skull.

Applebloom relaxed a little seeing that it was old enough that some lime stone had collected against the side, likely where it had sat in water for a while. Perhaps it was brought here when the river flooded to get reburied in the sand as there didn't seem to be any more of the skeleton any where.

It looked like a pony skull, but a gnarled horn jutted from it's forehead and it had fangs on it's upper jaw, it's lower likely where the rest of the skeleton was. Applebloom shook her head a little before turning away from it to gather what she needed to help Pip. Thinking about an unfortunate who didn't survive the tumble down the falls wasn't going to help her any.

At least she hoped the creature had died from the fall and not because something else was down here.

=========================================================

[ Empire Hospital, 1100 hours. ]

Orange was exhausted, she hadn't had more than a couple hours worth of rest since she got here. It paid off however as the most dire cases had been addressed, there were a number of ponies and half dragons who had not been thought to make it though the night. She had proved the neigh sayers wrong and saved several of the hopeless cases. There were a lot of doctors who were in awe of her skills and were hailing her as the best they had ever seen. Orange disagreed. The Best doctor ever was dead, one of the few she couldn't save.

Some others of those injured, or ones pulled from their hospital beds in the escape had not made it, but the majority had. She had preformed more emergency surgeries and treatments than all of her time with pop quizzes and tests she had in med school. It also helped that the hospital was brand new, barely seven years old, when the Crystal Empire returned they were ponies out of time, and the first thing Princess Cadence wanted was a hospital to bring every pony up to speed on medical advances. Velkorn had spent a lot of time here, she was debating seeing that the place be renamed after her once all this was over. Princess Cadence would probably be for it.

It wasn't all tragedy however there had even been a few births last night. Mares close to their due date forced into it from the shock of teleportation, or who were already in labor when the evacuation happened.

Eight newborns in all.

Two of them were causing a stir. One was born in mid teleportation and the attending Doctor could have sworn the colt was a earth pony when his head came out, now it was obvious he was a unicorn.

The other was causing an even bigger stir and a good bit of worry from both the Hospital staff and any one else who saw her. At the families orders they had been rather tight lipped, though she was sure rumor would get out.

Right now the tiny filly was sitting in a crib designed to keep premature foals monitored and healthy. Granted Orange doubted the foal needed them given how healthy she was even born this early.

Orange sighs looking down at the filly, an orange earth pony in a stetson and a butter yellow pegasus with pink hair stood across from her watching the newborn as well.

“Any idea what they would have named her?” Orange asks hating that she needed to fill out the paper work like this, but she was rather curious as well and was tired of the names ponies had been suggesting for her.

“Yup. They had two names ready tah go depending if it was a filly or a colt.” Applejack admits glancing back at the pegasus pressing against her. “Seeing as it's a filly, they were gonna name her after Velkorn's ma. Well tha translation of her name any way.”

“Translation?” Orange asks.

“Yeah. Velkorn ain't just a name, it also means somthin, it's just not translated to pony.” Applejack explains. “Velkorn translates tah 'renewing blossom'.

“ Ahh I see. Well then what was the name they chose?”

“Rhynthia, Translates to 'meadow dew' “ Applejack states.

“Is she going to be alright? I mean her mother......” Fluttershy stammers.

“I know Velkorn didn't live through the operation, in the end we worried that her mother dying on the table would have averse effects, but as far as we can tell there is nothing wrong with her at all. Granted no one here has ever treated or been present for a birth like this. A few of the doctors from Gallopagos who were there for the birth of Lord Lion Heart's foal confirmed that she was in good health, but they only have ever dealt with one foal like this....”

The three of them look down at the crib and the tiny newborn filly within. She was clearly a zebra, though on her forehead was a tiny red crystal horn, and her stripes matched her fathers coat perfectly.

====================================

[New Canterlot 1200 hours.]

Angel Bunny frowned as the world around him darkened. He had sent Owlowiscious to the Empire as well, this situation required it. It would take the owl longer to fly there than it would Philomena, but this news was far to important not to get to the Caretaker and the General, and they should have it in a few hours if the two birds hurried.

Massive storm clouds swirled and shifted above the ruins of the palace. The monster in the middle had stared up at the approaching mass and then had started to laugh as several duplicates of himself appeared around him.

They all had the same bandaged hand, though their horns were intact unlike the one he was watching, they also were not covered in slowly healing burns and wounds. The figures said something to Tirek and the monster only grinned before all of them vanished with a pop as they teleported.

It was only moments later that the first body hit the ground. Soon countless numbers of ponies rained from the sky, smashing into the ground. Many were dead before they hit,others screamed as they fell, all were without a cutie mark.

Angel shouted an order and many were caught before they hit the ground by swarms of birds and butterflies, but there were only so many that could be saved.

Angel had them focus on the foals, screaming little ones who could barely fly and were tossed down with the dead and comatose from their former home.

When the shower of death finished, the sky began to clear as the clouds started to depart. Angel glared up at the retreating clouds in righteous anger. Waterfalls of rainbow and swirling masses of wind and other weather billowed out of the cloudscape far above.

Tirek had gained control of Cloudsdale.

===================================================

[ Whitetail Woods. 1330 hours ]

“So how you feeling?” Scootaloo mutters moving away from the fire pit, shutting off her wings as she ducks into the tent. The pegasus looks over the small earth pony laying on his belly. He had some loose bandages over the wounds to staunch the bleeding, though Applebloom wanted to mix up a poultice before she properly wrapped the wounds to prevent infection. As such he looked like crap right now.

“Been better, arrow wound hurts, but ah don't think ah'm gonna die from it or tha cuts.” Pip admits, though he didn't lift his head.

“Yeah... well thanks for that by the way. I coulda got out by myself, you didn't need to jump in after me.”

“Was sorta instinct. Da freezes and sinks like a rock when he's dropped in deeper water. Ma had us all learn to swim just in case. Berry swims like she's part seapony.” Pip chuckles. “Sides, I'd jumped in tah save any of yah. I might have hesitated a bit fer Sweetiebelle though, jus so her mane got messed up at least. Where is she any way, been too quiet.”

“She fell asleep on the trunk while out there trying to scrounge up our supplies. I'm gonna go dump her off it in a minute or two. She got most of the camping stuff at least, though I think most of your luggage is missing.”

“Nah I dropped mai bags in oneah her travel chests.” Pip admits. “Applebloom did tha same, those things are way bigger on tha inside.”

“Yeah, thinking of checking to see if they come in pegasus flight size and getting some myself.” Scootaloo sighs considering a moment before flattening her ears to her head. ”Look Pip I'm sorry about my reaction a couple of days ago....”

“Wot part? Tha shutting us out or tha flying off in Las Pegasus?”

“More the last one, as the first one annoyed Sweetiebelle which is always worth it.”Scootaloo admits. “ It's not the first time she's tried to hook me up with some pony and it's always a disaster or they aren't even that interested in me.”

“Yeah well, ah am interested, but ah ken get it if yer not. Figure yah got an eye on some flier somewhere.”

“Pfft no... Not even close.” Scootaloo chuckles. “Look I don't know what I feel or even why you like me, but I just kinda want to make sure it's not some spur of the moment thing. I've got plans for after graduation and I want to deal with them first really.”

“An yah think ah don't? Yah got a year on me school wise, and I'm set fer tha Guard tha moment I graduate.” Pip scoffs.

“Same here though I've already won the last two best young fliers competitions and a number of other events. So I'm pretty much headed into Guard training as well with a fast track to the Wonderbolts.”

“Spect ponies gonna claim favoritism cause yer ma.”

“Yeah I expected that and dad has already suggested I tell them to try and live through what mom's gonna put me through. Evidently there's some ultra training she and your dad put together that only six pegasai have made it though.”

“Dash one of um?”

“Of course!”

“Yeah, ah ken wait if you want. Ain't in no hurry, just figured to try a date while we was out. Still since that kinda fell through might still try'n ask yah to tha end of the year dance...” Pip chuckles.

“You dance?”

“Nope.”

“Then why?”

“Heard you did, figured it might be something yah'd like. I don't recall yah ever going to any other ones.” Pip states. “Ah ken get Aunt Bleu tah teach me, we got another three weeks til that.”

“Yeah... alright...”

“Pardon?”

Scootaloo nods, turning a bit red. “ Yeah... I'll go with you to the dance, but you better not embarrass me.”

“Wouldna dream of it.”

Scootaloo exhales “Thanks for the save by the way. I don't like the idea you got hurt protecting me though.”

“S'what a Knight in Shiny armor does.” Pip chuckles His eyes widening as Scootaloo leans down suddenly kissing him on the nose.

The tent flap is flung open suddenly by Applebloom just as the pegasus's lips touch Pip.

“Guys you'll never guess what ah found.......” Applebloom stares as Scootaloo's wings shoot out and she turns a beet red launching herself out of the tent in a trail of green fire nearly knocking Applebloom over.

Pip stares after her, hearing the pegasus cussing up a storm in the far distance.

“What jus happened?” Applebloom asks.

The colt lifts his head glaring at his cousin, a dead pan expression on his face.

“For a mare who claims tah wanna help me and Scootaloo git together you are really good at ruining mai chances, cousin.” Pip grumbles.

============================================================

[Crystal Empire 1400 hours ]

Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, Starfall Silvertail, Spike Sparkle, Bleu Scale, Brier Rose, Hospice Moskau, Soarin and Spitfire sit around a large table staring down at a map and paper work as a host of ponies rush around them delivering papers and altering the map on the table.

“Cloudsdale has fallen and for the last few hours it's been moving to every major city in Equestria. Fluttershy told us That's what Owlowiscious said when he got here. Philomena had much the same message, but it seems like the forest creatures are coming to our aid as they did last time, they just won't fight.” Spike points out. “We can send them back to Angel but they both need rest, though Owlowcious seemed to be able to take the fixed portal train tunnel. We need to shut that down before Tirek uses it.”

“Noted. Where's Princess Luna? Shouldn't she be a part of this?” Spitfire asks. “It was nice of her to inform me my daughter and her friends are alright , but she didn't have much to say past one of them was asleep and confirmed.”

“She declined to attended and is with her foal.” Cadence explains.

“Probably for the best given her current temperament.” Shining adds. “Best if she can just hold it together enough and at least keep the sun and moon on track. So long as that continues none of the nobles will demand she give up control of the sun and moon citing she's unbalanced due to grief. No matter how accurate that is. I expected Blue Blood would have already tried , but he's not talking very well with a shattered jaw.”

“Tirek or some one tired of his shit?” Bleu asks.

“The latter, Orange in fact. After all she's done however all the witnesses are claiming BlueBlood came into the hospital with the injury, they all noted he was there before her for some reason any way.” Shining smirks.

“Maybe we should have her give up what she gained from Princess Celestia any way.”Soarin ponders aloud. “A way to not put all our eggs in one basket?”

“Nah colt, better this way. Only got one basket tah guard.” Rose states.

“Ah agree, der ist too much at stake to make more targets like dat.” Moskau nods.

“Have we heard anything from any other nations?” Bleu asks.

“No” Starfall admits. “And that worries me. With the exception of Cindervale everyone else we've been in contact with has gone silent.”

“Dhis dhing cannot have covered dhat much ground already.” Moskau frowns. “Even dhe Changelings could only hit a town or two at a time and dhey had thousands.”

“That brings us back to that damn pond.” Bleu grumbles. “We don't know how it refilled so quick or how much water it has in it, there could be more of him running around than there are ponies left.”

“Has there been anything in the libraries?” Spitfire asks.

“We have a number of ponies looking though them, but the Royal Archives are old, add that to Sombra's tendency to hide entire rooms in multidimensional spaces that could be entered through a painting or simply turning left at certain time of day and I'll be one to admit we still haven't found all his hidy holes and workshops in the Empire. Still we've got every pony with even a sliver of archive or research skill looking over everything for anything.” Cadence points out.

“I've been doing what I can as well, but there's nothing direct I can grab. Either there are no books on Tirek or I'm asking the wrong questions in trying to find a book that has what we need in it.” Spike sighs.

“Still the trainees report from the Redhoof encampment is worrying. If anything pushed Luna over the edge it will be that.” Starfall sighs. “Couple Jer'rahd's death to Rhede and Velkorn's the very next day and we have no idea how she'll react. Our biggest concern should be preventing her from doing something stupid, like trying to go after him herself.”

“From what we can deduce anything with a cutie mark he can steal power from, once that mark is stolen the pony falls into a coma. Half Dragons and a few other races without cutie marks are immune, but he simply kills them.” Spitfire snaps. “This pretty much drops our useful forces down to twenty five percent, mostly half dragons and a couple of Griffons and Diamond Dogs. What about the dragons?”

“They refuse.” Bleu grumbles.

“I thought Spike was their leader?” Starfall asks.

“It's a little more complex then that. I have a leadership roll, but so do three other dragon gods that showed up. Two of them want to keep aloof from everything else until they are a nation again and the third wants to eat everything that's not a dragon.” Spike grumbles.

“It's a strange voting system, but we've been working to gain favor with all the younger dragons. We might get one or two to help, but the general consensus is 'you don't buck with us, we don't buck with you'” Bleu snarls. “ Makes negotiating trade stupid hard.”

“Dragons respect strength and pretty much only strength. Bleu and I have managed to prove we are worth the positions we have, but the three other gods are more combat focused in their abilities. One of them was even a soldier in the last dragon war. Luckily Bleu absolutely terrifies him.” Spike admits.

“Vat about tha changelings?” Moaskau asks.

“What about them?” Shining asks.

“Dhey do not have a cutiemark and dhe ken fight when motivated.” Moskau lists. “Vhy ken ve not use dhem?”

“Most of them are still comatose, the few that are not might be willing to help, but would our own Guard trust them enough to accept that help?”” Cadence explains. “Even ten years later hatred runs deep.”

“This might be a chance for some redemption.” Soarin suggests. “ Easiest way to start to like some one is to fight beside them. It's something that came up in that Guard training I had to do. There were a number of Griffons and Diamond Dogs who we've been at odds with for years, now a couple of them are pen pals of mine.”

“I'll ask, but don't get your hopes up, most of the battle hardened ones were killed or fell into a coma in the last offensive when Sombra was killed.” Shining explains. “All that's left are workers and some infiltrators.”

“The Elements of Harmony?”Spitfire questions.

“No good. Not only do we not have a full team of either of the two groups of Bearers but there's something wrong with the Elements of Loyalty and Compassion.” Starfall states.

“Something wrong? Spike asks. “What?”

“I couldn't tell you, the Element of Honesty feels fine to me but Fluttershy and Dash say when they put the Elements on all they feel is cold. There's kinda a thing when you wear it, you can feel something from the Element. I can't explain it, but if two of them have lost that feeling even if we could find a new set of Bearers they wouldn't work.”

“There were reports about Sunshine being found near the Gates of Tartarus and the gate itself being gone.” Shining points out digging through the stack of papers before him for that specific report. “If that's where Loyalty and Compassion are maybe the gate getting shut blocked off their connection.”

“Woo impressive, your really are Sparkle Butts brother. “ Bleu whistles.

“What is your obsession with butts lately?” Starfall asks.

“Oh please you cannot tell me you do not appreciate that firm flank of that stallion of yours Starfall.” Bleu grins.

“Keep your eyes to yourself Bleu.” Starfall grumbles.

“Yeah yeah yeah what about Discord?” Rose interrupts.” Couldn't he jus snap his fingers and turn Tirek into a fruit basket or something?”

“Discord is far less powerful than he used to be. At best he's on par with me now and he's no longer a god.” Cadence sighs. “I cannot explain more than that due to a promise with him, but he will try to help so long as we do not let Tirek get a hold of Pinkie Pie. In truth I agree with that, Pinkie's unusual nature would be far too much a power boost to Tirek. She should be classed along with Dash and Starfall in terms of security.”

“So.... no dragons, no Elements, no Discord, and no Changelings.” Rose sighs leaning back in his chair staring at the ceiling. “Three of our best fighters are dead, two of our most powerful spell casters are out cold, and our best medic died this morning. We are boned.”

No one at the table had an argument for the statement.

===========================================================

[White Tail woods 1400 hours.]

“So there was a garden?” Pip asks.

“Yeah a bit of sunlight falling down onto a spot and stuff was growing there. Ah found pretty much everything ah needed fer a couple of potions.” Applebloom chimes layering some foul smelling mix over Pip's wounds.” Lucky for you I found these you might not even scar now.”

“Woo...” pip grumbles flinching as his back was slathered with the mix.

“Seems kinda convenient to have what you need down here.” Sweetiebelle states.

“Yeah ah suppose so, but maybe we jus got lucky. There's a whole forest above us, might be packed with those sorta herbs.” Applebloom comments.

“Sounds like yer not sure. Ah'm not as good with plants and mixes as you are, but ah know a couple of the ones you need for healing mixes don't grown any where near each other normally.” Pip comments. “ Sounds more like an actual garden grown wild.”

“Underground? Do we have to worry about mole people?” Sweetiebelle yelps, and is mostly ignored by the other two.

“If it was a garden, no one's been tending it fer a long while....” Applebloom flattens her ears pausing in wrapping Pip's back.

“What is it?” Pip asks noting her pause.

“There was a skull there too, looked like a weird pony with a wiggly horn and fangs. Looked old.”

“Vampire ponies!!” Sweetiebell gasps. “ I knew it.”

The pair continue to ignore the unicorn.

“Sounds like it might be a changeling I think, don't most of them have weird gnarled horns?” Pip questions. “ I'd have to have a look at it myself to be sure.”

“Ah dunno. Ah didn't stay tah look at it, an ah sure didn't bring it back with me. Scootaloo went that way , maybe she'll see something.” Applebloom explains.

“Yeah, but Changelings are bugs right? Shouldn't they have chitinous plates and not bones?” Sweetiebelle states. “Then again if it was a changed pony, one they got into that pod thing of theirs, then they might still have bones.”

Pip and Applebloom both look at Sweetiebelle.

“How do you keep doing that?” Pip asks.

“What?”Sweetiebelle questions.

“Be talking absolutely insanity and then say something that sounds like it's a well thought out theory.”Pip stares at the mare.

“Dunno?” The unicorn shrugs.

The fwoosh of flame and the thud off hooves on the sand outside the tent marked Scootaloo's return.

“Hey guys! “she bursts into the tent, doing her best not to look at Pip. “ I found something awesome!”

“Proof that my mole people theory is correct?!”Sweetiebelle asks getting an eye roll from Scootaloo.

“I told you before that was just a really ugly Diamond Dog, not a mole people or whatever.“

“that's what he wanted us to think......”

“He even told you he was a diamond dog, never mind not getting into this again with you.” Scootaloo sighs. “And no, I went for a flight when I left here to make sure my wing was okay and I found something cool down here.”

“Quit stalling fer suspense and tell us!” Applebloom snorts.

“Spoilsport, any way there's a city down here, a whole massive city. Not as big as New Canterlot, but way bigger than Dodge City or Appleooza.” Scootaloo smirks. “So finish patching up Pip here and lets go check it out.”

=======================================================

[ Crystal Empire 2000 hours]

Bleu had a headache. It was an odd thing for her to have, though she wasn't immune to such a thing. Usually she got one dealing with the more hidebound dragons, the three idiots, or something Boss was stubborn about. Granted she didn't have to worry about the last any more and that only made her headache worse. She was trying to look on the bright side of things still however.

Okay, she was an aunt twice over. Spike no longer tried to run away from her when she flirted with him, granted he mostly rolled his eyes now, but it was a start. She got to see two new gods come into the world, one her new niece, in a really short period.... after seeing one go out of it. So what if there was a massive force of a super powerful creature that cloned himself and was trying to eat the world. So what if one of her friends was a depressing ball of self loathing , anger and depression, and some of her best friends were dead, and the idiot trio had snuck out of Cindervale when they thought she wouldn't notice. So what if they had several hour meeting with no punch or pie because they were conserving all food stuff for a possible extended siege so no pony would starve to death....

“Damnit I depressed myself again.” Bleu sighs.

“Pardon Miss?” A Crystal Guard that had been walking with her and Spike asked.

“Don't mind her, She's trying to look on the bright side of things and failing.” Spike comments. “Now what were you saying?”

“Well we received reports from some of our out lying scouts that a dragon was flying around the edges of the Empire. It seemed lost and the description matches one of the ones you warned us about.”

“Which one? Oh it better not be Death Claw, if it's that old fart I will more than happily make a new mother excited in a few months that she laid a egg with a godling in it.” Bleu snarls. “ And I'll have a nice new handbag to boot.”

“No Ma'am, based on the description and what files you gave us the dragon in question is one named 'Spines' if the description reported is correct.” the Guard comments.

“Just Spines? No Grabble or Bulk?” Spike ponders. “You never see those three apart.”

“As your information said, but this is a lone dragon sir. He appears lost judging by how he's circling some areas. He also seems to be carrying something fairly large on his back that's wrapped in canvas. None of my scouts were able to get close to him though they did hear the figure yelling at him and the dragon seemed afraid of his passenger.

“Think it's Tirek?” Spike asks.

“Why the heck would Tirek need to ride a dragon when he's got a cloud city?” Bleu sighs. “ Where are they now?”

“Just before I came to get you we received word they were headed for the city, we've cleared a spot in the far field for them to land. Prince Shining has been informed, but he deferred any dragon situations to you and Sir Spike.”

“I always love it when ponies call me that.” Spike smirks. “Sir Spike.”

“Yeah, yeah, knight in shiny armor, defeat the evil princess and save the lovely dragoness already why don't yah.” Bleu grumbles.

“Where would we get an evil Princess this time of night?” Spike asks.

“What?” Bleu turns on him. “Really?”

“No, I'm just keeping you distracted like you tried to do with Princess Luna. I know how you Bearer's of Laughter get without something to focus on.”

“Really and you're my distraction!? “ Bleu leaps on Spike tackling him to the ground with a hug. ” That's so sweet!”

Bleu giggles as Spike flails under her.

“Dang Bleu did you at least buy the poor guy dinner first?” Rainbow Dash smirks gliding down to land near them.

“Help...” mutters Spike.

“I would say get a room but I don't think there's any here that would fit you two.” Peach Blossom calls down as he lands next to Rainbow Dash. “ Any way enough of this, the dragon is coming in for a landing and we need to know if we have to stomp him or what. We're already on high alert.”

“Bah spoil sports.”Bleu grumbles climbing back to her claws, her tail flicking out to slap Spike on the rump.

“Stop that Bleu...” Spike growls as the group continues towards the landing area.

The clearing was on the far side of the palace from the refugee tents, that didn't mean much to the Guards and the entire area was well surrounded with a number of magical lights illuminating the field of grass. Luna had already lowered the sun and raised the moon It was a tad early for this time of year, though when asked she claimed it was due to the imbalance of the day before and the night would last a little longer in the morning as well to balance it. Considering no other pony had ever moved the sun and moon they simply took it at face value and let her get back to her sulk.

In the middle of the lights and the large ring of Guards, Spines sat huddled, looking absolutely miserable. Next to him stood a rather tall figure wrapped in a tattered and singed tarp made up like a hooded cloak. He stood at least as tall as Princess Luna and had a presence that made both Bleu and Spike uneasy, it was easy to see why Spines was nearly soiling himself being that close.

Bleu growled and shifted to her full sized form, an action mimicked by Spike. The pair advanced moving to either side of the circle of Guards, positioned so their breath weapons would cross, but not hit each other if it came down to a fight.

The figure didn't seem that worried as he regarded them though, he focused most of his attention on Spike.

” Where is Twilight Sparkle. I am need to speak with her immediately.”<

The figures voice boomed, though both Spike and Bleu felt it was far more familiar than it should be.

“Who wants to know?” Rainbow Dash calls out, her own weapons drawn.

The figure snorts and reaches up, his clawed fore leg gripping the tarp and yanking it off of his form.

The stallion before them was covered in blue gray fur. Large patches of cobalt blue scales covered random patches along the figures body seemingly without rhyme or reason. The figures back legs ended in hooves though his fore hooves ended in dragon like claws covered with the same scales that were on the rest of him. His tail was long and thick like a dragons, ending in a tuft of amber hair. He had no cutie mark though patches of scales covered his flanks were one would be. A long unruly mane of the same coloration as the tail tuft fell over the figures neck and shoulders. A strange horn protruded from the center of the amber mop of hair curling up and back a little. It was smooth rather than spiraled like a normal unicorns horn, though the base of the horn was rough as if it had grown back from being broken. The figure had a set of rather prominent fangs that were briefly visible when it spoke. However it was the equine face that caused a collective gasp from several of those gathered.

“B..... Boss?” Bleu stammers.
“Jer'rahd?” Rainbow Dash questions.
“Major?” mutters Peach Blossom.

” Sorry to disappoint you, but my former host is not here.”< The figure states flatly two rows of three glowing red eyes opening on the figures face, one above and bellow where each normal eye placement was on a pony.

“Troph.” Spike finally says recognizing the odd eyes and voice of the Spirit of Loyalty. “What are you doing here?”

“Tartarus is sealed and my love is dying. I need Twilight Sparkle to figure a way to open the gates to free her or she will die and the Elements of Harmony will be no more.”<

Author's Note

Title is Carry On- Avenged Sevenfold

Step Up [24]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Step Up

[White Tail Woods, Monday 700 hours ]

“This is pretty impressive.” Pip whistles looking over the garden Applebloom had found.

“I know right?” Applebloom chimes.

The poultice’s and healing potions Applebloom had made had perked her cousin up again, but she was still leery of letting him wander around. Granted, much like his father, Applebloom expected it would take Pip losing a couple of legs before he finally would admit he was hurt. Still she had a secret weapon, she told Scootaloo to make sure he didn't over exert himself. While the diminutive colt might not listen to anything Applebloom said, she was willing to bet her last bit Pip would listen to the mare he was crushing on without any arguments at all.

“Bah, plants, there's a whole hidden set of ruins over there ready to be explored for treasure over by those other root things and we came to look at flowers.“ Scootaloo grumbles.

Of course, Applebloom sighed to herself, Scootaloo had to be paying attention to Pip to notice if he was over doing it. The pegasus herself had recovered full use of her wing rather quickly. Once Pip was treated Applebloom had a chance to look at some of the residue that came off her friends wing. It seemed like it was nothing more than some sort of fire retardant mix, one that was fairly weighted and seemed to cling like glue. She could think of a number of uses for it such as flame proofing a house or trees before a forest fire. That their attackers had used it as a weapon made her think they dealt with fire being used against them often, maybe there were phoenix’s in the forest?

“Hey there's dandelions over here! I love dandelions!” Sweetiebelle called out from the other side of the patch of plants happily munching on something.

“Let me know if there's any snow berries. I haven’t had those in a while.” Scootaloo states gliding over to one of the pillars looking over some of the ivy dangling off the massive root.

“Those only blossom in tha winter or up north. Yah could have got some while we were in tha Crystal Empire.” Applebloom calls.

“I did. I already ate them all though.” Scootaloo admits tugging at the ivy.

“So this is tha skull?” Pip states sitting down in front of it and picking it up to look it over.

“Huh yeah I tripped over that when I found this place.” Applebloom states walking over to the heavily bandaged pony. “ You alright?”

“Fine, didna feel like trying to pick this up with only three good legs.” Pip admits. “ Ah think you were right. Looks jus like a Changeling. No damage on it, so he didna die from a head wound any way.”

Pip sets the skull aside pushing around the sand by where it had buried.

“Rest of tha body ain't here.” Pip states though he blinks staring at something before rising back to his hooves, sweeping more sand away with a hoof.

“What is it?” Applebloom walks up noting Pip had uncovered a stone under a bit of sand and he was currently uncovering more of it as he went further down across the garden.

“There's a stone here, it's flat, looks like it's been worked and it goes all that way over here.” Pip states stopping where one of the giant roots came down.”

“ There one over here on this side too.” Sweetiebelle calls.” It's not covered in sand though. OOH Raspberries I love Raspberries.”

Pip moves to one side of the garden clearing off some sand and finding another long stone between the two roots.

“Four roots coming down like this, an some pony built a planter box between um.” Pip theorizes.

“So the garden's not natural.” Applebloom blinks.

“OOOh there's strawberries, I love strawberries..... aww they're still green. Wait there's a ripe one!” Sweetiebelle shouts excitedly.

“Got something up here too.” Scootaloo calls yanking down more vines. “ Looks like some kinda crystal triangle. It's reflecting my wing fire something fierce too.”

Applebloom considers. “Scoots check that root on this side see if there's one there too.”

“Right.” Scootaloo flies over to the root indicated. “Yeah, no vines on this one though, It's glowing kinda faintly silver, like moon light or something.”

“Moonlight?” Pip asks, looking around the area and noting the only light was from Scootaloo's wings, the myriad of glowing ponds around, and the flickering light of Sweetiebelle's horn. “Ah thought you said this place was fulla sunlight?”

“It was, see how lot of tha plants are leaning towards that root pillar Scootaloo is at. That's where the sun came in.” Applebloom states as Scootaloo flies over to the other roots, calling back that there were other crystals hidden in vines there too.

“That dun make any sense, it's early morning, if tha sun's up there shouldn't be moon light.” Pip questions. “Sweetiebelle yah sure that watch you bought is set right?”

“No. I didn't even plan to open it, but noooo you had to know the time and couldn't let me leave it sealed for Lion Heart's Hearth warming gift.” Sweetiebelle grumbles.

“It's a pocket watch!” Scootaloo calls.

“So?”

“He doesn't wear anything that has pockets!” Scootaloo fusses back.

“I'm sure my sister would love an excuse to make him some dashing vest or something. It was a double gift.” Sweetiebelle admits.

“Cheapskate” Scootaloo huffs.

“Well this was pointless. Guess this place is part of Scootaloo's ruins though.” Applebloom comments.

=================================================

[Crystal Empire, 700 hours]

“Moons still up. Some pony wanna go tell the Princess to hurry it up.” Shining comments looking into the sky from his balcony.

“Relax Shiny. Luna said that it would be up a few more hours today to compensate for the length the sun was up yesterday. We already told all the ponies that so no one should be worrying.” Cadence placates.

“If you say so. This new guest of ours has me on edge too.” Shining comments trotting back into their room glancing at Cadence as she shifts in front of her mirror prepping herself for the day. He was rather glad he only had to look ready for action, rather than presentable to nobility like his wife did.
It was yet another little social requirement that Kaisur had turned on its ear when he became Princess Luna's consort, and yet like a few others, it had wound up being a benefit to him as well.

He still had to dress up for parties or big events, but given he had taken to wearing his armor for such events he could still slack a little in how his mane looked. Princess Celestia had forced Major Kaisur to wear Lunar Guard armor and attend the Grand Galloping Gala about six years ago in an effort to make him presentable for the visiting dignitaries. In response he had worn the first Lunar Guard armor he was given, which was the one made out of Tank bones. Celestia never made him attend another Gala after that

“He is rather unsettling isn't he. Still I'm more upset he didn't have any information on Tirek, or how to cure the ponies in a coma.” Cadence sighs. “I do feel rather bad for him, Twilight, Celestia, and maybe Rhede, were the only ones who might know enough about Tartarus to help Grace.”

“Zecora, too. Not that that helps either.“ Shining comments moving to a door in the wall and pulling it open, glancing into the nursery next to their rooms his ears perked not hearing any sound save the collected foals soft slumber. Closing the door back quietly he moved over to Cadence nuzzling her lightly before she put on her make up. “I still think we should have told Luna.”

“Given her state of mind I think the last thing she would want to see is some thing that looks like Jer'rahd running around. Besides she had already gone to bed when he got here. Did he say why he looks like that?”

“No. Bleu thinks it has to do with his spending so much time with Jer'rahd, it's like it's his default form now when he can't be a massive dragon. “

“So why isn't he a massive dragon?” Cadence questions.

“Something about power suppression, container capacity and link sensitivity. I dunno, it's mostly griffonese to me. Of course given that he kept switching between Equestrian and what Spike called Proto Draconic, so it's even worse than griffonese. At least Spike and Bleu understand him clearly, a couple of the half dragons too. They can't explain why, but they understand everything he says.”

“Well Troph is supposedly the first dragon god, so maybe there's some primal connection there. At least Spike and Bleu are keeping an eye on him.”

“Thankfully that's not an issue at least, he wouldn't be a danger even if they were not watching him. He only wants one thing and we're the only ones who can help him with that, provided he helps us. As a side note do you know why Locust requested today off?” Shining asks.

“Not really, she said there was some issue with the Changelings. It wasn't supposed to be a big deal but she wanted to keep an eye on it.”

“Hmm I'll head out and see what I can find out later, we've got to deal with a whole line of petitioners today first.”Shining sighs. “ All of them complaining about the refugees I bet.”

“Don't remind me.” Cadence sighs. “ You just get to stand there and be handsome. I have to talk to them.”

===========================================

[White Tail Woods, Monday 800 hours]

“You sure you're alright Pippy? You look a little wore out still.” Sweetiebelle questions.

“M'fine.” Pip grumbles, “Applebloom was the one who made us sit down an hour while she checked my bandages.”

“Ah'm making sure that everything thats fine, stays that way. Yah, should be in bed not wandering around looking at underground ruins.” Applebloom grumbles.

“Ah'm fine.... arrow was tha worst of it. Mai back just itches...”

“Well good that means it's workin.” Applebloom snorts. “You're lucky they were just messy gashes and not anything that needed stitches. Ah doubt Sweetiebelle woulda been useful after she tangled herself up in that string.”

“That was like one time!” Sweetiebelle huffs.

“Yeah about four hours ago.”Scootaloo chuckles landing next to them. “ Any way keep it down , there's something going on up there, I heard voices.”

The small group rouses and moves on again, now that Scootaloo had returned from scouting ahead. Before long they were entering the ruins proper

Before them lay a partially flooded hollow in the ground. The water was still and perhaps only an apple deep in places. It was calm enough for the glow from the fungi in it to make it look like the entire pool was a strange blue glowing liquid, rather than water.

A stone city rose out of this shallow pond, the buildings built of mud and rock from the surrounding cavern, some of the structures stretching five or six stories in the air. All of them were remarkably well preserved, and aside from a few lines on the walls showing past water levels there didn't seem to be any real damage to the structures themselves.

The town itself seemed to be built in a circle radiating out from a massively thick root that came down in the middle of the town. Windows and doors were carved into the root all the way up to the cavern's ceiling, along with a host of strange symbols that none of them recognized.

As they sloshed through the shallow water, they heard the shouting Scootaloo had mentioned, followed by a roar that seemed to come from that central structure.

“Come on lets get closer.” Scootaloo states, flying ahead, approaching the center of town.

The place itself was creepy, once they were closer the smell of mildew and mold was rather strong. They could see piled garbage as old as the town left strewn around inside some of the structures. Wooden doors that had rusted and rotted off their hinges lay strewn near a number of doorways and the ones still standing looked ready to fall apart at a touch.

The center of the town was slightly raised and relatively dry, a stone walk way led up the incline from the flooded streets to the structure built in the root. The dry spot itself was covered in moss and strange flowers and plants that Applebloom didn't recognize.

“What is this place.” Pip gasps looking up at the towering root.

A sudden shout like before was followed by the shattering of glass as a figure dove out of one of the windows in the large root, a story off the ground, destroying what looked to be a multi colored stain glass window of some unknown image.

A tan pegasus mare with a gray scale mane and tail, a green jacket and a pith helmet rolls across the ground holding something to her chest with one wing, the other was held flat against her back a number of her main feathers missing.

The reason for the damage was soon apparent as a massive tiger lept out of the window landing heavily on the ground right behind her and rushing forward, spitting out some feathers as it circled in front of her.

The great beast was followed by a lynx, a panther, a cheetah, and a small white house cat. All of them were brandishing weapons of some kind save the tiger who only had armored guards over his forepaws. The panther had a large ax in it's maw, the lynx a dagger, and the cheetah a spear. The house cat had a griffon built crossbow that was larger than it was, yet it still carried it with an air of menace.

The pack of felines quickly surround the mare before she manages to run, though they all hold their place around them as a laugh sounds from the main door of the root structure.

The Crusaders and Pip tilt their heads in confusion as a creature steps out from the door way of the giant root. It was covered in blue and dark gray fur, it's fore legs were large and longer than it's back legs, which resembled a dogs, the bulky forelegs ended in what appeared to be claws, but without the sharp bits. It's long tail ended in another of the strange claw-less appendages. It's body was faintly reminiscent of a gorilla with it's front higher than the back as it strode out the door. It wore a gold necklace, arm bands and a ring on it's tail. The head was what was most disturbing as it was long with a wide mouth like an alligator, though it's eyes and nose were on the very tip of the long fanged snout and it's long rabbit like ears were on the back, a few strands of feathered hair that matched it's general coat color fell down the back of it's neck from just behind it's ears.

“There is no where to run now Daring Doo. I win again.” the creature chuckles. “ Now hand over the book and I will make sure your end is swift.”

“ Forget it Ahuizotl, you're the last one who needs to have this!” Daring shouts back.

The four of them stare at the scene before them with mixed expressions.

“Seriously?” Pip asks deadpan. “ Was there something in that medicine you gave me Bloom?”
“Daring Doo is real?” Applebloom questions. “Either that or there was something wrong with them plants ah mixed.”
“This is so awesome!” Scootaloo grins widely.
“OH COME ON!” Sweetiebelle rants.

====================

[ Crystal Empire, throne room, 900 hours.]

“THAT IS IT!” Princess Cadence bellows suddenly causing everyone in the throne room to flinch at the rare outburst from the pink mare. “Close the doors and lock them, I’ve heard enough for today.”

“You heard the Princess, OUT every pony out, court is closed for today!” Shining Armor yells as the Guards move to force the unruly mob of ponies out of the throne room. He glances down at Cadence a hoof reaching out to rub her back as she groans, burying her face in her hooves.

The gathered mob of protesters shout a few things as the Guards forced them out, but given that one of the Guards in the court today was Major Briar Rose, none of them resisted.

“One hour. It has only been one hour since we opened up the doors and we have had nothing but Canterlot nobles complaining about their living conditions and Empire nobles complaining about the complaints about their living conditions. We've had businesses trying to enact old laws so they could charge the refugees double for everything here as if they were tourists, and refugees demanding to be given things that are not even necessities for free.” Cadence grumbles.

“Not to mention a couple of petitions for tha refugees tah be sent some where else. Then there was that one who wanted tah give up all up tah Tirek in hopes of getting him leaving us alone.” Rose snarls coming back towards the pair after the doors close. “Moskau is meeting with that one later to 'discuss' his plan.”

“And see if he needs to be imprisoned for possibly being a traitor?” Shining Armor sighs.

“Nah, tah scare tha droppings out of him so bad he doesn't even think about it.” Rose grins.

“I knew it was going to be bad but this...... and then there were all the ones bitching about it still being dark outside!” Cadence throws her fore hooves in the air. “ We told them yesterday it was going to be dark longer today. I wish auntie Luna gave us an estimate of how long.”

“She didn't, though it shouldn't be more than a few hours, I'll go find her and ask her in a moment.” Shining offers. “Still keep in mind dear the worst ones were the loudest, but they were not the only ones.”

Cadence smiles at that her magic gripping a few sheets of paper.

“Two offers to clear out some of the mining warehouses to use as longer term storage and lodging, one of those also offering the mines themselves for the changelings. A suggestion to trade gems with the dragons for food in a attempt to strengthen relations as well as keep food in supply, Spike will like that one. A one Coco Pommel offering to craft clothing for the colder nights for free so long as she is supplied materials, given how much cloth was packed away on the ships from the Gallopagos that is an easy one. Granted she also made a request for a book that might have been Rarity's.” Cadence sighs “I'll look into that later. There are a number of offerings of food and shelter, but it's not enough .There are still far too many for us to take care of with out supplies for long. We might have a glut of provisions now, plus the train from New Canterlot, but those supplies won';t last long and the glut is for the Empire's winter preparations.”

“We need to prepare a number of funerals as well. We can have the proper ones later, but there needs to be some sort of closure for ponies. It's been several days already. The Guard force from Canterlot that went to Gallopagos has brought back the scant few ponies remaining. The largest Guard force that went out are all in comas near that bandit camp with the trainees still out there. It's safer for them there, but....”Rose mutters.

“But we need to know who is still alive even partially and who is dead first.” Cadence sighs.

“We know a few of them. Though it feels wrong having a funeral for them without Luna or Twilight present.” Shining grumbles.

“So find Luna and tell her. I'll talk to Applejack and Fluttershy and see what they want to do in regards to Rarity, Rhede, and Velkorn. They were family, or practically that in Rarity's case.” Cadence sighs.

========================================================

[Crystal Empire 900 hours.]

“Where is she whelp? I do not have time for your playing.”< Troph growls staring at Spike and Bleu who were both sitting before the door in the room he was in.

“Stop calling me that.” Bleu growls. “I'm over a thousand years old now.”

” A thousand years of that do not count, as you were in slumber, and even if they did you are still a whelp to me.”< Troph growls back. >” Now where is the Night Goddess? Grace is dying and so help me if she dies because of your stalling you will wish Tirek was your only issue.”<

“Oh you threatened the wrong dragon today punk...”

“Both of you give it a rest.” Spike snorts. “ Bleu you are not helping and Troph neither are you. Princess Cadence said she will talk to Luna. The last thing we need is for her to freak out because of the face you are wearing. Like we said before there's three, maybe four ponies who know anything about that gate and all of them are out cold or dead because of Tirek. You want our help then help us deal with him.”

Troph and Bleu both huff angrily, though Spike has to admit Bleu did it a little cuter. Still he was nervous about telling Troph what to do, despite looking like a more draconic half dragon, he had no idea what sort of power the first dragon god possessed.

“As I told those bothersome ponies before I never had any encounter with Tirek past being used once to contain him. I do not know what or how merely that my power was being used. I was not part of my Element at that time.”<

“Fat lot of good you are.” Bleu growls.

Spike ponders as the pair start bickering again. He wasn't sure why but he felt Troph was humoring her. Likely the creature who represented Loyalty felt he either owed Bleu something, or at least owed Jer'rahd enough not to harm his friends. Still even knowing that, the deaths of Bulk and Grabble proved he was not something to trifle with. This would cause quite a number of problems with their parents, and some of the others who were opposed to working with the ponies would have issue with a 'pony' killing two young dragons. Self defense or not. Still that was something to worry about later, Bleu had informed Spines to stay nearby until they could figure something out. Cadence had allowed the dragon access to a smaller library with easily replaced books when Spike suggested it. He doubted Spines would do anything to the books, it was rare that the dragon had a chance to read, and with his friends gone he wouldn't have to worry about being secretive and thought a nerd or whatever else those two idiots had used as insults.

Right now Spike's biggest concern was information. Something there was precious little of in regards to the monster out there. Troph had been a possible source of information and with him lacking any knowledge and his own abilities not finding anything about any creature named Tirek and only a claw full of passages in some books about something that ate cutie marks, he had nothing to go on. Spike puffs a flicker of green flame from his maw as he thought of something.

“Question Troph. I read before that the one who pulled you and Grace apart from the Elements was one of the books right?”

” I doubt it was intentionally, but the Jade Scroll claimed credit for mine and Grace's creation. He held some power over me for a while as well, though I know not how.”<

“Crazy book claimed a lot of things when we had him.” Bleu huffed. “ Still not sure how that thing got away from us during the war.”

“Trolls stole it.” Spike states as if it was common knowledge “I have an idea on what we can do. But I’ll need the Sparkles and your help.”

“Oooh, he needs my help?” Bleu coos pressing up again Spike and fluttering her eyes.

”Drake would you please just mate this mad creature so we can focus on what is important, while she is busy with the eggs in another cave somewhere?”<

“Hey that's sexist you ancient bigot!” Bleu shouts at Troph not noticing Spike's blush.

”It is not sexist if it's only directed at you. Whelp.”< Troph growls.

“Wait, how come he's a drake and I’m still a whelp!?” Bleu rants.

”Because unlike you he can think past a hatching level. Which would be a better term for you if I wanted to waste more than one syllable on insulting you. Whelp.”<

“Oh I am so gonna kick your ass...” Bleu growls.

====================================================

[Whitetail Woods 900 hours.]

The sudden shout of Sweetiebelle drew everyone’s attention to the little group standing in front of what might have once been a shop of some kind.

Ahuizotl, Daring Doo, and the cats stared at the four for a moment before the panther and cheetah glanced back at Ahuizotl who nodded and the two rushed over flanking the group as the others moved circling Doo and covering for their missing members.

“So who are these four Doo? More fan club members?” Ahuizotl sneers advancing on Daring Doo towering over the pegasus. ”I am still waiting for my royalties from those books you write that use my likeness without my permission.”

“Oh sure I’ll give those bits right over soon as you legally become a Equestrian citizen. Oh wait you can't, being wanted and all that in several countries.” Daring Doo snarks.

“That is no excuse to use my likeness in your blasted books!”

“That's not you that's another... guy named Ahuizotl.” Daring rolls her eyes.

“I call bupkiss on that Doo, despite your writing that I am a bumbling fool, I have managed to beat you several times, but you never write a book on those encounters.”

“That's because the last thing you beat me in was a pie eating contest at the state fair in that little Diamond Dog town Marl.”

“That still counts!”

“Pfft whatever, you only won cause you flipped open your head and poured in pies.”

“That was a perfectly legit strategy.” Ahuizotl protests. “Any way that is not the point. Give me the tablet and I won't destroy them and you!”

“Well I guess we know who tha bad guy is now.” Applebloom sighs.

“We knew that any way “ Scootaloo grins. “Just from the books!”

“HEY! I'm not the bad guy here! I don't steal priceless works of art from secure vaults and tombs just to destroy the tombs in the process and stuff the stolen relic in a glass case for idiots to gawk at.” Ahuizotl points at Doo.

“And the destroy them comment?” Sweetiebelle asks.

“Dramatic flair.”

“Yeah, sure you don't put the relics in a museum, you just use them to try and have eight hundred years of unending heat, thus turning the world into a barren wasteland.” Daring Doo yells.

“Pfft as if Princess Celestia would have allowed that. That artifact belonged to that tribe and you stole it from, then you broke it!” Ahuizotl rants.

“And the onyx panther statue? The one I stole back from your den?” Daring grumbles.

“That was one time I kept something, and that was because you destroyed the temple! And if we want to talk about villainy, lets talk about villainy like how you admitted you stole from my house. A place that you knew the address because you trashed it before!”

“Oh by the stars, that was my second year in college, I never asked you to bring me back there!”

“Yes you did, you were rather insistent in fact, flirty, quite drunk and wearing a dress that was quite scandalous if I recall. Granted if I had known you were trying to seduce me for my tests answers, poorly I might add, I never would have brought you back there!”

“Oh you enjoyed it!” Daring Doo scoffs. “And clearly it worked because I got them!”

“I lost my tenure because of that, mare!” Ahuizotl rants.

“Yeah and if you ever stopped bitching about it maybe something else might have come of it, but nooooooooo that's all I heard about for the rest of time in school. Is it any wonder I left!?”

“You didn't seem to have any complaints when we were in Mareticarlo!” Ahuizotl grins.

“You bastard! You swore to never mention that!” Daring Doo yells glaring at the taller creature.

“Uggh this is more super drama theater than action adventure time. I'm bored.” Scootaloo mutters.

“Umm scuse me, but do you two need some time alone... we ken come back.” Applebloom asks.

“No!” both of them shout. Ahuizotl blinks, staring at Sweetiebelle with a growl.

“Put Challa down, he is not a stuffed toy!” Ahuizotl yells at the white unicorn, pointing his tail hand at the her.

Sweetiebelle was standing on her back legs, with the panther in a death grip with her forelegs shaking the panicked cat as she cood.

“But he's so cute and fluffy I’m gonna diiiiie!” Sweetiebelle whines.

“Alright ah've had enough of this.” Pip states pulling his sword out hooking his hoof in the ring and pointing the weapon at Ahuizotl and Daring. “In tha name of Princess Luna an that Royal Guard ah am placing both of you under arrest. Ahuizotl for various crimes, and A.K. Yearling, for violating article four of section two hundred an ninety three about tomb raiding. We got enough ancient monstrosities running about without you stumbling onto and freeing more.”

“What? Oh come on that's just a fine......” Daring shouts.

“Unless yer caught in tha act by a sanctioned Equestrian Guard or a member of Royalty!” Pip continues. “And yah have been!”

“Oh for the love of, you are not a Royal Guard...., wait royalty? Who are you?” Doo questions

“Pip Kaisur.” Pip states.

“Awww crap... “ Daring Doo groans. “Your mom's still pissed I raided her old castle isn't she?”

“Among other things.” Pip agrees.

“Not to interrupt this quite amusing sight of Doo getting arrested, but you are one colt with a sword while have my associates here. Baring Challa at the moment any way.” Ahuizotl comments. “What can you hope to do against us........”

Ahuizotl's ears flatten.

“Okay the pegasus' wings are on fire.. that's new... and the little earth pony filly just picked up a section of the road the size of a store front and is ready to throw it, yes this is something.....”

Ahuizotl frowns.

“Yes well I think I shall indeed surrender post haste then. That may be for the best I'm sure most of my charges are miss understandings any way. Though I do question how you plan to get prisoners past the elk upstairs they are not very welcoming. One of the brutes kicked Fluffykins for no reason.” Ahuizotl points to the small white cat.

“Well how did Daring Doo get past them?” Scootaloo asks.

“I disguised myself as an Elk and kicked Fluffykins.” Daring Do grins.

“You wench, why must you always pick on Fluffykins!?” Ahuizotl fusses.

“Cause the little bugger shot me when we were in Shangra-furlong.”

“Oh that, he was just a wee kitten then. Barely could use the repeating crossbow he had.”

“He seemed to be doing a pretty good job with it!” Daring Doo growls.

“Okay no, stop, stop, stop... I am not dealing with this.” Pip grumbles pointing at Ahuizotl. “ You leave, Yearling you stay put. I am not in the mood to listen to you two bicker the whole time like an old married couple!”

“Right yes well... can I have Challa back now?” Ahuizotl mutters pointing to the panther.

“Say the line!” Sweetiebelle demands.

“What?”

“I'm not letting him go until you say the line!”

“What line?”

“The one from the books!” Sweetiebelle explains getting a chuckle from Daring Doo.

“I don't actually say that, it's some stupid catch phrase she wrote in!” Ahuizotl protests.

“Don't care, say it !” Sweeitebelle demands again.

Ahuizotl slaps his face with all three of his hands and rolls his eyes.

“Better just do it. When she gets like this she's way stubborn.” Scootaloo comments.

“ Fine …... Curse you Daring Doo...” Ahuizotl grumbles.

“No, say it with feeling!” Sweetiebelle orders.

“Oh you cannot be serious.....” Ahuizotl sighs looking at the pitiful face on Challa before throwing his hands up in the air. “CURSE YOU DARING DOO!!”

“Yay!” Sweetiebelle cheers tossing the panther in the air who takes off like a shot to hide behind Ahuizotl as soon as he hits the ground.

“This has been one of those days.” Ahuizotl grumbles walking away pointing his tail hand at the tan pegasus. “ This isn't over Doo.”

“Yeah yeah. It never is, drop me a letter first next time.” Daring Doo waves a wing as the blue creature and his cats storm off.

=======================================================

[ Crystal Empire, main library. 1100 hours.]

“Still night?” Bleu grumbles looking out the window. Glancing back at the three Guards milling around the library, all of them sporting crystal swords.

“Shining and Starfall went to find Luna. She's not in the nursery or any where else we can find in the castle. None of our Guards detected any magical surge that would mean a teleport and no one saw her fly off so she's still here some where.” Cadence sighs looking over at Spike as he stares at a book case in front of him. “What is Spike doing?”

“Getting ready to find something we hope. He's never tried pulling one of THE Books out of nothing with that little trick of his. We're aren’t sure of the full extent of his power either.” Bleu sighs. “So we're here to make sure everything's safe for him.”

“Why am I here then?” Spines asks from behind a over turned table as he looks at Troph sitting on the other side of the room getting hammered with questions from the Sparkles.

“To witness how awesome one of your rulers are of course.” Bleu grins.

Troph's ears flatten to his head and three of his six eyes was developing a twitch as the older mare and her husband questioned him.

“So you say they just spoke and made everything?” Nightlight asks.

“I did not say that, I was not around for the beginning of everything. All the races existed when I was made.”<

“So did they tell you what to do? Were you born or did you just appear?” Twilight Velvet asks.

” I don't know that, I just know I was not, then I was... and no they didn't speak I simply knew what I was supposed to when they wanted me to know it.”<

“What were they called, were they from space?”

”I don't know that? We called them creators or Spirits. They arrived before I existed and then one day were simply gone. No one knew where and that created it's own issues.”<

“What did they look like?”

“ Go to one of your dictionaries, look up all the words in it and then forget them and invent new words that you do not know the meaning for or understand the concept of. Then you will be a fraction of the way to understanding their description.”< Troph rolls his eyes. >“Have I not given you enough knowledge on what happened with the Elements? You could write a book from that alone!”<

“They already did. I have one of the first copies they haven’t written yet.” Spike comments.

“What ?” Nightlight asks.

“My powers don't follow any sort of time travel theory. I can pull a book from any when if I need to, just takes a little longer.”Spike comments focusing on the bookshelf.” Alright, I’m gonna try it now.”

“Alright this should be fun.” Bleu grins as Spike closes his eyes reaching into a gap on the book shelf.

===================================================

[?, 1100 hundred hours.]

“Soo what was the plan if he kills everyone?” the Silver Script questions.

“It should not come to that, the creatures of Equss, though far from perfect, are a stubborn lot and shall not die off that easily.” The Gray Grimiore comments.

“Yeah well if they do it's all this jackasses fault.” The Red Tome growls.

“Bite me mutt.” The Jade Scroll snaps.

“I think the worst part of this whole deal is I will be forced to be near to him for the foreseeable future.” The Purple Pamphlet comments.

“Well at least Teal doesn't have an issue.” The Jade Scroll grumbles.

“i think you're an ass, but it's too much effort to say anything about it “ the teal text yawns.

“Congratulations bird. That is the longest sentence I have ever heard her say since I have known her and it was calling you an ass.” the Silver Script laughs.

“Pluck you. I should have left you all to rot and gone my own way.” the Jade scroll snaps.

“You would not have been allowed to do that. Now that I know where you are I have no intention of letting you vanish on your own again after the trouble you caused. Though when the trolls return from hunting I will suggest they bury you in their dung heap.” the Gray Grimoire states.

“Yeah, you're not going any where this time bird, so learn to deal with being a target. If I could figure out how to ...” The Red Tome cackles before his laughter trails off. “Do you feel that?”

“What is that? It feels like a hand...” The Silver Script asks.

“BWAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAA!” The Jade Scroll suddenly cackles.

“What NOW?” The Gray Grimiore asks.

“Now is when I show you bitches the door. I know exactly what this feeling is cause a stupid dragon did it before. I'm getting a body again pluckers!” The Jade scroll rants. “ Oh and before I forget. Here's a little something to remember me by!”

A bright flash of light illuminates the chamber as the Jade Scroll's cover flashes a brilliant green blinding even the sightless books.

As the energy surge fades the Jade Scroll was gone from where he had been on the alter.

“What the buck did he just do!?” the Red Tome shouts.

“A high powered magical flare with a attached transmutation spell? “ the Purple Pamphlet observes. “ Though I am not sure how he cast it. Perhaps it was in reaction to what ever we felt.”

“Rune magic, he had a transmutation spell etched into one of his pages, but why?” The Gray Grimiore ponders. “All that did was release a powered burst of magic with no real effect...”

“Feed?” echos a voice from some where in the caverns. A voice that suddenly repeated over and over again, along with the screams of dying trolls.

“Oh no.” the Silver Script hisses.

=============================================

[ Crystal Empire, main library. 1100 hours.]

Bleu and the others watched as Spike seemed to feel around in the book case before his hand closed on something in the back of it.

“I think I have.....” Spike stated, and then he started screaming.

The purple drake yanked his hand back out of the book case. He was holding a book, but strips of paper were emerging from the small volume wrapping around his hand . Others were forcing their way between the scales of his arm burrowing up though the flesh and muscle of the purple dragons fore arm like hungry worms.

Bleu recognized the book and bounded across the room inhaling deeply, though Troph was faster.

Bleu barely saw Troph move, though the dragon god was across the room and back with one of the Guard's swords, a flick of the weapon severed Spike's arm at the elbow before the paper tendrils could dig any further into it. Before the book and severed arm hit the ground Bleu exhaled a billowing green flame, turning the book and the arm to ash. The cinders flared into nothing as they swirled though the air before the mass of book and a purple scaled arm appeared in the air before Troph, the book screaming in agony.

Bleu winces checking on the panting Spike who lay in the now collapsed bookcase he had fallen back into, clutching his severed arm and bleeding every where. She looked down at the stump blinking as she watched Spike's arm start to regrow.

Glancing back as the book started screaming again she was witness to Troph ripping the tendrils out of the severed arm with his teeth, taking great joy in the small green books anguished screams.

“You alright Spike?” Bleu asks softly looking back at the purple dragon who nodded wincing.

“Never doing that again.” Spike flinches as the Sparkles rush over to check on him as well.

Bleu nods whirling on Troph who was currently gnawing on the screaming book as if trying to eat it, the flicker of white flames dribbled from his maw, falling to the floor and eating through the stone with a sizzle.

“Troph, Spit that out, you don't know where it's been!” Bleu scolds. “ Don't make me get a rolled up newspaper!”

Troph spits the book onto the ground slamming his claws into the cover and stabbing them through making the book scream out again. >”Newspaper? What are you talking about whelp?”<

“Troph leave the bastard alone for a moment. Why the buck did the the message spell send that to you?” Bleu sighs.

” What?”<

“The book ,the bucking book, why the hay did the book appear in front of you when I burned it. That message spell was a open send it should have gone to the closest one I'm connected to which should have been Spike or Cadence. Why did it go to you.......HOLY BUCK YOU'RE IN BOSS'S BODY!?!?!”

”Yes..... Did you expect me to be in something else?”< Troph questions.

“Why did you give me that mystic crap about spacial compression!?”

”You asked why I was not in my proper form. That was the answer why. You commented on my face and never said anything more about it. I expected you knew whelp. And if you did not why would I care anyway?”<

“Is boss in there? And why the heck is his body a half dragons!?!”

”The body was vacant when I returned to it along the thread that remained of my connection to my host. The body had sustained massive damage and it needed to be healed before I could use it. I do not know how to repair ponies.”< Troph explains.

“You turned bosses body into a half dragon!”

”He was already a quarter dragon, what's another quarter? Besides it was the only way I could get here to attempt rescue of Grace. I would think when he returns to it he will be happy to have it rather than being dead.”<

Bleu growls then grabs the half dragon around the middle picking him up and stomping towards the door despite Troph's protests.

“Bleu where are you going?” Spike looks up asking.

“I'm gonna go find Luna and show her Boss's body is still kicking. Might keep her from doing something stupid. What about you?” Bleu states.

“I've got a book to grill for answers.” Spike grumbles.

“Literally I hope.”

Spike grins snorting a bit of green flame from his nose. “It owes me an arm and for a couple months worth of nightmares I’m gonna have. I'll just send him over to Cadence a few dozen times before I ask anything.”

“Don't get me involved in torture.” Cadence fans her wings.

“It's a book, pink pony princess. “ Bleu chuckles darkly. “You can't torture a book. No matter how much it screams.”

==============================================

[ White tail Woods. 1200 hours.]

“Alright, that should be enough fer yer wing, but don't try an fly with it fer a bit. Not sure how this stuff works on regrowing feathers.” Applebloom explains.

“You didn't need to do anything , I would have been fine.” Daring Doo grunts.

“Don't bother complaining, she doesn’t listen to it.” Pip sighs.”So what exactly did you find out about this place?”

Daring Doo and the others were sitting in one of the emptied buildings, Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle had gone back for their supplies while Applebloom mixed up somethings to treat Daring's wing. The explorer was going to protest until Pip reminded her about the section of street Applebloom had lifted, which caused the explorer to settle down quickly to be tended rather than make Applebloom mad.

“Not sure I should tell my arresting officer anything until I get to speak with my lawyer.” Doo comments.

“Ah ain't arresting you and you know it, most of what I said was total bull, ah know there's a law but ah don't know the exact number of it. Ma might be mad at you but both Da and Uncle Rhede know the value of what you do. S'why you report to Uncle Rhede now when you find something of note.” Pip comments.

“What? How?” Daring Doo stammers staring at the colt.

“Uncle Rhede likes to impress foals, and he talks about things he probably shouldn't around them.” Applebloom comments. “He still thinks of us as foals too occasionally. Shoulda heard the yarn he told about Santa Hooves.”

“Please tell me he didn't tell you the story about how he tried to seduce Mrs' Santa Hooves for information, because that's just a fairytale, that massive Elk isn't married.” Daring Doo comments. “No he probably didn't that's a rather lewd one.”

“Uhhh...” Applebloom stutters.

“Any way, I suppose I should let you in on some of this since you did help out. I didn't ask for your help mind you, but anyway. I didn't find what I was really looking for despite what Ahuizotl thought. There's no big power or artifact here, just one book that some how managed not to be destroyed by time.” Daring Doo pats the wrapped bundle lightly, before starting to unwrap it.

The two look on curiously as the older mare pulls the wrapping off showing a book made out of crystal.

“This thing is amazing every page is the same width and flexibility as paper but it's made of crystal. All of them were in the library in that tower but all were either smashed when the shelves rotted or crushed by the same, this one was on a stone table that was mossy , but still intact. Of course Ahuizotl found me about then and well you saw what happened. Can't wait to translate this.”

“So what's this supposed to be? What led you here?” Pip asks.

“Long story but I’ll sum it up. A couple of of colleagues of mine let me in on something they were working on up in the Crystal Empire. They had some books that hinted a couple locations across Equss for the information they wanted. They hadn't found anything in the Empire and the location of Monastery of Starswirl the Bearded has long been lost to time.” Daring Doo explains. “There were a couple of references to a, 'great tree that held the world', but nothing solid.”

The pegasus glanced up as Scootaloo flies over head landing to set down some of the gear she had recovered from Daring's camp before taking off again to go back and get the rest of the mares gear. Sweetiebelle could be heard complaining about something , and swearing in Hungarian and a few other languages not far off in the other direction as she dragged the gear from the crusaders own camp, though the glowing pond, to the new location.

“Well they let me know about the book their daughter wrote and some choice things out of that about this place. Of course the pair of them were busy watching their grand kids for their daughter in law so they couldn't do the field work. Which is why I’m here.”

“Tha Sparkles. “ Pip nods getting a look from Doo. “ Kinda related, were just visiting them an Princess Cadence a couple of days ago.”

“Yeah I know. I did research into your fathers family tree. There are ponies who claim to be related to certain famous individuals of the past and then there's Kaisur.” Daring Sighs rubbing her head with a hoof.

“So what's tha research that brought ya here? I dun recall Mr. or Mrs. Sparkle mentioning they were looking intah anything but their grand foals.” Applebloom adds looking down at the mix in the bowl before her , giving it a small taste and wincing. “ Almost ready. This'll help yah heal a bit faster. S'not a cure all, but you'll be flying again sooner with it than without it.”

“Thanks.” Daring Doo sighs looking over the crystal book before her.” As to what I’m looking into, it concerns the Sparkle's adopted grand foal. This book and the ruins here. They predate the exodus of the three tribes. And here's the kicker, they're both made by Changelings.”

============================================

[ Crystal Empire, 1400 hours. ]

“Where the buck is that mare!?” Rose curses staring up into the night sky through the window of the throne room.

“I have no idea I have looked every where and there's no sign of her at all. “ Shining Armor growls pacing across the floor his hooves thudding and clacking as he crossed the thick carpet in the middle of the room in his pacing. “ I've got a number of Guards looking for her in the castle, I only hope she stumbled into one of those areas Sombra made and got lost. If she ran off to try and fight Tirek we have a problem.”

The pair look up as the doors to the throne room are flung open and Bleu storms in with a very pissed off expression on her face. Behind her an equally annoyed Starfall and Rainbow Dash storm in with Applejack right on their tails.

“Where in Tartarus is Luna? I've been all over looking for her!” Bleu rants.

“You're not the only one looking for her!” Starfall grumbles still wearing the Shadowbolt's uniform. “ The Griffons and Diamond Dogs are reporting attacks from masses of cloned creatures resembling Tirek. Asclipius in the Zebralands, Manehatten, and a dozen other major cities across Equestria have all gone silent.“

“An then there's tha issue of mai sister and her friends. Including her own son.” Applejack rants. “ Spitfire's bout ready tah take tha Wonderbolts out of here tah look for Scootaloo. An ah can't say ah blame her!”

“Let's not forget that it's still dark out and ponies are starting to panic.” Rainbow Dash points out. “ You do not want to see what a bunch of ponies panicking and stampeding in a small space looks like. The hospital doesn't have the room for the ones who might be left.”

Shining and Rose wince as the group of them start yelling at the same time trying to out bellow one another. Before Shining could say anything however Bleu roars, screaming out and scorching the ceiling with a blast of lightning shutting them all up. It was hard to argue with a very large pissed off dragon.

“Alright Spitfire can suck it up, Pip can handle himself and the CMC, he's safer where they are then any where else at the moment. If she' can't calm the hell down some one needs to put her down because we cannot afford to lose our scant bit of air superiority when Tirek has a floating sky city!” Bleu growls pointing at Applejack.

“We can't do a damn thing for any one else so bringing more bad news isn't gonna help! Send messages out to fall back here if they need a place to evacuate too.” Bleu snaps pointing at Starfall.

“The bucking idiots outside can suck it the buck up, tell them if they want to run around in a panic then they can do it out side of the city on their own as they will be kicked out to the wild. Tell the Guards to knock the shit out of any of them trying to drum up trouble.” Bleu snaps pointing at Rainbow Dash.

Bleu continued to yell, despite everyone being silent and staring at her.

“Spike nearly got himself killed or possessed by one of the freaking books trying to find out anything about the Tirek bastard. Because of that we have our claws on the bucking Jade Scroll! I need to find her depressed mopey flank so I can tell her that the stupid monster is here and he's playing night of the living dead with Boss!” Bleu roars pointing finally at Shining Armor. “ Where the buck is Moon Butt!?!”

The room remained silent a moment as Bleu panted from the long winded rant.

“We don't know we can't find her.” Shining admits, causing Bleu to roar again and fall over on her back in frustration kicking her limbs in the air.

“WHY IS NOTHING EVER EASY!?!!?” Bleu rages.

“A bit much there you think?” Dash snarks. “Think happy thoughts....”

Bleu rolls over on her belly her face pressing to Rainbow Dash’s.

“Two of my best friends are dead, one is chocked so full of power she can kill us all if she decides that suicide is painless and is the best option for her at this point. Keep in mind she is very easily depressed. My partner has been found alive yet is gonna be turned into gooey primordial soup if we don't beat Tirek and or open the Gate of Tartaurs again because his body can't hold the stupid dragons power, and the dragon I want to get all intimate and personal with nearly got eaten from the inside out by a bucking book! Bleu snaps. “ AND THIS IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE ME HAPPY!?”

“You're not the only one who lost ponies Bleu.” Dash returns the stare.

“I am well aware of that, I am explaining why I’m pissy. Listen to the words coming out of my mouth Dashie!” Bleu grumbles.

“What was that about Jer'rahd?” Starfall asks.

Bleu was about to respond when a loud cough drew every ponies attention to the door of the throne room.

Princess Cadence stood in the doorway with the half dragons Talia.

“We know where Luna is.” Princess Cadence states with a frown.

=====================================================

[Crystal Empire, Empire Hospital 1400 hours.]

“Coffee?”

“That stuff will stunt your growth.”

“Good thing you're already a pretty, grown mare then. Me I doubt I’ll get any taller any way.”

Orange sighs taking the tray with the coffee cup and creamers from the grinning earth pony with her magic.

“Hunter, give it up. I don't think I’ll be dating any stallions who jump out of perfectly good sky chariots...”

“But you have thought about it.” the green earth pony guard chuckles sitting down across from the cream colored unicorn at the small table. “Joking and lame flirting aside, how are you holding up? Word around the Hospital is you're running yourself ragged. Have you even slept?”

“A little.... a day ago..... what are you doing spying on me?” Orange growls though the cup pressed to her lips. She winces before dumping most of the sugars and creamers into it.

“I don't need to, they put me on duty at the front desk, I don't have to move around much on my broken leg and I can still help out. Nurses gossip.” Hunter comments.

“No pony has said anything to me.”

“Cause they are all terrified of you. Broke that poor dumbasses jaw with one hit on your first day. Chewed out Princess Luna when she was here and have managed to get a number of injured Guards to stay put and recover just by yelling at them. You're showing your relation to the Major pretty clearly.” Hunter chuckles taking a sip of his own drink.

“Hunter look.....”

“Bit.”

“What?”

“ Names Bit Hunter. There's a reason my cutie mark is a sword stabbing a gold coin. Long story involved in that.”

“Then why does everyone just call you Hunter?”

“Same reason most of us call your father Kaisur. It's a Guard thing. Besides Hunter sounds more intimidating to the new recruits without the Bit part. My whole name makes me sound like a finance officer.”

“I was thinking more a pirate....”

“Ooh, I like that one. Yaaaarrr...”

“... But yes I am tired....we have countless ponies who are in some sort of coma, an insane number of missing. Luna is doing who the buck knows what with the sun and moon right now, as well as leaving my brother and sister pretty much on their own. One of my brothers is missing completely, my sister is suffering magical burn out. Then we have two new gods that have no parents, one of which is three months premature. There's a veritable shit storm of ponies wanting to adopt her and the half dragon foal already, some with noble purposes... some are just nobles. Princess Cadence wants her moved to the Palace with the other royal foals so she can be better protected. And when that happens I need to find a doctor I trust to keep an eye on her and I barely trust myself to do that. GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!”

A few other medical ponies in the break room glance over to the screaming mare, though they just as quickly turn back to their own business after seeing who it was.

“Feel better?”

“Some....no.....”

“Talia and Elecktra are on guard at the Palace. I trained those two, and they scare me. Elecktra was charged by Lady Rarity to protect Elusive. I pity anything that tries to get near them.” Hunter sighs. “ So now that you have that out of your system you think you could finally take a break and actually get some sleep. Things could get worse and we would need you on the top of your game, not falling asleep.”

“Big words from the stallion who brought me coffee. How is this supposed to help me sleep.... you didn't drug it did you?” Orange glares.

“No.... but it's decaff, once you burn off the sugar you put in you should be out like a light.”

“Decaff? You bastard.” Orange snorts.

“Hey now, I knew my father....” Hunter grins.

==================================================

[ Crystal Empire, 1430 hours ]

Bleu stares up at the warehouse before them. The building was on the far side of the empire, still within sight of the Palace, though no where near anything else of note. It was a simple structure with a rail line running into a pair of large double doors on the front of the long gray building. In truth it didn't seem much longer than the throne room at Canterlot, though it was about three stories high and made of gray stone with a arched wooden roof that over hung the door by a pony length. Bleu, Applejack, Starfall, Rainbow Dash, Briar Rose and Shining Armor had all come here following Princess Cadence. While they were stalled a few times by ponies demanding answers, Bleu, rather less than calmly, dissuaded any one from holding them up for long.

“What is this place?” Starfall asks.

“This is where we moved most of the Changelings that won't wake up They are all in some sort of honey comb like hive the others made so they don't need much room. The ones that are awake tend the ones who are not. They are fairly self sufficient as they mostly feed off the energy of the Crystal Heart.” Shining Armor states. “The ones that were active generally have the run of the empire most of the time and some have their own apartments in the city. Very few stay out here.”

“That doesn't explain why we are here.” Bleu growls.

“Talia was watching the nursery last night when Princess Luna came in. Nothing of a surprise there as she has spent most of her time with Dawn. What was different this time is that Locust came in and told Luna 'it's time'. Luna then apologized to Dawn, kissed her, and left with Locust. Locust was last seen going into the warehouse early this morning.” Cadence explains looking up at the double door of the converted mining warehouse.

“And Princess Luna didn't notice Talia?” Rainbow Dash asks.”

“Elecktra and Talia tend to keep themselves well hidden when watching over the foals in the nursery. “ Cadence sighs. “Glimmer starts screaming when ever she sees a half dragon. For some reason they terrify her.”

“Yet she's seen me and gnawed on my tail like it was a pacifier.” Bleu grumbles. “You have a weird foal.”

“Any way... “ Cadence rolls her eyes. “Princess Luna might be here for some reason, please try to keep calm with her, I want to know what is going on before she's assaulted with more problems.”

Cadence's horn glows as she tugs on the door. She blinks as nothing happens, before tugging harder to no effect.

“It's locked?” Cadence questions.

“Somethings wrong.” Shining grumbles looking up at the buildings overhanging roof.

“Saw that too huh colt.” Rose mutters.

“Why were they watching us like that? “ Starfall grumbles.

“What? “Applejack questions.

“Couple of changelings were hanging in the rafters, the moment the Princess tried to open the door they darted up under the awnings and back inside.” Rose comments.

“That reminds me I’ve not seen any pony with a lady bug cutie mark today.” Shining growls drawing his sword.”Bleu open the door, try not to destroy it.”

“No promises.” Bleu grumbles as the Guard trained ponies move to flank Princess Cadence and Applejack nearly on instinct at this point,

Bleu doesn't bother trying to open the door as she shifts to her larger size. The dragon simply smashes into it shattering the door from it's hinges and knocking down a section of the stone wall around it as well.

“OH YEAH!” Bleu screams out, shoving through he rubble.

“THAT'S trying to NOT destroy the door?” Shining snaps.

“Yeah, that was actually a pretty good try for her.” Starfall comments. “The building's still standing so she's clearly gotten better at the whole subtle thing.”

“I though Kaisur was bad. “grumbles Rose.

“Who do you think taught her?” Starfall smirks moving up next to Bleu as the dragoness shrunk back to pony size to move into the building.

The interior was surprisingly well lit, with a soft glow coming from numerous hanging crystals suspended from the rafters. The rails ran from the door to the far side of the building, through what seemed a narrow hall, until one looked up and saw that the walls of this path were honey combed with holes. The holes were of various sizes and each had a changeling of some kind curled up tight into it. The honey combed walls rose to the warehouses ceiling and several rows of the honeycomb were on either side of the tracks, filling the warehouse with the still Changeling drones.

“This shit creeps me out every time ah see it.” Rose growls.

“Yeah no, this is cozy, add some drapes and a throw rug, down right homey even.” Bleu mutters.

“How many of them are there still asleep like this?” Applejack questions looking up towards the roof noting a couple of spots where a tail of some changed creature or another fell out of one of the holes.

“About a little over thousand. The majority of changelings collapsed after the death of Queen Chrysalis. Most of those are the ones who were turned into changelings before and during the war. We've been looking for a way to change them back, but so far we haven’t figured a way to do that, or even wake them up.” Shining Armor responds as they approach the middle of the warehouse.

“So they'll sleep until they die? That strikes a little to close to home with out current predicament.” Rainbow Dash grumbles.

“It's not related despite seeming the same. Tirek's victims have their very essence stolen, these drones lived only to serve the queen and were nearly mindless from what we've found out.” Cadence adds, stopping suddenly and pointing to a figure that was approaching them from one of the rows. “Locust, there you are. What is going on, do you know where Princess Luna is.”

The changeling mare approached with out her disguise on, her green mane ruffled like she had just woken up, and her eyes surprisingly had dark rings under them that were easily identifiable despite her chitinous and black furred coat. She stopped before them looking up at the gathered group with a small sigh.

“I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you are all here, but I expected you hours ago. We're almost done. This way please.” Locust comments with a yawn, her expression a mix of excitement and worry. Although the worry could have been from the looming form of Bleu. “Please try not to disturb any of the structures, they are solid, but not as strong as the door was.”

Starfall snorts in amusement as Bleu huffs in annoyance, the group following the changeling mare.

Locust lead them to a stairwell among the towering walls of the hive, that led to a small basement that was devoid of any of the honeycomb that filled the main floor. The room was darker than the warehouse, though they could all see it was a decent sized room covered with the strange webbing and fibrous slime material Changelings could produce. A number of smaller changelings buzzed in the room around a large green mass in one corner.

“Okay where the buck is Luna?” Rose growls looking around the nearly empty room, noting the Waning Moon and the Brilliant Dawn were on a small table in the corner.

The others were silent, their eyes locked the large mass in the corner, one that was familiar to all of them who had fought Changelings in the past.

“Locust how could you....” Cadence mutters flattening her ears. Any further questions were silenced by a massive crack that echoed in the small room.

The smaller Changelings move away from the cocoon as the crack sounds from it again. A fissure begins to work up along the outside of the hard material, green icor pouring from the crack as it widens.

The group of ponies could only watch as the shell of the cocoon splinters and bursts open sending a torrent of green fluid across the floor as the pod was drained. There was coughing from the shadowed interior before a large figure, one that would tower even over Celestia, stepped free of the mess.

The figure was black furred and covered with black chitinous plates that seemed more like scales over her form than the usual changeling carapace, although the armor covered where her cutie mark should have been. Her limbs were studded with the holes that adorned all changeling legs, though her wings were not insect like, resembling a bats though they seemed tattered and torn with holes in them. The figures wings slowly spread as the jagged horn glowed, a swirling mix of golden yellow, dark blue and green energy gathering around it. The power flared as her wings snapped open wide, flinging the remaining goo from her form. Her mane and tail flickered to life, flowing and swirling like a living thing all it's own, a night sky dotted with green, blue and white stars and a hint of color along the bottom of the ever shifting mass, as if the dawn was about to rise in the visage of her mane and tail. She opens her mouth, showing impressive fangs as she inhales .

The eyes finally open, flickering energies flaring from the sides much in the way Sombra's dark magic had done, though one eye was amber with black flowing from it, the other the normal teal green of Luna's eyes with white energy flickering from it.

“By the stars Princess, what did you do...?” Starfall mutters.

“Princess?” Locust questions with a small smile. “I think you mean Queen.”

Author's Note

Pulled the title from a different source of music this time.

Title is Step Up, by Drowning Pool.

Sorry this took so long, but i was laughing to hard at the back and forth with the CMC, to progress quickly.

And thus the conflict escalates.

The Final Countdown [25]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

The Final Countdown

[ Crystal Empire, Monday , 1500 hours. ]

The reaction to Luna's emergence as a Changeling was as sudden as it was unexpected. Only one of them could do anything but stare slack jawed at the figure before them with shock, worry, and fear.

A golden glow wrapped around the Changeling Locust, yanking the mare off her hooves, swinging her flank over legs to smash into the wall at the end of the stairs. The impact punched through the chitinous mass covering the wall and splintered the stone that was behind it, flecks of stone and hardened icor showered the room as Locust barely managed a pained yelp from the impact as her breath was knocked out of her and her chitin splintered.

“How could you... after everything we have done..” snarls Cadence. The pink mare advanced on the changeling in the wall her horn glowing brightly as her magic crushed Locust harder constricting tighter around her neck the sound of cracking coming from the pinned changeling as her throat was crushed. “After we let you stay here, after all that we have set up so your kind could be accepted despite everything you did? This is your way of paying us back for that? I should have killed you when you first showed up like I wanted!”

“Dayamn gurl calm yer teats.” Bleu snaps, “We have a bigger issue than …..”

“SHUT UP BLEU!!” Cadence snaps, her lavender eyes burning with a barely contained anger.” I am no longer in the mood for the banter and my tolerance is fully gone with her. I've had to look past the attempt on my life, my husband, my home before, and then do it all over again. Even after all that I looked past it because of what I saw, what I felt, and the moment I feel comfortable again she ruins it. That will NOT happen a third time.”

Cadence glares back at Locust only for a multi colored shield to form between the pink alicorn and the Changeling mare cutting Cadence's spell off completely. Locust gasps, falling from the crater she had been put into, collapsing to the ground in a heap, coughing up green blood onto the floor.

Cadence whirls looking up at the towering form of Luna as the newly converted mare shakes her head slowly.

“I asked them to do this Cadence. No one forced or tricked me. If you are going to blame any one for this then blame me, but I need her alive for now.” Luna states. “If it calms you any, she had no plans to do anything, then Tirek showed up.”

“It does not calm me Luna. Do you know how much effort it took me to let her care for Shin, let alone Glimmer? To let her any where near them?” Cadence snaps back glaring up at the taller mare.

“Then why did you?” Luna asks.

Cadence winces, her ears flattening to her head as she turns her eyes down cast. “Because I felt the love they shared..... And I'm not cruel enough to take a foal from his mother.....”

“Okay wait, no, time out!” Starfall snaps interrupting. “What the buck is going on here? Why in Tartarus would you want .. what ever this is Princess.. Queen whatever? And what's the deal with the Changeling and Cadence?”

“I studied the Sparkle's research notes and was given some books from what I assume was another hidden library of Sombra's that hadn't been found yet.” Luna looks to Shining. “Turn right at the bottom of the main staircase and circle the third pillar three times and a door will be in it. There are a number of things Sombra hid in this place and I now know most of them.”

“Including the armory?” Locust coughs as Luna gets a dark grin on her face.

“More things she kept hidden when we asked about them.” Cadence snaps. “For what purpose?”

“A valid one, though it's information we could have used when Tirek first showed up. She didn't know he was back until after Gallopagos fell. Interestingly enough when she did bring the information to me I was in a unique situation where I could simply ask Starswirl's echo about it. Everything she told me was the truth, but she does not know everything.” Luna states.

“I was never meant to be Queen...” Locust mutters.

“What do you mean Queen, what the heck is going on here? Cadence what is this?” Shining snaps glancing over to Cadence as her ears flatten again.

“Shining honey I know you can be a bit dense sometimes, but I really had hoped you would have figured this out.” Cadence snaps rolling her eyes.”

“Tell them everything.” Luna commands to the sputtering Changeling mare. “I have far to much to do to be bogged down in questions.”

Luna pushes past the small group and up the stairs. Bleu and Starfall look at each other then at Locust before they follow after Luna.

Locust watches them go and sighs sitting up with a wince.

“I knew this was going to be a pain, but I didn't think it was going to be this bad. Should have guessed you would know Cadence. That talent of yours isn't far from what I used to have.” Locust mutters earning another death glare. “ Fine what do you want to know?”

“Everything.” Rose grumbles.

“You will answer anything we ask, or else Chrysalis.” Cadence snarls.

“As you wish.” Locust/Chrysalis mutters.

===================================================

[Whitetail Woods 1500 hours.]

Daring Doo flinches a little as Applebloom checks over her wing. The farm pony frowning at the blood seeping out of her wing tip. Scootaloo looks over her friends shoulder at the injury with a flinch. Doo for the most part was more interested in looking over the book before her then the damage done to her wing by the tiger.

“This looks pretty bad.” Applebloom mutters. “I know some birds can't fly at all after their main feathers are clipped. Does it work like that for pegasi?”

“Near enough” Scootaloo grumbles. “It'll grow back, but it takes a long time and there's a chance you won't fly right again until you adjust to the new feathers.

“Kid I've not flown right since I had both my wings broken ten years ago.” Doo comments. “A couple months grounded won't mean anything more to me than to remove a distraction so I can get some writing done. This book should be good too, particularly with an idol singer, a phoenix, and a lost prince helping me out. Not sure what to do with you yet Miss Bloom, sorry”

“I'm not lost.” Pip mutters adding some more dead wood to the fire on the small rise before the large root building.

“OOOh I'm gonna be in a Daring Doo book!” Sweetiebelle giggles.

“That ain't exactly truthful. “ Applebloom mutters.”Are all yer books just lies?”

“All of them are based on my adventures, but if they are wild enough for every pony to think they are just stories so much the better. Given half my job is spent in libraries studying things I don't see how a little embellishment here and there hurts. No one wants to read a book titled, 'Daring Doo and the Dewy Decimal system' Besides this stuff funds my digs any way.”

“Ah ken think of one purple pony that would like a story called that.” Applebloom comments.

“So have you translated any of that yet?” Pip asks pointing at the book.

“Quite a bit. The translation is easier than I thought. It's written in only one language. This is a bit odd in itself when you consider that nearly everything important before the Exodus of the Three Tribes is written in three different languages representing each of the three tribes. This is written soly in ancient runic Unicorn.” Daring Doo smiles. “But there's a reason and that makes this find even better.”

“What's that?” Applebloom asks spreading some mixture over the pegasus' wound.”

Daring do closes the crystal book, lifting it up before the fire. The crackling flame does little to the crystal book despite the heat from it, though the light shines though the book, the etching inside blocking the light in certain spots. The shadows cast by the words form an image that shown onto the root pillar behind the tan mare.

The others look up at it as Daring Doo turns and shifts the book a little, adjusting the angle until the light glowing through the book formed into a symbol that at least three of them recognized.

“Is that?” Sweetiebelle asks looking at the image.

“Well that's one way to sign your work.” Pip nods.

Scootaloo and Applebloom look at each other then at the symbol on the wall. It was a loose open clockwise spiral with a number of stars dotted around it. The image cast an odd silverish tinge that didn't match with the orange glow of the fire light.

“This book on Changelings was written by Starswirl the Bearded. Want me to read it out loud?”” Daring Doo grins as the groups nods.

==========================================

[Crystal Empire, Monday , 1520 hours.]

Luna flinches a little as she heads up the stairs. There were so many voices, she could hear them all. Faint mutterings, shouts of panic or joy. Fear however was the predominate response. There was a new Queen, would she bring salvation or ruin? She doubted any of them knew she could hear them, and in truth it mattered little to her. If any of the ones who were still awake wished to join her they could. She would not force her will on those who had minds of their own. The sleepers however had no such thing at the moment. She could feel the first stirrings of them as her very presence spurred them from their slumber. The ones force-ably changed, made into slaves and servants, mere drones for the previous Queen. She could feel what they were before, locked away inside them and that worried her.

She could let them out, let them be the ponies and griffons and other things that they used to be. She could let them remember themselves, to be of their own mind again. She never expected she could do it and a small part of her wanted to do just that. Let the sleeping Changelings wake to what they once were, let them return to friends and family's that thought them lost, she could not change them back but she could let them live.

Luna knew she could not do that however. Not yet any way. She needed the army, needed them to make sure Tirek's threat was ended. If any survived she would let them return, let them live their lives as they wished, but for now she could not. She wouldn't do like Chrysalis did, throw their lives away for nothing. She had no plans to make more Changelings like them and thus they were a finite resource. She needed a loyal army that would not question her as she was now, and the Changeling drones were the only ones who would do that.

Stepping into the hive she was staggered again, though this time not by voices, but a weight landing on her back. Luna turns her head coming face to face with a very annoyed looking little blue dragon.

“Have you put on weight?” Luna comments noticing Bleu's wings twitch.

“Leave the comedy to the professionals. You got some splanning to do Loony.” Bleu snaps.

“I told Chrysalis to explain it.” Luna sighs glancing to her side and down at Starfall who seemed miffed that she was even shorter than Luna now, her head barely coming up to the transformed Princesses chest.

“That's nice, I want to hear it straight out of the horses mouth... namely yours. First off why the transformation? Some hidden super power or such?” Bleu asks.

“Tirek cannot steal power from Changelings. I've effectively locked the power of two gods and the sun and moon out of his grasp.” Luna states. “There is some boost in power fueled by emotion and the knowledge of thousands of Changelings past and present available for my use. Not exactly a hive mind, but more a hive memory.”

“So what, you feed on love now?” Starfall questions following along with Luna as she approaches the broken door.

“Not just love. Fear, anger, sadness, all have their differing strengths and flavors, love is most sought after due to the taste of it. I can draw power from it the easiest. And in the center of the Empire lies an artifact packed with years of built up power a wealth of stored joy and love that I can use.” Luna comments looking out across the Empire from the door towards the palace.

“So tactics.” Starfall nods. “That makes a sort of sense, so why didn't you tell us?”

“Would you have agreed? I've lost nearly everything and I'm willing to do anything to save what I have left even if it means I still lose it in the end.” Luna mutters

“Your foals.” Starfall nods.” They are not going to like this.”

“All but Dawn are old enough that perhaps they will understand. If they do not they are old enough that they can move on without me. I will ask Cadence if she can care for Dawn after this, if the change is too great.” Luna sighs. “ I certainly hope she is young enough to still accept me after this is all over.”

“You are being seriously far to melodramatic.” Bleu snorts. “ At least you're not being suicidal. That's a plus.”

“I have lost two of the only friends I have had in centuries as well as the love of my life for a second time or third... maybe fourth, I lost count. I did this so I might face Tirek on even ground and stop him. There are no statues I can go to speak with to calm myself this time. Some of my..., our friends, are truly gone.” Luna mutters her ears flattening. Starfall flinches looking away as well.

“Now well..... not all of that is exactly true.” Bleu comments. “Boss ain't exactly dead yet....”

Luna and Starfall both turn looking back at the dragon who was rubbing her head spines.

“What are you talking about?” Luna asks.

“It's complicated. But I've been looking for your flank all damn day to tell you. Troph is here and he's definitely in Boss's body.”

Luna's eyes widen, the mismatched glow brighting and nearly blinding the small dragon at the intensity.

“This...... this will change quite a lot of my plans. Take me to him.” Luna gasps.

======================================

[Crystal Empire, Monday , 1530 hours. ]

“So this is the Crystal Empire? Never thought I'd be seeing it this way.” A mint colored unicorn sighs leaning back against the bench, her forelegs sitting on her barrel and her rear legs dangling over the edge of the seat.

“Must you sit like that? It hurts my back just looking at it.” A cream colored earth pony mare with a two tone purple and pink mane and tail sighs rolling her eyes. “Yeah, It's been a while since I was here. I thought you and Princess Cadence were friends, and you never came out here Lyra?”

“What, it's comfortable....” Lyra sighs looking at the sky. “ Nah, been meaning too but after that whole thing getting mind controlled at the wedding I'm a little worried about what she might think...”

“Lyra that was over ten years ago and you weren't the only one who had issues with the Changelings.”

“I suppose you're right Bon Bon, still she hasn't tried to contact me either so I'm still kinda leery.” Lyra comments.

“Of course I'm right, I bet she's so swamped with idiots complaining right now she'd love to set some time aside to talk to a friend.” Bon Bon waves a hoof before gasping as a pair of mint hooves suddenly wrap around her in a hug.

“Thanks Bon Bon. I needed that bit of a boost.” Lyra says pressing her face into Bon Bon's mane. “ Hey wait, have you been using my shampoo again? You smell like mint.....”

“Ummmm...” Bon Bon stutters.

“Ah hope ah am not interrupting anything here.” comments a voice.

Looking up from each other the two of them saw a couple of ponies on the path nearby. The first was a scarred zebra mare with a rather large unlit cigar hanging from the corner of her mouth. She was dressed in a Royal Guard uniform, though it was devoid of any rank. Her dark, sandy-blond mane and tail were slicked back, leaving her piercing green eyes to look over the pair. Next to her was a light blue unicorn mare with a two tone white and dark blue mane and tail dressed in Royal Guard armor marked with Princess Cadence's cutie mark.

“ Umm can we help you..?” Bon Bon questions hesitantly as she untangles herself from Lyra.

“Drop tha act Agent Sweetie Drops. Yer operation has been canceled in light of recent events and we are pulling ya ta full active again.” Moaskau states. “Head to tha palace and get yer self suited up. Major Peach Blossom will brief you.”

“Guard Captain I was placed under the jurisdiction of General Pelt while in Ponyville I understand the issues going on now, but my mission was covert, why has it changed?” Bon Bon states in a darker tone.

“Wha? What's going on here?” Lyra stammers.

“Rhedeic Pelt is dead. Your command has been returned to the Six Sixty Sixth Monster Hunters. With the loss of Ponyville and and New Canterlot there is no need for your operation any more. We need your skills in other areas Sweetie Drops.”

“Of course Guard Captain.” Sweetie Drops sighs.

“Wait a minute you're a secret agent?” Lyra mummers. “Why didn't you tell me? Are you saying our whole friendship was based on a lie?! ”

“I'm sorry, Lyra! I couldn't tell you for your own protection!” Sweetie Drops sighs. “ I was sent in to deal with the monsters that attacked Ponyville, then the Element Bearers showed up and I was on damage control mostly.”

“B-b-but the lunches! The-the long talks! The benches we sat on!Your grandmothers shop!? None of that was real?! “ Lyra comments tearing up.

“It was all real. You're my very best friend. “ Sweetie Drops sighs. “ I have to go Lyra.”

“Seriously are you done now?” The blue mare next to the zebra asks. “ Do I need to get you a drama couch?”

“Colgate what are you doing here and in armor....” Sweetie Drops asks.

“It's Minuette. Sweetie Drops.” the blue mare corrects.

“Aww crap.” Lyra mutters slapping her face with her hoof.

“ Captain Heartstrings I am here to reinstate you to Princess Cadence's Inner Guard.”

“Damn it, couldn't I have gotten another ten or twenty minutes of complaining about her keeping secrets before you said anything?” Lyra snaps.

“What?!” Sweetie Drops asks.

“What? You never thought it odd that a musician from Ponyville was friends with a Princess enough to be one of her bridesmaids? “ Lyra sighs. “ It's no wonder you never found out who ate your imported oats. And you're supposed to be a secret agent?”

“Well excuse me I didn't think I needed to investigate my best friend!” Sweetie Drops shouts back glaring at the lime colored unicorn. “ And I knew about the oats, why do you think I was using your shampoo?!”

“Hey that shampoo costs twice what those oats did!” Lyra snaps.

“Yeah and you ate them all twice when I ordered them!” Sweetie Drops snaps back.

The pair of them continue to bicker as Minuette and Guard Captain Moskau glance at each other with a sigh. The zebra winces as Lyra tackles the earth pony and the pair roll around on the ground still arguing and mane pulling as they fight.

“You're going to put them both in my unit aren't you Guard Captain?” Minuette mutters.

“Yup” agrees Moskau.

“Greaaaaaaat.” Minuette sighs.

“That stupid hand obsession has clearly rotted your brain!” Sweetie Drops yells.

“At least I don't keep changing the sound of my voice to try and sound all mysterious and crap!” Lyra rants.

=================================================

[Crystal Empire, Monday , 1530 hours. ]

Chrysalis coughs again holding her throat with a hoof, a few splatters of green blood striking the floor.

“Are you going to start telling us what's going on?” Rainbow Dash demands.

“Well I would like to, but it's rather difficult to talk when you're recovering from having your throat and chest caved in.” Chrysalis snaps back glaring at Cadence.

“Noted, next time I'll start by removing limbs.” Cadence comments.

“Damn, this is new, when did tha Princess git this violent?” Rose asks.

“What do you mean new?” Shining asks. “When she gets set off she's almost on Major Kaisur's level. Lucky for us it takes a bucking lot to get her to this point.”

“Guess that explains why yer so keen on remembering dates and such. Hate tah miss an anniversary with her.” Rose shudders.

“I doubt she'd get this mad if I forgot, but I don't want to take the chance.” Shining agrees.

The group of them were still in the basement, though the few other changelings that had been with Luna tending her pod came back with chairs and were offering drinks or anything else in an effort to try and placate the group, Cadence in particular.

“Ease up Princess. We don't wanter dead.” Applejack points out.

“Says you.” Cadence growls. “I don't even want to think what would happen if she tried anything with the foals.”

“Okay one, I wouldn't have tried anything with the foals....” Chrysalis grumbles.

“Not tha best track record fer us ta believed dhat. “ Rose grumbles.

“Yes well excuse me for being a revenge fueled monster driven mad by the Books of Orbsah. Then there was betrayal of my sister, who by the way, also poisoned me and my husband, who was her son. Then I get locked in a dimension of nothing but wasteland and starved for several millinia before being released randomly into a world that didn't even think my kind existed. I then come to find out my husband and father in law were supposedly killed, and my sister and her little helper were still alive and one of them was ruling the place.” Chrysalis snaps. “Oh yes lets all forget and forgive the last mare who went mad and tried to destroy everything, but not the one who lost everything trying to bring the real mad mare to justice.”

“Yeah well Luna's done some shit in the past, but she also has done a lot of good things as well. It doesn't balance out, but it makes forgiveness a bit easier.” Rainbow Dash points out.

“Oh yes of course, hero of the wars and all that. Please continue to ignore the facts that I brought about the proper unification of the three tribes, the exodus to what is now Equestria , AND the installation of the Princesses to power to keep the three tribes from falling back into war.” Chrysalis growls. “Oh yes, also I was a pony Princess long before Celestia, or Aviana were even twinkles in their great grandparents eyes. I helped create the Crystal Empire and was one of the reasons Tirek and Scorpan didn't destroy everything when they were running amuck the first time. But yes please focus on a nearly ruined wedding and a one day war brought on by madness and pain, while ignoring how bucking hypocritical you all are and how many Luna killed in her years as Nightmare Moon.”

“Jus so yah know, I voted against any of that lot gitting loose. So ah ken still point out yer failings without being hypocritical. However ah'm holdin mai tongue, mostly cause ah can't figure out that other stuff that ah'm feeling. “ Applejack mutters. “ Like why ah wanna help Cadence smash yer head in, and why ah felt like that even before ah knew who yah were, when yah were jus Locust.”

“Simple answer. I'm corrupted Honesty. It's no wonder you have a revulsion.” Chrysalis chuckles.

“Well that explains me an Jer'rahd pretty well, though not Luna and Twilight, or Discord and Pinkie.” Dash mutters. “ Though even my dislike of Jer'rahd went away after a while.”

“After he was cleansed by the Elements of Harmony, Something that never happened to me.” Chrysalis comments. “ I have the same feeling towards you and the gray mare who just left.”

“So why tha deception pretending tah be Locust?” Rose mutters.

“And how are you still alive after I saw your corpse.” Shining adds.

“Do you really think I would have been let any where near my son as I was?” Chrysalis comments.

“You were despite what you were.“ Cadence adds in.

“Well you kept rather quiet, so I actually thought I fooled you.” Chrysalis sighs “As for the body, that was me. I didn't recover well from the fight with Avianna. Having Shin was too much and I died. Still not happy with his name being changed mind you, though this fits too I suppose.”

“Metamorpo sounded like a supervillian from a comic.” Cadence snarks. “And that doesn't answer how you are still here.”

“I transferred my mind into a brain dead drone. Not a hard task, still if I hadn't been preparing to do it since I was injured I never would have been able to do so as I died.” Chrysalis sighs. “Solomon didn't believe I had done it and went mad with grief before convincing Shining there to kill him. If not for Shin I would have followed.”

“So you took over some one elses body and life. Yeah, no, that's not better.” Rainbow Dash grumbles.

“It doesn't quite work like that. If she ever came back to herself my presence would be washed away like a bad memory and I would be truly dead. Granted I only expected this to last maybe a year at best. It's an old spell, one that we used in the past for scouts. Some ponies where left intentionally blank when changed, so if a scout was killed they could transfer back to tell us what they found before they passed on fully.”

“That's horrible. Right?” Dash winced glancing at Shining and Rose who had gone quite mulling over the tactic. “ Right?”

“So yah didn't expect tah be alive long. Why do it at all?” Applejack asks.

“Shin.” Cadence adds. “She wanted to make sure he would be treated correctly and sensing the connection I made her the nanny. Like her cover was supposed to be.”

“Rather trusting of yah?” Applejack comments.

“Given how closely I was watched for a year plus, not really.” Chrysalis points out. “Still I was allowed more than I expected.”

“You were useful. And I had more than enough tracking spells placed on you that if you tried to run or do anything I could have easily found you.” Cadence states flatly.

“Not tah interrupt the how and why, but most of this sounds like pure bullshit to me.” Rose grumbles.

“Nah. She ain't lying. She's being straight, which is why ah'm willing tah listen this long instead forcing her tah get to tha point.” Applejack states. “ She ain't said why she didn't tell us this earlier.”

“Also who are Tirek and Scorpan.” Shining adds.

“And how do we kill him.” Rainbow Dash smirks.

“I am telling you everything because the Astral Queen told me too. Given I'm little better than a drone at the moment I can't exactly go against her will if she forces it. Given my current ghost parasite state I doubt I would last long. ” Chrysalis grumbles.

“Astral Queen?” Dash asks.

“Princess Luna.” Shining explains. “Odd title though.”

“Would you prefer Queen of the heavens? Princess of the Sky? “Chrysalis sighs. “ Also killing Tirek is the last thing you want to unless you've already written those under his power off as dead. Because you kill him and they will be dead before his body cools.”

“Alright you had better explain everything.” Cadence sighs.

“I was going to. Though it's gonna be a bit of a history lesson. Applesnack there can keep you updated on if it's true or not, but it's a little to late for me to lie.” Chrysalis snarks.

“It's Applejack.” Applejack corrects.

“Given what we eat and how you are around that little pink maned mare friend of yours, I stand by my statement.” Chrysalis grins.

“Rude.” Applejack snorts turning a bit red.

“You already dislike me for no reason, might as well give you a reason.” Chrysalis chuckles. “Now then, I suppose I should start with why Changelings were even made....”

======================================

[Crystal Empire, Monday , 1530 hours. ]

“It's weird as hell how you do that.” Starfall comments, her hooves clicking on the tile of the Crystal palace as they moved through the halls. “Also that form is creepy as buck.”

Starfall glanced back at the gray unicorn mare with an amber mane and tail, one green eye and one red eye. Her cutie mark was a silver shield with a black chess knight in the middle of it. Her height hadn't changed and her mane and tail were much longer than Jer'rahd's, but other wise she was a near perfect copy, right down to the little blue dragon sitting on her back.

“Sorry, but I am not used to this all just yet. Having the knowledge and putting it into practice is difficult. So I simply changed to something I am familiar with that would not attract the attention I would have as a Princess.”

“Makes sense.” Starfall sighs. “ Still creepy and why is everything taller than me!!?”

“What does not make sense is how you and Bleu both seem to have no issue with this. You are also both rather trusting that I have not been changed.” Luna comments.

“You smell the same and you feel the same.” Bleu shrugs humming something to her self. “ You saying we shouldn't trust you?”

“You have yet to lie and your goals haven't changed.” Starfall adds. “Not to mention this is not the strangest thing we've ever seen. I was there for the noodle incident remember?”

“Also it's not like Boss wouldn't do the same thing. Particularly if you were in trouble.” Bleu states glancing over at Starfall who nods. “Heck he'd probably do it just to take revenge for Velkorn and Rhede.”

“That played a good deal into my decision.” Luna snorts. “What are you humming?”

“New song idea, about how you are now.” Bleu comments.

“I am afraid to ask.” Starfall growls. “But you're going to try and sing it for us any way.”

“She's a killar.... queeeeeeen, Gunpowder and ,geletine, Dynamite with a laser beam.......” Bleu sings stopping suddenly. “ Hey you still do that unicorn energy blast thing with your horn right? “

“That is a spell Bleu. Yes, I can still cast spells......” Luna sighs.

“What's Geletine?” Starfall asks.

“ I'll be sure to keep that part then. Any how we're here.” Bleu states hopping off Luna's back as the pair stop before a door in the palace. The dragon shifts her size to match Luna's and pushes open the door moving inside.

Luna glances to Starfall and the pair follow.

“What is this place?” Starfall asks looking around at the tile lined floors and walls taking note that even the ceiling was covered with small tiles. The room was lined with lockers and benches, an awning on the far side of the room opened up into a large room filled with showers and a thick door on the far side of the showers that was partial open with steam billowing out of it.

“Sauna and shower area for the troop barreks further down the hall. I put him in here for the sauna, it's cold this far north and not many dragons are used to it.” Bleu states pushing open the door on the far side of the shower room, a large blast of steam billowed out as the door swung inward.

She looks back at the other two noticing Luna's eyes were on the tile floor, and the splatters of blood covering it.

“Bleu?” Luna asks a rather worried tone filling her voice.

“It's not good, but it could be worse and it's why he's in here relaxing, better you ask him what's wrong.” Bleu frowns. “I don't think he gave me a proper response.”

The two ponies look to each other before following Bleu into the sauna.

=================

[Crystal Empire, Monday , 1540 hours. ]

“GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!! YOU BUCKING FUCKS! THIS IS TOURTURE HOW THE SHIT DO YOU CALL YOURSELVES THE GOOD GUYS!?!?!”

“You tried to take over my sons body. “ Twilight Velvet states flatly as the Jade scroll lands with a dull thud before her.

“You tried to take me over and I had to have my arm cut off.” Spike states just as monotone as Twilight Velvet. “It itches a lot, do you know how hard it is to scratch scales?”

“Also you are a book, there is no moral issue for damaging an inanimate object, even if it does have a dead griffon inside of it.” Nightlight explains offering a drink to his wife from a tray one of the maids brought, moving over to Spike and giving him the other glass.

“This Daring Doo stuff is rather interesting.” Spines adds not even paying attention for the most part as he thumbs through a book. “So she's a real pony?”

“How the buck are you just sitting there watching your supposed leader torture someone” the Jade scroll screams as Spike picks the book back up off the ground with his newly regrown arm.

“Well... I'm not about to go against what others who actually study this sort of thing say. Though from what I've been told you are pretty much the source of all this trouble. You made the thing that trapped that first dragon and his mate in Tartarus bringing about the series of events that had him kill my friends. I could blame him for killing them or them for attacking him, but it's much easier to focus that blame on you.” Spines explains.

“Told you he was bright. He's theorizing the Butterfly effect and put it into proper practice.“ Spike grins, breathing a jet of green flame onto the screaming book again, turning it to ash.

“A few more times and perhaps it will be willing to tell us what we want to know.” Night Light grumbles.

“Like how to cure my daughter.....” Velvet glowers as the book reforms before her screaming still.

“For fucks sake, fine, FINE!!! I'll tell you about the damn Tirek!! JUST STOP WITH THE FIRE!!” the Jade Scroll wails.

“Then start talking, I've got more than enough flame left to do this for the rest of the day and into tomorrow.” Spike growls.

==============================================

[?, Monday , 1540 hours. ]

The Silver Script screamed out in anguish before she went silent aside from the soft chuckle of the monster standing before the dais. The drained book fell from the creatures grasp, thudding heavily to the ground in the pile with the others,pages falling free of it's broken spine, the mud and troll blood quickly soaking into the fallen pages.

Despite a number of wounds, missing fingers and a broken horn, the massive red and black form of Tirek was still a monster to behold. A soul stealing monstrosity with an unlimited appetite and no morals to speak of. A creature that heralded the doom of everything in one way or another.

The Gray Grimiore was not impressed.

“You realize you have set me back considerably. This has already been a bad decade with the removal of the Crystal Chronicle from this world. And now there is this.” The Gray Grimoire sighs. “That damned griffon has a great deal to answer for. I am almost angry.”

“I would not worry yourself about that one. I will be devouring my creator soon enough.” Tirek grins picking up the last book off the alter. “Of course you will not be around to see that.”

“So his creature is as flawed and stupid as he is. You have no idea what you are even trying to do now.” the book comments.

Tirek grins, though that grin slowly turns to a frown, then a scowl as the Gray Grimoire remains untouched by Tirek's power.

“What is this?”

“I created the others including your bumbling creator. I created everything, there is no way you would be able to ever claim even a fraction of the power I hold.”

“Impossible, drawing the power from the other Books should have afforded me more than enough energy to circumvent anything you could stop me with.” Tirek growls. “ Once I took your power the Element's would be easy to claim.”

“Much as I dislike what my sister has done, you cannot destroy the Elements nor take their power any more than you are taking mine. The six first gods gave up their lives just to be almost equal with what I had become. Do you really think draining my minions means anything?” The Grey Grimoire laughs. “Look at the memories you took from them. All you acquired was the power of a lazy Dragon, a slutty pegicorn, an angry Diamond Dog, and a egg headed zebra. All you would need is a jealous griffon, and a greedy unicorn to complete the set. You gained nothing of importance from them and in time the power I shared with them will return to me. All you have done is set me back by a few decades. Annoying, but far from anything I should be concerned about. I am the first god little creature, your powers are nothing to me.”

Tirek snorts slamming his hoof down, the impact obliterating the ancient books on the ground below him. Bits of old pages and muddied leather covers puffing out of the impact like confetti. The great beast tries again to absorb the Books power and fails each time. Tirek's eyes narrowed as the Gray Grimoire started to laugh at him. He yanks the book open seeing nothing but blank pages. Grabbing them he attempts to rip the book apart finding he is unable to even tear one page free. The monster slams the book back onto the stone alter, cracking the surface of the hewn rock table.

“You vex me book. Though I know where you are now, your minions are dead. Once I have the others and the Element's I will return and claim you. Until then, enjoy you tomb, your laughter annoys me, perhaps hearing it echo back for a century or so will make it have the same effect on you.” Tirek snaps turning away moving through the stone arch, flanked by two of his clones, one of them chewing on part of the Red Tome's binding.

“Do you really think you will even win? These fools have given me pause at least three times in their short lives, and you are a far inferior thing than I.” the Gray Grimoire taunts.

Once Tirek is through the arch he gestures back over his shoulder firing a blast that slams into the archway, collapsing it and sealing the cackling book in the cave.

The Gray Grimoire stops laughing as the last few rocks tumble down over the collapsed entrance. After a time he could no longer feel Tirek's power nearby. The book lets out an exasperated sigh as it regards the remains of the other Books of Orbsah.

“What a pain. Still it is a small surprise that the bird figured out even this much. I need to endeavor to make sure something akin to his creation never happens again.” The Gray Grimoire chuckles softly as the spines and pages of the crumpled books turned to ash and then to nothing as the power from them flowed back into the first book.. “Still the construction of the beast is quite impressive, pity it has so many exploitable flaws.”

The book cackles softly for a moment after drawing back the power, before it simply was no longer on the alter.

=====================================================

[Crystal Empire, Monday , 1540 hours. ]

”Interesting new smell you have there dream walker. I'm sure my host would greatly appreciate the new look too.”<

In the billowing steam of the room it was hard to tell where the voice came from at first until the faint glow of six red eyes was noticed. Starfall hisses a little as the form rises, towering over her and standing as tall as Princess Luna had been before her current change.

“Troph.” Luna states.

” Let us dispense with the pleasantries. You need to reopen the gate of Tartarus or Grace will die.”

“That is not something I know how to do. Tia was the only one who had any experience with Tartarus. Even though they dwelt there none of the memories from the Hive have any knowledge of how to reopen the gate either. I am sorry. But all of the ponies who might have known what to do are incapacitated......... Why are you in Jer'rahd's body?....” Luna gasps. “What have you done to him....?”

The figure approached closer stepping out of the mist with a clack of claws on the tile. The figure's torso and neck were still gray furred with patches of scales of a mixed blue and orange showing here and there dripping with water. It's face had lengthened displaying a full set of sharp fangs in a much wider mouth. The curved horn that had grown from the stump of the spiraled horn had smoothed out and grown longer than even Luna's horn, the splintered horn that it grew out of had thickened and splintered, looking more like a crown of spikes around the main horn now. The amber mane had mostly fallen out and a series of spikes of the same coloration had replaced most of it. A ridge of spines ran along his back to where the scaled dragon tail began. Both his front and rear legs ended in wicked claws and he seemed far more a dragon than a pony now. Even the fur around his form seemed more like a misfitted suit rather than actual flesh.

” I am the first dragon god Dream Walker. That my host's flesh is able to contain me at all is miraculous and likely a product of his birth and the magic that bound me to him. But it is not meant to be. If the gates of Tartarus are not opened, and I am not removed from this body again eventually it will no longer be able to contain me and it will destroy itself trying to adapt, killing me and any chance you have of restoring my host.”< Troph states coldly. >” I certainly hope you have a plan to either defeat the monster that did this, or open the gates very soon Dream Walker, I am not sure how much longer this body will last.”<

Author's Note

The Final Countdown by Europe

Changes, part1 [26]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Changes

[ Long before Equestria existed. During the Three Tribes War ]

Blood dripped down her face, the crimson droplets staining the vision in her remaining eye, making the world look tinged in blood red. Her monocular gaze swept the field of battle, seeing little but bodies covering the snow swept field. The white flakes drifting from the sky and slowly starting to cover the corpses, gave the strangely quiet scene an other worldly property that her blurred vision pushed straight into surreal.

The Pegs often changed the weather to screw with those fighting on the ground. Even if the Feather dusters were not in a given conflict they seemed to enjoy making life miserable for everyone else and usually had a few of their ilk gather weather for storms or snow or even to send a tornado to send through the ranks, at every major battle.

Not as if the Mud ponies didn't have ways to take out the airborne threats, catapults and a newly made device called a balista that fired a massive bolt in the air that split into smaller and smaller fragments as it rose to fill the air with shrapnel. Snow and rain barely bothered the dirt diggers any way.

Unicorn magic was perhaps the best of the lot, it could knock the chickens out of the air and crush the dust sucking filth easily.

No..... that wasn't true. Earth Ponies had an easy time dealing with unicorns too as they could shrug off all but the strongest spells. The Unicorns made short work of most pegasi simply due to shields and ranged attacks against the fliers made their weather manipulation abilities moot. And the pegasi could easily dodge the best of what the Earth ponies threw at them. Despite their hearty nature the earth ponies had a hard time dealing with the speed and the more severe weather the pegasi could make. Each side had a way to begin to counter the other, but without preparation time, or back up it was a loop of death.

She was tired of it, all this conflict and nothing had been gained. She had grown up in this madness, been brought into the conflict with tales of the atrocities committed by the other tribes against unicorns, though she had borne witness to the unicorns war crimes against the others as well. She had even committed a number of them herself under orders, with no reservations at all.

Now she was here. Barely in her fifteenth season, in the middle of a battle field filled with bodies of all three of the tribes. In truth she wasn't even sure what happened, it had been a pitched battle between all the tribes for this desolate snow covered plain. Countless spells had been fired, lightning and rocks filled the air and then there were some sort of monsters, some beasts that one side or another had employed perhaps, though they clearly turned on their masters as they fell on all three of the tribes. She wasn't sure how she was still alive, but one of the monsters had started flinging spells and she had been hit.

She staggered a little, glancing down to see an unrecognizable pony body. It was little more than a torso in mangled armor of some kind, the only thing visible was it's flank, and the lack of a cutie mark on it.

She turned away numbly, her eye looking over the field as she sought any one remaining. At best she managed a few more steps across the field before she collapsed, the weight of her armor pulling her onto her back as she fell. She lay still, breathing heavily her gaze focused on the cloudy sky, her vision finally clearing as the blood from her broken horn ran up over her head instead of into her eye.

Far above she could see a pair of forms circling, vultures come to feast, she found herself surprised there were only the two, Perhaps the smell of blood was limited by the snow. As they drew closer they seemed to get larger, griffons perhaps, not much different than vultures, though the greedy birds would pick clean your coin purse as well as your bones.

She blinked narrowing her eye as they drew closer, seeming to circle her. They were not griffons, she could see the gray and bright green of the pair of them.

Pegasi, so much for escaping fate, if she lived it would be as a prisoner, tortured and used as as lave until her death, better they simply killed her.

Still....they were rather large for pegasi.... they were closer now, she........ were those horns? Flying unicorns? Had she already died? Were they messengers of the stars come to guide her to her next life? She couldn't think properly as her eye closed, she was tired. So tired.....

There was the crunch of hooves on the snow, a thud she felt though the ground she was lieing on as they landed on either side of her. She could hear the echo of voices, barely making out what they said.

“She is still alive, but barely Mobius. You need to heal her.”

“For what purpose? To fight and die again? Better her story ends here Starswirl.”

“If she dies we shall not find out what happened. Look around there is nothing left here, no sign of what magic we felt. The Dragonflies guided us here to her among all the other bodies Mobius, there must be a reason why.”

“So you say. And it is a waste to lose one still so young.”

At that moment it all faded to black.

===========================================

The mare woke with a scream sitting up suddenly and violently, and just as quickly blacking out and collapsing back against the bed.

A reddish brown Earth Pony mare yelps as the black mare sits up with a scream. She falls back out of her chair near the bed with a crash. Three legs flail in the air as she struggles briefly to right herself, grumbling at the screaming pony and working to pull her red mane back out of her face.

Glaring at the black furred and green maned unicorn in the bed the earth pony sighs righting the chair and setting back down in it. After another few moments the heavily bandaged unicorn wakes up, though a little more carefully this time. Her unbandaged eye locks onto the earth pony next to the bed before narrowing, the green orb staring angrily at the seated mare.

“Good you're awake finally. No more random shrieking I hope, doubt my heart could take that again. We were starting to worry they had brought back another undead one. Try not to exert yourself, you're not exactly in any shape to do so.” the mare states looking down at her.

“Great, caught by the mud hooves.” the bandaged mare grumbles from the bed. “If I’m not killed I’ll never live this down.”

“Wow really? First thing out of your mouth is a racial slur? No, 'thanks for not killing me in my sleep Ginger' or ' thanks Ginger for changing my bandages when I was bleeding like a stuck Orc', or 'hey super nice of you Ginger to change my bed pan and wipe my flank while I’ve been unconscious for a week.' Nope you go straight to the slurs like every other pinhead that comes in here.”

“GINGER!” shouts another voice.

“Akk! She started it!” Ginger complains looking over to the other side of the dark mare's bed.

“And she just got here, what's your excuse?” another mare hisses walking up from the bandaged unicorn's blind side.

The unicorn turns her head looking over to her left away from the three legged earth pony mare. Her gaze fell on a short white mare with a close cropped golden mane and tail, with a large gray cloak covering her back and flank. The mares golden eyes met her one good one and she could swear there was a brief flash of anger before it faded.

“ Let me explain a few things before you try and make a daring escape. First off you're not a prisoner. Two, you're going to be asked a bunch of questions, but answering them might help every pony in the long run, not just one faction or another. Three, Ginger's idiocy aside, racial slurs, violence, and trying to harm others is not tolerated here at all. Trust me , you don't want to get on the bad side of Slate Quake. Four, once you're healed up you're free to go or stay as you want, though very few choose to leave.”

“Why would I believe a couple of my captors? I've seen plenty of what you dirt crawlers do to prisoners. Mind games wouldn't be anything new.” the bandaged mare mutters.

“See, I told you, the fluff brain started it, Sunray!” Ginger states.

The white mare rubs her face with her hoof after slapping it.

“Ginger, Fluff brain is a pegasus slur.” Sunray sighs.

“Really? I thought it was a unicorn one, cause of all the magic in their heads is so much fluff and sparkles...”

“It's a play on the fact pegasi manipulate clouds..... same as airhead.”

“Oooh, so what's another unicorn one I can use?”

“I am not adding to your repertoire of insults Ginger. You’ve been warned countless times any way.” Sunray snaps then ignores the other mare. “You are not a captive of the Earth Ponies.”

The white mare reaches back gripping her cloak with her teeth and pulling it up, showing her back.

The mare's cutie mark was a dark cloud with a ray of sunlight beaming through it. The pristine white fur of her sides stopped a few inches under the edge of where her cloak had covered and was replaced with ugly red and black burn scar tissue that ran from her flank all the way up to the back of her neck. In the middle of the mess of scars were two raised mounds of flesh, barely an apple tall in height wiggled a little as the mare shifted.

“That's a balefire wound.....” the bandaged mare mutters staring at the marred mare.

“Yeah, one of your kind fried me. Burned off my wings and grounded me forever.” Sunray points to the reddish mare Ginger.” One of my kind dropped Ginger from cloud level. Shattered her leg so badly it had to be removed. Given what I heard about where you were found, you were fighting Ginger's kind, one of them is probably who shattered your horn.”

“My horn?.....” the bandaged mare blinks lifting her hoof up to her head to touch her horn, finding that it wasn't where she expected it to be, her hoof lowers enough to touch the bandage over it the wrapped nub almost flush with her head. She blinks once before her eye rolls back in her head and she blacks out again.

“Sunray your bedside manner sucks.” Ginger states flatly glaring at the pegasus.

“Me? What the buck did I do?” the white mare yelps.

===========================================

Another jerk into wakefulness ,as an explosion caused the ground to shudder. All around her unicorns were scrambling about screaming orders, or just screaming as another boom of thunder and a secondary muffled explosion shook the building.

The black coated mare rose quickly nearly on instinct, grabbing her armor and charging for the door only to be blown back as it explodes before her, sending screaming ponies running away from the impact. She groans rolling over onto her side with a wince as she struggles to clear the ringing from her head. She had gotten lucky others had not judging by the scent of burning flesh filling the air, she could almost taste it on her tongue, it...... strawberries?

“I find that burnt flesh tends to leave a bad taste in your mouth, not that I’m partial to well cooked flesh either,and definitely not raw flesh, though I don't mind the occasional fish. I did have rabbit once when sharing a meal with a griffon. It didn't agree with me at all, but it was indeed an experience.”

Everything froze, though the scent of strawberries lingered in the air. She couldn't recall the last time she had a strawberry, with the war going on even the partially rotted ones were worth five times their weight in bits. Unicorns didn't have the touch for growing them like the earth ponies did.

“I was going to try for cherries to be honest ,but I find that works best with stallions for some reason. Mares seem to prefer strawberries. I wonder if it's a gender thing or a cultural thing. I may have to look that up at some point.” the voice seems to ponder.

The dark mare turns looking around her eye going wide at the sight of the a gray stallion sitting on one of the beds eating something from a bucket. A bucket that looked to be filled with strawberries.

“Not that I mind strawberries. Though I prefer them covered in sugar, now that's a rare resource in these years. Luckily there are a number of decent gardeners here.” the stallion states reaching up with a wing to stroke a ridiculously long white beard, a large blue hat sat on his head though it did little to hide his long clockwise spiraled horn.

“Who... who are you?” the mare asks glancing around as the bunks and the building faded along with her armor. Granted his bucket of strawberries didn't fade, nor did the bed he was sitting on although the floor did fade out bringing a brief shriek from the mare as she expected to fall.

“Oh dear, I suppose I may have sped this up a bit much for your mind to realize you are dreaming. Do calm down nothing is going to hurt you here. My name is Starswirl, Jelly baby?” He offers lifting the bucket of strawberries. “Oh right sorry, old habits, I mean, Strawberry?”

“Starswirl? Any relation to Starswirl the Bearded?” she asks looking at the strawberries though she was still wary of this all. This was madness. Her gaze shifts over the blackness around them, noting countless points of light filling the void.

“Oh of course, that's me. Been a bit since I went by that full title. I should have figured a unicorn would remember me.”

“This makes no sense, Starswirl died over two thousand years ago at the start of the war when the earth ponies attacked Unicoian.”

“Oh I’ve been around a lot longer than that actually. I argued against the war and left in disgust when I was ignored. I'm sure the nobles thought up some outlandish story as to why I left. I'm would bet my last bit they couldn't tell the truth, after all if a unicorn that invented most of the spells that the kingdom uses was against the war and left, they must have thought others would follow.” Starswirl eats another strawberry. “Whole thing started as a stupid misunderstanding regarding food supply between the Pegasi and Earth Ponies any way, and yet it was the Unicorns that fired the first shot fearing they would be a target too.”

“Why should I believe you.... What are you any way?”

“Oh. You mean the wings and the horn?” Bit of a surprise when this came about. Long story short, I made a few friends, fought an evil goat necromancer. and next thing I know these two winged unicorns come down say I did good and one of them gives me his wings. So here I am an alicorn, pony god and all. It's how I’m in your dream at the moment, fantastic stuff this dream walking.”

“What do you want with me?”

“Just to ask some questions, though I doubt you will know all I want to ask.” Starswirl admits.

“Why the dream?”

“Given your physical state while awake we've opted to keep you under a bit while we work on how best to treat your injuries. Particularly your horn, it's cracked all the way to the base of your skull and even that is splitting a little. Here I can keep you some what calm by revealing this information while we work on it, but I’m afraid there isn't much to save.”

“Soooo......that means...”

“Indeed. I am afraid your spell slinging days may be behind you. I say may because I have been fiddling with various crystals but attuning properly is the issue and while I’m really not ready for live trials Miss..... I am sorry I completely forgot to ask for your name.”

“Crystal.”

“Yes, there are a number of them up here that have very good resonance with magic.....”

“No, no... that's my name... Crystal.”

Starswirl looked over the mare for some sign of shock at the loss of her horn, though unless it hadn't sunk in yet she seemed dead calm and her name...... he shook his head a bit noting the single pink six pointed crystal adorning her flank.

“Well Crystal... I am surprised at how calm you seem to be with that revelation.”Starswirl sighs. “ I've had to give this speech before and often times I’ve had to stop the unicorns from trying to kill themselves rather than live without a horn. Same with a few pegasi and their wings....”

“All I've ever used it for was fighting, probably be better without it any way. Might be nice to retire...”

“A bit young for retirement.... although that's still not a healthy outlook, it's better than some. I suppose if I may focus a bit. I do have some important questions concerning what happened on the battle field, please try to remember as best you can any little detail might help.”

===============================================

Starswirl shifts a little pushing his hat up from over his eyes, slipping his horn back though the hole in the brim. A soft slurp drew his attention to the forest green alicorn stallion across from him and the steaming cup of tea before him on a tray.

“ You know Mobius it is rather unnerving when you watch me sleep.” Starswirl mutters dropping a few sugar cubes into the tea.

“You fell asleep on your books at the table again. I figured you were checking on our new guest. Besides you are cute when you are asleep.” Mobius grins.

“That does not make it any less creepy, in fact that makes it creepier, and please stop flirting with me, it is distracting.” Starswirl mutters.

“Still after all this time, you're going to reject trying new things?” Mobius chuckles.

“Stop it. What would your mate say?” Starswirl snorts.

“Oh, I'm sure she'd love another alicorn stud riding her. She quite big enough for both of us you know.” Mobius chuckles.

“Sorry I am not into stallions or dragons, so that's a double negative for you.” Starswirl snaps.

“ Don't two negatives make a positive?” Mobius chuckles.

“This is not multiplication!”Starswirl rants.

“It would be if you joined us...”

“GAH, NO!! Why is it you are so serious most of the time and then a complete pervert other times?”

“I wielded Laughter Starry, seems it's a bit of a emotional swing trait regarding that Element.”

“I don't see how Laughter brings us to....… what it is you do....”

“Laughter brings Joy.. and I've brought an awful lot of joy to a awful lot of creatures......”Mobius winks at the gray alicorn.

“Nope, that's it I’m done with this line of conversation.” Starswirl states rising from the table.” I'm out of here....”

“Did she know anything?” Mobius asks over the rim of his cup, his tone suddenly serious.

Starswirl sighs and sits back down, every time with this stallion, every time Starswirl reached his limit with him, Mobius got him to stay.

“No, not much. She saw two creatures, but thought they were summons, an explosion took her out before they got her, probably why she still has her mark. They likely thought she was dead and left her alone. She saw a number of bodies without cutie marks before we found her.”

“That's still more than we knew. Two of them.... Did she have a description?”

“She didn't see them long enough to recall them, but her minds eye was easy to read. One looked like a cross between a diamond dog and a maticore, the other had the lower half of a pony and the upper half of a minotaur. The latter seems ground bound but the former could fly. You think it is Orbsah?”

“Maybe, a new book was created just before you ascended. I could feel it, but not identify it. This energy feels similar to that.”

“Who else knows about this attack?”Starswirl sighs.

“At least three of the races suspect. The zebra's are probably too busy with their slavery and oppression to even notice, pity we could use their odd magics. The Harpies and Minotaur have sent representatives to us however asking about the situation..... and.....”

“And? And what?”

“The Griffons, they sent one of their gods.”

“Oh bother. Which one? Please don't let it be Dee. I cannot stand her flirting with me either.”

“It's not Chickadee, though the flirting is your own fault for having such a sexy beard.....”

“Mobius....”

“Fine..Prude... It's Storm Front.”

“A little young for him to be representing his race in this matter....” Starswirl considers.

“I expect they feel he is the most expendable. They must know more than we do to send him. I have a meeting with him later to share information. Hopefully he will explain things his race has learned.........”

“You are going to go into your speech about how we should reveal ourselves and stop this war aren’t you... It worked for the Griffons it should work for us right?”

“Yes and then you will argue with the same stone carved rules that your predecessor drilled into your head when you ascended about guiding them from the shadows rather than directly , blah blah blah, yada yada yada.”

“He made a good point or forty in favor of it Mobius.”

“Times change Starswirl. We may be ageless and immortal, but we have to adapt with them or become useless.”

==========================================

[ Three days after arrival]

“Well nice to see you're up and about finally, Crystal.”

“If you want to call me doing my best not to hurl, 'nice'.”Crystal mutters as she stands some what shakily next to her bed.

“That's just the after effects of the spell they used to knock you out. Most of your wounds were light though your horn was a complete loss sorry. We thought you lost the eye too, but seems that was an old wound.” Ginger says watching the black mare slowly move around her bed. The brownish mare hops a little closer, raising up on her back legs to walk forward. Crystal watches curiously as the three legged earth pony moves around on just her back legs.

“What?”Ginger asks.

“Sorry, I just find that a bit odd.” Crystal mentions motioning with a hoof to the fact the other mare was walking on her back hooves.

“What was that an apology? Wow, only a few days here since you first woke up and you're already not throwing out racial slurs like a sea pony sailor.” Ginger chuckles.

“Given that I’ve had an alicorn in my head and by my bed for that whole time, I'm a little calmer. Still a bit freaked out, but calmer” Crystal looks over at the brown maned mare. “How do you know so much about my injuries?”

“Duh cause I’m the best surgeon ever of course.”

“An earth pony surgeon......?” Crystal asks, a bit dumbfounded at the very thought..

“Field medic mostly, while she is, or was, skilled, the loss of her foreleg has made it near impossible for her to properly treat any one in some time.” the white pegasus states trotting up from Crystal's blind side.

“Yes thank you so much for that Sunray. Don't let me build any rep at all before yanking it all out from under me.” Ginger growls noting the white mare's smirk.

“Some one has to keep your ego in check, otherwise I’m sure you'd try to convince all the new ponies you cured every one of them.” Sunray explains moving over to Crystal. “So how are you feeling?”

“A bit queezy though that's fading.”

“Likely just the after effects of the sleep magic...” Sunray comments ignoring Gingers attempt at a rude gesture with just one foreleg. “They used a resin to seal and bind your fractured horn to keep the split from getting worse. Everything seems fine and there was no hint of infection despite the damage. We're supposed to keep you a a medication to numb your magic so you don't accidentally try and use it. But given the extent of the damage you won't be able to cast anything again any way.”

Crystal sighs, green eye looking away from the pegasus. “ I never expect I was going to become a mud....... Earth pony..”

“Neither did I .” Sunray responds with a nod.

“Pfft please. You both were already Earth Ponies with extra bits stuck on. All you did was lose the bits that made you think you were better than us.“ Ginger snaps.

The pair of them look over at the red maned mare who simply grins.

“I have no idea what to make of that theory.” Crystal comments.

“Not exactly a theory given the Alicorns. Ginger has taken it into her head to study them as closely as they will allow. Starswirl humors her, though Mobius seems to prefer flirting to answering any real questions.” Sunray remarks. “You up for a tour? It's a bit of a walk, but nothing was wrong with your legs.”

“Your bedside manner still sucks Sunray.” Ginger states though she grins as well. “I'll come with you two, some one needs to carry Sunray's weak flank back when she get exhausted from a little walk.”

“That was once, when I first got here. I was used to flying not walking!” Sunray grumbles.

“Whatever Dodo.” Ginger laughs.

“Oh stuff it tripod, at least I don't flash every one when I walk!”

“Hey if you have it flaunt it, and let me tell you my flank has it!” Ginger grins wiggling her rump, flashing a cutie mark that looked like some sort of orange root to Crystal.

The pair move to either side of Crystal in case she stumbled, the pegasus again taking Crystals blind right side, though the bickering continued even after Ginger rose up on her back legs to walk. Crystal understood some of Sunray's annoyance with the mare's method of movement ,as her crotch was pretty much at eye level when she walked like that.

There didn't seem to be much to the building they were in. It was a large stone structure with multiple rooms and at least two floors for medical personal and other studies. There was an impressive library that Crystal only got a glimpse of, Sunray commented that Starswirl kept a much larger one in his lab, one that he didn't allow any one to borrow from. A number of scribes were in another room working, she spotted one of two other unicorns, including one that seemed to have lost all of his legs, but retained his horn. Crystal briefly wondered if that was preferable to her own plight.

The other issue was nearly all the large bay rooms were filled with occupied beds, all ponies and they all seemed to be sleeping heavily with a nurse or doctor moving around to look over them. She wasn't sure what was wrong with them, only that there seemed to be a lot of them. Neither Sunray nor Ginger mentioned them however, and she wasn't sure she should ask just yet..

“.......so then, that's the hospital if you want to call it that. Now for the big reveal!” Ginger shouts.

“Are you going to call it that stupid name again?” Sunray sighs.

“It's not stupid and it fits.” Ginger defends.

“What are you two talking about?” Crystal asks.

“The settlement, it doesn't have a name yet, aside from what Ginger insists it's to be called. It's only been here about a year at best anyway.” Sunray explains as the trio walk towards a door next to the stairwell leading down. Sunray pushes open the door and Crystal flinches as she's blinded by the sudden glare of sunlight. She squints noticing a railing a few steps ahead of he and stops at that to let her eye adjust to the bright light.

A warm breeze blew over her fur ruffling the bandages covering her. Her ears perked hearing a soft, but constant buzzing and what seemed to be a hum of some kind. As her vision cleared she looked out over the balcony, her eye widening.

The view was only from the side of the two story hospital building, though given there was only one building as tall it, one that seemed to be the town hall, her view was unobstructed. The town itself seemed to be made of the local materials and she could smell the fires of a blacksmith forge even if she couldn't hear the hammering. There only seemed to be ten or twelve buildings in the center of a valley surrounded by mountains. She could see a sparkling lake in the distance with a path leading to it.

None of that was what had her in awe.

Jutting from the unploughed fields surround the town were what looked like thousands upon thousands of sparkling motes of light reflecting the sun in a myriad of colors, towering crystals that rose even higher than the building, one looking as if it was scraping the bottom of the clouds. The lake shimmered with them as did all the buildings and the gravel path, crystals had gone into their make up leaving the whole town a sparkling mass of colors. Massive dragonflies flitted around the place, their wings buzzing in tune with the hum seeming to come from the massive crystals. Everything sparkled and glimmered like the treasure horde of an ancient dragon god and yet aside from the town it seemed as if this valley was a natural formation. Like the earth had split open and shown it was little more than a giant geode.

Crystal felt a hoof pushing her jaw up to close her mouth, she shakes her head slightly glaring briefly at Sunray who rolled her eyes as she let go of the dark mares jaw.

“What... what is this place?” Crystal asks.

“Welcome Crystal... oh that's kinda funny with your name now that I think about it... “ Ginger comments before grinning wide. “ Welcome to the Crystal Empire.”

Author's Note

Title; Changes , by David Bowie.

I was just going to have a short little flashback , but i decided on a bigger one. This is the story as told by Chrysalis, The Jade Scroll, and Daring Doo translating one of Starswirl's journals.

Initially i was going to have it split up with comments and questions from those in modern Equestria, but just telling the story and then doing that at the end seemed better.

I'm shooting for this to be 3 chapters tops. This part of the story takes place during what could be considered the first war of the three tribes, there were 4 wars total before the peace was kept long enough for the founding of Equestria.

Changes, Part 2 [27]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Changes
Part 2

[ Long before Equestria existed. During the Three Tribes War, two weeks after the battle of Snow Point ]

“So this is all you have found out then Starswirl?” the griffon asks looking over a sheet of parchment. “The mare didn't know anything else?”

“No, Crystal didn't know anything else. Even in her subconscious there were only vague images, mostly of the larger ground bound creature.” Starswirl sighs. “I figured Mobius would have mentioned all this when he spoke with you earlier.”

The dark gray griffon god glances over at the light gray alicorn and the expression on the stallions bearded face. He ruffles his feathers a bit, the white down under the dark feathers briefly being flashed before he smooths them out again, lifting a golden claw to point at the map on the table his light gray fur still looking a bit ruffled.

“How many?”the griffon asks.

“How many what, Storm Front?” Starswirl asks.

“Aries, sorry, villages I suppose you call them. How many have you lost?” the griffon asks, his blue eyes staring at the alicorn.

Starswirl returned the stare a moment before grumbling to himself.

“We don't know exactly. With the war on most of the tribes are scattered into battle zones or contested areas. Unicornia, Marbleville, and Cumulus City are all untouched. But those are only the capitols. There are countless outlying farms and outposts and smaller towns. What reports I have gotten show a increase of attacks against all three tribe's villages. They are blaming each other and reports of a new plague that steals cutiemarks are circulating. The major cities are being hit with flocks of refugees and we have gotten a few here as well from the neighboring settlements we trade with. Slate has his work cut out for him as none of the refugees get along very well.”

“Yet you still won't reveal yourselves to the population as a whole?” Storm Front asks.

“No, particularly not now in the middle of this. We would be blamed for what is going on. This place doesn't have an army or anything like that and we would be destroyed.” the alicorn sighs. “ Please don't start that discussion with me, I get it bad enough from Mobius.”

“I was not attempting to do that. I was segwaying into this.” Storm Front comments picking up a bit of charcoal from the edge of the table. The dark griffon looks over the world map a moment before marking six spots in the griffon nation with X's. Only two of them had names by them.

“What is this? “ Starswirl asks.

“Cloudseeker, Snowholme, Foggy Albion, Albatross, Pommelpei, and Howling Cleft aeries.”

“I'm afraid I only know two of those, the ones on the map there.” Starswirl comments.

“No need to recall them now. They don't exist any more.” Storm Front states.

“What?! How?!”

“I was sent here as liaison because the elder griffon gods expected that I knew nothing of what was happening. They foolishly thought my age makes me stupid. I know more of what is going on then they do, it seems they are willing to hide this, to try and avoid any blame. There are a number of things I am going to say that the others have kept silent about for a very long time. I do not think we can survive like that in the face of this so I am going to be honest with you in what I know. I would prefer if this does not get back to them however, I do not fancy seeing if they can figure out a way to send a god to the chopping block and make it stick.”

“Alright. I will discuss this with others, but I will not say it was from you.”

“Howling Cleft was the first to go. We think that is actually where all of this started in fact. Centuries ago before your time and mine, the Griffon gods returned to the Griffons. My predecessors kept themselves aloof as you did and when they returned there was a great deal of strife and hardship as they tried to get the noble factions under control. They managed it of course.”

“Yes by beheading those who still fought against them.” Starswirl snorts.

“Violent yes, but it worked... Almost.”

“Almost?”

“Aside from a few rebel groups, there was one griffon, a powerful spell caster who had been on the verge of claiming the throne in Howling Cleft. He had eliminated nearly all the royal family save the youngest daughter. His name was Star Charmer. He was an odd sort, one of the few of my kind who didn't eat meat claiming it would only weaken him to eat prey animals. There are of course the rumors that he did indeed eat meat, but that it had to be smart enough to give him a challenge, and I do not mean a clever rabbit or fish.”

“Appalling... “ mutters Starswirl “ But what does this have to do with anything?”

“I am getting to that. Not long after the griffon gods took over again, he vanished before they could find him, spewing some nonsense about revenge. “ Storm Front sighs. “I believe he is back and that he is the creator of these.. things.”

“How is that even possible?”

Storm Front drops the charcoal back on the table wiping his claws on the edge of the map.

“Tell me Starswirl, have you every heard of the Books of Orbsah? In particular one that is called The Jade Scroll?”

====================================================

Crystal looked down at the plate before her, staring at it with her good eye as if it was going to fade out of existence like an unbelievable dream.

The dish before her was piled high with steamed broccoli, carrots. and even a mashed potato with some green things on top and what she was sure was butter and pepper. All she had been given while in the hospital was a bit of mash and what ever foods the doctors thought she wouldn't have to chew in case it interfered with her horns healing. Sunray and Ginger sat at the table as well their plates just as covered with food as hers was. Sunray was simply eating as if this was nothing special, Ginger was as well although she also stared intently at the black unicorn.

“Ginger would you stop staring at her it's impolite.” Sunray comments not looking up from her food.

“Stuff it Sunray, do you know how much fun it is to see someone's eyes... well eye, light up like it's their birthday? There's always a point where it hits them and it's all just from some food?” Ginger snaps back.

“How.. how is this even possible?” Crystal gapes “ What even are these green things? And butter where the heck did you get butter? And SPICES? I barely got over the idea that you might have strawberries in summer but this? And THIS IS JUST LUNCH?!!”

“There it is. “ Ginger grins.

“All three races live here in harmony Crystal. The Earth ponies that can, tend the land. The pegasi that can help maintain the weather to what is proper to grow and the unicorns that can help with some of the trading we do with other races as well as magical support the other two. There's more to it than that of course, but we have a relatively small population here and no real royalty or nobility to take the lions share of what we do get.” Sunray explains. “While there are a number of ponies like ourselves who were injured or found our way here, most in this place were born here. After you eat we'll introduce you to some of the notable ones.”

Crystal may or may not have heard her as she was digging into the food with the gusto of some one who was starving while Ginger rooted her on.

“See those are called chives and they are sort of a spice and the butter is from a trade deal with the yaks, very angry fellows and isolationist as well, but Mobius struck a deal they seemed to like , though you don't want to get them mad they tend to break stuff. Slate broke three of the legs of the last one who tried it here though.” Ginger rambles. “See this sort of thing is why I hate military rations they give out, stale oat paste or maybe a cup of carrots if you're lucky is not enough food for any pony....”

Ginger continues to ramble on pausing occasionally to slap Crystal on the back when she chokes on something as she wolfs it down. Sunray had given up her own explanation and just buried her face in her hooves.

===================================================

“Fascinating. So this griffon became a book. I was unaware such a thing was possible.” Starswirl mutters.” Did he have any notes?”

“Chickadee told me they were all destroyed. I can understand why they would be. Dangerous stuff. I have some reports of the monsters as well. From what the few survivors said the one with the pony body and the minotaur upper body was called Tirek, the one with the wings was called Scorpan. What worries me is the power that was used to destroy the aeries. I rivals that of some gods I've seen. All except Howling Cleft, It was destroyed yes, but not with the complete devastation shown in the other ones. They seem to be getting stronger.”

“Yes Mobius's own contacts have said the same. There are also traces of some strange magic on the ponies we recovered without a cutiemark. Each time they attack one of the tribes settlements Mobius and I can feel them a little more clearly. I've speculated that these things are some how drawing power from ponies. What about with the griffons?”

“We don't have anything like that. They only kill griffons, there's none in any sort of magical coma.”

Starswirl sighs looking at the map. “So it seems they are not just attacking us then. We have a representative from the Harpies. Perhaps they know something.”

“I wouldn't get your hopes up with the Harpy.” Storm Front mutters.

“This is a bit of a crisis Storm Front. I would ask that you set aside your issues with the Harpies for a time.” Starswirl snorts.

The dark griffon waves a claw dismissively.

“No no, it's not that, I do not care one way or another about the Harpies.”

“Then what is it?”

“They sent Cloud Dust.” Storm Front states seemingly exasperated just saying the females name.

“By the Stars.... she's the last thing I need.”

“And here I thought Chickadee was the last thing you needed?” Storm Front smirks.

“I didn't need either of them. Both spend any time they get around me hitting on me!” Starswirl grumbles.

“Well if your beard wasn't so sexy....”

“Don't you start!!” Starswirl snaps.

“Of course not, “ Storm Front chuckles. “Do you mind if I have a look at the sleeping ones or a talk with the mare you found?”

“Certainly. I am not sure what you might figure out, but perhaps you might see something I did not.”Starswirl admits.

===============================================

The pale red looked down at the black unicorn with one eye and a broken horn. The unicorn stared up at the pale red pegasus mare towering over her, with a horn nearly twice as long as any other unicorn she had ever seen.

“I am having a very hard time with this.” Crystal states finally.

“With what?” the tall red mare asks.

“That there are three of you alicorns running around. Until I came here I didn't even think there was one.”

Sunray shakes her head and Ginger smirks. The taller mare chuckles lightly looking over at the reddish three legged mare.

“Ginger did you set her up to meet me without telling her anything about me?”

“Well no, not entirely. I told her that you were the compassionate soul in charge of the foal's schooling and care in town, though I never exactly explained anything else past you were really tall.” Ginger grins trying to play innocent.

“I apologize. I deal with you so often I forget I am supposed to consider you odd any more.” Sunray comments with a sigh. “Crystal this is Ghost Dancer, Ghost Dancer this is Crystal.”

The pale red mare smiles nodding slightly, her white mane was cut short to her head, styled into a row of hair spikes that ran from her horn down to her back. Her tail was heavily braided as well, pulled tight enough that the off white hair seemed to be solid , though this too had little hair spikes in it. It took Crystal another moment to notice that the wings closed to her sides only had a few feathers along the upper edges, otherwise they seemed to be a odd leathery material like a bats or a dragons. The oddest part was the mare didn't have a cutiemark.

“Well let's start with the fact I am not an alicorn.” Ghost Dancer explains taking on a some what sickeningly sweet tone as if she was about to teach a foal.

“Really? Cause the horn and the wings say otherwise....” Crystal comments cutting off the explanation.

“Bit of a rude one hmm?” the larger mare smiles, unphased.

“Oh she I,s you should have heard what she called me when she woke up!” Ginger chuckles. “Racial slurs in the first sentence!”

“ I already apologized for that.... Twice.” Crystal grumbles. “Which reminds me you have yet to apologize to me, Ginger.”

“For what?” Ginger asks.

“For calling her a pinhead.” mutters Sunray.

“Oh yeah that... well forget it, you started it.” Ginger states waving her fore hoof, getting a sigh from Sunray, a head shake from Crystal and a slight laugh from Ghost Dancer.

“Well seems you three are getting along well enough. Some what a surprise, though it does mean my dad is right about the whole friendship is magic thing. Ah well.” The tall mare comments stretching her wings out a moment, giving a good view of the thin leathery appendages that when spread did look more like a dragons wings than a bats. “Still it's impressive, particularly after all of you were plucked out of a war zone. Most of the others who came from the tribes still hold onto their resentment for a long time after they get here.”

“Yes well... they won't leave me alone to properly sulk. Also they are not trying to kill me which is a big help to avoid conflict.” Crystal shrugs glancing back as the other two start to argue over something, completely ignoring the unicorn and pale red mare. “Starswirl or what ever has been driving home what this place is while I'm asleep too. Even with all that I still don't believe this place is real.”

“It's real, though it took a lot of work to get started. I'm glad Uncle Starry is taking time to talk to you. We don't need any more reports about an alicorn trying to seduce everyone in their dreams.”

“What?”Crystal asks.

“I love my dad to death, but he's a perv, simple as that. No clue what mom sees in him.”

“What? Your fathers a...... so I was right! You are an alicorn!” Crystal states triumphantly.

“Nope. I'm no more an alicorn than my brother. Dad is though. His names Mobius, I'm sure you'll meet him at some point if you haven't already. Uncle Starry calls me a 'Variant Pegicorn'. I'm supposed to be insanely rare or something. Seems to be an alicorn you need to have parts of all three races of pony. I've only got unicorn from dad's side.” Ghost Dancer explains.

“Then what are the wings?”

“Mom's a dragon.” Ghost Dancer explains flatly.

“Dragon!?” Crystal sits down looking both confused and disturbed. “But dragons eat ponies....”

“Yeah well if you listen to dad, mom eats him rather well and vice versa. Granted that's not an image I want in my head or to pass on and I don't know why I said it now, so moving on. Rogue dragons might eat ponies, though very few dragons can stomach meat, their primary diet is crystals and certain stones. And as you can see by me and by my brother Slate when you meet him, cross breeding is possible....... annnd I've said too much. I should have just asked if you were feeling alright.”

Crystal blinks her eye glazing a little before she closes her eye lowering her head with a faint wince.

”Are you alright?” the half dragon looks down at her concerned.

“Yeah .. I'm fine. Bit over whelmed is all I haven't even been here that long and I'm being subjected to life changing views.....” Crystal comments putting a hoof on her stomach and sticking her tongue out a little. “ Plus I ate too much.”

Ghost Dancer chuckles. “Well if you need help, or a break away from these two and their bickering let me know okay? I've got a small place of my own you can hide for a bit if you don't mind getting swarmed with dragonflies and or foals.”

“Um thanks.... I'll keep that in mind.” Crystal says still mulling over the genetics of the pegicorn. She blinks feeling a hoof on her back, she turns getting nose to nose with Ginger , who's attention was on her bandaged horn. “Wha?”

“No seepage into the bandages, the sealant seems to be holding well. You up to continue? We have at least two more for you to meet before we go see Swirly.”

“Yeah .. I'm fine.” Crystal admits.

“Alright then shall we continue, I am pretty sure Hammer is at the forge and Slate is around as well, all newcomers need to meet him. Thank you for your time Ghost.” Sunray nods.

“Oh no trouble. You all take care now.” Ghost dancer smiles her eyes following the trio as they walked off, in particular the unicorn. There was something about the mare that stuck with her despite the faintly brash personality she had. Ghost Dancer couldn't recall the last time she explained her linage that freely to some one either. Odd.

==================================================

“You haven't tried to flirt with me in..... at least five minutes. How bad is it?” Starswirl mutters looking down at the map as the other alicorn moved closer to the table.

“Cumulus City is gone. The cloudhomle was broken up and the ground underneath where it was is littered with bodies and the ruins of the city.

“Accident? One of the other tribes?”

“No cutie marks on the bodies.”

“Damn.”

“It gets worse.” Mobius states pulling a sack of parchment from his saddle bag dropping it on the table.” I sent dreams to a number of leaders and my contacts, their responses were less than stellar when they managed to respond at all. My contact in the Zebra's lands is in hiding, a number of the larger tribes were destroyed, most were left in comas like the ponies here. The targets seemed to be the zebra gods themselves. I couldn't make contact with the sea ponies or dogs, though at least one of the seapony settlements had been destroyed according to one of my contacts. Nothing from the Griffons or Harpies either.”

“A number of Griffon aeries have been destroyed. Storm Front confirmed this already. I've noticed something as well with the reports. The creatures hit a pony town, then a griffon one, or a dog one before returning to a pony town. Why? ”

“I hate to ruin that thought train but they were in the zebra lands for nearly a week before coming back.”

“Yes but the zebras were left in comas, ponies are left in comas, but griffons are killed out right?” Starswirl grumbles. “What do the races have in common?”

“Aside from being equine? Both races have cutiemarks, are primarily vegetarian, have cute flanks, have more than one kind of creature making up their race?” Mobius lists.

“I wish there was more information on what happened to the sea ponies. I might have a theory if some of them are in comas as well. Something about the cutiemarks being missing gives the impression that perhaps they are being drained some how. Perhaps the creatures are stealing their talents and converting them into power some how? Though it is like their minds are gone as well as there is nothing there that either of us can see with or dream walking. They are neither awake or asleep they are simply there.. There is so little information on well anything.”

“if it is about the marks, it would explain why griffons are just being killed. What about the Windigo?” Mobius asks.

“I don't know.....”

“Swirly you are the only one they talk to. If they know anything you are the only one who can find out.”

“I don't want to talk about them. I agreed to leave them be so I am.”

“This is a bad situation Starswirl. That you don't want to check on your own children bothers me.” Mobius growls.

“They are not my children......”Starswirl rants.

“You created them of your own blood. I cannot think of any other thing to call them.” Mobius snaps. “I am well aware that you consider them a mistake of your studies, but I am also aware you are still trying to fix what went wrong with them in case you have a chance to do it again. You never could let anything go involving her. ”

“They feed off strife and conflict and death! How can I not consider them a mistake........ All I was doing was studying her Draconequus .....” Starswirl slumps.

“I was there when it happened Starswirl all of it.” Mobius sighs. “You needn't explain yourself, I know Coquette did a number on you but you still you need to check with the Windigo. You can't ignore them and simply hope they go away.”

“They were a mistake Mobius. I set out to make a race that feeds only on emotion... a race that will not suffer from blights or starvation.... The Windigo feed on hate.... that is not a sustainable emotion, or if it is I do not wish it on the world.”

“ They do not cause hostility Swirly. Only feed from it.” Mobius sighs. “ I wonder if this is another reason you do not wish to reveal us to the ponies. Fear your children would starve if the wars stop.”

“We make mistakes Mobius, we are no better than the mortals we would be in charge of. We are failable gods, there is no reason we should try to rule, we would be no better than the kings they have.”

“We have longer to correct our mistakes, and the memory to ensure others do not make the ones we did. Moving past this we need more information and a plan of action. We have work to do and your mares should be here soon.” Mobius snickers.” You know for a self proclaimed bachelor....”

“IT”S NOT LIKE THAT!!” Starswirl shouts turning a bit red. “I wanted to talk to Crystal in person and the other two are helping me with some studies on how to use crystal resonation........”

“And just like that you are out of your funk. Unfortunately you are falling back into teacher mode.” Mobius sighs. “ Your mood swings will be the stuff of legend. Still it is a shame.”

“What?”

“The three mares, we could call them Swirlie's Angels. Has a nice ring to it.” Mobius chuckles.

================================================

“So you are saying the metal from the sky eats magic?” an almost musical tone questions.

“Hammer say nothing of the sort. Hammer say that unicorns claim casting harder when they near metal, need to put more power into spell. Hammer say it give them headaches. Hammer say nothing about food.” a brutish sounding voice states.

“That's not what I meant by eat. Ugh never mind some times it is so hard to talk to you.”

“Hammer not sure what pretty bird means. Hammer easy to talk to, just open mouth and make words come out for Hammer to hear.”

“Awww you called me pretty.”

The trio of 'Swirlie's Angels' paused outside of the entrance to the blacksmiths forge, flinching a little at the wash of heat billowing out of the open blue double door. Smoke billowed out of one of the stacks on top of the stone building though other than the door and the chimney it was a featureless gray structure of stone.

“I am assuming that Hammer is the one speaking in third pony?” Crystal questions.

“Yep, sounds like Cloud Dust is in there too, she said she would come back when it was hatching time. She has yet to miss that since I've known her.” Ginger points out.

“Hatching time? Cloud Dust?” Crystal asks getting a small nod from Sunray as Ginger trots up to the door.

“Cloud Dust is the Harpies ambassador, granted she is here more than she is at home. As for the Hatching time, every few years the Crystal Dragonflies who live here lay eggs. That is why there are so many around here now.” Sunray explains.

Crystal looks up in the air and around at the taller structures seeing hundreds of the brightly colored bugs clinging to roof beams or walls, fanning their wings or simply milling about. Their forms glittering in the sun light and casting multicolored hues over everything making the town seem even more whimsical and otherworldly than it already was.

“I sorta thought this was normal.”

“Well I can see why, you showed up right around the start of the hatching, normally the dragonflys live further north near the hot springs and the volcanoes in the northern range. One of these days I suppose I need to explain about the Dragon flies I guess. They are why Starswirl and Mobius decided to settle here in the first place to protect them from the dragons. There's more to it, but let's get you introduced to Hammer and Cloud Dust first.” Sunray explains.

“Some one mention my name?” A voice states from between the white pegasus and the black unicorn. Both of them leap aside whirling to face the speaker. Sunray stumbles as if she was expecting her missing wings to work. Crystal tries to throw up a shield before crying out and sitting down hard her hooves going to her bandaged head.

“Was it something I said?” Between the two of them was what could only be described as a condensed rainbow. Standing perhaps only as tall as a normal ponies shoulders appeared to be a fox like creature, possibly a relative to a diamond dog although more lithe than stocky. This particular one had grayish blue fur and large feathered wings instead of forearms that had small claws at the first major joint of her wings like a bat, though instead of the skin like membrane she had a plethora of multi colored feathers of nearly every bright hue imaginable. Her tail was bushy like a foxes, but as also filled with feathers, she didn't have anything like a mane, though a crest of the same feathers ran up to between her almost comically large ears. Large red eyes glanced back and forth between the two ponies as Ginger sat off to the side, trying to stop laughing so she could check on Crystal.

“Did pretty bird scare some ponies again?” the booming voice calls out from inside the building.

“Yeah Hammer I think I did. It's just Sunray though... and another pony I don't know...... Wait a pony I don't know. Oooh, a pony here I don't know!” the bird creature's large ears perk up as she darts forward in a blur of color that was almost painful to watch, her nose nearly touching Crystal's. “ Hello , I'm Cloud Dust ! Who are you? Wait you have one eye, do I need to stand over here? Am I invisible over here?“

The Harpy bounced, moving back and forth from Crystal's blind side and into her vision giggling madly as Crystal stared at her in confusion. Sunray growls grabbing the bird and pulling her away from Crystal, much to the Harpies protest.

“Hey let go this is no way to treat an ambassador!! I have diplomatic immunity! HALP HALP I'M BEING REPRESSED!” Cloud Dust shouts flailing against the white pegasus who had given up trying to restrain her and was simply trying to stop the bird from flailing around like a headless chicken. “ Come and see the violence inherent in the system!!!”

A loud thud drew Crystal's attention to the door as a massive figure seemed to unfold out of it. The dark purple furred figure stretched up as he emerged, towering at least twice as tall as even the alicorns Crystal had seen. Black hooves thudded in the dirt as the figure cricks his massive arms, the muscled limbs seeming as thick as tree trunks. A number of scars cross his arms and large hands, looking like burn marks more than anything else. A massive bull head topped the towering brute, with large ash covered horns that stretched out to his shoulder's width, both points topped in what looked like dull iron caps. Soft brown eyes look down on the scene below him before he cricked his neck, the audible pops making Crystal flinch.

“Hammer demands to know what is going on?” the massive minotaur boomed.

“I, wa, who...” Crystal stammers as the large bull looks down at her.

“Dusty here surprised two solider ponies again, luckily one couldn't blast her and the other has the control not to make her a feather duster.” Ginger explains.. “Feather C loud Duster.... hehe...”

“Oh.” Hammer snorts as the Harpy flutters free of Sunray who seemed content to let the bird creature go with only a half hearted swipe at her with a hoof. The rainbow colored harpy flutters up to land on the massive bull's shoulder sticking her tongue out at the white pegasus. Sunray snorts tossing her head as Ginger pulls away from Crystal after checking her head.

“ You gonna be okay?” Ginger questions.” Sorry about that, Cloud Dust is usually a bundle of laughs, though she gets carried away and has no concept of personal space. Although that last bit might just be a harpy thing.”

“Yeah... fine, that hurt a lot more than I thought it would.” Crystal mutters.

“Pony alright?” Hammer questions.

“We should bring her back to the hospital.” Sunray comments. “You tried to cast something, I could feel it.”

“Shield spell... kinda an instinct.” mutters Crystal. “ I'm fine.”

“But...” Ginger adds.

“I'm fine really..” Crystal comments standing back up if a bit wobbly.

“Yeah I can tell....” Sunray snorts.

Hammer had been listening in and glanced up at the harpy on his shoulder who sighed slightly as the two watched the pegasus and earth pony try to mother the clearly stubborn unicorn.

“Pony says she is fine, then Hammer says she is fine. It's nearly time for this batch. Come into Hammer's shop. Hammer needs to check on the eggs and Hammer cannot do that out here.” The minotaur turns ducking back into the door and some how fitting both himself and the harpy though it without dislodging her. Crystal also noted that the minotaur's back was a much lighter shade than his front, where he had seemed dark purple his back was almost lavender. Crystal blinked at that though a glance to the others showed they either didn't notice or care about the two colors. She shrugs supposing it wasn't important before following Sunray into the smithy, with Ginger hopping along behind.

=========================================================

Storm Front narrowed his eyes looking over the pony on the bed before him with a small sigh. One of the doctors stood nearby watching to ensure the safety of his patients. The griffon would have been offended if he wasn't just as aware of how often his kind acted like vultures and thieves.

That was not the point now.

The point was the oddity of this. None of the ponies had cutie marks, they all were unconsciousness as well. But they felt different.

Storm Front was well known as a Griffon God who had command of lightning and storm, that was the truth , but not all of it.

It was electricity itself he had control over, lightning was just the most showy and powerful, The static of ruffling feathers, the artificial lightning some of Starswirl's toys used, and perhaps the strangest, the electrical currents running through nearly every living thing.

He had not learned to harness or adjust the flows in a living creature any further than overloading them a bit and stunning one temporarily, but he had plenty of time to practice with it and perhaps he would make a breakthrough in a century or so.

For now however he could feel something wrong with these ponies. There was far too much energy running through them. It wasn't magic, though he expected it was what Starswirl had mentioned he felt. It was a strange sort of energy that nearly hid the ponies own. It wasn't enough to keep them stunned and most of it seemed to be focused around their heads for some reason likely disrupting the electrical pulses there.

Storm Front considered trying to disrupt the current, but decided against it. His own control was not perfect at this level of detail and he would probably only make things worse. Still he took note that there were two types of energy that were running through the ponies here. He let the doctor know some of the information and made marks on all the clipboard held papers at the end of each bed as to which type of electricity was filling them.

This wasn't much, but it would be something new to Starswirl and Mobius he expected.

===================================================

The inside of the forge was much larger than Crystal had expected. Seriously, way larger. Hammer could easily stand upright and even if he reached up ward he would still be at least twice his own body length from the ceiling of the chamber. The place seemed wider than even the hospital was and the walls were lined with a mix of ore's and ingots of various metals, armors that seemed to be in several stages of repair or construction and weapons of the same. Numerous doors radiated out from the central room, likely leading to other area of the forge and possibly the minotaur's quarters, though crystal could see a tunnel stretching out past her field of vision through one of the open doors. The center of the room was dominated by a massive iron hexagonal table that seemed to double as a large anvil, though there were a number of other anvils in the room of various sizes as well. She recognized some sort of odd smelter in the corner that seemed to glow with a blue light. The central table is what held her attention the most. A glowing smoke stack, that seemed to hum and flicker blue hung over the central table just above a pool of white hot metal that was in a recess in the large anvil's center. Covering the metal table were dozens and dozens of small spherical objects, the eggs she expected. Hanging off the smoke stack, eyes glinting in the light, were a pair of massive blue and green crystal dragon flies that were both larger than a pony. The pair regarded the new comers with interest, their eyes seeming to whirl between purple and blue.

“What?” Crystal stammers sitting down hard near the door.

“Huh?” Sunray asks.

“What?” Crystal asks waving a hoof at the large chamber.

“Bigger on the inside isn't it?” Ginger giggles.

“What....” Crystal responds.

“One of Starswirl's inventions.” Cloud Dust shrugs. He claims the heart of the forge is a dwarf star or something too.”

“What!?.....” Crystal flails her fore legs at the sheer impossible size of the place.

“It magic. Hammer does not have to explain shit.” the minotaur growls. “Hammer say the less you think about it the less unbelievable it seems. Until you see indoor lake.”

Crystal blinks calming down a little, likely best not to think hard on it, these were alicorns after all. There was no telling what they could do. She tried to ignore the room and focused instead on the dragon flies and the eggs on the table. “Okay, so what's going on?”

“Dragon flies need a great deal of heat to hatch their eggs. The forge is perfect for those living in town who have bonded with a pony or the like.” Sunray explains. “ That way they don't have to fly out to the mountains and risk injury or getting eaten to lay their eggs.”

“Bonded?” Crystal questions.

“Some of the dragon flies find a pony, or harpy or whatever, they like when they hatch, and then they stick with them. The pony really doesn't have to care for the dragonfly and the dragon flies aren't pets, more like companions. They are their own race, fairly intelligent, can speak, and often act as messengers for their chosen. They don't mind much, often though they outlive their chosen pony and stick with the family of the pony they chose.” Sunray points out.

“Out live? By how long?”

“No one is really sure.” Cloud Dust chirps. “If you noticed all the statues of dragon flies around, those are actually dragon flies. They can become sorta stone like when they hibernate often they grow larger when they do. We don't know how long they can hibernate for either. They only describe it as many moons. They have no concept of time.”

“Hammer has been here for three hatching's. Every three years.” Hammer nods.

“Hard to work on anything with the eggs on your anvil. Likely cuts into your work.” Crystal comments.

“Hammer does not mind. Hammer has other anvils Hammer can use. Often Hammer has to make room for many more eggs. Only few clutches this year. “

“How generous of you. Why are there so few though?” Crystal asks looking up at the minotaur who shrugs, the harpy on his shoulder doing the same.

“Danger come. Crystal Empire not safe.” A voice chirped , sounding much like the noise made by running a hoof tip along the wet rim of a glass.

“What?”

“Don't start that again.” Cloud Dust grumbles. “Most of them flew towards the mountains only a few of them remained. All of them say a danger is coming. The alicorns know however.”

“But there are so many out there around the city.” Crystal points out.

“Guards. Little help, but something.” the dragon fly states. “And.... sacrifice.”

“That is new.” Hammer grumbles. “Hammer want's to know what sacrifice London?”

“London?” Crystal asks.

“That's the male's name, the female's name is Vienna.” Ginger explains.

“Which is which? Crystal asks getting a shrug from Ginger.

“Not for pony, for us.” the dragon fly mutters. “Have seen, is done.”

“Have seen?” Crystal comments.

“Starswirl believes that the Crystal Dragon flies have some sort of precognitive abilities.” Sunray states.

“They can see the future, well glimpses of it.” Ginger grins simplifying the comment. “ They predicted an earth quake a few years ago that saved a number of lives, and supposedly a bunch of other stuff. I don't think they have control over what they see though.”

“Hatching.” one of the dragonflies chimes.

The small groups attention turns as the first loud cracks sound out in the chamber. Looking down at the massive anvil a number of the eggs had started to splinter, clattering and shattering like broken glass. All the talking ended as all eyes focused on the little eggs. Crystal was expecting some sort of larva or worm, like most bugs, though she was quite surprised when a tiny pink dragon fly, slightly smaller than a normal dragon fly clamored up out of the broken eggshell and perched atop it slowly spreading out it's duel wings, fanning the limp things to work circulation and blood into them that it would need to fly. The first pink one was followed by dozens of others, a good fifty or sixty hatching with only a few eggs remaining still.

Crystal leaned in to get a closer look at the little bugs, in no small amount of awe at the glimmering movements of their wings fanning and reflecting the firelight. The heat of the forge felt good to her bandaged head as well. It was a bit of a struggle not to doze off in the heat, though a sudden blur and a bit of weight on her nose, shook her out of the growing stupor. Her eye widened as one of the little green dragon flies had lept off the anvil and landed on her nose. She froze in place, growing a bit cross eyed trying to keep her eye on the little green dragon fly clinging to her. The little creatures limp wings fanned as it tilted it's head, large compound eyes looking into Crystal's whirling between blue and red.

“Umm what do I do...?” Crystal whispers.

“Seems he likes you.” Hammer chuckles.

“Lucky.” pouts Cloud Dust.

“Greenwich has chosen.” one of the dragonflies chimes.

“Greenwich?” Crystal asks, getting a happy sounding churr from the tiny crystal dragon fly on her nose.

===================================================

Starswirl stared at the creature before him his jaw set under his beard, blue eyes narrowed as he regards the Gold Crystal Dragon fly perched on his balcony. It wasn't the massive golden dragon fly that was bothering him. He had made friends with Dublin a long time ago, while he was not partnered with the dragon fly, the creature considered him a friend. What was bothering him was the small boxes and crates that dozens of smaller dragon flies had flown in. All filled to the brim with cold unhatched, crystal dragon fly eggs.

“Dublin what is all this?” Starswirl asks.

“You will need them.”

“What do you mean I will need them? What is going on here. Shouldn't these be at the forge or the volcanoes? Why did you bring them here?” Starswirl snaps.

“Danger come.”

“I know that Dublin and I'm pretty sure I know what the danger is now too, but what I am I supposed to do with these eggs, these are your race's children. There has to be twenty clutches here. That's twenty of your kind that will not have any off spring. The survival rate among your kind's young is not high enough for you to not hatch as many as you can. I ask again why are you bringing them to me?”

“More than that number. You will need them.” Dublin states in a sad tone like that of one addressing a stubborn child.

“For what? Why will I need them?”

“For the danger.”

“Not helpful.”

The dragonflies eyes whirl as he looks at the exasperated alicorn, turning from green to purple and then pure white. Starswirl blinks having never seen that color before in any of their eyes.

“The cold ones will have sisters soon. You will need the eggs for them, and the danger.”

“Cold ones... The Windigo.. Sisters..... What did you see Dublin!?” Starswirl demands.

“Your family must grow, even at the cost of ours. Only then will the danger be stopped The wounded Muses. There will be sorrow and pain for all before the end. We are sorry bearded one. We saw no other way. Take our young. Grow your family. Save all.”

Before Starswirl could ask again the gathered dragon flies collectively lifted into the air drowning out all other sound in his study with the chiming of their wings as they flew out the door and into the air leaving him with just Dublin hovering over the balcony railing.

“This will be our last talk bearded one, this is my last season. We trust you will do what you need too.”

“You have not given me a choice in the matter.”

“Future never fixed. Even stories in stone can be changed. We see one path that work. Others possible, but we not see.” Dublin lowers his head a little. “ What we see have great cost, but succeeds. Goodbye Bearded one.”

The great golden dragon fly lifts into the air, the down beat of it's large wings making the alicorns hair billow about. The gray alicorn flattens his ears to his head looking back at the eggs. He had a fairly good idea of what the dragonfly had seen, and he didn't like it.

===================================================================

“So what do I do with him?” Crystal asks, feeling the weight of the little crystal dragon fly on her bandage but unable to see him. The trio had spent another hour in Hammer's forge talking about the dragon flies. She found that she rather liked the large Minotaur and the small Harpy.

“For the next few day's he's probably just going to sit on you or near by basking in your body heat.” Sunray lectures. He'll go through his first molting, which will have him pretty much freeze in place and be as hard as a rock. Put him near a fireplace in your quarters or bring him back over to Hammer's forge, he's got a room for them there. Just make sure to check back in about a month for when he wakes up. He'll be bigger and might be able to talk by then.”

“I never get one to choose me.” Ginger pouts.

“Not many do. I was rather surprised. Perhaps Greenwich here sees something we don't.” Sunray comments leading the trio through the street. They planed to go back to the hospital to have Crystal checked out since she was still a little dizzy from her attempt to cast, though they had agreed to take a round about way so Crystal could see the rest of the town and possibly run into Slate.

“Maybe he was born blind?” Ginger snarks.

“Ha ha...” Crystal grumbles. “The tripod does jokes.”

“Oooh ooh, was that a hint of humor I detected? Short dark and drooly has a sense of humor! “ Ginger grins. “Tell me how you grew one, I need to figure out how to give one to Sunray here.”

Before either of them could respond the door of one of the buildings they were walking past exploded outward and a figure crashed to the dirt before them bouncing a few times. The trio looked down at the red earth pony as he picked himself up with a small wince, staggered to the side a few steps as he made it back on his hooves and then collapsed again.

The three of them froze in place for a second before Ginger started giggling. Sunray slapped her face with a hoof, though Crystal's eye was darting between the stallion and the door he had burst through still confused.

“Oh goody looks like Red Hot is at it again.” Sunray sighs. “Slate is gonna kill him.”

“Looks like he is already trying.” Ginger comments nodding to the door.

Crystal turns her gaze fully to the doorway as a dark form steps out into the light.

The stallion was a vibrant gray that seemed black until the sunlight caught the sheen of his coat. His short cut mane and tail were a color of ruby wine, a coloration that also matched the well groomed beard on his strong jaw and on the small scales patterned around his eyes and charcoal gray hooves. A long horn the same color as his fur poked out of his short cut hair. As he moved his muscles shifted under his coat making his fur seem to change color from black to blue gray with each step. He wore a simple looking brown vest with some sort of metal star on the front. A white line of a scar ran along his neck and down across his chest visible through the open front of his vest. his ears were a little long, ending in tufts of fur. The small imperfections barely marring the massive stallions impressive visage.

“She's drooling.” Ginger comments quietly.

“Slate hooks another one....” Sunray deadpans.

“You were warned Red Hot. When a mare says she's not interested that does not mean try harder or get grabby. You know the drill.” Slate state,s his deep voice almost melodic as he grabs the collapsed pony by the scruff of the neck with his teeth, tossing him up over his back like the earth pony weighed nothing. “Once you sober up you can fix the bar's door again too.”

“Red Hot causing trouble still?” Sunray asks a little loudly catching the half dragon's attention.

“Ahh, hello Sunray. Yes, though no more than he usually does when he's had to much to drink. He only seems to learn his lesson when it's coupled with pain and a day or two in a cell to dry out.”

“He didn't seem to learn anything when he slapped my flank.” Sunray said flatly.

“He did learn actually, a broken jaw and two cracked ribs later and he didn't drink for several months, even after therapy. I doubt he's bothered you since either.” Slate smiles a little. “He can learn sometimes it seems.”

“This is true. Any way, Slate Quake this is Crystal, Crystal this is Slate Quake.” Sunray introduces.

“The new mare in town. I hope the girls have explained the rules to you Miss.” Slate nods. “Also just call me Slate.”

“Uhhhhhhhh....” Crystal utters turning a bit red looking up at him.

“Is she okay?” Slate asks.

“A bit of head trauma.” Sunray mentions.

“Also she's probably stuck imagining how your vest would look on her bedroom floor.” Ginger states.

“Err alright.” Slate blinks seeming confused atGinger's comment. “ Any way I need to get Red here to his cell. I'm sure I will see you around again at some point. Ladies.”

Slate nods walking away with the earth pony over his back.

“Nice to see him, but it's even more fun to watch him go.” Ginger snarks getting a small mutter of approval from Crystal who then catches herself and tries to hide her face in her hooves as she turns bright red.

Sunray rolls her eyes as Ginger teases the unicorn.

“Don't get your hopes up Crystal. Every mare in the town that likes stallions has their eyes on him. Unfortunately for all of us, he's far to loyal to his job as sheriff to even notice any mares. Also he'd likely need a sign and guide leash to get him into any mare's bed. He's not stupid, but he does seem a little dense.”Sunray admits.

“ A leash?!.....” Crystal blinks, a rather creepy grin on her face as she giggles clearly imagining something perverted, as Greenwich fluttered madly atop her head trying to hang on.

“Crap, you broke her, great going Sunray.....” Ginger snaps.

===========================================

Starswirl looked down at the cracked egg, levitating bits of shell from it examining the yolk with glowing eyes as he muttered to himself, several scrolls filling themselves with words in the air around him. Suddenly everything was set down and his head dipped forward, eyes closed, a soft snore escaping his bearded muzzle. After about two minutes he woke again grabbing a new scroll, filling it out and tossing one of the old ones in the fireplace.

Starswirl was one of, if not the smartest unicorn of his time. A title that had kept true even after his ascension into god hood, although now it also counted across multiple times. This of course was balanced out by the fact he was not very social and only had a few creatures he could call friends. Mostly just Mobius really. He had been far worse once before only having managed to make five friends over the coarse of his entire mortal life. They had been enough however, though when he ascended things had gone bad with a few of them and he fell back to his reclusive nature. The last thousand years or so he had been slowly opening up again, but he still did not like crowds or really dealing with ponies on a personal level for long.

He was however exceptional at formulating plans and figuring out how things worked

For example upon discovering that he had inherited a power and the title of Dream Warden from his predecessor he had learned the limits and advantages of his power nearly immediately. One such thing was the dream realm had a odd flow of time he could control. He could spend weeks in a dream, only to wake up with only a few minutes passed in the real world.

This made the dream realm the perfect laboratory for his studies. In just the hour he had been in possession of the eggs he had pursued Studying the eggs and running all sorts of tests and adjustments in the dreamscape had given him a place to start with live trials.

The dreamscape tests were not perfect of course. A dream was only as real as he could make it and the results could be skewed by this. Still he knew the limitations of his own realm when he built the test area and made it's physics as close to the real worlds as possible. Still magic created variables that made little or no sense at times so he still had to do work in the real world between checking his facts and reactions.

The embrotic fluid of the eggs was capable of healing most damage done if given enough energy and time to do so. The larval body itself could be altered as well and the host would then develop sub-dermal thickening of the skin into an almost chitinous plate. There was an issue with hair loss over the afflicted areas but the host would be armored with out armor. Strength and magical power would be increased as well depending on the host type. He toyed with the idea before finally adding in his own formulas of emotional feeding as well as he had done when creating the Windigo. However he knew how to tweak it now so that they would not feed off strife soly. Oddly it was as simple as figuring out how to change the flavor of emotions. If one could call that simple. Still he only did this due to what Dublin said about the Cold ones, or Windigo, having sisters.

Unlike the Windigo he would be using a base race first and converting it. Spawning a creature from nothing was one thing, even if he had used some of his own blood and flesh to make the Windigo, they were still primarily composed of Aether that could simulate flesh and blood. As it stood now he had already developed a plan and how to implement it. He also had no idea who he would ask to be hosts. Likely some of Slate's guard, though there were not many of them that were female however.

What bothered him was that he was making warriors. The ability increase, the armor, the ability to live without real food. Everything was pointed towards making creatures who existed only to fight. Even the Windigo were not designed as combatants, they were healers, despite their diet their magical powers over cold and restoration went far beyond his initial plans for them.

“I would think of them more as protectors then warriors.”

Starswirl jumps snapping out of his daydream turning to glare as the forest green alicorn stallion strode in.

“What have I told you about checking on my daydreams Mobius?” Starswirl grumbles.

“Given the fact you are dissecting a dragonfly larva and have that look on your face I figured I might take a peek in. Glad I did, you're worried about your actions again yet at the same time excited by them.”

“ Dublin told me…. I would do this...”

“I know. I spoke with him, he had a few choice things to say to me as well that i most certainly didn't like. He's headed north with most of the squadron. The only ones remaining here are the ones who bonded and the ones who are hibernating. They all know something is coming. I fully expect we both know what it is. The pair of them were bound to find us sooner or later.”

“I don't have much time then.”

“Dublin said you would do it, so he must have thought you had time.” Mobius sighs sadly, moving over to the table looking over the remains and the pile of eggs that still remained. “Do you need so many?”

“My calculations require that a host be soaked in the fluid for nearly a day, there are enough eggs here by volume to do that to two or three at best. Hardly an army despite how strong they would become.”

“Any ideas on who?”

“Just some thoughts of using some of Slate's Guards nothing definite. The thing that bothers me is that Dublin said sisters. There are not many mares in the guards.”

“Slate doesn't have any small female guards either. You'd get one and a half with the big girls he's got working with him.”

“Damn.”

“Hmmm tell me .. what is a muse?”

“A muse? A personification of knowledge and the arts. There were nine total if I recall correctly Calliope, Clio, Euterpe, Erato, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania. Sometimes there is a tenth one by the name of Sappho, but that was always disputed.”

“That's the griffon legend, right? Nine of them?”

“Yes the Diamond dogs and unicorns have much the same reference to them. Pegasi only consider the tenth as the true one as she was considered the muse of flight, war, and storm.”

“While I did not expect a lesson, there are races that consider three as the set number. Earth Ponies and Dragons primarily. Both races that the Dragon Flies have had the most contact with.”

“I can tell you are making a point here, but I am missing what that point is.”Starswirl snorts. “Must you be cryptic?”

“Oh you know you love it. Puzzles and crap. Anyway, this mess of yours would it regrow missing limbs if they were lost?”

“Theoretically if there is enough energy within the host. This fluid far surpasses my studies with the crystals, though that could still bear fruit. Given the power alone that would be generated in the initial transformation, any wounds the host had would likely be cured, short of , but possibly including being nothing more than a severed head, granted there would need to be a way to keep the head alive long enough for the body to grow back, perhaps something with electricity, though I should start with a dog first perhaps to b safe in that.......... wait... you don't think?”

“The three of them have been together since she got here. They have bonded faster than any other former soldiers that we have rescued. The are all 'wounded' and the idea that they are friends is quite inspiring isn't it? One has impressive medical knowledge, one has impressive knowledge of storms and weather and the third has knowledge on something none of us have ever seen before. I think that would qualify them as 'Wounded Muses' yes?”

“It would I suppose, but …..”

“They were all three already soldiers Starswirl, that's all they really know. It's one reason why they have difficulty fitting in here. Most everything here is peaceful, even with the months that Sunray and Ginger have been here they still don't fit in very well. We both can tell Crystal is uncomfortable with the way things are done here too. Of course there may be something else with her as well.” Mobius considers.

“What is that?”

“Ghost Dancer spoke with her and felt something.”

“Not following.”

“Keep in mind we both agreed she is the most likely to bear the Element of Compassion, just as we agreed Loyalty would likely be carried by Slate.”

“Yes well given their personalities....... We did consider Ginger as a possibility of bearing Laughter, very little keeps her down long... and Sunray we thought Honesty due to her rather blunt nature...... Do you think perhaps is Crystal Generosity?”

“Or magic, if one of us does not wield it, she is a unicorn. I've not talked with her much yet so I have not felt any connection. However given that my son made mention of her, she quite possibly is a Bearer.”

“Slate felt something?”

“Were it any other stallion I would think what he felt could be fixed with a cold shower. But considering he has never shown any interest like that in males, females, or even rocks before, I doubt it. He was genuinely curious about her and not from his usual safety issue standpoint.”

“The Element's are drawing them together. This is a bad thing then. They only do that when they are needed.”

“Indeed. Your experiment could give the three of them back what they lost physically, and if they do become Element Bearers then turning them from Soldiers to Guardians of the world should be foals play. They might actually decide to do that on their own, all three were war weary before they even came here.”

“Where are they now?”

“Crystal evidently tried to cast magic and hurt herself so they brought her back to the hospital before they came to meet you. That should give you plenty of time to get everything together to ask them.”

“Yes I suppose so. I am still not sure how I feel about this.”

“In the end it won't matter how you feel about it. It matters how they feel about it.”

================================================

Crystal stared up at the griffon, she had been doing a lot of this today and she felt shorter each time. The Griffon stared down at her in return. The beast had waited until she had been checked out before he started asking her questions. Most of them were the same things she had told Starswirl and a number of other ponies, it was getting old now. Still the griffon remained polite, if intimidating, so Crystal answered the questions.

“I see . That is everything then?” Storm Front sighs.

“Don't believe me?”Crystal snorts.

“No no. I do. I can tell you are being honest, I simply hoped there was something else the others might have missed. Your energy is the same as a normal ponies as well. There is no tampering with it.”

“What?” Crystal asks looking over at Sunray and Ginger who both shrug.

“Sorry. Just something I noticed earlier. At any rate thank you for your time Miss Crystal.” Storm Front rises tilting his head a little he looks into her green eye , his own bright blue orbs seeming to glow a little with an inner spark. “Such a pretty green eye too..... Such a shame that only one of such beautiful things is left in the world.”

Storm Front turns heading out the door leaving Crystal blinking in a bit of confusion.

“ Wow.. just met him and you have the ambassador to the Griffon's eye.” Ginger whistles. “Damn, we tell you Slate's a dead end and you make a play for even higher..”

“What? But it was just a compliment.....” Crystal stammers.

“No that was flirting, plain and simple. “ Sunray comments. “Still rather surprised he did that. Maybe you should see if he wants to go out for a drink at some point.”

“He's a griffon.. I'm a pony.” Crystal mutters.

“Slate's a half dragon and you were practically drooling at the sight of him. There are Hippogryphs you know.” Ginger states.

“Hippo what?” Crystal asks.

“Doesn't matter. We need to go see Starswirl.””Sunray mutters turning to the door.

“Hey what got you all grumpy all the sudden?”Ginger asks hopping up next to Sunray as Crystal moves to the other side.

“Nothing.”

“Really you seemed a bit upset he was flirting with me. Does that have something to do with it?” Crystal grins. “Have a crush of your own there?”

“Well I certainly wouldn't kick him out of my bed if he was in it...” Sunray mutters getting a shocked expression from Crystal and a pure gobsmacked one from Ginger.

“Really? I didn't think you would be into griffons....” Crystal comments as Ginger tries to pick up her jaw from the shock that Sunray actual had a sex drive of some kind.

“Pegasi tend to be attracted to larger wings. It generally shows stamina and strength in a partner that they have to put more effort into flying. Much like Unicorns and horns I expect.”

“Alright I think I can under stand that. Larger horns tend to show either fine tuning or magic power. “ Crystal considers. “ What about earth ponies?”

“ Oh I like a stallion with a big coc...” Ginger states before Sunray slaps a hoof over her mouth.

“It is best you do not ask, she is the only mare that has made Mobius blush.”Sunray mutters. “ I do NOT want her wound up before we go see Starswirl.”

“I only did that twice.” Ginger protests.

=====================================================

Starswirl looks up as the three mares enter. He had napped a few more times and furthered the progress of his research to the point he was certain he could make it work. He had given the designs of the chambers to Mobius to have Hammer begin work on them. He looked over the table at the three mares a small sigh escaping his lips.

An earth pony without a leg, a pegasus without wings and a one eyed unicorn without a horn. The two of them had managed to be productive despite their handicap, though there was a sense of loss about them that any one could sense. Crystal had that as well, he had used the time he spent with her in her dreams to guide her through her stages of grief so to the waking world she appeared calm and collected, but she had broken down a number of times even if it was only in a dream. The other two had been the same way, with Sunray being stopped from killing herself twice before she finally accepted her fate. The two of them had come to terms with their handicap and Crystal was just now getting to the point she could.

And now he had to ask this of them. He knew it would work, but there would be other things to take into consideration. A number of his tests had changed and disfigured the hosts some how, it was a low percentage, but still. He also could not fix the hair loss over the chitin issue with out rendering the dermal armor useless. They might grow back what was lost but there were other things they might lose in the process. There was also no guarantee that they would be able to use magic or fly again. The test results were positive, but magic was needed for flight and well... spell casting. And magic at it's core was unpredictable.

“You wished to see us Sir?” Sunray asks directly.

“I did yes.”Starswirl sighs, here went everything. “Initially I was going to simply see how you were all faring and perhaps see about assigning you to some project or another, but that has changed ….”

“How so?” Ginger asks.

“All three of you were soldiers, I am afraid I may need to ask you to return to those roles again.”

The trio looked to one another before Crystal spoke up.” No offense Starswirl but I don't see that happening with me. Unicorn fighting is ninety to a hundred percent magic use. I don't have that option any more.”

“I can say the same. Pegasi are not well trained on ground combat.” Sunray sighs flinching a little at the thought.

“Yeah well I'm good to go, I'm only at three fourth's effectiveness but I can put a hoof through some ones face if need be. Who we fighting?” Ginger smirks standing on her back legs and lashing out with her remaining fore hoof like a minotaur boxer.

Starswirl smiles at that a little, noting the others seemed slightly amused as well.

“I wouldn't worry about that for long. I have a proposition for you.” Starswirl commented.

“Why Swirly I never ,and three mares as well!” Mobius calls from the doorway.

“By the stars....” Starswirl smacks his face into the table as Mobius trots in.

“My little bearded wonder is growing up. And ready to get into the action. I can give you a few tips of what to do with your tongue if you like....” Mobius wipes a crocodile tear from his eye with a hoof as he dodges a book thrown by the gray alicorn.

“Why are you even back here?” Starswirl grumbles. “I'm trying to be serious.”

“Which is why I am here. Your dour demeanor might turn off such young and encourageable fillies, thus I am here to keep you on track.”

“By derailing my entire conversation like a mine cart hitting a stalagmite.” Starswirl grumbles looking over at the trio of mares. Only Sunray seemed to be holding back her laughter with any success though he could see the grin at the corner of her lips, Crystal was trying, but couldn't stop laughing. Ginger was not even trying to hide her amusement at his embarrassment.

“So then. Tell them what's going on.” Mobius states, suddenly serious.

Starswirl sighs as all attention was focused back on him.

“There is a great danger coming, and I have been led to believe you three might be the ones to help stop it.”

Changes, part 3 [28]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Changes
Part 3

[Two weeks after the birth of Greenwich]

Starswirl stared at the copper and brass tubes before him, the apparatus he had built was a marvel of engineering. Likely nothing so complex had ever been constructed outside of Marbleville the Earth Pony capitol. That place was a wonder of steam powered transports, prototype flying machines and the beginnings of an industrial revolution that would put the Earth ponies far enough ahead of the other two tribes that the war might very well end simply due to fear of what the 'lesser' ponies might manage to do.

At least that was the way it had seemed until two days ago.

Now the entire city of Marbleville, carved and built out of quarried stone and metal, forged out of a mountain that was at the heart of the city, was gone. Even the mountain had been leveled and there was barely even scrap left of the marvels of science the city once held. Mobius had brought the scant survivors of the settlement to the north to hide them here. And by scant, Starswirl meant eight, all foals of various ages, none with a cutiemark of their own yet.

Eight survivors from the largest city Pony kind had ever even seen. A city of nearly twenty thousand souls.

Now there were eight.

The monsters had been busy, countless races had been attacked and their lives taken from them. By Starswirl's calculations in almost a month since the creatures had arrived, the sentient population of Equss was down a third. Perhaps even half by now. There were only two monsters, but the longer they lived the stronger they seemed to get. The dragons were doing the best at holding the creatures at bay but even they suffered heavy losses after the last time the monsters attacked. Three more griffon aeries as well as a large collection of Harpy ones had been destroyed. Contact was finally made with the Diamond Dogs only to find the creatures were burrowing down as deep as they could go all of their surface cities and several of their underground ones had been destroyed. The Zebra lands were no better. The few reports back told of countless tribes having been wiped out as well as a entire race of creatures that the contacts had called, 'Shadow walkers'.

The way things were going it seemed that Scorpan and Tirek were simple created to destroy all life they had started slow, but as their power grew the attacks became more frequent, only the most isolated settlements avoided destruction and who knew how long that would last. Scarcely a day went by without word of three or four more settlements being destroyed, or a contact going silent. All the advancement in medicine, magic and technology, lost. Even if some of the survivors were the ones who created them, with the chief settlements losses most ponies would be doing little more than trying to survive for some time, science would be on the back burner for centuries after this.

Starswirl lifts his head again looking at the canisters watching the bubbling green liquid float up past the tiny windows in the doors. He had made contact with the Windigo. He had needed to, as some of the healing powder they could produce was required. He warned them of the situation, though they already knew some how, claiming the winds had told them. The talk had not been long and as usual he felt worse for it and the Windigo showed no emotion either way.

Now here he was with three mares stuck in tubes full of liquid extracted from sacrificed eggs. Three injured mares who were some how supposed to fix the issues with the world on their own, all because some old dragon fly said they would. Three mares who believed he was right and volunteered despite knowing what the risks were, what would be expected , and that they would be changed forever.

There was no logic to this, no science or fact that would show this as the best course of action.

Just hope and prophecy.

And Starswirl hated believing in either of those alone.

=======================================================

“Hammer what the buck are you doing?” Slate shouts over the rapid smashing of metal.

“Hammer hear about what going on. Hammer's brother send letter, Hammer's home village gone, parents killed, friends killed. Brother and Sister in law only escape because they were visiting another tribe “ Hammer growls lifting the glowing ax into the air to look at it, the weapon was larger than Slate Quake and yet the angry Minotaur was lifting it with one hand as he looked the double bladed weapon over before setting it back down to hammer on it more.

“Then what are you planning to do?” Slate asks knowing the answer.

“Hammer is going to find out who did it. The Hammer is going to bury Hammer's ax through their skulls and into their chest cavity.” the minotaur snorts.”Until Hammer is certain they are not going to move any more. Then Hammer is going to chop them into small bits with which to feed small woodland creatures or set them on fire, Hammer has not worked out the details of the last part yet.”

Slate sighs as the minotaur continues to shape the ax. He looks over the rest of the room noting that Cloud Dust the Harpy was curled in a corner of the room asleep, her bright feathers dulled by the ash from the forge.

“And I suppose it doesn't hurt that they attacked Dust's aerie either.” Slate responds noting the minotaurs wince. “Particularly given how often you claimed to hate most of your village and your brother for how they treated you because of your fur color.”

“Hammer has many reasons. Even with a bad calf hood Hammer did not wish his village harm.” Hammer states turning to stare down at the half dragon who simply raises an eyebrow at the glare.

“You know I can't let you leave, you'll get killed on your own if this thing finds you.” Slate points out.

“Slate is good friend to Hammer. So Hammer not say this lightly. If Slate try and stop Hammer, Hammer will be forced to hurt Slate. Hammer does not want that.” Hammer leans down closer staring the unflinching half dragon in the eyes. “Hammer is going to fight this creature and Hammer will destroy it.”

“My father predicts it will come here very soon. That is what the Dragon Flies were talking about when they meant a great danger.” Slate states causing Hammer to blink and glance over to the sleeping Harpy. “We need you to stay here and keep this forge going. I want weapons and armor for every solider I have. Also for the alicorn's and my sister....”

“Ghost going to kick Slate's flank if he not let her fight hmm?” Hammer grins as the half dragon looks away. “ Fine Hammer will stay if only to see that.”

“ I have a plan for her, but I expect she will find a way around it. How long do you think it will take to upgrade our gear?” Slate asks noting Hammer had lifted the ax again looking the glowing weapon over as if considering something.

“Weapon still brittle when cooled.... Hammer see too many cracks and flaws...... Need hotter fire......” The minotaur blinks looking down at the half dragon curiously. “ Dragon fire... hotter than forge.....”

“What?”

“You want Hammer to stay Slate? Then Slate stay with Hammer, get Ghost and mother as well. Hammer need dragon fire to forge metal that eats.” Hammer grins looking over at Cloud Dust, before tossing the ax in a quenching barrel and ignoring it.

“Metal that eats, what are you talking about?” Slate asks darting after the minotaur as the towering beast storms across room pushing open a door to reveal a massive boulder that if hollowed out could probably be a three bedroom house for some pony. Slate looks over the rock curiously noting that it was mostly some sort of metal vein, iron maybe. Some of the rock looked like it had melted from high heat and there were a number of piles of smaller rocks that looked broken from the first. In all it appeared that the minotaur had hauled numerous tons of ore filled rock into the forge at some point. “What is this Hammer,some kind of ore? How did you even get this thing in here?”

The Minotaur turns looking down at Slate with a grin that frankly made the half dragon nervous..

“Rocks from the sky. It fell from the darkness beyond the sun and moon. All metal on Equss has some magic in it. This does not.“ The lavender minotaur snorts picking up a chunk of rock and crushing it in his hand, the dirt and stone falling away to show a tangled vein of unrefined iron with a rather eerie luster to it even in it's unrefined state. “Hammer will forge new weapons and armor with dragon flame and Star Metal.”

=================================================

“ I've managed to get up with a few of the contacts I have left and gleaned some information.”Mobius states pointing a wing to a spot on the large map on the table before him. “After the fall of the Earth Pony and Pegasi capitols most of those tribes have scattered the pegasi flying higher altitudes in the north or hiding out in clouds. The Earth ponies are hunkering down in the wilds in small groups. One of my contacts has found some Seaponies, their cities near the surface have been hit and a couple of the deeper colonies, but not as bad as the rest of us. They are willing to take in refugees for a time.”

“Well that is good news at least.” Storm Front mutters.“Many Griffons are simply heading further north past Harpy territory. Has word come from the Windigo? Or do we need to prepare to deal with them as well?”

The alicorn sighs looking over the map, the single torch illuminating the x's covering it and the tired expressions of both the griffon god and Mobius.

“They are willing to let the Griffons and any others pass through their territory unhindered so long as they do not interfere with any other refugees, or linger long in the mountains. They claim this is not a threat, but a statement of how cold the upper range can get. They themselves have started moving some of the northern earth pony tribes that they deal with themselves to a location they can protect or at least hide them. To be honest I was certain they were isolationists, I didn't think they had any contacts up there.” Mobius sighs.

“The dragons are holding their ground. They only have the one gathering point where they are trying to build a city and they will not leave it.” rumbles a voice.

Mobius and the griffon look up from the table at the towering form taking up the rest of the cave they were in. The Griffon shifts nervously as the great, lightish red dragoness leans her head down into the light for a closer look at the map. The alicorn grins reaching up a wing to run the feathers along the rough scaled under side of the great wyrm's chin.

“Sooner or later they will attack the dragons. From what you have said some of the solitary ones are already missing.” Mobius comments.”I doubt this.. Cindervale of theirs will hold up if these monsters decide to take it out.”

“A few have gone missing, though we are unsure how many are still out there and are simply sleeping or are actually dead. Some dragons do enjoy a long nap or three. What makes me wonder about this however, is that if there are only the two of them, how do they get around so quickly?” The dragon comments with a slight shift of her head to lower it closer to Mobius's affectionate touch, the giant lizards scales seeming more pink in the light.

“The winged one carries the other one in some cases. It seems that it can fly fast enough to split the very air around him. The few who have been witness to Scorpan's flight have said they can hear the scream of the air as he tears through it, though by the time you hear him he is either past or already upon you.” Mobius sighs. “If the rumors are even half true it explains how they can be in the zebra lands and the griffon empire on the same day. There is also signs that Tirek can teleport himself rather large distances, though the one report on that stated he seemed to be tired out by the effort.”

“Impossible nothing can fly that fast.” Storm Front snorts.

“Nothing can defeat flights of dragons with ease, nothing could wipe out whole cities in a few hours, nothing could steal souls to empower themselves, nothing could turn itself into a book to gain more power.” the dragon lists.

“Finnah you have made your point love.” Mobius smiles. “We are dealing with a lot of impossible things. Although we also have the hard facts. This Scorpan has shown to be the more powerful of the two, yet he seems subservient to the other.”

“Not subservient, respectful, evidently he thinks of Tirek as his older brother. There have been a few remarks to that idea that have been over heard by survivors.” Storm Front points to a stack of papers. “Evidently he is not very bright either. Tirek seems to be the brains of the pair with Scorpan being mostly the brute.”

“It seems then we have a primary target then. If we can destroy Scorpan we can slow down the devastation. We can then take a little more time to figure out how to destroy Tirek.” Finna murmurs.” Not that I expect it to be easy, any word on Swirlies angels?”

Storm front blinks confused as Mobius chuckles .

“He said a few days, though we have no idea what they might be fully capable of. We are putting a lot of trust in Dublin's words.” Mobius frowns at that , though his smirk quickly returns. “More trust than I like in fact. If what he said is true there are going to be a number of changes and hardship to come.”

“Starswirl said nothing of that.” Storm Front comments.

“Swirly was not the only one the Dragonfly talked to. I got the other half of the prophecy, and I have to say I don't like it. Any way, when we finally move against one of them I plan to bring a small force myself. Slate says Hammer has something that might help but he'll need dragon fire to forge it.”

“Should I check in with him?” Finnah asks.

“Might be wise, Slate and Ghost are helping, but their breath isn't as hot as yours.” Mobius chuckles.

“Flirt.” Finnah mutters leaning down to nuzzle her massive head against the alicorns side.

“Should I go.. leave you two alone....?” Storm Front questions as the pair start making kissy noises. Something rather unsettling to hear from a massive dragoness.

“Well you could join us.” Mobius grins.

“Yes,right, leaving then, well I will get to work on a plan and check back later, much later take the time you need, bye.” Storm Front flusters, his feathers ruffling as he grabs some papers and dashes out of the cave in a rush.

“No one ever want's to join us.” Mobius pouts.

“More of me for you then....” Finna grins.

=====================================

“Alright load up those carts, Patsy do you know where you're going this time?” Slate bellows, pointing a hoof at a sway back mule.

“Yeah, yeah, I know, it's not like there's not an entire damn caravan following me who won't yell at me if I make a wrong turn.” the mule grumbles glaring back at the others from the settlement, most of whom ignored the cranky old mule.

“Alright every one, this should be the last of the supplies. Once you get everything set up in the shelter we can start moving the ponies from the hospital to it as well. Move out.” Slate yells ignoring the mules grumbling like everyone else. The half dragon looks over the caravan, frowning at the small amount of his deputies he could send with it. There were a number of crystal mines to the north east that most of the villagers would be hiding in until everything was over, one way or another. More than he had expected however had opted to stay behind to help defend the town. Slate didn't like it, but the extra bodies would be useful if he could get them trained in the short time they supposedly had.

“So what's the defense plan brother?” comments a rather flighty voice from above him followed by the heavy thud of hooves in the dirt.

“The plan is that you go join the caravan to keep watch on the foals. That was the plan and is STILL the plan Ghost.” Slate snaps.

“Oh please. You know need me here even if mom is doing all the work for Hammer now.” Ghost Dancer grins baring her fangs. “ I told you if you tried to stop me I’d kick your flank across the mountains. Still sneaky trick trying to use the foals....”

“So why didn't that work? They all were quite convincing with the puppy eye demonstration.”

“Please brother I’ve been teaching them and others for a while now, that doesn't work on me any more. Besides the foals are much calmer knowing that their auntie Ghosty is out here kicking ass to protect them.”

“You are not trained in combat.” Slate begins.

“And yet I am consistently able to knock you on your flank. I'd say your training is flawed, or you're too soft.”Ghost Dancer grins as her brother snorts in annoyance, a bit of greyish flame flickering from his nose. “I wasn't gonna say anything before cause it was always cute to watch two or three of your little deputies try and take down a drunk pony, but you know as well as I do there's a big difference between proper combat and policing action.”

“ Don't be rude, I am aware of the situation.” Slate growls glancing to his sister as she offers a book with a wing. “What's this?”

“A while back I started collecting information on how each tribe trains their soldiers. Mostly word of mouth from the ponies who came here from one of the waring tribes. I put most of it together in the book.” Ghost Dancer smirks. “ It started off as a little side project for Starswirl, though it turned out to be rather interesting to see some of the tactics and strategies that were used. There's bits of Griffon, Dragon and Yak in there too. It might be a bit jumbled and dusty from sitting on Uncle Swirlies bookshelf for a few years, but the information should be good.”

Slate looks at the cover. “ Art of War?”

“Look, you try to think of a name for book that is nothing but strategies and training regiments.” Ghost huffs.

Slate ignores her complaining as he flips though the book with some interest.” Most of this is sound advice. Still there's not much in here I can use, this would all take longer than we likely have. Several weeks of grinding future soldiers into the dirt to hone their physical abilities, followed by the proper training in following orders and then advanced training in combat. We don't have time for that.”

“Actually we do if you get a little creative. Uncle Starry can pull all of them into one shared dream for the advanced stuff at night. If we work on the physical while they are awake and the mental at night we can get the training done in far less time.” Ghost smiles.

Slate looks up at her curiously then shakes his head with a small smirk.”It's things like this that make me wonder how Dad and Starswirl can think you could bear the Element of Compassion.”

“While I don't want to see a war at all. it's compassion that drives me to make sure everyone has what they need to survive as much as possible.” Ghost sticks her tongue out at her brother. “ So are you still going to insist I go to the mines?”

“Not like you would listen to me if the foals couldn't convince you. Come on let's run this by Starswirl.” Slate admits. “ I am going to have to rewrite this however. Your penmanship is atrocious.”

“Well excuse me for not being a scribe.”

“You're a school teacher, one would think to teach writing you needed to be able to write....”

==============================================================

[ One Week Later]

Steam hissed and metal clanged as Storm Front, Mobius, and Starswirl stood before the three cylinders in a dark room in the tower. The small form of Greenwich buzzed around one of the tubes, deftly dodging the escaping steam and shifting machinery.

“So this is it then?” Storm Front asks.

“By my calculations, yes, this should have been more than enough time for the change to have occurred. Note the liquid has turned and even deeper shade of green, bordering on black?” Starswirl points to a glass tube that filtered a brackish looking water among the three chambers. “That is the consistency that yielded the best end results during my tests.”

The pair watch as Starswirl pulls a lever and a new noise sounds in the cylinders.

“Do step back a little, I’ve not had the chance to put in proper drains here and I can assure you getting the fluid out of your fur is quite the bother.“

Mobius glances to the griffon god before both of them take to the air hovering a half pony length off the floor as Starswirl puts on galoshes, and apron and a pair of goggles, looking decidedly like a mad stallion as he pulls a large white coat on over his wings, the goggles tugging his white mane and making it stand out at odd angles

“This is a decidedly different set up from when you created the Windigo.” Mobius states.

“The Windigo are ninety percent magic and only ten percent flesh and blood. Granted they can focus and alter that as they wish, but it's not good for fighting. The designs here were following the idea that the three involved would have to be good at fighting some how, though the mixture and mutations still are only a percentage chance of going the optimal way.” Starswirl chuckles not noticing that Mobius was glaring at him.

“You are going mad scientist on me again Swirly, I can see that gleam in your eyes through the goggles.” Mobius grumbles. “ This is not a healthy thing. Did you forget to sleep again?”

“Stuff it Mobius, you're the one who convinced me to go ahead with this. You and the bird can't bitch now.” Starswirl snaps.

“Do not snap at us.” Storm Front growls. “You being childish.”

“Of course I’m being childish. There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes.” Starswirl comments. “ And yes I have slept I needed to do so to make sure your son's training thingy went well.”

Mobius sighs rubbing his head with a hoof. “ That's not sleeping , that's working while not moving, you are going to get a proper nape after this if I have to beat you until you're unconscious. Just open the chambers already.”

Starswirl grumbles, yanking on a lever at the side of one of the tubes. The liquid in the glass pipe stops flowing and starts going in reverse as red lights start flashing every where along with a klaxon alarm which Starswirl mercifully cuts off before they go deaf in the small room.

“I have no idea why I thought that would be a good idea.” Starswirl admits rubbing his ears with his wings.

“Because you forgot to sleep again.” Mobius snaps. “ DUH!”

A flood of dark green fluid suddenly gushes from the bottom of the bottom of the cylinders rushing like a small tidal wave across the stone floor sweeping up chairs and a table or two pushing them against the far wall knocking over some of the candles and darkening the room. The flood rushes out the door and down the steps outside in a torrent of brackish green fluid. After a few moments the sound of screaming and cursing could be heard as the flood reaches some of the other occupied floors of the tower.

“Whoops. We are going to need a maid in here.” Starswirl chuckles hopping into the air himself to avoid the flood.

“We can't get any maids to even enter the building when you are working on something.” sighs Mobius. “ Just cantrip clean it later.”

The chambers creaked as a faint buzz sounded a loud clack following as the doors opened fully, locking into place. Mobius lights his horn as Starswirl's magic touches a few crystals causing them to glow.

“Oh bugger.” Starswirl curses as he moves some of the crystal light's closer. The sounds of coughing and clearing of liquid from lungs, fills the air. “Well that sounds unpleasant.”

“Remind me, cough, never to agree to do that, cough or anything like it again.” states a voice, clearly feminine, though angry and having a odd echo to it.”You never told us you would have to drown us for this Starswirl.”

“I'm sure I indeed did say several times that you would be completely submerged in liquid Sunray.” Starswirl admits looking up as the white form of the mare steps from the tube shaking herself and sending a spray of green gunk everywhere.

The pegasus was actually shorter now, though some what bulkier. Her fur was still white, though sections of her flesh had seemed to have hardened, covering her joints and sections of her torso and head in a thick white Carapace. Her cutie mark was gone, and her golden mane and tail had lengthened to the point that even had she not shrunk they would have drug along the ground. Her eyes were gone, replaced by bulky compound eyes not unlike the Crystal Dragonflies and a pair of long antenna that poked up from the top of her head out of her mane on either side of a short spiral horn, that seemed unraveled a bit like a cork screw rather than a proper unicorn horn. Two sets of incectile wings sprouted from her back on either side, fanning out as the icor ran down them, a mimicry of the Dragonflies wings, though much larger.

“Well now, that worked fairly well, no mark, wings restored . I can't account for the antenna or size reduction, though the carapace and muscle mass increase fit within parameters. “ Starswirl comments. “ Didn't expect the horn, though it was withing the realm of possibility.”

The heavy thud of hooves drew everyone’s attention to the next pod. The lights in the room seemed to practically dance as they struck the figure emerging from the pod. There was no carapace on the mare, though her rust colored fur was shiny and stiff looking. The mare's body was nearly transparent as her four hooves touched the sodden stone floor, every step a dull chiming echo of her new weight. out of the cylinder, four hooves clicking on the floor . Her red mane and tail were done up in the same manner they had been when she entered the pod, but like the rest of her form they were completely made of crystal. A tiny set of what seemed to be butterfly wings graced her back, though they likely wouldn't allow her to fly, and she had a small stub of a horn on her head.

“I feel heavy.” Ginger comments, her voice chiming like the crystal she was composed of.

“I told you to stop eating so much. “ Sunray mutters, though she was too busy staring at the crystal pony to say much else.

“Well this was unexpected. A very low percentage of having a mutation such as this, but it wasn't completely off my charts. Still within parameters, the wings are a bit of a miss however, the horn perhaps too given it's size. Though she has her cutie mark still so that's not as useful.” Starswirl comments. “Not exactly the success I was hoping for.”

“Soo sorry I don't live up to your expectations after a highly dangerous and experimental process Swirly... How bout a hug?” Ginger grins lightly kicking the side of the tube she had exited with one hoof, the metal buckling under the heavy hoofed tap.

“Maybe later... much later....” Starswirl mutters.

The violent upchuck of liquid and series of rapid coughs and curses silence any retort Ginger had as they look to the last pod. A loud bang a splash and a violent curse followed by a string of profanity that had even Mobius taken aback. Storm Front Darts over to the tube, looking inside to help her up before he blinks, slowly backing up with a few beats of his wings.

A figure rises and steps out of the cylinder, hooves clicking lightly as she moved into the room proper shaking free the mess from her form. The mare was taller than even Mobius, stringy sickly green hair fell nearly to the floor in a odd pattern that seemed to make holes in the strands at the end. Her back and midriff were covered with a thick green carapace though only those spots were armored. Her body was thin, her neck elongated further than a normal ponies, looking as if it didn't quite fit with the rest of her body. Her form was gaunt and thin, looking sickly and frail, an effect that was not helped by numerous holes that ran through the ends of her limbs. A pair of bug like, green gossamer wings fluttered on her back, filled with the same type of holes as her legs. The most prominent feature on the mare however was the massive gnarled and jagged horn that rose from her head to nearly half her height from her forehead. In all she looked like a gangly mess.

Crystal opens her eyes, green flame flickering around her irises before her eyes narrowed into dark cat like slits in the middle of beautiful jade green.

“I can see in depth again!” The mare grins, showing a pair of fangs more prominent than even a half dragon's. She lifts her hoof up to her face waving it before her eyes before noticing it was full of holes. “Starswirl? What is this?” Crystal mutters looking at the other two and blinking lightly at their changes..

“ No cutiemark, horn restored.. I think, wings, mini carapace.... though in all honesty I have no clue what is going on here. Nothing like this was in any of my simulations......” The bearded alicorn murmurers.

“ Well … at least you got your horn back.” Sunray points out.

“And then some.” Ginger adds.

====================================================

[One Week Later]

“Here. He's here.” Mobius states tapping a spot on a map.”The pair separated over the southern wilds and Scorpan was seen here by himself.”

“Are you sure? “ Storm Front asks glancing up at the dragon looming over the table.

“Sure as I am Starswirl has a sexy beard.” Mobius snarks.

“So not sure at all.” Starswirl rolls his eyes.

“Just because you don't see it Swirly.” Mobius huffs.”But yes, he's in this range of mountains here. I've been able to peek into his day dreams without being noticed. The monster is bored.”

“That location was claimed by an old fire drake, Tragu. If Scorpan is there then the dragon professing himself 'the Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities', is likely no more. That position is also closer to us than I like. It means we can't move the rest of the comatose ponies to the caves without attracting his attention. Pity as we just finished setting up a place for them in the caves.” Finnah grumbles. “How are the girls Swirly?”

“Sunray has heightened strength speed and growing command over magic, she's almost on par with the few pegicorn's I’ve met in the past. Her flying speed is far faster than it was when she was a pegasus and her maneuverability is, to be honest, insane. Flying at top speed she can reverse direction without a loss of momentum with no ill effects. To be honest I don't think she's touched the ground since she woke up.” Starswirl explains. “She is exactly what I was going for with this experiment save for a few issues. She doesn't feed on emotions as I hoped and her body can't seem to handle the same foods she ate before. All she seems to be able to eat are certain flowers and some sweeter foods. Thankfully she doesn't seem to need as much as a normal pony of her size.”

“And the others?” Mobius asks.

“Ginger is impressive as well, despite being predominately made of crystal now her durability, stamina, and strength are far beyond anything I’ve ever seen in a earth pony. In fact I think she might be more durable than we are.” Starswirl comments nodding to Mobius. “Unfortunately she has at best rudimentary magical abilities, and she cannot do more than hover for a few seconds with her wings. While she was a surprising development,she's not one that can be sent out to deal with these monsters as her cutiemark is still clearly visible and thus a liability. The change that the monsters might be able to gain what abilities she does have mean she's staying here. As an odd side note, she can be used as a foci for magic, her very body amplifies whatever spell is passed through her. The exchange is nearly double, though we don't know the upper height of what she can channel this way. Nearly burnt my room to a crisp with a simple light spell. Of course on the mental side of things she's also taken to calling herself the first Crystal Pony of the Crystal Empire, but to be honest I think she was doing that before.”

“I notice you are not talking about Crystal. “ Storm front asks.” Is something wrong with her?”

“Aside from having little idea what happened with her? No. I can't explain the fangs, the holes, the horn anything. She has some spell casting ability and limited flight, as well as a bit more durability and stamina than a normal pony, but her physical attributes are far less than the other two. She also claims her magic is weaker than it was before she lost her horn. She has claimed the power she can tap seemed oddly fluctuating, though I have yet to discover why. She hasn't been hungry since she awoke,so I can assume her comments about odd feelings around her and the fact she hasn't starved to death yet mean that she can feed on emotion like the Windigo. I am not entirely certain what emotion however. Still Crystal has been helping a good deal with the other two, aiding them in learning magic and she already was a soldier so I I expect she could be of some help in the attack

“What of Slate's soldiers?” Finnah asks.

“While it's been boring I have provided a shared dream for them to train in. Most are still raw recruits however. A hoof full came here from the conflict so know a bit more, but not enough to make much a difference. At best we have two score of able bodies.”Starswirl mutters.

“Two score barely trained soldiers in magic resistant armor along with a pair of unknown construct ponies, a god, a minotaur, a couple of half dragons and a proper big angry dragon, because she won't listen to me when I tell her to stay here. We will have surprise on our side. We know where Scorpan is, but he doesn't know we are coming for him.” Mobius states.” We can't lose.”

“That sort of over confidence could be an issue.” Storm Front cautions.

The Dark green alicorn shakes his head sadly.

“I am aware of that, but I am also aware that there is no point in second guessing, the dragon flies already told me that I was going to fight Scorpan. We might not get another chance to take them out while they are separated. We have a plan, we have a small force, we need to end this now.” Mobius grumbles.” Whether the girls are ready or not.”

==================================================

“So did you hear what they are calling us?” Ginger giggles. “Swirlies Angels. How awesome is that?”

“Dammit mare, focus.” Crystal grumbles “ You can barely levitate a scrap of parchment. Also only Mobius calls us that.”

“Hey sorry I wasn't BORN a pin head.” Ginger snaps.

“Neither was Sunray and she's already training with Starswirl on attack spells. You how ever Cast spells like you're still a mud hoof.” Crystal growls.

“Bitch please I’m fabulous.” Ginger rants tilting her head to catch the rooms light enough to make her sparkle.

“Horay for you, not only do you look like a rock, you have the mind of one too.” Sunray mutters from above them. The former pegasus had been in the air for two days straight with no signs of tiring. Crystal had taught the white mare the basics of magic and she in turn had been taught the basics of flight. While it was unlikely she would ever be as good as a natural born pegasus she could now fly without running into anything. Which was more than could be said of Ginger.

“Oh you're just jealous I’m still pretty and you look like a bug and Crystal looks like a hunk of cheese after mice get to it.” Ginger grins.

Crystal narrows her eyes at Ginger only for her attention to be drawn away by a faint buzzing. Looking up she had to stifle a small giggle as a tiny green dragonfly landed on her nose tickling it. The hatchling Greenwich had no issue with her appearance now and actually seemed to enjoy the fact that she could go flying with him.

“You might be shiny, but I'm still fleshy enough for a roll in the hay with some stallion without worrying about getting my mare bits chipped or breaking something important on the guy. And Crystal can say the same and she still has Greenwich.” Sunray smirks sticking her tongue out at Ginger..

“See now you're just being mean.” Ginger snorts.

“Still bickering?” a voice questions from the door.

All three of them look a bit sheepish as the dark gray griffon steps into the door, though Sunray actually looks a bit embarrassed that Storm Front caught her teasing Ginger.

“If you haven’t noticed yet, It's kinda what we do.” Ginger admits.

Storm Front shakes his head lightly. “Have you had any luck with your spell training Ginger? I've heard that despite a good teacher you are having trouble.”

Crystal rolls her eyes ignoring the griffon and focusing on the little green dragon fly crawling up her horn and humming softly. Storm front had been blatantly flirting with her since she stepped out of the chamber. While it was nice that some one still found her attractive, the fact that Slate didn't seem bothered by her appearance and she wasn't even the slightest bit interested in the griffon, killed his chances with her. Crystal also didn't want to interfere with Sunray, who clearly had the hots for the bird lion.

Storm Front was not obnoxious with his flirting, but he was insistent with it as if he wasn't used to being denied. Being a god that was likely the case.

“Not really.” Ginger admits.” I can make my spells bigger by casting them though myself , but I can't hold any of them very long. Just minor stuff like a minor healing spell and a stun spell.”

“If she could focus on something for longer than three seconds she might just be able to make even her minor spells rival a highly trained unicorns power.” Crystal comments crossing her eyes and cooing at the little dragon fly on her nose. She could feel something from the little creature and the longer he was around the 'fuller', for lack of a better term, she felt. “ But she's got the attention span of a stoat that got into the sugar crop.”

“Electrical based stun spell?” Storm Front asks cutting off Ginger's retort.

“Primarily yes. She couldn't get the hang of the arcane one, and the wind one comes out the wrong end.” Sunray comments.

“HEY that was once!”Ginger growls up at the former pegasus.

“Hmm show me the electrical one. “ Storm front asks.

Crystal sighs moving away from the pair, with Greenwich buzzing around her. One miscast spell that stood her hair on end was enough. She sits down near a thick wooden table in the remodeled room where the cylinders had been. It had taken Starswirl some time to clean it and the place still smelled like the fluid they had been submerged in. After wards he set it up for their training, though it was not like their existence was kept a secret.

There was a mix of something in the air. She could could feel whatever it was as clearly as she could see the ponies around her. Though maybe that wasn't right, she didn't so much sense or see the feeling as she tasted it.

There was a strong red almost spiciness coming from both Storm Front and Sunray. It came and went though it was strongest when the griffon was focusing on her, or when Sunray was focused on the griffon.

Starswirl had a muted taste to him, oddly she likened it to strawberries, though that wasn't quite right. The taste from him never spiked and remained rather dull no matter what was going on. Hammer was a little stronger, but had the same flavor and generally didn't spike unless Cloud Dust was around.

Ginger was the same, though her flavor was more akin to her name sake, almost too sweet when it spiked for her to handle. It oddly spiked around Mobius, Greenwich, and food. Ghost Dancer and Cloud Dust were the same way, including the food.

Greenwich was a odd flavor as well. The taste was constant however as was the amount and with him around she felt better. Slate was the same around her for the most part, though he was as muted as Starswirl when she wasn't directly talking to him.

Mobius..... by the stars that stallion was a veritable twenty course meal of various flavors. Spicy, salty sour, sweet, anything that was good to eat. Lately however there was a undercurrent of something sour with him, a lingering taste that while easily masked by the other variety of tastes he had, left a bitter after taste.

“Alright go ahead and hit me with it.” Storm Front states snapping Ginger out of her thoughts briefly.

“You sure?” Ginger asks hesitantly. “It hurts quite a bit.”

“I'm the Griffon God of Storms, I can wrap a lighting bolt around my neck and wear it like a scarf, a simple stun spell will do nothing.”

Crystal wasn't sure if that was ego or not. Mobius had introduced Storm Front as the griffon god of storms, so perhaps it was simply fact.

Ginger evidently agreed and started concentrating. Crystal felt Sunray flutter over to her and hover near by. The former unicorn gave it no mind, simply glad for a rest from training Ginger. She could feel something that was like happy thoughts from Ginger from the praise that she was being given as Storm Front coached her. There was a bitter pang in the air that she knew was from Sunray in regards to the griffon's praise of Ginger.

The pleasant taste in the air from Greenwich lingered on with a faint current of spice from the mare and the griffon. She considered the griffon briefly finding it odd that he would have any interest in her, particularly with how she looked now. Maybe it was a griffon or a god thing, since Mobius seemed inclined to sleep with anything that had a pulse, or at the very least was consenting to it. Her mind wandered a bit wondering why Storm Front was interested in her and not a griffoness. Maybe that's how he saw her? She smirked slightly as Greenwich landed on her nose again chuckling to herself as she imagined how she would look as a griffon, would she still have her coloration? Griffons didn't seem to have green feathers.

She felt a odd taste in the air that took over the bitter pang that was from Sunray, she wasn't sure what it was, though if she had to guess she would think it was surprise. She glances back at Ginger and Storm Front still chuckling to her self about the griffon.

“Crystal was correct, that is not much power, though it is enough that it can help you. I know you have a minor healing spell and medical training. That jolt is approximately the right amount of power to jump start an average sized ponies heart should it stop.” Storm Front explains trailing off.

“Ah like that defibrillator spell that I’ve seen unicorns use. I was hoping for something like that. I was a doctor after all, what?” Ginger blinks as she and the griffon stare at Crystal and Sunray, a flash of green reflecting in their eyes.

Crystal looks up noticing they all stopped talking and the feeling of confusion increased along with a massive rush of the spiciness from Storm Front.

Greenwich fluttered off the black furred griffons beak, flitting up to land on the crest of dark green feathers atop her head. Crystal glanced up at the dragon fly feeling the faint weight of the bug on her head before noticing the others were still staring at her. Her long feline tail whips around her back legs as she sits up again claws digging into the floor.

“What? What is it?” the emerald and black griffon that was Crystal asks.

====================================================

“She changed her form?” Starswirl questions looking over the dreamscape he had crafted. Two score of soldiers, including the three mares, Mobius, his children, and Hammer were going through the final briefing before they headed out the following morning. It would take them less than a day to get to where Scorpan was located. Currently Mobius was replaying images of Tirek and Scorpan. Between the daydreams and the contacts Mobius had between them they had several conversations between the pair, and a number of abilities to show case now. “ Wish I had time to run some tests.”

“Indeed she did.” Storm Front admits. “It wasn't any sort of illusion either she looked sounded, felt, and even smelled like a real griffoness.”

“Well that is impressive. Working claws and wings?” Starswirl comments. “ Perhaps that explains the holes. If she changes fully there would need to be less mass than a normal hoof to account for joints and mobility of claws.”

“Yes, she kept the form up for some time to before she dispelled it to see if she could figure out a few others. She managed to copy Sunray and myself, but Ginger was beyond her, well Ginger as she is now, she did manage to copy how Ginger looked before she was crystallized.”

“This is very interesting. I know the Dragonflies can change colors and sizes at a whim, but I’ve never heard of them changing their very shapes. This is something new, and green flame.... I’ve only heard of that second or third hoof, dragons with green flame supposedly can send messages over great distances. But given how rare a skill it is. I don't think any of this generation of dragons posses it.” Starswirl ponders.”Not sure if it has to do with this however.”

“There are some down sides it seems however.”Storm Front added. “The changing evidently required a great deal of energy to do, though not as much to maintain. After a few changes she couldn't hold her forms for very long or even produce the flame. She didn't seem tired though, she seemed starving. Though she claimed to not be hungry.”

“Yes, well as I said before that is likely the effects of something I tried to add. She feeds on emotion though I have not narrowed down which emotion. Sunray and Ginger don't have the ability as far as I can tell. Crystal does have it, but it seems to be more of a power thing for her on top of feeding. When she's full she can cast her spells better than if she's hungry. Crystal seems to require emotions for both subsistence and power. It would be an interesting study if I had more time.”

“She can't wear any of the armor Hammer made either. Touching it causes her pain if she's changed, and it completely disrupts her Changeling abilities and magic.”

“Changeling?” Starswirl asks.

Storm Front sighs. “It's what Ginger has started calling her, just like she's started calling her self a Crystal pony, and Sunray a Breezy. That mare is making up names left and right for everyone.”

“Well at least it's clear Ginger is the same, mentally at least. Crystal has become a bit more withdrawn and Sunray a bit more skittish. Still, that metal of Hammer's worries me. It disrupts magic and the effects linger even after the metal is taken away from the subject. I speculate it may very well be able to kill gods.”

“I find that hard to believe, with a bit of focus I can even cast as normal around it with little effect.”Storm front comments glancing down as Starswirl holds up a hoof, showing a red line across his foreleg.”What's that?”

“Nicked myself with one of the spear tips a day ago. It hasn't healed yet. Granted it is healing at a normal rate as if I was a normal pony, but that is a dangerous thing for a creature who can shrug off mortal blows like they were nothing usually. Powerful magic, other gods, and now this strange metal. I think it best if this is kept between us however Storm Front. Otherwise your worry about the other Griffon gods finding a way to put your head on the chopping block might be possible.”

“Was that a threat pony?” Storm Front narrows his eyes.

“No. I don't see a reason for threats and I am not for violence either. You are aiding us in this venture even when no others of your kind will. I am telling you so you might know what to look out for. Or I expect defend yourself when the time comes. I cannot see the others taking too kindly to the information you gave us. I do plan to ensure that Hammer destroys all the metal he collected as soon as Tirek and Scorpan are dealt with. But meteorites fall to Equss all the time.“

“Ahh. You needn't worry, there are only two griffon gods left now beyond me, Blight Feather, and Raptor. Tirek and Scorpan have claimed the others. Given that they are hiding under a rock and I am doing something to save everyone, I will be hailed a hero in the eyes of the Griffons. Even if they wished they would not be able to touch me if we succeed.”

“I see. I thought as much. Now that, that is said, I wish you to stay here when Mobius moves out after Scorpan.”

“What ? Why?” Storm Front bristles. “This is a battle I should be part of.”

“Because if you die you will be martyred. And the two remaining Griffon Gods will use your name to stir up a war to try and claim all the land held by ponies..... again. I know both of those gods personally and on more than one occasion they have ordered some savage attacks on those that tried to settle too near the borders. I know for a fact that the old bird Raptor claims that anything that touches the air is property of the Griffons.”

“We keep trying to get him to tell that to the dragons directly.” Storm Front snorts. “No luck so far, but at least it shuts him up for a while.”

“Even so...” Starswirl states.

“Fine. I should be going with them, fixing a problem my race created. But nooooooooooo, far be it for me to go against the suggestion of the great, wise, and powerful Starswirl the Bearded.” Storm Front grumbles.

“Don't sass me you young chick, it isn't cute, it simply makes you look half your age.” Starswirl snaps back. “ Besides I'm neither wise, great, or powerful. I'm just a clever pony sometimes is all.”

=====================================================

[Two days later]

“This is not going as I planned.” Mobius snarls, a great blast of green arcane energy bursting from his horn, shredding the ground between him and Scorpan. The towering creature snarled batting the attack away, searing the back of his hand and sending the blast spinning off into the air away from him. The bolt of energy eventually struck the side of a mountain, blasting a hole straight through the middle of it and causing it to crumble down in a great avalanche of dirt and rock far from the battle field.

Things had started off well. Hammer had made a number of weapons focusing primarily on spear heads to save time, though he made himself an ax and both Slate and Ghost Dancer swords, the three also had thicker suits of armor due to their strength. All the earth ponies had thick suits of armor and the pegasi had lighter suits that still allowed them to fly. Only the unicorns, Mobius, Sunray, and Crystal wore standard armor as the new metal interfered with their magic too much. Hammer had started to forge armor for Finnah but had run out of time and metal before managing more than a pair of bracers.

They had managed to make it through the small pass to the secluded valley where Scorpan was located without being spotted. The group had then come upon Scorpan while he was evidently asleep and attacked hoping to end everything quickly.

Things started to fall apart after that.

The beast had been aware of them and 'woke' the moment they came into range. Standing up on his hind legs. The creature was a head taller than Hammer, it had a long reptilian muzzle like a crocodile filled with rows of teeth that were more akin to a sharks. A course brown mane like a lions ran around its neck and was filled with hard spines like a hedgehogs mixed in with the hair. A pair of long bat like ears rose from the sides of its head along the widows peak the mane left giving a impression of a balding over it's scaled hairless face. Massive bat wings spread out from it's back just under the trailing edge of the mane, the tips pointed with talons. The brutish creature had massive arms and wide shoulders, it's long arms hanging almost as long as it's body, like a gorilla's and ending in in three fingered hands, each digit ending in wicked black claws. It's lower torso was not as muscular and was very similar to a minotaur's right down to the thick fur and hooves. It's tail was twice as long as it's body, scaled like a snake and just as flexible, the red length ending in a jagged point like a scorpion’s stinger though the stinger was the size of a sword.

Even with surprise lost, things had looked promising. It's physical attacks, though very powerful, were easy to spot coming and gave plenty of warning for even the slowest soldier to evade. Scorpan's magic was not as strong as Mobius had predicted and the star metal armor easily dispersed the weak spells.

Finnah remained in the air, staying low and taking swipes or using her breath weapon any time Scorpan tried to take off, the few unicorn soldiers, himself and Crystal providing ranged support to keep him down.

Even on the ground Scorpan was quick, most of the soldiers could barely get a shot in without having to dodge an attack or have Scorpan get clear of their blows. The exceptions to this were Hammer, Sunray, and Slate. The three had managed to wound the great beast several times. Something that drove the monster crazy as the wounds oozed black blood, and failed to close properly. Ghost Dancer managed a few jabs herself though she was more intent on calling out the monsters attacks and helping others dodge them.

While they were not doing much damage, all it would take would be one good hit, or clear shot with a powerful spell, or a star metal weapon and they could end this.

It was just when there was a hope that the plan might work, that things went south fast.

One of the soldiers miss stepped or over extended his attack, in any event some small mistake was enough for Scorpan to get his clawed hand on the earth pony. It only took him a moment to rip the armor off of the pony like he was peeling a banana. The monster then quickly drained the power from the pony, an act that seemed to bolster the monster's energy, and close up the wounds he had received.

Scorpan then proceeded to use the now comatose stallion as a impromptu weapon against the others. While the flailing horse meat was not an effective weapon physically, seeing their former comrade slowly flayed and torn apart as he was whipped about and smashed into the ground trying to hit them was highly demoralizing to the already frightened ponies. The sight of the stallion's blood splattering around as the gold stallions skin and flesh tore with each impact made it much worse. None of them were steeled for such a thing, and no fault could be had when some broke and ran.

The monster was clearly more used to this reaction from ponies and few of the runners got far before he was atop of them crushing them in their own armor or simply injuring them enough so that he could play with them later. With less ponies attacking him he managed to finally get airborne and away from Finnah's grasp. While Scorpan brutish and cumbersome on the ground, once his hooves were off it, he could have given the most skilled pegasi lessons.

There was barely time for a gasp from Mobius before Scorpan was atop of Finna hooves slamming down between her wings as the creature clawed and tore at the thick scales on her back, shredding the lightish red armor plates like a foal ripping into a birthday present. The the large dragons credit she managed to stay airborne longer than she should have with her spine exposed. Though with a resounding crack that filled the valley followed by a crash nearly as loud Scorpan had torn free two chunks of the dragoness's spine and sent her smashing into the ground ending her life.

The second she was down he was chasing the runners again.

Hammer met the beast the moment Scorpan was low enough, he even managed to wound the creature a few more times before he was snatched up and flung through the air. The lavender minotaur slams into the side of a rock face crashing to the ground with a shower of rocks falling atop of him.

Crystal was knocked aside as if she were noting more than a gnat. The mare crashing to the ground and tumbling across the dirt to lay still.

Despite her maneuverability and speed, Sunray couldn't keep up with Scorpan, the winds his movements kicked up sending her tumbling through the air, completely out of control. Eventually she managed to land a decent strike on Scorpan's back only for his tail to stab at her , tearing a wing and leaving a bleeding gash along her side. She fluttered madly in the air before she couldn't stay airborne and smashed into a tree.

Ghost Dancer was struck by a soldier flung from across the battle field as she tried to catch the wounded pony and misjudged the weight of the armor. She and the pony both tumbled away to the ground the wind knocked out of her.

Slate managed to wound the beast the worst, severing the monster's tail as he sought to drain another soldier. Scorpan then turned all his attention to the half dragon howling in pain as he all but ripped the armor from Slate beating the poor pony senseless before snatching him up. Scorpan frowned at the half dragon's lack of a cutie mark before belting him across the muzzle with enough force to knock free a fang before flinging him away to advance on the alicorn and unicorns still peppering him with attack spells.

Mobius screamed out in rage, dark green blasts of arcane energy ripping apart the ground and the forest between him and the advancing monster. He should have fled like the unicorns around him, he should have teleported away, though seeing his wife killed and his children beaten had angered him past the point of reason.

What magical attacks Scorpan didn't simply knock aside, he dodged. When he was in reach, Mobius finally thinking to protect himself, rapidly raised a shield, only for the arcane protection to be shattered by a chunk of star metal breast plate wielded like a gauntlet by the towering monster. Before the alicorn could recover, a second brutish blow slammed the alicorn to the ground smashing him into the magic blasted rock with repeated hammering of blows until Mobius lay still.

Scorpan lifts his head, his cat like gaze shifting over the battle field. Dust and dirt filled the air from the blasts of magic vaporizing things. The monster too note of where some ponies were still moving and crying out in anguish. He smirks slightly rather enjoying that sound. He tosses the star metal chunk aside reaching down, pulling the raggedly breathing alicorn from the crater that he had been beaten into.

The sound of heavy hoof steps caused him to whirl, his hand closing tighter around the alicorn's torso. A low growl filled the air as he narrowed his eyes looking through the dust at a towering figure approaching.

“Do not growl at me, Scorpan.” snaps the red and black form of the centaur creature as he strode through the rubble. “ What has occurred here?”

“Brother!” Scorpan grins watching as Tirek shifted his gaze around the battle field looking at some of the squirming forms an eyebrow raising at the wails of terror coming from them.

“I was attacked, hah can you imagine that, they even brought a dragon brother, and strange metal that actually hurts.” Scorpan explains as Tirek picks up a few of the wooden spears from one of the bodies looking over the strange metal blade tips on the end. Scorpan blinks looking over Tirek still holding the alicorn. “Are you alright brother? You sound a little funny?”

“And whose fault is that? Who was it who managed to fill the air with dust?” Tirek growls, waving a hand at Mobius. “And what is that thing?”

“Oh, sorry brother, I think this is a pony god. I didn't think they had any but here I’ve caught one, isn't that g........”Scorpan comments excitedly looking down at Mobius before his voice trails off with a cough and the sound of tearing flesh. Looking down as a trickle of black blood oozes from his lips Scorpan blinks as he sees one of the star metal spear tips sticking out of his chest leaving a gushing wound behind it.

“Wha.. What is this brother....?” Scorpan drops the limp form of Mobius turning to look back over his shoulder as a second then a third spear erupts from his chest, driven through his body by Tirek.

Tirek snarls, his eyes flashing green and catlike as a green flame flickers around his horns slowly burning away revealing as snarling fanged pony maw with a towering jagged horn. The rest of his brothers form rapidly burns away in green fire leaving a chitinous black pony behind him.

“Starswirl sends his regards.” snarls Crystal.

Scorpan staggers back, dropping Mobius and ripping the spears from his chest, his black blood gushing from the wounds gushing out in time with his heartbeat. The monster flaps his wings once trying to take off though managing only a few pony lengths into the air before a massive lavender hand grabs his hoof yanking him down to the ground with a bellow. A hoof slams into Scorpan's chest as a wounded and unburied, Hammer glares down at the Scorpan.

“HAMMER TAKES VENGENCE FOR NETHOSAK AND GRAY GEM ARIE!!” Hammer screams raising his ax high and bringing it down with enough force to shatter the metal against the stone under the monster, cleaving Scorpan's head from his shoulders.

Crystal sighs sitting down hard next to Mobius, as Hammer pants shaking himself free of dust and kicking Scorpan's head away from the body with his hoof. They both look up as Ghost Dancer yells out and hobbles towards them and her fallen father, Slate limping along behind her.

A sudden glow snapped both Hammer and Crystal's attention to the form of Mobius. The dark green alicorn had lifted his head up from the ground, his eyes focused on Crystal as his cracked horn glowed brighter.

“Damn bug said this was gonna happen, so much for fighting fate.“ Mobius gasps, blood oozing from his mouth and nose. “Sorry about this Crystal as well as everything that's going to come because of it. Do me a favor and tell Starswirl my last words were he has to keep that sexy beard of his......”

Before either Crystal or Hammer could respond the alicorns horn flashes with a swirl of green light the aura of light growing brighter and brighter until it envelopes the area around Mobius. Ghost Dancer and Slate skid to a stop as Hammer staggers back, pushed by the glowing sphere growing from Mobius's horn. After a moment the sphere of light starts to shrink again, though it condenses where Crystal was sitting rather than back on Mobius.

The two half dragons rush forward, jerking to a stop as they look down at the dark green unicorn laying in a pool of his own blood, his eyes open and lidless. The pale white shape of the strange sideways 8 on his flank seeming duller.

The two looked over as the ball of light winks out of existence on the tip of a long straight horn rising from a near translucent wavy green mane. The mare had not shrunk in size and was in fact larger it seemed now. Her mane seemed even longer and was flowing like a slow stream around her head and flank like it was alive. Her limbs still had holes in them, though they were less noticeable against the glossy sheen of her coat. The simple red six pointed gemstone that was her cutiemark had returned, though it seemed to flicker and shift just over her flank as if it was little more than a image floating over her fur. Her incectile wings had become larger and feathered, though the same small holes in her legs were also in the feathered appendages.

The trio didn't have time to say anything to her before the newly created alicorn collapsed in a heap.

“What just happened?!” Slate shouts.

Another bright glow flashed into being, this time from the corpse of Scorpan. The minotaur leaps back snatching up a spear from the ground as the massive monster starts to dissolve. The air around the beast filling with what sounded like millions of tortured screams, a wailing cry that only grew louder as the light got brighter and Scorpan seemed to collapse in on himself shriveling up. The sound and light both wink out at the same time, leaving a withered husk of Scorpan's body behind.

“And what the buck was that!?” Slate shouts again.

============================================================

[Near the end of the battle, back in the settlement.]

Ginger pouts looking over the hospital beds of the comatose ponies. In truth she was more nervous and worried than anything, though one of the doctor's had thought she was pouting cause she couldn't go fight, so she simply let everyone believe that. Otherwise she would never hear the end of it from Sunray when she got back.

Storm Front milled around the ponies looking for any sign of change. Starswirl was off in his lab working on something involving harmonics and crystals, or what ever boring things the alicorn did to keep himself occupied.

Aside from the click of Storm Front's claws as he moved around and the soft breathing of the unconscious ponies, the massive coma ward was quiet. Too damn quiet, she almost wanted to scream just to make some noise.

Thus when almost half of the ten score of ponies in the ward suddenly sat up and began screaming at the top of their lungs, with enough volume that the cry echoed across the valley alerting the entire town Ginger briefly wondered if she was a wish granting pony now.

“What's going on?” Starswirl shouts appearing in a flash of light in the middle of the room.

Ginger looks around in as a number of the ponies suddenly drop back to their beds bodies going limp as their cutie marks returned, though their lives left them in the same instant. “Their cutie marks are back!?”

“I don't know, there is some sort of weird electrical feed back running through them.”Storm Front calls back to Starswirl. The griffon rushes over to one of the silent ones pressing a wing to the stallions chest flinching. “ His heart's stopped. Get clear!”

The griffon slaps both hands to the pony's chest a bolt of energy flashing though his spread claws into the stallions chest. The ponies body tenses up, another bolt following the first as Storm front slowly counts to himself. The pony suddenly gasps twitching and trembling on the bed as his heart is restarted, though a dozen more fell silent during the time it took to try and revive the first.

“Ginger start working on that side like I showed you.”Storm Front shouts over the screams. “ We can revive some of them if we are quick enough! Starswirl head to the other side of the room do the same, a low stun charge should do it.”

“There's over a hundred of them screaming like this! We can get maybe a dozen.....” Starswirl protests his mind whirling.

“That's better than the none you are saving by standing there looking stupid!” Storm Front snarls. “GINGER! GET TO IT!”

The crystal pony looked over the ward. There were stallions and mares, Unicorns, Earth Ponies and Pegasi, old and young filling the beds. Many of them now with their formerly still features contorted in rictus screams of anguish. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. They were supposed to get their cutie marks back and wake up to live happily ever after in peace in the Crystal Empire. The war forgotten, suffering and monsters left to the wayside. Just happy ponies living in a land filled with love and the magic of friendship.

Ginger's gaze shifted to the host of fillies and colts that were barely old enough to even have gotten their cutiemarks, many of them had already gone silent after awakening screaming, their younger hearts not able to hold out as long as the adults.

Crystal closes her eyes, this shouldn't happen.

This couldn't happen.

This was NOT going to happen.

Starswirl and Storm Front both yelp as they crash into one another and are lifted by a reddish brown aura of magic and were shoved out the door along with one of the doctors who had made it into the room. The giant wooden doors to the ward slam shut behind them as they tumble to the tile floor. Several empty beds slam into the door barricading it from the inside. The pair leap back to their hooves and paws rushing the door slamming into it as they look in through the small windows in the doors.

The inside of the room looked like one of Starswirl's electric spheres. Blue and red lightning flickered and danced around the room, tearing rents in stone walls and floor. The arcing energy danced over some of the ward's residents and avoided others completely. The moment a screaming pony went silent the dancing energy struck them illuminating their body in a bright glow that was difficult to look at even for the gods.

In the middle of the room was a brightly glowing ball of light that neither of the gods could look at directly at all. Though it was clear this central glow was Ginger.

“What the shard is that mare doing!?” demands Storm Front.

“She.... that's healing magic,and electrical you spoke of... she's channeling them both through her self over and over again..... By the stars... ” Starswirl stammers. “ She's over charging the magic by using herself as a foci. This shouldn't be possible......”

“Well it looks pretty possible to me!” Storm Front growls shoving against the door with little effect.

The crackling energy suddenly glows bright enough that it illuminates the hall through the windows blinding both the gods and the gathered doctors and nurses.

Storm Front growls in anger, slamming his claws into the wooden door and yanking them, ripping the door off it's hinges and throwing the beds aside as he rushes into the room as the light fades.

The screaming had stopped, though in it's place were panicked yells, crying, and questioning chatter.

Starswirl rushed in beside Storm Front who had stopped in his tracks and stared slack jawed at the scene in the room.

The room itself was in shambles and a over half the ponies were still comatose on the beds untouched by the flares of magic that occurred.

Another smaller number had their cutie marks, but were clearly dead, having not survived what ever had just occurred.

What made both the gods jaws drop however was the nearly four score of ponies that had their cutie marks,were alive, were awake, and were seemingly made of crystal. Seeing the two of them some moved up to demand answers from the two who seemed to know what was going on.

“Crystal ponies.............” mutters a voice. Despite it's softness every pony in the room and one griffon immediately turned to the source of the voice, going silent themselves like scolded foals. All of the Crystal ponies had heard the voice moments before they woke calling them back.

A dull figure of muted browns and red sat in the center of the room. Her crystalline form almost a dull gray like stone. The figure wasn't moving, her limbs fused together in one mass from the expenditure of power, rock seeming to have grown around her nearly sealing her in a dull crystalline lump.

Starswirl and Storm front rushed over to her, though the half petrified mare only seemed to be able to move her mouth and one eye and she seemed to be struggling to do that.

“Ginger... what did you do?” Starswirl mutters.

“I don't know, but I couldn't let them die........” she glanced over at a small cluster of fillies and colts on one side of the room. Unlike the adults they hadn't separated themselves into tribes and were simply huddled around each other staring at her. “ Did I save them all?”

“Not all, but far more than we would have managed.” Storm Front adds, frowning at the faint trickle of electrical energy still running through the stone mare.

A soft buzzing filled the air as a dozen or so tiny crystal dragon flies, including Greenwich fly in from behind the gods. Several of the new crystal ponies ducked or yelled about the creatures, though the tiny bugs all fluttered about without incident, landing on the frozen mare, wings fluttering lightly as most of them rest against her and slowly turn to stone as well starting their first growth cycle.

Ginger's eye turns up as Greenwich lands on her muzzle buzzing faintly.

“Going to stay with me while I rest huh? Alright, but you better wake up, some one needs to watch over Crystal and Sunray for me.”

Greenwich buzzes lightly nodding his head some, starting to solidify himself.

Gingers eye turns to the newly created crystal ponies all of them staring at her in shock and awe as light from the hall behind her shines through the dragonflies covering her sending a dancing rainbow of light through the room that only seemed magnified by the crystal forms of the ponies gathered around her..

“You're all ponies. Horns, wings, or nothing, none of that matters, you're just ponies.” Ginger's eyes closes, the stone forming over it. “Be good.”

The last words were barely a whisper before the pony that had saved them turned fully to stone. The rough rock still holding a pony shape, covered in frozen crystalline dragonflies.

=========================================================

Deep in the heart of what would eventually be called Equestria, a monster paused in his actions.

The herd of buffalo he had been ripping apart took the brief pause in his pursuit and eradication of their tribe as a chance to flee.

The monster barely paid attention to the stampeding herd running off to where ever they were going, something greater was happening. A great wave of energy was coming from the north.

The realization hit him a moment later. The red and black furred monster ground his teeth together with a snarl, his hands clenching, pulping the limb of a buffalo corpse he had been playing with.

He flung the corpse aside lifting his hands into the air with a great bellow of anguish and rage. His brother, Scorpan, was dead. He needed no visual proof of this, he could feel it. He knew who had done it as well. He had told Scorpan to meet him there when he was done playing with the pegasi. There were rumors and memories of the ponies he had claimed that hinted of pony gods in that area. Ponies that represented all three tribes in one body. These gods surely were the ones who killed Scorpan, nothing else could have touched his brother.

Of course he had eventually planned to kill Scorpan himself, family or not and take what power Scorpan had gained into himself, but now that was denied him. Revenge would be his, though the trek north was long. Thankfully there were a number of pony settlements that he could feast on along the way.

“You should have simply given up ponies.” Tirek sneers. “Now I will make you suffer for this.”

Author's Note

Sorry this was a week later than my blog post said, but things happen..... like metal gear 5... and work.. and stuff.

This chapter has a lot going with it, origins of the Crystal Ponies, Changelings, Breezies and even why star metal works, though i might need to clarify that.

Equss is a magical place. the magic gets into everything as it was around since the world was created. Starmetal has no imbued magic like metal mined from Equss, thus it is disruptive to the natural magic of things.

This is not to say it cannot be enchanting, in fact the sudden flood of power into the metal tends to make the enchantment stronger as there's no background magic to interfere with it. Think of it like drawing a picture on paper. Equss ore is like drawing on notebook paper, it may look awesome, but the lines in the paper lessen the work unless you work harder to hide them. Starmetal is like a clean white sheet, anything you put in it will be all that is in it.

As for why everything is not made of starmetal there are several reasons. Gods systematically tend to purge large quantities of it to protect themselves. Most meteorites burn up in the atmosphere, though a great deal get through particularly in the wide spaces of the northern climates that Dragons and crystal ponies inhabit.

The two most famous SiS star metal weapons, The Waning Moon and the Brilliant Dawn were both forged by a dragon smith that owed the Princesses a favor. [ Might cover his story in a tales in stone.

The Waning Moon was made from raw ore and enchanted by Luna herself to increase it's durability strength and power. [ In D&D terms it gives a Con, Str, BAB bonus with Keen and never dull on it, the moonfire glow is an aftereffect. The Waning Moon may also have been enchanted enough to be sentient, but so far all it does is prevent anyone but it's wielder and creator from using it's powers. It doesn't fight against any one picking it up, it's just stupid heavy without the enchantments working. Rose and Bleu can move it simply due to how much they can lift.

The Brilliant dawn by comparison was forged the same way, but it didn't use ore, it used reforged draconic star metal weapons that Celestia had acquired. Overall this make the Brilliant Dawn a bit weaker as it had more background magic in it from the first time dragon fire forged it. Otherwise the enchantment list is exactly the same save the extra bits involve a burning sun aura instead of moon fire. Jer'rahd is strong enough to lift the weapon, but he cannot wield it as it does not recognize him as it's master.

the next chapter is the end of the Changes arc and the one after that brings us back to the main story.

Changes, part 4 [29]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Changes
Part 4

The mare woke with a scream, sitting up suddenly and violently, and just as quickly blacking out and collapsing back into the bed.

A grayish blue stallion with a long beard wearing a multicolored scarf that nearly wrapped around his head and torso, jumps awake with a start his wings fanning to keep himself in the chair as the mare screams.

“By the stars mare, don't do that, I'm not sure if I can be killed by a heart attack and I don't want to find out!” Starswirl grumbles.

The stallion shakes his head as the dark alicorn before him stirs again.

“Starswirl? What happened?” the mare mutters.

“Far more than I like Crystal. Try to relax I have a lot to explain. I thought I would have a long while to go before I needed to explain this. I was going to write notes and everything before I told any pony. So much for that.”

“What's going on? What happened at the battle? Where's....” Crystal starts demanding

“Mare I do not say this lightly, but shut up, and let me talk. I am quite angry at the moment and a small part of that is directed at you when I know very well that it should not be. Part of the reason I am try and distance myself from emotions like this they are far too confusing. I am well aware that you never asked for this and while my mind acknowledges it my feelings do not. All I see when I look at you is that you should be some one else. Now that that has been explained and you have a reason why I might come off as snippy I can start explaining and we can get out of here and do what else needs to be done.” Starswirl rubs his head with a hoof. “ Now first off you have only been asleep for a little over two days. Rather a short time for a forced transfer like what was done.”

Crystal winces as he explains, slowly sitting up and looking down at the holes in her hooves before turning her gaze to the room she was in. She noted it was one of the hospital rooms, though it was completely empty save her bed in the very middle of the room with a light and a chair for Starswirl.

“Are we in a dream?”Crystal asks.

“No. Sorry I yelled. It is rather rude for me to pop into a dream without permission, and at this point I wasn't sure what the effect would be. I've only seen this happen from the other side so I don't know what a dream walk might screw with. Now then what I have to say does not leave this room. The only one you will ever tell this too will be the one who replaces me or the one you choose to replace you. Hopefully though I will be around to do that myself. And I will have notes made.”

“What?”

“You are an alicorn now Crystal. A god of pony kind. And a rather strange one at that given you are not quite a pony any more. Your body is made up of the three pony races, as well as what you were changed into. While that itself is not a race per say you did managed to.. eject a good bit of fluid while you were asleep that has the same properties as the contents of the eggs. And no that is not normal for an alicorn, though I have collected some of it and I think I can replicate it for something. I'll explain that later.”Starswirl comments noticing Crystal's stare. “Your well of magic, your stamina, strength and the power you can channel have all been increased. Not sure if you can still change into other forms , but I would assume that it is to be the case. Becoming a god usually adds to your abilities. Your primary power is the ability to peer, manipulate, and even enter others daydreams. It's a counter to my ability to walk through the dreams of those slumbering.... I do not, in fact, have narcolepsy, despite the rumors. You could fly before but I'm sure your ability has improved and will be even better with practice.
For all purposes you are also now immortal. You are not invincible however. Other gods can kill you as if you were a mortal, though the same is true of them. That itself keeps the peace better than anything else. No god wants to anger another god that they are not sure they cannot beat in a fight. Powerful magics can also do you harm and kill you, though the power level required to do so would be enough that it would likely have to come from a god. Still it was very specifically explained to me as a separate thing, so I am passing that on to you. Also I theorized that the metal Hammer worked with could kill a god...... unfortunately now I have proof.”

“How am I a god? I was just a unicorn, then a whatever I was.” Crystal questions.

“There are three types of god in this world. Natural born gods who are born with their power. Artificial gods, who achieved the power utilizing dark magics and then there are the few like us. Gods who have the power passed onto us by the previous god.”

“What? Wait..... Mobius...”Crystal mutters.” What did he do?”

“What he did was realize he was dying. He passed his power onto you for some reason to prevent it from going with him into death. I am not sure what happens when a pony god dies with their power. Perhaps a foal will be born as a god some time later, but it's not something i wish to test. There are only two pony gods, perhaps in the past there were more and they died taking their power into the afterlife with them. This should be kept silent as I do not want other ponies to know that the power of a god can be passed onto any one. That would make some things difficult with numerous ponies looking to bribe threaten or simply take the power. It is also one reasons we do not reveal ourselves. There are others but I will get into that later.”

Crystal flinches at the bite in Starswirl's voice though she knew now why he was mad.

The stallions expression softens. “Again, sorry. I should not be mad at you. You did not kill my friend and according to Slate you were the one who finally stopped Scorpan long enough for Hammer to finish him. I should be thanking you and we should be celebrating the defeat of one monster and planning the death of the next. But there are several issues to address. “

“Do I want to know?” Crystal mutters shifting a little as she looks back at her feathered wing spreading from her back with no small bit of awe and worry.

“Mobius, Finnah and at least seven others of the strike team are dead. The rest suffered some sort of injury or at the very least some mental trauma. Slate has a cracked rib and Ghost has sprained both her wings, not to mention the loss of both their parents at once. Hammer should not be walking around , let alone trying to work, but he's stubborn. Luckily Cloud Dust keeps him from doing anything too strenuous.”

“What about Sunray ? Crystal asks. “Also where are Ginger and Greenwich, I figured they both would be here.”

“Sunray was poisoned by Scorpan's stinger. I expected the damage to be worse, though the poison is a strange thing. It bears similarities to the effects of a blue plant that grows in the forests of the south, north of the Zebra's lands. Generally the effects are harmless and somewhat silly from what few cases of it I've seen, though I doubt Sunray thinks the poison's a joke. She'll be fine though, I don't know how long she will be like she is however. We don't even have a name for the plant let alone a cure. As for Ginger and Greenwich..... perhaps it would be best that I show you.”

==================================================

Crystal sat down hard looking at the ruins of the empty room. The stone walls ceiling, floor and beds were covered in crystalline growths around rents and damage to the walls. Starswirl said it was where the magic bolts had struck. A few small dragon flies flitted about the room, though even more of them had landed and turned to stone around the central pillar in the room.

Crystal stared at it blinking slowly as Starswirl explained, the vague shape of a pony was visible in the middle of the pillar, though it was much larger than the pony that it had once been. Even though the main crystal seemed to be growing, it was doing so around the dragonflies as not to cover them up or absorb them. . A green one in particular had caught Crystal's eyes and she focused on it and what looked like a bit of a mares muzzle it was resting on.

“............We have already written the hospital off as lost and moved the other ponies to a new area. The crystal has grown through two of the three floors already and is spreading out on each. It doesn't seem to be going past the building however.”

“It won't …....”

“What?” Starswirl asks. “ What do you mean?”

If Ginger did this she wouldn't try to hurt any one. Not sure why it's spreading around the building, but it's not covering the dragon flies so it wont hurt anything living. Likely the grass walkway will stop it from expanding.” Crystal sighs.” Also Greenwich and the others say it's okay......”

“Fascinating,”Starswirl mutters flicking the trailing end of his scarf over his shoulder with a huff. “I can't detect anything, but you might be tapping into the dreams of the Dragonflies. I theorized they might be awake in this state, but I never could test it and Mobius didn't care. Hmm perhaps Ginger will hatch into something like they will.”

“No. She's gone....... yet I can still feel something from all this crystal that she became. Oh, so that's what it is.” Crystal slowly smiles.

“What what is? Don't be cryptic I hate that.” Starswirl grumbles. “ No sense making up a riddle when a proper answer will do just as well with less time.”

“Huh, oh sorry. Ginger is dead, I..... I can feel that. But at the same time she's not gone... she's well ,every where.”

“The crystal?”

“I think so. I don't know why it's growing, but the feeling that it's giving off is the same as she did. A strange mix of things, though Greenwich and the other dragon flies all feel the same and it's just …...”Crystal chuckles her ears still drooped as she looks back at the crystal taking up most of the room. “Such a delicious thing.....”

“What is?

“Love.”

********************************************************

The story stops abruptly as Discord and Pinkie burst through the page.

“BABY DON'T HURT ME , DON'T HURT ME, NO MORE!!” the pair sing loudly and off key as a baseline plays in the background. A dark gray rabbit quickly grabs the two by the tail, dragging the pair of head bobbers away so the story can resume.

*****************************************************

Crystal blinks as a tiny figure flits around her head, cussing and carrying on as she vents.

“Bucking useless, that's what I was and then this shit happens, if I would have known this was the result I would have stayed here and freaking stopped that tripod from doing.. well whatever the heck she did!” Sunray rants in a surprisingly squeaky voice. She was also barely an apple tall now.

“If you weren't so angry, you'd be adorable. Granted you still sort of are...” Crystal giggles getting a tiny hoof kick to the nose for her amusement. “Ow, okay less cute now. Calm down.”

“A lot of shits gone down and I lost a number of friends in the past to the war, now, I lost another one. I am NOT calming down. I need this poisonous joke or whatever to be removed and we need to go destroy Tirek before he gets to us.”Sunray hollers.

“It's not that easy. Starswirl mutters.”I've deduced that Scorpan's death is what caused the feed back that stopped the hearts of the comatose ponies. Tirek evidently has a higher body count and his death would cause far more ponies to die. There are a number of hidden settlements and ponies in hiding that are trying to tend the comatose ponies they have. There are already far more deaths than we can take. We might no longer be a species if all the ponies die.... I'm not sure what happens to gods without subjects.... ”

“So what are we going to do then?” Crystal asks.

“What we are going to do is make sure Sunray stays in bed. That gash one her side from the stinger is not even close to being healed. Also you seem to have opened it again. ” Starswirl glares at the tiny bug pony, who glares back and simply becomes more adorable from the effort. “You are hard enough to work on in your current state without you making the wound worse, so sit down.”

“Do you have a plan? Because I doubt the same trick would work on Tirek that worked on Scorpan even if we did want to kill him.” Crystal admits.

“I might have something. Mobius and I discussed it before he... died... and it may be the best plan left. Although it seems something has changed.” Starswirl ponders as Sunray lands back on her bed. “ Crystal since you have been here who have you met and associated with? Aside from Ginger and Sunray I mean.”

“Not sure what that matters.” the dark alicorn mutters.

“Humor me Crystal.” Starswirl comments. “It matters more than you might realize.”

“You're talking about those things aren't you.” Sunray chimes in. “ I was under the impression that Ginger and I were part of that. You act as if I am not now?”

“I can't directly tell, but there is no longer the connection there once was, I wasn't as good as Mobius at detecting the relationship, but I can feel this change. It may have something to do with Ginger's death or the fact you are racist against unicorns and only Ginger kept you in check enough to start to like Crystal.”

“I'm working on that.” Sunray mutters.

“And recent events have brought it back to light. Your friend died and a unicorn is indirectly responsible.” Starswirl sighs. “I know you are not like you were at first, but evidently the anger you feel is enough to remove you from the link.”

“I have no idea what either of you are talking about.” Crystal glares.

“ It's of little consequence right now, though we can discuss it at length if my hunch is correct after we are finished with this.”Starswirl waves a hoof. “ Now who else have you associated closely with in your time here?”

“Slate Quake, Ghost Dancer, and I worked together quite a bit on combat training with my new body, I've been at the forge with Hammer and Cloud Dust quite a bit they were telling me about the Greenwich and the Crystal Dragon flies. Greenwich of course. “Crystal ponders.

“That's five....... Not counting Greenwich due to his current state.” Starswirl mutters. “ Was there anyone else?”

“Not that I can think of.” Crystal admits.

“Storm Front was always hanging around as well.” Sunray calls out.

“Yeah I suppose he was. I think he was around more than any one else.” Crystal admits. “Ugh... I bet he's gonna hit on me even more now.”

“You don't like him?” Starswirl asks.

“No, that's not it. He's fine most of the time, it just annoying when he gets flirty, I'm not interested in Griffons.” Crystal sighs. “He's been helpful and he's nice enough when he's focused on something else.....”

“That may change in time. You will likely have a lot of that..... “ Starswirl snorts. “Come on I need to check on something and you need to talk to Slate and Ghost Dancer.”

“I … I would rather not...... “ Crystal's ears flatten. “ If I had been quicker their father and mother might still be alive.....”

“I want the full story on what went down after I hit the tree and was knocked the buck out. Like why Crystal looks like she does now.” Sunray rants.

“Not coming with me?” Crystal smirks sheepishly.

“No, Starswirl is correct in that I shouldn't have got out of bed. Now that the rush of adrenaline is over, I hurt big time.”Sunray grumbles. “My wings not even fully healed yet.”

“Do you need me to get a doctor?” Crystal asks.

“No I'm fine in that, it all just hurts.” Sunray sighs rubbing what appeared to be a band aid on her side that likely was the bandage covering all her stitches. “Nothing broke open just seeping wound.....Anyway, go see the dragons. I doubt they will blame you for anything.”

Crystal nods though she could feel something from Sunray, not spicy, but burnt, a charcoal taste that she could feel the power from, though the flavor was horrid.

=================================================================

Crystal blinks looking between Ghost Dancer and Slate Quake. Slate was angry, though it wasn't directed at her for the most part, the faint lingering taste of burnt something hung around him. Identifying it as anger made her worry more about Sunray. The half dragon stallion's expression was a slightly harder version of his usual look, though unless you had been looking longingly at him for as long as Crystal had it wasn't noticeable. There was also a lemony flavor that clung to him that should couldn't identify. It was weak, though plentiful. Those two flavors masked a thicker flavor that clung around everyone she had seen on the way here, though the siblings had the odd cross between nutmeg and sour milk around them in spades. Sadness?

Ghost Dancer was harder to read. Crystal could feel the mare's emotions, though they were a jumbled unpalatable mix. The sour sadness, the burnt taste of anger, the sweet berry taste of love, a crisp leafy flavor of what could be relief given it hit the moment she walked in the door, and a number of other emotions that Crystal had no idea where to begin in deciphering. There was one flavor that seemed strongest when Ghost looked at her, it was like grapes, delicious, and empowering, but not very filling.

Starswirl stood nearby and oddly the taste he was putting out was also a mix. There was the faint sweetness of love though something akin to an orange or some citrus fruit. Another oddity that she couldn't identify. His love also had a odd flavor too it, a lingering taste of strawberries.

“I'm sorry. I should have acted sooner. I didn't mean for this to happen like it did....” Crystal began.

“Don't.” Slate states flatly cutting her off. “We know you didn't mean for this to happen, we were there when he did it. You saved more lives than we lost in that fight. If you hadn't changed, none of us would have gotten out of there alive. You used a distraction to take advantage of the beasts weakness and crippled him long enough for Hammer to finish the job. There is no fault in this of yours. We also know what happened to Ginger. I am sorry to hear about that, but it was a noble sacrifice. Many will live who otherwise wouldn't have because of her actions. Not terribly different from what you did, although you fortunately survived.”

“Besides. He left us a note.” Ghost Dancer mutters. “ The jackass.”

“What?” Crystal asks.

“It was part of his will. Not like he had anything to give any one, granted his wife's horde was included. Mobius knew he was going to die when he faced Scorpan. He knew about it well before the fact it seems. His death was part of what he was told by Dublin a month ago. I was told to create the three of you and he was told that he would survive long enough in the battle to pass his power onto you.” Starswirl explains. “He was told Finnah was going to die as well and he did his best to stop her from going. I recall a number of arguments between the two about it while we were preparing. I cannot recall the pair of them ever arguing.”

“Of course mom refused. Repeatedly. So he gave up and tried to make their last few weeks the best he could.” Slate adds. “ I should have noticed something when he spent so much time with me while I was training. I shouldn't have blown him off to prepare.”

“He knew then why didn't he do something about it, why did he go at all?” Crystal asks.

“Dad was a big believer in fate and what the Dragon flies could predict. He claimed it was how he found mom, founded this village, and saved a number of ponies in the past. Dublin has been a friend of his as long as I can recall.”Ghost Dancer answers.

“That dragonfly has been around since as long as I can recall.” Starswirl snorts. “ There are tales matching his description from before even I ascended. Makes one wonder how long they really can live some times.”

“I was told that they could see a bit into the future before. Does that mean history yet to come is already set in stone?” Crystal asks.” Not sure I like the idea that what I choose to do was already predetermined.”

“Yes and no. Mobius was more interested in this than I am, but I did study it before I got bored with the lack of results.” Starswirl ponders “The future is not set in stone, but certain events in history both past and future , MUST happen. They may deviate a little here or there, but the end result is the same. For example if a foal had the choice of helping their mother in the kitchen or helping their father in the field. It may be required that the foal be out in the field, a sibling might become ill and have to stay inside to help their mother or their father might need extra help with something. All the actions that would result in the foal going out into the field to see some magic in the sky that gains them their cutiemark, something that would not have happened had they remained indoors. Granted even this is not unavoidable, ponies with enough power or force of will might very well change the very course of reality and carve out their own future as a parallel world to ours. There are set points in time, but ponies assume it's a strict progression of cause and effect, but actually from a non-linar, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more of a big ball of wibbly wobbly...timey whimey..... stuff.”

“Timey whimey?” All of them ask staring at the bearded alicorn, who hunches down in his over sized scarf a bit more wishing he had a hat to pull over his face.

“Oh shush, there's not a better description for it time is complicated, some one from the future might show up and tell you what happens and it only happens because they told you it did. What has and has not yet happened has already happened ,yet at the same time it has not, and can and cannot be changed at the same time. Big events have to happen, one way or another, smaller ones might be changed completely, but they still happen in some how.” Starswirl grumbles.

”You can divert the course of a trickle of water easily enough but the bigger it gets the harder it is to change.” Slate points out getting a look from Ghost Dancer. “ What? I listened when dad talked.”

“In any event and I hate to put it like this, but we have more important things to do than have a intelligent discussion on this. “Starswirl interrupts. “Question for you both, how close are you to Hammer, Storm Front, Cloud Dust, and Crystal?”

“Most I talked to Storm Front was about the training book I wrote. He was friendly enough. Helped me add a few things about Griffon training into the mix. I've already talked to you and dad about Crystal, I still find it odd.” Ghost Dancer responds. “And you have to ask about Cloud and Hammer? Cloud wants me to help plan the wedding.”

“Yeah I don't see that happening unless Hammer can stop being terrified he'll hurt her.” Slate mutters. “ I like Cloud Dust well enough and Hammer and I have been friends since he showed up here. I'm leery of Storm Front, but he has done what he can to help for no other reason than it's the right thing to do. I can respect that. As for Crystal I like her well enough....”

Crystal felt her heart skip a little at that as she fought to keep her face from turning red, though her whole body turned white briefly in response.

Slate blinks at that though ignores it other wise, though Ghost gets a small grin and seems to put on a scheming face.

“Like the others she's proven her skill and we would all be dead without her aid.” Slate finishes.

“I see.” Starswirl mutters narrowing his eyes at the pair of them.

Slate blinks returning the stare. “This is about them isn't it? You really think it's the six of us?”

“So far that is what I'm feeling. Tirek is still out there and we cannot use the same tactics as we did for Scorpan. So if possible we will be using plan B.”

“Really? I know we're friendly, but is it enough?” Ghost Dancer asks.

“I don't know, I can only tell there is a connection, not the strength of it. Granted I can only feel it primarily from Crystal and I can tell she has a connection to you two. Particularly you Slate.“Starswirl adds not noticing Crystal turn silver this time trying to hide the blush, though Ghost noticed that as well.

“Okay shut up now, about that. Mind telling me what's going on if you are talking about me?” Crystal snorts fanning her wings in annoyance, managing to flap herself off the chair with a crash. “Sonofa crap that's gonna take some getting used to.”

==========================================

“He's a warrior, I can respect that, his sister is quite brilliant as well with what she is writing. That will be of great use to future generations, I admire that.” Storm Front comments his head feathers fluffed up a bit as he keeps glancing between Crystal and Starswirl, answering the latters questions about Slate and Ghost, his curiosity at the line of questioning peaked.

Crystal shifts uncomfortably every time the griffon's attentions turn to her. The spicy taste from before was nearly overpowering with every glance. It didn't take some one who fed on emotions to realize that was pure lust. The emotion was filling, but Crystal didn't think she could stand it for long, nor did she think the energy from it would last as long as other emotions.

“And Hammer and Cloud Dust?” Starswirl muses.

“The former is a skilled warrior and smith. I would have liked to see him on the field when Scorpan was defeated. As for Cloud Dust... I can tolerate her, her antics can be amusing, but also can wear rather quickly. Still she has on more than one occasion attempted to negotiate some sort of treaty with the Griffons. She was rebuked by the majority, but that she is stubborn and brave enough to keep trying speaks volumes for her character. She is also head or was of the only Harpy roost that the Griffons tolerated on their lands.”

“And Crystal?”

“That is not a talk for polite conversation.” Storm Front admits with a small smirk and another glance towards the mare.

“Told you.” Crystal mutters to Starswirl who rolled his eyes.

==================================================

“Hammer like little pony. Though she is slightly bigger pony now. Greenwich choose her that was more than enough for Hammer. Yet still she manages to impress Hammer by nearly killing monster even after so many others fail.” Hammer states. “ She and Slate will make fine foals.”

Crystal blushes gold at the matter of fact tone Hammer shows. Starswirl rolls his eyes again, this whole venture giving them a work out. Could Dust just giggles and continues to try and braid Starswirl's beard without him noticing. Hammer and Crystal had both noticed and both were trying to keep Starswirl distracted with questions or slow comments the moment that he even slightly started to look down.

“Yes well we know your connection to both Slate and Ghost, as well as Dust, what do you think of Storm Front.”

“Hammer has not had any real contact with him. Hammer thinks he is brave enough and has seen his plans and fighting well enough in training. Hammer also know he wished to go fight and you stopped him. He does not mind Cloud Dust so Hammer has no issue with him.” Hammer states simply.

“Right then, Cloud Dust... STOP THAT!” Starswirl snaps yanking his partially braided beard away pulling out a multitude of bows that the Harpy had some how put in it. The group laughs lightly at that much to Starswirl's annoyance.

“Bah, Dust same questions. What do you think about Crystal?”

“I like her.”

“Storm Front?”

“I like him.”

“Slate?

“I like him?”

“Ghost Dancer?”

“I like her.”

“Hammer?”

“I really like him.”

Starswirl sighs rubbing his forehead blinking as he noticed that the Harpy had some how braided his mane as well.

“She is a quick one.” Crystal chuckles.

“Cloud Dust could you elaborate a bit more than that?” Starswirl grumbles.

The harpy points a wing at the bandaged minotaur.

“I really, REALLY like him.” Cloud Dust whispers.

===============================================

[Three days later.]

Crystal sighs rubbing the base of her horn with a hoof trying to alleviate the headache she had. Below her were the rolling plains that early explorers had called the 'Unicorn Range'. Ensuring here was no doubt as to which tribe had discovered it first. A weight on her back drew a small smirk from her, she didn't need to look to know it was Cloud Dust.

“How is he?” Crystal asks.

“Cranky. Hammer claims he's not used to walking this far, but he's still just hurting. What about you? You've barely said any thing since Swirly sent us south.” Cloud Dust comments.

“Too much is happened for me to really feel anything myself.” Crystal sighs slowly sitting up and gazing south at the massive expanse of forest they were to enter. “ I saw a god and a dragon die, I became a god myself, and lost my first non unicorn friend........”

“And then everything else you knew when Unicornia fell.” Cloud Dust finishes. “I can't say I know any of the first parts aside from missing Ginger, but I know the last far too well.”

“Grey Gem?”

“Yes. The only Harpy settlement to have any sort of peace with the Griffons.” Dust sighs. “That's gonna set Harpy Griffon relations back centuries too. Both races are far too territorial for our own good and we both like the same sort of places to roost. Makes it hard to look on the bright side of life when everyone you know is dead.”

“Yet you still do.” Crystal smiles a expression mirrored by the fox faced harpy.

“Of course. Some one has to. You're all so mopey, that won't do at all. I mean sure 'you' can be motivated and cheered up by looking at Slate's flank, just as Storm Front can be cheered up by looking at yours but not all of us are interested in equines.”

Crystal snorts. “No you just have to look at hammers butt and you're chipper again.”

“Look at? Oh heck no, I grab that thing, like two furry steel bread loaves those are, but just squishy enough for a good grip.”

“I didn't need that much information Dust.” Crystal shakes her head. “You think this will work?”

“The Elements of Harmony?” Dust ponders. “Swirly did say he could feel a connection between us all. And he did spend a great deal of his power teleporting us down this way yesterday so we could find these Elk. I expect we'll know more once we get there. The only thing that worries me is that Swirly is gonna direct Tirek towards us as well.”

“If Starswirl is correct we will need Tirek here so we can use the Elements of Harmony on him. Starswirl considered it may be the only way to save the ones Tirek has under his spell.” Slate adds in trotting up the hill to stand next to Crystal as he looked out over the forest. “Killing him is a last resort, we have lost far too many already.”

“There is a back up plan that we have implemented and it unnerves me.” Crystal admits.

“You mean that green goop you spit up while you were knocked out?” Cloud Dust asks.

“Err yes. Starswirl said that the 'goop' has the same properties as the stuff he soaked us in, though the process of it wouldn't take nearly as long using what I can produce.” Crystal mutters.”He had started treating the comatose ponies before we left as sort of a buffer in case Tirek needed to be killed.”

“Does that have anything to do with your screaming fit a few hours ago?” Slate asks. “ What made us camp early and why you've been avoiding everyone since?”

“........ yes though given as you and Dust are here , I'm not avoiding any one. At least a dozen ponies have been changed into what I am. I can hear them too, and if I focus, I can see what they do, hear what they hear and order them to do things, even this far away. They are not truly awake though. I can access their memories and see what sort of ponies they were , but there is nothing in them that makes them what they were. No spark of life or emotion.”

“Suddenly getting the memories of a dozen ponies dumped in your head. Yeah I'd be screaming too.” Cloud Dust admits.” So you can hear them? Sorta a hive mind? Neat.”

“You can make others like you then. “Slate nods running a hoof along the ruby wine colored beard he sported. Dust pouted claiming the half dragon only kept it short so she couldn't get to it with bows. “Useful in terms of military strength. I doubt the ponies who have changed will be happy to have their memories known by others.”

“Probably not, but they will be alive and if they do not like how they look they can change themselves to something else. “

“They changed in only two days though.... That's rather frighting.” Slate adds.

Crystal blinks noting the brief sliver of that strange grape flavor coming from Slate. She had an idea of what it was now, but she still wasn't sure.

“Not becoming afraid of me are you?” Crystal asks closing her eyes as the emotion vanished, replaced by another lemony one she had come to associate as relief, or worry.

“No, I am worried however. Everything you can do has the potential for great disaster if used improperly.”

“Well then you all just need to keep me grounded then. Make sure I don't do anything like that.” Crystal smirks. “ Especially you.” she mutters the last, though Cloud Dust titters, clearly having heard it.

“Not sure there is much I can do against a god.” Slate states.”The same can be said of Starswirl. Some of his studies I find very questionable.”

“Hmm... Cloud Dust go check up on Hammer for me would you?” Crystal comments sitting down atop the grassy hill. Starswirl would be mad about this , but she wanted Slate to trust her.

“Oooh want some time alone? Oooh I get it I get it, off I go, Don't do anything I wouldn't do.... and there's not much I wouldn't do... swim maybe, I sink like a rock.” Dust yammers fluttering off back towards the camp at the base of the hill.

Crystal glances back at the harpy as she flutters off before looking at Slate. “ You still have the sword Hammer made correct?”

“Yes despite what Starswirl wants I still have all of the armor and weapons Hammer made stored away. I can't keep them in the forge or the armory due to the way the metal warps magic around it. Why? Don't tell me you wish me to destroy them as well?”

“No. There's a reason he wants those items destroyed. I want the opposite. I want them saved. If I ever get out of hoof, or Starswirl does or my Changelings do, use that against us. The metal screws with my abilities and I'm sure it will with the Changelings. Starswirl has already said it's likely that the metal can be used to kill gods.”

“That explains much.” Slate ponders looking out over the forest before them. Crystal shivers a little at the rather dashing pose the half dragon made like that and had to fight to keep herself from changing colors in embarrassment, though one of the drones far away suddenly turned a bright lobster red. “Though this seems like something you should keep to yourself. Why tell me?”

“Because I trust you not to use it against me without a cause. You don't seem to like the amount of power I've displayed and it worries you. I'm giving you a counter for us if you ever need one. I would also suggest you and Hammer keep looking for more of that ore. It worked well enough against Scorpan in the end.” Crystal comments.

“And against my father.” Slate growls as Crystal flinches.

“That too. At least we know it works against gods.”

“Indeed.”

===========================================================

Tirek frowns, looking at the creature splattered on the ground before him. He reaches down picking up the shatter remains of a mostly intact limb , noting the black carapace and holes near the hoof. He had no idea what it was supposed to be. It looked like a bug of some kind but the size and shape of a pony. It bled green and was surprisingly fast and agile.

He had been swarmed by nearly a dozen of the creatures earlier in the day and had been harassed by them his entire time in this little forest. He had been trying to save his magic for the confrontation in the north with the pony gods, but finally lost his cool with trying to swat the bother some creatures when one of them managed to stab his eye. The wound healed almost as soon as it was made, though he lashed out with magic instantly. He had injured several though only killed this one, the others fled back into the forest. The rest some how managed to vanish from his magical senses as quickly as they appeared. He wanted to destroy them all , but to use that much magic to destroy a forest of this size would drain him more than he liked, there were pony gods that needed killing.

Then again. Maybe these things were what had killed Scorpan? He wasn't sure how. He didn't feel any different from their attacks save his anger had cooled a little, likely by the strangeness of the new creatures more than anything else.

His head snapped up hearing a rustle in the bushes and he caught a glimpse of a brown creature with a white tail and odd horns, bounding off into the brush away from him. His stolen memories identified the creature, as well as where it was from.

An Elk? This far north? Was it responsible for the bug things? Was there was a connection here to his brothers death? Perhaps this was not the work of rumored Pony gods but something else.

The great beast pondered briefly wondering what was going on. His brother was attacked and killed and now he was attacked randomly as well. It could be a diversion, but at the same time it seemed to him more like they were testing his strength. Had his anger not been eased he would have likely raged right into a trap, one that might be more than he could handle if it was the same that killed Scorpan.

Perhaps a little back tracking was in order. He could find and torture some elk for information. The cutiemarkless beasts were barely worth his time, but now. Now he wanted to know why one was here at the edge of the pony lands and this close to the former unicorn capitol as well as what their connection to the bug things was.

===================================================

“The scouts have reported Tirek is going south again sir.” one of the strange bug ponies mono-toned to Starswirl.

The alicorn offered a small grin that his plan had worked. He wasn't fond of the idea that if the others failed he had targeted the Elk for Tirek, but it was a risk that had to be taken. Moonshine had known the risks when he agreed to watch over the Element's of Harmony so many years ago. Starswirl smirked in remembering his friend. The elk had died a long long time ago, but it was hard to forget a friend so Generous that he was able to wield a Element of Harmony. The Elements had been in Whitetail Woods since that time, a location that kept Cocotte from gaining access to them when she turned on the rest.

Starswirl frowns remembering how all that turned out in the end. He still felt bad that Greenway's Loyalty to them all had been what cost the poor Diamond Dog his life. He had not been willing to believe that Cocotte could be responsible for what was going on at the time. Who would have expected the former bearer of Compassion to attempt such dark harmful magics?

She had pulled the wool over all their eyes. Endwise the Yak and Baker the Earth Pony had found the same end from the pegicorn mare. Laughter and Honesty fallen to a former friend just as Loyalty had..

By the time Starswirl had gone to deal with her, she had vanished without a trace leaving only a new race of mismatched creatures in her wake that called themselves Draconequus. Shortly afterward Mobius and a alicorn calling himself the Third showed up and offered Starswirl godhood.

He still wasn't sure why he accepted. He hand nothing to live for with all his friends dead and his former lover missing. He supposed he simply agreed to have time to figure out the Draconequus and how they were created, along with what had happened to Cocotte. Still he was certain he would screw up and they would take the godhood away before long.

“Nice to see I wasn't the only one worried about becoming a god.” Crystal states wandering into his daydream of his memories.”This explains why you are so focused on your experiments and not your relationships with others.”

“Crystal” Starswirl growls.”It's rude to step into others dreams without permission! I know I said that!”

“I had permission, you told me to check in after the Changelings finished diverting Tirek.” Crystal grumbles. “So I am. It's not my fault you were day dreaming about something you didn't care to share.”

“By the stars what happened to the quiet respectful mare I rescued from death?” Starswirl grumbles.

“She lost some friends, fought in a war, killed a god slayer, became a god, had her home town and family wiped off the map, and was then sent off with the few friends she had left to recover artifacts that might work all while having another god slayer sent after her and her friends as if it was already guaranteed to work, which it is not. Let's not forget I'm the progenitor of a new race now and have the collective minds of the lot of them bouncing around in my head.” Crystal grumbles. “Tirek is in motion to where we are going, if we are not actually accepted by the Elements of Harmony we are all going to die, Starswirl. Tirek cannot drain any of us so he is going to start with the killing instead of trying to capture. So excuse me if I'm a little snappy with all that's happened in a month and with my life on the line, AGAIN.”

“Here I thought I was the one who was supposed to be angry having lost my companion of longer than some mountain ranges have been around. Excuse me if I request a little respect for my position, my age, and everything I've been through in my life from some one who owes me their life.”

“Oh I respect you, like Ghost respects her brother.” Crystal growls.

“What? Ghost thinks Slate is a idiot.......... oh clever girl.”Starswirl glares at the image of the dark mare.

“Thank you.. 'brother'...” Crystal grins. “ And don't write off my age Starswirl. I might be young, but I've got a collective of nearly three thousand years worth of memories from the ponies you converted to Changelings. I recall things from their foal hood with perfect clarity that even they forgot. I know how to bake , kung fu, and the proper stitches to put in a wedding gown versus the grooms suit. A few of them knew of you and their opinions are not high, you're an angry wanna be hermit. Now is there anything else you want to add? We're about to head into the forest.”

“No. That should be it. I'll know if you get the Elements. “ Starswirl notes a small smirk crossing his muzzle. “I never expected you to be this annoyingly head strong and sarcastic. I think Mobius chose the wrong mare.”

“That we agree on.” Crystal replies stepping out of the dream.

===================================================

The Elk had met and surrounded the six of them the moment they set hoof in the woods. Crystal found that one of her Changelings could understand the language, and an adjustment of her own vocal cords allowed Crystal to speak with them as well.

The Elk were of course wary of them, though at the mention of Mobius and the Element's of Harmony they were escorted to the village to meet the Elder by the name of Redwall.

Redwall barely said anything and simply listened to the quick recount of all that had happened. After a time the old doe rose and hobbled along a path behind her tree Speaking with a few of the Elk along the path sending them bounding off into the forest and becoming the six to follow her.

After a short walk, that took a bit longer due to keeping up with the old doe's hobbling pace, the group of them arrived at a clearing within the roots of a great oak tree. In the shade of the old oak grew a marvelous sight.

In the middle of the clearing a crystalline tree rose from the soft grass between the larger tree's roots. The nearly pure white structure rose from the forest floor with crystal roots outstretched into the ground. The trunk was as big around as Hammer though five branches radiated of a central point of the trunk like an open fan. Sunlight that filtered through the oak's branches occasionally struck the crystalline tree sending rivulets of prismatic light dancing across the clearing as the breeze shifted the leaves in the tree above it making the whole tree seem to pulse and dance with light.

The branches of the crystal structure all bore odd lumps evenly spaced apart on all the branches with another one in the middle of the tree where the branches spread from the trunk.

Two of the lumps were dim as if there was something missing from them. The central one was dark as well, though the other three flickered with their own life and energy. Each of the marks had a strange glyph or shape seemingly growing out of it. Crystal and the others recognized the central mark as matching the odd swirl of Starswirl's cutiemark. The others were unrecognizable however.

Redwall hobbles up to the tree patting it on the side, the crystalline tree hums softly at the doe's touch.

[“ This is the Tree of Harmony. It has rested in this grove since before the time of my fathers, fathers, father, and so on. The Elk guard this place and keep it hidden. It has been passed down that the alicorns Mobius or Starswirl would eventually send some one here one day to reclaim what slumbers here.”] Redwall explains, giving pause to allow Crystal to translate to the others. [“ The tree will decide if you are worthy of wielding what it holds. Be warned however, in my great grandfathers time three of the lights went dim. No one knows why, but nothing has changed since then, I do not know if it was something that was supposed to happen, or something that will cause you issue in your quest. I cannot be of any other aid as I know not what to do. In any case I will leave you to it. I have an evacuation to the lower caverns to start. If this Tirek comes here, you will be on your own. My first task is the safety of the Elk first and agreements my ancestors made far down the list.”]

[“Thank you for even this much.”] Crystal bows a little, something mimicked by the others.

[“Good luck young ones.”] Redwall nods before hobbling off leaving them alone in the clearing.

“So what now? “Storm Front asks walking up to the tree, looking it over.

The others move closer as well pacing around the tree, examining it from all angles.

“Hammer thinks perhaps we should try and pick the odd things? Maybe like a fruit?” Hammer ponders looking at the odd spots on the branches with symbols.” Though they seem in the branches not like any real fruit....”

“Oh I got it!” Cloud Dust states flying off Hammer's shoulder and grabbing at one of the odd bulges with her claw.

Hammer shouts out, making a grab at her and both of them touch the tree and vanish. The Minotaur's massive ax falling to the ground with a thud.

The other four leap back away from the tree in a panic.

“What the heck just happened?” Ghost Dancer yells.

“They vanished? Or were they disintegrated?” Crystal hisses.

Storm Front stares at the tree curiously moving back closer to it. ”That was no disintegration spell. Nor was it any sort of teleport, The electrical energy around the tree just went up a little though.. Crystal can you find them by their dreams?”

Crystal pauses, closing her eyes though she opens them a moment later.

“No, but I can sense them. I just can't pop into their day dreams. It doesn't feel like they are focused or asleep, it feels more like I am being blocked by something.” Crystal mummers.

“This might be the test?” Slate considers. “It did nothing when Redwall touched it.”

“She wasn't being tested.” Ghost Dancer responds.

“That is my belief. I doubt the Elk were lying. “ Storm Front nods scratching the underside of his beak with a talon. “I expect we are all supposed to touch it and deal with the test proper.”

“Well it beats standing around here waiting for Tirek to show up.” Ghost grumbles moving closer along with the others.

“Let's do this then.” Crystal states as the four of them reach up and touch the tree.

==============================================================

Crystal's eyes snap open to view nothing. No that wasn't quite right, looking around she was on a field of black with nothing around her. She could see her own legs and form if she looked back. Her body had a soft green glow around it. The glow didn't come from her , but rather it seemed to be a light that remained behind her lighting up her silhouette no matter how she looked at herself.

“ Ah there you are Chrysalis.. or is it still Crystal? We have been expecting you for some time, or would we have been expecting you for no time at all? Does waiting backwards count? Well in my case I've been curious about this point in time for a while when I was still alive so I guess I have been waiting. I never did hear the story myself first hoof.” comments a calm female voice.

Crystal turns back from looking at herself and was greeted by the sight of a lavender unicorn mare with dark purple hair sporting a strip of mauve in it. The mare had a cutie mark of a six pointed star surrounded by a number of other small stars making the total count of points on her mark forty two. Crystal found the mare odd as she could feel no emotion from her.

“Who are you?”Crystal asks. “ The Guardian of the Element's of Harmony?”

“Me? Well, I've been called that by some, but no. I'm just a pony who has used the Element of Magic on several occasions over the course of my life. More than any one else here I think, but that's it. Seems I am some what of a legend in some of their eyes. Well the ones that came after me any way. Okay so then we have a bit of a issue, she's not responding to any of us. I don't recall this ever happening, but since you're here at this point in time, that must mean you fix it, otherwise nothing that hasn't happened yet will. Granted I'm still here so clearly it happened. Or will.”

“Err that doesn't tell me who you are. And what do you mean we? Also fix what?” Crystal snorts looking down at the mare.

“Oh right sorry I got a bit ahead of myself. My name is ….. hmm that 'could' cause problems given I'm from the future, just call me Sparkle. Was so used to that being the only part of my name ponies said while I was Princess any way.”

Crystal blinks trying to take all of this in.

“As for the we.... well..... “ Sparkle begins.

The darkness around Crystal suddenly ignites up with unfathomable points of light all shining a differing coloration's and filling the darkness like the stars in the night sky.

There were a number of alicorns, countless ponies and other creatures including a few that Crystal couldn't even understand what they were or if they were even creatures at all. She swore one of them looked like a tree and another a boulder. Like the purple mare she felt no emotions from any of them.

The closest ones to her were a white earth pony mare with a pink mane and tail, whose cutie mark was a burning tree. If looks could kill Crystal would likely be dead. Crystal didn't need to be able to feel the mares emotions to recognize anger and hatred.

Next to her was a platinum blue maned pegasus with some odd twin bladed sword on her grayish blue flank that was curved into a crescent. She had a soft smile, and green eyes that danced with untold mischief.

Hiding behind the pegasus mare's legs was a small zebra filly with a red stripes and a short crystal horn. The filly couldn't have been more than six at best and she clung to the pegasus like the mare was her mother.

Next to them was a familiar looking dark green pegasus and a long bearded gray unicorn.

“Mobius? Starswirl? What what is going on here? What are you doing here?” Crystal stammers looking at Mobius. “You died....”

“Well I'm still alive at this point in time I hope.” Starswirl mutters. “I don't recall dying against Tirek, as I recall I died in bed surrounded by my foals and grand foals.”

“Some mare finally couldn't resist the beard and wouldn't take no for an answer hmm?” Mobius chuckles.

“Stuff it you.”

“Let me make this as clear as I can. All of us were bearers of the Element of Magic. All the points of light behind us and around you were all Bearers that came before and after you throughout all time since their creation and what lies beyond the end of everything. All of us here have lived our lives and died, how you see us now is how we were when we first wielded the Element of Magic. Our actual selves have gone on to our afterlife, but these echos exist here within the Element itself due simply to how much of ourselves we put into the Element's use. Until you arrived, the you that was from when you first used the Element was here as well. Of course we only have the knowledge we had when we used the element's last so having used it the most I have the greatest store of history and knowledge of the past.... also I get bored easily and try to learn everything from the ones who came after me.” Sparkle rambles. The group that is closest to you the six of us are the ones who wielded Magic the closest to your time with the Element. The exception to this is the one before Mobius and after you that gave into darkness.”

“Gave in and were not redeemed.” The pegasus mare states. “Some of us fell, but fought to bring our selves back to the light. Remember that, and that we said you were here before you arrived.”

“So why am I here? What am I supposed to fix?” Crystal asks.

“Bonnie. Or Harmony, or what ever you want to call her.” Mobius sighs, pointing with a wing to a spot behind Crystal.

Crystal looks back blinking at a spot of darkness in the otherwise illuminated night sky surrounding her. In the middle of the darkness a form lay huddled, a small black alicorn, her wings wrapped around herself quietly sobbing.

“Who's that?” Crystal questions.

“As I said that's Bonnie. Currently two of her friends have vanished and she is having a hard time dealing with it. She's a bit of a emotional wreck right now. Until she's at least functioning the Element's cannot be used at all.” Sparkle states. Mobius and Starswirl glare at her though she waves them off. “ Logic and my history point to you being the one to snap her out of this. None of us have had any success with it, so go do your thing.”

“You shouldn't tell her everything Sparkle.” Mobius grumbles. “That sort of information could cause problems. Self fulfilling prophecy and all that.”

“AJ told me what I tell her. This part might not have happened yet for you, but it's already the far past for me. I have a few things to tell her before I'm done, because I already did tell her.”

“Timey whimy stuff.” Starswirl chuckles as Mobius rolls his eyes.

“Where are the others that touched the tree?” Crystal asks.

“Right now all your friends, with the exception of Slate Quake and Ghost Dancer, are talking to the Elements of Harmony that correspond to their Elements, much like you are with us......... wait who's taken over for Loyalty?” Sparkle questions.

“You need to ask?” the pegasus mare chuckles, resulting in Sparkle slapping her own face with her hoof.

“Was there no one else but Kaisur?” Sparkle groans.

“Well do you really think your bearer would have worked? She likely would have challenged him to a race to prove his worth.” The dark pegasus mare chuckles. “My Bearer of Kindness is also speaking with Ghost Dancer. Yours was terrified of her because she was a half dragon.”

“Do not worry Sparkle, mine are keeping tabs on my sister's Bearers..... both sets of her bearers. I do not trust Imbrium with Rarity.” the white earth pony states getting another chuckle from the pegasus.

“But that Minotaur would look so pretty. “ the pegasus chuckles.

Thank you Tia......and she's already gone... oh this should be good. I've always wondered how she snapped Bonnie out of her fugue state.” Sparkle smiles watching Crystal storm over to the balled up alicorn.

A resounding slap echos through the air as Crystal smacks the crap out of Bonnie with a hoof leaving the entire collection of Bearer's of Magic with their jaws dropped. A second slap sounds and is followed by a great deal of yelling.

“Did we forget to tell her who Bonnie was?” the white mare asks.

“Intentionally I would assume.” Starswirl sighs. “Keep in mind I had to put up with her for the next several thousands of years. This is pretty much how Crystal works. For what she is and what she became she rather dislikes subtlety and tact.”

=============================================

Crystal looks down at the mare with the shocked look on her face. Honestly Crystal should have been the one shocked, slapping this mare felt like belting a stone wall. Chrysalis curses lightly shaking her hoof trying to get some feeling back into it as she grabs the mare with her magic yanking her up to her hooves.

“Listen here, I don't care who or what you are, but if you need to snap out of this for the Element's to work in taking out Tirek then so help me I will keep hitting you until you do.” Crystal grumbles. “I'm not usually this pissy, but we are running out of time. I've had a really bad week and I've got the memories of some earth pony named Dan in my head, wanting me to swear revenge on everything, so I am NOT in a good mood. Now what is your issue!?”

“They're gone...” Bonnie mutters.

“Who's gone?” Crystal demands.

“Troph.... Grace.... I can't hear them any more, they were pulled away by something Zachle and what he made before..... I... I can't ….The five of them are all I have and now...... now two are gone..”

“Pulled away? They're dead?” Crystal blinks, her voice softening a bit.

“Zachle can't kill them, just as we can't kill him but....” Bonnie's whine was cut off by another smack to the face by a hoof, a curse from Crystal and a collective wince from the other gathered Magic Bearers.

“THEY'RE LOST AND NOT DEAD? For bucks sake mare I've had my friends DIE in front of me or around me and I couldn't do a damn thing. My whole family was wiped out when that son of a bitch, no offense...” Crystal comments to a Bearer of magic nearby who was a Diamond Dog. The dog shrugs and Crystal continues. “When that son of a bitch destroyed Unicornia. Beardy mac log up his ass over there said that likely half the population of Equss has been killed. Entire races have been wiped out in barely a month. Civilization is crumbling, Tirek is coming here and will kill me and the last few friends I have left, unless we get the Element's of Harmony working. That one over there told me I need to snap you out of this so that that can happen. So do forgive me if I put trying to save EVERYTHING above your two MISSING and NOT DEAD friends!” Crystal rants shouting in the other alicorn mares face. “If I have to keep slapping the crap out of you to get this thing to work to protect the only ones I have left I've got four legs and I'm more than content to keep going!”

“Beardy mac log up his ass?” Starswirl snorts trying to ignore Mobius's cackling form rolling on the ground next to him.

“Crystal that's enough. You have her attention, now maybe she'll listen. “ Sparkle trots over lifting a hoof up to stop the Changeling mare from striking at the other alicorn. “Harmony the monster plaguing the world now was created by an ally of your brother. Ponies and others that you all swore to protect are suffering and dying because of this monster. Do you really think that Troph and Grace, Loyalty and Compassion, would want you to sulk needlessly when you could be helping protect those who cannot do it for themselves? I promise you, you will meet them again.”

“Or is your friendship with them so weak that you don't trust them enough to be on their own for a bit?” Crystal snaps getting a glare from Sparkle. “ Not everything needs to revolve around just what you and they do together.”

“I...... you are right....... even without them the Elements still function, but.....” The alicorn lifts her head as if seeing the gathered horde of Magic Bearer's for the first time. “ You all should not be here.....”

“When the guardian of life, death, and magic goes missing a number of bad things happen.” Sparkle comments with a smirk. “ You have a lot to clean up before I talk to you again, and even more to do before I talk to you for the last time.”

“Time should not be this disjointed, all of you should not be here at this time, even in this place. Some of you are new souls, you should not even exist yet... How?” Bonnie blinks looking around.

“I called in a favor I was owed and we figured out how to get everyone here. Seems it's much easier to move through time in the starry void than in real space.”

“Who would be able to do that?” Crystal asks.

“Exactly. Twelve of him to be exact, I couldn't get the current one though, he isn't dead yet.”

Starswirl smirks and Bonnie blinks nodding lightly as Crystal simply looks confused.

“I need you all to go back then, echos or no you should not be here all at once.” Bonnie states, then looks at Crystal. “ And then I need to help this mare it seems.”

“It's covered but I need to talk to her for a moment first while everyone else goes back.” Sparkle comments.

“Spoilers Sparkle!” Mobius shouts.

“She already did this and this meeting is the only way she could have known to do it.” Sparkle yells back.

“Umm okay.” Crystal mutters looking down at the lavender unicorn.

“Crystal, there will come a time in your life when you are at your lowest, you will have been betrayed by one you trust and everything you love will seem to vanish in front of you. When that time comes, at the moment of your defeat you need to pass along the power of a god that you got from Mobius.”

“That is not very reassuring, or clear.”

“It's not supposed to be..... though I have to admit being cryptic like this is rather fun. I'm not even sure if you will remember everything I'm saying. I suppose not, but you need to remember this. When you finally fall, you will see that mare over there.” Sparkle points to the white earth pony mare that had been called Tia. “ She is the one who needs to inherent the power, she will eventually exact the revenge on your betrayer that you could not. But to do this she needs to be passed the power you have.”

“You are not making me look forward to my future Sparkle.” Crystal grumbles.

“You have over fifteen thousand years ahead of you Crystal before that happens. Plenty of time to do what you want and be happy. Now then I think the others are done as well. You have a world to save right?” Sparkle chuckles. “Oh and if you happen remember me next time we meet, know I won't remember you and it's best not to bring it up until the last time we meet.”

“This time stuff is annoying.” Crystal grumbles.

“It can be, though it can be fun too. Good luck.” Sparkle chuckles.

=========================================================

Crystal blinks as her eyes adjust to the sudden light . She was standing back before the Tree of harmony, though the glowing crystal tree was dulled now. Her gaze shifted around hearing some muffled grumbles and low voice chiding some one.

Glancing to either side of her she smiled softly seeing Storm Front and Slate to her left and Ghost, Dust, and Hammer to her right, the latter fussing softly at the Harpy who at least had the decency to look a bit embarrassed.

“I do not wish to go through that again.” Slate mutters shuddering. “Those ponies were insane. One kept wanting race me and the other just kept yelling at me like he was a mentally unstable trainer of soldiers.”

“I had a picnic with the ones I met, then we spent the rest of the time playing pranks on each other.” Cloud Dust giggles.” The pink one and the weird looking guy were really good at that. Though the big griffon was really, REALLY good.”

“One of Hammer's kept trying to give Hammer advice on picking up mares while the other offered Hammer clothing advice.....” Hammer rumbles scratching his head with his hand. “ The big sea pony just flirted with Hammer and the quiet one with the moon on her rear kept helping the others in what they were doing.”

“At least you had some of them talk to you. I spent the whole time talking to a zebra mare who rhymed everything, and a dark blue pegasus mare who spent the whole time trying to get some pink and yellow pegasus to stop hiding behind her. Soon as I showed up the pegasus screamed and hid behind the others.” Ghost Dancer sighs.

“The ones I met all looked as if they wished to kill me for some reason. When I questioned why they all told me they were not allowed to say. “ Storm Front snorts. “The Diamond Dog that was supposed to be the guardian however simply looked at me like he was disappointed in me.... it was very disturbing.”

“Don't let it bother you Storm Front. I expect you are not the only one who is going to to have issues in the future. There's little sense on dwelling on that now.” Crystal explains lifting her right leg up and looking down at the ornate gold bracelet that covered her limb from her hoof up to her second joint. A single green gem shaped like the gem of her cutiemark glowed in the center of it. “It seems no matter what the future holds we were accepted.”

The others look down as well. The half dragons bracelets were the same as Crystal's though they were silver. Slate's had what looked to be a simple blue rock in the center of it as the gem. Ghost's had a pair of hearts with wings in a soft pink.

Storm Front's was a copper coloration and some what less ornate than the others. It ran from his wrist joint to elbow. A yellow lightning bolt was the gem centerpiece.

Cloud Dust's bracer was on her rear leg as it would have caused issue with her wings if it was on any other limb. Her's seemed to be made of wood with a ornate spirals and carvings like the others though crystal was certain that she spotted laughing faces in the pattern on the bracer. The gem was a purple that matched Hammer's fur and seemed to be a banana at first until one looked close to see it was a Cheshire like grin.

Hammer's bracer covered from his wrist to his elbow and seemed to be made of a black stone. There was a small white gem in it that was in the shape of a feather. The big Minotaur seemed some what embarrassed by this, particularly with the harpy clinging to him.

“Well now that we all have something pretty. How do they work?” Ghost Dancer asks.

The crash of a tree behind them caused them all to whirl, Hammer and Slate snatching up their weapons from where they fell.

A towering red and black form that seemed to be a Minotaur's upper body fused onto a ponies body were it's head should be, stormed into the clearing giving the tree and those gathered the once over.

“What an odd little group. Two dragon cross breeds, a Minotaur, a Harpy, a Griffon god … and what ever you are. “ Tirek snorts looking at Crystal. “I suppose you are responsible for those bother some gnats earlier. Seems this was not a wild goose chase after all.”

“Tirek.” Crystal hisses as the others start to spread out to flank the great beast. Something he seemed unconcerned with.

“You know who I am clearly, something I am a bit proud of I must say. I do recognize the others. Storm Front, a few ponies I claimed from your former aerie say hello, or they would..... Ghost Dancer,The traders to that small little town of yours seemed rather obsessed with you. I suppose I can see why. Slate Quake, the same traders were rather fearful of you. Hammer, poor little discolored beast evicted from his home. And Cloud Dust one of the less screechy harpies some ponies have known. You lot have made quite the impression on a number of ponies I have claimed in my travels. But you mare, I am curious as to what you are. None I have taken have ever seen anything like you before. What are you?”

“Changelings. My kind are called Changelings.......” Crystal growls, using what Ginger had called her. She glanced down as her bracer started to glow the rest on her friends limbs following suit. “ As to who I am. My name is Crystal, and we are your end, monster.”

====================================================

The echoing cry of defiance the monster made finally finished it's reverberations off the stone around them. The glow around them faded slowly as well, slowly lowering the group back to the ground.

Crystal and Storm Front staggered, barely keeping their hoofs and paws, though both were panting heavily. Hammer sat down hard, catching Cloud Dust and cradling the unconscious Harpy in his lap. Slate and Ghost collapsed as well, though both remained awake.

The Elements on their limbs hummed softly for a few moments more before growing silent, their glows fading. Crystal lifted her head before sitting down, looking over their surroundings.

The forest itself was in ruins, the crystal tree demolished into little more than shards, a testament to the power that Tirek had unleashed.

The gaping crater that was deeper than many mountains Crystal knew of, was a testament to the power of the Element's of Harmony, as was the massive tree that rose from the center of the crater, branches extended towards the sun. It showed no sign of the evil that it had swallowed in it's rapid growth from a single shard of the Tree of Harmony.

“How was this even possible? A crater this deep and the only damage to the forest was done by Tirek? Even the river is still flowing.” Storm Front gapes looking around in awe.

“Tirek needed to be contained, but a tree the size of what he became would be noticed easily and investigated and possibly damaged. The element's simply pushed the ground down so the tree would seem no taller than any others in the forest. It knew about the Elk in the caves below and simply pushed them down too.....” Ghost Dancer mummers.

“If it kept pushing down does that mean there's a new mountain on the other side of the world?” Cloud Dust questions, stirring a little in Hammer's arms.

“Possibly a string of them. If there's water we might have made a new island chain in the far east. Something to check on later maybe.” Storm Front groans finally sitting down as well noticing a few Elk tentatively emerging from around the trees, having come up from the caverns the moment everything went silent.

“What about the ponies who fell?” Hammer asks. “ Is it over?”

Crystal closes her eyes searching and smiles softly. There were many voices now. Some angry, others scared. Some of them knowing what had happened others without a clue as to why they were changed. Crystal and Starswirl were going to have a lot of explaining to do.

“They're fine. So, yes Hammer... it's over.” Crystal sighs in relief.

Author's Note

Thus ends the Changes arc of SiSLE.

I could have made this it's own spin off, but i have way more than enough of them as it is.

As stated with the first chapter the title is
Changes, by David Bowie.

I can go back to the main story now.

Bad Moon Rising [30 ]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Bad Moon Rising

The monster laughed. The deep throaty chuckle echoing around the otherwise silent cloud stone halls. The sound carried quite a ways outside the capitol building and across the cloud city proper.

Countless bodies of gods and mortals lay at Tirek's hooves, either dead or comatose. Granted they would all be dead when he finally grew bored of the sight and tossed them off the cloud city. The mortals had started one last attack against him. One doomed to failure the moment they started it.

Tirek sat back in his throne in the city formerly known as Cloudsdale, now known as Tirek's castle...... he would need to work on the name, perhaps he should call it Scorpan after his brother. Even in death the only thing his idiot sibling would be good for would be to ferry him around in the air. Yes, Scorpan castle had a nice ring to it.

With the last resistance of pony kind destroyed the rest of Equss was rapidly falling . The great civilizations and cities of the world had been brought to ruin by his army of clones. Countless individuals had been claimed to feed his power. Near limitless abilities and skills were at his beck and call and he had brought the unmarked foals together in one less than ruined city. Letting them age until they gained their cutiemarks so he could harvest that power from them. None would be spared his appetites.

Not that the appetizers mattered. With the absorption of the Books of Orbsah and the Elements of Harmony his power was limitless. Once he drained Equss and it's moon of all the power he could he would venture into Tartarus and claim the multitude of worlds there as his own the same way he claimed this one. Even if there were not ponies a simple transformation spell developed by Twilight Sparkle could easily turn mark-less fools into something he could dine on. It was a trick he had used on several gods already, amplifying his power further. There was nothing he couldn't do.

“Nothing brother?” a deep hollow voice calls, echoing in the halls around him.

“Who dares?” Tirek snaps rising up from his throne, knocking aside the corpses of the former solar princess and her sister.

“If you can do anything brother, than save me....” the voice sounds again a wispy image flickering at the corners of the beasts vision vanishing when he turned his head to look.

Tirek takes a step coming up short as something starts grabbing at his limbs. Looking down, the black and red monsters eyes widen as the corpses that lay strewn around his throne room were writhing, shifting. The flesh and fur seeming to dissolve taking on gooey black shapes that once resembled ponies , though now resembled tar filled rotten corpses. The flash of deformed bone and eroded muscle broke the surface of the writhing mass of the tar like substance that the bodies had formed into. He had a brief flash of memory about some creature called the Smooze before he ripped himself free and bounced back to the riser his throne was on. The floor of the room around him rippled and shifted like a sea of black, the tendrils of the corpse feeding creature flicking up at him trying to grasp him over the edge of the raised dais he sought refuge on.

“What is this!?!?” Tirek screams gesturing at the corpses and mass of tar to blast them away only for no magic to burst for the from his hand. Masses start to rise from the puddled adopting pony like shapes, though all of them were as black as the tar, misshapen beasts of black armor and insect like features. A good dozen of them surrounded the throne mouths opening like a striking snake , baring fangs that dripped a green icor as they hissed at him.

Tirek steps back to the middle of the dais grabbing the throne and flinging it at one of the creatures who deftly side steps the flung object. He turns at the creak of a door opening behind him, one that lead to a rather posh set of private chambers for the former Governor of Cloudsdale. Tirek's teeth clench as his features pale as a figure moves through the door.

A monstrous form floated towards him, skeletal bat like wings emerging from it's back, a shriveled twisted body with patches of brown fur falling out and worms and maggots spilling from the rents and gouges in it's flesh decaying flesh. Two broken spear shafts jutted from it's chest and a severed snakelike tail whipped behind it spraying fountains of black tar lick blood across the floor and walls behind it. The creature had no head, just a jagged severed section of flesh where it's neck ended abruptly, the wound oozing more of the black icor that ran down it's form dripping to join the mass covering the chamber's floor. One of it's gaunt arms lifted, holding a partially skeletal head that looked like a cross between a lion and a crocodile.

“Save me brother....” the severed head wails as Tirek staggers back nearly into the black morass again.

“Scorpan.....wait.......” Tirek growls, his panic turning to anger in a instant. “This is a dream.......”

The image freezes as a soft feminine chuckling sounds out in the chamber like it was being bellowed. The volume was almost painful. Soon everything fades away as if melting leaving nothing but a mass of gray around him like he was in a fog bank and the form of a dark alicorn mare with a dark blue star filled mane striding towards him.

“Took you long enough to figure it out. Particularly with how heavy hoofed I was crafting this particular nightmare.”” You are either stupid or I did a perfect job even in a rush such as this.”

“And you must be Princess Luna.” Tirek snorts.

“My, my, you got it in one try, aren't you a clever pony.” Luna grins seeing Tirek flinch at the comment. Her grin however keeps getting wider and wider, distorting her muzzle and face as her grin seems to stretch back far enough to start trailing down her neck to her shoulders the air around her warping a little at the display of far more and far sharper teeth than a ponies head should allow. Her eyes flash green and catlike, her brilliant white teeth becoming shark like in the impossible smile.

“You've declared war on us monster. You have no idea what you have gotten yourself into. “Luna cackles.” I do hope you enjoyed the last peaceful bit of sleep you will ever have again.”

With that there was an explosion of light.

===============================================

[Cloudsdale, Floating near the ruins of Phillydelphia]

Tirek jerks awake with a start, growling loudly as he sits up rubbing his head flinching as his fingers run over his broken horn. He shoves himself up off the mass of clouds the sudden ejection into wakefulness leaving him some what groggy and stumbling. He staggers away from the mass of clouds he had fallen asleep on the night before. He would say this much for pegasi they knew how to make comfortable beds. Though something would need to be done if he wished to use one of them again.

He stormed through the empty halls of the mansion he had claimed as his own. The mindless clones couldn't maintain the spell to cloud walk and kept falling through to splatter into puddles on the ground far below. He had about a score of the smarter clones in the clouds with him as guards and to run the machinery that kept Cloudsdale together instead of breaking apart in the winds like a normal cloud would.

The dumber clones had come from cloning his clones in the mirror pond. A rapidly made, loyal, but stupid army. While they were quite powerful and had all the skills and knowledge of the ponies he had absorbed before using the pond , none of them were intelligent enough to cast any spells nor do anything but follow basic commands. Still they were effective enough as shock and awe troops, despite trying to eat anything they could pick up and fit in their mouths. Still to see something with his visage try and eat a rock was embarrassing. He would enjoy destroying them when their usefulness was at an end. About three score of the clones he had made himself however. These clones had the same intelligence and the same skills as he did before his attack on Canterlot. They also had the same skill in magic as he had at that point.

They all also had both their horns.

None of them could feed on a ponies power though and despite their intelligence and drive they all knew if they tried to usurp him they would be destroyed, win or lose. Most took this impotent rage out on the ponies or the dumber clones. That was something he frowned upon as the mirror pool had dried up and making more troops for his army would be impossible. Still it was good to keep them aggressive.

Tirek shoved open the doors to the cloud factory, staggering a little at the blast of warm air that enveloped him from the Rainbow Factory and brought back the groggy feeling with a vengeance. He was looking for one of the smarter clones wearing a train engineers hat. He wasn't sure when or why the clone had started wearing it, but it made him easier to tell apart from the others. Which was why Tirek had put him in charge of this part of the operation.

“HAT, where are you!?” Tirek bellowed trying to shake off the sudden increase in his stupor. He should have found some coffee or tea first before coming here, but time was of the essence now that the Night Princess had made her play. Tirek knew quite a lot about her and he was worried about what she could do. She was not called the Goddess of War for nothing. The heat of the room was not making it any easier to stay awake. He was sorely tempted to make a bed of the clouds and hope that the annoying mare had given up for the night.

“WHAT!?” his own voice bellowed back, before another version of himself with both horns and a blue cap perched between them rested on his head. “ What de yah want now? Canna yah see ah'm busy?”

Oh, yes there was also the ridiculous accent. Even the smarter clones tended to adopt mannerisms of the memories they used the most. If Tirek recalled correctly the pony he first stole the train from spoke like this. Luckily the annoying ones who rhymed were all on the ground. Damn zebras.

“I need you to send us north.”Tirek growls wincing as a warm blast of steam erupts from a pipe nearby, bathing the pair of them forcing 'Hat' to pull off a pair of goggles and clean them dry before putting them back on. The flood of mist gave everything a wispy quality that Tirek found annoying.

“What about Manhatten?”

“It can wait. Right now we need to take care of the Princess before she gets any other ideas. Or attacks me in my dreams again. Where are the rest....”

The sound of an explosion rocked the building, sending cloud stone and piping raining down on the pair of them. The heavier than air building materials punched through the cloud floor around Tirek and Hat. Tirek bounds back away from the rents in the floor staring at the ground far far below them. The beast curses glancing over as Hat moves back away from the holes as well pressing against some of the machinery.

Tirek snaps his gaze up ward seeing the massive hole in the roof and countless black forms darting through the sky above him. The things seem to be similar to ponies and several other races, though they were covered in black chitinous plate and had bug like features and gossamer green wings.

“Changelings” Tirek grumbles, Twilight and others memories of the monsters flashing through his mind. Granted he knew of them from when they first challenged him countless mortal lifetimes ago.

Five of them glide down through the hole, as sounds of fighting start from outside. The five looked to have once been a pair of ponies, a Minotaur, a harpy, and griffon. They all hiss at Tirek and Hat, moving quickly between the two , forcing both Tirek and his clone further away from each other.

“This is ridiculous what are the bugs doing here? I have the memories several scholars that studied them since the war. They shouldn't be functioning in these numbers without their queen.” Tirek growls.

“What makes yah think they don't have one?” Hat's voice changes as he speaks, turning slowly more feminine. Tirek whirls with a growl watching the form of the hat wearing version of himself vanish in a puff of green flame. The figure that was left when the flame cleared was one he was quite familiar with. She and the other five tormented his mind as he was trapped in his prison for untold years.

The wavy green hair, the limbs full of holes, the curiously jagged horn, and chitinous covering over her black fur.

“Crystal.......” Tirek growls. “You should be dead!”

“So should you. Seems neither of stays dead for good. Though I do thank you. Because of all the panic you've caused with your nonsense the ponies had no where to turn but to me.“ Crystal chuckles. “My armies numbers have swollen far beyond what I ever thought possibly with so many races wanting to get away from you or stop themselves from being drained. A desire so strong they willingly let me alter them to part of the swarm. This leaves my friends and I poised to take over everything once you are dealt with.” Crystal chuckles.

“What? No!” Tirek's eyes widen as the five other changelings move closer to Crystal, all of them assuming the shapes of the creatures they once were. Two Half Dragons, a black wingless male and a reddish, winged and horned female, a dark Griffon with lightning crackling around his form, a eyesore of a colorful Harpy, and a lavender Minotaur, all of them with ornate bracers on their limbs.” That's impossible! They should be long dead, and I locked two of the Element's away!”

“Do you really think I would let my friends die?“ Crystal grins flashing fangs. ”Besides only Compassion and Loyalty are sealed, we didn't have access to them when we sealed you before either. They've been missing for far longer than you've existed and have only just returned. I'm sure the little purple mare in your head could tell you that much.”

Tirek snarls gritting his teeth as the bracers started to glow.

“NO!!! I WILL NOT GO BACK!!!” Tirek lashes out pouring a vast amount of power into a blast to destroy Crystal and her Bearer's once and for all. The energy beam washed over the changelings, ripping apart an even greater section of the clouds as it enveloped the six figures.

The monster pants hard, glaring at the spot the Changelings were. The steam from the evaporated clouds and shattered machinery slowly dissipating. Oddly the steam felt cold, and there was a strong wind whipping from some where and he felt like there wasn't anything under his hooves though looking down he was still on the cloud. Was he falling?

“Aww poor little monster can't tell the difference between reality and a day dream.” A voice whispers in his ear. Looking back Behind him there was a changeling standing on nothing staring at him. Her green eyes flashed between cat like and normal. Great wings filled with holes were flat to her side as she regards him. her grin stretching much wider than her face should allow, the maw full of teeth like a sharks. “Granted you were rather poor at telling a dream from reality earlier too. Luckily you were still so tired you drifted off again with only a little effort on my part once you were warm and thought you were safe.”

“Luna?” Tirek snaps gruffly. “I tire of your petty tricks.”

“Mmm, I am sure you do. But here's something for you to mull over. You know how most dreams of falling end with you waking just before you hit? Well this one has a small twist to it. Sooooo, WAKE UP!”

====================================================

The mare's shout and cackling laughter snap Tirek out of his stupor. He whips his head clearing the fog from it noticing several things at once.

The first was that far above him, the cloud city of Cloudsdale was on fire with a massive hole running through the middle of it, the remains of the engines sparking and spitting steam and fire as debris and buildings tumble from the collapsing city.

Two was there was an awful loot of a 'woosh' sound around him.

Three was a small severely charred engineers hat falling next to him along with a pot of petunias.

Four, of course, was the fact he was indeed falling, and very fast towards the big round shape of the ground. A ground with a massive crater in it.

He doubted it wanted to be his friend.

====================================================

[Crystal Empire, Guard barracks steam room, Monday 1600 hours. 5 days after the attack on Gallopagos ]

Luna woke up, chuckling softly to her self and fanning her wings to flick free some of the water that had collected on them from the warm mist around her. The fall was not going to kill Tirek, but with a little twisting of his sleep addled mind she managed to trick him into taking out his own mobile fortress. Cloudsdale was a loss, though it was better to wipe out an empty city out than allow Tirek to use it for his own ends.

“She's awake.... “ Starfall states loudly, not even an apple's length from Luna's face.

“GAH!!” Luna yelps falling backwards over herself.

“What happened?” Bleu demands looking down at the splayed out new Changeling Queen as she flounders on the slick tile floor trying to right herself.

“I tripped..” Luna lies.

“You were sitting down.... but I think the whelp was asking why you fell asleep so suddenly.”< Troph growls from the other side of the steam room.

Luna sighs picking herself back up and fanning her wings, the smile returning to her face.

“Seeing Jer'rahd again gave me an idea..... well Troph in Jer'rahd's body.” Luna sighs. “I decided that Tirek shouldn't be allowed to sleep peacefully again. Though it worked out so much better than I had hoped. Unfortunately Cloudsdale was destroyed in the events that followed my toying with him.”

“The city was already destroyed. Better it be completely destroyed than serve as a mobile base for Tirek.” Starfall admits.

“Geez, he didn't even have the thing three days did he? Not getting a deposit back on that.” Bleu chuckles.”What'd you do give him a nightmare that made him freak out enough to start blasting like Boss used to do?”

“Something like that. A day dream actually. I woke him early with a nightmare, he then dozed off again while groggy after ordering Cloudsdale to attack the Empire. A daydream of a changeling attack and old enemies did the rest. Given how he has absorbed Jer'rahd, I also called him a clever pony.” Luna grins as Bleu and Starfall Flinch.

“Damn Luna....” Bleu whistles.

“Ruthless. I like it.” Starfall nods.

“A well timed trick, but I doubt it will be usable a second time.”> Troph ponders his six eyes narrowing. >” That will slow him down when we simply need to speed up and destroy the monster so we can free Grace.”<

“It's not as simple as that. If we kill Tirek every pony who's in a coma will die as well. Including the only three who might know how to open the gate of Tartarus so do not get any ideas Troph.”Luna growls. “You needn't worry about speed either, with your power destroying Jer'rahd's body, I want you out of him as soon as possible.”

“Now that all the posing is out of the way and we know what we have to work with, how are we gonna do that? Tirek has an army of himself and we have a bunch of ponies that are what he eats?” Starfall growls. “ Not to mention he has the advantage of that we don't want to kill him outright.”

“We also have the Changelings, creatures created to fight Tirek and his brother and Slate Quake's armory.” Luna adds in.

“Most of the bugs.. errr, Changelings are still asleep. And what's the armory?” Starfall asks.

“I can wake them up, I simply gave Chrysalis time to explain herself to Cadence and the others before I do. An army of Changelings approaching the palace would not sit well without trusted ponies to keep things calm.” Luna explains. “As for the armory, well it's something Crystal hid before she met Aviana. But I know where it is.”

” And what of the dragons? They would be useful. Even if most of them are like those two fools that attacked me.”< Troph growls.

“Politics.” Bleu snorts. “Spike and I can't get them to do shit half the time.”

”Oh is that all?”< Troph grins, showing far more fangs then should be in able to fit in ponies head. >” I will simply do something about that bit of nonsense then.”<

==========================================================

[Crystal empire, Changeling warehouse.]

Cadence looks down at the seated Crystal with a mix of sadness and anger. The anger was left over from before, though after the story she felt a little bad for the Changeling. Not bad enough that she still didn't want to buck her back to Tartarus, but at least a little sorry.

Glancing around it was fairly clear the others were pondering what they had been told. Rose and Rainbow Dash were skeptical. Applejack had her head tilted a little regarding the Changeling before her. Shining was of course trying to hide that he was crying at the tale. He was always a sucker for sob stories, liquid pride indeed.

“So there you go. That's at least the start of my story. Does that explain why Luna did what she did? We were created to fight Tirek. ” Chrysalis/Locust growls.

“Yep explains it all perfectly, you have a thing for half dragons.” Pinkie states flatly, if a little loudly from behind the group sitting in a movie theater chair with a big bucket of popcorn and a pair of red and blue 3-D glasses.

“Slate Quake, Sombra, and even Kaisur there for a bit. Guess we know what gets the bug queen's motor purring.” Discord cackles stealing a bit of Pinkie's popcorn and adjusting his own red and blue glasses.

“THAT'S what you got from my story!?! That I like........ Wait where did you two come from?” Chrysalis demands.

“Well, when a mommy pony and a daddy pony love each other very much..” Pinkie begins.

“No no, Pinkie, that jokes been done several times now and is getting a bit stale.” Discord corrects as Pinkie pouts.

“AJ?” Rainbow Dash glances over at the orange farm pony expectantly.

Applejack nods lightly. “She ain't lying. Everything she said was on tha up and up. Dun make me feel any better about her still being around though. But that story explains a few things. Except why Luna knew about it so she could become a Changeling.”

“I gave her one of the books with my story from Soloman's private library. Nearly everything I told you was in that book including Starswirl's notes on our creation and the after effects of the conflict with Tirek.” Chrysalis mutters. “She decided to undergo the process so that even if she died, Tirek couldn't get his hands on the power of the sun and moon, or the power she has from the Books. Obviously she plans to fight him. She knows she can't kill him or all the ones that have fallen will die, but she is willing to sacrifice them to end his threat if no other way can be found. She's strong enough to do it now. Countless memories of skills, forgotten spells, combat techniques, the power of two gods, the power from the sun and moon, a nightmare's power, the boost from becoming a Queen, and the drive to protect her children and her remaining loved ones. There is nothing on Equss that is more dangerous than that mare right now. That she has remained as calm as she has with the vast amount of power under her control astounds me. Though once Tirek is destroyed I don't know what she'll do, she could rule everything unopposed.”

“That was a lie.” Applejack remarks. “That last lil bit any way.“

“Fine.” Chrysalis sighs. “Okay, so I do know what she plans, but she won't let me tell anyone.”

“Right like that's something that would stop you.” Rainbow Dash snorts.

“You still haven't seemed to have grasped the position I've put myself in to help her destroy Tirek.“ Chrysalis grumbles. “Not only have I exposed who I am to ponies who would happily destroy me for good, but I also now have the exact date and time of my final death. When Tirek is defeated I will have three days to get the last of my affairs in order before she purges me from this body to allow it's owner to have it back. If I go against her she will not even give me that long before removing me.”

“And we should expect you to be doing this out of the kindness of your heart or some sort of repentance for what you've done?” Rose demands.

“Buck no. I'm doing this to keep Shin safe. The rest of you can fry for all I care.” Chrysalis states grinning a little at the glares she was getting. “Calm down. At this point there is nothing that you can do to me that wouldn't be more painful to the proper owner of this body when she gets it back.”

“Except lock you away and keep you from Shin for the remaining time you have left.” Shining armor states flatly. Chrysalis flinches as if struck.”Cadence may have issues with keeping a mother from her child, but when that mother is you, I have no such reservations.”

“I am trying to be cooperative so that does not occur......” Chrysalis sighs.

“So what happened after that?” Applejack asks cutting off Shining's retort with a glare, one he returned for a moment, though he turned away first. “Just beating Tirek doesn't end yer story.”

“Quite a great deal happened. I trained with Starswirl in dream walking and the excess magic that I had access too as well as flight. I made the small village into a proper Crystal Empire. A fabled city where all three tribes could live in Harmony exactly, as Ginger wanted. My Changelings infiltrated every society, working to stop conflicts before they started, political assassinations, document altering, general information gathering and sharing. It didn't always work, mind you. Tribilisum was still the order of the day until the exodus. Starswirl and I gave the Windigo all the old lands for their help in forcing the ponies south. The initial plan was was to force all three tribes together, it almost didn't work. In fact if my agent at the time hadn't made friends with the other assistants that went along with the rulers it wouldn't have. The back up plan was to eliminate Chancellor Pudding Head, Princess Platinum, and General Hurricane if some agreement couldn't be made. They were almost killed in fact, it was Private Pansy, and Clover the Clever along with my infiltrator going by Smart Cookie that finally reached an agreement and a friendship. Because of that we called off the Windigo and the three leaders were forced to recognize that they had to work together to survive. And that's how Equestria was made.”

“No lies.” Applejack snorts. “Not sure ah like how much yer hoof played with mai history.”

“It wasn't history at the time. I lost nearly every one I cared about because the three tribes couldn't stop fighting even after being nearly wiped out. Slate and Ghost Dancer were both killed trying to settle a dispute between the two tribes. Hammer and Cloud Dust both died of old age though they never had children and I was forced to aid in the destruction of Storm Front when he went genocidal. Discord knows that story quite well.” Chrysalis comments.

“I would rather not think about that story thank you very much Chrissy.” Discord snaps. “I'm the only one left from that group now and you can see how I turned out.”

“So with all those powers and that crush on Slate, why'd you need him to go settle a dispute?” Rainbow Dash demands.

“Initially I was going with them to stop the fighting. I had no plans to send my first husband out alone, but I was incapacitated. Some one still had to go or more would be killed in the fighting so the pair of them went. Ghost seemed enough like a alicorn that her presence should have commanded some authority. Instead they were ambushed and murdered, their corpses paraded around as a show of victory by the warring groups, a warning for others to not get involved in their business of murder and fighting.”

“What held you up?” Cadence asks looking down at the Changeling.

Chrysalis smirks a little.” Surely you didn't think with as long as I've lived Shin has been my only child? Slate and I had three children. Two fillies and the youngest a colt. The colt we named Mobius after his grandfather, he had a few traces of his draconic heritage, but the fillies, Ginger and Saffron were normal unicorn foals.”

“I some how doubt the death of Slate sat well with you.” Rose comments.

“The two tribes lived for another three days before I went to get his body back and wiped out every earth pony and pegasus with the name of Hatfield or Mackoy. I continuously purged those names for about a hundred years, obliterating any one who had either as a family name across Equss. There is likely no one left who shares any relation to any of them. The elders who ordered the murder were kept alive in the empire's dungeon, well cared for, but also tormented nightly and any time they started to day dream by the faces of their dead families. Eventually they died of old age ending their lines for good.

“I doubt Starswirl the Bearded approved of that.” Shining commented.

“He helped me. He and Ghost had actually started to develop a relationship. She managed to get him out of his shell for a short time before she was killed. He moped for centuries until Clover came along.”

“That don't sit right with me.” Applejack grumbles.” But it's true too.”

“Ask yourself what you would do if your pink maned mare friend was killed for no reason while trying to help some pony. Ponder that for a bit and then consider what we did.” Chrysalis mutters. “I can already tell you have a strong desire to do something to Tirek because of the deaths of your family members. A lot has changed for me, but at one point I was little different than any of you. Full of anger with the power to do something about it.”

“What about Sunray, and the Elk, and did Ginger ever hatch.” Pinkie Pie asks excitedly changing the subject quickly before any one called Chrysalis on more of her past actions..

“And why was there a dragon fly named Greenwich following my family for as long as I remember?” Rose demands, cutting off Shining again before the angry white unicorn could do more than huff in annoyance.

“Sunray actually married three or four times. Starswirl taught her a shrinking and growing spell that she used to .. well you know. She had a large number of foals and outlived all but her last husband reaching a rather ripe age of six hundred and thirty one. Her children remained small and winged taking after her. Eventually they became their own race of creatures. Rather sad that such a headstrong flier is responsible for a pathetic race that can't even fly without perfectly calm air. Breezies..... I doubt Sunray would approve of her grand children.” Chrysalis sighs. “The Elk were left alone as they wanted to be, I formed a settlement in the cairn under the great tree for Changelings to keep watch on Tirek. The Elk and Changelings lived in peace for centuries until I went mad and brought my entire race with me thanks to Avianna. That blasted mare thought she was just getting rid of me with that poison and instead drove a whole race insane. A race that had infiltrated every society to keep the peace and was all connected by a hive mind. The Elk were one of the first to feel the wraith of the maddened Changelings. It's likely one of the reasons they despise outsiders even to this day. The ones who they let live on their land and that they had befriended for the longest time nearly wiped them out.”

Chrysalis looks up at the small group. Their expressions were not telling, but she could taste their emotions. There was a hint of pity among all of them, a great deal of anger as well, except for the pink mare, there was a lot of pity from her, as well as a number of tastes and flavors that even after all this time Chrysalis couldn't identify, much like Discord. She could swear the annoying thing invented new emotions to screw with her. Cadence still brimmed with fury, but it had cooled considerably since Chrysalis started talking. Shining had gone the other way getting angrier the more she talked.

“Ginger did not hatch. She died when she changed all the ponies to crystal to save them. The crystal covering the hospital grew massive and became nearly a mountain on it's own before it stopped growing. In time it was carved into a palace and it still stands were it grew.” Chrysalis smirks as the recognition that the crystal palace they were all living in was once a pony hit. “Though that isn't exactly the end to her story and to be honest I was quite pissed at Solomon for doing what he did, but upon reflection I doubt Ginger would have minded it as it was to help her chosen ponies and her friend. The Crystal Heart is from the core of the tower. Carved from the source of the tower's crystalline growth. That heart is in essence Ginger's love for her children and friends, carved from what once was her own flesh and blood......”

Again with the shock and a bit of regret from Cadence. Likely for having used it as a weapon to repel Sombra.

“As for Greenwich, I had him join Saffron's family when I distanced myself from them as they got older. As far as I know he stayed with the family line after I was sealed away. If he was with your family either something happened to Saffron's line or......”

“Shit.....” Rose grumbles.

“She ain't lying.” Applejack confirms.

“Just how many freaking ponies and things are you and Kaisur related to anyway!?!?” Dash yells at Rose.

======================================================

“So what do you think?” Spike asks glancing back to the other side of the library where the Jade Scroll sat on a table covered in star metal chains and locks supplied by the Crystal Pony Guard.

“I think we should find a way to destroy the thing permanently. “ Nightlight mutters glaring past the large dragon at the book.” And I don't like saying that . Book burning is Sacrilege ,... but this thing....”

“It's not a book dear it's a dead griffon. It wouldn't be burning a book it would be cremating a body that had been left out far to long.” Twilight Velvet adds.

“Why am I in this conversation?” Spines questions half huddled and half sitting next to Spike.

“We all have issues with the book, be it my arm or because something it made has harmed our loved ones. That and if that story was any indication it has no regrets about creating them.”Spike grumbles

“Actually if that thing sealed away that Troph monster and his mate. Then that would be why Troph was free to kill my friends so I do have sort of an issue with him.” Spines comments.

“You're not mad at Troph?” Nightlight asks.

“If I was, what good would it do, logically he was in the right to defend himself, and it's not like I could do anything to him without getting ripped apart myself. If he's really the spirit of the first dragon trapped in the body of a pony who nearly wiped out the entire dragon race a thousand years ago what the shards am I supposed to do about it? “ Spines rambles getting odd looks from the three of them at his logic train. “I mean seriously I have never met anything scarier than that monster. Even Bleu Scale pales in comparison.”

“What I don't like is the fact that the Jade scroll made Tirek and Scorpan, and gave them the way to become powerful enough to destroy all the other books and the Element's of Harmony.” Twilight Velvet adds in. “It's like the book itself is suicidal. Which is an odd thing to say.”

“Not sure it's suicidal, more it just doesn't seem to care about it's own life so long as others are destroyed first. It seems to have a great deal of issue with the other Books of Orbsah. Is there a way we could use that?”Spike suggests.

“I doubt it. The limit of what it seems to be able to do right now is simply guide and empower. Since none of us wants it's sort of empowerment simply due to the fact it would try and take over our bodies the first chance it got, it's not very useful to us except as a source of information. And even that source of information is suspect.” Twilight Velvet considers.

“So what do we do?” Spines asks.

“We meet up with the others and discuss it, see if they might have an angle we don't.” Spike responds. “Unless you want to play catch with the book for a bit longer mom.”

Twilight Velvet grins a little at that. “Maybe later dear. Let's go find Cadence and Shiny they will likely want to know what we found out.”

=============================================================

[ White Tail Woods Cairn]

“Well now that was not something I expected. Starswirl made the Changelings and the Windigo?” Applebloom mutters.

“There were many hints and scraps of information that pointed to his creating the Windigo and the Draconequus. This book states otherwise, that he made the Windigo and Changelings in mimicry of some one else creating the Draquonuss. I've heard mention of this Cocotte before as well. She was also know as Queen Clopopartia. She ruled a small kingdom to the south near the Zebra Lands. Most information we have on her lists her as a pony god rather than just a pegicorn as the book mentions. Still this book is going to ruffle some feathers in the archaeology world.” Daring Doo grins. “Not the find of the century, but at least the find of the decade.”

“It explains the skull and what the city is doing down here. But ah still don't like the idea that Chrysalis used tah be a good guy. Not willing tah believe that, jus cause a book said so.” Pip growls lightly.

“Princess Luna did a number of horrid things during the Equestrian Civil war. Given she's your adoptive mother, you don't seem to have a issue with her.” Daring Do comments off hoof, getting glares from all four of the young ponies with her.”Ummmmm.”

“Ma didn't kill my dad in front of me. Nor did she set my house on fire after dropping it on my mom. Chrysalis and her Changelings did. I am aware that she is dead now and her race is lost without a leader, but that doesn't make my dislike of them any less potent.” Pip states flatly glaring at Daring Doo.

“Calm down Pip. Pretty sure she didn't know why the Princess adopted you.” Scootaloo adds poking the earth pony colt in the shoulder.

“I did know, but I didn't think about it before I said something. Sorry.” Doo comments . “Still most of the Changelings have no will of their own and were being controlled, the others didn't have a choice in what was going on. Sombra killed a number of them that tried to escape the battle.”

“You seem to know a lot about Changeling's and the war.....” Sweetiebelle speculates staring intently at Daring Doo. “ Quick to defend them too. You hiding something?”

“Just my actual age and weight like every other mare. I've been studying Changelings and their history with the Sparkles for the last two years. I think I've got an excuse to school you on something you don't seem to be aware of.” Doo mutters.” That and one of my uncles is currently laying in a warehouse in the Crystal Empire changed into one of them during the attack. So it's some what personal as well.”

Pip slowly pushed back up to his hooves.” Ah'm aware of that. Mai aunt and uncle are watching them all in the Empire and one of mai cousins is a Changeling god. While I'm not happy with the idea of Changelings, pretty much all my ire is focused on Chrysalis and Sombra. I'm a step up from auntie Tia who hates them all no matter what. It's just hearing Chrysalis, or Crystal, or whatever, being painted in a good light bugs me.”

“Ooh, OOOH, that was a pun! Nice one Pip.. 'Bugs me' hehehhehe. You know cause they look like bugs?” Sweetiebelle giggles falling back onto her haunches laughing as the other stare at her blankly.

======================================================

[ Empire Hospital, Crystal Empire]

“ Alright sign here.” Orange is told, as she's offered the clipboard for her signature. Seven other Guards, not counting Hunter were standing around the lobby scanning everyone with an appraising eye as if expecting the wounded or family members in the waiting room to suddenly become a threat.

Orange was not happy with the situation but the wasn't much she could do about it. Far too many ponies came in and out of the hospital for it to be completely secure. Also given the situation she had better things to do herself than worry about a healthy foal. Particularly one that was being taken to the palace to be cared for along with the Royal families foals. She wasn't worried about what would happen to Rhynthia, she was more worried that this display of Guards would bring more attention to the newborn Zebra god than just a simple transfer would.

There were quite a few zebras who lived in New Canterlot or in Gallopagos who were now here. Despite the advances the Zebra lands had made over the centuries there were still a number of groups who kept an eye out for any Zebra gods that surfaced in order to remove them before they became a threat. She hadn't heard of a zebra god being born since before the Equestrian Civil War, but she hadn't exactly been much into history in school. While she wouldn't accuse any of the zebra's she knew personally of such a thing she knew even Velkorn had held on to this particular tradition. She hated to say it but perhaps it was best that Rhynthia's mother had died before she was born. She doubted the mare would have done anything to her own child, but there would be issues from it. How a pony was raised often stuck with them no matter what sort of life they lead, and it often came back to haunt them.
A prime example was how she was thinking like a tactician rather than a doctor in this case, much like her adoptive parents did.

Orange sighs glancing over to Hunter who was chatting with one of the Guards about something. The solider was still nursing a broken leg, but he also did his job as a Guard requesting assignment at the hospital so he could be treated and work at the same time. He was a stubborn sort, though at least he wasn't as flirtatious as she remembered he used to be. She didn't need that right now with all the crap with Blueblood. Damn it she was going to have to endure a 'told you so' from Jer'rahd when ever he showed up again for that too.

Several of the local nurses, and patients had been watching the compliment of Guards curiously as soon as they arrived. It was this sort of attention that she would have preferred to avoid. Ponies talked and with the influx of refugees there were a lot of ponies to talk to and to over hear things.

She signs, giving the Guard back the clip board who looked at it briefly before offering her a salute.

“Thank you miss, we will take it from here. I have been instructed to inform you that you have been granted permission to enter the palace to check on the situation provided you submit to the usual checks for entry.”

“That's fine. I need to go by to check on Luna and the bed ridden ones any way at some point.” Orange sighs.

“Of course miss. “ the white crystal guard tears off a bit of paper from the clipboard with a hoof giving it to her. ”I am aware you are related to most of the royal family and our escourtees, but some security measures cannot be bypassed at this time.”

“Related? Well I suppose by marriage and adoption...... wait.” Orange looks over the paper again before slapping her face with a hoof. She had read this wrong. Best Hunter didn't find out she made a mistake like this or she'd be in for a lecture about needing more sleep again. “Ugh I thought this was for... no this is fine. I'll have to let his little filly friend know if she shows up after they are moved. Also I want to do one last check on her before she's fully cleared. She's awake but her magic is still burned out.”

“Quite understandable miss. I was also to pass along the message from Princess Cadence herself that you and Sergeant Hunter were to bring the package by at your earliest convenience. I assume you know what the Princess means?”

Orange blinks, though she offers a small smile realizing they meant Rhynthia almost immediately. Seems some one with common sense was left. “Yes... yes I do....”

Several of the guards move down the hall of the building guided by Hunter to their destination.

Orange sighs. While it was good for her little brother and sister to be leaving the Hospital, particularly since they still needed the room, she was leery of letting them go. Supposedly they would be safer in the palace, but they were supposed to be safe in Canterlot Castle too and every pony knew how that had turned out.

================================================================

[Crab Apple Farms, southern end of the Crystal Empire]

Fluttershy had no idea what she was supposed to do. Apple Blossom, Dandelion, Butterscotch, were all taking their nap, though the trio were almost of the age where they were no longer going to take their naps any more. The three foals she and Applejack had adopted had taken this whole situation as some sort of new adventure that might nab them their cutiemarks and were not the slightest bit worried about any of it.

Fluttershy was far less enthused.

They did have it a little better than many of the other refugees, not due to any royal connections which they both had refused, but due to Applejack having family here that they could stay with.

Thankfully Crab Apple and his wife Apple Dumpling had a fairly large farm that supplied food to the Crystal Empire. Also, thankfully despite seeming gruff Crab didn't live up to his name and had no issue with Fluttershy and Applejack being married unlike a few of the older members of the Apple family and he had moved all them with young foals into the main house, moving out to the barn himself. He had opened up a few of his storage sheds and barns for other family members who were refugees and allowed even non family members to set camps up in some parts of his fields.

Apple Jack was often at the palace helping out with what was going on there, along with Rainbow Dash, though they kept her informed of what was going on.

Of course none of it was good news.

Princess Celestia and Twilight were in some sort of coma. A lot of other ponies were in the same situation. Princess Luna was alive, though she was having issues controlling both the sun and the moon at once judging by how the day and night had been rather screwy over the last few days.

Jer'rahd supposedly was not Jer'rahd. Fluttershy had no idea what that meant and Rainbow Dash's elaboration was very confusing.

She was also worried about all the animals that she cared for that had been left behind in New Canterlot. She knew they could mostly take care of themselves but she still worried about them.

The worst thing though. The absolute worst thing ever, was that Lion Heart and Rarity were gone.....

The butter yellow mare's ears flatten to her head as she fights back a sniffle. She had been crying for days now about that. Her best friend ever was gone. They would never talk about fashion any more, they would never go to the spa again.....

Tears started trickling own her muzzle again as she fought back the sobs glancing down at the two bundles of black and white fluff nestled between her forelegs.

Wolf and Fox slumbered peacefully, not really old enough to understand what had happened to their parents. Fluttershy had been there when they uttered their first words. Wolf had called for his Momma, and Fox his daddy....

Two ponies that neither of them would ever see again. At least with Rarity and Lion Heart Fluttershy had known them for years. These two foals and Rhynthia would never know their birth parents. She couldn't cry for the time she had lost with her friends that would never happen, not when they had so many years together already. But she could cry for the time these foals would never have with their loved ones.

====================================================

[The Crystal Palace, Nursery]

“Talia are you here?” the black scaled and white furred half dragon unicorn calls softly as she steps into the palace nursery pushing the door shut behind her with a soft click.

“Up here Elecktra. Stay off to the side. The little Crystal Princess is awake and she starts screaming if she sees one of us near her crib.” A red scaled and red furred half dragon drops down from the shadows above landing lightly near the door to the Royal bedroom at the side of the nursery.

“Did you build a loft up there?”

“There's a bit of a ledge all I did was expand it a bit and put a blanket some books and a couple of throw pillows up there.”

“Cozy. How are they all doing?” Electra states glancing at the row of five bassinets containing the foals of royalty and newborn gods. One was still empty, though Rhynthia would be in it before the day was out most likely.

“Well enough. Mrs. Sparkle came in earlier to feed them and put them down for a nap. I am a little wary that I have not seen the maid Locust at all today.” Talia mutters.” Nor Princess Luna.”

“You might not see Locust again. I just came from a meeting with Major Rose and Prince Armor. Seems 'Locust' is actually Chrysalis.” Elektra comments feeling the bristling of her companions form rather than see it, in the shadows.

“She's WHAT?!”

“Calm down...” Elektra placates.

“How the buck can I stay calm, we let her tend to Lady Rarity's foal... this is unacceptable!”

“It's fine. She didn't do anything and evidently Princess Cadence knew about it and was watching her. Shin is Chrysalis's son and the Princess was using that to keep her in check. Also she's evidently dying or something. Rose wasn't exactly clear on the details, you know how that old warhorse is. For now we are not to interfere if she shows up again unless she tries to run off with the foal or something.”

“She's a queen of lies and deception. There's no way we can trust anything she says.”

“Normally no, but she's not the queen any more. Which brings me to the second part of this conversation.” Elektra explains.

“There's more?” Talia mutters.”Do I want to know?”

“Yes, because there's been a bit of a change with Dawn's mother....”

“Princess Luna? What happened? I know she was out of sorts yesterday, but...” Talia responds.

“You might want to sit down for this....” Elecktra sighs.

“Oh crap.”

========================================================

[Iceview Hotel, North side of the Crystal Empire]

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!”

Soarin ducks slightly as a orange and yellow shape buzzes over his head. The blue stallion calmly turns a page in the paper he was looking through before ducking his head slightly as the blur whips over his head again.

The paper was not all that interesting. Mostly news of where the refugees could find some shelter and who to contact to find out about missing loved ones. Local news was pushed aside to some of the back pages and the ads were all pulled out to make more room for the throng of obituaries and names of ponies that had succumbed to Tirek's power. Soarin dips his ears as hie wife whirls past again, her hooves ruffling his mane.

They had only just managed to get ready for their little vacation when all this madness had started. He had not even seen his wife in the bikini she had purchased. Possibly the most pathetic thing to be annoyed over given the situation, but it was something that bugged him. Perhaps it was better to dwell on the smaller things that were wrong that you had no control over, rather than let the large things you had no control over drive you mad.

Soarin ducks his head again as the blur whirls past.

Much like his wife was doing.

Spitfire was highly worried about their daughter Scootaloo, who was out there some where in Equss. To listen to Spitfire rant the young mare was lost, hurt, in danger, and dead all at once. Soarin had simply accepted the Princess's word that the CMC and Pip were alright. At the time it seemed that Spitfire had accepted it too.

It was not that he wasn't worried about his daughter, it's just that he tended to be the calmer one of the pair. This did have the unfortunate side effect of making ponies think he was dumb or didn't understand the situation. But those who knew him knew it was just hard to ruffle his feathers.

When looking at the Wonderbolts as a team, Spitfire always seemed cold, aloof, and in complete control of everything. She always had her game face on. Soarin always seemed to be the comic relief by comparison. Even his flying skill was some what of a joke compared to the others. He didn't have the maneuverability of the others, but he had the stamina of a earth pony and would still be good to fly when most pegasi would be hurting from strain or collapsed to sleep in a cloud. Several stunts were built on just how durable and strong he was. While those outside the team might question some one as slow as he was as part of the team, those in the team knew better.

His feelings were a little more complex than grin and bear it, but not by much. It just took an awful lot to ruffle his feathers.

By contrast nearly anything could set his wife off, she just hid away it until she was alone or with someone she trusted.

Right now Spitfire was flying circles in the hotel room they had in the Crystal Empire, ranting and panicking and flailing as she flew. While they didn't have any bits with them when they were yanked away from New Canterlot, the hotel owner had recognized them and offered the room provided they pay back their tab later.

Of course with his wife's antics they might have a bit higher of a bill, particularly if she managed to make any more dust devils like she had done earlier. Not the first time the Wonderbolts had trashed a hotel room, but possibly the least fun way to do so.

Several glasses of water sat on the table before him. Occasionally he would have to take one and splash it over a small fire his wife's sparking mane and tail had started as she fretted about their daughter.

To be honest this was getting old, but he wasn't about to try and calm her down until it was time to actually do something. Better to let his wife get all the panic and worry out of her system before they needed to fight.

Soarin knew that was coming. A battle was inevitable, too many had been hurt or killed to not bring the monster to justice. There was a burning anger in him that he was fighting to keep down because it had no direction for the moment, which made it pointless. He had family and friends in Cloudsdale. A LOT of family and friends. Far too many for him to maintain any illusion that they might have all gotten out before Tirek claimed it.

If they lived through this and destroyed the monster, it would be a long time before the sorrow Tirek had caused would fade.

=================================================

Tirek growls shoving himself up out of the Tirek shaped impression that he had left in the ground. All around him lay bits and pieces of the formerly floating sky city.

Pulling himself out of the hole he cursed Luna's name as he shook off the dirt and debris from his fur. This little incident would set him back several weeks if not longer. At the very least it would make getting over the mountains to attack the Crystal Empire take much longer than he wanted. Also the mare had made a complete fool of him and that did not sit well with the monster at all.

He still had an army of himself, and quite a number of smarter versions of the witless clones to act as generals.

Perhaps it was time to utilize something other than the simple magic he had gathered from the ponies he fed on. Military training and tactics from a pony who gained his cutie mark in such. He was dealing with Luna so dredging up the skills and memories of the one closest to her would be fitting.

The empire was in a large basin between mountains. Despite it's location far to the north the seasons were the same as in a more temperate region, though during winter most of the passes into the basin became impassible. Even during the summer some of the higher passes could be blocked off. Even if they were not a well timed avalanche from some skilled demolitions work could send half the mountain down on any one looking to move a large force through them. There were two ways in that could avoid that tactic. One was a section between mountains far to the north that lead into the lands held by the Windigo and Caribou. He would need to visit there at some point, but not with Luna still on the loose, plus he would have to pass though the dragon lands along the east side of the mountain range and that would be even worse particularly with the gathering of dragons around the new Cindervale. He wasn't yet ready to deal with the dragons. While he could beat them he would be weakened to the point that another group might be able to finish him off. Also it would take months and he was not sure what water based clones would do in freezing weather.

That left one option.

Tirek grins as he turns looking back in the direction of New Canterlot. It was quite a distance away , but it was much closer than the other route to the Crystal Empire. The massive train tunnel that connected the Crystal Empire and New Canterlot was the way to go. A tunnel that cut the travel time of the trains running though it from three days to a few hours. A masterpiece of magical engineering crafted by Twilight Sparkle herself with the aid of Princess Celestia and the Guard Corp of Engineers. If that still functioned he could begin an attack on the Crystal Empire by tomorrow as opposed to the several months it would take him to force march his army north through passes that would be frozen over by the time he got to them.

It was one of the greatest strategic faux pas after all, to try attack the Crystal Empire or the Griffon lands in the Winter.

Tirek strides off shaking free the last of the dust and dirt from his fall. He lets out out a bellow that drew the attention of his army that stalled in the distance after witnessing the fall of Cloudsdale.

The army started moving again following the call turning around back towards New Canterlot and the rail tunnel that would lead him to his revenge against both Luna and the destruction of the place that accursed Crystal held so dear.

==========================================

[ New Canterlot ]

The small white rabbit woke with a start at the sound of an owl wooing near by. Angel bunny glares at Owlowiscious though remains silent as the creature gives his report.

The monster had fallen from the sky, but was still moving and he was heading back towards New Canterlot.

Angel Bunny sighs. They still didn't have the power to fight him off. And now that they had close to a hundred bird pony young and numerous comatose adult bird ponies to take care of, they couldn't afford a battle.

Philomena had returned with the Caregiver's blessing to do anything that needed to be done to protect the foals. None of them would refuse her orders in this matter.

Gathering his Generals and informing them of the situation lead to a discussion that was over quickly. New Canterlot was no longer safe and they only had a day at best before the army would be back here.

They needed to move every pony to another location that would be safe.. And the thought of moving this many young bird ponies to the only place available did not sit well with any of them. They had to hope the Caregiver's influence extended that far in. There was only one place they could think of that Tirek would not look.

The Everfree forest.

====================================================

[ Crystal Empire, Guard Mess Hall]

“I'm still not talking to you.”

“You're talking to me now... you asked me out to dinner in fact.”

“That doesn't mean I'm talking to you.”

“But you are talking to me....”

The other Guards in the chow hall shifted nervously as the circle logic argument between the armored mare and the one wearing ambassadorial robes that rattled when she shifted. Both were quite pretty, though both were clearly nuts.

Some of the older Guards recognized the lime green unicorn mare as Lyra Heartstrings, a former member of the six sixty sixth monster hunter division who was then promoted to Princess Cadence's personal body Guard after ten years beating back the worst the Everfree could throw at her. Supposedly she retired from the Guard after the Royal Wedding eleven years ago to pursue her musical talents. But now she was back in armor and the way she moved in it was like she had never spent any time outside it.

Very few of the Guards who came into the mess hall recognized the other mare, and the ones that did took their food and left to go eat somewhere else.

The cream colored earth pony mare didn't seem like much with her purple and pink curly hair, though her eyes were more telling. Her green eyes were unnerving to meet for very long. Special Agent Sweetie Drops was a legend in certain circles, a rather high ranking member of Ambassador Pelt's group. It was her information gathering that gave Canterlot the brief warning before the Changeling attack. She had been captured sending that information back, but she had escaped and taken down the entire hive on her own with a hoof full of other prisoners to do so. While she was not in time enough to finish her report for it to be relevant, the removal of the hive of Changelings lead to the discovery of the one Chrysalis was hiding in with the captive Jer'rahd Kaisur and the joint raid on it.

Then there was the incident with the Bugbear. That wasn't pretty no matter who you asked.

It was also rumored she had a hoof in the Noodle Incident, but no one knew for sure given how chaotic that situation was.

“So are you making it to dinner?” Lyra asks.

“Maybe, I've got a number of reports to rifle through for the Princess. I'll try to be back at the bunks before it gets too late at the very least, but the Princesses don't seem to sleep.” Bon Bon admits.

“Well it is Princess Luna and her team. It's a small wonder they are all active at night.”

The semi normal conversation went on for a few more sentences before Lyra remembered she wasn't supposed to be talking to Bon Bon and the not having conversation loop circled around again.

=============================================

[ Crystal Empire, Main Balcony

“Are you still pouting?”

Brier Rose glances up and back to see the faintly graying muzzle of the the black and white striped mare he had recently taken a interest in. Moskau had been quite busy getting the six sixty sixth set to deal with Tirek. She was also taking over the duties of Nicker Fury after his death and doing everything to coordinate the Royal Guard with the Crystal Guard to ensure everything went smoothly between the two branches. Rose was rather surprised she had come out to the balcony to see him. Likely she had already heard the explanation of what was going on. Shining and the others had gotten some Guards to go look for Bleu, Starfall, and Luna. Rose had simply wandered off to mull over everything.

“It ain't pouting. Just thinking on some things. Not real happy tah find out ah might be related tah tha monster that destroyed so many lives.”

“I suspect you now know how your great grand foal feels.”

“What Kaisur... Pfft. Colt did a lot of that to himself.”

“Still gifen how long it haz been. I am quite sure your blood hass been diluted enough dhat her taint is minor if it was evfen dhere. Dhat connection is also from a time before her corruption.” Moskau smirks moving up to lean against Rose's side.

Rose tenses a little before relaxing. They had been seeing each other long enough that they were a bit past the awkward make out sessions in the broom closets. Although that tended to be fun, even more fun if they were caught by a Guard, because no pony would ever believe what he had seen. And it was implied the Guard would not have a very nice life if he did say anything. Still given his state of mind he was reluctant to let her touch him, even though he knew she was far from some pure snowflake herself.

“You are being ridiculous you know. Who you are related to in dhe distant past means nothing of vhat you have done and who you are. Being related to a monster does not make you vun.”

“Are you taking lessons from that fat flanked white git about reading daydreams? Cause that was pretty much word fer word mai own thoughts.”

“No I am just gitting goot at reading you.” Moskau chuckles. “Ve vill have quite a bit of trouble coming our vay very soon. You vill need your focus.”

“Yeah , ah know. S'why ah'm getting the moping outta mai system now.”

“Vell now dhat dhat is settled ah am going to bed.”

“What? It's barely midday.” Rose glances back as she pulls away, his eyes drawn to her short swishing tail over that far too firm flank of hers.

“Ah am aware of dhat, but dhere is time to kill and I dhink a bit of down time is needed by us both.” Moskau grins glaring back, her tone changing to the pitch she used to bark orders. “ You ''VILL' be joining me won't you.”

Rose grins at the 'not a question' before turning to follow her inside.

“Yes ma'am”

==================

[ Crystal Empire war room]

Cadence steps into the large room looking over at the massive circular table that Shining and several Guards stood around. Shining was pointing out a few places to check for some Guards before they saluted and ran off to hunt for Princess Luna.

“They were last seen near the gym. Go there first!” Shining calls after them before turning to Cadence his frown deepening. He meet her gaze for a moment before turning and heading for the exit of the room after the Guards.

“Shining wait.” Cadence calls.”

The stallion pauses a moment but he doesn't look back to his wife.

“Look you heard what she said.....”

“And I heard what you said. I will admit I missed it. I was too busy training and making sure the rest of the Changelings were not being hunted down and killed. I followed Princess Celestia and your suggestions in that. That I missed one changeling that you yourself agreed to allow in the palace despite my protests at the time was a mistake on my part. I will admit that particularly since you saw fit to to throw it in my face. “ Shinning snaps. “ I should have gone with my gut feeling and destroyed all of them that were not in comas. Pity I was too dense to follow that feeling hmm?”

“She wasn't always like she is...”

“Neither were Kaisur and Luna and we both know that every eye on Equss has been locked on them since they returned. One slip up or one return to form from either of them and they would have been destroyed. It was only after the War of Gods that the scrutiny eased a little, but they are still being watched. Also unlike Chrysalis both of them spent a thousand years locked away for their crimes.”

“She spent longer than that in Tartarus.”

“And unlike them, she came out worse than when she went in. She trapped you in a cavern and left you to die and was using me like a puppet to fuel her invasion. She had plans to drain me to death or turn me into one of her bugs. Sorry if I am having a great deal of issue with the fact you let her watch our daughter.” Shining snaps.

“She has her own foal. She isn't a bad mother......”

“Neither is a maticore. That doesn't mean I want one in the same room as Glimmer. I agreed to take care of Shin because his parents were both dead and I was one of the ones who ended his fathers life.”

“You also swore to protect the Changelings to Sombra.”

“Which is why I didn't finish what you started. Given how you reacted to her when Luna stepped out of that pod you are being rather hypocritical of my ire where she is concerned.”

“Shiny......”

“Enough. I don't want to talk about this any more. We are going to have a long talk about why my wife withheld something this vital from me at some point. Until then I have far too much to do to dwell on it. Tirek is still coming here and I want to know what Luna knows, and what her plans are. Equss already has too many monsters in it. I want to know why she thought becoming another one was a good idea.”

Shining turns back not sparing another glance to his wife before pulling on his Guard helmet and striding out the door to join in the hunt for Luna leaving Cadence alone.

================================================

[ Crab Apple Farms ]

“This is seriously messed up.” Dash mutters, draped over the back of Big Mac as he drags a plow behind him, helping ready his cousin ready the field for the late harvest planting.

Applejack was working with the others in the orchard. Crab Apple had more than enough help with the current crop, but he had decided to plant a late harvest as well to try and help out with the possible food shortages that might occur if this Tirek mess was not dealt with soon. Mac found it hard to believe that summer was just starting. The weather this far north felt much closer to fall than the dog days they would be having further south. He was a little worried about the trees back in Sweet Apple Acres, though he expected they could handle a few weeks without supervision during the growing period. The green house would be a mess however. He hadn't set up a sprinkler system yet so everything inside would dry out if he didn't water it personally.

“Eeyup.” Mac agrees with Dash. She was a comfortable weight on his back, though he could tell she had put on a few pounds, he was immensely proud of the reason for that extra weight.

“I have no idea how you can remain so calm. We're all forced out of our home, there's a cutie mark eating monster hunting us and our remaining Princess has gone off the deep end.” Rainbow Dash rambles.

“Eeyup.”

“So how do you do it. Applebloom's missing, everything's all messed up and you're just calmly plowing a field. Even Applejack is frazzled. She knocked over that one tree trying to buck it. “

Big Mac mused a moment, remaining silent save for the rasp of the plow through the soil. Dash used to get annoyed by his pauses when she asked a question, though over time she had learned that he was mulling over his words carefully. Something she generally didn't do. Oddly this meant she often went quiet when he did so as not to interrupt his thoughts. Something he had taken advantage of once or twice in the past when she was particularly noisy. He loved her dearly, but she had a mouth on her that didn't stop sometimes.

“Ah ain't calm. Ah'm focused. Ah can't do nothing about tha situation so ah tune it out tah not fret over it. Then ah focus on what ah can do and ah do it. Right now ah'm plowing this field.”

“Not as profound or useful to me as I would like, but it suits you.” Dash mutters sliding her fore hooves around his neck hugging him as she lay on his back.

Big Mac nearly stumbled at that. While his wife was very affectionate in private, she wasn't at all while in public and on the occasions she was affectionate in public she went over board with it, nothing ever as simple as this tight hug she was giving him now.

“I'm glad you have focus cause all I can see right now are ways everything can go wrong. One of my best friends is dead and the one I usual go to for answers won't wake up. “ Dash mutters in his mane. “It wasn't this bad during the war. I've got no idea what I'm supposed to do. I don't even have a place to start. I just wish some one would tell me who to kick or where to fly. Just so I have something to do.”

Mac does stop at that. Even rarer than an affectionate Dash was a worried one. He turns his head looking back at her the best he can dipping his head to nuzzle lightly against her foreleg.

“It'll be okay. We ain't beat yet and one ah tha smart ponies 'll have a plan soon.”

“I hope you're right.”

============================================

[ Guard ready room]

“Huh. Rather upset I missed that story. It explains a few things.” Peach Blossom comments.

“No kidding. Luna finally explained what happened and what Chrysalis was telling the others after that dream walk of hers.” Starfall grins a little at that. “ That sort of trick still sounds like something Jer'rahd or Rhede would suggest.

“ Well Luna is a master strategist as well. How's Kaisur's body holding up any way?” Peach Blossom comments as he looks down at the map on the war table looking over the possible route Tirek could take to the Empire. There was a very large circle around Twilight's train tunnel. It was a very easily defensible position on this side, but if Tirek was utilizing Major Kaisur's talents he would know about it and have a way to push past any defenses. The trick would be to find a counter for anything Tirek could come up with.

“Not too well. It's particularly creepy because it looks like a small dragon is wearing a Jer'rahd suit and trying to act like a pony. The joints don't shift right and I think he's elongating. Also to hear Troph's booming voice come out of Jer'rahd's body again is creepy as buck. Only a bit creepier than Luna is now.”

“Well that's a disturbing mental image. Where are they now? Shining Armor was looking for them.

“Still in the sauna. I already let a Guard know and I expect Shining will find his way there. Bleu went to find Spike, Troph wants to have a word with the dragons.” Starfall sighs.

“I would love to see that. Pity that Shining wants any Guard with a cutie mark on defense not offense. He's planning to let the Princess do her thing whatever that is. He's putting a lot of trust in her. Some what a surprise given the situation.”

“You mean that she's the new bug queen?”

“Yeah.”

“It is a bit drastic, but she's done wild things before in pursuit of what she thought was right. We all have. I just hope this time it doesn't backfire like last time.” Starfall mutters.

=====================

[Crystal Empire Music hall]

The music bursts to life with a steady drum and symbol beat before the synthesizer kicks in. It continues a few more beats before a quick drum tempo announces the bass and guitar cutting in with a flourish. Another few beats pass and a chorus begins a low wordless accompaniment to the temp.

“Raise the drums up just a bit .”

The music increases a little in the small theater, a number of young ponies were bowed over their instruments, adding to the music. The piece was only meant to be played by a small band , but the small orchestra was doing a decent job with it. At this point was normally when a singer was added, but for the moment the bigger chore was getting everyone to maintain an even tempo and get the instruments to compliment each other.

There were a good twenty or thirty young musicians from the Platinum school and a few from the Empire's music program here at the moment to practice. Many were from Bleu Scale's planned performance for the end of the school year so it made picking the songs to practice that much easier. Behind her a wild blue maned white unicorn hopped around a sound board moving dials and gesturing to a brown earth pony to hit certain adjustments out of her reach.

Button Mash was practically a natural on the sound board and Vinyl barely had to tell him anything. As the music continued he had even raised the singers mic on reflex at the correct point, though he had left it muted in this case. Still she could see him mouthing the words to the song, likely hearing Sweetiebelle sing it in his head. He was hiding how worried about her he really was. The crush was adorable and she wondered if others said the same about her own relation ship with Jacob. Likely not with that goddess awful Blood Moon stage persona of his, but the foals seemed to like the costume. She preferred the shy pegasus he was normally as opposed to the loud mouth fake alicorn he presented to the world as the lead of Pontera. She wished she had some word back from him, but communication was rather rough with any place outside the Empire, even to a major city like Phillydelphia.

Octavia was doing her best to stay focused on the students before her. Most of them had been quite shocked to learn that despite of everything going on, classes would still be held. It was something that she had discussed with Bleu Scale. In trying times such as this routine was often the best thing to calm everyone down. Octavia had given the students a bit of a speech about that very thing, suggesting that if they were able, playing for the refugees in a small impromptu concert might soothe some frayed nerves, though first they needed to practice what they had planned to play for graduation. With the groups lead singer missing it would be hard, though there was a back up singer, she had been one of the ones too busy to make it to practice. Still even soly instrumental would do, also Button claimed to have some recordings of Sweetiebelle he could splice in if need be.

The hall they practiced in was being used as a shelter for refugees, though none of them seemed to mind the intrusion into their make shift home for the practice. Many were still there, clustered around the edges of the room listening to the students play. It was their presence that made the students try their best. Others watching them, even if they had no judge of what was being played, often spurred a team to give it their all to be the best they could. Particularly if the audience was nothing but strangers.

“Posh, your drum beats are a fraction out of sync. Pause for a beat or two and match back up with Gardiana's.“ Octavia calls out, the pegasus in question having already corrected herself by the time Octavia was done speaking.

Vinyl rather enjoyed poking fun of Octavia. Where Bleu was all loud and argumentative and quite scary when she wanted something done a particular way, Vinyl swore that Octavia's tone was more like a disappointed maternal figure. While some students intentionally would mess something up just to see Bleu lose it, no one wanted to disappoint Octavia.

In all honesty the gray earth pony was not certain she liked the idea of being thought of as old enough to be motherly feeling to the students, which Vinyl claimed made it even funnier.

=============================================================

[ Empire Hospital ]

Diamond Tiara sighed softly as she walked into the Hospital again.

It had been a busy few days. She had found her father and spoken with him. He was thrilled she was alright, particularly after finding out she had been at the castle when it was attacked. Still he could only fawn over her for so long before he was called else where.

A number of the business ponies and some nobles were pooling resources to do something about keeping the supply of food and materials coming to help the refugees. Most of them ignoring the fact they were refugees themselves. There were trade deals being struck and product reimbursement being discussed in meetings of merchants all over the Empire. The goal was to make sure that once the danger was over the Crystal Empire would be paid back for all the aid it was giving. The idea was this might make some of the local business ponies refrain from holding any of their stock back and donate it. There was also a meeting with the Princess being discussed to attempt to work out a tax break for those that helped the most over a certain percentage. The idea was to make it an attractive enough offer that would also turn a profit for the merchants.

Most of the dealings had her father right in the middle of them. Every pony knew the name Filthy Rich and he was making sure that counted for something. He had wanted her to stay at the apartment over the local branch of his store chain, but she had left and returned to the hospital the moment he was other wise occupied.

She had first made sure that Silver Spoon and her family were alright. She didn't hang around with her old friend as often as she used to, but it didn't mean she didn't care. Spoon and her family had avoided any sort of injury or even an encounter with the monster. After talking with her a few hours Tiara left quietly as Silver Spoon was going to check on some of her other friends. Ones that were not exactly happy with Diamond Tiara even after all this time.

Still, she knew rather deserved to be ostracized with how much damage she had caused when she was younger. Granted she was still standoffish and aloof, though mostly she just wanted to be done with school and to head to a college somewhere outside of New Canterlot where no pony knew her so she could start over. The Crystal Empire had a interesting business college, as did Baltimare.

While she no longer bullied any one directly, at the very least most thought her as stuck up and aloof. She wasn't trying to make friends , she just wanted to be done with the nonsense and drama that was high school. She had realized she wasn't a perfect filly by any standard, but she was trying. She just didn't know of any other way to deal with ponies except to be condescending. That still some times came out when she talked to Brush and others but she tried to subdue it. She had spent every moment she could out here with Brush and his sister, he hadn't left his sisters side since they got there.

She had become a familiar enough sight at the hospital that the Guards posted there only gave her a cursory check over now, rather than the full magical scan that most got. Still given she was going to see the foals of the Princess security needed to be tight, even more so than it had been at the castle.

Still the sight of the two Guards posted out side the room gave her a brief pause. She wasn't stopped as she went to knock on the door, though she could feel the soldiers eyes on her as if she was a possible threat. It was infuriating given how often she came here, but then again she didn't recognize either of them either so perhaps they were new.

“Come in” A strangely pitched voice sounded, as if the speaker was unfamiliar with talking.

Diamond Tiara sighs pushing open the door. Ice Berry was the only one in the room. The filly was sitting in a wheel chair clearly annoyed that she was supposed to just sit and regain her energy. Something that didn't sit well with the fairly active unicorn at all.

“Oh it's you. Brush stepped out with Orange to get a once over before she cleared us to be moved to the palace.” Berry shrugs waving a hoof for the pink mare to close the door behind her. “He should be back shortly if you want to wait.”

“Oh..thank you.” Tiara mutters pushing the door shut.

“You're welcome. I'm sure Brush would enjoy you walking with us. I figure it would show the Guards at the Palace you were welcome there as well.” Ice Berry smiles.

Diamond Tiara nods. For a filly who never said anything for years, the fourteen year old Ice Berry was talkative as a bored parrot now. There was a brief pause as she caught her breath, still not used to talking.

Diamond Tiara enjoyed the brief moment of silence. She was still leery of the little unicorn. She knew she needed to apologize at some point for the past torment she had inflicted on the former mute, though because she teased Berry was why she was nearly killed by Applebloom. She wasn't sure how to broach the subject.

“He likes you, you know. He doesn't talk about how he feels most of the time. Tries to suppress his emotions. His way of coping, I can tell though. He might get over that block at some point but he'll need help. You might be able to do that for him.”

Tiara looks up at Berry blinking, the little mare smiles a bit wider as she regards the pink earth pony.

“Really?” Diamond Tiara stammers. She had a idea he might, but Brush was withdrawn enough it was hard to tell. She could feel her cheeks getting hot and she shifted her head a little to let her purple and white mane fall over her face a little to hide it.

“Yep.” Berry agrees before her tone darkens noticeably. “I, however, don't like you at all.”

“Yes..... well I can understand that......” Tiara mutters, turning her gaze from the filly in the wheel chair.

“Good. Because I don't like you, I have no issue saying this. It's not mom you need to watch out for if you hurt him.” Berry continues.”I will have no issues picking you apart like I did that monster in the castle. I also have no political limitations like my mom and my dad do. I will make you wish Applebloom had finished you off. Are we clear?”

“Crystal..” Diamond Tiara stammers trying to quell her fear and the desire to try to argue that the filly was wrong about her. In this instance she could almost swear Ice Berry really was blood related to the one known as the Demon of Dullahan and the Goddess of War. Diamond Tiara wouldn't intentionally hurt Brush, she just had to prove that she wouldn't. Diamond Tiara remained silent opting not to argue. Simply doing her best not to hurt Brush would prove her point to, and Brush wouldn't suddenly return to see her arguing with his little sister about him

As if summoned by thinking his name, the door opens behind Diamond allowing Brush to enter. A orangish cream colored unicorn mare with a silver mane in a doctor's uniform, that Diamond recognized as Orange Danish, and a green furred Guard with a broken fore leg wrapped in a cast moved in behind him, though the Guard stayed at the door. The mood of the room changed drastically to one of untold menace to one of cheerful joy in a eye blink.

“Oh Diamond. I didn't realize you would be here. They're moving us to the palace today. “ Brush says flatly. “That should be nice. We haven't had much a chance to see Dawn since we got here or speak with mother or father. You're welcome to join us though.”

“Oh..umm thank you.” Diamond comments softly.

Brush nods moving over to help his sister steady herself in the wheel chair before checking over everything and pushing her out the door to where more Guards waited. Diamond Tiara was about to follow when a hoof blocked her path.

The pink mare looks up to the half scared face of the eldest of the Princesses adopted foals.

“I've noticed that you and Brush are hitting it off fairly well. Since Berry started talking she's mentioned it to me a few times. I've got no real issue with it, I think it's rather cute, but he's not had a easy life. So if this turns out to be a ploy to elevate your social standing, or some sort of game to you and he's hurt by it, well..... As a doctor I can assure you your organs at least wouldn't go to waste. Plenty of ponies who need a transplant and no one ever looks too closely at who the previous owner of them was.” Orange says in a tone that she usually reserved for problem patients... or Jer'rahd, same thing there really.

The tall mare heads out the door as well leaving the pink earth pony staring after her in disbelief.

“Is every member of this family going to threaten me with bodily harm for doing something I wouldn't do anyway?!?!” Diamond Tiara hisses to herself.

“Welcome to the joys of trying to date some one in the royal family. Over protective doesn't even begin to describe their parents.” Hunter comments overhearing the young mare's growling. “Look on the bright side at least you haven't been thrown through a wall by one of them yet.”

“No I haven't, the wall was too thick for me to go all the way through when the desk hit me.” Diamond Tiara deadpans.

“Owch.” Hunter flinches following after the pink filly as she heads out after Brush.

===========================================

[Jasper Square park, Crystal Empire]

“Thank you thank you. The next show is tomorrow if we're able. Next up, the Great and Powerful Trixie!! along with her almost as powerful, but twice as great colt, Magical Trevor! Cause everyone loves magical Trevor, the Tricks that he does are ever so clever!“ Pinkie Pie yells from the top of a group of crates piled up to mimic a stage. A number of hooves clack and there were some cheers from the foals and the parents in the audience. Pinkie Pie grinned taking another bow before bounding off stage and ducking behind some curtains that were strung between a few trees making a sort of temporary dressing room for the performers.

“Another lovely show as always Pinkie.” Discord chuckles tossing a white Rhinestone cloak over Pinkie's shoulders as she enters the room.

“It's just some stand up. Ribald jokes and fart noises with puns and some short stories to keep ponies distracted from what's going on. Trixie and the Platinum School are doing a lot more than me. Why don't you get up there? I'm sure you'd have them in stitches.”

“Now now Pinkie, you know I swore off stand up after your sister burned me down.” Discord sighs flopping down into a chair.

“Awwww did my big sister hurt your feelings. Don't worry Dissy, you'll always be my most basic of jokes.” Pinkie laughs as she hugs the Draconequus. “Not helping. “ Discord pouts though the mares smile was clearly infectious.

“Aww. Whats wrong?” Pinkie asks. “Usually you have some kind of comeback for that.”

“I'm getting bothered by ponies again.”

“Huh. Oh about just snapping your fingers and fixing everything? I get the same thing from a few of them about my Pinkie sense and why I didn't warn any one about Tirek. I don't think I have a Pinkie sense about evil god eaters from the past. Not like any of it's been working right for a while any way.”

“Yes that's it exactly. No one seems to listen when I tell them I can't.” Discord sighs falling his arms until Pinkie hops up into his lap. “Some of them even got it into their heads that I couldn't save every one because it isn't funny. So they have been coming up with ridiculous stories of how I could save everything that would still be funny. They don't seem to get I barely have a fraction of the powers I used to.”

“Why don't you just tell them?” Pinkie asks, laying against Discord's chest the white cape draped over them both in the chair. “I said you could.”

“Because I don't want any pony to think I've got some sort of spell placed over you. They might try to break it and we both know what will happen then.” Discord pouts.

“Yeah I know. Though you do kinda have a spell on me... though it's not really castable.... Well maybe it is. I'll have to ask Twilight.”

“Hmmm? What's that?” Discord asks his eyes widening as the pink mare leans up and kisses him softly nuzzling against him. “Oh..., well....., I'll take the blame for that.”

======================

[Jasper Park, eastern side far away from the stage.]

“So the Jade Scroll gave you the same story Chryssy told us.” Bleu ponders.

“More or less. It's story was more along the lines of how easy it was to destroy idiot ponies and creatures with some monsters he slapped together with a body he stole. They destroyed the body so he had to find another one, but still he thought it a success.” Spike sighs. “After all that I just decided to see if there was a book about Queen Crystal and I got this thing. It was written by Starswirl the Bearded or carved or whatever.”

Spike holds up a book that seemed to be carved entirely out of pink and blue crystal. He pulls it away before Bleu decides to try and eat it, but the blue dragon seemed strangely subdued and didn't even make a grab for it. The pair of them were sitting at the base of the Crystal palace near the small landing field at the edge of the park. A few Guards were milling around and most of the field had been taken up by tents and small structures to house the refugees from New Canterlot and Gallopagos. Despite the mass of ponies about they all gave the two dragons a wide berth.

“So it's taken bodies before. Other gods with your power I assume?” Bleu questions.

“I asked about that. Seems not all of them were gods the first ones were users of a spell that mimicked the ability I have. I wonder if that means that a powerful enough spell might one day become the power a god has at his disposal. That is rather terrifying when one thinks on it. Calling a book uses about as much energy as a simple glow spell. If there was a creature out there with something destructive they likely could destroy great swaths of Equss without breaking a sweat.”

“There have been in the past. Forgescale had immense amounts of power and control over fire. If he had been in his right mind when he woke up Boss would have gotten destroyed along with the rest of Equestria.” Bleu sighs. “Onyx Scale had some sort of mental control over a large portion of his soldiers and he had managed to enthrall a number of pony mares as well. Thankfully that didn't work on Luna, but it was a nasty power. Then there was that Diamond Dog pup Boss killed who could call the stars from the sky. We've been watching to that one to pop up again.”

“Even the lesser ones make one consider. Jef'ray had a power over plants. One he weaponized by keeping his fur moldy...”

“No he didn't keep his fur moldy for that. Orcs just had no concept of hygiene, and all of them were disgusting. Something their little piggy ancestors seemed to have kept up.” Bleu snorts.

“That was forced evolution however. Equestria continuously destroyed the warlike ones utterly every time they popped up after the War of Night and eventually the pink more peaceable ones became dominate. Granted Luna and you Beasts didn't leave many Orcs left to watch for.”

“There were still a few wild tribes out there. I think the only full genocide we did was against the Shadow Walkers.” Bleu admits.

“No there are still some of them out there. They are rare and they call them selves the Gi'Raf now. A few studies of them have shown they are not far off from how the zebra were a thousand years ago in terms of societal advancement. Seems the ones calling themselves Shadow Walkers were the dominate members of the race and kept all the others isolated and secluded from the world. After Velkorn destroyed that enclave of them there were not enough of the casters left to hold dominion over the others and a quick bloody coup ended the Shadow Walkers reign fully. They remained hidden for a long while and no one is sure where exactly the originated from but over the past few hundred years they have been moving out onto the zebra plains for trade and negotiations of territory. They clearly accept other races as there are quiet a few that have mated with the zebra and produced another half race calling itself the Okapi.”

“Advanced like the zebra's were a thousand years ago? Living fossils it seems. Kinda like the rest of us ...” Bleu sighs.

“You're adapting better than the others to the new age.” Spike smirks

“Yeah well I still catch myself from time to time on stuff. Enough about history. What are we gonna do?” Bleu shakes her head.

“About?”

“What do you mean about? You know as well as I do that if the dragons don't help there's going to be a lot of ponies who die here. Tirek is on his way. And once he's done with us the dragons are next. No one can stand alone on this.”

“Didn't Troph say he had an idea?”

“It was more of a dismissal that the dragons were even refusing at all. I'm not sure he has a plan or he just doesn't care. It's not just the fact that he's screwing with Boss's body that unnerves me about that guy.”

“Odd. “

“Hmm?”

“I'm not unnerved by him, just a little leery. Like he's a disproving father figure who knows you can do better.”

“Like I said. Unnerving. “ Bleu grumbles.

=======================

[ Crystal Guard Gymnasium, Steam Room]

“So that is the plan?”<

“You do not think it will work?”

”It is hard to say if it will work or not. You are putting far more weight on your self and that of your new race than you should be.”< Troph grumbles laying down in the steam room partially curled around himself, the long serpentine tail that had replaced Jer'rahd's short amber colored tail was draped around him. Luna was rather leery as a ponies body was not supposed to move the way Troph was moving Jer'rahd's.

“The Changelings need to prove that they are not monsters. I don't plan to use the ones who are awake. The ones in the coma's are already considered dead by most of Equss. Who they were doesn't matter at this point. I need them to be soldiers. Tirek cannot take their power and even if he simply kills them that is using energy that he can no longer use to kill some one else.” Luna explains.

“I do not agree with the use of fodder.”<

“They are not fodder. They will be going into battle with every bit of knowledge about war and fighting that I have and that the hive mind has collected. They are going to be the most highly knowledgeable soldiers that ever existed.”

”Mentally. Not physically. There is no way any could match your spell casting, or your skill and durability if they have not trained for it.”<

“Physicality is fluid for a changeling. As for power they have all been soaking up the energy of the Crystal Heart for nearly ten years now in some cases while barely stirring or moving anything. Their energy reserves are likely to be painfully swollen when they rise. There is also the Armory of Slate Quake to consider. Hammer maintained it. Crystal and Solomon added to it. The Changelings might not be able to use all of it themselves, but everyone else will. The Crystal Empire will be very well protected.”

”You sound as if you are trying to convince yourself as well.”<

“Tirek was beaten last time by the Element's of Harmony. Not force. If I attack we will kill him and we will lose every one that he has claimed for good.”

”The Element's will function without a direct connection to me or Grace. They have before.”<

“That is not the issue. The issue is that we do not have a complete set of Element Bearer's. We have three Laughters, One Loyalty, One Magic, Two Honestys, One Compassion and, no Generositys.”

” Time to find a new group then. It is an hour of need sort of thing that generally draws the Bearer's together.”<

“That is another issue. Tia claimed before she could sense other bearers. It was something Avianna taught her. I do not have that ability Tirek does. He may have already gone after the new Bearers and removed them.”

“It is possible. I only feel two of them connected to me. The brash pegasus and likely the body I inhabit given that the second one is so vague. I cannot tell about the other Element's though you should be able to ask them yourself.”<

“Why don't you go to her body for a while. Rainbow Dash is still herself so you won't warp her form if you inhabit it.”

” Do you really think she would go through the ritual with the books that you went through. Better still why would you allow her too? You know as well as I do that my host would find the idea reprehensible. Besides without her Bearer of Magic if she lost control you would need to kill her to stop her.”<

“Fine... it was not something I had thought much on. I just want Jer'rahd back.” Luna sighs.

”And I wish my Grace returned. We both have our desires, but we both also have our duty. It is hard to say which will win out in the end.”<

“That is always the way of it.” Luna sighs. “ If I need to let Jer'rahd go finally to ensure that Dawn and the rest of our foals have a future I shall, but I doubt I will stay with this world long after that.”

Author's Note

Title is Bad Moon Rising, by CCR initially but i like the Mourning Rituals version better.

SiS Nightmare Night Special 2

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Nightmare Night Special, Two.

[Other when or maybe, dressing room]

“Discord these constant shifts are rather trying.” Celestia mumbles as she moves behind the white silk screen as she dresses. “I'm not even sure where we are.”

The room was a fair sized dressing room partitioned by a number of free standing silk screens which showed the silhouettes of various ponies changing on the other side of them. The Draquonuss sat by the door in a directors chair with the name 'Discord' painted on the back of it over the name' Spielberg'. He was wearing a light brown tweed jacket, white undershirt, and a pair of large black framed glasses.

“It's not where, it's more a when, or a maybe, than a where. And seriously the last time we did this was a full year ago and you shouldn't even remember that due to the fourth wall break”

“I didn't remember it until I got here.” Celestia snorts.

“Oh well good. Anyway dear Sun Butt, it's not like we can do this sort of thing in the real world. I mean there's a war going on, you and Sparkle are taking the mother of all power naps and even Kaisur is out like a light. This was the only place this could be done. Besides the rabbit okayed it so it's gonna happen”

“Wasn't Fluttershy going to murder him for all the grief he was causing us?” Luna pipes up from behind a dark blue dressing curtain.

“He's a little dark gray bunny. One cute look from him and she'd sooner beat herself up.” Jer'rahd calls from behind a green curtain. “Also I do not like this outfit at all. What's the point of this thing?”

“It's called tie you ruffian. Honestly Princess how do let him get away with dressing like a wild dog? He looks good in a suit. Even one like this.” Rarity chimes in from behind a lavender curtain. Lionheart was also behind it and Rarity was fixing something on his outfit.

“If you had listened to Bleu you might know what this is. It's a very popular movie that has a resurgence every year about this time.“ Discord explains waving his hand in the air.” Be glad we are not doing the other songs. Fishnets for days.”

“Yes, well I've never seen the movie, and these outfits are ridiculous. At least last time I had a chance to be intimidating. Now I look like a brothel clown.” Jer'rahd snorts.

“And how would you know brothels have clowns?” Luna snaps pushing aside her curtain to move behind Jer'rahd's angrily.

“Oh please Luna. I was in the Guard for quite a while before we started dating, I know very well what a brothel is.” Jer'rahd grumbles his silhouette trying not to look at Luna's looming over him.

“Yeah, you have no idea how many times he's had to drag me out of one.” Rhede chimes in trotting up in a tux with a red hued collar and a party hat with a pair of strange looking sunglasses on. He chuckles before wiping away his smirk as he noticed the glare Velkorn was giving him. The zebra mare was dressed almost identically to him, but with her hair poofier than normal and two cone party hats covering her ears. He grins again trying to placate her.”Hey calm down, I've not been to one since we got married.”

“Damn it Rhede, I wanted to see Luna beat some sense into Kaisur and then you come and ruin it by giving a valid reason for him to have been in a brothel.” Celestia growls from behind her curtain.

Discord sighs.” Drama queens. Look it's not even the whole show it's just one song. You can just relax and do your part and everything's gonna be fine. You don't even have staring roles this time.”

“Yeah about that.” Rhede asks.” We're the main characters of this story. Why are we second fiddle in our own holiday special?”

“Keep in mind Rhede, Lost Empire wasn't our story, we were just in it.”

“Hardly fair for some big damn heroes like us.”

“We had two big books before this and a couple of spin offs. I think at this point we should be lucky if we even get mentioned by name in the next book. I mean buck, you're dead and I'm nearly dead. There's not much more that can be done with us. Unless you want a riveting tale of what it's like to feed the worms.” Jer'rahd points out.

“Been reading ahead in the script again Jer?” Rhede snorts. “ Also stop being so damn morbid.”

“At least you go to go out with a heroic bang. My end was the equivalent of getting shot in a dark ally to fuel a lifetime of revenge for some one to dress like a bat and fight crime” Jer'rahd admits before his silhouette is tackled by Luna's

There's a brief moment of quiet before Discord slaps his face with his griffon claw. “Are you two even going to be in the show or do you need your own room?”

“PLACES!!!” Pinkie bellows popping up from behind Discord. The pink mare's hair was still a little frilly but it was hanging only to her shoulders and was more wavy than curly. A pair of white circular hair clips held her mane up on either side of her head just over her ears. She wore a white jacket with a demure pink dress underneath it. “ We're on in five!”

“Thank you for that dear, I think I am now deaf in that one ear.” Discord mutters pulling his right ear off and tossing it aside before pulling another out of the jacket he wore attaching it to his head.” There we go. Alright, Luna I know he's dead and your busy and you just went through a good number of months pregnant with out being to ride him like a mechanical bull, but let your husband up so we can do this.......”

“Fiancee.” Celestia corrects.

“Sunbutt, I don't care if she calls him her snoogy woggums...” Discord begins.

“No.” Jer'rahd chimes in, pointing a hoof at Luna.

“Maybe.” Luna chuckles as Jer'rahd groans.

“....WHATEVER!! Everyone move, get into places and lets get this show on the road!!” Discord rants.

===========================================================

[Theater hall before the main stage.]

The audience stretched out in front of the stage far further than ever before. Countless Tirek Clones dotted the landscape though all were focused on the stage save for a couple that were being bludgeoned by those they had killed or run out of their homes. One was currently being decorated like a Nightmare Night tree by Cheese Sandwich, while Maud handed him up orange tinsel and bat garlands. The real Tirek was at the back standing very still between the gargantuan fore claws of the towering form of Troph in his full blue scaled six eyed draconic glory. Two of his glowing eyes focused down on the uncomfortable creature between his claws, two were on the stage, and the last pair was on the skeletal zebra mare perched on his head. Grace had a perfect view over everything from the tallest spot in the entire theater.

Granny Smith and Ma Pelt were watching Fluttershy and Applejack's foals as the trio used a familiar dark gray rabbit as a pull toy between them. A gift from an annoyed Fluttershy before she was pulled off to the stage.

Zecora was introducing Baelit, Wolf, and Fox to Velkorn and Rhede's little balls of striped fluff, Wolf and Fox.

Vinyl Scratch and Button Mash all sat in a control booth hanging just below eye level with the great dragon in the back of the ridiculously huge theater. An orchestra pit at the front had a number of musicians from the Platinum school including Octavia leading them and the three members of Pontera out of costume.

There was a great deal of commotion going on as the audience mingled and talked among themselves. Guards from the past spoke with the Guards from the present Several of the older Gods sat around chatting and all seven Books of Orbsah were stacked neatly atop one another with the other four aspects of the Elements of Harmony sitting around them. The chatter and noise cut off abruptly as the theaters lights dimmed and the curtain opened with a guitar riff.

==================================================

The curtain rises on the stage showing a some what odd setting. It seemed to be an old manor house,dotted with random copies of expensive old paintings, or maybe the real ones it was hard to tell in this place. Spider webs and dust seemed to be every where, though other items were highly polished and seemingly cleaned religiously. There were a few twisted versions of famous works of art and the architecture seemed off some how as if there was a slight left ward lean to half of it and a rightward lean to the other half. Over one fireplace was a picture of Blueblood, some ponies recognized it as the same one that hung over his mantle in his home, though this one had a crudely drawn monocle and a thin handlebar mustache and goatee painted on as well.

Blueblood sitting in the audience was not amused.

Discord and Pinkie Pie stood on stage, huddled together, strangely seeming to be the one spot of normalcy in the disjointed collection of randomness that was on stage. Both of them were wearing what amounted to normal clothes and had rather lack luster mane cuts. They both had the sort of 'average ponies' look that could still be seen on 'family friendly' products.

Pipsqueak Kaisur on the other hoof....

Pip was standing nearby Discord and Pinkie. He was dressed in a long tailed tux that seemed a bit ratty and ill fitting on him as if some of it was made for a larger pony and other parts for a smaller pony. The outfit was topped off with a pair of tipless black hoof gloves, and white spats on his rear hooves. His mane was pulled back and covered in white powder then curled be hind his ears to give him the impression of a balding old stallion, the make up on his face also gave him a bit of a sunken or hollowed expression. He moved with an odd gait and had a fairly sizable hump on his back as if his spine was deformed.

Scootaloo was on the other side of Pinkie and Discord. Her hair was fluffed out and lengthed to almost comical proportions and framed her face that seemed to be covered in powder with far too much mascara around her eyes. She wore a french maid outfit that was in a similar state of disarray as Pip's tux, though her small wings were uncovered and stuck out of the back of it, occasionally igniting and illuminating the area behind her and her frizzy hair, in a green glow.

As the scene opens Pip was holding a black feather duster and seemed to be trying to clean off a cobweb covered pony skeleton sitting in a coffin propped upright against the wall, the door to which was wide open.

A sudden loud note starts a steady guitar rhythm that quiets the little bit of chatter left from the audience.

Pip tilts his head up a wide grin crossing his face as he regards the suddenly startled looking Pinkie and Discord. The fairly deep voice the small stallion was singing in threw a few others off as well.

“It's astounding,
Time is fleeting.”

The little pony swings around the back of the coffin door looking through a window about head high in the coffin door one hoof wiggling through the opening at Pinkie and Discord.

“Madness. Takes it's toll.”

Scootaloo grins wider and seems to gasp as she pushes the huddled Pinkie Pie and Discord after Pip while he darts further across the stage.

“But listen closely....”

Pip stops dead leaning back to point a hoof in the pair's faces.

“Not for very much longer....”

Scootaloo adds in leaning close to Pinkie who jerks away and presses against Discord more.

“I've got to..... keep control.....”

Pip utters the last line before ducking through a curtain to another part of the stage, popping back out and leaning up to Discords face.

“I REMEMBER …... DOING THE TIME WAAAARP!!”

Pip shouts as he runs off to the sudden increase of the music's tempo. He slips behind a small pillar that was next to a stuffed Chimera that seemed to be fighting it's own snake tail. His fore hooves grip the pillar as he kicks out one of his back legs swinging it in the air in a repeated high kick that didn't quite match the music's rhythm

“Drinking.... those moments when.....”

Pip spins off popping up on the other side of the stuffed Chimera.

“The blackness would hit me.”

Pip moves over to the small group clasping his fore hooves to Scootaloo's as Discord and Pinkie dart towards a door at the back of the stage.

“And the void would be calling..”

Pip and Scootaloo sing in unison before running after Discord and Pinkie.

As Pinkie and Discord rush through the door at the back of the setting the entire stage suddenly puffs out of existence as the illusionary magic supporting it blinks out. The new area was revealed as a large ballroom with a large banner across the back of the room reading 'Annual Trotsilvania Convention.' The ballroom was filled with various figures who all turn to look at the door as the 'normal' couple runs through with Pip and Scootaloo right behind them.

Every pony, zebra, dragon, and whatever the heck Luna and Jer'rahd counted as now, were dressed in a variant of a old style black tux and a white vest and different colored undershirt.

Rhede had on a deep blood read undershirt and the collar and vest were opened a little more showing off his chest. Unlike the others he neglected to ear pants, likely to show off his cutie mark and flank, though he had on white rear hoof spats and white fore hoof gloves. His mane was pulled back and nearly dragged the floor and he was wearing what looked like a tiny version of a conical purple party hat that was slightly tilted to the side on his head. He also wore a pair of sunglasses dark enough that one had to wonder how he could see.

Velkorn was dressed identically to Rhede, though her outfit included pants. Her mane and tail were also done up in a big poofy white and black afros giving her the impression of being a poodle. She had a pair of the purple party hats, both over her ears.

Jer'rahd's tux also included pants though it was ill fitting on him as if he had loosened every bit of it in an effort to be comfortable. His undershirt was a dark blue color that matched Luna's mane. His mane was pulled back tight enough for a small ponytail to be made that only fell a bit down his back. His horn was covered by a viking helmet with two curled horns, eye and cheek guards and seemed to be designed after the one on the box art of that one fantasy game about shouting at things.

Luna's outfit matched Jer'rahd's as did her ponytail, though it was much longer and her tux fit her well. Her undershirt was also a amber coloration matching Jer'rahd's mane.

Bleu had taken her small sized form and had a bright yellow beehive wig that was taller than she was on her head and a massive pair of novelty glasses that were too big for her head. Her undershirt was a green the same coloration as Spikes spines. She also wore no pants, though she had shifted the coloration of her legs and tail to at least look like she was wearing pants.

Starfall and Peach Blossom both had cream colored undershirts, tiny little teal colored western hats, and white glasses that had slats like Venetian blinds. Starfall's mane was hidden by a poofy red wig, though her tail was the same purple as normal. Peach Blossom had a poofy blue wig that hid his orange cream colored mane and hid his white furred ears.

Lion Heart and Rarity were the only pair in full black well tailored and perfectly fit tux's. Both of their manes were and lengthened almost as long as Fluttershy's and giving off a wet mane vibe. It seemed that Rarity had styled and designed all the outfits to some how make her's and Lionheart's look better than every one elses without actually being better. The pair of them both wore multicolored and heavily feathered carnival masks. Rarity had a long black scarf over her head and neck while Lion Heart had a little gold crown on his.

Fluttershy and Applejack were also dressed the same, though the butter yellow pegasus was trying to hide behind the farmer at the sight of the massive crowd before the stage. Their undershirts were a bright orange and the pair both wore black domino masks. Applejack wore her usual hat with Fluttershy wearing one similar though with a pinkish hue.

Rainbow Dash was the only one in the air and she was floating over Big Mac. The pair of them both wore aviator sunglasses and pirate hats. While Rainbow Dash's shirt and tux were already ruffled a little the pair of them both had a bright blue undershirt with their tux and red and white pok-a-dot bow ties.

Celestia and Twilight both were dressed the same with a simple white undershirt and white hoof gloves. Celestia's wings were under her suit jacket and she wore a mask that seemed a overtly stylized sun, with eye holes in it. Twilight wore a similar mask with a stylized moon with eye holes. Twilight had on a red fez with a black tassel and Celestia had a gold one with a purple tassel.

The entire group stares at Pinkie and Discord for a moment as the music hits a rather impressive height before they all shout out.

“LET”S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN!”

Pinkie and Discord pause at the top of the ballroom stairs looking down at the group in shock.

“Let's do the time warp again!”

The gathered ponies and dragon sing out once more as the music dies completely.

The stage goes dark and another part of the stage lights up. It seemed to be a professor's study. Wall to wall filled bookshelves, a globe of Equss and a few documents on the wall proclaiming how smart the studies owner was. There was also a small statue on a pedestal behind the desk that looked very similar to the statue of a mare in the garden that had created an abomination that killed Princess Luna's first love.

A large desk sits in the middle of the room with Applebloom standing behind it.

The pale yellow earth pony was on her back legs, her mane was cut short and slicked back behind her ears. She was dressed in a black tux with a tie though she didn't wear a hat or any glasses , she did however have a stalk of wheat gripped in her teeth.

She reaches up with a hoof pulling down a chart from the ceiling with four hoof prints on one side marked left and right . A curved arrow going left, with the word jump under it and another group of hooves on the other side.

Applebloom pulls a pointer stick off the desk tapping the poster.

“It's just a jump to the left.”

Applebloom states in a fairly dull tone of voice.

The lights die in the study and the ball room lights up again as the gathered ponies start the dance featured in Applebloom's instructions, the music kicking back up immediately with the lights.

“And then a step to the riiii iii iii ight!”

The music dies once again and the lights swing back to the study to show Applebloom, still chewing the stalk of wheat. She places her fore hooves on her hips as the looks at the audience as if instructing them.

“Put your hooves on your hips....”

The lights switch back to the ballroom and the ponies, zebra, and little dragon, are all standing on their back legs with their fore hooves and claws on their hips.

“And Bring your knees in tiiiight!”

The ball room group hops around to face each other in a circle before rocking their hips forward.

“But it's the pelvic thrust, that really drives you insaaaan aaane...”

The group continues the gyrations a moment more, still singing.

“Let's do the time warp again!!!”

Scootaloo and Pip stand at the top of the stairs on either side of Discord and Pinkie who both stare on in disbelief before Pinkie faints into Discord's arms.

“Let's do the time warp again!”

Scootaloo grins leaning in close to Pinkie as Discord Puts her back up on her hooves, rousing her.

“It's so dreamy.....”

The maid outfit clad, orange pegasus, spins off further into the ball room away from the three at the by the door.

“Oh, fantasy, free me!”

She narrows her eyes, ears flattening as she backs away from the three figures at the stairs top, her short wings wiggling at them as she backs up.

“So you can't see me....”

Pip pushes Discord and Pinkie down the short flight of steps onto the dance floor.

“No not at all.”

Scootaloo continues as the pair are guided after her by Pip.

“In another dimension.”

Scootaloo perks her ears back up as she spins slowly around a pillar with a brief flare of her wings.

“With voyeuristic intention..”

Scootaloo smirks hooking a fore hoof around a pillar spinning around behind it before sliding down to crouch behind it, her grin widening.

“Well secluded, I see all.”

Pip looks up at Discord, his own expression some what disturbing.

“With a bit of a mind flip..”

“Your into the time slip, Ahh!”

Scootaloo calls out having fluttered up the pillar a bit and landed on a stuffed bird of some kind as she tries not to burn her costume with her wings.

“And nothing can ever be the same”

Pip looks to Discord who nods dumbly as if Pip was trying to explain things to him he didn't under stand while Pinkie continues to look around as if freaked out.

“You're spaced out on sensation! HA!”

Scootaloo comments as she moves across the stair's railing to the group again.

“Like you're under sedation....”

Pip nearly screams out all while maintaining his rather creepy visage.

The pair of them move off joining in the dance with the others as Pinkie Pie faints again. Along the way they pass Paint Brush, Ice Berry, Diamond Tiara and Orange Danish all also in white undershirt Tuxes, cone party hats, and various shaped sunglasses, all standing against the wall with drinks and small hour'devours.

“Let's do the time warp again!!!”

Pip and Scootaloo move across the room stopping before jukebox with Sweetiebelle sitting on it. The white unicorn was wearing a gold glittering top hat and sequined gold tux with no rear leggings. She had bright blue socks on her rear hooves, red sparkly tap shoes. and a big red bow around her neck.

Judging by Rarity's sudden face hoof, Sweetiebelle had picked the costume out herself.

“Let's do the time warp again.!!”

Sweetiebelle grins squirming a little on her perch before she starts to sing her voice keeping the odd squeaky tone she had before puberty.

“Well I was walking down the street, just having a think, when a snake of a guy gave me an evil wink!!”

Sweetiebelle gestures a bit and shifts on top of the jukebox as it's lights flicker and blink in time with the music.

Far across the theater in the control booth, Button tries very hard not to drool.

“He shook me up! He took me by surprise! He had a good pick up line and a devils eyes!”

Sweetiebelle kicks back crossing her rear hooves as she takes off the top hat to fiddle with it.

“He stared at me and I felt a change. Time meant nothing ! Never would again!”

Sweetiebelle grins putting her hat back on as the rest of the cast whips around one by one adding to the chorus.

“Let's do the time warp again!!!”

Pinkie stares at them all wide eyed as Discord simply smiles politely and nods.

“Let's do the time warp again!!”

The lights go out and then come back on in the professor's study. Applebloom is standing behind the desk without her wheat stalk, still with her hooves on her hips as the music cuts off again.

“It's just a jump to the left. “

Applebloom states hopping to the left.

The music cuts back on as the lights switch to the tuxedoed group all following the dance in a big conga line.

“And then a step to the riiiiight!”

The music dies as the light switches back to Applebloom.

“With your hooves on your hips.”

Back to the ballroom as the music barely pauses that time.

“You bring your knees in tiiight.”

They all sing before starting to buck their hips.

“But it's the pelvic thrust, that really drives you insaaanaane!”

Pip and Scootaloo dance around in the ball room not even seeming to be doing the dance or even staying in time with the music now.

“Let's do the time warp again!!”

Pip and Scootaloo stop near Sweetiebelle's perch to catch their breath .

“Let's do the time warp again!!”

Suddenly the conga line of ponies on their back legs freeze as Sweetiebelle squeaks sliding off her seat on the jukebox. All tuxedo clad cast members point one hoof or claw to the floor before her as if presenting the floor to the white unicorn mare.

Sweetiebelle grins starting to tap dance on her back hooves, the clicking of her shoes matching the music as the guitar dies with only a few piano and bass notes

No one else moves as the mare continues to dance with a giggle and screech before she starts spinning, her heels clicking loudly before she spins out of control, crashing into the short stairs near the door as the music picks up again and everyone starts moving once more..

“Let's do the time warp again!!”

Sweetiebelle picks herself back up with a glare grabbing her hat with her magic and jamming the gold thing back on her head before storming over to join Pip and Scootaloo. The white unicorn gives a savage glare to the orange pegasus who was trying her hardest not to laugh at her friend while every one else resumed dancing around them.

“Let's do the time warp again!!”

The music cuts out to Applebloom standing on her desk waving her fore hooves in the air.

“It's just a jump to the left!”

Applebloom hops some how managing to stay atop the desk. The music cuts back on as the lights switch to the ball room.

“And then a step to the right!”

Pinkie looks up at Discord who was watching the dance with some interest, nudging him and getting him to look down at the pink mare. The lights cut back to Applebloom still on her desk, the Wheat strand back in her mouth.

“With your hooves on your hips.”

The lights cut back to the ball room as Pinkie and Discord start edging their way towards the door again.

“You bring your knees in tight!”

Everyone with the exception of Pinkie and Discord have joined in the dance at this point, including those on the sidelines.

“But it's the pelvic thrust...”

This also includes Applebloom on top of her desk, both the study and the ballroom lit up now.

“That really drives you insaaaanaaanane!”

Discord and Pinkie slowly back up the short set of stairs to the door, their eyes locked on the dancers as they retreat.

“Let's do the time warp again!”

The group and music seem to hit a fevered pitch.

“Let's do the time warp again!!!”

Every one cries out a last time before the music trails off like a broken guitar string and the lights fade as everyone collapses onto the floor.

================================================

Still on the darkened stage the group listens as the audience cheers and claps

“I am never doing this again.” Jer'rahd grumbles from the floor.

“What if I ask nicely.” Luna purrs laying on top of him

“I might do this again.” Jer'rahd corrects.

“Wow, my voice hurts from that squeeking.” Sweetiebelle complains.

“How? That's how you used to talk all the time.” Scootaloo comments.

“Rhede that better not be your hoof on my flank or I will burn it off.” Celestia grumbles.

“I'm over here with Velkorn on top of me, so I can't do something like that.” Rhede pouts. “ My reach isn't THAT long... my dick maybe....”

“Didn't we already do this joke once before?” Starfall questions.

“We did, so don't slap me this time Rarity.” Twilight grumbles. “Also get off my horn.”

“I believe that is Lionheart this time darling, unless you have grown draconic wings lately.” Rarity comments.

“Given the mess of this story I wouldn't be surprised.” Twilight mutters.

“Sorry miss Sparkle. I am trying to get my legs under me without ripping or stretching my suit.” LionHeart apologizes.

“Wow Rarity you trained him well.” Rainbow Dash laughs.

“Hey Bleu.” comments another voice from the side of the stage.

“Oh, there you are Spike. Are you in costume?” Bleu asks.

“Bleu you better not be drooling on me.” Peach Bloosom snaps.

“Um no Bleu. I read the script and decided I really don't think I want to be playing this Frankfurter guy.” Spike admits. ”Sorry.”

“Correct me if I am wrong, but I didn't think Frankfurter was in this song.” mentions Velkorn.

“He's not. Bleu probably jus wanted ta see Spike in fishnets and a corset.” Applejack snorts.

“Guilty as charged.” Bleu cackles.

“You need help Bleu.” Luna sighs.

“What? You wouldn't want to see Boss dressed like that?” Bleu chuckles.

“Hmmm.” Luna ponders.

“PASS!!!” Jer'rahd yelps from under Luna.

Author's Note

Need i say what song this is?

Honor for All [32]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Honor for all

[Whitetail Woods, Changeling Cairn, Tuesday 700 hours]

“So did we have a plan of getting out of here? You're still too injured to fly and Applebloom doesn't want me doing anything at all.” Pip whispers to Daring Doo.

“You could let me sleep longer. That's a good plan.” Sweetiebelle mutters. From the other side of the room they had claimed in the ruined city. The place was mostly flooded still, though some of the buildings had second floors that were dry and mostly intact.

“I wasn't talking to you.” Pip hisses. “ Besides I caught you asleep on watch again, so I shouldn't let you sleep at all.”

Scootaloo ignores them both and continues to snore.

“Not directly no. I figure we can just follow all the paw prints out and slip out of the forest down river towards the ocean. The Elk settlement is on the other side of the crater and the patrols should stop once we move further away from it. I need to get this book back and I'm sure your cousin wants to make sure you are well enough so your mother doesn't lock her away for letting you get hurt.” Doo mutters back.

“Nah Ma knows I do a lot of things like this to myself. Besides we already decided that if we get in trouble Sweetiebelle is taking the fall.” Pip responds.

“Oh, HA HA” Sweetiebelle grumbles.

“You act as if ah'm joking.” Pip states.

“Where is Applebloom any way?” Daring Doo asks, sitting up with a yawn.

“When she woke me up at the end of her watch she told me she was headed over to the garden to see what she could harvest that might be decent for breakfast. Pity we don't have any potatoes, I could go for some hash browns.”Pip admits.

“Just need some coffee here.” Daring Doo yawns again,putting a hoof over her moth this time.”I'm not much a morning pony.”

A scream ended the conversation and snapped Scootaloo fully awake, even Sweetiebelle sat bolt upright.

“Applebloom!!” they all shout rushing out of the building and their makeshift camp, galloping towards the garden.

==============================================================

[Crystal Empire, 700 hours]

The shouting and rush of the Guards down the halls was the first thing that caught Luna's attention. She was on her way to check on Dawn and speak with Shining that morning, having taken the night to recuperate from her hatching and plot out her next moves and plans on how to proceed.

The memories she had from the millions of changelings that had lived since Crystal was created offered new strategies, interesting facts on native wildlife, the lay of the land and location of quite a number of bunkers and tombs that dotted Equss that were still likely undiscovered. Even baring the fact that much of the information was from before the events of Nightmare Night and several other events changed the very face of Equss before that, there was enough that recent enough to be useful.

Luna shifts slightly taking the form most ponies would recognize her as, the Princess of the Night before she followed some of the Guards along the halls towards buildings exit.

She had remembered to lower the moon on time today, though the sun was still left at the horizon, not being scheduled to end the night for another half hour or so. She had not even made it within sight of the main doors when she found herself flanked by Shining Armor and Briar Rose. Both the ponies were armed and armored with another flanking of Guards behind her armed with star metal tipped weapons.

Luna chuckled a little.

“Don't trust me?”

“Not entirely, though you have to agree with my skepticism given your sudden change of species.” Shinning snorts.

“Nope. Never did before either.” Rose snaps.

“Yes well.” Luna rolls her eyes at Rose as the trio and the Guards move through the hall.” I do apologize for not meeting with you yesterday , but there is little time and i doubt I will get much sleep in the next few days. I had planned to check up on Dawn then speak to you over breakfast, but it seems something else has come up.

“Really , this ain't yours?” Rose grumbles.

“I have yet to do anything but torment Tirek and wish Bleu, Spike and Troph off.”

“Something I wanted to talk to. What is that creature doing?” Shining mutters.

“Same as he is always doing. Seeking his love.” Luna sighs.

As they stepped out side finally the conversation cut off as their gazes were immediately drawn upward

There was just enough light to show the mass of figures and shapes against the back drop of the skies. Massive air chariots and several airships flew along the still dark sky with numerous figures gliding and moving among them. One of the larger dark shapes Luna recognized as a Griffon made warship.

“Oh dear.” Rose muttered.

“Griffons?” Shining comments”... armed for bear too.”

“Something is wrong. Shield your eyes.” Luna states.

Luna narrowed her eyes looking up at the airship her horn glowing as the sun suddenly jerks up over the horizon bathing the entire armada in a golden glow of the hastily risen near noon day sun.

A number of the Griffons squawked and fell out of their formation wheeling about as they were suddenly blinded by the blast of sunlight. In the light the ponies on the ground could easily see that the Griffons were indeed armed for war, though there were far fewer soldiers than would be expected from an invasion. Most of the griffons they could see were civilians and what they mistook for combat gear was little more than packs and claws full of possessions. Many of the craft as well were not part of a typical military convoy. There were a few airborne warships and troop transports, but there was also a great deal of civilian transports, freighters and things that looked like hastily rigged cloud homes being pulled along by their owners.

“What is this?” Rose mutters.

“It looks like a refugee flotilla. An airborne one like what came out of Gallopagos.” Shining comments.

“That's the Demon of Dullahan mkII.” Luna chuckles.

“What?” Rose asks.” Some bird brain named a ship after Kaisur?”

“Indeed and i know which ones did it too. It's the Royal flagship of the Talon Aerie.” Luna states taking to the air, the down draft of her wings as she launched herself into the air clearly annoying both Rose and Shining. A glance back showed Shining shouting orders to clear a landing field for them in the fields to the east of the Empire as Rose glared up after her.

“Well now I've not seen Breezy or Dusty in a while. Not since that nonsense we had to help with dealing with the proper succession. Shall we go see what's going on Princess?”Starfall states causing Luna to jump a little as the pegasus seemed to appear right next to her. Glancing to the other side she watched Rainbow Dash, Spitfire and Soarin fade into view as well. All of them were wearing their Shadowbolt's uniforms as they took up a holding pattern around her. Seems they were not as trusting wither, though Starfall at least seemed to be willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. In truth after the Nightmare Moon fiasco she expected Starfall to be one of the ones who trusted this change the least.

“ Hello Spitfire. I did check up on them last night. They are all fine and seem to have met up with Miss Doo. Pip and Miss Doo have a few injuries and they seem to have wrecked their cart, but they are not near any major city and are camped out in Whitetail Woods. They are safer than we are right no in truth.”

“Great so they have to worry about Elk and monsters rather than Tirek.” Spitfire growls as they glide towards the landing deck of the warship.”That does not make me feel much better Princess.”

“I trust Pip and Miss Doo to keep every one safe. Would that you could trust your own daughter to do the same.”Luna comments.

“I do trust her, just not around Applebloom and particularly not around Sweetiebelle. I did hear about the Princess Bride in Gallopagos.” Spitfire comments. “Also Pip wasn't involved in the Noodle incident. Scootaloo was.”

“She's still terrified of pumpkins.” Soarin chuckles getting glare from his wife.

“Valid point. Though there's two of them watching the trio now.” Luna smiles.” Miss Doo is quite adept at dealing with trouble.”

The small group winged up towards the flag ship, several Griffon in armor eying them warily, though pointing them in the right direction. Luna noticed the tang of fear, depression and anger filled the air around her with emotion. She couldn't say any of them were to her taste.

The five of them land lightly on the flight deck of the Demon of Dullahan Mk II. A cursory glance around the small platform showed it was a crowded mess of boxes and bags . Scattered among them were a number of bandaged or unconscious Griffons, ponies , and Harpies. A few guards and what Luna expected to be medical staff moved among them though all of the staff was Griffon.

“ Harpies? What the buck happened here?” Rainbow Dash demands. Her goggles glinting as she looked around, ears flat to her head.

“We were attacked. They were attacked. Everyone was attacked. “States a pegasus striding towards group flanked by a pair of Griffon Guards.

The stallions dark blue and white striped mane fell to his shoulders from under his helmet the steel mask partially covering part of his face and a number of scars along his light blue muzzle. He wore griffon made armor and had a long crystal spear across his back. The griffon armor gave the pony an air of menace and command that he would likely not display out of it as he was smaller than an average griffon. The gold and red of his gear was tarnished and scraped and he was missing a sizable a section of the left foreleg protection. Instead that limb was wrapped in bandages and dark with blood.

“Sergeant Breezy Mist.” Starfall comments causing the blue pegasus to smirk.

“It's been Regent Mist for eight years now, since the wedding any way Air Captain. It has been a while though. Pity this isn't under better circumstances.” Breezy responds.” I'd love to have the time to talk to you and Peach.”

“Indeed, though it's back to General again.” Starfall admits.” Given the situation.”

“Where's Dust Devil and your son?” Luna asks. “What is going on here?”

“They're in the main cabin. Dusty took a nasty hit and her whole right side is one big bruise, she can't even move her wing. Luckily her armor stopped most of the damage and she rolled with the blow like we were trained. The medics don't want her to move, so I expect she'll be hobbling in any moment now. Talon is with his grandmother trying to keep Dusty from moving.” Breezy sighs sweeping a wing out with a faint wince. “ As for the last part well... let me start by saying this is it. This is probably all that's left of the Griffon and Harpy races.”

“What? There's only a couple hundred birds in the air out there tops.” Starfall snaps.

“Counting the injured, the chicks, and the eggs we have here on this ship, there are seven hundred and forty one Griffons in this convoy. Most of them from Thunderbolt Aerie, though we picked up some stragglers from the more northern aeries along the way.. There are about two hundred Harpies give or take including their eggs and we have thirty three ponies and foals from a village we passed on the way here. All the adults are comatose.” Breezy grumbles.” There may be more who went into hiding, but going by what the others we encountered told us it's not likely. Based on calculations by some of our advisers most of our aeries and roosts were decimated within the first forty eight hours of hearing about the attack on New Canterlot. ”

“What about the other Griffon gods?” Luna asks.

“As far as we know, dead. They all convened to discuss the attack on Equestria. They didn't invite us of course, despite being in charge of Thunderbolt Aerie. Dusty and I are not gods so we don't get to attend. Granted being a hippogryph Talon probably wouldn't have been invited either, even if he was of age. “Breezy snorts.” Politics. Anyway Cloudscraper was where they held the meeting and it was the first one hit. A swarm of monsters matching the description of Tirek rolled over it like a wave. We have one or two here who escaped, they claimed they saw one of the monsters transform the gathered gods into ponies before they were drug off somewhere. Likely to their leader. There were far more clones reported than you warned us of.”

“We have been constantly out maneuvered and put on the defensive. One of the first ponies whose power he took was Major Kaisur's” Starfall admits as Luna winces.”That was something we were unsure of until recently. He has also claimed at least one god we know of and Twilight Sparkle.”

“Buck....” Breezy shudders.”That explains the magic power displayed how he knew most of the tactics we used save the last one. Most of the Griffon Guard have been trained from the Major's playbook. It would explain how we got away too. We feinted heading north to another aerie before going above the clouds and turning back south. The Major never was that good dealing with air tactics in three dimensional space.”

“Better than you might think Breezy, though I doubt Tirek is using his abilities to the fullest. As for the why...Cloud Dust and Storm Front. He's getting revenge for their involvement in his initial capture. I expect the Minotaurs are next if they have not been hit already, it also explains why he attacked the half dragons. Simple petty revenge on creatures long dead.” Luna mutters.

“I do hope you plan on briefing me fully on whats going on Princess, General?” Breezy looks between the pair of them then over to the Shadowbolts flanking the Princess. “Anyone?”

“How many of your Griffons are warriors?” Luna asks.

“Maybe three score are left in fighting condition. Most of this convoy are civilians or injured. We have two warships The Demon and Storm Cloud, as well as three friggits and six troop transports all fully loaded.”

“Quite a navel air force there.” Spitfire comments.

“Griffons don't have much in the way of magic. What they do have is weather related much like a pegasi. They compensate by focusing on technology that doesn't require magic. Steam primarily, interesting stuff. Any way we brought enough supplies so we shouldn't be a drain on anything the Empire has. A couple of the cloud buildings out there used to be warehouses for food storage. We can get by with less if we can gain hunting clearance, and if fishing is good in the river.”

“The half dragons are already fishing and some are hunting, though there are not many who eat meat.” Luna states “ Still, I want you to put any one willing to fight under the command of Guard Captain Shining Armor. He's heading the defense...... And I wish to commandeer the Demon and the Storm Cloud once everyone is off loaded.”

“That's fine, though they listen to my wife more than me, I don't think she would have any issue aside from not being on the offensive.” Breezy comments.

“None of you are qualified for the offense I have planned, I have my own crew who can fly the ships so you will not need to offer any soldiers. We will talk more at the palace. Air Commander Spitfire you and your second head out and guide the airships to the farm on the east side, There should be a number of clear fields near the Apple farm there that they can use, keep them off any plowed fields. Captain Dash head back to the Palace and let Lord Armor and Major Rose know what is going on. General I would like you to come with me, I doubt any one trusts me enough just yet and the important ones will believe you if you say you are keeping an eye on me.”

“I AM keeping an eye on you.” Starfall snarks.

“Regardless there is much to do and if he is attacking the other nations like this I am running out of time.” Luna pauses a moment before looking to Breezy.”Regent Mist there is going to be a large number of Changelings moving around the Empire today. They shouldn't be near your landing zone, but please try to spread the word not to attack them they are here to help.”

“Changelings? I knew there were a lot here, but what's happening?” Breezy asks blinking as Luna looks back at him a bit of green fire flicking around her eyes.

“Lord Armor will put you in the loop fully, but I'm taking the Changelings to war.” Luna states.

======================================================
[?]

“Ah don't like it.”

”Don't give me that. You were already going to do it.”<

“But ah don't want to though. Ah'll be breaking a promise. But mai backs tah tha wall here.”

“You were Honest when you promised that. But words such as 'Always', Forever', and 'Never' are impossible to keep sometimes. You needn't worry about losing touch with me simply due to a failed promise you fully intended to keep. Changes of circumstance can make a truth a falsehood through no fault of your own. I will warn you however, what you think of as a dragon's power is not from a dragon. They have a connection, but not nearly as strong as the ones who truly are bonded with earth. That is what you are asking for.”<

“So the whole thing with the dragons is a lie?”

”It is a untruth. Dragons drew on the power for so long and it was all but forgotten by those who first had it. Because of this it became widely believed that the power can from dragons. But like many things the dragons simply borrowed some one elses power and found another use for it. Still so many believed it, it became it's own sort of truth. Still that it was even a slight falsehood might explain your disdain for the power.”<

“No... ain't got nothing to do with the source. Jus some of tha results.”

“I will not pry. I do applaud you at figuring out the trick you did however. But I am not happy with how you will use this information.”<

“He killed family and some of mai closest friends, ah want first crack.”

”And you will not be lying telling them what you are going to. Selective omission is nearly as bad however.”<

“Ah get it I'm skirtin tha line. You gonna help or not?”

”Of course I will help. I will not refuse to give my aid in a situation this dire. I have a condition however.”<

“Oh?”

”When he asks, you will agree. Then you will ask the Goddess of Night for what he needs.”<

“He? Why you being cryptic all the sudden?”

“Because if I told you outright you would try and convince him otherwise before it is time. You would easily succeed. You cannot do that. You will need his help if you are to survive, I do not wish you to throw away your life needlessly. Too many depend on you. With him you will live, without him you will die. Without my help you will die before even gaining any of the vengeance you seek. Do you accept my terms?”<

“It ain't vengeance . It's justice.”

”There is only some truth in that. You want to believe that is what you are doing, but in your heart you know it is more about payback than anything else. I am glad that your own realized self deception sits poorly with you.”<

“ Ugh.... fine. Seems ah ain't got a choice.”

” You could walk away, or tell them what will happen. We both know that will not happen however. There is always a choice. We simply have to make sure that we make the right one.”<

“Alright. Ah agree.”

” Thank you. We should get to work. We are running out of time.”<

==========================================================

[ Everfree forest.700 hours.]

Angel Bunny would rather be herding thousands of Opals. It would be easier by far than this.

Of the foals perhaps a pawful were either trusting enough or brave enough to venture into the forest at the animals direction. There were a large number with dead eyes. Ones who had seen loved ones killed and knew terror, those were the ones he was most worried about as their survival instincts were numbed from what they had witnessed. Thankfully the Caretaker had shown him and some of the others how to tend to those who could not care for themselves. They would live through this, but they would need far more help later on than his soldiers could provide.

The remaining foals did not worry him, but they annoyed him. Some refused to go into the woods, others tried to run off and hide when they realized that was what was going on. A few of them even thought the animals were going to eat them and tried to fight back. Nothing was more pathetic than a group of foals swarmed and drug along by a group of gerbils and hamsters.

He had a number of birds scouting the path ahead with some bears and a couple of larger dogs bringing up the rear and hauling the comatose adults.

Despite having foals wander off and taking time to find them again they were making good time towards the ruins in the forest the ponies called Winnysor. The under tunnels had been destroyed, but the above ground structure had a number of still intact rooms and halls that they could move the foals into.

What worried him the most however was that Minoan was missing. His general had run off earlier in the day to scout and had not come back for several hours. With Tirek on the move they could not afford to wait for her return before setting out. The monster had set up shop near the New Canterlot train yard a few hours ago according to his scouts, thankfully they were already in the forest by that point.

The first growl should have been expected with how well everything was going. Angel wished again that he could have gotten up with the Tank that lived in Froggy Bottom Bog, but there hadn't been time. It was a pity, as he was friend to children.

At the growl one of the foals cried out and the others followed suit, rushing backwards and hiding behind the bears and dogs. A number of his own soldiers had run back as well.

Angel snorted in annoyance drawing the Mursame and striding forward with the butter knife to see what the issue was with Tank moving along beside him. It was then he saw what was causing the panic.

A massive timber wolf stood in the middle of the path they had been following. It was easily the size of the conjoined one that had attacked the Apple farm years ago, only this one had a pack or two of smaller wolves around it. Angel growls in annoyance his ears flattening back at the sight, they didn't have time for this. This was a fight his troops could win, though at high cost, Timber wolves didn't stay down easily.

The sound of barking drew his attention as Wyoming bounds out from the midst of the timber wolves hopping over to Angel and yapping excitedly.

Angel listens for a moment more looking between the Timber wolves and the farm dog. He rolls his eyes a little at the explanation before putting the Mursame away and nodding.

The timber wolves look to each other and moved to circle the convoy as a outer permiter watch. The large Timberwolf turned and pushed on ahead as a scouting patrol.

Angel wasn't sure what sort of deal had been made, but the timber wolves seemed willing to help the farm dog simply because of who her owner was.

Angel was certain there was a long and drawn out complex explanation that didn't translate well from canine somewhere in all this. But it all seemed to stem from some sort of agreement the Timber Wolves made.

He was also certain he didn't care as long as the Timber Wolves were willing to help. If this was a trap they would regret it.

================================================

[ Whitetail Woods, Cairn 700 hours ]

Another shriek filled the air as the trio skidded to a stop at the edge of the garden. A huge bramble rose bush had grown up into the air, the thorny growth had spread to cover the garden and was expanding winding up and around one of the pillars and stretching out across the cavern floor expanding quickly.

“Is that a rose bush?” Scootaloo gasps.

“Looks it.” Daring Doo states.

“Where the heck did that come from?” Sweetiebelle asks. “I was just here last night!”

“APPLEBLOOM?!” Pip yells.” Where are you?”

“Ah'm stuck in tha middle of it. Help me, this hurts..” Applebloom calls from in the middle of the writhing mass of thorns.

“Hang on we'll get you out!” Pip yells back looking at the shifting mass of thorns and biting his lip a little and he cobbles together a plan.. “Okay Sweetiebelle grab as many as you can with your magic and try to pull them up and away from Applebloom. Scootaloo you burn them off as close to the base as you can when Sweetie pulls them away. I'm gonna try and cut my way past through the opening you make, Doo follow me and pull Applebloom out as soon as we get to her.”

“Right!” Sweetiebelle salutes with the wrong hoof, her horn starts glowing as a number of the writhing vines are caught and pulled away, green fire lashing them burning the thick thorny vines at the base as Pip and Daring Doo rush into a opening made in the rose hedge.

“These things are green Pip. They don't burn well.” Scootaloo calls.

“Then crank it up a notch , I've seen you make metal sag with those wings of yours. Just watch the aim.”Pip calls out slashing through a vine with his blade

These things are squirming but I don't think they are being grabby.” Sweetiebelle calls.

“Rigot, keep them away anyway.” Pip calls back chopping through another vine as thick as his forearm and kicking it aside. Daring Doo followed close behind kicking the cut vines out of the way to give them a clear path back.

In the middle of the thorn hedge was Applebloom, her hooves lifted up off the ground as the vines shifted and moved around her, digging thorns into her skin. She flinched, her legs and body wrapped tight in the vines, the thorns were thick in her mane and tail as well. Pip winced pushing closer and hacking away at the vines holding his cousin. Doo and he chopped and yanked at the vines pulling the pale yellow mare loose getting jabbed and cut a few times themselves from the dagger like thorns. Pulling her free the trio made their way out of the writhing mass cutting a few vines clear that had moved over the hole and pulling Applebloom out into the open.

Applebloom staggers a bit getting her hooves under her, panting hard. The vines still wrapped around her still shifted and grew new sprouts even as Pip , Sweetie and Scootaloo removed them.

The young earth pony was a mess of blood where the thorns had pierced her, thankfully none of them seemed life threatening, or even any deeper than to just draw blood. Still there were a lot of wounds and Applebloom was nearly dripping with her own blood.

Pip looks back at the rose bush, noting that it had stopped growing, though it was towering and winding up along the pillar that lit up the small area all the way to the roof of the cavern. The garden was completely enveloped though nothing else had seemed to have grown like the rose did. Was this some kind of trap? Some attack? Or just something else that came about from being a CMC?

“Applebloom what happened?” Scootaloo asks.

“I dunno. I came out here tah see if Sweetie had left anything tah eat and found a rose bush that she missed.”

“I didn't miss it, I don't like roses. They taste too flowery.” Sweetiebelle explains.

The group looks at Sweetiebelle with odd expressions before opting to ignore the comment.

“Any way I bit down on a flower. An tha thing jabbed me in tha lip. After that it just started growing like crazy an ah got all wrapped up in tha vines. Ah struggled an that just made it seem tah grow faster and well. Yah saw tha rest.” Applebloom mutters.

“Seems it kept you off the ground so you couldn't just rip it free with that crazy strength of yours.” Daring Doo observes. Pip grunts a little though doesn't respond otherwise as he looks at the towering rose bush.

“I don't think it's attacking any more. “ Scootaloo comments watching her green fire lap at a few of the vines.” You can probably relax Pip.”

“Maybe. You gonna be alright Bloom?” Pip asks, stomping on a small vine near his hooves crushing it against the rock floor.

“Yeah I managed tah make enough disinfectant tending tah you and miss Doo here that ah ken patch myself up quick like. Gonna sting like no ponies business though.”

“Alright. Sweetie, take her back to camp and help her get patched up. The rest of us are gonna see if we can find a source for all this. Try and stay away from any plants.”

“Okay Pip, be careful though. I don't wanna try to explain to Bleu that a rose bush ate her nephew.” Sweetiebelle comments.”Gonna taunt Applebloom mercilessly about it though.”

“Great.” Applebloom mutters though she has a small smile of relief that she was alive to be taunted. She and Sweetie trot off across the rocky ground, carefully avoiding the few plants that were on the way.

Pip watches after them curiously. Scootaloo glides down landing lightly on the ground next to him as Daring Doo walks up her eyes narrowing.

“You have any idea what's going on with her, how did she do that?” Scootaloo asks.

“No, but I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw this.” Pip sighs. “At least we don't have to worry about any roses attacking us.”

“You kids are quite observant, even I missed it until she was walking away.” Daring Doo comments looking at the ground.

“Guard training.” Pip mutters.” Da makes sure the Guards he trains notice everything.”

“Wonderbolt training.” Scootaloo responds. “You need good eyes to fly.”

“So why didn't you say something to her?” the older pegasus asks.

“She's been having nightmares for a long time, then she claimed she heard Timber Wolves singing. Now this. I want to be sure before I cause her more grief. Somethings going on and I think it involves these ruins or this forest. We'll have to be careful with our supplies, but we can clean out what's left in the little garden if we prune back the rose bush a little.”

“A mystery, huh?” Daring Doo smirks.

“Think of it as a crusade.” Scootaloo comments with a small smile.” One that might actually finally pay off. Even so I wonder what sort of mark some pony gets from this sort of thing?”

The orange pegasus gestures to the trail of mold, moss, and fungus spots that had grown into hoof ball or larger sized colonies of their own around where Applebloom had been standing. The dripping blood trail the mare had left as she went back towards the ruined town was also sprouting numerous such growths.

“I'm less concerned over what mark she might get than I am as to why her blood is only doing something now. She's been injured before and never had anything like this happen.” Pip grumbles. “ I'm also worried about what might happen if any unscrupulous ponies find out her blood makes plants grow in seconds”.

=================================

[ Crystal Empire, 1700 hours.]

The shouts of the crowd were hard to ignore. Ponies demanding answers about the conflict, demanding something be done, demanding more food,more shelter, to know where their loved ones were, or when they could go home.

Her little ponies were terrified and weary of conflict. It had been barely ten years since the last war and there were a number of scuffles and incidents. Though even the war of Gods didn't have a death toll as high as this one had already accumulated.

The Crystal Guard, Royal Guard, and the Lion's Guard, what the half dragons had taken to calling themselves after Gallopagos, were adapt at keeping the civilians back to keep the road clear, though they would be needed to cease the panic that would likely occur soon.

Luna could sense the flood of emotions, fear, hate, anger, sorrow, despair. There was a small trickle of something else that made Luna smile however. One emotion that stood out among some since she had appeared out here this morning. Hope. There was always hope.

She was flanked by Shining armor and Princess Cadence, with Starfall and the other Shadowbolts close overhead, including Breezy and a very sore and sour Dusty. The small Griffoness had so many bandages on her she couldn't wear anything more than the mask for her uniform. Granted given her standing neither her nor Breezy needed to wear the Shadowbolts uniform, though the pair of them agreed it was the second greatest accomplishment they had ever done, the first being their son Talon.

Jer...., Troph, Spike and Bleu had gone to speak with the dragons along with that other dragon that Troph hadn't killed. She wasn't sure if they would succeed in getting them back to the Empire in time, or if they could even convince the dragons to help at all, though Troph had seemed certain they would have aid. Luna was not sure what he had planned, though she hoped it wouldn't damage Jer'rahd's body further.

The ones that worried her however were Shining and Cadence. The pink Pegicorn was worried and the White unicorn was angry. The emotions were not directed at her but at each other. This concerned her a little and she felt she needed to do something at some point, but that would be later. The two of them had another pair of ponies between them. A lime green pony in Crystal Guard armor with a Crystal spear stood near one of Pelt's Ambassadors, Agent Sweetie Drops if she recalled correctly. There was a strong connection between those two despite the fact they seemed to be bickering to each other as they marched. The pair of them seemed to be keeping Shining and Cadence apart, likely on orders.

Nearly all of the available Guards not on duty followed behind them as well. When the armory was opened the number behind them would need to gear up as it were before they went back to their stations. She didn't like waiting this long but the armory could only be opened at the last light of day. It was an old riddle. Last light of day was the first light of the moon, the sun shone on the moon all night giving it, it's glow. Despite being the harbinger of the night , the moon had no light of it's own to give, it was pretty much a really really big magically amplified rock further up in the sky than even the best pegasus could fly. The remaining Griffons and the Half Dragons made up the majority of the force there. She would be bringing some of them along despite her protests other wise. Tirek could not absorb them , but she didn't want to risk any one else if she could help it. Shining, Rose, Dusty and pretty much everyone else was insistent that she did bring them.

The parade drew most of the city out to see what was going on Refugees and Crystal Ponies all gathered along the streets to see what was happening. There was panic and anger as well as a mass of confusion. All of it stemming from her new form she expected. She hadn't bothered to hide what she had done from those in the war room, though most already knew.

Through the hive mind she retold of the offer she had made to the gathering of leaders. Passing on the information to those Changelings still of their own mind. A surprising number of them agreed to help and thus a compliment of Changelings had joined up with her as well, not bothering to keep their disguised forms as they marched along with the troops towards the warehouse holding the rest of the sleeping hive.

Locust remained in the castle under watch by both Elecktra and Talia, as well as Rose and Moskau.

Luna looks up at the warehouse as the formation stops before it. Every pony was waiting to see what would happen here. Luna already knew, as did those who had come from the war room with her. She was going to try and make sure that every pony was suitably impressed so that order and calm might keep hold long enough for them to realize that the Changeling army was there to help them, not harm them. Her subjects should not be afraid of her and her new subjects, but if it turned out they were.......

Well....., Luna's horn began to glow, she was used to being feared at this point.

=================================================

[West of Cindervale 1000 hours]

Troph landed hard on the ground as he jumped off Bleu's shoulders. The Bleu dragon winced a little as the weight was lifted from her shoulders. She glared down at the pony like creature she had flown here with a mild curse. She had transported freight that was lighter than Troph was.

He was still lighter than Sweetiebelle's luggage, but not by much.

Spike landed near by folding his wings and quickly shrinking down to slightly larger than a pony. He was much better with that spell than he had been when Bleu started teaching him to control his size, but he couldn't go much smaller than he was now. Which was a pity because he was freaking adorable when he was smaller.

“So why did you want us to bring you here? “ Spike questions.” Cindervale is down in the valley about two mountains over.”

The trio was currently atop of a rather large plateau that might have once been an active volcano though it had long since gone dormant. While it was not the highest peak in the area it was far from the smallest of the range. Some scrub grass had started to grow atop the plateau though it was still mostly rock and volcanic glass. Spike had considered this place for rebuilding Cindervale, though the active volcanoes of the current location were better.

”This is the best spot for what I have planned Drake. Besides if I went all the way to the dragons they would have started the conversations with an advantage because I came to them.”< Troph growls. >” Dragons have not changed that much mentally over time. We will have an easier time if we make them come to us.”<

“Yeah that will be a good trick, none of them even knows we're out here.” Bleu snorts.

” They will soon whelp.”< Troph grins.

“Don't even start that shit again. I flew your heavy ass out here, you can at least thank me for that.”

”It served your ends to bring me here. I owe you nothing.”< Troph chuckles watching Bleu burst into a six language swear fest. >” Cover your ears.”<

“I've heard all this before.” Spike comments.

”Not for that.”< Troph snarks.

Troph moves to the edge of the plateau looking out over the valley bellow and the mountain range ahead of him. The six glowing eyes on his head close as he starts to inhale.

Bleu and Spike both wince as they watched Jer'rahd's body seem to swell around his chest the sound of cracking and popping ribs making both of them wary of what the first was doing. Before Bleu had a chance to yell at Troph the creatures mouth opens and a bellowing roar emerges from the mutilated ponies open maw.

Bleu and Spike both stagger back slapping their hands over their heads where there ear spines were, wincing as the cry reverberates through them, seeming to shake them to the bone and rattle their scales.

The roar continued for nearly a minute, the explosive cry not seeming to diminish at all as it bounces off the mountain ranges sending birds flying in a panic and small creatures running for cover across the entire range of mountains.

Bleu and Spike removed their hands, though Bleu added a few more colorful swears in four other languages before going silent as the possessed pony coughs up a few splatters of blood onto the rock shaking his head and wiping his muzzle off on one forelimb.

“What the buck was the point of that?” Bleu growls. ”Seriously if you keep screwing up Boss's body for no reason like this I'm gonna lock you in the steam room until this is over.”

” You feel nothing because you are already here. Others are not?”< Troph mutters.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Bleu snaps.

“Bleu … look.” Spike demands stopping her tirade.

The blue dragon looks to where the purple one was pointing , not seeing anything but fleeing birds at first. Then she realized the birds were approaching, not leaving, and getting much larger as they did so. There were thousands of them approaching from every direction around the plateau. All of them drawn here as if in a massive migration to this spot.

“Dragons.... there's not even that many at Cindervale.” Bleu mutters.

“He called all of them... look at the ground too.” Spike mutters.

The trees at the edge of the valley below them were shaking or being pushed aside as some of the rare ground dwelling and subterranean dragons moved heeding the call, though they lagged behind the fliers.

“I didn't even think there were this many dragons.” Bleu mutters.

” Dragon kin are coming as well. I was specific in my roar to avoid calling the half ponies away from the Crystal Empire. But all others were summoned. None of dragon blood will be able to resist the call of the first. Perhaps it is something I might be able to teach you later drake. But for now you will need to convince them that they should help you. The most I should do is bring them here. Getting them to listen or cooperate might be too taxing on this body if I need to put them in their place.”<

“Don't worry. This is something we have been dealing with for some time. I can get them to listen if I can keep them together. And if they want to be angry, Bleu can put them were they need to go.” Spike assures.

“Piece of cake. Even the dragon gods are scared of me.” Bleu grins evilly. “Politics and locating all of the reclusive jerks was always the issue.”

“I'm done playing politics.” Spike snorts. “Far too many of my friends are dead and my sister is in a coma and might as well be dead. They are going to do what needs to be done this time if I have to throw them at Tirek myself.”

“OOOOH that is the sexiest thing you have ever said Spiky!” Bleu coos.

=================================================

[Crystal Empire 1700 hours]

The panic and fear running through the Crystal ponies , ponies and the griffons was almost over whelming as the first of the changelings emerged. These were the ones that kept their sentience, though were still wiling to fight. Luna had not expected any more of them aside from the small number that had come with her, but nearly a hundred of them had emerged on their own from the warehouse where they had been waiting. A small number, but she could feel their drive, their desire to be viewed as something other than what the former queen had made them. Some came from the crowd, normal ponies moments before and the flash of green flame as they shifted back to normal brought a great number of shocked surprises. Luna was impressed herself that the ones that had been hiding in Gallopagos, and with the Griffons and New Canterlot were willing to reveal themselves like this. Only a few remained hidden still, the rest had opted to throw all their cards on the table with this gambit. If the succeed in ending Tirek they would be heroes, if they failed, there wouldn't be anything left any way. It wouldn't do away with all the issues ponies had with creatures that amounted to emotional vampires, but it would take the edge off the hate.

They were the first, ones joining willingly to the combat. Luna's horn glowed brighter willingly sharing what she knew of magic and combat with them through the hive mind. The hundred or so that had gathered froze like statues as the memories and skills filled their minds, flickers of green flame dancing over their forms as their physicality changed developing muscle, hardening skin and carapace, their bodies changing to deal with the rigors of what they would need to face.

A low hum filled the air growing ever louder as the sleeping ones began to stir, starting to filter out of the warehouse. All of them including the mindless joined the growing rhythm, a song forming. Luna was not sure what memory this came from, but she let the song go as the sound of the warehouse doors being flung open and the march of hooves sounded the underlying drumbeat.

“Oh... Honor for all
Of the big and the small
Well the taller they stand
Well the harder they fall.”

There were screams now from the ponies who had gathered to watch, as near two thousand freshly awoken Changelings moved out of the warehouse onto the field before their new queen. The Guards were doing their best to keep them calm , though a number had run off in a panic, there were a large number who stayed however, but they looked ready for a fight. Luna took to the air looking down at them as they emerged feeling the mass that was still awakening and moving out of the warehouse hive. Stiff limbs and unused joints creaked and scraped as the swarm below her continues to emerge.

“We live for today
But we die for the next”

The black mass of the Changeling swarm shifts as the others did and forms up in a orderly formation, the joint mind of all of them coupled with the years of love energy that they had been amassing from the heart made a number of them jittery, though most remained still as statues save the movements of their mouths as the entire swarm spoke the words of the song. The words sounding like a chant, but the music playing through the minds of every Changeling.

“With blood in our veins
And the air in our chest”

Luna looks over them all and nods slightly turning with a flap of her wings , landing on a larger path cleared by the Guards.

“So we step into war
With our hearts on the line
The dirt on our hooves
It shakes free over time”

As one the army turns with her and marches towards the palace. Changeling ponies, Griffons, Diamond Dogs, Ram's harpies, Cows, Pig and a number of other creatures and beasts, all marching in perfect time. Luna didn't even look back at them a the massive formation followed her, every hoof step in perfect sync with hers, all in time with the music's base line.

“The music it fades
The violin slows
The darkness it rises
As the sun goes”

Luna's horn glows brighter the humming music reaching the crystal palace. She could feel Chrysalis in the tower and the magic she was producing. The former Changeling Queen was doing her best to ensure that Shin was blocked off from the collective. She couldn't feel the Changeling god directly, but through the eyes of Locust she could see the foal sitting up at rapt attention staring through the side of his crib and the wall towards where she was.

“Love is a distant aroma at best
A withering smile that's stuck deep in your vest”

Her horn glows brighter as the front tiers of the place before the Crystal heart glow. Hidden in plain sight, Yet at the same time far under ground. If Twilight survived this Luna would have to show her how to make a gate spell this stable. It would make what was done with the train tunnel far less taxing on the unicorn if she ever made another. The sun dips fully behind the horizon, her moon rising. Despite having the power of both, she still felt more of a connection with the night, using it as her focus and simply channeling the sun and the changelings power through that focus. The day ended, Luna focused her magic on the gate.

“At night air it wraps its fingers around
Your body it shakes from the now distant sound”

The magic from her horn strikes nothing, then spreads out like water spilled on a table, revealing a dark space beyond that looked more like a cavern than a armory. The music picks up along with the hum as white crystals within the cavern ignite, displaying row upon row of shelves and weapons racks. Spears, swords, shields and armor meant to fit every creature known to pony kind, and several that didn't exist any more. The cavern seemed to stretch on for leagues seeming far larger than even the Crystal Empire itself. The Empire was not build on top of this cavern, but it was in the shadow of it. White Plume mountain. The place where Scorpan fell. One of the massive mountains in the range around the empire was hollowed out to fit the armory.

Slate's Armory.

“Of the sound of her voice
A sweet symphony
Played over and over Until' you are free”

Luna pauses at that portion of the song. It was a deviation of the one playing in her head and it seemed to be focused on her as the new queen. The former alicorn shivered a little at the implication and that over a thousand compound eyes were suddenly focused intently on her..

“The music it fades
The violin slows
Darkness it rises
As the sun goes”

The swarm moves into the gate fanning out among the gear there. Much of it was unusable to them, Hammer had spent the remainder of his life forging star metal into random sets of armor, he wouldn't make any more weapons of it after finding out what it might do to his friend Crystal. The forging was something Chrysalis had picked up after his death, though she was unable to forge Star metal she was an artisan level smith. The former Changeling Queen was quite adapt at making normal armor and weapons then enchanting them. There were suits for every species that could become a changeling forged of steel, crystal, leather and other things, nearly all of it brimming with power. Far more than even this swarm could use. But then again, they were never supposed to be using this to begin with.

“Can you feel
The new day rising
Climbing up the
East horizon
They can't hold us
Now we'll fight through
Each and everyone will start new”

The music seemed to pause save the humming and a low chanting howl as the swarm armored themselves up. Some of them taking suits that would change with them, others wearing armor that would make even Jer'rahd envious. Luna remained at the entrance as Shining Armor, Breezy and a number of other Guards moved up looking into the armory in awe. Luna glanced towards Shining and Breezy before nodding.

“Well we shall not stumble
No we shall not fall
We shall not crumble
No we shall stand tall
With death it will come as sure as the night
But we will not run
No we live but to fight
With blood on our hooves and dirt on our knee's
We'll tear at the one who brought the disease”

The pair bark out orders to the host of Guards, Half Dragons, and Griffons behind them. The soldiers surge forward after the Changelings going to gather armor and weapons as well. Despite their yells it all seems to fade into the background as the music continues.

“The music it fades
The violin slows
The darkness it rises
As the sun goes.”

Tirek...... They couldn't kill him, but they could wipe out his army, perhaps cut off his legs and arms.

Luna blinks looking down as Starfall, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash approach. The earth pony seemed annoyed, the other two each carried something that seemed to buckle their knees with it's weight. Luna blinks as Applejack looks up at her, still waiting for the answer to her earlier question, the Element of Honesty hanging from her neck. Luna nods softly and the orange farmer turns heading back towards the palace, the large form of her brother following. Luna was unsure why the farm pony had asked about what she did, but she wouldn't deny her. At least some pony would be getting a use out of it with both Twilight and Jer'rahd unable too do so. t would be useful if Tirek did attack here. Applejack claimed it was coming and soon, but she wouldn't give the how or why she knew. Luna believed her, but the mare was being stubborn about her source so her words were taken with a grain of salt. Still Luna was going to make sure every one she left in the Crystal Empire was as ready to fight as they could be.

Luna turned her attention back to the pegasi noting that Rainbow Dash was wearing her Element. It seemed dead and lifeless as it had been in the past, though perhaps it was a comfort. She expected the others also wore theirs... those that still could any way.

“Can you feel the
New day rising
Climbing up the
East horizon
They can't hold us
Now we'll fight through
Each and everyone will start new.”

The song begins to fade as armored and armed Changelings and Guard begin to emerge from the Armory. Luna blinks as the two pegasi reveal what they were carrying, causing Luna to grin as her magic takes them.

“Can you feel the
New day rising
Climbing up the
East horizon
They can't hold us
Now we'll fight through
Each and everyone will start new”

The Princess of the Night, Goddess of War, Queen of the Changelings turns to face the swarm of Changelings and the Guard now gathered before her Some of them were still collecting in the formation and others were still gearing up in the armory.

Luna glances to her left, at the stoic silent swarm to that side of her, Her gaze turns to the right at the soldiers gathered there with the same expression. There were emotions, feelings and memories locked away behind walls put up by Chrysalis. Personalities and lives that had been stolen and kept from those she had changed against their will. When this was done, those that survived would easily be freed.

But that was then.

Luna's magic holds Two items aloft. To her left, the smooth curved blades of the Waning Moon, the weapon glowing brightly as blue flame dances along the blade. To the right, the simple straight double blades of the Brilliant Dawn. The fiery aura around it meshing with the power of the sun she held from her sister. Where the blades energies mingled was a spot of darkness that held no light.

She could feel the blades, they had their own emotions which surprised her. There was anger. At each other and those that would stand against their chosen wielders. Both of them practically hummed with the desire to strike out against the threat and destroy it. Luna brought both of them directly before her staring at the blades. She had never felt anything from them before, but now? Perhaps it was her new ability to sense emotions. To find that something she and her sister had crafted held such strong emotions was some what jarring.

The moon behind her rises higher into the sky, covering the land with a silvery light as she again looked out at the armies before her.

Luna smiled.

“Yeah let's hope this night doesn't last forever.” Rainbow Dash mutters behind her.

“Seriously Dash? Way to kill the mood.” Starfall growls.

====================================================

[West of Cindervale, 1700 hours ]

Chaos.

Pure and plain as the scales on her face.

Dragon's had always been solitary creatures and it was only through force of personality or violence that they ever gathered in one place for long. Even then it was only the few who saw the benefit of a city and the younger generation that Spike could even convince to join Cindervale, and even they were argumentative.

Right now there were close to four thousand dragons on the plateau and on the mountain side with more still coming. Fighting and arguments spawned quickly from this gathering and only a few of them had put aside the petty rivalrys and territorial instincts long enough to question what had even managed to give a summon that they couldn't ignore. Even during the migration old feuds showed themselves conflicts over food, even when there were plenty of gems.

Troph was quiet and had let Spike handle the talking to the few that would listen, and Bleu was using her time trying to quell the worst of the infighting, rather violently in some cases She had no plans to let any of them think they might be stronger than her. It was a tense and possibly explosive situation that had only started to develop a semblance of order when the five dragon gods managed to meet in the middle near Troph. Of course then it was more that the other dragons were content to watch the five gods bicker and argue hoping for a fight between them..

Spike was the youngest of the gods, though given his upbringing he was probably the smartest, definitely the cutest in Bleu's opinion. Unfortunately despite his knowledge he was also the weakest of the five.

The next was a large red called Crimson Wing. He was proud and argumentative. When they first met him, he bragged about being able to trace his linage back to the great Forgescale. Granted after the War of the Gods he wasn't as boastful as he once had been, and when he found out who Bleu was he never brought it up in her hearing. Of them all his power was the most useless, he produced great quantities of thick magical smoke that hung about him like a aura. He couldn't control it, it was simply thick smoke, it could choke and blind, but it had no physical force to it, or a way to direct it.

Bleu however liked that he was terrified of ponies. He evidently had a encounter with a group of them ten years or so ago that still gave him nightmares. Even now he was the furthest away from the silent Troph.

The next was an green female, named Copper. She was the most indifferent of the lot of them. Bleu wasn't sure what her power was as she had never seen it displayed. She was pretty as far as Dragoness go Bleu had to admit. Still she did listen more than others, though it was a fifty fifty shot on how she would side in a given situation. She was also far too flirty with Spike for Bleu's comfort.

Then there were the problem pair.

Grim Jaw was a ancient Black dragon god. One that had survived the fall of Cindervale and knew Bleu and was terrified of her. Not terrified enough that he didn't do everything he could to screw with Spike's plans just to spite her however. His power had something to do with the refraction of light off his scales and given a bright enough source he could form an impenetrable shield , have some sort of energy blast or even turn himself invisible.

He hated being around Crimson Wing as the red's power blocked out a great deal of the light and his power didn't work well in shadows.

Then there was the white, Ice Talon. She was cold, calculating, violent, powerful and seemed to hate everyone and everything. Despite her name her powers drew from the fiery earth and were very similar to the command of flame that Forgescale once possessed. The main difference was that she needed a source of flame for her power to activate where Forgescale did not.

Granted given Equss was full of underground tunnels of lava, and every dragon had an internal flame thrower built in made her the most dangerous one here.

She was the biggest voice against Cindervale. She hated other dragons almost as much as she hated the other races of the world. Bleu could sort of understand. After the fall of Cindervale the conflict with the Linorm to the north escalated as the demonic dragon kin pushed for larger and larger portions of territory. The support that Cindervale had promised to push back the Linorm had been sent instead to the war effort with Equestria. And when the Dragon nation was wiped out, she and a claw full of others were all that were left at the northern edge to try and protect their territory.
.
The dragons kept the small numbers of Linorm at bay, but the thousands of years of conflict cost Ice Talon everything. The white dragon was old having been around long before the first Dragon war, but she was still only the age Bleu's mother would have been if she survived, which was young still for a dragon,and younger still for a God. She was also the only dragon Bleu had ever seen with more scars than Jer'rahd.

Ice Talon feared nothing, and agreed to nothing. If she was not doing all she could against Spike and Cindervale purely out of spite for what happened in the past, Bleu might have even liked her. Out of all of them Ice Talon was the only dragon Bleu wouldn't talk shit too. Despite her own training, Bleu didn't fancy her chances against a warrior like Ice. When ice spoke every other dragon listened out of simple fear she might tear them apart.

They had spent the better part of two hours explaining what was happening as more and more dragons arrived, from Troph's call. The small group of gods listened and didn't seem to have issue with the 'pony creature' being there, though the end results were as expected.

“Why the shard should we help those inferior beasts? Let the creature eat them, it will make claiming their territory that much easier when they are all dead.” Grim Jaw rants.

“I agree with GrimJaw. reluctantly. The affairs of ponies do not concern us. Their wars have meant nothing to us for a thousand years, why should this one be any different than the last?” Copper comments.

“Tirek will not rest with just ponies. He will come after us next.” Spike protests.”In the past he fought the dragons as well as everyone else and we didn't fare well back then on our own when we were better organized.”

“You said he only goes after ponies and zebras, the ones with the marks on their rears? Why would he come after us?” Crimson questions. “This united front thing seems like another one of your plans to get the dragons together.”

“He's gone after Griffons, Diamond Dogs, and Half Dragons already. None of them have marks and yet he sought to destroy them.” Spike explains.” He nearly succeeded in the half dragons case.”

“Perhaps we should take more time to consider this, or simply send a few of the more interested ones?” Copper offers.

“No, while I do not expect all of us to rush off to the aid of ponies it will take more than a scattered claw full to even make Tirek notice we are there.” Spike grumbles.

“Let him come.” Ice finally states, glaring at Bleu. ”We will destroy him. It has been some time since I had a good challenge.”

“I'm sure that was what they said when Cindervale, right before we destroyed it.” Bleu states calmly, meeting the white dragons golden gaze, though she hoped Ice took that as a statement of fact rather than a challenge.

Further argument was halted as screams and cries of panic rose up from the gathered dragons. It only took a moment for Bleu and the others to find the source. Many of the dragons were moving away from a group approaching from the north. From that was a large flock of something was being pointed out by a number of the gathered dragons. Perhaps there was a score at best of the dragon like shapes approaching. They were smaller than most dragons, though far too large to be griffons or pegasi. It was Ice Talon who recognized them first, her cold, tight lipped tone explaining all Bleu needed to know about the approaching group.

“Linorm....”

==================================================

[Whitetail Woods Cairn, sort of, 2300 hours]

“.........And that's the brunt of it Ma. We haven't figured out why, but we got some corn kernels to sprout into full plants with just a drop of blood we squeezed from her bandage. Sweetie's still oblivious, and we haven't told AB yet, but there's no issue with supplies when we can take a few seeds and make a plant ready to harvest in seconds” Pip sighs flattening his ears and staring up at Luna. “So you gonna tell me what's eating you now Ma? Pretty sure it's not that we went off track in our lil venture”

The pair of them were sitting at a table in a simple room that was a copy of their dining room at the castle. Pip knew it was a dream and dreams tended to be a little odd, but he kept hearing voices and seeing things move along the corners of his eye in this one. He had never seen anything like that before when Luna brought him here. Either she wasn't in full control of this dream scape or something else was wrong. Given her questions and how she was acting Pip was certain it was the latter. Particularly since she hadn't offer to come get them out of the hole they were in. That was something he had expected to be the first thing out of her mouth since they started talking tonight.

Luna blinked at the question though she sighed softly before responding.

“I suppose I cannot hide it, that would only endanger you and your friends. “ Luna mutters an image forming before her of a red and black creature with the lower body of a pony and the upper body of a minotaur attached where the ponies neck should be. “This is Tirek. He has attacked Equss itself and is currently rampaging across the world stealing the power of anyone with a cutiemark, and killing those who do not have one. He attacked Gallopagos and New Canterlot. I managed to evacuate New Canterlot and a portion of those in Gallopagos also evacuated. If he takes a ponies power they go comatose. Often they are killed when they fall, though we have a number of ponies and zebras like that here in the Crystal Empire....”

“But not all..... Who died Ma?”

“I do not see how you would need to know...”

“MA.” Pip snaps staring up at her.”Who do I know that was killed. You're far to nervousand dismissive of this about this and you hhaven't mentioned Da or Aunt Celestia. You said YOU managed to evacuate them, not the two of you. What happened?!”

Luna bites her lip and sighs.

“I would rather tell when you are safe ...”

“Don't wait. I need to know what to tell the others. What happened to Da and Aunt Celestia? To the Lily's to the whole bucking island we were just on a couple o days ago? Rarity and Lionheart just had their first foal.....”

“Pipsqueak language........” Luna sighs as her adoptive son glares at her. “You spend too much time with Jer'rahd. I know that look, he has it every time he manages to catch me at something. You are both far too cl.... smart for your own good sometimes. Fine. Tia and Twilight are both in comas although I have control of the sun now as well as the moon, Tirek did not get that.. Jer'rahd is..... well that's complicated to be honest, even I don't get what happened to him, typical really. The Lily's are fine if shaken up a bit, as is Orange.”

Luna flattens her own ears a bit and for a heartbeat she didn't look like herself, she looked like some sort of monster, though the change was so quick Pip wasn't sure what he had seen or if it was a dream or not.

“The rest...... I suppose Applebloom will need to know, as will Sweetiebelle. Your Uncle Rhede and Aunt Velkorn are dead. Tirek killed them both. Rhede sacrificed himself to ensure that the rest of us could get away safe. Rarity and Lion Heart Reignolds are also dead. They are the reason that any one got away from Gallopagos at all. In both cases their foals are fine including Velkorn's newborn....”

“Buck........”

“Pip...”

“Yah can't tell me that it ain't the appropriate word tah use now Ma. If ah knew stronger I'd use that too.”Pip grumbles.

“I suppose.”

“We jus saw all of them too. Ah just spoke with Lion Heart, spared with him, got annoyed at Rarity.......Ah crap..... Sweetie is gonna lose it.... What about Scootaloo's parents?”

“Spitfire and Soarin are fine. Do you think you and she can keep the others from doing anything dumb? I hate to ask in the face of this, but I know how those three are when they set their mind to something. I do not need to worry about you trying to go after this creature while I try to deal with him. He took down both Twilight, my sister and countless others. You three would not have a chance.”

“There's always hope we could do it where others couldn't, but no. My mission was to keep the trio safe... ah ain't gonna go hunt this guy. “ Pip exhales deeply mulling over the information. His ears perk a moment. “Wait, yah think this is why aunt Zecora sent us out here?”

Luna blinks at that and considers.

“I do not see the reason, but it is possible. She was quite insistent that Applebloom and you three all go on this trip, saying she felt it was the proper course of action. But she didn't know why. And now the situation with Applebloom's blood. I have never heard of anything like this, nor have the others. What about the seed she has it evidently did not get touched with her blood, what did it look like? I do not think I have seen it.”

Ah could draw it out if ah had some paper but it's a lil brown thing about yay big...” Pip describes holding his hooves close together looking up at Luna and the smug grin on her face as she watched him. “What?”

“Pip..... dream scape.”

“Oh cripes, right right.” Pip yelps, a small image forming before him out of the dream stuff. While working dream stuff into a shape while lucid was not impossible it did take a good deal of practice. Pip and his siblings had had quite a lot of practice while Luna was helping them recover from their nightmares of the War of Gods. While both Brush and Berry were artists in their dreams like in life, both Pip and Orange had wound up more practical. When crafting something they didn't add any flourishes they simply made a copy of what they saw. Jer'rahd was the same way.

What Pip was making before her was familiar some how. The chain was unimportant and had likely been changed to the simple steel chain that was used now. The necklace itself was tarnished and worn though looked to have once been silver perhaps. It held the shape of a tree, though the top had been broken off in the past and Luna could seeing Pips image where the new chain had been connected to the stump. The piece was worn to the point that the details and even that it was broken were not really noticeable. The roots remaining curled around a glass bead and inside it was a small brown seed.

Luna knew what it was immediately.

Well one of the memories she now held recognized it. It was a bit of Jewelry that had been crafted by one of the Changelings who had been a jeweler several thousand years after the races creation. The piece was supposed to be in the shape of the Yggdrasil where Tirek was sealed. That it had been broken at the base like it's real counterpart was some what concerning to Luna, perhaps prophetic? The seed within the glass bauble was a seed from the Yggdrasil itself while it was young. A seed harvested and presented to the jeweler by Star swirl the Bearded himself to be made into a wedding gift for Clover the Clever.

Luna stared not even hearing Pip mention he wasn't sure if the seed was correct. Plans ran rampant though her mind. Zecora's insistence that Applebloom leave with this seed. That she find out what it was and that the group be allowed to visit Los Pegasus. The nightmares, what Pip had seen the filly's very blood do to plants. There was far too much coincidence here to be real, and yet.... Did Sunshine's power exstend to something like this? A maddening chain of events that lead up to this point? Did she know she would get taken by Tirek? Luna didn't understand how she wouldn't. Why was she found at the Gate of Tartarus? She wasn't supposed to have gone to see Grace for several months yet. Was all this playing out because of the strange abilities of Tia's daughter?

Luna whipped her head. She was thinking to much into it. She really didn't need to ponder Sunshine's odd prediction talent. Being in the right place at the right time couldn't explain all of this past her giving Applebloom the seed and sending her out to find out what it is. Sunshine's power wanted Applebloom to go to the crater. The crater tied in with Tirek. Could restoring the tree reseal him? It was a gamble, but it was all she had at the moment and too many things pointed to it being the proper course. She just didn't like what she would need to do next.

“Ma?” Pip asks. “You zoned out there a moment. You okay?”

“Yes Pip, I'm fine. Perhaps more so then I was before. “ Luna smiles though that fades .”Pip I hate to ask with all that has happened, but I have a mission for you and the crusaders that is of the up most importance. And I regret to say it... it might be dangerous, yet I need to ask it of you.”

Pip lifts his head as Luna explains the plan. Pip wasn't about to protest or refuse. Ma had changed her tone to her Princessy mannerisms.

A true Guard would not refuse a lawful order directly from the Princess.

Author's Note

Title is' Honor for All' by Jon Licht and Daniel Licht [ Also the name of the song the Changeling swarm sings]

Legion of Monsters [33]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Legion of Monsters

[West of Cindervale 2200 hours, Tuesday]

Linorm.

The name alone was enough to send a chill down even the strongest dragon's spine. There were very few things dragons feared collectively. Granted in the last few years the number of things a full grown dragon would wet themselves in the presence of had doubled with the return of the Five Beasts of the Moon, but Linorm would still be at the top of the list.

No one was exactly sure when the first Linorm appeared, but most legends had it as a secret love between a Windigo and a Dragoness. In any event, the race of Linorm seemed to spring up almost overnight going by the first official recording of them.

The first official encounter was when the ancient dragons had pushed northward to expand territories after subjugating the Rams and isolating the Yaks. In pony history this was a pre Exodus event. The Dragons had encountered a small settlement of the creatures in the wilds of the far north. The Linorm had not liked the incursion into their territory and the dragons were used to being challenged by the locals when they found an area they liked.

A fight was inevitable. What was not as inevitable was how well the Linorm fought back.

The creatures were only twice the size of an average pony. They had equine heads and maws full of sharp teeth. Their eyes were the burning red of their Windigo parents. There were some variations in orange or yellow, blue was rare and those with blue eyes were usually the tribes leaders or shaman. Their manes were a collection of fine spines rather than hair, like a hedgehogs though the smaller spines turned into thicker ones along their back and going down their long serpentine tail to end in very thick spikes on a club like tail. They had large leathery bat like wings that were vaguely reminiscent of a dragons, though were smaller with more flexability, like a pegasi's wings. This gave them far more agility and speed in the air than dragons with their bulkier forms.

They had no fur though they were covered with odd feathery scales that were more akin to a snake than the thick plates of a dragon. There were only a few color variations recorded, most were gray or white with some black or pale brown, they were always one solid color rather than any mixed colors you might find on a pony or dragon. Like their dragon kin they all had breath weapons, though it was always a blast of freezing cold or ice. Also like their dragon kin they had claws rather than hooves at the end of all their limbs, though they were thinner and harder than a dragons claws. Wisps of mist constantly floated around them forming little flakes of snow or fog depending on the humidity in the area.

The Linorm had the durability of their immortal Windigo parents and the tenacity, longevity, and ferocity of their dragon kin. A full grown Linorm could rip through a squad of dragons before the collective damage taken by it would finally drop it.... maybe.

Before the wars with Equestria all of the Dragon Empire's focus was on seeking out and destroying these creatures. Something they were not very good at. Dragons primarily ate gems with a small number adding meat or plant matter to their diets. Linorm were fully carnivores. They ate primarily fish and some of the herd animals of the north like the Yak, Griffon, and Caribou. They were also known to eat dragons.

The only things they did not hunt were the Windigo, Snow Ponies, and each other.

The dragon's attempted expansion northward was met with such ferocious resistance that the Dragon Nation actually lost territory as a number of the dragon caves close to the border were abandoned to the now encroaching Linorm.

The dragons saw the attackers as cannibalistic invaders that needed to be destroyed.

The Linorm saw the dragons as an abundant food source that would feed a family and came in many flavors.

Thus conflict began in earnest. It was not until a few of the Dragon gods personally stepped into the battle that the Linorm were forced back. Nothing the Linorm had could kill the dragon gods, though only a few gods would waste their time chasing down the Linorm tribes and thus the balance was kept for the most part and the encroachment on both sides of the line was halted. The few gods willing, took their place at the tops of the ranges separating the Linorm territories in order to strike out at any of the tribes they could find and protect Cindervale. These gods eventually saw their positions as greater than any other dragons and they became countries all their own. They claimed territories that far exceeded anything a normal dragon or even a god could hold. Territories that they forced others to respect simply out of the fear of what they were supposed to be fighting off.

When Forgescale returned and urged the Dragon Nation to war with the ponies many of the soldiers and gods that were keeping the Linorm at bay instead turned their attention to the south west and the nation of Equestria. Why gain honor from fighting something that was a nightmare given flesh when you could remove softer targets and claim their land instead?

With the wall only defended by one dragon god who refused to move at Forgescale's call, the Linorm pressed again into the south. It was this push and the defeat of Forgescale by the Princesses of Equestria that marked an end to the first war as the troops were recalled to push back the Linorm again. In the hundred year span that followed, Ice Talon and the other gods pushed back hard against the Linorm seeking to eradicate them fully. The second Dragon War stalled this eradication, though still remembering the last invasion a greater number of dragons refused to help in this war.

Several decades after the fall of Cindervale there were no traces of the Linorm left that any dragon could find. Over the course of a thousand years they became the things under young dragons beds, with only Ice Talon left having met themin battle and knowing they were real. The white dragoness remained in the mountains ignoring the migration and remaining in solitude on watch for the creatures return, and any dragon foolish enough to try and stake a claim in the massive area of mountains she controlled.

Right now Spike was looking at a score and a half of things that he had only hard about in name and some old books. Out of several thousand dragons there were only four figures on the plateau who were not shaken or panicked from the arrival of the group of Linorm. Neither he nor Bleu had ever really heard the legends or heard the tales that turned them into the draconic equivalent of the boogy mare, and could view the creatures objectively. Ice Talon stared at them in anger. And Troph was impassive.

The creatures landed lightly , more like pegasi than dragons, predominately they were white with a few black and gray coats mixed in. The lot of them landed in a circle with two or three of the larger ones in the center. Their wings were spread, bodies crouched to pounce as they surveyed the dragons surrounding them. Claws dug into stone as the air around the creatures grew cold enough for small flurries of snow to form about them.

“Ice do something! Isn't this what you are supposed to be fighting?!” Copper wails hiding behind the others.

“Seriously? There's a thousand or more dragons here and you hide behind me? It's not like they can even hurt a dragon god. “ Ice Talon snarls knocking the other dragoness out from behind her with her tail. “Besides this is your problem not mine I wrote all of you off as a lost cause a century ago. Fight your own damn battles.”

“Hmm, I thought Troph said his call was tailored to full dragons?” Bleu mutters to Spike.

“Not his exact words, but he said he left out the half dragons, I guess Linorm don't count.Well some Linorm.” Spike contemplates before turning to Troph. “ Did you call them too...... Troph?”

The purple and the blue dragons both turn back looking around for the mutilated form of the first dragon before a number of gasps and sharp intakes of breath cause them to whip their heads back to where the gray form of Troph was striding towards the gathered Linorm.

“What is he doing!?” Spike asks.

“STOP RISKING BOSS'S BODY YOU DAMN DIRTY WYRM!!” Bleu hollers.

Troph ignored them approaching the Linorm with some interest. He had never seen the like of these creatures and the reaction that they gave his race was of interest to him. He moved up to one of the larger ones in the outer circle. The white monster standing easily twice as tall as he was. The creature hissed at the mutilated pony who for the most part ignores the threat as he tilts his head looking the creature over.

Troph sniffs the air, glancing back at the group of gathered gods before looking back up at the Linorm, approaching closer he got nearly nose to nose with the hissing creature.

” Do stop that. You are not threatening to me in the slightest.”< Troph states a wisp of shadowy magic wrapping around one of the Linorm's fore claws pulling it up off the ground and nearly unbalancing the creature as Troph leans down looking over the lifted claw turning it slightly in the shadow magic. >”Interesting.”<

Gray shadowy magic swirls away from the Linorm's claw, and pulls it's head down below Troph's as he lifts a claw like hoof up tracing it over the creatures spines Before lifting the creatures head back up enough to pry open it's jaw to have a look at it's teeth.

The Linorm and the others around it were clearly confused by this and all of them, as well as the entirety of the dragons on the plateau watched the pony like creature examine the Linorm like he was a stock animal.

“A drake as well. Quite interesting.”< Troph lets the Linorm go and simply walks past him to the ones in the middle they were surrounding. This brought all of them back to attention and in threatening postures again. Though Troph cuts them off before they start hissing again. >” Stop it. You sound like a bunch of wet cats. And speak draconic, I'm certain your mother taught you.”<

Troph pauses before the larger three in the center and smiles a bit, his fanged maw spreading enough that the three in the center took a step back as he looked them over.

” Mares. With foal too it seems.”< Troph mutters moving closer to one who all but froze in place as he puts his head to the Linorm's side, his ear flicking against her scales as he listened. >” Several months along.... not eggs either but multiple young.... interesting. This explains a few things. As does your scent. This is going to be delightful to see how it plays out.”<

Troph chuckles to himself pressing back out of the circle of Linorm and towards the fast approaching Bleu and Spike.

“What the buck are you even doing!?!? They are supposed to be dangerous and deadly and destructively wild! “ Bleu snaps. “ And you walk up in a body that doesn't belong to you like a mobile meat snack!”

” Relax whelp, if they were a threat we would have been fighting already. Something is definitely wrong however if they have brought three pregnant mares along with them.”< Troph explains as Spike looks up at them approaching a little as the closest Linorm hiss and growl again.

Spike stops though he doesn't back away.

“Why have you come?” Spike asks. “ You couldn't have missed all the dragons here yet you still landed in the middle of them all.”

“We heeded the call.” the one that Troph had examined snaps back.

“The call should not have been enough for you to risk your lives like this, let alone to bring your young into the middle of all this. I recognize what this is. It's a statement. You are here for a reason other than hearing a call. What is it, it's clearly not to fight, so why?” Spike demands.

================================================

[Whitetail Woods Cairn,700 hours Wednesday ]

Pip's ears droop as he looks away from the group he had been talking to over breakfast. After the talk with his Ma he was woken up by Scootaloo to take his turn on watch. He hadn't woken Sweetiebelle for her turn, nor Applebloom, letting the pair sleep and dreading what he was going to have to tell them. Morning came far too quickly for his liking and after getting chewed out by Scootaloo for taking all three watches Pip explained what Luna had told him about Tirek.

The reactions were exactly as expected, upon learning of Rarity and Lion Heart's fates Sweetiebelle had started bawling, that had started an hour ago and she was still going brushing off any attempt to comfort her. Pip briefly wondered where she had gotten the red couch she was crying on, but opted to ignore that.

Applebloom cried for a while as well after hearing about Rhede, Velkorn, and Zecora though Pip could almost see her mind switch from sadness to anger. She barraged him with a plethora of questions regarding Tirek, few of which he could answer. They would need to keep an eye on her.

Daring Doo seemed to catch on to Applebloom's mental state and remained quiet as she watched the earth pony. The older mare said nothing as she mulled over the information. Pip was rather curious as to what the adventurer would say when he told them of Ma's mission for them, but he wanted Sweetiebelle and AppleBloom to calm themselves a little more before he told them of that part.

He was jerked out of his thoughts as a orange form drops down, laying next to him, the mare's shoulder pressing lightly against his.

“So how you holding up Pip?” Scootaloo asks quietly.

“Better than those two.” Pip mutters, looking at the others on the other side of the camp.

“I somehow doubt that. They were your aunt and uncle too, plus Princess Celestia is down, she's another one of your aunts. And I know you were fairly close to LionHeart. Then there's Jer'rahd.”

“Yeah well I wasn't as close to Aunt Velkorn and Uncle Rhede as some others. Berry's gonna lose it if she hasn't already though, so will Orange. A soldier always expects to die fighting, Lionheart knew that. Besides his death protected a large number of ponies who couldn't defend themselves. While I am upset he is gone It was an honor to know some one like that, even for a bit.”

“And your Da?”

“Not worried bout him. Ma seemed more annoyed at his situation than upset, so he's not dead and not in a coma, he's probably doing something stupid and heroic again. Or picking a fight with some one he shouldn't, that's probably what's going on there. Ma said it was something that she wasn't even sure about.”

“None of that means you're alright though.”

“I ain't. S'not tha foist time I've lost family though, doesn't git any easier, but ah ken push past it.”

Scootaloo nods though Pip tenses up as she drapes a wing over his shoulder offering a small half hug.

“So are we safe down here from this guy?” Scootaloo asks.

“Down here? Probably, but we're not gonna be staying down here.” Pip states a bit louder than he liked the sudden closeness with the pegasus mare making him nervous.

“What? What do yah mean we ain't staying here?” Applebloom demands looking over the fire at the two.

Scootaloo turns a bit red and slides a pony length from the smaller earth pony.

Pipsqueak exhales as even Sweetiebelle stops her crying and sits up on the couch to look over at him teary eyed though with a easy to spot glimmer of anger in them.

“We are not staying down here Ma gave me a official Royal mission.”

“ And what might that be kid?” Daring Doo asks.

“We are to complete our original objective in helping Applebloom figure out the deal with her seed.” Pip explains.

“At a time like this?” Sweetiebelle asks sniffling.

“Ma believes that seed is more important than we know. Remember how I said Tirek was sealed away in a tree for thousands of years? “

“There were a number of old legends from pre exodus that support something evil locked away in a tree.” Doo interjects.

“Right, well the tree he was locked away in was the Yggdrasil, also known as the World Tree as it's massive size made one think the roots grew under every part of the world.” Pip explains gesturing with a hoof at the massive root structure that filled the cavern they were in. “Our mission is to try and get Applebloom to the site of the Yggdrasil and see what she can do. Given how close we seem to be, that shouldn't be hard.”

“What? Me?” Applebloom stammers.

“Yes. Zecora wanted you here for a reason even if she didn't know what it was. That seed is one of the few seeds that the Yggdrasil produced. Ma thinks that if the tree or a sapling of it was restored it might seal Tirek away again because the tree was created soly to trap him the first time. It's a long shot, but the only way to help the ones who are comatose is to capture Tirek and seal him away again. If we kill him every pony he's claimed is going to die, including Auntie Celestia and Twilight Sparkle.”

“Yeah that's a load on mai shoulders. Even if it works, seeds dun sprout up tha instant yah plant them, it'll take weeks or months before we even see anything. And that's even if this things still viable and not just a petrified lump of plant matter.” Applebloom rants.

“Maybe Discord or some one knows a plant growth spell, but that's a bit beyond me.” Sweetiebelle adds.

“Besides Zecora might ah just wanted us on this wild goose chase tah keep us out of tha way. She don't even understand her impulses when she gets a hunch. There's nothing, not even mai stupid dreams, that even supports that ah ken grow ah tree.” Applebloom grumbles.

Scootaloo, Pip, and Doo look at each other then back at Applebloom.

“Actually now that I think of it, the Princess is right, this might work. “ Doo comments.” This is an awful lot of coincidence.”

“Fate?” Scootaloo asks.

“Maybe, though I don't think Bonnie has much say in this.” Pip comments getting a few confused stares.

“Bonnie?” Scootaloo asks.

“Friend of Ma's and Twilight's, met her once in the dreamscape with Ma. Friendly enough but very depressive.” Pip explains.

“You mind telling me what tha hay you three are talking about? What coincidence? What fate?” Applebloom growls.”What's going on?”

Pip slowly rises turning to dig through his saddlebag for a few corn kernels. “Scootaloo get one of her fresh bandages. Applebloom, Sweetiebelle.... I have no idea how you missed this before now, but this is why Ma thinks we can do this.......”

===================================================

[ 2100 hours, Tuesday, West of Cindervale]

To the dragons gathered at the plateau, the pony thing and the purple dragon, that was one of their gods, seemed mad. They already knew the blue one was mad so that wasn't important. They had both moved right up to the circle of demonic death the Linorm had with out flinching. The pony thing walked right into the midst of them then right out, and their dragon god was demanding answers of the monsters. It was insane. A number of dragons gained a great deal of respect for the youngest god, though very few thought he would live through the encounter.

“Well? “ Spike asked. The large purple drake was some what intimidated, but from what he had read unless one of them was a god, the Linorm couldn't kill him. Getting mauled might hurt like Tarturus, but he wouldn't die. Bleu had no such guarantee and he had told her to get back. He was rather surprised that she had listened, though she still grumbled the whole way.

The large Linorm looked at the others then back at the ones they had circled around before focusing back on Spike.

“We demand compensation for what your kind have done to us.” The Linorm snarls.

Spike raises an eyebrow looking down at Troph, who didn't seem to be paying attention any more, though Spike could tell at least three of the creatures six eyes were still on the Linorm.

“And what exactly are you demanding? From my understanding your kind currently occupy a great deal of land that the Dragon nation once held.”

“A place that was ours first!” The Linorm snaps.

“Centuries ago yes, and when the dragons stopped pushing northward you kept pushing south, hunting dragons for food in fact. Something banned by the God's council of Equss.”

“We are not part of your council.”

“This is true, but that doesn't mean you are exempt from it. No one is allowed to eat sentient creatures.”

“Dragons eat Ponies and others. You are being hypocritical.”

Spike smirks a little at that. This wasn't a near mindless beast he was dealing with.

“I've never eaten any meat but fish and in case you missed it the Dragons paid severely for doing that en mass last time. At any rate, I'm called Spike, What's your name? And what are the exact demands?”

“I am called Glacier. The demands are simple, we wish a place where we will be left alone.”

“You would be left alone now if you did not keep attacking any thing that goes north of my mountain.” Ice snaps striding up beside Spike. The purple dragon looked at the Linorm who didn't hiss at the white dragoness as she approaches like they had the others. Perhaps they had gotten the hint?

A series of hissing and some growls provide that wrong as a faintly glowing Grim Jaw approached. The black dragon had a wavy nimbus of light around him that was likely some sort of armor from his power. Copper and Crimson Wing approached behind them getting the same greeting. Yet the one who fought them the most only got stared at? Were they afraid of her? They didn't seem it. Spike looks down at Troph and notices the mutated pony had a rather creepy grin on his muzzle.

“So what do they want?” Copper asks.

“Territory.” Ice responds.

“Our tribe has never attacked anything south of the mountain, nor even the White Queen's lair. Other tribes have.” Glacier comments.

“White Queen?” Spike asks.

“Their name for me.” Ice states with a small smirk on her muzzle. Spike considered she was acting too calm around her supposed hated enemies as well. Something else was going on here.

“Why should we bother, there are more than enough of us here to simply wipe them out then go and deal with the rest of them in one go. Surely that should be enough to convince the young upstart that we do not need help from any one in dealing with this Tirek monster when it comes.”

“They came in peace Grim Jaw. We are not going to attack them when they came to talk. Besides if they can follow the councils rules it shouldn't be hard to find a place for them. There's plenty of wild pigs and trolls in the mountains to the east.” Spike offers.

“Shards to that! Then they would be able to attack from two sides.” Crimson snaps.

“He has a point.” Ice comments.” No dragon would want them that close. Believed friendly or not. Perhaps something further south. Far away from Cindervale.”

“Oh that's a good idea stick them in the pony lands, let them kill each other.” Grim Jaw laughs.

“Might be an idea. Though I don't like the idea of them making friends with the ponies then turning on us.” Copper contemplates.

“I don't think Ponies think like that.” Crimson mutters. “But I think if we ever decided to attack them again we would have issues.”

“Then we shouldn't attack them. That answer is simple. “ Ice rumbles.

Spike looks at Ice curiously. The large dragoness remained impassive though her gaze seems to shift between Spike and the Linorm more than the others. His dealings and interest in ponies was well known, though Ice's comment seemed like she favored them as well. Or wanted him to think that.

“You're trying to protect them...” Spike mutters looking at Ice. The dragoness focuses her attention on Spike, her eyes narrowing. Spike turns to the others speaking louder. “I might be able to arrange something, but I'd need to speak with the ones in charge there before I could promise anything.” Spike looks down at Troph who nods a little. ”If you offer your aid however, in fighting Tirek I'm sure that will factor more favorable in their decision.”

“And what would a clawful of us be able to do?” Glacier asks.

“A clawful managed to make a entire nation of dragons nearly wet themselves just from you showing up. I seriously doubt that fear is unfounded.” Spike explains getting a few grins from the Linorm as confirmation. “And who knows. Maybe it might motivate a few others here to pitch in instead of letting their ancient enemies do it alone and gain favor with the race that nearly wiped them out, twice. “ Spike turns glaring at the others before looking to Ice who was hiding a smile, badly. ”Was that your plan then Ice?”

The others look from Spike to the large white dragoness who suddenly loses her smirk and looks rather uncomfortable at the attention.

“What?” Ice demands.

“No other Linorm showed up and Glacier said there were other tribes and that his never made an attempt on the White Queen's lair. Ice was one of the last to show up and the Linorm came in from the same direction. There's no way she would have missed them flying in given how slow they were going with three of their number flying with clutch. Particularly if you have been hunting them for the last thousand years or so.” Spike chuckled a little.”Your subtlety also needs work, you seemed to have a idea in mind for where you wanted them to go, but your attempts to steer the idea towards that location were obvious. You've supposedly been fighting Linorm for centuries and yet you didn't even spit a stray spark at them. You also knew what they were before they got any where near enough for any of us to identify and Bleu's got some damn good eyes. You knew they were coming, likely because you sent them here. They never heard the call because Troph excluded half breeds. You knew what the call was so you told them what to do knowing we would all be here. Why?” Spike explains looking at Ice, his eyes narrowing. “Not that I would deny the aid, but I want to know what the game plan is here, and why you seem to care for what you are supposed to be killing when you don't give a shit about your own kind? I'd be a little more miffed at your work to ruin my plans if this didn't have my curiosity up.”

” A mother tends to look after and protect her hatchlings.”< Troph comments.

The white dragon some how manages to pale further as all eyes suddenly turn to her. The dragoness was not well liked by the other gods due to her harsh dismissal of everything they tried to organize and the wide territory in the mountains she had claimed, nearly the entire range and almost everything north of it. Far larger than any dragoness, even a god should have counted as theirs. It was far too large for one dragon to keep watch over. A family of several dragons would have had issue patrolling it all and collecting the gems that would be present. But it was the perfect size for a dragon and a hidden tribe of hunters.

“What the shard are the Whelp and the half breed going on about Ice?” Grim Jaw snarls.

“Interesting.” Copper states. “I would like an explanation as well.”

“They don't look that young either. If the legends are true their life spans are as long as dragons. How long has this been going on?” Crimson asks scratching his chin with a claw.

“It's none of your damn business.” Ice snaps.

“I beg to differ. You've claimed an entire range of mountains denied any others to settle even near the base of it nor mine for gems. Your refusal to help and continue to demand troops and supplies during the war cost us the battle.” Grim Jaw snarls.” This is VERY much my business. You took territory I had, claiming it for your war effort. “

“Actually the fact you went after ponies is what cost you the war effort.” Spike mutters.

“There are plenty of Linorm out there still Grim Jaw. And you were the one who convinced the former council to deny any more troops being sent north so you could fill your own horde with war spoils against the ponies. I needed soldiers, so I found my own way to recruit. Some of the Linorm were at war with the others, old tribal conflicts. I simply recruited the side that was most willing to follow my lead and my rules.”

“And then you did the unexpected.” Spike comments.” You fell for one of your new soldiers.”

Ice snarls glaring back at Spike who simply returns the stare impassively before shaking his head.

“Seems he is correct. It would explain why the scent is odd on them. You tried to mask it.” Copper comments.”This would be a very interesting fairy tail, but it's what really happened isn't it?”

Ice snorts.”And what if it is? What if all your damn theories are correct? What then?”

“Then? Nothing. I made the offer and that still stands. We will need to readjust the northern range now, as this means your territory will be reduced, but without a tribe to feed I doubt that will be an issue. But no other change of standing should be necessary.” Spike sighs. ”You can't control who you fall for sometimes. Even if it's some one you shouldn't have feelings for, who only seems to use you and not return any of your feelings.......”

“What?” Crimson asks.

“Nothing.” Spike shakes his head clearing it of the image of a white mare. “Is this acceptable to the Dragon council? Finding the Linorm a place in the south?”

“Fine, with me.” Copper states.

“I've not agreed with the fighting against this Tirek guy, but getting rid of some Linorm sounds like a good idea to me.” Crimson states. “Particularly cause they and Ice would then owe us a favor.”

“I will not stand for this!” Grim Jaw snarls.” These are our enemies and you have been aiding them for who knows how long. Not only that, you seek to offer our old enemies new allies to rise against us again. The ponies nearly destroyed us once before as did the Linorm and now you lot are simply caving to the demands of a pair of traitors to our kind? I will NOT ACCEPT THIS!”

“We don't need a full agreement from all of us. Just the majority. Same as it's always been. It's four to one Grim Jaw.” Spike comments. “ Same rules you've used against me before when i wanted to start trade agreements.”

“No,not this time. I do not deal with traitors , I destroy them.”

“Grim shut up. It's the middle of the night and your powers are about as useless in the dark as Copper's are on land.” Ice growls.

“Yes, thank you for that comparison Ice.” Copper grumbles her fins flattening to her head. “Can I change my vote just to spite her now or is it too late?”

“Do you honestly think I've never thought of work arounds for my powers?” Grim Jaw snaps, whistling sharply.

The a number of the dragons clinging to the mountain side perk up at the noise and a a great deal of quick casting and rummaging is heard before a series of lights shoot into the air from various points of the plateau, from both magical, draconic, and some griffon and pony made sources. The trailing lights grow brighter before they burst open at their peak shining as bright as the sun as they flutter and circle slowly overhead. The entire Plateau was lit up like it was suddenly noon.

Spike squints up at the lights noting the magic being used.

“Flares?” Spike comments looking back down at Grim Jaw who was bathed in the light, his armor glowing bright enough to nearly blind the purple dragon.

“I will destroy you all, then take over my proper place as the only dragon god worthy of rule.” Grim Jaw growls.

“Seriously?” Spike bemoans. “Is every one a closet tyrant?”

=================================================

[Crystal Empire 800 hours. Wednesday.]

Applejack stops at the window looking out over the fields to the south of the palace. The view from the room where Twilight and Princess Celestia were being tended too had quite a good view of the Griffon airships that had landed just on the edge of Crab Apple Farm. Princess Luna was having the flag ship and the second battleship reloaded, rearmed and staffed. A large number of the changelings couldn't fly so Luna needed a way to transport them all to where Tirek was quickly without wasting magic.

The plan as it had been laid out yesterday before the armory was opened, was that Luna and the Changelings would lead Tirek away from the Empire and try and trap him, or failing that destroy him to end the reign of terror. No one had wanted to do that because of the loss of life that would come about because of it. Still no one could doubt the Princesses word that she would try everything else first before killing the monster. She had a fiancee and a sister that would be gone for good if Tirek was killed.

The morning however had brought another hasty meeting and a change of plans. Luna had evidently spoken with Pipsqueak the previous night and some new information came to light. That fool quest Zecora sent Applebloom on with the seed seemed to be the heart of it. The thing about her sisters blood freaked Applejack out a bit, though looking back she could never recall a time when Applebloom had cut herself or lost any blood outdoors. Even the crashes from Scootaloo's driving and the weird Crusader ideas never really wound up hurting her. They always seemed to land safely in some brush or, more often than not, in an excessive amount of cushy tree sap. Applejack always found that odd, but after a time she learned to accept it as some sort of Crusader thing.

Of course given the situation it really didn't surprise her that her sister and her friends were in the middle of everything. Particularly after the Noodle incident, nothing they did surprised her any more. Took her three years before she could even look at a tomato without freaking out. Far as she knew Rainbow Dash still had a fear of string cheese too.

That Luna was going to Whitetail Woods to oversee what was going to happen made Applejack feel better, though she received a few odd looks from some of the others when she refused the offer to accompany Luna. Applejack didn't give a reason why, but she told everyone that the Guard needed to be ready to defend the Empire, cause Tirek 'was' coming. She was pressed for details, but she didn't answer any of them aside to tell them it was the truth. It was bad enough that her brother knew, she hadn't expected that, but it was part of the deal.

Which is why they were here now in this room with the comatose ponies and Mr. and Mrs. Sparkle.

AJ walked away from the others sitting down next to Twilight looking at her friend. If she had been asked ten years ago that she would be dropped into this situation she would have thought the six of them would have made it out all okay. Now, not so much? They had tough scrapes and close calls before, but this was a whole new ballgame here. Ever since she heard of the Five Beasts, things seemed to simply take a grim turn. It wasn't like Applejack wasn't used to hardships, and death...... but everything seemed to happen more often lately. Everything before then seemed like a foals tale. The biggest worry then was Pinkie's parties and going to the gala, maybe a bit of issue with parasprites or a dragon, but never did it feel like any one was in any real danger. But now? Pinkie had died and come back, Rarity was dead, Twilight was in this state. Heck even the Princess that Applejack had grown up thinking was the only goddess there was on Equss, was laid out. She didn't blame the five of them that had been freed. If not for them, things would have been much much worse.

The biggest hope for a happily ever after right now were the CMC and a mare who was known as the Goddess of War. A couple of young ponies, and a Goddess that was corrupted by darkness to the point that Applejack and her friends had to save her.

Applejack wasn't sure if having to rely on them made things better or worse.

“Is this it?” Nightlight asks.

“Eeeyup.” Big Mac comments looking down at the iron bound chest the elder unicorn had brought out of the closet.

“I remember this. Twilight spent a whole hour discussing it. From what she said there's enough power in it for it to be considered an artifact. Empowered by both Princesses and touched by the god of Chaos himself. This thing is almost as dangerous as those swords Princess Luna has. Perhaps more so. It doesn't help matters she tinkered with it as well so it's got some of my daughter's magic in it too.” Twilight Velvet explained.

“I remember that lecture. She made up new words to describe parts of it. I think that bracelet there controls it now? She's used it a few times and we had a devil of a time getting it off her to check her over when she got here. I'm not sure if all the parts are here, but supposedly it will regenerate itself if it needs to.” Nightlight smirks. “ So what do you think Big Mac?”

“Ah dun like tha smell.” Big Mac comments.

“Well given your profession, I can understand that.” Nightlight chuckles.

“AppleJack are you alright dear?” Velvet asks.

“Been better. But that ken be fixed. Applejack rises tipping her hat a little to the parents of her friend. “ Thanks fer tha help with this.”

“Your welcome. Was there anything else?” Nightlight asks.

“Nah, jus make sure you stay in that palace fer tha rest of tha day. Keep all these sleeping ponies safe.”

“We will.” Velvet nods.

Applejack pulls off her hat as Big Mac sets the chest on his back, putting the stetson next to Twilight's pillow.

“Ah'll be back fer that. Jus sit tight Twi, Ah'll get cha back, or at least make 'em pay fer taking Rarity and mai family.” Applejack grumbles. “Lets go Mac “

“Eeeyup.”

=================================================

[ 2200 hours, Tuesday, West of Cindervale]

Grim Jaw wasted no time in lashing out with his powers. The beams of light flashing forward faster than a dragon could blink, striking and lancing through the four other gods gathered with a loud hiss. The air around the beams sparking with fire as the dust and steam from the impacted bodies sizzled in the air. The heat from the beams seeming to ignite the very air as the light show danced wildly setting fire to the ground and a number of shrubs in the field of attack. The super heated lasers hitting the other gods with such force that their bodies seemed to turn to steam before him.

Grim Jaw cackles as the thick oily mist hangs in the air around the charred corpses of the other gods. He had done it. He was the sole dragon god left. He ruled all of them now. All that was left was to destroy that blue traitor, the Linorm, and the pony and he could rebuild the Dragon Empire in his image.

“Are you done?” Spike asks.

“WHAT?!” Grim Jaw whips his head back around glaring at the purple dragon stepping out of the smoke, brushing soot off his chest scales. Another series of blasts of light lash out at the smaller drake striking him repeatedly as the smoke and steam again reemerges obscuring the dragon. The purple dragon sighs in the cloud, clearly still undestroyed.

“HOW?!?! WHY WON”T YOU DIE LIKE THE OTHERS!” Grim Jaw yells.

“We're not dead either Grim.” Copper snarls, clearly pissed.

“This was a rather sudden attempt at a coup. I will give you that.” Crimson comments.

“It's rather simple Grim Jaw. Your main attacks are light based. Light photons powered by magic to be exact. Even with the magic sheathing the beams, they are still light, smoke, water, and even the air itself defuses light particles and weakens them. So when you attacked, it was rather simple to cast a small smoke screen of water vapor around us that screwed with your attack enough that it wouldn't even singe our scales. You've been so focused on attacking us that you didn't even notice your flares were dimmed as well. I had initially thought that I would have to use something like this to tone down the sun, so flares were nothing.” Spike rambles.

“What?” Grim Jaw growls.”There is no way you could have cast faster than my attacks!”

“Hmm? Oh, no, I didn't cast anything now. I set up that spell back when I first learned of your powers and started trying to rebuild Cindervale, years ago. I had it set to encompass all the others as well in case you tried to kill one of them. Casting it without you noticing that something was being laid on you was the hard part. Especially when I had to reset it every year.”

“You knew he was going to betray us when you met him seven years ago?” Ice asks surprised.

“Hmm? Not at all. I simply set up a fail safe on all of you if you tried to kill one another. I've rigged back up plans to prevent any of you from using your powers to harm one another, or myself and Bleu. I had, well have, plans in place to stop all of you if you get out of claw.” Spike states calmly looking back at the others, his tone was cold and calculating, and there was an air of menace about the purple drake that the group of gods had never seen before. “My time with Silver Claw showed me that I needed to be careful who I trusted, and be prepared for anything. I'm just not as brutal as he was. I've been trying to convince you with my words first because that was how I was raised, but I've been shown that if words fail I need to be ready to destroy my opponent utterly. Though simply dealing with you all is much simpler than killing you and finding your replacements as they are born. But that was plan D.”

“You could have done this any time.....”Grim mutters firing a few more lasers at the purple dragon with the same lack of effect and more flashes of smoke. Grim's eyes narrow as he realizes the smoke is coming from him as he used his powers, though he couldn't detect where the spell was laid on him.

“As I said. I made plans to destroy anyone and anything that got in the way of my goals. Arguing and stalling as you have been doing? That's not fighting, that's simply your attempts to delay the inevitable, I can deal with that, I've all the time in the world. This however, Grim Jaw. This is exactly what I was waiting for. For all his faults, Silver Claw understood patience and subtlety better than nearly any other dragon out there and I picked up on that in the short time I was with him.”

“You talk to much whelp.” Grim jaw snarls. “ If I can't kill you then..”

The black dragon whirls. A massive beam of light blasting at the Linorm and the pony that was between him and the creatures.

Spike form the most part still seemed unphased as the blast melts the earth between the group of Linorm and the black dragon. Ice screams out launching herself to try and stop the blast of light, but she was far too late to do so as the blast struck the group...... and did absolutely nothing.

“WHAT?!” Ice and Grim shout.

“Ahh yes, one other thing. I picked this up from Rhede Pelt, a pony, rather than Silver Claw. Most dragons rarely seem to pay attention to their surroundings and they miss small clues and details. I don't have that issue. It's how I knew that the Linorm were related to Ice. Though the important thing in this particular case isn't their relation to Ice here, but that Troph seemed rather fond of the Linorm. I'm sure he's going to have words with you about attacking them. Good luck with that, never the best idea to make one of the First Gods angry.”

As Spike finished a massive shadowy form rose behind him. The form seemed to be made of whirling wisps of smoke and shadow it's very presence dimming the magical flares drawing the light from them until they expired as the figure grew. The vaguely draconian shape forming in the whirling mass swelled further towering over the top of the plateau. It's sheer size forcing the stone and rocks to crumble as it rose into the night sky, the massive form blotting out the light of the moon far above leaving the silver glow of the stellar object reflecting off the gray and blue scales as the form solidified. A pair of wings snap open from it's back stretching out to cover the entire mountain and all the dragons gathered on it. It's tail forms of the shadow, forcing dragons to scatter from their perches as the colossal length falls down the side of the mountain nearly to the valley bellow. Rear claws three times the size of the largest dragon there dig into the top of the plateau on either side of the Linorm, the smaller creatures closing their circle tighter around the pregnant members of their group although they were too shocked to even hiss at the massive dragon that had formed over them.

The head of the shadowy monster finally forms fully, the scales glittering in the light seeming to be every color and none as they solidified. The titanic dragon lowers his head, six eyes opening with a flare of red and one green, all of them focused on the black dragon god far below him.

None of the gathered dragons even saw the massive form move, but it's titanic claw had snatched GrimJaw up along with several tons of earth and rock lifting the petrified dragon god up to meet the creature's eye level.

”Pathetic. Simply Pathetic.”< Troph's voice rumbles.

The menace and anger in the great creatures voice caused most if not all the dragons gathered on the sides of the Plateau to quiver with fear, their terror rooting them in place rather than causing them to flee. Even Spike felt the tone and repressed a shudder. Only Bleu seemed unaffected, she was sitting in her smaller form upon a large pile of badly beaten Grim's followers, eating popcorn as she watched.

” You say you are stronger than others, that it is your right to rule because of the power you have as dragons? Feh. You are nothing. The Gryphon are masters of the air, far out stripping anything any of you can do. The Hounds are masters of the earth far beyond the skill your best burrowers and diggers possess. The Mer have dominion over the water, something they have shown time and time again with their dragon hunts. The Ponies have mastered the aether better than any of you could even hope to dream, they have mastered the magic of moving the very heavens themselves. And the Zebra? The are masters of life and magics and the wilds that not even you could tame with your brute strength.”< Troph snarls down at the god in his grip.

”Even the crossbreeds show more promise than you lot. The pony half dragons and these Linorm, both have shown that they are better than you that their lives are worth more. And I agree. With the exception of the purple drake, you are all useless, none of you know what your purpose is. What you were created for. The next closest past him are perhaps the mother of the Linorm, and I reluctantly admit the blue whelp....”<

“SUCK IT BITCHES!” Bleu shouts.

” Dragons were not created to rule, to dominate due to their imagined strength. We were made to protect and aid the other races, it is why we are to eat gemstones and ore rather than flesh and plants. The Spirits gave the others dominion over there areas and gave us dominion over them. We are the guardians, the protectors of Equss. Our magic is weaker yet we have more of it than most unicorns. Our flying is weaker as we are supposed to shield the Gryphons against the storms. We move the earth slower and with less skill than the Hounds but we can move through areas they cannot. The Mer....... to be honest I am not sure what we were to them, Munificence was rather the shady sort. But again I digress. Do not get me started on the Zebra and what we were to them, let us just say we would tear this world asunder for them if they so much as asked. Suffice to say this race has lost it's way, and you refuse any attempt to steer you back onto your path.”

Troph squeezed his fist getting a scream from Grim Jaw who was still caught in the middle, the black dragon getting crushed in the massive claw, only his shoulders and head exposed.

”I am Troph. The first god of Dragon kind it was by my sacrifice, and that of my friends that you even still exist at all. “<

The great dragon narrows his six eyes scanning the mountainside staring at all of gathered dragons.

” I should wipe you all of the face of the world and start again. It would be the easiest thing to do.”<

“No.” Spike manages, his voice carrying enough that the large beast towering over him heard and offers a small glance down at the purple dragon below him. Troph snorts his annoyance, the action blowing the majority of the exposed scales off the dragon god clasped in his hand.

So only one of you thinks to speak out to protect the others. Pathetic.”< Troph glances down at his leg noting that the Linorm Glacier was growling up at him and shakily trying to push the others of his tribe away, though they were still frozen in fear.

Troph grins, his maw splitting open to show countless fangs, larger than even the most massive dragon.

”So two.”<

“Don't look at me, I'm good if he eats all of you idiots so long as he doesn't touch my Spikey there.” Bleu shouts eating another clawful of popcorn.

Most every one ignores her though Spike turns a bit deeper purple around his cheeks.

”Fine then. Perhaps this was all you needed. A proper show of what you are worth. Which is nothing without the other races. Perhaps you can fix yourselves. Time will tell of course. And I have plenty of that.”< Troph grins again causing a few of the dragons to finally faint.

He raises his other claw to the dragon caught in his grip tapping the tattered dragon gods forehead with a claw and pulling back with a brightly glowing ball of light on the end of his claw. He regards the light briefly dropping the fist full of earth and black dragon back into the hole his claw had made picking Grim Jaw up. The black dragon screams as he falls, his wings crushed. He hits the ground with a sickening thud and lays there groaning. Troph ignores him focusing instead on the little ball of light. He exhales slowly, a bit of white flame dancing around the ball gathering to it and growing until the glowing ball flickers with the flame and it's own light.

” You are no longer my chosen. Until you are able prove you are what you were created to be I am revoking my favor from you. The purple drake has the best idea how to regain it, though I am charging him with another task first.”< The ball of light leaves Troph's claw flickering and dancing down in the air towards the ground. It drifts and turns before darting forward suddenly and striking the Linorm known as Glacier in the chest toppling the creature over onto his back.

” Spike. You are to take the new Linorm god, Glacier under your wing. You will show him how he is supposed to act as one of my chosen even as you try to redeem the Dragons in my eyes. Glacier you are to listen to Spike, consider what he advises, but he does not control you. I do expect that if you move your tribe south that you will remain following my word. Your are to aid the other races of this world. Not hunt them, or fight them or try and rule them. This includes the dragons themselves, despite falling from my favor they are not to be made into meals. There are plenty of creatures in the world with no sentience that you may eat, though in time you will likely find gems to be more your taste.”<

Troph lifts his head up from the staggered and flailing Linorm looking out over the dragons again. >“The other races of Equss are in need of aid.”< Troph Snarls. >” React to that as you see fit.”<

The towering shape of the first dragon flickers and swirls breaking up into bits and fading away into shadow and smoke, swirling away all the way back to the ground, fading fully to show a mutilated half pony thing panting heavily before it falls over.

Bleu was over the creature like a shot flinging both Crimson and Copper out of the way as the pair of them remain frozen in terror from the first dragon's presence.

“How is he?” Spike manages looking over at Bleu.

“Unconscious. He doesn't seem to have screwed up Boss's body any more than it was, but how did he do that?” Bleu mutters.

“The Beast was granted by Troph, but Jer'rahd still had access to the monster even after being rid of Troph. I expect Troph just tapped into that. “Spike sighs starting to relax a little. “Not sure what sort of problems that's gonna cause though. Still this was helpful.”

Spike turns looking at the Linorm Glacier as he moves up cautiously nearing the purple dragon. The Linorm was clearly bigger now and while one of his eyes remained red, the other was now green. He had also grown another set of red eyes above the first and his scales seemed to glow with light that flickered around his white skin. If anything it made him appear even more threatening, though Spike was far from worried. After that display it was unlikely the Linorm was going to cause him any issue and having another ally that every dragon feared would be useful, even if he never asked Glacier to do anything.

The purple drake moves over to the crumpled form of Grim Jaw, looking down at him as the black dragon twitched a little trying to push himself up to growl at the smaller dragon and the Linorm.

“Glacier, the first lesson is this, 'Always be willing to forgive transgressions against you. But never forget them'.” Spike states.

Grim lifts a claw pointing it at Spike clearly trying to summon his magic to blast the purple dragon, though having his god powers stripped of him simply made the feeble gesture look sad. That his scales had been ripped away from his head and upper torso make the formerly great wyrm look like a wounded gecko.

“That said.” Spike continues. “There is only so far you should be willing to forgive any one who keeps doing the same thing over and over to harm you.”

Spike inhales deeply. Green flames lap along his teeth before he breathes a gout of emerald flame that envelopes the head of the black dragon. Grim Jaw barely has time to scream as the flame consumes his head and neck before the magic takes hold burning it away and leaving the headless twitching body behind to finally die.

“Now then.” Spike looks back at the other dragon gods. “We should get ourselves organized as quickly as possible to deal with the threat of Tirek. We will discuss what happens afterward once that is done.”

================================================

[ Crystal Empire 900 Hours. Wednesday]

Preparations were almost complete. The Demon of Dullahan mk II and the Storm Cloud were both being loaded with supplies and armaments. Try as she might Luna couldn't force the Griffon crew to leave the ships in the hooves of the Changelings. Every one of them, including Dusty and Breezy, refused to let her take the ships without them. Thankfully Cadence was willing to allow Talon and his grandmother to stay in the Palace with the other foals.

Luna was not thrilled with any of it, but she did not have time to argue. At least the others all agreed to stay here, including Starfall, Spitfire, and Rainbow Dash. She thought she would have a issue with the Wonderbolts Captain, but Starfall and Dash convinced her to let her daughter be. Shining was less than thrilled, but she would be leaving a few of of the swarm here to relay messages. She also had a sizable number of half dragons that had started loading the ships with their gear and refused to listen to her when she said they couldn't go.

Still it meant that her force would be larger than she first thought and given the Griffons reports on the size of Tirek's mirror clone army, the more the better. The main plan was to get to Whitetail Woods and help out Pip and the CMC, hopefully drawing Tirek away from the empire in the process. The ships were for the Changeling troops that couldn't fly. There were a surprising number of them in truth, either damage or having to great a bulk to support wings. Even the flying ones would be on the ship given the distance they would need to travel, it was better that they conserved their energy rather than trying to fly the whole way.

“Excuse me Princess.”

Luna's ears perk as she looks back at a blue tinged Crystal Guards pony trying to get her attention. “ Yes?”

“What are we supposed to do with that severed dragon head that showed up this morning in your chambers? The Palace staff is claiming it is starting to smell.”

Luna blinks. She had forgotten about that. Spike's messaging spell had deposited the head of one of the dragon gods Grim Jaw in her lap this morning. A rather disruptive event, though it did mean that the drake was making some sort of progress. She would have to send a note back when she was done overseeing everything.

“ Mount it as the figure head for the Storm Cloud. Let the poor dead bastard lead us into a victory he didn't want.” Luna decides.

“Yes Princess.”

===============================

[White Tail Woods. 1100 hours Wednesday ]

A faint rustling of some low hanging fern fronds was the only sign of anything happening as Pip pokes his head out of the small tunnel exiting the cavern. He spares a quick glance around , the greenery of the area showing that they had some how made it back to surface and outside the crater. The trip there had taken a lot of climbing and far more stairs than any of them liked, but at least it gave everyone time to calm down.

“Is it safe?” Sweetiebelle questions.

“What?” Pip asks looking back.

“Is it safe?”

“Sure very safe.” Pip mutters.

“That's not how the bit goes.” Sweetiebelle grumbles as Pip ignores her.

“Okay it looks clear. I don't see any sign of Elk or your ex Miss Doo.” Pip points out.

“He is not my ex.” Daring Doo snaps back.

“Oh so you two are still a thing?” Scootaloo chuckles getting a glare from the older pegasus.

“You know what forget it. I'm just gonna write you as comically inept in my next book.” Doo grumbles.

“Oh, so true to life then?” Sweetiebelle adds getting a snort of amusement from Doo and one of annoyance from Scootaloo.

“Shh all of ya. We need tah be quiet.” Applebloom whispers back looking up at Pip as he looks out of the caverns exit nestled between the roots of a tree.

“Pip?” Scootaloo asks.

“Bugger all.” Pip mutters to himself as a very sizable group of Elk step out of the forest around him some with bows drawn taught between their horns, others with spears all looking down at the pony half out of the hole.

Pip lifts his head a little noticing the bright glowing magic sign mounted on the tree above the hole reading ' Invaders here', and in smaller print underneath, ' This is for kicking Fluffykins Doo.'

“Dammit.” Pip growls.

======================

[Crystal Empire, southern passage. Enchanted train tunnel. 1200 hours Wednesday ]

Fleetfoot glanced over the barricade and the score of Crystal Guard, Guard, and Royal Guard gathered at the tunnel entrance. To be honest she doubted the simple barricade would be enough to halt the monster that destroyed Gallopagos, but the fire power of the gathered unicorns should be enough to do some serious damage. Perhaps even stop him with the amount of power that would be directed down the train tunnel at the first signs of a threat.

Fleetfoot had recommended the tunnel be destroyed. It was the most likely direction Tirek would come from now that his air superiority was gone. Spitfire had told her that they couldn't do that if they could help it. The logistics of why were lost on her but it had something to do with the supply lines and escape routes. Still if the worst happened they could still blow it.

The Shadowbolt pegasus wasn't in charge of any ponies here but the Wonderbolts unit. And they were only the messengers in this case. Still the twelve member team was ready to fly at a moments notice should anything happen here. There was a com relay and a series of flares setup around the check point, though with the ore packed mountains so close magic transmission was sometimes sketchy, and weather could affect the flares.

Twilight Sparkle had established this tunnel a good distance away from the Empire proper just in case something went wrong with the initial spell. Nothing did, and this was the most widely used route to get to the Crystal Empire.

Fleetfoot didn't know the specifics of it, and she didn't really care. It was safe and it was convenient, particularly during the Empire's heavy winters that froze all other passes into the Empire. The normal route still existed that went past the North Western most Guard post, though the summer melts had put most of that area under water and it was swarming with Crystal Dragonflies who would relay back in the off chance Tirek came from that direction.

A series of shouts from the tunnel snapped Fleetfoot out of her thoughts. The runes etched into the stone work surrounding the tunnel opening were starting to light up. The tunnel was activating.

“BATTLE STATIONS!” the Colonel in charge of the barricade shouted , the Earth Pony's bellow sending the rest of the Guard scattering to take positions. Most of the unicorns quickly rushed to their small teams forming up to increase their power in that odd trifecta thing they did. Pegasi Guards moved over the tunnel ready to drop down on any attackers as earth ponies readied the balista and cannons mounted to target down the tunnel. Fleet foot made a gesture that sent two of her team off to relay the tunnels activation to the empire. This was perhaps the fifth or sixth time the tunnel had activated since the barricade had been set up. Most of those times had been for some refugees who had thought New Canterlot might be safe and had run down the tunnel when they found it in shambles. Still better safe.

Everything was eerily quiet for a moment as the last of the runes running up the sides of the tunnel lit up finally joining to the large rune at the top of the arch.

There was a horrendous wail of steel, a shrill whistle, and what sounded like polka music filling the air as something massive launched itself out of the tunnel at high speed, smashing into the first few barricades and through them before coming to rest with a crash and falling onto it's side, wheels still chugging. The last few notes of the music dying as the device playing had been destroyed along with the train car.

Fleetfoot looks down at the train engine. It was one of the larger magic powered ones that frequently made runs to the empire. Another creation of Twilight Sparkle and the few others who were part of Celestia's School. The music box seemed to have been strapped to the front of it. A train ramming through the tunnel was one of the expected attacks, so the barricades had been set up to stop something like that. Still this one made it through four of the ten blockades. It would take time to fix.

Still it wasn't the train that drew every ones attention, it was the three cage cars that were attached to the formerly speeding train. Cage cars that had broken open on impact and released their cargo.

A cargo that consisted of nothing but voracious, starving, and no longer musically enthralled, Parasprites.

Fleetfoot winced as the swarm fell on the engine and the guards, eating barricades, steel tracks, Guard armor and anything else they could get their cute little mouths around.

The Shadowbolt sent two more of the Wonderbolts off to relay the situation as she noticed the com tower being devoured. Most of the cannons and at least half of the defenses were already down the flying stomachs throats by the time her fliers got out of sight.

This was just a warm up.

As if on cue the gate's runes began lighting up again while the Guard were still dealing with the parasprites. The Colonel shouted again gaining some semblance of order again, though many ponies had been disarmed and dearmored.

The second train was going slower, but it was bigger and didn't have parasprites.

“Feed?!” came a chorus of voices.

Author's Note

Title is Legion of Monsters, by Disturbed

We are nearing the end of SiS LE only a few more chapters to go.

The next two chapters have been planed since I started writing Lost Empire. So I've been waiting to put them out.

The Linorm were sort of an add in on something I only mentioned in older chapters. Never gave any real details on them until now.

This was the basis for a Linorm. The claws and lack of hair are the variations I put in.

This also isn't far from what Jer'rahd's body looks like at the moment.

Invisible Wounds [34]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Invisible Wounds

[ White Tail Woods 1200 hours ]

Pip flattened his ears studying the guard at the cage door. The Elk buck wasn't alone, Pip and Scootaloo had spotted a number of others in the tree line around where they were being held and a few who were in plain sight but blended in near perfectly with the surrounding forest.

The small group was locked in a wooden cage in a small clearing, filled with straw and what seemed shed animal fur. Clearly the pen was for holding wild animals, but it did just as well to hold captives too. Most of their gear was gone, as was all of Sweetiebelle's luggage and his sword.

The unicorn mare had had a fit over the loss of her things, particularly what she had in there from Gallopagos, but the Elk didn't seem to care. Still Sweetiebelle calmed down when they simply dumped everything next to a tree and ignored it.

The elk were interesting creatures. The one at the gate was not wearing the gillie suit like the ones in the treeline were so it was fairly easy to look him over.

The creature was covered in light brown fur with white highlights around the face and muzzle, though the patterns they made spoke more of bleaching of the fur than anything natural. His mane was long and black, tight loosely around his shoulders. His tail was little more than a puff of fur, like a rabbits and his form was much more slender than a ponies, seeming more frail, though with the way they tossed Sweetie's luggage around Pip figured the appearance of frailty was just that, an appearance. All of them he saw had satchels and pouches about their waist as well as a few familiar bags of fire retardant powder. The one at the door had a pair of long curved daggers in his belt as well as a quiver full of arrows with orange fetching. Pip's eyes had narrowed at that, but none of this group had the same blue feathered arrows that had shot him. A different tribe perhaps? Or maybe just a ranking or hunting party identification. In either case the most interesting thing was the horns sprouting from the Elk's head , branching out from it's temples like a leafless tree. Bands of wire or some sort of twine were strung between their horns.

Pip had seen those cords pulled taught and loaded with arrows before, though he had also seen them loose and notched. When the elk flicked their head the arrow flew like it was shot out of a bow, though the arrows were fired more like from a sling in this method. The ones doing that seemed older, while the ones with taut cords were younger or female and in pairs. One or two of them even had odd squirrel like creatures perched on their backs. Pip had no idea what to call the strange balls of fluff though the two he saw were gray and fluffy resembling a rabbit crossed with a squirrel. He had no idea if they were trained or intelligent. But the small creatures had knocked and aimed the elks bow horns when they were first ambushed. In any event the ones in the wood line were a mix of the two types he had seen, the ones with the creatures seemed to have left. So long as none of the ponies tried anything, the Elk around them seemed content to simply leave them in the cage.

Pip wasn't sure if any of them could understand Equestrian, and none of the crusaders small talk was reacted to in any way he could see, still better to be cautious. Luckily he, Scootaloo, Miss Doo and surprisingly Sweetiebelle, understood Guard cant. Positions of ears and eyes could easily be worked into a alphabet and used for silent communication so long as who you were talking to could see. Pip likely knew the most considering it something he needed to master in order to join the Guard, despite the cant being used more in his uncles line of work. But both Sweetie and Miss Doo were skilled in reading the cant as well though Sweetie's mastery of it was iffy. Scootaloo could understand it, but one had to sign slow and not use big words.

While a recent thing introduced, it was designed for silent communication during hunting and situations just like this.

Pip flicks his ear a little catching the others attention before he started signing.

~ So does any one have any ideas on how to get out of this?~ Pip cants.

~ At least a dozen or more in the woods around us, they took my whip and your sword. With all our injuries I doubt we would last long in a fight. The only one without any injury is Sweetiebelle.~ Doo signs.

~Want alive or we not be.~ Scootaloo signs with a bit of effort.

~Kumquat, Gerbil, my hair is a bowl of soup.~ Sweetiebelle signs.

Every one stares at her as she nods sagely. Well she could read Guard cant well enough any way, hopefully.

Applebloom had noticed the group flicking their ears about and though she didn't understand what was being said she knew some one would let her in on it later. She decided to let them be and go see about distracting the gate guard a bit so he didn't pay too much attention to the others.

“So yeah hey … how yah doing?” Applebloom asks. The guard didn't seem like much. A rather thin looking buck, but Applebloom knew that didn't mean much, she could see the muscle under the Elk's fur and while they were'nt big like ponies despite being taller. Still she expected this one might give her brother a run for his money in hoof wrassling.

The Elk jerked a bit, looking back at her his ears perked in surprise as he studied her.

“Well enough Pony....” the elk responds.

“Ah have a name yah know. It's Applebloom. So whats yer name?”

“Flowing Stream.”

“Huh. Odd name really, Ah take all of yah have natural sounding names like that?”

“You are one to speak pony. Apple Bloom is a flower of an apple tree is it not.”

“Huh good point.... granny's named after a type of apple, so's mai brother and most of mai cousins.... Why am ah named after a flower ….. and what tha hay is an Apple Jack?” Applebloom comments rambling on some, the Elk still staring at her.

“I would not know what a pony thing like that is.”

“Huh pony thing? Yah speak Pony pretty good fer seeming not to know much about them.”

“I am not speaking pony, our throats are not designed for it......”

“Huh? Applebloom questions. “But ah ken hear you speaking it plain as day.......”

Applebloom glances back at the others who were all staring at her now.

“What?” Applebloom asks.

“What the heck were you talking about?” Scootaloo snaps.

“Better still how were you talking about it?” Daring do asks. “Elk can't speak Equestrian or many of the other languages of the world. It's all volume and oscillation of of their calls. Yet that was near perfect, pony throats shouldn't be able to make those sort of sounds in that pitch or tone.

~ A hamster has eaten all my strudel.~ Sweetiebelle signs.

“What?”Applebloom asks not getting the sign.

“Don't worry about her. How long have you been able to talk like that? I don't recall you ever learning Elk.” Pip comments.

“Ah haven't hes jus speaking Pony.”

“No he's not. You were speaking Elk. A pony shouldn't be able to speak Elk.”Pip states.

Before Applebloom could respond a group of Elk step out of the tree line heading for the cage. The whole group were in gillie suits that made them look like the local shrubbery and Pip took noted that this group had blue arrow fletching. Another group of them walks along with them though they were not in suits and had arrows with red fletching. The two in the lead seemed to be arguing and the one with the red arrows had the small creature on his back who seemed to be growling at the other elk.

“Translate for us Bloom.” Pip states as the new Elk start speaking and more of the other Elk step out of the tree line.

“Umm the one with the critter's saying that tha elder wants tah talk with me and that rest of you should be dumped out at tha edge of tha woods. Tha other one seems pissed about that and he thinks killing us would be faster. The other guy agrees but he was told that we were to be kept alive. Tha one in that suit is called Dances in Flame and the others called Acorn Bread. Umm the acorn guys gonna head back to the village with me and Flames gonna take you to the edge of the woods.” Applebloom rapidly reports on the argument going on between the Elk outside the cage.

“They're gonna separate us?” Scootaloo grumbles. “We can't let that happen, who know what they want Applebloom for.”

~ White mountains dance in the spring time with the hermit crab polka.~ Sweetiebelle signs

“Sweetiebelle just stop.” Pip groans,” Just talk for now.”

“We may not have a choice. We are unarmed and outnumbered.” Doo comments.

“Ah'm not going to leave my cousin to them, We'll figure something out.” Pip growls.

==============================================================

[ Crystal Empire, Wednesday , 1300 hours]

Alarms and klaxons blared and filled the air around the Crystal Empire. Ponies and Griffons sought shelter in droves. Crystal Hospital, the School, and a number of warehouses outside the city's center were set as shelters.

All of these were completely ignored as every one was moved into the armory. The cavern was large enough to hold the entire population of the Empire, all the refugees, and several of the airships with room to spare. Given the armory';s actual location inside a mountain several leagues away even the total destruction of the city itself would leave the civilians unharmed. She knew a number of ponies already secure. Most of the hospital staff and Luna's older foals were already inside, as were the comatose ponies and the Sparkles.

Luna was shouting orders making sure the two battleships were positioned to protect the South side of the palace. The Storm Cloud and Demon of Dullahan MKII had Changeling and Griffon crews running about to man the cannons and other weapons to protect the west side of the palace. Changelings swarmed every where running to defensible positions across the City while most of the Guards took up spots closer to the Palace. The reports from the tunnel had an unbelievable number of Tirek's pouring through it and smashing over all the defenses with the aid of swarms of Parasprites that ate everything leaving the defenders defenseless and without cover.

Cadence stood in the gateway of the Armory looking out and ushering everyone inside ready to close the gate the moment every pony was in. Luna was close by in the street hurrying everything along as she shouted to Starfall and Rainbow Dash who both took off like a shot with Sorain and Spitfire to recover the foals from the nursery.

A roar fills the air and a train car that looked like it had been chewed on is flung through the air from the direction of the tunnel, narrowly missing the parked airships before the several tons of iron and steel slam into the side of the palace smashing through a number of upper rooms, getting wedged in the crystal wall.

Luna's ears flatten as she grabs the train car in her magic yanking it from the wall only for a number of Tirek clones to spill out as she pulled it free along with a great deal of water.

“THEY”RE INSIDE!” Rainbow Dash shouts darting into the hole with the other fliers hot on her heels rushing after the clones that had managed to get out of the car before Luna yanked it free..

“ROSE GET YOUR UNIT INSIDE AND HELP GET EVERYONE OUT OF THE PALACE!.” Luna bellows, the Royal Canterlot voice shaking the foundations of nearby buildings. The Princess made to rush into the building again when another series of train cars was flung through the air into the city towards the palace. Luna swears in what sounded like dragon and lashes out with her magic smashing the cars out of the air and back towards what ever threw them, Water and Parasprites were flung out of the crushed train cars as they were launched back to their source.

Cadence wasn't sure where Briar Rose and his team were, but if they were in the city they likely heard that. Shining would be with him as well, Cadence wanted nothing more than to rush upstairs and grab her foals, though at the moment she had to be ready to close the gate from the inside. Thousands were already in the shelter and even more were coming. She had to keep that in mind that she would be saving far more ponies by staying here than running after her foal would do. It was not a easy choice.

A hoof lightly touches the pink mares wing and she looks back to see the semi smiling face of Fluttershy as she looks around, her own trio of foals huddled behind her and two small black and white puff balls of zebra foals on her back between her wings..

“I'm sorry to ask Princess. But have you seen Applejack or Big Mac? Did they come into the shelter here yet?”

==========================

[Crystal Empire, northern range, a secluded location.1300 hours]

The cave flashed as a series of runes burst to life on the tunnels mouth. A moment or so later a large number of Tirek clones rush out of the tunnel, taking up positions at the mouth looking for any sort of defenders before a small group of three stride in, the central one sporting a broken horn.

Tirek chuckles at the lack of defenders at this location. It seemed nearly every one had forgotten that Twilight had tested her tunnels effectiveness far north of the Empire where the mountains could block anything that might go catastrophically wrong. The tunnel was never connected to anything, but a slight adjustment of the runes on the tunnel they entered put them out here rather than on the south side where the larger force of his clones were still pouring through.

The group he had with him was a little over a hundred strong and he had three of his smarter clones to keep order among them. While the defenders were focused on the south, this team could move from the north and slam into the less defended side of the Crystal Empire. And if his clones were doing what they were told, Princess Luna was being made to expend as much magic as they could wring out of her before he showed up.

This place was little more than a valley between two mountains with only a sparse forest on the other side of the pass between them and victory.

“Feed!!!” One of the clones shouted drawing Tirek's attention to the pass out of the valley and the figure standing in the middle of it at the top of the rise leaning against one of the towering redwood trees that dotted the area.

Tirek narrows his eyes at the earth pony mare. She wore a necklace of some kind that made him rather uneasy but otherwise the orange furred mare with straw colored hair was unarmed and unarmored. He moved forward having the clones fan out as they moved up the incline to the spot she stood, as he neared he could see the mares green eyes burning angrily as she looked at him, and he recognized the cutie mark on her side.

“Applejack, the Bearer of Honesty... to what do I owe the pleasure? Planing to give yourself up in the vain hope of saving the others I hope.” Tirek chuckles running through Twilight's memories of the mare. Honest, hardworking and with a dislike of deception and lies. Quite befitting her Element, far more than most of the Bearers that came before her.

“Course not, been waiting on yah tah get here. Almost fergot Twilight made this safety tunnel o hers. That mare blows up her house a couple a dozen times and THEN she finally gets more careful.” Applejack states glancing at the clones as they move closer to flank her though Tirek holds up a hand his eyes looking around the forest at the edge of the valley. Something was amiss here. Applejack did not like trickery but she would go along with it for the greater good.

“Then what are you here for? I doubt it is to talk shop about your purple friend.” Tirek jerks his head a little sending the others forward slowly. Even if this was a trap, a hundred of his clones were more than a match for one earth pony.

“Couple oh things, first an foremost is yah hurt mai friends. Killed one as well. Ah ain't fergiving that. Yah made it that much worse when yah killed somah mai family. That carved yer own tombstone there. But then yah couldn't just roll over and drop off Equss like a good little piece a crap. Yah had tah push it .”Applejack snarls.”And yah made me do tha worst thing yah could ever make me do.”

“What's that? Forget your little sisters birthday?” Tirek snaps, he would have laughed but for some reason he had a flash of dread and panic run through his body as he thought about Applebloom. That was a new sensation.

“Nah, yah made me lie tah mai wife bought where ah was going and yah made me break a promise ah made tah mai family. Yah got Twi's memories from what ah've been told. See what she thinks when ah say I read mah ma's journal.”

Tirek blinks, the only journal of Applejack's that Twilight knew of was the one that her brother and little sister had read that gave them access to draconic..... crap.

“KILL HER!” Tirek bellows as the clones rush forward. The mare shift off the tree she was leaning on staring down the approaching group before her right foreleg shoots out to the side striking the base of the red wood tree.

The base of the massive tree had been as thick around as a two bedroom house. Now everything below a story of the tree was nothing more than splinters and sawdust. The impact flung the debris from the base to the side as such velocity that the chips and wood pulp ripped apart the clones running in from her right and tore through several other trees as the massive redwood started to rapidly fall forward into the valley atop of the charging clones.

Tirek growls lashing out with his magic seeking to disintegrate the tree in a blast of fire, the thick trunk of it was lifted up from the blast before crashing down any way, crushing a few of the clones as his magic didn't vaporize the tree fully, a good ten stories remained of the trunk more than enough to clear a swath through his force.

“RUSH HER SHE'S THE ONLY ONE OUT HERE!! Tirek screams.

“Oh no. Ah ain't alone.” Applejack snarls, the necklace around her throat starting to glow. Silvery metal seemed to bleed out of the apple shaped pendant, spreading like water over her chest and up over her neck and back, rapidly hiding the orange coloration of her fur as the silvery metal covered her form fully like a liquid mirror. As her face was hidden the liquid suddenly solidifies.

Spikey metal fur forms over the mares mane and tail running across her form and shifting like real fur, though the coarse hair chimes and scrapes as it shifts almost musically. Her limbs no longer ended in hooves, but in thick claws that twitched and dug into the ground as she flexed. Her green eyes remained visible though they glowed brightly from under some sort of mesh covering. Her face and muzzle was masked in what seemed to be a wolf's head that covered every part of her so no bit of her orange fur was visible.

“What is this?” Tirek growls, looking to the side at a sudden scream then throwing himself to the ground as a massive boulder slams through the group flanking the left of the mare barely bouncing over his prone form as it continues crashing through the main group of his clones. The cart sized rock tumbled down the valley crushing any clone not fast enough to dodge before it slams into the archway over the tunnel smashing it to pieces and causing the train tunnel to collapse in on itself sealing off the portal.

Tirek whips his head up to the massive form standing on the ridge to the left of the now armored Applejack. The thing looked like a towering demon. Thick bone plates covered the figure obscuring it's coat and mane, even it's tail was a long armored set of bony spikes whipping back and forth. The thing was easily twice the size of Applejack even with the pony now armored. The one on the ridge had no claws though it's face was masked in a draconic visage with only a single thin eye slit along the front of a the horned helmet.

It took Tirek a moment to recognize it as the same sort of armor that Twilight had been wearing when she fought him, but there was no way something that fit the mare could cover a pony of that size. Twilight's memories has seen it on Princess Luna, but it was not fully covering like it was here.

The creature on the rise turns a little, ripping another massive boulder out of the ground like it was pulling up a carrot and holds the rock over its head as it rears up on it's back legs before pitching it forward, launching the massive rock at the group that had fallen back to cluster around Tirek.

Tirek moves to the side again as the rock bounces past destroying more of his clones in the process. He curses looking to Applejack only to find the mare wasn't there any more. He whips his head around before a grunt behind him makes him turn to look behind him.

Behind him the armored orange mare had reappeared and caught the massive spinning bolder like it was a beach ball.

“Yah ready Bro?”

“Eeeyup.”

Tirek's eyes went wide as the mare flung the bolder back through the crowd of clones, rushing after it and lashing out with her spiked tail and hooves tearing into any clones that managed to dodge. Another bolder crashed down from above, then another as the figure at the top of the rise began flinging any rock or tree he could get his hooves on. Explosions of rock, wood and dirt crashed all around him. Tirek curses as more of his clones are destroyed. Spells and attacks lash out at the mare and the large stallion on the ridge. The mare deftly dodges out of the way of the attacks and the stallion ignores the blasts that strike ineffectively against his armored form. Twilight's memories of the armor reminding him of all the work she did to improve it, simple spells wouldn't even scratch the bone plate now and the two ponies were not giving them time to cast anything bigger.

Tirek throws up the green glowing shields making a dome over himself and several of his smarter clones. He flinches as a bolder shatters against the shield, the force of the impact was far more than he had expected possible.

He was down to easily half his force in less time than it took him to walk through the gate. His retreat had been destroyed as well. This mare was far more dangerous than Twilight and Jer'rahd's memories indicated.

The ones under the dome took their time to weave a larger more destructive spell. Though with the boulders and trees smashing against the shield he was hesitant to drop it until the rocks ran out.

At least the brute was in one place, Applejack was running around kicking the first bolder ahead of her like a massive hoof ball and crushing anything in it's path....... wait a moment where was she?

The rumble under his hooves was the only warning he had before a figure bursts free of the ground under him, claws ripping into his chest leaving a trail of fire from his foreleg up to his shoulder. He staggers back from the blow as the mare hits the inside of the green dome using it as a spring board. She descends rapidly spinning in the air and lashes out with a rear hoof. The blow smashes heavily into his head sending him flying back into and through his own shield. The green panels dissipate and a massive tree trunk slams down on the clones that were casting turning them into little more than puddles.

Tirek bounced across the landscape smashing back against the ruins of the tunnel with a groan. The mare had dropped back down into the hole she had popped up from and vanished again underground.

She could burrow? This wasn't a dragonic power? What the shards was going on?

Tirek lifts his head with a growl his eyes widening as he spotted the mare again. She was holding something, a long black stick that came to a point and was jagged on one side........ wait.

Tirek reaches a hand up to his head his eyes widening as he felt the uneven broken stump of his other horn. He let out a bellow of rage as the mare smashes the stolen horn to splinters between her hooves.

====================================

”Well now. Seems we made him angry.”<

“Good. He knows he's not unbeatable, that'll make him hesitate now.” Applejack grins.

”Perhaps, but I can only keep this up for perhaps another four or five minutes. You and your brother need to be gone by that point because you will likely collapse from exhaustion, this power is taking a harsh toll on you and there's only so much I can do to stave it off.”<

“Ah understand, we got a couple score left to clear out an then we ken go. The only thing that's gonna live to see another day here is Tirek himself, an that's only cause we need him alive a bit longer.”

”I know, though why you put so much power into taking his horn rather than his leg or arm....”<

“We've seen him grow those back, his other horn's still broken. Sides, Rhede took tha first one, figure another Apple should take tha other.”Apple Jack smiles. “Thanks fer this if ah already didn't say it Forth.”

”It is no trouble Applejack. Troph was not the only warrior in our group ”< The First God of the Diamond Dogs and Element of Honesty chuckled. >”If they stand behind you, you give them protection. If they stand beside you, you give them respect. If they stand before you, you show them no mercy.”<

===================================================

[Crystal Empire 1305 hours]

The infants were screaming. Well Dawn was, the half dragon filly had some lungs in her and she had fired them up the moment the Palace shook.

It didn't help matters that her screaming had set off Glimmer who was crying in response to hearing a half dragon screaming and that scared her.

Shin was crying as well, likely from the nearness of Tirek, a feeling Chrysalis couldn't block out like the hive mind.

The newest edition to the nursery, the Hippogryph Talon was a little older than the others and had his beak poking up over the edge of the crib trying to see what was going on.

Elusive was somehow sleeping through everything and Rhynthia....

Well to tell the truth the little red striped zebra foal, freaked Chrysalis right out. She didn't act like a newborn, she acted like an adult who was reduced to a baby and simply had to live with it. Despite her only being a day or so old the filly was quiet and her bright blue eyes focused on everything as if studying it. Chrysalis wasn't sure if that was normal or not for Zebra gods and the only two she could have asked were out cold thanks to Tirek. Not that she wanted to let Celestia know she still existed, but if the mare woke up that was probably going to happen any way.

For once she didn't have issue with Shining Armor's plan to put the foals in a room in the middle of the castle. The place had once been Sombra's study and test chamber. The walls were reinforced and the ceiling at least two stories above hidden in a magical darkness the half dragon's guarding Elusive had put up so their appearance wouldn't make Glimmer cry. Chrysalis wasn't sure if they were still up there or not but she hoped they were, her powers were no where near enough in her current half life state to fend off Tirek or his clones.

She winced as the outer door was kicked in and the thunderous sound of hooves and growls was heard from the adjoining room. There were shouts as the guards at the door met the intruders, but from the sounds of battle they were out numbered. Chrysalis glances over to the door leading to the royal chambers. She could gather Shin and perhaps the others as well if she pushed it and shove them all into the next room, though there might be more in there. The royal chamber did have a rather large window and balcony she might be able to get them to the Armory, but that was a risk.

The door to the adjoining room burst open as a pair of Guards fell back jabbing forward with their spears at a towering monster of black and red.

Chrysalis felt the hair rise along the back of her neck at the sight of Tirek and four others behind him.
Before she could make a grab for the foals a loud clack and a whoosh fills the air as a massive bolt of wood shoots out from the darkness above spearing into the lead Tirek and popping it like a water balloon before the bolt slams into the ground shattering tile and stone. The balista bolt sinking over half way into the floor.

Chrysalis whips her head up looking into the darkness hearing a chuckle and a clack from above.

“Elektra did you bring a Balista into the Nursery!?” Chrysalis snaps.

“What?! No! I did not bring A balista into the nursery to set up on my over watch platform in order to protect my charge more effectively.....”

Another twang and another bolt slams into one of the clones and through it into another.

“She set up two.” Talia calls down.

Any further argument was cut off as a sphere of magenta magic forms around the remaining three clones, rapidly shrinking and crushing them tighter and tighter together until they implode filling the magical sphere with water. The shield vanished and the glut of water splashes to the floor soaking into the carpets and running over the stone.

A golden figure that seemed to glow with it's own internal light strides forward from the other side of the hall. The gold crystal armor covered every inch of the stallion and a halberd of the same material floated in the air beside him as he looked into the room from the hall way. The white form of the stallion was hazily visible through the golden crystal and a blue tail whips behind him as if the figure was irritated.

“Is everyone alright.” Shining Armor asks.

“Yes sir....” the guards reports saluting the golden armored figure. Shining nods putting up a shield suddenly with a glance down the hall as a Tirek clone fly's at him screaming before it hits the shield and explodes into a shower of water.

“ROSE! Can you throw them some other way, like away from the nursery!?” Shining shouts down the hall.

“Oops” comes the reply.

“Talia, Elecktra, Take …...Crystal... and the foals to the shelter, Prism, Laipus go with them and offer support, the Palace is no longer safe. “ Shining orders. The two Guards who had been by the door nod as two half dragons drop down from above.

“Head out through the escape tunnel to the base of the tower, it's in the left book case, Crystal likely knows which book to tug. Rose and I will deal with the ones still in the palace.” Shining comments glancing down the hall as something crashes with a thunderous implosion of broken Crystal.

“Oops.” Calls Rose.

“That is if Rose leaves anything standing.....” Shining mutters.

====================================================

[Crystal Empire 1325 Emerald street, southern road to the Palace.]

Peach Blossom whirls, his spear gripped between his wings as he lashed out, darting across the ground in a ever widening spiral.

Bits and pieces of Parasprites fall to the ground along with several puddles of water as his amber crystal lance cuts a swatch among the clones and the rapidly multiplying Parasprites.

A blast of magic destroys the ground where he stood though he had snapped his wings down and thrown himself backward. His spear flipping up through the air before he grabbed it in his mouth. He dodged past another blast looking up at the clone that had rushed forward. Clearly one of the smarter ones, as most of the monsters attacking either couldn't cast or were too stupid to do anything but try and use brute strength.

The orange cream colored stallion wasn't sure exactly how the mirror pond worked, all he knew was that some of the clones could cast spells and talk, and others could only yell 'FEED' then try to stuff everything in their mouths.

He relaxed a moment as the casters head left it's shoulders, the Tirek clone giving a brief expression of surprise before turning to a puddle of water. A faint blast of wind followed the clones death as the gray mare landed next to him flicking her swords free of water.

“I would feel better if you went into the shelter with the others.” Peach Blossom mutters.

“Too many Parasprites between me and it.” Starfall shudders.

“You are just using that as an excuse.” Peach Blossom chuckles.” I thought you got over that phobia?”

“Maybe, but there's been too many dead already and I don't want our foal growing up without a father.” Starfall frowns.” Again.”

“You have to have the foal first. Which means you've got to stay alive too.” Peach Blossom grins leaning over to kiss her lightly on the cheek.

“Statement stands, and I'm not leaving you alone.” Starfall snorts.

“I'm not alone.” Peach Blossom snorts as a group of Changelings rip apart a Tirek clone not far from them.

“You know what I mean.” Starfall grumbles.

“Fine fine. Let's try to keep this street clear, supposedly there's some more civilians headed this way.” Peach Blossom smiles.” I'll try and not be too distracted by how tight that suit is over your flank.”

Starfall raises a brow then smirks glancing down at the Shadowbolt suit.” Survive and I'll wear it to bed next time.”

“Promises, promises.” Peach Blossom laughs.

==========================================================

[Crystal Empire 1325 Diamond street, Western road to the Palace.]

The maniacal sounds of laughter filled the street as a small force of ponies and Changelings dart in and out of the buildings sending civilians running towards the palace as they swarmed down the main road and the side streets. While there were a large number of ponies defending the Crystal Empire, this group was different.

They were not defending.

They were hunting.

Hospice Moskau cackles as her spiked hoof gauntlets smash into and through another clone. Three of the massive creatures rush her and the scarred zebra mare simply leaps into the air flipping back as a massive pole of white crystal swept through the area she had been standing taking all three clones out in the one swing. Moskau lands lightly as the building to her left was suddenly doused with water.

“Dammit mare I could watch you do that all day. Shining getting mad and sending me out here was the best thing to happen yet.” Briar rose chuckles, the white Crystal Pony walking up next to the Zebra mare with a grin. He lifts his head watching as other members of the Six Sixty Sixth dart around destroying any clones who poked their heads out as well as Parasprites by the dozens.

“Later now hun, Ve've a lot of vork yet tah do.” Moskau chuckles her short tail flicking lightly across the stallions face. “Ve ken play later.”

“Well with that statement yah just doomed every onea these damn things that gits in mai way!” Briar laughs rushing forward at a clone squad coming from an nearby ally.

====================================================

[Crystal Empire 1325 Ruby street, Northern road to the Palace.]

Rainbow Dash puts out her hooves feeling the stone under them as she ran hard, her wings started to strain from the effort. The wall under her hooves cracked in her passing as she used it to speed up her flying in the tight turn, chunks of the crystal exploded right at the end of her tail as a group of four clones fired blast after blast of fire, lightning, and a whole bunch of other crap after her.

She briefly considered running away, she had a foal to care for, and the extra weight was slowing her down more than she would like to admit. She had the opportunity to join Cadence when she brought Chrysalis and the Guards protecting the foals to the armory, but she had refused. Applejack was out here some where, so was Big Mac.

She needed to keep her road clear in case either of them came back this way.

Which meant she needed to take out these idiots as fast as possible.

Dash kicks off the wall cutting her turn even sharper and spinning back under a blast of some greenish drippy looking stuff. She was in the middle of the group before they managed another shot Her wing blades ripping though the first one and tearing open the belly of the second as she rushed underneath the monster. She dodged left as a blast of fire came from the sky and the second member of her team smashed into the spine of the third caster.

Spitfire snorts, fire flicking around her mane and form She glances back at the last one as Soarin drops hooking one fore limb around the back of it's head, using his greater weight to yank the creature off it's hooves and smash it's face into the stone street. He was up on his hooves and smashing one into the back of the creatures head before it even managed to turn to water like the rest.

Spitfire looks over at her husband then Dash as she kicks some water from her armored hooves.

“You were supposed to take out one and let us hit the rest. Fleetfoot didn't even have anything to do.” Spitfire snorts.

“I took the two down because I was able, not because I was showboating. Fleet got to play over watch in case something went wrong.” Dash states looking up at the fourth Pegasus in Shadowbolt armor above them. Dozens of Changelings were flying over head along with a large number of Half Dragons.

The Shadowbolts were one of the vanguard units protecting the main roads towards the palace. Most of the other soldiers were pushing ahead to rescue civilians and secure supplies. When the idea of making Slate's armory a shelter was brought up last night they had started moving supplies in almost immediately. Applejack's odd warning that Tirek was coming gave them a bit of warning, but not enough to have the place fully stocked, the attack interrupted the process. There were several hundred thousand ponies and other creatures in the empire right now. Strangely the Armory would hold them all, perhaps not comfortably, but if need be the place could be come a more permanent shelter That was if supplies were gathered. The Griffons had simply flown the cloudholme supply buildings into the massive cavern as well as a few of the smaller ships. That was a long way from everything they needed however.

“You alright Dash?” Soarin asked noting the blue mare zone out.

“Huh yeah fine.... just wondering where Mac and AJ are. They're missing all my awesomeness.” Dash chuckles.

“Did Mac look like a big ass skeleton?” Fleetfoot shouts down from above.

“What?” Dash asks taking to the air to see what the other mare was talking about.

Reaching the same height as the pale blue mare Dash could see a massive form trotting down the road with a orange form draped over his back. A sizable number of clones rose up before the large pony only to be slammed into and through in some cases as the bone armored pony plowed through them like bowling pins.

“Okay that is awesome...... Where did he get Kaisur's armor? What the heck is wrong with AJ.... gah..... Never mind.... Soarin think you can can grab AJ and get her to the shelter, I bet Mac can play tank with that suit while we do dps support. All we need is a healer.”

“What?” Soarin asks.

“Don't you play any games... arrgh never mind, just rescue AJ while we kick ass.” Rainbow Dash states darting forward.”

“Who made her leader?” Fleetfoot snorts.

“Starfall and Princess Luna.” Soarin answers. “I have to admit she's not bad at it.”

“Don't get any ideas rescuing the damsel in distress there Soarin.” Spitfire snorts.

“Heh the only damsel I'd wanna rescue is kicking too much flank for me to need to rescue her.” Soarin grins after his wife as the group starts forward.

================================================

[Crystal Empire 1325 Sapphire street, Western road to the Palace.]

Polka music filled the air, the music echoing along the street. A large wagon of assorted brass pipes symbols, whirling cogs, and bursts of steam was being pulled down the road by a pink earth pony in a navy blue dress uniform, white cape and a bright purple shako hat. She was walking on her back legs and seemed more of a guidance for the circling device rather than the source of it's locomotion.

Atop the machine, dressed exactly the same as the pink mare, was a odd creature known as a Draconequus. The creature was playing a tuba with one hand, a accordion with his other hand and foot, and turning a crank with his tail to keep the music playing.

Trailing behind the odd musicians were close to a thousand bouncing parasprites and two Tirek clones, all of them caught up in the music and hopping and dancing along cheerfully. The longer the pair played the more Parasprites joined in the parade.

Shining Armor and a host of the Crystal Guard were taking advantage of the musical distraction to rush forward and attack the clones that had not gotten caught up in the music.

The white unicorns armor had a number of bite sized holes in it as did most of the other Guards with him. Despite this the group laid into the spell casting clones and the brainless thugs with equal abandon. Shining Armor's shield coupled with a few of the other unicorns in his squad kept any attacks away from Pinkie Pie and Discord while wreaking havoc in the attackers ranks.

It was still a hard fight, but the chaotic pairs contribution to it was surprisingly useful.

===================================================

[Crystal Empire 1325 Emerald Park, South of the Palace.]

“FIRE!!!!!”

Cannon fire roared out from the side of the ship, the iron and crystal spheres sailing through the air to explode upon impact, either from magical blasts or just plain good old fashion gunpowder. The effect was the same, the rushing clones were turned to water vapor, and the smarter ones were forced back well out of range of any of their spells.

Dust Devil stood on the deck of the Demon of Dullahan MKII, wrapped up in bandages with one eye covered wearing her fathers old Admiral hat.

Not far away on the other Storm Cloud, Breezy Mist, her husband stood shouting orders to the ships crew.

The Tirek clones were a bit of an issue, but in their current position the ships were in a rather defensible formation, and with the Changeling added to the ship they could crew all cannons thus giving both ships a nearly three hundred and sixty degree arc of fire with the cannons and balista. The only blind spots the ships had, directly at the prow, were covered by the other ships position. The blind spot was something that annoyed her, but given the prow's were reinforced and designed for ramming other ships or dragons, in the air, it made sense that they couldn't be weakened by adding gun ports.

The griffoness looks over at the palace and the smoking holes in the side of the crystal edifice where train cars had impacted. She was worried about her son , though several of the Changelings had informed her that the Nursery had been evacuated into Slate's Armory as planned. The griffoness had tried to make Cadence swear to take care of Talon if anything happened to her and Dusty. Something that Cadence had refused out right telling both of them on no uncertain terms that she 'Had more than enough foals of her own to take care of, and the pair of them had better come back and pick up their own instead of trying to foist him off on some one else.'

Breezy had loved that, though Dusty had been put into a huff at first not quite grasping what the Princess meant, and by the time she did get it Breezy was already dragging her away before she hurt herself yelling at Cadence.

She glanced over at Breezy on the other deck, the pony had taken some of the armor from the Armory to replace the bits he had lost off of his griffon armor. She hadn't expected things to go like they had after the War of Gods. She knew she had to go home, and was surprised when Breezy had offered to come with her. They were both surprised when Princess Luna transferred Breezy to the Embassy in Thunderbolt Aerie. After that things got a bit stranger for her. The pegasus had always managed to show up when she was neck deep in political nonsense or with something to distract the nobles so that she could have some time to herself. The physical attraction had been there since training, though it quickly developed into something more.

The shit storm when they married was something to behold. The Hurricane of shit that hit when Talon was born only three months after the wedding nearly got her thrown out of the aerie. Then everyone found out that Talon was a Hippogryph God and things really went nuts. Thankfully Rhede Pelt, Princess Luna and of all ponies Jer'rahd Kaisur, helped smooth things over enough that the complaints were little more than a dull roar. Her mom helped with that too, but Dusty wouldn't give the annoying female the credit if she could help it.

Still that was four years ago and Breezy was just now starting to be accepted across the aerie, or what was left of it now. That he had taken so easily to the designs and creations of the Griffon's kept a number of them more curious about the pony than resentful. The blue pegasus even managed to make a few friends here and there, the fact he managed to somehow get a whole ships crew listening to him in a short time did wonders for his image. He took to captaining the ship like a sea pony to water, if it hadn't been for him none of them would have likely gotten away.

Now here they were back in the thick of things. Fighting the creatures that destroyed her home and made the Griffons run.

Very annoying, still something was nagging at her and she had relayed it to the Princess through a Changeling

There were far less of the clones attacking the Crystal Empire than had attacked her aerie. Where were they all?

=======================================================

[Crystal Empire 1325 Ore drive, West of Ruby Street.]

The yellow pegasus slowly creeps along the shadows of the road. Aside from the faint buzzing of Parasprites this side road seemed to be completely empty.

Fluttershy had lucked out in that one Guard she asked had seen Applejack and Big Mac running north earlier in the day before the battle started. So the shy pegasus had set out, planing to sneak around to try and find her wife.

She knew Applejack could take care of herself, but she had already lost her best friend and had another put into a coma. She didn't know what she was going to do if anything happened to Applejack too. The earth pony was still far too stubborn sometimes for her own good. Fluttershy hoped she hadn't done like she had threatened and run off to knock some sense outta Tirek, but the fact she took her brother with her made Fluttershy think that was the case. Fluttershy had to remind herself to be mad at the orange pony for lying this morning and saying she wasn't going to go any where, but the fact the honest mare had lied bothered her more than being lied too.

Fluttershy had left the Pelt Twins and her three foals with Aunt and Uncle Crab Apple in the shelter and set out to see what she could find out about her wife.

The mare had not made it far when she saw Rainbow Dash and the Shadowbolts fighting. Not wanting her friend to send her back to the shelter she took a side ally and moved along the ground trying to tip hoof past where her friend was fighting. In Rainbow's condition Fluttershy didn't think she should be fighting at all, but she knew Dash wouldn't sit by and be protected.

The flighty mare pauses next to one of the buildings with a small sigh and a shiver.

What was she even doing out here? She didn't have any training and didn't want to hurt any one any way. She doubted the stare would work on Tirek, as he didn't even seem that upset over his own brother's death if the story was right. Someone like that clearly would not feel sorry for anything they had done.

Right now she just wanted to find out what happened to her wife and get back to the shelter and hope everything got fixed before any one else gets hurt. But she still needed to find.....

“APPLEJACK!!” Rainbow Dash shouts from a street over.

Fluttershy's ears perk up at the cry as she moves to look down an ally towards the main road. Peering over a fence she see's Applejack laying over the back of a scary bone armored pony. The pony seemed to be carrying Applejack back to the city however and Rainbow Dash was already whirling around him yelling at him. She caught Big Mac's name in the tirade before Rainbow Dash calmed down enough to hug him before yelling again pointing the direction down the road and shouting something about Luna before she took off into the air heading back towards the palace. The big blue stallion from the Shadowbolts picked Applejack up off Big Mac's back and flew after Rainbow Dash towards the palace as the armored pony looked to join the others in defending that street.

Fluttershy sighs softly seeing Applejack's soft breathing as well as her Cutiemark still on her side. She seemed fine, though Fluttershy would want an explanation when she woke up. The butter yellow mare smiles a little, happy to have gotten what she wanted without any one else getting hurt or meeting the Tirek fellow.

The pegasus turned to head back to the shelter when a large black and red hand snatches her off the street.

Author's Note

Title is Invisible Wounds by Fear Factory

I have another chapter that should be up this week, This chapter was initially too close to 20k words for me to leave it in one lump. So i had to split it. I'm still editing the other chapter.

Magic Dance [35]

Stories In Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Magic Dance

[Whitetail woods. 1330 hours]

Applebloom stares at the tree before her, the large structure reminded her of the library back in Ponyville, though unlike Golden Oaks this one seemed to have been grown into the shape of a house rather than made into a house later on.

She glanced back the other way as the tail end of the guards leading the others off to the edge of the woods went out of sight. The other group had not been happy about leaving her, but with a score of Elk surrounding them there was little that they could do about it. Particularly since the ones escorting the others out seemed more inclined to kill them than lead them to safety. Likely if they did anything aside from what they were told, the Elk wouldn't hesitate to remove them for good.

Applebloom sighs looking back at the tree, the Elk around her were not threatening or forcing her onward, but they also didn't seem inclined to stand around her forever before making her walk. Right now she was a curiosity, but that could get old fast. The earth pony grumbles to herself approaching the door to the tree home as one of the Elk opens it to allow her inside.

Crossing the threshold into the tree was a odd change. The outside looked like war camp, sparse decoration and a lost of camouflage to mask the homes. Inside the tree reminded Applebloom of her own home back at the farm. Little nicknacks and paintings covered every spot on the walls. Small figures, dolls, bits of art, curiosity's. a number of small flowering plants, and some curious fossils in stone. A few well woven blankets hung over sections of the outer wall likely trapping the heat that permeated the structure. The temperature wasn't unpleasant, but it felt as if Granny had left the fireplace going a bit too long into the spring season.

She glanced back as the door shuts softly behind her. None of the Elk guards had accompanied her inside. She looked back into the depths of the homey interior, taking a step forward her hoof tapping into the soft tan carpet laid out over the floor.

[“Head towards the end of the hall and take a right into the last door please.”] a voice calls.

Applebloom's ears perk up at the scratchy tone. Who ever this was sounded just like Grannysmith too. Following the instructions she pushed open the last door to a small room with a little fire pit in the center a cooking pot sitting over it with nothing in it. The tang of the hot metal and dried herbs giving her pause as she looks around the room. A stone chimney poked out of the ceiling to catch the smoke, a variety of small odds and ends dotted this room too as well as a large collection of books. A ring of benches covered in blankets and cushions ran around the fire pit and seated on one of them was a positively ancient looking dark green Elk mare.

The elder mare lifts her head looking up from where she was poking the fire with a stick and smiles nodding lightly to Applebloom.

[“Ahh there you are. I was getting worried that Dances in Flame was going to be difficult. I trust you are not harmed?”]

[“Ah been better, but mai friends and cousin are still out there.”} Applebloom states.

[“They should be fine. Flame has an ego, but even he won't go against my word directly. So long as your friends do nothing he will leave them at the edge of the forest. You can rejoin them later. I simply have a few questions for you. Your Elk is impeccable by the way. Far too skilled for some one to just stumble upon being able to speak it. So I would like to know who trained you and why you are here?”]

[“Ain't got no training, didn't even know ah could speak Elk until ah was told ah was talking Elk. An here I thought learning Fancy would be annoying.”] Applebloom snorts sinking down onto a bench across from the elder Elk.

[“You do not seem to be lying, but what you are saying is impossible. While the occasional half breed will pop having the vocal capacity to speak our tongue they cannot do so without training. The Elken language is just as, if not more, nuanced and versed as Pony.”]

[“ Ah ain't lying... Who are you any way?”] Applebloom demands, trying to be respectful to the old female before her, but it wasn't easy.

[“Ahh yes. I did forget that. I am Elder Lololog. I lead this gathering of Elk. Well more accurately I advice them and they lead themselves. You however are a bit of a worry Miss Applebloom. Why have you come to our land?” ]

Applebloom flinched a little. It seemed Pip had been right that they were listening in if they knew her name. She thought a moment about that. So far as she knew the Elk Elder was being straight with her and the forest green doe reminded her a great deal of Granny Smith. She doubted the Elder would go back on what she said. Maybe she would have a better idea of what to do as well. Applebloom didn't think she could just bleed all over the seed and have another Yggdrasil sprout up. Maybe there was another way. Of course certain things she should leave out, she always wanted to be mysterious like Zecora..

[“ Dreams of fire and blood, the advice of some one who can feel the future, and this.” ] Applebloom states pulling the necklace out from behind her neck where she had tucked it into her mane. The little glass babble tinkling lightly as the seed rolls around in it.

The Elk stares a moment at the seed tilting her head a little.

[ “While I am not sure of what that stone is, nor what you mean by feel the future, Fire and blood I know quite well. I recall that from my fawn hood and the years of nightmares that followed. There are scant few of us left who do remember that night however, but none will forget what was done to us by ponies.”] the Elder frowns.

[“And do you recall why it was done?”] Applebloom asks some what curious.

[“The exact reason no. I was but a fawn then. What I was told was that our Elder at the time had killed some one important to one of the leaders of the Nightmare. Dogwood had sought to show he was not afraid of ponies and that he wanted no part of their war. At the time we had thought he had merely cast out any with equine blood flowing through them. We later found he had them killed by crusafiction, nailing their bodies to the trees along the territories southern edge. Fawns, bucks, does,... it didn't matter. If his group thought there was even a drop of blood that was not Elk flowing within them they were removed. It was a witch hunt pure and simple. Any one who disagreed with him or didn't pay a tax, vanished as well. Those at the time new there was a madness taking the Elder, but none would stand up to him for fear of being the next one killed.”]

Applebloom sat staring at the Elk as she spoke watching the old woman gather herbs and drop them into the heated cook pot with a little water, the steam starting to rise out of the pot was aromic, but not laced with anything Applebloom was worried about, she recognized the combination of herbs being dropped in. It was a mixture used to create aromatic steam to help a pony with a cold breath properly. There was however a small corded vine she didn't recognize being tossed in , but it didn't change the scent and the Elk didn't seem worried.

[“When Blackhoof came, his vengeance was swift and terrible we were nearly destroyed from without , we were already rotting from the inside, death seemed certain either way. But Blackhoof held off wiping us from the world. He destroyed most of the young bucks and does swayed by Dogwood's ideals, and all of them that were part of his council. Dogwood himself was stolen from our village personally by Blackhoof and drug into the night screaming. I was told our best trackers and hunters lost the trail of the Servant of Nightmare the moment he stepped into the darkness with the screaming Elder. My father and my uncle could track a salmon swimming upstream and then the bear that ate it after two days of rain and they found no trace of either until it was all over.”]

[“He was fixed to a tree at the edge of the crater and made to watch as every thing he had built was ripped down around him. The price for his madness.”] Applebloom states in a voice not quite her own. One that sounded much younger and echoed softly.

The elder stares at her her eyes wide though she continues dropping a bit more water into the pot.

[“The tree is still there. Chared and dead. Nothing grows around that tree, not the heartiest weed, no animals near it, no bird roots in it's branches. It is a place of death that nature itself as shunned.”] the Elder continues.

[“ His greed and madness made it that way. He claimed the spirits guided him when they did not and thus he is shunned until he is forgiven, which neither the spirits nor my uncle would ever do.”]Applebloom monotones again with words not quite her own.

The elder sucks in a breath as Applebloom whips her head starting to feel a little funny.

[“ Your uncle? Blackhoof!?!”] The Elder visibly pales looking even more like Granny Smith.

[“What else was in that mixture.... this ain't something for a cold......”] Applebloom demands her eyes widening as she realizes there's another voice talking with her. The young mare looks slightly to her left and into the face of a a young elk she knew very well. One that had haunted her dreams and that she had seen captured before her. As she hid in the bushes. The elk was a bit wispy but there was no mistaking the paintbrush and easel cutie mark she bore.

[“What?”] Applebloom states looking down at herself, seeing an exact copy of the elk fawn sitting next to her rather than her own body. She recognized this body too, it was the fawn she had protected as a Timber Wolf and guided to the pony caravan. The one with the gnarled tree cutie mark.

[“This is highly unusual. The mixture I used is an old one. It allows visions of who one was in a past life..... I was curious as to why you had dreams of that, let alone how you claim you have no knowledge of how you can speak Elk so well. I was not expecting twins. Mossflower's twins to be exact. The whole village knew of them... twins are considered a bad omen among Elk and Dogwood used that to start the first of the hunts. Your past selves were likely the reason Blackhoof nearly destroyed us, brought about from a tryst with one of our own. But that you seem to be both of the fawns........”]

[“A soul is judged by its life lead. Cut as short as mine was I could only follow my sisters. By the time of her death hundreds of years later I could not split from it.”] The Elk next to Applebloom states using Applebloom's voice.

Both Applebloom and the Elder stared at the image of her twin next to her.

[“So..Ah'm tha reincarnation of tha Elk's ah've been seeing in mai dreams?”] Applebloom asks [“What tha heck is in this smoke that ah ken talk to maiself?”]

[“As I said there is nothing in this that should allow speaking with the dead. All it supposed to do is gather around a individual and take the shape of who they were in their last life. Where I not seeking a particular soul I would not have even have bothered with this.”]

[“What do you mean yer seeking a soul?”] Applebloom asks.

The elk elder looks a bit perturbed by this though the dead stare of the clone floating next to the angry looking mare made her relent.

[“A long time ago I was forced to banish my grandchild due to little more than how he was. The tribe feared his supposed madness. I kept tabs on him and he settled in a place where a town of yours now stands in the shade of the great mountain.”]

[“Sounds like Ponyville, though I don't remember ever seeing an Elk around there and I been in tha town mai whole life.”]

[“This was several hundred years ago, the area was still forest for the most part. He found a glorious tree with a sickness and he cured it and made the tree his home, removing the rot that had been inside it and building his home there. “] Elder Logalog sighs [“ His crime was little more than having more skill with the wilds than any other elk. Many of the old ones feared he was the returned soul of Dogwood as they thought he too had supposed great power with the spirits and the wilds. I knew he was not the return of Dogwood I let him breath the mist and saw he had no past life to have come from. He was a new soul. But I was not yet the elder only an apprentice and I was told by my teacher to have him away. I should have fought more for his innocence, but I caved to the pressure and he died where he settled, a unknown save for a few local ponies who built a town around his former home.”]

[“You want to ask his forgiveness...”]

[“Yes. But I am old. I will likely be able to ask for his forgiveness personally soon enough.”]

[“What was his name?”] Applebloom asks.

[“Golden Oak.”]

[“Golden Oak?.... That's the name of the library in Ponyville. Princess Celestia herself planted tha seed that it grew from.”]

[“As I said a glorious tree.”] The Elder smiles as she looked at Applebloom. [“It has been some time since I shared the story. Not many here even know it. It is interesting that you have a talent of making someone open up with what they hold tight.”]

[“Pffft ah wish. Ain't got no talent yet. Nineteen and still a blank flank.”]

[“You are speaking of the marks ponies and zebras have? You are part Elk it seems, Elk do not gain pony marks. Though the two your soul holds did have their marks. There is much about you that has me curious. I would much like you to stay for a time so I might talk with you more but I think our time is growing short. Would you be a dear and take that middle picture off the wall there?”]

[“Huh?”] Applebloom looks over to where the Elk had lifted her hoof pointing towards a birch framed painting of what looked like the crater ,though it wasn't dead and burned as it was when she saw it, but lush ,full of life with a massive tree dominating the middle of it.

Applebloom rises picking the painting from the wall and bringing it back to the Elk who happily takes it looking down at the image.

[“This is how it used to look, It was painted by one of the other survivors from memory and I've kept it since his passing. It was a beautiful place on the outside and I know every brush stroke of this painting by heart. Still it would be a pity for this to be damaged.”] The Elder chuckles.

[“Damaged? By what?”] Applebloom asks just as the wall where the painting had been exploded .

==============================================

[ Whitetail Woods 1330 hours]

Pipsqueak's eyes darted around the group. These elks were clearly of a different squad. The others had white, orange, or red arrow fletching and these had a blue fletching that he had become personally acquainted with.

They also carried themselves differently. The group that caught them had marched them through the wasteland of the crater and up along a path to the outside of the village, but only three or four of the nine Elk squad was ever seen while they traveled. This group had all nine of the members moving around them with brandished weapons and menacing glares.

The first group had been doing their duty as they were ordered, this group was trying to abuse the power they had over the captives by putting on a show of force.

They were not stupid, three of them were hanging back a bit more and had their gulliee suits parted enough to have the flame extinguishing powder readily at hoof. They knew about Scootaloo clearly and the mare had kept her wings put out the entire time to keep them from getting shot by the last group. They were more cautious around Daring Doo likely from the way she got into the forest earlier. The leader of this little group was also very pushy when he thought they weren't moving fast enough, and he always pushed on Pip, in one of the spots where he was wounded.

While the wounds were mostly healed the sharp shove of cloven hooves on the bandaged spots still hurt. That and the leader had replaced one of his curved daggers with Pip's sword just made him more annoyed. He was quite certain the Elk had no intention of giving that back when they were released at the edge of the forest.

Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle were not happy and were not quiet about their opinion of leaving Applebloom behind. Pip took note that at least three of the Elk seemed to be listening into the conversation between the two. One of them even cracked a small smile when the pair inevitably started to bicker.

Nine to four... maybe. Given how unpredictable Sweetiebelle was sometimes she might just sit back and cheer the others on.

Scootaloo and Doo kept glancing his way as if expecting him to do something. So far the only thing Pip had been doing was walking along with a more pronounced limp favoring the leg that had took the arrow. Though after a bit of a walk Pip suddenly sat down with a wince causing the others to stop suddenly as well as he rubbed his leg.

“Ah man I'm beat. You can't go marching a injured pony double time after shooting him.” Pip groans as the lead elf shouts something at him. “Oh for Ma's sake calm down , I know you can bucking understand me so just nod or shake your head cause that yodeling talk you use is annoying.”

The elk glares drawing one of his kukuri pointing it at Pip and yelling something again around it.

“Maybe you can't understand it, or you're just stupid, probably the latter. Not like that matters I noticed a few things while you were trotting us away from our friend.” Pip stretches his leg out again with a wince looking at the bandaged wound. “ One is that your tribe uses differing arrows. I saw three different colors being used as fletching all by Elk that only hung around each other. Like Guard squads. I assume it's a 'who got the kill' identifier sort of thing. Two I am rather personally familiar with those blue feathered arrows you have. “

Pip shifts a little flicking his ears and causing Scootaloo and Doo to tense up a bit.

“And three, you buckers aren't hiding on the other side of the river this time.” Pip grins wide the effect of it far too close to how his Da smiled for the Elk not to take a small step back. Before his back step had even touched the ground Pip was moving.

The elk lashed out with his blade as Pip rushed him, the brown pony slipping under the swing and rising up onto his back legs bringing a hoof up under the Elk's jaw slamming it against the blade handle clenched in his mouth, likely shattering more than a few of his teeth. The Elk reared back his front hooves lifted off the ground from the force of the blow, his head snapping back as his Kukuri was flung free of his mouth. Pip spun on his rear hooves bending forward to place a fore hoof on the ground continuing his spin out from under the lifted elk. He plants his other fore leg and lashed back with both his rear hooves full force into the elk's side.

The rearing beast was hit hard by the force of the kick, the power of the blow enough to fling him tumbling across the ground.

The armor and belts on the Elk's side had been ripped open from the blow as one of Pip's hooves had landed in the circular handle of his sword yanking it free even as he kicked the Elk away. Pip rolls forward away from his kick as an arrow stabs into the ground where he was standing. His hoof jerks a little kicking the sword into the air, his tail flicking through the hole and catching the ring, snapping it forward to soar through the air slicing through one of the bands between an Elk's antlers sending the notched arrow tumbling free.

The elk flinched ducking from the flung sword only for Pip's hooves to slam down into his head driving him the rest of the way into the dirt as the small pony ran up the Elk's head and back using him as a springboard to tackle another Elk behind the first. The brown earth ponies weight drove the other Elk stumbling back to crash into a tree where Pip's sword had imbedded at the end of the throw. Pip reaches up grabbing his blade's handle in his teeth yanking it free of the wood and smacking the metal ring against the side of the elk he had tackled knocking him out.

The young earth pony rides the Elk down to the ground with a thud glancing back with a smile as he looked over what the others had done.

Doo had clobbered a Elk was hoof fighting him as the pair rolled around on the ground.

Scootaloo had taken out one Elk, set another on fire, who was running around comically, and was currently choking out her third.

Sweetiebelle had grabbed two in her magic and had smashed them together like a filly playing with dolls and trying to make them kiss, braining both of them at once. She was currently trying to pelt the burning Elk with the bags of fire extinguisher as he ran around with no luck.

Pip hops off the one he tackled darting forward and slapping the burning Elk across the face with the flat of his blade knocking him to the ground with a crash giving Sweetiebelle a chance to finally blast him with the powder putting out the flame and knocking him senseless as the heavy bags impacted his already traumatized head.

Scootaloo dropped the one she was choking, the Elk collapsing as Daring Doo managed a few hard punches to stop the last ones struggling.

“ Every pony alright?” Pip asks moving over to start yanking their gear off one of the Elks making sure to take some of the Elk's rope to start tying them up with.

“Yeah I'm good. “ Scootaloo grins.

“Not happy to be shown up by a couple of kids, but I'm injured and I can re write it later so I'm fine. “ Doo grumbles.

“Lets go get Applebloom back.” Sweetiebelle shouts, being more serious than Pip had seen her before.

“Help me tie them up and we'll go.” Pip nods.

==========================================

[White tail Woods 1400 hours.]

“OH YEAH!!” Screams a voice as the wall exploded inward. The Elk elder simply sat there with her painting a long suffering look on her face as the debris rained around them knocking the pot over into the fire and sending up a thick cloud of the herbal smoke that filled the room before rushing out of the newly made hole.

“I told you that was too much explosive.” Daring Doo snaps tumbling into the room her head whipping left and right. “Where did you even get any explosives?”

“Sent away.” states a tall black unicorn with a glimmering silver mane striding in after Daring Doo. The unicorn looked very familiar to Applebloom but she couldn't place it. The voice was definitely Sweetiebelle's though.

[“What?”] Applebloom asks looking over at the Elk who seemed to consider the pair entering her room.

[“Seems your unicorn friend was some one in a past life, though the pegasus was not, same as me, a new soul.”] The elder explains to Applebloom.

A moment later a blur of glowing green fire and a Elk crash into the room behind the pair. A yellow coated mare with long red hair streaked with blue stands up atop the unconscious Elk looking at the other two. Applebloom couldn't help but notice one of the mare's wings was flickering in and out of existence along with the green fire.

“Doo trust me when I say this, never ask where or why Sweetiebelle has something, it's better that way.” Scootaloo's voice says.

“We need to leave now.” A black pegasus strides into the room. His hair a deep blue streaked with silver and almost glowing amber eyes. He was short, though not as short as Pipsqueak. The pegasus strides over to the Elk Elder dipping his head a little . “ Sorry about the wall Ma'am, but we are taking back our friend.”

The elder chuckles at that looking over at Applebloom and her duplicate that was fading away with the fresh air. [“So polite. There's a reason all this is happening like this filly. Why not go see what that is?”]

Applebloom blinks lightly nodding and rising to her hooves. She whips her head a little the after images of the strangers over her friends fading a little with the influx of fresh air.

[“Alright, which way's the Yggdrasil stump?”] Applebloom asks.

[“Head south east, you cannot miss the crater.”] the Elder chuckles as the group rushes out of the hole in the wall galloping away as more Elk shouted outside and started to give chase.

========================================================================

[Crystal Empire 1330 Crystal Palace.]

“Get that squad to fall back the clones have over run that area, I'll send some back up in to help with the retreat, but they cannot get cut off no matter what the clones will simply pick them apart.” Luna shouts sending a Crystal pony bowing and running off to relay the message.

The alicorn Queen looks over the glowing map of the city before her on the ground. The entire city was surrounded with red dots that were moving in closer. Every where save the north side which was strangely unprotected by the monsters.

Was Tirek trying to get the clones to push them towards something? The fight was mostly fodder and she had already heard from Both Breezy and Dusty that the number of clones was much smaller than had attacked the Griffon nation. Where were the rest? Was there a trap or something she wasn't seeing in the north? The few scouts she risked flying that way showed nothing. No army no trap, nothing. There wasn't any sort of spell hiding them, to hide that many troops would make even the most masked spell noticeable, and she couldn't think of anything that could hide that many nor a purpose for hiding when rushing in would have a better chance of taking the Empire.

Luna briefly wondered if this was some plan that Jer'rahd might come up with and that the monster was using his mind to pull one over on her.

The possibility couldn't be discounted that something worse was coming. At least that was her thought process until Rainbow Dash zipped up with a relay of what happened with Applejack and her brother.

“THEY DID WHAT!?!” Luna roared after Dash gave her the short version of what Mac told her, her teeth grinding as she tried to contain her anger. Of all the stupid reckless things that could have been done, the stupid farm pony went out on her own with her brother and fought Tirek on their own. What's worse according to Big Mac they had won!! Tirek was not dead but he was injured enough and the second train tunnel that Luna had not even known about was sealed trapping many of the clones on the other side or forcing them to come through the main tunnel. Applejack's plan had bought them time , and stopped a pincer attack that no one would have seen coming.

The Night Goddess slaps her face with her hoof grumbling to herself.

“There is now no longer any doubt in my mind that Applejack is related to Jer'rahd, either that or she's been hanging around him too much.... Dash make sure you leave a note that when Applejack wakes up I would like to have....... No.... I would like to speak with Fluttershy, and she can speak with her wife.” Luna grumbles.

“Damn Princess.... that's cold.” Dash mutters.

“They could have been killed, are you not concerned with that?” Luna sighs.” Your husband was out there too.”

“Oh I am, but I can't really say much about Mac. I'm out there as well with a little foal growing in me. I'm there cause it has to be done and no pony can do what I do. Every time I take down one that's some other pony that doesn't have to do it, or another victim these things don't get to take. I can't find fault in them wanting to do the same.”

“I suppose you are right Rainbow Dash......”

“That said Luna. Mac's sleeping on the floor for the next few months.” Rainbow snorts.

“Well that is your choice, though is not your home made of clouds isn't the bed made of the same......... What?” Luna whips her head around looking off towards the north. “ What was that?”

“What's what...? Ow... What the buck?” Dash grumbles pulling the Element of Loyalty from her armor holding it out as the pendant glows.

“What is this?” Luna asks.

========================================================

[Crystal Empire 1330 Ore drive, West of Ruby Street.]

Fluttershy screams, the sound little more than a tiny squeak as the mare's lifted up by her wings to meet face to face with a black and red horned monstrosity.

“To think it would be this easy to find a Bearer.” The red and black monster flicks her chest with his free hand thumping the amulet and knocking the wind out of the frail pegasus. “You are lucky one of the stupid ones didn't find you, or they would have just eaten you. Still that may have been better considering why Tirek want's you lot alive.”

The clone smirks poking the mare and making her swing by her wings from his other hand as he chuckles listening to the mares whimpering. He bounces his hand a little letting her fall to being held up by one wing and watching her flap around in pain like a trapped butterfly.

“Still he never said you needed to be intact, just alive... Scream for me, make this trip here worth my time Fluttershy.” the clone hisses.

“LET MOMMA GO!” shouts a voice.

“What?” the clone blinks looking down.

“No... no. RUN GET BACK TO THE SHELTER!!!” Fluttershy screams as three foals run towards the giant creature screaming at the top of their lungs, whacking the clones hoof with mop and broom handles, and in Butterscotch's case trying to stab him with a butter knife he had found.

Tirek's clone looks down at the two fillies and the colt attacking his hoof with a bit of curiosity that turns into annoyance. “Seriously?”

The monster yanks his hoof up, slamming it back down hard on the ground. The foals all managed to be out of the way of the stomp, but the impact of the ground and the wind from the impact sent the young ponies tumbling. The peach maned, and lime green unicorn yelps as she tumbles across the ground, though her yellow and cream maned brother managed to catch her though the earth pony colt and unicorn still bounced back a bit further.

The red maned and blue haired pegasus Apple Blossom however got caught in the draft and flung back as her wings were snagged by the wind, it and sent her crashing into the side of a building where she started bawling and whimpering clutching one of her wings that was bent at an odd angle.

The unicorn Dandelion started bawling as well as she looked over how scraped up the tumble had made her. Only Butterscotch was silent though his eyes were tearing up as he looked for his butter knife.

“Pathetic.” the clone mutters. “ I should just put this pitiful trio out of ….”

“How DARE you.....” snarls a voice as a loud wet ripping sound fills the air.

“Ehh?” The clone looks over to his hand seeing nothing there but a single yellow wing, one torn free of it's previous owner and dripping blood, though there was no sign of the pegasus.

“What?” the clone stammers looking around to see where the Element Bearer had gotten to before his gaze turned upward in time for four yellow hooves to smash into his face driving the massive monster to the ground with a crash from insane force of the blow. The creature started to turn to water before his head even hit the crystal road below him, the road cracking and splintering as the yellow mare lands passing through the wash of water like it was in a popped balloon.

=====================================

[?]

In an old cave in an unknown place a pile of bones stirred. There was a faint flicker of light and the bones were suddenly gone as the cave collapsed in on itself becoming nothing.

================================

[Crystal Empire 1330 Ore drive, West of Ruby Street.]

“Butterscotch get your sister and run down that ally there, Dashie's friend Mrs Spitfire is over there have her get you back to the shelter.” Fluttershy stammers. “ Dandelion.. Dandy dear... look at mommy.. no not her wing look at mommy's face. I know you have boo boos but your brother and sister need you to be brave go with them and find Mrs Spitfire okay....”

The colt and unicorn filly look on clearly upset though they back away running over to their bawling sister.

“Feed?!!”

Fluttershy winces looking down the road as a group of easily ten or twenty of the monsters appear then start rushing towards her.

“GO NOW!” Fluttershy yells watching the foals scurry away carrying their injured sister.

The yellow pegasus mare sighs looking back at the charging horde of clones thundering down the street. She felt weak. Her whole back hurt where her wing was, her hooves hurt where she hit and she was starting to see gray around the corners of her eyes as the blood loss brought her closer to blacking out.

At least she might be able to buy some time for the foals if these monsters fought over her body.

<” How fatalist.”>

“Wha who said that?”

<” I could ask you the same, but I know who you are. I felt the pull. An energy a stirring of rage and primal nature that I've never felt before and when I arrive all that is here is a wounded pegasus....... and her foals..... hmmm..... interesting. And you have three of the gifts of the wild as well. The gaze, the wild words, and the wraith..... but you are too kind to unleash that latter often.”>

” Who are you? What do you want.... am .. am I dead already?”

<” Hmm , no … not dead yet any way. I think not today either. You have done me a service whether you meant to or not. You gave me an escape when there was none before and I took it.”>

“That doesn't answer my question.”

<”It answered the one about your death. Or lack of it happening.”>

“But....”

<”Oh hush dear. You know, you are the only one who I have never seen. All the others came to visit or at least see what I was supposed to be. But not you. Pity. Cerberus spoke highly of you before he was killed.”>

<” Cerberus!? Then you must be...”>

<” The mother of the wild. The savagery of the storm. The mournful howl of the wolf. The power of the howling wind. The cold death of the snow and ice...”>

“The Ferry Mare.”

<” I never called myself that, you ponies called me that and it just stuck... agrh never mind My power was never Kindness, at best it should be considered love, maybe compassion as some times a mother wolf will raise the young of a lamb she has eaten and make it her own. That's how the vorpal bunnies came to be you know. A wolf raised a heard of bunnies and taught them how to eat meat and hunt... they got really good at it too.”>

“Umm miss....”

<”Oh right the Tirek things. I need to yell at Munificence about that pool of his. Nothing but trouble. Oh by the way dear. “>

Fluttershy could feel the voice grinning as the Tirek clones were almost upon her.

<”Call me Grace.”>

========================================

The rushing clones drew up short slamming into one a few paces from the pony. They all stood there baffled looking down at the thing in the road before them. Even as stupid as they were they knew something was wrong here.

Two of their number had been cut down in an eye blink, dying so fast that the walls of the buildings around the street dripped red with blood rather than water for three or for heartbeats before running down the crystal in rivulets like rain the stains of the blood still in the crystal.

The wounded mare they were after was standing idly before them her long pink hair falling over her face, her side soaked in blood, though there was no longer a visible wound. From where the stump had been now sprouted a new pegasus wing, though it was solid white with stripes of black running through it rather than the butter yellow of the rest of her.

The striped wing flexed and shifted seeming to move of it's own accord as the mare had yet to budge from her spot. The new wing finally settled down and folded across the mares back as she raised her head a little, shadow hiding her face from any one but the clones before her.

There was nothing but a skull under the pink hair, to eye sockets with such blackness in them they seemed to draw in the light from around them.

”It Is NoT nIcE tO mEsS wItH mOtHeR nAtUrE.”< the skeletal visage grinned.

A bolt of lightning lept from the ground ripping into a number of the clones as it danced among them turning the clones to steam before they could even become a liquid. Grass and tree roots broke up from the road wrapping around the others crushing limbs and tearing the clones apart, then soaking up the spilled water.

Grace-shy flaps her wings launching herself into the air sending dust devils the size of tornadoes swirling through the streets on either side of her. The two small whirling storms crash together with a blast of lighting and seem to devour one another becoming a swirling mass of hail, rain and wind that grew to the size of a city block. The mini hurricane drew in Parasprites, clones and any thing else it could grab smashing them all together in lumps and raining what was left down onto the city. The winds and lightning were unfelt by the defenders, but the strangely warm rain falling from the sky flowed over their rejuvenating tired forms and healing wounds as the storm grows larger.

Flutter-Grace turns her head to the north west her bone brow furrowing a little.

“ThEy ArE tOo FaR.” Her gaze drops to the city below her as she grins looking at the fighting going on and the swarms of parasprites eating everything. “ yOu ArE nOt.”

“WaKe.” she breathes out heavily, and the city itself stirs.

=================================================

[Crystal Empire 1335 Crystal Palace.]

“What the hay is going on!?” Cadence shouts looking up at the sky as bits and pieces of the Crystal Empire start pulling away from the walls drug into the growing storm, Heavier bits of crystal fall around them shattering on the ground.

“Why the buck are you asking me for? I've been locked away for thousands of years I didn't even get to see this place again to a couple years ago.” Chrysalis snaps back tossing up a shield to keep the door over the armory from getting buried. ”Wait are those?”

Gossamer wings stretch out of the confines of their shells as thousands of sleeping Crystal Dragonflies were all woken at once from their slumber at natures call. The multicolored swarm takes to the air all at once with a great buzzing of wings and flick of tails. Their compound eyes look over the Empire in shock and horror. Though it was at this point that they all decided at once to do what newly woken Dragonflies always did, and this time there was more than enough so that none of them need return to their slumber immediately.

Food was very plentiful this season.

=========================================

Flutter-ace looked down at the swarms of Crystal dragon flies tearing through the swarms of parasprites like sharks through schools of fish. The ravenous bugs were no match for their natural predators and creatures with much larger and more savage appetites to feed.

“Isn't nature fascinating?” Fluttershy muttered.

“Indeed.”< Grace nodded.

[Crystal Empire several leagues outside the city.]

The figure jerks awake scrambling up the blue scaled back and staring out to the glimmering Spires of the Crystal Empire in the distance.

”SHE IS THERE! FLY FASTER WHELP!!”< Troph bellows.

“GAH CLAWS!! So help me if you were not in bosses' body I would drop you right now....” Bleu snarls. “Spike the ass is awake!”

“I do not relish being you with that thing on your back.” Ice mutters from nearby.

“Good timing.” Spike comments turning to glance back over his shoulder.

The ground behind him was dark with the shadow cast by the wings of dragons following the pair.

“BREAK OFF AND ATTACK ANYTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE HOW WE DESCRIBED IT. NO COLLARTERAL DAMAGE OR FRIENDLY FIRE IS ALLOWED.”

“OR YOU'LL BE ANSWERING TO ME!” Bleu bellows turning into a barrel roll in the air and dropping down towards the city followed by nearly the entire Dragon nation.

=================================================

[Just north of the Crystal Empire. 1400 hours]

Tirek growls holding himself up against a tree at the top of a hill as his wounds knit. The blows from that accursed pony were taking longer to heal than they should, but they were healing, all save his horn. She would pay for that. The fools had buried him under a ton of rocks and then run off some where. After climbing out he found all the clones he brought with him were dead and the tunnel collapsed.

This was not going as expected. None of the stolen memories had any idea about what Applejack had done. The memories of both Sparkle and Jer'rahd lead him to believe she would never break a promise to use the dragon magic like her brother did, and neither recognized the armor that came from the amulet.

Still he had thousands of clones waiting to get through the gate and the Empire would be little more than rubble by the time the para sprites stopped multiplying.

Tirek stared out at the city and frowned. Those were not Parasprites flying over the city, but a host of Crystal Dragon Flies. The creatures should have been in the swamps to the north east this time of year how where there so many still in the city? Memories of several biologists he had claimed came up about the statues that Crystal Dragonflies became when hibernating that stayed in the city to be protected. At last census there were thousands of them in stone. Of course one of the Parasprites natural predators were the Crystal Dragon flies.

Tirek cursed shaking his head of the thoughts. A small set back, the invaders still had numbers...... why was there a thunderstorm growing over the city?

Localized hurricane a meteorologist in his brain corrects though offered no answers as to how.

Tirek growls as it still didn't matter though a roar changed that. Looking up Tirek's eyes widened as what could only be described as a flock of dragons flew over head towards the city diving down and blasting their breath weapons over certain areas and dropping down to attack others.

Return blasts from his forces knocked a number out of the sky or turned them to ash where they flew but the waves of the great beasts continued to fly in.

How in the world was this possible? The dragons had never come to the aid of any one before let alone ponies.... Spike..... Tirek cursed. Some how that damn drake had managed to rouse the dragons to fight. Judging by the care the creatures were showing in what they attacked they were actually here to help as opposed to an invading force.

This had thrown all his calculations completely out of sync.

Still no plan ever survived contact with the enemy so this was just another minor set back. He made a note to himself to change the purple dragon god into pony or something to steal his power as he had done with the griffons.

All this meant was that he had to get more involved in the fight than he had wanted to. The power of twenty three gods, countless unicorns, the strongest spell caster on Equss and the most tactical war mind ever, not to mention the centuries of tactics and strategies Celestia had seen. He might not have the goddess's power, but he had her knowledge. The four books he had eaten however were a disappointment. There was barely any energy from them at all, and while their memories were vast, their minds were fractured and barely usable with any speed. Still he had spells now that had never been seen in ages and some that the Books themselves had created. It would be easy to cause a sink hole to drop the entire city into a pit, or call the stars from the sky to crush it.

Tirek chuckled selecting a spell before stopping dead and looking to the southern horizon.

What was this?

There was something pulling him, egging him to go that way. The feeling was immense and fraught with anger and worry. He didn't know the exact location.... no wait... he did know. He had left some clones there to deal with it if something happened as well. One of his smarter clones was spying on the area.

Tirek cursed, hating to risk this but the feeling would not go away. The monster cast a quick spell in a puddle of water left by his fallen clone the image of himself with both horns stared back.

“Ahh there you are. I have been trying to contact you but the crystal in Cloudsdale doesn't seem to be working.” The clone states.

“Cloudsdale is destroyed, what is happening?” Tirek demands.

“There is a small group of ponies making their way towards the Yggdrasil. They managed to get past the Elk and are making their way there now. There is also a feeling that we need to be there running through me and several of the others. I believe it is from the zebra mare we first took.”

“Zecora......” Tirek growls.” Or should I say Sunshine..... a power to always be where you are needed most..... or where will have the most benefit for you.... why would it be sending me back to my prison stood....wait.”

“Sir?”

“Take the forces that I left you and attack the ponies Do NOT let them reach the tree. I will be there shortly.”

“There you are.” states a voice.

“Shit.”

Tirek dives out of the way as a bolt of black light strikes his message mirror vaporizing the puddle and much of the ground where he had been standing.

Tirek lifts his gaze with a growl staring up at the flying form of a black alicorn. The mares wings and legs were dotted with holes and her flesh was covered with carapace like armor. Her mane flowed in a host of colors ranging from the darkest night to the orange and purples of dawn. Her cutie mark was a radiant yellow sun with the crescent moon shadowed in the center. Far above her in the sky a shadow slowly started to cover the sun as the moon eclipsed it turning the afternoon to a shadowy night.

Tirek could feel the power the mare was drawing on from the Celestia bodies. And it was not a good feeling.

“Luna....” the monster snorts

“Tirek “ the mare snarls.

“Bye!” Tirek states.

“What?” Luna questions as the massive monster suddenly vanishes with a pop of teleportation.

Luna growls her horn glowing as she tried to track the teleport, though she only got a vague direction before the energy was masked. Looking back at the city she could feel numerous other teleports happening though blasts of magic still lanced skyward at the dragons. They were not all leaving , but a number of them were. All of them heading the same way.

Luna closes her eyes darting through the dream scape before finding what she wanted, the day dream of a evil creature trying to save itself.

Tirek was headed for Whitetail Woods and was bringing many of his clones with him.

The Celestial Queen snarls letting the moon move past the sun again before winging her way back towards the city. They needed to move now.

================================================

[Crystal Empire 1500 hours]

The battle was still raging but with the aid of the dragons the tide had turned and the remaining clones were being destroyed as quickly as they could pour through the train tunnel. There were still too many scattered about the city to make a move on the heavily defended tunnel. Twilight's spell was being taxed far more than it should be allowing these thousands of monsters through it, but to the unicorns credit it was holding quiet well.

The fact that the plants and trees were fighting against them now made even holding their position tenacious, but so far they were doing it quite well. Princess Luna had begun the rush to rearm and get the ships in the air in an effort to get to WhiteTail Woods after Tirek. With most of the Storm Cloud already loaded that left Regent Breezy Mist to do little but double check everything, something that he was being prevented from doing by one annoying pony.

“Forget it colt, there's not supposed to be any ponies coming aboard.” Breezy growls at the earth pony trying to shove a massive crate up the gangplank. It was taking a good bit of effort to stop the young stallion. His dark brown coat hid some muscle in that lean frame. Not that he was holding up well against some one who was Guard trained, but the effort was noticeable.

“I call shenanigans. You're a pony and you're flying this thing!” The pony shouts from around the crate shoving back against the pegasus's push.

Breezy sighs, if he wasn't waiting for the Demon of Dullahan Mk II to finish loading troops and supplies he'd have dropped this kid off the Storm Cloud's gangplank and launched without him. The colt was getting annoying and was dead set on getting on the ship.

“That's cause I'm married to the griffon who's flying the other ship. I do what I want.” Breezy snorts fanning his wings and shoving the box back down the gangplank.

“And my mare friend is out there where you're going and might need my help!” the earth pony growls.

“A lot of ponies mare friends are out there needing help, and not every pony is trying to get on my ship with a metric shit ton of junk!”

“This isn't junk it's a state of the art sound system you noob!”

“Listen you little butt...”

“It's Button! B.U.T.T.O.N. Say it with me feather duster, Button Mash, it's not like that stupid butt joke didn't get old when I was in freaking middle school, now get out of my way cause I'm going.....!” Button growls shoving harder against the crate.

“YO, Mash!”

The pegasus and the earth pony look away from the crate a moment to a white unicorn mare with electric blue hair and a pair of lavender tinted sunglasses, trotted towards them, a odd box about the size of a pony floating along with her.

“Boss lady what are you doing here?” Button asks stepping away from the crate and letting it and Breezy shoot back down the gangplank to crash against the ground at the end of it.

“Heard you were chasing after Belle. Brave of yah dude, a bit stupid, but hey bravery and stupidity go hoof and hoof.” Vinyl Scratch looks at the crate that had popped open upon impact and the gear within shaking her head. “ A T600? Seriously those suckers got no base kick at all.”

“Yeah, but it was all I could get my hooves on. My sets still in Canterlot and they don't have much here. I figure it would be something if she needed it.”

“Spoken like a true roadie. But that thing's not gonna be loud enough tah be heard by any one if it's needed. Plus I doubt the ship has a aux cord long enough.” Vinyl chuckles.

“Tri crystal battery pack lifted from the school.”

“NIIICE, but that gives yah ten at full power. Maybe. Still I figured you would be planning something like this after the dragon ladies stories. So I brought this.” Vinyl smirks hefting the pony sized case between them. There were several handles and clasps and two bright blue buttons on the top under glass domes, the white box was emblazoned with Vinyl's cutie mark done in neon blue.

Button's eyes widen.” Boss lady this is the MK 4..... it's not been tested yet....”

“Well the sounds been tested and that works, we just never pushed it though. Tavi yanked the fuse box to the studio after one of the walls collapsed.”

“Yeah I remember that... it was only on seven. We had to put a limiter on it.”

“Yep tied to a big red button.”

“You're giving this to me?”

“Heck no. I want this bad boy back. You just get to test it. It might work , or explode, or worst case, not do anything cool at all.” Vinyl chuckles.

“But why?”

Vinyl's smile left her face for the first time since Button had known the mare.

“I ain't a fighter. Buck, I can hold my own in a ballroom blitz, but even fancy flank Tavi can womp me with that weird ballet kungfu stuff she does. Thing is, this bastard.....” The white unicorn sighs. “There's a lot of folks I can't jam with any more cause of him. I'm just a musician, I got nothing I can do tah fight back. Prolly choke on my own panic if he showed up in front of me. You? You were ready to rush off to help out yer mare friend with nothing more than a beat up T600. Braver than I am and who knows yah might just be able tah do something.”

Vinyl dips her head a little her hoof coming up to her face as she pulls free the glasses, her red eyes visible a moment as she pushes the shades onto Button's face. The earth pony colt blinks touching the glasses with a hoof before looking back up at Vinyl who already had on another set of shades.

“Give um Tartarus colt.” Vinyl chuckles. “ Yah make it back I might even help yah set up that DJ Mash ID you wanted.”

“Regent Breezy what is the hold up?” A voice booms down from the edge of the ship. Looking up the pegasus shrugs as Princess Luna stared down at the trio.

“I've got no idea what either of them just said, but the colt wants on cause of the young Miss Reignolds being his mare friend.”

Luna blinks looking down at the white unicorn and the brown earth pony. She knew Button Mash as one of Pip's friends but she didn't realize he was dating Sweetiebelle. Was this something Sunshine had seen or was the colt just stubbornly trying to get to his mare friend to be the hero? To his credit he seemed unmoved by her arrival, though perhaps he was being held in place by that large box with the white unicorn's symbol on it. It was odd that he stared at her from behind those glasses and a X-pony hat on as if daring her to tell him no.

“Why should I let you go Mash? This is not a joy ride we are going after the monster that is trying to destroy us all. One that eats ponies.” Luna states.

“Dullahan.” Button says clearly, if a little loudly, the colt was quivering under her glare, though his voice was steady.

Luna's eyes widen at that. She should have guessed Bleu would regal her students with the tales of how a musician had saved everyone from an invasion by helping to hold a keep with little more than a song. She doubted Button was at Platinum's level, but the colt had a point she couldn't deny, she had even set aside a few Changelings with musical talent just in case.

“Fine. Regent, let him on board. Do not get in any ones way Button, you are to stay on the ship no matter what. Now let us get moving, I want this ship in the air an hour ago Regent” Luna bellows.

Author's Note

Told you this chapter would be up soon.

This chapter used to be part of the last chapter until it became too big and I had to split it up.

Title is of course a bit of a tribute as well. Not as if I didn't have 4 chapters named after a Bowie song already.

Magic Dance- By David Bowie.

Oh almost forgot this part.

Some of you might not recognize who Scootaloo, Sweetiebelle and Pip are when Applebloom saw their past selves.

Sweetiebelle- was Platinum as mentioned by Bleu earlier in the series as well.
Pip- was Hooper as mentioned in both LRG by Luna's first Element Bearers and then in LE by Luna.
Daring Doo is a new soul like the Elder Elk so she has no past life. [ To hear Azhutol talk she has no life now either.]
Scootaloo is likely the one that might snag people up as the mare hasn't been seen since LRG and she didn't have a big part there. Scootaloo was General Meteor Shower Luna's Third in command.

Scaretale [36]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Scaretale

[Whitetail Woods 1500 hours Wednesday.]

“Hurry up Sweetiebelle they can't be that far behind us.” Pip shouts to the lagging unicorn as the group darts through the underbrush. Daring Doo and Scootaloo were on either side of him with Applebloom in the lead and Sweetiebelle behind. The orange pegasus had decided to stay on the ground so her bright wings wouldn't attract attention. Of course Sweetiebelle's whining would likely draw more attention that her friends flaming wings.

“I'm a singer not a runner....” Sweetiebelle pants. “ Gah all this physical exertion is gonna really screw up my mane.... I don't even have a mane band.”

“And falling into an underground lake, playing with explosives. Running for our lives, and running out of a burning building or three didn't do that already?” Applebloom snorts her ears flattening to her head.

“Of course it did, but I had time to fix it after all that.” Sweetiebelle comments.

“When?!” Pip asks rather confused now. He glanced back at the mare and notes that despite the dust and soot on the rest of her, her mane and tail were nearly as perfectly curly and clean as they always were when they were in civilization.

“When we stopped to make sure that odd smoke in the hut didn't do anything to Applebloom.” Sweetiebelle states matter of factly.

“We stopped for twenty seconds tops, how the heck did you fix your mane in that amount of time?” Daring Doo demands in disbelief of the demure dames deed.

“It was plenty of time.” Sweetie says. “I mean I didn't get the second conditioning I wanted, but I can't ask for everything.”

“This crap is so going in my next book.” Daring Doo mutters.

“I told all of you before, don't question how Sweetiebelle does things. She's like Pinkie Pie sometimes in 'it's better to just smile and nod'.” Scootaloo grumbles. “She's only gotten worse as she's gotten older. The stories I could tell from high school.”

Pip looks over at Scootaloo who's short mane and tail also seemed freshly cleaned.

“Your hair......” Pip stammers nearly tripping over a root as he stares at Scootaloo who tries to hide a blush at the look.

“It's why I didn't have time for a second conditioning. Scootaloo is never going to attract any cute colts if she looks like she just crawled out of a cave.” Sweetiebelle states.

“I told you to shut up about that Belle!” Scootaloo curses turning even more red.

“Oh that's right , you probably like mares.” Sweetiebelle corrects.

“Seriously can we leave her behind as a distraction for the Elk?” Scootaloo curses.

======================================================

[ Crystal Empire 1500 hours.]

”Grace!”<

The yellow pegasus turns as an odd sort of half dragon creature rushed towards her. Fluttershy knew who it was, and Grace could feel his approach.

”Troph.”< The skull under the pink mane smirked.

The half dragon rushed up attempting to kiss the mare only for a yellow hoof to press against his face instead.

“Umm I'm sorry, you're very nice and all, and while I do like you and all, I'm already married... And I think you are too... or maybe that was annulled, but you were going to get married.” Fluttershy stammers.

“What?”<Troph stammers around the hoof.

” The Bearer of Kindness is acting as a temporary conduit for my presence. Though I am not in any sort of control unless she allows.”< Grace states.

”But you are still alive.....?”< Troph asks.

”No... not really. Unlike you I do not have a body any more outside of my Element. Though in truth you do not either save for what inhabits that stallion, and that is not you, just a connection to what you were. There is no longer a form of the Ferrymare to take, nor of the cobalt colored dragon you were. It was destroyed along with the path to Tartarus from this world. Again I am little more than a faded presence in my Element again.”<

” Grace......”< Troph growls lightly.

”Don't give me that you lump. We have had far more time together than we should have and it is not as if we are gone. “< Flutter- Grace smiles. >” I can feel the presence of the others, for the first time since we were parted from them so long ago. This is no longer our world love. It was long past time we returned to our friends.”<

”But......”< Troph sighs lowering his head a little. >“How...... I am still bound to this one...”<

No you are not. You are inhabiting that one because of your former connection and what you left inside him. If he wears his Element again, you can leave through that to join us as you did in Tartarus.”<

” We will be dead again......”<

” We have been dead a long time love. But that has not stopped us in the slightest has it?”< Grace smirks resting a hoof on Troph's cheek watching the half draconic creature turn a bit red.

“Um could you please not do that, or think such things, you're embarrassing me.” Fluttershy adds.

Grace sighs looking up at the storm she had created over head and the gorgeing dragonflies soaring through it. She exhales softly the rain plastering the pink hair over the skill like visage.

” I will be here for some time yet, you however need to go.”< Grace states.

” Go? Go where?”<

” Take the dragon you rode in on and go to the beasts prison. You will need to be there when this is all over. I can see what is going to happen and you cannot be here. Ask the brash rainbow hued one for Element before you leave. It will be needed.”<

” But.....”<

“ We will meet again soon love. After nothing can keep us apart, and everything that has tried has met with a terrible fate hasn't it?”< Grace smirks >” I shall endeavor to make the wait very worth it.”<

“Umm That's a bit too much information for me again. Please think of bunnys and little chickens.... or something else.....” Fluttershy squeaks.

=============================================================

[Crystal Empire, Bridge of the Storm Cloud, 1500 hours. ]

“Everything's reading green Sir, steams at full power, and the engines are hot.” a changeling calls back up to Breezy as the pegasus moves behind the wheel of the ship.

Like nautical ships the Griffon made aircraft seemed like little more than slightly longer and thinner ships suspended under a large bag full of lighter than air clouds and specialized gases. Cannon ports covered each side and the rear, the deck itself deck was prepped with catapults and balista with a large area on either side for Griffons and other flying creatures to take off and land. Another set of balista were on top of the balloon by the crows nests on either end of the gas bag. The balloon itself was triple layered and if all three layers were removed the ship could still be glided down to the ground with an emergency sail that could be deployed.

The front of the ship was a reinforced steel structure, much like one would find on the front of a train, or an icebreaker ship. While the bridge was in the middle of the ship and highly protected several crystals were enchanted to show the view from all sides of the ship along the walls of the bridge., and viewing ports to the outside like periscopes could be used if the magic was blocked or dulled, though the visibility was much poorer.

Four helm stations were along the walls and two more in the rear of the bridge on either side of the heavy doors . The rear stations were for weapons monitoring and communication. The captains chair was in the middle of the bridge, right behind the massive console with the ships wheel that controlled the craft. The one in the Storm Cloud had been modified to allow for a pegasus Captain rather than the usual Griffon made controls.

The engines themselves were more Griffon masterwork, making use of super heated boilers to power the turbines. Cloudstuff and precipitation were collected along the sides of the ship and near where the turbines were mounted on the back of the flight deck. The system condensed water vapor from the air to power the engine turbines.

The Storm Cloud was the smaller ship, but it had four smaller turbines at the back of the ship compared to the Demons, massive twin monsters. The vessel was smaller, and less armed , though it was heavier with the added weight of the engines and the reinforced armored plates. In truth despite it's size it was far more durable than the Flagship of the remaining Griffon nation behind it.

“Water pressure is good, we are clear from the earth and falling free. Sir” a red furred Griffon male comments looking over his display of gauges and levers.

“Open a com to the Demon Mark II.” Breezy states. “And take us up higher, I want my wife sucking our smoke this time.”

“Channel open sir.” Another griffon responds.

“ Dusty, what's your status?”

“Annoyed and debating throwing Luna off my ship. She won't shut up about us needing to hurry....... I FREAKING KNOW ALREADY, PUT A SOCK IN IT MARE..... umm I mean if you wouldn't mind Princess.” Dusty screams over the com. “We need to get going here soon or she's gonna flip. Our target is after her kid and his friends now directly.”

“Excellence cannot be rushed, but we'll try any way.... did your crew get the measurements I wanted?” Breezy questions looking to his left and watching the image of the Demon rise past them as both ships climb into the sky. The city was still a war zone below, dragons and Guard fought against the Tirek clones. With the aid of the Dragons and the odd storm the Empire was winning, but the loss of life would still be rather high among the defenders

“ Four apple's to spare on all sides of the Demon, twice that for the Storm Cloud. Twilight Sparkle took some rather exacting notes.” Dusty whistles.

“Think you can thread that?”

“ Please, I taught you how to fly.”

“Oooh a bit more catty to day than birdy hmm.”

“Stuff it you over sized feather duster.”

“Oh I'd love too, those bandages are just so tight on you mmmm mm mm, but alas, we've got a evil god thing to fight, later perhaps?” Breezy flirts.

“Promises promises.” Dusty chuckles.

“Alright, well you keep the Princess calm and lets do this. We'll take point.” Breezy kills the com and yells out.” Raise the gondola.”

A dull roar filled the ship as the chains tying the ship to the underside of the balloon began winding up, lifting the ships deck up to the underside of the balloon and locking it in place with a resounding clang of metal and the creak of wood. Both air ships, now locked in place turned in the air facing south before pausing as every one ran over the last moment checks.

“Alright give us full power and have some of our casting passengers layer a few shields on the front and lower side of the hull. I trust the Cloud to take whatever abuse we give her , but no sense doing more harm then necessary, and open the ship's com.” Breezy orders.

“Done sir.” A changeling chimes.

“This is your captain speaking, we are about to get under way so stow anything you have hanging about loose. Make sure all tray tables are up and your seats, if you're in one' are in the full up right locked position. Things are about to get a bit rough here in... , three, two , one......” Breezy shoves the wheel suddenly pitching it forward. “WHOOHAAAAAA!”

The Storm Cloud dips suddenly in the air, the nose pitching downward as steam billows from behind it, the turbines along the rear of the balloon roaring to life and shoving the ship forward into a decent nose first straight back down towards the Crystal Empire.

The Demon Mk II does the same, moving into a position perhaps four or five ship lengths behind the Storm Cloud.

Breezy grins fanning his wings to keep from being pitched forward as a number of multicolored shields form around the front of the craft.

“All cannon ports open and prepare to fire a full barrage on my mark.” Breezy calls as the ship roars out of the sky barely leveling off to roar over the city itself. Debris and bits of crystal pulled from the buildings carried along in the crafts passage as the ship tears along at near terminal velocity towards the base of the mountain. Numerous Crystal dragon flies release from where they were hanging onto the balloon, falling back to glide along in the crafts slips stream devouring any Parasprites swept up in the air currents before they fall out of the wake of the Storm Cloud.

Breezy lines the ship up , the shields underneath them sparking over the metal rails of the train tracks beneath them the ship barely an apple or two's height from the ground.

“More power to engines. I want ludicrous speed.” Breezy shouts as, the ships engines start to howl as more steam roared through the brass and iron fixtures. “Aim all cannons twenty degrees aft and forty five degrees down exactly!”

The roaring ship zoomed up with insight of the tunnel in seconds and into the area the Tirek clones had fortified with the remains of the ponies barricades. The massive ship screams towards the train tunnel skipping along the rails as the shields and armored prow smash into the first of the makeshift barricades around the tunnel, and straight through them.

Breezy started yelling as his grin widened, the rest of the crew and passengers screaming as well though they were more likely doing so out of fear as the ship was rocked by impacts. The Storm Cloud plowed through the clones forces at an alarming rate, barely loosing any speed, smashing aside bits of train car and stones moved to provide cover before it zips into the tunnel, the Demon of Dullahan MK II right on it's tail.

===========================================

[ West of New Canterlot. 1510 hours]

A number of the smarter clones that were left, looked up at the lights on the train tunnel's archway, rather curious as to what was coming back through. Tirek and the clones he had made leaders of the rest of the clones had all vanished and scarcely any of the ones left knew why. The stupid ones simply remained gathered around the tunnel rushing through in groups as the smarter clones ordered them. They had no other orders so they would continue to siege the Crystal Empire though the bottleneck hoping to overwhelm them with numbers if nothing else. There were still thousands of clones.

Still there shouldn't be any lights on this side if the clones were pushing through towards the Crystal Empire. What was going on?

The answer was quickly made apparent as a massive airship screams out of the tunnel smashing clones and siege weapons before it like a plow parting the soil of a new field. The craft roared down the tracks, engines crying like banshees as a second larger craft burst through behind it, pulling up as soon as it was clear of the tunnel and climbing into the sky as the first continues through the gathered army along the ground.

“Demon's Clear sir.” a Griffon yells on the bridge.

“FIRE ALL WEAPONS!” Breezy bellows.

Cannons from the first craft boom like thunder, the sound echoing off the mountains as the air was filled with the scent of gunpowder, ozone, oil and steam. The explosions tore apart the gathered forces as the ship scrapes across the ground for another few ship lengths as it's weapons were unloaded, before pulling up sharply with another few volleys falling onto the shocked clones.

The few smarter ones that were left started shouting orders to retaliate at the ship before it rose out of range of spells when the first volleys from the Demon landed among them, destroying what little command structure was left and sending waves of water flying every where as explosions ripped apart the ground and the tracks covering the climb of the first ship as it got out of spell range. The two craft remained floating over the area raining death onto the clones of Tirek below before the gondolas lowered again and the crafts set off heading south west.

“Report!” breezy demands.

“One of the Changeling casters fainted and three others have headaches, but no major injuries. Minor damage to the hull from close range explosions and the bull rush. You chipped the paint sir.” A griffon chuckles.

“Damn my dad's gonna be mad I scratched his ride. Heh. Open the com to the Demon.” Breezy orders. “Dusty you good?”

“Princess Luna's looking a little green around the face, but I think she's impressed. Or she needs a airsick bag. Not sure which.” Dusty chuckles. “Nothing here save a bit of chipped paint to report hows the Storm Cloud holding up?”

“ All green. We shaved at least eight hours off our flight time, she better be damned impressed. We'll be over Whitetail Woods in little under an hour at this rate.” Breezy states. “All ahead full!”

The ships roared away as the cannon fire died off leaving the area before the tunnel as little more than a wasteland of mud and smoldering holes. A fair sized number of the clones had managed to avoid their death , though as they were regrouping, one of them noticed the tunnels arch way light up again.

Only this time it was a horde of Dragons and Guards that rushed out.

========================================================

[Crystal Empire. Royal Library, 1520 hours ]

The Jade Scroll cursed it's fate. Here it was, creator of the destroyer of ponies, locked in a safe, in a pocket dimension, inside a dead mad kings castle with only real books and dust to keep him company.

The palace had evidently been evacuated as there hadn't been a sound in hours. Pity too because he could feel the power of certain residents of the palace. Young minds, easy to play with if he could get a hold of them. The damage he could cause with foals sporting that much power would far out strip anything he did with Tirek and his brother.... whatever his name was, the failure, that was it.

The clack of hooves on stone and the squeak of metal drew the book out of his plotting. He could feel the energy of the figure outside the safe as it entered the pocket dimension of the library, the fuzziness of it was likely do to the shielding the Sparkles had put around this boring iron tomb. Still he could tell it was an earth pony, and a mare, though nothing much past that. It wasn't the Sparkles or either of those damned dragons judging by the aura.

He wasn't sure who it was with the fuzziness. Still she might be his ticket out of here.

“Ahh, is that some one seeking power?” the Jade Scroll states, it's voice echoing out of the safe.” Perhaps Tirek harmed some one you care about and you want revenge?”

There was no response aside from the squeaking stopped for a moment, but it started again and stopped right outside the safe.

“I can help you with that you know. Vengeance is a specialty of mine shall we talk over what it is you want? Do you wish to be a god? I can offer that.”

If it had a mouth any more the Jade Scroll would have smiled as it heard the tumblers of the safe whirling and the faint click of the combination being met. He could already feel the dampening spell on the safe weakening though it still seemed to be screwing with his senses as the mare seemed to be in two places at once for a moment, flickering back and forth, perhaps it was a Changeling? It had been a while since he had gotten to toy with one of those.

The safe unlocks and the pony sized door swings open with a loud creak.

“That's it … come over here, immortality could be yours.......” The Jade Scroll croons, his offer falling flat at the sight of the pink mare before him. Her face was a mask of anger and annoyance. Her darker pink hair hung straight down over her head framing her face and her eyes seemed to scream inevitable grisly murder.

“Who waaaaants to liiiive forever!!!” another voice sings out badly off key and a mismatched equine face with a Elk antler and a crooked goat horn, different sized yellow and red eyes, and a snaggle tooth over a white scruffy beard leans over the top of the safe looking in at the book from his upside down perch atop the metal.

“Who dares to dream forevvvvaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!” the mare sings out with a giggle, her hair poofing up to a massive cloud around her on her head that framed her face in the cotton candy shaped mess. “Thanks Dissy I was starting to get a bit angry there.”

“Oh I know Pinks, but I can understand it. This little propaganda filled text book has caused all sort of problems now hasn't it?”

“Mmmhmmm.” Pinkie Pie nods, a gold chain around her neck that had been hidden by her long hair jingled. The fancy looking necklace was crowned with a light blue gem in the center shaped like a balloon.

“You two?!” The Jade Scroll snarls. “What the shard do you want!?”

“ A cabbit, a bicycle, whirled peas.....”

“You mean world peace, dissy.”

“Really? What did I say?”

“Whirled Peas.”

“Ooh I do like peas... so much better than alfalfa. Maybe we could try a frosting with whirled peas.”

“That might be interesting on the pickle barrel and kumquat flavored cupcake.” Pinkie ponders pulling a note book out of her hair and writing it down.

“GAHHH I mean what the heck are you doing here !?”

“Writing a list of toppings for my cupcakes.” Pinkie Pie responds

“Helping her with that list.....” Discord adds.

“YOU CAN DO THAT ANY WHERE!!” The book screams out,

“Shhhhh, this is a library.” Pinkie Pie shushes.

“Why have you come to bother me you two mad delinquents. And why the heck are you wearing that damned Element!?” the Jade Scroll growls.

“It looks good on her.” Discord admits, getting an aww and a strangulation hug from Pinkie at the compliment.

“That's not..... never mind...” The Jade Scroll groans, if the book could face hoof it would have several times. “ Just close the damn door and go away.”

Ahh see that we can't do.” Discord adds, his serpentine form curling around Pinkie Pie until his chin rested on top of her Fluffy mane, the mare giggling at the ticklish nature of the Draconequus.

“Yup some one really want's to meet you.” Pinkie giggles. The book couldn't help to notice the manic gleam in her eyes.

Discord uncurls from Pinkie and steps away to the left, as the earth pony bounds away to the right. Behind them was a massive four tiered pink frosted cake, decorated with sprinkles, gumdrops, and other assorted candies.

The Jade Scroll regards the cake for a moment, not able to help feeling a bit impressed by the thing, though he saw no reason to point this out.

“So is a stripper gonna pop out of it?” the Jade Scroll dead pans.

“Of course not it's full of ice cream.” Pinkie states. “ A stripper would freeze in there.”

“The why is it here?” The book snarls.

“Oh .. for this.” Discord grins, snapping his fingers and launching the cake high into the air.

The Jade Scroll stared up at the flying cake wondering what the buck these idiots were up too. The cake reached it's apex, not losing so much as a sprinkle before it started to fall.

Half way down in it's plummet towards splattering on the floor, a massive beak suddenly snaps shut around the entire cake devouring the giant confection in one bite.

Brilliant purple eyes danced over the large beak framed by a pure white furred face festooned with golden feathers. The giant avian licks its beak and dips it's head, one purple eye staring at the book still inside the open safe.

“What the buck?!?!” The Jade scroll stammers.

A large eagle claw reaches in picking up the book between a pair of talons each as big as a ponies leg.

The Jade Scroll screams out in pain at the contact of the claws, the touch of them burning as badly if not more than the green dragons fire he had been subjected to.

The massive Griffon lifts the book into the air turning it this way and that, looking it over it before dropping it to land with a thud on the top of the safe and looming over it like it was prey.

”Hello Star Charmer.”< The Griffoness states in a rumbling voice devoid of any malice or any emotion. The females eyes spoke the same, no anger, just sadness.

“What the buck are you!! How do you know that name?!”

”It is your name isn't it? Inside that cold little leather bound exterior is a little griffon chick wondering what went went wrong with his life. At least that is what I hope is in there.”< The griffoness sighs. >” But I suppose I shouldn't delude myself. My name is Mirth, I am the first God of the Griffons, and the Element of Laughter.”<

“You ain't laughing.”

” Because you are not funny.”<

The Jade Scroll stares up at the bird, his gaze shifting over the room noting the utter lack of either Discord or Pinkie Pie.

“What .. what do you want?!”

” To be honest I don't know yet. Often laughter is the last refuge of the hopeless, of the down trodden. Those often thought mad by others for trying to find the faintest spark of joy in what has been left to them. It is a fine line we walk. Madness is enticing, as it removes all worries and cares swirling them into delusion and a mental blindness of sorts. Once you've dwelt there long enough however, it is far to hard to come back from it.”< Mirth smiles. >” It can happen, mind you, finding your way back, but it takes a good deal of work and love....”<

“That's not an answer!”

”I am not trying to answer you. I am trying to explain. You have simply gone so far that you can no longer understand. Regrettable, but expected. I've always been close to the others. When Grace and Troph were ripped from us I felt it far worse than anyone else, even Bonnie, but I kept my pain to myself. I had too. The others needed me to show them the bright side. The saddest among us always try their hardest to make others happy, because they know what it is like to feel absolutely worthless and they don't want any one else to feel like that. That is the core of Laughter and those who bear it. It is our shield and sword. Our gift to others. We suffer to protect them from the same.”<

“AND!?”

” And to put it simply, my impatient little chick, you were the one who ripped them from us, you were the one who made Laughter a rare commodity, your actions brought about the end of lives before they had a chance to even live!“< Mirth practicality roars at the book.

”But that's okay. It's all going to be okay now little chick. This city is built on love, this palace carries the spirit of one who was my greatest Bearer never to wield me. Her laughter and pain and love brought about a whole race of ponies who thrive on celebrations and love and joy.”< Mirth chuckles. >” I count the Crystal ponies as mine, as I do with the Draquonus and the Griffons of course. No matter how you mask yourself little chick, you are still mine. And here in this place I can take back what I have given you. The freedom to choose your fate, your laughter, and what passes as the sad life you lead now.”<

“ IS that a threat! Inconceivable!! THE Elements can't destroy the Books of Orbsah!!”

” I do not think that word mans what you think it means. Also not true... we can't destroy Bonnie's brother....but that is personal choice because he was a friend. We might have had a bit of an issue with removing the others, but the problem has always been finding them. It's hard to search when you are little more than a shiny necklace most of the time, or stuck in the astral. But you? You did this to yourself. You never were a book of Orbsah little chick, you were just a lost soul grabbing at a power you didn't understand, for a revenge that was all in your head.”<

The massive griffon looks down a moment, the feathers around her head ruffling a little. She lifts her front claw up setting it atop the green leather clad book. Mirth flinches a little at the contact, though the book itself begins screaming, the tome starting to twist and writhe under her claw. After a moment she closes her fist, the book crumbling to ash between her fingers as she pulls her arm back leaving a pile of green dust atop the safe.

She regards her fist a moment before turning her hand over and opening it. Floating over her palm was a sickly greenish brown glowing object that didn't seem to know if it was a ball or a shapeless glob.

Mirth lifts it up before her eyes turning it this way and that as she stares at the fetid thing in her palm.

”I was right. There is no part of you left that is untainted. You poor little lost chick..... there's not even enough purity in you to reincarnate from. You'd come back just as evil like this, perhaps even more so after traversing among the stars.”< Mirth sits down, her tail tip flicking behind her, the massive griffon staring down at the soul in her palm sadly.

” Bonnie would let you past. She would claim to see a little bit of light left in you. That is not her being nice, or being delusional. It is all she has to hold onto now. After all that he has done, after all that Zacherle has destroyed and tainted, she still cares for her brother. She still holds the hope that he can be saved. She holds onto this belief so strongly that she cannot see when some souls cannot be allowed to progress. That some need to be clenched before they are allowed to live again. If she were to find a soul that is so tainted that even she has to admit it is irredeemable, it would crush her. Despite her power and strength, she's the most fragile of us. If she finds even a single soul that is beyond redemption she will lose what hope she clings to.”<

The Griffoness shifts her hand letting the soul dance over her fingers like a jester playing with a ball.

” We couldn't allow that. Grace and I. We couldn't let our friend lose her hope. So we watched and we waited. We stole away from her sight those who were too evil to be reborn and we hid them away. We had a plan, but Grace was taken before we could implement it. Pulled away with her love by your actions little chick.”<

Mirth sighs glancing at the wall as an explosion happened outside, though her attention quickly returned to the ball.

”That was a bad time, some of the souls escaped and were reborn to cause strife and chaos and evil. But their time ended and when it came, I stole them away before Bonnie noticed. I found a way to purify them without Grace's aid. It is not a pleasent way. Nor is it short. Millions of stars in the sky will have lived and died by the time even a fraction of your soul is cleansed. You will be alone, you will be in pain the likes of which you have never felt before and cannot possibly imagine yet. You will be denied madness, sleep, numbness, and any mercy you might beg for. Bonnie could never do this. I doubt even Grace would be able to do what I have done. I will make sure she has no need to. She and Troph can rest as they deserve. Munificence and Forthe will never need to sully their claws or fins with even the thought of this knowledge. And Bonnie can hold onto her hope..... because there is always hope.”<

The Griffoness reaches up with her free claw, her talons clutching at the air and ripping a hole that lead to nothing, yet the cold and fire that flickered around the edges singed the griffon's claws and blackened patches of her fur and feathers as it lapped along her arm. Mirth paid the damage little mind as she lifted the soul up before the sucking wound into nothing. The rest of the room becoming deathly quiet as everything around them seemed to freeze save the flickering of the soul and the brilliant darkness of the tear.

”I will be waiting for you little chick. We shall meet again when you return, your soul cast anew, clean from the taint as if it was newly crafted by the Spirits. We can have a party to celebrate.....”<

Mirth smiles sadly, releasing the putrid soul of the Jade Scroll into the rent of everything, letting the tear snap shut just as the screaming started.

The massive Griffon sits there a moment as her arm heals, her gaze scanning the library before shaking her head and licking her beak again. She tilts her head to the side as if listening to some one talk to her.

” Thank you for the cake Pinkie. It was delightful and a perfect reminder of the good still in the world. I am sorry that this is so exhausting for you to allow me this form. I would like you to forget what you saw and I can aid in that if you......... yes..... alright. I accept your Pinkie promise not to tell. The Jade Scroll will no longer trouble any of you. That you can pass on.”<

Mirth tilts her head the other way as if listening to another voice in her head.

” Yes, thank you as well Discord. And no. I had no need to do anything to any of your friends. Despite their actions Forgescale, Aqua, and Andree had more than enough of their souls pure for them to not even be within my notice, I cannot say the same for Avianna, but I have yet to acquire her. The last soul I needed to cleanse has already returned to the world pure. Time has no meaning I could pull the poor little chick's soul back right now and for him he would have spent eternity having his darkness stripped from him.”<

Mirth blinks and smiles.

” Who you ask?..... Well.... let's just say they really are her parents this time instead of simply blood donners. I do have to ask what was with that machine, it was a interesting device.”<

Mirth listens to the silence and the voices in her head.

”An attempt to clone yourself body to inhabit that was free of the books taint.....?”< Mirth considers. >” I do not think it would have worked, but that was a novel attempt any way. At any rate... I shall let you two slumber. I need to go back and start planning a party for grace and Troph when they return to us fully.”<

Mirth turned glancing back at the door as she flicks it shut with her tail and drops the safe in front of it. She flaps her wings, spilling tons of pillows from under them like some sort of odd magic trick, the library filling with the plush mounds like a giant ball pit.

” There we are, stay safe now. I've got a party to plan.”<

The large griffon hops into the air and dives into the pillows sending an explosion of feathers and glitter every where. When it all settles Discord lay curled up in the pillows asleep. His form wrapped protectively around a sleeping Pinkie Pie, who was using him like a giant stuffed teddy bear.

=============================================

[Whitetail Woods 1525 hours.]

Pip looks back at the woods behind them as the group thunders towards the crater.

“Did we lose them?” Scootaloo asks.

“For the moment I expect. They seemed to have stopped following us.” Daring Doo sighs panting heavily.” I'm getting to old for this shit.”

Applebloom looks around as the group slows, the area they were in was blackened as if a fire had just burned through the forest, though there was no smell burning, and it was black soil under hoof rather than ash.

“Where are we? It looks like Scootaloo had a dream about flying around here.” Sweetiebelle asks poking her hoof at the ground.

“Hey, that doesn't happen anymore..... much....” Scootaloo protests.

“This is the cursed ground.” Applebloom states, the words not really her own, and not sounding like herself.

“What was that Bloom?” Pip asks though the mare was moving away from them towards a large dead tree in the center of the blackened area. The others pause taking a moment to catch their breath though Pip follows his cousin.

The yellow pony stares up at the tree as Pip moves up along side her looking up at it as well.

“This is where he died, even the animals would not partake in his flesh, despite the fact they were starving as he was warned. He was left to rot here.” Applebloom mutters

Pip looks up at the tree noting several heavily rusted metal spikes jammed into the tree, the area around the metal was soaked in rust that had run down the blackened bark, looking more like blood that oxidized metal. The shape of the spikes was odd too, one of them had bits of wood around the base of it , like it had once been some sort of dagger.

“Who did Bloom? Who died here?” Pip asks.

“What?” Applebloom blinks looking at Pip.

“What do you mean 'what?' You said some one died here and the animals wouldn't eat him, who died here?” Pip demands.

Applebloom looks at the tree her eyes narrowing as if she was watching something that Pip couldn't see.

“This is all new to me, but some one very bad was killed here by our uncle Rhede. We can't stay.”

“Is it a threat?”

“No but he's annoying with all his caterwauling.”

“What?”

“He's in pain. Has been for over a thousand years. He's watched everything he built up die, and was abandoned by those he claimed to serve. He's seen his linage die out, the demon emerge, and the passage of time has driven his spirit mad with rage and grief.” Applebloom shakes her head her ears flattening to her head. “ He blames me, and he's had a long time tah get creative with his insults.”

“Bloom I don't see or hear anything.” Pip admits.

“Nah spect yah wouldn't, still ain't sure why ah can, but a lots happening an now that ah got some answers, a few things are a bit clearer, but there's toons that ain't” Applebloom sighs. “It'd take to long to explain fully right now and we gotta keep moving. I'll tell yah all later.”

“I'll hold you to that.” Pip nods.

“INCOMING!!!” Doo shouts as a blast of energy descends from above slamming into the ground between the group, flinging blackened soil sky ward as the ponies scramble for cover.

As the dirt and rock rain down a lone figure steps out of the treeline between them and the crater. A massive black and red furred shape, with the body of a pony and the upper body of a minotaur where the ponies head should have been. The creature had two large spiraling horns rising from his forehead, and a wicked grin on his face.

“You roaches are rather quick, I suppose I will just need to try to stomp you again. “The creature chuckles.”Good thing too, it would have been boring if you all died from my first attack.”

“Tirek!” Pip growls.

================================================

[ Crystal Empire,1510]

“You want me to what?” Bleu asks in annoyance. Standing in the middle of a street looking down at a weird dragon like pony thing.

“Fly after the ships. I need to get to Whitetail Woods.”<. Troph explains.

“Why the buck would I do that there's still plenty here to deal with and so long as you're still here that means Boss's body is safe.”

“The Astral Queen is there, are you not worried for her?”<

“Nice try, but at this point I'm pretty sure I'd just slow Luna down. That mare is crazy powerful, what she is now makes that whole Nightmare Moon thing look like a pointy stick versus a cannon. Maybe not even a pointy stick... a dull pointy stick even.” Bleu rambles.” Why the heck do you want to go now, isn't Grace here?”

Troph sighs. >” She told me I need to go. ”<

Bleu looks up behind the mutant pony further down the street to see Fluttershy staring off at something before glancing back to her. Bleu's eyes widen as she briefly sees the mares face as a skull. Bleu blinks and rubs her eyes looking again to see Fluttershy still looking back at her. The yellow mare lifts a hoof to wave to Bleu before looking back at whatever she was staring at before.

“Well least she's not afraid of dragons any more. Any way kinda rough for you that your mare friend kicked you to the curb, but no dice. I'm staying here and helping to finish everything. You should have gotten on the ship before it left if you wanted to go so bad.”

”…..............................Please....”<

“Wha....?” Bleu freezes in place her head slowly turning back around to stare at the creature below her. “ What did you say?”

”Would you 'please' take me after them. Grace says I need to be there soon and blue dragons are the fastest.”<

“Did you just ask me nicely.........?” Bleu stares down at him.

”............................................ yes?”< Troph mutters.

“By the stars, it has got to be serious then...” Bleu turns her head looking to the sky. “ SPIKE!”

The purple drake looks her way before zipping down to land near Bleu, the Linorm God Glacier and six other Linorm all landed next to the purple and green drake like an horrific honor guard.

“Spike I need to borrow your Guards and Glacier for a bit.” Bleu demands getting a confused look from the Linorm.

“Huh what's going on?” Spike asks looking at Troph.

“I'm playing taxi again.” Bleu sighs.

=================================================

[Whitetail Woods 1530]

“SCATTER!” Pip yells as another blast of magic tears through the ground ripping a line between the laughing monster and the group.

The five of them had taken off running again only for the creature following them to teleport in front of or near them and fire off another spell or two. It was toying with them, that much was certain.

“Damnit ! This isn't getting us any where. Scootaloo snarls, flipping up into the air, her wings igniting.

“Is this the thing that killed my sister?” Sweetiebelle asks in a tone that that made Pip shudder a little.

“Nah it's one of the clones. He's got his horn. Ma said the real one was missing one of his from where Uncle Rhede blasted it.” Pip adds.

“It's rude to talk to talk about some one when they are right here.” The clone grins flinging a ball of fire at the group.

Scootaloo whirls in the air darting between the group and the attacking creature, her hooves covering her face as the fire ball slammed into her, exploding and showering the area under the impact point with fire and smoke.

“SCOOTS!” Applebloom screams.

“What?” Scootaloo asks, looking back without so much as a singe on her as she flicks the wipes the flame licking against her fur off to the ground.

“Oh right... it's only fire... carry on.” Applebloom sighs.

“So how do we beat this thing?” Daring Doo asks “I don't think any of us are in top form here, nor are we equipped to take on something that hunts gods.

“It's worse than that. The thing takes tha power... LEFT!” Pip yells. The group dodges to the left as a lance of lighting rips apart a tree that had run past. “.. of all the ponies it ate including the knowledge. It supposedly ate Da and Aunt Celestia and Twilight so we are looking at a master tactician fused with a insane amount of power and spells with the memories and knowledge of some one who's been alive longer than any one else on Equss. And that's not even counting what else he might know from the others he claimed.”

“You are not making me feel good about our chances here Pip....” Scootaloo snaps.

“If he's got that much brain power we need tah do something completely unexpected to beat him.” Applebloom shouts galloping back towards the others after rounding a tree that was turned to ice.

Pip grumbles lightly to himself before getting a rather large grin on his face.

“Oh this is either going to be good or end horrible. Highest average of both at once.” Pip chuckles dropping to the ground suddenly as an arcane blot lashes over his head nicking his ear and making the pony wince.

“Talk fast kid.” Doo snaps. “I don't have very many tail hairs left to escape by.”

“ Doo and I will keep him busy for a moment. Scootaloo, AppleBloom, Sweetiebelle.......” Pip yells skidding to a halt and whirling around and drawing his sword as the creature pops into being right behind him.

“What?!” the three chorus.

“ Do Crusader stuff at him.” Pip smirks around the blade, grabbing Daring Doo suddenly and running off with her to the treeline as the monster blinks in surprise at the action, watching the pair haul flank with the older pegasus flung over the earth ponies back screaming bloody murder at him.

The clone blinks again turning to look back at the three filly's before him, his eyes widening as the trio all have rather evil grins on their faces. Something in the back of his mind was telling him 'he dun goofed'.

“You thinking what I'm thinking girls?” Scootaloo asks.

“Ah can't help notice he don't have his cutie mark yet.” Applebloom comments.

“Let's help with that shall we?” Sweetiebelle chimes in.

“CUTIEMARK CRUSADERS , YAY!!” the trio cry out at once.

**********************************************************************
[ Now, In your screen, whatever time it is right now ]

Discord pops up on the screen dressed in a neon blue business casual suit with a pair of bright pink fake glasses on his nose, each lens larger than his whole head.

“Your attention please. Due to the graphic nature of what transpires in this scene we are pausing the fan fic here in order to show you Pinkie Pie rolling around in the grass for a few minutes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A large sunshine filled tranquil green field some where in the world, filled with flowers and bird song. Chipper happy music starts to play as a lightish red pony appears and dives into the flowers with a squee, rolling back and forth in them, daisys and butterflies being tossed into the air from her antics.

This continues for a few moments more before the scene fades out again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Discord reappears. Dressed the same though his outfit is now pink and the glasses neon blue. He is also wearing a dark gray rabbit on his head like a topee, the rabbit is clearly annoyed.

“We now return you to your regularly scheduled fanfic, already in progress.”

*****************************************************************

[White Tail Woods 1620 hours]

“I am never looking at rhubarb or candy canes the same way again.” Daring Doo mutters looking ill.

“Where did you even find a platypus and four hundred apples worth of garden hose?” Pip asks his ear twitching as he looks at the remains of the clearing that everyone had wound up in after the chase and the trio's antics. He was trying hard to ignore the flock of Canada Geese flying away with a wicker basket full of cheeses.

“What did I say about Sweetiebelle...” Scootaloo demands in a huff.

“Guess Applebloom and Tirek aren't cut out to be Oshiya.” Sweetiebelle sighs hugging the squirming Platypus again before letting it down to go run off into the bushes.

“We shouldn't be that far from the crater now.” Daring Doo comments, the mare suddenly screaming out as a arrow with blue fletching seems to sprout from her side.

“Shit, The Elk found us.” Scootaloo curses as a large number of the deer creatures move from the treeline to the south, arrows knocked and blades drawn.

A rumbling crash from the west snaps everyone's attention that way as a small horde of giant black and red furred creatures lumber out of the woodline into the clearing. One of them the pony minotaur like creatures had a pair of broken horns atop his head, as he surveys the field, his eyes focusing on Applebloom and her necklace with a snarl.

“Aww crap.... that's gotta be tha real Tirek.” Applebloom whines.

A loud howl from the east is accompanied by the crash of trees and the clack of wooden limbs and gnashing of oaken teeth. Wolven forms made of dead wood, green tree branches and limbs stalk out of the edges of the woodline snapping and snarling as a pack of Timberwolves, including several gargantuan alpha's, skulk from the wood line.

“The buck? Timber wolves too? I know they are attracted by blood, but I haven't been shot that long.” Daring Doo snaps.” Did the Elk call them?”

The trees to the north are filled with snarls and hooting as disjointed figures with mottled fur and oddly shaped limbs and shaggy coats skulk from the treeline snarling and snapping at each other as they survey the field. No two of the creatures looked the same, some were large, others small, some with six or four limbs others with many more. The only things they had in common were the sickly blank looks in what ever eyes they had, and the vomit inducing scent that filled the air around them with.

“Trolls.” Sweetiebelle spits the name like it was a curse.” It had to be trolls.”

The scream of something in the air made every one look up as two massive Griffon warships rocketed out of the sky above them. The sky above them goes dark as the moon moves before the light of the sun casting the land in shadow, though there was no mistaking the regal figure standing on the bow of the larger air ship. Her mane whipped behind her glowing with a inner light that faded as the eclipse came only to be ignited again with a myriad of brilliant points of light as the stars filled the darkened sky and her mane a brilliant corona flickering along the edges of her mane and tail.

The green eyed mare flared her wings out, snapping them loudly, her carapace armored form glimmering in the starlight caused by her billowing mane and tail. At the gesture swarms of changelings, half dragons, and Griffons, all armed for war, poured off the decks of the ship descending towards the gathered forces like a tidal wave of steel and violence.

“Shards.......... Ma's here.” Pip states flatly.

Author's Note

Title is Scaretale, by Nightwish

2 chapters to go in the core story. the epilogues.

Holding out for a hero [37]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Holding out for a Hero

[ Crystal Empire, train station 1620 hours. ]

“Wow this takes me back.” a figure hooded in a red cloak that covered it's form states. The general shape of the figure was that of a pony, the voice clearly of a female though it didn't seem steady, like it was trying to choose between two or three different voices to speak with.

“Takes you back? How?” asks another figure near the first. This one was clearly a pony and obviously a mare as well judging by how the form fitting scale mail armor was on her. The scales making up the suit seemed to be mimicked after hydra hide, though the coloration was a bright red that bordered on neon. She wore a knights helm that covered her face with a hole in it which a mint green horn protruded. Her voice came through muffled due to it, but her words were clear. A simple spear rested at her side. The shaft was two ponies long and made of the same metal as the blade. The blade itself was long and wide, looking a little bit like a flat pointed shovel rather than a typical spear blade. A strip of red cloth was wrapped around the shaft just under the blade and the ribbon like material whipped in the breeze and against the ponies armored back.

“To the last time we fought together.” the hooded pony comments.

“Wow that's been a while. Almost ten years when the Changelings invaded. Neat to see them helping us now. I guess even enemies can be made friends. Twilight might have been onto something with that whole friendship studies thing of hers.”

“Ten years? I was talking three years ago in Prance.”

“Oh that. We weren't fighting together then, we were fighting against each other because you flirted with that stallion in front of me.”

“That was the waiter, and for the last time I wasn't flirting.......” The hooded figure chuckles at the attempt to rekindle an old argument.” Do keep in mind who I went home with and that both of us got kicked out of the country for that.”

“And that cemented my position as a Potential Disaster rank one.” The armored pony chuckles. “Kept the standing even after retirement.”

“Well it's not like they could give me a rank like that or acknowledge that I exist half the time.”

“Oh you know you love being thought of as the calm, every suffering one of our relationship Bon Bon.” the armored pony laughs.

“I suppose you are right Lyra... or should I call you Crimson Tornado in that get up.” Bon Bon smirks under her hood.

“I still don't know how that name stuck, killing that bog serpent was literally, the first thing I did in the Guard.” Lyra snorts.

“The Guard does like giving out nicknames.”

“ How come you don't have any cool nicknames. Just that Sweetie Drops code name.”

“That was given to me after I obliterated a target with a barrel of gumdrops.”

“OooOOOOh... I wanna hear that story, how come I haven't heard that story?”

”Cause I'd have to kill you.”

“Lame excuse.” Lyra notes as she glanced towards the end of the street. A single pony rushed down the road towards them. A blue mane with a streak of white in it billows from under her Guard helm as the unicorn charges down the street towards the pair.

“There's Colgate. Or do we call her Minute?” Lyra asks.

“Doesn't matter at the moment. If she's here that means it's show time. Best get into position.” Bon Bon adds.

“I've been in position the whole time.”

“In the middle of the road?”

“You see the darnedest things,” Lyra chuckles watching as a whole swarm of slathering clones rushes down the street after Minute. The unicorn teleporting as she ran, just barely keeping ahead of the monsters. Though that was the point of what she was doing, Lyra thought she was cutting it a bit too close.

Bon Bon lifts a hoof, a line launching from inside her billowing sleeve, the hook on the end caught on the edge of a roof and yanked her upward.

“Hey are those my panties!?” Lyra yells up as she looks up after the ascending mare.

“I'm not wearing panties.” Bon Bon yells back.

“That's even better.”

“Perv”

“Your point being?”

Lyra pushed off the ground with her fore hooves, her armor chiming as she rose onto her back legs, snatching up the spear in her front limbs and spinning it before leveling the weapon at the approaching horde.

Minute ran past the armored unicorn, her hooves skidding across the wet stone and puddled water as she came to a stop just in time for a wall of water to splash against her chest and spread out over the street.

The way behind her was clear in the single breath it had taken her to turn around. Nearly invisible wires hung every where across the road dripping with water and Lyra was a good four pony lengths from her starting point, her body soaked as she tried to dry off her spear.

“So how many more of the stupid things do you think you can lead into this death trap?” Bon Bon called down from the roof to Minuette as she winds up some of her wires.

==========================================================

[ White tail Woods 1630 hours ]

Explosions and fire filled the air as the ships cannons blasted all around the group, driving the attackers back into the treeline. The Trolls fell back screaming from the fire, the Tireks all raised shields and barely noticed the attack though they still fell back towards the crater as the clearing that the group was in was suddenly widened by cannon fire. The Elk scattered vanishing into the forest though a swarm of arrows emerge from the trees along with a number of bags of powder to douse the fires caused by the explosions. The arrows were fired at everything, though most of the bulk of the fire seemed to be towards the trolls. The screams of the mad beasts were telling in how deadly the shots were.

The Timber wolves barely noticed the arrows striking them, though they avoided the fire.

The clones were swarmed by the troops dropping from the ships, though a massive figure leaps down from the ship landing with a thud between the Elk and the five ponies. Luna barely flinches at the hard landing that cracked the earth under her hooves. She yanks her legs free of the ground, her wings fanning out as the Waning Moon and Brilliant Dawn were drawn , the blades nearly screaming as the light of the eclipse set both of them glowing with crackling blue and gold fire. A score of arrows fire towards the Astral Queen, though they barely were across the field before they were little more than sawdust from the attentions of the twin blades.

Applebloom winces looking back at a massive thunderous roar as the Storm Cloud drops down bouncing off the earth to stop between the six of them and the Timber wolves. Gang planks and ropes were dropped and larger non flying Changelings and Half Dragons rushed off the ship, fanning out to attack anything that wasn't part of their forces..

“Pip are you alright?” Luna demands, sparing a glance back behind her at her son.

“Fine Ma. Miss Doo's been shot though. We didn't make it to the crater yet though.” Pip reports

“That's fine, get every one on the ship We'll thin the numbers a little before we try to get you there.” Luna's eyes narrow as she whips up the Waning Moon batting aside a blast of magic that had been aimed at the airship behind her. “ What are the Trolls and the Timber wolves doing here?”

“I don't know we never saw either of them until now.” Pip admits noting a pair of Changelings rush over with a stretcher for Daring Doo.

“The Timber Wolves came to help...... don't attack them or the Elk...... they are just confused. The trolls came from the river,down from the mountains following a call to come here.” Applebloom comments, her voice sounding a little off.

“What?” Luna asks.

“Just roll with it Ma, somethings going on with Bloom, but if she says the Timber Wolves are here to help, it's the truth.” Pip comments. “The Elk are just assholes, not evil. If we focus on the other two they might take the hint.”

“Pip, language.”

“Seriously Ma? You're gonna scold me for that at a time like this?”

“Fine, all of you get on the ship.” Luna shouts.

“Sweetiebelle!” A voice called from the ship.

“Holy buck is that Button Mash?” Scootaloo asks looking up at the ship and the brown earth pony waving at the railing..

“EEEEEEEE, it is, he came to save me!!” Sweetiebelle squees bouncing about excitedly.

“Ah gods....” Scootaloo grumbles.” Well we're never gonna hear the end of this. He better propose within the year or she'll be insufferable.”

“All of you get on the ship. I will deal with this.” Luna states.

Pip stared at the ship and the colt atop it before looking over at the mass of Tirek clones and Tirek himself. There was far too much between them and the crater for the ship to make it with out getting torn apart.

The Elk were between the village and the armies.

The trolls had emerged from a river, likely the one they had first fallen into.

The Timber Wolves had come from deeper into the forest, though now it seemed they were focused primarily on driving the Elk away from the fight.

Ma had put herself in the middle of a bad situation to save them. She could have had the ships land on the out side of the ring of attackers and only had to face one direction. She had come in thinking she would need to attack all sides and did it any way.

The ship was laying down suppressing fire as another larger Griffon Battleship circled to land at the edge of the field, a safer location to let the troops off. There was no viable reason he could see other wise for Luna to have dropped down like that save for him, or maybe that Applebloom really was the key to ending this. Something he was supposed to have found out before this. His first mission and first Royal Order were failures.

The CMC had destroyed a ship on his watch and he had failed to get Applebloom to the crater......

“No.” Pip states hooking a fore leg through the ring of his sword.

“What?” Luna asks a bit distracted as she knocks aside another blast from a Tirek clone, the real one was just watching.

“This missions not over yet!” Pip snaps, turning to the others. Applebloom looked confused though both Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle had wide grins on their faces.

“Sweetiebelle get to the high ground on the ship and give us some cover throw what ever you can. Scootaloo can you carry Applebloom down to the crater?”

“Sure, she's not light but......”

“HEY!” Applebloom protests.

“.... But I can manage.” Scootaloo finishes.

“Can you do it fast enough to avoid getting shot out of the air?”

Scootaloo blinks then grins.”Maybe..... Belle you still have that spell you used in ninth grade gym class?”

“ The one I used to feign being sick or the the one I used to flood the locker room?” Sweetiebelle asked.” Cause I was told never to use that second one again.”

“The one you used in dodge ball.” Scootaloo sighs.

“Yeah.”

“Cast it on Applebloom.”

“Okay but you only get about ten minutes with it tops.” Sweetiebelle states.

“Umm hello... I did give an order...” Luna states, being ignored.

“Right, I'll run interference, you make sure she gets there then fly around and make Tirek think you still have her.” Pip states watching as Scootaloo pulls a pair of goggles from her saddle bag, putting them on. One lens was cracked and the strap looked like it had been readjusted. Pip recognized the pair as ones Rainbow Dash had worn, mostly due to the fact the blue pegasus' cutiemark was etched into the side of the goggles.

“Alright that should be enough time.” Scootaloo states.

“Pip....” Luna demands.

“Yes Ma?”

“You did hear me when I told you all to get on the ship... not just Sweetiebelle. Right?”

“Yes ma.”

“Then why are you not on the ship?”

“ Da said some times you have to ignore orders in order to do the greatest good.”

“I am aware he said that, he lives by it when it comes to Tia. But that thing over there knows that he says it too.” Luna growls.

“Yeah and that thing over there knows how important I am to you, He knows you'll put me on the ship and he knows he can take out something that big or get on it to try and take me hostage. That thing also doesn't do well when what he thinks is right or what he plans goes to Tartarus.

“Language....”

“Seriously?'

“Habit.”

“Anyway, we saw that when the CMC took on a clone, he couldn't figure out what to do about it.” He wasn't paralyzed it was just that he couldn't react quick enough, like he's trying to process all the information he has and he can't do it fast enough. If he has time to plan we are in trouble, we have to do what he can't predict.”

“They do have that affect.” Luna admits.

“The last thing he would expect is that you let me run off into combat.”

“Because I'm not.” Luna snorts.

“Which is why I'm going.” Pip yells whipping around and charging forward towards the line of Tireks.

“PIP!” Luna yells feeling a spell being cast behind her before there's a yelp and a blur of green fire flashes over her head.

Luna bites her lip watching Scootaloo and Applebloom roar past. She could stop them. She could easily grab them and yank them back onto the ship. She really should in fact, but for some reason she wasn't, she was going to let them do what they wanted to and hope that Pip was right. There was always hope.

Another small force of Changelings rushed forward after Pip, the smaller creatures quickly changing and becoming exact copies of the white and brown spotted earth pony.

She could hope. But she could also hedge her bets a little.

===================================================

The screaming of the now ultra light mare below her was barely heard as Scootaloo snaps her wings forward. Applebloom's weight was barely a tenth of what it had been, though Scootaloo needed to adjust for the mare's wind resistance and flailing.

“Applebloom tuck your legs up and keep your head down. Curl into a ball if you can.” Scootaloo cries out gaining a bit of height in the air.

“Ah'm trying. Ah hate flying, ah can't feel tha ground....” Applebloom yelps.

“That's kinda the point...” Scootaloo states.

Scootaloo sighs as she narrows her eyes. Her bright green wings had attracted quite a bit of attention below. And while the Elk were being kept busy y the Timber wolves and Luna's forces, the clones had noticed her and a few stray shots of energy from them were launched her way. Easy stuff to dodge.

“THAT MARE, DESTROY THAT ONE!” A Tirek with broken horns bellows, pointing at Scootaloo and Applebloom.

“Oh buck....” Applebloom mutters though Scootaloo just grins.

“well this is gonna get interesting. Sorry in advance Bloom.”

“For whaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!” Applebloom screams as Scootaloo's wings flare even brighter, a quick whip of the feathers of green flame sent the pair shooting through the air like a cannon shot. The sudden momentum ripping Applebloom's ribbon from her mane and letting her long hair whip free behind her.

Scootaloo barely noticed as a cannon volley from the ship roars past her from behind slamming into the front line of Tireks, just before Pip and a horde of other Pips meets it. The earth pony was ducking and dodging among the clones, letting the Changelings handle the brunt of the attack though his blade was whirling around his hoof or tail with each move he made, slashing at any clone trying to shoot at her and disrupting the spell. Scootaloo only managed to keep tabs on him by the odd weapon he had.

Green shields of energy started forming between her and the crater, often without warning a mere apple's breadth from her face. A instant flick of her wings sent her in a completely different direction each time one formed before her. A trail of fire was left in the sky as she zig zagged around the shields as the popped up often stopping dead in the air and going completely backwards to avoid getting boxed in.

She shuts her wings off suddenly letting the momentum carry her down towards the ground after a near miss with a blast of energy. Applebloom's screaming coupled with a triumphant roar was quickly changed to even more screaming and loud cursing from the amassed clones.

The air around her was filled with explosions, beams of energy and green shields. Nothing so much as singed her fur. A shout from Applebloom made her take a glance back.

At least thirty glowing balls of light were following hot on her tail, crackling with magic and matching her every move. What's worse the spells seemed to be gaining on her.

Scootaloo grins wider looking down at the, formerly yellow, pale green earth pony she was hanging onto before she dropped into another dive with a flick of her wings, dropping into the midst of the Tireks.

The pegasus mare ducked under more spells, sweeping strikes, and attempts to grab her or Applebloom. The clones that got closest to her came away with burned hands, if her wings left anything behind but ash. She dipped lower, Applebloom's hooves brushing the ground before the earth pony yanked them up wincing at the speed they were going. Scootaloo darted between the legs of the clone army setting a number of them on fire and causing the spells following her to slam into some of their casters.

A massive hand came down on her, nearly grabbing her before a brown spotted form intercepted it sinking a blade into the arm before running up it to smash his hooves into the monster's face before leaping off into the chaos again.

Scootaloo gave Pip a brief smirk before she was pouring on more speed. She finally broke free into the open air over the crater soaring over the end of the river and the waterfall that they had been swept over a few days ago. She glanced back again seeing a score of the missiles still on her tail. She winces a little as Applebloom's weight suddenly returned.

“Sorry again Bloom, but you're too heavy.” Scootaloo yells dousing her wings and spinning in place to shove Applebloom upwards into the air. Her wings ignite again and she snaps up into the air back towards the magic missiles back flipping over them before she soars straight down towards the bottom of the crater. Applebloom screams at being thrown, her upward arc rapidly turning to a free fall though all the magic attacks follow the fire winged pegasus.

Scootaloo glances back at all the energy blasts tailing her.

“Good, they are all following me. That's a relief. It would be embarrassing to have to go back after I tossed her like that.”

The pegasus pours on even more speed, the air around her screaming as a trail of fire begins to follow behind her, leaving a line of green flame that laps at the air and sets the side of the cliff on fire. She drops like a stone fired from a sling shot, pushing her self ever faster even as the ground approaches her. The missiles behind her were still gaining, though a few of them were caught in the fire trail she left and exploded sending a shower of rocks and dirt down after her as well as they blasted chunks out of the cliff face.

Scootaloo spins suddenly her hooves striking out at the wall as if she was galloping down it, her wings flaring out, easily four times their normal size, her body looking like a flaming V down along the side of the cliff as she left a wall of fire behind her.

Less than two pony lengths from the ground she kicks off the cliff face, her wings whipping hard as she changes direction ninety degrees, skimming across the ground, her face a mask of pain as she fights the G-fore she was going against trying hard not to black out. This turn was done far faster than she had ever gone before and the strain she felt from the sudden direction change made her scream out as she tore along the blackened earth at the bottom of the crater, setting everything behind her ablaze in green fire as she weaves between the dead trees before rising sharply.

The missiles couldn't make the same turn at that speed and peppered the bottom of the crater causing an massive explosion that took out a massive section of the ground and more of the cliff face, sending both crashing through the room of the underground cavern below the crater.

Scootaloo soars back up killing her momentum and easing the strain on her wings. She turns in the air as she flies up past the falling and screaming Applebloom flying back down along side her to grab the Earth pony again, changing directions to glide over the tops of the burnt out trees.

“I AM NEVER BUCKING FLYINGWITH YOU AGAIN!!” Applebloom screams.

“That's nice. Where do you want to go. I've got to go be a distraction.”

“Put me down on the giant stump over there. That's got to be the Yggdraisl's”

The stump she spoke of was huge. Ponyville and then another large settlement could easily have fit on top of it. Scootaloo wondered how any one could have even chopped the thing down. Looking at the massive weathered trunk one could see the black tat like icor along the nearly hollow inside. Scootaloo knew very little about trees, but it seemed the black mess was some kinda rot, with a much of the interior covered in the black,likely the tree would have fallen on it's own eventually. Or maybe that was where Tirek had oozed out.

Scootaloo lands setting Applebloom on the wood as she works the kinks out of her small wings before igniting them again.

“You better figure out what you're supposed to do fast Bloom. The Tireks were taking down a lot of attackers. I need to get back and make sure Pip is okay.” Scootaloo states

“So you do care about him?”

“None of your business.”

“It kinda is, he's my cousin.”

Scootaloo remained silent for a moment. “ I need to go, you be careful.”

“You too.”.

==============================================================

Tirek was annoyed. Grated that was not an uncommon state since the loss of his cloud fortress.

The majority of his smart clones had been drawn out here at the feeling left by that damn zebra's ability. An ability that was currently screaming and directing his attention to the fire winged pegasus ripping through his ranks.

Several of his memories put her name as Scootaloo, part of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, a level 3 Potential Disaster Rating. The one she was carrying was called Applebloom, another member of the crusaders.

None of that, save the PDR, meant anything, and since the three were separated, that didn't mean anything either. The pegasus was carrying the earth pony some where in a hurry, and he didn't want that to happen.

Of course stopping the mares was proving harder than it should have been. The agility displayed by the orange one surprised him and was far beyond anyone whose memories he had, had seen. Celestia had even made a brief study of the wings and found out nothing beyond they appeared to be the mares talent. While they came about from dragon flame they were closer to lightning or as Twilight put it foo fighters and ball lightning.

He was so distracted by the mares in the sky dodging all his clones attacks that he didn't know there were ponies among them until a number had already fallen.

Tirek drops his gaze as a white and brown spotted colt turns another of his clones to water. Then another.... no wait... that wasn't the same colt.

Looking around there were dozens of the small pony darting around When one was delayed by a clone a second came up to distract the clone so the first could dart off again.

These were ambush tactics. Hit and run. And the form that was taken was that of one of Kaisur's sons.... Why would Luna …..oh right. The CMC and Pip had run off on an adventure for their senior class trip, he had briefly seen them when he arrived here. Some how they had wound up here, the burning wings of the pegasus were proof enough that the group was here some where, which meant Pip was here.

But why would Luna send her son into this? Looking over at the mare he could tell she was worried, and given how she looked when she first arrived it was not because of him. Tirek slams his hoof down to the right suddenly, the massive limb smashing down onto one of the Pips, green icor and black chitin exploding from under his massive hoof. He regards the mess briefly noting Luna's wince.

Changelings.

He shouldn't be surprised, but that still meant that the foal was some where in this mess and she was trying to hide him. As if he didn't have enough to worry about with the other forces gathered.

The Elk were beneath his notice. A pathetic race that barely had enough numbers left to viably breed a new generation let alone be any sort of threat. Still one did not stand against him and survive and these creatures had done so twice. They were next on the list.

The Timber Wolves were unexpected, particularly since they only seemed to be going after the Elk and the trolls so long as one of his clones didn't get in their way. While they were ripping into the trolls they were only subduing the Elk or making them run off. Odd, but irrelevant.

Luna's Changeling, Griffon, and Half Dragon army as well as the two warships worried him more than the others, and even they were nothing.

The trolls however were what gave him pause. He didn't call them, and given how the mad beasts were attacking anything that moved that wasn't another troll hinted that they were being directed. Trolls never fought side by side unless something stronger forced them too, or they were being controlled, and there was only one thing that could do that in such numbers.

What was the Gray Grimoires plan here?

The Book of Orbsah had to know that the Trolls would be little more than a nuisance to him. Was it making another play that Tirek wasn't aware of? Simply showing that he wasn't gone? Or was he actually attempting to help Luna in defeating him?

Given how the Trolls had no real focus he expected it was something in the middle. Like the book considered him an after thought. Something to keep busy, but not enough to devote any real energy into fighting.

He was being snubbed by a book that hung around with Trolls.

That was just insulting.

Glancing up he noted the pegasus returning . He looked to one of his subordinate clones and gestured for him to deal with her.

Luna was going to do something and he needed all his power for when she did.

============================================

Luna was freaking out.

She was was also extremely pissed.

There was also a small part of her that was quite proud, though the other two parts rapidly tried to quiet that part.

Daring Doo and Sweetiebelle were on the ship, the scouts she had flitting about in the sky to give her an over head view of the battle confirmed that Applebloom had made it to the Yggdrasil and Scootaloo was on her way back. The pegasus had caused no end of havoc with her abilities and Luna was quite impressed. She made a note of it and had the Changelings she left in the Crystal Empire relay the information to Shining Armor. The relay back told her that Spitfire was there too and nearly throttling the Changeling she left for more information on her daughter.

Starfall and Rainbow Dash needed to watch out, or the young mare might just surpass them. No rainboom, but a wall of green flame nearly two leagues in length that was still burning against the side of the cliff and in the open air. That was power she had not expected.

There were still some clones attacking the Crystal Empire, but right now it was mostly clean up. Every pony was more concerned about what was happening here in White Tail Woods.

Because this is where it would end, one way or another.

Pip was another matter. He had rushed into the fray in what she thought was a blind attack, but he had been correct, a number of the Tireks had hesitated when they recognized him, and by the time they decided to attack he was already in their ranks. It didn't hurt matters that at least two score of Changelings had followed him, and all of them adopted his form. She knew which was the real Pip and happily noted that he was staying clear of the hornless Tirek.

That was the real one and he was just standing there, occasionally shouting orders though he kept glancing behind him to the crater.

Luna herself wasn't doing much either. She was waiting for him to make a play so she could stop it and him, but so far all she was doing was deflecting some shots at the ships, and that was only by moving one of the swords she carried, she had cast nothing of any note yet though she had a few spells ready to go and the blades were both screaming for blood.

The bloodthirsty feeling from the weapons confused her when she had first felt it, but she also felt the resistance from the Brilliant Dawn. The blade knew she was not it's master, yet it also seemed to know that both it's creator and master were down and such Luna would have to do. The Waning Moon on the other hoof knew who she was and the few times before when she took up the weapon it had been because of Jer'rahd being incapacitated. And the events that followed were almost always filled with violence. She could feel that the pair didn't like each other, but the rage was focused on Tirek and it was taking a surprising amount of concentration to simply keep the whirling blades on the defensive instead of lashing out on their own. Perhaps it had not been Jer'rahd who had saved her from Nocturne, either that or his will had been enough to make the weapon act on it's own.

Luna remembered before, that Twilight and Jer'rahd had both said that their blades seemed to have personality's of their own. Now that she could feel emotion and she felt it from both weapons she knew their beliefs were true. Both blades bore the souls of warriors, spawned either from their long connections with their owners, or in how they were forged. Given that the dragon smith that forged them was long gone from Equss she likely would never know the answer. That Forgescale had only been able to destroy, while his father had been able to craft things such as these swords was unbelievable.

The memories barely crossed her mind for an instant, but that alone was enough for an explosion to rock the very ground she stood on.

Looking past the Tireks and their shields, a massive plume of earth and rock was rising rapidly into the air.

The plume of earth rose high enough to intercept a blur of green fire, who crashed right into the rising earth and didn't come out the other side.

================================================

Pip flinched as the ground shook under him, cracks forming on the ground as the cliff side exploded behind the massed clones.

One of them had been watching Scootaloo come back and when she was nearly here, he had cast something into the ground, and the earth before him had launched itself into the air along with some trees that had been growing by the edge.

The fire winged pegasus had tried to veer, though the sudden eruption happened too quickly for even her reflexes and she was surrounded by debris. He had seen her slam into the dirt and then into the side of a rock, her wings going out at the impact.

“Scootaloo!” Pip screams out galloping towards the edge of the cliff as time seemed to slow around him, the plume starting to reach it's apex and beginning to fall along with the mare.

This was stupid.. this was damn stupid, why the buck was this his plan, there was no chance he was gonna make it.

There was even less of a chance that he wasn't going to try to save her.

The small pony lept up, his hooves slammed into the back of the clone that cast the spell,he charged up the creatures back and kicked off it's face with both hooves soaring into the air, leaving his sword behind embedded between the creatures eyes.

He didn't even look back as the clone turned to water, his hooves made contact with a uprooted tree and he rushed along it galloping over the wood as the tree and the debris started to fall. He lept up off the tree hitting a rock and bouncing off that to another, bounding up the rubble tossed by the explosion even as it plummeted towards the floor of the crater far bellow.

He didn't stop, shoving through loose soil and using his smaller size to bound up the pillar of rubble to where he saw an orange form tumbling down with the rest of the rocks.

Kicking off a tree he managed to leap up onto the rock she hit and scrambled up over it to grab her before leaping away from the rock slide with a massive kick off the bolder he had climbed up. His eyes stung with the dirt he plowed though. Looking up he could see that they had already fallen nearly half way down the cliff, well out of range of his mothers spells and it was doubtful that any fliers could get here before they hit.

Pip glanced down at his hooves and the mare held against his chest as he fell backwards, she had a large cut on her temple, though she was breathing. Well at least for another half league any way, he doubted he would be much cushion when they hit at this speed. Though he could hope for that at least, that she would survive the impact..

Yeah, this was a stupid plan. His Da would likely chastise him for letting emotions fuel his actions.... or maybe he would understand. Da was strange like that.

Looking past her he could see that he had kicked them fully clear of the falling rocks and trees from the avalanche. There was that at least, they wouldn't be buried.

He closed his eyes waiting for the impact wincing at the thought already. Why the buck did he jump off a cliff to try and save her...... oh right he had a thing for her...... well maybe a bit more than that if he was willing to leap to his doom. Infatuation maybe? Granted maybe it really was love, also why was his mane wet?

Opening his eyes and looking up he nearly drowned as he buried his face into a large glob of falling water. He blinked as darkness enveloped them as they fell through a familiar hole in the bottom of the crater, his last kick off had shoved them both far enough that they were back in the waterfall where they had first entered the crater and found the underground city.

“Not again!” Pip laughs right before they hit the churning water below for a second time.

====================================================

The Waning Moon and Brilliant Dawn had ripped through everything between Tirek and her, decimating shields and clones alike before the Changeling giving a relay overhead told her they had both fallen into the water fall.

Luna paused a moment for a breath before ordering her scout to go down after them. As it was however she had torn through the line enough to come face to face with Tirek himself.

“I see we meet again Princess.” Tirek sneers his shield managing to block the Waning Moon from taking his legs out from under him.”Though this time I am very much awake.”

The clones were lesser creatures, and the strength of his shield showed that. Either that or the blades felt their masters powers in him and were hesitant to rip though the shields.

“Nice trick with making yourself a Changeling to keep me from taking the powers of the sun and moon. But it's not going to work. Twilight Sparkle studied the bugs and I know their weaknesses. I also know a number of spells that can change the forms of the gods themselves. Thus granting them a cutiemark and making them easy prey for me. I must admit ponified Griffons and Diamond Dogs are quite tasty. The spells only useful on gods however as anything less takes more energy to change then I get back.” Tirek explains.

Luna growls thinking the damned monster just liked the sound of his own voice. She lashed out with the blades a few more times, even casting a quick disruption spell to little effect aside from making a larger area around the two free of fighting.

The majority of her forces were now mixed in with the fighting, the roar of the cannons showed that the rest of them on the ship were busy as well even if they were not fighting trolls and Tireks. Luna had kept her army back from attacking the Timber Wolves and Applebloom had been right, the great wooden creatures had ignored the Changelings in turn, and with them going after the Elk, that left her swam to deal with the real threats.

“I suppose you are wondering why I am telling you this? “

“ I was under the impression you might like the sound of your own voice. Or you're channeling Twilight Sparkle, she enjoys long winded and boring explanations.” Luna states

“Yes well....” Tirek stammers. “It is more that I know about your little hive mind and how it can transfer emotions along it so that even one of your bugs is near a source of power you all will feel it. I expect you left a number them in the Empire to feed off the heart and grant you a near limitless supply of energy. And all the gathered power feeds through you at some point like a central hub....”

A few more attacks met the same result as Tirek's shields held, though Luna could see cracks in some of them. Even Jer'rahd at his best had a limit and this monster was just copying him.

“Get to your point so I can cut off all your arms and legs before mounting you on the wall and naming you Art!” Luna snarls doubly upset that some Changlings memory was full of bad jokes and she had tapped into it.

“Simply put Luna you don't just absorb love and one of the Griffon Gods I took had a delightful fear spell as his power. Let me show you.”

The monster screamed and everything else followed suit.

=============================================

Again Tirek was relatively disappointed.

The fear spell worked spectacularly.

Changelings, Griffons, Half Dragons and Elk either froze in place quaking with fear, or ran around in a screaming panic.

Unfortunately neither the Trolls nor the Timber wolves were affected by the spell.

Fortunately with the Elk incapacitated the Timber Wolves turned their full attention on the Trolls rather than his clones.

Unfortunately his own clones were affected as well.

Fortunately, as predicted Princess Luna was stuck before him shaking in fear herself. While even the spell cast by a god could have probably been shaken off by the mare, the effects of the spell running through every Changeling she was connected to were hitting her with an amplified backlash even she couldn't easily fight off.

Damn there was Sparkle again.

Unfortunately, the twin blades she had been swinging around were still swinging around her. Luna's magic had been cut off, but the weapons themselves had only grown brighter and were still spinning around the mare on their own ready to block or kill anything that came near.

Fortunately all it took to free his clones from the thrall of the spell was a simple counter spell cast on them to deafen them temporarily. The clones thus freed either started killing the attackers, freeing others, or added their own fear spells from Twilight's memories to bolster his own expanding the area of effect. A small group of them had started to focus on putting as many shields around the stunned goddess as they could, trapping her in place in the event she shook off the spell. It would give him time to deal with her. Transformation magic took longer than he liked but the power that mare had would be his at last.

Even the air ship far above was simply hovering there with a few griffons and changelings flying free of the deck, and the one that was on the ground had stopped shooting.

Waking his army was a minor set back, but so long as the spell was going on he could wipe out everything save Luna and then face her with the full force at his disposal.

=========================================

Sweetiebelle stood on the deck of the ship staring over the side at the others.

The massive scream had filled the air and sent every one into a panic. Right now the only ones on the deck with her were Button, who was huddled over a large case he had been carrying, and five changelings who were trying to hide under each other.

Sweetiebelle noted the fear spell and rather than be affected by it, was annoyed by it. There was a rhythm in the spell that was almost it's own dance, but it held no tune and to dance to this music would mean acting like a fool and running around blindly.

Sweetiebelle sighed at the magic, then she smiled.

“Button Crystalis Mash!” Sweetiebelle yells suddenly.

Button yelps stumbling to his hooves looking around in a panic before glaring at Sweetiebelle. The mare strode over to him looking down at him as he struggled to shake off the spell and glare up at her. He pulls the pair of head phones from around his neck dropping them over his ears before he managed to rise fully to his hooves and glare at her.

“I thought I told you never to use my middle name.... only my Mom does that when she's mad.....” Button shivers.

“It got your attention didn't it. Do you know what this is?”Sweetiebelle waved a hoof, having to yell so the pony could hear her. The roar was still making the pony tremble, but the effect was muted.

“Chaos, us losing? A fear spell...... a fear spell with a audible component, what looks like a semantic component and …... .” Button states as the realization hits him.

“I need a rhythm Button. What have you got?” Sweetiebelle grins.

Button returns the grin darting to the front of the ship and slamming down the case smashing a hoof down on the button atop it.

The pony sized case rapidly unfolds, easily six times it's size with a speaker system that was double even that. It had a DJ table, a group of massive speakers what looked to be a built in keyboard a number of mics and everything that a sound tech would need for one heck of a show. The set up covered the forecastle deck of the ship, several speakers even spilled over the sides of the ship magically clamping to the side as the sound system secures itself in place. Despite the sudden envelopment of the front of the ship by tec, there was just enough space on the prow for Sweetiebelle to move and be seen.

A perfect stage.

She glanced over at Button who had taken off his headphones and slapped them along with another few pairs on the Changelings that were huddled near by.

“Button what are you doing?” Sweetie asks looking back at him.

“These guys are musicians. I was talking to them on the trip here. That's Carol, Aria, Shanty, Ditty, and Melody. Princess Luna actually brought them just in case something like this happened. Teacher was right. It's just like Dullahan.” Button grins as the Changelings behind him struggle to shake off the spells effects.

Button rushed back over to the sound booth shaking like a leaf from the spell but doing rather well to ignore it as he powers up the system tossing Sweetiebelle a mic. The Changelings stumble forward looking at what was going on clearly confused when Button dropped a pair of mic stands before them. He glances up to Sweetiebelle on the prow of the ship with a grin.

“One rhythm, with back up singers, coming up.”

Button starts a tune playing it from a crystal. The song that started playing through the speakers felt oddly right for the situation, a low hum of a guitar before a piano beat starts as the volume rises.

Sweetiebelle recognized it immediately as Platinum's Cosmic love. A wave of horror flashed across her mind coupled with a an image of her body flying through the air to impact a great black wall that had split open to let all manner of horrors through it.

“NOT THAT ONE!” Sweetiebelle yells back causing Button to mash down on the stop button with a jerk. Sweetiebelle looked out over the battlefield, the noise having drawn the attention of a number of clones that had been freed, and of the hornless Tirek himself.

“Just give me a random beat quick.” Sweetiebelle yells back.

Button fiddled a bit before a simple baseline starts up of guitar and drums. A few seconds later a piano starts up and a drum crash is added.

Sweetiebelle twitches a little at the beat, the words of a song forming in her mind. Her horn starts to glow brightly. The five Changelings with her suddenly start what sounded like a chant, though it was little more than the five of them keeping time with the music with little more than doo doos, and ahh ahh.

It was perfect, and more than enough for Sweetiebelle..

“Where have all the good ones gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the street-wise Mare-do-well
To fight the rising odds?”

The effect was nearly immediate. There were shouts behind her as the crew that had fled the ship paused in their attempt to escape before quickly turning about and rushing back towards the ship, diving into holds and open hatches. The Storm Cloud shuddered as the engines roared, barely heard over the blasting music that the sound system was putting out.

“Isn't there a white knight, a strong fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need”

The ship rocked as it lifted off the ground suddenly, a blast of magic striking against the armored prow as the ship lifts. Had the craft not moved the blast would have slammed into Sweetiebelle and the sound system. As the craft rose she glanced back to Button who cranks the volume knob higher.

“I need a hero!”
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight”

The ship soared upward forcing Button, Sweetiebelle and the Chorus of Changelings to grab onto something before they fell back down over the deck.

“I need a hero”

The Ship leveled off over the battle field and the cannons roared, the firing falling into a perfect rhythm with the song. A hatch flips open in the deck and a griffon climbs out tossing a number of cables towards Button. He took a glance at the cables then the Griffon, though the crew bird was already ducking back below the deck. Button grabbed the cables plugging them into the sound system, the music and Sweetiebelle's singing growing even louder as the ships com suddenly started broadcasting her voice and the music across all frequencies and through the ships own speakers. The hull thrumming along with the music.

“I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light”

Button glances longingly at a bright red button under a small glass bubble though he ignored it working on keeping the rhythm steady. The changeling singers all seem to get into it more following Sweetiebelle's lead and adding their own back ground vocals to support her singing.

“He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
Larger than life........”

The cannons roar again as the ship takes a sudden sharp turn, a blast of magic tearing off a number of railings, but again the ships Captain's actions had saved the musicians from getting blasted for a second time. Button darts forward wrapping a cable around Sweetiebelle's waist and connecting her to the sound system and the ships deck to hold her in place as she climbs up onto the jib boom. He does the same to himself and the changelings, though their wings were keeping them in place better than his spare aux cords.

“Somewhere after midnight
In my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach
There's someone reaching back for me”

Bellow the effects were not instantaneous, though they were no less impressive. The warriors who had fled were returning quickly and the ones who were frozen were back into the thick of it seemingly doubling their efforts. In trying to take out the Trolls and the clones.

Many of the clones were still frozen in fear and made easy targets, though even in the short time that the fear spell had been in effect many of the attackers had been killed or injured by the Trolls or the clones that had been awakened. Luna's swarm had gone from having superior numbers to being evenly matched at best and outnumbered now at worst.

The spell had done a wicked job in decimating Luna's forces.

“Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat
It's gonna take a Power pony to sweep me off my hooves”

To look out over the field now, if not for the bodies it would seem that no one had fallen at all with the nearly tripled ferocity of Luna's forces. Spells raged as the Guard forces pushed back against the clones and trolls, forcing them to go on the defensive once more.

With the aid of the Timber Wolves the Trolls were being decimated where before they had only been fought to a stand still.

From the tree lines arrows rained down again, though this time their targets were Triek's and Trolls, it seemed the Elk had figured out who the real threats were at last.

“I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight”

Luna couldn't be seen with the number of shields piled up around her like a jagged dome. With Tirek as close to her as he was she was probably still getting hit with the brunt of the spell.

The Captain evidently noticed this too as the ship was turning towards her. Button made a not to fault an' I told you so' over the pegasus later.

“I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life”

The song turned to a break down of just music as Sweetiebelle caught her breath her face wide with a smile. She looks back to the others, a path laid out in her mind of what she was going to do from this point on. She turns back looking out over the crater seeing a small red dot atop a massive tree trunk. Sweetiebelle hoped Applebloom could hear this, or if not, that she at least wasn't hit with the spell.

“Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I would swear that there's someone somewhere
Watching me”

The ship rocks with repeated impacts as the underside was blasted with magic fire, bits of wood flying up around them as several of the Tireks where blasting the ship while others protected them from the attackers with shields.

“Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach
Like the fire in my blood”

The Changeling chorus echos the last line as the air bag above them suddenly is hit, a ball of fire enveloping it and snapping loose a number of guide wires making the ship tilt crazily as it started to spin out of control as more spells struck it.

Sweetiebelle barely even paused.

“I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight”

The ship clips the top of one of the trees as Captain Breezy fought for control. The airship listed to the side heavily with a groan that the music couldn't drown out as the spiraling got worse.

Button could hear the Captain, Breezy screaming in rage from the bridge as he fought to keep the ship airborne.

“I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life”

The ship takes a few more solid impacts as it is steered away from the crater towards the woods behind where the Elk had come from, the ship breaking apart as it spiraled through the air knocking the tops off a number of trees

“I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight”

Button grits his teeth holding on tighter to the sound system as the whole world whirled around him. Sweetiebelle and the Changelings were doing their best to keep upright but they were straining in the cords he had tied them down with. The strain didn't seem to reach their voices at all.

“I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life”

The jerk of the ship as it hit something a little thicker than a tree top sent the whole thing pitching forward before the Captain yanked it backwards to keep the prow in the air.

“I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night”

A massive blast slams into the side of the ship as it finally falls through the trees. A few chorus's of Ooo's from the Changelings are heard before another massive explosion lights up the darkened sky as the forest where the ship went down erupts into a pillar of fire sending bits of gas bag and wood flying high into the sky as the song goes silent.

===============================

Tirek cursed his arm still raised from casting the final shot.

It wasn't over.

He still had control of this, his clones were pushing back the defenders again. All he needed to do was cast that spell again now that the meddlesome mare and her song were put down and he could wipe out everything once and for all.

Ending that nuisance forced his hand and made him stop the fear spell briefly to blast the ship out of the air, but it was over. A momentary lapse wouldn't be enough for Luna to get free, not with as many shields were trapping her.

A sharp pain in his arm snapped his eyes down to his upraised hand.

Or at least, to the fountain of black blood where his arm from the elbow down should have been.

He roars, backing away pain his eyes widening as Luna stood before him still, her mane whipping wildly specks of green floating behind her where she had ripped through the shield and the clones faster than the magic could dissipate. A number of his clones that had been trapping her were still looking around confused as they were already in three or four pieces but the magic keeping them from turning into puddles hadn't realized they had been killed just yet.

The Waning Moon and the Brilliant Dawn both dripped black icor. Glancing down he didn't even see his severed arm on the ground, just giblets of his flesh and a growing puddle of his own blood.

“I don't have to hurt you to stop you.” Luna snarled as the two blades snap to either side of her, splattering the ground with more of his blood as she advances on him. “But I am going to enjoy doing it any way.”

Author's Note

Title and song is Holding out for a hero [I Need a Hero] by Bonnie Tyler

This Book is nearing it's end, there should only be one more chapter before the epilogues.

Shout [38]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Shout

[ White Tail Woods. 1700 hours ]

This was a very bad situation.

To say the mare before him was pissed would be the understatement of the millennium. The stump of his left arm was proof of that, and he had very, very narrowly been avoiding the same treatment to his other arm and legs.

Any clone that got close to the mare was dead the moment it stepped into her range, any spell sent her way was knocked aside or completely ignored as it struck her and didn't do a damn thing. Transformation spells, attack spells, illusions, evocation, NOTHING was working. It was the classic reason why magic users didn't rule the world it took time to cast big spells and a skilled enough Earth pony or pegasus could have them killed four times before the spell even went off, Pegasi could dodge a number fast cast spells and earth ponies could shrug off some as well, Luna was well past that.

The Changelings swarming his clones didn't help matters While the clones were holding their own against them, they were not allowed to gather together enough to cast anything big enough to hurt the rampaging alicorn.

The mare was sporting the power of the sun, the moon, both pony gods, the memories and powers of a Changeling Queen, the massive battery of energy that was the Crystal Heart and was wielding two of the most dangerous artifact weapons known to Equss. Then add to the fact she had a army of reinvigorated Changelings, Half Dragons, Griffons, Elk, Timber Wolves, and a Griffon warship backing her up.

Tirek had perhaps a hundred smarter clones left, who were practically useless at this point. The Trolls were done, after that musical number there were maybe ten of the buckers left that hadn't run for the hills and that was only because they were currently getting ripped apart by Timber Wolves and couldn't run.

The other airship had not even finished raining parts down from the sky yet and he was on his last legs..... or would be if this damned mare had her way.

He had his shields, which she still had difficulty cutting through and a few more tricks up his sleeves.

Well sleeve any way he doubtless was ever going to wear a shirt that needed both arms again.....

He shoved the annoying jokers memory out of his mind, he had no idea why he thought a stand up comedian had been a good idea to devour.

Still. What worried him the most was not the mad Goddess of the sky before him, but the feeling that he needed to be in the crater, because what was happening there was worse than what was happening here.

He had no idea how that was possible.

He winced as several clones were cut down after teleporting in above the mare and trying to drop a several ton rock atop of her.

The rock was now sand and the clones didn't even have time to turn into liquid before they became mist. He couldn't even see the blades she was wielding and had to rely on the instincts he stole to toss up shields and dodge before losing something else.

All he needed was a moment though. He had spells and powers to deal with this.

He just needed a moment....

A scream of tortured metal and wood signaled that he wouldn't be getting that moment.

====================================================

The woods behind Princess Luna exploded in a roar of fire and carnage as a massive shape shoved itself along the ground through the trees with the scream of steam engines. The massive steel and wood beast rips out of the tree line and onto the field, flames roaring from behind it, battle scars covering its sides.

The Storm Cloud was not sunk yet.

A white mare stood on the end of a broken bowsprit, the severed head of a black dragon still attached to the underside of it like a macabre figure head. She was splattered with dirt and soot and blood, though her face had a look on it like she was a hundred and fifty percent done with this shit.

Sparking boxes and speakers surrounded her as a brown earth pony behind her fought with controls. A group of changelings huddled behind him holding onto anything as the crash landed ship plowed up earth and trees making a roaring beeline towards Tirek.

“Button, crank it to Eleven.” Sweetiebelle states her horn glowing brightly.

“Eleven?” Button grins pushing up the pair of shades that had slid down his muzzle.” Mare please, this goes to Thirteen!”

The earth pony slams a hoof down on a glass covered red button, shattering the bubble and mashing the button. The device shudders and more speakers pop out of the speakers that were already popping out of the speakers, the whole front of the ship looking like a wall of sound with a battered steel prow flinging dirt , trees and whatever else was in front of it away. A single dial on the device spins on it's own, the meter showing a bright red thirteen on the dial that had not been present before. Runic lines on the speakers started to glow as the whole machine lights up in neon blues and black lights like it was ready for a rave.

Luna took a glance back at the thing and promptly vanished in a sudden pop of teleportation along with all the rest of her forces in the fight with Tirek. Tirek took note that all her Changelings had suddenly morphed away their own ears.

“This is for my sister....” Sweetiebelle snarls, her horn glowing even brighter that the sound system as the speakers begin to whine from the feed back.

”....RARITY!”

===============================================

Everything stopped, the wave of noise coming from the front of the speakers could be seen leaving the front of the ship in rippling waves that expanded outwards seeming to take up all of the sky and the earth at that call.

It was then that one would notice something seemed off. Nothing was moving any where and it had been not moving than far longer than it should.

Luna was behind the ship with a number of Changelings who had teleported with her, Tirek was still frozen with several shields up. His remaining hand pushed forward to release a massive spell towards the front of the ship. One that had just left his palm and was frozen in place in the air. Arrows were stuck in the air, blood and water splatters had ceased raining down, and everything was simply like a odd game, paused.

It was then one might hear the trickle of water, or some liquid and if one looked one could easily see the source.

The sun and moon were melting, running down from the sky at an odd angle as if some one was attempting art with melted crayons. The sky itself darkened in a deep blue followed suit as soon did the trees, the bushes and the creatures across Equss. All of them pooling and trickling and melting together in a jumble of sludge that in itself started to melt and fall into nothing.

There was no color, no blackness it was a void of anything was all that remained, but for a moment one could make out this odd whooshing sound, like a key being scraped over a piano wire.

==========================================================

The Storm Cloud was not sunk yet.

“Button, crank it to Eleven.” Sweetiebelle states her horn glowing brightly.

“Eleven?” Button grins pushing up the pair of shades that had slid down his muzzle.” Mare please, this goes to Thirteen!”

“Twelve!!”

A sudden buzzing to his left stopped him from hitting the button as he looks over to see a brown earth pony with a hourglass cutiemark holding some weird green glowing rave stick to the side of the sound system. The system sparked in a few places but otherwise seemed undamaged.

“But....”

“Nope, it does not go to thirteen it never went to thirteen and if you know whats good for everything every where, it will never go to thirteen, try twelve a much better number and one less likely to destroy reality, nice round number too easily divided. I rather like twelve, ten is better than that of course, but that's not the issue here. Come to think of it four was pretty fun too.” The pony looks down at the stick talking a mile a minute before nodding slightly and tucking the buzzing thing away in his mane.

“Who are you?” Button stammers.

“I'm the doctor, but that's not important now, what is important is that you never go to thirteen again, twelve is plenty loud enough and even fourteen would be doable, but never thirteen, There's a reason it's skipped in most buildings, don't ask. Suffice to say I do not ever want to have to go through that nonsense again. It took forever to get all the goo off my hooves.”

“BUTTON?” Sweetiebelle yells.

“What right....” Button looks back across the crashing deck to see a gray furred and blond maned pegasus say a few things to the Changelings, whose ears all morph away before she and the brown pony both get into a odd blue box.

The earth pony slams a hoof down on a glass covered red button, shattering the bubble and mashing the button. The device shudders and more speakers pop out of the speakers that were already popping out of the speakers, the whole front of the ship looking like a wall of sound with a battered steel prow flinging dirt , trees and whatever else was in front of it away. A single dial on the device spins on it's own, the meter showing a bright red twelve on the dial that had not been present before. Runic lines on the speakers started to glow as the whole machine lights up in neon blues and black lights like it was ready for a rave.

“This is for my sister....” Sweetiebelle snarls, her horn glowing even brighter that the sound system as the speakers begin to whine from the feed back.

”....RARITY!”

===============

[Another continent in the cold north east of Equss]

A thunderous roar shook the air. A number of Griffons and ponies looked up, fluffy wool hats on their heads and thick coats protecting them from the biting cold. Towering red brick structures vibrated lightly as a few windows cracked from the sound.

The citizens of Stallionigrad looked up in the air as the voice of the cry faded with a few echos around the city and scores of birds too to the air in panic. It sounded like a name, and it was heard very clearly by everyone.

[“What is a 'Rarity?'] a griffon asks a shrugging pony next to him.

==================

[ Far East of Equss ]

The glitzy lights flickered in the darkness and tall multi layered buildings swayed from the cry. Diamond dogs and ponies blinked with slightly slanted eyes as they looked up into the sky at the sudden cry that nearly drown out everything else even in a place like Trotkyo that was very active this time of night.

The local's gathered around looking up at the semi dark sky wondering exactly what or who Rarity was.

===================================

[ The far, far north of Equss]

The biting cold of the north was barely felt by the massive Caribou perched atop of the snowy hill. The cry had started a number of avalanches and caused all work in his shop to come to a screeching halt. Sourpuss was nearby trying to explain to Rudy how he had no part in the noise, though Santa Hooves wasn't listening to the pair of them bicker, his eyes were turned towards the south and the Summer lands, worry etched on his face. It was not his time of year, so his powers were useless, but he knew what was happening and wished he could do something....... perhaps he could though it wouldn't be until Hearths Warming that any one would know. He turned back towards the arguing pair, planning to start a few things.

==================================

[ The far far South of Equss ]

Kiongozi looked out from his balcony over the plains stretching for leagues. The current leader of the Zebra lands had been keeping an eye on the strange eclipse since it had first formed. There was much going on in the world that had him worried. A number of Zebra settlements had been attacked and many of his kind had been left as unconscious husks, their marks gone from them. There were a number of reports from other nations as well, at least there were before many of them went dark.

If not for the Eclipse he would think that Equestria itself was gone with the odd motions of the sun and moon, and that no one could get up with any of the Embassies in Equestria, nor with the Griffons, Minotaur, Harpies, or Diamond Dogs. For a time he though perhaps that the Zebra Lands were the last nation on Equss, save perhaps for some far off colonies on other continents.

Then the ponies had sent word from the Crystal Empire and all the information they had on a monster named Tirek that was attacking. He knew of destruction of Gallpagos, but beyond that, he had heard nothing, and had only been able to watch the strange movements of the sky for the last week. He had an army ready just in case and a number of the rare magic using Zebra's, ready to face what ever was causing the issues else where. The last contact he had was a short missive from the Crystal Empire that stated Canterlot had fallen, though nothing beyond that.

Until now.

“RARITY!!”

The cry echoed shaking the foundation of his palace like a roar of thunder, the name echoing across the plains sounding as if the one speaking the name had been right next to him and yelled it into his ear. He flattened his ears waiting for something else to happen, though the reverb of the cry was all that came.

==============================================

[ The Moon]

Avianna flinched her attention unfocused and chaotic. Trapped under leagues of glass on the surface of a rock in space she was currently being heated up again by the nearness of the sun. The bubbling glass around her was unbelievable agony though she was not able to die from it trapped in the form of this book.

Still one thing was different unless she had hallucinated it through the pain.

She had heard a voice call for Rarity, before there was nothing but the bubbling of the glass around her again.

======================================

[Far far south west, North West, North east, South east and everywhere else in Equss]

Across Equss, all manner of races looked to the sky as the shout echoed though the sky.

In some primitive areas the sound and the name became worshiped as a deity.

Still in others it was considered a dire warning.

Though in most it was a simple curiosity.

While Tirek had ravenged several continents, Equss was a much bigger place than even he had known and many lands did not even know anything was going on until the cry was heard.

Of course none of that mattered to those in White Tail Woods.

=======================================

[White Tail Woods. ]

The air around the front of the ship shimmered and shook as the mare screamed out her sister's name. The effect was not unlike a stone being thrown into a calm pool of water, time itself seemed to warp around the front of the ship as the craft was stopped dead, the hull shuddering as the steel front prow warped and twisted with the sound.

The deck where the musicians stood remained unmoveing though the force of the cry was enough to rip the engines from the moorings as it stopped the ship dead in place. The back end of the craft peeled like a banana, the sides of the ship ripping free as the engines kept pushing forward, and pulled the frame of the ship apart before breaking free. The four steam engines sputtered and died as the back half of the ship erupted into steam and smoke, the brass turbines sailing through the air under their own power for a ways before impacting the ground sending up tons of steel, wood, and earth shrapnel that was carried along by the sound wave along with six or seven pony heights of topsoil and trees in a widening cone before the ship.

Tirek's spell impacted this wall of force and was blown back at him by the force generated, the shields he raised disintegrated before him, and his clones turned to mist before the wave even touched them.

Tirek was not so lucky.

The monster took the full force of the sonic blast and was flung back along with multiple tons of debris. Tirek was blown back as he was launched out into the air, sailing above the crater.

A large portion of the crater's edge collapses as the body of Tirek soars away from the wrecked ship as a bloodied and angry white mare watched him be flung away. A small smirk crossed her features as her magic dies out. She lifts the mic up before her eyes before letting it drop before her as the speakers to either side of her spark and explode as the system finally collapses in on itself in a sparking haze of fire and electricity.

===================================================

[Crystal Empire]

“What the buck was that!?!” Shining Armor shouts looking out at the cracks forming along the side of the Crystal Palace. A number of the buildings out side had collapsed as the sonic blast cracked them too much and forced them to collapse on themselves. On the plus side the city was all but empty at this point.

“Luna answer me dammit!” Shining yells at one of the Changelings who was just now recovering from Spitfire's nearly choking him for information about her daughter. The mare in question was off to the side being held back by Soarin from doing it again.

Starfall, Rainbow Dash, Shining Armor, Peach Blossom, Hospice Moskau, Brier Rose and a host of Guards stood around looking at the Changeling.

“Our Queen has indicated that the CMC should be elevated from a rank three Potential Disaster to a rank one Potential Disaster.” the Changeling stammered.

“That was the Cutie Mark Crusaders!?!?” Shining Armor stammers.

“And yet some how, I am not surprised by this revelation at all. “ Rainbow Dash nods sagely.

========================================================

[ Outskirts of White Tail Woods ]

Troph clung onto the back of Bleu as the dragoness spun in the air, nearly being knocked out of it by the sonic burst. A number of the Linorm were knocked out of the air however, though they all recovered or were caught before they hit the ground.

” Well I suppose we found them.”< Troph states.

“What?” Glacier yells.

“Nah we caught them before they hit the ground then.” Bleu calls back.

“What?” Glacier asks again.

” I am not doing this' I can't hear you properly' bit with you whelp....”< Troph states grumbling.

“Spoil sport “ Bleu laughs. “ Seems my top student is still alive at least.”

“What?” Glacier asks again trying to rub the hearing back into his ears.

=====================================

[White Tail Woods Yggdrasil crater 1645 hours]

Applebloom looked up with a wince as she watched the pillar of earth envelop Scootaloo. She wasn't sure what was happening until she saw a dot launch out of the side of the massive plume of earth and fall towards the waterfall.

She hoped it was Scootaloo, but she had her own issues to worry about now.

Like what the buck was she supposed to do?

The old stump was massive and covered with lines of age and multitude of cracks and fissures along the surface that spiraled out from the center like a overgrown and maddening maze. It hadn't taken her long to find the center of the maze, the core of the tree. The sun and rain weathered stump was a daunting thing given she had no clue how to make it live . She took off a few of her bandages rubbing the dried blood over the stump, though the only effect was there was now a red smear of her blood on the old wood.

Well that wasn't it. Wait the seed!

She took the necklace off and tried to open the glass bead without crushing what was in it. The little glass bead slipped from her grip a number of times and she was forced to chase it across the surface of the wood as it bounced away.

After fumbling with it for a while she tried lightly striking it against the wood, crushing it between her hooves and the seed just rattled away safe under the glass.

After taking a moment to to look for a rock that wasn't there the earth pony mare started bashing the glass bead against the wood while screaming at it and flailing to no effect at all. Well not true, she managed to get the necklace part free though right now the bead was simply sitting in a small crack in the wood, smugly unscuffed by her efforts.

She had once again been looking for a rock, or a boulder to hit the stupid bead with when a scream of 'Rarity' nearly deafened her and caused the little bead to shatter into dust leaving the tiny seed free of it's prison.

Looking up the mare dove over the seed to protect it as a massive wall of dirt and rock showered down over her leaving a sheet of soil and uprooted plants scattered over the top of the stump.

A massive crash coupled with a great deal of swearing could be heard even as her ears continue to ring with the name of one of her best friends sister.

She exhaled softly in relief, as she looked the seed over and saw it was still in one piece. What the buck was all that?

The brief question and sigh of relief didn't last long as she saw the flashes of teleportation in the distance along with a airship and a group of Dragons and Changelings headed her way. She briefly thought they beat Tirek until a curse made her look behind her as a massive form pushed its was free of the now powdered remains of the giant tree trunk.

Black icor dripped from the figures ears and eyes, one of the orbs evidently having popped in his head and was dribbling out of his eye socket as another formed behind it. He was missing a hand and both his horns were shattered. Despite the wounds the red and black monster still shoved itself up from the rubble of the tree striding towards the middle and towards Applebloom.

“You....” Tirek growled as he looked down at her.

Applebloom screamed out, darting away clutching the seed with one hoof before smacking into a green panel of a shield and crashing back to the ground.

The mare whimpers rubbing her nose before looking around frantically for the seed she had dropped only to see Tirek standing over it looking down at the tiny thing as it rested on a clear patch of the tree stump between his hooves.

“This is it?” Tirek grumbles looking down at the seed and then to the mare. “This is the great endgame? A dried up old seed and a farm filly? What was that damn zebra's power going on about that I had to be here and worried about this crap. Why is it still going on that I need to be here?”

Tirek lifts a massive hoof with a snort of disgust. “What a waste of time.” He mutters bringing his hoof down rapidly on the seed.

“NO!!” Applebloom shouts leaping forward throwing her foreleg out, and knocking the seed away as Tirek's hoof came down.

The pale yellow and red maned mare screams as the monsters hoof crushes her out stretched left fore leg, turning the limb to paste and dust between the massive black hoof and the unyielding tree stump under him.

Tirek looked down in surprise at the screaming mare, the blank flank curled up on herself, the remains of her leg pulling free of her shoulder with a sickening rip as he lifts his hoof. Blood from the wound gushed out, running into and along the cracks of the tree. He sets his hoof down noting the remains of her leg still stuck to the bottom of it.

“Disappointing.”

“Applebloom!” Luna shouts.

Tirek whips his head back as Luna appears on the edge of the stump looking at the massive monster and the injured filly under him.

“This was it? Your great plan to capture me again? Honestly this is pathetic. You've shown you can easily kill me, but you hesitate. You know killing me would kill all your little friends and your lover. So go on Princess. Do it. Strike me down, I will still win and you will suffer forever for your action. No matter what happens here you have lost. You have no hope of seeing any one you care for ever again!” Tirek growls, his hand glowing a little as he charged a spell while the alicorn was distracted.

Applebloom whimpers her head lifting a little watching her blood flow and run down the maze of fissures and cracks in the tree, the red trail reaching a bit of dirt and soaking into it. The liquid making the soil shift and fall into the pooling blood, bringing a small seed down into the puddle with it.

“No.” Applebloom states loud enough for Tirek and Luna to both notice and look down at her.

“There's always hope.” Applebloom states as a small green shoot grows up from the puddle of blood. Several more follow the small plants popping up along the entire path the blood had followed and start climbing up and wrapping around Tirek's limb that was covered with the splatter of Applebloom's blood.

“What is... No! NO, NOT AGAIN!!” Tirek bellows unleashing the spell down at his hooves, the blast blowing off his own leg as he staggers back, the limbs and rapidly growing plants following, darting up his own blood and other legs, growing rapidly and getting wider. Bark and branches budding and growing out of his fur and then tearing through his skin. The monster roars yanking free the branches with his good hand tearing away parts of his own flesh as he tries to remove the growth clinging to him and taking root in his body with greater and greater speed.

Applebloom lays her head down against the stump, her body pale as she panted softly feeling lightheaded from the loss of blood. She could feel the plants growing over her, but as she listened to the monster's screams she was okay with it, it felt nice actually.

Tirek screamed and thrashed stumbling back until his legs became rooted to the ground, brown and green bark forming on his flesh, twining vines springing up around him, binding his limbs and climbing up his body turning the thick creature into a massive tree trunk.

Roots burst from the bottom of the thick wood as the trunk swells, the writhing wood anchors clinging and grabbing to the surface of the stump forcing Luna to take to the air. The alicorn froze quickly searching for Applebloom though the swarm of plant life and the rapid growth of the tree forced her back without spotting the young mare. The vines and plants all joined together getting swallowed by the rapidly growing tree as the trunk climbed high into the air.

As the whipping and writhing plants finally became still , the left behind them a massive tree. While it was only half the size of the original Yggdrasil it's upper branches still scraped the clouds and it's roots covered and grew over the massive stump of the first tree.

The creak of the branches and the dull roar of the Demon of Dullahan MKII's engines in the distance hovering over the wreckage of the Storm Cloud were the only sounds Luna could hear for some time.

A loud thud was heard behind her along with a number of smaller ones. Luna looked back as a large blue dragon and a series of smaller creatures land behind her a half dragon leaping off the large blue dragons back and running up to her.

” What's going on? What is this?”< Troph demands looking up at the tree.

“This is Tirek...... and Applebloom......” Luna mutters hearing more noise as the engines of the Griffon war ship die down as it lands. Luna's ears perk up a bit as she looks back at the water fall and then frowned. “What do you mean he's covered in first degree burns? He wasn't hit by any fire...... Scootaloo is awake what does that have to do...... oh...... ooh. I will need to have words with him and especially her now, bring them up.”

“Scootaloo... and Pip? OOH what happened there?” Bleu asks leaning in closer to Luna.

“It is a long story that I will tell you as soon as I figure out what is going on here with this.” Luna grumbles, gesturing to the tree.” There is nothing in any memories of the last time this happened that would explain the delay of why nothing is happening and why Applebloom is gone. Troph do you feel anything?”

” In regards to what? I am ecstatic knowing Grace is still alive, and not so much knowing that she isn't.”<

“What.....? Never mind, I mean about Jer'rahd. The Changelings back at the empire are telling me there is no change in those who are in comas..... He's trapped again shouldn't they be waking up?” Luna mutters pacing before the roots of the great tree.

The sound of movement behind her signals the arrival of a number of her Changelings as well as a collection of Elk and Timber Wolves, the forces eyeing each other warily, though all of them were watching the dragon and the Linorm with caution. Something that Glacier seemed quite amused by.

“Did we win? Where's Applebloom?” A rather horse sounding voice asks. An annoyed looking griffon dropped the white unicorn mare to the ground jarring her a little in the landing though she doesn't take much notice of it as she rushes forward. A moment or two later the question is repeated by a slightly singed earth pony and a orange pegasus, neither of them were looking any one in the eye as the Changelings dropped them off.

“I believe this is her.” Luna points a wing up at the tree, but something is wrong I'm discussing this with the Sparkles and those left in the Crystal Empire now, but we are unsure what is going on.” Luna states.

“Applebloom turned into a tree?” Scootaloo gasps.

“How the heck did that even happen?” Pip grumbles. “ The rose bush didn't try to eat her it just wouldn't let her go cause she was tangled in it....”

“Figure's she would turn into an apple tree.” Sweetiebelle coughs.

“An apple tree?” Bleu asks looking up her eyes widening.

Luna and the others follow suit looking up again and watching as the branches in the air suddenly start growing countless apples of varying sizes and colors. One massive rainbow colored one swells to the size of a wagon before a faint pop frees it and it falls from the tree bouncing along the roots to land in the middle of them rocking slightly before it fell still.

“A zap apple?” Pip questions looking around at the others, noticing that the Timber Wolves had sunk down and dipped their heads. “ Are they … bowing?”

A loud wet snap stopped that question from being answered as the sharp tang of apple juice filled the air, the massive zap apple split open and a figure pushed it's way out of the core of the apple .

A long green limb that seemed to be made of vines and branches and studded with leaves and flowers and ending in cloven hooves stretched out touching on the root of the tree as another limb ending in a hoof and colored pale yellow pushes out the other side splitting the apple fully in half.

A tall pale yellow pony like creature steps out of the mess, long red mane and tail studded with flowers and dripping with apple juice rises from the crumbling remains of the apple. The tall and thin creature was almost as tall as Luna and looked like it was a odd cross between a Pony and an Elk. It lifts it's green limb up pushing the strands of wet red hair from over it's brilliant green eyes, looking out at the gathered crowd. A number of the Elk also drop into a bow like the Timber Wolves though most seem as shocked by the emergence as the others gathered.

The female whips her head, sending juice and seeds flying, the spots the liquid strikes blossoming into patches of green and small flowers where they hit the old stump. She regards the gathered group curiously glancing back behind her as if wondering what they were looking at.

“What tha hay are you all looking at?” Applebloom asks.

“Your leg.” Pip answers.

“That you are freaking even taller than me now.” Scootaloo adds.

“The tree that was made.” Luna explains.

”I don't even know any more, this nature shit is Grace's expertise not mine.”< Troph growls.

“That apple you came out of and is it eatable?” Bleu grumbles.” I'm freaking starving here.”

“Your cutiemark!!” Sweetiebelle states hoarsely excitedly hopping up and down.

Applebloom blinks turning her head back and fighting with her much longer mane to look at her flank, her more lithe form making that easy though she still spins around in circles looking at the mark before turning to look at the mark on the other side with another few excited spins.

There on her flank was a tree. It's roots and branches twining within one another in a circular shape that seemed like a maze to her as she couldn't follow where the roots and branches of her own cutiemark went. She stared at it her grin widening.

“And yet another successful cutiemark gained by the CMC!” Sweetiebelle squeaks.

“You better rest your voice there kid. You still have a show to do and you sound a little horse.” Bleu comments snickering to her self at the pun though no one else seemed to get it.

“I don't understand, while I am glad you are alive. What of every one else? There' has been no change in any one who Tirek claimed.” Luna asks her ears flattening to her head. “ Did... was this all for nothing?”

Applebloom's smile fades as she looks down at Luna shaking her head before a even bigger grin crosses her face and she looks up at the apple's filling the gargantuan tree. She steps away from the apple she came out of, the fruit already starting to dry up and crumble, though it left behind a number of seeds.

Every step the mare took across the dead stump echoed softly, every time her green limb touched down a new spot of growth appeared. Moss grass small flowers all sprang up from her hoof print as she moved to a spot between two large roots reaching up to touch a spot on the tree's trunk.

“Nah, it just took me a few moments tah listen to everything and git mai head on straight. There's a lot going on right now... tha whole land round here is just waiting, it told me what needs tah be done and how everything's gonna work from now on. Ah got a lot to do.” Applebloom states.

“What are you talking about Bloom?” Scootaloo asks.

“Tha whole reason ah'm here, tha nightmares, the thing with mai blood, tha Timber Wolves. Ah was supposed to come out here and do this. Mai tapping in tah tha earth opened up tha door for tha Spirits tah try tah talk to me, but it was just a lil crack. Nothing could really get through and what did wasn't what they were trying tah say.”

“Not sure I follow.” Luna grumbles.”

“.... Ehh heck with it, it's complicated and stupid fer tha most part.” Applebloom admits. “ Ah'll explain it later when ya'll arn't ready tah freak out over Tirek's victims.”

Applebloom sighs turning her back to the tree and looking up at the Apples hanging from it again.

“Let's fix that last part at least.” Applebloom smiles rearing back and smashing one of her back hooves into the trunk of the tree.

The massive tree groans from the impact of the buck, the top most branches shaking wildly from the force of the blow. Before the shaking had even stopped, apples began to fall around them like rain.

The small fruits strike the ground and splatter, though instead of leaving juice and seeds they pop like a balloon filled with confetti, sending glowing motes of light fluttering into the air. Most of them burst open and small orbs of light, like shooting stars, rise from them circling the tree before zipping off into the air, creating a massive trail of light that fills the darkened sky. Some of them simply fell to the ground and burst open, with nothing but foul pulp emerging. Applebloom winces at these , though another kick drops thousands more apples from the tree with the same effects.

Soon the darkened sky is awash with streaks of light flying out in all directions soaring into the air like glowing rainbows.

The gathered crowd watches in awe, Luna's ears twitch as she blinked a wide smile crossing her face.

“They are waking up. The comatose ponies are waking up.” Luna announced, getting messages from the Empire from the Changelings left there.

There were a number of shouts of joy in response to this information and quite a number of cheers from the half dragons and Griffons, gathered.

Luna turns her head back to Jer'rahd, who still simply stood there, six eyes glowing as he started up at the tree.

“Troph?”

”Hmm?”< the first dragon asks looking to Luna.

“Applebloom.......” Luna pleads .

“Don't worry, he's here.... but he was one of tha first so he's got a bit of time before we get to him....” She points up at an apple on the tree, the massive thing a brighter red than any of the other apples though with a third kick this one too fall to the ground shattering open on a root and letting a mote of light into the air.

Unlike the others this bit of light didn't circle the tree or even hover long before it launched itself at Troph, striking the mutated ponies chest and sinking into it.

”Well, that felt weird.”< Troph mutters.

The first dragon looks down at the spot where the light struck a moment before snapping his head up, all six of his eyes wide and a look of fear plastered on his features.

”EVERYONE GET BACK!”< the first dragon bellows as smoke and shadows whip around him like a tornado, hiding him from view though the glow of his six red eyes got even brighter as shadows and darkness whirl around the form, gathering it's mass rapidly. Six fairly dim points of red light could be seen in the whirling mass before they all wink out. A moment later five blindingly red points of light form and one bright green one.

The thing that had come out of the smoke should not have been able to hide inside the shadow. It was easily twenty stories tall and it's head was lifted up to easily past the half way point of the gargantuan apple tree. At first it seemed like a massive dragon, but as the shadows and smoke cleared the idea that it was a dragon was quickly dispelled. It was longer than the largest Tank any one had seen from the tip of its wide muzzle to the barbs on the end of its massive spined tail. Like a Tank, a large leathery carapace covered its back, though not like a shell, just much thicker skin, with jagged spikes protruding from it at random intervals. Its legs were very much like those of a dragons though thicker, more muscular, and tipped with wicked claws that were as long as the Linorm that had scattered from around it. The massive claws sunk into the old tree's trunk like it was soft mud, damaging it in a way that even Tirek had not even been able to do. More spiked barbs ran along its joints, throat and underside. A large pair horns rose from the top of its head, curving sharply forward and resting just over the creatures eyes. It dipped it's head low after the first stretch upward and seemed to hunker down, it's nose almost touching the ground, the reptilian nostrils flared and kicked up dust with every breath that blew over the dirt covered stump. The creatures skin seemed to writhe and twist like it was composed of shadows that barely stayed together to hold a solid form. The colors of it shifted between a midnight blue, dark gray, a deep shade of purple and black. It all seemed to blend together and slowly shift along the creatures skin so that no part of it seemed to stay the same coloration long.

The creature lifted its head to roar. The sound echoing across the crater. The cry sounded like a siren mixed in with whistle of a train and the death wails of a score of accident victims merged with the howling of a timber wolf accompanied by baying hounds on a trail.

“The Beast.” Luna mutters a shudder of fear running through her as scores of her Changelings fled at the sight of the creature. The CMC and Pip rushed out of the way as even the Linorm took off in fear leaving only Luna, Bleu, Pip, and Applebloom out in the open.

============================================================

[ Crystal Empire, medical section, Slate's Armory]

Twilight Sparkle woke up screaming and thrashing in the bed. She had barely managed to finish the first cry when a large white earth pony was at her side cradling her and humming calming tones trying to get her to stop her struggles.

Twilight's scream died as she started sobbing into Celestia's chest, a large gathering of ponies and Changelings rushed about at the scream, including her parents, Cadence, Pinkie Pie, and Discord.

“What's going on why did she scream? Why is everyone like this?” Cadence asks looking around at the others who woke up, some were simply lying there, others weeping openly, only a scant few seemed to be simply confused at what was going on, the rest seemed traumatized.

“Because we all saw everything that Tirek did. All his emotions and feelings we all recall that too. We were used and we couldn't do anything but watch.” Celestia adds cradling the still weeping Twilight. “ I was there when he destroyed Cloudsdale and countless others lives..... Twilight had to watch as one of her best friends was killed using her own powers.”

“Uh oh....” Pinkie winces.

“Yeah. Uh oh.... Kaisur was in there too.....” Discord mutters.

=================================================

[ Whitetail Woods.]

“Luna would you mind doing something? Talk him down cause he's.... he's actually scaring me.....” Bleu stammers.

“I..... I can't..... the rage.... there's so much all at the tree... Tirek...?........ oh by the stars..... he saw it all.” Luna gasps at the new information from the Empire. The creature roars again rearing up and slamming it's foreleg into the side of the apple tree, claws sinking in all the way to the Beast's knuckle. A flood of black blood gushed from the tree like a burst of sap and ran down the creatures arm and the tree trunk.

A loud scream drew Luna's attention to Applebloom as the mare doubled over, a deep claw mark appearing on her side as the monster struck the tree. Pip rushed over to her yanking free the medical kit in his saddlebag in a flash, though that wasn't going to help much if the Beast continued.

Luna's eyes widen as she looks to the tree then Applebloom. “ Buck, they are connected.” Luna shouts before popping out of existence and landing hard on the beasts muzzle staring it in the eyes, her form shifted quickly to that of Nightmare moon as she glares at The Beast her mane whipping wildly.

“YOU! WILL! STOP!” Luna bellows in the things face. The creature simply glared at her a moment before ignoring her, it's claws dragging down the tree flooding the side of it with more black goo as the tree itself groaned.

Applebloom screams again and the beast pauses, it's green eye turning to look down at the mare and it's son then up to it's claw and the mare on it's muzzle. It let out another roar, though this one was quieter more pained. The multitude of eyes took in the CMC clustered around Apple bloom as Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle rushed over as well. It then turned it's attention back to the mare on it's nose.

“Please Jer'rahd.....” Luna pleads. “ Calm down...”

After what felt like an eternity the creature shakes it's head, shaking loose Luna as it pushed off the tree and turned galloping away in a strange half lopping stride that covered ground far quicker than it should.

The whole landscape seems to shake as the creature thunders off crouching down before leaping upwards the massive thing soaring through the air to land at the top of the crater in the trees before another pain filled bellow sounds out as the rumbling fades the more distant the Beast gets.

“Shit.....” Luna curses.

“Language ma!” Pip calls getting a glare from her.

“Bleu take charge here, let my Changelings know if you need my help with something, they'll relay it to me. I need to go after him.” Luna shouts launching herself forward in the air following after the retreating monster.

==============================================================

[White Tail Woods 1900 hours]

Pip sighs leaning over the railing of the railing of the Demon of Dullahan MKII, none of this seemed real.

Da turning into a monster and running off some where, with Ma in hot pursuit. His cousin transforming into an Elk, getting her cutie mark finally, all those ponies he knew dying. This trip had been madness.

A thud next to him drew his attention to the blue scaled dragonling who had plopped down beside him. Bleu didn't say anything at first, that was odd for her, but he let it go, she likely had a lot on her plate too.

The Linorm had stayed in Whitetail Woods, Applebloom had offered to find a place for them, though their leader. Glacier was returning with the airship to the Crystal Empire to retrieve the ones that had been left behind, and to follow up on his duty to learn from Spike. Bleu had to remind him of this after the Linorm had wanted to follow the rampaging Beast and learn from it instead. Da had another hero worshiper it seemed.

The airship was going to be going as fast as it could, though it was bogged down with the injured. Given that most were Changelings they needed to head back to the Empire as the news of the Changelings being on the side of Equestria likely hadn't reached any where outside of it yet. Even though Las Pegasus was closer, it wouldn't be welcoming to a ship full of Changelings.

The Storm Cloud was little more than a pile of scrap now, as was Button's sound system. The earth pony was really freaked out over that, thinking Vinyl was going to kill him. Pip was a little confused by his panic, Button Mash had just survived taking Tirek head on, twice, and he was worried about the DJ who taught him? Either Vinyl was something else or Button was over reacting. Given how he had shut up the moment Sweetiebelle had fallen asleep against him it was probably the latter. Those two were perfect for each other.

“You okay kid?” Bleu finally asks.

“I've been better. I don't think everything that has happened has fully hit me yet is all.” Pip adds.

“Yeah happens that way sometimes. Lot of things haven't sunk in for me yet either. Specially with plump flank and Velky. S'why what happened with your Da didn't really surprise me. They say everyone Tirek took saw what was happening. Tirek killed two of his best friends and one of the few good friends he made in this time. I'm amazed he didn't rip himself out of Tirek on his own with that much anger. I kinda want to be there for him like he was with me, but Luna is the better choice when he gets like that. I'll have to wait until he gets back.”

“How are you holding up?” Pip asks as Bleu sighs.

“Shitty. I make friends easier than Boss does, but I'm down two of my best ones and a whole bunch of others that I made to boot. On the plus side one of the annoying buckers that's been giving me and Spike grief is gone and every things finally over.” Bleu mutters. “Still gonna need some time to get over everything though. Just hope I can get a little bit of time to myself to do that. It's gonna be busy for us, Troph called out all the Dragons and named Spike and sorta me as almost proper Dragons, so we're gonna have to deal with the ramifications of that. Some are probably going to try and beat or kill Spike thinking that that will make them better, so I'm geared up for a lot more fighting to come, though I might let Glacier do it.”

“I still got a year of school left.” Pip sighs. “ This was a really weird senior class trip for everyone. I'm not a senior, Applebloom already graduated. It's just Sweetiebelle, Scootaloo, and Button Mash now I guess.”

“Yeah about that.” Bleu smirks a little poking the bandage on his arm that had a burn on it.” I warned you about getting protection didn't I?”

Pip turns bright red at that looking away from his aunt.” I have no idea what you are talking about”

“Uhhh huh...... Bleu grins looking back to the orange pegasus that had curled up against Pip's other side. “ Sure...you don't. So should we start planning a wedding now? Maybe a a joint thing with Luna and Boss. Sunbutt still doesn't recognize their marriage so there's still time.”

“Oh for the love of ….. we've gone on one date, the rest of the time we've been fighting for our lives or dealing with crusader nonsense.”

“OOOH, so you went on a date !!?” Bleu grins her eyelashes fluttering.

“By the stars... don't even start.”

“Too late.”

==================================================

[ White Tail Woods Crater ]

Applebloom watched the airship glide out over the treeline on it's way back to the Crystal Empire. Her friends were on the ship, and she desperately wanted to be there with them, at the very least to get a moment to herself.

That likely wouldn't happen for a while.

A number of the Elk had run back to get the Elder, others had stayed around to keep an eye on her. One of them had started to talk shit already and Applebloom had laid him out in one punch, it was only after the fact she decked him that she recognized him as the leader of those who used the blue arrows.

Applebloom expected she would be dealing with Dances with Flame quite often now, but with the Timber Wolves following her around like lost puppies and the Linorm were keeping two of their number within eyesight of her at all times, not to mention the two Changelings that had been posted with her, no one was going to try anything. Right now her little entorogue was moving with her as she walked across the crater, a small collection of Elk followed offering their protection as well in case there was an issue with other Elk.

She didn't think there would be any other issues even if she didn't have a ridiculous amount of protection. All the Elk seemed more confused by what was going on than hostile, and they seemed willing to wait for an explanation.

Applebloom knew what was going to happen. The spirits of the forest had told her already. The Elk had lacked any real spiritual guidance for a long time and there were a number of smaller tribes that were out in the world that had either been lost or had fled and never looked back. She would need to reunite these tribes. The winds told her that there were far more Elk out there than most knew, there was even a sizable race of them that lived underground and had black fur and red eyes with white manes. While interesting she wasn't sure she liked what they did to survive in the depths, still she would try to bring them back. It was kinda her purpose now, it seemed.

She had always wanted her cutiemark, always wanted to know what her special talent was, now that she had it, she needed to figure out what it meant. Still, 'bringer of hope' was a rather neat title, even if it was only the spirits that called her that.

She paused looking down over the crater from a vantage point she had never been too, but was very familiar with. A trail of green in the blackened earth marked her path from the new Yggdrasil another reminder that something was a bit off with her. She looked down at her green limb, she was nearly as tall as he was now, if not bigger even. She had the same wound, though where his was black, her fore limb had become green and brought life.

It was also cloven like an Elk's and that felt really weird when the rest of her legs still ended in pony hooves.

She hated to think that her uncle had brought so much death, but she knew why now and realized she might have done the same as him.

Family was very important to both the Apples and the Pelts.

She pauses again looking at the Changelings and Griffons working on the crashed ship. A single pegasus pony stood up on the top of the rubble shouting orders. She wasn't sure if the thing would ever fly again, but Captain Breezy seemed sure it would, at the very least it would fly enough to get out of the woods. He refused to let his ship rot here.

Applebloom wasn't so sure, to her it looked like little more than a big pile of wood and wreckage, granted she would have loved to do something as pointless as try to rebuild the ship. It almost seemed like fun. She did always like building things, perhaps that was related to her talent, she did just build a massive tree prison to house an evil demon.... well she grew it any way.

Ehh, same thing.

Continuing her walk, she sighed. She wanted to see Apple Jack and Big Mac right now, she wanted them and Granny Smith here so much it hurt. One of the Griffons had agreed to fly into Las Pegasus and try to find Granny and Bleu had told her that she would have AJ and Big Mac here if she had to fly them back herself.

That would still take time, but at least she knew they were all still alive. The spirits said there was something odd about Fluttershy, but she was alive. Applebloom didn't bother to ask for specifics. The spirits wouldn't answer any way, beyond that the mare was host to something they revered. That the spirits revered something was an oddity, but she still had a great deal to learn yet.

The hissing of the Linorm and growl of the Timber Wolves drew her up short. The Elk had stopped behind her as well and only the Changelings seemed confused at the pause, though the pair of them had adopted defensive postures just in case.

Applebloom smiled softly shaking her head.

“Sokay. Ah know it feels weird but it ain't gonna hurt you, jus wait here a moment, ah'm only going to that tree over there.”

[“This place is cursed.”] one of the elk states. Looking back at him she recognized him as Flowing Stream, the one who had been guarding the cage. She wasn't sure how she recognized him in his gillie suit, but she did.

[“Yeah, ah know it is. It's why ah'm here. Jus hang back okay, ah'll be fine.”] Applebloom placates though none of them seemed to calm down much. Still none of them followed her into the circle of black soil.

She strode up to the tree, the trail of green she left behind her a striking contrast to the blackened earth she walked over.

The young earth pony approached her destination letting out a small sigh as she looked up at the gnarled and blackened tree, rust ran down the trunk from several points where metal had been embedded into it, the crumbled ash of what might have once been bones lay in a heap at the trees base, half burred in the black soil.

Her gaze swept the area towards the nearest green spot. Numerous figures stood there, visible to her eyes, spirits of the fallen, souls that had not been reborn, or had stayed around long after they were supposed to have departed. These were some of the ones that had been guiding her and shaping her journey. She saw the mirror of herself standing next to a tall pretty Elk doe.

She turned looking back at the tree.

Hanging from it was a skeletal buck, his horns broken, wounds and burns covered his form though he was pinned to the tree by his limbs and he was thrashing against them crying out in anger and hate and pain.

[“Dogwood shut the buck up.”] Applebloom ordered, the manic spirit whipping it's hollow gaze around to glare at her surprised she spoke with him, though seeing her nature the specter sneered.

He shouted a few things though Applebloom ignored them.

[“My uncle did this to you. You know that right. And you know why he did this to you.”] She gestured to the gathered spirits of the dead nearby. [“And I know why … you did what you did.”]

Dogwood had been cursing her though he went silent at this.

[“Ah feel him too you know. Probably more than you did. Tha screaming cursing and whispers of pain and death. He ain't shut up yet an ah doubt he will. That further ah get from him the more muffled tha voice is, but you. You lived on top of him practically. Yah could hear the spirits when yah was a fawn and no one else could. Caused yah all manner of grief to be different, though in the end it made you a great leader.”] Applebloom continued. [“ But that didn't last when his voice started getting louder. Some voice told you tah move everyone intah the crater itself and another told yah tah make a city there, and yah listened cause tha spirits had never told yah wrong before. Only that weren't no spirit, that was a dead griffon trapped in a book, if that makes any sense. And when yah got closer to that tree, yah got closer tah Tirek.”]

Applebloom looked back, tapping the ground with her hoof making a nice patch of mossy green behind her which she sat down on.

[“That thing drove you mad with his ranting, his corrupt and tainted words. All you knew was this was tha great Yggdrasil telling you these things, no one remembered that there was something trapped inside of it. And little by little it drove you mad. Elk have long memories tah go with their long lives and all tha old ones remembered yer time as a great leader and what you'd done in tha past. That hind sight blinded them to what yah were doing, and only the younger generations were seeing yah as tha monster yah had become.”] Applebloom shook her head at the spirit of Dogwood, who simply watched her. [ “ Then yah took things too far, angered tha wrong pony and wound up here. Over a thousand years of watching tha rot grow, Tirek getting free, and being stuck in an area of the forest that's dead to everything. Fer some one who was part of tha wild, who could hear it's words and it's music. Ah imagine the thousand years of silence would be more deafening than anyone simply yelling at yah.”]

Applebloom glanced back at the edge of the cliff, now much closer to this location after the battle.

[“Ah coulda waited on this. Ah coulda ignored yah and left you out here forever. But like ah said, ah know what happened tah make you what ya became. And ah don't need two voices screaming at me.”]

Applebloom rose back to her hooves moving up to the tree, she reached back to her saddlebag pulling out a hammer she borrowed from the ones working on the airship, she grips it in her mouth hooking one of the metal spurs and pulling. The grip pulls free of the tree with a groan, the weapon was buried all the way to the hilt and everything had rusted solid that was exposed. When she pulled free the blade of the weapon it was as shiny and new as the day it was embedded in the tree.

The mare repeated this with the other four blades letting them fall to the ground with soft thuds. Better to let the star metal rust here, it was giving her a headache.

[“Prolly ain't gonna sit well with yah that yer being forgiven by a crossbreed, let alone tha niece of tha one who pinned you there. But ah really don't care how well it sits for yah, it needed tah be done. Yah been rotting here fer too long because of yer mistakes. Yah were driven to them.”] Applebloom sighs. [“Sides ah plan on making a lot of changes around here and ah don't need yer old ghost talking shit tah me. Now git, a'hm pretty sure yah ain't done with yer punishment's yet and neither are tha other spirits, but hanging here means yah never get reborn.”]

Applebloom turned tucking her hammer way and walking away from the tree. She spared a glance back and saw Dogwood was gone as were most of the other spirits save the copy of herself and her mother. Behind the pair were another pair of figures. A stallion and a mare that she didn't recognize but she felt that she really should. The pair nodded towards her smiling, then they were all gone.

Applebloom smiled herself, heading back towards the entourage so she could go back and meet the elder again. Time to start a new life out here.

Behind her a mocking bird lands on the dead branches of the tree, chirping madly.

Author's Note

Finally we have reached the end of the main story... or actually this is more like the Tirek arc. There's still plenty to wrap up before i start the next book. Easily at least 3 more chapters.

Also i am fairly disappointed at the font sizes available. the shout of Rarity was supposed to take up an entire page and yet this was the biggest font i could get on the site.

Title is Shout by Tears for Fears

Sound of Silence [39]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Sound of Silence

[Three days after the defeat of Tirek]

Luna landed lightly, folding her wings along her back as she slowly approached the figure crouched on the edge of a small pond. The clear blue water practically shimmered around the shore though it went darker the deeper the water went until it was a impenetrable blue in the middle. The gray and orange creature didn't seem to notice her, but she saw an ear twitch as it shivered.

“Jer'rahd?” Luna asks hesitantly.

“It still terrifies me.....” The figure states. “I'm not sure why it wouldn't, but deep water still bothers me. I'm not even in my body any more and I'm still scared of the damn water.”

“That means your mind is unchanged at least.” Luna states approaching closer with a sigh. “ I was starting to think you were never going to stop.”

“I look like a bucking symmetrical Discord.” Jer'rahd growls.

“You're not that bad, you look more like a taller Sombra with a dragon's tail.” Luna placates.

“Fitting, I suppose given you look rather like Chrysalis.” Jer'rahd lifts his head turning it back a bit to look at her with his green eye.

Luna frowns looking away from the dejected unicorn, her hoof scuffing the sand of the shore.

“You..... you don't think I'm ugly now do you?”Luna mutters.

Jer'rahd snorts, a bit of flame flashing in front of him seeming to startle him as much as it did Luna. l

“You wouldn't be ugly even if you were the one who looked like Discord.” Jer'rahd points out. “Still I could ask you the same thing about me.”

“You are different, but you are still you, and different isn't bad either.” Luna sighs in relief, moving to settle down next to him. She raises one wing and gingerly lays it over his back. The former unicorn flinches, though he doesn't pull away. There was a small taste of love mixed in with his emotions, but it was little more than a brief taste before a rolling sea of anger and depression buried it again. Had Luna not been focused on trying to block it out she would have been overwhelmed by the raw emotions Jer'rahd had. Was it something of a side effect from the beast? Or was it her connection to him powerful enough that his feelings were so clear to her and the emotions this strong?

“Since when did you even care about your appearance?” Luna asks.

“I don't, but it's something trivial I can focus on. Something stupid to keep me distracted from the real problems. I woke from a nightmare to find it a reality.” Jer'rahd sighs. “I would love to be distracted from that.”

“Where's Troph?”

Jer'rahd lifts an oddly shaped fore hoof up and taps a necklace on his chest that she hadn't noticed before in his slightly shaggier gray coat.

“In here. Seems he brought the Element of Loyalty with him, no idea how he got it from Rainbow Dash. When I … when I changed I forced him out, all the way out, this was the only place for him to go.”

The pair were silent a moment.

“How's Applebloom?”

“She's fine, no lasting damage was done it seems, though she hasn't stopped for the last few days, much like you.” Luna placates.

“I almost made things worse..... if I hadn't stopped.......”

“But you did.... and also you thinned out quite a few monsters in this part of the forest. A tank, six hydra's, an untold number of Trolls and Cockatrice nests, three Rocs, a rogue dragon, four bandersnatch, two jub jub birds and a Jaberwocky. That last one was a bit of a fight.”

“Jaberwocky tastes horrid. I can't recommend it.” Jer'rahd grumbles sticking out his tongue, Luna took note that it wasn't forked like a dragons.

“In any event I am amazed you are still awake after three straight days as the monster.”Luna adds.

“I'm tired, but that's it. Well that and I'm having a bit of issue moving.”Jer'rahd grumbles. “The edge of a pond was not my choice for where to stop.”

“It's alright.” Luna herself tenses as Jer'rahd turns laying his head on her shoulders above the wing.

“It's not......” Jer'rahd mutters. “You are bigger.”

“So are you.....”

Jer'rahd sighs. “Doesn't matter how you look Luna, you know I love you.

“And I you.”

“I think we should be a little more worried about what our foals think of us.”

“Well Pip's seen me..... though he didn't say much..... oh dear.... Orange, Berry, and Brush..... given what the Changelings did to them......”

“I think they will be fine, they are all old enough to realize you are not the one who killed their parents..... I was more concerned with Dawn... Will she even recognize us? She only knew me for a few days at best.....” Jer'rahd muses.

There was more silence before Luna spoke again her ears flattening.

“Jer'rahd about Rhede and Velkorn... it wasn't your fault.....”

“Don't... just don't ….. I let my ego get the better of me thinking I could handle anything and I let the bastard take me by surprise..... It's more my fault than any one elses....”

Luna flinches, she could feel hot droplets of liquid striking her back and she lowers her wing more wrapping him in it as best she could.

“Applebloom won't live forever. When she finally passes I am going to rip that bastard into bits.”Jer'rahd growls.

Luna frowns though she closes her eyes having something to distract him this time.

“I think there are others who have a greater claim on destroying Tirek.”Luna corrects.

“What? Who?”

“Just listen Jer'rahd. There are quite a few things you evidently don't know about what's been going on.” Luna mentions softly looking up at the sky and letting the sun start to set a the end of another day. She turns back to Jer'rahd who had yet to move and informs him of all that he had missed since he departed to take out the Red Hooves.

=====================================================

[ Everfree Forest. Four days after the defeat of Tirek.]

Applejack blinked looking at the woods around her. Fluttershy had come out here following Angel Bunny. No one but the butter yellow pegasus knew why, but after what Fluttershy and Grace had done in the Crystal Empire, even Princess Celestia would have come at the shy mare's call.

As it stood Fluttershy had a veritable army of Royal Guard and a few score of emergency workers in a caravan heading into the Everfree forest following a old white rabbit. It was to Fluttershy's credit that she managed to get over her shyness long enough to convey the need to hurry. While every pony was confused as to why they were headed into the Everfree, the expressions on some of the ponies faces spoke of being willing to follow the mare into Tartarus if she asked.

Applejack was one of them, though she was doing it more because she felt she owed her mare friend for leaving her alone, rather than being asked. Fluttershy said had forgiven Applejack for running off like that, but Applejack hadn't forgiven herself. It was stupid petty revenge and it could have gotten her killed. Sure there was the fact she could tell instantly if some one was lying, and she had been cheating the system in a way that might make Pinkie Pie jealous. She had told Big Mac to tell her they if they fought Tirek the pair of them would lose,

He did.

And she knew he was lying, even if he didn't.

When Angel Bunny showed up being carried by Philomena and had started doing... well what ever he was doing in front of Fluttershy, the mare had shown a rare moment of determination following her initial joy at seeing her pet and then her panic about what she was told. She had quickly grabbed as many ponies as she could and then commandeered the first train back to carry them.

Applejack had heard that Princess Luna had returned with Jer'rahd a day or so ago, but she hadn't heard anything about her cousin since. She doubted he would be in a good mood after the whole deal with Rhede, but she still wanted to talk to him about it, there were arraignments that needed to be made and the only one closer to them then she and Fluttershy were was Jer'rahd.

Angel Bunny pushed ahead and into an area Applejack knew too well. Thirteen years ago the two of them and three other towns ponies had come out here following a stranger into the woods after a disastrous Summer Sun Celebration. They had saved a Princess and started a chain of events that had been a chaotic whirl wind of ups and downs. New friends, family, and new foes.

Castle Whinnysire.

The rabbit hurried up towards the building, though Applejack paused as did most of the others. She had expected a large number of Fluttershy's animals to be in the area, what she did not expect was the large number of Timber Wolves to be skulking about as well. The plant beasts kept their distance, but their glowing eyes remained fixed on the convoy.

Fluttershy glanced down at Angel then back to the Timber wolves before hesitantly following after the bunny.

“Ah thought all of these buggers were reported tah be over in White Tail now?” Applejack comments.

“Angel bunny says they want to be, but they were told to help here first.” Fluttershy states moving ahead of the caravan as Angel hopped along.

“Told by who?”

“Some one they revere, I don't know the whole translation as it's translated from dog to bunny and then to pony so it's a little hard to say properly.”

“Dog?” Applejack asks her ears perking up as a loud excited barking could be heard and Winona rushes up bouncing around Applejack and jumping up to lick her face excitedly. Applejack laughs though Angel Bunny just rolls his eyes gesturing about something and both he and Winona run past the ruined castle's outer walls.

Sections of the ground had collapsed as the under-croft of the place had been blown up ten years ago, but the old castle remained relatively the same on the surface.

Applejack looked over at her wife following the line of her wing and where the yellow length turned white and became covered in black stripes. Fluttershy hadn't told her fully what happened, but Applejack hadn't needed her too so long as she was alright.

The farm mare pushed forward trotting after the yellow pegasus as she steps through the wide open gate of the castle into the main throne room.

“Oh my.” Fluttershy gasped.

Applejack blinked as her eyes adjusted to the inside of the castle. The room was filled with fillies and colts darting around or cowering in corners and behind various animals that were in the room.. There were a small number of adults too, though most of them seemed out of it, victims of Tirek most likely. Nearly all the ponies in the room were pegasi.

“What in tarnation?”

“The survivor's of Cloudsdale.” Fluttershy gasps.

“MEDICS!” Applejack yells back out the door to the caravan, sending a number of ponies scrambling forward.

========================================================

[Crystal Empire, 4 days after the defeat of Tirek.]

So how is he auntie?” Cadence asks as she walks besides Luna, the larger mare having only gotten back in the early hours of the morning. Though she had missed seeing off the first train back to New Canterlot due to her trying to catch everyone up on what had happened personally , rather than through a Changeling.

“Comatose. He will likely be out for a few days. I cannot say what sort of mood he will be in when he wakes up however. Likely a foul one, but I think he is past the worst of it. Still I have Bleu keeping an eye on him. I want him under watch for a while.” Luna explains. “I take it you know what happened to those who Tirek claimed?”

“I'm told they all remember what happened to them while they were taken. They saw everything Tirek did while he had their power and memories. And many saw it from more than one angle as they were split along with the clones. I'm not sure how that works, but once Twilight recovers I'm sure she would know.” Cadence responds. “I've already issued a call for as many councilors and psychiatrists as I can get a hold of, but it's not going to be enough.”

“No it's not, we need to keep them occupied and busy. So long as they are distracted they shouldn't have time to dwell on their memories. Talk to Sweetiebelle, Bleu, Discord and Pinkie Pie, I am sure they will be willing to put on a show or at the very least have some ideas. The bearers of Laughter were always good at keeping ponies distracted.”

Luna glances to the side as Starfall glides up to her on the other side, landing lightly and walking along with the Princesses, the pair of larger ponies slowing their pace for the smaller mare.

“What have you got for me Starfall?” Luna asks dreading the answer.

“The city is clear and recovery is underway. All the clones were confirmed destroyed approximately the time Tirek fell, though they had all been forced to the train gate well before then. The Parasprite problem is also one hundred percent eradicated. The Crystal Dragonflies didn't leave a single one any where. I need like three of those things to hang around me all the time.” Starfall mutters the last. “The medics are on full shifts tending the injured. Fluttershy and Applejack are leading the first expedition back to New Canterlot to survey the damage, though Fluttershy said they have some where else to stop first and she gathered a sizable number of Guard and emergency workers to take with her. Most of the Dragons that came with Spike and Bleu have all left, though we have a bit more damage from their presence as more than a few couldn't help take a bite or two out of some of the buildings. On the plus side the ones that stuck around have been helpful in clearing out a few of the destroyed buildings. We may have also opened up a whole new trade with them after they found out that the Crystal Ponies grow their homes.”

Excellent.” Luna states rounding a corner headed for a particular set of quarters. Luna extends a wing to the smaller pegasus offering a bit of jewelry with a lightning bolt on it. “See to it this is returned to the vault with the others........ and make sure you place it right next to the Element of Kindness.”

Starfall nods taking the Element of Loyalty from Luna. “ Anything else princess?”

“Not at the moment Starfall, thank you. Though if you wouldn't mind checking in with Bleu. She's watching Jer'rahd sleep now, but I want him under full watch for a while.” Luna states.

“I understand. “ Starfall nods. “It's gonna be a nightmare for the next few months with all this information coming in and the rebuilding.”

“You don't know the half of it Starfall. And it's probably going to be worse before it gets better.” Luna's ears flatten and for a moment she looks ready to fall over the moment her eyes close, though she snaps back to attention rather quickly.

“Auntie... you should rest...” Cadence looks at her with concern from one side while Starfall stares at her from the other.

“I will, but I have things that I need to do first that I simply cannot delegate to others that easily.” She slows a bit more looking up at the crowd at the end of the hall. Leader of the remaining Griffons Dusty, the Sparkles, Shining Armor, Brier Rose, Hospice Moskau, Big Mac, Rainbow Dash, and a Half Dragon stallion whose name eluded her. “Starfall if you would stick around a bit. This is likely going to be harder with you being my Element of Honesty, but Applejack is indisposed at the moment.”

“I still have no idea what you are doing auntie.” Cadence sighs.

“You will find out soon.” Luna looks to the others. “Thank you all for coming, I know you all have other things to do, but I am sure you have seen or at least heard of how my my sister has been for the last few days.” Luna calls to the others.

“My husbands still in the damn woods working on that stupid boat. I need to go get him before he works himself to death.” Dusty snorts. “ Or something eats him.”

“I can happily say there is nothing within Leagues of that place that is a threat to a pony for a while. It has been a rather graphic three days.” Luna shakes her head moving towards the door as the group parts letting her pass.

“Now for the fun part.” Changeling Queen snarks.

Pushing open the door it was quite clear that some one in the room was angry. Everything in the room was black, burned to a crisp with the only exception being a bed in the corner that had a purple unicorn laying curled up in it. A small purple dragon sat on the bed with her stroking her mane. Spike looked up as Luna enters, his gaze darting over to the other figure in the room.

A white earth pony mare sat on the floor, her back against one wall, the very air around her shimmering with heat. Her pink mane and tail whipped and flared from the heat, sparks of flame danced over her fur. The very temperature in the room was close to that of an oven, though Luna expected the bed was much cooler.

The earth pony looked up as Luna entered the flames growing even hotter. Luna needed neither the power to see day dreams nor the ability to feel emotion to know the white pony wanted to destroy her immediately simply due to her being a Changeling. Still after the moment of rage the flames flickered and died a little as the recognition hit.

“Luna?!”

“I certainly hope you plan to pay for the damages here from your royal allowance and not the budget. I think we have that spent for the next few years as it is.“ Luna sighs.

“What happened to you … why are you?”

“A Changeling? Because they were created by Starswirl to fight Tirek the first time he appeared. It seemed like a logical step as we needed something that he couldn't absorb and with the power I hold, he didn't need to get that. We needed their power, and with Chrysalis dead the only way that was going to happen was if some one became their Queen”

Luna glances back noting every one else was crowded outside the door to escape the heat of the room though they were clearly still listening.

“But … why you...?”

“Because there was no one else. And before you ask, no. There is no way for me to change back. I was aware this was a one way path the moment I undertook the process.”Luna explains like she was reading from a list.” On the plus side, I doubt I will need to steal your cakes any more.”

“I do not expect that will be well received.”Celestia snorts.

“Judging by your flaring anger, no it has not been. To tell the truth there are perhaps a hoof full of ponies whose opinions on what I have done I give a buck about. So far out of them all you have been the only one who has had a major issue with it.” Luna states flatly.

“I have not even said anything.” Celestia snorts.

“You do not need to. I can feel your emotions, you have little control or filter of them at the moment, anger, betrayal, sadness. Of course looking at your room, anyone can see that. This of course brings me to why I am here.”

“You need a reason to see me now?”

“In the current state of things I need reasons to do anything. In this case particularly. “ Luna glances back at the group at the door, this was gonna cause some issues. Or at least a ruckus. “In regards to your god hood and the control of the sun. I am not giving those back to you.”

The sudden blast of anger caused Celestia to ignite before her, Luna quickly tossed a shield up between the white pony and those at the door. The roar of flame washing over her was annoying, but without her godhood to back the power up Luna could pretty much ignore the fire, though she did shift into a less flammable version of herself. It was of interest however that while Spike had grown larger and shielded Twilight, the flames came no where near the bed. Luna smiled at that.

“You are proving my reason why now you know. “ Luna states noting the fire start to die down. She drops the shield before the door hearing the muttering of those outside at her statement.

“You are currently not in your right state of mind,you have not really been since Avianna returned. You have been moody, angry and to be honest a proper pain in the ass to tell the truth. All that could be ignored, save for at the moment, you also lack control.”

“Sounds like you are describing Kaisur.” Celestia growls.

“Hmm I suppose I am. Right now he has anger and moodiness in spades, but unlike you he has more control of his emotions, so much so that when he finally lost control and simply went off, no one was expecting it. He forcibly evicted Troph from his body, transformed back into the first incarnation of the Beast, ignored the orders of Nightmare Moon completely and was in the process of peeling the tree containing Tirek apart like a banana.” Luna explains.

“Why even stop him at that point, every one was already freed. That thing is better off dead.” Celestia grumbles.

“The same reason I am nipping your attempt on him until after we get you some therapy. That you are this angry at him for what he did to Twilight and all the little ponies you couldn't protect is admirable, but stopping one god from destroying that tree is far more than enough for me this century. “ Luna sighs.” Besides the tree is connected to Applebloom, if it's hurt so is she, if the tree and Tirek are destroyed she will die. Do you really wish to have the entire Apple family mad at you so soon after they lost many of their number as well? Particularly Since Jer'rahd, Bleu, and by marriage myself are also members of the Apple family?”

A loud crack made Celestia and Luna look over to the gathered ponies just outside. Big Mac was standing in the doorway with one hoof on the frame, a doorway that was now crumbling to the ground as Mac's hoof pulled away from the shattered frame. His eyes shifted between Luna and Celestia, he clearly wanted an answer as to what was going on with his little sister, but the hint of what he might do if she was harmed wasn't going to be ignored, particularly since it became common knowledge of what he and Applejack had done.

“I annulled that marriage.” Celestia mutters changing the subject.

“It's still going to happen.” Luna snorts looking over at the curled up Twilight. She was awake, Luna could tell that and she had been listening, but she was too much in a depression to say anything. Still Luna felt the flash of anger every time Tirek's name was mentioned. In truth the flare of the purple mares anger dwarfed anything she had felt from anyone but Jer'rahd. This conversation was hopefully going to be good for both Celestia and Twilight.

At least Luna hoped so. If Twilight decided to do something to that tree Luna was not a hundred percent sure she could stop her in time.

“In any case you two will be staying here until New Canterlot Castle can be recovered... or most likely rebuilt...... again..” Luna grumbles. “ Now then, Cadence would you come here for a moment please?”

The pink pegicorn blinked in surprise, moving forward with a hesitant look at Celestia then over at Twilight, clearly worried about both.

“What is it auntie?”

“I need your help with something Cadence. There is an issue that has come up that is not just a political one, but also a physical one. It's one reason everyone is here. I needed witnesses to this.” Luna sighs.” Will you accept the powers Celestia had until such time as she is recovered enough to wield them once again?”

“What?” Cadence stammers her question echoed by a number of others.

“If I hold onto them everyone will fear another Nightmare Moon situation and we don't need conflict for something stupid after all that has happened.“ Luna explains. “There is also the fact that the power I hold far exceeds anything one pony should have. I fought Tirek. I have been awake chasing a monster through the forest for three days . Then i teleported myself, Jer'rahd, and two blades that disrupt magic from White Tail Woods all the way to the Crystal Empire with such pin point accuracy that I managed to lay Jer'rahd down on my bed and under the blankets. After all that and moving both celestial bodies I barely felt any drain at all on the power. With as much feeding into me I might burn up if I continue to hold both, I'm not really sure, magic was always a secondary thing for me. But it was starting to hurt before I became a changeling. I'm not sure of my new limits, but I don't want to overestimate them. I will warn you, the Starswirl in the sun is an ass.”

“What?” Cadence asks again.

“Let me ask it this way? Will you accept this Cadence? I would like to take a nap at some point and I have my own things I want to do. Things that I cannot do if I have to watch the day and night.” Luna corrects.”Celestia can walk you through moving the sun if you are worried about that. Can't you Tia?”

“Yes.... I can......” Celestia mutters.

“Well then Cadence?” Luna asks smiling a little as Cadence nods.

==================================

[Crystal Empire 5 days after the defeat of Tirek. Morning]

Chrysalis knocked on the door, hearing little but a muffled groan from the other side and the clack of claws on the floor. The door opens and a rather annoyed looking Spike greets the former Changeling queen.

“Oh it's you. What do you want, Chrysalis, or Locust or what ever.” Spike yawns.

“I need to speak with Twilight Sparkle.”

“She's not exactly up for dealing with visitors. Come back later. “ Spike grumbles trying to shut the door only to have the Changeling stick out her foot and stop it from closing.

“I am not likely to have a later. Celestia is out with Cadence trying to raise the sun and Luna is asleep and or trying not to laugh at Cadence's attempts, either way she is distracted enough that she won't be paying attention to what I have to say and given how confusing this is going to be any way I don't need her input.”

“......... fine. But don't try anything funny.”

“Like funny ha ha or funny ho ho?” Chrysalis asks dead pan.

“Ahh gods, it's too damn early for jokes.” Spike growls opening the door for her to enter. “ Twilight you have a visitor.

There was no response though Chrysalis could see Twilight sitting up on the bed, her half lidded gaze barely turning to look at her.

“Depression, anger, and a touch of shock. “ Chrysalis licks her lips. “ Not the best flavor, but then again I didn't come here to eat.”

The Changeling moves over to Twilight dropping the pony disguise and reverting to how Locust normally looked. Twilight barely batted an eye, that Locust was a Changeling was barely even a badly kept secret anymore. Though it was when the small unicorn changeling turned into a very big alicorn like Changeling that Twilight instantly recognized, that there was a reaction.

Chrysalis yelps dropping to the floor as a blast of arcane energy rips through the space she had been standing, blowing a hole in the chard wall on the other side of the room.

“SPIKE A LITTLE HELP!?” Chrysalis cries out.

The dragon seems to hesitate as Twilight surged out of the bed tackling the former Changeling Queen trying to throttle her.

A large dragon claw lifted Twilight off the gasping Changeling as Spike shifted size enough to take up more of the already trashed room. “Calm down Twilight, she's not the enemy.... probably.”

“Why do they always go for the throat!” Chrysalis coughs rubbing her neck with a hoof. “ I came here to freaking talk not get strangled again.”

“Spike let me go I have to stop her before she does something....”Twilight growls.

“She's not going to do anything, she's likely one of the reasons we won.”Spike explains struggling to keep a grip on the now thrashing mare.

“And why Tirek was sealed in the first place... don't forget that....... bah holding this form now is taking too much power....” Chrysalis grumbles letting herself shift back to a smaller Changeling adopting Locust's form once more. “ Better?”

“Why the heck are you in the Crystal Empire?!?” Twilight demands still squirming in Spike's hands. Spike simply seemed happy that she was active again, even if it was just to be angry.

“Well if you stopped trying to kill me I'd tell you. I live here … I have for the last ten years in fact.” Chrysalis grumbled rubbing her throat.

“Right like Princess Cadence and my brother would allow that!”

“They practically have my child hostage. It's a safe bet they didn't think I would do anything that would threaten Metamorpo.”

“Shintsha.” Spike corrects.

“Yes, yes, Shin....” Chrysalis mutters.

“Also Shining was clueless.” Spike adds as the Changeling flinches.

“I am trying not to antagonize the walking assault magic battery you are currently holding and I didn't want her to think I was insulting her brother by pointing out how stupid he is, but thanks for doing that for me Spike.” Chrysalis grumbles.

“No problem, it sounds more plausible now any way.” Spike chuckles. ”My older brothers a lot of things but observant isn't one of them.”

“What do you want?” Twilight growls finally.

“Just to say thank you. “ Chrysalis smirks at Twilight's clueless expression.

“Thank me .. for what?”

“Nothing you've done.........yet.” Chrysalis smiles a little wider as now even Spike looked confused.

“Umm.” Twilight stammers.

“Never mind, just keep in mind the next time you meet me that you need to tell me to give my powers to Celestia when everything goes wrong after i've been betrayed.” Chrysalis gestures with a hoof.

“And when will that be?”

“Oh it's already happened a long time ago for me, but it hasn't happened for you yet. Not entirely sure when that will be.”

“Care to explain that? Spike asks.

“Nope, can't, it's all wibbly wobbly timey whimy..... stuff.... though you were and will be right Sparkle, this IS fun.”

What?!” Twilight stammers.

“Sorry can't talk, burning daylight... or is it still night? Seriously if she's going to be doing this for a while at very least she could try to get it right.” Chrysalis sighs turning and heading for the door. “Catch you in the next life Sparkle... or maybe just my last one, who knows.”

Spike watches the Changeling close the door behind her before setting down Twilight.
“What do you think that was about?” Spike asks as Twilight stares at the door.

“I have no idea....”

===========================================

Chrysalis steps out the door closing it behind her with a sigh. That went better than expected and was actualy rather fun, though she had at least one other pony to talk to before she went back to the nursery.

“Hold it.” a voice barks.

And there he was.

Chrysalis looks up to the angry face of Briar Rose and a number of Guards surrounding her and blocking off the hall.

“Wow, you lot are slow, Twilight tried to kill me five minutes ago and you are just now getting here?”

“Stuff it mare. What are you doing here?” Rose snorts

“I went to speak with Twilight while Celestia was off some where, and now I have a meeting with Cadence to get to, so if you'll excuse me....... “ Chrysalis turns walking between a pair of the Guards before Brair Rose was in her face again.

“You're not going any where until I find out what the buck is going on here. Cadence might have let you off easy but I know damn well who you are and you'll talk unless you want me to let that out....” Rose growls.

Chrysalis closed her eyes and gritted her teeth as the white crystal pony shouted in her face. A flash of green filled the hall as her eyes snapped open and she grabbed Rose in her magic slamming him against the wall opposite Twilight's room , her form shifting to the large alicorn form as she slammed her hooves into his chest holding him against the wall as she snarled in his face.

“Listen here colt, I am well beyond the point of caring about who knows who I am now, because in about a day I wont be anything. And do you seriously think I give two shits about what the pony who bucking ruined everything for every one thinks? Savior of the Empire? Don't make me laugh you're the damn reason the Crystal Empire was lost for so long in the first place! If you had just followed the damn plan and taken your little rag tag band of rebels into the palace like you planed you would have recovered the curiously unguarded Crystal Heart like your super secret, and totally not Sombra feeding you information, ally inside the palace told you! The Empire would have been liberated in the same day. But no, you had to go to the pony sisters. You didn't even ask for their help you demanded them to come and take out Sombra.“ Chrysalis snarks. “Because you decided that Sombra needed to be humiliated before he was destroyed, you chose the plan with the least chance of succeeding. And even after they came in and saved you, you do nothing but treat them like shit, you never thanked either of them for what they did.”

“I lost my family because of those two....” Rose gasps.

“Oh shut up with the pity me shit. Compared to what others lost you didn't lose shit, and all your family lost was a lousy father. You sent your family away to protect them, sent them into the frozen north along with a few other refugees while you decided to play hero. Sombra was the one who helped them too, he knew about the escape and let them go, you think a raging storm that had been going on for decades would suddenly have one day off just so you could send ponies away and attack a tower with the Princesses?” Chrysalis snaps.” Lets not forget you weren't even awake a year before you started dating that zebra Guard Captain. Real period of mourning there colt, I've know foals who pined for their dropped ice cream longer. My love crawled back from Tartarus itself, enslaved a entire Empire just so that they could over throw him and power a stone that would then save the life of his wife. You bitch at Celestia and Luna about not being fast enough when they risked their lives rushing into a situation that they were woefully unprepared for just to save your whiny ass. Because they showed up when the heart wasn't prepared, he sealed everything away because I wasn't free yet. It was Pinkie Pie and Cadence who saved the empire, they succeeded where you failed. Because I wasn't there when the heart activated I was still only driven by revenge. Every death, every problem caused by my husband can all be blamed on you and Aviana.”

Chrysalis pulls back flinging the Crystal pony away towards the Guards who were still wondering what the buck was happening.

“I should kill you colt. For all the suffering you caused, you were third on my list after Avianna and Tirek. I've no reason to hold back because it's pointless if I burn out now, I'm going to die anyway. But I'm not going to, because I'm going to let you live with the knowledge of your colossal failure.”

Chrysalis reverts back to Locust with a shudder leaving the shell shocked Rose staring after her as she walks off heading to the nursery.

“Oh one last thing, even if you get these Guards not to talk, because I know all that, so does Luna.” Chrysalis snaps. “When I die, I will be with my love again, when you die, you'll have a lot of explaining to do. Goodbye Brier Rose.”

===================================================

[Crystal Empire 5 days after the defeat of Tirek, Evening. ]

“So you're finally awake.” Jer'rahd asks looking down at Luna on the bed.

“I could ask the same of you. Last time you changed you were out for a few days not just one.” Luna yawns rolling over onto her stomach with a slight groan. “ How long have you been up?”

“A bit or so, enough time to cheer myself up a little, get depressed again, and take a bath.”

“No food?”

“Not hungry, the Jaberwocky's still sticking with me.”

“Cute...” Luna sits up with another yawn. “I take the sun is up?”

“Looks it. I suppose you are back to normal now? Your mane's back to it's usual coloration.”Jer'rahd asks sitting down next to the bed.

“Cadence has the sun for a while. So if you are going to torment my sister best do it now while she's mostly powerless.”

“Pass. I don't want to deal with her at all, not in the mood. Also I think we need to get new sheets for Cadence and Shining's guest room. Seems I breath fire now.....”

Luna turned looking over seeing the pillow and much of the top half of the bed on his side was chard.”

“I don't know if that's better or worse than you snoring. Likely we can blame it on my sister. You should see her room.”

“I don't snore, you do, but it's this odd cute almost chirping sound.”Jer'rahd explains.

“Keep telling yourself that, maybe on day it will be true and I can have a full days sleep.” Luna sighs stretching her wings out as she sits up.” What time is it?”

“About an hour before you need to raise the moon.” Jer'rahd comments his tail swaying behind him , knocking over the small table at the bed side. He looked at it a bit surprised then at his longer tail and sighs. “ Need to get used to that. Was there something that you needed to do tonight?”

“Probably. I expect Shining or Rose want me to address all the petitioners and start planing the recovery efforts. Then there's the matter of the dragons and what I told my sister. I expected them to be knocking down the doors by now............ how long did you say you've been up?”

“Long enough to make some pony piss himself and get you a few more hours of sleep. Not long enough to figure out how to breath fire intentionally.”

“You shouldn't have done that. I need to make ponies not see me as a threat all over again along with an entire race I'm now queen of.”

“Which is why I told them to piss off. I never have and never will have any issue threatening ponies or any one else I don't care about when needed.” Jer'rahd grumbles.”If they are afraid of me it makes things easier. Besides we have more important things to do today than talk to ponies who should be able to figure out how to save their own damn selves from the horrors of recovering after a war. It's not like this is the first time they've done it.”

“ What else do...... ah yes...... we do don't we....... Not sure i want too though...”Luna flops back down on the bed.”I don't think I could deal with it if they are scared of me......”

“I agree. But we'll find out soon. I asked Rose to bring them all around.... he was oddly compliant for some reason, did something happen to him?” Jer'rahd asks trying to control the whipping of his tail as he knocks over a chair with it.

“You could say that. Seems Chrysalis is making her last rounds and she had a rather angry set of words with him. I know what she said, but I have no plans to spread it around.”

“Still can't believe she is still around.” Jer'rahd sighs recalling what he was told in the woods.

“Not for much longer. The grace period I gave her is almost up.”

“Mmm..... In any event get up and get a shower. You still smell of sweat and violence.” Jer'rahd comments rubbing his nose.

“I thought you liked that?” Luna chuckles softly.

“Never said I didn't, but I doubt you want to smell like you just came out of a battle when gathering all out foals.....”

“I can't smell anything past burnt cotton. So it must be you.”

“Lovely, I've got Bleu's nose now too...... That's gonna make training any new rookies a pain in the flank.....”

“Speaking of flanks.... did you..?”

“Notice mines changed again? Yeah, the Knight piece has draconic horns and spines now. Even my cutie mare is mocking me.”

“I was more interested that the shield is now framed in orange scales. Has your magic changed?”

“No, still just shields and manipulating things. Doesn't feel any stronger or weaker either. I'll have to test my limits and the new body later.” Jer'rahd looks up at a knock on the door .

“So much for my shower.”

Jer'rahd smirks as Luna rolls out of bed heading towards the living area of the guest quarters. The mare shifts forms to her usual Princess of the night form. Her ears flatten a little as Jer'rahd lets out a low whistle.

“Seriously?”

“What I can't be appreciative of my wife's flank?”

“ Later maybe. Oh right we still have to do that too. I'm not your wife yet.”

“The wedding? Seriously?”

“Yup. But I have a plan. But later.... for now...” Luna makes it to the door noticing the carpet in front of the door was scorched.” Jer'rahd?”

“The messenger was wearing a lot of cologne... I sneezed.....”

“Right.” Luna sighs pulling open the door to see Pip, and just Pip standing there. His wounds had been treated, including the burns. His sword was missing however as Sweetiebelle's cry had flung it into the crater some where and they hadn't had time to look for it with the injured aboard the ship.

“Hey ma. Everything alright? Uncle Rose said you two wanted tah see me?” Pip asks walking past Luna as she held open the door.

“Where are the others?”

“Berry and Brush 'll be along shortly, Berry's trying tah catch one of the Crystal dragonflies buzzing around and Brush and DT are trying tah keep up with her. Orange went tah go get Dawn. Kinda curious bout her , ah ain't seen her yet either.” Pip comments looking over to Jer'rahd. “ Cripes.... What happened to you Da?”

“Possession by the first dragon screwed me up a little.” Jer'rahd smirks. “ How are you holding up. You've been through quite a bit on your trip.”

“Pfft yea... never doing that again.” Pip rolls his eyes. “ Ma already knows most of it....... I suspect you know a bit as well.”

“Just you siccing the CMC on a clone and the ridiculous stunt you pulled off to grab that pegasus.”

“Err yeah.”

“Rather dumb, but it's not like I've not done worse for some one I was in love with..” Jer'rahd chuckles as Pip groans.

“Jeez do yah gotta say it like that?”

“How should he say it? It's true isn't it?” Luna smiles. “ With the emotion you two were showing when we got you out of that cave should I start demanding grand foals yet? “ Luna quips as Pip turns red.

“Ah geezzz.. Don't even, it was one date …... not a proposal.” Pip moans.

“Yes any way.... I suppose you can guess why we called you here?” Luna changes the subject.

“Given how Da looks and how you are now? Yeah I ken expect so. The Lily's specially might have issue given tha Changelings …..... ah understand why yah did it and tah be honest seeing yah like that freaked me out at first, but yer still tha same, so no ah got no issue....... does Da breath fire now or did yah leave something on tha stove cause tha whole room smells like smoke.”

================================

Orange looked at the pair of them her ears flattening as her gaze shifted between the Changeling Queen and the new half dragon. The three of them stood silently for a moment or two while Dawn slept in the basket nearby with Pip looking her over with some interest.

“What the buck did you two do to yourself this time?” Orange grumbles. “Seriously it's always something with one or both of you......”

“Well at least her opinion hasn't changed.” Jer'rahd sighs as Luna smirks and starts explaining the situation.

Orange listens to the recap pointing out a few things here and there that happened with her. The bit with Blue Blood forced Orange, Pip, and Luna to practically hold Jer'rahd down before he went out to kill the unicorn. Though the fact Orange decked him had him laughing hard enough that he had to sit down.

When Dawn woke from the half dragons laughter Luna moved over to her crib reaching a hoof to brush along the little foals belly. The mini half dragon looked up at her curiously for a moment before glomping onto the hoof and trying to eat it.

Luna chuckled pulling her hoof away before Jer'rahd leaned over the basket. The infants eyes went wide as she looked up at the large orange scaled half dragon before she starts flailing and gasping, struggling to get up, though all she managed was to roll onto her side.

Jer'rahd blinked and lifted her up in his magic bringing her closer to him. The small foal squeed in delight as she's lifted up and grabs at Jer'rahd's mane and horn with her little hooves.

“Seems she still knows us.... “ Luna sighed surprised at the amount of relief that she felt. She was also quite surprised that Jer'rahd anger and depression had dropped drastically the moment the foal had grabbed at him.

“Yeah, but she's clearly gonna be a daddies girl...... Jer'rahd's whupped.” Orange smiles As Jer'rahd struggles to keep the small foal from falling as she tried to pull his mane out.

=================================================

“ You look weird.... and you look weird....”Ice Berry Lily states flatly, her tone shifting a little as she spoke.

Orange had taken Pip off to have a look at his wounds and likely berate him about his actions, and the pair of Lily's had come in not long after.

Luna and Jer'rahd both knew Berry had started talking, but neither of them had been prepared for the amount of talking she was doing. The filly had darted around them simply yammering to herself describing this that and the other, practically explaining every moment of her entire day in one breath. At the very least Jer'rahd had yet to hear her breath in yet.

Paint Brush Lily sat back a bit. He hadn't really said anything , though he had looked them over and simply shook his head as Berry started to describe an interesting rock she found before being completely distracted by Dawn yawning atop of Jer'rahd's back . She then promptly tried to climb up the new half dragon to have a closer look at the foal with middling success.

Luna smiles a little as Jer'rahd shifts trying not to dump Dawn off his back While Berry was doing her best to climb on top of Jer'rahd all while commenting on how his scales and Dawn's matched.

“She hasn't stopped talking, it's like she's trying to make up for the last ten years.” Brush comments. “ It's gotten kind of annoying really.”

“She's definitely gotten more lively.” Luna chuckles.

“You didn't have to chase her across the Crystal Empire as she was chasing Dragonflies.” Brush sighs.

…......She doesn't have a horn through, both of you have horns, though yours is all curved now like your sword, is she gonna grow a horn or do half dragons get horns...........” Berry rambles.

Jer'rahd opened his mouth to answer every so often but Berry wasn't quiet long enough to let him answer anything.

“So you're not scared of us then?” Luna asks.

“A little.” Brush contemplates. “But I saw what you were fighting up close and personal. I think you needed to be scary.”

“I was worried about what you and Berry would think.” Luna sighs.

“We've been around enough Changelings to know they are not all bad. And the ones that are bad you can tell now right?” Brush asks. “ You said you're their Queen now right Mother?”

Luna blinks at that. It was not something she had considered. She knew of every Changeling that had been in the battle of Canterlot, she knew what every one of them had done. Chrysalis's order had been to terrify and or capture all who they could and destroy any who resisted. The drones could be forgiven, because who they were was hidden away and they were little better than mindless bodies. Some of the natural born Changelings had been threatened by Sombra and Chrysalis or had been driven by their Queen's bloodlust though the hive mind. But looking into the memories, she could see a few that went out of their way to be cruel or kill. There were still a few of those around, she would need to do something about them later.

“I am ….. I had not honestly thought of that. I was too wrapped up in trying to fix everything. Thank you for the insight.” Luna reaches out ruffling his mane with a number of protests.

“Alright but once everything's settled you two need to let me paint you..... maybe a few versions of you since you can change forms....” Brush muttered evidently planning his next work as Berry swung on Jer'rahd's tail talking about the Crystal Dragonflies.

Author's Note

This is the first of the epilogues for Lost Empire, though i didn't title it as such, these are going to be wrapping everything up and setting everything for the next story.

Title is Sound of Silence, by Disturbed.

Slow, Love, Slow [40]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Slow, Love, Slow

[ Crystal Empire, 6 Days after the defeat of Tirek. Early evening.]

Cadence pushed open the door to the nursery. Her mane and tail fluttering brightly in a unseen wind, her cutie mark practically glowing on her flank now, though it hadn't changed otherwise. She draped a masking spell over it as she entered so as not to disturb the foals present, or whelps, or . Well the babies. She saw who she was looking for quickly, as Chrysalis was leaning over Shin's crib, the soft giggling of the young Changeling easily heard from the small bed.

One of the cradles was empty as Dawn had been returned to Luna and Jer'rahd while everything else was still being settled. Talon was awake and clinging to the edge of his crib, wings fluttering as he looked up at Cadence when she trotted in. A clear look of disappointment on the little Hippogryph's face as he saw it wasn't his mother. Dusty would be here in a short time to make sure her son went to sleep. The Griffoness was the only one who could get the energetic little creature to go to bed properly. The one day she hadn't been around the foal stayed up until he collapsed with exhaustion and was quite cranky the next day.

The Griffoness would be here soon, though there was some rather ugly business to take care of first.

Cadence lifted her head to the darkness that covered the ceiling of the room, a intentional flutter of leathery wings told her that at least Talia was up there. A glance behind her at the holes still in the floor made her worry about whether the mare should still be in charge of Elusive's protection detail, though she wasn't about to argue with the Half Dragon about it. Still at least the doors were fixed.

“Chrysalis.” Cadence states.

“Crystal. It was my name first.” The changeling sighs pulling away from the small cradle looking down at the Changeling god within as he struggles to keep his eyes open. She had taken a differing form, one of a simple black furred and green unicorn, Cadence expected it was how she looked before Star swirl had changed her so long ago.

“Crystal then. So what now?” Cadence asks softly.

“Now?.... Now nothing.... I just wait for Luna to let Locust's personality free and I'm gone.... like I was never here to begin with save in her memories.”

“Crystal....”

“Don't, just listen, don't feel sorry for me or anything. I did a lot of bad things whether they were caused by a curse or not. I have a number of regrets, but a number of things I'm proud of too. Aside from that dragon in Kaisur I'm probably the oldest living thing thing on the planet right now. I've seen things and done things that one couldn't even begin to write a saga about. Shin's going to know all of it. All he has to do is look in the Hive's memories and he'll see everything his mothers ever done, good and bad.”

“You don't seem that worried about it.”

“Dying? No. I've done that a few times, and I've felt like it even more than that. What terrifies me is what Shin might think of me when he grows up. I don't want him to think his mother only cared about revenge, or his father only cared about his wife over him. Had things not happened the way they did he would have seen that. But I suppose that's not the point now.” Crystal leans down in the basket kissing the little changeling god on the forehead as he finally couldn't keep his eyes open.

“I'm older than Discord by a few thousand years, and older than Tirek by at least a score, that monster can have the title of oldest bastard however. I've buried more friends, family, and lovers than I care to admit. I've built kingdoms from nothing, destroyed civilizations, and over saw the country and other parts of Equss for centuries. I've killed gods, created new races, and been the extinction of others. I've ruled several Empires and seen them all fall, only to rise again. I've fought wars, brought about unification, and pitted brother against brother. The only thing left for me to have done was to bear a child with my Solomon.... and I've done that now too. I wish I could raise him, but I'm sure there's a better mare to do that.” Crystal lifts her head looking at Cadence who looks away from the Changeling.

“Don't give me that. I already adopted him after the first time I thought you were dead.” Cadence huffs.

“If I didn't say it already, thank you for that.”

“You didn't, but you're welcome.”

The creak of the door snapped both their attentions to the entrance of the room and the dark alicorn stepping through them. She wore a flat expression on her face nodding to Cadence then looking at Crystal.

“It's time.” Luna states, her voice cold though tinged with the sound of regret, behind her Cadence could hear the tolling of the bell tower in the center of the city signaling seven-o-clock.

Crystal paused looking down at Shin, the dark unicorn mare still in a form that Cadence didn't recognize, but Luna did. It was the one the former Changeling Queen was born in as a pony.

The mare gasps a little tears streaming from her eyes as the bell began to toll it's last.

“I don't want to go.....” Crystal whimpers, looking down at her sleeping son.

And she was gone.

=============================

Luna lifts the fallen Changeling mare from the ground with her magic floating her to the door and letting a pair of Guards there carry her to her room. She would wake up in the morning recalling who she was, the first of the drones to regain her memories.

“Couldn't..... couldn't we have given her more time?” Cadence asked hesitantly moving over between Shin and her own daughter looking down as her filly Glimmer slept peacefully, while Shin seemed troubled and was trying to cry in his sleep.

“No. She had more time than any one else ever has before. She died with her loved ones and is going to meet those she most cared for. Friends and family that have waited a long time for her to return to them. That we all could be as lucky to have such an end.” Luna sighs. “If I let her have more time she would be stealing the time from a mare that she had already stolen so much from. Locust was a maternity nurse in Canterlot. Her real name is Bassinet, she has two children and a husband who have thought her dead for the last few years. I would not rob one mother of her family just to give more time to another who should have already been long dead.”

“So. Do you really think she was a bad pony?” Cadence blinks. “Everything she did?”

Luna paused and sighed.

“I have asked that of myself quite often. My own history perhaps makes me see things that are not there. Good that doesn't exist in some places. I know all of her history. I know what she did wrong and what she did right. I could tell you what you think you want to hear, or I could simply point out that for the last year she has done everything in her power to make sure her son was well cared for and loved, no matter how much it hurt her to do so as some one else. That should be enough of an answer for you.”

“I suppose it is.”

“Anyway Dusty's here and pacing the hall, she's going back to get her husband in the morning, I think it's time to let her in.” Luna sighed lifting her head up, looking at the magical darkness above, her eyes narrowing.

“Talia.......” Luna asks.

“Yes Princess Luna?” The half dragoness calls down.

“Why are there balista in the nursery?”

=================================================================

[White Tail Woods 7 Days after the defeat of Tirek, Noon]

Applebloom flailed laughing, as her brother gripped her in a bone crushing hug. Applejack barely waited for Big Mac to let her down before she was doing the same. Granny Smith chuckled at the display having arrived two days before, along with the rather agitated Griffon that had been sent to find her, and then had the displeasure of escorting the crotchy mare back to White Tail.

“How did ah become tha short one of that family?” Applejack mutters looking up at her two siblings towering over her.

The group stood not far away from the Demon of Dullahan MKII, which was moored in the clear area made by Sweetiebelle, next to the still wrecked Storm Cloud. The wrecked ship actually looked like a ship again, though the Demon had to bring a new set of air bags. The crew had gotten one engine working so the craft could limp it's way home, hopefully. This was something of a relief to the Elk in the area as the engines the repair crews were working on often caught fire or caught something else on fire.

Currently Dusty was yelling at Breezy and chasing after him. The pegasus was taking the whole thing in stride and was taunting his wife as the injured female chased him, barely staying ahead of the Griffoness's attempts to throttle him.

Applebloom chuckles a little at AJ's comment, noting a few new scars on her sister and brother, just as they were noticing her new leg, her own scars and the cutie mark she bore.

“So yah figure out what it means yet?” Applejack asks.

“Not really. I mean ah got a feeling, and tha spirits tell me a couple of things, but ah ain't sure what it is....” Apple Bloom admits. “ Was Fluttershy coming?”

“Huh? Nah she's checking up on tha New Canterlot and tha farm. There's a whole buncha folks from Cloudsdale that'll need a place to stay for a while.” Applejack states.”Yah ken see her when yah get back home.”

Applebloom flinched a little at that and Granny frowned, having already been through this.

“Ah ain't coming back Applejack.... least not fer a while, and not in no permanent sense.” Applebloom mutters.

“What? Why not?” Applejack demands.

“Ah got too much tah do here. Ah'm kinda gonna take over as the Elk's adviser maybe even leader soon as Elder Lololog retires. Ah got a lot tah learn before ah ken do that. And ah likely got tah boot a couple of tha more stubborn ones in tha head a few more times before they git the hint ah ain't going any where.” Applebloom snorts, wondering if Dances in Flame had gotten out of the tree she threw into yet. That fool was rude, arrogant, and kept trying to run her off. She'd half a mind to stick around even if she hadn't planned to do so, just to spite him.

“But we need yah too.” Applejack comments.

“No yah don't. Yah got Dash and Shy and tha foals. Spect yer gonna take care of that twins now too.....” Applebloom sighs.” Ah don't see Fluttershy letting any one else take care of those two fluff balls.”

“Err we hadn't talked about that yet... but ah ken see you're right..... Not sure about Rhynthia though, she's a might unsettling.” Applejack admits. “ But still...”

“Yah knew ah was gonna move out someday sis.” Applebloom comments.

“Yeah, but not fer a while and not this far out in tha woods......”

“Ah'm closer than Braeburn.” Applebloom huffs.

“Yeah, ah suppose that's true....” Applejack sighs, looking up at the rather dejected Big Mac. “Just ain't exactly easy tah think about it.”

“It'll get easier. It always does. Ain't like yer saying goodbye fer good, Ah spect this little part of Equss is gonna get a lot busier soon any way.” Granny Smith interrupts. “Now all of yah quit being mopey and Big Mac quit yer crying like a baby, let tha mare show yah around. This place is pretty big.... Sides ah need tah git back tah that Lololog doe. Ah'm teaching her tah play cards, she owes me twenty bits already.”

====================================================

[ New Canterlot, Red Light District, ten days after the Defeat of Tirek, early Evening]

“Luna are you sure this is the right direction?” Bleu asks looking around at the signs for clubs and bars and other shady places.

“I was unaware that this part of Canterlot even existed.....” Luna comments as she trots along side Jer'rahd and Starfall, her horn glowing. “ And yes it is the amulet is pulling this way, Rhede's shard is some where in this part of town.”

“Given how spread out Canterlot Castle was after that explosions, I'm surprised it's not in the Zebra Lands,” Jer'rahd states, his tail whipping behind him.

The group of them had retrieved Velkorn's piece of Jer'rahd's grandfathers sword, and Luna currently wore it around her neck. She was curious as to if Rhede's piece had survived and had cast a small finding spell just to check. She was rather surprised to find that the piece still did in fact exist and was still in New Canterlot.

The remaining Beasts of the Moon had set out to recover it, expecting to need to sift tons of rubble to get to it, and perhaps even find Rhede's remains, though the spell had led them here instead.

Most of New Canterlot was still intact. There was some flood damage and a number of wrecked buildings, though most of the damage seemed confined to the Castle, which for the most part wasn't even there any more past a few stubborn walls an a few sections of the basement around the edges of the property and the heavily spelled and protected Garden. Most of the damage to the rest of the city was the result of debris from the explosion at the castle and several tons of stone needed to be removed from as far off as the edge of Sweet Apple Acres.

The red light District was in the south side of New Canterlot hidden in a back corner within the cities walls, though rather close to the stairs leading to Ponyville. Jer'rahd had been glad to see the memorial arch was still intact.

The small group turned another corner following Luna. They were greeted to the sight of a place called ' The Bunny Ranch'. The building was mostly old brick and fancy trim, though the most noticeable thing about the place was the large sign. The sign was of little more than a scantily clad unicorn mare with a tight corset, fishnet stockings, and a pair of fake rabbit ears, with her tail done up like a bunnies puff. Her cutie mark was a blue heart and she vaguely resembled Cadence if the pegicorn had been a little plumper. The work crews had gotten most of the lights in the city running again so the whole area was lit up , even if the streets were all empty still. Despite that knowledge the glowing pink mare was a bit jarring in the other wise somber atmosphere of an empty city.

Starfall tilts her head looking at the sign, muttering something about seeing if they sold those costumes before Luna spoke up.

“It's here ...”

The group splits up starting to look around, though Starfall was the first to spot it. The mare had taken another look at the sign and noticed something that she flew up to investigate.

“Oh you have got to be kidding me.” Starfall shouts, hovering in the air before the giant pink sign.

“What is it?” Bleu asks “.... Wait is that?” The little dragon flutters up as well.

Jer'rahd and Luna walk over to stand under where the pair were, noting the small impact point in the sign, and the shard of glinting metal embedded right in the scantily clad mare's flank.

“He some how always manages to surprise me....” Starfall sighs.

“Strangely …. this does not surprise me at all.” Jer'rahd dead pans.

“There are buildings in the way!? How did the shard fly across the city and dodge all those buildings, just to slap into a mares ass?!?” Luna growls clearly irritated and the sheer impossibility.

“Velky better be slapping the shit out of him for this one.” Bleu laughs.

=====================================

[Crystal Empire, ten days after the Defeat of Tirek, early Evening]

Button tightened the headband looking out the door before darting forward and diving into a trash can. He lifted the lid slightly and glanced around shiftily before slipping out of the trash can and into a bush.
The bush was pulled up by the roots and carried along to conceal the pony for a bit before it's plopped back into the ground on the other side of the street and a cardboard box shuffled from behind it working it's way further down the street.

“Hey MASH!” a voice yells.

The hidden pony yelps a bright red exclamation point appearing over his head with a sharp synthesizer riff. He burst out of the box and tried to gallop away before he felt the pull of magic on his tail stopping him dead before it pulled him back. He scrambled harder, hooves scraping on the crystal road as he was drug back, his body tensed as a foreleg draped over his shoulders partially wrapping around his neck.

“Umm.... Hey boss lady.... how are you?” Button stammered.

“ Been avoiding me Mash, what gives?” Vinyl asks casually, though he could feel the mares leg tighten around his neck.

“Umm no... you must be mistaken.....” Button stammers.

“Sure..... so then... where's my system?” Vinyl demands looking at the younger colt over the top of her glasses. “ I know you used it, I heard it …. it sounded glorious. “

“Yeah about that......”

“It's fused and melted to the front of a griffon ship after blasting the fool out of Tirek ain't it?”

“It's perfectly fine but locked in a secret government vault.......... wait what?” Button gasps. “ Who told you that?”

“Bleu and a couple of musically inclined Changelings yer filly introduced me too.” Vinyl grins. “ Cool thing is I already knew Carol, I jammed with her a few times before tha war. Never knew she was a bug though, mares got a set of pipes too.”

“Yeah... sorry about that boss mare.... I know I promised to bring it back......”

“Pfft don't worry about it, I'm already working on the Mark IV.”

“Don't go to thirteen.”

“Huh?”

“ Umm you know. Like they do in really tall buildings they don't have a thirteenth floor, we shouldn't have a thirteenth notch. It was ummm, suggested to me, by someone... it's kinda a luck thing I guess.” Button muttered.”Umm, though if it's not cause I broke your gear, then why are you choking me?”

“Duh... cause you played the show of a lifetime and I know you. You recorded it.” Vinyl smirks. “ I wanna hear that thing!”

==========================================

[ Sweet Apple Acres, edge of the North Orchard, Twelve days after the defeat of Tirek, Morning.]

Jer'rahd hated this.

He would rather be any where doing anything else, anything else at all, even swimming in the ocean.

It was taking all he had not to completely lose it, and he was quickly failing.

Big Mac shifts a little, lowering his side of the coffin, Jer'rahd did the same his magic stabilizing the nearly empty box, the two necklaces hanging around his throat clink together, his piece of his grandfather's sword and Rhede's.

There wasn't anything in the coffin but a leg, after days of scouring the rubble it was a safe bet that they were not going to find anything else of his brother in the castles remains.

The pair of them lowered the coffin in to the grave as on the other side of him, Zecora and Applejack did the same with Velkorn's coffin.

The two of them were being laid to rest in the Pelt family graveyard at the edge of the north field. Near the place Jer'rahd had first cleared out when he was freed of stone. Jer'rahd wasn't sure where Ma Pelt was buried, and there were no records her final rest in any of the Apple family records, but Jer'rahd knew Rhede's father and sister were buried here, and that was enough.

He lifted his head after a last glance at the closed casket. Neither of them were in any shape to be viewed. A leg and a charred corpse, he doubted he could have looked at either of them anyway.

A picture of the pair of them was ringed in flowers and placed above the grave next to the new double headstone.

The name Pelt was etched across the top of the head stone along with the words 'Here lies', before the two engravings for each of them were carved underneath.

~ Rhederic Pelt~
~3732 AD- 1011 ANM~
~Loving Father and Husband~
~Bearer of the Element of Generosity~
~ Hero of Equestria ~
~We shall never see his like again.

There had been some issue about where Velkorn was going to be laid to rest, with her being their first Queen, the Zebra's wished to entomb her body in the Zebra lands.

There was an even bigger fuss made when Jer'rahd made it quite clear that he would ensure that there would be no Zebra land's left to bury a body if they so much as even attempted to move her away from Rhede.

In the end cooler heads prevailed as it was brought up that Velkorn had done everything she could to distance herself from the Zebralands as a whole and burying her someplace she didn't want to be would be thought of as a insult rather than an honor.

It also didn't hurt that both Luna and Bleu agreed with Jer'rahd about the removal of half a continent being a reasonable response.

~Velkorn Pelt~
~3730 AD- 1011ANM~
~Loving Mother and Wife~
~First Queen of the Zebra Lands~
~Bearer of the Element of Compassion~
~Mother of Modern Medicine~
~The lives she helped to save are countless~

Jer'rahd moved back as the coffins were settled in place, joining the rather sizable collection of ponies and other creatures that had gathered for the funeral. A number of them were ambassadors, ten times that many were Apples. Fluttershy had the twins, Wolf and Fox with her, though neither seemed to know what was going one and were quiet aside from the occasional whimper, catching onto every one elses sadness. Bleu, Spike, Peach Blossom and Starfall were all in attendance as well as Rainbow Dash. A sizable number of Equestria ambassadors were also in attendance. Jer'rahd suspected both Discord and Pinkie Pie were there some where, though he hadn't bothered to do more than glance around once at the sizable crowd.

Grannysmith was overseeing the last words, though Jer'rahd barely heard anything she said , he was sure it was fitting. Applebloom had come back for the funeral and a small gathering of Elk had come with her though they were keeping their distance from everyone in the forest. Pip, orange, Berry and Brush were also present though they were staying near Applebloom, letting Jer'rahd and Luna remain apart.

Celestia and Twilight were there, though neither of them were back to normal yet either. Jer'rahd laid his his head against Luna's side and the larger mare draped her wing over his back. Dawn and Rhynthia both were there and were resting in saddle bags on Luna's sides. Dawn was fidgeting, but was unusually quiet. Rhynthia had her head poked up out of the saddlebag and was watching everything. A few of the Zebra Lands ambassadors had noticed her and were staring at the Zebra godling more than the burial ceremony but they said anything about her.

In the end Jer'rahd had to leave after the first thud of dirt atop the coffins sounded in the air. Luna followed with him. Dawn struggled to get out of her bag and grab at Jer'rahd gasping and crying out before Jer'rahd pulled her out of the bag and let her grab onto his mane laying across his back, comforted by his daughter's grip.

“Terrible day for rain.....” mutters Jer'rahd, his head lowered tot he ground.

Luna glances up at the clear sky, then back to Jer'rahd as he trudged along, his head low a trail of droplets soaking into the earth under him..

“Yes .. yes it is....” Luna agrees.

=======================================================

[Crystal Empire. Thirteen days after the defeat of Tirek, afternoon]

Luna shifts uneasily on her chair, glancing down at the pair of fillies she had in the pair of cribs on either side of her. She wasn't comfortable with them being here, nor with the looks she was getting from some of the other ambassadors. Particularly the Zebra one who seemed to alternate his glares between the new Changeling Queen, and the crib next to her that held a Zebra god. Luna was going to make certain to keep and eye out, as it might be an issue at a later date.

Still the foals were both being very quiet. Dawn because she had worn herself out climbing over Jer'rahd and had dozed off and Rhynthia because she barely ever made any noise.

The little zebra filly was an enigma thus far. Physically she was very healthy for one born as premature as she was from a mother who was for all purposes already dead, mentally Luna could see nothing wrong with her dreams either. They were still the same shapeless mass of colors and noises like all newborns, she was also incredibly fuzzy and ridiculously cute.

The current consensus was that she and Jer'rahd were going to adopt Rhynthia and let the twins stay with Applejack and Fluttershy. Not for any doubt that they couldn't take care of her, but no one knew what sort of power the little foal would have and it was better to keep her some place where it could easily be countered if it turned out to be dangerous.

Celestia sat on the other side of her, still an earth pony, but given her status she still had a say in the goings on in this emergency meeting of the Race's of Equss. Luna had always thought it a stupid name and a rather stupid event. A meeting of all the major powers in the world every five years, or anytime there was a significant event. It was primarily used to set up various trade agreements and to bitch about things. Still Luna knew in the past when it was put together by Crystal and Starswirl it had been a great idea. Back then the gathering had taken place in a different capitol every time though in later years a small Equestrian Town on the edge of the Zebralands had been used as it was approximately the same distance from all the major capitols.

Admission to the Council required the race in question needed to have a God, or have had a God of their kind, and then be recognized as a member by the majority of the others. This years meeting was likely going to have been to discuss the inclusion of the Half Dragons as their own race, but with the attack from Tirek on pretty much every one, the Council meeting was jumped up by two years. They had all been informed of the meeting as soon as Tirek was defeated, but the last of them had only arrived that morning.

Her sister had a small foal carriage with her as well that held Elusive. Twilight had mentioned wanting to care for Elusive and Celestia had simply agreed without much consideration. Given the state of Twilight and Jer'rahd all of the foals were with the calmer member of the adopted couples. Which said quite a bit given Celestia's state of mind. Though Luna had to admit despite the raw anger she felt, her sister appeared calm and collected on the outside, having re-donned her politics face.

Of course wherever Elusive was, Talia and Elecktra were not far behind, although this time they were joined by Talia's husband, one of the few remaining half dragon ambassador, a wingless white half dragon named Windswept, and a large black winged half dragon, who was Elecktra's husband, Swallowtail.

There was some confusion among the half dragons as to why Celestia and Twilight wished to adopt Elusive. Though after consideration, no one really expected the vacation prone Reignolds to be up for taking care of another foal, let alone a godling, when they were just now at the point where Sweetiebelle was going to go off on her own. Given that Elusive too would have an unknown power, most considered it best to keep him some where relatively safe. And given what they had all seen the Equestrian Royal Family do, no one could think of safer.

Also no one could get up with the the Reignolds, which was delaying Lion Heart and Rarity's funeral, though Sweetiebelle claimed it was normal, yet annoying.

Across the table from that group sat Princess Cadence and Shining Armor. Between the pair of them they had Shin and Glimmer in little baskets, though Glimmer's basket was covered due to all the half dragons about. Cadence was still learning about how to control the sun, though for the moment she had at least gained control of her mane, though it still flared up when she was agitated, something Celestia had not even known would happen.

At the other end of the table sat Empress Dust Devil Talon, and her husband Regent Breezy Mist. Breezy wore a side saddle like Luna that had a very curious Hippogryph poking his nose out of it as the adults talked over the table piled high with maps and reports.

There were a few others, a Diamond Dog ambassador that Luna recognized as Tunnel Rat, one of the few remaining Harpy leaders, a River Pony leader from the waters around Gallopagos, and Spike in a smaller form. Pinkie Pie, Bleu, and Discord had pretty much jumped Jer'rahd and Twilight and they were off doing something that would likely need a Potential Disaster Rating of at least three.

“...... if I had known it was bring your pup to work day I would have brought mine and Jynx's litter.” Tunnel Rat chuckles speaking with the Harpy ambassador.

“So the reports are finally all in.” Shining Armor states flatly, cutting through the chatter in the room.

“How bad?” Celestia asks.

“Pretty bad. Fortunately it doesn't seem he crossed the ocean to any of the smaller continents on the other side of Equss. We do have a number of reports of strange shouts from pretty much all of the cities still affiliated with Equestria, but other wise none of them saw Tirek.” Shining reads off the paper before him.

“And the bad news?” Luna questions.

“Cloudsdale and Gallopagos were far from the only places wiped off the maps. At least seven major cities in the Zebra lands, fourteen in the Diamond Dog territories.” Shining Trails off. “ There are at least four confirmed dead Diamond Dog Gods, and the last two are unaccounted for, though they may have dug deep.”

“Iron Tooth, Pyrite Ear, Geode, Rexian,and Butch. All gone.”Tunnel Rat snorts. “ Steel Trap and Princess Puffy Tail missing. Close to twenty two thousand dogs dead. Easily sixty plus warrens and villages lost. Your data is old.”

“How many Zebra?” Cadence asks.

“About six to seven thousand. The numbers are a bit sketchy as some of the smaller villages have yet to be checked and we have found a number that were only in comas and had woken up, but had died later of exposure as they fell into a fugue state and didn't tend to them selves.” The zebra ambassador states. “ In truth I believe we got lucky that none of our major settlements were hit along the southern cost line.”

“The same can be said of the River Ponies.”The lime green river pony stallion ambassador states from the steel tub of water he was in. “ Aside from the four settlements around Gallopagos, none of our major cities were touched. We have a confirmed loss of only three thousand or so. The Sea ponies have reported in only one trade settlement was destroyed with a population of around three hundred.”

“The Dragons have only lost about eighty or ninety of our number. The isolationism we subject ourselves too natural kept Tirek from attacking great amounts of us at one time, and most of those that were lost did so in the battle of the Crystal Empire.” Spike adds in.

“I do envy you all.” Dusty sighs resting her beak in her claws.”Only one Griffon settlement in the far far north was untouched. The entire species of Griffons now numbers at around twenty thousand, and that's if we count the eggs and the cross breeds. There are no Griffon Gods left that any one can find. Save Talon here. But again, that's counting half breeds”

“Harpies are the same.” The Harpy ambassador spoke. Until it did Luna was under the impression that the bat like creature was female, though it's deep rumbling voice spoke other wise. “As far as we can tell we maybe have two thousand left alive. All of our settlements are gone. I also speak for the Minotaur race in stating that their number are close to the same, though they still have two settlements left that they know of. One of our joint settlements is not responding so we are unsure if they are still there. We do know however that the only Minotaur God has survived.”

“Equestria has lost twenty three settlements including our primary weather factory and Capitol.” Luna mutters. “Our death toll is currently tallied near thirty thousand. We have an additional thirty or forty thousand that will need therapy or some sort of help before they can be considered recovered. The Changeling race has lost four hundred and thirty of their remaining five thousand member population. We will be losing approximately two hundred more before I wake the drones. They will need help adjusting to what has happened to them so it will take some time.”

“The Kirin have lost their only primary settlement as well as almost half their total population.” The half dragon Windswept stated getting a few odd looks from every one.” Ahh yes I suppose that has not been addressed yet. The remaining leaders of the half dragons has agreed to a proper name for our kind. We have taken Lord LionHeart's birth name as the name of our species. We are the Kirin.”

There were a few mummers around the table before Celestia spoke up.

“Equestria sees and recognizes the race of Kirin as separate of pony kind.”

The others around the table blink at that and there was more muttering..

“The Dragon nation also sees and recognizes the Kirin as their own race.” Spike adds.

“The Changeling race sees and recognizes the Kirin as their own peoples.” Luna adds.

“The changeling race has not been recognized as such and thus cannot vote as such.” The Harpy ambassador snaps sharply.

“The Griffon race recognizes the Kirin.” Dusty snaps back. “ We'd recognize the bugs too if you'd shut up.”

Luna sighs as the two start shouting at each other, clearly Griffons and Harpies still had a long way to go before they would tolerate each other.

“The River Ponies recognize the Kirin as their own race.” The river pony states, yelling over the bickering birds.

“Diamond Dogs also recognize the Kirin.” Tunnel Rat adds. “They have survived a great deal in this and deserve such recognition.”

“Majority recognized. The Kirin are welcome to the council.” The Zebra ambassador states slamming a hoof down on the table for attention. “I am sorry Princess Luna but we do not yet recognize the Changelings. Even with Shin their numbers are too few and many of them are not originally of the species. It will require further discussion at another time.”

“That is understood. Until such a time as they are recognized might they allowed to remain in the Crystal Empire?” Luna asks.

“Permission granted.” Cadence states. “ Though I would ask that you wait until the ponies who Tirek had claimed are finished with their therapy before awaking the drones, likely they too will need some help.”

“I understand.” Luna nods.

“The Kirin as well would like to extend a claw to the Changelings, Griffons, and Harpies. There is quite a lot of rebuilding to be done in Gallopagos, but the four of us working together could make a home for all of us”

“I thank you for the offer ambassador , but the Griffons have already struck a deal with the Crystal Empire and the Dragons for some of the mountains on the dividing range between their lands. “ Breezy butts in. ”We are also in … heated, negotiations in response to the land often contested between Griffons and Harpies. With so few of us left it's likely time to settle the conflict for good.”

“I will see which ones might wish to travel to Gallopagos to help, I will not force any of the Changelings to do something they do not wish. That has been done to them far too often as it is.” Luna adds in. There will also be some that will wish to return to their own kind. I will be ensuring that there is no taint of Chrysalis in them , though it will be up to all of you to deal with any lingering hatred towards them. The ones who would be returning are as much victims in this as any one that the Changelings harmed.”

“Agreed.” The Zebra ambassador states. “I suppose now we need to go into the logistics and readjustments of the trade agreements given the current state of things.”

=========================================.

[Sweet Apple Acres, edge of the North Orchard Two weeks after the defeat of Tirek]

“......... So that's everything then. All that's happened up to this point. If you see Rhede and Velkorn... Buck... if they're listening too tell them I'm sorry...... Lionheart and Rarity as well. Luna and I will take care of Rhynthia and Elusive for them.... Or Celestia will. There's still some debate on that one. Applejack and Fluttershy are going to take care of the twins. They were willing to take care of Rhynthia as well but we both know those two might have a bit of issue raising a Godling......”

Jer'rahd continues to talk, laying in the middle of four graves in the shade of an old tree. The small plot had been cleaned up and a number of grave stones restored from memory, though most were blank as Jer'rahd had never recalled who was buried in the plots save the four of them under the tree. Two new graves had been dug and filled in along the edge of the plot though there was only one body and a tattered black leg to fill the plot with. There was a very long list of names of those that Tirek had killed or had died before any one could find them while they were comatose.

A number of ponies had held out hope that since they only found Rhede's leg that he was still alive some where. Jer'rahd and a number of others knew better however, they had watched his death and knew there was nothing left of him to find.

The faint flap of leathery wings caused Jer'rahd to look back as Bleu shifted herself on the edge of the graveyard. She had been out here with him quite a few times, just as he had been with her to Platinum's grave. After the War of Gods the pair of them had been to a number of places and found graves and family of those they knew before their time in stone. Platinum's grave and the monument to those lost in Dullahan were first among those. The former had fallen into disrepair, the latter was in a museum having been dredged out of the sea where Dullahan had sunk after Nightmare Night. The museum's curator was ecstatic that Jer'rahd could identify every name that time and weather had removed from the stone. He was slightly less ecstatic to hear the story behind the stone.

But that was ten years ago. Right now he was focused on the present. He was angrier than he had ever been in his life. At Tirek, and at himself. He had been one of the first gods if not the first to be taken by the monster. And he got to ride along in the back seat watching everything the monster had done from that point on.

It became even worse when Tirek entered the mirror pond, because Jer'rahd's mind had been split along with the clones and his power and he had seen everything. Every atrocity they committed, every heroic action done to stop Tirek whether it succeeded or not.

His list of names now could fill a library.

It took everything he had not to go straight for the tree and rip the monster from it and pull him apart bit by bit over a thousand years. The only thing stopping him was that Applebloom was connected to the tree, anything he did to it, hurt her.

But despite Applebloom likely having a longer life expectancy due to what happened, she was not a god, nor was she immortal. When she finally did pass, Tirek was fair game again.

His anger was one reason Bleu was staying around him, despite her having other things to do with the Dragon Empire. She was to make sure he didn't do anything stupid. Despite his cutting loose as the beast he still had quite a lot of rage to work out still.

If Bleu wasn't with him it was Starfall or Luna, sometimes it was even just Dawn. The little foal had a calming effect on him better than anything else. He was still terrified of hurting her or scaring her, though it didn't seem that there would be much that could scare the newborn. All she did was eat sleep, cry and cling to and bite anything that she could. Also she occasionally threw up on him still.

The sound of heavy wings and a loud thud announced some one elses arrival. He didn't need to look back to see who it was. Bleu's soft coo was a sure indication that it was Spike. And if Spike was here, the pony he was watching was as well.

Twilight Sparkle.

As far as he knew she was only one aside from Zecora/ Sunshine who had seen what he had while trapped inside Tirek. And possibly the only one who could do nothing but dwell on it. Zecora/ Sunshine had some how either shrugged off or was dealing with what happened to her better than the pair of them were, though she was staying some where in New Canterlot , rather than going home.

Twilight had returned much as he had and only the fact that both her parents and Celestia were present to calm her down kept her from going after Tirek when she recovered from her break down. Out of every one Jer'rahd felt she was the only one who really knew how he felt, and she seemed to think the same. The pair of them had both been put under watch by Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, AND Princess Cadence. Their draconic partners were the only ones willing and able to set aside everything else to keep close to them for long periods of time.

Spike had issues he had to deal with the Dragons, though evidently one of them named Ice was more than content to keep the others in line while he was away. Still Spike and Twilight had made a few trips to the new Cindervale. They had almost caused a international incident when Sparkle lost it and beat the crap out of some dragon or another for something he said. Jer'rahd didn't know the full details of what happened, but he could guess.

The soft thud of hooves announced the mares approach and Jer'rahd rose.

His new form had bothered him at first and there were still plenty of issues. He was a little more used to it and had found that the less he thought about trying to position his elongated limbs or the thick serpentine tail he now sported the easier it was.

He hadn't gotten a chance to train with it yet, but he was looking forward to trying it out. Still despite it being odd he almost felt like this was the body he had grown up in.

His fur was still gray though there was a bit less of it particularly around his muzzle and his legs. orange scales covered his limbs and around his muzzle. His face was further elongated and his mane now ran fully down his back following his spine and tail until it ended in a tuft at the very tip of the serpentine length. His hooves had changed shape as well becoming almost cloven and having three points like a W instead of the usual horse shoe shape of a U like normal ponies.

There were other things as well, his breath some times came out as fire or smoke and his teeth were the sharp points of a meat eaters, despite this his diet was still the same as a ponies, he had had one griffon made dish with meat and it made him ill. Of course it was not all bad, but the reason it wasn't all bad was only of importance to him, and Luna of course. Though it was something else he had yet to try out.

As he rose from the ground he gave himself a shake to clear off and dirt of leaves that had collected while he was laying there.

“So how was the funeral?” He asked.

“Unsurprisingly fashionable. There was nothing left of either of them to bury so it was mostly a ceremony for show. Sweetiebelle sang and I'm pretty sure the whole damn island cried. It was just as Rarity would have wanted it.” Twilight comments flatly.

“But not when of course.” Jer'rahd sighs. “Still I'm sure the drama queen in her loved the idea of a tragic young death ….”

“Probably....” Twilight snorts. “ You should have come.”

“I'll go to pay my last respects sooner or later, for now I've had more funeral's than I can take.”

“So what now? You've dealt with more crap like this than I have how the heck do you cope?”

“I'm standing in a graveyard talking to my parents and grandparents who have all been dead over a thousand years. I force monuments to the fallen to be built either through intimidation, rank, political standing, or simply doing it myself. I go on rampages that thin the forest of dangerous creatures and even slightly annoying ones. What part of any of that shows any sign of coping with loss?”

“Good point.” Twilight states sitting down with a sigh.” And we're partially to blame this time.”

“No I'm to blame, you fought, and quite well in fact. I was blind sided because my ego thought there was nothing that I couldn't handle. And everyone paid for that.” Jer'rahd growls.

“It's not like either of us knew anything about him, we had nothing to say that he even existed.” Twilight placates. ”I should have done better.”

“Chrysalis knew he existed and she was hiding out for years and could have told some one.” Jer'rahd grumbles.

“Would any of us have believed her?” Twilight sighs. “Lets face it we can't deal with things we don't even know about. It's not like we can just open a book and see a list of all the evil monsters that might threaten Equss............” Twilight trails off blinking as Jer'rahd stared at her.

The two of them turned as one and looked back at the pair of Dragons behind them, particularly Spike.
The drake was doing his best to look annoyed that Bleu had pressed herself against him. Bleu was rather subdued for once and was just leaning on him, which likely confused Spike further.

“Would it even work?” Jer'rahd asked staring at the purple dragon. “Seriously?”

“He got a book that my mom was writing while she was writing it.” Twilight mutters. “ I'm not sure the limit, but he also supposedly grabbed one of the Books of Orbsah. I don't see why this wouldn't work.”

“So do you want to write the hit list next year or should I?” Jer'rahd grinned, baring a large set of fangs and sharp very unponylike teeth. “I already have a title.”

“Do I want to know?” Twilight asks.

“Dangerous creatures, and how to kill them.”

Author's Note

A bit of a depressing chapter i suppose, but it's one step closer to the end now. 2 left.

Title is Slow, Love Slow- by Nightwish

Cosmic Love [42]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Epilogue
Cosmic Love

[2 years after the defeat of Tirek, Asclipius Capitol of the Zebra Lands]

Kiongozi, ruler of the Zebra lands stormed through his palace. He liked to considerate his palace, just like he liked to consider himself a true king, rather than the King elect he really was. Sure he was descended from royalty, not the first Queen, or even the first King mind you, but one of the successors that had come up from the crossed family lines. He could trace his linage all the way back to the Warlord Zal'Torack's third son.

Granted that was neither here nor there. Right now he had a crisis. Two of them actually.

The first had been largely ignored for nearly seven hundred years, when the last one had been spotted. If he recalled his history, the last one to appear had been an adult and had called it self Sunshine before it was supposedly killed about three hundred years after the War of Night.

Now there was another one that had been sighted in Equestria. One that was one of the three foals of the First Queen before her death. There were some who had suggested he acquire the two first born foals and use their linage to increase his power base.

Kiongozi thought it better they stay in Equestria and out of his mane. By the time they were old enough to pursue their linage he would have retired and they would be some zebra elses problem.

The issue was the third child. If the ambassadors and other witnesses were to believed she had not only a red crystal horn, but the red stripes. Two of the signs that the Followers of the Old Ways looked for to know a god.

It had been thousands of years since the gods that ruled over the Zebra Lands had been ousted by the first Warlords, it had been a thousand since the Warlords were ousted by Zal'Torack, and it had been slightly less than that since the crowning of the First Queen and then the First King which brought about the current era of moderate peace.

There were conflicts of course. The occasional border skirmish with the diamond dogs tot he west and some rogue monsters or pirates, but nothing major.

In truth he himself didn't care one way or another about the foal. But then again he wasn't the one starting the crisis.

The Followers of the Old Ways, or FOW, was for lack of a better term a group of religious zealots who had far more pull in the political structure of the Zebra Lands than any one liked. They could trace their roots back to the Zebra Civil War, where they stood opposed to what the First Queen had stood for. They backed the King, Baelit as the true ruler, only to find out he was even more open minded than his aunt. Despite their cause being rendered all but moot the group remained intact vying for political power on the council, setting up deals and basicly not only hanging on to their position, but gaining ground.

Today it was little more than a group of politicians and the occasional rich fool who romanticized the way things used to be with out considering that the old ways were horrid. Untouchables, scattered tribes, honor killings, mares treated as property, and so on. While they were little more than yet another political party now, their words still held clout with the ignorant, easily swayed , and disenfranchised of the Zebra Lands.

One of their number had even been elected King a while back, though the Zebra Council had kept him from doing anything too drastic.

The issue with them now was the First Queen's foal. They wanted her dead, and their preaching was getting a lot of Zebra's up in arms about the whole thing.

That lead into the second crisis issue.

One of the 'churches' that they possessed had simply vanished over night. Of course something would happen like this while they were still dealing with the fallout of the Mummy-Ra thing that had taken over the city.

Well the FOW called it a church, it was really little more than a high class resort with some training areas to teach their 'true history' to new members. Non the less it was simply gone one night. Well not so much gone as possibly melted, the entire length of the property was little more molten glass when it was discovered, now it was just a great big mirror on the edge of the desert.

Every one who had lived there, or been staying there had been found alive and unharmed, way out in the desert, with no recollection of what had happened and suffering from nothing worse than some sand rash and a mild bit of dehydration..

With the exception of two.

Just under the surface in the dead center of the glass field were two bodies. One was an unknown young zebra male who was dressed in dark clothing and seemed to have some small weapons on him, the other was a rich, but fairly low level politician in the FOW group.

Both had looks of terror on their faces and judging by the state of their bodies they had been killed by being dropped into the molten glass field.

Kiongozi, didn't like to think about what could have done that, but the Zebra's were causing an uproar about it and the state of panic was high, he needed to do something. Perhaps he could send word to Equestria and get the group that had taken care of Mummy-Ra to deal with it.

He glanced to the Guards outside his office doors, they nodded in return, the pair had been with the squad he had sent to train with the 42nd in Equestria some time ago. Oddly the pair of them looked down right terrified at the moment, even their stripes seemed to have paled. That was something that almost gave him pause as he didn't think there was anything that could frighten Guards trained in Equestria, maybe he was imagining things or they were simply worried as well. They hadn't had a good time with the mind controlling undead either.

He managed a few steps into his office, before the door slammed shut behind him and a series of metal wires wrapped around his body and neck choking off any cry he could have made for help. He managed to turn his head a little to see a figure dressed in a face concealing red cloak and body suit with one black glove over their left hoof holding fast to the other end of the wires that held him.

[“Easy there Agent. When I said I wanted to talk to him, I meant I wanted to talk to him.”] A voice stated from in front of him in some what broken zebra.

[“Sorry sir, when you said talk, I thought you meant 'talk' “] The cloaked figure states, the voice sounding feminine, but gruff.

[“Easy to mistake given the situation I suppose.” the other voice states. “Let him loose. Kiongozi, don't bother calling for your Guards they won't answer you for the moment.”]

The wires pull loose rubbing over his skin, though not doing any damage, he rubs his neck as the cloaked figure tugs her hoof back , the wires vanishing from sight. He turned to his desk looking up at the high backed chair that was facing the large window that looked out over Asclipius and the plains beyond.

[“Who are you... What do you want?”] Kiongozi coughs.

[“Well that's what I came down here to talk about. Though I'm just going to speak Equestrian because I don't know all the words in Zebra I need to say.”] The chair swivels around, rather dramaticly, but that was why Kiongozi had a high backed swivel chair, so he could say something dramatic then turn about dramaticly. He had never had the effect used on him before and he was partially glad that it really was as intimidating as he thought it was.

Granted when he saw who was in his chair he really wished they would turn around in it again so he could feverently pray to anything that would listen that it was some one else sitting there.

[“Oh buck me!”]

The orange and gray Kirin smiled leaning on the desk as he looked over it at the King.

“I've got a little offer to make Kiongozi, one you really don't want to pass on.” Jer'rahd stated.

“Shouldn't you be addressing me by my full title?”

“If this was an official visit sure, but it's not as if many even know we're here. Better that way.”

“It was you... by the stars you destroyed that temple!”Kiongozi yelps the pieces falling into place. With some one as high profile as The Demon of Dullahan, it should have been impossible for him to be here without some word of his arrival in the country being heard, unless he didn't want to be noticed because he was going to do something.

“Me.. no, I beat the snot out of the assassin and the one who hired him and then Luna dropped them in the middle of the glass lake. Sparkle flattened the temple after moving the ones inside. And Celestia made the lake.... granted all she did was stand in one spot for a while. I was actually impressed that she only managed to melt the temple grounds. Seems she's a bit annoyed with Zebra's and how they treat their gods. You'd think some one she loved was nearly killed by those rules or something.”

“Why did you... assassin?”

“Indeed. Two days ago an attempt was made on the life of Rynthia. He didn't even make it into the castle before we knew of him and we moved the foals and put illusions in their place. We had hoped that he was after one of us, but with his being a zebra we feared the worst. And that was right on the money, he mugged one of the maids for information and slit her throat before moving on. Before you ask the maid is fine, it's interesting to know Changelings can fake their own deaths very well. But still he made his way into the nursery pulled out a star metal dagger of all things and stabbed the fool out of the illusion of Rynthia.”

Jer'rahd frowned and Kiongozi wished he could retire ten minutes ago just so he wouldn't be here.

“It was about that time that I think I dislocated every bone in his body. After I vented far less than I wanted we let the Black Hoof hold onto him for a bit, he probably wished I had continued...... We got the name and location of one who hired him, got more intel on the assassin and his organization and then well. You know the rest.”

“But... but attacking a governmental group in another country is.. it's an act of war.....” Kiongozi stammers. “ The Council of Gods won't stand for that.”

“Okay let me explain this... and calm down, if I was going to do anything to you I wouldn't be sitting here explaining things. I'm being the diplomatic one here....” Jer'rahd ponders.”Okay I take that back, do panic a little, because if I'm being the diplomatic one that means Luna, Celestia, and Twilight are more pissed off than I am, and that's never good.”

The robed pony in the corner snorts back a laugh at that comment though says nothing else.

“Alright first off sending an assassin after a member of royalty in another country is considered an act of war as well. The FOW are a valid political party in the Zebra Lands. Much like the Flame Party that started the Second Dragon War. So we are rather justified in our actions. Two, the council of races currently consists of the Ponies, who won't go to war with themselves...... again. The Griffons, who are not even at ten percent of their population, and the remaining leaders of whom often have us foal sit their son who is a Hyppogryph god, so don't expect anything from them either. There are the Harpies who are at an even smaller number than the Griffons. The River Ponies and Sea Ponies, both of whom have refused to do anything with the land dwellers for longer than even Celestia remembers. The Minotaur who are in the same boat as the harpies. The Diamond Dogs who are currently so friendly with us after our hunt that they'll fetch the paper and my slippers in the morning if I ask, long story don't ask, just know that you weren't the only ones with undead troubles. The Kirin, whom I represent. The Changelings, whom Luna represents. The Dragon's whose leader is the brother of Sparkle, and whose mate is my sister. And the Zebra, who let an assassin go after the daughter of two of those races rulers, the niece of the rulers of Ponies, the niece of the mate of the dragon's leader, and is the playmate of the child of the Griffon leaders. “ Jer'rahd lists. “Then let's take into account that she is a member of the Apple family, and the former Blue Blood family which if they got mad at you the trade rates of goods going into your country would triple if they didn't embargo completely. Now then if I have not dissuaded you from the talk of war yet, keep in mind that I trained your best soldiers, and they are currently trying not to wet themselves right now, if they haven't resigned their commission and fled for the hills already.”

Kiongozi was feeling faint himself, but he exhaled softly trying to recover enough to at least not be shaking.” Understood in that regards. Perhaps you should just tell me why you are here to save time then?”

“Because this 'won't' happen again. Luna and I are very protective of our family, but there are more of them than there are of us and we can't be every where. The next assassin might get lucky and actually manage to cause harm to some one I care about. I don't need to tell you how bad of an idea that is. I have a very large calender and I am counting down the days until I can get my hooves around the neck of the last thing that harmed my family, and that will neither be pretty, or brief. Though the stars help any one who even looks funny at Elusive. I do not envy that colt when he gets to dating age. Celestia and Sparkle take over protective to new levels.” Jer'rahd mutters. “Any way this has to stop, the Zebra nation needs to give up on the idea that all Zebra Gods are bad and going to take over and enslave them again. I know two other Zebra Gods personally who don't give two shits about the Zebra Lands. And if Rynthia ever does express interest, you have to expect that Luna and I will raise her well enough that she won't try and take over like in the past.”

“Forgive my disbelief at the last statement. But if I recall correctly, the last time you visited you brought your daughter Dawn.....” Kiongozi begins.

“Oh for crying out loud, you're never gonna let her live that down are you.. she's two!” Jer'rahd grumbles.”She hasn't been around long enough yet to be raised properly.”

“She ate most of the crown jewels of the First Queen.....” Kiongozi argues.

“Well why were they left out where a two year old could get them?”

“They were in a locked steel safe.... which she also took a bite out of......”

“Yeah I'm tempted to make a weapon or some armor out of her baby teeth when they fall out, that filly has bitten through way more than she should be able to. Any way I offered to pay for the jewel's and I can guarantee Velkorn only wore them once for about four seconds before she dropped them all in the trash can and put on scrubs.”

“I have heard the same argument from the leaders of the Queen's Cross.......”

“Aren't you married to one of the leaders of that group?”

“Yes, lovely mare. Though I think we are off track here. I will do what I can, but dissolving a political group with as much power as the FOW have will be next to impossible, particularly with this event being sited as proof that the Zebra God is out to get us.”

“Do you believe that?” Jer'rahd asks.

“Of course not. There's far too much else to worry about without the belief that a infant will doom our race again.”

A large stack of papers slapped down on the desk in front of Kiongozi making him jump. He looks up to see the smile of a cream colored muzzle under the hood of the red robed figure before it backs away.

“Good. This is a collection of embezzlement proof, spending cuts, black market dealings and dozens of other illegal practices that members of the FOW are preforming. There is also a list of those in there who could be swayed to another cause, or are starting to get annoyed with the hedonistic lifestyle the highest ranking members have. It's a start. The populace needs to realize how stupid the old beliefs are. Hold a press conference, tell them how mares were considered inferior to males, tell them about how old age was in their fifties, if they were lucky. Tell them that the mare who finally changed that had a daughter that was a god, play on sympathies, be dirty, run it like a political smear campaign. Do what you do best, make the other guys look so bad that no one believes anything they say.” explains the one Jer'rahd had called Agent.

“I hate politics, but I know you thrive in this sort of environment. If I had my way I'd just stay in Equestria and raise my family, be a normal freaking pony for once in my bucking life. “Jer'rahd sighed. “As you've seen, my life is no where near as simple as I would like it. Maybe one day, but that's not any time soon I expect.”

“So it would seem.” Kiongozi nods.

“If all else fails, tell them she is my daughter. While I'm rather enjoying the feeling of being thought as a hero in more than just Equestria, I won't hesitate to be hated and feared by every living soul on Equss. And the only ones who could stop me if I get going, would be rampaging right next to me.” Jer'rahd states.

The Zebra leader swallowed as Jer'rahd got to his hooves.

“At any rate Kiongozi, I actually like you, which is why I'm here talking to you instead of to some one else being a go between. If I'm around here next election and my gifted citizenship hasn't been revoked I'll be sure to drop in a vote for you.” Jer'rahd smirked, the effect far less threatening than his smile.” I'm sure you can deal with this so everything can be resolved peacefully.”

“Thank you for the confidence, although a letter would perhaps be better next time......” Kiongozi mentions.

“Letter... Oh right. Here.” Jer'rahd turned, a dark blue envelope floating out of his saddlebag wrapped in his green magic. The letter moves to the zebra stallion who takes it with a hoof.

“ What's this? More ideas on stopping political ambitions?”

“No not at all. It's a wedding invitation. Luna and I are finally getting … 'officially' married this fall on the date of our fourth anniversary. Bring your wife and a couple of guests. Bleu, Pinkie Pie and Discord are giving access to the royal account to plan the party. Likely to be something no one will ever forget.” Jer'rahd chuckled heading to the door as the cloaked pony opened it for him and the pair walk past the pale Guards. “At ease boys, you did good and your boss is still intact just like I said. So should we stop in town or at one of the border towns for food. I was thinking some of that curry stuff I had last time I was here... maybe see if there's any thing the girls might like.”

The Kirin continued on down the hall way, bouncing ideas for food and possible presents for his daughters off the silent cloaked mare.

Behind him the King of the Zebra's slumps down to the floor with a groan.

==================================================

[ Seven months later, Early Fall, New Canterlot. New Ambassador wing, Eastern hall rooms. ]

“Think they'll ever let us back into the Sultry Mare?” Peach Blossom asked, checking himself out in the mirror. A few shifts of his wings got the midnight blue suit he was wearing adjusted properly over his shoulders.

“The bar? Pfft, I think we would be lucky if they let us back into Los Pegasus at all.” Breezy chuckled pulling on a midnight blue tux jacket muttering on how it bound his wings.

“Two of those buildings were condemned any way.” Jer'rahd pointed out, his own tux already on. Though he considered it far too snug, he didn't plan to keep it on any longer than he had to. He had to admit however the midnight blue suit with midnight black trim and a deep purple undershirt with a single white carnation on his chest did make him look rather impressive.

“Two were. We wrecked four.” Big Mac grumbled standing by the door. He wore a tux like the rest though he had a small basket on his back holding the gibbering form of a bright red pegasus foal with a rainbow colored mane and tail inside it.

“Three and half. The fourth only lost the top six floors.” Shining Armor smirked.

“Yeah well never let it be said that Discord can't throw a bachelor party.” Jer'rahd chuckled looking over at Shining by the door. “What are you doing in here, I though you were supposed to be security?”

“I let Rose take over. He seemed to enjoy the idea more.” Shining responded. “Don't worry, I've got a few things in place if he takes the job too seriously.”

“Asked Moskau to keep an eye on him then hmm?”Peach Blossom laughed, stepping away from the mirror and over to Jer'rahd looking him over and making a adjustment with a wing and brushing a stray petal from his jacket. “Not bad at all. You're almost presentable.”

“I didn't give you this much grief at your wedding.” Jer'rahd chuckles.

“That's cause you weren't my best stallion, same with LionHeart's.” Peach Blossom commented, his voice trailing off as the mood darkens a little.”Any way thanks for making me the Best Stallion here. Missed out on that with Breezy.”

“Dusty and I had a Griffon wedding. I had to fight off three other suitors, avoid a murder attempt, and stop a war from starting because I was a commoner and a pony marrying into Griffon nobility.” Breezy snorts.” After all that ,her mother just said she approved loud enough for half the country to hear it and them she demanded we go make her grand chicks.”

“I remember that, that was fun. Also don't mention it Peach Blossom. Though I must admit you were my third choice for my best man.” Jer'rahd commented looking a little dejected himself at this point.

“Yeah.. I understand that.” Peach Blossom nods as they both look over at the large paintings Brush did of Rhede and Lionheart that were sitting on a table near the door.

===============================================================

[ New Ambassador wing, Western hall rooms. ]

“GAH WHY COULDN'T I HAVE JUST STAYED ELOPED!!” Luna swore, yelping as Fluttershy accidentally jabbed her with a needle.

“sorry.” Fluttershy muttered.

“Stop yelling, If you had come in for a fitting before this we wouldn't be rushing everything now.” Celestia snaps. “You have no one to blame for this but yourself.”

“Oh no, I can always blame you for annulling my wedding so I would have to go through all this.” Luna snapped back. “And excuse me if I have been too busy relocating and settling in an entire race of ponies, most of whom were forcefully turned to what they think of as monsters by a former mad mare. At the very least we could have done a traditional Valkyrie wedding.”

“That isn't a wedding, that's a big rambunctious party.” Celestia sighed, her magic quickly pushing Pinkie Pie back out the door as the pink mare burst in at the mention of a party.

“On the plus side we'd have gotten to see her club Jer'rahd over the head and drag him off. Also if I have to wear this thing you have to wear that thing Luna.” Starfall chuckles. The pegasus mare was dressed in a light purple and blue bridle maid gown, though her attention was focused on a rather large basket before her and the twin filly and colt pegasus foals within it. Starlight and Orchid were surprisingly quiet, particularly with their 'big sister' Rainbow Dash leaning over the side of the basket making funny faces at them. “You sure you're gonna be okay to take care of these two during the ceremony Dash?”

“You know you could always wear your dress uniform Starfall.” Luna states blinking as the pegasus mare promptly yanked the dress off to show she already was wearing it underneath.

”Of course.” Celestia sighed.

“You act like I don't have a foal of my own.” Dash rolls her eyes at Starfall.

“Yah mean the little colt Big Mac mostly takes care of ?” Applejack chuckles.

“Shut up.....” Dash growled “Do you know how hard it is to get Zap away from Big Mac for three seconds with out him having a fit? It's like Dawn and Jer'rahd times ten.”

“We could always see if Princess Cadence could keep an eye on them if you're worried Starfall.” Dusty comments leaning over to look in a mirror to make sure the flowers on her head were straight. The Griffon leader was really only here due to her connection with Breezy, though Celestia was rather fond of her, as she now had some one to talk shit about Kaisur with.

“Yeah that'll go well. She's already watching Shin, Glimmer, Dawn, Rynthia, Elusive, and your foal Talon.” Bleu comments. Her scales flutter along the color spectrum as she sighs. “She's gonna have her hooves full even with Granny Smith watching Fox, Wolf and the disaster trio.”

“They're not that bad.” Fluttershy muttered as Applejack rolls her eyes.

“Tha CMC were a little less destructive. And less tree sappy.” Applejack admits.

“Speaking of which, why is Applebloom presiding over this rather than Sparkle butt, Spikey or even Celestia?” Bleu asks.

“Spike was a contender to preside, a dragon god presiding over a pony wedding would have caused just the proper ripples towards some sort of common ground. Applebloom was in the same boat as Spike when it came to political relations, although this time with the Elk rather than dragons. In the end we chose her because she's already family.” Luna explains.

“Hey I've been trying to make him family.” Bleu snorts.” Well make 'a' family....”

“Twilight doesn't yet have the status or experience necessary in her position. Cadence was considered but turned down in favor of the political fluff. And to quote my ex and future husband when Tia was brought up. 'Bucking no way in Tartarus or outside of it that, that is gonna happen, I'd rather be married by bucking sea ponies underwater.' end quote.

“Seems he still doesn't like Celestia huh?” Applejack smirks. “ Can't say I blame him with all tha crap you've hit him with this last year Princess.”

“The feeling is indeed mutual when it comes to him. How he managed to be both better and far worse than Blue Blood at the same time is infuriating.” Celestia snorts. “But I've long since given up hope Lulu will come to her senses. She clearly enjoys his antics given how she's agreed to turn the wedding into a stage show.”

“Oh please, with how you dote on Dawn, you can't hate him that much, she wouldn't be here without him.' Luna chuckled “As for the wedding, it's one song that we are going to sing instead of something traditional. Besides you said you wanted a big showy wedding....”

“A big showy proper wedding,like Cadence's not a three ring circus.” Celestia snorts

“Yeah I'm not entirely clear on what's happening here?” Applejack comments.”But I'd rather not have another wedding like Cadence's . One invasion was enough. No offense Luna.”

“None taken. The wedding is going to start normal with Rynthia and Dawn carrying the flowers down the aisle, Talon is going to follow with the ring. We were going to have Dawn do it but she ate the first three practice ones.” Luna sighs.

“So did Talon , but he nearly choked on it and didn't do it a second time. Your daughter's a bad influence on my son. “ Dusty clicks her beak in annoyance.

“Dawn's teething like a proper dragon.” Bleu smirks.

“Sweetiebelle and the Rarities are playing music now to keep the crowd entertained and when Jer'rahd comes out the pair of us will have the musical number before Applebloom starts the ceremony.” Luna continues.

“He can sing?” Rainbow Dash asks.

“Well enough. He's practiced this song a lot. At three am. Outside the training barreks. While ponies inside were trying to sleep. With the loudest speakers he could get.” Bleu monotones. “You don't wanna know what happened to the ones that complained.”

“We had the Platinum school hold a contest for it's students to write a love song. The winner would have their tuition paid as well as have the song played at the wedding. They would also be allowed to attended as a guest with their family.” Luna explains.

“That explains some of the names in the guest list.” Celestia ponders.

“I rather like it” Luna comments. “It has a more interesting and modern tone while also having parts for a male and female vocals. When the female vocals start is when I will enter to sing them. I do hope Jer'rahd can keep up after he sees me in this.” Luna chuckled looking down at the dress.

“Oh, you do like it then?” Fluttershy mutters adjusting the hem of the dress a little more.

“I never said I didn't, I may not like standing around to make sure it fits properly, but that is my sisters fault.” Luna smiles.

“See previous denial of fault and redirection to it really being your fault.” Celestia mutters, fighting with her flowery head dress.

'Oh that's good....” Fluttershy mutters. Luna blinks looking down at the butter yellow pegasus.

“Fluttershy are you alright? You're crying.... I didn't mean anything by that I was simply tormenting my sister.....” Luna tries to placate.

“Oh I know. It's not that.” Fluttershy sighs her striped wing shifting a little along her side.

“Then what is wrong?” Luna questions.

“It's just.... Rarity made this dress for you... and and...while I'm working on it.. I just.....” Fluttershy fights back a sniffle.

Luna glances up at the others her lips set tight, before she leans forward hugging the smaller mare with her wings.

“It's alright Fluttershy.. I know how important this dress is. I'm sure we can adjust it for Orange, Berry, Rynthia, and Dawn as well when the need arises......This may be something I will only wear once, but that doesn't mean it will not be worn again.”

'It's okay I just need to get through this.....” Fluttershy mutters. “It has to fit perfectly....”

“Hey I got a question?” Rainbow Dash.”You're a Changeling now right? Why not just change to how you were when Rarity fitted you the first time?”

“Because Jer'rahd was rather adamant that he would be marrying me as I am, not as I was. It's annoying but still rather sweet.”

“Yeah, but do you really think he'd notice if some of your measurements were off a little so that you could fit in the dress? I mean you don't have to look like you did before, but you could still be the same size right?” Dash continues.

The whole room looked over at Rainbow Dash, then back over at Luna who was doing her best not to swear for not having thought of that.

=============================================

[ An hour prior]

The initial wedding plan had it taking place in the great hall, though once Discord, Bleu, and Pinkie Pie got together and were told what the couple wanted they realized quickly that the great hall would not be big enough.

The wedding was then moved to Canterlot Castle grounds. Work on several wings was halted as the bare dirt was sodded and set with flowers and decorative archways and made up to look all pretty and even that didn't seem to be large enough for the guest list. So the main hall was reserved for the reception part of the wedding and the parparits over looking the Castle grounds were also set up to host seating. Work on New Cloudsdale was stopped and a sizable number of cloud seats were made and moved to seat the pegasi. In truth the wedding was shaping up to be the biggest thing Equestria had seen in some time. The ideal that Ponies needed something big to happen that wasn't a disaster was easily seen with how many came together to work on this.

Discord and Pinkie Pie had done an admirable job, but Twilight still expected them to put a live hydra in the wedding cake or something....... or Gummy....

Twilight glanced down adding 'scan cake for alligators' to her already ridiculously long list. While the Bearer's of Laughter had planned the party, Twilight was going to make sure that everything went off without a hitch. It had been a busy year for her learning the ins and outs of dream walking and Princessing, though she had noticed things that Luna had not, or that the former Goddess of the Night had simply overlooked because it didn't seem important.

Though that was something that would come up later and Twilight was nearly dancing with excitement to reveal what she learned. Still she had a wedding to make sure went off without a hitch. She would be overseeing the ceremony itself in her royal station. Normally Celestia would be doing that, but seeing as she was giving away the bride, being the only family Luna had.... technically.... it made more sense this way.

Starfall, AppleJack, Dusty, Rainbow Dash, and Bleu were the bridle maids in this, Talon was going to be the ring bearer and both Dawn and Rynthia were going to be the flower fillies. Pip and Scootaloo were going to be there on either side of the little pair supposedly to make sure Dawn didn't eat anything she shouldn't, though it was also to make sure that any one who came after Rynthia wouldn't get far.

The pair of them had graduated this year from what was termed the most ridiculous 42nd training class since Celestia had participated eleven years ago. Briar Rose, Starfall, Rainbow Dash, Hospice Moskau, and Breezy Mist were the trainers. Twilight still wasn't sure how Breezy got roped into it, but his wife insisted.

The class itself had Pip, Scootaloo, a selection of various other races, including some Elk, three Linorm, and pair of Dragons.

Several guest trainers came in as well, including of course Jer'rahd and Bleu, to oversee the final survival event, which was set up and executed by Discord and Pinkie Pie.

Not only did the two of them pass, but they passed at the head of the class surpassing nearly any possible expectation of them.

Given that Jer'rahd nor Luna, had nothing to do with the grading scale at all, no one could say anything about favoritism.

They still did, but they shouldn't be able to.

“Hey Twilight...”

The purple alicorn perks her ears, snapping out of her train of thought, and looking to the speaker. She smiles fanning her wings a little reflexively looking to the yellow and red maned half elk striding over to her. The mare, or was it doe, was actually tall enough to look the new Princess in the eye.

“Oh hey Applebloom. I'm just checking over the last few things on the list.” Twilight smiles. “ What's up?”

“Well ah know ah agreed ta this... but what if ah mess up... look at all them Ponies, and Griffons and other things all over tha place... Ah didn't think there was gonna be this many here!”

Twilight smiled a little poking her wing feather to the half elk's nose.

“Relax. You'll do fine. Besides if you mess up, just play it off like a joke this whole thing is ridiculous any way.”

“But it's a wedding, one of mai family's weddings an ah'm presiding over it just cause I listened to a bunch of dumb Timber Wolves singing!”Applebloom was starting to hyperventilate as she danced in place. “ Ah ain't never done this, and ah ain't fit fer it ah'm just a pony... errr.... elk gahhh!”

“You've made more progress in opening the Elk up to the rest of the world in the last few years than thousands of years of Ambassadors have been able to do since Starswirl the Bearded knew them.” Twilight explains.

“Yeah but ah didn't have a script as thick as a dictionary tah read from!” Ah don't even know what half these words mean let alone how tah pronounce them!”

Twilight sighed, Spike had been right she should have used her abridged version on the ceremony. That was only a hundred pages.

“Feel free to skim it I guess, if you can't understand something just skip over to the next part you do get.” Twilight placates with a frown. “ Any way I want you to take a look at something .”

“What's that?”

Twilight lifts a hoof pointing to the stage where Sweetiebelle and Button were setting up for the show with five Changelings buzzing around the pair helping.

“See that stage?”

“Yeah.”

“That's also where you are going to be standing, reading the service. You will be on a stage, that moments before the bride and groom used for a duet and that your friend Sweetiebelle preformed on. Jer'rahd is currently head of a major house of nobles, leader of the Kirin, and one of the Guard Captains of the Royal Guard. Luna is Queen of the Changelings, former Princess of the Moon, and sister to the Princess of the Sun.......”

“You ain't helping mai nervousness with them titles......” Applebloom pales.

“They married each other 4 years ago in secret. Despite what Princess Celestia wants, those two are already married. Even if that was annulled the pair have been living together with foals for over ten years, Equestria common law states they are legally married.”

“If they're already married then what's all this hoopla?!?”

Twilight sighs. “ Exactly that , a bunch of hoopla. Princess Celestia wanted a big show of her sister getting married, something like Cadence's wedding. What she got was two annoyed and very devious minded ponies focusing on the words' Big' and 'Showy', over everything else she said. So that's really what this wedding is. A massive colorful show for everyone that didn't see them get married the first time.... and my BBBFF and sister in law who did.”

“Seriously?”

“Yup. If you screw up it just adds to everything already going on in this mad house. The most important bit is that the leader of the Kirin and Changelings are getting married, thus cementing their race's ties to each other. And since Luna's sister is the ruler of Ponies, and Jer'rahd's sister is mate to the ruler of dragons, who's my brother, that cements things together politically rather nicely.”

“Wait if Bleu is Jer'rahd's sister then that makes her a Blueblood, err Kaisur now, and thus related to Cadence, who married your brother. And Bleu is dating Spike who's yer younger brother.... That means yer related to him Twice, and if you and Princess Celestia git hitched then You'll be connected three ways to him cause yer wife's sister's married to him..... “ Applebloom rambles waving her hooves at the different points in her mind. “Ah crap a'hm making my self go cross eyed here.”

“He's was also adopted by the Pelts which became the Apples which will manage to relate me to you twice over as well.” Twilight comments. “Don't think to hard about it. Luna's part Pegasus and part Changeling and Jer'rahd's part Dragon, earth pony, and unicorn. In truth they are probably related in some way to every one on Equss.”

“That ain't helping.”

“Sorry I got off topic. This is just a showy event. Everyone is going to be focused on the bride and groom not on you, just read what you have and everything will be fine.”Twilight placates. “ We have less than an hour left ,so I need to get going and make sure everything's going smoothly and every one is seated properly, and the cake is reptile free. Sorry I can't help much more than that, but Sweetiebelle's show starts in fifteen , so there's still time to ask her about stage fright or the like.”

“Nah this was good ah guess. Ah'll figure somethin out. Gonna see if ah ken track down Pip and Scootaloo before things git started.” Applebloom nods. ”Or at least hide so ah don't get waylayed with more political crap.”

“Yeah..... If you manage that please let me know how.” Twilight mutters.

=====================================================

[ One hour and twenty two minutes later]

“....I can take over the world because your miiiiiiiiiinnnnneeeeeee........ Miiiiiiiineeeeee.....”

Sweetiebelle bellows out the last trailing lyric before going silent. The rush of guitars and drums come to an end a moment or two later with a few cheers and applause from the gathered crowd.

Sweetiebelle smirked as she finished the last song of her performance as the singer. The sky was rapidly darkening over head with streaks of orange and purple tinging the sunset. Everything here was absolutely gorgeous. The entire wedding was done up in deep blues and purples trimmed with a light amber and platinum blue rather than gold and silver.

Luna and Jer'rahd's colors.

The crowd was a mixed bunch, though massive. Representatives from every race Sweetiebelle could even think of were in attendance. Some of them she recognized, like Dusty's mother from the Griffons, Spike of course from the Dragon's. That Glacier guy from the Linorm to name a few. There were Zebras, Elk, and other Dragons. Griffons, Harpies, Diamond Dogs, and in the far back corner away from the stage were some Seaponies. Way off in the air on some of the clouds were some Windigo. The air above them was clear though cloud seats were spaced about for Pegasi, Griffons, and Harpies. There were Minotaur, Caribou, River Ponies, most if not all of the Apple Family, and Kaisur [formerly Blueblood] Family. Kirin, Hippogryph, Buffalo, Yaks, who were being closely watched so they didn't get 'offended'. Donkeys, some of those weird hopping creatures from the Dark Continent, Saddle Arabians, those weird cat things from Japony, and of course Changelings.

Guards of all races ringed the air and around the landscape holding positions where they could move quickly to any point if anything happened. All of the 42nd training division was there as well as the six sixty sixth.

The servants and caterers had come out of the main part of the castle where the reception was going to be to watch as well. It was standing room only in the back, though that only seemed to last a moment or two before Pinkie Pie and Discord showed up.

The pair quickly either found chairs, or in the case of Discord, simply popped them into existence. Granted with Discord being who he was, the recipients of those chairs likely would have preferred to stand.

A slightly chubby tan colored unicorn with light brown hair and a bit of fudge as a cutie mark found that out first hoof, as the chair that was made for him stretched up to the lower ring of cloud seating from the ground. The oddly taffy looking chair wobbled and shifted madly in the air every time the unicorn moved, luckily Discord had added a seat belt to it. Sweetie was sure the stallion, Sweet Treat if she recalled correctly, appreciated the seat belt with how he was hanging onto the chair for dear life.

Empress Cadence and Emperor Shining Armor were there along with Shin and Glimmer, Granny Smith with the twins and the Disaster Trio. Her parents were in attendance as well as all the Wonderbolts and a bunch of Ambassadors with their odd hoods red cloaks and one black hoof cover.

To be honest Sweetiebelle wondered if there was a part of Equss that either wasn't here or at least watching in a theater scattered across the world. Several Crystal devices were set up all over the place recording the sounds and sights of the wedding for those who hadn't managed to make it, or were not invited.

There didn't seem to be that many who were not invited.

Sweetiebelle exhaled glancing back at the Changelings behind her and nodding. All of them moved back as Button started a more traditional wedding march to get every ones attention to the aisle running through the middle of the crowd. Spot lights came on as the crowd went dead silent, aside from the occasional noise from a young one.

The first one heading down the aisle was Applebloom.

The tall mare had on a long flowing leafy looking dress and a crown of flowers on her head, mostly roses and other wild flowers. Flanking her were a pair of Elk bucks. One was pure black with a white mane and tail, he wore dark armor that seemed to be fashioned from some sort of subterranean insect and leather. A pair of dark goggles covered his eyes though Sweetiebelle had seen him without, and his eyes were pure crimson and glowed softly.

On the other side was another Elk wearing what looked like a Guiliee suit, though it had been cleaned up and decorated in the same flowers and vines that Applebloom wore. The buck underneath was all but hidden save for his blue eyes.

That had to be Drakast and Flowing Stream, Applebloom had mentioned a bit back that she was being courted by a pair of Elk and had no idea what to do about it. Sweetiebelle's suggestion of 'sit back and enjoy it' wasn't well received by the skittish mare.

As Applebloom came up onto the stage, her pair of escorts moved to either side of it to stand with the Guards in watching over her.

Behind them came Scootaloo and Pip. The pair of them were dressed in highly polished Guard armor and a Wonderbolts dress uniform respectively. Both were also armed and scanning the aisle way as they moved down it, looking back occasionally at the ones behind them.

Rynthia Pelt Kaisur, and Dawn Star Kaisur, toddled along behind Pip and Scootaloo. The pair of them were made up in pretty little dresses and flowery head wear that had more than a few of the crowd on either side of the aisle losing it, commenting on their adorableness, or simply awing over the pair.

They both were carrying baskets of flowers in their mouths, shaking them occasionally to scatter petals on the carpet, though Dawn paused occasionally grabbing a claw full of the petals from the basket and eating them, before either Scootaloo, Pip, or even Rynthia urged her onward.

Princess Cadence stood at the end of the aisle gathering the two of them up to sit by the stage as Dawn started chewing on the straw basket.

Following behind them was a tiny, smartly suited Hipogryph colt holding a small pillow between his wings that held the rings.

The rings themselves were rather unusual as they were not matching, and that they had been crafted by Luna and Jer'rahd.

Luna herself had some skill in smithing from her long life, though she mostly knew forging weapons and armor. The memories of the Changelings she could access however made her a near artisan.

She had taken time and and went to all the places gathering specific ores from the lands where Jer'rahd had fought and spilled blood for her and Equestria, melting them all into a composet mineral in the heart of a volcano before forging the ring. It was a simple band with no real decoration Save her own cutiemark and his side by side. She barely needed any enchantments on it as the metal mix wound up being far stronger than she could have imagined. Though she made sure that he wouldn't lose it if he changed to The Beast.

Jer'rahd didn't know anything really about smithing. He knew weapons and armor and could tell if the gear was good or not, but he had no clue how to make it. He had spent the better part of a year using every free moment trying to learn how to manage metal, before giving it up and tracking down a Tank instead.

The resulting scrimshaw bracelet was a pale ivory coloration etched with glyphs in ancient Dragon professing his love for her. Given the nature of the creature he had destroyed to make the ring, it was in no danger of breaking, and he likely had to have carved it with the Waning Moon itself. There was also the added bonus that there was one less monstrous threat to Equss

As Talon moved along another small figure moved along next to him nearly prancing along.

Adopting the picture perfect puny pony princess pose was Glimmer. She wasn't doing anything more than trotting along side of Talon, but she seemed quite happy to be seen and 'oooh'd' over, even by the Kirin.

The next pair were Orange Danish and Lieutenant Hunter. The green earth pony was in his dress uniform and Orange was in the same sort of dark blue dress and head piece that Dawn and Rynthia were in. It was a rather large surprise that her silver mane was cut short, showing off the burn scars on the side of her face that was usually hidden.

The orange cream furred mare appeared nervous as she walked down the aisle with Hunter, though the green stallion seemed to be talking with her to keep her slightly calmer about the exposure. Though clearly he pushed his luck as she blushed suddenly and smacked him on the shoulder with a glare. She turns her head away from him though she couldn't hide the small smirk on her face as the stallion beside her chuckled.

Sweetiebelle thought the next two were an odd pairing, but ehh she had seen worse combinations... Like Snails and Silverspoon.

Diamond Tiara was dressed surprisingly casual. She wore a nice dress that was a slight off lavender color, and was rather subdued with her jewelry, clearly in an attempt to not look as if she was trying to show up the bride.

Paint Brush Lily was walking along side of her in a rather sharp suit of his own with a small blue flower on his lapel. Brush seemed rather uncomfortable, but Diamond Tiara seemed quite content to bask in the attention until she noticed how uncomfortable Brush was. She whispered something to him and the pair moved faster down the aisle and out of the spotlight.

The next was Ice Berry Lily. She wasn't seeing any one so far as any one knew, so when she came down the aisle she was alone.... sort of.

It seemed the young mare had been busy, and judging by the screams of some of the more easily spooked ponies and groups gathered, her work had the desired effect.

The third youngest Kaisur daughter had came down the isle in a pretty blue dress with flowers adorning it, riding a giant black crystal spider, also covered with garlands of flowers. She laughed as she road the beast right up to the stage and onto it. The creature pausing and turning to wave two legs at the crowd before scrambling up the wall behind the stage to perch there giving Berry a perfect and unclaimed spot to watch the wedding.

Sweetiebelle could almost hear the simultaneous face hooves from her siblings, her parents, and Twilight. Though Discord, Pinkie Pie, and Bleu's laughter was also loudly heard.

The next pair were less of a surprise as the gathering started to move into the bridle maids and best stallions.

A orange furred and cream maned pegasus wearing a Royal Guard dress uniform and adorned with various medals and the rank of Guard Captain, steps out from the end of the aisle. Peach Blossom glanced back to Starfall Blossom as she emerged after him.

Next to him walked a much shorter gray pegasus mare with purple mane and tail with a gray blue stripe running through it. She too was wearing a dress uniform though it seemed to be a cross between a Wonderbolts one and one from Luna's personal Guard. Starfall had said at Rhede's wedding she was never wearing a dress to one of these again. This held true even for her own wedding, where she wore the tux and Peach Blossom was in the dress. The swap was met with mixed results and and pegasus stallion had hammed it up going to so far as to be the one that threw the bouquet.

Seamore had caught that one.

Sweetiebelle gave a small pause as she saw the pictures Starfall and Peach Blossom were carrying. A rather sizable picture of Rarity and Lion Heart rested between Peach Blossom's wings and a similarly sized portrait of Rhede and Velkorn was carried by Starfall. The white unicorn frowned a bit and the air turned a little more somber as the images were set in four seats at the front that had been reserved for them.

The next pair out were the Griffon leader, Dustina Devil and her husband Breezy Mist. The pair of them both wore matching outfits fitting the theme and quickly moved down the aisle to where their son was.

The next pair brought all manner of gasps and a few comments all around. An orange earth pony dressed in a very pretty and rather form fitting bridal maid dress walked along side a butter yellow pegasus in a matching dress. The Crystal ponies recognized her as the one from the battle in the Empire, others recognized her as the famous model that all but vanished years ago, though a few were just shocked at the zebra striped wing she bore.

Applejack smiled softly pressing a little against Fluttershy's side looking down at her briefly as the pair continued, along with a great deal of hooting and hollering from the Apple side of the family.

The following pair brought another round of face hooves from family and friends.

Big Mac Apple practically walked alone down the aisle in his well made if rather large suit. His wife, Rainbow Dash Apple, flew over head straining her dress as she flew, but also showing off her son Zap Apple and Starfall's filly and colt, Starlight and Orchid.

The tiny red pegasus colt seemed absolutely delighted to be bounced around by his mother. The twins remained in their basket though they seemed confused and curious about why they were being bounced about as well by their big sister.

Thank fully the group of them got to the end of the isle where Starfall all but tackled Rainbow Dash before the show off tried juggling the foals.

Sweetiebelle heard a gasp from beside her as the next one came down the aisle Glancing over at Twilight as she stared slack jawed at the sight, the Princess of the Sun.

Celestia's dress designer had likely used up more blue and silver lace than Canterlot had ever seen with her dress. It was body hugging in all the right places and seemed to dance along with her mane, the darker dress contrasting nicely with the exposed fur of her legs and flank that was bare enough to show her cutie mark. Sweetiebelle thought it a bit tacky in truth, but there wasn't any one willing to argue with Celestia over a dress.

Sitting on her back and rather detracting from the outfit as a whole, was a small blue dragon holding a large painting of four ponies and tiny colt. She also held a smaller portray of a platinum maned, black furred unicorn that had an autograph scrawled across it. Jer'rahd's parents, Grand parents, and Platinum Scale.
As the pair of them reached the end of the aisle, these pictures found a place in five empty seats stretched across the front of the crowd.

Sweetiebelle blinked noticing Celestia pulling a box from her dress and setting it in the seat next to her, five ornate necklaces and a crown rested in the box. One of them she recognized as having her sister's cutiemark in it. She wasn't sure what they were though.

A mutter from Twilight snapped her attention back to the crowd and a grin spread across her face as she moved quickly back to the Changelings glancing up at Button, who nods in response. The small group of singers lowered their mics down to near their knees, pointing at the floor.

Sweetiebelle grins mouthing a countdown as the Changelings around her took their positions.

================================================

The six musicians started to move, their fore hooves taping against the floor, the sound coming through the air as the clacking rhythm sounded out across the whole field. As the first words were sung, the synthesizers began with a tune Button had prepared ahead of time.

“Did you break your wings
When you fell from grace
When you came from the stars
To this darker place? “

Jer'rahd's clear tone sounded out across the gathered ponies as the lights around every one dim. The Kirin in question stepped out from the end of the aisle trotting down it, his head held high. His amber hair had been grown long enough to reach his shoulders and was currently pulled back behind his ears. The midnight blue suit he wore worked much the same as Celestia's dress. The contrast between his highly polished orange scales and and light gray fur with the deep blue was striking. The faint glimmer of orange around his horn caught the light shining on him seeming to make the area around him glow in a warmer light.

As his last line trails off he steps up onto the stage turning his head to look back at the curtain. The pause was brief, though to most of them it seemed like an eternity.

“Did you watch me fall
From the clouds on high
See the glimmer of tears
Streaming from my eye?“

Jer'rahd's jaw dropped as Luna stepped out at the end of the aisle

Her platinum blue hair shimmered in the light, the mass of it done up in a ornate bun that was pinned just at the back of her neck, with a few strategically loose strands draped around her ears to fall over her face. The dress was high collared and hid her neck keeping tight to her chest and her shoulders. Her cutie mark and body were hidden, though the dress was snug over her flank and sides. As it went down to her legs it all but exploded around her with flowers and ribbons and streaming fluffy lace. The front was slit open and her hooves flashed as she moved down the aisle, showing ornate silver hoof guards The light blue silver dress nearly matched her mane and hid her tail, though there seemed to be points of light within the material that made the whole thing sparkle as she moved down the aisle towards Jer'rahd.

Sweetiebelle likened it to a disco ball dress of awesome.

Jer'rahd did stammer a bit though a quick shake of his head fixed that as Luna began her second verse, the crystal amplifiers Button had found for this event floated near them and were vastly better than the standard tech made models.

“I surely bruised my soul
hiding in my shell
But if you're here to change me
Then it's just as well.”

Sweetiebelle frowned a little at this. It was a deviation from the pure song, but it worked out for the best. Jer'rahd began his next part, recovered enough as Luna joined him on the stage.

“Your scars run deep
But darling they will fade
You expect me to fear you
But I'm not afraid.”

The tempo of the music increased a little and the Rarities kept the time perfectly as the chorus began.

“Don't hold back
We're here right now
There's nothing left here to keep us out, oh
As different as
The day and night
I'm starting to feel like this is right and
You're the memory I can't erase
You're the part of me I can't replace
You're the goddess that loved me somehow
And you're the demon I can't live without .”

The pair of them simply stared at each other as they sang, clearly drifting off into their own world briefly before the chorus ended and Jer'rahd began his next lines.

“I'm the crossroads king
of many a land.
You found me a mess
But I'm better than then “

Sweetiebelle wasn't sure why ancient mythology would fit into this song, but she figured it was well... because both of them were old.

“I could see it hidden
Right from the start
'Neath your tattered form
Was a beating heart .”

Sweetiebelle was rather shocked that it had gotten as quiet as it was there was not so much as a foal's cry or even a nervous cough out in the gathered crowd. Granted with what every one knew about these two, Sweetie suspected singing was not considered one of their talents.

“And that heart is yours
Or what I have left
So take my secrets
Take them off my chest”

“That's why I'm here
I've been broken too
So maybe you can fix me
And I'll fix you “

The Changelings started humming along adding background tones to the words the pair were singing.

The music's tempo picked up further as the pair of them moved slowly around one another, Luna was still a little taller than Jer'rahd though with his horn he just edged her out in overall height as she didn't have one at the moment, clearly preferring to be a pegasus.

“Welcome to my universe
Touch me now and break my curse
You'll be mine and I'll be yours
Forget all those that think it perverse.
A love most basic, back through time
breaking beliefs, smashing through.
I don't need luck when I'm with you.”

Sweetiebelle sighed at the rewrite, at the very least it sounded okay. And she doubted any one but the one who entered the song in the contest knew of the changes. Here's hoping the kid wouldn't be too upset the pair were making it more about themselves. Granted that was kinda the point.

“Eternity can wait
You're my afterlife
For once in my existence
I see the light “

A simple piano cord started pinging , the sound was a little annoying but it was a simple method of keeping time. Sweetiebelle made a note about it. The pup who wrote this had talent, but he needed more training. Bleu would straighten him out.

“We've got it all, we've got it all
Right here
We've got it all, we've got it all
Right here “

The piano picked up again with a soft fade out from Luna as the music finally ends. The moment it faded completely there was a wild applause. Despite the roar of the crowd it took a few moments for Jer'rahd and Luna to even look any where but at each other. The pair finally seem to notice as Applebloom trotted over and dropped a large wooden podium onto the stage between them the resounding boom snapping both of them out of their trance to glare at the grinning half elk.

A bit much there was it not?” Luna muttered.

“Hey tha cheering didn't git to yah so ah needed something else.” Applebloom chuckled as Jer'rahd grins shaking his head. “Any way is this thing on?”

Applebloom taped the crystal getting a bit of feed back and a sudden sharp curse from the control room as Button yanks off his head phones rubbing his ears.

“Guess so.” Applebloom smirked sheepishly as Sweetiebelle glares at her from off stage for trying to deafen her colt friend.

Applebloom looked over the crowd then down to the notes on the podium her eyes widening at the mass of paper that Twilight had given her to read.

“Well here goes... Dearly beloved we are gathered here... What in tarnation!??!” Applebloom yelped as the podium is knocked over from in front of her.

Everyone's attention was drawn down to one very determined little orange and gray Kirin filly clawing her way across the stage, dragging a small zebra godling behind her.

Rynthia had a death grip on the end of Dawn's tail trying to pull her back towards their seats, her tiny hooves scraping across the stage as Dawn clawed her way towards Jer'rahd.

Luna and Jer'rahd look over at Cadence, who swiftly looks over to the seats where the pair were, only to see a stuffed teddy bear dressed in a wedding dress the same color as the one Dawn was wearing, and a painting of Rynthia that Brush had done weeks before.

Looking back at the pair of them Rynthia loses her grip on Dawn and falls over backwards. The now unencumbered Dawn darts forward clawing her way up onto Jer'rahd's back, clamping down on her favored position as if daring any one to remove her from her daddy's back.

Luna sighed picking Rynthia up in her wings as the zebra foal glares at the Kirin on Jer'rahd's back that got her into this mess.

There were more than a few chuckles from the audience and a few more D'awwws'.

Applebloom grumbles setting the podium back up and gathering the spilled notes. She blinked looking at the mess of them, now completely out of order. She shuffles them for a moment before flattening her ears with a snort and tossing the whole pile over her head to flutter to the stage behind her. Twilight gasps in horror at the disregard of her meticulous notes.

“Yah know what, fergit it. I was good with you two being married years ago. So we're gonna skip a head a whole bunch here.” Applebloom snorts.

Applebloom points at Luna.

“Do you?”

“Yes.” Luna states.

Applebloom points her green limb at Jer'rahd.

“Do you?”

“Yes.” Jer'rahd nods.

“Alright any suicidal objectors in tha crowd? There's less painful ways tah meet yer end yah know than trying tah protest this.” Applebloom rambles waving a hoof in the air. “Any one? Any one? Good fer you.”

Applebloom grins.

“Now by tha power vested in me from both tha country of Equestria, tha spirits of tha wild, and uncle Almata down at that court house, ah now pronounce yah Husband and Wife. Yah may now kiss......”

“Hold It!” Twilight yells suddenly gaining an evil glare from Luna and a some what angry one from Jer'rahd as well as round of mummers from everywhere.

“What? But why?” Applebloom yelps. “Hasn't this nonsense gone on long enough?”

“At least three books.” Pinkie Pie quips from some where.

“Shouldn't this be the point you are raising the moon Twilight? Not interrupting us?” Luna states with more than a bit of annoyance.

“Yes well if Applebloom hadn't skipped so much I wouldn't have had to interrupt....” Twilight grinned wide. “Also I'm not going to raise the moon tonight. Why would I want to spoil any ones view?”

The purple alicorn's horn flares brightly, a wave of magenta radiating out from her, dousing candles and lights across the entire event, casting everything into total darkness save for the spotlight still on Jer'rahd and Luna.

Above them lay nothing but the dark sky, lit up by countless stars of all shapes colors and sizes. There were many stars on their own and others that were grouped close together. A surprising number seemed to be in a neat orderly formation like a military unit. There were twinkling ones , solid colored ones and ones that changed hue.

Applebloom stared up at the sky her eyes wide, where the others simply saw stars, she saw far more than that.

“Twilight what is this? There are far more stars in the sky then there should be.”Luna questions.

“Applebloom put a hoof on Jer'rahd and Luna for a moment, that should allow them to see if my calculations are correct.” Twilight explained.

The half Elk mare blinked and sits up touching Luna and Jer'rahd's backs the two of them glance back at her then up at the sky again with loud gasps.

Almost everyone they had ever encountered during their entire lives was above them watching.

Jer'rahd's parents and grandparents, Luna's small family before she ascended, Nicker Fury, General Shower and her husband, General Three Bear, his son, and the Buffalo herd, Lion Heart the First, and his Grand Son and his wife Rarity, The entirety of the original 42nd and every Guard that had served under Luna since the Discordian war. Luna's original Element Bearers, Ma and the whole Pelt Family along with a number of Apple's that had died in recent years. Several nobles that had helped Luna and Jer'rahd in the past, Aqua, Andree, and oddly Forge Scale and Silver Claw. Bleu's mother and grandmother, Cyan Sparkle, his wife, and her aunt, Platinum.

And there in the middle of it all wearing a smug expression, was a tall earth pony with red fur and long black hair, and a smiling zebra mare with curly hair.

“Go ahead Applebloom” Twilight whispers.

“Wha... right..... Yah may now kiss tha bride.” Applebloom stammers.

And there, in the light of every one that they had encountered, those who had help shape their lives up to this point......

Jer'rahd and Luna kissed.

Stories in Stone.
Lost Empire
By TDR

~Fin~

Author's Note

Title is Cosmic Love [natch] by Florence and the machine

Song sung by Jer'rahd and Luna was Angels and Demons b the Aviators.

as suggested by Zibrony. His OC was added into the mix in the unenvious position of being tormented by Discord.

======================

In truth this could be it. I am more satisfied with this ending than i have been with any other. I could call it the true end and leave well enough alone.

I'm not going to, but i could.

Capricorn's Curse will start before too long.

Now then I know i said i was going to do one more chapter here after this, but this is too perfect. It ends with this title and the chapter count at 42.

The extra chapter i figure i'll drop in Tales in Stone.

Now there was also the matter of the song i was originally going to use with the wedding. While i said i was going to put that in Tales in Stone i realized it would have just been a repeat with only one or two things changed. It's easier to just let you know the song and imagine it.

To be continued in Stories in Stone, Book Four

Capricorn's Curse.

Prologue

Fire.

The smell of smoke filled the air along with clouds of choking black ash from the burning trees. There were shouts, followed by the crash of steel, or the whoosh of igniting flame.

The tickle of magic accompanied each of these sounds, so too did the screams. Figures ran in the shadows, black and purple monsters of iron and death. They ran on limbs of metal and flew on wings of steel, passing silent judgment on any and all that they saw. Others in flowing cloaks strode through the flames as if they were the masters of them. The fires swirled around them, parted at their passing, and burned alive all who they wished. The thud of the monsters hooves on the ash coated ground was only stilled when they found another victim.

A great splintering crack fills the air suddenly, one of the old homes started to fall as the blaze ate away at it's base, reducing it's stability until the giant could no longer support its own weight. The flaming tree tottered as the sea of flames battered it, feasting on it and growing larger. The doomed giant groans and creaks as it's roots give way sending the ancient growth toppling into the center of town , fanning the blaze of others and sending a shower of sparks high into the night sky.

The crash of the old wood and the roar of the fire briefly drowning out any other sound.

There were other figures in the smoke as well, tall and proud, fighting off the monsters with old magic and skills passed down for generations. Ornate arrows rained down on the monsters felling many, though more often than not the arrows points were dulled on the steel flesh of the monsters or turned aside by magics of the attackers. The guardians appears as a mist, striking out and fading before a retaliation could come. Though even as skilled as these warriors were, even they were overwhelmed and their bodies too were consumed by the crackling fire.

There were other noises too, screams of the birds, the whimpers of the animals that lived in the village either trapped by the fire or trying to flee from it. Despite their fear and panic the monsters paid little attention to the beasts, though they would die all the same as the villagers if they remained.

Some softer, more pleading voices called out over the crackling fire,searching for loved ones,friends,, the village elders or even to the spirits themselves. Many of these voices were silenced, cut off suddenly or turned into screams as the metal monsters found them, blades drinking deep of their life’s blood. The corpses were defiled and thrown to the flames as one would toss a table scrap to a hungry dog.

The scent of burning flesh, wood, and the bite of arcane magic was nearly over powering as the attack progressed. The remaining villagers who could do so were in retreat, fighting through the choking haze to get to the one place they thought safe.

A sink hole lay at the edge of the village, a perilous path ran along the cliff wall down to its depths, but it remained the only possible salvation from the monsters in the village. As the shadowy forms of the inhabitants fled, rushing down the trails along the rock walls that was not meant for such hurried movement. The monsters continued their hunt above, slaying those they found, burning everything before them to ash.

As the monsters advanced on the sink hole, the earth itself screamed and died in their wake. The very life of the land itself were seemingly leeched out. The monsters were not concerned with those fleeing for the illusion of safety the crater provided, but continued to ensure that none would remain as they passed.

The sinkhole was their destination as well.

The flying monsters harried the cliff path, ripping some of the villagers from the narrow trail and sending them hurtling to the depths below at random, with no regard to age or gender. The attack urged the survivors onward, causing panic. The escapees stampeded knocking others aside , sending their own to their deaths as they fled.

A hoof full made it to the bottom and raced through the lush growth of the forest towards their goal. They darted though the white ash, falling like snow, past rivulets of water and ornate pools blackened by soot and blood.

The massive roots of their last sanctuary stretched wide in the crater and many used them as cover as the unearthly steel javelins and spears fell among them from the sky, ending the lives of even more of the refugees, until perhaps only a half dozen remained. The tiny group of survivors rushed on seeking to shelter themselves in the temple nestled in the great roots at the trees base. The towering trunk of the great tree rising up even above the lip of the hollow which it resided.

The holy oak, a shrine and beacon to their people, a place where the spirits gathered, the Yggdrasil, the world tree . The god of all the forests whose seeds were told to have produced all life in the world.

These remaining few were allowed to watch as their god burned before them.

The demons were already there, cursed weapons hacking away at the massive hardwood, rending limb and root alike until the punishment was to much even for the ancient giant and it began to topple collapsing and splintering as it fell, the old wood unable to withstand the strain of collapse or it's own great weight.

Though it all a stallion watched from the lip of the basin. His coat a darker crimson than the blood spilled at his word, his mane and tail black like the remains the fire left. His left hoof and fore leg were blackened as well, as if they had once held flames hotter than those devouring the village. Cold blue eyes with no hint of remorse watched the carnage far below, the flames dancing in them. Around him the bodies of villagers hung from trees like macabre scarecrows in a field.

The nightmare stallion turns it's head slightly, as if taking notice of the one watching him, the black hoof raising as if reaching out to his observer.

================================================

The young mare wakes suddenly bolting upright in her bed, sheets clutched tightly to her chest as she shivers at the images panting heavily, the sweat running down her form. She bites her lip yanking her red hair back out of her face, the coloration far to close to the flames she had witnessed for her to want it in her view.

She looks around the room, at the warm beam of sunlight peeking around the curtains of her room announcing the new day was slowly but surely beginning.

This had been the worst one yet that she could recall. She had been having nightmares like this since she was a filly, though this one had been the most vivid yet, she swore she could actually still smell the burning flesh of the villagers.

“APPLEBLOOM! GIT DOWN HERE AN EAT A'FORE AJ BURNS THE HAY BACON AGAIN.” Granny Smith hollers.

With a defeated sigh the young mare falls back into her bed with a curse. She felt like she had yet to even sleep.
Applebloom groans loudly in protest before rolling from under the sheets to prepare to start her day.

TDR Presents

Stories in Stone

Lost Empire

Author's Note

editing by Alfamaxis:

Thoughts Led Astray [7]

Author's Note

This story has a direct tie in to a short piece written by WhiteWolf that is posted in the Tales in Stone story.

Thoughts Led Astray [7]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Thoughts Led Astray

[New Canterlot, market district.]

“You promise you won't freak out?”

“I already promised that four times..... Fine Orange, I promise I won't freak out.”

“You promise you won't hurt him. He's a gentle stallion and I don't want you doing anything that could ruin this for me.”

Jer'rahd rolls his eyes looking at the practically prancing mare next to him at the restaurant. He rests a foreleg on the table rubbing his forehead with a hoof at the absurdity of this. Orange had finally decided to let him and Luna meet the stallion she had been secretly dating for about a year now. Luna had unfortunately been unable to join them both due to her sleep schedule and the classes on birthing that both Celestia and Rarity were practically forcing on her. He had already forgotten what they were called, but he was more than thrilled to be as far away from those two over zealous mares as he could get. Missing the class had put him in a rather uplifted mood despite having to meet his adoptive daughters new colt friend and what he knew Luna's mood would be like after being stuck with Celestia and Rarity for several hours .

“Orange, I already told you I wouldn't do anything. I'm just supposed to meet him and tell your mother about him. I only threw one of your colt friends through a wall not all of them.” Jer'rahd chuckles. “ Your mother did that with the other two....”

“Arrgh, I know, but she's not here and you are and I don't need you trying to match her score.” Orange states flattening her ears to her head as Jer'rahd stifles a small chuckle.

Orange Danish, the eldest adoptive daughter of Princess Luna, currently twenty six years old. The mares creamy orange colored coat was nearly shimmering with the amount of work she had put into it for this meeting, her long silvery hair was done up in a way that still covered the half of her face and neck that hid the burn scars. Honestly though, Jer'rahd thought, if her colt friend was shallow enough to have a issue with the bit of scaring she had, then he wasn't worth her time. She had a darker orange bow around her tail and Jer'rahd was certain she had put on some sort of make up.

In contrast Jer'rahd had not done anything differently. He was dressed as he normally was in little more than a leather harness to hold his sword, and he was doing his best to ignore Orange's magic pulling at his mane and tail trying to make him look more presentable. He had been letting his mane and tail grow out a little bit at Luna's suggestion, the amber colored hair was however in it's most unruly stage of growth, nothing he did kept the cow licks from appearing so he didn't bother.

Considering he was supposed to leave here and meet up with Rhede and Velkorn at Sweet Apple Acres to yell at some jars again, he had no plans to dress up. Besides, the angry haggered father look tended to be more intimidating to potential suitors than anything else. He was absolutely thrilled that none of their other adoptive children had started dating yet. Brush and Pip would do well to never let their mother know if they were seeing a filly. Bleu and Pinkie were already taking bets to see how long the first colt interested in Berry lasted. Between Luna, Jer'rahd, Celestia, her brothers, and sister, any one who wanted to date the youngest was in for a rough time.

Still that was yet to come, right now however he was waiting for Orange's current stallion friend to show up, while she fidgeted over everything nervously.

“Ahh there he is, don't act up or anything!” Orange grins prancing.

“Act up? What do you even mean by that?” Jer'rahd grins.

“I mean don't act like a over the top soldier type, with trust issues and a tendency towards random violence and sarcasm.”

“So in other words don't be me.”

“Yes exactly.” Orange agrees.

“Sorry am I interrupting something?” states a rather melodic voice from behind him.

Jer'rahd sighs watching as Orange's nervous giddiness changes completely to a calm and pleased demeanor. He shakes his head having only seen Celestia pull that total change off that well.

Jer'rahd slowly turns to look back at the pony, noting the pristine white coat the well manicured hooves, the stylized blond hair of the unicorn and the compass rose cutie mark on his flank.

In one glance over the pony and the small smirk on his face was gone, his good mood had been thrown out the window, run over by a stampede of buffalo and then crapped on by a incontinent hydra.

“Jer'rahd , this is my stallion friend, Prince Blueblood.” Orange grins.

[ Sweet Apple Acres]

“What do you mean we have to take Pip with us?!” Sweetiebelle protests.

“Seriously, it's one thing to have an escort by law, but I mean he's still practically a foal.” Scootaloo grumbles.

“I'm only two years younger than you, we had this conversation already on the way here.”Pip rolls his eyes

“Meh doesn't matter tah me.” Applebloom shrugs getting a glare from the other two CMC.

“Sorry, but that's tha deal. He goes tah keep an eye on you three or yah don't go. Ain't no one else got time tah be running around the country side right now.” Applejack states while Rhede chuckles softly behind her.

Rhede was pretty sure he knew what the other two were doing, though he remained silent still noting the glance Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle gave each other.

“Arrrgh fine what ever, but he better not be a wet blanket, this is supposed to be our trip” Sweetiebelle shouts rolling her eyes and barely hiding a grin. Scootaloo was not as skilled in acting and couldn't hide it.

It was pretty clear the pair thought they could do what they wanted and receive no issue from the smaller pony. Rhede realized that they clearly didn't know what the colt put himself through when he thought he was on a mission. He really wanted to hear how this trip went when it was over.

“Alright now that all that's settled. Y’all sure ya have enough Bits for this trip?” Applejack questioned, either missing what was going on or ignoring it.

“Not like I’ve spent any of my share of the jam and cider sales fer tha last few years.” Applebloom shrugs.” Ah'm good.”

“I get a pretty good paycheck being water girl for the Wonderbolts. Havn't even cashed my last one.” Scootaloo states.

“I've got a savings account with the majority of my last two album sales still in it.” Sweetiebelle chimes in.

“I'm technically a prince. Ma and Auntie Celestia set up an account for us and there's more zeros in the number of bits in the account than I can count.” Pip remarks getting a stare from all of them in the room.

“What?”

“Luna and Jer'rahd spoil you four rotten...”Rhede grins

“Nah, the only one who even uses the account is Berry, and that's only if there's a new book she wants or she stops by Sugar Cube Corner when Pinkie's not there.” Pip grumbles. “Orange is a doctor and I don't really need anything.”

“Any way You three still need tah ask your parents if you can even go first.” Applejack points out. “So y’all get to that first. Pip yah ken wait here. Jer's supposed tah come by before long any way.”

“Yeah I’m still debating if I should go ask ma any way. Da's should be meeting Orange's new colt friend today. Might not be safe tah ask fer anything.” Pip grumbles noting Rhede's wince.

“Don't worry Pip I'll help you out with that.” Rhede chuckles. “ Shouldn't be too hard to convince him to let you go.”

“Yer prolly right. Easier than trying tah convince ma any way.”

==========================================================

[ New Canterlot Market.]

“Errrr excuse me?” BlueBlood questions as Jer'rahd grabs Orange in his magic pulling her off to the side much to the mares annoyance.

“What the heck are you doing Jer'rahd?!” Orange hisses at him as he moves around the side of the building with her.

“I can ask you the same. Is this a joke? Is he behind Blue Blood or something?”

“It IS Blue Blood.” Orange growls back.

“Seriously he's like twice your age.”

“He's six years older than me, I’m twenty five now and he's thirty one.”

“That's still six years....”

“And how much older than you is Luna?” Orange asks smugly.

Jer'rahd grumbles with that.

“You realize you are related to him right?” Jer'rahd adds.

“Actually YOU are related to him. I'm adopted remember, no relation at all.”

“I still don't like this. ”

“You never like my choices and you know that.”

“I liked that cream colored pegasus guy you were dating.” Jer'rahd grumbles.

“No you didn't you thought Flash was an arrogant twit. You liked he was trying to be a Guard. You also promised you wouldn't freak out.”

“You know your mother and my opinions of the nobles though.”

“I also know you went to his house and praised that he did something good during the war.” Orange rolls her eyes. “ Can you at least try not to run him off. You promised...”

“I did promise that at least. But seriously Blueblood? You don't even know what he's done in the past....”

“I don't know a great deal of what you and Luna have done in the past either, but I do know that every one avoids talking about it and yet you are still given the benefit of the doubt and let to roam free.”

Jer'rahd blinks looking at her his ears flattening again.

“Not sure if I am more worried about you dating Blueblood or that you seem to be taking lessons on countering me from Celestia.”

Orange smirks slightly. “So are you going to cause problems?”

“No, but I still don't like it.”

“I really didn't expect you too. It's nice you are trying to look out for me, but I’m a big filly now and I can make my own choices. You should be more worried about Luna becoming a mother than my choice in colt friends.”

“I worry about both. Can I at least give the customary threats before I head over to the farm?”

“You can't be happy unless some pony is scared of you can you?” Orange grumbles.

“That's not true... just ask your mother.” Jer'rahd forces a grin.

“Ugh pass. Fine, but just stick to the basic threats then. I'd rather have him just wary of ticking you off then outright terrified.”

“See now you are sounding more like your mother. Make them afraid of you, but not enough so they run away.”

“I'd rather be loved than feared Jer'rahd.”

“So would your mother. I'd rather be loved by those I care about and feared by everyone else.”

Orange shakes her head pushing him back out from around the side of the building . Blueblood was sitting patiently at the table waiting for them. He didn't seem the least bit perturbed to be kept waiting, which seemed odd to Jer'rahd immediately.

“I gather nothing is wrong?” Blueblood questions watching the pair walk back up to the table.

“No nothing of the sort really, just a bit of a family discussion.” Orange states.

“Oh did something happen?” the white unicorn asks far too innocently.

“No nothing like that, I was just informing her that I needed to meet up with Applejack to help her with a few things on the farm. So I won't be staying.” Jer'rahd chuckles softly glancing over to Orange a small grin showing a bit of fang. The mare nods lightly though flattens her ears.

“Oh it is a pity you cannot join us for lunch , but I suppose priority and such.” Blue Blood's smile fades as Jer'rahd leans a little closer to him his grin widening and fangs bared fully.

“True though I would simply like to make this clear before you get too serious with my daughter. Simply put if you hurt her in any way, I know of several ways to ensure that the the shattered husk that will be all that is left of your worldly remains will never be found. Clear?”

The white unicorn noble leans back his ears flattening to his head at the bright red glow radiating from the gray unicorns left eye.

“You... you can't do anything like that. I know what Princess Celestia told you about leaving my family be.” Blue Blood stutters.

“You really think I couldn't take anything she could dish out as punishment? And how would me being punished for erasing you help you any way?” Jer'rahd snarls lightly.

“Jer'rahd....”

The glow in his eye fades as he glances back at the annoyed mare behind him “Too much?”

“Yes.”

“Well I suppose I will be going then. She's as dangerous as her mother and a zebra friend of mine when she's mad. Best that neither of us tick her off hmm?” Jer'rahd chuckles patting the trembling Blueblood on the shoulder with a hoof. Judging from the white unicorns wince, it was a little harder than he expected.

“You two have fun now. Try not to do anything I would do, I don't need the extra paperwork.” Jer'rahd chuckles heading off before any one noticed his shadow had gotten much larger and was shaped more like a monster than a pony.

==========================================

[ New Canterlot Suburbs]

“Alright So we got Applebloom on board, and we're forced to drag along Pipsqueak.” Scootaloo sighs. “ Well at least half of this is going right.”

“Yeah well I was a little worried there when you set the house on fire.” Sweetiebelle chimes in ignoring Scootallo's glare. “ Besides Pip's not so bad , I should have him wrapped around my hoof within a day. Then we won't have to worry about him getting in our way.”

“Wait that's your plan?” Scootaloo snorts back a bit of laughter.”I was actually trying to protest his going.”

“What's wrong with my plan?” Sweetiebelle growls.” I'll have you know I have inherited my sisters talent form making colts swoon.”

“Button doesn't count in that regard, he's so stuck on you, he'd probably tell you your farts smell like roses.” Scootaloo laughs. ”Still you don't hang around the training grounds so I guess you wouldn't know. That colt get's it in his head this is a mission and there's nothing any of us can say or do that will change that. This quest is vain.”

Sweetiebelle grumbles to herself, not doubting her friends word on this. She already knew the colt was a stickler for the rules, but she still figure she would have no problem charming him into doing what she wanted any way.

“Ah well at this rate it's not likely to happen any way. My parents will probably say no, and yours probably won't even be home to ask.” Scootaloo grumbles.” Still it was a nice idea.”

“I doubt that. I have a plan for your parents and mine just got back from a vacation. So there's no way they......” Sweetiebelle begins to say as the pair walk up the path to Sweetiebelle's front door, and spot the rather large note stuck to it.

“What was that Encyclopedia marshmelloanica?” Scootaloo grins as sweetie yanks the note from the door.

“Dear Sweetiebelle, sorry we aren't home , blah blah blah, feed the cat, blah blah, your father and I are taking our forty fifth anniversary early this year and are off to the exotic beaches of the Zebralands for the next three weeks. Your father found a excellent deal, blah blah blah. We will be sure to return for your graduation and I promise your father will bring you back a souvenir.....”

“Told you.”

“ Early it's like six months early gahhhh whatever. At least that means I’m clear to go. But now I have to see if Fluttershy will take care of Snookums.”

“Snookums? What is with your family and pet names?”

“There's nothing wrong with our pets names.”

“You had a goldfish named Sir Eddington Charlie Flipperspear the third once.”

“That is a perfectly normal name for a goldfish.”

“Where you trying to disapprove my statement or enforce it?” Scootaloo questions as the pair head into the house.

===============================================================

[Sweet Apple Acres]

“PELT!!” Jer'rahd bellows as soon as his hoof touched the property line of Sweet Apple Acres.

“Which one?” a hesitant stallions voice calls back.

“THE RED ONE!”Jer'rahd growls stomping towards where he had heard the voice.

“Crap........” Rhede mutters wanting to run off and hide. Rhede knew that tone, Jer was pissed about something, and since the unicorn was yelling for him, he had a feeling he was the target of that ire.

“Maybe I should ask da later.” Pipsqueak muttered glancing up at Rhede. “ He doesn't sound happy, don't think I’ve ever heard him yell like that except at the recruits.”

Rhede raised an eyebrow at that, though it didn't make him feel much better to know Jer was evidently in drill instructor mode.

“Don't worry, seems he's mad at me. I'll put in a good word for you after you ask though.” Rhede chuckles.

The gray unicorn finally stomps around the corner of the barn, he eye glowing a bright red though the glow fading rapidly as he saw Pipsqueak with Rhede.

“Pip what are you doing here?” Jer offered a glare at Rhede briefly wondering if he was trying to use Pip to shield him from the chewing out he was about to give him.

Rhede shrugged lightly though seemed more than happy to to let Pip remain.

“Da, Sir.... requesting permission to submit a mission assignment.” Pip snapped actually saluting.

Rhede blinked watching the glow all by fade from Jer's eyes with interest even though he rolled his eyes at the military like statement,.

“Pip you don't have to act like that.... you're not a recruit yet.” Jer'rahd sighs. Pip didn't move for a moment and Jer'rahd sighs again. “ Alright, at ease.... report.”

“Yes sir, requesting permission to accompany the CMC as their escort for a trip they are taking.”

“Wait those three are going on a trip together? Do we have time to pull all the Guards in the outlying providence’s to protect the city?” Jer states actually looking a bit fearful. “Wait a trip? Where are they going?”

“The current itinerary has them visiting Gallopagos, the Crystal Empire, Manehatten, and Las Pegasus. A full trip report will be delivered as soon as the plans are finalized and Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo secure permission from their parents.” Pip continues.

“Why do you want to go with them?”

“Some one has to Sir and it will get me out of the castle while every pony is in new baby mode sir.”

Jer'rahd narrows his eyes at that. It wasn't that bad was it? Okay maybe the check points were a bit much.... and the extra guards. And the.... yeah okay it was a bit much, perhaps he should let the Lily’s come stay here for a little while. He should as Applejack about that later.

“How long is this trip?”

“Scheduled for one week, as two of the girls have to be back in time for graduation. It begins in two days. It may go a little longer as graduation is at the end of the third week. I expect at worst the trip will be two weeks. I will be sure to reign them in if it goes past that.”

“Why a second week?”

“This is the CMC, sir.”

“Noted, and granted provided, I am given a detailed route plan to keep your mother from strangling me. I'll also set you up with some message crystals. If anything goes wrong use them, any sort of advanced warning for a disaster will be helpful.”

“Yes Sir.”

“Seriously Jer, the message crystals? Those thing's aren’t cheap. I can't even get more than one for my trips.” Rhede states.

“You were not here for the noodle incident Rhede. The CMC have a class four disaster rating unsupervised and even with supervision they only drop to a two.”

“You have got to be kidding me. Discord and Pinkie are only a three and that's both of them at the same time. Those fillies cannot rank as high as a changeling attack.”

“I'll show you the reports later. Pip go see if your aunts need help I have to talk to Rhede alone for a moment.”

“Yes sir. Err where should I get the crystals?” Pip questions.

“We'll get you set up once we get back home You still have two days to get ready, I can track down Peach Blossom in that time. Now then Rhede..... Rhede? Crap....”

“He ran off sir.”

“Noted. PELT GET BACK HERE NO...OW!!!” Jer'rahd winces rubbing his head and looking down at the steel pot that had smacked him on the side of the head.

Both he and Pip look back at the farm house to see Fluttershy in the window with a very angry looking Velkorn behind her.

“Um sorry, but um could you keep it down, we just put the twins down for their nap.” Fluttershy whisper shouts before glancing back at Velkorn. “ Oh yes and Velkorn says that if you wake them up she will choke you to death with your own legs.”

Fluttershy smiles at that last before closing the window and both Jer'rahd and Pip shudder.

“I think I’m gonna go home now Da... very quickly and quietly. “ Pip winces “ Good luck...”

“I have yet to figure out which one of those two is scarier.” Jer'rahd mutters heading off to find Rhede.

[ New Canterlot military housing, Wonderbolts wing.]

“What do you mean I can't go?” Scootaloo shouts.

“I've seen your grades Scootaloo you are barely passing.” Spitfire counters.

“Yeah, but I AM passing. Heck I am graduating in a few weeks.”

“Barely passing, and that's not the point you should be doing better!”

Soarin and Sweetiebelle sat off to the side as the pair argued back and forth. Occasionally Scootaloo's wings would ignite or Spitfire's tail would start to smolder as they argued.

“Is this normal?”Sweetiebelle asks looking up at Soarin who was flipping through a hoofball magazine.

“Yup. The mares our family tend to be rather strong willed and stubborn. This leads to a lot of clashes. Spits and her mom are the same way. You should see it around the holidays when all three of them are here.” Soarin mutters. “ Three generations of ponies who don't take crap from anyone and are more than eager to fight about it.”

“Great. I guess the trips a bust at this point.”

“Seems it sorry. If it's any consolation I'm on your side.” Soarin states turning the page.

“I don't see you helping.”

“I'm on your side, not suicidal, I know better then to get between those two when they are like this.” Soarin states glancing over at his wife then at a bikini model in the magazine then back with a small chuckle. “Besides considering the trouble you three get into even with the General's son going on this trip there’s not a really good reason to allow it.”

The look was not lost however to Sweetiebelle who grinned evilly.

“Yeah pity that. We'd be gone a little over a week, I hear the Wonderbolts are on break too.”

“Yeah, it's a bit of a down time. There's personal training but we don't have any big shows for a few months. Spring training will start up in a month or so but we have a few weeks of nothing.”

“So basicly both you and Spitfire are on vacation.”

“Yep. That doesn't happen very often.”

“So just you and her, a romantic relaxing time.... all alone with each other and with your daughter......Pity cause I heard there's some rather impressive deals for a beach vacation down in the Zebralands for the next few weeks.” Sweetiebelle unfolds the note her parents left her waving it slightly in the air with her magic.

“Well not so much romantic with Scootaloo around, she hates that sort of thing and clouds are not very thick................” Soarin stops looking down at Sweetiebelle and her note, as the white unicorn grins up at him with a look of innocence so forced that even Soarin didn't buy. “Oh you are a clever one.”

“Who me?”

Soarin sets down the magazine with a shake of his head, folding his wings against his back and trotting over to the still arguing pair and clearing his throat loudly interrupting them mid rant.

“Alright, two weeks tops. I expect you will listen to everything your escort tells you and I want a list of every where you plan to go before you leave. You will also check in at the Wonderbolt's offices station in all the places Sweetiebelle told me you were going.” Soarin states ignoring the sudden look of surprise from Scootaloo and the wash of heat from a clearly pissed off Spitfire.

“What! What the buck are you doing Soarin she's not going!!!.....” Spitfire starts to yell before Soarin leans over muttering something in her ear before nipping the orange tip a little sending a shudder though the pegasus mare's form. Another few whispers along with the faint graze of the blue stallions wing tips against the back of her neck and Spitfire wound up being more red than orange. “ Ye....a.... okay have fun Sweetie, don't forget to write back from the Crystal Empire!”

“We can get you that bikini I saw....” Mutters Soarin as they walk away.

“Why would I need to wear a bikini?”

“Nude ooh even better.....” smirks Soarin as spitfire actually giggles.

Scootaloo twitches as Soarin guides the blushing Spitfire out of the kitchen .

“Well that worked out well. “Sweetiebelle beams grinning evilly at Scootaloo. “Isn't it sweet to see two ponies who love each other so much still after all this time being married?”

“I think I’m gonna be sick......” Scootaloo groans.

===================================================

[Sweet Apple Acres Orchard, well away from the farmhouse.]

“Well I can understand why you are upset and I suppose it is justifiably so at this point Jer. But would you please put me down. I do not think my wife would like very much if I was hurt and couldn't watch the twins when she needs a nap.” Rhede states as calmly and polity as he could.

“Rhede you know damn well she would kill you herself if she knew you got us into this mess. “ Jer growls his horn glowing as he shakes Rhede about in the air barely restraining himself from smashing the earth pony into a few apple trees. While pissed he didn't really want to hurt his friend so was content to hold him in the air by his tail and give him a shake or three every so often.

“Yes well I could not have predicted this.”

“You should have let me kill the bastard when I had the chance, now he's managed to get me bent over a barrel I can't even tell Luna about.” Jer'rahd growls back. “ She's still got enough trust issues that my telling her about Blueblood now would cause no end to her stress.”

“Then tell Celestia.”

“One, she wouldn't believe me at this point. Do you even remember her ultimatum to me if I so much as sneezed in the bastards direction? It's been ten damn years Rhede, if I did anything to him at this point every pony and their brother comes down on my head.”

“That's never stopped you before.”

“That's because before the parties involved did not include my daughter, fiancee and soon to be sister-in law.... ugh that hurts just to think about. I also had no ultimatum from one Princess and I was never before doing my best to not stress the trust of another who I am in love with who is pregnant with my child and GAAAAAHHH..... AND THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT?!”

Jer'rahd growls shaking the stallion in the air enough rattle loose a piles worth of daggers and other throwing weapons. The unicorn pauses looking at the pile of gear that fell out of the earth pony then looks up at him wearing little more than a few leather straps of a harness.

“Where the buck do you keep all this crap?”

“Trade secret... put me down please Jer.” Rhede mutter expecting another shake, though oddly it didn't come and he was set down.

“I hate when things get out of control Rhede. Especially things I could have prevented. Blueblood is still a very dangerous stallion and now he's charmed Orange into an almost hostage situation. What for Rhede, tell me there was a reason we let him remain free.”

“Scarlet is still uncounted for. We were told that she's no longer a concern, but there was no body, nothing. Blueblood had contact with her once, I expected for him to have contact again. We've arrested two other nobles in conjunction with the attack, they both could id each other, Scarlet, and Claymore, but neither knew that Blueblood was party to the plot, they thought his steward was running things.” Rhede sighs.

“I know all this Rhede. We only have four bodies. Claymore and Scarlet are uncounted for.”

“ We have five, Claymore's bounty was collected years ago.” Rhede sighs rubbing his temples.

“What? By who? And why the hell am I only learning of this now?”

“I've been busy and it never came up, you and Luna were letting my ponies handle this situation any way to keep it a secret that others were still alive. A one Trixie Lulumoon claimed it the bounty, though not intentionally it seems. She had been asking a number of questions about trolls, and I had one of my ponies tailing her any way as I expected Claymore to come back for her and her foal.”

“Trixie was the one that he kept as a slave and raped if I recall the reports.” Jer'rahd grumbles.
“She was in severe shock and required a great deal of therapy. Sparkle let her take her old job running the Ponyville Library.”

“Indeed, well turns out she had her own agenda. Claymore was turned into a troll, not a god. Trixie evidently found this out some how and tracked his flank down and well ….... lets just say there's not enough left of claymore to bury. He's very dead.”

“Well Bleu will be happy and annoyed by that.”

“She knows. I told her after it happened so she would stop looking for him.”

“Rhede...... we are going to have to work on your communication skills it seems. “

“Oh you mean like you need to? Just so you don't run off and get married without telling any one?”

“Do not even go there Pelt. You got your payback for that already. Now you're holding important things from me again, things I need to know. Not to mention you put me in a situation I cannot get out of at all with out pissing off nearly every one I care about..... and Celestia.”

“Jer'rahd .. you're not head of the guard any more. General is a honorary title it doesn't even exist as a rank, you're head of Luna's personal Guard because you are her consort, and you're the officer in charge of the Guard training. My Shadows don't even acknowledge your position, they report either to the Guard Captains, myself or the Princesses themselves. You don't need to keep track of every single little thing any more.”

“I am aware of that Rhede, but in case you forgot Claymore almost killed Bleu and was responsible for a number of deaths in our time and in this one. Luna and I should have been told this as soon as you knew it.”

“Yeah about that. I told Luna.” Rhede states noting the face hoof Jer'rahd gave at that.”I thought she would tell you, how bout you go yell at her.”

“Right , do I look like I have a death wish any more? Besides she's been listening too much to Sparkle and Celestia as of late. She's trying to get me to stop trying to jump in every conflict.”

“ You're about to be a father I can see her doing her best to keep you around. And I don't believe a word about you being afraid of her. I know your personality and I know hers you cannot tell me you two don't argue.”

“Occasionally we do, but not lately. She nearing her delivery date for the foal, you know what that's like. I know you walked around on eggshells near Velkorn when she was this far along.”

Rhede rolls his eyes. “ Velkorn could kill me with an eyelash, Luna wouldn't do anything to you.”

“She flung me out the window a few nights ago because I didn't know where to find pistachio and pickle ice cream.” Jer'rahd sighs.”I didn't even know what a pistachio or ice cream was until afterward.”

“It's been ten years you really should be caught up on the modern world by now Jer. As for Luna, odd tastes are fairly normal, at least you didn't have to track down eucalyptus pancakes.” Rhede groans. “ I had to send an envoy to the zebra lands for that one.”

“Ugh we are off topic here.”

“Maybe. But are you calmed down now?”

“Some.”

“Good enough. I'll have some ponies keep an eye on Blueblood, make sure he isn't trying anything. He might be pulling a fast one on us, he may be trying to use her as a power play, or strangely he might actually care for her. Heck we might have scared him straight, he's not done anything note worthy in years.”

“I hope you're right Rhede, cause i have no idea what to do if he's playing us. I can't touch him with out both Celestia and Orange coming down on me and bringing Luna and Sparkle with them. “

“Try not to stress about it. Orange is a big girl she can take care of herself, after all Velkorn's been teaching her. Blueblood tries something she doesn't like and you won't have to do anything at all.”

“There is that.” Jer'rahd exhales a bit sitting down finally and looking up at the sky glancing over as Rhede struggles to put everything back where it went. “So how has married life been treating you?” Jer'rahd grins.

“Oh don't worry you'll find that out soon enough.....”

“I already would have found out if you lot hadn't annulled the marriage for something with more ceremony.” Jer'rahd grumbles.

“Oh come on are you going to dwell on THAT again Jer? It's been years.” Rhede rolls his eyes.

“You sicced a seapony on me with malicious intent, yer damn right I’m gonna dwell on it.”

[Two days later, morning. New Canterlot Train Station]

The train whistle cried out , it's shrill pitch breaking the morning silence and competing with a few local roosters for who could annoy the most non morning ponies at once.

Pip stood on the platform with Applebloom readjusting this saddlebags to fit around his sword belt. His bags were mostly empty, though he had promised to bring the Lilies back any interesting souvenirs or new candy they came across. Since he could dip into his funds at any of the cities they were going to he only had a small amount of bits with him, just enough to get something on the train's concession cart if he got hungry.

He had packed a small medical kit and survival pack along with a bit of dried rations just in case something unexpected happened. He was also given a selection of various parchments and a sending crystal so he could send reports back. The crystal was only one way as a dragon or a unicorn versed in the spell needed to be there to both send and receive. Or if there were two crystals, but despite Twilight’s best efforts the costs of the crystals to make were still too high to give out many, even in this situation.

This one in particular was actually set to his aunt Celestia, just in case Ma had the foal and she and pa were too occupied to deal with incoming letters.

Applebloom's pack was set up much the same, she had a book to read, some leftover food from dinner, a couple of apples and at the bottom of her bag was her collection of bits. She had some in the bank as well, but she wasn't supposed to touch that unless it was an emergency. She also had a small potion kit that Zecora had given her for hearths warming one year along with the necklace. Despite everything she was still concerned about the bit of jewelry. It wasn't like Zecora to just give her something and then have no real explanation for why save that she would need it. Applebloom had known the zebra long enough to know when she was hiding something or she just didn't know. This was unfortunately the latter.

Scootaloo was the next to arrive, The pegasus didn't look like she had slept much Judging by her small saddle bag it also looked like she hadn't brought much with her either. Maybe a toothbrush and a few snacks, though at the bottom of her bag she had a few things she wasn't supposed to have like a old head set from the Wonderbolts equipment locker and a couple of song crystals. Like Pip most of her money was in the bank though she had a few bits here and there. She also had a rather large metal thermos that she was currently holding between her wings. The other two waved a greeting to the sleepy pegasus who seemed to offer back only a small grunt. After a moment steam started curling around out of the top of the thermos bringing a small smirk to the orange mares face as she pops off the lid and starts to drain the scalding liquid completely unphased by the heat of it.

“ Coffee? That stuff'll stunt yer growth Scoots.” Applebloom chided.

“Lies...” Scootalloo yawned. “ If it did, I wouldn't have grown past the size needed to do a rain boom already. Feels weird enough to look down at Dash and Starfall. I'd rather have stayed Pips size, no offense.”

“None taken, we can't all be freakishly tall like my cousin here.” Pip states getting a frown from AB and a smirk from Scootaloo. “ Did you see Sweetiebelle on the way in?”

“Nah ,but knowing her she'll make a grand entrance at the last minute or something, just like her sister.”Scootalloo states.” Any one know why we're going to see Rarity first any way? We pass right through Manehatten getting there.”

“Babs is busy lately with her new job, she's got the weekend free and that's when we were coming back through there.” Applebloom smirks. “We'll stop in then.”

“Still three days with Rarity..... not my idea of fun. Scootaloo mutters. “Be nice to see Babs again though.”

“Well a day of that will be on the train getting there, then we go to Manehatten then the Crystal Empire to see Grandpa Rose.....”Pip begins...

“Then to Las Pegasus!” a voice practically screams behind them.

Looking back they are greeted by the sight of Sweetiebelle with a set of suitcases larger than she was all being carried by a rather distressed looking earth pony.

“What took you so long? Tha train is gitting ready tah go.”Applebloom fusses. “ And what is all that? This trips only a week an it looks like yer moving yer whole house.”

“A proper young lady cannot travel without the necessities.” Sweetiebelle scoffs.

“Yeah that's true, so why do you have all this stuff?” Scootalloo questions getting a scowl from the unicorn.

Pip walks over leaving the three to argue to look at the pony under the pile.

“Errr hello?”

“Oh thank Celestia, are you the porter? She said there would be a porter to take this stuff.” the pony replies shakily.

“Ummm fraid not, you okay under there.”

“Is Sweetie nearby?”

“Errr she's yelling at Scootaloo at tha moment.”

“Then for Luna's sake saaaaave me.....”

“Oh Pip. Tell Button he can drop that stuff there. I'll get it.” Sweetie states picking up the whole mess of it with her magic and floating it onto the train, not seeming to notice the exhausted reaction of her colt friend.

Button Mash does his best to stand up straight and look like it was no effort to carry all that. “Hehe don't worry it wasn't any trouble.......”

Pip shakes his head moving over to the group as Sweetiebelle trots back out of the train and over to Button.

“Poor colt, why does he put up with her nonsense any way?” Scootaloo mutters.

Button starts to say something when Sweetiebelle leans in and kisses him rather forcefully before pulling away and smirking slightly as the brown earth ponies eyes roll back in his head and he tumbles back wards.

“That would be why.” mutters Applebloom with a sigh boarding the train along with Pip and Scootaloo.

Sweetiebelle trots to the door as Button slowly sits back up.

The white unicorn leans out of the door half in and off the train.

“Oh good bye my love I shall return to you with utmost haste, parting is such sweet..........”

“AHEM!”

Sweetiebelle blinks as a train conductor glares at her, before pointing to a large sign on the station wall with a list of rules.

“Number seven.” the conductor states.

Sweetie looks down to number seven and the rule 'No long winded pointless goodbyes that are all just annoying drama towards some one you maybe won't see for a week, that hold up the train schedule.

“Oh, Well that's a oddly specific rule.” Sweetie comments.

“Your sister did live here for a long while.” snarks Scootaloo from behind her.

“Oh yeah..... Bye Button see you in a week! And don't you dare play my save file!!” Sweetiebelle shouts.

Fuel [16]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Fuel

[ Current Day, Canterlot, 8 hours after Jer'rahd Kaisur's death, 400 hours, Wendsday]

Celestia rubbed her temples with a hoof looking down at the map on the table before her. Guard Captain Nicker Fury, a couple of nobles she trusted, a tired looking pegasus courier, and one of the head doctors from Canterlot Hospital, a Dr. Red Heart, stood on the other side of the table from her. This was not how she wanted to spend her first morning doing double duty as a Princess. But this was a bit of a emergency and all these other ponies got up this early due to it, she supposed she could do the same.

The map was of Equestria and showed a few differing cities. There were a number of pins places around various cities and what she assumed were farms, that were dotted across the map. In her eyes it looked like a trail. One that led from a few isolated settlements around White Tail Woods along the rail ways south of New Canterlot and up to the mining town of Hossenfeffor. The little colored dots of the pins had been pushed in all over these place. And there were a lot of pins.

“ How many?” asks Celestia coolly.

“At the moment about a hundred and thirty.” Doctor Red Heart states lifting a white hoof up to point to an area marked as Sugar's pear farm, near White Tail Woods. ”We thought it was a few isolated cases at first. Mostly in outlying areas, maybe some new virus from the forests, we sometimes get those this early in the spring. Then we noticed a few more, and a few more and eventually traveling back along this route we reached the number we have now.”

“How many dead?” Celestia asks swallowing hard.

“Surprisingly few only about eight confirmed deaths, none of them from what ever this is. Most of the ones who died were alone and had collapsed outside and died of exposure or dehydration. We think an animal of some kind got a hold of one, but what ever this is, it isn't killing any one directly.” Red Heart explains.

“Is it some sort of disease? What are the symptoms?” one of the nobles asks.

“We don't know. We do know that it isn't spreading like any normal disease. It doesn't seem to be airborne or contact based as none of those who have helped move the sick have come down with anything. It is not life threatening aside from the fact it renders the victims into a coma of some kind. You can imagine what sort of trouble that would cause with out care though. That's pretty much all my good news however.” Red Heart sighs. “We can't detect it, not with magic or science, there is no trace of anything wrong with the victims at all. Though there is something else that is very odd.”

“What is that?” Celestia questions.

“It seems to erase the cutie mark of who ever it infects. We also have very few young foals as victims. This is completely contrary to anything I have ever heard of. Foals are usually the first to be infected with anything new. But there are a few foals who have been in contact with those who are affected and they show no signs of anything.”

“If I may interject Miss Red Heart. There is something else of note.” Nicker interrupts.

“Mister Nicker you surely are not talking about that tall tale that one foal is telling?” Red Heart sighs.

“Doctor I have seen a great many strange things in recent years. Gods appearing from no where , giant monsters fighting in our city, solar flares on the moon and an entire castle and mountain top lifted into the air. I am not discounting anything, no matter how far fetched.” Nicker snorts.

“Nicker get on with it.” Celestial growls.

“Yes Princess. One of the foals we spoke of claimed that there had been some sort of strange pony passing by his families farm the night his family fell victim to the sickness. He wore a long cloak over his head and shoulders and his head seemed misshapen longer than it should be. The colt claimed he was curious and hid in the bushes sneaking closer for a better look. He claims the pony cornered and 'ate' his father, like he was pulling magic from him that he 'slurped up like cotton candy from a fair'. He said that he caught a glimpse under it's robes as it did the same to his mother and sister and that it looked like a minotaur glued on top of a ponies body, all black, red, and gray.” Nicker explains.

“As I said Princess it sounds more like a boogie pony conjured up by a young colt scared out of his mind by his family collapsing around him.” Red Heart sighs.

“That scared colt young took care of three of his family members for a week before we found them Doctor. I am not discounting this tale as fancy just yet.” Nicker states.

“Fine, Doctor Red Heart, Dodge city has a fine hospital and a fairly sizable ward situated outside of the city proper. I am sending Lady Jewel with you to take control of this hospital. I believe her family has ties to it.” Celestia orders pointing to the female noble. “Relocate all of the patients there and place it under quarantine. Nicker do what you need to investigate these rumors of yours, but I want a detachments sent out to the Gates of Tartarus and Darwhinny Keep as well. Sunshine was headed to the Gates last I knew and we could use her aid. Contact Lord Lion Heart in Darwhinny and ask him to send Velkorn and Twilight Sparkle back as soon as they are sure his son is healthy. Duke Jewel I want you to make sure that the trains stop for all but required travel any where. We do not know how this spreads yet but we should not rule out anything since this seems to be along a rail line.”

“Yes Princess.” the group chorus.

“If this is some new sickness dredged up from the wilds, no offense to your teams Doctor, but Velkorn, Sunshine, and Twilight will surely find the cure.” Celestia states, then looks to Nicker. “ And if this is something else Guard Captain. I want it destroyed before any pony else is hurt.”

=================================================

[Current Day, Crystal Empire.1900 hours Wednesday ]

“I can't believe we missed it!!” Sweetiebelle whines.” By not even a day! I missed my sister having a little colt, by a DAY and we missed it and everything! Stupid dragons, stupid train!”

“Personally I’m glad we got out of there when we did. There's enough foal nonsense in New Canterlot that I’d like to avoid more. I can't even think about what is happening with Ma and Dawn.” Pip grumbles pulling his bag onto the floor and digging into it. “Besides you got to eat dinner with Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor, by their invite at that. That should be important enough for you.”

“Yeah but my sister had her foal and I didn't get to see it!” Sweetiebelle whines.

“If you're gonna whine like this all night you can sleep in the hall.” grumbles Scootaloo.” Could she have gotten my name right at least once over the course of dinner?”

“Ah'm pretty sure she was having fun with ya Scoots. Ah don't think she's really that air headed.” Applebloom chuckles.

“Yeah well I wasn't amused.” Scootaloo grumbles pulling open her bag and rummaging around in it for her tooth brush.

“Ah'm wondering something, why are we only in one room tonight, Ah thought we got two?” Pip asks looking over at Applebloom and missing the glance Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle shared as well as their grins.

“Ah dunno. Ah thought you did it tah save bits or something.” Applebloom shrugs.

“Ah've not even dented my allowance yet, why would I be worried about bits?” Pip questions turning to see the other two staring at him, dark grins on their faces.

“Uhh... what....?” Pip stammers.

“It's time we got some answers” Sweetiebelle grins. “ Bloom lock the door, it's time Pippy here started talking.”

“What?” Pip questions hearing the door lock behind him as the other two fillies leap on him.”Oh bugger.”

======================================================

[Redacted ]

“.....but he did that?”

“I know, we can't do anything.”

“But.”

“No, I don't say that often to you, but no. Not this time.”

“Why?”

“He doesn't know and we are better for it. We will have to do something soon, but not now.”

“But the notes, we left the notes for others why not here for him?”

“It won't help, you saw that, there is nothing a note could tell any pony here. We can't do anything if he finds out. If he gets us it's over.”

“But Luna.....”

“I know. This won't end well. But it will end worse if we do something now.”

“I don't like it.”

“I know, I'm sorry, but you know what will happen.”

“Yeah”

“There's always hope.”

“Hehe, that is true. There's always hope.”

========================================

[Current Day, Crystal Empire. 2000 hours]

“I hate you all.” Pip deadpans as he slowly swings in a circle in the middle of the room, hanging upside down from the rooms ceiling fan bound up in enough rope to look like a caterpillar cocoon. “ Can you at least turn the fan off?”

Sweetiebelle giggles some how having acquired a top hat, fake twirly mustache, and a monocle from somewhere. Scootaloo was trying to figure out when Sweetiebelle had gotten a red t-shirt in her size and why it said ' Goon #1'. Applebloom was wondering the same though she wasn't sure why her's said 'Goon #2'.

“Now we have you right where we want you Mister Pippy.” Sweetiebelle grins.

“Do you expect me to talk?” Pip grumbles.

“No Mister Pippy I expect you to d....... yeah actually I do want you to talk.....” Sweetiebelle shrugs.

“You think I haven’t already studied and put into practice anti torture techniques?” Pip asks still deadpanned as he swung slowly around in a circle on the ceiling fan.

“Umm..... huh..... “ Sweetiebelle explains. “Even the one with the badgers, the clothespin, and a banana?”

“Yes even that one, and I will have you know that method of torture is banned across Equss for being too horrific. That you know it and are not a member of the Guard puts you on a watch list.” Pip states.

“I'm not sure where we would git a badger this time a night any way.” Applebloom states before slapping her face with a hoof.” What are we even doing?”

“Getting to the truth of the matter about Pip's relationship with Diamond Tiara!!” Sweetiebelle shouts point a hoof at Pip.

“Oh joy... this again.” Pip comments with out any feeling as he spins around in the air.

“Welp mai interest is gone.” Applebloom grumbles pulling off the shirt and throwing it at Sweetiebelle.

“Oh come on!?” Sweetiebelle fusses getting hit with Scootaloo's shirt as well the disguise being knocked off to the floor along with her hat.“Don't you want to know what they are up to? How long they've been dating?”

“I'm not dating Diamond Tiara.” Pip deadpans as he slowly spins around in the air.

“I don't care who he's seeing.” Applebloom shouts.

“Your anger betrays your true feelings Bloom. You know you wanna know.” Sweetiebelle coaxes.

“Stop that.” mutters Pip as Scootaloo gets bored and bats at his swinging form like a tether ball.

“Come on we can find out everything about the two of them and maybe even have something to hold over her head” Sweetiebelle chuckles evilly.

“Ah think that mustache has gone to yer head. Ah know all ah need tah know about her. How you planning tah git Pip to say anything any way He's as stubborn as mai sister?”

“Not sure if that was praise or a insult.” Pip questions.

“Insult.” answers Scootaloo, still swatting at him to send him swinging.

“Ahh.” Pip accepts.” Didn't I say stop that?”

“I dunno maybe we just leave him up there til he talks. If we go to bed now he should be ready to talk in the morning.” Sweetiebelle suggests.

“I will chew mai way out of these ropes and beat you with your own cutiemark if you do that Sweetiebelle Bunny Reignolds.” Pip states as if it was going to happen any way.

“How do you even know my full name?” Sweetiebelle asks.

“Aunt Bleu told me.”

“Okay now I’m in favor of leaving him up there, I wanna see if he can really do that.” Scootaloo smirks.

=====================================================

[ Current Day, Deep in a cavern some where on Equss, 1500 hours ]

“What do you mean gone?” The Gray Grimiore snaps.

“I mean they are gone. I don't feel either of them any more, just him.” The Jade Scroll grumbles.

“Is that even possible? Loyalty and Compassion are simply gone?” The Silver Script asks.

“zzzzzzzzzzzzz” snores the Teal Text.

“Good , maybe something killed them.” snaps the Red Tome.

“You seem to be missing the point. If something can kill them, it can kill us.” The Gray Grimiore mutters. “Can this thing be destroyed?”

“I made two at first. They destroyed one then sealed the other.” the Jade Scroll sighs.

“What made you think you should make anything that can destroy everything even yourself?” The Silver Script practically screams.

“Okay I was at a very bad time in my unlife, you jackasses tried to destroy me, everything hated me and I was locked in a tower for a couple thousand years. My first attempts at making something to destroy all of you failed with the dragon and the maiden so I made the brothers. “Jade scroll mutters. “ They were a little TOO effective.”

“I do not have anything on any of this. I greatly want to know everything you know on this subject Jade.” The Purple Pamphlet states.”I will know it one way or another.”

“Don't threaten me lizard.” the Jade Scroll growls.

“EVERY ONE SHUT UP!” The Gray Grimiore bellows. “ We need options, not complaints. If this thing took out two of the Elements of Harmony then it can easily take us out if it finds us.”

“You said one was destroyed. Who destroyed it? Who sealed the other one?” The Purple Pamphlet asks.

“The Love Cursed Queen... well before she was a queen of course, or even love cursed. She used the Elements of Harmony.” The Jade Scroll admits.

“The Love Cursed Queen? Princess Crystal The one known now as Chrysalis, the dead one?”The Gray Griomoir asks.

“Yes.” The Jade scroll agrees.

“Used the Elements of Harmony? Two of which are gone?” The silver script stammers.

“Yup.” The Jade Scroll confirms.

“By the stars we are screwed.” growls the Red Tome.

============================================

[Current Day, Crystal Empire, 2200 hours.]

“So? “ Sweetiebelle glares.

“You didn't believe me the first dozen times why would you believe me now?”Pip asks, still slowly spinning in a circle hanging from the ceiling fan. “ Look ah'm libel to black out if ah hang up here for too much longer. So if you don't git me down ah'm gonna git myself down with maximum prejudice.”

“How is that a threat?” Sweetiebelle asks.

“The rooms in your name, as will be all the damages I’m gonna cause.”

“Pfft I’m not that dumb, it's in Scootaloo's name.” Sweetiebelle grins.

“Aww heck naw!!” Scootaloo shoves Sweetiebelle to the side starting to untie Pip. “I'm not paying for any of this crap, I'll sleep on a cloud you three can deal with getting another room.”

“Well so much for that plan.” Applebloom chuckles.

“It would have worked.” Sweetiebelle grumbles before getting a mass of rope dropped on her head by an annoyed and untied Pip.

“Look you three want to know the deal with Diamond Tiara and me, fine here's the deal if it will get you to stop asking. There is NO deal. We are not a thing, we are not dating, hinting at dating, or moved on past dating to planning a wedding... so shut up Sweetie ah know you were thinking it don't even try to lie!!” Pip rants.

“So what was the deal with you and here in the ally then?” Scootaloo asks.

“She wanted me to deliver a message and I did.” Pip snorts.

“Ta who?” Applebloom asks.

============================================

[New Canterlot Royal Palace, three days ago.]

The young mare swallows hard, looking up at the castle gates before her. More importantly the rather sizable pair of Guards on either side of the doors guarding said gate. She shouldn't be worried about them, but she still was. The pink coated filly steels herself walking along with a number of others past the gate, the first time in a long time she had visited the Royal palace. She glanced up at the Guards , a pair of rather imposing stallions, as she passed, noting their eyes on her as she nervously passed.

Diamond Tiara shuddered as she paused and glanced back before she trotted into the courtyard. She wasn't exactly sure where she was going, but Pip had given her instructions before he left with the others, so she knew where to go. She glanced back at the small designer saddle bag on her side and more importantly to the letter within. An invite,written in his hoof. She wanted to hug the runt or buy him something for setting this up for her, but she doubted he would care for the former, and she didn't think there was anything she could buy him he couldn't get twelve of just by asking.

She would think of something later. At the very least she would offer her thanks to the colt whether this worked out or not, something that would have seemed odd for her years ago. She moved forward following the instructions, her manicured hooves clicking lightly on the stone tile floor of the palace, trying her best not to mess up her hair as she moved. She had it styled for this and while the look was simple she rather liked the curliness and fluff the style gave to her mane and tail.

She trotted deeper into the castle noting a fair number of Guards situated around or patrolling as she followed the directions. She finally came before a door some where in the heart of the castle. The pair of guards at this door were dressed in black, gray, and purple, the armor sweeping and spiked making the ponies wearing it look more like bat monsters than a pegasus and a unicorn half dragon. The double door itself was a massive red oak wooden thing, stained dark enough that it was black unless the light caught it just right to show a rich red. A silver crescent moon was set into both doors, likely made out of real silver.

“Halt. State your name and business here.” one of the Guards barked forcing the pink mare to jump.

“Um I'm Diamond Tiara … Pipsqueak told me to come here today to see....”

“Prince Pip is not present at the moment in New Canterlot.” the other barks causing her to jump again.

“I didn't come to see Pip I came to see.....” Diamond Tiara tries to explain, her words cut off as one half of the great door pulls open and a gray unicorn with a rather unkempt amber colored mane pokes his head out.

Diamond Tiara tenses looking up in to the fiery red and green eyes of Princess Luna's consort and possibly one of the most dangerous ponies she had ever even heard of, Major, or General depending on who you asked, Jer'rahd Kaisur.

“Eep.” the Pink filly manages.

“Diamond Tiara hmm?” Jer'rahd states as if mulling over the name His eyes not leaving hers and making her feel like she was caught in the gaze of a Cockatrice. “It's alright, she's been expected.”

He turns heading back through the doors, leaving it open for her. “Well come on in then, Luna's stupid rat is libel to get out if the doors open long and I don't want to do another hunt for the damn thing.”

Diamond Tiara looks at the Guards noting the hint of a smirk on one of their faces, then slowly heads into the room.

The waiting room of Luna's quarters was a rather homely affair, based on a mud room that she had seen in a number of the larger houses she had seen in Ponyville when her father was looking for a new place to live after the mountain fell. It was mostly dark wood paneling with massive wardrobes on either side of the small room that were likely filled with winter clothing and snow boots. All of the wood in the room matched the dark coloration of the door. The floor was the same sort of gray tile as the outer corridors. A large archway across from the double doors offered a single step up onto a lighter colored wood panel floor and into a room with a large dining table and a series of chairs. Along one wall was a open cabinet, a number of paints, what looked to be blank canvases, and a spare easel were tucked into one side and the other seemed to have a box of crystals. The walls were decorated with a number of shelves and numerous paintings. The shelves were covered with little decorative crystal figures and the paintings were either of landscapes or very detailed portraits of various ponies. The ones in the dining room seemed to be of the Princesses and several family members. Diamond Tiara flinched at the sight of one at the far end of the room of AppleBloom.

Jer'rahd moved up to the table ignoring her evident shock or awe at the room,he pulled out a chair at the end of the table and sat down before a small pile of paper work. He gestured her closer as he sits down. Her eyes were drawn away from him and to a sizable double bladed sword with a slight curve to it sitting on the table next to him unsheathed.

“Do me a favor and touch that would you.... just the side and mind the edge. I don't want to spend any time cleaning more blood off it, too much work to do still.” Jer'rahd stated. His tone and focused gaze giving her the impression this was not a request.

Diamond Tiara swallows a bit reaching up gingerly and touched the side of the weapon as if she expected it to jump out and bite her. Jer'rahd tilts his head a little as her hoof clicks lightly on the metal of the blade.

“Hmm so you are who you say you are. Interesting. “ Jer'rahd sat back a little and glanced down to her. “ Do your parents know you are here?”

“I'm a little old to be telling them every where I go. Besides I am sure fathers busy with that new model hes dating and mother is still living in Manehatten with that ex Wonderbolt last I heard.” Diamond Tiara snarks then suddenly realizes who she's talking to. “ umm .. Sir...”

“Only the Guards call me sir. Relax, I’m not going to bite your head off and I have a fairly good idea why you are here.” Jer'rahd smiles, some how managing to look even scarier to her without trying. “Given the history you have with some of my family I’m trying to figure out if you are brave or crazy.”

Diamond Tiara swallows a bit trying to figure an answer though Jer'rahd doesn't seem to expect one.

“Like I said relax. It's not me you need to worry about any way. After Orange we decided to do the overprotective parent bit in shifts. I get to torment my daughters colt friends She gets our son's mare friends.” Jer'rahd watches the young mare turn several shades a lighter pink as she realizes that Princess Luna might have issue. He waits a few moments before smiling again that she didn't run screaming, a good sign. “ Watch your tail.”

Diamond Tiara was confused at that until she felt something tugging on her tail. Looking back she saw what she could only consider as the largest rat she had ever seen. The thing was sitting up on it's back legs one paw reaching up and pulling on a few strands of her tail looking at the curly hair curiously. She barely managed to resist the urge to shriek and kick it before a green glow enveloped it and the creature was lifted into the air away from her to hover in front of Jer'rahd. The rat creature hisses and growled at the green unicorn as he floats there.

“Oh shut up you. Diamond Tiara, meet Tiberius.... or as Luna calls him Tibbles. He's an opossum Luna found a few years ago in one of Fluttershy's animal adoption events. I wanted a dog, or a chinchilla, but no, Luna had to latch onto the ugliest thing there claiming it was adorable. I'd wonder about her taste sometimes, but that leads things uncomfortably back to me.”

Diamond Tiara chuckles a little at that noting the creature was rather well groomed, though it currently seemed to be reaching out towards Jer'rahd as if to claw out his eyes. “Is he alright?”

“Yes He just hates me. Most animals tend to be afraid of me, but Tiberius here just wants to kill me. Any way I'm keeping you a little long. He's in the courtyard, just head through the kitchen there and out the door on the far wall.” Jer'rahd points back to an open arch way behind him.

“Umm not to ask , but has he … has he said anything about me?”

“No, but then again he talk about anything with any real emotion.“ He notes her deflate a little. “He was willing to see you so that's a point in your favor anyway. Just keep in mind you might have to make the first move with Brush. It's not that he lacks initiative, but he doesn't show his emotions much if at all. If you are interested and none of this has scared you off yet, you still have your work cut out for you getting him to open up.”

Diamond Tiara nods letting out a sigh as she moves away from the table glancing back as Jer'rahd curses when Tiberius finally gets a hold of his nose and latches onto his face with a hiss. She knew Brush had some issues after the war, nearly every pony did, but for the longest time he was the only one who would even talk to her. She wasn't exactly sure when she actually developed something for him, but it had taken her the entire school year to build up the courage to do this... along with a lot of goading from Pip.

Stepping into the kitchen she froze in place looking down at a small dark blue unicorn with a short cut red mane that fell over her gold eyes though almost seemed a match other wise for Jer'rahd's. Berry sat there in the middle of the kitchen floor between Diamond Tiara and the door staring up at the larger pink earth pony. The unicorn's glare coupled with what looked to be a large red and blue crystalline squid sitting on her head made Diamond Tiara take an involuntary step backwards.

Ice Berry stared daggers at Diamond Tiara before she slowly rose lifting one hoof to point at her eyes then point at the pink pony, with the squid mimicking the gesture rather fluidly, as if it was a real creature. The pink earth pony swallowed at that as the smaller filly left the room, her 'I'm watching you' message delivered.

Diamond Tiara shivered finally reaching the door and stepping out into the courtyard. With a glance back to see if anything else was going to jump out.

The courtyard was much larger than she expected, and much brighter. It was almost as big as the old school yard. Stone walls surrounded the grassy field on all sides, stretching up another story to a large glass canopy covered the top of it, though several glass panels were slid to the side allowing fresh air in. A few Guards milled about on the roof, the tops of their helm's barely visible from this angle. A pair of large apple trees sat in the center of the field and a well tended garden of vegetables and flowers took up the far side of the courtyard. The other side of the court yard had a number of toys piled along the wall near a sandbox of sorts,though what looked like a workbench covered in crystals sat next to it.

In the middle a easel sat before a pegasus with a paint brush clutched between his wing feathers painted something on the canvas before him. The colts bright red hair was long, likely falling to his chest if it was loose. Tied back like it was, the long pony tail still draped over his back settling between his wings. He turned his head slightly, red eyes resting on her a moment before he looked back to the canvas for a few more strokes before he dropped his brush into a cup of water.

“Hello Diamond Tiara, what brings you here?” Paintbrush Lily asks.

She finds herself blushing a bit just from hearing him say her name and she struggles a moment trying to compose herself before she speaks.

“Are you alright?”

“No, I mean yes... I mean.. Right .. well. I mean I only stopped by for a moment but I mean. The end of the year dance is coming up and I want you to go with me....... I mean if you want to I’m not trying to force you or anything I’m asking is all..... it's.... never mind......” Diamond Tiara finishes with a rush of breath noticing he hadn't changed his expression or stopped looking at her.

“This was stupid I shouldn't have asked....” she mutters lowering her head a little flattening her ears to her head.

“Alright.” Brush states flatly.

What....?”

“I'll go with you. I did not have a reason to go before. Though it looks like it might be interesting.” Brush explained.

“You will ?”

“Yes. Was that all you came out here for?”

“Oh Yes, umm alright okay.,. Err I’ll … umm I guess I’ll talk to you more in school later when the breaks over?”

“Come by again Friday, we can work out everything else then. Dinner or whatever else I suppose we need to decide on.” Brush states as coolly as ever, though Diamond Tiara could swear she saw the hint of a smile.

“Um alright yes.. see you then.....”

She moved back though the door, a wide grin on her face, her legs feeling weak though she feels like she's floating. She heads back into the kitchen and through the dining room hearing Jer'rahd evidently in a loosing fight with Tiberius down the hall

Brush agreed to go with her to the dance and even suggested dinner. And he wanted to see her again. This was the best thing that had happened to her, nothing could go wrong now.

“Jer'rahd stop tormenting Tibbers”

“He is trying to eat my face again!”

“That just means he likes you. Now then.....”

Diamond Tiara freezes at the entrance to the dining room, the door in sight, though the room was much darker and more shadowed than before, she couldn't even see the door though the small mud room now. Sitting on the other side of the table across from where Jer'rahd had been was none other than the Goddess of the Moon herself. Next to her Berry grins lightly before trotting off down the hall, leaving Diamond Tiara alone with Princess Luna.

She seemed to be calmly sitting there looking at Diamond Tiara, though as the shadows of the room deepened the earth pony could swear the Moon Goddess was slowly taking on the form she was known for during Nightmare Night. Even as gravid as she was,her large belly only made her seem worse.

“Please have a seat... I would like to know the filly interested in my son......” Luna grins displaying very prominent fangs.

Diamond Tiara had never known what ponies meant by screaming internally until that moment.

==============================================

[Current Day, Crystal Empire, 2300 hours.]

“You have got to be shitting me.” Scootaloo demands.

“Nope, she only wanted me tah pass on a message tah Brush. Ah thought he'd blow it off , but he actually sent her a message before we left. She was supposed tah come by for a bit tha day after we left. Sorta a guarantee that she wouldn't accidentally run intah you.” Pip explains pointing to Applebloom.

“An exactly when was tha last time ah visited tha palace?” Applebloom mutters.

“Wasn't it when Spike sent us?” Sweetiebelle ponders.

“No, it was when we got brought before tha Princesses because of tha noodles!!”Applebloom whines.

“That wasn't our fault” Pip, Sweetie, and Scootaloo monotone in synch.

“I KNOW!”Applebloom fusses.

“So Brush and Diamond Tiara are a thing.....” Sweetiebelle mutters ignoring Applebloom's rant.

“Maybe, I know she wanted to bring him to the dance and she doesn't shut up about him most times.” Pip sighs “ She has it pretty bad.”

“And Orange is dating Blue Blood.” Sweetie continues.

“Yup. Da will rant for hours about that fact.” Pip nods.

“Berry had a thing for Rhede at one point didn't she?” Applebloom asks.

“A crush yeah, only lasted for a little while when she was younger. She got over it. Ah spect half tha girls ah know had a crush on him. Some colts too.” Pip mutters.

“He's mai uncle. So no.” Applebloom comments.
“Yup.” Sweetie grins.
“Not my type.” Scootaloo mutters.” Too much a pretty boy.”

“So any way that seems to me that your family has horrible taste in colt and mare friends. Makes me a little worried about you Pippy. Particularly with Babs's hint that you are crushing on some one.” Sweetiebelle smirks. “ Who do we know that's absolutely horrible for him?”

“You don't want to go there...”Pip grumbles.

“Too late.”Sweetiebelle grins.

“Ice Berry?” Scootaloo ponders. He is rather protective of her.”

“She's his sister.....” Applebloom snorts.

“Not really, well not by blood any way, of course that could put you on the table as well.”Sweetiebelle points out.

“What are you saying ah'd be a bad mare friend?” Applebloom growls.

“Well if you go by the context that both of you think you are related yeah sorta.” Scootaloo comments.

“Oh.” Applebloom admits.

“Oooh maybe it's one o the palace maids, it would be a low class high class thing.”Scootaloo suggests.

“I bet those little Prench maid outfits they wear did him in.” Sweetiebelle chuckles.

“They don't wear that sort of outfit any more. And really do yah think status would matter tah him, with as much as he avoids it?”Applebloom points out.

“Maybe it's Princess Celestia” Sweetiebelle suggests.

“Isn't she dating Twilight? And his Aunt?” Scootaloo sighs.

“Yeah but that's a perfectly horrible choice in terms of mares. Maybe he's simply waiting for her to get bored of Twilight to swoop in and take the ageless Princess off her hooves.” Sweetiebelle plots.

“Oh for the love of... you know what? Forget it. I'm going to bed. Scootaloo make sure she doesn't do anything dumb cause ah won't help with the damages. Good Night!” Pip grumbles trotting over and grabbing a pillow and a blanket from the bed. He then heads over to the walk in closet the room had, throwing it open and tossing his bed roll, the blanket and the pillow inside before grabbing his bag and closing the closet door after himself.

“Hey does this mean you're gay?” Sweetiebelle shouts.

“What?!” Pip asks opening the door again.

“Does this mean you're gay?” Sweetiebelle asks innocently.

“Does what mean I’m gay?”

“That you came out of the closet.” Sweetiebelle smirks and the others two giggle a moment.

“What is your obsession with gay stallions?” Pip snaps.

“I wanna see them make out like in the Japony books I have.” Sweetiebelle grins as Pip stares at her blankly.

“Okay Roight. I will admit have never met a crazier or braver colt than Button Mash. He has to be one or the other to have you as a mare friend and I am leaning heavily towards the former.” Pip snorts in annoyance. “And no, I am NOT gay! Nor will I make out with Button Mash as a favor or anything else for your amusement!”

“Aww, that was my next question. Think Rhede would?” Sweetiebelle smiles innocently as Pip slams the door shut in her face.

“Damn Sweetie, you're as bad as Bleu in getting him flustered.” Scootaloo chuckles.

“Dun push it too far though. Keep in mind he's tha only reason we were allowed ta come out here.”Applebloom states.” make him mad enough he'll prolly call tha whole trip and march us back home.”

“”Please we only have three more days left, it would be pointless to end it now.” Besides I really want to know! Babs said he had a crush on some pony and I heard Bleu going on about it to Spike as they left too and I wanna know too!” Sweetiebelle whines.

============================================

[Canterlot, 2200 hours. Wednesday]

Celestia was tired, by the stars was she tired. Her own court, Luna's court and all the incoming information about this new plague. This had been a very long day, she had even skipped a meal here and there taking the time to catch a quick nap instead before something else was brought up to her attention.

Luna had not helped the situation, although she was released from the Hospital earlier in the day Celestia made sure she was confined to her Quarters with Dawn and made sure that Starfall was there to keep her in place. Not that her sister had not sent messengers out constantly to bug her asking if she had heard anything about Jer'rahd. Celestia expected that Jer'rahd would come back when his troops got to the Red Hoof encampment to cleanup the mess. The unicorn was never one to leave something half finished, though she likely needed to have a word with Nicker about sending him out at all. Luna just had his foal for the stars sakes. At the very least if he was still here Luna could drive him crazy instead of her.

At the moment though everything was done, she had just raised the moon and had at least six hours she could sleep before she had to start all this again. She was half tempted to let Lulu resume her duties early. She had been cleared already by the hospital, child birth was something gods easily recovered from, she knew that from experience. But back then it was not like she had a choice on how quickly she needed to recover, she had no one to help her but Baelit. Even as king there were not many nobles who recognized him as anything other than her plaything. Even now that still annoyed her, as much as she didn't like Jer'rahd she still squashed any information that painted him in that light. She doubted the stallion would care what ponies said about him, but it annoyed Celestia.

Her door was in sight, the massive golden sunburst on white pine or oak or maple... she really wasn't sure, though she had to agree with Rhede that announcing which room was hers with the giant sunburst and Guards was perhaps not the best idea. Still it was a glorious sight to her after this sort of day.

“Princess!” shouts a voice down the corridor.

Celestia screams in her head at the sound of galloping hooves, she was so tired why couldn't she be left alone. So help her if this was some stupid nobles question...

She turns her head noting that it was not a noble, but Guard Captain Nicker Fury and a panting half dragon pegasus messenger. That the Guard Captain would run at his age was worrying.

“What's wrong?” Celestia asks, not liking what this might herald.

“Found 'huff' Sunshine. Was 'gasp' Tartarus were supposed to be....” Nicker pants..... “Tell her Corporal....”

The half dragonness takes over her leathery wings rustling as she snaps into a salute to Celestia who was now no longer tired at the mention of her daughter.

“At twelve hundred hours my wing and I landed at the last known location of Princess Sunshine, the Gate's of Tartarus. Upon our arrival we discovered the body of a zebra mare with a red crystal horn that was identified as Sunshine. She was merely unconscious though our efforts to rouse her proved futile, and her cutiemark was gone. The rest of my squad remained to transport her to a secure location as I came back to make the report to Canterlot. “

“By the stars...... this is disease is affecting gods as well?” Celestia shudders already planning to make her way to see her daughter despite the risk.

“Tell her the rest.” gasps Nicker.

“Sir! We also discovered that the gates of Tartarus were gone. There was no trace of any gate ever having been in the rock wall aside from a number of hoof prints and large dragon prints that lead to a rock wall in the cliff. There was a small camp set up by Sunshine nearby along with a small book of notes, she had evidently gotten there Tuesday after she left the hospitol and had been trying to figure out why the gate was closed when she fell unconscious. The notes did not indicate that she had found out why the door was closed, though there was the making of an idea on how to open them again.”

“Are they connected? Did this virus come from Tartrus?” Celestia asks worried.

“No, its not!” gasps Nicker finally manages as he catches his breath finally.

“What?” Celestia asks.

“It's not a virus, the colt was right. At eleven hundred hours we received a report of a train finding a set of abandoned cares along the tracks near Hossenfeffor. There was no engine and the cars were filled with ponies who has succumbed to the what ever this is. The conductor and a number of others were on the ground around where the lead car should have been and there were signs that a tree had been dropped over the tracks. The lead conductors log and several foals and a donkey that had been on the train confirmed this. They also described the same sort of creature that the initial foal had reported , only much much larger. They claimed it some how drained the cutie marks from all the others killed a pair of griffons and a half dragon that was on the train before it disconnected the cars and took off on the main engine. It didn't bother the donkey, it focused on the fliers, though the half dragon was a unicorn variety. At fifteen hundred hours we received a report of a train that had come into station with no one driving it and no cars being pulled. It slammed into the barricade at the end of the line in Fillydelphia. Thankfully due to an anonymous tip, no pony was hurt but the engine was destroyed. “ Nicker took a breath of air before rapidly continuing. ”At twenty hundred hours we received word of an attack on a small seapony fishing village at the edge of the Great Hooper Sea. My scouts arrived there and reported that all the inhabitants including the seaponies were unconscious and missing their cutie marks. We were informed of this attack hours after it happened as the remaining foals in the village didn't know how to contact any one. A trio of adults who had been late getting back from fishing finally contacted us. Aside from the ones who were affected, all of the half dragons in the village had been killed as well as two individuals thought to be earth ponies but revealed as changelings when the creature killed them. The young ones claimed it stole a ship and set out into the sea at around seventeen hundred hours.”

“Seventeen hundred...How long does it take to reach Gallopagos by ship?” Celestia asks.

“About two to three hours.” Nicker answer. “ We already tried to contact them. They are not answering any crystal we try. We have had no word from them since we initially requested the return of Velkorn and Twilight this morning.”

“Send out the Guards send them all out I want this creature found and I want it stopped before ...”

“PRINCESS!!! GUARD CAPTAIN!!!” A unicorn Guard shouts charging down the hall towards the small group. He skids to a stop panting a rather fearful look in his eyes.

“What is it!?”

“We received word from a settlement at the Northern Edge of the Great Hooper sea. There's a massive fire burning that they can see over the water.”the Guard pants. “ Gallopagos isle is burning!”

Author's Note

Title is Fuel by Metallica

I just keep adding to the fire..... or to the Solar Flare in this case......

Also let the speculation begin again regarding who Pip is sweet on. Now that DT is removed as an option.

I did enjoy writing that part by the way.. mostly cause TIBBERS!!

Everybody plays the fool. [18, Holiday Special]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Everybody plays the fool.

[ New Canterlot. Five Years Ago. April Foals Day ]

Jer'rahd groaned softly as he shifts in the bed, his internal alarm clock letting him know that morning had come and he had a great number of things he needed to do. A glance to the clock confirmed this as it pointed at six in the morning. Luna should be getting out of her night court soon and would meet him and the foals for breakfast.

He yawns wide as he sat up,his mind cloudy, a little perturbed that he had to work in the day with that burning orb of annoyance that Celestia controlled beating down on his head, but there was no night school available with which to put the Lilys and Pip into. They had considered forming one for the Guard and other ponies who worked at night once before, rather heatedly after the incident with Diamond Tiara, Berry, and Applebloom, but the logistics were too out of wack for it to work properly. Maybe one day, but that day would not be today, tomorrow didn't look so good either and as such he had to be a morning pony. Or at least as close to it as possible.

He moved into the bathroom with a yawn his ears perking as he heard what sounded like a giggle. He looked back out into the bedroom wondering if Berry came in, though there was no one there. He shrugged simply going back to start brushing his teeth. He felt that he was missing something. There was something about today he was supposed to remember and he couldn't for the life of him figure out what that was, it had to do with today’s plans.....

Jer'rahd let out a pained yelp, the fog of his mind burning away in a flash of pain. He dropped his toothbrush and the paste as his mouth suddenly caught on fire. He grabbed a glass from the counter filling it with water to gulp only to have the glass sprout a leak in the bottom and spray water all over his chest as he lifted it to his muzzle. There was still enough water in the glass to gulp down and rinse his burning mouth out with, though he had to fill it and dump it on himself several times. He gasps hearing the sound of laughter from his room again. Jer'rahd looks out of the bathroom with a glare to see Pip and Berry laughing and Brush there looking slightly more amused than usual, the trio all poking their heads out from under his bed.

“April Foals.” Pip calls and Jer'rahd's ears flatten. He picks up the tube of tooth paste reading 'Rainbow flavor' on the label and sighs.

Crap that's what he forgot. It was April Foals day.

================================

“So the three of them got you hmm?” Luna chuckles.

“Hot toothpaste from Pip, a dribble glass from Berry and the hot water cut out right after I shampooed and turned ice cold. Brush closed the hot water pipe.” Jer'rahd grumbles glancing at the three as they happily ate their breakfast and pretended to be little angels. “That last one was the worst one this year......”

Luna chuckles softly working on her own meal, which was more of a dinner salad as the others ate pancakes and in Berry's case round waffles.

Jer'rahd was about to cut into his pancakes when there was a knock at the door and he grumbles setting down the knife and fork. “So it begins.”

“Good luck. I expect that will be Tia's assignment for this year.” Luna chuckles as Jer'rahd growls heading to the door on the other side of the living room.

He pulled open the door before he got to it and just as expected a fully armored Guard was there. Jer'rahd recognized him as Pumpernickel Loaf, one of his trainees from last year. He was a fairly skilled pegasus, but no pony would ever accuse him of being quick witted.

“Sir, I have a missive from you from Princess Celestia.” he states holding up a rolled scroll in a wing.

Jer'rahd nods thanks taking it with his magic and unrolling it to read, only to have it explode into a cloud of black soot that falls over his muzzle and head staining him black. He opens his eyes glaring at the Guard.

He could hear Luna and the foals behind him laughing at the after math of it, Pumpernickel Loaf was laughing hysterically as well.

“I'm... I’m sorry sir … I really couldn't resist... Sorry here's the real letter sir.” the pegasus snorts with laughter, holding out his other wing with another scroll. “ I was given the flier this morning and I had to try something.”

Jer'rahd snorts in annoyance taking the other letter and opening it a bit more carefully, though this turned out to be the real missive. He wipes some soot from his eyes reading it over with a small growl.

“Alright tell her I'll be on my way, I need to clean up first.”

“Yes sir. “ the pegasus salutes and darts off.

The gray and now black headed unicorn walks back to the table, taking a napkin to wipe off most of the soot before picking up his knife and fork again to cut the pancakes. After a few moments of sawing with the knife , he picked up the pancake fully and tried to bite into it, his fangs bouncing off the rubbery thing. No amount of biting or cutting would pierce the food. He finally gave up on that one and tried the rest of the short stack to the same effect.

He glances between the others giggling at the table before staring at Luna who was doing a poor job of trying to look innocent.

“Et tu Luna?”

“Oh come on Jer'rahd. It's a joke. “ Luna chuckles, floating a flier from a small stack of papers on the counter. The flier had an image of him in red cross hairs with blue lettering announcing this years prank contest.

“Right I’m going to take another shower. Brush, please don't mess with the water this time.” Jer'rahd sighs leaving the table and heading off to sulk as he cleans up.

Luna waits until he's out of ear shot before leaning over the table to whisper to the others as they look over the flier passing it between themselves.

“He asked Brush not to do it. He didn't say anything about the rest of us.” Luna smirks sending the foals into a fit of giggles.

==================================

One ice cold shower, a bucket of ice water, and two pies later, Jer'rahd arrived at the throne room.

He stopped at the door with a sigh wondering what Celestia was going to do this year. Last year she had trapped him in a living jello mold golem, lime flavored. He sighs and pushed open the door winding up face to face with a large barrel.

“Crap.”

The cannon fired blasting him backwards into a wall with a high powered lump of cake batter. Red velvet mix to be precise.

He lay on his back a moment, eyes closed at the riotous laughter coming from the throne room before he dug his way out , shaking off the mess and trudging into the throne room. He shoved the Pinkie pie party cannon, out of the way and stormed up to Celestia who was draped over the throne cackling madly. Twilight stood nearby doing her best not to laugh and failing miserably.

“You wanted to see me? Or was that it and I can leave now?” Jer'rahd growled. ”I have some foals to get to school, and a whole day of dealing with whatever stupid pony tricks this day brings out.”

“Oh you should have seen the look on your face. Hahaha,oh I am so glad you borrowed that Twilight , that was perfect hahahah.” Celestia laughs as Jer'rahd rolls his eyes.

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that Jer'rahd ….” Twilight mutters.

“No you're not.” Jer'rahd grumbles.

“No I’m not.” Twilight states breaking out into laughter as well as a gob of cake batter falls from his face.

“Can we just get this over with I have a whole day of pranks to push through.” Jer'rahd sighs.

“Oh don't be so moody it's your own fault you don't participate in April Foals day.” Celestia comments as Twilight continues to laugh.

“It's a stupid holiday and I see no reason why I should participate.” Jer'rahd growls.

“Really? Four years of being the target of every pony because you won't do anything in return has made every pony think of you as the prime target in New Canterlot for this. “ Twilight manages before losing herself in a fit of giggles.

“Just because I’ve never sunk to your level doesn't make this any better.”

“No but you being the only non participant left in Equestria on this day amuses me soo much.” Celestia giggles.

“Get on with it. I already know the drill.”

“Fine spoil sport. Two things. First after last years prank duel Discord is barred from doing anything today and two, you are going to make sure he follows that ruling.” Celestia chimes shifting in her throne as she stared down at him.

“You are making me foal sit Discord for the day?” Jer'rahd growls reaching up and wiping a gob of batter from face. “Fine whatever, it's a god level safety issue. I get it, some how it falls under my job. I'm not even going to bother to check at this point. I'll pick him up when I take the foals to school.”

“See I told you you wouldn't need all those documents Twilight.” Celestia smirks.

“Well that was a few hours of rules lawyering that was for nothing.” Twilight sighs.

“If you are done mocking me....”

“Not yet ...” Celestia chuckles, waving a bit of paper in her magic. ”I do like the fliers I had you make, very nice job.”

“Forget it.“ Jer'rahd growls turning and stopping to the door throwing it open only for another cannon to be there and blast him back into the room with a thud, covering him with gobs of frosting and sprinkles.

“Ooh I did forget the frosting, good job Twilight.” Celestia laughs. “I taught you well.”

====================================

“Cake batter?” Luna muttered looking up from where she was making Berry's lunch. Jer'rahd had already made their lunches and had them packed away in their saddle bags so as not to hurt Luna's feelings. Still the three of them knew not to even attempt to eat what ever it was that Luna made, and to use fire if the bag started to move.

“Sparkle and your sister. Seems I'm baby sitting Discord today as well. Would you, Berry, Pip, and Brush NOT fiddle with the hot water this time?” Jer'rahd sighs. “ I want to clean up, again before I attract ants, or Tiberus decides to try and eat me.... again.”

“She has you watching Discord? Ugh. You know for a pony who tends to be angry all the time, you let every one trot all over you on this holiday. It strikes me as odd.” Luna sighed.

“I won't stoop to your sisters level. A holiday designed around trickery and pranks is not something I want a part of.”

“And yet you still allow every one to prank you without repercussion. Even the Bearers of Honesty get involved in this. It's your own fault really. Even if you just hit some pony with a pie they might leave you alone. You've become the biggest target in New Canterlot with this passive resistance stuff. ”

“That's because it would escalate. Eventually some pony would be shaved bald with something crude painted on their side.”

Luna smirks holding back a chuckle remembering that. “That was once Jer'rahd , and your fur grew back before any one even saw you anyway. Still that was a little far even for Rainbow Dash.”

Luna sighs moving up and kisses Jer'rahd lightly on the forehead licking her lips lightly at the taste of the red velvet cake batter.

“Go get cleaned up. The cold water jokes gotten old so you can have a bit of peace.”

“Thank you....” Jer'rahd storms off being trailed by the families pudgy opossum pet. The creature was more than happy to gobble up the dripping cake batter like a fuzzy vacuum.

After a few moments a shout came from the bathroom.

“LUNA, WHY IS THE SHOWER FULL OF FROGS!?”

====================================================

One frog filled shower, and a short herding of foals later Jer'rahd was staring up at the face of a grinning Draconequus with Pip, Berry, and Brush all standing behind him peeking up at the strange creature. They had all seen Discord before though usually from a distance. Jer'rahd had never personally been introduced either, though he had met him a few times, the two had never really taken much notice of one another.

“Well hello Kaisur... it's been a while hasn't it? Awww but who could miss your ugly mug?” Discord smirks reaching out to try and pinch Jer'rahd's cheeks stopping at the gray ponies snort of annoyance. He leaned back in the air, leaning around the pony to look at the three foals behind the angry gray unicorn. “And who are these three? Some one shrink some Royal Guards down to foal size? I have to admit that's a good one...”

“This is Ice Berry, Paint Brush and Pip. You should already know that Luna and I adopted them at the end of the war...” Jer'rahd comments. “Look can we skip any games with the introductions Discord? We're already running late due to the pranks that every ones already pulled on me. I don't need any thing else to go wrong before I get them to school.”

“Spoil sport. Still you needn't worry about me. I'm not really a fan of this supposed holiday.” Discord rolls his eyes, the orbs spinning around in his head as he tries to get one of them to laugh or react, though the foals simply stare.

“Really you of all creature's doesn't like April Foals day?” Jer'rahd grumbles setting up the cart and checking his saddle bags again. He had far too much to do today even without watching Discord, but it was all too important for his first instinct of locking himself in a closet for the day.

“Sure it's chaos... but every one expects the chaos and pranks today. That takes a whole lot of fun out of it.” Discord sighs. “It just seems less chaotic when it's expected.”

“And the prank duel last year?” Jer'rahd mutters lifting Berry up into the cart.

“That was personal..... It was a honor duel between Cheese Sandwich and I. That pony has skill I will admit, but I won in the end.” Discord says proudly.

“Considering the damage you caused it's a wonder you and he weren't arrested. I'm stuck escorting you and I have no idea where Cheese is.”

“He and Pinkie's sister, the dull one with the iron hooves and rock fetish, hooked up, what was her name Mauve, mad, ahhh yes Maud!” Discord states popping out of existence and appearing again as a much smaller Draconequus sitting on Jer'rahd's back in a cowboy outfit.

Jer'rahd glances back at him though doesn't react other wise as he sets himself in the harness of the cart, starting to pull it along out of the Castle.

“Uggh bored already........” Discord mutters.

Discord snaps his fingers and they all vanish in a flash of magic. Jer'rahd stumbles as they reappear the cart bouncing once on the grass before stopping. Jer'rahd whirls with a growl about to buck the Draconequus off his back when he notices that they were now in front of the school house on the other side of new Canterlot.

“What...?”

“Like I said I was bored, still saying that, I’m bored. Still I don't have any plans to do anything.... bad... per-say. I fully expect that Celestia put me with you as she expected me to drive you insane all day. I might still do that, but I do hate letting that mare win. It's rather nice to meet some one who dislikes her as much as I do. Granted I don't really like Luna either, but ehhh.” Discord shrugs.

Jer'rahd unhooks himself as the three foals scramble off the cart. His horn glows briefly picking Berry up before she could run off his eyes narrowing a bit as he looks down at her.

“Berry put you mother's lunch in the cart. If you are going to prank some one don't do something that will nearly kill them.” Jer'rahd orders.

Berry frowns before pulling a brown bag out of her saddlebag and sets it on the cart before stomping off in a sulk.

He pushes the cart to the side and tucks the lunch bag into his own saddlebags, Luna would come and pick them up after school at Applejack's when she woke up this afternoon. He watches the trio head into the school building before glancing back at Discord.

“If you are going to be agreeable Discord and still want something to do I have an idea that might keep you busy at least.”

“Ooooh? And whats that.” the small Draconequus questions.

Jer'rahd pulls a quill and pot with a fair sized scroll from his bag floating them into Discord's confused grasp.

“What's this?”

“You can keep track of the ponies names and the pranks they pull on me. That should keep you very busy.”

Discord looks at the thick blank scroll with a bit of disbelief noticing a few names and pranks were already on there. Despite that the scroll itself had to be long enough to stretch from the throne room to the entrance of the castle.

“I wondered why Twilight wanted the party cannon..... Seriously though do you think you have enough scroll here? Are there any trees left in the Everfree?” Discord snarks.

“Hmm you are right... remind me to pick up another one when you make it a third of the way down the back of the scroll. That should last to lunch time.”

“You are joking?”

A pie suddenly arcs from one of the bushes striking Jer'rahd in the face along with the sound of some foals laughter.

“No, I’m not.” the gray unicorn states as the banana cream slides down his face.

==================================================

After a few hours walk across the Ponyville half of New Canterlot, Jer'rahd and Discord were finally trudging through the Everfree on the way to Zecora's. The plan had been to go early enough that he wouldn't be a target for as many ponies. That didn't work.

Discord had remained true to his word about not doing anything and simply wrote down everything that happened. At the moment he was going over some of his favorites so far reclined across the burly stallions back giggling like a school filly.... and wearing a pleated skirt of one too. The massive scroll was unfurled and almost half full of names.

Jer'rahd looked like he had been to war and lost horribly. His fur was multicolored he was covered in a number of random things from stink bombs to pie crusts. He had a doughnut speared on his horn and countless kick me, or worse, signs stuck to his back and flank. There were a number of things stuck to his hooves, including paint cans and fake duck feet. There was also one particularly unruly animated toy snake dangling from one ear.

“...... and Granny Smith … GRANNY SMITH got you with a mouse trap stuck in an apple. A SNAP APPLE oh that was brilliant. I'm still in shock you didn't take your bit back for that one.” Discord cackles.

“Without the trap the apple was fine. Not like it hurt, just a surprise.” Jer'rahd sighs.

“All these ponies are targeting you, even Fluttershy with that joy buzzer... FLUTTERSHY got you, that has to be the absolute bottom....... It's astounding you haven't snapped out and wrecked the place.”

“I don't like the holiday. I find it rather pointless, always have really. I don't mind a joke or two but a whole day devised to making others look like fools? Not my sort of thing.”

“That doesn't explain, why you let them all get away with this. I'm quite sure you can simply tell them off and they will leave you be.” Discord suggests.

“First few years I didn't mind. It actually improved morale enough that I let anything done to me slide. Given the first years after the war a little humor was good. Two years ago is when is started getting nuts. I forgot what I did, but Celestia got pissed enough at me to put a bounty of sorts on my head in the castle. The greatest prank done to me got a reward. I'm pretty sure Rainbow Dash won it that year with the duct tape katamari ball, of course I was too busy trying to get free to find out. It was offered last year as well to the whole town, but your prank war kinda derailed that I think. At least I don't know who won, after the market district needed repainting and paving after you and Cheese got finished. This year she's got it going again, though Luna at least talked her out of directing it solely at me, now it's best prank, with heavy implications to do it to me.”

“Really ? Sounds like Sunbutt. Passive aggressive to a fault. So what is the prize any way?” Discord grins.

“You're not eligible.... It's on the fliers.”

“Awwww. Wait, what fliers?”

“Another of Celestia's parts in this. She had me print up a crate of fliers a few days ago announcing this years contest. Of course they all have my image with a target on it. It's got the rules and the prize, she had some of the Guards pass them out this morning going door to door. Given how I’ve been the target all morning I expect every pony in New Canterlot got one.”

“Hmm sounds fun, but what is the prize?”

“Supposedly a massive cake from the royal chefs. One from Celestia's personal collection of recipes. Given I was blasted with red velvet cake mix this morning I expect that is what it will be.”

“Is that why your mane smells so delicious?” mini Discord smirks.

“No, I’m pretty sure that's the whip cream marshmallow bomb Bon Bon and Lyra hit me with.”

The pair of them trudged on with Discord listing off the various attacks and pranks that had caught his attention while Jer'rahd had been trying to get out of town.

Finally arriving at Zecora's hut Jer'rahd knocked on the door only to be greeted with silence. He glanced at Discord who shrugged before he knocked again hearing a small crash from inside the building. Jer'rahd pushes lightly on the door finding it locked, only to have the door fall over backwards as it it was taken off it's hinges with a snapping of fingers. He glares at discord who was tossing said hinges off into a bush behind him before he strutted in like he owned the place.

He made it a few steps before he ducked and a iron pan flew over Discord's head smacking Jer'rahd in the face and knocking him back on his flank.

“OOOh good throw.” Discord applauds.

“I care not who you are, but if you take another step I'll end you before you get far.”

Jer'rahd rubs his nose looking at the inside of the house. Everything was pushed to one side of the room, with tables and pots in a impromptu fortification around the back wall. The windows were boarded up and a number of what looked to be snare traps and drop traps were scattered around the room. One of which Discord was prodding with a stick and dodging the swinging log as it came by.

“Zecora !? What the buck?” Jer'rahd growls as Discord giggles.

“Jer'rahd? And you brought Discord here? I was expecting her to send some one else I fear.” Zecora states her head poking up from behind the barricade a small cast iron cooking pot on her head.

“Gah that smarts. Ow.” Jer'rahd growls rubbing his nose, wiping away a bit of blood. “ I came to borrow your copy of Supernaturals. The one in the palace library, and the one in Ponyville are already checked out. What the heck is all this? And drop the rhyming, I am not in the mood for it.”

Zecora stares up at Discord.

“Oh don't worry little zebra god.... I find it far too amusing that Celestia had a daughter and is now dating some one younger than her daughter. Also Pinkie made me Pinkie Swear not to tell any one you were Sunshine.... among a ton of other things..... blasted rules..........” Discord grumbles.

“Fine.” Sunshine mutters.” As for what this is you 'have' met my mother right?”

“Red Velvet cake batter cannon.”Jer'rahd grumbles. “This year any way.”

“Yes well she was always fond of jokes. At some point she managed to make it a holiday of sorts, a day she could cut loose with the pranks and no pony would think less of her for it. No pony was immune to the pranks, not even her own daughter...... Every year... for nearly a thousand years, there's always some sort of prank...... she turned my colt friend into a frog one year a decade or so back. I never could find him again!”

“Owch I’ve dealt with this nonsense for only a few years....”Jer'rahd sighs. “ Least I’m not the only one who doesn't participate in this.”

“I used to until mother made it a contest against me. Without mentioning it, or having any rules other than one up everyone else. Now I simply hide out every year.”

“This holiday just gets better and more chaotic the more I learn about it.” Discord cackles. “And all of it looks like our little sun but is the main cause.. oh I love it.”

“Any way I'm here about the book and because last time I was near Tartarus, Troph suggested you visit.“ Jer'rahd shrugs. ”Actually that might be a good way to get out of here for a few days. I doubt Celestia will try and track you down to prank you in Tartarus.”

“That...... isn't actually a bad idea.” Zecora mutters. ”Though how do I know this isn't a trick? You are with Discord.”

“I've never pranked and Discord's not allowed to. It's why I’m the usual target. Once I get the book and I’m gone as well, after that you can do what you want.” Jer'rahd sighs. “I have a lot to do today. Oh also did you have any bottles of that soap you use for Poison Joke? We're doing training in the Everfree later this week and there's always some rookie who tries to eat the pretty blue flowers.”

Discord pondered that a moment before cackling like a lunatic at the idea of some one eating poison joke and rolling around on the floor.

“No I am afraid I do not. I sent my last in a shipment to Ponyville Hospital. There tend to be a number of ponies who use Poison joke as a gag on this day. Aloe and Lotus' spa may have some as well.”

“Surprised no one's used any on you yet. That does sound like a perfect prank.” Discord chuckles.

“It was made illegal three years ago. There's a fairly hefty fine if you are caught using it to prank. Still some ponies risk it, or some foals do it because they don't know any better.” Jer'rahd sighs. “Looks like I need to make another stop then. At least I was already going by the spa.”

“I didn't take you as a spa going pony.” Discord cackles glancing over as Zecora starts packing evidently opting to run like heck for the safety of Tartarus.

“I'm not, I just received a letter for them a few weeks ago I keep forgetting to give it to the twins when I’m in town. Not sure how the mail pony confused Spa, with Princess Luna's residence at the palace.”

“If it's Derpy I can under stand why, she still hasn't gotten the new zip codes down properly.” Zecora points out tossing a book to Jer'rahd before ushering the pair out of her home. She glared at Discord until he fixed the door then took off in a mad gallop towards the Gate of Tartarus.

“Well she was in a hurry.” Discord pouts.

=======================================================

One prank filled romp through town later the pair arrive at the spa. Discord was less than pleased this time as while he had been paying attention to one prank he had been hit with another. Rarity had used a hair growth spell that made Jer'rahd look like a modern day Rapunzel. As Discord was laughing at Jer'rahd tripping over his own mane, Rainbow Dash had hit him with a thunderbolt and made all his hair stand up in a massive ball of amber colored hair giving Jer'rahd the appearance of a massive fluff ball, with Discord as a slightly smaller puff ball on his back, While Discord cursed Rainbow Dash Jer'rahd stopped him from retaliating, by grabbing him in his magic and dragging the struggling Draconequus inside the spa.

“You should have let me turn her into a marshmallow peep.” Discord pouts. “Though Rarity is already half way there.”

“No. I don't even know what a peep is and no.” Jer'rahd grumbles walking to the spa front counter and ringing the little bell. A crash from the back room caused both Discord and Jer'rahd to wince before a rather frantic looking Aloe rushes out of the back room, the bright pink mare's hair a mess.

“Ah!!! “ Aloe yelps at the sight of him. “I am sorry. Welcome to Aloe and Lotus, spa. If you are here to prank I will say that is not allowed here and criminal charges will be filed if you try. If you had an appointment today I must inform you that all appointments are on hold for a few weeks. We are temporary closed.”

“I'm not here to prank Miss, I just need to purchase your entire stock of poison joke cure for a training mission coming up. Zecora said you might have some left from her last order?” Jer'rahd sighs at least glad he was not getting hit in the face this time with a pot. ”Is something wrong? I didn't think you ever closed for long.”

“Nothing to concern yourself with sir, we cancel all our appointments at the start of this month. This time of year we have a spring sabbatical back home. We usually would be gone by now, but my sister forgot to lock the door on top of misplacing our train tickets....”

“THAT IS A LIE!!!” Lotus shouts from the next room in a voice with a rather thick Manehatten accent.

“Customer......” Aloe sighs in her vaguely Japony sounding voice, trying to smile past the sudden cursing from the back room.

“That's fine,” Jer'rahd states his horn glowing some where in the massive afro that made up his head at the moment. He pulled an envelope from his saddle bag offering it to the mare. “Sorry it's opened. I think Pip thought it was one of his decoder rings or something he tried to get from a cereal box. I think it might be the tickets you are looking for. Sorry it took me so long to get it out to you, though if I looked at them correctly they are still good until the last train today. You should have a few hours to get ready and get to the station.”

Aloe's eyes widen as she snatches the envelop from the air pulling out the tickets looking at them as Lotus ducks out looking over her sisters shoulder at the tickets before slapping the pink mare in the back of the head.

“I told you I did not lose them.” Lotus glares. “This is the last time you order tickets that far in advance by mail order.”

“Yes, like I said I'm sorry it took so long to get here with them. It's been about a month since they arrived there I just never made it out into town.”

“Pfft don't mind him, he was just being lazy.” Discord snorts bored of this already. “Just get the soap so we can gooooooo. This place is making me feel all froo froo and new age....”

============================================

After paying far more for the few bottles of shampoo they had, Jer'rahd was shoved out the door and back into the line of fire. Pies, electric shocks, confetti and a rainbow colors assaulted Jer'rahd as he made it to the next stop, Ponyville General.

The hospital had changed quite a bit since the war, expanding to nearly double it's size and bringing in specialists from all over. The reason was primarily due to Velkorn preferring the larger , less sterile Hospital to the one in Canterlot and once word got out and was proven true about who she was, every Doctor worth their salt wanted to be transferred nearby. Jer'rahd rather liked it due to the fact they had turned the giant black crystal spider Luna had taken control of into a monument to the war on their own.

Once he trotted in, and convinced the nurses on staff he was not a victim of a riot who needed emergency services, no thanks to Discord who tired to play the part of a grieving wife. Seriously with a much as the Draconequus had been in drag today Jer'rahd had to wonder a little about him.

While the nurse wandered off to ask a doctor about the poison joke soap Jer'rahd was left to sit in the waiting room alone with Discord. The Draconequus seemed preoccupied with changing all the waiting room crossword puzzles into nonsensical words for answers or even more confusing questions and hints.

“So I have to ask what was all that last year? The two of you wrecked a good section of town with that prank war. To what end? What was the point? “ Jer'rahd sits back on the bench trying to pick free the pink bows that Sweetiebelle had managed to get in his mane and tail.

“I have no idea what you are talking about. It was just a prank war.” Discord snorts hiding his face behind a magazine titled 'sensible chuckle' and pretended to read it.

“You've had prank wars with Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash and even Celestia since this started. None of that was like what happened last year, it didn't come close.” Jer'rahd shrugs his magic pulling a live crab from his overly poofy mane. “What made this so special? What was the goal.”

“Why do yooooou want to know?” Discord hoots. Putting a monocle and top hat on the confused crab before tossing it out the window and into a koi pond.

“Curios as to why I’m forced to watch you today past it being a joke by Celestia, what was the goal of all that chaos?”

“Why would chaos have a goal?” Discord asks tying himself into a pretzel shape.

“You've had a purpose to what you've done before. I somehow doubt that big machine we found in your castle had no purpose.” Jer'rahd grumbles, finally noting that some one had painted his hooves neon purple.

“Oh you found that. Yes I suppose I had a goal with that. I planned to clone myself and separate the books curse from me into a clone then destroy it. Of course that never happened and I wound up a lawn gnome instead.” The Draconequus sighs a very tall red cone hat appearing on his head his beard turns into a massive white bushy thing.

“Rather convoluted approach to it.”

“Have you met me?” Discord gasps. ”If not, hello, I’m Discord.”

“And last years fight?”

“Nothing about it.” Discord waves his hand and all the creations vanish.

“You called it an honor duel. That means something. What was it over?”

“Bah you would remember that part. Okay fine, but you're buying me lunch.”

“You wouldn't want anything any one would sell me today. Even that Cut-my-own-throat guy with his questionable pies would prank me.”

“Hmm good point. Any way it … it was over Pinkie....” Discord sighs seeming calm for a brief moment.

“Pinkie?”

“Yes, lets just say Cheese had the interest in attempting to woo her and I needed to dissuade him of that.” Discord waves his hand in the air.

“So you and Pinkie Pie huh?”

“Tell a soul and I’ll make this day look like the best in your life. I don't want her getting grief for associating with me.” Discord growls waggling a bat shaped object labeled 'Bat-Dooms day device' at the gray pony. “ And I don't need any grief if any one found out the association was romantic. Twilight Sparkle and Celestia already hate me, and that's mutual in regards to the fat one, but I have tried to at least be civil to Purple Smart, and it's just not happening on her end.”

“In case you haven’t noticed I don't like Celestia and I am not exactly thrilled with Sparkle today either. So long as there's no disaster waiting to happen and it's mutual it's your business, not mine.”

“It's mutual.... I think.... hard to tell with her sometimes, though I thank you for not directly assuming I am forcing her into something.....” Discord pats Jer'rahd's head. The poofy hair exploding into confetti and bluebirds leaving Jer'rahd's mane and tail normal again, if bright blue. “Seems despite my turning over a new leaf and every one finding my accuser was a psychopathic nut bag in her own right a number of ponies still do not believe that I did nothing to Avianna.”

“Given all the trouble she caused me without her even being there, I’d be more inclined to believe you even without her ripping off the top of a mountain.”

“Well I don't know what to say... thank you I suppose.”

“You're welcome.... Now I don't suppose you could tell me how you brought Pinkie back from being dead? I know tons of tests were run, and it is definitely her but....”

“No.... do not ask again and know that will not do it again, nor will I share how I did it. You had a nice run of making me almost like you then you had to get greedy.” Discord scoffs, suddenly dressed in a top hat with tails and gestures as if he's shooing Jer'rahd away. “Besides I can't tell, Mort would get annoyed with me.”

“Fine don't answer, that you won't do it again is enough for me.” Jer'rahd looks up seeing a doctor approach and rises to his hooves having scraped off most of the purple and walks up to meet the doctor as he stepped into the lobby.

“Hello are you … wow you really do need the antidote. I've never seen a case of poison joke that bad.” the doctor comments his horn glowing white as he waves a clipboard at Jer'rahd. He was dressed in what looked like a butcher's apron with the tag reading 'Patch' on it, big floppy shoes, and had a big red clown nose on his face.

“No no, this is just from pranks.......” Jer'rahd begins interrupted by Discord.

“Oh it is the worst thing EVERY!! The poor thing has been so horribly poisoned you simply must save him, he used to be such a charming looking Diamond Dog.. now look at him.... OH THA HORROR!!” Discord grabs Jer'rahd hugging him close then holding him in the air like he was the next king of pride rock.

The doctor backed up as Jer'rahd slips free of Discords hands.

“Ignore him. He's crazy. I'm Jer'rahd Kasiur, and I am supposed to be a unicorn. I'm here to see if I can collect any extra poison joke remedy you might have for a military training exercise in the next few days.”

“Ahh I know you. You're Princess Luna's consort the General or Major or what have you. I'm Doctor Patch. Normally I might be able to spare a few bottles normally, but with the joke warfare going on I like to keep a decent supply, we have a few ponies in town who are extremely allergic to poison joke. The effects of it hitting them are nearly triple the amount of a normal pony. “ Patch explains.

“I though Poison Joke wasn't fatal?”

“It's not, but imagine suffering from one affliction, those allergic to it get as few as three afflictions and our highest count was seven. I wouldn't give out those bottles even with a royal order, unless it was for some one who was that allergic or suffering greatly from whatever the effect is. Thankfully the effects of poison joke don't change, so once you know what happens to you, you know what you get. We have already had a few of them come in, it seems that there will be a round of poison joke this year, they were already experiencing the signs.”

“ Most i get is my eye color changes to blue. Still you are getting ponies who've had contact already, despite it being banned? Well at least no one is in any life threatening danger.”

“Indeed. I don't think I can spare any bottles though we can go check to see if there's any extra. We don't mix anything that uses the sort of volatile ingredients that it needs, but Miss Zecora seems more than happy to supply us with some when we request it. Really it's only once or twice a year that it's necessary” Patch states walking off his shoes squeaking beckoning Jer'rahd along with him. Jer'rahd nods following, glaring back at Discord who sits with a golden halo over his head.

“Stay here, I’ll be back in a moment.” Jer'rahd sighs leaving the Draconequus with a few of the nurses.

===============================

Jer'rahd trots back out of the offices without anything to show for it. The hospital had already cracked into their crate of bottles for the first few ponies who were showing signs of being affected by Poison Joke.

Looking around the lobby Jer'rahd flattens his ears at the lack of chaos and even noise. The idea of everything being normal worried him a bit. After a few moments of searching he finds the tall creature sitting off to the side of the lobby, talking with a small lavender furred mare with silver and dark purple mane and tail, with a cutie mark like a medical cross, though for a brief instant it looked like a ball and a nail maybe?

Jer'rahd shook his head. No it was definitely a medical cross.

Discord glances over at him leaning down to hug the mare lightly and floating away vanishing with a pop to re appear in miniature form on Jer'rahd's back.

“Who was that?”

“Oh, just some pony I used to know a long time ago. Seems she did much better for herself without me, kinda a pity she used to be such a wild one. Ah well story of my life foal's grow up and ponies change.” Discord chuckles, sounding a bit sad about it. “Still imagine my surprise to see her here and working to be a doctor of all things. Can we head back to the castle now this day has been hilarious, boring, amusing, annoying, and melancholy all at once.”

“Rather chaotic hmm?” Jer'rahd snarks

“Don't start with me colt.....”

=================

The slough back to the castle was pretty much exactly that. After the brief calm of the hospital, Jer'rahd and Discord moved back out into the prank storm, the latter wearing a large yellow rain coat and souwester hat to shield him from the deluge. A few dozen pies, color changes, and one rather creative use of a number of piranha lemon clams later they finally made it back to the castle gates. Jer'rahd looked like a drowned rat, and Discord was cackling as he filled out the list of names.

“I am in shock. I've never seen the old water bucket trick pulled off quite so well. I mean Big Mac used the WHOLE water tower. That's got to be the win with how you screamed.” Discord cackles. “ His time with Rainbow Dash must be doing the boy some good.”

“I have a phobia of deep water.” Jer'rahd grumbles. “ It wasn't from the water itself, just the amount of it.”

“Oh really do tell..... I could use that.... How did that develop?” Discord was suddenly wearing a nice suit and reclining on a chair couch thing.

“We went to meet Princess Aqua......” Jer'rahd mutters.

“Okay, stop right there and stop talking. I now do NOT want to know what another old friend of mine did.” Discord sighs.

“Just when I think I might be alright with you, you wind up being friends with some one who tired to kill me or tortured me.” Jer'rahd growls.

“Oh I don't eeeeven want to hear it blondie. You are practically married to a mare who led a team to try and kill me and sealed me in stone for centuries because of a lie told to her sister.” Discord snaps back.

“Valid point.” Jer'rahd shrugs heading back towards Luna's quarters, ducking though the halls avoiding servants and Guards as best he could. He still got a shock or a sign stuck to him here and there. And a water squirting turtle took him by surprise once too, but he still made it. “Any way thanks for playing along with Celestia's crap.”

“Why what ever do you mean?” Discord asks as Jer'rahd, his voice lowering as the two of them walk into Jer'rahd's shared rooms with Luna and the foals. The gray unicorn was glad he was out of the craziness for the rest of the day. Not even Celestia would try to prank him here while Luna was asleep.

“Seriously? Do you think I would have had time to stop you if you ran off today?” Jer'rahd sighs his voice lowering as he emptied his saddle bags taking three copies of Supernaturals and sliding them behind some other books on a shelf.” I wouldn't even know how to start stopping a god of chaos that didn't involve a lot of bloodshed.”

“You are a strangely morbid and depressing little pony. That you have any sort of humor at all surprises me. I have spent the day with you and I still do not understand how you, a pony most consider a violent psychopath have not even told any one to leave you alone today. With all that was done to you as well. It's fascinating....” Discord suddenly had pointed ears and a blue shirt with a triangle on it. “You so often had golden opportunities to tell them to buzz off. Like the beehive prank, telling them to buzz of would have been golden there ahhhh and you let it slide. Sooo punny.”

“I was tempted there....”

Discord smirks. Fading away until just his smile remained“ Any how here's your list. I'm going to see how Pinkie fared today, toodles.”

“Hold up.”

“Yeeeees? Miss me already?” He fades back in only to have Jer'rahd push a bottle of the poison Joke cure he got from the spa into Discord's clawed hands.” What's this for?”

“Just in case Pinkie managed to get into some of that stuff today. You can play the hero for her.” Jer'rahd smirks walking the remaining six bottles into the bathroom and stuffing them under the sink.

“Why thank you...... what a thoughtful gift..... it almost makes me want to go out and find some poison joke just so we would have to take a bath....... never you mind. Thank you for the suggestion any way.” Discord finishes in a huff and vanishes.

“Well that was fun. “ Jer'rahd sighs, ducking his head in to check on Luna before cleaning up the house a little making sure to destroy all the prank fliers he could find . Once that was done he went to take another shower to clean up the remaining mess soaked into his fur, grabbing one of the bottles of cure, just in case.

After a few moments of silence there was a soft curse from the bathroom.

“Bucking frogs....”

===============================================

Later that night he was woken by a scream. Flinging himself out of bed he crashed into the floor bouncing as he kicked at the blanket his horn glowing as he reached for his sword.

“Jer'rahd it's fine. Sort of. Put the sword down and come out here.” Luna calls from the dining room after hearing the crash as Jer'rahd manages to smash into a nightstand.

He glanced up at the clock on the wall seeing it was near five am. Pushing himself upright he shock his head glancing around the room for a bewildered second before turning on a light and catching his gaze in Luna's dressing mirror. He stared at himself a moment collecting his thoughts and letting his brain process everything, before he snatched his Drill instructor hat. After making sure his mane horn and ears were tucked under it he moved out of the bedroom.

The first thing he noticed was Luna standing in the main dining room. Her normal dark coat was bright green and her hair was a paler shade of green, the stars within it seemingly replaced by chocolate chips, giving her the appearance of a large pony shaped scoop of mint chocolate ice cream.

The next thing he noticed was a gray furred pegasus Guard, who was standing on top of one of the book shelves. His ears and tail had been replaced by gray mouse ears and a pink tail. The Guard was in a state of panic staring down at something on the ground. Evidently the stallion had been the one to scream.

Stepping into the room fully he saw Brush sitting at one end of the table. The colt's front legs looked like some sort of purple octopus tentacles, complete with suckers. He was poking a large loaf of sour dough bread that sat on the table, with a opossum tail and face sticking out of it. Tiberus was not amused at the poking his new bread like fur. Jer'rahd had to suppress a small shudder at the sight of Brush's limbs, brief memories of seaponies came to mind..

Pip sat on the other side of the table, or rather he was trying to. A massive horn had sprouted from his temple, one akin to what you would find on a full grown dragon. The small pony was trying and failing quite spectacularly to keep his head up when the horn weighed more than he did.

Berry was the last pony he saw and she was the only one with a wide smile on her face. Her legs had changed to and she was now darting around the room on a set of eight pony sized spider legs clearly enjoying that she was terrifying the Guard, and unnerving every pony else with her skittering.

“Is everyone alright?”Jer'rahd asks getting a strange look from Luna as if that was the dumbest question ever.

“I cannot believe you slept through all this. There's been panic all night in Equestria.“ Luna grumbles. “About eleven every pony started developing strange symptoms and well.... look at our foals..... I checked on them when I came home and well....”

“Berry seems to be enjoying it.” Jer'rahd mentions as the small spider pony scrambles up onto his back her grin nearly splitting her face.

“Yes well, my sister is already up and we both agree this is a state of an emergency, she want's us to head to the throne room and try to get to the bottom of this. She's already sent Starfall to drag Discord here, this screams of his work.” Luna growls.” Nearly every pony in New Canterlot is affected by something from this......what is wrong with your hair?”

“Nothing Luna... I'll get the foals situated and make something to eat for an early breakfast. I doubt I’ll be much help until we have a target any way. Go on and I’ll meet you there.” Jer'rahd looks up at the pegasus. “And you get off my book shelf.”

==============================================

Half an hour later Jer'rahd was allowed entry into the throne room by a pair of Guards, the Pegasus stallion was sporting peacock feathers on his wings, and the unicorn mare had a flugal horn for a horn.
He had spent most of the time trying to convince Berry that she wanted a real breakfast not flies, despite her spider legs.

The room was full of ponies, there were a plethora of nobles and some higher ranked Guards, including Moskau, whose stripes looked like rainbows tail, and Nicker who was see though but had the outline of his form showing in thin white lines. None of the nobles looked that bad, nothing a illusion spell or a mane cut wouldn't fix, but the lot of them were carrying on as if they were dying.

Celestia was a shockingly, painfully, bright glowing pink. There were not even any lights on in the room, the Princess of the Sun was glowing so brightly they didn't need any. Judging by the light out side from the sunrise, the sun might be pink as well.

Twilight stood nearby, her horn limp and spotted, Rarity looked like a ratty sheepdog. Fluttershy seemed normal though he noticed a tiny orange pony sitting on her head that the yellow pegasus occasionally spoke to with a deep baritone voice. Rainbow Dash lay in a corner on her back in a small crater, her wings upside down. Starfall stood over Rainbow Dash , the pegasus's wings buzzing as they resembled a bee's now.

Discord was the single focus of attention for most every pony as he cackled and rolled on the floor in the middle of the room. He stopped occasionally to sit up , point at some pony and fall over laughing again.

Pinkie Pie sat on his chest, looking less than amused with her tongue swollen and spotted, dangling from her mouth.

He made his way over near Luna as the shouting continued around them.

“What do you mean you can't find it? I made sure there was a copy at every library, who was the last pony to check them out?” Twilight asks a pony that looked to be made out of plants at first glance. Though it seemed just her mane, fur and , tail were leafy. “ The cure for poison joke is in that book.”

“I'm sorry Professor Sparkle, but we looked . Every copy of Supernaturals is missing from every library in New Canterlot. Miss Lulumoon even got particularly angry when we informed her she must be mistaken. So angry in fact she started spitting fire.... literally spitting fire, given her head is in the shape of a dragon now I suppose that makes sense. The closest library that has a copy that we have been able to contact is in Manehatten, and we are still having a time convincing them that this is not some sort of joke. It is an older book, one that is out of print so no store carries it any more either.”

“Where's Velkorn? Some one contact her. She practically wrote that book” Starfall yells out.

“She and Rhede are with Spike and Bleu in Cindervale, there's no way to get up with them short of sending some one to fly up there at the moment and they are supposed to be there for a few more weeks.” Luna states. “ Orange is with them training with Velkorn, I expect she would know what the antidote contains too.”

“What about Zecora?” Celestia asks. Some one go get her

“She went to visit Troph and Grace. Something about trying to avoid a excessively pranky relative.” Jer'rahd calls out in answer ignoring Celestia's glare at him. He ignores her moving over to look down at Discord from under his hat.

“Enjoying yourself?” Jer'rahd asks.

“Highly.” Discord giggles.

“Have y’all had any luck finding Aloe or Lotus, they know about this stuff they gotta have something for this as well.” mini Applejack shouts.

“The pair of them have left for their yearly sabbatical dear. They won't be back for weeks.” Rarity sighs.

“What about the hospital, they must have a supply.” yells one of the nobles with long ears like a rabbits.

“The hospital has those for emergencies. Some ponies are highly allergic to poison joke. They refuse to give over what they have left, even to me. Besides they claimed they already used nearly all that they had on hoof, there were far more treatments this year then they were used to.” Celestia growls. “Jer'rahd, your training squad does drills in the Everfree, surely you have some supplies of the treatment on hoof?”

“Fraid not Celestia. I had the trainees clearing out a rather large swath of it we found about two weeks ago. We used what we had then.” Jer'rahd explains, a small grin starting to form on his face.

Discord stops laughing his eyes widening as he notes Jer'rahd's smirk.

“It has to be the .draquo draco... what ever the heck he is, this has to be Discord's fault..!! screams one of the nobles, whose tail stretched about six pony lengths behind him.

“I can say it was not Discord, he was with me all day yesterday and he didn't do anything.” Jer'rahd openly smiles, unnerving the yelling noble.

“This has the makings of some one, or a group of some ones behind it. Otherwise how would every book and bottle of the cure be gone. If Jer'rahd cleared out most of the plants with his troops we might be hard pressed to even find any to study to try and reverse it magically. We're going to be stuck like this until we can find the recipe or some one who knows it..... wait.” Twilight growls. “Jer'rahd why did you have your troops clear out Poison Joke plants in the Everfree? I thought you left them alone to see who didn't study during their survival training?”

The gray pony notes that Sparkles suggestion had both Luna and Celestia looking to him curiously. Trust Sparkle to notice something.

“Normally I do, but I needed enough Poison Joke flowers gathered to make the ink.” Jer'rahd states flatly and rather loudly. The result was better than he could have hoped, the entire throne room fell silent.

“What?” Celestia demands.

“A tip for you Celestia. Don't make the pony who you've sicced the entire town on three years in a row, whom you've pranked and tormented every year, print out the fliers to pass out.” Jer'rahd pulls off his hat, showing that there was nothing wrong with him at all. “Especially if you plan to print enough that you can then pass them out to every pony in New Canterlot.”

Discord yelps as every one in the room stares at Jer'rahd the pieces finally falling into place. The Draconequus quickly rolls away and points at the gray unicorn.

“THAT'S why you did all that! The trip to Zecora's, the Spa!“ Discord's jaw drops as he stares at the chuckling unicorn.

“And why I got rid of the books and all the soap I could get my hooves on. The last of it was used on Pip and Brush before I left, thankfully Berry was fine with her condition, so I used it on Tiberus.” Jer'rahd laughs loudly the sound echoing in the throne room.” Enjoy your week plus of payback for the holiday. I'm done with this holiday and will not be participating in it every again, nor will I allow myself to be a target. Before you consider payback, know that this was the least damaging thing I had planned. Just give the prize to Luna, I've had enough red velvet cake for a while anyway. “

Jer'rahd turned trotting back towards the door figuring he would be on the couch for a month or eight for this. Even with the red velvet cake bribe. His hooves thudded heavily on the floor in the silent hall. “

“Oh yes before I forget, this is a prank after all.....” he shouted making sure every pony could hear him as he stops at the door looking back, his red eye flaring brightly as he regards them all, the fanged grin spreading wider on his face seeming to be on the verge of splitting it in half..

“April Foals.”

Author's Note

This story was always meant to be posted on April first... and this marks the first themed chapter i managed to do.

This story is a flashback the infamous April Foal's Day, that gained Jer'rahd his own ranking as a Potential Disaster 3 just under the Cutiemark crusaders at PD2.

Potential disasters rank from 4 to 1, the chart then goes up again on the other side from 0-4 in disasters.

For example a hurricane off the coast is a PD4 that rises the closer it gets to land, once it hits it goes to zero and then up to what ever number depending on the damage it does. Tirek is currently a 1.

In other news for those of you only following the main story SiS:LRG/ MoT/ and LE , there are a few other stories i have that fill in the SiS Mythos

http://www.fimfiction.net/story/147065/the-mare-the-dragon-and-the-draconequus
Is the 'in progress' Prequel.

http://www.fimfiction.net/story/109436/stories-in-stone-reign-of-night
Is the 'in progress' alternate time line.

http://www.fimfiction.net/story/168450/tales-in-stone
Is a collection of short stories that tie into the SiS story in some way or another.

My blog posts on the site also do a great deal of Q&A stuff.

Gone Home [ Journey's End ] [41]

Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR

Gone Home [ Journey's End ]

[New Canterlot. One month after the defeat of Tirek. Summer.]

“Let me see if I have this straight.” Luna sighs rubbing her forehead with her hooves.” You want to preemptively hunt down possible threats to Equestria....”

“Not just Equestria, but all of Equss.” Twilight corrects.

“.......All of Equss. And you expect me to let you two.. who are still highly unstable I might add, run off and kill things while both of you are still clearly suffering from some form of PTSD.” Luna continues.

“To be honest nearly every one on Equss has some type of that by now.” Bleu chimes in.

“As I was saying, the most potent spell caster on Equss and a stallion who ranks a PDR of two on his own.....”

“I'm hoping to get it up to rank one before Hearths Warming.” Jer'rahd chuckled.

Luna let her hooves move to the base of her horn to keep her head up as she sighed. She spared a pained look over to Celestia, who had said nothing yet, then back to Bleu, Jer'rahd, and Twilight, all of whom had grins on their faces that looked like something she would have seen from the Cutie Mark Crusaders when they were younger.

“Jer'rahd you have still not gotten used to your form yet and don't Spike and Bleu have things to do and what about your foals...? Are you simply going to leave them with us?”Luna demands.

“This isn't going to be a solid year we are going to be gone, it's a series of missions to locations we already know to hit and take out possible threats before they happen. We already know we succeed in them.” Twilight adds in.

“And lets face it Luna. Both of them have tried therapy, Jer'rahd made a couple of therapists wet themselves and Twilight wound up offering therapy for a few others when she out brained them or what ever.” Bleu snarked.

“I didn't even do anything.” Jer'rahd protests rolling his eyes..

“It's called reverse Psychotherapy. The ones trying to treat me clearly had more intricate issues than I do.” Twilight muttered.

“Let me see this book Spike.” Celestia stated suddenly walking over and taking the book from the dragon. The white earth pony mare flips through a number of pages blinking as she read them before flipping back to the cover of the book and the decorative Hydra that dominated the front.

“'Foul beasts and how to slay them.' By A.K. Yearling?” Celestia asks.

“She's our fifth. It took a bit to find the proper title. Everything written by Jer'rahd was little more than books of names, and nothing Twilight wrote matched the contents we needed.” Spike states. “So I started looking for just the content and came across this. The publish date is two years from now. Yearling has already agreed to tag along with us and document everything.”

Celestia flipped more through the book whistling at some of the things listed in there before arriving at the last chapter and her eyes narrowed before she stared back up at Spike.

“She's not going to like this.” Celestia adds.

“And that's why it's the last chapter.” Jer'rahd points out.

“What is.. let me see that?” Luna states her magic making a grab for the book before Jer'rahd steps in front of her.

“Luna do you remember what we talked about a few days ago?” Jer'rahd muttered leaning up closer to her nearly nibbling the Lunar mare's ear.

“What?..... you mean about the...... yes I do,” Luna grumbles softly her ears flattening out of Jer'rahd reach. “But what does that have to do with this?”

“This is a way to make sure and build up enough of a reputation that it won't be contested at all.” Jer'rahd grinned. “Something no one else managed before from what you've said.”

“But that was just.......... oh you think you are so smart. “ Luna snorts. ”Fine. But you better check in each time you finish with something. I am not going to run two nations and raise two foals by myself.”

“I can say the same Twilight. Little Elusive is adorable, but you were the one who wished to care for him.” Celestia adds.

“At most we will be gone a few days maybe a week at a time. “Twilight placates.

“Fine.” Celestia sighs, giving the book back to Spike.

“So we are good to go then? Awesome! Time for some preemptive payback.” Bleu giggles.

“I don't think that's how it works.” Spike ponders.

===================================================

[ One week later. Unicorn plains, Summer]

Jer'rahd sighed flicking the blood from his sword as he looked down at the last of the bandits. He had expected a group of ruffians named 'The Deadly Death Destroyers' to be something impressive. Particularly since they were in the book and known to be terrorizing the north eastern part of Equestria. But for a first mission a couple score of bandits was a flop. Most of them had surrendered or ran at the sight of him coming into their supposedly hidden camp. Twilight easily grabbed the ones who ran and the ones who fought back Jer'rahd cleaned up rather neatly.

First mission was a success without any issue and A.K. Yearling was sitting by Spike writing it all down. Likely she was adding the dramatic flair he had see when he first read the book Spike had found. It was a bit upsetting that the awesome fight he had read about was in the end nothing more than fantasy, but at the same time the goal was about destroying evil, not challenging himself.

Still, he hoped they weren't all like this.

==============

[New Canterlot]

The day was dreary, the wild weather from over the Everfree had taken over with Cloudsdale no longer in the air, although it was much less problematic than many had predicted. The sheer number of pegasi that had been recovered now kept the worst of the weather away from the towns near the forest and there were plans to use the broken top of the Maneterhorn to start building a new Cloudsdale.

School had finished early this year due to the circumstances, but it would start earlier next fall. Pip, and the Lilies were staying at Sweet Apple Acres while the castle was being rebuilt. Still aside from the massive hole in one wall, Luna and Jer'rahd's quarters were one of the few sections of the castle left relatively intact. Likely it had to do with all warding spells around the place that had been set up after one of Luna's cooking attempts had summoned a minor elder god.

Luna was thrilled that some things had survived, including Pip's macaroni picture and several of Brush's paintings. Brush didn't seem to care about collecting anything but one unfinished picture of a pink mare that had been in the courtyard. It had been damaged some, though Brush had started work on repairing it almost immediately. Berry had reclaimed a few of her toys, most of which Jer'rahd recalled Rhede having given her, though didn't seem concerned with much else either. Pip unsurprisingly just wanted his sword back from where ever it had landed in White Tail Woods, he didn't often hold onto things he didn't use, like Jer'rahd. Although there was a picture Jer'rahd had Brush paint of his parents and grandparents. The original was long gone, but he could easily recall it from memory, and his description was more than enough for Brush to do a painting, thankfully that still hung in the hall.

Another section of the Castle that survived was the rocky mountain top that had come down along with Canterlot, evidently there was something in there that Celestia had warded the crap out of as well. Jer'rahd was curious, though both Luna and Twilight had told him it was full of memories and to let it be.

The rest of the grounds were devastated, the throne room, the libraries and storage areas and surprisingly Twilight's lab were all flattened. Twilight was freaking out over the loss of the books until Spike started pulling them from the Library just before the blast hit. Twilight had them all moved to Golden oaks library, much to the new librarian Trixie's annoyance as there was no where near enough room in the small tree house.

===============================================================

[Former Griffon Empire]

“ BWAHAHAHHAHAHAH None of you will be able to stop me! I am King here! I AM A GOD, ALL WILL BOW TO MY MIGHT!”

Lightning crackled and struck blasting chunks of rock and stone off the ponies hiding place.

Jer'rahd kept a shield behind the pair just in case the rock gave out under the onslaught of the massive lightning storm the ranting figure had conjured.

“You just had to insult him didn't you?” Twilight snorts.

“Seriously. Also when some thing asks if you are a god you say yes....” Yearling shouts over the thunder.

“I mean you are a bucking god even, why the heck did you say no?” Twilight snaps.

“Because it's a freaking hamster! No where in the book does it say this target was a hamster that spits lightning.” Jer'rahd snaps. “ Especially not one named Zhu Zhu. Seriously?”

“Not sure it's a real hamster. I think it's some sort of construct like the book says.”Spike adds looking through the book trying to ignore the cackling mad creature on the other side of the rock formation.

“Great because some one bucking BUILT a hamster golem that shoots lightning.” Jer'rahd growls. “Because my idea that it was an actual hamster god wasn't far out enough?”

“Hamster's don't have gods!” Twilight snaps wincing at the sound of thunder echoing in the quarry around them.

“Well excuse me for not knowing that, I'm not a bucking expert on rodents!”Jer'rahd snaps back.

“Where's Bleu?” Spike asks suddenly forcing the others to look around for the blue dragonling that had been with them a moment before.

A sudden high pitched shriek preempted the sudden stop of the lightning and thunder followed by a loud crunching.

The group peers around the rock , to see Bleu sitting on a lightning scored rock, chewing on something.

“Sokay guys he was a golem.. mostly copper wiring... bit of quartz in there too.... oo I think his eyes were ruby.” Bleu mutters through a full mouth, sparks dancing over her teeth with each chew.

=========================================================

[ New Canterlot ]

The first chance Jer'rahd got, he, Bleu, Starfall, Peach Blossom, and Luna took a trip to the Sibete Emperiyon. That his favorite bar remained standing after the explosion and everything else was a bit of a marvel to him. More so when Bleu reminded him that it had survived the Second Dragon War, Nightmare Night, the War of the Night, and the War of Gods without so much a scratch as well.

The discussion continued past their entering the bar and a while after they took their usual seats at the bar, leaving three empty for those no longer with them.

The small group was deep enough in the discussion that they almost missed Zecora poking her head out of the back room. The zebra mare had spotted them and ducked back into the room quickly the moment she spotted the group. Luna however had seen and recognized her niece and her gaze was immediately turned to the one winged half pegasus zebra standing behind the bar.

Luna's direct gaze to the stallion had the others focus on him as well. For the first time they all felt they were getting a good look at the bartender.

“One winged half zebra....... cloud cutie mark shaped like a star...........” Jer'rahd mutters. “Been coming here for over a thousand years and it's just now clicking that you've always been the tender ...”

“What I want to know is why my niece is trying to hide in the back room of your bar.” Luna demands.

“What I wanna know is where's that drink I ordered when I came in.” Bleu demands.

“Errrrr.....” Starcloud mutters. “I can explain......”

“Drink first.” Bleu interrupts.

“Oh for the love of the stars they aren't leaving are they!?” Zecora curses from behind the door.

“She didn't rhyme?” Starfall asks.

“No Sunshine we are not.” Luna snorts.

Zecora pushes open the door striding out of the back room, her mane rather frazzled as she drops down on a chair behind the bar glaring up at them. Luna raises an eyebrow at her niece though Jer'rahd hadn't taken his eyes off Starcloud who was fixing Bleu's drink.

“I don't always Rhyme you know.” Zecora grumbles. “It's mostly just a training exercise to help focus. Something I oft need with the chemicals I work with.”

“I heard it was actually the best way to translate ancient zebra.” Jer'rahd comments.

[“Oh I'm terribly sorry I didn't realize the pony that can't even speak or understand Zebra might know more about it than an actual Zebra goddess.”] Zecora snorts.

[“I can speak and understand zebra just fine.”] Jer'rahd responds as he takes a sip of of the drink put before him.

The whole group suddenly turns from the pair of actual zebras to the gray and orange half dragon with his tail curled around the stool.

“WHAT?!” the unanimous shout rocked him back, particularly since Luna was using the Royal Canterlot voice for the question.

“Yeah... I learned it not long after the war in the Zebra lands.”Jer'rahd admits.” Figured I would need it. Same as I picked up a bit of Diamond Dog after that war.”

“Then why....... “Starfall demands.

“......Did I pretend not to understand a lick of it all this time? Because I thought it was funny. And it annoyed the crap out of Rhede.” Jer'rahd smirked as both Luna and Bleu smack him in the back of the head with their wings.

“We will have words about this later Jer'rahd.” Luna snorts.” But first what is going on here? And with as many times as I have come here why have I never realized you are the same pony..err zebra....also which of those terms is correct?”

“I tend to consider myself more a pony than a zebra, but I was born in the Zebra lands.” Starcloud comments rubbing the back of his head with a hoof. “ Long story short I was born a bit before the Discordian war, but my family left the Zebra lands when the Warlord era started to keep me safe.”

Luna blinks though the others seemed to be adding the numbers up in their head.

“You are older than me......” Luna mutters.

“After a thousand years of looking like a pony barely in their twenties does it really matter actual age?” Zecora mutters.

“No I suppose not.” Luna admits looking to Jer'rahd who was being strangled by Bleu for his joke.

“Ooh am I gonna get invited to another wedding?” Bleu asks her tail still wrapped around the half Dragon's neck.

“Not likely. Sunshine and I tend to have a on and off again relation ship. We get together every decade or so, but both of us like living alone to much to get married.” Starcloud adds setting a glass before Jer'rahd as he frees himself from Bleu only to have Starfall hit him with a chair fussing about how annoying his language barrier had been. “Besides I'm a city dweller, not sure how well I'd handle hanging out in the woods all the time.”

“And before you ask, yes mother knows.”Sunshine sighs.”The spell I used to hide myself was something Starcloud taught me and how we met the first time.”

“Hey I bet they could teach that spell to Rynthia too.” Peach Blossom points out, trying not to laugh as his wide pummels Jer'rahd while he tries to down his drink.

“She can learn it if she wants, but she's not going to have to hide herself.” Jer'rahd states.

“There are still tribes dedicated to the destruction of the zebra gods where ever they show up Jer'rahd.” Sunshine mutters. “I've met a few of them in recent years.”

“Yeah well. They haven't met me.” Jer'rahd growls into his mug as Starfall settles back down, not drinking anything herself this close to her child's birth.

“Given that we have adopted her do you really think there would be anything left of any one who attempted to do her harm?” Luna explains her eyes narrowing. ”They didn't managed to hurt you any did they niece?”

The air in the bar suddenly got quite cold for some reason at the question as both Jer'rahd and Luna pause as they waited for an answer. Thankfully Starcloud managed to derail the stare a little by putting a large fruity looking drink in front of Luna.

“Lost my wing to them centuries ago, but that wasn't long after the whole warlord uprising. I was still a colt.” Starcloud added.

“So why have we never noticed you before this point?” Starfall asks.

“Because that's my power, I sort of slide any attention directed towards me away unless some one's specifically looking for me. I sort of blend into the back ground other wise....... as to why you noticed now... well with Sunshine here I certainly didn't want her not to focus completely on me....”

The zebra mare turns a deep red as most of the others laugh, save Luna who simply rubs her forehead with a sigh.

“So wait since we know the secret now, does this mean we get free drinks if we don't tell?” Bleu questions.

“Buck no. Not with as much as you buy. Your tabs have gotten me through three prohibitions. Besides if you tell any one it just means I'll have to leave, and poof goes your favorite bar.” Starcloud explains.

“Damn it!” Bleu curses.

=======================================================

[ Manehatten, old warehouse]

“So this is it?” Jer'rahd asks.

“Certainly seems it.” Twilight sighs. “That's a lot of skeletons.”

“Bunch of them seem really old too. Not just pony either, looks like a bunch of different races.” Bleu whistles.

“There are tales of something like this going back a millennium or more. Many differing records from a number of cultures.” yearling explains. “Supposedly this was created by a powerful wizard of the second age. Though the legend states he was it's first victim.”

“wait there's ages now? When was the first age?” Jer'rahd asks.

“Before recorded history, the second age came about around the dawn of civilization of the three tribes. The third age was Started after the Exodus and the fourth began after the defeat of Nightmare Moon.” Daring explains. “That's where we are now.”

“Neat boss we've lived in two ages.” Bleu adds.

Spike simply stood behind the gathered ponies, an annoyed expression on his face as he looked to the object in the center of the room. Certainly there were a number of skeletons around it, and quite a lot of dust. The object seemed to be made out of a reddish wood with four thick legs evenly spaced under it, the high back of it seemed enough to be at just the right height for a ponies head if they were seated upon it. Padded patches of light cream cloth covered the top and backrest of it giving it a rather homely feel despite the obvious expensive wood used in it's construction.

“Of for bucks sake it's just a freaking chair!” Spike snorts.

“Not just any chair.” Yearling corrects. “The worlds most comfortable chair. Once you are in it's clutches... you are doomed.”

“Oooh “ the others monotone.

“This is completely ridiculous.” Spike growls pushing the others out of the way and exhaling sharply, bathing the wood and cloth chair in red flames, burning the piece of furniture to ash in just that one puff.

The others blink looking at the ash pile as Spike turned storming away, fully annoyed at this lunacy.

“YAY! Spike defeated it!” Bleu cheers.

=====================================================

[New Canterlot]

It was on a muddy field that used to be a training ground that Jer'rahd stood,facing two opponents at once. He still needed to work out some kinks in his new body and the pair before him were helping him work out some kinks before he and Twilight went after anything more dangerous.

Both were mares, one wore a fairly over sized ambassador's robes with a hood, and the other wore some impressive, if brightly colored hydra armor and wielded a crystal spear.

The two were both rather surprised to be here and even more surprised at the challenge though they had accepted after a small conversation between the two of them. A blue unicorn in crystal armor stood nearby watching.

Minuette had taken over for Shining Armor's position as Guard Captain of the Crystalline Guard only a few days ago when the stallion announced he was stepping down fully from being a Guard Captain. Princess Cadence had finally taken the title of Empress of the Crystal Empire at the last Council meeting just so she could have a bit more weight to throw around when it came relations and politics. Shining had grudgingly accepted the title of Emperor at his wife's behest, or nagging, it was hard to be sure.

The blue unicorn had barely opened her mouth to utter the word 'begin' when all three of the combatants were in motion. Jer'rahd was using a wooden training blade, though the pair of them were allowed to use what they were most comfortable with so long as it was not star metal. Jer'rahd was highly resistant to the material's magical dampening effects, but a wound from it still took as long to heal on him as it would a normal pony.

A shield was brought up in an eye blink as a length of razor wire whipped across where his eyes would have been. The steel sparked across the shield obscuring his vision briefly and forcing him to leap to the side as the spear wielder came crashing down where he had been standing. She was up and away from him standing on her two back hooves faster than he could bring his blade around against her.

He dropped his head quickly as another wire whipped over where his head was and a second crashed into a quickly raised shield.

The pair of them were not giving him a moment of thought. The unicorn rushed at him again and the pair traded blows, his wooden weapon splintering against the crystal spear from the mare's fierce blows. A flash from his side forced him to move again as the place where he had been standing was suddenly full of daggers. He tossed the shredded bit of wood towards the cloaked mare noting that the spear wielder deflected it before it got close to the other mare.

He yanked another training blade from the rack whirling about to rush the green mare, gripping the weapon in his teeth. He ramped his shield galloping up it and leaping off towards the armored mare.

The mare moved quickly,setting her spear to impale him as he landed only to find that he had formed another shield just at the tip of her weapon and had bounced off that to make a dive towards the cloaked figure.

The cloaked mare flung out her fore limbs sending a dozen plus lengths of metal cable at him, they went past and hooked on the worker' scaffolding, the ground and several training dummies locking into place. The mare pulled her forelegs together bringing all the cords tighter around the large half pony in some sort of cats cradle of doom.

Jer'rahd exhaled sharply, tucking his tail under himself with his legs stream lining his form as he barely slipped through a rapidly closing gap in the wires landing outside the trapped area. He quickly brought his weapon around to knock the clocked figure out of the fight. His swing was knocked aside by the armored mare's spear being flung from the other side of the anchored wires, the attack gave the cloaked pony the chance she needed to fall back away from Jer'rahd.

Jer'rahd frowned putting his blade back in his mouth as he glanced to his left and right. The pair had him flanked now, though he still had the armored mare's spear close at hoof.

Or he did before a cable whipped out and flicked the spear back over to the armored pony.

Jer'rahd frowned as he felt a cable whip around his tail from the armored mare rather than the cloaked one. He cursed a little glancing back to see one of the wires wrapped tight around his tail. The spear wielding mare had probably snatched up one the ones the other mare had anchored. As he moved to pull it free another series of wires wrapped around his neck and forelegs yanking tight.

“Guess that's match?” the armored one snarks before Jer'rahd moves.

The armored mare had wrapped the cord around her own fore hoof to keep him secure, while her back leg stance worked well to give her elevation with her spear, binding a target who was stronger and in a better position with more traction.

When Jer'rahd turned and whipped his tail, the armored mare was caught off guard by the strength behind it and was yanked off her hooves. The other mare yanked back her forelimbs, releasing her hold on the other cables, but she was not fast enough to avoid getting slammed into by the slung armored mare.

The resulting crash made both Jer'rahd and Minuette wince, though the latter called the spar as Jer'rahd went over to check on them pulling the wires off his limbs.

“Owchie....” Bon Bon whines.

“Oh you caught me... my hero.” Lyra chuckles.

“Please get your plump ass off of me...” Bon Bon grumbles.

“If I'm fat it's because of what you feed me.” Lyra chuckles pushing herself off of the other mare.

“You two alright.” Jer'rahd asks pulling off the last of the wires.

“Been better, made a few mistakes there I shouldn't have.” Lyra groans helping Bon Bon up. “Not that I don't mind a bit of exercise, but what's with this sparing thing?”

“Two reasons. First, I need the practice, and second Celestia shoe horned me into Guard Captain Hospice Moskau's old position. “

“And he's already looking for a replacement.” Minutte called out trotting up.

“Yes well, not really. Peach Blossom is already taking over for Guard Captain Armor's position here, and Starfall is considering Nicker's position. I was moved to take over the six sixty sixth as Moskau announced her retirement. Given Heartstrings former ranking in that posting......”

“Nope. I retired a long time ago. Still am.” Lyra snaps. “ You're stuck with it.”

Jer'rahd blinks and sighs.

“All right then Agent Sweetie Drops...”

“Sorry, but I'm not a military type.”

“I wasn't offering that position to you.” Jer'rahd stops her glancing over to Minuette who nods, her horn glowing as a shield forms around Jer'rahd and Bon Bon. Lyra blinks looking at the shield though shrugs, anytime some one called Bon Bon 'Sweetie Drops', something she likely didn't want to know about was happening.

“Huh?” Sweetie Drops asks before her eyes narrow. ”There's only one other position available Guard Captain, and that's not really a position.”

“No, officially it's not. The ambassadors will still maintain the structure they have built up, even if no one else gets how their ranking system works.”

“We like it that way.”

“Never the less. What Luna has decided is that there will be a different branch of the Ambassadors. One that will be specializing in the things best not spoken of in polite company. She's calling it the Black Hoof .”

“Doesn't naming it ruin the secrecy?” Sweetie Drops questions.

“Not really. It was given a name because fear can be a wonderful tool. If the rumor of a black ops organization in Equestria gets out it will make some of the possible threats to us think twice before committing wondering what you might be capable of. The unit will answer only to the Guard Captains and the Princesses themselves. Primarily Celestia, much like the Ambassadors. Unlike the Ambassador's your jobs will be to stop conflict as efficiently as possible, rather than talk about it.”Jer'rahd explains. “The goal is to neutralize threats before they become threats, either some spell components get mixed up and an assassination spell doesn't work, or some one planning something vanishes without a trace.”

“Wet work.” Sweetie Drops mutters.

Jer'rahd raises a brow that the mare even knew the term in this supposedly peaceful age , but he didn't press.

“While the rumor you exist needs to be fed, we want no one to have any proof. How you run this will be up to you. This is a very hooves off project, though I expect Celestia will want to keep tabs on you. Because of this you personally will be taking over the roll Nicker had in advising the Princesses. You get your team, you have them do the missions, we would prefer to not have you go out yourself.”

“What if I say no? This sort of information could be problematic at best if it got out.”Sweetie Drops swallowed glancing around the shield bubble doubting she could do much against Jer'rahd inside of it.

“Then you say no and we find some one else.' Jer'rahd shrugs. “You would of course be expected not to say anything. Rhede trusted you and some others with information that he didn't trust me with and I was the Element of Loyalty. I trust his judgment in this matter. If you accept the official public position you would be expected to stay in New Canterlot for the most part. Something I recall you were pushing for any way. Your official title will be Royal Adviser. Celestia's given that position to civilians in the past, given her cake addiction, no one is going to be the slightest bit surprised that a baker has it now.”

“ Candy maker and I am known as a Agent by some you know....”

“And? The most many of them would know is you are a retired Ambassador, who found favor in a new position. If any one else found out the truth I'd say you were not doing your job right. Any way Celestia and Luna will tell you more if you accept, I'm just the messenger here. So then Agent Sweetie Drops, or Bon Bon, which every you prefer in this instance. What's your answer?”

=======================================================

[ Diamond Dog Lands]

The monster roared, the sound not unlike the screams of the dying in the middle of a tornado. It's claw smashed into the ground where Twilight and Jer'rahd had been a moment before, bits of rotted flesh and bone scattered every where from the impact, the creatures claw splattering from the impact. The monster didn't even notice the damage as it's hand pulled back together as it withdrew it from the crater it made.

Crossbow bolts from Diamond Dog archers filled the creature's hide though given the rotted state of the massive undead thing it likely didn't feel any of it. The whole monster looked like a towering Diamond Dog made up of numerous corpses of hundreds of Diamond Dogs, Ponies, and other animals.

The thing was a remnant of Tirek and he had made a few of them to send into the tunnels after the Diamond Dogs that dug deep to get away.

This was the third such one that Jer'rahd and Twilight had encountered, the others at least were away from civilization. They had been tracking this one when it found one of the refugee's warrens and attacked the underground city.

The defenders had started fighting back immediately, though they were rather ineffective against it they managed to hold it off until the hunting party arrived. A few of the jumpier dogs had attacked the group when Jer'rahd, Twilight , Bleu, Spike and Yearling had shown up.

The two mares had been protected by the dragons, who's thick scales deflected the bolts, and Jer'rahd just ignored the few that hit him, yanking them out only if they got in his way.

The sight of a arrow ridden half dragon in close combat with the goliath monster while a pair of dragons and a unicorn offered fire support was like something out of a story. That the group of them ripped the monster apart with practiced ease simply made it seem more so.

Those witnessing it repeated the tale to others and the fear and awe of the one calling himself the Demon of Dullahan grew among the nation of Diamond Dogs

Jer'rahd was quite alright with that.

Bleu was a little miffed that they glossed over her part however.

===================================================

[Crystal Empire]

Jer'rahd trots down the hall with a giggling Dawn on his back. Luna carried Rynthia in a saddle bag as she walked along side him, the little zebra godling watching Dawn being bounced on Jer'rahd's back.
A much more obviously pregnant Starfall trotted on the other side of Luna.

The zebra filly was still unreadable, as she didn't seem upset by, or happy from, anything. Luna commented something about the little Zebra not showing any sort of past life after images in the godling's dreams. She also didn't mention what she saw in Dawn's dreams, though for a while Jer'rahd noted she seemed wary of her own daughter, though that had passed quickly.

“Well I will admit I am surprised. After your little trip to the west the Diamond dogs are much more willing to be open for trade with us. What exactly did you do?” Luna chuckles.

“Took out some things Tirek left behind and found Princess Puffy Tail. So the Diamond Dog god count is at at least one.” Jer'rahd states shifting his tail to make sure Dawn didn't slide any.

“Remind me to send you into the Zebra lands, they are being unusually reluctant to do anything with us.” Luna sighs.

“Two more chapters.” Jer'rahd states.

“Huh? Oh right the book.” Luna recalls.

“In the Zebra's defense we did pretty much threaten to rip their land out from under them over where to bury their first Queen. “ Starfall states. “ I expect they are still cross.”

“I suppose, though it's almost time for the running of the leaves and we're all behind in reconstruction and harvesting. Not to mention we have a sizable influx of refugees from settlements that were destroyed. We may have to play host to the Griffons and Kirin if they cannot get their shelters rebuilt in time, plus we need to get winter supplies up to the crystal Empire before the snows set in. It is going to be a thin year.” Luna sighs as the group turns the corridor heading back to the nursery.

“We'll be fine, just tell your sister to lay off the cake and we'll have enough extra food for months.”
Jer'rahd chuckled before getting a white wing slammed into his face with enough force to sting, but not enough to dislodge Dawn.

He shook his head glaring up at the white alicorn standing in the doorway of the nursery.

“Ahh I see Cadence gave you back your power then?” Luna states. “The therapist cleared you?”

“No.” Celestia sighed. “But they are certain enough that I am not going to run off and do something. Also the therapist knows both Kaisur and Rose so he understood quite a bit of my issue right off.”

“Ahh I see.” Luna nods. “ Well it is good to have you back up and about and at least mostly back to normal. I am sure Twilight is thrilled as well.”

“She is. She's in the nursery now trying to teach Elusive his ABCs ...”

“Oh this is going to be a interesting thing to watch.” Luna chuckles.

“The way that mare is I need to ask her mother if she was born reading something.” Jer'rahd mutters, frowning as Celestia lifted Dawn off his back.

“So hows my little niece?” Celestia smiles blowing a raspberry into the giggling dawn's belly and nuzzling the tiny Kirin.

“She's doing well, though do be careful Tia Dawn tends to be a bit......” Luna begins, flinching as the tiny half dragon clamps down on the white alicorn's nose. “....bity.”

Jer'rahd falls over laughing while Starfall at least tries to pretend it's not funny, though Celestia just sighed pulling the small ball of fluff and scales away from her nose before rubbing it with a hoof.

“Why do they always go for my nose?” the Goddess of the Sun mummers.

====================================================

[ Frozen North, Underground Temple ]

“So these structures predate the ruins of the pre Exodus empires?” Spike asked looking around at the massive cavern and the buildings standing under the massive ice cap that stretched over the top of the stony cleft where the city lay hidden. The small form of a nearly frozen and heavily bundled up Bleu sat on his back complaining about the cold.

“That's what we've found any way. I discovered these things years ago and no ones been able to make heads or tails of them. Most of the buildings here are filled with single rooms that only open up to the outside. All the buildings are structured in such a way that there are no corners, and every edge is rounded. There's no trace of any writing nor any magic that we can find. The architecture doesn't match any thing of anything we have found from any other age.” Yearling sighs. “We've been trying to figure out who made these and why for years now.”

“ Yet this is where we were supposed to be.” Jer'rahd comments.

“I don't know why, this place has been fully explored and mapped, there's nothing here.” Yearling states , waving a map.

Spike leans over looking at the map curiously. “It looks like some sort of ritual circle on the map. A seal of some kind.”

“We considered that , but any sort of seal would have some sort of magical residue, and even if that faded and what ever it sealed escaped or died there would be traces of something. All that's under this place is solid rock.”

“Twilight?” Jer'rahd mutters.

“The book doesn't explain how we summoned this thing only that we fought it and here's how we killed it.” Twilight sighed as Jer'rahd looks over her shoulder at the book while the others talked Yearling didn't know they had what she was going to write, the all thought it better Spike's powers were kept under wraps.

“What's this bit here at the bottom?” Jer'rahd asked pointing to some text at the bottom of the page.

“Huh? Oh it's just her notes, this one is just an insult directed at you. She's made a few of them before already.”

“Yeah yeah I need to be nicer, whatever... So what's that one say, your hoof's in the way.” Jer'rahd asks.

“Let's see.... 'Kaisur uttered something so obvious and stupid while clearly thinking he was clever, my retort was drown out by the monsters roaring arrival, clearly it agreed with me.' Not much to go on.” Twilight sighed.

“ I think it's plenty. Clever huh...... you don't think?”

“Oh please that can't be it. That's just a stupid coincidence.... that keeps happening.” Twilight mutters.

Jer'rahd grinned and looked back at Yearling. “Hey Yearling. I've been meaning to ask this before but I never had the time.”

The pegasus looked back at him clearly more interested in discussing something with Spike then what ever he had to say.

“And what's that?”

“Your hoof writing. I've finally figured out where I saw it before. “ Jer'rahd barely managed to stifle a grin as Twilight face hoofs behind him. “You're Daring Doo aren't you?”

The pegasus mare stared at him as the two dragons blink in confusion at the sudden obvious revelation.

“Oh for bucks sake seriously? You just now figured that out, well aren't you a clever pony!?” Darning snaps back throwing her fore hooves in the air..

A massive roar shook the cavern as several of the buildings quivered and started to topple. A giant stone clawed hand bursts up from the ground rising into the air as the whole cavern seemed to quake.

“There's no damn way that should have worked!” Twilight yells.

Jer'rahd simply grinned and griped the Waning Moon between his teeth, galloping forward towards the rising stone monster.

=====================

[ Crystal Empire, Far side of the northern mountains bordering the Frozen north. ]

One hundred and eight changelings had come with their Queen to this desolate place. All of them knew why, Luna made sure of that, she also made sure that they had no choice in the matter. This was far more of them than she had expected and the drain of forcing them to her will was tiring

Most of them were natural born Changelings that had been swayed by Chrysalis's corrupted words or had just enjoyed themselves in the attack. These were the ones that had set fires or killed out of malice rather than capture as ordered.

At least these Changelings had the decency to be a separate species. There were a sizable number among them who were changed from other races and were not drones. Criminals who had fled Equestria, or avoided capture. There were a number of these as well, easily two score of the ones that she had forced to come with her.

Few if any of them had no remorse up to this point. They saw ponies as food, or an enemy to destroy. These were ones who had either avoided the fight with Tirek or fought because they enjoyed it, rather than to help.

These were the ones beyond redemption. She could see it in their minds, they could hide nothing from her. They held no remorse, no guilt, no regrets for anything they had done, and she saw that some would do it again. Some already had in the confusion of combat in the Empire.

The few that had shown any regret for their former actions were still in the Empire. There were some like this lot who had seen the error of their path and had tried to atone, or at least felt guilty for their actions. They would be watched, but so long as they sought to atone Luna would do nothing to them.

The ones here were not such Changelings.

The only regret she felt from any of them was that they got caught, though many blamed her for being a weaker leader than Chrysalis. She could see many plans of them going back to their old ways in the hives, how things were before.

Granted when the other mare arrived a few moments later the lot of them had a number of other regrets, and a great deal of fear.

“Are you sure of this?” Celestia asks glaring down at the gathered Changelings.

“There have been no mistakes Tia. I can read all of them as easily as I can a book. These are ones that cannot be excused for their crimes.” Luna states.

“ We should simply put them in the Garden.” Celestia suggests, the comment making Luna smile a little that her sister would return to the more peaceful route on her own like this.

“Turning them to stone would not work as we would still hear them in the hive mind. Likely even louder as they would have nothing else to do but scream into it. They also might learn to transfer their consciousness into a drone or a young one who cannot resist them and wreck havoc before they could be stopped. Turning them to stone will not work.“

“That rules out placing them in a prison some where as well.” Celestia sighs.” Fine then....... I am a little disturbed you have made them all dig their own graves however.....”

“It is but a small punishment for what they have done. To know what is coming and to be powerless to do anything about it. They did not give their victims even that. I am big on forgiveness Tia, but I have my limits. We punish our little ponies when they act as this lot acted. They will not suffer as much as many would wish. Well these will not. I regret to say there were a few that did not make it out here. I suppose I can tell my foals that justice has finally been served for those that they lost.....”

“You are going to feel all of this if you stay.” Celestia points out.

“Yes.”

“You do not deserve that Lulu.”

“I have children and a husband who loves me, a family and friends who care for me and I have done many a horrid thing in my own past that I do not believe I deserve any of what I have at times.”

“.......”

“That said I need to remain any way to block them from the rest of the hive so no one else will feel their deaths, particularly Shin.” Luna sighed. “A bit more pain will be worth it to save that pain from others. Make it quick sister.”

Celestia nods looking over the group of Changelings frozen before holes they themselves had dug, with markers of stone etched with their own names above, carved by their own hoof or claw. Some were defiant, some seemed ready to cry and others looked to be cursing the names of the two sisters.

Celestia spared a last glance at her sister who was meeting the stares of the Changelings before her with her own sad visage. The disappointed stare of their queen, the last thing they would witness before they were sent to the afterlife.

The white alicorn sighed as everything around her, save her sister, burst into flames.

========================================================

[Frozen North]

Jer'rahd slips under a claw, his fore leg coming up to smash into the jaw of the creature, he could feel teeth shattering under his hoof.

This rogue tribe of Linorm were being more difficult than the others they had tracked down. Glacier had happily helped them find other tribes and a sizable number of them had joined Glacier with little fuss after realizing it was in their best interest to do so. Occasionally Glacier had to 'convince' them, but that rarely took long. Then there were others who needed to fully be shown the error of their ways.

Jer'rahd really didn't care what this tribe called themselves, Blood ... something, he just knew they didn't talk and immediately went for the throats of the dragons that had come along with Yearling, Twilight and himself. He, Spike, and Glacier had taken the brunt of the attacks, though they had healed up just as quickly from the swarming Linorm due to their deific nature. Bleu had not been as lucky and had received a number of bites and claw attacks.

Of course injuring Bleu had been a 'very' bad mistake. Jer'rahd immediately stopped trying to talk and started laying into them full force. There was a growing pile of bodies and blood stains around him and he had yet to even draw the Waning Moon.

He took note that Spike seemed almost as angry and was protecting Bleu and the other two ponies while ripping apart anything that came near him. Glacier was not far behind the other two gods, but the Linorm was not as brutal as the others, something that seemed to worry the new god considerably.

The fight, if one could call it that, was brutal, savage,and over very quickly. There was nothing left of the Linorm tribe but a few unhatched eggs that Glacier was going to bring back to his own tribe to raise

Jer'rahd spit out a mouthful of scales looking over at Bleu and noting she was hamming it up for more attention from Spike, clearly the wounds were not that bad.

“You made a offer before that I refused.” Glacier states looking down at Jer'rahd with a hint of worry on his muzzle. “ Perhaps I should rethink that.”

“I am willing to train you. But it will be through the next Guard training I do. You've got a lot to learn from Spike first.” Jer'rahd states, guzzling from his canteen before spiting the bloodied water from his mouth trying to get rid of the taste. “Knowing how to fight and kill is fine, but you'll need to know the reasons for it. A lot of it is gonna be boring, but most if not all will be necessary for you to lead the Linorm.”

Glacier nods a little looking over at Spike who had clearly caught on Bleu was faking the worst of it and was trying to untangle the blue dragon from him.

Jer'rahd looks around at the carnage around him. This sudden attack made him worry a little for Bleu and Twilight's sake, but they had gone in expecting trouble and they were prepared when they found it.

Still this was a easier time than a few weeks ago when they fought that odd worm like thing with multiple jaws,limbs, eyes, strange teeth, limb like tongues and other things Jer'rahd wasn't sure what they were.

There wasn't much of a description of the creature in the book aside from the name 'Rover Glug' or something like that. That fight had been brutal, and painful and had resulted in quite a bit of down time for the party after wards.

Jer'rahd just wondered why the thing had been hiding at the bottom of an old well.

==================================================

[ Crystal Empire.]

Dusty, Luna, Cadence, and Celestia were discussing things that were going on while in the nursery in the Crystal Empire. Most of the foals were laying on a thick rug between them either trying to crawl or in Talon's case trying to not fall over. It was less a formal meeting of leaders and more a meeting of a group of mothers and guardians to let their foals meet.

Talon was just over a year old and the Hippogyph hadn't developed his first proper feathers yet and was still covered with a fluffy light blue down. He was just starting to move around on his own and the fluff covered wings looked adorable as he flapped them to try and keep himself upright.

The next eldest was Shin at a year the black and red Changeling usually spent most of his time glomped onto some one. It didn't seem to matter to the foal whether that some one was Cadence, another adult or one of the other foals, he had ceased being bity and was now very clingy.

Glimmer was the next oldest at eight months. The pink and white pegicorn whined a little in protest when she was put near Dawn or Elusive, but she didn't break out in a screaming panic like she did with any other half dragon. Much to Jer'rahd's annoyance.

Dawn and Elusive had reached half a year old and were working on learning how to be mobile themselves, both of them clearly attempting to follow Talon's lead. The sight of the two flapping their tiny wings madly trying to hoist themselves up onto uncooperative limbs tended to keep the mood rather light.

Rynthia the, youngest, had yet to try to crawl or move on her own but she seemed content simply being held and watching everything. Much like always.

Celestia was currently laying on her belly with Rynthia laying between her forelegs on her back, her head resting against Celestia's chest.

Dawn was trying very hard to climb Luna with little luck though the tiny Kirin did stop every so often to try and chew on her mother.

Elusive had given up and was laying on his side in the middle of the large rug while Shin and Glimmer both squirmed for a spot in Cadence's lap.

Talon was still wobbling about and he managed to totter across the rug from Dusty to Celestia before his legs gave out and he fell over in a fluffy heap before the white alicorn.

Celestia leaned her head down to nose the little hippogryph onto his hooves again. The struggling foal managed to latch his front claws onto her nose. Celestia froze wincing as the godling managed to lift himself up again and totter off before collapsing again closer to his mother.

“Are you alright Celestia.. I'm sorry about that....” Dusty stammers.

“It's fine, let's face it by this point the only one who hasn't bitten or clawed my nose is Rynthia.” Celestia sighs rubbing her nose with a wince, a bit of blood welling at the scratches. “I think I'm getting used to it.”

Celestia sighs looking down as Rynthia squirms on her fore limbs. “I suppose you are next to bite me hmm? Best get it over with.”

The little zebra lifts on hoof up poking lightly against Celestia's nose. A sudden flare of power from the touch made every one jump, particularly Celestia, though Rynthia didn't seem very bothered by the tumble on the rug as Celestia jumped to her hooves.

“What was that!??” Luna demanded moving over quickly to check on the little Zebra.

“My nose.......” Celestia blinked scrunching her muzzle. Her nose felt a bit numb from the touch, though Cadence was first to get close enough to look over.

“Auntie.... the scratches... they're gone. Even the blood is gone......” Cadence blinked looking down at the Zebra that had shifted to nestle into Luna's grip, while dawn hung from one of the dark mare's wings.

“Healing magic? Well this is going to be interesting....” Luna muttered.

=====================================================

[Castle of the Gorgon, far to the east of Equestria.]

Jer'rahd snorted walking along the ruined castle hallway with Yearling and Twilight in tow.

“Honestly I expected something a bit stronger when we read the description. A black steel scaled minotaur that breaths petrifying gas?“ Jer'rahd commented. “That would have been a proper fight.”

“It's not the creatures fault that the moment you saw it you cut off it's head with that sword of yours. It was exactly like the description.” Yearling snaps back. “ And what is with you wanting a good fight? I thought this was eliminate threats?”

“Not saying a easy fight isn't bad. No one got hurt and we get to check off another threat, but only a few of these have really felt like they would be a issue to Equss as a whole. I mean heck the Gorgon had evidently been here for a while doing little more than petrifying and eating the local wildlife and any one who got too close to the castle. Bad, but not world shaking.”

“ I know how you feel. It's like a lingering doubt that we are really doing as much good as we want to be. I have the same feeling every time we take something out without any real effort.” Twilight sighed. “We just have to keep in mind that things like this are a threat to some one and we stopped it..........do you hear that?”

Twilight stops her ears perking up, the other two do the same slowly looking around at the sound of hard thuds and thuds against the stone and rotted wooden walls further down the hall.

“Sounds like a fight. Bleu and Spike should be around here some where, come on.” Jer'rahd states galloping forward with the other two hot on his hooves.

The two mares round a corner just as Jer'rahd plowed into a heavy double door that was some how still intact after the hundreds of years that this place had been abandoned. With the last remained intact door way shattered the three ponies skid to a stop in what used to be a grand dining room.

Near one of the walls a pair of dragons lay partially coiled about each other, both of them staring red faced at the ponies that had burst into the room.

“Oh wow...” Yearling muttered.

Oh geez guys, couldn't you have gotten a room...?” Twilight grumbled.

“We had a room until you broke into it.” Spike responded with a small growl.

“Damn Bleu, did you at least buy him dinner first?” Jer'rahd quiped before the blue dragon's tail whipped forward shoving them all back out of the room followed by a long series of curses in several languages.

==================================================

[New Canterlot, Ponyville District, Early Fall]

“Alright that's the plan. Any questions?” Sweetiebelle asked looking over the small room. Button, the five Changelings that had been back up singers with her, and oddly Regent Breezy Mist were all sitting before her looking up at the chalk board behind the white unicorn. A chalk board that was covered in scribbles, little drawings, and hoof writing that no one could decipher.

So it wasn't a surprise to any one but Sweetiebelle when every one in the room raised their hooves.

“Oh come on it's not that bad.......” Sweetiebelle moaned. “ Button....”

“I'm not saying it is Belle, but this was kinda dropped on us suddenly. Your agent wants you to go on tour? “ Button Mash questions.”I mean it sounds like fun but there's way too much to set up... and this is a world tour, we don't have the faintest idea of how to go about setting this up. It takes a lot of time and bits to get something like this going and you want us to start right after Hearths Warming... Just us......”

“Correct. My agent believes that this is the perfect time, every one is at least some what recovered from Tirek, but he's still fresh in everyone's minds enough that a distraction would be perfect. This is even more so given that it will take place in the first part of the year when it's still cold and no one can really do anything. I've got several bookings already.” Sweetie explains. “Besides I'm trusting you to get me a stage crew Button. I know you know some ponies.”

“Ahhh crud... and Fallout Equestria 4 just came out.......” Button grumbles.

“Tough, Melody?”

“Why us?” A pink maned Changeling without wings or horn asks. She was the smallest of the group and had a singing voice that almost was a a match for Sweetiebelle's” I mean you kinda just met us a bit ago....”

“Because of how that meeting went, you guys were awesome and don't think I can't see the advantages of being able to alter your own throats to hold any pitch or tone you want. Besides Button said you could all play something too. We're gonna need that.” Sweetiebelle answers. “Carol?”

A blue maned Changeling puts her hoof down to push a pair of glasses up on her face. She seemed the oldest of the lot of them.” Um we are kinda Changelings, we're not really gonna be well accepted any where…..”

“That's something else this tour is gonna do, if we want everyone to accept Changelings now, you can't just hide. Princess Luna agrees with me on that. Touring with a group will help with that, particularly since it's an musical aid group. Shanty?”

A yellow maned Changeling who seemed to once have been a Hippogryph lowers her claw. “Will the Queen even let us go? She's been trying to get every one to help rebuild for some time now. I mean I don't even know construction, but thanks to the hive mind thing I can build a wall like a master brick layer. Something like that sorta requires all claws.. err hooves.”

“I asked Princess Luna and she said it was your choice. She's been trying to stress she's you're leader, not your master. You can ask her yourself, but trust me when I say we had a long talk went I went to see my nephew, Aria?”

A pure green Changeling lowers her hoof, considering a moment how best to word the question. With the way the mare's voice sounded normally, it was a wonder if she just hit puberty with how often her voice cracked and changed, though when she sang there was no trace of this issue.“ What exactly are our roles in this going to be?”

“Well depending on what you play I'll need some music for the new albums I record, on stage however I'll need back up singers, primarily. Don't worry you'll be paid in bits and if you feed off the on coming adoration as well, well bonus.” Sweetiebelle points out. “Ditty?”

“So what's the name of this group?” a orange maned changeling asks, it was hard to tell what gender it was though the voice seemed male even though his features were quite feminine. Button had put money on male, just from the way some of the other female Changelings looked at him.

“ We have two names actually. The touring group we are forming is going to be called the ESO. Not sure what that stands for, but my teacher was very excited over it. Princess Luna said it was a very important thing in the past.” Sweetiebelle states. “ Our personal group will be called …...”

Sweetie lights up her horn pulling a rolled up poster from where it lay against a wall and unrolls it.
The poster showed a purple swirl of color that curved in such a way that it could be the right side of the letter R, or a B. The left side of the letter was missing and a pair of blue feminine eyes stared back from under the top curve of the purple.

“Rarities” Sweetiebelle finishes.

“Isn't that the symbol for your sisters clothing line?” Button asks.

“It is and it will still be used as such. Coco Pommel is going to take over my sisters businesses with over seeing by my parents until Elusive comes of age. Fifty percent of the proceeds are going to fund a charity organization that is now set up in my sister's name as well as the ESO. We are going to be the face of the clothing line and the charity, but our profits stay within the group because we are going to have quite a bit of over head with these tours for a while.” Sweetiebelle explains. “Yes, Breezy?”

“Why am I here? I have a kingdom to rebuild. Also I have like, zero musical talent. I couldn't carry a tune if you put it in a suitcase for me.” Breezy sighed fanning a wing.

“That's easy. You were in town and I want to buy the Storm Cloud.” Sweeitebelle grins.

“What?” Breezy blinked.

“You got it working again, sorta, though it's in no shape any more to be a combat vessel. So rather than scrap it I'm offering to buy it outright and then pay for it to be completely fixed up to be the transport for the ESO. Of course there's a few loans and some side deals going on, but I think the offer that I can provide will be fair. And as bad as the griffons were hurt, you need the bits far more than a nearly junked warship.”

“I can't just sell you a warship, no matter what shape it's in....” Breezy stammers.

“So unmake it a war ship, put the guns on the thing Princess Luna wanted you to make.“

“What, the Jupiter? That's not even anything more than a bunch of plans I sketched out. There's no way we can afford to build that.... I told Luna that last time it was mentioned.” Breezy sighed.” Wait she brought it up again?”

“Yeah when I talked to her, you can speak with her when you hash out the details. But the ship would be for Equestria, not the Griffon nation, though you and your wife decide what that means now from my understanding. Just keep in mind, I used up my favor from Princess Luna to get you the chance to have a influx of supplies and bits to keep your Griffon's busy, so letting go of a decommissioned much much smaller, former warship, shouldn't be any issue to pass by your wife....”

The Changelings look back and forth between the pegasus and the mare. All of them were a bit shocked at the rather shrewd and savvy planning they were seeing here. Given how Sweetiebelle usually acted, they expected the mare to just be a talented ditz. The ones who questioned Luna in the hive mind did receive a response that everything Sweetiebelle said was on the level.

“Wow. I haven't seen that sort of reaction to you talking about something since you fired your last agent after catching his screw ups.” Button chuckles amused at how often ponies underestimated his mare friend as a complete lunatic at best. “ So who's the new manager any way?”

“Discord.” Sweetiebelle grinned.

=============================================

[ Saddle Arabia. Far to the west]

Jer'rahd stared at the pony before him.

The blood red furred pony stared back with eyes as black as coal, his mane, made out of fire and smoke, whipped in an unseen gale. Fangs like a crocodile's filled his maw snorted sparks when he breathed out. Black and red armor covered his form, festooned with spikes and blades and making him look twice the size he really was, even so, he towered over Jer'rahd, and was likely taller than even Celestia.

Neither had dawn their weapon. The Waning Moon hung at Jer'rahd's side and a massive ornate battle ax that dripped a bronze icor, hung at the red stallions.

Twilight, Bleu, Spike, and Yearling hung back behind the gray half dragon. Behind them was a city filled with ponies and refugees from ravaged villages to the south.

Behind the red stallion stood three others.

A bloated yellowy brown horse that frothed around the mouth and had multiple sores and open festering wounds. He leaned heavily on a staff that seemed a mockery of the medical caduceus with cobras, hoods wide and fangs dripping with venom, bat wings rather than pegasus wings, and a spiked ball at the top that looked to be covered with blood and chunks of rancid meat.

To his left was another horse, one covered in a long hooded black robe that hid everything but the tip of its nose and his hooves, all of which appeared skeletal. A glowing blue scythe lay across its back and a chill filled the air around him despite it being in the middle of the desert.

The last was gaunt, nearly skeletal horse though it seemed more like the soft brown horse was starving rather than afflicted with anything like the other. He held no weapon, but he yawned once and it's entire head and neck opened to show uncountable teeth and a black hole of a gullet.

Behind them was nothing but wasteland, every city, every animal, and every plant was dead and rotted.

Jer'rahd and the other stallion stood frozen, gazes locked with each other. The pair had been like this for nearly an hour.

No one was quite sure what was going on but both the red stallion and Jer'rahd had told the others to hold as they met one another.

Finally one of them moved.

The red stallion flinched taking a small step back.

Jer'rahd grinned wide as the armored horse snorts glaring down at him before turning and starting to walk back towards the wasteland behind themselves. The other three look to the stallion with shock that was even apparent even on the skeletal one.

“THIS IS NOT OUR WORLD. WE GO BACK.” The red stallion commands.

The others turn after a moment and follow. Jer'rahd simply smiles after them until they were gone.

“What the heck was that about?” Bleu shouts finally.

“I've made my wife flinch first once or twice in a stare down.” Jer'rahd chuckles. “That pretender to one of her titles didn't have a chance.”

==================

[ New Canterlot. ]

“This is the best we have?” Peach Blossom sighed from where he hovered in the air looking around the room that ten ponies could fit in comfortably, currently it was packed with twice that number, a table, a number of supply crates and some building material.

“For the moment yes, Guard Captain. We will make due with the bare minimum until we are sure that all of Equestria's Citizens are cared for first.” Celestia states over the din in the room.

“We're not arguing the merits of that princess. But with as many petitioners and meetings we are going to need something bigger.” Starfall calls out from the other side of the room from atop one of the supply crates.

“We are only using this because the field we have been using is unsuitable to do in light of the storm.” Luna answers for her sister from half under the table.”We still do not have a proper weather factory and few of the ponies from Cloudsdale that survived have the knowledge of how to build one. With New Canterlot, the Griffon Nation, Harpy Nation, and Cloudsdale destroyed the plans to put a new one together are currently lost some where and need to be found again. A great many libraries were destroyed and we are only finding bits and pieces of the plans in private collections. It may be some time before we can fully put the weather back in our control.”

“Did Lady Dust agree to your plan Princess?” Minutte asked.

“Yes, she seemed quite surprised that we had the bits for it with the castle destroyed.” Luna commented. “Every one always seems surprised when they find out the Royal Vault isn't full of bits. Much safer to keep everything in high interest accounts at the First Royal Bank of Equestra. The wards on that place would likely stop even the CMC in their prime.”

“They did once when they tried to get their bank robbing cutiemarks.” Peach Blossom adds.

“Even so bits are not the problem, building materials and food are. The farmers were only really stopped a week, but given we have several cities worth of ponies without cities any one place for the refugees is strained.” Luna comments. “The bits paid for that ship will help the Griffons rebuild without making them think they are getting a handout, their pride remains intact.”

“Are our hunters back yet?” Celestia asked shifting to allow a scribe to move closer and offer her some papers to look over.

“Yes, not long ago. Jer'rahd has Dawn and Rynthia are all staying out at the farm. He's gotten calmer with this little quest chain of his, but you can nearly watch him melt when Dawn's near.” Luna chuckled.

“Elusive is with his guards at the Sparkle's old home. Thankfully no one had purchased after they moved out and we were able to get it for fairly cheap, given the damage from the explosion.” Celestia nods. “I expect Twilight is there if she's back.”

“Go join her Tia, it is time for my shift and getting you and your Guards out of here might give me room to breath.” Luna sighed.

“Was that a fat joke?” Celestia frowned.

“JUST GO!” Luna shouts exasperated.

========================================================

[ Zebralands ]

Twilight stunned another zebra thrall, shoving the mare to the side as she fell. The ground rumbled as the titans clashed in the cities center. Bleu and Yearling were nearby her, the pair having their own gathering of thralls to deal with.

The hunting party had come to Asclipius, capitol of the Zebra lands for over a thousand years. They hadn't been in the sprawling city long before they were 'captured' by a sizable group of zebra's and brought before some sort of undead zebra that had been living in the necropolis below High Town, the part city under where the last warlord's strong hold had been.

In true villain fashion the creature had outlined it's plan in great detail gloating about it before the doomed interlopers.

The creature called itself Mummy- Ra and had been free since Tirek had been sealed. Since then it had been gathering mindless thrall slaves from the local area and had been making it's presence felt across the Zebra Kingdom. It's plan was to conquer everything before it's creator returned to the world so that it could destroy Grogar and take his rightful place as lord of the undead.

There was more to it of course, but Yearling could only write so fast while tied up and by that point the small group was busy taking down the thralls. By the time the mummy / lich / zebra thing noticed, it's throne room had been emptied, there were only a few of it's thralls left standing, and those had been the ones that ran.

In response it had of course started with several spells of death and doom which Twilight easily countered, while Bleu taunted it.

Either the countering or Bleu calling it a gumfa'tait was enough for it to rage and transform.

The smell of rot and death filled the air as the creature swelled, growing far to large for the cavern to contain it. Twilight teleported the five of them and all the thralls she could grab back to the surface just as the monster broke through the top of the plateau scattering Zebra's who had not yet been made into thralls and setting the remaining thralls after the small group.

Jer'rahd had wasted no time changing himself to the monstrous Beast, plowing into the creature and sending both of them tumbling off the top of the plateau and into the lower city below. Spike followed the warring pair blasting flame at the large undead whenever he could following the same tactic as when they went after Tirek's monsters. This thing was smarter, but The Beast was a much bigger threat than it had expected, so Spike was largely ignored.

Asclipius had grown massive in the thousand plus years since it's founding. The old warlords plateau strong hold had become much like New Canterlot, with those who could afford it living up top and the less influential and snobbish living below. The city was a marvel, stretching for what could be leagues in all directions. Far in the distance the actual Palace/ Hospital of the First Queen sat surrounded by the old city on the spot where Velkorn's old camp had once been.

The Beast and the titanic bandage wrapped mummy were fighting on the other side of the plateau, where most of the more industrial and military structures were, it seemed Jer'rahd was making quite sure to keep the massive undead monster away from the the more populated side of the city. With the creature out in the open air it vaguely resembled a giant scorpion with the head of a zebra and a large tail with multiple stingers rather than one. Four giant claws and six lesser ones dominated it's front, and the whole thing oozed a glowing green icor that seeped between the massive rotting bandages that some how still covered it's form.

Soon the influx of thralls slowed before coming to a stop, some of them coming back to themselves in the middle of fighting and simply looking confused as to what was happening. The Zebra Royal Guard took this time to show up, although a few of them looked as if they had already been fighting among themselves, it was hard to tell who had been ensnared by this creature and who had not.

In the distance the pair of titanic fighters had managed to make it outside of the city limits. The creature was ablaze with flame and bits of it had already been ripped free of it's body by the claws of The Beast.

Twilight scanned the top of the caved in plateau that had swallowed most of the Upper City, before her horn flashed brightly and a gold encrusted box popped into the air before her. She wasted no time crushing the ornate box with her magic, the massive monster screaming in panic as it's phylactery was destroyed.

The zebra's around on the plateau stared in horror at the fight as Jer'rahd finally tore the titanic scorpion thing in half smashing the two parts together until there was little left but burning rags and dust. After a snort and a blast of it's own black fire The Beast lifted it's head and roared out it's triumph, the sound echoing across the Zebra Lands.

====================================================

[New Canterlot, Day Court, edge of The Garden, late Fall]

The field was closed off with high hedges and rings of Guards around all the access ponies. Paige's and scribes darted about the grassy field with documents and letters going to an from the day court. Celestia sat on a large, but comfortable chair on a small raised dais in the middle of the field, Agent Sweetie Drops was giving her the latest report while court was at recess for tea.

“So the Zebra leader claims most of his threats and words were not his own, but of a creature that held him and his council under their sway. This corresponds to the report given by Twilight Sparkle and Guard Captain Kaisur about their mission in the area. The Zebra Nation has now begun sending the supplies that were promised, however due to the damage done in the fight it will only be half the size that was promised and many of the workers that were to come have also been redirected.” Bon Bon reports, sipping from a tea cup.” This is rather good, peppermint?”

“It is you have no idea how hard it has been to find good tea lately. But yes that's fine, at least they are free now, anything they send will be of help. Winter has not even started yet and we are already seeing the strain of what Tirek managed to destroy. All of Equestria's surplus has already been sent to the Crystal Empire to resupply what we used and to Gallopagos........... now what?” Celestia looked up from her cup of tea at shouting coming from the front of the hedged in field as Prince Blue Blood forced his way past the Guards demanding to see his aunt.

The noble unicorn looked some what the worse for wear after trying to push past the Guards, in fact if Celestia had not nodded slightly for them to allow him to pass, it was not likely he would have managed more than a few more steps before he was struck down. The Guards were not in tolerant mood lately. Most had now kicked themselves up into heightened protection mode feeling that they failed to properly protect her from Tirek. Celestia didn't have the heart to tell them that no matter what Tirek would have beaten them.

Seeing Blueblood Celestia simply sighed into her tea, it had been quite a number of months since she had last seen him, and then his jaw had been wired shut. But such peace only lasted so long and he evidently had just had his wiring removed recently. She had made time for him... after tea, but he was as impatient as ever. Still he had a good bit of clout with his family and she could use that.

Blue Blood started airing his grievances, most of which seemed directed at both Luna, par for the course, and the unfit conditions he was dealing with. Thankfully she was distracted from his whining as Sweetie Drops gave her sealed letter she had in her robes, gesturing that the Princess should read it.

The letter was sealed with a wax stopper that bore Rhede Pelt's Cutie mark.

She glanced to the mare next to her. Sweetie Drops was sitting there calmly listening to Blueblood rant something about squatters on the corner of his land. Given the size of the land he claimed was his in New Canterlot, and other places, Celestia was amazed he had noticed. She looked back to the envelop opening it with her magic and started reading the letter, her eyes narrowing as she recognized Pelt's hoof writing.

“ …............Then out of no where the mare simple decked me, broke my jaw in three places and forced me to seek dental reconstructive surgery in the middle of a war, that clearly was not possible so I suffered with that pain for months.... and that damned Orange is still free simply because everyone is afraid of her father, justice must be served here auntie, that mare, no that whole lot of them need to be locked away for everyone's safety. Honestly who willingly becomes one of those bugs!?” Blueblood rants on. “ Are you even listening auntie?”

“SHUT UP! “ Celestia bellows, the command nearly stunning the white unicorn, as he nearly chokes on what he was saying.

Celestia slowly lowers the paper that had been in the envelope as she finished reading it, her eyes locked on Blue Blood, her mane flicking wildly with flame. She glances to Sweetie Drops. “Did Kaisur know about this?”

Sweetie Drops shrugs a little. “My note told me he was there at the start and knew the connection, but not what Pelt was doing. Pelt informed him to stay back, and he did, other wise I am quite sure we would still be picking pieces of Blue Blood off the castle lawn.”

“So be it. Get him here when he returns I'll have words with that ass.” Celesita growled standing up and glaring down at Blueblood, keeping him silent with her glare.”You are no longer allowed to consider yourself related to me. The BlueBlood line is of Avianna's decent, not mine. Something that you have shown far more often than I cared to admit, but it ends now. GUARDS!”

The troop of Royal Guards that Blue Blood had pushed past surge forward weapons at the ready, pointed at the white unicorn, a star metal rod pressed quickly to his horn as if daring him to cast something.

“What.. what is the meaning of this.” Blue Blood stammers.

“BlueBlood Blueblood......by the stars I always hated that name..” Celestia muttered the last. “Charges against you have been brought to my attention. Charges that are long over due for punishment, particularly in the light of current events. The Charges are as follows; One that you willingly did commit treason against Equestria by conspiring with her enemies, including and not limited to aiding and keeping them hidden from proper justice. Two, that the release of the raider group known as the Blood Hooves was planed and carried out by yourself along with a few others. Three, the murder of said other collaborators so as not to have any one left to implicate you after the end of the War of Gods.”

Blueblood stared up at the nearly burning mare trying to say something to his defense, but the words were not coming in the face of some one who seemed to be straining not to simply turn him to ash.

“In light of these current accusations I am adding more. Due to the fact nearly all of this started with a conflict with the aforementioned escaped Red Hooves. An incident which cost us Major Kaisur, a large number of our Guard, and set the stage for Tirek to rampage across Equss with the power he stole, power he would not have had access to had you not freed the Red Hooves. Thus causing the necessity of the mission where Kaisur was taken. I am placing the responsibility of what Tirek has done as well as the charges listed onto your head. While these additional charges may not hold up once the hearing begins in Equestria, other nations may very well take them to heart directly. At this moment all Blueblood holdings are seized by the crown to be utilized as is seen fit, all titles and ranking shall be held until such time as this court is settled. “ Celestia snorts then tilts her head thinking on something before smiling in a way that made Blueblood and several of the Guards very nervous.

“I believe the families tradition is that the head of the family is always the eldest male? Well then I believe I already have the new head of household in mind. Oh is he going to be pissed.” Celestia chuckled, her mane and tail ceasing their flickering of fire as the amusement strikes her. “ Inform Hospice Moskau that her retirement is postponed until after this hearing. Since these charges were performed in war time this will be a military matter and she is to hold this court with up most haste, we do not have the resources available for a drawn out hearing at this time. Take him away and make sure he's stripped of everything before you put him in solitary, I don't want him trying to kill himself or any one else to do that for him once word of these charges comes out. He is to have no contact with any one save a lawyer willing to take his case, now get him out of my sight.”

==================================================

[ Everfree Forest]

“Alright I will admit..... these are the most adorable threats to Equestria that I have ever seen.” Jer'rahd stated as he galloped through the forest with Twilight, as Yearling and the dragons soared over the top of the trees looking for a way to extract the pair.

“Where the heck is Fluttershy when I need her!!!???” Twilight screamed.

“Well she was supposed to meet us here some where. Hey, do you think this is Angel's tribe?” Jer'rahd ponders glancing back as a swarm of small white rabbits with big nasty, pointy teeth and claws hop after them.

========================================

[ Sweet Apple Acres, Winter]

Applejack, Fluttershy carrying Wolf and Fox, and Big Mac strode off towards the edge of the farm, with a very rotund Rainbow Dash draped over the large stallions back.

Dash was not happy about it, but she could barely fly which made her even crankier. The group of them often joked that the foal would be as big as Big Mac when it was born. Dash had taken to being a very moody mare this late in the pregnancy and Mac was stretching himself thin trying to cater to her every whim.

Applejack and Fluttershy were rather surprised by the drastic swings in Dash's mood, though they concluded it must be a pegasus thing as Starfall was doing the same thing. Jer'rahd had protested that Luna had done nothing of the sort when she was pregnate with Dawn, though his observations were ignored simply due to Luna being an alicorn.

Currently the small group was on their way across the farm due to something odd going on.

The first snowfall of the year had begun. However the skies were clear and sunny, and the weather was warm. It was Rainbow Dash who had suggested something was screwing with the weather and had pointed out the general location of it before breaking into sobs at how pretty the snow was.

Setting out the small group followed Dash's directions to the grave yard at the edge of the farm. The snow there had accumulated a few apples deep, and the reason why was clearly apparent.

Gathered around Rhede and Velkorn's graves were nearly three score of Windigo.

The small group froze in place watching as the tall, gaunt, pale white creatures remained still, with all their heads bowed. Eventually they all slowly raised their heads and looked back to the small group before all but two of them galloped into the air.

The remaining pair approached the small group One of them was a tall lanky stallion, who towered over even Big Mac, the other was clearly younger, and was smaller than any of the others they had seen. The larger one had a stoic expression, though the smaller one oddly seemed, at least slightly, more friendly.

”Greetings dweller's of the summer lands. I take this place is one you claim?”< The large Windigo asks.

“Eeeyup.” Big Mac comments looking relatively unphased by the question.

”We apologize for our intrusion here, but we wished to pay our respects. The Zebra Queen was a ... friend ... to us.”<

“S'fine.“ Applejack comments. “Ain't gonna stop no one from paying their respects tah family. Specting snow soon any way, nothing left of that harvest that a bit of ice would hurt. Surprised yah didn't come sooner.”

We do not do well in the heat of this place during your summer. Otherwise we would have made the trip here sooner, perhaps even in enough time, to aid you when you needed it.”< The Windigo actually looked apologetic as it glanced back to the graves.

”These two do not have it.”< The smaller one commented in a lighter some what wispy feminine voice looking at the two zebra foals sitting in the bags at Fluttershy's sides. >”They are however cute. These are two of the Zebra Queen's offspring are they not?”<

“Um yes.. though her youngest is with Jer'rahd and Princess Luna.” Fluttershy stammers trying not to flinch from the Windigo Both Fox and Wolf seemed fascinated by the strange mare, following her every movement with eyes wide. Though Fox was also drooling heavily on Fluttershy's side.

” The newborn is in the care of the Ruler of Ponies and the Widow Maker?!”< The larger Windigo took a step back in shock, though the smaller one did something very unexpected.

She laughed.

The sound was odd, reminding Applejack of cold wind blowing through the leafless trees of the orchard in the dead of winter. To Fluttershy it reminded her of the soft cry of a hunting bird in the far off distance. To Dash it was the sound a tornado made from the inside. To Mac the laugh reminded him of family he lost. The sound was not unpleasant, though it was a little unnerving to all of them.

”I think perhaps father, that we worried for naught. If those two are the guardians of Meadow Dew, then there is nothing in this world that will be a threat to her.”< the younger Windigo states.

”True.”<

“Scuse me, but what are ya'll talking about? What's going on with Rynthia?” Apple Jack demands.

” That child is special. When they last visited our lands it was there that they... conceived their last offspring....< The larger Windigo looked a bit sheepish. > “The nature of our race and lands may have had some effect on the child.”<

“Some effect? Oh dear.” Fluttershy mutters.

” Nothing harmful we expect.”< the smaller Windigo states. >” Though we expect she may share some of our traits. We would like to meet her at some point while she is still young to determine this, just in case. We must depart. Our presence here has likely caused more issue than we desired to these lands.”<

“Heywaitaminute.” Rainbow Dash states rather loudly getting a small wince from the others. “Why are you different from the others?”

The blue pony points at the smaller Windigo, her wings flapping wildly as she rose a little into the air with all the grace of a bumble bee. Applejack was about to cal her on being rude, though with Dash it was a lost cause, and she was slightly curious herself.

” Because I am still young yet. The Zebra Queen aided in my delivery. I am the only pure blooded Windigo to have been born in thousands of years.”<

“Young? Velkorn was only free fer about eleven years. Did she deliver yah before she was sealed in stone?” Applejack asks. “Yer speaking with an air of some pony much older than a half score a years.

”No, my birth was only six seasons ago. Windigo do not exactly have a foal hood, just a time when they are smaller. Having a connection to all the winds brings quite a lot of information, that we are also born knowing all our father and mother know adds to that effect........ you are giving me a odd look. Did I say something amiss?”<

“Nah, but I think yah might have just given us a reason why lil Rynthia is a might disconcerting.” Applejack responds.

“Eeeyup.” Big Mac responds as Rainbow Dash lands on his back again, processing everything.

” Hmm perhaps our meeting with Meadow Dew and her guardians should happen sooner rather than later.”< the larger Windigo considers.

==================================================

[West coast of Equestria]

Twilight and Bleu slap their foreheads as both Spike and Yearling watch the trail of dust left by the rapidly retreating Jer'rahd with confused expressions.

“I'll go get him before he winds up back in New Canterlot under his bed or something.” Bleu sighs taking off from the ground. “Can you lot handle this thing?”

“I've got a few ideas, go grab him. I should have known he wouldn't be much use in this fight.” Twilight sighs. “Miss Yearling, I would advice against putting what just happened in your book, we don't need this sort of information becoming widely known or some one might try to take advantage of it and that will not end well for any one. If he can't get away from water, he'll freak out and try to fight it. You've seen what he can become and a out of control giant monster is not what we need. Ever.”

“Also it wasn't in the book.” Spike mutters mostly to himself as he looked out over the beach and up at the titanic elemental composed of so much sea water that it's insides were dark with the depth of it.

==================================================

[New Canterlot, Late Winter]

“So everything's official now?” Jer'rahd sighed looking up at the newest edition to The Garden, a one Blueblood Blueblood. ”By the stars that is a stupid name.”

“Indeed as the eldest male of the Bluebloods you are now in charge of the family and all it's practices. Welcome to nobility Jer'rahd.” Celestia grinned.

“Laugh it up wide load, all this means is not only do I get to be a thorn in your side, now I can do it during your court sessions too. All officially and crap.” Jer'rahd snorts. “Oddly this feels like some sort of insanely complicated, yet petty revenge for my mother, but ehh, I'll take it. Though I am changing the family name to Kaisur, after that hearing the name 'Blue Blood' is gonna leave a bad taste in every ones mouth for a long time. I still can't believe every single charge stuck......including the ones that were my mistake....”

“You never would to have gone out there if he hadn't released the bandits, and without your shields Tirek would have been killed in Gallopagos never having left Equestria to hurt any one else. It's a butterfly effect to be sure, but he did wrong and is a convenient scapegoat for everyone wanting to blame some one.” Twilight states glancing back at the saddlebag she carried that held a softly snoring Elusive. “I'm more concerned with why you agreed to the conditions of the adoption of Elusive that the Kirin gave us.”

“They need some one to keep things in check and after this last hunt we are done any way. I can easily keep tabs on all this noble business from there. Not sure why they wanted me to lead them until Elusive is of age however.” Jer'rahd ponders.

“Lion Heart often spoke highly of you. Also I made the suggestion personally.” Luna stated glancing back at the soft yawn from Dawn dozing in one of her saddle bags. She glances to Rynthia as well, the small zebra filly was still asleep in the bag on the other side. “It is small wonder they would not want some one with your skill dealing with the politics of running a country, I doubt your usual brash methods will be easily countered by those used to sweat talking everything the way they want. Also you are for all purposes a Kirin now any way.”

“Yeah, yeah. I suppose it gives me a reason to not be around when Pip and Scootaloo enter Guard training this summer. Means some one else is going to have to take over for the six sixty sixth however.”

“No it doesn't. Gallopagos, and by exstention the currently being constructed city of LionHeart are still quite close with Equestria. Given the number of outposts the Monster Hunters division has, putting it's HQ in Gallopagos would be no issue.”

“Actually I assure you there is a very big issue with that. I'll have to look at some of the maps , but some of the forests on the mainland shore that are part of Gallopagos would be more fitting for the HQ.”

“You are still afraid of the water aren't you?” Celestia sighs.

“Damn right.” Jer'rahd snorts.

“Even though that area is just supposed to be Luna's tears?” Twilight added making the dark alicorn wince.

“That makes it worse.” Jer'rahd mutters thinking of the last hunt listed in the book..

“I will admit now that perhaps a bit of that story was fabricated.” Luna muttered. “ I honestly didn't think any one would recall it after a time.”

“Ehh?” Twilight quips.

“She didn't sit in one spot and cry until there was a sea, she went to that spot and bucking cut loose in a blind impotent rage, she didn't cry a sea, she blew a hole in a mountain and let a formerly underground sea rush in. That's why the Hooper sea had no life in it for the longest time, not that her tears were too salty, it was full of sulfur.” Celestia explains. “She basically threw a massive tantrum and destroyed the landscape around her for leagues. Though I am sure there was a lot of crying involved too.”

“I don't want to hear it from you little miss 'I burn everything'.” Luna snorts.

===========================================

[Northern edge of Equestia, just south of the mountains bordering the frozen north. Start of Spring]

Jer'rahd, Twilight, Spike, Yearling, Bleu, and Glacier look down at the frozen circle in the dirt before them and the chunk of matter in the middle of it. A brief glance back showed what remained of the forest was little more than brightly colored gems laying on the ground that was stripped of life from the start of the river all the way down the mountain and nearly up to the next peak. The rest of Glacier's tribe flew over head, searching for anything left that might be causing this.

“This things been around much longer than when Luna fought it.” Twilight stated.

“If I cared enough I would have that mare woken up to ask where she found it to experiment on.” Jer'rahd snorts.

“She found it much the same way we did. A chunk of ice drifted south from the mountains and had a bit of the substance in it. When the ice melted it ran amuck until she caught it. “ Spike states reading from an old book he held.

“I though cold killed it, how did this bit ride the ice south?” Bleu asks.

“Sable lists a number of theories including that it was an egg frozen in place that broke free of a glacier. She never went to study the location with any effort.” Spike reads. “There could be a lot more of these further in the north trapped and waiting.”

“I'll have a team set up to go have a look come spring. If we find anything we'll be sure to let you all know. We don't need this happening again. If this took place in a more populated area..” Yearling looks back at the lack of any life behind her.

“These gems... makes me wonder if it hasn't covered Equss a few times in the past given how gems like these are found every where both near the surface and deep under ground.” Spike mutters. “It strips life of it's energy and leaves behind a crystal as waste for what ever it consumes. Size doesn't seem to matter much on what kind of gem is left.”

“So we've been eating this things poop? Yeah I'd rather not think about that.” Bleu snorts.

“Well this is the last bit of it any way.” Jer'rahd stares down at the blob of green wiggling in the middle of a ring of frost from one of Twilight's spells. He hadn't been able to be more than bait in this situation. The thing even ate his shields. “ Glacier, finish it.”

The Linorm nods exhaling a killing blast of ice on the remaining bit of Smooze.

=====================================

[New Canterlot]

Jer'rahd winced as he's slammed into the wall, Luna's furious features right before his, though the half dragon couldn't meet her eyes.

“How could you... This was JUST brought up again a few weeks ago. And then you all went and fought another SMOOZE!!? Without telling me!?!?” Luna shouts.” Did you even think about what I went through last time!?!?”

“You wouldn't have let us go if you knew.” Jer'rahd stammers as the wall behind him starts to splinter and crack from the pressure Luna was putting on him. Twilight, Spike, and Bleu stood on the other side of the room wincing. Celestia had been there to hear the report as well, though currently she was simply staring blankly at her sister.

“We stopped it and we may have found a source of them so we can stop another Smooze from every appearing again.” Spike adds in. “ That sort of information was worth the risk. Particularly since we already knew we would beat it.”

“That much is true I suppose.” Celestia added looking over the book. “Yearling has started work on this by now I expect?”

“She has.” Spike adds.

“Boss are you gonna be okay...?” Bleu comments looking at the two concerned.

“She's not going to complain I almost died and then kill me Bleu...” Jer'rahd mutters.” At least I don't think so.”

“ We are going to have a long talk Jer'rahd.... You are also not going out on another one of these hunts.” Luna grumbles finally letting him down.

“That was the plan anyway. We already knew this was going to be the last one. It's what the book said.” Twilight adds.

“ You should go easy on him sister. Thanks to this hunt of theirs Twilight, Spike Bleu and even Kaisur are considered heroes across Equss for what they have stopped.” Celestia explained. “It has made things considerably easier with some of our negotiations. Everyone knew we were stopping evil, but it was all viewed from a distance. Now that they have traveled the globe saving everyone directly and personal their fame has become much more pronounced.”

Luna looked to her sister then back at Jer'rahd. “So I take things went well in the end. I am still pissed at you. Still what is your opinion on this then Jer'rahd?” Luna mutters resting her forehead against his. “Is she ready?”

“Sudden change in topic, but I know you've read all the reports and heard from others. She's still green, but she's much better prepared for this than you were I'm sure. It's not like she hasn't already touched it as well.” Jer'rahd muttered back as the others in the room blink, not able to hear the low conversation.

“Fine.. though we will still have a talk later. You've spent the year with her, I don't wish to think you are trading me in for a younger model.”

“Pfft why would I trade for something worse. She likes your sister, clearly a horrid taste in partners, much like Orange.... still can't believe that she and Hunter... ugh....” Jer'rahd grumbles.”Ehh still better than Blue Blood I guess.”

“Hmm” Luna smiles and turned heading for the door. “Twilight would you come with me. I would have words with you.”

“Um alright....” Twilight stammered glancing to Jer'rahd as he pulls himself from the wall and then Celestia before she followed Luna.

Spike and Celestia both move to follow after, but a green panel shield forms over the door forcing the pair to stop to look to Jer'rahd.

“Let them go, this is a conversation only they need to have.” Jer'rahd sighs.

“What are you talking about Kaisur?” Celestia demands.“What's going on?”

“This little romp of ours had a secondary purpose. I've been finishing up Twilight's training and helping her learn how to take command of hectic situations. She's been doing quite well. Particularly in finding the difference between book learning and hooves on.”

“Training ? What sort of training, you already said she had finished all you could teach her with the sword?” Celestia asked, her eyes narrowing as several things click together. “ She isn't.......”

“She is... she's been wanting to for a while now and not only is Twilight the perfect candidate, the timing couldn't be better. They are already calling her loyalty into task given she's now the Queen of the Changelings as well as a Princess of Equestria. This will fix that issue.”

“No it won't, it will make things worse....” Celestia mutters.

“Seriously Celestia. You have two of the most tactically minded ponies planning out something for over a year now, something we had been considering long before that, ever since the War of the Gods. Plenty can go wrong, but we have plans for that too, and it's not like either of us are going to be going any where thanks to The Books.” Jer'rahd snarks. “Let's also not forget this ends one of your biggest concerns too, of course she still has to accept.”

Celestia opened her mouth to respond, though she shuts it again looking at the door.

“Well I'm still lost.” Bleu grumbles.

===========================================

[New Canterlot, Two days later, sunset. One year after the defeat of Tirek]

Jer'rahd leaned on the railing of the balcony, watching the sunset and playing with a steel bottle in his magic. New Canterlot had come a long way in a year. The castle was nearly rebuilt, though it was still a stone skeleton of it's former self and the roof was still missing in some places.

His ears perk as he looked back watching Celestia trot up to lean against the railing nearby.

“Almost time.” Jer'rahd muttered.

“It will be her first. She's going to recall this forever.” Celestia stated.

“I bet.”

“What's in the flask?” Celestia asks.

Jer'rahd brings the flask closer, the slosh of liquid inside heard. The metal flask looked as if it had seen better days, it was dinged and scratched, and the lid seemed crushed closed.

“Rhede gave me this the last time I saw him. Said it was a gift for celebrating the birth of my first foal. Some how it survived everything Troph did in my body, even though the saddlebag it was in was nearly destroyed. It's in bad shape, if I open it I'll have to drink it.”

“What is it?”

“The last bottle of Lord Talon's home brewed whiskey. This stuff is supposed to be potent enough that it can get gods drunk. Breezy confirmed there was nothing left of Talon's home after Tirek attacked , including the still he made. So the secret of making it is lost to time.”

“Surprised you haven't drunk it yet.”

“Missed sharing it for Dawn's birth, was gonna wait for a special occasion. I think this may count.” Jer'rahd stated gesturing to the six shot glasses placed on the railing near him.”One for each of us, plus Rhede and Velkorn as I promised.... There it goes.”

Celestia looked up watching the moon rise rather shakily into the sky. The silvery orb seemed reluctant to make it's way into the sky over the horizon, though soon it was rising rather smoothly over the distant mountains.

Celestia clapped her hooves lightly in applause and Jer'rahd smirked.

“Seems she got the hang of it quickly enough.”

“My Twilight was always a fast learner.” Celestia smiled.

The sound of hoof steps drew their attention back towards the empty room behind them as a pair of figures strode in from the courtyard.

“You did well for your first time, better than I did at least, and much better than Celestia's first attempt, she nearly drove it into the sun.”

The speaker was a mare about the same size as Jer'rahd with dark blue, almost purplish fur. Her mane and tail were a platinum blue coloration though the trailing edges of them seemed filled with gaps or holes. Her limbs were much the same, her legs having a few holes just around her hooves and her odd bat like wings were filled with same. She had a few chitinous black plates like armor covering her chest and back. To any one who didn't know her she would look like a pegasus, though with her ability to change forms she could be whatever she wished.

Queen Luna of the Changelings, Goddess of War, chuckled softly looking to her sister and her not quite husband yet, moving up beside him before looking back at the other mare entering the room.

The tall lavender mare moved slowly into the room. Her dark purple mane and tail, streaked with a strand of magenta, waved around her like a billowing nexus dotted with stars. A tall horn poked up from her head, and a pair of feathery wings twitched on her back as she moved closer to the balcony.

Princess Twilight Sparkle, Goddess of the Moon, and books, came to a stop next to Princess Celestia, only an apple or two shorter than the white mare now.

“Thank you, I didn't know it was that much of a effort to move the moon like that.” Twilight stammered looking down at the glasses on the railing.”What's this?”

“A toast of sorts.” Jer'rahd's magic shifts, popping the jammed cap off the top of the metal flask, tilting it and pouring the contents into the six glasses before them. The air around the glasses seemed to shimmer as the liquid was poured. “One for each of us, one for the provider of this fine beverage and his wife. I'd offer a glass to LionHeart and Rarity, but he didn't drink much and I doubt whiskey would be her thing.”

“I'll burn a nice red wine for them later.” Celestia states as Twilight nods picking up the shot glass flinching at the smell.

“Never understood why you burn a glass of alcohol for some one.” Twilight states.” Why not just pour it out?”

“Because burning the booze kills it and sends it on it's way to the after life where the dead reside and can enjoy it, dumping it out just wastes it.” Luna explained growing a horn and lifting the glass with her magic as Jer'rahd and Celestia lift theirs.

“To better times ahead, and the memory of those we lost.” Jer'rahd states somberly lifting his glass to the star filled night.

The others nod and do the same before they all quickly knock back the shot glasses downing the liquid.

Everyone but Celestia staggered from the shot, coughing and gagging for air. Jer'rahd was the first to recover as he slammed the glass down on the railing letting out a sharp exhalation of breath.

“By the stars.. that actually burns.... reminds me of the first time I tried a rain boom.”

“I can't feel my face.” Twilight stammered.” Am I supposed to not be able to feel my face?”

Luna remained silent, although she seemed to be struggling to keep her form as it was.

Celestia just shook her head and licked her lips. “ Amateurs.”

“Well since you're so tough sun butt, you light the drinks.” Jer'rahd snaps.

“Fine.” the Goddess of the Sun snorts her horn sparking and setting the haze over the two remaining glasses alight.

==========================================

Pip looked up from where he was sitting on a hill overlooking Sweet Apple Acres, a brilliant flash of blue flame igniting the sky over the distant castle.

“Wot was that?” he asked.

“Better question is, why are you looking over there when you should be paying attention to me?” another voice asks as a orange limb curled up around over his shoulders and a magenta maned pegasus pressed against his back leaning up to nibble his ear.

“Sorry Scootaloo.... thought I saw a bright flash of light was all.”

“Yeah yea... back to smooching....”

“So long as yah don't set me on fire this time too.” Pip chuckled, his ears perking as he swore he heard his ma's voice shouting about how 'even the stone work was burning'. He dismissed it turning back to something that was more important right now.

Author's Note

Title is Gone Home [ Journey's End] , From Dust An Elysian Tail

There are two more chapters to go , before i start up fill tilt on Book 4 Capricorn's Curse. There's two BIG lose ends i have left to tie up in Lost Empire before i'm done.

Also please check out my blog posts and vote/ suggest a song for my contest. Time is running out.