Havel awoke peacefully, having forgotten the strange news from last night. He glanced around his room, finding it to be very nicely arranged, but nonetheless uninteresting. It was a bit awkward for him, waking up and not having to worry about surviving today, just living out life as a common pony. He heard a knock on the door.

"Come," he said, sitting up slightly in his bed.

Gizmo came into his room, dressed and seemingly excited.

"I just had the best idea, Havel, you're gonna love it," he said, "I've gotten lot's of appointments with the princesses, seems like the war effort out in the east is getting harsh, anywho, I was thinking that at some point, at one of the appointments, you could present your father's journal!"

Havel was dumbstruck, "Pardon?" he said.

"Present the magic and findings within your father's journal, some of that stuff is as big as Starswirl! Even bigger maybe,"

"Uh... I'll... I'll have to think about it, it's a bit personal, y'know,"

"... Ah... I understand," Gizmo said slowly, "take your time, think about it, and when you're ready, I'm sure the opportunity to share it will be there,"

Gizmo turned to leave Havel's room, "Oh," he said, turning back around, "you'll need to get ready, we're having breakfast with the princesses, all guests are invited you see,"

Havel nodded and waved him off with his hoof, "I'll see what I can do," he said, lying back down.

He was left in solitude, and he was ready to get back to sleep. He opened the window to allow a refreshing breeze into his room.

"Ah... Bliss..." he muttered.

This was the first time in a while he could actually sleep in, and he loved it. No worries, no stress, just deep and delightful rest.

"Havel! Get out of the bed, we're going to that breakfast!" Gizmo shouted through the door.

"Gaaaaaaahhhhhhhh! Gizmo, I don't want to!" Havel whined.

"Havel, be polite and accept their hospitality, afterwards you can slip off to the bar,"

"I don't want to go to the bar,"

"Well that's a first, get up, get ready,"

Groaning in slight frustration, Havel got up and began his morning rituals, which, was just a quick spell to make himself clean and presentable. He made his way down to the main courtyard, finding a long table with a fine white cloth draped over it, with a large assortment of fine foods to be eaten. Sitting at the head was Celestia, with her sister Luna beside her. All around the table were nobles, dressed highly formal, and Gizmo was among them. Havel stood there, looking over the many high class ponies giving him a questioning glare and whispering about him. Gizmo finally came and guided Havel to a seat, yet, hardly easing Havel's discomfort.

"I believe that is all of us, your Highnesses," Gizmo said.

Havel daydreamed through all of Tia's pre-meal speeches, simply waiting for the chance to finally eat. When the royal pleasantries were over, and breakfast began, Havel grabbed loads of food that was promptly devoured. He wasn't messy, but he certainly stood out among the nobles.

"How did that low class pig get here?" a noble whispered.

Havel stopped, then wiped small crumbs from his mouth, "Excuse me, sir,"

"Havel, please don't" Gizmo muttered.

"Hold on," he said, "did it ever occur to you, that your wealth is built on the so-called 'lower class'?"

The noble placed his utensils down, "Well, Mr. Havelock? is it? I never knew you were so defensive over the uneducated, I didn't mean to... Stab a place so sensitive," he and his peers laughed.

"I beg your pardon," Havel began, "but have you ever been stabbed?"

The noble raised an eyebrow, "... No..." he said.

"Then I suggest you don't laugh about it," Havel said.

Many whispers ran through the table, "Gizmo, talk for me, I want to get back to eating," Havel said, expecting questions.

A number of inquiries of Havel's past were shot out from the nobles, most of which even Gizmo couldn't answer. When Havel was finished, he rose and left without a word, ignoring all the requests to stay and share his past.

"I'd stay to share, but some ponies are... insensitive about others' struggles," Havel replied to all the pleas he heard to stay.

He left the castle and began to explore Canterlot, looking for a suitable bar for him to cool off at. Finding what he was looking for, he used his last few bits to buy a drink for himself. It was about midday now, and Havel could have all the time he wanted for himself now.

"You hear the news, big guy?" the bartender asked.

Havel looked up, "No," he said, "something I should be concerned about?"

"Eh, probably not," he said, "just some mercenaries coming into Canterlot, look like the real elite sort, don't wanna piss them off I'm sure!"

Havel was intrigued, "Do you know what they want?" he asked.

"Mmm, not really, I hear they just be lookin' for some poor fool, probably an assassination, hoho! This is gonna be an ugly party if they get the royal guards' attention,"

"Very ugly," Havel said.

"Yep, lucky for me, I own this bar, I'm practically a merc's best friend! Haha!"

Havel smiled, then looked down at his drink. Empty. He sighed in disappointment.

"What? Are you all out of money?" the Bartender asked.

Havel sighed again, "Yeah," he said.

The bartender smiled, "Tell ya what, this next one's on the house," he said, passing Havel another drink.

Another smile growing on his face, Havel sipped his free drink appreciatively.

"Do you think there's actually gonna be a conflict between the guards and the mercs?" Havel asked.

"Eh, depends whether or not they find their target and who their target is," the bartender replied.

"You think they're aiming for the princesses?"

"Mmm, probably not, they'd be more discreet with their operations if it came to that,"

"Hmm, if they're aiming for them, they might just be playing their cards in a tricky fashion,"

"Well, they're not going for the princesses," the bartender said.

"Wha-?" Havel looked back stealthily, seeing a huge stallion in pointed black iron armor being pointed in Havel's direction.

Havel slowly pushed his seat away from the table, "When I give the word, you give me that bottle and duck," Havel whispered to the bartender. He nodded and acted naturally.

The heavily armored earth pony made his way to Havel stopping a few feet from him.

"For a stallion that could just vanish, you're pretty predictable, I was stupid not to look in the bar first," he removed his helmet, "mighty Vaclav Havelock the Mountain, damn long time since we've seen you in the mercenary force, ole' Jaller nearly gave up on you,"

Havel relaxed, waving to the bartender to imply it was safe, "Tarkus, last I heard you were clearing out a changeling nest,"

"Done," he said, "I killed scores with just my bare hooves,"

"Hm, classic Boar Tarkus,"

Tarkus laughed, then moved up to the bar and threw a bag of bits on the table, "How many drinks can that buy us?"

The bartender looked down at the huge amount before him.

"C'mon man, I'm thirsty," Tarkus said, promptly receiving a drink.

"So, what're you stopping in for? Found your target? Or am I it?" Havel asked.

"You're the target alright," Tarkus said, "but for not for what you think,"

"Oh?"

"We want you back in command, Dusk, Jaller, and Tosh's tribe are all in on it,"

"What happened to Tosh?"

"He vanished, kinda like how you did, only we have proof he's dead,"

Havel sighed, "I was a fool that day," he said.

"Tosh didn't die by your hoof, Havel,"

"He wouldn't have died at all if I had just..." he swallowed hard, "if I'd just killed Daayan that day..."

"Havel, we make mistakes, and right now we need you back in command of the Black Dragons,"

"Hmph, five years without me, you've done pretty well so far,"

"Yeah, but without you, we're fucked against Daayan,"

Havel turned in alarm, eyes wide with panic, "She's here?"

"We don't know-"

"Does she have the Void Stone?"

"We're not-"

"Tarkus!" Havel said, aggressively grabbing the earth pony, "I need to know if she has the Void Stone,"

Tarkus was silent for a while, looking around at all the onlookers they attracted, "Take us to the mine, everypony's waiting there,"

"We still have that shit hole?"

"Yeah, now let's go,"

In a flash of golden magic, Havel teleported himself and his friend to the mines beneath Canterlot, leaving behind their drinks.

Within the mine, was a small, secret encampment set up by Tarkus and his team of mercenaries several years prior to today's meeting. Residing there were only two ponies, a very old earth pony stallion, and a young pegasus mare. The stallion was dressed in an old, very well-kept naval uniform, the rank of the clothing signifying him as a highly ranked officer. The pegasus had a light leather armoring on her body, lacking a helm, but appearing like that of standard armor.

"Havel, been a long time, and my my, haven't aged a day I see," the pegasus said.

"It's nice to see you too, Dusk, still having fun with the mares and stallions?" Havel asked.

"I'm still young, aren't I? Though, I'll admit, I've missed your hard cock inside me," She said.

"May we skip the pleasantries and continue with business, please?" said the old stallion.

"Jaller's right, I need as much info as possible on Daayan," Havel said.

"Well, we were hoping you had that," Jaller said.

Havel raised an eyebrow, "You're fucking kidding, right? You don't even have a location on her, and you come crawling to me hoping for answers,"

"Location is easy," Dusk said, "you're her old boyfriend, and we know she fantasizes about being with you again, so, where you are, she is,"

"And you thought that after five years, she'd finally come find me, I'd figure she'd come a lot sooner,"

"Havel," Jaller interjected, "we know you want answers, we do too, but what we're doing is a process, and we won't get what we want right away. All we know is that Daayan has returned, and most likely she'll be amassing another army to take what she's been promised, and you with it. We can only prepare for what's to come, for now, since we know nothing, we can only sleep on it,"

"It's still midday, Jaller," Dusk said.

"I need my evening nap!" Jaller shouted, reducing the young mare to the ground, "Ahem, Havel, would you be so kind as to take us home?"

Havel looked at the recovered Dusk, finding her to be winking at him mischievously. Smiling, he teleported Tarkus and Jaller to the streets of Canterlot, while he took Dusk to his suite in the castle. She ambled about it, admiring the elegant design all around her.

"Very nice, how'd you get this?" she asked.

"Gizmo, he's... arguably persuasive with ponies," Havel said.

"Gizmo? Who's Gizmo?"

"Oh, right, he was our secret contact, I've been friends with him since I was a colt,"

"Oh, I see," Dusk went over to Havel's bed, stroking the sheets gently, "such a soft bed," she looked at Havel lustfully, then climbed into the bed, "wanna see if it'll hold both of us?"

Havel smiled, then climbed in after her, making a deep kiss with her. Her tongue snaked its way into his mouth, feeling around inside tenderly.

They broke the kiss, "Can you unclothe me?" Dusk asked.

Havel was going to be a lucky stallion tonight.

Author's Note

This is the slowest I've ever started any of my stories, there will be more story unraveled later on. I ask you be a little patient.