Scarlet entered her new room in the palace and slowly took off her armor, placing it and her sword on the armor mannequin in her room. The pulsing white etchings slowly faded away, giving a few last sputters before turning black. On the ride back to Canterlot her emotions had faded and dulled again. She gave her report to Celestia, who was still trying to console her sister. Shortly after a guard showed her to her room.

Scarlet began to think of todays events as she trotted to the washroom. The emotions she felt were dulled greatly after donning her new armor. But the anger that exploded in her caused the flames that drove away the wolves. The more she thought about it she began to question her actions. Why had she killed so many wolves? What had spurred her to send a wall of flame at the wolves? Why did she enjoy destroying them? She felt a little disgusted in having taken pleasure in the act of murdering the wolves.

A spark lit in her mind as her disgust gave way to happiness. She could feel her emotions again. Her trot turned into a skip as she rounded the corner to the massive room that looked more like a pool then a bath. Light steam rose lazily over the water and condensed on the cold marble nearby. Scarlet's happiness led to more questions revolving her new ability to feel emotions again. She lowered her body into the warm water, allowing it to soothe her aching muscles. "The armor must be linked to the emotional issues." Scarlet mumbled to herself as the steam caused a pleasant sweat to start to form on her forehead.

Scarlet pushed the thoughts aside as she washed out her mane and let the water soak in. He muscles were full of knots and aches from the wyvern encounter and the wolf issues. The water worked wonders on her body and loosened the tight muscles all around her. Reluctantly Scarlet pulled herself from the water and let her thoughts roam as she toweled off and walked back to her room. Scarlet entered the room and looked at her new armor, an idea running threw her mind. Tentatively she removed the armor from the mannequin and started strapping the pieces to her while watching herself in the mirror.

She slipped the last plate into place and buckled the final buckle. The burning pain returned though much duller and she watched as her armor's etching pulsed white on her pauldron. Her scar glowed as well and she slowly felt herself slipping back into her dull, calm state. Scarlet immediately started unclasping the armor from her frame and placing it back onto to dummy. Her emotions returned and she knew now that her armor was the cause of the emotions dulling.

Next scarlet telekinetically reached for her sword, the dull burn shooting through her horn. When the burn faded she tested her sword, Thinking angry thoughts and explosive actions. Slowly the pulsing glow grew and spread, encasing the blade in heat and light as flames danced on the blade. Next she thought saddening and depressing thought. Instantly the blade chilled and the pulse faded and smeared on the blade as water dripped down the guard. Next she though happy thought, love and kindness. The water dried and the glow spread again, this time in a warm and comforting manor. Lastly she though cold and hateful thought. The glow faded to almost nothingness and the blade cooled to the point of turning the air around it to a light snow.

Scarlet placed the blade back on the dummy and contemplated what the two new pieces of information meant. The armor dulled all but the strongest emotions, and the blade was fueled by said emotions. This combination seemed to counteract, but as Scarlet thought about the fire she summoned she couldn't help to see the effectiveness. The armor kept your cool head in light situation, then in more extreme trial it boosted some emotions for the blade to feed off of. Truly this armor and sword were amazing.

Scarlet looked and saw Luna's moon resting high in the sky and chose then to turn in. Mind filled with new ideas for her new gear, she slowly slipped into a dream filled sleep. Her dreams were full of conquests she could accomplish, feats she could manage, the love of citizens as she saved the world. Slowly a crowd formed after her latest feat, chanting and cheering. The mayor of the town approached her, congratulating her for her awesome prowess. The mayor smiled at Scarlet then let her jaw hang loose and released a blood-curdling scream. Scarlet jumped out of bed and reached for her sword, a dull warmth spreading through her horn as she grabbed it in her telekinesis. The scream came from down the hall.

Bursting out her room and meeting several other sleepy eyed guards she rushed down the hall and into the great hall. Scarlet noticed a maid collapse on the floor, curling into a sobbing ball and trying to hold herself to sanity. Scarlet looked around the room to find what could have caused such a commotion. When she saw the horrific sight she nearly collapsed and vomited at the same time. Sitting between the two great thrones was a guard, nailed to the wall by his own fore hooves. They had been snapped from his torso and jammed through him and into the wall. His horn had been sawed off and rammed into his heart, clearly seen from his flayed chest. His face looked almost indistinguishable from any other except for the massive burn wound on it. the flesh was boiled and bubbling still as though it were recent.

Celestia and Luna galloped into the hall and both gasped at the gruesome sight. Sobs were echoed and panic began to spread through the room. Written over the body in blood was a simple message. All Mortals Shall Burn! The grisly sight had caused a terror to spread quickly as the occupants of the room ran about in a blind terror.

"Calm thyself!" Luna's voice rang through the hall in royal Canterlot speech and immediately the panic came to a halt. "This sight is more then any of you should see. We ask that all of thee return to your rooms. Do not speak of this matter unless given orders from the guard. Rest assured we shall capture the deranged soul and punish him accordingly." The ponies in the room followed her will and before long the room was cleared. Luna approached Scarlet and began addressing her in hushed tones, Celestia worked in the background attempting to clean the scene and prepare the body for a proper send off. "This is the influence of the wyvern."

"How could that be? There is no way a beast like that could fit in without alerting someone right?" Scarlet knew only a pony could do this, and she failed to see how the wyvern could connect.

"The wyvern spreads chaos in the world. It is not a natural monster. With it's appearance, the wyvern sows seeds of hate and dissent into the world. No pony Would..." Luna's last words didn't register with Scarlet as she saw a ghoulish face over her shoulder. The burned flesh of the creatures face hid any eyes, but Scarlet knew it was looking at her. Then swiftly and ran down the left hall.

Scarlet's sword burst in flames as she abandoned the princess in pursuit of the creature. Something told her inside that whatever that thing was, it had done this. A long black cloak tailed around a corner and Scarlet darted after it. The twist and turns eventually lead out to a balcony and the thing stood on the end when Scarlet stepped out.

"Who are you? What made you do such an awful thing?" Scarlet's blade burned brighter as her anger surged.

"A message from my master, Kriid.Pah fent ag, pah fent saluk. Fraan faal Bah do hin yun rah."

Scarlet swung he blade downward and upon striking the ground a column of flame erupted underneath the ghoul. A maniacal laughter broke out of the things lips and when the flames subsided it remained untouched. "I am the second to be reborn in flames Kriid. After you. Your fire shall not harm me." The crazy laugh busted out again as the creature leapt off the balcony, fading into the night. A cold wind blew over Scarlet's fur and the chilling words sunk into her. Her dreams from before offered no warmth for Scarlet as the reality of this turn of events hit her. The wyvern was no longer her only concern.

Author's Note

I have no good excuse for the delay on this chapter. For those of you who stuck it out thank you so much, and those of you just starting thank you for reading. Like and comment as you see fit and I hope to keep writing this story. I was not liking the story for a while and put it on hiatus for over a year and all I can truly say Is life worked against me on this story. I hope to update this story semi regularly now though. Thank you all again