The Odd Visitor to Equestria

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Vortex
Chapter 2: The Dream
Chapter 3: The Awakening
Chapter 4: The Gala
Chapter 5: The General

Chapter 1: The Vortex

Princess Celestia was hearing out one of her subjects as he was asking for help because his village was infested with rodents that had eaten or destroyed all of his village crops. Suddenly he was knocked back as a small colorful vortex. Immediately she called for their new guard commander.

Their new guard commander ran in to the room. Princess Celestia ordered him to go fetch the other Princesses. He saluted and ran out of the throne room. He arrived at a pavilion where he found a Pegasus guard and ordered him to do two things. First go inform Princess Twilight Sparkle that she was needed in Canterlot for an urgent matter, then why he was in Ponyville to go find Rainbow Dash and tell her that she needs to fly to the Crystal Empire as fast as possible to inform Princess Cadence that she is urgently needed in Canterlot. The guard took off flying.

The guard commander ran to go find Princess Luna as fast as he could. It certainly didn't help that he didn’t know where she was. No Princess Luna had her own guard that didn’t answer to him and because of that he always had trouble finding her. His second in command ran over to him as he entering another pavilion “sir, I was ordered to have you come back to the throne room”.

“No I have to find Princess Luna” he shouted in frustration.

“Sir she is in the throne room” he replied coolly.

The guard commander was relieved, and then frustration whit this took him over had he ran to the throne room. As he entered he had a familiar daydream of smacking Princess Luna’s personal guard commander for keeping him out of the loop.

Twilight was sitting down for lunch when suddenly she heard the sound of clanging armor. She looked up and saw an armored Pegasus racing towards her very fast. He veered off and landed about ten feet away from her. He started “Princess Twilight” he gasped “Princess Celestia has ordered you back to Canterlot there’s something urgent”.

Twilight was confused “What’s going on”.

The guard was surprised “I am sorry Princess but I wasn’t told. All I know is that you need to get to Canterlot as soon as possible and that you need to tell me where Rainbow Dash is”.

Twilight was still confused “why do you need to find Rainbow Dash?”

“I was ordered to have her fly to the Crystal Empire to get Princess Cadance and Shining Armor”.

“Why can’t one of the royal guards do it”.

“All the guards of Canterlot have been ordered to stay in Canterlot and we can’t afford to have any guards away right now”.

“But you’re away from Canterlot right now” Twilight exclaimed.

“Yes, I’m suppose to escort you back to Canterlot after I inform Rainbow Dash of her mission. Now where is she”.

“I think she’s at her home”.

“Great show me the way” he said as Twilight started to run off, he followed her at a run.

They arrived at Rainbow Dashes home and the guard flew up to here house and knocked on her door franticly “Rainbow Dash for the sake of the princess come out of there”.

Rainbow opened the door and he started before she could say anything “Princess Celestia has ordered you to fly as fast as you can to the Crystal Empire and tell Princess Cadence that she and Shining Armor Are needed in Canterlot right away for urgent business” he shouted at her. Then Rainbow Dash got a confused look.

“What’s going on” Rainbow Dash asked.

The guard was frustrated “just go there isn’t time you need to go inform the Princess now”.

Rainbow said “right” and flew away as fast as she could.

The guard flew down and turned toward Twilight “we have to go to Canterlot, I am sorry princess but you will have to fly there with your own wings we must go, can you fly fast”.

Twilight shook her head slowly “sorry but I’m not the best flyer”

The guard was annoyed but didn’t show it “fine we will need to start flying then, shall we be off then”.

She was hurrying she didn't have time, the Princesses, Celestia and Luna, said it was urgent. This meant something was good or bad it was hard to tell by the tone of the letter. Twilight being herself decided just to rush to their summons. She turned quickly into the throne room and nearly ran into a guard.

"Hay watch it “the guard shouted then he saw who he was addressing and bowed in humility. "Forgive me Princess Twilight; I didn't know it was you".

"Its fine Ster..." she trailed off as she saw the small vortex of reds, blues, and every color in-between in the center of the room. It was no bigger than a ponies head but it was growing slowly but surely.

She started approached it, then she herd "Twilight get back" the words came from behind her. She looked back to see her brother standing at the entrance, in full battle regale. Celestia and Luna were standing behind him ushering Twilight to come back behind the guards.

Twilight started to move toward the Princesses and her brother. "What is that thing?" she inquired

Shining Armor turned to her and said "we don't know, but whatever it is it's giving off powerful magic".

"The odd thing is" Celestia spoke "there's no source, the magic is coming from nowhere. We also can’t find out where it is coming from."

"This magic is unlike none we have ever seen before" Luna stated.

"It is discomforting to see the castle defenses so easily penetrated" Shining Armor said.

"So we have no idea where this magic is coming from, and we can’t track it down" Twilight began to panic.

Shining Armor began to comfort her "settle down Twilight, settle down".

Suddenly a female voice came from the vortex “We have to hurry".

A male voice responded "There isn't enough time, we've been found out the Templar’s are coming". There was a pounding sound like metal on wood.

A third voice began "quick Leana you won the straws, you have to go through the portal now".

"I won't leave Fangar" the female voice yelled.

Just as the female voice had yelled that Princess Cadance had entered the throne room, having being done dealing with two servants and their lovers quail. She could feel the strain of love in the female voice.

"Fine then, I’ll go through the portal first so you two love birds can know its safe" the third voice shouted.

Every pony could hear the bitterness in the third voice. But there was something else there something hard to describe. Not frustration, nor annoyance.

Suddenly the vortex began to grow and change. It got more and more colorful as it grew. Every guard in the room got in a battle stance, every guard except Shining Armor who was charging up a spell it was a modified version of the spell he had used to protect Canterlot during his wedding, this spell contained instead of keep out.

As his spell charged he said "Stern Side, get the Princess out of here. I don’t want to put them in any unnecessary dangers".

"Sir, yes sir" Stern Side said obediently. He turned to the Princesses "your highnesses you need to come with me"

Then the vortex made a sound, there was a shockwave that knocked every pony over, disrupting Shining Armor's spell. The shockwave launched Stern Side out of the room, he landed on his face.

Out of the vortex came a tall, dark-brown unicorn stallion, with hazel eyes. His horn was slightly longer than usual and was sharpened. He had a beard that was a darker brown, his mane was the same color. Oddly he was wearing some sort of dress, it was blue with bits of green, and it covered most of his body leaving just his hooves uncovered by it. No those were covered with some kind of boots made from an odd substance. As he walked out, it was apparent by the sound he made when he walked he had different boots on his hind legs. On his back was a gnarled wooden staff that’s top looked like a tree with a deep blue gemstone encrusted in the center of its branches.

The stallion suddenly turned back at the sound of wood splintering. There was a screech as Leana was stabbed. The stallion began to run back then a figure appeared in the vortex "No Welik one of us must survive this" there was a blast of magic.

The stallion Welik yelled "No Fangar not blood magic".

"Sorry old friend" he yelled through the portal, and Fangar could be seen through the portal being stabbed as he threw a gem through. The brown unicorn tried to catch it but it was hit off angel by one of the Templar knights swords.

Shining Armor was just getting up as he saw another stallion run through the vortex. It was an earth pony wearing odd armor, it was clanking and the armor was covering its entire body except its mouth, which was holding a sword.

The armored stallion charged at the brown stallion. "Die mage" he shouted very clearly threw his clenched teeth.

The brown stallion simply sidestepped and as the armored stallion pasted him, he tried to shoot the armored stallion in the back with a spell but it was deflected off the armored stallion’s armor and hit part of the ceiling. The armored stallion’s nostrils blared “just for that I’m going to have you go through the Right of Annulment”

The brown stallion shot back “not if I close the portal first”. He ran over to the gem and grabbed it, as he muttered a few words and a beam shot from the gem. The armored stallion charged as the brown stallion, but when the brown stallion went to sidestep the armored stallion threw out its hoof and hit him. The brown stallion simply ducked at the last moment. The armored stallion stabbed the tip of his sword into the ground and used it to pole-vault up and turned around then charged again, the brown stallion shot a bright light and dodged. The part of the ceiling fell on the armored stallion’s head; he fell and didn’t get back up.

The brown stallion turned and that was the first time he saw them, he was too caught up in the fight that he didn't even notice the ponies in the room. "What in Andrastes name are a bunch of horses doing in such a grand place" he asked.

Shining Armor spoke sternly "who are you and who is he." He pointed with his horn to the armored stallion.

At this the brown stallion eyes widened in surprise, and then he started laughing "really you demons are sure getting desperate for tricks, to think you want me to believe that horses can talk". He was cracking up " Oh no, I'm in the land of talking horses, here have my vessel. Anything to escape this prison you've built here. On second thought no". He pulled that staff of his back and slammed the end without the gem on the ground yelling "be gone foul spirits"

There was a flash of white light from the gem on top of the staff, every pony closed their eyes. When the light had subsided the brown stallion looked around expecting to see the demons true forms but there were only the horses. A puzzled look cam on his face "What, how, you're not demons or spirits? That means, Fangar you devil you were right." He spoke as though his friend was there right beside him. Remembering his friend’s fate he hung his head.

The vortex was still open behind him, it was shrinking but still open the stallion turned toward it and shouted "Knight Commander, I will have vengeance for what you have done to my friends. You hear me I will have vengeance”. The armored earth pony got back up, the vortex closed, and both the brown unicorn and the armored earth pony collapsed on the ground.

Shining Armor walked up to the collapsed unicorn stallion and tried to wake him but he couldn't. "He's out Princesses, what shall the guards do with them your Highnesses"

All of the Princesses looked at Celestia, seeing the Princess do that all of the guards did as well. Celestia said with certainty "place them in guest rooms on opposite ends of the palace and have them under a constant guard, also get the treated I want to know what just happened."

Every guard said in unison "Yes you’re Highness".

As the Princesses walked away Princess Cadance leaned towards Princess Twilight and whispered "you know if the brown stallion isn't insane he might make a good suitor".

Twilight acted surprised "what makes you say that?”

"He's handsome, great with magic, clearly on the side of good…”

Twilight cut her off "he is also be hunted by a knight of a seemingly religious order".

Princess Cadance cocked her head "how do you figure that?"

"The symbols on his armor" Twilight stated. “The other knights that we could see had the same symbols on their armor”.

Princess Cadance arched an eyebrow "that is a fair assessment, I guess".

Twilight turned to Princess Luna "do you think you could pear in to their dreams?" she asked. "The more we know about our guest the better, wouldn't you agree".

Luna nodded "We agree" she winced "that is to say, I agree"

Chapter 2: The Dream

Princess Luna was baffled every time she tried to enter the knights dreams she was stopped. She had never met a pony whose dreams she could not enter. Sure she had had difficulty with some ponies, Star Swirl the bearded came to mind, but never out right blocked. She had been trying for an hour now and decided to give up a try the mage.

She found it almost too easy, almost as if she was pulled in to his dream. The landscape was different then most dreams she was on a floating island that made no sense. Her mind flashed to Discord, but she pushed the memory away.

Then she heard a laugh, Discords, she turned and saw the draconequus stretched out on a cloud. He began to talk "poor Luna, trapped in some pony else's mind forever." He laughed harder.

She was confused, and then Star Swirl the bearded appeared from behind a rock. He was holding a book in front of him with magic and reading it as he walked.

Luna shouted "what's going on here".

She heard a reply "why I'm learning the law of the land, Fade Walker."

"What..."

"I'm reading you mind to find out what this realm is like." the unicorn stallion said bluntly, appearing from behind a tree.

"How are you reading my mind..."

He cut her off "Welik, my name is Welik Lich, you were going to call me "stallion" but my name is Welik. I see you tried to get into Hector's dreams, don't bother, Templar’s like him are taught to shield their dreams from Fade Walkers like us."

"What do you mean "Fade Walkers?"” She asked

"You are a Fade Walker; you’re not bound to a single part of the fade. You are free to see what there is to see, the minds, wants, love, and secrets of all who enter the fade and you are like me."

She looked up in surprise "Like you? You have the ability to enter the dreams of others as well."

"Yes it is a harder bit of magic to learn but once Flemeth taught the magic to me I was determined to master it".

"Who is Flemeth?"

"Ah yes I guess you wouldn't know who Flemeth is." He said remembering the time he had spent with Flemeth and her daughter at the time. They had taught them much, even her darkest secrets. "She is the Witch of the Wilds, she has survived for hundreds of years, and she is the third most powerful being I have ever faced in battle." he looked away.

"Oh" Luna was shocked. Then she heard a roar so fierce that both Discord and Star Swirl the bearded began to quiver. A mountain appeared as dragon of a beautiful array of purples and pinks flew over head and landed on its peak. By the dragon was an armored form with a sword. Then the dragon, the form, and the peak faded away like they were just mist.

Then another black dragon flew over from where the peek had been and flew into the mist on the other side of the floating island.

Last but not least an odd, bipedal creature whose skin was as pale as a ghost appeared standing behind Welik. The odd thing was it had a beard, it wasn’t unlike Weliks but it was ghost white to match its skin. Its eyes where the blackest black she had ever seen. As it faded away it began to grin with its mouth full of sharpened teeth.

"So this Star Swirl the bearded was one of your most powerful mages I see."

Luna looked at him in surprise “how can you not react to that

Luna looked at Welik and then asked "why do you appear in this form and not the one you were in before you came to Equestria? You didn't have this form in you realm."

"I was beginning to wonder how long it was going to take you to ask that question" he started, "you see I am stuck in your realm till I can gather enough lyrium or blood to open a portal back to mine. But I know that I will never find the lyrium in this realm, for it doesn't exist here. On the other hand blood is prevalent, however I doubt you would let me go around abducting ponies to use in a spell. So it looks like I am stuck here and well I minus well get used to this base form. Of course I am a shape changer but I can't sustain that forever."

"You are a changeling?" Luna gasped.

"No, Andrastes no. I'm not some sort of bug horse. No I am just not bound to a specific form, my vessel changes not me."

"I don't trust that"

"Good, you shouldn't, that's a wise course of action, you can’t just trust someone you just met."

Luna thought that wasn't entirely true, then she remembered he was reading her mind and dismissed the thought.

"Now if your Highness would like to join me I am going to explore a little"

He was walking toward the edge of the dream. How was that possible ponies were always at the exact center of the dream, but he was reaching the edge. She rushed in front of him "you cannot leave your dream" she commanded.

"Sure I can" he said with certainty, than walked through Luna as though she was a ghost. He was reaching the edge when a purple flame appeared, as it died down there was a pony in front of him. Luna was horrified.

The pony was a light green with purple fire instead of hear. It had horns that curved sideways out from its head. Its eyes were green where they should have been white and its irises were dark purple. Its tail was thin and catlike. Its back half appeared to be covered with dark green wood and it had sleeves over its fore legs.

"Oh I see you traveled through the portal with me Lust."

"You didn't leave me much choice did you" the demon replied.

"There was plenty of opportunity to get out of it..."

Another being appeared this time in a flash of white. It stepped out it was wearing similar armor to that of the Templar except that it was glowing a bright white. Varying weapons were floating around him.

"Ah Valor good to see you made it to here as well" Welik said.

"What did you get lost on your way here Valor?" the demon snickered.

"You were just as lost as me demon" the spirit spat back.

"I will not permit fighting in front of guest." Welik Shouted.

At that the two beings fell silent as they noticed Luna. They were both surprised to see a horse standing there. Then they looked at Welik, he was a horse too, then they looked at each other they were both horses.

Lust screamed "Master what has happened to this Fade it transforms beings into horses?"

Welik answered "That’s how the whole realm is not just the Fade here".

Valor stepped backwards "Master how will I defend you if I can't hold a weapon?”

"The Templar didn't have any trouble holding his." Welik Replied.

"Very well Master" the beings said in unison.

"Oh, foolish me. Princess Luna of the nation of Equestria, meat my demon of lust, Lust, and my spirit of valor, Valor. They are bound to me in the Fade through a miscalculation of Fangar and me during a ritual. Now they serve me as whatever I need them to be."

Luna had been surprised at the appearance of the Fade Dwellers. But when she was addressed she came back and said "Do you often travel in the company of evil?"

A puzzled look came over Weliks face, then he looked at Lust "well yes I cannot enter the Fade without Lust coming to me she is bound to me. Do not worry Valor keeps her in line, as she does Valor."

"I do not trust her"

"Neither do I now can we be off, there is much exploring and research to do on this new realm of existence."

He stepped out into the the place between dreams, the Fade, the demon and spirit followed him and Luna came through soon after.

"Whose dreams shall we see first?" Welik asked the demon and spirit.

Valor made the weapons floating around him point to one of a purple alicorn, "she seems to be having trouble with that nightmare she is in"

"What?" Luna asked in surprise.

Valor replied "yes she is having a nightmare about disappointing someone she looks up to."

Lust laughed "In this realm they use "some pony" not someone."

Valor shouted "Who cares someone, some pony, or something it doesn't mater Lust."

Then Lust pointed "why not this ponies dream."

Luna stomped "Not Discords." she shouted.

Welik arched an eyebrow "and why not, you made me curious about the draconequus."

Valor looked at him and said "curiosity killed the cat."

Lust retorted "Satisfaction brought it back"

Valor’s floating weapons suddenly pointed towards her "I was speaking to our master demon" he shouted at Lust.

Lust rolled her eyes and said "you don't scare me anymore Valor."

Luna looked around, she had been paying attention to Valor and Lust, she hadn't noticed Welik go into Discords dream. She rushed inside and saw Discord and Welik talking at an oddly shaped table.

"Really you took over this entire land by yourself in a madder of hours. Not even the mages of the Tiber Imperium could do that. You must be a deity."

"I prefer the title "Lord of Chaos"" Discord replied.

"Ah" Welik said "Then may I presume that there is a Lord of Harmony. Now that I think about it, The Lord of Harmony is a girl perhaps your love."

Discord was baffled "Hardly harmony is represented by a tree."

"Forgive me, I keep forgetting that new realm, new rules."

"Oh it’s perfectly fine, so as I understand it you a member of the Circle of Magi?"

"Yes I was imprisoned at the Circle at the age of 3, my magic came out early. Forgive me but may we change the subject."

"By all me..."

Discord was cut off by Luna "Discord leave him be" she shouted.

Discord rolled his eyes "oh please" he snapped with his eagle claw and she disappeared. "Now where were we".

"Where did you send her?" Welik asked puzzled.

"Out of my dream" Discord said bluntly.

"How, I was under the impression you only had power over a small portion of the Fade."

"And I have the ability to kick ponies out of my dreams."

"Oh, very well then."

Luna was baffled, this was simply not expectable.

"Oh please if he had followed your advice he would have killed three-hundred seventy two people, Valor" Lust shouted angrily.

"And if you had it your way heed be a blood mage. The Templars execute those." Valor spat back.

Luna flew over to them "what are you two arguing about?"

Lust said "none of your business horse".

Valor head turned toward her and Luna imagined a look of disbelief on his face. He spoke "Forgive her your Highness, she's just bitter because three years of hard work just went down the drain."

Luna arched an eyebrow "What does thou mean? That is, What do you mean". She had been trying to get her speech up to date for weeks now and still had trouble.

"Well, Lust here had been playing matchmaker with our master and an elven mage our master had met in his travels across Ferelden. She was an apostate mage and their love was illegal by Chantry law. But Lust here was working her magic to get them to meat whenever they could. The last time they met they were intrupted and they had to flee. Lust had planned for them to meet two nights after the portal ritual was finished and Fangar and Leana had escaped to this land. Lust had planned for our master to run away with her but as you can see that is not the case".

Luna was surprised, sort of, it isn't that surprising that the handsome stallion like Welik had found love. It was just surprising since he didn't seem the type.

Luna spoke "very well". Then she turned towards Discords dream and went back inside.

Back inside Discords dream Welik was looking at Discords past and saw that his past reminded him of something. Yes the cold heart, he remembered the feeling well. He was three when he was taken by the chantry but he had remembered his parents and older brother. He did nothing but study, and practice for seven years after that. At the age of ten he was able to go threw his Harrowing, he did and beat the demon. After that he met his first true friend an Enchanter who had taken him under his wing, literally, that Enchanter was the one who taught him how to shape shift.

He was fifteen when he was given his first commotion to leave the tower that housed the Circle of Magi. He had spent two years out there in the real world. That was where he met her. He pushed the memories away, this was neither the time or the pace for such thoughts.

"Well what do you think of my back-story?" the draconequus asked suddenly.

"It's a familiar tale Discord." Welik said bluntly.

Discord's head cocked "Oh I see I'm with a kindred spirit. Well don't worry it does get better, all you have to do is make one friend"

"Yes that one friend that can melt the cold heart in my chest, I had such friends".

Discord could see this was going south quick "oh I appear to be waking up, you and Luna better leave"

"Luna, didn't you kick her out?".

"Yes but that didn't keep her from coming back in" he looked to his right with announce and snapped. Luna was hiding behind a rock that was no longer there.

She smiled shyly and said "he's right we should leave before he wakes".

"Very well then, we shall leave".

As they stepped out of Discords dream they looked around and saw that most of the dreams were gone "Looks like its day time already" Welik retorted.

Luna shouted "Day, I have to go".

As she ran Welik watched her, he turned and Lust was in his face. "Don't you dare Welik we are not going through this again".

Welik smiled "I have no idea what you are talking about".

"Yes you do, I've seen that look in you eyes before" Lust screeched back.

Welik parried "How do you know that it's not this new face Lust"

"Because I know you Welik and that is something that will never change"

"Oh go get stuck in a cat"

"How dare you bring that backup?"

Valor just started laughing.

Lust turned towards him and spat "What are you laughing at you spent four hundred years as a statue".

"But I wasn't put there by an incompetent mage who thought he was summoning a wolf." Valor managed to get out through his laughing.

Lust eyes were daggers "at least I wasn't getting punished for losing a fight".

Valor immediately stopped laughing and turned his helmeted head toward her in a way that implied he was staring daggers back at her. The two Fade dwellers began to bicker.

At this Welik just turned away and left them to their arguing, after all when those two got to fighting not even the maker could have stopped it. "I need to get new friends", he said to himself "Oh Maker I'm talking to myself again".

It was like this for five days. Welik had concluded that his and the templar’s spirits were simply adjusting to the new Fade and that was why neither of them would wake up. He being the Mage he was explored the dreams of the ponies as much as he could. Luna visited him every night, Lust didn't like this, and Valor was indifferent to her company. On the fifth night Welik finally went into the dream of one of the princess.

He had trouble at first; he could feel the magic pouring from the princess. When he finally broke through he saw a familiar dream. There princess Cadance and Shining Armor stood looking at a few faceless fillies. This was not an uncommon dream; he found that people and ponies often dreamt of having children but never fill in the finer details. No finer details usually come after the child is born not before it is conceived.

He left, he realized that he hadn't seen Valor or Lust for a few days. "Well guess I should find and simmer them before they cause any lasting damage". Fortunately in the Fade one simply had to think and they could do anything.

He appeared in between Valor and Lust just as they were about to strike each other. Valor and Lust stopped about one centimeter from his chest and back respectively.

"Look what you almost did Demon" Valor shouted.

"Me you were closer to hitting him than me." Lust spat back.

"Enough! Welik shouted "You two are done arguing or its back to the statue an cat for both of you".

Valor said "how can I be in a statue and a cat at the same time?"

Welik shot back "you know what I meant".

Luna appeared and Lust rolled her eyes "oh, your back".

"Lust, what is wrong with you" Valor yelled at her.

"Both of you be quiet or, well, you know".

They said in unison "Fine".

"Now Luna good to see you again, I was just about to go and see this princess Twilight. Would you like to join me".

"Luna smiled sure". Secretly she was elated, some pony else could help her deal with this madness.

Welik looked to his left then his right, suddenly he was in front of Twilights dream. He stepped in.

She like princess Cadance was having a familiar dream, well nightmare. She dreamt she was disappointing the other princesses. Of course in Weliks dreams like this he was disappointing the enchanters.

He cleared his throat "Hay, snap out of it, your dreaming".

Luna looked at him and whispered in his ear "you need to be kinder she's having a nightmare".

Twilight walked over to the pair and asked Luna "Why did you bring him in my dream".

"I didn't" Luna said back "he can enter other ponies dreams like me".

Twilight’s curiosity got the better of her and she turned toward him and asked "Is that true?"

"You’re the element of magic?" he asked ignoring her previous question.

She stammered "what?"

Twilight looked at Luna, then back at Welik "fine, yes I am the element of magic".

"Very good, yes I am a Fade walker" he said "I bore of this game, but stay on your hooves".

Suddenly there was a flash and in the middle of the three of them was Valor and Lust. Twilight jumped back in horror at the sight of Lust.

"What is with you two and trying to give ponies heart attacks" Luna shouted at the pair.

Lust looked at her with annoyance "Just thought you should know your highness that it is almost day break"

Valor turned towards Welik "And you should know the templar is beginning his waking"

"Wait, what, how? Never mind that means..."

Lust cut him off "Yes your body is beginning to wake as well".

"Well then, nice to meat you princess Twilight Sparkle, but I am afraid I must bid you adieu" at that he ran out of her dream and to his. It was in the state he had left it in but it was fading. He turned towards Luna "wake, for I shall join you soon" he said eagerly.

Chapter 3: The Awakening

It was early morning, as the templar opened his eyes and saw the maid opening the curtains he spoke "where am I".

He had startled the thing and she ran out of the room, not ten seconds later two guards entered the room. He Looked at their "armor" and began to laugh. One of the guards got a surprised expression on his face.

"Why do you laugh" the guard asked sternly.

The Templar started laughing harder and managed to get out "you fancy yourselves soldiers; you’re not equipped for battle, your armor leaves you exposed, and you react to me laughing at you. No you no soldiers you mercenaries at best, fools at the worst".

The guards looked at each other and back at him. "You are wanted in the dining hall sir Templar".

"Very well" he tried to stand it was harder than he expected but after falling a few times he got it.

The mage's eyes opened slightly, he saw a two blurs, one purple and one dark blue. As they came into focus he said "may I assume that the other two Princesses are with the Templar"

"He woke up about ten minutes ago" Twilight explained.

"Well I best not keep him waiting" he rolled over and he landed on his hooves. He was naked he was slightly embarrassed, and then he realized that at least the royals are naked as well. However he was perplexed by their tattoos on their thighs. He asked "Why have you tattooed your thighs?"

Luna and Twilight looked at each other's cutie marks. Luna explained "these are our cutie marks".

So Twilight explained exactly what a cutie mark was to him.

"Well then it seems that I will eventually need to get one of these things to better blend in. But for now do you have any thing I can use to cover the Templar’s and my flanks".

Twilight answered "Yes".

As he tried to walk he stumbled and fell. It took him a few tries but he got it eventually and he headed off to the dining hall as per Luna's instructions, with the princesses in his wake.

As the mage entered the dining hall he saw the Templar. The Templar immediately rushed over to Welik and punched him with his hove. "That’s for blasting me" he said with a sneer.

As the mage got up, he realized something "Emon is that you?"

Suddenly Welik found himself in one of Emons infamous bear hugs.

Emon had been the Templar that was assigned to watch over him and his master when they had been studding out of the Circle tower. Emon was fond of mages and even helped mages through the harrowing by telling them the night before so they could prepare themselves.

"So I was told we were out for five days and nights? Knowing you, you used that time to invade locals’ dreams didn't you?"

Welik was shocked "How long have you known I could do that?"

"Ever since we stayed at the Dalish camp" he replied bluntly “you knew the names of some of them before we got there, plus I over herd one say they saw you in their dreams”.

"And you never reported me?”

"I did, but the First Enchanter and my Night Commander already knew about you. They said as long as you weren't harming anyone just to leave you alone".

"That’s why for the rest of that leg of the journey you were on edge".

"Yes, I was paranoid that you would attract a demon and end up an abomination".

"This explains a lot".

They heard a pony clear his thought "Breakfast is served". Ponies with platters started coming out and were giving food to everyone at the table. As per the custom of Mages and Templars the two sat in the corner. Emon began to prey and Welik began to meditate. They had not been directly invited to eat with the rest so they assumed that the food was not for them to touch.

Princess Celestia noticed this and told a page to go and ask them why they were not dining with the rest of the ponies.

After a moment the page returned and told her that they were sitting there because in their culture in their station they have to be directly asked to dine with others no matter what their station. After all one was a representative of the Chantry of and the other was a member of the Circle of Magi.

Luna had heard this and whispered to her sister "Allow me to invite them"

Celestia nodded at Luna, and Luna went off to the wall where they were doing their practices.

"Hello" she started, she had startled the Emon and he fell over to which Welik had to stifle a laugh. Luna continued remembering that theses two insisted on formal language only "I would like to invite you to dine with the royal family of Equestria".

To which Emon and Welik looked at each other in disbelief. It was rare that a Royal family would even tolerate their presence why they ate, but to dine with them. Welik was usually treated as an abomination and Emon as a spy for the Chantry.

Welik nodded his head and said "yes your highness" he bowed lowly. Emon looked at Welik and a thought crossed his mind. He pushed the thought away, and then he bowed and accepted her invitation.

The two were not sure where to sit so they took up at the far end alone; after all they were the lesser here. A page informed them they should sit closer to the princesses so they did. Princess Celestia sat at the head of the table, Luna to her right and Twilight to her left. Welik sat by Twilight and Emon sat by Luna.

"So" Twilight started at Emon "What are you?"

Emon replied "I am a Templar of the Chantry of Andraste. My duty is to defend the Chantry from any and all hostile threats and get every mage into the Circle of Magi".

"So when did you join" Twilight asked with a curious look on her face.

“I joined at the age of seven” Emon looked down.

“Why did you join” Twilight asked.

"I was orphaned by bandits when I was five and raised for two years by a apostate mage, when I was seven he was found out and I was forest into the Chantry".

"Is that why you where at the tower?"

"Yes and no, I had been transferred out of the tower a year before, I was there visiting the mage that had raised me for those two years". He looked blankly out the window. “Wait how did you know about the tower?” he looked at Welik “oh yes you’re a Fade Walker.”

"I'm sorry Emon, if I had know you were in the tower, I would have delayed the portal ritual till after you left".

"Save your apologies Welik, unless you can take us back" he said sadly.

"I'm sorry, but even if I have the gem I need two other mages and quite a bit of lyrium, which as far as I can tell there isn't a drop of lyrium in all of Equestria".

"What in Andraste is Equestria?"

"Equestria is the name of the land that we now reside".

"I've never even heard of Equestria" Emon declared.

"Of course not, we aren't in the same realm Emon. Did you not realize we are horses?”

"Of course I have Welik"

"I had thought there was magic doing this".

"Then couldn't you use your magic to turn back to human".

“Yes I could but let’s wait till after breakfast. Good Queen Celestia may I inquire as to where I may attempt this magic".

Celestia was somewhat annoyed but didn't show it and replied "you may attempt your magic in the garden but you need a guard."

Twilight was curious to see their magic and volunteered to watch them.

It was an hour later, Emon was wearing his armor and Welik was wearing his robes. Welik had drawn up a spell circle to enhance the Emons magic. Welik had also given Emon what was left of his lyrium.

"Let’s hope this works Emon. This is the last of my lyrium, and we can’t use yours otherwise you would go through withdraw, and we can’t have that can we".

"If this doesn't work then you could always turn us to humans via you magic".

"I can’t change the form of other things".

"Well let’s hope this works then Welik. Wait, you change that monkey of yours into other forms all the time."

“You know that Flem and I are bounded through the blo…” he trailed off not wanting to explain that part of his past.

“Ah yes the bond of…”

“We agreed not to talk about how the bond formed” Welik cut him off then gestured with his eyes at Twilight “especially in the company of any and all companions. Those where the terms of our little pact.”

Emon looked at Twilight “ah yes, we are graced with the presence of the illustrious Twilight Sparkle.”

Welik looked at him “nadas lath asha? (You love her?) ” he said looking at Emon then at Twilight he said “ma’falon ar’lath (my friend loves you). But you don’t understand me do you?”

Emon shouted “emma din (I do not).”

“Well sure you don’t Emon you were always bad…” he glanced sideways at Twilight “hiding lath (love) from me.”

Twilight didn’t like the fact that they were speaking another language, yet wanted to learn the language from them, but for now “would you two stop talking in whatever language you’re speaking.”

Welik blinked “very well, we will stop speaking Dalish for now. Emon shall you try your spell now it might be a good idea”

“Right” Emon turned away toward the circle, he walked over to the center of the circle and began to chant and a blue light covered him. Suddenly a blue shockwave shot out of the circle, as the shockwave moved through Equestria the Emon turned towards Welik and looked at the stallion.

Emon yelled "Nnooo!!!!!! It didn't work, it didn't work." He sat down and looked down in sorrow.

Welik walked over to him "don't worry we will get home".

Emon yelled "No we won't were out of lyrium, and soon I'll go through lyrium withdraw and be a useless mass for a month or so."

"There is always the forbidden art".

"No Welik, I cannot allow you to use that magic even if it is the only way".

"Very well Emon, it was just a suggestion".

Twilight was curious and had to ask "What is this forbidden art you’re talking about".

Emon and Welik had forgotten about her, but this prompted them to respond. Welik answered "I'm afraid if I tell you that, you may want to try it. I don't want to release the terror of that art on this beautiful world".

Emon looked at Welik and said "Well your turn"

"Right" Welik replied.

He began to chant and lights appeared around him, suddenly a flash of light enveloped him. Emon looked at him "you have to be kidding me".

Welik asked "what", realizing when he looked down that he was still a stallion.

Welik started "hold on I'm going to try something". He chanted again as the light enveloped him he turned toward Emon and was still a stallion. He tried four more times, on the fifth time when the light faded Emon and Twilight saw a giant spider in his spot.

Twilight was startled, but Emon looked disappointed "that’s the best you can do?" he asked the spider.

The spider hissed back "unfortunately the magic here flows from a different source some spells work and other spells don't most appear to still create light but not do the desired affect".

"Wait does that mean that the portal spell won't work here?" Emon asked scared to death.

Welik turned back into pony and shrugged "maybe I can adapt the spell to use the magic that exist here". He turned towards Twilight and asked "You know much of magic do you not princess, do you think you could help me in this endeavor?”

Twilight smiled and nodded at him. "Yes I'm sure I could help you Welik, as long as you don’t start talking in” she paused ”Dalish?”

Welik replied “Thank you, Princess”

They were in a library looking for books that where focused on magic and the arcane arts. Welik was not the best at telekinetic spells and the handicap of drawing his mana from a new source wasn’t helping him at all.

"This is so frustrating!!!!" Welik was annoyed to no end.

Twilight was surprised by his outburst and a book she was holding above her fell on her. She levitated the books up and off of her "What’s wrong Welik".

Welik turned toward her and said "I don't know by the Maker himself, how you ponies do anything without hands.”

Twilight looked at him and asked “what are hands?”

“That’s unimportant, the past is the past and I shouldn’t reminisce about mine.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“I would rather show you than answer the question; however I do not have the ability to do that seeing how I will have to contour most of the spells I know to the rules of this realm.”

“So you won’t answer my question then” Twilight said bluntly.

“No” Welik replied, “Now let’s get back to the research so I can begin contouring all my spells”.

“I actually have to go see my friend Rarity about my dress” Twilight said.

“Not surprising there is always some sort of formal event that royals have to go to. So what’s the name of this one?”

Twilight replied “The Grand Galloping Gala.”

“Well I hope you enjoy your little social gathering.”

“Hay, do you want to come?”

“Oh I wouldn’t want to overstep my bounds.”

“Oh don’t worry about it I’m sure we can get you a ticket, we’ll even get a ticket for Emon as well.”

“Very well, I shall see if Emon is willing to attend.”

Chapter 4: The Gala

"Come on Emon, we should go."

"Welik we are a Mage and a Templar, we do not go to social events, not unless we have joined the Wardens or have helped the nobles that are throwing the party for our benefit."

"But we are trying to blend in, and this is a great opportunity to observe the culture of these people.”

“It is also an opportunity to get ourselves in trouble because we don’t know what to do.”

“Emon it is a month and a half away, think it over, besides you’ll be fighting withdraw for most of that time won’t you?”

“I doubt I’ll change my mind Welik, besides we have no formal attire for the occasion.”

“Oh please it won’t be hard to find ourselves the attire from the locals.”

“And do you have the money for this attire.”

“You know I keep a fair amount of gold and silver in my portion of the Fade.”

“And you know that is illegal, Welik.” Emon said bluntly, “I cannot allow you to use this gold or silver.”

“Fine, very well, but tell me how do you intend on getting the attire?”

“I don’t want to go remember.”

“Then I will Figure it out myself” Welik spat at him.

“How’s Emon doing” Welik asked the guard to his room.

“He won’t stop babbling about someone he calls Marith, who is he?”

“Marith was the mage who took him in when he was five, it make since that he would be talking about his family at this time. Templar’s often talk about those who they treasure the most when they go through lyrium withdraw.” Welik explained to the guard. “May I go in?”

“No, he is getting violent, I’m sorry I was ordered to keep ponies out if he got violent.”

“Very well then, he’s got two weeks before the Gala, and the withdraw should end in about a week. I’ll be coming back every few hours to check on him.”

“So how bad did I get Welik” Emon asked Welik.

“You tried to escape ten times, sent four guards to the hospital, broke three doors, your bed, two windows, the wall, and last but not least took up arms agents Princess Luna.”

“But you stopped me.”

“How did you remember that?”

“I didn’t, I was guessing that based on your behavior around her.”

“What are you implying Emon.”

“I think you know what I’m implying Welik, nadas lath asha? (You love her?).”

“So what if I do, we both know that it wouldn’t work out.”

“Both? You mean you and Luna?”

“No, you and me.”

“So she hasn’t returned your affections then?”

“Oh we flirted a little, but that is just harmless flirting.”

“Is that what she thinks?”

“I don’t know, probably.”

“Well Looks like we’re going to the Grand Galloping Gala.”

“Don’t toy with me Emon.” Welik spat at him.

“I’m not toying with you this is a chance to observe the culture of this realm.”

“Well looks like I won’t have to go without you.” Welik beamed.

Emon arched his eyebrow “I would have figured as much. But you realize I wouldn’t have let you go, it’s above your station.”

“Well now that, that is settled we need to get you your attire. Don’t worry, the Princesses had some clothiers take your measurements why you were going through withdraw.”

“So you already have what I’m going to wear to this Gala”

“Well there are a few choices to go through. We should get you ready, the Gala is in three days.”

“Tell me, why you are so obsessed with this Gala?”

“Emon I’ve always wondered what the nobles did at these sorts of things, sure it’s not a Ferelden ball but, it’s the next best thing to it.”

“Well you had it all planed out didn’t you.”

“I always do.” Welik smirked.

Welik was in ah as he looked at the grand ballroom. He was amazed by the decor and the ponies. Emon was impressed by the sheer number of ponies that where here “Well this was a good idea”. Emon said as he looked toward Welik, but Welik was staring at Luna.

“Well looks like I was right.”

“Shut up Emon, now’s not the time.” Welik said angrily. Then he looked back at Princess Luna, he thought she was gorgeous, sure she was corrupted once but so had he. Then his mind flashed back to that dark time in his life, he pushed the thought away. Then Luna looked at him, Welik turned away shyly.

A million thoughts went through his mind. Did she like him with his beard trimmed, was his outfit nice, was it even right to attempt to court her.

But Luna wasn’t the only one who saw this, Princess Cadance noticed as well. She leaned toward her husband “you want to hook another pair up”.

“Sure, but who this time?”

“Luna and that stallion she has been stealing glances at since the Gala started.”

“You sure that’s a good idea”.

“Yes she told me how she visits him in ponies dreams a lot, and that he has the ability to travel from dream to dream like her”.

Shining Armor pulled out a top hat and put it on. ”Got it, what’s the plan honey.”

“You’ll go rig the music, when I see you start heading for him, I’ll get Luna to follow me, and we’ll meat up around there” she said pointing a little left of the center of the room.

“OK, and when we meat up”.

“The band will begin to play a slow song; we’ll dance away leaving the two of them there. If all goes well the stallion will ask her to dance”.

Shining Armor went into the crowd. Princess Cadance followed him with her eyes and as soon as she saw him move away from the band she turned to Princess Luna and began to speak “Luna would you follow me please”. Luna nodded stealing a glanced at Welik; she saw that he was talking to a stallion with a top hat.

Princess Luna followed Princess Cadance through the Gala when she saw Welik talking to the stallion in the top hat; a realization came over her as she saw the stallion in the hat was Shining Armor. The music began to slow down, Shining Armor and Cadance began to dance away.

Welik was surprised to see the predicament he was in; if he didn’t know better he would have thought Lust had planed the whole ordeal. Oh well this wasn’t the first time he was in a jam like this so he did what he always did, he bowed at Luna and addressed her “Princess Luna, it looks like some pony wants us to dance so… May I have this dance?”

Luna was surprised by this reaction but accepted his invitation to dance. As they danced Welik asked her “Who was the Princess and stallion that matched us up?”

She answered him “that was Princess Cadance and her husband Shining Armor.”

“Have I met them before?”

“They were both there when you came through the vortex”

“So, what is she the princess of?”

“She is the princess of love.”

Welik got a frown for a second then it faded “sorry it’s just that that I’ve always had a problem with beings of love.”

“You mean like Lust?” Luna asked.

“Yes and no, Lust extends to more than love but that is a central part of her, you see.”

“I think so” Luna replied.

“You know Luna, Lust put an idea in my head that by the day seems mo and more like it can become a reality. But then I learned about your past.”

Luna’s heart was racing, and then she heard the last part. “What do you mean my past?”

“Well I learned from Pinkie Pie’s dreams that you were once Nightmare Moon, a scourge that was banished to the moon for a thousand years.”

Luna’s heart sank as she feared she was about to have her heart broken all because of a bad mistake made a thousand years ago.

“And that’s when I knew that Lust was right.”

Luna looked up “what?”

“Well you see Luna we all have a past and ours are very similar, you see…”

A unicorn mare walked up to them then said in an odd but familiar voice “I need to talk to you”. Both Luna and Welik assumed she was talking to Luna. Welik stepped back. “No Welik I was talking to you.”

Welik was taken aback “do I know you?” he asked tentatively.

“Yes and no, Welik I need to talk to you in private”.

Welik didn’t like the sound of it and said “I have no secrets”.

“We both know that’s not true.” That was when it hit him; Welik knew why this mare was familiar.

In an angry voice he said “come with me to the balcony, and where is the other one hiding?” He turned toward Luna “you can come if you want.”

As the three of them went to the balcony Emon watched them with suspicion, “what are you up to mage?” he muttered to himself.

Then an earth pony mare approached him, “do you want to dance” she asked him. He had not expected the question.

“Sure.”

Out on the balcony Welik turned towards the unicorn mare and spat “what are you doing here, how are you here, and where is the other one hiding,”

Luna was confused “what is going on Welik?”

“You remember Lust don’t you Luna” Welik said with misdirected annoyed.

“Don’t talk to me like that” Luna replied sternly.

“Forgive me I’m just annoyed by Lust here inhabiting the body of this poor pony. Speaking of which, you still haven’t answered my questions.” He shouted at Lust.

“Fine Welik, I’m here to warn you, I possessed a pony to do this, and he’s coming out the balcony door in three, two, one.” As soon as she has said one, the door opened and a unicorn stallion wearing a tux walked out and asked Lust “did you tell him yet.”

Welik turned toward the unicorn stallion and asked “Valor, is that you?”

“Yes” valor replied.

“Now what is so important that you needed to ruin this night just to tell me?”

Lust began “We were just wondering dreams when we…”

Valor interjected “Her not me.”

Lust continued “Fine, I sort of, kind of, may have made a single Darkspawn in this land, and it may have started spreading its blood.”

Welik was quiet; Luna wasn’t sure what was going on. Then Welik began to speak “you mean to tell me that you unleashed the Darkspawn on this land!” he had begun speaking but had ended shouting, he continued shouting “where did you get darkspawn blood, who did you infect, and why did you do it!?!”

Lust was quivering, but she answered his questions “from…”

Welik cut her off “Never mind I already know, continue with the rest!”

Lust continued “A farmer at the edge of Equestria, and it was an accident.”

Welik looked at her with such distain that she couldn't look at him. “I haven’t forgotten about you Valor, your only job is to keep Lust in line and you failed.”

Valor stood his ground “No!! My only job is to keep Lust from tempting mortals. She is free to do whatever it wants when she isn’t tempting mortals.”

Welik stared daggers at him “I don’t care if she is tempting mortals or not, your job is to stop her from causing trouble in general.”

He turned towards Lust “how many darkspawn are there now?” Welik asked her swiftly.

“One hundred twenty-seven, twenty-eight now” She said terrified of what was to come.

Welik started “what…” but he tailed off. His brown fir was getting pail and parts of it were falling off; his beard was growing fast and was getting white as well. His pupils where expanding but his irises weren’t the blackness was covering his eyes. His teeth were sharpening. The black outline of a sword was appearing on the ground in front of him.

Suddenly the door to the balcony slammed open as Emon charged Welik. Emon landed on top of Welik and punched him in the face trying to knock him out desperately. Emon shouted “I will not let the Darkspawn General escape his prison ever!”

Luna was confused and Lust and Valor were just watching. Then Valor grabbed Emon and threw him back “that’s enough Emon, he’s out!”

“Valor what are you doing here? I thought you were freed from the statue?”

“I was but I was bound to Welik. A spirit cannot exist out of the fade without a vessel, Welik was that vessel but in the short time I was using Welik as a vessel, I was bound to Welik through spirit.”

“So may I assume this is the other spirit we helped get out of that cat?”

Valor looked at Lust, then back at Emon, Valor nodded “yes she is.” He said bluntly.

Emon began to ask “why is the Darkspawn General breaking out of him?”

“Emon” Valor started “I’m afraid that there are some darkspawn here in Equestria.”

Emon’s face fell “how many” he said as he started to quiver. So many memories of the last blight where the Grey Wardens had killed the archdemon, so many dead after the smoke cleared. Emon was terrified.

“One hundred fifty-seven” Valor said slowly.

“How many special Darkspawn?” Valor asked with a whisper.

Valor replied “Including you and the General, twelve.”

“What types?” Emon asked petrified.

“Seven emissaries and three shrieks” Valor replied.

Luna was shocked but she finally broke free from it “What just happened?” she asked. Emon and Valor had forgotten that she was there at all. They both looked at each other and back at her.

Emon explained “You see Welik here has a dark past. During the last blight on the land Welik had become a Hurlock, the lowest form of Darkspawn. But Welik wasn’t content with being a foot soldier; he impressed the archdemon by leading a darkspawn army that had lost its emissary into a village and one the battle. Then in the battle with King Cailan’s army the general was killed by a warden and Welik took charge of the horde and won the battle for the Archdemon by killing the King…”

Valor picked up as Emon was having a hard time continuing “After that battle the new General attacked a chantry outpost where Emon was turned into a Hurlock soon after Emon was turned into a Hurlock Vanguard who served the general directly. Welik lead a campaign all across the southern half of Ferelden. They where there when the Archdemon died, and Welik was strong enough to take control of his body and used the husk of the Archdemon to come up with a “cure” for the darkspawn. It turned out that it was a temporary cure, now whenever Welik senses darkspawn he can turn into the Great Darkspawn General agents his will, if he doesn’t have the cure on hand he will turn. And he doesn’t have the ability to make it here.”

Emon looked towards Welik, who was unconscious on the ground having been knocked out by Emon. Welik looked like he was halfway through his transformation back to himself. Emon turned towards Luna “what shall I do with him?” he asked her.

Luna called some pegisus guards over to carry him to his room, lock him in and guard it.

Emon turned towards Valor “You and the other one need to leave these vessels.”

Valor turned towards Lust and said “Shall we.”

Valor and Lust hosts’ eyes started to glow blue and red respectively. They both got so bright no pony could look at them and then they suddenly stopped. “Where am I” the unicorn mare asked.

Emon said suddenly “at the Grand Galloping Gala, now hurry inside you don’t want to miss anything.” He opened the door and pushed them both inside.

Emon turned towards Luna “ok, forgive me but, you have a Gala to attend. Please don’t mention what happened out here until the Gala is over, I don’t want to spook the nobles. I’ll leave the Gala to watch over Welik; after all it is my job.” At that Emon ran into the ballroom and disappeared into the crowd.

As Luna entered the room Cadance walked over to her and started to walk beside her ”So how were things with that stallion? You two were out there a long time” She asked Luna.

Luna replied “is name is Welik, and he’s fine.”

Cadance asked “what happened out there?”

“Nothing at all” Luna answered somewhat sadly.

“Are you sure?” Cadance asked worried.

“What you did was nice Cadance.” Luna said and then walked away.

Chapter 5: The General

Emon had hurried out of the Gala he was terrified of what was going to happen if the darkspawn General managed to break out of Welik. There was also the matter of the other darkspawn that were rampaging across northern Equestria. He was feeling a slight pain in his chest, it was the darkspawn inside him, it wanted out, but he was strong and disciplined from years of practice. Welik on the other hand doesn’t have years of discipline and may turn at any time.

Emon reached Weliks room; a pegasus guard put his weapon in front of Emon. Emon just looked at the guard then said “really, let me in”. The pegasus guard looked at his partner and they both stepped aside letting Emon inside.

Emon walked inside and looked at the bed, there was a lump under the sheets. Emon hesitated “Welik? Are you ok?”

“No I am…rang rang” Welik was speaking the untranslated language of the darkspawn. Emon was terrified of what was about to happen, but Welik continued “Leave I must fight this alone.”

“How can you?”

“In... Fade…it…only…way” Weliks voice was straining “Go” He bellowed.

Emon jumped back, and then he left the room. He turned toward the guards and said “post a guard out of his window, I won’t allow him to escape no matter what, understood?”

The guards saluted, then the pegasus guard ran off and Emon assumed he was going to fly out of the window, and he went to his room.

Before Emon got to his room a guard rushed over to him and told him that princess Luna wanted to see him. Emon asked the guard where to go and was surprised to hear he was to go back to the Gala.

Emon found Luna and asked “Why am I here?” in a stern voice. Then catching himself he said “forgive me your highness, I’m a little on edge with what’s going on, but I digress.”

“I told the other princess about Welik and they agree to keep Weliks condition secret. Twilight thinks she can help with a spell that will require us all.” She looked at him happily. Emon face was blank. Luna asked “What’s wrong?”

Emon answered “that didn’t work the last time or the time before that, I doubt it will work this time.”

“But this can’t be the same spell and doesn’t magic work differently here?” Luna asked.

“Then there is a slight chance, but I wouldn’t count on it. But we have to let him try to beat the General himself.”

“How?”

“In the Fade.” As Emon spoke a realization came over him. “You have to help him, well you don’t have to but… he needs your help.”

“What about the spell?” Luna asked.

“You may not have to try it if you help him in the Fade. You go help him, I’ll inform the other Princesses of the plan, go now we have to save him, and in turn Equestria.” Emon said as he ran off.

Luna was having trouble getting into Weliks dream. This was a sharp contrast of how easy it was to get in before. She pushed harder and eventually broke in.

She had expected the usual floating island, what she saw was completely unexpected. She was in a immense cavern, there were odd buildings all around. She looked down and saw, thousand of pail, furless ponies, their eyes as black as Weliks had gotten. They each carried black swords, their armor was black as well and they were all marching in the same direction.

She looked around and saw three large pale ogres, they were attacking a door. She looked at a bridge and saw a large black dragon it was perched on a bridge, she recognized it as the second dragon that had flown into the mist the first time she had entered Weliks dreams. The dragon looked at her directly and pointed with his tail towards a outcropping.

Luna looked at it and saw two mages in pony form battling out on it. She flew in closer so she could hear what they were shouting at each other.

“I won’t give in to you” Welik shouted.

“Fine I’ll just kill you and take my body.” The General shouted back.

“I won’t let you.”

“You won’t let me; please you’ve never beaten me before, not without his help at least.”

“Please the Archdemon never helped me.” At that Welik shot a fire ball at the General. The General impossibly cough tut with his staff, then threw it back at Welik. It hit Welik; Welik flew back and almost fell off of the outcropping.

The General walked forward and stopped about two meters from Welik. He spoke “Welik I don’t want to kill you, so I offer you a deal…”

Welik cut him off “What kind of deal?”

“One were you don’t get destroyed and I don’t convert every pony in Canterlot to darkspawn right away. Even thought I will be losing my best Hurlock Vanguard” The General said, grinning his sharp toothed grin.

“If I except you won’t convert any of the ponies here to darkspawn?”

“Yes, in fact I won’t start infecting ponies until I meet up with the bulk of the darkspawn horde in Equestria”

“I know you’re not lying, fine…”

At that Luna dived at the General and knocked him down. The General was up quickly and using his staff, he hit her with a bolt of magic.

Luna was kicked out of the dream. She heard something though she flew around the dream to see Lust and Valor arguing about this predicament they were in. she rolled her eyes and left the area to return to Equestria.

Emon was in full battle regale, running as fast as he could in it. Amazingly in full armor he was still faster than any of the guards that where following him. Luna had told him of the General’s deal and he was worried.

Emon arrived at Welik’s room; he pushed the guards aside and went in only to see the Great Darkspawn General standing there in his darkspawn armor and his staff. The staff was like Welik’s hut was black instead of brown and the gem was red.

The General looked towards him and then began to run at the window. The window shattered as the General jumped through it. Welik’s room faced away from the mountain and the General was falling past Canterlot. Emon rushed to the window as he told all the pegasus around him to catch the General. Three pegasus flew after him.

The General looked up and used his staff to shoot several mana bolts at the pegasus that where following him. Then Emon saw it, a darkspawn ogre jumped from the mountain under Canterlot, it caught the General in mid air and landed away from Canterlot. Emon wasn’t sure but he knew that ogres couldn’t survive that fall so did the General. He couldn’t see General or the ogre anymore, this wasn’t good, if the General still lived then the darkspawn to the north would soon have one of the greatest tactical darkspawns in the history of their race.

Emon left the room determination on his face as he put his helmet on. The princess appeared and asked what had happened. Emon explained by to them exactly what had happened and explained his plan. He was going to use the mages phylactery to track him down and kill him before he can muster up a strong enough force to cause real trouble.

Twilight asked “What’s a phylactery?”

“It’s something we use to track down mages. Now if you’ll pardon me I have to go kill a being of pure evil.”

“Will killing the General will also cause Welik to die as well?” Celestia asked.

“Yes” Emon face was stern “but it is the only way”.

“What about the Elements of Harmony? Can’t those work?” Twilight asked.

Emon looked at her “Whet in Andraste’s name, are the Elements of Harmony?”

Twilight was surprised “you’ve lived here for over a month and a half, and you’ve never heard of the Elements of Harmony?”

Emon looked blankly at her then said “I spent most of my time here going through lyrium withdraw!”

Twilight shrugged “I forgot, but let’s just use those.”

Emon looked at each of them “how do these things work?”

“Well we get the Elements and there bearers together and we use them on Welik.”

“Let me guess the Element’s bearers are spread across all of Equestria and we must go on an epic quest to find and gather all of them.”

The other Princesses looked at Twilight “Well actually most of the Elements are in Ponyville.”

Emon was confused “then we must track down the other ones won’t we”

“No” Twilight began “The last Element is me”.

Emon was completely confused now “Then this Ponyville must be hard to get to, right?”

“Not really it’s just a short train ride away” Twilight replied.

“I don’t like this, it’s too easy” Emon was skeptical.

“Fine, I will accompany you to this Ponyville, help you collect the Elements and then lead you to Welik. We must leave at once.”

“Let’s go” Twilight said as she ran off. Emon followed and soon caught up, putting his helmet on as he ran.

Fortunately Pinkie Pie was throwing a post Gala party and Twilight had gotten an invitation, they knew just where to look.

Twilight and Emon burst into Pinkies house and stopped the music. Pinkie turned towards Twilight and asked “what’s going on, why did you turn off the music?”

“There’s an urgent matter that requires the Elements of Harmony” Twilight said to the other ponies. The ponies looked at Emon who hadn’t taken off his helmet.

Rainbow Dash asked “who is this” she said pointing at Emon.

Twilight was about to answer but Emon said “forgive me Princess but may I introduce myself?”

Twilight turned to him and said “by all means.”

“Very well” Emon began “My name is Knight Commander Emon of the holy Chantry of Andraste”. As he said this the light hit his armor and it shined. Rarity was infatuated by it.

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes “I’ve never heard of the holy Chantry of Andraste” she said skeptically.

Emon looked at her “I should hope not it has no presence in Equestria.”

Applejack walked over to Twilight “Ya’ll sure we can trust him, sugar cube”.

Twilight nodded “Positive he’s been living in Canterlot for the last month and a half.”

Emon pulled out Welik’s phylactery which he had on a necklace and began to start turning around. The other ponies looked at him like he was crazy. “Ah ha” Emon exclaimed “He’s that way. He pointed northward and slightly eastward. “We must leave at once before the darkspawn horde expands and the General becomes out of reach.”

The five ponies looked at each other and Rainbow Dash said “Twilight, are you sure he’s not crazy”.

“He’s not now come on the chariots await us”. Twilight had arranged for pegasus guards to take them all too where the General was.

They were passing Canterlot as twilight was wrapping up her lecture of what had happened in Canterlot over the last month and a half. Rainbow Dash flew to the chariot that Emon was on and asked him if it was true. He nodded and said “Yes I am from Ferelden”. At that Rainbow Dash started to bombard him with questions about where he lived. After about fifteen minutes of this, Emon was annoyed and asked her “I’ve heard you where fast, mind proving yourself by informing the Princesses of the progress of our quest. In fact how about a friendly wager, I’ll wager ten gold agents you think you can match it?”

“You’re on” Rainbow said, and then she darted off towards Canterlot.

“You know we could have just sent a letter to them with Spike” Twilight told him.

“That’s a good idea after I lose this wager, I’ll wager that she can’t take spike back to Canterlot in under twenty minutes.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“I know but I can’t stand being grilled by that pony any more”.

Rainbow Dash returned in thirteen minutes and Emon pulled out ten gold coins “here you go. Now bet you can’t take Spike here back to Canterlot in under thirty minutes. What say another ten gold” they shook and Rainbow Dash flew off, as Emon watched he saw spike fall off multiple times. “That should keep her busy for a while” he said to himself, as the five remaining ponies looked at him. “What I never liked being grilled”.

They where half way there when Rainbow Dash finally caught up with them “ha that was thirty-seven minutes you owe me ten gold.

Rainbow took out the ten gold pieces he had given her and gave them back to him.

Emon was about to talk when he heard a tremendous chatter. He looked over the edge of the chariot and saw a large dark mass. Twilight asked “what is that?”

Emon replied grimly “The Darkspawn horde, it’s grown quickly, it now numbers four thousand seven hundred thirty-eight.”

“Wo you can count that many from up here” Pinkie Pie shouted.

“Truly divine vision” rarity retorted.

“It’s anything but divine” Emon retorted.

“What do you mean?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Twilight looked over at him “you don’t have to tell them”.

“Ah but I do, for should I change in the upcoming battle, they deserve to know why. You see I am what you call a Hurlock Vanguard; in fact I am one of the Vanguards that served the Great Darkspawn General directly. “

At that Rainbow Dash flew into his face “you’re what?”

“A direct servant of the very being we are trying to destroy, that at any moment change back into that form and try to kill you all.” he said calmly. “We need to get to the General. He’ll be in the center of the horde.”

“Well how are we supposed to get there” Applejack asked.

“We could fight our way through, land next to him, perform your spell from up here, or send the guards here to pick him up,” Emon proposed.

“I say we dive down, you and the guards protect us why Twilight charges her spell with the Elements and we blast him!” Rainbow said eagerly.

“Shock and ah tactics are frowned upon by the grey wardens. However that would probably be the best option”.

They dived, as soon as they landed the pegasus guards and Emon jumped and they all formed a circle around the main six. Twilight charged her element and they shot a rainbow at The Great Darkspawn General.

There was a flash of light and a shockwave went over all of the Darkspawn and they all turned into the ponies they were before the infection. The Elements also took it one step further and even sent them home.

When the smoke cleared a single form was standing in front of them. It was the Darkspawn General. The General smiled and said “you’ve freed me from him”.

Emon took his helmet off “Welik is that you”.

The General got a confused look on his face “what do you mean, of course it’s me”, than he looked down. Welik was still in the body of the Great Darkspawn General, but his mind was his. He looked back up at Emon “your plan didn’t work.” he announced.

Rainbow Dash rushed him. Welik did what cam naturally to him; he sidestepped at the last moment.

“Emon I’m afraid I have to leave Equestria”.

“No you don’t Welik; the ponies here can help you.”

“We both know that’s a lie Emon”

“We both know I can’t let you live in that form Welik”

“We both know you can’t stop me, Emon. Besides I’m darkspawn and you aren’t a Grey Warden.”

“You’re right but if you leave you’ll be an apostate mage and that makes you my responsibility.”

“I’m leaving this peaceful land in exile Emon”.

“You know I can’t let you” Emon drew his sword and charged Welik.

Welik knew sidestepping wouldn’t work he drew his staff. As Emon got close Welik blasted him with magic. Emon flew upward and landed about ten yards away. He hobbled to his hooves, as he put pressure on his right for hoof he fell it was broken. Welik began “I can’t thank you enough” he was addressing the main six “you freed me from the prison of the Generals mind”. He turned to Emon “Do not follow Emon I refuse to cause you more peril”. With that he disappeared in a ball of green light.

Emon was leaning ageist a guard and was being led to one of the chariots when Pinkie Pie yelled “Hay, what’s that?” Emon turned and saw where Pinkie Pie was pointing, there were papers on the ground and on top of it was a necklace. Of course by the time this had registered Twilight had already picked it up and was trying to read what was on it.

“What weird language is this?” she asked aloud then resisted some of it “Luna ma emma lath. What does that mean?”

Emon was coming over “it’s Dalish, as for what it means, it says “Luna you are my love”. May I see it?”

“Sure” Twilight said handing the papers to Emon.

“Oh, this seems to be a love letter to Princess Luna. I will translate it on the way home, now let’s go, I need medical attention.”

They were back in Canterlot. Emon went straight to the throne room and found Luna there. He hobbled over to her having refused medical attention until he delivered the letter.

He walked up to her and said “Welik wanted you to have this” he pulled out a letter and handed it to her. Then turned away and began to leave.

She had a confused look on her face as she saw the odd language; she asked “how do I read this.”

As Emon was about to leave the room he turned over his left shoulder and said “there is a translation on the back.”

As Luna read Weliks love letter she began to cry. It was romantic, and it only enforced her grief. Twilight had told Celestia and Luna what had happened. Than Emon reentered the room and said “I almost forgot he also wanted you to have this” he pulled out a lovely necklace. Emon pointed out to her that it was a powerful type of phylactery that would allow her to track Welik down with ease.

Luna took the necklace and went to her chambers and softly wept. The only pony brave enough to court her and he had left Equestria entirely just to protect it.

In Emon’s quarters he pulled out a second untranslated sheet of paper. He knew what it was and he was slightly happy. It was detailed instructions on how to use the portal spell in this realm.

But the cost was great just to get this sheet of paper and he knew he had to find Welik.

Beyond the border of Equestria in a cave Welik was looking up at the moon and remembering all the lives he had ruined. He counted them off Marith, Fanger, Leana, Emon, Flemeth, and most recently Luna. He sat on his haunches and turned towards the candle he had lit to help him see in the dark. He muttered to himself “Darkspawn don’t need light” and blew out the candle.