Chapter 1-Recruiting and Preparation

The chariot creaked as it landed on the cool earthen ground. "Thank you gentlestallions, you may return to your posts." Twilight said, as she and Spike descended. The guards gave a quick nod, "Yes milady." as they took off once more, kicking their hind legs as they flew back to Canterlot.

Twilight trotted through the town, rereading the dossiers. It seems the five mares she called friends had gained new occupations. Rainbow Spectrum Dash, daughter of the deceased Dame Soaring Skies, and her husband, a Journeystallion in the renowned Fighter's Guild, who had worked as a weather adviser and second in command of Rainbow Industries, which, after multiple poisonous rumors were debunked, was revealed that they did not craft rainbows out of slaughtered foals. After earning enough bits, Rainbow had entered the Order of The Purging Flame, and become one of its most well known Demon Hunters, and had returned to live with her wife, Fluttershy, and their two foals.

Fluttershy had discovered how in tune with nature she was, much more so than any Earth Pony, and learned she was gifted with Terramancy, the ability to magically control the elements, flora, and to an extent, fauna, and studied Terramancy in the Arcanis University in Canterlot. She then returned home to care for her animals and her children,

Rarity, while still designing clothes and accessories in her family's store, Carousel Emporium, she had followed Fluttershy to the Arcanis University, in order to hone her magical prowess, which she had before only used to locate jewels or for minor levitation and teleportation. She had greatly increased her repertoire of arcane abilities. She and Spike were currently courting.

Pinkamena Diane Pie, a baker and adopted daughter of the Cake family, had learned alchemy and illusion crafting from Zecora Mbali Andraste, daughter of a Zebrican Shaman and a Peltic huntress. She had used her abilities, as well as her natural ability to bend reality at her will, in her trade of throwing parties, festivals, and the like.

Applejack Maria Apple, of the Apple Clan, had taken up adventuring for the local branch of the Fighter's Guild, was a part time gladiator in the Pony's Ville arena, and an apprentice-level Terramancer. She aided her family on their farm still, occasionally departing to fufill a contract's request.

Twilight smiled, placing the dossiers in her saddlebags, the clasps causing a small CLANK to emit from her armor, glad her friends had gotten successful careers, or an additional one. She had sent a sealed letter to each of the six mares, stating she would meet them at the Golden Oaks library, where she would frequent, as it served as a home-away-from-home for the young paladin.

Twilight opened the door, Spike beside her, to find Pinkie Pie and the others gathered around a table. A swift group embrace and greetings followed. "Now, I'm sure you five know why I called you here." The five nodded. "Queen Celestia has asked me to gather you, we have to venture to the far north, beyond the Griffon Imperium and the Crystal Empire." She sighed, "I'm not going to lie, this journey will be perilous, and there will be great danger ahead." She took a deep breath, before continuing, "The prophecies state that Messorem is returning."

"But Twilight, how could that be? The Maker sealed him away, and locked the barrier between Equiis and Aetherius. How could he enter the mortal realm?" Fluttershy asked, fear in her tone, as her long pink hair blew in the gentle breeze.

"Saint Starswirl's prophecies state that, on the next eclipse of Sol, the seal on the Void shall break, and the Reaper of Souls will return." Twilight looked at the five gathered mares, who all showed looks of shock and awe, "A darkness is awakening in the North, perhaps it is Messorem himself. As you know, after the Tree of Harmony took back the Elements, they floated into the sky, and dispersed northward. We have to gather them once more, and stop Messorem's forces." Twilight reached into her mail, and pulled out a glowing crimson jewel on a necklace, "Queen Celestia gave me this when I was knighted, she told me it could detect Harmony magic, it will glow brighter as we get closer to a source." She let the pendent down, "Get your gear ready, we leave on the morrow." The mares nodded, as they quickly left for their homes, to gather supplies, which they brought back in an hour,

After some catching-up, the seven departed for the bedrooms, falling asleep, Queen Luna's radiant full moon bathing them in its beautiful light..

Twilight awoke, cracking her neck, as she gently combed her mane, and reverently placed her blessed armor and weapons on her body, her wings ruffling. She made her bedspread, before moving to the shrine to the Maker she had set up, as she moved her hooves in the Sancta Crux, "Factor in nomine in nomine Salvatoris, Ferocibus Animis et." she said the Signum Crucis, "Maker, may Xyr, Xyr Son, and Xyr Spirit watch over us on our quest. May Xe aid us in doing Xyr will, and halting The Dread Lord, Amen." She bowed her head, before raising it slowy, and trotting down the stairs, where the seven were currently eating breakfeast.

Rainbow Dash was dressed in the standard Demon Hunter gear, a padded black and gold hood, plated black and gold armor and hoofguards, a bandolier was tied around her waist, where lockpicks, extra bolts, and other small necessities were stored, and her Meteorite crossbow, strapped to her back.

Fluttershy sat next to her wife, dressed in a loose forest green hooded robe, a vine-like staff lay by her side, and assorted poultices and elixers. She smiled, "Good morning Twilight." She nodded, placing a slice of peppered steak and olives into her mouth, slowly chewing.

"Hello Twilight, how was your sleep, pleasant I take it?" Rarity asked, taking a sip from her weirwood tea. Her outfit was a silver and blood ruby circlet, she wore Spike's fire ruby necklace, and gift from their anniversary , all underneath an ultramarine blue robe with white highlights, a runed band with a small diamond lay on her right forehoof, her wedding ring.

"Good morning everypony." Twilight smiled slightly, as she began eating aswell, fried hay, garlic rice, and strips of slightly charred bacon, "Rarity, before we set out, how are Lavender and Emerald Dawn?" Lavender and Emerald were Spike and Rarity's children, they had recently had their second nameday. Spike kept in contract through Dream-Walking, and letters.

"They are doing quite well, their honarary aunts, aside from you five, Lyra and Bon Bon are foalsitting them." Rarity smiled, pecking her husband lightly on the cheek.

After some small chatting, and a hearty meal, they cleaned their dishes, before Twilight opened the front door, "Before we set out, have you said your farewells to your loved ones?" The five mares nodded solemnly, "Then we shall be off. May The Maker guide us." She intoned, as the mare responded in kind.

They each trotted into the rising dawn, and began their journey north, saddlebags, armor, and weaponry rustling in the breeze. Their hooves making imprints on the warm earthen road.

Meanwhile, dark clouds began to gather in the air, and the chill on winter filled the bones of every being in existence.....

Author's Note

Yes, in this story, the ponies are omnivores, please, if you have a problem with this, let me say, IRL, if a bird landed in a horse's mouth, it wouldn't hesitate crunching on some avian flesh.