Legacy of the Kirin

"Where are the Elements of Harmony located at, Twilight?" Spirit asks. Twilight looks up at him as they walk through the forest.

"The old castle of the pony sisters." She tells him. He laughs slightly. "What's so funny?" She asks.

"I haven't been there since the wars had stopped." He tells them.

"Wars?" Spike asks. Spirit nods his head.

"There were many wars back then. Between Kirin and Dragon's. Before that, it was the ancient war between Humans and Nature. Before them, was the war of Draconequi and Alicorn's." He tells them. "However, those are for later days. The wars I talk about, are when Tia and Luna took on the mad god, Discord. Then came the Necromancer and spirit of Hatred and Fear, Sombra. Then, was Nightmare Moon and Tia." He sighs out the last part sadly. "Luna was consumed by hatred and sadness. She became Nightmare Moon. And I had the courtesy of helping Tia use the Elements against our friend and sister." He explains.

"But there was no talk of wars in school! Not even in the textbooks!" Twilight exclaims.

"That's because ponies needed to know about Friendship and Harmony. Not Violence and Hatred." Spirit explains with a light laugh. The ponies and dragon become confused.

"I thought you said that you needed to hide?" Twilight asks. Spirit chuckles.

"That doesn't mean that I lost my connection to Tia. Me and her talk from time to time." He states. He gives Twilight a sly glance. "I was the one who informed her of your magical feats." He explains. She stops and stares up at her friend.

"Your the reason why she came to me?" She asks. This perk up the others. Spirit stands on his hind-hooves and bows like a gentleman/gentlecolt. He smirks up at her.

"I aim to please." He states before his eyes narrow and his form flickers. The girls and baby dragon become confused, until Spirit comes flying out of a bush and hits a tree. He groans. "Fuck. That hurt." He groans out.

"Fuck?" Rainbow asks.

"Human word." He states before getting back up. They stand before two white columns as a Manticore with an anger problem jumps out and roars. "Oh shit..." He sighs out. He watches as Rainbow Dash flies and kicks the Manticore in the muzzle. He face-claws.

"Move on lil filly!" AJ yells as she holds a lasso and manages to get it around the beasts left horn. Spike looks up at Spirit with a wide smile, but he see's Spirit holding up his four claws. He counts down to zero claws before he catches AJ with the other claw. He sets her down gently.

"Whoa! How did you do that!?" Spike exclaims.

"It's natural for us." He states by pointing to himself and Spike. "While you might be a Drake, you are close to being a Kirin." He explains as Twilight fires a spell, only pissing the beast off more.

"STOP!!" Fluttershy screams. Spirit holds up a random card that has a '10' on it.

"I give you a 10 for effort." He says with a smile.

"Oh um, thank you. But I think I know what to do." She states. She walks over to the Manticore and calls it 'little guy'.

"Little?" Rainbow questions. Spirit shrugs.

"He is little compared to most races." He explains.

They watch as Fluttershy plucks a thorn from the Manticore's paw, which in-turn causes it to roar in her face.

"FLUTTERSHY!!" The girls and Spike scream out, only to be somehow calmed by the fact that the Manticore licks Fluttershy and purrs as it nuzzles her gently. Spirit could only think of how an Earth Lion had become such a ferocious beast. After that happens, Twilight asks Fluttershy how she knew about the thorn.

"I didn't. Sometimes we all just need a bit of kindness." Fluttershy explains. Spirit nods his head.

"That is very true. Live by those rules, and you'll be capable of doing many things." He states.

The group laughs or chuckles lightly before walking towards a cliff. Said cliff collapses. AJ and Twilight slide onto a secondary cliff.

"Let go." AJ states. Spirit does a double-take.

"Are you CRAZY!?" Twilight screams out. AJ looks up to see Rainbow and Fluttershy flying above them.

"No Ah ain't. I'm tellin' ya'll th' honest truth. Trust me." She tells Twilight. Twi sighs. Before letting go and falls, only to be caught by the two Pegasus Ponies. They land and Spirit carries AJ as he slides down the side of the cliff on a plank of wood like the humans did with those 'Snow Boards'.

"That was a close one." Twilight sighs out. Spirit nods his head softly.

"Yeah. I don't think I can traverse Elysium again for a LONG time to get back another friend." He sighs out. The group stares at him. "What? Do I have something on my face?" He asks as he rubs his muzzle lightly.

"Nothing. We'll ask later." Rarity states.

"Whatever." Spirit states with a shrug before they continue walking. They walk through black trees with dark green leaves. However, Pinkie decides to go near blue flowers. Spirit is quick to burn the ever living crap out of them before Pinkie can reach them Fluttershy gives him a glare.

"Why did you do that?" She orders. Spirit gives Fluttershy a VERY cold glare. The ground and plants around them gains frost.

"Did you want to deal with a Pinkie that would be cursed?" He asks. She recoils. Twilight snorts.

"Curses aren't real! That's jut sill-..." She is cut off by Spirit's death glare at her.

"Curses ARE real. It's just that you would need to be as evil as Sombra in order to cast them. And to break them you would need the power of love." He explains. "Those were POISON JOKE. Something that Discord created to play 'pranks' on ponies. But if ingested, it becomes actual poison. Very little cures have been found in the few thousand years that they have been around." Spirit explains harshly.

"Oh." Fluttershy whispers out. Spirit sighs as the area becomes warm once more.

"Sorry. I tend to forget what time period we are in. I have a problem with thinking how every race should know these things, but don't." He tells them. Shy smiles softly at him.

"It's fine, you were just trying to protect Pinkie and us from something harmful." She states.

"I suppose so." Spirit states before turning and looking at the river. He notes that it is not still, but in constant agitation. He looks around more, hoping to find some rocks to jump across. But, alas there is none. He curses under his breath.

"What's wrong?" Rarity asks.

"I was hoping for there to still be a bridge or jumping rocks to use." He states sadly. "I guess my home has changed since my disappearance, hm?" He says jokingly. Rarity gives him a sad smile.

"I am sure that your home just needs a mare's touch." She states.

"It does. Her name is Zecora. She is a Zebra that I had met a while back while traveling the world. I had asked her to tae care of my old home, she accepted, and the forest seems to love her." He explains.

"But it's just a forest. It's not sentient." Twilight states as if it were fact. Spirit chuckles before whistling. A pack of Timber-wolves rush out of the trees and brush. They stand before him, tails waving happily.

"These are my lovely children. I made them after the forest accepted me as it's master." Spirit explains. The wolves howl happily, before running off. He looks back at the others, only to see Shy with a wide smile and Twilight with her jaw dropped.

"But that's impossible!!" She screams. The river's surface becomes still, before a serpent rises from the depths and looks down at the group. It has an orange mane and mustache, except part of his mustache is missing. Spirit stares and the serpent stares back at him.

"Your mustache is um...different, Steven." Spirit states. Steven sniffles before burst out crying. He grabs Spirit and hugs him like one would a teddy-bear. Spirit rubs the top of Steven's head gently. "Calm down. What happened? You can tell me." He tells the serpent.

"Oh Spirit! It was horrible! Simply horrible!!" Steven cries out.

"What happened?" Spirit asks after he flickered down next to Rarity.

"I was tending to your shrine when this tacky cloud flew by and tore off part of my mustache. Oh I look simply horrendous! Please forgive your humble servant, Mistress Spirit!" He cries out. The group gives Spirit a strange look. He blushes lightly.

"Spell accident." He states. They all 'Oooh' before turning back to the sniveling serpent.

"Well I certainly can't let this crime against fabulosity go un-checked!" Rarity states as he grabs one of Steven's scales and cuts off her own tail. The group, save for Spirit, gasps. Rarity then places her tail where the missing mustache piece was. "There, all better!" Rarity exclaims.

"But Rarity! Your tail!" Twilight says softly. Rarity gets a sad look.

"It's fine. It'll grow back, besides, I heard that short tails were all the rage!" Rarity states.

"Actually, in Neighppon they are all the rage. However, it is when the mare, or stallion, get's hitched do they need to have a long tail and mane." Spirit inform them. Rarity gives him an odd look.

"How did you know that?" She asks. Spirit gives her a deadpan stare.

"Hi. Deity! Right here! I made Neighppon after the human's Japan. It wasn't exact, but it worked to treat me like my old home. in fact, most of the 'states' that you know about are thanks to me. Since I was the last one to survive Nightmare's onslaught, I got the RIGHT to call the 'states' what they are now." Spirit explains.

"You did!?" They all, save for Steven, exclaim. Spirit nods his head.

"Yep. I was asked by Tia as I was healing to help her make this country. I was the one who renamed this Forest as well. It used to be known as the Everfree Jungle, because back then, it held my kind. We had homes set up everywhere, until wars started breaking out, we were forced to use out homes and Jungle to make weapons." Spirit explains.

"That is fascinating!" Twilight asks. Spirit chuckles.

"Oh trust me. Just wait till I explain about how we managed to make fashion into a thing. But, alas, that is a story for another time." Spirit explains. He looks back at Steven. "Will you help us across, Steven?" Spirit asks.

"It would be my pleasure, mistress Spirit." He states as he dives into the water. Something clicks out of the ponies and dragons line of sight and a bridge made of plants starts to form on both ends of the river. Spirit smirks before looking at the now emerged Steven.

"You enjoyed changing my bridge, hm?" He teases. Steven blushes but bows slightly.

"I was overjoyed to make it more accessible. I hope you do not mind." Steven states. Spirit chuckles softly.

"Nonsense! I enjoy it!" Spirit exclaims before crossing the bridge, the others follow.

"Shall I make your 'Shrine' larger, mistress Spirit?" Steven asks. Spirit nods his head.

"Yes. Please do." He orders.

"As you wish." Steven states with a bow before diving and vanishing beneath the surface. Dash gives Spirit a strange look.

"Why does he keep calling you, 'Mistress'?" She asks. Spirit smirks before walking behind a tree, and then walking out from the other side however, he is now a mare.

"Because I can do this. And he prefers to see me like this than my stallion form." Spirit giggles out. Her mane is tied up into a bun. Spike stares at Spirit, which causes her to blush slightly. "But for some reason males become like Spike." She states before walking back around the tree, a stallion once more.

"Fascinating!" Twilight explains.

"Yeah yeah yeah, we get it Twi! Your colt-friend is awesome. Just let him rut you already and get it over with!" Dash exclaims. Twilight blushes and goes to comment, but Spirit stops her. He looks at Dash with slightly lidded eyes.

"Why? You jealous?" He asks teasingly. Dash blushes slightly and looks away. Spirit' mind seems to stop. 'Oh shit she likes me....fuuuuuck!' He thinks to himself. "Er. Let's get moving." He states in unease as he walks deeper into the forest quickly. They walk for an hour, before coming across trees with scary faces. The girls and Spike scream, while Spirit and Pinkie laugh at the faces.

"Pinkie! Spirit! What are you two DOING!?" Twilight screams.

"They are soooooo funny!" Pinkie Pie laughs out. Spirit nods his head softly.

"I double this notion." He states.

Pinkie goes on to sing about what her grandmother had told her to do when she was afraid. She sang about how Pinkie needed to hold her head up high, and get past her fear, by laughing at them. If she laughed at them, then they would be less scary, and thus, easier to get over.

Soon, the group of laughing an rolling around on the grass, save for Spirit who just laughed as he leans against a tree, and enjoyed their silly moment. The girls finally stopped laughing, and got to their hooves. Spike was sitting on Spirit's back.

"You all done?" Spirit asks. They nod their heads lightly. "Good. Now let's get going. The castle isn't that much farther." Spirit explains. He walks towards an archway with Spike on his back. The girls chase after the two males, as they pass by statues from the old worlds. Twilight notes that the statues resemble apes.

"What are these?" Rainbow asks. Spirit sighs softly.

"This is the remaining Graveyard of the Human Race. What you see before you, were the only humans that weren't lucky enough to become Kirin." He explains. This makes his group stop and stare at him.

"You were a...human at one point?" Rarity asks in awe. Spirit shakes his head softly.

"No. I was something...else." He explains with a dark tone. "Let's not talk about this, it's a...touchy subject." He explains before they move past the statues after paying their respects to the fallen race of old. They walk for another hour and reach a cliff with a broken bridge. Rainbow puffs out her chest.

"I got this!" She states as she flies down the cliff and grabs the other end, before flying back up and going to the other side, only to stop and see a tan-color-coated mare. Her mane and tail are black with a few grey stripes in them. She watches as the mare flies around quickly, she wears Indiana Jones style clothing, Spirit notes, and an adventurer's hat.

The mare is being chased by black vines with grey thorns on them. She spins around, only to get caught up in them. She cries out in pain, but she then goes quiet as a large carnivorous plant rears it's ugly head. It opens it's sharp toothed mouth. Rainbow prepares to help, but Spirit flickers in front of the mare and grabs the jaws of the plant.

His tail swishes, and the thorned vines are cut to bits without damaging the mare. She looks up at Spirit with a small smile and a glint in her eye. They watch as his horn lights up. He swings his head down to the side, and a sideways cut forms on the plant's head. It explodes in strange green liquid and 'gore'.

He spins and grabs the mare in his claws before flickering back next to Twilight. During his fight, however, Rainbow was met by the 'Shadowbolts' to join them, but she turned them down and remade the bridge. He sets the mare down, only for her to hug him tightly around the neck.

"Been a while, eh? Spirit?" She states. Indeed it has, Daring Doo." He says back to her. Twilight's and Rainbow's eyes widen. Standing before them is Daring Doo. The pony who went into temples and shrines for the museum back in Canterlot.

"Yeah well, when I was looking into this mystery about Nightmare Moon's return, I came here in search of a way to help stop it. But then this mist flew by and caused that plant to mutate into something else." Daring explains. Spirit nods his head.

"I see, well, at least we are here to find the Elements of Harmony to hopefully cure Luna." Spirit states as he looks up at the ancient castle. Daring nods her head, before leaning against him. The two share a look.

"We need to 'catch up' for lost time, Spirit. I miss yah, you know?" She tells him softly. Twilight and Rainbow become confused. In their books, Daring Doo is a mare who rarely cares about anypony, yet here she is, snuggling up against Spirit like he is the most amazing piece of treasure in the world.

"What? You mean when I warmed your bed during the blitz?" He asks with half-lidded eyes. Daring smirks up at him and nods her head.

"Buck yeah." She tells him. The group blushes and Spike get's a nose-bleed. Spirit smirks back.

"Sure. I don't really mind, just warn me when your tremble okay? It worries me that you crave such adventure with me." He tells her softly. She giggles.

"Fine, stud. Now let's go get Luna back!" Daring exclaims. She gallops across the bridge, Spirit chuckles lightly.

"Ah, still hot." He states.

"So...are you two dating or...?" Rainbow asks. Spirit shakes his head.

"Nope. We are just VERY close friends. For now." Spirit explains before galloping after Daring.

The group chases after their strange Kirin friend. They reach the castle and push open the doors, only to be greeted by five stones. The ponies grow sad. But Spirit looks at Twilight.

"Your up Twilight. Make a spark to awaken the Elements of Harmony." Spirit tells her. She nods her head firmly before galloping to the stones and her horn sends out sparks. She tries and tries, until she is sent flying back into a wall. A spear pierces her side, making her scream in pain.

Nightmare forms from the mist and laughs as she looks down, only to growl at Spirit. Who heals Twilight with a simple spell. He looks up at Nightmare and growls slightly.

"This is the end for you, Nightmare!!" He roars out. Nightmare laughs.

"I managed to kill you Immortal Kirin and even turn your kind against you. How could you hope to win THIS time, hm?" She laughs out. Spirit growls as his scales become blood red. His eyes become gold, but stay those crowned-slits. He takes a step towards, her, making the ground become orange and melt into liquid fire. He roars at her, making the whole castle tremble and the winds outside scream in terror.

"I have come to reclaim what is so rightfully mine." He says with a booming growling voice. His body looks more like a Dragon's. His wings and forelegs are fused into one. He crawls towards her, as his tail drags along behind him. He makes a strange sort of hiss and growl fused together.

"You will take back NOTHING!!" She exclaims. She fires a beam of magic, only to have it swatted aside by his tail. He looks down at Nightmare with a fire in his eyes.

"I WILL reclaim what is mine! I shall rise to the challenge and accept my TITLE!!" He roars out, before tail-whipping Nightmare away from the stones. He roars as he charges after her. He bites her foreleg and throws her into another wall, making her cry out in pain.

"You are stronger than before! What happened to you!?" She screams in anger. He makes that strange hiss/growl once more. He circles her like a predator would it's prey.

"I was never a Human, before becoming a Kirin. But something else." He hisses at her. "I was known as a Dragon-son. Something you will NEVER know of after this event it THOUGH!!" He roars as he tackles Nightmare through the floor. The two fight claw and hoof.

"Come on girls! We need to get the Element's ready to defeat Nightmare Moon!" Twilight exclaims. However, the spot where Spirit and Nightmare fell down, was the spot where the stones were. Twilight groans. "Dang it..." She sighs out.

"What?" Daring asks. Twilight looks at the girls and Spike.

"We need to go down there." Twilight says.

"WHAT!?" Spike and the girls yell out, save for Daring who nods and jumps down the hole.

"Why!?" Rainbow yells.

"Because the stones fell with them." Twilight Explains. The others seem to pause and think, before sighing and nodding their heads. They each walk towards the hole, and side down the sides in silence. The only noise that keeps them company, is the smashing of columns and the roars of a monster.