Friendship: The Gathering

Chapters

Beginnings
First Night
The Meeting
New Arrival
The Reason

Beginnings

"This is the place…" Jace Beleren stood on a hillside, another young man beside him. Each was looking around, watching for any signs of life. The early morning air was warmer than either had expected, Jace having brought one of his heavier cloaks, and his accomplice decked out in golden armor.
"I can sense something here, not sure what though." Jace's companion fell to one knee, putting one hand to the ground.
"Yes, I feel it too. I'll set up a barrier to keep out any unwanted visitors." Jace began drawing mana in, but the other man had already summoned a blanket of magical blue fog around them, obscuring them from view.
"Let's make this quick then. Bolas's plan as we understand it is hostile takeover. We can't let him expand his powers Cross." Jace sighed and channeled his own mana into fueling the fog. His spell would have been something more subtle. Fog in summer was not a common sight.
"I understand. I'll disguise myself in wolf form. I can only hope your information is accurate on the inhabitants of this Plane." Red and blue mana flew to the other man's eyes, and some of the fog was swept away as an unearthly spiral of wind surged around him. The fog fully disappated to reveal the man had been replaced by a stark white wolf with red fur in the form of an insignia on his back. The wolf turned and raced into the trees, Jace making sure the magical fog was gone.
"It usually is Cross. It usually is." He watched Cross's canine body race through the trees, before turning. A few muttered words, a flash of blue light, and he was gone.

"Okay, everyone be careful. Just follow me very carefully." Fluttershy was once again rounding up the bunnies outside of Ponyville, doing what she could to keep them all together. So far everything had gone well, and she was just finishing the last group.
"Alright, this way…" The bunnies' full attention was on Fluttershy, and hers on them, until she bumped right into something behind her. She turned to look, keeping one eye on the bunnies as she did so.
The object she'd run into was a large hunk of metal, a deep gray with strange black streaks. The streaks drew Fluttershy's attention first, until she heard a strange creaking noise above her. Looking up, she saw a strange metal head atop the mound, and with a few clicks and whirs, two sections of its sides popped open and a pair of arms popped out. The arms landed on the ground, pushing the mass into the air, as two more panels on the bottom slid back and a pair of thick legs appeared, hooked up with hoses of varying thickness and gears of all sizes.
"I, I'm sorry… I didn't see you…" Fluttershy began to apologize but the thing seemed less interested in her words as it did her proximity to it. The living steel put a hand down and pushed Fluttershy back with one finger, sliding her hooves on the ground. It then reached back, pulling a large axe made from a single piece of sharp metal from a hidden compartment on its back. Fluttershy watched in horror as the mechanical monster then lifted the axe high over its head, ready to drop it on top of her.
"Hey! Golem! Leave the Pegasus alone!" The thing turned to look as a white wolf ran forward from the woods. The golem stopped its preparations, looking between Fluttershy and the new arrival, which snarled and bared its fangs in a pure show of aggression. Finally the golem made a decision; it could deal with the little yellow horse later, this white mammal needed a good killing. The wolf backed away slowly as the golem turned towards it, raising its axe even higher.
"Fireball." The wolf uttered one word, quiet enough for the Golem's gears to drown out. A flash of fire leaped from the between his jaws, slamming the metal brute in the chest and melting through the external plating and interior hoses and gears, before detonating at the golem's core.
"Not so tough now, are you big guy?" The wolf laughed, moving backwards. He watched with a look of hearty satisfaction as the remaining pieces of golem fell straight to the ground, clanging softly. Fluttershy was shocked that one lone wolf had taken down something that big, when a second appeared.
"Great, another one." The wolf circled slowly, moving close to Fluttershy and putting himself between her and the machine. This particular model was made of stone instead of steel, and moved with joints as stiff as boards. It served as a decent shield against arrows, but as a scout it was pathetic.
"Get yourself out of here. He's my problem, I'll handle it." The wolf turned to look to Fluttershy as he spoke, and then looked back to the clunky contraption. The steel golems were simply a matter of melting or ripping out their glowing hearts, but stone ones were a tougher beast. He'd need to immobilize it so he could crack it open and crush the powerstone giving it life. Or just crack the stone while it was still inside.
"Icefall." With a whisper and a flash of blue and red light, a large chunk of solid ice dropped from the sky overtop of the golem. The magically made ice was tougher than the golem could handle, and a section of it was broken off as it attempted to stop the crushing stalagmite. The remainder of the glacial chunk slammed into its stone chest and broke it, crushing the powerstone into powder. The golem lay silenced under a sheet of snow, and the wolf laughed triumphantly.
"Now that's how you take out a golem!" He followed the statement with a short howl, before clearing away the snow with a nod and a flash of brilliant white. The bits of golem that were lying around also vanished, as though they had never been there to begin with.
"Wow. How did you do that?" Fluttershy had been too stunned at first, but now finally found her voice again. The wolf looked to her, and she flinched, but he simply shook himself and sat down.
"It's nothing too hard. I just tapped into the mana of the land. Lucky the plains near here are still wild enough, the mana's more potent when the land is free to change as it will." The wolf looked Fluttershy over quickly, then bowed his head, "Cross Malaki."
"What?" Fluttershy tilted her head to one side, and the wolf once again looked her in the eyes.
"It's my name. Cross Malaki, Planeswalker." A glow of pride appeared in his eyes as he spoke the last word, and Fluttershy nodded slowly.
"I-I'm Fluttershy. It's nice to meet you." For the oddest reason she didn't feel as nervous around him, the glow from the light on his pelt actually seemed calming. Of course, it might be because he was a wolf and not a pony. Still, she did feel a little uncomfortable.
"Is something wrong?" Cross began looking around, searching for something. Fluttershy shook her head, closing her eyes. When she opened them he was standing and staring in one direction silently.
"Someone's coming. Purple unicorn, some magical force about her, along with a relatively young dragon… Green spines and purple scales…" His eyes were lit from within with a bright cyan light, which faded when he looked to Fluttershy.
"They mentioned your name. Are they friends of yours?" Cross's voice was calm, but she could see something was bothering him. Fluttershy simply nodded.
"That's Twilight Sparkle and Spike. They must be looking for me, I'd better go." She turned in the direction he had been staring, and he nodded silently. She had started walking when an idea came to her.
"Hey Cross, would you like…" As she turned to look, he was gone, having disappeared into the undergrowth. She sighed, starting towards Twilight again.

Meanwhile, a small mechanical insect chirped quietly. A man in blue robes appeared, his right arm made of deep blue steel. He pushed his deep brown bangs away from his eyes, then looked to the insect.
"Your report?" Tezzeret the Seeker, now Agent of Bolas, watched as the insect hopped into his outstretched palm.
"Master Tezzeret, the Planeswalker Malaki has arrived, as was planned. Units two and five did not return from their scouting missions." The insect's chirping voice was tinted with steel. Tezzeret nodded, sighing.
"I will inform the dragon." Tezzeret resented being forced to serve under another Planeswalker, but the defeat he had suffered at Beleren's hands would be avenged soon. Bolas had sent him to investigate the Phyrexians, but a new idea had occurred to the dragon.
"Have you found the source of that unlit spark he sensed?" Tezzeret then asked. The insect flipped open its wings and hovered upwards.
"No master Tezzeret. We will continue our search." It stated calmly, then turned and flew away. Tezzeret simply turned, scowling, and planeswalked away.

Cross stopped near a small pool of water, muttering a few indistinguishable words and recalling his time on Jwar Isle. It had been so long since he had seen the Plane of Zendikar, but he remembered what had happened vividly. But more than reminiscing, he was drawing the mana of those memories, blue and smelling of salt. It had been storming in his memory, and even now he heard the thunder.
After several moments of drawing in the mana he would need, he felt a change coming over him. His fur began to recede, his body lost its canine form, and his armor magically formed around him. In mere seconds he was human again, with more than enough mana left for his other spell. He extended his hands, closing his eyes and pouring the mana into the pool.
"Jace, can you hear me?" He asked aloud. After several seconds the pool erupted in a gout of steam, causing Cross to cringe and back away. In the haze he saw Beleren's figure, standing in his study likely.
"I hear you. Have you found anything?" Jace was preoccupied, Cross could tell. Something was weighing down the mind mage's thoughts. And considering how adept Jace was at organizing his mind and the minds of others, that boded ill indeed.
"Possibly. One of the unicorns has a powerful magical aura about her. I'll investigate further at first opportunity. I wanted to report in to you before proceeding." Cross had worked with Jace long enough to know the mind mage wanted in the loop at all times. It was a good thing for him as well, as he was used to reporting in to those with more experience. The legion had taught him well.
"Understood. Find out more about this Twilight Sparkle and report in when you can." Jace had long since stopped surprising Cross. He'd actually gotten used to Jace picking through his head even as he gave his reports. With a simple nod, Cross began pulling mana to himself again, and the steam hovering about the pool vanished at last, no longer held in place by Jace's magic.
Turning in place, Cross's body reverted to wolf form, and he sprinted away from the pool.

"Twilight, Spike." Fluttershy had found the pair of them not long after Cross had left her, walking on one of the many paths through the forest. After a quick exchange of hellos and pleasantries, Fluttershy began to recount her entire morning to them both, Twilight listening intently and keeping quiet aside from a few questions here and there. At the end of it all, Twilight seemed pensive, and Fluttershy wondered what her friend could be thinking.
As they walked and Twilight thought, Fluttershy and Spike began talking about the weather and what they'd been doing for the last few days. It wasn't long before Fluttershy felt herself being watched, and she looked to her right, afraid of what could be out there. She sighed with relief as she recognized Cross walking out of the bushes.
"Is that him?" Spike asked, Twilight stopping to look as well. Fluttershy nodded quickly, smiling. His fur was glowing white as he stepped into the light.
"Well met, Twilight Sparkle and Spike, and hello again Fluttershy." Cross bowed his head to them all, and they returned the gesture.
"Fluttershy told us what you did for her. We're thankful you were there to help." At Twilight's words, Cross simply nodded and flicked his tail to one side.
"It was nothing; those golems were hardly a challenge. All you need to do is know their weakness and they'll topple like dominoes." Fluttershy could tell Cross was trying to be modest, but she saw a small glint of pride in his eyes as he spoke. Then something changed, his expression changing suddenly from jovial to austere in less than a heartbeat.
"Is everything okay?" Twilight asked, and Cross shook his head quickly. When he stopped he was in a better mood again, smiling.
"Sorry, thought I'd forgotten something." He looked back to Fluttershy, who could see the worry in his eyes. Something was still bothering him, but she wasn't going to bring it up when he was trying so hard to keep it secret. She'd make sure to ask him later.
"Anyway, I suppose some explanations are in order, and I'd like it if I could say it once only. Do you think you could gather those other friends of yours and meet me here tomorrow?" Cross asked, looking at all three of the Equestria natives.
"How did you know we had other friends?" Twilight asked, and Cross chuckled.
"I suppose you wouldn't believe me if I told you I had guessed, regardless of how true it was. You'd likely believe I'd read your minds to find that information, which would be true if I were more adept at such spells. It's always been my personal preference to allow others to believe what they truly want to believe." He suddenly looked worried again, and decided to clarify, "I'm sorry, I was rambling. I had merely guessed, basing it upon the fact that you two seem like the type to have many close friends." With that he looked a bit more comfortable, and Fluttershy nodded.
"And I suppose since you knew we wouldn't believe that, you would have some way to prove you hadn't read our minds." Twilight asked. Fluttershy wondered why the purple unicorn was being so suspicious, but suddenly watched as Twilight's eyes began to glow a bright cyan. She looked to Cross, shocked that he'd cast a spell on her, but as she looked the wolf broke eye contact with Twilight and released the spell.
"Do you believe me now?" He asked, and Twilight nodded simply. Fluttershy began to wonder what had happened, but the two smiled and turned to leave.
"I'll see you this time tomorrow. Please don't be late." Cross said as he walked towards the woods.
"I'll be here." Twilight responded, headed back for Ponyville. Fluttershy followed, waiting to see what had happened between Cross and Twilight when their eyes were glowing. Spike was just as confused, and he shrugged when Fluttershy looked to him.
"Maybe he'll explain tomorrow?" Spike asked. Fluttershy sighed.
"I hope so." As she replied, they arrived in Ponyville, and split up to find the others.

First Night

Nightfall found Cross at the borders of the Everfree Forest, a place he never would have known existed if he hadn't demonstrated to Twilight how mind reading spells worked for Planeswalkers. It was a perfect hiding place for those not wishing to be seen; dark, secluded, and covered heavily by vegetation. He had been wandering it simply when he came across a leyline in the earth, a powerful magical strand that would lead to some sort of nexus nearby.
Following it was a simple task, despite it not being marked in any way. He followed both the natural mana of the leyline and its inherited memories of six young, hoofed beings discovering camaraderie, power, and even trust. The memories came to him in spurts, usually just hazy feelings, but the fact that the leyline retained these memories of the past spoke to its powerful magic.
After passing several dark trees seemingly arranged in a particularly disconcerting manner, Cross suddenly felt a nearly irresistible urge to laugh, despite how inappropriate his surroundings were for it. It was at that moment he was certain he was following Twilight and her friend's trail. Before he'd had his suspicions, namely when passing a spot where he felt both extreme danger, yet surprising calm, but now he was dead certain.
"Then they went this way…" Cross took to talking to himself as he went, following the leyline as though it were a scent trail. He even attempted to scent Twilight or Fluttershy along the way, but it had been a long time indeed since they had taken this route. He'd just have to follow the mana, and as he found himself at a large river, he began calling that mana, testing its flavor, looking for what colors it held. He was shocked thoroughly to find it contained all the five colors, both the naturally occurring black and green of the Everfree Forest as well as blue, red, and white, seemingly appearing from nowhere.
"This is a powerful one indeed. No wonder they were drawn to it." Cross released the mana into a spell, shaping a pair of wings with his mind, white and fueled by mana.
"Nimbus wings." With a hushed whisper a brilliant pair of white wings spread from his back in a flash of white light, the wings themselves forming from that light and of light's make. He quickly took to the air, flying over the river and following the leyline deeper into the heart of the forest from the air. He sensed temptation and triumph over it as he passed a bridge over a wide chasm, and then at last found the nexus of the line.
Ancient ruins, long overgrown with moss, stood silently before him, as though sentinels to some great occurrence. He landed silently in the center of the ruins, looking about him as his wings disappeared. Cross walked along the only standing wall, looking towards the center, waiting for some part of the nexus's memories to reach him. He did not have to wait long, as hazy outlines appeared before his eyes, shapes and colors he glimpsed from the corner of his eyes that vanished as he turned towards them.
"This leyline was not here at Equestria's creation. Something, or some pony I believe, created it with a purpose." He sat in the center of the nexus, feeling the mana around him. There was great power here, but also great danger. He needed to see if his hunch was correct, but the conditions were not right at the moment.
"You'll have to wait for the full moon." A voice drew Cross's attention, and he turned towards its origin slowly, keeping himself light in case he needed to fight. A white unicorn pegasus with a flowing rainbow mane stood behind him, in royal regalia no less.
"Princess Celestia. To what do I owe this great honor?" Cross bowed slowly, remembering her name from Twilight's memories. If the princess was surprised she did not show it, smiling and approaching him carefully. He did not sense hostility, and so rose to his feet and watched her, relaxing his muscles from their battle ready state.
"I had felt someone snooping along in the woods. I wanted to be sure this place was not being defiled by someone." Celestia's tone was not accusing, but her words still causing a small sting in Cross's mind. He shook it off and nodded.
"I was merely following out of curiosity. One being can never learn enough about anything, whether they live one hundred years or one hundred lifetimes." It was a phrase Cross had heard many times from Izzet scholars on his home Plane of Ravnica, and he felt it was appropriate for this moment. Celestia's smile told him she agreed with him, and he fully relaxed himself.
"And what have you learned, if I may be so bold?" Celestia sat facing him, and his eyes wandered around the ruins for a moment as he thought over his reply.
"I have learned that this leyline and nexus were not here when this Plane was created. I have learned that someone else made it, a native with great magical power. And they made it for a very specific reason." Cross's eyes once more returned to Celestia as his last sentence finished. Celestia nodded slowly.
"I also have a hunch as to which two people are responsible for this leyline's existence." His words caught Celestia off guard, and she chuckled softly.
"I suppose I've been found out. You're very clever for a wolf. Or a legionnaire." Now it was Cross's turn to be surprised, and he quickly shook himself to hide it from her. She continued, looking him in the eyes as she did.
"I know quite a lot about you already. You were a Wojek sergeant, serving in your home of Ravnica, when you became a Planeswalker and met others with similar powers to you. And so you sought out Jace Beleren, and began working directly under him. Am I correct?" Celestia's words were all true, and Cross nodded quietly. He didn't know for certain, but he assumed Jace had told her, or she had been peeking around inside his mind like Jace would have. He decided to take his turn to speak.
"I'm afraid I know relatively little about you Princess. As you no doubt know I'm a newcomer to this plane, and know only as much as I have experienced." Cross turned to look at the forest, almost expecting Jace to be there, but his Planeswalker ally seemed to still be busy at the moment.
"Well, I suppose I could begin recounting my story, but I have a feeling we don't have time for it." Celestia's words snapped Cross to attention in moments, and he cautiously sniffed the wind. She was right, he could smell oil and steel, even through the mana flowing around him.
"Golems, three I believe. Nothing I can't handle." He turned to race after the constructs, and then looked back to Celestia, "If you are able help, then it would be welcome." He then raced off into the woods, pelting after the Golems.

Three figures moved through the trees, silently approaching the edges of the forest. Two of their brethren had not returned that evening, and their commander sent them to begin the attack without them. If they ran into the one that had destroyed their brothers, they were to kill him on sight.
They kept to the dark, so that their steel bodies would not be visible in the moonlight. They wanted to surprise these little ponies, relishing the thought of tearing into them and hearing their screams for mercy. Then their leader began to glow a bright, fiery red, and melted into slag before the following two's eyes.
"Hello boys. Glad to see me?" A pure white wolf sat in the moonlight ahead, tail slowly flicking from left to right, a smile plastered on his muzzle. The two golems identified the threat and rushed in, when a line of white light shot out at their knees, tripping them as though it were solid iron. As they skidded along the earth as the wolf prepared another spell, breathing pure fire into the larger of the two. The heat welded its gears together, smelted springs, and finally the golem exploded from a build-up of heated air in its core.
The smaller tried to rise and fight, but still more beams of light appeared and slammed into it with the force of boulders. Each was precisely aimed at staggering it, and finally one swept the machine's legs from underneath it, knocking it flat. The beam swung up, and then was brought crashing down on the golem's core, smashing it to so many minuscule pieces.
Cross let out a low howl. A strong gust of wind whipped through his fur and the trees around him, and when it finished the golem pieces were gone, magically swept away into oblivion. The Princess had done well with that light spell, he had been trying for weeks to master something similar. He nodded towards the ruins, then left the Everfree Forest behind, awaiting the dawn.

The Meeting

Twilight spent the better part of the night tossing and turning, anticipation rushing through her mind as she waited for dawn. With a powerful mage on the loose and the possibility of golem attack looming, she felt she had good reason to be worried. Eventually she gave up on sleeping and just watched for the sunrise, preparing herself for what Cross might have to say. It was likely something dangerous was on the way, like an invasion from another world, or another Planeswalker was coming, or even worse, both.
“Come on Twilight, stop focusing on the negative.” Shaking her head as she whispered, Twilight took another look out the window. The first rays of dawn were appearing in the sky, and she needed to gather her friends together by that afternoon to meet Cross.
“I’d better make sure everything is taken care of here.” Twilight set herself to work cleaning the library. The few books that were left lying around were quickly stacked with just a few simple spells, and she started cleaning up the parchment and quills she kept leaving out when she was up late at night. With a light glow of purple the papers stacked themselves in a neat pile a top her desk, then the quills lined up in a neat row.
With her desk cleared, she set to work sorting the books, reading each title and then sending it sliding effortlessly into its place. Normally she left this to Spike, but she needed to have it done before she had to leave, and she owed him the day off after the last few weeks.
“All right, that should be the last one… I’ll get Pinkie Pie and Rarity on my way to Sweet Apple Acres, and then I’ll see if Fluttershy can…” Her pondering was interrupted by a quiet knock at the door. Twilight quickly checked that everything was ready, and then opened the door.
“Are you ready?” Pinkie Pie’s cheerful face filled Twilight’s vision momentarily, and the purple unicorn swore the pink earth pony had nearly butted heads with her by accident. Twilight looked to see Rarity and Fluttershy standing behind Pinkie to one side.
“I just finished cleaning, and I’m giving Spike the day off, so I suppose I’m as ready as I can be.” Twilight responded, “Has anyone talked to Rainbow Dash yet?” She looked to Fluttershy, certain her pegasus friend had contacted Rarity and Pinkie for her, and the two exchanged a brief nod.
“I went to see if she was up, but she was still sleeping. I thought I’d let her rest a little longer.” Fluttershy’s voice was soft, a clear sign she was sorry. Rarity shook her head and looked to the timid pegasus, smiling.
“It’s a very generous thing for you to let her sleep. I’m sure we can all agree Rainbow Dash is much more preferable when she’s had her rest.” The others nodded in agreement, smiling to themselves. Fluttershy left quickly to get Rainbow Dash while the others turned towards Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was probably already up and working right now.

Cross sat completely still at the spot he’d met Twilight and Spike, his eyes glazed by distant thoughts. Princess Celestia stood beside him, keeping quiet. She could tell when someone’s mind was working, having spent so much time training Twilight Sparkle. There were many things similar between the two, at least from what she had seen. He was dedicated, skilled at magic, and very concerned about any possible threat. If she hadn’t known better, she would have sworn Cross and Twilight were siblings.
“When exactly is the next full moon?” Cross’s sudden question brought Celestia out of her reverie, and she looked to the steadily disappearing moon. She smiled to herself, thinking again of Twilight. They were so very similar.
“It’s waning right now, so not for another month or so.” She answered his question after moment’s hesitation, a moment he used to close his eyes.
“Then I might not have a lot of time to see the nexus. I suppose it will have to wait for later then.” Cross stood slowly, stretching his stiffened muscles and shaking himself. The night hadn’t been very cold, but Celestia assumed he felt the same chill she did at seeing those golems. Something was very wrong about them, something dark and ominous. She didn’t understand what about them so disturbed her, but whatever it was, if Cross was also aware of it, then he feared it as well.

While the Princess and Cross were waiting, Twilight and the others reached Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy joining them en route. Twilight and Fluttershy used the trip as a chance to elaborate on what they knew of Cross, as well as the story of his rescue of Fluttershy.
“My, he certainly sounds like quite the hero. Dashing in at the last minute, a cool threat tossed at the villain, fighting off a monster for our dear Fluttershy. It must have been stunning to see.” Rarity had been lost in the poetry of the story, and Rainbow Dash was quick to snap her out of it.
“Newsflash Rarity, he’s a wolf, not a unicorn.” The sky blue Pegasus didn’t like the dreamy expression on her friend’s face, especially for someone she hadn’t even met yet. Rarity glared at Rainbow Dash before turning up her nose.
“Come on you two, keep it under control. Arguing isn’t going to get us anywhere.” Twilight looked back at the two over her shoulder, then turned to look at the path ahead. As they neared the barn, they spotted Applejack just putting away a bucket.
“Well, you’re all a bit early, but I’ve got most of the work done. I’m sure Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom can handle the rest.” Applejack, tossed the bucket into the barn, hurrying over to the group. Twilight noted how tired her friend’s body appeared, but the look in Applejack’s eyes was full of energy and drive. Twilight assumed that work on the farm had been done at twice the normal pace in order to make up for how long she would be gone.
“Well, if we’re all here, we better get going.” Twilight turned to lead the way with Fluttershy, while the others fell in behind them, each pony giving Applejack their account of the explanation Twilight had given them on the way to the farm. Twilight didn’t bother trying to correct any of the errors in their tales, and Fluttershy was too polite to point them out.
“I wish they could just tell a story without trying to make it their own idea of interesting.” Twilight sighed, hearing Rainbow Dash give a detailed explanation of Cross’s battle with the golems, adding in a bit where Cross bit the golem’s leg.
“They’ll all know the whole story when they see him.” Fluttershy’s hopeful tone was reassuring, but a dark feeling in the back of Twilight’s mind remained, solidly entrenched like a stone. If a Planeswalker was suddenly here in Equestria, and monsters made of stone and steel were attacking, then something was happening that was far beyond anything they’d seen before.

Cross and Celestia had become engaged in a small game of chess, each moving their pieces by using telekinetic spells, when Cross stopped in mid move.
“They’re on their way.” He set the piece back in its original place and looked down the path, his eyes lit from within by a vibrant blue light. Celestia smiled and sent the game away.
“You just wanted an excuse to stop me from winning.” She teased, and Cross scowled. She was winning, and he didn’t like it, but that was beside the point. The others arriving meant it was finally time for him to sort out exactly what information it was vital they know, and what he should keep to himself. At the most he would tell them who and what he was, and his mission was to stop an extra planar threat. Anything beyond that was on a need to know basis as far as he was concerned. And the only people he believed really needed to know were Jace and himself.
Cross watched the other’s arrival carefully, watching as they bowed in reverence to Princess Celestia, and heard her explanation of why she was there. His mind was too occupied to distinguish the exact words, and he simply waited for the princess to turn to him. When she did so, he gave a short nod and looked to the group.
“If you’ll follow me for a bit, we’ll be able to talk without fear of eavesdroppers.” With a quick and precise movement, Cross leaped into the brush, leaving a trail of white light behind him. The others would easily be able to follow it, and he set off at a brisk jog, turning his head now and then to scent that they were still following.
“That will give them time to catch up on anything they need to, and it should give me some time to think this through more thoroughly.” Mumbling quietly to himself wasn’t something Cross did often, but he’d picked up one of Jace’s bad habits of thinking aloud from time to time. He mentally chastised himself for speaking his thoughts again before reaching the clearing at last.

Cross walked calmly to the center of the clearing, turning to wait for the ponies and their princess. seating himself and watching their arrival. Pinkie Pie hopped into place next to Fluttershy, who smiled as Applejack sat on her other side. Twilight fell in beside Applejack, eyes not leaving Cross, and Rainbow Dash likewise took a seat on Pinkie Pie’s available side. Rarity voiced a preference to stand, and moved on Twilight’s free side. Celestia stood behind the smaller ponies, nodding for Cross to proceed. He returned the motion, and then closed his eyes.
“The first thing I should probably go over is what I am. I am a Planeswalker, born with a special ‘spark’. No one has figured out exactly what this spark is; only that it is what makes a planeswalker what they are.” As Cross spoke, a small flicker of white mana appeared before him, “This spark is activated during times of incredible stress. Quite often one’s spark ignites when they are on the threshold of death, and often it is too late to save them.” He extinguished the light with a breath, then made a new one of red mana, which flared and twisted itself like a candle flame.
“On the rare occasion that one lives past their ignition, they become a Planeswalker. In old times, a Planeswalker would suddenly find themselves with a limitless amount of mana and magical power, a knowledge beyond anything they ever had before. They would be immortal, the only living thing able to stop them being another Planeswalker. However, somehow, the old breed of Planeswalkers disappeared. Few know what happened, but one thing that is certain is that modern Planeswalkers are much more vulnerable and much less powerful than they once were.” Once again Cross extinguished the mana light before him, looking to the group.
“We Planeswalkers are very few in number now. Of the old Planeswalkers, only one exists to our knowledge. And unfortunately, he is not someone any Planeswalker is fond of meeting.” Letting his explanation sink in, he waited for if the others had any questions before proceeding. Twilight was the first to speak.
“What exactly happens now when someone’s spark ignites?” She asked, looking Cross directly in the eyes.
Cross had to take a moment to think it over, looking to the ground and remembering his own ignition.
“It’s, a bit of a feeling. It starts somewhere in the base of your mind, like some sort of lock has just opened and a whole world you never knew was standing right before you. It’s a bit like waking up in the morning to find out you’re in someone else’s house. At first it’s strange and alien, but you quickly become accustomed to it, if you have the time that is.” He knew his explanation was vague and flimsy at best, but it was all he could come up with from his own, personal experience with an ignition. He looked as Pinkie Pie raised a hoof.
“So is that Cutie Mark on your back the Planeswalker symbol?” The pink pony’s question made little sense to Cross, and he tilted his head slightly. Celestia chuckled.
“A Cutie Mark is a symbol of a pony’s destiny. They receive it when they find the one thing that makes them truly special to the world.” Celestia explained, and Cross nodded slowly, closing his eyes to better catalogue what she’d said to his memory.
“Well, I don’t know anything about a Planeswalker symbol, since every other ‘Walker I’ve met has had their own, unique mark to make on the planes they visit. However, the red fur on my back is not a Cutie Mark. On my home plane, many warriors of a powerful cult would tattoo themselves to prove they could tolerate any pain. Myself and a friend found an old member of the cult, who promised to give us tattoos of our choosing if we found something for him.” Cross’s memories of his home were perfect, down to the most minute details that many would forget easily, “We found it for him, and my friend and I each received tattoos of our chosen lives. He became a member of the cult, but I now wonder how much of the fighting he longed for he now participates in.” Cross lowered his head, flattened his ears back, held his tail close to his side, keeping it perfectly still. A few moments later, he closed his eyes and continued.
“I chose the mark of my father’s guild, warriors of the law and officers of divine judgment and order. I had been with them three years before I became a Planeswalker.” He finished his story, keeping himself still. Pinkie Pie was the first to approach, putting one of her forelegs around his back. Cross nodded simply, looking to her, and then the other ponies.
“I think that’s enough of my history for now. I could go on for a month about myself. I’d much rather hear more about this world, and each of you.” Cross’s voice had found a strong tone, and he himself was surprised at how melancholy he had sounded before that moment. Pinkie Pie took her arm off of him and smiled, and Twilight stepped forward.
“There’s a lot to talk about, and I’m not entirely sure we’ll be able to tell the entire story.” Twilight said, “But we’ll certainly try.” Cross smiled, watching as the others formed a circle, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy sitting on either side of him.

New Arrival

The following morning, Cross rose as the sun’s light began to filter through the leaves of the forest, rousing himself quickly as he sniffed the air. All around him was still and quiet. He could smell faintly the animals of the woods, hidden in their dens, the dew on the grass, and the faint aroma of flowers far away.
“No attacks around here at least. Better check the other side.” Cross noted how loud he sounded this early in the morning, and a sudden pang of regret and shame coursed through him. He shook it off, growling softly, before stretching and directing himself towards the East, giving Ponyville a wide berth. He’d consciously decided a wolf near town wouldn’t be preferable. He’d either be asked too many questions or there would be panic, and neither was a favorable outcome. At least he hadn’t woken up to screaming.
‘Sometimes I wonder why I don’t use this form more often.’ Cross thought, looking at the quiet tranquility around him. This was true peace, where there was no war, nor disease, nor pain. This quiet morning, with everything out of sight and asleep.
‘”If only I could get this at the camp…” Cross whispered, ears flattening slightly. However, a rustling sound ahead brought them back up, and quickly Cross dropped his head and body as low as he could, scanning his surroundings for any further movement. With a quiet as deep as the grave and a patient stillness, he scanned his surroundings even drawing blue mana from his memories to cast a simple awareness spell, reaching out mentally to search for a physical presence.
Cross tensed as he felt a small flicker in the back of his mind. There was another Planeswalker near, a fully powered one at that. He muttered an incantation as quickly as possible, once more returning to his human form. Cross swiftly placed a tree between himself and where he assumed the other Planeswalker was, still reaching out to see where they were specifically.
‘Just past that tree line, in the clearing. Doesn’t seem to be moving.’ The beginnings of an attack strategy were forming in Cross’s mind, and he quickly made his move, circling the area and closing in. Mere seconds seemed to stretch endlessly before him, his eyes locked on what his spell was telling him was the location of his target. Then at last he was able to see the clearing itself.
The first thing Cross noticed as a bright red glow illuminating the clearing. The next thing was a bolt of fire hurled directly at his hiding place. He smiled, rolling away from the flames and launching a torrent of water from his palms at the now blazing tree. The flames were extinguished in a flash, and Cross walked towards the clearing with spells at the ready.
“Do you always have to set something on fire when you ‘Walk?” He asked, marching through the brush with his hands glowing with white and blue mana. A woman in gray armor was waiting for him, smiling as her flame red hair began to ignite. She produced a ball of red mana from behind her back, tossing it casually at Cross, who caught it in an outstretched hand and crushed it, dissipating the heat into his own spell.
“Sorry, I just like to burn things.” Chandra Nalaar extinguished the flames in her hair, watching as Cross dissipated his own spells, “So what mad job does that mind meddler have you on this time?”
“Nothing much, just saving a whole plane.” Both Planeswalkers laughed, partially from mirth and partially from the insanity of the mission.
“Well, I’d assume you two have a plan then?” Chandra started looking around the clearing, obviously searching for some reason the plane was to be saved.
“Well, we’re in the forming stage. You know, scouting the area for ourselves, keeping Bolas from finding out too much.” Cross explained, walking behind her with his hands at his sides.
“So going in head first this time? I like it.” The firebrand Planeswalker turned to look to him, a flash of fire in her eyes. Cross smiled, chuckling.
“As if I needed your approval.” He joked. Chandra shrugged it off, smiling to herself.
“Well, we do have an idea about this place. I could show you around a bit if you’d like.” Cross began drawing on his mana, thinking about what form would work the best for his pyromantic friend. While he sifted through spells, she considered things, and finally shrugged.
“I’ve got time to kill. Why not?” As she finished Cross unleashed the spell, watching it surround her. A mist enveloped Chandra’s frame, while he also became wrapped in thick haze. As the spells finished, Cross stood in his canine form, admiring his handiwork.
“What was that for?!” A fire red unicorn stood shaking her head in the spot a human once occupied. Her mane and tail were brilliant orange, with streaks of crimson running the length. Bright yellow and orange flames were on her flanks, a blazing insignia of the inner power of the newly created pony.
“I’m sorry Chandra, but humans aren’t native to this plane. I had to find a form for you that would fit in.” Cross walked towards the unicorn, then around her and towards Ponyville. Chandra looked herself over, then followed, grumbling to herself.
“Why do you get to be a wolf while I’m stuck as a horse?” She demanded, falling in beside him and glaring.
“You’re not a horse, you’re a unicorn, first off. Second, some of the natives of this plane have already seen me as a wolf. I had taken my wolf form because Jace had informed me the plane was largely intelligent animal life. My own reconnaissance revealed ponies to be the dominant intelligent life, with most of the other animals being of certainly greater than average intellect, but I’ve yet to see one speak directly.” Cross’s explanations did nothing for Chandra’s mood, but she asked no further questions as they went. Cross smiled, glad to for once be the one with more knowledge than she did. For all it was worth, this was the first time he would be teaching her something, and he relished the feeling that came with that distinction.
“So if I’m going to be stuck here like this for a while, you’d better tell me everything I need to know.” Chandra sighed, looking at the world around her, unsure if she could still burn it or not. Cross nodded, closing his eyes to think of where to start.
“Well, first of all, we’re currently in the forests outside of Ponyville, a relatively small town within Equestria. Jace and I have determined this area to be the center of Bolas’s focus, but we still have no idea what he’s after.” He quickly realized his explanation was turning into a military report, something Chandra had told him wasn’t her favorite thing to hear. Even now he felt her glaring at him, and he thought of something else to tell her that wasn’t about Bolas.
“I’ve made a few friends here, and explained to them the situation. They’ve agreed to help out in what ways they can, and I’ve offered to help them as long as I’m staying here.” They were nearing the crest of a hill on the edge of the forest, from which Ponyville was visible. Cross inwardly wondered what Chandra would have to say about the town.
“Heh, I’m surprised that soldier routine of yours actually gets you any friends at all.” Chandra teased, stopping at the top of the hill beside Cross.
“You’d be surprised the impression you make when you save someone’s life.” Cross felt the fur on his neck rise slightly, but he relaxed quickly. He had a tendency to take criticism and taunting a little too seriously, something Chandra had warned him would only lead him to doing something stupid. Even Jace had warned him of the dangers of hubris.
“Huh, never took you for the hero-type.” Chandra sarcastically commented, and Cross felt a low growl form in the back of his throat. He suppressed it by clearing his throat and looking away from the red unicorn to look at Ponyville.
“That’s beside the point. The point is, this place is peaceful, and I’d like to keep it that way. I can tell you more of what I know as we go along.” With that Cross bounded down the hill towards Ponyville.
“Hey! Wait up!” Chandra quickly broke into a gallop after him.

“First stop, Sweet Apple Acres.” Cross stopped running when they reached the farm’s fence, letting Chandra catch up before leading the way along the fence line. Chandra was too out of breath to respond, simply following him and trying to get her heart rate under control.
“Applejack should be around her somewhere…” Cross said, looking through the fence at the orchards. He finally spotted her near the barn, loading a barrel of apples into a cart. The orange earth pony looked up from her work to spot him and waved, and Cross nodded in response, walking quickly to the gate and over to the barn, Chandra following his lead.
“Cross, your timin’ is perfect. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie are helpin’ me load the apples for today, but I’m still behind schedule.” Applejack nodded towards the stack of barrels near the corner of the barn, not noticing Chandra at first, “Think you can give us a hand?” Pinkie Pie emerged from one of the barrels, looking around like she’d forgotten what she was doing for a moment, but quickly jumped out of the barrel and started pushing it to the cart. Fluttershy was struggling to move a barrel on her own, sliding it along the ground carefully.
“One moment, I need to prepare the spell.” Cross responded after seeing the situation, and he closed his eyes, surrounding the barrels with a halo of blue mana. He opened them again, and motioned with his eyes, lifting the barrels into the air and setting them inside the cart.
“Showoff.” Chandra muttered, and Cross ended the spell so he could roll his eyes. As if on cue the others noticed Chandra together, and Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie came over, their barrels loaded by Cross’s spell.
“Is she a…?” Applejack started, but Cross cut her off.
“Yes. This is Chandra, one of the planeswalkers that taught me most of what I know. Chandra, this is Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy.” He nodded to each of the ponies in turn.
“Nice to meet you three. These the friends you were telling me about Cross?” Chandra asked, her tone as unimpressed as Cross had anticipated.
“Three of them. Applejack and Pinkie Pie are earth ponies, and Fluttershy is a pegasus.” Cross explained. Fluttershy looked ready to speak, but Pinkie Pie interjected before she could even start.
“It’s great to meet you Chandra. I haven’t gotten around to readying Cross’s welcome party just yet, so I can add you to everything so we can welcome you both with one big SUPER party!” The pink pony had begun bouncing uncontrollably as she talked, and Cross shook his head.
“Pinkie Pie, Chandra isn’t staying. I just wanted to show her around a bit for now. And a party for me really isn’t necessary, because once Bolas is dealt with I’ll have to leave as well.” Parties were never something Cross enjoyed, and his reasons for being there weren’t the happiest in the first place. A party was just extraneous in his opinion.
“Nonsense! I told you yesterday, I LOVE to party! And don’t you want your welcome to Ponyville to be official?” Pinkie Pie would not be deterred, and Cross sighed.
“Oh come on, has Jace brainwashed you or something? If they’re willing to throw a huge welcome party for you, then take it.” Chandra cut in, “If someone was willing to practically roll out the royal treatment for me without me having to act like or be royalty, I’d take it, no questions asked.” She turned to Pinkie Pie, “I think I might just stick around here. It’s been a long time since I had a good party to go to. Count me in.” Pinkie Pie began bouncing more fervently at the red planeswalker’s words, an ear to ear grin plastered on her face.
“I’ll get started right away!” Pinkie said, bouncing towards the gate to Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack smiled and shook her head.
“Just what are we going to do about her. Anyway, I’ve got to get these to town. I’ll see y’all at the party.” With that, Applejack left to find her brother Big Macintosh, leaving the planeswalkers and Fluttershy alone near the barn.
“So, Fluttershy, right? What’s your thing. The pink one’s partying, Applejack’s all work, and you…?” Chandra asked.
“I-I care for animals, mostly…” Fluttershy’s voice trailed off at the end, and Cross looked to the road to Ponyville.
“We should really head to town, the others are there. Fluttershy, would you like to join us?” He asked. Fluttershy nodded slowly, and the three started for Ponyville.
“Well, if you care for animals, you’ve got to have some good stories.” Chandra moved to stand to Fluttershy’s left, and the entire walk the two talked about various stories about the magical creatures they’d encountered. Despite Chandra’s talk of roasting a few of them, Fluttershy seemed to warm up to Chandra after a bit, at least from what Cross could see.
‘If luck holds out she’ll want to stay and help. Not counting on it though.’ Cross thought silently. He didn’t want to intrude on the conversation, and simply led the way to town in silence.

The Reason

The walk had been mercifully uneventful, with Chandra and Fluttershy chatting merrily about phoenixes and Cross admiring the greenery on the path. They were getting closer to Ponyville, and Cross could hear and smell the activity of the small town. He even swore he could smell a freshly baked cake in the distance.
'Probably for the party.' He mused, watching carefully for how everyone reacted as he approached. Chandra and Fluttershy's conversation fell to the back of his mind as he walked into town, taking note of the sudden silence many fell under upon seeing him. Chandra and Fluttershy noticed after a time, and the two moved to walk alongside him.
"Jeez, it's like they've never seen a wolf before." Chandra said, looking around with a slight scowl. Fluttershy tried to say something in defense of the ponies, but even Cross's canine hearing couldn't make out what she said, and decided to offer his own deduction.
"Most likely they're not used to a wolf striding into town like this. And besides, I'm not exactly a typical wolf, am I?" He motioned to the Boros insignia on his back. A wolf with white fur and a red marking was bound to be noticed anywhere, but it was the only animal form Cross ever felt comfortable in. He'd tried more subtle forms, even changing the fur on this form, but the magic behind it required more concentration than he liked.
"Yeah well, I think I'm going to go see this Rainbow Dash girl Fluttershy's told me about. Can you manage on your own?" Chandra asked. Cross nodded.
"That actually works well with my own plans. I was hoping to speak with Twilight Sparkle at the library. I'll meet you both at the party." He turned to leave before either could respond, walking directly in the center of the street. Ponies of every shape and color moved to the edges of the road, giving him a wide berth. It bothered him none, and he simply chose to keep his eyes forward.
'No different than the first time.' He thought, 'You can change the races, change the circumstances all you like, but an outsider is an outsider. At least here they have a real reason though. I can't blame them for fearing a wolf.' Cross kept his head high and his eyes on the road, letting the stares wash over him.
'Finally learning a few things, are we?' Jace's voice echoed in Cross's mind. At first he felt the hair on the back of his neck rise, but he relaxed when he realized just who was contacting him.
'I'm on my way to see Twilight now. You could try contacting me without making me jump out of my skin.' Cross responded mentally to the mind sculptor's question, 'And if you must know, I prefer being an outsider. It's easier to disappear when no one knows you. Given the lifestyles we lead, anything that makes it easier to leave is a good idea.'
'True. Have you discovered anything else here aside from her?' Jace asked.
'Not really, but that's what truly bothers me. If Bolas wants Twilight, then why didn't he send Vol or Tezzeret to take her from the start?' Cross tried to keep from appearing worried, his thoughts leading to several dark conclusions.
'Perhaps there's something else he wants, but he can't yet reach. Or perhaps he's simply toying with us. I cannot access his mind, and we have no other leads. The best we can do is investigate this plane and Twilight as much as possible. Keep your eyes open.' With that Jace terminated the mental link, and Cross was once more alone in his mind. He continued on to the library, smiling as he spotted Spike standing outside, busily sweeping off the front steps. He quickened his pace, stopping as he neared the library.
"Hey Cross. Twilight's been looking for you." Spike said, spotting Cross as he slid along the dust.
"Has she gone to the forest, or is she inside?" Cross asked, looking to the door.
"She's in now, she had to go get some things from around town." Spike said, "I'll get the door." Cross shook his head, a light blue glow appearing on the door handle. In moments the door was open, and Cross headed inside, leaving Spike to finish his cleaning.
"Oh, Cross, you're here. I had some things I wanted to ask you about the magic you showed us." Twilight had just finished sorting a small group of books when Cross walked into the library, and she quickly put them in their places on the shelves.
"I don't recall showing much of my magic, but I'll answer whatever questions you have." Cross moved to the center of the room and sat down, looking at the books on the walls before his attention was once again on Twilight, "I'm sorry, Jace has gotten me to appreciate books a bit more than I used to. It was part of how he taught me the patience needed to use blue magic."
"That's part of what I wanted to ask you. How exactly do you cast spells as a wolf?" Twilight asked, "I mean as a planeswalker, how does magic work for you?" Cross chuckled a bit, trying to think of how best to describe it all.
"Well, it's definitely different from Unicorn magic. I suppose you could say that a planeswalker draws his magic from the world around him. There are five major environments for a planeswalker to draw power from, and each environment has a different type of magic associated with it." Cross tried to keep his tone from sounding like some old scholar in an Izzit academy, but teaching gave one a certain air about them. It was something he'd never liked, and Cross struggled not to act pompous or condescending, as Jace would do when they sparred.
"So what are these five environments?" Twilight asked, pulling a book and quill from a desk with her magic. Cross shook his head, and in a flash of blue light a book appeared before him.
"This has all of my knowledge of Planar Magic, from my own experiences and from what Jace has taught me." Cross willed the book over to Twilight, a blue aura holding it aloft until she took hold of it with her magic.
"Thanks. This should answer most of my questions. Although, there was one other thing I wanted to ask you about." Twilight moved the book over to her desk, then turned back to Cross.
"Why are you here in Ponyville?" Cross could tell she was trying to ask without accusing him of something, but he still felt a slight sting. He had forgotten to explain his reason for being there to any one, and now he had to decide if it was worth it to tell her. The room was dead silent for several seconds, until at last he sighed.
"Someone, or should I say something, is on its way here. Jace sent me to find out why, and to stop it if I can." Cross said at last, "Nicol Bolas, an Elder Dragon and Planeswalker, has sent spies to this world, and Jace and I plan to stop him. We don't know what he's after, or even if there is something here he plans to acquire, but we know his agents are here, and that's enough for us." Cross turned away, looking at the window. He had seen Twilight's expression souring, the worry in her eyes. It was a sight he hated to see, from anyone.
"He's a Planeswalker, and a dragon? Is that even possible?" Twilight asked in a stunned whisper. Cross nodded.
"There was once a silver golem who gained the might of a planeswalker, by way of his creator's inventions. His creator was a planeswalker before him. Or at least, that is the story I have found in my rare visits to Dominaria, I know nothing else past that. What happened to the creator or the creation is not something I know. But if a Golem can become a planeswalker, then a dragon being born one is not so strange to me." Cross replied, "I have never seen or fought Bolas myself, but by Jace's description, and what I've uncovered in my investigations from working with him, Bolas is a Planeswalker of power beyond anything I've ever known. Jace can wipe a mind clean in moments, and Bolas was too much even for him." He looked to Twilight again, a fire in his gaze.
"If he is already that powerful, then anything that could make him stronger must either be kept from him or destroyed. From what I know, Bolas craves power, now more than ever. He is the only one of the old 'Walkers I know of who survived the creation of the new 'Walkers." Cross could feel his fur straighten in anger, but he did his best to calm down. Twilight was visibly shaken at the thought of Bolas's might, and Cross felt his own fear returning at the thought. However, fear was not enough to master a Legionnaire, and Cross fought through his own terror.
"I'm sorry my reasons for being here are so dire, but it is the truth. I'm sorry if this worries you, but there is only one thing that can be done." He stated, "I must do what I can to stop Bolas. I do not think I can face him in open combat, but I doubt he will come here himself for quite some time. There is time to prepare, but it must be done in secret. Ponyville cannot know of what is to come."
"Why not? Shouldn't we ready the whole town, the whole of Equestria even? If that dragon is coming, shouldn't we ready everything we have for the fight?" Twilight was speaking out of fear, and Cross looked her in the eyes.
"If we act too hastily, then Bolas will know and react far more forcefully than we can handle. For now it needs to stay between the two of us and Princess Celestia. If your friends are able to help, then they'll be brought in, but this must stay quiet as much as possible. If this gets out, there will be panic and hysteria before Bolas even arrives." Cross's eyes were illuminated from within by blue light, his voice changed by magic. As he finished he blinked several times, the light vanishing from his eyes, and he shook himself.
"What happened?" Twilight asked, "Was that Bolas?"
"No, Jace. Sorry, he does that occasionally." Cross replied, "But he's right. We need to keep this quiet." He stood to leave, stretching and shaking himself again.
"I'm sorry if things seem bleak, but as long as Jace and I are able to, we'll keep Bolas from taking this place, or from getting stronger." He said, "I believe Pinkie Pie was throwing a party for me and a friend of mine. It would probably be a good idea to let off some steam and enjoy ourselves while we can."
"I don't think I can go to a party. I mean this is a lot of new information, new things to worry about." Twilight looked down and shook her head. Cross closed his eyes and walked over to her side.
"I understand how you feel. But I swear, on my spark, I will not let Bolas win." He said, looking Twilight in the eyes, "I never break my word." He started towards the door, opening it with another spell. He would go to the party at least, if nothing else to keep Chandra from setting something on fire. He didn't look back again until he was nearly across the street. Twilight was finally leaving the library, closing the door behind her. He smiled, and she hurried over.
"I thought about it, and you're right. We should enjoy ourselves while we can. Bolas can wait until tomorrow." Twilight was smiling as she walked up beside Cross, and he nodded. Together they headed for the party, and Cross tried as much as possible to put the dark news he had to bear at the back of his mind. He repeated to himself that there would be time to prepare tomorrow, that Bolas was not there yet, and that he would be ready when the time came.