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                       Mark of Baen                        
                   -by CrypticMetaphor-                    
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                            II                             
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II
The day after the Nemean Lion incident, the Princesses were currently studying the large cat in the royal dungeons.  One of the cells in the far back had been converted into a mock kennel to hold the great beast, the bars having been all reinforced by strong enchantments.  Nearby many unicorn scientists and magicians examined the creature from a safe distance.  Outside, the moon bathed the kingdom in a soft calming glow.  Within the castle a lone night guard patrolled the upper wing near the library.  The bat pony had a long and scraggly looking dark indigo mane that parted at the front, his cutie mark was a misty sky and his coat was a light grey.  He shuffled his bat wings slightly as a chill ran up his spine.  He glanced back toward the libraries main doors and tilted his head.  He saw it then, a flash of magic light.  Narrowing his eyes, he approached the doors and wrenched them open and gazed around.
“Who goes there,” he glanced around before ordering, “Show yourself!”
He quickly kicked the door shut behind him to cut off the intruder’s possible escape.  Glancing around, he cautiously ventured forth into the maze of shelves.  He froze when he heard an airy titter.  The voice that followed was calm yet held a seductive edge.
“My my, what’s this?  A lone warrior coming to greet me, truly this must be a gift.”
The guard looked around to try and find the source of the voice but found nothing.  Then he tensed when a warm breath was felt near his ear.
“Behind you.”
The stallion leapt back and flared his wings in a threatening manner, but paused when he saw the pony in question.  The mare was currently garbed in a long hooded cloak, most likely to keep herself warm in the cold night.  Her hood was off to reveal her…striking and light smile.
“Ah, a thestral, a rare find indeed,” she approached.
“Halt!”
The mare did as she was told as the guard hissed for a moment, “Who are you and how did you get in here?”
The mare gently rolled her eyes and looked at the shelves, her velvet voice practically caressing the stallion’s ears, “Hmmm, well you see.  I seem to be lost.  I have awakened from a, long slumber and I can’t quite seem to place my surroundings or ascertain my location.  So, I few hours prior to our meeting,” she casually sauntered to a shelf and levitated a book in front of her and examined the cover, “I requested some assistance from the local….dogs in the mines.”
“The Diamond Dogs?”
“Yes, they were most helpful…,” she chuckled, “in more ways than one,” she placed the book back.
She turned as the moon shined through the open window and illuminated her more….the guard turned white.  The cloak she was wearing was one of dark grey fur, a flawless stitch job.
“What….what have you done?”
“I merely procured a garment of warmth from my liberators and left what remained to rot,” the way how she nonchalantly stated this fact unnerved the guard, “nothing more.”
The guard narrowed his eyes, “By order of the princesses, you are under arrest.”
“On what grounds might I ask?” She slowly sashayed towered him as he backed up a bit.
“C…conspiracy of murder of Diamond Dogs,” he hit the door, “and trespassing.”
The mare pouted, “Oh that’s a shame,” she was a foot from the stallion who was frozen, “I was ever so hoping a strapping young stallion such as yourself could,” she traced her hoof up the stallion’s breast plate, “assist me in my needs.”
The stallion shivered, “M…miss, I’m going to have to ask you to step back…,” though he said this, something within him wanted her to get closer, but why?
The mare gave a thin smile as she levitated his helmet off, “Oh come now.  Surely you don’t feel threatened by little old me?”
The stallion stared into her eyes…and his gaze became lidded.  Her eyes seemed to give off a soft glow; her face was illuminated like that of what lore called an Angel.  A small smile crept onto his face.  He shook his head as his mind became clouded, what magic was this?  Was this even magic?  Her horn wasn’t alight.
“Resist all you want my dear,” her hoof gently eased his head toward her, “but all stallions are slave to my charms.”
She pressed her lips to the guard and kissed him deeply, the guards eyes closing completely, the mare’s eyes narrowed as a sinister smiled creeped onto her muzzle.  The guard pulled away and panted slightly, around the outside of his irises, thin rings of emerald colouration appeared.  The guard shook his head as the mare had a warm smile on her face.
“So tell me my guard, what is your name?”
The guard smiled and nodded his head kindly, “Private Mulberry, my lady.”
“Mulberry, a delectable name,” the mare turned smoothly from the guard and looked around for a moment, “tell me Mulberry, where might I find books on the most ancient of arcane knowledge of this land?”
“If I may, my lady, this land is known as Equestria,” Mulberry gestured for her to follow, “as for the books you are looking for…there are no such books.”
The mare looked to the side in mild disappointment, “How unfortunate.”
The guard glanced around for a moment before piping up, “BUT!  The princesses have one book I believe that could help you in your search my lady.  It’s a book they themselves chronicle all their findings and knowledge in.  We of course are briefed on it and are assigned to keep the closest eye on the library at night,” he pointed to a fenced off area, “after all it is in the restricted section.”
The mare smiled warmly and trotted past him, her tail trailing under his chin as Mulberry blushed hard and fawned.
“Good my guard,” she stopped at the gate as Mulberry stood beside her, “Hm.  Such foal’s play of barrier spells,” she raised a fore hoof as green magic pooled upon it, “easily rectified.”
A loud crash was heard as the gate swung inward, its wards all but eliminated.  The mare crossed the threshold and stared at the scrolls and tomes littering the area.  She ideally glanced from shelf to shelf in boredom attempting to find the book in question.  Tapping her chin, she sighed and called in a melodious manner to her escort.
“Mulberry, would you be so kind as to obtain the book in question?”
Mulberry nodded, “Of course.”
He trotted past her and she followed.  Both ponies ventured the furthest any had ever been in the restricted section before coming to a halt.  A massive stone door blocked their path.  The mare titled her head and examined the door.  It was plain and bore no markings, to many, it could be mistaken it for a wall.  The mare tapped her horn against the door and stared up at it in concentration.
“My lady, if I may,” The mare glanced at Mulberry, “I have only once heard that the princesses can open it.”
The mare nodded, “I see.  Very well then,” her horn gave off a soft glow as she felt through the doors cracks and crevices, searching.
Eventually, she snapped her eyes open.
“Ah, there it is,” she placed both her front hooves on the door and they both gave off a glow.
Her magic bled into the rock as the mana found an echo of the princesses own mana, as faint as it was.  Taking the mana echo as a template, the mare’s own mana shifted and contorted until it matched the echo perfectly.  The door then rumbled open, and the mare stared at her prize.  Resting on a pedestal was a massively thick book that was bound in dark deep purple material, its pages frayed and yellowed with age.  On the center of the cover was a gold crest.
“Are you pleased my lady?”
The mare levitated the tome into her cloak and nodded with a serene expression, “I am indeed Mulberry.  You show much resourcefulness, come,” she walked from the chamber and Mulberry followed closely, but they both froze when a day guard pegasus stared on in shock.
“Private!  What in the name of Luna’s starry mane are you doing?!”
The mare sighed and shook her head.
Mulberry looked to her then the unicorn, “Sir Gale, I was merely showing Lady Vida what she requested.”
Sir Gale growled, “I don’t care if you were rutting in the closet!  You just committed a treasonous offence and rest assured you will be brought before both of the Princesses VERY soon.  And as for you ‘Lady Vida’, you don’t belong here!”
Vida rolled her eyes, “That’s what they keep telling me,” she glanced at Mulberry, “would you please make him silent?  His voice is irritating me.”
Sir Gale reeled back in offence, “How DARE YOU!  I am a high ranking official of the Solar Guard and you and your traitorous coltfriend will show me respect!  And further more.”
Sir Gale never got to finish.  Mulberry bull tackled him to the ground and pressed his hooves hard to the guard’s throat, his fanged mouth gritting in effort as Gale tried to fight back.  But his kicks eventually grew weak as a croaking escaped him.  Soon his eyes rolled back as he went limp.  Mulberry got off of him and spat on the breast plate.
“That was for making me fly all those laps,” his angered look softened when Vida nudged him with her flank against his, “Are you pleased my lady?”
“Yes my guard,” she kissed him on the cheek as he smiled stupidly, “Now let us away.  I have some studying to undergo.  And you may regale me with this….Equestria’s, workings.”
Mulberry blushed as he ditched his armor, “It would be my pleasure.”
Both ponies eventually disappeared into the night.

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                            III                            
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III
The following morning, Baen was sleeping the soundest he had ever before.  Several months of going from foreign bed to bed could not compare to the comfort of one’s own bed.  Currently, the barbarian wasn’t wearing his armor and lying on his back, his front hooves folded like a cat’s paws as one of his hind legs twitched.  A snore escaped his lips as he mumbled gibberish in his current state.  He snorted again and was blissfully unaware of the shape staring down at him.  The shape in question raised a cautionary hoof and went to poke him, but pulled back, thinking on the next series of moves.  The shape smiled deviously and extended a wing, a lone feather traced under his nose.  The gesture though minor to some, was a mild disruption for the barbarian who batted at the feather to make it go away before rolling over.  The feather reached out and traced along his spine causing the barbarian to tense up and roll away more.
“Snrk.”
The wing reached out once more and tickled his barrel causing the barbarian to roll away again…and off his bed.
“GAH!”
“PFFFFTHAHAHAHAHAH!”
Baen stood up abruptly and glared at the laughing culprit, “Rainbow Dash!  How in Tieg’s name did you get in here!?”
Dash wiped a tear from her eye, “Sorry, I couldn’t resist,” she gestured to Baen’s window, “you left it open, plus I have to make up for lost time.”
“Lost time on what?”
“Duh,” she hovered in the air and opened her forelegs, “pranking you!  You’ve been gone for so long that I never got to get any good pranks on you!”
“I assume the Pink One feels the same way?”
Dash rubbed her hooves together evilly, “She has a chart.”
Baen trembled, “Great….,” he then realized he was utterly naked and covered himself with his blanket, “would you mind?”
Rainbow blinked a few times then blushed, “Oh right…sorry dude.  I thought you were over that whole thing already with us.”
Baen shrugged, “Old habits.”
Rainbow nodded in understanding and flew into the hall, shutting the door behind her.
“Before I forget,” Rainbow began, “Twilight sent me over here to get you, we want to hear about how your vacation and stuff went.”
“This early?” Baen’s voice was muffled, “I understand the you all must want to hear about what I did, but couldn’t it wait till it’s a little further in the day?”
Rainbow’s expression was neutral, “It’s noon.”
“…..Oh.  So it is.”
Dash snickered, “You know, we did miss you, you knucklehead.”
Baen opened the door to reveal he was fully garbed in his armor, “That does mean a lot Dash.  I missed you all as well.”
Dash slugged him in the leg, “Don’t go getting all sappy on me, come on, Twi and everypony else is waiting for us.”
The two ponies left the house and started making their way toward Ponyville.  The streets were abuzz with activity as ponies young and old went about their business.  Some would stop to greet the two ponies as they walked, and they in turn, returned the greetings.  Continuing on, they stopped when they noticed two familiar mares.  One was grey the other white.  The noticed that the grey one was currently clutching a knick knack like it was her life preserver.
“No Vinyl, I refuse to part with this!  Everything else is on sale,” she said with great defensiveness, “but the ceramic swan stays with me!”
“Octy come on,” Vinyl neared the mare who hissed, “we need to make room, plus Berry really wants to buy it for a good amount of bits!”
Octy hid under the table as Berry became flustered, “Keep your grubby hooves off my swan!”
Vinyl shook her head but noticed Baen and smiled, “BAEN!  Aw, are you a sight for sore eyes.  Hey RD how’s it hanging?”
Dash hoofbumped the DJ, “Awesomely.”
Vinyl tapped her chin, “Hey Baen, could you give me a hoof with Octavia?  She’s refusing to fork over the merchandise.”
Baen nodded and casually walked over to the table, “Hello Octavia.”
“Good afternoon Baen, good to see you back,” she then added, “but I have no intention of giving up this swan.”
Baen nodded and looked to the girls, “One second,” he then reached under the table and yanked the mare out and held the swan aloft, with the mare still attached.
Baen gave a hard shake, but she held firm.  Gritting his teeth, he shook harder, but she held on stubbornly.
“MINE!”
Baen rolled his eyes.  He then jabbed a spot on her back causing her front legs to go slack and the mare to fall onto her back.  Baen passed the statue to Vinyl as Octavia whined on the ground and cursed at the stallion.  Vinyl gave the statue, and then the bits were given.
“There we go,” Vinyl walked to Octavia, “was that so hard?”
“You are sleeping on the couch,” she grumbled, “for four weeks.”
Vinyl blinked, “But I have my own room…”
“I don’t care.”
Baen leaned to Vinyl, “You might want to carry her.  Her legs will be like that for a good few hours.”
Vinyl levitated the fuming mare, “Thanks, I owe ya.”
“No trouble at all Vinyl,” he then approached Rainbow who quickly fell in step with him.
“How the hay did you do that?!”
“Another trick I picked up from A’dare,” he waved a hoof, “No big deal.”
Dash shook her head as the two came before the castle.    Baen nodded at it.
“Hm, I see she finally got the last of the cracks out,” he glanced at a snickering Rainbow Dash, “I assume she used much spackle?”
“Yeah,” she laughed as the door opened, “Twilight used all the spackle.”
A clearing throat drew their attention, “For your information, it was essential.  And for that matter, it was the construction crews who used the spackle.”
Both ponies snickered while Twilight stared at them in confusion, “Why does everypony laugh when I say that?”
Baen waved a hoof, “It’s nothing,” he glanced around, “where are the others by chance?”
“Oh, they’re in the library waiting for us,” she smiled, “since Cadance took the mirror back, there is a lot more space freed up.”
Baen walked side by side with Twilight and Rainbow as he glanced at her, “By the way Twilight, I was going to ask.  How is that….other trip coming along?”
Twilight smiled warmly and gave him a pat, “Be patient, I’m freeing up some time in the future for us when Cadance give the mirror back.”
Rainbow pouted, “I wanna go too,” they entered the library and were greeted by a chorus of voices.
Baen took a seat as the girls happily made themselves comfy.
“So Baen, first order of business,” Rarity stirred the tea she had in her magic grasp, “How did your personal vacation with dear Coco go?”
Baen smiled, “Well honestly, it went quite well.  Santa Carta was very sunny and we partook in what one calls,” he tilted his hoof a few times, “strolls by the beach.  The view was always good at sunset, the way the rays sparkled off the water.  Perfection.”
Rarity fawned, “A sunset stroll along the beach, how romantic,” she pouted, “Oh, why couldn’t you be more refined and have better manners.”
Baen pursed his lips as the girls laughed at Rarity’s blush at her comment.
Twilight smiled, “Well I’m glad to hear you and Coco had a good time.”
Baen nodded as Spike handed him a glass of punch, “there was just one minor thing that almost spoiled it for the two of us.”
The girls leaned in as he sighed, “All the damn vamponies.”
The girls blinked in confusion as he took a calm swig.
Applejack shook her head, “That’s a load a sour apples if ah ever heard it.”
Baen nodded, “Oh yeah, there are loads there.  They live in the caves near the seashore,” he placed his glass down, “But I digress.”
Pinkie Pie nodded, “Yeah!  What about the other places you saw?  Like the Minotaur kingdom!  OR OR OR THE ZEBRA KINGDOM!”
Twilight raised a hoof to calm her down, “Pinkie, why don’t we let him talk.”
Baen smiled and began to spin his tale.
*
As tales were told, another set of tales were just wrapping up.  Mulberry was sitting in front of Vida as shaved Diamond Dogs mined tirelessly for their mistress.
“And after Tirek’s defeat, Princess Twilight Sparkle was named the Princess of Friendship.”
“I see,” Vida stated half listening and half reading The Tome, “surely that can’t be it?”
Mulberry wracked his brain; he didn’t want her to be disappointed with him.  Then something clicked.
“Apologies my lady; it seems in my story telling I overlooked one critical detail.”
Vida nodded as she flipped another page from her perch.
“Before the climactic battle with Tirek there were several instances when these…I believe they were called demons,” Vida tilted her head and regarded Mulberry for a moment, “yes my lady, demons!”
Vida nodded, “And these demons,” she stated flatly as she flipped through her book, “how pray tell were they slain?”
“By a warrior that Princess Twilight thawed form stone,” Mulberry nodded as he remembered the name, “I believe it was, Baen.”
Vida stopped her page turning and slammed the book shut startling all present.
“What.”
Mulberry smiled weakly as Vida stood up and approached him, “That name.  Repeat it.”
“Baen, my lady?”
Vida’s eyes widened as something sparkled in them, “Hmm, now that is interesting.  Tell me, this Baen,” she crooked his chin with her forehoof, her voice tugging at Mulberry’s heart, “what does he look like?”
Mulberry blushed as his gaze became lidded, “He has a peach coat, a scar on his eye, green eyes and…”
Vida gently finished for him, “A rose red mane that is wild and untamed,” she smiled, “it IS him.”
Mulberry tilted his head in confusion as Vida licked her lips, “My lady?  Do you know him?”
“Extensively,” she mused but then a loud crash caused her to flinch.  She cast a glare to a shaved Fido who shrunk in fear.
“Why is it taking so long?” Vida scolded, “Is finding a book of stone so hard?”
Fido trembled under her stern gaze, “My lady, forgive me.  We search long but we no find the book you request.”
Vida’s right eye twitched but she inhaled as a small smile appeared, “Oh, no matter then.  I’ll just seek it out myself,” she trotted away, “Oh and Fido?  If I return and you have not collected for me five hundred gems as recompense for your failure,” she added in a sing song tone, “I’ll burn you to ashes where you stand.”
Fido whined in fright as Vida teleported away.
Mulberry gazed after her with longing.
*
Outside Ponyville, the sun was setting when a flash of green magic appeared on a nearby hill.  Looking around, the witch regarded the town with mild distaste.
“My book was brought here,” she snorted lightly, “how droll.”
Vida glanced nearby and noticed a thin earth pony stallion with an orange mane and yellow coat sitting nearby gazing at the sun.  She smiled and approached.  She halted when she noticed an errant magazine on the ground.  The mare wore a sundress with a matching sun hat and a pair of glasses.  Raising an eyebrow, her horn gave off a glow and soon she was garbed in an exact duplicate of the outfit.  The outfit was a darker shade of her mane.  On the dress, a gold floral pattern adorned it; the brim of her hat was trimmed with gold as well.  Smiling, she positioned her gold rimmed glasses and approached the stallion.
“Excuse me sir,” the stallion glanced over and gawked for a moment, “I’m looking for a book I seemed to have misplaced.  Would you by chance know where I could, reacquire it?”
The stallion shook his head to clear his mind a bit, “Oh, sorry about that miss.  Well originally I would have pointed you in the direction of Golden Oaks Library, but it kind of got…,” he tapped his chin, “blown up.”
Vida pouted, “That’s a shame, Mr?”
“Carrot Cake,” the stallion answered automatically much to his confusion, “Um…but Princess Twilight’s castle has a large library.  At least that’s what Pinkie Pie told me, she might’ve found your book for you!”
Vida smiled and approached the stallion who leaned back slightly as she got within an inch of him, “I see, my my,” she sniffed him, “do I smell cake?”
“Y…Yes, me and my wife make them.”
“Wife,” an ominous smile crept onto her face as she leaned forward…but she stopped, “on second thought….you’re too lanky for me.”
Carrot Cake was still caught as she turned to leave, “Wait miss, I could put on a few pounds, work out,” he fell face first into a mud puddle and shook his head, “What…what was I just doing?”
After the encounter, Vida scanned the town, searching for her book’s magical signature.  She managed to find faint traces and followed the strongest trail.  After many more hours of travelling, she turned a corner and stared up at the massive castle before her.
“Hm, impressive,” she shook her head, “But mine is bigger.”
Vida approached the main doors and knocked.  After a few moments of waiting, the door opened.  Vida raised an eyebrow and noticed nopony standing there.
“Um excuse me, down here,” Vida glanced down and notice the small purple and green dragon staring up at her, “Can I help you?”
“I am looking for the one known as Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
“Oh, you just missed her,” Spike couldn’t help but stare at the mare, “she went out for the night with her friends to eat with somepony who just got back from vacation.”
Vida nodded, but then her horn gave a violent pulse and her eyes snapped to the dragon as she magiced off her sunglasses, “Tell me drakeling,” she stated warmly, “would you have by chance come into contact with my book?”
Spike tapped his chin, “Um, I don’t know,” he blushed when her mane tickled the top of his head when she got to eye level with him, “m…maybe if you tell me what it looks like I can help anyway I can.”
Vida smiled and scratched under his chin, “Such a helpful young one you are,” she cooed, “very well.  My book isn’t that hard to describe,” She stopped her scratching, “It’s made from stone and it had a mark on it surrounded by spikes.  Surely you must’ve seen it.”
Spike nodded, “Sure did!  Actually, I pulled it out of the castle of Two Pony Sisters and brought it around to help a friend by showing her the Inspiration Manifestation spell.”
Vida nodded with a glimmer in her eye, “One of my finest works,” she tapped her chin, “but for somepony to use it….”
Spike didn’t hear her, “But the book drove my friend crazy so after a bunch of even crazier stuff happened, I ate it and that destroyed it.”
A pin dropped.
Vida’s smile was still on her face, “You…ate my book?  And destroyed it?”
“Yep, to save my friend Rarity,” Spike proclaimed proudly.
Vida’s right eye twitched, “A book, that I used to write all of my finest spells in during my studies with my mistress,” she stated calmly with her smile thinning, “you ate it.”
Spike nodded, the air growing thick.
“Uh,” Vida’s eyes fixed on him as the sun vanished behind her on the horizon, “I’m sorry?”
Vida leaned down, her smile as thin as thread.  Her irises then started to glow dangerously as she stated in a cold tone.
“You will be.”

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                            IV                             
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IV
That following night, was the night everything changed.  It had been a normal night for the barbarian, after getting dinner with Twilight and the girls and talking the night away.  He retired to his home, took off his armor, and went down to sleep.  But in the process, even though the pony was always careful, he couldn’t defend himself in his sleep.  As Baen slept, a soft green glow enveloped his door down below in his entryway and gently glided open.  A mare lightly stepped inside as Vida gazed around the domicile.  Her hoof gently traced along the back of the couch as she passed it, he eyes trailing along the possessions littering the home.  Casting a glance over to the far corner, her eyes widened and sparkled.  The axe, there it lay before the stairs leading upstairs.  Gently approached it, like an appraiser in a museum.  Her hoof traced over each crease, every scuff, and finally the blade edge.
“It is you,” she whispered, “All these years of imprisonment and you still live,” she smiled warmly as a bit of blood was drawn from her hoof.  She paid it no mind as she magically closed it.
She chuckled and gently ascended the staircase; her hoof falls as quiet and focused as a cat.  Soon she stood before the door to the master bedroom.  Her smile transitioned from two settings.  First, a calm and warm smile slowly turned to an icy cold and lustful smirk as she opened.  When it fully opened, the smirk turned to a cheshire grin when she saw the shape asleep in the bed before her.  She slinked into the room, the door gently shutting behind her.  Her rings, tiara, and cloak, vanished in a small burst of green magic as she gently stepped onto the bed.  The barbarian’s body beneath her gently shifted as she stared down with glee at the calm face of Baen.
“Hmmm~,” she purred as she ran a hoof gently down his face.
Baen turned fully on his back as Vida leaned down and inhaled softly.  She trembled lightly, the smell of wild roses and steel tinged with the wild untamed musk of nature, it truly was him.  She tiled her head as she fully lay atop him.  For a moment, Baen didn’t move, but then his body reacted to the sudden shift in weight and sent the emergency wake up signals.
Baen’s eyes slowly fluttered open and then they snapped fully open as he beheld the shape above him, “What manner of shadow is this?”
Vida tilted her head, on hoof resting under her chin as her free one started to circle his chest, “I am no shadow, lover,” the last word dripped with honey, “how long I have wished to feel your body against mine after all these years.”
Baen blinked at the witch, “V…Vida?  This cannot be,” he attempted to move, but her gaze and a quick spell bound him in his current position, “This…this is not REAL!  You’re imprisoned!”
“Ah,” she tutted, “I was imprisoned my love.  Did you not think that one such as I,” she licked his cheek to which he trembled at, “would not find a way to break that seal placed on me?”
Baen growled lightly, “Speak all you want witch!  I bested you once and I shall do it again!”
Vida rested her head against his neck, “Ah but that was different times my love,” she purred into his ear, “We were different ponies.”
Baen tried to squirm out from under her but the spell held him firmly, “What reason do you have to be here you blasted siren!”
Vida smirked and stared into his eyes, “Ah, as always, so serious love.”
“I am not, nor will I ever be,” he seethed, “your lover.”
Vida pouted and smiled almost tauntingly, “Oh how soon you forget,” she stared dreamily into space, “the night we spent within my castle.  You would have been mine,” her gaze hardened in anger, “if those fools had not interfered.”
“Don’t try to justify your seduction temptress; you would have thrown me aside like all those others,” Baen growled, “Why are you here…for that matter.  Why are you here in Equestria?”
Vida pressed her nose to his gently, “Oh, I merely wish to establish my dominion my warrior,” she licked his lips to which he tried to bite her tongue, “hm.  That look…somepony has captured your heart.  How unfortunate.”
Baen growled like a caged lion as Vida shook her head, gently rubbing her body against his before climbing off of him; her garbs reappeared a moment later.
“But I shall not be deterred, once more you shall be mine, my Baen,” she smiled lightly, “Of course, that will be after I have what I want.”
Baen was about to speak, but then, Vida spoke one word.
“Sleep….”
*
Baen sat up straight and looked around his room fast.  The sun shined brightly in the mid-morning light and sighed in relief.
“A nightmare…,” he rubbed his face, “Just a nightmare.”
He shook his head lightly as he ventured downstairs and stopped.  Resting on his table was a scroll with a familiar seal on it.  Quickly crossing the room, he unfurled the scroll and read it with a focused gaze.
Dear Baen,
I am writing to you this morning with the gravest news.  Though you are most likely wondering as to why I send this letter to you and not Twilight, allow me to explain.  A few nights ago, a…personal item of my sister and I’s, went missing.  Though this might not seem an emergency requiring your attention, what we have recently discovered might.  After scanning the scene extensively, we discovered traces of what I could only assume as Old Magic….
Baen paused for a moment with an inhale before reading.
At first, Luna and I were skeptical on the finding.  We only know you are the only user of this magic, but upon closer examination we further discovered that his magic though tainted, was indeed Old Magic.  I realize this might inconvenience you, but being the only consultant we have on hoof who has dealt with Old Magic in all its forms.  I request that you please make for Canterlot as soon as possible.
Sincerely your friend, Princess Celestia.
Baen dropped the letter in the bin and made for his armor and axe.
*
When the train had pulled into the station, Baen immediately hit the ground running.  After the guards allowed him into the gate…abet they had to move lest they get run over, the barbarian found Celestia pacing.
“Celestia.”
Princess Celestia glanced up and gave a small smile, “Baen, thank Faust,” she ushered him to follow.
As the two ponies trotted down the halls, Baen passed by an open room and noticed something covered in a sheet.
“Princess…”
“I’ll explain when we arrive.”
In silence, they travelled to the large room in the castle that was its library.  After coming inside, Baen noticed a few things.  First, Luna was busy examining the surrounding area with her magic, most likely scanning for anything missed.  Lying near the door was a suit of Night Guard armor, discarded and left by its wearer.  Baen’s eyes then traveled to a section of the floor and noticed an outline of a pony done in chalk.  Nodding he ventured toward Luna who turned her head and regarded Baen with a smile.
“Sir Baen, it’s good to see you again,” she looked to the side, “Though I and my sister wish it were under more happier circumstance.”
Baen nodded, “I feel the same,” he looked at the massive stone doors, “Is this the chamber that was raided?”
Celestia nodded, “Unfortunately yes.”
Baen glanced at her, “What exactly was contained within this chamber?”
Celestia nodded to some nearby guards who were dismissed, “Know this,” she stated, “What I am about to tell you must never leave this room, do you understand?”
Baen nodded as Celestia inhaled to steady herself, “As you know.  Luna and I have been around for many years, countless in fact.  It’s these years and the wisdom we have accumulated with our time that makes us the rulers we are today,” Celestia sat herself, “In saying that, there are some mysteries in Equestria that even escape our understanding.”
Baen nodded as Luna and he sat down, the lunar princess continuing to talk after Celestia, “My sister speaks the truth.  It is for these findings that we recorded them in a series of personal journals.  Though we say series,” Luna looked to Celestia, “we both agreed that we would inform our guards that all the information was merely contained in the one we stored here.  As a fallback measure in the event any of them were interrogated."
Celestia nodded, “Indeed.  To further secure the knowledge, we placed this one journal here under the strictest guard and the strongest containment spells and protection enchantments.”
Baen raised a questioning hoof, “But why keep such a journal out in the open?”
Celestia sighed, “We chose this particular one, because the knowledge contained within it though powerful, would prove foalish and a foolhardy errand to undertake.”
Baen shook his head as Luna voiced his thought, “the other reason was due to our close friend Starswirl, who spent many days among these very shelves, to add to the journal.”
Baen tilted his head, “What exactly was he researching?”
Celestia glanced around, “Within this journal was knowledge on a mystery that to this day, we can still not solve,” she straightened herself, “To know this story is to tell of Equestria when we first ascended the throne.”
Luna nodded as Celestia gave her the gesture to explain, “When Discord was defeated.  Equestria was still in a state of disarray.  My sister and I needed ponies of true hearts and noble spirit to keep the ponies of Equestria safe and to ensure their own safety by enforcing our laws.  It was thus, that we created the Knights of The Round.  The first guard of Equestria and by far the finest ponies we had the pleasure of knowing.”
Celestia smiled in remembrance, “There was Lancelot.  An earth pony whose loyalty and honor was without question.  Then there was Lancelot’s father Ban, a noble pony who served alongside his son valiantly.  Then there was Gawain, a unicorn of great skill.”
Luna nodded, “Then there was Arthur Pendragon, a pegasus with a great heart and a leader of natural born skill…..,” she trailed off, “Then…there was Mordred.”
Celestia nodded, “He was…,” Celestia waved a hood, “it doesn’t matter, the reason we tell you this is because to each of them, we bestowed to them great weapons,” Baen nodded as they spun their tale, “These weapons, were known as the six sacred swords.  Arondight, Galatine, Caliburnus, Excalibur, Coreiseuse, and Clarent.  Each sword powerful relics of unimaginable power, if wielded by just ponies, they could preserve kingdoms.  But if used for evil,” her look became dark, “they would ruin kingdoms.”
Luna nodded, “It was because of this that we granted them to our knights.”
Baen tapped his chin, “During your tale, you mentioned one known as Mordred, why did you refer to him in a darkened manner?”
Celestia sighed, “Arthur was a dear friend of ours, and it was through him that the Canterlot of old was built.  After a great war, Arthur settled upon this mountain and began to construct a city as both a present to us and a beacon of hope.  It was this that allowed me to name Arthur king of this city, until such time the construction was complete and we could ascend the throne.”
Luna nodded, “You might think this an ill option, but it was true in nature.  Arthur wished nothing more than to serve his land and live happily.  When named king, he took the title with great reluctance, but he ruled none the less.  Then…tragedy struck.”
Celestia nodded, “Two weeks after my sister became Nightmare Moon and was banished,” a forlorn look appeared on the solar monarch’s face, “Mordred…turned against Arthur and cut him down.  The knights fought back and I exiled the traitor, but the damage had been done.”
“Ban,” Luna continued sadly, “took the throne.  To think such a tragedy befell in my absence....”
“These knights,” Baen stated, “You had a great connection to them didn’t you?”
Celestia nodded, “Yes….some more than others.”
Luna looked to the side in shame, “I chose Mordred to be put with the knights.  I trusted him…”
Celestia nuzzled her sister, “As you can tell, this memory is not one we wish to discuss.  But we must because within that book,” she stared at Baen, “Is all the information on the swords in their entirety that we and Starswirl collectively discovered, including their locations.”
“Locations?  You mean they are not here?”
Celestia shook her head, “No, during the final days of the Knights, when they sought to retire and seek out a life of peace,” Celestia smiled as if in a dream, “Lancelot took it upon himself to take the swords and hide them.  To ensure that they could never be used for dark purposes, though he insisted that he guard Arondight closely, he did write to me on occasion,” she blushed lightly when she noticed them staring, “B…but eventually the letters stopped.”
Baen nodded, “And you suspect whoever stole this journal will pursue the swords?”
Luna nodded, “Yes, most assuredly.  But as to whom, we cannot discern their identity.”
Celestia nodded, “Which is why we called you here today,” she gestured to the doors, “could you perhaps discover the culprit?”
Baen nodded, “I’ll try,” he stood and approached the doors and placed his hooves upon the doors, “I’m a tad rusty.”
He shut his eyes in deep concentration as his aura flared to life and seemed to lick at the stone’s surface.  Celestia and Luna watched on fascination as his aura not only went into every crease, but seemed to also extract small particles of light from the cracks.  Baen’s then flinched, and the fringes of his aura changed.  The red gradually turned to a sinister green before he disengaged the aura.  He backed away from the door like it had means to harm him.
“No…it wasn’t a nightmare,” Baen stared wide eyed at the door, “This IS the nightmare….”
Baen snapped his head around and looked at the armor, “The pony that armor belonged to, was it a mare or a stallion?”
Luna blinked, “A stallion…he killed one of my sisters day guard and fled the castle.  Why?”
Baen shook his head, “Of course it was a stallion….”
Celestia became worried, “Baen, what do you know?”
Baen looked at them with a serious expression, “I know who has your book, and this pony is….a great threat.”
Celestia and Luna leaned forward.
Baen sighed, “Her name is Vida,” he shook his head and turned from them, “She hails from my age.  I’m not sure how she’s here or why, but know this,” he stared at them, “She is a powerful sorceress well versed in dark magic, if anything, if she could break the enchantments you two placed on those doors then I fear for everypony in this age.”
Celestia nodded, “What has she done with Luna’s guard?”
“More than likely she’s enchanted him,” Baen narrowed his eyes, “Vida’s trademark is to bewitch and enchant stallions to do her bidding,” he placed his forehoof to his head; “She breaks their minds and makes herself the vocal point of their desires.  The stallions are still themselves however, they just wish to follow her and want nothing more than to make her happy.”
Luna grit her teeth, “How dare she taint one of our guards!”
Celestia thought hard on this, “Baen.  Come with us, my sister and I….we need to think on this matter to decide on our next move.  You may stay here in Canterlot while we debate,” she gave a half smile, “just try not to break anything.”
Baen smirked as the three ponies ventured from the library.
*
Far off from Canterlot, in a mountain range, Vida stood with her small group of shaved Diamond dogs who were steadily growing their fur back.  Standing at her side was Mulberry.  The group gazed down into a vast canyon, on the other side of the vast gap was a large clearing.
“My lady,” Mulberry asked while turning to a severely focused Vida, “Why are we here?”
Vida smiled, “My dear Mulberry, we’re here for my castle.”
Before Mulberry could ask, Vida shot a massive bolt into the sky.   The bolt increased in size and volume as it ascended, then it arched down and exploded into the ground with a large thunder crack.  Nothing happened at first, but then the ground started to shake.  The dogs and pony started trembling, but Vida stood firm and smiled in satisfaction as a massive crack split the clearing in two.  Vida watched on as the crack exploded.  The very earth heaved and frothed as spires of stone started rising toward the heavens.  The onlookers watched on in awe as the castle took shape.  A mass of spires of dark stone with horn like additions, massive ominous windows, the shadow it cast reached to the group when the whole valley was filled with the castle.  The castle effectively sitting on a massive stone platform, Vida smiled wider.
“Just as I left you,” she mused.
In an instant, a massive stone bridge extended across the canyon from the mountain itself and bridged the gap to Vida’s fortress.
“Come along my lovelies,” she kindly said, “we have some cleaning to do.”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                             V                             
//-------------------------------------------------------//
V
Baen sat in silence in the Canterlot guest room.  It had been many hours since the conversation concerning Vida’s possible motives and he hadn’t received any word yet from the princesses or any of the guards.  So at the moment, the barbarian was sitting in his chamber passing the time by bouncing a ball against the far wall then catching it, then repeating the process.  His stare was flat and even as the dull thuds of the ball met his ear.  However a thud accompanied by a noise of pain broke him from his trance of boredom.
“Huh?”
A day guard stallion was rubbing his nose, “Baen, the princesses wish to speak with you now.”
The stallion picked up the ball and chucked it at the bed Baen had been sitting on.
Baen was soon on all four hooves and trotting quickly toward the throne room.  After a few more turns down the vast network of halls, he appeared in the throne room to behold two very deep in thought monarchs.
“Princesses?”
Celestia jumped slightly but smiled at Baen’s presence, “Ah, good, you’re here.”
Luna collected herself, “Sir Baen, after much deliberation, my sister and I have come to a decision.”
Celestia tapped her front hoof a tad in mild discomfort, “And in light of a recent development, this decision was truly the only option we have.”
Baen cocked an eyebrow, “Recent development?”
Luna nodded, “To the far south, a scout reported that a castle seemingly rose out of the ground itself.  My sister deduced that this castle, Vida, and the journal theft are indeed connected.”
“Which is why Baen that I ask you to brace yourself,” she collected herself as well, “for what I am about to ask of you is a heavy burden indeed.”
Baen nodded with a steeled look, “Speak and I shall listen.”
Celestia gave a small smile but returned to her stoic look, “Baen, I, Princess Celestia of Equestria ask of you to undertake a quest of the most arduous nature,” she stood to her full height, “go out into Equestria, find The Six Sacred Swords of The Round before Vida and then go bring her to justice,” on the last words she spread her wings wide.
Baen stood in silence, utterly taken by surprise.  He had not expected such a request, though he knew of Celestia’s requests before thanks to Twilight’s stories, but this….
“I realize that you most likely do not wish for such a responsibility,” Celestia stated before standing before him, “But you must understand, you are the only pony who lives and breathes who has dealt with this….Vida.”
“Also,” Luna added as she stood at her sister’s side, “your combat experience will make you a formidable foe to whatever creatures might lay in wait out there.”
Baen mulled it over for only a moment before answering, “Very well.”
The lunar and solar monarch blinked once before smiling in a grateful manner.
“Thank you my friend,” Celestia stated with a sigh of utter relief, “But there is just a few things you must know.”
Both alicorns led Baen to their observation balcony.  The three stood in silence before Luna broke the silence.
“As you know,” Luna began, “The swords locations are currently residing within the journal that is now in the possession of the one called Vida.  So you must understand, finding them will be no easy task.”
“That is not all,” Celestia continued, “Lancelot informed me in one of his old letters that each sword had a test laid out for them.  Tests to see if a pony was worthy to so much as possess just one of them, as you can imagine, nopony who has ventured to even so much as find a whiff of one of the swords has never returned.”
Baen nodded, “High stakes,” he mumbled.
Luna glanced at her friend and smiled encouragingly, “But fear not, Sir Baen, for there is a silver lining amongst these grave tidings!”
Baen looked to Celestia who cleared her throat, “Before Starswirl the Bearded moved to Canterlot, he originally did his research in the only other city that had a strong magical presence.”
Baen blinked in surprise, “The Crystal Empire?”
Luna nodded and looked to the distance, “Precisely, my sister told me that before Starswirl’s passing, he confided in her that he had kept a duplicate of the locations in scrolls deep within the bowels of the palace,” Luna became visibly conflicted, “though, we have our doubts that they might all still be intact.”
Baen nodded in finality, “Then it is to the North I must go.”
Celestia magically stopped him, “One moment Baen, there is still the matter of the other thing you must know.”
Baen raised an eyebrow as Celestia placed her hoof on his shoulder, “You mustn’t let Twilight or any of the other elements know of this quest.  Even after your departure, it must be kept a secret.”
Baen tilted his head, “But why?  Twilight and her friends could prove valuable assets in battle.  They have proven that multiple times before.”
Luna stared at him with a great focus, “But ask yourself this,” she gestured to Baen, “Would you honestly be able to defend them from Vida and whatever she might have?  And as we have seen, Old Magic is quite powerful.”
Baen shuffled and looked to the ground, “That is true….”
Celestia gently eased his head up, “It’s not that we do not trust you, far from it, we believe you could put up quite a fight.  It’s just…”
“It’s a manner of them getting through the quest alive and the possible threat of losing them,” Baen gave a half smile, “I understand completely.”
Celestia nodded once more but with relief and a relaxed posture, “I’m glad you understand.  When can you depart?”
“Immediately.”
Luna looked on but flinched when a scroll bopped her on the head.  She looked down and unfurled it.  Quickly scanning the scroll’s contents, she gaped.
“Sister….I believe that you should look at this.”
Celestia magiced the scroll over and examined it.  The color drained from her face.
“Baen….I am going to teleport you back to Ponyville.  When you arrive, get on the first train to the empire and ensure you avoid anypony, especially Twilight now of all times,” she wound the scroll back up.
“Wait….why?”
*
Twilight was nervously pacing around her library as her friends voiced their support and attempted to calm her down.
“C’mon Twi, it’s not so bad,” Applejack said, “He….really ties the room together.”
Rarity wailed in sadness, “Oh my poor Spikey Wikey!”
Fluttershy nodded and gave the fashionista a pat on the back, “I know, it’s just terrible.”
Before them stood Spike, with a look of horror plastered on his face, however, he was completely made of stone, dressed in blue suspenders, and a red pointed hat.
Rarity sobbed, “Those suspenders and hat clash horribly!”
Twilight cast an even glance at Rarity who shrunk under it slightly, “And…being turned to stone only adds salt to the wound.”
Pinkie tried her best to stand Spike up straight, but the posture and stance he was in just caused him to fall over.
Twilight sat down, “I hope the princess has a solution to this.”
A pop was heard as a scroll landed before the purple princess.  Twilight immediately opened it and read it, and then her look went from one of distress to one of bemusement.
“Celestia says that Spike has contracted an extremely rare and lost magical affliction known as…,” she read the term slowly, “Lawn Gnomitis….it seems to afflict those of the younger age.  It’s like the chicken pox, but it can be cured by using magic.”
Rainbow raised an eyebrow, “Sounds made up to me.”
Twilight looked at the pegasus in shock, “Are you calling our own princess a liar Rainbow?”
Rainbow waved her hooves wildly as all eyes fixed on her, “No no no, I’m just saying whoever named that sickness either had no brain,” she twirled her front hoof beside one of her ears, “Or they are completely bonkers.”
All the mares nodded in agreement.  Outside however, they didn’t notice a flash of sun colored light near the train station.
*
Baen’s eye spun in his head for a moment before he righted himself and approached the teller’s counter.
“When’s the first train to The Crystal Empire?”
The Teller blinked for a moment at the barbarian’s hasty arrival but checked the schedule.
“Oh I’m sorry,” he stated, “But you just missed the last one.”
“But the time is…”
“Six in the evening,” he stated flatly, “you must understand sir, The Crystal Empire though a popular spot to travel to has a shortage of trains.”
Baen grumbled, “When’s the earliest one then?”
The Teller consulted his books once more, “Tomorrow morning, eight.”
Baen nodded and tapped the counter, “Put me down for a seat,” he placed the bits needed.
The Teller complied.  As this transaction took place, Baen was not aware of two pairs of eyes watching him from nearby.
*
As perpetrations were made, Vida sat upon a throne of jade, each armrest ending with a finely carved snake head.  Vida was currently gazing into an emerald sphere which projected the focus of her attention, Baen.
“Oh my lovely,” she cooed as she dragged her hoof along the smooth surface, “Are you going to pay me a visit?”
The far doors opened as a lone figure stepped in.
“My lady,” Mulberry reported, “the cleaning of The West Wing is complete.”
Vida clapped her front hooves together happily, “Excellent!  Since you all worked so hard, tonight we feast!”
Mulberry brightened, “T…thank you my lady!”
Vida shook her head as the sphere locked itself on the top of her chairs back, “You miss understand Mulberry, we feast, but not at the moment,” she gently traced a hoof along the bat pony’s spine causing his wings to snap to attention, “you still have much more wings of the castle to clean.”
Mulberry nodded with a blush and lidded look as he followed his lady’s every move, “Of course….I’ll inform the dogs.”
Vida nodded, satisfied.  But as she ventured from her throne room, she sensed something.  Yes, her enchantment was strong as it always was, but that stallion Mulberry….perhaps it was because she had only awoken a few days prior and her power had yet to return to its full peak.  Or maybe Mulberry had a strong will.  Regardless as to what it was, she sensed his consciousness which should be in a state of blissful ignorance, mildly active and aware.
“Hm…curious.”
When the door shut behind her, Mulberry stood in silence, savoring whatever lingering scent there was of her in the air.  But then his brain gave a sharp throb.  He clutched his forehead on reflex and shook his head.  The green on the edges of his eye flickering before becoming solid again, shrugging, he ventured to order the dogs.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                            VII                            
//-------------------------------------------------------//
VII
Twilight stared at the stone Spike, gently tapping his forehead as Celestia sat in the room sipping a tea cup.
“Patience Twilight,” Celestia said softly, “The spell will heal him in due time.”
Twilight sighed, “I know princess, I’m just….I guess antsy is the word.”
Celestia raised an eyebrow as she gently set the cup and plate down, “What’s troubling you?”
Twilight sat across from her fellow princess, “Honestly?  I’ve just had this weird feeling, I can’t properly explain it, but I feel like something terrible has or is happening right now.”
Celestia gave a warm smile to the young princess, “It’s probably your intuition, think nothing of it.”
Twilight nodded and looked out the window to her left, “Though I am wondering something.”
“Oh?”
Twilight twiddled her front hooves, “It’s been a few days since the Nemean Lion attacked Ponyville and not only has Baen been surprisingly quiet for once.  But I’m curious how the studies on the Lion are coming.”
At the mention of the barbarian, Celestia looked away and bit her lip for a moment before answering in a semi calm voice, “Well…he’s probably found a decent outlet for his tendencies.”
Twilight nodded, “Yeah, you’re right.”
Celestia perked up with a serene expression, “As for the Lion, we’ve discovered a few things about it.  For one, it possesses magic signatures that could be properly described as what we hypothesis as the earliest evolution of Old Magic into present Equestrian Magic.”
Twilight’s eyes were a glow with this revelation, “That’s…Amazing!  If the Lion’s origins are properly explored, this could write a whole new chapter on magic and Equestria itself!”
Celestia tittered lightly at her fellow princess’s old habits shining through, “The researchers have affectionately named the Lion, Goldie.  It’s surprisingly docile now that it’s in captivity, though it does bite at anypony that gets too close.”
Twilight clapped her hooves excitedly as she looked into space, “Heh.”
Celestia titled her head, “Something funny?”
Twilight shook her head, “I’m just imagining what Baen would say about this, knowing him he’d probably say something like…”
*
“GET THIS DAMN THING OFF OF ME!”
Everything had happened so fast.  One moment he had pinned the two mares to the ground and engaged his Wrath Aura to take the brunt of the explosion, the next, he saw white and everything was shaking.  Everything just came in hot and cold flashes after that.  Screams, crashing, pain….more pain.  Eventually he came to and glanced around him, and gawked.  Around him strewn about was the burning and charred wreck that had once been an Equestrian train.  The way the wreckage was strewn was similar to a foal smashing a model train against the ground and then setting it on fire.  Cars were impaled in the snow or laying on their sides on fire or destroyed beyond recognition.  Steel beams and tires littered the area, and currently, Baen was pinned under a mass of steel and wood, his limbs screaming as he tried to lift the wreck off of him.
He slumped in defeat.
Thinking for a moment he yelled out in a neutral voice, “Anypony dead!?”
“No, but pretty sore!”
Baen’s eyes flicked around, “Vinyl?  Is Cheerilee with you!?”
Cheerilee’s voice sounded mildly strained but answered, “I’m here…”
“Dude, where are you?”
Baen smashed his hind hoof on the metal continuously, “FOLLOW THE NOISE!”
After good while of kicking, he heard the sound of hooves near him, “Whoa, are you sure you’re alive under there?  Or are we having a hallucination?”
“I’m alive,” Baen grumbled as the wreck shifted slightly, “though…that could change if fast action is not done.”
Vinyl inhaled slightly, “Alright.  Hold on B, I got this.”
Cheerilee then added, “Be careful when you sift through it, if you’re not, you could crush him.”
“Roger that,” Vinyl answered.
Baen then felt the warmth proximity of a magical aura as the pile groaned as it was moved.  The surface of the debris was tossed aside before the rest joined it.  Soon, Baen lay on his back staring at the sky without the threat of being turned into a pancake.
Baen shakily stood as he looked around, the railroad was far behind them.
“Looks like the wreck went pretty far,” Baen shook his head in irritation, “Okay, any casualties?
Vinyl shook her head as she looked at her now busted glasses, “None, but if you want to talk accessories, one.”
Cheerilee looked around and shivered, “that, Star, pony.  What did it do with the staff?”
Baen looked at Cheerilee, “Most likely teleported them to its master,” he then took note of the two mares for the first time.
They had cuts and bruises on them, and they were visibly shivering.  There was no civilization in sight, they couldn't go back toward the train tracks because they had no idea which direction they were in.  Baen steeled himself as he looked at the two mares, who were becoming more afraid by the second as the situation dawned on them.  Baen looked at them in turn, and then started walking in the direction he remembered the train going.
Vinyl ran after him, “Wait!  Where are you going?!”
“The Crystal Empire,” He stated matter of factly, “The train was going in this exact direction before it crashed.”
Cheerilee looked at him in desperation, “How do you even know it’s the right direction?  We could’ve been turned around!”
“If we stand or sit we’ll freeze,” Baen looked at them with a stern yet caring expression, “I’d rather try than sit down and die.”
Vinyl looked around and sighed, “Lead the way.”
The three ponies then entered the harsh and steadily darkening tundra.
*
Vida was laughing like a school filly as she watched the scene unfold in her ball, “Oh Baen, as resilient as ever,” she leaned back in her throne and glanced at The Star as it bowed low, “You’ve done well my familiar, carry on.”
The Star nodded slowly before rising and seating itself beside a pillar and going motionless.  Vida cast a glance to Mulberry and smiled to herself.
“Oh my dear Mulberry,” she purred, “I have a few questions I wish to ask of you.”
Mulberry was at her side without hesitation, “Yes my lady?”
Vida laid herself lengthwise across her throne and stared up at the stallion, “Tell me about the Northern Tundra and any of its dangers.”
Mulberry wracked his brain, “Well aside from the blizzards and piercing winds, the biggest threat out there are Polar Bears, and Snow Leopards.”
Vida became intrigued, “Go on.”
*
As event unfolded, Shining Armor sat in his personal room, and was currently asleep on the love seat he had in there.  A comic book covered his face as he snored lightly.  One might say this behaviour was unbecoming of a Prince, and in some cases, they would be right.  But here’s why they wouldn’t, this area in question was what Shining affectionately called his Fortress of Broitude and he deserved every moment of the nap he was having.  For close to several months he had been dealing with researchers, scientists, and the odd nutball due to the Crystal Mirror research.  The researchers and their associates were taking a hiatus before the final study preparations were to be undertaken.  So today there was no paper work, the wife was out, and he had the castle to himself.  So he was going to veg on the couch with his favorite comics and nap.  Though one thing cut him from his slice of heaven, and it came in the form of a series of rapid knocks.
Shining snorted and rolled off his couch with a yelp, “Wha?  Huh?”
“Your highness, were you sleeping?”
The muffled voice of his guard shook the blurry fog from his head, “No no, I’ve been awake *yawn* for hours, why?”
The door opened to reveal his personal pony guard, Flash Sentry, “Well….,” he took note of the room’s current condition, “Heh, have a good afternoon sir?”
Shining chuckled sleepily as he started to wake up more, “You bet, so what’s the emergency?”
Flash became all business once more, “You’ll have to come downstairs to the medical wing, I’ll explain on the way.”
Shining nodded and started following the guard as he started his explanation, “Earlier this afternoon a couple of the local scouts discovered a train wreck several miles from the Empire’s borders.”
Shining became focused, “Was anypony injured?  Or killed?”
Flash shook his head, “No bodies were discovered…but we did find something else.”
Shining raised an eyebrow as Flash opened the medical wing doors.  Shining stared on.
Vinyl Scratch and Cheerilee from Ponyville were laying in the medical beds sipping warm soup and shivering lightly under the provided blankets.
“What happened,” he asked with a mix of concern and curiosity.
Flash inhaled, “Well to be frank, the scouts flew a ways from the wreckage and discovered the three in the snow.  One of them was still conscious and was…carrying the other two on his back.”
Shining glanced at Flash, “Three?”
Flash nodded as he led him passed the med beds, “He’s up and about, plus, he’s the one who asked for you.”
As they approached a window overlooking the nightly covered city of The Crystal Empire, Shining took note of two things.  One, Baen was currently sitting on a cushion eating the soup provided to him.  Two, he was currently flirting with a Crystal Pony nurse name Glass Bell.
Baen smiled at Shining’s approach, “Ah my friend, good to see you!”
Shining looked at Glass Bell who blushed and shied away from the barbarian, “So, you almost freeze to death and I find you flirting with one of our nurses,” he shakes his head, “You remember that you’re spoken for right?”
“Of course,” Baen gestured to the departing nurse, “she was actually flirting with me when you approached.”
Shining clicked his tongue, “Right.”
Baen raised his hoof, “Scouts honor.”
“Do you even know what that means?”
Baen paused, “I saw Applejack’s sister use it once.”
Both stallions shared a laugh before Shining addressed the matter at hoof, “So what brings you back to my neck of the woods?  I mean besides the train crash.”
Baen sighed and placed the bowl down, he cast a gaze at Vinyl and Cheerilee as all eyes focused on him.  He shook his head at the fact that his secret quest was effectively now rendered…not secret due to The Star’s attack.  He was in a corner and he couldn’t get out of it without saying the truth.
“Listen well,” he looked to the two mares, “all of you.”
*
After Baen finished his explanation, Shining blinked in surprise and shock, “So this mare…Vida, she wants to take over Equestria by retrieving these swords?”
Baen nodded, “Exactly, and I’m supposed to collect them before she can accomplish this goal,” he stamped his hoof down onto the floor, “and slay her once and for all.”
Shining tapped his chin, “Hm.  Well I don’t know what to tell you, honestly, I’ve never seen anything with Starswirl’s name on it in the castle at any point.”
“I think I can help you there.”
Everypony turned their heads and stared at a greatly intrigued Princess Cadance.
“Follow me.”
After finishing their warm meals, the ponies followed the Princess of Love into the throne room.  She gazed at her throne and shot a jolt of pure magic into the crystal center piece.  It shed a warming light throughout the room.  When the light faded, the throne was gone and in its place was a lone solid crystal door.
Cadance smiled, “Through there is what you’re looking for.”
Baen blinked, “Um….it’s just a door.”
Cadance shook her head, “Baen, it only LOOKS like a door,” she trotted to it and opened it, “But when it’s opened.”
Baen and the collective group gasped.  Within the door was a room the size of a large study, though there was no light to speak of within it.
Baen and company approached the door and stared on in awe, “A separate space.  Impressive.”
Cadance gestured, “Actually this is a room in the castle…as to where, I’m not sure.”
Baen nodded and ventured inside.  The room immediately lit up.  Baen looked around as the smell of old ink and paper entered his nostrils.  Parchment, used and not littered the room.  Odd contraptions, objects, and even burnt out candles were present in the organized chaos of the study.  Baen glanced around and sighed in irritation, it was going to take forever to sift through this mess to find what he was looking for.
Shining ran a hoof along a massive stack of notes, “Amazing.  Twiley would have a field day in here.”
Baen nodded as he started to search.
Flash looked at a couple of books, “What exactly are you looking for Baen?”
“A book or something containing the location of the swords,” he looked at a sketch of three ponies that had gems in their necks and a bio entry beside the picture, “or anything pertaining to, Arthur, Mordred, Gawain, King Ban, or Lancelot.”
Vinyl piped up, “Did you say Lancelot?”
“Yeah,” he turned from a weird looking chalice made out of gold that seemed to exude a powerful magic, “why?”
Vinyl levitated a small pocket sized book to Baen, “The rest of the pages ink is faded, but this page mentions Lancelot and something about a sword, I skimmed it.”
Baen thanked her and laid the book down and started to scan the page.
*
“Today I have received a letter from my dear friend Lancelot, but he fears it will be his last.  He has confided in me his location and an odd phrase, ‘The knight disturbs the water,’ I’m not sure what he means.  But he went on to say that should I ever wish to seek out Arondight, that I depart for the monarchy of the griffons and consult with their ruler.  I end this entry with the hopes that my friend might find peace.”
*
Baen nodded as he turned from the study, “I know where I have to go.”
The group followed after him as Vinyl piped up, “Cool, where are we going?”
Baen glanced back at his friends, “You two are going back to Ponyville, and this is my mission, not yours.”
Cheerilee raised a hoof, “When that creature attacked us, it became our mission as well, we’re involved now whether you like it or not.”
Vinyl nodded with a smug smile.
Shining stepped forward, “And I’m coming to.”
“No you’re not!”
Shining tilted his head, “As a Prince of…”
Baen cut him off with a hoof and a smirk, “That whole escort thing won’t fly.  During my vacation I read up on royal escorts, it’s only an escort if two or more ponies are guiding the VIP in question.  Anything less is just babysitting.”
Shining nodded with pursed lips, “Flash, are you busy?”
Flash blinked, “Sir?”
Shining smirked right back at the barbarian, “Private Sentry, you’re coming on an adventure with me to fight evil and retrieve swords.”
Flash blinked and spoke in shock, “W..What?!”
Baen growled as Cadance placed a calming hoof on his withers, “Calm down.  If anything, you could use the back-up, right?”
“I…suppose…,” he sighed in defeat, “How can we get to the griffon kingdom from here?”
Cadance smiled with exuberance, “Funny you should ask that.  As it happens,” Cadance rubbed her horse shoe on her chest, “the King of the Griffons and the Empire have been negotiating air ship travel from here to their kingdom for months now, we just signed the papers to allow their ships in our airspace.  If you want, I could request a personal ship to arrive in the morning.  You’ll be the first ponies to leave from here to go to his Kingdom via air.”
Baen blinked, “That would be fantastic.
Cadance smiled, “Excellent, now, who’s up for some pre quest dinner?”
Everypony raised their hooves.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                           VIII                            
//-------------------------------------------------------//
VIII
Baen lay on his back fast asleep in the guest room provided for him by Cadance and Shining.  As he slept, his comrades for the morning were littered around the guest room.  Cheerilee snoring softly with a night mask on, Vinyl sprawled on the floor with her right hindhoof twitching occasionally.  Flash was laying on his side snorting occasionally on his inhale, his armor long since gone.  Shining however was sleeping in the royal chambers.  But unbeknownst to Baen’s allies, the barbarian was having an odd dream.
*
Baen glanced around at the landscape surrounding him, he recognized it well.  The world he now stood in was the exact same one he had glimpsed when he and Twilight had arrived in the Crystal Empire for a simple visit and at her mild request he had touched the mirror with his old magic.  And just like the previous time, his senses were altered and he couldn’t perceive the world properly.  He had attempted to listen, but the sounds were still garbled.  The colors and sights were unperceivable, and the barbarian could only gaze around.  He had to admit it was mildly intriguing and frustrating.
“Why do all the weird things happen to me,” he chuckled, “now I know how Twilight and her friends feel.”
Baen shrugged to himself and started trotting through the area.  But something else struck him as odd.  Even though he was not aware of his surroundings, it was as if some sort of inner compass was guiding him.  As to where, he did not know.  For many minutes he walked, and he began to notice something very interesting.  The space around him was lazily coming slightly into focus the further he went.  After a few more minutes of his seemingly aimless travel, he halted himself and gazed down.  It was not of his own volition, more like something compelled him to look.  At his hoof’s he perceive the grass, if only slightly, it was a lush green but the green itself almost seemed muffled still.  Whatever force was at work seemed to be withholding all the details from the young warrior.  But what drew his eyes more was what was at the edge of where he stood.  A massive inky blackness was before him, light drips were heard along with the occasional splashes that sounded like the ever slight vibrations of a sweet chime.
“What…,” he then realized the splashes were approaching him.
“My knight, it’s time to awake,” an all too familiar voice that was soft and melodic spoke, “Our time is approaching soon.”
Baen looked up and beheld the same clear and pristine water blue eyes he had seen before.  But this time, he could make out something else.  The very vague outline of a pony that was the exact size of Celestia.
*
Baen’s eyes snapped open as he sat straight up and looked around, and everypony else stared at him in mild surprise.
“Whoa,” Vinyl said, “you have a nightmare or something?”
Baen shook his head and gave his left temple a rub, “No….I don’t know what it was.”
Cheerilee tapped her chin, “Well some superstitions say strange dreams can either be visions of things to come or they might try to tell you something.”
Baen shrugged, “Well who knows.  I’ve never been that good at interpreting my own dreams.”
A few knocks followed by the door opening revealed Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, who had a large pack slung on his back.  Underneath the pack was a familiar bundle that drew Baen’s eyes.
“You’re bringing your sword?”
Shining nodded, “You never know, plus,” he gestured to Baen, “You carry your ax everywhere with you.”
Baen hugged the ax for a moment, but then quickly put it on his back as the group stifled snickers.
Baen glanced at Cadance as she nodded, “It’s docked and waiting for you, I’ll see you all off.”
The group then departed toward the airship, but elsewhere, a certain princess was troubled.
*
Luna paced frantically about her study, scribbling notes, and possibilities, even scenarios.  But even then, it made no sense.
“How can this be,” Luna mumbled, “It’s a magical impossibility of the highest caliber.”
A series of knocks made the youngest alicorn nod and turn toward the door, “Enter.”
The door opened to reveal a slightly concerned Celestia, “Luna, what troubles you?”
Luna narrowed her eyes at the accursed problems before her before turning toward her sister with a weary look.
“Sister,” Luna stated in a controlled tone, “You know that I excel in dream magic and dream walking correct?”
Celestia nodded and allowed her sister to continue as the youngest alicorn paced, “As you know Tia, I have made it my duty to keep watch on Sir Baen’s sleeping state and intercept any possible memories that manifest as nightmares in the event something might shed light on past and now recent circumstance.”
“Of course,” Celestia answered, “but why bring it up?”
Luna looked to the side, “….Something or someone, is preventing me from entering his mind.”
Celestia blinked in surprise, “But that’s not possible.  You’re dream magic can’t be blocked!”
Luna approached her sister, “That’s just it dear sister, I am not being blocked,” she pointed to her diagrams, “An outside force is essentially rendering me powerless whenever I try to access him.  This force in question, if I can call it that, broke me out of my trance in a manner of seconds like it was nothing.”
Celestia looked down at her steadily worsening sister as she hugged Celestia in fright, “It’s magic, it’s like nothing I have ever felt before, and it frightens me sister.”
Celestia nuzzled her sister comfortingly as she looked to the horizon from Luna’s window.
What manner of being could render Luna’s magic powerless?
*
The pony’s looked out on the horizon as it passed them by.  The very ship they stood on was unlike anything they had ever witnessed.  The ship itself reflected an Equestrian zeppelin in its design and size, but that’s where the similarities ended.  It was a marvel of engineering indeed.  Whereas Equestrian zeppelins were left aloft by a massive balloon, a Griffon airship was held in the sky by a series of large and surprisingly quiet propellers.  Four were expertly placed on the sides to provide for expert ascension and decent as well as turning on a dime.  On the back was the final propeller that could allow for excellent propulsion and if increased to maximum output, would go for excellent speed.  The propellers, doubled with its sleek model and design made it a great aircraft indeed.  It also helped the fact that it was one of the King’s personal aircrafts.  The wood was a nice polished chestnut brown with gold trim, details and rivets.  Though the King had admitted at one point it was only gold colored.
However, one passenger was not enjoying the flight.
Baen was leaning over the side of the ship with a green face as Flash landed beside him, “Hey, you doing alright?”
Baen stared at him evenly, “Peachy.”
Flash blinked in surprise, “You’ve never flown before?”
Baen shook his head, “No, flying is for winged creatures,” he dry heaved and then finished, “not earth ponies.”
Flash gave him a pat on the back, “you’ll be fine,” he looked over the side…and his eyes shrank.
There was nothing but water.
Flash reeled away from the side and was shivering next to the mast, clutching it for dear life.
Baen snickered, “Afraid of falling Sentry?”
Flash shook his head, “Drowning.”
Baen chuckled, “And you’re supposed to be a guard?”
“Says the pony scared of heights,” Flash shot back.
“Touche.”
Baen then resumed his dry heaving as a voice rang out, “Attention special Equestrian passengers, we will be arriving at Griffonia in two minutes.  Prepare to disembark!”
Shining came above deck and looked at the scene before him as Vinyl and Cheerilee joined him, “What the hay is going on here?”
Flash looked at Shining, “Oh….sir….I was just checking the sturdiness of the main mast…that’s all,” he knocked the mast a few times before standing, “perfectly secure.”
Shining rolled his eyes as the ship started to descend, “Well, let’s get underway.”
Soon the exit ramp was lowered and the ponies stepped hoof into the city…and cheers erupted.
The ponies looked around and noted all the griffons cheering and smiling.  Then in a flash they were mobbed…and Baen was hoisted into the air.  Shining and the ponies blinked in surprise.
“Um….,” Flash looked from side to side, “did we miss something?”
“You’ll have to excuse my subjects.  They can get a tad excitable.”
All the griffons lowered Baen and bowed.  The massive crowd parted as Lord Hyperion walked toward the group with a smile.
“Baen, it’s good to see you again,” the king stated in a calm tone, but one that radiated thanks.
Baen nodded, “I see you cleaned up the mess we made the last time I was here,” he remarked with a joking tone.
Hyperion laughed with mirth as he led the group, “Indeed, with a massive effort on my subject’s part I might add.”
Hyperion soon led them through the town and passed more grateful griffons and even tourists.  When they reached the stairs, Baen stopped.
Shining glanced at him as the group was halfway up the stairs, “Something wrong?”
Baen looked up at Shining and smiled, “It’s nothing, go ahead.  I’ll be right inside.”
Hyperion ushered the group to follow as Baen remained on the landing.  His smile vanished as he spoke in a clear and impressed tone.
“Impressive,” he stated, “you masked your presence well since we arrived.  Though, your wing beats, they gave you away.”
“Heh, like you’d know anything about how to use wings loser,” stated an arrogant sounding voice.
Baen chuckled as he turned fully, “Hm, this is a surprise.  When Rainbow Dash told me about you, I honestly thought you’d be…a bit more imposing.”
The griffon snorted, “Can it!  I’m here to kick your flank!”
“And why is that?”
The griffon stepped forward, “Cause I think what they say about you is nothing but a load of feathers!  You're nothing special and I'm going to prove it!  And when I'm done, the name you're going to be remembering after is Gilda the Griffon,” Gilda stated with a smirk, “After today, everyone will see just how cool and strong I am.”
Baen chuckled as he placed his ax to the side, “You’re more than welcome to try Gilda.”
The two combatants bent low and prepared to charge.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                            IX                             
//-------------------------------------------------------//
IX
Within the King’s palace, Hyperion gave his new guests a small tour of the large structure to pass the time.  As the group ventured to the ground, Shining couldn’t help but wonder exactly what Baen was up to.  From Twilight’s letters, and the length of time he himself had known the barbarian, whenever he said ‘it was nothing’ it was always ‘something.’  His attention diversion didn’t go unnoticed; Vinyl glanced at Shining and raised an eyebrow behind her cracked lenses.
“Something wrong dude?”
Shining shook his head as they entered the banquet hall, “It’s nothing.  I was just wondering what’s taking Baen so long.  You don’t think he started something do you?”
Vinyl shrugged, “Eh, probably just basking in the lime light.  Besides, Baen isn’t stupid, he wouldn’t start a fight for no reason.  He’s our friend not a−“
*
“PANSY!”
Baen was sent flying into a wagon which splintered under his weight and force of impact.  Shaking some splinters from his mane he stared at the female griffon above him, that smirk plastered on her face as she flexed her wings a few times.  She slowly approached and cracked her talons.
“Seriously?  This is the super strong barbarian that Equestria and this town have been singing praise about?  What a joke!”  Gilda scoffed as she kicked a wheel out of her way.
Baen snorted lightly as he stood up, “Praise eh?  Well I was expecting something, but praise?”
Gilda harrumphed, “As if you didn’t know loser, that’s all I’ve been hearing for months,” she then placed her talons under her chin and started to speak in a prissy voice, “Oh that Baen, even though he’s a stallion he’s quite attractive.  I wonder if he’ll shop at my store,” she then grunted and unfurled her wings, “well I’m sick of it!”
“Ah, so its jealousy then,” Baen smiled lightly as he tilted his head, “not surprising.  All things considered.”
Gilda stopped, “What do you mean by that?”
Baen steadied himself, “Oh nothing, I mean it’s only natural that you’d be jealous of me.”
Gilda growled and pounced at him, “Shut up!”
Baen rolled under her as she plowed into the cart wreckage, “I know a bit about you Gilda.  You used to be Rainbow Dash’s best friend,” Gilda’s head popped out of the wreckage, “and she cast you out due to your attitude.”
Gilda’s beak contorted into a rage filled scowl as she threw the wreckage aside, “Not surprising, I mean just from looking at you, you’re nothing,” he then lingered on the final words, “But a street punk.”
Gilda roared loud and pointed a talon at him, “YOU DON’T KNOW ME!!!”
She rushed Baen, but Baen’s face was neutral as he side stepped her and stuck out his hind leg.  Gilda squawked as she lost her footing and tumbled into a cabbage stand, the griffon running it expressing his distress at having it ruined.  Gilda stood tall from the wreckage, cabbage leaves falling from her body.
“And that’s another thing,” Baen scowled at her, “You had a good friend in Rainbow Dash and yet you ruined all of that because of your foolishness and juvenile mindset.”
Gilda grabbed a piece of wood and threw it like a spear in a fit of anger, Baen shattered it with ease.  Gilda’s eyes practically turned red as the claws on her lion paws unsheathed.
“You couldn’t just take the chance to get to know Pinkie Pie, or let alone anypony,” Baen advanced slowly on her; “You just wanted to keep Rainbow Dash to yourself and be her whole world.  Not only is that selfish, but it’s just stupid!  Not once did you give anypony a chance or a fleeting glance.  You were cruel, vindictive, and selfish.”
“SHUT UP!!!!!”
Gilda roared as she rushed him, her talons going for his throat.  Baen’s scowl turned to an anger filled snarl.
“YOU FOOL!”
Baen brought his foreleg hard into her exposed midsection.  Gilda went limp and gave a weak gasp; Baen stared at her with a look of pity.
“I’d say you deserve the solitude you’ve given yourself,” he let her gently slump to the ground, “But that would be cruel, and such words should not be spoken to one who has felt the sting of rejection by friends, especially not a lady.”
Gilda curled in a ball in pain, sniffles were heard.
“Why….,” Gilda spoke weakly, “You said cruel words shouldn’t be said to someone like me.  Then why did you say all those things?  Why didn’t you fight back?”
Baen shook his head, “I truthfully did not wish to.  Your anger was your undoing, as was your pride, I merely took the advantage.  But know those words were not in cruel when I spoke them, I was pointing out your flaws,” he smiled at the griffon who stared up at her, “so that you might better yourself and seek out friends, perhaps even absolution of your past deeds.”
With those words, Baen ascended the stairs of the palace.  Gilda watched him leave in silence.  What did he know…..and yet….
*
Baen opened the main doors and nodded at a smiling griffon guard.  The guard informed him of his friends moving into the dining hall.  Following the guard that led him, he eventually came into the large room and smiled as the King and his friends laughed with each other.  Everypony turned their heads and noticed one collective thing.
“Baen,” Cheerilee asked, “Why do you have wood chips in your mane?”
Baen blinked and shook his head, “Oh, it was just a minor skirmish with a local who challenged me, no big deal.”
Hyperion raised an eyebrow, “Which?”
Baen raised a hoof with a calming look, “It’s alright your highness.  it was just small skirmish, no harm done.”
Hyperion’s expression didn’t change.
Baen sighed, “Do you know of a griffon by the name Gilda?”
Hyperion nodded in understanding, “Gilda Purplecrest, why am I not surprised.”
Vinyl mouthed her name to the others who collectively shrugged.
Baen placed his hooves on the table, “You know her?”
Hyperion shook his head, “Not personally, though her father who runs a local tavern known as the Dragons Den, has told me things.”
Baen nodded, “I see.”
“The Purplecrest family are quiet….unique.   Gilda’s father Garth is quite spirited and dependable.  His wife Leoma is kind as any mother,” Hyperion folded his talons, “though the children are….the focus of much scrutiny.  The youngest, a griffon named Lydia, is a bit of a troublemaker and has been brought before me a few times.  Though she is still young, so I can’t be too harsh with her, they are merely pranks.”
Baen had a minor flashback to the CMC and their shenanigans and smiled.
Hyperion shook his head, “Then we have the twins, Gilbert and Gilda.  Gilbert is….,” Hyperion shook his head, “let’s just say he is far different from his sister.  Gilda is far more of a troublemaker and at times she has been labeled a local disturbance.  Picking fights, doing harmful pranks and disturbing the peace.”
Baen tilted his head, “It’s because of her brother isn’t it?”
Hyperion blinked, “How did…”
Baen’s look became a tad forlorn before he shook his head, “Let’s call it a hunch.”
“Gilbert is a good griffon, loyal to his country, and compassionate to his family,” Hyperion’s silver eyes seemed to dim, “But many years ago, when Gilda fell in with the wrong crowd, he jumped forward to save her from it.  I know this,” Hyperion looked to the side as a memory surfaced.
*
Many years ago…
Hyperion looked down at the sobbing griffon who wore a black jacket and some heavy matching eyeliner.  In front of her was a male griffon that resembled her but with slight differences.  His feathers and fur were far darker, and his feather patterns were far different.  He was covered in blood with talon marks and panting.
“Please help my brother,” a young Gilda sobbed.
Around them laid the groaning and injured bodies of less than friendly looking griffons.
*
“He’s been in the hospital for many years now, he hasn’t awoken and the poor chick blames herself for it,” Hyperion sighed heavily, “the weight of this crown can be too much to bear at times.”
Shining nodded, “I know the feeling.”
Hyperion perked up in realization eager to change the subject, “But I digress, to what do I owe this visit?”
Baen thought for a moment, “This might seem odd, but does this phrase mean anything to you,” Baen cleared his throat, “The knight disturbs the water?”
Hyperion’s eyes widened for a moment.
But then he responded in a steady tone, “and thus the challenger surfaces.”
Baen blinked in confusion, “What?”
Hyperion sighed, “I knew this day would come,” he looked at Baen, “the phrase you spoke wasn’t just a phrase, it was a code.  When the first king took the throne, it was said that a pony appeared before him with a request.  To this day we do not know the request, but he left our line with a duty,” Hyperion stood and beckoned them to follow to which they complied, “When, and only when, an individual who appears before the griffon monarchy and speaks the first of the code, are we to reply with the final piece and give to them The Way.”
Cheerilee tilted her head in confusion as they entered the throne room, Hyperion approaching his throne, “The Way?”
Hyperion nodded, “Ai,” he reached beneath his throne and emerged with a copper tube, “The Way.”
Hyperion approached them as Shining took it in his magical grasp.  The tube was about as long as a flashlight and about as thick.  On the tube were odd inscriptions and markings but fixed in the center upon its surface was a flawless diamond in the shape of a rhombus.
Hyperion nodded and gestured to the tube, “What I have been told is that when you exit the castle, pull it from both sides, The Way will open.  But ensure that you have those you trust with you when you do.”
Baen nodded, “Understood, I can’t thank you enough your highness.”
“Think nothing of it my friend,” all eyes then turned when a far door opened.  Standing in the door way was another griffon, her feathers the color and pattern of a peregrine falcon and her fur a light chocolate brown.  She wore a soft white dress and a silver circlet on her head.  Her figure was elegant and lithe.  Orange eyes flecked with silver gazed at the visitors.
“Father,” the griffoness asked, “Are we having guests?”
Hyperion smiled, “Unfortunately no my daughter, did you enjoy your walk?”
The Princess smiled, “Indeed I did.”
Hyperion gestured to the princess, “This is my daughter, Princess Thyra.  My daughter, this is Baen and his company.”
Thyra smiled sweetly at Baen, “It’s a pleasure to meet you Sir Baen, I thank you for saving us.  I apologize that I did not meet you before but I was away overseas.”
Baen blinked and nodded back.
Hyperion then gestured at The Way, “It’d be best to get underway.”
Baen nodded as the group turned to make their way to leave, as they did, Baen cast a glance over his shoulder and smiled at his king friend and his daughter.
*
Outside, the ponies stood on the street and examined the tube.  However, the group looked to Baen as his gaze was upon a griffon that was looking at the ground.
Gilda scratched the back of her neck, “Listen….I thought about what you said and….well,” she looked at Baen, “You’re right.”
Baen remained silent as she continued, “I was selfish and acted like a kid, I shouldn’t have done what I did when I went to see Dash,” her eyes watered, “the things I said, what I did.  I know what everyone says about me, I’m a problem child, a troublemaker.  Even if I went back to Ponyville and tried to play it cool and apologize, she’d never forgive me.”
Baen approached the griffon and put his hoof on her shoulder, “You don’t know that, besides, a wise mare once said,” Gilda looked at Baen as he nodded, “everyone deserves a second chance.”
Gilda blinked a few times but before she could speak, Baen looked back at his group and took on a thoughtful expression, “Gilda,” a smirk appeared on his face, “If I were to ask you if you wanted to join in on a quest that would test your strength, resolve, and overall awesomeness.  What would you say?”
Gilda thought for a second, but then her confident smirk reappeared, “I’d say move over and let me show you how a real Equestrian does a quest!”
The group stared at Baen perplexed as Gilda approached them, “My friends, Gilda.  Gilda, my friends.”
The ponies waved slightly.
Shining looked at the tube, “Alright,” his magic grasped the tube on both sides, “here goes.”
When he pulled, the gem and tube became suspended in mid-air.  The two tube halves started to rotate fast around the gem as it started to glow brightly.  The group shielded their eyes as a white flash engulfed them.
*
Meanwhile, within a dark castle, Vida had watched the events unfold before her and her eyes travelled to The Star.
“Find them,” The Star stood at attention, “find them and retrieve the sword.  Kill them if you must.”
Vida turned to Mulberry who was busy looking over a few things.  Vida tilted her head and pursed her lips before smiling.
“Mulberry, you accompany The Star,” Mulberry looked at his mistress and nodded.
*
Somewhere a bright flash emanated from within a dark cavern, and from the flash, a group was deposited.  Baen groaned in mild pain and looked around as they stood up.  The cavern was perfectly smoothed out.  The stone dark ad reflective, as far as he could see, there was no entrance or exit.
“Look!”
Vinyl pointed ahead of them and to their collective surprise, they saw a small lake.  The depths were obscured by the dark waters and spanning across it was a stone bridge.  Carved flawlessly into being and perfectly flat, but that was not what they saw.  At the far end of the bridge was what they sought.  A stalactite of black stone held a sword.  The blade was as black as the murky depths that lay below it.  Its metal had a dark sheen that reflected the light in the cavern; it’s cross guard resembled a pair of closed wings, the feathers etched with perfect detail and spread wide to allow the ability to still stop a weapon.  Fixed in the center was a flawless round diamond that shined with an inner light.  Running up the center of the blade were runes.
Baen and his group ran forward to the bridge, and he stepped forward.  However, a ripple spread across the calm surface.  The moment it died down, a series of soft clanks were heard.  From the back of the stone, a shape emerged.  It was a pony.  But this pony was garbed from hoof to head in a full suit of armor of old.  Beneath the plates was a full body suit of chainmail.  The plates were a dark silver; covering the head of the pony was a helmet.  The helmet’s visor was nothing more than a slit, holes around the plate that could be raised to allow for breathing.  The knight stood stoically before the group, blocking their way.  No tail or mane could be seen, faint steel colored mist hissed from the joints of the armor and the visor.  Within two orbs of cobalt light gazed at Baen.
Gilda stepped forward but was stopped by Baen’s hoof which he raised.
Baen tilted his head, “Am I by chance addressing, Sir Lancelot of Canterlot?”
The Knight slowly nodded.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                             X                             
//-------------------------------------------------------//
X
Twilight blinked in surprise at what Spike had just finished telling her.  Ever since the baby dragon had been unpetrified, he started rambling in detail on what exactly happened to him.  Though at first he said it was hazy in memory, it slowly started coming back to him as he explained.  Apparently, a mare had come asking for the book Twilight had brought from the Castle of The Two Sisters had actually belonged to somepony at some point, and she had wanted it back.  But when Spike told her of the books fate, she didn’t take it too well.  Not only did this anger Twilight, but it also caused her some minor intrigue.  Who was this mare?  And where did she get off attacking her assistant who was practically her little brother?
“Spike, are you sure what you’re telling me is the truth,” she stated slowly, “Because this is quite serious.”
Spike nodded frantically, “Of course I’m serious!  I wouldn’t lie about something like this!”
Rarity gently pet his head to calm him, “It’s alright Spikey, the bad mare is gone.”
Spike shivered, “I…I just can’t get those eyes out of my head.  Rarity, they were like yours when that spell took you over,” he looked at her in genuine fear, “but there was nothing in them, just hate and anger!”
Rainbow snorted, “Alright, I say we track this mare down and give her an old fashioned flank kicking for attacking Spike!  Who’s with me?”
Twilight raised a forehoof in a calming gesture, “Dash, now’s not the time,” she tapped her chin.
Rainbow blinked in shock, “Not the time?!  Twilight, whoever that mare is, she’s out there somewhere running loose and you’re saying now’s not the time!”
Applejack went over to Twilight, “Twilight, what exactly are you thinking?”
Twilight’s brow creased in concentration, “Think about it, a mystery mare appearing and attacking Spike.  Baen mysteriously gone on vacation after getting back, and even Vinyl and Cheerilee are gone.  This all has to be connected.”
Rarity looked out one of the castle’s windows and looked to Baen’s hilltop home.
“Well dear, if I might be so bold, don’t you have a spell that can possibly reach our barbarian friend?”
Twilight nodded for a moment, “Yes, I think I do.  But it might take a bit to fire up.”
*
Everypony was speechless as they stared at the suit of practically sentient armor.  Shining was at Baen’s side and stood with him.
“Did you say Lancelot?  That can’t be him,” he looked to the stoic armor, “He’d be ancient by now….or…dead.”
Baen looked to Shining, “Don’t be so surprised.  I’ve seen something like this before.”
Gilda raised an eyebrow, “You’ve seen this before?”
Baen nodded, “Ai.  When a pony’s spirit is strong enough, even its will, sometimes it can stay anchored to the world until its restless spirit is put at ease.  Usually it’s anchored to some sort of physical object that it once owned, in this case, Lancelot’s armor.”
Cheerilee started to tremble, “Is it a ghost?”
“No, ghosts are vengeful, always driven by anger and spite, usually they have unfinished business.  This is a phantom or some sort of phantasm.  A spectral being that has retained all of its memories, still has its thoughts, and in some rare cases can physically manifest,” he tilted his head and put two and two together, “it seems our good sir knight wishes to still do his duty, even in death.  Tell me Sir Lancelot,” the armor creaked, “Are you here to guard your sword from those who wish to take it?”
The armor seemed to pause, before nodding.
Shining clicked his tongue, “So…what’s the game plan?”
Baen looked at Lancelot, then to Arondight, then the surrounding area.
“Hm…,” he gestured to the area, “notice the shape of this area?  The size of this bridge?”
Flash realized it straight away, “It’s like a small dueling arena.”
Baen nodded, “It seems Lancelot will not part with his sword unless it’s won.”
Lancelot stepped forward, the armor clanking loudly.
Gilda cracked her talons and nudged past the two stallions, “Don’t sweat it, I can take this chump.”
Baen stepped forward, “Wait Gilda, don’t attack him half cocked!”
Gilda let loose a screech and dove at the knight.  As the griffon dove through the air, the knight moved like the wind.  He tilted himself to the side dodging the blow intended for him, Gilda turned her head in disbelief, and then the armored hoof grasped her below the neck.  Lancelot plucked her out of mid-air and slammed her to the ground, hard.  Gilda twitched for a mere second before moaning in pain.  Baen nodded for a moment, and then stepped forward.
“If you are a knight, remove your helmet,” Baen’s expression was as hard as steel as the knight before him paused, “do you accept to face me as a warrior?  Or do you seek to hide your eyes from mine?”
Lancelot reached up and removed his helmet.  In that instance, there was a flash of bright white.  Baen and everyone present shielded their eyes.  When they opened their eyes, all gawked.  Before them now was a stallion clothed in his armor.  The outline of the stallion’s body that was exposed shimmered like that of a lakes surface.  The stallion’s blue steel eyes fixed on Baen as he placed his hoof to his chest and stated in a trottingham accent.
“I am Lancelot of The Lake, Knight of Canterlot,” his gaze was unbreaking.
https://41.media.tumblr.com/b20f88dffb38a9067928a0326bc97a20/tumblr_nif08fkwzP1s09fheo2_1280.png
Baen stepped fully onto the bridge, Shining quickly retrieving Gilda and escorting her off of it and quickly joining the others.
“I am Baen, Barbarian of Equestria.  Friend to the Elements of Harmony, aid in the defeat of the tyrant Tirek, and destroyer of the Four Harbingers,” he stated with pride in response to Lancelot’s introduction.
Lancelot raised an eyebrow, “The Elements of Harmony?  Tirek?  Such boasts, though you call yourself a warrior, you lack humility sir.”
Baen snorted, “They are not boasts.  They are facts.  I will only ask once, stand aside knight, a great evil seeks your sword and the swords of your comrades.  We need it to best our foe.”
Lancelot shook his head, “I cannot.  I will only yield to two kinds of ponies.  My king, and the one who can best my sword which I am sad to say, you are neither.”
Baen narrowed his eyes, “You’re so sure of yourself?  But I have news for you, one,” he placed his axe beside him with a bit of a smirk, “I do not wield a sword, and two, I’ve beaten your kind before.”
Lancelot had a ghost of a smile on his face, “Oh?”
Baen nodded, “Knights were not an uncommon thing in my time.  A bunch of ponies in armor seeking glory in the name of their king and or queen, but in the end, they all yield.”
Lancelot held his head high, “As I said before, your humility is lacking, but I commend your spirit.  But unfortunately, I also must state a truth of my own.  I have felled many of your kind.”
Baen raised an eyebrow, “What?”
“It is true,” Lancelot trotted until he was an inch from Baen’s face, “Ponies such as you who value might over valor.  Those who throw your weight around and fight only using words, it’s as the old saying goes,” Lancelot’s steeled expression seemed to sharpen, “the weakest dog will bark the loudest.”
  Baen’s eyes flared red as he grabbed his axe and swung hard at Lancelot, who deftly dodged the attack with a backflip.
“Anger, a powerful force,” Lancelot chided, “But also, an exploitable weakness.”
Gilda looked at the two, “It’s like what he said to me…”
Baen growled as he hefted his weapon, “Doesn’t seem fair, I’m armed, and your weapon is in a rock.”
Lancelot chuckled, “You think so?  You are familiar with my name, but tell me, are you familiar with my legend?”
Baen focused on his foe as Lancelot stared into his very soul.
“When I was born, my father told me that I was blessed by The Lake,” Lancelot paced, “My father King Ban, he was known for spinning the occasional fable, but this story rang with absolute truth.  For you see, Baen of Equestria, The Lake gave me this blessing.”
He cleared his throat, “Should I ever be without a weapon, I would wield a weapon as great as any steel.”
Baen froze in place as he heard something….rushing water.
Lancelot’s armor seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly light, light like that of seafoam permeated the air.
“The lake would give me steel,” Lancelot’s voice then rose to a commanding tone, “The lake, Is. My. Steel!”
On those last three words, the water around them surged and frothed.  Lancelot stared evenly at Baen as a lone jet of water shot out and arched in front of the Knight’s face.  The water then froze in mid-air and changed.  Its shape vaguely resembled that of a longsword, the crossguard and handle hardening to a solid shape.  The blade taking form, yet still moved as if it were liquid, the cross guard and handle hardened and changed to a dark navy blue.  The blade then became as black as the murky depths themselves, but still retained a liquid sheen and appearance.  The Lake Sword levitated before Lancelot, compelled by his will, like that of a unicorn manipulating an object.
“Now do you see barbarian,” Lancelot willed the sword to flourish, the sword making a metallic hiss as it sliced through the air.
Baen rushed forward, “All I see is magic, magic that I intend to get past!”
Lancelot shook his head in disappointment, “Foolishness.”
Baen went to swing, but in a flash, he cried out in pain.  The blade of The Lake Sword embedded itself in his shoulder.  The coldness like frigid water and the sting of steel wracked the wound as the blade was pulled free.  Baen backed up in shock as he looked at his bleeding wound.
“What….what kind of magic is this?!”
Lancelot pointed the tip of his blade at Baen’s throat, “A magic far stronger than yours.”
Baen growled as he righted himself.
“Have at thee, Baen.”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                            XI                             
//-------------------------------------------------------//
XI
Baen narrowed his eyes at Lancelot as the knight flourished his lake sword one final time, then he charged.  Baen charged the knight and started to swing, but he could only stare on in amazement as his blows fell short.  For each swing he delivered, Lancelot would follow through with a smooth counter or parry, his face as stoic as it has always been.  The way Lancelot was fighting, each move precise and fluid, it was like he himself was the lake.  The Lake Sword itself followed true to Lancelot’s boast, it was as hard and sharp as any weapon Baen had encountered.  The barbarian hissed as the blade slashed across his exposed leg, reeling back, he glared at his opponent.
Lancelot twirled his sword, the tip scraping the stone, “Is that all?  How disappointing, did you not say you would defeat me?”
Baen growled as Shining yelled at him, “Don’t let him get under your skin Baen, focus!”
Baen glanced at the group and nodded, his vision sharpened as his Wrath flared to life.  Giving a mighty kick off from the ground, he blasted toward the knight and swung.  The sheer kinetic force barreled toward the Lake Sword as it made contact.  Lancelot grunted and skidded along the stone bridge toward the rightmost edge.  Lancelot glanced at Baen in shock as the barbarian planted his ax in the ground.  While still holding onto the handle with his mouth, he heaved his body and did a quick spin, his hind legs hitting Lancelot in his jaw.  The pony yelped as the Lake Sword broke into water drops and he was sent flying into the dark depths.
Baen landed and smirked, “And that my friends, is how you beat a knight.”
The others were about to approach, when from thin air, a purple energy window appeared and Twilight’s face flickered into being on its surface.  Baen’s eyes widened as he quickly turned so she could only see a cave wall, the window staying in front of him the whole time.
Twilight blinked for a few moments as her features became more defined and in focus, “Ah, that’s better.  Hello Baen.”
The barbarian started to lightly sweat, “Um….Hi Twilight.  What’s up?”
Twilight looked at him for a moment and narrowed her eyes, “I was curious where you are right now, I mean, you just got back and you up and left without saying a word,” her gaze went from him to around the area, “Baen, where exactly are you?”
Baen groaned and yelled out, “BUCK ME SIDEWAYS!”
Twilight blinked, taken slightly aback by the statement, “Excuse me?”
Baen smacked the window from existence, “Call you back.”
In front of Baen, rising up from the lake, was Lancelot atop a platform of water.  He cracked his neck before touching down on the bridge.
“I must commend you barbarian,” Lancelot stated neutrally, “Not many barbarians I have met could land a blow like you did.  You are….interesting,” Lancelot conjured another Lake Sword, “Perhaps you might be the one….”
Baen tilted his head as Lancelot started to slowly advance toward him, another magic window opened in front of Baen causing the barbarian to jump slightly.
“Baen, don’t hang up on me like that,” Twilight chided, “I want an answer, where are you?”
Baen dodged a swing from Lancelot, “I’m a little busy right now Twilight!”
Twilight stared evenly at him, “I’m sure you can take a bit of your time to answer a simple question.”
Baen groaned in annoyance, but then it turned to a half yell of pain as the Lake Sword buried itself underneath his shoulder pad.
Twilight’s expression became one of worry immediately, “Baen?  What happened?!”
Baen smacked the window from existence again and took a powerful swing at the knight, “You’re starting to piss me off!”
Lancelot smirked as he front flipped over powerful swing that was aimed at his body.  Landing behind Baen, Lancelot slashed him across the back.  The barbarian scrambled forward as sparks flew, Twilight’s window coming back into existence with the princess having a miffed look on her face.
“Baen, I’m giving you one last chance before I teleport to you,” she clearly stomped her hoof in agitation, “Now tell me, where are you!”
Baen sighed and kicked Lancelot onto the floor, “I’m on a cave tour alright?”
Twilight blinked for a second, “A cave tour?”
“Yeah,” he dodged a jab from Lancelot, “I thought I’d…do something unexpected.”
Twilight blinked in confusion, “Um…well it’s unexpected I can tell you that.  But Baen, I’m also calling because I think we might have a crisis,” Baen dodged a slash to his head, “Spike was supposedly petrified by somepony and Cheerilee as well as Vinyl are missing.  It has to be connected.”
Baen nodded frantically as he was stabbed in his other shoulder a bit of his blood getting on his face, “Seems like it.”
Twilight gasped but Baen raised his hooves, “I spilled my drink, Twilight listen, just be safe okay?  I have to go.”
Twilight leaned forward, “Oh no, you don’t,” her horn started to glow, “I’m coming to where you are right now the second I…..” the window fizzled and popped.
Shining’s horn died down as he smiled a little at Baen, “I cut her transmission, but I doubt that will keep her away for long.  You’d better wrap this up.”
Baen nodded and raised his ax to fight, but the moment he did, the Lake Sword buried itself in his barrel.  Baen cried out, but glared at Lancelot as he fired up his second Wrath.  He pushed forward, ignoring the pain burning in his midsection and smashed his ax into Lancelot’s midsection.  The knight let out a grunt as he rolled to stop at the foot of the rock housing Arondight.  Sitting up, Lancelot shook the stars from his vision and summoned a mass of Lake Swords, the weapons then fired directly at Baen.  The barbarian quickly swiped and batted as many of the swords as he could.  Many of them buried themselves in Baen.  Some hit his back; others entered his legs and a few in his chest.  Baen yelled in fury as he continued to deflect them as best he could, but halted as his breath and the others caught in his throat.  Lancelot had closed the distance, his sword leveled at Baen’s throat.
Baen coughed some blood up as he glared in defiance at Lancelot, “Go ahead then….finish me.”
Lancelot shook his head, “No,” the swords disintegrated, “Though I would strike my foes down in a breath, you….you possess something I myself possess.”
Baen blinked as he fell forward onto the ground, looking up at Lancelot, “You have honor, the spirit of a warrior.  There is also the fact,” Lancelot smiled, “That you are the only challenger who has given me this good of a fight in many years.”
Baen looked up at him as blood dripped from his wounds, “Well…I can take some pride in that….but not for long….”
Lancelot shook his head, “Be at ease, the wounds are deep enough to draw blood, but I had no intention of killing you by bleeding you like a manticore’s dinner.”
Baen became confused as Lancelot stood before Arondight, the sword in question levitating from its resting place and impaling itself in front of Baen.
“My sword speaks, in a way only few can hear,” Lancelot stood beside Arondight, “When you issued the challenge.  It told me that you were worthy to wield it anew in this conflict you speak of.  But I thought its claim untrue and wished to prove your worth, and you have indeed surprised me.”
Baen looked at the knight, “Now, take up my blade once more, and fight the one who seeks your kingdoms destruction.  Seek out the others, but be warned.  I, as well as the others, have sensed the one who covets our blades.  Baen, seek out the final places of my brethren.”
Baen shakily stood as Gilda and Shining supported him, “But, how do we find them?  The book we have only told us where yours rested.”
Lancelot shook his head, “Arondight will guide you,” his form slowly started to fade, “now my time is done, be well.”
Lancelot vanished with one last smile.  When he fully vanished, the stone Arondight rested in vanished with him.  But when it did, like a curtain lifting, they saw an exit.  The bridge stretched to the exit, the light greeting them.  The party smiled as Baen strapped Arondight and his ax to his back and the group made their way to the light.
*
Twilight grit her teeth as she vanished in a flash of light, and appeared a couple of feet from where she was originally.
“AUGH!  Why can’t I teleport to him!”
Rarity gently gave her a pat on her back, “It’s alright, even though that was…,” she thought for a moment, “Your fifth try.  Maybe it’s for the best.”
Twilight splayed her ears and sighed, “Maybe…., I just can’t shake this feeling that Baen might be at the center of something big.”
Rainbow Dash pursed her lips, “Well whatever he’s up to, at least we get some time off.”
“Well ah for one am just a little curious,” the girls glanced at her, “Who exactly was the mare that froze Spike?  And who is she?”
“Ah, well since you asked.”
The girls whipped around and sitting in Twilight’s throne, was a smirking Vida.
“Might I request an audience,” she spoke her next words with icy venom, “Your highness.”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                            XII                            
//-------------------------------------------------------//
XII
The girls stared in muted astonishment at the mare that, without any noise, had infiltrated Twi’s castle and was currently warming her flank in Twilight’s throne.  Green maned mare smiled almost devilishly at the girls as she lay lengthwise on the throne.  The mare scanned the girls with her eyes, those cold green eyes that seemed to pierce each and every one present.  After a while, the mare shrugged and rolled onto her back, kicking her hind legs out as she stretched.
“Mmmmm, I must say, though this throne is made of the oddest material,” she sighed in mild bliss, “It’s quite comfy.”
Rainbow snorted and flew over to the throne, “And it’s NOT. YOURS,” she gestured her hoof in a shoowing gesture, “So move your butt out of Twi’s throne before I kick it out!”
The green maned mare tittered lightly and looked at the pegasus in amusement, “Oh?  Why on Earth would you resort to such action when you haven’t met me?”
Spike was a trembling mess when her eyes landed on him for a mere moment, Rarity noticed this almost immediately and she put herself between the mare and Spike.
Rarity narrowed her eyes at the mare, “Hold on a moment…girls,” she turned to the others, “From the way Spike described the pony who froze him….I think she’s the one who did that horrible deed!”
Everypony present narrowed their eyes as the green maned pony giggled in devious glee, “But of course!  The drakeling ate my precious book and he needed to be punished.”
Twilight stepped forward, “Your ‘precious book’, almost caused a major catastrophe!  If anything, YOU should be the one who is punished for attacking Spike and forging that…HORRIBLE piece of literature!”
The green maned mare’s smile vanished, “You’d best watch your tone Princess, one could take that as a threat,” though her look lacked a smile, her voice as well as the air contained a dark edge to it.
Twilight looked to her friends who went to move with her, but she raised a wing and looked to Rainbow Dash, “Rainbow, you and the girls stay back for a moment.”
Rainbow blinked in confusion, “But Twilight!”
Twilight fixed her with a ‘trust me’ look.  The rainbow maned pegasus huffed and joined the assembled group behind the young monarch.  Twilight closed the distance and stood before her throne as the green maned pony stepped onto the floor.
Twilight narrowed her eyes and stood tall; she tapped her front hoof on the ground sharply, the thrones receding into the floor.
Applejack gawked, “When in the hay could they do that?”
Twilight gave a half smile to her friend, “I figured it out after the castle was repaired after the Four Harbingers fiasco.”
The green maned pony tilted her head as she gave a light smile, “So you do intend to have an audience with me then?”
“Far from it,” Twilight spread her wings, “by order of Equestrian law, on the charges of attacking an Equestrian resident and forging an item of dark power.  You are hereby under arrest, effective immediately; you shall be apprehended and brought before a royal court hearing to decide your fate.”
The green maned pony chuckled, “Oh really?”
Twilight nodded as a purple ring of mana appeared at the base of her prisoner’s horn, “Yes, really.  I don’t know who you are, or what you are planning, but it ends now.”
“Oh, quite the contrary,” the green maned pony’s eyes flashed a dangerous green and the mana ring shattered like glass, “I’m just getting started.”
Twilight stepped back in shock but regained herself, lowering and preparing for an attack.
“Just so we can get introductions out of the way,” she calmly stated, “I’m Lady Vida, it’s good to meet you in person,” she smirked with sinister mirth, “Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight’s wings ruffled with unease as the two mares circled each other, “What do you want with me Vida?”
“Oh, tsk tsk, it’s not what I want with you my dear filly,” Vida chided, “It’s more what I want with your kingdom.”
Twilight went full on prepared mode at that remark, “Whatever you want to make of Equestria, we won’t let you have your way!”
Vida cast a look at the princess that radiated power, “Well then, you are welcome to stop me.  Go on now, blast me, trap me, banish me,” Vida challenged, “if you can.”
Twilight’s horn lit up immediately and she fired a blast of magic at the unicorn.  The magic too the form of a rough V and flew the air like a boomerang.  Vida raised an eyebrow, he horn lighting up with its sinister green magical aura.  Before the attack could reach her, a thing square of green energy sprang up before her and canceled the attack on impact.  Both magical construct’s disappearing.
“Hm, a full body binding spell, rudimentary appearance with adequate power modification to neutralize magic, such an interesting combination,” Vida nodded for a moment but fixed Twilight with an unamused look, “But so academically predictable.  Do you take me for a regular unicorn Princess?”
Twilight blinked in surprise a Vida’s horn lit up brightly, “Please do not take me for a novice,” the green sorceress half grinned, “For that kind of assumption is likely to lead to your defeat.”
Vida let fly a massive blast of raw magic that sped toward Twilight like a cannonball freshly fired.  Twilight quickly snapped up a mana wall and blocked the projectile, the wall faded soon after but Twilight was winded.  The strike alone carried much power behind it, and she had to project similar power to cancel out the attack.  That much output winded the young princess as Vida slowly advanced, a green mist emanating from her horn.
“Winded just from a strike like that,” she shook her head as the girls growled in anger, “such a pity.”
Twilight looked at Vida, a spark going off in her mind as she flashed with a massive burst of colors, Twilight stood before the green sorceress in her Rainbow Powered form.
“You said something about assumptions?”
Vida lowered her head as her features darkened as a massive concentrated stream of magic blasted toward Twilight.  Twilight grit her teeth and sent an equal sized blast at Vida’s, the two magic blasts collided as both ponies were deadlocked in the magical struggle.  Vida had failed to take into account that Twilight’s magic reserves were much deeper than many thought, that coupled with her magical aptitude made her a worthy opponent when she didn’t hold back.  This had proven only once before, the massive amount of torn up land outside Ponyville was proof of that.
Vida narrowed her eyes in concentration and spoke in a low voice, “Hm, it seems you are stronger than I thought….this could prove to be a problem,” she looked to the side, “If this continues….”
Vida tilted her head upwards and the two blasts, still connected, shot through the ceiling.  Twilight turned her attention quickly back to where Vida stood, but before she could act, Vida vanished in a flash of green light.  But when she vanished, her voice seemed to linger for a few moments.
“Another time perhaps…but rest assured, next time will be different.”
Twilight exhaled in relief as her Rainbow Power subsided, “Phew…”
Rainbow flew to her friend’s side, “You alright Twi?”
Fluttershy quickly inspected her, “Did she hurt you?”
“No….,” Twilight looked around, “she didn’t…”
Applejack titlted her head, “What’s the matter?  From the sound a things, you’re thinkin somethin isn’t right.”
Twilight looked around and realization dawned on her face, “She was testing my strength.  Seeing if I was a threat….whoever this Vida is, I can tell you all right now, she must be planning something big.”
Pinkie Pie pouted, “Awww, but I was going to throw one of my, ‘Everything is Spectacularly Swell’ parties!  Now we have to thwart an evil villain, and all after Baen came back from vacation and went back ON vacation.  Weird right?”
Twilight blinked for a second and rubbed her chin, “Yeah….weird….”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                           XIII                            
//-------------------------------------------------------//
XIII
Across Equestria, a certain band of sorts had made camp.  Shining was currently tending to the fire; Flash and Vinyl were dividing up the rations into even piles while Gilda had gone off to get firewood.  Cheerilee was tending to Baen’s wounds, though she was worried, she couldn’t help but chuckle.
“What’s funny,” Baen gave a light smirk, “are you taking slight amusement in me being injured?”
Cheerilee shook her head as she gave a warm smile, bandaging his shoulder, “No…it’s just…, we’re related right?”
Baen nodded lightly confused, “Of course we are, though our link is faint, we are bound by blood.”
Cheerilee nodded but her expression steadily dropped, “Sometimes, I just think it’s hard to believe.  I mean we’re so different, I’m level headed, kind, and I don’t have a destructive bone in my body.”
Baen’s face was neutral, but the mild annoyance and insult could be felt.
Cheerilee then quickly stated, “Let me rephrase that.  It’s more, you’re a warrior and I’m a teacher.  You’re you, and I’m me,” she sighed after she finished dressing his wound, “I’ve never been on a quest in my entire life; I’ve always stayed in Ponyville and lived as I have.  I’ve always waited and let Twilight and her friends save the day.”
Baen nodded in understanding as Cheerilee looked at him, “How do you do it?  How do you just deal with the stress of completing your goal and…just, trying not to think about what could happen if you fail.”
Baen chuckled as Gilda returned, some of the others half listening, “The answer is pretty simple Cheerilee, what some of you Equestrians fail to realize is this fact,” he stood up, “I carry those feelings.  But I never let them hold me down or back, I use them to fuel me, to spur me on,” he smiled at her warmly, “Think about what you are capable of, if you or others doubt you, prove them wrong.”
Baen trotted to the fire and sat beside Arondight, the blade glinting lightly.  He leaned back as Shining finished with the fire, glancing around occasionally, slightly on guard.
“Where exactly are we anyway?”
Gilda shrugged, “Beats me.  When I was getting firewood, there were a couple of bramble bushes and the trees are pretty huge.  So, I don’t know a forest or something?”
Baen nodded lightly as he looked around at their surroundings.  The sky was slowly darkening, but the place could be easily made out.  The trees towered above them, dark bark with knarled branches that greatly lacked leaves.  The grass under them was lightly coated in a thin mist that had started to emerge when the sun started to dip below the horizon.  Though Baen couldn’t see any, he could hear the faintness of running water.  Maybe there was a creak or river nearby?  Who could rightly say at the moment?  What could be said for certain was that it was almost dark and that the group had to get some sleep.  They had a loooong trek ahead of them to find the other swords.  Though, Baen thought it was high time everypony knew exactly what they signed up for.  But before he could speak, Shining piped up.
“Alright Baen, I have to ask,” he glanced at Baen with the upmost seriousness, “Who exactly is Vida anyway?  You just gave me, Flash, Vinyl and Cheerilee the rundown of what she wants and what she’s capable of.   But it’s been bothering, how exactly do you know so much about her?”
Gilda chopped a log in half and raised an eyebrow, “Yeah, I mean, I JUST got in on this questing and I’m lost dude.  Start spilling.”
Baen sighed, “Just know this, this quest is far more dangerous than you four could imagine.  Vida, is no mere Equestrian sorceress, she is an old foe of mine that I had long thought finished.”
Vinyl was munching on some trail mix, “What changed?”
“Well, originally, an old comrade of mine sealed her in a gem.  But it seems she’s broken out,” he leaned forward and gazed into the flames, the fire dancing in his eyes, “Now, I fear for all of Equestria’s safety now that she’s loose.”
Gilda rolled her eyes, “What’s the big deal?  From what I’ve heard, Dash and her….friends have beaten plenty of baddies.  And I’ve heard you’ve done the same thing.”
Baen nodded, “That’s true, but Vida is…different.  She knows a brand of magic that has not seen the light of day in years, she’s cunning, manipulative, and will not stop until she succeeds in her quest.”
Flash tapped his chin, “Anything in particular we should watch out for?”
“Her magic is strong, so there’s that,” Baen thought hard, “she can influence the mind of others by utilizing a powerful glamour spell she herself developed.  Though her specialty is stallions, she can control mares, abet with difficulty.”
Shining nodded, “So if we ever meet, we go in to disable her with extreme caution.”
Gilda cracked her talons, “Yeah, like she could stop us.”
Baen nodded, “You all might have a fair chance.”
Vinyl glanced at Baen with a look of minor puzzlement, “What about you?  Won’t you get brainwashed?”
“Unlikely,” Baen muttered, “the last time I fought her, my comrade Yew cast a powerful Old Magic charm upon my mind,” he tapped his head, “this is a steel trap to any kind of influence.  Magical or otherwise, no pony can get in here to control me.”
Shining rubbed his chin in thought, “Do you think it’s still holding?”
Baen nodded, “Yeah, if it didn’t, she would’ve seized my mind when she visited me at my home.”
Cheerilee gasped, “That monster was in Ponyville?”
“For a short time,” he raised his hooves in a calming gesture, “but be at ease, we can do this.”
Gilda stretched out on the ground and yawned, “You know what I don’t get.  If she wants these swords so badly, why doesn’t she just show up right now and take it from us?”
Flash glanced around, “That’s a good point, actually, as far as we know she could be around right now.”
Baen’s left ear swivelled lightly as he looked around quickly.  Cheerilee was about to ask what was wrong, but then her ears started to pick it up as well.  In the distance, the sound of an approaching bell could be heard.
Shining stood up, “What is that?”
Baen’s eyes widened as he turned to the group and yelled, “GRAB THE SWORD AND SCATTER, NOW!”
The group heard a low chime, Shining quickly dove and retrieved Arondight in his magical grasp as a burst of white lightning struck the center of the camp and scattered the camp fire.  The embers and burning logs came to rest against some of the trees and brush, both of which burst into flames.  The ponies and griffon peeked out from their hiding spots.  Emerging from the smoke and flame were two shapes.  One was none other than The Star; the other was a bat pony.  Baen narrowed his eyes as he stared at the stallion who was garbed in emerald armor without a helmet, even if the helmet was absent; there was no mistake that it was the missing night guard.
Baen stood up from behind the log he had taken refuge behind and stared at the pony in question, “You there.  You are Princess Luna’s missing guard correct?”
The stallion stepped forward as the star stayed motionless, “I was, but now I serve a far more superior ruler.  My Lady Vida, the light of my life, has dispatched me and my comrade here to relieve you of that sword,” the bat pony unsheathed a sinister looking spear clutched it firmly in his hooves, “though I suppose killing you as well would be a bonus for me.”
Baen narrowed his eyes as his friends came to his side, “I’m warning you bat, if you engage me, I will hold nothing back.”
Shining tilted his head for a moment at the bat pony and he blinked a few times in realization, “Mulberry?”
Mulberry turned his head to regard Shining, “Captain Armor, how’s the wife?”
“She’s fine,” Shining moved to approach the stallion, but Gilda stopped him.
“Dude, look at his eyes,” Gilda tilted her head toward Mulberry as Shining gave him a more critical eye and noted the emerald rings around the outer edge of Mulberry’s eyes, “Whoever he was, drinking buddy or whatever, he’s not himself.”
Baen nodded as he unsheathed his ax, “This….Mulberry has had his mind taken by Vida and her sorcery.  He’s beyond help now until we break the enchantment,” he looked at Shining, “but even that is a tall order in itself.”
Mulberry glared at Baen, “She hasn’t taken my mind.  She’s opened my mind and the love I feel for her is genuine,” he growled low as his glare started to bleed hatred, “which irritates me when I discover she holds you in such regard!”
“Listen to me you blind fool,” Baen countered, “what you’re feeling is an illusion, Vida is just manipulating you for her own purposes.  All you are is a tool to her!”
“SILENCE!  I will not let you speak of ill of the mare I love,” Mulberry yelled as he charged the barbarian.
Baen jumped back as he deflected a powerful jab toward his throat.  Parrying the next strike, he yelled to Vinyl.
“Get Arondight out of harm’s way, be careful of The Star!”
Vinyl nodded and dodged some burning debris as she quickly magiced the sword to her.  Gilda turned her head and grasped a flaming log in her talons and hurled it at The Star.  The masked pony brought its staff into the log; a chime was heard as the log splintered into shards.  But in an instance, Gilda was upon the masked pony, roaring like a fierce lion.  The Star’s staff flew widely as Baen continued to hold Mulberry at bay.  Shining and Cheerilee were trying their best to extinguish the steadily growing blaze, but to no avail.  Gilda was grappling with the masked pony and both combatants were standing on their hind legs pushing the other.
“Alright you masked freak, show me what you got,” Gilda challenged as she pushed back hard, her talons locked with The Star’s hooves.
The Star pushed back against the griffon, its eye holes crackling with electricity as its body soon started to exude the same energy.  Gilda’s eyes widened as the energy increased in frequency, Baen took notice only to be knocked back hard by a well-placed blow from Mulberry.  Baen glanced around and saw that the inferno was gradually growing and consuming the surrounding trees.  Mulberry loomed over the barbarian as Baen reached for his ax, but saw that it had skidded across the area.  Looking around, he desperately looked for a weapon.
“So,” Mulberry loomed over the barbarian, his spear poised to impale Baen, “it seems the mighty Baen is about to become the mighty pin cushion.”
Vinyl, who was nearby, saw Baen’s ax.  It had flown widely and came to rest in the soil a good few feet from him.  She could make a move for it, but it would be too late, then her eyes snapped to something.  Arondight levitated soundlessly in the air beside her, its dark blade catching the flames in its surface.  Narrowing her eye in concentration she reared back.
“BAEN, BACK FLIP AND GRAB,” she yelled as she heaved the sword toward the two combatants.
Baen nodded as he rolled backwards and leapt into the air, the sword deftly passing into his forehoof’s grasp.  He landed on his hind legs.  The black handle and cross guard glinting in unison with the diamond etched in the center of it.  The murky colored blade reflected the light of the flames as Mulberry rushed the barbarian.  Baen held fast and swung, when he did, he widened his eyes.  As the blade went through the air, it glided seamlessly through the spear’s shaft and cut it cleanly in two.  Mulberry’s eyes widened as the blade slashed cleanly through the chest plate and broke his skin.  Blood started to drip from the pierced plate as the bat pony backed up in shock.  Baen looked at the blade as the diamond suddenly gave off the faintest glow.
“What kind of sword is this?  I felt no resistance when I attacked,” he flourished the blade as it left a very faint white light trail in the air from its tip, “amazing…”
Mulberry growled in anger, but then flinched as he clutched his head.  The emerald rings on his eyes flickering.  Baen turned his attention to the bat pony, only to rush forward.  Above Mulberry’s head, a large branch broke from the trunk and swung on a downward arc.  Baen ducked as the blazing branch made a beeline toward him.  He skidded into the dirt and was about to yell out, but was too late as the branch hammered into Mulberry like a freight train.  The bat pony rag dolled as he flew through the air and first hit the trunk hard and then slumped on the ground.  The branch broke off and barred any path to him as Baen’s attention turned to Gilda.
“GAH!  You stupid freak!”
Gilda slashed at The Star with her talons, but was zapped once more by a well-placed lightning bolt.  Gilda landed on all fours, magic electricity crackling off her every now and then as the smell of singed feathers and burning wood met Baen’s nostrils.  Shining closed the gap and had Caliburn unsheathed and ready to go.  He sailed over Gilda and brought his sword down toward The Star, but the masked pony’s staff had flown back to its master and deflected the blow.  The Star then slammed Shining with the butt end of the staff, winding the stallion, and followed through with a swift bash to the unicorn’s head with the head of the staff.  A loud ‘bong’ was heard as Shining crumpled, his sword clattering away.
Gilda whipped her head around as Cheerilee quickly ran to the fallen prince, “HEY BAEN!  Get your flipping head in the game and rip this guy apart!”
Baen hesitated, Mulberry being obscured by the flames, but relented and ran to his friends.  The barbarian swung Arondight toward The Star, but the masked mage erected a barrier before it.  But what occurred next surprised everypony.  Arondight’s blade sunk into the barrier, slicing into it and started to carry on unhindered towards its target.  Baen’s eyes widened as The Star looked up into the sword.  The barrier was not only being sliced, but the magic itself seemed to be bending INTO the murky blade.  As it carried on, the blade’s murky color started to brighten, a faint otherworldly shine starting to crawl along its surface.  The blade then sunk itself into the right eye and eventually the right side of The Star’s head.  Baen pulled back as an unnatural screech emanated from The Star as it reeled back in agony.
Vinyl looked at the sword as it continued to glow, “What the hay did you just do?”
“It wasn’t me,” Baen stated dumbfounded, “It was the sword….”
Gilda looked at The Star and quickly pointed, “Well he’s not stopping!  Finish him already!”
Baen looked up at The Star as it raised its staff to cast.  Baen yelled out on reflex and slashed the air, the moment he did, a mass discharge of white mana in the shape of a slash peeled off of the blade and rocketed toward The Star.  The familiar had no time to react as its head was blown apart.  The body stood stock still for a mere moment, there was no blood or anything, just dust from the destroyed material of The Star’s armor.  The body of the familiar then shook, before crumbling into dust, its staff exploding in a blast of condensed air with one last loud chime.  Everypony stared in shock at the spot, speechless.  But a groan from Shining snapped them back to attention, the unicorn rose, favoring his head as they all gazed around at the burning forest.
“We gotta get out of here,” Vinyl said nervously, “Or else will be turned into fillet o fillies.”
Shining raised his head and conjured a bubble around the group, “Let’s get moving,” he magiced his sword to him and the group quickly ran off.
When they left, rain started to come down hard, the flames slowly extinguishing.
*
Many hours passed by, the smoldering remains of the battle at the camp remained untouched.  Laying face first in the mud was an injured Mulberry, lightly breathing and bleeding from some cuts with some mild burn marks on the exposed parts of his body.  Soon, a light white hoof with golden rings on it slammed into the ground in a commanding fashion as a cold and yet velvety voice stirred the stallion.
“You’re no good to me dead.”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                             I                             
//-------------------------------------------------------//
I
Months can be long for many, but to some, it was like time passed with the blink of an eye.  The ponies of Ponyville had gotten along pretty well for themselves, the fact that they had a princess living among them that would be than happy to hear any grievances they had or just to hang out with eased their nerves greatly.  It was also that, and the sheer fact that the rebuilding of Equestria in certain areas had finished a long time ago and life had returned to sense of normalcy.  At the moment, Twilight Sparkle was busy running errands in town.  Even though she was a princess, she did enjoy the little things in life that made her feel more grounded.  Be it from shopping for groceries, straightening up the castle’s library, cleaning the Crystal Mirror, or taking care of Nibbles for Baen.  But why did she enjoy taking care of a salamander of all things?  Well in truth, it was a reminder that eventually the barbarian in question would eventually return to her and Ponyville.
Many ponies of Equestria not only enjoyed Baen’s company, but he was considered a hero among the kingdom.  No more than several months ago, he had defeated The Four Harbingers; it was then that his leave started.  At first he took a month off to recover and hang out with the six mares and his own friends, doctors’ orders.  It was then that he decided to go on his month vacation with his marefriend Coco Pommel to the sea side city of Santa Carta.  Both ponies had enjoyed it immensely, the sheer fact that they had all that time to themselves made them closer than ever.  Baen then decided to take a couple more months to himself, to venture to the other kingdoms in Equestria and see the sights, he had sent them post cards and said he would return soon and said he missed them.  She’d be lying if she said she didn’t miss him as well, she was his Blood Sister and he her Blood Brother, they were almost like family.  As she walked from Baen’s home, the salamander known as Nibbles sleeping contently in her mane, she stopped.  Her ears flicked slightly as she heard a distant noise.
“What is that,” she glanced around, “Come on Twilight; it’s just probably your imagination.”
Nibbles clicked a few times before curling in a ball.
“You know, you’re kind of cute when you aren’t trying to eat my mane or Spike,” she chuckled as she approached town…though wishing she hadn’t.
Ponies were running around frantically in a panic.  Screams were heard accompanied by smashing in the distance, she then noticed Applejack filing ponies through the town.
“Applejack, what’s going on here?!”
Applejack snapped her head around and sighed in mild relief, “Oh Twi, thank Celestia you’re here, we have a BIG problem.”
“What is it?  Hydra?  Manticore?  Discord having a sugar rush,” she stopped for a moment, “Pinkie and Discord having a sugar rush while riding a Hydra being led by a Manticore?”
“Neither, it’s…well….it’s a,” Applejack froze when her ears flicked.
“ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!”
The roar shook the glass in every window as a mighty crash was heard.  The two ponies turned their heads as the side of a building blew outwards to the street, what emerged made their blood run cold.  Standing before them was a massive creature, a good two feet taller than full grown Manticore.
“A LION!?”
Twilight’s exclamation alerted the massive lion as it turned its head.  Two burning yellow eyes fixed on the two ponies.  Its fur was the color of spun gold and its claws, which were unsheathed and clicking on the ground, were as dark as the blackest steel.  It licked its chops as it advanced; it’s fangs as sharp as any razor.
Twilight started backing up as the Lion advanced, “Applejack, where did it come from?”
“Ahm not sure to tell ya the truth,” she flinched as the Lion skulked closer, “me and the family were just runnin the stand as usual.  The next thing we knew, this here jungle cat surged into town and started tearin into everything like Applebloom into an apple tart.”
Twilight couldn’t help but stare at the creature, “I’ve never seen anything like it before.  Well I mean I’ve been to circuses, but this lion…it’s almost unnatural.”
“Twi,” Applejack stated, “everythin in Equestria that ain’t civilized isn’t natural.”
“No I mean last I checked,” she eeped when they backed into a wall, “Lion’s never grew this large.”
The beast tensed and made to leap, but was swiftly taken down by a familiar rainbow blur.
“Rainbow Dash!”
Dash landed on a nearby roof and shook her hind hoof, “Ouch!  That thing has a thick jaw,” she glanced at Twilight who teleported AJ and herself beside her friend, “You two alright?”
Twilight nodded as the Lion growled up at them, “Yeah,” the Lion started pacing in front of the roof, “Can you fly and get Fluttershy to see if she can reason with this lion?”
Rainbow chuckled lightly, “Funny you should mention that,” she then turned around fully to reveal the pegasus in question latched to Rainbow’s side shivering in fright.
Fluttershy whimpered, “I…I tried talking to it, but it wouldn’t listen and it tried to eat me!”
Twilight gently pried Fluttershy off, “Well that eliminates Plan A,” she then blinked, “Wait…where’s Pinkie Pie and Rarity!?”
Applejack raised a hoof, “Calm down sugarcube, they’re safe.  Rarity’s in her shop with Pinks, they were having a brainstormin session about a few ideas for,” she waved her hoof as she found her words, “party casual wear.”
Dash nodded with a smile, “Yeah, then I flew over to the shop and told her to go into lockdown.  It’s just us against big and nasty here.”
Twilight bit her lip as she saw the Lion glare up at them, “Oh…”
Rainbow noticed her look and nudged her with a cocky smirk, “Relax, we got this in the bag.”
Twilight set herself and nodded, “Right,” she glanced around and noted her surroundings, a plan forming, “Alright, I got it.”
She looked to Rainbow, “Rainbow, I want you to lure it toward Town Hall but make sure it stays on you and away from anypony else!”
Rainbow saluted, “Got it!”
Twilight looked to Applejack, “AJ, get your strongest ropes and follow me, and Fluttershy….,” she noticed the trembling pegasus again and smiled and gave her a pat, “just stay here and relax,” she levitated Nibbles down to her, “Here, Nibbles will keep you company and safe.”
Nibbles licked Fluttershy’s nose causing the shy mare to smile, “Okay, just be careful.”
Twilight nodded as she and AJ teleported away.
Dash puffed out her chest and flew in front of the Lion, “HEY FURBALL!”
The Lion snapped its head to growl at the cyan pony as Dash wiggled her flank at it, “Come and get me!”
She zipped off as the Lion roared and gave chase.
*
At the train station, a lone afternoon train pulled into the station as a pony disembarked.  The pony was wearing a yellow and red tropical shirt and a pair of sunglasses.  The pony glanced around and stared at the fact that there was nopony around to greet him.  He scratched his wild rose red mane, a rose red rune the cutiemark adorning his flank.
“That’s odd,” a large suitcase was deposited beside him, “I thought everypony would be here.”
A mint green unicorn ran into view and stopped when she saw him, “OH THANK CELESTIA!”
The Stallion raised an eyebrow when Lyra approached, “What’s the problem?”
“It’s Princess Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash.  They’re a fighting a massive Lion alone!”
The stallion pulled of his shades as his emerald green eyes sparked, “Where.”
*
Twilight and Applejack appeared in Town Square and saw two things.  The area surrounding the building was wrecked, and Rainbow was literally flying circles around the massive jungle cat.
“Come on you flea bag!  Try and hit me!”
Rainbow dodged around another swipe and laughed.
“Alright Applejack,” Twilight gestured to four of the metal banner posts, “I’m going to tell Rainbow to draw it between those and when it passes those first two, get it’s left front paw.  Once that’s done get the other,” she levitated a pair of the ropes in front of her, “I’ll work on the back legs.”
“Gotcha Twi,” she reared back, “Let’s wrangle us a Lion!”
The ponies split as Twilight yelled, “Rainbow, bring it toward Applejack!”
“On it,” she flicked a rock at the Lion’s snout drawing its attention and then blew a raspberry before flying for the posts.
The Lion roared in anger and was in hot pursuit as Twilight took up position.  Right as the Lion went into position; a rope snaked out and ensnared the front paw.  Losing one of its legs, the Lion ate dirt as soon its other paw joined its twin.  Twilight quickly levitated the ropes to its hind legs and tied all four ropes to the steel posts.  The Lion thrashed in its bonds, roaring loudly in frustration and rage.
Twilight trotted to her two friends, “Alright.  Now we just need to figure out what to do with it.”
“I say we stick it in a cage,” Rainbow stated, “let it do some time while we call Princess Celestia.”
Applejack nodded, “Seems like the reasonable thing to do, any cages layin around that are big enough?”
Twilight taped her chin, “I know a barrier spell that could do the trick, but we have to act fast.  Even though I enchanted your ropes, I doubt they’ll hold.”
*CRASH!*
“….for long….”
All three mares turned in fright and saw the Lion free and cutting its bonds, its eyes then fixed on the three as its body tensed like a wound up spring.  Its teeth and claws bore as it prepared to pounce…only for something to halt its advance.  A pair of shades bounced off its snout.  The four creatures turned their heads and saw somepony who they did not expect to see, standing nearby on a roof behind them with a suitcase propped up was none other than the Red Maned Rabble Rouser himself.
Baen looked at Twilight and grinned, “I leave for a few months and Ponyville is attacked, you’re slacking off.”
Twilight shook her head with a snort, “Good to see you too Baen.”
Rainbow smirked, “Took you long enough knuckle head.”
Applejack pointed at the Lion as it started its advance anew, “Uh, ah hate to interrupt the banter,” Baen blinked and nodded.
“Right,” he ripped off his shirt and kicked his bag.
The bag rattled as he leapt from the roof.  The lid burst open as armor pieces shot out like miniature rockets and attached themselves to the pony as he landed.  His pendant catching the light as his axe landed in front of him in the ground.
Twilight nodded as she stood beside her friend, “Well it’s good to see my armoring enchantment is working like a charm.”
Baen nodded with a focused look as the others joined him, “It’s quite useful indeed.  What is this beast?”
Applejack shook her head, “Were not sure, ahm actually hopin you would know.”
Baen shook his head, “Haven’t seen it before.”
Twilight nodded, “Alright, so it’s going in blind then.”
Baen smirked as he wrenched his ax free, “My kind of fight.”
Baen rushed the creature, his axe raised high as he swiped at it, his ax made contact…but it bounced off its pelt like it was armor.
“What?!”
The beast smashed the barbarian hard across his chest plate, the barbarian was like a bullet when he crashed into town hall and into the office of a shocked Mayor Mare.
“Hey Mayor, you look good today,” Baen smiled through a bit of pain.
Mayor Mare shook her head, “I’ll inform the construction company your back.  Oh by the way,” she smiled at the warrior, “please get that feline out of my town.”
Baen saluted upside down, “Can do.”
He leapt from the hole, but froze.  He glanced down and noticed his armor had a huge gash in it.
“How could,” he looked up and saw Twilight and the girls attempting to fight back against the beast.
Dash and Applejack hurled objects at the Lion, but they bounced off without injury.  Twilight fired concentrated magic blasts that only seemed to antagonize it even more.  Baen shook his head, what manner of Lion was this?  He tapped his chin, no conventional weapons could harm it, and its claws cut through his armor like it was tissue paper.  There had to be something…..
“BAEN!”
Baen looked up and saw Applejack bucking a bench into the beast’s snout, “A little help!?”
Baen nodded and stepped forward, noticing a statue nearby, something clicked in his head as he left his ax behind.  Letting loose a loud cry, his Wrath aura flared bright as he leapt onto the Lion’s back and grappled it’s head.  The Lion thrashed hard in an effort to get the pony off, Twilight and the girls could only stand by and watch as he beat its head with his armored hoof.  His hind legs secured around its neck as he rained blows down on it.
“Applejack,” he yelled, “Tie its tail!”
Applejack nodded and grabbed one of her shorter ropes and lassoed the limb and pulled.
“Twilight!  Aim for its eyes!”
Twilight nodded as she charged a spell.  Baen planted his hind hooves on its neck and pushed off and landed behind it as Twilight fired a continuous stream.
Baen grabbed the rope in his teeth as did AJ, he ushered Dash over to assist which she did in gusto.
Applejack then nodded hard, “PULL!”
The three ponies pulled hard as the Lion got closer, Baen then released the rope and slid on the dirt, his aura still active as he got under the Lion.  The distraction of having its eyes and tail attacked diverted its attention as Baen placed his hind hooves on its chest and heaved.  The Lion roared as it landed hard on its back.  Baen sprung, he looked to Twilight as he was in mid air.  She nodded and encased him in her telekinetic aura, she then pushed him hard toward the Lion’s head.  Baen brought his two front hooves forward.
*CRACK!*
The sound broke through the air as the Lion went limp.
All four ponies panted as the stared down at the unconscious creature.
“Did you kill it?”  Dash asked as she poked it.
“No,” Baen shook his head, “I merely rendered it unconscious.”
“How?  Your ax, not even my magic could harm it,” Twilight circled the creature and erected her barrier spell.
“Well it seemed no mortal weapon or spell could HARM it,” Baen rang his hooves out, “So I concluded that the best method would either be strangling it, or get a massive blow to the head would do the trick.”
The girls blinked at him, “Thankfully I went for the latter before the former.”
“Well well, there’s a sight for sore eyes!”
Baen glanced behind him and stared at Discord, “Ah Discord, you look well.”
Discord was about to answer but his eyes lit up when he saw the creature in the magic cage, “A Nemean Lion?”
Twilight walked to Discord, “You know what this thing is?”
“Well of course,” Discord showed his lion paw, “I am part Nemean after all,” he stroked his beard, “It’s odd though….”
Rainbow narrowed her eyes in suspicion, “Why?”
“Because last I checked, the last one died out when I took the big boy seat for the first time,” he shrugged as he started poking it with a feather, “frankly I’m surprised you four managed to take it down.  These things are notorious for being tough cookies to stop.  Also for their high diet of pony meat,” he gave them the thumbs up, “nice job!  I’m sure old Sunbutt has a gold star in her saddle bag for each of you.”
The three mares sighed, but Baen hugged the four beings with a big smile, “It’s good to be back!”
The four beings smiled and hugged him back.
Twilight nuzzled him, “It’s good to see you.”
Pinkie Pie then appeared with Rarity and Fluttershy.
“Oh my!”
Pinkie Pie nodded, “I’ll get my jumbo kitty crate!”
Baen released his four friends, “Girls!”
The three mares smiled, “Baen!”
Rarity halted and gasped, “Oh dear your armor!”
Baen glanced down at his chest plate, “Oh….yeah, you wouldn’t mind…would you?”
Rarity smiled as Pinkie hugged him, “Not at all dear, I feel a tad out of practice,” she glanced at the Lion, “though I appal working with furs.  Its pelt is positively divine.  Such a shade of gold,” she gasped as the spark of inspiration appeared in her eyes, “Apologies everypony, I must go back to the Boutique!”
The girls shook their heads as she yanked Baen’s armor from his body and ran off.  Baen smiled as ponies came out of their houses to welcome the barbarian back.  After greetings were given, an hour later, Princess Celestia and Luna arrived to survey the culprit of the damage.
Celestia stared at the growling Lion, “Such a creature…,” she nodded with conviction, “I’ll take this…Nemean Lion back to Canterlot to be contained and studied.  Rest assured we shall not harm it.”
Luna backed off as it swiped at her, “Lest it gives us reason to.”
The princesses turned as the magic cage was levitated away by unicorn guards and smiled at the seven ponies.
“It’s good to see you alive and well Baen,” she glanced at the girls, “once more you have saved my little ponies from death.  If this keeps up I may have to pay you on a regular basis.”
“Wouldn’t hurt.”
Twilight bopped him on the head as the monarchs laughed.
*
As greetings and jokes were exchanged in Ponyville, the local Diamond Dogs were staring at their most unusual prize.  The Rock Emerald.  A dog named Thorn had dug it out months ago, but after doing so, he had started acting….funny.  He kept calling it ‘My Lady’ and talking to it.  At the moment he was in holding and they were still deciding on what to do with it.
A Diamond Dog with a red vest known as Fido drummed his claws on the table as the other Dogs stared at it, “I say we keeps it.  Stick it in wall.”
A smaller dog jumped in his chair, “But Emerald drove Thorn cuckoo, gem is bad!”
Fido growled, “I am boss, I decide what we do.”
The small dog growled back, “Like grabbing pony?”
Fido pointed at the dog, “You swore never to speak of that!”
The gem started to pulse with light as small cracks appeared on it.
“Don’t like being reminded of failure?”
The dogs started bickering, but then the gem exploded.  The dogs were sent sprawling as green smoke filled the room.  Soon it cleared and a shape became fully visible.  The shape was a slender unicorn mare, her figure an envy of many from her time.  She was garbed in a green robe with gold trim and a matching clasp.  Fixed in the center was a round emerald.  Her mane was an emerald green and like her tail, fell in a seductive yet elegant cascade.  Her coat was a light white and on her flank was her cutie mark.  It was a blue heart encircled by acidic yellow vines with thorns.  Atop her head was a gold tiara.  The smoke retracted and condensed at the center of her tiara and became a green gem.  Her lighter emerald green eyes looked around the cavern with mild interest.  Around her hooves were gold rings with intertwining lines engraved on them as she shuffled a little.
Fido stood up and pointed, “Where did pony come from!  Why you here!”
The Mare raised an eyebrow, a small smile appearing as her horn gave off an eerie green light.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                            VI                             
//-------------------------------------------------------//
VI
The following morning, Baen sat up straight, picking an hour before his train had to leave to start packing the essentials.  He placed a saddle bag on his kitchen table and started to stuff food, a canteen, and other small things into it.  As he packed, he heard a knock on the door.  Straightening himself, he ventured to the front door and opened it to reveal two familiar faces.
“Hey Baen,” Vinyl stated, “How’re you doin?”
Baen glanced at both Vinyl and Cheerilee, “Um…fine, what brings you two by so early?  Something happen?”
Cheerilee waved her hoof, “Oh no, nothing’s wrong we were…just curious.”
“About?”
Vinyl gestured behind him, “Well the bag packing for one.  And the fact that me and Lee here were out and about last night and saw you getting train tickets,” she raised an eyebrow, “So spill.  What’s going on?”
Baen flatly stated, “I’m going on another vacation for a while.”
Cheerilee blinked in surprise, “But you just got back.”
“Yeah,” his eyes looked to the side for a second before focusing back on them, “I remembered that….I left…something….in the place…..,” he quickly added, “It was nice talking to you two again and I hope that we can do it again, but I’m in a rush sorry.”
He slammed the door and locked it.
Vinyl tilted her head, “Somepony is lying,” he glanced at a steeled Cheerilee, “How long do your holidays last?”
Cheerilee responded flatly, “All this summer starting today.”
Vinyl smiled evilly, “Perfect.”
*
Sitting in her throne within her citadel, Vida consulted her crystal ball and looked into it intently.  Baen was looking from side to side ensuring he wasn’t followed as he navigated the streets of the rustic town she herself had frequented for a time.  Tittering lightly she smiled at the image of him boarding the train.
“Hm…it seems Baen isn’t going to lay down and wait for me,” she pursed her lips and spoke in a kissy voice, “He’s going to pay me a visit.”
Mulberry stared incredulously at the stallion displayed in the ball from his spot beside the throne.  He couldn’t understand why, but he felt a bigger dislike for this…Baen stallion.  Was it dislike?
“My lady,” Mulberry asked, “If he does intend to come and do you harm, allow me and some of the stronger dogs to intercept him.”
Vida shook her head with a light smile, “Oh my dear Mulberry, you must understand,” she kissed him lightly on the cheek, “I have everything well in hoof.”
Mulberry started drooling like an imbecile after the kiss.
Vida turned her attention back to the ball and tapped her chin, “Hm, this Crystal Empire, it’s in the tundra correct?”
Mulberry nodded, “Blah.”
Vida stared evenly at him for a moment before her smile returned and took a much darker edge, “Well if that’s the case,” she reached into her robe and pulled out a tarot card, “I suppose I could make his journey there a little more interesting.”
The back of the card was jet black with an odd arcane marking on it.  On the front, it depicted a pony garbed in a garment of some form of which Mulberry couldn’t make out.  But the picture itself resembled stained glass in appearance; below the picture was an unfurled scroll for a name tag with two words in spidery hoof writing scrawled on it in black.
‘The Star.’
*
Baen yawned lightly as he curled up in his seat and started to doze off.  It had been a few hours since he had left Ponyville far behind him.  The train had long since transitioned into a calm mountainous region.  The calm rolling hills and the steady pace of the train coupled with his early awakening was the perfect excuse to catch up on some sleep.  As he drifted, he started thinking on his game plan, on major factor he had to look into was the sheer fact that he would have to get six magic swords…..and he only now realized he had no way to carry them.  His mind tried to piece together some form of sling of sword sack, when he heard his booth door open.  He remembered the last time he traveled on the train that a snack cart mare would go from booth to booth and offer snacks or tell passengers to make their dinner table reservations in the dining car.  He cracked open one eye to tell the kindly mare that for now he wanted to nap…but his eyes soon both opened fully.
“Wow, swanky booth B,” Vinyl casually stated as she entered, “how much you pay for it?”
Cheerilee sheepishly nudged the door closed, “Vinyl, it’s not polite to enter somepony’s room without knocking.  Even if it a friends room.”
Baen sat up fully, “Well that’s one way to put the term, stalking.”
Vinyl crossed her front legs as she sat down, “We weren’t stalking you, we were following you.”
Baen opened his front legs in mild anger with a flustered tone, “WHY?!”
Cheerilee was next to speak, “Because you’re acting suspicious.  We come to see you after you go on vacation and you rudely make us leave,” she then started to use the tone of voice she used when she scolded one of her students, “Then we find you packing again for another trip so soon.”
Vinyl tilted her glasses up, “Not only that, but we found out that you nabbed a ticket to the Crystal Empire, if that doesn’t scream suspicious, I don’t know what does.”
Baen scowled at her, “I can tell you this right now, I’m about to do some screaming.”
The ponies were about to start a threeway argument when the train gave a violent shake.  Baen snapped his head to the window and saw the vast tundra stretch out before them.  Shaking his head he turned back to the ponies, but he noticed they were staring out the window in mild fright.  Baen followed their gazes and noted that the rolling fields of white were passing by a little too quickly.  Baen got from his seat and ran into the hall, and he smelt it.
“Smoke….,” he turned to Cheerilee and Vinyl, his anger forgotten, “Who else was on this train aside from us?”
Vinyl shrugged, “Just the staff, dude, it’s an early commute.”
Baen’s eyes widened as the train shook violently once more, “We need to move.”
Cheerilee looked at Baen curiously as he gathered his axe and saddlebags, “What for?  I mean sure the train is going faster than normal and there’s smoke,” she placed a hoof on Baen’s chest, “The conductor probably wanted to get us there as soon as possible, and maybe the cooks burned something.”
Baen was about to voice his opinion, but a much harder shake and a loud screech met their ears.
Vinyl stood up sharply, “I say we get going while the getting is good.”
Cheerilee piped up in a high voice, “Agreed!”
The three ponies ran from the booth and into the dining cart and skidded to a halt.  Standing at the far end near the connecter that lead to the next cart over was another pony.  This pony however, was something entirely new to them.  The pony in question was garbed in odd attire to say the least.  Its body was garbed from head to toe in a marble white and smooth looking stone armor.  If anything, it was like its body was the armor.  The area’s where its joints were had gaps allowing for movement, and the armor plating fit it’s form snugly giving it it’s pony shape.  Its head was made of the same material and was carved in the perfect likeness of a pony unicorn with an emotionless face.  Within the eye holes of its mask was nothing.  Around its neck was a silver collar with metal spikes and attached to the collar was a black cape with silver insignia on the back.
Baen backed up as the pony advanced one step, “You two get behind me.”
Vinyl stared at the pony in question in mild fear, “Who…or what in the hay is that?!”
Cheerilee trembled as the masked pony advanced further, “Do you know him…or her Baen?”
Baen nodded, “It’s known as The Star.  All you need to know for now is that it’s not one to be taken lightly.”
From under The Star’s cape, it pulled a staff and placed it firmly standing up at its side.  The staff itself was made of polished dark brown wood with a large silver adornment at the top that resembled an upside down church bell with a runic star on it.  Surround the star was a circle of interlocking runes.
Cheerilee backed into the hall, “Do you think it killed the crew,” her voice evidently filled with terror.
Baen shook his head, “I doubt it.  It just wants us.”
The Star then stood flawlessly on its hind legs, its left front hoof curling around the staff.  Baen’s eyes widened in fear not only for himself, but for his new charges as The Star raised its staff.  Baen whipped around as he tackled both mares to the ground as the staff came down.  A loud metallic chime was heard as the star mark and runes gave off a bright white glow.  All that could be heard for miles around was a massive explosion of steel and wood.   And what could be seen?  A rolling infernal train half plummeting into the harsh tundra, and an odd pony vanishing in a flash of white accompanied by a bell toll.