Links to the Past

The group followed the course of the road. The last thing they wanted to get lost, especially if that beast was still around. They had had luck, and Discord helped a lot, but now, when they were on its territory, they didn't want to risk being attacked again.

Rush and Hase hadn't found something interesting around or in the cryochambers, except a malfunctioning part Hase said he had found in other chambers as well, 1000 years ago. Nothing, that would hint what the case actually was, luckily.

Thunderflight, Gale and Rush still hadn't shared what actually happened the night they arrived. While to the scientist and the Cutie Mark Crusaders the words of the timberwolf didn't mean anything, part of them made sense to the Starfliers. The master of the beast was impatient. The trio was afraid, that its master was the stallion, that commanded them as well. Apparently he expected them to deliver Hase to him as soon as possible.

The two male pegasi agreed with Gale, when she said them, that the last thing she'd be doing was give up Hase. The others didn't hear anything, since they were ahead. That gave the trio the chance to discuss what to do. They weren't giving up Hase, that was sure. He had helped them, without having a reason to do so. he had chosen to give them a second chance, and they weren't going to waste it.

However, they couldn't think of a way to solve the problem. The stallion had just shown them, that his orders should be followed, or else. None of them had ever seen a timberwolf so devoted, that it was ready to have one of its limbs cut off just to serve its purpose. It was unnatural for an animal, even for a sentient timberwolf, to put its master's will before its own well- being. Something was very wrong with that timberwolf, and that was the reason they were going to visit that zebra.

Back in the days when he lived, Thunderflight remembered, zebras were a more common sight than now. All of them claimed they have extraordinary powers, while only a few actually had them. As a result, he didn't support this idea, until Scootaloo assured him, that the so- called Zecora doesn't claim anything like that, she only used herbs to brew potions. A zebra had once healed his sprained ankle with the help of herb potions a month quicker  than the dosctors predicted it would be healed for, so the explanation from the young filly made him agree.

Hase trotted forward, holding the liveless black paw in his mouth. Most of the others refused to carry it, even though he explained to them, that it wouldn't be dirtier than an actual tree, and all reacted very sharply, when he tried to prove it to them. So to keep them calm, he had to hold ir in a napkin Discord had provided. Carrying something in your mouth for so long wasn't very pleasant and the stallion regretted he hadn't brought his saddle bags. Luckily, soon they reached the house of Zecora.

The rumour of her surprisingly effective potions had made the inventor visit the zebra oneor two times, to check if that was only the plazebo effect, or something inside these potions actually worked. Much to his surprise, Zecora's potions often contained even more effective healing agents than the cures a pony could purchase, and in higer concentration. The tea she brewed to cure his terrible headache had stripped all the remaining doubt off.

As they neared the hut, Zecora stepped out to greet them.

" Hello, Crusaders of the Cutie Mark! On what quest do you now embark? " she spoke, as Sweetie Belle, Applebloom and Scootaloo passed her. They said her hello, told her they weren't up to something particular today, which surprised the zebra.

" I'll now greet your companion as well. I hope the flu is gone and he's now all well? " she turned to Hase.

" I'm fine, thanks. " Hase mumbled through the cloth.

As she greeted the others as well, Zecora invited them all in. Hase let the paw, wrapped in the cloth, on the table, and his mouth was finally free.

" Zecora, we need to ask you something. " he told the zebra.

" Then ask me your question and end your discombobulation. "

" What is this? " Hase unwrapped the claw.

" Is this a joke from you three? A wooden claw is all I see! " Zecora turned to the CMC.

" Uh- uh, as far as I can recall, no timberwolves are black. " Hase objected.

The zebra knit her brows and got closer to the claw. She had thought its colour some trick of light, but as she came closer and looked at the claw from all sides, she changed her opinion. She tried to wipe off the ash she thought the claw was covered with, but failed. Finally, she realised black was the claw's natural colour.

" I havent seen a wolf of black before. Who knows what else fate has in store? But is the unusual colour what brought you here? Share it all, be sincere. "  the zebra told them.

" That timberwolf talked. " Thunderflight joined the discussion.

" It was all covered in lichen, black as the claw you see now, most of his spinal sticks were broken and he had no leaves. "

" A wolf that speaks, as black as smoke? Please tell me that's not a joke! " Zecora didn't believe him.

" He ain't lyin'. Da wolf spoke. " Applebloom supported the black- maned pegasus and the rest of the group followed her example. They managed to convince the doubting zebra:

" The talking wolf is a wonder new. Hope we won't get to meet it too soon. "

" It escaped, after Discord... confronted him. " Gale replied.

" He was no match for the power of Chaos! " the draconequus bragged, again appearing in his black outfit and breathing heavily.

" You're right, he has fleed. Or else he would have disturbed his own breed. Their howling would have been a sign to me, that a new beast in the forest creeps. But if his kin have not yet called, it means it's a story old. " the zebra assured them.

" I really hope it's gone for good. " Hase noted.

" I'd like to hear its recitation; it might bear a sign of its motivation. " the healer turned to the Starfliers.

Rush didn't have any idea what the beast had spoken of. He understood who the Master was, that shadow back in the forest, but the wolf spoke of Masters as if they were many. About the other names it used, the Trial, World- Dweller and the simillar ones, he was as clueless as his friends.

He was growing tired of all these mysteries. He just wanted a normal life.

Out of all three Starfliers, he got used to the old way of living at easiest. Back when they were still foals, he was the prankster of the group. He didn't care for the intrigues in the love triangle Hase -Gale- Thunderflight, which was nothing when they were foals, and most of the jokes came from him. The red- maned pegasus, unlike his two friends, had kept his rebellious and adventorous spirit during their time as the Starfliers. He got out in Cloudsdale once a week, even if just to see what's up in the town, is there a new rumour or something, while Gale and Thunderflight were constantly training for the performance. Rush never wanted to be perfect, and taking a walk in the town also used to give the two their time alone. With Hase's downfall the love triangle problem had finally been solved, but sometimes he just felt like a third wheel. He was still friends with both of them.... but they still had to have some time on their own.

Rush thought meeting Hase would start the triangle problems again, but luckily, their old friend had found a mare for himself. It all looked very promising, until they were reminded they had a job.

The orange stallion frowned as he mused, while Thunderflight was reporting Zecora the conversation they had with the timberwolf. He didn't hear what she replied, since his train of thought had taken a totally different path.

Even though he was new to mysteries, he knew they had to start with the only clues they had: the shadow and the wolf. The wolf and the shadow. The wolf served the shadow, but what was the point of hiring them at all? If he had a giant wolf, why just not send a timberwolf to pick him up? Why hadn't this wolf headed directly for Hase?

' Because he doesn't know where Hase is. ' the answer struck him. The stallion in the shadows wanted to be as subtle as possible. He couldn't send a wolf to look for Hase, creating mass panic and drawing the attention. He had to act slowly. Sending them as pawns was actually quite smart of him.

The pegasus tried to imagine the situation from the shadow's point of view. He couldn't send his powerful wolf, since it would fail. No, he first needed ponies to locate him, and than he'd send his wolf. How clever had he lured them into his trap... a 1000 years ago, which first made the trio think the shadow was King Sombra. Then they heard the story. King Sombra was destroyed at an attempt to conquer the Crystal Empire. That left the stallion's identity unknown. Whoever he was, he had slowly and carefully lured them into the trap, putting his ponies everywhere around them. He probably knew everything about them, while they knew nothing about him, and that annoyed Rush. He had specially chosen them to bring Hase to him, since he knew the scientist would trust them, and he had guessed right.

After Zecora told them, that she would take a closer look at the claw , the group left her house. Rush would have liked to hear Hase's opinion about his theory, but still couldn't. They hadn't told Hase about the shadow. They couldn't do so without losing his trust.

Meanwhile, the black unicorn with the dark violet mane was just entering Ponyville. He looked to the left, his gaze attracted by a group of running foals, but one streak of his mane fell down and hid them. The annoyed stallion stopped to return it on the top side of his head with his magic and trotted forward again.

The town was pulsating with the busy Thursday afternoon rhytm, as ponies were scooting across the streets, carrying a pile of sheets, others were trying to sell their goods, while some simply enjoyed the sunny weather. The black unicorn couldn't miss them, as he proceeded with the strategic walk, which the others saw as a casual stroll. Nopony turned much attention to the stallion with the dark violet mane. Nopony but one filly.

Diamond Tiara grinned. Finally she had found a pony, that seemed serious enough to actually be interested in what her dad offered. This afternoon he had asked her to help him by advertising his new exclusive offer for property insurance. At first both Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were very enthusiastic, but as the day passed by, nopony was interested in them. Tiara had started applying the technique her father taught her, the one he said she would need in the life of a successful salespony - judging ponies by their facial expression. In the right moment, anypony could be interested in anything, that's what her dad told her. She just needed to be there in the right time.

However, the sunny afternoon seemed to be nopony's right moment - ponies either had expressions, hinting Diamond Tiara they were too busy, or the careless expresion of the pony, who just wants to enjoy the afternoon and ignore anything else, like a good offer for prperty insurance.

" Silver Spoon! " the almost euforic earth pony called her friend.

The annoyed gray- coated filly rose from behind the booth. Unlike her, Silver Spoon had given up trying to find a client two hours ago. She thought there wouldn't be one this day. Diamond Tiara was about to prove her wrong.

" What now? " the filly with the silverware on her flank asked.

" See that pony? " her friend pointed a pony in the crowd on the street, and Spoon set her gaze upon him.

It was a stallion with a black coat and mane and tail, coloured in dark violet. His mane had a manecut, that didn't allow streaks to fall down his muzzle, and slightly resembled the one Silver had once seen in a stallion mane stylist's magazine, although she was probably wrong. His cutie mark was something round and purple she couldn't recognise from that far away.

" Aaand? " unlike her friend, Silver Spoon couldn't " find the golden apple " ,as her dad would have said. Diamond Tiara frowned and tried to explain it to her friend:

" Look at his face! Serious enough and not too busy! If we're succeeding with anypony roday, it's with that pony! "

Silver Spoon raised an eyebrow. Her pink- coated friend sighed and rushed at the stallion, before he passed by. The gray earth pony followed her, hoping they would succeed at least with that pony.

" Hey mister! " Diamond Tiara shouted, drawing the stallion's attention.

' Not again. ' the black unicorn thought. At least three ponies had tried to offer him their products so far. He needed none of them. And some of them made no sence whatsoever. Who would sell sofas and quills in the same shop?

" Are you interested in insuring your property in case of fire, storm or earthquake, Mr.... "

" Does the insurance include vandalism damage? " the stallion asked with a smile on his face.

" I told you he'd be interested! " Diamond Tiara turned to Silver Spoon.

" Only fools like that Hase, who's foalsitting the blank flanks, refuse to my father's offers! "

The stallion had intended to cut them off after his ironic question, but the bragging drew his attention.

' This filly's father may know more about Hase. ' he thought and changed his plan. He waited while the little earth pony flipped through the pages of the document, probably given to her by her father.

" Yes! It is included, Mr... "

" Than I will be very grateful if I could meet with your father. The insurance he offers is truly not to be refused, as you said before. " the stallion replied with a serious voice, cleverly interrupting the young filly before she asked for his name. He hadn't yet thought of the name he would take on in public.

" Right away! Let me lead you! " the filly kindly offered her services and led him through Ponyville. The other filly was left behind to take on other clients.

" What's your name? " she asked as they turned around a corner.

" Shade. " the unicorn had already managed to think of a name. The one he had thought of didn't have much in common with his cutie mark, but neither the filly nor her father would ask about that. He was their client, that was all they needed to know. They would only ask him questions, regarding their offer and his property.

The excited filly led him through the door of one of the houses and the stallion found himself in a luxuriously decorated corridor. There were tapestries on the wall, the carpets were apparently brought from Saddle Arabia and the coathanger was made out of ebony.

' It isn't just any salespony. It's a rich salespony. ' the unicorn deduced, while the earth pony led him to the door in the other end of the corridor.

Filthy Rich was leaning in his silk- covered hoof chair and was taking a small sip of his Canterlot tea. He had bought it from a special tea shop, the most expencive tea in the whole store, but it was worth it. Every sip was a pleasure for his taste buds.

" Dad! " his daughter called from the corridor.

" Yes, Diamond? " the business pony replied.

" I am with a customer, may we come in? "

" But of course! " he replied politely, but then jolted out of his seat and ran upstairs, panicked. He never thought Diamond Tiara would succeed in getting a customer. It was supposed to be a lesson for her, that one should always try, even when it seems meaningless. He had spent many days doing the same thing in " Rich's Barnyard Sales " , back when he was a foal, and he thought it was now time for Tiara to learn that lesson too.

So it wasn't surprising he was in no condition for meeting with guests. His mane was probably a mess, and he wasn't wearing a suit! He heard his daughter enter just as he entered his room. Worried, that the client might decide to give up, he quickly brushed his mane backwards, put on a suit and rushed out.

Normally, he wouldn't be that worried for a normal customer. He was only worried for special clients, like one of the Princesses or a very importrant business partner. But this was an importrant client! This was Diamond Tiara's first client ever, and he couldn't dissappoint her! That client couldn't say " no " . At least not in front of her.

He didn't make the mistake to run down the stairs, as many would have, since he wanted to look as good as possible in the eyes of the guest. As he slowly got back on the ground floor, he slowly studied the stallion's muzzle. Diamond Tiara had aced it! This stallion was neither busy, and was serious enough. Furthermore, it wasn't just a pony, who had nothing else to do and just decided to insure their property. This stallion was interested. Very interested, as Filthy Rich could see in his eyes.

" Good afternoon, sorry for the delay. " the business stallion greeted.

" The host is never late. In his house he arrives exactly on time. It's me, who got here too early.  " the black unicorn opposing him replied politely, although a bit ironically.

' A Ponyville pony would never reply like that. That stallion must be from Canterlot. ' Rich concluded, judging by the pony's way of speaking. It wasn't the too fancy way of speaking of the nobelty. It was just the answer he would expect from a pony like himself - smart and polite.

' Diamond, if your first customer is like this, I can't wait to see what your other customers will be like. ' he smiled at Tiara, whose smile spread from ear to ear, and spoke to his guest.

" Please, take a seat. " he left the silk hoofchair for the unicorn, while he sat on a chair on the other side of the glass table, that separated them. As he took his place, the white cup of tea was slided over to him by an oreol of dark violet magic, so he raised his eyes and saw, that it was the guest, who moved it to him.

" I believe this is yours. I am extremely sorry if I'm interrupting your tea time. " the stallion apologised.

" Oh no, not at all. You're welcome. Would you like some tea as well? " Filthy Rich returned the favor.

" No, thank you. I am not thirsty. "

" I guess you are interested in insuring your home against fire, storm or earthquake? "

" You would guess right. " his daughter's client replied.

" I have come here to purchase a house, since I've heard rumours of Ponyville being the best tourism destination four seasons round. " he added.

" The rumours you have heard are true. It isn't by accident it's the home of Equestria's newest alicorn Princess, Twilight Sparkle. " Filthy Rich smiled. The coronation of Princess Celestia's finest student, Ponyville's librarian, for a Princess had really boosted the property business in the area.

Equestria's newest *alicorn** Princess?* That was a shock for the unicorn. It was in deed theoretically possible, that a normal pony ascends to an alicorn, but that had never happened before! Never! However, the unicorn kept his calm face.

' If I ask now, it would seem too suspicious. ' he thought. The news for a new alicorn was shocking for him, but for the ponies it was probably old and well- known news. He couldn't ask about it without looking suspicious and/or stupid. He had to rely on the press for that. So he continued acting like it was nothing new for him:

" Yes. I guess it is a fit town for a royalty. However, I decided my future property would still need an insurance. "

" That's common sence. " Filthy Rich agreed.

" You say your insurance insures me against storms, fires and earthquakes. Are those disasters common in this area? " the black stallion acted as if he was interested in that.

" Well, there are some dragons in the area, but I think the machines of the newest addition to Ponyville, a scientist, named Hase, have a higher chance of starting a fire. " what the brown earth pony said was absolutely true. Those things were unpredictable, especially when they went out of order.

' So, he is a new addition... ' the black stallion smiled. That ment he could ask some questions without looking odd.

" A scientist? " he exclaimed with a voice of disbelief.

" Yes. He suddenly arrived to Ponyville, and it turned out, that he's a scientist from the past, whose initial intentions were to dethrone the Princesses, since he thought they had betrayed him, when he invented some formua for eternal life. However, instead he renewed his friendship with the Princesses and also became friends with the Mane 6, our local... heroes, I guess. I'm sure you have heard of them. "

" But of course. " the unicorn actually had no idea who those Mane 6 were.

" They're famous throughout whole of Equestria. "

" He's currently staying with one of his friends, at her boutique. "

' More clues. I guess his salespony isn't realising, that the more info he gives to me, the closer I am to my target. He will be awarded when I'm ready. ' the mastermind thought. He decided, that this was all the information he needed for now, so he decided to find out the location of that boutique.

" You mentioned a boutique? That's marvellous, I will be needing new drapes for my property when I buy it. Can you say me where it  is? "

" Sadly, Rarity, Ponyville's designer, is out of town with the rest of her friends for a few days. She wouldn't be able to accept your offer. Anyways, after she returns, the easiest thing for you would be to find the Carousel Boutique. Anypony can show you the way. " Filthy Rich assured him.

' That was all I needed. Thank you. ' the pony thought. He than stood up and spoke:

" Thank you for your time, Mr... "

" Rich. Mister Rich. " the earth pony replied.

" Thank you, Mr. rich. I will contact you as soon as I purchase the property I have chosen. Have a nice day. "

As the black unicorn walked through the door of the corridor, Filthy Rich asked his daughter to come to him.

" A perfect customer, Diamond. I'm proud of you. " he said as he hugged the pink filly.

' Once you had to fight for information, since it was something kept for yourself. Now ponies give it away like candy. ' the black- coated stallion thought, while he walked down the street. 1000 years ago, gathering that amount of info would have taken him days, and now it only took minutes.

' Ponies must feel safe these days, otherwise they would be more careful. I never wondered if Luna and Celestia can provide this feeling of security.  They must have reached their maturity. ' sunk in his thoughts, the unicorn didn't turn much attention to where he was walking.

' Luna and Celestia... wait, didn't Luna... turn into Nightmare Moon? Now she's back? I should have investigated more during those 1000 years... '

His line of thought was broken, as he bumped into somepony. He raised his head to see who it was.

" Very sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going! " the stallion he had just bumped into apologised.

" It's all on me. I got carried away. " the unicorn replied, while taking a closer look at the pony. He was an earth pony with brown mane and tail, while his coat was beige. His cutie mark was a tooth wheel and two little clouds bellow it. The pony smiled at him, while he cleaned the dust off his coat. Something about him seemed familliar...

He was accompanied by a group of 6. There were three fillies, one of them a white unicorn with pink and purple curly mane, the second one- an orange pegasus filly with grape purple mane and tail, and the third one was a yellow earth pony with red mane and tail. There were also three adult pegasi, one of them a mare, and the other two were stallions. The mare had a light blue coat, green mane and tail and a leaf, blown by the wind for a cutie mark. The first stallion was orange with red mane and tail, and red lightning for a cutie mark, while the other was grey with black mane and tail, and his cutie mark was a thundercloud with lightning being emitted in all directions.

' The three... ' the black stallion recognised them, but had no time to react, because a 7th member appeared, one that couldn't be mistaken for nopony else.

" Sometimes I wish you all had wings. Walking is just so sloow. " Discord complained. The unicorn observed as cardboard wings appeared on the backs of the earth pony and unicorn fillies and on the beige stallion's back. That surprised him so much, that he was almost going to strike Discord, but he gave up before he even started.

' Celestia and Luna let Discord live freely? That's surprising, but the more surprising fact is, that he hasn't yet turned this place into a madpony's dream. I don't know what has happened. If I attack him now, I may ruin my disguise. Let's see if the ponies react. ' he thought.

Surprisingly, none of the ponies screamed or ran away. The three of them with cardboard wings just got them off their backs.

" Are you sure this rock lord is safe, Hase? " the mare he had employed turned to the beige stallion.

' Jackpot! ' the mastermind almost exclaimed. He had found him! Then the next second, as he tried to recall the sentence, he was shocked again, as he was before from Discord.

The rock lord? A rock lord who is supposedly not safe? There could be only one pony, that possibly fitted this description.

' Cobalt. ' the stallion knit his brows. If both Discord and the Lords of Havoc were set free, Luna and Celestia were probably missing something in ruling the kingdom. How could they leave 6 of Equestria's biggest abominations free? Discord seemed... good, but the Lords couldn't be. What were the Regal Sisters thinking?

' Anyways, I need to follow them. To find out more about Cobalt. ' the unicorn went away from the group, letting them pass by. When the group was already 30 feet away, he followed them, not too close, so that he wouldn't be suspicious, but not too far, so that he wouldn't miss them.

The group led him through the almost whole town, passing by a building Hase referred to as carousel Boutique, as the stallion had heard from an alley in front of them. He had become annoyed of walking with their speed, so he had taken a side street and got ahead of them, so he managed to gather even more information.

On the east end of the town, among the last houses, stood a galery. It was different from the traditional Ponyville house. It was wider, the whole wall on the first floor, the one facing the street, was made out of glass, and different gem statues could be seen outside. The whole house was made out of a monolite rock. As the group entered it, the black- coated pony following them turned into an ally between the two houses opposite and observed everything.

" Cobalt? Are you here? " Hase asked as he entered his friend's gallery.

The Cabochon Gallery, along with Hase's laboratory, was the newest addition to Ponyville's landmarks. However, it gained much more popularity. While the laboratory didn't actually store anything interesting to the common public, and was with limited access anyways, the gallery had become a favourite for the inhabitants of Ponyville. Many came to admire the works of Cobalt, and so the barrier between him and the ponies was broken, and he could finally see ponies enjoying what he'd created, without being scared of him.

The pegasus came down from the workshop on the second store. There he created, while the first floor was his gallery. He literally flew down the stairs, although Hase still couldn't understand how he did it, after his wings were covered in quartz. Twilight supposed it was his innate magic, and Hase hadn't tried to explain it ever since. Some things couldn't be scientifically proved.

The Starfliers made a few steps back. For a pony, seeing him for the first time, it was in deed quite a shocking sight.  Unlike the other lords, thanks to him accepting the gift of friendship, Cobalt had regained his initial appearance and all of his power, as when he was created. The pegasus had the height of Princess Cadence, his whole body was made out of obsidian, quartz crystals stuck out of his wings. His mane was a cluster of sapphires, going down his neck, resembling a punk manestyle, small emeralds covered his whole spine, while his tail was a small buff of sapphires. Only his eyes, teeth and the inside part of his mouth had remained pony, as the trio saw when he spoke:

" Hi, Hase? What are you doing here? " he stretched his hoof for a high hoof, but as Hase raised his in answer, he recalled, that high- hoofing an obsidian hoof wasn't something smart, so he put it back on the ground and decided to remain with the vocal greeting only.

" Well, for a beggining, I would like you to meet my old friends. Cobalt, those are Thunderflight, Gale and Rush, " the beige earth pony stepped aside, showing the trio, still looking at the rock lord with doubt.

" Nice to meet you all! " the stone pegasus greeted them.

" I know the first time is a bit shocking, but you'll get used to it. " he said, as he looked at his hoof, made out of volcanic glass.

" Wait a minute... weren't those the ponies, that chose their carreer over their friend? " the pegasus knit his brows and looked back at the three pegasi.

" They were. Now they have chosen to redeem themseles. " Hase broke the tension, that was growing between the Starfliers and the lord of rock, looking over to them with an angry gaze.

" Good. I guess you finally learned, that carreer is nothing compared to friends. I'd sell this whole gallery, if it would save my friends while in danger. " Cobalt replied with a bit of arrogance in his voice.

" The reason I come here, however, is to ask you for some help. " the inventor told him.

" What kind of help? " the rock pony raised an eyebrow.

" Protection. And information, if you can provide it. This morning, we were attacked by a timberwolf... that talked. The wood he was made out of was as black as ash. He threatened my old friends, but while I'm sure they'd be able to defend themselves, I'm not sure for the girls, " Hase turned his head to the Cutie mark Crusaders, who were too busy too look at the sculptures of Cobalt to nave heard what he said.

" Would it be too much to ask to hang out with us for a few days, while Twilight returns? I just don't want the girls to get hurt. "

" Of course! " he replied as quick as a lightining.

" I'll stick with you until Twilight returns. And about the information... I have seen such creatures before. "

" How so? " Thunderflight was surprised.

" My creator used to have a whole army of creatures like this. Most were ponies, some were not, and yet, all talked... and all were black. The creator never said what they were, but in battle they were unstoppable. "

" Do you think your creator might be the one, who summonned it? " Gale asked with a fearful voice. If the shadow was this rock lord's creator, and a ruler of a whole army of such creatures...the mare didn't want to meet him up close.

" He's probably dead. Don't be afraid of old ghosts. " Cobalt advised her.

It was starting to get chilly, and the black unicorn had grown very annoyed. Finally, the group exited the gallery, together with a pony, made out of rock.

' Cobalt. He seems to have become friends with those ponies. This mean his seal of power is broken. It'd be harder with him in the game. Harder, but not impossible. ' the stallion thought. As he saw the group returning the same way, he decided it was finally time to go book a room in the hotel. He knew where the Boutique was, the laboratory wasn't going to be too hard to find, and everything was almost ready.

" A room for one, please. " the black unicorn spoke to the mare behind the desk. She hoofed the key to room number 201 over to him. He thankfully nodded, levitated a bit over to her and climbed the stairs. As the door opened, he entered his room. The bath was too tiny, the bed was abit uncomfortable, but he was going to stay here for one night only, so he didn't care.

' Tomorrow, everything will become as it's ment to be. ' the stallion thought, as he lied down in the bed.