Blooming Talent 2: The Apple Falls Far

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 4
Chapter 18

Chapter 1

"Its a lovely day, is it not?" Princess Luna said, trying to strike up conversation with the namekian walk in beside her.

Piccolo merely grunted and continued to stare forward as they walked down the path leading towards their destination.

"Piccolo..." She started. "You've been very quiet since we got that letter yesterday...its only a summit; a meeting of leaders to discuss business."

"Business. Right." The namekian finally spoke. "Governments only call things like this when some of the leaders feel they have less power than another leader and don't like it. This is just a big political game, and I'm not sure I'm going to like how it turns out."

"That isn't always true, Piccolo."

"And when exactly was the last time a summit was called, Luna?" He questioned.

"Well..." She spoke, her face scrunching into a thinking one. "That would be right after Discord was reformed. "

"And what was the topic then?"

"How to...make sure we didn't use Discord to gain some kind of overhand on the other countries..." She admitted.

"And after all that time, now they want another summit. After Goten, Trunks, and I have established ourselves here. I'm frankly surprised this didn't happen sooner." The namekian huffed. "I bet they just want to make sure we don't invade or whatever it is they think we'll do to them."

Luna gave him astern look. He was always paranoid, and specifically so. "You know, dearest, you have a bad habit of jumping to conclusions."

Piccolo turned to the alicorn with a mildly incredulous look on his face. "What do you mean?"

The duo stopped in the middle of the path and faced each other. The only sound for a few moments was the leaves rustling in the lush trees that surrounded them on either side of the pathway.

"Take for instance when you destroyed the Dragon Balls..."

Piccolo growled under breath. " I thought you and I were in agreeance it needed to be done. After that brawl in Ponyville last year..."

Luna put a hoof to the namekian's mouth so as to speak. She knew he'd just keep talking if she didn't say this now.

"I agreed that fighting over them was ridiculous, and that indeed they were dangerous...but we had promised Apple Bloom that specific wish. Even if we did destroy them anyway, we could've let her make the wish then and there and then found some other way to deal with them." She told him calmly.

Once she let go of Piccolo's mouth, he almost instantly started speaking again in an annoyed tone. "That would be like giving a spoiled child a treat after shed been acting up! Rewarding that kind of behavior is just wrong, promise or not. There were many other less violent ways she couldve handled it."

"How can you know, dearest? Were you there when the conflict initiated?"

"No I...." He stopped for a moment.

No, he hadn't been there at the start of the fighting, nor had he let Apple Bloom explain things. Perhaps she did have a legitimate reason for doing what she did, but he felt it was highly unlikely. "Besides, I didn't see you stopping me at all."

She furrowed her brow a little at this. "I said nothing because you were the creator of the Balls, and I felt you would do what you felt needed to be done. That does not mean I completely agree with your methods. Besides...you are a grown being, Piccolo. You shouldn't need me to tell you what to do."

Piccolo looked down at the ground for a few moments before speaking again. "So you're saying...I should have just let it happen then?"

She shook her head gracefully. "No, dearest, I'm saying you should have practiced what you preached and compromised..."

Silence once again felt between the couple as the wind even died down to little more than a breath from nature. Perhaps Piccolo had handled it wrong; Apple Bloom just wanted to see her family again. But still, she could've probably found another way around the situation, right? Besides, if he'd let her have her wish after all that, then how would the other ponies think of her...or of him?

Why was it so hard to just accept his decision?

"Come, Piccolo, we do not want to be tardy." Luna finally interjected, placing the brakes on his train of thought.

He nodded, and they continued walking; the namekian was going to have some serious thinking to do now...but then again, he already had been before this...

***

Apple Bloom smiled as she watched her son Carrot Apple try to stand up on his own. The young anthropomorph was near the spitting image of Big Mac, with the exception of his black mane and tail; that was from Goten. And it wasn't just his looks; the little tyke's attitude was about the same as her late older brother as well. She often wondered how he got to looking so much like Big Macintosh. Must just be in the blood.

Carrot succeeded in staying upright for a full two seconds before plopping back down and giving a dissatisfied grunt.

"Ah, Big Mac...if only you could see him...and Applejack too..." Apple Bloom mused as she watched her son go for what seemed like the hundredth attempt. "C'mon, Carrot. You can do it."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her husband Goten and Princess Cadence conversing on the edge of the path leading to the house. The sight of Shining Armor's wife made her face heat up a bit with anger. She hasn't forgiven that stallion for what he'd cost her a year ago.

As the two finished talking, Goten walked up to his family. His smile faded when he saw his wife's expression, and he stood back a few feet.

"What did she want?" Apple Bloom asked bluntly, picking up Carrot in her arms, much to his chagrin.

"We were just talking about Shining." Goten explained. "I offered to pick up the tab on his anti-depressants for the month."

Apple Bloom whirled around and shot a glare at the half-saiyan. "Why?!"

"Well, for starters, you kinda beat the crap out of him a year ago, and because of the fighting he has no guarantee his sister will ever be sane again..." Goten said. "Since you're my family, I feel kinda responsible."

"Well, you shouldn't." The southern antro mare spat venomously as she turned to stride hastily into the house. "That stallion got what he deserved for costing me a chance to see my siblings again. I don't care if he offs himself."

Goten's jaw dropped slightly at that. "How can you say that? That's awful! I know he did wrong by us, but you did wrong by him too. Just like you he was trying to help his family."

"Are you saying you're on his side?"

"There are no sides, Apple Bloom!" He stopped to emphasize. "You both had good intentions, and honestly, you both went about doing it wrong. Cadence even admits her husband was crossing a line then, but she doesn't want that to come between our families."

"I'd say those bridges were burned a long time ago, Goten. Stop trying' to rebuild 'em. Every cent you spend on that bastard's meds so he doesn't do me a favor, is a cent we coulda used for our son or repair in this farm."

"We are financially stable, AB, its not like we can't lend a helping hand every now and then."

"Just stop talking." Apple Bloom finally said, seeing Carrot was starting to tear up. "I can't believe you."

With that she slammed the door shut behind her, leaving Goten to rub his temples out on the porch. He knew Shining had been in the wrong; oh did he ever know it. But it wasn't like his wife had acted much better. He wished Gohan were here; advice on marriage would be useful, even three years in.

He stared down at the bill he had been carrying in his hand the whole time, and sighed. Everything was going downhill so fast...

Chapter 2

Cadence entered slowly into her home as she returned from Ponyville; the large crystal doors making very low creaking sounds as they swung in and out. The guards at the front knelt down and greeted the princess of love as usual, and she put them back at ease, as usual. She climbed the steps to her chambers, and put the groceries away as usual. She then organized the couch area...just like usual. It was as usual as any other day...even the once unusual part that was to follow had become so everyday it was like it too was usual.

Shining Armor lay under his covers in his bed, his curtains drawn and blocking out any sunlight. The room smelled musty, and even in the dark, Cadence could see the disarray that surrounded their sleeping area. Suits and armor plating were tossed about on the deep red carpet and several other articles of clothing and other miscellaneous items hung from the furniture.

Cadence had tried to organize things in this bedroom several times, but somehow it always ended up like this. Every. Single. Day.

It wasn't that she was angry at Shining about it; she didn't really mind having some busy work. She was, however, very worried that this had been fgoing on for so long. A full year almost, and even with the finest anti-depressants and even counseling with Dr. Hooves, Shining's life had not quite gotten back in order. He'd wake up, eat a small something, visit his sister in the asylum, and return home to mope.

Even when she would try to initiate love making, he would be unresponsive or bored by the idea. She was very worried about her beloved...

"Shining, dear?" She called softly to him as she entered into the dark cave that was their bedroom.

Her only response was a muffled grunt front beneath the covers.

"I brought back your meds, dear..." She told him, coming to lay beside him on the mattress. "And I also got your favorite drink to chase it; Sweet Apple Cider. You've gotta be happy about that."

Shining turned to look at her as she lay there levitating the bottle with a hopeful smile.

"How'd you get your hooves on that?" He asked, a hint of actual curiosity in his inflection.

"I got it from Sweet Apple Acres of course." She told him, happy to have some kind of response from him. "Goten was kind enough to give us some, and even payed your pharmacy bill for the month."

The white unicorn gave the bottle a once over before rolling back away from his wife. "I don't want it..."

Cadence's face instantly fell. "But..why..? He isn't mad at you or anything..."

"He should be..." Shining bluntly said. "Because of me, the Dragon Balls no longer exist, and that means no more wishes...no more miracles..."

There was a long pause before Shining broke the silence again.

"You know what I thought of last night? If I had let Apple Blom wish for her family back, Applejack would've come back, and then maybe they could have used the Elements of Harmony to return my poor Twilly back to sanity...but...because of my impatience...that'll never happen.."

Cadence scooted closer to her husband and put a comforting hoof on him. "Darling, Apple Bloom carries the Element of Honesty now. We can get her to--"

"I know she won't do it..." Shining interrupted. "She hates me, and with good reason....why should she help me get what I want when I took what she wanted away from her..?"

Cadence embraced him tightly from behind; her lover was much thinner in her hold than he had been a year prior. He was slowly wasting away not only mentally, but physically. She had to fight to stop from tearing up at the thought of what one more year like this would do to her Shining Armor...

***

Everyone took their seats around the large stone table in the middle of the large underground temple where the summit was being held. Luna and Piccolo represented the Equestrians, Queen Gilda and Jessibeak represented the Griffons, Lord Jackboot represented the Mules, King Iron Staff represented the minotaurs, and Emperor Midas with his bodyguard Equisbane represented the horses of Saddle Arabia; their names were all etched onto the triangular bars before their respective seats.

The leader of the diamond dogs, Ralph, preceded over the meeting as the neutral party. These were Diamond Dog lands after all.

Before anyone said anything, Luna began to look over the attending leaders. Most she recognized, and one or two were new to her; however, she could've swore that just before Ralph called the summit to order, Emperor Midas was smirking at her.

"This, the 36th summit of the world, shall now commence. I, Ralph of the Diamond Dogs will preceed over the goings on as the neutral party." Ralph said, slamming a rock on the table, presumably as a gavel.

Midas was the first to speak. "Hello, everyone. Its been too long since we had our little get together."

"Not long enough, Midas." Jackboot retorted.

"Iron Staff must agree with Jackboot; Iron Staff could go a lifetime without seeing your face again." Iron Staff added.

"Must we descend into argument so rapidly?" Luna tried to reason.

"Why not? Makes it less boring." Gilda responded dryly.

"Boring isn't a bad thing at meetings such as these." Luna replied quickly.

Midas raised a hoof; his golden armor making small noises as he moved. "Please, everyone, please. I think there's been enough violence in the world for the last few years."

Piccolo raised an eyebrow as he monitored the tan coated horse with the golden body armor.

"You're one to talk, Midas." Said Jackboot. "You and your gladiators kill each other just for the sport."

"At least my gladiators are contained within an arena. You never need to fear a threat from them, Lord Jackboot." Midas continued, unphased. "No, no, I'm talking about the recent goings on in Equestria. Princess Luna, it must be rough running a kingdom alone now that dearest Celestial is gone, yes?"

Luna twitched in her seat a bit, but answered as politely as she could. "Indeed, it has been taxing. Raising the sun and the moon each day and night takes much energy and time from me. "

"And you have been doing a beautiful job of it, Luna. Even with all the dissent amongst your subjects recently, you have kept your duties going."

"Dissent? Pray tell,what dost thou speakest of?"

"He means those super powered freaks like the one standing beside you causing a ruckus in Equesria." Gilda spoke up. "Not just the whole thing with Sapphic, either, but the brawl in Ponyville a year ago over items they created to help you."

"You don't have to worry about he Dragon Balls any longer." Piccolo spoke up. "They were destroyed shortly after the fighting in Ponyville."

Midas clicked his teeth together. "I wouldn't be too sure that we can't worry. Say these bytes find something else to squabble over, and the skirmish doesn't stay in Equestria? What if they completely disregard the safety of others just for some measly moral or object?"

"They would never!" Luna said loudly, Putin her hooves atop the table.

"But they have." Iron Staff added. "As much as Iron Staff dislikes Midas, he is correct in saying that leaving all of your souped up bipeds to run free is a mistake."

"I gotta go with them." Gilda agreed. "At least Midas keeps his fighters away from anywhere they can harm someone. But you ponies and your restrictions about control just let those guys run around. And judging from last year, they fight over the dumbest things at the drop of a hat."

"And gathering from the attack by Sapphic three year ago, we can't really do much against their kind..." Jackboot added himself. "The only ones truly capable of stopping them are themselves and their own kind."

"You all feel this way?!" Luna asked, not comfortable at all with where this was going. "So then what propose you? That I lock them all away and deny them freedom?! I cannot do that!"

"We know you can't, Princess." Midas spoke up. "We aren't asking you to do that."

"Midas," Ralph interjected. "You obviously want something, so please get to the point."

Midas nodded to the Diamond Dog, and took a breath. "I propose a sort of...nuclear deterrent. Something to balance out the possibility of Equestrtia's new 'protectors' from slipping up."

Piccolo gritted his teeth. "Let me guess...you want one of us to be homed in each of your counties, is that it? Silo'd away like a weapon of mass destruction until you have use of us?"

"No way am I letting freaks like that in my borders." Jackboot piped up. "However, someone here does need to find a way to figh fire with fire. Someone to protect us in case a bad scenario happens."

"Iron Staff agrees."

"Me to." Said Gilda.

Midas stared at Luna; the smirk she though she saw earlier back on his lips. "Well, Princess, its all against you to hand over at least one of your warriors to me. This is for the bes really; I can provide safety in case your remaining fighters suddenly decide to pull a Sapphic. "

Luna stared ice daggers into the horse. No way she could give up one of her citizens and force them to live with the British Saddle Arabians...but the summit was 90% in favor, and she was the only one against it. She looked to Ralph to try and see his thoughts, but she could tell from his expectant stare that he too agreed that this would be the best course of action.

Before Luna could say anything, however, Piccolo suddenly spoke.

"Alright. You can have me."

She looked up at him with pleading eyes; she didn't want her lover to leave just for political compliance. She was slightly relieved when Midas laughed.

"No, no, no, I don't want you, Piccolo." He said. "You're far too opinionated and loyal to Princess Luna. No, I need someone who I can...mold, so to speak, into one willing to defend against you."

At first Piccolo wasn't sure what Midas meant, but as soon as he figured it out, his eyes went wide. He tried rto act natural as he spoke his next words carefully. "Then...you're out of mluck, Midas. There's...no warriors like that in Equestria. Were all far too grown to be 'molded'."

"Your current warriors, yes." The gold armored horse continued. "But there is one who has yet to even take his first steps into the battle, yes?"

Chapter 3

Scootaloo carried on making funny faces at the young Carrot Apple as she had all afternoon. The toddler burst into a fit of laughter at each ridiculous expression the Wonderbolt made with her face. His favorite is when she had blown up her cheeks and pushed the air out quickly with her hooves whilst crossing her eyes.

Apple Bloom came back into the room from preparing dinner to see the silly sight. "I could a sworn I only had one kid just yesterday; where'd you come from little filly?"

"Har har," Scootaloo smirked. "I guess our sense of humor doesn't carry to your mommy, eh squirt?"

She poked his little belly with a hoof and he latched onto it giggling. Apple Bloom smiled; her son had always loved when Scootaloo came over and played with him. She even remembered one day that the poor babe had started whimpering when Scootaloo had to leave. She had come back and given him a quick kiss on the forehead, and he had turned a much darker shade of red. Old enough to be embarrassed already?

She continued looking on while her best friend twirled her son around carefully, causing him to shriek with happiness.

"Careful now, don't rile him up too much, Scoots." She said after a bit. "Ill never get him calmed down to sit and eat at this rate."

Scootaloo picked the little guy up as she sat down. "Ah, he'll be a good boy, wontcha Carrot?"

The young anthropomorph cooed in response and started to pat at the orange pegasi's cheeks.

"I'll take that as a yes." She laughed.

She placed the infant atop her back, and followed Apple Bloom into the kitchen. The scent of home style southern cooking filled her nostrils, and made her stomach rumble.

"I'm surprised Goten isn't in here gobbling all of this down already." Scootaloo joked. "Where is your husband anyway?"

"He's...out fixing up the barn." Apple Bloom answered.

That brief pause was all the Wonderbolt needed to know something was up between them again. "Please tell me you hguys aren't having another fight.."

The red haired anthro stopped moving for a second as she breathed in to explain. "Its not really a fight...we just...are disagreeing on something.."

"And what something would that be?"

"He...he picked up the bill for...for Armor's meds." She said.

Scootaloo sighed.

"What?"

"AB, you have to let this go..." Scootaloo told her earnestly. "I really do understand what its like losing family. My mother passed when I was little and--"

"And your father died in a training accident...I know, Scoots..."

The orange pegasus put a hoof around her friend's waist. "I know its hard...but life does go on, yknow? Holding grudges like this...dwelling on the past...that's no way to live life. I mean, how do you know where you're going if you're always walking backwards?"

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Its a figure of speech." Scootaloo explained. "It means; if you focus to much on things that have been, you won't have time for things that will be."

The two friends looked at each other for a moment before Apple Bloom broke the silence with a snort.

"When did you become so wise and word savvy?" She chuckled.

"Whataya talkin' bout? I'm a genius."

They shared a laugh right hen; a wholehearted and genuine laugh. It had been awhile since a moment like this had happened, what with all that had already been.

Apple Bloom calmed herself enough to speak before continuing. "I get what you're sayin' Scoots. Really, I do. But...I just don't think I'm ready to forgive him...or even if I ever will..."

" Well...maybe one day you'll be able to.." The orange pegasus said, shifting her body so Carrot wouldn't fall off her back. "Shining meant well, AB. But everyone makes mistakes."

Apple Bloom nodded and hugged Scootaloo, who returned the embrace without hesitation.

"You should a been a therapist instead of a Wonderbolt." She said with a grin.

"Blah, no way." Scootaloo responded with a mock look of disgust. "That would a been boring. I can hear the snoozeville train now."

Once again, the two friends laughed together. A moment in time without sadness...

***

Outside in the farm, Goten finished hammering his final nail into the support beam in the center of the ceiling. As he floated down to wipe his forehead and inspect his hard work, he sensed a few different ki signatures coming down the pathway to his home.

The half-saiyan turned around, and was not surprised to see Piccolo and Princess Luna, but he was surprised at the horses they has brought with them. The one at the head of he pack was wearing an all covering suit of golden armor which shimmered intensly in the sunlight.

"Hey!" He called out, floating over towards them. "Piccolo!"

The namekian, along with all those present turned to see what had spoken. The half-saiyan landed beside them, taking in the view of assembled horses.

"What's all this?" Goten asked.

Piccolo looked at Luna for a brief moment with concern, and what Goten thought was remorse. He turned back to Goten, and put a green hand on his shoulder.

"Goten," he started solemnly. "There's been a...decision made. And...you're not going to like it..."

Chapter 5

Apple Bloom awoke in a stiff bed with greenish white sheets and a blanket covering her. She recognized them as the bedding was from the Ponyville Hospital, but found it curious that no machines were hooked up to her. Then again, she supposed she didn't really need them; aside from some bruises she felt alright.

As she sat up, her head began to throb a bit, and she rushed a hand to her temple to try and calm the aching. This was a migraine no mere medicine would fix quickly. She felt like shed just been used like a punching bag.

She gasped as she remembered the goings on from before; without hesitation and ignoring her massive headache as much as she could, she leapt from her bed and nearly kicked the wooden door down to get in the hall. Nurses and doctors jumped in shock at the sudden noise and movement, and each turned their eyes on the anthro. She ignored them, and searched around for a face she recognized, and in a few seconds, found Piccolo standing and conversing with Nurse Redheart.

The view of the namekian caused Apple Bloom's blood to boil, and she quickly sauntered over to him; picking up her pace as she drew nearer. He turned to face her, and his eyes widened a bit, as Redheart backed away quickly.

Apple Bloom, please let me explai--"

Piccolo was cut off by the brute force of Apple Bloom lifting him by his garb and slamming him against the nearest wall; pictures shattered and fell to floor in pieces, and cracks instantly spread out from behind the pinned Guardian.

"You! You helped them take him! You berated me!" She steamed through gritted teeth.

Piccolo struggled to be down, but there was no escaping her grasp without fighting her, and he didn't want to do that. "Apple Bloom...I...I had too...for...for the peace.."

She growled and slammed him against the wall once more, causing more cracks to appear and sending a few already terrified ponies galloping and screaming.

"Give me a reason I shouldn't rip your Celestia-forsaken head off!" She fumed, staring him deadnin the eyes.

There were very few times Piccolo ever felt threatened, and right now, staring into the amber eyes of a hurt and angered mother, he felt as much. He steeled himself though so that he could try and de-escalate the situation.

"You don't understand..." He started. "At the summit..the other leaders...they felt threatened by us...they feared that our powers were far too great to be controlled or stopped....they wanted someone like us....to basically...become loyal to at least one other country....so if something like the Sapphic-incident happened again...they'd have a chance before it was too late..."

"So why didn't you do it?! You've already been against me for awhile now!"

The namekian grunted from another jolt that Apple Bloom swiftly throttled him with. "I...tried to volunteer...but...Midas didn't want one that already had an outlook of Equestria....he wanted...someone he could mold...to be...against us without hesitation...your son...was the only one of us...that fit that description.."

The southern antro mare did not soften her expression at all. " You gave away my baby boy...just to satisfy some selfish bigots? You've betrayed me again, Piccolo! You shouldn't have let them do it! You should have found another way!"

"There...wasn't...I mean...they wouldn't...accept...any other deal..."

"Gee, sounds kinda familiar, huh?" She scorned.

"Apple Bloom..."

"Shut up." She hissed, dropping him to the floor. "I'm going after my son."

She began to walk away before Piccolo gathered his thoughts and called after her.

"Apple Bloom." He said. "If you go after your son...we'll have no choice...but to cut ties with you and your family.."

She stopped and her ears peeked as if she had heard something sinister. She turned around halfway to look at the namekian who was slowly standing back up. "We being who?"

He breathed in and let out a sigh; it was not easy for him to say. "We as in Equestria.."

"On who's authority?"

"Who so you think? It was ordered by Princess Luna that to maintain peace between nations, if anyone were to attack Saddle Arabia for Carrot, they would be no longer allowed back..."

Apple Bloom stared incredulously for a few seconds. "So because I'm trying to do what any mother would and get my son back from those foalnappers, Princess Moonbutt is going to banish me and Goten?! Is that it?!"

Piccolo nodded an affirmative slowly.

Apple Bloom fidgeted violently in place as her breathing increased. This was an outrage! Why? Why must it always be her and her family that pays the price of peace? Why can't it be some pony else? Why does any pony have to give up anything for a stupid treaty? Why?

"Apple Bloom...please...don't do this..." Piccolo pleaded.

She chewed her lip harshly for a moment as she mulled over the directions she could take., but her heart always chose the same one regardless of what her brain was trying to say.

"Guess you'll have to banish me, then." She said. "Because I'm going after my son."

"Apple Bloom!" The namekian shouted. "Think about your remaining family and friends! If this is the path you choose, what happens to them?"

"I'm sure if Scootaloo were able, shed do the same, green jeans." A brash voice called from down the hall.

Both Apple Bloom and Piccolo turned to see who had said the statement, and their eyes fell upon Rainbow Dash; the aged pegasus trotted towards the duo with a very somber face. Her faded rainbow mane and tail swished slightly with her movement, but her eyes never left Piccolo.

"And you'll probably have to banish me too." She added. "The whole give up your baby so we can have peace stuff is bull. I ain't gonna take it sitting down, and I know neither would Scootaloo."

"You can't know that.." Piccolo tried.

"Yes I can." Dash interjected. "I can tell by the bruises and wounds she sustained from those Saddle Arabians that she would and has already done everything she could to keep AB's son safe. So, so will I."

Apple Bloom, already having figured Scootaloo had been injured, silently thanked the blue pegasus for her words. She turned to the namekian and said her last piece.

"You call yourself the Guardian of Equestria, yet you readily hand over its citizens when threatened. Some guardian you turned out to be.."

She turned and started to walk away, by then her temporarily forgotten headache came back full force. Her vision went blurry, and she staggered to stay standing, but couldn't help but fall over as the blackness fell over her eyes.

***

Carrot was crying hard all the way back to Midas' homeland; the incessant wails had driven his guards mad hours ago, but Midas himself minded it not. He knew the young lad was frightened, and he had a right to be. He'd just experienced a taste of the real world, and if Midas knew anything, it was that the real world could be very scary.

Upon returning to his temple, he summoned forth his royal nursemaids to take the child.

"This is the warrior we were promised, Emperor?" One of them asked, holding the infant antro in a basket by her teeth.

"Indeed he is." Midas said, smiling triumphantly.

"What are we to do with him, my lord?"

He took in the little red anthro one more time before speaking. "Raise him. Teach him how to walk, talk, and all of that. And when he learns it all, bring him before me again. I shall be his guidance...his northern star...I shall be...his father."

Chapter 6

Midas trotted slowly throughout his palace as his bodyguard Equisbane followed closely.

"It took a bit of doing, but things are finally starting to come together, my loyal friend." He said; his golden clad hooves making tapping sounds with each step he took. "The Apple Family's half-breed offspring is with us. Once he is grown, our plan will be realized."

Equisbane nodded. "Indeed the beginning stages have concluded, but my lord.."

Midas cocked a curious eyebrow at the horse that trod close behind him. "Hm?"

"My lord, excuse my bluntness, but who is to say the ones called Apple Bloom and Goten will not simply come for their son?" He asked. "Their speed and strength is unmatched on this world. And I doubt they will just give up and accept the way of things."

The emperor nodded with a look of understanding. This was why he kept Equisbane around; strong and powerful, but not stupid and blind. He was there to cover any and all bases that could be covered.

"Your bluntness is forgiven, Equisbane; you are right." He stated. "The parents of the boy will try to seek revenge on me for taking their son. And I am not naive enough to think they will simply listen to Piccolo or Princess Luna."

He paused a moment to turn and stare at the night sky; the moon was beautiful over the sandy dunes outside his city walls. The light of his hallway fires reflected off of the gold and bronze hallway on which he stood; a stark yet fitting contrast to the darkness just over the balcony.

"I assume then you already have a plan for dealing with them?" Equisbane more stated than asked.

"Oh, my friend, I have already enacted it."

"May I ask what my lord has done?"

Midas chuckled, but it was not a hearty nor victorious one; this chuckle was dark...distant. "Let's just say...I've reminded them of the curse their kind put on my family generations ago..."

"Speaking of which, emperor..."

Equisbane nodded towards Midas' neck; thee emperor turned his eye to where he could see what the problem was. His veins were visible through his skin and fur; the color a sickly dark green, almost black. It was as if a tree of the damned pits of Tartarus was trying to etch its impression onto the emperor's body.

Midas winced as the pain started to set in. " Is...is it time already?"

"Your armor was heavily damaged in the battle, my emperor. 'Tis likely your injector pumps stopped functioning or may even have been drained."

Midas grimaced as the veins traveled up his neck up to his jaw. "Prepare my back up armor...make sure the injector pumps are full."

Equisbane nodded and galloped off to do his duty. Midas leaned wearily against the balcony edge as his vision became slightly hazy.

Just a few more years...he only needed a few more years...

***

Carrot sat wailing in a dark room lit only by a few candles and one window where the moonlight shone through; the crib he lay in was just a plain wooden structure, nothing fancy about it. Simple necessaries for the ones not yet old enough to appreciate art or interior design.

As he lay crying in the dimly lit enclosure, his cries were put on hold as a little stuffed toy was tossed next to him through the bars. He sniffled and decided to investigate the doll; it was long, slender thing that looked pink in color and resembled a rabbit in a few ways. Curious as to where this had come from, the two year old antro crawled over to the wooden bars and looked down at the floor.

He was met with two little green eyes staring back at him. The shape was much like the ponies he knew back home, but also nt like them. Its legs were thinner, and its muzzle longer, along with having a more pronounced neck. Carrot figured out rather quickly this was another living being when it blinked. He was scared at first, but the little creature cooed up at him, and gave a curious head tilt. This revealed her fur to be a very light tone of red, though that could have been the fire light. Carrot was not really developed enough to know. Being his age, however, he understood the noises the creature was making.

She was a small baby horse, and from what he gathered from their seemingly random baby noises, she had tossed the fluffy doll up to him to make him feel better.

He giggled a thank you to the little horse and she giggled back. She then reared up and rested her forelegs on the bottom edge of the crib. She stretched her neck out as far as she could and booped his nose with her own. This prompted Carrot to blush and scrunch up in embarrassment.

The two cooed and babbled at each other for a very long time. It wasn't until Carrot let the little horse know he was tired by yawning that they stopped. Feeling at ease now, he grasped the little doll close to him and drifted off to sleep. It was good to have a friend in such a dark place. Even if her daddy was a meanie...

Chapter 7

Apple Bloom slowly and painfully opened her eyes to the stark white ceiling of the hospital room once again. This time, her headache was even worse; it felt like a cavepony was playing the mamba and using her skull as a drum. The light hurt, and she had to blink several times just to even keep them slightly open. As her vision slowly sharpened, she saw Goten come into view.

"She's waking up." He said, turning to some pony she couldn't see. "Hon, are you OK?"

Before answering, Apple Bloom rubbed her temples and stretched her legs slightly. She attempted to sit up, but was suddenly forced back down by an immense pain in her chest and abdomen. It did not dissapate when she quickly lay back down.

Goten turned once more to the doctor pony as he check the scan of Apple Bloom's body.

"What's wrong with her?" He asked rapidly.

The doctor shook his head, dumbfounded. "I...haven't the slightest clue. I've never encountered something like this..."

Apple Bloom didn't like the sound of that. She rolled over as much as she could and began to speak.

"Like what..doc?" She asked.

The yellow coated stallion in the white coat turned his attention to her. "You seem to have contracted a rather...vicious strand of something. I'm not sure if its a virus, or something else, but it is...not pretty inside."

He pulled the screen over to where they could see for themselves; the xrays were blurry, but it was clear something was abnormal.

"It seems to be primarily traveling through your veins in an attempt which I would assume would be to reach your heart." The doctor explained. "Now that just a conjecture based on they way its spreading. Its moving outwards from your right hand and has already made its way into the right quarter or so of your torso."

Apple Bloom stared incredulously at the scans; her veins and arteries in the affected areas seemed to be darker than the others. It was like a pitch black compared to the greyish blue of the rest of them. She was about to speak again when the doctor continued.

"And that's not the only way we can tell..." He said, pointing hoof at her right arm.

The southern anthro mare followed his direction, and her jaw dropped open as her heart skipped a beat. Her entire vein network in that limb was visible and ink like in color. The sight was horrifying and traveled up to her shoulder and down her side, nearing her hip. She tried moving it, but found that she was very limited in its motor function; she couldn't even twitch the fingers, and had only managed to lift it halfway up.

The pain was present, but the shock at seeing what state her arm was in had blocked most of it from her mind and she continued to stare.

"What..the hay...is happening to me?!"

She started to panic a bit, and Goten put a soothing hand to her cheek, and another on her good hand. He told her it was going to be OK and that they would figure it out, but as he said these things, the door to the room suddenly creaked open and in strode none other than Princess Luna.

At first, Apple Bloom was relieved, and thought maybe the princess could help; but as soon as their eyes met, she remembered what the alicorn had done...and what it had cost her family.

Apple Bloom huffed and sneered at the princess, who did none of that back.

"Why are you here?" She asked.

She waited until the doctor exited the room and shut the door behind him to speak. "Piccolo thought you may respond better to my reason rather than to his."

"Well, as usual, Piccolo was wrong." The anthro on the bed scoffed. "You're both equally guilty for what happened to not only my son, but to Scootaloo...and possibly even to me."

"I understand that you think this way; the bruise on my face reminds me of that." Luna spoke simply and calmly. "But what happened to you and your friend Scootaloo was not mine or Piccolo's doing."

"You're guilty all the same. If you hadn't been such a pushover at the summit, none of this would've happened."

"For one thing, we actually fought against this course of action--"

"Well you didn't fight hard enough." Apple Bloom interrupted. "My baby boy of only two years is in the hooves of some selfish and arrogant horse who thinks he can get what he wants by flaunting about his big, gold suit."

"Selfish and arrogant or not, he is still emperor of Saddle Arabia."

"And you're Princess of Equestria!" Goten interjected. "He shouldn't even have any authority here! What did he possibly think he was going to threaten you with if you refused him?!"

Luna took a deep sigh. "The possibility of war."

Goten rolled his eyes. "Let him wage war! He has nothing that can beat me and the others! He only got lucky with his shot on me back at Sweet Apple Acres! Apple Bloom still couldve--"

"Dost thou even realize what thou didst say?!" Luna nearly shouted. "I shall not subject my citizens to the horrors of war, regardless of guaranteed victory or not!"

"But you'll subject 'em to slavery..." Apple Bloom added.

Luna opened her mouth to speak, but found no words and merely looked to the side.

After a tense few minutes, Apple Bloom started to get out of bed. Goten protested, but did not make her lay back down, and merely acted as her support, so she could stand without falling over from her weakness. The dark blue alicorn stared at the couple for a few moments as Apple Bloom positioned herself comfortably against her husband.

"Luna..." She said, making sure to exclude her royal title. "I don't give a flyin' feather bout your rule against us leaving. I'm going' to get my son back; if I'm banished from Equestria for it, then so be it. I ain't gonna let you tear my family apart to preserve your public image."

Luna said nothing as the couple slowly traveled around her and out the door, into the hallway, and out of Ponyville hospital. She continued to stand in the empty room in silence for several long minutes. She found herself wondering what Celestia might have done. Would her elder sister have made such an agreement? And what was she thinking looking down on her now from where ever she was? So many questions, but the rule remained.

"Herald." She commanded loudly.

A pony wearing dark purple armor and bearing fangs in his mouth quickly trotted in.

"Let it be known that Apple Bloom and Goten are no longer allowed within Equestria." She said somberly. "We shall no longer be responsible for their actions."

"Yes, Princess." He responded, and galloped off to spread the news.

Chapter 8

"This is unbelievable!" Trunks shouted as he slammed a fist into the marble counter of his home's kitchen; the force of the blow shattered the marble, and splintered apart the wooden cabinet beneath.

"Trunks!" Lyra exclaimed, taking a few steps towards her enraged boyfriend. "Be careful...that's the second counter you've crushed in less than a year.."

"He's completely right though!" Rainbow Dash said. "This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard! Why should Apple Bloom and Goten be banished all because they want their son back?!"

Trunks pulled his hand free of the wreckage that was once an island counter and rejoined the others in the living room, carrying the drinks he'd originally gone in there to get.

"I'm sure the Princess had a good reason for this...she has too.." Fluttershy quietly said, playing nervously with her hooves. "She's not that heartless, right?"

"I don't know," Pinkie Pie loudly added, popping up behind the timid pegasus and scaring her half to death. "She has done some pretty mean things in the past. Remember when she was Nightmare Moon?"

Rarity brushed a bit of her mane out her face and took a sip of her drink. "But she isn't Nightmare Moon, Pinkie; this is an all Princess Luna decision. And to be quite honest, it does not sit well with me at all."

"And it shouldn't!" Stated Trunks furiously. "Apple Bloom and Goten just had their son forcibly taken from them, and then told they weren't allowed to get him back, or they'd be banished! And this just after Apple Bloom lost her chance to get her siblings back!"

"As I understand it, you were part of that debacle, Trunks." Rarity pointed out, daintily taking another sip of her refreshment.

"All I was trying to do was calm Apple Bloom down...I never wanted to take her wish away..."

He moved over to the large glass door behind the couch and stared off into the horizon as the sun began its descent.

"I just don't understand how its fair.." Lyra said, swirling her own drink in its glass with her magic; the yellow glow making the normally clear liquid look like beer without the foam. "I mean, what if it had been their kid that Midas guy wanted? Would they have let it still happen?"

"I bet they'd try to pass the buck to another foal." Dash huffed as she hovered slightly above the floor; her temper too hot to allow her to land.

"This is all hypothetical, though." Rarity interjected. "As I understand it, Piccolo and Luna cannot have children because of physical complications."

"I guess that's why its so easy for them to make the decision; they never have to worry about something like this..." Trunks scowled not looking away from the ever sinking sun.

"How do you know this is easy for them? Surely they must be torn about this..." Said Fluttershy.

"Apple Bloom is a hero!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "Why is it always her that has to give up something just so Equestria can stay safe? She risked her life to beat Sapphic, she brought us all back with the Dragon Balls, and then she gets denied her long awaited wish, and after that her son gets taken from her...and now she's been banished from Equestria! Torn or not, this decision is stupid!"

Fluttershy cowered behind her mane as Dash had gotten very close while yelling what had just been said. The pegasus backed off and finally touched down on the ground.

"Sorry, Fluttershy..but you've gotta know this is wrong.."

The yellow pegasus nervously stroked her own mane as she replied. "I just don't want to believe Princess Luna and Piccolo are as heartless as this is making them seem..."

Suddenly there was a frantic knocking at the door. Lyra quickly got up and trotted over to peek out and see who was here. She relaxed a little when she saw Octavia and Vinyl out on her doorstep and not some royal guard come to eavesdrop on them. As she opened the door to let them in, she marveled at how paranoid she had just been. It wasn't like they were conspiring...

"We got here as soon as we could." Octavia explained, trotting in briskly. "The train was running a bit late."

"We coulda just taken my Wub Mobile, Tavi." Vinyl said, magically removing her purple shades from her eyes.

Lyra closed the door, and fetched two extra glasses for the newly arrived ponies as they entered the conversation space.

"So what's the verdict?" Vinyl asked, plopping down on a chair.

"We're all pretty upset about the whole situation." Rarity informed. "But I think a few of us are trying to find a justification in all this."

"Justification-smashion," Pinkie said. "If that had been Pumpkin and Pound, I'd have fought tooth and hoof to save them, if Mr. and Mrs. Cake didn't get there first!"

"Yknow what kinda bugs me? I mean aside from the obvious?" Trunks finally spoke, turning inward towards the ponies. "We busted up Sapphic because he was trying to replace ponykind with changelings, and the ponies he didn't kill, he locked away in Canterlot Castle. Letting that Emperor Midas guy take Carrot just so Luna wouldn't have to worry about war with Saddle Arabia is almost like that."

"How do you figure?" Fluttershy questioned.

"We don't know what Midas is doing to that poor baby right now." The half-saiyan explained. "He could be in a dungeon chained up and being beaten into a weapon, just like the ponies of Equestria were held and used at Sapphic's disposal like tools..."

Octavia shivered slightly; the memory of her time in Sapphic's dungeon coming back to her at the thought of this. She specifically remembered the young colt who's neck the changeling prince had snapped just to make an example...

"I pray that is not what that poor young child is going through.." She quivered.

"But for all we know, he could be. And Luna is just fine with that, because it means that Midas MAYBE won't attack us!" Trunks said, putting an emphasis on 'maybe.' "In my eyes that makes her just as bad as Sapphic."

There was silence in the room for several, long moments; the air seemed to get thick as the ponies each figured what Trunks was saying.

"Are...you suggesting we take down Princess Luna?" Rarity finally asked, shaking a bit at the thought of such a deed.

"...I'm suggesting we do something." He told them. "My best friend and the hero of Equestria both lost their family and their home because of Luna and Piccolo...what if Midas decides he wants more? Will they bend to his will to keep peace? I can't risk something like that."

"But you don't know if that will even happen..." Fluttershy reasoned.

"No, I think Trunks is right." Dash stated.

Everypony gasped in unison; the Element of Loyalty had basically just said she was onboard with a coup. And she didn't seem upset about that fact.

"Just think about it." She continued. "What if this had happened while Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo had been younger. What if Midas wanted them? Would you want a leader like Luna around, giving in to demands, rather than some pony who will protect her citizens?"

"That's unfair thinking." Rarity muttered.

"You wouldn't want her, would you?" Dash said. "You'd fight for your sisters freedom. Regardless of what threatens you."

Silence once again fell upon the assorted conspirators. Lyra now had a very good reason to be paranoid of a guard stopping by.

"She's just trying to look out for the citizens of Equestria..." Fluttershy said. "She doesn't want war..."

"Carrot was a citizen too." Octavia added. "Why wasn't Luna thinking of him?"

"We can debate this all day, but we need to decide now." Trunks finally said. "I'm going to do something about this, for the future of Equestria. Question is,..which of you are with me?"

Chapter 9

The sun finally sank over the far horizon of the plains outside Equestria. It had taken Goten and Apple Bloom hours before they'd finally reached the border, due to the anthro's current condition.

The network of blackened veins was still expanding, but at a much slower rate than before. Goten figured it was either his wife's immune system attempting to fight back, or her sheer willpower keeping her alive. Honestly, however, he didn't care which one it was so long as she was not in immediate danger.

Still, she was already very weak from how far it had already spread; Apple Bloom had hung on him the whole trip as the pain was too much for her to even stand by herself. This had cost them mobility as well; normally they could've been to Saddle Arabia by now, but that kind of speed was just not plausible in the situation. Goten didn't want to just leave his wife to die...Carrot needed his mother if they were to get him back...

Apple Bloom grunted for the hundredth time and let out a sharp breath.

"You OK? Is it spreading more?" Goten quickly asked.

Apple Bloom squeezed her eyes shut and gritted her teeth. After a moment or two, she exhaled loudly and looked to her husband. "Its always spreading; i can feel whatever it is creeping all over me every second. Heh, I doubt even Granny's soup would help this."

Goten smiled awkwardly. An attempt at humor meant she was at least coherent. He positioned himself under her good arm again and they continued floating on.

Apple Bloom winced again before having a thought. "Would be easier if I was in pony form?"

The half-saiyan thought on that as they hovered along; the smaller body would be easier to port around, yes, but what if her smaller body meant the infection would spread faster? He groaned as he imagined his beloved laying in his arms completely covered by a ink colored network of veins and taking her final breaths.

"Let's...just keep going as we are." He finally answered.

"But it will take us weeks to get to Saddle Arabia like this..." Apple Bloom said. "I want to rescue our son as soon as possible...before that bastard does something awful to him..."

"I wanna save him too, dear...but if I go and save him and you die along the way, what good is it going to do him..? He needs you just as much...if not more...than he needs me."

"You're his father." She told him. "He'll always need you."

"And you're his mother." He replied back with a smile. "He'll need you as well."

Apple Bloom smirked in defeat. "I guess he needs both of us then."

Goten nodded, and turned his sights back on the darkened horizon. They'd get Carrot back...both of them. From whatever horrible fate had befallen their baby boy.

***

Carrot giggled happily at all the pretty bubbles that floated up from the tub as the emperor's nursemaids cleaned up the little anthro. He popped one with his finger and then clapped in delight as it exploded silently in little specks of soap. He stared at one spot in the sea of foamy liquid in particular, as if knowing something was going to pop out. Lo and behold, a new bubble slowly plopped itself free, and started its ascent. Carrot ended the bubble's travels there with a clap; the wet smacking sound slightly startling the nurse horse cleaning him.

She smiled as he giggled happily at his deed. "Now, now, little one, I know its fun to pop the bubbles but don't get to excited OK?"

Carrot watched her as she spoke, and smiled when she finished, happily returning to the bubble popping. The nurse horse smiled; he was so precious and innocent. He had no idea what was truly going on in the world around him, and the thought saddened her slightly. At the very least, the emperor was being generous to this particular child; even so, she knew from what the emperor had said that he would end up in the same place as all the others...

She was shocked out of her thoughts by the door opening suddenly, which Carrot seemed completely oblivious to. She turned to see who had barged in, and quickly bowed when she saw the golden armor on the tall stallion.

Emperor Midas trotted in, carrying a little light reddish foal in his mouth by her strap which she was riding in. He promptly set her in the tub, to which she whinnied happily and began splashing, making Carrot look at her kind of confused.

"The usual bath for the lady, my lord?" The nursemaid asked.

"Yes, Mary." Midas told her, not even looking at the bowing mare. "Be sure to get behind her ears as well."

He trotted out and into the gold accented hallway, leaving Mary to attend to the two giggling babies.

Midas was joined by Equisbane about a minute or so after exiting the bathroom. This was not a surprise, however, as Midas had been expecting him.

"What did you find?" The emperor questioned, trotting on through the massive walkway.

"Its confirmed, my lord." The bulky stallion said. "Your current suit houses the last of the Legacy Suppressor in the palace."

Midas grunted, knowing that meant he was going to have to take it easy for now, or risk injecting the last of it into himself with no replacement. He composed himself, and faced his bodyguard.

"I assume you have a party assembled to retrieve more?" He asked.

"Of course, my emperor, we will be departing shortly and should return in a week and a half or so." Equisbane informed. "Please refrain from strenuous activity until then."

Midas grinned. "Is that an order, old friend?"

"Of course not." The other stallion responded. "I just wish not to find my savior deceased when I return, my lord."

The emperor chuckled, and nodded to Equisbane; the latter galloped off to perform his important duty. Midas trotted on; he found himself wondering just how much longer he had left. Years spent trying to find the perfect one for the task he needed done. This young anthro might very well be the one he seemed; he just hoped he would live long enough to see it through.

Chapter 10

"Goten, i need a second." Apple Bloom said, prompting her husband to stop and set her down.

They'd crossed into the desert an hour or two ago after non-stop moving through the night; the moon their only illumination. The sand was still hot, however, and Apple Bloom winced and gave a short gasp of pain as she lay on it to rest. As she gazed up at the stars, she felt Goten lay down beside her in the shifting dune. She continued to stare for several minutes at the beautiful orbs of light high in the sky before even attempting to say anything.

"Goten..." She said. "You have to go on and get Carrot back."

Goten immediately shook his head. "Nope. We already made up our minds we'd find him together...I am not going to leave you all alone out here. What if something happens? You're in no condition to fight."

He motioned towards her infected arm with his head as he said the last bit. She knew it would come to that though.

"That's exactly why, Goten." She said. "I'm only slowing you down, and every day we spend out here is another day our baby stays in Saddle Arabia...I can't bear to think of that...."

"You're not slowing me down--"

"Then what am I doing?"

The half-saiyan looked at the sky in thought for a second. "You're helping me get our son back."

Apple Bloom laughed a little at that answer. "That's kinda a weak argument, wouldn't you say? Hon, I know you love me, and you'll do anything to keep me safe...but right now...our boy needs his daddy to come rescue him, cuz Celestia knows mama isn't in any shape to."

She giggled again, and gasped in pain right after as she felt her sickness spreading again. Luckily it wasn't much, but the deathly vein tree now extended up the right side of her neck. Goten looked into his wife's eyes for several moments, deciding what to do. Just as he figured he was going to decide, he was never able to say so.

The sand started to rumble and shift more and more each second, and it rapidly grew to being almost like a quake. Before either of them could react, the dune right in front of them burst open violently, sending sand particles all over and both of them back tumbling. As Goten regained his footing, he looked up to see what had caused such a thing. His jaw dropped when he looked up and saw a massive beast overshadowing them.

The monster, from what Goten could tell, was long and slender with a torso easily up to eighteen feet in height, and that was just what was coming out of the sand. Its with was as much as four of Goten, and every three feet along both its sides glowed small little blue circles. Its arm span was unbelievable, and at the end of each massive limb was a set of three claws as long as a city bus, and just as big too. The head was small, but had on it a large set of pincers before a glowing blue maw that added to the affect of its slitted blue eyes.

Goten didn't move for a second, but rapidly grabbed Apple Bloom and dove away when the behemoth dove right at where he'd been a moment ago. It disappeared into the sand again, but the tremors could still be felt all around. He hoisted Apple Bloom onto his shoulders, and took off into the sky, earning a cry of pain from his wife.

He mentally apologized, but then verbally cursed as the beast broke the dunes again and swung its gargantuan claws at the couple. He dodged the first one, but misjudged the distance between the sharp digits, and was batted back down by the second one, dropping Apple Bloom off to the side.

He flipped onto his back and was immediately greeted by the creature's huge face. It slammed into him, driving him into the sand. It sank its large pincers into his sides and he was filled with pain instantly. He would have screamed, but the sand was suffocating him, and at the rate the monster was diving, he must have been many feet beneath the surface already.

He had no time to loser, and summoning as much strength as he could, he transformed into his Super Saiyan state;his hair glowing a magnificent gold.

With a thrust of his entire body, he exploded his ki outwards, not only removing the beast from himself, but creating a massive hole in the dunes. The beast landed at the edge, or at least its top half did. Fully exposed, Goten saw how long it actually was; it was easily 30 feet in length!

He quickly decided the size wasn't important, and charged up his family's signature attack.

"Kamehame--"

Thee beast seemed to not even be concerned, and in fact, was completely ignoring Goten now. It had set its hungry sights on Apple Bloom, who was struggling to take up a fighting stance. Goten disengaged the Kamehamema, and dashed down to grab his beloved just before the beast impaled her with its finger-knives.

"You OK?" He asked her.

"Hold me towards him!" She shouted, her ki rising every second.

Goten held her towards the monster as instructed, his hands at her hips. She instantly transformed into the shimmering and flowing form of her Rainbow Power state; the power of the Element of Honesty shining across the desert. She put her good hand away from her, pointing it palm first at the oncoming behemoth.

"Bifrost Blast!" She shouted out loudly; her voice echoing across the sky.

From her palm shot a wide beam of rainbow energy which hit the charging monster dead on. The massive beast stood no chance against the power, and was pushed back into the ground. Once it hit, the rainbow beam penetrated its thick hide, and its body began to crack and shatter. After a second, the whole monster exploded as it gave a final cry; the only part of it remaining intact was its hind end, which looked like a rattler.

Apple Bloom reverted back to her normal anthro state, and passed out, the exhaustion added by the sickness getting to her. Goten gently landed back down, and held her close to him, smiling.

He too reverted to his normal state, and picked her up in his arms. As soon as he turned around though, the massive flailing tail of the beast smacked into him, launching him several feet away, and knocking him out instantly.

***

Equisbane looked up and halted his party of soldiers as the distant horizon suddenly became blazingly bright with a rainbow color.

"What phenomena is that, sire?" One of the stallions questioned nervously.

Equisbane said nothing at first, but then narrowed his eyes; this wasn't a natural occurance, but he had heard of rainbow phenomena being cast by a specific set of items...

"We're going to find out." He finally spoke. "We may have company coming..."

Chapter 11

At first, all Apple Bloom saw was blackness; no sound reached her ear drums, just as no feeling filled her body. Little by little however, her numbness began to pass and was replaced by the familiar pain of her strange infection. Muffled noises soon became audible; she was unable to make them out at first, but as her hearing cleated up, she recognized the noise of shifting rock and rolling wheels. These sounds were most prevailant, but not the only ones her twitching ears perceived. There were voices; gruff and growly voices. They talked of many things such as 'quota' and 'equipment'.

The voices themselves sounded like they were straining to speak without growling or something. It was only when she heard a few barks here and there that she figured she knew what the voices were emminating from.

She finally dared to open her eyes, and take in her foreign surroundings. Sunlight peered in through the leather hide that made up the large tent walls showing a cluttered mess of what looked to be as mixture of mining instruments and basic household items such as chairs and beds; one of which she rested on. It was all crudely constructed of dry wood and clay. The sheets were made of cow hide the same as the tent walls. Judging by the direction of the small beams of the sun's rays pouring through small tears in the leather, it was around mid-day.

Her ears flicked as she heard steps outside in the sand drawing nearer. She closed her eyes again, and made like she was still unconscious. As she heard the entering party come in, she realized Goten wasn't in here with her, and ki sensing ability had been impaired by her infection, so she didn't even know if he was in the area. She silenced her thoughts as the present party of what she assumed to be two by the footsteps sounds, began to converse.

"She's looking a little better already." Growled one of the voices; a male.

"Of course, but...why is she infected with it..? She isn't one of them.." Said a female sounding gruff voice.

"No she definitely isn't." The male said; his movement noises indicating he was coming to her bedside. "She's some kind of pony hybrid; cross-bred with something else perhaps? There's no way she naturally could have contracted it...unless.."

"You think its become contagious?!"

"That's impossible, young one. The Legacy Killer isn't transmutable unless its hereditary; you know that."

"But...we don't know that for sure; he rarely ever interacts with commoners unless he needs to...perhaps he had contact with her?"

There was a pause in the dialogue, and Apple Bloom felt the sharp claws of the male brush against her fur as his fingers checked her pulse. After a few seconds, he broke contact, and his paws made a grinding sound as if turning around.

"Let's question the male once more; he may know something of it." He said.

Hearing that made Apple Bloom's eyes shoot open as she turned and grabbed the male by the scruff of his neck, yanking him back and throwing him into a pile of mining implements harshly. He gave a surprised yelp as his form went spiraling into them, making them fall around him with loud clatter.

He was a dog alright, just as she had suspected; but Applejack's story of Diamond Dogs was different then what she was seeing here. This canine was covered in a coat of tan fur, closely resembling deep desert sands, and his back was covered in some darker spots which were not quite black and more of a gray.

She tossed her bedside table at the female, who whimpered loudly and cowered in the corner further from the anthro.

She launched herself to her hooves, and began charging energy in her hands, but as soon as it appeared there, it vanished and she collapsed to her hands and knees. She was overcome with extreme fatigue suddenly and started breathing heavily; tryingnto stand back up.

"Child, please be calm!" Urged the male dog, coming cautiously closer to Apple Bloom. "We mean you no harm..."

"Yeah right!" She sputtered in a breath. "You were just off to question Goten! I won't let you interrogate my husband!"

The male dog seemed confused, but then understanding came over his features. "My wording sounded worse than the situation is, child. Your husband is safe and not being interrogated."

"Then where is he?!"

"AB, I'm right here." The soothing sound of Goten's voice came through the air.

She turned her head to see him standing near her and coming closer to support her. As he placed her good arm around his neck and shoulders, he placed his other arm aeoundnher waist to help her stand. Once she was upright, he placed her back onto the bed promptly but gently.

"I'm OK, Apple Bloom. These guys are OK." He said, stroking her mane gently.

"Goten..." Was all the southern mare managed before she slipped back into unconsciousness.

***

"You...you wanna what?!" Scootaloo nearly shouted from her hospital bed.

She was immediately shushed by the group the was now around her bed all at once; Trunks, Lyra, and Rainbow Dash making it quite clear they didn't want to be overheard. As soon as the short panic died, Trunks spoke to explain.

"I want to take Luna off the throne." He said.

"But why in Equestria would you want to do that?" The orange pegasus questioned.

"Because of her hypocrisy and inability to make choices for the good of ALL her subjects." The half-saiyan said. "She claims to want the best for every one of her citizens, but readily hands over their children and kicks them out to keep a shaky and unreliable sense of peace."

"You mean Princess Luna really did agree with what that horse dude did with Carrot?!"

"She not only agreed with it, squirt," Dash said. "she was the one who ruled it to be so."

Scootaloo rubbed her temples and shut her eyes tight; this is just what she wanted to wake up and hear. She was totally ready for her friends to propose a government overthrowing when she sat up this morning. She made sure that she herself knew it was sarcasm...

"Jeez, guys, I am pretty steamed about that...but does one mistake really mean she's a tyrant and needs to go?" She asked, trying to negotiate.

"This isn't an isolated incident, Scootaloo." Trunks explained further. "She and Piccolo have made some rash and hasty decisions as of the last year or so. Destroying the Dragon Balls? Giving away Carrot? Banishing Apple Bloom and Goten?! Its almost like they care more about trying to stop imaginary wars before they start, and less about actually running a country!"

"What exactly do you know about leadership positions, Trunks?" Scootaloo asked.

"I may not have been a king, but I was CEO of Capsule Corporation back in my home dimension." He replied. "That's pretty close, and I had a lot of people under my 'rule.' Now I admit, I was a bit of a slacker, but when serious business came up regarding my employees, I made it a point to make sure everything was sorted out before making a decision. The way Luna and Piccolo are carrying on, its like they don't think of the consequences until after the fact, and then try to mask it as a necessity."

The captain of the Wonderbolts rested her head back on the soft white pillow behind her; he had a bit of a point. The Princess had been making some quick made decisions without really considering other options. She also had been very hypocritical in saying she looked out for all of her citizens, and yet yielded Carrot away so readily...and by extension, the princess was the reason Scootaloo was where she was now; in a hospital bed with a busted wing and shoulder...

She briefly found herself wondering if Luna would have ordered the Wonderbolts to personally deliver Carrot to Saddle Arabia; what would she have done then?

She scanned the three faces in front of her before sighing and speaking again.

"Look...I agree she's done some rotten things...like...REALLY rotten...but maybe these things happen for a reason.."

"What possiblevreason could that be?" Dash argued. "This is wrong, and shows that without Celestia, Luna isn't fit to run a country."

"Then who is?" The mare on the bed questioned.

Silence.

"You all talk of Luna making quick decisions without considering other options, and yet, you all want to start a government take over without even having your end game planned out." She continued. "If I kick the bucket, I have soldiers and officers to take my command. But if you guys kick Luna off the top, who is gonna fill that space?"

Still no response. The three conspirators looked rather thoughtful now instead of angry. They were no strategy experts like Scootaloo now was, and it was never more evident then right now.

After a minute, Lyra spoke. "We can cross that bridge when we get there."

"Not if the bridge gets burned first." Scootaloo instantly said back.

"Are you saying you're siding with her?" Dash burst at her 'sister.'

"No, I'm not. And I'm not going to sell you out either. I'm just saying...you need to have all your bases covered before you go in half cocked." Scootaloo elaborated somberly. "Think about your actions; consider all the possibilities lest the status quo remains unchanged..."

Chapter 12

Lyra walked into the bedroom of her rather large home levitating a silver tray of food she had prepared. She was sure after a long day of planning her handsome rogue of a lover was hungry; after all, it was hard to plan a take over of an entire government on an empty stomach.

The mint colored unicorn stopped and blinked in awe for a second at just how cheery her thoughts had just sounded there. Was she actually happy this was happening? She supposed happy wasn't the word she was looking for as she resumed her trot through the hallway, making sure the tray didn't knock any portraits out of place on the wall.

As she moved closer to the bedroom, she glanced at the photos that she passed by. So many of them featured her and Trunks and many of their friends; the smiles and emotions so genuine on the faces of the past. She would say it had been awhile since she'd seen everyone so happy, but in all honesty, it really hadnt been that long ago. Only a year or so had passed since most of these had been photographed, and in the grand scheme of things, a single year wasn't very much time at all.

It scared her just how quickly everything had broken down.

She shook these negative thoughts from her head, and put on her best smile before opening the white door into Trunks' and her bedroom.

"Hello, baby." She said teasingly. "Thought you might want a little company. And I brought food too."

Her smile and demeanor faded faster than Rainbow Dash flying across a town block when she saw Trunks. He was staring outside again; his hand to his chin and his eyes narrowed like a sniper ready to take an important shot. She could almost feel the tenseness emanating off of him.

He'd been like this before, but only when something was truly bothering him. She set the silver tray down on the dresser and slowly approached her almost brooding boyfriend.

As she drew nearer, she breathed in to speak, but stopped when Trunks started talking first.

"Lyra.." He said. "Am I a good person?"

She was taken aback by the sudden question of his character, but answered as soon as she composed herself. "Of course you're a good person, Trunks. You look out for everypony and care for them."

"So did Princess Luna...or at least she claims to." The half-saiyan said.

Lyra was suddenly confused. "Where are you going with this?"

"What Scootaloo said made me think..." He started. "We never really did decide what was going to happen after we ousted Luna."

"Yes, but we can always make those decisions when the time comes."

"But that's exactly like what she does. She doesn't think the whole thing through and consider the consequences of her actions; its caused so much turmoil and heartbreak because of it. And by not planning ahead to the end game of our goal, we've basically done the same thing."

Lyra trotted closer. "Well, hey, that just means we can make up for it now and do so--"

"But don't you see?" Trunks exclaimed, turning abruptly and slightly startling Lyra. "If I overlooked something major like that, who's to say I won't overlook some other important detail in the future? "

"Who's to say you will?" The unicorn added. "And even if its not you that takes over after all this, other ponies could make the same mistakes. "

Trunks looked down at the carpet with a pensive look. "Then is this cycle of awful leadership just going to continue?"

"Not if you let it." Lyra told him.

He looked his marefriend dead in her gold colored eyes with a look as if asking her to elaborate.

"Luna doesn't consider the consequences of her actions until after the deed is done." She said, getting up on the bed to be eye level with him. "The fact that you decided to talk to Scootaloo today means that you do consider the results. If you didn't, you would have attempted to overthrow Luna out of the blue, and been defeated. You are being as careful as you can, talking to all the right ponies before you carry out the deed."

The half-saiyan blinked and smiled slightly at these words. He supposed it was true that he was being fairly cautious in setting up this coup. His smile faded when he remembered he still hadnt thought of the end result. Lyra grabbed his cheeks with her hooves and made him look at her.

"Don't start doubting yourself now, babe." She said. "Learn from the mistake, and continue forward. We'll just have to plan this a little more carefully moving forward."

"So you're onboard with it after all, eh?"

"If you believe this is the right thing to do, then so do I."

She embraced him tightly, a gesture that he instantly returned. As they held each other, Lyra figured that happy was not the word she would use for this feeling about their plans; she decided faith was. Faith that this was the right thing for Equestria and its future.

***

Carrot sat in the middle of the room as the sun began sinking over the horizon. He'd tired himself out trying to walk; and his brain had also been tuckered out from trying to figure out where to walk to. No one was around to signal him to come over to them, and it made him rather uncomfortable.

Speaking of things he missed, he only just realized he didn't have any of his old toys. His rubber hammer and play set were not here. He knew they were out in the big red building, but he also the big red building wasn't here. It was far away...

Not only were his toys missing, but auntie Scootaloo hadn't come to visit him in a couple days. He missed her a lot.

Carrot started to sniffle and tear up as he came to the conclusion he wouldn't be seeing those things again. He was in a strange new home with strange new mommies and a strange new daddy. He missed his old mommy and daddy; he wanted them back now.

His little whimpers soon escalated into cries and tears began running down his red fur from his green eyes. The little light reddish baby horse who had been napping in the corner raised her ears at the sound. She looked curiously over to the red anthro boy who was starting to wail. She knew he was sad, and it was making her sad. She didn't like being sad, but she didn't want him being sad either.

She decided she would try to fix the problem and make them both not sad. Then they would be happy. She knew when her daddy hugged her she always felt happy, so maybe a hug would make him happy too.

She slowly stumbled her way over to him, and without hesitation, wrapped her forelegs around the crying child; pressing her smiling face up to his.

Carrot cried for a second or so more, but stopped slowly as he realized who was embracing him. One of his new mommies had said that this horsey ward his new sissy, and he'd never had a sissy before. He decided he like the idea of a sissy, because she was being nice. He wanted to be nice too, and threw his own arms around her tightly.

The two of them toppled over after a few moments and started to drift into sleep; their problems temporarily handled for now.

Carrot thought, before he drifted into dreamland, that having a sissy might make everything just a little better.

Chapter 13

The hustle and bustle of busy work filled the area around where Apple Bloom and Goten rested inside the huge tent. The sun had sank considerably, but there was still plenty of the suns hot rays baking the seemingly endless sands of the desert.

Inside the tent, the southern anthro lay on the crude bed covered by cow hide blankets. She had noticed her pain had decreased slightly and the vile vein tree that covered her arm was no longer reaching her neck; it had receded. She wasn't quite sure how or why, and neither was her half-saiyan husband. Did it have something to do with the dogs that had brought them here? They had mentioned she was looking better when she initially met them. Maybe they knew what it was.

"..The Legacy Killer can't be contracted unless its hereditary..."

No; they DID know what it was, and therefore must have treated her with something.

"Goten..." She hoarsly croaked.

"AB," he exclaimed standing up quickly, and reaching for a canteen from a table. "Hold on a sec."

He brought the container to Apple Bloom's lips and tilted it slightly. The cold water instantly soothed the anthro's dry throat and she took several gulps before motioning that she was OK. Goten put the canteen back where it had originally been, and turned his attention back to his wife, looking her over for something.

She gently grasped his hand as she sat up ever so slowly. "Now, now, romeo, I'm OK...you don't have to treat me like a child."

"I know." Goten said, taking her hand into his. "I just want to make sure you're OK for my sake."

They laughed a little at each other.

"What? You gonna be lost without me?" She teased.

"Me and Carrot would both be lost without you, dear."

They both were silent for a moment at the mention of their son. Apple Bloom's eyes were downcast as she recalled random memories of holding her son in her arms or playing with him in the yard. She silently vowed that those would not be the last memories she and her son would make together.

The train of thought was stopped as they heard movement from the tent entrance. The couple looked over to see the smiling face of the male canine from earlier. Goten had told her his name was Ahkma.

He approached as if greeting an old friend. "I see you are feeling better, child. I hope you are in a better mood as well?"

She blushed a little remembering that she had tossed him for quite a loop on her first sighting of him. He noticed her embarrassment, and placed a big, furry paw on her shoulder.

"Worry not, dear." He said, beaming and chuckling. "Its not the first time I've been roughed up, and it certainly won't be the last."

"Still," She said. "I apologize..."

"No need." Ahkma responded just as warmly. "You were in rough shape. Its not every day someone survives an encounter with a sand leviathan."

"Sand leviathan?"

"That big monster we defeated out in the dunes." Goten reminded her. "Turns out its a pretty common predator around here."

"Well I wouldn't say common, but seeing one wouldn't be unusual either." Ahkma chortled.

Apple Bloom couldn't help but smile at how cheerful Ahkma was, even after what shed done when shed met him. He seemed to be someone they could trust. She also found it a little funny how his growls still made their way into his speech.

"I'm sure you're wondering just where you are, though, aren't you?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

This was true; she realized she hasn't even given that much thought beyond who and why. Shed neglected the where.

"You two are in my village on the far outskirts of the Saddle Arabian empire, near the base of an ancient rock formation from which we mine." Ahkma informed.

Apple Bloom's eyes widened at the mention of the Saddle Arabian empire. They were on the outskirts already? How long had she been out for? Days? Weeks?

She shook her head, deciding to find out later. Right now she was more concerned about how 'out' the outskirts were.

"Forgive my bluntless, mister Ahkma, but...you said we were on the outskirts of the Saddle Arabian Empires."

He nodded in affirmation.

"Exactly how far out is the imperial city?" She asked.

Ahkma seemed curious, and yet understanding of something. "Why would you wish to know something like that, child?"

"You see sir," Goten spoke. "our son was taken from us..."

"You think someone from the imperial city did this?"

"We know, actually. It was flat out told to us that he was Emperor Midas."

Ahkma's face became one of shock at the mention of the emperor's name. He'd always suspected, but he never thought Midas would--

"We are headed to where ever he is so that we can return our son home." Apple Bloom finished.

The canine male put a hand to his chin in deep thought. There was a moment of silence before he spoke again.

"Do you know why he took your son? Any hint at all?"

"They told us it was part of a political deal made at the most recent summit." Goten said, gritting his teeth at the memory of Piccolo delivering that message to him. "Some sort of...nuclear detergent or whatever against us.."

"And you are from Equestria then? Your wife's pony half is evidence to that."

"That's right." Apple Bloom confirmed.

Another bout of silence as Ahkma rubbed his chin. "Please let me shed some light on Emporer Midas, my friends."

The couple focused intensely on Ahkma as he sat down with the motion of a man who had a long story to tell.

"Emperor Midas is the seventy-sixth descendant of the royal family of Saddle Arabia, and his genetics and heritage are one in the same with his ancestors..."

***

Back during the last great war, Equestria and its allies made plans for a final assault on the last hostile country left in the conflict; Saddle Arabia. The emperor at that time was a military genius, and wouldn't be taken as easily as his defeated allies had been. Most of his side of the war has been held together by his empire alone. The battles involving Saddle Arabia more often than not ended with the Emperor's victory.

But it wasn't just his tactical genius that was formidable; his technology was and still is leaps ahead of the rest of the world, and his ruthlessness in dealing with the enemy was feared by all. His armies took no prisoners, and he gave no mercy. He gave no retreat.

When the time came to end the war, Princess Celestia herself led the armies as Supreme Commander in Cheif of the allied forces just for this one final battle. The fighting went on for days and nights, and slowly but surely, under Celestia's command, the allies were making their way into the imperial city. The Emperor, as you can imagine, was less than pleased.

Discarding tradition, he placed himself on the battlefield and fought the invadfingforces with his men; a noble act, I'll give him that. But when he came face-to-face with the Princess, it started going downhill.

He fought hard, and even managed to seriously injure one of Celestia's wings, but in the end, he was no match for the goddess of the sun.

She struck the emperor down, and seemed to have just ended the war. But it doesn't end there.

The emperor had a son, of course, and before the battle had sealed him away to protect him from harm. Celestia found him, and slaughtered the guards keep in watch. As is evident by Midas' existence today, she did not kill the colt; she did something much worse.

In some twisted form of lookin out for the future, Princess Celestia cast a terrible curse upon the young new Emperor. This curse was a slow moving, cancer-like debilhitater which acted like a disease that would attack the heart. She did this so that instead of war to expand the Saddle Arabian empire, the ruler would be spending his life trying to find a wife to birth the next emperor before the current would perish.

That wouldn't have been such a bad thing, except that it was found that the curse was hereditary; passed on to the children of he current emperor. As the generations of the royal family continued, the life spans became shorter and shorter until one day, under the rule of Midas' grandfather, a new hope came to them.

A multicolored bolt of lightning struck down in the rockier regions of the desert near Saddle Arabia's outskirts, and the emperor sent troops to discover what had happened. What they found was that the stone now contained a new type of mineral; one unseen by any before.

Being a technology and science driven state when not at war, the Saddle Arabian scientists immediately went to work on finding ways to use this new mineral. Eventually they found a very important use.

In a liquified state, the strange mineral actually contained magical medical properties so powerful that they were able to synthesis it into what they hoped would be a cure for the royal family's curse. It worked, but only to an extent.

The mineral was more like a suppressor than a cure for he mystical plague that burdened the royal bloodline. It could slow the disease severally, but could not get rid of it.

After Midas' grandfather passed from the disease, his son, Midas' father, had his strategists think of some way they could overcome is. They figured that they may find a new Saddle Arabian bloodline to take the royal line's place, but the emperor knew that the royal line produced the strongest warriors in the country, and anything less wouldn't do.

By the time Midas came to power, all hope seemed to be lost. He had one daughter not too many years ago, and his wife passed before they could conceive a son from some other illness. Just as he touht his empire was doomed, he remembered...he remembered the saiyans.

***

"He'd heard of your exploits in Equestria during the Sapphic incident." Ahkma continued. "He must have also figured out about your son. He needs a strong new bloodline to take the throne of Saddle Arabia, and eventually take revenge upon the Equestrians for their curse upon his family. That is why he really took your son, child...he wants to turn him into a weapon of vengeance...not a deferent against violence."

Apple Bloom and Goten looked at each other worriedly.

"So you're saying that Midas manipulated Princess Luna into giving him our son just so he can mold him into a monster to take his kingdom over after he wipes all of us out? " Apple Bloom exclaimed, just to be sure.

"It is so." Ahkma confirmed. "The royal family have a deep seated hatred of Equestrians ever since the day of he final battle. Now that he has a young child with a strong bloodline like yours, he can finally both save his country and destroy yours with one pawn."

Apple Bloom was shaking in her skin; her little boy...nothing more than a war machine about to be feuled by vengeance not his own.

"That bastard..." She shakily breathed.

Goten too was finding it hard to remain calm now. This news was disturbing, and proved that Midas wasn't strong enough to wage war on Equestria aftrall. It had all been an empty threat to obtain the power to make good on it later.

Ahkma sighed and pulled a vial out of his leather vest. The glowing blue glass tube caught the couples' attention briefly, and sparked their curiosity.

"What's that?" Goten asked.

"This is the miracle mineral that suppresses the Legacy Killer; the curse on the royal family." Ahkma explained. "This is the Legacy Suppressor. "

"Is that what you gave me to make me feel a little better?" Apple Bloom questioned.

Ahkma nodded. "And if you wish to stay out of pain for now, I have to inject you again right now. Otherwise, it will start spreading again."

Apple Bloom nodded and watched as the dog walked over and stuck the needle into her flesh at her outer shoulder. He injected the glowing blue liquid into her, and instantly, her pain started to go away even more. The vile vein tree receded further down her arm, and she regained a little more control over it.

"Thank you." She told him, moving her hand around experimentally. "You must be taking a risk giving this to me if the Emperor has people looking for it too."

"It is a risk alright...but not because of anyone that might come take it.."

She looked over at him with a bit of a confused look.

"Its a risk because...because me and my clansmen are the ones who mine it for Emperor Midas ourselves.."

Chapter 14

Equisbane studied the few remnants of the sand leviathan carefully; the cause of death seemed to have been explosive in nature, but there were no burn marks or cauterizations in the remaining chunks of husk. The massive tail was mostly still intact, but it too showed signs that conflicted with the others; flesh and muscle torn outwards like a blooming flower, but no charring what so ever. Conventional explosives were definetly not the cause of death here. Then again, after seeing that rainbow, he figured they wouldn't be.

Still, the Elements of Harmony were not capable of destruction on this scale, even as powerful as they are. If they indeed were the cause, something would have had something augmenting them greatly.

He scanned the shifting sands, knowing most of the prints of anyone's would be long gone by now, but there would still be signs. Something would tell him what he needed to know.

As he searched over the area, his eyes caught sight of something almost anyone else would overlook. Equisbane noticed an inderntion in the sands on the other side of the massive crater. As he and his men moved closer to inspect, he saw the shape vaguely resembled that of a humanoid; by the little structure that was left in the imprint, he could tell it was no minotaur or dog.

"What is it, sire?" One of the silver armored horses queried.

Equisbane let his eyes scan around a little more before answering. There were many smaller indentions that looked relatively fresh; made not even a full week ago. They were not hoofprints, and more resembled paws than anything else.

"Come men." He finally said, rearing up and pointing out in a familiar direction. "It seems we can take care of both our orders of business in one place."

***

"Why are you giving that creep the Legacy Suppressor? You know how rotten he is!" Apple Bloom shouted.

Ahkma shushed her frantically, and looked around as if expecting someone to have heard. He slowly turned back to them, a very serious look in his eyes.

"Please, child...do not speak so loudly. If anyone from the city knows you are here and recognizes you, it would be disastrous."

He lowered himself onto a small stool made of dried twigs held together by who knows what.

"And to answer your question," he continued. "We don't have a choice..."

"What do you mean you don't have a choice?"

"Emperor Midas knows this is the only place to obtain the Legacy Suppressor, and he takes its secrecy very seriously." Ahkma explained. "He has plenty of horses and other slaves to do the work we do, so if we ever fail him or disobey, he will simply slaughter us and replace us so no one will ever know of it."

He looked up at Apple Bloom and Goten who were both listening intently.

"The only reason we are still alive.." He said. "Is because I offered my people to mine for him; a sort of saving of resources so to speak."

The anthro mare on the bed looked down in bewilderment. After a few moments of silence, she breathed in and prepared to say something rather bold. "So I still don't see why you don't have a choice."

Ahkma grunted in disbelief and looked dead on at the southern anthro as if she were delirious from the heat. Surely she had just heard what he'd said.

"How can you say that?" He gruffed. "We don't have a choice."

"Yes you do." Apple Bloom said firmly, raising her amber eyes to meet his yellow ones. "You always have a choice. You don't have to mine his drug for him if you don't want to."

"But he will kill us!"

"Then don't let him. I don't see any fences or anything keeping you here mining. The way I see it, you can leave anytime. Think about it; if he can't find you, how is he going to kill you? If you convince your people to relocate, you can live out better lives than being his high and mighty snoodiness' work hounds."

Ahkma put his face in his paws and sighed. "What you say is far easier said than done...how can you understand what its like living with unfair leadership and forced loyalty?"

"We know a little something about that actually." Goten said.

Ahkma looked up at him a little confused. "What do you mean, child? Is Princess Luna not a kind and just ruler?"

The couple looked to each other slowly and with sadness. "We used to think so...but in the last year, her and Piccolo haven't been making the best decisions."

The half-saiyan sat down next to his wife, gently gripping her good hand in one of his. "After she gave away our son to Midas, she passed a law stating that anyone who went after him to retrieve our baby would be banished from Equestria.."

"You two are...?"

"Yes...we ignored the law and made a choice to go after our son anyway." Goten said. "We were told we had no choice in the matter of our family, and that didn't sit well with us. So we made ourselves a choice."

"But now you are forbidden to return to your lands..." Ahkma exclaimed. "How is that a good result of your 'choice'?"

Apple Bloom placed her head on Goten's shoulder. "As long as my family is together, I don't care where I have to live. For them, I'm willing to give up anything...or do anything to keep us together and safe."

That statement started the wheels in Ahkma's head; 'for family.' He thought on that and it did not take long for the old dog to realize it. His people were his family, and he wanted only the best for them. Was it truly best for them to continue living under the constant threat of death in their home? To continue to work and work until they were no longer useful to the Emperor? He knew it was not, but what would they do? How could they just up and leave? This was where they had been for as long as he could remember.

He supposed that it must have been the same for Apple Bloom; born and raised in Equestria and now unable to return because she made the choice to keep her family safe and whole.

"You are someone to be admired, child..." He finally said. "It scares me to say this, but I do believe you are right; we should be willing to do anything for our families."

He stood up and brushed himself off. "I shall propose a change to my people, and we will see what happens. Besides...now that I think on it, I might know a place we can go."

He pulled a glowing blue vial out of his pocket before he moved to exit. "First, it is time for your injection, child."

Chapter 15

"My lord! My lord!" The nurse horse cheerily shouted as she galloped up to Emperor Midas' chambers. "My lord, your daughter!"

She reached the large golden door leading to his room, absolutely ecstatic of her news. Her excitement turned to shock when she opened the door and trotted inside.

"My lord, your daughter spoke her first wo-- oh, my lord!"

What she saw was not a pretty sight; Emperor Midas was a shivering wreck of a horse as he lay on his large bed like a dying animal. The brilliant golden silk sheets were stained heavily with thick reddish black blood around his pillow and his entire body except for a few spaces was covered in a tree like network of blackened veins. His golden armor lay scattered in seperate pieces about the room, each one's injection vial completely empty.

The nurse panicked, and rushed to her emperor's bedside, frantically thinking of what she could do.

"Oh dear oh dear oh dear! My lord, can I help in anyway?!"

Her eyes scanned the entirety of the large room, but no other Legacy Suppressor vials were around. She knew the emperor must have at least one for emergencies like this, though; he just had to. Perhaps if she could take some drops from the empty vials and combine them...

"There is ones way you can help, nurse." Midas wheezed painfully, cutting her train of thought off instantly.

"Yes, anything, my lord!"

A small grin spread across his bloodied mouth. "Tell...tell me what my...little girl's first words were.."

The nurse smiled a bit, but did not stop panicking internally. "She said 'where daddy?'"

Midas chuckled, causing more blood-spittle to leak from his teeth. His daughter's first words and they'd been about him. That made him feel much better, at least in emotional terms. He hacked up a splash of blood and bile again which caused the nurse to go back into full on freak out mode.

He knew what she was looking for, and pointed underneath his bed with one of his violently shaking hooves. He always kept that smaller vial of more concentrated Legacy Suppressor there in case of things like this, and had just not gotten it in time.

The nurse rapidly found the vial and injected the emperor quickly; the glowing blue liquid disappearing into his body. The veins receded back to his torso after a few moments, held at bay from spreading for the time being.

"Oh my lord, I thought it might have been too late." The nurse said, wiping her brow in relief. "I thought that brute Equisbane was retrieving your medicine for you!"

"He is, nurse. He is."

"Well he sure is taking his sweet time, if I may say so, my lord."

Midas managed to reach a sitting position before replying to his disgruntled subject. "He must take as much time as he needs to; I have full confidence he'll get the Suppressor."

***

"Wow, you must have a silver tongue, Ahkma." Goten admired. "You convinced your people pretty quickly."

Ahkma and his entire village were outside carrying packs and other traveling neccesaties. The age range was wide with elders, children, and everything in between. A good two hundred strong of canines ready to set off on a journey.

"It wasn't too hard." Ahkma grinned, causing his gruff voice to growl a bit. "My people seem to also want a life away from the near slavery we are in. They have reservations about it...as do I...but I told them what you said about your family, and I think they agree."

Apple Bloom smiled as she leaned on her husband. She was glad they would no longer have to fear oppression after this; that they'd find a new place to call home.

"So you said you knew a place." She said. "Out of curiosity, where is it?"

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that, child." Ahkma replied, seeming to have remembered something. "We're going to travel to an oasis area deep in the desert outside Saddle Arabia's borders. I know a pony there that might be able to help you in your condition."

Apple Bloom and Goten both raisded their eyebrows. "But I thought you said only the Legacy Suppressor cash treat the Legacy Killer.."

Ahkma nodded. "That is true, but you are in the early stages, and since no vital organs or systems have yet been infected by the veins, there's a way this pony can technically cure you of the Legacy Killer."

"What do you mean technically?"

"You'll see, child. But only if you choose to come with us to see him."

Apple Bloom looked down and frowned in thought. It definetily would be nice to be rid of this horrible infection, but that would mean shed be going in the opposite direction of her son. The more time she took doing that, the more time Carrot would be in the Emperor's clutches. She wasn't sure she wanted to--

"She'll go with you for sure." Goten suddenly answered for her.

She looked at her husband in surprise. He was smiling at her with a confident look in his eyes.

"What are you doing?" She asked him.

"Remember when you said I needed to go after Carrot alone so you wouldn't 'slow me down'?" He asked, quotating the last phrase. "I told you then I wouldn't leave you alone out here in your condition. Well, now that you'll be with them, you won't be alone. "

"But..Goten..are you sure..?"

"Positive, love." He replied. "Don't worry; I'll have our son back, sand you'll be cured of this awful sickness, and everything will be lovely once again; we'll have our family back."

She had to admit that she had suggested that, and that what Goten was saying now made sense. They could take care of two birds with one stone and be happy once again. She pulled him close to give him a long kiss which he immediately returned.

"Be careful." She said.

"I will. I love you."

"I love you too."

With that, the half-saiyan leapt into the air, leaving Apple Bloom to rest on Ahkma's shoulder. He looked about for a moment, and then shot off into the horizon, headed for the imperial city.

She watched him until his form was no longer visible and his ki could no longer be sensed from the distance. A tear started to form in her eye, but she blinked and banished it; she shouldn't be crying. Everything was going to work out.

"Well, what do we have here?" A dark voice droned suddenly.

Apple Bloom did not recognize the voice, but the sudden fear and murmuring from those around her told her they did. She followed their terrified gaze and beheld several horse soldiers sporting silver armor. At the head of them was a much bulkier horse with a jet black mane and tan coat. His red eyes scanned over all those present as the murmurs grew louder.

"Ah..Equisbane.." Ahkma shivered.

"Where do you think you are all going, Ahkma?" Equisbane asked, his tone of voice never changing.

"We... We...we were just..." Ahkma stuttered.

He couldn't find the words as fear was choking his movements. Something about this was strange; the dogs obviously feared this horse for some reason.

"Hey," she called out. "Who are you?"

The entirety of the canine clan gasped and turned to look at Apple Bloom who was now pointing at Equisbane, who was now looking at her as well.

"My name is Equisbane. I am Emperor Midas' right hoof horse." He replied calmly.

The mention of the emperor sparked something in the southern mare. Her eyes smoldered with anger as she involuntarily relived the day Carrot had been taken.

She got off of Ahkma and started to slowly walk up to him. The soldiers readied their bladed weapons, but Equisbane didntv even flinch.

"So what are you doing here...right hoof horse?"

"I came to get the emperor his requirements. What are you doing here? Stirring up trouble..Misses Bloom?"

Apple Bloom stopped cautiously. "How do you know my name?"

"I deduced it based on the fact your body seems to be mostly Equestrian and by the fact you show signs of being infected by the Legacy Killer, which is unique to the royal family...or was until the emperor infected you with it during your skirmish in Ponyville."

"Then you also know what I'm doing." She said.

"Indeed." Equisbane said without infliction. "You are a criminal from Equestria, just as these dogs are now criminals to Saddle Arabia. Trying to leave the service of the Empire is punishable by death, Ahkma. "

Ahkma dropped to his knees and began to berg and pray; many of his clansmen doing the same. Apple Bloom did not faulted however.

"Whether its the law or not,i can't let you kill them over a stupid law like that." She stated. "And I won't let you force them to mine your Legacy Suppressor anymore."

"You're moving quite well for one who's body is unfamiliar with the Legacy Killer." Equisbane noted. "I assume that means they gave some to you. That is a far more serious crime on top of their desertion. Death is inevitable for them."

"Not if I can help it."

"You can't."

***

"My lord, forgive me, but why do you have so much faith in Equisbane?" The nurse horse asked. "For all we know he could have been killed."

"Unlikely, nurse." Midas told her. "There aren't many things that can kill his kind."

"His kind, my lord?"

***

"Your ki isn't normal. " Apple Bloom pointed out. "I'm guessing you've got some kind of power?"

Equisbane cracked his neck slowly to one side, motioning for his soldiers to back off. "You could say that. I may not be as powerful as you; what with your training under the Saiyan and your Element of Honesty."

He took one hoofstep forward...

***

"Equisbane isn't a normal horse, nurse." Midas said. "In fact, he really isn't a horse at all. Have you ever heard of the Unender Project ?"

"That study of phoenix's genetics our country did years ago, my lord?"

"Yes that's the one. Do you remember why it no longer is active in our science research?"

The nurse looked thoughtful, remembering past events. "Because none of the test subjects survived, my lord. It was all over the news. But why is this important right now?"

***

"I'm not technically a horse...not anymore, anyway." Equisbane explained, shedding his armor. "To be completely honest, I don't really know what I am. But I do know this--"

***

"I have faith in him because he's loyal to me. He's loyal to me because I in a way, saved his new life." Midas said, remembering days passed. "He was going to be destroyed to cover up any evidence of his existence...of a successfully completed test."

***

"--so anyone who defies his will must be punished accordingly. That means you and all of those sniveling dogs behind you. Once that's done, I will bring the emperor his medicine, and continue to make good on my debt."

"That's all warm and fuzzy and all, but if you think I'm gonna just stand aside and let you hurt them further, you're wrong." Apple Bloom stated firmly, taking up a fighting stance.

Equisbane noticed she was breathing hard already; the Suppressor must already be wearing off. Good...

"I'm going to show you something beautiful before you die, Misses Bloom." He said, the air around him starting the waver with intense heat.

***

"My lord...are you telling me that Equisbane is..."

"That's right nurse..." Midas confirmed.

***

Apple Bloom looked on in shock at what now stood where Equisbane had just been a second ago. The being was completely engulfed ijn flames, and had a rather large wingspan that spread out from its back. It was humanoid except for its head, which still looked like Equisbane, and its hands and feet looked like talons. Its arms and legs, or rather the flames upon them burned eternally in the shape of hasrdened feathers. His mane, now alight with flame, flickered like a forest fire across his head and neck.

"What are you..?" She questioned, gritting her teeth.

"What am I?" Equisbane repeated. I...am an Immortal."

Chapter 16

The crafts and trades side of Ponyville's market area wasn't as busy as most of the other store places, but it was still rather crowded by ponies nonetheless. As Trunks walked through the burly stallions and tomboyish mares, his eyes continued to scan for a specific place of business.

"Lyra?" Trunks had asked back at their home.

"What is it, babe?" Lyra replied, folding Trunks' clothes besides him with her magic.

"This is going to sound strange, but...what is your horn made of?"

"Huh? My horn?" The mint colored unicorn repeated, slightly confused. "Why do you ask such a random thing?"

"I'll explain in a minute, just tell me please?" He persisted.

Lyra put on her thinking face and put a hoof to her chin. "Hmm. Well, I can't tell you the material, cuz I myself don't know; I'm no biologist. However, I remember my dad once telling me that its almost unbreakable."

"Almost?"

"Well, yeah. Its not indestructible, but its very tough. If I had to make a comparison, I'd say they're harder than even steel."

Trunks blinked in astonishment, and yet somehow had expected an answer like that. Now it was his turn to put on a thinking face. There was a moment of silence before Lyra broke it.

"Trunks, you said you'd explain." She playfully reminded him.

"Oh, right." He said, returning to the living for a moment. "I ask because if we're going to overthrow Luna--"

"I like to think of it as fixing the system." She interrupted.

"OK..well, if we're gonna fix the system, I imagine Luna won't go down without a fight, especially with Piccolo by her side. So I'm thinking, just to even our odds in such an instance, I may need a blade to sever her horn and that way she can't use her magic.."

Lyra gasped a bit at that, which confused Trunks.

"What?" He asked.

"Well, its just...I know we have to think strategically, but if I ever lost my horn...I'd be..well...I wouldn't really be me...I can't imagine taking something so integral about a unicorn...or in this case, alicorn...away..they don't grow back like bones do...when our horns are broken, they're gone forever.."

Trunks held the unicorn close to him and stroked her mane. "I know...I don't much like the thought of doing that either..but if we're gonna pull this off, we have to take her power out of the equation.."

Lyra wrapped her forelegs around him tightly. "I know.."

After several moments, Lyra spoke again. "There's a specific metal used to cut unicorn horns off..."

"Wait, really?" Trunks asked, surprised they had something specifically for taking away unicorn magic forever.

She nodded. "Its called sevunium; the ponies who made it back during the Sombra War named it by basically putting sever and unicorn together and adding 'ium' to the end. Pretty uncreative if you ask me."

There was silence again before Lyra continued.

"They created it for the same purpose we need it; to take down a powerful magic-wielding ruler. So I guess its pretty poetic in a sense..."

Trunks nodded. This was a bit of a twist, because if he remembered right, Luna and Celestia had beaten Sombra in combat, and most likely had weapons of that material; how fitting she would be faced with it now...

"I'll head to the blacksmith tomorrow..and I need you to do something as well..."

The purple-haired half-saiyan finally found the shop he'd been searching for; the blacksmith had a rather large hut, but that was to be expected what with all the equipment he needed. The sign read open, so Trunks proceeded inside.

" Hey, welcome!" Shouted a voice from the back as the bell chimed atop the door. "Be right there."

The shop was hot inside, and Trunks was already sweating. The many swords and armors and multitudes of other items made if metal caused Trunks' inner child to squeal with delight, but he managed to keep a business like outward appearance with a hint of casual. This was his old CEO attitude coming back to him.

The stallion came around to the front, and smiled wide when he saw his customer.

"Hey, you're Trunks! Lyra's main squeeze!" He chuckled.

"Yup that's me." Trunks admitted. "You're the pony who made Sapphic's armor three years ago, right?"

The stallion seemed to shiver remembering it. "Yeah, that was me. I didn't have choice but to make it sturdy as I could..."

"Well it withstood all our attacks for quite awhile, so you must be very skilled."

"Heh, thanks, but I still regret ever doing it.." He mumbled. "But hey, you have to admit it looked pretty intimidating! And it was loaded with some great stuff. Did you ever get to see the magical blade I put in it?"

"Uh...yeah.." Trunks said, rubbing the back of his neck and involuntarily putting his other hand to his chest. "I...got a very...very...very close look at it.."

The stallion obliviously smiled, not catching what Trunks meant. "Well, anyway, what brings you here, good man?"

The half-saiyan cleared his throat and loosened the blue cloth around his neck. "Well, I need to commission you for some work."

"Great!" The stallion nearly jumped for joy. "Its been a little slow here. What do you need?"

"I'm gonna need two swords, the dimensions and specifics of which I have written here." He told the blacksmith pony, handing him a couple folded papers from his shorts pocket. "And I'm gonna need one of them made out of sevunium."

The stallion's smile faultered a bit st the mention of the metal. "Why you need something like that..I hope its not something to do with Lyra..?"

Trunks frantically shook his head. "No! No way! I'd never hurt my little honey ba--I mean, I'd never hurt her ever!"

"Oh, well, then what?"

Trunks sighed and started to explain. "Well, I'm going to need it to--"

He cut himself off quickly; he had no idea if this pony would alert the Princess to his plans if he told him. As friendly as he seemed, Trunks couldn't risk compromising everything because of something like this.

"To..start a collection!" He covered up. "Yeah! Big blade collector; wanna have every metal possible!"

Even though his voice had been far too enthusiastic to be genuine, the blacksmith seemed to buy it, as he smiled and laughed.

"You should come by here more often, then!" He said happily. "Could always use the business!"

Trunks breathed out relieved. "Great, and speaking of business, how much will this cost?"

The pony handed Trunks a print out of his bill. The next few seconds, the only thing any pony heard were the shocked and horrified screams of Trunks thinking of his bank account.

***

Apple Bloom stared down the flamming warrior before her; the heat from the desert sun was enough, but now being in Equibane's presence, it somehow was even hotter.

Ahkma and all of his people stared in fear, too paralyzed to flee, and Equisbane's men merely stood by awaiting orders. And orders they would receive...

"Men," Equisbane commanded. "Take as much of the Legacy Suppressor they have stocked up back to imperial city. But before you do that..."

His red eyes darted to the cowering canines.

"Kill all these dogs first."

"Yes sir!" They all said in unison, charging forward as their high tech armors unsheathed weapons.

"No!" Apple Bloom shouted, throwing a ki blast at their hooves.

The blast exploded, sending sand flying up and blinding the front horses. The southern anthro leapt of the dust cloud and planted two of their heads into the dunes with her hooves. As she landed she grabbed another horse by his neck and brought his face smashing down into her knee, effectively breaking his muzzle.

Two others charged at her with swords drawn, and slashed at her waist. The blades clanged together in thin air as Apple Bloom whistled from above, catching their attention. They looked up to see two ki blasts explode on their faces. One of the horses fell, but the other merely stumbled. She found out why when the dust cleated around his face revealing an armored faceplate. That hadn't been there before...

She suddenly grabbed at her arm in extreme pain that hit without warning; her infection was bothering her again already. It wouldn't be long before the arm was useless again.

She looked back down at the horse, but instead was met with something else; a canister shaped projectile with a pointed tip shot towards her, propelled by a rocket. She had seconds to cross her arm over her face as the thing exploded against her, sending her back to the ground.

The explosion had been loud, and her ears were now ringing, blocking out all other sound. She suddenly felt immense pain as a pair of hooves trampled her into the sand. The attack was vicious, and Apple Bloom was on the verge of passing out; blood coming from her mouth.

She wasn't going to let these bastards hurt her friends, though. With a grunt, she exploded bit of energy from herself, knocking the armored horse back off her. She rolled over, and summoned more ki for an explosive attack of her own.

"Apple Bomb!" She shouted, the red energy shooting out from her.

It made contact, and obliterated the horse instantly, throwing up even more sand and dust. She slowly stood up, her ears starting to return to normal. The dust started to clear, and she saw Equisbane still standing there, watching her with zero expression on his flaming, almost skull-like face.

"Impressive, Misses Bloom." He said. "Very impressive. I can see how you trashed our men so easily in Ponyville; you didn't even give their armor time to adapt."

"Adapt?" Apple Bloom questioned with a pained groan.

"But impressive as it is," he continued. "let me show you how futile it all is in the end."

He put one arm out towards the village of dogs, and before Apple Bloom even knew what happening, the entire village suddenly went up in flames. Apple Bloom watched horrified and wished her ears were still ringing; the screams of agony from the canines was thunderous and heart wrenching, especially the howls of the young pups as they all burned in the fires.

"No! Stop! No!" She shouted, starting to run for her burning and dying saviors.

She was stumbled back by another pillar of red flames; the heat slightly scorching her clothes and fur. Shaking angrily, she turned to Equisbane with hatred in her amber eyes. Equisbane himself did not change his expression.

"This is the fate of all those who do not bow to the emperor's will; for those who oppose or disgrace him, there is only damnation." He said monotonously.

He started to walk towards her slowly, but she didn't want to wait. Apple Bloom charged forth at an impressively fast pace, readying a knock out blow with her good arm.

"You bastard!!" She shouted, drilling her mighty fist into the side of Equisebsne's head.

The fire spawn stumbled and then fell on his rump with a grunt, but got back up slowly and unaffected for the most part. Apple Bloom watched in pure shock. That punch should have literally knocked his head clean off; why was he still--

She coughed and grabbed at her arm. It had started throbbing again, and as she looked down, she saw the blackened veins crawling back over her shoulder.

"No, not now.." She huffed.

"This is not your true power. If it was I'd be dead or most certainly injured." Equisbane noted, rubbing his neck and cracking it back into place. "Seems the Legacy Killer is affecting you again. Which means you are no longer the strongest in the world, Misses Bloom."

She gasped in pain again and fell to her knees, trying to block the pain. Equisbane stood before her, and grabbed her face with his talon-like hand,ndigging the points into her flesh and searing it.

"Which also means...it's over for you."

Chapter 17

Apple Bloom's face was burning from Equisbane's touch as the immortal dug his near molten talons into her skull. The pain added on to the pain fromthe Legacy Killer was almost too much to bear. She grabbed at his wrist, but her hand was instantly burned and she let go quickly.

Equisbane stared down at her with the same non-expression and tilted his head slightly, flaring his flaming wings out.

"Its time for you to die, Misses Bloom." He announced.

She sensed his ki rising and shut her eyes tight; with the Legacy Killer tiring her out to where she couldn't use her full powers, she couldn't escape. If she flew, he'd either hold on to her or fly up with her. If she blasted him, she might expend too much energy. Her physical strength was drained. There was no way out...

The attack never came however; Equisbane was taken aback as Ahkma appeared from seemingly nowhere and with a swipe of his long claws, sliced the immortal's arm right off.

He showed n shock however on his face and jumped back away from the fray to regroup with himself. Ahkma stood in front of Apple Bloom while she tossed aside the now useless limb that had nearly killed her. When she looked up at Ahkma, she saw the horrible burn marks all over his back and arms; the flesh was charged and blood was spotting places, the fur completely gone. He looked as though he were holding something in his arm, and sure enough, Apple Bloom realized he was holding a young pup to his chest. The terrified little canine looked no older than twelve.

"Ahkma...thank goodness you're OK." She said.

"I don't think OK is the word for it, child." The old dog replied, breathing raspy. "I'm in so much pain...not only physically...but in my heart as well..."

She got to her hooves and took up a fighting stance beside him. "We'll make him pay for what he's done."

Equisbane watched them intently, and twitched a little as the severed arm suddenly regrew in a burst of flame; the new limb liked completely like the old one.

Ahkma shakily reached into what remained of his vest and pulled forth a glowing blue vial.

"The Legacy Suppressor.." Apple Bloom murmured.

"Inject it into your arm. Quickly." He told her, not taking his eyes off of Equisbane for a second.

The small pup in his arms was crying and sniffling uncontrollably, paws clinging to Ahkma for dear life. Apple Bloom injected the Suppressor and breathed in, feeling rejuvenated for now.

"Alright," she said. "What's the game plan?"

The old dog suddenly shoved a slightly burned piece of paper into the southern anthro's shirt, causing her to yelp a bit in surprise, and then grunt as he shoved the pup into her arms right after. Confused, she looked at Ahkma questioningly.

"Follow those directions." He said. "They'll take you to our planned destination. When you get there, tell him I sent you, and get treated for your infection. Save your son...rejoin your family."

The pup's heightened cries mirrored Apple Bloom's own inner thoughts at hearing this. "What? No! I can't leave you to face this monster alone! What about your family? If you and this pup lived, surely others must have--"

"That pup is the only family I have left now, child." Ahkma told her matter-of-factly. "I need to protect him, and I'm far too injured to travel far...you have to get him out of here..."

"But Ahkma, we can--"

"You told me we should always do whatever it takes to keep our families safe...well, that's what I'm doing; you are my remaining family's best hope for safety. Take him, and get out of here quickly, before the Suppressor wears off."

"Ahkma..."

The old dog growled and turned to her with an agreed expression. "Go!"

She paused a second longer and shed one tear before zipping into the sky and away from the burning village. The pup cried out and screamed for Ahkma, but Apple Bloom held him tight to her body as she flew away, trying to fight the temptation to look back.

Equisbane watched her fade into the horizon as the sun finally set and darkness took over the sky; the flames providing an eerie light for the situation at hand. He finally turned his attention to Ahkma, who was growlinggrowling angrily.

"Your claws." He said. "They are sharp. I didn't know you could extend them."

"I never had a reason to do so until now." Ahkma replied. "I'd say now is as good a time as any though."

"You won't win this fight."

"I know that...but I have to give the child time to escape, you know. Stalling 101."

Equisbane huffed. "This all could have been avoided if you had just stayed put and turned Apple Bloom in."

"If we really want to get technical, than all of this is happening because you and your emperor took a defenseless child from it's parents." The old dog barked. "Did you expect no retaliation, or no kind of repercussion? Do you and that slave driver Midas even know right from wrong?!"

"What the emperor says is always right." Equisbane said, an actual hint of anger in his tone. "What others think is wrong; only the emperor knows what is best for us all."

"How can you say that?" Ahkma argued."You tear families apart at a whim and keep tour subjects in line with fear! How can a horse who knows what is right think that is?!"

"How can the horse that saved my life when others wanted to end it be wrong?!" Equisbane shouted, showing emotion finally and blasting a jetstream of flames from his talons.

Ahkma rolled away and extended his claws out to nine inches and charged. Equisbane turned the flames in his direction, but the old dog leapt over them and slashed some gashes into the immortal's shoulder. He let out a grunt of pain, and then another as Ahkma swiftly landed, turned, and drove all ten of his razor sharp claws into his back. The natural weapons protruded out of Equisbane's gut, preventing him from healing the wounds. Ahkma's flesh was searing, but he held the pose.

"One right...does not make up for hundreds of wrongs..." He groaned. "He saved your life, and then...and then used you as a living weapon to fulfill his deeds."

"He doesn't use me, welp!" Equisbane yelled. "He trusts me enough to carry out his will! And I do so with pleasure; I owe him that much."

He elbowed Ahkma in the face, causing he old canine to yelp and retract his claws momentarily to rub his nose. He then grabbed the dog by the back of his head and slammed him face first into the ground, making an indenture in the sand.

Ahkma coughed out the grains before attempting another dialogue. "If you kill for pleasure...you're no better than the scientists who tried to kill you...in fact...if you kill with pleasure...you're even worse than them.."

"Shut up, dog!" Equisbane shouted again, repeating his slamming attack several more times. "I am not like them! I serve the emperor! He is just and wise! They were ruthless and cruel! They wanted me dead because I was a freak, and he saved me! The emperor is always right! He's always right!"

He continued to repeat the last sentence with each slam he made with Ahkma's face into the ground. Each time he pulled his head back for another, there was more blood, more broken features...and before long, Ahkma wasnt breathing anymore, and yet the immortal continued his attack.

After several more minutes, Equisbane reverted back to his normal form and sat down beside Ahkma's body, breathing hard.

"He saved me...he saved my life..how can someone who saves another be...wrong?"

A look of realization spread over his face, as he remembered what had just happened. Ahkma had saved the pup by making Apple Bloom take him away. He'd save the pup. He had been doing the right thing.

No, he was defying the emperor, and the emperor was just and wise. Anyone who defies the emperor must be dealt with. It was the law...

But still...Ahkma had basically saved the pup's life...

But he only had to do so because he brought punishment down upon his family. So he was wrong; his plans of desertion brought this upon the canines, not the emperor. The emperor was right.

"The emperor!" He said to himself, turning towards the dying flames of the village.

Past the flames and burnt bodies, Equisbane saw the entrance to the mines, which would lead to the Legacy Suppressor stockpile. Good, they hadn't burned to the ground. He stood up on all four hooves, and regained his composure. He was no good to the emperor if he was emotional, and he returned his stone faced look to his features, pushing everything aside. The emperor had saved his life, and now the emperor needed him to help save his. He owed him.

***

Bon Bon sat in her home alone for the millionth day it seemed. Without Lyra, everything seemed to have lost color; the blue sky seemed gray, the sun didn't warm her at all...it was as if she was living in a black and white world without that beautiful mint colored unicorn by her side. Each night shed slept hugging a pillow, pretending it was Lyra, but it would never be the same as the warmth and solidity of another mare...

Shed been looking down at the razor knife in her hooves for over an hour, and the thoughts that accompanied it were not good ones. But good or not, what good was living in a world without love? Shed become desperate in the last year since the Dragon Balls were destroyed, and all hope of getting her Lyra back had been lost.

She may as well do it...

She clumsily held the razor's edge to her throat; her eyes tearing up a little as she closed them.

As she prepared to end it for good, a sudden knocking at her front door startled her back to the world. She waited, as if she had imagined it as some last ditch effort to stay alive. When it came again, she knew it was real, and not some final hope of hers trying to keep her in this hell of a world.

She put the razor down and trotted over to answer the door. When she opened it, her heart skipped a beat.

"Hey, Bon Bon.." Lyra said. "We need to talk..."

Chapter 19

Glass shattered and stone crumbled loudly as Goten was pushed through the nearest window by the transformed Equisbane; the phoenix horse hybrid let out an eagle-like cry as he lunged out after the injured Super Saiyan with his flaming wings spread wide. Everything seemed to move in slow motion through Goten's eyes as the two tumbled down the side of the golden and bronze palace wall.

The demon-like Equisbane moved to punch Goten straight in the gut, and reacting at the last second, the latter brought his knee up in defense to block the blow. This did not prevent any damage however; Goten's dark blue jeans ended up with a hole in that area, and the knee itself suffered a burn from his touch. The heat radiating off the immortal alone was enough to give him a tan, but his touch was like being poked with a branding iron.

Equisbane used his other arm to grab at Goten's face with his molten talons. The Super Saiyan couldn't move quick enough to block it with his gold plated arm weighing on him; the normally not-so-heavy-to-him metal was peculiarly heavy and the immortal grasped his head.

Goten felt his head slam into the ground before the burns, and the ground caved in where the duo had impacted, kicking up much dirt and grass.

Wait, grass? Had he been slammed to hard, or was he not in the desert anymore? He quickly kicked the fire spawn in the gut and rolled away a few feet before flipping back to his own feet.

Taking a quick scan of the surroundings, he found it was neither case. The combatants had landed in some sort of private garden of some type. It looked like something one might find in the Canterlot royal courtyard. It even had a small pond of clear water.

There wasn't much time to see much else; Equisbane lunged forward with quick swiping motions. The immortal was quick for his size, but even wounded and weighed down, Goten's Super Saiyan speed was still faster. He ducked and dodged under every attack until Equisbane touched the ground with his palm.

Flames erupted out in three separate lines, lighting the greenery ablaze with an orange glow. They converged on him and shot up in a geyser fashion where he'd been standing two seconds ago, startling Goten momentarily. The chase didn't end there; the lines of fire leapt up off the grass as if they were living snakes pouncing at their prey. Goten jumped and flipped numerous times to avoid becoming 'well done.'

His feet found themselves on a wall, and he launched himself off of it with full force, causing the flame snakes to miss and explode upon the golden surface harmlessly. Making a beeline for Equisbane, the Super Saiyan reared up a punch with his sword pierced arm. Equisbane snapped his talons, causing a pillar of bright and blazing flames to erupt from the ground, but Goten was moving too fast, and the fire missed its target; the Super Saiyan bullet did not. Goten slammed his fist into Equisbane's flaming skull, causing it near completely shatter apart with a loud crunch as he was flung back several feet. Goten sustained a pretty bad burn from the kamikaze like move, but he kept flying forward, rearing a kick which connected with Equisbane's torso, doubling him over.

Goten wasted no time with his next move; in a flash, he was behind the fire spawn, his palm outstretched and aimed for the head. He let loose a large ki blast that exploded magnificently against Equisbane's head, reducing it to ash. The body fell like a wet mophead to the ground quickly.

"That's one less obstacle..." He breathed heavily to himself. "Now to--"

He stopped and stared in horror as the headless flaming body started to get up.

"What the...?!"

As he stared in shock, the flames erupted from the open neckline, and formed into a sustained flame inside which pieces of Equisbane's skull rematerialized and snapped together perfectly. In few seconds, the immortal looked good as new; completely unharmed in fact.

Equisbane cracked his new neck experimentally as if making sure everything was working correctly. Once satisfied, he turned his red eyes on Goten once more.

"You shouldn't count your chickens before they hatch." He said dully.

"What..? What the hell are you?"

"Nothing special." Equisbane answered. "Just an immortal created from science and too much curiosity."

"An..immortal?!" Goten exclaimed, saying the words himself in case he'd heard wrong.

"That's right. But I must admit, your power is impressive; much more impressive than your wife's in her current state."

"Apple Bloom?!" The Super Saiyan gasped, anger starting to rise in him. "What have you done to my wife?!"

"I had an encounter with her in the desert. It wasn't much of a challenge to be honest."

Goten had heard enough, and launched himself through the air towards the monster. "I'll make sure you pay for hurting her!"

"I don't doubt that." Equisbane grunted as he sustained two hard jabs. "I'm not as strong as you are, and you'll probably punish me quite a bit. But it's all about time, Super Saiyan."

"You're right!" Goten yelled, punching out at full throttle. "Your time has run out!"

His final blow connected, and sent Equisbane reeling into a wall above the pond. He fell into the clear water, causing steam to explode out from it, nearly obscuring everything. Equisbane gasped and moved frantically to get out of the water; his form returned to normal. But he wasn't completely normal; aside from being wet, he had a large bruise where Goten had just drilled him. The Super Saiyan found this strange; why had he reverted back to normal, and why was the bruise not healing?

"Damn.." The horse known as Equisbane grunted. "I shouldn't have gotten wet...not now.."

Wet? He was mad about getting wet? Goten widened his eyes in realization after a moment of thinking on that. He'd reverted as soon as he hit the water, and his bruise wasn't healing now that he wasn't on fire anymore. Water; his weakness was water.

"Some immortal you are!" He shouted. "I'll end this now, and get my son back!"

Above the carnage, Midas put the last piece if his golden battle armor on; the design lines glowed vibrant blue with the Legacy Suppressor, and the emperor moved with revitalized vigor.

"Nurse," he called out to the horse that had just galloped in. "Take the children to their room and lock the door. Keep watch on them."

"Yes my lord!" She replied, following the order without question.

The little horse squirmed and cried as the nurse took her away. "Daddy!"

"Sorry, sweetie." Midas told her, transforming into humanoid mode with loudc clanks and servo noises. "Daddy's got to go to work."

Immediately, he jumped down through the gaping hole in his wall, and fell towards the garden below.

Goten was about to throw a ki blast at the disabled Equisbane, when the heavy metal thud sounded right behind him. He turned and was instantly smacked away by a golden metal backhand. As he rolled across the garden, the sword snapped in half inside him, ripping through his tendons and muscles, causing him to cry out in pain.

He stood up quickly as he could, but was lariated into the golden wall behind him by a rocket propelled Midas. The emperor transitioned into a choke, and dragged Goten's head through the outer wall by his neck, rending the gold plating if the surface asunder. He tossed him away after, and followed up with a leap, driving his large mechanical foot into Goten's body, crushing him and causing him to cough up blood gratuitously.

"Its pretty fortunate that your injured, Goten of Equestria." Midas said, picking him up over his head and bring him down on his knee in a backbreaking motion.

He let the Super Saiyan slump down, but then grabbed him by his golden hair and started to beat his face mercilessly with his large mechanical fist.

"Even Equisbane wouldn't be able to beat you if you were onbe-hundred percent." He continued. "But lucky for us, you're a very stupid rescuer."

He flung Goten into the air, and punched him away many feet, causing him to land hard on the rocks near the still steaming pond. The thin air near there made even harder for the injured Goten to breathe. He was pretty sure one of his lungs had collapsed, along with a few ribs being broken, and that was just what he could feel through his lightheadedness.

Equisbane limped back away from the area as Midas approached. Goten slowly started to roll onto his knees and hands, spitting out his crimson life force.

"My..son..." He breathed, trying to get airborne to get to Carrot. "My..my boy..I have t.."

"Where do you think you're going?" Midas condescended.

He put his wrist forth and shot two cables out, which wrapped themselves rapidly around the dying Super Saiyan. A split second later, his body was ablaze with vibrant blue electricity as Midas zapped him from afar. The metal blade still in pieces inside his body conducted it painfully through his right half, and he screamed in pain, unable to move as his muscles stiffened.

But Midas didn't stop there; using the cables, he swung back and brought Goten back down to the ground into the pond. The sparks really started flying then with the water conducting the electricity all throughout his body. He silently screamed underwater for several, awful, painstaking seconds before his golden hair returned to its normal jet black and his eyes rolled into the back of his skull, the darkness finally taking him.

Once Midas could no longer feel him struggling, he tugged hard on the cables, and pulled the unmoving half-saiyan from the pool. Detaching them from his wrist, he moved closer; his golden metal feet clanking with each step. Equisbane limped in closer as well to examine the defeated warrior.

"You should dry off and heal your wounds, Equisbane." Midas said, turning to his bodyguard.

"I will in a moment, my emperor." The immortal horse replied. "I just want to know if you are alright."

Midas nodded reassuringly. "Yes, old friend, I'm quite fine thanks to you. The Legacy Suppressor is running through my veins as we speak. I feel great."

"That is good, then."

There was a silence before Midas spoke again; a more curious tone to his voice.

"You told him you fought his wife. Is this true?"

"Yes, my emperor." Equisbane said. "I encountered her at the mines. Shed convinced the dogs to desert us and leave the empire."

"You stopped them, yes?"

"I burned the village down, but a young pup and Misses Bloom herself escaped me. They'd been giving her some of the Legacy Suppressor..."

Midas' face grew a few shades darker at that. That meant she wouldn't be completely disabled by the Legacy Killer he'd injected her with for awhile. Her immune system surely must have built some form of resistance by now if shed been exposed to the medicine. She would still die without a steady stream of it, of course, but not as fast as he would like.

"If Goten is here, she can't be far." He said. "Do you know where they went?"

Equisbane shook his head. "Not specifically. I only know they headed east."

"That's lead enough. Once you're healed, I want you to go out easdt after her. Kill her and the pup as quick as you can. We can't have anymore interference like this."

"Speaking of, what will we do with him?"

Midas looked down at the still half-saiyan thoughtfully before answering. "I have a plan for this. Don't worry."

Chapter 20

Although Vinyl Scratch had her headphones on full blast, she was somehow still able to go and answer her and Octavia's door when she heard the knocking. She pulled the big things off her ears and pulled open the wooden doorway to find Lyra right outside.

"Hi there, Vinyl." She said with what seemed like a halfhearted smile.

Vinyl quickly ushered the mint unicorn inside and closed the door tight before speaking.

"Don't you think its a bit risky for you to be in Canterlot right now, Lyra?" She rhetorically asked. "I know they don't know our plans, but its still sketchy; ponies could be listening from anywhere."

"I know." Lyra replied. "I...came to check on your 'project' you have getting ready."

The white unicorn DJ smiled toothily and led Lyra into her workshop. The place was like a cross between a car garage and a disco joint; various lights and signs glowed around the room and several mechanical tools and other items scattered about the multicolored sprasypainted concrete floor. There were no windows in the place, and that might be for the better, Lyra thought to herself.

The DJ took a seat on a stool behind her bar slash work bench and using her magic poured two glasses of what looked like white grape wine.

"That's a very fancy drink for you, Vinyl." Lyra teased with a short laugh.

"Its Tavi's, not mine." Vinyl replied. "Though I gotta admit, she knows what's good in high society. Perks of being with a orchestra pony."

"Yes, I suppose.."

There was a moment of silenced as Vinyl chugged her glass straight down in seconds. When she finished, she noticed Lyra had not even touched her own drink.

"Just not in the mood for a drink?"

The mint colored unicorn blinked as if coming out of deep thought. "Him? Oh, uh...I guess not, no."

"You guess not?"

"Um,..yeah.."

Vinyl studied Lyra's expression hard, lifting up her purple shades from her eyes. It didn't take long for her to catch what was up.

"You're worried about something." She said matter-of-factly.

Lyra looked up at the unicorn across from her with a slightly surprised look which faded back into a saddened one. Was she easy to see through? She had to work on that if she was going to be a conspirator.

She mentally laughed at her own little joke there, and then returned to reality.

"Yes...something is bothering me..." She said. "And..it has to do with Trunks.."

"What's wrong with Trunks? Is he sick? Hurt? Did he trip over his drool while staring at you too long?"

Lyra giggled a little. "No, no, nothing is wrong with him."

"Well, what then?"

"I...I'm scared, Vinyl." She explained. "I know there is going to be fighting and maybe even bloodshed, but...but it still frightens me to know there's a possibility of death. Not just for me or you, but for him as well...and I just.."

"I'll stop you there." Vinyl interjected. "Firstly, I don't think anypony under Luna and Piccolo is capable of killing that half-saiyan of yours. He's powerful, and not a dummy either. Luna and Piccolo wouldn't resort to killing either, at least not us, their subjects. Mutinous as we may be, we still are living beings, and they won't just forget that like Sapphic did. So don't worry your pretty mint colored head, girly. It'll all be OK."

Lyra smiled, but still seemed like she was unsatisfied.

"There's something else huh?"

"Yeah..." Lyra responded slowly. "Vinyl....what's it like to..."

She stopped, and breathed in slowly before finishing the question.

"What's it like to die?"

This question took the DJ aback a little; the only pony who ever had asked her this was Octavia when Vinyl had been revived a couple years ago, and nopony else seemed too interested. She hadn't been prepared for such a sudden question.

"Well..." She began. "Its...well its..."

She thought for a second on how to word it.

"Its painful at first...like, really painful. When I got blown up by Sapphic, I felt every muscle and bone separate and tear apart inside me..I felt all my organs and everything just...well, yeah...but after that second of excruciating pain, you feel...nothing. At least at first...then there's this strange warmth that I felt; like...kinda like when somepony is hugging you, but nopony is. And when you open your eyes, your in Otherworld. You get judged on whether you'll go up or down by a guy named King Yemma. I was one of the few he let keep my body. But yeah...that's what my death was like....why do you ask?"

Lyra didn't answer right away, and just stared at the floor contemplating. There had been a very specific reason for her question, but she didn't think the DJ would take it very well, so she answered instead with...

"I...just wanted to know. Trunks never talks about his death...so..I figured I could ask you."

Vinyl seemed skeptical, and looked the mint unicorn in the eyes for a moment. After a few seconds, she shrugged and accepted the answer for the time being. Perhaps Lyra wasn't as easy to see through as she had thought.

"Anyway, you said you came to check on the project, right?" Vinyl changed the subject.

Lyra nodded. "Yeah. You said you creating a machine to really 'drop the bass as well as the royal guard.'"

"Hells yeah!" The DJ hoof-pumped. "This baby is gonna blow em away! Literally! C'mon, she's downstairs!"

Lyra followed as Vinyl led the way through a hatch behind the bar slash workbench and descended into the depths of her home. They didn't realize that Vinyl's earlier comment about ponies listening in was more serious than they'd thought as Flash Sentry flew away from the residence after hearing everything the mares had just talked about.

***

Apple Bloom slowly opened her eyes as the desert sun blasted down its hot rays from the sky. Her eyes itched,nasnd her throat felt dry; she also found once again that her right arm was hard to move. The Legacy Suppressor was already wearing off. She felt dehydrated and sweaty as she lay in the sands staring at the bright blue sky.

She saw a shape approaching out of the corner of her eye, and as it drew closer, she recognized it. It was the young pup she had brought with her from the village, and in his paws he carried a little canteen. Did he have water? How had he found it?

"Oh, good. You havent died yet." He scoffed.

Apple Bloom coughed hoarsly as she tried to reply, unable to get an intelligible word out. The pup rolled his eyes and knelt down to hand her the canteen.

"Just stop trying to talk and drink this." He said, annoyed. "All that crying you did last night dehydrated you, and the heat didn't help, so drink and then talk."

With her good arm, the southern anthro did as she was told and grabbed the container of water. As she swallowed it down, she mentally noted the slight dirt in it, but didn't complain. Once she drained the container, she wiped her muzzle on her forearm before talking.

"Thank you. I really needed--"

"Don't thank me." The pup interrupted, sitting and turning away from her. "I didn't do it for you. I only did it so you can get me where Ahkma directed you and I can leave you..."

Apple Bloom looked at the pup for a moment. "Well, whatever the reason, I'm still grateful. What's your name?"

The young canine spit before responding, not even turning to look at the anthro. "Like I'd tell you. Ahkma told you his name, and you manipulated him into something stupid. I'll not give you mine so you can feign friendship with me only to use me as a sacrifice."

"Young one, I didn't mean for--"

"Maybe you didn't, but you didn't think what disobeying the emperor would do to us, did you?" The pup interjected again. "So don't apologize either. It means nothing to me. I only need you until we get to Ahkma's friend, and then I'm leaving. You'll get what's coming to you eventually. If I didn't know that, I'd make you pay myself."

Apple Bloom looked down in shame as the young dog finished speaking. For a moment, no words were exchanged between the two. Then, Apple Bloom suddenly broke the silence.

"Wrath."

"What?" The pup asked, confused.

"That's what I'm going to call you from now on." She said. "You won't give me your real name, so I'll call you Wrath until you do."

"Why would you call me by such a ridiculous moniker?"

"Well, because you're a very angry young pup." She explained. "You hate my guts, but you won't kill me yourself. I don't believe its out of necessity, but more out of you knowing I will get my just punishment; that karma will catch me. And since Karma sounds more like a feminine name, I'd say Wrath suits you for now. The divine judgment."

Wrath just scoffed again. "Whatever; that sounds like an awful reason. You don't know anything about me, lady."

"I know you want to avenge your family..."

Wrath seemed to tense up a bit at that statement.

"Just shut up...before I really give you a reason to call me Wrath..." He growled.

Apple Bloom left it at that, and stood up from the sands. The sun was high in the sky meaning it was possibly mid-day, and they had a good several hours before nightfall. Her arm throbbed again, and she grabbed at it in pain. She figured there wouldn't be much time before it started spreading again.

She took out the paper Ahkma had shoved into her shirt. The material was slightly wet with sweat, but still usable. As she read the directions, she help but raise an eyebrow at it. The latitude and longitude made sense, but the name of the address did not.

"The center of the temporal rift?" She mumbled. "Wonder what that means..."

She figured they would find out when they arrived, and tapped Wrath's shoulder to get his attention. The duo began to walk towards their destination, as flying was too risky now because of the Legacy Killer.

As they moved, Apple Bloom couldn't help but look back over her shoulder at the horizon; a look of hope in her amber eyes.

"Come back safe, my boys..." She whispered to nopony in particular.

Chapter 21

Midas sat upon his throne in royal courtroom looking thoughtful. The appearance of Goten had been both unexpected, and unfortunate; for one it meant two possibilities. Either Princess Luna launched this operation under deep cover and there were more than just the Super Saiyan lying in wait here in the imperial city, or the parents of Carrot Apple had disobeyed their ruler, which was an even more dangerous possibility being as though they would be unrestricted in their use of force should the female arrive.

He was confident he could hold his own, but knew if Apple Bloom came to rescue her son too soon, Midas wouldn't have much to fall back on. For this plan to work, Carrot needed to have no memory of his family or heritage. He needed to be raised as if he were a true Saddle Arabian. Genetics obviously would signal otherwise, but he had an idea for when that self-realization came.

It was then another thought occurred to him; Carrot's name itself might serve too much of a reminder of his past, being that it was an Equestrian name. He would definetily have to fix that.

Midas' advisor and the nurse horse trotted in at that moment, and kneeled immediately before the emperor. Midas gestured with his hoof for them to rise and tell him their news.

"My lord, I have reports from--" the advisor paused a moment, looking around. "Oh, uh, forgive me, my lord, but where is Equisbane?"

"I sent him eastward on an important assignment. You needn't worry about it, advisor." Midas said. "Now speak."

The grey horse fumbled a bit before resuming his previous statement. "Uh, yes, my lord. Our scouts reported no sign of additional forces anywhere in the imperial city; disquised or otherwise."

"And they are certain of this?"

"Of course, my lord." The old advisor replied. "The Adaptarmors detected no non-Saddle Arabians aside from young Carrot and the Saiyan inside our walls or directly outside."

That meant it was not Princess Luna after all, which was very bad. Now he knew that the Apple Family was not working under the Princess of Equestria's jurisdiction. They were acting of their own accord.

"And you, nurse," he spoke, pointing a hoof at the other occupant of the large golden room. "What news have you?"

"Well, my lord...its the Equestrian boy."

"What of him?"

"Well, in the heat of the moment when I locked the children in the safe room, he started to freak out. He was crying uncontrollably and I couldn't get him to stop--"

"The point, nurse." Midas hurried.

The horse became flustered and cut to the chase; her face contorted in many emotions. "He punched through the wall, my lord. He just...bumped his little fist into it and it...and it crumbled! Just fell apart like flimsy pebbles!"

Now Midas was interested; the spawn of Apple Bloom was already showing strength of that magnitude? He was not even three Yeats of age yet...

Perhaps the plan would nerd to be rushed a bit if this development continued like this. He liked to think the child was just scared, but if it had been himself rather than a wall when Carrot was distressed...it would not be pretty.

He then suddenly had an idea. It was a trivial one, but one that would be useful nonetheless. Rising off his throne, he puffed out his gold plated chest proudly and exclaimed loudly his thought.

"Subjects; from now on we no longer calk this child Carrot Apple. " he announced. "That part of him must die along with his Equestrian heritage. He is to be reborn a Saddle Arabian and made to love his country and defend it with all his power. So from this day forth, Carrot Apple is dead! Now..remains only Ratha: juggernaut of the empire!"

***

Goten awoke coughing and sputtering blood. He couldn't tell if his eyes were opened or closed as he tried to look around. Only pitch blackness remained in front of him and all around. He stood, feeling his way to his feet. The walls felt like metal, and were very close together, making Goten feel claustrophobic a little.

"Can't see...a damn thing..." He coughed. "Maybe if I go Super Saiyan..."

The half-saiyan did so, and the tiny room was filled with light eminatting from his glowing form. He looked down at his arm in curiosity and found that it was still solid gold, though the weight was a bit lighter now. He placed a hand on the silver metal easll in front of him and tried to sense anything on the other side; somer life form or another that might be able to help. His eyes widened when he sensed no such beings. Either the walls were extremely and ridiculously thick, or he was buried alive in a tubular metal coffin. He started to panic a little, his mind instantly asking questions; why was he here? How had he got here? Had he been knocked out by Midas? That phoenix guy? How long till he would run out of air and suffocate?

His last question made him look around, and as he looked up, he didn't see a ceiling. All there was was a long dark metal shaft going straight up into darkness. His skin tickled with airflow from that direction, meaning it must be a way out. He flew up to escape, but his body was suddenly shocked back down to the floor hard.

"What was that?" He grunted, trying again.

He only got the same result, and after an electrical shock from seemingly nowhere, he was back in the bottom of the metal rectangle. He stood up, figuring if he couldn't fly out, he'd bust his way out. He wound up for a punch and let out a battle cry as he drilled the metal wall with his fist hard. All he managed to do was get electrocuted and flung into the opposite wall and electrocuted again.

Once he regained his control, he looked up and saw not even a scratch on the wall. To make matters worse, the wall looked like it had grown another layer over the area he had punched, reinforcing it more. Was that even possible?

He remembered the horse soldiers' armors did something similar; they must have been made of the same material or something, whatever that material was.

Goten realized there no longer was a sword in his shoulder, and although it was still in awful pain, he could move it again to its fullest extent.

"Perfect..then I'll try that.."

He took up the familiar stance and focused his ki into the palms of his hands. The gold on his other arm made it an awkward pose, but it was close enough to work.

"Kame....hame....ha!!!"

The beam of energy instantly shot forth and not a millisecond layer bounced back into Goten, causing him to both be electrocuted and hit by his own attack. The beam exploded, and Goten had to fight to stay conscious.

"No..." He muttered, his voice rising with each breathe. "No, no, no, no this can't be how it ends! I can't just waste away in here! Not when I have a family to protect!"

Pouring in every ounce of sheer power he had, the Super Saiyan started to frantically beast on the metal walls confining him. He was thrown back and shocked each time, but kept getting up and hitting the cursed barrier. No damage at all seemed to be sustained, but the half-saiyan didn't stop; he yelled out in agony as he tried to blast the wall apart. His ki blasts bounced all over before exploding upon himself and finally knocking him down after twenty-eight of them hit his face alone.

His Super Saiyan glow faded, but he shakily started to get up again.

"No...I can't die here...I have to...save my...my son..!"

Wobbly on his feet, Goten steadied himself. He couldn't see now, but he didn't need to to know he was trapped. He gave one final yell, kicking the wall with all his remaining might. He continued to push the mighty blow to the wall as it shot dancing blue bolts all throughout his body, making him look like a human light show.

After a full minute, he finally succumbed and fell to his back, crumpled in the confined space of his new tomb. Tears began to form in his eyes as he imagined his wife and son...he imagined Trunks..and Lyra...Scootaloo....even Cadence and Shining Armor..it was starting to dawn on him that he may never see any of them ever again...

"I'm sorry everyone..." He sobbed. "It looks like...I wasn't good enough...to get the job done..."

He couldn't tell, but Goten's eyes drooped shut, sand an even blacker darkness took hold of him.

***

Apple Bloom clutched at her chest suddenly as she and Wrath continued to move across the desert. The young pup looked at her confused as she fell to her knees in obvious pain.

"What...what is wrong with you?" Wrath asked, not really worried more so unnerved.

"I...I don't know.." She breathed. "I feel like...like something really...really bad has happened..."

"I'd say that feeling is much too late, lady. My entire village already died." He scoffed, crossing his white furry arms.

Apple Bloom ignored the comment, and held her pained chest above where her heart was. This wasn't so much a physical pain as it was a feeling...and it was not a good one..

Chapter 22

The sun beamed down over the desert sands from high above as the day progressed on. As usual, the winds were picking up clots of sand and blowing them about like a light sand storm. However, Equisbane was not interested in the weather; the immortal horse trotted along eastward, his hooves striking up sand clouds as they pushed into the grains below him. He wore no armor, nor any other form of clothing or protection. There was no need; all it would do is slow him down and keep him from his objective.

He had to admit though, it was tough tracking one who flies; rarely do they leave behind much evidence of their passing. He also know, however, that somewhere along the line, Apple Bloom had to have landed to save her energy. The Legacy Killer was an efficient disabler.

Just as these thoughts crossed his mind, his bird-like eyes caught sight of some indentures in the sand. Hoof and paw prints; one set each. That was them alright.

He raised an eyebrow when he spotted something else; a trail of brown feathers, and rather large ones at that. They were sat least the size of Equisbane's torso. They were spaced out far from each other, and didn't seem to follow a straight line. In fact, as he looked further ahead with his impressive vision, it was almost like they were arranged in loop-de-loops. But there was no doubt they ran parallel to the prints of his targets.

It looked like Equisbane wasn't the only one out hunting this day...

***

Apple Bloom held her arm with her good hand as the blackened veins started throbbing. The pain was starting to reemerge and she didn't know how long shed have till she collapsed again and became useless. Hopefully not until they reached their destination, whatever it was.

"Hey, Wrath?" She asked, using the given moniker to address the young canine walking beside her.

"What?" Wrath replied, sounding annoyed already.

"You got any idea what this place were going actually is?"

"How would I know?" The pup rhetorically asked. "I've never been there myself. Only Ahkma has."

"Do you at least have an idea of what it might be?" Apple Bloom continued.

Wrath growled a bit before speaking. "You talk too much, lady. Its bad enough I have to be around you after what you caused, but please spare my ears the grating sound of your voice."

The southern anthro smirked a little. "You didn't seem to have a problem with my voice when I sang that lullaby."

The pup's cheeks flushed red, and brightly so because of his white fur as he fidgeted his arms. "I...was just really tired. And besides, I didn't ask you to do that either."

He crossed his arms across his chest and looked away as they kept moving through the dunes. Apple Bloom just smiled at the reaction; he was an angry pup alright, but still just a pup. In a way, he sort of reminded her of her own childhood way back when. The years had gone by so fast; it seemed only yesterday she was singing songs and up to shenanigans with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Those were the days...

"To answer your last question," Wrath spoke. "Just so you won't ask again, I know that temporal means time, and rift means tear. So I guess we're looking for a tear in time."

Apple Bloom nodded, a little surprised she wasn't shocked by this possibility. "How do we know what that looks like?"

"Do I look like a doctor, lady?" Wrath spat.

Even before Wrath finished his statement, Apple Bloom sensed a powerful ki approaching rapidly from above and behind. She grabbed Wrath and pulled him down with her, yelling out for him to get down. The massive talons of the beast just barely missed shredding the two into halves.

They looked up to see what just nearly killed them, and their eyes befell a birdlike creature of massive size. Though, birdlike was only part of it; the head was of vulture proportions, and the talons on its front legs and its enormous wingspan were there too. However, the back end of the creature appeared to be...a pony? A pony's back half with a lion's tail. The cutie mark was something shed never seen before; it looked like some ancient symbol one would find on a rune in a lost temple, at least that's what it made her think of.

Apple Bloom stopped thinking about the cutie mark when she saw the humongous creature was not finished with them. It took a wide turn in the air at impressive speed and charged back down at the duo, letting out an ear-splitting call.

Apple Bloom reacted on instinct, and kicked her left leg out to strike the monster's beak. The giant tumbled through the sand, but thrashed itself upright immediately, and crouched down as if it were a feline. The southern anthro herself took up a fighting stance as best as her tiring body would let her, and the two circled around each other.

"Wrath, what is this thing?" She asked the pup who was watching in shock.

"It..looks like some kind if..of hippogryph." He managed, still impressed by its size. "But..I've never seen one so big!"

The hippogryph called out a challenge to Apple Bloom, who readied herself and waited. She thought hippogryph were sapient not feral creatures; there was even one who used to live in Ponyville when she was younger, and aside from snide comments here and there, he'd been a rather mellow fellow.

But this one was obviously in no mood to just discuss television shows or gossip; this massive hippogryph seemed to just want to kill her.

It dug its claws into the sand and threw up a big huge handful of it right after. Feral it may be, it was smart attempting to blind her. The move might have worked but she sensed its ki coming and made to block its gaping beak from snapping her up. Using both her good and infected arms, she held the monster's beak open and tried to use the leverage of its head to wrench the beast onto its side.

Its size made that difficult, as it flapped bits huge wings frantically, dragging Apple Bloom off the desert sands quickly. The hippogryph flung its head back forcefully, and the suddenness of the move shot pain all throughout her right arm. She involuntarily let go from the pain, and was flung into the air; the spinning making her more disoriented.

The hippogryph lunged after its anthro prey hungrily; its beak open and ready to swallow Apple Bloom whole. But just before it could, the sound of rending flesh sounded out from the beast's neck. Apple Bloom flew back away, and saw the deep gashes in the beast's throat. It fell to the dunes, and immediately, Wrath was on its head. Without so much as a hesitation, the pup sank his seven inch claws into the hippogryph's skull.

It cried out loudly, and twitched around before finally going still; the life fading forever from its eyes.

Wrath retracted his claws back into his paws and hopped off the beast.

"You make a good distraction." He said to Apple Bloom as he admired his kill.

"Distraction?" She questioned. "You were using me as a distraction?"

"You were the one who started fighting it." Wrath said simply. "I just waited and took advantage of an opportunity when it presented itself. When it went to swallow you, it left its neck wide open for attack, so I acted."

Apple Bloom was impressed by the young canine. Shed never have thought to look for something like that in the heat of battle.

"Well, thank you." She said, holding her arm once more. "You saved my life."

Wrath's face contorted at the end of that sentence. "No. Do not thank me. I don't want your thanks; I would have let the bird thing swallow you if it were any different, but I still need you to take me to the temporal rift. I saved you out of necessity, lady!"

"You could easily just take the directions and follow them yourself." Apple Bloom told him.

Wrath didn't answer for a moment. "No, I can't..."

"What do you mean you can't?" Apple Bloom asked, raising an eyebrow.

There was silence for awhile and Wrath's face started to burn bright with what looked like embarrassment. What did he mean he couldn't just take the directions and go, why did he still need her? She was falling apart and yet the young dog insisted on keeping her alive.

"I....I can't take them because...because I...I..."

"Yes?"

Wrath breathed in and prepared himself for humiliation. "Because I can't read, OK?!"

Apple Bloom widened her eyes in surprise. He couldn't read?

"I was never taught how.."

"How can that be?" Apple Bloom asked, finding it hard to believe. "Didn't anyone in your clan teach you?"

He looked at her as if she were stupid. "The only thing we were ever taught was how to mine the Legacy Suppressor. Reading and all that stuff wasn't totally necessary for that..."

"But Ahkma--"

"Was old. The oldest in the whole clan actually." Wrath explained. "He was the only one left from before the Legacy Suppressor was found. He was the only one who could do things like read and write..."

"But I saw other old dogs there as well! How can that be?"

"They might appear old, but they were actually only mid-thirties at the oldest...doing a job non-stop can take its physical toll. He, and his mate, were the only survivors from before all this. And he was the only one with real knowledge."

Wrath sat down and looked sadly at the dead giant in front of him.

"He was literally our father; to all of us. He and his mate brought the clan back from extinction...but now...."

He tensed up and shut his eyes tightly before going on. "He...he was going to teach me. He was going to teach me everything he knew so...so that one day I might bring our clan into a new era...but now it seems that will never happen..."

He punched the ground hard as he shouted his next statement straight at Apple Bloom.

"AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!! YOU WHO CONVINCED HIM TO BETRAY THE EMPEROR!!"

Apple Bloom flinched a bit as the canine unsheathed his claws and pointed them at her throat; the tips barely touching her flesh and scrapping at it.

"It takes everything I have not to kill you every time I look at you..." He shuttered, tears streaming from his eyes. "But Ahkma put his trust in you...and even though I may never like you...that's another reason I have to refrain from slicing your face off....I can't...I can't..."

His claws resheathed as Wrath fell to his knees putting his face in his paws. "I can't destroy the last will of our father.."

Apple Bloom watched painfully the sadness fall over Wrath. The poor pup was alone now, and it was all because of her. Ahkma had said if anyone knew she was there, they'd kill them all, so even if she had kept her mouth shut, her presence alone would have ended in the same result. How could this young one see it any other way except that it was her fault.

She knelt down and took Wrath into her arms to embrace him. He opened his eyes in surprise, not expecting something like this to happen.

"You're right, Wrath..." She spoke. "It is my fault that this happened. And I can understand your pain all too well. I've lost my family too...my big brother...my big sister...my granny...my parents...even my son and possibly my husband."

Her embrace tightened slightly as she continued. "But if I've learned anything over my years...its that we can't let what happened destroy us. We have to keep moving on; rising to the next challenge instead of wallowing in despair and hatred. We do it not just for ourselves...but for those who would be heartbroken to see us this way."

Wrath listened intently; his mind processing what was being said by this Equestrian.

"I may call you Wrath," she said. "but don't let that become who you are forever; don't let your hatred of me or your sorrow over your clan destroy you. Keep moving forward...for them..OK?"

Wrath didn't answer; the pup just stared into the sky over Apple Bloom's shoulder as she held him close. His thoughts drifted to his clan, to his family. They would be so upset if they saw the anger in him now. But how could he just get rid of such strong resentment? How?

He guessed he would just have to find the answer...somehow.

Apple Bloom let go of the young canine and smiled down at him as he just stared back. She opened her mouth to say something, but suddenly choked on her words as a whistling sound cut the air. Several more followed, and the southern anthro fell to her face, unconscious.

Wrath extended his claws and frantically looked around the open area of the vast desert. Another whistling sound, and a sharp pain in his neck told him what was happening. He yanked the dart out of his neck and gave it a sniff; tranquilizers.

Six more darts cut the desert air and buried themselves in Wrath's back. The pup struggled to stay conscious, but his vision was slowly blackening. Before he went under, he caught sight of something landing in front of him; something about pony sized and with wings and feathers. The stranger raised a tubular device to her beak, and blew another tranq dart straight into Wrath's chest. With that final injection, the canine went to sleep.

***

"My..my subjects plot against me..?" Luna queried, aghast.

"It would seem so, your highness." Flash Sentry answered, concluding his report. "Lyra Heartstrings, Vinyl Scratch, and Trunks Briefs are the known conspirators at the moment."

Piccolo gritted his teeth beside the Princess while she sat surprised in her throne in Canterlot Castle. Trunks attempting a conspiracy? But why? Because of Goten and Apple Bloom? Or was it something else?

He turned to Luna. "Princess, should I go out and stop them before this gets out of hand?"

Luna thought for a moment, but then shook her head. "No...there may be more involved in this. If we act too early, the others will just continue on without those we know about. Let them reveal themselves first, but keep an eye on them."

"Yes, princess." Both Piccolo and Flash Sentry responded.

The alicorn looked to the glass mural of her and Celestia from countless moons ago with a pained and confused look.

"Oh, sister...what am I doing wrong? I only wish to protect this country...why do my subjects not see this....?"

Chapter 23

"So Vinyl is setting up, Bon Bon is on board, and the blacksmith is crafting your swords now?" Rainbow Dash asked, masking sure all bases so far were covered.

"Yup. Everything is going OK in our end." Trunks replied, leaning back on the bench he and the blue pegasus were sharing near the park in Ponyville. "How about your side? Things getting sorted out with the other Elements?"

Dash rubbed her neck as she put on an uncertain face. "Well, Pinkie Pie said she didn't really want to possibly fight her friends...she's going to stay with Maud on the family rock farm until this all blows over."

Trunks nodded, his eyes watching a pair of birds in a nearby tree. The two were building a nest, but it seemed they had different types of builds in mind.

"That's OK." He said, still watching them. "What about Rarity and Fluttershy? They seemed really unsure about the whole thing."

"Its...not good." Dash admitted. "They're both pretty unwilling to see Luna as an enemy. They keep trying to defend her decisions saying it was for the best."

"How could they think that? Aren't they the least bit concerned about what else she might possibly do 'for the greater good?'"

Trunks watched as one of the birds put down a stick into the nest which didn't sit well with the other. The two started chirping at each other rather loudly.

"That's what I said!" The rainbow maned pony declared. "But it apparently doesn't mater to them. I think they're too scared to go against the grain...even when it means doing the right thing."

One of the birds hopped into the nest and pushed the other away. This angered the other bird into pushing back. In a few seconds, they fighting over the crudely constructed bird home.

"What about all those adventures you went on together? Surely something that happened then must motivate them to see clearly now." Trunks said, watching the birds quarrel.

Dash sighed and rubbed her face. "If it did, they don't remember it. I swear, their like puppies who need to be told by momma what's right and wrong."

"Or maybe they just have a strong sense of loyalty to their beliefs." A rough, familiar voice spoke from behind the two.

Trunks and Rainbow Dash turned around to see who had interjected into their conversation. As they did so, Trunks caught a glimpse of the birds nest falling apart as they went at it in the air.

Piccolo stood there, arms crossed and white cape flowing in the breeze. "Hello, you two."

"What do you want, Piccolo?" Dash venomously asked. "Can't you see we're having a conversation?"

"I see that." The namekian replied calmly. "Right now I'd like to have one with Trunks...alone."

The question of whether or not Piccolo had heard their whole talk or not instantly popped into Trunks' mind. If he had, why was he acting so calm? Was he planning something?

"Maybe I'm not done!" Dash spat.

"Or maybe you are. Major Scootaloo wants you to be by her side at this time." Piccolo said.

"Wait..major?" Dash asked.

"She's being promoted right now. She got out of the hospital yesterday and wants you there to see."

"Ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh!" Dash spewed, lifting off the ground. "She's getting that big of a promotion?! Woah! I gotta--"

She stopped and looked over to Trunks as if asking him if it was OK to go. The purple-haired half-saiyan nodded, and Dash was off on a rainbow jetstream. After a few seconds of silence, Trunks noted just how empty the park had suddenly become. No foals were out playing, no more birds...not even an elderly pony in sight. It was just Piccolo and him now.

"How have you been, Trunks?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." Trunks said.

"I do. I'm worried about you."

"And why is that?"

"You've been upset ever since Goten and Apple Bloom were banished." The namekian elaborated. "I wanted to see how you were...holding up."

He stared at Piccolo in disbelief for a moment, and then without warning, he started to chuckle. A second later, he put his hand to his face and laughed. Piccolo looked on in confusion at the display.

He laughed for a good half minute and then, as he started to calm down, he started speaking.

"Holding up? How..hah...how am I holding up? Oh I'm just fantastic, Piccolo. I've never felt better!"

"Is that a fact?"

"Yes!" Trunks said, standing up and raising his voice a bit. "And you know why? Because I know that somewhere...deep down in your heart, you know. You know it was wrong to do what you and Luna did. You do! But somehow...the thing that gets me..is you still did it anyway, knowing that. Why?"

Piccolo looked down at Trunks as he spoke. "Why? We did what needed to be done for the good of Equestria. The threat of war is a very serious thing, Trunks, you know that."

"Somepony once said; 'every time somepony tries to start a war before it starts, innocent ponies get hurt. Every time.' You tried to stop a war before it started, and a whole family was torn apart."

"Its sometimes unavoidable."

"Sometimes...so is war." Trunks growled nudging past his former teacher.

Piccolo turned and watched the half-saiyan fly off into the sky with a pensive look. No doubt about it; there was a conspiracy after all. He'd hoped Flash Sentry was wrong, but after hearing that...it was undeniable now...

***

Rainbow Dash whistled in amazement as Scootaloo showed off the golden badge on her chest.

"Wow, look at that, squirt!" She said excitedly. "A major! And at your age!"

"Rainbow," Scootaloo laughed. "You'd think you were the one who got promoted the way you carry on."

Dash laughed along with her. "Maybe, but I'm just so proud of you, Scoots!"

The blue pegasus pulled the orange one into a tight embrace which the latter returned without hesitation. Once they separated, Dash thought of a question.

"So, what were you promoted for? Battle injuries in the line of duty?"

"Nah, my injuries weren't nearly severe enough for that." Scootaloo explained. "Though, I don't know what else it would be for. I would actually have expected to be demoted for trying to help Apple Bloom back when Emperor Midas was here."

That was true; even Dash had to admit it was a little strange they were rewarding Scootaloo even after that debacle. So why had they made her a major? Had it been some kind of delayed thing? Or was it something else?

Her thoughts were cut off by a loud thud which drew both pegasi's attention. The source of the thud was none other than the Wonderbolt Derpy Hooves. The gray pegasus pulled herself from the sign shed flown through and shook her head to remember why she was here.

"Hey, Derpy." Scootaloo greeted her, waving. "What's up?"

"Hello, sir! I mean ma'am! I mean...major!" Derpy tried, saluting as she did so; her lazy eye drifting out of focus.

Scootaloo chuckled. "You can still call me Scoots, Derpy. What's up?"

The mare reached into her mailbag and pulled out a letter. "Its a summons from Princess Luna."

"Princess Luna wants to talk to me?" Scootaloo questioned, taking and looking at the letter with Rainbow Dasdh reading along.

The letter said it was a matter of urgent importance and that Major Scootaloo was to come alone. This made Dash a bit uneasy for some reason, but she couldn't quite place it. Something in her gut just screamed something was up.

Scootaloo folded the letter into her uniform pocket and put Derpy at ease before turning to Dash.

"I'd better go." She said, unfolding her wings. "If its urgent, I shouldn't keep her waiting."

"Yeah." Dash agreed hesitantly. "Watch out for yourself, kid."

"Always do."

With that, the newly appointed major lifted off into the air headed for Canterlot. Dash watched as she flew off into the distance, still mulling over what it could be. First Piccolo at the park wanting to see Trunks, and now Scootaloo being summoned by Luna. What were they playing at here?

Chapter 24

Scootaloo arrived in the royal city in less than two hours after receiving the summons. The entire way the orange pegasus' mind tried to think of a reason for this; it was strange enough that she had been promoted to major without really knowing why, and now a strange request for Scootaloo to come before the Princess.

And speaking of strange, Rainbow Dash looked like she was sick to her stomach when she saw the letter. She must be worried about Luna finding out about her plan with Trunks. But if Luna did know, Scootaloo was sure Dash and the others would be in prison by now. And since she was on the topic of that, she herself wasn't sure how to feel about all of it. Shed promised not to reveal the conspiracy to any pony, but to be honest, she only had said that because she thought they might abandon the idea once they'd all calmed down. But if they were still serious...

She decided that was something shed talk to Rainbow about later. For now, she needed to be professional; she was entering the royal palace for an audience with the Princess.

As she entered the throne room, she saluted the guards stationed there and they did the same back. The major trotted into the long large room looking up ahead at the dark blue alicorn sitting on her throne. Her ethereal mane and tail flowed like elegant water through the air; her deep blue eyes watching Scootaloo approach.

She bowed before the Princess, who motioned her to stand up again with a hoof. The major did so and smiled up at her.

"Major Scootaloo." Luna said. "It is fortunate you are available at this time."

"Of course, your highness." Scootaloo replied. "And may I say I much appreciate the promotion."

Luna smiled. "That is good, and you do not have to be so formal, Scootaloo. We have enough history that you may just call me Luna."

"Oh, of course, Luna." The major laughed remembering the many dreams that the two shared over the years.

"Now, to the reason I summoned you." The Princess resumed. "The promotion...I wish I could tell you it was just because of your selfless service in the Wonderbolt, especially during the Sapphic conflict. But there are...extenuating circumstances behind it."

"Hm? What circumstances are those?"

The alicorn looked down at the floor as she spoke. "We have reason to believe...that there are forces within our own circles which may look to be rid of me."

Scootaloo's heart skipped a beat at these words; she knew. She knew of Rainbow and the other's plans. But wait, she hadn't mentioned a name..

"Do...do we know who they are..?" She asked.

There was a short pause in the discussion before Luna spoke, her eyes searching the major. "No. We have no leads on that as of yet..."

That calmed Scootaloo down a great deal; if they didn't have any names, that meant Rainbow was safe, at least for now.

"I hate to lie to one of my own subjects, but if I tell her that Trunks is involved, she may lose her trustworthiness due to her friendship with him and the others..." Luna thought to herself.

"Very well, then." Scootaloo said, regaining her composure. "So, what do you need me to do, Luna?"

"I need you to use your new position to assemble a team of your best Wonderbolts. Ponies you trust with your life."

"OK. And what are we to do? What will be our mission? Personal protection for you?"

"No." Luna stated. "Your team will be responsible...for hunting down and imprisoning the conspirators as you find them."

This time, Scootaloo's heart skipped several beats.

***

Apple Bloom groaned as she started to regain consciousness. Her head was throbbing just as bad as her arm now, and she felt like shed been up drinking too many of Granny Smith's hard cidar last night. As she opened her eyes, her mind formed the question of what had happened; once she opened them fully and tried to move, she got her answer.

She was sitting down, back to a large log and tied up with thick rope; at least, that's what she could tell from the dark lighting inside wherever they were. It looked like a cone shaped tent like the ones the buffalo lived in. Had they been nabbed by a native tribe of some sort?

"Judging by all the rustling of these ropes, I'd say you're awake, lady." Wrath's voice suddenly spoke.

"Wrath?" Apple Bloom queried to be sure.

She turned her head as much as she could to see, and her amber eyes found a shape roped on the other side of the log with the same binds.

"What happened? Where are we?" She asked, hoping he would know.

"Well, while you were distracting me with your mushy talk, we were ambushed." Wrath explained. "I'm not really sure by what or who, but from what I caught before passing out, they seem to be birdlike."

Apple Bloom thought back to before the ambush; she remembered the massive hippogryph they'd defeated, and wondered if it hadn't been feral after all..

"You think they're hippogryphs?" She asked.

"This place reeks of pony and bird." The pup behind her affirmed. "So I'd say its a safe bet."

Not good. If that was the case, they may have just killed someone of importance to these hippogryphs. But if that were the case, why were they not already dead? Why keep them alive and just detain them if they planned on killing them? Public execution?

She decided to focus on more productive things like how to free themselves from their predicament. She figured she could easily break the ropes with her strength, but that might expend far too much of her already waning energy and make life harder for Wrath.

"Can you cut through these ropes, Wrath?" She asked him curiously.

The canine sighed. "Don't you think I wouldve done so already if I could? My paws can't move well restrained like this; there's no way I can get my claws into a position to cut the ropes."

Great, that meant they were stuck. She seriously considered expending some energy, but if a fight broke out during the escape, Wrath might be on his own if she used too much. She had no idea how many hippogryph were here, or what they had for weapons...or if there were anymore large ones like the one they'd killed before being captured.

Once again, she decided against it; she wasn't going to let a child fight a battle by himself on her behalf. She started to think of some other avenue of escape, but as she did so, she heard voices from outside the tent.

"Have they awoken yet?" One very deep sounding voice asked.

"They have been conversing," replied a female voice that carried an edge to it. "so I believe so, Chief."

"Let me see them."

Before Apple Bloom could even think 'uh-oh', the flap opened up in front of her and in strode a large hippogryph with his chest proudly puffed out. He wasn't as big as the beast that had attacked them before, but he was still height wise with Apple Bloom if she were standing. His head was that of an eagle with several long feathers laying like long hair from his temples. The rest of his front half was covered in black feathers with yellow colored talons on his front legs. His folded black wings looked massive, even though they were not spread. His lower half was that of a white pony with the tail of a lion; black on the end. His cutie mark, she noticed, was a tomahawk layer over a red dreamcatcher. What that symbolized, she didn't know, but that wasn't what concerned her at the moment.

What concerned her was the harsh and analyzing stare of his literal eagle-eyes. It was as if he were searching her soul for Celestia-knows-what.

After a tense moment of silence, the supposed Chief spoke; his deep voice rumbling in his throat.

"You are the ones who slayed Aragmanoth eh?" He more stated than asked.

"We're so sorry." Apple Bloom started. "We didn't know he was one of--"

"He wasn't one of our tribe." The Chief interjected, raising a talon to silence her. "He was a spirit beast sent down to our plane for a purpose."

"A spirit beast?" Wrath scoffed.

"Indeed. Every midsummer, the spirits send one of their beasts down to our plane of existence so that those among us who have come of age may venture out and slay it, thus proving they are a warrior. It is a yearly tradition of our people."

Wrath justy huffed and rolled his eyes at how ridiculous it sounded. Apple Bloom on the other hand was now confused.

"Well, if that's the case, why did you capture us? I mean, if he wasn't one of you, what have we done wrong?"

The Chief locked his cold eyes on her amber ones. "As I said, Equestrian; it is customary for our young adults to prove their worth as a warrior by slaying the spirit beast every midsummer. By killing Aragmanoth yourselves, you have deprived my daughter of her right of passage, and that is not something taken lightly."

The southern anthro looked down in shame; she wasn't sure why, but she suddenly felt awful knowing the truth of what the monster was. Wrath suddenly started chuckling from behind her, drawing curious looks from both of the others.

"You know, Apple Bloom wasn't the one who 'slayed the great spirit beast'." He said with a smirk. "That honor goes to me; I'm the one who cut his throat out."

"Wrath, what are you doing?" Apple Bloom questioned urgently.

"So, you are the one then?" The Chief clarified.

"That's right. I'm responsible." Wrath said.

"Then I shall kill you in Aragmanoth's place, dog!" Cried that same female voice from before.

The flap flew open as a female hippogryph brown feathers all over her upper body charged in with a spear in her talons, aimed for Wrath. The pup watched the point drive closer to his neck in fear before it suddenly halted.

The Chief was standing, wings outstretched magnificently, in front of his daughter; his eyes giving her a condescending look. She returned the gaze with fire in her eyes.

"No, daughter." He said in a commanding tone. "This will not please the spirits."

"But Chief--" she started to protest.

"This young pup is not Aragmanoth's new vessel, and killing him will not earn you your victory." The Chief insisted. "Return outside, daughter. Do not disgrace our ancestors with unnecessary bloodshed."

The young hippogryph scoffed in agitation before turning and moving out of the ternt once more; a very angered and unsatisfied look on her face. Apple Bloom randomly noticed that the girl's pony half had no cutie mark. She was a blank flank still; interesting.

Once again, she stored that thought away for later and returned her attentions to the matter at hand. If the hippogryph's goal wasn't to kill them, then what was it?

"You would do well not to boast, young one." The Chief told Wrath calmly. "Boastfulness is a sign of pride, and too much pride can be a problem."

The pup laughed a little at the irony of his moniker and his supposed pride; perhaps Apple Bloom had named him too soon.

"Sir?" The southern anthro finally asked. "If you're not gonna kill us, why are we here?"

The large eagle-pony hybrid folded his impressive black wings back to his sides. "You have deprived my daughter the chance to slay her spirit beast, so something must be done in the hunt's place. I will tell you the details in length later, but just know that for this substitute right of passage, you two will be tasked with making sure my daughter survives."

"If its her right of passage, isn't it cheating if we're saving her ass?" Wrath mocked.

"No." He bellowed. "You took her chance, now you must insure she at least gets to her next one."

He made his way towards the exit before stopping just short of the flap. Without looking at her, the Chief asked Apple Bloom a question.

"I see you have been touched by Death...tell me one thing, Equestrian; how does one such as you carry such a curse?"

"Touched by Death?" Apple Bloom questioned, not sure what he was talking about.

"The blackness flowing through your arm."

"Oh, the Legacy Killer..." She realized, looking down at it; it had spread up to her shoulder again, she noticed. "Its...a long story..."

The Chief decided to leave it at that and exited the tent with a long stride. Apple Bloom let the wheels start turning in her head; what trial was about to befall them now..?

Chapter 25

"Thanks for seeing me on such short notice, Miss Zecora." Lyra said graciously as she trotted into the zebra's Everfree home.

"It was no trouble at all; lately work has been quite small." Zecora replied with her rhyming way of speaking. "You ponyfolk used to see me as a witch, but now you all speak to me without a hitch. Any chance to make a new friend is good; please, get comfortable and set the mood."

She shut the door and offered the mint colored unicorn some tea, which Lyra accepted with a nod and a faint smile.

"I wish I could say I just came to be friendly, Miss Zecora...but I actually need your...expertise in strange enchantments."

The zebra chuckled a little as if expecting as such. "This does not surprise me; that's mostly why ponies come to Everfree."

She took a sip from her own cup before continuing.

"Now, Miss Lyra Heartstrings, what is it for which your want sings?"

The unicorn suddenly became a bit tense, as if she was about to ask for something that wouldn't sit well with almost anypony; and she was.

"Is there..a potion that might be able to..well...bond two souls together in a sense?" She questioned, not quite revealing her intentions yet.

Zecora tipped her head in confusion. "Please elaborate on this idea; the intention of the question is not quite clear."

"I mean.." Lyra started. "Say one of the two gets hit and the other can feel it too...or if they suffer an injury, the other does the same...or if one dies..."

She couldn't seem to finish that last example; she seemed as uncomfortable with her own idea as Zecora was quickly becoming.

"Child," she said in a lower tone. "the enchantment you ask for is not mild. A potion, yes, does exist; I could mix it up in this."

She held up her teacup for an example.

"However, pony, this trick is no fony. If this potion two people ingest, then combined will there fates be? Yes. If one dies the other will too; why do you need such a volatile brew?"

There was a moment of silence before Lyra answered. She rubbed her hooves over each other nervously as she spoke.

"Its...very complicated...but let's just say I want...assurance that I won't have to betray one I care about very much.." She finally said.

"So you wish a lover's doom? A Romeo and Juliet point-of-view." The zebra replied.

"I know it sounds reckless, and I know its dangerous..but Miss Zecora.." She practically begged from her seat. "This is very important to me...if Trunks is to die, then I want to go with him...I front want another to steal my heart from him whether in this world or the next.."

"But would Trunks want death for you, if he were to meet his doom? Doubtful, I say; 'tis not a true lover's way. He would want you to live on; not be forlorn and then too far gone."

The unicorn blinked back a few scared tears. "I guess you can call me a selfish lover then..cuz I don't want him to go...not without me.."

Zecora looked at her for a long moment as she tried not to start crying. Something must have happened to cause one as jovial as Lyra Heartstrings to become so down. What threat to her relationship was so great it required death as a backup plan?

She supposed she would never really know, and she got up on her hooves, turning to her mixing room.

"I will mix this up for you;" she said. "but only if one condition you follow through."

Lyra looked up at the zebra, waiting to hear her condition; in the back of her mind, she cringed remembering the last condition shed agreed to which had caused her to come here in the first place.

"If change your mind, you do; do not drink this evil brew." Zecora said. "For it to work to full power, you both must ingest some within the same hour. I urge you, though...do not go through...this isn't whatwhat he would want for you..and in my own opinion here...this will endanger him too, my dear."

"I know..." Lyra whispered more than said.

Zecora drooped her ears a bit, unsatisfied with how this had gone, but made her way into the brew station to mix up the potion. Sometimes love made these ponies do horrible things.

***

Apple Bloom and Wrath stood before the Chief in his hut; there were several tribal decorations mitered about the place on wooden poles and shelves made of some type of shell substance. The center, where they were standing, was a large circle with several symbols neither one of them could understand. Apple Bloom assumed it had something to do with the spirits these hippogryphs worshipped.

Along with the Chief was his daughter; the angry looking brown feathered hippogryph locked her fiery gaze on Wrath.

The pup just shifted uncomfortably. "She keeps looking at like I'm the devil, or something."

"Well, to her, I'd say you are." Apple Bloom said back.

"Cuz I took her kill? First come, first serve."

"Is it too much to show a little respect to these hippogryphs?"

"Yes." Wrath growled. "They're airheads who think that thing was some great monster from heaven or whatever. If it was, how did I kill it so easy?"

Apple Bloom just sighed, exasperated. There was no changing his thoughts on the matter.

"Now," Chief stated, gaining their attentions. "since you two outsiders have taken my daughter's right of passage from her, she has to undergo a different trial. It is not as honorable as slaying a spirit beast, but it is a feat nonetheless. You two are to make sure she gets to this trial alive. When she has finished, you will escort her back, and then, you will leave."

"Hoorasy...babysitting." Wrath scoffed. "Just what we need right now..."

"She's older than you, Wrath." Apple Bloom reminded him, causing the young canine to go red in the face.

"Father, I don't need these outsiders to protect me." The young hippogryph piped up. "I tracked Aragmanoth myself, I can find the cave myself as well."

Cave? There were caves in this vast expanse of desert? That was certainly news to Apple Bloom, but the more important question was; what was the hippogryph supposed to do in the cave?

"It is not your decision, daughter." Chief firmly stated. "It is their penance for taking away your kill."

"Their penance should be death by my hand."

"I have told you many times, daughter, that bloodshed when done for petty revenge will not appease the spirits."

"Father--"

He held up one of his yellow talons to silence his hotheaded child. After a second or two, she gave a large huff and sat down, crossing her forelegs across his chest.

"She may be older than me, but she acts like a baby." Wrath pointed out.

Apple Bloom ignored the comment, and tried to not noticeably wince as her infected arm throbbed again painfully. The Legacy Killer was spreading again already. She hoped wherever this cave was, it wasn't far; she doubted shed be able to stand on her own too much longer at this rate...

Some time passed, and the sun started getting low as Apple Bloom and Wrath made their way to the exit of the tribal encampment to meet with Kona, the Chief's daughter. They'd eaten, gotten a small rest, and were now about to depart on their escort mission. Wrath had made a comment about how they could just leave Kona alone and run, but Apple Bloom had quickly shot down the idea as dishonest; sometimes her Element was too true for her own good.

She was worried about the Legacy Killer, though. The blackened veins had spread up to her neck once more and across part if her right breast and side. The pain too was becoming more noticeable and hard to ignore the more she moved around. She hoped shed make it to the Temporal Rift before it was far too late to help her.

As they heated the rendezvous point, her mind wandered to Goten; she wasn't sure why, but she had a feeling all had not gone as planned with his rescue of their son. Surely she would have seen him by know; he would've followed her power level and met up with her...but he hadn't yet.

That didn't bode well...

"Took you long enough, outsiders." Kona's voice cut through the southern anthro's thoughts.

"You could a left without us, Princess." Wrath commented.

"And disobey my father? Bring shame upon myself? This just shows what little honor you have, mutt."

"Mutt?" Wrath growled, angered by the comment. "Who're you calling a--"

"Kona...we should get going.." Apple Bloom urgently but calmly interjected, holding her upper arm.

The hippogryph scoffed and started moving out, beckoning the duo to follow. This was going to be a long trek.

***

Shining Armor groaned when he heard his wife knock on his door for the first of many times that day. The Princess of Love let herself in and smiled warmly, but fell back into a saddened expression when her husband didn't even turn to look at her.

"Shining.." She began. "Its time for that special appointment with Dr. Hooves. Or at least, its time for you to start heading that way."

"Why should I?" He croaked, voice cracking from underusage. "Its so far away its almost not worth it to go..."

"I disagree." Cadence argued. "I think maybe some travel will do you some good. He even sent directions."

Cadence levitated a piece of paper over to Shining, who took it in his own magical grasp and brought it to his face to read it.

"What's with the name of the place?" He questioned. "The Center of the Temporal Rift?"

"I don't know, but your things are all packed, and you're good to go."

He sat up and looked at her with a surprised expression. "You're not coming with me?"

"Not this time." She said, a bit downcast by it herself. "I think you needs some...alone time between now and your visit with the Doctor. It might help you sort out some things while your out on a journey instead of moping in our bedroom."

Shining slumped back into a laying position and sighed. "I'm sorry, Cadence. I've driven you away too..."

The pink alicorn shook her head, rushing to her husband's side. "No, no, no. You haven't, Shining Armor, and you never will. I still love you just as much now as I did when we got married. But that's why I need to get you out there; you need to heal...to get better and learn that its not all over...not yet...I need my old Shining Armor back, and if Dr. Hooves can help get you better, than you need to go see him. But not just for me..but for yourself as well."

Chapter 26

"Alright, fillies!" Scootaloo shouted. "Rollcall! Bulk Biceps!"

"YEAH!" The bulky pegasus shouted in response, puffing his chest out in pride.

"That's 'yeah, ma'am', Bulk!" The orange pony with the purple mane told him sternly.

"YEAH, MA'AM!" He corrected.

"Lightning Dust!"

"Here, ma'am!" Lightning Dust proclaimed.

"Rumble!"

"Uh, yes, ma'am!" The light gray pegasus stuttered.

"Clean your drool up, Private Rumble, you'll soil your uniform." Scootaloo teased him; she laughed on the inside watching him wipe his mouth, which, as it happened, had had a bit of spit on it.

She continued down the list of those she had assembled. "Featherweight!"

"Present, ma'am!" The thin, almost nerdy looking white pegasus replied curtly.

Good, everypony was here on time. Scootaloo looked down at her watch and took a quick glance over to the barracks; the Cloudsdale military base was not the most sturdy looking building one might find, what with it being made mostly of clouds, but it was definitely regal in appearance and gave the impression of honor. Out here on the cloud fields though, that really didn't matter. What did matter was whyshe'd brought them together; these pegasi she'd hoof picked to be her strike team.

"Ok, Wonderbolts," she began. "if you haven't heard this from somewhere else, and I doubt you have, allow me to explain why you've been summoned here."

The four Wonderbolts all stood at attention, waiting to hear what the major had to say.

"Princess Luna herself has tasked us with a very important, and possibly dangerous job." She continued. "We have reason to believe that somepony in our own homeland is conspiring against the Princess. We have no names as of yet, and almost zero leads. Notice, Wonderbolts, I said almost."

Scootaloo pulled out a folder from her rucksack, which was sitting organized with it's contents beside her on the field.

"This report by the Royal Guardspony, Flash Sentry, states that there were suspicious talks of mutiny against the crown in Canterlot itself." She told them, opening the file to the report page. "These conversations were overheard by Sergeant Sentry in the residential area on the east side of Canterlot; where some of the higher up ponies live."

She handed the file over to Bulk and nodded for him to read and pass it down once he was done to the other Wonderbolts in the line-up. They looked it over carefully, but kept their ears focused on Scootaloo.

"I must tell you, that we have been given permission to use as much force as is necessary should we find the conspirators, so no holding back; understood?"

"Yes, ma'am!" The four ponies hollered in reply.

"That's right, Scootaloo...no holding back...even...even if we do find Rainbow Dash guilty..." She thought to herself.

"Ma'am, I have a question." Rumble announced suddenly.

"No, I won't go to dinner with you, Private Rumble." Scootaloo jabbed, earning some quieted snickers from Bulk and Lightning Dust.

"That's...that's not it, ma'am.." He said as confidently as he could all the while growing red in the face. "I was just wondering...why aren't the police forces handling this if it's a street operation, ma'am?"

That was a good question; why was Luna using one of the most elite branches of Equestria's military to find some conspirators if she didn't know who they were? Surely it wouldn't take the Wonderbolts to take down some everyday-pony that might have delusions of grandeur. Unless, that was the reason; perhaps she was doing it because she felt it could be anypony...or..maybe she wasn't as in the dark as she had said..

Scootaloo started to think of Rainbow Dash and that worried look of hers when Derpy had delivered that summons; if Rainbow Dash was indeed one of those Luna might know of or maybe suspect...

Thinking of all of this made the major's head hurt, so she focused on the task at hoof for the moment. There was no use worrying about something that wasn't sure to happen yet, right?

"Alright, Wonderbolts!" She shouted out, snapping the four other to attention. "Time to move out for Canterlot! Let's get there quick and find out what's going on!"

"YES, MA'AM!"

***

The heat from the desert sun once again beat down on Apple Bloom and company as they trudged throughout the dunes. Kona had mentioned several times how flying would be so much better, to which Apple Bloom confirmed she couldn't risk it, and Wrath stated he could not. This had just gotten curses and angry mumbles from the already agitated hippogryph.

Apple Bloom estimated it had been at leas two hours since they'd left the encampment, and she had already drank quite a bit out of one of the three canteens...she decided that since she didn't know how far was left, she shouldn't drink anymore unless it was unavoidable.

"Do you even know where you're going or what you're looking for, princess?" Wrath grumbled, wiping his brow clean of the heavy sweat upon it.

Kona gave him a sneer. "Of course I know, mutt!"

"Then why does it feel like you're just walking aimlessly?" He argued. "You aren't even making any signs of trying to track something. You look more lost then anything."

"I am not lost!" Kona snapped. "The spirits will take me where I need to go."

"The spirits...here we go again.."

"You dare to insult the great spirits?" The young hippogryph questioned, stopping and turning to look full on into Wrath's eyes.

"Yes. Following an imaginary trail isn't going to get you anywhere; you need to know what to look for...or in my case, what to smell for. You have to have an idea of where you're headed before you randomly walk off."

"He has a bit of a point, Kona." Apple Bloom sighed tiredly, sweat pouring off of her as well. "I too have noticed you don't seem to really know where your going.."

"Both of you, stop speaking!" Kona shouted.

Her voice might have echoed...if there was anything for it to echo off of. But the three were standing in the middle of a vast expanse of shifting sands with no clear structure, natural or otherwise, in sight.

"I have faith the spirits will deliver me to my destination. It is my destiny."

"Destiny?" Wrath said, unbelievingly. "There's no such thing as destiny, princess. If you've been living your life by waiting for things to happen rather than making them happen, I'm surprised you got this far in it."

"And I'm surprised you have with such a free tongue."

"Kona..Wrath...please stop..this isn't getting us anywhere..." Apple Bloom interjected.

Kona huffed and turned her head away at the end of Apple Bloom's sentence; obviously, she was still very unhappy about having them tag along.

Apple Bloom herself had to admit that this was a bit unfortunate; if they stayed out here much longer with a 'dust-in-the-wind' type like Kona, she was sure to die of the Legacy Killer before she made it to the Rift. There had to be some way to speed things up. Her eyes brightened a little as she thought of an idea.

"Wrath.." She said. "How good is your nose at tracking things from very long distances?"

The young pup looked offended by the question. "I can smell for miles, as long as I know what I'm smelling for. Everything has a scent; you tell me what it is, and I'll track it."

She turned her attention to Kona. "Kona..what exactly is the task you have to do?"

"Why should I tell you, outsider?"

"Just humor me...I'm a dumb outsider who isn't very familiar with this place..I might do with a little..guidance from a native.."

The smooth talk seemed to ease Kona up just a little bit, and she turned around to face the southern anthro.

"You have a point, outsider." She said with a smug grin. "If you must know, the task is for me to retrieve a special type of egg from a cave somewhere here in the desert."

"What type of egg is it?"

"It's a Sand Leviathan egg." Kona answered. "I must bring it back to my father to complete the task."

"That doesn't sound so hard. Some honorable rite of passage." Wrath said mockingly.

Kona shot him a brief look before explaining. "It is not retrieving the egg itself that is the difficult part. The reason it is in a cave is because of the Rithiu."

Apple Bloom and Wrath both looked confused and lost at the name. The hippogryph rolled her eyes, seeing she was going to have to say more.

"The Rithiu are giant lizard creatures who steal Sand Leviathan eggs while the adults are away." She told them. "They have the ability to cloak themselves and their spiritual energy so they are undetectable."

Spiritual energy? Apple Bloom wondered if maybe that was the same as her sensing somepony's ki.

"Are you saying you can sense their..uh, spiritual energy, Kona?" She asked to confirm.

"Of course I can; all of our tribe can sense the spiritual energy of all living things." Kona affirmed. "Just like I know yours is wavering, and the mutt's isn't too impressive."

"What'd you say?!" Wrath grumbled loudly, his face contorting hilariously in offended rage.

"I said you're weak." Kona flat out told him.

Wrath seemed to have steam exploding from his long droopy ears. "Why don't we go a few rounds and we'll see who's weak, princess!"

"Believe me, I'd love to silence you, but my father wouldn't much like that." She said simply.

So, the hippogryphs could sense ki as well in the form of spiritual energy; that just made it even more confusing why Kona was walking around like she was lost. If she could sense power levels, why didn't she just lock onto the Rithiu and follow that.

She then remembered what Kona had said about them; they could mask their power level as well as their bodies. That meant Apple Bloom wouldn't be able to find them either. It was a good thing they had Wrath around, because her original plan was still very much applicable, at least she hoped.

She walked up to the till fuming and almost pouting Wrath, and knelt down to speak to him.

"You think you might be able to track the scent of the Sand Leviathan egg, Wrath?" She asked.

The canine's temper didn't diminish much, but he seemed more amiable now he knew he was needed. "Well, I've smelled Sand Leviathan before, so the egg should have a similar scent. Let me see if..."

He began to sniff the air and walk strangely in a few directions. After a few minutes of this display, he halted, sniffed a few more times, and then pointed off in the direction of the setting sun; west.

"I can smell Sand Leviathan scent over here, but it's slightly different and has a gross tinge to it." He stated. "Either I'm smelling a sick adult, or that's an egg."

"Hey, I'm the one leading this journey, mutt. Don't go making up stories just to feel important." Kona brashly said.

"Well, princess, seeing as how you just said you can't detect Rithiu, this is out best shot at finding them; unless you have a nose like mine, you're gonna have to follow me."

"I can't just--!"

Kona was interrupted by Apple Bloom's hand on her shoulder. The anthro was smiling wearily down at the hippogryph.

"Kona...we know this is important to you, and I understand you want to be the big hero who does this quest. But you can trust Wrath and I for he simple reason that we want to get this over with as well. We have no reason to deter you." She explained calmly.

The brown-feathered hippogryph with no cutie mark gritted her teeth and kicked at the sand beneath her. Apple Bloom chuckled under breath and nodded for Wrath to lead the way. As they moved out, Wrath fell back to walk beside Apple Bloom for a minute.

"Yknow, lady," He said quietly. "I may not like it very much, but I'm glad you can talk about all that mushy trust gunk."

"It's not gunk." She replied. "She can trust us, because I trust you."

"I don't see why you trust me. For all you know, I might be leading you away. We are going opposite the way we want to right now; away from the Temporal Rift..."

She nodded, already knowing. "Yes...but, like you said, you need me to get you there when it comes to the other parts of the journey, so I have faith you won't just let me die."

"At least not yet." Wrath added.

"Right. At least not yet." She repeated with a strange smile.

Chapter 4

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo jumped as the front wall of the house exploded inward with a loud crash. Carrot instantly started to cry as the mares whirled around to see what had just happened. Piccolo was laying unconscious in the ruins of the once tidy living room; broken boards and Sheetrock covering him.

Apple Bloom looked through the new gap in her home to see Goten staring down Princess Luna and quite a few horses.

"You think I'm just gonna stand aside and let you take my boy?!" He shouted, advancing on Midas. "I don't care who you are! You're not taking my son!"

"Goten, please!" Luna started to plead.

"No!" The half-saiyan shouted, pushing the princess to the side as his hair exploded into a golden glow of a Super Saiyan. "You either find some other way of handling this, or you won't be walking out of here!"

"Goten!" Luna called out again.

He ignored her and continued to advance upon the Emperor. Two of the guards took a stance in front of him; they too wore suits of silver armor, and as soon as they took point, extra mechanical limbs sporting blades spring forth from them, pointed at the Super Saiyan.

"Goten, was it?" Midas spoke calmly. "Please, me taking in your son is the only way the world can feel safe with loose cannons like you running around. Let me make him into something great; a peacekeeper."

"Screw you!" Was the only thing Goten said in response.

In that moment, he floored one of the horse guards in a single blow, and kicked away the other before lining at Midas himself. He was stopped by a surge of magic from Luna, as she levitated him in her blue aura.

"Let me....go!"

"Goten! Listen! I like this no more than you do, but the council has made the decision. Your son is the only way we can ensure peace in the lands in case you or any of the others go...well...do what Sapphic did..." Luna told him.

He turned his greenish-blue eyes on the alicorn holding him in place, not believing what he had just heard. "You really think were that irresponsible?!"

"You just put Piccolo through a wall after he told you what was happening, Goten! You tell me!"

"I won't let this bastard steal my son!" He shouted, struggling under the magic.

"Goten, you must--"

Luna was silenced by a fierce punch from Apple Bloom. The alicorn fell to the ground, barely conscious and Goten was let loose.

She stared down at Luna with anger smoldering in her amber eyes; first the Dragon Balls, now her son. Was everypony so intent on making her life miserable?

"Scootaloo, take Carrot somewhere safe!" Apple Bloom shouted.

Without a word, the pegasus nodded and held the wailing baby tightly to her breast as she took to the sky; her speed making her appear like a bullet streaking upwards.

Midas signaled a few of his horse guards to follow her on hoof, and turned his attention back to the brawl that had broken out before him.

Goten by himself had already beaten down a good portion of his entourage, and now the one named Apple Bloom had entered the mix. He figured something like this might happen; parents were the hardest part to deal with in these situations.

Giving a bored sigh, he cracked his neck, and trotted into the fray as if taking a stroll. The golden armor seemed to come alive, and the art lines across it seemed to glow with some kind of power.

Goten saw the Emperor approaching, and without a thought, leapt forward to bring his fists down on him hard. He'd never connect; the armor suddenly propped Midas upright, and formed a humanoid like arm over his right foreleg. Using this sudden new limb, Midas halted Goten's assault, and tossed him away. The Super Saiyan skidded across the rows of ungrown treesbefore coming to a halt on his knees.

Apple Bloom saw this, and looked over at Goten's attacker; he now appeared to be a golden humanoid shjape, but much bulkier.

"Impressive yes?" The Emperor smirked. "My scientists were bright to study your anatomy; you and these Saiyan have some very useful appendages."

"If you think that tin can is gonna save you from my wrath--" she seethed as she ran toward him.

The two smashed fists together, and Midas marveled at how the blow had actually caused his suit some damage. He dismissed it quickly though, and blocked a low kick from the enraged mother. He struck her face with his free "hand", but was kicked back by the returning Goten.

He regained his stance, and smirked openly. " Hm. This is gonna be fun."

***

Scootaloo blasted over Ponyville as fast as her wings would let her, making sure Carrot was securely in her hooves. She looked down at the ground to where she had seen the pursuing horses before, and signed in relief when she saw nothing. She gasped not even a minute later when she looked up and saw the horses in the air, and gaining on her.

They bore metal wings and some type of propulsion system beneath them to speed them up.

"Jeez, what else do these metal suits do?! Cook?"

She quickened her pace as the horses gained on her quickly, closing he gap. Carrot was clinging to the orange pegasus' fur for dear life as they sped up.

"Hang on fight, little guy." She told him. "I'm gonna try to loss 'em."

She sped downwards in a spiral motion, and just before hitting the tree line, she sharply rose back up into the sky. The horses followed her trajectory,but two of them ate it big time as they caught some of the branches and fell into the underbrush below.

That left five of them left to get rid of. She doubted they would fall for the same trick twice, so she had to think fast.

***

Apple Bloom tossed the golden plated horse over her head and tried to smash I'm into the dirt, but he landed stop his "feet" and turned the attack back on her, slamming her face firs into the soil. Goten grappled the behemoth from behind and tossed him aside before firing several ki blasts at him.

Midas' suit took some damage, but for the most part he was unphased by the attack. He opened one of his mechanical palms and fired a dart from it. The projectile hit Goten square in the chest and the Super Saiyan suddenly started to spasm as electricity crackled around him. He fell to the ground and reverted to his normal state.

"Goten!" Apple Bloom called out.

She jumped on the back of the suited horse like a spider monkey and began reading pieces off of it like paper mache. The loud scrapping and rending of metal was deafening, and Midas was getting a headache. He grabbed the antro warrior by the hair and threw her away from him to gain a moment. She rolled and returned to her feet, taking up a very familiar stance; spreading her legs apart and holding her palms together at her side...

***

Scootaloo dived down as she led one of the horses around a thick cloud causing him to collide midair with one of the others. They tangled and fell from the sky fast in a heap of whinnying terror. Three pursuers remained, and the sky's were far too clear for anymore cloud tricks.

"Think, Scootaloo, think!" She grunted, clutching Carrot tighter to her body.

Her wings were starting to tire, and while holding Carrot, she wasn't as agile as she normally was. The horses were near on her tail; in fact, one of the brutes tried to bite down on her flowing purple tail. She flicked in his face and tried to speed up, but she couldn't risk going any faster; sure she could easily survive a sonic rainboom, but could Carrot? He wasn't a pegasi, in fact he was only half pony. She didn't know if his body could handle that kind of air pressure.

She couldn't let Apple Bloom down though, but what else could she try?

She didn't have to think long as a familiar faded rainbow streak suddenly took out one of her pursuers. She gasped and then smiled widely as her hero Rainbow Dash landed on the back of one of the horses. Promptly, she kicked one of the prupilsion jets off, and watched as the horse began spinning rapidly in place before getingkicked out of he sky by the same pegasus.

"Run, squirt!" She called out with a confident smile. " I gotcha covered.

Scootaloo nodded a thank you and dove groundward to find a hiding spot.

***

"Kame..."

Midas started to walk towards the antro before his armor told him her power levels were rising rapidly.

"Hame...."

"What's this now?" He mused, taking a defensive stance.

Apple Bloom snarled the final syllable as if trying to rip Midas in half wit her mere voice. "HA!!!!"

The Emperor went wide eyed for moment, but opened up his mechanical palms and activated his energy absorbers. Perhaps he could use the energy to power the suit up further and be done with this whole mess. As the beam struck, he was pushed back a ways, and throttled slightly by the force. The absorbers were doing their job, but the capacity was quickly filling.

"So much...power!" He said through gritted teeth.

After holding he attack for near a full minute, Apple Bloom let off. The beam was sucked inside the suit through the palms, and it looked as though it was about to explode. It rattled violently, and shook as if it were a jenga pile about to topple.

Midas looked at his readings; the suit would be destroyed if it contained this power much longer. He had to get rid of it, and he knew just how.

He once again thrust his suits arms forward, and released the very same Kamehameha wave back at Apple Bloom. Surprised, thesouthern anthro mare leapt out of the way of the beam, and watched in shock as it obliterated her home behind her. Piccolo had been in there, she though worriedly for a moment. She stopped panicking when she heard his voice from the side!Ines.

"Stop!" He yelled. "Everyone just stop!"

"What do you mean stop?! He attacked my home!" She protested angrily.

"To be fair, madame," Midas said, his suit returning to horse armor. "You and your husband initiated the violence."

"You came here for our son!"

"And this is why." The emperor explained. "Look around. Just ris little skirmish between us has destroyed much of your farmland and your entire house. This is why I need to take your son. He can act as a counterbalance if thinhgs get out of hand like this."

"The only reason they got this way is cuz you--"

Apple Bloom was stopped and fell to the ground unconscious as Piccolo struck her head from behind. The look on his face was one of both sorrow and regret. He hasn't wanted this, but this whole ting had just proven Midas' point. Apple Bloom and the others...including himself...were dangerous...

"Thank you, Piccolo." Midas said, turning to walk off. "Perhaps in he future our negotiations won't be so....hostile."

"Wait." The namekian called out to the horse emperor.

Midas stopped and turned his eyes to Piccolo, listening intently.

"What...what are you going to do to him. You said you were going to mold him to be able to fight against us...how?"

The leader of Saddle Arabia chuckled. "The way all children need to be brought up; discipline."

He then turned and trotted off, but not without saying a few more words. "I'll be taking the boy and then I shall leave. Good day, Piccolo."

The namekian growled under his death, and looked back down at Apple Bloom, then over to Goten. For what felt like the hundredth time in his life, he questioned if his decision had been the correct one...

***

Rainbow Dash landed back on the forest floor as she brushed herself off. The fight had been short, but it was over, and now Scootaloo had a few questions to answer. Why had those horses been chasing her, and why did she have Apple Bloom's kid with her? It didn't make a lot of sense, but she was sure Scoots would explain. She always had a good reason for...

Dash's train of thought was thrown off a cliff as she spotted some pony laying in the dirt of the forest, beaten. She recognized the purple mane and tail right away; the purple streaking bullet that was her cutie mark the true giveaway.

"Scootaloo!" She called, rushing over to her #1 fan.

Scootaloo tried to move, but just gasped in pain. Dash crouched beside her, and checked over her body; bruises everywhere...

"They too...him..were waiting for me...down here.." Scootaloo managed.

"Took who...Carrot?"

Scootaloo nodded.

"Who took him, squirt?" She asked. "The horses? Is that why they were after you?"

Scootaloo nodded once again, but before Dash could ask anymore questions, the orange mare passed out again. Dash picked her up and slum her across her back. She needed help, and Nurse Red heart didn't live too far from here. But what about Carrot? Apple Bloom's son had just been foalnapped by a bunch of Saddle Arabians...

She fought with herself on what she should do, but eventually came to the conclusion that Scootaloo needed her help a little more...but that didn't make it any easier for the Element of Loyalty to let those brutes take a young boy away from his home. As she galoped toward the hospital, she planned to head to Sweet Apple Acres right after, and see what was going on...

Chapter 18

"Let me go!" The pup cried, trying to struggle out of Apple Bloom's hold. "I have to help Ahkma!"

Apple Bloom restrained his arms and held him tighter; not enough to hurt him, but enough to make sure he didn't fall from this height and die as they were still flying over the desert. The moon was her only light source right now, and since the Legacy Suppressor was already wearing off from her flying, her vision was getting a little blurry. Though, that could have been the tears she was trying to fight back.

It had been her fault; her words had caused Ahkma to sacrifice himself so she could get his last clans pup to safety, and even directions to somepony who could possibly cure her. And even more than that, her very idea and presence had cost the whole clan their lives...she still heard their screams in the back of her mind...

She noticed the young canine had finally stopped struggling, and hung from her arms, weeping. This only made her feel even worse.

"I...I'm so sorry--"

"Shut up!" The pup interrupted loudly.

In a sudden movement, the little dog swung his body around, swiping Apple Bloom's face with his claws. The crimson blood flowed freely from the wound, and she cried out in surprise more than pain. He smacked her over he head with his elbow, and she tumbled down to the sands. They both separated as they impacted, rolling and bouncing slightly.

Before Apple Bloom could get up, the young pup was on his paws, and ran up to start kicking her as she lay on the ground.

"Its you! Your fault! You caused this!" He kept screaming at the top of his lungs. "Theyre all dead cuz of you!"

Apple Bloom covered her head with her arms, but made no other move to defend herself. She wasn't going to fight a child, especially one she had caused this pain to. He wasn't really hurting her by kicking her, so she decided she could let him vent a bit. Maybe if she let him beat on her for a bit, he'd become more amiable to reason.

He was only a child after all.

After several more minutes of this behavior, the pup collapsed into a curled up heap of tears and sobs. He had finally tired himself out, and Apple Bloom decided she could safely stand now. As she did so, sat back down next to the crying canine, and gently stroked his fur in an effort to calm him further.

She wanted to say sorry; to say something to let him know she hadn't meant for this to happen. But she knew anything she would say would sound like an excuse, and only make him mad again.

As she saw his eyes begin to droop in oncoming sleep, her mind drifted to Carrot. She remembered her little baby boy laying in her arms, tired after crying for awhile. She would always sing him a lullaby when that happened, and it always helped.

As she envisioned the memory, she began to let the harmonic notes flow from her mouth.

"Young one don't cry now, forget all the day.

Let sleep come put you at ease.

She will know somewhere you can be free,

Somewhere that's safe in your dreams.

Hush now, sweet child; it will be OK.

Nothing can harm you from there.

But if sleep can't find you, do stay with me.

I will protect you, I swear.

I will...protect you..I swear...."

The lullaby had put the tired pup to rest under a dream's mercy, but now it was the southern anthro's turn to cry as tears streamed down her cheeks, remembering her son and how she had failed to do what she swore she would...protect him.

***

"...so..that's what we're planning..." Lyra finished, looking at Bon Bon's shocked expression. "So, will you do it?"

Bon Bon took a few seconds before answering. This was something that needed serious processing; her former lover was plotting an overthrow of the government with her new boyfriend, and was asking her for help.

"Do you know how long its been since I even spoke to any of the other ponies involved in that?" She finally said. "Years, Lyra. Years. We were shut-down for a reason and then swore never to speak to anypony from there ever again. Just mentioning my memory of them is illegal."

"Does that sit well with you that they suppress your old friendships like that?"

"It wasn't just friendships then...we were like family. We all had each other's rumps and looked out for one another on the more dangerous assignments." Bon Bon said.

"That should be an even stronger reason to join us." Lyra pushed. "The current government is keeping secrets at the expense of other ponies. Ponies like you and the others involved."

Bon Bon nodded her head. It was true that she hated how it had ended back in the day; she missed the other ponies she used to work with and know. But would they still be as tightly knit as before after so long? This was the first time Lyra had come to her on her own since the day they split up, and that had been much less time.

Still, she wasn't complaining that that gorgeous mint colored unicorn was gracing her eyes again; in the black and white world, she was the only source of color. But Trunks had made sure they could never have something again; he had Lyra's heart now, and Bon Bon had nothing...

Unless...

"I'll do this on one condition, Lyra." She finally spoke.

Lyra nodded, waiting for the condition to be placed.

"Say I help you, and this big battle ensues." She started. "Trunks is going to be leading us, so naturally he'll probably be the first into most of the fighting. My condition is simple...if Trunks dies in combat, you have to come back to me."

Lyra's jaw dropped at the mention of the possibility of Trunks' demise. The sheer nerve of Bon Bon to request such a thing in such a case only added to that shock.

"What kinbd of condition is that?!" She yelled. "Trunks isn't going to die!"

"Do you know that?"

"Do you know that he will?"

"I'm only saying...if.." Bon Bon stated.

"And if I refuse this condition?" Lyra asked, getting ready to hastily leave.

"Well, not only will you not get my support, but you and Trunks will both spend time in prison for treason."

Lyra gawked again. "Are you threatening to let slip our plans?"

"Loose lips sink ships, especially ones that aren't...what's the popular term...OTP?" The cream colored earth pony said in reply.

"You'd turn me in after all we've been through?! I thought I could trust you!"

"I thought I could trust you too. But when you walked out the door, you proved that wrong. This time, I want assurance that if he goes down, you won't leave me again...I need you, Lyra..."

The mint colored unicorn bit her lip in hard thought. She felt betrayed, manipulated and disgusted that she had no choice to agree or risk Trunks losing everything...

"Fine...but I'll have you know, Bon Bon..." She said. "I thought the mare I once loved had more honor than this..."

"I'll keep my promise of aid, as long as you keep yours. That's honorable enough after you left me like you did."

"Go to Tartarus, Bon Bon."

"Lyra, I've been living in it..."

***

The golden walls of the imperial city towered over Goten as he landed behind their borders under cover of night. The moon light casted many shadows he could use to sneak around. This was his only way of travel, as a disquise wouldn't work; no saiyans lived in Saddle Arabia, and he was not of the proper dimensions for other humanoids. Stealth was his only option.

As he took cover behind a building corner, he tried to remember the route he had mapped ahead to the palasce while he was in the sky. He could've barged in and fought his way through, but that would have caused more problems than solved them.

He climbed atop one of the clay huts and jumped to the other as silently as he could, keeping an eye on the two horses guarding the streets below him.

He figured he would make his way into the palace, find Midas, and force him to tell him where Carrot was before he could use his golden armor to fight back. He'd then grab his son and fly straight out at top speed.

Goten dropped back to the dirt streets and shifted into an alleyway that connected to what passed for a Saddle Arabian fire escape. The rope and wood wasn't super sturdy, but it held his weight as he climbed.

He would fly, but again, it would draw attention, and he wanted to avoid that. Only after he caught Midas off guard would he attack.

After an hour, Goten finally made it to the outside of the large, golden palace. The bronze and copper accented it perfectly in the design, reminding Goten of a Chinese warlord's domain. Strange for a desert culture, but after all this wasn't Earth.

Finding a balcony, the half-saiyan jumped as high as he could without being spotted, and climbed over the edge and into the hall. The torches reflected off the golden walls and ledges eerily. He thought he heard someone approaching, and quickly jumped up to the rafters, holding himself there. A lone armored horse trotted underneath him and into the next area. Goten dropped, and decided to go the opposite way of the patrol horse.

After a few minutes of dodging guards and dashing through long halls and large rooms, the half-saiyan heard something behind one of the doors. A voice, male, was speaking to someone. The other end of the conversation never came, but the male was talking as if to a young family member. Then Goten heard the baby babbles replying to the male.

"Carrot." He breathed to himself. "Midas must be in there with my son!"

He placed both hands on the door and breathed in deeply. As he exhaled, the large door busted apart into pieces rather loudly. The horse Goten saw rushing to his hooves looking pained was definitely Midas; he could never forget that face. On the floor was a startled Carrot and another equally startled infant; a reddish pink horse who was clinging to Carrot like he was a teddy bear.

The children began to cry, and Goten entered into his Super Saiyan state. Before Midas was even fully in his hooves, the golden haired half-saiyan moved like lightning to his location, mashing him against the golden walls and putting cracks in it. Midas coughed blood on impact, and glared at Goten angrily.

"Not so tough without your armor, are you?" Goten taunted.

"You!" Midas choked. "How did you--"

The Super Saiyan clutched at the emperor's windpipe tighter, cutting off his speech and his air. He heard a multitude of voices and hooves approaching from outside the room, but he didn't care. He had the bastard who took his son right in his hands.

Midas pressed a hoof to Goten's upper arm in what the Super Saiyan assumed was some gesture to beg. He was surprised when his arm started to feel stiff and heavy, and as he looked, he noticed his whole upper arm was now solid gold. He let go of Midas in shock, grasping at his golden limb frantically, hoping only his clothes had been turned.

"Even without my armor," Midas chuckled and coughed. "I have..a few tricks."

Several guards entered the room, and drew their swords from their armor on their mechanical arms. Midas jumped atop the two infants in a protective stance as the silver armored horses began to slash at Goten.

The Super Saiyan jumped and ducked under the first several strikes, and blocked another with his now gold left bicep. He followed up by flooring the first guard with a massive punch that audibly shattered his skull. As the guard hit the floor with a heavy thump, Goten went to kick another one into oblivion. His kick was suddenly blocked as the armor tripled its plating in the area he made contact. The guard went flying but got right back up after instead of staying down. That was odd.

He threw a ki blast at the group before him, and two of the horses cried out in pain as their faces were scorched. The rest did nothing, and once they go it closer, Goten saw they suddenly had face shields. Those hadn't been there a split second ago.

He needed to end this quick, so he ramped up his speed and went to pinball off of each horse in quick succession to get to his son. He never got the chance. As soon as he hit the first horse, the rest suddenly became a lot faster and dodged his attack, throwing him off balance and tumbling to the floor with a confused umph.

He noticed that those horses now had thicker leggings on their armor and what looked like servos and small jets on them. What was going on?!

He charged up to explode a ki blast, but remembered his son was in the room and stopped. The guards took this opportunity and jabbed at the Super Saiyan. One of the blades pierced his right shoulder, causing him to cry out, but he reacted just in time to block the rest and counterattack.

He grabbed one of the horses by the throat and tossed him into the other guards who were too close together. They fell like bowling pins, and he tried to take up the stance of the Kamehameha. He struggled until realizing he couldn't take the correct stance; his gold arm was too stiff and his other shoulder had a blade stuck in it with the hilt out of his current reach.

"Tch! Damn!" He growled.

The horses circled around him as Midas huddled the infants into a corner, and stood in front of them. Goten waited for one of them to strike, but it didn't come. Instead, he heard another, very monotonous voice from the doorway.

"Emperor, I have returned. And I see we have company." Equisbane said.