Chapter 1: Uninvited Guests
Far in the lands of the east, just off the borders of Equestria, stood a great mountain called Erebor. At the base of the Erebor was a city of light and peace, Dale, ruled by Queen Uriel, master of light. All ponies who lived in Dale were happy, always helping others whenever they could, teachers and learners of light magic. Magic of healing, growing, and life. Uriel was kind and generous ruler, knowing with absolute confidence her line was safe with the birth of her daughter. Her city thrived, but it also live in slight fear of its next door neighbor, the city of darkness, Drakma. A city fortress built into the mountain itself and was just peaceful as Dale. However, the ponies that lived there were under the teachings of dark magic. Magic of attacking, evil, and death. The ruler here was a god of darkness, a master of terror, King Satan. Fortunately, King Satan was not evil pony, he was also a kind ruler who loved the light more than any other pony. The only other thing he loved aside from the light was gold. Erebor was full of gold, massive veins of gold stretched throughout the mountain. Along with jewels and diamonds as well.
Both cities soon formed relationships with the Deer of the Everfree Forests and their leader, King Aspen. Soon Dale became the biggest trade city in the east. Trading with ponies all over Equestria and while Dale did the trading, Drakma minded in the mountain. Deeper and deeper they went into the mountain, finding more and more gold, jewels, and diamonds. The craftsmanship of the dark ponies was unequal, they made golden shields and swords made of pear diamond. And that is when they found it. The kings jewel. The Arcenstone. King Satan took the jewel as a sign, proof that was indeed 'King Under the Mountain'. But, soon a sickness grew inside Satan's mind. And with it, his lust for gold grew, and grew, and grew until that mountains caverns were filled with gold bits, jewels, diamonds, and other treasures. Uriel tried to snap him out of it, but it was too late. King Satan had been driven mad by the gold. A sickness thrived with the treasure and where sickness thrives, bad things will follow.
The first they heard was like a hurricane coming up from the south. Trees creaked and cracked in the hot winds, some of them even being up routed from the earth itself. The ponies of Erebor looked in the sky and there faces turned pale. For coming up from the south was a massive black beast. Death in his eyes and in his breath. The dragon, Grim, had come. The dragon didn't waist time in setting Dale on fire and, though the city tried to fight back, was quickly destroyed by the beast. For it meant nothing to Grim, his eye was on another prize. For dragons had fierce hunger for gold. The dark ponies stood ready at the main gate, but Grim's shear size and strength quickly disposed of them. For a dragon would guard his plunder as long as he lived. And in the chaos of the dragon's attack, Satan lost the Arcenstone among the gold and treasure. With that, the ponies of Erebor fled from their kingdom. But not before they had to watch in horror as Grim turned Queen Uriel, ruler of Dale, and master of light into a statue. Then he placed her outside of Dale's gate as a warning to the ponies of Erebor to never return.
Erebor was lost. And, while King Aspen wanted to help the ponies, he could not risk the safety of his own subjects. So he did nothing to help them. Enraged by this, King Satan broke all ties with the Deer and vowed to never go to them for help again. After that, the ponies of Erebor head north along the borders of Equestria. Seeking out a new place to call home.
"And to this day, the dragon guards the treasure from anypony that dares to enter Erebor." Twilight said aloud as finished reading the book that she had found.
She had found it inside the old castle of the royal pony sisters and it was interesting to say the least. She had first gone there to find some answers as to what were the origins of the 'Tree of Harmony', but was now leaving with more questions then answers. But deciding she had spent enough time in the Everfree, she placed the book inside a saddle bag and left the old castle. Walking along the path back to Ponyville, she spotted a cart with a dark figure looming over one of the wheels that appeared to be broken. As she got closer, she started to make out features.
It was an old, tall stallion, almost as tall as Celestia herself at first glance. He had a long light grey beard and heir, darker grey fur and bright blue eyes. He wore a tall, dark grey hat and long cape, a silver scarf and black, steel boots. He also had an old brown saddlebag over his cape and what looked like an old wooden staff with a dim blue jewel imbedded in the tip on his back. As Twilight got closer she realized he had a long horn on top of his head, meaning he was a unicorn.
Twilight was feeling the need to help him, mostly because she realized if she just walked past him it would be rude. So, with generosity burning in her heart today, she call out to the old unicorn.
"Excuse me. Do you need help?" she asked him, trotting over to his side.
"Hmm. Oh, yes. The wheel on my wagon had broken off a moment ago and I'm just trying to fix it." the old stallion said with a deep, but happy voice as he scratched the back of his head with his hoof.
Twilight looked the wheel over for a moment, then with a trick of magic, she fixed the wheel and placed it back on the wagon. When she turn back to the old unicorn, he was looking at her as if he was deep in thought. After a little wave of her hoof, he was snapped out of it.
"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking, you are Princess Twilight Sparkle are you not?" he asked tilting his head a bit.
Twilight blushed a bit "Y-Yep. That's me." she answered looking at the ground, smiling.
The old unicorn smiled as he connected himself to his cart. Then his head perked up "So, Miss Sparkle, would you mind accompanying an old stallion to Ponyville?" he asked looking at her.
Twilight smiled and nodded happily. They walked for a few moments before Twilight caught the old unicorn looking at her with... interest? With a pules of blue magic coming from the unicorn, the book that was in Twilight's bag floated out and drifted in front of the grey pony. He stared at the books cover for a moment before turning to the young alicorn with an eyebrow raised.
"Tell me Miss Sparkle, do you believe in this story?" he asked levitating the book back to her.
Twilight thought about for a moment. It's just some fairy tail story she found in the castle, right? But... if it wasn't just a fairy tail... Twilight turned to the unicorn and answered "I guess it would be cool if it was real."
The grey pony gave her a smiled before asking another question "And if it were, would you like to go on an adventure there?"
Now Twilight was getting a bit confused. What this old stallion getting at? She hesitated before continuing "M-Maybe... I guess that would be an interesting experience." she said carefully.
The stallion now fell silent, looking straight ahead and deep in thought. After a few moments passed by in silence, he turned back to Twilight with a smile and asked yet another question "Tell me, you are one of the six 'Elements of Harmony', are you not? And if so, do you think you and your friends would be up for an adventure?"
Twilight was now starting to get a little wired out by all the questions that were being thrown at her. Still, she thought about it for a moment either way. She knew Rainbow Dash and Pinky Pie would definitely be up for it. Rarity and Applejack wouldn't go right off the bat, but she thinks they would go either way. Fluttershy would not go unless she was forced to go or was given a good reason. She figured they would probably go with her in the end. Finally, she turned back to him and smiled.
"Yes. I'm sure they would go."
The old pony smiled at that "I think I found who I was looking for..." he whispered just a tad to loudly.
"Huh, what did you say?"
"Oh nothing Miss Sparkle." he replied as he looked ahead... and then drifted his head upward "My word, is this your castle?" he asked, surprised.
Twilight brought her attention to what the old pony was looking at, finally realizing that they were already at her castle. Deciding it was time to part ways from the stallion, she opened the doors and turned back to him. She wasn't trying to be rude, but the looks she was getting from him were honestly creeping her out a bit.
"Well, it was nice meeting you mister...?" Twilight trailed off a bit, realizing she hadn't asked him for his name yet.
"Greybeard." he said, answering her unasked question.
"Greybeard, I hope you have a nice day. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have get the castle ready for my friends." she said as she bowed her head then slipped inside her castle, and began to gently close the doors. But then she stooped, she was being rude and she knew it. So she poked her head back out and asked "Would like to join us later?"
"I would love too, just let me go take care of something first and then I'll return." he said happily.
"Great, see you then." she replied as she finally close the doors.
Twilight walked back to the kitchen to get things ready for Pinky Pie and the others when they arrived. It was right then and there that her brain suddenly went into overdrive. She finally remembered the name the old pony had told her. He was one of the most powerful wizards in all of Equestria, Greybeard the Grey. She felt so dumb for not realizing it sooner, she made a mental note to apologize to him when he came back for dinner.
Greybeard stood outside her door for a few moments, thinking and smiling. After a few more minutes, his horn lit up a bright blue and engraved a symbol onto the castle doors. Then, he trotted away, pulling his cart. As he made his way through Ponyville, he spotted the other Elements of Harmony. By the looks of it, they were making their way to Twilight's castle. The one known as Pinky Pie had a few stacks of pancakes, somehow being balanced on her back. The old pony just chuckled at the sight and watched them head up the path to the castle.
"Oh yes..." he said to himself "I have found the help we needed."
With that he trotted away.
"Really, he's a wizard? Like Starswirl?" Applejack asked as she and the others listened to Twilight's story about meeting Greybeard.
"Yes, maybe even more powerful then even him." she said in a sort of gaga mood that she put herself in.
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes before noticing something "Hey Twilight, where's Spike?" she asked looking around the dining room.
Twilight answered "He's at the Crystal Empire visiting Cadance and Shining Armor, so he'll be gone for awhile."
A load knock at the castle front doors caught everypony's attention.
"That must be him, darling." Rarity said.
"I-I'll get it." Fluttershy added as she flow up from her place at the table and headed for the door.
However, as Fluttershy got closer to the door, she couldn't help but get the feeling something 'dark' was on the other side of the door. When she finally made it to the door the feeling was stronger. Still, she opened the door and expected to see an old pony standing before her. She was surprised then when she was greeted by a dark brown stallion that easily as big as Big Mac. He had a bronze colored main and tail and had a saddlebag on his back. His cutie mark was a wooden shield and a pare of swords crossed over it. But Fluttershy was more worried about the facts that he had a sword on his back and that the whites of his eyes were black, on top of that his horn was not like what she normally see on unicorns. It was a dark purple and was curved down a bit, making him look a little frightening. Still, he wore a gentle smile and was very polite when he introduced himself.
"Good evening, I am Adara. At your service." the unicorn said with a bow before stepping inside and moving past Fluttershy suddenly "Excuse me." he said as he did so.
"W-Won't you c-come in..." Fluttershy tried to say before he moved past her.
"Fluttershy, is Greybeard he-..." Twilight started to say as she entered the room before she stopped at the sight of the odd, unfamiliar pony.
Adara spotted and trotted up to her "Aw, Twilight Sparkle. A pleasure to meet you-" Adara suddenly stopped midsentence when his nose twitched "... Pancakes?" he asked suddenly.
Deciding it was better to be nice, Twilight spoke up "Yes... w-why don't help your-" she stopped as the pony zoomed past at high speed and down the hall "-self..." she finished, too late.
"Don't mind if I do!" he called from down the hallway.
Twilight looked back at Fluttershy with a question a curious expression. Fluttershy could only shrug for she was just as confused. There was another knock at the door and Fluttershy looked at Twilight with a 'What do I do look'. Twilight told Fluttershy to go and explain things to the others and to get started in making more to eat. Twilight made her way to the door and opened to see who it was. She was really hoping it was Greybeard. Sadly, it wasn't.
It was another stallion that was about the same size as the last pony, only this one was way fatter. His coat was a dark navy blue with a silver colored mane and tail. And like Adara his horn was the same aside from it being dark gold. His eyes were a light green and his cutie mark was a loaf of bread with a huge chunk bitten out of it. His cubby smile was very happy even thow he looked a bit fierce. He bowed his head and then noticed somepony standing next to him. It was a mare that a bit taller then him and was a pegasus. Her coat was brighter navy blue than the stallion next to her with a white mane and tail. Her eyes were a dark grey and her cutie mark was a cross with two swords twisting around it. She also bowed her head politely.
The only thing that seemed off for Twilight was that they both were carrying weapons on them. The fat stallion had a steel stick at his side and the pegasus had blades on her wings.
"Hello, Gluttony at you service." the stallion greeted, moving past Twilight.
"Lust, at your service." the pegasus said as she followed Gluttony.
Adara's voice came from down the hall "Hey Gluttony, is that you! You've got to try this food!"
Gluttony's eyes went huge and charged down the hall with Lust rolling her eyes and right behind him. Twilight sighed and was about to follow when another knock came from the door. Taking a deep breath, she opened the doors.
Once again, a stallion stood at there that was slightly bigger then Adara and more muscular. His coat was a dark tan color and his mane and tail were dark green. His eyes were a light brown with the whites black. He was a unicorn by the looks of it, his horn was, like the other two, curved down and was a muddy brown with a hint of grey. His cutie mark was a black hammer slamming into an anvil creating sparks. He also had two axes on his back along with a hammer almost as big as him at his side. He nodded and introduced himself with a grumpy voice.
“Wrath, at your service.” he said as he barged past the Princess without another look.
There was a crashing sound from down the hall and Wrath seemed to know what it was from his irritated sigh. So, without another look at Twilight he headed down the hall with a hard line on his muzzle. Just as Twilight was about to take a step away from the door, another knock came from it.
Now Twilight was starting to get irritated, all these random ponies coming into her castle, ponies that she had never even met before. Still, she tried to hide the fact with a glary smile and opened the door, deciding to move to the side on a guess of somepony just barging in. However, a familiar voice came to her ears when she did so.
“I guess they must have gotten here ahead of me?” Greybeard asked as he wore an ‘I’m so sorry’ smile.
Twilight put two and two together for a moment before turning to Greybeard with her jaw hung open.
“You brought them here?” she asked in disbelief.
Greybeard sighed and nodded before making way for a few more ponies to come inside. As they entered, he introduced them.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle, allow me to introduce Kely and Fely…”
In walked two stallions, one a unicorn and the other a pegasus, that was just a bit taller than Twilight herself. The unicorn’s horn, like the other unicorns that have already arrived, had a bent horn that curved down and colored purple with shade of black. He had a dark green coat with a dark blue mane and tail. His eyes were light gold with the whites, once again, black. His cutie mark was a bow and arrow colored red. On his back was a bow with a few arrows in a pouch at his side, along with two daggers strapped to the other side. The other stallion was just like the unicorn, aside from being a pegasus and different colors. Unlike the unicorn, the pegasus was a light green color with a blond mane and tail. His cutie mark was a war hammer crossed over with a sword that sparked together. His eyes were a baby blue with, like all the others, whites black. On his wings were blades like Lust’s and on his forelegs were gauntlets with blades on them.
They walked in and bowed their heads to Twilight.
“Kely, at you service.” the unicorn said.
“Fely, at you service.” the pegasus added.
With that, they walked passed Twilight and began to make their way to the dining room where the others were. Twilight was now a dazed by all the unfamiliar faces coming into her castle. She turned to ask Greybeard what this was all about, when she noticed another pony standing in the doorway. The pony had rags over its body, keeping it hidden from eyes, and was about as tall as Princess Luna, if not bigger. It moved passed Twilight and Greybeard without a single word or introduction. And before Twilight could ask who the pony was another pony in rags walked in and Greybeard closed the door behind them. However, this pony was gigantic. It was at least a full head taller than Celestia herself.
Greybeard smiled warmly and introduced the two ponies “Twilight, allow me to proudly introduce Princess Af…”
The first pony in rags removed the hood to reveal it to be a unicorn mare with white fur and a yellow gold mane. As she removed the rest of the rags, Twilight got a real big surprise. This white mare was an alicorn. A really beautiful one at that. The tips of her wings were gold and her long horn had two halos floating around her horn. The one on top small, the one on the bottom bigger. Her cutie mark was something that looked like a blue diamond shining. Her eyes were a gentle baby green that looked so sweet and kind.
Greybeard smiled at her before turning to the massive pony next to Princess Af “And the leader of our company, Prince Abaddon.”
The giant removed the rags to reveal a dark purple stallion with a flowing black and red mane. He removed to show he was also an alicorn by the looks of it, aside from having giant bat wings and a horn that curved up. He wore armor made of iron around his neck and his legs, his eyes crimson with the whites tar black. His cutie mark was a red symbol of some kind that Twilight had never seen before. It looked like two moons falling with one on the bottom having six points coming out of it. To complete the look, he made a massive sword on his back that looked to have been over used.
The two alicorns turn to Twilight and bow their heads to her as they finally spoke. Princess Af’s voice was almost like a bell as well as angelic. While the darker alicorn, Abaddon’s voice was deep, almost like a growl and a hint of rage were in it.
“Greetings, Twilight Sparkle.” Af started saying before Abaddon cut in.
“It’s a pleasure to make you acquaintance.”
