Three days earlier.

Night awoke early the next morning, set up a little shrine not far from the village and began his prayers to the light. Not long after he started Brights and Little Strongheart showed up to get him. The young cow blushing slightly as she finally saw his face, which he quickly hid. After gathering a few supplies they set out toward Appaloosa. It did not take them long to get there and soon they began to gather information. Though the locals had not heard a thing about their brother or home. Night traded for a map and asked about some general things and because he was not sure if their money was good here he talked Bright into summoning a bug for them to ride. Because they did not want to cause a panic Brights told them he was not going to use a flying insect and had summoned his Akurbia. This was a giant crystalline scorpion that was just big enough for the three of them. Little Strongheart screamed and hid behind Night at the sight of it. After a bit of coaxing she warmed up to the big beast. Sticking to the countryside they made their way to the next city.

After a day of travel they ended up in the city of Trottingham. After having a rest they began to search the city and just like before they came up with nothing. After trading for some supplies they were on their way yet again. This time they were heading for the capital to see if anything could be found there. It would be a six to seven day trip even with the help of Brights bug. They had traveled for three hours after it had gotten dark before stopping to set up camp. Little Strongheart sat close to Night and asked him all manner of questions about himself and his family. He answered as best he could and soon began to ask some of his own. He found out the Little Strongheart was of marring age and after his daring rescue she had fallen for him. He tried not to cause her harm and let her down gentle but she would not hear of it. Once she picked him she would follow him till he gave her a chance, to which he reluctantly agreed. They sat and talked for an hour more getting to know each other. Night gave his prays to the light before they went to bed with her sleeping not far from him.

Night was up early again praying in a little glen not far from the camp when Little Strongheart found him asking what he was doing. After a lengthy explanation on his worship of the holly light she asked him to teach her not just his religion but his way of fighting. She told him how cows were not allowed to learn how to fight. Once she heard he had female servants that could fight she wanted to learn so she could protect those she cares for. He agreed and said they would begin the next day with prayer and meditation as a way to get her in touch with the light.

Upon their return they saw Brights cleaning his Akurbia while it ate the leftover fire wood. After traveling till at leased five in the after noon, they stopped to rest the Akurbia and get something to eat. After an hour Night and Brights were packing up as Little Strongheart left to get water. Their plans were brought to a grinding halt as they heard her scream. Rushing to where she was they found her surrounded by insectoid ponies that were tying her up and talking about taking her away to feed the others. Night rushed in with "Shield Rush" and drew their attention with "Guardian's Call". Brights got to Strongheart and untied her while asking what these creatures were as Night held them off. After she told them what she knew of them and Night used the light to calm and heal them. They sat and talked for a spell. Not long after they started to pity for them. The changelings lead them to their camp and Night was horrified by what he saw. There was only fifteen of them in total, seven of which were kids. They looked to be nothing but skin and bones some being extremely sick.

After hearing what they did, and what happened to them to put them in this horrible state of starvation, Night and Brights took it upon themselves to help them. They let them feed off them which left them very drained and so they tried to think of a different way to help them. All of a sudden Brights had an idea. He grew a rare and powerful plant for Venrus' potion reagents called love lotus. The best part was that it grew on the back of one of his bugs. He called it forth and plucked the fruit giving it to the changelings. After telling them what it was they tried it. After that first bite they devoured the fruit like there was no tomorrow. They began to look healthier and some of the holes in them began to close. Brights told them that if they helped him he would give them a place to live and all the fruit they could eat. Since it worked as a replacement for how they normally got love. After telling them they did not know where their home was and where they were going the changelings began to panic. After telling them they would not enter the city and that Little Strongheart would be with them the whole time they agreed.

And so now they had fifteen new companions with them as they started to travel. The changelings sat in a wagon they had that was being pulled by the Akurbia. Not long after night fell they made camp. Bright an early the next morning, Night was teaching Strongheart about the light and even had one of the changelings he fought there as well. Not long after they were back on the road heading for the capital, only stopping twice to let the Akurbia rest now that it was carrying more weight. Near sunset a crystal popped up before Night and Brights and the sight of it frightened them. Soon they both became enraged as the crystal began to crack till it split clean in two, their rage being replace with sorrow. Everyone else just watched on in fear, not daring to get too close to them as the changelings could tell what they were feeling. Soon the two halves turned black and were shrouded by a red aura and began to form back together.

This made Night and Brights scared and angry all at once. Not long after the crystal became clear again, they began to frantically look around. One of the changelings told them to look at the moon and it was then Brights and Night knew what had happened. As they watched, the darkness of the moon shot a beam that struck the capital. Night and Brights told everyone to get some sleep, they had to leave early and needed to get to the capital as soon as possible.

Strongheart asked what was going on and Night, seeing the fear in her eyes, told them everything. The crystal was a Soulstone that was linked to their brother Venrus and that it would appear before them should he ever be in life threatening trouble. They too had one for each other. They told them that when the crystal broke it meant that their brother had died. When it turned black with the red aura that meant a demon had taken over their brother to save his life. That was why it was whole now. They told them that the moon shooting that beam was their brothers doing and they needed to get to him as soon as possible. Strongheart and the changelings said they would do all they could to help and everyone went right to sleep.

The next morning they all set off with a purpose. They had four days left to get to the capital and find Venrus. Four days for Night and Brights rage to build as they set off.

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Celestia sat on her throne as she talked to her nephew Prince Blueblood. Two days after the incident with Venrus she had tried to send a small Guard unit with an ambassador. Sadly once they had gotten close enough to his keep they were attacked and sent back to Canterlot broken and bloody. What made this act worse was that her own daughter Barb was the one to attack them. The next day Blueblood had told his auntie he would go and talk to his cousin.

Blueblood told her how when he got to the Keep Barb and Venrus were training. After waiting for them to finish he made himself known. Because he had nothing to do with the attack on Venrus, fore he was away on business, him and Barb agreed to talk to him. Blueblood told her of what he had seen of the Keep and, being a military buff, knew that because of the design and location of the Keep it would not easily be taken. Plus there were things they did not know about it such as defenses but the whole place was permeated with very strong and dense magic.

Blueblood talked with them over a nice meal though he was shocked to find his cousin had given up her vegetarian life style. The conversation was nice and polite with him learning of all that happened. Though he knew it would not help much, he did apologize on behalf of the royal family. For their talk he was informed that unless Twilight, Luna and Celestia all came before him and apologize, while excepting his punishment for them, no form of peace would be reached and that anyone coming to the keep without his permission would be dealt with as if they were an enemy. He expressed that he had hoped to be allies and learn from each other as he had a vast amount of knowledge and rare items he was willing to trade but not anymore. Barb even said she would not see any of the bearers, Luna or Celestia until they all made amends.

As of now only the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Zecora and himself were allowed at the keep. He informed them that Barb also said if anyone wanted to talk, either him or Zecora would need to take them to the Keep. Before he left Blueblood asked if they were together because after the meal was finished Barb had sat on Venrus' lap for the rest of the time. He congratulated his cousin on finding a lover and said he would visit again soon.

"That is all I have to report on the matter auntie." Blueblood said

Celestia sighed "Thank you nephew, it's good to know Barb is happy and safe but her relationship with Venrus is very unsettling."

"How so auntie? He is a very nice and caring fellow. He is teaching her of who she really is and to fight. With what I saw, Barb has come a long way in that respect. As she stands now I'm sure Barb could take anypony in the guard bar the likes of cousin Shining."

"That is the problem nephew. Venrus easily took out a large number of guard, including Shining Armor, as if it were child's play. As the fight unfolded I could tell he was holding himself back greatly. The wolf could take even me or Luna in a fight I fear and his magic was the likes of which I have not seen since before Discords rain. To top it off he is in possession of one of the great demons thought killed long ago." Celestia shuttered at the memory of the creature.

"I understand auntie, but this was brought on by you three and he will see you three pay for your ignorance." Blueblood stated bluntly.

"Yes you have said as much but what did he say was the punishment?" Celestia raised an eyebrow.

"He did not say." Blueblood said flatly.

"Thank you for all you have done nephew, you may go. I must talk with Luna and Twilight about all you have told me. Then we must prepare, we have guests coming tomorrow from a hidden Kingdom."

"What do you mean auntie?"

"Well yesterday I received a letter from the Draconian rulers. It states they wish to speak to us about getting help dealing with a dragon problem."

"I see I will leave you to it then auntie." Blueblood turned and left.

Not long after, Twilight and Luna entered and talked about what to do. As it stood they would not make amends till they new what his punishment would be. Celestia bid them farewell once night had fallen leaving the two newly discovered lovers to tend to the night.

What they did not know was that Night Blade and Brights would soon be upon them ready to bring the full fury of their wrath upon them. Tomorrow was not going to be what they expected, not at all.

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Author's Note

This is the Akurbia