Barb was amazed at what she saw. Behind that great big eyrie looking wall was a beautiful courtyard. A stone walk way led from the gate to the castle door and at the steps branched off going around to who knows where. On each side of the walk way was a fountain with flowers growing around them. Tall flowering hedges with vines growing over top them on a stand gave shade to some benches on the left. While on the right sat a huge gazebo that had rose bushes around it. She stood there looking at it in aw, mouth hanging open. She was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of Venrus' children.

"Daddy who is she?" The girls asked together.

"Dis little ones is a local I invited in so I can learn about da area and give her some knowledge in return. As for her name I don't think it was given." The three of them turned to look at her.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, my name is Barbara Sparkle but everypony just calls me Barb."

"Well it's very nice to meet ya. Girls go tell da Kitchen staff to start making dinner den go play while I speak with our guest."

"Yes Daddy!" the girls went sprinting through the doors waving as they did.

Barb followed on Venrus' heel as he stepped through the great door to his castle. She jumped a little as two maids called out as soon as they entered. "Welcome home Master. Do you need anything for you or your guest?" What shocked her was that one of them was a Cat women and the other was a human.

"Yes I need some meat stored in da locker and an animal skin taken to Night's forge in da chapel." His hand sunk into a black-purple mist and he pulled out the manticore pelt and the meat which was in a basket, handing it over to them. "I would also like some Black Rose Tea taken up to da library. Would ya like someding to eat or drink Barb?" He look over his shoulder.

"Just the tea, sounds neat."

"Very well, it will be along shortly." They bowed and left while Venrus headed for a door to the side of the hallway.

Griping the nob tightly he shouted "Gate open, location Library" Then after he pulled the door open there was a library on the other side.

After they entered, they sat in some very comfortable arm chairs with a table between them. "So why did you yell like that?"

"Oh da door we were going through leads to a cleaning supply closet. I use da gate spell to open it to da library instead. Normally it would take a lot longer to get here as we are on da fourth floor of da middle tower on da cliff. Ya did say ya couldn't stay long right?"

All Barb could do was sit there and look like a fool. "There is no way I did not feel like I teleported and you shouldn't be able to do magic you don't have a horn."

"Where I'm from if ya want to learn magic ya learn it. If ya don't believe me den look da doors to da library are much bigger den da one we went through. Plus if ya look out dat window ya will be able to look down to da lower halls, court yard and gate."

Looking at the doors she saw he was right but she just could not believe it. She rushed over to the window and low and behold he was right. She could see the lower halls of the castle, the court yard and gate she just went through. "Bu....How.....It's just...This shouldn't be possible!"

He just gave her a sly smile "And yet ya have all da proof ya need. Now will ya come sit down we ain't got all day."

She was still shocked but he was right they needed to get this done. After sitting back down she thought it was best to start. "Okay so what do you want to know?"

"Well what sentient species live here? Where am I and are dere any towns close by?"

"There are carnivore and herbivore races. Carnivores consist of several species of griffons and dragons. Then there are the arachne, lamia, and the diamond-dogs. The herbivore races are ponies, deer, minotaurs, buffalo, donkeys, yaks, and zebras. As to where you are, you are on the continent of Equestria. More specifically you are in the Everfree Forest, one of the most dangerous places we know of. As for near by towns there is Ponyville were I come from but you may be met with mixed feelings at first."

"Why is dat?"

"Well we have had issues with diamond-dogs in the past which you kinda look like. That and some of the carnivore races pray on the herbivore races. What are you anyway, I have never seen a diamond-dog like you before. For that matter I've never seen anything like that cat maid."

"Well I'm not a diamond-dog I'm a Lycan or werewolf if ya prefer. As for da maid she is a werecat."

"Are you talking about me master? Only good things I hope."

Venrus and Barb turned to see the werecat bringing in the tea. "Aye Nova only good things. Barb here was just wondering what ya were. Dere ain't any of our races on dis planet."

Nova set down two cups and pored some tea into each then sat a cup of sugar cubes and a container of cream down. "Oh my! So the keep was moved through dimensions, that is quit odd. Shall I inform the others master?"

"No dere wont be a need. It would just cause a panic and put dem on edge. If anyone asks about it send dem to me. Ya may go." He stated waving his hand in a dismissive manner.

"Yes master and dinner will be ready in a hour and a half." She bowed and left the room.

"Now I got one last question for ya den ya may ask what ya like. What is yer money like here because all I got are dese gold pieces from my home." He took out a gold coin and set it on the table next to her. Then added some cream and three cubes of sugar to his tea.

She took it and looked it over. There was nothing special about it. Just a gold coin with nothing on it. "We call them bits here and they are made of gold as well." She fished around in her pants pocket till she pulled one out and compared it to his. "Yours is a bit bigger but there shouldn't be a problem. If you give me this I can have it looked at and see what it is worth here if you like?"

"Go a head dat would be a big help. Now what would ya like to know?" He asked taking a sip of his tea.

"What did you mean when you said I don't look like a dragon?" she asked as she took a sip of her tea.

Venrus got up from his seat, made his way over to a book shelf and started to run his hands over the spines. "I have fought many a dragon great and small and dey always had a few things in common. Dey do not walk on two legs at least not for long, all dragons have wings from deir time of birth. Dey can talk but dey can not use magic. Dey are savage beasts dat live alone and kill anything dat enters deir territory. Because ya don't have wings and because ya got mana flowing through ya is da reason I say yer not a dragon." He took two books down and handed them over to her. "Da top one is all da species of dragon I know of and a little about dem. If ya like to learn more about da different species den I can show ya books on each one. Da oder book is on da draconian race."

"You keep saying that but what do you mean draconians I've never heard of them."

"Da draconians are a race of half dragons. Dere are two types dat I know of. Dere are da magic type like yerself and da flyers. Dragons are purest so dey don't like it when deir blood mixes with oder species. Dey kill dem on sight so da draconians live in secret. Dat book will tell ya how to tell ya if yer a draconian, a bit about deir history and da two different species I know of. If ya want to know more I got books on each of da two races. I even got my hand on some of da magic training tombs for da draconian mages if ya ever feel like learning."

Barb handed him back the book on dragons "I wont need this I don't really care about them anyway but I would like to borrow this if I can?"

He just smiled at her "I don't mind one bit, just take good are of it. Dat dere is one of a kind." Venrus held his hand over his ear for a minute "It is getting late I'll show ya to da edge of da forest."

Barb quickly looked out the window to see it was nearly twilight "Oh no I couldn't ask but I do need to go, my sister will kill me if I get home too late."

"I didn't ask ya I said I would, besides I need to do something at da edge of da forest any how."

With that they left, it took a bit to get there and was starting to get dark. Once they got to the forest edge Venrus pulled out a crystal dagger and Barb gasp and jumped away.

"Don't worry dis ain't for ya it's for da tree." He quickly drove the dagger into the tree. Then it sank further into the tree till it vanished and slowly a crystal rune formed on the tree. He then held his hand out to her and a wisp of black and purple flame shot out of his hand leaving a ring in its place. He then turned and held it out for her to take.

"What is that for?" she asked as she took the ring.

"When yer done wid da book or ya want to visit, just put da ring on and touch it to dis rune. Den a portal will open dat will put ya right in front of da keep."

"Thank you Venrus I'll be sure to bring the book back and visit from time to time."

He smiled "Well den goodbye for now and good night." with that he disappeared in a blur of motion.

She put the ring on as she headed into town and held the book close to her chest, squishing her breasts. "I finally got some info on my race and I wont let it go but it will be dark by the time I make it home. Twilight will be mad and there is no way I'm going to be able to sneak a new book past her. I wonder if I should tell the others about Venrus and his people. You can't see his castle from here because of the mountain." She lost herself in thought till she saw she was right in front of the castle doors. "No I will keep him and the others to myself, for now anyway." With that she opened the door and prepared for her fate.

Author's Note

This is Nova