The days that followed their adventure through the King's Woods and the beast that lays within were filled with sleepless nights. The first day out Twilight, Battlesong, and Golden didn't rest. Nor did they the second day, the third Golden and Twilight sleep for an hour, but Battlesong had stayed awake playing songs. On the fourth, they took turns keeping watch for fear that monster could be lurking in the shadows waiting to strike.

The fifth day they came to a hill marked with an old ruin of an abbey, which Battlesong called, 'Holy ground and no evil could walk upon it.' Twilight was not sure if it was true, but she chose not to think about it too hard, as a good night sleep sounded better. Even still her dreams were filled with shadowy figures and those hateful eyes.

The following day an outline of town came into view as they passed over a hill. "Seems were further north then I thought, as isn't that Lion's Lake Golden?" Battlesong asked as they started down the hillside.

"Oh, that it is." Golden sniffed the air, "I can smell my mother's cooking from here, or could be my grandma's."

Battlesong laughed, "will be nice to have a warm meal and bed."

The edge of Lion's Lake statue or an armored lioness, with two cubs at her teats. Hm, mother and warrior, I would guess, so she must which would make the closest I can think of being Terra.. Across from lioness was another lion. This one was male who held a banner and was also armored. Around both were flowers, gold, silver and copper coins, and candles.

Twilight stared at the statues for a long time before she heard Golden laugh. "That would be the Great Huntress and Lio the Great." Golden smiled, "Be glad we're not in the east, where the great stallion is honored if I recall he is normally sculpted with... let's say he is not lacking in areas."

The thought made Twilight blush, as she knew the one he was talking about. Lover of mares and envy of stallion, if I recall my reading on the matter. She recalled how the mares would offer up gems and gold in hopes of being blessed with a foal, stallion would seek to gain his blessing through battle and mighty deeds.Even if one of those deeds is bedding one hundred mares.

Twilight couldn't help but recall how some ponies saw Celestia and Luna as goddesses. Celestia was sometimes depicted in the same manner as the Great Huntress. Luna on the other hoof was often portrayed as a warrior queen or as Nightmare Moon, even if the latter was less common than it was before her return. However, a few of the bat ponies still saw her as their goddess of the night; Nightmare Moon.

Lion's Lake was many homes to lions with a few odd ponies here and there. Of the ponies there were a few shopkeepers, some walked beside lions of the opposite gender, with the last few seeming to be just travelers. The town watch was made up of all males, in boiled leather. A few they passed greeted Golden and Battlesong as they want by, but paid little mind to Twilight.

As for the town itself it was built in a mix of Saddle Arabian and early Unicorn Empire style. Columns and balconies were in front of the older building of the town with flower gardens. It was not as large as Ponyville but it was clearly older. At the heart of the town were three statues the Great Huntress, and Lio the Great were bowing before a six-winged alicorn. Something about that alicorn made Twilight feel great terror. She was not sure if it was due to the odd number of wings or the fact the statue was imposing.

They stopped in front of one of the older homes in the town. Golden knocked at the door before entering. Inside were an older lioness and one around the age of Battlesong. "Grandma, Aunt Sapphire," Golden give both of the lionesses a kiss on both cheeks before they did them. "Where my mother, father, and my lovely sisters?"

The older lioness was the first to speak, "Oh, they want to Silver's Watch to trade for goods and the like. Most likely be back in a fortnight."

Sapphire kissed Battlesong on both cheeks and whispered something in his ear. She then took note of Twilight, "Oh, Battlesong if I didn't know better I say you found a nice young mare to keep you company on those lonely nights."

Twilight felt her face turn bright red as she guessed what Sapphire was implying. " No... I would never... He just taking me to Silver's Watch."

Sapphire laughed, "I jest my dear." she gave a toothy white smile, as she ran her tail along Battlesong muzzle.

The old lioness looked Twilight over, "By the Huntress, that one all skin and bone..." she looked to her grandson. "What have you been feeding this poor mare? Air, water, no matter I’ll give you all a proper meal." Before she left them in the great room of the home.

Twilight could hear plates and pans being moved and a few words which she couldn't understand. I'm not that thin, am I? Twilight looked at herself for a moment, she didn't seem much thinner then she had a few weeks ago.

"Don't mind her less, my grandma is always trying to fatten you ponies." Golden laughed a bit.

Twilight felt unease at the thought of being fattened up. I guess I'll be more of a meal for them then. Well, I'm sure it's just a joke, but it is common knowledge that the zebras have been the prey of the lions in their homeland. I doubt those lions feast on ponies, so more likely that beast will have more of a meal, or does that monster want my plot? "I really not that hungry," Twilight said.

"Come now less, you have not had a good meal in a few days," Battlesong spoke up.

Twilight bit her lip and knew he had a point. She had only seen this much food once before and that was when she first came to Ponyville and Applejack had set meal after meal before her. The old lioness had placed fresh bread, cooked beans, smoked fish and a half dozen eggs just on her plate. Golden had a far larger helping of each.

Thought dinner, Twilight paid little mind to what was said. The few things that she heard was about wars, the local lords, and other nonsense. The one thing she learned was how Archangel had left the governing of his kingdom to twelve ponies of high standing, and only rarely left his mountain fortress to deal with matters of state or defending his ponies. Glad we're not off to see him, the way it sounds I would be here as long as Luna was on the moon.

The other thing that Twilight took note of was how Sapphire would whisper into Battlesong's ear, and giggle every now and then. Golden seemed to pay it no mind, he either already knew what his aunt and friend were whispering about, or didn't care. If she had to guess it was the latter.

After dinner was over she set about helping the old lioness with the clear the table as the other want off to their rooms. Golden had gone down the hall, while Sapphire and Battlesong had taken their upstairs, Twilight didn't care to know if they were up to anything. However, she was more then sure she would be hearing things later in the evening, more so if she was placed in a room on the upper floors.

"Your room is upstairs and the last door on the right." The old Lioness told her before going into the great to read.

Twilight made her way upstairs, she could hear giggling from one of the rooms she passed. The door was slightly cracked, and without thinking Twilight peeked in. There she saw Battlesong on top of Sapphire rutting away, as he whispered in her ear. Twilight knew she should look away and head toward her room, but something in her wanted to watch.

What the harm in it? A small sweet voice whispered in the back of her mind. Twilight knew it sounded like her inner voice, but something about it felt wrong. As she watched under her tail begin to burn, it wasn't told she felt her hoof moved down her barrel that she shook her head.What I'm I doing? What would Celestia say if she saw this, or my parents, friends or anypony for that matter. She knew they would disapprove of this, and even give her an earful.

Twilight made her way to her room, with her tail kept low and burning feeling coming from between her legs. The room was simple, one bed, an end table and a window facing the market of the town. The bed was soft and having four walls around helped her relax.

She found it hard to fall asleep with the burning under her tail and the sounds of the old home. Her mind wandered to the beast, would it come into Lion's Lake, and if it did could anything stop it? She hadn't seen any of the iron ponies around, which made her wonder how many there were in the world. It could have been five thousand or one hundred thousand for all she knew. Yet, even if it was closer to the latter that still left a lot of ground to watch. However, she was more sure it was more likely the former, as she had never read about them in even in the Canterlot Library.

Sleep finally took Twilight and she dreamed. She was in the heart of the Lion's Lake looking up at the stars, Veritas was next to her. "My brother brought me here once, we gave candies to the cubs and foals and watched a play... I think it was the Huntress and Warrior."

"Sounds like it was a nice day." Twilight heard herself say.

"It was, we laughed and smiled." Veritas looked at her with tears in her eyes. "My brother doesn't smile anymore."

Twilight wiped away one of the tears, "I'm sure he will when your back with him. He must miss you terribly."

"I don't think he will be happy to see me, I did something very bad." Veritas glanced at her hooves. "A lot of ponies got hurt."

Twilight wasn't sure what to say to that. How could this filly have hurt ponies, she seemed so guiltless. "What did you do?"

Veritas rubbed one of her hooves. "Hunger for knowledge, I want to tomes and scrolls... I read and read until I was marked by something dark and terrible." The filly showed Twilight the dark lines on her hoof and the strange marks and symbols. "I hid it from my brother and tried to make it go away... But I couldn't do it and it changed me."

There was something strangely familiar about the mark, but Twilight couldn't place it but found herself rubbing one of her hooves. "How did it change you?"

"It made me want to hurt ponies, made me want more, and more power. There were others who were marked with this, some became monsters wanting blood and the flesh of ponies, others become lustful." Veritas looked at Twilight tears in her eyes. "You have to find my brother, I can't say why but you have to before..." The words seemed to pain her.

Twilight was unsure of what to do, part of her wanted to wipe the tears away and hold Veritas but something stopped her. "Who is your brother?" Twilight asked realizing she had never asked.

Veritas opened her mouth to speak but could say anything, and the pain was painted upon her face, fear was in her eyes. "I... can't say his name..." She looked in pain as she thought for a moment. "Wings of Justice." She said before looking in fear at a shadowy figure.

It didn't take Twilight long to realize the eyes of the shadow. The hate, madness, and lust of them. She could smell the sulfur and death of the beast of the King's Wood as it stepped closer. Twilight was about to tell Veritas to run, but the filly was gone leaving her to the beast.

Twilight was frozen in place as the monster smelled her, showed its large black teeth. It seemed to delight in her fear, as it sniffed up and down her body. She tried to scream as it bit into her neck and pulled her to the ground. She could feel the burning pain as it let her lay their standing over her. She was powerless to do anything but stare up in horror at the beast. Her spells and years of learning were nothing, she could only wait for the end.

The beast revealed in her weakness, placing a bloodstained paw upon her back. It began to put on pressure; digging in his claws and Twilight was sure it meant to break her back, or to simply kill her. However, she knew this thing wouldn't give her a clean death and may deny her that.

Twilight awake in a cold sweat, the light outside sting her eyes. "Just. a nightmare." She told herself, yet she could back to the filly and knew there was more to it.Find her brother, wings of Justice... Could be nonsense yet there something strange about that. If it was my inner thoughts why would they say to seek Celestia, Luna, Shining Armor, or my friends? She wondered as she laid there.

Later in the morning after Twilight went to talk to Battlesong. He was in the great room, Golden was in the next room talking with his family. "Battlesong, do the words 'Wings of Justice' mean anything to you?"

Battlesong looked at her curiously, "Aye, that would be one of Archangel's oldest titles, why?" he asked.

Okay, so this Archangel is linked to Veritas' brother. Meaning I need to meet him. to Twilight knew he wasn't going to like what she was going to say next. "How far would he be from here?"

Battlesong just stared at her for a long time, but finally spoke. "His sanctum is nearly a month away, and on top of a mountain. Oh, and let's not forget we may or may not have that beast hunting us. So please tell me you just asking out of curiosity."

Twilight tapped her hooves together, "Well, let just say hypothetically I wanted to head there, would you and Golden be able to lead me to him?"

Battlesong took in a deep breath, "We could, but I would say best to stay going to Silver's Watch. While I'm all for helping you, this goes far outside of that, we would be heading into danger needless. So I would say neither me Golden would be willing to aid you." The middle age stallion looked at her, "But let me just tell you what will most likely happen heading that far west. If somehow we get passed all the beasts and bandits and reached the foot of that Archangel's Mountain. Golden and I would need to take the same way back risking life and lamp for nothing."

That a far point. "Could you give me a map then?" Twilight asked.

"Aye, but could save you time by telling you best just to walk into the nearest outlaw camp with your tail in the air, unless you want them to beat you bloody first. That is if the King's Wood Beast doesn't get you first." Battlesong replied.

Twilight thought of saying who had told her to seek the Archangel, but something told her that he would pass it off a simple dream, or her going mad with being away from home. Either way, she knew it was important to seek after the Wings of Justice; the same way she had when Nightmare Moon's return was at hoof. "Please, I just need to be sure of something."

"And what would that be?"

"I don't know, just trust me."

Battlesong took in a deep breath as he looked at Twilight and then sighed. "Fine, not sure if Golden will be joining us, however, lions do love to go headlong into danger."

Author's Note

Well, still not used to using M rating so any feedback would be nice.