Stop Boy!

My sight was going black as I sped towards Ponyville, but I had to get there. Vinyl no doubt in the midst of giving birth and I wasn't about to miss that. Bael and Korvin kept yelling at me to stop but I ignored them.

You can't maintain this, you're magic is drained!

I felt it, of course I did, but I didn't care. I had to have enough to get home.

YOU WILL FALL! Bael screamed in my head. I felt him try to push to the surface, to take control. I didn't let him.

I could see Ponyville, just a few more seconds and I could stop. My sight was almost a pin prick at this point, and I knew what happened when it disappeared completely.

I was shooting downward when it finally happened. Bael was calm when he spoke this time, his attempts to take control stopping as well.

You're out.

I was blind as the energy that had been propelling me at super sonic speeds evaporated, and I was still probably two hundred feet in the air when it happened. I cursed as I fell, I was so close. I didn't even have enough energy to protect myself from the fall. I'd die from being too proud to just slow the fuck down... yeah, sounds about right. Any second now...

I felt something hit me, from the side, whoever it was had wings because I heard them flapping like mad to change our direction. It only did so much because we hit the ground a moment later, hard. I felt my left shoulder dislocate and a rock rip into my left leg. We bounced off the ground and when we landed again it was into a bush of some kind, leaving small cuts across the right side of my body this time. It hurt like a bitch. The only thing I knew was I was still holding onto Fear/Bravery's vessel.

A groan came from whoever caught me, it was definitely feminine.

"Damn dude, what the hell happened?" The slight rasp gave away the identity.

"Rainbow? How did you know I was coming?" I rasped out, followed by a coughing fit. My slight still completely gone.

I felt her shift as she got up, she'd been through worse and I knew it. Myself on the other hand, I was definitely not designed to take damage like this.

"Shit! Dude, you got messed up! I've got to get you to the hospital." Rainbow panicked as she tried to pick me up as quickly but also gently as possible.

"Answer..." I breathed out.

Rainbow answered as she tried to flew to the hospital, "Twilight told the girls to keep a lookout for you. Pinkie was the one who spotted you, she should have told Twilight by now. Don't worry about it right now. Damn it, Octavia is going to kill me, and Vinyl too when she's out of recovery." She muttered the last part, but given my location I heard everything.

I heard Rainbow kick open a door, no doubt to the hospital by what I could hear and smell. "I need a doctor, stat!" She called out and I heard a rush of hoof/footsteps respond.

"Andrew!" I heard Octavia's voice call out.

I was put in a gurney and was wheeled towards an ER no doubt, I felt my magic flow out of me almost as fast as I gained it, no doubt from my blood loss. My hand still clutching the orb in my right hand

I felt a hand on mine as I was wheeled around, "It's going to be ok, please be ok. We can't lose you too." Octavia rattled off in panic as she held my hand.

"What?" I breathed out as her hand slipped away and I heard a pair of doors open, a nurse probably stopping her from going any further. I was glad Vinyl was ok, I wished I could be with her. Though she'd probably want to punch me in the balls currently.

"How is he alive!?" I heard a panicked doctor say as my gurney finally stopped moving.

He started rattling of a list of my injures that he could observe as others more than likely grabbed the tools needed to patch me up.

If only I had my magic. This wouldn't even be a problem. I thought to myself, wondering if I was really going to make it. I was starting to feel less and less and I knew they hadn't hit me with any painkillers yet.

My other senses were dulling as I felt so tired, I tried to fight it but it only made the feeling worse.

So this is what's it's like to die. What did Octavia mean earlier? I wish I knew. I tried to feel out Bael and Korvin, but their presence wouldn't respond to my calls. Hmp, for once... they're finally quiet.

When I finally like I was drifting away I heard what sounded like doors slamming open and panicked screams as I felt the table I was on shake as someone slammed against it.

"I've put to much into you to let you die here!" I thought I heard someone say. It sounded to soft to hear who.

Just then I felt a surge of energy rip through me like a tidal wave. It reminded me of when I got struck by lightning for the first time, what had started my journey.

My sight returned in a flash and I saw Mizuki, with her eyes glowing green and blue with an orb of energy pressed to my chest. I felt my left arm snap back into place causing me to scream, The gash in my leg sealed up as the blood literally flowed back into me, along with all the small ones along my right side. Mizuki's eyes returned to normal when I was healed and the orb in my hand had disappeared just before her eyes rolled back and she collapsed to the floor.

"Mizuki!" I jumped up and put my hand to her neck. I sighed in relief as I found her pulse, she was just unconscious.

I looked up at the terrified doctors and nurses as they looked at me and Mizuki in shock and disbelief.

"What the hell was that!" The nurse I knew was called Redheart, screamed at me.

"Magic." I stated plainly.

"Magic doesn't do that! Healing spells can't do what I just saw! Not to mention she's a human!" Redheart yelled, her colleagues slowly snapped out of their shock.

"It's not important right now! She needs to be looked after and I need to find my marefriend." I spoke firmly back to her

Redheart looked like she had just been slapped, "Right, of course. Tender, look after the girl. Andrew come with me." Another nurse took Mizuki as I followed behind Redheart as we simply walked out of a room I was about to die in less than a minute ago.

There would be a lot of things that would need to be explained, but I think everyone was repressing them to allow them to do their jobs. I heard muffed wailing as we neared the delivery wing, I ran pass Redheart when I heard it, knowing perfectly who it belonged to.

I threw the door open causing the occupants to jump in surprise, even a few shrieks. I looked pass them, barely taking count that all my friends were there, even Rainbow who looked like she was seeing a ghost. On a bed in a hospital gown sobbing was Vinyl, with Octavia next to her holding a small bundle swaddled in pink with tears in her eyes.

My heart froze in my throat as my feet unconsciously propelled me forward. I reached the bed as I looked down at the pale face swaddled in blue that Vinyl held in her arms. My son was stillborn...

PICK HIM UP NOW! Bael screamed at me.

Time slowed to a crawl as my senses heightened. What can I do!? I asked urgently.

THERE ISN'T TIME ANDREW! JUST LISTEN TO US! HE'S NOT LOST YET!

Bael's use of my name snapped me out of my hesitation. I grabbed my son from Vinyl causing her to scream, but it died to a whimper when she finally acknowledged who it was that did it.

I felt energy flow around me as runes were formed in the air. Chanting came from my mouth unconsciously and as I took a step away from Vinyl more appeared as I was soon wrapped in a flurry of runes were rapidly orbiting me, just like the first time I used my forge.

The outside world faded away and sound disappeared as I fell to my knees holding my son to my chest. I closed my eyes as tears leaked out. "Tell me how to save him, please."

I felt two presences appear in front of me, I opened my eyes to find Bael in his white wolf form and Korvin as a black wolf sitting before me.

"You won't like it." Bael spoke.

"I DON'T CARE! TELL ME HOW TO SAVE MY SON!"

"You must give him to us." Korvin answered me.

My mind froze so fast I could have sworn I heard glass breaking, "What?" Was the only word that I managed to get out.

"The way we save your son is by empowering his lifeforce with ours."

"That means you must give our power to him, give us to him."

"You will no longer be our vessel."

"He Will."

Bael and Korvin shifted their gaze down to my son, like looking at their next meal.

"HOW CAN I AGREE TO THAT. I KNOW WHAT BECOMES OF PEOPLE THAT ARE VESSELS. I REFUSE TO PUT THAT TARGET ON HIS BACK." I screamed at the wolves.

Bael's voice rose to cause the air around me to shake, "HE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE OURS. THE REASON HE IS HUMAN IS BECAUSE WE DEEMED IT SO."

I shook as I clutched my son to my chest, I didn't know what to do, but I knew what I was going to do. The word didn't even feel like it came from me, but I heard my voice say, "ok..."

Bael and Korvin returned to their neutral positions and told me what to do, "Your name is Zair. You alone are him until you pass from this world. What is needed from you is to declare who your son is, in the ancient tongue."

I didn't take me long, when I looked down with tears I already knew what his name would be, "Keth... His name shall mean wind. For he will change my life and all those around him."

"Fitting." Was Bael's only comment.

Bael and Korvin started to shine so brightly that I couldn't continue to look. In a flash the light was gone and so where they. I tried to understand what had occurred, but I have didn't wait long.

A pain erupted from my chest as it felt like my very soul was being torn asunder. I forced my self to look down and noticed my skin marked with the lines of energy that appear when I pushed my magic to the limit. The triquetra on my chest shined like a beacon as I felt some try to escape. It was almost like I was in Alien or something as the pain in my chest peaked as a pillar of energy exploded from me. I watched in awe and fear as Bael and Korvin's forms could be seen within the pillar before it arced down on a collision course for that last place I would ever choose.

I could only watch as it finally reached it's destination an crashed into my son. There were no cries as it happened, not even a twitch. It just happened.

When it was over I stayed on my knees as I passively noticed the forge around me dissolve.

I was finally fully back in Vinyl's hospital room, there was silence as we waited, like everyone knew something was meant to happen. I was about to break down in tears just before I felt a small breeze flow through the room. Before the crying of a child broke the silence, the crying of my son...

Tears streamed from my eyes as the the room made a collective gasp. Vinyl looked at us in disbelief as she reached out for us. I stood up slowly and reached the bed, I saw sitting down before I was pulled forcibly into a hug as she cried with joy. Another set of cries rang out as my daughter began crying. Octavia joined us on Vinyl's other side and let her hold both of our children as we all smiled and cried for joy.

The rest of the room was frozen in shock still, some were crying at the sight and others were still trying to understand what happened. Finally it was Twilight who broke the silence.

"W-w-what did you just do, Andrew?" She looked scared as she spoke.

I looked up and dried my eyes, "Can we talk about this later please, I need this."

To my surprise Twilight did what I least expected, she became furious, "NO!" She screamed.

She charged her magic and teleported me away from the bed and I found myself pinned to the wall by an irate alicorn, "What the hell, Twilight!" I managed to get out.

"What you did defies the immutable laws of magic! The dead can't be brought back! It is expressly forbidden to even attempt it!" Her eyes began to glow with a white magic as she forcibly held me there. "I just witnessed what defines dark magic! And you are going to tell me exactly what you just did!"

"Twilight Stop!" I heard Vinyl and Octavia shout, my twins were screaming now. Others attempted to calm her down, even Rainbow and AJ tried to pull her off me but they were shoved back with a spell from Twilight.

"Answer me!" Twilight shouted.

"That's kind of hard right now." I pointed out as I was pushed more forcibly into the wall.

"Enough! This is not the time for jokes out of you! I want answers human! If that's even what you are!" She threatened me.

I'm not sure if I can even do this anymore but I gotta try. I though to myself as I tried to will magic into my hand.

It was substantially weaker than before, but magic did come and I clenched my fist as I channeled the energy I could gather to my neck were I was being held. I let out a shout as I forced the energy out to shock Twilight. It worked well enough as it made her let go and step back, but appeared to only anger her more.

The others though, took the opportunity to get between Twilight and me and stop this. Fluttershy was shaking like a leaf but stood in front of Twilight along with Rarity as Rainbow and AJ grabbed her by the arms to try and restrain her. Pinkie Pie helped me off the floor which I had slumped to when Twilight's grip on my neck was gone.

"Darling, what is going on!? This is our friend." Rarity tried to reason.

"Yeah, why the hell are you going bonkers!?" Rainbow asked as Twilight struggled against her and AJ.

"Rarity you saw what he did! You know enough about magic to understand!" Twilight argued.

"I saw a father save his son Twilight, what did you see!?" She fired back.

"HE BROUGHT BACK THE DEAD!!! THAT'S NECROMANCY! DARK MAGIC!" Twilight screamed, seemingly forgetting her magic in all this chaos.

"Why won't you let him explain!? You keep demanding answers like a savage and refuse to even allow time for an answer to be given!"

Twilight opened her mouth to shout back but was silenced my a torrent of wind that ripped through the room. The windows shattered and as suddenly as it started the room was found silent, only broken a second later by twin crying that came from my newborns.

Standing in the doorway with what looked like the majority of the hospital's staff looking on in shock and fear behind her, was Mizuki. Her eyes were glowing their blue/green when Nanal and Nylus shared control, and their voices could be heard.

"Enough! Answers will not be found this way.If you truly wish to understand, scholar. Then listen well to what we have to say."

Twilight went back to her slightly fearful shaking. Rainbow and AJ even released her and took a step back with looks of hesitation.

A glow came from each of Mizuki's hands before a quick flash. Now standing in the room were a blue and green pair of giant falcons, no doubt the physical representations of Nanal and Nylus.

The blue one, Nylus, spoke first, "I am Nylus, a being known as a Solest. Nanal, the being beside me, is known as an Umbran. We are what you can understand as the first lives in the multiverse. What is important for you to know is that there was a war, it came to the universe and planet of humans, and as the terms of a ceasefire nine bloodlines of humans were selected to act as vessels for one Solest and one Umbran each."

Nanal was next, "We are personifications of extreme emotion, ourselves being indifference and hope. The one you know as Andrew Duron is also a vessel, or was as it now stands. Fury and Loyalty are the two guarded by his bloodline, and you just witnessed the transference to that of a new vessel."

Nylus continued, "We are beings of magic, and we gave those abilities to humans when they became our vessels. It was decided however by the humans that those powers were too dangerous at the time, and in an extreme measure removed magic from their world and prevented its return forever. When Equestria breached the vale between worlds, your ambient magic filled the void that was in select humans, vessels in particular, and the skill was relearned. We have grown in the years of being here, enough that others of our kind seemed to have decided to reveal themselves."

Vinyl spoke up, "S-so there are things like you inside my son now?" She looked up at me with a glimmer of fear in her eye.

"That is correct. Though there is nothing to fear. Did you not fall in love and have the children of a vessel? Why should the enlightenment of knowing that beings like us have been present the whole time change what you feel?" Nylus asked in reply.

"I-I don't know. I suppose it's just a bit of a shock is all. What will happen because of it? Are both my children affected?" Vinyl asked.

"The only thing you will change is your son's magic will be amplified. Much like Andrew's was until this point." Vinyl looked to me and I nodded. "And for your second question. No, your daughter is not a vessel. There are certain conditions for each bloodline that must be maintained for transference to occur. It is actually the reason you have children of both races, Fury and Loyalty manipulated the genes to insure they would have a place to go should Andrew parish."

Vinyl seemed satisfied with the response, even though she grabbed my arm when Nylus mentioned my possible death, and admittedly I was disturbed by that slightly as well.

Twilight finally spoke, "What does your being here mean for Equis? I've seen the power you're capable of because of Andrew, and you aren't restricted by the standard rules of magic, that much is plain. You aren't beings of harmony. How can we trust you?" She asked ridgedly, definitely still on edge.

Nylus chuckled, "You are still inexperienced. What you witnessed wasn't what you thought of as dark magic. The soul of his son wasn't lost but was fading, Andrew made the ultimate sacrifice as the price of saving his blood. He prematurely transferred the power of a vessel to his son, and it is the power of the two beings like ourselves that saved his life." Nanal explained.

"That shouldn't be possible, a soul can't be manipulated in that way!" Twilight argued.

"It can. How do you believe you became an alicorn? The spell you used empowered your soul with your own magic, linking the two together. That is what grants your incredible longevity, which can be comparable to immortality, but in reality you are not. Nor can you ever reach such a state." Nylus spoke with increasing firmness.

These words appeared to stagger Twilight, she looked like she had just taken a blow to her stomach as she tried to comprehend the information she was being told, those out in the hall murmured as Pinkie helped me over to Vinyl and Octavia where we embraced and together calmed the children.

I still listened intently as Twilight finally got a question out.

"What do you want?" She said bitterly.

Mizuki surprisingly was the one to step forward and answer her, "We want to live. Why would we want anything else? Is there reason to why you think of Andrew differently because you know where his power originates? We are still humans, Princess Twilight. That much has not changed." Her plain statement made Twilight's eyes widen. "Yes that might not be all we are, for we also act as vessels and guardians for these beings. Though let me ask, has Andrew truly changed? He came back to find his son nearly dead, and made a sacrifice you can't begin to comprehend. He joined your army to fight for your kind, and just returned from fighting one like us, to protect you and those of this world. Do you truly think these are the actions of someone who wishes to do harm to you and those you love?"

Twilight was caught stuttering, "I-I-I d-didn't think of it that way." She went silent for a moment before answering, "No, no I don't think that at all. I just don't know what to do." She bowed her head in shame.

I rose from the bed and spoke firmly, "Then don't do anything." Everyone looked at me in disbelief. "Nothing truly has changed. I might not be in quite the same state I was before, but I am still the same person. This revelation doesn't require action. You know more, you know the truth, but that hasn't changed us. I slowly tried to introduce this, with every intention of letting you know the full truth. So that something like this would not occur, I failed in that aspect. Whatever should have been done is unimportant now, for the past is over and can only be learned from. Twilight, I'm sure that what has happened and the answers you've received has only given way to more questions. Those can be answered later, for now there no need to continue this. Let this day be one of happiness, not strife."

Twilight looked at all those that had been listening out in the hall, knowing that their questions were probably worse that her own. It was then that she decided what to do.

"So be it. Though I believe there are others that are unaware of what is completely going on."

The attention turned to the hall, causing those out there to look very nervous. Mizuki was the one to provide a solution. "Nanal, Nylus, I believe we can fix this."

The two falcons nodded before returning into energy and flowing back into Mizuki. Her eyes glowed as she held out a hand in spoke in a twin voice. After a series of commands in ancient tongue that roughly ordered, 'Heed my words', she spoke, "This will be forgotten. Until by order of your rulers, this incident did not occur."

With the order given a wind rushed over the crowd, and in its aftermath they looked dazed. When the haze in their eyes cleared Mizuki looked normal and was standing off to the side. A series of awws came as they looked at my kids, apparently oblivious to the scene they had just been witnessing for the last ten minutes. They dispersed slowly and those left in the room looked at Mizuki in a mixture of awe and shock.

Rainbow was the first to respond, "That. Was. Awesome! Can any human pull things like that?"

Mizuki chuckled, "No, well not exactly. Similar to you ponies we have affinities for certain types of magic, mine paired with my aspects of being a vessel make in easier to suggest thoughts into other. Though if anyone tried to resist the suggestion it wouldn't be overly difficult for them to do so. So its effectiveness is more situational than you think."

That'd probably be true if you hadn't used the ancient tongue. I think to myself, not expecting anyone to hear me now.

Well there are somethings these ponies should be in the dark about. Those words can be dangerous to be used causally. I heard Mizuki's voice ring out in my head.

I looked over at her in surprise, she just smirked. What? Did you think just because you're no longer a vessel it would prevent us from speaking through our thoughts.

Low conversation swept through the room as things regained some normalcy. Pinkie was animated as she talked to Mizuki, since she had somehow managed avoided a Pinkie Pie party. Others talked among themselves, with Rarity and Fluttershy talking to a very overwhelmed and slightly ashamed Twilight. Vinyl, Octavia, and I just enjoyed staring at our newborns and I'd occasionally rub Tavi's belly knowing there would soon be another.

Simple answer, yes. I though it was by communication between our Solest and Umbran's that made it possible. Though apparently that isn't the case. I replied, knowing Mizuki was good at multitasking.

It's a bit more complicated than that. Once a person has been touched by a vessel they are changed for life. Your power might be weaker, but it still exist. It will probably take a few more generations for non-vessels of the nine bloodlines to start showing signs of magic. Your knowledge of the ancient tongue is still preserved, even though you don't have nearly the power to reproduce results like you used to. The telepathy we use is merely a skill accelerated by being a vessel, anyone with magic is capable of it. The princesses in Canterlot likely use it commonly. She explained while carrying on a conversation with Rainbow.

I'm honestly don't find that hard to believe. In any case, why'd you save me. If what you said is true, shouldn't Bael and Korvin have passed to my son when I died?

Possibly, or they might have changed what your unborn would be. It wasn't a risk I wanted to take. Not to mention we actually like having you around. It wasn't overly serious to give you some of our energy in any case. Not to mention it wouldn't have mattered in keeping our magic secret, trust me. I felt parts of your battle with Fear and Bravery from here, the secret is out no matter what. Mizuki replied.

Bravery actually didn't seem to have any influence when we fought. It was more of just pure Fear, I wasn't sure the human was even left with any control. Speaking of which, where is their soul?

Pocket dimension. Safest place to keep that kind of thing, we'll have to find a new bloodline member pretty soon though. That sphere is simply a seal, and we need to prevent it from breaking at all cost.

How long do we have? I asked.

Two, three years tops.

Seriously? That's not that bad. We'll find someone.

And they need to be on Equis. Mizuki added.

What? Why is that?

The seal is a spell, without the insulating properties of a vessel the magic draining properties of Earth would destroy that seal in a matter of minutes. Meaning the only option we have is to find someone with a close tie to Fear's direct vessel bloodline here on Equis.

Shit. With the royal decree currently out, that's only a few thousand humans. And those are spread so thin that it would be hard to check. Not to mention the chances are severely reduced. I thought annoyed.

Indeed. Though we can think of solutions another day. I do believe this is a day to celebrate, yes?

I looked down at my children, both sleeping peacefully.

My daughter was a unicorn with a brilliant silver coat and an solid electric blue mane, her eyes blue like mine. My son was honestly what surprised me though.

When he was rapped up I couldn't see any features besides his pale skin, which looked more rosy now. Though now he was unwrapped a bit and I could see. The small amount of hair he had was silver in color, and when his eyes cracked open slightly for when he gave a lazy yawn I could see they were a brilliant red color, reminding me of his mother.

"He has your eyes." I chuckled as I kissed Vinyl.

"And she has yours, love." She replied after the kiss.

"Well I am the pretty one." I flip my nonexistent long hair.

Tavi laughed along with Vi before joining in, "Come on you two. We all know mine will be the cutest." She said rubbing her belly.

"In your dreams!" Vinyl laughed, giving Tavi a slight shove with her elbow.

We all laughed as we continued to have fun and before long the others noticed us and started cracking jokes too. After a few minutes Fluttershy asked me a question when she finally got to hold one of the twins.

"What are there names by the way. I think we got so caught up in everything else that we forgot to do that."

I looked at her in a bit of shock. We had forgotten. How the hell had that happened!? I looked over to Vi and she handed me my son as Fluttershy gave back my daughter.

"I think his name should be Crimson Gale. It feels right, also an Equestrian style name seems fitting considering he was born on Equis." I answer while looking at my son with a smile.

Vinyl, not one to be outdone, replied with, "Well it looks like we had similar thoughts, because I think Silver Storm will be her name." She said brushing her nose against her daughter's causing a giggle. "She will probably be just as destructive as her namesake, but also just as beautiful." Her features took a more gentle tone as Vinyl cradled our daughter.

I sat beside her and gave her a kiss on the cheek before replying, "There's no doubt in my mind. She's your daughter after all."

"Yours too. Don't you forget that. And our son will likely be much the same." Vinyl replied with a mock fierceness.

"Like I'd forget a thing like that." I softly answered, before kissing her. Enjoying the moment, knowing that before long this eden would end, but for now it was enough. It was enough.

Author's Note

Ok... This turned out much longer than intended. Not that any of you mind I'm sure.

Well everyone I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I don't entirely like the flow of it, and it might receive a round of edits when the story finally gets a 'complete' tag, but for now I am satisfied enough to present it to y'all.

I'll be honest, we're getting very close to the end now. Probably about three more chapters at best, and then an epilogue to wrap things up. I really appreciate everyone who's taken the time to read my story, especially this far. It truly means a lot.

Stay awesome everyone, Lyruil out.