Luna est cor Noctis

Chapters

Prologue: False Security
Diverging Paths
Breaking ties
Path of Knowledge
Amongst the Mire
Pets and Discoveries
Doggie Treats (Part 1)
Doggie Treats (Part 2)
Humble Beginnings
Night of Discoveries(Trixie)
A Small Goodbye
First Journal Entries
A Tavern Meeting
The Unbroken
The Merchant
Traveling Documents And Merchant Matters (Partition 1 of 3)
Traveling Documents And Merchant Matters partition (2 of 3)
Traveling Documents And Merchant Matters (Partition 3 of 3)
Bend A Tree
The Avian Bandwagon
Identifying the Miscellaneous
Tallon Style Pathfinding
Decomposing Lies
Fragile Lives
A Restful Night

Prologue: False Security

Luna est Cor Noctis

Prologue: False Security

It was a bright cheerful, sunny day in Ponyville as a golden chariot being pulled by a pair of white pegasus guards landed near the town square. Its two occupants, a unicorn and a small baby dragon, quickly disembarked. The chariot flew away as the pair surveyed the lively town around them.

The unicorn spoke up first in a bored tone “Really, of all the places for the princess to choose, she picks this back of the woods town. If I didn’t know any better I’d say she was playing a joke on me.” The unicorn looked to her purple scaled companion as he looked up at her.

“Now Trixie, the princess...” He started to reprimand as they began walking towards the Ponyville town hall.

“I know what the Princess said, but I would rather get things checked, set up, and done without having to make friends.” The azure unicorn interrupted. “Besides these peasants are below me. After we complete our checks on the summer sun festivities we shall retire to the library, where we can rest and wait for my mentor to arrive.” The egocentric unicorn finished as she opened the doors to the town hall.

“She immediately ran head first into a dazzling white unicorn with a manic smile, sapphire blue eyes, a wild deep violet mane, and a blue smiling face cutie mark. The other unicorn assaulted her eardrums with a tirade that would make even the most long-winded of the Canterlot professors proud.

“Hello! Oh I’ve never seen you before! What’s your name? My name is Sunny! Where are you from? Oh you’re from Canterlot aren’t you? Yes you are, your sense of fashion tells it all. Do tell me, what are the parties like? Do you have parties? Do you go to them? Do you like parties? *GASP* Oh no, what if you don’t like parties? I mean, I like parties but if you don’t like parties then that wouldn’t be fun. I still need to set up for the big party tonight. Oh wait, duh, I forgot I already set up the party! Oh do come in, I hope you like it.” Sunny immediately took position behind Trixie and began pushing the dazed unicorn into the hall, her mind rebooting from the personality overload.

When Trixie came back to her senses, she realized that she was being pushed by an over excited mare and being followed by her assistant. Trixie also noticed that the massive hall was decked out in an astonishing array of decorations, all in preparation for the upcoming festival. “Impressive... I guess this can be a good place for Celestia to begin the Summer Sun celebration. Alright, I think we have the location and festivities handled here.” She turned towards the exit, having already spent too much time around the mad mare. “Dagg, come. We still have a few other locations to check before I can rest for the night.”

“Yes Trixie.” The dragon hesitantly followed her out of the building, not wishing to leave the cheery presence of the beautiful white mare.

“Don’t forget to write!” The alabaster mare called out as they left.

They traveled a few blocks in silence, heading toward Sweet Apple Acres, where the food for the main event is to be produced. As they were about to leave the main street, a shout that came from above was the only warning they received before a honey yellow pegasus with a teal windswept mane crashed right into Trixie, sending them both sprawling along a dry part of the road. The pegasus was first to get up “Here, let me help you.” and offered a hoof to Trixie. Which she graciously accepted.

The pegasus raised a hoof and rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. “Heh, sorry about that.” she apologized.

Trixie raised an eyebrow contemptuously “And just who might you be?” Trixie asked dubiously.

The mare pulled a roguish smile of her own before answering. “I’m Raindrops, captain of the Ponyville weather team. The hottest, fastest pegasus this part of Equestria, aaand future Wonderbolt!” The confident pegasus answered doing a few loops either ignoring or unphased by Trixie’s tone.

Trixie face hoofed. “Alright. So you are the lead weather pony here? Then you’re doing a pretty poor job at it. The skies are supposed to be clear and they aren’t even close.” The azure mare jabbed at the over excited pegasus before her.

Raindrops laughed at Trixie’s prodding. “Filly, I can clear this sky in ten seconds solid.” Her smile grew even wider after giving her challenge.

Trixie scoffed at the obnoxious pegasus, then smirked in turn. “Show me then.” She challenged.

“Girl, you’re on.” Raindrops accepted the challenge and quickly flew into the air, kicking clouds out of the way and dispersing them into nothingness, diving and corkscrewing through the air.
“Quick loop-de-loop around, aaand bam.” Raindrops finished landing and sauntering over to the dumbstruck unicorn. “And that’s why they call me Raindrops, toots.” She smiled lewdly at the unicorn then patted her on the shoulder. “Heh, not every day you get to see the Drops in action, but I’d never abandon Ponyville. Pfft snkt. Bahahaha!” the pegasus started laughing at Trixie’s expression. “You should see the look on your face! You’re hilarious Trixie, see ya later cutie.” and with that she flew off.

Dagg let out a small chuckle at Trixie’s expression, as she regained her senses. Trixie shook her head and then glared at the baby dragon. “You gotta admit that was pretty awesome.” Dagg noted to Trixie, who silently nodded as she regained her composure.

“Yes, she was pretty good wasn’t she? Anyway that’s enough about her.” She shook her mane in emphasis. “She’s taken care of the weather, now let’s continue on and check the food preparations. This year we have the Apple family supplying the refreshments.” Trixie noted before they continued down the road to Sweet Apple Acres.

Eventually they reached the property in question and found it busy with activity. Earth ponies traveling to and fro in a flurry of coordinated activity. An orange earth pony mare with her blond mane in a bun and a cutie mark consisting of three oranges proved immediately to be the source. Trixie walked up to the mare and called out. “So it’s safe to assume that you’re the leader of this operation, miss...?”

“It is pronounced Madame Orange. So who do I owe the pleasure of this meeting, ‘Trixie, student of Celestia’?” Madam Orange spoke crisply.
Trixie smiled, excited to finally meet another mare from the upper crust of pony society. “Hello Madame Orange, I was sent here by Celestia to check on the Summer Sun celebration activities. I see you have things well handled here.” The unicorn nodded slightly to the orange earth pony.

Madam Orange gave a small smile. “It wasn’t all my doing. My good friend from Trottingham, Pinkamena was the one who planned this. I’m here to oversee that it works.” Madame Orange smiled at Trixie then casually asked “Would you stay for lunch? The Apple family has been known for making a very delectable crop, especially this time of year.”

Trixie tapped her hoof to her chin for but a second before making her decision. “Sure, I’ll stay for lunch, but it must be quick as I have other places to check before tonight,” the azure mare answered. Madam Orange’s smile grew sincere with Trixie’s answer.

The orange mare swiftly grabbed a rod and rang a triangle calling, “Lunch break everypony! You have fifteen minutes!” she called out so everypony could hear. As if in a frenzied swarm, the Apple family gathered around and began to eat, pulling out random apple treats from every direction.

Trixie had finished eating and, with an over-fed Dagg on her back, was now on her way to the park, where Madame Orange had told her that the musician for the celebration was supposedly practicing. As she entered the park she heard the faint playing of a lyre and humming. Trixie followed the lively melody until she almost literally ran into the mare it originated from, stopping just short of crashing into the distracted mare.

“Hmmhmhmmmhm-hm-hm-hm-... whu uh Oh hello. Didn’t see you there. Sorry about that.” The mint green unicorn with a white streaked mane and a golden lyre cutie mark apologized chipperly.

Ignoring the slight annoyance, Trixie settled to a more comfortable position before responding. “I am Trixie Stargazer; I’ve come to check up on the music portion for the Summer Sun preparations. I assume that you’re Lyra Heartstrings, the one composing this year’s piece for the Summer Sun festivities?” queried the azure mare, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh yes I am. Glad to see you again Trixie, I hope you remember me,” the mint unicorn spoke merrily before continuing. “Anyway, that’s not what you came for. The piece is ready so you don’t have to... I- Is that Dagg?” Lyra asked uncertainly her eyes locking on to the dragon next to Trixie.
Trixie looked down at Dagg then back up to the unicorn, and her eyes widened as she made the connection. “Oh! Lyra! It’s been such a long time, how have you been? Did you graduate from the academy? ” Trixie asked as Dagg walked over to Lyra and gave her a hug in greetings.
The mint unicorn smiled even wider at the recognition. “Yes, yes I did graduate, with a master’s degree in musical theory; the only other pony I know of that has one is Octavia, and thank you for the worry. I’m having a wonderful time here in Ponyville.” She then looked down kindly at the dragon before her. “My, my, you’ve grown! The last time I saw you the classroom was set on fire.” Lyra snickered as the dragon blushed furiously in embarrassment.

“How was I supposed to know fire rubies were so spicy?” Dagg vocalized his protest as Trixie joined Lyra in laughter.

Lyra smiled with Trixie and Dagg as they reminisced over the events in Canterlot. “Oh I almost forgot. Trixie? Where are you staying before the celebration?” The mint green unicorn inquired.
Trixie raised her eyebrow before answering. “The Golden Oak Library. Why do you ask?” She prodded innocently.

“Oh, just wondering. I was planning on visiting later.” The musician answered innocently.
The unicorn nodded. “Alright.” Then Trixie noticed the position of the sun on the horizon. “I’m sorry to cut this short, but it’s time to head to the library, you can come with if you wish.” Trixie kindly offered.

“Ooh sure! I’ll tag along! Besides, I’m not done talking to Dagg.” Lyra smiled innocently while the baby dragon groaned and put both palms to his face, hoping to hide from the embarrassment.

---------At the library---------

“Hey Dagg, remember that one time when the guards forgot you were in the food tray and one of them accidentally served you to the princess?” Trixie sniggered.

“Yiiia... I remember!” He held up a claw, then answered cheerily. “I don’t think the princess will ever let him live that one down.” Dagg and Lyra joined in the laughter as they reached the birch entrance to the library.

“You two are funny.” Lyra smiled then turned to leave and waved to her companions. ”Catch you two at the celebration later!”

“You too!” Trixie and Dagg both chorused as they waved in turn. Turning back to the door of the library, Trixie knocked twice to get the attention of the occupants. The door opened a crack and Trixie took that as a sign to enter.

The azure mare visibly calmed as she entered the building. She tried to look around but the building was too dark. “Aren’t libraries supposed to be bright?” She snarked as Dagg started searching for the light switch.

“Hey Trixie, do you think you could help me search for the light switch?” Dagg queried.
Before Trixie could answer the lights flicked on, and it was as if all of Ponyville had stuffed themselves into the library, with an alabaster unicorn in front.

“SURPRISE!” They all called together in a tone rivaling that of the Royal Canterlot voice.

The unicorn then charged right up to Trixie. “Hi, I’m Sunny, but you already know that! Anyway I threw this party just for you! So were you surprised? Were ya? Were ya? Huh? Huh? Huh?” the over excited unicorn mare bounced.

The azure unicorn quickly recovered her wits for the second time and uttered one word. “Yes.”
Sunny smiled even wider at the mention and hopped into the air with a resounding, “YES!” Defying gravity for an extra five seconds before coming back down. “Anyway after I met you I was like ‘Wait didn’t she say she didn’t like parties?’ So I began thinking ‘She must be new to Ponyville.’ So I decided to set this party up for you. I mean, at first I thought you were new to town, then I saw you talking with Lyra, then I decided you must be new because I’ve never seen you before, so I set up this welcome party, and invited all of Ponyville just for you.” The blinding white mare stopped bouncing and stared deep into Trixie’s lavender eyes. “So do you like it?”

Trixie shook her head and spoke evenly. “Like it? No! Trixie does not like this... Trixie loves this!!!” The azure mare shouted with glee. The ponies around her beginning to look dejected immediately burst into cheer alongside Trixie and they joined in the festivities.

Raindrops floated over to the azure mare as the party went on around them. “So I heard that you’re Celestia’s student. Mind telling us some of your awesome stories?” The pegasus asked excitedly.

Trixie nodded and began narrating her tale. “Well as you know. being Celestia’s student does not mean that all of my tests are based on books. There was this one time where Trixie and a group of very influential archaeologists decided to check some of the ruins inside the Everfree forest.” As the student began her story, a couple of the party goers along with a certain rainbow maned pegasus joined in to listen to the story.

Trixie took another breath and continued. “What happened was that while Trixie was investigating a pond near the ruins, a group of no less than three manticores appeared from the forest and attacked, so Trixie, thinking quick on her hooves, attacked the nearest manticore with a charged magic bolt. Then, Trixie blocked the other two with a powerful sleeping spell, while the third one recovered Trixie charged another spell this one a simple stunning spell and defeated the beast.” Trixie looked at the amazed crowd around her and fluffed her mane and cast an illusion spell to make the air around it sparkle slightly while giving a smug tartarus may care smile.

The crowd cheered at Trixie’s accomplishments and storytelling abilities, all save one. The rainbow maned pegasus in the back stepped forward. The crowd went silent as the rainbow maned pegasus began harshly. “Good story, but I bet it was just that. There’s no way a weak stun bolt could take out a manticore, let alone being able to catch them off guard with a sleeping spell.” The pegasus taunted.

“Lay off it Rainbow Da-” Raindrops began to protest but Rainbow was having none of it.

“You think a few illusion spells and flashy magic can make me believe that you could defeat a manticore?” The rainbow maned pegasus challenged. “How about this, you beat Glimmer in a magical challenge and I’ll believe you’re not just lying.”

“Now just a sec-” the lilac pegasus began again only this time to get shot down by Trixie.

“Trixie accepts. Now, where is this unicorn challenger so that I can get this duel of sorts over with.” The azure mare spoke with authority.

The rainbow maned pegasus began smiling as the door to the basement of the library opened and a lavender unicorn with a two tone striped mane stepped into the main room. Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to begin speaking only to have the unicorn glare at her and hold up a hoof instantly causing the pegasus to quiet herself. Then the bookish unicorn turned her gaze from the pegasus to the azure unicorn. “So you’re the one Rainbow wants me to challenge?” The mare asked. Trixie nodded silently.

The lavender mare then turned her predatory gaze back to the Rainbow maned pegasus. “Hey it’s not like you have to take an hour for the challenge.” She responded defensively.

The lavender mare then smacks her face with a hoof slowly sliding it down before grumbling aloud. “Fine. I accept the challenge Trixie, however we need to make this quick. I have some research to finish before the night ends, so pick a spell that you’re good with and we both try and do it to the best of our abilities. Is that a fair challenge?”

Trixie snorted derisively. “That sounds fair enough. I’ll choose now since you are in such a hurry.” The azure unicorn smirked as the lavender mare glared at Rainbow Dash. ‘Glimmering Wisp’ then looked back towards Trixie in interest and nodded for her to continue. “The contest shall be illusions.”

The lavender unicorn nodded and began weaving her own spell, the magic around her horn building up until it flared out and exploded across the room as if it were wild fire. The charred wood splintered and cracked apart falling out of the illusion revealing a beautiful night sky, with a beautiful field of moon flowers surrounding them. Glimmer smiled at her complete spell, however the rest of the ponies were covering their eyes and cowering in fear as they felt the dark of the night encroach upon them. The spell dissipated and the crowd calmed down as they returned to the library, realizing that the spell was just an illusion.

Trixie smirks, knowing full well the illusions the ponies truly wish to see, and how to get one up on the lavender mare’s casting. Trixie begins by subtly lighting her horn and summoning a small sun overhead, then masking the floor boards with grass, then making the grass taller and fuller the occasional flower sprouting from between the grass stalks and a small stream seemingly cutting through the field. The ponies ooh’d and aah’d at the azure mare’s demonstration.

The illusion finally came to a close as the library came back into view and the ponies looked around at the party supplies and books realizing that they really weren’t in a sunlit field, but remained smiling nonetheless. Trixie stepped up to the lavender challenger and offered a hoof. “I believe that you did a splendid job with your illusion, however I believe we both know who the winner of this competition is.” She then smiled as the lavender mare accepted the hoof.

The lavender mare trotted back to the basement door, then paused at the entrance. “Indeed, Good job Trixie. Goodnight.” She then continued down.

The azure mare followed the lavender unicorn till she was out of sight then turned to the rainbow maned pegasus that instigated the challenge. “Do you believe me untested now?” She boasted.

Rainbow Dash crossed her forelegs and huffed, turning her head away, “She didn’t even try,” she muttered before finally speaking aloud “Fine you win.” The pegasus continued muttering quietly about the braggart unicorn.

Lyra walked over to Trixie after the little competition. “Nice job Trixie, though I thought you were over that little habit?” The mint unicorn questioned.

The azure mare grimaced folding her ears back. “Yeah, I usually do well but, sometimes I get stressed out and I just relapse into it. Celestia says it’s some sort of coping mechanism I’m used to, we’ve been trying to break it for years.” The unicorn finished sheepishly.

“It’s alright. Maybe I can help. Anyway let’s not worry about it now, we still have a party to attend.” Lyra smiled then trotted off leaving Trixie’s mood a little lightened.

Hours later the front door opened and a plum colored earth pony with three smiling sunflowers for a Cutie Mark stepped through announcing loudly. “Come on everypony, it’s time to watch the sunrise.”

A few minutes later they were inside the town hall of Ponyville. Trixie glanced around and noticed several things. Sunny with her mouth running a mile a minute in excitement while a pink earth pony mare with a straight dark pink mane and a deceptively smooth stone cutie mark spoke calmly with Madame Orange, Raindrops darting within the crowd lewdly speaking with many of the other mares and colts in attendance. She also noted absently that Rainbow Dash was sitting in the back of the room with a cheerful looking griffon with a well kept brown coat and a shy looking butterscotch colored pegasus with a bubblegum pink mane.

‘Where’s Glimmering Wisp? Maybe that upstart pegasus mare knows something.’ With those thoughts firmly in hoof, Trixie began walking towards Rainbow Dash, until Lyra Heartstrings began playing a lively tune, as a beige earth pony with a sealed scroll cutie mark took up the stage. The Earth pony on stage smiled and began her speech.

“Fillies and gentlecolts. As mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun celebration!” she announced happily, and the crowd roared with applause. Mayor Mare waited for the noise to die down before continuing. “In just a few moments our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year.”

The mayor paused to build up excitement. As she was getting ready for the next part of her speech, unbeknownst to every pony in the room, the four stars converged onto the moon, and it flared with ancient power. The mayor continued as the face of the mare in the moon disappeared. “And now it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria.” She paused again in excitement. “Princess Celestia!!!” she cheered strongly as the music blared and the curtains opened wide revealing... an empty alcove.

The ponies beginning to cheer, gasped in surprise as they saw the princess wasn’t inside waiting for them. “Where’s Celestia?” Trixie stated in a small voice. “What’s going on here?” The azure mare uttered even louder.

“Remain calm everypony, I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation.” Mayor Mare began in an uncertain tone.

“Oh, Oh, I absolutely love guessing games! Is she hiding?” Sunny shouted out brightly while hopping up and down as if in a sugar rush, then looking in between her forelegs.

Before any of the ponies could answer, the pink mare Madame Orange was speaking to appeared on the platform Celestia was to appear from, then peered between the curtains. “She’s not here.” The collective gasp of surprise could have nearly created a wind tunnel.

Sunny’s eyes widened, “Oh, she is good!” she then sharpened them into a glare that could cut glass. She began to screech as a dark mist begins to coalesce on the stage.

“Trixie does not like this.” The azure unicorn muttered to herself as the mist finished forming into a black alicorn mare that radiated pure darkness. “Who is she?” Trixie asked fearfully.

The obsidian alicorn on stage then began to speak, as the ponies on the ground remained frozen in panic. “Ah my beloved subjects, it’s been so long since I’ve seen your precious little sunlit faces” She orated to the crowd

“Where’s Celestia?” Raindrops asked forcefully, without any of her usual lewd attitude, but with an authoritative tone befitting her station.

“Mmmahaha!!! Why? Am I not royal enough for you?“ Her semi sweet smile turned dark as she continued. “Don’t you know who I am?”

“Oh, oh more guessing games. Uuum Hokey Smokes, How about Queen Meany, no wait Black Snooty! Black Snoonmff!” Sunny was ranting when a pink hoof almost instantly appeared and shoved a banana frosted cupcake in her mouth effectively cutting her off.

The ebony alicorn continued to frown as she smoothly began once more flitting from pony to pony within the crowd. “Does my crown no longer count, now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?” She gained in volume as she spoke.

“Trixie thinks she knows who you are.” The azure mare interrupted heedless of danger. “You are Darkstar -” immediately the obsidian alicorn gathered the boisterous student in her mane and began strangling her.

She then called out clearly over the ponies smiling wickedly. “I... am Nightmare Moon, remember this day foals for it was your last.” Nightmare Moon then dropped the azure mare and left through an open window, laughing as she proceeded out into the night.

Trixie immediately charged from the hall in both embarrassment and purpose. ‘I knew I should have taken my studies more seriously... the library! Maybe they have something I can use. It wouldn't hurt to check if it has the information I need.’ With a direction firmly set, she charged towards the library.

Arriving at the library she finds the lights on and the door unlocked with both invitations firmly in mind she enters the abode. ‘Where is the librarian? You’d think she would be in her library!’ the azure mare questions before she finds a book with many notes on the dining table along with directions and warnings written very cleanly in hornscript. Just as Trixie is about to start reading the notes the front door bursts open and Madame Orange followed by Sunny, Raindrops, Lyra, and the pink mare the good Madame Orange was talking to earlier tumbled in.

Raindrops began first charging straight up to Trixie and holding her down. “Alright something’s up and I want to know what it is NOW!” she raged calming down just a sliver she asked. “Alright, two questions. One, who exactly is Nightmare Moon? Two, how much do you know about what is going on!!?” The pegasus asked levelly, the fire in her eyes speaking louder than words.
The pink mare quickly stepped forward and placed her hoof on the cream colored mare’s shoulder. Raindrops turned and looked into the pink mare’s eyes and realized what she was doing and quickly hopped off Trixie with a sheepish ‘sorry’.

“Hello Trixie. Miss Orange has told me much about you. It is... nice to make your acquaintance. My name is Pinkamena Diane Pie, however you can call me Pink or Pinkamena if it’s simpler for you.” The cotton candy colored mare nodded to Trixie in difference. However the captain does have a point. Do you know anything about what’s going on?”

Trixie huffed as the mares started gathering around her. “Stop!!! Trixie would know what is going on if you would give her a SECOND, to read the librarian’s notes.” The girls backed off and looked to where Trixie was pointing with a hoof and noticed the pile of notes on the library table. Trixie quickly trotted over to investigate the stacks of paper.

As soon as she started reading the top sheet the front door burst open again, with a soaked Dagg entering leaving behind a stream of water. He glared daggers at Raindrops then lifted two claws and pointed them between his eyes and the object of his ire. “I’ll get you eventually.” he warned before leaving the room, supposedly to dry himself off, before heading to bed.

Raindrops watched him leave before bursting into laughter alongside Sunny. “Hah you should’ve seen the look on his face when he realized he wasn’t drowning.”

“Yeah that raincloud was a pretty decent trick Raindrops.” The alabaster mare joined.
The azure mare studying the notes on the table coughed, grasping the group’s attention and making the jokers’ laughter die down. “Well, it seems that Nightmare Moon is the mare in the moon as spoken in legend. It’s no wonder we couldn’t face her on our own. It seems that her threat is no lie. However there is a chance we might be able to stop her.” Trixie took a breath. “There is a weapon called the Elements of Harmony that Princess Celestia used to bind the Nightmare to the moon.” Trixie then switched over to the open book and read the page. “Apparently the last known location was in the ancient Castle of the Pony Sisters. Trixie believes that the location of the ruins is within... Oh.” Trixie’s eyes widen with realization.

Lyra stepped up to the azure mare and gave her a quick shake. “Trixie where is it then?!!” The mint mare demanded.

“The Everfree Forest.” Trixie spoke in a small voice, her irises constricting.

“Sorry I didn’t quite hear you what was that you said?” Madame Orange asked.

“The Everfree Forest. It’s not Trixie’s fault that the forest has bad memories for her. She did not say she wished to experience them again.” The azure mare cringed. She remembered, as if the events were fresh, the challenges she went through inside the woods in her adventures both archeological and adventurous with one of the more famous book writers in Canterlot. Some of the adventures were fun, the azure mare had to admit, however most of the time it was high adventure travel with extreme potential for danger and little gain in return. Trixie carefully looked about herself and cleared her mind allowing her to think. ‘Alright it’s scary and the dark forest is probably still filled with those darn timber wolves but... but this is for the princess. We need to defeat Nightmare Moon. Oh Celestia, I wish you were here, It... It doesn’t matter how dangerous the forest is, we must retrieve the Elements of Harmony they’re the only weapon that could stop Nightmare Moon as the book says.’ With a decisive nod of determination she quickly turned to her friends. “We need to search for the Elements of Harmony, we absolutely must for the princess if not Equestria!!!”

The group smiled and Raindrops floated forward. “Well what are we waiting for? We have a castle to penetrate, and some elements to take.” The pegasus joked, but her suggestion was agreed and they all began their trek to the forest.

Arriving at the forest swiftly Trixie decided to enter first, knowing she had the most experience of the group and that she needed to face her fear of the forest. That left Raindrops immediately behind her, Sunny third, Pinkamena close behind, Madame Orange watching Pinkamena’s back, and Lyra cutting off at the end. They trekked through the forest surprisingly without incident Trixie had calmed down, the creatures she had been expecting along the trip never showed and the castle they had been reaching for was just across the ravine.

“Girls, there’s the castle. Do you see anyway to cross the ravine?” Trixie asked, staring over the edge.

“Let me check it out, since I’m the only one here with these.” Raindrops bragged, flexing her wings, getting ready for take-off.

Lyra spoke up first. “Wait if you find a bridge you might need this.” She then lifted a rope out of her saddlebags. The other ponies stared at her. “What!? You never know when you’ll need it.” The mint unicorn defended.

“Yeah! Yeah, I got ya! Say, what do you think about visiting my place when this is over?” The pegasus asked lasciviously, earning a smack from the mint unicorn. “Heh well, I guess I did deserve that one.” Raindrops grinned before grabbing the rope and heading over the gorge walls. “Hey I think I found our bridge.” She called out a few minutes later coming into sight. “It’s kinda hidden so I’m not surprised you girls didn’t see it. Follow me!” She commanded leading them over to the broken bridge supports.

Trixie looked at the shattered wood and noticed it was broken by some form of sharp clawed creature. “Hmm… I think I can repair these. Just give me a second. Trixie lit her horn and cast one of her less used regrowth spells, causing the wood to extend about a meter off the ground, becoming solid supports rooted into the ground as they were. Trixie then looked towards where Raindrops should have been, only to hear the mare in question coming in from the other side of the ravine.

“Already one step ahead of ya filly.” Raindrops commented as she brought the other side of the bridge to them. Trixie quickly uncoiled the extra rope from around the pegasus and used it to connect the bridge allowing the rest of their group to cross.

Watching the others make their way to the other side, Trixie made sure the bridge was safe and that they’d make it before crossing herself. Once on the other side they made their way through the massive double doors into the decrepit castle. They gazed amongst the ruins finding themselves within the entrance hall. Trixie stepped forward towards a set of double doors.
Sunny noticed Trixie heading towards the doors and called out. “Darling! Where are you going?” just as Trixie reached the doors.

“I just feel something here calling to me. It might be the Elements.” with those words she pushed the doors open with her front hooves. The first thing she noticed in the room was a pedestal with five round stone orbs on each of its outstretched branches. “They’re here! Trixie has found them... (Gulp) Ahem. We have found them.” She deflated as the mares gave her funny looks. “Anyway, I think I know how to get these artifacts working but first, let’s get them back to Ponyville.”

Canterlot one thousandth Celestial year, first day of summer. Canterlot throne room.
A white coated unicorn with a dual blue shocked mane and several golden armor pieces and a few other little details that set him apart from the rest of the guard, was standing in front of the throne, directing the rest of the Canterlot guard. Things were not going as well as he’d hoped. “Brightsteel! What's the status on the arcane council? Swiftwind, Freefall GO round up a platoon and assign them to front gates we’re going to need as many guards as possible if we’re going to survive this.” The captain was ordering the guard as fast as he could.

“Captain Shining Armor, sir! The arcane council has fled with a majority of both the green recruits and ninety percent of the castle’s main guard. Permission to speak freely, sir?” The grey Unicorn corporal asked.

Captain Shining Armor lifted a hoof and rubbed between his eyes. “Uugh! Permission granted!!!” He called.

Brightsteel evenly stared at his Captain with his golden yellow eyes. “Captain, the situation is FUBAR! The arcane council has abandoned us and we're down to ninety-four guards. I’ll stand with your decision, whether you choose to defend the castle or not. Celestia is missing and nighttime has not ended we can only assume the worst. The guards that remain here are as loyal to Celestia as you and as captain we will follow your orders to our last breath.” The unicorn nodded and turned signaling the end to his speech, the guards around him murmuring their own individual agreements.

Shining Armor finally lowered his hoof, the fires of conviction burning in his eyes. He turned to Brightsteel but spoke to the whole room. “Here’s what needs to be done. All available guards ponies are to regroup in the throne room, then I’ll tell you my plan. We need to at least hold Canterlot, We can't let Princess Celestia down. Now, MOVE!!!“ He commanded in the most authoritative voice he could muster.

Within several minutes the throne room was filled with the remaining guard, barely enough to cover a fifth of the floor. Captain Shining Armor stood with Corporal Brightsteel and Lieutenant Lightning Strike to his right, along with Sergeant Stonewall to his left. The guard stood stock still as Shining Armor stepped forward. “Alright! Her Majesty Princess Celestia is currently reported missing and, due to the falling out of our ever trustworthy and reliable arcane council, we’re left with only a meager five percent of our usual strength. I would gladly die to defend Equestria, however I don’t know about you.” The pearl white unicorn glared amongst the golden shod crowd staring each pony down in turn. “Even if it proves to be a fool’s errand, I will stay and defend Canterlot. What say you? Will you stay and fight with me or will you leave? The choice is yours.” Shining Armor finished calmly, then opened the doors to the throne room allowing entrance and exit from the palace proper. Only one pony took the offer: a pegasus colt, barely out of training.

The slate colored unicorn next to him spoke. “Then this is what we have to work with Captain. Let us hope this is enough.” Shining Armor nodded.

“Alright, let’s begin....” The plan was simple. The full force of the guard would remain in the throneroom, able to mobilize at a moment’s notice, while several rotating shifts of pegasus scouts will watch the area for intruders and sound the alarm if need be. A few hours passed before the alarm was sounded. The pegasi reported an obsidian alicorn being followed by a pitch black unicorn, two pegasi, and a griffon. They decimated the entire aerial surveillance before entering the castle proper. Shining Armor commanded the guard to remain in the throne room and prepare for their foes’ arrival.

Shining Armor was sweating. He knew the foe had almost arrived and had shown aerial superiority against even their fastest. He remembered Lieutenant Lightning Strike, he was one of the few pegasi that could actually fight Shining and have a chance to win. That he and his platoon went down to these intruders said quite a bit.

As he started to get anxious and shift his position, the doors to the throne room were blasted off their hinges, crushing several earth ponies and two of the surprised unicorn guard and in stepped one of the most terrifying ponies he had ever seen. Her coat was pitch black, and her mane and tail were cut straight. They were separated into three muted colors: blue, red, and purple. Her eyes were blood red draconic slits, and her cutie mark was an eight pointed silver star with twelve magenta stars surrounding it and a magenta sphere in the center. Several pegasi tried to flee, only to get tackled out of the air by a rainbow maned pegasus and a brown coated female griffon.

However the unicorn stood there waiting for something. The guard were tense, prepared for the unicorn to make the first move. When they heard it, the soft tap tapping of ornate shoes upon the tile floor, several of the guard relaxed hoping beyond hope it was Celestia, until the nightmarish alicorn came into view. Her obsidian coat accented by her midnight blue armor and, with her gaseous mane of stars, she struck even more terror and fear into the lesser guards than the unicorn did. Then she cackled. “Oh you pitiful foals. This is all the defence my dear sister had to offer? Not even a full battalion of guards, pah. However, I’m feeling generous. If you surrender now, I’m willing to spare your lives, even let you leave, unchallenged by my commanders.”

“Return Princess Celestia at once!!! You will not be asked again. We will defend Equestria to our dying breath.” Shining Armors voice rang clearly throughout the room.

The obsidian alicorn smirked. “Fine Eclipse, I will grant you this boon, but only him.” The alicorn spoke sternly. “As for the rest of you foals, feel my wrath.” Within half a second, the obsidian alicorn and the one called Eclipse had already charged their spells, while the canary yellow pegasus with a bubblegum pink mane charged down from the rafters, and as the other two arial combatants rushed in from the side. All five combatants outnumbered eight to one, yet it was not them that cowered in fear, but the guard that suffered from the terrifying abilities of their opponents. Though the soldiers fought valiantly, they were woefully outmatched in terms of both skill and power.

Shining Armor tried to join into the fray, until the unicorn Eclipse blocked his path seemingly from nowhere. “If that’s how you want it, then bring it.” Swiftly he charged a spell, only to have it ripped away from him. He then summoned his standard shield and she struck it with a blast of pure energy. However unlike the spells Shining was used to, it didn’t so much physically strike the shield as slowly spread out upon its surface until it passed over a small indentation in the shields surface, no larger than a hair on a feather. Eclypse struck.

It was as if the shield was struck with the force of a falling cliff and shattered into a thousand shards, the magical feedback staggering him completely. Eclipse struck before he could even regain his bearings. She stared deep into his lightning blue orbs before delivering a swift final strike with her forehoof, knocking him out.

Groggily, he woke up, blinking his eyes blearily, trying to see into the shadows until a light shone down from above. It was then he realized the situation he was in. Never would he have expected any foe to not only defeat the royal guard but also capture their leader. With the defeat at Canterlot, Equestria was lost.

Author's Note

A/N: Feel free to comment as you want on my story I love feed back and it helps me improve and fix chapters for future readers, also if you're going to comment on errors please please please let me know where they are so I can fix them as fast as possible. thank you. :twilightsmile:

Edited by Ebonysdagger
Edited again this time by Aeondragon.
Proofread by janushyde

Diverging Paths

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 luna est Gelida

Chapter 1 Diverging Paths

(Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns, Examination Hall. Nine hundred and ninetieth celestial year fourteen day's after the summer sun festival.)

Once upon a time, In the magical land of Equestria.
There were two regal sisters who ruled together, and created harmony for all the land,
to do this the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn,
the younger brought out the moon to begin the night,
thus the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects all the different types of ponies, but as time went on the younger sister became resentful.
The pony’s relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth,
but shunned and slept through her beautiful night.
One fateful day the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn,
the elder sister tried to reason with her,
but the bitterness in the younger ones heart transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness Nightmare moon, she vowed she would shroud the land in eternal night.
reluctantly the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to Ponydom, the elements of harmony. Using the magic of the elements of harmony she defeated her younger sister and banished her permanently in the moon.

The elder sister took on responsibility for both sun and moon.

“… for both sun and moon. And harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since.”

“Twily? Are you reading that old mare's tale again?” Shining Armor chided as he walked through the gold leaf doors of the entrance hall. “I really doubt it’ll be in any of their questions.” He chided in a mock serious tone.

Twilight sniffed contemptuously at her brother as he alighted his way over to her “Common BBBFF! you never know what they could ask I have to be prepared.” She finished, smiling at her small verbal victory, and returned to finish reading her book, however her brother had other ideas and swiftly wrapped his forelegs around Twilight pulling her into a headlock while rocking back onto his hind legs to get a better position for which to attack his little sister.

“Exactly, which is why you should study something that is likely to be asked” giving Twilight a fierce rub on her lavender mane.

“H-Hey stop that!” she exclaimed. He relented after a few seconds tussling her mane in the finale. She gave him a sharp glare from her seat next to the entrance to the exam hall, then let out a loud snort to calm herself down. “I already studied the entire library at home, twice over, I even read the books that weren’t about magic.”

“Hmm…” he put his hoof to his chin as if to contemplate his next words while sitting down, he then flicked his foreleg as if coming up with an idea only to pull his other hoof from his back carrying with it a tan colored book with several cutie mark symbols on its back. He opened his muzzle only to be interrupted by an energetic squeal.

“Eeee oh Shining Armor you didn’t!” then she takes one quick glance at the spine of the book, that one glance telling her everything she needed to know. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes…” she paused while bouncing and landed on her hind quarters intense fires of burning embarrassment touching her lavender cheeks, turning them a fierce scarlet. “Umm…, just pass it over.”

“Sure.” Shining Armor barely spoke while passing the book to her before breaking down into howls of laughter at his sister’s embarrassment. “I knew you‘d want to read something we didn’t have in the library so I pulled some strings with my fellow guards and well… I have about 3 days to return it to the Canterlot castle library. I thought you might want to take a look at it first.” He stretched his lips into a wry grin ”At least now you have something new to study rather than the same books over and over again. So whaddya think little sis?”, he quirked an eyebrow as if to venerate his words.

Her lips melted into a warm smile “Thank you BBBFF I never thought I’d see this particular volume.” She took another glance at the symbol on the binding to reaffirm her assessment of the article. ”Teleportation and Rituals by ‘Starswirl the Bearded’, how much did it cost you?” Her eyes rounded with the realization of how much her brother must have gone through to get the tome of knowledge within her grasp.

“Actually it didn’t cost me much. Just a few extra days of polishing equipment, and what not, however knowing you I think the effort was well worth it. Now don’t let me down and let me know the results of your exam.”

“Wait, you have to leave already?” she asked disbelieving.

“Yes., Wouldn’t want to be late to my post now, would I.” he grinned “‘Sides I’ll get to see you after this is all over.”

Twilight crossed her lavender hooves over her chest and glaring at the floor before speaking up “Fine but you’d better be home later.”

“Don’t worry I will!” he responded rolling his eyes at his sister’s foalish pouting.

After he left she relaxed a little, lifted the book with her magic, and opened it to the first page. She looked at the directory and spotted a particular spell that she wanted to try, quickly skimming through the content, she squinted her eyes searching for her wayward target. Finally after a few paragraphs she spotted the spell she was looking for.

Quickly she began concentrating on her horn focusing her energies as the spell instructions said, her horn tip glowing furiously as she concentrated deeply upon the spell, and then thought of the item she desired in that moment. With a sudden flash and pop trailing at the end, her magic ceased and immediately an object fell in her lap a small doll in the shape of a pony with one button for an eye and the other a crossed patch. Twilight took a look at the doll for a second before her mouth stretched into a beaming smile. “It worked. I can’t believe it I cast the spell the first time and it worked!” she continued smiling as she picked up the cerulean stuffed toy “Oh I knew you would make it.” She murmured to the cobalt toned doll stroking it with her lavender hoof lovingly, in circles, holding it to her chest like a treasure. “I knew you would make it Mrs. Smartypants.” She reaffirmed with a smile. She turned to go back to reading the book. However before she could study the next spell…

“Mrs. Sparkle? It’s your turn now, we are ready.”

She froze and could feel her tongue shrivel up as her mouth dried in anxiety, her heart rate skyrocketed as thoughts about how horribly she could fail the test and oh how she wanted more time to study. Twilight desperately wanted to hide and forget about the test but… ‘No!’, she stood on unsteady legs to support her small petite frame. She gazed at the mahogany portal in contemplation as she unconsciously closed the tome, opened her saddlebags placing it inside, and then walked through the entrance to the exam hall. Upon entering she noticed four judges behind a cedar desk watching patiently as she entered the room, she also noticed her parents on the other side of the room on plush cushions waving to her as she continued toward the center of the expansive room.

“Twilight Sparkle, daughter of Midnight and Dream Sparkle. If I am not correct?” spoke the female judge in the third seat from the door.

She flinched “Y-yes” she responded timidly.

The judge picked up her papers and straightened them out but instead of her the cyan stallion to her right raised his voice “Alright first we’ll start with a verbal quiz then we’ll see how much magical potential you have, if you fail the magic exam then there will be no entry to the academy, however if you pass both then where we place you will be based on how well you do on the intelligence portion of the exam. Is that understood?”

Twilight nodded softly. “I-I think so.”

The stallion interrupted before she could say more “Good then now that we have that little triviality out of the way. Let us begin the questioning. You first Professor Quill.” He nodded to the cream colored unicorn mare to his right.

“Thank you Professor Etiquette.” She responded then turned her attention to the lavender foal before her “Now Twilight I have three questions I want you to answer, one which ink is preferable for taking notes or writing a book? Linseed or reed?”

Twilight perked up a little at such a simple question being asked. ‘I know this one!’ she thought “you can't write with reed ink because it runs too much and would ruin your notes however linseed oil dries fast on paper making it the preferable choice.” She smiled up hopefully.

Mrs. Quill nodded her head in agreement “Alright now tell me the definition and purpose of an exclamation point…”

They spent the next hour grilling Twilight with many questions covering a wide field of subjects and Twilight was able to answer them all with confidence born of pride in the fact that she knew the answers before they even finished leaving the examiners lips. Still giddily smiling waiting for the next question when the lead examiner Professor Etiquette raised his hoof to stall anymore questions. “Alright young Twilight you have now finished the extent of your knowledge exam now to put some of that knowledge to the test in the magic exam.” At those words the doors on the side she entered opened wide to invite a unicorn stallion pushing a cart with an egg in it. But not just any egg. ‘A dragon egg what do they expect me to do with that…’ as if to answer her thoughts Professor Etiquette continued “We simply want you to hatch the dragon egg and that will pass the magic entrance exam. You have fifteen minutes. Starting… now!” He called as the worker finished exiting the room and the doors closed again.

Twilight immediately went into full panic mode and rushed over to the egg. ‘Ok I can do this I just need to figure out how to open it.’ She thought frantically her mind working overtime. ‘Ok so the sign on the front says open it down the center… no no no that would never work ok. Try something else o hay how could I be so stupid.’ She thought bitterly as she realized one of her major errors and already five minutes has passed by. Immediately she illuminated her horn with a quick scanning spell which returned positive for a baby dragon inside. She also figured out how the shell was designed. Sadly there was no trick to opening it no magic quick fix to this particular problem. But she still tried and put strain into her horn as she poured magic into her spell and transferred her energy into the egg trying to grow the unborn hatchling and immediately she felt as if she were being sapped of her energy. Five minutes left ‘Oh no it can’t be it’s almost time.’ “Please hatch” she asked under her breath pouring more energy into the spell hoping against hope that this succeeds. She began banging her head against the egg making poses to see if that would intensify her magic all for not though as it reached thirty seconds. She quietly bowed her head not daring to stare at the judges as she spoke “I’m sorry I wasted your time.” With that she walked over to her parents completely dejected shuffling her hooves as she went not paying any attention to the goings on around her.

As she reached the door the lead judge spoke up. “Mrs. Sparkle we regret to tell you that you are hereby banned from the academy and that you are not a magically gifted unicorn please leave the premises post haste. Good day… Trix…” his voice faded out as she crossed the threshold into the mahogany hallways and continued to the entrance with her parents behind her asking her to move on and that there’s always other paths to learning. She pulled herself together she wasn’t going to cry just because she failed entering into Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.

As she continued gloomily down the streets towards her home she began to think about her future ‘Ok maybe I didn’t succeed at making it into Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns… it doesn’t mean the end of the world it just means that I won’t be able to go that route towards learning… maybe … hmm well if Starswirl could do it without an education system helping him along then maybe I can do it too.’ she finished her internal monologue just as she reached the bright canary yellow hovel that was her home with the light of new hope shining within her eyes. ‘I will study and learn magic faster than ever before maybe after a few years I’ll even be able to solve the puzzle of hatching the dragon egg. But first…’ she gulped dreading having to deal with her brother who surely would not be happy that she failed to pass the entrance exam. However as she entered the home she lived in her thoughts were interrupted by a soft cough behind her. She turned only to gaze straight into her father’s eyes.

“I’m glad to see your in a better mood, I’m sorry you had to go through that sweetie I really do wish the best for you.” He lifted the right side of his lips into a little half smile which immediately turned back into a frown. “However because of this disappointment you will not be allowed outside for a week and you will have to study twice as hard then after all of this you will show me the hardest spell you learned and managed to accomplish… is that understood?” he finished with a small inflection to emphasize the seriousness of the statement.

She nodded sadly “Alright daddy, I’ll go and continue my studies.” She went inside and headed for the study at the end of the lime painted hall. Upon entering she dropped her saddlebags with Mrs. Smarty Pants and the precious tome of knowledge from Shining Armor onto a chair next to the wall. Then She headed over to the grand bookcase on the left side of the room, picked out a book and began reading.

Cloudsdale same day

“Nice Going Clutzershy they ought a ground you permanently” laughed the brown stallion.
“HA. My baby brother could fly better than you” snarked his smirking olive toned companion as they started laughing at the canary yellow pegasus with a bubblegum pink mane before them.

Then a shadow crossed above them from above causing the two colts to pause in their jeering. Then instantly from behind the cream colored pegasus came a cyan filly with a prismatic mane and tail stopping in between the two parties facing the two colt bullies yelling “YOU leave her alone!”

The ocher pegasus smirked “Oh what you gonna do, Rainbow Crash!” he retorted cruelly.

“Keep making fun of her and find out!” returned Rainbow Dash defiantly, with her wings splayed out in an aggressive manner prepared for a fight.

“Think you’re such a big shot!” raged the brown colt as he started walking towards Rainbow Dash. “Then prove it!”

“What do ya have in mind then Quarterback?!” she asked with a smirk.

He then turned on his back legs as he got close enough then shifted his weight to his fore hooves for balance as he prepared to spring his back legs in the arrogant fillies face. “THIS!” he yelled as he shot his back legs forward, missing Rainbow Dash by centimeters as she rolled to the side.

Having spent time with a griffon Rainbow Dash had built up necessary reflexes from having daily sparring and racing matches with her olive toned roommate. She’d also developed some skills in fighting that most ponies wouldn’t even know outside of the Equestrian Celestial Guard including the buck she was about to deliver to the sternum of the foolish colt that dared challenge her to direct combat.

“Oh so that’s how it’s gonna be” she spoke with a tone laced heavily with furious contempt as she quickly finished her roll to her hooves facing away from the foolish colt. She quickly pushed back with her front legs aiming carefully at the colt as he was still trying to balance himself after the unexpected miss, she bucked Quarterback at full power not holding anything back right underneath his wing, unexpectedly ripping the appendage out of its socket and shattering the rotating cup of the front right leg as her hooves collided with the joint. As a side effect of the powerful kick she jarred him rendering him stunned as he was launched off the side of the lower level cloud bed.

Rainbow Dash feeling the solid hit didn’t hear the bones snap or the slight wet sound of tearing flesh as she inflicted the severe wound on Quarterback. She turned around as soon as she got back on all fours and turned around expecting to see the foolish bully colt on his side gasping for breath instead she saw Fluttershy cowering in a ball having heard such horrible things, the olive toned pegasus colt backing away from her as if she just grew dual horns and razor sharp teeth, and watching the last seconds as Quarterback finished his fall over the edge of the cloud bed. ‘Oh buck’ she thought. Then without thinking she ran to the edge hoping to see Quarterback on a cloud just below them only to realize as she reached the edge that there were no lower clouds and she watched as Quarterback freefell with his lame wing and leg still too stunned by the strike to even formulate a thought as he descended closer and closer to his demise.

Rainbow Dash instantly realizing the implications of what she had just done immediately fled toward her cloud home passing Fluttershy, nearly brushing the filly with her wing causing her to fall off the cloud as she passed heading straight for the apartment for the comfort safety and advice of her avian friend.

Reaching her cloud apartment she immediately flew through the cloud door, almost hard enough to break it off its permafrost hinges. Bucking the bits of cloud that followed her inside back onto the door, She turned back towards the room and quickly surveyed her surroundings she was currently in the living room. Immediately she had to know one thing so she took a deep breath “GILDA! ARE YOU HERE?” she hollered as loudly as possible. Immediately a coppery brown blur came shooting out of the left most door, leading into the kitchen immediately crashing into the Cyan mare sending them both tumbling onto the couch.

“Yeah of course I’m here pipsqueak, I ain't about to spend any time hanging around a boring lecture hall!” stated the brown blur that was beginning to clear in Dash’s sight as she continued reorienting herself.“So anyway what’s got you so riled up all of a sudden Rainbow Dash?” asked the brown feathered creature on top of her.

Her vision finally clear enough to see properly she took a long look at her would be assailant realizing that she was just giving her usual greetings, responded by smirking having forgotten for just a second what she was worrying about then it all came slamming back like a freight train, her grin being almost instantly replaced by panic. “Oh no Gilda, Quarterback. I didn’t mean to. It just happened too fast. I didn’t know what went wrong, he attacked first.” She was sputtering and she knew it.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa their, hold up for a second” Gilda held up her palm pointing it flat outward toward the terrified mare, completely halting Rainbow’s rant. “Alright, start from the beginning and tell me exactly what happened” she explained in an authoritative voice, Rainbow Dash nodded her head eyes no longer frantic as she calmed down in the presence of her powerful roommate.

“It all started when I was ditching boring old Feather Quill’s class, I was flying on one of the lower levels heading towards our place when I saw a couple of bullies making fun of Fluttershy, I decided to tell them off but they kept taunting us eventually I threatened them that if they didn’t back off I’d make them.” She shivered as she remembered the next part. “Then Quarterback decided to challenge me. I asked him what he was up to then he turned and tried to buck me I dodged out of the way and kicked him in the side like you showed me.” Gilda flinched at the mention of one of her combat moves knowing full well how much harder a pony’s hooves are compared to a griffons paws having been on the receiving end of plenty of Rainbow Dash's bucks. “But when I turned around to see him on his knees from the attack instead I saw him flying over the edge of the cloud with blood flying everywhere. When I went to check and see if he was ok I only saw him falling towards the ground at terminal velocity. Now I don’t know what you think but I think I just killed a pony.” She looked at Gilda hopefully “I don’t know what to do I need your help desperately. What do I do, I don’t want to go to prison or get banished forever” She cried frantically.

“Quiet dweeb!” Gilda almost yelled, “I’m trying to think” she spoke then began looking into her claws as if they might hold the answers to her friends questions then it came to her “Hay dash you said you wanted to visit my homeland didn’t ya?” Rainbow Dash only gave a slight nod somewhat getting at what Gilda was saying. “Well, if you want to escape the heat, then pack your things we’re leaving for Griffica in two hours, we’ll also want to make it by sundown. So don't get slow on me.” Gilda grinned then “Though you’ll have to stay for a bit, possibly two years till the heat dies down.” Rainbow Dash nearly cursed under her breath at this statement then hardened her resolve and nodded giving her own smirk in return. “Oh and one last thing get used to the smell of meat because where we're going there’ll be plenty of it and not all of it will be fish.”

The prismatic filly gagged at the thought, but realized it was the truth no matter how much she wanted to deny it; griffons were carnivores and needed to eat meat. “Alright I really don’t have much to pack so I should be ready in ten seconds flat.” She spoke with conviction and confidence born from experience; she then immediately set to proving her statement. True to her phrase she was finished packing her saddle bags in ten seconds flat. And then closing the cloud marble door they were of towards Griffica to see what new adventures awaited them.

Author's Note

Xaldon Ajide:
Comments are welcome from anyone even preferred if they are constructive criticisms and can help with my writing thanks.

Edited by Ebonysdagger
Proofread by janushyde

Breaking ties

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 2 Breaking Ties

“Midday, Bridalton Outskirts, nine hundred and ninety second celestial year, forty-eighth day of summer.”

“Hmm… hmm. Sweet chil-dren and follow my-” *knock* *knock* *knock*

Lifting eyes from feeding the little bunnies the buttercream mare focused on the door at the other side of her small cozy hovel near the Everfree ‘Now who could that be’ she thought “I wasn’t expecting any visitors.” she whispered under her multihued breath. Clearing her throat she asked in her usual timid voice. “Who is it?” she spoke barely loud enough to be heard from behind the wooden structure as she made her way across the maze of bird and animal cages that littered her home on the way to the small oak door on the opposite wall. A tomboyish voice from outside queried

“Finally! Hay Flutters do ya mind opening up I wanna talk.” It took Fluttershy a few seconds to recognize the voice while she traveled over to the door.

“R-Rainbow? Is it really you?” she exhaled as she opened the door only to get tackled in a hug from her prismatic maned friend. “Oh Rainbow Dash it really is you isn’t it. Where have you been past two years?”

Rainbow Dash took a step back and rubbed the back of her head with her foreleg “Well… you see I had to stay somewhere to hide so I spent some time with Gilda back in Griffica. It really wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. The griffons there were really nice and they seemed to like me but really in the end it wasn’t really as much as I wanted it to be so after the heat cooled down here in Equestria and the guard stopped searching for me I decided to head back and you’re the only friend I could think of that wouldn’t turn me in on sight so I’ve been searching for you, for at least three months now.” Rainbow Dash smiled sadly at the time she’s wasted.

Fluttershy’s eyes opened wide in realization of what she forgot “Oh dear um Rainbow please… take a seat oh and would you like some tea?” she asked.

Rainbow Dash coughed a little “No thanks Fluttershy I think I’ll be ok without.” she smiled up at the buttercream pegasus before her as she sat down on one of the leaf cushions Fluttershy counted as seating, while Fluttershy went to the kitchen and returned with a cup of steaming tea that smelled of chamomile.
They sat there for a few minutes one waiting for the other to speak eventually with a cough Fluttershy began. “So… Rainbow Dash. How’s Gilda been?” she asked calmly

“Oh Gilda? Well she’s been great, last I saw of her she was almost captain of one of her tribe’s war wings.” she smiled in reminiscence. “She also told me to come and visit from time to time before I left. Other than that nothing really is going on over there right now other than the fact that there’s some rumors flying around about the dragons getting more territorial around the border region.” Rainbow Dash sighed remembering one of the more vicious stories about a dragon that burned down an entire village because they refused to hand over a pair of thieving youngsters who stole from his cave, he burned down the village and all of its inhabitants. Shaking her head clear of the story she focused on Fluttershy. “So how have things been for you Shy?”

Fluttershy took another sip of her tea before beginning “Well when you left in such a hurry and you kind of knocked me off the cloud platform, anyway I was lucky enough to land on a bed of butterflies that happened to fly through, after that I sort of fell in love with the animals I saw eventually becoming their friend, I also realized I could communicate with them on a different level than most other ponies, that’s also how I got my cutie mark.” She turned to the side revealing a trio of ponies with chromatic off white, glittering butterfly wings as her cutie mark. Then she remembered to ask “Oh Rainbow I was also wondering, how did you get your cutie mark?” she said pointing at Rainbow Dash’s flanks as a reminder. Her cutie mark was a bright white comet with a blazing chromatic contrail.

Dash’s ears flattened as if to block out some unsavory sound, and grimacing in distaste. “Oh yeah that… are you sure you want to know?” Fluttershy nodded her head and shrugged her wings as if to say ‘Go on.’ Rainbow Dash visibly shivered before continuing. “Well it all started out with me joining one of the griffon combat wings. What happened was I got stationed with Gilda since she was one of the few griffons who had any knowledge on how to fight alongside a pony, anyway-” Rainbow Dash shivered again as the memories came back to haunt her. “Anyway while we were out on patrol one night we were attacked by bandits just a few miles outside of the main town.”

“Oh… my I’m sorry Dash.” Fluttershy’s eyes were wide with worry.

Rainbow Dash grimaced then smirked a little “Don’t be it wasn’t your fault.” She spoke softly in a husky voice laced with pain and regret, then frowned again.

Fluttershy smiled a little “Alright then please…, continue.” And Rainbow began where she left off.

“Our flight leader was struck down almost instantly with a crossbow bolt, then came the wing second who was struck down midair by one of the opposing griffons blades then I saw Gilda.” It was at that point that she started tearing up. “I should have pushed her out of the way” she cried. “Instead I just froze in place like a foal caught in the cookie jar as her wing got shot and then shredded by the opposing griffons claws, by the time I finally came to my senses Gilda was already half way down to the ground, I forgot about the rest of the team my focus was only on Gilda, and I couldn’t let her down, so I flew, I charged down as fast as I could but I wasn’t going fast enough, I kept pushing and pushing until I felt a rip and then as if the very wind itself made way for me… I wasn’t even paying attention all I knew was that I needed to catch Gilda and so just fifteen feet from the ground I barely caught her. And then I flew back to the safety of town only stopping at the main gate to let the claw captain know that our team was attacked by an unexpected group of bandits. Then took Gilda to the local rune caster.” she was visibly crying now “I found out three days later that the rest of the wing fell about as fast as the captain and his second, when they captured the bandit ringleader and killed the rest of his cohorts. Me and Gilda were the only survivors. Anyway this,” she pointed at the cutie mark on her flank, “I only noticed when Gilda pointed it out a day later, it must’ve happened when I broke the sound barrier to catch her.” She waited a few minutes to calm down and steady her breathing before continuing “and that’s how I got this cutie mark.” she spat as if it were a vile thing.

Fluttershy lifter her hoof to her mouth and spoke in a soft lilting voice. “Oh my… it- it can’t be all that bad can it? I mean Gilda’s doing alright and you’re here now.” She asked hoping that there was some way to salvage Rainbow’s cheerful attitude.

Rainbow Dash flicked her mane back and spoke in a calm tone having finally pushed back the pain the memories brought. “No it really wasn’t that bad it’s just that particular one. The cutie mark stands for me being fast and by fast I mean I can pull off some pretty impressive feats like breaking the sound barrier though I can’t do it at will yet I’ve done it about four times during my service amongst the griffon talons…” Fluttershy gave her a blank look “The griffon military… equivalent of the royal guard in Equestria? Though maybe not as well trained.”

Fluttershy finally raised her eyebrows in comprehension. “Oh sorry I didn’t know.” She folded her ears back preparing for a reprimand.

One that didn’t come as Rainbow Dash grunted acceptance of her excuse and continued. “As I was saying I was able to do it about four times during my time amongst the griffon talons. The first time was when I was saving Gilda, the second and third times were when I was scouting and had to outrun a couple of bandit flyers, and the fourth time was when the wings best scouts challenged the talons to a race to see who was the better group of flyers, to say the least I won by at least fifty yards.” Dash somewhat gloated then deflated as she remembered some of the less savory events with her time in Griffica “However there were times I still wasn’t fast enough but anyway at least I did what I could.” She waved her hoof in a flourish to signify that she was done.

“Then If nothing else I’m glad you’re here Dash” Fluttershy smiled in her calm loving manner.
Rainbow Dash laughed and spoke up at Fluttershy’s incredulous look “No worries I plan on staying for some time do you mind if I crash here for a bit before I begin traveling again I still want to make sure my trail isn’t being followed if you know what I mean, and I also feel a bit adventurous so I was hoping to travel between towns for a bit, before finally settling down.”

Fluttershy beamed even brighter than before “Oh that sounds like fun umm… do you mind if I come with?” she asked with big pleading eyes.

Rainbow Dash recoiled somewhat at the request but swiftly agreed “Uh sure. But I gotta ask. Why?”

“Well that’s because I’m only renting this place from Mrs. Honey Suckle the local land lady. And I haven’t been able to pay rent recently due to the lack of clientele. apparently the people here don’t like having pets so close to the griffon border, also I’m tired of having the same pony’s yelling at me every week about what they think I am doing and why I should stop being a witch when its obvious I’m nothing of the sort.” She looked up at Rainbow Dash her ears folded back in annoyance from having spoken of her problems so openly. “Not to mention the pony’s of this town are heartless to say the least. Originally when I moved here from Chittenhoof Village I thought Bridalton would have been a bright and lovely town with nice ponies and lots of cute little pets to love and take care of, instead when I arrived they were aloof at first then slowly over time as they began to see my personality and traits about me they began to start approaching me asking that I leave. At this point they haven’t gotten violent but they have gotten very vocal about their complaints.” Fluttershy stifled a few tears as she mustered a strong front. “Another reason they don’t like doing their business here is because I live so close to the Everfree forest they’re probably afraid their pets will get eaten by the cute little critters i run across every once in awhile from the forest. I’m just ready to leave I was waiting for a good reason to but then you came so now I’m ready is that ok?”

“Oh” Rainbow Dash deadpanned “Ok then… how long till your ready to go then?” Rainbow Dash asked with a fervent sincerity.

“As soon as Mr. Nuts leg is splinted and I have gone to gather my other two friends hopefully you don’t mind company?” Fluttershy asked softly.

Rainbow Dash understood perfectly and nodded “Sure you can bring some of your animal friends with us.” Fluttershy sighed in relief and thanked Rainbow Dash for the small favor and promised she wouldn’t regret it. Rainbow Dash rolled her crimson eyes at the buttercream mares antics “How long will it take though?”

“A few hours at most then we can be off.” Fluttershy answered smiling.

“I’ll be outside practicing with a sword if ya need me.” Rainbow finished with a flourish standing up and walking out the door to practice.

-Two Hours later-

“Hay Dash I’ll be right back in a few minutes with my friends please don’t freak out.” Fluttershy asked pleadingly. Rainbow Dash nodded without hesitation as Fluttershy left.

A few minutes later, Rainbow Dash was practicing a back flip slash using one of the trees as a target dummy to focus her attacks upon. She swiftly uppercutted and followed through with a front flip bringing the blade down full force making a giant slash along the bark, she was about to repeat the process when seemingly out of nowhere two giant timberwolves came bursting out of the brush at full tilt towards her before she could react the larger of the two jumped up and tackled her down to the ground then jumped on top of her, knowing how predators work realized she could do nothing to protect herself and so clenched her eyes waiting for the inevitable bite that would end her life only … it didn’t come instead she felt a light raspy tongue start rapidly dragging across her face. She stopped shivering as she realized the lack of murderous intent from the massive timber born beasts, but before she could voice any complaints at them Fluttershy called out.

“Silversong, Bugbear, get off Rainbow Dash… ‘NOW’“ the wolves whimpered as they quickly backed away from the disgruntled and disturbed mare.

Rainbow Dash shakily got back onto unsteady hooves as she continued looking at the timberwolves as if they were going to charge forth and tear her limb from limb at a moments notice. “What was that all about?” she almost screamed.

Fluttershy folded her ears back in annoyance and lowered her eyes as she walked towards the distraught mare. “Sorry but those two are always excited to meet somepony new I hope you don’t mind them… they are the companion-”

“Yeah I kind of got that when you told them off… but thanks.., for at least letting me know, oh and its ok hopefully I can adjust and everything will be ok.” Rainbow Dash’s ears perked up as she calmed down and started to accept the fact that the two feared predators wouldn’t try to eat her. She then lay on her stomach and watched as Fluttershy softly humming one of her tunes starts petting the two timber born canines their glowing yellow eyes turning bluish pink in pleasure.

“There, there it’s ok. You didn’t mean to scare Dash, you were just too excited that’s all.” Fluttershy cooed while smiling.

“Yeeeah umm Fluttershy can we go now?” Dash asked somewhat bored now that the danger was over and done with. “I know you like all this lovey dovey stuff but I don’t know how much more I can take. Alright?” she finished off exasperated, rolling her eyes, and sagging her shoulders then letting loose a small smirk. “At least it’s good to see you again Flutters.”

Fluttershy smiled as she got back up “It’s ok Dash, let’s go,” she shrugged on her saddlebags alongside the encumbered Rainbow Dash. “But where to first? We haven’t even set a destination.” Fluttershy wondered.

“OH, that’s easy we’ll be heading to the town of Crowsnest to stock up on food and supplies, then off to Daggerwound, where we can change paths and go along the dragon border, so we can see what it’s like along the Equestrian border right next to the Dragon Republic. What do you think?” Rainbow Dash quirked an eyebrow and grinned like on parade.

“That’s a good idea Dash, but what will we do about Silversong and Bugbear when we arrive at the towns I can’t just send them out into the nearby forest alone sometimes there won’t even be a forest to send them into?” Fluttershy shifted her ear towards Rainbow Dash inquiringly to which she responded.

“Well when we reach the towns we can possibly take turns watching them per town as we go.” She suggested “Maybe even skirt a few that are uninteresting it’s not like we need to stop by every single one we come across plus I doubt we will be aggravated by bandits with the assistance of these two… companions yeah I’ll go with that. Heh.” Rainbow Dash added with a blush for her lack of better words.

“That sounds just fine to me, plus it’ll give you some extra time to get used to my friends even build a relationship with them.” Fluttershy beamed with joy at her friend, her joy almost bursting at the seams. “Oh Dash this is going to be such a wonderful adventure though I hope we don’t run into any bandits along the way. I really don’t like fights or having to threaten ponies to keep them from trying to attack me.” She sighed sadly having dealt with many thieves who thought her easy prey in the night due to her somewhat timid nature “O and Dash?”. Fluttershy asked as they traveled down the road.

“Yes Fluttershy?”

“Umm… do you mind if I skip out of entering the more crowded towns and villages? There’s only so many ponies I can handle before it gets to be too much.” Fluttershy shuffled her wings awaiting the answer from her cyan feathered friend.

“Sure but remember you’re going to have to enter the towns sometimes whether you like it or not, sorry it’s just the way it is, k?” the prismatic maned pegasus released a cheery grin while facing her buttercream colored friend.

“O-ok that’ll be fine… hay Silversong come over here, oh dear there's a few nasty burr…” Fluttershy continued on watching over their companions with the motherly nature of kindness she always reveals to her friends and small woodland creatures.

Author's Note

Xaldon Ajide:
Read and comment as always, please if you are going to like this at the very least let me know what I'm doing right. :twilightsmile:

Edited by Ebonysdagger
Proofread by janushyde

Path of Knowledge

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 luna est Gelida

Chapter 4 Path of Knowledge

(Everfree Forest, Zecora’s hut, nine hundred and ninety second Celestial year, thirty second day of fall.)

“Mshauri Zecora. I finally managed to obtain some salamander oil, I’m finally ready to make the seers brew?” Spoke a lavender filly as she entered a small hut in the middle of the frozen and lifeless forest, as it would seem to the untrained eye. ‘I can’t believe it has already been two months since I started training, now it’s almost complete.’ A tear fell from her eye as she perused over her training in the arts of potion making. ‘After this I’ll be able to move on to the higher studies maybe even…’ She gasped internally. ‘Maybe even learn the ancient ritual of dream walking, and shadow sight. Huh, where’s Zecora?’ She looked around the hut her eyes piercing the darkness as if to see the shadows within. “Mshauri? … Hmm … I wonder where she could’ve gone.” She wondered aloud. ‘Well no sense in wasting time I might as well get these materials stored before they decay. Hopefully when she gets back I can finish my final potion.’ She thought giddily as she went to complete her task cleaning and filling the glass containers designed to contain the vile burning substance she had gathered from the lizards, she then stored them on the shelf where the rest of the substances she had gathered for the potion rested. Having finished her task she looked outside and noticed that it was still midday. ‘Plenty of time.’ She decided before trotting over to the fire pit in the center of the hovel and using her magic to place a teakettle on the rack to warm up, then laid next to the fire to relax and watch the flames as they licked the sides of the water filled container.

Just as the teakettle began whistling in completion the door to the hut opened, allowing a zebra entrance to the hovel. “Is that Tea, my eyes perceive?” The zebra nodded towards the kettle on the fire pit. Twilight deciding a verbal response wasn’t needed just looked over at the zebra and nodded yes. “It would be nice to have some spice. I see you have returned, what you seek have you earned?” Twilight nodded again and gestured with her ear and tail towards the book shelf. The middle row containing a mottled assortment of ingredients each being a vital requirement in the seers brew, on the farthest right corner was a small glass vial containing small shavings from a lavender unicorn horn. The zebra shaman remembered how painful it was for the unicorn when they had to retrieve that particular ingredient. ‘quick she is to learn these lessons, she has indeed learned her place in these matters but has also learned my potion skills fast. Now it is time to test and see whether she is worthy of the greater lessons. Though only zebra can be shaman by ability she is quite close.’ Flicking the thoughts away with the twitch of an ear she quickly trotted over to her student who was readily holding out the cup of jasmine thyme tea with a small dash of honey suckle to add sweetness to the fluid ambrosia, as Zecora found out when she tried the substance her student had hoofed her.

They sat there together for a few minutes not making a sound finally Twilight turned her eyes to Zecora and spoke. “I have accomplished my assignment and have found the ingredients now I understand the examination can begin now but I would rather wait for the dusk before beginning, is that ok?” she spoke calmly her quizzical eyes not once straying from the shamans.

Zecora nodded. “I see so you wish to wait, till sister bodies bait, the dusk of day and the dawn of night, so the potion is at its highest might.” The zebra nodded again, and then lay down next to the lavender foal nestled near the fire pit. “Let us train then, your magic we shall begin.” The zebra smiled at the lavender filly’s unease knowing full well what a sore point magic was to the filly however over the past few weeks the zebra had been able to convince the filly to use her natural gifts a little more often, at first the filly wouldn’t even light her horn to lift objects with her telekinesis. Zecora then decided to take matters into her own hands and decided to combine minor magic lessons with her lessons in the art of alchemy sometimes requesting the foal to use her magic to place an otherwise irretrievable ingredient into the specially designed container to hold it, other times it would be during their brief visits to the Zaurask swamp villages asking her to use her telekinesis to hold a few objects or cast a few simple spells to fix pathways deteriorated over time, sometimes to even carry her packs so she could enter the forest to gather medicinal herbs, and tea leaves.

The unicorn sighed having agreed after a few weeks arguing about the subject she realized that magic was as much a part of her as the zebra’s natural ability with potions, she sighed again attaining inner peace after accepting what happened in Canterlot, her thoughts becoming clear and her mind at ease under the careful guidance of the shaman. “Alright Mshauri I am ready what should we try first.”

Zecora smiled, her apprentice having attained solace from her troubles under her masters careful guidance over the previous two weeks, she noticed the unicorn having almost no hesitance in using her magic, calling upon her inner abilities, and allowing her power to flow. Slowly but surely her young student became better and more accepting of her magic. “I taught you well, on the past we do not dwell. The future we seek, with rushing beat. Your first challenge is certain, light the candles in the circle.”

Twilight quickly illuminates her horn and calls a small spark of energy to the tip forming a soft yellowish red flame, then she pushes it forward to the center of the sphere, immediately separating it into several spheres of smaller flame which then she disburses upon each candle at exactly the same moment, lighting all of the candles respectively, she then wills the candles to burn towards a foci above the central candle. All this done as the zebra shaman observes carefully watching the unicorn for any hesitance or delay and is pleased by the accuracy and dedication the foal put towards her work.

“You have done well, my pupil. Now you must connect the embers, with water.” Continues the zebra having seen the task completed many times before she watched as the lavender unicorn carefully condensed the moisture in the air into a fluid which then she attached carefully with the flames and connected at the central foci of the warm energies Twilight then knowing the next phase of the spell summoned forth dust from the floor and formed it into a solid rock which she then melted around the burning liquid and condensed into a clear glass, the unicorn not even struggling as she accomplished a task that would have unicorns of Starsworl’s caliber straining at the edges of their abilities.

‘O joy now comes the final part.’ Snarked Twilight as she pulled in and orb of air and summoned two other orbs one of light and one of shadow, she then slowly entered the first orb into the reaction between the fire, water, and earth. Adding air to the mix she quickly pulled all four elements towards the focal point above the central candle effectively snuffing all the candles in an instant, she gazed contemptuously towards all three of the orbs and reminisced over the last few times she had tried to accomplish this specific part. ‘If it isn’t the shadow it’s the light and vise versa, why is this part so difficult!? Well nothing gained if nothing tried, right? Right!’ she looked towards her mentor who nodded calmly for her to begin the final phase of the spell. Twilight sighed and then cautiously looked between the orbs floating within her magenta aura then her gaze came upon the urn of salamander oil she had obtained just the day before, immediately it dawned upon her. ‘No wonder I couldn’t do it! Wow there’s still so much to learn. How could I be so dense… It seems so simple now that I think about it rather than one orb at a time both at the same time, but how?.. Ok I think I have it.’ Twilight softly began siphoning the orb of light and the orb of shadow into each other, the reaction was immediate, and the orb in between them being formed acted as a sort of null space where light and shadow do not exist it was to the point where she could see nothing except the trails of energy tapering into the space and the subtle ripple in the air telling of the existence of an object unable to be seen by the naked eye.

The orbs of light and dark now depleted into the orb of null, she quickly tethered a connection between the orb and the elemental sphere she had created earlier and slowly started siphoning the power from the orb of null. The results immediately became noticeable when the sphere began to fluctuate becoming brighter and darker at random intervals then as she neared the end of draining the null orb into the elemental base sphere, it began to shimmer and flicker in random colors eventually becoming stable as the last of the null orb was drained into the elemental sphere. As the remaining energy from the orb of null finished flooding into it, the sphere sparked and flashed instantly and started floating on its own, Twilight slowly let it go as it proved to remain stable and lacked any hint of deterioration she looked between it and her mentor a grin spreading on her lips as she realized what she had just finished. “Yes, yes, yes. Mshauri did you see that? I finished it I can’t believe it what next Zecora what’s the next step?” Twilight energetically hopped around overjoyed by her success, not a care in the world that is until the shaman spoke.

“For your success, congratulations I must suppress, for the next step, is sadly a guess.” Zecora continued quickly as Twilight instantly sobered at the serious tone in the shaman’s voice, and calmed down taking a seat. “Your soul you must partake, and piece some into that which you have made.” Twilight complied by summoning forth from herself a shimmering white substance without difficulty, which she then slowly siphoned into the shining rainbow colored sphere, gently floating above the floor, softly turning on a vertical axis.

Without warning the orb fanned outward spreading as if on a flat horizontal surface and spun faster then immediately as it spread over Twilight, it instantly curved over her but rather than touching her it began encircling her like a pet its body formless yet with a form. ‘Like a donut.’ She thought, immediately the elemental miasma formed into a cylinder which then encircled around her and attached both ends forming into a loop slowly gyrating around her. Twilight looked to her mentor.“What is this?” She asked, pointing at the strange substance with a hoof, its glowing surface pulling away from the probing appendage.

“That young student is a staff, learned its creation from the Zaurask.” Zecora leaned forward and studied the miasma closely. “It is a strange creature created from the elements and given sentience through the users soul. Think of it as a Physical extension of your will a representation of your magic through ritual. Today you have finished a spell that if you succeed in creating your potion in you can begin your training in the arts that I have learned, however theses are not abilities you learn from me, but the Zaurask you must search for your mastery.”

“Wait what!!!?” Twilight exclaimed. “let me get this straight. You mean to say you learned all of your special powers from the Zaurask?” the zebra nodded calmly looking straight into twilights violet eyes. “OK then what’s your plan once I finish learning potions with you? Am I still going to be your student?” Twilight asked hopefully.

The striped shaman chuckled before she spoke “Dear Twilight your fears be set to rest, Your mentor I shall remain. Though you learn under a separate teacher, my knowledge you shall gain, our connection strong it shall remain. Seek my knowledge when you need it. Now for the test , shall we do the rest?” inquired the bequeathed shaman.

Twilight looked at her mentor and nodded her thanks. “OK then I gue… Wait it’s that time already?!!” Zecora nodded towards the unicorn. Twilight quickly pulled the blinds on the window to the side with her magic and looked outside to see the bits of sky she could see through the Everfree canopy tinged red with the setting sun. she didn’t even notice the physical miasma mimicking her movements. “Per Cinerim.” She swore under her breath, gulped then continued. “Alright the first part of the brew involves a petal of moonflower ground into dust, some of the poison from the spike beasts, along with ground manticore’s stinger, mixed in wyvern venom paste.” She spoke her monologue as she completed the tasks grabbing the required materials from the shelf and mixing them into a small bowl.

Zecora nodded. “you are doing quite well, what is the next task pray-tell?” the zebra spoke encouragingly to the unicorn.

Twilight smiled calmly remembering carefully the next steps in the potions process.“Next is to make a separate mixture of magic imbued serpent scale, mixed with corrosive basilisk saliva and salamander oil.” The lavender filly looked between the two mixtures, one glows a soft swirling white, the other a bubbling dark magenta. She then looked at the shelf with the remaining two ingredients remembering how difficult it was to retrieve just the first one let alone the other but somehow she managed to find them both luckily within the same month. The first object was a bright cream white crystal it glowed brightly like the sun, the second was a pure milky white stone its surface completely smooth and unblemished it glowed a soft white next to its fiery counterpart. She took the two mixtures and mixed them into the cauldron. The concoction was still bubbling, even without a flame from underneath, the lavender filly slowly brought the crystal and stone over to herself. “Final phase, hold the sun crystal above the mixture while rotating the moonstone around the edge of the concoction, as the sun sets the moonstone should be mixed into the solution alongside the sun crystal at the same time.”

The sun had reached the edge of the sky and began to cross beyond vision as the moon began rising, at that exact time of twilight, the lavender mare swirled the crystals into the mixture the effects were instant the potion immediately began bursting forth a thick fog out onto the floor, its essence ever shifting in random images never staying one image long enough to be discerned by the lavender mare. After a few minutes the entire hut was filled with the inert gas covering the occupants but leaving them unscathed. Twilight watched as the images played randomly her eyes opening wide in wonderment and jumped in surprise when Zecora spoke from the other side of the mist. “Congratulations you have mastered a craft that few have succeeded in. As your final potion I shall read to you this prophecy accrued by the brew.”

After a couple seconds Twilight heard a crashing sound from the other side of the hut. She took a step forward and asked. “Mshauri?”

The ethereal mist began to clear after a few minutes and the sight Twilight received was disconcerting to say the least. She spotted her mentor underneath a pot fallen from the shelf above her, just as she was about to say something the zebra stirred. She groaned a little as she got back up. “Something must be amiss, for the portents they do resist. Your future is clouded and unclear, unknown whether it’s here or there.” The zebra sighed. “The portents gave me quite a fright that was quite a sight.” The zebra finally standing on steady legs walked over to one of the gilded mason jars and pulled out a glowing cream white flower its pedals curling out from a rosy peach core. She then walked over to Twilight and layed the glowing flora before her. She took a short walk over to her old trunk and opened it to pull forth three more items which she hoofed over to Twilight, and was about to thank the zebra before the shaman continued. “I have taught you all I can, this gear you will have, as remembrance of your path, journymare Wisp.”

Twilight gasped at the upgraded title the ‘staff’ swirling midair expressing her emotions embarrassingly. “Thank you Mshauri I will not forget this. O and its ok that you weren’t able to use the potion I kind of want to let the future play out and surprise me.” The shaman nodded acceptance of the filly’s wishes, her eyes widened a little knowing the wisdom it takes to not wish to know the future before it happens. The lavender filly examined the four gifts respectively, a wyvern hide cloak, hydra scale saddle bags, and a new willow wood journal bound in wyvern hide, the final item the flower. ‘What is it?’ She quirks her head at the final item wonderingly. “Mshauri what is this?” she picks up the flower with her magic to present it the ‘staff’ forming into a question mark above her.

Zecora looks up at the flower and smiles knowingly and speaks to the filly. “That my young pupil is the Anasgiah, or life shield as it is known. It is a rare flower that grows within the eastern wilds. The Zaurask were kind enough to gift it to me from the stock they retrieved. I feel it is time to pass it on, hopefully you will have no need.” The zebra smiled at the unicorn’s dumbfounded look the ‘staff’ gently floating above the unicorn, occasionally jumping in an expression of the unicorns feelings.

Twilight sputtered. “Wait Anasgiah?” She shook her head again and looked at her mentor. “You mean the Anasgiah, as in the flower of life, one of the rarest plants in or near Equestria?” all the zebra could do was nod. “Oh my gosh. Thank you, in my travels I hope I will not have to use it. Thank you again Mshauri Zecora for the traveling gear. I will do my best to keep them safe.” Twilight bowed her head to the zebra in thanks and reverence then placed the precious flower into a glass container in her saddlebags. “I’m ready to go if you so wish.” Twilight spoke the ‘staff’ above her head spinning erratically in excited circles.

Zecora chuckled seeing her students carefully controlled emotions blatantly playing out above the oblivious mares head. She quickly composed herself before speaking. “As journeyer I suggest your first destination be Tal’I’neck.” Twilight’s ears perked at the name of the village as the zebra continued. “There you will learn magic and skills to assist in your progression, they can also help you control your ‘staff’.” Only then did Twilight look up and notice the gyrating motion of the ethereal mass and immediately pouted at it realizing that the creature was showing off her emotions and copying her actions.

“Really?!” Exclaimed the lavender filly, Zecora just chuckled at Twilights predicament. “Zecora it going to be like that the entire way to the Tal’I’neck?” The foal complained to her mentor as the globules mass spiked in the lavender filly’s agitation glowing in soft blues and oranges. The zebra only nodded conformation to the filly’s increasing annoyance. “Ughh… Fine I’ll deal with YOU…” she spoke pointedly glaring at the ‘staff’ above her. “Later, alright Mshauri everything’s together and ready for the journey, I guess this is good by… for now.” She opened the mahogany entrance to the hut and exited out into the forest her phantom miasma companion following through as she leaves.

_________________

Zecora closed the door soon after her student’s departure ‘Alone. Not as I would’ve expected it to be. Hopefully when she returns from her journeying amongst the Zaurask she will know her path.’ The elder zebra sighed calmly gazing upon the door as if expecting the young encourage able filly to return immediately. “I shall see thee when you return may your journey be enlightening and swift young child.” With those words of hopeful wisdom she turned in for the night as her young journeyer began her trials amongst the Zaurask, her companion a ‘Mage Staff’ floating alongside its master as both guardian and shadow.

“Ok, let’s see here its currently night and Zecora’s hut is north east of here so looking at this map the village of Tal’I’neck should be at least a two days of direct travel west of here.” She spoke quietly to herself as she walked along the forest floor as she studied a map of the Everfree she had copied during one of her visits to the Zaurask with Zecora. “From the looks of the area I should expect to arrive there within three to seven days.” She looked around carefully at the plant matter seeing the grasping vines of the choke berry bush she knew the estimate was well founded as she continued west towards her destination. She gazed at the scenery along her path gathering herbal ingredients for both food and tea, living off the forest as she continued her ingredients being both a traveling snack and a meal for morning. Having lived in the forest for a few months she had realized how beautiful it was and how to fully appreciate its dangers and mysteries. ‘I’m surprised, when I first entered this forest I was scared and almost died at the paws of one of the manticores, friendly sort they are. I guess I have changed alot since then.’ She reminisced with a smile as she passed a cave tree similar to the one she slept in her first night past the borders of the Everfree.

She looked at the base of the tree for half a second, long enough to see markings telling that the tree was occupied by both a spike runner and a girmal, she decided better than last time and continued trotting through the brush and around trees her woods pony ship honed by both trial and error as she practiced alongside her master, allowing her to see dangers long before they become a problem.

Nearing dawn she watched as the forest brightened from deep shades of blue and brightened into tinges of lavender, magenta, violet, cyan, and rouge. Seeing the creatures of day waking from slumber and happily greeting the pony passing by, the lavender filly decided to take a small rest before she continued grabbing several chamomile leaves, a hoof full of lichen berries, and a blood briar rose, then nestling herself within folds between a tree’s roots, she boiled the former into tea and mixed the latter two into a small container. She sipped the chamomile tea as she watched the contents of the small container turn a bright blue as the rose diffused into the berry juice her mind clear now from the tea she took the mixture and drank it taking care not to swallow any of the pulp. Almost immediately she felt her energy reserves return however she decided to rest in the crook of the tree and watch as the sun finished its assent and happily stared at the small creatures before her watching as they frolicked in the light, a pair of girmals with their white coats and sharp fangs hopped up to her, curiously looking at her and her ‘guardian’ with their strange rabbit like eyes, then they hopped off to investigate another item of interest before their next meal.

Twilight deciding she had rested enough stood up popping a lichen berry in her mouth and continued along her way watching as the forest slowly transformed into a swamp the creatures impressed her as each new encounter was as unique and interesting as the last. She looked upon the waters and the paths seeing the quick sand and the tell tale signs of water hunters and walked around the said dangers preferring the safe paths to the faster more risky advances a more rash less humble personality would take. She looked at the bog plant life and watched as the creatures lived their lives within the swampy depths of the Southwestern Everfree. She studied the plants noticing many that she could use to produce remedies for both the flue and the cold. She watched with joy as the forest continued to surprise her with each new encounter she ate her lunch of lichen berries and wild blackberries she came across while walking around a small patch of quicksand.

It was getting dark almost night when she came across a peculiar sight her curiosity piqued she stopped and looked at the ruins of an ancient structure the foundation still holding up four walls almost completely intact save the northern wall which looked as if it had sustained damage from a large projectile. She stared inside the gaping hole In the wall seeing the inner damage through the shadows and spotting a large round stone which she suspected was the main cause of the damage within the tower. She looked deeper within the shadows noticing minor signs of the occasional inhabitants of the abandoned construct. She decided after a few minutes of investigation that it was safe to enter, and decided to walk in through the shattered opening rather than chance the front aperture being trapped. As she entered she saw signs of combat and battle a broken shaft here and there a rusted axe embedded in the wall above the skeletal remains of a long dead pony with its head clear on the other side of the door with a small black stain on the ground in between, telling the story of a gruesome but quick death.

As she passed through the portal further into the ruin she saw even more signed of battle from a small circle of mangled skeletal remains to the moss covered remnants of pony shaped scorch marks on the walls, her demeanor calm having seen such ruins before from her visits to the Zaurask and occasional adventures into the ruins with her mentor to gather potion ingredients such as filed unicorn horn and Pegasus feathers. She grew used to the ruins after a few visits realizing that there really was nothing to fear from the deceased, as long as she paid her respects to the past and forgotten.

She looked upon the bodies and noticed that all the Pegasus feathers had rotted long ago due to the moist air within the swamp land however there were a few unicorn skeletons perfectly preserved over the past thousand years or so. She realized she wouldn’t get much of an opportunity like this again along her trip and stay with the Zaurask she pulled out a sharpened blade from her pack only to find the swirling miasma that followed her had already completed the task the was about to set herself to and held all three of the unicorn horns before her. “Thank you.” She spoke quickly to the entity as she grasped the horns with her telekinesis and placed the fragile objects within her saddlebags. The swirling miasma that followed her did a quick victory spin having been recognized by its creator and then set to watching its master again in hopes that it could accomplish another task for her. Twilight looked upon the floor and towards the quickly darkening sky ‘I guess I should call it a day, the energy poultice won’t last forever, and I don’t know when i’ll come across any other Vampiric Rose bushes.’

with a nod of confirmation to herself she set to work quickly having already checked the ruin for living inhabitants she set about with a wind spell clearing the skeletal remains sending them to the outer edges of the second room as she quickly set up a small canvas tent on one of the walls, using her traveling cloak as a makeshift mat to keep off the cold stone floor, laying her saddlebags to the side within the tent. She stepped out of the tent and cast a few detection wards in case of intrusion within the abandoned building besides her and her creation, then went back inside to rest for the night.

“Ughh... Morning already?” Twilight complained as she dragged herself grogley out of the makeshift tent with her saddlebags in hoof. she opened the side pocket of one of her bags and quickly perused through its contents, decisively pulling out a few ingredients for breakfast. “Well at least i have the makings for an omelet.” she murmured silently to herself as she summoned a small magical fire to simmer the eggs over as she drowsily woke up, she looked up to see the swirling miasma as it slowly bobbed above her.

She glowered at it “Do you have to be so visible all the time?” She asked the swirling mass not expecting it to answer, instead the miasma started forming itself over and changing color to match her traveling cloak, leaving Twilight confused as it finished blending in to the pattern of the cloak perfectly camouflaging itself. “well that was unexpected.” She spoke softly before shaking her head to remove the distraction, as she packed her gear back into the saddle bags, she looked over the room one more time before heading to the main entrance disabling her detection wards with but a thought pulling the mental strings that held them woven together.

The lavender filly gazed upon the bodies of both the would be attackers and the pitiful defenders. sighing in contempt at the complete wast of life that war brings. her own mind bringing her back to the day in canterlot only a few months ago, and her recent accomplishment in overcoming that particular mental obstacle, in her path to enlightenment. she looked into the eye sockets of the guard pony still wielding a spear even in death attempting to defend the dilapidated ruin his remains dwell within.

Twilight smiled as she stepped out through the main entrance into the bright day side of the everfree her cloak shimmering in the light while covering her saddlebags. he birds in the air chirping a merry tune, she smiled even more brightly as she noticed the foliage she had ignored in favor of watching her entrance to the building, she gazed upon three bushes of wild blackberries which she quickly packed a few servings into her saddle bags for later as she crossed through the swamp. she looked upon the waters watching for anything suspicious, she gazed upon the foliage seeing hints of recent travel then with the routs firmly ground out she quickly consulted her map to see which path she would take. Finding a suitable path she quickly traversed across the water logged ground over to a somewhat fresh patch of blood weed, its signature crimson shafts standing out in the murky atmosphere of the surrounding wetlands. The weed started bending at her approach its spear-like tips preparing to strike, Twilight quickly glanced upon the stalks and noticed a few ripe seeds which she picked with her magic as she sidled around the plant, the immediate area around it being safe from underfoot dangers.

Besides the rare Blood Weed she found the rest of her journey on the third day uneventful as she reached the edges of Zaurask tamed territory the immediate area around her, having been cleaned of the usual dangers to the unwary, and the creatures calmer to the point of coming down to curiously watch the strange purple Unicorn, as she traverses deeper into their part of the Everfree. ‘I’m near.’ Twilight mused silently, noticing the change in the small creatures behaviour towards her presence. after an hour or so of traveling she noticed further signs of Zaurask presence, plants harvested that would otherwise have been ignored, sigils and runes carved into the trees, and finally a stone pylon inscribed with wards and words of wisdom. Trotting up to it she noticed that was nearly covered in an ancient moss, its image marred by years of abuse however its images remained visible as the day they were chiseled into the ancient stone.

Twilight carefully spoke out one of the ancient runes to herself silently, having barely grasped the Zaurask pictograph system she read the sentence carefully. “Tal’I’nek... ,and a sundial its shadow permanently pointing at three o'clock?... OH i get it three o'clock is not a time but a direction hmm?... maybe if i inscribe it into the ground the point facing north... ok now the shadow? Ok so Tal’I’nek is north east of here. and by the look of the shadow,” Twilight snuck a glance at the small shadow of the original pictograph. “It’s two miles north east if I’m right about the rings in the image.” she looked in the direction the impromptu compass was pointing and noticed it led into one of the many bogs within the wetlands. ‘I think i’ll go around.’

After making it round the pond as she realized later on when she slipped into the murky waters, Twilight began heading through the foliage again only to make three steps before a voice intruded from the shadows. “So it seems the young hatchling has left the nest, I’m impressed, thought it would have taken, months to break out of the shell, surrounded as you were.” The shadows hissed mockingly as she paused.

Twilight smiled knowing the originator of the voice. “I see you’ve done well since we last met monitor Azon.” The lavender filly replied with a soft laugh. “My master Zecora has decided my formal training with her is complete and I have reached journey status, I also see you have left Fledgling status how’d you manage that?” Twilight Queried, as the Zaurask watcher slowly pulled herself out of the brush and into Twilights view.

“Twas a simple matter journier Phléasc, I was able to impress Kaya Zree when I proved my sharp eyes and skills with a bow during the hunt. They accepted I was ready to move on, apologies for making this short, I am still on watch, hopeful that you find what you’re seeking. Continue following the trail to Tal’I’nek, if Silvina greets, tell her ‘Chiral roots have regenerated’.” He finished before quietly disappearing back into the underbrush.

“By Azon, be ever watchful.” The lavender unicorn spoke as her friend blended back in with the shadows, and then continued trotting along the path seeing the cairn markings covered in years of algae and moss growth guiding her path as she traveled the rest of the way to the Village of dreamers. After a few more hours of walking she noticed the carns and the path becoming more regular and clear eventually within the mist a shadow formed off a slow dip in the shadows, as she came upon a wooden construct, its wooden supports holding ancient lengths of oak above the semi motionless bog beneath. as she reached the structure she looked upon one of the wooden supports and read the inscription. Tal’I’nek, (Knowledge through Dreams.) she had arrived.

Amongst the Mire

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 luna est Gelida

Chapter 5 Amongst the Mire

(Everfree forest, Tal’I’nek, nine hundred ninety second celestial year, thirty fifth day of fall)

The wooden planks creaked as she walked upon them, their forms bending ever so slightly as her hooves touched upon them, her lavender coat minorly stained from the wilderness paths she had traveled her worn and stained saddlebags brimming with alchemical ingredients gathered along her travails. She sighed as she looked upon the familiar scales and gear, she smiled somewhat as one of the scaled beings walked forward to greet her as she walked down the pier. As she reached the midway point the creature held out its scaled palm at the same time the lavender filly reached out her hoof and they met calmly.

The scaled creature began “Dia duit mo óg chapaillíní chara. Conas atá tú?” It spoke softly to the lavender filly before it, while softly gazing into her indigo eyes.

“Tá mé go maith. Cé go bhfuil do ainm eludes dom, An bhfuil tú go maith?” the lavender filly returned softly. the green scaled creature nodded understanding and continued.

“Is féidir liom go maith, Is é mo ainm Silvina, tá tú ag Glimmering Phléasc glacadh mé?” The lizard like creature answered.

The Glimmering Wisp popped her neck muscles with a long liquid stretch then sat back down with a contented sigh.“May we speak in equus Silvina, linguid is somewhat difficult to pronounce sorry.” She muttered sheepishly. Silvina nodded agreement to the lavender filly’s request. “Thank you. umm do you know where I can find the Zaurask seer of Tal’i’nack?” The filly queried.

Silvina turned and pointed with her soft green scaled arm towards A long structure at the end of the third branch off the pier.“ You will find Elder Shiazu within. If I may ask, why do you seek the Elder, young child?”

“I seek his teachings i wish to learn how to fully use my ‘staff’, I also wish to seek his wisdom in guiding me towards inner peace, and where i should continue with my life once I complete my studies under the masters.” Glimmering wisp spoke sagely to Silvina.

The young juvenile nodded. “He will be pleased to meet you, however be warned that what advice he does give should be taken as deeply as you would trust you mentor.” the unicorn shook her head gravely.

The lavender filly’s eyes shot open in realization “I almost forgot the chiral roots have regenerated, monitor Azon wanted me to get that bit of information to you.” she swiftly interrupted Silvina before she could continue. “Sorry.” She quickly apologized for the action.

“Understandable, thank you for the information the item in question is one of the main ingredients for some of our stews” She smiled lightly in amusement at the flustered unicorn.“Until we meet again, dul ar aghaidh I síocháin.”

“Dul ar aghaidh I síocháin.” The lavender filly reciprocated with a nod. They then parted ways the unicorn heading down the pier into the village the juvenile cow towards the untamed woods beyond. ‘Wow Twilight you actually made it by yourself this time I wonder what the elder can teach me.’ Twilight thought to herself as she meandered down the moss stained, waterlogged pier taking a left at the third junction. She paused to gaze upon the large building at the end of the junction the arched shaped portal opening into a warmly lit yellow room. she continued forward and looked around as she entered upon the interesting devices within, however before she could study them further a voice at the back of the spacious room began.

“I’m afraid our lessons must continue at another time hatchlings it seems my esteemed guest has arrived, do remember though to practice the skills learned this eve.” immediately twelve small youthful Zaurask young sprang up and bowed to the resting elder with a chorus of “Yes Elder.” before they rushed out of the room with youthful energy. Twilight cracked a smile at their youthful antics before turning back to face the Elder with full concentration. “So why does A young lavender unicorn filly wish to grace my humble village with her presence, let alone myself?”

Twilight cleared her throat quickly and began vocalizing her question as a miasma of elemental energy began flowing off her back with a simple thought. ”I was wondering if you could teach me a bit more on what this is and how I could use it better, I figured out during my journey here how to give it basic commands but i was wondering if you could teach me how to actually control it?” She spoke sheepishly, ears folded back as the miasma lazily coalesced into an orb slowly revolving around the lavender filly.

The shaman smiled softly chuckling a little at the filly’s mild consternation. “Ah I knew the striped one was teaching you well but to have actually created the ‘staff’ is a feat few who have used magic can accomplish.” Noticing the unicorns surprised look the elder continued. “Only this one and Elder Yako have attained our own staffs it is interesting to see that yours retained multiple hues whereas ours...” He lifted his scaled hand and almost instantly, a bright green miasma converged from all four corners of the room into a central point solidifying into an emerald staff topped with a diamond crystal set within eight prongs, which he then grasped with his hand. “Were saturated by a single vivid image after their creation.”

“Erm... what are you talking about? She just gave me directions on how to make it and I did, it was all part of my magic training, It was my … final … magic … training exercise with her...” Immediately she realized what it meant when zecora said she could teach no more, she had already taught all she could with the abilities she had. “Oh... that's what she meant, alright what knowledge do you seek that seer Zecora could not teach?” Twilight lightly spoke to the Zaurask Elder.

“What has the striped alchemist revealed so far?” The mottled blue elder asked cocking his head to the side.

“As far as i know she has shown me how to cast basic magics such as fire, light, water, wind, earth, and shadow.” she demonstrated by summoning each of the orbs respectively for the elder to see. “She has taught me how to control these without the use of my horn though it’s immensely more difficult, she has also taught me alchemy and how it works.” Twilight smiled as she reminisced over the moments she shared with her mentor. “She has taught me the basics of ward making and runecrafting. The orb above us is the culmination of all the magics she’s taught me, she has helped me understand the creatures and plants in the Everfree and how best to survive in the forest. I come to you because she wanted me to learn from the masters that helped her develop her magical prowess.” The lavender filly spoke solemnly.

“That you have attained the staff, volumes it speaks of your magical prowess. Shiazu shall teach thee as the bearer Sylvack asks, however there is not much left to teach unless you wish to learn the art of the hunt.”

Twilight quickly shook her head in rejection of the idea. “I would rather not, I came to learn how to further control my abilities not to learn how to kill, so what can you teach me?” she inquired innocently.

The sapphire blue elder smiled at the naivete of the unicorns wishes but however decided to grant them. “Teach you I can of shadow and dream walking, how to wield the ‘staff’, the other teachings are of the hunt. I will also teach you the ways of the watcher.” The Elder nodded to himself, knowing the filly would be a fast learner. When the cerulean blue seer next opened his eyes he knew it was time. “let’s begin.”

Twilight nodded agreement. “Yes let’s” She spoke strongly.

Shiazu walked over to the unicorn and quickly sat on his haunches. “Sit lower yourself. Equal we are in all but knowledge and practice.” Twilight swiftly sat and looked upon the Zaurask Elder seeing his features, the aged wrinkles and deformities, yet also seeing the calm serene smile, sharp knowing eyes that have seen many years and may yet see many years more. “to learn the ancient art of shadow walking you must first understand the art of dream walking for they are of the same plain. Now calm yourself, imagine the night sky, the cooling fall breeze, the scent of the night air...”

The elders voice swiftly fell to the background as the lavender filly slowly began to fall into calm her mind swiftly constructing the scenery as her eyes closed and she let sleep take over.

Her eyes opened as she looked upon the plain she rested upon, the moon flowers in bloom as the full moon covered the sky the stars shining brightly. She delicately sniffed one of the nearby flowers A small innocent smile forming upon her face as the soft midnight blue scent touched her nostrils. Hesitantly she stood up and looked over the massive expanse her eyes adjusting quickly to her surroundings as she looked upon the field is beautiful dark blue and white glow almost melting completely with the sky she gaped at the beauty of it all.

Unnoticed by the young filly a shadowy form rose from the field and calmly walked over to her its mottled blue features fitting in with the scenery as the creature silently walked up behind the lavender unicorn. “A beautiful place, don’t you think?” The creature whispered softly into her ear so as not to disturb her. receiving only flick and a nod in response. “This place is crafted from your thoughts and memories, the vivid imagery you have created speaks volumes of your imagination. The beauty of it all and the clarity tells of your calm and open state of mind.” Twilight realizing what was going on turned around swiftly to look into the two softly glowing reptilian eyes before her, the creature softly smiling as it looked around at the dreamscape crafted by the young filly before turning back to her. “Be not alarmed for i am here to help you learn to travel amongst the dreams of the living, the true power of dream walking is the ability to heal the mind and control ones own dreams. you could join others dreams as I have yours. You cannot control another’s dream as a mind mage would. You would only be able to influence your own actions within their dreams.” Twilight nodded taking in the new knowledge as she looked upon the now youthful countenance of the Zaurask elder the lithe features betraying years of control and skill. “Now to truly begin your lessons.”

The lavender filly sat back down calmly. “thank you.” she replied simply.

Shiazu sat down on his haunches before the filly and began. “The night is the easiest way to teach this skill because the moon provokes imagination and learning. Now look upon your dream scape and witness its beauty.” Twilight took a few seconds to familiarize herself with the field much as she had before, then turned back to her current teacher as he continued. “Now imagine that the dreamscape is a fabric something you can touch or feel, soft yet solid and malleable. Now imagine lifting a piece of that fabric from the tapestry.”

Twilight did as asked and almost immediately one of the flowers on the ground lifted before the unicorn tho her eyes were closed, the delicate petals softly swirling in the air. The lavender filly opened her eyes and gazed softly upon the glowing flower before her floating in the air without any signature aura, as before she shifted her head over to the flower and took a deep breath of its honey sweet scent. “Its beautiful... but I don’t fully understand why this is so important, I mean to be able to control your dream, how does that have any relation to walking between each others dreams?” She queried the aged creature before her, lifting her large inquisitive eyes to its own, seeking answers that only they know.

“It is important to first control your own dreams for they hold the secrets you wish to know, the door between is woven by the maker of the dream stepping through the passage between is simple for there you must think only of who you wish to visit, then another door shall open on the other side that you could pass through.” The elder paused a second to allow the information to sink in, then continued. “The return trip is simple in that all you have to do is try to break their dream and the illusion will fade, you will immediately return to your own dreamscape, however that is also the limitation of dream walking as long as you are within another's dream you cannot affect it without being returned to your own first. In essence you are free to speak and interact with the host of the dream you enter however you cannot change it as equally as it is unable to affect you.” Shiazu smiled towards the lavender filly signalling an end to his lecture, his Sapphire blue scales glowing brightly within the moonlight.

Twilight looked upon the shimmering countenance of her current instructor opened her vocal orifice and began. “So what you are saying is that through these portals of thought we can travel to those we know and speak to them in their dreams?” A nod. “Next you're saying the ability is limited to just visiting, and playing along with the dream if you wish?” another nod. “If i were to try and enter your dream now what would happen considering your not within it?” she said lifting a lavender eyebrow in query.

The elder chuckled softly understanding the question perfectly. “Then your dream fades and we find ourselves within a white or black expanse depending on our moods the reason is that my dream is inactive due my entrance to yours, it is more relaxing to speak within this dream you have constructed tho rather than the plane between dreams.” Shiazu looked upon the field with calm eyes taking the detailed beauty of the construct within Twilights mind then turned back to the fields creator and flashed a quick smile before speaking again. “If you wish to try then I would suggest you enter the striped ones dreams, however I shall return to my own and reconstruct this peace you have constructed here, when you are finished with her come and join me and i will give you some final insight into this art, after we wake I will begin your training in the art of shadow walking.”

Twilight nodded thanks as she allowed the flower twirling before her to fall to the floor as she summoned the door she walked towards it but stopped at the entrance. “I will be back soon.” with that spoken she was off, through the door, and into the plain between dreams. Twilight glanced back upon the closing door that led to her deteriorating dreamscape its form breaking apart like wisps of white ash and floating away into the grey expanse surrounding her, she called upon the quick lessons she took with the elder and immediately started feeling for Zecora’s presence, calling her name as she searched almost immediately a portal appeared before her like a window, she gazed upon its surface framed in white portal energies that softly warped around the stable rift. She looked into the frame and past the surface seeing the other side, the sandy dunes glowing a soft golden yellow in the bright noonday sun she watched as a striped figure balanced at the crest of one of the dunes atop her walking staff. She inspected the portals edges realizing that it wasn’t just A window but also an opening to the dream before her, quickly she stepped over the frame and into the image. Instantly the frame disappeared and she fell into the dream. “Eep... Oof!” she called as she fell through landing on the scorching, sun bathed sands.

The zebra cocked open an eye barely even disturbed from her meditation she continued balancing upon her pole while she addressed her new visitor. “Ah Twilight walking through dreams, Shiazu has taught thee.” the zebra let out a small smile as her journeyer picked herself back up off the sands, onto her hooves.

“Yes, its actually a lot simpler than I realized the only problem with it was that I have to be dreaming lucidly.” Twilight scrunched her eyebrows together carefully thinking about her next words before continuing. “However I think the solution to that problem is going into a sort of meditative trance or simply practice. Well what do you think, am i correct?” Twilight turned to her mentor who was still balancing in the air.

“you are correct I must confess. Sometimes I find it difficult still to open the mind.” Zecora then swiftly dropped down from her staff holding it in place so she could balance on her hind legs, she then looked to her pupil and gave a bright disarming grin.

Twilight smiled in kind and allowed herself a bit of respite before continuing, “Ok Zecora I plan on contacting you through this method once per town to tell you how far my progress is and how long till I think I’ll be returning. At the current rate i think it’ll be less than a month depending on interruptions and difficulties. Nzuri na mshauri.”

“Nzuri na Glimmer” Zecora bid goodbye in turn.

Twilight turned with ease in spite the sweltering heat daring not to turn back to face the zebra knowing the cultural offense that would give, so she continued across a few dunes till she arrived at an appropriate distance from her mentor and began weaving the threads of the dream into a door as instructed earlier, and walked through the shining portal. she summoned the proper memories of the teacher she is currently underneath and immediately a portal similar to the one to Zecora’s dreams appears before her, she notices the other side is almost a complete replica of the field she had created upon entering her dreams. Twilight then looked inside the portal and noticed the small differences and changes the moon flowers didn’t glow as bright and neither was the night sky as lively as the one within hers.

Knowing what to do she gently leaped through the portal hooves first, passing through the veil into the moonlit meadow feeling only a tingling sensation in the back of her thoughts as she landed upon the soft grass beneath bed of floral moon tinted beauty with nary a stumble. She smiled at her success her physical prowess having been achieved over the months of training with her mentor tests of balance, stamina, and physical strength were among her favorites. Her smile grew and she turned around as her ear twitched in recognition of the soft padding behind her, and looked right into Elder Shiazu’s soft green slitted eyes. “This is amazing, what more is there for you to teach me of dream walking?”

The sapphire scaled creature before her gave a small chuckle, impressed at the ponies eagerness to learn having seen many of the young hatchlings take months before they form their first lucid dream from meditation, yet this pony has not only formed her first one on her first try but has also been able to travel between dreams on her first attempt. ‘Either this filly is the most talented unicorn in Equestria or the bearer is not saying everything, either way doesn’t matter the student can learn at any pace set.’ Shiazu chuckles again as his thoughts about the lavender filly before him scatter and realign like water over the rocks. “Dream walking is speaking, it allows for communication without being in the waking world or needing magic for all creatures at some point or another enter the dream realm to rest their waking minds. the last thing i can teach you for dream walking is how to efficiently arrive and leave the lucid dreams so that you may visit others. are you ready?” The elder asked knowing the answer before the filly even spoke the words.

Twilight nodded affirmative moving to sniff one of the moon flowers before turning back to the elder and letting loose a beaming, innocent, youthful smile. “I’m ready, As Zecora learned I don’t need many breaks, so let’s begin.”

The elder smiled having his prediction answered correctly.“There are multiple ways to enter a lucid dream the one complete requirement is a clear mind, the others vary one method is the one that originally brought you here. Lucid dreams through meditation, the next is gradual lucid dream where you go to sleep and gradually free yourself into the lucid dream, then the final method is to sleep and have another join your dreams helping them become lucid.” The elder nodded sagely noting that the filly was paying distinct attention throughout his lecture from the beginning. “the only thing left to do about that part from now is practice and enhance your abilities. Let us head back to the waking world where this one can better Teach the art and methodology behind shadow walking.”

Twilight nodded agreement turned her head and bit herself on the foreleg. Her eyes slowly opened and closed as her mind awoke from her trance induced sleep. She opened her eyes finally and stared into the bright green eyes of her current teacher. “So what now?” The young filly queried.

“Now sit and rest look into the shadows feel the breeze, watch them as they move in the light.” He watched as the filly slowly looked over the room noticing the shadows cast by the objects nearby, she watched with a determination uncharacteristic of one so young. The elder smiled knowing this would be a memorable lesson even if it would be a swift one. “Now you see the shadows moving in opposition to the light yes?” A nod. “Watch what this one does.” Slowly the elder steps forward into the grasp of a shadow away from the nearest lamp then slowly calmed himself looking deep into the inky blackness then simply disappeared as if he didn’t exist.

However Twilight knew better, having sensed the strange magical energies thrumming forth as the sapphire lizard stepped into the shadow and as he melted away she felt a ping of the same energy signature as he reentered the room from her right. she turned and faced him just as he finished re-entering and asked the first thing on her thoughts. “What power is that it didn’t feel like any ability I’ve ever seen before.” She choked out in astonishment.

“That young filly was shadow walking there are three essential forms shadow can take. The first is the kind you see everywhere day or night, the second is a physical manifestation of the shadows within, and the third is metaphysical they are dealt through connection by shadow.” The elder demonstrated first pointing to the shadows around him, then rapidly lifting his arm in an arc summoning a trail of darkness in the form of a blade, then finally stepping back into the shadow he came out of and dissipating on the edge of it appearing on Twilights right. “the methods, abilities and applications for the shadows are many.” The sapphire Zaurask sat down, then stared into deep Twilight’s eyes, then smiled. “you know two manifestations already and how to contact them, however in order to fully utilize them you must use your imagination. Now in order to metaphysically affect the shadows you must first understand how to contact them, you already know how to dream walk, contacting the shadows is similar. Now enter the shadow beneath the wooden post.” Twilight acted by stepping into the shadows with the elder her eyes beaming with intuitive curiosity. “Now feel the shadows try to grasp them, push and pull them like the wind.” He paused as the unicorn’s eyes sharpened, falling half lidded in concentration her horn beginning to glow a faint magenta, the light melting somewhat with the shadows rather than banishing them as such light normally would. “you have connected with the shadows I see.”

Twilight nodded her lavender features slowly loosening as her grasp upon the shadows was realized, she felt them, the dark energies banished by light but ever connected. To say feeling was weird is like saying the sun is cold, it was as if she had stepped into a puddle of water yet it was dry and warm. However it rippled over her fur like a fluid, back and forth rippling slowly as it caressed her flesh invitingly, silently rising and falling on an invisible current up and down her legs, she smiled the shadows comfortingly gathering around her. “Amazing.” Was all she could state as she rested in the shadows calming presence.

The elder continued smiling as he watched the mare melt into the shadows like A master. “You truly learn fast young unicorn, you have even mastered entering shadow without further prompting, you should know how to exit the shadows comforting embrace.” He hinted softly testing again the filly’s thirst for knowledge. He was not disappointed as the Twilight’s lavender coat melted out of the darkness like wisps of ash.

“Amazing I didn’t think shadows could be like that, but i’m assuming there’s more to it. isn’t there.” She queried quietly in hopeful anticipation.

Shiazu watched the lavender filly from the corner of his eye. “Yes there is more to learn however i will only teach you how to melt through the shadows between destinations however other parts will be learned through imagination and ingenuity.” He stepped forward into the shadows melting into them like before then walking out of the shadows behind Twilight stopping right next to her patting her back softly before continuing. “To shadow walk is to enter the world of shadows and leave again, how you leave is always the same, however where you leave is based upon your desire and perception of the world around you. Similar to the dream void if you will, The place between dreams taking us between minds, here we travel between areas. Similar to the dream void you must watch the shadows, walk through them envision your destination and walk. now test what i have told.” Twilight nodded understanding that she wouldn’t know until she tested the theory given.

She walked into the shadows grasping them as she had before, knowing what she was looking for she disappeared almost instantaneously, melting into the dark realm with ease. Twilight quickly envisioned her destination like she did in the dream realm, however unlike the dreams there was not a silvery white portal to pass through, but an image becoming clearer as she passed through the dark liquid shadows around her she smiled as she appeared behind the elder and trotted forward stopping next to him and taking a seat. “You are right it is like the dream walking... but why do shadows act that way, their warm and comforting, I thought they would be cold and dark, unfriendly and isolated?”

The elder sighed deeply as he sat, gathering his thoughts. “The reason they are warm and comforting rather than unfeeling and disconnected as you would find outside of this village, and forest is because of the influence placed upon them. Our benefactor the ‘bearer’ wields the power to influence the area. Be warned however, influence is not the same as control. he guides the forests growth and holds the beasts at bay but will not directly bind them to his will. he softens the shadows so we may travel great distances comfortably however he encourages that we should only use the power of shadow walking when deemed necessary. So we traverse the forest through the old methods only using shadow walking when given assignments or protecting our equine charges.” he sighed again knowing many of the questions the filly would ask and knew he was not the one to speak the Zaurask history.

Twilight looked up at the aged Elder noticing the glint upon his slitted pupils as he looked down upon her then sighed as well. ‘Those questions will have to wait.’ She nodded sagely to the more knowledgeable elder standing before her. “Alright you said you would train me on how to use my ‘staff’, i’m ready.“ Shiazu in answer called his staff to him its clear white crystal glowing a deep emerald green from the inside. Twilight already had hers floating above her acting on her emotions without any intelligent thought as to consequence, she glared at it as if it were the bane of her existence. She took a deep breath calming herself down her ire melting as she breathed in the calming smell of the incense burning within the brazers.

“If you wish to control the ‘staff’ then you must first think of it as an extension of your body like your magic, however unlike your magic you cannot control it on a whim but however it is a piece of you therefor vocal and mental commands are your focus for control.” He nodded as the lavender filly jolted with a new realization.

“like when I had it join with my cloak in the forest. I was upset about it floating around all the time so I sorta told it off asking ‘why it wanted to be visible all the time’, and in response it hid in my cloak.” She beamed up at the elder lifting her hoof to her muzzle in thought.

The sapphire elder chuckled and nodded “Test your theory and see what comes of it.” Shiazu gently prodded.

Twilight nodded her violet mane bobbing up and down. “Alright lets see how this goes.” She looked up at the miasma above her, the energies within it pulsing regularly like her heart, she then turned to the elder and smiled before calling out in a level voice, in her mind already forming the shape the ‘staff’ was to take. “cloak.” immediately the miasma flew down and started solidifying eventually fully coalescing into the traveling article spoken of. its color a dull brown. Twilight swiftly donned it over the one given by her mentor. “I guess we are finished with the teachings?”

“If you wish.” the elder calmly explained. “however there are four other villages with their own unique paths. three of which, you might wish to visit before you return seeking your mastery. Stay here and visit, rest here for the night before you go.” Twilight looked upon the elder knowing a few of the Zaurask customs she smiled and nodded agreement.

“Sure, i’ll stay.” Twilight agreed knowing that the Zaurask never offered something unless the offer was sincere. to reject would be similar to hitting princess Celestia in the middle of one of her speeches. “What do the other villages teach?”

Elder Shiazu smiled softly “Vah’I’lahn’s shapers can teach how to create and summon life and call the elements to your aid. Lahn’I’tal where you find tamers who teach how to befriend the forest not only respect. The healers of Ru’I’Vah teach methods and spells of healing your mentor learned from them the advanced pieces of her healing arts. Nek’I’ru teaches the ways of the hunt and battle you would learn much from their experience, however your choice it is where and what you learn.” The elder explained the other villages without inflection, careful not to sour the fillies decision with his own preferences.

Twilight Sparkle lifted her hoof to her mouth in thought, her eyes glancing from object to object then finally back to the Sapphire elder as she finished deciding. “I will start by visiting Ru’I’vah, Zecora would be pleased If I learned the advanced arts of healing first. the next village will be Vah’I’lahn their spells of summoning and elemental magics will be quite interesting to learn, and the last village will be Lahn’I’tal the forest is my friend as I have realized over the past month, however it would still be nice to befriend some of the animals here.” she nodded her decision finalized, she then asked the final question. “So where will I be staying till morning?”

Twilight spent the night inside one of the Zaurask lodges. “Yeughhh...” Twilight yawned her eyelids fluttering as she woke up, feeling refreshed and reinvigorated the lavender filly quickly gathered her saddlebags. she looked over the room she rested in the basilisk scale bed untouched since she rested on one of the mats she made under Zecoras tutelage. The lavender mare smiled and exited the room into a small wooden foyer heading straight for the front door deciding to get a jump start on her day. ‘The couple will be pleased that I left them less work to do.’ As she stepped onto the pier from the small thatched hovel, she turned and nodded a slight bow thanking her hosts. Twilight continued her walk down the pier until she reached the end, running into the same female she met entering town. “Thank you for the directions earlier Sylvina. Did you find what you needed?” Twilight inquired curiously.

The Silvina nodded “yes, The Chiral Roots are tricky to retrieve at best however, they are useful in healing potions and arrows for our less experienced hunters. A few of our warriors fought a raging cockatrice and are petrified Did shaman Zecora teach you any potion recipes to combat that?” Sylvina asked ruefully.

Twilight's eyes opened wide. “Wait! I thought you taught her potion making?” The lavender mare said more as a statement than a question.

The gecko green female smiled. “She learned little from us, most knowledge she taught you was learned through ancient Zaphree texts. Such books can only be read by shaman and seers for they cannot use the knowledge magically. rare it is that shamans to take up apprentices, that is why we are pleased to see you..” The Zaurask gazed softly down to the unicorn.

Twilight blinked “Thank you. now as for the potion well what you’ll need is basilisk venom, wormwood, and about a bowl full of boiled water the wormwood when placed in the boiling water with the basilisk venom should lose its bark once that is done pull the wood out then pour the mixture over the stoned victim, it should work on those turned to stone naturally.” Twilight explained. they both nodded agreement that their conversation was finished, Twilight smiled and walked the rest of the way off the pier into the forest beyond.

Pets and Discoveries

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna est Gelida

Chapter 6 Pets and Discoveries.

(Everfree forest, three hours Southeast of Lahn’I’tal, nine hundred ninety third Celestial year, tenth day of spring)

‘Glimmering Wisp. We are close to the nest. I’ll guard while you scout from the northern ridge,’ the cloaked creature spoke in it’s thoughts as it jumped down from the tree branches, landing silently within a circle of wingleaf bushes choked by honeysuckle vines. The figure quickly scouted the surrounding area and noticing no immediate dangers, calmed down, loosening its vice-like grip on the cherry wood bow in hand; then waited.

‘Alright Xaldon I’ve reached the ridge... Cac! We’re too late! The nest has been overrun by trolls and it seems they even killed the drake mother,’ the bookish voice answered inside Xaldon’s head after a few minutes. ‘Alright, Xaldon, what should we do? Trolls aren’t supposed to be this far north!’

The cloaked Zaurask’s head lifted up a little and closed its eyes to focus his answer. ‘They breed like rabbits, and they’ve already gotten a taste for drake and wyvern blood. We must eliminate them before they become a threat to our friends.’ The youth then opened his eyes and jumped over the bushes, barely dodging the creeper vines, he rushed up a moderate incline and met up with a lavender unicorn. Slowing down, he calmly stepped up next to her.

Not even flicking her ear in response to his arrival, the lavender filly spoke. “Took you long enough. I figured out a plan to take out the trolls without any survivors, but it’ll require that I handle them personally while you watch for stragglers, alright?” She then met his green slits with her own lavender pupils.

“I see no problem with it, but how will you keep them from escaping? I thought you didn’t like killing?” The green scaled ranger asked.

“I’ll walk in there acting like a wounded pony from one of the distant villages and when they get close enough, I’ll spring the trap and divert the stragglers in your direction. Your bow should be able to take care of the rest.” Twilight smiled, knowing that it would work. ‘At least the trolls are stupid enough to think with their stomachs rather than their minds,’ she mulled grimacing as the gruesome creatures continued about their activities. “Don’t get me wrong: I despise killing, but there are some creatures I'll make an exception for.” She looked back over the ridge and spied one of the lanky creatures meandering around while the others fed on the dead drake mother’s insides and the bodies of the unhatched drake young. “I’m surprised they still exist,” the unicorn muttered under her breath.

Xaldon chuckled a little at her whispered comment. At the unicorn’s questioning look, he explained “it’s impossible to be rid of them entirely. We found out quickly that they couldn’t really be wiped out; their breeding habits, cowardice, and tenacity made it so. They could hide for months with their stolen food stores, not to mention if there’s a female in the group they can pretty much overrun the area within the span of six months. The only thing we can do is make sure they don’t spread outside the borders they’ve kept so far.” The cloaked Zaurask shook his head and chuckled softly. “Their only virtue seems to be their inability to die out.”

Twilight continued staring over the slate gray mass of creatures crawling over the nest. Their monochromatic coloring making it somewhat hard to distinguish between them. Their lanky features, batlike ears, and long limbs ending in sharp tipped fingers. Some of them held gnarled wooden clubs while others went without. She looked deeper into the mass and noticed one of them holding an aged sword obviously stolen from one of the abandoned pony forts. ‘Found their leader.’ “Alright I’m going in, watch for my signal before moving in.”

After the warning was given she quickly jumped down from the ledge and started cantering towards the nest. Slowing down as she reached the edges of the meadow below it. She transitioned to a limping gait while entering the clearing as she looked up wearily at the nest then started the slow climb up.

The trolls having immediately noticed her arrival began hiding outside of the obvious path waiting till the mare was far enough in to be unable to escape their trap. they saw their opportunity as she reached the nest.

Twilight looked over into the nest as she reached it, shattered eggs and unhatched drakeling body parts scattered across the floor, the broodmother was dead her belly having been torn open and her entrails shredded by the trolls.

With a false scream the lavender unicorn turned to run only to see a wall of gray bodies blocking her path. However instead of freaking out and trying to run the other way, she paused her panicked eyes calming instantly and a grin appeared on her face as she charged her horn the trolls began charging her unaware of the slaughter they were rushing into.

Twilight quickly launched a dual action spell onto the field as she called her ‘staff’ from her back forming it into dual blades to ward off the trolls and give her extra time to finish closing in the trap. The spell completed before the first troll even got close to her. She released the spell lowering her gaze to the ground covering her eyes with her mane and smirking. “Too easy.” she muttered quietly to nopony in particular. As she released a swiftly charged lightning bolt from her horn underneath the dual fireballs streaking towards the back of the horde, striking several of the trolls in a straight line from her position. They quickly fell over from the shock while others charged onwards still thinking they could overrun the little pony before she could cast again.

They were dead wrong in the space of three seconds Twilight summoned several more base spells to her horn in the form of elemental magics she learned under Zecora’s tutelage, then quickly formed them in similar ways to how she manipulated her ‘staff’ which was currently warding off a small pack of trolls that had tried to pincher her from within the nest. A pair of fireballs, four bolts of lightning and a sharpened wave of wind; all of which cut the horde of trolls down with deceptive ease.

The lead troll nimbly leaped over the wind slash and noticed his predicament. Already more than half of his followers had fallen to her magical barrage, noticing this he screams for a retreat; Just as he makes the call Twilight blasts him through the chest with a blue bolt of focused energy. Twilight summoned a simple ward that ripped energy out of the air turning it frigid and slowing the remaining trolls significantly.

A slew of arrows begin arcing out of the forest cutting down several trolls that tried to escape into the woods.

Twilight stopped casting her magic and wasting energy casting spells the remaining trolls inside the clearing turned to face her rather than chance the unseen assailant in the woods; she knew her staff would be enough for dealing with the cowardly creatures before her. She made short work of the remaining trolls quickly cutting them down without mercy, while Xaldon shot the remaining ones having joined into the fray.

‘Xaldon, Did any of the trolls make it out of your range?’ The lavender unicorn asked while trotting towards the forest to meet up with her fellow ranger.

The Zaurask hopped from the trees landing next to the unicorn. “No, no Glimmer none escaped.” His eyes shimmered in amusement. “You have done well for a ‘draoi do lia’.” He spoke in amusement that a simple druid was able to cut down a small army of trolls. “Let us return and speak with the elder.”

Twilight raised a hoof to both pause the Zaurasks action and steady herself. ‘Ughh what a headache, I really need to let up on casting so quickly.’ She then subtly shook her head then spoke calmly into her companions thoughts. ‘Not yet let me check the nest to see if any of the hatchlings survived.’ she mentally spoke before lowering the limb and turning and walking back up into the nest. Twilight looked around at the unnerving sight as she stepped amongst the carnage for the second time; remembering a few spells from her time amongst the healers of Ru’I’vah she quickly summoned forth a small mote of white energy to the tip of her horn which she then released into the ground; upon contact it exploded outwards in a yellow field covering the nest, after a few second the film of magical radiance died down except for a small mote of bright white light underneath the broodmothers body.

Twilight sighed dejectedly ‘One. Only one survived.’ The lavender filly sighed again as she lit her horn and telekinetically rolled the broodmother’s carcass over and spotted the shining mote of light. Dispelling her magic and dropping the telekinetic field over the drake’s body as she trotted over to the brightly pulsing egg. ‘Xaldon, come over here I need your input on what to do with this.’ She called out mentally, telekinetically lifting the egg and cleaning the gore off of it.

‘Coming!’ Half a minute later there was a light whisper behind Twilight as her Zaurask comrade arrived. “If there’s nothing left, grab the egg and let’s leave.” Twilight nodded assent and put the egg in the largest pocket of her saddlebags while reweaving her staff into her cloak; lifting the cloak’s hood over her head Twilight and Xaldon left entering the surrounding forest like shadows.

Their sprint back to the village was silent and uneventful as they reach the front gates Xaldon holds a hand out to stop the softly panting lavender filly. “You get some rest while I tell the elder what happened, keep the egg with you unless the Elder decides otherwise.”

Nodding in agreement Twilight quickly walks over to one of the nearby barns and rests on a bed of hay next to a few basilisks, waiting on her scaled companion to finish his debriefing before sending her in to tell the second part of the story and decide the fate of the smooth orb under her protection. Unconsciously stroking both of the basilisks with her magic, she mulled over the events of the day.

A few minutes later her body cooled off and relaxed Xaldon enters the wooden structure. “Elder Sha’seeth wishes for your side of the story, you’ve rested, come.” Without waiting for a response he turned and walked back out.

Twilight smoothly stretched to her full height before trotting after the swift Zaurask warrior; as she steps out of the barn she gives the basilisk twins a good night scratch before rushing to catch up with her companion. They arrive swiftly to the settlements main longhouse; it’s semi rotted entrances, a testament to the ferocity of the forest to reclaim that which is within its borders. Sitting in the middle of the room was a pale yellow Zaurask with bright red spines and three green horns sticking out of the back of his head.

His scales dull with age barely twitch in registration of the two new bodies in his presence. A soft ringing voice slowly bounces of the walls as the Elder begins to stand turning towards the two visitors. “I hear that you managed to suppress a troll encroachment. I... congratulate you on the success, Trolls have been known to be ... difficult to eliminate, especially in packs.” The elder nodded, then gestured with a patchy green scaled arm over to a small circular set of clean wooden mats. “Please have a seat and let us continue. Young Journeyer; would you or KaYa Xaldon like some honeysuckle tea?” He queried before turning and heading over to a small fire pit with a small brown water filled clay pot sitting over the red coals.

Twilight walked over to the mats and laid down alongside her green scaled companion who opted for a more accommodating sitting position. She spoke up as the elder started pouring a cup of the warm nectar.“Actually I’d like some tea If it’s not too much trouble.” The lavender filly then settled her head between her front hooves while waiting on the soothing elixir. Xaldon understood the stress the filly was going through killing is definitely not something that comes easily; especially to herbivores such as her. Silently he lifted his hand over and slowly started scratching the unicorns back moving up the spine till he reached the sensitive area between her ears causing the unicorn to purr in delight, Happy to be distracted from the events of the previous mission.

“Ah I see you two have gotten along well together. I guess RuKo Maha was right placing you two as a team.” Elder Sha’seeth spoke aloud, causing Twilight to visibly jump and Xaldon to lift his hand till the filly calmed down, then start scratching again. Chuckling to himself at the team’s antics the elder continued speaking as he placed a cup of tea before the unicorn. “Heres some tea to calm you down, ‘Sylvack’ knows you’ll need it; considering you’re not used killing other living creatures. Xaldon here has already let me know the bare events of the mission so I know not all was lost. Do you still have the drake egg young pony Phléasc?” He Queried.

“Yes, actually it’s right here.” Twilight magically unlatched a large pouch on her saddlebags and pulled out the yellow speckled green egg and placed it in the middle of their circle. The elder reached out a hand and softly placed his palm on its surface, closing his eyes he visibly drops into a deep meditative state. Twilight watches the elders actions carefully as Xaldon switches from scratching her back to simply rubbing in circular motions, his palm softly rubbing the fur in soothing patterns, helping remove the last vestiges of the filly’s internal conflicts.

The Elder Sha’seeth finally opened his ice blue eyes and sighed regretfully.“The egg is almost ready to hatch and its too late for us to try and reintegrate it into one of the other drake nests, nor can we raise it like our basilisk or wyvern steeds. The only option left is that I leave the creature in your capable hooves young Glimmering Phléasc,” The elder sighs again; Twilight gives him a funny look from her position. ”It is sad that we're losing her brood, she always made a good... companion, especially on missions deeper into the Everfree.” The elder nodded his head as the lavender unicorn continued watching him, perplexed by one of his statements.

She opened her mouth and asked. ”Wait so you're leaving the egg in my hooves... but I’m still under your tutelage and learning of the forest though there really hasn’t been much for me to learn over the past few days that I couldn’t have learned out on the field or haven’t learned already.” She lifted her hoof her her mouth unconsciously in thought. Xaldon smiled down at the filly while the elder shifted back to a more comfortable sitting position.

“Yes throughout the previous month you have proven to be an excellent student and have even become friends with the local wildlife within our borders, the basilisks love you and the wyverns even dote on you.” The elder’s eyes sparkled with joy. “Thanks to the potion recipes you brought from your shaman mentor we’ve received fewer losses to our camp, even the best tamers are pleased to have you around .” Sha’seeth sighed in resignation. “What I’m trying to say is, though we wish for you to remain here you have already learned that which we could teach, and since we cannot watch over the young drakeling we would have you watch over the child as a final mastery gift from our village.” Throughout the elders short speech the filly’s eyes and smile grew wider with joy until realization struck.

With a grimace she responds.“Wait if I’ve graduated from your teachings then who will be Xaldon’s Companion?” Twilight asks innocently while still receiving rubs from the ranger in question.

Xaldon held up his hand halting the elder before he could speak and answered for himself. “I shall seek my YaKo De’isu to continue my training as a Shade.”

Twilight nods acceptance before turning back to the Elder. “I thank you and your kin for helping teach me your expertise in most other fields. Is there anything you need help with before I return to my Mentor? I think now I’m ready to take her mastery test.“

“We thank you young draoi for the alchemical assistance. It is sad that we must see you go but to your own path must you follow. May the journey see you and your new charge well, young Phléasc.” The elder spoke as he placed the drake egg inside the lavender unicorns bags, smiling as he helped see her to the door to the ancient long house and to the end of the pier.

Before she left the village behind, Twilight turned back to the Leaf Green Elder. “Oíche maith Elder Sha’seeth. I will see you at some distant time.” With that final promise stated she bows her head, turns around, and starts trotting into the forest.

After half an hour Twilight senses another presence nearby and quickly halts her progress as she enters a clearing the runes for a quick ward already at the forefront of her thoughts as she looks at the trees surrounding her. She quickly notices the figure landing from a tree to the forests floor and beginning to walk towards her. Smiling and letting the runes fade back into the recesses of her mind she calls the visitor by name. “Ah Xaldon I was wondering when you’d catch up”

Xaldon steps forward into the brighter clearing his aquamarine scales glistening in the intermittent sunlight filtering somewhat through the foliage. He nods confirmation, but says nothing else.

The filly shuffles a bit rubbing the back of her neck reluctantly.“I guess this is goodbye?” She questions carefully.

Xaldon nods confirming the statement. “As Elder Sha’seeth said, beidh tú a bheith chailltear.” The young KaYa slowly dropped a few crystalline tears for his companion.

Twilight nods in thanks. “I will always remember you but don’t worry maybe someday when I’m settled down I'll visit.” She lifted her lips and smiled half heartedly. “But that won’t be for some time, till next we meet.”

Xaldon nodded “Till chugainn linn freastal.” Then he rose back to his full height and leaped back into the foliage, fading into the forests backgrounds without a sound.

Twilight softly reached out with her magic and wrapped it gently around a small thread of energy coming off of her mane, winding down to the source she comes upon a curious item, an aquamarine scale of vivid sparkling brilliance buried deeply within her mane. She gently caresses it and coaxes it to the surface of her mane untangling and disjoining it from the fibers holding it there, slowly but surely the scale comes out of the mane softly she lifts the scale still attached to her by a few threads of magic. She gently overlays an image within her minds eye of the night sky, and projects it down her link into the scale which glows a bit brighter in response as it transfers the thoughts through its connection, this final gift she transfers to her former companion as she breaths in the crisp night air. ‘It has been a nice month, I’m glad I had the chance to work with you.’

Twilight watches as the last few fibers connected to the scale dissipate and blow away in the wind, as the scale begins to disintegrate at an accelerating rate. Feeling the last vestiges of the metaphysical connection fade away; Twilight turns face the forest and feels the shadows for the direction of her mentor, finding the directions quickly enough she leaves the clearing assured of her destination and entering the forest with only her staff and the gear within her saddlebags.

-----A day and a half later-----

The lavender filly stood before a familiar wooden moss covered tree hut. A mask of welcome in front of the door; a joyful sight as the filly stepped up to the wooden portal. Her mane and fur ruffling slightly as a small wind picked up around her, she smiled lifting her hoof and tapping the threshold of the door twice, announcing her presence, stepping back Twilight watched as the door opened to the interior of the small hut with a black cast iron cauldron a new potion simmering in its belly, the most notable item though was the creature that answered the door her black and white striped fur with a mohawk with patterns only broken intermittently by ceremonial gold rings helping solidify her place as a shaman.

“Welcome young filly have your travels been enlightening?” The zebra greeted in her lyrical feminine voice.

Twilight looked up at her mentor with shining eyes. “It was amazing, the spells and magic which I had learned from you was only the beginning of what they had to teach, And I can’t even thank you enough for teaching me your alchemy it has saved many of the animal patients I came across.” The lavender filly rambled as she entered the hut. She then turned to her mentor and asked. “Hay Zecora? Do you need any Vampyre roses I accidentally picked more than I needed.” the lavender filly murmured sheepishly.

The zebra only smiled at the unicorns honesty. “Fear not young child, I have need for a vial.” Zecora smiled not unkindly down upon the unicorn before her, as the filly used her magic to unstrap one of the bags on her saddle and pulled out the small bottle holding a full rose head the very center held a small mouth, ringed with sharp teeth and several black stained tendrils coming out of it. Zecora looked on impressed at her apprentices skill, capturing a Vampyre rose and making a potion out of it immediately afterwards is one thing actually preserving the rose head for use at a later time is entirely another story and here was her apprentice offering it to her as if the plant were a trivial item to give. Zecora grasped the glass container floating before her and put it away for later. “Thank you Journeyer Wisp, I foresee that you seek my judgement for your mastery of alchemy?”

Twilight nodded. “Of course Zecora, though thats not the only reason, I also wanted to see you one last time before leaving the forest.” The zebra trotted over to the unicorn filly and sat down next to her as the unicorn lifted out a small ceramic pot with twin cups. “Would you like some tea Mshauri?” The filly asked kindly, Zecora nodded with a small smile on her lips as the unicorn pulled out several rare spices that were even harder to hold for an extended period of time than the flower the zebra had been given. Twilight made the tea swiftly using a few heating and water condensing spells, then she poured the contents, equal parts into both cups bringing one to her lips while passing the other to her mentor who gathered it in her hooves gracefully.

Zecora took a sip humming in delight at the delightfully calming aroma of alizeti tea with a hint of mwandamo ua essence, and laced gently with honey. “Jinsi ya kufanya hii samling? This I wish to understand.” Twilight chuckled gently as she finished her tea cup alongside the shaman.

“It was quite simple really, once I figured it out. Apparently the honeysuckle when mixed with réicheach sghiahean creates a potent enough mixture to cancel out the opposing forces between the Sun and moon flower powders add a little honey to the mix and you get this.” Twilight smile at Zecora as she finished her explanation.

The zebra mare just stood there dumbfounded, yet impressed at her pupils ingenious work-around. When she finally relaxed her mouth enough to speak she began.“Your skills have improved greatly from the time your journey had began, I do not see why you should need my teachings much more, you have achieved a level of Alchemy many would envy.” The zebra’s smile extended widely in joy as she continued speaking melodiously. “It is my joy to title you master of the alchemical arts.”

The lavender filly’s face brightens in joy and then lets out a loud cry declaring in joyous accord ”YES! YE...” She stopped mid bounce her face flaring redder than a rose as she turned to Zecora who was barely holding back a laugh at the unicorn’s antics and settled with a hoof covered chuckle. “Aghm... sorry. O hay Zecora mind if I stay the night one last time?”

“You may stay the night if you wish.” Zecora relented within a moments thought. “So long as you show me what you’ve accomplished.”

Twilight smiles widely before opening her mouth and for the next few hours Twilight reveals to Zecora some of the complexities and skills the Zaurask had taught and revealed to her. She showed some of the advanced techniques she had developed with her magic mostly based upon the healing spells and the utility abilities she saw use for. She even showed the egg given to her by the Ygg-Nyishi tribe in the village of Lahn’I’tal.

It was night when Twilight and Zecora looked each other in the eyes and nodded accepting and knowing imperceptibly that it was time to call it a day and so Zecora blew out the candles one by one while Twilight weakened the flames below the cauldron into cinders and hot coals adding self sustaining spell on the heat of the coals to keep the contents of the container simmering. After darkening the hut Twilight and Zecora simultaneously rolled out their bed mats and layed down next to the cauldron, the heat from the coals keeping them warm as they slowly drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

Twilight’s eyelids cracked open as she woke up from her restful sleep noticing movement to her left as she rested on the mat, quickly she summoned a mote of magic to her horn which she then expanded in a small seeing matrix allowing her to see the creature next to her. Quickly she realized that the creature was not a creature at all but a very specific zebra that was still awakening through her morning ministrations, Twilight already awake enough to cast spells, opened her eyes fully and stood up without needing any promptings, and without difficulty; completely startling Zecora who was still trying to wake up, ignoring the zebra’s minor protest Twilight called forth her magic and pulled out a mint leaf and two flower petals one a vibrant blue with yellow speckles and one a deep crimson red.

Zecora being fully awake now cautiously stares at the ingredients the lavender unicorn pulls out of her bag. She shivers as the unicorn pulls out a pot with her magic and places the petals in the pot first along with a pint of water. she studies her former students actions for a few minutes before deciding to no longer worry about it. Zecora stretches again then quickly follows her morning routine of placing a small pot next to the still glowing coals till the liquid inside simmers then dropping a few chamomile leaves inside and watching as the liquid turns a soft amber. She then pulls it away from the coals and takes a look over the mixture and nods while pulling a mug from the cupboard and pouring the contents of the pot into the container, the calming aroma filling the room pleasantly.

Twilight looked over at her former mentor over her cup of Vampyre joke tea the mild taste belying the potent effects; her vision sharpening along with her teeth, her hearing being sharp enough to hear a pin drop in the middle of the forest in mid summer, and her magical reservoir becoming much deeper than before. The tea’s effects may be enabling but still temporary as she understands that they would only last throughout the morning, and when the effect wears off she’ll have to eat a few réicheach sghiahean to chase the after-effects away. Twilight decides to speak up after a few minutes of silence noting the patient look on her former mentors face.. “Umm... I guess this is goodbye.” The zebra nods at the lavender filly who checks her saddle bags to make sure everything was in place and the straps are tightened right. Twilight steps out of the cabin her eyes subtly darting throughout the foliage watching for predators or just simple dangers as she enters the clearing around Zecora’s hut, the zebra in question leaving the building alongside her. “Well Mshauri I guess I’m off, oh do you have any advice on what a drake hatchling eats? I know I can catch meat but I’d rather get the youth on a diet more suited to a creature living in pony lands.”

Zecora nods. “Meat is what drakes eat, however precious stones make a fine substitute alongside a few processed pony foods. The youth though would require a mother’s milk before developing the right dietary abilities.” Zecora finished calmly reciting from memory.
“Do not fret the path you will tread, the child you carry is a mild creature to care for.”

Twilight smiled a bit brighter at the answer “Thanks for the advice Zecora I'll be sure to contact you sometime and let you know somewhat about my adventures.” The lavender filly waves then turns to leave and opens her mouth again. “Goodbye Mshouri Zecora may the forest watch over you.”

The zebra nods thank you as the lavender filly melts into the foliage with nary a whisper. Zecora sighs softly seeing her apprentice master the skill that she had worked on for a good fourteen years years within the space of sixteen months. ‘It’s nearly unbelievable however the filly succeeded with little difficulty along side her magical exercises. That filly’s voracious appetite for knowledge is almost irrepressible.’ The zebra mare then smiled warmly her good memories of the times her and the filly spent together as she entered the cottage and continued her day.

←----------------------------->

Twilight smiled joyfully, the forest around her blooming with life as the snows dried away, the trees blooming in vibrant colors and shades as the flowers bloomed and the leaves regrew the new plant life and the emerging creatures. She revelled in the life and vitality of the forest as she passed through. She watched the paths she traveled, spotting tracks both predator and prey noting their shapes, sizes, and how recently they were formed all of this information processing in the back of her mind as she continued enjoying the scenery of the Everfree Forest in the spring time.

Spotting several Bitter Bramble vines and a Roseluck bush as she entered one of the Everfree Forest’s many clearings, Twilight quickly trotted over to the roseluck bush, levitating a glass jar from her saddlebags to the barely budding roses as they started opening and spreading their pollen, immediately she picked one of the small violet-red flowers and placed the velvety carnation within a rune sealed glass container the preservation rune taking effect almost immediately after filling it with energy. Twilight smiled Roseluck flowers were potent ingredients for potions that removed curses and other magical maladies that were known to happen including the rare virus known as horn rot that unicorns were highly susceptible to.

Her Ingredient finally put away in her bags she finally took a second to examine the area, immediately she spotted something she quickly jumped back from the bush barely dodging the ever present creeper vine that commonly lurked within the leaves and branches of the more alchemical plants; then she turned and spotted a pair of glowing yellow eyes watching her from the brush outside of the small meadow. Rather than run in fear of the predator she knew was hiding in the shadows ready to charge in and strike at her she sat down on the ground in the middle of the clearing and watched the yellow eyes with equal intensity until they turned and she heard the sound of paw steps growing fainter as the creature walked away. Twilight then turned and continued her trek through the woods.

Twilight watched as the forest returned from day to night during her trek to the north-east after a time watching as the glowing plants passed by and the occasional predator taking an interest in her, she watched as a massive chasm came into view she pulled the name of the site instantly from memory as the Ghastly Gorge she smiled as she walked over to the edge knowing if she wanted to avoid Equestrian towns and speed up her trek to the border she’d have to cross the ancient scar rent into the land by water and time.

Twilight looked north and south of the massive trench searching for a path across when she saw an interesting protrusion of shadow just above the mists across the way, on a hunch she slowly trotted along the side of the rift, being careful to be at least a meter away from the edge lest the shelf she stood on shattered from the added weight.

Slowly she walked along the edge of the canyon the faint sound of the unseen roaring waters below was the only sound throughout the monotonous trek. Eventually she found what she was looking for, a pair of semi rusted steel posts sticking out of the ground a few feet past the edge of the chasm with snags of moldy rope the remnants left behind by the trials of time, the four points of rope contact two rings on each of the posts the remnants of a rope bridge that connected both sides of the chasm at one point in time.

It was all she needed to know, softly the lavender filly lit her horn she quickly pulled a vial of silvery powder from her saddle bags wrapped in an ethereal glow the same color as her own as she called her staff from her back and formed it into a sword. she walked over to the edge of the chasm with her sword shaped staff before her and cast a simple sight spell to detect if bridge survived the disconnection and was hanging off the other side of the chasm, she smiled as the spell came back with a positive response. Slowly the sword deformed and flowed back into her cloak like a liquid as she replaced the vial of silver dust with a small length of creeper vine and a jar of basilisk saliva. putting the two materials on the ground Twilight focused her energy on the other side of the canyon feeling along the wall till she touched the remnants of the bridged slowly she levitated the mass of the structure pulling it up till it was visible then she moved her levitation to the end of the bridge and pulled it over to the chasm’s edge, acting quickly she used her levitation to both sever and attach lengths of the vine to the to the ends of the bridge quickly binding them together solidly with basilisk saliva mixed with salamander oil. The lengths firmly bound together Twilight used her telekinesis to tie them firmly to her side of the chasm now with her way open she placed the potion and vine rope back within her saddlebags, and trotted across.

As she reached the other side Twilight noticed that the bridge was about ready to break off on the side she was reaching and quickly broke into a gallop using her forestry skills she was able to traverse across the rickety construct, using as little of her weight as possible jumping off at the very last second as one of the rope supports snapped on her side of the bridge, then in slow succession the other rope supports began to fray and snap until the last one broke and the bridge fell away and crashed on the other side of the chasm. Slowly shaking her head in amusement at her dumb luck the lavender filly released a small chuckle just watching the steel supports that once supported the bridge on her side of the chasm just a few minutes ago.

In a good mood Twilight turned around only to be caught by surprise by the massive castle that stood before her she looked left then right trying to spot any sign of other visitors or those that might live in the massive building only to find that it was home to mostly small rodents and other lesser creatures. The lavender unicorn realizing her find smiled and quickly ran up to the massive double door entrance of the structure and used her magic to softly push them open she entered only to find that the building unlike most of the others abandoned within the everfree forest was nearly empty of furnishings and relics from the time before the forests massive growth. Silently she walked amongst the corridors her hooves tapping a staccato rhythm within the empty halls, the bare walls echoing the sound as she paced forward deeper into the castle.

Reaching a T-shaped junction the lavender filly looked down both the empty corridors ‘Hmm... I wonder... ok the right path is a little bit broken and the cracks on the floor would suggest a weak support structure underneath, not to mention the corridor is a bit too dark...’ “I’m not going to chance anything till I’ve set up camp and have had a good rest.” She whispered under her breath before turning to go down the left corridor. ‘At least this path is brighter, and the walls and floors look like they’ve seen less abuse.’ There paused in her step. ‘But looks can be deceiving.’ She remembered a previous event where she almost broke her left foreleg when one of the battlements she assumed was sturdy broke from under her. “I’m just glad Zecora was there to catch me.” With a determined gaze she carefully walked along the inner wall.

Eventually she arrived before a large set of double doors, without incident. Twilight pauses and examines the tarnished gold and silver leaf barriers; immediately she realized what she must be in front of, and smiled excitedly. Quickly examining the floor and surrounding walls for structural weaknesses, Twilight carefully steps into the hallway. Taking each hoof fall into consideration carefully testing her weight before shifting her balance on that leg to take another step. After ten or so hoof falls the lavender filly stopped facing the door, she then called upon her magenta aura. Slowly she probed the ancient pieces of architecture marveling at their ancient beauty. Finding no magic residue she carefully wrapped her aura around one of the massive doors and pulled.

Nothing happened her magic dissipated and ran off the door like water, instantly she recognized the problem. “Mage bane laced rune stone!” She growled out the material as if it was a curse. “Damn it why do I always run into you especially in the older ruins.” She spoke rhetorically to no pony in particular, knowing that unicorns a thousand years ago had problems with the new rule of the twin princesses and were more often than not untrustworthy. The lavender unicorn glared at the massive door in annoyance for a few seconds before rolling her eyes and pulling out a small jar of glowing yellow liquid and laid it before her. ‘Alright this has gotten rid of the mage bane on the other items hopefully it works for this one. However purified hydra blood mixed with wyvern venom tends to nullify any magical surface that it touches. Hopefully this works and I don’t have to resort to using my staff to move the damn door.’ Twilight sighed pulled a few drops of the liquid from the jar.

Placing the drops on the left leaf of the door the results were immediate, the entire door began to fizzle and smoke as the mage bane root laced within the door burned away under the purifying effects of the potion. After a few minutes when the smoke and noise had died down, Twilight decided to test the door again gathering her magic she softly pressed it around the ancient portal and pushed softly it moved inward, the petrified dust falling away as the door groaned inward. The lavender filly smiled as she walked forward onto the entry way however she paused there.

Twilight not wasting any more time quickly trotted into the room instinctively noting the decaying magic in the interior along with the objects those signatures are attached to. Noting a new magical signature she hasn’t noticed before she pauses and quickly orients herself in its direction. Passing off the lack of traps to being within an important room that needed little security, she quickly trotted in the direction of the signature. After several meters heading towards the far side of the nearly unaged room she found a small undamaged hand mirror, her magic pointing at the mirror as the source of the untapped magic. Twilight carefully encases her magic around its handle softly lifting the mirror into the air facing away from her incase the innate spell should activate.

Out of all the things she did in the ancient ruin sites the past time and activity that grasped her attention the most was finding ancient artifacts that were enchanted with unique spells from the days gone by. Twilight's favorite part was being able to break the enchantments down into their base components, then with the new parts and ideas she had learned from the broken enchantments and her existing knowledge create new unique spells that could work with little difficulty. After examining the runes and wards around the mirror, she quickly packed it away deciding it would be better to examine its spell construction on the road.

Twilight then finally after putting the mirror with the new enchantment away had a few moments to herself to finally examine the expansive room and gazed upon the ancient walls. Her gaze swiftly fell upon a pair of broken seats on top of a raised dais on the far side of the room from the double doors she had entered through. ‘Oh!’ It then clicked as the final pieces fell into place. ‘This must’ve been the ancient Castle of the Pony Sisters. which means... I’m in Silverwind Nexus the Citadel of Light.’ Twilight felt her eyes widen in joy of the prospect of being inside one of the most prestigious structures of equine history, however as quickly as her excitement bubbled forth a yawn just as quickly pierced her reverie. ‘I guess it can wait, need to conserve supplies, I’ll just rest over there.’ Slowly she walked over to a patch of floor next to one of the massive marble pillars that was clear of debris and set up her small camp.

Summoning forth a small light crystal from one of her utility bags, she made quick work silently tracing the crystal in a quick starburst formation at several points on the floor around her campsite, then finally ducked underneath her manticore hide tarp, and rested upon her meditation mat knowing the flash traps would wake her should their be any unwary predator stalking her. Closing her eyes the lavender filly slowly drifted off into the realm of dreams.

Twilight jerked awake feeling the unfamiliar sensation of another presence, swiveling her ears from left to right she tried to detect the sound of movement outside the tent. Then she heard it but not from outside the tent instantly she froze as the sound pronounced itself a soft tap tapping from just behind her within the bags. The lavender unicorn turned her head towards the strange sound, wondering where it came from until it hit her. “The egg.” She whispered her eyes widening from the revelation.

Thinking quickly she lit her magic and opened the saddlebags and pulled out the oblong object from its snug resting place and held it before her. After a swift examination she noticed the faint outlines of a crack from the inside of the egg, about to probe the shell further she placed it on the mat right in front of her, immediately it jumped as the creature inside slammed against the shell harder than before, causing the crack along the side of the egg to become even more pronounced. Twilight’s smile grows wider even as the cracks on the egg grow in size with a noticeable crack the shell begins to break out ward as the small creature within continues it’s rhythmic living beat, striking at the shell and pushing it further and further outward. Finally the egg shatters and the miniature drake rolls out onto the mat landing directly in Twilight’s warm plush hooves.

The lavender filly gazes warmly down at the small beige colored creature before her its curious green slitted orbs staring wonderingly back into hers, then without warning it let out a high pitched belch releasing a small flicker of magical fire just touching the tip of Twilight’s horn. Twilight blinked at the unexpected action then blinked again as she remembered that hatchling drakes shouldn’t be able to breath fire. ‘However this one seems to have little difficulty with it. Hmm this requires some further st...’ Her line of thought is suddenly cut off as the young drakeling begins rubbing its scaled neck along hers in a symbol of both familial affection and nips at her hair in instinctive hunger searching for it’s nourishment.

(Warning NSFW ahead involving mammaries and breastfeeding read at your own discretion.)

Twilight’s cheeks burn furiously in embarrassment as she’s reminded that she’s the drakeling’s pseudo mother. ‘Oh right.’ she thinks to herself as the drake pulls back to look her in the eye. ‘Heh I guess I forgot that part. Ok, same situation as the Wyvern hatchling.’ Had the lavender filly’s cheeks not already been burning bright red they definitely would have been now as she summoned the spell to her horn and aimed it for her lower half, causing the two small mounds to swell and leak a small amount of their precious white fluid. ‘Hopefully it works a second time.’ Her spell completed Twilight panted softly from the exertion. ‘It’s one thing to cast highly damaging spells it’s entirely another thing to cast a spell that creates, modifies, or heals the body.’

Twilight squeezed a small amount of sweet nectar from her left mound and lifted it to the newly hatched creature between her forelegs, and held it in the form of an orb before the drakeling’s snout immediately the creature sniffed at it before flicking it’s small tongue out and tasting the floating elixir. It’s eyes shoot open as it instinctively strikes and swallows the remainder of the orb before turning it’s face back to it’s caretaker cocking its head quizzically then letting out a small chirp for more. The lavender filly smiles back at the drake then kisses the young creature on its scaled forehead before using her left foreleg to gently guide the creature down to her swollen pouches of sweet deliciousness, the drake sniffing the source of the sweet elixir he just had before immediately shoots it’s head down and latches painfully onto the delicate tissue, then greedily begins swallowing the juicy serum in great gulps. Twilight couldn’t help but moan softly as her mounds were milked for all they were worth.

After a few minutes the small hatchling released the lavender filly’s teat; expelling a small belch of contentment the grey green creature crawled back into Twilight’s awaiting forehooves, and closing it’s eyes as it fell asleep. Twilight smiled as she gently cradled the small drakeling in the crook of her foreleg while softly stroking it’s scales in a circular motion with the other; her thoughts floating between subjects. ‘How am I going to keep this one safe? Wait I’ll teach him how to catch food on his own... hmm that spell might work.’ She lifted her open forehoof to her chin contemplating the spell, whether it would be useful or not; the small drakeling stirred rolling onto its back and resting on the plush lavender cushion holding it above the unforgiving stone floor.

(End NSFW scene.)

Twilight exhaled slowly as she carefully picked the drakeling in her grasp and rolled it back over onto it’s stomach, she smiled down at the small creature as it rested. ‘Definitely male, I guess the first thing I should do is name him.’ Twilight winced as she accidentally brushed the raw flesh of her milk pouch. ‘I forgot how sharp their teeth were, hmm... teeth? No. Tooth? No. Fang? Fang!’ The lavender unicorn smiled down at the sleeping form in her protective embrace. Shifting her ears to detect even the slightest of sounds she scanned the area carefully before letting out another deep sigh. Reorienting her eyes back onto the drakeling before her her voice started out quietly; her horn lit, her words thrumming with ancient power. “I, Twilight Sparkle, name this young drake ‘Fang Shimmerscale’, by the magic and life I hold do I decree to protect and serve as mother and caretaker! In the words of the ancients; Per meum Magia, juro ad ministrabunt et custodient Fang Shimmerscale velut mater et contemnis.” The words softly spoken rebound off the surrounding chamber walls, echoing the mantra as if to capture the words in time for all eternity.

Eventually the echoes died away as the lavender filly rests with her charge nestled comfortably between her forelegs sleeping without a care in the world. Twilight spends a few minutes watching the precious creature rest between her hooves before gently pulling the young drake closer to herself and closing her eyes; her chin firmly rested over Fang’s back and nodding off back to her previously interrupted rest, her final thoughts carrying calm serenity and love for the creature placed under her charge.

“Gerru?... Mrrrrrr...” The morning light seeping through the windows did nothing to ease the tension flowing off the mare as her semi groggy mind registered an unfamiliar presence between her hooves; rubbing itself along her neck, while making cooing noises. Slowly she opened her eyes and spotted the creature before her, its bright inquisitive eyes gazing innocently into her own for barely half a second. “Quirou?” The poor hatchling queried hungrily.

Realizing her predicament Twilight shifted over onto her side, barely remembering it she cast the lactation spell she used the night before. Feeling her milk pouches swell again with delicious white fluid; she didn’t have to wait for the small drakeling to follow his nose to the source and begin feeding. After a few minutes Fang released the nipple and dropped to his hind legs. He turned bodily towards the watching Twilight and cocked his head to the side questioningly.

Twilight couldn’t help it; the young drake’s features filled with unguarded curiosity forcing a small chuckle out of her.”Hehehe.... Well I guess now’s as good a time as any.” Without a second thought Twilight lit her horn and softly used her magic to tug at one of the young drake’s scales. The loose scale came out without difficulty or pain the young hatchling gazed at the strange sight of the scale floating in mid air. The lavender filly began incanting runes of binding upon the scale; drawing it towards herself, she began weaving the scale into her mane casting a time lock spell upon the scale as it started glowing. Twilight smiled as the spell completed gently she began weaving her thoughts and magic around the scale within her mane. ‘I hope this works... ok can you hear me?’ she thought gently into the scale.

The olive toned drake jolted and gazed left and right his wings flaring out in distress, trying to find where the unexpected sound came from; as if from nowhere yet everywhere. Twilight smiled and tried again; with an image of herself firmly within her minds eye she tried again. ‘Hello? Can you hear me?’ She asked quietly.

The small drake jerked again then froze; wings furling back and his head turning ever so slowly, he settled his gaze upon the lavender unicorn before him, and chirped questioningly. Twilight smiled; Her ability to communicate with the young still as strong as usual. Closing her eyes she grasped onto her thoughts like threads, and pulling them into simple strings of information; coloring pieces here and there with feelings she gently wove a small tapestry of knowledge. the first being an image of her back with saddle bags on it and a strong compulsion to climb onto it; the next showed her cloak surrounding him accompanied by a warm comfortable feeling as he rested on her back.

The message sent Twilight summoned her magic to bring the leather tarp down separating the binding lengths of shadow vine and packing her gear neatly into her saddle bags; with the bags firmly secured to her back she lay down on her stomach both front and back hooves on either side; Fang recognizing her position from the mental images waddled over on two legs only falling twice as he made his way over to her back. With awkward yet swift jerks of his wings he leaped up onto the side of her saddle bags using his hind legs he latched onto the bags and climbed the rest of the way and settled on the leather saddle between the bags. With little effort of thought and will Twilight commanded the staff weaved into her cloak to wrap around the young drake and help the day old hatchling stay warm.

With her gear put away and her precious cargo resting on her back; Twilight checked again to make sure nothing was loose and everything was together. With a slight nod of approval; Twilight turns to face the room again, scanning from left to right she notices several minor threats in the uneven floors however the room proves to be safe as opposed to her original thoughts. A simple flick of her horn and the flash traps surrounding her position break down into their base energy; flowing back into the crystal she summoned them from. With a nod of finality Twilight heads towards the dais she noticed the night before. The cracked and shattered thrones giving off a faint magical signature piquing her interest.

Her hooves padding softly along the floor; Twilight being ever watchful examined the room along her path even shooting a few glances towards the massive mage bane laced double doors behind and to her right; her eyes unconsciously scanning for danger as she trotted along. Reaching the thrones Twilight summons a small orb of energy to the tip of her horn coalescing into a simple orb of white energy; pleased with her work she released the orb flying true it struck the thrones and dissipating upon impact. Waiting a few seconds a soft glow the same color as her sphere began to emanate from the thrones in a pattern familiar to the lavender filly.

Unfortunately too familiar. “Really a charged barrier matrix? I thought thrones would have a bit more of an impressive enchantment on them.” Letting her breath out slowly; Twilight calmed down. Turning to check on Fang she noticed that he was still fast asleep within her cloak. Smiling ruefully she turned back to the thrones, sighing dejectedly she turned back around to face the double door entrance to the massive room. Deciding it was useless to stay she swiftly trotted out. Entering the halls outside the room she immediately noted the conditions of the hallways now as opposed to what she saw the previous night; the floors were sturdy if pock marked with erosion and time.

Looking down the corridors on both sides of the door Twilight decided to head along the left path. Heading down the hall proved much easier this time as opposed to the previous night where she saw pit falls and innumerable structural weaknesses on the outside wall. Not one to trust her sense of sight fully Twilight sent small pulse energy waves forward five meters ahead of herself to make sure the path was safe to travel; after a few minutes passing multiple portals leading to areas that obviously led to guard and servant quarters. A small set of double doors colored a deep cerulean blue became visible as she reached the end of the hallway. She sent a pulse wave through the door; the returning wave formed a map within her mind of a spiral staircase leading up within; noting the lack of traps within she decided to feed her curiosity, opened the door, and walked in. Twilight looked at the staircase and noticed that it only reached up four floors worth of height.

Reaching the top of the stairs the lavender unicorn came across an open portal that looked to have once have held a single door. Looking into the room Twilight noticed the signs of a battle; windows shattered inward; scorch marks on the walls, roof, and floor; broken and burnt furniture and even the bed looking as if it had undergone a heavy infernal blaze before being left with only a frame. Closing her eyes she opened her senses; several unmoving magical presences besides her own revealed themselves to her. All save one coming from her pack, the last one near the shattered window on the other side of the room.

Closing her senses off Twilight opened her eyes again and looked over the room again this time she noted two tomes of knowledge seemingly undamaged by both time and the battle; laying near one of the pieces of shredded furniture. ‘Hmm not often I find a tome of knowledge in the ruins. Zecora was glad to add that treatise on shields to her collection and to the kitabu cha maarifa. Hmm these books might be worth investigating.’ Nodding firmly Twilight trotted over to the books on the other side of the dome shaped chamber upon reaching them she lit her horn casting a simple breeze blowing the dust off the ancient tomes and revealing their titles; the ‘Ars De Lumine Obligandi’, and the ’Ars De Animus Obligandi’

Lifting the tomes with her telekinesis she swiftly placed them within her saddlebags. Turning to check that they were in their proper places the lavender filly did a double take. ‘O basilisk scales I’m gonna have to find a place to put all of my gear otherwise I won’t be able to pick up anything else.’ She mentally sighed as she walked over the shattered remnants of the window.

Closing her eyes she opened her thaumaturgical senses again and detected the faint magical resonance coming from just to her left towards the window. Dropping the magi-sense she opened her eyes facing in the direction of the item. “A rock? hmm...” Walking closer to the object she noticed several of its features; it was small and black; carved extremely smooth and was shaped in the form of a teardrop. Shaking her head in annoyance she picked up the stone scale from off the floor and placed it in her saddlebag pouches for later examination. ‘Looking further through the castle will be pointless I haven’t seen any bodies yet, and the place is eerie without company; living or otherwise; not to mention my bags are out of room and I'll probably have to feed Fang sometime soon.’

As if on cue there was a small shift on her back from underneath her bundled cloak staff. ‘So the child has awakened.’ Twilight sighed inwardly as she exited the room back to the spiral staircase. Taking a quick peek over her shoulder Twilight noticed Fang popping his head out of the makeshift blanket keeping him warm. “Querrru?” he questioned cocking his head as the unicorn descended the steps to the lower floor. Twilight after exiting into the hallway took a quick note of the sun's position in the sky. ‘Midday already? Hmm I guess checking the tower must have taken longer than expected.’ Twilight mused calmly as she walked down the corridor passing the massive double doors to the throne room. ‘Hungry.. I am.‘

Twilight froze in place as the mentally projected words finished sinking in. Slowly she turned her head towards the small drake on her back who stared at her expectantly; his green orbs shining in curious amusement. He opened his mouth and cheeped again with his wings slightly unfurling. ‘Food?’ Came the thought again in a small childlike voice accompanied by the taste of milk on her tastebuds and her stomach filling with the delightful substance. ‘Ha-how... how did... Nevermind’ Twilight realized that still young though the drakeling was it probably understood the method of communication because she showed it to him. Face-hoofing Twilight coalesced her thoughts into an answer which she both vocalized and sent through her thoughts at the same time. “Yes food you will have, wait for the bright outside first.” She simplified for the small creature. Reaching the T-shaped intersection she entered through the night before she took her right and continued down the corridor reaching the main double doors to the crumbled palace.

Exiting to the main courtyard outside the front of the palace. The sun beamed through the canopy above. Not one to break her word Twilight settled down next to one of the ashen trees on the moss padded ground. Giving a quick mental nudge to the young drake to hop off and to her staff to form into a protective coat around the young creature; she smoothly rolled onto her side while casting the lactation spell again for the second time that day. Twilight calmly watched the courtyard while the young drakeling fed making sure nothing could get near enough to threaten her charge.

After half an hour the drakeling finally finished suckling and fell asleep again. Lifting the limp drake onto her back with telekinesis Twilight prompts her staff to separate into two halves one half will pull out of the cloak while the other will hold the cloak around the drake and work to keep him comfortable while on her back. She commands the other to form into a sheath for her horn until needed and disguise itself as the horn itself. looking herself over the unicorn nods acceptance and stands. Looking back at the Ancient structure behind her she turns and trots off north east towards the border.

Author's Note

By the shining mane of Nightmare Moon this took forever to churn out sorry for the massive amount of words and the excessive use of prose but I really tried to get people to help me clean it up. So instead of a beautiful masterpiece; you will be receiving a massive piece of rushed rubbish, sorry. Though things will be looking good as in another chapter or two within the next month as a Christmas gift to myself and maybe you. They will be probably be nothing but shits and giggles.

cheers^,=,^

Proofread by: janushyde a god amongst us.

Edited by: Freeze

Edited by: Helreal

Edited by Ebonysdagger

Doggie Treats (Part 1)

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 7 Doggie Treats (Part one of two)

(Equestrian/Griffica border, twelfth day of spring, nine hundred ninety third Celestial year, 5 hours north of Hoofreed)

“Schlp, schlp, schlp” pause. snif snif. “whine” more lapping to the face.

‘Ughh... Fluttershy will you please get your friends off of me!’ The prismatic maned pegasus groaned in her head still feeling the constantly rasping tongue on her face. “Common Ge...” Her cyan eyes widen as the slimy appendage invades her mouth momentarily which causes her to freak out, bucking the unsuspecting creature off of her with a ‘yip’ as it sailed into the surrounding woods. The pegasus now fully awake snorted. “Damn it Bugbear! Can’t you go annoy Fluttershy instead?” Rainbow Dash complained, having recognized the yelp that came from the creature. Annoyed that her rest was disturbed; The rainbow maned pegasus rolled to a standing position and surveyed her surroundings. Spotting the empty sleeping mat next to hers she groaned at the lack of her yellow friend and walked over to the dead campfire.

She stirred the dead coals and ash, hoping to get a warm flame, A mahogany timberwolf silently stalked out of the surrounding woods from behind. “You know. That got old after the first week Bears'. Ya gotta try harder than that to scare me.” The wolf Realizing his position was compromised Charged forward and tackled Rainbow Dash landing firmly on her stomach and lapping victoriously at her face.

“Rainbow Dash I heard some yelling and a loud well crash. I came as fast as I could.” Came a sweet soft voice as the owner a butterscotch colored filly with a bubblegum colored mane and tail, her most defining features being her icy blue eyes and her butterfly cutie mark. but before she could speak up again a second timberwolf this one with birch and oak charged forward from behind her and jumped in to join Bugbear in Covering Rainbow Dash in sloppy licks with their wet raspy vine green tongues. “Now thats just rude. Bugbear, Silversong! what did I say about assaulting Rainbow Dash until midday?” Both timberwolves whined in displeasure as they dismounted from their technicolor prey.

‘Only till noon huh? Gee thanks what would I do without you Fluttershy?’ Rainbow grumbled in her head sarcastically. “Ughh... thanks Shy I didn’t think I could have lasted much longer without having to... Well you know.” The pegasus grunted heavily rubbing a hoof against the back of her head. “So what were you doing out of camp so early?” Rainbow asked shifting the conversation.

“Oh... umm well if you must know me and Silversong here were taking a nice bath in the river. I’m guessing from the noise you kicked poor Bugbear into the forest.” Rainbow nodded sheepishly. Fluttershy exhaled a multi toned sigh. “Rainbow you know, they’ll only stop once you actually start paying attention to them. Isn’t that right Buggy wookums” Fluttershy cooed as she scratched her hoof along the underside of Bugbears jaw scraping off bits of excess bark, causing him to rumble in pleasure.

Rainbow rolled her eyes sarcastically. “Fine. Say why were you out of camp so early this morning?” The chromatic pegasus queried.

“Oh I was just getting some more water for our canteens, that is also why I had silversong with me” Fluttershy smiled. “Timberwolves have really good noses.” The butterscotch pegasus explained.

“Okay. say what are we having for breakfast anyway?” The cyan pegasus asked drifting over to the coals of the dying fire pit.

Fluttershy stopped scratching bugbear to move her hoof temporarily under her own in thought. “Well we don’t have many flowers left so I hope you don’t mind carrots and sweet water grass.” Fluttershy answered calmly letting her hoof back down to the ground.

“Ughh... again? Why can’t we have any of the apples or flowers?” Rainbow pouted.

Fluttershy took a deep breath then continued. “Because Rainbow the flowers are supposed to last and the apples aren’t for eating were supposed to be selling them in the next town. Also the grass and carrots are more healthy for you.” The butterscotch mare reprimanded. “Besides It’s only another six hours to Hoofreed. You can make It, then we can have all the apples we want as long as our shipment arrives on time, and intact.” Fluttershy finishes the list of requirements that the Apple family gave them before sending their small trade caravan on its way.

“Ok, fine can you pass me the carrots and one of the canteens.” Rainbow asked as she placed a pot next to the coals of the old fire. Walking over to her saddlebags she opened one of the larger bags and pulled out a dull steel tallon, three feet long with a custom hoof grip, its blade razor sharp and glowing a soft green, and several runes running along the outside of the grip. attaching it to her right hoof she opened another pocket and pulled out a small length of flint. Holding the flint in her teeth Rainbow struck her talon into one of the nearby logs picking it up and tossing it over onto the remains of the camp fire. floating back over to the fire pit she pulled the blade in front of her face facing outward she put the edge onto the flint and pulled, cascading sparks over the piece of timber, the enchanted sparks holding heat long enough to light the piece of timber. Fluttershy walked over and placed some water into the small pot as Rainbow pulled off her tallon, stabbing it it into the ground.

Placing the flint onto the tallon Rainbow walked over and picked up the water pot and placed it over the small fire to simmer. “ Here’s the carrots Rainbow.” Fluttershy called as she returned from the packs both timberwolves maintaining a respectable distance of a hundred feet from the fire specifically not whimpering in fear for their butterscotch pony guardian as she neared the fire and its insane mistress. Fluttershy smiled as she dropped the sack in her hooves next to Rainbow Dash and turned and flew over to the timberwolves their leaves shaking in barely suppressed fear. Silver song yipped happily as Fluttershy arrived and gave them both pats on the head, while Bugbear just calmed down and averted his vision from the ‘purifying’ angelic fire. Fluttershy seeing this Cooed calmly to them both. “It’s ok to be afraid but don’t worry too much, the big bad fire can’t get to you.” They let Fluttershys words calm them down.

While Fluttershy went over to calm down her ‘friends’ as Rainbow noted, she was slicing carrots into a sack gathered from the packs with her embedded tallon. Not missing a beat she picked up the sack and poured the contents into the simmering pot, tossing the empty sack to the side Rainbow grabbed the bag of Sweet grass and poured a generous amount of the grass into the pot. Closing the bag and holding it in her mouth she walked over to the packs and tying it back onto Fluttershy’s, then went over to her own pack and pulled out a wooden stirring spoon.

Returning to the pot she began stirring. "For weeks now the same rude wake up call each day! Then there's the "surprise" pounces when I try to make breakfast! or whenever they catch me standing still for two seconds! I don't know why they only do this to ME though! Why never Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash Grumbled under her breath as the carrots and grass simmered; after a few minutes she pulled the pot off the fire and carried it over near Fluttershy and placed it on one of the flat rocks surrounding their small camp; turning to her left she spotted Fluttershy feeding Bugbear and Silversong some Sugarcane and cherry wood twigs. “Fluttershy, Breakfast!” She called out to the butterscotch pegasus before heading over to her pack and grabbing a pair of tin plates.

Tin plates in mouth she headed back over to the pot and spooned several pieces of the thick concoction onto the plates; finishing just as Fluttershy arrived, she set the other mares share to the side and began digging into her own plate. “Thanks Rainbow Dash” Fluttershy thanked the rainbow maned pegasus before grabbing her plate and digging in as well.

After they had finished eating Rainbow took the pot and plates over to the river to clean while Fluttershy began packing what gear they had spread throughout the camp purposefully going around Rainbow’s tallon having learned early on that the blade was draining on any pony that touched it except for the one who’s magic field had been attuned to the weapon. Rainbow Returned, pot in hoof filled to the brim with water just as Fluttershy finished cleaning the camp. and putting most of the loose gear in their saddlebags. Dousing the fire in water from the pot Rainbow Dash Tossed it over to Fluttershy who deftly caught it and put away in her pack, then Rainbow grabbed her Tallon and trotted over to her pack and put the weapon away along with the flint, and her dishes. “Hey Fluttershy, you got everything packed?” Rainbow asked lifting her saddlebags to her own back her wings easily fitting through the custom holes in the sides. Checking to make sure the bagg’s didn’t chafe; she rotated her wings a few times, affirming that the bags indeed would not chafe she pumped her wings into a hover.

“Yes I think I got everything Dash. Silversong, Bugbear; do come over here please.” Fluttershy called to the two timberwolves resting together underneath one of the nearby trees. Hearing Fluttershys call both instantly hopped to their paws and tore their way over the the demure pegasus. “Ok you two Rainbow is going to keep watch from above and i’ll be pulling the cart I won’t be able to pull it the whole way but Rainbow will be able to scout for us. What I need you two to do is when I get tired of pulling the cart I need one of you to come over so I can switch Is that ok?” Both silversong and Bugbear barked acceptance.

After a few minutes of checking the wagons straps to make sure the cart wouldn’t come loose they rolled onto the road and began traveling to their destination, Rainbow Dash leaping onto the air and taking the lead she quickly disappeared into the surrounding clouds.

Left with nothing to do Fluttershy watched the scenery as it passed by the flowers swaying gently in the wind, the trees covered in interesting varieties of moss and fungi, and the bushes and occasional shrub laced with vine. The mountains surrounding them were breathtaking occasionally passing a sheer cliff on the road or even having to take one. Fluttershy was smiling trotting along the path while Bugbear and Silversong frolicked in the grass around her letting out an occasional growl or bark as they play fought, fenting left and right, back and forth in their endless rough and tumble of boundless energy, So the continued like so for a time.

Rounding another of the many bends in the road Fluttershy Came upon a small gorge with Two sheer faces on either side, with the road going in between rather than over; examining the valley she noticed that the road was about five meters across, barely large enough to fit two wagons side by side comfortably; She also noted that both sides of the valley were choked in shrubbery and vines. Bugbear and Silverson grew quiet as Fluttershy entered the valley their antics halted as their ears twitched to a nearly unnoticed sound; immediately they entered the surrounding shrubbery, disappearing from view but still ready to return to Fluttershy’s side at a moments notice. Walking along the path, Fluttershy heard a few pieces of displaced gravel rolled down the side of the steep cliff faces; she gazed up onto either side of the road at both of the switch back paths up the cliff face. As she reached the middle of the path several clouds parted making way for Rainbow Dash who stopped at a hover just next to the butterscotch mare pulling the wagon. “Hey Fluttershy we got company five of them.” Fluttershy looked up and noted the pony’s as they climbed onto the road blocking their path with weapons drawn save for their unicorn leader. Fluttershy stops looking to rainbow nervously as the Prismatic maned pegasus pulls out both of her talons and her pendant of null. Hoofing a second one to Fluttershy; Rainbow quickly equipped her gear before floating in front of Fluttershy defensively.

The leader of the group paused as the pegasus stood in front of her companion with her strange weapons. Fluttershy knowing what her pegasus friend was capable of let out a simple warning to the group in front of her. “Umm... if it’s ok with you sirs you might not want to start a fight. Rainbow Dash really isn’t one to leave without causing injury.”

The leader a dark blue unicorn with a windswept two toned yellow and orange mane laughed at Fluttershy’s warning along with his comrades. “Oh so de peg’sus tinks she cn fight us. Let us show her tat we mean business.” letting the guffaws die away the leader continued in a serious tone. “nah no dispect here little lass, ut I tink we ut number yer friend here five blades t’her two.”
scoffing again he guffawed at the pegasus duo. “Nah if’n ye’d be sos kind as t’hand over t’cart we’d be willin t’let ya pass wit’out ny ravishing. Nah wha’d’ya say t’dat?” The unicorn smiled grimly his eyes on the Rainbow pegasus before him. ‘Nah she may be a peg’sus but tat don’ mean her speed’ll beat ah nmbes.’ The blue unicorn thought tactically being assured of his victory if they chose to fight.

Rainbow chimes in immediately screaming in the pony’s direction. “No deal we can handle on our own! Right Shy?” Fluttershy slapped a hoof to her face in annoyed embarrassment at the pegasuses strangely brash display then nodded. “Good why don’t you call in our good friends?” Rainbow suggested as she turned back to the bandits.

“Because Rainbow they are already here; Silversong, Bugbear please come out and help Dashie.” Bothe timberwolves came charging out of the nearby brush and flanked on either side of Rainbow Dash forming defensive a semicircle in front of Fluttershy. The pony groups leader took an involuntary surprise as the timberwolves come into play immediately he also realizes that this group is far out of him and his companions skill level and quickly started formulating an escape plan knowing the outer shells of most timber wolves especially those that came from the everfree had magic resistant bark. Fluttershy wasn’t finished though. “Now i’m sorry to ask this but me and Rainbow Dash here are kind of on a Tight schedule so would you sirs be so kind as to get out of our way?”

The leaders smile shattered, his jaw dropping subtly with his eyes widening as the two gigantic timberwolves melted out of the surrounding shrubbery and converged on the two ponies before him. With his eye twitching somewhat he barely managed a lopsided grin “Um... shue. Uhh have a nice day.” He spoke up in a slightly gruff voice before gesturing for his fellow shaking stallions to get off the road and let the wagon pass; which they did so with desperate haste. “Hah de buck d’d dey get t’mberwulves as gurdians?” The bandit leader grumbled under his breath as the pair passed by with their wagon and timberwolf companions close behind.

After exiting the passage Rainbow couldn’t hold it in any more Laughing hysterically she began putting away her scout combat gear along with the necklaces of null. “Mare I bet if it weren’t for the fact that his buddies were there he would’ve pissed himself silly, also how did you know Silversong and Bugbear were already there?” The Rainbow pegasus asked innocently her laughter having died down.

Fluttershy’s smile at Rainbow’s antics immediately began to falter but she caught herself before she let herself slip, thinking quickly she came up with the perfect answer. “Well it’s mostly because we work as a team also I can tell when their nearby just because of the way they move there was no wind yet the bushes were moving as if their was one.” She let loose a really big smile that ‘squeed’.

Rainbow Dash thought over the explanation for half a second before realizing the half-truth of the statement then smiled just as widely as her friend. “Sweet! Thanks for letting me know Fluttershy maybe this time I can actually get some sleep without either of them sneaking up on me.” Rainbow Dash pumped her empty hoof before her then continued. “I can't believe that actually worked though.” after a bit more of laughing they lapsed into silence the hills rolling by Rainbow keeping her patrol closer to the cart and Fluttershy. “Hey Fluttershy?” She finally asked after an hour of silence.

“Yes?”

Rainbow dash fidgeted a little before continuing. “Umm... do you think you could go into town and get the apples sold. I’ll try and befriend Bugbear and Silversong while you’re there. Is that ok?” The flighty pegasus had settled on the ground and started walking alongside the Yellow mare to better hear her answer.

Fluttershy brightened up with joy. “Sure Rainbow that would be ok. as long as you try and befriend them ok otherwise i’m going to be very upset with you.” The butterscotch pegasus warned as she continued her constant pace pulling the wagon up a short hill then halting. Bugbear Immediately rushed forward as Fluttershy stepped out of the loosened harness. Not needing any guidance the timberwolf stepped into the harness and waited for Fluttershy to finish strapping him in when the Kind pegasus finished adjusting the fittings on the harness smiling to the incorrigible creature she waved a hoof for him to start pulling down the path.

Rainbow Dash’s face formed into a clean slate he features neither smiling or frowning as she lapsed into a deep pensive state of thought. ‘What am I getting myself into! I mean how am I supposed to deal with not one but TWO hyperactive timberwolves and not just that but their almost old enough to...’ Rainbow’s eyes widen at the thought, halting mid step she cautiously turned her snout and sniffed at her haunches where the two timberwolves had laid on her, a faint musky smell permeated the air with a hint of honeysuckle, Rainbow's right eye began twitching ever so slightly. ‘How did I get myself into this situation.’ The chromatic maned pegasus mentally facehooved as she caught up with the wagon again; Fluttershy giving her a strange look as she arrived walking alongside Bugbear.

Rainbow Dash shivered, a sickening thought entering her head, she decided she needed to know, silently she shifted back a bit behind Bugbear and took a look at his undercarriage, her right lavender eye twitched at what she saw; the slightly swollen mass of smooth white spruce at the tip of the mahogany bark sheath. ‘For the love of Celestia why did I even... I can’t believe that I... Ughh fine I’ll deal with it when I get to it. Hopefully they don’t do anything stupid while we’re alone.’ Rainbow Dash thought annoyed calming down as her pace settled down to a normal level while she was next to Fluttershy. She even let loose a smirk knowing that she would be able to take care of herself outside of the town with the two rowdy timberwolves. ‘Heh I wonder what they’d feel like inside me... I didn’t just think that.’ She groaned internally as they continued towards Hoofreed.

It was about two hours later when they saw structures from the town of Hoofreed in the distance Fluttershy not taking any chances switched with Silversong taking back the cart and continued towards the town. Nearing the fringes of the town Fluttershy bid her companions good day as they split off into the surrounding plains for the night. As fluttershy entered the small village she couldn’t help but release a cruel but calculated smile at the prospect of her close friend getting even closer to her timberwolf Friends, much closer. while Rainbow searched for a nice place to rest with Silversong and Bugbear where they would not be interrupted or spotted by any of the locals.

Proofread by: janushyde a god amongst us.

Edited by:

Doggie Treats (Part 2)

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 7 Doggie Treats (Part two of two)

(Equestrian/Griffica border, twelfth day of spring, nine hundred ninety third Celestial year, outskirts of Hoofreed)

The streets were dry and the sky was tinged a vivid scarlet as the sun set on the horizon; its beautiful rays cascading over the nearby fields in a magnificent display of eternal grace. The townsfolk within the village prepared for the coming of night; closing down shops, shutting doors and turning off lights so they could join in the world of dreams for a time. At this time a young yellow filly with a bubblegum pink main came past the first set of buildings on the outskirts of the lowly mountain village, walking along the wide cart cut road passing through the center of the small settlement. Pulling out a map at the entrance her load a cart laden with apples, she reaffirmed herself of her destination slowly; she made her way down the street, after a few blocks she came across a simple establishment with a sign hanging over head, reading ‘The Singing Buck’. Stopping again she paused to look at the small sheet pinned next to her right wing that read ‘manifest’ she read the destination of the delivery and found that they matched, smiling to herself the young pegasus pulled her cart up to the establishment and hitched it to one of the nearby beams after unstrapping herself from the wagon with her teeth.

Stepping onto the porch of the establishment she turned back to the wagon and pulled out a plank of plywood from the side and gently placed it under the carriage of the vehicle leveling it, swiftly without a second thought she bucked both wheels off the wagons chassis then gathered and placed them on top of the vehicle, smiling to herself she turned back to the establishment. Her eyes momentarily flashed a vivid bright green as she released the glamor covering her eyes letting her natural vision and love sense through, allowing her to see and sense several presences within the building; deciding this was enough she walked over and opened the door allowing herself in.

Upon entering the building the room she was in became still for half a second before the remaining patrons continued with their discussions, the yellow pegasus heading for the bartender being of no more interest than the salt licks and companions next to them. As the pegasus reached the bar she climbed up onto one of the bar stools and lifted a hoof forward in an age old sign calling the bartender over. As she waited for the chocolate brown unicorn bartender with a dusty tan main to come over the pegasus took a quick survey of the establishment noting the locations of the patrons and the exits she relaxed easily having noticed the patrons were of the sort to remain calm under most circumstances. Fluttering her wings and relaxing a few of the cramps she had developed from pulling the wagon such a long distance she noted that the bartender had just finished his latest order dropping a length of salt onto one of the other patrons plates, picking the bits off the counter and trotting over to her while placing the bits into the pouch at his side. As he reached her he called in a light, cheery voice that fit his medium build quite nicely. “Why hello again Fluttershy it's been what three months since you were last here?” he asked.

“Give or take a few days Saltband, how has business been?” Fluttershy responded softly with a smile.

Salt smiled in turn. “Not too bad especially since the last time you were here, never did get a chance to properly thank you for helping me kick out those rabble rousers. Here have a salt lick, on the house, welcome back to Hoofreed.” He grasped another length of salt and placed it on a fresh plate using his magic, before he telekinetically passed it to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy politely declined by lightly pushing the plate forward leaving the salt piece untouched. “Thank you but I don’t really touch salt let alone lick it, maybe Rainbow Dash but not me.” She winked at the bartender as she rewrapped the plate and length of salt and placed them back in their respective places his eyes never leaving the curious mare in front of him. “Plus it is not the reason i’m here.” Saltband’s eyebrow lifted in interest as Fluttershy continued. “I’ve got you’re shipment of apples from Applecrest. All I need is the payment minus what i’ll be paying to stay the night; then it’s all your’s.”

Saltband let loose a small whistle. “Impressive, it usually takes an entire caravan to get them over from Applecrest and you say you brought them here with only Rainbow Dashes support?” Fluttershy nodded affirmation to his question. “Well I’ll be if it weren’t for it being you I would have not believed it myself. Anyway considering you tell me a good story I’ll leave the room and board free. What do you say?”

Fluttershy paused then smiled “Sure however I would think you might have wanted to see your apple shipment before paying, don’t you think?” The yellow pegasus asked casually.

“Oh you’re right, it would be bad business otherwise thanks for reminding me, you know not many would be kind like you just were most would have taken advantage of a forgetful partner like myself. that is also why I like trading with the newbies like you, you are actually honest in your dealings.” Saltband was saying all of this while both he and Fluttershy exited the building and got a good look at the cart his smile stretched even wider at the near perfect condition of the apples in the cart and the fact that the cart itself was well cared for even though the wheels had been taken off, he walked over to the wagon and took a quick inventory and the numbers came up just above the amount he was asking for and turned to Fluttershy as she watched him curiously. “Yo what’s with the extra apples? I only asked for around sixteen hundred total.”

Fluttershy nodded at his statement.”Umm... Rainbow Dash thought it would be a good idea to bring extra apples in case of thieves or if some of the apples were bad. You can have the extra apples, if you want that is,” Fluttershy continued softly.

Saltband waved his hoof with a shake of his head “No no that’s fine keep em I’m already going to have difficulty finding a place for the full load of apples you brought, to be quite blunt I expected the shipment to be smaller than I requested, considering all of the bandits on the road and what not.” He smiled kindly to the pegasus. “Plus ya offered to bring in the supplies and assist by helping me put them in the pantry. I say lets get to it. when were finished payments under the counter in the third cubicle under the bucket. should be around nine hundred and seventy bits if I remember correctly. Should be enough to keep ya going for a bit, that much I know, now lets get these inside before it gets too cold.”

Fluttershy nodded again in agreement as she lifted one of the buckets of apples out of the cart and onto her back. “Agreed, lets get them in.”

Saltband nodded in turn as he lit his horn again with energy, telekinetically picking up two of the apple buckets and then headed in with Fluttershy. “Good once we're done here I’ll get your bath ready and hand ya the key to your room, whaddya say?” He smiled as they finished putting their first load down in the cold stone pantry, located on the left side of the basement accessed from the bartenders side of the counter behind the wine stand, and through the locked door.

Fluttershy couldn’t help but remain happy as she helped Saltband and completed the fourteen other loads with his help all the while letting her imagination run wild as she thought about how Rainbow Dashes time with Silversong and Bugbear was going. after the last load was complete Fluttershy quickly put the wheels back on her wagon then hid it behind The singing Buck then reentered through the front entrance and went across the counter and retrieved her payment without any complaint from Saltband who was busy helping several of his regulars out of the establishment, before closing his doors. turning back towards Fluttershy, he smiles and gives a tired wave of his hoof. before laboriously coming over. Fluttershy smiled kindly at the bartender, deciding to speak before he got hurt. “You know it is ok just hoof me the key and go to bed. I’ll take care of myself.”

Saltband shook his head. “No no that would be improper now you know as well as I do that a promise is a promise.” he spoke firmly but tiredly.

“Well actually you didn’t make it a promise just an offer you know. Anyway that’s not the problem here you’re too tired to do the job properly, just don’t worry I can get to bed myself.” Fluttershy scolded sternly in a motherly voice. Saltband finally relented and passed Fluttershy the key. Fluttershy smiled thanks before heading up, Saltband watched her go, shaking his head with a smile.

Upon reaching her bed Fluttershy fluttered her wings gently lifting herself onto the soft mattress and lay down comfortably let her eyes close, and drifted of to a dreamless sleep.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

With the soft touch of grass under her hooves and the last of the sun’s warm rays fading behind the nearby mountain, a cyan pegasus watched from behind one of the nearby trees as her traveling companion finally entered the town. Sighing gently the pegasus turned around and walked in the opposite direction away from the village and towards the nearby forest on left of the village and the roads passing through. Passing a few shrubs as she entered into the outskirts of the woods she recounted in her thoughts what led her to this point, ‘Why didn’t I just ask to go with her, I mean really shouldn’t her two walking trees be able to take care of themselves without the guidance of a pony?’ she mused as she traversed the light paths through the woods plenty of moonlight flooding through the trees revealing much the of the forest floor before her.

She noticed a the sound of water nearby as she continued trotting along semi familiar game paths, smaller animals already asleep or heading for their shelters for the night as the sun finished setting and the nights blue black hues took over, the pegasus paused to look up at the white moon hanging high in the sky with the unicorn head scar on its face, she smiled and lowered her head back to the forest floor while swiveling her ears to pinpoint the gurgling noise of the nearby source of water. ‘Well Rainbow, at least you’ll be able to cool down after exercising with them. Hmm... where could they be?’ Rainbow Dash thought as she entered a clearing right next to the stream of water, its width of eight feet, possibly deep enough to dip a pony into without fearing they would drown. She took a fleeting glance at her reflection in the moving waters, the distorted image reflected back revealing a messy mane of many colors each individually separated in the same pattern as the rainbows produced inside the rainbow factory of Cloudsdale. Rainbow Dash lowered her head to the stream and sniffed it cautiously swiveling her ears as well to detect any foreign noise, her sensitive olfactory device not detecting anything coming off the water she decided to tentatively flick her tongue out and lick the moving fluid. The substance as it turned out to her taste buds was crisp and clean, smiling inwardly Rainbow Dash began lapping at the smooth cooling elixir greedily. letting it sooth her sandy, road worn throat. after a few minutes of cooling herself off she lifted her head out of the stream and looked at her surroundings again. She noticed several trees whose roots would make a nice little nest to rest in should she choose to sleep on the ground; however being a pegasus, she also had the option to sleep on a condensed cloud, ‘But that would not be what Fluttershy wants.’ Rainbow Dash mulled internally.

Her ear flicked up and to the side freezing in place, as she heard a twig snap nearby, to her left. Quietly as she could she lowered herself close to the ground and tip hooved over towards the right side of the stream cut clearing, over to a set of dense ferns a few feet from a wild strawberry bush. moving stealthily she trotted silently behind the ferns while using her wing to disturb the strawberry bush slightly along the way, letting out a few grunts while still around it as she passed. Letting her lips curl upward into a smile, Rainbow Dash hid behind the ferns, grasping a rock with her hoof Rainbow quickly flicked it over to the creek letting it splash loudly into the creek. within a few seconds she heard the faint pounding of paws nearby and then she shuddering and snapping of twigs and branches as something careened into the nearby strawberry bush.

Rainbow Smiled and chuckled quietly to herself as the Strawberry bush continued shaking, “Ooff,” that is until a pair of stiff wooden paws knocked her over while she wasn’t paying attention and then promptly pinned her to the ground. Grimacing a bit she opened her mouth to speak, only to have it invaded as the creature above inundated her face with raspy licks of its slimy green appendage. “Ughh, phhtoie, eughhh, ughhh.” Rainbow sputtered for a few seconds until, “Ooff” a second weight bounced off on her left to meet up with the one assaulting her on the right. ‘Bucking Tartarus...’ Rainbow cursed inwardly as she was being double teamed.

“Fine you caught me.” Rainbow spoke with a deadpan that lightened somewhat as she continued “Hey Silversong, Bugbear can ya please let me get up? I wanna talk with you about something.” feeling the two weights pull off her withers Rainbow took the opportunity to stand back up and stretch. After a few seconds she took a look at her two companions at the moment both of them were made of wood and in the shape of wolves, however thats where their likeness ended. the one on her right was a deep mahogany Timberwolf and on her left was a timberwolf of oak and birch, shaking her head slightly Rainbow Dash smiled and finally spoke to the two. “Alright, Bugbear,” she spoke aloud grabbing the Mahogany timberwolves attention causing him to train his eyes on her. "What would you and Silversong say to a little sparring match in the nearby field?" Rainbow asked with a challenging glare, ‘maybe I can get these two off of me for the night.’ "Loser has to do to what the winner wants till tomorrow morning. " Bugbear and Silversong simultaneously nodded agreement to the terms. ‘Mare, I’m glad that Fluttershy was able to point out that these two were intelligent when we first met. Too bad they can’t talk normally. Oh well at least I’m starting to get a hang on their body language enough to sorta talk to them.’

Bugbear turned to Silversong allowing his movements to speak for him. 'Hey Silversong, what do you think? Is this our chance to catch Rainbow Dash and make her a queen like Fluttershy?' Bugbear questioned.

Silversong growled softly in slight pleasure at the concept then answered. ‘We win and it won’t matter she’ll have to do what we want for the night. Only question I have is how are we going to win? Pincer? wall?’ Tilting his head slightly to the side he quickly in rapid succession tapped his ears together then flattened them forward and then sat and let his head return to a comfortable position.

Bugbear panted in laughter with his jaw slightly open revealing steel hard emerald green oak teeth, ‘True enough’ He responded in amusement. Lifting his tail and wagging it a little letting Silversong know that he was ready to begin the little challenge with Rainbow Dash.

Silversong responded in kind lifting a paw and wagging his tail at the same time, he pointed the paw at Bugbear and placed it to the right of its previous position as he turned to head towards the small field Rainbow Dash had decided to hold the challenge. Tapping his ears together he grunted and let out a slightly longer than normal pant, then as he walked he flicked his ears back and does a sweeping gesture with his wooden muzzle, and finishes by sitting down with a loud clack of his jaws snapping closed. ‘We’ll pincer but first let me wear her down then you come from behind and tackle her, I’ll finish by pinning the rest of her.’

Bugbear plopped down next to Silversong and they watched as Rainbow Dash oblivious to their tactical conversation pulled out her training sword and a set of cloth bound iron tramplers also used in training and sparring. smiling to herself Rainbow Dash pulled out another item that she had began practicing with when she understood it’s use and had begun experimenting with it, what she pulled from her back was a twelve chain bola with dull heavy wooden balls at the end rather than the real full steel one she had at the bottom of the pack with the rest of her combat weapons, except for the claws which were strapped on the sides of the saddle bags ready for use at a seconds notice. Rainbow Jolted when she realized what she had done, then sighed in resignation, ‘Well I can’t pull the challenge back now, they’ve already accepted, and if I back out I lose automatically and they get the prize anyway. Stupid rules of engagement.’ Rainbow Dash stamped her forehoof into the ground. “Buck,” She exclaimed loudly. ‘Gilda was always better at this sorta stuff. I just hope I win.’

‘Ughh my wing, I’m definitely not trying to attack them from the air again, stupid wing’s still too bruised from the last sparring match to do me any good here. I did not expect them to catch me while I was flying past but damn it hurts being proven wrong.’ Shaking her head of the distracting thoughts ‘Best to think about the battle and be prepared rather than waste time.’ Rainbow Dash fluttered over into position on the field while Bugbear and Silversong remained still and ready to begin the faux battle and see who fights better. Rainbow Dash set her face in a grim line aligning her thoughts and clearing out all of the excess information allowing herself to focus solely on the battle. the two wolves noticing the pegasus mares change in posture and disposition immediately began stretching letting the motions naturally thin out their thoughts and clear their minds for the coming fight. Realizing that there was nothing else to do Rainbow calls out, “Ready?”

Both Silversong and Bugbear bark a loud affirmative, and swiftly charged to either side of Rainbow Dash leaving her no time to prepare herself. Seeing them acting in unison and dashing to either side of her, however instead of bolting she smiled cruelly, ‘This is why they call me the Dash.’ just as they reached the halfway point and lunged simultaneously at her she dodged and rolled forward allowing them to meet in the center, however instead of the sound of slamming branches and crashing wood as she expected behind her, she heard the sound of two sets of legs landing at the same time and another charge except this time it was one set of legs moving towards her. turning swiftly she met the wooden creature with her dull steel blade. Catching the wooden practice sword in it’s mouth like it would catch a real one, the oaken timberwolf rumbled victoriously. Realizing her mistake too late she could do nothing as the wolves stronger jaws and neck muscles acted and ripped the practice blade out of Rainbow Dash’s grip. Cursing her bad luck Rainbow quickly flapped her wings and leapt backwards as Silversong struck at the position she was standing in not a moment ago with the butt of her practice sword.

Looking up quickly after her landing she yelped as Silversong followed through his attack by tossing the practice blade at Rainbow Dash forcing her to dodge again by and rolling to the side, quickly leaping onto her hooves she leaped forward and landed a hoof on Silversong’s muzzle causing him to stagger a step however reacting faster than her he grasped her fabric bound trampler in his teeth and like the sword pulled it out of Rainbow’s grasp and tossing it to the side while rainbow retreated. limping a little from her now uneven hoofing, ‘Buck I didn’t think that Silversong would be able to disarm me so quickly, alright time to get my head in the game. First I need to get that trampler back on otherwise I won’t be able to fight him effectively.’ Rainbow Dash contemplated while she continued dodging Silversong’s attacks, and mentally planned how to get her trampler back on.

Waiting for just the right moment to present itself she spotted a hole in his attack and took it, rolling under neath Silversong as he leaped at her she quickly rushed over to the trampler laying on the edge of the field, acting quickly she stomped her hoof into it and waited half a second for it’s innate enchantment to activate somewhat fusing the trampler to her hoof letting her move swiftly out of Silversongs next attack. panting a little Rainbow began circling Silversong who also circled testing her defence with a snap of his jaws only to receive a bola to the face for his troubles with a swift twitch of Rainbow’s tail. Silversong tried again a few seconds later except instead of retreating as Rainbow had expected when her tail flicked at him again, he dodged underneath the chains and leaped forward, Rainbow Dash yelped and bucked backwards luckily hitting Silversong in the chest with her hooves however instead of launching him backwards he shifted his momentum and let himself slide underneath her on his back which then allowed him a perfect chance to strike, launching into action Silversong punched upwards with both of his forelegs, colliding with her stomach, breaking Rainbow Dash’s balance, and causing her to fall over onto her side. Silversong then yipped loudly calling Bugbear in while Silversong latched his jaws around rainbow’s back legs tightly holding them in place without drawing blood, and effectively trapping them while he maneuvered onto Rainbow Dashes hind quarters, pinning her wings as well. Her bola was rendered useless due to the fact that the Timberwolf was too far inside of it’s reach. Bugbear rushed forward and clamped his jaws around Rainbow’s throat finalizing the deal.

Rainbow Dash wilted a little, gulping nervously she looked between the two wolves, pulling her ears back as they stood up and howled their jubilant victory at the moon. Rainbow cringed instinctively at the sound. Bugbear and Silversong settled down from their high of victory and in unison turned to look at the pegasus they’ve won for the night, 'which is only just beginning,' thought Silversong rumbling contentedly as he strode forward and rubbed up against Rainbow Dash, she shivered a little at the contact standing still so as to not provoke the two victorious canines. Bugbear wanting in on the action as well walked up to Rainbow Dash and nuzzled the side of her neck, letting the semi-rough texture of his mahogany skin scratch softly against her. Rumbling contentedly to himself Bugbear inhaled deeply taking in Rainbow Dashes sweet yet spicy scent and slowly let his tongue extend past his lips letting it rest on the base of her neck. Rainbow dash shivered again at the gentle contact whether in pleasure of fear she couldn't tell. Then Bugbear gently slid his sweet smooth sap laced appendage up, gently tickling the fur of her neck all the while Silversong was gently licking at Rainbow Dashes nicks and scratches surprisingly taking away the pain of her injuries with the numbing quality of the sap on his green appendage. Rainbow Dash shivered and sighed in delight as her aches and pains began to recede underneath the Timberwolves ministrations.

'For as annoying as they are in the mornings usually... maybe if this is something they like doing... maybe they aren't so bad after all, I mean I could get used to this.' Rainbow thought calmly as her mind began clouding in calm pleasure. Not even noticing the slight change in scent as the two timberwolves began growing slightly erect, instead she felt her senses growing dimmer as their ministrations became more comforting and slightly arousing... 'Wait arousing, What am I thinking? Hunghh but this feels soo good.' Rainbow Dash began panting a little opening her mouth slightly her mind only registering the comfortable sweet tasting sensation as Bugbear stopped licking her neck but instead slipped his tongue into her waiting mouth, moaning in pleasure from the sensation; Rainbow Dash let her eyes droop to half lidded in contented euphoria. Her gaze drowning into the twin grey pools before her, their gaze promising both love and kindness.

[NSFW]

Rainbow Dash met Bugbear’s tongue with her own as he began exploring the intimate depths of her mouth. Rainbow noticed the strong taste of mahogany that came with his tongue, compounded with a very sweet yet oily liquid that stayed in her mouth. Rainbow tried to swallow it, but the liquid remained, lubricating her mouth and throat far better than her own saliva could.

Behind her she felt Silversong pace around, his position changing until he was directly behind her. Rainbow’s half lidded eyes opened wide again as she felt his long sinuous tongue drag over the base of her wing right where it met her body.

Rainbow’s jumped slightly as she felt a wave of pleasure surge through her frame, easing the pain in her tired muscles and causing her to press even harder against Bugbear’s questing tongue.

As she quailed under the tender, loving ministrations of the two Timberwolves, her thoughts began to turn towards a distraction that had been growing in insistence since the kiss was initiated. In a particularly tender area between her back legs was an aching itch that wouldn’t stop taunting her. She whimpered with need as her snatch began to ooze its sweet nectar down her legs.

Silversong’s nose twitched as he smelled the new scent of Dash’s arousal from his position atop her back. Withdrawing his thick, dexterous tongue from the base of Dash’s right wing he moved to follow the new scent, snuffling around near the ground until his nose led him directly into Rainbow Dash’s pert pony pussy. The warm perfume of arousal filled his nose with desire and he lashed out with his tongue again, pushing aside Rainbow’s petals and forcing his vine like tongue deep into her snatch.

Rainbow moaned around Bugbear’s tongue as she felt Silversong penetrate her. Rather than try to resist or pull away, Rainbow found her mind crying out desperately for more. Chemicals contained in the fluid that Bugbear had leaked into her mouth were hard at work clouding her judgement and increasing her already significant levels of arousal.

Behind her Silversong withdrew his tongue and began lapping up the excess drips that he had missed, putting full licks onto Dash’s honey pot and occasionally pressing the tip just inside. He relished the tiny jumps and squeals that he received every time he flicked her clit or poked inside her body.

Rainbow eventually had to come up for air and pulled away from Bugbear, gasping as she did so. A thin trail of her saliva joined her mouth with the Timberwolves thick tongue. Rainbow looked in Bugbear’s eyes and saw that they were filled with desire. A pair of cracking noises drew Rainbows eyes lower. From the base of Bugbear’s body, a second vine appeared to be forcing its way out of the wood that composed his torso. this one was far smoother and softer. It felt as if it was composed of new heart wood or a young sapling. From the noises that came from behind her, it seemed likely that Silversong was also having a similar protrusion burst forth from his body.

She suspicions were proven correct a moment later when Rainbow felt Silversong mount her back. Rather than feel his smooth tongue return to her jewel, Rainbow felt something far thicker and harder enter her body. The irregular bumps and protrusions covering it made for a far more pleasurable sensation as Silversong began to thrust forward into her body, his hard wood forcing her vag to stretch out to accommodate his impressive girth.

Not wanting Bugbear to feel left out, Rainbow leaned forward and embraced his springing cock in her mouth. The taste of his slick appendage was similar to that of his tongue, but it was far more intense. The small rational part of Rainbow’s mind yelling that she shouldn’t be doing this was drowned out by the new wave of desire. Soon a clear, slightly sticky sap was oozing from within the appendage and dripping onto Rainbow’s tongue. Each drip that she caught only increased her fervour as she fellated his stiffening hardness. Soon every thought that she had was focused solely on bringing these two companions to the same level of pleasure that she was riding on now.

Behind her Silversong had reached a near peak, his phallus plunging into Rainbow’s cunt with reckless abandon. The fluids leaking from his organ had lubricated her cunt and he was gliding through her body with almost no resistance. With a howl he plunged his staff in as far as he could, plumbing Rainbow’s depths. His rod expanded and he flooded her tunnel with his milky pollen. His anthers pumped his virile gunk into Rainbow’s tight flower pot, his pollen searching frantically for a receptive calyx to impregnate.

Rainbow felt Silversong’s cream fill her body and she came around his swelling organ. endorphins flooded her brain and she moaned around the phallus lodged in her throat. Bugbear took the opportunity to take a more active role in his blowjob. He grabbed Rainbow by the back of her head and forced her down on his cock. Rainbow, to addled by the pleasure of her orgasm to resist, opened up her throat and swallowed as much of Bugbear’s wood as she could, deepthroating him to the root of his tool.

Bugbear grunted as he felt Rainbow take his stick down her throat, her tongue swirling around his protrusion and licking up every drip of his sticky sap. Almost too soon for his liking, he felt himself swell and his stamen burst forth, unloading his pollen into her eagerly waiting mouth. Rainbow’s eyes opened wide as she tasted the concoction now filling her mouth. It was like the sweetest grass of spring, combined with all the fruits of summer all in one mouthful. Not wanting to waste a single drop, she sucked hard on Bugbear’s wilting cock, trying to tease out the last few drips of what was quickly becoming the sweetest thing she had ever tasted.

Soon she had collected every drop that she could. Pulling back away from Bugbear, she showed him his collected seed in her mouth before leaning back and swallowing it in one gulp.

Bugbear ran one of his paws through her rainbow mane as she tried to return his limp bark chip to the proud redwood it had once been. Before she could engulf his cock again, Silversong pushed his way to the front and presented his sapling for attention. It was still coated with the fruits of his conquest and Rainbow eagerly shifted her aim. Bugbear shot a look over to Silversong, but didn’t try to interfere with his sucking. Rather he moved around to Rainbow’s plump, pollen plastered pussy. Even coated in Silversong’s seed, it smelled mouthwatering. Bugbear gave it an experimental lick before diving in. Rainbow squirmed for a moment before coming again, squirting her juices over Bugbear’s face.

Having been brought to the peak of pleasure twice in rapid succession, Rainbow Dash was spent. She collapsed to the ground panting. Her wings drooped over her body as every muscle in her body relaxed at once.

[NSFW]

Both timberwolves looked down at the spent pony before them, feeling a sense of pride that they could have induced such pleasure and still be able to stand afterwards. Soon they too felt the effects of their physical exertions and they roamed around her inert body, looking for the most comfortable spots to nestle up next to her. Suddenly Bugbear felt a slight pressure from his lower quarters his eyes glowing pink in embarrassment as he rushed off into the tangle of trees surrounding their clearing. Silversong calmly padded back over to the vibrant yet exhausted cyan mare and settled down on her right rolling her slightly his way and embraced her from behind. flicking her ear once with his sinuous green tongue eliciting a small gasp from the mare, then set his head down next to hers to let himself cool down a bit.

Smiling and feeling content with herself Rainbow Dash lazily relaxed in Silversongs embrace; his smooth bark softly scratching at her furr removing burrs and delightfully rubbing away some of her itches, her eyes glazed over in further pleasure. Rainbow Dash calmly looked around herself searching for her second mate, but instead noticed her gear scattered over the field. Completely on autopilot she achingly groaned in disappointment as she lightly pulled from bugbears embrace, gathering her equipment one piece at a time and placing them in her saddlebags. Nickering to herself as she finished, Rainbow Dash realized that it would get a bit chilly that night and pulled a decent sized sheet of cotton and quietly hoofed back over to silversong. Bugbear had finally relieved himself on one of the nearby trees returned to the clearing and layed next to Silversong leaving a gap just Large enough for Rainbow Dash to squeeze into. Settling in between them she gathered her blanket and flared it over top of all three of them letting it flutter down gently settling and completely covering them. Sighting in delight Rainbow Dash drowsily leaned over and kissed Bugbear touching tongues for a few seconds then she turned over to Silver song and did the same pulling Silversongs tongue into her mouth and sucking on the sweet nectar it produced before finally letting go. Smiling softly she closed her eyes and let her thoughts drift off and her heart beat slow, becoming a smooth rhythm falling asleep between her two gentle hunters.

Bugbear snickered in Silversongs direction. 'She really was a smooth ride. I can't believe we didn't do this sooner, also she is really good with that mouth of hers, unlike little Fluttershy.' He commented quietly to his packmate.

'Yea?.. well you should have gotten a chance at her haunches! Her flank is probably one of the sweetest things I've had. Not even Fluttershy could match that, also she is well muscled and competent.'He commented in return smiling toothily. 'it's almost as if she had practiced before...Hey wanna switch positions next time?' Silversong asked almost randomly.

'Sure.'Bugbearanswered readily his ears perking and huffing affirmatively. 'Lets get some rest though, tomorrow promises to be interesting. Rainbow Dash is more comfortable than I originally though... Ahhh... thats the spot.'Bugbear grunted softly his ears perking up and splaying forward as he sighed in comfort, rubbing his side against the sleeping Rainbow Dashes, whittling away some of the excess mulch. Noticing the soft creeking on the pegasuses other side Bugbear decided to follow his own advice as Silversong had and closed his eyes letting his mind fade into the darkness of dreams.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

Morning found Rainbow Dash comfortably nestled in between Silversong’s strong mahogany chest, his paws delicately draped around her in a comforting affectionate gesture, and Bugbear's smooth mahogany back. ‘What happened last night?’ she asked, instantly her mind began flashing through foggy points of semi lucid moments filled with intense pleasure, her minds eye to clouded during the moments to tell what exactly happened, the only thing she remembered clearly was the initial tongue massage. ‘Dang that must have been one intense massage last night... I can’t believe that’s all they wanted I honestly thought hey were going to buck me silly.’ She thought calmly her muscles and body in general feeling as if they were as good as new.

She then felt a slight twitch underneath her neck then that push became a comfortable rub as the oak wolf behind her stretched his forelegs around her neck in a loving hug, Rainbow Dash almost jumped then realized then that the instead of the grating feeling she usually got from touching their bark skin, the legs felt smooth and comfortable Smiling to herself she pushed herself back deeper into the embrace and felt a slick appendage flick the tip of her ear causing a small shiver to run down the length of her body, the warm grassy breath softly caressing her ear causing her to sigh in delight. Turning her head to her left towards the timber wolf behind her, she flicks his nose as he lifts his own muzzle to meet hers. Acting on impulse he flicks his tongue along Rainbow’s lips, not even getting half way before the mare opens her lips and joins her own in a kiss that deepens swiftly as they both connect lips, breathing through their noses Rainbow gazed into the Glowing emerald eyes of her companion.

Their kiss ending rainbow Dash let her head back down and then finally noticed the back of the mahogany head of her other companion, smiling to herself she gently flicked her tongue over his right ear tasting the subtle cinnamon flavoring accompanied by a slightly rough almost flesh like texture. Then she proceeded to lick over the back of Bugbears head while somewhat hugging him. The timberwolf turned towards Rainbow Dash and kissed her like she had Bugbear, realizing that they’d had enough down time for the morning; Rainbow Dash grunted gently for both of her drowsy companions to get up, Rainbow smiled at her two precious predators and chuckled lightly when Silversong huffed in discontent having to get up.

Rainbow stretched out her neck out with a small yawn hearing a few pops as the bones realigned, even with her muscles relaxed she could feel a bit of stiffness from her lack of movement while sleeping. She placed her forehooves firmly in the ground then leaned back as far as she could splaying her wings back to loosen the kinks and bones with several more satisfying popping sounds from her back and shoulders. 'Ahh... Nothin beats a good old work out.' Then she looked at her two companions as they joined her in exercises. Splaying out their limbs, the sinuous vine fibers surrounding their solid branch like legs, their smooth structure covered in a thin layer of bark and hard wood, giving them their own unique looks their tendons loosening as excess mulch and twigs broke off of their forms, showing off their well toned forms in the process. ‘Well almost nothing.’ The pegasus amended softly in her head as she finished stretching out her body with a shake of her back left leg.

Rainbow Dash sighed in relief as her body relaxed into the normal motions then she realized something was missing that had been annoying her for the past two weeks. “My wing.” she looked at her previously injured and bruised right wing and rotated it a few times to make sure she wasn’t dreaming, then she looked at Bugbear and Silversong. with a gleeful shout she charged in. Both timberwolves flinched in surprise by the sudden action as she latched onto both of their necks Squealing “Thank you!,” and pulls both of them into a deep hug. Letting go Rainbow Pressed her lips to both of their cheeks and stepped back, “Thank you guys you don’t know how much that bruise was annoying me can screwing up my flying.” Rainbow Dash received a lick as a response, she smiled at her two companions. “Say you hungry?” Rainbow Dash asked as she turns and walks over to her saddlebags and pulled out a small container she had pulled off the wagon the previous day.

Both silversong and Bugbear yipped a single ‘Yes.’

“Alright then I think I have some of the rabbit from yesterday left over in my saddlebags somewhere. let me just go get it for ya.” At the mention of rabbit for breakfast both timberwolves bound over to the pegasus as she just opens the straps to her saddlebags, both leaping and putting their forepaws on her back lifting their noses over the mare to try and catch the elusive scent of the meat the mare had promised. “Hey!” Rainbow Dash protests loudly. ”How do you think i’m gonna get it out with you to standing on top of me?” Rainbow Dash demanded. Sheepishly Silversong and Bugbear pulled back off of her and gave her some space to work with. Quickly finding what she was looking for, Rainbow pulled out two square wooden containers with sliding wood lids, and put them before herself on the ground both of them decently proportioned. Rainbow Dash smelled the container to her right and with a hoof pushed it towards the waiting timberwolves. “Here ya go the meats inside just don’t scarf it all down in one bite. I’m gonna finish the lily’s that Fluttershy gave me.”

She lifted her small container of garden fresh lily’s and lay down next to her saddle bags in front of the tree they were laying on, she shifted the lid to one side while the two timberwolves in front of her were attacking the other container.

Silversong being closer than bugbear reached the container first and attempted to open it by chomping on the hard surface, however the force and pressure he put on it only caused it to fly out of his mouth back onto the ground, rolling. Bugbear reached it next and also tried gnawing on it like a bone but found no matter how hard he bit or scrapped it just slid out undamaged, back onto the ground. ‘Dang it all! Hay Bugbear lets try ripping it apart.’ Thinking of nothing else Bugbear picked up the Cube and brought it over to Silversong who immediately chomped onto the other side without words they immediately set to the task, biting hard onto the block they began pulling in opposite directions until. *pop* the block pulled out of Bugbears mouth with nary a crack or a scratch, Silversong now tired of trying to open the device without destroying it; walks over to a nice flat rock and slams the box down hard, causing it to splinter into many pieces, all flying in different directions. With the annoying container destroyed Silversong spat out the remaining splinters left over from smashing it , then set to grab the rabbit hind quarters that came out of it, lifting it into the air he turned to bugbear who grasped onto the other side and they both yanked pulling the meat chunk in half giving them just enough for a good meal. swallowing their respective chunks down into their base just underneath their regenerative cores, Silversong felt and released it first in a loud gurgling snap as he released a belch of contentment with Bugbear following not twelve seconds after much to Rainbow Dash’s amusement.

Rainbow Dash nuzzled her container, lipping some of the hay into her mouth, delighting in the simple flavor and fullness it gave her as she continued eating her meal. she looked over to the nearby timberwolves and grimaced at the gore that was covering their maws and chests. Having finally finished her meal she called out “HEY! bugbear, Silversong lets get cleaned up before packing up and leaving. ok?” Both timberwolves looked at each other and noticed the gore as well, they shrugged and nodded in unison towards Rainbow Dash and they all traveled towards the river as a group.

Reaching the water first Rainbow Dash lifted herself into the air with her wings and did a wing supported aerial dive from thirty feet, While Silversong and Bugbear just waded into the stream about thirty meters from camp. The ice cool mountain water quickly removed the gore from the wolves bark while Rainbow Dash pulled some of the water from the stream and formed it into a cloud which she laid on while watching the two wolves play below, after half an hour both waterlogged timberwolves stepped out of the stream having stored enough water into their porous wood to keep them easily flexible for a few weeks. “alright lets go back to camp. I’ll get my gear then we can go meet Fluttershy on the road out of town.” they returned to camp without incident and Rainbow quickly put the wrinkled blanked and the remaining undamaged food container back in her saddlebags, then they left the clearing as if no pony had been sleeping there in the first place.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

Her mind turned on as the sun touched her butter yellow fur as if flicked on my a switch, immediately she opened her eyes and looks around the room its deep brown interior inviting and friendly. She feels the warm sheets forming a small cocoon around her with a soft pillow at the head, daintily she yawns her jaw slowly opening as she exhaled some of the morning air emptying her lungs so she could take in some fresher air. Closing her mouth she let her lips settle into a soft smile, as she calmly unwrapped herself from her comfortable den of blankets and settled down gently onto the floor.

Looking to her right she noticed a table with a silver mirror next to the bed she had just jumped off of along with a door that led to a small room with a tiny window that just barely lit the rune etched stone tub and small ceramic toilet. she then turned and looked to her left. immediately she spotted the main door to the room, and a pair of tan saddle bags sitting next to it similarly colored to her coat, then she looked down at herself noticing her disheveled tail she quickly assumes her mane would be in a similar condition she walks over to the saddlebags and pulls out a brush with her mouth.

Brush in grasp she quickly trots over to the bedside table to examine herself in its mirror. Her reflection reveals more tangles and damages than she previously suspected starting at the base of her tail, brush in mouth she quickly began disentangling the detritus, forming the bubblegum pink strands into their normal presentable and invitingly straight lengths. Finishing her tail she spat the brush into her hoof letting the natural innate pegasi magic help her hold the device in the crook of her hoof easily, then began slowly brushing it across her mane, watching as the tangled mess she woke up with transform slowly into the beautiful locks she had the night before. having finished with her main she smiled to herself then grasping the brush between her teeth again she trotted towards the door. Stopping next to her saddlebags she opened the flap and put the brush back in place, with her visage as impeccable as when she arrived, she closed the flaps put them on and left the room.

Heading down the stairs at the end of the hallway she began to smell some of the flavorful foods that were cooking on the lower floor. reaching the landing she took a glance around the main floor keeping her vision in check she withheld her instinctual impulse to open her true vision knowing that there were pony’s watching her actions, as she noted that several around a table on the eastern wall were watching her actions, having been surprised at her entrance from the second floor of their favorite hang out, surprised that the bartender had gotten business after a few weeks without visitors. Fluttershy ignores their stares, walks up to the bar and sits on one of the raised mats. “Umm... salt lick?”

“Hmm...”The burly bartender raised his eyes from the class he was polishing and ceased his motions for a split second. “Oh Fluttershy good morning how was your rest last night?” The unicorn bartender asked kindly.

“Oh it was just lovely, the bed was soo soft and the blankets soo snuggly I didn’t want to really get up this morning, but duty calls and I need to pick up my next shipment of materials for the next town. I hope you have a good day as well.” Fluttershy smiled at the pensive yet nodding innkeeper, leaving behind a generous tip of eight bits for the room and rest before leaving the building proper through the front door.

Fluttershy looked to the sky checking the position of the sun in counterpose to the mountains. ‘Oh dear it’s almost past morning they should be expecting me in a few hours at the least i’d better get these purchases done fast.’ Taking a deep breath to calm herself down Fluttershy trotted over to the cart and reattached the wheels quickly with a simple lift and push then taking the nut and with a push and twist locking the wheel to the axle, doing the same with the other wheel she found she was finished with the wagon. strapping herself back to the stationary vehicle she tugged on the straps a few times making sure they were snug and not rubbing began trotting down the street at a small clip, her hooves tapping a soft yet constant beat, ‘clip’ ’clip’ ’clip’ ’clip’-’clip’ ’clip’ ’clip’ ’clip’-’clip’ ’clip’ ’clip’ ’clip’.

After a few minutes she came across a small market in the middle of the village, the stalls though few were selling a variety of herbs and flora immediately noticing a few spices she knew would be good for trading in Northwing and Reinhold. Pulling her lips into as sincere a smile as she could Fluttershy walked up to the first stall, with its cobalt blue earth pony occupant with a bright orange-pink mane at the forefront selling sweet peaches. “Hello, do you mind if I inspect the fruit you’re selling ?” she asked as she unstrapped herself from the wagon and trotted over.

The vendor nodded okay. “Sure though please try not to bruise them. They are quite fragile little sprigs.” He warned softly.

Fluttershy felt kindness flow into her veins and let her rough smile melt into a smooth honest one filled with the feeling. “Don’t worry, this will only take a second.” The lilac pegasus responded honestly as she pulled a piece fruit from one of the baskets. lifting the morsel before her eye she noticed no abnormalities or damages to the one she checked, she did the same with another nine selected randomly from multiple baskets, finding no evidence of trickery or shoddy gathering she smiled to the stallion behind the stall as she placed the last one where she grabbed it from. “What would you say to three hundred bits for three hundred perfect pears?“ Fluttershy asked innocently.

The stallion behind the counter shook his head negatively, Fluttershy almost wilted visibly untill he continued. “That is positively too much, for you how about three hundred pears for two hundred and fifty bits?” The stallion smiled kindly towards the mare.

Fluttershy perked up immediately. “O-oh thank you I don’t know what to say but thank you, here are the bits, thank you again.” Fluttershy repeats while pulling out the bits from her pouch

The stallion glowed a vivid read as he felt the warm onset of a blush touching upon his cheeks. “Well t’was really no problem .” he mumbled softly. clearing his throat with a small cough he spoke up as Fluttershy prepared to grab the first basket. “Here let me help, don’t want the pears getting damaged now do we?” He queried with a smile as he lifted two baskets with fifty pears in each of them.

“Thank you sir.” Fluttershy said having left the required bits on the counter while grabbing one of the baskets. and bringing it over to her wagon. After a few trips the wagon was filled and Fluttershy was strapped back into the harness by a pull of the strap with a swift jerk of her teeth. Smiling to the pear seller one last time she moved on, plodding back onto the main road she went across the market square, upon reaching her next destination she looked upon the wares of this next stall. 'Hmm I was going to just get some wheat but they even have it ground into flour... I two birds with one stone guess.' She thought swiftly as she gazed over the bales of three week old wheat at the front of the wears, only allowing a swift glance over several bales of healthy wheat, and the only four pristine bags of flour, the rest having minor nicks or scratches here and letting the white substance within to spill out and get somewhat contaminated.

Having made a decision on her purchases Fluttershy unstrapped herself from the wagon and Trotted over to the moldering bale of wheat. Not letting her eyes off the wheat she raised her voice letting it raise an octave and softening it a little letting herself sound a little timid. "H-hello? I w-was wondering how much this bale of wheat cost." The seller at this stall a bright green earth pony mare with a mane and tail the same color as her cutie mark of three wheat stalks at different lengths and stages of growth, having noticed her approach while settling a deal with another customer over three week old wheat bales. After retrieving the bits from the counter he put them away in the nearby bag and then walked over to the new customer.

He quickly looked over the bale of wheat the mare was looking over and nodded. “That bale would rightly cost ya around fifteen bits ah reckon, but ah’m willin to lower the price if ya can’t afford it.” The country mare answered with a dignified tilt of her mane.

“O-oh ok then umm, well I was wondering if you’d be willing to part with these seven bales here for one hundred and twenty bits, if you’re ok with the price thatis.” She offered tapering off at the end as the mare behind the counter stared straight at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Ok That seems a reasonable amount.” she answered without a second thought or even a glance to the bales Fluttershy pointed to, choosing instead to spend the time by holding in a dark chuckle. ‘Heh she mispriced by thirty bits.’ She thought as fluttershy placed the bits on the counter and transferred the new bales in her cart. then returned to the stall.

“Oh I almost forgot how much for a bag of flour? “ Fluttershy asks pointing to one fo the damaged bags that looked pristine from the outside, knowing the attendant behind the counter would offer a lower price since she knew the bag was on the low side and most likely believed that most customers would automatically assume that it was full and clean.

“That would be sixty bits ma'am.” As expected she took a quick glance to the bag and stated her price for the depreciated bag as she turned back towards another of her more common customers after putting away the bits she just got.

“Oh then I’ll take these four over here.” Fluttershy announced quickly, “That should be around two hundred and forty bits if i’m not mistaken.” She states the correct number this time.

The mare only grunted acceptance in fluttershy’s general direction, of the price this time and watched as fluttershy placed the bits on the counter, while she spoke with her newest customer. A brown earth pony with a messy brown mane standing next to a sky blue unicorn with a seafoam green mane brushed to the right side of her face and set in curls.

Fluttershy quickly loaded her four well filled bags onto the cart leaving a small bag with two hundred and forty bits within on the counter. Strapping herself in she quickly left the stall. entering the square she found her last stall with ease.

Trotting over to an out of the way stall Fluttershy noticed that it was almost overflowing with Strange green three foot stalks of a uncommonly seen plant throughout equestria. “Hello.” fluttershy calls out as she arrives at the stand and starts unstrapping herself from the cart. In answer a light brown unicorn with an even lighter brown mane stepped out of the shadows with a small smile on his face.

“Welcome are you here to buy some sugar cane?” He asks cheerfully.

“Actually yes I am, how much do you usually price one of these stalks?” Fluttershy asks making sure to use the proper terminology while speaking with the vendor.

He smiles towards Fluttershy. “Well since you’re a sweet lil filly and probably know the usual price of these how about I make an offer of two stalks for three bits, rather than three bits apiece?” He noted and offered gently.

“Sure, having a good season with customers?” She asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“Actually yes, the last few weeks have been quite profitable, so far i’ve made more bits with my crops this year than I did last year.” He pulled his horn back up after using it to point at the cane stalks.

‘Alright then You just made the offer I was going to make anyway.’ Fluttershy thought as she carefully formulated her thoughts eventually coming up with a simple phrase to answer and formulate her final purchase. “Okay, thank you for lowering the price.”

“Think nothing of it, thanks is all that I need since i’ve also met my quota for the year.” the salspony answered firmly.

“Anyway I would like to purchase two hundred and eight canes for three hundred and twenty-four bits” Fluttershy offers pulling her purse from her side and placing it on the counter.

The stallion nodded. “That sounds reasonable let me load you’re wagon. Trust me it’ll save us plenty of time.” He said as his horn lights in a pale tan glow and telekinetically places all of the sugar cane stalks into the wagon without breaking a sweat, all while Fluttershy pulled the proper amount of bits from her bag. The stallion finishes packing the sugar cane snugly on the cart and proceeds to take the bits placed on the counter then places them in the safe after counting the proper monetary amount given. “Thank you for your patronage, miss...” He trailed off lifting his hoof and gesturing towards the shay mare.

Fluttershy jumped a little as she recognized the gesture and what the stallion was asking for. “O-oh My name is Fluttershy and you’re welcome, honestly I’m glad you were here selling sugar cane, otherwise I would have had to leave with the extra bits to use. and well I don’t like carrying around all of the extra weight when I could be transporting goods that would be useful to sell to other towns for a decent profit. but I also like giving to those without shelter and food every once in a while.” Fluttershy Answered.

“Thank you for your patronage Fluttershy I hope you come purchase from me some time okay.” The unicorn finished his previous sentence as Fluttershy finished strapping herself back into the wagons harness.

“Don’t worry I’ll be coming back this way in about nine to eight weeks. Me and my partner Rainbow Dash are making our trade route along the Griffon border. See you then.” Fluttershy finished, closing the conversation and returning to the plaza. Back on the main road she took a right and began heading towards the north side of town heading towards the township of Reinhold.

leaving the town buildings behind Fluttershy is in a stretch five miles outside of town, surrounded by forest on both sides. Fluttershy smiled to herself as she looked over the variety of natures beauties surrounding her. Her ear twitched barking in the distance then fluttershy looked up and noticed a faint rainbow trail in the sky. ‘Well, time to continue the trip. I think rainbow had a good time with the wolves. Thankfully there will now be plenty of love to go around now that their task is accomplished.’

Author's Note

A/N Sorry the chapter is a mess but I just can't let it sit without viewers any longer so here it is an it's incomplete glory. anyway I shall be editing it over the next twenty four or so months as I work on my future chapters, cleaning up the ones I already have as I go along. Also this is the chapter where I can drop any disguise of being a clean bigot on the net, and Special thanks goes to Fimbulvinter who is an awesome editor/writer/proofreader/awesomeness. anyway he's the one who made the clop scene as beautiful as it is. then there is janushyde who basically helped my keep the chapter somewhat reasonable. anyway...
cheers :twilightsmile:

Humble Beginnings

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 8: Humble Beginnings

(Windbreak Valley along the Griffica/Equestrian border, one hour east of the township of Windbreak, nine hundred ninety third Celestial year, twentieth day of spring)

‘Mother?... Twilight?’ A young voice queries inside the lavender filly’s head as she walks along the river. A smile stretches across her muzzle as she looks at the plains around her. Twilight took a deep breath of the sweet, fresh scent of grass. The bitter cold of winter receded with the warming rays of the sun, melting the ice and encouraging the plants to grow as they awoke from their cold induced hibernation.

‘Yes dear?’ Twilight returns kindly to the youthful speaker, her ear twitching as she releases the thought into the tenuous connection. She takes a swift glance behind her and notices the curious green eyes, surrounded by a beige coating of scales. They gaze at her from from just above the chocolate brown cloak she was wearing, the creature’s small head popping out from under it.

‘I’m hungry, can we stop somewhere and rest?’ The small light voice asks innocently inside her head. “Hgrrrr, quiro hgrrrit.” The small creature lets out in a semi high pitched voice.
Twilight continues trotting along the right bank of the river going down stream, letting her hooves sink into the damp sandbank gently so as to make no sound. She comes upon a fork with a small stream connecting onto the main current from her right. ‘This place seems a good place as any to stop.’ Letting out a faint sigh, she trots up to a small patch of ferns, collecting her magic she lifts the dead branches close. She then places them around herself, creating a small dome to hide behind, ‘Alright Fang, it’s ok to come out now. You are hungry, right?’ She asks playfully in her thoughts as she begins preparing her lactation spell.

Fang immediately pops out of the cloak with a swift shake of his wings, the cloak itself coming off of him. It flows like water gently caressing his scales as he leaps out with his two legs and another flap of his wings. He gets just enough air to land on top of the fully reformed cloak. Stretching his neck forward he gently rubs his scales along the lavender filly’s neck, familiarly taking in her deep scent. Happily flaring out his wings, he folds them around her neck in a hug, ‘Of course I’m hungry, mother,’ he responds mentally, closing his eyes just in time to witness the flash signaling the completion of her spell. Opening his eyes again he quickly jumps off her back onto the soft ground, completely cleaned of debris which had been used in the making of the temporary shelter. Fang nuzzles underneath Twilights barrel, taking a few steps forward until he reaches the small lump that was slowly expanding from between her back legs. Taking the small perky teat in his mouth he begins to suckle, catching the first small spurt of white nectar in his mouth. Closing his eyes, he laps the small hole on the milk jug and sucks a little harder, his lips wrapped firmly around it. He pulls in a significantly larger amount of milk the second time. Smiling contentedly, he continues to suckle on the small nipple, drinking the magically produced and infused milk.

Twilight lowers her head and looks between her forelegs at the three foot reptilian creature underneath her sternum, nursing comfortably on her teats. ‘I’m glad I’m used to this, it was awkward the first few times from all the squeaks,’ Twilight thought as the small drake underneath her finally released the first teat and began on the second. ‘I love you my little drake. Oh...’ Twilight's cheeks blush as the little drake’s wing accidentally brushes against the sensitive area just behind her lactating lumps. ‘Fang, we should be near the village I saw in the distance. You should remain hidden inside my cloak when we get there, until the visit is over and we’re resting together in private. Okay?’ The Drakeling, having finally sated his thirst and hunger, answers with a warm, drowsy nod. As he climbs back onto Twilight, he lets the cloak warmly surround him again as he rests on the filly’s saddlebags as an inconspicuous lump.

With the drake finally settles on her back again, Twilight releases a small wave of force onto the shelter around her, causing it to explode outward in all directions. Debris flies all the way across the river and out of view, into and behind the foliage on the other side. Turning to continue her journey, she looks at the fork in the river and realizes that she is in the middle of it. Thinking carefully as she walks towards the rushing waters, she decides a simple spell should get her across without a problem. Looking to her right, Twilight notices a road faintly in the distance, following the rivers course along the mountain. Taking a furtive glance at her back, she smiles and looks forward again. Trotting up to the rushing waters, they are pushed and pulled downstream by gravity.

Reaching into herself with her horn, she silently grasps onto her core and pinches a small amount of energy. Placing it at the tip of her horn and creating a small spark of light, she slowly lowers the spark to the water and forms it into a rune. Slowly warping it and changing it’s shape, she adds lines and formulae to create a small flat circle of energy. Intricately woven into a web of lines and arcs, eventually the mote of energy begins to define itself, gaining depth as the air around the circle becomes colder. The energy surrounding it was being pulled, making the air frigid like a midwinter wind. She releases the focused mote of energy into the stream. Its structure completely stabilizes as it reaches the cold waters.

The effects are immediate as the waters expand momentarily then turn white, crystallizing mid motion on the surface. Even the foam of the water coming down stream freezes, crashing against the small stretch of ice as it flies over the lengthening frozen bridge. The frozen foam then flutters down as snow, creating traction and frost. Twilight sits and watches with a smile as the spell does it’s work, finishing as it reaches the other bank of the river. The resulting bridge is five feet wide, two feet above the water level, and cold enough to stand for twelve minutes under the heat of the sun and the ever moving waters of the river. Deciding she had stared enough, Twilight steps confidently onto the Ice sheet. Her hooves, finding plenty of traction on the surface of the barely melting bridge, trot across with a small bit of haste before the ice becomes too smooth for her to arrive on the other side. Slipping only a few times she makes it to the other bank, easily within three minutes of starting her journey across.

Smiling to herself, she looks up towards the road again through the trees and spots a few ponies walking upon its smooth trail. The ground before her dapples in small dots of sunlight that filters through the forest canopy, as it leads towards the cleared path up above. The filly lifts her hoof and trots forward, following one of the game paths worn down within the foliage from years of use. Her abilities and skills had developed within the everfree, helping her remain a silent shadow as she moves forward towards the trade rout above in a path that would intersect with the traveling party of ponies. With a grin still plastered on her face, Twilight begins jittering with joy. 'The first ponies I've seen in years besides Zecora, but she's a zebra so she doesn't count, even if it's the same family in essence. I wonder what these ponies are like? Hopefully I look ok.' Twilight allows the thoughts to cascade over her like water over a rock, her thoughts calm and collected as she reaches the edge of the highway. Remaining within the bushes, Twilight watches the ponies as they pass by, noticing their clumsy movements. Yet also, she sees how well kempt they look, with well styled manes and soft fur from the soap they had been using during their baths.

Then she looks upon herself and notices how she herself looked, her mane only styled enough to keep it out of her eyes and from getting tangled in the underbrush. Her coat is muted in color, with clay and other natural materials mixed in to help her blend into the scenery. There are minor cuts and scratches all over her body from the surrounding trees and bushes. Her smile drops a little into a small grimace as she notices the severe differences between her and the other ponies, Twilight lets out a small sigh and walks onto the road in front of the ponies. Being fully composed, she turns towards the ponies, pulling her lips back into a genuine if hesitant smile. As the small party of five ponies stops to stare at her, their conversation dies in their throats as they look over this new visitor from out of the woods. Twilight speaks first. "Hullo travlers, I Seem to have lost me wey. Would ya be so kaind as ta point me in the right dairection of the nearest town?"

The Group resume their conversation, except for one of the elder ponies. He has a bright orange beard and mane, on a dusty brown coat. His eyes hold a slightly piercing look as he looks upon the filly before his group. Sighing to himself he speaks steadily. “The nearest town of Windbreak is five miles north east of here along this road, the same direction we’re heading. You should be able to get their at a simple trot within about three hours,” the elder answers kindly to the cloaked filly, before turning back to his companions and joining back in with their conversation.

Twilight nods in silent thanks towards the oblivious pony, “Maith agat elder as an comhairle.” [Thank you elder for the advice.] She utters softly. Letting her eyes follow the road, she decides it would be safe enough, having noticed few Predator markers along the path, most of them ancient. Letting her hooves act for themselves, she picks up a decent pace. She Ghosts along the road’s path silently, passing the group within a few seconds without any of them noticing. Taking a deep breath into her lungs through her nostrils, she mentally begins recounting how the ponies in the group looked and how the elders accent varied from her own. Pulling some mana from her reserves, she forced it to flow over the surface of her body, scrubbing the filth and grime of her jungle travels from her form. Her horn goes dark as the spell finishes, the last motes of light and energy fading. She looks down while running along the well worn road, watching her bright lavender hooves, seeing them for the first time since she entered the everfree forest a year ago. She lets loose a giddy smile as she lifts her head back forward to watch the path ahead.

The scenery changes little within the thirty minutes it takes her to reach the town at her extended clip, the speed she had reached being twice that of most ponies and still as silent as a prowling timberwolf. The only evidence of her passing is the slight magenta trail, sparkling softly as it dissipates on the wind a few milliseconds after its creation. She watches as the trees, grass, and blooming flowers blur by as she paces along the road calmly, not even breaking a sweat from the physical exertion. However, she pauses slightly as she leaves the woods and enters an expansive field, the river from earlier rushing only a hundred or so feet from the road she was silently galloping on her trail. She is blurred by both the wind and her cloak, smoothing away any sign of hoof marks upon the slightly uniform dirt surface of the path. Her gallop slows to a trot as she looks upon the pasture of golden grass before her, proceeding the sight of the town deep inside. Its boundaries are surrounded on both sides by massive walls of stone unnoticed before, disguised as they were by the trees along the path along with the moss along the lower portion helping it blend in with the rest of the scenery. Her gaze locks upon the town in the distance, its architecture strange compared to her memories of other structures she has been within throughout her years. Her pace runs on autopilot as she walks through the field, towards the decently sized settlement.

The wooden buildings fascinate her; their thatched roofs garnering her interest in their structure and composition compared to other styles she had seen. Their brightly colored walls are painted in many colors, resembling many of the roses and flowers within the surrounding fields. 'What magics or potions do they use to get those colors?' Twilight queries, as she absentmindedly continues forward along the well blazed trail. 'I wonder if they use alchemy lime me and zecora as well... hmm well, we’ll see, I just really hope I can find something I'm good at that can be useful to these ponies.' Twilight mulls silently as she nears the first building on the outskirts of town, its golden thatched roof held up by a warm chocolate brown colored wood. ‘Well, there are some similarities like the front door facing towards the road being similar to … Well my old home.’ Twilight lets her mood drop for only a moment. ‘Well at least I have a chance to start a new beginning here.’ Twilight’s ears perk up and her smile returns, as thoughts of meeting new ponies begins circulating throughout her head.

Calming herself down with a deep breath, she forces her nerves down to a reserved level. Her thoughts are working at full efficiency and her eyes are forward. Slowly, she walks forward. Her gait is measured and timed perfectly, allowing herself to move forward silently and not bring unwanted attention to herself. Walking along the road deeper into the village, she watches as the colors of the buildings change from blue to green to red to yellow, almost any bright color of the rainbow imaginable. Finally, she comes upon an interesting area. Having passed many ponies already along the way, she enters into a large circular track of road. It’s surrounded by buildings flowing out from it but split also by several roads similar to the one she entered on. She looks around the market square in great interest of the many different stalls and goods sold within along with some trepidation at the almost impossible amount of ponies within the square market. Finding herself vulnerable in the open she quickly rushed underneath one of the nearby awnings drawing herself out of the crowd. “Yea I know the feeling to little filly.” Spoke a feminine voice from behind her almost startling her except for the fact that she had noticed the pony behind the counter while heading over.

Twilight turned towards the sourced of the voice sighing in relief, being out of the massive crowd of the market square. Deciding this would be a perfect chance to test the dialect she had picked up from the elder earlier Twilight replied. “Oh hello, sorry to barge in unannounced but I wasn’t expecting such a large crowd of ‘What was the word.. oh right!’ ponies. I hope i’m not intruding on anything.” She finished with a happy smile almost face hooving as she remembered her own race.

“That’s quite alright young filly, though I didn’t quite catch your name ,mine is Whitebeat.” Spoke the dappled grey white earth pony mare behind the counter with a two tone aqua marine mane.

“Oh I’m Glimmering Wisp Nice to meet you Whitebeat. Oh what does your name stand for?” Twilight asked somewhat perplexed with the name of the pony behind the counter.

“Why I make the best whipped cream this side of equestria, not much other than that. Go ahead and try a sample, they’re real good especially with the sugar added from last weeks caravans.” The mare added while pushing a small dish with a piece of fluffy white substance towards the lavender filly.

Twilight cautiously sniffed the substance the familiar scent of milk and dairy hidden underneath the heavy scent of another ingredient she hadn’t tasted in almost two years, it’s sweet scent almost overpowering her cautious nature and forcing her to eat the fluffy white substance with reckless abandon, almost that is; however her year and a half of forest survival had taught her better her impulses had been mastered having dealt with many temptations in the forest which could have led to her untimely death, only surviving by the skin of her teeth when vine traps tried to catch her unaware. She carefully pulled back from the sweet treat and let the rest of the scent process through her thoughts a semi solid buttery scent mixed in with a slightly balmy if aged scent. All of this processing through her thoughts within the space of a few seconds, as Twilight finished her analysis she realized that her fears were unfounded and that the treat was an honest item meant to be eaten. “Thank you Whitebeat.” She joyfully cried upon this realization, before her head darted forward tongue extended and Twilight began devouring the delicious whipped cream.

Whitebeat looked on in amusement as the lavender filly attacked the small treat ravenously, a small smile playing on her lips. “Aghem.” Whightbeat coughed grasping Twilights attention. “That’s only a sample, if you want more though I have small and large tubs in the back, six bits for the small and twelve bits for the large. Unless of course you have something of equivalent value to trade.” The mare finished slyly.

Twilight’s lips pulled down into a slight grimace, ‘Ok so she’s offering more of it but I’ll have to purchase using either an item to barter of a form of currency... I might have something but is the whipped cream really worth it?.. Wait what am I doing?’ Twilight gave a longing look towards one of the tubs filled to the brim with the fluffy white and gooey deliciousness before returning her eyes back to the mare behind the counter. “Thank you for the sample I might have something to trade for one of the tubs but I’d rather not, but I do have a question.” Whitebeat nodded towards the filly with a smile of understanding, while encouraging Twilight to continue with her question. “What do you use to take care of those who get sick around town, and does anypony make potions?” Twilight asked innocently.

“Potions?.. Oh an alchemist, sorry if you are in need of one you’re out of luck the last pony that could work with herbs and such to make strong brews passed away a few years ago, her heirs decided to pick up cooking and baking instead.” Twilight’s eyes widened slightly in shock as the information registered through her thoughts. however before she could prepare a response the mare behind the counter obviously continued. “There haven’t been any real outbreaks in years so she was never able to attract an apprentice to pass on her knowledge. anyway if you’re looking for an apothecary then you’ll have to head to Bridlebit four towns along the road east of here.”

Twilight took advantage of the pause with her response, “Really? you don’t have an... alchemist you called her right? what do you do about sickness, diseases, and such?” The questions shot at a fast rate from her lips at Whitebeat behind the counter.

“Oh we never really needed her, well yes it does take a bit longer to get better but overall we rarely, if ever needed her.” Whitebeat responded kindly. “Though I think some folks could still use the items she offered.”

“What kind of items exactly?” Twilight asked her ears perking in interest.

“Many of our older folks used some of her herbal creams and extracts to ease the aches and pains from their old bones. She also was pretty good at making remedy’s that took the edge off our colds.” White beat extended towards the young filly before her.

Twilight lifted a foreleg to her chin in thought. “Hmm... do you think they would still want the salve she offered?” She asked carefully.

“Well to be frank some of them need it in order to live their daily lives, and some of them wouldn’t mind paying a little extra to get over their sickness sooner or to at least get some relief from it.” Whitebeat answered bluntly. “Say, why do you ask though?”

Twilight smiled widely, “I was originally hoping to find a fellow potion master to retrieve and exchange herbal ingredients with, but now that I know that you are lacking in such a field I think I shall offer my skills in potion making till I leave along the eastern road tomorrow. What do you think?”

Whitebeat couldn’t contain herself anymore her laughter bubbling out like a torrent. “Mchzzt, bwa ha ha ha, You can’t be serious! You a little filly, playing with potions? Ga ha ha ha. That has got to be the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard all week.” The Earth pony mare wiped her forehead with a hoof, her breathing stabilizing. Finally she opened her eyes again only to notice with curiously that the filly was gone. ‘Huh where’d she go?’ “Maybe that was a bit mean.” She silently admitted to herself. ‘But still her offer was almost completely beyond ridiculous.’ White beat thought again with a small chuckle before turning to a pegasus regular flying up to her stall for her weekly twelve ounce tub of whipped cream.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

Twilight sighed as she looked at her reflection from the nearby fountain, Whitebeats stall about two hundred meters south of her position. ‘I guess I can’t really be taken as serious without proof... Just because i’m so young doesn’t mean I don’t know what i’m doing.’ She thought slightly annoyed by the disbelief of the earthpony vender. Twilight took a slow steady breath to calm her nerves, ‘Well I can’t really do much until i’ve proven my competence, anyway I won’t be able to do it sitting here.’ She nodded resolutely to herself before turning and trotting towards the other side of the market square.

Along the way Twilight noticed several elder ponies, some of them struggling just to move, their joints creaking and dry. Twilight continued towards the buildings reaching them and passing their threshold, it was almost like a cloud was lifted from over her. ‘I’m surprised there’s so many ponies in this small a town, I thought it would be a little less... crowded.’ She thought quietly remembering the size of the small markets of the Zaurask villages she had lived in. 'I guess ponies are more numerous... ' Twilight promptly shook her head as she passed a nearby sweet shop with colorful candies and chocolates placed on stands along the front window, Enticing a few of the younger passersby with their carnal temptations of sugary delight, her thoughts rearranging as she slowly guided herself along the dusty town street. 'She said the elderly tend to get sick more of...' Twilights train of thought froze as she saw an elder blue pegasus mare with a bright magenta mane land on the ground with a raspy dry cough stealing her breath and causing her to collapse to the ground.

Twilight’s legs moved of their own accord pulling her towards the wounded mare nearly lying on the street from her condition. Without even questioning herself Twilight began pulling a sprig of thyme, a few petals of chamomile, two thorns of the vampyre rose, and finally a small jar of golden honey while she arrived. Lifting out a small mortar she crushed the solid ingredients into a paste with a solid wyvern bone pestle. Summoning her magic forth she manipulated the elements with ease collecting the moisture in the air and freezing it into a clear crystalline phial of ice within which she poured the bitter past into, then followed by slightly tipping the small jar of honey letting only a few drops enter the mixture. Then she watched carefully as the mixture expanded nearly passing the tip of the frozen container. Smiling kindly and nodding slightly to herself she lowered the finished potion the the elder mares lips. Feeling the cold seep through the skin on her lips the elder mare jerked back in her eyes opening slightly giving her barely a glance before having her full attention stolen by her protesting lungs.

Twilight watched the mare jerk in surprise from her unexpected and swift ministrations, "It's ok, this is just a quick mixture I made to remove the cough. I'm sure you're tired of being unable to function for more than five minutes" Twilight nodded solemnly then lifted the phial to the mares lips again as the pegasuses coughing spasm finally reduced in intensity.

'This young mare seems nice enough... Ohhh poo, wish I had eaten those fritters from earlier, but I couldn't for the life of me fit another bite. Hmm... I think I'll take whatever this young child is offering if nothing else at least it might brighten her day.' The elder mare Opened her bright sky blue eyes their colors flashing slightly with her decision made the elder mare opened her lips slightly allowing Twilight to pour the contents inside the frost vial into the elder's awaiting throat. The pegasus mares eyes widened slightly in surprise as her lips widened her tongue flicking out as she realized that the substance she had expected to be bitter.'Sweet Celestia! This is delicious.' As the fluid serum glided softly down the elder mares throat she felt the potent brew beginning to take effect, and the irritation in her windpipe begins to lessen, the next breath comes with ease, her wrinkly parched lips pulled back into a soft smile. The elder pegasus mare pulls back and sits on her hind legs and opens her eyes to an interesting sight, "The buck?" She stated loudly as she glances at the small filly before her her eyes widened and her jaw dropping slightly. 'Well.. thats unexpected?'

Twilight had the strangest urge to lift her hoof to her face as the elder mare continued gaping at her in disbelief, deciding to simply roll her eyes and close them instead, “Wfhh... Hhhh. ‘Okay calm.’ Do you feel any better miss?” Twilight asked pulling her lips back and curling them upward into a smile.

The elder mare shook her head a little rattling her thoughts back into place. “Now that was a shocker if I ever saw one, What’s yer name lil filly?” The Powder blue pegasus asks her eyes shining with curiosity.

"Glimmering Wisp. I ask again, are you feeling any better?" Twilight Lied smoothly. Looking at the mare Twilight noticed her cutie mark, a cloud with a few hoof shaped stamps in a straight line "What is your name miss." The lavender filly returned, her eyes shining with interest.

“Little old me? I’m Cloud Runner. Mare back in my day I used to be the leader of the local weather team, but thats enough about myself, thanks for the cough draught.” Cloud Runner sighed in delight, glad that her throat no longer felt like gravel was passing through the wrong passage.

Twilight returned the smile in earnest. “You’re welcome Cloud Runner, though if it isn’t too much, could you tell me of anypony else who would need my skills?” The lavender filly inquired softly.

“Why of course, well theres several actually but I’ll tell ya the one I know needs it most then you can go from there, colts name is Berry Bash, should be living in a small cabin north east of here... Just head towards the town square and take a left on the second block, his house should be the pink one..” The elder mare finished leaping into the air and flapping her wings and lifting off the ground again. "Tell him Cloud Runner sent ya!.." Her voice fading as she dashed off into the air and off into the distance.

Twilight smiled 'Left two blocks down pink house, doesn’t sound too hard.' The lavender mare thought as she trotted back down the street, after two blocks she turned right as instructed, and immediately noticed the glaring pink shop in the middle of the block along the street. Twilight felt her left eye twitch. 'Ok that was extremely obvious... ughh ok I hope my help here is appreciated and actually needed.' She allows herself to ponder as she walks up to the front door of the house. *clack* *clack* *clack* she knocks three times it's homely rose red surface dark in contrast to the vibrant pink walls surrounding it.

"Hmm... visitor? Haven't had a visitor in quite a while, do come in no need to be shy." An old cracked voice called weekly from behind the wooden portal. Not needing any more encouragement Twilight stepped through. Her hooves making little sound as she crossed the wooden threshold from soft packed dirt to solid stone tiles.

"Ah over here young one." The old voice called again. "Inside the study the fires warm, do mind the king Sathier chess set on your right, it's quite expensive." The elder stallion warned as Twilight entered the study finally getting a good look at her host, his green fur patchy and matted from no small lack of proper grooming, his aquamarine mane disheveled and unbrushed. He looked the epitome of unkempt and destitute yet as she came closer she spotted the sharp wisdom contained within his eyes, the soft tilt to the corner of his lips as he gave a slight smirk at her arrival, his sharp ears evident and swiveled towards her their sharp hearing vouched for by his precise predictions of her exact location within the manor. The buildings soft pink walls brightened further by the wide windows uncurtained and letting through bright pillars of sunlight.

"Hello, sir..." Twilight began.

“Now don’t you be siring me young filly, Jus cus i’m old doesn’t mean i’m your superior. names Berry Bash or Bears for short though you could call me Uncle Berry, ifn ya want to be really formal.” He snorted after Interrupting her. “Bah, Never did understand why them tub-o-squishings nobles like it so much. So what's yer name young filly, considering ya came ta visite me yerself unsupervised?”

Twilight blinked slowly allowing her thoughts to catch up with her after having them blown away by the verbal bombardment, she jerks a bit having finally come back to herself. "Ok then Uncle Berry?" She stretches the name a bit cutting off with a small questioning rise, with a nod from the elder stallion Twilight continues. "My name is Glimmering Wisp, I came to town hoping I could..."

Berry Bash cut her off again. "I don't need any of yer back story, just tell me what yar here ta do." The elder stallion groused.

Twilight giggled slightly finally used to the lack of subtlety in the stallions style of thinking. "Alright basically I'm here to offer some medications that would relieve or remove some of your pains and ails, that is if you are willing to trust a filly with your health." The lavender filly explained her position swiftly.

Berry grunted acknowledgement. “So yer an herbalist, Trained in the finer points of apothecary alchemy, am I correct.” Twilight shakes her snout affirmatively her mane bobbing slightly. Berry smiles widely. “Bout damn time one O yer kind arrived me backs been killin me along with me hips, think ya got any magical potions in them saddlebags o yours that can cure it?”

Twilight smiled widely at the stallions acceptance. “Actually I think a simple mixture of vampyre rose thorns and ginseng should work perfectly just remember that the effects are temporary if you want to get rid of the damage permanently you’ll have to let me probe troubled areas with magic.”

“Hah! s’if I’d let ya touch me with yer fancy magic, les just stick with the potion and i’ll deal with the consequences later.” The stallion answered sharply his demeanor remaining calm and lighthearted.

Twilight nods acceptance though she quirks an eyebrow at the stallions statement. letting her horn pull magic naturally from her core Twilight guides it into action first lifting a few vials from her bag then lifting out two small containers one containing a large amount of vampyre rose thorns, and the other containing twelve ginseng leaves. “Why do you mistrust unicorn magic touching your body?” Twilight asks trying to figure out his reluctance for unicorn magical treatment.

“Not that I don’t trust ya young un just I’ve had my share o magical mishaps. las unicorn t touch me with their magic almost made me a gelding.” The stallion gesticulated as wildly as his ancient limbs would allow. while Twilight finished mixing the solution with a hint of honey and Blissle berry added in to soften the taste.

Delivering the drink to him Twilight responds, “No offence taken, I mean I can understand your reluctance after such a close call. but also what can possess a unicorn so unskilled with their magic to even try that? anyway here you go drink it slowly, otherwise your tongue will turn blue and go numb.” Twilight warns a little firmly.

“Yae yae like I havn’t heard that before from the previous lady, I’ll be careful. As fer the poor lass, well les just say she was trying to be friendly and learned the hard way why she needed ta study in school.” Berry Bash answers offhandedly as he slowly downs the drink mrring in delight as the potion does it’s work, relaxing his muscles and numbing the pain in his back. Stretching to his full length the stallion nimbly jumps off the couch. “Thank ye kindly fer the drink lil Wisp, say do ya have anything ta say afor I start terrorizin the populace with me wonderfully potent cherry buster pies? ” He asked noticing the inquisitive look on the fillies face.

“Actually yes I was wondering if you knew any of the other ponies that would appreciate my help.” The filly asked her smile wide and her eyes beaming honesty and inquisitiveness.

“Sure I think Ol White Wind would be quite appreciative of yer help I also think the town would be appreciative of her presence once again, and I almost forgot. since ya were so nice ta help me out I think Twenty bits should be fair payment for yer services.” He spoke just as sincerely. “Ah ah! no need to be turnin me payment down t’would be rude of ya, anyway as kind of a thought as free service is, I like t pay others fairly in kind for their actions.”

Twilights semi crestfallen look melted as her face lifted into an understanding smile. "Ok, thank you. So where will I find White Wind?"

"You'll find her sleeping in her home near Black Shine tavern, the tavern itself should be easy t’spot heading towards the northern side of town, the lads in th’bar can give ya the rest o the directions from there." The stallion answered before finally dropping the bits he had gathered before the stunned unicorn filly, then leaping out of the study, shouting "AN WATCH OUT FOR ME KING SATHIER CHESS SET!" As he left.

'Well, that was interesting.' Twilight thought.

'You’re telling me, I didn't know ponies could be like that.' Fang answered surprising Twilight as she finished cleaning the vials and other alchemical equipment magically, and was placing them in her packs. Luckily Twilight was able to gather the last beaker back into her magical grip before it could meet the floor in a disastrously.

'Shouldn't you be sleeping fang?' Twilight asked suspiciously, gathering the small bag of bits and using some of the groper vine to attach it to her saddlebags underneath the cloak. Fang peaked his small scaled head out of the back of the cloak letting out a small defiant croak, his small voice scratching at Twilights ear. 'Ok I get it you're hungry. But we can't do it here, later when were alone together, a tavern would probably be our best bet.' Grunting in displeasure the drake setttled back into the cloak to rest till later, a small snort telling Twilight that the young drake would be holding her to her word.

Sighing slightly as her cloak re-enfolded the resting drake, Twilight turned back to the entrance to the vibrant house and left, nearly tapping one of the chess pieces as she went. Gazing at the street around her Twilight began formulating her thoughts. 'Ok Berry Bash said White Wind would be near Black Shi...' She hung her head. "Ughh... I don't know where Black Shine tavern is."

A obsidian coated stallion with a slate blue main passing by stopped, “The buck?” he murmured under his breath as he turned towards her an inquisitive look on his face. "You're searching for Black Shine tavern? You seem a little young for the traveling type." He commented.

Twilight felt her spirits lift as the stallion showed her a chance of getting proper directions. "Actually yes I am, I need to reach the tavern in order to get directions to my next patient. Would you help me please?" Twilight asked the stallion.

The young stallion looked down on the filly, his resolve melting away underneath the innocently beaming face. "Fine but Seriously the tavern is not really the nicest place to go, but if it's for directions then I guess I can help you get there. Basically head down the right side of the street and then make a left after two roads then head straight down, the tavern should be a White building with a shield above it's door that gives the illusion of reflecting darkness. Should be easy to spot."

Twilight smiled and nodded thanks. “Have a nice day sir.”

“No problem just stay safe, the patrons of the tavern aren’t the most savery sort to be around.” The stallion warned before turning and continuing on to his destination.

"Umm... Thank you?" Twilight spoke confusedly as the stallion walked away. Turning to her right she began heading down the street.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

After forty or so minutes Twilight had reached her destination. An old building, the paint on it's walls somewhat peeling a few of the windows show's signs of damage, chips of glass embedded into the hard grained wood, some of the shafts of wood seemed to have been splintered and haphazardly repaired by some shoddy magicmareship. Sighing to herself Twilight finally allowed herself to relax, smiling naively as she entered the building not even hazarding a guess as to what the patrons would think of a young filly entering 'their' establishment.

Twilight noticed one of the nearby patrons watching her as she walked up to the bar, deciding that she’d rather not be remembered she flipped the hood of her cloak over her head along the way. Upon reaching the bar Twilight waits for a few moments for the bartender to take notice of her.

she would have been waiting for hours or at least until one of the nearby patrons decides to help her a little.“If ya want t get his attention ye should first ring the bell, then wait for him to show, otherwise he’ll think ya want him to ignore ya.” the peaceable stallion informed.

"Actually I was hoping to find somepony that could give me directions to White Winds place of residence." The stallion jerked back then looked at her again.

He responded a bit more seriously his tone somewhat harsh. "And what business would you have with the Mare in White young filly? She may be old But her wisdom and compassion have made many of our lives better. Therefor her time is very valuable." He finished.

"Actually I'm visiting her to offer up my ability in alchemy to produce a few potions that could help her." Twilight responded kindly, softening her voice slightly into a soothing and calming tone trying to put the unreasonably aggravated stallion at ease.

The stallion pulled back again with a hissing intake of breath, "Sncht, pfft. Yea right a filly like you making any concoctions that would poison the town supply let alone mend the sick and infirm? What’s to say that we even want these potions here?" His dark smile was accompanied with a glint in his eye, that held for all of ten seconds before a light golden brown pastry flew through the air landing square upon his muzzle and covering his eyes and ears in a sticky substance, the juices running down his neck.

A familiar voice at the entrance to the tavern spoke up, while the Stallions smile fell his lips drawing downward in dread as he also recognized the voice on the other side of the tavern. "An me bein here should be proof enough t'ya of the filly's skills Roddie." Berry Bash Spoke jovially while the Berry pie spattered Sturdy Rod felt his eye began twitching along with the beginnings of a headache forming in his right temple while berry continued defying all reason of normality with both his words and presence. "Miss me Fillies?" The elder stallion joked. Immediately there was a loud and roar as nearly every mare and stallion in the tavern cheered the stallion on. Twilight facehooved as rather than being able to blend in she was put on the spot by the very patient she had helped only an hour ago. "Oh an almost fergot, Young Wispy here needs some directions to fare White Winds home. I think our fare lady of the white has delt with physical ails fer long enough since our old apothecary passed." Another resounding round of cheers filled the usually grim tavern with massive volumes of joy the literal air around them slightly brightening.

A light brown stallion on Twilight's right Poked her shoulder with a hoof. "I guess I'll be the one giving ya directions to White Wind's.” The young stallion noted. “Anyway she should be easy to find, exit through the front door to this place then take a right on the next street crossroad turn right again her place should be a small brown tree with a white book and quill sign hanging out front."

Twilight jumped off the stool, and turned towards the stallion. "Thank you for the directions sir. Here eat this, it'll help with the swelling." She informed compassionately, passing a small of murmur root over, she couldn't help but noticed the slight wince as he spoke with her.

Smiling slightly he opened his lips to continue however he immediately felt them close as a magical grip encased them. Twilight nodded once to the stallion smiling back, then turned and left through the front door. Smiling to herself, Twilight dutifully followed the directions given by the stallion, swiftly she came upon the establishment that had been detailed out to her. Walking up underneath the sign, she noticed that the tree was actually still alive even after having a home carved out of it's core.

Twilight knocked on the door. *clack*, *clack*, *clack* Her knocks could be heard slightly echoing throughout the interior. Twilight stepped back and listened as small set of taps on the other side announced a pony approaching the door. The portal was engulfed in a gentle white aura and opened silently inward, revealing a small white unicorn mare on the other side, her yellow flecked eyes glinting with intelligence stared upon the small filly on the other side warmly. Her lips drew back into a smile, "Hello there deary how are you today.? Do come in, wouldn't want you to catch a cold now would we." the mare welcomed as she stepped back, waving her hoof and bidding the young purple filly to enter.

"But we haven't even exchanged names. How do I know you’re even the pony i'm looking for?" Twilight asked a little perturbed at the off handed way the white mare acted, then she noticed the cutie mark, besides the silver mane and tail melding perfectly with her alabaster white coat, the mark on her flank was made up of several silvery lines moving across an invisible wind. "Wait you're White Wind aren't you?" Twilight noted as she entered.

"Indeed I am and you must be the young Glimmering Wisp Berry was talking about before he sensed a pie emergency in Black Shine tavern."

"AN’ I GOT MORE PIES WHERE THAT CAME FROM." A faint voice sounded in the distance.

Twilight opened her mouth, "Was that..."

"Berry? Yes, yes it was. He's quite the incorrigible prankster, but his hearts in the right place, I also suspect that he has some form of precognition. But besides Berries antics what are ya here for?" The immaculate white mare asked, her feathery eyebrow raising slightly.

Twilight nodded. 'I might as well start immediately.' "I'm here to offer my services as a trained alchemist if you have need of them." Twilight offered bluntly yet in a soft tone, bowing her head slightly in difference to the elder mare.

"Hmm... you're quite the respectable little filly, say who's your teacher?" White Wind asks.

"A zebra shaman in the Everfree forest named Zecora." Twilight responds, eliciting a small nod from the elder mare before her.

"I'll take you up on the offer of a potion or two to help with a few of the bodily difficulties that come with age. I've known a few zebra's in my time, their skill in the alchemical arts are rarely equaled by ponies." The mare noted politely.

Twilight nodded with a smile curling her lips, she pulled some energy through her horn and coalesced it into a small amount of levitation magic, lifting a small assortment of ingredients from her saddlebags she placed the containers carefully on the floor, several small glass containers, and a large gourd with a small amount of fluid already sloshing around inside. Lifting a few beakers and one of the small containers in her grasp as she sat on the couch inside of the home, Twilight opened the glass container and gathered some of the ingredient into the glass beaker, using the instrument as a scoop. “Ok some ground nightshade buds,” doing the same with another container she began listing off the gathered materials. “several ounces of the solar requiems essence, a few ounces of dried hemlock powder, a phoenix feather, and the soul core of a timber wolf.” Twilight stated pulling out the small white glowing sphere.

“Alright, all of these ingredients have a specific use and position in the potion i’m making, the phoenix feather represents life while the hemlock powder stands for death and time, the nightshade petals stand for the vivid night, while the essence of solar requiem represents the fluid motion of day, then finally the core of a timber wolf to hold the alchemical and runic enchantments that will allow this device to work for you.” Twilight finished her long winded explanation ready to begin when she was interrupted by a hoof on her shoulder she started lifting the small bag of hemlock powder.

Twilight turned only to be faced with a par if concerned golden eyes. “Before you start and this goes too far, what exactly are you making?” The White Wind asked.

Twilight felt her cheeks heat up in embarrassment as she realized what she almost did. “Uhm... I guess it’s important that you know what you’re getting. What I planned on making was an anchor of rejuvenation, it’ll make you ‘feel’ young again but you will still be aging at the rate you currently are. you will feel young both internally and externally, but in reality you will still be the same age and the effects will dissipate when you sleep.” Twilight explained the potions effects carefully to the elder mare.

White nodded. “Actually that sounds like a better Idea than I originally expected, so you enchant items to?”

Twilight rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. “Actually I only learned how to artifice after tearing apart almost every artifact I came across other than that Small Items of power like this are self sustained by the ingredients themselves as long as they are integrated properly and without interference.” Twilight warned lightly smiling to the older mare, her blush completely disappearing during the explanation.

“Interesting I haven’t seen that form of alchemy before. What is it called?” White Wind asks feathery eyebrow lifting slightly.

Twilight smiled. “Actually it is a special form of alchemy that is designed to be a bit of a more permanent form of treatment. I think my master called it, assembly alchemy. since you have to assemble the parts together and correctly.” Twilight answered.

White wind nodded. “Ok so how long will it take?”

Actually it is already finished I just need to input the final ingredient... Umm I hope you don’t mind though.” Twilight noted sheepishly her mouth drawing back into a tight grimace.

“Why would I?” Asked white wind.

“I need to add a few drops of your blood to first attune the object to you, and to add life energy to the components in stasis allowing them to awaken and activate.” Twilight answered.

The elder mare blinked. “Ok, I guess, but... Will it hurt?” White wind asked softly.

“Actually you shouldn’t feel it. I’ve refined the method so that rather than needing to extract the blood physically, I can just phase it through your skin. Do you mind?”

White wind waived of the young fillies worries. “No no I don’t mind, as long as it doesn’t hurt, go ahead.” She watched in interest as the filly extracted the blood straight from her veins congealing the fine mist into a small crimson orb that smelled of Iron, then finished by spreading the sphere of blood over the small device in the form of power enhancing runes, lacing the primordial energies of the alchemical components together. “That... I didn’t feel it, impressive.” She spoke as the small orb of ingredients spread out into a four pointed star it’s timberwolf core filled with an uncharacteristic silvery white energy that slowly spread outwards like a flower blooming in the spring.

“The creation is complete. In order to use it just hold it in your hoof and look into it’s folds caress it with your magic and an energy like pollen will be exuded from the flower, let it cover you and the spores will regress your age.” Twilight smiled for a second then set her face into grim lines as she began the other half of the flowers abilities. “Though be warned, do not under any circumstances try and use the flower to help others, with the current extra enchantment I added the flower will just cease to live and then burn away otherwise, you would end up killing them via aging and a severe drain of life force, don’t be alarmed though it is just how the carnation protects both itself and it’s host.” Twilight warned carefully.

“Why would is it so dangerous?” White wind asked her eyes wide with worry.

“In nature the more beneficial the effect of a certain plant or mixture the more powerful it’s bite or protection. Like the nightshade and hemlock. Nightshade can only be seen at night and blooms during the full moon, that is the only time you can harvest it and use it’s functions, otherwise it acts as a powerful poison and kills your potions. as for hemlock it is instantly deadly but when mixed with an herb like the vampyre rose, it becomes a catalyst and increases the regenerative effects of the brew.” Twilight explains.

“I understand but I was hoping...”

“I’m getting to the point don’t worry.” Twilight interrupts. “Anyway for a creation like this ‘Gheasa De Na Ageless’ aghem Ageless Rose.” Twilight stated pointing to the silver glowing flower floating between her and White Wind. “It’s effects of age restoration and temporary youth, the consequences must balance out. In this instance the flower only lives as long as you do, so the relationship now is symbiotic, however it will drain the life of any that dare threaten you in it’s presence and will most likely slay anyone you try to help with it. It is not that it is sentient in any way but that it is fully attuned to your blood and magic.”

White Wind yawned slightly. “All of this alchemy talk is interesting but really you don’t need to go into all of the details. Sorry, but I thank you for the rose may I use it now?” The elder mare asked politely.

“Sure just do as I instructed earlier.” Twilight answered chipperly.

White Wind nods then Grasping the floating rose with her magic and bringing it towards herself, looking deep into it’s petals she glances at the still shimmering core deciding to poke it she focuses her magic to a point and gently prods it, immediately she felt her spell falter as the tip of her magical ‘finger’ is absorbed by the floral artifact. Her head jerks back as the flower begins spewing forth brilliant white spores that begin falling all over her. Twilight smiles at the scene taking a few cautionary steps back and erecting a simple barrier similar to the one she had ignored back in the old castle, except more solid to keep the particles from touching her.

Slowly the lines on White’s face began to recede, her drooping eyes becoming less heavy, her pale white coat gaining a healthy sheen, finally she opens her eyes her piercing vision now focused fully on the lavender filly before her with a gold tinted barrier surrounding her. White Wind Raises an inquiring eyebrow at the color of the fillies shield as opposed to her regular magical color. “I didn’t think it was possible to cast a spell that wasn’t of your own aura. How do you do that?” White wind stated, noticing her voice a few octaves higher than normal she took a few steps back. “The flower worked?.. It worked, thank you.” White Wind ran over hugged Twilight who had just dropped her barrier with a quizzical look at White Winds query.

“I thought any unicorn would cast with a different tint of color to their spells as opposed to their magic. is that true?”

“Actually I never knew it was possible to copy another ponies magical aura within a spell.” White Wind answered pulling off of Twilight. “But anyway that’s off topic, thank you again for the flower, Hopefully it can help me better care for my charges until I pass on.”

“Don’t worry the flower will last as long as you live, but I have a small item I’d like to ask, would you mind helping me get my remedy’s to those in need with less difficulty?” Twilight asked bluntly.

“You’re still young Little Glimmering Wisp, you have plenty of time; but Since you have given me a free pass to my youth I think it is fair for me to make a trade and help you set up a market stall where you can sell potions upon request. I’ll even be there to help you run it for a bit... Before my next appointment of course.”

“Thank you but where will we set up the stall though?” Twilight inquired with a raised brow.

“In the town square little filly,” White wind answered. “Shall we head off?” she asked pointing to the front door with a hoof.

“Umm... Sure. But wait a sec I need to repack some of my things oh and put the Flower somewhere nopony can find it, that was my last phoenix feather, so I won’t be able to make another one if it’s destroyed.” Twilight warned as the remaining ingredients and empty beakers were returned to her saddlebags.

Looking up after she finished packing she noticed White Wind standing before her the Silver glowing flower nowhere in sight. “I’m ready are you?”

“Yes”

“Alright then. I guess we should be off let’s go.” Twilight turned and opened the wooden entrance to White Winds hovel, and walked out The elder mare right behind.

The air outside was crisp with a slight hint of wild grass, Twilight walked out into the street turning and waiting for White Wind to exit the hovel. The elder mare exits the hovel and shuts the door. “Alright Glimmer the best place to set up the stand would be in the town square.” Said the White mare as she trots up next to the lavender unicorn waiting on her.

“I think I remember where that is down the road towards the center of town?” Twilight suggests.

“Yes, now lets go it won’t be long till the sun starts setting.” White Wind Warns. Twilight nods agreement and they both set off. “Hay Glimmer why haven’t you taken off the cloak, I mean is there any particular reason for it?” The elder mare asks curiously.

“Actually It’s because some of my potion ingredients are really sensitive to light, if I exposed them to the harmful rays of the sun then they would become impotent and i’d have to replace them when I came across the ingredient again. The nightshade is one such ingredient.” Twilight confirms the statement swiftly by pulling out one of the flowers with her magic, immediately The bud begins to shrivel up and close as its extended exposure to the sun causes its fragile petals to dry out. “In it’s current state now I could possibly reverse the process by exposing it to moonlight for an entire night or I could mix it’s ashes with some wormwood to make a decent barrier against sunlight, if the salve is worn during the full moon you’ll get an extra boost of energy throughout the night.”

White Wind relaxes into the walk as Twilight explains her reason for having the cloak on. “Ok I see what you mean, but are there any others with the same exposure problem?” Twilight nods.

“There are several others like it, and some are the inverse, like the ignis per sol. A nasty little weed that’ll burn you almost as bad as salamander oil, if exposed to moonlight it would end up as dangerous as sawgrass..” Twilight explained, sighing. “I also wear the cloak to keep the containers on my saddle bags secure, so they don’t slip off and cause a problem.” Twilight swished her tail softly left to right, enjoying the fact that she could share her time with another pony for the first time since the she left Canterlot. 'Not that I'd speak of my past.' Twilight Finished the thought turning to White Wind. "Hay" Twilight called to the mare next to her, The alabaster mare flicked an ear to state that she was listening. "Umm... Do you think I'll really be able to help out this way?" She asked hesitantly.

White Wind nodded and smiled knowingly down to the lavender filly. "Don't worry Glimmer I know what i'm doing the only problem is that you might run out of potion ingredients." Twilight gave a blank look to the elder mare. "I'm guessing you've never had that problem before?"

Twilight shook her head. "No, the forest always had plenty of regents, so I've been able to replenish my stocks without difficulty." She answered.

The white mare face hooved at the fillies lack of forethought, "You'll see what I mean before tonight, lets just hope you have enough ingredients to take care of all of the patients."

Twilight smiled. "Don't worry I'll be able to improvise, even if I run out of the usual base ingredients."

White Wind sighed she looked up and noticed that they had finally reached the town square. "Okay we're here, It should be three stalls down." They passed a stall that sold wheat, another that sold apples and the third sold baskets, as they walked down, finally reaching an empty stall with cobwebs crossing between it’s joints. White Wind nodded once. “This is it, see this here’s my cutiemark as an Identifier.” Twilight looked carefully and noticed that indeed the sigil carved just below the wooden counter matched her companions mark exactly.

“So this is where we’ll set up?“ Twilight asked her alabaster companion curiously.

White wind nodded vigorously to the lavender filly next to her. “Yes, Though from what we do sell i’ll be getting ten percent of the profits, okay.” The white mare answered seriously.

“Okay... Wait, WHAT!!!”

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

“Thanks for the directions White Wind I’ll be careful on the way there.” Twilight exclaimed as she finished packing her alchemical reagents and tools back into the saddlebags underneath her cloak. She began trotting down the northern road. Towards the tavern the elder mare recommended.

“You better. I’m still indebted to you, not that I mind any.” The elder alabaster white mare warned petulantly as the young lavender filly walked out of earshot.

Making her way down the road Twilight received many positive looks from ponies both young and old. A small amount of time later she finally reached the location, signified by the large sign imprinted to show a rat with a few bubbles above it’s head and a wooden mug held in it’s tail, a large drunken and satisfied smile plastered on it’s face. The lavender unicorn nodded to herself and proceeded to enter the establishment.

Twilight entered the Drunken Rodent just as the sun began Its final descent from the sky, it's piercing rays cutting through the windows on either side of her into the room leaving distinct impressions on the floor and any object in their path. Walking further into the establishment she was greeted by the Dark orange coated innkeeper with a soft smile, which she returned wanly as she trotted up to the counter with a lethargic gait. "Hello, how many bits will it be for a room, I'm really tired and Want to get to sleep as fast as possible."

"Bout Twenty bits a night, that also includes breakfast in the morn, hope ya don't mind." The inn keeper answered.

Twilight just answered by pulling a small stack of bits of the exact amount from a pouch in her saddlebags and placing them on the counter, then turned to walk towards the stairs leading up to the rooms.

"Oi! Aincha fergettin some'n" She only got five steps before the inn keeper called. Turning around to answer she noticed the key he had moved onto the counter in place of her bits. Blushing slightly she picked it up. "leads t'room four, should be th-second on th-left." He told her as she walked over to the stairs.

"...Thanks." Twilight answered somewhat loudly as she began climbing the large stairs, her tail slightly raising underneath the cloak still covering her hidden, sleeping charge. Reaching the top of the stairs She made a beeline for the room, her eyes wide open and alert as she unlocked the door with the key and pushes it open. Walking into the room Twilight swiftly closes and binds the door in place before mentally nudging her cloak to form itself into a pad over the bed which she gently plucked the small mottled green drake from her back and placed him comfortably onto her 'Staff' He stirred as he landed, his eyes twitching while his head began lifting off the mat, with a yawn he opened his brilliant green orbs staring directly at Twilight, his expression brightening as he noticed his position.

‘Mother, can I eat now?’ The young drake asked softly.

Twilight lit her horn and cast the lactation spell. “Go ahead Fang you’ve been Waiting for long enough.”

With a ravenous Cry, thankfully muffled by Twilights barrier spell on the door. Fang assaulted Twilight’s mammaries suckling on them like a rabbit in a field of grain. suddenly he stopped and pulled his head back, looking at the half filled melons of magical elixir with a puzzled look. "Mom... I'm still hungry but the milk isn't sating my hunger anymore. Is there anything else that can feed me?" he asked pitifully his jowls quivering as he spoke.

"Maybe just let me cancel this spell and rummage through my pack." Twilight released the spell and her teats receded to their normal size, the magical lactation melting back into her system. She turned to the packs and began searching, "Ah Ha!" Twilight called as she quickly found the objects she was looking for, pulling them out and placing them on the bed before her and Fang. They appeared as solid white stones glowing a soft magenta light. "Try these Fang solid mana should be able to feed you... I didn't think the magic lithification spell I learned from Lahn'I'tal would be used to feed you." She noted as The three foot drake sampled the first small stone taking a small surreptitious bite... His eyes wide, his jaw began to quiver with tears forming his his eyes. Twilight began to grow worried her forehead creasing with minor anxiety and her mouth curving downwards.

"This... Is... Delicious!!!" Fang declared as he swiftly made the other two stones disappear down his gullet. With a deep sigh of fulfillment he fluttered his wings and laid back against his adoptive mother. "Say mom I don't feel tired, wanna do something?" Twilight face hooves, smiling slightly she turned towards the young drakeling.

"Sure, would you like to learn how to use those wings of yours?” Twilight offered. Fange nodded his head and jumped off the bed in response.

“Of course I would!” He answered unfurling the wings on his sides letting them extend outward to their full length, and giving them an experimental flap.

Twilight nodded. “Ok in order to fly you must first understand how to flap your wings synchronously otherwise you will just spiral into the ground. Now lets get started.” Fang held his wings out his small frame somewhat jittering from anticipation as he waited for the mare before him to explain how it was done. “Now with both of your wings flared out try forcing them downward at the same time.” Fang did as instructed trying to force his wings both down at the same time, and his right wing came down slightly faster than his left causing him to fall to his left his miniscule weight and solid frame making sure he only damaged his pride, before getting back up. on his hind legs again he did a few experimental flaps with his wings to try and synchronize them. “Hmm... maybe it is not just synchronized wing flaps but also a Strong center of gravity try folding your legs in as you take to the air, and leveling your body to a position where you are beating your wings in downward strokes, lifting yourself vertically.” Twilight observed Trying the new method and following young Twilight's advice, Fang finally succeeded in maintaining a hover just above the bed.

Fangs elation knew no bounds and he immediately began flitting circles around the room as he got a hang of flying his light frame making it all the easier to maneuver around obstacles, finally feeling his adrenal rush dissipated he landed on Twilight's head and lethargically lowered his small head to nuzzle her cheek. " Thanks for teaching me how to fly, but I think i'm ready to rest for the night will you have any more of those gems on the marrow?" The reptile cooed gently.

Twilight nodded. "Of course i will make a few for you tomorrow actually their formed from the excess magic within my system I guess you can have it, considering I most likely will never really have a use for it. Good Night, my little Fang." She mentally and physically yawned tiredly as she crawled onto the sleeping mat which her cloak had thankfully pulled from her saddlebags and placed on the bed.

"Good night mommy" The drake yawned in return as he rolled off of her head into her awaiting forehooves and was buried under her muzzle, comfortably cocooned within Twilight's grasp. A few drops of liquid slowly made a path through her fur and down onto the floor as she looked down upon the young youthful creature there, Her muzzle upturned a little as a few more tears fell from her shimmering bright eyes her feelings calmly flowing in one glorious direction not even stemming as she finally closed her eyes following her young charges example and falling into the blissful wasteland of thought that consisted of the common subconscious essence born upon all living things with strong souls.

Twilight slowly solidified her unconscious mind and took control of the dream world around her as she gained lucidity. 'Hmm... now would be a perfect time to visit Mshauri Zecora.' Twilight thought as she finished clearing her dreams of deceit and became fully lucid, Calling the door she knew was there she stepped up to the silvery portal and gazed at the soft desert sands beyond. Knowing she had waited long enough Twilight gracefully leaped through the portal entering the desert and feeling the soft caress of the warm arid and dry, yet silky smooth sands.

Looking about the tan plain overcast with nary a cloud, and the sun beating down from directly above surrounded by cobalt blue sky. Twilight smiled at the familiar scene knowing the direction of which she would find her mentor and headed straight west, Her mentor’s cutie mark and stripes firmly locked in the forefront of her thoughts as she focused her that in the dream towards the one she has been seeking.

After a few minutes she spotted the oasis that always noted the presence of the consciousness that fabricated this particular dream. Twilight crested over the final rise and looked down into the oasis proper and noted her mentor balancing on top of her bamboo staff meditating with her hooves forehooves closed and her left back hoof hanging out while her right remained completely balanced and ramrod straight from the pole. Twilight politely walked over and layed down twenty paces from her striped mentor’s position atop her staff. “Hello Mshauri Zecora, I’ve been meaning to contact you for the past few day’s but I ended up having to Take care of my new so-charge Fang.” Twilight announced to her mentor softly, letting out a proud tear of joy at the mention of her young charge.

Zebora’s eye’s opened, swiftly like practice she swiped the bamboo pole from under herself and landed on her hind hooves holding the staff above her head until she planted it into the ground stabilizing it and letting it lean against her. “Ah young Wisp, it is a Great pleasure to see you again, how goes your reintegration into the pony society going? Have they been treating you fairly?” Zecora asked, concern etched softly into her brow, as her voice sounded out within the dream as if from all angles but as if also from a distance.

Twilight smiled. “Don’t worry Mshauri, the pony’s have been quite friendly and have also been very kind in helping me get started. In fact I ran out of materials for several of my common potions, birdrake root and murmur wood chips seem to have been the most loved of the remedies the ponies preferred. Oh I hope you don’t mind but I made an anchor of rejuvenation using my last phoenix feather in the process... sorry.”Twilight let loose a sheepish grin for her mentor.

Zecora just sighed holding a small dissapointed smile for The young mare. “Phoenix feathers are hard to procure, if you want another one you’ll have to gather it yourself, besides how did you empty your entire stock of murmur wood? It’s only use is for leveling your core temperature, removing rotten foods from the stomach, and loosening another's tongue.”

Twilight nodded. “You are correct, the problem is though, that I went to the village to find a fellow maker of our craft but when I arrived there, the last one they had passed a few years prior. So I decided it would be an opportunity to see if I could assist others using the skills you taught me. I ended up with heavily reduced stores of my potion ingredients but hopefully I can restock along the road to the next town. I’ll have to do some deep forest searching for is Belladonna root, Vampyre roses, and some Nightshade lilies. Oh thank you so much Zecora I plan on not wasting this chance.” Twilight excitedly announced. “Though I do miss you, I hope to visit you once I settle down. until then though I’ll be contacting you through dreams until then.”

“This form of contact is fine and I believe the forests and roads will give you needed materials as they see fit while you travel between towns. So tell me how is your little egg born charge doing?” The zebra asked.

Twilight smiled widely with a few tears falling around her cheek. “Oh My little Fang, is just so wonderful, I just taught him how to fly today, oh I forgot, I need to ask.”

“Go on.” Zecora verbally nudged.

“What exactly can drakes feed on? I fed him a few of my mana crystals because he wasn’t able to nurse any more, he seemed to be able to eat them just fine. he only hatched a week ago. I need to know how long it takes a drake to age I learned that the average one in the Zaurask villages usually went from twelve to twenty years until they reached full physical maturity.” Twilight rambled.

The zebra smiled patronizingly down upon her young student. “Drakes age based on the ambient magic around them and on the amount of magic they consume. A drake within an area that is devoid of magic will find themselves reaching the same age as the ones under our mutual allies care, however your’s has been given and surrounded my magic since the first day, so i’d assume that he’s already at full physical maturity, but he is still learning. mental maturity is a fixed rate for the drakes, at around fourteen years, as I learned from the sage scripts.” Zecora nodded, her demeanor calm and filled with understanding.

“Thank you Zecora I’ll try and make sure Fang is well taught, I am still his caretaker(mother) until he decides to leave and live on his own... Zecora, Thank you for being there for me and teaching me your art along with the magics within your tomes.” Twilight bows to her master her muzzle barely brushing the warm sands underneath.

“You are quite welcome my friend, but do not forget Drakes are not the same as Dragons, they will not grow based on power, wealth, and greed. The Drakes grow based on the amount of magical power they absorb, and how long it takes for them to mature, Yours has already reached full maturity in form but you must be careful and continue teaching him how to be proper. I am Glad you are well, continue your studies and do well in the world, I ask that you visit me in the realm outside of dreams at a later time.”

Twilight nodded. “Don’t worry Zecora I will when the option becomes available and thanks for the information on Drake physiology. I love Fang and he is a good child, probably the only one I’ll ever have. ave noct mshauri Zecora, rest well.” Twilight spoke nodding to her mentor who nodded in turn, Twilight smiled to her mentor one more time before casting her energy upon the dream and breaking herself from it’s weave.

The dream melted like water shimmering away and solidifying into the gray landscape, letting her months of practice kick in Twilight began shaping the shadows first summoning an orb of light with her horn and sending it above herself into the sky and watching as the energy burst forth from the orb brightening the ground below and turning the black atmosphere a brilliant shade of blue. Smiling softly she imagined soft yielding grass below her as she lay on the ground immediately causing it to explode with color as fiery energy exploded outward along the black ground in all directions brightening the world further and filling it with a myriad rainbow of colors. looking around her field Twilight chuckled a little. ‘Today must really have been exciting, there's more White roses and lillies than usual, Though the moonflowers would probably still overshadow them in brilliance had I chosen to summon the night instead of day.’ Twilight continued reminiscing and calmly watching the field as she let time slip away during her rest her mind completely at ease as her body continued regaining it’s energy for the next dawn.

Night of Discoveries(Trixie)

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Night of Discoveries(Trixie)

The Everfree forest has always been unforgiving, and the lengthened night has not done anything to dissuade the dark notion, even as several figures step out of the most impressive ruin within the ancient forests bounds, and into the foggy night air. The first one a light blue unicorn with a stellar wand cutiemark raised her voice, “I can't believe that these 'rocks' are the elements of harmony, Raindrops are you sure you checked everywhere?” The powder blue unicorn said turning to the cream colored pegasus floating above the group.

"Yea I did Trixie, all four times you asked." Raindrops groused, her eyebrows furrowed a little with annoyance. “I didn’t find any other Items within the castle that looked similar to the ones in the the book.”

“Fine, theres only five here so I guess you guy’s will only have to carry one each.” Trixie nodded towards the five stone orba on the ground.

“Fine but you’ll have to guide us back to Ponyville.” Raindrops answered. “Alright Lyra, Orange, Pinkamena, Sunny lets grab out orbs then we can be on our way.” The others agreed immediately as they each grabbed an orb and followed Trixie to the bridge over hanging the Ghastly Gorge.

Lyra spoke first as they reached the bridge. “Umm... Trixie Do you mind helping us get the orbs across the bridge I don’t want to chance falling through the wooden supports.” The mint green mare commented.

“Sure but don’t expect me to carry them alone.” Trixie returned.

“No worries” Sunny Smiles yelled happily from the back of the line. "I got mine, hey! Why don't we have a 'We found the elements of harmony party ' when we get back to Ponyville?"

Pinkamena’s eyebrows drew together as her head turned one hundred and eighty degrees around to face the hyperactive pony behind her with a scowl. "No. But if you must atleast wait until a proper time to do so." The pink mare warned, turning back and facing the front of the group with Trixie at the head as they crossed the wooden rope bridge connecting both sides of the chasm.

Trixie reached the other side with little difficulty her light blue energy slightly lifting the orbs of her companions as they crossed behind her. The entire group spilled onto the other side without incident. Trixie smiled smugly. "Alright we're past the bridge you girls can take it from here ." the blue mare stated plainly to her companions, and releasing her magical field from the elements.

Lyra answered aga. "So long as you lead us out of the forest safely I don't think we'll mind." The mint unicorn nodded turning to the other in the group for confirmation. Orange Mist, Pinkamena, Sunny, and Raindrops all nodded agreement with her statement.

Trixie smiled turning back onto the road and stepping forward down the decrepit mist laden stone bulwark that stretched before her on the path to Ponyville. As they traveled the ancient path it further degrades becoming smaller and smaller the deeper they went into the forest as they headed for the town, the path eventually gave way to an overgrown dirt road. Lyra walked along her lips stretched into a large grin as she watched all of the nature in passing, the flora in all its iridescent beauty mesmerized her senses while she blindly followed the group, Sunne watched her in enthusiasm grinning in turn with another on the happy game.

Raindrops noticed a small cliff face ahead and called to the rest of the group. "Hey, girls I see a cliff face ahead. I think it would probably be a good Idea to go there and get a long distance view for our rout back."

Orange mist and Pinkamena nod agreement, and Orange spoke up first, "Pinkamena and I will go ahead and see if theres a faster way back to Ponyville." Trixie, Lyra, and Sunny nodded agreement with this decision.

"Agreed It's not that I don't trust pegasi with Directions it's just that they tend to leave ground based obstacles out of their explanations." Raindrops landed next to her and nodded agreement with Trixie's answer.

Orange Mist called out, "Alright we're on our way!" As she and Pinkamena ran ahead and to the plateau of the cliff. They slowed down but continued walking forward towards the edge to get a better view of the area laid out before them. The others arrived quickly while the two checked the forest below for winding paths and subtle lines of roads, then it happened, 'Crumble, tck, tck, Crack!' The shelf they were on began ever so slowly tipping forward Trixie who was about to step on with the group immediately back peddled into the two unicorns behind her while both Pinkamena and Mist turned around in alarm there eyes wide open, Orange acted first turning her head and biting her companions mane she tossed Pinkamena forward. Leaping not a second after in chase of her falling companion. They both reaches the edge and prepared their final leap to safety when the shelf finally gave way fully before they could finish the action.

Before the final leap to safety could be made the unsteady Cliffside gave way, a growing tide of dirt, rock and grass cascaded down the side of the ledge hauling the two earth ponies with it the racket it made drowning out their screams of fright and protest.

As one four voices shrieked out "NO!" Trixie Lyra, Raindrops and Sunny were rooted in place by fear at what they had just witnessed. Terror rooting them in place. It was some unknown amount of time after the landslide had happened and the dust cloud had not fully settled yet. There was a long horrible silence as the group slowly came to their senses and began to realize that what they had just seen had actually happened.

"R-Raindrops... go see if, if they... If they are okay." Trixie shakily said her words catching in her throat as she squeezed her eyes shut to prevent the tears from flowing. The fear and dread causing her words to flee her and make it difficult to speak let alone actually accept what may very well have happened that the two were dead.

"R-right!" Raindrops shouted as she bolted into the air and dove downward soon disappearing into the slowly settling cloud of dust. minutes stretched into hours as the three land bound mares waited for word from their friend on the fate of Pinkimaina and Orange Mist.

After five agonizingly long minutes a shape shot up from the dust and alighted on the cliffside. "I-it's okay! They're doing f-fine!" Raindrops cried in delight laughing some to release the tension. "T-though they want us to move on ahead without them, they don't want to risk the cliff again so they're g-going to find their own way to town!" She explained torn between relief and worry as she wasn't sure she wanted her friends to try and pick their way through the forest alone given the way things were turning out tonight.

Before they started Back down the road Raindrops shouted out again. “Oh I almost forgot. Pinkamena was able to figure out a safe way back to Ponyville, we just continue down this road until we reach the fork, once there take the left path to get back, not the right one.” The teal maned pegasus finished.

"It’s good to know they are fine. Lets go, hopefully we can get to Ponyville before anything else happens, thanks for the directions Raindrops." They all agreed and set off down the road again. The path strangely after a certain point becoming easier to spot as they traversed the hostile wood lands, after a few miles they reached the fork that Orange mist and Pinkamena spoke about. They were about to follow the eastern path when they heard a growl from behind them. Turning as one they looked behind themselves, there in the clearing big and menacing was one of the largest manticores Trixie had ever seen, her eyes dilated on the sight and with no more than two heartbeats she figured out what to do, letting her horn glow, eyes still dilated she charged towards the beast yelling, MANTICORE. Lifting it’s paw the Manticore swiped at the charging unicorn, the others cringing as the paw neared its destination claws sheathed, then it hit- and continued through turning around he looked at the strange blue unicorn as she stopped then turned towards the great creature and stuck out her tongue in it’s face as she faded away.

Raindrops turned towards the road and noticed a set of hoof steps going down the northern path Raindrops face hoofed at the blue unicorns cowardice in the face of the beast. "Ugh Girls how are we going to take this creature down?" Raindrops queried as she flew in the manticores face causing it to stagger a little while the other two unicorns calmed down.

Lyra spoke first. "Go and keep Trixie safe we'll handle the manticore." Raindrops looked at her strangely before turning and flying down the northern path to catch up with Celestia's pupil.

After Raindrops left Sunny spoke up. "We will, how do you suppose we stop the manticore?" The alabaster white mare asked incredulously.

"We don't have to, or more specifically I'll handle it." Lyra answer walking up the the irate beast covering it's nose with one claw swiping the other at the pony coming towards it. "There there, everything is ok now, let me see." The manticore sniffled a little before holding out it's arm. Several small red thorns were protruding from the underside. Rolling her eyes Lyra lit up her horn and pulled out the thorns and pulled a few leaves from the surrounding forest along with a greenish sap from one of the nearby trees, "What did Fluttershy tell you about hiding in rose bushes?" Lyra admonished while Sunny was watching her ministrations on the manticore. The creature shook its head left to right a few times in response. "Good you were listening, now do you know why she said that?" The beast shook it's head again, this time up and down. "Alright then you're patched up and good to go now, next time try and avoiding the rose bushes when hunting me and Flutters won't always be around to help you in these situations Fluffle puff."

Turning to Sunny, Lyra nodded towards the eastern path stretching from the fork. Sunny smiled and nodded, and they continued their exodus towards the town. "Oh my gosh I can't believe you're friends with a manticore!" she said before bouncing down the road joyfully beside Lyra.

"Actually I'm not I just take care of the animals for Fluttershy when she's not around, or spending time with Rainbow Dash in the Everfree, doing Celestia knows what." Lyra amended sheepishly. "At least they've come to accept me, and well it is fun being able to show kindness to in ways other than just music," the mint green mare added.

Sunny giggled joyfully as they passed another bend, then shouted out gleefully. "Hay I think that's Ponyville ahead!" As they got closer they started hearing loud noises coming from the town the dissonant screaming causing Sunny's, and Lyra's ears to perk up somewhat. "I wonder if everypony's having a party already? Wait they started the party without me, ME! NO PONY parties like SUNNY! But still as long as their smiling I can let it go." The bubbly white mare nodded with her eyes closed, grinning like a buffoon.

As they got closer Lyra began to realize that the screaming they were hearing were not the delighted screams of joy from a party but actual screams of terror, she turned to Sunny and noticed that the white mare didn't seem to notice the difference. As they reached the town square before Lyra could react Sunny appeared on the stage with a bright flash, while the majority of the pony's there were stampeding in terror from the continuous night and the Frightful scare they had just hours before in the town hall. Sunny opened her mouth, a mike floating up to her lips contained within her own magical essence, and screamed, "HEY EVERYPONY HOW's IT GOING! HAY FLUTTERWINGS WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE UP THERE?" the white mare called to the pegasi above causing them to turn towards her just as they were drenched underneath individually summoned rain clouds, "SEEMS QUITE DAMP DON"T YOU THINK? HAY UNICORNS, IS THERE SOMETHING ON YOUR HORNS?" Immediately sugary treats appeared in mid air, falling onto their magical appendages.

"THAT LOOKS DELICIOUS, I WANT SOME! HEY YOU EARTH PONY'S OUT THERE, DON'T THINK I FORGOT ABOUT YOU! IS THAT GROUND AS STABLE AS YOU THINK?" The white mare called out gleefully, her horn lighting up even brighter than before, flashing one last time her mike falls to the ground as her magical field burns out. Ignoring her lack of magic the alabaster mare leaps forward off the stage onto the ground below sliding forward on the slick pudding surface, the pony's around her no longer panicking as they slipped and slid across the town square, several of them beginning to giggle as they lost track of their fears in the face of the light hearted pranks, courtesy of the local party extraordinaire.

Lyra sitting on the edge of the square couldn't help but smile and giggle at her foolish fear that Sunny, wouldn't be able to make light of a dark situation. The white mare herself slid up next to Lyra and they both smiled in joy. "I'll never understand how you do that, but I'm glad you're here to make everyone smile."

Sunny had the sense to blush at the compliment, "Oh pish pash darling, It's what I do for fun, plus happy ponies are definitely better than grumpy ones." The white mare answered, with a flip of her tangled mane.

Then Lyra remembered what she was up to and turned back down the road they arrived on, "Hay Sunny we should probably head back to the entrance of town to wait on our friends." The white mare nodded agreement, they both began heading down the road only stopping to wait at the entrance to the massive Everfree forest.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

Dust and debris continued falling down the cliff face as two body's clambered back to their hooves, The orange one spoke first, while the pink one inexplicably appeared before her offering a hoof in assistance. "Why Thank you Pinkamena Darling, It's quite unstable here, anything broken?" The orange mare asked.

"Just a watch and a pencil but that's about it, easily replaceable, are you well Lady Orange?" Pinkamina returned as she finished leading the orange mare out of the dust in the debris field.

"Could be better but considering the Circumstance, I feel that I am doing just fine darling. Did you notice the road fork heading towards Ponyville?" asked the orange mare.

"Yes, and Raindrops should be down here within the next- now." She finished as the Lilac mare charged down and flew across the debris, spotting her quarry she invented her flight path and stopped before them, relief evident on her features.

"Thank Celestia you two are ok, We honestly thought you two had... Heh yea, but this is good Are you two ok think I could pull you two back up top?" The pegasus asked in a relieved rush as her adrenal levels dropped from overflowing to safe.

Pinkamina opened her mouth and was promptly interrupted by Orange Mist, "Were fine Darling, but I think we'll be finding our own way back to Ponyville. It's not that I don't trust you but I really don't want to go all the way back up there." Raindrops ears began to droop. "But I do have good news, when you and the other girls reach the fork in the road, take the eastern path to get to Ponyville not the northern one."

"Alright, if thats your decision you two." Both earth pony's nodded. "Alright I'll let the girls up top know you're ok, please stay safe." With that Raindrops took off upwards through the remnants of the dust cloud to meet back up with the other part of their group.

Orange Mist turned to Pinkamena with a small smile gracing her features. "Ready for some adventure old friend?" The apple born aristocrat asked.

Pinkamena began rubbing her hoof between her eyes, feeling a small headache coming on. "Fine but don't I repeat DO NOT!!!, do anything foolish, I used up my last save for the day when we fell from the ledge." Lady Orange smiled back sheepishly, Pinkamena just gave her a harder stare than before.

Orange Mist sighed in conceit, "Fine you can take point, but if there is anything interesting can we please visit it?" The orange mare asked plaintively her eyes wide open as she supplicates herself before the pink mare, hooves holding each other and pumping in the pink mares direction.

Pinkamena sighs then nods, "Fine but only if it doesn't show any hint of aggression, understood?"

Orange Mist jumped up to her hooves in excited glee, "Crystal." She agrees firmly.

"Alright if we head north east we should be hitting the road within about two to three hours." The Pink mare stated before walking in the direction stated.

Orange Mist's eyes widen and she gallops after the pink mare, "H-hey! Wait for me." She cries as she closes the gap between her and the business mare in front, rubbing against a few bushes and passing through a small field of bright blue flowers.

Slowing down to Pinkamena's pace Orange Mist huffed in slight annoyance, but before she could voice her concerns Pinkamena spoke up, "This isn't a field trip for nobles, or one of your Trottingham soirees. We are within one of the most dangerous places in Equestria next to the Tartarus flats, and as such YOU need to be more careful."

Orange Mist huffed again. "Well excuse me for letting my main down after finding a little time for ourselves, it's not like we get much of it with all of the noble requests and parties that we have to go to not to mention all of the business meetings with important clients. I mean I'm grateful that you would care so dearly for my health but I shall be just fine." The refined mare smiled towards her forward companion who scowled back in annoyance at her companions lack of caution. While Orange Mist looked forward she noticed a strange tree off in the distance. "Hay, Pinkamena darling? do you see that off in the distance?" Orange called forward pointing her hoof towards the decorated tree.

Pinkamena turned and spotted what Orange Mist was looking at with ease. "That rickety tree house over there?"

Orange nodded in response. "Lets go check it out, maybe somepony lives there." The urban city mare yipped cheerfully trotting towards the building.

Before Orange could reach her fourth step Pinkamena stepped ahead of her lifting a hoof to block her path, "Stop, lets find the truth of the matter before we barge in unprepared, and uninvited." Still facing forward The Pink mare began walking again, letting Orange Mist catch up with a somewhat dignified gait. Reaching one of the side windows of the abode The two mares lifted themselves up and noticed the inside of the hut, filled with potions, containers of strange Items and even a cauldron of boiling water over a set of burning coals. Pinkamena placed a hoof between her eyes again just waiting for the headache to start again.

Orange Mist didn't disappoint, "Hay somepony lives here, maybe we can ask them for more definite directions back to Ponyville." Pinkamena decided not to protest knowing full well that underneath Lady Oranges misleading suggestion was a hardened resolve to make the event happen, so with a small annoying headache and heavy hooves she trudged beside her orange companion up to the door. Orange Mist lifted her hoof and knocked thrice. There was a slight shuffling within then the door opened revealing a cloaked figure both striped forelegs sticking out from under it identifying her as a zebra.

Before either of the pony's could react the Zebra spoke first, "Zecora I am called Alchemist extraordinary” The zebra then flipped back the hood of her cloak revealing her striped head and mohawk formed mane, with several golden bands weaving down her neck. ", now tell me my friend who might you be?" Zecora Turned to Orange Mist first.

Pinkamena recovered first. "At least you’re safe, My companion and long time friend here’s name is Orange Mist. Don't mind her she is just a bit surprised to find a zebra so far from the great shifting sands, and milele kijani maeneo ya malisho. My name is Pinkamena, hopefully it will be nice to make your acquaintance Zecora."

"I do agree my pony friend. I be you welcome, now why don't you join me for some tea? I enjoy the chance to provide hospitality." Both ponies nod, Zecora goes to the large pot while the Pinkamena and Orange Mist make themselves comfortable on the floor, poured some of the boiling water from the large cauldron into three pewter cups Zecora then pulled three jars from the cupboard and mixed the contents into the cups causing the tea to take upon it a soft green colour. Zecora passed a cup to Pinkamena and the other to Orange Mist. Sipping calmly at their tea Pinkamena watched the zebra carefully while lady Orange tried desperately to not scratch the strange itch on her neck, Zecora noted Orange Mists Frustrations and took a closer look and noticed several bright yellow spores on the Orange pony. Sighing to herself Zecora stood. "Be it luck or fate the brought you to me I can not say. Know only that this is the better way for tonight's events to play." Zecora pointed ar Orange Mist "Through poison joke you trod. It's impish wrath Discord would applaud."

Pinkamena sighed facehooving again. "Orange Mist... I don't even know where to start. So Zecora how long till the poison takes effect?"

"Though a life I've never seen it take. I beg you not to underestimate it's power, come let me apply the remedy or it's effects you'll succumb to immediately." Zecora swiftly answered placing her tea on the table."I do not jest, it's effects most tricksters wouldn’t best."

Pinkamena placed her tea on the table as well, "Do it." She returned seriously.

Lady Orange blanched. "Pinkamena, What do you think you are doing, placing your trust in this zebra? We don't even know the first thing about her. She could be trying to poison or curse us for all we know?" The orange mare sputtered.

Pinkamena almost smiled at the irony of Orange Mists statement. "We can trust her for two reasons. One she gave us unpoisoned tea. two just from the looks of this room alone i’m assuming that you Zecora are a shaman. Am I correct?" The pink mare asked with a simple gesture to the zebra.

"I tell no lie. For my society embraces the ways of hospitality." Zecora spun her hoof in a small circular motion above her head. "Of all the wonders alchemy can create. It is no boast to say that when it comes to potions I've got a special way."

Pinkamena sighed as Orange Mist continued giving Zecora a speculative look. “Look if she wanted us dead, She could have done it while we were coming here, possibly through some benign method such as... I dunno Pony eating plants?” She looked t the Zebra for support.

Zecora nodded. “The rose of the vampyre Knows how to hunt, be weary it’s touch for its poison is a rush.” The zebra answered honestly, “Your dirge will be it’s surge.” The zebra then turned to Orange Mist, “Trust me in this for dealing with Poison Joke you must.” Zecora warned.

Orange Mist folded her ears back then nodded, Zecora nodding in turn stood and went around the hut to retrieve the various powders and ingredients for the poison joke cure. The refined mare then turned and scowled at Pinkamena. “How do you know so much about zebracan culture pink?” The orange mare fumed in embarrassment.

Pinkamena sighed, rubbing between her eyes with a hoof. “How many Zebrican trading convoys have we had in just the past year alone, three? Four? Still enough that you should know where and why I picked up these important bits of information.” Glaring at her fellow trotter she released a deep breath of pent up frustration. “You should really pay more attention to our foreign dealings, you might actually learn something.”

Orange Mist’s eyes lit up with indignation at the comment of her friend for just a second she looked as if she was going to retort, then... she closed her eyes, and let out a long, deep breath. Calming herself before looking back up. “Your right Pinkemena I did forget, and for what it’s worth thank you for taking care of the meetings, the foreign dignitaries and the more officious clients.”

Pinkamena nodded. "You're forgiven. All I wanted was for you to open your eyes, so that you could see the problem properly." Pinkamena stepped forward and placed a hoof on Orange Mists shoulder giving it a soft push. "Now I think we've delayed our hosts generosity long enough. Zecora, is the remedy ready?"

"Indeed it is the potent brew, come forth and relax those woes in a cleansing bubble bath." The zebra came forward and sat down, then turned a hoof to the cauldron in the Center of the room that was now glowing a slight blue.

With one last look at Pinkamena Lady Orange steps forward and climbs onto the side of the pot, dipping a hoof forward into the bubbling liquid below she realizes that the solution is at a pleasant level of temperature. Easing herself into the luxurious liquid she sighs a little as the fluid does as Zecora suggested and washes away her worries, forcing her to relax. "Ahhh,! ... You know I really think you'd be real popular around Ponyville especially around the spa with the sisters, dear me I haven't had a relaxing bath like this in, guh quite!, some time." Orange Mist iterated. "Oh Pinkamena please remind me when we get back to Ponyville to Get the word out about Zecora's fabulous herbal remedies and treatments, The spa sisters would certainly just love your help dear." She directed the last statement towards the only Zebra in the room.

"You would spread truth of my doings?" Zecora asked with a small smile.

"Of course darling, why I can't even imagine why the ponies in Ponyville have been shunning you for so long. By my thoughts you should have been welcomed a long time ago." Orange mist grinned happily, "Besides if I can return your generosity with interest, I would be quite pleased. So what do you say I introduce you to Ponyville one of these days." Orange Mist asked extending a hoof.

"I'm grateful that you would go to such lengths to thank me I accept your proposal." She returned the gesture and bumped hooves. Then frowned slightly. "But first we must help you return. Head south and do not turn , then follow the road east, till you find the white tree, turn south once more and find the road you entered from Ponyville."

Pinkamena nodded scribbling the last part down. "Alright, Mist it is time we say our goodbye's and return to Ponyville our companions will most likely be worried deeply about us." Orange Mist returned the gesture and hugged Zecora before leaving the hut, Pinkamena in toe.

Leaving the hut they follow Zecora's directions without difficulty and find the trail's the Zebra used and the roads they were to find easily the ancient woods left them alone as they traveled, the night itself remaining calm around them they finally exited the woods, finding Sunny Smiles and Lyra Heartstrings at the entrance to the forest, their joy apparent from the glaring grins on their faces.

"How'd you know we'd arrive here?" Lady Orange asked in surprize.

"We didn't but it was just so exciting knowing my friends were going to get back here soon. Ah there's Raindrops now? Wait why does she have a frowny face?" Sunny pouted. Raindrops took the opportunity to land softly on the ground.

She glared forward angrily. "That pompous little pain in the fl... GRRRUUUUgh... I can't believe her the-"

"Can't believe who?" Lady Orange queried, effectively cutting off Raindrops tirade.

"TRIXIE, THAT'S WHO! Honestly I can't believe a pony can be as self absorbed as she is,to be so callous about the fate of other pony’s especially her friends!" Raindrops huffed her main settling from it's risen state.

Lady Orange began to speak. “Darling, it honestly cannot be that ba...”

But Raindrops cut her off. “No actually it’s worse hotstuff. She ditched Lyra and Sunny to deal with Fluffle Puff While she took off down the wrong path, then when I caught up she had the gall to demand that I help her cross the Roaming River! So I ditched her there and then. Not a thing you say will change my mind.” Raindrops huffed furiously, crossing her hooves midair.

Pinkamena opened her mouth first preempting the others complaints. “And what of yourself you’re loyal to your fellow ponies are you not?” she started.

Sunny continued picking up on where Pinkamena left off. “Yea she may be a scaredy scared filly, and she may not know how to be a proper friend but maybe if we show her the way...”

“She might become a respectable pony, maybe even learn to be a good friend.” Lady Orange finished the statement.

“What I think they're trying to say is that by leaving her behind, your being just as cruel as she was, where if you save her she is still able to redeem herself.” Lyra finally said answering Raindrops unasked thoughts.

Raindrops felt her eye twitch as much as the others saw it, they knew that she understood the meaning, as much as it heavily annoyed her. “Buck Me, can’t I just Catch a break! No? Fine I’ll go back for her cheap flank, but don’t expect me to be happy about it, and there is definitely no way I’ll do her after this.” With that she turned around and shot off down the road, Deep into the Everfree.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

Looking around herself the blue mare noticed the forest getting denser as she ran the road getting smaller as she sprinted in fear. She rounds the final bend and notices the light at the end of the road the light at the exit getting brighter along with a strange rushing sound just past the trees. nearing the exit she felt vines brushing at her legs, freaking out she changed her light spell to a flaming torch burning a swath of plant life as it blocked her path while running. Reaching the exit, she leaped through the portal to safety, landing on her stomach not a care in the world as she smirked in victory, opening her eyes her smirk dropped into a frown. “Buck my life.” The mare face hooved as she realized what the rushing sound was, not only had she not made it out of the Everfree she had also gotten herself trapped between it and a river.

Just as she was about to turn around a bright teal blur tore through the sky landing before her. “Trixie common we need to head back, the girls should be done handling the manticore by now. We need to head back to the fork and take the other path.” Rainbow calmly suggested, though there was an edge to her voice.

The blue mare shook her head and grimaced. “Are you sure? I think Ponyville is just on the other side of this river. Besides Raindrops I’m sure you could just carry me across, it’s not like you have anything else good to do, what do you say?” Trixie asked petulantly.

Raindrops silently Ground her teeth as the blue mare continued smiling at her smugly, finally after a few deep breaths and looking between the river and back to Trixie, she answered. “I’d say you’re bucking insane if you think any pegasus can fly that! No matter how strong, let alone with the added weight of a royal snob of a unicorn weighing her down. Thats the bucking Roaming River, one of the most treacherous currents in Equestria. Not only is it nearly impossible to cross by hoof but pegasi get buffeted by gale force winds almost the entire way across, as the air currents above the stream are also running directly parallel to it.” Raindrops snorted, “You’re Celestia’s top student for bucks sake, you should know Equestria’s geography already along with it’s major landmarks at the least.”

Trixie scoffed. “Well don’t blame me for being behind on my classes, the nobility of canterlot are harder to deal with than you might think. Not to mention I’ve never been able to study a full map of the Everfree, if you haven’t noticed I really don’t like entering these woods in the first place!” Trixie growled back. “Besides if you can’t help Trixie than what good are you?”

Raindrops Closes her eyes then sighs relaxing midair, before suddenly spinning around, ”Fine then since you don’t “NEED” me, you’ll know where to find me just ask around Ponyville when you get there. and don’t forget to write. Prudish skank.” She finishes viciously as she shoots off into the distance, down the road, back to the fork.

Trixie watches as her last companion disappears into the foliage of the dark forest. ‘what, but... I don’t even? I didn’t think she’d actually leave?’ “What the butck just happened?” Trixie asked the shadowy world around her, the air around her filled with the dank smell of waterlogged wood, and rotting tree trunks, only the chirping of the crickets and the roaring waters of the nearby river, were the only answers she receives within the otherwise silent forest.

finally she begins to come to her senses, the bitter cold night air harshly pounding her body, trying to drag away what warmth of life remained to her. Shivering on her nearly frozen hooves, Trixie gingerly lights her horn while walking over to a nearby bush, only to leap back at the last second as a thorned vine lashed out from it, almost grasping her left foreleg, pausing in her advance she plucked one of the leaves from the bush and watched as it writhed and fell apart revealing a skeleton of a brush completely inundated with a strange creeping vine. The biting chill of the air quickly snapped her out of her sudden shock at escape. a thought came unbidden to her weary mind. ‘I hate this forest.’ followed by, ‘I can’t believe that Raindrops actually left me, just ditched me as if she didn’t, care?’ immediately she flashed back to the rope-bridge, and her asinine denial of work. The cliff edge when Pinkamena and Lady Orange fell, the lack of real feeling for them. Finally the manticore, and her cowardice in running away. ‘Why should they listen to me?’ She asked silently, ‘All I’ve been was a complete mule to them the entire time.’ She answered without preamble. ‘Please if any of you come and help me...’ “I... I’ll... I’ll turn another leaf, try and be nice, just please... some pony... help me... ” Trixie sputtered as she finally found a bush next to the road to hide in, as she cowered in fear of forest around her.

Immediately a teal streak Cut through the sky, cutting trough the dark tree tops and stoping next to the river, “I can’t believe I’m doing this but, TRIXIE! ARE YOU THERE?” She yelled out in a clear strong parade voice, her eyes wandering around the area searching. Just as she was about to leave to search somewhere else, she heard it. A silent whisper on the wind the tell tale sound of a voice too weak to run, Raindrops knew that the Everfree was brutal and the Roaming river was always cold ,nearly freezing it’s borders even during summer. she heard it again, perking her ears she tried to distinguish where the sound was coming from. “Help.” then she saw the hint of blue within the shrubbery, immediately she charged landing before the bush, slowly she peeked through the branches finding herself nose to nose with the powder blue unicorn, “Hah! Found ya, I might not be able to carry you across the river but I can carry you back to town, here let me give you a hoof out of those bushes.” Raindrops gingerly guided the shivering, blue unicorn out of the bushes, and back onto the road.

Trixie looked down mutely, small tears falling from her eyes, “Thank you.” she said softly. “Thank you for coming back. I’m so sor...”

Raindrops cut her off. “Save it for when we get back, and just know this I’m still angry with you so you had better fix your attitude after we return.” Raindrops quickly pulled Trixies foreleg over her shoulder, and took off down the road holding Trixie in her grasp. Flying through the forest at a fast Pace Raindrops looked down only to Find Trixie’s eyes shuttered tightly in terror. Reaching the fork Raindrops pulled a two seventy degree angle placing herself on the correct track back to Ponyville. Arriving only after A half hour of flying, Raindrops gently places Trixie on the ground, “Alright now,” Raindrops lands between the other pony’s of the group as they gather around the blue unicorn, all eyes staring at her. “apologise.” Raindrops stated simply.

Trixie not used to giving in to others demands, tried to resist but only for half a second before letting her shoulders slump while she sat in the middle of the other ponies, and let her voice raise. “I am sorry, sorry for ignoring you all, treating you as lesser creatures. I understand if you don’t want to continue working with me but... Look all i’m asking for is one more chance, I... I’ll turn around, I’ll learn to be a good pony. I will try to be a better pony just please, give me another chance.”

Lady Orange spoke first, “why all you have to do is ask darling, of course I forgive you, we all make mistakes of judgement now and then don’t we girls?” she asked the others.

Pinkamena came up next. “I’ll forgive you for now because of your honesty and willing to accept your mistake, but should you fail to tell the truth again, this is a promise that I will reprimand you.” Pinkamena finished.

Lyra looked over her former school mate carefully before speaking in turn. “I’ll forgive you, but you’ll have to learn to be a lot nicer to others.”

Sunny Smiles jumped over Lyra as her small speech ended, landing before Trixie beaming in joy. “Aw cheer up little miss Trixie and cheer on up, I forgive you, besides all you need to do for me is smile!” She cheered, hugging Trixie and then jumping back out of the group while Raindrops stepped forward a grimace marring her features.

“I’m only giving you this last chance toots, because the others are asking me to however, unless you manage to get back in my good graces, I ain’t lettin ya anywhere near my bed, nor will I forgive you should you betray us, GOT THAT?!” Raindrops screamed in a voice that would make any royal guard drill sergeant proud, mutely Trixie nodded.

Gathering her wits about her Trixie looked upon the pony’s her eyes speaking volumes of thanks even as rivulets of tears flowed down her features. “Thank you, thank you soo much, you won’t regret this. Now please lets get to the library so we can figure out how the elements work.” The blue mare added. Everypony else nodded and they headed off down the road into town passing the exhausted towns ponies collapsed on the streets and nearby benches and windows from another Sunny party. Trixie raised an eyebrow at the sleeping and tuckered crowd but decided to ask later if she remembered, finally they arrived at the library after a few more minutes of walking. the Trixie stepped forth from the group and pushed.

The door opened into a large rotunda, it's walls for the most part filled with books. A light blue mare stepped in through the entryway tracking mud onto the wooden floor, followed by a mint green unicorn mare with a white streaked mane, a white unicorn with a royal purple mane, two earth ponies one pink with a dark pink mane, and the other Orange with a light blond main, and finally a honey yellow pegasus with a teal windswept mane. All six of them Gathered around a table near the middle of the room.

"Dagg? DAGG!.. Ughh the nerve, I really don't understand what Celestia see's in that purple scaled rug, where could he have gotten off to?." The blue mare complained finally situated at the table, her annoyance radiating clearly from her face. "Alright since that lump of scales isn't around to accomplish his duties, what would you girls like to drink."

"How, bout we get these here orbs laid out on the ground," Said the honey colored pegasus giving the blue unicorn a critical stare. "I think Lyra's just about ready to collapse from exhaustion.?" The pegasus finished pointing to the mint green unicorn whose legs were wobbling from the weight of the inert stone orb she was carrying.

"Oh sorry go ahead and drop them wherever." Trixie had the good grace to blush while, the other mares dropped the stone orbs in their possession unforgivingly onto the wooden floor of the library, leaving sizeable dents behind as Trixie lifted each one away, forming them into a semblance of order as she placed them behind herself.

Lyra gave Trixie a dirty look. "You really should care more about your charge, he's not a slave." Finished speaking her peace Lyra trotted towards one of the nearby couches and jumped onto one of the cushions to lay down.

"Don't give me that crap, Celesta forced him on me as my responsibility I may have hatched him but I would have been just as ok having the school take care of me, I had enough on my plate with Celestia's lessons on top of the ones from the school." Trixie exclaimed her brows furrowed together in annoyance. "Besides where is that librarian, I thought she'd be here by now and have cleaned up this mess."

"Oh don't worry your little head too much Trix, Wispie just likes to pull late nights and is sleeping in her lab as usual." The white unicorn spoke up.

Trixie nodded at the unicorns explanation, deciding it was enough."Thank you Sunny, Alright then. Raindrops, Lyra, Sunny, Orange, Pinkamena? Now that we have these..." Trixie took a look behind her at the five inert stone orbs that represented the elements of harmony. "Rocks lets try and find out how they work. We know they represent the elements of harmony now let's see what they can do, maybe the markings on them can give a clue."

Trixie pulled the rightmost orb forward and placed it in the center of their group all of them taking seats, Pinkamena taking hers on the ceiling while Sunny tried to follow suit only to have to resort to the chandelier instead, hanging upside down by her tail.

Trixie glances up, eyebrow quirked, then looks back down, and notices that the rest of the ponies in the room aren't even batting an eye at the strange antics of the two ponies hanging from above. "Wh..."

Madame Orange speaks first. "Don't ask you'll just give yourself a concussive Migraine." Trixie freezes and bristles a little at the interruption then nods slowly before turning back to the orb in the middle of the group.

"I'll take your word for it." Taking a more focused look at the stone orm Trixie noted the sigil on it looks somewhat familiar. "Hmm... Pinkamena Doesn't this look similar to your cutie mark?" Everypony in the room turned and looked up at the pink pony on the roof as she turned to look at her flank as well, somewhat perplexed. It was a set of three clock work wheels connected together, each one a differing size from the other sloping downward from smallest to largest.

"Hmmm... I see the connection but I don't know what it means." Pinkamina stated looking from her triple cog wheel mark to the single clockwork gear on the stone relic. "Honestly from all that we know, is that my cutie mark somewhat matches this stone orb that for all we know could be just a representation of the real element of... hmm, aren't we missing an element?" Pinkamina stated not noticing the slight pink glow of the orb in the center of the room as she counted the orbs behind Trixie a on top of the one in the center of the room.

Raindrops counted as well and came up short. "Yeah shouldn't there be six of them?" Trixie nodded.

"Let me check the book again maybe it can tell where to find it." Trixie asked The other ponies in the room nodded agreement. Trixie walked over to the book and looked over the page again. "... yada yada, wheres the part we need, bla- oh found it finally." Trixie cried jubilantly. All the other ponies gathered behind her and looked over Trixies shoulder. Trixie began speaking in a voice similar to the one she gave earlier in the day. "The elements of harmony are artifacts from olden times found by the two sisters, not much is known about them save that they are based on many of the pony virtues."

"Honesty," Pinkamena gives an imperceptible nod of agreement, her gaze stoic and unmoving.

"Loyalty" Raindrops nudges Pinkamena with an elbow and blows her a kiss with her hoof, receiving an annoyed punch to the jaw in return.

"Laughter" Sunny Smiles jumped up in the air not paying attention to what her horn was doing, accidentally casting a gravity well on the roof that turned her jump into a fall, landing with an "oof" she looked up and began laughing to herself at all of the upside down ponies above her. While the others laughed in turn, all save Trixie who continued reciting the elements and Pinkamena; who opted to facehoof and shake her head at the white unicorns antics instead.

"Generosity" lady Orange Mist smiled wanly and nodded.

", and Kindness" Lyra looked up from her position on the couch, her hind legs dangling off the edge while she sat straight up. Lyra nodded and smiled tilting her head to the right.

"But the final element is a mystery only revealing itself when all of the others are present." Trixie picks her head up from the book to look around the room and notices Sunny standing on the ceiling, "Wha... No! Nevermind Trixie has more to worry about how you mastered a gravity spell. That book was less than helpful seriously pony virtues?"

The blue magician queried. "Seriously that is my mentors secret weapon, Virtues? Ughhh If I thought this town was crazy before Celestia is even... Rughh! You know what I give up, I'll it a try." Trixie felt her body relax as she Took a few deep breaths. "Alright Will you girls be willing to be my Ffffrriieeenndssss." 'Eughhh what a disgustingly ignorant wor-' Her thoughts were interrupted as the ponies around her all rushed in tackling her in one giant hug, The book flying off the table and the notes scattering everywhere as the group as a whole fell to the ground giggling in joy. 'Maybe having friends isn't so bad after all.' Trixie thought her heart melting a little at the thought.

A blindingly bright flash of light flooded the room, When Trixie's vision came back She noticed the other ponies had strange golden necklaces around their necks with gems in the same shape of their cutie marks embedded in the center, Raindrops looked up and goggled at Trixie. "What, the great and magnificent Trixie too dazzling for you?" Trixie commented with a small smirk.

Raindrops came to and shook her head. "Uh no, but... well That's one impressive crown Trixie." The blue unicorns eyes widen, before any of the girls can say anything else Trixie dives out of the pile of ponies and runs in front of the nearest mirror. Stopping to look at herself Trixie looks at the crown on top of her head its golden lining flowing around the centerpiece of a five pointed magenta star held on top of a sparkling sapphire rod. Trixie felt her jaw drop in appreciation of the item on top of her head. She was about to turn to her 'friends' when Trixie saw them appear around her in the mirror, even the even stoic Pinkamena has a small smile on her face as she gazed at the golden gear jewel embedded necklace around her neck.

Raindrops looked at the Red gem shaped as a drop of rain striking the ground She silently hoof pumped at the awesome look hers had. Sunny smiled even wider than she usually does when she noticed her gemstone matched the shape of her baby blue cutie mark perfectly surrounded by a golden necklace. Lyra gazed at the reflection of her necklace the stone set in the center a simple Green lyre etched onto the necklace. The last to look at her necklace was Madam Orange Mist who gazed at her piece with a small smile a simple violet apple.

Trixie was the first to stop gawking at the necklaces and gather her wits about her. "I think I see now what my mentor meant about making... Friends! I would think it is safe to assume that we, ARE the elements of harmony. What say you that we work together to take down nightmare Moon, and save equestria." Trixie gazed amongst her friends, smirking with undisguised glee.

Lyra looks up first. "I'm," 'BANG' The front door of the library slams open with the force only trained hooves or an earth pony can put behind, causing the wooden Portal to unhinge from the frame and fall to a strange angle, while a alabaster white pegasus stallion stood at the entrance.

The stallion stepped forward through the former entrance and bowed directly to Trixie. "I am sorry to interrupt your meeting lady Trixie, but I have been sent by the Council to retrieve you directly along with any other ponies that are directly involved with you. We have several carriages waiting outside for our retreat to our central base in Manehattan." The stallion spoke calmly while he shivered somewhat.

Trixie looks up at the semi panicking guard before her. "Retreating?" She asked the one word calmly.

The guard recruit winced. "From Nightmare Moon she has just claimed Canterlot castle as of three hours ago, Captain armor's condition is currently unknown as are the majority of the celestial knights under his command." The solar stallion winced as Trixie continued boring her gaze into him. "Please we must hurry, Nightmare Moon might be upon us at any moment." The Guard warned.

Trixie turned and looked to the mares behind her with their elements laid to bear, shining in resplendent glory, Each one individually nodded to her in unspoken agreement as her eyes passed between them. Turning back to the guard Trixie nods her decision made. "Alright We'll come with if nothing else then at least the council will be able to point us in the right direction." As the other mares exited Trixie turned one last time to look inside the Treehouse, with papers strewn about the floor and the curtains drawn. She took one last Glimpse of the mirror and for a split second noticed the sliver of a lavender eye gazing back through with a vertical slit down the middle before it clouded over again, reflecting its surroundings. 'That must have been my imagination there is no possible way that incompetent librarian could have enchanted the mirror.' She allowed herself to file away the sighting as a figment of her imagination as she turned around to get on the chariots to head off and assist the solar council any way she could.

Author's Note

Oh yea I forgot we had these anyway to you readers thsanks for being patient and following me on this. and also sorry for the late chapter I am quite ashamed but it is about one of my least liked characters, Trixie. anywho I hope you all like it. :twilightsmile:

big thanks goes to my prereader janushayed who is the guy who approves all of my chapters, and then another thanks goes to Obsidian Raindrop for assisting me in this story, even if he's a Trixie fanatic.

A Small Goodbye

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 12: Travails and Journal Tales

Section 1 of 3

Part 1 of 4

(Windbreak Valley along the Griffica/Equestrian border, township of Windbreak, Drunken Rodent Inn, nine hundred ninety third Celestial year, twenty first day of Spring)

Her eyes opened slightly, the lavender orbs watching the rays of sunlight flitting through the nearby window in visible shafts. Slowly, she turned her head and focused downwards upon a small bundle nestled against her belly. The silvery cloaked bundle rose and fell as the creature within softly breathed in and out, still deep within the grips of slumber. Gingerly, the lavender mare lifted herself out of the sheets and warm comfort, taking care to not disrupt the small bundle in the least.

‘Oh how precious.’ the filly thought, as she trotted quietly across the room towards one of the inside portals leading to a small room tiled with compressed wood varnished to a bright shine. On one end sat a solid, wooden tub with a condensed grey cloud above it. On the other side was a smaller tub with a single hole in the middle, and a bucket next to it. Smiling to herself, the lavender filly headed over to the larger tub and entered, standing below the cloud. She examined the controls, faintly remembering instructions from her past as she grasped the white colored knob in her magic and pushed it in slightly. She was almost instantly rewarded with a soft warm sprinkle from above as the cloud dripped its shining tears upon her mane and coat silently; only the soft pitter-patter of the drops hitting the tub floor could be heard. Contented, the lavender filly reached inside and pulled forth magenta energy from her core, lighting her horn and then began to systematically flash, vaporizing the dust and grime of her travels off and letting them wash down the drain.

Her fur refreshed and clean, the lavender filly softly pulled the white knob back with her magic, careful not to break it from the delicate device. The water trickled out of the cloud until eventually the last few drops fell onto the bridge of the filly’s nose. Feeling refreshed, the filly padded quietly out of the washroom and started towards the bed, as she used her magic to flash steam the rest of the water into vapor off of her, straightening her mane and tail at the same time. She looked towards the bed only to notice the precious, covered lump wasn’t there any more.

‘Fang? FANG?’ The filly screamed mentally, as she rushed over to the bed. She then turned towards her saddle bags, only to find them suspiciously open.

Trotting over to the brown packs stained many colors by the vastly varied forest matter she came across during her travels, she immediately noticed what was missing. Sighing to herself, the filly turned and noticed a faint trail of blue mist leading to the room’s only closet, this time dipping her head as she sighed she trotted towards the closet as quiet as she could, reaching the door she gently grasped the tip of the handle then yanked the wooden obstruction out of the way letting all the light surrounding to burn away the darkness and bring out the color of the being within, its mottled green scales reaching across a face, clawed feet, a torso, and a set of leathery wings.

‘Gahh,’ the creature responded while falling over and squawking in protest to the sudden invasion of light. Giggling softly the lavender filly eased the small creature up, while a sheet from the bed without any warning or coercion lifted and floated over to the two beings in the room gently landing on the back of the scaled creature. sheepishly the small scaled creature lowered it’s wings letting the chromatic sheet cover him a little easier. looking at the shards of crystal behind it the creature turned back and noticed the lavender filly’s disappointed frown. ‘I’m sorry, Mom. I was hungry when I woke up and you were nowhere to be seen. So, I checked the last place that I knew the food was. I didn’t mean to do anything wrong.’

Small droplets of moisture began to form on the scaled beings face, however before they could start falling a lavender hoof began brushing them away while another lifted the scaled creature’s eyes to meet the lavender filly’s.

‘Now, Fang, I may be disappointed that you ate the crystals without asking first... Buuut I can’t really fault you for being hungry. Anyway I’m just thankful that you’re okay.’ The filly felt the muscles in her shoulders relax slightly the tension melting away calmly. ‘Next time ask first,’ demanded the lavender filly sternly. ‘Agreed?’ she let out softly her tones relaxing into tranquil peace.

Fang nodded swiftly as he resettled down on the bed trying to coax the sheet off, only succeeding in freeing his wings from it’s comforting folds.

‘Agreed, Twilight, I don’t think I’ll be sneaking anything past you again if I can help it.’ The Drake answered sincerely, his eyes beating softly, maintaining a fixed gaze with Twilight’s...

Only to have the moment disrupted by a deep rumbling growl. Twilight felt blood rushing to her cheeks, having immediately figured out where the rumbling sound came from.

“I guess... I’m hungry as well. Fang, do you need anything else?” Twilight asked concernedly.

‘Not right now but later I might wish to snack on some more of your magicite crystals.’ The small Drake answered as he fluttered over and onto her back after she finished strapping on her saddlebags and placed the remaining magicite within.

Twilight nodded. “Alright, Fang, we’re leaving town today, but first, I’ll have to dine with our hosts and thank them for the night.”

Lifting his head through the cloak, Fang settled on her back, disguising and hiding what was underneath.

‘Alright, Mother, just be careful, I’ll try and get some more sleep so when we finally get out of this stuffy town, I can actually practice with these!’ The young Drake chittered in glee as he pulled both his wings from underneath the sheet before settling back down, letting the fabric’s smooth texture enfold him once more in its shadow, as it formed into a cloak.

Twilight smiled benevolently upon the Drake as he settled down and began to gain a slow rhythm and slept. Nodding once, she turned to face the exit to their room and passed through the wooden portal. Her hooves guided her as she navigated down the simple corridor to the stairs leading down to the main tavern below. Leaving the staircase, she took a cursory glance around the room.

Off to the right were several patrons with medium sized saddlebags on their backs, too engrossed in their conversation with each other to notice the filly entering the room. Near the left corner was a stallion sitting alone with a white sun emblazoned cloak covering his features, and a steaming drink before him on the table watching the room. Briefly, Twilight caught and held his gaze and held it until he looked away. She felt more than heard the small giggle that rose from her chest. Towards the main door of the establishment were a pair of mares arguing softly over a minor matter that they perceived as important, on the right side of the establishment twi saw the orange bartender she met the day before sitting behind the counter washing a glass and waiting for the next patron to call or walk up for refreshments. On the table next to the counter was a grey unicorn mare, snoring softly, her cheeks still a little flushed from the night before with a small blanket wrapped around her shoulders to keep the cold at bay.

The cursory inspection of her surroundings complete, Twilight set off immediately towards the counter, smiling at the bartender as she arrived.

“Hello, are you willing to part with some food while I’m here?” is what she meant to say. However, in its place was, “Hujambo, bhfuil tú in ann ugawanyaji le roinnt bia sasa kwamba mimi niko hapa?”

“Uh wut ‘s that ya said?” the bartender asked, his muzzle forming into a frown of confusion while Twilight’s cheeks lit up like lights.

Switching to the right language, Twilight answered with her cheeks still flushed.

“Sorry, what I meant to say was, ‘Are you willing to part with some food while I’m here,’ or should I make some for myself?”

The orange pony behind the counter snickered as he barely held in his mirth.

“Oi! D’ja hit yerself in the noggin las’ night?” the orange bartender asked. “Oi ‘member tellin ya that Oi’d be serv’n ya this Morn’. And I certn’ly don’ plan on makin meself a habit o’ lyin’.” The bartender ranted, while turning around and grabbing a white tray, placing it before Twilight. “Nah’, ah’ve unly go’ three Items on th’menue t’day. Oat and c’rnmeil hash, butter bread biscuits ‘n cream cheese, an’ special order pepper ’n’ cheese omelettes. So, whacha n’th mood fer?” The bartender waved a hoof, telling her to go ahead.

“I think I’ll just go with the omelette; I haven’t had eggs in a long time. Can I get some hot water on the side?” Twilight returned, her voice soft and kind as she made her order.

“Yer food’ll be out n’a minute er two. Here’s the hot water ya asked fer though.” He passed a wooden mug filled with the steaming clear substance. Nodding to herself Twilight lit her horn and lifted out a few ingredients. Crushing them in her pestle, she sprinkled some of the fine powder into the steaming water, turning it a dark green. The rest she placed within a pouch, while waiting on the rest of her order.

After a few sips of her tea, the food was finished as the orange coated bartender flipped the omelette and closed it to one side, holding together with melted cheese.

After a few minutes, Twilight ate the last bite of her omelette. Looking around the bar, she took a minute to acclimate herself to the massive intake of food.

‘I haven’t eaten like that since the last meal I shared with Zecora.’ Her lips softly dragged upwards in a slight smile as she recalled a few of her older memories alongside her mentor. Nodding her thanks to the bartender, she hopped from the bar and began walking through the exit of the establishment, barely noticing the cloaked figure that stood up, while she walked through the portal.

Ignoring a slight feeling of foreboding, she swiftly set a soft pace as she headed down the Eastern road out of town, waving to several ponies she met the day before as she went. On her way along the road, a young unicorn colt stepped into her path. He looked to be only five summers younger than herself, with a small tear in his eye. Her wistful smile from the bar slowly melted into a worried frown as she halted in front of the colt.

“Larraim ort,” she began to ask, catching herself mid-phrase. Starting again with even more sincerity, “Aghem, what is wrong, little one? ”

The young foal looked up at the purple unicorn before him then crumpled to the ground.

“M-m-my mother. My mother, she’s sick. Can you help?” he asked, his calls drowned out by the noise of the bustling streets around him to all but the young unicorn listening carefully. Nodding to herself Twilight rose a purple hoof to the young colts shoulder.

“I will help in whatever way I can. However, I must first know the place of residence, so I know where to go.” Twilight felt her smile return as the young foal’s face exploded into brilliant joy.

“We live just a few blocks down the East direction of this street. It will be the bright red house to your left.” The colt excitedly flipped around as he contemplated having his mom around again.

Twilight was nodding, her mouth opened for another question, when she noticed the bouncing colt had disappeared. She let out an extended sigh as she turned to follow the vague directions the colt had given. With a cursory glance over the crowd around her, the lavender filly set forth, her stout legs leading her across the way till she found the cherry red house. The building was bedecked with bright pink frilled curtains, the front door a vivid lime green and the roof an azure blue.

Twilight walked up to the door, about to knock, when a bright voice caught her from behind. “What are you doing? Nobody lives there.”

Turning on the spot, Twilight started, face to face with a bright yellow pegasus colt with an amber mane, brown eyes, and a cutie mark resembling a wolf's paw.

“I’m sorry but I was told otherwise by a colt. I think his name was... Hm, I never did get his name,” Twilight responded, somewhat bewildered.

“That would be the ghost of Circle Sight. He’s one of the few hauntings in this town,” the stallion responded calmly, Flicking his ears forward a little, he felt a small blush of embarrassment flow to his cheeks. “Oh sorry, m’name’s Tracker Field. What’s yours, young filly?”

“Glimmering Wisp, though to get back to the conversation before what do you mean by ‘haunts’?” Twilight asked, her interest completely absorbed by the stallions words.

“More of a haunting really. Circle Sight died three years ago when he and his mom caught a terrible disease. His mother passed first then he did, both while they slept. The village apothecary was bedridden preparing for her last breaths as well so she couldn’t do anything to help them. Twas a sad day indeed. The day before, Circle had been searching for somepony that could help heal his mother, completely delirious he eventually made it back home where he passed out on his mothers bead next to her where he eventually died.” The stallion orated gently. “Now his ghost can’t move on because he’s still searching for somepony that could heal his mother who’s already passed.”

“That’s quite sad, I can’t imagine being unable to move on like that. Is there really anything I can do to...” Twilight began to ask, her ears splayed back.

Tracker cut Twilight off with a slow, firm shake of his head. “Not really eventually he will pass on, but until then, ya might as well continue where he stopped ya.”

Twilight nodded, seeing wisdom in his words, her ears unable to detect any signs of lying upon his being. As he finished, the lavender filly looked up into the young stallions eyes. “Alright but if I find anything in my travels that can help, I will, once I return, okay? I know it’s not much, but thank you for letting me know.” The lavender filly responded softly, while the butterscotch stallion fluffed his wings a little.

“S’all good, M’used to helpin’ strangers avoid things like this. As fer yer promise, can’t really say anything t’that, since it seems t’be a personal one.” Tracker remarked offhoofedly.

Letting her lips curl upwards, she allowed a small rumble of joy to pass her throat, “A good day then, Tracker. Hopefully we will meet again.”

The elder pegasus nodded agreement.

“T’meecha again someday. Till then, best be off.”

“Good day,” Twilight replied, as she nodded and turned. Then she began trotting back the way she came, till she reached the main road. Sniffing east upon the wind, Twilight turned appropriately onto the left path from the intersection and began towards the main road out of town.

Reaching the town border Twilight noticed a familiar stallion sitting next to the road out of town.

“Hay! Now, I hope you didn’t think o’ gettin’ outta town a’for sayin’ g’by t’me, didja?” asked an old caggy voiced stallion, as he stepped forward, his bright green fur and aqua main giving away his identity almost immediately.

“I’m sorry, but did I do something wrong?” the lavender filly asked worriedly, her ears folded back slightly.

The green stallion couldn’t help but chuckle at the apologetic look the lavender filly was giving him, leaving her slightly confused.

“Cours’ not. But still, by the same token, tis’ a wee bit rude ta leave without givin’ proper goodbyes t’yer friends.” The elder stallion rebuked firmly in a slightly scratchy voice.

Twilight blushed slightly, then blushed even more as she realized who else had arrived to see her off. Stepping out of the brush nearby was bookish unicorn with a coat whiter than a cloud and a sky blue pegasus mare with a dark magenta mane and tail. “I’m sorry Uncle Berry. I’ll try and remember this next time. Oh, good day to you Miss Wind, Miss Runner.” Twilight added, nodding in the direction of the two ponies that had just arrived respectively.

“Oh Deary, no need to be so formal amongst friends. Besides, we should really be thanking you; it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to let loose like that.” The alabaster white mare opened with a flick of her silver haired tail.

The sky blue pegasus stepped forward.

I meant to give you my thanks before you up and disappeared on us. ‘sides, I haven't compensated ya fully for the drought ya game me. Here take this fer yer travlin’.” The elder mare dropped a small bag from her mouth onto Twilight’s partly outstretched hoof. The small sack jingled slightly as it landed. “Think of it as fare, in case ya need to purchase somethin’ and can’t really barter with what ya have.” Flicking her wings gently the elder pegasus mare flew off.

“Oi! Don’t ya be startin’ the party w’thout me,” Berry Bash called after the sky blue pegasus, as he began to follow after her. “See ya, Glimmer. Hope ye make some good friends in the next town as well,” he nearly yelled, as he turned the corner out of eyesight.

Twilight smiled slightly, her tail gently flicking twice, as she silently thanked the two ponies that had left.

“Well Whitewind,” The lavender filly called, as she turned to the last pony on the road next to her. “I guess this is goodbye. Thank you for helping me set up the stall and attracting customers.”

Twilight was about to continue when she noticed a pure white unicorn having a hoof from side to side, grabbing her attention.

“I should be thanking you instead: you’ve helped me in more ways than you could possibly imagine with that small artifact you made me. Safe journeys, young filly.” The elder mare called as Twilight trotted off.

Turning back only once, the lavender filly smiled at Whitewind, as the white mare re-entered the village to assist Berry Bash and Cloud Runner during their pranks.

Author's Note

Well here's chapter 10 part one.
I've had immense help from two authors Janushayed and Skeeter The Lurker.

Severely Edited and Yelled at by Zetetic,

First Journal Entries

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 12: Travails and Journal Tales

Section 1 of 3

Part 2 of 4

[note for journal entries Day☯, season(ζSpring, ☀Summer, ♨Fall, ☸Winter), Year♋,]

A few hours after leaving town, a young grey green mottled Drake was soaring high above the lavender filly, not a care in the world, as it watched her below from his advantageous viewpoint. The filly had an idea and started digging through her saddlebags, where she searched for the object of interest. Eventually, her magic caught onto one of its corners. Gently, she pulled it out and held it before herself in her own magenta glow in all its leather bound glory. The crisp pages were dazzlingly white as she looked over them, plucking a feather from her packs, while the pages flipped back to the first blank one. She drifted her quill over to the page, careful to dip it in the ink well and press off the excess before letting the writing stylus near the precious sheets. Touching the small feather upon the hide, she swiftly began to write.

21☯, ζ, 993♋,

Eleven days it’s been, since I’ve left, my master’s serv-... appre-... no, not that one either. I think the word was tutelage. Yes that one. Anyway, to any who read this: my name is Twilight Sparkle. My master In the arts of alchemy has given me the wondrous gift of this text and a beautiful set of saddlebags. Her name is Zecora, a nice teacher, if there ever was one. A year or two ago, she and a group of creatures, bipedal and scaled beings, began helping me develop the skills I have now.

On the 11☯,ζ my little Fang was hatched from his shell. He is a really cute little creature. I honestly wasn’t expecting to keep him, but the village elder asked that I keep his egg as a parting gift from under his tutelage, allowing me to graduate. He’s been such a great companion throughout these past two weeks, from keeping me happy to generally being there when I needed some creature to talk with. He’s learned a lot since he hatched. It’s too bad his mouth and voice box aren't designed for normal speech patterns. However, I digress. It has been such a delight having him around: it almost feels as if I have already become a mare. My mentor was correct on a few things though. I’ve been subsiding Fang’s diet with pure magic, since he finished growing and was unable to fully process the magically induced lactation from my mammaries. Thankfully, I produce enough magic per day to make enough crystals for him to subside on. I’m particularly glad that my other benefactors taught me that spell.

Yesterday, I had found a village by the name of Windbreak, an interesting village. Apparently, they have no healer, so I offered to help. For some reason, they laughed at my offer, but eventually, I was selling potions to those who would not use them, since they didn’t need the poultices as much as those who sought them for the right reasons. After a harrowing day, yesterday, I finally managed to crawl into bed. However, instead of finding sleep, I found that my little Fang could actually fly for the first time, and only within ten days of his hatching. I’m quite surprised and impressed to say the least. That day will be held in my memory as long as I live, as it was the first day he actually meant it, when he called me his mother. Now, I have him on a diet of solidified magic formed from my own reserves. I just hope I don’t run out. Otherwise, I’ll have to substitute mana with meat. I wonder how the conversion works within his body... I’ll have to run a few experiments once I’m within the proper environment. Other than Fang gaining more physical freedom, I’ve found an interesting and astounding need to restock on some items I’d never thought I would’ve run out of. The main ones I’m looking for are wyrm rot, black thorn powder, and thyme. Hopefully I can find useful herbs and ingredients along the road to the next village. I think it was called Rockeyridge. If I am lucky, the townsfolk there will be as nice as the ones I’ve met at Windbreak.

As of yesterday, I am low on a majority of my normal alchemical ingredients and am lacking a few of my critical ones. Hopefully, I can find enough on the road to help refill my stock, before I arrive at Rockyridge.

T.S.

22☯, ζ, 993♋,

I found some interesting yellow pods along the road. They are sweet. Yet, I am noticing they have severe aphrodisiac effects if consumed. I decided to gather a decent amount for further study. I’ve been able to restock most of my supplies to normal levels, and for some I’ve gathered extra, in case I run out again. I’m still missing a few more important base ingredients for some of my major healing potions (particularly thyme, wormwood, and hemlock). I can scent a bog on the breeze from here, Hopefully I pass through a swamp where I can find these ingredients easily. I found a dying tree with plenty of wyrm rot mushrooms growing out of it.

Fang has taken a habit of disappearing off into the distance only to return after a few hours. Sometimes, I worry for his safety, but I know, though he may be learning mentally, he is as physically grown as he is going to get. But I doubt size will really be a hindrance for him: the amount of magic he wields puts all of the other Drakes I’ve seen to shame. I hope, under my tutelage, he learns not to abuse his abilities. On a side note, his wings are coming in perfectly, and I see no stretch marks or tearing along the webbing from the joint to the wing itself. So, all I can say is that he is as healthy as he’s going to be.

T.S.

23☯, ζ, 993♋,

Twenty third of Spring... Had I known those swamps were guarded by golems, I would probably have done a less thorough herbal search. As it is, I barely made it out with my saddlebags intact. With Fang flying above, I was able to steer clear of the major collections of the elemental constructs. Thankfully, my search, though cut short, still proved fruitful. I have gathered enough wyrm rot and hemlock to make a few decent sized potion. Though, strangely I’ve found no signs of thyme, yet. I hope the ingredient hasn’t been eliminated outside the Everfree.

Fang continues to watch the world from above. I’ve asked him a few times to try and show me what he’s been seeing up there. Sadly, though, the mental communication I’ve set up doesn’t really work well with mental images. So, I haven’t been able to observe great detail from the images he has given me. Other than that, his magic has proven quite potent: There was a point, during the escape, where I got trapped by multiple golems, so I was forced to destroy a few. Taking advantage of their distraction, Fang flew down and blasted three to pieces with a lightning bolt. He must have picked up the formula from my fire starter spell. His intelligence still continues to impress me. I hope I can teach him as Zecora wished.

I’ve been traveling for a few days and have run across a sign indicating I’ll be entering Rockyridge tomorrow. I wonder why the others in Windbreakthought this would take me seven days to travel? I’m going to rest here tonight, underneath one of the nearby outcroppings. It’s really nice having Fang sleeping here with me.

T.S.

24☯, ζ, 993♋,

Today started out like the others. I awoke at false light. Then, I woke up Fang and packed my saddle bags, before heading off and continuing down the main road.

Besides finding a whole patch of thyme that I swiftly gathered and placed within my saddlebags, the experience was uneventful. However, the unexpected happened, or rather, I happened upon something strange. Apparently, changelings do exist: I found the poor chitinous creature dying in a tree. It was about a mile from the nearest road. I tried to help it, but the compassion I willingly gave wasn’t enough to help it heal. The poor creature was too far gone when I arrived, and none of the conventional methods of healing I remembered from Zecora’s tomes worked.

I took a few samples of its chitten to study and practice on, so that I could make sure the next time I came across a wounded changeling, I would be able to save or at least aid it. I’m going to see if I can create a spell that can make a viable substitute for gaining love, as opposed to being forced to drain the joyful emotions and energies of their victims.

Fang sprained a wing while flying today. I’m having him rest with a sling on my back while we headed into the city. I decided to head to an inn immediately upon entering the village. It was too dark to set up a stall and most of the ponies must have already went to sleep. I’m going to see about trying to set and heal Fang’s wing tonight, so I don’t have to worry about it in the morning.

T.S.

25☯, ζ, 993♋,

To my surprise, I’m making quite a profit off the non-needy. Apparently, most of the families in the village have been searching for something interesting to pass the time, and the aphrodisiac pods I found earlier, of which I gathered a sizeable amount of samples for testing, have been nearly bought dry. I’ll have to find another of the bushes along the way to the next town to restock on the material. My other potions haven’t been needed half as much in Rockyridge as they were in Windbreak. The town seems to have a half decent healer and a very skilled apothecary. I’ve been able to trade some of the strange gold coins, called “bits,” that I received earlier for some of the more rare ingredients held within the apothecary. I hope I’ll be able to maintain stocks carefully within the next town, and hopefully not run out of needed reagents.

As for my little project on finding a good alternative source of food for the changelings, I might have an idea. I just need two subjects to test it. The idea will involve infusing an object such as bread, or any other edible substance, with love and feeding it to the creatures. Hopefully, they will be able to digest the love that way. I’ve already found the magical frequency that the changelings consume love at, thanks to the samples I took earlier. Also, a bit morbidly, I found that as long as the pieces of chitin receive a little love and care, they will not degrade or age at all. On a more positive note, infusing the food with magically synthetic love is a lot easier to do than I originally had thought.

Now that I’m outside town, about five miles out, I decided to check Fang and allow him a little freedom for being so well behaved. His wing has fully recovered, as I expected, thanks to the demon weed and creeper briar bandage I put on. Now he’s flitting about, not a care in the world. Fang has learned a few more spells today as well. I wonder how Berry and Whitewind are doing? Hopefully, I’ll see them before next winter comes.

T.S.

Fang nearly got seen today, as I passed along the road. Thankfully, the travelers weren’t paying attention to their surroundings. I have been told by the same group to be wary in towns after Applecrest, since the griffons have been setting up recruiting stations to help fight off bandits, and such, attacking their territories. I see a nice round tower in the distance; I think I’ll investigate it tomorrow. The sun has been set for three hours and I will probably need to be at my best in order to avoid any arcane traps left behind or the natural degradation of the structure from years disuse.

T.S.

26☯, ζ, 993♋,

This entry will probably have to go over multiple pages as I document as much of the material I’ve gathered from it as possible. But, first, I’ll start off with how the morning went, before we entered the crumbling structure.

The sun came up in the East at a really good angle, letting me see almost all of the traps and note them down before entering the ancient structure.

Upon entering, with Fang flying at my side, I came across an entire ground floor laced with magical traps and some more conventional trigger action ones. I’ve dismantled and recorded almost all of the magical traps that we came across. There are a few that are integral to the towers structure and would be nearly impossible to remove due to the fact that they are designed on runes and infused with a stable magical fuel.

There were several rooms, three of which were barren, save for a few old personal items such as a strange, star-spangled coat and a moss covered bell not a foot away, next to a decrepit bed frame. Another held rags next to a staff etched in glowing blue runes and capped with an ancient diamond. In the third room, I found the best items of all: BOOKS. Sadly, the majority of them were aged far beyond legibility, and the few that weren’t moth eaten were written in such a way as to be difficult to decipher. I’ll have to take my time to study them the next time I visit an inn within a town, as the road is too dangerous and harmful to the precious tomes of knowledge.

Climbing further up the tower, I came across several levels filled with rotting and molded texts and scrolls. Whoever built this place must have been thinking solely on the protection of the building itself rather than the materials within, of these levels I only have several spell scrolls to learn from. Most of the spells though are less complex than I originally believed for their concept and the workarounds these spell makers have designed have been doing nothing but impressive.

After making it to the top level of the tower without incident, I found a really interesting place similar to the other levels of the literary repository, unlike the other rooms though apparently they had decided to put in a few more permanent protection spells within, thankfully I was able to do a bit of studying within the time frame I had till the next night started. Eventually, Fang and I decided to rest outside the tower after I studied many of the scrolls and learning some more utilitarian spells two of which I’ve found much use for, I’ve cast a simple yet powerful curse of sorts upon this journal. Now I can write in it as much as I like and I’ll never run out of pages however the downside (or upside depending on how you look at it) is that you need to remember or at least know the dates of the entries and there content in order to reach them within the papers otherwise every page you turn to will be the same as the cover. The other enchantment was a complex pocket enlargement spell designed by somepony by the name (or title) of Clover the Clever. The spell itself creates an extra pocket dimension that adds room to an otherwise small pocket, now I can stuff as many materials within my saddle bags as I want without having to worry about room, however like the journal I need to remember exactly what I’ve put in them.

I assume after a while I’ll become really good at remembering things.

Upon returning to the camp, Fang and I found a tan pegasus mare with a grey hued mane. Agreeing not to interrupt her, we decided to rest in a nearby copse of trees, no fire this time; I didn’t want to attract any unnecessary attention.

Fang has been improving his magical abilities. He has been able to even summon up a telekinesis field. I found out when I was about to drop a scroll and it was wrapped in a bright green telekinetic field. Also, I found him practicing my expanding bag spell, I think I’ll see if I can make a rabbit skin bag for him tomorrow. I need to make some grease. The meat, however, will probably need to be preserved in case I need it later. Hopefully, I won’t.

T.S.

27☯, ζ, 993♋,

The sky was clear this morning: the clouds were taken out by the pegasus pony we saw last night. I hope we don’t meet her on the way to the ancient tower.

I caught a brown rabbit on the way to the tower and finished skinning it as we reached the ancient structure. I stored the rest in clay before we entered and placed it within my pack, I made the small pouch for fang out of the skin while we were searching the basement.

Inside the basement, we found a few interesting items and a full sized laboratory. Though the most prized item we found was a large tome of research left behind by whoever used this tower. I’ve taken the glass beakers and samples of the residue left behind from ancient experiments. On the way out, with our bounty of knowledge, I noticed the the entrance of the tower was ajar, as opposed to being fully closed after we entered. I think someone had entered the tower after us, however because we left unmolested I doubt it was because they knew we were there.

Fang convinced me to continue down the road. The next town ‘was’ only a few days out. I broke up camp and stroke along the paths following the cleared highway. Fang managed to cast the pocket enlargement spell on his second try, it was quite interesting to see the Items that were gathered into the small leather pouch hung about his neck, I’ve also given him a few large mana crystals (about a three week supply). I hope I can trust him to conserve the crystals rather than swallow them down all at once. I wish Zecora were here; these mountains and hills are amazing. Not to mention, the waterfall a few miles back would have been a perfect place to meditate.

I was able to pick a few carrots and cabbages, along with some lettuce and apples, along the road. Thankfully, there were no signs of any nearby travelers or creatures, so I was able to cook my food and dry the rabbit into jerky, which will make the meat last a lot longer.

The fire is burning to embers now, and I’m forced to use my horn to light this page. I guess I should be getting some rest, but I really want to study some of the scrolls I took from the tower before traveling to Applecrest.

T.S.

Author's Note

Well here's chapter 10 part two.
I've had immense help from two authors Janushayed and Skeeter The Lurker.

Severely Edited and Yelled at by Zetetic,

A Tavern Meeting

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 12: Travails and Journal Tales

Section 1 of 3

Part 3 of 4

(Windbreak Valley along the Griffica/Equestrian border, township of Applecrest, Fields Wind Tavern, nine hundred ninety third Celestial year, twenty ninth day of spring)

29☯, ζ, 993♋,

I’m about ten or eleven miles out from Applecrest, and I can see the smoke from their homes rising into the sky. I hope that I can make some acquaintances while visiting. I wonder what medicine they’ll need here. Fang has been doing me quite proud: rather than waste the mana crystals I gave him, he broke them up into portions large enough that he only needed one per day. They evened out to around eleven days worth. Anyway, I’m off to the village after I finish cleaning up the fire and putting this journal away. I’ll add another entry tonight.

T.S.

29☯, ζ, 993♋,

Twilight looked around the building as she entered. Heading towards the main bar, she noticed several of the patrons giving her cursory glances, which she disregarded. However, there were two stallions whose eyes she held, staring at her hungrily, like the last petal of a rose before finishing the plate. Keeping an eye on them, she settled down on a bar stool in the corner. Letting her eyes wander across the small room, she noticed several things about the patrons. Three of which showed a severe lack of attentiveness as they spoke in whispers amongst each other, two had taken up one of the modest tavern’s corners, keeping an eye on the other pony’s, similar to the other one she saw in Windbreak. Another four were laying on the counter face down next to a collection of mugs with a strange amber liquid inside them. She sniffed the fumes for only a second before wrinkling her nose slightly in disgust, finally she turned to glance carefully at the two ponies who had been watching her upon entry.

Focused as she was she barely noticed the barkeep as he trotted over to her, letting go of the two ponies she turned towards the barkeep just as the pony arrived. “Hello, I was wondering if there were any rooms available tonight, I would also be willing to part with some bits for a mug of fresh apple juice.”

The barkeep, a large brown earthpony mare with a bright yellow mane and tail, and blue streaks running through the middle, stopped and took a quick glance at the filly then nodded at the request.

“I have a few rooms, that would be thirty bits a night for one room and board, along with another two bits for the drink.” Twilight nodded absentmindedly as she pulled out the designated bits and paid the bartender.

“Thank you,” the lavender filly called as the bartender poured a mug of amber liquid from the tap, passing the drink to her Twilight pulled it towards herself in her hooves, Taking a cursory sniff of the beverage she immediately felt the burning sensation that layered from the other patrons drinks. Placing the mug back down Twilight called to the barkeep again as he grabbed some of the empty mugs from other patrons. “Hello.”

The barkeeper turned and waved back to her kindly.

“Names Summer Fields Filly, what do ya need?”

“Sorry to bother you but, I was wondering if I could have a cup of boiling water.” Twilight asked, the barkeep noticed the untouched mug of cider, placing two and two together she nodded.

“Sure, just let me take care of this first.” The older mare answered walking over to the filly and pulling the mug away and replacing it a few minutes later with a steaming mug of clear liquid, and raised a hoof as Twilight lit her horn to retrieve her bits. “On the house, think of it as a sorry for getting your first order wrong. I’m not used to getting customers that want the clean stuff.”

Twilights lavender eyes lit up in understanding as she only pulled out some of her tea ingredients.

“Thank you Miss Fields.”

“Just call me Summer.”

Twilight nodded.

After an indeterminable amount of time, Twilight flipped her hind legs forward and pushed herself off the seat, landing on her forehooves Twilight silently trotted over to Summer Fields. “Summer? Which room will I be staying the night in?”

The barkeep acknowledged Twilight, as she continued her current task with a flick of her ear. Finishing the task, Summer turned to face the cloaked unicorn.

“Should be the third room, around the bend. Here’s the key.” The elder mare answered, pulling a key from one of the pockets in her blouse.

Twilight smiled as she wrapped the key in her telekinesis and pulled it towards herself, then reacted with a jerk as she realized.

’I don’t have a medium on hoof,’ thought Twilight. “I’m sorry to bother you again.” the lavender filly exclaimed, raising her hoof and placing it on the barkeep’s withers, grabbing her attention and causing her to turn around. “How much would it cost for a few apples? I’d like four if possible.”

The elder mare flicked an ear.

“A bit each, four you said? Comin’ right up,” the mare called, as she reached the counter and disappeared, appearing again a few moments later with a small bag containing four distinct shapes. The barkeep passed the bag across the counter, accepting the four bits Twilight paid from her personal stash, floating them to the other side of the counter where the bar keeper deftly caught them. Withholding any further pleasantries, Twilight exited the main room of the tavern, entering a medium ranged corridor, that stretched on for a good distance.

Looking along the hallway she saw the portal to the room the bar keeper gave. Nodding to herself Twilight trotted over and nudged the door open. Inside the room lay several objects, each one simple in design and wholly utilitarian: a wood frame bed with white cotton sheets and a cloud pillow with a moisture containment enchanted fabric covering. A wood desk with a flat top and four supports, and a wool cushion underneath to sit on. A night stand with a holder on top, a crystal lay coldly in place of a regular burning wick candle, its facets dull and dark.

Twilight entered the room taking in the simplicity of it all. Suddenly, she sensed a familiar dull throbbing in her horn. Opening her senses, she felt the vibrations coming directly from the crystal on the wooden table next to the small bed. On instinct, she immediately trotted over to it and examined it, her magical energies lifting it from its small pedestal and bringing it closer to her eye.

Twilight remembered this enchantment from a few crystals she found within the decaying tower a few days before. She also remembered how it worked. Lifting her hoof to the small shard, she gently began rubbing it letting the heat from her hoof and the friction transfer energy to the small device. The reaction was immediate as the dull facets began to brighten and a third light entered the room including her horn and the moon light from outside. Twilight let her lips draw back into a small satisfied grin as her assumptions proved correct, Looking towards the window which the moonlight pushed through Twilight swiftly closed the shutters, blocking outside light and observation.

Letting the crystal’s glow guide her actions, Twilight mentally drifted her cloak with a sleeping Fang onto the bed, while carefully laying down her sleeping mat. She settled on it to meditate and guide her magic to peace while she waited. As if on cue, she heard faint steps as a pair of ponies headed down the hall, stopping before her door. Opening her lavender eyes, Twilight calmly waited.

*Knock*

“Please, come in.” Twilight calmly answered.

The wooden portal opened silently letting the light of the hallway flood into the corners of the room that Twilight’s light stone didn’t reach. Then entered the two ponies she challenged earlier when she entered the bar. Twilight’s face immediately lit up in delight, as she noted even more hints upon the visitors bodies of their true forms. Coughing softly into a hoof to grasp their attention, Twilight waved them over as they glanced in her direction. Both pegasi trotted over and sat at her gesture on the warm rug beneath them.

Twilight lifted a hoof to the first one, “Greetings, my name is Glimmering Wisp, what’s yours?” The pony began to speak only to be cut off as Twilight spoke again. “I’m sorry I meant to say what was your true name, not the the pony you’re disguised as.”

The left pegasus lifted an eyebrow answering in a light baritone.

“And what makes you think that?”

Twilight chuckled a little.

“First of all, a normal pegasus doesn’t reek of unicorn magic. Second your mannerisms are all wrong, instead of normal regular breaths you only take them when you notice others looking at you, and rather than the normal flighty attitudes of a regular pegasus, you tend to focus more like a unicorn.” The lavender filly answered readily, giggling even more at the chagrined looks on the other ponies faces.

The right pegasus closed his gaping mouth. Taking a small gulp he asked, “Alright then so we aren’t pegasi, what do you think we are then?” he asked while his companion remained frozen in place his mouth still gaping.

Twilight reached inside herself and grasped the familiar well of magical energy. Acting swiftly, she let loose a jolt of energy behind her. As expected, she felt her spell connect. Smiling gently, she responded.

“Changelings,” she said, loud and clear, after a sound barrier went up around the room and the door slammed shut with deafening finality.

The pegasus illusion to the left broke, as Twilight heard a thud behind her. The changeling on the right burst into flames, only to be slammed into the ground and bound in place by bright blue rings of energy. The green fires died away, revealing a black carapace with a blue saddle like shell on its back covering its thin membranous wings and a pointed horn coming out of its head. Parts of its body were riddled with holes. The dark creature struggled as it lay bound on the ground, its eyes wide in fear as it stared in the lavender mare’s direction. Twilight, sensing the creatures thought, responded, chuckling a little, “Your companion should be waking in a few moments, nothing to worry about. How about we talk a little?”

The changeling, having calmed down after realizing it was in no danger of direct harm and that its companion was alive if a little burned, only returned the lavender filly’s query with a blank stare.

Twilight sighed in exasperation. “Please answer me I’d rather have you be willing to help me help you.”

The changeling narrowed its eyes for a few seconds before letting its mouth twitch a little in amusement. Twilight heard the slight scuffling of a hoof on the floor behind her. Letting her features drop, the filly shook her head from side to side as she released a deep sigh. Without warning, the lavender filly let loose the compacted muscles of her right leg, causing it to spring with enough force to break the wheel of a wagon, all in one concentrated strike that slammed hard into whoever tried to sneak up behind her. Reaching for her magic again, Twilight quickly grabbed the flying body midair before it could even hit the wall, and dragged it back towards her. She then placed the second chitinous changeling next to the first in front of her, binding him in place with more blue bindings.

Twilight looked between the two changelings, gauging their facial expressions. The lavender filly felt her smile grow brighter by the second. “I’m impressed. Unlike most of the predators I’ve run into, you’ve actually gotten the closest to catching me off guard. Now I’ll ask again: Will you answer a few questions for me? Maybe even help me with a small project I’ve been trying?” Twilight watched their reactions to the question, seeing the left one twitch a little in response.

“Fine. But you won't get any answers that can harm the hive,” it spat with a little venom.

“Why would I harm the creatures I’m trying to help?” the lavender filly asked, her eyebrow rising a little. She then smiled widely, before letting loose a small giggle. “Barring certain exceptions of course. How about a simple question first. What are your names?” She asked pointing a hoof at the right changeling first and adjusting to the left after.

Both changelings looked at each other and nodded in slight agreement, before the right one faced her again. “Our individual designation, given by the hive is Velt.”

The other changeling beside Velt sighed then continued.

“And this one’s designation is Rhode,” it answered in multiple tones.

Twilight felt her smile grow a little at the candid replies of the two changelings and their honest answers to her question.

“Thank you for answering that you two. So Rhode, If you and Velt promise not to do anything rash, I’ll be willing to set you loose. Would you be willing to give your word for this?” Twilight felt the subtle tingle of magic again as the changeling gave her a look as if it was thinking hard about the idea. After a few seconds, the changeling nodded.

“We give the word of our Queen,” both changelings answered in a subdued tone.

“Interesting.” Twilight muttered, as she disrupted the spells holding Rhode and Velt. “So,” Twilight began as they stood up. “I’ve been sensing some minor magical fluctuations from you two. Would you be willing to explain?”

Rhode nodded.

“We were speaking with our queen, the Hive Mother. She guides all drones within the Iron Hills Hive, she has decided to give you a chance to speak with us.”

Twilight smiled, “Interesting, I’ve come up with a similar method of communicating between me and others that I know. However it is far from natural, but that is besides the point. Thanks for telling me. Now I wanted to test an experiment to see if I could make a portable and quick source of food that a changeling could eat for nourishment. Would you two be willing to try it?”

Bothe Rhode and Velt looked at each other for a few seconds, mentally arguing whether to try the experiment or not. Seeing their hesitance, Twilight decided to add, “If it doesn’t work, I’ll be willing to feed you any way you need for tonight.” ‘Changelings feed on love through multiple methods. Copulation seems to be the swiftest method for them to gain it... I’m quite thankful they trained me against harpy’s mind manipulation.’ Twilight let her shoulders sag a little in comfort, while waiting on either of the changelings to answer her.

Rhode broke his slight trance and answered first, “We would like to accept your offer. However, we must ask what dangers we would encounter from the experiment. This we must know before we can accept.” Velt nodded in agreement with the statement.

“From what I’ve been able to ascertain of changeling biology, I think I understand how to keep the experiment from harming you. However, I have never tried this, so I have to ask: what do you do with any food that you’ve eaten?” The lavender filly asks politely.

Both changelings stared at her, Rhode giving Twilight a strange look, while Velt chittered a little.

“Hhee, mmh mhh mhh, it is converted into three types of excrement, two of which we regurgitate. The last is what hardens our outer shells. The first is a binding agent that becomes as hard as iron after drying. The other is a strong aphrodisiac. Whatever isn’t converted is regurgitated afterwards.”

Twilight sighed gratefully.

“Good, that means the experiment can’t harm you. I’d love to take a few samples of these excrements before you leave, that is of course if you and your hive mother would be willing to part with a little.”
Rhode nodded, “We would not mind, Mother agrees too.” Twilight’s eyes lit up, like receiving a book shaped hearths warming eve present.

“Oh thank you so much. I’ve already promised to feed you whether the experiment succeeds or fails. I’m hoping it succeeds, but even if it doesn’t, I won’t mind,” the lavender filly explained without worry. “I’m willing to kee-” A small signal bounced off her barrier, slight but noticeable, her eyes widening Twilight speaks swiftly. “Put your disguises back on I think we have company.” Without any further explanation, Twilight began casting a few flair illusions, completely covering the sounds of Rhode and Velt burning their disguises back on. After a few moments, Twilight stopped, keeping a sharp memetic grasp on the location of the presence that penetrated her sound and sight barrier. “As I was saying, I’m willing to keep contact with your group and establish some more agreeable trades between us. Any queries, or am I boring you as an audience?”

Velt disguised as a cobalt blue pegasus with a seafoam green mane and tail answered cheerfully, “no no its quite ok I know that me and Hard bargain here don’t mind, though we’d like to try this experimental potion you’ve told us about if you don’t mind.”

Twilight placed a hoof to her chin in thought while her horn released a soft glow as she began to weave a secondary spell past the silence barrier. “Hmm, I don’t know I have not prepared the experiment yet, also I need to make sure there aren’t any interruptions on the test otherwise the results will be rendered mute and inconclusive.” The light dimming out. Twilight’s face melted into a smile as she nodded to the two Changelings before her. “Besides do you think you two could help the barrier more resistant against intrusion? It seems we have visitor trying to spy on our little conversation.”

Velt turned towards Rhode, they both nodded after a split second, “We would know first what you plan, and whether it would be safe for us to use our magic on the barriers.” Twilight exhaled deeply, with a sigh.

Looking back up, the lavender filly answered.

“I plan on making listening from outside with magic less than feasible, and your right to question adding your magic to the barriers..” Twilight lifted a cold, dust covered hoof to her lavender chin once more in thought, after a few second her face lit up with radiance and she placed her hoof down as the Idea began to take shape within her organic hard drive. “How about this, you two feed your magic into this crystal,” Twilight explained pulling a Sapphire from her bag, then as your magic hits the crystal I redirect it with my energy signature allowing it to reinforce the barrier without you being detected.” Twilight explained swiftly lighting her horn again to push away a slightly more persistent probe than the last.

Both changelings burned away their illusions, allowing access to their horns. Nodding as one, they both fired direct beams of their signature green energy into the crystal Twilight had pulled out. Feeling the crystal pulse with energy, Twilight grasped the prism with her own magic, then began focusing and disbursing the magic from the crystal, filling in and maintaining the remaining thin openings of the field.

Nodding in satisfaction, Twilight turned back to her chitinous visitors. “Thank you for helping out. So, as I was saying, I need to prep the experiment first. Give me a few minutes to get the apples I’m going to enchant.” Noticing a small high pitched noise from nearby, Twilight jerked her head to better hear the sound. “What was that?” She asked the two undisguised and chittering changelings.

Velt shook his head from side to side as Rhode lifted a hoof to his mouth to stifle his giggles, somewhat successfully.

“That was Velt’s stomach reminding him that he’s hungry, even though he now realizes his quickie meal is no longer so fast.” Twilight gave a small thankful sigh.

Surfacing her mana strings and passing it through her horn, Twilight guided all four apples out of her bag.

“Alright, you two rest while I get these apples enchanted, then the experiment can fully begin,” Twilight answered forming several energy transfer runes within her mind’s eye. Overlaying them with a special rune that changes the energy to any desired frequency, she finally overlays the entire spell group with an overall seal, that turns any magical energy poured into the item, and stores it within. Both changelings lay quietly, watching her work on the four apples, her spending at least a minute on the last one, and pouring a slightly larger proportion than the others. Smiling at her successful first cast, Twilight lifted all of them over before the two changelings, two apples each.

With all the materials, the subjects, and the control items in place, Twilight joyfully cries,
“Alright! The experiment has been set. Eat the apples to begin.”

Author's Note

Well here's chapter 10 part three.
I've had immense help from two authors Janushayed and Skeeter The Lurker.

Severely Edited and Yelled at by Zetetic,

The Unbroken

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 12: Travails and Journal Tales

Section 2

[note for journal entries Day☯, season(ζSpring, ☀Summer, ♨Fall, ☸Winter), Year♋,]

(Along the Griffica/Equestrian border, township of Applecrest, Fields Wind Tavern, nine hundred ninety third Celestial year, thirtieth day of spring)

“UhuUUuuu!” A small purple ball groaned, as it wrapped itself tighter around a small silver cloaked lump on the bed they were both sleeping on. “Hmmm?” Blearily, the ball began to unroll itself as the time of day began approaching, its eyes opening to reveal bright magenta orbs as the creature began stretching its limbs.

Placing one of her hooves on the bed for stability, the lavender filly placed her other three hooved appendages upon the mattress, before, with a small heave, she lifted herself up. Rising slowly, the small pony took the chance to switch her gaze to the small ball, still buried underneath the sheets. ‘Time to wake up, little one.’ The lavender filly commanded gently.

The reaction was immediate as the lump jolted then began rolling a little, causing the fabric above to part in silky strands, revealing the small creature underneath, a small winged beast, with light brown scales and bright green eyes.’Morning mom.’The creature blearily noted, looking at the pony above.

Twilight looked upon her smaller beige drake companion with affection. ‘I’m sorry for waking you so early Fang, but I wish to leave town before dawn arrives. Here, have a compressed magicite shard to take your mind off your lack of sleep, I seasoned it with some changeling magic.’ Twilight lit her horn with arcane energies allowing her to telekinetically rifle through her saddle bags next to the bed. Finally, after a few seconds of searching, the filly found what she was looking for and smiled as she pulled out a greenish blue crystal from her bags, and floated it over to her ward.

Fang looked up at his mother and the crystal extended near his head. Lifting a wing underneath his chin in thought, he quickly came to a decision. ‘ Thank you, so Twilight how are you this morning?’ The small drake asked his guardian, taking a small bite out of the gifted magicite crystal. To say it was sweet to his palate would be an understatement, It was beyond delicious. ‘Mooom... I love this. Can you make any more of these?’ He asked in a rush.

‘I’m fine, thank you if a bit tired, and that shard will probably be the only one I’ll be able to make though, until we get to Bridlebit, sorry.’ The lavender filly answered, floating her saddle bags onto her back, trotting over to the entrance to the room. “Ready Fang?”

‘Uhh... just a second.’ The drake answered flying over to the silvery blanket he was laying within only moments before. Landing next to it, he gave a look at the lavender filly standing by the door, his eyes pleading ‘Can you?’. Twilight nodded, smiling slightly. Without warning, the silvery blanket began to morph, melting over the sheets. It floated upwards as it deformed into a brilliant technicolour, amorphous blob. Then it shot towards Twilight exploding around her unflinching form, then settling gently as it formed into a nondescript brown traveling cloak covering her saddlebags.

‘Are you ready now?’ The lavender filly asked mentally, raising an eyebrow.

“Pgergrgrgr, breaaa.” ‘Yeah, I’m ready.’ Fang answered flying over the the young filly, and landing on her back. Folding his wings, he nestled into the cloak, as it gently melted around him, hiding his restless form from the world around them.

“Silly Drake. Alright.” ‘Breakfast, then leave town’ Twilight braced a hoof on the door, then released her magic, unlocking the portal. Pushing softly, the door opens into a wide hall, leading to five other rooms and the front entrance of the main building. Stepping out of the room, Twilight examined the hall, noting the distinct lack of patrons this early in the morning. Twilight began trotting along the path, passing the other rooms, and turning right at the end. Twilight entered the main room of the complex, a bar with tables spaced around near the windows, or in wide open areas. Twilight walked over to the bar and sat on one of the wooden stools, before looking around the bar. She noted with a little annoyance that even the bartender was absent this early in the morning.

Sighing softly, Twilight pulled a shiny object from her back and placed it on the counter, then turned her stool away from the bar and hopped off, heading out of the establishment. Exiting through the wooden panel door, Twilight glanced at the deserted town streets, noting little activity beyond the wind and small creatures. Sighing again she let the cloak shift a hood around her ears, covering her horn and face in shadows as she walked down the street. Twilight reached the eastern entrance of town in short time, ‘Then again it wasn’t really a big town to begin with.’ Twilight contemplates as she left the village, just as the sun was rising over the horizon.

Outside of the village, free of the trappings of society, she felt Fang burst from her cloak, then begin soaring high into the air, far from the sight of civilization or other ponies. Fang reveled in his freedom, giving a few bursts of flame from his mouth, then screeching joy to the world around him.

Pulling several hay stalks and a few mushrooms from her saddlebags, she began mixing them in a small pewter bowl. Twilight pulled her journal from her saddlebags making sure to have the right page in mind and pulling her phoenix feather quill and black pigment ink. Settling her pace to a brisk trot while subtly managing her constant mana use, Twilight dipped her quill in the ink then placed it against the paper and began to write.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

ζ, 30☯, 993♋

This morning has proven to be somewhat uneventful. I don’t know if leaving the key to the room on the bar was appropriate, but I felt Fang getting restless on my back, so I took to the road. I hope I didn’t upset them too much.

Further notation; My experiment last night was a semi success. However, I never expected them to regurgitate the love-infused apples. Either way, I’ve still made some progress on the alternate food source. I plan on meeting another representative of the hive in Pax Nexus, the largest settlement along the road. Hopefully things turn out well and I’m successful in making a safe delivery of the love-infused consumables, so they can eat it without their bodies rejecting it. On a further note, changelings seem to have an interesting bit of physiology during intercourse. When I examined Velt’s shaft, more specifically its underside. I saw a small slit, which leads me to believe that not only are changelings able to seek love from any pony but they are also androgynous, which probably means the majority of them are sterile save for the occasional exceptions.

My supplies are remaining steady despite the massive influx of buyers in each village or town Fang and I visit along the border road. The only thing I’m low on that I can’t replace is the Vampyre rose, I hope I won’t be needing it, because I only have enough left for either a regeneration potion or three more drafts of vigor.

Twilight Sparkle.

_____________
Ran into an interesting pony today. Thankfully he didn’t notice Fang soaring above otherwise I think he might’ve panicked. Anyway, he was an earth pony that could write with his tail. I couldn’t believe it until I saw it. The way he managed to use the appendage was just astounding. It gave me an idea for a new spell. I’ll see if I can get it to work, If I can then It will be a near perfect substitute for soul sprites, when making golems. Other than that I’ve just finished restocking my thyme and thistle, along with some honeysuckle. I wonder if I’ll come across a few mint leaves? The sun is set and the moon has risen. I’ll be taking my rest with Fang, I just hope he’s tired as well.

Twilight Sparkle.

ζ, 31☯, 993♋

I ran into a group of strange ponies today. They didn’t confront me personally, but I did hear some of what they were saying. It wasn’t good, apparently they waited for other ponies, preferably in groups of three or four, to pass by then they attacked them, killing the victims and taking all of their possessions. I’ll see what I can look up about those kinds of ponies the next time I come across a library. Other than that encounter, nothing special happened today and I was able to travel another sixty or so miles towards the next town.

Twilight Sparkle.

_____________
I had a small group of visitors earlier. They weren’t friendly, One of them was a pony, two were griffons. They attacked without warning or reasonable cause. I swiftly dealt with them, I didn’t know what griffons were until after the fight when I looked them up in the Kitabu Cha Maarifa. I had to move camp sites because of the bodies and the fact that they would attract predators. I’m hoping to avoid being discovered for the rest of the night, and continuing on the road tomorrow. Hopefully Fang gets enough sleep as well.

Twilight Sparkle.

ζ, 32☯, 993♋

The weather is strange out here, I’m used to the heat of the day beating harshly on the ground below by now, however instead I find the days gradually getting warmer, but never going beyond moderately hot. Whatever is controlling the weather must be extremely powerful to even keep the temperatures in check as well. I faintly recall memories of pegasi controlling the weather in Canterlot. I’m nearing Highreach. I will take a night to rest before entering. I see a good resting place a few miles up the cliff.

Twilight Sparkle.

ζ, 33☯, 993♋

The day went well. I entered town without difficulty and was able to rent a stall in the town square for forty bits. I made ten times that in sales to normal and special customers, a large amount was used to purchase enough materials to feed the towns homeless, while I healed several patients that were in financial straits. I made sure that Fang had plenty of time to exercise his energy out in the morning. Thankfully I was able to tire him out long enough for me to leave town before nightfall, without incident. I didn’t know that he’d tire out so quickly playing tag, I honestly thought he would have won with ease, due to his flying advantage.

Twilight Sparkle.

ζ, 37☯, 993♋

Hard Stone is an impressive little town, mainly its signature homes made of solid stone. I never thought I would find a Vampyre Rose along the road , but I was impressed when I found a small glade choked with the flowers. I cleaned it out a little and took enough to last me a while. I don’t think I’ll be very appreciated at this village, it’s quite small, I think I’ll just do some healing work before moving on.

On a side note, the shadows that had been following me since I arrived at the border in Windbreak Valley, have mysteriously disappeared, I wonder what happened to them. But that isn’t here or there, I’ll likely be on the road again this afternoon.

Twilight Sparkle.

_____________
Surprisingly it went as I expected, however there was an interesting situation of note. Rather than healing, this poor stallion needed a unicorn’s help to get him out of a chimney. Thankfully, I was there to help, across the way was another poor pegasus who got trapped underneath one of the towns iron minecarts. After taking care of a few of the towns minor problems, I was able to return to the road. I only had to make three potions for the entire town, all of them general invigoration potions, to deal with diseases.

I’m running low on honeysuckle again, but I haven’t run into any forests within the last few days, mostly just small abandoned structures and the occasional sign. I’m about thirty miles out from Hard Stone and will be sleeping in a small cave alcove about forty five meters up a sheer cliff about half a mile off the main road. I’m glad Fang found this place. It has a good view of the area, not to mention the small spring of mineral water flowing out and around the inner walls of the small cavern.

Twilight Sparkle.

ζ, 38☯, 993♋

Fang seems to be acting a little strange, ever since the meeting with those two changelings in Applecrest. He’s been taking longer flights, and occasionally making some strange noises under my cloak ,not to mention when he’s resting inside it, occasionally his tail leaves the cloak and grips around mine. If it persists I might contact my old mentor to see what the actions are about. I hope he’s fine, but I’ll wait a few days for his symptoms to clear up before saying anything.

The cave, as it turned out, was actually a sanctuary for a group of interesting creatures, however whenever I get close enough to look at them they always flee, I don’t know if they were sizing us up to be eaten, but never the less we had to leave soon after dawn broke. I’ve almost completely restocked all of my regular medicinal herbs and spices, the only thing I’m low on is hemlock; though poisonous to some creatures, it is an extensively curative drug for ponies.

I hope I can find some tomorrow, because I will be entering a city for the first time since I left Mshaurie’s tutelage. I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to do well there and will be able to help all of the patients that cross my path.

The sun is setting, I’m going to leave with this remark, no matter how much we learn, there will always be something new to understand and learn about.

Twilight Sparkle.

ζ, 39☯, 993♋

I’ve entered an interesting valley, there are timberwolf tracks everywhere, but I don’t see many trees. This is a little strange, and disconcerting. I’m going to be passing through a bog soon, I hope I have enough manticore fat left over to keep my saddlebags from rotting and to keep them supple, I don’t want to get chafed, while I’m passing through. As I neared the swamp, I noticed the local timberwolves, or should I say wolves. I can’t really tell, as this one was bipedal with silver fur and amber eyes. What’s strange is that it was manipulating something with it’s front paws when I saw it. When I went to say hi, it jumped and ran into the swamp, disappearing, I hope I didn’t scare it too bad.

The swamp water and plant matter is worse on my packs than I thought, and the sun beating down isn’t helping any, I’ve noticed the lower strap holding my saddlebags still and firm to my back has been loosening. When I get to my resting place for the night I’m going to have to water and oil it so that it’s in perfect condition again. For now I’ll have to make do with rubbing manticore fat into the strap.

I saw another one, this wolf was almost as black as obsidian, with green eyes, it was handling a spear of some sort, but it looked more decorative, like one of Mshauri Zecora’s walking staves. I wanted to greet it but realized I might scare it off like the last one, so I contented myself to watch while we passed ways.

I’ve found a resting spot for the night, it’s in the middle of a peat bog but that’s ok, I’ve also made it before the moon had fully risen, that will give me enough time to fix the straps properly before I travel off again in the morning. Fang isn’t too happy, he says the air is too wet for him to fly easily, so he settled on my back for most of the trip in the swamp. I think he’ll feel better once were out of this area.

I’m making a few proximity wards in case we have some visitors.

Twilight Sparkle.

ζ, 40☯, 993♋

Even without the ward, I would’ve known that bear was coming, I had to put it to sleep before waking up for the morning, I’m never using strate fellis weed again. The odor is more pungent than I thought. No wonder Zecora uses extra honey in her brews when that plant is involved. Anyway, my saddlebags are repaired and Fang is chivvying me along, so we can get out of the bog and into open air, I really don’t blame him.

Just my luck, as soon as we left the bog Fang flew above the clouds while I got drenched in the torrential downpour. If I hadn’t fixed my saddlebags last night I would probably be in a lot of pain from chafing. My staff isn’t much of a raincoat as I found out, not that I expected as much from an amorphous elemental soul shard weapon, though I probably wouldn’t be half as mad right now if Fang would just stop laughing at me. I’m cold, wet, and thoroughly upset. If I can find some mordrake root I should be able to make a potion that can combat the cold and remove most of the rain from my body, as the showers did let up half an hour ago.

The funny thing about timberwolves is, when they're not hungry they’re playful… and they play a lot, and hard. I ran into a pair of them that were having a playful time frolicking amongst the shrubbery, I played with them for a bit, helping pass the time, however after a bit they left. Strangely, we parted after a rainbow maned pegasus passed overhead, I wonder if it’s a coincidence or not. Either way, I look forward to using the mordrake root I found while playing. Fang tried to join in but as soon as he let out his first breath, both timberwolves fled into the shrubbery. He was a little put off to say the least. I had fun with them, but now I’m tired and ready to just get some rest as soon as we find a place to settle for the night.

We’re making camp in an open field a few miles from the road, I brewed the fire potion and drank the spicy substance as fast as I could. Its effects were as expected: I flashed with fire completely for half a second, just enough time to evaporate the majority of the water and remove the dreaded cold I was feeling. I’m going to have a really nice sleep tonight and so is Fang.

Twilight Sparkle.

ζ, 41☯, 993♋

Interesting, I feel a strange magic nearby, Fang has taken to hiding in my cloak every time I get closer to it. His instinctual reaction to whatever this magic is, I guess. I also felt a strong aversion spell that pushed me back every time I entered the foothills beyond the main road. It was towards the nearby forest. Whatever or whoever is casting these spells must be really powerful. I’m going to take a few extra days to study it unless I can find a way through, then I’ll just study what’s within and the core of the spell… I wonder if there’ll be any books?

Twilight Sparkle.

The fresh spring breeze swept through Twilight’s lavender mane as she watched a faint outline in the grass before her, stretching indefinitely to either side of her. She gazed up into the sky where she knew Fang was watching and waiting. She stepped towards the invisible dome of energy, taking great care to avoid the sparks of magical energy coming off of the barrier. she tapped a hoof over it, noticing that several specific parts of the barrier were now warping around her hoof as it passed through, like air. Twilight first glanced at the barrier, then her hoof.

She continued like this for a few repetitions until she felt a small weight land solidly onto her back. Blinking in surprise, Twilight reacted swiftly, turning her gaze back to her reptilian companion that landed on her back. He immediately buried himself under her cloak, hiding from sight. Facing forward with a roll of her eyes, the young lavender unicorn stepped through the opening in the barrier.

As she finished passing through, she looked back more out of curiosity than any expectation of something to happen, only to notice that the barrier was back in place. Blinking a few times to make sure that it was actually what she was seeing, Twilight looked forward again shaking her head to wind the gears of thought back into motion.

Twilight examined the trees as she passed, noticing the distinct lack of life in their being, as if they were being drained by something. Passing further through the empty forest, Twilight noticed an opening further ahead, keeping her pace steady she examined the end and as far beyond as she could. ‘Hmm… Trap, maybe?’ Not giving it a second thought, she changed her direction to weave around the trees and into the woods on a parallel path with the opening, after a few minutes of this Twilight changed direction again, heading back towards the area that the opening presented.

As the trees thinned out, Twilight began stalking through the foliage, remaining low and silent, avoiding dangerous plants, and never raising her head or tail above the bushes. As she neared the clearing she saw in the distance as the trees ended, she felt her hoof press onto something soft and wet, Looking down she noticed a mud puddle. ‘Hmm useful.’ She thought offhoofedly as she brought a small mote of energy to bare, lifting and spreading the mud over her purple fur, sticking some debris from the forest on herself as well. Remaining low, she gently hoofed forward, one hoof padding before the other while she neared the clearing, like a predator stalking prey. Keeping her eyes open and her ears sharp, she examined the area before her with every ounce of skill she wielded. Reaching the end of the high shrubbery Twilight stopped and gazed at the massive field before her.

Twilight immediately noticed a few half-rotted pony and griffon corpses laying around the field, along with several weapons and indentations in the shorter grass, telling of items within and underneath the visible line. Twilight closed her eyes, focusing on several angular runes within a circle. She grasped her core, pulling another mote of power and pushed it through her horn and into the runes. ‘Now comes the ‘FUN’ part.’ she thought with a slight annoyance as she finally noted the small light breaching her eyelids from the spell. Grasping the mote on instinct, Twilight pulled it towards herself, letting it flow into her eyes. Twilight winced slightly as the energies passing through her lids blinded her for a second before finally taking effect.

Opening her eyes, Twilight finally saw the energies clearly. All of the corpses were connected to a tether of energy leading inside a cave on the distant side of the field, connected to a small cliff face. ‘I wonder why the magic is connected to the bodies, shouldn’t it be coming from the equipment instead?’ she wondered, slightly cocking her head to the side, a worried frown appearing on her face as she rubbed her chin with a hoof. Placing her hoof back down, Twilight shrugged slightly, setting the puzzle aside for later. “Well, nothing here to worry about, I wonder what’s inside the cave?” Feeling the spell wear off, Twilight stepped out of the bush, into the field, keeping her senses sharp as she began trotting towards the cavern at a brisk pace.

Twilight was only thirty paces from her cover when she noticed it. At first she thought it a trick of the wind but then, it happened again. One of the griffon corpses twitched, its lifeless limbs spasming somewhat randomly while orbs of blue light started to take shape within the corpse’s eyeless sockets. Stopping her motion entirely, Twilight watched as the animated griffon corpse lifted itself from the ground onto all fours, in all its decayed glory, as other corpses around it began stirring as well. ‘So that’s why the magic was connected to the bodies… Hmm, this requires some study.’ She ignored the griffon corpse as it ripped a rusty iron sword from the ground and grabbed a rotting wooden buckler from off the ground next to it. Opting instead to glance up at the sky to see how long she had left. ‘Only a quarter till noon? Wow, I thought more time had passed. Oh well, at least I have daylight. That should help me understand the spell being used to animate these corpses.’ She thought as the armed corpse unsteadily shuffled towards her at a moderate gait.

Turning back towards the rotting griffon, Twilight let loose a sigh, then smiled widely as she trotted towards the corpse. Before she reached it however, she felt something small and scaly fall from her cloak, onto the soft ground. Rolling her eyes, Twilight reached into her pool of energy and pulled forth a sphere of energy. Condensing it slightly, she summoned an oval-shaped rune, inscribing three arrows pointing inward she releases her magic into the spell then turns around as the animated griffon is sent barreling end over end into a tree, it’s sword embedded past the tip just above it. Twilight took a look at the ground to spot what fell out, ‘as I expected.’ Twilight thought. “Fang, what are you doing?” The lavender filly asks aloud, her horn lighting up with another force spell as she pointed it towards a pair of animated earth ponies wielding rusted claymores.

‘MOM! WHAT ARE YOU DOING??! RUN!!!’ The young drake screamed into the powerful filly's mind in panic. Twilight released her spell, receiving similar results to the first.

Rolling her eyes slightly in amusement, “I’m studying the magical formulae holding these decomposing bodies together and giving them life. From what I have seen, I’m hopeful I can come up with a formulae to make my golems more stable.” The young filly answers while dragging one of the unarmed corpses over to her.

Before it could even react, Twilight tapped her horn against the bare bone of the pony’s skull. Reaching forward with her will, she grasped the spell, pulling it out of the corpse and towards her. The light vanished from the animated pony’s eyes as the energy feeding it dissipated, causing it to drop lifelessly to the ground. Having only a few seconds to study the formulae, Twilight spent those few seconds decisively memorizing as many portions of it as she could, including the main body, consisting of a nine pointed star surrounded by three circles. She also swiftly learned the spell for the eyes, an oval bisected by a pair of triangles pointing towards and cutting into each other.

Twilight nodded slightly ignoring a jet of flame behind her as Fang desperately fought to keep the walking corpses away from him and his lavender companion. Smiling widely, Twilight jumped over the corpse and continued with the same trick, ripping the spell out of an animated griffon carrying a rusted halberd, then again with a great hammer wielding pegasus corpse that landed heavily before her. ‘MOM!’ Sidestepping a swing from one of the earth pony corpses, she parried, tapping her horn against its head and ripping out its command structure, giving her insight into how the corpse thought, and how the thoughts worked. ‘MOM! HELP! HELP! HELP!’ The drake screamed harshly inside Twilight’s head as he blasted ice spears and fireballs into the seven undead surrounding him, blasting the heads off three and only limbs off of the others. Seeing his tactics weren’t really working, he jumped into the air and fluttered over to the lavender unicorn who was standing above her fifth victim.

Turning around, Twilight waits for a second, letting the terrified drake land on her back and hide under her cloak. Sighing in relief, she surveyed the field. ‘Hmm… only four left? I thought there’d be more. ‘It’s okayFang, have a rest. I’ll take care of these thralls for you.‘’ She watched as the animated bodies shuffled towards her, their uncaring steps leading them over the ground as they charged towards her.

Before they even get close, they freeze in place, as an annoyed gravelly voice calls out. “WHAT IS GOING ON OUT HERE!” The voice belonged to a yellow colored unicorn stallion with icy blue eyes and an orange mane fading through blue, then grey as it tapered off at the end. He stepped out of the cave and into the sunlight, revealing his cutie mark, a silver veil cut between a sphere the top being a light orange the bottom being silvery white. “I can’t get five days without an interruption, what is it this time! Minotaurs?” He gazes over the field, spotting only four standing corpses and a lavender unicorn filly. “Tartarus in a hoofbasket!” He swore vilely. “Would be a filly wouldn’t it?” he growled under his breath. Raising his voice he asks. “Well? What do you want?” ‘great now I’m set back by a year of work.’ he groaned mentally as he counted the corpses that were still standing. “And how the blazes did a filly like you kill so many of my walkers in the first place?”

“Is that what you call them?” Twilight asks scratching her head with a hoof. putting the limb back on the ground firmly she smiles brightly and answers. “Honestly I was just studying the spell. matrices that were holding them together. Sorry if I damaged them, though to be fair the three broken ones were Fang’s fault.” She adds in, her smile turning sheepish as she noted that of the thirteen that were there originally, only four remained standing. Lifting her hoof, she rubbed the back of her head. “I guess I kinda got carried away. Heh, yea. Sorry.”

Growling unintelligibly, the yellow unicorn began walking towards the young pony. ‘At least she’s not killing them for sport… hmm maybe.’ He spoke finally. “What did you learn then? I’m hoping that my walkers weren’t wasted on pure curiosity, I expect you to help me reanimate the walkers later,” He stops in front of the lavender filly. “But first, tell me your name.”

‘Hmm, Should I tell him my real name? … He is a hermit nonetheless, I doubt others will hear…’ Closing her eyes she bowed her head slightly with a soft breath, then lifted her gaze back to the pony standing before her. Taking one long look at the soiled bodies around her she decided on her answer, ‘On second thought maybe not’ “Glimmering Wisp, I...”

Before she could begin her explanation, the pony noticed her cutiemark and cut her off while pointing at it. “I have only met three other ponies with a cutiemark like yours before and each one was a hunter of the undead, and demons, are you the same?” He asks his horn sparking alight, energies swirling about it lazily as the spell took form within and expels outwards into a more defined shape.

“I, no I’m not, I do not hunt for sport. What sort of pony hunts others for casting different kinds of magic? I see no wrong in making use of the bodies, it’s the same as predators feeding on them.“ Rubbing the back of her neck, Twilight sheepishly added. ”Maybe a little less pleasant than golems, but I can see the advantage of their use.” Her horn charged slightly, a near invisible prick of light signaling a spell being prepared to cast.

Gulping some excess saliva, she continued smiling a little brighter. “What drew me here was the feeling of a new form of magic. With the thought of learning something new, I just couldn’t help but investigate. I’m quite impressed. I think I have the spell down, if you send over several strands of energy connected to yourself I can reanimate all of these bodies and reconnect them to you.” Twilight responded happily but before the other pony could respond, the young filly added a little more. “Though I think a better idea would be to introduce living sparks within the bodies when animating the corpses. It would save you from having to think for them. since they would already know how to use the equipment they’re given and would be a little better trained and less distracted.” Twilight lowers her hindquarters to the ground smiling slightly. A subtle golden glow floated around her body as her primary spell armor activates, “What do you think of that? I could also teach you the spell so you could recreate...”

Twilight stopped speaking as the pony before her raised his hoof, “I get what you’re trying to offer. But I’d rather just use the method I know that works already and experiment once I’m safe again and that the traps you deactivated upon entry are reapplied.” He answers firmly. “Oh, and since you haven’t asked yet I am Diurnal Requiem or Nagash if you wish you use my calling name.” He stated with a small amount of unguarded mirth within his voice.

Twilight nodded once before tilting her head to the side a little, “Um… which name would you prefer? Nagash, or Dirunal Requiem?”

“Nagash, since it doesn’t waste time and it is a gift from my previous master in these arts.”

Twilight’s ears perked up from the little tidbit. “You had a master? Where is he now? Can I speak to him?”

Nagash just gave her a blank stare with his ice cold eyes, “Master Sandro died during a Solar Flare assault on a vampire coven, he was caught in the crossfire by a paladin's light spear, and several knives thrown by the vampires.” He answered almost as emotionlessly as the corpses standing nearby. Twilight folded her ears back, opening her mouth to respond she stopped as Nagash spoke, “I care not for your apologies or sympathies for my loss. He died as do the rest of us. He succeeded in his goal and passed on his knowledge to his apprentice, as I will to mine someday, my notes and knowledge as well. Until, eventually down the line, one apprentice becomes a master and achieves immortality through these arts.”

Twilight nods in solemn agreement. “Alright, would you be willing to share some notes while I’m helping you reanimate your walkers?” Her tone was hopeful, as she turned her gaze back to Nagash.

“Only if you prove yourself competent, and give me a copy of your notes on the summoning of these… Sparks you mentioned. Now come, we're wasting time, I have several ongoing experiments that require my attention before the sun sets.” He answered, turning away from her to a nearby inanimate griffon corpse, lighting his horn a sickly green and passing energy directly into the corpses empty eye sockets.

’Is it safe to come out, mother?’ Fang asks, ruffling her cloak restlessly from underneath.

Twilight nods imperceptibly. ‘Yes Fang you can come out, it’s safe. Just don’t antagonize the animated corpses and you’ll be fine.’ No sooner had she thought the phrase than her brown cloak seemingly tore open silently as a young drake leapt into the air, before closing again over her saddle bags undamaged. The drake flies back down and landed on Twilight’s back.

Nagash ripped his gaze away from the corpse as it began to twitch slightly, and directed it towards Twilight, “What was that?” The yellow coated mage growled in annoyance, before noticing the brown creature standing atop the purple unicorn’s flank. “Whatever it is, keep it in line.” He stated simply before turning back and began reanimating one of the earth pony corpses. Twilight taking the hint began working on the spell as well as summoning energy and power, which she focused into a simple matrix she placed within a pegasus corpse, then, grasping an energy line, she tethered it to the power at the tip of Nagash’s horn .

They continued like this for the next thirty minutes, Fang occasionally honking annoyance or boredom directly into Twilights ear. The corpses lying back down into the tall grass under Nagashes command, he turned and trotted towards the entrance of the cavern he had left from. “Well!, are you coming?” He asked out loud, without looking back.

‘Ohh I wonder what else he can teach me...’ Sucking in a deep gleeful breath, she called out in return. “Coming.” Smiling with childish joy, she charged towards the entrance, Fang leaping off and flying along side, to avoid getting jostled around by her swift gait. Upon entering the cavern, Twilight noticed several lanterns filled with a strange white-blue fire. Following the path of magelight through the cavern, Twilight finally came upon a massive stone chamber, filled with all manner of instrumentation and a small shelf on the side for books. After a few seconds of looking around, Twilight finally spotted the elder unicorn sitting on a stone slab near the central fire pit of the cavern. His horn and forehooves glowed slightly in concentration as stood on his hind hooves, his mouth chanting unspoken words in a constant, silent rhythm.

Trotting over to the wizard, Twilight politely halted several feet from the fire pit. Nagash finished chanting as the deep red fires over the pit began to glow a soft pink and purple, releasing soothing layers of warmth from their embrace. Before Twilight could ask what he’s doing, Nagash reached forward and swiped his hoof through the relaxing flames, coming out on the other side unaffected. “Hmm...” He turned to Twilight, then back to the fire, then back to her before nodding firmly. “It seems I can actually trust you… Fine then.” Standing before the lavender unicorn, he emotionlessly lowered his rear to the ground silently, before continuing. ”Tell me, how were you able to understand necromancy so swiftly?”

Twilights ear perked at the word, having heard it sometime before… Images began floating before her eyes of a white castle, fit upon the backdrop of a setting sun, its spires reflecting the golden light of Celestia’s orb. Closing her eyes and shaking her head of the images and thoughts she returned her attention back to Nagash. “Necromancy? No I’m just proficient at reading spell formulae after a few years of applied practice.” The young filly answered automatically, “My Mshauri taught me some more practical skills that my spell searching didn’t yield, including some fundamentals on alchemy, and elemental spell casting.” Twilight lifted a smile up towards the yellow mage before her.

“You do know that I’m a necromancer, right?” He responded, stroking his chin with a hoof. Twilight nodded, “Ughhh, fine then, thank you for letting me know what you’re capable of. Are you able to read written spell formulae? If you can, I can give you a few of my more powerful spells in trade for this animating spark spell you were talking about earlier.” He offered calmly, with a slight inflection of scholarly interest. His horn lit with a swirling green miasma of energy, over near one of the walls a few scrolls lit up in a similar energy field and floated over Twilight.

The lavender filly grasped the scrolls with her magical field. Nodding to the necromancer, with a smile on her lips, she answered. “I think we don’t need to trade, I don’t mind sharing the spell freely, but I’m grateful you’ll let me read some of your spell notes… Erm sadly, eh heh I don’t have any physical notes on the sprite spell, buuut I can teach it to you without too much difficulty. Do you mind?” Nagash grunted in slight annoyance before shaking his head negatively.

“I wouldn’t mind but I would prefer you write down the spell after our session.” He lifted out a blank scroll from the pile then from a different quarter of the room he pulled out a quill and inkwell. Placing them next to the youthful scholar, he took a deep breath, “Shall we begin?”

“Yes, I’m guessing you’ll want to know the spark spell first, so you can practice while I read the spell formulae within your scrolls?” Twilight asked while lighting her horn and summoning a visible manifestation of the spell matrix she would use to summon the spark, a square tilted at forty-five degrees within another square penetrating a circle with a triangle overly covered by smaller spheres at its points. Next came the energy filling the spell weave with runes as it flowed across, the energy folding in on itself as the runes and circle began to take effect, the magic bending and collecting upon a central point. Cuting the majority of her magic, she fed the small amount of energy into the circle to keep it glowing as the small sphere of energy created by the spell floated upwards and then over to the lavender filly. Twilight giggled as it gently began poking at her extremities flowing over her body in sure easy motions, then it finally broke off as Nagash grunted for attention.

Looking over to the hard unicorn stallion, the lavender filly smiled, lifting over the parchment he had given her but a few moments ago, the sheet covered in small explanations pointing to parts of an exact replica of the spell circle still floating above the floor. Nagash blinked in surprise at first, not having seen the young filly even begin writing while casting the spell, staring back at the filly he nodded once. “You’re fast, fellow scholar of the magical arts?” He asks while lighting his horn with his unearthly green miasma of energy summoning a smaller version of Twilight’s spell, sweating during the entire process as the magic took its toll, finally the spell finished and a tiny spark of energy floated over to the tired mage.

“You could say I’m a scholar among other skills and abilities.” Lighting her horn, she lifted out a vial of sparkling blue liquid from her pack, and floated it over to the necromancer. “Here take this, it should revitalize you somewhat. I think you have it down, take some time to study it and interact with the wisp you created.” Twilight nodded towards the tiny spark of light floating near the necromancer, dancing mutely in the air.

Grasping the glass of liquid in his own magical grasp, Nagash drew the container towards his lips, and downed the vile substance in one gulp. Grimacing in distaste, he began to question whether the substance was healthy or not. Suddenly a spark lights atop his horn as he felt the potion run its course. “Hmm… Think you could leave a few of those here?” he asked calmly.

Twilight’s ears perked up. “Sure, I can leave you three if you can spare seven spare blank scrolls, I’m going to need them for studying and spell crafting purposes.”

Nagash nodded, “I foresee no problem with that. Agreed.” His horn lit once more as he grasped several blank scrolls and floated them over to Twilight, who in turn lifted out three more vials of the sparkling energy potion.

Twilight’s cloak melted down her legs, parting from her back as it pooled on the ground, then it solidified into a shimmering curtain of cloth before the lavender filly, floating over to the scrolls it picked them up and held them up before her. Smiling softly, she opens the first of the rolls, preparing herself for an interesting session. Before she could peruse the contents written within, she was interrupted by a grunt. Twilight looked up, noticing the look of incredulous annoyance on his face, she sighed. “This is my staff. I magically constructed it under my Mshauri’s instruction and teachings. It contains a piece of my will and is formed from pure elemental magic giving it the ability to transform into anything I wish, it is also able to decipher and follow my thoughts with ease. But unless I keep it in line, it acts autonomously.”

Grunting in acknowledgement, the necromancer turned away and continued studying the spell scroll Twilight created for him, while using his magic to put the potions she gave him away for safekeeping.Twilight returned to the unfurled scroll before her, gazing upon its formula, Twilight let the residual spell fade from her horn, the massive image within the center of the room fading from sight as the magic feeding it dissipated, the magic within the construct floating away to be absorbed by the world around it. Twilight’s wisp floated above her head glowing softly and giving her a steady light to read the scroll by.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight leaned forward stretching her back, lifting her hindquarters slightly in the air as a small ring of cracks disturbed the otherwise quiet cavern. A tranquil peace that would otherwise only be disturbed by the occasional rasp of paper and the soft crackling of the nearby fire. Glancing around the cavern, she looked towards the tunnel leading to the entrance, noticing the orange colors bouncing cheerfully off the walls into the cavern. ‘The sun’s setting. I guess I’ve been in here longer than I expected.’ releasing a gentle breathy sigh, she turned back to the scroll she’d been reading for the past half hour, the light of her conjured wisp illuminating the words enough for her to read them with ease. Sighing once more she turned away from the sheet as she was about to read it for the fourth time.

Nearby, Nagash looked over towards the lavender unicorn filly in his cavern, “You should get some rest, you’ve been studying those scrolls far longer than you need to.” he spoke as softly as he could in his gravelly voice, the bright light of his own greatly improved and enhanced wisp flooding the cavern brightly from above his head. Twilight looked up at the necromancer with exhausted lavender orbs surrounded by dark purple bruises, the tired filly nodded slowly in reluctant acquiescence. Rolling the scroll closed, Twilight sent a small stream of energy out of her horn, locking it onto her wisp above, without even a second thought she pulled on the connection, lifting herself off the ground and sending herself careening over a ledge above. Spotting a sleeping form laying below she pulled on the connection one more time to slow her ascent, then released it, freefalling several feet to a surprisingly soft landing next to the dark winged form.

Blinking her eyes a few more times, Twilight lays next to the small sleeping form, reaching a hoof around its body and dragging it closer to her, allowing her to spoon it with ease. A dark amorphous form floated up from below and gathered around them like a blanket, its color changing to a dark grey, blending it with the surrounding stone. The lavender filly stirred underneath the warming blanket, pressing her lips upon the scaled forehead of her companion she sighed in joyous relief, and allowed her tired mind to drift as sleep began to take her.

‘Mom… What’s that feeling down there? Why’d she kiss my lips?’ The young drake thought, before letting his tail wave a little stronger as he backed into the lavender filly behind him, purposefully extending her forelegs around his neck and rubbing the scales just above his tail right into the young fillies teats. ‘Hmm…. feel, good…. hmm….. ’ his mind eventually shutting down as he too slipped into the ocean of dreams.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

(Along the Griffica/Equestrian border, Hurricane range wilderness area Nagash’s cave, nine hundred ninety third Celestial year, forty second day of spring)

‘.... ...ther, ….ight. Twilight? Are you awake yet?’ Waking up with ease born from practice in the forest, Twilight responded by opening her eyes and staring directly into the pair of emerald orbs set before her.

‘Fang? What time is it, what do you need?’ She grumbled mentally as she slowly stretched her legs from their embrace around her young charge.

‘Um… I think it would be better if you saw it.’ he answerd, standing up. He faced Twilight. After a few seconds of confused looking, she noticed the problem.

A blush tinged Twilight’s cheeks as she got a good long look at the young drake’s fully erect, pointed, pink phallus. ‘Uh, huh. Fang, it’s alright, you’re doing just fine. Your penis is just erect. You want to make it go down I presume, yes?’ She asked calmly.

“Mraa, aerr!” ‘Yes that would be much appreciated, this is very awkward to have bouncing around.’ ’Why would my thing be out… I don’t see any females around.’ He thought, his head jerking around to confirm his suspicions. ‘Though it could be mom… but no she raised me, it’s not like that.’ He affirmed resolutely, a small sliver of doubt only remaining buried within the back of his thoughts. ‘Maybe it could.’.

Twilight lifted a hoof to her horn, before casting a simple cantrip, ice began to form on the hoof before she moved it away. ‘Now, hold still. This might sting a bit, but it will definately remove the erection.’ She said before pressing the frozen bottom of her hoof to the jutting appendage.

“AAhh!” ‘Hah, that’s cold!’ The drake protested darting backwards against the ledge, however he realized that the young filly’s methods, crude as they were, actually worked, and Fang’s prick shrinks back into it’s sheath within seconds. Sighing with relief, the young drake waddled over to his lavender savior, and folded his wings around her in a warm hug. ‘Thank you for the help mother.’

‘Any time little Fang, now let’s see what the morning brings us.’ she responded kindly, before leaping over the ledge with her magic, dropping over forty feet to the cavern floor, landing softly as she used her magic to compress the air below her at the last second, cushioning her fall, and slowing her descent. Looking around the cavern, she noticed the great pink bonfire from the night before had run its course and was now little more than embers. Near the main entrance sat Nagash, pondering deeply over the scroll she had made for him the night before. “Good morning.” The lavender filly greetedcheerfully as she trotted towards the necromancer.

“Hrmm!?” Nagash jerked upward, his head swiveling around until his eyes locked onto the lavender filly coming closer to him. “Oh it’s you. What are you doing up so early? It’s not even past moon set.”

“I’m usually up by this time… and I think I’ve spent plenty of time here. Fang? Are you ready to go?” In response, the young drake floated down from above, landing on her back and curling into a ball on top of her saddle bags, before a dark shadow dropped from above covering him, and forming into the cloak Twilight was wearing the night before. The lavender filly turned back to Nagash. “It was really nice studying with you, but I’m heading off. There are many places yet for me to see before I turn around and head back north, I’ll see about returning here if I can. Keep the scroll, I have no need for it, and you might want a reference for when you wish to start experimenting with the spell.” Twilight, without warning, leapt forward and hugged the golden unicorn, before leaping off the surprised necromancer and trotting out of the cavern.

She had only gotten three meters out of the cavern before Nagash came out tearing after her. Twilight paused, letting the necromancer catch up. “You should take this, before you go.” He pulled out a small white bone with a simple angular rune carved into it. “It’s connected to the fire pit so if you run into any trouble, burn it and it will take you and whoever you’re in contact with back to the origin point, however it can only be used once, so don’t waste it.”

Twilight gazed at the bleached bone critically before smiling back at Nagash. “Thank you, but why?”

Growling unintelligibly, with a small blush forming on his cheeks, he turned his head to look away, “You’re the first pony that I’ve come across, except for my master, that has been open minded enough to accept my magic with a scholarly interest.” He responded embarrassedly “I would rather like to see you again.”

“Don’t worry, I will be back. It’s just a matter of when.”

“Agreed, now begone, I’ve had enough company to last me a month.” He muttered, before turning back to his cave, and leaving.

“Have a nice morning!” Twilight shouted to the necromancer before sprinting across the field, and melting into the forest.

As she reached the barrier’s location, she sensed it being lifted by Nagash’s familiar powers. She stepped outside of it and continued trotting along, already knowing that the field would be back in place.

After several minutes she found the road again, and headed South-West along the path. Fang, sensing a distinct lack of the dark energies that were sending his instincts haywire earlier, leapt from the folds of Twilight’s cloak once more to take flight in the air around the young filly. Twilight giggles gently as the small drake began pulling celebratory acrobatics midair. ‘It feels good to be on the road again.’ The lavender filly nodded, as she pulled her notebook from her saddlebags, along with a quill and ink. Dipping the quill into the ink, she placed the device to paper, and began to write.

ζ, 42☯, 993♋

Amazing, I have never met a Necromancer ’I hope I spelled that right’ before it was amazing. The way he cast spells was definitely new from the style I’m used to. Usually the spells are quick and relatively harmless, and use a set amount of energy per cast, however his magic can be used for as long as needed, much like a barrier or such. By reading several of the constructs he had made and the spell formulae that went into them, I was able to deduce a way to improve the efficiency of any elemental or creature I create, making them faster and stronger than before. I wonder if I can somehow give a few of them the ability to cast spells beyond the simple intelligence I give them using the Soul Sprites..

Diurnal Requiem or Nagash as he prefers to be called is quite friendly, if a bit grouchy, it must be all of the time he spends alone with his skeletons. Anyway, he helped me learn a few more of his spells, and we made a very nice trade. I now have plenty of ink and paper to use now and more spell knowledge to study. I hope to see him again within the next few months, but I have a planned study session with the changelings when I get to Pax Nexus. Maybe late summer, I have a few more ingredients to gather before I reach Bridlebit.

Twilight Sparkle.

[/hr]

The moon is nice tonight, though I still wonder why is has the face of a unicorn implanted on it’s surface? I’ve found plenty of the herbs when I discovered a glade with Fang’s invaluable assistance, I might make him another mana crystal as a thank you present. There really isn’t much else to say other than that the road is an interesting place. The ponies in each town are interesting in their own little ways. I’ve found it an absolute joy passing through the area.

I came across a sign a bit back saying another hundred miles to Bridlebit, I hope to get there tomorrow, if not I’ll spend the night in a tavern the day after next.

I came across that strange pegasus again, the one with the grayed out rainbow mane, tan coat, and compass cutie mark. This time she was flying around a small cliff face. She was holding a strange golden idol of some sort. Anyway I ignored her campsite when I found it, considering it wasn’t that hard to miss if you knew the signs. I’m making camp for the night in another cavern this time behind a small waterfall made by one of the creeks near the road at this junction.

Twilight Sparkle.
ζ, 43☯, 993♋

The small cavern that Fang suggested was in fact a bear den, I had to relocate during the night, however that doesn’t bother me half as much as the stupid half wolf half ape like creature that tried to take me and Fang underground when he found us wandering through a particularly dry stretch of ground, I’ll have to thank Fang again, he sure knows how to liven things up. He set the dumb creature’s back on fire, it yowled in pain before letting me go and darting back into its hole, Fang wanted to chase after, but I realized that it would have been a really bad Idea, and told him not to.

Fang’s spell breath has only gotten stronger since he first started using it a month ago. I came across a deer, he was quite a pleasant creature despite the fact that he had no others of his kind nearby, I’m assuming that the deer don’t travel or gather in herds like pony’s do. But I’m off topic. Anyway we decided to share some time together, his interest was because he never saw a pony traveling alone along the road, and the fact that it was a pony traveling along the road in the wilderness areas instead, and I because I had never met one of his kind before. We shared some spells, and he showed me a new spell that allows me to make plants grow. It’s painstakingly slow and requires that I be in a certain mood to cast it. but the results are far beyond my expectations. He showed me what the spell could do and I was impressed when he caused a barely grown blackberry vine to cover the wall and produce fruit within the space of several minutes. I showed him my sprite spell and revealed to him several of its uses including how to animate an air spirit or an earth golem. He was quite impressed. we exchanged notes on how the spells were cast and he impressed me when he summoned four, FOUR sprites at the same time using his antlers as focus points, they may have been smaller than mine but it was still amazing how he summoned that many. I wanted to ask if he could teach me but I realized that it would probably require a set of antlers similar to his, anyway after we parted ways on a cheerful note, I gave him a small mana crystal as a parting gift.

It’s night and the moon’s out but I can see a few lights off in the distance illuminating the sky, it must be Bridlebit. I’ll be arriving there tomorrow morning as I expected, I hope the people there are as nice as the ones in Windbreak.

Twilight Sparkle.
ζ, 44☯, 993♋

I’m getting closer to the town, I wonder what those ponies are doing behind those rocks, didn’t they notice the timberwolf tracks, or the Sanguine Rose vine? I hope they notice soon. Dying to a timberwolf pack isn’t pleasant. I’m making a few invigoration potions before I enter town, and taking an immunity potion, my mouth and throat may burn for the rest of the day, but at least I don’t have to worry about getting sick before I leave tomorrow.

Hmm, These structures seem familiar, but I know I’ve never seen them before… it must be something about their tall rectangular design. Three to four stories is an impressive feat to build a structure without magic.

I’ll write more once the day is over and I’ve made it to a room for the night, I hope Fang stays safe. He chose to fly around the city and visit the countryside beyond it.

Twilight Sparkle.

Author's Note

AN:So yea, new chapter yall get to read my messed up world and madness, anyway I have several people to thank for helping me fix the major and minor issues of the chapter.

First off is my oldest and most trusted prereader janushyde.
Moon Shade Gave me some insightful opinion after his preread.

My first Editor was Aeondragon He was also Quite insightful and was able to help me repair a tone of the minor fissures of the story, not to mention helping me fix and replace certain scenes that didn't fit with the characters.

Editor two was Firedon he's an awesome fellow and has actually helped me fix what me and Aeondragon missed the first time through.

hopefully all of you like the chapter, just leave comments in the bottom, and let me know what you all think.

I just realized that the chapter looks a lot nicer in the doc so Here's the link.

The Merchant

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 12: Travails and Journal Tales

Section 3 of 3

Part 1

[note for journal entries Day☯, season(ζSpring, ☀Summer, ♨Fall, ☸Winter), Year♋,]

(Along the Griffica/Equestrian border, City of Bridlebit, nine hundred ninety third Celestial year, forty forth day of spring)

The young filly stared at the height of the buildings surrounding her, the sun shining down from above, as she casually trotted along the hoof-beaten road at a decent clip. Looking at shopping fronts left to right as she finished admiring the tall buildings, she noted several items within the displays of the nearby vendors. One such item being a jade amulet shaped into an oval with the head of a unicorn having two antennae instead of a horn, and butterfly wings poking out from the sides. At its core jutted an amethyst cut hexagonally. Pulling her eyes away from the item she barely dodged out of the way of a moving earth pony. Sighing in relief, the young filly turned her thoughts to her other companion resting comfortably underneath her cloak.

‘Hmm I really should be more careful. I’m surprised that trinket took my attention though. I think I have enough bits. I can use it to practice enchanting.’ The lavender mare thought carefully, and moved her eyes back to the stall that held the trinket. her body unconsciously halted in its advance as her attention was piqued by the idea. Nodding once in agreement, she walked over to the stall to get a better look at the small amulet. Looking at the stall clerk, she noted his prominent features, a dark blue coat, pink eyes and a lavender mane and tail. “Hello.” she called, gaining the stallions attention.

“Hrmm?” He responded dazedly, looking down he noticed the lavender filly eyeing him curiously. “Yes little one, what is it you seek? Where’r yer parents?” He asked calmly, his eyes staring steadily at the filly as he noted her visibly immaculate cloak, and the small indents of saddlebags that rested on the lavender unicorn’s back.

“Actually, I came to ask how much this is worth,” The lavender filly asked, lifting the small amulet in an aura of magenta energy. “I don’t travel with my parents though, sorry to disappoint.”

The azure stallion took a single glance at the medallion in the lavender filly’s grasp before deciding on a price. “Sixty-four bits, for the flutter charm alone, ten bits for the obsidian chain holding it,” the stallion stated simply, as he gazed at the lavender filly, her eyes filling with disappointment as she realizes she lacked the bits to purchase the item. Rolling his eyes and taking a slightly prolonged breath, he smiled, letting it out. “But for you, fifty-five bits for the set.“

The lavender filly cheered, taking out her bulging coin purse. She smiled at the surprised vender, before using her magic to separate a large sum of bits from her purse and placing it on the counter. Placing the noticeably smaller sack of bits in her saddlebags, she turned around and walked away. Bringing the amulet with the black chain before her eyes, she noted its high quality and lack of imperfections. “I’m glad I paid honestly for this.” She whispered to herself as she walked down the road.

The shopkeeper desperately waved behind her in a desperate bid for attention. “By Celestia’s voluminous flanks, get back here little filly, you paid too much,” he yells loudly. The purple unicorn simply ignored his voice and walks away.

Done looking over the amulet, the young filly magically opened one of the flaps of her saddlebags and placed it inside for safekeeping. Looking around herself, she noted the road widening into a larger intersection. She glanced at the stalls pitched in the middle of the market square, several of which, she saw, were selling different kinds of food items, one stall in particular sold several herbs that Twi carried in bulk. Taking a second to halt on the side of the street, Twilight pulled a quill and some parchment from her pack to note the location of the merchant’s stall. Diagram and location put down carefully in neat calligraphic writing, she put the materials away and sheathed the parchment snugly between her straps and saddlebags.

Her supplies returned within her saddlebags, she continues down the line of stalls until she found one that looks dilapidated and unused. Walking up to it, she examined the stall carefully to see what she could do with it. A cough sounded behind her, interrupting her inspection. Turning around, she spotted the source immediately in the form of a white feathered griffon with a golden beak, piercing amber eyes, and a golden coat over his backside. “Ag-hem, what do you want with my stall, hatchling?” he asked in a smooth and calm voice.

Twilight instinctually looked straight into his eyes before answering in kind. “I was hoping I could rent it so I could sell my products. Are you willing to do such a transaction?” she asked, her gaze unwavering in her challenge.

The griffon ceased his inspection of her person and nodded in agreement. “I see you’re not a liar or a cheat like the other offers. Fifty-six bits and the stall is yours for the day.” Twilight nodded pulled the proper amount of bits from her pack and passed them over to the griffon, before he spoke again. “Whatever else you need s’not my problem, so make sure you have it with you already. Good day.“ Turning around and spreading his wings, he took off, flying over the roofs of the houses.

Smiling slightly at her success, the lavender filly walked over to the stall she had rented. Lifting her saddle bags from under her cloak, she placed them onto the aged counter, stirring up some dust and causing her to sneeze. Blushing slightly, she crouched backwards, tensing her legs slightly before she leaped across with enough grace to put even a wonderbolt to shame. Landing softly on the other side she whirled around and focussed entirely on her saddle bags while her cloak gently rolled into a ball and floated off her back with a large lump inside, which landed gently into a corner of the stall unseen from the outside.

Flipping her saddlebags open, she began pulling a plethora of items out, including a medium sized cauldron, a Magefire candle made of basilisk earwax, and a set of beakers and vials. Laying her working materials to the side, the purple filly pulled out the final items of her pack, a great satchel filled to the brim with the herbs and spices she used for making her potions and a small mirror she found in the old Everfree ruins. Placing a potion at the top of her stall and binding it in place magically, she noted several ponies turn their heads to look at the signal. Immediately three start heading towards her position. ‘This is going to be a long day,’ she thought as she began pounding several wheat stalks into fine powder, and added several wormwood leaves into a small beaker before placing it over the Magefire candle.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

The lavender pony grunted with effort as she lifted the last of the devices back onto her back. ‘Ugh several hours with that many ponies. I can’t believe how large the line got after the first few customers… I guess it must be unusual for them to come across a trained alchemist,’ she speculated to herself, her eyebrows furrowed in thought as she trotted past the rows of buildings and alleyways, glancing left and right periodically in search of the building the stall’s owner had notified her of, before she packed up and left for the day.

The young unicorn halted under a light pole as she recounted the event silently, within her own thoughts. ‘“Hmm… I see you’ve done well for yourself. Don’t worry, I’m not going to charge you beyond my original offer earlier. Besides, I’ve made plenty on all of the stalls others have used already. Would you be willing to give me a potion that can heal injuries?”

“I have a restorative tonic, yes. Here. Would you mind pointing me in the direction of a good Inn? I’m not used to the area and would rather not waste time trying to search for one.”

“Why, yes, of course. The Bluebell Rose should be on Keynes street and Rigid Point road. If you head further up this road you’ll hit an intersection with Keynes street. Take a right, and head down until you hit Rigid Point. The Bluebell Rose should be the yellow building with a red and blue checkered roof.”

“Thank you for the directions sir. Just a sec… here’s your potion. I made it fresh, so as long as you keep it sealed, it should last at least a year, or until it’s second use, drink only half when healing injuries, or you’ll waste the concoction.”

“Thank you. Have a good night, and good luck finding the inn.”

“Thank you, goodnight to you, as well.”

Shaking her head a little, she looked at the sign at a nearby intersection. ‘Hmm, Keynes street and Blue Sky Road. Hmm, where’s Rigid Point?’ she asked herself, placing her hoof forward again, she rose to a standing position before continuing down Keynes street. As the buildings passed by during her trek, she noted an inconsistency with the local shadows around her. The moon revealed all below the orb in its soft, pale glow. As Twilight neared the next intersection, she decided to ignore the shadows warping in her peripheral vision in favor of closing in on a yellow building, glowing with candle light from within. The lavender filly looked up at the sign above the main entry. ‘Th- BlJeLaell Rnse,’ she read. ’A bit faded but still legible. this is the place.’

Pressing her hoof against the door, she opened it quietly, noting several patrons sitting at various stools, some awake with earl grey stein mugs, a few others laying on various tables covered with dark wool blankets. Sighing to herself she summoned her inner energies to close the portal behind her before stepping deeper inside, she noted another bar similar to the ones in the other inns she’d stayed at. She walked over and seated herself on one of the soft pillows before the counter.

When the lavender filly saw the bartender, she noticed that she was a teal unicorn mare with a with a wind swept crimson mane and tail, and a small ceramic cup with steam floating above it. She was currently wearing an apron and a single belt with an oblong silk weave sheath, holding a leather bound device within biting distance of her mouth on the inside of her right foreleg. Ignoring the signs, the lavender filly flipped a hoof into the air to try and wave the unicorn bartender over without raising a ruckus. The unicorn mare nodded in the filly’s direction before turning back to her current customer. After a few words of encouragement, she sends him off with another patron who turned out be tired, as he lethargically led his tipsy companion out of the bar.. Finally finished with her task, the elder mare trotted over to the young purple alchemist.

“Hello what brings a filly such as you to my, establishment?” The teal mare asked, her tone varying from happy to sceptical.

The lavender unicorn filly nodded while smiling. “I came here to purchase a room for the night, if that would not be too much to ask? Though I do have a question,” she leaned in towards the bartenders ear. “What’s with the knife?” she asked innocently.

Sighing slightly, the elder mare answered, “We’ve recently had some violence happen nearby and I’m taking a few precautions to make sure my inn remains safe. I’ll be purchasing a cross bow within a few weeks, as an added measure.” The young filly nodded, understanding. “But you were asking about a room, fifteen bits for one night, will you be staying?.” The elder mare asked professionally.

“Of course. I was actually directed here by one of the stall renters, he said this would be a good place to stay the night.” The lavender filly smiled widely as she pulled out a small collection of bits, placing them on the counter. “You said fifteen, right?” The young filly recounts as she gathered the necessary number of bits, placing them on the counter, neatly stacked in front of the barkeep. “Here you go.”

The elder unicorn smiled, placing the bits inside a box using her magic before picking up a bright orange stone with her mouth and placing it on the counter before her purple patron. ”The key’s laced with some anti magical materials. It would take a really powerful unicorn to pick it up using their magic.” The elder mare answers before the filly can even open her mouth to ask.

The lavender filly nodded, “Which room does the key go to?”

Lifting her hoof for a half second, the teal mare placed the orange keystone back down onto the counter and answered. “Room four. Don’t worry, the key is all you’ll really need to get in.”

Quirking an eyebrow at the strange comment, the lavender filly decided not to try and discuss it, instead visibly swallowing. “How much for some clean Apple Family cider?” She asked.

The mare behind the counter gave the lavender filly a funny look. ”You mean apple juice?” The younger unicorn nodded. “Two bits a glass.” Purple hooves reached across the counter, placing two bits before the bartender as she turned and began pouring the amber beverage.

As the bartender focused on completing the order, the young filly felt a presence next to her. Looking to the side, she noted a young stallion. His lack of horn and wings immediately identified him as a member of the earth pony race. He had a chocolate coat and a bright red mane with a tail the same color. His chiseled features and certain movement of his steps as he approached hinting at an object dangling between his legs gave his gender away almost immediately. He turned somewhat, preparing to leap onto the stool next to her, finally revealing his cutie mark, a pair of cherries held inside of a salt shaker.

Having focused enough of her attention on the pony through the corner of her eye, she decided he was not a threat, and promptly ignored him as the stallion finished settling on his seat. She kept her smile beaming from her face as the bartender finished pouring the apple juice the filly paid for, placing it before the purple filly. Nodding happily at the satisfied customer, she turned to the stallion sitting next to the young filly. “Hello Cherry Spice. Need anything?”

The stallion blinked for half a second, jolting slightly before he turned to the bartender, a sheepish smile spreading across his face while he rubbed a hoof on the back of his head. “Uuuh, sorry I didn’t quite catch that, I’m a bit distracted. Ever since they closed down the Brass Lantern, the streets have been getting a bit more dangerous as of late, so please, don’t mind if I’m a bit off when I answer.” he explained.

Sighing, the unicorn behind the counter lifts a hoof to the bridge of her nose, rubbing it a little before letting her hoof drop back to the ground. “I asked if you need anything, not if you were ok. It’s obvious you had a narrow escape just by the looks of ya. Robbers?” The stallion nodded. “Figures.” she muttered under her breath. Raising her voice slightly she returned to the conversation at hoof. “Anyway do you need anything?”

“Just a room to rent, nothing special, so how’s your day been Miso?” he asked, passing eight bits across the counter.

“I’ve been doing quite well for myself, I can’t really complain since business is good, though I really wish they would keep control of the thievery inside the city. I swear I keep getting more and more stories of people getting raped in allyways and venders getting swindled of their recent earnings by sword bearing vagabonds, don’t even get me started about the vampire rumors.” Miso ranted while putting the male vendor’s bits away and placing a few apples before him.

The lavender filly noted the discrepancy in price, while drinking her cider, ‘Hmm, why’d he have to pay less?’ Tapping her hoof on the table the lavender filly grasped Miso’s attention along with that of the vender. “Umm, miss Miso? Why’d he have to pay less for his room?” The young unicorn asked innocently, her eyes filled with curiosity trying to understand the injustice of the moment.

Before Miso could speak, the patron smiled slyly before commenting, “Heh, not trying to swindle a filly now, are you?”

Miso bristled at the comment, “For your information Cherry, I was going to make sure the filly got her money’s worth, however if she objects I can give her one of the regular rooms.”

Cherry Spice lifted a hoof to his chin as if in thought, “Let me guess, room four?” He asked, throwing his hoof straight up as if in success.

While Cherry was sporting a victorious smile, Miso sputtered, trying to come up with a decent answer. “Bu-but , Ha-how?”

“It’s the room you give to all the new guests who haven’t much experience dealing with innkeepers. I think this filly’s an honest worker, just give her ten bits back and I won’t harass you any more on the subject.” He said firmly with a nod in Miso’s direction. Turning towards the filly as Miso grabbed the appropriate number of coins Cherry noted his counter partner’s look and sighed, “So, since you’re on the topic and Miso needs to apologize to you for trying to take more than her fair share in your bits, what’s your name?”

Glancing at the stallion next to her, the lavender filly answered, reaching out a hoof. “Hello I’m Glimmering Wisp. Nice to meet you Cherry Spice.”

Cherry answered Twilight’s outstretched hoof with one of his own in kind. “Well, nice to meet you too Glimmer, so yea give old Miso some time to gather the bits.”

After a few seconds a ten of bits slid across the counter, Miso sighed before giving Cherry Spice a spiteful glare. “You and your big mouth,” her grievance stated, she rolled her eyes and turned to Twilight. “Well here’re your bits, sorry I overcharged.” She turned to glare at Cherry Spice one last time, before heading down the counter away from the merchant and the filly to cool down.

“Ah, she really is nice, even if she does overcharge some of the newer customers every once in a while. I guess it keeps things interesting for her.” Cherry Spice yawned, placing two hooves on the counter and stretching out his back with a few satisfying pops. “Yeaaaa, that’s the spot. Alright so Wisp, where are you from?”

Images of a white city placed in the side of a mountain came to mind flickering on and off as she tried to gather the necessary knowledge. Coming up blank for an exact location she came from she looked at her cloak and saddlebags, her eyes flashed as her inspiration took hold and she realized the answer. “Well… you could say I come from the road, considering I’ve been living on the move. The next town I’m visiting is Hoofreed, I’ll be heading there in the morning.” The lavender filly answerd, a hoof still holding her chin in thought.

Cherry Spice’s smile if anything got even wider from Twilights revelation, “Hay, did I hear you right? You are heading to Hoofreed next yes?” The young filly nodded, giving the chocolate brown stallion a questioning look. “Alright, alright I’ll get to the point, I’m heading in the same direction, and you said you’re leaving in the morning. I was proposing that we travel together, it would make things interesting and help beat the tedium of traveling alone. What do you say?” He asked brightly, giving a carefree smile.

Twilight sighed, “How about we start with meeting outside town during the twilight hours of morning,” Twilight lowered her voice to just above a whisper, “‘IF’ we’ll be traveling together, I have a few things to show you, that I don’t want you surprised by when we're traveling, and… wait, you’re that vendor I bought extra ingredients from earlier.”

Cherry Spice perked up with an even more devilish smile. “Indeed I am, I’m impressed you remembered. Well I did, but that doesn’t count, I’m quite good at remembering customers and such, you were the one that bought forty pounds of materials from my stall, you just about cleared me out of my medical weeds and then some, what did you use it all for anyway?” he asked raising an eyebrow.

In response, Twilight pulled a red potion from her pack, along with several purple and grey potions. The merchant’s eyes widened as twelve potions stack themselves neatly into a row on the counter before him and Twilight. “I use base plants and other materials that are naturally magic infused to create potions and cure-alls, along with potent salves. My field while traveling amongst the towns is alchemy and potion making, but my passion is magic and spell weaving.” She answered while focusing on a simple cantrip, the potions immediately falling through the wood as a portal into her saddle bags formed just above the counter’s surface, below the potions.

Cherry Spice watched, his jaw slack as the potions fell through the counter and disappeared seemingly into nothing.Turning to his companion he smiled wider than before. ”That was awesome. But really, you make potions?” The lavender filly next to him bobbed her head up and down in agreement. “Dang that would be quite useful. I’m pretty good at finding weeds and magical flora, so I guess we could work as a partnership.”

Twilight dipped her head and shook her head side to side, “Maybe, but know this first, a good amount of my potions are made for free use, the only ones that are sold are booster potions, such as healing potions, invigoration potions, and the like.”

Cherry Spice, raised an eyebrow at his lavender companion, “Wait, you just give potions away?”

“Yes.” Twilight affirmed with a roll of her eyes.

The brown merchant scratched the side of his scalp, a frown forming as his eyebrows scrunched together. ”Ok, you give potions away then… How do you make any bits with that kind of business sense?” He asked completely perplexed by the lavender filly’s success.

Twilight frowned at the merchant, giving him the strongest scowl she could, before harumphing. “Unlike you, I don’t do it to make money. I do it so that other ponies can get better and live longer. Plus, if I charged every customer I came across I wouldn’t be able to carry all of the bits.” She answered, with a breathy sigh, rolling her lavender eyes. “Besides, I find it more fun to travel than haggle.”

“Alright then I can see that.” He responded with a quick shake of his head. “Hmm, were you perchance trained by a zebra?”

Twilight jumped up, sitting a little higher on her seat. “Yes,I was actually trained by a zebra shaman. How’d you know?” Twilight leaned forward, interested in his reasoning.

Cherry Spice nodded, “Well you work with potions which is really uncommon for ponies, but what tipped me off was that was how well made your potions were, and the fact that you actually purchased some of the more common cooking ingredients for advanced alchemical use.” He answered easily laying back in his seat, well at ease with his position. Twilight sat back in her seat just calmly resting in the tavern next to the older merchant. “So,” He yawned. “Yea, I’m off to bed, meecha in the mornin.” He finished before hopping off his seat and walking towards the sleeping quarters of the inn.

A few minutes later Twilight yawned as well, she looked towards Miso yawning again, “Good night Miso.” Twilight spoke loud enough for the bartender to hear, before heading off towards the sleeping quarters. After a few minutes she stopped before a single door in the hallway, with the number four carved into it. Twilight pulled out her keystone and placed it on the door, immediately she heard gears turning as the lock holding the door in place magically disengaged. With a final click Twilight pushed the door open and entered the room. Its furnishings were simple. A bed, a window, and a small dresser, along with a tiny walk in bathroom containing a cloud sink and a toilet.

Twilight visibly broke from her tireless demeanor, closing the door behind her and placing the orange keystone up to the door again, she heared the satisfying whir of magical gears as the door was locked in place. Twilight let out a tired sigh as she turned around and began walking towards the bed, dragging the key stone with her. “Alright Fang, you can come out now.”

With a burst of motion, her cloak flipped out of the way as the mottled brown reptile flipped off her back and flitted around the room to and fro, as he began taking in the area around him. ‘Oh hey Twilight. Do you mind unpacking some crystals? I’m starving.’ He mentally projected before landing softly on the floor beside the young filly. Twilight nodded slightly, her legs lazily placed underneath her in an uncomfortable position. Standing back up slowly, Twilight rotated her head to the side and opened one of her saddle bags. She reached inside with her magic to search for the small blue glowing crystals she’s used to.

Suddenly her eyes open wide, and her cheeks redden as her search came up empty. She uttered only one word. “Oops.” Turning towards the young drake she carefully laid back down. ‘Umm, Fang?’ she asked, looking directly into the drakes eyes.

‘Yes mother?’ he answered, cocking his head to the side.

‘I think I’m out of lithified mana, but ’ she quickly added making sure to keep Fang from interrupting her. ‘...I finally realize what’s been making me so tired lately. If you give me several minutes, I’ll be able to make some crystals for you to eat.’

The young drake nodded acceptance, before sniggering at the one snag in Twilights adventure. Releasing a rapid burst of wheezing snorts in laughter, the drake proceeded to duck his head to hide his laughter underneath one of his wings.

‘O, Ha ha, laugh it up. You won’t be seeing me show any sympathy next time you get caught with your wings bound.’ She mentally berated the smaller drake before settling herself onto the ground and focusing inwardly on her magical power, ‘Alright, just as Mshauri taught me.‘ Her horn glowed slightly as she began pushing her magical power out through her horn. Slowly the glow at the top brightened, the amount of energy at the top getting stronger and stronger. After a few seconds, she grasped the massive amount of energy above the peak of her magical appendage. The light at the top slowly began to separate as a large ball of glowing ethereal light. Slowly, Twilight began condensing it as her master taught her, forcing it into a smaller and smaller space, until eventually it started to solidify. After half a minute the large ball of gaseous energy had condensed into a one inch sphere of liquid magic. Sighing once more Twilight repeated the process fifty more times, her eyes opening wider as she felt her energy return to her. Her physical energy immediately rose as the massive drain on her magic released the pressure on her physical barriers, loosening the areas within her body and allowing more natural energy to flow through her.

Twilight gazed at the many balls of liquified mana gently floating before her, her eyes gleaming calmly as she focused on combining them together carefully. After several minutes she finally had only four balls of pure liquefied mana. Gritting her teeth, Twilight began collapsing the orbs in on themselves, each starting with a flowing one foot radius, began shrinking. Finally after a few more minutes, with Fang watching from the sidelines, all four orbs flashed and solidified into light blue teardrop shaped stones, glowing slightly from within as they laid against the floor.

Her task finished, Twilight dropped her stoic gaze and donned a wide beaming grin, as she grasped the brilliant blue mana crystal tear stones and floated them over to her. Dropping three into her pack she floated the last to her drake companion. ‘Will that be enough Fang?’

Fang examined the shining stone before him, but a quick once over was enough for him to immediately decide. ‘Mhmm...’ he answered before biting the three inch stone from Twilights magical grasp and swallowing it in one swift motion. Swallowing his food all the way down his gullet, he leaned and fell over onto his back, ‘Thank you mom.’ Wings outstretched lazily, he looked dazedly up towards the ceiling. After a few moments, he leaned his head back onto the ground, his eyes closed and soft high pitched snores began emanating from his throat.

Twilight smiled gently down upon her young charge. Reaching into her core, she grasped some of her regenerated mana reserves and let it flow out in a field of projected influence over the drake. Lifting him with ease of practice, she floated him over to herself as she laid onto her side, her front and back legs forming a semicircular ring, which she lowered the drake within before clutching and pulling his small winged form to her chest with her forehooves. ‘Come! Cover! Insulate and stay, until morning!’ she commanded, for a few moments nothing happened, then without announcement, her ragged dusty brown cloak floated over to her before expanding and covering both her and her charge in its gentle, warm folds. Twilight smiled slightly as the night remained peaceful while she fell asleep.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

The cover remained warm as the lavender filly’s internal clock demanded she wake for the morning. Curious, she ventured a look through one of the holes in the woodwork of the tavern. Immediately she noticed the slightly brighter blue tinge to the sky signifying the dawn preparing to break over the horizon, one thought reverberates through her mind. ‘I slept too long.’ With a gentle sigh, she turned her gaze over to her saddle bags laying on the nearby mattress. Grasping energy from her core, she reached out and layered it over the traveling gear, lifting it up she pulled it over towards herself and laid it before her.

Taking one of the saddlebag lids in her mouth, she flipped it open, getting a good glance inside. Seeing nothing, Twilight smirked before reaching inside and nipping around for a few seconds before she felt her sensitive oral pinchers brush against something smelling of dried pulp and ink. Grasping it firmly between her dry lips, she pulled it out, revealing a small collection of papers bound together at one end by a slew of strings and a strip of leather. Letting her smirk extend into a full blown smile she opened the hide bound collection of parchments with an image of a vortex of stars pressed into the cover on both sides, Unwrapping a single string of bright green salamander skin from around the book,Twilight began to peruse the contents, pleasurably flipping pages in an unknown sequence and order as she searched. Finally, after a few turns she reached a fresh blank page. Twilight lay down, between her fore and back legs she noted the sleeping lump between them buried underneath the same impromptu blanket as her. Letting her mirth go, she giggled softly so as to not wake the slumbering mound. Pulling a hoof from the blanket, she brushed it against the blank page before licking it and wiping it across its dry surface. Licking her hoof a few more times and repeating the process, she wet the page. After a few seconds white letters began to distinguish themselves upon the formerly white page, as it darkened into a cloudy grey.

With the page revealed, the lavender filly began to read the contents silently.

‘Hmm…’ She marked the page with a simple scrying spell before closing the book, and placing it within her saddlebags just as the lump between her legs finally began to stir. She smiled gently down upon the ruffling folds. ‘lift, fold, lay there.’ She finished the mental note, nudging her nose towards her saddlebags as the blanket followed through with her simple orders lifting off herself and her young charge, folding together and settling upon her saddlebags. Twilight softly nuzzled the scaled form stirring beneath her. ‘Fang. It’s time to wake up.’ She projected before nuzzling the young drake once more.

The mottled brown kit finally lifted his head, eyes staring blearily forward as the small drakes gaze falls upon the lavender filly’s face, just before she darts forward pressing her lips gently upon her forehead. ‘Mom..?’ He asks tiredly his thoughts moving slowly as he continues to get his bearings, Finally he settles for rolling to the side a little before shaking the tiredness out of his wings as he unsteadily stands upon his two legs. Feeling his energy come back to him as the haze of sleep continues to fade away, he turns back to face Twilight. Finally clarity sits in, his eyes opening wide as he gets a good look at the lavender filly’s soft yet unamused expression. ‘Oh, uhhh… Time to leave?’ he asks tilting his head to the side with a small chirp.

Twilight sighs a little before lifting her saddlebags onto her back, and motioning for the young drake to get on. ‘I’d give you a bit more time, but I found a traveling companion, and we need to leave soon if we’re going to get to the meeting spot in time. Hop on.’Twilight turns to face towards the door, before picking up the orange mage stone from before, and pressing it against the door, while Fang settles into a comfortable position on the young unicorn’s back. The magical locks disengage and Twilight presses her hoof against the door itself, pushing it open. Kicking the door closed with a hind hoof, the lavender filly presses the orange stone against its surface once more, locking it, as she walks towards the main bar. Finding an open seat easily due to the dearth of early morning customers, Twilight lifts herself up, placing the orange crystal on the counter.

Her last task accomplished before leaving, Twilight nods in the direction of the crystal then leaps off the chair and trots outside into the predawn darkness. Outside of the tavern, Twilight notes the street corners from earlier that night, With a slight knowledge of the town’s roads and pathways, she able to find her way to the main road leading out of town towards Hoofreed. There many things to catch her interest. Several brightly colored shops, displaying candy on their window sills, and sweet aromas of heavenly baked goods tantalized her senses as she passed by. Some buildings hinted at mystical charms and talismans, spell books, and other items usually required for a learning unicorn mage. Finally as she passed the last houses of the city Twilight noted a strange shop with it’s window’s tinted dark and reflective, however her years of experience allows her to see through the window into the shop. The lavender filly just scratches her head with a hoof as she passes by. ’Hmm, why are there stallion bits in the store? Who would buy something like that when there are plenty of stallions to go around.’

Shaking her head, Twilight rids herself of the stray thought, as she continues traveling along, taking in the surrounding scenery. After passing the final house, the land around only reveals, verdant hills, filled with vivid flowers shining brightly in the early spring sun, their colors bringing flashes of rainbow to her eyes. The lavender filly breathes in deeply through her nostrils the sweet aromatic scents helping her enjoy her journey along the well worn cobblestone road. Along the road she nears a sign facing away from her, ‘Alright, this should be far enough.’ she notes before heading off the road and laying on the side of the road, next to the large sign, Twilight glances up and reads it’s large bold print.

‘WELCOME TO HOOFREED.

2MI’

‘Hmm, I didn’t travel that far! Maybe about a Mile and a half at longest.’ The young filly looks to the sky her cloak hood covering her horn, forcing her to tilt her head a bit higher to see the position of the sun in the early morning sky. ‘Only fifteen minutes since I’ve left the tavern really. I’ll wait till the sun reaches a quarter till noon before leaving, unless he arrives, then we can continue on the path together, if he remains calm after learning of my companion and his specific needs.’ She thinks as she further settles herself onto the grass.

‘Uh, Mom? Can I fly around for a bit? My wings are a bit stiff.’ Pleads the mental voice of the young creature on her back. the sensation of a sharp twinge on the back of her ribs extending out on phantom limbs immediately besetting her from the young drake.

Twilight curls her brow slightly in thought for a few seconds before shrugging with a simple nod. ‘Of course Fang, but be careful not to be spotted, and be sure to come immediately if asked, But most importantly, STAY SAFE!’ She answers firmly.

The young drake peaks his head through her cloak nodding confirmation of having heard her warnings before leaping out of her cloak, landing on the ground next to the lavender filly. ‘Ok, Mom. I’ll be careful.’ He responds brightly before leaping into the air, flapping his wings and taking off into the distance, before turning to gradually circle around Twilight’s position.

Twilight smiles as Fang makes his rounds, She takes a small sample of the grass around her and tests it with some of her potions. ‘This is really poor quality grass, in fact I doubt it would even be healthy to consume.’ she answers as the experiments about its usefulness come out either inconclusive or directly negative on almost all cases except for trace amounts of magic contained within. ‘However even with those trace amounts, I doubt it’s even viable for a solid potion base, let alone ingredient.’ She mentally recaps.

After half an hour, Twilight senses something coming her way, as the constant rhythmic clop of hooves and the rolling of wagon wheels on the cobblestone began to ring distinctly within her ears. At first the sound was just a distant rumble, easily discounted as background noise, however, as the seconds passed the volume grew louder as the object it originated from came closer, until finally Twilight saw it, a decent sized flat bed wagon attached to none other than Cherry Spice himself.

The stallion continued along the path, passing her position without any notice. ‘What? Wait!’ She mentally commands, without any verbal buffering, she charges from her resting place and leaps onto the wagon with ease, carefully placing her hooves around the cargo as she proceeds towards the front. Remembering to speak just a moment before she reaches the harnessed stallion, she calls cheerfully. “Hello, forgetting somepony?”

The reaction was immediate, he rears onto his back hooves in fear, lashing his front hooves forwards and neighing loudly, his eyes rolling all around in their sockets seeking invisible enemies, all before his brain finally registers the voice speaking to him. Forcing himself to take a few deep breaths calming himself down, he lowers to all four of his hooves, staring back towards the filly, scowling pointedly at her, while she panted quiet laughter at his little show. “Hey, what’s the big idea scaring me like that? I almost tipped the wagon on you. Just a few more inches and it would have tipped.” He huffs, as he notes his words having no effect on the errant youth.

Twilight, having calmed down a little during the elder merchant’s rant, leaps off the wagon, and over the stallion’s head, landing safely on her hooves, without difficulty. “Sorry. I only wanted to get your attention since you passed me by, without even noticing me laying here waiting for you.” she answered with a sheepish smile, a slight red tint appeared in her cheeks as her blood rushed slightly from embarrassment, before she remembered his reaction and giggled again.

“Ughh,” He responded, rolling his eyes. lifting a hoof to the bridge of his nose he rubbed the area gently as if to relieve some tension. “Foals...” He mutters, loosening up enough to allow a begrudging smile to form upon his lips, with a few beats of laughter.

“Anyway, let’s get off to the side of the road so we can talk.” The lavender unicorn filly speaks, her lines of laughter and joyful countenance immediately falling away as she takes on a serious demeanor, stepping into the brush on the side of the road. “Come on, it’s not too far from here.” She calls from deep within the shrubbery, her call shaking Cherry Spice from his daze, having seen both the rapid transformation of her mood, and her swift departure into the foliage of the surrounding forest, disappearing like a ghost.

Shaking his head one more time to remove the stray thought. “Just a minute.” He calls before he lowers his head, grasping the strap binding the harness to his barrel with his teeth. He pulls on the strap releasing it, allowing him to step out of it, keeping the harness on his back he pulls it into the forest a little ways off the road before slipping out of the harness and then trotting towards where he last heard the filly call. After a few minutes of traveling into the moderately lit woods with many beams of sunlight breaking through the jungle canopy, He finally spotted the young unicorn filly.

Twilight giggled from her perch, while the stallion just gaped as the insane probability of the young filly’s position. Her torso lay on a branch of one of the nearby trees, her legs dangling twenty or more feet off the ground. He blinks for half a second before shaking his head again, the surprise of her actions surprising and stunning him again.”How did you get up there? No, no, how are you getting down? It’s too dangerous to drop from that distance.”

Twilight giggles once more before casually rolling off the branch. Without even skipping a beat, Twilight orients herself hooves down at five feet from the branch with her horn glowing, at ten feet she looks towards Cherry Spice before closing her eyes and giving a cheerful smile in his direction, then finally she lands. Striking the ground with not even a whisper. Her cloak fell around her like a lead weight, but hitting the ground without any noise. After half a second, Twilight stands to her full height smiling brightly before turning and continuing along the trail to her camp. Cherry Spice glances between her retreating tail and the perch she’d rested upon. Shaking his head once more he rushed after the young purple unicorn, after a few minutes, her path comes to an end and the stallion bursts through a pair of bushes into a massive, clearing with a small brook, barely six feet across, running through the field.

Twilight smiles as she gazes over the field, allowing herself to relax, having found no predator tracks within the past thirty minutes of travel, to this destination. ‘Thanks for the help finding this place Fang. It’s definitely secluded enough for our talk.’ The drake’s reply came with an image of lavender glowing gems on a plate, coupled with an intense hunger. Twilight smiles as she settles herself comfortably upon the grass. ‘Okay okay, I’ll give you an extra one tonight. I’ll call you when it comes time to introduce you.’ Twilight nodded towards the other unicorn in delight as she felt Fang’s reassuring mental hug.

“Alright, so what is it that you want to show me before we head out?” Cherry Spice asks without preamble.

Twilight’s head tilts slightly as she refocuses on the immediate world around her, “Alright I guess I’ll start with some of the small things.” She answers, ‘lift, solidify, return to form, before me, vertical.’ Her mental commands transfer easily, as the cloak upon her back lifts off, without a breeze or even the telltale magical glow of her horn then morphs into its true form as a staff, with a great crystal mana stone at the top of it’s spire.

Cherry Spice looks at the display with piqued interest. “Oh, interesting. Did you enchant your cloak to do that?”

The lavender filly shakes her head, “No I haven’t, in fact, the staff floating before me is doing so of its own volition, under mental commands from myself. This is one of the items I created some time ago when I finished training to be a journeypony alchemist under my mentor.” Lifting a hoof to the staff, she grasps it and pulls it into her comfortable embrace. Her joyful feelings of holding the staff pass within seconds, ‘Rest.’ she commands gently. The staff obediently melts around her hooves, flowing onto her saddlebags then solidifying into its true form on her back. Smiling towards the merchant once more.

As Twilight lectures on her first item the young stallion shakes his head, absent mindedly taking mental notes of the items the filly is using. Immediately, it comes to him in a jolt of thought and inspiration. “Wait, stop for a moment.” He calls, eyebrows raised in worry. Twilight pauses in her speech and nods for him to continue. “Are those bags and your… Staff all you’re taking with you from town to town? It doesn’t really look like much to carry stuff in.”

“The reason I’m only carrying my staff outside of the saddlebags, is because it likes to be near me, other than that, everything else fits inside, due to an expansion spell I used on it. Believe me, It is a lot bigger on the inside than the outside.” She answers easily.

“You’re using a bag of holding enchantment on your gear?” He asks, his eyes even wider than before.

“No, I actually have the bags connected to a pocket dimension, were I to use a back of holding spell, it would take ages for me to find anything. whereas with the spell I’m currently using, all I have to do is think of the item I’m looking for, and If it is stored inside, it will be immediately warped into the saddlebag so I can grasp it.” She explained easily, With simple levitation she pulled several potions, herbs, and spices from the bags. “It’s perfectly reliable, as long as you have good memory… And are a unicorn.” She admitted sheepishly.

Cherry lifts a chocolate brown hoof to his chin in thought, mulling over the information, while Twilight places the alchemical items back within her saddlebags. Placing his hoof down, he clears his throat, “I guess, by unicorns, you mean it has to be sustained?” the lavender filly nods. ”Hmmph, alright is there anyway it can be made more permanent for non unicorn use?” Another nod. Lifting his hoof to his chin once more he quickly allows his thoughts to run wild. ‘Alright, I might need a set of those. Hmm but I wonder how difficult it would be for her to make them? Wait, can she make them? She looks learned, but that could just be the road, she doesn’t look that old. Wait a hoof pickin’ minute, how old is she anyway?’ Lowering his hoof to the ground once more, he speaks the first question off the top of his mind. “How old are you, You don’t look to be a day over ten?”

Twilight rubs her left hoof over her right, ‘Hmm, how old am I? I remember telling Mshauri a year or two ago that I had turned ten…’ Lifting her hoof before her eyes, she glances at it as if it could tell her how old she was, with a sigh she realizes she isn’t getting anywhere. “Sorry. I don’t really know exactly, me best guess would be somewhere around twelve to thirteen winters old. I guess I’ve been traveling around a lot since I left home.” She finally answered, pressing her lips together tightly in frustration, bothered by her lack of knowledge on the subject. Staring at the ground in annoyance as she was she didn’t notice Cherry Spice raising his bushy eyebrows in surprise.

“I can get where you’re coming from, been traveling for nearly ten years myself, since my father took me on the first Cherry sail trip into town. Let’s just say I didn’t return home, now I’m traveling Equestria, and making a decent fortune for when I finally do decide to settle down.” He comments at length, a nostalgic smile plastered upon his face. As if by a switch, his eyes flick closed then back open again returning his gaze back towards the young filly before him. “So, what’s your story, anything else you want to show me before we head back on the road?”

“Mhmm.” She answers brightly, nearly hoping to her hooves, Zecora’s training barely holding her excitement in check. With a single nod she begins to speak. “Well, I’m a traveling alchemist healer. I was trained by a zebra, in the arts of potion making. I learned from her for a few years before she finally told me she had nothing left to teach and that I had become the master of the craft as well. I’ve been traveling ever since. She had brought me to other towns to trade spices, herbs and completed potions for valuable goods to use for ritual and stew. When I parted, one my mentors left me with the saddlebags I’m currently wearing and a companion. Are you comfortable enough to see him? Though a warning, he’s very… Excitable”

Cherry Spice chuckles a little, allowing his lips to curl up into a delighted smile. “Of course, I’ve come this far, and haven’t left yet. I might as well take some time to get to know your other companion. Now where is he?” He asks, glancing left and right, towards the ground hoping to catch a hint of whatever small creature Twilight decided to keep as her companion.

Twilight responds, her tone laced with a little mirth, “You won’t find him down there. Give me a second to pinpoint his location.” Her eyes close, her thoughts drifting and becoming more firm. Finally she calls outwards mentally along her connection, seeking her flighty young companion. ‘Fang? You there?’ An image appears in her thoughts, a place in the sky high above the trees, facing towards the clearing, off in the distance the outskirts of Bridlebit are barely visible. The image shifts, slightly blueing at the edges as it focuses in on the clearing. ‘Thank you Fang. I’ll see you soon.’

‘See you soon as well mom. Does Cherry Spice have any Mana Crystals as well?’ Curiosity colors the thought, the emotion flowing through it into the lavender filly’s mind.

Twilight refrains from physically answering the thought, instead she pulses her horn, releasing a soft wave of purple energy, adding some more time to their cross mind discussion. ‘No Fang he doesn’t.’ She answers with surety. The disappointment the lavender filly felt in response was enough for her to return back to the waking world, opening her amethyst eyes and turning her gaze towards the sky, in the opposite direction of Bridlebit. “He’ll be here so- Ah he’s here.” She calls aloud, jerking Cherry Spices attention towards her, then in the same direction she’s looking. His eyes widen in surprise and his fur bristles as a young brown-grey colored drake flutters down into the clearing. As it begins to circle, the young stallion prepares to bolt, knowing the dangers of dealing with dragons and the warning from other travelers to stay away from the dangerous creatures, especially their feral brethren. His hind hooves dig in, his eyes tracking the young drake fearfully as he prepares to jump, then he sees it.

Cherry’s eyes fall upon his purple companion, her serenely calm smile as she follows the young dragon around the field as well. The sight causes him to pause, his mind kicks back into gear, allowing him to actually see the situation for what it was, however his thoughts hadn’t been turned on to filter quite yet. “By Celestia’s mane, that’s your friend?” He hollers aloud, his pupils still dilated, his heart running a swift tempo in counter to his sluggish thoughts.

Twilight turns away from her charge, focusing on the merchant she’d been speaking with for the past half-hour. Raising an eyebrow she responds neutrally. “Yes, his name is Fang, he’s been with me since I hatched his egg, I’ve been watching over him for some time now. He’s pretty harmless… unless provoked of course, but I doubt you’d do something to gain it. Yes?” The word, a promise and a question both placed in one syllable between two consonants, he answers the only way he can in his fear stricken state, a simple nod cutting off any out of control method of communication he would have released otherwise. Twilight allows a smile to grace her face once more, beaming brightly with joy as the young drake finally finishes his circuit and lands calmly upon the young filly’s back, his sinewy neck poking through her mane, Fang glares at Cherry Spice with both of his serpentine green eyes. “Good. As long as our differences don’t become a problem in the future, I don’t see anything wrong with traveling as a small group.” She finally states joyfully, walking over the the stallion merchant with a small skip to her step.

Passing next to him, Fang stretches outs and barely misses a nip at the elder stallion, his teeth barely rasping against the cloth of Cherry’s cloak. “Umm… Okay.” He answers with a slight trembling hesitation in his voice, having heard Fang’s impromptu attack. With a shiver, extending from the tip of his note to the end of his tail, he shakes off his fear like water in the wind, cooling himself down from his momentary fear induced high. The chocolate brown stallion turns and follows Twilight back to the road. “So Glimmer?”

“Twrei” Cheeps the young drake, as he rolls his head over his shoulder and through the cloak to stare at the dark brown stallion.

“Yes?” The young filly queries back.

“Does he always attack unprovoked?” He asks warily.

Twilight shakes her head, “No, why do you ask?” Her eyes turn back to her charge, currently nestling himself into her cloak, as it gently flows over, covering him in it’s warm folds.

He stomps his hoof into the ground agitatedly. “He attacked me just now, nearly bit my shoulder too,” he complained, fire in his eyes and gravel weighing down his throat.

Twilight blinks before raising her eyebrow at Fang in reproach. “Really?” Letting out a breathy sigh, Twilight refocuses her gaze upon the merchant. ”I’ll see what I can do about it, I didn’t think his mistrust of others would extend this far. he’s had a few bad experiences with other ponies trying to hurt him.” Twilight stalks through the forest with little sound, noticing the loud, lumbering ruckus that Cherry was making as he followed behind her.

Cherry felt the forest around him nipping at his heels, while trying to keep pace with the lavender filly. ‘Hmm, how is she so fast? I honestly thought she’d be slow with how short she is. Stupid bushes, how does she avoid them?’ he wonders mentally, deciding on preserving his breath on the journey rather than waste it trying to speak while cantering through the forest, towards the road and spice cart. After a few minutes of traveling he notices the sounds of the woods, the crackling of detris under hoof. Small intermittent pants from an unseen source. ‘The forest isn’t a place for ponies,’ he thought as his heart began to feel a slight grasp of cold. The trees begin to darken, flashes of odd colors running past his eyes, the occasional crest feather of a gryphon barely visible above the bushes, as the slight sense of paranoia begins to set in.

After an indeterminate amount of time, he notices the forest thinning out up ahead as he follows behind Twilight, the noonday sun blazing into the ground with beams of searing bright light. Passing through them along the way he finally sees the exit, and the road not ten meters ahead. Escape in sight, the earth pony stallion breaks into a sprint, his hooves slam the ground in a thundering gallop as his destination nears. leaping out of the woods with one last burst of adrenalin fueled energy. He lands heavily, barely holding himself from collapsing onto the ground as he gasps for breath, his flanks lathered in sweat from the heavy exertion he put himself through barely keeping up with the young filly. After a few minutes of laying on the road and catching his breath, the chocolate brown stallion finally begins to catch his breath, while laying on the travel worn dirt path.

Twilight steps quietly onto the dirt path, her ears swiveling in all directions, while her eyes focus on the ragged form of Cherry Spice, after a few second of watching him draw in quick tired breaths the lavender filly rolls her eyes, pulling a bright yellow potion and a small ceramic container from her pack and placing them next to the stallion. “Here, drink this, it’ll restore some of your stamina, and help you regain a calmer breathing pace. Also rub this into the skin between your nostrils, It’ll counteract the spores of the Nightmares Bane,” she commanded, passing over the jar. The lid was pulled off, revealing that it was filled to the brim with a red paste-like substance.

Cherry, tired of questioning the strangeness of his new companion for now, gratefully leans his head over, trapping the vial of viscous fluid in his toothy grip. He lifts the container above his head, tiredly gulping down the mixture. He then pulls a tired hoof from the ground dabbing it in some of the red substance. Pulling the hoof to his nose as his airway clears, he feels the red substance on it grow warm, as the appendage drags closer to himself, then he smells it. The slightly coppery hint of a smell as the red substance draws closer to his face. Eventually it dabs on his nose from his hoof, then he remembers the smells origin with widened eyes. ‘Blood!’ Shaking slightly with revulsion he attempts to violently shake his hoof clean of the viscous fluid clinging to it, only succeeding in slow small arcs. After a few seconds of glaring at the clinging substance it changes color as his vision clears, a sweet minty scent fills his airways as the fluid on his hoof changes color from a deep crimson to a light green. Over the next few minutes ,his ears cool and his muscles stop burning in exhaustion. His eyes widen in joy, and he leaps to his hooves, preparing to do a happy dance on his way to the cart, when the lavender filly calls out.

“Don’t move around too much, the potion just barely numbs the pain from the over use of your muscles, don’t do any strenuous exercises an hour or two. Your body needs time to cleanse itself of the toxins, otherwise you might pull a muscle rendering your body in no condition for traveling.” She recites levelly, making sure her words and meanings get across as intended, before turning towards a nearby set of bushes several feet higher than her head, and lights her horn. The magenta glow of her magic expands a small amount as it grasps onto something out of immediate sight, after a few seconds the sound of leaves and twigs crunching can be heard as something rolls towards the road, after a few more seconds, a cart glowing brightly the same color as Twilight’s magic bursts from the foliage, rolling onto the road. “There, pulling a wagon shouldn’t be too strenuous, we can move while the sun is still high in the sky… Once you’re ready, of course.” The lavender filly gestures towards Cherry’s wagon before settling into a sitting position next to the chocolate brown stallion.

Cherry spends half an hour flexing and stretching his muscles in preparation for hitching himself to his traveling merchant cart, While Twilight examines the wilderness around them, her gaze focusing on random bits of the forest much to Cherry’s confusion. “I’m about ready to go, are you?” He asks, walking over to his wagon and stepping between the two poles in front of the wagon, bearing a traveling harness between them. Twilight nods in response, rising to her hooves silently.

“Then let’s go.” She answers vocally. stepping into the lead, before the stallion. Cherry merely rolls his eyes while pulling the strap of the harness, making the belts around his sternum taut, grunting slightly in both discomfort and with some effort.

With the saddle secured tightly in place, Cherry smiles towards the filly before him. “I’m ready.” He calls with his preparation’s complete. Without any further encouragement needed, Twilight whirls around and begins trotting down the road, after a few moments the sound of wagon wheels rumbling and bouncing on stones becomes audible as well. Twilight calls forth her magic, opening one of the flaps of her saddlebags, she pulls out her journal and writing implements. ‘I wonder, that design looks quite useful for holding writing supplies, Hmm… ’ Her thoughts jump to an image she committed to memory, a bronze device, with a few loops towards the bottom and off to the sides, each one occupied with a lit candle. ‘I wonder. Cognitio. form a ring above my shoulder, a full two inches with a half inch rounded depression leading to three inches at the top, solidify to stone.’ Her call is answered as the cloak forms a stone depression of the exact specification behind her right ear, A quick glance confirms the placement. Lowering her ink well into the depression, she places the quill within, and continues walking for a few moments, allowing her cloak to adjust the depression to fit the inkwell snugly. ‘I’m impressed, I guess that candle holder I saw on the way to the Bluebell was useful after all.’

Pulling her quill out of the inkwell, she returns her thoughts to the journal held in front by the young filly’s magenta glowing spell. The book flips open as she places the quill to a blank page and begins to write…

ζ, 45☯, 993♋

I forgot to write the events of yesterday last night. However, I did manage to...

Author's Note

Alright yall new chapter... late chapter, anyway new chapter for everyone to criticize and hate me about. also Lots of editing still going on, that will have the chapter updated when the next one comes out in about a month or half a month depending on writing speed.

best proofreaders:

Top Editors.
First off is my oldest and most trusted prereader janushyde.
Moon Shade Gave me some insightful opinion after his preread.

Editor two was Firedon he's an awesome fellow and has actually helped me fix what me, Aeondragon, and Wrabbit missed.

Editor Three is a guest appearance, Wrabbit writer of The Teacher the Mage and the Wonderbolt. Good story if you like herd shipping.

So yea not much I can do except that working on the next chapter and enjoy. :twilightsmile:

Traveling Documents And Merchant Matters (Partition 1 of 3)

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 13: Traveling Documents And Merchant Matters

Partition 1 of 3

ζ, 45☯, 993♋

I forgot to write the events of yesterday last night. However, I did manage to find a few interesting things upon entering the town including a trinket they termed the Flutter charm, whatever stigma or story is behind the name I do not yet know. Other than that, I managed to find a spice vendor who sold a decent amount of the base ingredients I use in most of my restorative potions.

After restocking at least once while tending to ponies from a stall in the market, I finished that area just as the sun was setting on the horizon. After a few hours, I found the inn that the stall keeper I was renting it from sent me to. It was a nice little establishment, with a slightly greedy yer kind hearted owner, a mare named Miso. After renting my room from her, I came across the spice merchant once more, he introduced himself as Cherry Spice and I, as Glimmering Wisp. Our trades were similar or at least codependent, so he made an offer to travel with me, I agreed without too much question since I saw no harm in it. Plus it would remove some of the monotony I’ve been having lately with all of the long traveling with only my thoughts and Fang’s to keep me company.

Speaking of Fang, I forgot to make some of his mana crystals and had to make a group from scratch using the excess magic I had forgotten to expel as per my usual schedule. I can only remain embarrassed by my near mishap. I will be keeping a closer watch on my mana reserves to make sure they don’t build up anywhere near a magical flair up, I was told that if one does happen again, it is not assured that my body would survive the violent release of magical energy. Atleast I have a decent reason for making mana crystals rather than to just keep my magical levels low.

Fang slept well while I studied a spell from Starswirl the bearded’s journal, STARSWIRL THE BEARDED. I didn’t think that tower would have been the major study of the father of modern magic, the creator of the amniomorphic spell. I must tread carefully and treat the journal reverently, lest I damage it. I have read up on an interesting spell, designed to give one temporary flight capabilities. It involved condensing the air around you into gossamer wings, then connecting your magic to the appendages. Overall, I’m impressed and I might want to try the spell soon. It would be great to see the world from Fang’s perspective for once. but I’ll have to wait till Cherry Spice is comfortable enough to not mind me doing such an action.

Today I met Cherry Spice a bit on the blunt side of things. He is sadly untrained in self defense. Fang tried to bite at him when they met. I hope this does not lead to problems later on, but if it does I’ll just leave Cherry Spice’s company. I got a few more thorns from a Sanguine Rose, and a vial of Nightmares Bane spores, I’m planning on experimenting to see what they can do beyond their natural hallucinogenic properties.

I had Fang scout out ahead for a place to rest for the night. He found a nice outcropping that gave a clear view of the sky at night and a good distance of the road in either direction. Cherry was very reluctant to move off the road when I asked him to follow me to a place where we could settle down for the night. He didn’t believe me and was belligerent until I showed him this place. Anyway I set up a few wards in case we had visitors. No need to have a timberwolf sneak in and scare Cherry Spice into doing something foolish. I’m honestly surprised how jumpy other ponies are, I thought they would be more calm and collected like my mentor.

I guess that is all for tonight.

Twilight Sparkle.

ζ, 46☯, 993♋

Today was somewhat of an eye opener. I asked that Cherry tell me a few things about Equestria, particularly things I wasn’t privy to within the Everfree forest, such as some of the legends regarding the Flutter charm I bought from the vender two days ago in Bridlebit. I think his face matched the color of his cutie mark for a few seconds, so apparently it is a charm without any magical or intrinsic value. Culturally though, as Cherry Spice explained, the Flutter charm is a symbol of fertility and love, to give a Flutter charm to an earth pony is the equivalent of promising them a good harvest for the year. It also has a double meaning in that it comes with asking to date the pony you give the charm to. I’ll enchant it tonight. I think Fang would appreciate a bracelet that could create a magical barrier in case he were to accidentally crash into something.

It’s dark now and the bracelet is complete. I had to weave the chain from my mana when I found the charm was cracking under the magical pressure. I had some spare metal in my pack, but I doubt it would be able to handle the excess magical pressure that would have been channeled into it from the charm. I hope Fang isn’t tempted to eat it. The chain itself would cause him indigestion, and I doubt he needs that much silver plated bronze in his diet. We’ve only moved about fifty miles from where we stayed last night. I suggested we eat on the road to save us time and resources between our destinations, but he wouldn’t have any of it, stating he had plenty of supplies. It will take longer than expected to get to Pax Nexus for the meeting with the changelings. Other than the amulet being complete and Cherry Spices ‘exemplary’ behavior, not really much to add about today.

We come across several of the more medicinal herbs and ingredients I use in my potions, but only enough to create several sustained healing potions and antitoxin vials. Though I did come across a patch of Sun Lilies I gathered three of the bulbs. I hope to distill the petals into their base ingredients including a drop of pure sunlight per petal. From memory, distilled sunlight has a similar effect to the Anasgiah when introduced to a healing potion. Stabilizes the system and maintains the body’s connection to the soul for a few hours, for healing magic hopefully to repair the body enough so that the person will survive when the potion wears off.

And I had to ask a small pack of timberwolves to avoid our path before they caused Cherry Spice to panic. I also had to scold Fang for trying to catch Cherry’s tail on fire. I don’t understand what could have gotten that idea into his head.

Twilight Sparkle.

Cagnim, 3rd, 993 CR

I decided to not write in the past three day’s considering it would be a pointless waste of time and ink, It was pretty much more of the same.

I asked what day it was on Cherry Spice's calendar and found something a bit interesting. Apparently, the Equestrian calendar uses a different dating system than that of the shamanistic dating system, I've decided to switch to the Equestrian system from now on, so I can fit in better. I'll write a quick guide below, so I can remember until I get used to the new system.

There are six months in an Equestrian year, Each month has a total of sixty one days. The names of each month are as follow’s Zelfoss, Yill’thui, Cagnim. Lumix, Thorm, and Ajaka.

Another item of interest was the fact that were within a day’s travel of Hoofreed. The forests have given away to vast mountains and I’m having trouble finding a good many of the potion ingredients I would normally find useful or use frequently. I’m going to have to conserve what I have until I come across another forest so I can replenish my supplies, or until I return to the Bridlebit area. The view makes up for the lack of fauna we’ve come across since entering the mountains. I wonder if Hoofreed has any whipped cream? Ever since I left Windbreak I’ve had a craving for it. Other than a few issues involving Cherry Spice’s wagon getting stuck in the road, and Fang’s occasional snide comment or warning, there really hasn’t been much excitement going on, I passed a few ruins today, I mean I could see them in the distance, but I realized that it would take at least half a day to reach them even at my fastest, and I don’t think Cherry Spice would appreciate us throwing him behind schedule to visit some old ruins which don’t look like they would have any new magical insights. When we get to Hoofreed I’m going to have to settle down with him and discuss a few of these things. I’m going to turn in for the night, I hope I didn’t~

Okay I forgot to do the ritual again, I was supposed to do it yesterday. Well, at least the headache is gone, Fang is tired and pestering me to nest him so he can sleep.

Twilight Sparkle.

Cagnim, 4th, 993 CR

Well… Hoofreed really was something, I’m currently staying in the Haybrittle inn. The locals had a really interesting situation that I was thankfully able to resolve with a few rotweed potions. I managed to confront Cherry Spice when we finally reached the inn. He was very understanding and we worked out a system where we both felt we would be satisfied. He agreed that if we came across any ruins, I would be allotted three hours to scour the ancient structures for artifacts and such before we had to move on. and he would be allowed to choose whether or not we rested at the places I picked out for us to rest at. I’m glad we were able to work out a decent deal, I’m paying fifty percent less on the materials he’s giving me overall, however any potion I sell, he receives ten percent of the amount paid. I don’t know why the innkeeper sent the strange pony to my room earlier, I only gave him an extra three bits for being nice, and giving me some directions on short cuts and less used side roads that could cut down the time it would take for me and Cherry to make it to the next town.

Cherry hired a bodyguard named Regal Sentry, I don’t understand why he would need one. I mean there was a bit of side talk about bandits on the road, though I doubt that would be a problem. However, one of the patrons mentioned a victim she came across on the road. The pony had no visible wounds other than a pair of holes in the side of her neck, she was almost completely drained of blood. Before we leave tomorrow I’m going to check and see if Cherry has any heart wood planks and a few leaves of sage. I have plenty of materials to make a hemlock and garlic residue that can be used to burn unsuspecting creatures. I’ll also keep some Salamander oil on hoof in case I need to use fire manipulation spells.

Fang decided to visit the forests surrounding the city while Cherry Spice and I did our business, and helped get needed materials and aid where it belonged. Sadly, my aphrodisiac potion seems to be popular here as well. I just don’t understand what’s so fascinating about sexual relations between consenting ponies? Anyway, I’ll speak with Zecora tonight and see if she can explain a few of the herbs that I found on the road that weren’t explained in my compendium of alchemy ingredients.

Twilight Sparkle.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

Cagnim, 7th, 993 CR

Cherry Spice decided to start the morning early today for some reason. I guess he feels a bit more relaxed with somepony assisting him in moving his spice cart. Though I should probably ask Fang to try and not roast him next time he surprises us with a morning wake up call. Though I guess it can’t really be helped when there’s a cranky drake being annoyed by noise when he’s trying to sleep.

Fang is still exhausted from the massive amount of herbs I had him gather from the surrounding flora.

Zecora informed me that the three plants I’ve found are as follows, The Icedrake tongue (cousin to the drake tongue.) Sigil root, and Mortis Ianuam. The Icedrake tongue is actually the counterpart to the drakes tongue in that instead of boosting the fire and heat related effects of potions, it boosts the frigidity and heat sapping effects of potions. Sigil root is a powerful enhancer of griffon rune magic if I could find a griffon rune mage I would love to study under them for a few weeks to further understand and learn of the rune magic and how it works. As it is, I only have rudimentary information on the subject. Mortis ianuam is a fickle plant, it mimics the effects of dying in a living being, if consumed, when mixed in a potion with the Anasgiah(which I only have three leaves left). It puts the drinker of the concoction into a three hour coma, in which the user’s body undergoes extensive healing to the point where it is said that dead limbs that would otherwise need to be amputated to stave off gangrene were regenerated to full health. However the life binding effect of the Anasgiah is completely disabled in the mixing of the two ingredients.

anyway the day turned out Quite well, not really much to report though other than the fact that I feel a strange foreboding of the area we’ve entered, I hope I’m wrong. anyway were staying in a forest clearing near the road, theres a buffer of at least ten meters between the trees and our camp, that should enough to spot any danger’s before they can attack our camp. Ughh, Fang’s calling me for bed, I’m going to join him. Hopefully tonight remains uninterrupted.

Twilight Sparkle.

With a flutter, her lavender eyes shot open, warning sirens blaring throughout her thoughts as her vision cleared, revealing the camp in its entirety. Cautiously, she glanced around the camp and noticed the empty sleeping bags that were supposed to contain her resting companions. With but a thought she latched onto the core of her power and fed it into a formula. After a few seconds, she felt a slight tugging sensation towards the north east and she cut off the power to her spell with a simple flash. With a huff she rose to her hooves from the soft wooden mat she had been resting on just a few minutes ago. She stared in the direction she had felt the spell designate for a few more seconds before lifting her right hoof first then disappearing with a blur of motion, she charged into the forest following the directions her spell gave.

Within several minutes she arrived at another open field, the lavender mare slowed down and skulked in, remaining unnoticed as a peach colored pegasus with piercing blue eyes bit down on a stark white stallion’s throat with a pair of fangs. She spotted another about to do the same to a dark brown stallion. ‘Damn, I’m too late. I need to save at least one of you. I’m sorry Regal, but Cherry Spice hasn’t been bit, if I didn’t have to fight I might have been able to save you as well.’ She thought as her horn ignited, several drops of salamander oil float out of her pack and bursting into flame upon contact with the open air. She concentrated on one of the drops of liquid fire and expanded it into a great sphere of flame, then launched it at the one drinking Regal’s life force. As her fireball raced at the vampony pinning the white pegasus, she felt and saw the world around her blur as she dashed towards the mare pinning down Cherry Spice.

‘ A vampony’s bite is lethal, I can’t make any antivenoms or virals that could counter the the viruses and poisons introduced into his bloodstream effectively,’ she thought as her fireball connected with and consumed both the vampony and Regal Sentry. The flash of the explosion caught the undead mare above Cherry by surprise, causing her to pause mid-bite. Twilight quickly took advantage of the shock of the other vampony and used the moment to telekinetically blast her off the stallion, allowing the semi-conscious Cherry Spice to fall to the ground.

The lavender filly ignited the air once more with the salamander oil, coalescing the coalescing the burst of flame into a condensed stream, which she aimed straight at the stunned vampony. Unfortunately, the unicorn vampony mare recovered just before the flames could strike and, with unnatural grace the creature dodged out of the flame’s path. Twilight recognized the tactic and lept to the right, withdrawing a small vial of glowing yellow fluid from her saddlebags, tossing it into the location she had previously occupied with a simple telekinetic toss. Just as she was landing, the vampony had already struck the vial. With no time to react, the vial shattered under the vampony’s strike, spraying its contents across her body. Not even half a second later, she began shrieking in pain as her coat was quickly reduced to ash, an unnatural golden white fire flowing across her body with a voracious hunger.

The lavender filly closed her eyes for a moment, as the flames died down and the ashes blew away with the wind.

Opening her eyes, she lit her horn once more, and a green veil of energy condensed into existence over her eyes. Almost immediately, she spotted several dark figures coming from the east. Noting their dark auras feeding upon the light around them, she pulled out several more drops of salamander oil. Spreading three drops away from herself, she placed them equidistant in a triangular formation surrounding her person, and sealed them within a vacuum, while holding them in position. A few minutes later, several ponies emerged from the shadows of the forest. Not wanting to risk anything to happenstance, the lavender filly calmly trotted over to Cherry Spice, weaving another spell. Her maroon magic took on a radiant golden glow as a dome of golden light formed around the unconscious stallion. She then turned to face the pale ponies, their slightly sunken features and dull non reflective coats complimented by their glassy yellow eyes.

Slowly they began to circle her, taking care to avoid the golden dome covering the stallion, each one getting into position to attack while waiting on the command to strike. Finally as the last one, a dark blue stallion with a cutie mark resembling a white star, reached his position, a vibrant pink filly with a cutie mark resembling a golden heart with a pair of black feathered wings, not much larger than the lavender mare, rose to her hind legs. With a single wave of her hoof the others charged, each one moving at speeds belying their mortal forms. The lavender filly waited as they crossed the invisible border between the drops of salamander oil, and as the first ones came within striking range of her, only to find their hooves colliding with thin air as her illusion completely dissipated along with the spells maintaining the void around the drops of salamander oil.

The effects were immediate. The air rushing into the formerly empty spaces caused the salamander oil to ignite, the influx of air caused the flames to expand exponentially. The blaze quickly entrapped the vamponies within its incinerating embrace, even as they howled their first cries of pain and fear. Fifteen meters away, the lavender filly uncloaked from her invisibility illusion. She glanced to her right at the fuschia-coated filly standing outside the blast radius of the explosion caused by her trap. Immediately the lavender unicorn lit her horn once more with deep magenta energy. Taking hold of the fire, she condensed it. As the orb of flame grew smaller, she formed and fired a white sphere of energy out of her horn and into the conflagration as it finished incinerating the last of the pink vampony’s followers. The lavender filly released the spell building upon her horn, and leapt backwards just in time as the bright pink hoof passed through the space she had previously occupied.

The mulberry unicorn ducked once more, feeling the disturbance of the air above her, she reached above herself. With a swift turn of the hoof, she wrapped her own foreleg around the vampires. She then pulled as hard as she physically could, flipping the other pony over herself in the process and slamming her into the ground with a solid thud. Taking advantage of her opponent’s temporarily stunned state, the lavender filly leapt back, stealing a swift glance at the unnaturally burning flames still encompassing the charred remains of the pink vampony’s followers. Facing forward once more, she instinctively jumped left, barely dodging the hoof as it disturbed the air mere inches from her face. With a smirk she ducked down, dodging one last punch from her opponent, before a solid torrent of flame struck the pink vampony, knocking her away from the lavender unicorn and giving the smaller pony a chance to recover, while another superheated stream of energy flowed over her crouched form, striking into the silhouette of her opponent once more, sending her reeling backwards. The flame finally began to take form, bestial features becoming more solid from the blazing inferno.

Within seconds the flames became more and more defined, until eventually in place of the conflagration, stood a demonic being with twin curled horns of sharpened burning obsidian on either side of its head. Its sharpened teeth concealed a burning core of pure magma, its eyes both pinpricks of infernal light behind a demonic obsidian mask, the fire upon its back taking the form of both a mane and wings. The creature took a ponderous step forward on its cloven hooves, causing minor tremors with every step, coupled with burning any and all plant matter under its hooves. The infernal creature stared at the vampony for several long seconds, taking a good look at her while it stood in front of the lavender filly, its bony black tail whipping agitatedly back and forth before the young unicorn behind it. The lavender filly watched the pink vampony’s anger turn to fear as the burning bipedal beast began stepping towards her, flames bursting forth from its crackling body. With a flick of its wrist, a massive tongue of flame came into being, creating a massive crack as it disturbed the air.

The pink vampony decided it had seen enough, turning around she began sprinting from the burning demon. Her breath came in rapid pants as she looked in all directions with wild fearful eyes, only to encounter the lavender unicorn that had trapped her subordinates. There was a flash of red across her vision, her fear turned to fury as she looked upon the filly standing defiantly before her. “RAAAGHHHH! I will kill you unicorn! I will have my revenge!” she screeched frustratedly, before charging the lavender filly, her limbs a mere blur of motion. Suddenly her charge halted as one of her back legs was pulled back straight, causing her to crash into the ground “Oof! Wha-?” The pink vampony looked behind herself, finding her left hind leg wrapped within several coils of bright orange glowing energy, a single long tether leading back to the great beast. Her rage froze once more as cold fear took over. She looked back to the lavender filly and tried lighting her horn to no avail, as the soft glow of pink magic guttered out with a small spray of red sparks. Her eyes widened even further, the dark pupils dilating as her thoughts began to fray. She tried to stand once more, but her legs froze again, fear begins to radiate off of her in waves, finally after a few moments she decides on an action, burying her head into the ground horn first and covering it with both forehooves.

The lavender filly stopped several feet in front of the fuchsia coated vampony, her horn lit with a bright magenta aura. As she conjured another spell, the fiery demon ceased its approach a few meters from the vampony, its energy whip still firmly grasped around her leg. “Wait!” The aura died around the lavender unicorn’s horn as she turned to face the occupant of the golden barrier, Cherry Spice stood to his full height, staring intently at the scene. “Glimmer, what in Celestia’s name is going on? I mean, one second I’m resting in my sack and the next I’m laying in a cold dark field surrounded by this yellow barrier and I see you about to blast that poor pony with whatever spell you were about to blast her with, not to mention the tartarus damned demon pinning her down with that orange whip thingy, could you please explain, before I start drawing conclusions?” he waved his hoof towards the hellspawn, then lifted it above himself and twirled it in a circle before adding, “also where in tartarus is my wagon?”

Twilight looked towards the pink vampony before releasing a long irritated sigh, she lit her horn encasing the undead creature in a lavender barred prison of energy. The fiery demon released its grip upon the whip of energy, without any power feeding into it the glowing object faded into nothingness before it hit the ground. The pink pony lifted its head out of the ground as the feeling of the whip around her leg faded, only to note the lavender cage surrounding her. She looked out from between the bars and noted Twilight with her horn glowing faintly while glancing in another direction. "Your gear still remains back at the camp, Cherry. What I'm doing here is finishing off the last of the soul drinkers that were going to eat both you and Regal. I was too late to save Regal, but I was just in time to save you from two of this one’s companions." She emphasizes her argument by pointing her hoof at the fuchsia vampony.

The pink vampony glanced around the magenta glowing structure around her before matching it to the softly glowing aura surrounding Twilight’s horn. She leaped backwards as Twilight’s amethyst eyes flicked in her direction, scanning her for any hostility. The pink filly prostrated herself to the ground in fear not wanting to encourage the mage’s wrath any further than she already had. Cherry Spice released an obnoxious snort stealing the vampony's attention from the lavender filly keeping her caged. "Yeah, Glimmer I think you've terrified her enough. She may have tried to hurt you, but it was most likely out of fear more than anything else. Also, was it her specifically, that tried to kill me?" His eyebrow lifted in query.

Twilight looked between the vibrant pink vampony unicorn and the young earth pony spice vendor, before releasing a loud snorting grunt through her nose and rolling her eyes in annoyance. With a simple flash of her horn, the golden field surrounding Cherry Spice dissipated into fading motes of light, before disappearing entirely. She then walked over towards the fiery hellspawn, her horn lit brightly causing the creature to begin to compress , its form failing at the seams, and its fire imploding towards its core. After only three seconds, a single mote of light the size of a candle flame floated in place where the great demonic creature stood. Twilight pulled a small vial from her saddlebags and pulled the beeswax stopper out. She placed the flickering flame within once more, and sealed the vial once more, containing the flame within. She then lifted out a small alabaster tube and slid the glass vial snugly within, burning a magical rune onto the ivory surface of the burning creature’s miniature prison.

With a sigh of contentment, Twilight looked over to Cherry Spice with a deadpan look, floating over the contained spirit of flame. "Take this. Break it on the ground if you run into trouble while I'm not around. It'll release the fire sprite I've placed within. Now, as for you..." She spun around pointing a hoof in the pink unicorn's direction, causing her to press herself up against the magenta bars of Twilight's binding spell. "Sit down, and listen."

The pink vampony immediately halted, she slammed her flank onto the ground with a resounding thud, and looked curiously at the lavender filly, through the magenta glowing bars. Her slight whimpers being heard by both Twilight and Cherry Spice. With another sigh, Twilight began speaking once more. “You can stop whimpering now, unless you try anything I wont be hurting you.” Twilight’s ears perked up, she turned her head upwards and called out. “Fang? Stop, I’ve already fixed this, I just need to get Cherry Spice back to camp.” A small blur fluttered down on leathery draconic wings, and landed on Twilight’s back, hissing in displeasure at the sight of the vampony. “And be quiet.”

Twilight returned her gaze to the pink vampony. “So, since we have that little bit of unpleasantness behind us, if you can speak, would you mind telling me your name?” Twilight asked curiously.

“G-g-golden Heart.” She stuttered out barely above a whisper.

Twilight lifted a hoof to her face, shaking her head left and right. Placing her hoof on the soft earth below, she looked at the pink vampony once more. “Alright Golden Heart, if I release the spell holding the cage around you, will you stay put?” The pink vampony nodded, Twilight's horn flashed and guttered out as she released the spell holding the cage together. The lavender bars shattered and blew away like dust in the wind, the glowing magenta motes of light guttering and dying out in their passage. “So, Golden.”

The pink unicorn looked up from the ground, her ears perking somewhat. “Y-yes?”

Twilight lifted a hoof towards the youthful looking vampony, , “How did you become a Soul Drinker?” Golden remained silent, her pink hooves jittering slightly, and her horn releasing purplish red sparks as she shivered in fear. Twilight let loose a small sigh in annoyance as the young creature clammed up even further. After a few seconds of silence, she felt the warm touch of another’s hoof upon her shoulder. She looked to her right, catching Cherry Spice’s brown eyes as he stared pityingly at the creature before them.

“Why don’t I take this from here,” he said calmly, pushing the lavender unicorn filly to the side. He then proceeded to walk over and stand before the fuchsia vampony. He lifted a hoof towards her in greetings with as bright a smile as he could muster. “I think we got off on the wrong hoof, so let me start. Hello Golden Heart, my name is Cherry Spice. I apologize on behalf of my companion, she is quite vicious when provoked into a fight.”

Twilight lifted a hoof to her face, and shook her head slowly from side to side, while Golden lifted her hoof and hesitantly bumped it against Cherry Spice’s, sneaking furtive glances in the lavender filly’s direction. “H-hello Mr. S-spice.” She pulled her hoof back and stepped a few paces away from the herbal goods merchant.

Cherry felt his smile melt from its previous rigid merriment to a more relaxed grin. “I guess I should’ve expected that. Well then first off, why were you with the other vamponies?”

Golden lowered her pink furred head mumbling a short answer.

Cherry Lifts a hoof to his ear. “Sorry but I didn’t quite hear that, could you say it again?”

“Family.”

The middle yeared merchant raised an eyebrow, as his curiosity peaked. “Family? In what way?” he asks gently, nudging Golden’s chin with a hoof, lifting her gaze until their eyes met.

“Coven, m-my living family passed away when Lord Sanguine turned me. So I-I’ve been living with the other vamponies since they took me in, they are the only family I had left.” Golden answered, her shivers reducing in frequency as she calmed down, her face sinking as the pain of their loss began to set in.

Cherry allowed concern to appear on his face as he quickly walked over to the pink vampony, he placed one brown hoof on Golden’s shoulder. “There, there, it’s okay. I know you don’t like being alone, but I think this might actually be a good thing for you. See that filly over there?” Golden looked up and followed where Cherry was pointing his foreleg. All the way to Twilight resting on the sidelines in a meditative state, with her eyes closed. “Now, from your position you probably wouldn’t believe it, but she is one of the kindest ponies I’ve ever met. It actually surprised me when I woke up and found her to be so violent just now.” he lifted a hoof and rubbed his chin for a few moments, his eyes casting downward as he gathered his thoughts. Lowering the hoof to the ground once more, he let loose a calming sigh. “I guess, it shouldn’t surprise me, considering how she responded to those guards a week ago. But as I was saying, she is really nice, if you ask her politely she might help you survive, I know as much, considering how many healing potions she gives away.”

Twilight opened her magenta orbs and stared straight at Cherry Spice with a bored contemptuous look. “And if ponies such as yourself didn’t keep haggling them out of a weeks worth of bits in one purchase, there wouldn’t be so many destitute ponies.” She retorted irritably. Golden jumped at the lavender filly’s sudden input.

“Yea? Well, you know what, it’s their fault for buying items without checking the prices first.” He argued back at the mage. “Besides it’s not my fault that the peasants are poor.” He dismissively waved a hoof in a circle, as if that would explain his point. Placing the hoof back on the ground he cleared his throat and turned to the pink unicorn left out of the conversation. “Sorry about my companion, she tends to like defending her ideals. However if you do need help just ask her. As I said, she wont bite, at the worst she’ll just growl.”

Now Golden Heart was giving the merchant a deadpan stare, as well as Twilight, “Yea, for some reason I highly doubt that.” The fuchsia vampony then turned away from the middle aged stallion, and took a good look at her former captor. Twilight for her part was calmly resting on a small patch of soft grass that had been missed by the massive wave of fire that had passed through the field only an hour ago. Twilight noted the attention being paid her and turned to lock onto the vampony’s gaze.

Twilight sighed before confirming the chocolate brown stallion’s words. “As much as I would wish he was wrong.” She rolled her eyes at the ridiculousness of the situation before continuing, “He is somewhat correct, I won’t hesitate to help you, but only if you need it.” She stood up to her full height before walking back over to the pair.

Golden Heart responded with widening eyes and shortness of breath as fear began to overtake her senses once more, as she watched Twilights approach as if the black pony himself were coming. Cherry noticed this and laid a soft hoof comfortingly over the vampony’s shoulder. “No need to worry, she’s mostly calmed down. See?” he gestured to the flaps of the lavender unicorn’s saddle bags, which were usually open and ready for use, pointing at both straps showing that they were tied closed.

The pink colored unicorn visibly relaxed at the motions, even with the image and living pony to haunt her nightmares for many weeks to come walking towards her, fearless in demeanor. Twilight stopped several feet from the pink mare with several spells formed in the back of her thoughts for swift use. Lifting a hoof, she held it outward towards the young vampony. “And you look like you need it.” Twilight then lifted the edges of her mouth into the shape of a tentative smile.

Golden looked between the hoof being held before her and the owner, she leaned forward, glancing up into Twilight’s eyes once more, then grasped the lavender hoof with her own fuchsia colored one. “T-thank you. But what do I need help with?” Her question remained unanswered for a few seconds as she lowered her hoof back to the ground.

“There are a few things that you would need help with. First off, if your breath is any indicator, you need something to clean your mouth of lethal germs and such. Second, you’ll need another way to feed that will not endanger other ponies, unless you want ponies less forgiving than me hunting you. Finally, I’ll help you get off to the right start with a small donation to help you get on your hooves perse.” Twilight allowed her face to brighten throughout the dialogue, but after a few more seconds her demeanor darkened substantially, a frown spreading across her face. “However, I would not appreciate it if you betrayed my trust, so do try and not hurt any innocents, and I will do what I can to help in our future encounters.” Twilight’s smile returned in full force as her horn lit up popping the flap on her saddlebags.

Cherry and Golden both tilted their heads to the side as they gazed at the vials and glass bottles the lavender unicorn pulled from her packs. “O-ok, I’ll keep that in mind.” Golden finally stated as she finished absorbing the words Twilight spoke.

“Now to start you off, I have some alcohol mixed with hemlock and sage to clean your mouth so that you don’t poison the next person you bite.” She said, mixing several bottles with various liquids till the solution turned a bright shade of teal then she passed it into the pink unicorn’s hooves. “Drink a small portion of it, then just gargle and spit the rest.” Twilight instructed. Golden followed through with the order, showing her pearl white teeth to the other unicorn after she finished.

Twilight nodded before stepping right in front of the pink unicorn vampony. holding out a hoof she pressed it up against the creature’s mouth softly tugging at the lips suggestively. After the second tug, Golden got the point and opened her mouth wide. Twilight investigated the cavity thoroughly, focusing on the teeth for a few seconds before letting go of the mouth and pressing it closed with the same hoof and then placing the limb on her chin in thought. “Hmm… just how much blood do you usually require per month?” Twilight finally asked after a few moments of thought.

“Generally three p-pints, Glimmer... I only drink from travelers, I swear.” Twilight facehooved at the vampony’s lack of care for her victims.

“I could care less about who you feed upon, as long as they remain unharmed in the end. If I give you two potions of mouth cleaner would you be able to ration it until I came back with a more permanent solution?” Golden nods her head in firm agreement. “Good, well, here’s the plan. I’ll make you a pendant before morning, and it will disguise your nature from the magical and natural senses of others, however you will have to feed upon multiple people per month rather than one so that you don’t accidentally kill your donor while feeding. I’d suggest moving into one of the nearby towns.” Twilight stated with calm ease.

The lavender filly lifted her hoof in front of herself, slicing a small sliver over an artery, opening it to the air, Twilight then places a beaker underneath to catch the precious life fluid. After a minute, much to Cherry Spice’s relief, Twilight placed the wound under a few herbs, stopping the bleeding in its entirety. She then lifted the beaker of blood over to the salivating pink vampony. Taking the beaker in both hooves, she swallowed the solution in two quick gulps. Placing the glass container back down, she licked away the rest of the blood on her lips. “Thank you.” She responded simply her eyes glowing red as the vampiric curse manipulated the blood within her system, revitalizing it.

Twilight turned to Cherry Spice. “Alright, keep to the rules and suggestions I’ve given you, don’t kill or maim anypony, or else I will be back. Now,Cherry Spice and I are going to head back to camp and get some rest. Good night.” With a fizzle and pop, Twilight and Cherry Spice both disappeared from the clearing, and exploded back into existence a few feet over a pair of sleeping bags, next to a wagon.

Twilight gracefully lands on her hooves, while Cherry Spice hits the ground side first. “MOTHER BUCKING GELDING! Glimmer! Warn me next time you cast a spell like that.” Screeched the incensed merchant as Twilight walked away towards her sleeping mat on the opposite side of the clearing.

As Twilight reached her own resting place, she turned back to the stallion with a shrug, answering him in kind. “Oh be quiet, at least you made it out of there in one piece.” As the words finished flowing off her lips she laid down upon the mat, her fore- and back legs tucked underneath as her journal appeared before her once more, caught in her magical field. Lifting a quill from her pack as well, she placed it on an empty page. With several swift strokes she began writing in it for the second time that night.

Cagnim, 7th, 993 CR

Regal Sentry was an okay companion, but his training probably didn’t cover the glamour a vampony could use. but even if I had to incinerate him and the vampony that killed him, I still saved Cherry Spice. I just hope the other vampony actually follows the rules I gave her. When I return, I better not hear any new rumors about disappearing travelers and merchants. Though, Golden is very kind if a bit timid for a soul drinker. I have a feeling that she will follow the path she was given.

I’d better get back under the covers before Fang starts bugging me to get there.

Twilight Sparkle.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

“Ughh, you know Glimmer, it would be nice if you helped pull the wagon now and then. It doesn’t get any lighter, and you know that I can’t use any packs like the ones on your back. Besides those hills are a major pain in the flank, especially when they’re wet, kind of like the road TWO DAYS AG-Mmphh…” The brown stallion’s rant was cut off as his mouth zipped itself shut while a lavender unicorn stared at him with a deadpan look, her magenta magic matching the color of the zipper that closed his mouth.

“We’ve already been through this Cherry. You very well know why I don’t pull your cart, and don’t complain to me. It was your choice to get those farming tools and training swords, not mine.” She answered Cherry Spice’s problem with a small amount of annoyance sneaking into her voice. “Besides, if you had decided to stop yelling for half a second, you’d realize that we’ve arrived at our next destination.” Twilight waved her hoof at the massive stone structure standing above them.

With a crash, the spice vendor lay sprawled before two massive reinforced oak wood doors, with towering stone turrets on either side. Twilight lit her horn, catching the wagon and keeping it from tipping over as the brown stallion reoriented himself back to his feet. He padded his nose with a hoof, then held the appendage outward to see what the damage was. A small splotch of red could be seen, enough to know that he was bleeding, but not enough to be worrying. Putting his hoof on the ground once more, he turned to the lavender unicorn snickering behind him. “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, maybe next time I won’t be so helpful in finding herbs for your potions, hmm?”

Twilight rolled her eyes as she lit up her horn with a familiar magenta field, a similar field appearing as three objects came floating out of her saddlebags. “Here, this should help with the pain and to cleanse that scratch, just be careful next time.” She mixed two of the items in midair before spreading them over the third, a simple white linen cloth, which she then placed over Cherry Spice’s forehead, stemming the minor bleeding.

With a comforted sigh the chocolate brown earth pony allowed a small smile to grace his face. “Thank you Glimmer, I guess I should be more careful, but sometimes I would just appreciate some help if you can lend it.” Twilight nodded consent as she finished affixing and straightening out the bandage on the young merchant’s forehead.

“Good. Maybe next time you’ll actually pay attention to your surroundings as well, while trying to speak to me.” The lavender unicorn released a small sigh before planting a hoof on her forehead. “Umm, excuse me, but if you’re done with your lovers’ quarrel down there, I’d appreciate knowing what business you have in Fort Reignhold,” announced a snow white stallion in golden armor, standing atop the wall.

Both Twilight and Cherry Spice looked up at the stallion that had addressed them and Twilight managed to find her voice first. “My companion and I are searching for shelter and a place to trade for the day and night. May we have entry?” She asked as a second stallion in the same golden barding as the first looked over top the gate.

“If you have the bits, we can let you in, the entry charge is sixty bits.” Announced the first, as he and the second stallion simultaneously lept from atop the gate, spread their wings and fluttered down, landing before Twilight and Cherry Spice.

Cherry Spice then spoke next, “Sixty bits? That is preposterous, last time I was here, there was no entry charge and the gates were open during the day and any merchant or caravan could come or pass through.” The brown coated stallion spat, his anger at the guards flaring brightly behind his eyes.

The second guard spoke as Twilight’s own brows start knitting together. “I must apologize, it is a new policy that we were given recently to keep up funds for this installation. However if you cannot pay, you must find somewhere else to camp for the night.”

Twilight nodded, before asking. “And how would a merchant or caravan get through this pass with your great fortress blocking the path? You cannot expect everypony to pay your fee, it would be both unrealistic and unreasonable.”

Cherry Spice began nodding as well, then raised his voice as he began to yell furiously. “I cannot believe this! You’re supposed to be royal guards, not bucking toll collectors.”

“Sir, please be qu-“

“I mean seriously, I was here only three months ago!And I’m only now hearing of this? Shouldn’t there have been at least some form of communication between the towns about this new policy?” The merchant spat loud enough to be heard over a crowd on a good market day. Twilight looked at her companion, taken aback by his loud tone and anger. Just as she was about to speak, a shadow passed over the wall from above and a steel grey pegasus in sapphire blue armor landed between the guards and Cherry Spice who backed up a few steps.

“I was taking a mid afternoon flight to check on a few positions when I heard an interestingly loud noise coming from the gates of our fortress, that should have beenOPENhours ago. Now I’m not a petty commander, so I’d like to hear your excuses for why it hasn’t been done, but first I would like to know,” The commander turned to Cherry Spice, looking the merchant directly in the eyes. “What seems to be the problem here traveler? Other than the closed gates of course.”

“We were just going to-“

“I wasn’t talking to you lieutenant, now was I?” The steel grey pegasus said icily, not even turning to face his subordinate.

Both guards cowered at their commander’s calm tone, “N-no, Commander Lightning sir.”

“Good, now go ahead.” Commander Lightning lifted a hoof and waved it idly in the merchant’s direction.

Cherry Spice began speaking, some of the anger from before still holding tightly to his voice, and a small smile playing at the back of his lips. “These two idiots were trying to make us pay to get through the gate.”

“Were they now?” The commander asked and Cherry Spice nodded. “Well then,” the commander started turning around to face the two pegasus guards behind him. “I’ll be meeting you two in my office. I trust you know the way.” Both of the pegasi nodded and gulped, knowing what they were in for once the commander arrived to debrief them, then took off promptly, flying over the gate.

“Sorry about that.” Commander Lightning apologized turning back to face a pleased Cherry Spice.

“S’not a problem. I’m just glad we got this problem sorted out,” the merchant replied with a smile.

“I’ll have these gates open soon. Just wait a minute or two.” With that the commander followed his subordinates over the gate.

After a few seconds Twilight stepped up next to the herb vendor, and cupped him upside the head with the side of her hoof.

“Hay, what was that for?” Cherry complained rubbing the new sore spot.

“Being a fool,” Twilight said angrily. “You could have provoked them to attack, had Lightning not shown up when he did, you might have been sporting a few new wounds at this point.”

“Blah blah blah, it’s not like I was in any real danger. I mean the guard is there to protect Equestrian citizens, not beat down any pony that gets out of line.” Cherry Spice smirked cheekily.

Twilight planted a hoof between her eyes releasing a loud breathy grunt. Letting her hoof fall back to the ground she scowled at her brown merchant companion. “I am honestly surprised you’ve survived as long as you did without me being there to keep you safe.” Twilight shook her head, releasing another breathy sigh, before looking at Cherry Spice and rolling her eyes.

“Honestly, Wisp I think it’s due to my natural charm.”

Twilight rolled her eyes at her companions antics. “Charisma won’t save you from everything.”

“I know, and that’s where ponies like you come into play.” The oblivious merchant continued, smiling as he turned to face the gate.

With a single loud slap, the merchant hit the ground once more, just as a loud rumbling sound announced the opening of the fortress gates. “Ow, what was that for?” The merchant tried to yell over the sound of winding gears.

“You know why.” The lavender filly stated simply before walking through the opening gates.

Cagnim, 10th, 993 CR

We rested and resupplied at Fort Reignhold. Apparently they haven’t had a decent healer in weeks, even though they’re on staff and paid by the crown to be as efficient as possible, or at least that’s what I read up in their library after eating for the night and giving Fang a joy laced mana crystal.(Changeling magic, or at least the kind I saw Velt and Road use has been fascinating to test.) Anyway, after I found out they had an epidemic on their hooves I got to work immediately to figure out the source of the plague, and found out that the plague originated from a bite wound inflicted by one of the vamponies that I destroyed several nights back. A simple disease, which can easily be cured using an even simpler concoction of rotweed, basil, and fire snaps. I’ll administer the cure tomorrow morning as soon as the curfew is lifted. (I honestly thought they had a night shift… ) I wonder what Cherry thinks of all of this?

A bit of interest, the soldiers decided they wanted a sixty bit fine to allow us passage into and through their fortress. Apparently the ones who were doing this weren’t following correct orders. Suffice to say, I was willing, Cherry wasn’t, so Cherry started yelling at them, eventually the commander came down to see what the fuss was about, as soon as our story was explained, to say he was upset would be an understatement. I don’t think that particular set of guards will be on the walls any time soon.

Again, the bed calls, I’ll see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully Fang found somewhere warm to rest.

Twilight Sparkle.

Cagnim, 11th, 993 CR

Well, the potion worked, I added some Royal wasp jelly to the mix to remove the taste of the rotweed, other than one severe allergic reaction there really wasn’t anything exciting going on. Captain Storm Cloud, decided to pay Cherry Spice and I for my services. I tried to decline, but Cherry Spice took the opportunity and grabbed the money before I could say no. Honestly, if it weren’t for the fact that he supplies me a good majority of the herbs for my potions I probably would have left him at Reignhold. I apologized for my companions swift and rude demeanor then chased after him, when I finally caught up he was already packed and strapped into his cart, So… We left. Tonight we're under a rocky ridge. My choice since Cherry Spice really couldn’t control his greed I might as well try and teach him some humility. Tomorrow I plan on having him cross the stream without a bridge. Hopefully it will get him to learn some of the meaning behind hard work.

Twilight Sparkle.

Cagnim, 15th, 993 CR

First I just want to say this first, Cherry Spice... Guhh Valhachkasej'â, he’s so irritatingly single minded it’s ridiculous. all he worries about is comfort and bits. First I tried to get him to learn something of hard work by forcing him to go across the stream without using the bridge, all he did was take the wheels off his wagon, and pull out a long pole then drift his wagon across the stream. all the while I just froze the water along my path across, like when I first visited Windbreak. Then I tried to have him take the cliff path, instead he found a straight and narrow pass that ran straight between two cliff faces. Then finally I tried to convince him to go with me on one of my excursions into the ancient ruins of a watch tower, which I found the bodies of several griffon legionaries surrounding a small black orb, when I went to touch the orb, responded by releasing a small ark of green electricity which hit one of the bodies making it rise, I dispelled the enchantments keeping the body walking with a simple golden blast from a spell I learned in that ancient palace.

Fang has been laughing at me nonstop for my failed attempts to teach the subbern basilisk of a pony some form of self control and humility. Well you know what? I give up. If Cherry Spice wants to remain the way he is then I’ll let him… Guh, as long as he doesn’t get hurt, I’ll see if I can teach him some self defense some time. I can’t keep fighting his battles for him. I just won’t be there every time. Well, another day till we reach Rabadesh. Northwing turned us away from their gates, stating that they were training with several groups of griffon Talons and a small group of griffon Rune dancers. (I guess I’ll have another chance to study their techniques, may be in Claw Point or Pax Nexus.)

At least we ran into a caravan of ponies who were traveling along the outer roads from Pax Nexus on our way there. I was able to trade some fire retardant potions and several jars of spite weed salve to tend and relieve muscle and wound pains, it’s also a good substitute for bandages… at least when clotting wounds is involved. The caravaneers were nice and they even had some whipped cream. Well, I know what’s going to be my snack for the next few days.

I’m going to sleep with Fang again tonight, he’s been shivering for the past few minutes. I’d give him some Drakes Beard potion, but I fear it would just absorb into his system rather than remove whatever is ailing him. Keeping him warm at night is the least I can do.

Twilight Sparkle.

Cagnim, 16th, 993 CR

We’re staying at the Early Risers inn tonight. Rabadesh was a bit of a disappointment. According to Cherry Spice, the streets are usually beyond crowded with tourists and vendors. Apparently, with the dragons and griffons fighting each other, the amount of ponies visiting has dropped to a minimum. I still managed to make plenty of sales and passed several dozen healing tinctures to the locals. Apparently they’ve been suffering from a slew of rashes, and one case of Sunfire Blight, which needed an Arctic Wind Potion and extract of Nightshade root. I really don’t like Sunfire Blight. Its symptoms are similar to a cold and a fever, however an added symptom is a severe magical dearth, since the virus acts as a curse as well, and it’s agitated in sunlight. The only way to cure it is to directly purge the heat of the sun from their bodies, hence the Nightshade extract. But in the process of purging the power of the sun from their systems, their bodies will superheat to unnatural and unsafe levels, hence drinking the Arctic Wind potion. Also if it is day time, they need to stay indoors for at least an hour to assure the dispelling of the Sunfire Blight.

I would like to note that the Sunfire Blight is extremely similar to the Sunlight Curse that Soul Drinkers have, except theirs is volatile hence the sun reversal enchantments I found upon what was left of the garments they wore when I killed those other ones a week ago.

Cherry Spice is being foolish. He wont eat any of the garlic and basil stuffed potatoes, even though I recommended them to him as a remedy to his minor and temporary allergy to sunlight. I think I spotted a unicorn stallion in strange orange and red robes in the back of the tavern, he looked similar to the other two ponies that were following me a half season ago. I sensed another Necromancer nearby the town on my way in, I wonder if he has any spell notes we can trade? However I’ll have to search him out on the way back from Pax Nexus.

A couple of what Cherry Spice called street thugs tried to stop us on the streets, however when they stopped us Cherry said something confusing and they walked away, they looked really angry. I hope I don’t run into them any time soon.

Fang has been behaving unusually as of late, He’s been a bit more cuddly whenever we slept together. I hope he hasn’t caught something. I’ll ask Zecora tonight to check up on it with some of our friends in the Everfree, maybe they can help. Or I might be able to contact them directly, I’ll try tonight.

Twilight Sparkle.

Cagnim, 17th, 993 CR

Apparently Fang is going into what is normally called Dragon Lust, as Zecora and another of my teachers were able to explain to me. Dragon Lust is the result of a dragon picking its mate, considering how strange and somewhat disturbing that is. I can guess I imprinted on him too well, and I guess the constant mental connection between us isn’t helping matters either in that regard. They explained to me that there were two ways to suppress and or solve Dragon Lust. One way is to follow its natural path and help the dragon with its chosen mate, and the other is to just help the dragon wait it out, using a mixture of Nightingale, Wyrm Root, and Blood Sage in a salve and rubbing it into his scales every night. I’ll ask him what he wishes to do once we get to Pax Nexus. I just hope Queen Ferris's changelings don’t mind an extra visitor in bed if he chooses the first option.

We made a decent amount of progress through Armastia’s pass, though I wonder what those glints in the sunlight were that I saw on the ledge, I couldn’t ask Fang to check it out since he was too busy trying to scout out any outcroppings to rest under for the Night.

Luckily he found an ancient fort. It rested precariously on the edge of a cliff. Some of its towers were already crumbled to their bases, the main bodies resting in the valley below. I tested and came to the conclusion that, as long as we stayed in the eastern tower, we would not have to worry about the building collapsing in our sleep. Though I might not be getting much sleep if the ancient fortress holds any magical secrets unlike those I have studied so far. Too bad the library had crumbled off the cliff face when Fang arrived, I probably could have saved a few of the books to study, that is if they survived the elements.

Cherry Spice twisted his hoof on a loose stone earlier and I had to administer some Nimble Briar salve, then I put him in a shadow vine cast using two cherry wood branches and had him drink a small regeneration draught. After several minutes I released him from the cast and regathered my Shadow Vines. With his leg freed he was walking around, good as new.

(note to self: Shadow vines are impossible to find and harvest outside of the Everfree forest, take great care to retrieve them after each use.)

Were going to be passing around Fort Clawpoint. Considering how close we are to the Griffon and Dragon border, I don’t think they’ll be accepting travelers until the conflict between the Griffons and the Dragons ends. Elder Sylvack sent me an ancient map describing the area we’ll be passing through geologically, though he could have been a bit more defined in his instructions, I won’t fault him for brevity, considering we really didn’t have much time to talk during my visit to his dreams. Anyway, the map gave us a few paths we could follow to reach Pax Nexus , it should only take four days if the natural paths still remain after all this time. At least the stone is warm underneath. Winter still holds some sway in these mountains.

Twilight Sparkle.

Author's Note

UUU... I honestly have no reason for this chapter to have this come out soo late so yea the usual applies, many thanks to my editors and proofreaders

janushyde, Moon Shade, Aeondragon, and Firedon.

Traveling Documents And Merchant Matters partition (2 of 3)

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 13: Traveling Documents And Merchant Matters

Partition 2 of 3

Cagnim, 21th, 993 CR

My estimate of four days till we arrived at Pax Nexus was correct, also I’m surprised that not once has Cherry Spice complained about the roads I picked for our route. At least I was able to examine the scenery without interruption as we traveled along the road for the past few days. Though yesterday one of the wheels on his wagon broke as we were traveling up a rather steep incline. Suffice to say, I was glad to help him get the wagon to a garage and leave him there and now I have a legitimate reason to stay out of his hair, as he will be in town for a few days. This will give me enough time to visit the changelings who I came here for. I wonder who the contact is? I’m sitting in the Prancing Dragoon now. It’s owned by a very nice griffon named Meleord. I found a new favorite sweet, it’s a potion that bubbles when shaken, even while cold, I think he called it a ‘So dah’,either way I like it a lot.

The ingredients for ‘Sodah’ are a collection of spices, and liquids mixed together. So far using several detection and dissolution spells I’ve been able to identify many of the ingredients within the cold, bubbling solution. Water, vanilla, nutmeg, sugar, cherry bark extract, and a gas of some sort. Though, it’s very sweet, and delicious, I don’t think I’ll be taking any of it with me on my trips. However, I will take the materials needed to make it with me along the way, in case I get the desire to have some more. However I do wonder how they were able to get all of the gas into the drink in the first place.

I’ll put in another entry after I’ve found the local changelings, I think I see one now.

Twilight Sparkle.

She rested comfortably on the cushioned bar stool, her straight cut violet mane broken by a two tone magenta streak through the center. She gazed bordely across the room at the pony entering the bar, a journal rested snugly between her lavender furred hooves, a phoenix feather quill positioned just above the page as she cut off her current entry. Her horn glowing, the book levitated from between her hooves and disappeared within the pair of saddlebags fit suggestively around her barrel.

Her magenta colored eyes followed the golden coated pegasus with a pleasant azure blue mane as she trotted across the bar floor and took a seat next to the lavender filly. “Oi, Meleord! Can I get some apple brandy over here?” The pegasus called over the din towards the grizzled old gryphon behind the counter, who responded by rolling his eyes while placing an order of hay fries next to another customer’s wheat keg. The pegasus then turned to get a better look at the unicorn next to her. “So what’s your name, sweet cheeks?”

Twilight gave the pegasus a quick lookover before answering, ”Glimmering Wisp, what’s yours?

“Ah, Summer Breeze. Nice to meecha Glimmer.” The golden pegasus answered holding out a hoof.

Twilight grabbed it with her own and shook it vigorously up and down. “So what’s it like here in Pax Nexus? While I was down in Applecrest I heard that it was a very lively place, but not only that, I was also told that there was a library here where I could do some research on almost every creature known between our three races.” Twilight answered excitedly. “I mean, I could also probably find some research on more uses for my talent other than sparkles and telekinesis.” She validated the statement by lighting her horn and magically flaring her cloak out, while also bending the light around it, causing a shimmering effect similar to sunlight passing through morning mist.

A good many eyes around the establishment turned back to what they were doing as Twilight's magic show died down, some looking unimpressed by the act. Summer Breeze gave the young unicorn a soft pat on the head. ”You said Applecrest, right?”

Twilight nodded, smiling back, while the drink Summer Breeze ordered landed on the counter before her.

With a quick glance left and right, Summer noted the lack of attention being paid to her and the unicorn next to her. With a smile, a faint green shimmering veil of energy enveloped the mug of frothing amber colored cider, lifting it to the golden pegasus’s lips. The pegasus took a long sip before the cup placed itself on the stone counter once more. “Alright, if you want, I can take you to see the sights? Besides I bet you would love to meet my partner Dorn.” The pegasus took another sip from the mug, a small mustache of golden foam clinging to her mouth.

“Really?” Twilight smiled widely. “I’d love to. Although, I think it would be best if we met your partner at your residence first, once you’re finished with the drink of course.”

“No problem, I’m almost finished anyway, just gimme a sec.“ With a small flash several bits floated onto the counter from a small tan purse strapped firmly to Summer’s right foreleg. The glass mug lifted to her lips one last time, upending itself and drowning its contents down her throat, before placing itself once more onto the counter. With a small shake of her head, she hopped off the stool and landed next to Twilight. The bartender scooped up the bits as they exited, not paying any attention to the two new chips left on the rim of the mug, amongst the others.

Stepping out onto the street outside the bar, Twilight glanced at Summer curiously, until Summer jerked her head to the right, “C’mon, I’ll get ya there, faster’n the main roads would take ya.” She called out before turning right and heading down a nearby side street, Twilight following without a word. They traversed through some of the more seedy parts of town, avoiding a few would be thieves and cutthroats along the way, before finally stopping in front of a dilapidated three story building. Several of the windows facing the road were shattered and boarded up, the main door to the structure looked as if it could fall from its hinges at any moment.

“Hmm. Alright, Glimmering Wisp, was it? Yes, just wait ‘ere a few seconds while oi get the door op’n.” The Golden pegasus trotted up to the door and knocked on it, her hoof tapping a swift beat. ‘Clop clop clop clop, clop clop clop clop, clop, clop’. With a loud screech, the door pushed out from its frame, silencing as it left the strike plate.

The door stopped after a few seconds, skidding along a rise in the pavement. Inside it was another pegasus like Summer, his coat and wings the color of meadow grass, his eyes and mane were both sky blue, his mane set in a stricken back style, similar to a certain pie loving wonderbolt. He looked between Summer and Twilight for a few seconds before finally asking. “So this the one, Summer?” The other pegasus nodded, before walking past her green compatriot. He focused his attention on the young filly standing before him. “Well, no sense making you wait, if Vogel gave the go ahead, come on in, by the way, I’m Dorn.” The green pegasus held out his hoof with a smile.

Twilight looked Dorn in the eye, carefully gauging his reaction. “Alright Dorn, but first. What is your disguise name?” She lifted her hoof to Dorn’s and gave a firm shake.

“Hmm, they call me Meadow Breeze. Sounds kinda fillyish but it really fits. I’m able to manipulate the weather here so that it’s only slightly windy and just cool enough to be comfortable out.” The young stallion smiled even wider as Twilight walked through the door at his invitation. “Not that many ponies inside of the city could care as much but the ones in the outskirts, where the farms are, just can’t get enough.” Meadow Breeze’s joy was infectious as Twilight learned, when she finally noticed the smile that had spread across her own lips.

Twilight entered the dilapidated home, her eyes searching for her previous companion, finding her as she stepped out of the kitchen with a wooden cup of iced water. “Thank you, Vogel.” She said as Summer magically passed her the glass. They entered the main room of the building, that was surprisingly well furnished. Finding a seat, Twilight decided to start their conversation. “So Dorn, would you mind telling me what it’s like living here in Pax Nexus?”

The pegasus shuffled himself a bit finding a more comfortable position in the seat. “Not really much to say, I do my job and do it well. The ponies around me are nice though, but they don’t really care to speak with a pegasus. And most of the stuff around here is bought and sold inside shops, the only time the open market is busy is during winter season, when ponies are shopping for unique Hearth’s warming presents.”

“What about healing potions and alchemical antidotes?” Twilight queried, her ear twitching slightly from a small sound outside of the room. She scooted to the side on the couch, moving herself into a better position, before refocusing her eyes on Dorn as he began to respond to her question.

“We have three apothecaries and a staff of well trained healers ready to treat wounds and injuries of any pony brought to their hospital.” Vogel gave Dorn a questioning look before nodding and looking at Twilight again.

“So Glimmer, is potion maker yer front, or is it actually whacha do?”

Twilight smiled wanly. “It would be my front if I had any higher agenda than learning and trying to help those I can. When I saw what you and your friends looked like underneath, I realized that you need much more help than most other ponies I've met” The lavender filly then rose to her hooves suddenly, seeing a flash of light from outside the doorway. Taking a single step back into the shadows, the young unicorn disappeared almost instantly as the shadows enfolded her within their cold embrace. Just as suddenly, she appeared at the entrance of the building, the main door ajar, stepping into the light of the sun as her body reformed. Turning around she looked inside, noting two strange unicorns next to the door leading into the same room she was speaking in just a second ago.

The small unicorn stepped forward, her hood falling over her face as she silently stalked up to the two intruders. “Huh, Glimmer? Hay Vogel, did you see where she went?”

“No. Ya saw that right?”

“Yea, she just took a step back and poof, she just disappeared into thin air like that. Where did she go?”

“I haven’t got a-”

After a few seconds she was finally behind the cloaked ponies, their silvery white armor glowing softly under their golden robes. “Excuse me!” The lavender filly announced irritatedly before lowering her voice, with all four of the other ponies in the house listening to her. “But it’s rude to enter somepony else’s home uninvited, not to mention intruding in on their conversation.” Both ponies jumped in surprise, turning around to face the lavender filly while drawing weapons. Both of the pegasi that were within the room charged out into the hallway upon hearing their guest speaking with other ponies.

Both of the golden cloaked unicorns lit their horns, preparing spells for quick use. ”We saw you following this pony into one of the more seedy parts of town and wanted to make sure that you were not in trouble.” The one on the right stated in a clear and concise tone. “Now that we know you are in no danger, we will take our leave of the premises, I and my partner apologise for the inconvenience.” With that both stallions left the house.

Dorn spoke up first, as a green aura glows from the top of Vogel’s head and the closing door. “Well, I guess that takes care of that. Though, how did you know they were there?” The green pegasus asked Twilight, as he turned to walk back into the living room.

“My hearing is better trained to hear quiet sounds. It is a must when learning how to make potions, especially in a place as dangerous as the Everfree forest.” Twilight answered as all three of the occupants of the house found a comfortable place to sit once more. Twilight allowed her legs to lazily hang over the side of the cushion she chose. “I’ve found the skills I learned during my training to be not as needed outside of the forest. But, I’m grateful that at least my mastery of potions and enchanting can be appreciated by the townsfolk in the other villages I’ve visited so far.”

“Thats interesting. There’s a hive of changelings within the Everfree, they’re very secretive, so other swarms rarely see them.” Both pegasi frowned thoughtfully, until Dorn waived the subject off. “Not that it really matters though, but it is interesting to say the least. So Glimmer, me and Vogel have been waiting to see what you came here to show us. Not that we want to rush to the point, but we and our queen would wish to know if your experiment will be a success this time.”

The lavender filly nodded, her horn lighting and magically pulling two loaves of bread out of her saddlebags. “I think this should be enough for proper testing. Now let me cast the enchantment, I’m hoping the spell works this time as well.”

Twilight’s eyes closed tightly in thought, and her horn flared brighter as the patterns of the spell began to solidify in her mind’s eye. Similar to the previous one she had done in Applecrest, except with a few alterations to allow the transformed object to remain inside a system that would regurgitate it otherwise. With an even brighter glow comparable to that of a magenta star, she released the spell, its effects wrapping and binding themselves into the bread. She then reached deep within herself for her most cherished memory and began to flood the emotion into a raw blast of power, striking the still glowing loaves of bread.

After several silent seconds the glow of the bread died down, the twin pastries resembling their freshly baked cousins. Twilight magically sliced off a piece of one of the loaves, before picking it up and hoofing the piece over to the golden coated pegasus. “Hopefully I’ve altered the spell to where it won’t be rejected by your systems. Here, Vogel give it a try.”

The silent pegasus nodded as she took the piece, then started biting into it, making sure to swallow the entire thing. After a few seconds, nothing happened. Finally fed up with waiting, Vogel spoke up impatiently. “Well? Nothings happened, and I don’t feel any bit particularly… Aaaaughh, pa-particularlmmm…” Almost instantly the pegasus’s gaze dulled as the enchanted bread began to digest into her system. Vogelschau’s stomach began to rumble, causing Dorn to back away somewhat, as he watched his pegasus companion collapse into a half awake state.

“Umm, Glimmer is that supposed to happen?”

Twilight raised her shoulders, as perplexed as the green pegasus. “I don’t really know, I’ve never seen something like this. What does a grumbling stomach usually mean?”

“Oh it just means we cannot absorb the food item that we’ve ingested. I’m surprised she hasn’t thrown up yet though.”

Twilight flipped her head back in Dorn’s direction, “What do you mean exactly?”

Dorn sighed, a green wave of flame flowing over him, stripping away his pegasus disguise, revealing a black chitinous creature underneath. Two obsidian eyelids twitched open silently, revealing the brilliant blue orbs underneath. The creature opened its jaws and began to speak in a multi-toned masculine voice, “When a changeling stomach is grumbling similarly to how Vogelschau’s is, the usual reaction is that they regurgitate the indigestible material, after that we would normally apologise to our hosts and give an excuse for the improper action.”

Twilight nodded, pulling out a small scroll from her pack, along with a quill and ink well. With the equipment at the ready, she began to write down these new details. “Alright Dorn, thank you. So what usually happens to a changeling after absorbing large amounts of love from a pony?”

“More commonly than not, the changeling gets a sense of euphoria for a few seconds, similar to how other ponies would term the climax of sexual intercourse.” The obsidian insect like pony explained.

The lavender filly returned her focus to Vogelschau, noting the light slowly returning within the pegasus’s eyes. “Hmm… Had I known that, I would have reduced the amount of love I entered into the food item. As you explained it, and from the amount of love she is absorbing from bread, I’m guessing the reason she is this way, is because she is in a constant state of euphoria. We’ll have to be careful about how we ration the bread, otherwise it might become addicting for changelings like you.”

Dorn, looked straight at Twilight raising one of his eyelids. “Addicting? Like how a pony can get addicted to salt-licks?”

“Exactly, though I have a quick question. Can you still contact Vogelschau through the hive mind?” Twilight asked, a worried frown creasing over her face.

Dorn’s eyes glazed over for a few seconds as he dipped into the instinctive link between himself and the others of his hive. He returned to the waking world, almost immediately panicked look came over his face as he turned to look at the bright golden pegasus laying on the floor. “I cannot. Glimmer, if there is something you can do, now would be the time to...”

Just as he was about to command the lavender filly, a golden hoof shoved itself into his chitinous mouth, effectively silencing his words. “Naw, naw, Dorn. There be no need to worry on mai account, just took a little rest for a bit. I mean, yea it was a bit sudden. But still, that has got to have been the damn near best sleep I’d ever had. And look.” Said the golden pegasus, before a flash of green flame consumes her in the same way it did to Dorn. Revealing her black chitinous form, however, as she raised her forehoof to Dorn’s eye level, his eyes started bugging out.

“But that’s impossible.”

Twilight looked confusedly between the two changelings before asking. “Umm, what’s impossible?”

“This!” Dorn, exclaimed, grabbing and pointing at Vogel’s chitinous hoof.

Twilight looked at the leg then raised an eyebrow. “I don’t see it?”

Dorn facehooved. ”Changelings are born with holes in their body, usually the holes are speckled here and there, many times passing straight through. If you pay close attention, you’ll notice that Vogelschau’s leg is completely mended and healed, without any holes inside of it to be seen.”

Moving a hoof to her chin, Twilight studied the differences between Vogelschau’s whole leg and Dorn’s holed one keeping Vogel’s aloft. “Hmm. Dorn, I think it might be the bread. Try some then we’ll know for sure.” She said as Vogel impatiently ripped her limb from Dorn’s grasp and planted it firmly onto the ground.

“Dorn. Next time, ask before ya grab somepony’s leg, they're liable buck ya one in the face.” She said before turning smartly and walking out of the room.

Dorn looked at the door that his companion had left through for a few more seconds before turning back to Twilight. Releasing a deep breath through his slightly open mouth, he nodded. “Fine I’ll do it.” He found a comfortable position on the couch before stepping over to it, laying down and asking. “Is it ready?” A seconds later, a small piece of bread floated before him, suspended in mid air within a deep magenta field.

With a quick snap of his jaws, he pulled the piece of bread out of the air, began to chew on it and then finally swallowed the morsel. With a simple nod to Twilight he waited for it to take effect. A few minutes later, Vogelschau finally stepped back into the room, holding two cups of steaming tea. Upon noticing the rumbling from Dorn’s stomach and the fact that his loaf had a piece missing, she asked the obvious question. “I’m guessing he started his portion of the experiment?.” Just as she said this, Dorn collapsed onto the soft pillow below his head, his eyes glazing over as he twitched occasionally in euphoric joy.

Twilight nodded affirmation to the question before lighting her horn and grasping one of the steaming cups from Vogel’s green tinged grasp. Taking a sip of the steaming liquid, she then passed the empty glass back to the changeling. “Thank you, and yes. I’m actually now just testing to see if the spell was actually the cause of the holes disappearing from your body. But I need to ask you a few question to see if it actually works as I had hoped.”

“Roight then ask ewey.”

Twilight nodded. “So Vogel, how are you feeling, have you felt any hunger since eating the enchanted bread?”

Vogel smiled, showing off her black fangs. “Now yer tolkin, I haven’t felt any hunger since I woke up. Actually, I feel more than amazin. I feel completely full. I can’t believe that half a slice could do that much. It’s amaz-. Well now, what’s goin on over ere?” She asked as both ponies turned their gaze to Dorn, where a distractingly bright green light came off of him. Surrounding the inside of the holes on his legs, the light began to dwindle as the holes got smaller and smaller. After a few seconds the process stopped, leaving behind several small pockmarks on his chitin, the only reminder of the holes that were there before.

Slowly Dorn opened his bright blue eyes. “Hmm…” The lids fell into a sultry relaxed position, as he moaned in content. “Ohhh, yeeeaaa. I haven’t felt this good since the last time I mated with the weather team...” Immediately a small green blush tinged his cheeks, eyes nearly bursting out of his widely opened eye sockets, realizing he just said that statement out loud. He then slapped his face with a hoof as he despaired over the breach of trust he had just committed. “Buck, I can’t believe I said that. Please, please, please don’t tell them that you know.” He begged Twilight, holding his hooves out together while unleashing big dopey eyes upon her.

Twilight let go of a small giggle while nodding assent to his plea. “Do not worry. I’m not one to spread secrets, though I think the one you should be asking is Vogelschau.”

He scratched the back of his head with a hoof. “Eh, she already knows.” He answered, smiling sheepishly.

“Oh, okay” The lavender filly then turned towards Vogel. “So Vogel-” Instantly a blush formed on Twilight’s cheeks as several lewd images of herself flow into the front of her vision. Immediately she recognized the source. ‘Fang, Why don’t you come here and visit. Maybe we can help you with that so you can calm down, yes?’

After a few seconds, several more images appeared in her head of the entrance of the dilapidated house she was residing in. A small querulous feeling hit her emotions. Twilight returned the feeling with a feeling of assent, letting him know he was heading towards the right one.

After a few moments, she looked around the room at her two changeling companions noting their questioning looks. Vogel opened her mouth first. “Soo Glimmer, what was the blank look about?”

“Oh, sorry. I hope you don’t mind, but Fang, my drake companion is coming as we speak. Would you mind if I let him in? He’s in a mating mood, and has been for the past month. I was wondering if you could help him get release, so he can return to normal.” Both changelings turned to look at each other, then back to Twilight as they nodded simultaneously. “Thank you. Also if you wish I’ll join in.”

Dorn smiled. “Actually, that would be preferred. Me and Vogel haven’t had a chance to let loose in months. So how are we going to do this?”

Twilight stood up from her comfortable cushion. “First we're going to let Fang in, and then we’ll go from there.” Then she walked into the hallway and up to the front door. She proceeded to open the door with a lavender flash, allowing a small grey green creature to fly straight through the entrance, fluttering in mid air for a few seconds before deciding to settle upon Twilight’s lavender back. The young unicorn then walked back into the main room.

As soon as they entered, the young drake leapt into the air and latched onto one of the wooden beams above the group’s heads. ‘Uhh, mom, why are there two of you?’

Before Twilight mentally responded, the other purple unicorn in the room winked her eye at her. Suddenly the lavender mare realized what her copy was up to and with a small smile decided to play along. ‘Why, so you can choose which of us you want to mate with first.’

The young drake tilted his head to the right, his eyes glazing over slightly in thought as he looked over the two Twilights standing below him. A slight growl caught in his throat as he contemplated his options. Suddenly he tilted his head over to the Twilight standing next to the changeling. ‘Twilight… before we continue, what is the creature standing next to you, and who is it?’

Twilight didn’t make any gestures that would give herself away, His name is Dorn, he’s a changeling. Don’t worry they don’t hurt, they just feed on love. and since you’re in the mood, I thought it would be nice to have some creature around who could keep up with an appetite as strong as yours. Do you mind?‘ She asked, coloring her mental voice as kindly as possible.

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Fang didn’t respond back mentally. Instead with a leap and a stroke of his wings he slammed into the Twilight standing next to the changeling. Wrapping his wings around her as she collapsed onto her back from the sudden force of the young drake’s landing. He didn’t even give her time to respond larruping her face thoroughly while holding her down with his weight alone ‘You, me, floor now!’ Screeched the drake as he began to hump forward, on top of the lavender pony below him. Dorn Standing just to the side began preparing a spell when a lavender hoof stretches out in front of him, canceling the spell.

“Shh, wait.” Twilight whispers into the changelings ear. “Look” Twilight then points in the direction of Fang and her changeling clone, just as Fangs pink prick began to grow out of it’s scaled sheath.

Taking initiative, Fang begins slithering his way lower, licking and Nipping at the soft flesh on the Twilight beneath him, her cheeks flush with life as she squeaks from one particularly hard nip. Passing her belly, he playfully nudges the small hole in the center with his snout. Going even lower, he finds the precious pearl poking out of a pair of swollen and excited lips. Licking tentatively on either side, he goes for the gold, Starting at the top with the pearl, he slides his pink forked tongue down the slit, slowly, then back up until he reaches a small hole, with a single Circular motion around the honey pot, Fang shoves his long tongue deep inside the lavender mare underneath his caring wings, making her to squeal into her hoof.

The young drake purrs in delight as he lathers the insides of the young mare before him, with his long tongue. Suddenly A green aura surrounds him, lifting him bodily into the air, then spinning him around and orienting him so that he is still facing the young mares moist lips while his dick is positioned to face the young mare at full mast.

Within seconds he was back to work stroking and licking at the purple ponies vagina, while she in turn began licking and sucking at his prick. pushing him closer and closer to orgasm as she does so. Fang notices the buildup of pressure within his nether regions, as the Twilight clone continues to envelope and suck at his pink pecker with her soft mouth.

just as he started feeling himself near the edge, he leaps into the air and flaps his wings once, completely flipping himself around, and landing on the mare’s belly, with a thrust, he strikes home, as his pointed pink member slides itself smoothly deep into the drooling depths of the purple filly below him, making her moan louder than before when it was just his tongue inside, then he lowers his head and latches onto one of her crotch teats, with a show of flexibility most pony’s couldn’t even dream of. Then begins sucking and licking while thrusting deep into her core, making her scream loudly in ecstasy with each additional thrust.

Twilight who had been watching the scene with rapt interest, steps up next to the undisguised changeling, then without any preamble presses her lips against the somewhat flexible chitin on his face. In surprise, Dorn turns to face her just as she pecks him again, this time on his surprisingly soft lips, completely catching him off guard with her daring actions. With a small smile, he gently presses into the kiss making it deeper and more passionate. Twilight moans softly into the kiss as she wraps her forelegs around the black armored changeling.

Twilight gently pushes dorn back, forcing him to sit on his hind legs while she kissed him deeply upon the lips, then she moves in for the kill, and begins stroking at his stomach while pushing him back even further. “Gah whummphhh...” he tries to talk as Twilight forces him onto his back and silences him with but a kiss. Suddenly his chitin begins to glow green as he blushes in embarrassment as being taken advantage of by what would normally be his source of food.

Twilight leans back off Dorns lips and stroaks his growing shaft for a few seconds, while listening to the sounds of the other Twilight and Fang going at it behind them, and getting louder as the seconds go by. Twilight then after seeing that dorns massive length wasn’t growing any more, lowers her mouth and sniffs at the length while she lowers her hoof down the the surprised changelings moist vaginal entrance. She sniffs the bright vibrant green staff curiously, taking in the scent as she accustomed herself to it.

Swiftly she darts out her tongue and takes a tentative taste of Dorn’s shaft. She then closes her eyes, swirling her tongue around the inside of her mouth much like her hoof gently massaging her current partners nether entrance. With a smile she opens her eyes giving the changeling a sultry look with her smile soon hanging to match, she lifts her hoof covered in the changelings pussy juices and licks it, finding the taste to her liking she moves her hoof back down to the entrance and begins stroking the entrance with stronger and deeper motions, then she opens her mouth and presses it around Dorn’s vibrant shaft. She looks deep into Dorn’s eyes as her mouth gets down one quarter of the way. Taking a deep breath, she opens her mouth wide and relaxes her throat before slamming her head down upon her her partner’s engorged penis, swallowing it down her throat.

Slowly she pulls back off the staff, sliding it out of her throat till only the head remains at the entrance. Taking another deep breath the begins bobbing up and down upon the green staff, Flicking the head of it each time it reaches her lips, pressing the tip of her tongue into the hole at the top.

On the other side of the room Fangs thrusts become more and more erratic as he pounds all
seven inches of himself deep into his purple coated partner making her moan loudly while his breaths become out even sharper and deeper than before.

After a few more thrusts down into Twilights throat, She gently pulls back off the well lubricated staff, all the while looking into Dorn’s furiously blushing face, with one last lick at the tip she stands up once more, and steps further up Dorn’s body then lays on top of him, with his bright green member rubbing against her entrance. She leans her head down and whispers quietly into his ear “Ready?” All the furiously blushing changeling could do was nod, prompting Twilight to continue. The lavender filly slid herself up the rod till her entrance brushed past it’s head, her legs fully extended as she held herself over the changeling, she leans down and nuzzles the spiked fin on the back of his neck, before sitting down once more, and plunging the herm meat deep into her depths. The pleasure shooting through the changelings nerves causes him to jerk in a well pleasured reaction to her downward thrust and meeting her hips half way.

Across the room the Twilight clone underneath Fang moans loudly as the drake thrusts himself as deep as he can go before releasing his own orgasmic fluids deep into her, and exhaling a breath of pure mage fire into the air above his purple furred partner. Suddenly Sparks of green fire strike upon her form as the disguise breaks from the explosive amounts of love flowing through her, revealing Vogel underneath Fang with his length still buried deep inside with her own futa meat jutting out proudly just below, and releasing it’s own white seed onto the floor.

Fang’s breaths are heavy as he allows himself a moment to rest on top of his partner, after a bit he feels his breaths cool down a bit and his system relax. He takes a moment to take a look underneath himself, seeking to snuggle into the warm embrace of his lavender companion. Rather than warm plush fur, he instead pokes his nose into the warm and solid chitten. “Mrowl?”, ‘What?’ Jerking fully awake, he looks left and right finally spotting the lavender mare he sought, sitting atop the other changeling undisguised. Pistoning herself slowly upon dorns bright green shaft, moaning softly onto the changelings face.

“Grrrowl!”, ‘Oooh, This will be fun’ With a hop and skip, Fang leaps off the changeling and flutters over to land on top of Twilight latching onto her rear with his talons, careful to keep his claws from piercing her skin. His dragon meat quickly returns to full mast as he lowers himself into position upon Twilights upward thrust from Dorns cock. Within a split second Fang positions his still slick dragon hood against Twilights puckered rear entrance then just as smoothly as he landed on top, fully pierces inside catching her off guard and causing her to moan even louder as she feels herself get double stuffed upon her next drop.

The changeling that was underneath Fang stands upon wobbly legs after fang rises off of her, Vogel smiles absently as she staggers left and right. Gazing over to Where she last remembered seeing Dorn, The changeling notes her dragon partner on top of another Purple unicorn, riding upon her companion Dorn. ‘Wait a second. If Dorn is on the bottom and Fang is on top, then that means...’ Suddenly Vogels eyes widen as her own flared horse cock hardens from the stimulating sight.

Vogel smiles, noting one more hole left unfilled she steps over to Twilight, leaning back she uses her wings for balance as she stands upon her hind legs, with a few more steps she places her length over Twilights muzzle, poking the young mares horn, before stopping and leaning back downward resting her forelegs upon Twilights back.

The Seven inch Phallus was now poking Twilights lips, the lavender mare opens her eyes and Gazes at the Dick for a few heart beats before opening her jaws wide and thrusting it’s length down her throat as the other two behind her thrust simultaneously. The Explosion of emotion flooding the changeling on top causes her to almost instantly flick out her tongue in pants as the lavender mare continues deepthroating her bright green phallus.

Twilight smiles around the changeling’s girth as she continues to pleasure the love consuming creature. All of them feel the intense emotions filling the air as Twilight takes all three of her lovers at the same time. Fang and Dorn thrust into her pushing her down Vogels staff, then Vogel pushes her Right back onto Dorn and Fang, in a constant circle. Back and forth they went, thrusting deep into the loving lavender filly between them.

Fang begins picking up his pace as he feels his climax near, his tempo beating at shorter and shorter intervals, the changelings pick up on the feeling as well and move to increase their speed, following the young drake. Twilight Grunts, then clamps down like a vice upon all three dicks within her as she climaxes once more, causing all three of her mates to release their loads deep inside her. Both Dorn and Velt shudder in ecstasy while Fang explodes, releasing Twin gouts of Flame and a muffled screech.

As their orgasm induced High goes down, Fang falls off of Twilight,landing upon his back on the floor. Both Vogel and Dorn pull out and roll Twilight onto her side letting the lavender Filly relax.

[End of NSFW]

“Vogel, Shall we introduce our special guests to the room they will be staying in?” The changeling on the right said. The one on the left nodded agreement, before lighting its horn and picking up both Twilight and Fang in her green magical aura. The changelings took the pair across the building to a nicely furnished bedroom with a stallion sized bed and placed them both onto the mattress, while placing their things gathered from the living room on the floor, next to the bed. Before leaving and closing the door Dorn uttered one last phrase. “Good night, Glimmer”

Twilight smiled as she recovered, noting that Fang was already asleep from the soft bubbling snore emitting from his small form. Sitting up, the lavender filly lit up her horn and opened the main flap on her saddle bags and pulled forth her writing materials, her journal and a small white towel. Drying herself off with the towel, and with elegant strokes of a quill, Twilight began writing on the latest page of her journal.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

Well the good news is, the spell actually works. However, the downside is that the processed love causes the changeling that ingests it to fall into a semi conscious state, wherein they are completely cut off from both reality and the hive mind. I’ll try and work in a potion to fix that minor problem at a later date, unless of course it isn’t a physical problem but a mental one, then there is very little I can do to help outside of spell casting and potion brewing.

Another interesting fact is that today they let me know that they wouldn’t need me to feed them, however I obliged them anyway, considering how nice and accepting they were of the tests I ran on the pair.

Oh, I forgot to mention that the queen apparently sends out scouts and love gatherers in pairs so they can work together in finding a larger amount of love energy to bring back to the hive. It’s probably another reason they have been able to meet me so freely. I asked them to stay the night as well, so I could monitor their condition. I want to be present in case there are any unexpected developments or side effects of the substitute beyond the ones already noted so far.

Here’s a comprehensive list of the side effects from introducing love infused food into a changeling’s diet.

* Mild bowel movements (as explained by Dorn when Vogelschau’s stomach rumbled, it’s when a changeling’s stomach makes noises or movements. It usually means that whatever was consumed could not be melted down and processed into klebstoff; ‘A green paste like material that adheres to almost anything it touches before drying into a solid, slightly yielding barrier, nearly as strong as stone.’ What commonly happens when their stomachs make the grumbling noises, is that they regurgitate the substance that their bodies couldn’t process. However in this case, their body is confused, as the food substance cannot be processed by their body, yet is consumed by them in a different method than what they are used to.)

* As a result of the difficulty for the changelings to absorb the substitute nourishment source, their bodies go into a semi state of shutdown, where they become lethargic, and their minds sluggish. It only lasts a few minutes before passing. However, that window leaves an opportunity for the changeling to be taken advantage of or caught if they aren’t careful about where they eat it. Sadly, it also temporarily disconnects their thoughts from the changeling hive mind. I have duly notified Queen Ferrus of my findings and let her know that I would be transcribing a copy for the changelings to take back to the hive for her perusal. Said copy is waiting on the floor near my saddlebags along with a copy of the spell formulae should they find another unicorn that would be willing to assist them by making edible food for them.

* One last little side effect is the sensation of fullness within their bodies, as well as a literal regeneration effect making the holes on their bodies completely disappear, and resulting in somewhat higher levels of thinking, than they’re used to. Not that they were dull witted before, just that I noticed that their thoughts were getting somewhat keener as the night went on. They also were able to solve several problems with ease that were previously giving them problems.

That is my comprehensive summary of what side effects are currently involved when changelings consume the love infused product. One good thing to note, the changelings have shown no lack of energy throughout any of the tests they went through, even before following through with the promise I made to their queen and them back in Applecrest, not that they needed it. I also ended up helping relieve Fang of most of his stress, though the changelings helped him just as much when they realized he would be joining in.

Vogelschau has been a great help in putting away the materials I took out for the experiment. It’s going to be a pleasant three days in town if she and Dorn are going to be the changelings working with me, though I’m going to have to speak with Queen Ferrus some time tomorrow to explain the progress of the experiment and maybe clear up some of her changelings’ misconceptions (if any). I’ll see if Dorn would be willing to help me speak with her.

I wonder how Road and Velt are doing?

Anyway I’m off to sleep for the night, hopefully Fang won’t wake up poking me in the back when tomorrow comes.

Twilight Sparkle.

Cagnim, 22nd, 993 CR

Thankfully he didn’t. Now I can work with the changelings on the experiment with as few distractions as possible. Fang took off this morning and is taking a look around the countryside, I hope he is careful to avoid the larger dragons in the area, but even if he doesn’t, I cast a teleportation spell on him, a one time use charge on it allowing him to warp straight to me if he flies into trouble on accident.

I just finished breakfast and am going to be getting onto the examinations and tests soon, I’ll add a comprehensive report on my findings once I finish later tonight, I’ll most likely have to visit Cherry Spice in a bar later tonight to help alleviate any worry and let him know he doesn’t have to watch over me.

Twilight Sparkle.

---

Well, there are a few changes in their reaction to the love infused substances, apparently they’ve built somewhat of a resistance to the trance inducing effects of the food itself, and were quicker to return to reality, by about thirty seconds, which is an immense improvement over yesterday’s two minutes. Now if only to reduce the time scale to around a second or two, or even eliminate it completely, and I think the changelings would be set with an alternate source of obtaining love, not that they aren’t already set with this version. However I believe that there is much about it still that can be improved for the changelings safety. Such as the nausea, they say they can get over it but they really shouldn’t have to.

I really want to continue on the project, however Queen Ferrus has asked me to step down and allow her changelings to take the spell to the next level and continue its testing and modification. They already understand their need for unicorns to cast it and they are working on making relations with a couple unicorns amongst the more remote settlements that they think would be at least willing to help them. The queen cut me off the project, apparently, she’s been getting pressured by her drones, asking to have me devote my time to her hive rather than following the path I have been, she decided instead that I have done enough and that I should get back to my travels... I should probably be flattered that she thinks so highly of me, but I guess I just feel… Resigned since she can’t accept any more assistance from me on this subject. Well I guess I got it to the point where I can get back to selling potions, though I’ll try and keep in touch with her hive to check on their progress on both the spell and how they are doing generally in Equestria.

I’m staying in the Underton Inn. Apparently the inn has rooms designed for dragons, griffons, and even ponies… Though I find it strange that ponies would need a stool with a straight back design used by bipedal creatures. Thankfully there were plenty of cushions that I could use to replace the strange seat. another interesting tidbit about the room was the lack of the magical showers I’ve been seeing in most towns, instead they use a strange shower design involving a metal tube with a conically flared head connected to a pair of knobs that led into the wall. I wonder how it all works. I think I’ll ask an employee tomorrow if they know. Other than that I’m going to be sleeping alone tonight, I spoke with Fang just now. He’s going to sleep in one of the abandoned ruins, some distance from the city, on the Equestrian side of the borders.

I’m guessing pegasi controlling cloud coverage and rain is a commonly accepted concept outside the Everfree Forest. I managed to find a Library during the day before I met with the changelings again. I was just looking around the city trying to find anything interesting, when I overheard a conversation between a pair of griffons speaking about a library and an overdue book they had to turn back in, so I asked them where I could find it. Once there, I decided to first check out the maps and make a plan on where to go next. I was thankfully able to plan my path along the roads in between the towns, I’m gonna head back down the road me and Cherry Spice came in from and see if I can meet a few of the Zebra in those areas since the main road down along the Dragon border has been broken up and blocked by the Royal guard. I don’t know when it’s going to open back up, but I do know that Cherry Spice would not be able to take his wagon with us, as should we try to travel the thin side roads between the villages, it would most likely pull him off a cliff face when one of its wheels jumped over the edge.

The mat is warm, the fire in the hearth ablaze, I feel tired, and ready to rest. Tomorrow is going to be interesting, I wonder if I’ll run into one of the changelings from Queen Ferrus’s hive again, they’re fun to speak with and be around. I have a few remaining questions on how to reproduce some kleber and some methods on how to make it work. I have figured a way to get the unique shades of color to vary on the gelatinous material, I just want to be able to make some more of it to work with, though if they want to trade for it I wouldn’t mind.

Yeah~ I think sleeping would be good now.

Twilight Sparkle.

Cagnim, 24th, 993 CR

Took longer than I originally thought for the local carpenters to make a replacement wheel on Cherry Spice’s wagon. I wonder if Queen Ferrus had anything to do with it. Our visit to Pax Nexus wasn’t a total waste of time at least, especially with the delay I created. I got to purchase some rare herbs from the market while selling healing potions to minor adventurers and even filling a requisition order for the local militia for healing and energy potions. There’s another pony watching me wherever I go now. I think he’s with the same group that was shadowing me a month ago, I’ll try and confront him on the road tomorrow, maybe I’ll be able to speak with him and ask why he’s following me.

Another thing that I’m happy about though is that after visiting the library, I found that it held a section solely dedicated to books with theories and treaties on magic, and spell workings. To say that I was excited to learn that little tidbit would be an understatement. I was almost tempted to spend all of my time in the library trying to learn as much as I could however instead I only spent the second and the majority of the third day skimming over spells I already knew and searching for new formulae on spells that could help me while traveling, like ‘Spectral Rope’ and ‘Feather Fall. Strangely I found many of the ones I already knew in the advanced section. I wonder why that is? They looked really simple when I practiced them. There’s also a more refined version of the ‘Daedalus Wings’ spell I learned from Starswirl’s diary, though I never found a copy in the library of any of the spells I found in Clover’s notes and journal.

So I decided to look up Starswirl the Bearded in the library, I can’t believe how much I forgot, as soon as I saw his cutie mark it was as if an earth wall shattered in my mind, Immediately all these jumbled memories came to the forefront of my mind, all of them from before I ever left Canterlot. I can’t believe I forgot all of it! I’ll have to ask Zecora when I sleep next. I hope she can answer a few of the questions I have on the subject, but I’ll have to wait till after I reach Applecrest. I would rather not be caught off guard while traveling through the dream realm.

I was glad to see Dorn and Vogelschau before I left, I was able to ask Dorn how Velt and Rhode were doing. He was able to convey that Velt and Rhode were doing fine, He also helped me spell their names correctly when I asked him to deliver a letter to them. Apparently I’ve been spelling Rhode wrong, but at least he knows I’m thinking of him. After hoofing over the letter, Cherry Spice and I left Pax Nexus down the road towards Claw Point.

Cherry Spice decided that it would be best that we stay at one of the traveling lodges between Claw Point and Pax Nexus, I decided to let him because Fang really wasn’t in the mood to go scouting for a better location for us to rest. Fang just before we left got on the nerves of one of the younger adolescent dragons and had to beat him into submission. I answered his question as to why I didn’t help him in the fight by clopping him upside the head with my hoof and telling him “Any fights you provoke are duels and only you can compete in the match. If others join in to assist the one you provoked, then they are my opponents unless you provoke them as well.” He left to ponder my words and stew over his well deserved headache and burns. I’ll heal them tomorrow but not until then, as he needs to learn his lesson.

I had a chance to see how the street lamps worked, as I watched a group of unicorns recharge the mana light crystals inside the glass boxes that house them. It’s quite ingenious compared to the magelights used in Canterlot, which need to be recast every night before the sun sets, and need to be recast every few hours. The system here is more efficient, however I doubt the mages in Canterlot can copy griffon cuneiform to that level of detail. I’ve seen the writings of my teachers there, and remember how poorly they write when focusing on such a small area. Maybe when I return I’ll ask one of the griffons to teach me how to write runes at the same level as them.

Other than a few other notes which I’ll place on a separate page, I feel comfortable closing the entry now, have to rest well before traveling with Cherry Spice on the road once again.

Twilight Sparkle.

Author's Note

Edited by my good friends and for the last time by Firedon give him a good hoof bump if you meet him.

janushyde(Tells ya whether you have something worth reading or not and why it is.)

Moon Shade(slapstick proofreader)

Aeondragon(will edit this eventually)

and for the last time(Hopefully not) Firedon.

Anyway I have no excuse for why this chapter took even longer than my last to get out other than the fact that I got into an accident, I was in a rut for the past month and a half, and Dark Souls 2 has been slapping my behind like a B**** for the past month. and boy do I hate fighting Vendric. At least Nashandra doesn't stun lock you with a three swing attack of death.

Anyway I present you chapter whatever, I lost count months ago. anyway here it is. Have a Nice day.

Traveling Documents And Merchant Matters (Partition 3 of 3)

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 13: Traveling Documents And Merchant Matters

Partition 3 of 3

Cagnim, 59th, 993 CR

I’m surprised it took this long to get here, half a month from Pax Nexus to the Whispering Wood, between the towns of Hoofreed and Bridlebit. Nagash resides in those woods. I went to visit him earlier, and found he had been studying the spells and formulae I traded with him, and he is now incorporating my designs into his newer constructs and homunculi. It was an interesting meeting between us. Originally I only had an hour before I had to leave and rejoin with Cherry Spice on the road. ‘He really doesn’t like it when I go exploring old ruins. I must make him extremely nervous, so when Nagash offered to have one of his griffon zombies fly me near Cherry Spice’s location, I calculated that with the flying speed of a griffon I’d be able to stay a few hours longer and visit with him, and still make it to the meeting spot with time to spare. Within the time we had, I was able to share a copy of what I learned of the enchanted light stones in Pax Nexus. Surprisingly, Nagash showed me a blue leather bound book containing runic magic and incantations. He offered it to me in exchange for making an enchanted item for him some time in the future of his design and choice. I wholeheartedly agreed since he was giving me a whole BOOK! How could I pass up a chance to read up on how somepony figured out how to use this type of magic and there method of using it?

Anyway, after meeting with Nagash and finalizing our deal with a binding geas, he followed his word from earlier and had one of the less decomposed griffon scouts fly me over to a cliff a short distance from my oblivious traveling companion. I swear, Cherry Spice will get attacked someday and I won’t be there to help him. He keeps brushing it off, but I know how dangerous being out in the open can be, stupid darklings.

The rest of the day was uneventful, other than a few extinguished camp fires and finding a few more of my medicinal herbs. I don’t really have much else to say other than me and Fang led Cherry Spice to one of the old abandoned temples for the night. Must’ve been designed to worship a creature with an affinity to the weather, as there were a few remaining intact murals depicting the seasons.

Twilight Sparkle.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

The dark brown dirt compacted slightly as the tarp covered wagon rumbled along over its well worn surface, the wagon itself hitched up to a chocolate brown stallion. His mane and tail both bobbed up and down as he kept a steady pace along the earthen road. A smile broke the young stallion’s face as he turned to look upon his current companion. “Hay Glimmer.“

The unicorn trotted up next to him lifting an eyebrow in his direction. ”Yes?”

“We’re here. Say, do you think they’ll be wanting any of my wares?” He asked, a sharp glint reflecting from his eyes.

The lavender unicorn noded, “Yes, as long as you have plenty of salt, sugar, flour, and powdered yeast, you’ll be able to make some bits here. Otherwise I’m the only one that would make any purchases from your more, exotic wares.” She answered flippantly, swirling her hoof midair.

The young stallions shoulders slumped. “Killjoy.”he muttered under his breath.

“Not my problem Cherry Spice. You asked and I answered.” She replied, having heard his whisper with the same clarity as if he were talking out loud, causing the stallion to sputter and blush furiously.

He remained silent for the rest of the way till they reached the first buildings of the town, “Alright, we’re stopping by the stable first, then we’ll figure out from there what we’re going to do next.”

The lavender unicorn noded in agreement with the decision as they walked a few blocks deeper into the town. Soon they came across a cheery red painted building, with hay and chaff littering the floor, and wooden stalls set up on either side of the building closed tight with several of the more modern Crystal Canterlocks. “Well this looks promising. Alright, let’s see what the stable manager has to say.” With a synchronized nod they entered the shop. With another disarming smile and a quick wave of his hoof, Cherry Spice walked up to the azure blue pegasus behind the counter. “Hello miss, I was wondering you you could give us a bit of-” Suddenly his little speech was cut short as the pegasus raised her wing and held it above her head for a second.

“You’re quiet?” ‘nod’ “Good, alright now, I’m guessing that you’ve just arrived in town and have noticed the streets being somewhat empty at this current time, yes?” Another nod followed the statement. “Alright then, let me Say a few things before you need to ask them. First most of the townsfolk can be found in the town square, meeting with the foreigners from Borneighux. They came from across the Bracken Sea, and are doing a tour of Equestria. If you head out now you shouldn’t miss any of the festivities. I think they might also have a space available for your trading cart as well.” She said, noting the tarp wagon behind Cherry Spice.

“Don’t feel like doing business?” he asked, grinning slyly.

She returned with a grimace, “No, we’re just filled to capacity.”

“Oh.” Cherry folded his ears back, feeling like a mule. “Well then I guess we’ll see you around then.” he finished lamely before following Twilight out of the building.

As soon as they were around the next corner, Twilight lifted a hoof and slammed Cherry Spice upside the head with a resounding clop. “I guess I deserve that.” He said as he massaged the bruise with a hoof.

“”You think? Seriously, it would be like saying that I won’t heal you when I don’t have enough potion ingredients to make a working salve.” The lavender unicorn groused before trotting ahead of Cherry Spice at brisk pace.

As they travelled down the road, Cherry looked at the buildings, their brightly coated multicolored walls were extremely interesting, especially several of the local shops that still had some of their merchandise in the outer viewing windows of their homes. From harmless toys to interesting clothing for the more risque buyer. They even passed by the one of the few sweet shops in the town. Cherry was looking at a bubblegum pink home when suddenly Twilight paused in the street by one of the intersections. “Hmm, Glimmer? What is it?”

The lavender filly looked towards one of the few houses in town that looked to be in great disrepair, nodding once, Twilight gave a glance towards Cherry Spice once before moving towards the building at a calm and steady gait. “Go on ahead Cherry. I’ll catch up when I’m finished here.”

Shrugging, the chocolate brown stallion continued down the road, until he turned the corner and was out of sight. Letting go of a small breath, Twilight stepped up to the frame and placed a hoof against the rickety old door. With the sound of horseshoes on a chalkboard, the door grudgingly opened to the lavender unicorn’s physical demand.

Looking inside, Twilight took a quick note of the interior. Rotting roof beams, sodden floors, and decaying furniture. All of the items were easily ignored as the lavender filly stepped into the old house. Reaching the middle of what she assumed was the living room due to what she could recognise as the remains of a couch. With a nod, Twilight lowered her head and her horn began to glow softly, golden motes of light starting to bleed off from the tip as she conjured the spell within her thoughts. Within seconds, the sparkling motes of light began condensing before her and darkening into a sickly green miasma as the spell began to take form. After another minute of feeding the spell and binding the runes into their proper place, she began projecting the spell outward, swiftly expanding the choking miasma to cover the entire house.

With her horn still lit, to maintain the spell, Twilight raised her head and began looking around the building, stopping when a pale yellow light started bleeding through one of the walls. Twilight then turned to fully focus on the approaching field of light as the first bits of the figure began pressing through the wall. [Future World Music-Spiritual Awakening]

The body began to become further defined as it passed through the wall, the head forming into that of a pony, another step and the front legs become visible, another step and the barrel was revealed, and the final step revealed the hind legs. The body of the colt glowed softly as the flames of his soul lapped at the magical energy giving his presence a physical body, his head facing downward as he stepped further into the room with the dejected look of a child abandoned and ignored tore at the lavender filly’s composure. “Ahem!” Twilight grunted, pulling the colt’s attention from his moping.

Looking up for the first time, he noticed the strange unicorn in his living room. “What? W-who are you?” He said, stepping back in fear.

Twilight released a disarming smile in the colts direction, “My name is Glimmering Wisp. I’ve come to help you.”

The young colt raised an eyebrow. “Why would you need to help me?” asked the ghostly young pony.

Twilight settled down onto her haunches and leaned her head back while taking a deep breath, then released it quietly as she looked back down to face the young cold, her magenta eyes locking with his faded sapphire ones. “You’re dead, and need to move on,“ A pregnant pause filled the air before them, broken only by Twilight’s breaths, and the faint ringing sound of the magic flowing through Twilight’s horn. “You may not remember me, but I remember you. You asked me a few months ago to help you with your ill mother, however when I arrived I realized that it was not your mother that needed help but you.”

The young colt stomped on the ground angrily. “YOU LIE! I saw my mom on the couch moments ago. What did you do to her? Where is she? Why are you in my house?” The young spirit screamed shrilly, in a banshee-esque wail causing the windows throughout the house to crack.

Instead of answering, the lavender filly opened her saddlebags, pulling out a few bolts of medical cloth, and a small collection of medicinal herbs. “I had come originally to fulfil your request, Instead, I found that you both died the year before I even arrived at this town from complications in your illnesses.”

The young spirit stepped back recognizing one of the herbs as one of the more powerful fever medications that an old alchemist had used to try and help before she passed.”But-but I-I… Why? Mommy, why, where are you mom?” His spiritual flames dropped from a roar to a low blaze, the golden shine of his light fading to a dark blue as the flames further weakened from his new emotional state.

Twilight closed her eyes and opened them once more, a determined look overtaking her features. “When your mother died, she accepted her death and moved on. The way you view time as a spirit differs greatly from the time that you viewed it when you lived. I know not where your mother is. However, I know where you are and I can help you join her.” Twilight lifted a hoof forward towards the dark blue spirit.

The young spirit looked towards Twilight, his expression unsure. “Can you really?” He asked shakily, lifting his hoof towards the young filly’s. Twilight nodded affirmatively, her eyes never wavering. The colt finally stopped shaking as he made his decision, then placed his hoof on Twilights. “Alright, I’ll trust you Ms. Glimmer.”

Twilight released the colt’s hoof and stepped back, motioning for him to take the spot she had been standing on the floor. “Thank you for the trust. I’ll try to help you as fast as I can, however I need to read up one last time on the spell to make sure I’m doing it right.” With her piece said for the moment, she lit her horn with a bright magenta aura as she pulled an ancient book out of her back, it’s cover scratched and rubbed raw throughout the ages, with the faint image of a pony skull wreathed in sickly green flame. Opening the book, she swiftly began flipping pages, stopping at the page she had sought. Several triangular and hexagonal diagrams next to hoof written text were visible throughout the page, along with a few mathematical calculations.

Nodding once, as she finished rereading the page, she returned her attention to the patiently waiting colt. “Now in order for this to work, I need to you calm yourself and only think of the happy things in your life.” The spirit closed his eyes and began smiling softly as he remained standing in the middle of the room. “Good.”

Twilight's horn began to brighten as she focused the spell as the book dictated, melting all of the power and sigils into a single incantation within her mind’s eye, and finally after a few seconds a blinding bolt of white light formed at the tip of the lavender filly’s horn, then just as suddenly as it appeared it shot outward from her and towards the resting spirit, however, before the blinding bolt struck him, it disappeared. Instead a light from above streamed down upon the colt as the fabric of reality visibly warped within Twilight’s spell.

Suddenly, the colt opened his eyes and looked up towards the tear, his ear twitching as a bright smile appeared upon his face. Reaching a hoof upwards the tear, the young colt began to cry out. “Mommy, is that you? M-Mom Mom I’m coming mom, just a moment.” Turning around the colt looked towards Twilight, his countenance brighter than the noonday sun. “Thank you Ms. Glimmer… Goodbye” with that he turned around and began sprinting, his hooves blinding underneath him as he galloped upon the floor, yet moving nowhere. His spiritual body started to fade from the physical realm as he ascended into the higher plane.

Twilight smiled, closing her eyes as she turned towards the main entrance of the house. She stopped feeding the spells, allowing the excess magic to fade into the aether as the spells dissipated. She stepped out of the house and back onto the main road, closing the door behind her telekinetically. With a blurry glance back towards the old house, she turned away blinking away a few salty drops of joy, before she began walking down the road once more, following the directions given to reach the town square. ‘I wonder what will be at the festival?’ She mused quietly as she approached the main fairgrounds.

Stepping past the first pair of stalls Twilight’s vision was suddenly blocked by a wall of green. “Oi’ nau look wot wee lass the wind be bringin t’town, ay wee Glimmer? So wot be bringin you back oll o’ a suddin?” Asks a cheery gruff voice from above.

Twilight smiled brightly as she looked up into the grizzled smiling face of one of her friends. “Hello Berry Bash, how have you been?”

The bright green stallion wiggled his hoof in front of her face tisking as it waived. “Naw, naw, can’t be hav’n any O dat. Ai may be foin fer me cheery ol self, but you li’ll misse av’ yet’t answer me first question.”

Twilights smile morphed into a smirk as she answered her excitable friend.“Well if you really must know, I came with my companion Cherry Spice, he’s a trader in cooking spices amongst other things. As for why I’m here? Well, I could say it was for the party but that would be a lie. No, I think it’s more because I want to have fun with you and the others again.”

Suddenly the old green stallion flipped backwards at an impossible angle dodging a fast flying object before answering. “Oi now that’s an answer. Say would’ja mind joinin me and the lads fer a wee game of PIE WARS?!”

Twilight looked at the area, noticing that the crowd had several stalls deeper into the square, while the area before her was plastered in red, purple, and blue confectionary with crumbled crust and juices covering the street and stalls wherever she looked, Lifting a pie from a nearby stall with her magic she bounced it up and down as it approached her, testing it’s weight before finally returning her gaze to her green friend with a smile. “Why not Uncle Berry?” She said, before swiftly launching the pie into his face, causing the confectionary to splatter onto both him and the unponied stall behind him.

music here.

Berry Bash looked forward at his purple unicorn friend, a blank stare taking control of his face as pieces of blueberry pie dropped from his chin, tentatively his tongue pressed out from between his lips and lapped at the coating upon his lips. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened from its stunned state as he swallowed the mouthful of delicious juices. “Oi taste Bluburry... And it taste lack WAAR!” He screamed, a manic grin covering his face as he leapt over to a nearby stand with several untouched pies. He grabbed one of them and tossed it in a seemingly random direction, slamming another pony in the side of the face and causing the poor stallion to drop his pastery ammo as he fell to the ground from a strawberry overdose.

Twilight laughed joyfully as she skirted around another stall and hid behind it just in time to dodge a volley of strawberry pies, using her magic she pulled one from the swarm above her and pulled it over to herself. Pie in hoof she stands from behind the abandoned booth and aimed for a dusty brown stallion crawling towards a stand of cherry pies. Stretching her arm back a bit, she put the entire strength of her foreleg behind the throw, along with a war cry of her own, sending the strawberry filled pastry hurling at a rapid speed towards its target.

The poor stallion took that last moment to look back, and the next was seeing stars as a pair of ponies in white garb with chef’s hats piled him and a few other victims of the pie war onto a serving cart before rolling them out of the field of battle to get cleaned off and recuperate from their traumatic defeat.

The lavender filly pulled out a dark grey cloak allowing her to better fit in with the shadows as her vision began to blur, her sight becoming sharp and unfocused at the same time as she followed the pies flying through the air with ease while noting her opponents’ positions. lifting her ammunition in one hoof she aimed for another blurred figure near her position, tossing it with haste then ducking and rolling towards another stand as two pies she had noted from the side flew over her previous position. Her back against the hard surface of the stand, she quickly took a peek and ducked back down, her expression going blank as she watched two blurred figures carrying away a third from the position of the opponent she had assailed.

Another blur appeared to her right, leaping up from her position, she tapped one of the boards on the counter, lifting them up and sending the attached object flipping gently over her head, dropping to all fours, she waited half a second before lowering her upper body in preparation. Then, with a burst of energy, she reared her back legs and struck the falling object with unerring precision, sending it soaring into the moving blur and causing it to crash into the ground. Nodding once she leapt up onto the stand above her and grabbed three pies in her magical field and twirled them around her as she gathers the location of her next three targets.

Within seconds she had them spotted and flipped the pies into the air, bucking them towards their chosen target one after the other. With a single flip, she landed behind the wooden stall once more as another wave of pies fly past her position. Looking up through the cracks in the wood, she realized her lack of ammo. Thinking quickly, she tipped her eyes above the stall’s counter and noted several other stalls nearby still containing an assortment of pies for her to use. With her target located, she ducked underneath the stall once more.

‘Alright lane is clear to placement three, though only two pies at location, placement six is under heavy scrutiny but has over fifteen pies stacked and ready to use. If I head to placement three I could take out two of the opponents guardingplacement six, which would lighten the opposition and improve my chances of reaching placement six to within the eighty percent margin.’ With her plan of action sorted out, Twilight leapt from behind the protection of her stall and rushed across the way and over to another empty stall, quickly reaching the stall, she ducked behind it and waited. Calming her breath, she peeked over her new position and watched as several more ponies were taken out with pies hitting them in either the head or chest, one even got sniped with a cupcake to the eye.

‘That’ll leave a mark.’ Twilight mentally noted before ducking back behind her barrier, having found her two main targets with ease. Levitating her pies down to her level, Twilight placed them both on either hoof, focusing on her own breath for a few seconds, she turned around and leapt up onto her hind legs, her torso above the stand as she tossed both pies with great precision towards where she remembered her targets being. Dropping back to all fours she watched as the pies reached their destinations. However ducks below the counter after seeing only one of the pastry projectiles hit it’s designated target, the other missing as the target had changed position while she wasn’t looking.

‘Out of pies, one down, chances have dropped from eighty percent to around fifty. Acceptable chances.’ With that thought, Twilight leapt from behind her cover like she did from the previous stand and rushed towards her next target, a wooden stand with a metal sheet on top containing fifteen stacked pies. However, just as she was about to reach the stand, a whistling noise caught her attention, and her vision suddenly went grey. After a few seconds Twilight felt her vision began to return, ‘Huh, when did the ground get so close? Why do I feel like I inhaled some of Mshauri’s incense?’ She felt two pairs of hooves grab her and begin pulling her off the field, looking behind her, she noticed three splatters of pie from the position she was laying in. ‘Huh? Oh I got out.’

A loud voice screeched in the background as Twilight finally pulled off the field. “An tha’ laddie is why neu un bets meh at PIE WAAR!” Several nearby ponies rolled their eyes at the antics of one of the town’s most memorable elders.

“Wait, it couldn’t be, can it?” Said a familiar voice, hoof steps approaching, Twilight turned her strawberry coated face over to face the pony, only one eye open as the other seemed to be glued shut by a mixture of crust and blueberry filling. Upon sight the lavender filly began growling at him as if he were the most annoying thing in the world ‘Go away’ She thought, Too bad she couldn’t open her mouth, she had some colorful words to spit in the chocolate brown stallion’s direction. “O-hoh, it is. Schnt, khhga-ha-ha, hhh, hehehe. Eeeh, yea that’s hilarious, The great and pooowerful Glimmering Wisp, laid low by a humble pie. Oooh, you’ve got to admit that’s hilarious.”

Twilight just glared silently at the snickering stallion.‘Yea real funny, especially when there’s three of them hitting you in the face, ughh.’ She mulls angrily while the stallion finally sat down in front of her.

“Well then, now that you’ve been properly humbled, why don’t I help you get cleaned up.” Cherry Spice said chipperly, a wide face-encompassing grin covering the field of Twilight’s vision.

‘Fine.’ Twilight rolled her eyes while grunting assent.

With a jerk of his head, Cherry pulled a wooden bucket off his back and unceremoniously poured its contents all over the pie coated unicorn, causing red streaks to run through her coat as the water absorbed the berry juices and spread them across the remainder of Twilight’s body, staining her once lavender coat an amalgamation of blue and red, with a mix of amber apple.

Cherry Spice started laughing once again, while Twilight glared at him again. with a simple thought Twilight activated her magic and grasped the pie and berry juices covering her coat and pulled them off, without even trying she condensed the mass into a ball and then drops the sticky substance all over Cherry Spice who still continued to laugh. “Totally worth it.”

A few hours and several buckets of water later, Twilight sat next to Cherry Spice on the back of his wagon, both of them holding a culinary masterpiece. “So Cherry, what did the bourneioisie ponies say this was?”

The young stallion tapped his chin with a hoof in thought. “I think they called it a crem brulé, name or not, this is definitely one of the better treats I’ve tried during my travels.” He said before biting off another chunk of the sugar topped cream treat.

Twilight smiled and nodded while watching a small group of children run around playing tag with a steel grey unicorn being it at the moment. “Yea, I’ll have to agree. the treat is definitely better to eat than the whipped cream at Whitebeat’s stall.”

Cherry did a double take. “Wait, you actually remember her name?”

Twilight raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Yeah, why?”

“Well uh… you know what, never mind.” He said writing the thought off as unnecessary.

“Okay then.” Twilight said before going back to her treat and watching the foals play. ‘Today’s been good, don’t you think Fang?’ A small rustle with a happy gurgling sound under her cloak was her only answer.

Lumix, 14th, 993 CR

I’ve made it all the way back to Windbreak Valley. I’m staying at the Drunken Rodent again after spending a good time with Berry Bash. I don’t even know where he gets all of his energy, but I guess I’m pleased nonetheless that he’s still healthy and whole. There was this really nice dish they served there that had lots of fluffy whipped cream on top of a crystalline sugar crust with a warm gooey sweet center. One of the foreigners from across the Bracken Sea made it, I think she called it a crem brulé. All I know is that they are delicious, and I think I had five. I was able to sneak one away from the party afterwards, so I could share it with Fang.

Another bit of good news. Fang has finally stopped antagonizing Cherry Spice, so at least now I don’t have to watch him as much, though I will still be keeping an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t get into anymore trouble like in Pax Nexus. There really isn’t much to report on our travels along the roads. The pace is slow but the scenery is beautiful. Cherry Spice seems to be taking his time while traveling between destinations. There are a few good things about how we’re going at the moment. I’m finding many more alchemical ingredients than before and I’m taking much more time to actually study and fully comprehend the beauty of the surrounding lands. Fang’s taken to making both day and night flights, deep into the surrounding wilderness.

I got to speak with White Wind over a few more of my insights into the fields of magic from what I learned over to space of my travels. The wise counsel earlier has definitely calmed and refined some of my thoughts and fixed a few of my more prominent earlier misconceptions. I definitely helped out where I could and followed the local rules regarding magic, keeping in mind other’s feelings about any spell I cast with company present.

The bed seems to be really pleasant now, I shall go to it and rest a bit, I’ll have another message written in the evening tomorrow.

Twilight Sparkle.

Lumix, 27th, 993 CR

I’ve finally reached the town of Saddle Rest, or so the map would tell me, the other end of the Griffon-Equestrian border. It’s strange, it took more than a month to travel all of this distance from Windbreak. I’m more used to reaching a destination within the space of a few weeks at the most.

I came across those two peculiar timberwolves earlier in the week, I think I forgot to note it, so I’ll do so now. It seems that they follow the command of someone with great influence. I wonder if I’ll get to meet them, I have a few questions on how to tame the timberwolves since all that I understand so far is that they are untameable predators that would attack solitary ponies if it meant a quick meal. Other than their cheerful demeanor outside of hunting, of course.

I’ve met plenty of Zebra here in Saddle Rest. However they seem to all be the same, vendors and greedy fools. It took me a few hours before I found one that was at least decent enough to talk to, I asked him if he would be willing to trade herbal supplies for bits, however he came to Saddle Rest for the same reason. So rather than trade, we decided to settle down and share some of our stories. It was a few hours before we went our separate ways and he let me know of a few unexplored ruins along the main path between Applecrest and Highreach. I think I’ll visit them when I get a chance. I wonder what new wonders they’ll hold?

Eventually I made my purchases from the saturated market and left to meet Cherry Spice at the ‘Three Arabian Knights’ tavern. He had a few drinks and I purchased a few gallons of water in case we run into a dry stretch again. After we finished there, we left and wandered the town until we found the inn were staying in now.I think it’s called ‘The Piper’s Song. ’ There seems to be a discrepancy of griffons and ponies in the area though. I wonder why? Anyway that is a question I don’t plan on answering. I’ll be heading off tomorrow at dawn.

---

Well at least now I know why there’s a dearth of ponies in the town. There’s a whole hive of changelings to the south-east in the middle of the desert. Apparently, they’ve been taking traveling ponies that wouldn’t be missed, and used them as a food source for the Hive. I had a chance to speak with the two changelings that invaded the room I was staying in, and they let me know that Cherry Spice was already in their custody, before I knocked them out and dragged them into the hallway. Luckily I caught their partners trying to drag away a sleeping Cherry Spice, and took them down without too much difficulty either. After tying the changelings up, I moved Cherry Spice’s belongings into my room and I’m having him sleep on the bed, while I rest on my mat.

It’s a good enough arrangement, tomorrow I’ll hide the changelings before Cherry Spice wakes up, then we can head out at the earliest possible time.

Twilight Sparkle.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

Thorm, 14th, 993 CR

Well, I’ll say, I may have been looking forward to speaking with Nagash in the next few weeks, but today has definitely reaffirmed some of my reasonings for traveling. The adventure and even the chance to see and learn new things barely understood or even imagined by others.

As I was traveling along one of the side roads, I felt a really intense magical aura flow over me and Cherry Spice. When I asked him if he felt it as well, he just laughed and told me not to be scared of some wind. I guess since he isn’t a unicorn, he really doesn’t have a way of telling the difference between the wind and a magical presence. Anyway, I told him I would be off for a bit to check something out, and left his company.

I traced the magic to its source, arriving at the crest of a hill leading down about forty feet into the beginnings of a ritual sight, where a small group of unicorns, with their fur burned in jagged patterns, resembling runes were casting a powerful ritual spell. I prepared to go down, until I noticed a slight flare of golden light on the other side of the ritual circle, thinking nothing of it, I continued observing the mages at work in their spell casting. After examining their ritualistic spells for a few moments I realized how simplistic they were. After a few moments, I had prepared a working spell from what I saw being done down there. When I tried to cast it, I found a glaring flaw in its makeup and immediately dispelled the runes before I accidentally pulled an unbound creature from the void.~

‘What are they doing? Those are royal guards! They are there to help them, not make a stupid mistake.’ Twilight watched as the scene unfolded below her. Two royal guards in Golden armor that covered their whole body, rather than the ceremonial armor that the guard around the royal palace wore. Twilight held her breath as the burned mages began to face the guards. Suddenly Twilight recognized one of the emblems on the guards armor as the same one that he two strangers that followed her were carrying, they had been trailing her since her first night with Velt and Rhode.

“What are they doing here? I thought they disappeared after Pax Nexus?” She muttered to herself as she watched both ponies in the guard armor slaughter several of the scarred mages with both their hooves and magic. The one on the right releasing offensive spells into the crowd of mages forcing them to dodge away while the one on the left cast defensive barriers and illusions to keep any of their attackers on their toes. With a sudden burst of agility, the guard in front charged towards the ritual circle in the center of the field, launching several fireballs and an icicle killing three of the mages with precise blasts to the heads, and injuring three more while pinning one to the wall with his Ice bolt. Twilight placed a hoof over her muzzle to halt any sound that might have come out. ‘What are they doing! They're supposed to protect ponies not EXECUTE them!’

She could hear the battle below with great clarity, several of the mages called out in a strange tongue though one phrase struck out as more common than the rest. “Spawn od el tirano sol.” While the royal guards fought with a ferocity she hadn’t seen since she last visited Ru’I’Vah. Both constantly mentioning a different phrase towards the group of ponies.

“These stupid cultists are being a pain in the flank.” The one in the back yelled.

“They’re the order of the eternal flame, it’s not my fault that they also happen to be bucking demon worshippers that brainwash their members into serving their demonic overlords as if they were gods. My problem with this is how the fuck they were able to stay hidden this long? Especially with this many members.” Yelled the warrior as he released a psionic shock wave sending three of the cultists flying backwards.

Suddenly, several of the cutests begin crying in joy, Twilight turned her focus from the fight to watch as the leader of the group with a full body burn scar cried his joy. “Nuestro señor es liberado, él nos salve de estos ponis sol maldecido. Vamos a ascender en su gloria mis hermanos.”

The stallion with his defensive spells active, swiftly leapt in front of his companion summoning a bright golden barrier before them. “Crap, they pulled one of the prisoners from Tartarus.”

As the smoke cleared, the creature revealed stepped forth, with the lower body of a bull with black fur and a upper body with obsidian fur running along the chest and two crimson arms on either side, he had the face of a goat with a long beard and twin long horns spiering from his head. “Gracias mis secuaces, ahora que yo no te necesito más voy a tomar tu magia.” Suddenly the cultists involuntarily stepped away from the creature they summoned but did not react swift enough as the magic bled from their horns and into the demonic creature’s mouth, his body growing slightly as as he fed on the cultists magic.

The leader looked towards Tirek and cries out in a pitiful voice as he and the rest of his fellows collapse to the ground. “Nuestro Señor nos ha traicionado?”

“¿Por qué” Whispered one of the fallen cultists before losing consciousness.

The centaurian creature began to laugh as he stepped over the collapsed form of one of his cultist followers towards the unicorn warriors in golden armor. “Ja, ja, ja, que pensaba que iba a ayudar a que los ponis? No me hagas reír, una vez que me he ocupado de las mascotas de Celestia, voy a robar toda la magia de toda Equestria!” Then he opened his mouth wide, his intent clear as he faced both unicorn magi, however, instead of a flow of magic from his newest victims, he instead received a fireball to the face.

The guard with his shield active smiles in the demons direction.“What’s wrong, can’t even get a sample? Or is that too spicy for you?” Suddenly his horn flickered to life as the stallion’s shield appears before his companion, just in time to block a blast of magic from the centaur like creature.

“Rghaaa, yo te destruirá perro de Celestia.” The dark creature screamed as he charged both of the unicorns, the area between his horns glowing violently as he built up another destruction spell.

The unicorn charging an Ice bolt to his horn releases a smirk. “Yea? Well then why don’t you suck on an ICE BOLT!” A white beam struck from the stallion’s horn before he dodged to the right while his companion leapt to the left holding his shield around himself as the stream of energy absorbing magic was fed and dissipated by the destructive spell cast by the demon sorcerer.

The destruction bolt finally ended its path when it exploded against one of the weakened cultists sending a limb flying as the rest of his body was disintegrated instantly by the spells explosion. Both unicorn guards simultaneously fired beams of white energy towards the Dark creature, who lifted up his arms casting red magical shields to cover them as they moved to block the energy beams sent at him.

“Hm, hm, hm.” Suddenly he lifted both arms and slammed them into the ground, sending both of his shields flying outwards in the direction of his unicorn opponents, forcing both of them to dodge. Turning to face the female one he opens his mouth and an orb of energy formed between his teeth, before she could react, magic begins weakening as the demon began draining it straight from her horn while her comrade in arms fended off the unicorn cultists still attempting to bring him down, weakened as they are.

Twilight stopped watching realising that her time for action was then and there. Activating her magic, she rifled through her pack before pulling out a crimson red potion with a glowing yellow core. ‘I guess acquiring that lava core payed off after all.’ With that thought she tossed the potion across the distance and watches as it struck on the demons back before ducking and covering her eyes. A blinding flash of light proceeding a deafening explosion of sound assaulted her senses, standing to her full height Twilight began bounding like the deer folk, leaping over the cultists and landing closer to the fight in progress with each jump.

Watching carefully she noticed one of the warriors collapse as well as the demon who had been consuming her magic. The magic that had been flowing steadily into the demon suddenly ripped out of him and back into the unicorn he had been trying to drain. The unicorn guard with her magic returned stood up on wobbly legs, staring defiantly at the demon.

Twilight tore her vision from the unicorn, focusing fully upon the unbound demon with the sure knowledge that all of the other enemies had been incapacitated by the unicorn guards. Leaping forward, she flipped around in mid air and struck swiftly with her hind legs. Feeling a connection, she coiled her legs once more, allowing her momentum to push her into position, then sprung off her opponent with all the force her limbs could muster, causing the taurian creature to stumble backwards with a grunt.

Suddenly in a deep multi toned voice, he screamed. “You will pay for that mortal!” Twilight lit her horn, summoning a small needle thin Icicle, and twirled around launching it into the demons arm. However, her opponent deflected the attack with a simple flash of his own magic. ‘He seems to be immune to immediate physical damage… maybe a few of my more corrosive potions could help’ Twilight pulled out several purplish blue potions from her pack, all of them containing a central glowing green core.

Twilight began charging towards the demon once more, keeping her potions behind her as she approached. The demon, already recovered from the blow, smiled viciously before opening his mouth to try and drain Twilight’s magic. Suddenly, one of the bottles went flying from Twilight’s grip with the magic that was holding it and struck the demon in the face, breaking the potion bottle and releasing it all over the demon’s coat, then sissling violently as it ate away at his regenerating skin.

Twilight then noticed a bright golden light forming to both her right and left as she ran past the creature releasing all four of her remaining potions into the demons legs, causing him to roar out his pain and fury. Leaping forward, she barely cleared a downed cultist before landing and turning, only to be forced to cover her eyes as a blinding light encompassed the field in front of her, hiding the demon from sight. She tried to look up but noticed that the light continued falling from the sky in a massive pillar, the smell of burning flesh and grass reached her nostrils, nearly choking her from the sudden stench.

Lighting her horn, she grasped the body of the cultist that she jumped over and placed it before herself to block both the light and whatever the demon might throw at her while she was blinded. ‘Drake vision should be able to help.’ Twilight noted as she grasped another potion from her pack. She placed the small vial to her lips and drank down the murky grey contents. After a few seconds, her vision began to change, the area blurred within her sight but the light from the outside world became more manageable. Lowering the body slightly, she looked over it towards the pillar of light as it began to finally break apart. She squinted her eyes to reduce the amount of light pollution making it into her retinas, and sharpening her eyesight.

She noted the forms of both guards standing on either side of the fading pillar of light, and the heavily burnt form of the demon standing in the center of the pillars strike zone, surrounded by a circular ring of scorched earth. All was still for but a moment as the demon stood his ground still, even after the heavenly onslaught the two guards had reigned upon him. Next to him was a small rise in the earth in the shape of a pony curled in a fetal position. Then suddenly the demon collapsed onto the ground as his energy gave out, his body no longer able to sustain itself against the injuries he had received.

Both guardsponies then walked forward lifting the demon within their magical fields and open a red glowing portal between them before throwing the listless demon through it, back into the realm from which he came. Twilight nodded once at their action before calling out. “Hey! Are you two okay?” She asked loudly, walking towards the winded guards.

The one on the right nodded before saying. “Do not worry yourself with our well being citizen. We have control of the situation at hoof, we shall be fine.” Suddenly he winced as he placed his hoof down once more. “Though if you could spare us a few potions to help mend our wounds we would be appreciative.”

“Sure, just give me a second.” Twilight said, activating her magenta magic and grasping a few potions and pulling them from her pack. They was a purplish blue coloring, and a small rusty red jar with a mustard yellow past within, then placed them before the guards. “The flasks will heal your wounds after a short period of time, and rub the paste within the jar over your bruises to ease their discomfort.” She said before turning around and walking away.

The sound of shuffling could be heard behind her before the male spoke up once more. “Thank you for the help. Have a glorious day.”

Twilights responded simply. “You’re welcome, good day.” Not even turning around to look as she crested the hill and out of sight.

~Turning back to the mages, I prepared once again to go down there, to warn them before they slaughtered themselves by summoning a possibly hostile unbound creature into their midst. However, as I was beginning to stand, two golden armored unicorns leapt down from the hill on the other side of the camp. Both guards charged against the mages casting the ritual. All but one of the unicorns in the ritual stopped casting their summoning spells to look at the golden cloaked unicorn guards. I originally thought, as the guards were landing, that they were there to contain whatever the mages were summoning. But then the mages attacked the unicorn guards. Did they want whatever came from the other side to kill them? The mages attacked the new arrivals flinging magic bolts and fireballs at the two armored unicorns, one of the mages throwing a lightning bolt, just as one of the two unicorn guards landed. However, I noticed the incomplete spell, finishing itself without any of the mages help. That’s when I realized that whatever they had been calling from the other side had decided to finish the ritual circle and appear.

While that was happening, the unicorn guards had already retaliated with lethal efficiency, cutting down the cultists with ice bolts and magic arrows, one of them even launched an incendiary spell. I watched as the guards cut through the ranks of the unicorns, I think I heard one of the guards call the unicorns they were fighting cultists.

The mages had dwindled from the number of thirty down to a meager twelve under the competent assault of the guards. That’s when I noticed that the ritual circle had finished taking form and, with a flash, the portal opened and out stepped what I could only consider a mix between a minotaur and one of our taller Saddle Arabian cousins, instead of fur he had bright red skin on his torso, and slick black fur on the rest of his lower body, his face was flat, and he had two sharp horns at the top of his head.

I watched as the mages cried out with joy when the creature arrived through the portal, until the creature then some how stole their magic reducing them to little more than living husks. The creature then attacked the two guards and they fought back while also being hindered by the severely weakened mages. When the beast locked onto one of the guards while the other was distracted and began draining her magic, I decided it was time to intervene. I threw my lava cored fire catalyst potion and hit him in the back, distracting him. then charged in, intent on making sure he couldn’t harm the others. After hitting him once and obtaining his attention I pulled out a few of my wyvern acid potions and threw them at the demon while rushing past him. When I finally landed and turned around to look at my opponent, I had to shield my eyes as a massive pillar of light struck the ground the demon stood upon, reducing everything to ashes.

After taking a night sight potion allowing me to see with my light blinded eyes once more, I looked over to the unicorn guards and noted down mentally the magical constructs on their horns as they rapidly deteriorated at the same speed as the combined spell they cast. Then, when the pillar of light finally faded, the demon was revealed however he collapsed after a few seconds giving the guards time to grasp him and throw him through another portal back into the depths of the realm he was drawn from.

After that I gave them a few healing potions and a numbing salve to ease the pains of battle before taking my leave to return to Cherry Spice on the road until we made our stop for the night in one of the caves along the mountain range.

Twilight Sparkle.

Thorm, 23rd, 993 CR

My visit with Nagash today went quite well, though I’m quite surprised he called upon my artificing skills so soon. He asked me to make a ring that caps over the horn with the specific enhancements to help focus magic being channeled through it. I already knew he had difficulty channeling the necessary magic needed for some of his more powerful spells, so I asked him to pass me the item he would prefer me to enchant, and it ended up being a brass ring, the same size as the base of his horn. It took me the better part of an hour to finish enchanting the ring, but Nagash was pleased with the result and even said as much. I’m happy I could help him. He also gave me a few tidbits and warnings of places to stay away from.

We had an enjoyable and calm session of tea where I shared a few of the notes I took when I saw the ritual being performed. I swear I’d never seen Nagash get so worked up over a few spells before, so I asked him what it was about and he told me that what I’d witnessed and I quote ‘What you saw was a cult of demon worshippers trying to summon the dreadlord Tirek. Be grateful those two Celestial knights came when they did, because had they been only ten minutes late, then you and I might not be having this conversation now. ’ When I asked him why it was so bad, he just told me that Tirek was a demon sent to Tartarus by the princesses a few hundred years after the fall of Discord, for reasons far worse than simply driving the whole of Equestria mad. I’m glad I know Nagash, even as strange as his habits and company are.

---

The Cervidian I had met a few months ago was waiting for me when as I passed through Nagash’s field of influence After a few awkward moments of silence, he immediately stated that he knew I was consorting with a necromancer, and that he didn’t mind. I diffused the situation with a smile and just decided to be straight forward and told him that it wasn’t his knowledge of the fact that I was friends with the local necromancer, no it was the fact that he knew exactly where I was going to appear when I left Nagash’s barrier. All he had to do was flash me his antlers and immediately I knew the obvious answer. After exchanging a few pleasantries, I followed him to a clearing not too distant from our location and we lay there for an extended period of time, sharing thoughts and wisdom between each other, he was very knowledgeable about unicorn magic theory. When we finally finished our conversation I returned to the road and swiftly caught up with Cherry Spice, Fang riding on my back. After the sun dipped below the horizon we found our resting spot in a cavern half a mile off the road, completely untaken and undisturbed by the presence of others.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Twilight Sparkle.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

Thorm, 59th, 993 CR

After having a close call with death I finally decided on the enchantment I’d use on Fang’s charm. A simple barrier spell designed to absorb a charge of magical energy from the ambient magic the user releases unconsciously. With enough power stored, the amulet would then activate if a force strong enough to cause severe damage were to strike Fang, the charm would then activate and spread a golden protective shield around his entire body, blocking all damage for as long as the charge holds.

Fang got assaulted by a small force of griffons, who originally thought he was a dragon spy, sent through Equestria. When they saw his destination, they halted their advance, their commanding officers landed and apologized for their misconduct. I allowed it to pass since it was a complete misunderstanding, and invited them to a pleasant lunch with us. I asked them about safe routes to our next town, since the path along the main road had eroded beyond use due to a combination of landslides and ice flows, both blocking and outright removing the road. They gave some info on a few side roads they deemed safe enough for regular travelers.

I also got a chance to look at their equipment a bit better, while they were eating alongside me and Cherry Spice, I recorded the design of a few of their weapons that caught an interest to me. The first one was an interesting device that involved a pull bar underneath a wooden stalk bisecting a length of wood pulled back by a single leather string, with a wooden box beneath, and a trigger at the end of the main body. The next was a long pole with a large single edged blade at the end. It looked heavy, but it seemed that the griffon peacekeepers were carrying them with ease. Intimidating wouldn’t be the right word to describe the equipment they wield. I would think practical, considering the single edged spear could be just as easily used for sweeping attacks as stabbing attacks, and the wooden construct looked to be able to throw the small lengths of wood set in the canisters at their sides quite a distance.

The clothing they wore was also quite interesting. It involved several sheets of bent metal formed around the curvature of their bodies. A piece wrapped around their heads, tapering off around the shoulders, and opening around their faces, whereas captain Songbird had a piece that fully covered his head, and neck. The other pieces covered their shoulders, chests, backs and in most cases, the front parts of their wings. All of them had metallic gloves fitted around their talons as well. There were thirteen of them in our company, so I asked them what they were doing, and why they were inside the Equestrian border.

Apparently, they received word from the front lines that dragons from the Draconis oligarchy were flying into Equestria then diving into griffon territory throughout the length of the Griffo/Equestrian borders. So the High council had sent a request into Equestria to allow minor platoons of griffons to watch the border for dragon incursions and activity. The princess has allowed this, as long as the griffons keep combat away from Equestrian citizens. He stated that his group was one of the Talon Scouting Parties send along the border to scout and preempt potential dragon strikes. I decided that their cause was somewhat noble so I asked if they would like any potions of healing and such. They accepted the offer and I made them enough of a healing solution to heal all of them for at least three full recoveries per griffon.

I had plenty of materials, thanks to Cherry Spice, and the fact that any item held within my pocket dimension is held within suspended animation, so there would be no degradation due to aging. I am very grateful I found Starswirl’s great tower. Though I think it’s time I study that mirror I took from the ancient castle before I left the Everfree. It’s enchantment feels somewhat like some of the teleportation circles I found within Starswirl’s tower. I wonder what secrets its magic could hold.

After a few hours of traveling with us since the path we were taking was along their patrol route we said our goodbye’s and went separate ways. Fang decided to be funny and blast Songbird with a concussive burst of force as they left. Songbird didn’t even look the least bit affected by it, completely ruining Fang’s moment.

We’re currently resting in the Atrium Inn, several hours from Hoofreed. I wonder how the old mayor’s doing?

Twilight Sparkle.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

Zelfoss, 4th, 994 CR

Cherry Spice decided to invite another companion to travel with us as we traveled the trading routes, Her name is Wild Wind. She’s an interesting Pegasus, with a paw cutie mark similar to Tracker’s, though it seems a little strange, especially with the red tinge around its edges. When I asked, she just said that it really wasn’t something to worry about. She likes woodland animals, and is really good at turning away violent, wild storms.

Thankfully nothing much really happened today, I came across the same Timberwolves that I ran into several months ago. The pair of them seemed to be following a yellow Pegasus and her rainbow maned counterpart. They were following the main road while I had Cherry Spice take another of the side roads. The pair looked to be doing very well, even with their massive cart. I guess they must be the pack leaders of the two Timberwolves, considering it was after they passed that the Timberwolves stopped playing and continued after them.

When I returned to check on Cherry Spice and our new companion, she asked why I smelled like cedar. I’ll have to stay up a bit longer tonight, I have some suspicions I need to confirm or debunk before tomorrow.

“Hmm...” two lids opened revealing tired yet piercing magenta eyes and the lavender furred unicorn awakened abruptly from her deep rest. “Why is it still dark?” She noted the position of the sky, with the Light of the moon hanging over her head like a beacon while she straightened her ears to better listen to what was happening outside. Within seconds she heard something, a slight ripping sound coming from nearby.

Silently, the lavender filly slipped off of her sleeping mat and grasped the wooden tooth grip of a long wingblade dagger she had obtained from one of her mentors a few years ago. The cloak upon her back fluttering off and congealing before her into a solid ivory staff with a clear zenith crystal at the top held within the confines of the staff’s spiraling branch like grip at the top.

Carefully she stepped from the tent, swiveling her eyes about the darkness, focussing upon the shadows surrounding the encampment. She noted that the camp fire had died down and was now only releasing a small stream of smoke from its dimly glowing embers. Turning away from the dying fire, she continued her search for that which had disturbed her slumber.

Suddenly she heard a sound from her left, a soft pumf emitted by a paw touching the ground. ‘Predator?’ She wondered as she turned her dark adjusted eyes in the direction of the sound only to look between the tent she came out of and the one that her companions slept in.

Within the shade below the moonlit trees she spotted a movement within the shadows, Stalking forward silently she mentally called to her staff recalling it’s presence next to herself. Calling forth the proper pathways into her mind’s eye, Twilight focused her magical energies onto the next spell, with a simple push of her magic the crystal atop the staff flashes brightly for a moment before focussing the beam of light upon the area between the tents.

Twilight quirks an eyebrow as the light reveals the creature making the ruckus within the bushes. “Wild Wind?” She asked recognizing the companion Cherry Spice had asked to join their group when they left town. However before Twilight could even take a step forward, an animalistic growl tore from the other pony’s lips. Leaping forward with her staff attaching itself to her back, Twilight investigated Wild Winds condition.

Twilight distinctly remembered the young pegasus’s eyes being a bright sky blue but some how they had turned a deep amber yellow, somewhat reflecting the light of her staff, while her hooves were somehow splitting the calic breaking and forming into claw like protrusions, finally Twilight looked at the cutie mark. “I knew you looked strange.” The lavender filly whispered under her breath as she looked at the paw cutie mark, that glowed blue underneath the full moon.

Twilight closed her eyes and focussed upon the wind in the same form that her teacher Zecora had taught her, summoning the element to her command within a single small pause, She then leapt backwards a few feet from Wild Wind, aided by the same element. Twilight gazed upon the ailing pony as she fell to the forest floor from the pains of her change begin to reform her body at an alarming rate. “Hmm I hope I’m not too late.” Summoning another spell into her minds eye, this time she held it there as she pushed force into it, suddenly the world outside her eyelids turns a greenish white color. Placing a feed into the spell within the background of her thoughts, Twilight opened her eyes and refocused her attention upon Wild Wind, who was still writhing on the ground, her muffled thuds attesting to the fierceness of her pained struggles.

Twilight stepped forward towards her newer companion her gaze focusing upon the wild magic jolting and rushing around Wild Wind’s body unchecked, unbalancing her natural magic as it ravaged her physical form, it’s disarray becoming even more agitated under the parts of her body where the beams moonlight physically struck. ‘Not too late, however I really hope that what I read about wolf ponies in Zecora’s book was correct, otherwise this won’t end well.’ Stopping just next to Wild Wind, Twilight commanded her staff off of her back to hold itself aloft above Wild Wind with its crystal point towards the writhing pony. Twilight then began focusing her will through the staff as she drove her magic within the disordered field as she studied and tried to discern a way to order it into a calmer, more tame form.

After half a minute, Twilight allowed a smile to form upon her face, as she finished following the distorted magical energies. With a few simple adjustments in the right places, as she had learned from one of the more recent discussions she had with Nagash, after a few seconds, the magic flowing around Wild Wind began to stabilize, the erratic twitches and jumps occurring less and less as the young pegasus’s internal magic began to mend itself.

Another minute passed before Wild Wind’s convulsions stopped, Twilight cancelled the spell converting her sight between the physical and the magical realm, allowing it to fade back to reality. With her true eyesight returned to her Twilight finally saw what her companion now looked like. Wild Wind’s dark orange fur had changed to a deep brown, her teeth had sharpened as well as the changes to her eyes and hooves, ’Well paws now...’ Twilight noted calmly, Wild Wind’s tail had also changed becoming more prehensile with the hair changing into the same composition, and color as her fur.

Wild Wind opened her eyes abruptly causing Twilight to use her wind technique to leap back several feet from the pegasus wolf pony, with her cutie mark still glowing a soft blue as she stood back up. “Mgrr hgggm.” The creature growled as it turned to face Twilight, displeasure could clearly be seen set upon her wrinkled back jaws.

Twilight smiled, lighting her horn with a familiar magenta energy, With a simple thought she grasped a nearby stick in her natural telekinetic field and lifts it into the air, diverting Wild Wind’s attention. ‘This is going to be a long night.’ Twilight allowed her thoughts to grumble before tossing the stick into the woods. She watched as the wolf pony rushed after the flying wooden object. ‘At least it’ll be a fun one.’ She amended before following after her wayward companion.

It had been a long night, Twilight grunted irritably as she stepped through the entrance of Cherry Spice’s tent, ‘I honestly don’t know how I’m still awake, or how many scratches and bruises I acquired last night. But what I do know is that I’ll be aching by tonight because of this fool.’ she thought as she stopped next to the slumbering Cherry Spice, her cloak shimmering behind her, flowing on a non existent breeze. Twilight’s horn glowed a bit brighter as the slumbering figure of Wild Wind floated into the canvas shelter.

Letting out a gentle sigh, Twilight felt her shoulders slump in exhaustion as she looked upon the slumbering figure of her traveling companion Cherry Spice. “What am I going to do with you… Get up!” She said sharply, popping the stallion with a kick just above the stomach, startling the stallion out of his slumber.

“Huh, wha?…” Rolling over onto his stomach the stallion blearily looked up into Twilights amethyst eyes. “Oh, hay Twi, Wha’s going on? Somm’in happ’n last night?” The Stallion said as he focused on getting to his hooves.

“More or less.” Twilight responded shortly, before pointing her hoof behind him at his sleeping bedmate Wild Wind. “She almost accidentally made a meal of you last night.”

Suddenly Cherry Spices eyes gain a sharpness to them as he turns to glare at Twilight. “Now that’s just rude. What makes you say such a thing, it couldn’t have been that bad.” He said indignantly stamping a hoof into the ground emphasising his point.

Twilight lifted a hoof to her face, releasing a slow breath. “Haven’t we been through this conversation before Cherry? You know I’m not lying, so just listen.” Walking around the simmering stallion, she steps in to stand next to the still unconscious Wild Wind. “How about I start with the fact that Wild Wind here is a wolf pony. Apparently she got infected by another wolf pony at some point during a full moon and her magic has been in disarray since, I’ve managed to patch it up a bit so that next time she transforms, she has full control of her faculties rather than going into a blind pain-fueled rage. Anyway I don’t think she knew the extent of her injury when she was infected the first time.” Cherry Spice nodded carefully seeing where Twilight was going next he immediately sagged his shoulders in defeat.

“Alright you win. What is it you want this time?” He moaned bitterly as Twilight smirked in victory.

Opening her mouth she began “Well then straight to the point, good, now I was thinking that...”

Aaand I confirmed it. Apparently the pawprint on her flank is not her original cutie mark, but a sign of her curse. Thankfully I was able to calm the raging magics that went through her while she transformed into a wolf pony. Due to that action, she was able to keep some of her sanity, and I was able to keep her feral being entertained until dawn. When we arrived back at camp, I was not happy that Cherry Spice forgot to check our companion for any prior conditions. He had to sacrifice a few of his rules, and lower the prices on his goods for a few weeks after that, along with losing any commission for potions I make till after we leave Applecrest.

Twilight Sparkle.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

The morning sun was cresting towards noon as Twilight looked over the well worn dirt road through the Whispering Woods. The birds were reveling in their song as the lavender unicorn traversed silently along the path below, unnoticed. ‘I’m glad that I was able to get out of camp and travel ahead when I did. I swear, if I have to listen to Cherry and Wild Wind’s antics one more time today I’ll probably break something...’ Twilight mused silently as thoughts and visions entered her mind of a tree toppling over with a diagonal slash running cleanly through it’s tough bark. The image followed up with her telekinetic aura surrounding the falling upper half of the tree then, switched to her chasing a brown earth pony through the forest with the tree swinging left and right, slamming down just behind him as further encouragement to run.

Suddenly Twilight’s musings stopped as she heard the crunching of a twig near by, slowed to a stop as she tilted her ear in the direction of the odd sound, focusing upon it. Suddenly her eyes focused onto a nearby bush as a shadow pulled itself from their depths, resolving itself into the form of a bearded deer with a spiraling rack of antlers upon his head, Around his neck hung a simple chain with a jade pendant hanging just above his heart, upon his antlers rested a small web of threads, each one glowing a silvery white in the noonday sun, while his white and brown coat glowed softly as he strode forward.

He stopped as he stepped onto the road, turning to face the lavender filly that had paused to witness his arrival. With only a half seconds warning, the deer braces himself as he feels a large ball of purple fur fly over and hug tackle him. A brilliant smile rested upon Twilight’s face, she closed her eyes as she nuzzled up against the elder deer. Taking a step back, she took in the elder deer’s appearance one more time. “It’s so good to see you again Falagar, has the forest treated you well?”

The stag sighed as he looked over the road then off towards one of the distant mountains. “The forest treats me well, for it knows me as surely as I know it, the only worries that pounce upon my glade are your friend who defies the natural order, and the occasional traveler. Though I have missed your presence of recent times. I enjoy our conversations over theory and life.” With his head, Fajagar gestured towards the woods. “Which reminds me, shall we take this conversation to a place where it is less likely we will be disturbed?”

Twilight nodded in agreement walking over to the bushes and stepping through. Another heartbeat and the elder stag was standing before her. Stepping forth, he led the way through the trees. Several minutes into the journey, Twilight began to notice the difference in the trees as they changed from a typical mountainous cedar and fir forest to a mystical jungle with glowing plants and strange small creatures running about the lower foliage, Twilight noted one of the creatures that looked like a strange mixture between a ferret and an iguana, with a pair of green glands on either side of it’s head, and even a small family of fiery kitsunes playing by a small pond.

‘Reminds me of home. I wonder how Zecora is doing?’ Twilight thought silently, as she distracted her vision with the scenery, always keeping Falagar within her peripheral vision if not in her main sight. Soon they reached a small clearing with the light of the sun filtering through the foliage, being amplified by the serenity of the surrounding clearing and the lack of any corruption within its premises.

Twilight stood at the edge of the clearing, staring in awe at the scenery before her as the elder deer stepped over to the nearby babbling brook and began drinking from the stream. “This is my third time here, and I’m still struck by how beautiful your grove is.” Facing the elder deer once more with a smile Twilight continued. “Thank you again for inviting me Falagar.” She said in a low tone, unconsciously deciding to try her best not to disturb the serenity of the grove. The deer’s ear flicked in recognition as he finishes drinking from the babbling brook.

Standing to his full height Falagar turned to face Twilight, “Indeed, it is beautiful.” Twilight smiled as she continued her pace through the clearing and stopped next to him. “It is one of the many reasons I protect it. I was wondering, Glimmer, have you been practicing your magic recently?” Falagar asked as he laid down, closing his eyes as he soaked in the tranquility of the forest.

In response, Twilight lit her horn and lifted several sticks in her magical aura, then rendered them invisible while covering the area around them in a shimmering effect displacing the sunlight running through the field of magic. All the while smiling with gleeful joy as she looked up towards the meadow sage.

“Impressive. Definitely an improvement over one spell at a time. How did you manage it?” Falagar asked as he returned a soft smile of his own to the young mage.

Canceling the spells, and cutting off the flow of energy to her horn, Twilight watched as the sticks fell to the ground before looking back up and then tapping the hoof against the tip of one of Falagar’s antlers. “Well, at first I tried to separate several spells into different contained groups and split my magic into multiple directions to fill the spells with energy, similar to how your antlers work. But in practice, I found that unicorn horns are woefully direct in that they cannot split magic from the source. However I found a work around solution a few weeks later when I watched a griffon runemage cast several spells using external spell sheets.” Twilight lit her horn and began rummaging through her bags until she finally pulled out several slips of paper with different symbols on them. Spreading them out she placed them on the ground before both her and Falagar.

Opening her mouth wide and taking a deep breath Twilight continues. “I asked the rune mage how she managed to cast the spells all at the same time, and she explained that she didn’t.” Lighting her horn once more Twilight energized the sheet in the middle of the others before continuing. ”Instead she ran her magic through an external filter, allowing it to be split into different paths and sent to empower the other spells.” Twilight then bowed her head towards the runes on the ground as several streams of power flowed from the central rune onto the others and lighting them as well, causing six things to happen, four of the runes begin to float into the other one encasing itself in rock another in water and the last two in fire and air respectively, while the two still on the ground began to churn the air around them a bit as one distorted light while the other brightens as if lit by a candle. “By sending telekinetic commands towards the control rune or filter, you can decide what the other spells do. I also figured out some time ago how to cast the filter without needing any external materials.”

With a smile Twilight turned to her friend once more, her eyes looking deep within the lines of his face as if seeking approval. “So what do you think?”

“Hmm… Quite ingenious if I didn’t already know that there was a spell book within the central Grand Canterlot Library of Equestria that taught just such a spell, I would have been even more impressed by the uniqueness of it. Either way, I am immensely impressed that you were able to figure out the spell unaided as you were.” The elder laid a hoof on Twilights shoulder and looked directly into her eyes, “It is great to see you progress through your studies as swiftly as you do. I see great things in your future.”

Twilight felt her face flush with pride as she smiled at the stag, Then her smile quirked upward slightly, “Is that another one of your visions?” She asked, knowing of his advanced ability, to see into the future.

“No, lets just call it elder’s intuition.” Suddenly he dropped his smile, his eyes turning harder than diamonds as he spoke firmly to the young mage before him. “I know you have the power and the drive to do many great things in this world, no matter what path you choose, remember that I will always be here to speak with.” With the answer passed, his eyes took on a mischievous glint. “Now, are there any stories from the road you’d like to share?”

Twilight’s mischievous smile came to light joining the old cervine’s, “Do I ever. Which one do you want to hear, the time when Cherry and I were being chased by manticores or the time when Cherry nearly fell off the road?”

Raising a hoof to his chin Falagar asked, “Why not both?”

Twilight shook her head before lifting a hoof and pointing it towards the sky. “I can’t. By the position of the sun, I only have an hour left before I need to meet Cherry Spice on the road Otherwise he’ll get worried and enter the forest needlessly, putting himself in danger.” Pulling her hoof back she placed it against her snout before shaking her head. “I’ve tried convincing him that I’m perfectly safe in the woods, but the stone headed fool won’t listen.” With a sigh she released her annoyance before looking back up the the old seer. “So which one would you like to hear?”

“Hmm… How did your traveling companion almost fall off the road?” Falagar asked his hood still scratching his chin in wonderment.

Twilight felt her smile return if a little bit as she began her small tale. “Alright. Several moons ago, Cherry and I while we were still very much on our own as companions, we had many disagreements even after I had proven my superiority when it came to making sound traveling decisions. Anyway, one day we ran into a fork in the road, one leading along the side of the cliff that we both knew would be faster, and another path that led into the valley following a long and winding trail. Both of them were narrow, but the main difference was that along the cliff path you could fall off, while along the valley path the only problem you’d find would be getting a large vehicle stuck between the walls.” Rolling her eyes Twilight let out a bit of a sigh.

“Anyway in a typical view of the situation, the quicker path seemed the more obvious since both would be a hassle to get through. That is what Chery thought. However, while I had the same idea, I realized the faults with the plan especially with the new expanded wagon that Cherry Spice had purchased a few weeks before at Applecrest. Anyway after a brief argument, I decided it would be pointless to sway my idiot companion from his blind course. so instead I decided to take point to insure that if the blundering idiot did manage to trip himself off the edge I’d catch him. Lo and behold, not even ten minutes into the hour long trip, he managed to not only tip his wagon over but also flip himself over the edge, hanging by his harness.” Another sigh reached her lips while her horn glowed once more extracting a small stream of water from the river and guiding it between her lips both slacking her throat and cooling her thoughts before continuing the story in earnest.

“In hindsight, it really should have been obvious something would have happened on that small stretch, Simply for the fact that the path was narrow enough that I could just take one step over and reach the edge.” Shaking her head as if trying to remove a couple of annoying cobwebs, she leaned back and looked into the sky somewhat pensively. “Anyway I used my telekinesis to lift him and the cart back onto the path, I guess it was worth it to see his embarrassed blush the rest of the way, but he still said nothing to me in return for saving his ungrateful flank.” Facing back towards the ground she covered her eyes with another hoof, releasing a frustrated sigh. “Anyway I guess that wasn’t as funny as it was supposed to be, but at least I got the moral across.”

Lifting a hoof to his chin in mock thought the deer respons. “Hmm… Listen to Glimmering Wisp lest ye jump off cliffs?” He asked with the best pokerface he could manage... The laughter still flooded through his eyes.

And Twilight responded in full with loud peals of laughter. After their mutual laughs subsided, Twilight smiled back up to the Elder, “Thank you. Oh, I guess it’s time.” She said looking around the field noticing the golden shades the flora were beginning to take, “It was great seeing you, maybe we can meet again some time?” She asked already standing next to the exit of the garden.

A small smile gently pulled at the edges of his mouth before he responds, “Of course young Wisp, mayhaps...” Suddenly he blanked, his face becoming stone flat as his eyes begin to glow in an eerie golden white glow. Just as suddenly as it came it disappeared. Another half second and the old stag begins to frown in Twilight’s direction, a sad look emanating from his eyes before he spoke once more. “Hooves stained in blood both foreign and familiar, you shall come across in your journey, darkening the road you travel with pain and sorrow. A light you will find that held under your cloak, will guide ” Feeling his rant pass, Falagar slumped to the ground, wheezing a little from the exhaustive process of prophecy flowing through his mortal body. “I’m getting too old for these visions, one of these days I’m going to probably get killed by the stupid blessing.” He said, barely keeping his sentence straight with his breath so taken from him.

Returning his gaze to the unicorn still waiting at the entrance to the sanctuary he nodded for her to go on. “We shall meet at least one more time before I pass so do not worry til then.”

With a single nod, Twilight turned from the exhausted cervine and exited the clearing, Entering the neutral jungle surrounding it, the sounds of nature returning their natural tempo to her hearing as he headed forth through the foliage onto the road and further on as she pressed on to meet up with her traveling companions. Fang flew down to glide next to and around her in joyful arcs.

Yill’thui, 32nd, 995 CR

I crossed paths with Falagar Everseer again today. This time I decided not to visit Nagash, so he waited for me on the road while I traveled ahead of Cherry Spice and Wild Wind. Those two are a strange pair, they copulate before going to sleep. As of late, it has been getting increasingly irritating to the point where I decide to travel outside of camp, into the forest to sleep amongst the trees in solitude. Even when I ask them to silence themselves, they just keep going. Falagar and I went to our usual resting spot to speak between each other. He warned me that within the next few days I would come across a revelation through blood, and I would then understand my true goal for traveling. I asked what he meant, but he told me he could not say, lest I fall to weakness and despair. Like Zecora, I understood that portents and revelation were always murky even to those who received them directly.

After sharing some knowledge and traveling tales between us, including the story of how Cherry Spice got himself dangling off the side of a cliff with only the wheel of his wagon keeping him from falling to his death, ‘I couldn’t stop laughing and telling him I told him to take the low road since the high road was too thin to fit his wagon.’ He was especially overjoyed when I shared some of my exploits into enchanting, including the bouncing bit that caused a town wide charge to capture it led by Berry Bash in Windbreak. We broke off and I returned to the caravan to settle a dispute between Cherry Spice and Fang involving a blue sheet of fabric and several lavender stalks. I just can’t believe those two, arguing over the stupidest things.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Twilight Sparkle.

Author's Note

Special thanks go to my editors, without them I would have been stuck even longer trying to figure out what my error's were.

Thank you guy's

Bend A Tree

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 13: Bend a Tree

(Lumix, Thirty Third , Nine Hundred and Ninety fifth Celestial Reckoning, Thorc Valley, Three day’s from Briddlebit)

She stared into the sky, meeting the sun’s gaze as it blessed the world with its life granting light. The lavender filly frowned slightly in thought, her contemplations grasping upon the words spoken by her friend the previous evening, especially how the portents spoken would affect her. Slowly she drew in a deep breath, holding it for but a second, before closing her eyes and releasing it in a single long gust through her nose, into the air around her. ‘Why does prophecy have to be so vague? It’s not like they don’t understand the importance of clarity, but it’s as if whatever gives them their revelations loves doing so in the most aggravating or undefinable manner possible,’ the youthful unicorn thought as she continued staring into the great golden orb in the heavens above, as if it contained the answers to her questions.

“Hay Glimmer, that’s the third time today, mind telling me what’s wrong?” Asked her companion, a chocolate brown stallion pulling a small wagon down the small incline, into a narrow valley.

Twilight glanced in the stallion’s direction. “I’m just worried, I don’t know what’s wrong but today just doesn’t... feel right. I’m sorry, Cherry, but that’s about all I know about it.” She responds dismissively, before returning her eyes to the verdant fields surrounding them on either side.

The stallion frowned as he looked at the lavender filly’s jitterish demeanor. “Now really, that can’t be all of it, you’ve got to do better than that to get a lie past me.” he states calmly, the expression remaining in place letting her know that he meant business this time.

Twilight’s shoulders sagged a bit as she sighed again, “Do you know of prophecy?”

“Zebra mumbojumbo about telling the future using voodoo?” He answers curiously.

Twilight winced at the slander to her teacher’s people. “No, that’s just folklore and hearsay, I’m talking about actual prophecy like the true visions seen by the cervine seers and priestesses.”

“Wait, those tribals actually have the ability to see the - no besides what does that have to do with why you’re sad?” He asked, his frown digging deeper into his face.

Twilight looked upon her companion with anger, as he further dug himself deeper with his racial slurs. Taking a calming breath, she answered with a calm tone. “I warn you now to watch your next words, before I bury you up to your neck... Again.” Cherry’s eyes widened considerably in fear, having suffered the punishment before when he ruined one of her potions as a prank. “Now stay silent, and I’ll tell you. A few weeks ago I met one of my friends in the forest during my usual midday excursion. He is one of the cervine seers and a very skilled one at that. He was able to predict that you would take a hit if you tried to sell your wares at the next town, and when you set up your stall in Hard Stone against my better judgement you nearly lost your purse of gold from off the cart itself.” Twilight paused for half a second, she then shook her head as if to remove some cobwebs before continuing. “I’m getting off topic, Anyway, cervine seers such as the one I met the other day have an unpredictable ability to see the future that they are more or less attuned to. The reason I’ve been upset the past week was because I was worried about the caution within the context of his prophecy. Now that I think about it I guess I’m worrying about something I can’t do anything about.” With a sigh she went silent, following the road for a few more minutes.

Glancing into the woods once, she turned to Cherry Spice once more. “I’m going to explore the forest, Fang will watch over you in case there’s any trouble.” Before the merchant had any time to respond, she’d already bolted through the underbrush and into the rich lumi pine forest.

Twilight allowed herself to calm down as she traversed deeper into the jungle, the smells and scents of the forest beginning to chip at her frustration as they brought back happy memories of her time with Zecora. Reaching one of the natural clearings, Twilight looked about and spotted a crimson flowered rose bush. Tilting her head curiously she stepped towards it, slowing as she noticed the thorny vines holding the flowers above ground, and the squirrel bones underneath the bush.

Furling her eyebrow she mused, ‘Strange, I thought these were only found in the everfree forest… I guess more alchemy materials for later at least.’ With that thought Twilight lit her horn and grasped several of the rose buds. With a swift jerk, she snapped the heads from the stems, suddenly several green thorny vines shot from the bush as if to grasp whatever creature had dared to eat from it before retracting empty as the plant reset for any creature that may fall into it’s ever hungering snair.

Placing the rose buds within her saddlebags, she pushed the feeling of the bush from her thoughts and stepped back into the woods, leaving the clearing. Picking up the pace once more, she finally began smiling, staring up into the canopy to catch glimpses of the sky as they occasionally filtered through the dense leaves of the forest oak trees.

The canopy began to thin as she headed northwards, having noted a ruin in that direction as she was gazing upon the forest below her cliffside resting place before she turned in to sleep for the night. After a few more minutes of traipsing over roots and vaulting over brambled bushes Twilight began seeing the signs of an old road to her right. Moss covered stones lined together somewhat, creating a path wider than most game trails blazed by other forest grazing creatures. She also noted a free standing stone wall, held together by vines after the cement holding it together had crumbled away.

‘I’m getting close.’ She thought, her pace slowing a bit as the spots of light beaming through the canopy of the forest began to turn into a constant beam broken intermittently by leaves and branches. After several seconds the trees part revealing a massive moss covered wall not five feet before her. Lifting a hoof to her chin, she lit her horn and pressed against the structure softly with telekinetic energy. A slight tingling sensation traveled along her horn uncomfortably at the contact. Jerking her head back, she broke her connection with the wall.

The electric feeling upon her horn faded, allowing Twilight to sigh in relief. ‘Close… ’ her eyes narrowed in focus as she scowled at the aged wall. ‘Too close. I hope the spell defences only extend to the walls.’ Turning right she began trotting along the enchanted stone barrier. ‘If I remember correctly, the entrance should be about... here.’ She said to herself just as she came upon a circular portal of stone, containing a rusted metal gate barring the way with signs of a rough marble road extending beyond to the interior.

Twilight examined the entry even further, a few details stand out, on either side of the entrance, were rusted sconces with rotted wooden remnants of torches, Up above the gate was a brightly colored mark resembling a violet splotch with a white crescent moon that glowed slightly. The final item of note was a series of unnatural scratches on the wall all around the tunnel entrance.

Ignoring the other portions of the tunnel, she focused upon the rune glowing slightly above the metal gate. Twilight lifted a hoof to her chin, humming faintly. “Hmm...” ‘Strange, I’ve seen this symbol somewhere before… But where?’ Then it clicked, as the image of a mirror appeared within her thoughts, Lighting her horn, she turned her head and opened the flaps on her saddle bags telekinetically, before reaching in and grasping the midnight blue handle of the object within her thoughts. With a small tilt of her horn, Twilight smoothly pulled it out before her.

Looking upon the object floating before her, the mirror glowed slightly around the edges of its polished silver surface. Flipping the mirror around, she saw the image on the reverse side. A black splotch bearing a silvery white moon within. ‘Hmm… I wonder...’ Twilight’s horn flared a bit brighter, suddenly a bluish white mist fogged over her eyes, closing them. With a slight flash, Twilight opened her eyes, her vision tainted a vivid orange. However, to another being looking from outside, they would see a milky blue-white mist floating off of her eyes, which were glowing a bright sapphire blue.

Staring into the space between the two marks, she was finally able to see the energy flowing between them. A large tendril of energy connected them, flowing towards the ground below her. ‘What? But that doesn’t make any sense!’ Examining the aura of both objects she confirmed her previous observation of them both being connected magically. With little warning, a small spark of energy flashed up from the ground, into the mirror, the ancient artifact flashed brilliantly before once more returning to its previous state. ‘Huh, I wonder what that was.’ Only having caught a glance of the spell cast, Twilight was unable to decipher it. ‘Stupid mage sight, I can’t see any formula while I’m seeing the magic of the spell itself.’

Dropping the spell held in her mind’s eye, the mist around her eyes began to dissipate as fast as it had appeared. Closing her eyes, Twilight shook her head vigorously. Upon opening them once more, the lavender unicorn’s vision had returned to normal. Glancing around the stone portal, she noticed a difference. The metal gate that had previously been barred and closed tightly, was now resting ajar on its hinges, separated from its latch. Looking at the mirror, still floating before her, she noted another change. The mirror’s silver surface, which had seemed to be polished to a pure reflective silvery shine, now reflected a murky distorted image back instead. ‘Either this is a coincidence, or there are other forces at work here that I don’t know about…’

Looking past the partially opened gate once more, Twilight released a sigh, letting her tensed shoulders relax a little. ‘Might as well see where this is going.’ With that thought on her mind, Twilight passed through the metal gate, passing the black steel bars calmly. Upon reaching the other side, a flash of light bursts to life behind her. Twilight spins around with wide eyes and watches as the gate silently melts itself back into place with the rest of the structure.

Shaking her head, Twilight smacks a hoof to her face. “Really?!” ‘How did I not notice the other enchantment?’ Gazing towards a second marking above similar in design to the one outside the door, she expanded her vision, allowing her to view the magical connections within the sigil marking. After a few seconds she noted the enchantments woven tightly within the single protective sigil, including an array of defensive and lethal combative enchantments that would render any unprepared fool senseless or worse. ‘Oh...’ Twilight's ears pressed against the back of her head and her eyes shot wide open as she realized just how close she was to getting harmed unwittingly herself. Releasing a sigh, Twilight turned around, keeping her senses keen and focused for any more traps that could have been planted by the structure’s previous defenders.

By noon, Twilight had been able to search the main structure of the fort, and the walls, only to find that the building had been systematically stripped and abandoned, signs of battle were present in several rooms, however there were no bodies or broken weapons to be found. The only room left to search was the forts central chamber. Reaching the main doors, Twilight saw the same sigil that she saw on the main gate and on the back of the mirror. ‘Strange, maybe this was a fort under the command of moon obsessed cultists… but that doesn’t explain why the mirror I found in that ancient castle reacts like a key with the first sigil, or the fact that they are charged from the same source.’ Lifting out the mirror, Twilight held it before the ancient doors like a sacred offering, and watches as the clouded mirror reacted with the doors as it did with the sigil at the entrance, flashing once and causing the double doors to shift on their hinges and begin moving.

The two doors moved inwards but Twilight stumbled backwards as a putrid smell attacked her senses, flooding thickly out of the room almost like a liquid. The scent of decay and rot flooded Twilight’s keen sniffer, causing her to reel on her hooves, nearly collapsing onto the ground herself as she stepped away from the source of the horrible stench.

Pinching her nose telekinetically, Twilight finally mustered the strength to glance into the room. her coat paled swiftly as she layed her eyes upon the distinct and decayed bodies of its long deceased occupants. Still coughing slightly she entered the abandoned room, her eyes remained focused upon the bodies of the ponies within. ‘Cobalt toned mithril armor. Where could they have gotten that much to make sets of armor like this?’ The lavender filly wondered mentally, stopping for a second to lift a helmet from off of one of the dead pegasi.

Flipping the helmet around to look within, she notices another mark of the same design as the ones she had seen earlier imprinted upon the inside of the helmet. ‘Interesting.’ Casting the vision spell upon her eyes once more, she glanced once more at the helmet, instantly noticing the distinct lack of magic held within its form. ‘Hmm I wonder... Will this work?’ Pulling out the enchanted mirror Twilight held it next to the helmet while pulling the rest of the armor off the deceased pony’s body. A brilliant flash later, and the mirror had temporarily connected to the armor, reviving its enchantments while tethering it to the source of the mirror’s power. After a few seconds, the glow of the armor and mirror die down signalling that they have finished synchronizing with the source of the mirrors power. ‘Amazing, so the enchantment still works even after years of inactivity and lack of power to charge it.’

Putting away the polished hoof mirror, Twilight lifted a hoof to her chin in thought as she looked upon the armor a bit closer, examining the complex spellwork of its enchantment with her magic vision still active. “Hmm… This armor would be very dangerous in the wrong hooves, even unenchanted it could pose a distinct threat to other ponies on the roads.” Twilight muttered to herself before scavenging the mithril armor from the rest of the deceased warriors, numbering four consisting of a unicorn and three other pegasi.

Letting her magic sight spell fade, Twilight gathered the armor together, not noticing the slight flashes of energy as they came into contact with each other, before she placed the sets within her saddle bags of holding. The only object she kept outside was the clouded mirror she retrieved from the ruins of the citadel of light.

“Amazing...” Twilight stated quietly as she levitated the mirror before her. ‘I’ve never seen an enchantment that could revive itself even after being completely drained of all magical energy. Whoever enchanted these magical devices must have been a powerful mage, with plenty of time on their hooves.’ Lighting her horn a bit brighter, Twilight flashed several patterns before her eyes and focused her will upon the feelings generated within the runes, pressing the complex magic through her horn. Opening her eyes, Twilight watched as the spell she had used hundreds of times fizzled out before her very eyes. After a few seconds, the murky surface of the mirror began to clear. “Wha...” Within the frame of the mirror a pair of turquoise eyes stared back at Twilight.

In a knee jerk reaction, Twilight shoved the active artifact within her saddle bags, hiding it and the eyes from her sight. With a sigh, Twilight’s shoulders sagged as she contemplated what she had just seen. ‘I wonder what that was, should I see if it’s still there?’ As she argued over the merits and fallacies of attempting to tamper with a magical device that somehow had resisted her magical deconstruction spell, a few images appeared within her thoughts.

‘Twilight, I think Cherry’s in trouble. I’m showing you what I see.’ An image appeared within Twilight’s thoughts of the chocolate brown stallion next to Wild Wind, the wagon being pulled behind the stallion. Surrounding them were a crowd of ponies each equipped with a weapon of some sort. A unicorn and three earth ponies blocked the road, standing in the way of Cherry Spice and Wild Wind. with many more earth ponies on either side of the road, and several pegasi fluttering in the air with hoof held crossbows.

With only a second’s thought, Twilight put aside her dilemma about investigating the mirror and instead called to Fang with her own thoughts while rushing towards the walls. ‘I’m on my way, please keep an eye on them, I want to know what they are up to before letting them see you.’ Reaching the eastern wall, Twilight climbed the stairs to the top of the seven foot barrier, and continued running to the edge. With a skip and a hop, Twilight leapt over the crenellated battlements, and reached out, barely catching the branch of a nearby tree, which broke her fall before landing silently on the ground.

‘Fang, can you show me the location of the ruin and the direction of which it is from Cherry Spice’s current location?’ Twilight asks, she barely finishes the thought when several images linking into a scene flowed through her thoughts. Within seconds Twilight had the general direction she needed to head. ‘I’m on my way.’

With the speed of a natural born hunter, Twilight melted through the forest, ghosting from clearing to clearing, leaving only the faintest of sounds of her passing. Plants pass by in a blur, streams of light revealing spots of color as they pass through the tree born canopy above, flowering bushes and the occasional vine observed in passing as she makes her way through the forest at a swift clip.

After leaping over a small creak Twilight finally saw the road past the woods, and the beginnings of a ravine, similar to the one Fang had shown her that Cherry Spice had been spotted in. Slowing her sprint to a silent gallop, Twilight maneuvered her way into the ravine, instantly seeing the gathered ponies below. ‘Thank you Fang.I’ve got this from here, go and rest Fang, I’ll call for you when If needed.’ As she stalked closer, Twilight took note of the armed crossbows and drawn blades being wielded by the other ponies. Upon realizing the other ponies as a potential threat, she halted her progress, and hid behind a nearby boulder.

‘Maybe I can use the armor I found earlier, though I wish I gathered the spears as well, they would have been useful right about now.’ Her unleashed magic lit her horn as she gathered it before her and used it to telekinetically grasp the unicorn designed mythril armor from her pack, while commanding her staff to reform from its current cloak form into a double bladed staff. Having finished its transformation, it assumed position next to her, floating level with her shoulder.

With a simple adjustment, the lavender filly began buckling the deceptively light armor onto herself. As the final piece, the helmet finally fell into place, fitting snugly around her horn, Twilight felt a slight shiver of magic move through her body. Twilight blinked in reaction to the strange feeling, however as she opened her eyes she balked backward as an intense light burned her eyes, almost forcing her to yelp in surprise. Cautiously she cracked her eyes open slightly, barely allowing a painful yet infinitesimal amount through her eyelids. Suddenly, a small shiver flowed through Twilight's eyes as magic passes through the sensitive organs, after half a second she was able to fully open her eyes and see without difficulty from the sun’s burning rays.

With her sight returned to normal, Twilight returned to her position behind the rock, just as one of the pegasi decided to glance in the direction of her previous location. After a bit of watching Twilight notices the frustration emanating from the bandit leader. Nodding to herself, she waits till the other ponies are distracted before leaving her concealment behind the rock and sneaking towards the argument.

As she closed in silently, she began to pick up words of their conversation even at a somewhat great distance. “Now see here, I don’t have much in the way of profits, as this year has been quite dry in the need for herbs and spices. As a result I’ve had to spend the last of my bits on renting rooms at the previous town.” Argued the brown earth pony, with a leaf green pegasus with sky blue eyes trying to hide behind him.

“Is tha’ soo?” the golden yellow coated unicorn leader asked mockingly, before continuing viciously. “Then I guess your time as a trader is o’er, give us the wagon and we may let you live.”

Having heard enough, Twilight decides to stop playing and stepped from the shadows of her hiding place. “I think that is enough, you seriously aren't thinking about attacking my companions, are you?” The bandits almost as a whole, turn to face the new pony that had mysteriously came from out of no where in their midst. while the others notice the armor and immediately go on defensive, the leader balks for half a second before bellowing out in laughter.

“Aaahahaha, oh ohohoh ohhh, and wot, do we ‘ave here? A filly trying to play hero with some scrap metal she pulled from the local smithy, now why don’t you go run along back home to mommy, the grown ups be talkin here?” However, when he turned back around, he noticed the distracted look of concern that had come over the merchant he had been arguing with over the past twenty minutes. “And wot has you crabbin up all o’ sudden?” He asks the shaking merchant.

“I think it’s time, kill’em. The first one to catch the filly gets first go tonight.” Crossbows twanged as their bolts were released, whistling through the air. However, as the bolts converged on Cherry Spice and his companion they stop mid air, caught in a magenta field. Only glancing once behind him, he smirked before summoning and releasing a magical fireball without much effort.

Twilight watched desperately as the magical incendiary streaked towards her companions then exploded in a fiery conflagration as she tried to catch it, the force and heat of the explosion hitting both Cherry Spice and Wild Wind, blasting them into the cart.

‘No...’

After a second, several of the pegasi above had already reloaded their crossbows and were zeroing their aim on the armored filly below.

Twilight’s brows furrow, small flickers of energy spark from her fur as her rage rises. Her fury growing until it finally escapes in a rage.“No!”

With little warning Twilight lashed out, sending a single bolt of energy skyward, however, before any of the pegasi can react, the spell bolt split into five separate bolts, one for each pegasus in the air, and striking with lethal accuracy before any of them can react.

Not even blinking, at the ponies’ fate, Twilight’s conscious mind fades as she falls into an instinctive rush, several trolls overlaying into view over the bandits. Twilight’s vision begins to grey as blood starts thundering in her ears. “I will not let you hurt them any more.” The armor surrounding her began to glow blue without her notice, however the bandits began to step away from the glowing filly, having seen their best shots all go down in one spell.

“Hmm not as weak as ah thought. No matta, a few tricks and some shiny armor won’t save ya from the wrath of Golden Blaze! Now die!” Shouted Golden as he released twin fireballs from his horn, both of them curving outward and converging upon Twilight’s position.

Twilight watched the balls of fire converge on her position as if time had broken a leg and was forced to crawl, her senses heightening beyond their normal capabilities. With barely a thought, and a flash of her horn Twilight dissipated the fireballs, ripping away the formulae that had held them together and copying their design instantaneously before her eyes. Deciding not to stop there, she summoned a pyroclastic orb of her own and fired it towards Golden Blaize along with a bolt of lightening for the fireball to ride upon, all within the space of a second. Within the next second, Twilight felt her body sluggishly move through the motions as she shifted her weight to her back legs, and prepares to leap. Only taking half of the second to prepare, Twilight shot forward, releasing the pent up energy within her rear muscles, flinging herself backwards into the air and behind one of her earth pony opponents? Landing upon the ground with an ease speaking of experience, Twilight tapped into the energies of the ground beneath her and taps her hoof once, forcing the energies to release in the form of several earthen spikes jutting out of the ground and skewering a few of her opponents while most just barely graze the others.

A green coated earth pony mare covered in mottled entwood barding, took a step back, her eyes wide in fear. “Shit! This whorse ain’t no simple amateur magician, she’s a bucking combat mage.” Turning around, she tried to sprint to safety along with a few of the other more cowardly bandits. Without even batting an eye, Twilight continued fighting the earth ponies still brave enough to face her in close quarters, the images of trolls fading as her perception of reality returned to normal.

‘I’m sorry Cherry Spice, they still don’t deserve any forgiveness.’ Lighting her horn once more, Twilight released a controlled mana burst, sending a wave of compressed air and energy outward, all the while her armor started glowing brighter from its cobalt blue to a brilliant sky blue as she called upon her mana once more, this time casting a hastening spell upon herself before holding the tip of her staff towards the nearest earth pony who still stood even if he was off balance. In one swift motion, she charged the earth pony and sliced cleanly through his stomach. Before he could even react to the pain, she passed her sword once more through his body, this time taking his head with it. more of the earth ponies converged on her position while the unicorn leader began to recover from getting electrocuted.

In her fury Twilight called upon her long time companion, ’Fang, can you fly over the outside of the canyon and burn any armed ponies you see. I saw a few run from the fight.’ With that command given, Twilight called her staff to her and commanded it to morph back into the cloak she had been wearing that morning, only with the modification of blades on several tapered ends of the fabric, the entire piece flowing behind her as if it were alive. With little warning the cloak lashed out against two earth ponies that thought they had the jump on her. They literally leaped with their weapons drawn and ready to strike when inner tapered ends of the cloak flew up, spearing into their chests, deflecting their attacks. As they fell to either side of the filly, their throats were cut by the outer blades of the cloak.

Only three bandits remained standing in the road, the rest having either fled or died to Twilight’s surprises. Golden Blaze stood, having finally recovered from the electrical shock he had received from Twilight’s counter attack.

“That was an impressive spell, ya cast back there. However I’m done play’in around. So ya think you can fight against an experienced mage yes?” He questioned idly. Twilight didn’t respond as a pony screamed off in the distance briefly before the sound of dragon flames overpowers them. Twilight then nodded as the image of a charred corpse appears briefly in her mind. “Then I’ll show ya wot a real mage is capable of!” He yelled his horn sparking slightly before a swath of flame blasts across the intervening distance between Twilight and the bandit leader. Without any warning or time to dodge out of the way, the two remaining earth ponies were engulfed in the inferno that had sprung between the two mages, while Twilight constructed the shield spell she learned from the artifact she had disassembled within the ancient throne room so many years before. A great golden barrier shot up from the ground surrounding her in a protective bubble within the blink of an eye.

After a few seconds the flames died down, revealing a pissed off unicorn and a triangular-shaped destruction zone filled with ashes and burnt bodies surrounding a single unicorn mare, having dropped her barrier just as the flames let up. Twilight returned the favor and condensed several icicles midair, before launching them at her opponent, while summoning the earth to surround Golden’s legs. Golden responded swiftly, summoning a barrier of flame to melt the icicles into water as they pass through before launching the flame wall straight at Twilight. The lavender unicorn summoned an earthen spike in front of her breaking the wall and letting it pass her harmlessly as she broke the impromptu pillar into spikes and launches them at the ground bound unicorn with several spell bolts following right behind them.

Golden screamed in rage and pain as he melted the earth binding his hooves to the ground before leaping to the side, barely dodging the barrage of projectiles that Twilight had launched his way. Another scream rose from out in the distance in response to the unicorn’s before being silenced in the flash and bang of a thunder strike. Recovering off the ground, the unicorn noticed ripples in the ground moving towards his position. With a smile, his horn sparked once more, launching a spear of flame towards the lavender filly, Twilight dodged the superheated projectile, breaking her concentration on the earthen spell. Golden struggled to stay standing, his hooves burnt to a crisp by the molten stone he had escaped from. Twilight stood effortlessly, having suffered no injuries during the fight. The survival instincts she had developed during her time in the Everfree forest were serving her well.

Golden’s rage intensified as he noted the lack of injury on the armor wearing unicorn before him, Twilight barely noticed the minor burns on her side from the fire spear and the twisted ankle she acquired when she landed wrongly from her hastily executed dodge. With his rage boiling and clouding his judgement, the pyromancer summoned the full power of his abilities and casts a storm of fire, launching fireballs arcing into the air towards the lavender filly and summoning pillars of flame from below to surround Twilight’s position in flame, keeping her from dodging out of the way. Twilight focused on the spells summoned and decided the best option is to kill the unicorn as fast as possible. To that end, Twilight stomped a hoof into the ground, and focused all of her attention into the casting. Suddenly a spike of earth impaled Golden Blaze from below, while he was otherwise distracted.

Without the feed of Golden’s magic, the fireballs and pillars lost form and extinguished within milliseconds, only puffs of heat reaching Twilight as the last of the energy dissipated from the flame spells. Another final cry sounded , as the last bandit is blown apart by an electrically charged fireball. Twilight turned away from the carnage caused by her and Golden’s fight and focused on the charred wagon remains. Without thinking about it, Twilight walked over to the burnt vehicle, her hooves crunching on the charred ground, small bits of glassed earth slicing into her hooves leaving small lacerations upon her legs. With a grunt, Twilight summoned a small amount of energy to her horn and blasted a small patch of the charred earth from herself, before sitting upon the grey stone below.

Closing her eyes, Twilight allowed images to flow up from the depths of her thoughts, scenes of bright days traversing green fields. Images of the brown earth pony smiling as he helped her improve on her conversational skills with other ponies, teaching her how to barter for better prices with other shopkeepers to get needed materials for her alchemical projects and solutions. A single tear dripped from her muzzle as she mourned the loss of her companions. The sound of leathery wings announced the arrival of the young Fang, as he landed on the ground next to her. ‘For what it’s worth Twilight, I’ll miss them as well.’ He spoke within her thoughts before laying a wing over her cloaked back.

With a shaky sigh, Twilight felt the energy swirl around her horn as she focused on lifting the two charred bodies from the fire darkened wagon. Pulling the two corpses towards herself, Twilight tried to remember what she knew about pony passing rights. ‘Nagash told me once that they honor the dead, I think he called the place where they were so honored was called a cemetery… He showed me once, I think. He explained it as burying the dead to lay their souls to rest, and sacrificing their bodies to revitalize the earth.’ Looking at the charred and nearly unrecognizable corpses as she laid them on the grass next to the road, she began to question the wisdom of that statement.

Twilight closed her eyes, she works on calming herself , cutting off the magic flow to her horn, ‘in out, in out.’ Twilight continued through the motions, “Alright, Fang. If you would, please wait in that tree. I must do something before we can move on.” The drake nodded and leaped off the ground from next to Twilight, flapping his wings and flying over to catch a nearby limb. Twilight looked up at her companion, a shadow slightly falling over her face for a second, before she turned to look at her newly deceased traveling companions. A breathy sigh escaped her lips before Twilight lifted her hoof and tapped it upon the ground twice. The earth split the same number of times swiftly next to the bodies, forming two oval shaped holes. Activating her magic once more, Twilight lifted the bodies and carefully lowered them into the freshly pressed graves. Releasing her magic from around Cherry Spice and Wild Wind’s bodies, she grasped a pair of rocks and placed them at the heads of their bodies.

With a flash, a slice of wind parted the face of the rocks, leaving smooth stone in place of the rough weather worn faces. After telekinetically shoving the rubble to the side, Twilight shoved the heavy stones slightly deeper into the ground, stabilizing their positions. After focusing a few seconds, Twilight released a self contained beam of energy into the rock faces, and burning into them the images of her former companions cutie marks. With two more stomps, earth flowed back into place covering the bodies. With a sad smile, Twilight stepped back onto the road, walking towards Cherry Spice’s wagon. Twilight walked behind the charred wooden structure, and looks into the back of the vehicle. With little surprise, Twilight finds mostly ash, and a large clump of melted gold in the corner of the wagon.

With a sigh, Twilight walked back around the vehicle and began her trek down the road once more. “Alright Fang, let’s- let’s go.”

Author's Note

The chapter is still undergoing minor edits from my editor's

Reviewed by janushyde without his guidance, this story would only be half as awesome.

Editor's are

Moonshade

and Aeondragon. links will appear when editing is finished

Anyway, these last two months have been kicking me around like an absolute (insert female dog expletive). i couldn't go one day without some random event taking away from my writing time, not to mention I got distracted the third week finishing Bioshock, which is easy to beat on all modes. asd finally pulling out that dusty old story Fallout Equestria to give a read, and I found it quite enjoyable to follow the innocent interactions of little pip as he tried to survive in a post apocalyptic Equestria. Honestly I wish he kept the black book, if only to save twilight before he destroyed the Great and Powerful Trixie, but that's because I'm a Twilight fanatic.

in other news. I will definately have my focus set on working up the next chapter for presentation within the next month, hopefully life won't give me a middle finger and kill my muse. also Expect fur, feathers, and blood in the next chapter.

Cheers. :twilightsmile:

The Avian Bandwagon

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 14: The Avian Bandwagon

(Lumix, Thirty seventh , Nine Hundred and Ninety fifth Celestial Reckoning, Galloping range, Two hours flight from Highreach, one day’s flight from Hard Stone.)

‘Heh so long dweebs, can’t believe those idiots fell for the old document switch, ‘bout damn time I got out of the feathering militia. Now to get this letter delivered to the guard captain at hard stone, and I’m free.’ Gilda thought as she soared over the mountainous terrain along the griffon border of Equestria. Looking below, the young griffon could see massive expanses of green forest covering mountainsides below. Small lines cutting through the forest, revealing the long expansive stretches of road between settlements.

‘Once I’m out of the local perch, the first thing I’m gonna do is search for my featherbrained friend and keep her out of trouble’ The griffon spots a flash of purple as she passes over a more open area of the forest. ‘Hmm…’ Pausing in her flight, the courier satchel wrapped around her midsection, bounces softly at her hips while hovering. Fluttering her wings slightly, she turns herself around and glances in the direction of the clearing she had seen the pony, only to find weeds and field mice. ‘Must’ve been my imagination.’

Turning back around, the young griffon flairs her wings wide, and shoots off like a rocket. Her path leading her along the road, towards the great fortress of Highreach. Weaving and pinwheeling past trees like a speeding bullet, cloud pillars begin to replace tree tops. A finish line is beaconed off in the far off in the distance, a condensation barrier forms just above her head. Flight goggles appear around her eyes along with a familiar uniform worn during her school years with her good pegasus friend.

Suddenly another pegasus in uniform appears next to her, grinning in challenge, Gilda begins pumping her wings for speed. Her body flowing like the wind as she presses herself faster and faster across the cloud field, dodging around cloud pillars and pulling over bars, The pegasus however over takes her, flying just ahead before turning over onto his back and flying backwards and giving her the most horse apple snear she’d ever seen.

Grimacing, Gilda pumps her wings even harder, pushing herself even faster as she tries to catch up with the cocky speedster. ‘Only one pony ever beats Gilda Steelfeather in a race, and she’s not you.’ Gilda rages as she shoots past the cocky pegasus, forcing him to roll back onto his stomach as he tries desperately to get back into the race. Gilda grins as she looks back at the pegasus, seeing him fall far behind. Returning to her rhythm, dodging and weaving amongst the cloud pillars, avoiding the occasional bar of cloud trying to block her path.

Gilda grins widely, feeling the wind flow past her face, and over her feathers. the feeling of flight just helping her move onward past the intense burning of her flight muscles. ‘Nothing can beat this.’ She thinks before a brown sheft, flies through the lower cloud barrier, missing her by inches, as she wheels around it. ‘What the-’ ”Buck!” Suddenly the world around her goes up like smoke, the clouds disappearing in a flash and the feeling of the junior speedster flight suit replaced with that of her heavy leather scout barding.

Another streak of brown bursts through the air, this time stabbing into the armor around Gilda’s shoulder. “Gah.” A beam of blue magic Soars through the air and bounces off a clear shield that forms around her, the crystal around her neck glowing slightly as it deflects another hostile spell. Reaching behind her back, Gilda grasps her weapon of choice, her precious custom job talons, A pair of gauntlet shaped claws, that wrapped around her original talons extending their reach and sharpness.They glowed with a silvery sheen as the enchanted metal took effect, making sure the talons never came off unless she willed them to. Reaching around her back once more, Gilda pulls out her Tribalistæ, A crossbow with three cross pieces, and a trigger for each on the main grip, the bow itself already loaded with exploding tipped bolts.

Smiling wickedly, Gilda flies forward into the target zone of her new opponents, Taking aim at a nearby pony, with a blue coat and green mane. With a simple twitch of her foretalon, the first bolt fly’s from her bow, finding a new home in the ground next to the earth pony’s foreleg. “Shards.” She cursed silently as she passes the pony, wheeling out of the way of several bolts that had been launched in retaliation. Another glowing spell bolt bounces off Gilda’s shield before she can finish passing through the blockade of projectiles. Finally seeing the end of the assault range, the griffon presses her wings for more speed, trying her hardest to escape the attacking bandits below. However as she passes the last unicorn, a shadow passes above her. Before Gilda has even a chance to react, a set of claws rake across the plumage of Gilda’s left wing, luckily only pulling tufts of blumage with them.

“Gah, My wing. Molting eggshells, you molting feather brains are in for it now. I’ll make you wish you had never been hatched!” Gilda screeches as she folds her wings and dives after the griffon that had startled her, not giving any more attention to the opposition on the ground as she gives chase after her feather stealing rival. Wings spread wide, Gilda pulls her crossbow forward, aiming her remaining two loaded shots just ahead of her opponent, and fires the first one, on his first twitch, Gilda aims forward and a bit more to the left pulling the trigger and releasing the third bolt into the air. Her aim unerring in midair, Gilda watches with grim amusement as the first bolt passes harmly as her opponent pinwheels into the seconds path, causing it to strike right in the joint between his left wing and it’s socket.

With a slight nod to herself, she kicks herself into action, and dives even faster towards her stunned opponent, With her steel clad claws outstretched towards her victim, pony crafted projectiles passing both above and underneath her as she approaches the earth below at an alarming rate. At the last second, Gilda reaches the hawk, Swiping her talons forward, Gilda spreads her wings and shoots across the ground at a dizzying speed, for a few seconds before she’s able to pull back up into the air, warm life fluids drip from her claws as she grips the shredded remnants of the other griffons throat. As the world comes back into focus, Gilda finally begins to notice several points of flaring pain along her body, the most painful one being in her wing, taking the form of an arrow that had pierced through the appendage while she was rolling out of her dive. Several other wounds were spread across her body, most of them being grazing injuries. One however turned out to be a piercing bind, with a bolt getting lodged into her right hind leg. “Ugh!” She groans trying to move the limb while climbing away from the ‘ground plodders’ killzone. “Aaaagnh!” Pain flairs suddenly through her other wing as a telekinetically thrown blade pierces through the feathers and skin of the appendage.

“Feathering hornheads! My hawking wings,” ‘I can’t believe they got my hawking wings. Falling! Gotta control my fall.’ Flaring her wings straight out, Gilda tries to control her descent, as she falls down from the air. “Ssssssss...” She hisses as the wind finally catches on her feathers, keeping her aloft even as the gentlest breeze burns her wound like a pair of meat hooks pulling the skin apart. Gilda’s vision begins to fade as the ground rushes towards her, with a final jerk of her wings, she lands… Well more crashes with grace, if even that. Tumbling head over heel over rough gravelly ground, before slamming into a tree and bending her spine slightly around it, what breath remained in her lungs was knocked out by the sudden jolt.

After half a second of stunned shock, Gilda finally manages a great gasp, filling her lungs once more with much needed oxygen. Coughing a bit, Gilda tries to regain her footing, her padded scout armor deflecting a bolt from one of the bandit ponies that managed to finally catch up with her position. Looking up, Gilda sees the earth ponies sillouette against the backdrop of a midday sun.The wounded griffon tries to take a step back and feels her left hind paw brush against the bark of the tree she had just hit, looking into her left claw, she notices that she had dropped her crossbow at some point. ‘Damn, all I have left are throwing knives and three feathering shock runes.’

Crouching low, Gilda barely avoids another bolt aimed straight for her head with only a pause to unlatch another knife from her belt, with a flick of her wrist, the lethal three inches of griffon steel buries itself into the ponies throat just as he finishes reloading his hoof mounted crossbow. He falls over as he attempts to both stem the bleeding from his throat with one hoof while aiming towards Gilda with the other. Gilda pays no more attention to the dying pony as she grasps one of the shock runes from her flight satchel, and whispers the activation word into the rune, before tossing it over the hill where she had been hearing more movement. “Daggertail watch out!” A pony calls out just as the glowing rune crests over the top of the hill and out of Gilda’s sight, followed by a brilliant flash accompanied with a crackling sound.

Exhausted and bleeding, Gilda begins trekking towards the hill she had tossed the rune, intending to finish off whoever had received the brunt of her lightning grenade. Before she can reach the top, the shadow of a pony falls upon her as one of her opponents crests the top of the hill. Not even looking towards the unicorn depicted in the shadow, Gilda flicks another knife at the pony, while coiling her three working limbs for a leap. At the distinct fizzle of an object being deflected by a magical barrier, Gilda springs into action, leaping forward. She nearly closes the distance, falling short by a couple feet, however the unicorn cries out and falls to the ground as Gilda’s amulet reacts by dispelling the shield and shocking the unicorn with it’s residual energie’s. Limping forward Awkwardly, Gilda reaches down and forces her claws through the ponies neck, and pulls out several spinal vertebrae before he can get back up and be a threat again.

At the sound of gravel crunching, Gilda rises and reaches for another of her daggers, while trying to focus on the location of her next target, however before she can even react, she’s struck with something heavy slamming her to the ground, A blue field pulls the great warhammer away. Armor cracked along with her lungs, Gilda struggles as she pushes herself over to the right, barely dodging the second swing of the great melee weapon. Pushing herself to a standing position, Gilda glances upon the now visible opponent. Standing just at the top of the hill is a black coated stallion with pink and yellow highlights running through his lavender mane. He has a cutiemark resembling A trio of rose petals. With a furious snarl he telekinetically lifts the hammer once more pulling it back again for another strike.

However fast he was, Gilda was faster, pulling her foreleg up, Gilda reaches into the pouch containing her throwing knives. ‘only one left?’ Glancing down, Gilda sees a small collection of her knives scattered below, but even as she glances, she goes through the motion and tosses the knife with a flick of her wrist. The gravel shifts underneath her, and she over corrects, missing the throat by inches, however instead she hears a cry from above, as the pony collapses onto the ground his hammer landing on top of him and pinning him to the soil below. The severed length of his horn bounces down the hill along side the knife gilda had thrown, The stallion looks up in fear as Gilda approaches his prone form, grasping one of her scattered knives along the way.

Lifting the knife into the air, she hesitates for a second, listening for any other nearby noises as the stallion below her begins whimpering, apologizing below her while begging her to spare him. Hearing nothing, Gilda stabs the knife down hard into the base of his skull. The three and a half inch blade piercing all the way through his neck, silencing him for good. Gilda, seeing the coast is clear, steps over the stallion’s body and reaches for the top of the hill. Just as her eyes peek over the top of the hill, she ducks back down narrowly dodging several bolts aimed towards the ridge. ‘Buck, Out of… knives, Two lightning runes left… Tired, Exhausted… Can’t take much more...’ Wearily lifting one paw off the ground, Gilda reaches into her other pocket, and pulls out both of her lightning charged runes.

Suddenly a dizzy spell surges through her body, causing her to lose balance and fall onto her side, Gilda grasps onto the runes as tightly as she can, assuring that she wouldn’t drop them. After several seconds, the world rights itself around her, and she rolls back onto her stomach, Acting swiftly, Gilda whispers the activation word onto both of the runic tablets. With another breath, Gilda steels herself, with a small grunt of pain, Gilda tosses the glowing runes over the top of the hill. A split second later, several voices barely begin to call out before two flashes and a wall of electrical energy washes over the top of the hill.

Gilda lays there, her vision fading as the last bit of adrenalin finally runs its course through her bloodstream. Voices, shouts from a distance yet close call her attention, yet she cannot answer, due to the sheer exhaustion her body is feeling. Her life blood running down the hill below her mixing with that of the ponies she had slain. Her last scraps of sight are of an orange earth pony reaching the top of the hill and aiming his crossbow straight at her, a flash of purple light and the darkness of sleep finally takes her.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

Darkness, a shadow plays on the edge of her vision, even as the world around her remains perfectly pitch black. No source of light to speak of glows in the distance to shine her way, yet she can still see things, nascent shadows within the dark. Time passes with neither beginning or end, the lack of stimulus would drive most creatures insane, yet the single watcher remains unmoved by the lack of true sensory feedback. Her exhaustion expanding even into her mind as her consciousness assembles itself within the dark. After a time a light appears within the darkness, as Gilda’s thoughts finally coalesce into one entity.

With thought finally returned, the realm of dreams finally begins to take shape. fuzzy at first, they take a defined sharp tone as the young griffoness enters into a small pony home. “Hay Rainbow Dash, I’m back dweeb. I even brought your favorite flight suit and goggles.”

“Gilda?” The rainbow maned pegasus responds incredulously as she turns around from her current project and faces the door. “It’s you, I thought I’d never see ya again chickie.”
Rainbow Dash launches herself at Gilda like a bullet arms outstretched for a hug, only to slam face first into the griffon's claw.

Gilda looks upon her friend sadly. “Sorry Dash, maybe in the real world.” As Gilda says this, the dream world explodes into mist and fades away, back into the endless void she had been formed in. however not much later, another shaft of light pierces the darkness as consciousness begins to take her once more into its embrace.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

Exhaustedly, Gilda opens her eyes, The blurry world around her somewhat coming into focus yet stubbornly remains vague and occluded. Grunting a bit, Gilda attempts to stand, however before she can even fully lift herself to a sitting position, a dizzy spell overcomes her and she collapses back down.

“I wouldn’t recommend trying again, you’ve lost a lot of blood, and it will take at least a week to replenish enough to sustain your active body, not to mention the strain of flying. I’ve managed to mend your bones back into place with one of my potions, however your muscles need some time to mend properly.” A voice says from the side, a purple hoof appears into Gilda’s peripheral view, and presses down upon her chest. “You should rest for a few more hours, if you push yourself too soon you might end up injuring yourself permanently.” A lavender glowing flask with a bluish white substance within, lowers to her lips. “Here, drink this, it should help replenish your blood.” A suddenly dry throat finalizes Gilda’s decision, with a small movement, she latches her beak over the lip of the lowered flask and drinks greedily of the contents therein.

“Glurk” Suddenly the griffon begins sputtering spilling the azalia flavored concoction over her chest and upon the ground beneath her. “Muffkrrgle” ‘What the feather is that stuff!’ she try’s to say, mumbling. A few strands of the Gooey liquid dripping off the side of her beak. ‘What sort of potion was that, I can barely stand drinking health potions as it is. What kind of fucking healer is this?’ She angrily mulls over in silence for a few moments before the voice returns.

With a resigned sigh, Twilight begins once more. “Now I know the restorative potion doesn’t have the best of tastes, however that is not the point. You need the medicine to heal your wounds and mend your body. Even if the herbal potions I’ve been providing are different from the one you get from your own guard captains.” A second white bottle appears within gilda’s view once more. “It’s a bit easier to drink the potion when you just swallow without trying to taste it.” The glass carefully places itself against Gilda’s beak once more. Opening her mouth as wide as she can, Gilda covers the lip of the flask with as much of it as she can, trying to push the beaker past her tongue before drinking down the liquid as fast as possible. After three gulps the bottle finishes emptying itself down her throat.

The empty beaker pulls itself from Gilda, as the purple blob comes back into view and speaks lightly. “Now rest, you’ll need it for tomorrow.”

‘Wait wha...’ the light dims and everything goes dark, underneath a purple field. Gilda falls to sleep before she can even finish the thought.

~~-----{♋§[L]☪[E]☯[C]☀[N]§♋}-----~~

The first thing Gilda notices as she wakes up is the uncomfortable jerking and bouncing of the floor below her along with the somewhat loud sound of wooden wheels rolling over hard gravelly ground. ‘Where am I?’ is her first thought while lying on her side, as feeling begins to return to her extremities. ‘Ow’ “Ssssssssss-hhhhh” She hisses as the pain of her wounds finally hits her, the jerking of the wagon suddenly stops as her near cry of pain makes itself known.

The bell like tone of magic activating announces the presence of a unicorn much to Gilda’s dismay. ‘Great I’ve just been captured, how dishonorable can this get? they even took my armor, gah this hurts, wait, why am I untied?’ Rasping sounds from the front of the wagon can be heard as the pony that was pulling it is unstrapped, after several moments of silence the board closing the bed of the wagon lowers itself in a magenta field of magic. Revealing a young lavender unicorn mare with a somewhat maintained straight cut mane her chin barely cresting over the wagons lowered gate.

The young inquisitive unicorn, leaps onto the back of the wagon, the structure creaking slightly from the added weight, the pony then walks calmly over to Gilda and begins to look over her bandages, after a few seconds, she finally looks into Gilda’s golden eagle eyes. “Good, you’re finally awake, I apologize for the pain, I ran out of saffron a day ago, and I didn’t have any fellis juice to help you sleep.” the pony’s smile was belied by the pained look in her eyes.

Gilda stares at Twilight with a deadpan gaze, her beak not twitching an inch. “And just who the flying feather are you?” ‘Gah this hurts.’ “besides what are you a healer pony of some kind with the equestrian military?” ‘No uniform, but she could be off duty, really what are the chances? I hope she’s not civilian. That would just.... No, not even going to go there.’

“I’m, sorry?.” Twilight responded with genuine surprise, her eyes widening. Facehoofing, the lavender pony begins to respond. “I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Glimmering Wisp. I’m a traveling alchemist, I’m glad I made it in time, those bandits almost had you.” Twilight smiles with a somewhat more sincere joy in her complexion.

Gilda groans, slamming the back of her head into the bed of the wagon, and instantly regretting it as a headache begins to set in just beneath her right temple. ‘I hope she’s not… Only one way to find out Gilda you old chic.’ Looking back up at Twilight, Gilda gives the purple mare a serious look over before sighing and asking the question bugging her from the depths of her mind. “Please tell me, do we atleast have some local guards or at least a pony ranger near by.” The confused look Twilight returns to Gilda’s question confirms the griffons worst fears. Slamming her head back down the griffon just groans even louder than before.

A worried look of concern colors Twilight’s features as she looks at the griffons strange actions. “Um, miss… Miss, I’m sorry but, what’s wrong?”

Gilda looks up at the young unicorn above her, Lifting her working left foreleg to her head and rubbing her temple soothingly a few seconds before she responds. “What’s wrong? What’s WRONG! What's wrong is the fact that I, Gilda Steelfeather of the Iron claw clan am now bound by oath to surrender a life pact to a pony. You specifically for being the one to save me in a dire situation.” Gilda gives Twilight a look that could cut straight through glass cleanly. “I was trying to climb out of the Talon wings with an honorable discharge, but not like this.” With another frustrated grunt, Gilda slams her working hand into the side of the wagon she had been laying in.

Ears splayed back, Twilight asks. “Is there any way I can avoid taking your life?”

Gilda gives twilight an incredulous glance before slamming her unbandaged arm against her forehead and releasing a slightly forced laugh. “Oh come on, if it were possible I’d be doing my damndest to trick you into releasing my sorry flank.”

Head tilting to the side and frowning a little Twilight allows another question to come to her lips. “Why not?”

“My oath to the Talon hierarchy binds me to our code both magically and spiritually. Should a warrior be defeated in battle yet not die, they are to surrender their lives to their foes, being captured by the enemy means you are their play thing until they're done with you, if saved by fellow warriors from either allied forces or your own company doesn’t count. If you are saved by a civilian, then you are to either surrender your life to them, Should the warrior not surrender their lives to the civilian that had saved them, then they are marked and banished unable to return to their home lands lest they be slain on sight.” Grimacing Gilda continues. “There are of course several other situations with similar consequences.”

Twilight gives Gilda a blank stare in response. “Umm… I’d probably understand you better if I knew these words. What is a Civilian exactly also could you explain what you mean by code?” The young filly asks, her brows furrowing in annoyance.

“Wait, seriously? Don’t they teach this kinda stuff in school?” Twilight has the grace to blush slightly in embarrassment at her apparent lack of academic accomplishment. One look is all that Gilda needs to read the thoughts Twilight’s face. “Really, you never went to school?” Gilda asks in shock.

Twilight nods half heartedly, rubbing her leg with a hoof. “I never did make it past my fourth year.”

“Ughh.” Gilda groans dramatically again before pinning Twilight in place with a piercing glare. “Alright but I’m only explaining these once. The Talon code for a trained griffon warrior is keeping ourselves above the regular populous in both skills and morals, and a Civilian is an average creature that would be considered a non combatant, or in most cases non military.”

Twilight frowns slightly her eyes going dark for a second as she mulls over the new information. ‘Military? Hmm that could mean anything, though I think it means something along the design of an organization… Maybe one to protect others from violent gangs such as the one that was about to kill this griffon.’ Looking up at Gilda once more with a small nod Twilight asks her next question. “Would the guard be similar to a Military?”

Gilda rubs her beak with her working foreclaw. “You know what yea lets go with that, anyway they both represent an order of peacekeepers with the official authority to protect and serve the greater needs of the nation or public.” With her arm back down, Gilda glares straight into Twilight’s eyes. “Either way, you are not in an official capacity or a representative of the armed forces of either Equestria or the griffon Aviary States. and as such you are defined as a civilian, and by the magic that binds our oaths, it is demanded of me to surrender my life to you, because I have failed in my duty as a warrior to withstand all foes in the protection of both myself and any civilian nearby.” ‘Ugh I can’t believe how lame that sounded, I mean seriously they had to include a binding on our memories so we remember our oath, Ughh if I could just find the leader of those bandits, I’d break his neck before skinning him and leaving his coat out to dry, while eating his fucking meat.’

Twilight’s horn glows slightly as she feels for the spell held within gilda’s mind, Twilight studies it calmly with a critical eye and finds a few interesting paths in the magical makeup of the spell before releasing the latent spells and cutting off the magical flow through her horn, and begins muttering to herself. “Interesting, I’ve heard that they existed and even read about them, but I’ve never seen an active geas before. So you swore unto a geas upon entering the griffon military?” Twilight says after a few moments of silence.

Gilda simply nods in response.

Her smile widening by the second, Twilight begins to bombard Gilda with Questions. “ Oh, Oh. How was the geas cast? How long has it been active? How does it feel when the geas take control and force you to follow its guidelines? How can you tell when it’s you thats speaking or the geas? What kind of magic was used in it’s casting. What can you tell me...”

As the questions kept coming Gilda felt her rage begin to build, rising at a massive rate until. “SILENCE!” She roars, her feathers bristling while Twilight closes her mouth in the middle of her next question cowed into silence.

“Um sorry. I just really... Like learning new things.” Twilight sheepishly starts again.

Gilda gives up and just leaves her foreleg over her beak, letting out a loud groan. “Ughh, of all my luck, and I get stuck with a bucking book worm.” Suddenly something clicks and Gilda zeroes her focus on Twilight. “Wait a minute,” the young griffoness exclaims pointing a finger at Twilight. “if you didn’t go to school How do you know how to make potions, and for that matter, how do you know enough about medicine to bandage my wounds instead of just washing them out? It just doesn’t add up.”

Twilight raises an eyebrow in response. ‘Really?’ “I trained under a zebra shaman for several years, I was lost in the woods when she found me, I really don’t remember much from before I woke up in the forest.”

Gilda winces slightly, feeling a headache coming on. “So, if you’re a shaman’s apprentice then what are you doing out here and not with her?” The griffon asks reasonably.

Twilight reverts to her usual smile before answering. “I actually graduated from apprentice to journeyer, Now I’m traveling the world and learning what I can before I return to seek out the final test to become a master under her tutelage.” Suddenly the magic surrounding the wagon cuts off as Twilight loses focus while reminiscing over her time with Zecora. With an eep, Twilight is launched off the back of the wagon and flies over Gilda’s head, landing and rolling on the road for a few seconds. Finally having stopped, Twilight stands back up and rushes back over to the wagon and the muffled grunts of it’s griffon occupant. “Are you Okay?” Twilight asks as she ceases her rush and stands above the injured griffon.

“I’ve had worse. Besides what was that for?” Gilda responds sourly.

“Sorry, I kinda got distracted.”

“Ughh, how the heck did you even get this far with such a low attention span?” Gilda screeches flailing her working limb wildly in Twilights direction. “No, don’t answer that! I already have enough of a headache as it is.” Suddenly the wagon jolts as another body perches itself on the back. “What the,” Turning around Gilda looks into the vivid green eyes of a mottled brown scaled drake. with only a seconds realization, “SHIT!” Gilda screeches again as she tries to push herself from the creature.

As Gilda struggles to get away from her perceived threat, messing up her bandages in the process, Twilight scowls at the drake barely standing on the back of the wagon as it chortles at the griffons frantic struggling. Twilight sends several graphic images over her link and watches as the drake stops laughing and starts squirming before flapping his wings and zips away from the scene. ‘You and I will have words later young drake. and there will be no playing around tonight either.’ She sends as well, with a straight face her temper blunted slightly by her need to calm the griffon shivering like a leaf in Fall. Reaching over the side of the wagon, Twilight rubs a hoof along the back of Gilda’s neck and coos softly, “Sorry about that, Fang tends to be jealous of anyone that travels with me.”

Gilda glares at Twilight and opens her big fat beak. “You travel with a shell damned DRAGON! Are you insane?!”

As Gilda regains her breath, Twilight only raises an eyebrow at the griffon’s vehemence. “First, Gilda. Fang is a drake, not a dragon. Second,” Sharp glint appears, cutting through through Twilight’s eyes. “Don’t you dare attempt to injure my son, or I will show you no mercy.” To strengthen the statement, Twilight summons her magic and straightens out the bandages roughly, forcing a muffled screech from the griffon. “Understand?” Twilight smiles as Gilda squeaks a small yes.

Turning around with a small huff, Twilight telekinetically lifts the front of the wagon till it levels with the back, then begins strapping it to herself in silence. After double checking that the straps are properly tied and tightened, Twilight begins traveling down the road.

Her head resting on the side of the wagon, Gilda watches as Twilight silently pulls the wagon, the only strong noise coming from the rumbling wheels of the wagon. A sympathetic grinding of the gears in gildas head causes thoughts to begin pestering her, one at the top of the list being ‘How can a pony with hooves move so quietly over the gravel covering this road, especially with my weight and the wagons added to her own?’ Lazily Gilda looks down at the pony’s legs, expecting to see bare hooves Gilda is surprised to see small leather shoes covering her legs almost half the way up. With this baffling surprise, Gilda begins to look closer at her new companion and finds many new interesting discoveries, such as a network of scars covering the lavender ponies back just under the skin, with the near perfect vision of an eagle she is also able to note the perfect polishing of the lavender pony’s horn, not as a sign of vanity but as most trained griffons have learned, a perfectly polished horn is only representative of either a princess, or an archmage strength unicorn. ‘The elder was right, these ponies are crazy, shells this unicorn probably slaughtered those bandits that almost killed me damn it, the geas still demands that I surrender to her, even if she is strong enough to take down a wing of our best, she’s still a civilian.’

The wagon bounces over a rough patch causing gilda to blink once then roll off the side and back into the bed of the wagon, taking care not to aggravate her injuries in the process. ‘Damn that horn was terrifying, what did my old teacher in magic tell me? Oh right, “Only a unicorn that uses massive amounts of magic on a daily basis can have a horn that smooth.“ I think if I remember correctly the magic burns the horn clean… I really wonder? Would it be so bad to be bound to a pony like this? I mean atleast she can hold her own in a fight if what I saw of her wounds said anything about her prowess. That’s not even talking about physical strength, I don’t even think our strongest would be able to walk this quietly with as much weight as wagon and myself put together, not to mention whatever is in those saddlebags of hers.’ Quietly, Gilda mutters. “Who is this pony.”

Twilight’s ear twitches as the utterance is spoken. Several minutes later the silence is broken as well as Gilda’s reverie by Twilight’s spoken words. “If you wish to know, I am actually a bit more trained than your average alchemist, I was taught by a Zebra shamaness, Unlike your average potion brewer, she taught me the ways of how to harness the powers of all the magic around me instead of just the plants I brew, such as concentrating the fire around us into light without the use of my horn.” As demonstration, a soft blue glow of light coalesces before Gilda’s eyes without even a flicker from Twilight’s horn.

“What the? bu-How!?” ‘I’ve never seen a unicorn use this type of magic before. Maybe the Runemasters in the sisterhood of the sun, but definitely not a unicorn.’ Gildas jaw hung open at the blatant defiance of some of the fundamentals of pony magic she had learned from a young age. Taking a calming breath the griffon starts again. ”How did you learn such magic? I thought only Griffoness runemasters could summon spells without alicorn foci?”

Walking down the road holding a smile filled with her familiarity at the subject Twilight answers. “Actually Casting without a horn is possible for all creatures since each one has magic at it’s core, however to harness this magic more effectively, A group of ponies called unicorns developed horns as a form of protection from the dangers of the natural world. I learned how to cast magic through my body rather than just my horn from my mentor, she taught it to me as a way of helping me control my magic more carefully.”

Gilda stares blankly at the glowing light for a few seconds as the wheels of the cart grind softly along the ground, she jolts again as another piece of information clicks into place. “Wait, since when do zebra shamen teach ponies their sacred arts.”

Before the griffon could spend another second panicking Twilight responds. “They don’t, I’m technically not a pony anymore, I may have been born as one, but after I had gotten lost in the everfree forest I came across a group of timberwolves who had destroyed my natural magic, in most cases that would kill a normal pony, however I had just awoken from a strange and powerful magical event or so my mentor told me, as a result I had lost all sense of direction and was lost until I came across a clearing and stumbled across my mentor’s home. ” A nostalgic smile spreads across Twilights face. “She took me in and took care of me, after a few days my memory still hadn’t returned and I didn’t remember enough to know whether I would be able to find them or not, so I stayed and eventually become her apprentice.”

“If you’re her apprentice then why are you out here?” The griffon asks stumped.

“Don’t you remember what I said before? I graduated from apprentice status and am now a journeyer learning from the world until I learn enough to return for my final mastery test.”

Gilda slaps a paw to her face as she remembers the little bit from earlier. “Fine but if you're a journeyer then why are you on the outskirts of Equestria? The border regions are dangerous!”

Twilight raises an eyebrow at the last statement. “Dangerous?”

“Yes.”

Twilight releases a small gust of air from her lungs before speaking again. “I honestly haven’t noticed a difference. The world out here is actually a bit safer than the forest I trained with my mentor in.” Twilight pads along the road silently her eyes drifting from various points of interest, including several hiding spots that could have easily hid an ambush if her sharp hearing hadn’t told her differently.

“Wait, how could out here be any safer than any of the nearby forests, I mean it’s not like you could run across a dragon at random that’ll tear you limb from limb?” Gilda scowls her disbelief shown clearly on her face.

Twilight lets a small mischievous smile show on her face. “Actually, The forest my mentor lived in is called the everfree forest, unlike these tamed woods out here, the everfree at least the deeper parts contain some really nasty surprises for the unweary. One of which is a potent potion ingredient known as the vampire rose. It’s nearly impossible to tell it from it’s crimson cousin, it has the capability of binding it’s prey in thorny roots then sinking several needle thin protrusions that stick out of it’s bud into the victim before draining the poor creature of it’s blood in a matter of minutes. The poison secreted by it’s thorns ensures that the ensnared creature is paralyzed throughout the process, if the prey ingested enough of the toxin to be incapacitated that is.”

“Yea right, as if.” Gilda grunts skeptically.Out the side of Gilda’s vision is filled with magenta light as the right flap of Twilight’s saddlebags flip open, A second later a red rose bud floats out in the same magenta field and stops before Gilda’s face. Gilda looks at the regular seeming flower before asking. “The buck is this supposed to be?”

“Take a look at the yellow strings and follow them to the base.”

Deciding to humor the pony, Gilda follows Twilights instructions and finds several stiff green rods hidden within the mess of yellow pollen strings. Squinting her eyes, she reaches forward with one of her claws to touch one of the stiff barbs. “Huh, what are - YEOWCH!” Yanking her arm back she barely hears Twilights snickering laughter over the immense pounding in her head. “The ‘BUCK’ was that?” Looking at her withdrawn hand, Gilda notes a small stream of blood flowing down the side of her forefinger.

“Hehe i’m sorry, I should have warned you, the flower bud is still alive and would have drained you if you had let your hand linger within it’s petals reach.” A second thought comes across Twilight and she asks. “Oh, how’s the puncture? I can’t see it from my angle.”

“You spot shelled flightless chick, that bucking hurt, the heck are you worrying about a stupid cut that’s still bleeding!” Gilda says with as much indignation as Cherry Spice when he couldn’t find a good deal on trading goods.

Twilight’s ears perk up. “Still bleeding you said?”

Gilda folds her arm against her chest and looks away from the pony snorting childishly.

“Good, means I don’t have to administer any anti toxin. The cut should stop bleeding in a minute or two. Just try to relax.” Twilight says her trot not changing pace once throughout the entire conversation, even as she lights her horn and places the flower back into her bags.

Deciding to listen to Twilight’s advice, Gilda lays back and lets herself rest.“Tch, fine but were not done talking there’s still stuff I need to know before I’ll fully trust you.” Even with the occasional bump aggravating her injuries she’s able to get into a semi comfortable position while she looks out into the scenery around them.

Twilight nods silently out of Gilda’s sight. “I can understand, now get some rest, I’ll wake you when we reach the campsite.”

Looking over the Campsite with a critical eye she finds everything in order from the small camouflaged tent, to the low light stone pit bonfire, to the circle of dense trees and shrubbery. A small rocky carn at the edge of the camp denotes the hidden entrance behind it, stepping forward, The tan coated pegasus with a general compas cutiemark grasps her pith helmet in her mouth and flips it back onto her head with a single flick. Helmet back on, the pony walks past the fire and into the small one pony shelter.

Releasing a small sigh the young pony shivers slightly as a chill wind blows across her fur despite the insulative trappings of the tent. laying down, the pegasus pulls the covers over her shivering form, the cheerful crackling of the fire out side keeping her company for the night, as well as the slight creaking sound of a nearby wagon passing by as she slowly drifts off.

‘Wait, what!?’ Instantly the adventurous pony leaps to her hooves, eyes wide and fully awake, before she darts out of the tent and past the bonfire. Reaching the carn at the edge of the small clearing, she stops. Crouching down low, she begins to creep forward in the direction of the oncoming wagon, looking carefully into the darkness in hopes of spotting the object.

After several minutes a dark shape crests over the edge of the hill in the distance following the path of the road, the rolling wagon being a few hundred meters distant, normal pony’s wouldn’t notice the slight rumbling in the ground or the distant creaking sound of wood scraping against stone or metal in protest to it’s motion, however several years hunting ancient treasures in long forgotten tombs in ancient pony nations had honed her hearing and responses to both nearby threats of fellow artifact hunters or traps hidden within the ancient buildings or tombs. The pegasus sits in place, watching the pony in the distance, her eyes locked upon both the cloak upon the pony’s back and the slight bulge denoting both saddlebags and the yolk strapping the wagon to the small pony’s midsection. Looking from her slightly high vantage point, the pegasus even sees the form of a gryphon laying in the back of the wagon.

“Who could be traveling this late at night?” She asks herself in a low voice, the light of the moon could clearly be seen just over the eastern horizon. ‘At least they won’t find this campsite, being a hundred meters off the road, a bit inconvenient, but definitely safer than the alternative. How the buck did Ahuizotl find me at the temple of Amun? There’s no way it could have been coincidence.’ After several moments, the pegasus watches the distant cart and its puller as it’s about to pass by, a few seconds it reaches the passing point when suddenly the pony pulling the cart, a unicorn as the pegasus could tell with the small and pointed appendage sticking out of it’s forehead, turned to the side and started walking off the road straight towards the pegasus.

‘The buck? Did she see me, how?’ Not taking a chance she turns around and the young pegasus darts back to her campsite as silently and fast as she could, leaping over the fire, she stretches her wings and flaps them once clearing the low flames and reaching the tent within a few seconds. Landing with a small clop, she enters the small structure and begins rooting through the blankets she had been preparing to sleep in only minutes before, after a few seconds she finds what she was looking for, an old moss coated bronze key. Grasping the key tightly under one wing, the pegasus exits the small tent and ventures over to the small carn at the entrance of the camp and placing the small object inside the collection of small rocks and pebbles and putting them back in place, that done, she walks back to the fire then away once more over to one of the nearby trees, she kicks up some dirt and generally disturbs the roots before tamping the ground back down leaving it as a sign that she had hid something there. She does this for several minutes to various objects surrounding the campsite including the fire pit itself tossing a few spare pieces of parchment into the fire and pulling small pieces of them out partially burned.

Thoroughly tired and feeling somewhat accomplished the pith helmeted pegasus collapses next to the fire pit waiting as the wagon closes in on her campsite. Not even a minute later, the wagon stop, from just the sound, the adventurer could tell that it was just outside the entrance. Small muttering could be heard, along with a small thud and curse, considering how gruff the voice sounded the pegasus decided that the other voice must’ve been the griffons. The ruffling of leaves a second later notes their approach. The first thing the adventurer sees is a female griffon shuffling through the bushes, barely standing on three legs, with one forelimb bandaged snugly to her chest, the second to come through is the unicorn, the small bit of muzzle that peeks from under the cloaks veil, shows lavender fur, however the razor sharp horn peaking from the top of the cloak sets the adventurer even more on edge. ‘Shit what sort of archmage visits out this far into the wilds, I smell a trap or my names not Daring Do?’ Something that also sets the adventurer ill at ease is the feeling of more than two pairs of eyes staring into the clearing. Daring raises her head as if surprised as the two travelers enter the clearing. “Huh? Oh, hello. I didn’t see you there.”

The lavender pony returns Daring’s smile with a simple nod, before turning to the griffon and asking, “Is this campsite taken, or is there room for two more, my patient here ran afoul of some nasty bandits and needs a good place to rest.” The lavender pony turns to face Daring, her eyes pierce from underneath the cowls shadow staring straight into the pegasus adventurer’s soul.

‘Shit, I haven’t seen eyes like those since I had to steal the jade mirror from that one elder dragon.’ Shivering a little from the memory but keeping her cool as best she could, she answers the unicorns question. “Maybe, however before I share my camp with strangers I need to know a few things. My name is Alune Keeneye Yearling, what is yours?”

“Wait, yearling?” the griffon squints her eyes to get a better look at Daring, “Wait a minute you’re that archeologist from a few years ago, Daring was it?”

Daring places a forehoof on her head, feeling a headache coming on. “Fine. Cat’s out of the bag, I’m actually Daring Do the adventurer, I should have guessed I couldn’t use my pen name around a talon trained griffon. That still doesn’t explain why a Talon wing scout is traveling with a Canterlot archmage. Also how did bandits manage to wound a Talon so bad?”

The wounded talon sits down next to the fire and opens her mouth preparing to speak when the cloaked unicorn interrupts. “Gilda go and rest, those wound will never heal if you keep moving around like this. I’ll take care of Miss Doo’s questions.”

“But-”

“You will do as ordered, or I will not give you anymore pain relieving potions.” The lavender filly says warningly, giving Gilda a hard stare. After a few seconds the griffon backs down and lays on her uninjured stomach, laying her head on her good forepaw and looking dully into the fire.

Returning her gaze to Daring, the unicorn notices the surprise on the ponies face. “Something wrong?”

Jerking back to reality Daring Do quickly answers. “Huh, oh no. Nothing wrong, it’s just, I’ve never seen anypony ever talk to a talon like that, I’m mostly impressed that you’re able to intimidate one, a scout at that. By the way, I didn’t catch your name, would you mind telling me?”

A small lavender pulse of light intermittently bursts from the unicorns horn, flipping the hood from around her head and revealing a young lavender unicorn mare, with a straight cut violet mane with a two tone pink stripe running through it, the winning smile revealed completely negates the effect of the unicorns predatory gaze. “Sure, my name is Glimmering Wisp. My companion here,” She says waving a hoof in Gilda’s direction. “is Gilda. I’m a journeyer alchemist, by trade, and my companion resting by the fire was formerly a talon, however extraneous circumstances have caused her to form a more... Permanent contract as my bodyguard. For now however, I am tending to her wounds until she is in a condition to fulfill her tasks as a guard.” Gilda ignores the words, neither confirming or denying them, only to be seen staring deeply into the fire when Daring takes a quick peek in the wounded griffons direction.

“Fine, just one more question, then. Have you ever heard the name Ahuizotl?” Daring asks seriously, scrutinizing Twilight’s reaction as closely as she can, watching for any sign that the pony before her was lying.

Raising an eyebrow Twilight tilts her head to the side questioningly. “Who is Ahuizotl? Sounds like some sort of paleoponian creature.”

As if a great weight were lifted, Daring lays down comfortably on her stomach, a mental sigh runs through her body before she speaks again. “He’s actually the only one of his kind that I know of in existence, he has blue fur, and looks kinda like a diamond dog, except he has an elongated jaw and a monkey like tail with a hand on the end. He-“

Eyes widening, Twilight quickly interrupts. “Actually I think I did see him, a few days ago at least. He ran off after I finished off the last bandit that was attempting to kill Gilda here, he must’ve hired them to take out Gilda though I can’t really understand why?” Twilight rubs her chin thought.

Daring responds almost instantly, “You said she was almost knocked out?” Twilight nods. “Then I know exactly why he did it, since he’s technically a civilian and not an enemy of the state or any of the Talon brigade’s clientele he could engineer the situation to where he could bind your griffon friend to him via the life oath, He know’s the Talon codex from top to bottom, and can take advantage of the binding oath. Your friend is very lucky you came along and saved her from such a fate. A life oath would allow him to use her as a scapegoat during a ritual.” They both look over at the injured griffon who was now ressing at the edge of the flame, eyes closed her breathing slow and steady. Seeing that the griffon was asleep, Daring turns back to twilight only to find her still looking at the griffon, an unreadable look being held upon her face before she releases a sigh and returns to the conversation at hoof.

“Do you happen to know of a flower called the Anasgiah?” Daring shakes her head negatively. “It is an ancient flower with magnificent healing properties, first found by the Nipponese before they became a nation, It actually thrives amongst the ancient cherry blossom trees, of their homeland. Of all it’s healing properties, its most powerful is the fact that for ten minutes when ingested, it can preserve the life of a single creature even when their body has passed beyond the point of death, the flower can extend the time a healer can use in order to heal the body to a point where the patient can start healing on his or her own unaided. When I had left on my journey, my mentor gave me her last one as a gift for the journey. When I found Gilda, she was already past that point, I regret that my skills in the healing arts aren’t as well trained as I had hoped however the flower was more than enough to help me make up for my incompetence.”

Daring looks between Gilda and Twilight a few times before settling on Twilight with a confused look, “Wait a minute, really!? First, did you know about the blood oath of the Talon brigade?” Her eyes narrow in suspicion.

“Not until Gilda told me, it was after she had awoken earlier today that I learned about that. Apparently she is bound to me by oath and life bond because I was a Civilian that saved her from a situation she should have been able to take care of herself.”

“Good, cause I would have sent you away if you had taken advantage of your charge.” Daring growls softly, before turning around and heading towards her tent. “You can stay and get some rest, just don’t interrupt me while I sleep.”

As Daring reaches the tent’s entrance, she notices a slight glow to her right, turning to investigate she finds the key she had spent so much energy trying to hid earlier, floating right before her eyes in a soft lavender glow. “I assume you ‘accidentally’ misplaced this, I wouldn’t leave my keys lying around, if I were you. You don’t know who could find them.” All Daring could do or say in response was twitch her eye erratically, and just stumble out a few half formed words, before just biting the key out of the unicorns magical grip and storming into her tent for the night.

Outside, Twilight lights her horn, pulling forth her sleeping mat and laying it flat along side the fire opposite of Gilda’s sleeping form, with a small smile, Twilight lays herself down comfortably upon the mat and rests her eyes for a bit. ‘I’ll write the journal entry in the morning. Fang?’ Several images come forth a small vision from another perspective invades her thoughts without resistance, of watching herself from above. ‘Coming to bed, little one?’

In answer a small gust of wind buffets Twilight’s mane as a scaled creature barely half her size settles down next to her, after a few moments their breathing becomes steady and their heart beats slow as they fall asleep.

Several minutes later small sniffling could be heard as Gilda shivers in the cold dark of Night. ‘How the buck did I get caught up in this stupid mess.’

Author's Note

This chapter wouldn't have been possible without the help of my great friend and prereader, janushyde.

Moon Shade A good editor if you need a quick fix, anyway I finished the chapter on Newyears day then said F*ck because I realized I still needed to wait on my editor and prereader to help my get it ready for presentation. Anyway 4 days past my scheduled release it's here, I hope you folks like it.

Also Griffon warriors are terrifying.

Identifying the Miscellaneous

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Identifying the Miscellaneous

(Lumix, Thirty eighth, Nine Hundred and Ninety fifth Celestial Reckoning, Galloping range, Camp Hippogriff.)

The sunlight of a new dawn, filtered through the cloth fabric of the neutral colored tent, keeping the contents within closed to the elements. Small motes of the shining light drop through the canvas and landed on the young tan mare resting within the precarious shelter. As the sun rises, one such beam even manages to pierce straight into her eyes, causing a peculiar reaction. “Ugnh Wha… Aww, horse apples. How long was I out last night?” Rising to a sitting position, the tan pegasus quickly examines her form and surroundings. Upon spotting an old key laying upon her lower legs the pegasus visibly relaxes, a small feeling of euphoria overcomes her at the heartening revelation that the object she had been guarding for several weeks now hadn’t been taken while she slept. “Well thats a load off my...” Suddenly she sniffs, ‘Smoke!!! What could be burning at this time?’ Quickly grabbing the key, she shoves the rusted sapphire encrusted device into her nearby saddle bags, before lashing them onto her back and rushing out of the tent into the daylight.

The sight that greeted her was one of both awkwardness and hilarity. In her blind panic, the sight of an imposing griffon being pinned to the ground by a small (even by unicorn standards) pony, forces her mind to pause for a few moments as she attempted to make sense of the scene before her.

“Gneuu! Stupid pony, get OFF!” Screams the tawny griffon as she struggles underneath her pony captor, a wing flaring out as the other is trapped to her side under a bandage, she even attempts a few bites at the pony on her back, only to receive a sharp kick to the beak for her troubles.

“If you will stop struggling, I will be done soon, However if you continue, then I will be forced to take more drastic measures to ensure you do not injure yourself.” The lavender colored unicorn smacks her hoof across the griffon’s beak as emphasis to her point. After a second or two the griffon stops fighting the young unicorn’s restrains, and just lets the pony do as she wishes.

Shaking her head, the young adventurer finally feels some modicum of connection between her thoughts and voice, “Ah-buwAA!!? Bu-but how?” ‘Not even I can tackle a fully grown griffon! Let alone a Talon mercenary.’ Both the pony and the griffon bend their necks to stare at the newcomer. The unicorn just lifts an eyebrow in query while the griffon blushes in both embarrassment and impotent rage.

“Don’t ask me, ask the crazy unicorn on my back, get her off while you’re at it!” The griffon grumbles tersely.

Looking between the disgruntled griffon and the mysteriously blank faced pony pinning her to the ground, the tan coated pegasus with a wind swept monochrome mane decides to do the first smart thing she could’ve thought of for the morning. “Nope! Too early for this, Call me when you’re done.” With that thought, the tired pegasus turns around and promptly marches back into her tent, tying the flaps closed behind her.

Outside the tent both the unicorn and griffon were staring as the pegasus reenters her tent, One with even more fierce rage than before, the other with little emotion on her expressionless face. This lasted for half a second before the Lavender coated unicorn returns to her work on the griffon causing the lion-bird to screech in anger as she tries even harder to remove her persistent equine passenger.

Ignoring the griffons protests, the unicorn uses her magic to gently unwrap the stained bandages from the griffons hind quarters, making sure to hold the protesting Feline still during the process. Once finished, she examines the previously covered area and nods slightly at what she sees. Placing the sullied bandages to the side, Twilight pulls a strange viscous grey substance from her saddlebags, before dipping one of her forehooves into the substance then putting it away. With her hoof stained she places it in the center of the injury and begins liberally rubbing the substance into the wound.

“SquAAAAAAAA!” the griffon jerks and bounces even more as the unbound wound begins stinging like dragon fire. The cleansing gelatin burning away the protective layer of dried blood and dirt, Seconds later the wound cools as a moist fluid begins washing away the cleansing paste. Turning to look at the pony on her back Gilda screeches again in pained indignation. “What in tartarus was that, it felt like dragon fire was riding right up my ASS!”

“Ent sap mixed with dried hemlock and salamander saliva, makes for a pretty good cleansing paste, however it also removes any form of numbing salve put on the wound as it regenerates the damaged skin and muscle. All you need to wait on for now is the fur to grow back, as your puncture wound is just about finished mending. You’ll need to retrain the muscle, but you will at least have full functionality as opposed to the alternative that I’ve seen from city healing facilities.” The unicorn explained before releasing the griffon and gracefully leaping from her back. “Besides, Gilda, I believed that you’d want to be back on your feet as soon as possible, so that you aren’t carted around like yesterday.”

Gilda adopts a blank look on her face before lifting one of her paws palm facing inward with all digits visible, before pulling in the outer two in a vulgar gesture. “Buck you Glimmer. Buck. You.”

Not even dignifying the primitive statement with a response, the lavender unicorn turns around and begins walking over to her traveling gear. “Find a comfortable position, Your body won’t be active for much longer with all of the energy it just expended regenerating the damage from your wound”

Raising her foreleg, Gilda moves to protest that she feels just fine, half a second later a small thud comes to Twilights attention. Twilight turns around and notes Gilda’s compromising position, having passed out in the middle of trying to respond to the lavender potion masters warning. Gilda’s hind quarters being held in the air and her head laying on the ground. Rolling her eyes Twilight lights her horn and lifts the incapacitated griffon from the ground and places Gilda on her sleeping mat. Turning back to her previous task, Twilight releases her telekinetic grip from the griffon and uses her magic to sift through her saddle bags.

‘Where did I put that mirror… There!’ With a giddy smile she lifts a small hoof mirror from her saddlebags, It’s outer rim decorated in silvery blue filigree, elegantly depicting parts of the night in such a way as to make the clouded glass if the mirror itself fade into the Night sky. ‘I remember taking this out once some time ago at night, Almost lost it when it blended so perfectly with the Night sky… Hmm I wonder, would Daring know anything about this mirror?’

At that moment, the flap in front of Daring Do’s tent flips open as the pegasus owner storms out, waves of rage flowing off of her like a lake in a storm. “What the buck is going on out here!” She looks around and spots the griffon that had awoken her passed out on the mat next to the fire, then sees twilight holding a hoof mirror in her magic. Pointing a hoof at the griffon Daring pointedly asks, “The buck happened to her?”

Glancing at the cooling pegasus, Twilight begins to turn towards her as she responds smoothly, “Healing poultices can take a lot out of the patient they are applied to, her deeper injuries are healed, however she will be unconscious for the next few hours as her body regains the energy lost in the process.” Twilight answers as she steps up to the pegasus adventurer. “Are you hungry?”

Nod.

Twilight points her hoof to the small kettle hanging over the fire pit, a slight bit of steam wafting from underneath the lid. “There’s some honey oats within the pot, beware there are some ryncol berries cooked in.” Twilight warns before walking over to sit next to Gilda’s unconscious form.

Finally cooled off, the half tired pegasus walks over to the fire and kettle, finding a small assortment of wooden bowls and a solid jade ladle set beside the pot. “Hay uh, Glimmer, would you happen to have any extra healing potions?” She asks, setting one of the bowls to the side and pulling off the lid of the pot.

“If you can find some hemlock while we're waiting, I should be able to make a batch before Gilda wakes.” Twilight answers almost causing the pegasus to drop the ladle she was using to pour some of the mixture into her bowl.

After carefully placing the ladle back where she had picked it up Daring turns to Twilight a sick look on her face. “Why the buck would you need Hemlock?” Before bending down to nibble at the oat slurry.

Twilight smiles, “Because the Hemlock actually balances the magical reactions of the healing reagents, keeping them from causing the patient to go into shock after the healing process completes, or at worst the unbalanced potion could cause system wide shock in the middle of a procedure. I’m assuming you want potions of self healing in case of personal injury during your travels, so I’ll need to make a quart of life brew which would make at least five vials of healing potion. In which case I will need a branch of hemlock to distil the mixture into a brew that can be used without needing any medical assistance.”

Twilight having finished her lecture glances at Daring for her response, Only instead she is greeted by a blank look.Shaking her mental cobwebs clear Daring finally answers. “Ok, so it’s basically necessary for the potion to work.”

Hoof to face, Twilight sighs before correctly. “It’s necessary for the potion to work safely.” Releasing another sigh, Twilight allows the mounted tension to fall off her like so much water. Lifting the mirror into view, Twilight passes it over to Daring as the pegasus finishes polishing her plate clean.

The adventurer takes a look at the mirror quizzically before turning to Twilight confused. “The buck is this, and what do you expect me to do with it?”

“I was hoping you could identify it. I found it in a well preserved chamber within one of the old everfree ruins.” Twilight answers hopefully.

The pegasus does a double take on the cobalt blue item of vanity. “You said you found this in one of the old everfree ruins, Right?” Twilight gestures affirmatively. “Damn, the only one I know of is the Castle of the two sisters, and that place is a death trap. However I’m guessing you found it in one of the old rooms, maybe in one of the towers, I’m guessing the place you found looked like an ursa minor had entered it and exploded onto everything?” Nod “So if I were to guess, this mirror would have belonged to the old Night Princess.” Daring says as she pulls the old artifact out of Twilights magical grasp with her hooves and begins to examine the ancient mirror.

Looking over the objects clouded glass, Daring asks Twilight a few questions. “Alright so what effects have you been able to distinguish from the mirror?”

“Well,” Twilight begins, “To start off with my etherical inspection, with the notable exception of telekinesis most if not all other spell forms have the same effect as a rock trying to grasp air, it’s there yet it’s all I can do to even grasp it’s presence.” The lavender mare says disgruntledly, remembering several fruitless nights where she had attempted to disassemble the spell work on the mirror only to watch as her magic just faded from existence without any noticeable effect or feedback. Letting the frustration go with a sigh, Twilight refocuses on the second part of her explanation. “As for physical examination, I’ve managed to find several interesting effects from the mirror. Occasionally during the night the mirror’s face would become clearer to the point where you could possibly see your reflection, however instead of reflection like a normal mirror, the reflection you saw, would instead show a pair of glowing blue eyes amidst a great field of darkness. Another more minor one is that the surface of the mirror doesn’t feel like glass but more like a liquid, again any attempt that I’ve made at studying the substance have proved fruitless.”

Taking a quick breath Twilight glances at the unconscious griffon at the fire, returning her full concentration to Daring and continues her explanation. “Its design does befit the night sky and yet you are correct, I found it in a well preserved room that resembled the night.”

The helmeted adventurer nods a few times and hums a bit while examining the artifact a bit more. “Seems I was right, very old, I’m surprised Celestia hadn’t commissioned the retrieval of such a powerful artifact as this. Hmm, if I’m right, this mirror is in fact more of a communication portal than an object of vanity. I bet those eyes you saw were in fact the owner of it trying to communicate through her connection to the mirror…” Suddenly Daring’s overjoyed demeanor takes a nose dive her ears splaying back as she begins to realize the implications of her discovery. “Eh, heh, ehh. Aghm! Said owner being Nightmare Moon, I think it would be safe to just put it back whereever you were holding it, I honestly don’t like the thought of Nightmare Moon spying on us.”

With a nod Twilight pulls the mirror from Daring’s hooves, and douses it once more within the stasis like field maintained by her saddlebags of holding. Within second she draws forth a few more Items, including A tattered old journal and a Sword With a golden gem encrusted handle fueling a set of glowing runes that flow up the length of the blade itself. “Thank you for the help, also here. I have no use of these since I’ve finished studying the magic behind their use, and I feel you would know where they would be better put to use.” She says passing the artifacts over to the surprised adventurer. “Think of it as… Payment, for services rendered. And for allowing me and Gilda to stay the night when-...”

Daring had stopped listening, as her focus honed into the journal, all other senses shutting down with only one thought processing through her head. ‘How the buck did this filly manage to get her hands on Clover the Clever’s secret journal, and how the hell is she wielding Starswirl’s Glim?’ The tan pegasus could only gawk as tidbits of knowledge that she had read about the artifacts begin to pass before her minds eye. ‘Only the most talented and powerful of mages can wield the damn sword due to the amount of power it drains from it’s user per strike, and Clovers actual journal was supposed to reside in Starswirl’s tower hidden deeply within it’s spell protected walls… NO WONDER I COULDN’T FIND THE DAMN BOOK! This mare probably collected it before I even got inside Starswirl’s Tower.’ After several more awkward seconds of raging within her own mind, Daring looks straight into Twilight’s eyes before closing them and bowing deeply. ‘Well atleast I don’t have to worry about searching for them now, hopefully Celestia will be happy with these safely returned to her hooves.’ “Thank you Glimmering Wisp, you may not know how much these artifacts will assist me, but I do and will forever be in your debt. Please give me a few moments to stow these safely away.” she says before placing both artifacts on her back and reentering her makeshift tent and tying the flap closed behind her.

A nearby rustling sound catches Twilights attention causing her to turn and observe as Gilda stretches her wings, disturbing the detritus on the ground with small gusts of wind from her feathered appendages. Opening her eyes without a flutter, Gilda becomes fully conscious and concentrates her annoyance on Twilight as soon as she spots her. “Damn it Glimmer, that was a dirty trick… Don’t you dare mention to anypony about this, ever! Ya got me? Otherwise I’ll prank you so hard you’ll be wondering if you got haunted by a poltergeist.”

Twilight couldn’t help but giggle in response to the griffons fierce declaration. “Don’t worry, I’m not the one who would spread rumors. I’ll keep it to myself, though it might be a little harder to convince Miss Do to remain quiet about it.”

The griffon deflates a second after Twilight mentions the explorers name, it starts at first with a chuckle, then after a few more seconds Gilda falls onto her back howling in full blown laughter. Several moments before Twilight would have questioned her sanity, letting out a few more laughs as she regains her breath, Gilda stands wiping a tear from her eye. “Heh, sorry I needed a laugh, In answer to the question on your face. Honestly, It would be ridiculous to think that that treasure hunter would release any information about any events that happen during her quests, without permission from ol’ Princess Sunbutt herself.” The griffon chuckles again. “Honestly I’m surprised that she even let us rest in her camp site in the first place.”

Raising an eyebrow in interest, Twilight prepares to ask the question that had come upon her thoughts, “Why would she have denied us access to the campsite?” Twilight hears a slight rustle of leaves nearby as she listens into the griffoness’ answer.

Gilda grimaces slightly at the question. “The Obelisk of Rhigalian. One of the older land markers that we had found several centuries ago, well about two years back it began acting up and she took a small company of Talon Black Claws with her as protection, anyway before they arrived at the site they had happened upon a small group of travelers from the eastern City states, and they camped together. The travelers were apparently thralls for the unicorn that activated the Obelisk’s power, and killed the Talons as they slept before they could even put up a token fight. Daring, of course, being one of the more antisocial ponies we’ve come across in the merc business was able to escape with forewarning from the dying Talon screams. That is also the reason that Talons won’t do business with Daring anymore.”

“That still doesn’t tell me why Mrs. Do would deny us to joining her camp for the night.”

The griffon slaps her uninjured paw against her face, groaning exasperatedly. “Ughh, It should be bucking obvious, she prefers to be secluded when she sleeps because she doesn’t want to chance getting caught off guard again by enemies hiding in her own camp.”

Twilight nods, “So predators try and sneak up on her disguised as other ponies?.. Oh okay, I understand now. So she’s afraid that mean ponies will try and sneak up on her, after telling lies to get into her camp, and attack her while she sleeps.” Gilda sighs in relief as the unicorn finally understands her point.

“Exactly, but mostly because she is protecting some magical artifact or other from falling into the hooves of some pony with hostile intentions for seeking the items power. Anyw…” Any other words she was about to say are cut off by a rock cracking her on the side of the head. Collapsing to the ground like a broken ragdoll, Gilda could only think one thing. ‘Not again!’ Before consciousness fully left her.

Upon hearing the whistle of the traveling rock, Twilight bursts into action, upon seeing that the object is already too close for her to stop it from hitting Gilda, Twilight instead sends a command for her staff to float over to her while also closing her eyes and summoning her thoughts into speech. ‘Fang, I’m under attack, assist me.’

The response is almost instant, as the rock hits Gilda in the head, the cloak Twilight wore the night before flies over to Twilight and explodes into a gaseous form, obfuscating Twilight’s presence from the discerning eye before expanding to cover the field and hid the unconscious griffon. ‘On my way mom.’ Is the reply, a screech from above preceding the arrival of a black shadow bursting through the conjured mist and landing next to her. and resolving itself into the form of a small scaled creature somewhat more than three feet in height, with a pair of wings, a long sinuous neck, and sharp piercing eyes brimming with an intellect to rival the unicorns own. Releasing a huff, the voice whispers into Twilights thoughts once more. ‘I’m here mom.’

Instead of answering the thought Twilight leaps over Gilda’s unconscious form, barely dodging the second rock aimed at her previous location, glancing in the direction the stone came from, Twilight motions her hoof to the right giving the mottled grey drake a meaningful stare. With a nod, Fang disappears through the mist in the direction Twilight commanded, while Twilight silently glides into the origin of the ranged attack. After a few seconds the sorcerous fog fades as she breaches the perimeter of the cloak’s magical reach. With her vision expanded, Twilight sees the form of her assailant, another griffon in the same uniform she had found on Gilda, if in a little better condition.

Turning to get a good look at the shadow stepping out of the mysteriously summoned mist, the Griffon grunts as he spots the lavender pony that was standing next to the female Talon mercenary, right claw sifting through the brush beneath him, he grasps another stone, this one smooth, and thin. Not realizing that Twilight had noticed his presence, he winds up and aims carefully for the side of her head, preparing to knock her out with one blow. ‘First gotta knock out this pony, then deal with the pegasus in the tent, then finally return to that stupid monkey with the damn artifact, then he’ll release me from this rotten shelled life pact, however he’ll do it as long as I can get back to...’

He doesn’t even finish the thought as a wrathful force of nature strikes him from behind, before he can even screech in surprise, he finds his beak held shut by a magenta magical field, with the unicorn staring straight into his eyes as he finishes collapsing to the ground. Caught off guard and in a bad situation, training immediately takes over, feeling the presence on his back he immediately retaliates by slamming his wings together behind himself, sending the errant back rider fling off of him, next he rolls over out of the unicorns sight behind a tree, losing the remnants of his black body armor in the process.

Suddenly the ground beneath the tree begins to rumble, causing the griffon to flare his wings out for stability. Within half a second dozens of roots burst out of the earth, grasping for the griffon and latching onto both his outstretched wings and one of his forelegs. Dragging him to the ground before he can muster enough strength to tear out of their grasp. ‘Shit, it just had to be a freaking druid.’ Using his razor sharp talons, the warrior make short work of the vines attempting to encase him, starting with the ones holding his arms in place and then moving on to the ones attempting to pull his wings in agonizing directions. ‘Next thing I know Timberwolves will start leaping down from the...’ After cutting off the last root holding on to his tail, he stands up to his full height attempting to scout the area around him, only to get slammed back down to the ground, his thought getting cut off midway through the sentence by a massive wave of force.

Looking the direction of the attack, only to find a single reptilian eye staring directly into his, as Fang lands on the unconsciously extended forelimb. “Wha!...” The drake opens his mouth wide, and blasts a blizzard of Ice cold magic flame right into the stunned griffons face, also consequentially going down the avians non magically protected throat, and freezing him in place, like a statue.

Hearing the gout of blue flame extinguish itself in the midday heat, Twilight swiftly steps her way over to see the results of Fang’s swiftly cast spell.The griffon lay upon the ground, his head encased in a layer of Ice, with his beak wide open and the majority of his facial feathers frozen backwards in an expression of intense shock. Several feet behind the griffon lay a cone shaped field of Ice encased ground and plant matter. Thinking swiftly, Twilight lights her horn with a heating charm and places it against the griffons forehead, forcing the temporary spell to sink beneath the griffons mana dampening feathers.

Standing up, Twilight glances towards the young drake that had flitted onto her back while she was tending to the griffon. ‘Good form Fang, however, please mind the environment and strength of your attacks in the future. You never know when a friend may be in the target zone of your attack. Also, mind the lethality of your attack until the opponent truly means to hurt you the same way.’ Outwardly Twilight exhales in relief that she didn’t have to worry about the griffon dying from her son’s blunder, Her traveling cloak reforms upon her back once more, the swirling mists obscuring the camp from sight having dissipated long ago with Twilight’s swift departure from its shadowy folds.

Fang, being used to the cloak’s antics, leaps for half a second allowing the living fabric to settle upon Twilight’s back before making his own landing, rolling his eyes at Twilights admonishment while settling calmly upon the soft velvety fabric. ‘I soo, would have held back if you were behind him.’ He says with an upward flick of his snout.

Twilight responds with a simple, “Uh huh, yea.” Before checking on the griffon once more, his head fully thawed, however still showed signs of severe hypothermia, and near frostbite in the griffons unconscious state. “And that explains why a few more seconds of your breath would have killed instead of incapacitating the griffon here?”

“Hey he tried to kill Gilda and almost succeeded in knocking you out as well!” He growls from atop her back, his leg talons flexing in annoyance and slightly digging into Twilight’s back. In unconscious response Twilight’s horn releases a charged bolt into his Talons, the jolt of energy forcing them to relax, before they begin cutting into her skin for the thousandth time.

A groaning sound from the direction of camp announces Gilda’s recent victory against unconsciousness, however that still doesn’t cure the effects of a concussion, neither does slapping herself in the face. “Buck!...” she screeches, rubbing her temples softly with the good claw before continuing. “I feel like some bird slammed an anvil on top of my head.” Taking a second to focus her gaze, Gilda glances around the camp, her first noted item is a fist sized stone laying next to her leg. Pulling her paw from the side of her head, Gilda notices a smattering of smeared blood on the first two talons. “Well, atleast I know what hit m… Wait, wheres that crazy unicorn now?”

Twilight raises a hoof over the hedge line into the griffons vision, “Gilda, please come over here. I think you would be better at understanding who this is.” Twilight calls worriedly.

The incensed griffoness glares in the direction the waving hoof had last been seen, before responding angrily. “Go buck yourself Glimmer, it’ll be at least another minute before I can even walk, let alone drag my sorry carcass through that thick brush you like to dance through.” With her second breath Gilda quietly appends her previous statement. “Stupid bucking hornheads.” After a few minutes, Gilda finally feels her balance taking it’s rightful seat in the center of her mind, helping force the spinning world around her to stabilize into it’s proper place, with the sky above her head and the ground beneath her feet.

Closing her eyes, Gilda finally feels the dizzy spell dissipate completely. Opening them once more, it is as if a breath of fresh air had come upon her psyche, revitalizing her thoughts, empowering her actions, and numbing the painful lump on the back of her head. “Alright coming ov-mph” Gilda only makes it a step in Twilight’s direction before two hundred and fifty pounds of unconscious brown feathered griffon dead weight slams right into her, knocking her to the ground. Pushing the unconscious griffon off her self and standing up, Gilda screeches in the direction of her new lavender annoyance. “DWEEEEB! When you get back here, I’m going to Rmph...” Gilda’s rant cuts off as a band of magenta energy mounts itself around her solid beak, holding it closed.

Twilight silently steps into the camp melting out of the foliage like some stray forest spirit, her relaxed gaze focused upon the simmering griffon. “It’s not me you should be angry at,” As if in answer Fang bursts into the camp from the tree branches above with a screech, dragging several branches behind him, held in his signature glowing steel grey field of telekinesis. Releasing an excited squeal, he wheels twice in the air before plummeting at a rapid speed and landing on top of the other griffon and slamming the branches into the ground like impromptu steaks, before reforming them over the unconscious griffon into a solid prison of wood.

Rolling her eyes at Fang’s over excited antics, Twilight raises her hoof upward and off to the side. “It would have to be my over excited charge here.” Releasing Gilda’s beek from her firm magical grip, Twilight sets her hoof back onto the ground asks her question again. “Before you try and avenge your pride against a magically overcharged drake, I would like to ask. Do you have any idea whom this might be, or why he attempted to incapacitate us?”

“Fine! Bu-” Rolling her eyes, Gilda takes a look at the bound griffon, thoroughly examining him for the first time since he landed on her. She backs up a step at what she finds. ‘This isn’t any normal banded or mercenary, Who the hell would have been able to purchase the services of a Talon for a hit on The Lone Treasure Hunter, Scratch that, what gryph would be mad enough to even contemplate accepting this kind of suicide mission.’ Gilda mulls over the information while trying to identify the unconscious talon.

“Well well well, what have we here?” Gilda mumbles with a small smile, pulling a small insignia from the remnants of the griffons undergarments, shattered bits of black lacquered armor crumbling off like dust. Imprinted onto the leather is a small insignia containing a black crow, it’s wings spread high, with it’s claws holding a limp snake. ‘Shit this is the symbol for the Night Hawks, The hell, is a special tasks group warrior doing so far into pony territory. Wait if I remember correctly, one of their newest members, went missing several weeks ago. I think his name was-’ Gilda takes a wide eyed look at the heavily bound and unconscious griffon. “Shit, Hagraven!...”

‘Buck, theres nothing that can truly hold a Night Hawk.’Gilda turns a worried eye to Twilight before setting her terrified gaze upon the unconscious warrior before her. ‘Nope!’ Reaching underneath one wing, Gilda grasps the hilt of a dagger, hidden amongst her primary’s, without any further encouragement Gilda unsheathes the blade and in one swift motion sinks it into the base of the other griffon’s skull.

“Wait!” Twilight futily cries out, the body jerks once before going limp, with no sign of life remaining in the avian warrior. Her power shooting to the surface, Twilight easily grasps Gilda’s head and turns the distracted griffonesses gaze towards her. “Why did you do that!” She yells, at the stunned griffon.

‘Damn, she’s strong.’ Is all that Gilda thinks as Twilight drags her over, to glare directly into her face, as if to say ‘Well?’. Twilights piercing, predatory like look shakes off the last of Gilda’s stunned surprise. Taking this chance, Gilda answers, “He was a ‘Night Hawk’, best of the best when it comes to combat in the Talons, he’s too dangerous to keep alive, anywhere near by. If I didn’t kill him now, we probably wouldn’t have had a chance to later when he finally broke through your root bindings and killed us in our sleep.” Letting loose a sigh before taking in another breath, “Sorry.” Gilda apologizes.

Twilight gives the griffon a disapproving look. “You really still think so little of my ability?” Exhaling a sigh of her own with closed eyes, Twilight sits down opening her eyes, and gives the body one more glance. “I could have handled him myself, but I wished to help Fang train his abilities so he can handle larger and more skilled foes, incase he runs into trouble on his own.” An indignant blat from above answers Twilight’s undignifying words. “He has power, but he lacks the control needed to put that power to it’s best possible use. One more thing, when a situation like this comes up again, consult me before attacking anypony outside of a fight.” She her eyes, colder and sharper than the harshest of winter storms.

The griffoness with her larger frame shivers, feeling the pony’s glare piercing straight through her defenses. ‘Shit, how the buck can a candy colored pony get that terrifying of a stare.’ Gilda wonders silently as even more chills wrack her own body, Deciding not to challenge her host, Gilda nods. “Alright I-i understand, your terms.”

As if a weight had been lifted from her, Twilight’s shoulders slump, A sigh she didn’t even know she was holding escapes her lips as she closes her eyes. A second later, her eyes open and she smiles up to the griffon. “Alright, as long as you understand and agree, I’ll allow you to wield your blades, Otherwise I will take them.” As emphasis, Twilight’s horn lights up and several sharp daggers slide from Gilda’s body, Three from her wings, and two from her back legs, and floats them in the air before herself. “All of them.”

Gilda looks at the lavender unicorn dumbfound, and not for the first time. “Ho-bu, The buck? How did you even know that those were there? You could not have seen them!”

Twilight stares at the Griffon with a deadpan expression, “Your answer?” She asks with a blank tone.

“Fine.” Gilda growls in furious annoyance as she reaches for the blade closest to her, sheathing the blade, she reaches for the next, continuing the process while she answers. “However, if I get into a situation where I cannot ask you- ” Gildas Beak is suddenly wrapped tightly in a magenta glow before being dragged forward into her knees, her face held inches inches from Twilight’s own.

“Then I expect you to follow the morals I put forth and make a better judgement of the situation. Save killing for after the creature or person has proven themselves too violent or dangerous to contain.” Twilight’s fierce expression softens, “Otherwise, remember be reserved about who you kill, and be merciful to your lessers, they don’t know any better.”

Gilda rolls her eyes at Twilight’s sentimental words, “And what about hunting?”

Twilight felt a red mark coming on after lowering her hoof from her face once again. ‘If I keep this up that mark might end up becoming permanent.’ To Gilda she responds, “Do you even know how stupid that question was? No, don’t answer that. First of all, if you’re hunting, you should be out of civilized areas and in the middle of a forest or at least on the road, and only hunt creatures that won’t be missed by someone else.” Sighing in even more frustration, Twilight cools a little before finishing her rant. “Also, don’t bring any carcases back to camp, I do not want Fang picking up any bad habits.”

Gilda feels her plumage rise in offence to the accusation. “You honestly think that I would bring my meal back to camp, I’m not that stupid. Predators for miles would be able to smell the blood all the way back to us, also how did you know I had knives hidden in my wings?” Gilda’s voice echoed within the clearing, just a few octaves from a shout, as she glared at the Alchemist journeyer before her.

Twilight rolls her eyes, “As a skilled healer, I found it odd during my visual examination, that several of your Primaries had been unnaturally shifted out of alignment. Upon attempting to maneuver them back into place so I could apply proper bandages, I found your knife sheaths. You did a good job hiding them from sight, however, it would only take a bump to know they were there.” The lavender mare says clinically.

If the griffons feathers could have puffed out even further, she would have looked like a swallow. As it was Gilda lifts a foreclaw her index didget pointing skyward above the lavender unicorn her mouth wide open, “Now see he-”

“Grahhhh!” Excludes a voice from the tent near the bonfire. a tan hoove slaps the tent flaps aside as the tents enraged pegasus occupant stares down both sides of the argument with equal vehemence. “Will you two give it a bucking rest already, I can’t concentrate or get any of my notes down with all of this racket going on out...” Finally noticing the body, she looks immediately to the lavender mare standing calmly to her right. “What the buck happened out here, and where did he come from?”

Though phrased as a question, Gilda could immediately detect the command underneath the words, before she could speak up, Twilight answers. “He attacked the camp. He knocked out Gilda, and tried to take out me, however Fang and I outmaneuvered and rendered him unconscious.” Glancing the griffons way, Twilight adds. “Gilda here killed him before I could stop her.”

Daring slaps a hoof to her face, “Buck, I didn’t even think he could find me this close to the equestrian border.” Daring glances towards her tent before swiftly returning her attention to the lavender unicorn before her. “Look I know you’re nice, and would probably help if you could, but Ahuizotl plays for keeps, and that includes using ancient artifacts with near unlimited power to kill anyone that gets in his way. I don’t want to involve you or the griffon if I can get away with it.” With her speech over Daring loses all pretenses at bravery and sprints over to her tent, Stopping at the entrance the tan coated mare says off handedly. “Oh, you might want to leave camp before I do, I don’t want that idiot and his feline pets chasing you down under the assumption that I’m with you.” Without a second look the adventurer disappears inside the makeshift shelter.

Twilight stands there, mouth left wide open as she stares at the entrance of the tent, “Well... That just happened.” Says a voice says from nearby, knocking Twilight’s senses back into alignment, the young alchemist turns in the direction of the voice to find Gilda staring at the entrance of the tent for another half second, before distracting herself with Twilight’s recent attention. “Well, I guess that’s as good a send off as any, let’s get packed up and out of here. I don’t know who this Ahooi person is, but he definitely doesn’t sound like someone we should be tangling with.”

“Gilda, wait! Just get in the cart and I’ll get everything packed, you still shouldn’t be stressing your wing and arm like that. Also I need a moment, he at least deserves a proper burial.” Twilight says, stepping over to the griffon body near the fire. With a slight ruffle of wings, the griffon pads away from the scene, leaving Twilight alone for the moment, eyes closed and head lowered in reverence. A single spark of magic, drops from her horn and falls upon the deceased griffon, exploding into a brilliant flash of light before dimming to a more bearable brightness. upon inspection, Twilight notes the body had been fully restored, however upon caster her necromantic sight, she confirmed that the griffons soul had already departed from the previously broken vessel.

Releasing a sigh, Twilight magically lifts the griffon from the ground, and carries him with her into the forest. She returns a few minutes later, minus one body, completely refreshed as if the previous hour’s events hadn’t taken their toll on her. It was another few minutes before Twilight finally finished packing her hers and tools back into the cart, along with her sleeping mats, and salvaging several chunks of the former mercenary’s shattered armor.

Taking one last look at the campsite, Twilight notes several small dirt piles with one slightly raised above the others. ‘She really needs to study how squirrels hide things, it would help her keep things hidden that she doesn’t want others to find.’ Finding nothing else left in the area that belonged in the cart or on her person, Twilight turns around and carefully bends down to examine the wheels of her cart. ‘Now, how did that spell work again?’ Twilight thought as symbols and half formed lines formed before her vision, small sparks of magical energy dancing off the tip of her horn only to dissipate mid air.

A small smile stretches Twilight’s face as she feels the spell she was searching for finally begin to form in her thoughts. ‘Ah, there it is, i’m glad that I found that journal, Clover had some fascinating additions she introduced to Starswirls more unstable works. including a temporal spell form that allowed you to designate a reverse in time up to five seconds in a constant effect. Attached to a detection spell, I can easily manipulate the spell to reverse any signs of travel as I move down the road. Now what will I use as the vessel of the enchantment.’ Lifting a hoof to her chin, she first examines the wheels themselves and quickely drops the first choice. ‘Dead wood holds enchantment like paper holds water, it may work for a day or two however the spell will unweave itself far too quickly for it to be of any real use.’ Looking up she notes the solid tube shaped axle made of bronze, set between the wagons wheels. ‘Perfect!’

The spell fully formed, Twilight sets to work empowering it, and ducking under the wagon to reach for the potential vessel for her spell. The axle now within reach, Twilight Taps her horn onto the metal construct, Transferring the stored spell into the forged bronze. Casting her mage sight, Twilight watches as the empowered runes and sigils solidify their places upon the axel, making minor alterations as she sees fit, after a few more seconds, Twilight nods acceptance of the spells final form. Before her eyes the runes fade from existence, the design into empowered connections. In a single glance, she knows the spell will hold strong,pulling herself from under the wagon Twilight lets go of her mage sight. ‘now to test it.’

With a small wave of her magic, Twilight lifts the front of the cart and begins pulling it forward several feet. “Oof,” Gilda grunts as she falls over from the sudden motion of the cart. “The buck are you doing, hornhead.” The griffon complains as she pulls her head over the cart to glare at the purple menace.

“Experimenting to see how well my spell works.” She answers back, examining the cart as it rolls along. After five feet, the trail from where the cart had been laying suddenly began warping, along the same path as the wagon, and leaving no trace that the wagon had even moved over the ground. “Perfect!” Twilight exclaims with a joyous leap. Turning around, Twilight rushes away from the irate griffon, over to the small tent, where she could hear no small amount of shuffling and jingling within. “Good by miss Do, I hope to meet you again.” She says and is off again before any form of coherent reply could be heard, returning to the cart, and seeing the simmering griffon sitting on top..

“Are you pissing me off on purpose, cause it’s workin.” Gilda growls lowly.

Twilight smiles back, unphased by the griffons mood. “I guess I should have warned you, I cast a spell on the wagon that should cover our trail, without any difficulty. Just let me get the wagon tied and we’ll be off.” Gilda calms noticeably as Twilight’s half apology sinks in. Twilight steps over to the front of the wagon, lifting the yoke, and equipping the harness. checking the straps to ensure they’re properly secured, Twilight treks over and through the shrubbery and onto the road. “Besides, unlike Fang I really don’t take an interest in creating tension between myself and others.” A loud roar from above precedes the arrival of the aforementioned drake, who swoops down and latches onto the front panel of the wagon, right behind Twilight.

‘Hay, I take offence to that statement!’ He responds slapping Twilight’s back with the tip of his wing, and releasing a second indignant blat at her.

“Sncht, hehe.” Gilda couldn’t help but laugh, not giggle ’Griffons don’t giggle, it’s not cool.’, at the drake and unicorn’s little spat.

Suddenly the drake twirls around, his tail whipping against Gilda’s beak in a lightning fast spin, before roaring in her face, wisps of fog spewing from his mouth. With a single utterance of, “Eep!” she ducks low beneath the drakes line of fire. A warbling sound followed by the whoosh of displaced air grabs the griffons attention enough for her to look up and note the absence of the drake from his former perch.

Lifting herself from the bed of the cart, she peaks over the rim, to see the drake hanging upside down by his tail, his wings folded against his chest and glancing away as Twilight gives him the stink eye. “Fang, play nice. I don’t want to be wasting materials treating injuries incurred by your antics. Are you okay Gilda?”

It takes a second for the question to register in her head, “... Wha- OH!” she looks herself over once more. “Yea, I’m fine, what are you going to do with him.”

“Fang’s in time out, I’ve bound his magic so he can’t cast anything until I release him. Anyway get some rest, you still haven’t fully recovered from the injuries from two day’s ago, it’ll be at least a week before you’re anywhere close to where you were before.” Twilight lightly sniffs the air, “Do you smell something burning?” Turning around, Gilda gets an eyeful as she looks back towards where they came from, noting a small pillar of smoke coming from where their former camp was, smoothly she turns back around and gives Fang a negative shake of her head before answering Twilight. “Nope, just keep going, and I’ll get some rest. Wake me up if you need something.”

Author's Note

Bout damn time I finished the chapter. Looking forward to you guy's comments, and thoughts.

Cheers^,=,^

Prereader: Janushyde (Makes good story's, awesome person, best comments, Updates like a turtle climbing a cliff.)

Tallon Style Pathfinding

Author's Note

A BIG thanks to Janushayed for prereading my story and helping me Iron out the details, and motivating me to finish the chapter.

No proof Reader or Editor this time, so the chapter is Raw and probably in serious need of edits, I apologize for this, but I have yet to find an editor who has an open time schedule to read through my pile of Laundry. Other than that, I hope you folks Enjoy.
Edit: No longer raw, The Forgotten Comrade has helped me update and fix my major errors, thank you again.

Tallon Style Pathfinding

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

A Mcgriffon adventure Part 1 Tallon Style Pathfinding

(Lumix, Fifty Sixth, Nine Hundred and Ninety fifth Celestial Reckoning, Windbreak Valley, Township of Windbreak.)

The sign read Welcome to Windbreak, upon its wooden weather worn paneling. Running a taloned claw along the outer edge, the young griffoness found a small recess on the left side, with a simple flick of her fore talon, she reaches inside, only to grasp nothing. ‘Damn, so I guess she didn’t get my last letter, or hasn’t been by here yet.’

With nothing left keeping her attention, the griffon turns away from the welcome sign and leaves, stepping back onto the road, she finds a wagon strapped to a lavender coated unicorn, rolling by at a decent pace. The griffon steps up next to the unicorn, and matches her pace along the road, to anyone that could see it, they would have noticed a slight limp from the griffon’s hind quarters. “Hay Glimmer di-” She tries to greet.

“Find anything interesting Gilda?” Twilight interrupts, a small knowing smile spread on her lips.

Gilda remains silent for a moment, before finally releasing a sigh. ‘Damn, nothing gets past her.’ Squaring her shoulders Gilda responds honestly. “Since you already know, I guess I’ll tell you. No I didn’t find anything, either my friend missed the last letter I sent her, or she hasn’t had a chance to drop anything in our drop points.”

“How long have you been doing this?” Twilight asks.

Releasing another sigh, GIlda continues as they pass the first few houses into the town. “A few years, ever since my friend quit working with the talons, she was an independant contractor we had taken on from Cloudsdale. She’s a good friend, and we’ve been keeping in touch through drop zones along the routes, between towns ever since she started her own caravan, with one of her old flight school friends flutter something.”

“So, who is this friend of yours, she must be quite important for you to go out of your way to find her notes.” Twilight asks, waving to one of the passing ponies, A mulberry earthpony mare with a golden white mane, bearing a shovel and plum cutiemark. “Hello, Ripe Wine, how’s the leg?”

“Oh, it’s just fine deary, thank you for asking, and Welcome back young Wisp.” The elderly mare says returning Twilight’s greeting before moving on.

As Twilight greets the town pony, A sudden flash appears in Gilda’s mind Two vivid violet eyes set in a fierce cyan face framed by rainbow locks strewn wildly about. As if broken from a trance Gilda answers. “Rainbow Dash.”

“Hmm?”

Gilda glances over to her unicorn companion, “It’s her name, Rainbow Dash, or the Blazing Comet as she’s known in some circles.” The griffon unconsciously lifts her right leg a little Higher to avoid tripping over a young colt as he rushes past, chasing after an orange that had sprouted legs and was running away from the tiny unicorn.

Twilight’s ears perk in interest, “Really, how did she earn that title?”

“I…” Gilda shrivels a little, and turns her beak away from the lavender mare, but still making sure to keep pace with the lavender unicorn. “I don’t wanna talk about it.”

Twilight nods in agreement, “A difficult subject. I presume?” She says, lifting an eyebrow in query.

The griffon feels her lungs fill deeply with air before letting it all out in a long breathy sigh. “Look I, can we just switch to something else. This i getting way too sappy for me.” The griffon groans, in annoyance before giving Twilight a pleading look.

“Okay if you don’t want to talk about it,-”

“I do not.”

Twilight allows a slight smile to come upon her face at the interruption. “Then let’s plan what we’re going to do today.” Twilight answers cheerfully.

Forgetting her previous line of thought, Gilda jerks her head to stare at the upbeat druid. “What, no! I didn’t agr-”

“First we’re going to rent Mrs. Wind’s market stall, so I can set up my Beakers, vials, alembics, and ingredients. Wait, I’m low on lemon grass, and dragons tongue. A few more spriggan roots and tufts of hemlock would also be useful...” Suddenly Twilight looks towards the griffoness.

Gild’s eyes widen in realization, “Oh, no. I am not running errands for you. No, no way, no how.”

“Come on, I just need a few ingredients, I even know where you need to go to get them.” Twilight pleads, giving Gilda wide innocent eyes.

“Uh, uh! No way, it’s not what I do, fighting? Yea I’ll do that, but I am not going to degrade myself by running errands for a pony.” The young griffon states, Folding her forearms across her chest, as she stands on her hind legs, wings flared out. She turns her beak away in a huff.

Twilight relaxes the focus on her eyes, smirking confidently at the young griffon, as she continues walking down the road.

“I can’t believe you talked me into this.” Gilda complains noisily ‘This is soo lame, I hope Dash doesn’t find out about this.’ the griffon adds quietly at the back of her thoughts.

Twilight just rolls her eyes. “It’s not my fault that you don’t even know the basics of potion making, otherwise I’d trust you running the stall while I gathered the necessary ingredients.” The lavender filly says from inside the trading stall she had rented from White Wind.

“At least your source is close.” The griffon responds dismally. “What was it you needed again?”

Twilight brings a hoof to her face rubbing the sore spot between her eyes. Her horn lighting up, a paper scroll floats past the lavender unicorn. “Ughh, just pass the list to the shop owner. Her name is Feral Rose, she has a light brown coat, and a very light sky blue mane, her cutie mark resembles two pink roses with their stems intertwined and bearing green thorns. You can’t miss her.” As if in afterthought Twilight adds, “Tell her Glimmer sent you, hopefully that will help you get the ingredients faster.”

Gilda give Twilight a sour look. “Hey, I’m not an idiot, I just have some problems with remembering stuff.” She grabs the scroll roughly from the lavender mares magical grip. “Look, I’m on it, I’ll be there and back as quick as I can.” She turns around preparing to take a step, however just as her fore paw is about to land, she jerks back around her fore claw held wide open, a deadpan look on her face.

“Forgetting something?” Twilight smiles innocently while passing a small bag, clinking with bits.

“Hardy, har, har. Now if you’ll excuse me I have some shopping to do.” The griffon returns her voice dripping with sarcasm. Gilda turns away from the stall, strapping the bag of bits to a belt buckled just behind her wings. With a firm tug to assure that her bits are properly secured, Gilda heads off, ‘Gray house, blue roof, fifth on Daisy street… Bucking candy colored pony names. I swear if I was raised by a pony they’d probably call me Dandylion!’ The griffon muses as she follows the direction to a door down the street. It’s vibrant yellow paint peeling slightly, small holes at the base hint at more occupants than expected.

Lifting a foreleg Gilda begins bashing it against the door. After a few seconds, A set of hooves could be heard Trotting towards the door at a relaxed pace. The hoof imprinted depression on the left side of the door rotates counter clockwise resulting in a series of clicks before the door itself begins pulling back, revealing behind it’s aged facade a youthful unicorn with the very description Twilight had given her, minus the sour look upon her face. Feral Rose looks over the griffon with a skeptical demeanor. “And you would be?” She asks with a tone suggesting she had better things to do.

‘Bucking pony technology!’ Gilda shouts inwardly, not for the first time, at the befuddling design behind equine engineering. “Gilda, on an errand for Glimmering Wisp. I came to purchase a few ingredients that she said she needed for her potions.”

“Mmm, hmm? Give me the list, surely she gave one to you, and I’ll see what I have stocked.” Rose gives Gilda another once over before nodding more to herself than to Gilda passing the list over. “You may come inside, just don’t touch anything, the majority of the artifacts on these shelves are magically volatile and will cause significant harm if improperly handled, even against magically resistant feathers and skin.” She states offhandedly.

The pony retreats inside the building making way for her guest. Gilda steps through the door and immediately stops one claw inside the portal the other standing on the ground outside. Her eyes catch an assortment of items, seemingly of senseless design. A couple masks hang from the back wall, an assortment of wooden boards nailed into different shapes hang from either wall, a single post sitting in the middle of the room, braces the ceiling above, even as it is riddled with nails both wooden and Iron, resulting in massive cracks along its length.

Shaking her head, Gilda steps into the room, a grimace forms upon her face. “You’re a witch doctor, aren’t you.” The young griffon accuses. receiving a snort in return.

“That term would better fit your babysitter.”

Her feathers puff out at the insult, “Glimmer is not my caretaker, and what makes you say that.”

The unicorn smiles dryly, as she stops in front of a long cabinet spanning across the back wall. her horn lights as she pulls down a jar filled with leaves, their branches splitting off into multiple points on either side and in some cases entirely new leaves. She floats the jar still in her magical grip over to Gilda. “Tell me what do you see inside this jar?”

"I don't really see anything special, just some dried hemlock.”

With a nod at the griffons correct answer, the unicorn goes on. “In due time. Now, tell me what is the effect on griffons and ponies?”

Gilda rolls her eyes as if the answer was obvious, “Just answer the question!” The unicorn demands, dropping several yellow colored lengths of vine into a bag.

“Fine,” Gilda responds exasperatedly. “Upon consumption ponies will generally suffer a slow death as they lose control of their muscles eventually ending as they lose control of their breathing, typically they will die a few minutes after consumption the exception being pegasi with their hyper metabolism, they will die within a minute of consumption, Griffons on the other claw, suffer from intense indigestion, if they haven't thrown up the poison by then.

“Good, good! It seems those survival specialists you griffons hire are more competent than I thought, you know your plants and poisons at least.” Suddenly the ponies eyes sharpen, and before Gilda can even process what is happening, a small blast of magic hits her on the right side pushing her left about a foot. “Sorry but I had to move you out of the way before that flower crown turned your feathers pink, I doubt you would have appreciated the... joke.”

Gilda gives the wreath of flowers a skeptical look before returning her attention back to the mare as she begins wrapping the bag closed. "What are you talking about, they're just some stupid blue flowers. Besides you're getting me off topic, What does some stupid leaves have to do with Glimmer being a witch doctor?"

"The fact that she can break down and mix a purely poisonous plant such as hemlock into a potion that can easily mend almost any physical wound, or remedy any ailment can only be thought of as witchcraft."With a calming sigh, the young unicorn sets the bag onto the counter, then walks near the floral crown, stopping a cautious few feet from the ornament "These flowers set into the crown are called poison joke, they have the power to play a joke on any unwary traveler that ventures close enough for their pollen to land upon." She jumps away as one of the flowers bulbs begins to compress upon itself, before spewing out a stream of yellow pollen at the location she previously occupied. "Anyway with a will of it's own, typically it's pranks are harmless, but are quite noticeable, since you seem to be very prideful, you would most likely wake up tomorrow with yellow fur and pink feathers. As for myself, I am vain about certain features not talked about in present company, suffice to say I would possibly find myself waking the next day and find them altered in some embarrassing way, all for the sake of giving the plant and anyone who finds out a laugh." The mare turns her nose upward self importantly with a sniff. "Not that I have suffered such before."

Gilda smacks her scaled palm against her beak. "Of all the ignorant, Really? Even us backwards griffins know what alchemy is. As for poison joke, I bet Glimmer knows a few tricks to cure it. Anyway are you done packing the ingredients?"

With a roll of her eyes the merchant pony steps over to the counter. Sitting down she summons the list to herself once more, she lifts piece of charcoal in her magic and begins scratching off lines on the list. Within a few seconds she finishes the list and passes the bag across the counter. "Yes, here you go, that will be twenty three sovereign bits."

Gilda's Eyes widen at the amount, 'Damn, I could buy a plot of land with that many bits, possibly a small airye as well.' "lets see what we have here." The griffon silently whispers as she reaches one claw into the bag that Twilight had tossed her. pulling her claw out, she was greeted by the exact amount she needed for the purchase. 'The heck, I know the bag doesn't weigh enough to contain this kind of currency... Stupid unicorn magic.' She groans mentally as she passes the coins over to the pony across the counter, before grabbing the bag of herbs, latching them to her belt and leaving.

Stepping out onto the street, with a sour temperament and a small sack of exorbitantly expensive ingredients stashed safely within her satchel, Gilda felt like huffing in annoyance. Instead she forces a wry smile to form on the side of her beak. “Well, at least nothing went, bad.” ‘Besides, I’m on my way back to Glimmer, What’s the worst that can happen.’ she allows the errant thought to finish as she turns down the road. Following the signs, they lead her towards the main market.

“Gilda?” Stopping suddenly, the griffoness looks around, confused that somepony in the crowd would even recognize her, let alone know her name. Knowing she stuck out like a sore thumb, Gilda looks around trying to spot anyone that she’d recognize, without warning a Cyan face with a rainbow mane blocks her vision. “Gilda! Hey, long time no see.” Says the polychromatic pegasus, hovering above the ground. She holds a hoof out to the confused griffon.

“Rainbow Dash?” Gilda clenches her fist and bumps it with the floating pegasus. “Where the pluck did you come from?”

“I was just wandering through the crowd, when I noticed a griffin sticking a foot above the crowd like a sore wing.” Rainbow squints as she notices the splints covering Gilda’s wings. “Speaking of wings, what happened?” She says concernedly, worry masking over her features.
Gilda shrugs. "Got attacked by a group of bandits, got patched up." Rainbow gives Gilda a sharp glare, causing the griffon to sigh. "Now I owe a life debt to the unicorn that saved me."
A sly grin developes on Rainbow's face, forcing a groan from the griffon. "I don't believe it, Gilda the terror of shell cracker camp, gets taken down by a group of petty bandits?" Gilda increases her pace, Rainbow speeds up to stay alongside the irate griffon. "Ya gotta tell me who this unicorn is."

"Ughh, by the first shell, if it'll get you to stop pestering me about it I'll tell you. Capish?"

Rainbow holds a hoof to her chest, "On the sharpness of my claws. Now tell me!" She Exclaimed excitedly twirling in the air on her wings, and fluttering down to a hover on Gilda's other side.

"A purple unicorn going by the name of Glimmering Wisp, happened to see me fly over her as she was traveling along the road, two towns back, after hearing some fighting, she sprinted over an entire set of foothills on her own, and even reached me on the other side just as I passed out from the extended fighting, it should be obvious that I don't exactly know how she ended the battle." Gilda takes in a deep breath and releases it slowly. "What I do know was that she was able to get me out before the bucktards were able to finish me off." Letting her vision go unfocused for a moment, Gilda mentally goes over the fight a week before. "Though the what’s strange is that their magic was able to get past my magic proof pendant."

Rainbow’s eyes were wide as she turned to look at her childhood friend, “Whoa, really?” She exclaims.

“Yea.” Gilda winces at the memory, a small phantom pain running up the side of her right leg. “Before she rescued me, My wing bones were shattered, and the feathers had been mostly singed off, My front leg was also broken when one of the ground plodders caught me with a mourning spike. The rest of my body was nearly cut to ribbons.“ Gilda pauses a moments allowing Rainbow to digest the information. Gilda stops no longer hearing Rainbow’s wing beats next to her. Looking back she sees Rainbow Dash on the ground, mouth wide in awe. “Yea it wasn’-”

“How the buck did you survive!?” Rainbow nearly screeches as she shoots into the griffons face hooves cupping the avians beak tenderly. Tears flow out of Rainbow’s eyes as she imagines the pain Gilda must’ve gone through.

Gilda jerks her beak away from Rainbow’s hooves with a sigh. “The unicorn, she has some serious skill with potions. it’s been at least two weeks since the fight, and I should be able to fly in a few days once my plumage has regenerated.” Gilda shivers again as she remembers the various substances that Twilight had introduced her body and mouth to. ‘Though, sometimes I wonder if I would have preferred an extra month of healing over having to taste those potions again.’

“Really, wow, dude, you’ve got to show me, who she is.” Rainbow says, with desperation dripping in her voice. “I’ve need to thank her for saving you.”

“Fine, but keep up, we're almost there already.” Gilda smirks as she turns tail and swiftly passes through the crowd, Rainbow glides overhead, keeping an eye on the rushing griffon. Mere moments later the griffon, enters the market and continues weaving in between the ponies in the crowd with haste, a moment later, she leaps over the counter of one of the corner stalls, seconds later Rainbow flies between the awning and the countertop, avoiding both obstacles.

The sound of a glass beaker shattering behind the rainbow maned pegasus announces that her flight wasn’t as graceful as her landing would let the average onlooker believe. Gilda smirks, giving Rainbow a sly look. “Still can’t land without crashing into something eh Dash?”

“Shut it feather fluff.”

“Schnnnt.” Not holding back anymore Gilda releases a long hearty belly laugh. The air temperature drops several degrees and all goes silent as a third voice makes itself known.

“Quiet. The solution I’m working with, is too volatile for this kind of shenanigans at the moment.” With the room now as she asked, the mare speaks again. “Gilda I see that you’ve returned, do you have the supplies I requested?” In answer the griffoness pulls the small bag from the satchel strapped behind her wings, Twilight nods lighting her horn. “Thank you for coming back so swiftly.” Twilight says cheerfully as she levitates the bag and its herbal contents over to herself.

Looking past the griffon, Twilight’s vision sharpens to a spear point as she glairs at the polychromatic pegasus, as if expecting something. Raising an eyebrow, “What’s got your tail in a knot?” Rainbow asks snarkily.

Twilight rolls her eyes. “You should already know, but since you don’t I’ll tell you. It’s common courtesy to clean up after yourself, especially when you’ve made a mess of someone else's wares.” Twilight answers comely.

“What?!” Rainbow exclaims in irritation. “Heck no, why don’t you clean it up with your unicorn magic” The rainbow pegasus goads, snarkily adding, “Should be easy enough for a horn head like yoOou.”

“Rainbow.” Gilda whispers warningly, a slight trace of fear could be heard.

Before Rainbow can answer, Twilight responds in the same calm voice. “I could, but then I would be sorely tempted to shatter the reformed beaker over your head which would be counter productive to fixing it in the first place.”

“Oooh, so you can use some big words, big whup, you don’t scare me.” Rainbow says, a cool smile set upon her face.

“Rainbow... ”

“I’m being totally serial right now, Get. Over. Yourself. It’s just a piece of glass, just have another one made.” The pegasus says her nonchalant smile turning into a cruel smirk.

“RAINBOW!”

“What Gilda, can’t you see I’m in the middle of insulting a... Unicorn?” Rainbow.exe has crashed please reboot to restore program operation. The griffon smacks her friend upside the head, while unnoticed by either of them, Twilight’s cloak had begun to undulate with irritation. Rainbow having regained her senses, turns and gave Gilda a hard look. “Wait, so you mean to say that, the pony who saved you, is this Unicorn right here.” Rainbow points her wing in Twilight’s general direction.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, not all unicorns are worth only the horns on their heads and the magic they wield.” Gilda sighs in annoyance. “Glimmer here pulled my feathers out of the fire twice. Now she’s helping me recover from my injuries, and all she’s asking is that I keep up with her as she travels.” The irate griffon smacks Rainbow’s hoof down. “And now your antagonizing the one unicorn that I’ve met who is actually worth more than any wing of talons I’ve met.”

“Glimmer? Glimmering… Wisp!?” Rainbow’s eyes bug out as a terrible realization falls upon her, her eyes focus on the unicorn in her immediate vicinity, and begins comparing her looks to some of the stories she’s heard in her travels, and finds both disturbingly matching. And the unicorn looks absolutely livid at the moment. Rainbow Dash suddenly jumps forward, and sits down holding her forehooves together and pointing them to the unicorn pleadingly. “Oh, my gosh I’m so sorry, I didn’t,-”

“Think?” Twilight cuts her off bitterly. “No, you didn’t otherwise you would have realized that Gilda was trying to keep you from beginning your moronic rant.” Giving gilda a pointed stare Twilight returns her gaze to the pleading pegasus before her pitilessly. “However,” The cloak finally settles as Twilight allows a small smile to warm her otherwise cold features. “I will forgive you just this once, BUT! I still require that you clean the mess you made, shattered glass is not safe to walk on even with hooves.” Twilight summons two hard light objects, and floats them over to Rainbow, one consisting of bristles and a slender length, with a hoof grip at the end and towards the middle of the glowing object. The other consisting of a square box with a rectangular opening, and a slender length with a mouth grip at the end, protruding at a right angle from the slot.

Twilight smiles kicking a Wooden bucket towards the rainbow pegasus, The potion suddenly turns from a calm blue to a violent purple expelling a purplish green puff of smoke pulling her attention away. Gilda chuckles slightly as Rainbow scowls at the glowing objects. “Buck you Gilda.” Rainbow growels not turning her attention away from the tools for even a moment. With a sigh she grips the improvised broom and begins sweeping up the beaker fragments, Gilda laughing all the while. “Shut up Gilda, at least I wasn’t an improvised carrier pigeon.”

The griffons laughing stops for a moment, silence permeates the room save for the bubbling of the cauldron and the whooshing sweeps of a broom. then just as suddenly as she stops Gilda bowls over laughing even harder, her good wing slapping the ground in mirth. “HAhhaha. OH, DASH! I just lost a bet. But you, you got strong armed into actually cleaning up one of your messes for once!” Gilda folds her wing and rolls onto her back her back legs and good foreleg kicking wildly into the air as she loses control, laughing at the pegasus’s embarrassment.

After a few moments Gilda finally calms down. Looking up she finds Rainbow grumbling under her breath while Twilight stares at her silently, Hooves pushing the oar that is agitating the potion into it’s previous blue aura. “Alright I’m done interrupting.” Gilda Waves her good claw as if to brush away something unpalatable. “No need to stare me to death, sheesh.” She mutters under her breath. Twilight nods once then returns to her potion.

Some Time passes as Gilda lays down near the cauldron, Her head resting on her forelegs. Rainbow having finished sweeping the glass fragments, lays next to the griffon and whispers softly in the avians ear. “I will get my revenge.”

Gilda chuckles softly in response before answering wittily. “In your dreams maybe.” The griffon mumbles softly into the pegasus’s ear.

Rainbow chuckles softly, “Actually I think I’ve heard stories about your new friend. If I remember correctly, You said her name was Glimmering Wisp right?” The griffon rolls her eyes dramatically, Neither of them notice one of the unicorns ears flicking backwards in their direction. “Well, one story has her called the ‘Saint of Saddle Rest’ She came trotting into town next to a burly earth pony stallion, The locals thought nothing of it, just another group of travelers that would be gone the next day weather they stayed the night in town or not.”

Rainbow coughs slightly, clearing her throat, then licking her lips she continues the tale. “Aaanyway, despite the coldness the locals showed towards her and her companion. She chose to stay the night at the local inn. However as usual during the night, the demon shape shifters came to take her and her companion away. However unlike other nights, instead of being subdued in their sleep, Glimmer somehow knew they were there and even managed to fight them off. After defeating the ones sent to subdue her, she managed to chase down the demons that had captured her companion and killed them, but not only that. After getting her companion to safety she left in the middle of the night and destroyed the demons portal. However when the townsfolk had come to seek them out and thank them for what they had done, the duo already left the town leaving little trace that they had ever been there.“

Rainbow smirks,“Now I don’t know if the story was a bunch of hooey, but I do know that the town used to have a problem keeping visitors until up to a few years ago a few months after the ‘Wandering Alchemist’ had arrived in the Equestrian outskirts. Also for some odd reason, barring your meeting, bandits have been at an alltime low. At least on the equestrian side of the griffon border.” The slightly hyperactive pegasus shiftily looks left and right, still not spotting the slightly twitched ear listening in on their conversation. “Now just between you and me. I think your friend there is more than she says she is. Not that it isn’t a good thing, it’s just I don’t know what her angle in all of this is.”

Gilda looks incredulously at Rainbow Dash, unable to decide whether to slap her idiot friend upside the head for insensitive speculation, or to facepalm in disappointment for the same reason. however before she has a chance to decide a lavender glow disrupts both of them from their thoughts as Several bottles of various sizes and designs float from Twilights saddlebags over to her modestly sized kettle. “I hope you two have had a good rest.” Twilight says as she dips the bottles directly into the cooling brew, the fire having somehow extinguished itself without either of their notice. “I haven't received many orders today, so I’ll just preserve the ingredients you retrieved for me, until they are needed. Now if you’ll give me a few moments I’ll be distributing these colloquially dubbed, ‘Health Potions’ to my customers, when I return I shall acquire sleeping arrangements for Gilda and myself.”

Having filled the last flask, Twilight promptly steps around the counter and into the market, several potions of various sizes and shapes floating behind her. “Oh and GIlda, would you mind making sure your friend doesn’t break anymore beakers, I do not like reforging glass bottles.” With the last bit spoken she disappears into the crowded evening market.

Before Dash could say anything in retort after the young mage, Gilda grabs her mouth and shoves the brash pegasus into the ground. “You’re letting your mouth get ahead of you brain again Dash!” The Pegasus stops struggling after a second, as the information gets past her Thoughts and rams through the door imprisoning her reason. “Can I let you go without you causing another incident?” Rainbow nods slowly. With a smirk Gilda lets the pegasus go and stands tall and watches her pegasus friend do the same, a few small scratches visible on her muzzle due to the griffons rough handling.

“Damn it Gilda, you don’t have to grab me so hard, I think you broke skin.” Reaching up she dabs one of the cuts on her left cheek where Gilda’s thumb held her the tightest and her hoof comes away with a small speck of blood. Scowling viciously, Rainbow shoves her scarlet speckled hoof in Gildas face, “Dang it Gilda, look at what you did. LOOK! I mean seriously, you didn’t have to make me bleed, you know how much I hate getting blood in my fur, it makes it all sticky.” The pegasus shivers.

Gilda rolls her eyes before grabbing a nearby bucket and washcloth and dropping them in front of the distraught pegasus, then filling the bucket with water before slapping the soaked rag into Rainbow’s face.

Ripping the cloth off her face, Rainbow screeches, “Hay! What gives?”

“If you don’t want the blood to get stuck in your fur, I’d recommend washing it out while it’s still easy to clean.” Gilda then lays back down onto the floor, resting as Rainbow Dash simmers and wipes at the mini cuts and gashes, cleaning them with the towel. Suddenly she perks up, dropping the towel back in the water filled bucket, as she stares unerringly at a slightly glowing potion somewhat sticking out the back of the saddlebags Twilight had left behind when she went to deliver her healing potions.

“Where did-”

“Dash, No!”

“But how can-”

“I said no, don’t touch her stuff.” Gilda says as she swats the questing hoof away from the pack.

“But liquid rainbow, it too volatile to keep this close to the ground!” Rainbow explains as she reaches towards the glowing mixture of varying colors, again.

Gilda swats the hoof away once more. “That’s why you shouldn’t touch, you don’t know what kind of protection she has around the bottle to keep that stuff from blowing our flanks into next season.” Gilda growls, angrily. “Besides, what if touching it causes it to go-” Gilda’s eye twitches, Rainbow’s hoof is touching the bottle. Lifting it off the stand, Rainbow inspects the bottle and sees a cork top keeping the liquid rainbow sealed inside, the cork itself inscribed with a strange rune.

However before she can get a better look, she sees Gilda coming at her from the left. “Rainbow, put that back.“

Rainbow jumps away at the last second, smirking a bit she responds, “Nah, I think I want to see what the egghead is up to, I mean it’s gotta be serious if synthesized rainbow is involved.”

Gilda begins to rumble angrily before springing into action, and the chase was on.

An hour and a half later…

Twilight steps back behind the small market stall one look at her pack gives her all the information she needs to know where the other two occupants had disappeared to. Lighting her horn, Twilight waits a few seconds, then with a sharp report, the vial of glowing rainbow shoots into the air before her, then floats gently in the air a loud shuffling sound and several whines notifies her to the other arrivals, as Gilda drags in an uncooperative Rainbow Dash wings tied to her forelegs, and back legs glued together with her tail, her face covered in a makeshift muzzle.

Twilight raises an eyebrow questioningly towards the Griffon. Noting Twilights gaze Gilda drops Rainbow next to the water bucket. “Sorry Wisp, I tried to stop her, but she just up and took it before I could stop her.”

With a nod Twilight turns her attention to the vial, noting the lack of damage, and the seal had remained untampered. “Thank you for your quick response, I’m glad she was so magically inept that she didn’t even know how to break the runic seal. A good thing too, considering that this is a vial of pure unsynthesized emotional energy. Unlike the volatile liquid rainbow pegasi make with synthesized emotions and water, this if opened could easily drive the town insane from its mere release. Imagine every emotion you could think of striking everyone within a three mile radius at the same time.” Rainbow Dash flinches as the meaning of the words trickles in through her leaded cranium.

Gilda visibly pales through her feathers, as she realizes the sheer magnitude of what her failure would have incurred. Hesitantly she comments, “So basically, it would have caused everyone to go crazy, regardless?”

“No, it would have resulted in complete pandemonium as every last creature within a three mile radius of the potion, suddenly loses control of their emotions and faculties.” Twilight answers frigidly. “It is fortunate she didn’t manage to shatter the container during your rush to catch her.” After a few seconds her demeanor brightens greatly. “Thank you for attempting to protect my property, Gilda. But I know how to keep my property from remaining in irresponsible hooves for longer than knowledge of the theft.” She finishes scowling at the guilty pegasus.

Gilda smiles somewhat reservedly, “Ahhh, You’re welcome Glimmer, I’m just thankful that you’re trick paused her long enough for me to catch her.” Gilda answers patting Rainbows head with a foreleg.

Pressing her lips tightly Twilight closes her eyes and releases a sigh. “Honestly it’s not her fault, liquid rainbow is a highly volatile substance, just several ounces can destroy a house on ground level. Also pegasi are taught, ‘More indoctrinated.’ at a young age to treat Liquid rainbow carefully and ensure that any found on or near ground level is brought back to the clouds, otherwise the results could be disastrous.” Looking back into Gilda’s eyes Twilight continues. “Honestly this is my fault, when I pulled the bottle of liquid emotion from my saddlebags, I should have remembered that, they have a shimmering effect similar to that of condensed liquid rainbow. It would be just as alluring to pegasi as fresh meat is to a hungry griffon.”

Gilda’s stomach grumbles at the mention of fresh meat, Gilda’s face flushes red as both Twilight and Rainbow chuckle in response to her digestions complaints to the pony fare she had been consuming as of late. Face still red, she lashes out, striking the still laughing rainbow in the stomach with the paw of her hind leg. “It’s not my fault I haven’t had any real food in the past week.” She says extending her injured wing within it’s sling as far as it allows and pointing it in Twilight’s direction. “Glimmers soups are awesome, but I can only have so much before craving something with more flavor than carrots and beets.”

Twilight's eyebrow arches upward as she is told this new information. "If you wanted meat you could have asked, I would have put some rabbit into the stew. It's not as if I haven't hunted, or eaten meat before" Twilight Then pulls a small leaf folded package from her Saddlebags and floats it over to the griffon.

Taking the strangely packaged Item into her Claws, Gilda Swiftly cuts a slit into the leaf facing her eyes, slowly blood begins oozing out of the freshly cut opening. Gilda looks at the substance with slight interest, leaning a bit closer she sniffs the viscous substance as it drools onto her foretallons. ‘Hmm, smells like venison. Wait, how’d she get deer meat?’ Her thoughts write themselves plainly on her face as Gilda stares blankly at the lavender mage. “How...”

Twilight releases a small chuckle before calming herself once more. “As you said before unicorns have better use than being magical tools, in my case, I’ve learned a few spells that allow me to preserve my ingredients indefinitely. Though one of the downsides would be that I’m the only one that can retrieve the items from the container I placed them in. Honestly it is more an inconvenience than anything else.” Twilight sighs as she pulls out another satchel of meat and tosses it in Gilda’s direction. “Here, eat something before we head to the Drunken Rat, I don’t want you scaring the other patrons with your hunger when we get there.” Twilight warns stiffly before turning and walking over to the bound and gagged pegasus.

Gilda knew the contents of the second package just as she caught it, the way it slipped inside the firm leaf bindings practically screamed fish. Deciding not to open the second package yet, she sets it on the table and holds the first pack before her and without any fanfare, she digs into the package with gusto, tearing out the meat in large chunks, using only her beak she manages to swiftly scarf down the raw, and surprisingly still steaming venison. After finishing the first satchel, she eyes the second one, and lets out a small ‘urp’ of content. With a nod to herself, she tears through the leaf on the corner of the package, then lifts it over her head, making sure the opening is facing towards her open beak, then she squeezes the leaf satchel and forces the slimy pink contents to slip right down her gullet.

Gilda collapses to her back legs, her eyes fluttering half open as she moans in ecstasy. Twilight rolls her eyes at the lewd demonstration, while Rainbow gags in disgust even with her mouth bound by a cloth muffler. ‘She’s going to be distracted for a minute or two from the sounds of it… Might as well take this chance to talk with Rainbow Dash without Gilda’s distraction.’ Lighting her horn Twilight pulls the gag from Rainbow’s mouth, “So, Rainbow Dash, now that our mutual friend is distracted, why don’t you tell me how you came about my exploits in Saddle Rest?”

Rainbow Dash takes one look to Gilda who’s just about to moan again in delight and decides that answering Twilight’s question would be the lesser of the two evils. “Fine, So I was passing through Applecrest, and had stopped in the local tavern to top off my water pouches, when I overheard these two ponies dressed in business suits talking about it to one of the other patrons who looked like a bruiser of an earth pony, anyway they looked like the manhattan type, so I was wondering who they were and decided to listen in on their conversation. You know in case they were conspiring to endanger the town, not because I’m a spy or anything, cause I’m not. But when I overheard them say demon I was hooked, and listened to the entire exchange. Anyway I already told Gilda and you the same thing that they said, it was SOO AWESOME!”

Within the split second after Rainbow Dash's last word A certain young drake decides to speak his mind with Twilight’s swift thoughts. ‘Hey mom, are you thinking what I’m thinking?’

‘Ferrus?’

‘The one and only.’

‘Yes, though I really wish to know her motive for spreading these tall tales and falsities?’

‘... are you going to-’

‘Yes, I think I’m going to try and get a chance to speak directly to her, even if it’s through a drone.’

‘Your pausing too long, you might want to respond to that idiotic pegasus.’

‘Who happens to be Gilda’s friend, also I need to work on keeping my feelings for others to myself before those connected to me, like you, meet them in person. Despite my thoughts on the matter, you might actually like this one.’

‘Yea yea, anyway I’m going back to my nap, call me when you get to the room. Also you might actually want to at least think about responding before your conversation with Rainbow Splash tries something else breath worthy.’ Twilight mentally rolls her eyes at the statement before returning to the ponderous real world, from the hyper communicative plane of thoughts.

Taking in a breath, Rainbow cuts Twilight off before she could interject. “Aany way, whatever happened to your fr- Oh.” Rainbow notices the mood on Twilight's face drop like lead. “Sorry.” She adds softly, knowing the look of loss, having seen it a few times in the mirror after her tour in the griffon states.

“It’s alright, you didn’t know. Besides, I’ve accepted his fate.” Twilight replies calmly, her eyes still shadowed with grief. Rainbow decides not to push the subject.

“Thanks, so I was wondering… Would it be ok for my caravan to tag along with you? We’ve been able to avoid fights on the roads so far, but bandits lately have been getting more violent than they used to. I can hold my own in a fight, but my traveling partner can’t.”

Twilight looks over the pegasus, similar to how Gilda eyed the venison as she gleefully ripped into it. “Hmm, you don’t look trained for fighting either, most of your muscles look like they were trained for speed and aerial maneuvers rather than hard collisions.”

Rainbows tail flicks back, a scowl firms onto her face as glairs at the unicorn standing before her. “Oh,reeally? Wanna come over and test that little thought?” She growls irritably.

“Dash, I usually don’t say this, but just shut up listen to her” Gilda says, having exited her food induced coma. “Glimmer what were you getting at.”

“Yes!” The lavender unicorn says simply

“What?” Gilda and Rainbow Dash utter in at the same time.

“I say yes, I’ll allow your group to join with mine, Mrs. Dash, However I must set some ground rules for you if you are to travel with me. In the wilderness, I decide where we camp, you follow my chosen trails through the mountains, and anything that we do off the roads remains amongst our group. Understood?” Twilight finishes firmly.

Rainbow gives Twilight an incredulous look, “What do you mean, I understand you wanting to lead us along safer trails, but what could we possibly be doing offroad?”

Gilda and Twilight share a look, Gilda nods and Twilight lowers her head releasing a breathy sigh. “I like to study ancient structures when I have spare time, usually after sprinting ahead, I also visit some… Less appreciated individuals when I get the chance. They usually know some hidden nuggets of knowledge that I hadn’t thought of before and help me further my research on differing fields.”

Gilda speaks up right as the last word leaves Twilight’s lips. “Basically she means, she has friends who are nice, but tend to attract the Torch and pitchfork kind of crowd when they are introduced to the townsfolk. Also she has a knack for stirring up trouble in the ruins she visits. Now I know I haven’t been with her for very long-”

“Twenty Nine days, almost two and a half turns.” Twilight pipes up.

“Quiet, you!” Gilda retorts sharply. “Now where was i- Oh, yea. Anyway, Glimmering Wisp is very specific about the company she keeps. Sometimes it’s the townsfolk who for some odd reason love her to no end, and other times she hangs with the wierdest crowd, such as a deer sage, or even that strange unicorn in the cave, I swear the walls were mounted with skeletons and all sorts of wierd stuff.” Clearing her throat Gilda continues. “and don’t even get me started on that crumbling watchtower you found. I swear if I hadn’t been too injured to move, I’d have jumped out of the cart and ran for it, I still have nightmares of those sounds.”

Twilight smiles slightly, “Yes the remnants of a griffon attack spell sometimes involved reanimation curses. I was actually surprised to find one that hadn’t decayed beyond its ability to hold a proper form.” Twilight holds a hoof to her chin to ponder how it was done, ‘Oh, yea there was a remnant spell rune, carved into the keystone above the main doors.’ “Must’ve been carved after the griffons had taken the tower, since I found the griffon rune crafted into the stone of the structure itself.”

Twilight smiles slyly as she watches the flabbergasted Rainbow Dash try and articulate her response through the sheer amount of disbelief and awesome impeding her thought processes. After a few moments Rainbow is finally able to wrap herself back together and respond. “Wait so you mean we get to go on adventures? Like in those books I used to read as a foal?” Twilight waves her hoof side to side, as if to say maybe. “YEEea, I’m totally up for it. I’ll even swear on my wings if I need to. I’ll be quiet about our adventures. And thanks for lettin me and Flutters join… Oh wait I need to tell her Right away. Hay where should I meet you in the morning?” Rainbow asks, having taken back to the air and preparing to bolt out into the night, the sun having gone down half an hour ago.

Twilight smiles in response to the acceptance of her demands. “No need to endanger your wings with a binding oath. your promise does well enough, and as for meeting in the morning, why not the southern road out of town, at the welcome sign.”

“Sure, Thanks, Now off to find Flutters and tell her the good news.” ‘I hope she isn’t mad.’ With that thought, she takes off like a rocket out of the tent and into the star bejeweled night sky.

Twilight and Gilda watch as the colorful pegasus fades into the night sky, holding their positions for but a moment before Twilight quietly breaks the silence. “Let’s go Gilda, I still need to plan our route to Whiterun.”

“Yea, yea, no need to tell me twice. I’m commin.” Gilda follows Twilight out of the stall as they head their own way into the night. Twilight enveloping them in shadows too thick to see through yet thin enough as to be unnoticeable. Twilight already wearing her pack with all the supplies she had taken out earlier somehow already safely packed away without gilda noticing even a hint of her doing so.

Gilda shakes her head, trying to rid herself of yet the latest in a series of unexplained mysteries about her new companion. ‘Maybe she did it while I and Rainbow Dash were distracted, she is really good at multitasking.’ Releasing a sigh, she allows a thought to come through quelling the mystery before she became too tied up.

In the front Twilight leads the way, soft hoofing her way around the buildings and through alleys as if they were main roads, in some cases forcing Gilda out of her contemplations to catch up. After a few minutes, they’ve crossed the town from the market place in the north western quarter to the drunken rat tavern standing along the southern road. The Sign above painted in hues of brown and pink, depicting a rat with bubbles above its head and a pint stein held next to it by its tail.one of the doors was slightly askew with warm firelight spilling onto the moonlit streets. Her horn lighting up Twilight pushes the door further inward, allowing entry for both herself and Gilda.

As they step in, Twilight makes a quick note of the patrons currently in the establishment, A lone pegasus stallion with a ruddy complexion and untamed hair wearing a cloak with a slight bulge poking into the traveling cloak and over his right shoulder resting at the bar, Three red eyed blushing mares Gossipping at on of the tables near the door, a pair of stallions seeming to have a quiet discussion in Trottski, however she easily identifies the Chittry accent lacing their conversation near he main fireplace. Deciding not to act now while Gilda was with her, she heads towards the inn keep at the bar, A glass mug held in one hoof while the other polishes it with a brown cloth. Stopping at the counter she calls to the inn keep. “It’s Glimmer, I’m ready for the key and room.”

Without taking his eyes from his work, his horn lights and a key floats from the counter, held in the same glow as his horn, he places the key before the young unicorn allowing his horn to dimm once more. Twilight lights her own horn grasping the key, in her magic. She lifts it before her eyes and reads the roughly etched seven emblazoned on the back. With a smile Twilight walks over to the hallway Gilda following behind silently. Entering the hallway, Twilight easily spots the door with the same number carved simply on its frame, Twilight places the key against the upper door lock and smiles as the enchanted key responds to the locks runes forcing the latch to release, and allowing her and Gilda’s entry.

Gilda grumbles slightly having noticed the ease of the spell lock, and decides to voice her gripe. “Why don’t we have any of those in the griffon states?”

Twilight answers softly while laying down her saddlebags to the side. “You do, it’s just that you don’t have enough properly trained unicorns to make them common in the states. instead each unicorn that arrives to help is instead sent to the front lines to help fight against the dragons.”

“Oh yea....” Gilda replies awkwardly, a blush forming on her cheeks, after Twiight pointed out the obvious answer. “Hay-”

“You should get some rest” Twilight interrupts “You’re obviously tired, and could use the sleep. I’ll be back in a bit, I have something I need to do first. Take care.” Twilight says before exiting and locking the door behind her, but not before hearing a faint “I’M NOT A CHICK Y-” With a click the sound barrier goes back up on top of the Tumblr binding. It would take a master key from the sheriff station to open the door from the outside without the properly encoded key on hoof. Stepping back down the Hallway, Twilight rounds the corner, and spots the pair of stallions from before, catching them staring in her direction. With a Grin she Trots over to them, “Mind if I sit with you, I have some Ferrus Oxide I’d like to trade.”

Both Stallions Blink in unison, as they suddenly drop any attempt at acting. The one on the left speaks in Chittish “Nicht hier, unsere Königin möchte mit Ihnen in Zimmer vier sprechen.‘Not here, our queen would wish to speak with you in room four.’”

Twilight nods in agreement and waves a hoof in the direction of the hallway she had just came from. “Aah, dann lasst uns jetzt dort hingehen. ‘Ahh, then let us head there now.’” ‘Fang meet me at the window to room four in a few moments, I’ll let you in there.’ The image of a lifted wing appears in her thoughts as the answer.

The stallions stand in unison and step around the table to follow behind Twilight predatory grins spread across their faces as they walk into the hallway behind the young mare, to the observer, there meeting as shown would be misinterpreted as a simple exchange of sexual services for information or trade concessions. But both parties involved understand the seriousness of Twilight's inquiry.

Upon reaching the door, Twilight steps aside allowing the Trottingham dressed stallions place their key to the door and open it. their expressions drop, their false grins fading into worried lines, the slight shine of sweat could be seen on the one closest to the lavender unicorn.

Twilight smiles gently as she gestures towards the open door. “Shall we?”

Decomposing Lies

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

A Mcgriffon adventure Part 2 Decomposing Lies

Twilight smiles gently as she gestures towards the open door. “Shall we?” She says sweetly. Both stallions look towards each other passing more information in the single glance, than was said in the entirety of their conversation, the biggest thought to cross their minds was. ‘Lets hope this ends well.’ With those last words, they pass through the portal into what they knew to be an untenable situation. With a slight push of Twilight’s magic the door closes silently behind them, sealing all three within the room.

“Alright Glimmer, what do you wish to speak with our queen about? She is a very busy royal.” The pony on the right asks. Meanwhile the one on the left walks over to one of the twin beds and lays down on his stomach, closing his eyes. With green flash and whoosh of emerald flames a greyish black chitin shell is left behind as skin and fur burns away, the changelings reveal themselves, their curved horns, and fly like wings standing undamaged, small holes mark their legs, revealing their well fed nature. Their eyes glow an electric blue as they calmly stare in Twilight’s direction.

“I ask that she tell me why the hive is spreading false rumors about my accomplishments, and why I have not been informed of this during our previous meetings.” Twilight demands gently, trying to make him understand that the situation is not as dire as he and his companion originally thought.

‘Mom, I’m here.’ A voice calls within her head. an image comes unbidden to Twilight’s thoughts of a view from outside the tavern Facing towards one of the dimly lit windows, the point of vantage being relative to the height of the building across the street.

With a simple flicker of thought Twilight unleashes her magic in the form of telekinetic force, and applies a bit of it to the nearby window, pulling the latch and pushing the double windows open, allowing the midnight breeze in. Another flicker of thought and she passes an image on of viewing her from outside the window, with light shimmering off of her fur and mane, as well as revealing the bright yellow of the drapes as they flap to the sides in the cool night winds. Both changelings decide not to comment on Twilight's strange action.Then after a few seconds a small blur of scales, claws, and teeth darts through the open window, and twirls around the lavender mare’s head chittering like mad as it darts about too and fro, like a high strung foal after mixing coffee and chocolate cake.

‘Mooom, can’t you speak with them later, I wanna mess with Gilda some more.’ The drake grumbles, settling onto the small of Twilight’s back.

‘Now, now Fang, there’ll be time for that later.’ She responds, snickering at the young drake’s discomfort. Settling down, Fang gives Twilight a dirty look, his snout drawn tight and his eyes slightly lidded as he attempts to stare into hers; as she watches the standing changeling slump. Feeling that he’ll get no rise out of her, he relaxes onto her back and lays his head down to rest. Twilight’s cloak slowly envelops after hi breathing drops to a steady and slow rhythm.

“Ferrus?” Twilight says simply as she watches the inactive changeling. Tapping the floor twice with a hoof, Twilight looks towards the other drone resting on the bed. The creature raises its forearms and shrugs his shoulders admitting his lack of knowledge to when his queen would respond. Releasing a sigh, Twilight returns her attention to the first changeling, a somewhat concerned look beginning to creep onto her features as the drone continues to remain inactive. “(Will this hurt him?)” She asks glancing at the other occupant. Feeling her attention fall back upon him he fervently shakes his head negatively, even as her asuaged curiosity turns from him once more.

As her vision falls upon the first changeling, She notices a distinct change, he is standing straight, his head facing forward, and gaze upon her, however he biggest difference is the reddish brown glaze covering his otherwise soft electric blue eyes. Before she can open her mouth to voice a query, he begins speaking, an effeminate voice taking the place of his own. “Ah, Glimmer. So good to meet you again, have these two given you any trouble?”

Twilight smiles brightly, “No, they’ve been very helpful, though they could use a bit more training on how to be discreet, had there been any knights from Canterlot below, be sure that we wouldn’t be speaking at the moment.”

The changelings lids widen ever so slightly as she looks to the other changeling on the bed then smiles gently, “Is that so?” She says with a hint of a rebuke in her tone. The drone, suddenly shivers and bows fearing the worst. “I guess you were almost finished with your mission anyway, I’ll just have to ask you and Shel Gleam to return a few days early.” Returning to Twilight she hums quietly for almost half a second before asking, “But the tactlessness of my drones is not what you came to speak with me about is it?” Twilight nods, while the other changeling in the room collapses onto his side in relief at the minor punishment he’s receiving.

“No queen Ferrus, but it is similar, I would like to know about these rumors coming out of Saddle Rest involving my fight against the other changeling hive.” Twilight requests politely, eying the queen controlled Shel Gleam thoughtfully.

Queen Ferrus decides not to make Twilight wait longer than she needs to. “Ah, the new pet projects some of my little changelings have cooked up. I’m surprised you’ve heard it so soon, do you like it?” the query flows smoothly from the queen’s lips, as she gives the young unicorn a matronly smile of pride.

Twilight grimaces as she swiftly contemplates the pro’s and con’s of what the queen stated. With a drawn out sigh she returns her attention to the patiently waiting Queen, the soft light of the nearby light enchanted crystals causing her face to glow softly in the dim atmosphere. “I’m sorry, but it needs to stop, I am asking that you convince your changelings to stop telling the story, I know they mean well, however I would like to avoid getting attention from some of the more stable parts of Equestria, I would rather not have to speak with any more of the… Celestial knights, you called them?” Ferrus hums assent and nods. “I would like to avoid encountering them as much as possible. I don’t exactly remember much about my foalhood, but what I do remember makes me wonder if meeting them would be a good thing.”

The queen gives Twilight a stoic,emotionless look, as the gears work, processing information and helping her formulate a response. “It will take some time, other ponies will become suspicious if the story suddenly stops circulating. But if it is your wish, then in this matter, I shall assist.” Ferrus commands the foreign hoof under her control forward, and lightly taps it against the young mare's nose. “However, you will assist my children, they’ve endangered themselves to establish a line of communication with me. Is this fair?”

Twilight having already planned on giving the pair recompense for their assistance answers without any hesitation. “I will, however there are a few limitations at the moment, I cannot return to my room smelling like the previous times I’ve assisted, I have a new companion, and she would be suspicious if I returned scent of fornication, also as a griffon and natural hunter her sense of smell is also heightened, however I shall endeavor to assist in other meaningful ways this night. In fact...” Twilight pauses as she reaches over and pulls one of the saddlebags on her sides open. after a second or so of rifling through the contents therein, Twilight pulls out the glass bottle, the contents swirling around in colorful flashes, revealing themselves as liquefied emotion as a flash of green bursts from the changelings horns as they sense the overwhelming amount of emotional energy contained within the flask. However before Twilight utters another word, her ears perk. A rustle from outside catches her attention.

Deciding not to bring any attention to herself she flares her horn a bit brighter, several near-invisible tendrils of magic flow from her horn towards the window. Two wrap gently around the windows lock and shutter, while the others gather into corkscrew shapes, building up tension, all of this within the space of few, short seconds. Just as she is about to Ferrus in one of her changelings is about to speak when Twilight lifts a hoof tapping it against her ear, at the request the queen stills her question as Twilight finishes letting her hoof back down.

At an undisclosed mark, Twilight sends the first pulse. The tendrils stream into action, the other unoccupied tendrils surge through the window shutter and grasp onto something floating midair wrapping themselves firmly onto the different parts of the creature. Almost an instant later Twilight sends a pulse from her horn, this time causing the ethereal entities at the window to unlatch the shutter and push it open; allowing the remaining tendrils to pull the now struggling object into the room by wing, neck, hoof, and tail. With a third pulse Twilight commands the original two tendrils to silently close the shutter and relock it before dissipating into magic noise, while the remaining four finish pulling the struggling pony into the light. Both Twilight and the Changelings stare at the pony with both surprise and in Queen Ferrus’ case more than a little suspicion as represented by the scowl morphed onto the puppeted harvester’s face.

“Nnnghu, Let me go or so help… me.” The revealed pegasus gets a better look at the group in the room, a furious changeling with glowing eyes, another changeling on the bed with wide blue eyes tinged yellow with alarm, and a curious lavender unicorn with her horn still glowing as the tendrils of etheric energy hold her gently but firmly against the floor in an uncomfortable sitting position.

Before Twilight can speak her thoughts on the matter, Queen Ferrus speaks out harshly in outrage, “A spy, Here? Who sent you worm.” She scrutinizes the pegasus, observing the young mare’s reactions.

Twilight holds a hoof before the queen halting her advance. “Be calm. Now, Rainbow Dash, what made you think watching into the privacies of somepony else’s room was an intelligent idea?”

“Yea? What are you doing with the same demons that the story said you killed? Huh?” Rainbow retorts belligerently. While poking her unbound wing in the general direction of the changelings.

The Queen, glances towards Twilight, The young magician sighs. “I was actually discussing that with Qu-” The changeling Queen bumps Twilight's leg interrupting her. Twilight glances back and Ferrus’s puppet shakes it’s head negatively. Turning back to Rainbow Dash who was now glaring at the pair even more suspicious, and continues. “My changeling allies, who for more or less were spreading the rumor after I had chased off one of their rival hives from Saddle Rest, not that I make the trip there anymore.” Twilight rolls her eyes in an exaggerated loop before a sudden rustling from her back catches Twilight’s interest, as Fang pokes his head through the top of her cloak. He gets one good look at Rainbow Dash caught in Twilight’s magic before a purring chuckle issues forth from deep within his chest.

‘Oh, look mom, it seems you’ve caught a keeper, can I pet her? I promise to be gentle.’ Twilight sighs once more before telekinetically slapping drake in the back of the head, burying him into the silky cloak. ‘Hay what was that for?’ He protests, glaring into Twilight’s right eye.

‘First she was spying on us, and second she is Gilda’s friend. If I left her to your tender mercies I doubt I would hear the end of it from our griffon companion, and third I’m going to extract an oath of silence from her before the end of this meeting,’ Twilight answers firmly.

Fang just shakes his scaled head in annoyance before tucking himself under the cloak once more. ‘Fine, I’m going back to sleep, wake me up when something fun is about to happen.’

‘I’ll be sure to.’ Twilight answers as Fang returns to his slumber, the conversation having taken place within a couple seconds as the changelings silently stare down the pinned pegasus. Twilight returns her attention to the sky blue pegasus in her magical grasp. “To continue, the story will dwindle into silence before too long. Besides I would rather remain off the tabloids or any form of social media, I’m a potion maker, not a fool,” Having answered, she waits for the pegasus to speak.

Rainbow Dash glares at Twilight with steely determination, “What the heck is a changeling, and what do you mean you’ve told them to stop? You can’t just control a story!”

Queen Ferrus speaks out before Twilight can answer, “No, she cannot, however it is very easy to silence one when you control the ones responsible for spreading it in the first place. My subjects will listen to me and they will stop proliferating it as young Glimmer here here has requested. After a time it will be little more than a memory to those who’ve heard it.” The queen nods to Twilight giving her the opening to speak.

Twilight nods in return before gesturing to the room’s non pony occupants with a sweep of her hoof. “As for the first question, these are changelings. They are masters of disguise and they feed on emotions.”

As an example both changelings burst into green flame for a second before extinguishing themselves and revealing perfectly visual copies of Twilight. “Preferably love,” Says the Twilight on the bed.

The one next to Twilight smiles predatorily as Rainbow’s jaw drops in disbelief, the stories mentions of the demons changing their forms actually being played out before her eyes. “See something you like?” The second Twilight asks.

The first Twilight with her horn still glowing a soft magenta, slaps her hoof to her face. While Rainbow Dash simply gives the second Twilight a weird look, mind reeling. “What?”

“A simple Question, do you see anything you like?” ‘Some lust, however she seems to lack the overwhelming lust of an inactive pony.... A pity.’ Are the Thoughts that flew through Queen Ferrus’ psyche.

Rainbow looks between the three Twilights and simply answers, “What?”

Twilight One calls out to the other two imposters before they can further derail the situation. “Stop, we’re getting nowhere, and I would at least like to get back to explaining my new alchemical medium before the sun begins rising on the horizon. So would you please drop your glamours and let us get on with this?” Both of the other Twilight's give the original Twilight a sad look, their bottom lips trembling and their wide eyes staring straight into her narrowed ones.

After a few seconds the second Twilight finally breaks the stalemate with a dramatic roll of her eyes and drops her disguise with an emerald crackling flash. Revealing the changeling underneath once again. “Hmph, I swear, ponies are getting more uptight by the year.”

Rainbow scowls catching the insult first. “Hey, I do have sex, not that I’d tell a sick pervert like you who with.” Rainbow growls out, simmering angrily.

Queen Ferrus sniffs in Rainbow’s direction as Twilight takes the stage to speak. “Other than my companion’s nymphomania, I doubt she was too serious about trying to bed you-” The changeling on the bed glances longingly at Twilight with it’s ears lowered in disappointment. “But that still doesn’t answer the main question in the room…” Twilight pauses, preparing her next statement as the queen continues parsing the young pegasus’s scent. “What to do with you.” Twilight finishes, pointing a hoof at the magically detained Rainbow Dash.

Queen ferrus places a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder halting her before she could continue, and speaks up in her native tongue. “Bevor du versuchst es zu beantworten, ich habe ein paar interessante Sachen über unseren ‘Gast’ bemerkt. Sie riecht nach Chitin und Baumpollen unter ihrem natürlich Duft von Gebirgstau.”(Before you try and answer that, I’ve managed to detect some interesting things about our ‘guest’ She smells of chitin and tree pollen just underneath of her natural scent of morning dew.)

Twilight’s eyes widen as she begins to understand the implications “Bist du sicher über die Gerüche?”(You’re sure about those scents?) The changeling nods in response. “Dann ist die Sache gerade viel einfacher geworden. Wärst du so freundlich sie festzuhalten, meine Magie ist nicht unbegrenzt und mein Reservoir ist schon erschöpft nur durch ihr festhalten.” Then things just became much easier. Would you mind detaining her, My magic IS finite and I’m already through have my reservoir just holding her in place.

The queen gives Twilight a surprised look before realizing she’d been stalling, she steps forward and begins releasing a green substance from her horn which she swiftly attaches over rainbow’s hooves and connects to the floor. “Nun kannst du sie loslassen, es würde die Kraft von zwei Erdponys brauchen um aus dem härtedem Saft auszubrechen” (There, you can release her now, it would take the strength of two earth ponies to break the Cementing sap,) She tells Twilight calmly as Rainbow repeatedly calls out ‘EW!’

Twilight releases the spells keeping Rainbow’s body in place with a sigh, allowing Rainbow’s wings to fold back into place and Rainbow to finally get into a somewhat more comfortable position. While still moaning in disgust with phrasing like ‘Ughh, magiculation.’ And ‘I think I’m gonna be sick.’ Her face turning green as she starts to convulse with false retching.

Ignoring Rainbow Dash and her melodrama for a couple moments, Twilight turns to converse with Queen Ferrus once more. “Königin Ferrus, ich glaube, dass ich einen Zauber wirken kann, der sie zum Stillschweigen zwingt ohne zu offensichtlich zu sein, ähnlich zu dem der auf mich gewirkt wurde als ich jünger war.” (Queen Ferrus, I believe that I can make a geas that works, and will silence her without it being either obvious or revealing, similar to one placed on me when I was younger.) Rubbing a hoof along the lower part of her jaw Twilight mulls over the explanation of how she would accomplish the task. “Du hast festgestellt, dass sie nach Wechselbalg riecht. Deins? Oder von einem anderen Schwarm?” (You stated that she smelled of changeling. Yours? Or from another hive?)

“Ein anderer Schwarm, um genau zu sein eine im Exil lebende Prinzessin. Sie hat fast alle Pheromone einer richtigen Königen. Ich denke sie kommt von einem kürzlich aufgelösten Schwarm oder wurde verbannt, weil ihrer ältere Schwester den Thron übernahm.” (Another hive, to be more exact, an exiled princess. She has most of the pheromones of a true queen. I imagine she is from one of the more recently dissolved hives, or the banished younger sister of one of the new hive queens.)

“Hmm, dann vermute ich, dass ich mich vorsichtig ausdrücken muss, sodass nur ihre Weggefährten davon hören werden hmm... Zeder und Eiche? Sie wird wahrscheinlich mit diesen Holzwölfe reisen, die ich vor einigen Saisons getroffen habe. Ich werde es ebenfalls zu ihnen ausrichten.” (Hmm, then I guess I’ll need to word it carefully so that only her companion can hear of it hmm… Cedar and Oak? She’s probably traveling with those timberwolves I met several seasons ago too, I’ll gear it towards them as well.) Twilight continues to mull over the wording of the geas, the hoof under her chin rubbing just the slightest bit more vigorously than before.

Queen Ferrus quirks an eyebrow in Twilight’s direction. “Warum sollten ihre Weggefährten von dieser Begegnung erfahren? Wäre es nicht einfacher sie komplett zum Schweigen über diesem Thema dieses Treffen zu zwingen?” (Why would her companions need to hear of her encounter? Wouldn’t it be easier to silence her completely on the topic of this meeting?)

Twilight slump a bit, her shoulders sagging as she releases a small sigh. She returns her gaze directly into the changeling queens unwaveringly, and says... “Nein, dass wäre sogar eher gefährlich, sie braucht eine Möglichkeit die Informationen zu teilen, sonst würde sie wie ich immer mehr Stress aufbauen, bis die Zeichen nicht mehr zu übersehen sind Dann müsste einfach nur ein Einhorn gefunden werden, das den Schweige-Zauber entfernen kann.” (No, in fact that would be dangerous, she needs a release for the information, otherwise she like me would end up building up until the signs of her stress would become too obvious to ignore. Then it would be a simple matter of finding a unicorn who knows how to remove the silencing oath.) Neither party notices that Rainbow Dash stops ranting.

Realizing she’ll understand nothing from the gibberish that the unicorn and changeling in front of her are speaking, she filters out their conversation as she looks down at the goop surrounding her legs and part of her tail. ‘Now’s my chance.’ She begins testing the strength of the gelatin like cement binding her to the floor, attempting to lift one hoof after another, rainbow begins to sweat ‘Buck, what is this stuff?’ She thinks as she feels her hooves sink back into position after slightly stretching the material, she nudges it with her muzzle, the substance jiggles slightly.

Before Rainbow could get any further with her efforts, she felt three pairs of eyes falling on her. ‘Wait did the room suddenly get quiet?’ Deciding to check, Rainbow quickly looks up, then immediately looks away whistling a simple toon, while casually rolling her eyes. “Well… yea, this is awkward… Mind letting me loose?” She says a massive grin splitting her face, however the smile doesn’t seem to fit the rest of her as Twilight and the changelings scowl in her direction, not a word being said in reply. Releasing a sigh and setting her features into a pout, she replies. “Yea, I didn’t think so either.”

Not taking her eyes off the wild pegasus Ferrus queries Twilight with a low voice. “Bist du fertig mit der Vorbereitung deines Zaubers?” (Are you ready with that spell yet?) As Rainbow Dash resumes testing the limits of the Changeling cement.

“Ja!”
(yes)

“Soo… yea, not my best moment. But what ya gonna do? Gilda’s my friend, and she’ll know if you offed me or something.” ‘Actually I don’t think she can do anything because of that damn honor binding… Ffffbuck.’ Rainbow continues smiling awkwardly while laughing somewhat hysterically, a tear coming out one side of her face.

“Yes, well she won’t have to worry since you won’t be harmed, however I would be lying if I said that you would be as able as you were before this. Sometimes silence doesn’t need to be secured by violence.” Twilight says her horn lighting with a magenta brightness. “My action now is simple, I will silence you on any hint of this meeting occurring, your mind will simply forget this meeting ever happened in the presence of other creatures be they living or dead, unless they have secrets similar to the ones wielded by my friends here or have partaken in this meeting that could put their lives in danger .”

The light from Twilight’s horn dies down as she finishes casting the spell, intricate lines of mana permeating the air only visible to those who practice the mystical arts disintegrate into the ether as the mana ceases flowing through their nodes. Queen Ferrus speaks first. “Well, what are you waiting for, cast the spell so we can be done and send her away.”

Twilight’s lips pull back, leaving a small grin on her face. Pointing at the changeling almost forgotten on the bed, she commands. “Take the form you had before we arrived.” The changeling bursts into fire revealing a Deep russet earth stallion with a indigo mane slicked back with earthy brown tips. His body encompassed in a neutral tan colored business suit, covering him from his chest all the way down his front and back legs. Unnoticed by either of the other changelings, Rainbow’s eyes glaze slightly as her mind adjusts to the situation. “Ask her something about changelings.”

Both changelings raise their eyebrows in reply, however the now disguised stallion speaks. “Do changelings have long hair?”

Not even missing a beat the brash pegasus replies, “What the heck is a changeling?”

Turning to the disguised drone, she smiles as she sees the surprised looks on both changelings faces, with Queen Ferrus returns to her senses within seconds. Not giving the queen time to speak Twilight gives her command. “Remove your disguise, now!”

Rainbow squints at the stallion on the bed, “Wait just a moment, who the buck are you?” She demands just as his body goes up in flame leaving behind the changeling that was sitting there before. Her eyes sharpen a little as her mind stops repressing itself. Blinking rapidly, the pegasus focuses in on Twilight. “What the buck, dude that is so not cool!”

“And spying into someone’s room is?” Twilight retorts.

Rainbow’s cheeks glow red with embarrassment however she soldiers on and retorts. “Hey I was making sure that you weren’t going to hurt my friends, and the back door dealing I saw made me suspicious that you were up to something bad involving Gilda.”

“Well as I told you earlier I was checking to see why there was a tale about my run in with one of the less reasonable changeling hives, and whether or not I could put it to rest. However you arrived just as we were finishing our meeting.” Twilight ends releasing a breathy sigh as her shoulders sag, “I honestly hope this doesn’t end the chance of our teams joining into a caravan. I really do.”

Rainbow Dash grimaces, and attempts to lift a leg in Twilight’s direction only to have it yanked back to the floor and pull her face with it, slapping herself against the gelatin-like, changeling resin with a soft splat. Pulling her leg up an inch or so to rub her nose Rainbow returns to her original point before having been stickily interrupted. “As I was going to say, there is no way I’m taking my eye off you, and if that means joining our caravans, then so be it. I don’t want you or your creepy shape changing allies hurting anypony, not on my watch.”

Twilight, and both changelings give the pegasus raised eyebrows. Queen Ferrus giggling slightly as she thought of a griffon many years back who showed the same dutiful outlook, even as he was bound and forced into silence via hypnosis. ‘Never did find out what happened to him.’ Rainbow Dash narrows her eyes at the possessed changeling angrily imagining a cloud pillar smashing on it’s head.

“So Glimmering Wisp, before I leave,... My condolences, I knew that Cherry Spice was a dear friend of yours, and Wild Wind as well. I know it’s late, I was waiting for a chance to speak with you directly.” Turning to face the pegasus Ferrus releases a sigh, her shoulders slumping a little. “As for our earlier matter, I will see to it that my changelings downplay the story and plant something else to entertain the rumor mill.” Twilight lets a soft smile crawl across her face.

“Thank you. Cherry shouldn’t have suffered that kind of death, he should have gotten better.” as memories play, reminding of the time she spent with the verbose merchant, she mulls over how Ferrus would be able to downplay her confrontation in ‘Saddle Rest.’ As if a switch had flicked Twilight’s eyes brighten as she remembers one of the more interesting events that had happened during her solo adventures. “I have one”

“One what?” Ferrus swiftly asked in return.

“A story to replace the old one.” Twilight says her smile now beaming with mischievous radiance, “Several weeks ago I came across a strange group who were dressed in robes with strange symbols burned onto them. Anyway they were casting a summoning ritual, it worked but they were killed in the process when a pair of Princess Celestia’s solar guard arrived and stopped them. I think the creature they summoned was called Tirek, however after taking him down the Guards quickly sent the creature back through the portal he appeared from, and took the remaining ponies away.”

Ferrus raises an eye ridge critically. “And how did you escape the guards if they detained all of the individuals involved?”

Twilight feels her lips curl into a facsimile of a grin. “One I never moved from my spot, Two they were focused on the ponies in the field that the ritual was being cast, and three unlike your average tracker, I have a spotter who can tell me if I’m well hidden or not.” Her grin turns feral as three pairs of eyes fall upon the cloak over her back, hiding the scaled horror just underneath.

“Ughmm” Ferrus makes a small grunt before answering. “I… See. So is anything else you’d like to add, or are you expecting me and my changelings to improvise on the… Ah ‘finer’ details?”

Twilight puts a hoof to her chin her eyes clouding slightly as memories begin playing out before her eyes once more. “Well… there is the spell they used to defeat Tirek.” Twilight summons forth mana from her inner core. Lighting her horn with brilliant russet rays, minute arrays of symbols appear around her horn as lines guide the magic, lighting up mana circuits so Twilight can channel her chosen spell. A moment passes and Twilight’s horn lights the room before an image appears in the midst of Twilight, Ferrus, and Rainbow Dash. The room grows brighter as the projection becomes more defined, revealing a massive golden pillar encompassing a six limbed figure with four legs and a pair of minotaur like arms. However the rest of its features are blurred under the massive column of brilliant golden fire. The still projection becomes even clearer revealing a slew of figures, a near countless number of robed ponies with crosses, sickles, and stars sewn upon their garb laying upon the ground. Two ponies are standing in the midst of the cultists, a pair of guards in non-standard armor; a sun emblazoned on their helms and pauldron. The pair still in a state of action, both holding their hooves out upwards towards the pillar looking skyward, as if calling for something.

Ferrus feels a chill run down the spines of both herself and her proxy as she recognizes just what is going on in the scene, “Celestia’s hammer...” she whispers in disbelief. Rainbow’s eyes widen as she fully takes in the actual size of the destructive spell shown in the projection. While Rainbow both drools and nakedly stares in awe at the pillar of solar flame, Ferrous maintains her facade and turns to face Twilight. “Impressive, so this is the event?... Yes, yes, I think this will do nicely. We could definitely spin a tale from this. However, don’t expect the change to be immediate, these things do take time you know. I do look forward to our next meeting young Wisp. Do take care.” Rainbow Dash remains too distracted by the sheer awesomeness of the scene depicted before her to notice as Twilight waves a hoof as a simple statement of both parting and thanks, a smile on her face as the slight muddy red glow leaves the changeling’s eyes and the queen returns to her own body in the hive. Twilight stops feeding the energy into her horn and the spell slowly dissipates as the power fades. Letting the image explode like a cloud Rainbow kicked too hard.

Rainbow Dash closes her eyes and vigorously shakes her head expelling the fog clouding her thoughts. Returning to her predicament she turns and glares at the unicorn. “Hey, I wasn’t done looking at it yet.” She complains loudly.

Twilight smiles before lighting her horn and focusing on the flask of undiluted emotions she had taken from her saddlebags earlier, lifting it into the air, she brings it to bear for everyone in the room to see. Rainbow’s eyes widen as she recognizes the container, and leans as far away as her restraints allow, whimpering slightly as the feral part of her psyche temporarily overtakes her with terror.

“What the heck Twi? I thought you said that bottle was dangerous.” Rainbow screeches still holding herself as far from the volatile solution as physically possible.

Twilight keeps smiling despite the pegasus’ fearful reaction. “And it is, when held and manipulated by inexperienced hooves. However since I have great amounts of experience dealing with dangerous substances and the like. I’m fairly confident that there will be no danger so long as I’m the one manipulating and administering the contents within this container.” Twilight places the jar between her forelegs as she turns slightly to look at the changeling’s. “However before I speak of the experiment, I must first ask, what are your names?” She queries politely

The changeling sitting on the bed having not dealt with the disorientation of having another working through his neural network for the past hour easily claims first response. “I am Büroklammer, I deal with the paperwork of our meetings, and my companion here is Korrekturflüssigkeit he typically sticks to doing what I’m doing right now, and that is speaking. Don’t know why he gets upset when I talk sometimes, I’m just letting everyone know the current most precise and correct information of the moment, but he’s all Like Büroklammer be quiet, or Büroklammer that’s a secret. I honestly don’t understand. I mean if it’s a secret then why does everyling in the Hive know about it? It’s really strange, Al- phmm mmm mph mmmm mmM phm. Hmph?”

“By the queen's glittering wings, do you ever shut-up?!!” Korrektur screeches as he plugs Büroklammer’s mouth with a hoof.

“Mrrmph...” Büro rolls his eyes as he prepares to mumble his answer

Korrektur’s eyes start glowing red as he yells at his obstinately maddening partner. “Silence! That was a rhetorical question, now you stay quiet and let the grownups speak, before you cause an incident with your incessant rambling” Pulling his hoof from his companions mouth, Korrektur releases a sigh before turning to face the other occupants of the room. “I must apologise for my companion, he has an insatiable appetite for conversation, though he is less than proficient at it.” Büroklammer shrugs his shoulders while sitting on the bed, then raises his hoof above his head and twirls it in a circle, he turns to the side and discovers a fly that had made it through the window, then follows it with a big smile covering his face.

“Uhh...” Rainbow Dash just watches him blankly.

Twilight nods carefully. “Understandable, A love for something doesn’t necessarily mean skill at it.”

Korrektur closes his eyes and releases a strained sigh in response, after a few seconds he looks back up and allows a small smirk to crawl onto his face. “Alright, now that that’s clear, what is the pegasus doing here, did she intrude during my queens negotiations?”

“I caught her spying on us and we captured her, and I ensured that once released she would be unable to speak of the content or nature of this meeting.” Twilight says feigning an excited tone, pointing a hoof at the beaker under her barrel.

Korrektur widens his eyes as if surprised by the potion that lay under the young unicorn.”What is the plan to deal with her then?”

Waving a hoof in a circle airily she releases a half faked yawn, releasing a small tired moan into the act. “I was hoping that since now that she wasn’t a danger that you and Büroklammer would release her so that she can travel with me to Whiterun tomorrow.”

Korrektur nods agreement. “Sure, Büro! Release the pegasus, there is no longer any need for those bindings.”

Like a bullet, the changeling on the bed zips over Twilight’s head and lands next to Rainbow Dash, causing the aforementioned pegasus to lean back in surprise, that is until the changeling begins licking the greenish goop covering her hooves. “What th-... Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew...”

As Rainbow Dash repeats her zealous mantra Twilight steps over and taps Korrektur on the shoulder with a hoof, gathering his attention. “To continue, I also wanted to ask your consent on an experiment I wanted to try. I found a way to collect emotion into a pure liquid form, I was wondering if you and Büroklammer would be willing to test out the concoction and allow me to study the results?” She says holding the potion beside her with a small magical field wrapped around its neck.

The changeling stares at the bottle, a dull glazed look covering his eyes as he watches its motions in Twilight’s magical grasp. Hearing the query he responds lazily. “Uh, sure, I guess so… mmm, looks delicious.” pointing a hoof towards the bottle he asks, “Can I try some?”

Querking an eyebrow at the austere changelings lackluster response, she lowers the bottle carefully before answering. “In a bit, however we first need to ask your companion Büroklammer if he would like to join the experiment as well.” Both look towards Rainbow Dash and the changeling in question. The pegasus still whispering to herself, while shivering slightly. However young Büroklammer is sitting there with green goop covering his muzzle and nodding up and down in consent to the experiment, his eyes on the same solution that had stolen the attention of Korrektur mere moments ago.

“Alright then, we shall begin momentarily, just give me a little time to get everything set up.” Twilight states with a high note in her voice as she issues commands to her horn, that the magic follows through without deviation. Small vials and a metal holster to keep the glass containers upright float from her pack and land carefully on the nearby bedside table. The bottle containing the solution floats over as well landing with ease next to the other alchemical instruments. With a final burst from her horn two rune covered cork tops float over to the table and land next to their corresponding vials. The set-up complete, Twilight smiles brightly eyes closed as she faces the changelings once more. “Now, shall we begin?” before Korrektur can respond Büroklammer is already standing before Twilight, eyes wide and wildly waving a hoof above his head, mouth held tightly shut as he maintains Korrektur’s earlier demand.

With a small sigh, Korrektur steps forward, behind his overeager companion. “Okay, okay, put your hoof down, and no interruption! The substance is highly volatile and requires a significant amount of concentration.” Twilight says, both changelings answer by silently standing behind her as she manipulates the bottle and vials of the substance. She carefully pours two small portions into a pair of vials, ensuring an even control for the experiment. Rainbow Dash left to her own devices, crawls over to a corner of the room and watches the experiment proceed with eyes wide open; still shivering like a leaf in the wind as Twilight carefully extracts the volatile iridescent concoction.

With a simple thought, she guides the streams of liquid emotion into the designated vials. A second flash of her horn seals all three of the containers with their specifically designed stoppers. Twilight then levitates the two vials over to the changelings while packing the bottle of unrefined liquid emotion into her packs. Twilight then gestures for the changelings to grasp the vials. Both nod in synch as they grasp the vials with the emerald green glow of their magic. Runes burn off the corks, as their magic catches the vials.

Suddenly, a blue blur followed by a rainbow contrail flies past Twilight, and out the window shutters fluttering wildly with a single screech. “You’re all Crazy!” Twilight watches as Rainbow Dash disappears off into the distance, before closing the shutters once more. The sound of shattering glass catches Twilight off guard, Turning around she finds Büroklammer sitting upside down against the roof, his wings buzzing slightly as his tail swishes wildly behind himself and he gazes at the distant candles on the other side of the room with a predatory look. Korrektur on the other hoof is laying on the ground his head tilted to the side while he lazily flips his hooves up and down, muttering something about snow and fluffy floors.

Twilight quirks her head looking at the changelings curiously. ‘Now this is interesting. What could have caused this.’ Her eyes fall to the empty vials littering the floor. ‘Hmm… it seems that the unrefined emotion causes an effect similar to that of the milihuwaba weed’ Several images of a fuzzy blue vine with bright yellow, green speckled leaves pass through her thoughts. ‘That manticor definitely did not know the difference between up and down, yet still, it made gathering ingredients much easier.’

As these thoughts pass through her mind, she watches as Büro leaps after the target of his interest with a half hearted screech, missing the candles by feet as he faceplants on the floor. Korrektur unsteadily rolls onto his stomach and pushes himself into a standing position, leaning his torso against the bed for stability as the side effects of the potion wear off and lucidity returns to his thoughts. One holed hoof rubs the side of his head as he stands shakily on the other three. “Scheiße, dass war un-unangenehm. How long was I under?”

Twilight taps a hoof against her chin, “A few minutes at the least.”

“Verdammt, I feel like I was hung out to dry for hours.” Shaking his head again he wipes a holed hoof across his forehead before stepping away from the bed and standing resolutely, fully lucid. To the right a groan could be heard as Büro starts recovering from his condition as well, waving a hoof in the air like a drowning fish.

Pressing a hoof against his head Korrektur rubs softly, trying to ease the headache. “Ughh, what did you say that potion was?”

Twilight rolls her eyes and responds easily. “Raw unrefined and condensed emotions, it seems to have an immediate adverse effect to your system.” Twilight takes a mental note of the effects. ‘It seems that the effect is similar to a pony’s hangover after a short period of drunk hallucinations.’

“I must apologize, I did not expect such a strong reaction to your system... Then again, the estimated effect on a pony would be a loss of emotional control.” A short pause follows her words allowing Korrektur to absorb the information with a small shiver.

“...” The changeling releases a sigh, the tension flowing from his figure as he wrestles his breathing back under control. “I understand, We feed on emotion so you wanted to see what worked and what effect different compositions had… How did you even manage to store emotion like that?”

Twilight smiles in relief as she opens into her explanation. “After the success of infusing regular edible pony food products, and knowing how to extract and concentrate magic into a physical manifestation, I decided to see if I could infuse that form with emotion, the result is what you just consumed. I haven’t yet been able to refine and determine what emotion gets absorbed by the liquid mana, nor have I managed to create a stable method of rendering inert and safe to carry without mana jars to contain it.” Twilight nods to the sealed flask at her side, runes glowing visibly on the surface of both the glass container and the stopper at the top, the substance within swirling at a sedate rate, the colors radiating a shimmering light as the concoction refuses to decide on a single color to emit.

Both changelings give only a cursory glance at the bottle before swiftly turning their eyes away before they could fall for it’s treacherous and enrapturing cascade of colors once more. “Well, it works, and not that we don’t appreciate what you’re doing for us. But even though we may be testing your attempts at making food for us, we are also living and would like to stay that way without pain.” He says, a small twitch continues from one of his holed ears as he flicks away the lingering effects of the potion.

Twilight nods, lifting the concoction in her magical field, and placing it within her pack. “I… I guess you’re right, I was just so excited with my new break through, I forgot to anticipate whether or not the substance would react negatively when consumed by a changeling… I’m just glad that Queen Ferrus disconnected before we did the experiment, I don’t want to know what effect it would have on your Queen.” Her shoulders sag just a little further as she admits her mistake. Closing her eyes she exhales slowly, deliberately extending the breath as she calms her thoughts; focusing on the correct words before she continues. Opening her eyes she gives the changelings a level look, her features wiped of emotion. “Thank you for your help. I will also take your advice, I do not intend harm with my projects, I shall be sure to render all future projects as safe as I can. However, I am treading on new territory, so mistakes will happen… I hope this doesn’t discourage you.”

Both changelings look at each other, their ears twitching at a rapid rate as they telepathically communicate their conversation between each other. Finally after a moment or so, Korrektur turns to face Twilight and speaks. “I doubt that will stop us from joining in your experiments, anyway it is getting late, the night is no longer young, and I doubt you plan to sleep past sunrise.” Gesturing towards the door with a hoof, he nods to the lavender mage. “Gute Nacht.”

Within seconds of her horn glowing Twilight gathers any remaining materials she had left out and gathers them into her bags. With a return nod to the changeling, “Nacht.” She opens the door and steps out of the room, her most precious package resting atop her saddle-bags. Outside the room, Twilight continues forward, her gait constant even as the light filtering into the hallway from the room is cut off by the closing door. Reaching the junction at the end of the hallway, Twilight turns left, while levitating the key to her and Gilda’s room from her packs. Looking down the hall, she notes the door with the same number above it as the one crudely scratched onto her key.

Walking up to it, placing the key against the lock, she hears a faint click as the technomagical mechanisms within identify the proper mana frequency and automatically disengage the lock. Pulling the stone shaped key away, Twilight turns the flat oval shaped knob with her magic, and gently pushes the door open. A minor amount of light spills into the hallway from the room, splashing her with a gentle white light, glowing from the wall mounted mana lamps.

Almost immediately she notices something amiss. Instead of sleeping in her bed Gilda is standing at the vanity mirror, brushing her crest feathers back with one claw while the other is holding a small tuft of feathers. Having heard the mechanisms of the door unlatch, Gilda looks up into the mirror and spots Twilight as she enters the room. At the same moment as she recognizes the unicorn, her eyes widen and she tries to hide the fistful of feathers. She stuffs them under the nearby bed with mixed results, wispy strands floating in all directions from her indelicate handling of the light weight little tufts of dawn. Her other hand jerks sideways ruffling her crest feathers back into her usual style. Grateful that her feathers somewhat hide the blush that would surely give her embarrassment away, Gilda turns around with a slightly crooked smile on her beak and waves with her free claw. “Hey Glimmer, What took you so long?”

Twilight walks over to the other side of the bed and lights her magic to pull out her sleeping mat. “The trade agreement took longer than expected. However I managed to negotiate a lower price for a few replacements for the flasks that your friend Rainbow shattered.” Twilight finishes rolling out the mat, laying it flat on the floor, she extends some of her magic to gather the errant and stray bits of feather that had escaped Gilda’s grasp, gathering them into a small pile next to the mat. “I also managed to get them to open up about selling some steel parts and other materials to work with for some of my more sensitive potions.”

With a thought Twilight lifts the feathers into the air folding them into a ball as she lifts an eyebrow at the embarrassed griffon. “Now I know preening is important, but don’t act like it’s something to be ashamed of, unless of course you were up to something else.”

Gilda’s thoughts float back to the tight, sky blue flanks she had been watching earlier in the day, even as she responds. “Heh yea, preening, let’s go with that, heh.”

Releasing a sigh, Twilight makes a show of lifting her cloak off her back ensuring that Fang is still gently wrapped within. then she unstraps her saddlebags and sets them to the side. After ensuring her resting place is cleared, she settles onto her stomach, then gently sets fang back down on her back. With the young wyrm settled upon her back, she commands the cloak to slightly expand to encompass her as well. Pulling her saddle bags back, she sets them under her head and settles in to rest. “I’m going to get some sleep, I suggest you do the same, Rainbow Dash will most likely need your help when morning comes.”

Noting that the lavender mare is out of her line of view Gilda goes back to viewing her image in the mirror. “Sure, I’ll sleep in a few, got something I need to finish first.” Lifting a claw Gilda begins brushing her crest feathers once more, aligning them forward, and straightening them out. Pulling a small leather pouch from one of her packs she dips the same claw into the pack, the tip coming out with a gelatinous ivory liquid, she holds her talons near her face, and examines her features in the mirror for a few moments. ‘Small micro fracture on the left side, minor chip near the jaw. Oh, pit below the right nare. I must’ve looked a mess when Rainbow saw me, better take care of this before it becomes serious.’

Carefully with the precision of a doctor using a microscope, Gilda begins dabbing small amounts of the viscous substance on the troubled areas. Feeling that she had placed enough of the precious substance, she returns her claw to the pouch. She grabs the neck of the bag tight before pulling her talons out virtually clean of the substance. Ignoring the soft, breathy snores coming from the other side of the bed, she returns her eyes to the mirror and examines her work. ‘Hmm, hopefully the chip heals quickly, having a hairline fracture when trying to eat sucks. I need to smooth out the grease along the microfracture, but otherwise, I don’t think I have to mess with the rest of the patches.’

Lifting her slightly glistening talon to her face one last time, Gilda traces the appendage against the fracture, spreading the substance and carefully rubbing it into the cracks of the minor injury. “There, that should heal up nicely by the time I wake up tomorrow...” ‘Shells!’ Listening carefully, Gilda waits a beat; silently praying she hadn’t awoken her new companion. As Twilight pulls in another soft snore, Gilda releases the massive lung full of air she had been holding, and closing her eyes. ‘It’s the ones you don’t feel that cause the most damage, or so Grigarian said when he was training me and Dash.’ Placing the pouch back in one of the bags on her battle harness Gilda notes the distinctly light weight. ‘Damn, need to make some more of the salve soon.’ With another less strained sigh, Gilda paws her way over to the bed, and tucks herself in. After several moments her thoughts clear enough for her to fall asleep.

Under Twilight’s blanket a piercing amber eye stares through the underside of the bed, having heard the griffons outburst. After she gets on the bed he pulls back under and folds himself into a comfortable position on Twilight’s back before falling asleep himself, in preparation for the dawn.

Author's Note

Better late than never Right. well here you go chaps, please don't tear into it untill after you finish reading. also thank you for all your continued support.

Thank you Januchyde for your awesome insight.

Thank you Nessos25 for translating horsewords into German, and all your help in getting both to match.

and thank you The Forgotten Comrad For your awesome editing.

Without these guy's You would be waiting at least another two weeks for this story to come out. so Please give them a round of applause.

Fragile Lives

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 luna est Gelida

Chapter 3 Fragile lives

“Morning, Canterlot Residential East District, nine hundred and ninety second celestial year, forty-eighth day of summer.”

“Uugh… my head” Spoke a lavender unicorn with a two toned pink highlight as she got out of bed. holding a hoof to her forehead hoping to halt the torrent of pain bursting from her temples. She attempted to use her telekinesis to grab a small cup of water from off the bed side table, however the appendage wouldn’t even release a spark let alone its usual magenta glow that would allow for the stronger spells. Realizing after a few minutes of attempting, that avenue wasn’t going to work she groggily rolled out of bed and plodded up to the table, grabbed the glass with her hooves, slowly lifted it to her lips, and sipped the heavenly ambrosia feeling it slowly rehydrate her body and hopefully remove the unfathomably painful headache. It only dulled it a little sighing in relief that the worst was passed she put the glass container down and turned towards the door to her room. She looked at the lilac coated walls and the rosewood door carefully she made her way over to the portal to the hallway and opened it. The first thing she spotted was another mare with a white coat and a cutie mark consisting of three stars, walking towards the door as the lavender filly opened it with her hooves, and promptly collapsed on the floor.

The white mare’s eyes widened as she began rushing towards the collapsed filly “Twilight? Twilight! , are you ok?” She called as she neared the downed purple form.

“m-mom? I don’t feel so good.” The filly whimpered as she lay on the solid wood floor shivering from the cold air and the burning headache. “I can’t use my magic and I woke up with this… headache” Twilight continued as she trembled to her hooves unsteadily. “Do you think you can get rid of it?” Twilight turned her eyes hopefully on her mother as she regained a semblance of control on her unstable and tired frame.

“Sure” spoke the white mare as she lowered her horn to Twilight's forehead and began to burn away the headache with a simple ice summoning charm with a basic guiding spell to ease the soothing cold onto the troubled areas of the mind relaxing the tense muscles and releasing twilight from the pain into bliss.

Twilight sighed in relief as the headache was cooled off. “thank you mom that really hurt for a few minutes there.” Then her ears drooped and she started to cry. “Mom I can’t use my magic for some reason and whenever I try to focus on it, it makes the headache more painful.” She sniffled as tears dropped from her face.

The white mare smiled knowingly “It’s alright dear we all have times when our magic is low it just means we need to rest and recuperate our reserves. Why don’t you go down and have breakfast with your father before he goes off to work we have blueberry pancakes this morning and raspberry juice.” She gazed down at the sad filly as her expression immediately turned to immense joy from her dejection.

All too common was her grim facade since she failed to enter Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns, ‘Her brother never did fully forgive her for that disappointment’ she sighed as she watched her filly beam up at her in one of the lavender filly’s rare smiles and began bounding down the corridor, down the stairs to the kitchen. However the white coated mare took her time. ‘twilight.. not only were you disappointed that you failed to enter into the school you also had your brother take back the book when he found out what happened... As of late you spent more time studying than anything else, you are also completely ignoring your own needs, even the foal sitter has had very little success in breaking that dense shell of yours.’ She sighed again as she reached the stairs. ‘You and shining talk very little in passing and you even completely ignore suggestions to relax and have fun.’ Dream Sparkle felt tears begin gathering in her eyes as she reached the bottom landing she quickly shook them away and continued on down the corridor to the kitchen. ‘Why are you still so cold to everypony, since that day very little gets through and those who you do speak to about anything other than your experiments are few and far between. you’re too dedicated to your work, I fear it may have already consumed you.’ “I wish we didn’t push her so hard back then.” She murmured as she reached the kitchen. She looked in watching as her husband Midnight a lovely blue stallion with a crescent moon as his cutie mark ate at the table with her little daughter Twilight.

“Hello honey welcome back I see you got Twilight up easily enough.” The maroon stallion smiled amiably. “I also see that you're looking no worse for wear you really must tell me your secret one of these days.” He got up and padded over to his pearl white mare and gave her a gentle nuzzle. Twilight oblivious to the scene in favor of her fresh pancakes and fruit juice.

The midnight blue stallion chuckled a little and smiled at the mare before him and continued calmly. “Well i guess its time for me to get ready for work I’ll be in the shower if you need me.”

The mare smiled and watched as her husband trotted out of the kitchen, then turned towards her daughter who was barely finishing up her blueberry pancakes and was preparing to enter the massive library that consisted of the majority of their home.

She tried to light up her horn again and grab one of the books from the shelf, after the third fizzle she realized that she still couldn’t use her magic. Rather than crying like most foals her age would she just shouldered the burden without complaining, steeled her resolve to study harder, and continue forward undaunted by the task which she laid before herself.

Dream sighed as she gathered her pancakes and started eating hoping that someday they’d be able to break their daughter out of her shell.

The lavender filly padded over to the bookshelf and positioned the ladder carefully with her front hooves grunting a little with the effort. She climbed the bookshelf and retrieved the desired volume with her teeth and then climbed back down to safety on the floor. She put her prize down and looked at it. ‘Daily Horn Exercises Volume 3 by Dr. Aurora’ the book was titled. ‘Maybe this will help me figure out what’s going on with my sudden magic loss.’

As Twilight read the volume, she began to learn more about her predicament she started sensing the slight pressure behind her sensitive organ and began feeling the headache build up again. She tried a few of the methods for reducing horn stress that she had found in the book, however instead of alleviating the pain they seemed to intensify it to the point where eventually she cried out in visceral pain. Her entire being was in unimaginable pain from the pressure building up inside of her just as she was about to cry out again, huddling on the floor eyes closed no longer able to think.

Dream Sparkle walked in upon the sight of her filly crying out in pain her eyes glowing from the sheer amount of magic building up just underneath the surface. “Twilight!!!” She exclaimed as she rushed over to her filly and hugged her.“it’ll be ok i’m here for you.” She cooed as Twilight cried from the pain the magic still building up behind her burning appendage.

“M-mom it hurts p-please make it go away.” Twilight cried before a bolt of pure unrefined arcane energy released from her horn blasting away the door to the kitchen and Incinerating a third of the entire book archive. Dream Sparkle wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings and the things that were going on as she watched over her poor filly, wishing desperately that she could relieve her daughter’s pain. Then she heard a noise from outside and looked up to see Midnight gawking at the end of the stares looking through the blasted portal that once led to the kitchens a few charred pieces of wood and shards of broken items littered on the shattered and scorched floorboards, remnants of the wall.

Twilight released another blast of arcane energy this time destroying the roof of the library and a good portion of its outer wall, Dream Sparkle then placed her hoof on Twilights forehead in an attempt to cut off the flux of energy, it was as if the floodgates were released twilight screamed louder than volumes even the royal Canterlot voice could achieve, her body was then engulfed in a maelstrom of pure arcane energy that spread outward in rapid succession immediately leveling her home and incinerating the occupants within, and then another wave of pure energy escaped from within her releasing her from her pain and causing everything to go white.

Her thoughts started to become coherent, she began remembering a happier times under an old tree, without thinking or coercion the remaining arcane energy still surrounding her in a corona as bright as the moon instantly folded in teleporting her to the cherished place of her filly hood memories, dreams, and blacking out upon arrival.

Her eyes fluttered open as she drowsily woke up she noticed the position of the sun and realized that it was midday, she slowly got to her hooves her mind still in a fog “Ughh wha-what happened?” She murmured as she looked around bleary eyed at her surroundings. Upon seeing the tree a memory of one of the times she visited it with her brother. It was a happy occasion celebrating her brother’s acceptance into the royal guard and it was a few days before his training began.

She trotted up to the tree and softly caressed its gnarled bark letting the memories take hold of her letting her remember the good times and helping her clear her mind of the energy induced fog clearing her mind and opening her thoughts. She began to cry as she realize what she had missed in all the time she had wasted in her brooding from her failure that day, she also realized how much she really missed her bbbff and how sad she’s been over the years, how little she has been paying attention to those she loves and that love her in turn.

She started to cry as her mind finally released the torrent of pent up feelings she has been suppressing since that fateful day. She collapsed against the tree crying knowing that the more pain she released the better she’d feel later on after a few minutes of her emotional release she calmed down enough to allow coherent thoughts.“I should probably apologize for the way I’ve acted, I never meant to be so mean to everypony.” Her ears folded back in self recrimination. “I miss you big brother, I’m sorry cadence I didn’t mean to ignore you so much and be a big meanie.” Twilight moaned lowering her head even further sighing into the ground. Then her ears perked up ‘Maybe that’ll work’ She thought. “I’ll apologize to both shining and cadence and even my parents for ignoring them.” ‘I’ll even try to make it up to them.’ Her smile growing as she planned how she'd try and regain her brothers trust and love along with the others dear to her, she was cheerful that is until she looked up from the tree and turned towards Canterlot.

Or what was left of the beautiful white city. The crenelated towers were crumbled and had fallen off the edge of the city, off the face of the cliff, there was smoke billowing out of one of the districts along with debris still falling from the sky, the harder she looked the more she realized that it was the residential district that was bleeding smoke into the air. Then it came to her the strange fatigue from the morning the pain from trying to access her magic, the excruciating release and loss of control then… “CELESTIA NO… mom, dad… no they can’t be” but one look back toward Canterlot told her otherwise. ‘not only have I killed my parents but I’ve also… NO! I don’t even want to think about it… no.’ she looked up with realization “no I can’t go back to Canterlot. No not after this not until i fix it... but... how, and where, where do I go now?” she asked no one in particular.

After a few minutes of thinking it came to her ‘nowhere near here that’s for sure. Hmm the Everfree, maybe? … perfect!’ having lived in a library most of her life allowed her some insight into the geography of Equestria she quickly drew up plans on how to get to the forest in question and immediately turned tail and charged into the whitetail woods at the base of the mountain Canterlot was situated on. She slowed down to rest a few hours after entering the forest curling up at the base of a Cypress tree as the sun reached its zenith nearing sundown.

Twilight realized that even if they wouldn’t punish her for what happened she still wouldn’t be able to deal with the guilt she felt for being the cause of the pain. She rested there at the base of the tree until she felt enough of her energy had returned to continue her journey, And so she went through the woods reveling in the beauty of the life around her, eventually the sun set and the night life came forth as the lavender filly continued on her path through the forest, she reveled in the beauty of the night sky above just behind the canopy of leaves, the occasional glowing pearlescent white moon flowers she came across every now and then within the whitetail woods.

The night slowly soothed her frayed nerves and she calmed down eventually finding a place next to a softly flowing river bed as the sun started to rise and the night came to a close she slept. Those who would have searched for the wayward filly would have found her nestled amongst lavender roses near the winding river within the white tail wood. That morning she dreamt of pain and sorrows nightmares no foal should ever have to see yet as the dreams progressed she began to accept that the part of her life where innocence was her blessing has been over for a long time, and so she resigns herself to the nightmares to listen and see where they lead her.

She woke up late in the evening blearily looking around seeing purple above and below her she quickly regained her wits before she made any futile attempts to call her parents yet her condition was still groggy and encumbered with weariness hearing the water nearby she quickly trotted over to the river and cautiously sniffed the water as if it would harm her, she gazed at the liquid rushing passed as if the mere sight of it would cool and slack her parched throat then without another thought, letting need take over her actions for just a second she dipped her head down and immediately began lapping the cool liquid nectar, the sweet sparkling babbling water, and quenching her thirst soothing her dry sore throat with the refreshing substance. As she finished and pulled her head up her mind now clear due to the sharp fog slicing ice cold frigidity of the fluid, she immediately resumed her planning for how she was to remain uncaptured and safe from harm, she continued her walk towards the Everfree knowing that very few ponies venture into the dark and mysterious woodland and those that did frequently spoke of the dangers involved when entering those dank dark woods in essence the perfect place to hide.

It was now dark out the night air had a crisp feel to it as twilight slowly trotted down through the forest towards the prairie land that separated the two forests with a road in the middle of it leading between Canterlot and one of the myriad of nearby towns that flooded the countryside before Canterlot.

As Twilight passed through the forest she quickly learned a few important lessons about the woods. First was don’t touch anything that looked particularly colorful, second was never underestimate the solidity of a branch or bush, but most importantly examine them from a distance before getting close. She learned the latter the hard way having walked through a small patch of yellowish milky white hanging vines in the process of walking through she felt miniature stings from the white plant only to find out seconds later that she was bleeding from countless tiny wounds but that wasn’t the worst part, the effects of the yellow vine took place thirty minutes later, in the form of giant itchy welts that only went away when she finally took desperate measures and jumped in the river for relief.

She glared at the still healing scabs left over from that particular excursion it’s been three days since she left Canterlot. Three long grueling days of traveling through the forest, then she found what she was looking for the vast green expanse folded out before her as she gazed upon its lush splendor. She stared out upon the field knowing from the track signs that she was now on the edge of the whitetail woods and then there were the trees on the other side of the road, uninviting and foreboding, promising no protection from what awaited within. Quickly grabbing her wits about her Twilight looked to the sky’s, seeing that they were clear of pegasi she checked the road both towards and away from Canterlot, there also she saw nopony to point her out feeling the area was clear she bolted. She bolted quickly across the grassland feeling the light breeze as her hair whipped in the wind from her swift passage, upon reaching the other side and entering the enfolding safety of the forest she slowed down to a more manageable trot slowly regaining her stamina as she passed through the foliage at a slower pace and regaining her breath from her draining rush.

She was now fully recovered and It was still night but not for much longer she was going to need rest soon or she wouldn’t be able to make any intelligent decisions, quickly as the sun rose she found a gnarled tree with roots holding the trunk over the ground, she decided it would be as good a place to rest as any quickly she hit the inside with a small push of telekinesis to check and make sure nothing was inside. almost instantaneously there was a growl that pierced the silence, Twilight quickly paced back a few steps from the yawning hole in the ground as the furred creature quickly exited its resting place to investigate and deal with whatever creature was foolish enough to disturb its rest. Twilight immediately notices the spines and the large mouth of the creature and back trotted a few more feet giving her some space in case the creature decided to charge. Immediately upon seeing the pony the creature careened back the quickly reversed direction and flicked forward launching several needle sharp projectiles from its back.

“Gah” Twilight immediately ducked to the left dodging the lethal spikes by mere centimeters “Oh no you don’t.” returned the favor by charging the creature and landing a hoof on its head in a downward stroke as it tried to tilt back for another toss of its spines quickly she turned and bucked it in the face before it could recover from the first hit immediately it slumped to the ground its skill crushed underneath the impact of the two solid hooves, Twilight stood there panting from the further exertion. “H-ha gotcha… wh-what did the books say your kind were again… oh yeah, spike runners.” She examined the body now that she was closer to it and could see the finer details, A large bulbous head with spines on the top a large mouth and two legs. “Yeah it fits real well, tho the book forgot to mention one minor detail… it forgot that you could launch said spines.” She sighed “Well at least that’s over” She looked from the body to the hole it came out of walked over to the opening and sent another pulse this time however she received no response which told her it was safe to enter, which she did swiftly as the sun started to pierce the horizon.

It was midday when she finally awoke inside the belly of the tree. She quickly crawled out from underneath as her grogginess dissipated faster than it did the time she slept before. She took a quick glance at her surroundings and quickly pushed the body of the spike runner out of her thoughts to keep from the distraction. It was then that her stomach decided to pick up a mind of its own and growled louder than the nearby birds. Her hunger now being known she quickly decides on a direction to search for food and starts trotting after a few minutes she comes across a meadow its voluminous green floor being dotted by a peculiar flower with yellow pollen on extruding points, she quickly passed through the flowers to a nearby rose bush that she spotted on the other side of the small glade, She stopped several paces away from the bush then probed it with a stick and checked for the signs to see if it was moving. ‘If it moves go somewhere else if it doesn’t then it’s safe’. A few days before she almost made the mistake of going straight up to one of the wild rose bushes, she stopped when a squirrel ran past her into the folds of the bush in question, before she could take another step she heard the squirrel scream in pain and then spotted it try and squirm its way out of the bush then she saw the roots as they climbed the stems and grabbed a firmer hold upon the unfortunate rodent and then pulled it down to the thorns where it was pricked and then drained in a matter of seconds by the vampyric plant. Ever since then she’s been wary of any bushes or plants with their roots hanging out of the ground, especially the ones with bones around their bases. Luckily this time she found a real rose bush rather than one of the vampire bushes, the flowers shined a bright red as twilight closed the gap, took one of the rose heads into her maw and bit it off. She started chewing slowly to savor the sweet taste of the bud, as she finished her first one she bit off another then another until she finished on the fifth rose bud.

She sat there her hunger sated for the moment smiling in complete bliss now that her hunger pangs were sated, then she heard it, the soft swishing of a paw upon the grass. Immediately she jumped to her hooves looking in all directions, but before she could even formulate an escape route the creature bounded into the glade and struck her down with full force, using its paw it quickly swatted her into the field of blue flowers she felt the red gashes left behind by the creature's claws the purple unicorn cried out in pain from the gashes as she rose to her hooves again preparing for another assault from the creature, it leaped in for a third and final strike.

A raspy snake like voice, from just behind the purple unicorn cried out. “Glacies Sagitta! ” She felt the air in her immediate vicinity her cool immensely as a frigid bolt of ice sailed above her and right into the manticore’s chest, sending it careening back into a tree as the arrow continued freezing its body. She kept backing away from the freezing beast until she bumped into something dry yet soft, she froze then slowly ever so slowly she turned and the first thing she saw was the brown cloak then as her sight came back to her she saw inside the darkness of the cloak a green scaled thigh.

As her eyes contracted and she immediately jumped forward on unsteady hooves spinning around she stared deep into the yellow slitted eyes of the creature before her. It chose then to move as she backed away into the same tree the manticore was frozen to, the creature slowly lowered itself to her level and stared her in the eye, then spoke softly in the same soft voice “So what brings a pony to these woods? Dangers abound here you should know.” The creature waved its hand in an arc towards Twilight then pointed his middle digit at the manticore still hanging above her as he spoke.

Twilight looked up at where the lizard man was pointing and immediately wished she hadn’t, what she saw would haunt her a good few weeks. The manticores face was still twisted in a snarl at Twilight its features as frozen as its body. “Aaaahhh” She quickly ran away from the fearsome creature only to run into the scaled speaker again except this time instead of giving her a chance to react it lowered a hand to her shoulder and laid it there in a calming gesture, she shivered as her nerves slackened from their tight and she eventually gained full control of her auxiliary abilities. “Ha-how d-did you do that?” She sputtered.

In response the cloaked creature calmly turned the jittering unicorn around to face it. She now got a full look at its features mottled green scales and twin fins, the long spines running down the back of its head, the bright calm yellow slitted eyes, the long snout with needle sharp teeth and two long sharp fangs, she almost wanted to scream and run in fear as she stared in the predator’s face but instead, she continued shivering as it backed up a pace or two. It then held its hand up palm upward and called forth in a soft voice “Glacies sagitta” the words echoing in the unicorns mind. The air above the creatures hand began to cool and turn white as it froze forming into a arrow completely made of ice. The creature spoke again. “It is a simple spell designed to incapacitate our opponents or pray, tho we prefer to use the entangling vines spell, the spell is formed by calling upon our inner spirit to form the object of our desire. ” The creature smiled “It’s actually pretty simple to cast, just a matter of willing the object into existence.”

Her curiosity piqued, she immediately opened her mouth and began. “Why did you save me?” She asked now that the danger had passed.

The creature gave a toothy grin “We are not fond of having the locals thinking our friends be on the menu.” Then the creature chuckled and continued “But never doubt we care that you live we protect any guest we come across in these woods.” The creature sat down as two more of its kind melted out of the brush into the clearing being careful to avoid the blue flowers.

Twilight was quite intrigued by this odd behavior from the creatures due to the fact that she knew the plants were sturdy from both her earlier trek through them and the crash later from the manticore swipe ‘so why would they avoid them?’ she thought. “Thank you again for saving me, tho I forgot to ask, what are you?” she asked with an inquiring glance at their attire and cloaked faces.

The first one nodded and spoke “We are Zaurask, I am Yako De’isu from the northern mire… village of Qualzong however it is a long trip from here and only five hours remain until the effects of the poison joke takes hold, there is a nearby Zebracarian seer who can assist in removing the flowers effects before they become dangerous to you. She is most likely willing to help.”

“Wait! What does poison joke do exactly?” She asked as the Zaurask started standing up.

De’isu finished standing with a stretch of his limbs, he quirked an eyebrow as he looked down at the studious foal and let out a small breath her way. “So you wish to know more about the plant well it is more of a weed than a flower but it contains a special pollen that reacts with a creature’s magic causing random effects,” The cloaked Zaurask started walking along a trail faintly visible through the brush. “For some that love to fly it will reverse their wings as a harmless joke only to cause them to crash, or the case of a magically talented unicorn such as yourself it would render as if you were under horn rot and would block any attempt to dispel it because you wouldn’t have any of your normal methods of casting spells, as you can see it’s as much a joke as it is dangerous were you to be in the wrong location when its effects take hold.”

Taking the initiative she asked another Question “How come I’ve never heard of your race before?”

The hooded lizard smiled as he continued “As to why our race is an unknown entity?” The creature grinned even wider. “Well the Everfree is not the mistress of kindness, but also that we are not as old a race as we seem, we have been around the forest living in its vast swampland for well over seven hundred years, there have been no ponies who have made it to our villages and returned... able to tell of it, which reminds me.” The shadow garbed warrior spoke his mood darkening a little.

The lavender foal looked up at the lizard like creature inquisitively. “What is it?” She asked innocently.

“I ask that you swear to an oath of silence.”He spoke calmly.

“Wh-what why?”

The creature examined her then spoke again softly. “Our existence must remain as it is... a mystery and unknown by those outside, if you do not take it we will not stop you from trying to leave the forest however we would no longer be able to protect you.”

Twilight gulped at the severity of the statement and spoke “If i do not accept the oath would you atleast point me in the right direction to the shaman healer?” She asked not quite saying whether she would accept the oath or not.

The Zaurask looked down and smiled softly at her. “We will but they would do you little in this forest, the trees ever shifting would muddle your path, and the creatures dangerous would not think twice before attacking you. this forest is lethal to those untrained.”

“Hmm...” She closed her eyes bowing her head in thought, when she opened them they gleamed in the light of a decision that has been made. “Alright i’ll make the oath.” ‘If only because the poison joke will be the end of me alone.’

The bipedal lizard nodded in acknowledgement of her statement, and began. “Do you swear by your magic that you will not unless under circumstance involving the safety of Equestria reveal our existence to others, this will you submit?” His request was clear and echoing it was laced with unfamiliar power that lacked subtlety, but was direct and focused.

The magenta unicorn assented her understanding and spoke. “I swear.” She spoke truthfully then immediately the latent energies of the oath took hold, her horn lit up along with the Zaurask’s eyes as the oath was sealed between them.

“What was that?” Twilight spoke in wonderment. Her eyes flitting from her horn to the lizard’s eyes and back again.

The bipedal lizard smiled as he spoke again “That young pony was and oath seal, makes the terms of the oath permanent unless both individuals involved are in agreement that the contract should be broken, this particular oath will bind you so that you should be unable to speak of me and my kin to those in the world outside of our villages. I am thankful you have taken the pact, really do come and go as you please between our village and the outside world. the pact will allow you to talk to those who know of my kind but they are a rare consequence.” The lizard man frowned as he continued “However you cannot come until the seer has cleansed of you, we still must take you to her as those are the terms of my side of the contract, but afterwards however you can then decide on your own path and where you will go from there.”

Twilight smiled and nodded acceptance knowing somewhat the consequences of being late to the healer. “Alright then, thank you. i do appreciate your assistance.” The Zaurask leader nodded in agreement.

Its been an hour since the oath was taken and they were blazing along one of the many game trails until the forward hunter dodged to the side and ducked behind a tree prompting the others including the Yako to do the same, hissing in annoyance De’isu Grabbed the blundering unicorn who was wondering where ‘her’ guides had disappeared to and pulling her behind the brush next to his tree, then he hissed to the lead figure. “Kaya Xaldon, the threat?”

The lizard in the front with a gray green cloak looked back at the leader. “Hydra two heads. ‘Umbra arcum’. Engage?” He queried back while summoning shadows into the shape of a bow.

De’isu looked from the warrior to the unicorn charge and shook his right hand signaling to go around the threat. Nodding acceptance of the order Xaldon took point and led the group around the hydra, Twilight silently allowing herself to be carried having heard the conversation and realizing it would be easier and faster that way rather than letting her pride force them to take longer than needed.

Eventually the group made it to the other side of the hydra. There were no more incidents like that one along the path it only took them three hours to arrive at the front door of a small hut in the middle of the Everfree. Kaya Xaldon jumped up into a tree as Yako De’isu softly knocked on the wooden portal and waited with Twilight on his left she decided to speak before the door opened. “I was wondering, back there while we were talking why didn’t you ask my name?”

De’isu turned his gaze to her and quizzically raised an eyebrow, “We do not ask names that are not given, we do not need them, if you wish to give us a name to call you by, it’s your choice.” He spoke softly then turned back to the door waiting.

Twilight lifted her lips in a small smile ‘alright here it goes’ “Thank you for helping me I don’t know where I’d be without your help De’isu, my name is Glimmering Wisp.” She lied calmly maintaining her façade easily after years of practice in holding back her emotions after her failure. Over the years she built a wall to hide the inner turmoil from others including her own family. Just then the door opened at the same time as Xaldon dropped from the tree landing silently next to De’isu.

As the door opened it revealed the occupant within a white and black striped zebra with a five ring neck brace, dual looped earrings, a five band leg brace, with a black and white striped Mohawk. She noticed her visitors and their charge and instantly narrowed her eyes and examined the magenta foal before her noticing the faint coating of blue and yellow dust on her person, and immediately deduced the reason for her arrival, nodded to the Zaurask gatherers then faced Twilight and spoke. “Ah I see you whom requires my brews most dire, thank you my Zaurask friends for bringing her here, I promise her good health, worry not she’ll be well.” The zebra spoke in rhyme.

Xalden wasted no time and told De’isu where the next destination was and immediately they headed off but not before Xaldon dropped a small parchment as he passed Twilight. She quickly picked it up and read it to herself almost squealing in delight, but remembered present company and calmed herself down putting the scrap away for later reading. “So you know the Zaurask?” She began, the Zebra didn’t even notice the event as she watched the scaled warriors melt into the woods without a sound.

The zebra smiled and responded “Of course young friend, I know many within, hopefully my manners do not lack, do come in for a snack, maybe some herbal tea, for a drink?”

The unicorn smiled at the zebra and nodded acceptance “I would like some tea. Thank you. So… my name is Glimmering Wisp, what’s your’s?” Twilight asked as she walked in.

“Some call me Zecora, young Glimmering Wisp.” The striped pony answered, she then smiled and asked. “Which tea would you drink?”

“Jasmine if that’s ok.” She smiled as Zecora stepped over to a kettle and poured some water into a clay container, and stirred some spices into it, trotted back and hoofed the steaming brew to her. “thank you.” She spoke warmly as she started sipping her tea. “This is delicious what kind of herps did you use?”

Zecora smiled at the compliment. “natural materials found in the forest i find are of the most use.” The striped zebra sighed as she sat down.“To hasten the potion’s creation, a solution would you make?” She asked with an inquisitive smile.

“I would be glad to help but… I don’t know the much about potion making.“ Twilight replied her ears drooping a little.

The zebra smiled and pulled down a glass beaker and hoofed it over to the violet unicorn. “A problem it is not, to teach you, to mix these brews.”

Twilight’s tea finished and forgotten, as she grins and accepts the striped zebras offer readily. “Thank you Zecora, I won’t disappoint you.” She stands with the beaker between her front hooves and slowly trots forward to stand next to the zebra who has already gathered a considerable amount of ingredients. “Alright Zecora what do you need me to do first?”

The Zebra smiled at the unicorn and lifted a small bag hoofing it to her, then she pointed at a small bushel of leaves and a wooden spoon. “Here you go, now you know. Smash the leaves of sandal bush and mix with lily dust.” She then quickly added a few ingredients to the boiling cauldron as Twilight accomplished her task.

“I’m finished what do I do now?” Asked the patient unicorn.

“Add the mix and you see, the treatment you need.” The zebra smiled as the perplexed unicorn added the final ingredient to the solution and took a step back. “Do not be afraid for it is time for you to bath.”
“W-WHAT!” Twilight exclaimed staring at the zebra as if she had grown a third eye.

Zecora laughed a little and continued. “This potion is not to drink, as it is to sink. to stop this rash you must take the bubble bath.” Then she walked over to the now bubbling cauldron and tapped it twice in emphasis.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me that ‘Bath’ is probably warm enough to scald the skin off my bones” Zecora chuckled even more and pointed to the coals of the once burning fire underneath the cauldron.

“A mixture I added of thistle and mint, they cool the potion for you to sit. Do not fear, it is a herbal remedy.” Zecora looked on with mirth as Twilight took step after hesitant step towards the cauldron.

Eventually reaching the ledge she lifted a hoof and pressed it against the side of the pot and felt it, she immediately noted that the container was warm but not so warm that the water would be painful to her, but instead she realized that as Zecora said the water was warm enough to soak in, like a bath. “Why a bath?” The purple unicorn asked.

“To remove any and all spores and relax your pores.” The Zebra returned mirthfully.

Twilight nodded once. “Ok” And with that she jumped in, moaning in pleasure as the waters of the bath calmed her muscles and allowed her to rest after four and a half days of straight travel. “Thank you Zecora… though how long do I need to stay in the water?”

“Thirty minutes at the least, and the spores will release.” The Zebra spoke in cadence while walking over to the door.

“Where are you going?”Twilight asked.

The Zebra turned back to the unicorn and smiled “To gather more materials I must, for to lack ingredients is a bust.” She reasoned.

As Zecora went off into the forest to gather more ingredients, Twilight began to think again and immediately her mind shot to the event four days ago. She shivered ‘How many ponies died because of me?’ She thought sullenly. ‘How-how can I fix that kind of mistake? Mom… I wish you were still here’ tears gathering in her eyes and dropping into the pool of water she was in, her mind wondering between subjects. “How can I heal what i’ve done?” She whispered in internal agony. She looked around the hut and began to actually notice the novelty of the zebra’s hut, ‘Maybe… maybe I could ask her to teach me to be a good pony and maybe even teach me her craft, those Zaurask seem friendly enough as well maybe they could also teach me a few things maybe even some of their magics.’ She thought hopefully beginning to think on what ways she could redeem herself in her own eyes. ‘If I learn potion making how can I use it to help others?... Oh I know maybe I can sell them to travelers as their passing through the village… no that won’t work. Wait maybe if I give a way potions and or sell them as I pass between settlements… yea that’ll work but first I must become skilled in the craft, thank Celestia I was taken here hopefully Zecora accepts me as her student.’ She smiled whimsically at the thought.

Fourtyfive minutes passed as twilight waited for the shaman to return from her gathering. Twilight was already out of the cauldron and dry and was now reading through one of the herbal books in the Zebras meager library, when the door opened allowing the grown striped owner to pass through. She noticed the unicorn reading through her library and with a smile walked over to her “Ah, I see that you are clean and now you read. Knowing the ingredients is important yes but handling them is the quest, familiarity with the ingredients is a must, lest you suffer in dust.” The Zebra warned before pulling another book out of the library and passing it to the purple unicorn “in this book you should look, a simple start it will impart.”

“Thanks Zecora but before I read I was wondering…” Twilight folded her ears back and stared at the floor thinking carefully how she was going to ask the Zebra then decided that it would be best to just be straight. “Would you teach me how to use alchemy and maybe even train me in the arts?” With her ears still folded back she lifted her face and eyes to meet Zecora’s and found the Zebra staring back at her eyes clouded with thoughts, this lasted for a few minutes neither speaking a word as the shaman slowly made her decision then she nodded carefully then again with a smile.

“It would be a joy to teach you but first I must know, where would you go, what is your will, to use this knowledge for good or ill?” The Zebra eyed the unicorn carefully as the purple filly carefully considered her next words.

She looked deep into the Zebras eyes and after a few moments of tense silence, finally spoke. “I seek to learn the arts from you to help fix my mistakes, to better myself, and to help other ponies. I seek this knowledge not out of any misguided concept of glory but out of the need to fix my mistakes so I can live with them. is that ok?.” She turned her gaze to the floor folding her ears back expecting a reprimand. Instead she felt a gentle nudge on her shoulder as Zecora placed a hoof there.

“The pain your eyes I see, so it shall be, you now I will teach.” Zecora then pulled her foreleg back and moved over to the cauldron. “Though surprised I am you see, for your talent is magic mastery.” She smiled while turning back to the surprised unicorn.

Twilight was shocked to say the least “Wh-what?!” The lavender filly exclaimed eyes wide. “What are you talking about I can’t even control my magic let alone be talented at it. What makes you think that?” Twilight quirked an eyebrow at the zebra, who smiled calmly and pointed at the young filly’s flank in return. ‘what is she talking about I don’t have a cutie mar-’ Slowly ever so slowly the lavender mare turned her gaze towards her flank their shining as if it had always been there was her Cutie Mark.

Zecora continued. “The mark does not lie, little child” The Zebra sat and watched as the filly continued gazing at her flank in surprise.

Twilight wasn’t even paying attention anymore her mind filled with unimaginable joy of having found her Cutie Mark, but also unfathomable pain for she realized from what the mark most likely originated from, and that thought causing her to cry tears of bittersweet joy. She looked at the mark carefully and noticed its design. It was a large six pointed magenta star on top of another white six pointed star with six different colored stars on each of its points and six white stars on each point of the large magenta star.

Twilight stared at the mark for a few minutes as she regained control over herself from her near emotional breakdown she sighed then calmly she began. “I Guess I can’t escape the truth now, but would rather use your potions than my magic, it… it leaves a bad memory for me.” She spoke softly.

Zecora nodded understanding as her smile turned to a frown from seeing the torment the unicorn went through just from seeing her mark.“I understand your pain, I assure you it is misplaced. Magic is as much a part of thee as the sight is to me, you must face your fears, or the consequences will be severe. Trust in you I do, to use your magic true.” The Zebra smiled down at the lavender unicorn. “However I will teach you now, my skills most found.”

Twilight looked up at the Zebra and smiled in turn. “Thank you I will do my best to not disappoint you.” ‘I will do my best and see this through to the end’ The lavender fillies grin stretched even wider as she realized that now she had a chance to not only fix her wrongs but also make a new friend . ‘This is turning out wonderfully.’

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile in Canterlot Castle…

Celestia sat upon her throne distractedly looking at one of the nearby stained glass windows. She had already put the Canterlot guard on high alert to make sure any further incidents like the one four days ago don’t happen again. “Someday.” she whispered. “Someday I will find you.” With that she turned back to the petitioner before her. ‘And when i do whoever you are, you will pay for what you’ve done.’

A Restful Night

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 12: Travails and Journal Tales

Section 1 of 3

Part 4 of 4

(Note:Changelings androgynous meaning they have a schlong, a third entry, or both depending on preference. Queens(and the rare King) are the Exception to this rule since they dedicate themselves to the hive as that sex, ‘and it shows.’ specifically)

(Along the Griffica/Equestrian border, townshep of Applecrest, Fields Wind Tavern, nine hundred ninety third Celestial year, twenty ninth day of spring)

*clack**slch**Glug**glurgl* Bright blue eyes shined from the black creatures as they ate the red fruit, its sweet juices dribbling down the corners of their jaws. The left one looked up at the lavender pony standing near it, it finished its last piece of the fruit with a ravenous bite. The lavender filly held the creatures gaze with her own a hopeful smile upon her face as the chitinous creature gulped down the last of its fruit. “Glimmering Wisp have more?” The creature asked plaintively as its companion finished its pieces as well.

Twilight’s ears laid back. “I’m sorry, those were the only apples I had, also we should probably observe the effects, before you eat any more,” the lavender filly answered with a serious tone that brooked no argument.

“What wrong? Pony said safe. Glimmering Wisp lie?” The dark creature asked, perplexed by the pony’s answer.

Twilight held up a hoof to forestall the anticipated response. “No, I did not lie, however Velt, I would rather we wait incase there are any undesirable side effects.”

Velt turned to the other black creature next to her as it stared at Twilight questioningly, “what side ef- eFLUEaghhhh--- Hghrgggg.” Collapsing on the floor both creatures stared uncomfortably at the wall which suffered a sad fate, being blasted with a greenish stomach paste that slowly slid down towards the floorboards. Twilight nodded with a small grimace at the scene, having been prepared for an unpleasant reaction. Gathering magic to the tip of her horn Twilight grasped the greenish fluid on the wall and pulled the majority of it off, siphoning it slowly into a nearby bucket repurposed from the bathing chamber.

“I guess it didn’t work...” Twilight’s face pulled even further downwards into a pouting frown, before sighing and relaxing her features. She faced the two dark creatures nearly passed out on the ground. “I’m sorry that you and Rhode had to go through that. Would you like me to help clean you up?” The lavender filly asked calmly as the last of the spewed liquid was wiped from the wall by a wet towel within her magical grasp.

Velt nodded slightly. “Experiment not work! Hurt... You feed us?” The creature asked eagerly.

Twilight sighed. “When you’re clean, Velt. I don’t mind that you and Rhode are changelings, but I would not enjoy tasting regurgitated food on your lips. Maybe some water to clear out the residue?” Twilight answered lifting forward two filled beakers of the clear fluid.

Sighing in response Velt accepted the container of water lifting it from Twilight’s with his own signature green as she regained balance on his hooves, next to Rhode who was doing the same. Taking a deep draw from the flask, she carefully maneuvered it through and around his vocal pipes, clearing what remained of the greenish excrement. Nodding to Twilight, she released her grasp on the flask letting her catch it and gather it towards herself. Clearing them of their contents down the drain, Twilight placed the flask alongside others like it within her pack.

“Alright I’m ready, are you?” Twilight stood to her current full height of three feet, four and a half inches. She was about eight inches shorter than the nearby changelings. Velt strode forward calmly, his chitinous hide glistening in the medium light of the room, as she approaches the lavender unicorn.

As Twilight was opening her mouth to speak, Velt darted forward, and stole the filly’s breath with a kiss. Twilight relaxes into the kiss, allowing Velt to take the lead as Rhode trots over to them.

Rhode glanced over his options while Twilight was distracted by Velt. Glancing at her starburst cutie mark she gets an idea. She places a hole riddled hoof on the young pony’s shoulder, then gently, she nibbled on the lavender coat working his viscous tongue over her lavender coat, drinking mouthfuls of love directly, the delicious substance over filling her with its intensity as she worked her way down. Letting a hoof glide softly down her withers as she pecked and prodded her way down to the distracted filly’s pert flank. Working his tongue over the muscles, Rhode caused them to relax under his deft ministrations.

Twilight moaned into Velt’s mouth, her joyful vibrations further feeding the changeling as her tongue wrestled with Twilight’s. Velt traced circles in Twilight’s mane with a hoof, while holding her close with the other. Velt glanced at Rhode and gave a subtle nod, making sure to keep the lavender filly’s attention with his oral play.

Rhode smiles in response, pulling her head back, and lighting her horn with dancing green flames of power, A small orb of magic the same color appeared and danced before her. Pulling it towards herself, she shapes it by pressing it through the largest hole in his right hoof, shaping a bright green phallic object. Dipping forward, Rhode flicked out his long sinuous tongue, lapping at the lavender treasure before her, causing Twilight to squeal in pleasure.

‘Mom? What are you doing?’ Asked a curious voice inside Twilight’s head, the lavender filly’s eyes burst open in surprise. Looking over towards the nearby bed, she saw a draconic head peeking from within a cloak she had placed there a few hours before.

Closing her eyes again and forcing calm, Twilight responded mentally through their connection. ‘Nothing to worry about Fang. This is adult stuff. You might want to sleep for the rest of the night. Tomorrow promises to be a long day.’ The lavender filly responded.

Velt pulled back, letting a trail of saliva trail between herself and Twilight. The drake immediately dived back under the sheets, ‘Ok! Good Night!’ Fang squeaked, as the changeling turned to look over in the same direction Twilight had. Finding nothing, she shrugs, then turned back to the lavender mare and kissed her on the forehead, just underneath the horn, causing her to squeal.

Rhode felt his personal rod begin to lengthen as she continued licking Twilight’s glistening honey pot, Gently, the changeling positioned the phallic object formed by her magic next to the lavender filly’s luscious cavern. Twilight pulled her head back, and watched as the bright green phallus prodded against Twilight’s nether lips.

Twilight gasps in surprise, pressing her winking fillyhood against the round object, pulling softly away from Velt. Letting their tongues caress each other one last time while she pants in heat, Twilight feels a bright smile spatter across her face.

Twilight pressed a hoof against the chitin of Velt’s chest, pushing her over, onto her back. She watched as a dull black rod bounced before her. Twilight sniffed at the object curiously , the scent reminding her of a plant she came across a few weeks ago, except smelling more of honey. Flicking her tongue forward, she took an experimental taste of the intriguing meat rod. Twilights breath caught as Rhode took the next step and began pressing the green dildo past her vulva, slowly sliding it in as she caught and drank her filly juices with his dexterous tongue.

Twilight's breath caught in her throat as she felt Rhode’s magic press forward, filling her up and spreading her insides. It felt strange, having something slide inside her and it hurt slightly, but it also felt...good. Squeezing her hips back, Twilight pushed several inches of Rhode’s dildo in past her labial lips. Before her, Velt grabbed the back of her head and pulled her forward, angling his shaft so that it lined up with her mouth. Sweet smelling juices seeped from the tip and Twilight instinctively opened her mouth to receive the treat.

Quickly, she closed her mouth around the tip of Velt’s rod, and began licking up the tasty liquid welling at the tip. She swirled her tongue around the rubbery shaft while sucking on the tip when she could. Drips of his fluid coated her tongue and each one only increasing her desire to get even more. After a few moments of his, Twilight felt Velt’s hoof begin to pull her down and slowly, more of his shaft began to fill her mouth. Twilight soon felt her reach past the base of her tongue and nearly touch against the back of her throat. Velt felt this and stopped pulling her down. Instead she shifted so that she was holding the sides of her head in his hooves. Once she was ready, she slowly lifted Twilight off her rod, shivering as she felt her shaft leave the warm confines of the lavender pony’s mouth.

When only the tip of her phallus remained in her mouth, Velt changed direction and sank her shaft into Twilight’s eager cavity again. “Wisp bob, feel good,” she moaned out, hoping that Twilight would pick up on what Velt wanted on her to do. As it turns out, Twilight was an excellent listener. With increasing speed, she began sliding down his shaft on her own, taking her almost to the base before rising up and sucking hard on the up stroke. Each bob rewarded her with more of the delicious honey flavored liquid that she was leaking.

Behind Twilight, Rhode was lapping freely at her plump nethers. Her magical dildo had bottomed out in her, and she was now slowly pumping it, taking care not to hurt the mare before her. Twilight’s body had reacted exactly how she had hoped to the new intruder, and she was now freely dripping juices. Her prehensile tongue easily snaked around the dildo and lapped up every drip of her growing arousal. Twilight’s increasing desire was filling her up, feeding her lust for love. She could see Twilight’s bobbing on Velt’s phallus and she felt slightly envious of the treat her fellow was getting. She knew that it would be worth it in the end though.

Giving her dildo another few gentle thrusts, Rhode was pleased to hear the soft squelching noise with each thrust forward. Twilight was ready for the main event. Pulling back slightly from Twilight, Rhode dispelled his dildo. it flickered for a moment before vanishing, treating her to a perfect shot of Twilight’s plot as it quickly contracted around the empty space she had just left it with. Inviting pink flesh, dripping with arousal winked at her and she wasn’t going to hold out for long. Filled with love energy, her shaft rapidly engorged and sprang to attention. Giving her cutie marks one last rub with his hooves, Rhode mounted her back, pressing his flanks up hard against hers. His hardening shaft bobbed up and touched Twilight’s clitoris. She bucked once under her as a thrum of pleasure ran through her body.

Pressing forward, Rhode pushed the tip of his shaft past her labial lips. Twilight stiffened as she felt his hard rod penetrate her. She clamped her jaw down slightly, earning a disapproving look from Velt for a second, but a moment later her lips parted and Rhode sank deeply into her. His smooth length slid within her body easily, filling her up as the dildo had done a moment before.

Twilight was feeling bliss. She sucked on Velt’s hard shaft; eagerly awaiting the next wave of his sweet sap. Behind her, Rhode had filled her vaginal canal to his hilt. She could feel her prodding her deeper than any object she had experimented with before. Every time she thrust into Twilight, a spark of pure pleasure ran through her body, lighting up her brain and leaving her wanting more; she had never felt this aroused before and she couldn’t think of anything beyond the next thrust of Rhode’s hips.

She didn’t know it, but Rhode and Velt were releasing a special blend of pheromones from a gland under their wings. The pheromone was a special blend designed to induce insatiable desire in any pony who came into contact with it. Twilight had reacted exactly they way that they had hoped she would; her mind would be fogging over soon. until the pheromones wore off, she would be nothing more than an eager vessel for their affections, one that would return them with interest. Her body would be wracked with constant desire and a need for release. She would quite literally buck until she passed out.

The pair of changelings soon reached a smooth pace; Rhode thrusting into Twilight’s sex, and the resulting push causing Twilight to swallow more of Velt’s shaft. With each thrust, Twilight squealed lightly around Velt’s length, but she didn’t slow down. Leaning his head back and humming in pleasure, Velt brought his forelegs up and grabbed the sides of Twilight’s head again, pulling her down with more force than she had been managing on her own. She could feel his climax beginning to rise deep within her; ‘For beginner, pony have good mouth.’ she thought.

With one savage buck of his hips, Velt shoved his shaft as far into Twilight’s mouth as she could. feeling her throat open up as she pressed against it, the flat of her tongue running along the underside of her shaft. With a hard twitch, she released the first spurt of her essence into the lavender mouth. Concentrated liquid love flooded Twilight’s throat and her eyes bulged out as she felt the taste wash over her tongue. It was like honey, but mixed with something she couldn’t quite identify, but it tasted like heaven. She greedily swallowed every drop she could find of the rich creamy liquid, sucking hard on every stroke to tease out those last few stubborn drops.

When it was clear that she had gotten all that she was going to get for the moment, Twilight released Velt from her mouth, letting his shriveling length slip from her. She looked up at her with a hungry expression on her face.

“More,” she said, her head shaking with every thrust Rhode made into her. Not bothering to wait for his reply, Twilight engulfed his shaft again and returned to trying to bring her back to a state of full arousal. Bending her head to swallow his shaft, Twilight lowered her horn so that it was wiggling right in front of Velt’s face.

An idea flitted through his mind, and Velt quickly brought one of his hooves up to Twilight’s horn. Rubbing it along the sensitive spiral ridges of her horn, she soon reached the tip and lined up the flat of her leg with the rounded tip of Twilight’s horn. With a sharp push, his leg slipped around Twilight’s horn, with the horn fitting snugly through one of the holes that dotted his leg. Twilight moaned sharply when his hole covered her horn; the vibration of her throat tickling his glands and causing her to engorge again.

As Velt began his unusual hornjob, Rhode was smoothly pistoning his way into Twilight’s plot. His belly was nearly overflowing with concentrated love; it had been some time since she was this full, but it just spurred her on. If Twilight’s research failed, it was his and Velt’s duty to return as much love to the colony as they could.

Twilight’s plot was tight, tighter than many mares she had done before. While she didn’t appear to have had a hymen, she was clearly a virgin. The idea that she was taking her first time drove her on; it made the love all the sweeter. Still, there was one hole on her body that was still unspoilt, and he intended to experience the pleasure of taking Twilight’s rosebud.

Bringing a hoof down to her dripping sex, Rhode covered his hooves with her juices. Once his hooves were smeared with lubricant, she brought them up to her wiggling flanks and began to coat her tightly clenched anus.

“Errmph!” Twilight squealed around Velt’s hardening rod as she felt Rhode’s hooves touch her plot. His hooves began prodding at her rear end, pressing forward and gently trying to stretch her plot hole apart. Despite trying to stretch her out, it quickly became clear that his hooves were ill suited for the task. Rhode was going to have to employ a more directed method.

Pulling out of Twilight, she leaned down and leveled her mouth so that she was nearly touching her plot. extending his tongue out, she slurped her now empty vaginal slit, lapping up the excess of her sweet arousal. Calling on his magic, Rhode focused it into to Twilight’s body. A quick burst of magic sanitised her anal passage, leaving only clean flesh behind. Rhode may have been a parasite, but she wasn’t going to shove she tongue into a soiled behind; she still had some standards.

With her passage now clean as the day she was birthed, Rhode snaked his tongue up along Twilight’s backside and swirled it around her tightly clenched sphincter. The second she touched it, the muscles clenched hard, reacting to the strange feeling in the only way they knew how. Undaunted, Rhode continued his rimming, gently pushing his tongue up against her flesh and occasionally dropping down to get another lick of her sweet juice.

It took some probing and plenty of saliva, but slowly, Twilight’s button began to unclench and relax as it became used to the feeling of Rhode’s tongue. Sensing victory, Rhode called up his magical dildo construct again, this time focusing it so that it was pencil thin. Taking a moment to press the dildo inside Twilight’s sopping wet vaginal passage, Rhode made sure that it was fully lubed up and ready for action.

Working carefully, Rhode inserted the thin tip of his dildo into Twilight’s plot, slowly inching it forward so as not to cause her pain. She listened to her body as she did so, stopping every time that she clenched down or gasped around Velt’s shaft; this wasn’t his first time doing this and she didn’t want to hurt Twilight as she was trying to help them afterall.

Eventually, Rhode had all of his dildo buried within Twilight’s butt. Now came the fun part. Deftly, she pulsed the dildo’s size, alternately thickening and shrinking it so that with each pulse it stretched Twilight’s virginal passage out a little more. It would take a little while, but she knew that it would be worth it when she finally got to plumb those unexplored depths of pleasure.

After several moments, Rhode felt that she was ready and she let the dildo vanish, leaving only her plot hole gaping for a moment before it sprang back together. Burying her shaft in her juicy slit once more for lube, Rhode mounted Twilight’s back and guided her length towards Twilights inviting backdoor. With a quick thrust, the tip of her shaft pressed against her sphincter and pushed it open. The first few inches of his shaft entered Twilight proper. Rhode hissed through clenched teeth as she felt the tightness of her passage on his length. She had expected her to be tight, but this was something else. It was like a vice gripping her shaft and she had to push hard to make any headway. it took her nearly a full minute, but Rhode eventually was able to sink her entire length into Twilight. The heat and pressure was incredible; it was like a pressure cooker inside her.

He was just about to start thrusting into her when, without warning, both she and Velt were caught in a purple magical glow. Rhode looked up to see Twilight’s horn glowing and a gleaming look in her eyes. Rhode felt herself be lifted from his hooves and flipped over onto his back. his shaft came free from Twilight and slapped against his carapace with a dull smack.

Her mind reeled at the scene; ‘Something not right, influenced pony no cast magic.’

Her protests were cut off as Twilight quickly jumped astride her, bringing her face up to meet hers before she planted a kiss right on his lips. Twilight’s tongue pushed his mouth open and quickly she felt the urgency in her motions. She broke apart a moment later, waggling one of her hooves in front of his face.

“Greedy, greedy little changeling. Taking my plot all for yourself. Didn’t you ever learn to share?” Twilight said to Rhode before leaning forward and swishing her tail at Velt who was still sitting dumbstruck on the ground behind them. “It’s all yours, Velt. Have a good time.”

“How... how break?” Rhode asked.

“Your pheromone control?” Twilight grinned. “Simple. I’ve studied your physiology before, so I planned ahead for it. It’s easy to beat something if you know it’s coming.” She lifted her hips up and grabbed Rhode’s shaft with her magic, lining it up with her slit once again. “Now, be quiet and enter me,” she commanded the pair, showing a hidden dominant streak. With that, she dropped her hips and forced Rhode to fill her to the hilt again.

Velt blinked a few times, but she quickly recovered and ambled over to where Twilight and Rhode were already coupling again. She stopped and climbing up onto Twilight’s back, hooking her hooves over the lavender fillies shoulders to get a better grip. She tried to enter her anal passage, but she was moving too fast and she couldn’t line her shaft up properly; each thrust ended up sliding down and whacking against Rhode’s shaft.

“Wisp hold still,” she pleaded, lust overcoming his senses. She wanted her and the love that she could feel flowing off of her. Twilight paused for a moment, holding her flanks still to allow Velt the chance to line up her rod with her plot hole. Using her magic to hold herself straight, Velt thrust forward and plunged into Twilight’s free hole, forcing her muscle ring apart and sinking she entire length inside her.

“OOhhhh, Yes,” Twilight screamed as she felt Velt enter her. She had never felt this full before and she with every twitch of her hips she could make out both Velt and Rhode’s shafts pressing up inside her. they throbbed and pulsed hard, and she knew that they must be able to feel each other through the thin layer of tissue that separated them. She relaxed and allowed both Changelings to fill her to her limit. Once they were both as deep within her as they could, she clamped down hard with her muscles, trapping both shafts inside her. Both drones groaned in pleasure as she rippled her muscles around them.

“Alright boys, don’t hold back.”

Rhode and Velt exchanged a quick look and nodded at each other. In a synced movement, they both pulled their hips back until only their tips were left inside Twilight. “Wisp hold,” Velt said, “Make scream.”

With that, both drones flexed their hips and drove their shafts hard into Twilight’s body. Twilight’s eyes bugged out as she felt them shift her insides around. As the two changelings started thrusting hard into her, she closed her eyes and concentrated on the pleasure wracking her body. It was such an intense feeling; as Rhode filled her up, Velt would withdraw and vice versa. She was constantly being filled up with their lengths and it felt incredible. It hurt, but there was an undercurrent of pleasure that was building up in her loins.

“Oh, Yes, yes, yes,” she groaned every time that Rhode slammed into her vagina. She felt pleasure beyond belief and her small teats were pressed hard into his back chitin plating. Every thrust of his hips rubbed her teats against his body, sending sparks of pleasure through her body.

Rhode and Velt quickly reached a smooth rhythm with their strokes and they both knew that it wouldn’t be long before both of them ejaculated their seed within Twilight. The only question was which one of them would hold out the longest.

The pair pounded Twilight with everything that they had and she yelped and moaned with every stroke. A sheen of sweat soon covered Twilight’s fur and she began panting in pleasure. Rhode noticed that her eyes had half closed and she was staring ahead with an unfocused look. She grinned and added an extra kick to his thrusts.

Twilight couldn’t think straight. She hadn’t expected sex to be this intense. By now the pain had vanished, leaving only pure pleasure in its wake. The feeling of Velt filling her anal passage was so exotic and Rhode inside her vaginal tunnel was so right. She could feel another pressure increasing within her. It almost felt like she had to pee, but she knew that it couldn’t be that. Every thrust Rhode and Velt made increased the pressure and Twilight soon realised that it was going to burst soon.

“Ummm-mmHmm!” she moans out, grabbing Rhode’s head and holding it up to her chest. The building pressure had burst inside her and it had released blinding pleasure through her brain. Twilight could feel her vaginal and anal muscles rippling hard, milking the two shafts within her hard. A burst of pure magic squirted from her horn, sending fizzling drops of magic into the air.

Rhode felt her partner unload her seed into Twilight and she smirked to herself; looks like she was the winner between them. She could feel her own load building up and she knew that it would only be a few more moments before she came. With a small grunt she released deep into Twilights depths, just as Velt had done. ‘Hmph’ He thought. ‘grateful I’m steril with not changelings.’

Spent, Velt and Rhode fell onto their backs, panting and heaving. They were both filled to bursting with Twilight’s love and they didn’t have the energy to do anything else. Twilight collapsed between them, eyes glazed over as she looked up at the ceiling. A thin trickle of Velt’s seed seeped out from her anus, forming a pool on the floor, and she was covered with the remains of Rhode’s load.

Slowly, she felt lethargy overcome her. Now that they were finished, she realised that she was tired beyond belief. Stifling a yawn she turned to face her two lovers. “That was delightful,” she said, “I hope you felt as good as ‘Uahh,’ I did.” A second yawn interrupted her speech.

Rhode and Velt put their heads on her chest. “Enjoy, Wisp good,” Rhode said before she noticed that Twilight had collapsed. Her chest rose and fell smoothly.

“Wisp good,” Velt confirmed before she fell back to the floor, content and full. Twilight turned her head towards one of the changelings and kissed them.

http://grievousfan.deviantart.com/art/Not-Safe-For-Woona-380236321

Slowly the feeling in her extremities returned as she broke the kiss from the changeling before her, then slowly, as if without difficulty lifted herself from the floor to a standing position. Her lips pulled back in a radiant smile that shined love and kindness around her, Upon the two changelings at her hooves.

Velt was the first to react, his eyes shooting open, then glaring in disbelief at the pony standing above her. She lay there, physically drained, while his body processed the massive amounts of love energy she had absorbed. Panting heavily she gasped out, ”How, Wisp... not tired?” his high pitched multi-toned voice complained.

Rhode shared equal parts disbelief, annoyance ,and understanding as she gazed at the pony standing between them, while she turned to his companion to answer, “First, I’m surprised you changelings don’t recover faster. Second is that I’ve had some practice in the Everfree forest, lets just say some creatures are best avoided if one wishes to remain physically pure, and mentally sane.” The lavender unicorn then turned and walked over to her pack, pulling out several roots, a leaf, a blood red flower, and a beaker.

Ingredients gathered, Twilight trots back over to Velt and Rhode with the reagents in hoof. Laying down gently between the two black chitin armored drones, Twilight begins working on the potion. Crushing and mixing the ingredients, then holding it over a simple mage fire she summoned up, all the while waiting on the two changelings to be ready to stand again. Finally, after a few minutes of waiting, Rhode and Velt both began to stand up shakily, definitely an improvement over the utter exhaustion and lethargy they felt minutes ago.

By the time they finally steadied their knees enough to walk, Twilight disperses the magefire underneath the small glass bottle, the contents shimmering a sparkling blue. Twilight passes the potion to Velt first “Here, take a sip, it should help invigorate you until you can stand on your own Twilight spoke smoothly as Velt took the beaker and downs a sip of the contents without question.

Velt’s eyes widened as the potion takes immediate effect, her eyes dulling somewhat as Velt toppled over slightly from the system shock. Twilight turns to Rhode next and offers the sparkling brew. Before he could place a hoof against the beaker in denial, Velt bounced off the floor like a rocket, slamming against the roof hard wings buzzing like a rushing river, and whipping up a storm of dust and air.

Landing back onto the floor with a bang, Velt, in a blur of motion, flips back onto his hooves again before turning to Rhode and giving a bouncing nod that would make even a spring green with envy. Turning back to the brew, Rhode grasped it within her telekinesis field while Twilight watched Velt’s bouncing antics, Taking a smaller sip, Rhode was able to contain his excitement and remain calm and collected physically, his wings still flittering a bit from the excitement, as Twilight finally manages to catch the errant changeling that was flying without wings.

Rooting Velt firmly into place next to Rhode, Twilight lets out a sigh of consternation, “I... didn’t expect that to happen, Sorry. I really didn’t know the potion would be this responsive to changeling physiology.” The lavender mare shrugged, while Rhode face hooves in annoyance, when Velt starts scraping the chitin along his back against the floor, albeit with less enthusiasm than he had a minute before.

“Not Wisp fault, accident.” Rhode stated simply, while helping his fellow changeling back up off the floor. His multi toned voice ringing clearly. “Pony speak?” she paused to look at her companion then back to the lavender filly.”We ready.”

Twilight shook her head in agreement, “Not that it’s too important, but I was wondering if I could trade with your hive, some love in exchange for having a changeling guide when I get to this City.” She states pulling a map from her saddlebacks and placing it flat and face up before her, placing a hoof on a round Circle in the meeting place between Equestria, the dragon hegemony, and the griffon city states. At the confused looks the changelings gave her, she responded “It’s called Pax Nexus, If it’s as big as suggested, then I’ll need one, I’d also wish to request some time with a changeling or two so I can further study and test my experiment. It has the potential to save many changeling lives, if I can get it to actually work.”

Rhode spoke first, “Mother, speak with Wisp.” She stated before her eyes dull, mouth gaping open slightly.

“Umm Rhode? Are you ok?” Twilight asks as the changeling stands silently at attention.

Velt lightly taps Twilights outstretched hoof with her own while shaking her head. “No, interrupt Transfer! Is... Delicate.” Answering the unasked question, raising a few more.

“Transfer?” Twilight repeats tilting her head to the side.

Velt smacks a hoof to her face opening her mouth to respond, only to close it as Rhode closes her mouth, her eyes changing from pure turquoise to more pony like, with slitted grey ovals in the middle. Velt turns to Rhode then lowers the front half of her body in a deep bow.

“Rhode was transferring temporary control over the hive mind, to the Queen.” Rhode ignores Velt, turning to face Twilight giving her a slight smile. “Hello Glimmering Wisp, my two drones tell my you’ve been quite the... cooperative pony. So tell me. What is this deal you wish to make.”

“I was hoping for a changeling guide in Pax Nexus when I get there so I don’t get lost. I’m offering to feed the changeling in exchange for some time to continue my food experiments with her, and for guiding me around the city, if thats ok with you?” Twilight sheepishly answers.

The Queen scoffs slightly lifting Rhodes hoof to her(1) chest. “Now I’m going to excuse your lack of manners to me on grounds that you are probably ignorant of procedure, but next time I hope you will be more learned of such things.” Rolling her eyes slightly with a sigh, “Anyway, back to the matter at hoof, you wish to experiment on one of my children, after they guide you through the city, safely, with only the promise that you will feed her, am I not correct?”

“Yes Queen...” Twilight pauses searching for a name but coming up blank.

“Ferrus my dear. Unlike the metal, I am not as rigid.” The changeling responded with a smile.

Twilight dips her head in thanks and continues continues. “Yes Queen Ferrus, that is exactly what I ask, the experiment with solid food could be a perfect solution for starvation amongst changelings, incase you run into areas with low amounts of love energy. If I can get the process working correctly, then you will have an almost perfect love substitute for changelings.” The lavender filly jumps a little in glee, imagining a few of the possibilities, should the experiment turn out as a success.

Queen Ferrus smiles slightly at the young pony’s antics, Velt standing next to her as still as a rock. ‘Now if only my children would be so carefree.’ She bemoans mentally with a gentle sigh. ‘Maybe if her experiment works...’ Ferrus shifts her posture, her countenance brightening at the thought. “Hmm, I would accept, but you must be in the city for a week at the least for this to be a fair trade. Seven days within the city working with my changelings, what do you think of these terms?” Queen Ferrus countered.

“Hmm... I had only planned on staying within the City for a few days... or at least until my supply of herbs and potion regents run out. However if you have somepony resupply me using a list of necessary ingredients I give them, I think I’ll be able to stay for the entire time. I like being able to help both your kind and the other ponies. is that ok?” Twilight answers hopefully her eyes lifting towards the Queens.

“I think your guide should be able to search for the ingredients while you’re working your potions, but the changeling will have to be using bits from your coffers-” Twilight gives the Queen a blank look. “Purse.” The changeling corrected. At Twilights comprehending look, Ferrus continues. “Your guide changeling will have to be using your bits to purchase supplies to restock your ingredients, just make a list and my child should be able to read it and understand where to get them. Are we in agreement?” The Queen concluded.

“Considering I don’t really use bits for much anyway, I don’t really have any disagreements to that.” Twilight answers, lifting a lavender hoof towards the queen. Queen Ferrus responds in kind and they both shake binding the deal.

“Good, I’ll be leaving this body so I can prepare the drone that will be awaiting you at Pax Nexus when you arrive. It was interesting to meet you.”

“it was nice meeting you too, maybe we can speak some other time. Maybe even in person someday. Good night!” Twilight joyfully answers before Rhode feels control return to her body.

Shaking her head a little as cognizance jumps back to the changeling. “Always give headache.” the changeling mutters lowly through clenched jaws. Velt walks over to help her, holding his shoulder steady with a hoof.

Velt’s hoof disappears from Rhode’s shoulder after a few seconds, long enough for her to steady herself the rest of the way when the changeling looks over, she finds Velt covered in lavender as Twilight pulls her in a bear hug, giggling in everfecent joy. Velt couldn’t breath, completely surprised by the strength the filly was putting behind the simple gesture of love. After a few seconds, Twilight dropped the changeling, Velt fell gasping on the floor as she caught her breath.

Seeing her first victim get back up Twilight excitedly charges her next one, completely blindsiding Rhode with a tackle hug, forcing her down to the ground. Completely stunned as she lay there on the floor Rhode just stared dazedly at the lavender filly squeezing her spine with a bone crushing hug.

Letting go of Rhode’s neck Twilight jumps off the larger changeling, Trotting surely over to the bed, Twilight stops at the foot, before turning on the two changelings in the room. The lavender filly pulls from her reserves, lighting her horn. Two bottles of a viscous silvery substance lift out of Twilight’s saddlebags, covered in a similar magenta glow as her magical appendage. She lifted the bottles over to the two changelings, set them on the floor. “Here, take these potions of haste, then leave the room, and head to your own. It’ll be a good enough cover up. to make it look like we made a business transaction, at least.”

Rhode and Velt walk over to the rooms main entry way that they had entered through what seemed like ages ago. Twilight jumps over to the entrance and winks at them before trying to open the door. However the portal holds firm against her magic. Turning to the changelings she finds both their horns aglow, annoyance spreading across their features. “WAIT! We speak, terms. Then agree on, action.” Velt nearly yells in agitation.

Twilight stops pressing her magic against the door, then turns her full attention upon the two changelings. “Sorry, I thought you would agree to a swift plan, We can’t really stay in the same room together for the night, can we? Also, I’m leaving early in the morning, so I really don’t want to disturb you if my morning is too early for you.” The lavender filly admits sheepishly. “So here’s the plan. I’m going to open the door and talk about the great ‘deal’ we made and how we’ll be making more bits from our partnered venture.”

Both changelings nod in agreement, “Wisp explain, we understand,” Rhode and Velt walk over to the room door, and, turning back to Twilight, they announce. “We agree.”

The lavender filly sighs in relief, “Alright put on the business pony disguises you had on before, so that I can let the barrier down.” Both Velt and Rhode burst into green flames, Twilight noting with a good deal of interest that the flames were a lot brighter than the pitiful embers she saw when they arrived. As the flames around the two changelings died down, Twilight reached out and grasped the threads of magic holding the powerful barrier weaved around the room. Cutting them caused a flash from her horn as the power being fed to the spells fled back into her core through her natural focal point. Twilight responded with only a slight nod to the two changelings, as the last hints of their fires flickered and died away completely, before a smile took command of her lips and she burst into bright, cheerful conversation. “Thank you for your time good sirs. I do hope your boss will be alright. Would you like a regenerative draught to help, along with the natural healing process?”

Velt took the hint and answered swiftly. “No, no miss Wisp, that is quite alright. keep the potion, someone else might need it more. Besides my packs are full as it is. Not that I don’t appreciate the offer, but he’s receiving the best care we have, and that should be enough, wouldn’t you say?” Velt answered, putting a hoof against the flask of reddish-yellow fluid held within Twilight’s magenta magical field, and pushing it back towards the lavender filly.

Twilight gave an extended sigh before pulling the potion back towards herself. “I guess you’re right. What do you plan for the potion of swiftness though?” The lavender filly asked, honestly curious what the changelings would do with it.

“Me and my partner here will be using them to get back to our headquarters near Manehattan in record time, and keeping one for further research to figure out why it works the way it does.”

Twilight nodded sagely before speaking up again. “Thank you again for your time. I hope we can make similar barters and trades in the future, until then stay safe young friends.”

Velt and Rhode both nod, giving their thanks before turning away from the door as Twilight closes it. Alone finally, Twilight begins searching the room once more as she senses a mana-born feeler enter her chamber through the lowered barriers. ‘At least I don’t have to worry about being found with changelings.’ Twilight sighs in relief, grasping metaphysically onto the mana feed of the spell, she follows along its path.

Twilight finds it’s hidden near the bed. Grasping the link with her magic, she cuts off the flow, destroying the connection powering the spell’s matrix, and causing it to fade away.

Finally feeling ready for some actual rest, Twilight closes the room’s front door. Taking the key the Barkeep had given her, she locks the door into place, ensuring that there would be a lack of intruders should any try. Closing her eyes meditatively, Twilight lays against the bed sheets, next to the indistinguishable form of Fang buried underneath Twilight’s cloak, and simultaneously killing the fires of all the lights within the room, making the whole room pitch black.

Finally resting her head on the pillow, Twilight let go of her power and the day along with all of its worries. The realm of dreams finally takes the lead, after months of being pushed away while Twilight sleeps.

“HmmHmHm, yeah, you sure you haven't had practice peeping on fillies?” Asked a snickering brown stallion with a cutie mark resembling three separate white circles, overlapping each other in an upwards spire, and a russet mane.

“Shut up Chaliard, I’m only doing this because of how suspicious her behavior’s been since she found that changeling. Besides, we’re supposed to be keeping an eye on special targets. Can you imagine how useful her potions could be in the field? If she joins our order, we’ll be able to fight for longer with less difficulty, and the dark creatures we’re hunting will be less bothersome to boot.” Replies a cyan unicorn with cutie mark representing a sword crossed over a shield emblazoned with the sun, and a bleached white mane.

“Still thinking about the nosferatu I see, eh Sunny?”

“Damn it Hightower, If you weren’t my partner, I’d probably have bucked you in the face by now. So stop pushing it, we still have a mission to do, and examining that filly is top priority right now. Besides I think her barrier is going down now. I hope we can get some inkling of what she’s up to with those business ponies,” Sunny Ward replies, her horn still shining brightly as she probed at the high level barrier dissipating from around the room her target was in. Reaching inside, she activates the auditory function of the spell in order to listen to the ponies speak, then forming a grimace as she realizes the group is at the end of their meeting.“Ugh, I can’t believe this! Their meeting is already over. And, apparently, it’s time for them to go to sleep. I’ll keep an eye on her. Tower you watch the other two. Make sure that there’s nothing bad that they plan to do, meet me at the bar in one ho- GAAammph!!!” Sunny screeches, before catching herself and biting a hoof in pain, while massaging her forehead and horn with the other.

Hightower rushes forward Lowering a forehoof under his collapsing companion, not asking what happened, as he knew the signs of magical feedback when he saw them. “Heh, I guess she actually knows more about magic than you think, eh? Though I can’t believe she actually found you that fast, I thought you were more skilled than that?” He asks jovially, as he picks up his smaller companion. Sunny misses punching him in the face by an inch, “I guess fillies don’t like being spied on by you. I mean, remember that one time Celestia asked you to keep an eye on Trixie?” This time, she doesn’t miss.

Landing safely on the bed off Hightower’s back, Sunny returns angrily “I may serve Celestia fanatically, but I will never again spy on that self-obsessed, two-bit show pony. I honestly don’t understand what our princess sees in her.” She grumbled as she rubbed her forehead. “Yea, never mind the business ponies. You keep an eye on Glimmering Wisp tonight while I rest. I think I can already feel that headache coming on. Good night!” She answers, laying her head on the pillow.

Hightower steps out of the room, a small trickle of crimson fluid leaking from the corner of his mouth where Sunny’s hoof made contact. “Heh, mares, always the emotional ones, I’m glad White Blaze made her my companion.” Lighting his horn with golden energy, he projects his senses outward and focuses them into a point heading towards the lavender filly’s sleeping quarters. Using his external probe, he placed a ward over the sheets on Twilight’s bed. “ Heh, this'll let me know when she wakes.” He murmurs before cutting off the feed to his probe spell. “Yea, not creepy at all.” he mutters even more softly, walking into the main bar proper he finds a corner table and sits down, laying his head on the table, his eyelids drooping dangerously low before closing completely for the night.

Author's Note

Oh, special note: Aeondragon (one of the best editors I’ve worked with) has wrote himself a nice little story, Twilight of Equestria, though he can tell you more about it, what I really want you guys to do is give it some love and read it. It’s a nice little piece of fiction showing how fragile Equestria is and that despite the fact that Celestia rules benevolently the pony races still don’t like each other too much.

Big thanks goes to my prereaders:

janushayed who is the guy who approves all of my chapters.

Skeeter The Lurker Guy who reads and lends a hand when asked.

Clop scene courtesy of Fimbulvinter

Editor people that yell at me for writing inferior chapters that they fix:

Moon Shade eh... skyping fast response, finds initial problems.

Aeondragon Good jokes and definitely knows how to fix a bad chapter. He also fixed the prologue, so you should go take a look.