Chapter One - Grey Vulcan

Present Day
1001 A.C.S (After Concord Signing)
Canterlot
Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns

"With the signing of the 'Equestrian - Griffin Concord' one thousand years ago, peace between both nations was reached and has lasted since. The other warring species took notice and with the help of the Princesses, the differences between Dragons, Yaks, Griffins, Zebras, and Buffalo subsided and peace flowed all over Equus. Industry began to bloom afterward, starting with the Dragons and soon spread to the Griffins. It did not take long for ponies to pick up the new inventions and start an industry of their own. Competition between the Dragons and Griffins soon escalated into a confrontation. War broke out between the two kingdoms, a war that dragged in their allies, spreading the war to the entire world."

The aging black unicorn with a steely mane was interrupted by a light purple hoof. "The Great War, World War One," the blonde unicorn filly attached to the hoof added knowingly.

The gruff stallion stared icily at her with his golden eyes, "Would you like to come up here and teach the class, Hyacinth Bloom?"

Feeling as if her soul was being examined, the young filly buckled under his intense gaze and retreated as far back in her chair as possible.

"Anypony else want to interrupt my lecture?" His piercing gaze swept across the class. "No?" He cleared his throat and began where he left off, "The war ended with the ponies and dragons creating a weapon with devastating power: the atomic bomb. It was with a heavy heart the Three Princesses and the Dragon King deployed such a weapon. Sixty years later, the Griffins are still rebuilding and recuperating from the bomb that leveled their capital.

Twenty years ago, the Changelings suddenly attacked Everfree Castle and spread like a plague across Equestria. Dragons, Griffins, Yaks, and Zebras, were all afflicted within months. After five years of grueling fighting, the Changelings yielded to the nations. Despite all the death and destruction they cause, the leaders had a compassionate heart for them, after all, the only reason they invaded was that they need love to survive. A treaty brokered between the Changelings and the rest of the species ended the fighting."

"Didn't you fight in that war?" Diamond Dancer spoke up when the older stallion was sipping coffee from a blue mug encased in his golden magic.

A heavy sigh escaped his nostrils and his hard eyes softened, "Yes, yes I did." He took a second long sip of his coffee and set the mug down, his eyes returned to their default hardness, "That will be one hundred laps around the school for you, Diamond Dancer; no flying."

The silver pegasus filly's ice blue eyes threatened to pop out of her head, and her jaw crashed onto the wooden desk in shock. Her face scrunched up into a pout, and she smacked her face down on the desk in defeat.

"Please, feel free to speak your two bits now or forever hold your peace," he announced to the class. Like a lighthouse on a forlorn coast, his gaze surveyed the class. With no hooves raised or voices heard he continued his lecture. "There is still animosity towards Changelings and with their new residence near ponies at the Everfree Castle, guards there are always on the look out for illegal Changelings. The Princesses fear that with the nuclear bomb in the claws of the dragons, who have no qualms about using it, might one day turn and use it on Equestria. Reluctantly, the dragons have, for the most part, agreed with the Three Princesses wishes and decrees.

With the splitting of the atom, anything seemed possible to all the races. Technology advanced two hundred years, some experts believe. All the advances of technology and magic give us the world we live in now; a world with devices that connect an individual with the entire world via a network of satellites and cables; a world where you no longer need to have wings to fly; a world where you can drive around faster than a pegasus can fly; a world where guns have replaced swords. A safer worlda peaceful world."

The dismissal bell rang, and the students stayed firmly planted in their seats. After the first day of school, when he had made them all run one hundred laps for packing up and leaving without his permission, the foals new better than to move without his say.

"Have a pleasant afternoon, my little ponies," he smiled warmly, "Be safe on your way home." He turned from them and began to erase the blackboard. Instructions and outlines in white chalk disappeared.

"Mister Grey Vulcan, sir?" a little voice squeaked from behind.

The black stallion removed his attention from the board and down to the ice blue mane, big eyed pegasus filly, "That's the name, teaching's the game."

Diamond Dancer swallowed the lump in her throat and mustered all of her courage, "D-do I have to r-run a hundred laps around the school?"

His heart melted, "Of course not, sweetie."

Diamond Dancer's face lit up, "Really?"

"Only around the track," he smiled warmly. Diamond Dancer deflated and wore a sour expression. "Get going, DD."

"Yes, sir," Diamond Dancer replied solemnly. She dragged her hooves across the marble floor as she trudged out the door.

A familiar figure caught his attention in the door frame. A familiar, lavender unicorn figure in a black business suit walked in with a beaming smile.

"As strict as ever I see, Mister Grey Vulcan," Twilight Sparkle greeted her former instructor.

"And look at the fine mare you turned out to be," the old stallion complemented, which made Twilight blush slightly. After a quick embrace, he added, "You, what graduated top of your year? Best in history?"

"Something along those lines," Twilight circled an embarrassed hoof on the floor.

"No need to be so modest." He took a seat in his chair, he levitated a second chair from the back of the room and placed it in front of his desk for her. She bowed politely and accepted the chair. "You here to visit your folks?"

"Yes, but that was not the only reason I came to Canterlot. Last year, I joined the Equestrian Intelligence Agency, as an Analyst Specialist. With the increasing attacks in the major cities, I thought I would be able to help find the organizations behind them."

"Have you?"

"No" she answered crestfallen, "They are too random and have different m.o.'s. . ."

"If anypony can find something, it is you, filly," Grey Vulcan encouraged with a warm grin.

"Thanks," she smiled weakly back. "The main reason I am here is that Princess Celestia asked for mepersonally."

"Ah," Grey Vulcan replied knowingly, her sugilite gems revealed all to him, "And your nerves are getting to you, ja?"

She nodded her head sheepishly.

"You have nothing to worry about, Twilight. Princess Celestia is not at all as fearsome as some think; unless you cross her. . . or steal her muffins. Just be yourself, and everything will be okay. If not and she hurts your feelings, tell me and I'll give her a stern talking to," the old stallion's eyes lit up playfully.

Twilight Sparkle giggled, "Okay." She stood up, and Grey Vulcan stood up respectfully. She walked around the desk and gave him a warm hug, "Thank you, Mister Grey Vulcan, for everything."

"Anytime, filly," he replied with a hoof around her neck. He walked with her down the hallway and to the parking lot, talking about life and current events. Once he saw her to her car safely, he headed to the track to check in on a certain silver pegasus.

Diamond Dancer laid on her back, gasping, and heaving for oxygen. Another filly from his class knelt by her side with a water bottle in her hooves.

"I do not see you running," he stated above the two fillies.

"I. . . break. . ." she wheezed.

Grey had to admit, she did look worse for wear, and he felt a tinge of guilt in his heart. "Do you know how many laps she ran, Skippy Sparkles?" he directed the question to the pink pegasus filly with the wildly frizzy purple mane.

"Twenty-seven and three-quarters!" the pegasus chimed, her amethyst irises twinkling in the late afternoon sun.

"Only twenty-seven and three-quarters, DD, in ten minutes? I am thoroughly disappointed in you," Grey grinned down at her.

"Come. . . say that. . . to my face. . ." Diamond Dancer challenged between deep breaths.

Grey Vulcan's horn sparked to life with his gold magic. He touched the pegasus' belly with his horn which encased her in a gold aura. When he dispelled his magic, Diamond Dancer jumped up to her hooves in shock. She gave him a quizzical look. "Just a simple Rejuvenation Spell. You two, make sure you get on the bus to the orphanage this time, alright?"

Diamond Dancer hung her head low, "Yes, sir." She began to walk away with a chipper, floating, pink filly following close at heel.

"And DD," he called out to her, she stopped and cranked her head at him, "try not to get into any fights."

Diamond Dancer snorted and huffed away.

Grey Vulcan sighed and decided to escort the two fillies to the bus stop. He paid for their fares, gave instructions to the driver about the two fillies, and watched the bus disappear into the mass of vehicles and lights. "Mother, help her," he sighed under his breath.