Heroes of Atria

"Ok guys, the next pony we're going to find is named Kren. She's a yellow unicorn with an emerald green mane and tail." Nawir explained to Darim and Solar. "The hard part though, is that her father was a changeling, so she has shape-shifting powers."

"What was the point of telling us what she looks like if she can shape-shift?" Darim inquired.

"She doesn't like to shape-shift if she doesn't have a reason."

Ancero cleared her throat. "Since Kren can be so difficult to find, I'm going to split us up to cover more ground. She loves drama and all things theatrical, so Darim and Solar, you two go to the theater in the capital. If you can't find her in the audience, she may have used her powers to be an actress, just be careful though. She gets paranoid, so we don't want her to know you're looking for her until you can tell her that you're friends with Nawir and I. Nawir, you go check out her old house in Clover Village, I doubt she's there but you may find something. I'll go ask around town to see if anypony can help me scrounge up some information. Meet back here in twelve hours."

The three stallions nodded before the group split up and headed off in their own directions.

"What time does the next show start?" Darim asked the pony at the ticket booth of the theater.

"Two minutes," they replied, "and tickets are five bits a head."

"Do you have any money on you?" Darim asked Solar.

Solar shrugged. "You know me man, I never carry cash on me."

Darim sighed. He used his magic to teleport his pouch of bits from his house. Then he spilled it out on the counter, gave ten to the cashier and put the rest back in before sending it back.

"Okay, you can go in and sit down. Bathroom is on the left if you need to use it during the show."

"Thanks." Darim replied as he and Solar entered the theater. They stopped just past the doorway and looked around the audience for the pony Nawir described. "I don't see her anywhere."

"Well, Ancero did say she may be one of the actors."

"Maybe, let's keep an eye out for any pony walking in late though, just to be safe." Darim said as the theater's lights started to dim.

Darim and Solar watched the whole two and a half hour recreation of Hamlet, glancing around the audience every couple of minutes to make sure Kren didn't slip in unnoticed. Neither of them saw her through the whole thing, nor did they see her walk out at the end. So they stood up and walked towards the stage.

"Hold it." A black Earth pony stopped them. "What are you two doing?"

The two glanced at each other then back at the pony. "Our friend was an actress in the play." Solar stated.

"Yeah, would it be alright if we went back there and congratulated her on a job well done?" Darim asked.

The bouncer eyed them with suspicion. "What's her name?"

"Kren." Darim answered.

"And yours?"

"I'm Darim, and he's Solar Rain."

"Solar...Rain?"

Solar gulped. "Yes, that's me."

"The guard pony?"

"Yeah."

"You were the guard that told the King about the griffon attack and got suspended, right?" the bouncer asked for clarification.

"Did word really get around? It's only been a couple of days."

The bouncer stepped aside. "It was my sister that got attacked by that griffon. I feel like I owe you after your punishment."

"Oh, thanks!"

"Your welcome."

Darim and Solar quickly went through the doorway to the backstage area. Several of the actors were standing back there talking to each other, still half in costume. It didn't take long for the two to be noticed.

"Who are you two?" the pony who played Hamlet asked, drawing the eyes of the ponies that hadn't noticed the strangers.

"I'm Darim, and this here is my friend Solar Rain. We just really loved the production and would like to know more about how to be good actors." Darim lied.

The pony looked over at the Earth pony who played Ophelia. "You finish cleaning up K, I'll show them around I guess. Bouncer wouldn't have just let them back here."

"Ok. I'll meet you in the green room in half an hour."

"See you then." he blew a kiss to the mare as she walked away then turned back to his visitors. "So you want to be actors you say? First things first, you introduced yourselves so it's only fair that I tell you my name is Broken Flame! I am the owner of the Atrian Actors Society and the main actor here at the Royal Crown Theater." He led the two out onto the stage and staged in the center, the bright stage lights were still on. "This is what I live for. I don't do it for the money, or the glory. I do it to inspire others, to spread the word and magnificence that is being a professional actor! You see, acting is not for the faint of heart, or those who are in hard times. It takes up much of your free time to memorize lines and stage directions, and the pay doesn't come close to compensate for it all. The only reason any pony does it is for the enjoyment, to see the faces of the audience light up when you do something funny, to feel the weight of the sadness when a character dies, to make them feel the suspense in a fight scene. It isn't about the before or the after of the play. It's all about what happens during! I-" he was cut off by a cough from stage left.

"Ok Drama King, you don't want to overwhelm them." the mare who played Ophelia smirked, that's when Darim noticed that she fit the description of Kren perfectly.

"Yes, you're right. My apologies, friends." Broken Flame said.

"Blue brought donuts in for us, they're in the greenroom. Go finish changing I'll take over the tour from here."

"Thank you, K." The two of them swapped places, giving each other a quick kiss as they passed.

"Darim and Solar I heard you say your names were, right?"

Darim nodded. "You heard correctly."

"I must say Darim, I like your name, following the old naming conventions."

"Yeah, named after my ancestor who fought in the Great War."

"Well, I was also named under the old conventions too. My name is Kren." she held out a hoof and Darim shook it.

"Kren?" Solar asked. "We were looking for you!"

The color in Kren's face drained. She whispered something under her breath before turning and running.

"Good job Solar." Darim took off after her. "Wait, Kren!" he shouted.

"Son of a-" Solar was about to give chase when the bouncer called his attention from downstage.

"Solar, you have a visitor."

Solar looked towards where the Audience usually sits and noticed a large white alicorn sitting in the dead center. "King Dawn?"

"Solar Rain, my most trusted Royal Guard. It's been a while, hasn't it."

"What do you need, your majesty?" Solar bowed before the king.

Dawn smiled. "After careful consideration, your punishment has been revoked. You are officially reinstated as a guard."

"Kren, wait! I can explain!" Darim shouted as he chased her.

Kren ran herself right into a dead end. She frantically looked around for an escape, but couldn't find one. "What do you want?" she cried. "I didn't do anything! I wasn't going back I swear!"

"Kren, no, don't be afraid. Solar and I are friends with-"

Kren let out a shriek before she shape shifted into a pegasus and flew over Darim.

Darim used his magic to slam Kren to the ground and pin her there.

"BROKEN FLAME, HELP ME!" she screamed.

"Kren, you don't understand, Solar and I are friends with Nawir and Ancero."

"What?" she managed to roll over and look Darim in the eyes.

"They're looking for you. We need you."

Kren's eyes darted around, looking for an escape as she processed what she was hearing. "Why me? I told them I was done! I'd never raise a sword again in my life."

"The reverted griffons are back. They haven't told me anything, just that we needed to get you."

Kren locked eyes with him. "They're back? After all this time? And they told you nothing?" Kren's breath slowed down to normal pace. "Have you met Gunon yet?"

"Gunon? No."

Broken Flame came careening around the corner and head-butted Darim as hard as he could. "What are you doing to K? I thought I could trust you!" he shouted.

"Broken, no, it isn't what you think, I swear!"

"Then why did she scream for help?"

"I, I don't think I'm allowed to say."

"You better start talking kid, or I'll break you like a twig."

"Broken, no, it was just a misunderstanding!" Kren said.

"How so? You were screaming, I ran over here, and he was on top of you with you pinned to the ground! You even used your power, you never use it!"

"I just, I thought he was somepony else. He's okay, trust me."

Broken stared Darim in the eyes. "Fine, but I'm watching you. If you so much as think about doing anything to her, you're dead." he spat before walking away.

"Sorry about that," Kren apologized, "he's a sweet guy, but he's a little over-protective."

Darim let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "It's okay. I've been in worse situations."

"So, where are Ancero and Nawir?"

"We split up to find you, but we were going to meet near the crossroads in a couple hours. We should head there now."

"Okay." Kren changed back into an Earth pony and the two walked out of the theater. "Where did your friend go?"

Darim looked back and didn't see Solar anywhere. "Probably has to use the bathroom. Oh well, he knows where we need to meet."