War Mages & False Prophets

Chapter 5

A New Day, Old Problems, and a Sense Of Wonder

The sun rose over Equestria, as had been the case every morning for the thousand years of Celestia’s reign.

The six-foot-two white alicorn stood in a sheer robe upon her balcony high above the city of Canterlot, using her arms and wings to control the ebb and flow of magic to guide the sun into position for the day. As she lowered her limbs and released her magical hold on the solar body, her mane and tail slowly returned from the soft fiery orange that it took whenever she was raising and lowering the sun, to its more normal hues; a flowing pastel blue mixed with sea green and soft pink. Once the magic had returned to equilibrium, her hair began to softly billow within an ethereal breeze.

Letting the sunlight play upon her face, she closed her violet eyes and gave a genuine smile, more than likely the only one she would give all day. She knew full well that today was not going to be a pleasant day in royal court, for Celestia's sister, Luna, had informed her upon awakening that several of her subjects had been killed by a very strange creature which the night guard had only managed to slay after losing three of their number, bringing the total death toll the creature had inflicted to thirteen.

Celestia took one last breath, gathering herself carefully before mentally stepping behind her mask and regal bearing. As she crossed her room, calling her royal regalia to her and dressing herself as she walked, she gave a passing thought to Discord, causing her to scowl. “That damned draconequus better deliver what he promised... a way to make it up to us,” she said quietly to herself, thinking she’d believe it when she saw it and not before. After his near-disastrous alliance with Tirek and betrayal of the element bearers, Fluttershy foremost among them, he had a long way to go before he had atoned.

Still, that was not something she could address for now, as more immediate problems presented themselves. Putting thoughts of him out of her mind for now, she put on a regal smile and stepped out of her room off to royal court, for she had letters of condolences to send, fears to quell, flank-kissing nobles competing for her hoof (much to her eternal displeasure), and a kingdom to guide all before breakfast.

Braxton awoke in three and half inches of confetti, feeling like he had been run over by several carts, each a little heavier than the last. “My head… what happened, Kylnn?” he muttered to himself, rubbing his temples and feeling like he’d just gone at least three rounds of drinks too many at his favorite pub.

“Oh, nothing much. Just Pinkie making enough noise to wake the gods with some sort of insane party favors,” Kylnn Ka' tar muttered.

Braxton looked around for Spike, and sure enough, he found the drake—but as he was about to wake him, he saw the two fillies, Applebloom and Scootaloo, snuggled in Spike’s arms, resting peacefully.

“Hate to wake them up,” Braxton thought, thinking the scene looked far too adorable.

“All well and good, but he would make the better interpreter unless you wanted to spend an hour performing two spells for sixteen minutes of talking,” Kylnn Ka' Tar countered in a tone of mild amusement.

“Touché,” Braxton mused softly. “Let’s see if I can do this by just waking him…”

Braxton lightly tapped Spike’s foot, taking care to not touch the two fillies he was holding. Somewhat blearily, Spike opened his eyes to see Braxton bringing his finger to his lips but beckoning him to follow. Spike merely nodded, very gently disentangling himself from the other two, who stirred and moaned once or twice, but didn’t awake, still sleeping off the ordeal of the previous day.

To his credit, Spike managed to get out from under pair without waking them, having grabbed them as he tried to protect them from the concussive blast of the party cannon, which by going off in a closed room had all but knocked everyone out. Still, he was unable hide the blush on his face that he had been caught. Though worries about that quickly took a backseat to other matters as he heard sharp and angry voices coming from the kitchen.

“What's going on in there?” Braxton asked as Spike stood up and threw a blanket over the two girls, who instantly and instinctively cuddled up to each other lacking him.

“Oh, they’re just fighting about Pinkie's party cannon.” Spike listened for a moment more before his eyes became very large. He looked to Braxton. “Don't make me translate that one, please?”

Braxton chuckled softly. “I can imagine. I would be upset, too, if a friend made a needless mess of my home, so let's go see if we can help out. Plus, we have to thank our hostess.”

“Okay, but I’m not sure she’s in the mood to be thanked. Truth be told, I've never heard Fluttershy that angry before,” Spike warned as the two of them entered the kitchen. Their entrance silenced the arguments instantly, all the mares immediately locking eyes on Spike and Braxton.

“That is why you look out for the quiet ones…” Braxton noted as he turned his head to look at the mares, none of whom looked happy about being interrupted save for Pinkie, who looked relieved—if rather crestfallen. “...and when they travel in packs.”

Spike took a moment to recollect his thoughts before he spoke to the girls as they played an impromptu round of musical ponies. Upon seeing Braxton, Fluttershy forgot her anger and quickly hid behind Twilight, wrapping Braxton’s mottled green cloak more tightly around her over her thin nightclothes, while Rarity leaned forward in her chair and put her elbows on the table with her hands framing her face as she looked to both of the boys, annoyed at the interruption. Applejack and Rainbow Dash immediately moved to Twilight's side, a step ahead of her, to either side of Twilight's flanks, giving Fluttershy an extra layer of protection, their attention now off Pinkie on the chair in front, looking like she was about ready to burst into tears.

Spike felt uncertain to see all this, but forged ahead anyway. “Sorry to interrupt girls. Braxton was wondering if there was anything he could do to help out Fluttershy as a way to thank his hostess?”

Rarity merely sighed, looking to both Spike and Braxton. Not for the first time, she noted how both Spike and the newcomer seemed to cultivate an aura of well-bred manners, leaving her wondering yet again if young drake she had overlooked for so long just might be a true diamond in the rough.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash didn't move from Twilight's side, but Fluttershy's voice could be heard as she was peeking out at Braxton, peering over Twilight’s shoulder at him. “Oh, my… well, um, if it isn't too much trouble, could he perhaps help clean up?” she requested very nervously, in direct contrast to how immediately and fearlessly she had leapt into action upon seeing the CMC injured.

Spike turned to Braxton and conversed with him in Draconic for a moment before turning back to the mares. “Braxton says he will accept his hostess' request with one lone caveat: That Pinkie be allowed to help, since she was just trying to be welcoming to a new guest, if ‘a little over-enthusiastic’,” he quoted his new human friend directly.

His request seemed to take all the anger out of the kitchen, as even Fluttershy apologized for maybe being a bit too harsh with her tongue lashing. That made Pinkie smile once again and the girls embraced in a group hug as Braxton and Spike left the Kitchen, the sight of it making their male minds go in various adult directions...

He wasted little time beginning the cleanup effort. As Braxton walked down the hallway a small little whirlwind followed behind him and Spike, seeming to pick up the confetti as it went. Sensing the odd energy that accompanied it, Twilight stuck her head out of the kitchen to get Spike’s attention about breakfast, but saw the little whirlwind and was immediately enthralled by it. She watched with amazement as it very efficiently cleaned up the hallway, sucking all the confetti up into it instead of scattering it. To her surprise, the little magical creation then split into three at the end of the hallway to triple the ground it could cover in the living room, at which point Twilight magically summoned her study book to take notes.

She wasn’t sure what to make of it, as it was unlike any magic she’d seen. She could feel the magic Braxton had used to create it, but in comparison to her own—or anypony else’s for that matter—it felt different. It didn’t feel dark or dangerous, but it still gave Twilight a cold chill to touch his magic.

After an hour of magical vacuuming and simple sweeping, the confetti was completely picked up and Fluttershy's cottage was clean once more. In that space of time, Twilight had taken a few pages of notes, but still didn’t understand how he did it. “Spike, could you ask Braxton what type of magic he used?” she turned to and asked her scribe.

Spike nodded and looked to Braxton. “Twilight would like to know what type of spells you used to clean up the house so quick?”

Braxton thought a moment before giving Spike what to translate back. “It's called a Cantrip. Think of them as minor spells that allow apprentices to tap minute amounts of magical energy. These are taught before actual spells, and are more toys than tools. Like a child crawling before they walk.”

Twilight giggled like a school filly as she wrote down what Spike had said to her. She may have found Braxton's magic cold, but it was unquestionably interesting, leaving her wondering what she could learn from him.

Recognizing her schoolgirl gleam from long experience, Spike looked up to Braxton with a knowing look upon his face. “I think you have a new fan, Braxton. I would be afraid.”

Braxton chuckled. “She seems quite powerful in her own right. You may tell her I will answer any questions she may have, later, once we have solved the language issue. In the meantime, we still have a library to visit. So shall we go, Spike?”

“Yes, before Twilight decides she wants me to ask you more questions,” Spike said as he began to head for the cottage door, but Braxton stopped him with a hand on his scaled shoulder.

“Before we leave, I need to grab my cloak. Spike, can you ask the one called Fluttershy to give it back to me please?” he asked.

“Leave it to me, Braxton!” Spike said a bit too eagerly, his face lighting up as he remembered that Fluttershy was only wearing a sheer nightgown under the cloak.

Spike found the CMC in the kitchen eating breakfast next to their respective sisters, the fillies unusually quiet but their faces lighting up when Spike came in. Fluttershy was finishing up her own meal as she smiled and pulled the cloak more tightly around her as she was talking to Rarity, who was visibly admiring the material, running it through her hands and testing its properties with her magic. “It really keeps you warm, Rarity. I don't know what it's made out of, but it's soft as velvet and feels like silk.” She hugged it more tightly to herself, feeling not just warm but protected in its embrace.

Rarity was looking over the fabric intrigued not so much by the mottled coloring but the iridescent shimmer that danced in the fabric as light played over the cloak. “I must find out what this is made of! The way it glimmers reminds me of breezy wings if you think about it.”

“I agree, Rarity.” Fluttershy said softly looking over the cloaks hood

Spike cleared his throat, getting two mares’ attention. “Fluttershy? I know you how much you like it, but could you give Braxton's cloak back? He is ready to head to the library.”

Fluttershy deeply blushed. “Oh. Um, sure,” she said in disappointment, starting to slip it off her before she caught herself--and Spike staring hopefully. “Um… Spike, could you please turn around?” she requested bashfully, a far cry from delivering Sweetie Belle to the hospital in her nightgown the day before.

“Sure thing,” Spike said easily, doing as Fluttershy asked, listening for the telltale shifting of fabric. Once he heard it, he held up his hand over his shoulder as Rarity floated it to him and gently deposited it in his grasp.

“Thank you, Spike. Just walk out of the kitchen and don't look back please,” Fluttershy requested, and disappointed though he was, Spike obeyed. No matter what else he was, he would always be a Gentledrake.

“Hey Spike? Could I come with ya? I have ta tell Braxton somethin’.” Apple Bloom asked as she made her way out of the kitchen with Spike, asking her big sister if she could go with them and receiving permission.

Surprised, Spike looked back at her. “If AJ’s okay with it, I don't see why not, Apple Bloom,” Spike said with a smile as he walked out of the kitchen with the young filly in tow, finding their new human friend waiting on the porch. “Here you are, Braxton. Your cloak really had the girls’ interest piqued. So what type of cloak is this, anyway? Also, Applebloom, here has something to tell you.” Spike handed Braxton the cloak and turned towards Apple Bloom, waiting for her to say something.

“A special one,” Braxton said of the cloak with a wink and a smile, causing the young drake to answer with a flat look. “So, what would you ask me of me, young filly?” he addressed her through Spike, who quickly translated.

“Ah just wanted ta say that the fillies an me... we never said thank you fer savin' our lives,” Applebloom said, going downcast and giving Spike a glance.

“I’ll tell him.” Spike smiled and turned and told Braxton what Applebloom had said.

Braxton merely gave a warm smile and said something back to Spike, and Spike in turn told Applebloom. “Braxton says you will never have to,” he translated.

However, it turned out Applebloom wasn’t the only one who wanted to speak with Braxton, as Twilight stopped them as they made their way out of the cottage.

“Spike! Great timing! Before you go, I have some more questions to ask you to ask Braxton!” she said in an excited manner, twirling a quill pen in her aura ready to take note, all but bouncing with energy.

Spike knew full well if he gave in to her now, it would be noon before they departed. “Twilight, please! I am only one dragon, and I promised Braxton that I would help him first. He’s been waiting to go to the library since before Pinkie's Welcome To Ponyville party!” the young drake stated in an exasperated tone.

Twilight folded her arms and pouted cutely. “Fine, but I get him after you help him!” she announced, to which Spike groaned, not looking forward to being the intermediary for hours of interminable questioning.

Applebloom watched them leave through the window, then walked back into the kitchen, lost in thought, not quite getting something Braxton had said. “Hey, big sis? I have a question,” she announced, getting the attention of all.

“Okay. What's the question sugarcube?” Applejack asked, looking to her younger sister.

“Well, um…” she wasn’t sure how to ask at first, but finally decided to just plow through. “When ya tell a stallion that you never thanked ’im fer savin’ your life, and then all they do is smile ‘n tell ya, you’ll never have to... Is that stallion just brushin’ ya off?” Applebloom asked in perfect earnestness.

Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Twilight and Rarity all lightly fanned themselves as if they had suddenly became hot, but Applejack just laughed and told Applebloom the truth. “Nah. Just means he already knows yer grateful, and that’s thanks enough for him.”

“Well, here we are, Braxton,” Spike said as he pushed open the crystal double doors to reveal a great library of books. The shelves were carved from crystal stone, the floor adorned with a soft red carpet that only tapered to an end near the aisles of the shelves lined with brass.

“Impressive,” he granted, next taking in a magnificent stained glass window that allowed natural light to flood in, noting how the chandelier crystals caught the light and scattered multicolored sparkles of diffused light about the library. Braxton whistled softly as he took in the mountain of knowledge, one that would have done the scholarly halls he knew back home proud.

“It isn’t much fun organizing it, believe me. So what was the book list you needed again? Think you were about to tell me last night before Pinkie arrived.” Spike broke him out of his thoughts as he gathered a cart for the books.

“Indeed. I would like a draconic to equestrian dictionary, old and new, I will need four children's books, two for fillies and two for colts, an equestrian dictionary... and one current newspaper,” Braxton outlined, his list as Spike promptly ran off to get what he needed out of the maze of shelves.

While he was waiting, Braxton arranged the furniture so that he could recline and read, moving the last piece of furniture into place just as Spike returned with the books. The massive reference books taken up by the cart was too heavy for the adolescent dragon to easily carry, but the other items he toted under his other arm, and Braxton helped Spike get it into place. “Thank you for all your help, Spike. You've been invaluable.” Braxton said with a smile.

“My pleasure. Can I get you anything? Some coffee, or tea, or…?”

“If you have tea and perhaps some honey, I will take that. In the meantime, do not let me keep you from your duties, young drake. I fear I will be at this for some time,” he replied with an easygoing grin, already taking a strong liking to the earnest young dragon.

“Will do. And after that? Think I’m gonna nap. You can find me out in the main hall, with the giant stone table, if you like,” he told him, to which his human friend nodded his understanding.

Braxton took the books and set them up with the reference books in the center, the colt and filly books to the left, the dictionary on the right and the newspaper in hand. Braxton heard Spike yawn as he delivered the promised tea, setting his cup with a steaming kettle on a tray down next to him. “Thank you. Now go catch some sleep, my friend. It sounds like you need it.”

“Thanks.” Spike said as he stifled another yawn and made his way out of the library and was soon was fast asleep in the great hall of the castle where seven thrones of Crystal stood each bore a different cutie mark. Spike's throne bore no mark but was very comfortable to sit in, and he soon fell asleep in its familiar embrace.

The six mares each went their separate ways after breakfast, but said they would all meet back up at the castle to explore it one more time, Tirek’s attack having been a short time earlier. After the three fillies had been dropped off at their respective homes, each was told they had narrowly avoided a sound flank chewing and grounding for their behavior, which including going into the Everfree without telling anypony—and worse, going off-path into areas that were far more dangerous than the road to Zecora’s, which their zebra friend kept various alchemic wards on to guard against the attacks they’d suffered.

The first three mares to arrive were Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and Fluttershy, arriving on the strength of their wings. The other three, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie soon soon followed on hoof. Entering the castle, they found Spike sleeping in his chair in the great hall and Braxton in the library where he said he'd be, but decided to leave him be... though more at the insistence of the other five mares in the group than Twilight, who still wanted very much to talk to him, only relenting when reminded that Spike had to be awake in order to translate for her.

Leaving him be, Pinkie was the first one to return to the Great Hall, skipping her way over to her throne and sitting down, oblivious to the cutie mark of three colorful balloons now glowing in the throne’s high crystal back.

“Let's go over this one more time,” Twilight said, not taking her own chair..

Rainbow Dash made her way to her throne, her hooves not once touching the ground and sitting on the cushion with an exasperated sigh. Her presence lit the cutie mark on her throne in the same manner as Pinkie’s, as Twilight looked ponderously over the floor and layout of the great hall. “We've been over this, like, a million times Twilight. We found all six keys, defeated Tirek, and got this awesome castle. End of story.”

“Yes but why? And what does Braxton's arrival have to do with all this?” Twilight asked, wondering out loud.

Applejack made her way over to her throne which was marked by three large red delicious apples. “I don't know, sugarcube. Maybe it's just yer new house, a gift from the Tree of Harmony, and there ain't nothing more to it than that.”

Rarity sat in a dignified manner upon her throne as the three diamonds that made her cutie mark glowed sapphire blue. “I must say, speaking strictly on aesthetics, there really doesn’t need to be more to it. It's all simply divine!” She let her eyes rove over the grand hall, taking in all the crystal decor and high halls.

“I agree with Twilight,” Fluttershy stated as she herself sat down upon her throne, a trio of butterflies on the back of her throne also beginning to glow. “And Rarity, and Applejack, and Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie,” she then looked to the sleeping dragon who was sprawled out asleep with his legs over one arm of the throne and leaning against the thrones back with a giggle. “Oh, and probably Spike.”

Unsatisfied with the offered answers, Twilight walked around the room looking to each of her friends as she spoke. “As Princess, I've been chosen to spread the Magic of Friendship across Equestria. So why would the Tree of Harmony want us to sit in a castle in Ponyville? It doesn’t make any sense!” Frustrated, Twilight finally sat in her throne, a lavender six pointed star with stars of white between the points glowing violet as it did so.

As if in answer to her pointed query, a gentle chime of magic drew each of the mares’ attention. The marks upon their thrones began to glow brighter and a rumble began to shake the floor as beams of magical energy hit the gold star seal upon the floor of the great hall. New crystal rock formations broke through the floor of the great hall a vein from each of the respective thrones before converging in the center and growing into a large open map of all Equestria before the six surprised mares.

Spike awoke with a yawn and saw the new stone table, quickly sitting up in his throne “Whoa. Is that new?... I like it,” he added with a smile, admiring the intricate map.

The mares looked to their flanks as they could feel their cutie marks pulse softly under their dresses and pants. Pinkie laughed, her flank ticklish as the cutie marks traveled from Ponyville over to a small range of mountains, coming to a stop over them.

“Um… if this is Ponyville, then why are our cutie marks over there?” Fluttershy asked pointing at the map.

“I don't know,” Twilight gave the map a sidelong glance of her own, “but it seems like the map wants us to find out. The tree, the chest, this castle, Braxton's arrival... and now the map. After all that’s happened, how can we not follow it?”

“You know what? There is a ton of room for dangerous adventure along that route!" said Rainbow Dash as she studied the path they would take, as tracing the trail with her eyes. “A brand new adventure? Count me in!” Rainbow Dash grinned.

“Aw shoot, I reckon yer right. But I have to ask—what do we do with our guest? Can we really just leave ‘im here to run loose?” Applejack asked.

“Good point,” Twilight granted, realizing this was also going to put a crimp in her plans to quiz him on his magic.

“Well I was planning on reorganizing my baking sheets. But this sounds a lot more fun! So why not get somepony to act as his escort?” Pinkie said with a grin on her face.

Rarity gave a light-hearted sigh. “Very well. I agree with Pinkie and Applejack—though he seems trustworthy, somepony still needs to keep an eye on that stallion.”

The other three mares looked to Fluttershy, who flattened her ears and cringed a little when she realized she was the center of attention. “Um, maybe I'll just stay here with Spike and Braxton?” she suggested.

“Awesome!” Spike said gaining the four mares attention “Me and Big Mac have a huge weekend planned out! Talking Hoofball and trading Hoofball cards and talking Hoofball statistics. And don't forget Braxton said he wanted to go back into the Everfree forest. You’re more than welcome to join us, Fluttershy!”

Fluttershy looked like she might run away screaming back to the safety of her cottage for a moment, then looked back to the other mares. “On second thought, maybe I’d better go with them... in case they need me.”

“Well, the map does seem to be calling all of us,” Twilight realized, noting everypony’s cutie mark assembled over the mountain range. “I agree we can't leave him, but I might have an idea of somepony who would want the job,” she chuckled. “Once I get back and introduce them, it’s time for a road trip.” Twilight said as she lit her horn, teleporting away, the sudden use of magic registering on Braxton’s senses in the other room.

Twilight reappeared outside a house in Ponyville. The house was no worse for wear than most of the houses in Ponyville. It did look recently painted, at least around the door frame, but one coat wasn’t enough to cover the word “CRACKPOT” showing through the fresh paint.

The sight broke Twilight's heart. She knocked on the door only to have it swing open with a creak. “Lyra... Lyra Heartstrings are you home?” She called out. Receiving no reply, Twilight made her way deeper into the house, only to find even more heart wrenching sights. Upon every flat surface there were letters from universities and colleges, but all of them seemed to be letters of rejection in the study of Cryptozoology. A doctorate degree lay upon the floor smashed as though a rock had hit it, damaging the document beneath. The name of Lyra Heartstrings was visible in elegant script through the broken glass.

The living room book shelves looked as though they’d been ransacked, causing all of the books within to wind up on the floor. Worse, some of the books had been torn at their spines or otherwise defaced, and the kitchen looked as though a party had been through but given how most things in the house were trashed, this didn't look like it was an out of control Pinkie parties. Different colors of spray paint had been hastily sprayed upon the walls, each spelling out a different hateful message: “KILL YOURSELF!” “LIFE’S WORK A JOKE”, “USEFUL ONLY AS A BREED MARE”

Twilight had to steel herself to keep from loosing her cool and crying from the sheer pain that this house was hiding. As she neared the last door of the house she heard a soft sobbing sound. Opening the door to a study, Twilight saw Lyra, a shattered wreck of a mare holding in her hands a bottle of Deadly Nightshade. Even before Twilight had entered, Lyra had popped the top looking at the bottle with shaking hands staring at the bottle fighting with herself to take that first deadly drink. The sea-foam green unicorn mare looked like she had been put through an emotional wringer. Her sky blue and white striped hair was matted from lack of rest; she looked like she hadn’t eaten or slept in days. But what most struck Twilight were her friend’s eyes. They looked as though they had seen the depths of Tartarus and back; the brilliant amber eyes gone bloodshot from constant crying over unending rejection and endless personal attacks. .

“By sweet Celestia, Lyra!” Twilight covered the distance very quickly and slapped the bottle of Nightshade out of her hands with her magic, sending the vial into the wall shattering against it. “I won’t let you kill yourself.”

Lyra locked eyes with Twilight, revealing despair, sorrow, shame, and even a desperate cry for help. All these things Twilight saw in Lyra Heartstrings' eyes as she pulled her into a tight hug. “It’s all right. I’m here. I’m your friend, and I’m here,” she assured the other mare, who only burst out in tears at her words.

“Why?! ...why did you stop me, princess?! ” Lyra sobbed in Twilight's embrace. “I’m hated and I’m useless. Just let me die…”

Twilight bit her lip to hold the tears at bay. This mare did not deserve what had befallen her, and she swore she would find those responsible and restore her friend’s reputation if it was the last thing she did. “I had no idea it had gotten this bad. But you could have come to me sooner, Lyra. You are my friend after all. Also I came to ask you for your help.”

“What would you of all mares need my help for? ” Lyra sniffled softly.

“Just… please come with me, Lyra?” Twilight asked in a beseeching tone. “I think there’s someone here who can help you. Who can prove your life’s work has meaning.”

Something in Twilight's eyes gave Lyra Heartstrings the courage to say yes. With that, pulled a hoodie over her matted clothing and stepped close to Twilight as both mares teleported back to the castle of friendship.

Both mares appeared in the great hall as the other five mares saw Lyra they immediately wanted to know what had happened and Twilight retold the tale including what Twilight had stopped. This left Rarity and Applejack shaken, Pinkie and Fluttershy and Twilight in tears. Till Lyra looked squarely at Rainbow Dash and laid out one litany of grief squarely at her hooves...

For all of this trouble had started with her.

Braxton had felt the warm inviting pulse of magic almost fifteen minutes ago. Since he had started his study, he had almost completely learned the equestrian common tongue. He would need more time to master it enough that he could write it, but he could now speak it, and it would be enough to get by for now. It was then Braxton's keen hearing let him in on the rumble out by the entrance of the castle, as well as sobbing and screaming echoing in the halls.

This needed investigating.

Rising from his improvised study, Braxton’s feet made no noise upon the crystal floors as he walked, trying to make out the voices. One was Rainbow Dash’s, while the other belonged to a mare he didn't know but sounded very distraught.

“ME?! What did I do?” asked Rainbow Dash in a defensive tone.

“You self-absorbed whorse! If you hadn't opened your mouth saying that a pair of ponies had moved into Ponyville before the parasprite incidents in Ponyville and Fillydelphia, then they wouldn't have found us!”

“Who?!” Rainbow Dash asked as Braxton quietly opened the door walking into the great hall in silence

“I don't know who those stallions were! But they knew you, one even claimed to have slept with you!” Lyra said pulling no punches getting several gasps from the room of mares.

“Well, they’re lying! I mean, how can that be? I'm still a vir...” Rainbow dash put her hands over her mouth to cover it when she noticed Braxton in the room.

“Whether you are or not the fact remains I was given till tonight to make a choice as to what was painted on my walls at home!...” Tears ran down her face traces of anger filled Lyra's voice “kill myself and free my best friend, or keep going in my studies despite the rejections from members academia and receive my best friend in pieces through the post!”

Braxton was now behind Lyra as he looked to the mares in the room, who noticed him but weren’t sure what he was doing there. They all started when he answered their unspoken questions in their own tongue “It sounds as if you need true help, my good mare. I offer mine.”

All eyes looked to Lyra as she turned expecting to see a stallion, but she came face to chest instead with a very tall being. Lyra took a half a step back when she realized he was over six feet tall. She took in his features, recognized him for what he was in shock, and by the time she opened her mouth to speak, all she could say was, “Dear sweet Celestia...”

Twilight smiled softly. “Dr. Lyra Heartstrings? I would like you to meet Braxton Zeddmoore.”

“Hello... Braxton...” Lyra whispered trying to straighten up to him almost falling over if Braxton had not caught her gently by the shoulders. Lyra's eyes filled with wonder for what she had sought for all her life was now standing before her, living, breathing, and real. She took his hand from her shoulder looking at it, her thumb tracing the two extra fingers compared to a ponies hand. “You’re really…”

Lyra began to shake from sheer excitement. The last two days had been nothing but highly charged negative emotions, and the taxing toll they had taken upon her mind was adding up. And yet, as Lyra looked into Braxton's lapis lazuli eyes, all she could do to show her joy in her emotionally spent state was raise her voice to the top of her lungs and exclaim “YAHOO!” Lyra patted her chest softly mouthing the words my heart my heart. Braxton helped Lyra sit down on the map table.

“Will you be alright, mare Heartstrings?” Braxton looked the poor mare over and could tell Lyra was rapidly approaching a shellshocked state. He had seen enough of it in troops he had commanded, when captains pushed their men too hard for too long. All Lyra could do was nod yes and she gave a smile to him.

“Braxton?..” Twilight asked this time the first coming out of the shock of hearing Braxton speak equestrian for the first time.

Braxton turned his head to look away from Lyra still keeping her in his field of view but looking to Twilight. “Yes, Princess?” He hummed his response to her.

“You learned the Equestrian language in only forty-five minutes? ” she realized in an astounded voice.

“Not all of it. I can’t write Equestrian just yet and some of your more obscure idioms may not have meaning for me, but I can speak it well enough to be understood, now,” Braxton said flatly, still concerned about Lyra.

“There goes my first question about asking if you’re average for your species,” Lyra said softly still not looking away from Braxton as she watched every movement he made.

“Braxton, that is the mark of an extraordinary mind,” Twilight said as the others began to gather around him

“You flatter me, but it’s more experience than anything else,” he said casually as he turned to look at the map, realizing it hadn’t been there before. Curious, he rested his hands on it for a moment only to jerk his arms in surprise.

“What happened?” Lyra asked, all her earlier grief forgotten at the appearance of this mythical creature she had made her life’s work.

“Ever touch a hot stove burner? what it felt like to touch this map,” Braxton replied, rubbing his hands together. “In any event, mare Lyra, my hostess mare Twilight brought you here for a reason. So might I inquire as to why?” He turned back to Twilight.

“We have something pressing that needs to be addressed and rather than take you with us, we felt it would be good if you had a...” Twilight doesn’t get to finish before Lyra finishes for her.

“You want me to foal sit him?” Lyra said in surprise.

“I think it would do you both good,” Twilight replied, turning to Braxton, her eyes begging him to say yes.

Even without her plea, he would have anyway. “I personally think it is an excellent idea, mare Lyra.” Braxton said turning his back to the map to face the mares before him. “I would be honored to spend time in your company.”

“WHAT?!” came a unified response from the mares in the room, all wondering why he agreed so readily.

Braxton gave a warm chuckle. “I will give three reasons. First, not all of you trust me and I am fine with that. Were I in your hooves, I would not trust me either given the manner in which I appeared and the abilities I wield. So I will take you at your merits as I hope you take me at mine in order to cultivate trust. Second, a pony watching over me puts both her people at ease and those on Princess's council that saw the need to take such a step in the first place.”

Applejack looked to Pinkie and Rarity. “He kinda has us there, sugarcubes.”

“And thanks to mare Applejack, I now know who those are,” Braxton smirked, folding his arms watching the three mares ears go flat under his gaze. “Third and final, I can't fault you for this as I would do the same thing in your position, .” Braxton gave a soft smile “If good mare Lyra Heartstrings does not mind, I would welcome her company. Good mare Heartstrings, as it would appear you are a scholar, may I also offer that I pay you in the currency of academia for spending time with me, as my foal sitter and escort?”

There were very few times in her life when Lyra found herself at a loss for words. Typically it would happen when she was talking to members of the opposite sex for a date, or debating to some of the duller ignoble sons and daughters of the university upon a thesis she knew to be sound. Now she could add Braxton Zeddmoore to that list, the first human she had ever known. “You… you may…” she finally managed.

“Well good mares, I am off to Everfree forest with my escort. Have a safe journey to your destination.” Braxton smiled as he and Lyra made their way out of the great hall.

Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash left the great hall to the train station. Unaware that upon the map in the great hall another cutie mark appeared. This mark was the silhouette of a fox pouncing upon an open spellbook, with twin swords making an X behind both fox and spellbook. Had any stayed to see, they would have seen the mark stopping over the town of Ponyville.