Nebula's War

The next morning, EagleHeart woke to find Silver Lining pounding on his door, begging to be let inside.

"Hm? Silver, what's going on?" EagleHeart mumbled as Silver ran inside.

"EagleHeart, I need your help!" Silver cried. "That book you gave me yesterday… I think it's HAUNTED!"

"Oh for goodness sake, will you two quiet down?" Trixie groaned. "Trixie needs her beauty rest!" Trixie put her pillow over her head to block out the sound of Silver's cries.

"As I was saying," Silver whispered. "That book is haunted! When I woke up, it was glowing red and vibrating!"

"Did you touch it?" EagleHeart asked.

"Not really. I threw it across the room, and then I came to see you."

"Silver, just calm down. I don't think the book is haunted, but if it'll make you feel better, I'll check it out." EagleHeart and Silver went back to the cabin, where Anamir was making her bed.

"Good morning, EagleHeart." She chirped, as if she hadn't woken up to find Silver throwing a book across the room and screaming about ghosts.

"Good morning, Anamir." EagleHeart replied as he picked up and opened the glowing book. Instantly, the book stopped glowing and vibrating, and EagleHeart noted a paragraph of bright blue text: 'Dear Silver Lining, my name is Sunset Shimmer. I used to live in Equestria, but I've since moved to Canterlot High, an alternate dimension where bipedal creatures called 'humans' are the dominant race. Don't worry, I don't stick out: in this world, I'm a human, too, though I'm a unicorn in Equestria. Anyway, this is one of two journals that Twilight and I use to communicate between worlds when we don't want to use the mirror portal. Speaking of which, I'm sorry to hear that the portal was destroyed (and that you lost your leg), but if this 'Nebula' is as dangerous as you say he is, you may well have saved me and everyone else in this world, and for that I am grateful. Please, update me as often as you can on developments in the war against Nebula. In return, I will provide advice and information based on what I know of Equestria. Thank you, Sunset Shimmer.' EagleHeart looked from the journal to Silver, and back to the journal.

"Interesting." EagleHeart whispered. "Silver, I have good news: the book isn't haunted. It's a means of communication between our world and this 'Canterlot High' world that Jacob mentioned." He showed Silver the entry that had appeared in the journal.

"So I have an interdimensional pen pal?" Silver asked. "Awesome!"

"If you boys will excuse me," Anamir announced. "I'm going to join the others for breakfast."

"Hold on, we'll join you." EagleHeart replied as Silver stowed his journal in a safe location. Breakfast turned out to be day-old apples, leftover hay and water from a nearby lake, which was a satisfactory meal for horses.

"Okay, now that we're all fed and watered, let's talk about our plan for today." Azure announced, and motioned to Jacob. "Yesterday, Jacob was kind enough to brief me on Nebula's henchmen, their identities, abilities and weaknesses." Azure reached under the table and pulled out a large pad of paper, upon which he had drawn six large, ugly creatures.

"These are Nebula's six demon lieutenants." Azure explained, and pointed to the wolf. “The wolf is called ‘Malum’. He's strong and smart, but also rebellious. He doesn't like being bossed around, which might destabilize his relationship with Nebula."

"Yeah, let's hope so." Silver mumbled.

"The scaly one is Lacerta." Azure continued, and pointed at the reptilian stallion. "He's the strongest of the bunch, but not very smart. He'll attack and eat anything that's put in front of him." He pointed at the skeleton. "Next up is Ossium, the skeleton. He's the fastest of the group and he can put himself back together, but he's also a treacherous braggart. Always talks about how great he is, but if there's trouble he leaves his team in the dust."

Azure pointed at the tattooed stallion. "The maniac of the team is Atramento. He’s almost as fast as Ossium, but ten times as deadly, especially with a dagger in his hoof. But like Scaly, he's not very smart, he only cares about killing everything he sees." Azure pointed at the stallion with flame hair, and the one with a mohawk of spikes. "Finally, we have Ignis, the flame-haired one and Cornu, the spike-haired one. They're brothers, and a deadly double team, but kind of immature, too, and easily distracted." Azure set down the pad of paper and looked back at the team.

"Yes, very nice, we know who we're fighting." Trixie sighed. "But how do we stop them?"

"Well, that's where it gets complicated." Azure admitted. "According to Jacob, demons can heal from all injuries except those inflicted by silver."

“Yes?”

“No, not you, Silver.” Azure sighed. “I’m talking about the metal. If a demon touches silver, it’ll burn them, a laceration will require stitches, and a stab to the heart will kill them. Any non-silver wounds will heal themselves in an instant.”

"I can make some anti-demon weapons if I can get some silver," Nox explained. "But the only ones who have pure silver are, well, the diamond dogs." Everypony groaned: diamond dogs were large, bipedal canines that lived in underground caverns and mined for precious metals and minerals. They were also very greedy, and convincing them to share something as precious as silver would not be easy.

"Nox and I are going to meet with the diamond dogs today, explain the situation to them and what we need from them." Azure explained. "We're going to try and sweeten the deal by offering them these hoof-crafted mining tools that Nox built, as well as a set of long-lasting torches to help them mine in dark areas. Hopefully, it’ll convince them to share their silver, but if not we might need to use… other methods of persuasion. I honestly hope it doesn’t come to that, but with the diamond dogs being what they are negotiations may not go so smoothly." Azure and Nox lifted the tools onto their backs and walked out of the camp. "If all goes well, we'll be back here around sunset." Azure called to the others as the forest swallowed up him and Nox. It was a difficult trek, but an hour later they found themselves on the edge of a barren field covered in large holes.

"Well, here we are." Azure announced. "Let's pick a hole and start walking." They stepped into the nearest hole, which was actually a long and winding tunnel that snaked deep into the earth and branched off in odd directions. The tunnels were pitch black, so Nox took the lead, his keen night vision picking out every dip, every fork, every pebble in their path. Finally, the tunnel opened up into a large, torch lit cavern, where diamond dogs were digging holes and tossing precious gems and metals into carts. Their gaze didn't stray from their work in the slightest, but when Nox's hoof touched the earthen floor of the cavern, every diamond dog for miles around turned to look at him.

"Ponies! Intruders!" They hissed. "They've come to steal our treasures!" A dozen or so dogs leapt from their holes and charged at Azure and Nox, who drew their weapons in a heartbeat. The dogs yelped and skidded to a halt mere inches from the razor-sharp blades.

"Ponies have knives!" They cried. "Ponies come to hurt us!"

"No we haven't," Azure said as he and Nox put their weapons away. "We're here to trade." Nox slipped the case of mining supplies from his back and opened it for the dogs to see. The effect was immediate: as soon as the dogs laid their eyes on the shiny new tools, their ears splayed back and they whined with longing, like puppies being offered treats. One of the dogs reached out to touch a pickaxe, but Azure closed the box with a 'snap' that echoed around the cavern. "I said 'trade', not 'gift'." Azure growled, and the dogs looked at him quizzically.

"Trade?" asked the largest dog. "What do ponies want from dogs? Dogs just want pretty tools."

"Well, you can have the pretty tools," said Nox. "If you give us your silver." In an instant, all charity disappeared from the dogs' faces: their eyes flashed dangerously, their fangs were bared and their voices came out deep and growling.

"Diamond dogs will never give precious silver to ponies!" growled the tallest dog. "Dogs will tear ponies limb from limb for trying!" The dogs charged, but Azure and Nox were equal to the occasion: Nox dropped the case and delivered a powerful uppercut to the first dog's chin. Azure turned and bucked a second dog in the chest, causing him to fly through the air and land heavily on his friend.

"Don't use your dagger!" Azure shouted. "If we kill them, we'll never make a deal!" Nox spread his wings and flew around the dogs' heads as they tried to swat him out of the air. Azure, taking advantage of the distraction got one of the dogs in a headlock and threw him to the ground. Another dog tried to grab Azure, but yelped as Azure punched him in the face.

"Hey Azure, need a lift?" Nox called as he swooped down and caught Azure by the hoof. The diamond dogs watched in awe as Azure was carried up to the ceiling before being dropped like a stone onto the largest diamond dog. More dogs closed in on Azure, but at that moment an earsplitting bark echoed through the cavern and caught everypony's attention. A diamond dog with grey fur entered the cavern; he walked with a sapphire-tipped cane, wore a handsome blue and gold vest and was flanked by two attendants.

Every dog in the cavern bowed as the procession approached Azure, who stepped down from the unconscious dog and Nox, who landed next to Azure. The procession stopped five feet in front of Azure, and the crowned dog stared down at him with cold, calculating eyes.

"All hail Canis, King of Diamond Dogs!" The attendants announced. Azure and Nox bowed their heads in respect.

"What business have you here, that you arrive without warning and attack my soldiers?" Canis asked. His tone was not welcoming, nor was it threatening.

"King Canis," Azure explained. "Our people are being lorded by an evil tyrant who we wish to overthrow. The tyrant has an army born from Tartarus itself, an army that cannot be defeated by anything but silver." King Canis did not object, so Azure continued. "We wish to trade these mining tools for your silver, so that we might make weapons to fight the army and save our land." Nox opened the box and showed the tools to King Canis, who picked up a pickaxe and weighed it in his paws.

"Yes, these are good tools," Canis said. "But our silver is very precious, and we would request something of equal value in return. For example, that silver necklace that you are wearing?" Azure’s hoof shot to the moonstone necklace around his neck.

“Not on your life.” Azure said, though Nox heard him call Canis something very offensive under his breath.

“Very well.” Canis grumbled. “Besides, we have no interest in the affairs of ponies.”

"But Your Highness, Nebula has enslaved the changelings, dragons and griffons!" Nox pleaded. "It's only a matter of time before he enslaves you too!"

"You underestimate the power of the diamond dogs." Canis replied. "The subterranean world has made us strong, and we have allies beneath the earth that will come to our aid when they are summoned. We shall never be enslaved." Azure's mind was racing; if he couldn't convince Canis to trade his silver, they would be helpless against Nebula's forces.

"You and your subjects hold great value in the bounties hidden beneath the earth, do you not?" Azure asked.

"We have every right to value them." Canis remarked. "We toil in our mines during all hours of the day find them. We would protect our treasures with our lives."

"That's how ponies feel about our friends: we would value them so much that we would sooner die than let them be taken from us." Canis stared at Azure for a few seconds, then turned to leave the cavern. Azure and Nox sighed in defeat and turned to leave as well, when Canis called,

"Come with me, ponies. We have much to discuss."

Shortly after Azure and Nox left camp, Aaron and Jacob got into a heated discussion.

"Aaron, I know you're scared, but we need all the help we can get!" Jacob pleaded.

"They treated me like a freak!" Aaron cried. "They never came to save me! You can talk to them if you want, but I'm staying here."

"Aaron, we need your help! I'm a demon pony, they'll never trust me, but they'll trust a fellow bat pony."

"So ask Eclipse or Night Shade! They're bat ponies, too!"

"Aaron, please-!"

"Excuse me?" Aaron and Jacob turned to see Melody and Chiarascura approaching. "We don't mean to interrupt, but we heard you two arguing and wondered if we might be able to help."

"Well… okay." Aaron sighed. "We're arguing because Jacob wants me to visit the bat pony village where I grew up. It's right here in The Everfree Forest, but I don't want to go because they treated me like a freak when I was a colt!" To add weight to his argument, Aaron showed the feline paws that he had instead of hooves.

"Oh my goodness!" Chiarascura gasped, and after comporting herself said, "I mean, I know you're upset, Aaron, but we really do need all the help we can get. Besides, that incident was years ago, I'm sure they've matured since then." Aaron looked down at the ground and shuffled his paws.

"Would you feel better if we joined you?" Melody offered, and Aaron nodded sheepishly. As Aaron, Melody and Chiarascura walked away, Melody turned to address Jacob. "Aren't you coming with us, Jacob?"

"Actually, you guys go ahead." Jacob replied. "I have something that I need to do."

"Okay, if you're sure. We'll be back soon." Melody said, and left the camp with Aaron and Chiarascura at his side. Aaron had not been to the bat pony village in many years, but he knew their habits very well. Sniffing around, Aaron found the husk of a withered apple, a telltale sign that a bat pony had stopped here for a snack. They followed a set of hoof prints through the woods, which stopped beneath a large oak tree.

"Bat ponies tend to hang upside down by their tails when they sleep." Aaron explained as Melody and Chiarascura tried to find the trail of hoof prints. As Aaron looked up, he saw a severe looking bat pony who wasn't sleeping, but glaring down at them from a branch twenty feet in the air. She was a tall mare with maroon fur, a royal blue mane and eyes as orange as the setting sun. Aaron opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"Um… hello?" Chiarascura said.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" The mare demanded. She leapt from the tree, landing softly in front of them and examined them carefully. "We get very few pegasus ponies in our forest. Are you lost?"

"N-no, ma'am, we're not lost." said Aaron. "We're trying to find the bat pony village. I used to live there, and-!"

"What is your name?" the mare asked.

"My name is Aaron. Please, can we just-?

"No, you may not. There was only ever one 'Aaron' in our village, and he disappeared years ago."

"But I AM Aaron! I'm the one who disappeared!" The mare squinted down at him.

"Prove it." she demanded, and Aaron fell silent again. He knew that there was only one way he could prove his identity, but he was afraid to do it. He knew that the mare would laugh or scream when she saw his freakish paws, but at the same time, his friends were counting on him to appeal to the bat ponies.

"Okay, I'll prove it." Aaron sighed, and lifted his paws for the mare to see. As Aaron had expected, she was frightened.

"By Luna's crown, what happened to your hooves?" She cried. "I have not seen a bat pony with paws since-!" Her eyes widened as she recalled a memory from her childhood: she was playing ball with her friends when a colt with red fur and yellow hair galloped into the cave. He was crying for his parents, who carried him to the infirmary. His leg was bandaged, but in the following days he became irritable, developing growths on his hooves that eventually became paws. The colt's parents cared for him, but the other colts called him a freak, and a week later he just… disappeared. There was no doubt in her mind: the colt who had disappeared all those years ago truly was...

"Aaron!" she gasped, and hugged Aaron around the neck. Aaron was about to return the hug, but she immediately let go and regained her composure.

"I mean, it is good to see you again." The mare said, and cleared her throat. "What happened to you? Where did you go?" Aaron explained the whole story, about how he had been kidnapped while everypony else was sleeping, and taken to a facility where a team of scientists ran tests on him, hoping to understand the effects of werewolf venom on ponies. Eventually, Aaron had escaped the facility and gone to live a quiet, solitary life in Ponyville.

"Well, that is quite a story!" The mare remarked. "You are certainly welcome at our village. Follow me." They walked down a path that was just wide enough for a pony to walk through; if the mare hadn't pointed it out, they wouldn't have known that the path existed. “Furthermore, my name is Captain Vesper of Noctis, but you may call me ‘Vesper’ if you so desire.”

“Okay, Vesper.” Aaron replied. After several minutes of silence, Aaron asked,

"You obviously know me, but I don't remember you. Did we grow up in the same village?"

"Yes we did, but we were a part of different… social groups." Vesper admitted. "Such is the way with children: boys socialize with boys, and girls with girls, but I digress." She paused, as if steeling herself for a difficult question. "If I may ask, how did you receive those paws?"

"My parents told me not to go into the woods alone." Aaron sighed. "But I didn't listen. A werewolf bit my leg, but I kicked it in the muzzle and ran back home." Melody and Chiarascura gasped in horror. "That's how I got these." Aaron held up his paws again.

"I am sorry to hear that." said Vesper. "But again, I am glad to see that you are safe." All of a sudden, Vesper came to an abrupt stop at the edge of a small clearing. Aaron stopped at almost the exact time, but Melody and Chiarascura nearly fell over.

“Why are we stopping?” Melody whispered. “Is this where the bat ponies live?”

“I don’t know, I don’t see anything.” Chiarascura replied. “But Vesper seems to know what she’s doing.”

“Stay close.” Vesper warned, and stepped into the clearing. A few steps later, she descended into a tunnel that Melody and Chiarascura were unable to see. They followed her into the tunnel and down a sloping path that opened into a massive cavern, where torches provided the only light.

"Welcome to Noctis, Home of The Bat Ponies!" Vesper announced, and her voice echoed around the cavern.

"It's beautiful!" Chiarascura gasped as she watched a team of bat ponies flying overhead. "I've never seen anything like it!"

"I didn't even know this place existed." Melody said as a trio of colts ran past, playing a friendly game of tag.

"Well, we live solitary lives." Vesper explained. "Bat ponies are nocturnal and very sensitive to light, so we seldom go outside when the diurnal ponies are active."

"What about Aaron?" Melody asked. "He's been active during the daytime."

"Well, the werewolf venom messed with my internal clock." Aaron admitted as they walked past a fruit stand. "It made me diurnal, so I wouldn't be able to rejoin bat pony society if I wanted to."

"Oh, we shall see about that." Vesper chuckled. "We will help you get adjusted, but after a week I am sure that you-!"

"Oh. I'm sorry, but I already have a home." Aaron motioned to Melody and Chiarascura. "My friends and I have a camp in The Everfree Forest." Vesper came to a dead halt, and Aaron nearly bumped into her.

"In the forest?" Vesper said in a puzzled tone. "But the forest is so dangerous! Why not live in Ponyville?" Melody and Chiarascura exchanged nervous looks.

"Well, we used to live in Ponyville," Melody admitted. "But now we're on the run."

"We have an urgent mission." Chiarascura added. "We were hoping to speak with your leader, and ask for their help." Vesper glanced aside and bit her lip.

"Well, I do wish Aaron could stay with us." said Vesper. "But if he is happy, I will not force him to leave you. In regards to our leader, however, I believe I can be of some assistance." Vesper led Aaron, Melody and Chiarascura deep into the cavern, past colts and fillies playing ball or learning to fly, until they stood before a majestic throne that was carved from the mountain itself. The mare occupying the throne was taller than the average pony, with large leathery wings, burgundy fur, a rose colored mane and a glowing necklace around her neck. As the mare looked up from her notes, Vesper bowed respectfully.

"Ah, Captain Vesper!" The mare said in an assertive, but not unkind voice. "What news do you bring from the forest?"

"Chief Neoma, these individuals wish to speak with you." Vesper announced. "They claim to have an urgent mission." Neoma raised her eyebrows.

"I see." she said in a gentle, but authoritative tone. "And what is this mission that you speak of?" Melody opened his mouth, but to everypony's surprise, Aaron stepped forward.

"Your Highness, a tyrant known as Nebula has enslaved Equestria." He said. "My friends and I-!"

"What happened to your hooves?" Neoma inquired, motioning to Aaron's paws. Aaron closed his eyes and exhaled through his nostrils.

"It's a long story, Your Highness." said Aaron. "As I was saying, my friends and I are fighting back, but we can't stop him alone. We need your help." Neoma looked from Aaron to Chiarascura to Melody, as if questioning their fighting capabilities.

"This is a fallacy." Neoma scoffed. "Although we do not fall under her jurisdiction, we received the news that Princess Celestia and her fellow rulers died several months ago, and were succeeded by Celestia's nephew, King Blueblood."

"Your Highness, that's not true!" Melody insisted. "Nebula disguised himself as King Blueblood and took over the throne!"

"The changelings, dragons and griffons aren't his allies, they're his slaves!" Chiarascura added. "Nebula gave them magic necklaces that brainwashed them!"

"Please, you've got to believe us!" Aaron pleaded. Once again, Neoma was silent as she examined the trio.

"I believe you." she said, and Aaron smiled hopefully. "That is to say, I believe that you believe these tales to be true. However, I cannot accept your claims as fact without proper evidence." Aaron, Melody and Chiarascura's faces fell.

"Okay. Well, thanks for your time." Aaron said before he, Melody and Chiarascura left the cave in defeat.

"It's okay." said Chiarascura. "We still have each other, and I bet we'll find a way to-!"

"Wait! Stop!" The trio turned to see Vesper galloping toward them. "Chief Neoma has given me permission to join your crusade. That is, if you will have me." Aaron extended his paw, and Vesper shook it.

"Welcome to the team." said Aaron.

Thirty minutes ago, Jacob waved goodbye as Aaron, Melody and Chiarascura left the camp to visit the bat ponies.

"Now let's see… I hope I remember how to do this." He drew a circle in the dirt and used a sharp rock to pierce his hoof, so that a single drop of blood fell into the circle. Jacob then closed his eyes and muttered in a low, cold voice, "Suratrat otlatrop anepo." There was a flash of red light, and the circle of dirt became a portal to Tartarus, the home that Jacob had left behind. "Well, here goes nothing." Jacob sighed, and stepped through the portal, which closed behind him. All of a sudden, there was a pounding of hooves and screams of terror; Jacob leapt aside as a herd of cursed souls ran across the plains, being pursued by razor-toothed horses and bloodthirsty gargoyles. Ten feet away, a pair of imps roasted half a dozen screaming souls over a blazing fire. The air was filled with the stench of sulfur and brimstone, and the sky above was as red as fresh blood.

"Home sweet home." Jacob muttered as he trotted past scenes of pain and suffering. Finally, he arrived at the gates of a tall, dark castle, the fortress of Tenebris, Lord of Tartarus. As Jacob knocked on the door, a small window opened and a pair of beady black eyes peeked out.

"What is it? What do you want?" barked a shrill, impatient voice. "Speak your business now, or I'll have you skinned and covered in rubbing alcohol!"

"I'm here to see Tenebris." Jacob replied.

"What? Of course not!" the voice laughed. "Nopony gets in to see Lord Tenebris! Not nobody, not-!"

"Let me in, Servus." Jacob growled. "Or I'll get nasty." The beady black eyes blinked in confusion, then looked down at Jacob. There was a squeal of surprise, the black eyes disappeared and there was a dull 'thud', as if Servus had fallen from his perch. A moment later, the door opened and a tiny winged devil fluttered into view.

"My goodness, Jacob!" said Servus. "I didn't expect to see you again. It's been too long!"

"I missed you too, Servus." Jacob groaned.

“No, I was talking about your lifespan." Servus chuckled, showing tiny pointed teeth. "It's been too long."

"Look, I don't have time for this. Bring me to Tenebris or I'll make you my new chew toy."

"My my, I thought the ponies would have at least taught you some manners." Servus chided. "Very well then, follow me." The hall was lit with large braziers, whose dark flames flickered eerily on skulls stolen from all manner of beasts: dragons, hydras, griffons, even ponies. Jacob didn't take his eyes off the skulls until he walked through the doorway at the end of the hall, and came face to face with Tenebris, Lord of Tartarus. Tenebris was as tall as Princess Celestia, but nowhere as lovely: his yellow eyes with their slit pupils shone like lanterns against his ebony fur, his blunt yellow teeth were stained with blood and instead of a mane, he had a pair of gnarled horns that curved down toward his chin. He sat on a throne made of ruby-studded obsidian, and held a box of ghostly white chocolates in his lap.

"A thousand apologies for the interruption, sir," Servus said, bowing so low that his tiny horns brushed the carpet. "But the demon pony known as 'Jacob' seeks an audience with your excellency." Tenebris glanced at Jacob with mild surprise, then set the box of chocolates aside. "Thank you, Servus, that will be all." He said in a deep, chilling voice that seemed to fill the whole room. Servus backed out of the room, bowing repeatedly as he did so and closed the doors.

"Ah, Jacob! The prodigal son returns." said Tenebris. His voice, while terrifying was dripping with sarcasm. "I'd like to kill you for going to live with the ponies, but since you'd immediately be reborn here I'll just ask why you've returned." He popped one of the glowing chocolates into his mouth, and it screamed. "Mm, delicious souls. I love it when they scream."

"Shut up, Tenebris! You're not my king anymore!" Jacob growled. "I want to know why a mortal tyrant named Nebula has six demonic lieutenants!" Tenebris shrugged.

"Well, the usual exchange rate for a mortal soul is just ultimate power, but I decided to add those losers to the deal. They were annoying me." Jacob's mind went blank for several seconds.

"… What?" Jacob gasped. "He sold his soul for ultimate power?"

"Well, of course!" Tenebris laughed. "What, do you think you can kidnap four alicorns and take over a country by studying? No, the little runt prayed to me, said he'd give me anything for the power to take over Equestria. I quoted him the price, he gave me his soul, and I gave him the power, simple as that." Jacob was speechless.

"But this madman has enslaved my friends and countless others! Ponies are worshiping him and they don't even know he's a fake!"

"I know, isn't it hilarious? That's another reason I'm not killing you right now: watching you suffer as your home is destroyed? That's all the payback I need." Tenebris leaned back in his throne and extended his leathery wings. "Now run along home, you're starting to bore me." That was the last straw: Jacob's fur bristled as he grew larger and more muscular, his hooves became massive paws and his elongating muzzle filled with razor sharp fangs. Where Jacob had stood moments before, there was now a ten-foot tall wolf with jet-black fur, crimson eyes and fangs like pearly white daggers.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Jacob howled. He charged at Tenebris, but his claws and fangs passed through the demon lord's body as if he were made of smoke. He clawed and bit as hard as he could, but Tenebris just sighed and shook his head.

"Oh Jacob, you need to control that temper of yours." Tenebris chuckled. "It's going to get you in trouble some day."

"Why is he doing this?" Jacob roared. "How do we stop him?" Tenebris smiled and shook his head.

"Sorry Rover, can't tell you that. Professional courtesy. But just to prove there are no hard feelings, I'll give you a free ride home." His spectral form enveloped Jacob like a shroud of pure darkness as he whispered, "Don't come back."

"No! Get off of me! I'm not done with-!" Jacob shouted, but when the darkness lifted, Jacob saw that he was back in Azure's camp.

"No. No! NO!" Jacob roared, so loudly that the trees in the surrounding area shook.

"What the hay is going on out here?" EagleHeart cried. "I don't mean to be rude, but I'm still working on soundproofing the camp, and if we don't keep quiet we'll get caught!"

"Sorry, I just had a difficult meeting." Jacob sighed, and resumed his pony form.

"Well, if it helps you feel any better, Azure and the others just returned from their meetings. Maybe you can talk to them about yours." Jacob's ears perked up, and he galloped over to Azure's cabin, where Azure, Nox, Aaron, Melody and Chiarascura were discussing the outcome of their meetings. They turned to watch as Jacob entered the cabin.

"Guys, you might want to sit down." said Jacob. "I've got a lot to tell you." Before Jacob could vent his frustration, he saw that Azure, Nox, Aaron, Melody and Chiarascura had returned from their missions. Eager to share his findings, he ran over to join them; at the exact same time, Aaron, Azure and Jacob said, "I have so much to tell you."