NOIRE POV

By the time we returned, it was already midnight, and Cadance, Ayra, and a platoon of guards were at the entrance, talking about recovering us from wherever we had gone. However, Cadance's eyes landed on me and she hurried to my side. "Noire!" she yelled, checking my battered armor " I was so worried about you all. You were supposed to be here hours ago. I feared the worst."

"It's a bit of a story, but right now, we're all okay-" I reassured her. Burning let out a big yawn, and Tidal quickly followed "-though we could use some sleep. I'll tell you everything on the way to Canterlot. We'll be with you by 3:00" With that, the generals and I all trudged through the gates and to our rooms for some much needed sleep. As we said our farewells, I entered my room where Cadance was patiently waiting for me on the bed. I fell into her bosom, and we laid together until we were taken by slumber. "I should pay that old man a visit..."

With three hours rest, and a coffee under our wings, we carried ourselves out of our beds and all the way to the train station. When our train was prepared to leave, Tidal gave a warm hug, and along kiss. We didn't know what we were going to encounter in the Griffon Empire, and how long we would be gone. "Both of you better come back in one piece," she pointed at Cadance and I "Now don't keep your soldiers waiting. Get going!" she ordered, saluting the both of us. We complied, hopping on the train and we were off to Canterlot.

Along the way, we finally had time to discuss last night's adventure. We explained to Cadance how we met the Frost Regulus, and how there were others across Equus. Cadance listened to all that we had to say "What you say about the Reguli acting as stores of knowledge does seem to make sense. You only started effectively using magic after you left the Everfree Forest-"

"-and your skill with a sword seemed to improve rapidly just by being in Vindr's cave," Windy added "If Aes is somewhere in the Griffon Empire then we should find him as well. We don't know if Grim is going to be there or not."

"The Griffon Empire is supposed to be the second biggest kingdom next to Equestria though. Aes could be anywhere," I said "I only managed to meet Lucus and Vindr by chance."

"There is no such thing as chance. Everything settles into it's path eventually." In a flash of light, Luna teleported into our train car "Greetings everypony. I hope you all are well," we all nodded "I happened to hear a bit of your conversation, and it seems Heros' companions live on. My sister and I thought most of them had perished 10,000 years ago."

"Most of them did, excluding Lucus and Prusilla, but persist as spirits. If finding them means learning more about my power, it's worth finding them but they could be anywhere."

"If Heros truly preserved their spirits for you to find them, then you shall find them. Lucus is more of a solitary soul, and Vindr could have been in any cave in the wastelands, but you still found them. Just let the opportunity come to you." With that out of the way, we discussed how we were going to proceed into Griffonstone. We were updated on the situation the empire closing its borders since the civil war began by the griffon soldier, and how any ships that got close were shot down on sight. Travelling by airships was going to be difficult, and walking would take way too long. "That prince is a clever one. He specifically retreated his forces to Griffonstone, a land not only under his control, but along the border to allow us easy access without being noticed by Gilgar. Only half a day by airship as long as we keep it cloaked." Through the speaker, the conductor announced our eventual arrival in Canterlot "We still have some preparations to make with our troops. We will see you at the bay." With that, she left us to enjoy a few moments of peace before the train made its stop at Canterlot.

We had left so early in the morning as to keep too many ponies from seeing us and keeping the public's morale high, however, that proved to be futile as we passed many from our way from the station to the air bay. I silently prepared for gossip to spread throughout, but was surprised to hear more reinforcing words from the city.

"Hey isn't that Noire, the knight that stopped Tirek?"

"Yeah, I guess they're going on another mission."

"I wonder if I can get his autograph..."

"Good luck, all of you!"

I could feel the uplifting words of everyone motivating the troops and I. "It seems somepony got popular after defeating Tirek," Burning teased.

"I just softened him up for Twilight and her friends to finish the job. Though, I won't lie: being praised like this doesn't feel too bad. Speaking of Twilight, are any of them coming?"

"Not this time," Cadance answered "No matter how strong they are together, they are still civilians and this is still a war. If we intend to join, we will not bring civilians to fight." I nodded "Plus, she just got back from another dimension. She must want some rest right now." That almost made me trip over myself.

"Another WHAT!?" I exclaimed incredulously "Why wasn't this never been mentioned?"

"You never asked so it never came up," she shrugged. I looked at her with expression of shock, confusion, and a bit of frustration before relenting. Some things in this world are better left unexplained, like magical mirrors to other dimensions, but a brief thought of visiting Earth did cross my mind. While my life their was far from pleasant, it would be nice to see how long people have assumed I was dead for. I couldn't spend too long on that thought as the bay came into view with Celestia and Luna chatting as people were moving boxes onto our ship.

"I'm glad to see you all made it here safely," Celestia greeted us, and we her "I will have to stay here for the safety of the kingdom, but I have faith in Luna's diplomacy during war. You will be in good hands. Sorry to make this short but every second I spend here is another file of documents to slave over. I bid you all farewell." Celestia had left quickly, leaving us to make the final preparations. 1000 soldiers boarded four airships, all enchanted with cloaking magic, and as we left Canterlot behind. we turned east. To the Griffon Empire.

We were high up in the clouds four hours in, just as another precaution, watching nothing in particular. It felt like everyone was in a world of their own. Windy and Burning were talking amongst themselves, Cadance was resting in our room, and I was with Luna, watching the horizon. "Luna?" she turned to meet me "I'm sorry if brings up more bad memories, but what was Heros actually like. Everyone talks about him being strong, a hero, and my fate, but never talks about him as a person." She looked back at the sky in front of us, and let a chuckle out.

"He was the arrogant type. He also seemed like he knew what he was doing, probably because he had already saved a world with magic so fighting Grim was par for the course. At first, I thought he was just some random idiot way too confident for his own good."

OVER 10,000 YEARS AGO, LUNA POV

"So, if we art hearing thou correctly, you want us to-"

"-withdraw all of your troops, yes I do believe I said that ten seconds ago," the man said to me. He was wearing old cloak over what I could see to be gold armor "I'm going to break it to you as gently as I can: all of your soldiers WILL lose their magic. They WILL lose the energy and/or will to fight, and then crushed under Tirek's hoof. Then they WILL be scraped off by the next pitiful wave of resistance you try to send his way." I was about to rip the man's head, lifting myself out of my seat until he continued "Or I go out there in their place, and do what I was sent here by your mother to do. Be a hero." I was left speechless by what he had implied. Mother was alive? She was well? I wanted so many answers, but my sister spoke first.

"We can feel the faint presence of our mother on thou, so we can believe your claim to have been in contact with mother. We will take you to Tirek, but be warned: It took Scorpan sacrificing himself just to weaken him, and now he is inexplicably more powerful than ever. Thou still wants to do this?" The strange man only nodded, and my sister complied, teleporting us to Tirek's location, the edge of the Everfree. Right outside our front door. Our last line of resistance. I was aware of our mother's contact with him, but the fool really intended on confronting Grim's most powerful ally alone. I was equally sure that he was doomed. However, he had no such fear. He removed his cape and his eyes turned a bright gold. The once faint presence of our mother began to hit me like a wave. As if mother was right next to me. He extended his hands outward, and a portal appeared right below Tirek, and he began to sink. He tried to escape but several chains held him down. In a minute's time, Tirek had disappeared. I was left in awe. This man had ended crisis that threatened our whole world in a minute.

PRESENT TIME, NOIRE POV

"When I asked the fool who he was and why he was here, he told me 'I have long forgotten my name. As for the why, I made a vow to help anyone in need, whenever they needed it. To conquer evil at any cost. People tended to call me Heros back on my world so I guess that works." I remained silent, letting her look back for a few more seconds "He told us all about the code and how he was summoned to seal Grim away. We had thought Grim was gone, or dead until Celestia spoke about the last time she saw him, awakening to an unknown power. It was as he once said concerning the coincidence of them acquiring the code at the same time. Whenever once power rises, another must rise to match. Everything has its equal." I looked at the magical veins across my body. What once looked like curving strands were sharp like wiring. "I proposed to him, you know," she said nonchalantly, causing me to recoil "He said no. Didn't want me being tied down to someone who was destined save worlds. He could have been whisked away again, and I would never see him again. He could disappear without warning. There was no telling how he would leave. Its kind of ironic: he made endless preparations to be taken away from this world, and he leaves in the last way he ever expected. Of old age, surrounded by his loved ones. The only ones who knew of his deed." She kept staring at the sky. The bright. blue, endless sky. I patted her on the back while the tears fell down her cheeks and a smile spread across her lips.

"That dumbass."

I decided to take a nap before we arrived in Griffonstone. I cuddled up next to the sleeping princess, nestling my face within her bosom, and hoped for peaceful dreams. However, as soon as I closed my eyes, I felt myself leave my body, and go someplace darker, and then brighter than I could imagine a nightmare to be. I was awake. In someone else's bed.

"Wake up, beloved~"

Author's Note

Imma cut this one short and tell you the next one's coming in the next two days. Love you all!

Stay dizzy. Wuzzy out.