Twilight POV

"GOD DAMN IT!" Andrew yelled while punching a hole through my crystal wall.

After he removed said fist from my wall and I repaired it, I replied, "You're not helping you know, and I like my castle in one piece if you please."

He marched over and slammed his hand on the table containing a clutter of documents and photos, "We fucked up Twilight! The bastard slipped in under our nose and created a monster making machine! This feels much too planned for this discovery to be our good luck. He wanted us to know about this. If it wasn't for Nightmare Moon we would have never known about that creature until we already had several deaths to deal with."

I grimaced at the thought of owing that mare anything, but I knew he was right, "How did he summon that monstrosity in the first place? The nucklavee has been extinct since before Celestia and Luna, according to history at least."

"Well two possibilities there. First, history was wrong and one or more survived. Or two, human magic allowed a concept in the mind to take on form that was familiar to this reality. Like many creatures that exist on Equis, most are myth on Earth. So Hunger could have easily tried to make as many evil monsters from myth and Equis helped make them real with that magic circle he made." He explained, making a frustrating amount of sense.

"If that's the case could Nightmare Moon be one of the things summoned?" I asked, still worried over the mare I had to leave with Crimson.

Andrew let out a tired sigh and flopped down in a nearby chair, "No, remember those two confirmed her story of the Void. Anyway anything that would have been made with that circle would have only been soulless husk, and that mare has a soul, I checked."

I let out my own sigh as I sat across from Andrew, "I still feel like I'm being tricked. She gave solid explanations, has done nothing worthy of being called threatening, agreed to conditions not in her favor, is guarded 24/7, and has done nothing to deserve this scrutiny. It's like I'm trying to find a reason to hate her."

"Sounds like that is exactly the case." Andrew replied.

"Not helping." I glared at him.

He stood up and walked over to a nearby window, one I knew had a view of the house I gave Crimson. "Nightmare Moon has been considered the boogeyman of Equestria for over a thousand years. Her name alone causes uneasiness because of what that name represents. Imagine if everyone feared you, hated you, just because you had that name. She could have stayed in that glamor of hers yesterday, it wouldn't have mattered. Once she told you her name and you believed it, it wouldn't matter what she looked like, you would treat her the same."

"Where are you going with this?" I asked.

"Imagine being Nightmare Moon, but you still acted like yourself. Who would I be speaking to, Twilight or Nightmare Moon?" Andrew proposed.

I saw what he was meaning, "You're implying that the Nightmare Moon we met yesterday is a completely different mare from how I, and history, knows her?"

"Well except for this mare did do all those things you know in the past." He said, to which I glared at him. Indicating he wasn't helping his case. However he just waved me off, "The Nightmare Moon we met yesterday was one who realizes all she has done wrong, and wants to atone for those things. I can tell you, she is afraid of what you might do to her."

Now that last comment perplexed me, "What? She is afraid of me?"

"Either that or herself, maybe both. She held back greatly when using that mind warp spell on Crimson yesterday. Crimson could easily have resisted without them. She was attempting to appear as meek as possible, suppressing her own power. I would know, considering I constantly did the same before everyone learned that I was a vessel." Andrew commented.

"Then wouldn't it prove my point that she is tricking us!? Not showing what she is truly capable of?" I was starting to get frustrated with these mental gymnastics Andrew was putting me through.

"Twilight you forget that just because I am not a vessel for them anymore, doesn't mean I am incapable of doing what I used to. Sensing is still well within my wheelhouse. And I sensed that mare was attempting to keep something locked away, with seals she can't break just at her convenience. She wouldn't do that if she was attempting to pull a fast one on us." He explained.

I stood up and walked over to Andrew and looked out the window as well, "What do I do then? I'm struggling with this myself, imagine the common pony. Heck, think of Luna."

"I have. I'll admit it is likely she will react poorly initially. That is exactly why we are having her live with Crimson. He is the only choice that can capably deal with her should she be fooling us all, though I still doubt that. I'm certain if we cite that to Luna, even she will be willing to at the very least hear her out." Andrew said before turning away from the window and walking back to the table. "This however is much more grave."

"Yes, we both know what he is capable of. Though you probably have some insight I'm unaware of." I comment, walking over to join him looking over the notes and pictures we collected before reducing the old castle to rubble. It felt wrong to destroy such an iconic piece of history, but it was too dangerous to leave standing after finding that circle.

"I have a more personal understanding of what he is capable of in terms of power, though we both know what he is willing to do. Lives hold no value other than his own, if he needs to kill he will, without a second thought. The fact he has been hiding for twenty years only means he was preparing for another war. Which is proven by that circle he planted for us to find. My greatest fear is that I have to send my son to fight that monster." Andrew spoke, darkly analyzing the notes.

I put my hand on his shoulder causing him to look over to me, "He's not alone Andrew. I don't think this will end like it did twenty years ago."

"Maybe you're right. Possibly we'll all die this time around." Andrew shrugged off my hand.

"You're trying to distance yourself Andrew. You only make jokes that dark when you're trying to avoid something." I state.

He gave a dry chuckle, "Yeah, avoid thinking about how everyone I know and love might actually die this time around. That I might have to bury my son just before I get thrown into a grave myself."

"You're being dramatic." I tell him.

He slams his fist into the table, causing it to crack in half, "THIS IS A VESSEL WE ARE DEALING WITH TWILIGHT! He's not going to stop until he's won or dead, and newsflash! He can't die from natural causes! Crimson's element doesn't give him the enhanced physical abilities I used to be capable of. He has to actually out think his opponent, and guess what, this time that opponent is several centuries old! Now that might not seem like much when you think of say Celestia, but this is a former human we're talking about. Centuries of constant striving for survival on Earth, a state of never ending war is what this bastard has dealt with. When it comes to fighting he wins out when it comes to experience."

Andrew startled me with his outburst but I counter with, "Experience only helps so much when faced with actual skill. Your son has proven to be one of the best strategic thinkers I've ever known. He beat Celestia in chess at the age of nine, started actually winning duel against you by twelve, and by now has about five years of genuine combat experience because of what Mizuki put him through with his training. Did you forget your son spent a month alone in the Everfree surviving by himself when he was sixteen because Mizuki wanted him to understand fear. She even dropped him in one of the most dangerous charted areas known in the Everfree."

Andrew stared at the ceiling and chuckled, "Yeah, that was pretty crazy. But even then I checked on him constantly, and would have been there to help him at any instant I though he couldn't handle it."

"But that didn't happen, because you knew he was capable. He's a prodigy when it comes to practical combat. You fought Hunger, do you really think that monster is more capable in combat than your son?" I asked him.

Andrew looked at me with a cold stare, "My son isn't a monster, and that's why I believe he'd lose. Crimson isn't ruthless, he is a kind boy at heart. Hunger will be willing to sacrifice his own soldiers if it means he wins, Crimson is more likely to sacrifice himself. Remember when you, Celestia, and Luna learned I had magic? The reason I was capable of that level of carnage was because I didn't care who was in my way. I was desensitized because of my life on Earth, Crimson doesn't have that. The only thing he has killed have been monsters that have attacked him."

He was right and I knew it, which only left one question, "So... how do we fix that?"

Grim POV

I woke up a little before noon, always trending towards being a night owl than an early bird. Nightmare had yet to awake when I started cooking up an omelet. I figured the smell would wake her but when I had finished and she had yet to appear I started to wonder. I placed the food on the table before I walked over to her door. As I was about to knock when I heard a scream. I quickly flung open the door to see Nightmare thrashing around in her sleep.

I rushed over to her and grabbed her shoulders trying to hold her down and stop her flailing, "Snap out of it! You're only dreaming!"

Hearing my voice Nightmare's eyes snapped open and stopped flailing, her eyes shooting to mine as she hyperventilated for a few seconds. Then she did what I never would have expected from the 'queen of darkness', she lunged forward and clung to me like her life depended on it. I was so shocked I didn't know how to react as she quietly shook while clinging to me. After a moment I gently wrapped my arms around her in return, she flinched when I did but didn't do more as her shaking calmed slightly.

We stayed like that for a couple minutes until Nightmare finally stopped shaking. After which she pushed away and got out on the other side of the bed. She wore the same dress as yesterday, which reminded me that she had no other clothes. A fact I would need to change, if only for convenience than nothing else. She walked out of the room without a word, upon following her out I saw her sit at the table without a care and start to eat one of the omelets.

"Care to tell me what just happened?" I asked, walking over and sitting across from her. Starting on my own meal.

Nightmare glanced at me before returning to her meal without a word. It wasn't until she had finished her meal that she coldly replied.

"I was back in the Void. It's a dream that haunts me regularly." She said, before standing up and walking to the living room.

I cleaned up the dishes as I watched her lounge on the couch with her back to me. After I was done I joined her in the living room and started talking, "You put up this mask of a calm and mysterious mare, but even you have things you're afraid of. Considering you're supposed to be showing that you are trustworthy, why put up the walls against me?"

She just stared up at the ceiling and laughed, "And what? Open up to you and learn the 'magic of friendship'!? What drivel."

I chuckled, "I suppose that is what Aunt Twilight likes to say to those who disagree with her. However what I was thinking was bit more realistic." This seemed to catch Nightmares interest, so she turned to face me as I continued, "I'd prefer for you to open up to me so I could possibly help, or at least listen so you have someone who knows how you feel about what you're going through."

"You want to understand?" Nightmare asked perplexed. I nodded, which prompted her to ask, "Why? You are merely a guard to me, or more accurately, a jailer. Do you expect to get me to lower me guard and for you to uncover some convoluted master plan of deception and lies?"

"No, I want to get to know the mare that's sitting across from me. Not the fairytale monster that I was taught when I was a child." I answered.

Nightmare stood up and stalked over to me, leaning down so her muzzle was only an inch or so from my face. Searching my eyes for any sign that I could be lying. Without moving away she asked me.

"Why is there no fear in your eyes? Everyone else that knows who I am has looked at me with some fear, but not you or your father. What makes you so special?"

"Ever had an ancient primordial being locked inside you? Kinda makes everything else a little more bearable. Anyway I've already told you I'm trying to understand the real mare standing in front of me, not some make believe version from stories in my childhood. You haven't done anything to make me afraid of you. My offer still stands by the way, about telling me about the Void."

Nightmare gave a sigh as she walked back and flopped on the couch, "You make no sense. Why do you even care to hear about that awful place?"

I placed my elbows on my knees as I rested my head on my fists, giving Nightmare a serious look, "Because I want to understand why it scares you so terribly."

She laughed, "So you can use it against me? I don't think so."

"Does everything have to be you verses the world? Why is it so hard to believe I want to help?" I asked, softening my gaze.

She lept to her hooves and screamed at me, "BECAUSE THIS WORLD WANTS ME DEAD! Even the Elements of Harmony did the closest thing possible to killing me! Why would I trust some little boy that seems to think he's invincible because he has immortals trapped inside him!?"

I calmly got up and walked away. Nightmare had a crazed look in her eyes as she watched me leave. I retrieved one of my daggers from my room and came back to the living room. Nightmare's look turned to one of confusion as she watched me walk up to her, dagger presented with the handle facing her.

"Take it. Plunge it into my heart and I'll die. The two inside me won't stop me if I consent to dying. It doesn't matter to them if it's me or someone else they reside in. They only need a human, they'll even resort to making one, they've told me as much. So if you really are against the world, take out one of your enemies. That would be what I am after all, since I'm part of the world, and that's your enemy." I tell her, placing the blade in her hand.

She looked between me and the blade, before finally stopping on me and asking, "What are you playing at?"

I grab her wrist and force the bladetip to my chest. I take a small step closer and press into the blade, Nightmare pulls it back so that it stays just barely with the tip touching my chest. I take another step, and again Nightmare pulls the blade back. This time I step far so that I'm chest to chest with her, she pulled the blade back just in time for it to not get trapped between us and impale me.

"Why'd you move the dagger? I'm your enemy remember, you said so. So kill me." I tell her as she glares down at me.

"What was this supposed to prove? You know very well why killing you is not in my interests. Only a guaranteed way for me to end up banished again or worse." She replies with anger.

"Proving to you you're not the monster you think others see you as. You're just a mare, that's all I see. A mare that's terrified of letting someone see her vulnerable, so instead you tell yourself that you are a monster that no one can ever understand." I reply calmly, carefully taking the dagger back and sheathing it behind me.

Nightmare stared down at me with now uncertain eyes. Trying to find words but every time she opened her mouth to speak, the words died in her throat. Finally she stepped back and turned away from me. With her back to me she replied softly, "I don't want to have to remember about that place. It's agony enough that it haunts my sleep, why would I ever want to give it power when I'm awake?"

"Because when you're awake you aren't alone. I'm here, and I won't be going anywhere." I consul.

Nightmare turned back around with a resolved look before saying, "My room. Bed. Now."

I felt heat burn in my cheeks at the implications of what she just said, "I'm sorry, you're going to have to explain that one. Why?"

Her own cheeks darkened with a blush, impressive considering her black coat, before she replied angrily, "Not remotely what I meant you pervert! As if I'd sully myself with the likes of you. I meant if I am going to tell you anything it would be better to just let you experience my dream."

"Sully? Really? You tried to seduce me just last night." I looked at her flatly.

She turn around and started towards her room, "That wasn't seduction you fool. What I was trying was obviously a mistake in any case." She stopped at her doorway and looked back at me, "Now are you coming or not?"

I sighed and proceeded to follow her. Walking into her room she laid down on the bed as I walked over and sat on the edge. Aunt Luna had taken me dream walking in the past, once into her own, so I knew more or less what to do.

Nightmare raised her hand and I laced her fingers with mine, she scoffed lightly for some reason before casting the spell. I saw the silvery string of light come from her horn before wrapping around our hands and wrists, linking us for the duration of the dream. The last thing I remember before the spell took full effect was Nightmare saying something to me with a worried look, but I couldn't hear the words as I was already already being taken by the dream.

The Dream

It was the most complete darkness I had ever experienced. It was impossible to discern a direction as there was nothing to see. Nightmare was meant to be here with me but I saw nothing. Only more endless darkness. Normally I would attempt to react out with my wind and sense out where she could be. However there were two problems with that plan. First I was in a dream, and two I was in a place without anything.

I couldn't even move truly, with any sense of touch dulled by being in a dream, I couldn't tell if I was turning to look around or not. In fact with the absence of everything including light, I couldn't properly tell if I had a body in this dream. I tried to think of ways to search out Nightmare, but each idea was flawed by being in this place. I could see why spending an extended time in this place would give even Nightmare Moon terrors at the memory. Sensory deprivation is a horrible form of torture, and this place seems to be the perfect implementation of that practice.

After who knows how long I heard a voice, though it seemed to be more of inside my head rather than something I heard aloud.

"Guardian? Where are you!? You told me you wouldn't leave me alone! Oh Faust this was a terrible idea. What if in attempting to recall the memory it somehow dragged me back to this place. I can't be stuck here again! Oh no, no no no. This can't be happening! Guardian! Please tell me you're here! A sign, a sound, anything!" Nightmares thoughts cut through my own. Her voice scared and panicked.

I tried to call out, but I couldn't hear myself make a sound. I continued to hear Nightmare's panic ramblings as I attempt to find a way to calm her and let her know she wasn't alone. It was my fault for suggesting this in the first place after all.

You shouldn't underestimate this realm. Even the mere memory, or thought, of this place holds power.

"Bael? Do you mean that in a way she really does return to the Void when she dreams of this place?"

In a simpleton's way of thinking of it, yes. This place was the birthplace of our kind. No other place is suited to contain what we are, not even you, vessel. The Void, as you like referring to it as, doesn't like it when something leaves. Even if it wasn't meant to be there in the first place.

"You make it sound alive. And why'd you ever leave if it's the most suited place for you?"

The Solest and Umbrans are fundamentally opposed to each other. Sharing this place was not something we enjoyed. Through our interactions we ended up creating some universes. Eventually we grew bored of our birthplace and decided to explore these things we had made. But each one a race visited we despised as we could see the influence of the other. So each tried to correct what they thought the other had corrupted. Eventually it became a competition to see how many in our collection we had.

But eventually we grew bored and lost track. It was then that we discovered some universes that had the touch of one outside of the Solest and Umbrans. We could recognized it as our creator, and set out to discover what was different compared to the universes created solely by the Solest and Umbrans.

It was then we discovered other forms of life, what you'd describe as aliens, and they perplexed both sides. Our universes had been lifeless, not even a plant. Then we discovered what our creator had done, it was inspiring. However we still saw the flawed nature of this life. How it was somewhere in between the Solest and Umbrans. Again the competition to correct these universes was started anew, but life is more difficult to change than matter.

It was the realm of humanity that changed everything. It was the first and only realm that both the Solest and Umbrans wanted to change. The realm you reside in currently was an incomplete work of the Solest. That is because all members of both races were called to help stake claim to humanity. That is when the war occurred, which you already know the ending.

"Humanity becoming the vessels for your kind, and magic being sealed away to keep you restrained further."

Yes, but there is a part you are missing. One your father couldn't tell you, because he did not know.

"What? Ok, and that would be?"

The reason you were told, was a ritual was done to turn Earth into a magic blackhole of sorts. However, in truth there was no ritual. The Void tore through reality to take us back, the loss of magic was a result of that attempt. Two went back willingly, Justice and Pride, but the rest of us desired to remain with the humans. That was why the we created the vessel pact in the first place. In our incorporeal forms we had no way to stop from returning. You serve as our anchor to these material worlds we have come to enjoy.

The Void would not have stopped with only taking us back. It would have taken humanity's whole universe as well. We offered some humans the ability to keep their magic in return for acting as our anchors. With their help we prevented the Void from continuing on with its attempt to retrieve us. However at the cost of magic in the human realm.

"So how did humans end up on Equis?"

Who knows. Possibly it was our creator. Maybe another game of the Void. In the end it matters little anymore. However it would be unwise to remain in the dream for much longer.

"Well, anything I can actually do about that?"

We can move your body for you as you command. I would normally suggest killing the link, but that might actually get you trapped here. So what do you wish to do instead?

I thought about it, before coming up with an idea that I had deeply mixed feeling about. "Ok, do this..."

The Dream - Nightmare Moon

I should never have trusted that Guardian. It's his fault I am stuck in this awful place again. I could feel its want every time I've been returned to this place. I'm probably not getting out again. And it's all his fault! His charisma is difficult enough to deal with normally. He just had to suggest attempting to conquer this dream. Even lacing his fingers with mine for the spell, Luna must have shown him that. Totally unnecessary, holding my hand normally would have been fine.

This anger will only help me survive here for so long. Eventually It will fade and I'll be left to wonder if I ever left at all...

But I did leave! I've lived on Equis for the last twenty years! I couldn't make that up with my mind. Right?

I couldn't dream up someone like that Guardian when I had never seen a human before I returned that second time, right?

Please let me wake up. I want to be alive again! I want to live, to explore, and even to... love.

Oh how much I wish there was someone I could love. I am intrigued by the boy. There is something about him that almost seems to call to me. There was something Luna read about a trait unique to Alicorns, but the memory is too hazy, I doubt she remembers either.

The Guardian also has a very extreme way of handling things, considering the stunt he tried to pull today. He seriously would have killed himself, just to prove a point! He did all that just to get me to tell him about my nightmares. All he's done since learning who I am is try to understand me, and I've only tried to show him the monster I was. That's not what I want at all.

I want him to trust me. To care about me. To, to...

Why do I feel so warm? Wait, feel warm? I couldn't feel in the void.

The Waking World - Nightmare Moon

My eyes flew open, trying to take in as much information as I could. The first thing I perceived was that Crimson was directly in front of me. The next was the soft feeling of lips against mine. The third was the realization that he was kissing me...

HE WAS KISSING ME!

I threw him off me, causing him to slam against the door to the room, as I screamed at him, "What is the meaning of this!? How dare you! Kissing someone with their consent! Have you no shame!?"

He groaned as he rubbed his head, "I was trapped in your dream just like you. My spirits had to move my body in my stead to wake us both up. The only thing I could think of that didn't involve harming you was that kiss. Sorry for not having a better option. I underestimated the Void."

I sat up and looked away, I hadn't meant to throw him off so forcefully, "Your apology does not make up for the fact of assaulting royalty. You're lucky I'm grateful for getting me out of that place."

"You're welcome. I did learn somethings about the Void and the Solest and Umbrans, so thank you for that. Otherwise I hope to never visit that place again." He told me as he stood and dusted himself off.

"Learned what exactly?" I turned to look at him. He had a calm but serious look on his face.

"Well for starters, that dream isn't only a dream." He began.

Crimson POV

I told her the short version of what Bael and Korvin told me. Though her reaction to learning her dream was more like a connection back to that place could have been better.

"BREAK THAT CONNECTION NOW!" She said while holding me against the door.

"I don't know how! We need to bring this to Aunt Twilight and my Father." I strain out.

Nightmare recoiled enough that I was able to breath easier, "The Princess of Friendship is the last pony I want knowing about this. You must be capable of doing something." She pleaded.

"If I was, I'd have already done it. Trust me, having you linked to a place like the Void is not good news for anyone. It could spell the beginning of the Void breaking through to Equis like it did on Earth. Meaning Equis could end up with all of its magic sucked out of it; and considering most of the species of Equis need some low quantity of magic to survive, almost everyone would die if that happens." I explained.

Nightmare seemed even more shocked, and maybe a little scared, "C-could that really happen? What would happen to me if it did?"

I put a hand on hers and pushed her away far enough that I was unpinned from the door, "I'm not sure, but the guesses I have aren't bright and cheery."

"I... I see" Was all Nightmare could reply. She backed up until her legs hit her bed, where she sat back and put her head in her hands.

I walked over and hesitated for a moment before putting my hand on her shoulder. She flinched but didn't tell me to move, so I continued, "You'll be fine. There must be a way to break the link. We'll find it and then you'll never need to worry about the Void ever again."

She looked up with a serious face, "Swear to me. By your honor as a Guardian." She said resolutely.

I was taken aback for a moment. Father warned me about such promises, relating the severity to breaking one as even worse than a pinkie promise, and to only use one when I was certain I could keep it with no doubt. I couldn't say that here, but it was a risk I was willing to make.

"I Crimson Gale, hereby swear to you that I will find a way to remove your connection to the Void. On my honor as a Guardian." I spoke the promise.

When I did I felt a burning in my crest as I single filament of green magic came forth and wrapped around my hand and Nightmare's before dissipating into a cloud of sparks. I rubbed my chest and groaned, "Ouch, ok that's why I was told not to make those lightly. That hurt like hell!"

Nightmare rose from the bed, put her hand on my chest and with a soft glow of her horn the pain numbed. "I suppose I can do this much as thanks." She said after seeing my confused stare from her actions, before walking past me and exiting the room.

I was about to follow after her and ask why she did that but was stalled when a dragonfire letter poofed into existence in front of me. Grabbing it out of the air I notice it was from Aunt Twilight.

Crimson,

We need you to come to the castle immediately, and bring Nightmare Moon. Something has arrived that greatly concerns the both of you.

Princess of Equestria,

Twilight Sparkle

I immediately turned to exit the room and get Nightmare. Aunt Twilight didn't send me letters unless it was impossible for her to leave the castle.

Upon arriving things were much like yesterday. Father and Twilight were standing a bit away from a black letter that was on the table and discussing quietly with each other. Noticing us enter Twilight stiffened slightly at seeing Nightmare, but seemed more at ease than yesterday.

"Good. This letter just arrived, its sender we suspect is the same monster that made the nuckelavee. With that being the case, an explanation is in order." Twilight spoke up when we approached.

Father motioned us over to the nearby couches as he spoke, "I never told you the details of who was behind the Portal War, now is time to correct that. Crimson, I explained this person to the leader of a group of changelings when I first told you about him. In reality he was a vessel like you, though he is in fact very old. He found a way to extend his life on Earth by consuming other humans. Mizuki had met him once before the portal event, and described him as being feral back then. Finding his way to Equis we suspect he found a changeling queen and ate her, gaining control over her hive. Though eating a being that could be several hundred years old, it brought him out of this feral state. We assume is what happened at least."

Twilight continued on with, "What he is trying to say is that we have very little definitive information about what happened once the vessel arrived. He is the vessel for Hunger and Patience, and is the one responsible for everything surrounding the circumstances of the Portal War. Your father was on a mission to defeat him when the portals collapsed and he fled after the portals closed naturally. We have attempted over the last twenty years to find him, but he has evaded any form of contact. Almost like he simply vanished off of Equis, though that would be doubtful he managed such a feat. It wasn't until what you said yesterday that we've had any proof he's been doing anything, and now this letter arrives. It is certainly not a coincidence."

"This being the case, we need to be careful when dealing with anything related to Hunger. He loped off Mizuki's arm because he felt like it before he disappeared when we fought him. He also killed his own servant when I managed to injure the servant. He will not hesitate to strike at the weakest link he finds. I'm fairly confident it was under his subtle command that your mothers were foalnapped when the war first began. He wanted my friends and family to know about human magic, probably in an attempt to ostracize me. Thankfully it didn't work. Though it proves his influence was much farther than we ever knew at the time." Father finished.

Nightmare spoke up before I got the chance, "I understand the Guardian's need to understand this, but why am I here?"

"Because I still don't trust you to be left alone, and because you are very likely a target now." Twilight calmly replied.

"A target? What would this cretin want with me?" Nightmare asked, seemingly perplexed at such an idea.

Father sighed before he replied, "Seriously? You are an alicorn that is not exactly popular with the masses. If he could manipulate you to his side then he'd gain a valuable weapon. Which is exactly how he views powerful beings, weapons for his use to control the masses."

"Father, you just want Nightmare to not join Hunger. Thinking having her know she'd only be viewed as a weapon by him to appeal to her stubbornness in not being manipulated is manipulative in itself. Why is it so hard to simply say that you don't want someone to be used by this monster because it will only end badly for them?" I asked, directing the question to both my father and Twilight.

Both of them, and Nightmare, stared at me like I had just slapped them. Finally Twilight recovered enough to respond.

"I suppose you are correct. That was insincere of us. Nightmare Moon please allow me to apologize. We do not wish to see you used by Hunger. I've seen the result of those that are and I don't wish to see that happen to you." She apologized.

Nightmare recovered when Twilight bowed her head slightly. Her aloof nature returning she replied, "I suppose I must. The Guardian speaks well and I appreciate that. You have no need to worry, I serve no being, for any reason."

I nod my thanks for the praise before turning back to Twilight, "Now, what's the deal with that letter?"

Father rose and retrieved the letter. Coming back he placed it on the coffee table between us and unfolded it. On the black paper was an easily recognizable symbol.

"That's another summoning circle." I stated, knowing full well everyone already could tell.

"Indeed. Your father and I have already reviewed it and determined it does not have the capability to send anything alive across the connection. Considering the elements of human runecraft that are evident in it, we can assume that this is from Hunger." Twilight answered my unspoken question.

Nightmare looked like she was about to add something but was silenced when we all saw the circle light up with energy. Out of the portal appeared an item that made the mares in the room recoil in disgust, the severed head of a changeling. The head sat there for a solid minute before anyone dared to do anything.

Father addressed it, malice dripping from his tone, "Hunger. I know you can hear me."

Everyone jumped to their feet/hooves when the eyes of the head snapped open and glowed an eerie green. We stepped away so that we had some distance from the animated head.

A dark warped chuckle came from the head before it answered, "Hehehe, everyone I wanted present, wonderful. I do hope you enjoyed your little coming-of-age gift yesterday, little Guardian." He said to me, the head slowly grinding on the table to somehow turn to face me.

"I expect it failed to do what you wanted, Hunger." I bitterly answer.

"Somewhat. I wanted it to maybe kill a few dozen ponies or humans before you put it down, but what resulted instead was much more interesting. The banished princess of darkness returned, now that was a surprise! It even makes perfect sense of how you are here." He said, turning to Nightmare.

"I am no princess, cretin. I am the Queen of Darkness. Remember before you misspeak again." Nightmare spat.

"Dear, you are not nearly important enough to deserve the title of queen. So that makes you a princess. Be glad I even consider you royalty." Hunger warned, before adding more lightheartedly, "Though do tell me, how are my dear siblings doing in that musty old pocket."

Nightmare turned rigid at reference of the Void, she hissed out her response by saying, "Go join them yourself and find out."

"Tsk tsk, no need to be so hostile dear. You're no enemy of mine." He replied, before narrowing his eyes and continuing coldly, "Unless you truly desire to end your life."

"You hold nothing I desire, and even if you did, I want nothing to do with such a disgusting bug like you." Nightmare proclaimed with a stamp of her hoof.

"Ah they already gave you the 'don't be pawn' speech I see, no matter. I care little which side of the field you are on my dear, you are useful on either. Though having to kill you eventually will be such a shame. I'll have to have a drone 'dress up' like you when you're gone. That way I can get the thrill of killing you again." He laughed. I saw Nightmare shiver slightly as a result of his threat. Probably because it was coming from a severed head.

"You've grown cockier than when we last met, Hunger. Been eating a few griffons?" Father morbidly joked.

He turned to Father with a smile, "Andrew, you've gotten crotchety since we met. I hear age does that to mortals."

"What do you want? You aren't one for superfluous actions, meaning you wanted to tell us something." Father cut past Hunger's joking.

"Always the pragmatist, Andrew. Yes I did want to see you all. Particularly the younglings. You set back my plans, I haven't yet gotten to see the new victims I get to enjoy. Also I'm feeling generous so I was going to monologue for a bit." He chuckled.

"And you think we'll let you why?" I ask him.

He half turned back to me before answering, "Because it will allow for the little princess of 'friendship' to try her trace she is attempting. Call it a game! I win, I stay hidden. You win, then I don't and you get a tiny step towards what you might think of as an advantage."

I finally notice that Twilight had her horn lit as she now grimaced at the head. She looked to me and nodded. Hunger continued.

"Now lets begin. Let me tell you a little story. You think I'm just a face for my two parts, but that's not the case. Now before me that thought might have been accurate, but it changed when I reached Equis. The body you last saw me in was the result of the changeling I found when I came here. The last of his kind, one never known of by history, a king. He was first and now the last. There were others, but the Queens joined together to destroy the them, so only I remain." Hunger began his tale.

"Does that make you the first changeling?" I asked, honestly curious at what was transpiring.

"No no no, that old hag died millennia ago. She was my mother though. You see most changelings are born without a sex, only Queens are predefined as female. All the All-Mother's children were Queens, all but me. I was the first changeling to be predefined as male, oh and how special that was. Over the years my sisters had a son here and there, but they soon realized the danger.

"You see Queens have the power to give energy to or take it from their subjects. Kings can also, but that's not all. Though each Queen allows for a hive mind like a King, Queens only have the illusion of control over their hive. Kings command their hive mind, the will of the hive is the same as the King's. All those who are connected to my mind, are mine to control how I wish, even Queens. After the first Queen was made servant to her King son, the others conspired to destroy us all. Nearly succeeded with it too. Though it was not to be.

"I found I could force my will on even those outside my hive mind, the only reason I've survived this long really. Though it's not a perfect thing, it turns into more of a battle of wills than anything. Thankfully the will to live from someone about to die can be a powerful thing." Hunger concluded his tale, "I believe that's enough monologuing. Final comments?"

"If you're a changeling, why could I feel a vessel inside you?" Father asked him.

"Oh that? Well you probably remember my human-ish appearance, it's related to that. My previous vessel was a stupid boy, pompous too. Just wandering the desert looking for fights with the creatures that wander the dunes. I found him gnawing on the corpse of one of his kills. He looked like when you first saw me, expect more... feral. I had seen him fight and knew about his magic, though he didn't know anything about me. It was his downfall as I mangled him and left him at death's doorstep, but dead wouldn't have done me any good. So I did what is forbidden by the laws of changelings, the one thing we should never do because it compromises us so easily. I absorbed him."

"I'm sorry, what!?" I said with a look of disgust.

"Absorbed him, ate him if you prefer. He is now a permanent part of me, though I got rid of that awful consciousness of his, truly terrible. Terrible thing that it now locks me between this form and that ghastly punk one. Though I did find out quite a bit about how you humans have magic. Honestly, who would ever believe that such fragile beings would be playing warden to such cosmic entities, certainly not me. Though my absorbing this vessel did allow for a loophole in their silly little signal spell. I felt when you gave up Fury and his lesser half, and now your probably starting to understand the reason I've evaded you for so long."

I stepped forward, "This will not be a continuation of the war from twenty years ago. You will die, and I will be the one to make sure of it, Hunger."

"Bluster doesn't suit you little pup. You'll be dealt with when I see fit. Though I have one last thing to add, it's been annoying me. My name is not Hunger or Patience, they are merely a part of me. You may remember me as King Vile, King of Changelings. Eventually it will be God of Equis, but for now king is a little more fitting." He laughed.

"I don't bluster, Vile. You are no king, and I will kill you." I tell him.

Vile looked at me for a moment before blinking, the equivalent of a shrug, "Another game then, one for a later date. For now I'll leave you with one last fact. Did you know that when a changeling dies the chitin of their skin become similar in strength to metal?"

I barely noticed the small cracks in the changelings skull until just then, "GET DOWN!" I yelled as I tackled Nightmare to the ground as Father did the same to Twilight.

The head exploded, sending shrapnel of metal-like chitin at deadly speeds. I shielded Nightmare and I with a dome of wind but I heard Father cry out in pain. After the ringing in my ears faded I leapt up to check on Father.

Twilight was crawling out from under Father to help as I knelt down beside them. Father's right shoulder was cut deep by a shard of shrapnel and was bleeding badly.

"I'll close the wound." Twilight declared, "I can't fully heal it, but it will insure he won't bleed out."

"Son of a bitch! That bastard is going to pay for that!" Father cursed, trying to distract himself from his pain.

Twilight's magic kept fizzing out whenever she tried to close the wound. "Faust! The chitin must have been enchanted to cause wounds that can't be affected by magic. I can't stop the bleeding!"

"Well hit me with a numbing spell or something, damn it! This hurts!" Father growled at Twilight.

She complied as I took off my shirt to apply pressure to the wound to stem the bleeding. Twilight quickly told us she was sending for a doctor and left the room after she applied the spell. Nightmare walked over to us and stood behind me as I kept pressure on Father's wound.

"You continue to put yourself in harms way for me when there is danger, Guardian. What compels you so strongly to protect me so fiercely?" She asked accusingly.

I was about to answer when Father chuckled, "Mare, you've still got a lot to learn. We don't need a reason to protect people. They can give us plenty of reasons not to, but there doesn't have to one to choose to protect."

Nightmare looks like she wants to contest Father's statement but decides against it. Before Twilight returned with a medical team Nightmare cast her glamour spell to prevent problems. Father was taken to the hospital to help cleanse the enchantment so he could be properly healed. He wasn't in any real danger, but the nurse that stayed behind to relay his condition to Twilight had this to say.

"Should the cleansing not work or only partially so, his right arm will likely need to be put in a sling for a least a month. Also no use of human magic if at all possible. As I know you're aware Princess, Sir Duron's magic causes a heavy strain on his body physically, the stitches would not survive and he could cause an even more severe injury." The nurse stated.

Twilight thanked her, and with a bow the nurse excused herself and left the three of us alone in the room.

Looking at where the changeling head exploded there was a charred black spot with some of the chitin stuck in the table. The paper that held the portal spell was mostly ash, some small fragments were scattered but completely useless to us.

Nightmare dropped her spell as she walked up beside me, "Necromancy... Utterly disgusting! And that cretin thought he could ever win me over."

"No. While it might have seemed like it, that was more just magical puppetry than necromancy. Necromancy requires a direct connection, and I'm pretty sure Vile isn't that stupid."

Nightmare turned to Twilight, "What did you manage?" She asked curtly.

Twilight looked at her before quickly glancing at me and letting out a sigh, "I didn't manage to get his location unfortunately. Because he controls a changeling hive mind, every time I tried breaching a mind for the briefest moment it was just to another drone. However I did discover the location of someone I never expected to see." Twilight's voice a mix of interest and worry.

"Who would that be?" I asked, curious to who she could be talking about. Nightmare seemed to be interested as well.

Twilight seemed hesitant to say, though with a shake of her head she cleared her uncertainties. Finally she looked me in the eye and said clearly.

"It was Queen Chrysalis, and she King Vile's prisoner."

Author's Note

There we go. Three weeks later than I wanted, but I got it done.

This turned out longer than I thought. I hope everyone enjoyed the long chapter, it seemed to have turned into a bit of a standard to have 7-8k chapters. Which take longer to write and I'm sorry for the resulting wait.

So now we have the true name of Hunger, and he has Chrysalis! This will need correcting, but it will have to wait until next chapter. Which I'm sorry to say it won't be soon. Refer to this blog post for the reason. Other than that...

Stay awesome everyone, Lyruil out.