Princess Twilight Sparkle smiled after she'd asked her question, but as the seconds went by and a silence carried over she found her guest, wasn't answering. Choosing her words wisely as the memories of their first meeting had not yet been entirely forgotten Twilight said the best thing in the most careful way she felt was the best way to break the silence that had stretched on as they all waited.

"Empress...is everything okay?"

Nightmare Moon stared right at her. Eyeing her with judging eyes the alicorn responded, "You have brought the Elements of Harmony." A statement not a fact.

"Yes", was the careful reply. "I was actually going to--"

"Why?" was the cutting response.

Twilight opened her mouth then made the mistake of closing it as she worked out a response that didn't sound like, 'we don't trust you'; even if they really didn't have any major reason to trust her it didn't seem right to blatantly say it up front. Which was why she had come with a response prepared from the courtroom, the others helping her pick words that wouldn't sound insensitive, like a challenge or anything else that could incite the wrath of a possessed alicorn. On paper she had this planned out easily but, she was finding her tongue having a tougher time phrasing it.

The Empress waited. Her eyes looked from the Element Bearers to focusing solely on Twilight, when no response came after a literal second of hesitation, that's when she acted.

Nightmare Moon's wings flared out--

"Oh no you don't!"

A colorful blur streamed past Twilight. Strands of mane were tugged in the pegasus' passing and in an instant the pegasus collided with the Nightmare the second she took to the air. Metal meeting metal as the two slammed into each other.

"Consarnit Dash!" another voice shouted in frustration as one body sent the other flying backwards.

With a echoing thud and clang Nightmare Moon found herself standing back up from the ground that had rushed to meet her unwelcomed retreat. As she rose her ears perked up, and without even thinking, instinct alone, she vanished in a flash of light-- the blur of a pegasus falling right into where she'd just been-- then reappeared in the sky.

"Rainbow Dash, stop! What are you doing?!" Princess Cadence shouted.

"Saving our flanks before she throws a hissy fit!"

"Rainbow Dash!" scolded Twilight.

"What?!" the mare shouted indignantly, "I'm trying to help us here!"

"The only thing you've done is show me this was a mistake." Luna's cold voice cut through the argument like a warm knife on cake.

They looked up yet despite the sun clearly still being up they could barely make her out in the dimming light of the ceiling. Light darkened her image, gleamed off the enchanted dark armor and somehow made the crescent emblazoned on the center of her chest plate glow. The air grew chilly, Twilight became keenly aware her breath was coming out in puffs of visible moisture.

"Luna--" Sunset began.

"You have no right to speak of that name." Was the cold reply. "None of you hold that right. I did not come here to be executed, We came for answers. We will have our answers."

In the corner of her vision, something moved.

With a glow of her horn, all movement stopped. Nightmare Moon fell slowly towards her preparing assailant, like a serpent creeping through grass she edged towards her prey with painfully slow movement till she was right there, right in front of them.

"You. You remind me of her. I do not know if her name survived but perhaps you know this one." She eyed the glaring pegasus and snorted. "Have you ever heard of the name Private Pansy?"

The twinkle of recognition was all she needed to see. "Even in death that name follows her to the Beyond." Nightmare Moon's head shook and a small smile touched her lips before it was gone and replaced with a stern glare. "Quick to act, slow on the consequence."

"Empress", Shining Armor struggled. Muscles tensed and flexed and she could feel every single one of them straining to break free of her hold. "Stop. We can-- umph-- talk about this. Rainbow Dash made a mistake. We don't--"

"Where I was from", she cut him off and her voice rose to cut anyone else from speaking "we punished the foolhardy by letting them learn the consequences of their actions. When the Diarchy ruled, I spared none of my own in the training they endured and the consequences for a foolish action even less. You ask for forgiveness?" She turned to look at the others. "No."

Unholy slit pupils turned to look the defiant pegasus in the eye. "One chance. We give you one chance to tell us why the Elements were brought here. Lie, and I will break a wing. A thousand years and more may have passed but I walked the dreams of Aeros during Eurae Hurricane's struggle for control and I know the fears of the Pegasi in that broken sky capital, carry on to their progeny now. Clip their wings" she felt the struggles intensify forcing her to redouble her efforts as the scowl from exertion formed and the glare from this insult intensified "and they wail like foals."

"So tell me", her horn pulsed and one wing was slowly forced to spread itself open and flex as Nightmare Moon eyed the appendage carefully then looked to the fear that tried to hide itself in those defiant magenta eyes. "Tell me why you wear the Elements of Harmony here, or I will make you listen as I dislocate her--"

"WE DON'T TRUST YOU!"

In an instant she was in front of the yellow pegasus. "I see that. Trust however is a two way canter. I did not come with the intent to do harm" Empress Luna stated as she eyed that look; where courage betrayed the hackles rising in fear. "I came to discuss, and you brought weapons to a meeting of discussion."

Instantly Sunset said: "We had no intention of using them against you--"

"YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE THEM TO SHOW YOU HAVE THEM! SIMPLY HAVING THEM IS SIGN OF DISTRUST ENOUGH! YOU RULE THIS NATION, OUR DOMAIN, YET YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND SIMPLE STATECRAFT AS THIS?!" She whirled in the air and her eyes bore into Sunset Shimmer with barely restrained rage, "You did not even have the sense to try and hide them! Pitiful." Venom seethed in the word.

"AND you" like lightning she was in front of Twilight. "You promised me-- your royal oath-- that you would ensure my questions would be answered before the deadline. It has been twelve days. Two days remain before we take matters into our own. Do you have the answers we seek or was this all just a waste of time?"

The hold released them, and in an instant the Be Still spell died away.

Hooves clopped as they landed and a second later the doors behind them groaned open as Guards ran inside.

"HALT!" Tempest Shadow barked and hooves came to a skidding halt as Guards stopped several feet away from Nightmare Moon with confusion and wariness written all over their face.

"Empress", Nightmare Moon's cold gaze looked over to the mare wearing the hat. "We apologize for offending you. I argued from Day to Night that things would only get ugly if we brought the Elements in with us, but...understand, we're trying to be cautious. Measures have to be taken. You understand, don't ya?"

Nightmare Moon said nothing. She was a statue whose eyes were the only thing that moved. Her gaze locked onto Twilight. "There are two questions I require answered first." She turned and moved towards the wall on her right, the Elements of Harmony and their bearers attacking a silhouette.

"The first one: How is it you possess the Elements? Leave nothing out. And the second and most important will be asked if I am satisfied with the answers of the first."

Glancing slightly behind her, a single eye narrowed. "You may begin now."

In the beginning, I didn't understand it. After the Summer Sun Celebration I thought I would be heading back to Canterlot, but the Princess gave me two options. And one of them...involved having my own library."

...I couldn't say no. Anyway, two weeks went by after the Summer Solstice and I started getting letters from Princess Celestia now and then. It was about her-- the two of you, the old capital, your old castle. I didn't think anything of it until one day she gave me an assignment: to look into the archives of The Two and use the map she'd added to maneuver through the castle's hidden passages and see if the castle treasury had been tampered with or if anything appeared out of the ordinary in the castle.

I thought you were weird asking us to help you look at some old dusty castle.

Thanks Dash, now stop interrupting.

"So explain to me again why exactly we're going to the Castle of Two and not some of the Guard? "

"Because Princess Celestia said in one of her letters the guard had already done their investigations and came up with nothing. Besides she said I should make sure I should bring help. And, well, you five were the first that came to mind aside from Spike of course."

"Uh-huh", Applejack said as she glanced around the trail they tread. "How you doing back there Shy?"

The curtain of pink mane just barely managed to reveal the smallest of smiles that was hiding behind it.

"Ughhhhh! This is going to be so boring! I thought you said this was going to be cool Twilight!"

The unicorn glanced back with a raised brow. "This isn't cool?"

The pegasus seemed to hang back, if not physically stunned considering they were still airborne, then mentally.

"NO!" she screeched. "HOW in Equestria is this cool at all?!"

"Well I don't know about you dear but the ruins are a famous historic spot." Rarity quipped. "Besides, Hot Topic Weekly has said the ruins have had some success with, ahem, couples."

"What does that matter?! This isn't some search mission on dating sites anyway! We're just going to some crusty old library that's been rotting away since it was abandoned for a thousand years! The Everfree is a weird place with mostly weird animals and creatures! Us going in to check on some committee member's freak out is just some wild goose chase!"

"Oh c'mon Dashie" Pinkie turned her hop-trot to a backwards-hop-trot "we might get to see something neat in the ruins!"

"Name one thing that would actually make visiting some old boring castle exciting!"

"Wellll", Pinkie pondered, "we could always run into some spooky ghosts! Or-- oh oh! The Pooooony of Shaaaaadows! Or ohhh, Nightmare Moon's creepy henchponies that have been searching the castle for a way to free her from her eternal prison, trying to break the curse that keeps her locked away in a silver cage, trapped among the moon and stars till her chosen heroes can find the spell that breaks her out!"

"..."

"..."

"...Huh...that last one actually sounds...kinda cool."

"N-N-Not to m-me it d-doesn't."

"Don't worry Fluttershy", Spike patted the mare's withers gently. Leaning down he smiled. "I'm sure nothing like that's going to happen. Besides, the Castle of Two is just a tourist spot now. I'm sure whatever spells the Princess says were being disturbed is nothing more than thauma decay from old spells not being refreshed."

"Whatever the case is, I can see the bridge up ahead." Applejack nodded with a squint. "Eyup, looks like that old bridge still holds firm."

"This better be worth missing my 2 o' clock nap", the athlete grumbled.

Believe us, Empress Luna it really was.

Hooves clipped and clopped across stone ground. The Castle of Two was a relic, a tourist spot. Famous as the Old capital. It was known as the historic home of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna not long after they became the Crown.

It was the historic landmark that had existed for fourteen-hundred and sixty years. It was--

"Wow", Applejack whistled. "This place is duuusty!"

As if the magic words, torchposts flared to life with aetherfire providing added light for all its curious readers and would-be customers.

"Mmm, quite." Rarity frowned at the threshold and wouldn't have taken a step forward if it had not been for a sudden push from behind her.

"Pinkie!"

"Sorry!" she smiled and with a jump and a tap righted her friend before she fell.

"Honestly now! It's hard enough to keep my coat clean, I'd really rather not have any...grime, stain my coat." Glancing around Rarity grimaced as she moved through the steps of the hall of the library, taking carefully measured steps so as not to agitate dust particles and cause some to settle in her coat.

The farmer rolled her eyes. "It can't be that bad."

Eyes narrowing, a frown turning sour, blue eyes stared into green and-- "um, girls?"

All eyes turned to Fluttershy and the pegasus flinched at the attention. "Um..." Little claws gave her a reassuring squeeze, "um...well, Twilight do you...um know how long it's been since the committee paid for a tourist group to come by?"

"No? The Princess didn't say in her letter. She asked if anything strange had happened in the days after the festival though, outside of the complaints that were reported to her she mentioned to me she didn't say anything else." One ear perked, the other drooped. "Why?" she asked with a hint of curiosity.

"I um, I think I may have found our lead." She vanished up the stairs, and with a shared look, five faces stared back in Fluttershy's chosen path before Rainbow Dash took off after her friend. Seconds went by as not a sound was heard till a sudden shout echoed back to raising ears.

"Whoa! You guys gotta see this!" Rainbow Dash cried.

The group of four rushed up the stairs, entered into a hall of faded yellow and green carpet, paintings yellowed, torches covered in cobwebs raced by as each mare took a sharp right, moving quickly down the corridor.

Twilight gasped. "What..." she whispered, "what-- oof!"

Bodies collided, legs went everywhere. Applejack winced and with a apologetic smile tried to get off Twilight-- felt a horn poke her in the flank, just near her cutie mark-- with a yelp and lash of her tail she heard a pony shriek as they stumbled backwards, away from the makeshift blonde whip, into cobwebs where there was a pause before--

"It's in my mouth!" the shrill voice cried.

Shortly, "Oh hey Rari--"

Pinkie braced herself for the impact before it even happened.

Dust collected, settled (much to the chagrin of only one unicorn), and slowly bodies pulled themselves apart and limbs moved away from others.

"Sorry!" Twilight and Applejack said together.

Between Rarity's pained or frustrated groans as she spat something unsavory from her taste buds, in the dust and dirt, Pinkie smiled lightly and said with the same exuberance as always; "We're fine, don't worry! Accidents happen."

"Yes", Rarity literally spat, "big ones." She sighed her muzzle scrunching then un-scrunching to avoid future wrinkles. "Thank you dear." She added as the party planner helped her to her hooves.

"Girls!" Rainbow Dash called from above. "Are you seeing this?!" she exclaimed in a mixture of excitement and foal glee. "LOOK!"

Books, bookshelves, bookcases, torn apart carpet, clawed open paintings, tossed open scrolls. The damage went on and on and as Twilight refocused she couldn't help but stare.

"What...happened here?"

"It looks like it's been vandalized", Applejack stated with a frown. She jumped over a tipped over bookcase that was blocking the rest of the path.

"Has been over a thousand years, wouldn't surprise me if some folks decided to steal what they could for selling and trash the rest."

"Yeah but, this place is a tourist site!" Pinkie pointed out. Offering a hoof she helped Twilight, then Rarity to the ground as they made it over the obstacle in their path. "You don't attract customers by showing them the worst of what you have to offer, that's how you scare them away! And doesn't the Guard perform monthly check-ins on the castle anyway? They've been doing it since the Princess moved right?"

"Yes", Twilight said with a frown, "they haven't stopped. It's why the Princess asked me to check the spells here." Unconsciously shifting her hips as her saddlebags lightly jostled their contents. Taking a step forward Twilight paused at the sight of torn out pages and felt her ears splay. "Who could have done this?"

"Better question is why?" Spike looked around. "The castle was closed for Moons after the fight between Princess Celestia and Nightmare Moon. There's no way the guards would have allowed anypony into castle grounds back then! Especially after the Princes decided to move the capital and take copies of all the books here."

"And you said you're not sure when the last tourist visit was, Twilight?" Rarity gently checked.

"No", Twilight sighed. "I didn't ask." Sitting on the ground Twilight stared forlornly at the broken shelves, ripped apart books, overturned book cases and couldn't help but feel a hint of anger as she looked at the floor they were on, then looked to the one above them.

"Is it the same on the other floors also?" she felt a pressure against her saddlebags and looked to see Pinkie leaning against her. Offering a small smile of appreciation, the unicorn looked at Rainbow Dash.

"One sec." With a flap she was off, out over the rails then flying on first floor level where the others were. Flapping her wings and ascending to the second then the third, before reaching the last floor, Rainbow Dash looked around.

Each floor was circular in shape. Donut like but not quite that round. There were stairs just barely visible below each one at the far topmost and bottom of each floor. Stairs split on the right side and left side of each floor, with the bottom acting more as an entry way while the top lead to the next floor.

On every floor each book section divided into separate categories in a diagnoal or slanted line. The faded writing above each column suggested similar topics while the space provided between a collection of cases showed a change of subjects. There were two that went along the walls, several feet away from the entrances where one would enter at the bottom right or left. Some of these sections had been destroyed: books lay a disorganised mess in their shelves, either spilling onto dirt stained floor or worn out moldy carpet, others having been dragged over the railings at the center of each floor and tipped over to the ground level where other books could be seen in a heap of splinters and broken wood thanks to the holes in the roof above, providing extra light below.

Rainbow Dash's eyes scanned her surroundings as she made her way up to each of the floors before she finally came to a stop at the top. Her initial excitement fading for grim silence as she saw how destroyed some of the floors were compared to others.

While two sections of books were divided near the walls in a diagnoal line, the middle section, where ponies no doubt had been meant to read given the room each floor had in those parts, clearly looked to have been a display of violence or frustration.

"More or less", came Dash's hollered reply.

"What do you think they were looking for?" Spike asked.

Applejack shrugged. "Who knows. There's old stories about the princesses gathering old treasure, storing it in vaults locked tight for Equestria's benefits in the past. Legends about them locking up dangerous magical monsters and keeping them buried deep under the castle. Stuff about Star Swirl the Talented and his findings that needed to be kept away from the public. Honestly? I just think it might have been a bunch of good for nothing's having some fun."

"Well it can't be that barbaric. There must be something more than just baseless hoodlum violence!"

"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash cheered, her vigor returning. "I'd be furious to find out in the end all of this was just some group of jerks having a bit of fun at my napping expense!"

Two pairs of eyes rolled at that last particular statement.

"Um I think everypony should see this." Came the not-so-quiet call.

"I think there's a bit more to worry about than napping here Dash." Twilight frowned. "Look at this mess! All these books ruined! Whoever has the Princess' attention must certainly be up to no good!"

Quieter but still just as urgent, "um, g-girls!"

"Or it could just be a buncha good for nothing's that started this whole mess in the first place!" AJ argued.

Barely approaching the definition of a whisper "girls..."

Spike adding his voice shouted "Okay maybe things are getting a little too heated here--"

"Or maybe we might be right and Twilight doesn't want to admit!" Rainbow Dash huffed.

"Dashie!" Pinkie scolded.

"What?! I'm a bit grumpy, I got the late afternoon shift, and if I'm not practicing--"

"Crashing", Applejack coughed.

"--awesome" she really emphasized here, "mind-blowing routines, then I'm catching some well needed z's for my well needed rest!" she continued without even glancing the farmer's way.

"I'm just saying that the Princess wouldn't ask me to come here if it wasn't important!" Twilight shot back. "If you wanted to sleep so bad maybe you shouldn't have come!"

"Maybe I shouldn't!"

"Now Rainbow Dash don't be so rude! And Applejack, really now, I'm certain the Princess would have perfectly logical reasons for coming here. Questioning Twilight is uncalled for!"

"Yeah!" Pinkie punctuated her statement with a disapproving glare as she parked herself next to Twilight and forced the slightly smaller unicorn into a hug.

"I wasn't arguing against the reasons for coming!" there was frustration here that drowned out Fluttershy's seventh attempt at gaining attention as she crept further away from her own discovery. "I was suggesting an alternative for why we're out here!"

"Guys!" Spike tried again. Digits fiddling nervously with a tail. "Maybe we should calm down here a little?"

"Oh I'm totally calm, Spike!" The upset look she was shooting Twilight, Rarity, and Pinkie suggested otherwise. "I'm--"

"Would you all stop Shouting AT EACH OTHER AND GET YOURSELVES OVER HERE ALREADY!?!"

In the distance there was a thunk as rubble fell from the fourth floor down to the ground below. At the same time, Rainbow Dash blew dust out of her face.

"I" she squeaked, shivering as she crept back into the wall, "s-sorry! I didn't mean to-"

"Sugarcube", Applejack gently shushed. "It's okay. Sorry, we...went a little to far there." A glance back to the others gave a collective nod, all save for Spike who ran towards the shaking pegasus who was trying to regain control her breathing.

"...Are...are you okay Fluttershy?" Pink curls drooped as the question was asked.

"No...j-just a moment" she gasped, "p-please."

There was collective silence as the group rejoined into a party. Pinkie moved carefully to Fluttershy's right and frowned when the pegasus flinched away as she pressed into her side. Rarity had stopped trying to avoid the filth around her and now sat near Spike who was on Fluttershy's left, gently combing his claws through her coral pink mane and rubbing another claw soothingly along her back to comfort the rigid shaking mare. Applejack with a grim expression moved with Rainbow Dash to the far left corner of the topmost stairs where the latter had informed she could feel air coming from the direction.

Twilight looked at Fluttershy then the duo ponies heading to inspect Fluttershy's findings, unsure what to say. "Fluttershy, I..." words trailed off, she wasn't sure what else to say. 'Sorry' had already been said and it felt almost redundant to say it again.

Spike gave her a brief smile, mouthed something to her. She nodded dumbly, eyes flicking back to the diffident pegasus mare who was slowly calming down. Then after a second, she moved to follow Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Horn brightening the room in orchid glow, chasing away the dark.

There were staircases behind the staircase.

It would have made for a good joke had the abruptly ended argument never happened.

For the sake of this retelling, I shall be honest Empress Luna. We...we didn't always get along. That moment, arguing in the ruins of an abandoned castle library? It was not our brightest moment. I had my doubts of even continuing any further after what happened. It didn't seem right, what with how we upset Fluttershy dear, here.

But...we did. Because it was for the Princess. And if it had been you who asked us to do the same, even if some of the old myths of um, well, Nightmare Moon, are excuse me to say-- true-- we would have pushed on anyway. You simply don't say no to one of Equestria's most memorable saviors.

So we pushed on. And boy, did we stumble in at the wrong time--

There were echoes, and then there were echoes.

Hoofsteps stepped on solid stone that took a curve on the circumference of castle walls before dropping off seven individuals on what could only be seen as a very big hall.

A great hall, one might say.

In here there were no cobwebs. No dust. No other signs of demolition from a fight long passed, there was just grey, lifeless, boring stone that stretched into the dim blankness barely illuminated by orchid and blue field aura.

"Uh...Twilight", she would later deny the crack of nervousness that slipped in "did the Princess have a map for uh this passage also?"

She had almost forgotten the map. Digging into saddlebags, a open envelope appeared and then from that, parchment.

The parchment showed a complete outline of the castle's underground passageways, secret pathways, and closed off rooms.

"Wow. That's a lot." Came the observation from above. "Hey Shy, you sure you're okay?"

The mare nodded but stayed silent. Her friend eyed her criticially for but a second before turning forward again. "Right, lead the way then Twilight."

She did. Off they went.

Steps echoed along the corridor making it difficult to hear as they went along. For a long while, a few minutes or more, they saw nothing. What made this difficult especially was that there had been no sign of a forced entree. Whatever or whoever came looking had not tried to tear the castle apart to find a passage so there was no immediate way of knowing.

"Y'all see that up ahead?" Applejack squinted through the light, trying to make out shapes. "Looks like some kind of e--

Her hoof sank into a step like a rock in a water.

There was a brief moment of nothing. Then, Pinkie's leg started shaking. Confused Twilight turned to look at along with Spike who sat on Fluttershy's back. Both oblivious to the horrified expressions the other four mares were making as Pinkie's muscle spazzing right front and hind leg stopped their convulsing abruptly. Like it never happened.

"What. Was. That?" Twilight asked. It was hard for even her to tell which pony she was talking to. Applejack and the sudden thunking sound that came from her or the surprising (and disturbing) shaking Pinkie's legs had suddenly started and stopped shortly following.

"Something's coming!" Pinkie looked behind them. Ears perking. The echoes continued however for several more seconds even after they'd all stopped moving. No doubt an enchantment of sorts to avoid letting trespassers known they'd been caught.

Or were being followed.

"That doesn't answer my question!" Twilight cried.

"Later!" Rainbow Dash looked forward, wings beating and adding to the echo. "We need to go. Now!"

"But--"

Something caught Spike's eye. "Run!" he yelled, breathing fire, instantly the heat caused Fluttershy to jump as she moved forward, running through the group, rushing down the path as she pushed Applejack out of the way and made a beeline into the darkness as Spike screamed at the others to "Ruuuuuuun!"

Applejack didn't see it. None of them did because they were all so focused on Spike. But she heard Dash gasp, Rainbow Dash gasping was rare because everyone knew how she liked her image.

So she looked, and they all were drawn to it.

About a foot away, where she'd been. Where her head had been. Was an arrow. It stayed there, daring them to defy its existence. Then it glowed, brighter and brighter, before breaking up into pieces and sliding silently through the air in flakes of brilliant orange light, sucked into the hole.

Pinkie's legs shook again.

So surprised by the sight Rarity took a step back over a step she'd missed before and her hoof sank into that spot.

Several holes opened in the wall on the left, and that's when Twilight's eyes widened and she threw a wall like barrier around them as the arrows began pelting away at her concentration a second later.

"Twilight!"

"Nnnnngah!" She groaned as strike after strike the arrows dug into her focus, uncomfortably prickling away at her body, poking at her sides, her legs, her haunches-- "RUN!"

Hundreds of little holes opened up, hundreds of steel arrow heads pointed at them and fired. The barrier cracked. The crack elongated. Spiderwebbed. One arrowhead forced its way through causing Pinkie to 'eep' and jump back. Twilight grunted. She and Rarity weren't as fast as Applejack, Pinkie or Rainbow Dash but the three for strange reasons kept by them as the four grounded ponies stumbled into another floor trap and opened up more holes.

"Where's Fluttershy and Spike!?!" Applejack cried desperately. The strain was getting to Twilight. For every crack that formed she would grind her teeth and her horn would pulse a bit brighter, fixing old cracks as new ones formed.

She had forgotten about the traps. She was so caught up in discovering the mess she'd forgotten about disabling the traps.

"I see them!" a voice cried from above.

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!" Fluttershy's frantic voice repeated. Heavy exhales and deep breaths, Spike would nervously chant.

"Spike!" Dash cried.

"There's three paths! I don't know which one we should take!" his voice fearfully called back.

"The map!" Applejack yelled to Twilight who could barely hear her voice as she fought the discomfort and the growing ache building in her--

"Rarity! Here!"

The tingle of a foreign field enveloped hers, she eased her iron grip back and the blue took over as Rarity's eyes flittered through.

"Right!" she yelled. "Go right!"

The herd met head on, merged, harded a into the right curve and the arrows suddenly ceased.

Twilight kept the barrier up, huffing and puffing. She frantically looked left and right, searching for anymore signs of danger before--

"Twily" she heard Shining Armor say. She looked. Saw him. He was staring down at her, her eyes had to look slightly up at him.

"It's okay Twilight." He said gently. Pulling her unwilling form forcefully towards him, she kicked, squirming.

Her flanks tingled with the freshness of her cutie mark.

Yet still, despite the discovery she resisted. Trying to get away. Trying to escape the incoming hug she didn't deserve.

"It's my fault!" she choked. Eyes briefly opened, shattered windows, overturned tables and chairs. She failed, and for an exam to get into the greatest school for unicorns and completely lose control like that-- she didn't deserve hugs. So she struggled. Trying to fight the pull and failing. Her horn sputtered sparks, trying to not hurt the pony she cared about in front of her.

"No. It ain't" his voice was firm. "How could you have known this was going to happen?" he asked.

"I should have!" she snapped back, wetness touching her cheeks in reply.

The stallion gave her a sad small smile, and somehow his efforts were strengthened.

"You stress over stuff too much. Now c'mere. And don't make me ask again."

The muscles she felt past the fur gave her comfort and she let her magic go, and nuzzled into one of the two only stallions that mattered in her life.

"Thank you", she whispered. Unaware she was crying.

"It's alright sugarcube." The feminine voice replied.

Twilight sighed contently. She squeezed the stocky form before her. And the muscle bound form squeezed back. Other warm things collided around her but it didn't matter. When her brain finally dropped the memory, and caught up, she realized other bodies had crowded around her.

That was when I knew...I found the best ponies and little brother a mare could ask for.

It took time for them to separate. But when they did, wordless smiles were passed all around.

"Let's keep moving." She sniffed.

Spike looked up at her, squinted an eye of little brother concern, then looked at the others who looked at him. He nodded.

The group moved on.

They moved in silence. Horn's ready, cautious steps made. Entering a completely different room they found armor. Strange armor.

Armor that had been torn apart with gash marks or had been hit by something so powerful it collapsed into itself completely and left the forms disfigured or had gaping holes where sparks flew and wires bled out.

Minotaur like in shape and form but nothing at all similar. There were no horns, no hooves, nothing of the sort. What little else could be deciphered from the metal suits was virtually indescribable due to how damaged they were.

Silently stepping over pieces of brown stone and scraps of metal and wire, broken weapons or bits of stone from the walls the group moved towards the only exit till Rarity shouted for a halt.

"What is it?"Twilight asked. Eyes flicking left to right.

She didn't answer. The mare merely pointed. Several eyes followed and they saw what she did. A stain. Broken and spotted. Red.

Fluttershy moved quicker than the rest. "...It's...blood" she frowned.

Five ponies shivered, one dragon frowned.

"Are you sure?" And for the first time the bravado had left Dash's voice.

"..." Spike slipped wordlessly, moved towards Fluttershy's position, bent down and prodded with his claw. Lifted and sniffed he said nothing, his face neutral. Shoulders slumping he frowned. "...yes."

"Maybe..." the words were fighting to be pulled back. "Maybe we should head back." Rainbow Dash winced at even having to be the one to say this. "Maybe we have enough information. We should send a letter to the Princess and call it a day. Maybe head to Sugarcube Corner. Heck, I'll pay."

Which was surprising because in the two weeks Twilight had known the pegasus, she usually didn't.

"I...don't think we should." Pinkie finally broke the silence. "If Princess Celestia felt this was important enough to send Twilight, I think it's a good idea we go through with the whole search. Maybe we might be able to confront the one who broke in and caused all this trouble."

Twilight stared. Actually stared, the look of surprise was hard to miss and it made Pinkie ask "what?"

She blinked, realizing she'd been caught the fur under her cheeks turned just a shade darker. "I, um, nothing. Sorry." She apologized. "I just-- it was rude, I'm sorry."

Accepting the apology Pinkie moved on. "Okie Dokie! What do you girls think? Oh, and Spike?"

Glances were shared. "I...will admit I did not find this trip as exciting or...as inviting as I had hoped. Then again", Rarity nibbled her bottom lip and her eyes looked around. She'd be lying saying she hadn't grown scared. Had she not visited the lady's room before well the earlier excitement might have made her cause a very embarassing scene. But-- she looked at the others.

"I will stay...if you all decide to continue."

"I...I'm staying."

"Fluttershy?" Dash asked with incredulity. "Why? I thought--"

"Well I'm sorry, but you thought wrong." The heat from those words splayed ears just a little and she frowned. "After all we've seen I think...I-I think we should find out what's happening. I can't for the life of me think why anypony would risk getting hurt and continue coming down here, but if whatever treasure is really worth the risk, then...I could at least help get them some help when all of this is done...i-i-if that's okay that is?"

Applejack sighed. "I'm in. Can't leave y'all behind. Kick myself for days if anything happen to y'all. Plus there's them arrow trap back there."

"I'm kinda stuck here." Spike shrugged. "And if you teleport me back I'll message Mrs. Twinkle."

"You--" she fumed, glared, was matched by Spike with a glare of his own before finally. "Fine." Twilight sighed, breaking eye contact. "I can't go now after all we've seen. I wouldn't be able to sleep."

"Guess that just leaves me, huh?" Rainbow Dash met six sets of eyes and then looked at the dried blood on the stained carpet floor. "I...Ugh, I can't say no to you guys." Perking up she grinned slightly and said, "at least I'll get to tell a good story when we get back."

"About how you fended off a hundred magic arrows with your bare hooves?" the farmer quipped with a smirk.

"Hey! I totally saved us when some started poking out of the gaps!"

"Yeah yeah." The earth pony snorted as she waited for the baby dragon to hop on. "Whatever you say."

So they moved on. The steps no longer echoed, and for awhile they just moved following Twilight as she led the way through the maze. They passed more rooms. Some were destroyed, damaged, and the traps no longer operational. Others had to be deactivated.

It wasn't long till they reached another set of stairs that went deeper down the castle. Finally they reached a massive gate of which a entrance had been forced open.

"...believe the traps they set are still bloody active! What in Tartarus Gulliver! And you just had to blood step on one dintcha?"

Following the voices towards the pounding noises and open passageway the seven figures peered inside, and would have been right to take a double-take.

A creature. Two of them. Both bipedal. Both bigger than Celestia herself, slammed their glowing green rune marked fists into the metal vault in front of them. The whole thing shook, and when the fist moved back there was a dent in the metal.

"C'mon Obelisk!" A voice barked.

"Their golems, Brutus, they do what we tell them because the boss allowed it and yelling won't do a thing." The calmer voice spoke and upon peeking the owner looked almost canine in appearance except its features were...different.

He was tall, tall as a Diamond Dog!

So true Pinkie, oh but you left out the details.

Here we go again.

Hush now Applejack! It's rude to interrupt. We all have a say in this now if you don't mind?

It was clear between the two of them the griffon was more equiped for combat. His companion however was not without his own arming. While the griffon wore a faded, tattered jacket that had seen years of use- the other had a unique taste. A belt of fine violet with a gemstone center in the buckle held the tights of brown, yellow-brown pouches decorated the sash he wore atop the dirty white shirt. A sleeve had been torn to act as a bandaid around the slim muscle of an arm. His right ear flicked with gold piercings and his hazel brown eyes narrowed at the griffon shouting at him. Had circumstances been different Rarity would have said his features were actually quite fetching. The scar across his snout to his cheek may not have helped too much in making him look kinder, but it certainly boosted his roguish charm. And the way those muscles moved--

"HEY!"

Hearts stopped, the pounding continued until the griffon snapped two talon digits and then it slowly ceased.

"Pinkie!" Twilight hissed despite it being too late. "Get back here and hide!"

She ignored these words. "What do you think you're doing here?!" the earth pony demanded with a stomp.

The two looked at each other. The griffon wore armor, light weight and maneuverable under his tattered open top. There was a insignia of some kind on it. It was gold and red, looked vaguely like a talon.

"We are stealing." The redish orange, bipedal creature stated with slow words but clear wariness. "How did you get past the traps?"

Pinkie's eyes glanced over the two of them. The griffon was reaching for something in its coat, past the armor. The not-a-Diamond-Dog, looked ready to move. Ears perked, she felt no wobbling knees, no shaky limbs or sore or aching or twitching. They were being cautious. That was perfect.

"I think I asked you a question first and I wanted an answer!"

The not-a-canine snorted. "What makes you think we'll tell you?"

Aching knees. She ducked as the griffon's foreleg whirled out of his jacket.

Two metal objects flowed right past her head, one cutting a single strand of pink, severing a single curl.

"Pinkie!" A blur of motion rushed past and zoomed right for the bipedal creature. As Rainbow Dash charged, the griffon barked "back to work Obelisk, open that vault!"

"Oh no you don't!" She curved, aiming straight for the Griffon. He took off, narrowly avoiding collision.

"Gulliver!" The griffon cawed as it ducked behind a pillar, dodging a streak of blue. "Do something you damn fox!"

He held up a hand, and signed the middle finger as he turned his attention to the emerging six.

"OI! YOU FLUFFY RED--" this time he hitched a ride on Rainbow Dash and the two spiralled in a blur. A flurry of limbs as one tried to dominate the other.

Without wasting a beat as the pounding continued, growing more intense with every thud, Gulliver watched the Earth pony with the hat glance at the others, the lavender unicorn nodded and without a word she went off after the griffon and pegasusc trading blows in the air.

They were four now, and a baby dragon. Not to be underestimated if they made it here.

"Why are you here?" The purple one repeated Pinkie's question. "Tell us and maybe the Princess will be lenient when we take you in."

He smiled, it was the confident kind. "Miss, I'm afraid I'd be a dead lad if I allowed you to do that. Dead especially if the boss got me back. So instead why don't we--" he threw something. Shield raised. It barely managed to catch the shuriken as it soared threw the air and stuck dead into a spot where hler foreleg was.

By the time her attention had refocused her ears perked at the sound of feet landing behind them. Twilight swiveled to face her opponent, Pinkie beat her to it by throwing-- "Eat this!" a plate of cake went soaring into the air and with deft movements almost like a snake, he dodged, advancing.

"Well well", his eyes swivelled to Pinkie's and there was a glint of interest in those eyes. "An eccentric Earther if I've ever met one." Gulliver felt magic ensnare his clothing. He looked around and saw blue aura around his pants, the tool belt around his torso, the belt with the embedded gem buckle in the center, and the pouch that rested on his side.

As if multiple hands travelled over him, he was disarmed from the surface. Knives, lock picks, a dagger, stiletto, shuriken, orbs of black pulled from his pockets and he was forced to stay still while he was virtually disrobbed.

"There." Rarity smiled, moving his weapons out reach. "Such a charming fellow, it's a shame really." She tsked. "Perhaps the Princess will be able to turn you around to a better leaf once we've taken you and your friend to the guard."

The griffon proceeded to curse as a lasso was pulled out. The pounding was getting worse. The dents in metal growing deeper.

"Call off your construct Gulliver!" Twilight demanded.

"Oh? I didn't realize we were acquainted" he replied. "You know mine but I don't know yours, how's that fa--" aura ensnared him and he was hefted up into the air.

"Call them off!" Twilight tried to yell over the pounding.

"I don't think I will." And on cue there was a defeaning screech sound. A sound that increased as metal groaned, louder and louder as it was tugged on, yanked and pulled.

"Pinkie!"

"You gotcha!" From nowhere a cannon emerged, and with widening surprise Gulliver watched the party planner pull on the string.

BOOM!

Confetti slammed into one and the compact ball exploded on contact as the juggernaut of stone was knocked to the side.

"Well", Gulliver muttered from the background as Twilight stared with mouth agape. Her magic nearly fizzling out, till she recalled the dangerous felon behind them, "she must be a blast at parties."

For the first time the party planner grinned at her foe. "And don't you forget it, mister!"

The creature rose, pieces of itself falling away and new pieces crumbling into place to mend the cracks across its back. "Obelisk! Defend!"

"What are you doing?! Attack! Kill 'em so we can make this easier, no witnesses!" on his hind legs the griffon yanked on the rope on his talon, waited for the pull, flew with it when it came and then deftly whirled over the pegasus projectile while lashing a flank as he careened over the pegasus projectile with the farmer's rope.

The yelp and glare that came from the unruly spanking was enough to make Brutus' crest feathers raise in smug satisfaction.

"Kill 'em!" the griffon cried. "Kill 'em Obelisk!"

Green runes and glowing green eyes burned brighter. The monster roared a unholy scream as it left its companion to continue ripping off the vault's door which was slowly coming undone.

"Overwrite command, Obelisk! Capture them!"

The stone beast slowed its charge and now circled around them.

"I think this is where we bid adieu miss?"

"Twilight" she replied her eyes on the golem. "Wait, what do you mean--" she turned to see and that's when she saw the glowing gem in his belt matching the color of her aura and Rarity's.

A pulse emitted from the belt, spreading outward like a wave and immediately Twilight found herself dazed, her control slipping as the beast took that moment to charge them. One hoof wrapping around her as Pinkie hauled her up and moved out of the way, Fluttershy lifting Rarity to the air with Spike holding on as their magic fizzled out and the fox landed gently to the ground.

"Keep them busy." He instructed. "Brutus, you about done?" He called out, moving towards his askew items and grabbing one of the small black orbs that had been held in Rarity's magic.

"In a bit--" He was cut off by the forceful pull closer.

A light caught the corner of his eye and with practiced movement and quick feet the fox made a unnecessary move to avoid fire that was never aimed at him at all.

For a second, Gulliver paused and let his eyes look the fearful dragon in the eye. Then, he turned to the construct and said: "Capture them if possible. Detain them, if not. Make sure they don't die."

His eyes locked on Twilight. And before Pinkie could make a move to try and do anything, a defeaning screech roared as metal was ripped out of wall and flung aside.

Paralyzed from the sound, everyone recovered, and that's when the shadow getting bigger became visible as the five yelled and tried to get out of the way-- Twilight's horn sputtered, trying to teleport away as many in her magic as she could, trying to push herself beyond the limits of two passengers only for her head to ache and send sparks, the incoming collision with a vault door coming right at them--

Immediately Applejack and Rainbow Dash turned, their eyes widened, and they gave Brutus the opening he'd been looking for.

Before it even happened, Twilight cracked an eye open, and that's when she saw brown stone hands holding the metal door a good foot away from all their heads.

Wordlessly, the construct lifted the metal door, tossed it farther away and down the exit where it rolled out of sight, then moved to try and grab Pinkie.

The blue blur that slammed into its chest and threw off its centermass caused it to lose its balance completely and stumble several steps to the side and into a wall with a crack.

"Are you guys okay?!" the Pegasus was in front of them in a second and in that moment Fluttershy gasped.

"You're hurt!"

"I'm fine! Is anyone hurt?"

"Just a minor headache dear" Rarity quietly informed.

"Spike?"

"F-Fine, frazzled, but fine."

Rainbow Dash breathed in deeply. She ignored the sting on her cheek where the griffon's dagger had cut her, ignored the aches on her body and exhaled.

"Where's Applejack?"

Hooves clipped behind them and the mare moved forward with small cuts peppering her forelegs, one on her shoulder and a slight limp in her gait. "Here." She smiled lightly. "Just a little scratched up."

"Well ladies, and young dragon." The deep voice drew their attention.

The griffon landed beside the fox, eyeing him with a sour look on his avian features, yellow and white crest feathers raising, right forelimb gingerly massaging his side underneath the left wing

"It's been a pleasure." In each hand, six different gems. But they were gems like Rarity had never seen.

The cut, the form, the shape...so-- so--

Complex. They were...perfect

I agree Pinkie. And you should take her word for it Princess. She grew up in a rock farm. Crafting and shaping rocks into various other minerals was their job.

It was like looking at the most perfect diamond or quartz, ruby or sapphire I would ever see in my entire life. And...I'll be honest with you, I couldn't help but start--

"Rarity?" Spike's voice held concern, his eyes flicking to the gems in the grasp of the fox, hanging off pendants linked by chain. "What's wrong?"

She felt the tear get brushed away on her right cheek. When she blinked, reason returned and for reasons she couldn't understand, she couldn't stop the tears. Nor did she understand why she was crying.

"Pinkie you too?" Applejack asked in similar bewilderment.

"I-- they're--" the party planner choked, and while the griffon took one of the gems to look at, the fox eyed the enemy. Just as curious about the strange reactions as the friends were surprised.

"You arse!" He swung a closed claw at the fox and he took the blow to his ribs with nothing but a grimace. "What in Tartarus is the matter with you!? We have the magic Stones--"

"They're not stones. You and I both know that, get your crap together Brutus."

A second swing was missed as feathers fluffed from fury. "Give me one reason why I don't stick it to ya right here and give you a limp like her!" he pointed a talon claw at the cowpony. "No. WITNESSES!" The dirt white griffon yelled. "Kill 'em! You gone soft?! Knew you were a good thief but killing to much for a fox?"

Gulliver sighed a patient sigh. "We're wasting time."

The griffon pulled out his dagger. "Right we are! Obelisk--"

"Will not be killing anyone."

"Guys", Rainbow Dash whispered. "Now's our chance! While their busy arguing let's grab that jewelry and--"

"It's not like that!" Pinkie's outburst caused the whole room to go silent. She was still crying, Rainbow Dash's stunned surprise gave way to concern. "Pinkie?"

"What's wrong with you two?" Applejack asked, clearly perplexed. "And why are you still staring at those gemstones?!"

"It might be magic." Twilight whispered, just as confused. "I can feel it from here." She shivered. Powerful magic. So powerful it made her skin tingle underneath her coat and made some of the hairs raise.

"It's definitely magic."

"Well snap out of it!" Dash chided. "We've got one chance to--"

"That's it-- Pillar, kill these seven now!"

The other construct with green glowing runes and glowing green eyes, turned, looked at the seven, and took a step forward.

"Overwrite commands--!" The griffon felt a hand wrap around his dove like beak and clamp it shut.

"--do not kill them." The construct stood down at Gulliver's command and in that same instant, Gulliver's hand was smacked away and he was tackled to the ground. The gems went with him and in that instant, Pinkie and Rarity moved before anypony else could.

"THE BLAZES IS WRONG WITH YOU, YOU IJIOT?! NO WITNESSES!" He pressed the fox into the ground and pulled out his blade, digging it just above the shoulder. "You gone soft on me all of a sudden tod?! I oughtta--"

They watched companion flip companion. Back on his feet Twilight and the others watched Gulliver look around, eyes moving around left and right. And that's when his eyes locked onto something between them.

Three gems. Red, blue, green.

Ears perked, hooves pounded.

Gulliver performed a powerful leap to grab one chain, tried to grab two of the others as he turned his leap into a cartwheel-- met magenta eyes as she came at him with a wicked grin plastered on the owner's muzzle.

They were seconds from impact, if the hit landed his ribs would certainly suffer some damage and that would only make moving harder.

The fox scowled, a glowing green rune appeared on his forehead faster than an eye blink, then, he vanished.

Rainbow Dash, stunned, almost didn't register the shadow of a hand as it came down towards her. Twitch of the tail and adjustment of the wings and she jerked into a tight J-turn, running up the construct's arm and shooting past his shoulder. The wind from a back swing nearly threw her off, but when she spun back into control she was over the others by several feat.

Immediately she saw the fox rushing towards Rarity who was still stunned from seeing the unique magical display.

"He's coming, move!"

The cry kicked Rarity into motion, she looked left and right and then took off at a run away from Gulliver while Brutus took to the air.

"Idiot" the fox hissed, as he gave chase. "You can't kill any of them!"

"And why the bloody hell not!" Rarity felt the adrenaline increase her gallop as she the fox gained pace, somepony called to her.

"Rares!" She met green eyes, saw the baby dragon nod, tossed it.

Gulliver leaped with a snarl in the direction of the red and blue gems in the silver pendants he had stashed them in, his fingers missed the chains by centimeters.

"Got it!" Spike cried and that's when Applejack made for the exit.

"BECAUSE", clear fustration as he lay on the ground and slammed a palm to get back up "the unicorn with the pink highlights is the SOLAR GODDESS' PROTEGE, YOU BIRDBRAINED BRUTE!"

Twilight stumbled as she ran. 'How did he know?' was what had went through her mind.

"OBELISK!" Gulliver's desperate cry shouted. "The exit, block it!"

Applejack scrambled out of the way as a juggernaut, bulldozed past her with blinding speed for its size, and spread its arms out as it blocked the only exit outside.

"Get the Elements!"

With a cry Spike ducked as a hand swooped towards them. Applejack ran for all she was worth, powerful legs moving away. Adrenaline numbed her pains, earth pony endurance strengthened her resolve-- she ran from their attacker as he leaned forward but kept to the exit as a blockade.

The griffon tucked his wings in and landed in front of them, just as Applejack was about to turn, she something trip her leg, she tumbled and with Spike on her back the baby dragon was thrown clean off.

"Ahhhhhhh!"

"Gimme that you little runt!" The talons swipped at empty air as the baby dragon was pulled away in blue aura, the griffon squakwed in alarm as a telekinetic wall went straight for him.

"You idiot!" Gulliver shouted. "I refuse to go back with only four of the Elements! We are taking them all or we don't go back at all. She will kill me, us, if we don't! What were you thinking!" Despite giving chase, Gulliver managed to shout his thoughts as he chased after Spike who was being carried away by Rarity. Switching tactics when Fluttershy flew by and snapped him up only to have blades thrown at her. At the same time the fox dodged magical blasts, ducked under firecrackers tossed by Pinkie and avoided ariel assaults that came from Rainbow Dash who drifted by with an pendant out of reach.

"Shut up!" Brutus snarled, turning and shooting after Rainbow Dash. "Pillar, with me."

The pegasus turned and immediately began to avoid the griffon and his big and stoney friend.

"Use your damn magic you ijiot! Circe's Gem! Use it!" Brutus cried.

A crack sounded as Applejack winced and bucked at the stone creature, shattering an entire arm up to the elbow as it reached out to grab her.

"It can only be used once every half hour! It needs time to recharge you fool! Draining my reserves screws us if I can't get us out of here later!"

"Roc's bloody talons!" Brutus swore as Dash got a hit in. "Give me that pendant, filly!"

"I'm 22!"

"That's what the first broad I slept with said and she was 16!"

Frustrated, magic runes appeared around Gulliver's forehead, the same green glow and in a blink of lime green light, he was in front of Rarity. He jumped on Spike, stole the pendant by its chain, then chucked the dragon randomly into the air like a ball just as he ominously took a deep breathe.

"Got one!" Orchid aura tugged on an arm. "Let go!"

"No! Not until we bring you and stop you from taking these 'elements', you keep calling them!"

Gulliver smiled. "I'll tell you what. How 'bout no?" He threw a shuriken and it went flying clean away from the unicorn just as magic laced it in a glow.

"Got it!"

"Let me go!" Rainbow Dash thrashed in the golem's grasp. Biting and trying to gnaw her way free. Brutus landed at the open palm of the golem's waiting free arm, grinning as he held the blue gem and its pendant by a chain.

"Game over protege", Brutus smirked. "Let go of my fluffy red ijiot companion over there, and I'll let go of your friend."

The room had went silent. Applejack who abandoned her confrontation to catch Spike, stopped. Rarity who had lifted multiple pieces of stone from the first construct was no longer pelting them. Fluttershy who was hovering in the air, stared back through one eye.

"You lose. Let us go, we'll let you go."

Twilight felt the sweat build. She felt a tug as Gulliver pulled back but didn't feel him try to move any further when she tightened her field around his arm and the three gems he'd wrapped around it with the chains of each pendant.

"No." Dash said. "Don't do it! Whatever those things are the Princess, AH!"

"Quiet you!" Brutus snapped as he signed for the construct to squeeze.

"STOP!"

The griffon smirked in derision. He turned to the most useless member of the group and then watched as she shook with what he mistook for delicious fear.

"You've been nothing but cruel and mean! Now I'll ask you nicely once!" The eye narrowed, "let. My. Friend. Go. NOW!"

"Or what?" he pulled out a blade, twirled it and tapped it against a cheek as Rainbow Dash went still and scowled.

"Brutus!" Gulliver warned. The griffon smirked back. Looked back to the widened frightened eye and found such satisfaction in seeing the stupid pegasus get put in her place.

"What could you possibly do? Huh, little pegasus." He traced the tip along the cut on Dash's cheek. "You going to cry? Ya've done nothing else but cower so far so it sure as Tartarus...wouldn't...surprise...me..."

A single head flip. Two emerald eyes. One glare. Absolute stillness took control.

Brutus trailed off, eyes ensnared by the strange and bizarre look. His muscles twitched. He couldn't move. He could only stare. Muscles locked tight like a jolt of static had been sent through him and he found his body relaxing, freezing, unwilling to disobey that cold, reprimanding gaze.

"Twilight", Fluttershy didn't break eye contact. "Hurry."

And that's when the smoke bombs sounded and Gulliver moved quickly up to the twitching griffon's grimacing side. "Enough's enough. I bid you adieu."

...and then they were gone. The golems, Brutus and Gulliver. The magic crystals Gulliver called 'the Elements'.

They just vanished in the smoke. We looked around the castle for hours. But eventually, we gave up. They were gone.

And after all of that? I sent a letter to the Princess, and on that very night- we had a wing chariot escort the seven of us to Canterlot.

All of us had questions. Just like you, Empress. And we wanted answers.

Author's Note

This was a pain to edit and type. There were several times my cell phone typed absolute gibberish into dialogue or sentences and forced me to delete things, sometimes entire paragraphs when the cursor wouldn't move. So if there is a random number or random space or something there where it shouldn't, I apologise for that.

But, part one is done.

Stay tuned for part 2...whenever that gets done.