The Crown of Eques

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
chapter 11
forward
interlude

Chapter 1

"This was it, the edge of the map." Peatmoss said to himself Looking up from the map, he saw in the distance the town of Southrim. Folding His now useless map and stuffed it into the breast pocket of his hooded tunic.

Peatmoss was a light brown pegasus buck with a ruddy green mane and tail. he had grown up in a town north of Canterlot called Wellshod. His family consisted of his mother, father, four older brothers, and three sisters.

The day that he got his cutie mark, a picture of a puff of cloud, propelled by a breeze, his brothers did what all older brothers did. They gave him the nickname, Fart Flank. This was the reason he never told anypony his cutie mark story and yes, it still aggravated him to no end when they called him that.

He knew it was just a gesture of familial affection, but it still got under his skin. But now all that was behind him.

After five Long years of working with the local weather teams, he had saved up over four hundred bits for his adventure. Wishing his family and co-workers a fond farewell, he struck out on his own. With a firm belief that no matter where he went Celestia and Luna would watch over him.

The first few days of travel went better than expected. Being no stranger to staying in the air for long periods of time, travel by Pegasus wing was a literal breeze. When he did encounter any strong head winds, he was perfectly content to land and travel by hoof.

Many ponies he had talked to about his travel plans advised him that the further one went north the colder it got. So he had wisely left home in late spring. All along his path, there was plenty of places to get a cool drink or fresh new grass stalks to eat. Though after a few days he had to admit it was beginning to grow dull.

When Peatmoss finally reached the foothills of the Sugartop Mountains, he decided he had earned a break and rented a room in a Tavern. The next day he splurged some of his savings on a matching green stripped hat and scarf. He had thought for a minute of getting the matching socks, but he felt that he would just look silly.

After eating a meal of real food, he perchaced a plaid wool blanket, dried fruits and vegetables, a canteen, and a bag of hard candies.

Sucking on one of the latter, he bought a ticket for the train that went around the Sugartop Mountain range. this part of his trip was by far the most fun.

There's nothing quite like the peaceful relaxing feeling of sitting back and watching the mountain scenery pass by. The calming clickity clack of the trainweels on the track, and familiarizing with your fellow travelers.

On the third day of the train ride, one passenger, a dark brown and white griffin, struck up a conversation with him. He told Peatmoss he was crazy for traveling north to the Crown. Said it was full of warring griffin clans and crazy starving ponies. Told Peat there are monsters there that would gobble up spring chicks like him. That it would be better for him to return too Central Equestria and be thankful for the sunny land.

Undeterred, Peatmoss tried to explain his compulsion to travel to the very top of the world. To break out of the dull monotony of equestrian life. To accomplish great feats and find his fortune.

"Tisk" the griffin said "Mark my words Peaty, if you don't turn back now, only misery and misfortune await you on your journey too the north." After which, he would speak no more of it.

After getting off the train, Peat put the griffin's warning out of his mind and stubbornly continued his travels north. The farther he went, the more sparse civilization became. There were no more fields of fresh green grass. The plants had turned tough and wiry. Sturdier plants for a colder climate. The winds had turned a bit chillier then what thought it should be for early summer.

Abandoning his flight to conserve body heat, he wrapped his blanket around himself and plodded on thru the barren wastes that had at some time long ago been the Crystal Empire. If his geography was any good.

The bare tundra stretched on for miles, ungulateing in gentle hills and valleys. The warning from the griffin echoed in his mind, but Peatmoss trotted on. following the road on his map that twisted and swayed with little ryme or reason. He hoped it wasn't taking him in circles. The nights were cold and uncomfortable. No shelters left the bitter breeze to gnaw at his coat through the blanket and hat. By the third day he spotted the jagged line of a mountain range breaking up the horizon. Renewing his hope that this road was leading him to some town or village.

By midday, the mountains on the horizon had grown in size, stretching as far to the east and west as he could see. Ruined house foundations begin to show here and there along the road. they were strange, low walls, seemingly carved from solid, crystalline stone.

As the sun set, he meet a zebra trader heading south. Peatmoss eagerly traded for a heavier aquamarine wool tunic, hood, and cape. He would have wanted to get a green set, but the trader pointed out that they were made from a thinner material. So he opted for warmth, over fashion.

Upgrading his sack he had been using, for a proper saddle bag. He also bought a loaf of heavy fruit cake, a bundle of fresh carrots, and two small ceramic jugs of sweet honey wine. Which the zebra said was called mead.

He wasn't one to drink alcoholic beverages, save for special occasions like Harthswarming and new years. But his sense of personal freedom away from family and peers thrilled him to indulgence. Besides, this was a new life. He felt he deserved a reward for the progress he made.

So he found a stone wall to shelter against, and eat, drank, and made merry into the night. Sateing an appetite he didn't know he had until now.

He awoke late the next morning feeling a bit dried out. So he downed half his canteen, which the trader had graciously refilled the day before, and snacked down his last two carrots. Carefully he wrapped up the leftover fruitcake and put the stopper back into the half empty mead jug. Rearranging his things, he managed to pack it in beside the other full one. With renewed vigor, struck out the fire of adventure burning back to life fiercely. Taking flight, he propelled himself faster along the road towards the mountain range.

The drag of his heavier clothes soon strained his wings so as he reached the edge of the foothills he landed at a crossroads. looking up at the road signs he read. Pointing west, Yakistan. Pointing east, Griffin stone. Pointing north, Crown rim. Checking his map to make sure he was on track, Peatmoss forged on up the incline towards the silhouette of the distant town.

In the late afternoon sun, he left the foothills the road took a steep curve up towards the walled town. Nestled between to tall peaks, it appeared wider at the top and bottom then in the middle. Sort of like the corset of a mare who was trying in vain to appear twenty pounds lighter.

As he drew closer to the gates, he took notice of several griffins and a pegasus perched on a wooden frame with ropes dangling from the crossbeam. They watched him forbodingly as he passed. Peatmoss paused and waved to them.

"Hello there!" he called up to them. One of the griffins took flight and disappeared behind the town wall. The others suddenly found something else more interesting to stare at in any direction but his.

"Perhaps they don't speak Equestrian common?" he muttered to himself.

Then he remembered his Traveler's pocket primer. Equin to Griffin edition. Digging it out of his saddle bag, he flipped to common phrases.

"Uh, Gootentag?" he tried, looking up expectantly. Several of them turned angry glares toward him. One actually turned his back.

"Ok, ok. I get the hint" he muttered quietly to himself as he troted quickly towards the gate. The shadows of the mountains around him were making it harder to read in the waning light of the evening, so he was squinting at the book as he approached the town gate house. He attempted to sound out another common griffin greeting, when he was interrupted by a griffin clearing his throat.

Peatmoss stopped and looked up from his book to see the town guard barring his way with a spear. He wore a black and dark purple tabard ever a quilted, padded armor. On his head he wore a metal hat, topped with a plume of matching black and purple hair.

"What business do you have in the rim pony?" the griffin guard asked sternly, cutting him off from attempting the earlier greeting.

"Uh. Oh! personal travel." The guard cocked his eyebrow questioningly. "Er, Tourist." he tried again hopefully.

"Vas is das?" said another griffin guard, poking his head out of a side door beyond the portcullis. The guard in front of Peat said something back in a fast griff speak. Too fast for Peat to even attempt to translate, save for the last word in common. "tourist"

"Tour rist?" asked the second.

"Ya" replied the first. They held a speedy conversation. After a minute or so, they come to a consensus and turned their attention back to Peatmoss.

"Tourist tax, uh..." said the first, glancing up at the sky, as if plukking the number out of the air. "four pieces." he finishes, holding out his hand expectantly.

Peat eyes him doubtfully before reaching back to scoop out four bits and hoofs them over to the guards waiting palm. The guard retracts his hand and eyes them strangely. His companion plucks one up and sticks it into his beak, chewing on it experimentally.

Peat watches in confusion as they scrutinize the money.

"Equestrian bits?" the first asks. "Don't you have anything more real?"

"What do you mean, more real!? Those bits are solid gold." he answered, aghast. Satisfied, the guard stood aside and waved him on.

As he passed, the second guard jabbed at his saddle bag with the butt of his spear. The bits inside gave an answering golden jingle. Peatmoss stopped and shot him an offended glare. Mouth agape at the intrusion.

"Reich!" said the guard. Completely ignoring the look as the two grinned at each other. Then, as if he didn't even exist, they ducked back into the gatehouse and closed the door. Giving an angry snort, Peat walked on into the town.

Just as the veiw of the outside suggested, Crownrim's streets were squeezed thin. The building's first floors were thin enough to allow for streets, but the second and third floors were wider, causing the alleys to look more like tunnels.

The main steet was wide enough for about three ponies to walk abreast, but were cinched at points because of the house-front stalls every few yards. It appeared that during the day, the street would be packed with sellers, trying to drain any visitors of money long before they got to the other end of town. But now at this hour, it was empty. Any wares were ether gone, or nailed down. In some stalls, literally. Above him, the houses loomed over the street, their crooked stain-glass windows glowering down at him. in some spots, the roofs nearly touched the one across from them.

At least with the closeness of the houses, made the air warm and humid. So Peatmoss pushed back his hood and scratched at his itching mane.

"I hope I didn't get chiggers, or some other parasite when I partied last night." he thought to himself. Satisfied with the change in temperature, he shed the cape and Rolled it up, packing it away in his saddle bag.

"Excuse me sir." he called, to a griffin coming down street in a straw colored tunic and red fezz. "Could you give me directions to the local inn?" Hardly breaking his stride, the griffin palmed Peat's face and moved him aside. Watching him walking away and turn down a side street. Peatmoss growled in annoyance and rubbed his face.

With a sigh of frustration, he continued up the street watching the signs as he went. Then he spotted two earthpony guards chatting just inside a side alley. They both wore a matching pony variant of the guards at the gate. He decided to interrupt their conversation to ask for directions.

"Excuse me sirs." They scrabbled to attention before looking him up and down.

"What do you want? can't you see we're busy!"

"I don't want to be a bother but, I was wondering where I can find the inn?"

"What, are you new in town?" snapped the first guard eyeing him with suspicion.

"Didn't you hear?" said the second. "The inn's," the first guard elbows second, cutting him off.

"Up this street, in the plaza, too the right." the first finishes for his friend who scrunches his muzzle. The first just answering with a "shut up" glare

"Ok thanks. That's all I needed. have a good night." Peat says with a wave as he trots off, a prickly feel starting in his mane. The two guards watch him go a few yards before stepping away from their post to follow.

Peat catches the sound of hoofsteps behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, he spots them keeping pace a ways back. He may be getting a bit paranoid, but that interaction with them had a weird vibe to it. Getting the feeling they were following him, he quickened his pace.

He soon reached an open empty square devoid of any residents. Come to think of it, besides the griffin he ran into just inside the gate, he had yet to see any other citizens.

Looking around the open area, he spotted two guards wareing red armor blocking an entrance to the square to his left. Then two more, entering just across the plaza from him.

"Ok. This is getting weird." he thought to himself as he gave his mane a scratch. Turning to the right, he spoted a sign for the inn on front of a large building with big, diamond pattern windows. Making a beeline for it, he saw two more guards enter from the other side.

Stopping at the front doors, he turned around to see. Yup all four streets into the plaza were now blocked with guards. They all looked like they were waiting. Expecting something. Peatmoss's mane crawled.

Suddenly, there was shouts and sounds of commotion from inside the inn behind him. Peat turned just in time to see the doors burst open. A flood of griffins and ponies in patchwork armor poured out, bowling him over. He tried to get up, but several walked right over him. He covered his head as best he could as the air around him was filled with yells and stamping limbs.

He cowered there, hoping the crowd would pass over. But then a set of talons dug into his collar and saddle belt. With a feeling of helpless terror, he was lifted bodily and carried like a bag of luggage along with the rabble.

"Let go! Let me go!" he shouted. batting at the offending claw. Craning his head around and glaring up at the big griffin carrying him. He had dark blue head feathers, and rusty white colorings from the base of his black beak, to his neck. He glanced down at Peatmoss in surprise, as if he had suddenly appeared in his talons.

Peat bucked out at the griffin's chest just as he released him, causing Peat to go careening out of the crowd. Tumbling to a stop a few feet away from them.

Flipping to his back, he scooted away and saw they were all wearing a familiar shade of aquamarine colored tabards over their patchy mail.

"I said halt!" shouted someone behind him. Peatmoss turned to see a griffin guard winding up with an iron mace.

"Wait! I'm just" he cried, as the mace swung. It cannoned into the left side of his jaw, nearly spinning his head off his neck. Falling to the stone paving, he cradled his face. The taste of blood flooded his senses, and felt his jaw move in places it shouldn't. Thru the haze of dulling thought, he felt a paw press hard into his barrel. Gazing up thru the red tint of pain, he saw the griffin raise the mace to strike again, but syrupy unconsciousness took him before the blow could fall.

Level up!

Stamina increase + 10.
New perk (Light armor).
(Agile Defender). Increase armor rating when weareing light armor barding by +20%.
Debuff added!
(Broken jaw). Until removed, you suffer -50% to speech checks. While in effect, your standing with the factions of Crown remain the same regardless of whether you pass or fail speech checks.

Chapter 2

Peatmoss's aching jaw greeted him as he came into wakefulness. The cold of the breeze on his bare coat chilled him. All his possessions were missing. All he had now was the ropes around his forehooves and wings.

The floor boards he lay on swayed and jostled as the sound of wheels grinding on stone met his ears. The bandages bound around his muzzle made his face feel tight and swollen.

His left wing felt numb pinned under him as it was. So he shifted to get off the bound appendage but started to tumble off the wagon bench he was laying on. Before he fell, a griffin hind paw came up and steadied him.

"Oh! You're alive Meadblood. For a while there we thought you were going to skip ahead of us to see your ancestors." Blearily he looked up in confusion.

"Was he talking to me?" he thought to himself. He recognized him as the griffin from before with the blue head that had grabbed him in town. He was still wearing his gambeson but his hands were tied. With a little help he got to a sitting position so he could look around.

They were in a train of three wagons traveling down a rocky dirt road through a chilly pine forest. The other prisoners were mostly griffins. But he did see a few ponies. A unicorn and pegases stallion, and an earth pony mare. She was gagged and had a vicious glare on her face.

The guards escorting them were all griffins in dark red armor. Many of them were walking but a few were flying over the wagons. At the front of the first wagon sat what must have been the guard captain because he wore mostly plate armor. Facing back, he sternly watched over the prisoners with a glare.

"Sorry to get you caught up in that ambush. When I saw you laying there on the ground I thought you were one of us. Stormwings don't leave their own behind. and all that."

Peat tried to say something but a spike of pain only allowed him to grunt and hold his aching jaw with his bound forehooves.

"We tried to tell them you weren't one of us but they didn't care. They got what they wanted."

"Stupid Stormwings!" snapped the pegasus tied to the bench beside Peat. "The griffin purse strings were nice and loose till you started this big fuss. If it wasn't for you turkeys, I'd have had that strongbox open and been halfway to Yakistan by now."

"Strong words for a purse theif." The Pegasus poked Peat in the side.

"Hey you. We don't belong here with them. It's just these Stormwings the royals are after. If we get the chance let's make a break for it."

"Heh. Good luck with that." chuckled the griffin. Gesturing to the guards with bows and arrows flying overhead.

"Hey. what's with him?" asked the Pegasus gesturing to the other griffin across from him. "What's the deal with that weird hood?"

The other griffin was hunched over. The hood on his head was made from a dark brown leather and came down over his eyes with only his orange beak showing. he wore a black cloak with a grey and silver fur collar.

"Oh him?" asked the first griffin. "don't you recognize Jarl Balgriff? The True King of the Crown?" The Pegasus looked shocked

"Balgriff?! Jarl of Stormhelm? Wait, if you're here, Oh Goddesses! Were are they taking us!"

"Were do you think."

"Aaa! I gotta get out of here!" The Pegasus jumped to his hooves and yanked desperately at the rope binding him to the wagon.

"Hey! Stop that!" shouted a guard and cracked a wip over his head. He flinched and cowered against the bench. The guard hovered there for a few seconds before flitting off down the wagon train.

"Celestia. Luna. Goddesses please. not like this." he wimpered

"Your better off praying to Tirek and Scorpan for what it's worth. We're a long way from Equestria my friend. Tell me purse theif, where are you from?"

"What do you care." Spat the Pegasus through his tears.

"When any creature faces death, their last thought should be of home." They sat there in silence for a time before the Pegasus spoke up again.

"Bridleville, I'm from Bridleville. My mother and father still live there. I wish I could see them again."

After a bit they rounded a bend and at the road stood a stone walled keep dotted with towers.

"There's our destination griff's." called one of the guards flapping overhead. Several of the others gave a cheer.

"Squirestone." the griffin across from Peatmoss said. "I grew up in a hamlet just down the road from here. Did training drills in the courtyard here. It's funny, but those walls and towers used to make me feel so proud."

As they entered the gate and rounded a tower, a white and blue coach flanked by two golden armored earth pony guards was parked by their path.

Peatmoss noticed a difference in their golden armor then what he remembered. Instead of the usual blue brocade arming blanket under their plate armor like in Canterlot, they wore mail and gambeson underneath to fill in the gaps of their plate. He had always wondered how they protected all those exposed spots.

"Oh look. Looks like one of those snooty equestrian nobles have come to watch the show. If those damned Equestrian imperials kept their muzzles out of our business this war would have gone so much better."

"Please help us!" shouted the pegasus at the coach. "We're not rebels! You gotta believe me!"

"Shut it pony!" shouted a griffin guard as he smacked the top of the Pegasus's head. "Your headed to the block with the rest of them." The equestrian guardponies didn't even look their way as we passed.

"Hey. Why are we stopping." worried the pegasus as the wagons pulled up to a wall.

"End of the line." muttered the griffin bowing his head

"Up! Come on. On your paws." shouted a guard at the side of the wagon. banging it with his spear.

"Linen weave. thief. pegasus." drolled a unicorn guard. He struck a name off a list as they untethered the pegasus from the bench.

"Bureaucrats and their damned lists." muttered his fellow passenger. As soon as the rope fell away he bolted strate for the coach.

"Don't let them kill me! I'm innocent! I'm innocent!"

"Archers!" shouted the guard captain. In the blink of an eye he was turned into a pincushion and he tumbled to a stop a few yards from the coach. As soon as the two pony guards saw Linen charging they pointed their spears at him and kept them there till his body stopped twitching.

Peatmoss couldn't believe what just happened in front of him. The pony that had been sitting beside him was dead? And everyone around him just acted like it was no big deal. Except the guard captain stomping up to the one responsible.

"Butter fingered feather brain!" he hissed. Bringing his mailed fist down on the guard's helmet. "You're making me look like a fool. If that happens again you'll be on the chop." The guard nodded vigorously as he cowered. Stepping back he waves for them to continue.

"Jarl Balgriff" said the unicorn guard striking his name off as they untethered him.

"Jarl Balgriff." said the captain as two guards brought him forward gripping his arms tightly.

"Some here say you're a griffin of honor. But an honorable griffin doesn't assault his King and rob his people. You started this war. And now I'm going to end it along with the rest of these rebel dogs. And you are going to watch every one of these you lead astray die. What do you have to say about that?" Balgriff just stands there unmoving and silent.

The guard captain swings his talons and strikes him across the face scratching his beak and tearing the hood from his head. Slowly Balgriff turns his head back to the captain and glares right into his eyes. The captain stares back for a few seconds then turns away. Waving his talon for them to continue.

"Garard of Riverdale" said the unicorn as he was taken off the wagon and marched over to the others. One guard grabed Peat's shoulder and dragged him off the wagon and held him in front of the unicorn.

He looks at Peatmoss's face, then his wings and back to the list scanning it quickly. He does it twice even checking the back.

"Sir?" he asks, looking at the guard captain. "Captain sir? he asks again poking his flank.

"What?"

"This one's not on the list."

"What do you mean he's not on the list?" he growled. Snatching it from the air and looking it over.

"What's the hold up?!" called a board stallion's voice from the coach.

"Ah. Nothing sir-your highness. Every thing is under control."

"Well get on with it then!" the voice shouts back with an irritated edge.

"Forget the list." said the captain to the unicorn.

"But captain. we're supposed to"

"So you forgot one." he grumbled. crumbling the list up and spearing it on the unicorn's horn. "He goes with the rest." The unicorn eyes the paper ball on his horn. sighs. And walks away dejected as Peat is dragged over and dumped with the rest of the Stormwings.

A white griffin dressed in bright blue and white trimed robes walks up to the assembled Stormwings and raises her wings. calling out in a loud voice.

"As we commend your spirits to the judgement of the ancestors, may they forgive you for your many sins against the"

"Enough of this!" shouts a griffin Stormwing as he shoulders his way to the front. "Flap off you know nothing" he snaps at the robed griffin.

"Suit yourself." she replies and gos back to were she came from.

"listen to me all of you." he shouts to the guards. "While you all commit this butchery, I go to face my death with honor. For they know the cause for which I die. And it's not for some weak willed hoof licker who defiles the throne today." Then he turned and looked strate at the guard captain.

"My ancestors are smiling down on me hoof licker, can you say the same?" The guard captain walks forward and grabs the stormwing and shoves him down to the block. But before the headsman can raise his ax the captain draws his own and brings it down on the griffin's neck. once, twice, thrice.

Panting he raises his bloody ax and shouts

"Justice!" Many of the other guards answer and shake their weapons in the air.

"Go in peace Black Claw." said Garard "As fearless in death, as you were in life." Peatmoss looked in confusion at Garard then back at Black Claw.

This was not the honor that he read about in his story books. And certainly not anything to celebrate. It was just a senseless waist of life.

"Ya dishonorable swine!" shouted the stormwing mare wearing a quilted coat. She had a reddish tan coat and rusty red mane. At some point she must have wriggled out of her gag.

"Are you seeing this?" asked the captain as he waved the bloody ax under Balgriff's beak.

"Next prisoner!" called out the captain. Then he extended his ax and pointed strate at Peatmoss. "The pegasus with the face."

Suddenly his entire world seemed to fall away and the weight of reality came down on him. Two creatures had died just moments ago. Right in front of him. And now it was his turn. He was so stunned by the thought that he didn't even realize that a guard had dug his talons into his shoulder and was dragging him to the bloody block.

His fantasy of adventure had suddenly abandoned him leaving him in the icy grip of reality. He was about to die.

Thoughts flew through his mind as his brain went into overdrive making the world seem to slow down.

He thought of the house he had grown up in. His Mom and Dad. His three brothers and sisters. He wanted to find a mare friend. The bloody block was in front of him now. The body of Black Claw was dragged away. He was pushed down and laid on the block.

He didn't deserve this. Had he been a bad pony? His brain scanned through his memory and came up empty. He had always said please and thank you. Just like mommy taught him. He never called anypony a bad word or hurt anypony. He didn't deserve this!

The headsman's ax came to rest on his neck as he took aim. A paw pressed down on his back pinning him to the spot. The sun shone down on him as he looked up.

"Celestia, please. What ever I did, forgive me." The sun went dark as a giant black dragon alighted on a guard tower and blotted it out.

It's scales were black and glossy. It extended it's wings out and up shading the keep like it was late evening. The archers pointed their arrows up and loosed a forest of shafts. Every one watched as they clattered off doing as much damage as they would a mountain side.

With one beat of it's wings it created such a gust it knocked every one to the ground. Peat tumbled onto his back and watched as the dragon roze into the air. Gripping the tower in it's claws the dragon tore it from it's foundation carrying it with him up in the air. With a mighty heave it tossed the dislodged building into the keep.

Peatmoss covered his head with his forehooves as stone and mortar rained down. Several large chunks crushed houses and wagons.

Every one was running this way and that screaming and yelling. No one seeming to know what direction was safer.

"Meadblood! Get too the tower!" he heard someone shouting. He looked up to see Garard looking at him and pointing to the open door of a damaged tower. Needing no second bidding he hobbled for the door. As he got there Balgriff's black talons reached out and grabbed his forearm an pulled him in.

He was pushed over to two others laying up against the wall. The one was a disarmed griffin guard nursing a head wound. His helmet sitting beside him had a big dent. The other was the stormwing mare from before. One of her companions, a female griffin was working a crossbow bolt out of her right flank. Another stormwing was looting a dead guard for weapons.

Balgriff standing at the door ushered in another stormwing with a bleeding left arm and Garard.

"That's all I could find." said Garard panting "Flax and Sparrow didn't make it."

"What about Farris and Wilferd?" asked Balgriff

"Missing. Couldn't find them."

"Alright. Barrow!" Balgriff called over to the one looting. "Up the stairs. let me know if anything interesting happens." Barrow nods and passes him a sword before bounding up the stairs.

"Is this you?" Asked Garard to Balgriff. "did you call the dragon?"

"If I could do that, this war would have gone much better." answered Balgriff with a chuckle. "But with the way it's going at it, there's going to be a lot fewer butchers by the end of the day."

The mare gave a stifled cry of pain as the bolt was removed.

"Godwin. How does it look?" asked Balgriff to the griffines tending the mare.

"Not good." replied the griffin. "It got her in the bowels. Without immediate surgery, maybe a day."

"Fundin?" He asked the one with the wounded arm.

"I'm fine. just a scratch." he answered. tying a bandage around his arm. As soon as he finished Fundin turned to Peat and ran his sharp claw across the ropes several times till they parted.

"Balgriff." Barrow called from the stairwell. "The dragon keeps circling. He's focusing on the archer guards. If we go now we may slip away." Peat felt hiss wings pop free as Fundin pulled away the ropes binding them.

"Then let's get moving." commanded Balgriff motioning to the stairs.

"Iron Bloom." said Godwin to the mare. "I don't think you'll be able to"

"Sod that." growled Iron Bloom through her gritted teeth. cutting her off with a wave of her hoof. "I ain't dyin on me tail. Take me wit ya." Godwin helps her up and walks her up the stairs.

They come up the stairs to a hole broken in the wall. Barrow is there pointing out the way to Balgriff before climbing up to the ledge of the hole and leaping out. He looks back and locks gaze with Iron Bloom. Balgriff looks to say something but Iron bites him off.

"Ya ain't leavin me behind damn ya!" she gives a petulant stamp of her hoof and wince. He huffs and nods.

"Little ones first then." he said. motioning her and Peat forward. Hobblling up to the ledge she attempts to climb but bites back a cry of pain and falls to a sitting position. "Iron Bloom." he starts again.

"Toss me."

"What?"

"I cana make the jump so ya gonna have ta toss me! Ya black feathered ijet!" Waiting for no further bidding he scooped her up and chucked her out.

Hopping up Peat flared his wings and dove after her thru a hole in the roof of a house below. coming to a stumbling landing he found Barrow had been waiting for them and caught her. scrambling out of his arms she stumbled straight into him. Throwing her forehoof over his shoulder she latched herself onto his side.

"Dumb feather bed." Iron Bloom grumbled at his side. "Duna know a toss from a chuck." He steadied himself as she panted.

"Keep moving" called Barrow as the dragon whooshed overhead. "We'll be right behind you"

"Ever run a six hoof race?" she asked "Put yer wing round me and hold tight." Doing as she instructed a sudden feeling swept over him. The way she pressed up against him under his wing felt new and strange. Her soft cheek pressed against his, aggravating the swelling in his jaw. It felt painful but good at the same moment.

"Focus Meadblood" Iron said. Giving him an awkward shake to bring him back from his thoughts. "One hoof front a the other."

The first few steps were clumsy but he soon found the rhythm to her hopping limp. They skidded and nearly took a tumble when they got to a spot where the floor collapsed to make a ramp too the first floor. Exiting the ruined house they made their way down an alley along the wall when she suddenly pulled up short.

"Woe! hold up!" she shouted. Barely a second later a large chunk of stone masonry tore through the roof thatching and thudded into the ground where they had just been going.

"Twich a twich" she replied off hoofed to his surprised look. "Through there." she continued. Thrusting her muzzle at another ruined house that was missing it's top half.

As they struggled through the ravaged wooden structure her breathing became more labored. Just as they emerged from the wreckage her legs gave out.

"Ar Damn this wound! I got a rest."

"Hold it right there prisoner!" came a commanding shout. Looking up and about Peat saw the unicorn guard from earlier levitating a crossbow at him.

"So you survived. Surrender and come with me, and I'll see you get a proper trial." Peat looked down at Iron Bloom. He could see she was growing pale her face was creased with pain. Looking back at the unicorn he shook his head gesturing to her with his wing.

"Please come? She's one of those rebels. And you weren't supposed to be here." he tried again. His stern gaze softening "She's almost dead already." he shook his head again. Moving to stand in front of her and flaring his wings defensively.

"Juniper!" Peat looked back over his shoulder to see Garard coming up behind them. "Put it down. It's over." he said gesturing to the burning ruins around them with a sweep of his claw. "nether of us won here, and we're leaving now." Juniper looks them over and then back at the thrashed keep.

"No." he shouts back. "I can't stand down and let you escape." Garard stepped forward and closed the distance slowly.

"The guard is abandoning the keep. and that dragon could come back at any second."

Peatmoss turned his attention back to Iron Bloom. She had rolled onto her side and was gasping and groaning. Her forehooves hugging her middle as she curled into a tight fetal position.

"I know my duty and I must stop you." Juniper stuttered and transfers the crossbow to his hooves to steady his aim on the griffin's head.

"We both have family we want to see again." Garard closes to three yards.

Peatmoss bent down and pulled her padded coat aside to check the wound. He saw her cutie mark was a black chunk of rock. Glowing red and orange. Just in front of her rear leg The bandage Godwin had wrapped was oozing blood and other foul body fluids.

"Why does it have to be like this?" Juniper wimpered as Garard loomed over him "Why can't we all just get along?" Gently Garard slowly graspped the bow and pulled it away from him.

"Do you know healing spells?" asked Garard as he turned back. Juniper just shook his head as he stared defeated at the ground. Garard made to leave, but paused. "You should go home." he said over his shoulder. Then dashed back to Peat and Iron.

Peatmoss looked too him worriedly.

"It hurts. Ack. Ancestors it hurts." she groaned. He checked her over quickly but there was nothing he could do. Peat pushed at his shoulder and pointed desperately towards the keep.

Garard looked and Juniper was nowhere in site. Confused he looked back at Peat.

"What? What's the matter Meadblood?"

Peatmoss gave him a questioning look. Then blinked. He looked fearfully back at Iron Bloom. He then raised his hoof high and then brought it down. then brought it up to about half as high and moved it across. Then pointed at the keep. Garard looked at the keep again then back.

"You want to bury her?" Peat's eyes pop wide then shook his head. He then held one leg up vertically and one horizontally. Making a cross then pointing at the keep again.

"You, don't want to bury her?" Peatmoss smacked his forehead. Snorted. Tapped the bandages on his muzzle then made a wrapping motion with his hooves.

"For the last time Meadblood. She's not dead yet!" Peatmoss stamped his hooves on the ground and growled in frustration. Sitting down he raised both hooves in the air and made a bottle shape in the air. He then mimed taking said bottle and drinking it. Then flexing his legs and wings.

Garard put his claw to his chin and squinted at Peat in thought. Peat repeated the motions again and again. desperately hoping against hope that Garard would catch on.

"E wants ya ta check the keep fer magic potions. Ya feather brained nunkey." groaned Iron Bloom. Peatmoss nodded irritability. Garard smacked his forehead.

===============================

Opening the door to the keep they came to a room with straw covering the floor. A wooden portcullis barred the way deeper into the keep. Taking Iron Bloom to a straw pile to the side he laid her down as Peatmoss ran to a chest on the floor and rummaged thru it.

"Ack! I think I've taken me last gallop mate." she groaned in pain

"Just sit tight Iron Bloom. I think I remember were the infirmary is. Maybe a surgeon or healing potion is still there." Leaving her Garard heads over to the wood portcullis. "Find anything Meadblood?" Peat just turned away from the chest and gave a sad shake of his head.

As he inspected the gate Peat kept searching the room. Taking a basket off the table, he checked it and tossed it. Barrel, nothing. Crate, a stick of celery, ba! Then he spotted a small lumpy sack under a chair. Pulling it out, he upended it and three apples tumbled to the floor.

"Buck!" he shouted through his bandages. Immediately he regretted it and clamped his hooves to his face.

Garard hooked his arms through the gate's lattice and heaved with all his might. It wiggled and rattled in it's channels but resisted his efforts.

Glaring at the offending fruits in front of him for not being magic cures, he scoops one up and hurls it against the wall. Rendering it to applesauce.

"Heh heh." nickered Iron at his exasperated antics. "Now that there, was a toss." He looked over at her, surprised to see her smiling as she panted in pain.

"Come closer Meadblood." she beckoned "Ah need ta have words with ya." taking a seat next to her she continued. Stopping every few words to take a short breath.

"Tant right fer a jammy like you ta be trampin about the Crown in naught but yer foalin suit. So when I go, I wants ya take me coat."

"What would be the appropriate thing to say? If he could say anything." He thought as he looked down at her coat perplexed. "He'd never been gifted such a personal thing by someone on their death bed. Was this something special or was it purely a practical thing? She didn't know anything about,"

Just then he realized his mind had been rambling and he turned his attention back to her face. Her eyes were looking into his as if she was reading his thoughts.

"No. That was ridiculous." he chided " She's waiting for a response stupid." He nodded in acceptance. A smile flickered on her face then she closed her eyes and furrowed her brow. Focusing on pushing down the pain.

"It's no use." huffed Garard as he plodded over to sit with them. "It's just too heavy to lift. I'm sorry."

"Ack. Don't worry yer pillow stuffin head." She dismissed "Godwin had me pegged fer certain when she wrapped me arss with this scarf." She jerked her right hind leg up and winced. Lowering it back down to rest.

"The pain's to much fer me Garard." her voice now verging on a mewl. "If I stay like this till nightfall, I'll go flippin mad!" she gasped as she tightened her hooves over her belly.

"Could ya do me one last little favor?" she pleaded to him. Tears brimming at the corners of her eyes. "An take the stopper off me? Let it flow. An let me pass as nature intended."

He gave a solemn nod and undid the lower button knots to her coat. Flipping it back, he gently plucked at the bandages. Easily parting the fibers and pulling back the wad to expose the wound.

Immediately she gave a sigh of contentment. Her body visibly relaxing as the pressure released.

"Ahh. That's the bees. thank ya kindly. Now I can think strate." Then she turned her attention to Peatmoss. looking into his eyes

"As I was sayin Meadblood, I know I don't know who you are or were ya come from. But I can see plane as the dawn the measure of yer moxie. You stood up fer me. Willin ta take a bolt ta the nogen over a poxy scrap like me. Or ya just dumb as a stone. HA! But I don't think so. Ya did me a service and I like ye for it. Or maybe I just like that ya know how ta keep yer mouth shut! Ha ha! Too many bucks don't know when ta shut up an let a mare speak."

"Ack. But listen to me, yammering me life away. heh heh he." Her laugh turned to a pained cough before continuing. "Listen ta me Meadblood. Whenever ya gets out a this Scorpan damned place an get up ta Gallops hill. Visit Rossvaskr the home of the Mighty Helms. Dona let their rough fashion ah speech put ya off. But tell em I sent ya. An they'll see ya a safe place ta flop." She then went into a bout of coughing before continuing.

"Tell em I bequeath my coat to ye cause I don't need it were I'm goin. Sides, it's full a holes" She motions to the stained spot the bolt entered.

"An if they give ya hash about it, you tell em ta stuff it! It's my coat an I gives it ta who I likes! An tell that Peabrain! Ta go buck im self!!" she finished with a shout. Her body tencing so much she sits up causing her wound to gush.

"Easy there Iron Bloom." cooed Garard as he gently pushed her back down till she relaxed. "Don't go rushing it."

"Ack. I'm just about spent." Iron panted from the exertion. "Ah wish I could have a dram of your blood right about now." she said turning to Peatmoss. "Diein is real thirsty work."

"As soon as we get the chance I'll pour you out one personally." reassured Garard

"Ack. No need ta do a fool thing like that. By the time ya find some proper stock in this foul place, me an old Black Claw will ave drained a hole cask. Ay. We'll have a right knocker of a time." she sighed with a fond smile. "Still. Ah only wish I went in a better way then this." Looking up to the sealing she put her hoof up as if reading out a billboard.

"An she died, shoutin an drownin in her own piss an vinegar. Hardly sounds song worthy."

"That doesn't sound anything like you." Garard said as he rose to his hind legs and struck a pose like a bard.

"The fair mare Iron Bloom, the Undaunted Firebrand. Forged by blue and white. Daughter of Iron Blood and Ever Bloom. Fought with great valor against Dragon kind. In defense of Jarl and True King. Sacrificed all to ignite the pyre of Equestrian incursion."

"Ack. Away with ya. Ya do me great kindness ya sky droppin." she said. A flush of joy coming across her face. Then suddenly her countenance brightened as she glanced around looking for something unseen.

"Do ya hear that? The horn's finally callin me home. I'll be missing ya but me an Black Claw will be saven ya a cask ta share. Give those Equestrian imperials one good buck fer me would you. fer ye well mates I'm goin home." With that she gave one deep breath then sighed and went peacefully still.

Garard placed his claw gently over her he began to mumble something in old ponish. Peatmoss turned and walked out of earshot. Feeling that if he stayed he would be intruding on some ceremony he hadn't earned the right to be a part of.

==================================

New perk (Iron Bloom's blessing).
When in the company of the Mighty Helms faction, all stats are buffed by +3%

Chapter 3

Sitting there in the cool room smelling of straw. He stared wearily at one of the apples he had dumped out earlier. Picking it up he idly rolled it from hoof to hoof. The simple motions calming his senses as he allowed his thoughts to drown out Garard's voice behind him.

Good Goddess how his 'adventure' had gone careening off the rails. And just to think how well it started. "Plenty of money, food, and warm clothes. The ability to speak!"

He angrily squeezed the the apple between his hooves at that vexation. He thought of Iron Blood. He was just beginning to feel a connection with her. Someone he might be able to team up with. Sure he had relationships before, passing acquaintances around home. But no one he could really make a connection with and get close to.

It seemed he was always watching other ponies through a telescope. Ships passing on the horizon. But nopony wanting to sail with him. He tried to vent his anger and frustration on the fruit. It was one of the smaller kind. probably a baking apple. So it stubbornly resisted and mocked his pathetic attempt at strength. And now he once again found himself alone. Only now death was literally around every corner.

"What was I thinking doing a foalish thing like this." He reprimanded himself. He had put all his chips on red, and came up black. With nothing left to his name now but the clothes on his, wait. Wings on his back. he gave a huff through his nostrils as he brought his wings around to give himself a weak hug. "At least he could still fly. Live the tramp life. Begging for food. What did I do so rong to put me here?"

His thoughts went on as he replayed the wagon ride. Garard's comments on Equestrians. What had happened to warrant such scorn towards his homeland? He couldn't remember anypony saying anything about politics outside Equestria. And Iron's last words.

"Oh Goddess!" His wings flared in trepidation. Dropping the apple at the thought of what he might do if he knew he was from Equestria. The thought of those powerful claws grabbing onto him and ripping him apart.

"Good Goddess!" The memories of all the violence he had just witnessed over the past hour flashed through his mind. The way they had shrugged off shooting that pegasus down. The brutal way they hacked the head off that other griffin. "At this rate, by tomorrow I'll be wingless, legless, or dead. If I'm lucky."

"Mark my words Peaty, if you don't turn back now, only misery and misfortune await you." the prophecy of the griffin from the train echoed in his mind. Chilling him to the bone.

"That's it! I'm going home!" he thought, Looking at the door. "If I bolt now while he's busy I might just." Then he felt a presence behind him. Slowly he turned his head and beheld the giant griffin towering over him.

His wings snapped to his sides rooting him too the ground in fear. He ducked his head and closed his eyes with a squeek. Throwing his forehooves into the air. And down came the big griffin's claws.

Talons piercing and tearing soft pony flesh. Crushing and smashing fragile pony bones. Threading pony hooves into coat sleeves down to the shoulders and wrapping it snugly around pony tummies.

"Wait. What!?" Peatmoss's eyes poped back open to see Garard crouching down in front of him. His big sharp claws gently poking and tugging the fabric knots into their adjacent loops. His benevolent care reminded him of when his mother used her magic to help him button up his shirt for Sunday outings.

"There, how's that? not to tight?" Garard asked as he brushed at it. "Sorry, but no wing holes. We'll have to wait till I find a knife or something. I can't use my claws. I might just shred it."

Despite the tightness around the middle from his wings it fit well. It was made from almost uniform colored patches of reddish brown. The quilting ran in a diamond shaped pattern and every other had a shape or design embroidered on it. separating each diamond was a thin ribbon and each patch had a knotted leather stud at it's corner. The inside lining was a wooly off white fur that puffed out at the collar and cuffs.

"Sweet Celestia it was cozy and warm. Had he really been so cold all this time that he had grown numb?" he thought as he nuzzled the fur at the collar.

"Oh! Right. Mare smell." Peatmoss thought sheepishly, looking over to see Garard had covered Iron Bloom with a cloth from somewhere. "Gonna need to wash it when I get the chance." Then the muffled howl of the dragon could be heard out side the door.

"Terik's blood! That dragon's still out there." said Garard as he walked over to the door and peeked outside. "I hope Balgriff and the others made it away in time. I was going to fly the two of you out but now I can imagine there's no distractions left out there." Suddenly voices can be heard from beyond the gate into the keep.

"Keep searching! I can't go back to Haven with only two heads. I'm going to nip out and grab the ones we left in the courtyard. If I come back and find you cowards dilly-dallying, I'll up my quota by other means. now move it!"

"And it keeps getting better." Garard growled as he drew his crossbow he took from Juniper. looking it over to make sure it was ready just as three Guards came into veiw.

"Well what do we have here?" said the guard captain. Two little Stormwing heads waiting to get chopped? There's only two of them. Get the gate open!"

"Steal yourself Meadblood" Garard said with a grim look. "The ancestors are watching us."

"Oh no." thought Peat as he felt the bloody grip of despair tightening on his spirit.

As soon as the gate had lifted high enough the first griffin guard charged in with his sword raised. There was a loud SNAP and Garard loosed his bolt. It flew so fast it was as if it just suddenly appeared in the guard's face, dropping him instantly.

"Die rebel!" shouted the captain as he dodged around the dead guard and swung his ax at Garard. Turning his crossbow sideways, Garard deflected the blow and counterstruk with the crossbow stirrup. The captain stumbled back a few steps and looked at Peat before returning his attention back to Garard.

"Juniper! Kill the pony. The griffin's mine." Peatmoss turned his attention away from the two griffins as they re engaged each other and saw the unicorn trot towards him with a iron mace floating in his magic.

"I'm sorry prisoner, but you must die now." He menaced Peat with slow sweeps of his mace. A determined look on his face.

Peatmoss knew all too well the sort of damage that weapon could do. He backed away looking for any way out. With his wings stuck under his coat he couldn't fly. The gate was still open but Juniper wasn't about to allow him to run. And if he did who's to say he wouldn't run into more of them.

Backing up, he bumped into something. He turned his head and saw he was against the wall. When he looked back Juniper had took the advantage and swung. Instinctively Peatmoss flinched. But it was to late. The studs of the mace smashed into his ear and tore deep gashes through his scalp.

Collapsing to the ground his head gushed blood. "Not this again." he thought as Juniper stood over him.

"Finish him!" yelled the captain. " this isn't training. Kill Him!"

"I'm sorry." Juniper whispered and brought the mace down square on his head. Crushing it like a pumpkin.

Peatmoss has Died...

============GAME OVER.===========

"No! I am Meadblood! I Must LIVE!"

======RELOADING PREVIOUS SAVE====

"Juniper! Kill the pony. The griffin's mine." shouted the captain.

"I'm sorry prisoner, but you must die now." Juniper closed in swinging the mace to and frow.

Peatmoss had fled in fear leaving Meadblood in his place.

"It's do or die." he told himself "Kill or be killed." He fained fear and stepped back. Juniper advanced. Peatmoss wanted to live and Meadblood will protect him.

He bumped into the wall behind him. he looked back and Juniper lunged. Meadblood bucked off the wall and cannoned into the surprised Juniper. Knocking him on his back. Climbing on top of him Meadblood lay into him with his forehooves. Left right left right. Again and again.

Though determined the blows were inexperienced and Juniper managed to cover his head after the first few strikes. His horn glowed and a heavy blow of the mace struck his back. Meadblood rolled away to evade another. the blow had struck between his wings so with them and the coat, it bruised rather than broke his back. they both jumped to their hooves and faced off. But this time his back was to the open gate.

"Run! Run away!" Peatmoss whined from the back of his mind.

"No!"Meadblood snapped back "I'm not a coward. I don't run. we must finish this." Juniper hefted the mace and floated it to his side. Meadblood widened his stance and readied for the next attack. Then Juniper lowered his horn pointing it to the right of Meadblood.

Following his aim, Meadblood saw the sword had extricated it's self from the grasp of the dead griffin and was orientating it's point in his direction. He twisted himself away as it flew past him and embedded point first into the wooden chest beside him.

Juniper gave a frustrated growl and leveled his horn at him and a blast of telekinesis flew. Meadblood dodged to the right and closed the distance. Juniper made a desperate swing but Meadblood caught it with his forehooves. Swinging it back and smashing into his shoulder. Juniper cried out in pain and tumbled to the floor.

Juniper's cry snapped Peatmoss back as he held the mace aloft ready to strike again. Peatmoss stared down at the hurt unicorn cowering beneath him. His hooves up in anticipation of the next blow.

"Surrender?" he asked through his bandages as he lowered the mace. Whether or not he understood the mumbling sound Peatmoss made he never found out. But he saw Juniper's horn light up again and heard the sound of a blade being pulled from wood.

And in the blink of an eye, Meadblood shoved Peatmoss away. Snatching the sword from the air as it flew he redirected it point down into Juniper. His armor resisted at first but Meadblood threw his weight against it and drove it down into his chest.

Juniper wailed along with Peatmoss inside his head as he clutched the blade buried in his chest. Peatmoss, as he watched Juniper's life flicker and blow out in his eyes, cried out in utter horror at what he had done. But the adrenaline was surging through Meadblood's vanes drowning out Peatmoss's sorrow.

"We had to." Meadblood stated flatly. "He would have killed us. He refused to surrender. It was do or die. We had no choice." But Peatmoss was unconsolable.

Meadblood on the other hoof felt a desire to smile. The adrenaline coursing through him was intoxicating. Their body was a buzz with the feeling of life and pride at his accomplishment. He the youngest brother had beaten the odds and survived.

But Peatmoss inside him was like a heavy rain cloud. Dampening the once flammable kindling. Till the roaring fire was stifled to a cold stone of gilt and hunger from the rush.

"Damned useless horn head!" said the guard captain as he renewed his efforts against Garard.

Meadblood looked and saw the two griffins were now locked in a death struggle. The captain had his left claw latched onto Garard's crossbow as he pinned him against the wall. His ax held aloft as he struggled to push it down into Garard's face.

While Garard, his right arm pinned, had his left on the captain's ax hand. Fighting a loosing battle as the ax blade slowly came down at his head.

Yanking the sword from Juniper's body Meadblood tucked it under his arm like a lance and charged. Angling the tip up he drove it under the captain's armor skirting and into his upper right thigh.

The captain howled in pain as he dropped to one knee. Garard pulled his right arm free and raked his claws across the captain's face.

Meadblood flinched back as droplets of blood spattered him. Grabbing the captain's ax hand with both hands he twisted and drove the blade into the gap above his breastplate.

The captain gave a warbling gargle as he collapsed into his back. Meadblood took a step back as he looked up at the big griffin. That ancient fear of prey in the presence of a powerful predator.

Garard stood there panting from exertion. His chest heaving and his right talon dripping blood and bits of feather down as he gazed at his slain enemy. Then he looked over at him and Meadblood gave another step back.

"Are you alright?" Meadblood gave a nod. "Good job. Nice and clean." he said. Glancing over at the dead unicorn before turning his attention back to the dead griffin before him.

"This is for Black Claw." he said as he moved to the captain's side. Garard raised the ax once and hue the captain's head from his body. Then he crouched down and drew the sword from were Meadblood had left it. Tucking the ax in his belt as he did.

"Now. Let's have those wings out." he said. Wiping the blade off as he stepped over the body towards Meadblood.

Meadblood's eyes went wide as he saw the talons reaching for him and fell on his butt. Scooting back in panic.

"Relax."Garard reassured as he held his talons up defensively. "I'm just going to cut a couple of slots in the back of your coat for your wings. You want to fly again don't you?"

Meadblood blinked in realisation and flushed. The brief panic, though a little justified made him feel silly. Giving a nod, he stepped forward and turned his back. Watching Garard kneel behind him over his shoulder, he saw him take the sword tip between his thumb and foretalon. He had to fight the urge to buck or bolt as the digits wormed their way under his coat and sought out the roots of his wings. Once satisfied with the location he maneuvered his talons between the wing and inside lining of the coat. With careful short strokes he cut a slot.

"Juniper and I grew up together." Garard stated as he worked. "Perhaps I should have killed him myself when I could. But I had hope he would, I don't know. Come around I suppose." Putting down the sword and coaxing the wing through the slit before starting on the other.

"His family was a decent sort. I just don't look forward to having to tell his mother his fate." Thoughts of what he had done trickled into his mind. But he quickly stopped up the flow. Peatmoss couldn't handle the thoughts of who he killed having friends or family who would morn his death.

"He did what he had to, to survive." Meadblood said to himself. "Do or die. Kill or be killed." The words becoming a mantra in him to soothe the stony feeling in his hart.

"There. How does that feel?" Garard asked. Stepping back to admire his work. Meadblood stretched his wings out and went through his daily exercises feeling the full range of motion. It felt good to move them again. They were a little to far apart but not really worth complaining about. Even if he could and another round of charades would be hardly worth it.

"Not bad if I say so myself. Of course I'm no clothing smith. Will you be able to fly well enough like that?" Meadblood did a short crouch and pushed off the ground. (Clunk) Right in to the ceiling.

"I thought you were alot higher." he grumbled to himself. he landed glaring up and rubbing the bump on his head. The griffin smiled but bit his tongue. There was another muffled howl and the walls and ceiling trembled.

"We better get moving. Before that dragon brings this place down on our heads."Garard said as he moved through the gate and down the hall. Peatmoss took one parting look at were Iron Bloom lay before trotting after him.

Down the hall they took a left at the intersection then a right around a bend and stopped at a collapsed part. Then a pare of voices could be heard drifting up from a stairwell to their left.

"And what if that dragon comes down after us? What then?"

"Don't be daft! Even if it were to carry off the entire keep. It still needs to dig down to get at us. And by then we'll be down and out through the caves before it can catch us." Garard made a shooshing motion. Putting a claw to his beak as he looked back at Meadblood. Creeping down the stairs he stopped at the bottom and peeked around the corner into the room the voices were coming from.

inside there were two griffin guards and two griffin stormwings locked in heavy iron cells. One was sitting with his back to them at an iron brazer dressed in an armored robe with a hood. while the other was standing at an open door on the far side of the room.

"But those caves are creepy." complained the one at the door looking out. "Full of bugs bears and who knows."

"Waa waa waa. All you ever say." said the one at the brazer as he jabbed at the hot coals and watched the end of the metal poker glowing. " Why do I have to guard the dungeon Spindle. Why can't I sit next to the fire too Spindle. Gripe gripe gripe. Shut your trap." Spindle punctuated by jabbing the poker at the other guard. Despite him not seeing it. "All we have to do is watch the prisoners till the captain gets back from his little errand. And then we chops their heads off. And then quicker than you can say, bob's your uncle we'll be on our way back to Sweet Haven." Crouching down on all fours Garard padded up behind Spindle.

"If you say so. But he's been gone for awhile now. What if he's been," At that moment the guard at the door turned and spotted Garard. "Behind you!" Before Garard could strike Spindle jumped to his paws. Knocking the chair away as he brandished a staff topped with a glowing crystal.

Meadblood was surprised to see that Spindle was barely a head taller then him. His top and neck feathers were black and from the back of his small black beak to the back of his head was white like a chickadee pattern. His staff crackled with energy and his eyes went white with light as he addressed the intruders.

"Stormwing fools! Now you face me! and all the powers of, Hey!" Before he could finish casting his spell Garard had snatched the staff from his talons and tossed it back to Meadblood. Spindle's face creased with anger as his eyes returned to normal. "How dare you! Your insolence will not be tolerated!" Flipping open a tall pouch at his side he pulled out a scroll and thrust it into Garard's face. With a snatch it to joined Meadblood's hooves. Spindle's anger turned to a boiling rage. The white of his face changing red with fury.

"No fair! I am a high mage of the royal court! I will not be (Awck)" his rant cut off as Garard grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off the ground.

"Release the prisoners or else!" Garard growled as Spindle kicked and flapped.

"Do your worst rebel scum! You will see the metal of a loyal court mage!" Garard swung his arm and dangled him over the burning brazer. Spindle squawked and clucked in panic as he felt the heat on his paws.

"The Keys. Now!"

"The Keys! The Keys! Give him his Keys! By the great egg don't cook me!" Spindle near instantly broke. The other guard dashed to a spot on the wall and took a keyring from a hanger. Garard swung him back away from the fire. "You and your friends will pay for your impertinence rebel. Your sad devotion to that false king will be your undoing. This slight will not go in answered!" Spindle wheezed and spat. The guard not sure on what to do now paused as he held the keys. Looking from Spindle to Garard and back.

"Release the prisoners. Now!" Demanded Garard as he moved Spindle back to the fire.

"Release the prisoners!!" squawked Spindle as he felt the singeing heat return to his backside. "By merciful Scorpan's sake! Release them!" Quickly the guard did so and as soon as both cells were opened Garard took the scorched Spindle away from the fire and stuffed him into a nearby hanging cage.

"Garard. Meadblood. Are we glad to see you. We thought we were goners for sure." said one of the griffin prisoners as the other locked the unarmed guard in a cell. "Balgriff? is he with you?" Meadblood assumed these were the two that were mentioned earlier. Ferris and Wilferd

"No." Garard answered. "We split up. Him, Barrow, Fundin, and Godwin made a break for it over the wall."

"I hope that dragon roasts him good." Spat Spindle. Shakeing the door to his cage. "It's better than a traitor deserves." Garard scowled at him. Then hooked the brazer with his ax and dragged it in Spindle's direction. Spindle's eyes went wide and he clapped his talons over his beak. Silencing himself.

"We saw Flax and Sparrow get hit with that rock." said Ferris. Passing a sword to Wilferd. "We then got caught and locked up down here."

"What happened to Iron Bloom?" asked the first noticing Meadblood's coat. Garard followed his gaze to Meadblood before answering.

"She was mortally wounded. She gave Meadblood her gear before she died."

"Damn." said Ferris. Crestfallen.

"I'm going to miss her at the fire." said Wilferd. Looking away. "She knew some bloody good drinking songs."

"Aye." Returned Garard. "Our loss, Scorpan's gain. Her, Black Claw, Flax, and Sparrow will be rocking the Asher blue till the dawn of the final age. But until then, there is work to be done. Let's keep moving." Going into the next room they find a storehouse filled with barrels and crates.

"Spread out and grab any potions or supplies we may need." commanded Garard. Finding two small sacks, Meadblood tied their pull strings together and proceeded to fill them with any apples and carrots he found.

"Meadblood look" called Garard holding up a bottle of greyish pink fluid. "Bone mender potion. Now we can get that jaw fixed. aye?" After slinging the sacks over his back he trotted over.

"We're done here." said Ferris

"Go on ahead and scout the tunnel. answered Garard. "There should be a way out through there. This'll only take a few minutes." As Ferris and Wilferd moved on, Garard set the bottle down and unwrapped the bandages from Meadblood's face. He groaned in relief as they were pulled away. Uncorking the bottle Garard cradled his jaw as he poured it's contents into Meadblood's mouth.

Swallowing the foul, medicinal flavored liquid he felt the pain begin to subside as a buzzy tingling replaced it.

"It may take an hour or so to fully set." Garard said as he rebound his muzzle. "Till then you had best keep it bandaged." Meadblood gave a tired snort and slumped. "Not to worry Meadblood." he reassured "We'll have you back in fighting shape soon enough. Come on. We're keeping the others waiting." Together they forged on.

The tunnel twisted and turned as it fallowed a downward grade. The stone block walls changing to a rough hewn cave the farther they went. Soon they came to a turn that Farris and Wilferd had stopped at.

"There's a larger cavern up ahead." said the one. "We count four guards. If we go in fast we can take them by surprise." Suddenly Meadblood feels a pop of bone in his jaw and clamps his hooves to it. Wincing at the unexpected movement.

"Alright." said Garard. Readying his ax. "Each one to the closest guards. Meadblood are you ready?" He rubbed at the side of his head but nodded. "Stay with us unless you see a way to back us up." He nodded again and flared his wings to signal he was ready. A whiff of the Rush tantalizing his palette. Whispering promises of that feeling. "All together then. For Balgriff."

"For Balgriff!" they shouted together as they all dashed around the corner. Ferris with the spear skewered the first and Wilferd tackled the next. Garard and Meadblood charged the third as he turned and loosed an arrow. The rushed shot struck Garard in the left shoulder slowing him. Leaving Meadblood to fly by. The thrill beckoned. So he poured on speed and slammed into the nameless guard with hooves outstretched as he drew another arrow.

But instead of poofing away. Like what would normally happen with a cloud went he hit it like that, he only was knocked onto his back winded and groaning. Meadblood tumbled head over hooves to a stop against the wall somehow managing to not hit his head. Dazedly he got to his hooves in time to see Garard reach the fallen guard and finish him.

"That jerk!" Meadblood thought to himself as he glared at Garard. "He stole my kill!" That thought sent a shock through him as if he had been slapped.

He flinched as an arrow whizzed just above his head. He looked and saw the fourth guard drawing another arrow. Spurred by the narrow miss, Meadblood launched into motion again. Bucking away the gilt, he leaped into the air. The guard's next shot went high, way too high. As if he had just given up and dropped the bow to his paws. Remembering the last one, Meadblood controlled his strike and hit him with enough force to knock him on his back.

Without letting up Meadblood pummeled the guard's face with his forehooves. But by the fourth stomp, he realized something was rong. It was like he was punching a bail of hay. As he stepped back he looked the guard over then spotted the arrow sticking out of his head. Looking back to were they had entered he saw one of his griffin companions was now holding a bow. The guard was probably dead before he had reached him.

"I've been cheated again." Meadblood ranted to himself as he left Peatmoss in disgust and shame.

Peatmoss dropped to his rump and stared at his hooves. "What is rong with me?" he thought to himself. He felt ashamed and grateful at the same time. He didn't feel like himself anymore. Every thought seemed to have gotten tangled up like aknot of yarn.

"Good job Meadblood." said Garard as he came up beside him. "You have the making of a true warrior in you." Peatmoss looked up at him and asked

"Am I a bad pony?"

"What?" asked Garard. Only hearing a muffled mumble. In frustration Peatmoss scraped at the bandages until they came loose and pulled away. He took a deep breath and, the words caught in his mouth. He tried again but still nothing. Then his eyes drifted to the shaft buried in his shoulder.

"Does that hurt?!" he asked in alarm. pointing out the wound. His eyes popping wide as memories of Iron Bloom's painful end flashed through his mind.

"Hm?" asked Garard as he followed his wide eyed gaze. "Oh that? It's just a scratch." he answered. Gripping the shaft in his talon, snapping it off and tossing away the fletching. "Nothing a healing potion can't fix."

"Let me take a look at that." said Wilferd as he alighted beside him. Without so much as a word of protest, Garard kneeled and allowed the younger griffin to pick and prod at his shoulder wound. After a few seconds the arrow head was pulled free. "Feels like it cut into the muscle. No bone damage." Garard just gave a cert nod of thanks before clamping onto the cork of a red healing potion, popping it free, and downing it's content.

"Jackpot." said Ferris as his looting of the dead griffin guard bore fruit in the form of a jingling leather bag.

"Come on Ferris." said Wilferd, tossing away the arrow head. "let's scout ahead. The exit can't be much further." With that the two dash off.

"Are you alright Meadblood?" Garard asked. Sitting down and rubbing at his mending wound." Looking up he saw the concerned look on the griffin's face. Now that he could speak he wasn't sure what he wanted to say.

"I, hum. To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel. So much has changed in my life over the past few days. I feel like I'm not who I once was. And I'm not sure if I like what I'm becoming."

"Is that so?" he asked with a inquisitive look. Tell me about yourself as we walk." He gave a roll of his shoulder as he turned and lead the way down the twisting cavern. "Where are you from Meadblo, Er. I guess I should start with your name."

"Huh? Oh. It's Peatmoss."

"Peat moss? You're named after dirt?" he asked. Pausing to look at him sceptically.

"No. It's because of my palette." he responded. Gesturing to his brown fur and green mane. "By the way, I've been trying to figure out why you guys keep calling me Meadblood?"

"Ah. That?" he answered with a chuckle. As they went on. "Funny story that one. You remember when we met in South rim?"

"How can I forget." smirked Peatmoss. Brushing his cheek with a hoof.

"Well, when you got laid out on the street by that guard, mead started to pour out of you and made a puddle. scared the guard something fierce. Kept saying it was some terrible omen. Of course afterwards when they stripped you down they found the broken mead jugs. But just about everyone there saw it. And since you were in no condition to object, it stuck."

"Seriously?! Who would bleed honey wine?" Garard stopped and shrugged

"We can't control what happens to us. Only how we react." Just then, there was a sound of crumbling rock and dirt ahead of them. "Uh-oh. That sounded like a cave in! I hope those two didn't do anything stupid. Or Worse." They both broke into a run and soon came to a more natural cave system.

To the left off the beaten path were two cave branches. Straight ahead the path lead up to a stonework frame that was now choked with rocks and rubble.

"No no no." shouted Garard in frustration. "We were so close!" Grabbing at the rubble, he pulled away any loose stones he could but was forced to jump back as more dirt and rock tumbled down. "Tirek's teeth!" he huffed before turning to look over the branching caves. "You're not afraid of a little cave crawling are you Meadblo, I mean Petmiss? No Pee, Pem? Uh." Peatmoss sighed and stopped him before he hurt himself.

"It's Peatmoss. But I don't mind if you keep calling me Meadblood. And no. I don't mind caves. Though I am getting tired of seeing nothing but rock over my head." Garard gave a nod. "Tell you what, Peat said taking the lead. "I'll go down the left one. You take the right. If one of us finds a way out, we'll come back here. Agreed?"

"Alright." Garard replied and they both went down their respective paths. After walking what had to be less then a hundred yards, Peatmoss came to a dead end. There, half buried under fallen rocks was a desiccated skeleton of a griffin. Clutched in one talon was the broken haft of a pickaxe and in the other was held a glittery chunk of natural gold. Taking it in his hooves, he looked it over.

He had heard of griffins being overly greedy when it came to gold and treasure. But until he came here, he thought it was just a silly stereotype. Then he looked at the pitiful pinned skeleton and sighed at the sad scene. Stepping forward, he placed the gold chunk back into it's boney claws.

"It must've ment alot to you. So I won't rob you." he finished. Giving the scull a gentle pat and turned to go.

"help me." Peatmoss froze at the distant echoing plea. He looked back at the skeleton expecting to see a ghost or something. But there was nothing. "Help!" came the call again, and he realized it was coming from back the way he had come.

"Garard!" he wispered in panic and bolted back up to the cave junction. Bursting back into the cave were they had parted, he gave a quick look around but he wasn't there. Running over to the other cave he called down. "Garard!" He waited a few seconds but no response came. So he dove in.

This cave seemed somehow darker than the other. So dark that he did more feeling then seeing. Then he found the cave walls, floors, and ceiling turn from hard rocky ground to a soft bouncy surface. Bending down, he tested it with his hoof. It had a springy feeling to it. Almost what he thought the inside of a balloon would feel like.

Flaring his wings, he twitched their tips to create a slight breeze around him. A technique he found when he was younger to feel the layout of dark rooms. It only worked out to about four or five feet so it was perfect for this to avoid bumping into or tripping over obstacles.

Walking on he soon came to a spot that opened up. In the center was a shaft of light from a hole in the ceiling. Walking into the center of the circle, he got a good look at the floor. It was white like fresh snow, but fiberis like spider silk. But seriously, it would take hundreds of thousands of spiders to make this much. Stepping back to get a wider veiw, his back hoof kicked something.

Turning around he picked the long object up in his hooves and moved it into the light. It was the sword Garard had used. Then he heard a creaking scratching sounds all around him. Subtle at first, but growing closer and more numerous by the second. Squinting his eyes he spotted large dark things moving about just outside of his little circle of light.

"Ok. He thought to himself. "Not hundreds of thousands of little ones, but ten too twenty really big ones."

"Uh. Hello?" Peatmoss called into the darkness. "Sorry to intrude but, I was looking for my friend. have you seen him?" There was no answer, but the dark shapes drew closer. The tips of their legs just outside of his circle of light. "Listen!" Meadblood shouted into the dark mass. Flaring his wings again aggressively. "If you don't start talking or something, I'll just assume you're all some kind of monsters and start bringing the pain!"

He stood his ground as the room grew silent. He gave a twitch of his wingtips and caught the feeling of dead air behind him. That only ment one thing. spinning around he beheld a big, and when I say big I mean huge. And when I say huge I mean pony size, hairy, eight legged freak spider!

It slowly descended from the ceiling, it's hairy legs spread wide like an acrobat. Gently it touched down and drew it's self up in an aggressive stance. Meadblood transferred the sword to his mouth and pointed the tip at the menacing arachnid

"Make my day." Meadblood growled around the sword hilt. The spider gave a shrek and lunged. Meadblood thrust and sank the sword into it's open face, twisted, and withdrew. It stumbled back to the edge of the light before flipping onto it's back and curling up.

Meadblood smiled with undampenned joy as the Rush filled his body. He felt Peatmoss's moral fetters fall away. And he was given free rain, to bring the pain. The mob of arachnids surged forward but Meadblood had taken to the air.

"Let's get this party started with a light show!" he yelled in glee, shooting up to the hole. He turned and bucked at the rim once. The spiders scattered as stones and dirt rained down. He bucked again as they skittered up the walls. Then he bucked one last time as they converged on him. But it was to late.

Rocks and debris showed down as light poured in. And like a pinball he flew around the room crushing, slashing, bucking, and stabbing. No remorse and no sorrow. Just honest carnage till the room was painted in green ichor, broken carapace, and severed twitching legs.

Fluttering to the center of the room, he stuck the sword into the ground and leaned against it as he surveyed the beautiful art he had made.

"Now where was I?" Peatmoss said as Meadblood curled up for a well deserved nap in the back of his mind. "Oh right!" Peatmoss took to the air and examined the various silken bundles around the room. Then he spotted it. A large fresh white pod.

Picking up the sword he went and carefully sawed away at the side until it opened up. Depositing the griffin onto the ground. Garard's eyes cracked open as he gave a groan.

"Meadblood? Is that you?" he asked as he looked up at the grinning almost entirely green colt staring down at him.

============Level up!============

Stamina increase + 10.
New perk (Light weapons).
(Pony at arms). Increase weapon damage when wielding light weapons by +20%.
Debuff removed.

Chapter 4

On the far edge of Crown, perched high on the peninsula over looking the icy, wave swept, ancient ruins of Los Monokeros, stood the University of Magnus. There, nestled on her favorite stone couch of velveteen cushions, in a windowed alcove of the arcanum, lounged a blue unicorn. Night Wishes was bundled up in a pink bathrobe and blue slippers. Sipping at a mug of warm mulled wine to buffer from the chill radiating from the window glass around her. She levitated a history book named, (Second age of Equis) before her. A treat she enjoyed after a long day of studying magical rhetoric and spell theory.

"Year 1234 of the second age, The ponies of Crown stood upon the precipice of extinction. Few scant colonies clung to life.

The unicorns dug ever deeper into Equis. Subsisting on fungus and what ever they could grow with their magic. One can only imagine what twisted atrocities they performed beneath the ground in their dark stone cathedrals. What games the mushrooms played on their darkening, cracking minds.

The pegasi became secluded bands. Scavenging the frozen dead, raiding and pillaging each other, and posing an unending threat to their ground bound neighbors.

The earth ponies were forced to scratch a living from the frozen ground. Many threw themselves to the unicorn's mercy in contracts of slavery, or fall into cannibalism of their dead.

And so, those who had refused to flee south to warmer climates, became trapped in a downward spiral. The unrelenting Windigos galloping over their heads, bringing down continuous blasts of freezing wind and snow."

Night Wishes shuddered at the thought of those dark barbaric days of past history. Pausing a minute before continuing her reading, she looked out the window facing the sea at what she hoped was the last snow of the winter season. One last chilling blast before spring rains swept the cold away. The winds outside howled in protest as it threw snowflakes at the window pane.

Shivering, she took another sip from her mug and returned to the tome before her.

"Till at last there happened a moot of like minded ponies. A gathering upon Gallops Hill that had not happened since Platinum, Puddinghead, and Hurricane had parted ways in a huff, over two hundred years ago.

Together, they prayed to the gods to grant them aid. To help them push back the uncontrollable Windigos that ravished their homeland. And then, amongst them there was found three ponies who kindled between them a fire of kinship. Nova of the unicorns, Windcaller of the pegasi, and Sands of the earth ponies.

Together they played a song called Herald of Rainbow, and summoned forth the Rainbow Warrior. A being that was capable of rolling back the Windigo's cold front. And so, the three Heralds galloped forth, rekindleing kinship across the land.

With the Rainbow Warrior leading the charge, the Windigos lost their power and were driven back all the way to the peak of Pinnacle Mountain. There, the three Heralds came muzzle to muzzle with the King of Windigos.

For three days and three nights the Rainbow Warrior fought the Windigo King with all of Crown watching. All their hopes and fears hanging in the balance at the outcome of the fateful battle.

Upon the dawn of the fourth day, the Rainbow Warrior landed a devastating strike on the King. But before a final blow could be done, the Windigo King lashed out at the three Heralds and slew them, shattering the Rainbow Warrior into three pieces.

Weakened from the long struggle, he and his surviving kin retreated into the endless void. Vowing to one day return to finish his freezing gallop across Equis.

So, with high spirits, but heavy harts, the ponies of Crown honored the fallen Heralds. Burying each with a piece of the Rainbow Warrior and setting a guard of Cazador Knights upon their resting places. To ensure that when the day comes, when the Windigo King returns, new Heralds can be found and reassemble the Rainbow Warrior. To save Crown once again."

Outside another howl interrupted Night Wishes's reading. looking out the window she caught sight of a blue, ethereal, equine shape galloping thru the shroud of snow. Setting down her mug and book on the window sill, she stood and squinted at the ghost like apparition. It reared it's head back and shook it's mane. Raining gusts of snow flakes into the air.

Night Wishes couldn't believe it. She rubbed at her eyes and looked again. The way it pranced about in the air high above the crashing waves was other worldly. Then, as if sensing her gaze, the form turned and locked eyes with her. It's twin jewels shone with an evil cold light as it charged the window.

Night Wishes was thrown back as a freezing blast passed thru the window glass as if it wasn't there. Tossing her, cushions and all to the floor and freezing her to the bone. She stared in astonishment as it watched her thru the undamaged window. With a great snort, the glass frosted over.

Without thinking, Night Wishes telekinetically covered herself in the scattered cushions. The monster give a baleful whinny before turning and galloping out of sight.

"Windigo!" she whispered in quiet fear. As if the very name would summon it back. 'I must tell the Arch Mage!' she thought

Bursting from her cushion fortification, Wishes bolted thru the maze of bookshelves. As she blasted past the librarian's desk, the brown and white minotaur shushing her angrily.

"Sorry Leather bound!" she apologized, shooting out the double doors and negligently allowing them to bang shut behind her.

Continuing down the hall, she took a hard right turn before reaching the main auditorium to head in the direction of the Arch Mage's quarters. But too her surprise, the mulled wine she had drank a few moments earlier was working it's mischief, and her legs suddenly were incapable of recovering in a dignified manner after the turn. Losing control, Wishes spun and was suddenly clothes lined by a stack of levitating books. As she lay sprawled on the floor, waiting for her eyes to stop rolling, she heard a high pitched voice address her.

"Well well well. if it isn't our resident perpetual bed mane." said the aquamarine filly standing over her.

She wore the university uniform of her rank. The small brimmed, pointed hat and matching cape denoting her as a Junior Adept apprentice. The star badge and silver crescent pin on her chest signifying her mastery of spell casting and rune scribery.

"Swirly pop." Wishes muttered to herself as she collected her hooves under her. Night Wishes did not have bedmane. It's just, her hair was very curly. It didn't matter how long she grew out her mane, or how much she brushed it, it just always curled into a nest.

"You know it's against the rules to go running through the halls. Just because you're the Arch Mage's personal pupil doesn't exempt you from the rules!" Swirly pop paused in her admonishment to look Night Wishes over as she recovered from her spill. "Are you wearing a bath robe? Where's your uniform!?"

"Ugh." groaned Wishes in a huff. "To what esteemed occasion do we owe an extra dose of bitchy today?"

"Bu! B! b!!!" Swirly pop stuttered. Her face flashing bright red in a expression of shock and offence. "How even dare you!" she shouted. Thrusting her forehead up against Wishes's in a way of challenge. However, it lost all it's intimidating points as she stood two hooves shorter than Wishes. "I'm not the one treating the hallway like it's a pinball arena!"

"I'm sorry! But I'm in a hurry to speak to my master about an emergency situation!" Wishes shouted back. Pushing down at the shorter unicorn. The bases of their horns grinding on one another's.

"Oh! Well that makes it all, Just, FINE!" retorts Swirly as she stubbornly pushes back not gaining much progress. Night Wishes can't help but chuckle to herself when she notices Swirly's hooves fail to gain any traction as they begin to slide on the polished marble flooring. "If you weren't the Mage's favorite pupil I'll, I'd..."

"You'd what?" Wishes challenged. pushing her longer legged advantage. Causing her opponent to slide back a few inches. Swirly pop didn't rise to the challenge, so it devolved into them making growling horse noises at each other.

Suddenly their attention was drawn away from each other by a crunching sound. Turning, they both see a unicorn colt novice watching them while munching on some pretzels.

"What?" he asked at their combined glares. "It's not often I get to see a good mare fight."

"Buzz off Doorstop!" they yell in unison. With a disappointed sound he gets up and walks off. After he leaves, the two look at each other than look away with a snort.

"Just look at this mess you made." said Swirly pop in frustration. "Eight hours of studying and writing out notes, and now I'm going to spend the rest of the evening sorting these back into order." A pang of gilt came over Night Wishes as she looked over the scattered books and paperwork littering the floor.

"I'm sorry." she apologized with a sigh. "You're right. I shouldn't have been running in the hall, and I should've watched where I was going. This is all my fault."

"Yeah." muttered Swirly pop as she sat down and started picking up books and papers, looking them over, and placing them in neat little stacks. Stooping, Wishes lit her horn and joined her. Picking up and floating them over for her to take and shuffle into order.

After a minute sorting, Swirly gave her a questioning look and asked, "So, what was it you said you were in a hurry to do?"

"I was reading a book about the Rainbow Warrior an saw a Windigo outside and thought Master should know."

"A Windi-who?" Swirly asked with a confused look.

"A Wind-igo. You know, A magical beast that shoots ice and snow. That, freezes..." Suddenly her explanation falters as the panicked urgency rushes back. "Scheisse!" In a flash the scattered papers form into a stack and thrust into Swirly's surprised hooves. "I gotta tell Wyvern Wax! I'msorryhere'syourbooksbye!" With that, Night Wishes gallops down the hall to the spiral staircase leading up to the Arch Mage's quarters.

At the top of the tower, high above the main auditorium, Wyvern Wax sat at his work table. The maroon old stallion carefully adjusted the burner beneath a bubbling flask. He watched as the steam travelled up a pipe to a coil. With a slight twinkle from his tall horn, the coil frosted over and the beaker beneath it caught the drops condensing out.

Levitating a quill and paper, he began jotting down notes, muttering his thoughts as he did so. Just then, his pupil burst thru the doors huffing and puffing out panicked words.

"Master, Wyvern, Wax! Outside, monster!"

"Miz Nighttime Wishes!" he scolded without turning, cutting her off mid-sentence. "What have I told you about bursting into pony's rooms without knocking first?!"

"But master! Emergency! there's a Windi-."

"Ah ah ah." he cut her off again. "Emergencies are no excuse for disrespecting pony privacy! Try again." With a sparkle from his horn, Wishes finds herself facing the outside of his chamber doors.

She blinks a few times before her confusion turns to frustration, then simmers to anger. She hated when he teleported her without warning. She raised her forehoof angrily to smash the doors open again, but then paused to think.

'He's not going to listen to a word I say till I play along.' Throwing a blanket over her anger, she knocked on the door none too gently.

"Who is it?" came a reply. She did a little prance of anger before biting her tongue and grinding her teeth before addressing her master formally.

"Adept superior Night, Time, Wishes, requesting an audience with Arch Mage Wyvern Redwax, PLEASE."

"Ah! Night Wishes. Come in. I always have time for my most faithful pupil." Biting back what she wants to say, knowing it would get her results antithetical to her goals, she enters the Arch Mage's quarters. "And how might I be of assistance to my dear student? Need help defining a word perhaps? Or maybe there's a spell you can't quite wrap your horn around, hm?" Turning his attention to her, the probably fake smile on his muzzle wilting at the sight of her attire. "Where is your uniform?" Spotting his horn beginning to sparkle, she instantly fires a counter spell causing a small puff of smoke to pop between them.

"NO! No teleporting me away!" she snaps. Jabbing her hoof in his direction. "This is important!" she finishes with a stomp. Reaching up and brushing his horn with the sleeve of his richly adorned mage's robe, he turns back to his work table and flips open a book as she goes on. "There is a Windigo! right, out, side!"

"I know." he answered nonchalantly.

"That's right! A Windigo!" she proclaimed, starting to pace agitatedly. "And if that's true, it means the Windigo King is returning! And if the Windigo King is back, then all of Crown is... wait. WHAT?!" she stops in surprise. "What do you mean, you know?!"

"It's been circling the Los Monokeros ruins for the past three days now." he answered evenly. Seemingly ignoring the flustered filly's astonished look. "You really should get off campus for once in your life."

"Bu! du! fu!" she sputtered, flailing her forehooves in the air. "Don't you think you should do something?!"

Wyvern Wax hummed as he gave his silvery beard a thoughtful stroke and stared up at the rafters, then answered with a flat,

"No"

"Why not?!"

"I'm very busy." he answered. Gesturing with his hoof at his work station cluttered with chemistry apparatus, books, and notes.

"Busy." Wishes echoed as her eye began to twitch. "Busy?" she asked. her face reddening. "Windigos are galloping across Crown, freezing ponies to death, and the single most powerful unicorn in the land can't be bothered to help, because he's BUSY!" Steam puffing from her ears like a teakettle.

"My dear student. When you've been alive for as long as I have, you will come to realize that ponies die every day. It's the cycle of life. Night Wishes, ponies are born, they live, they reproduce, they die. It never changes."

"It's going to be a little hard to do that in subzero temperatures!"

"But not impossible. You seem to be knowledgeable on the Windigos and the long winter. You are native to Crown. A living testament to pony survival. Ask yourself, what (Deus ex machina) saved the pony race before?" The question caused her to pause in her fuming to contemplate his metaphysical question.

"Master. The definition of Deus ex machina IS, the Unexpected event, saving a seemingly hopeless situation. How then can you expect the unexpected to save Crown when the only time it's going to happen is when it's unexpected?!" Wyvern Wax stopped his work to turn back and ponder her quandary. "From what I read," she went on, Projecting her memory from the book she had been reading up on the wall. "it didn't happen till three ponies, spontaneously I might add, came together and produced the Rainbow Warrior. Don't you think you should at least use the spell to summon the Rainbow Warrior?"

"My dear pupil." he began with a shake of his head. "This is not in my ability to perform such a spell. As you can see, this summoning is based on "magister magus," (Singing magic)." he stated. pointing out the (Herald of Rainbow). "And as you well know, I've never delved to deep into the art. But rest assured I know exactly the pony with the knowledge and skills capable of preforming this task."

"Oh thank the gods!" Wishes sighs with relief. Extinguishing her projection spell. "For a moment there I thought you didn't have any plan or even care for solving the problem."

"Night Wishes, there is almost nothing outside of my knowledge that can't be solved." he finishes, Turning back to his work table. Expecting him to go on, she sits and waits, but slowly comes to realize he's acting like he's forgotten she was even there.

"Master?"

"Yes student?" he answers. Glancing over his back.

"Just for my own peace of mind." she asks. Scratching at her curly mane. "Who is this mystery pony on who's future hopes and dreams all of Crown rests?"

"That would be You." There's the sound of shattering glass as her eyes go wide and pupils shrink.

"Me!!!" she shouts in astonishment. "Why me?! I'm-"

"An experienced linguist." he cut in. Finishing for her. "Fluent in Old Pone-ish and Griffon-ies. Both written and spoken."

"Y-Yes." she stammered. "But I've never been outside the university. It's dangerous out there. I'm just-"

"Adept in Alteration, Destruction,
Enchantment, and Restoration."

"Well, yes." she concedes with a look of embarrassment at his praise.

"Also, a skilled apothecary who can mix a most delightful mulled wine." he finishes with a flourish of his hoof. Her unspilled mug appearing in it, which he promptly downs. "Hmm." he muses, looking down into the empty vessel before floating it over too her hoof. "But this one has gone cold. You really should make another."

"Of course it's good." she says. Tossing the mug away. "I know what tastes good. But you can't expect me to do this on my own?! This is big! I mean really Big!"

"Well, you seem to be the only pony around who seems to care enough to do anything."

"But I-"

"Now now student, ever since your dear aged mother, Scorpan rest her soul, placed your care in my hooves at the doorstep those Fifteen years ago, I have taught and raised you personally. I have given you the tools and skills to use them to be a great mage. And honestly, I am most impressed with your progress. Within seven years of diligent study, you have surpassed the skills of all the students of similar age." Wishes looked down at her hooves as she shuffled them. Her self doubt crumbling under his praise.

"Tho," he mused, stroking his beard as he looks over her clothes. "a bathrobe and slippers are hardly appropriate attire for the amount of travel you are about to embark on. I hope it at least means you remembered to take a bath today." Her eyes darted back and forth guiltily as she checked her scent ward spell.

She had ment to visit the washroom later this week. She loathed to admit to anypony casting a spell to coverup any funk was quicker then spending an hour in the washroom every morning. A bad habit Wishes had neglected to reel in. Besides, sitting around studying most of the day didn't really work up a sweat.

"Oh well. I guess it will make you more appreciative for the convenience of the University's facilities." he went on. His horn lighting up as he began to list off the items she would need for the trip. Each one popping into the air above her. "Let's see. First off, your hat, robe, cape, blanket, haversack of provisions, saddle bags," As the list got longer, Wishes's fear of the menacing cloud of supplies grew.

"Boots And scarf." As the list came to a close, just as she expected, the pile came down on her head.

"You don't expect me to carry all this?" she asked, poking her head out and giving it a shake.

"If you pack it properly, you'll be fine." he answered, as a changing screen dropped down between them. He returned to his work table and began to write out a letter.

"So, if I'm going to find these three Heralds, what exactly should I be looking for?" she asks. Beginning to organizing items piled around her. Packing up the supplies and getting changed into her uniform.

"Oh you know the usual, Bleeding heart types that care more about others then their own wellbeing. Often ones that absolutely drive themselves into the ground without somepony to protect them from their own stupidity." he goes on, finishing up and signing the letter. Taking a wax stick, he drips on a glob before stamping it with his seal.

"We are, talking about sane ponies, right?" she asks. Poking her head around the blind to glare at her master's back.

"You tell me." he says. Glancing back at her as she pulls back out of sight. Fixing her cape and draping the scarf over her withers. "Which is the more sane, staying hear in safety? Or going out there to try to fix the problem?"

"That's funny." she answered. Pushing away the screen. Now dressed head to tail in her formal Adept superior university uniform. The high collar of her cape mere inches from the brim of her hat, with addition of the winter scarf and boots, obscures all of her save her horn and the line from her brow to her muzzle. "I thought you always say there is no try?"

"Ha ha. My dear student." Wyvern Wax says with enthusiastic applause. "I do believe that I am rubbing off on you." she just narrows her eyes sardonically. "Good! Now you look like a proper mage. You won't be needing this anymore." Floating over her discarded pink robe and slippers. Suddenly cocking his eye and wrinkleing his muzzle as it leaves the range of her stink ward. There's a sudden flash of fire and the clothes incinerate.

"My robe!" Wishes shouts in surprise as she watches their ashes crumble to a black and gray pile. "Master?!"

"Calm yourself Night time wishes, they are in a better place now. Besides," he goes on, waving off her complaint and stepping up to her with a serious tone. "on the quest you are about to embark upon you will have to give up much more important things then warm wine, pink robes, and fuzzy slippers. Out there you will hold the power of life in one hoof, and death in the other. A book can teach you how to cast a spell, or draw a rune. But it can't tell you morality or right from wrong. When the time comes to make a snap decision, when seconds are the difference between helping or hurting, punishment or reward, your instincts and how you deal with those consequences are what will define you as a pony. All action creates an opposite reaction."

"I, I'll try not to let you down master."

"No my dear Wishes. Don't let yourself down. And no matter what happens to you out there, I will always love you like your dear mother loved you. Which reminds me. Reaching out with his telekinesis, he pulled out a piece of jewelry on a choker and floated it up to her.

It was a one by one and a half inch oval domed disc of jet black onyx inlaid with a silver crescent moon. The band it was affixed to was a ribbon of black silk, trimmed with dark blue lace.

"This belonged to your mother. She wanted you to have it when you were old enough."

"It's beautiful." She turned it about in her magic and observed how the silver crescent glisten in the light.

"Tell me what you think of it."

'Hmm,' Carefully probing it with her magic, she felt it resonate with a theurgy presence. "Well, besides it's beautifully fine craftsmanship, it seems to have a high level enchantment." Closing her eyes, she casts a mote inquisitary spell and numerous bands of interwoven lights appear in her mind.

"Woe! It has a whole host of enchantments." Concentrating on the individual ribbons she picks out several that seem to have knotted themselves around the central band creating designs she had never seen before in the more common enchantments she was used to. "Hard to say what most of them are off hoof. But it seems that the more obvious ones are like protection magic." Looking closer, she attempts to push apart the bands but they pulse in response, resisting her intrusion. Not wanting to risk destroying the enchantment array, she opens her eyes and lets go of her analysis spell.

"It's like no enchantment combination I've ever seen before. It seems that the onyx conduit has been filled to it's capacity."

"Indeed." Wyvern Wax agreed as he stroked his silvery beard. "Clearly this ornament was made by the ancient lunar unicorn clan. When I received it from your mother, I looked it over and found that one of the bands, a sort of motic signature tracker had been deliberately broken. I think your mother was trying to hide from whomever it had been synced with. With some effort, I've reworked it to sync with my own motic signature. So as long as you keep it with you, I should be able to track your progress."

"Now that that's taken care of. Here is your letter of recommendation to the Jerall of Gallops Hill and a ticket for the stagecoach." He said as he hoofed over the documents.

"Recommendation?" she asked buckling on her mother's heirloom. "Why do I need a letter of recommendation if I'm just visiting the town?"

"Well technically, according to university bylaws, in order for me to continue to give you University funding, while at the same time allow you to abandon your studies, you must become an official representative of Magnus university. And as such, in order for you to travel freely between holds to do said job, you must present yourself to the Jarl and give official notice as to your intentions in such duties."

"So, politics." said Wishes. already beginning to regret going along with her master's scheme.

"Precisely. Now off you go. And know, the university is behind you one hundred percent. Oh! And as you may have already guessed, you can consider yourself to be officially, expelled." Her eyes pop wide in surprise and in a sparkle, she finds herself standing right outside the university gates.

"What?!" she shouts and as if to confirm her fears, the iron gates of the university behind her slam shut with a loud clang.

* * *

Seated at the entrance of old Los Monokeros, sheltering from the blowing snow storm in the once grand gateway to the now ruined city, huddled Bronze Spear. The solitary guard watched the only road now that lead in or out of the Magnus university. leaning on his spear, the light brown pony huddled as close as he could to the burning brazier for warmth. Suddenly he noticed another pony entering the archway a few pony-lengths away. Looking over, he gave a startled cry as he nearly jumped out of his skin at the sight of her grumpy expression.

"Ah!" The old buck fumbled his spear as he tumbled off his straw stuffed cushion and onto his back.

"Wow. If I had known you were this jumpy Bronze, I don't think I would feel quite so safe in the university." Blinking, he then realized it was just the Arch Mage's pupil.

"Oh! it's just you Miz Nighttime Wishes." he said with relief as he collected himself. "For a moment there, I thought you were, um, ah, nevermind. What are you doing out here? I've never seen you this far off campus."

"Master has sent me on a quest over in Gallop's hold." she answered with a huff as she joined him by the fire. "Gods! It's cold out here." she muttered. Her horn sparkled as she cast a warming spell over herself and her shivering host.

"Heh heh. It sure is." the Earth pony answered. pulling his cloak in around himself to not let her little gift go to waste. "I can't wait till winter packs up for the year."

"That remains to be seen." she muttered cryptically. "There's a Windigo out roaming the ruins." she answered at his quizzical eyebrow.

"Oh." Bronze Spear looked out towards the sea, out beyond the dark silhouette of the university before asking. "Should we be concerned?"

"Not according to the Arch Mage." she sighed. "That's why he kicked me out. To go find a way to get rid of it." But not wanting to talk about university politics, she redirected the conversation. "Who did you think I was when I came over?"

"Well, as soon as I saw that face you were making, I thought," he made that sudden suspicious pause again before going on. "Heh. Well, seeing as you're older now and leaving the university, I suppose it's ok to talk about it now."

"Talk about what?"

"Your mother. With that angry grumpy look you had, it reminded me of when I first saw her coming up the road." The guard took on a bit of a fearful, sad look as he stared into the fire and told his story.

"It was snowing like this when she came up to my post here. Grumbling and growling like a pissed bull.

o OO o

"Hold it right there Lady. No one enters the university grounds without invitation from the Arch Mage." I said. standing in the gateway.

"Out of my way mud pony!" she commanded, making to walk past me. But I held my spear out to block her.

"I said no one enters without permission from the Arch Mage."

"I'm here to see the Arch Mage you moron!" Her horn glowed, but then fizzled and popped as she moaned and put a hoof to her head. At that I guessed she must've been on the edge of mana burn.

"Hey lady, are you ok?"

"I said MOVE!" She yelled. Her horn flaring and a huge wave of magical force slammed me against the wall. It took me a few seconds to recover but by the time I did, she was already across the threshold and out at the bridge over the city ruins.

I approached her cautiously. She was leaning up against the fore pillar hacking something fierce. As I got closer I heard a foal's crying coming from the bundle on her back.

"There there Wishes." she cooed between coughs. "Just a few more hoofsteps and you'll be safe."

"Lady. you're not looking so good. What's wrong? Maybe I can help?"

"Stay back!" she snapped. Her horn flared and I braced myself but it just fizzled out as she retched and blood spattered the ground. "I'm going to see, Wyvern, Red Wax, if it's the last thing, I do. Don't, get in my way!"

"Lady! Calm down. You're killing yourself. Please let me help you."

"You can't, help me. Wyvern Wax. He's the key to my daughter's future." she muttered back. Sliding along the masonry.

"I can take you to the Apothecary. Anypony can see you're mana burning hard." Reaching out, I tried to help her but she slapped my hoof away.

"Don't touch me! What does a mud pony know about mana burning?" The foal on her back began to cry again. Ignoring me, she tried to trot on but stumbled and collapsed to the ground. I stood by and waited for her to try getting up again. But she didn't stir. Just panted raggedly.

"Come on." I finally insisted. Nudging under her and sliding her across my back. "let's get you to the Apothecary and that foal of your's some place warm."

"Don't, touch, me." she groaned but didn't resist.

"Is the Arch Mage expecting you?" I asked as we crossed the span over the ruins.

"Probably." she mumbled.

And apparently she was right, because when we approached the gate he was there waiting.

"Greetings Azure Moon. To what reason would the Queen of the Lunar Rim grace our humble halls."

o OO o

"She then began to rant and curse in another language. Practically throwing herself from my back." Bronze said as he placed two new logs onto the fire. "They began to argue back and forth. I don't know what they said, but apparently she tried to make him sign a blood oath to take care of you. And you can imagine how well that went over with the Arch Mage."

"Mm-hmm" Wishes affirmed. "He never liked being told to do anything. How did he know my mother?"

"He's the Arch Mage." Bronze answered with a shrug. "It's his job to know things I figure." A sudden regret welled up inside her for not investigating about her mother sooner.

"What happened next?"

"Well, they argued till your mother collapsed again. The university did everything they could to save her, but regardless, she was so far burned out, that a few days later, she died. And as soon as you were able to walk, the Arch Mage took you into his care."

"Hm I wish I had asked him to tell me more about her. I always got the impression that my mother and him were in some way related. Do you know?"

"Miz Nighttime Wishes, I'm just a humble guard."

"Please." she asked. Putting her hooves together. "Is there anything else you can tell me about her?"

"I'm sorry. But all I know is that she entered the university, and never left. The best pony to ask is your master." Her countenance sank as she turned back to the fire. "The reason I never said anything was, whenever the subject of Azure Moon came up, the Arch Mage got paranoid. When I pressed him about it, he told me he didn't want you to grow up being known as the abandoned orphan filly. Said you deserved to get as normal a upbringing as possible. Not weighed down by the past failings of your parents."

"I can't imagine my mother being so nasty to you." She thought of her mother's picture she had seen long ago when she first started her magical studies. She remembered that Master told her that she had been an experienced mage, and that Wishes could be just as great if she stuck to her studies. Those dower eyes, yet hopeful smile spoke of a mare of charm and wit. After all, hadn't she spent all she had to get wishes to the university?

"Your mother was not unique in her disposition toward earth ponies." Bronze said with a wave.

"But that word she used, mud-, you know. Isn't that a slur?"

"It is common enough to ignore. Being one of very few in town has taught me that. The majority race in most any town sees the (others) as inferior in some way or another."

"Then why stay?"

"Miz Nighttime Wishes." he addressed her formally. Standing up straight with a proud look on his face. "I am a guardian of Los Monokeros. As my father before me. And his father. My great grandfather stood here, right here the day of the Great Ruination. Even as the city of Los Monokeros crumbled into the sea, he stood his ground and refused to abandon his post. And damned if I ever mar his legacy and abandoned my duty to the city and all within it's walls."

"You're conviction is honorable." she said with an appreciative stomping of her hooves. Bronze Spear gave a salute then returned to his seat.

"Weather they like it or not, I'm part of this city. And nothing they may say will keep me from it."

"Why do ponies have to be so nasty to eachother? Sure, every now and again I have an argument with my classmates," she said, thinking back to her recent run-in with Swirly Pop. "but I never hold it against them. It just seems silly to me that some ponies would keep lists of infractions against them."

"Well I'm afraid outside of the university you'll find plenty of ponies willing to debate you on that." he replies with a nicker. "Believe me. Out there, you will be judged as being everything they hate about unicorns. And expect you to do the same." Wishes scrunched up her muzzle at him. Bronze Spear just nodded in assurance. "The Arch Mage doesn't allow that sort of talk around campus because he believes it to be counterproductive to the University's purpose."

"Well I hope their stupid grudges don't cause to much interference with my quest." she said, glaring at the fire.

"What is it you plan to do in Gallop's hold?"

"Apparently I need to find three ponies there and teach them to perform a summoning ritual, so they can destroy the Windigos. With some luck, I hope to have this mess wrapped up by the end of the year.

"Huh." he said. Furrowing his brow. "You sure can make a complicated method sound simple."

"Because it is that simple." she replies with a confident grin." Like with any spell, all you need is the proper ingredients, a willing conduit, and a little determination." He just stares at her with a doubtful look. His own life experience countering her youthful optimism. "Oh don't look at me like that. Do you really think if it was that complicated, Master would be sending a half trained mage to do it instead of going himself?" Bronze Spear didn't answer. He just forced an encouraging grin. His ingrained trust of the Arch Mage's leadership warring with his knowledge of the real world.

"Ok. Best of luck to you. But if you're traveling to Gallops Hill, you'd best get going. It's a three day trip by hoof. And the sun starts setting in an hour."

"Oh I won't have to worry about that. Master gave me a coach ticket." she said as she patted her saddle bag. "But I really should get going. Thank you for telling me what you could about my mother Bronze Spear. I suppose I'll have to ask Master to tell me more when I get back." With a wave goodbye, Night Wishes sets off across the small town of new Monokeros.

New Monokeros was made up of a scattering of tall, white plastered houses with the traditional round towers jutting out of their tops and sides, reaching to the skies in the old unicorn architectural style. They hugged the old wall that still stood at the edge of the collapsed cliff, as if loathed to leave the lost city of their origin. Wishes knew from what she had read that, after the Great Ruination of Los Monokeros, the refugees had constructed hasty shelters from salvage of the old city. So the town, instead of orderly laid out blocks and streets, sat willy-nilly. With crooked, winding alleys connecting them to the road inland. Over time, they had upgraded the buildings to more resemble their old homes. Though finding themselves short on reusable stone blocks, they instead constructed them from fresh timber and covered them in plaster to hide the humbler wood beams and planking.

But as she trotted it's main street, looking up at the white, snow swept buildings, the books on unicorn architecture didn't do them justice. Passing through the gateway of the ill-maintained palisade surrounding the town, she found the coach stable on her left. Trotting to the door, she knocked before recasting her warming spell as the wind swept the snow around her. Piling it up on ether side of the cobblestone road and any vacant nook it could find. Having received no response, she knocked again harder before trying the hoof latch.

"We're closed!" Shouted a voice from within.

"How can you be closed? It's not even sundown yet." she yelled back, pounding on the door.

"Coach travel is suspended till the storm passes. We're closed!"

"As representative of the University, I order you to open this door!"

"Alright! Alright!" came a reply. Followed by angry muttering as the door clicked and opened. Pushing her way inside she shook herself so the warm building couldn't soak her from the melting snow. "Aw come on!" growled the yellow unicorn that had opened the door. Brushing the snow that had hit him off his evening robe. Before he could launch into further complaints, Wishes had the letter and coach ticket floating out in front of his muzzle.

"I am here on a quest from Arch Mage Wyvern Redwax. I need to get to Gallops Hill as soon as possible.

"The Arch Mage? Really?" he whined. looking over the ticket wearily. "Gallops Hill? Tonight?"

"Yes tonight. There's a monster out there, flying around the ruins creating the snowstorm. My master is sending me to Gallops Hill to find a solution to get rid of it.

"Huh. I guess that would explain the weird weather for the past few days." he said with a resigned sigh. "Alright, wait here. I'll go get the puller hitched up. Should only be a few minutes."

After much grumbling and complaining, the coach was made ready and Night Wishes climbed inside. The coach, though sparsely decorated as most typical of unicorn carriages, was lacquered in a drab brown. The bench seats inside had adequate cushioning, but the windows laked any glass. So Wishes pulled the thick curtains closed as best she could before settling in for the long ride hubward.

As the night closed in around her bumping, jostling ride, she light a lantern and hung it beside her on the wall. In the swinging, flickering light, she began rummaging through her packed bags to find something that would alleviate her boredom.

"I know I saw a book in this mess he gave me." she murmured to herself. "Aha!" she exclaimed. Pulling out her leather bound saviour from her boredom.

"Wait. The hay is this?!" she said. Looking over the front of the book. The good thing was it wasn't a book she remembered reading before. But, it looked like a foal's book with large sparkling letters and three cartoonishly happy pony faces adorning the cover. Opening it up, she flipped through the pages. Sure enough, every page was written with large spaced out words, accompanied by colorful pictures. Every character was drawn with exaggerated smiles or frowns, and look, there was even some pop-up interactive bits. Lowering the book, she scowled into the distance.

Snapping it closed, Night Wishes reads the title. A Hearth's Warming Tale. by L Faust.

'I should probably just try to get some sleep.' she thinks to herself. But a particularly sudden jolt and sway of the coach reassures her she's not going to sleep easy. Giving one final huff of resistance, she reopens the book to the first page an begins to read as she's carried into the night through the vail of snow.

* Level up *

Magica increased +10

Perk added (Adept University dropout). Able to cast all elemental spells at Adept level. You're diligent studies before your sudden expulsion has grated you competence and power in a wide variety of spellwork.

Debuff added (Sedentary life). Stamina -50 Your cushy life in the university has caused you to neglect any physical training. You suffer -3 to any strangth or endurance checks.

"Buck! Traveling is going to be a real pain in the plot, isn't it?"

Chapter 5

Garard emerged from the Earth. Digging his claws into the tufted sod, he hulled his stiff body up and onto the grassy slope. Using a combination of a red health and green stamina potions, he had fought off the spider's poison. But it was still doing a number on him. With Peatmoss pushing him, they were barely able to reach the hole. Huffing and puffing, Peatmoss emerged after him.

"Oh good Goddesses!" he exclaimed "Fresh air how I've missed you." Garard shielded his face with a arm as Peat gave himself a vigorous shake. Flinging bits of dirt and spider slime in all directions.

"Ug. I can't believe you fought off all those," He paused and shuttered. "things!"

"What? huff, Spiders? huff, No biggie." he replied between pants. "They're just, like, big crabs."

"Crabs that suck your innards out through straws maybe." Garard said as he sat up and started picking strands of webbing out of his feathers and fur. "Those things, yuck, too many eyes and legs."

"Well, I'm not bothered so much. I kinda like the sound they make when you stomp em. Kinda cathartic." Garard turned a little green and put a talon to his beak with a lurch.

Sitting up, Peatmoss took a minute to marvel at the afternoon veiw. Below them he could see a river coming out of a valley and feeding into a long lake too the west. Too the northeast he can see a huge field stretching into the distance. And in the east all he saw is mountainous terrain.

"What's that there?" he asked Garard. pointing to the mountain across the valley. Nestled against it's peak is a big stone house surrounded by tall spires of standing stone.

"That's Feather Fall barrow. it's an ancient pegasus burial ground. At least it used to be, during the first age. Now there's not many native Pegasi left in Crown. Except to the far west. Now it's more likely a den for thieves and other outcasts. If you look down there were the river comes out of the valley, you can make out the outskirts of Riverdale, my hometown." he finished. Pointing out the spot. "If we fly, we can make it by nightfall."

"Are you feeling better? I mean, good enough to fly?"

"Just a little stiff." Garard answered as he stood and stretched. "It may be a bit hard at first, but it'll help my recovery." They both spread their wings and took flight.

After a few minutes of flight, Peatmoss realized flying was harder then he remembered. He was having a difficult time keeping pace with the griffin.

"Hold up!" he shouted, and Garard slowed down till he reached his side. "What's the deal?!" he panted. "It feels like I'm fighting a headwind and a downdraft at the same time!"

"Not used to high altitude flight?"

"What do you mean high altitude?!" he asked incredulously. "We can't be much more than three hundred feet in the air."

"No. I mean the air is thinner near the Pinnacle then down south."

"How can air be thin or fat? You're talking crazy." Garard slapped his forehead.

"No. I mean, it's like." Garard stammered, trying to explain in a way the foreigner would understand. "Listen, let's land down at the river's edge and I'll explain it while we wash. I don't want to walk into town looking like we crawled out of our grave."

Landing as lightly as his wings would allow, he plodded over to the water's edge. Dragging his tired aching wings along the ground as he went, he Dropped his sacks on the ground. Garard on the other hoof, dropped from the sky right into deeper water. Sticking his hoof into the crystal clear water, he suddenly yanked it back out with a hiss of shock.

"Merciful Celestia that's cold!" he said. Just then the griffin surfaced and looked back at him.

"Are you coming in or what?"

"How are you not an icecube right now?" Peatmoss asked in astonishment as he watched him dunk his head several times and ruffle his feathers.

"You have to do it fast." he replied, as if it were obvious. Biting his lip, Peatmoss mustered the strength to fly out to a deeper spot. Taking a deep breath, he let go of the air and plunged down hooves first into the water. Any warmth he had was sucked away and if he hadn't taken a deep breath before, he was sure he would've sucked in over a gallon.

Bursting back to the surface, he thrashed about till his rear hooves touched the river bed. Wrapping his forehooves around himself, he turned about till he saw Garard pulling himself out and shakeing off.

"I thought you said it would be better to do it fast?" he asked through chattering teeth. His body trembled uncontrollably.

"It does when you hurry up and scrub all that dirt and gunk off yourself. Then you can get out faster." Being the youngest brother of the family made him used to being the butt of numerous pranks and tricks. So it mollified the anger at the little trick the griffin had pulled. Knowing there was nothing for it, he quickly set about scrubbing away at every inch he could. The glacial runoff carrying away all the filth and debris he had collected since he left home.

When he did finish and pull himself out, he realized he had gotten used to it. That is to say, he couldn't feel anything anymore. Giving himself a long shake, he walked over to Garard who was busy preening his wing feathers. Sitting down, he leveled an even stare at him till he took notice. With a cheeky grin pulling at the corners of his beak, he asked.

"What?"

"Alright." Peatmoss said with a wet snort. "You had your fun. Now what?"

"Ok. ok." he said. Stifling a chuckle. "Let me take that wet coat off you so you can dry off faster." In a minute Iron's old coat was off and hanging in the branches next to Garard's gambeson. He went about tending to his own wing feathers as Garard informed him of the nuances of flight in the Crown vs down south.

Apparently the land of Crown was at such a high altitude above sea level, that you basically had to double your wing speed, repeating of course, every couple miles up you went. And at the top of the tallest mountain in Crown, that being Pinnacle, you were practically in space. Being a pegasus, it made sense that the air got less dense the higher you went. So theoretically the farther you go up, the more wing beats per minute you had to do.

So basically, until I improved my wing strength, flying around Crown was going to be a big pain in the flank. Or withers in this case. And on top of that, he said that bandits loved using big, slow, flying targets, as shooting practice. So much for Pegasi perks. I was going to have to rely on my hooves and keep my wings ready for emergencies.

Before long, his fur upgraded from soking to mostly damp and they headed to the hamlet on hoof. Since Garard had grown up here, he didn't need a road to find his way in the waning light.

The village of Riverdale was a tight packed group of six houses and a detached sawmill. There was stone gateways at the front and back were the main road passed through, and wooden palisade made up the rest of the defensive wall. Two wooden walkways connected the water powered mill to town, and it was one of these we took to reach it. Rounding the main structure, we found a female griffin working a plank of wood with a bladed tool. She glanced at us then did a double take.

"Garard?! Is that you?!" she asked as she abandoned her work to hug him.

"hello Gertrude." he replied. gingerly returning the embrace

"You're sopping wet! What are you doing here? What happened?"

"Gertrude please." he said trying to pull away. Embarrassed at her display of concern. Peatmoss had to cover his mouth with a hoof to hide the smile at Garard's reddening look.

"Who's this? One of your comrades?" she asked. Spotting Peat behind him.

"No. He's a friend." he began, then stammered. "Well, I actually accidentally got him in trouble while I was at the rim. It's a long story but, if it weren't for his help I probably won't have made it here alive." Peatmoss was surprised when she bounded past Garard and put a talon on his forehead.

"By the great egg! he's as cold as the grave." She glared back at him. "Have you been throwing creatures in the river again?"

"Gertrude no. Not really." he answered. Scratching the side of his head.

"You never change do you?" she scolded before turning to the mill and shouting. "Kyle! Come here. I need to talk to you!"

"Can't it wait till after dark?" came an answering call. "I want to get,"

"Kyle! Get down here now! It's urgent."

"Alright! I'm coming."

"It's no trouble miss Gertrude." Assured Peat. "All I need is a warm place to lay down an,"

"You shush now." she commanded. So he shut his mouth. The mill ground to a halt and another griffin flitted down to join them.

"Garard? What are you here for? I thought you were still up north."

"Kyle. I need to get my stupid brother and his friend here back to the house right away before they catch their death of cold."

"Gertrude!" Garard complained with a huff. But she paid him no mind.

"I need you to clean up here and then fetch your son. Can you handle that?" Kyle sighed. before answering

"Yes Gertrude Dear."

"And don't forget to disengage the weel this time." she ordered as she scooped up Peat and carried him through the air. he opened his mouth to protest being treated like an invalid, but she silenced him with a look.

Flying the short distance across town they arrived at a two story house and were ushered in. Placing Peatmoss on a wooly rug in front of the fireplace she took a blanket off a nearby chair and put it around him. Then grabbing Garard, Gertrude puts him in the chair.

"Gertrude." he said. Waving her off as she fussed with wrapping him in a blanket. "We're grown-ups. We don't need you mothering us like hatchlings. She fixed him with a hard look and crossed her arms. "Some soup and I'll tell you all about it." She gave an exasperated huff and stalked off to the pantry.

Standing, Garard added two pieces of wood to the fire and took a stoneware jug from the mantle. Pouring out two mugs, he handed one to Peat. Raising his mug he toasts

"To Iron Bloom! May she rest in glory." He held his mug out and clinked it against Peatmoss's and they both took a sip. "To Jarl Balgriff! May he reach Stormhelm in safety." This time Peat met his mug with a clink. "To the Stormwings! May they cast down the false king and restore the land of Crown! And drive out the hated Equestrian Imperials!" He held out his mug. Peatmoss hesitated, then lowered his mug and stared down into it.

"You do not toast the cause?" asked Garard with a puzzled look. Still holding his mug out.

"I don't feel right wishing misfortune on others. I'm not from Crown, and I don't know anything about the politics or it's creatures."

"Oh." stated Garard as he turned his eyes to the fire.

"To the good creatures of Crown?" he offered, holding his mug up. Garard looked at him, thought a few seconds, then nodded, clinked Peat's mug and they both drank.

"Enough of that now." cut in Gertrude as she handed Garard a bowl and put another on the floor in front of Peat. "You keep drinking like that and you'll be to addled in the head to tell me anything." Pulling a chair up, she sat between them.

"Oh right." Garard said. Taking a sip of soup. "Where to begin?" He gave his beak a scratch, then started.

"Jarl Balgriff, me, and several others traveled down to the crystal rim and were waiting there for a corespondent from Griffin Heights. They were running late and the local city guard caught us in an ambush after inviting us in. No doubt some Loyalist paid them off, because minutes later an army of them rolled up and took us captive. That's when I met Meadblood here. I mistook him for one of our own on account of the same colorings of his clothes. He tried to break out and one of the guards laid him out by breaking his jaw. We tried to convince them that he wasn't part of us, but they wouldn't hear of it. That was yesterday afternoon."

"We were then taken by wagon to Squirestone this morning. They lined us up and started cutting off heads, when a dragon attacked the keep. I think it smelled the treasure we had taken with us. The Horn of Cornucopia."

"The Horn?!" exclaimed Gertrude. "What were you doing with that so far from safety?"

"Balgriff had a plan to use it as a bargaining chip to force a peaceful resolution. Since the battle of the Bowl, the Stormwings have been loosing ground. We're getting close to our last legs. So few holds are willing to stand with us anymore. If Jarl Balgriff doesn't make it back to Stormhelm, we may very well be lost."

"All I know is he made it over the wall, but if he escaped the dragon? I don't know. We got separated and driven into the keep. If it hadn't been for Meadblood here. I would have died there. Once we made it out thru the caves, we headed straight here. I'm planning on being off to Stormhelm tomorrow." Garard said with finality. Tucking into his soup. Peat had started his, but it stank of fish. So he had been nursing it so as to not upset Garard's sister.

"If it's true, and my thick headed brother isn't playing it up, you have my thanks Meadblood." Gertrude said to him, offering him a carrot. "Sometimes he can be so reckless." He took the carrot eagerly and munched away.

"That brings us to you Meadblood." said Garard as he finished his soup. "Tell us. If you are new to Crown, and don't wish to join the fight. What interest would bring you so far from home?" Peat was caught off guard. Sure he knew he would have to explain his presence at some time. But if he were honest with himself, he didn't know.

"You're a foreigner?" asked Gertrude. "Were do you come from? Is it far? don't tell me you're one of those Equestrian invaders?"

"Sister please." Garard cut her off. "If you would shut your beak for a second and let him speak." She shot him a scowl. "Go on Meadblood. Tell us"

"It's ok." he began. "There's not much to tell." I come from the, Sugartop mountain area." That wasn't really a lie. "I felt restless at home and felt the urge to travel. I heard some rumors of Crown. The books said it was where our kind originated, and thought that there's no time like the present to visit. I had money and supplies for the trip. But I lost it all at rim. In my head I know I should go back to the safety of home. But after what I've seen and done, I don't think I can."

"You're a pilgrim then." said Garard. "You seek answers in strange places?"

"I suppose you can call it that." he answered. looking into the fire.

"Well, if it's answers you seek, then I can think of no better place to start then Feather Fall barrow."

"That filthy old dungeon?!" Gertrude interjected. "How can you say that?! It's full of ghosts, brigands, traps, and who knows what else."

"Sister. If the Ancestors have called him here, who are we to deny them?"

"But what if you're sending him to his death?"

"Is that what you thought when I left to join the Stormwings? for all we know, they may have sent me to guide him." her mouth opened to object farther but paused.

"The ancestors must be crazy." she murmured. Crossing her arms and looking away.

"Well then Meadblood. I suppose tomorrow we'll be parting ways. If you don't find what you seek in the barrow, then consider coming to Stormhelm. I will personally vouch for you. The Stormwings need capable creatures like you. No matter where from, or what they were born as."

"Very well." said Gertrude with a huff. " I'll prepare the bed upstairs and see to it you're not disturbed."

***

In his sleep he saw memories of the places he saw while he had travelled north. They came and faded. Then he saw Linen weave filled with arrows, fall to the ground in his desperate bid for freedom. Dark Claws severed head laying by the bloody block. Iron Bloom's wounded body going still as she bled out. Then he saw himself standing over Juniper's lifeless body. He wore a grim smile on his face.

"Do or die. Kill or be killed." he stated flatly. "There are no good or bad ponies in this land. Only the survivers."

Peat watched as Blood pooled on the floor. It moved as if it was alive, crawling up his hooves. He pulled them away and looked at them closely. They were so red. Then he heard a sniffing sound. Looking up, he saw only a dark grassy plane all around him. Endless fields of tall swishing grass. Turning about he looked for the source of the sound but it seemed to come from any direction he turned. He didn't know how he knew, but whatever was making that sniffing sound was smelling the blood on his hooves.

* * *

The next day Peatmoss awoke to some creature stroking his head and brushing at his mane. Opening his eyes and looking around, he saw he was still laying in front of the fireplace. Garard and Gertrude were nowhere in sight. The blanket was gone, and in it's place was his coat was laying over him. The one petting him was a young griffin child.

He was mostly white, with grey and black markings, and dark grey beak. He wore a dark green tunic and a wide brown belt with a brass buckle.

"Uh, good morning?" Peatmoss asked as he pushed the talon away from his head.

"Good morning." the griffin replied innocently before reaching for his head again.

"My name's Peatmoss by the way." he said as he deflected the reaching talon away. "Please stop that."

"Oh sorry." the griffin replied. looking down and twiddling his claws. "Why are you named after dirt?" he then asked glancing at his exposed cutie mark with a quizzical look.

"Then call me Meadblood if you must." He replied. Sitting up he began to put on his coat.

"Meadblood. Ya that's cooler." the griffin affirmed. Peat was having trouble getting his wings through the holes and after a few failed attempts he, with reluctance, allowed the griffin to help. But stopped him when he tried to do the buttons.

"Where are your parents?" Peat asked as he, using a combination of forehooves and wing tips, buttoned up his coat.

"Mom an dad are at the mill. Uncle Garard left about an hour ago. Told me to take care of you till you left town."

"Did he now?" he asked sceptically.

"Yup" The griffin replied. Peatmoss shouldered his bags and noticed they felt heavier than he remembered. Opening them up he found a note.

"Meadblood."

"I met Ferris and Wilferd in town and we split up the loot from Squirestone. I hope it will help you get back on your hooves. I'm sorry once again for getting you mixed up with us. If there's anything you need from me or my family that we can provide, don't hesitate to ask. I owe you my life. If you don't find what you're looking for in the barrow, please consider coming to Stormhelm."

Garard.

Checking inside he found (105) gold pieces, and the sword. As well as a bunch of stuff he didn't remember putting in there.

"Well at least it's a start. I'll have to find a shop to unload this useless stuff for supplies." he thought to himself. "Ok. I guess it's time I get going." he announced as he took one last look around the house. "It was nice meeting you, Um, What's your name?"

"Gene"

"Gene. Good bye Gene." As he walked to the door he felt a sudden weight land on his back. Looking back he found Gene seated on top of his wings. The griffin's hindpaws astride him.

"I always wanted a pony." he replied to Peat's questioning look.

"Well sorry, but this one's not for sale." he said. sitting down causing the griffin to slide off.

"Are you really from outside Crown?" the little griffin asked. following him outside.

"yes." he answered. Trying to ignore the tagalong.

"Did you really fight a horde of spiders?"

"Yes"

"Do you make rainbows when you fly?"

"No"

"Do all ponies have cutie marks?"

"Yes"

"What does your cutie mark mean?"

Peatmoss stopped in the middle of the path and hung his head with a sigh.

"You're going to keep bugging me till I give you a ride aren't you?" he asked looking back wearily.

"Yup." Gene replied with a smile.

"Alright. Climb aboard."

"Yipy!" Gene cheered as he jumped up on his back. Grabing a fist ful of Peat's mane he shouted. "Hi ho Peaty! Away!" Peatmoss gave him an angry scowl. "Sorry." Peat gave him a warning snort before continuing down the path.

"So Gene, do you know which house is the store?"

"Yup!" Gene replied cheerily. Swinging his paws back and forth as they went.

"Alright point the way."

"Down this path. Turn left. Follow that path to the main road. Turn left again. And the Woodlyn Trader is the second house on the left." Peatmoss could tell without looking that Gene was having the time of his life by the way he bounced and swayed.

"Good morning Gene. I see you finally got yourself a pony." said a griffin leaning against a short wall.

"No. I'm just giving him a ride." interjected Peat. Trying to preserve his dignity.

After the short walk thru town, Peat was thoroughly fed up with correcting townsfolk on complementing Gene on "HIS" horsy. Entering the trade house, he saw the griffin shopkeeper ranting to himself as he rearranged his display shelf.

"If I put this here then this, no then that clashes with. But if I slide that over, I could maybe put this. Ag! No! Nothing works!"

"Uh, did I come at a bad time?" asked Peat as he approached the counter.

"Yes!" snapped the shop owner. Slamming his talons down on the counter top. Then his demeanor quickly changed when he saw the two before him. "Oh Gene. It's you." he recomposed himself. "Sorry. I'm just having trouble reorganizing my display after a robbery." He glared at the shelf for a few seconds before turning his attention back and casting a appraising look over Gene's mount. "Nice ride. looking to sell?"

"That's it! Rides over." Peat said dropping his butt to the floor, causing Gene to tumble off onto his back. "What's that you said about a robbery? Peat asked. Putting his hooves on the counter to get a good look over the display.

"It was a, ornamental wing." he said. Pointing to a center framed spot on the shelf among various golden treasures and jeweled baubles. "Solid gold I'm sure. It was the pride and joy of my collection. Not something I would part with for cheap. Then some cheap-plot unicorn came in and tried to haggle it to nothing. Told him to pound gravel. Then he flashed me. The next thing I knew, it was gone and the horn head with it."

"I saw those guys." piped up Gene. "Heard they were going up to the barrow."

"Arg! May Tirek rain fire down on their heads!" cursed the shop keeper.

"I'm planning on heading up there today. Maybe I could find them and get it back."

"Is that so?" asked the griffin scratching his beak.

"Sure. All I need is to sell this useless stuff for some supplies and I'll be on my way." Peat turned his head to grab the sack, but Gene pluckked them from his back and began emptying them out on the counter. Peat gave him a look before turning his attention back to the shop keep, as he rifled through the heap and tallied up it's value.

"Tell you what." said the griffin as he counted out two hundred and thirty two gold. "If you catch that thief and bring back my wing, I'll give you everything you buy today a full refund. plus another five hundred for his head." Peatmoss stuck out his tongue in disgust. "Or his horn at least."

"I'll keep that in mind." muttered Peat as he flushed the thought. After buying his supplies along with bandages and as many health potions he could carry, he browsed the saddle packs. Unfortunately they were all far too expensive for his little wallet. Then the shop keeper suggested he check with the blacksmith across the street. said he might find something more in his poverty level.

At the blacksmith he was able to get a side saddle bag and frog for the sword. He wished he could have traded in the sword for something shorter and less unwieldy. At his wallet's level of hunger, he would have to make do. As he left the blacksmith, he felt a now familiar weight alight on his back.

"Hello Gene." he sighed. "For a moment there I thought you had found something else to bug."

"Nope." came his cheerful reply. "You're going up to the barrow now?" Looking back he saw him carrying a short bow and a quiver of arrows.

"Yup. Are you doing archery practice?" Peat asked as they were exiting the north gate of town.

"Every morning." Gene replied with a chipper smile.

"Alright. Good luck with that." Peat stopped and looked back at him, waiting expectingly.

"What?" Gene asked at his look.

"Off you go then."

"But I want to go with you." Peat gave him a flat scowl.

"Nope." he sat down causing Gene to tumble off.

"But uncle Garard told me to look after you!" he argued. jumping to his paws and matching his pace.

"You said, he told you only till I left town." He gesgered back towards the gate.

"It's just up the mountain."

"No. It's too dangerous."

"I've got a bow. I can shoot things from safety. Can you shoot things?"

"I don't care if it were right outside the town wall!" Peatmoss asurted. Stamping his hoof. "I'm not taking you with me. I don't want to be responsible if you get hurt. Go home Gene!" He finished. jabbing his hoof back at the town.

Not waiting for a futher response, Peatmoss spread his wings and took flight. Flying up the road for a couple of minutes before checking behind to be sure Gene hadn't followed. Once done, he turned his attention back to the path up the mountain.

He could see it did a series of switchbacks up the mountain side. So he took irregular flying hops to shortcut the travel distance. After a good half hour he really was feeling the strain. His pace slowed as he drew closer to the barrow.

"Upward travel is definitely harder than cross-country." he panted to himself as he crested the ridge to the plateau. It had patches of old snow and sheets of half melted ice as the sun tried it's best to shed the coat of winter. But the chill in the air fought it tooth and nail. Taking a short break, he drank some water and allowed the cold wind to dry the sweat on his coat before pressing on.

Walking in among the stone pillars, he found old bones sticking out of the slumping snow drifts. But what creeped him more was the sound of hollow pony bones hanging from ledges of the pillars clinking in the wind. Throu the forest of pillars the stone house came in to veiw. Easily three times the size of the town houses, it hosted a pare of dubble doors and slit windows.

"What have we here?" said a voice behind him as he walked in to the open in front of the building.

"Stupid idiot!" he thought to himself. "I knew other creatures were up here, and I walked right in like a fool."

"Sorry. I don't mean to intrude. I'm just passing through." he said as he turned to the speaker. The creature blocking the way back was a ragged looking griffin. He stood a head taller than Peat and was dressed in a coarse weave shirt with bones woven thru the fabric. The black, oddly shaped knife held in his talon gave evidence to his intentions.

"You picked a bad time to get lost pony." the griffin said. Menacing with the knife as he stepped closer.

"I'm not lost. I just came to visit, my Ancestors." Peatmoss backed up.

"There'll be plenty of time for that later pony." said another. Appearing seemingly out of nowhere and landing behind him. This one had a similar style of clothes, but held a black, battered, short sword. It looked like it had been used to chop down a tree. "Give us all your gold and maybe we'll forget we saw you."

"You want my gold? Here take it." he tossed the one with the knife his pouch of twenty some coins. "Take it and leave me alone." Plucking it from the ground the griffin gave it a shake.

"I don't think it's enough. What do you think?" he asked the other.

"I think a leg or two will fit the bill." he said. Poking Peat in the rump with his blunted sword.

"Yeah!" said the first. waving his knife. "I haven't had fresh horse in over a month." Peatmoss, seeing they had reached a consensus that a peaceful resolution was off the table, stepped away.

Drawing his sword, Meadblood lunged and slashed the knife wielder across the chest. His strange attire doing little to stop the blade from opening him up. The griffin stumbled back, trying in vain to hold himself together.

Meadblood spun around just in time to block a downward stroke of the other griffin's sword. The reverberation of the blow sending nails of pain through his recently mended jaw. Fortunately he managed to hold onto his sword and jump back into the air hoping to gain a hight advantage. But his gambit was dashed when the griffin launched himself, sword point first into Meadblood's gut.

Do to the sword's blunt tip, it didn't skewer him. His coat was thick enough to stop the point, but it crushed his gut. He dropped hard to the ground struggling to breathe as his sword clattered away. Annoyed by the non-fatal attack, the griffin dropped his and snatched up Meadblood's. Raising himself up to deliver the killing blow, an arrow shaft thudded into his chest. As the griffin stumbled back, Peat tried to crawl away but he was still wheezing trying to breathe. Lurching forward, determined to kill, the griffin swings and another shaft hits him in the head. Teetering there for a second before collapsing backward.

Finally Peatmoss's diaphragm figured out how to work again and he sucked in a gulp of air.

"Are you alright?" asked Gene as he came in for a landing.

"Gene?! Didn't I tell you to go home?" Peat asked in angry astonishment. Nursing his bruised gut.

"I was but, you saved uncle Garard. And since he had to go back to Stormhelm, there was no way he could repay his debt."

"And that's what you think you're doing?"

"Yeah! You could've died just now."

"You're just a kid! I had everything under control."

"I'm eleven years old! Well ten and a half. But still!" Peatmoss gave a sigh

"Well. Then congrats. You saved me. Now go home."

Gene looked towards Riverdale, then back at Peat and crossed his arms. "No."

"This isn't a game Gene. You could get seriously hurt. And I'll be responsible for it!"

"Make me pony." Peatmoss scrunched up his muzzle in frustration at the insolent youth.

"Does your mother know?" Gene's eyes went wide and he looked around as if she might pop out of nowhere and start scolding him.

"Please don't tell mom." he said. staring down at his bow and picking at the grip. Peat crossed his forehooves and closed his eyes in thought.

On one hoof, he could use the threat of telling his parents to force him to go home, and go in alone. On the other hoof, if Gene came along he'd have someone to watch his back and pull his flank out of the fire. Peat was in no way used to being the adult in the room. This decision could rule the fate of either of them.

Peat looked at Gene and saw a hopeful look in his eyes. No matter what choice he made, it could end very badly for him. So he really had one choice.

"I have decided to let you follow me." A look of bliss swept across Gene's face. "But! On one condition. When I say stop, you stop. When I say go, you go. When I say don't touch anything, don't, touch, anything! Understand?"

"Yup!" Gene replied with the widest grin. Flitting over to the dead griffin to retrieve his arrows.

Entering Feather Fall Barrow, they found an encampment of the Bone griffins. Several of their dead bodies littered the room with sword and arrow wounds.

"This must be the unicorn thief's doing." Peat said in a low voice as Gene went about looting the camp. "How many were with him when you saw them in town?"

"Four."

Taking a good look around the large room, Peat observed the walls and ceiling were plastered and painted a bright sky blue to simulate sky and clouds. But after years of neglect, was cracked and crumbling. Moving deeper in, he passed through a white marble archway carved in the stone face. Beyond was a wide hallway lined with stone statues of Pegasi. Each one was painted in lifelike bright pastels. But their realism was marred by their destroyed state. Most had their limbs broken off and heads pulverized like the brigands had been using them for weapons training.

Peatmoss couldn't help but feel sorrow for the senseless destruction of artistry. But they were all beyond repair now. Reaching the end of the hall, the plaster white walls changed to a raincloud grey. On ether side of the door to the next room was nooks carved out and filled with ancient pegasus bones. A grim telling of what this vault held beyond. Across the lintel of the doorway was written a phrase in old ponish. He wished he could read it.

"Do you know how to read that?" Gene looked at the writing and shrugged.

"Mom only taught me common."

"They don't teach that stuff in school?" Gene gave him a look.

"We don't have schools out here in the sticks. Maybe you can learn it in Haven or Skycart out west. But out here in the flyovers, we're taught by our parents."

"Hm. I guess I haven't seen much of cultural infrastructure." Peat thought aloud. "She taught you Griffin speech though, right?" Gene rolled his eyes.

"Most griffins don't bother. Learning costs money. And if they start talking in griffin, they're just doing it so you can't listen in. Especially if you're an outsider. Some griffs get their jollies from watching ponies get angry or confused."

"But not you?" Peat asked with a crooked grin.

"Mom says it's rude. But that doesn't stop them from speaking it when they get to argueing."

Going through the door, the rooms beyond get progressively darker. Which maybe a good thing since they can hear voices ahead, and the glow of fire.

"No wander those idiots at the entrance didn't go any further. There's no end to them bone ponies." said one.

"Ba! I've had it with this. Ponies have no right to be so aggressive. Usually you can give them a quick scare and they drop their valuables and bolt." said another.

"Enough!" shouted a third. "You two sound like a pare of brood hens. As soon as you get that arrow taken care of, we're going back in. I'm not going to sit hear and let that horned ground pounder get to the end and teleport away with all the treasure."

Peatmoss and Gene listen to them bicker as they pick their way through a maze of branching catacombs lined with pockets of bones.

"There! It's out. Now drink this." said the first as Peat and Gene peeked around a wall packed with bones.

The three of them wore a combination of leather and fur armor with the third waring a pauldron and iron bracers and leggings. The first was administering a healing potion to the second, while the third was looking through a pair of doors. He flinched back at the sound of an arrow hitting the other side of the door.

"Come on!" he cursed. "Ponies with arrows? how do they even do that? They're not even unicorns, just bones."

Just then, there was a puff of dust from the lid of a stone sarcophagus and as it opened, out crawled a mummified corpse of a pegasus. Gripped in it's muzzle was a black short sword, like the one the griffin outside had. Only this one was sharp and in pristine condition.

As soon as it was free, it charged the third griffin and stabbed him in the middle. The griffin roared in pain and bashed at it with a steel mace. The other two drew swords and chopped at the husk until it stopped moving. The mortality wounded griffin clutched at his middle. The hard leather had put up little resistance to the keen blade.

Peatmoss heard the creak of wood and string under pressure and turned to see Gene loose an arrow. One griffin went down with an arrow in his back and the other turned and spotted them.

Gene notched another arrow but the last griffin dives and brings up a shield just as Gene loosed another. Holding it in front of himself, the griffin charged. Drawing his sword, Meadblood took to the air and struck the shielded griffin, knocking him to the ground. Stabbing down at the pinned griffin, he killed him swiftly.

There was no Rush this time, like with the Spiders. And no remorse, like with Juniper. Just a weary acceptance from Peatmoss as Meadblood chanted "Kill or be killed."

What Peatmoss saw was sad, while Meadblood saw it as practical. Gene, grinning broadly, as he went from corpse to corpse. Grabbing the valuables, putting on what armor fit, and bagging the rest in Peat's old sacks.

"How many have you killed?" Peatmoss asked.

"What? Oh. Let's see. There was that one outside, and this one here." he answered as he buckled on a pair of leather bracers.

"You've never killed before?"

"I've killed rabbits and squirrels. And there was those two wolves. And that elk who got into a argument with our cow."

"And you're ok with this?" Peat asked. gesgereing to the dead griffins.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Yesterday I killed my first." he said glumly. looking down at the blood smears on his formerly clean coat. "His name was Juniper." Gene's eyes went wide in recognition of the name.

"You killed Juniper?!" Peatmoss flinched at the surprise and disbelief in his voice. "Why did you do that?"

"He was one of the executioners at Squirestone. I was trying to escape, but he cornered me and I had to kill him or he would've killed me." Gene thought about it for a minute.

"And if you didn't, uncle Garard would've died to right?" Peat nodded. "Then he was a bad pony." Gene said. As if it were just that simple.

"And what about these griffins. They had families and friends. And we just killed them. We didn't even give them a chance to explain themselves." Gene looked down at the one he just looted. Peat could see the gears turning in his young mind.

"I never thought of it like that." Peat sighed.

"That's why I tried to keep you from coming along."

"But these guys stole from Mr Abirdy." Gene defended.

"He said it was the unicorn who stole the wing. We don't know what these guys were here for."

"I didn't think this was going to be so complicated." Gene stared at his bow for a while, then looked back the way they had come. "I think I should go home." Peat just nodded and dismissed him with a wave of his hoof.

"Go on. I wish I could." he muttered to himself. Gene turned and walked back, but before he went out of sight he stopped and asked. "Why did you come up here?"

"When I came to Crown I was looking for adventure. But I got a bitter taste of reality instead. In my head I want to go back home. Stick my head back under the pillow of safety and forget about everything I did and saw. But in my heart I know I won't find peace. What I was forced to do, I think will haunt me for the rest of my life. I don't know what's the right thing to do. Garard said if I'm looking for answers, I should visit my ancestors. So here I am. Looking for my purpose."

'What have I done?' Peatmoss thought to himself. 'I've lead this kid to be a murderer like me. I should've made sure he wasn't following me.' He covered his face with his forehooves in shame.

"Goddesses" he prayed. "Celestia Luna, I have sinned and fallen from your light. I pray you would give me forgiveness and light my path. What should I do?" He listened and waited for a response. "If there's any time for you to speak to me, please answer my prayer." The cold darkness pressed in around him, and silence was his only answer.

"That's it." Peatmoss muttered to himself. "They have abandoned me to my ruin."

'We are on our own now.' said Meadblood. 'We must make our own path now. Do or die.'

'Kill or be killed' echoed Peatmoss. He wrapped his wings around himself in a subconscious effort to ward off the cold loneliness. Then he felt a wing wrap around his shoulders. He looked in surprise at Gene sitting close beside him.

"What are you doing here?" Meadblood asked, rubbing the moistness from his eyes. "I thought you were going home."

"We still have a mission to complete." Gene answered.

"Mission?"

"Abirdy's wing remember? I'm not leaving until we get it back." Meadblood chuckled at the eazy, simplicity of his reasoning. "After all," he continued. "Mom says you should never start something you don't intend to finish." Picking up the ponyhusk's sword, he gave it a few test swings. "I think this is more suited for you."

Taking the weapon, Meadblood looked it over and saw the hilt had a different shape to it then the one he had from Squirestone. Though blackened from age, it was sharp and well balanced. The grip was flatter and had the leather wrap concentrated more to the ends, leaving the middle almost bare. The hilt also featured a muzzle guard that flowed down to the crescent pommel. He went to bite the grip but hesitated at the thought of who's mouth it had been in last. Then flicked the squeamish feeling away and gave it a test fit.

"Wow!" he said around the grip. Feeling the definite improvement over his old sword. With the reduced weight, at no cost to it's length, his movements felt much less labored as he moved it about. Hopping into the air, he experimented with a few moves. He found with the point of balance beeing much closer to his muzzle, he was able to keep an even keel. He felt much more agile and fluid over the clunky lopsided weight of the old one.

"Here. I don't think I'll need this one anymore." he said. Handing off his old one to Gene. He gave it a few practice swings and nodded in approval.

"Now we're in business." Gene agreed. together they peeked in to the next room.

It was bathed in a cool, moon like glow. With no evidence to it's source. Patrolling the floor was a husk and skeleton armed with swords. Above them flew two skeletons holding bow and arrows in their hooves. Crouching down, Gene creeped in and took cover behind a spilled sarcophagus.

Standing up, Gene loosed a arrow at one of the flying skeletons, shattering it's scull. When they turned on him, Meadblood dove in, hitting the husk with his forehooves and swinging at the skeleton. It exploded in a clatter of bones as Meadblood turned to the husk regaining it's hoofing. Lunging they clashed blades. One of Gene's arrows hit it in the back and it faltered. Taking advantage of the stumble, Meadblood shoved the blade up and slashed at it's neck, beheading it. An arrow from the last skeleton punched Meadblood in the side, bruising his ribs. He looked up in time to see Gene fly up and strike it and send it's bones raining across the floor.

"Ha hah!" wooped Gene in excitement. "That was awesome!"

"Yeah." said Meadblood ruefully as he looked over the arrow hanging from his side.

"Oh! Are you ok?" he asked as he flew down to assess the damage.

"I think I'll be alright. It just looks skin deep." Meadblood answered as Gene reached out. "Wait! Don't pull!" But before he could stop him, Gene had grabbed the shaft and gave it a yank. Meadblood bit down on a howl of pain and crumpled to the floor.

"Oh. Sorry." apologized Gene as he sheepishly held the barb. Still tipped with a scrap of Meadblood's fur coat.

"Healing potion. Please." he groaned in pain.

After bandaging the wound and drink of potion, he gave Gene a lesson about basic first-aid he was trained in as a weather pony. Making their way down a long series of stone stairs, they came to a chamber with a closed iron gate. At the center of the room was a metal lever. Beside it lay a griffin. Walking closer he looked over the griffin and saw he was peppered with small, needle size darts.

"Gene!" Meadblood shouted at him as he flew over to grab the lever. "Don't, touch." Backing off he took a seat as Meadblood moved around the room.

Above the gateway was three symbols carved in stone. A water drop, lighting bolt, and a snow flake. On the left side of the room was three alcoves carved out of the wall. In front of them was a stone basin full of water. This puzzle would be a tough one for any creature besides a pegasus.

"Hey Gene. Want to see a magic trick?" Gene gave a grin and nodded. "Then come over here and get your wings wet." Showing him how to fan his wet wings to create a mist, they worked together till the air was damp enough for Meadblood to start gently packing it together into a ball with his hooves.

"Now watch closely. This is Pegasi magic." Dividing the ball of cloud into three sections, he took the first to the nook on the right and began blowing on it. Rotating it as he did till the little cloud turned a bright blueish white.

Then he took the next to the center nook and began to pat at it. Rotating it every time till it turned dark grey and rumbly.

Then taking the last, which was bigger then the others, he put it in the nook on the left. Working his hooves around the puff of cloud, he packed and squeezed it tighter and tighter till it grew a dark blue and began to drip water.

"Wow!" exclaimed Gene. "How come I can't do that?" he asked as Meadblood went over each one to be sure they were extra cold, rumbly, or wet.

"Pegasi magic." he answered. flying over to the lever he gave it a pull. The three alcoves glowed with a magical light, and the iron gate lifted.

Moving on down into the mountain, they came to a spot were the passage was blocked with roots and rubble from a old cave in. But to the side, through a hole in the wall was a natural cave. Since it was the only way forward they took it, figuring the thieving unicorn would've had to as well. Passing a sinkhole with water pouring into it from a spring, they found thick white webbing clinging to the walls.

"You're not afraid of spiders are you?" asked Meadblood as he inspected the tatters of a reasently cut web. Gene gave a shake of his head.

"What's so scary about." Just then they hear shouts from up ahead.

"Is someone there!? Help! Nigel! Barnard? Sullivan! I'm trapped! Help me!" They look at each other before rushing toward the cries. Entering another larger cave lined with thick silk they find the blueish grey unicorn stuck face first to a wall, with only his hind end sticking out. His cutie mark showing a black beetle.

"Do you have the gold wing?" asked Gene as he flew up to the pitifully kicking legs.

"Yes! But there's a second one in the treasure room! Just cut me out of here and I'll lead you to it."

"Cut him loose Gene. I'll watch your back." Meadblood looked around the room. There was no spiders in sight, but there was a few holes in the walls and ceiling that they could enter through at any second.

Suddenly Gene gave a yell of surprise and Meadblood looked back to see him sprawled on his back as the unicorn's tail disappeared around a corner beyond. Laughing as he went.

"Are you alright?" he asked as he helped Gene up.

"That stupid bug! When I catch him, he'll wish the spiders got him."

They gave chase down the tunnel to a hole that lead back in to the tombs. Inside he saw two skeletons assembling themselves, then spotted the unicorn running across a stone catwalk to another room.

Growling in frustration, Meadblood drew his sword and smashed through the first skeleton's guard and followed up with shattering it's body. The other dove at him but he dodged to the side. An arrow from Gene at the hole struck it's back and Meadblood took advantage of it's stagger to finish it off.

Turning to follow the unicorn, he spotted a ponyhusk taking aim at him from the catwalk and dove behind a coffin. Looking towards the hole, he saw Gene notch another arrow to his bow. Before he can take aim though, a set of black hairy legs grabbed him and pulled him out of sight with a squawk.

"No!" shouted Meadblood as he moved to go for the hole, but ducked back as another arrow glanced off the coffin lid. "NO!" he roared. Taking off and looping around, Meadblood barreled into the husk. Slamming it off it's perch and into the floor, he stomped till it's head crunched then flew out after Gene.

Pouring on speed he rocketed down the tunnel. Seeing the giant spider dragging Gene's limp body behind it was like a spark falling into a powderkeg. Next thing he knew there was a sharp boom and he hit the far wall of the spider's den. The soft wooly silk rebounded and tossed him to the floor.

Wearily he shook away the stars and winced at his ringing ears. Taking a look around, he saw the giant spider's body laying just inside the den. It was easily three times bigger than the ones he fought before. But now it had a gapeing hole straight through it. Peering through the empty carapace, he saw Gene laying still on the ground.

"Gene!" he shouted. At least he thought he did. The ringing was still fading. Stumbling to his hooves he galloped around to Gene's side. Opening up his saddle bag, he looked in to find nothing but shattered glass, ruined bandages, and a soup of liquids. With a cry of frustration, he checked Gene's sacks and found the potions he needed.

"Ug. I feel like I was trampled by a mammoth." Gene groaned as he came to.

"Come on. Climb on my back. That unicorn is getting away." Climbing on, he looked back at the spider.

"What happened?"

"There's no time." Meadblood said as he galloped after the unicorn. Gene grabbing on to his mane for dear life. Pausing only to snatch up Gene's bow. Past the broken skeletons and through the chamber, they reach a long wide hall with richly painted carvings. At the far end, the wall is lowering into the floor as the unicorn jumped through.

"Hey you! Stop!" Meadblood shouted. he tried to use his wings to go faster, but Gene was impeding his wing strokes. As they crossed the threshold Gene let go and tumbled off.

"Go on." he said when Meadblood stopped to pick him back up. "I'll be fine. Go catch that horn head." Giving him a nod, he jumped in to the air and flew up to an elevated platform bathed in sunlight from a hole in the ceiling. Meadblood spotted him rummaging through a large iron chest.

"Give me the golden wing or-" Peatmoss started to yell before he was struck in the face by a blinding blast of magical ice and snow. He was forced to fly back away as the ice built-up on his face. Shaking his head and coughing, he flew out of range of the attack. Scrubbing away at his face.

"Where is it?! Why isn't it here? It should be here!" he heard the unicorn shout. Regaining his sight, Peatmoss looked down to see he had dislodged the stone lid to the sarcophagus in the center of the platform and was looking over the desicated pegasus remains.

Giving up on his search, the unicorn turned and bolted for a stone staircase leading up and out of the tome, but Meadblood flew in and slammed down in front of him, blocking his path with his sword.

"This chase is over thief!" he said around the hilt. "Give back what you stole or else!"

"Out of my way sky skeever!" he spat back. "This artifact is more than just a cheap wall hanging. It's a peace of a puzzle far bigger than a scavenger like yourself can possibly fathom."

"I don't care." He growled back. "I promised to bring that wing back too it's owner."

"Oh! A sky skeever bounty hunter?" The unicorn exclaimed, seemingly taken aback by the proclamation. "Tell you what," he went on. A sly look settling on his face. "What's the griffi offering you? Five hundred? Eight hundred? Whatever he's offering, I'll double it! And you can forget you ever saw me."

'Oh wow!' Meadblood thought. 'Just think of all those bits! I could probably name my price. And no one needs to die.' Just then, he noticed the unicorn's horn springing to light. A wavey bladed dagger appearing in his magical grip. Meadblood flinched, shielding his face with his forleg as it shot forward in the unicorn's magic. It sank in to his leg up to the hilt.

Jumping into the air, he flew as the unicorn shot a lightning spell at him. Zigzaging and dodging and weaving, he came around gripping his sword in resolve. Lining up and he dove in a swoop, aiming to strike. At the last moment the unicorn teleported away.

Coming up short, he glanced around looking for him. Then the knife stuck in his leg yanked free and slashed at his neck. It didn't have enough force behind it to cut deep, but it left a slash on the left side of his neck. Turning around it jabbed at his side but the tight woven fabric resisted the point. He batted it with his hoof, shattering the telekinetic hold. It fell out of the air and out of sight with a clatter.

Meadblood spotted the unicorn just as he shot another bolt of lightning. It struck, dancing down Meadblood's sword and through his body. Knocking him from the air. The unicorn came running, charging a spell as Meadblood fought to get his spazzing limbs under control.

Just then, Gene came into veiw and loosed an arrow, striking him in the flank. The unicorn stumbled to a stop, looking over his shoulder to fire his spell at the griffin. Forcing himself too his hooves Meadblood doggedly galloped at his attacker and slashed into him. Drawing his sword through the unicorn's right foreleg and up into his barrel. The unicorn collapsed to the stone floor, releasing a groaning throat rattle as he cradled his severed leg stump.

"Who are you?" Peat asked, looking down at his newest "self defence" victim. Rage flaring up as he watched him bleed out. Spitting out his sword, he yelled. "Why did you make me do that?!" The unicorn didn't answer. Only coughing and groaning. "I was willing to let you go, damn you! What's so important about the wing that's worth dieing for?! Speak!!!" Peatmoss demanded.

"Hail Discord." The nameless unicorn groaned out. Then went still.

"Damn you!" Yelled Peatmoss in angry frustration as he began kicking at the dead unicorn. Pain shooting thru the wounded leg with every strike. "Damn you! damn you! damn you!" His leg throbbed with pain and he collapsed to his haunches. Covering his face with his hooves. "Why does this keep happening?" Peatmoss cried to himself.

'Do or die.' muttered what he began seeing as the violent part of himself. 'Kill or be-'

"Shut up!" He growled back under his breath.

"Are you going to be ok?" Gene asked as he approached holding out Peat's dropped sword.

"Yeah." He answered curtly. Rubbing away tears before taking the offered sword. Without waiting for permission Gene began looting. Handing Peat the object of their quest.

Sheathing his sword, Meadblood took the gold wing and looked it over. It was shaped like a pegasus wing with four spread feathers. Turning it over in his hooves, he regarded it's dull, buttery yellow color. It didn't appear to be what he expected pure gold was supposed to look like. Wary that the unicorn could've had a fake, he began to rub at it hard. Almost expecting gold paint to come off onto his hoof.

Then suddenly, a prismatic shean washed over it. He held it out at arms length in surprise as it pulsed faster and faster. Finishing in a blinding light of colors. Peatmoss felt a surg of energy wash thru him ending in his wings.

* Level up! *

Stamina increase + 10.
New perk (Light weapons).
(Swords Pony 01/3). Attacks with swords have a 10% chance of doing critical damage (+5% per additional rank.)
Special skill unlocked (Ballistic Pony)
This ability makes you capable of penetrating large or hard targets. Limited to once per day.

Chapter 6

Peatmoss blinked several times till the prismatic light faded. The wash of rejuvenation filling him with vibrating energy. "What was that?" Gene asked as he paused in stripping down the dead unicorn.

"I'm not sure but it feels great!" Peat looked over the artifact again. It seemed to shine with a new luster. "I guess this is why he wanted it so bad." The feeling reminded him of the warm, fuzzyness he felt when he hugged his mom or dad. A feeling that made the sadness and shame of the past experiences distant. Then he noticed the dagger wound on his leg was gone. putting his hoof to his neck, he felt it, then checked his hoof. 'No blood!'

"It heals wounds too?!" said Gene excitedly. "Let me try!" Grabbing the wing, he held it up and braced himself. Clenching his eyes shut. He waited a few seconds but nothing happened. "Did it work?" Gene asked, cracking an eye open. seeing and feeling no change, he lowers his arms and looks the wing over.

"Maybe it's a onetime use thing." Peat speculates as he watches Gene give it a shake.

"Well tha---"

Peatmoss stares in shock as Gene suddenly freezes mid sentence. The room around him fading to a dull sepia tone. "Gene? Gene are you ok?!" Gene doesn't respond. Remaining frozen in place. His brow furrowed as he looks down at the golden wing in his talons. "Gene! Speak to me!" Peat shouts in panic, reaching out and trying to give him a shake. But to his horror Gene stays stuck in place. Hard as a stone statue.

"No no no! What's happening?" He cries in confused terror, clamping his hooves to his head.

"let not thine heart be troubled, Peatmoss of Well shod." came an answer from nowhere. Spinning about, he saw a ghostly pegasus stallion standing in front of the disturbed sarcophagus. He wore a flowing white toga that was pinned at the shoulder with a golden disc broach marked with a cloud and lightning bolt. On the top of his head sat a laurel leafed wreath that framed the large curls of his mane.

"Wha-?" he stammered "Who are you? What did you do to my friend?!"

"I am name-ed Windcaller. Herald of the Rainbow Warrior and Patron Saint of the Pegasus of Crown. I have summoned thee forth from out thine time to treat with thee. And hence, thou hast answered."

"What are you talking about?!"

"Didst thou not come to this sanctum seeking clairvoyance?"

"Ah, well, only because Gerard suggested it. Bu- But I didn't think I'd actually get an answer."

"Forsooth. And low, se-est thee not how thine faith hast been rewarded?" Peatmoss just stares speechless at the apparition. "Behold," he went on taking on a serious tone, undeterred by Peat's look of confused apprehension. "the time hath come. The Windigo King's return draws neigh. And thou oh Peat moss hath been found worthy of bearing forth mine legacy to defend the good ponies of Crown from his icy hooves."

"Windigo King?" asked Peat, latching onto the only word from the ghost's dialogue that rings a bell. "Are you talking about the windigos from the Hearth warming tale?" For the first time the two pony's expressions swapped.

"Hearth, Warming? I. Forgive-est thou me. Whist is this lore of which thou speak-est?"

"It's a story we celebrate every winter down in Equestria." The ghost continues to stare. "You've never heard the Hearth Warming tale?!" Peatmoss sighs when the ghost simply shrugs. Feeling the weight of the teacher's cap dropping onto his head, he proceeded to tell the Hearths Warming tale. A story he heard every winter so he knew it by heart.

"Once upon a time long before the peaceful reign of Celestia, and the foundation of Equestria there was three pony tribes who did not know harmony. It was a dark and perilous time frought with hatred and selfishness.

During these evil days, the pegasi, the unicorns, and the earth ponies, cared nothing for what happened to eachother. Only for their own kind.

As they do now, the pegasi were Stewards of the weather. But in return, they demanded a third of the Earth ponies crops as payment for their work.

The unicorns demanded the same in return for magically raising and lowering the sun in the time of day, and the moon at night.

And so, bickering and arguing over their "fair share" of the earth pony's produce festered until it came to a boil. An upset prompted by a mysterious magical blizzard that fell over the land. Toppling the ponies precarious agreement.

The normally efficient and industrious Earth ponies could not farm the land while the fields were constantly being blanketed with piles of snow.

The pegasi were helpless to control the weather as the magical snow storms swatted them about like leaves in a hurricane.

Without any produce from the earth ponies, the unicorns got nothing for their diligent work. And so, each of the tribes blamed the others for their troubles. And the worse they argued, the worse the blizzard became.

Finally, with no end of the freezing storm in sight, one of each of the three tribes set out from their homeland to find a new place to settle.

After days of hard travel, they came upon a wondrous land none of them had seen before. The land was warm and fertile. The skies were calm and spacious. And the mountains were rich in magical gems. Each tribe, clinging to their old grudges, began to harass the others. Refusing to share the land. And all too soon, the mysterious blizzard swept across their new land, forcing them all to abandon their barely built towns, to take refuge in a cold and barren cave.

The three leaders immediately began to argue over how the small cave was to be split up, and their subjects finally saw the cause of the terrible blizzard. Windigos. Ghostly monsters that breathed ice and snow. And they saw that the more their leaders bickered, the colder and more terrible the Windigos became. Freezing the three leaders solid.

Believing their end to soon follow, the three tribes huddled together and began to tell eachother stories of their lives. Their hopes and dreams. What they lost, and what they loved about eachother. Even as the ice crystals closed in around them they found companionship. And as they began to sing and dance together, miraculously, the Windigos disappeared.

The fires of friendship spread through them all and opened up the cave. Together they left and founded a new land. A land they named, Equestria!" Peatmoss finished. Throwing his arms and wings wide in finale to the cheers and stomps of his ghost audience that had appeared around the room. Some even having pulled popcorn from the Ether to snack on as they listened to his story.

"Accolades!" shouted Windcaller as the host of pegasi faded away around him. "Accolades to the Herald Peatmoss!" Peat grinned sheepishly as he bowed to the cheering pegasus. "long hast it been since so great a performance graced these humble halls."

"Thanks." he replied. His cheeks burning as he rubbed at the back of his head. "You could say I practice every year. Heh heh."

"Verily. I hast no way of knowing what be-fell our way-word kin who hath fled south to parts unknown. Incline-eth now thine own ear. Forsooth, our tale in the north doth not carry an end so joy-est as thine."

"Back in days of yore, like thine own leaders, ours were just as bitter. Even as their fellow ponies starved, their necks ever stiffened. And they drew ever deeper into them selves. Till low, there came a day most desperate. I and my fellow Heralds, bringing forth all of our fellow tribes ponies that would follow us, forged through the wind and snow to meet atop the great hill named Gallops. There, embracing in fellowship we made our final supplication too the gods. Praying for deliverance from the howling foe. And with grace, the gods brought out from us the sparks of kinship. Together making manifest the Rainbow Warrior.

Bolstered against the cold of the Windigo's evil spell, we sallied forth, driving them back, even to the peak of the world. There, we made great battle, to once and for all banish the foe forever from the world.

But alas, before the deed could be done, a great betrayal arose from amongst us. A treachery most foul laid me and my company low, and thus shattered the Rainbow Warrior into three pieces."

"Yonder wing held by thy companion is but one piece of the Rainbow Warrior." Windcaller said, gesturing to Gene. "Collect all three together, and forge thee well the Rainbow Warrior anew in the fires of Kinship. This is the quest thou hast been sommoned to complete. If thou fail-est, then the world will be powerless to survive the Windigo King's reign. Go now. And speed thee well to Gallops Hill. There thou willst find more of like-mindedness." With that, Windcaller faded away. The room's color returning.

"-s disappointing." continued Gene as time resumes. "At least with a magic scroll you can get a few shots before it deteriorates."

"huh?" stammered Peatmoss. not remembering were he left off.

"The golden wing." said Gene, holding up the gold wing. "Well at least Abirdy's going to be glad to see this back on his shelf again."

"Oh yeah." Peat's thoughts slumping back to his talk to Windcaller. "Gene. What can you tell me about Gallops Hill?"

* * *

Once outside, the glide back down the mountain was quick. Especially with the weight of all the loot Gene had collected along the way. It turned out that Gene didn't know much about the land outside of his town of Riverdale. So he took note of the sign at the crossroads pointing the directions to Gallops Hill before heading back to town.

Staring at the heaping pile of, though useless to the two of them, valuable odds and ends that occupied the counter in Woodlyn Trader. Peatmoss had to wonder how the hay Gene could've fit it all into the two little sacks. He had even, to Peat's revulsion, remembered to bag the thief's head.

All in all, it amounted to a whopping one thousand three hundred some gold pieces. Peatmoss could only shake his head in disgust at the profit that was gained from the bloody excursion. Still, he had more than doubled his money since he left home. He was forced to see the incentive for the creatures of Crown's violent tendencies.

"Ha ha! you found it!" crowed Abirdy as he hugged the gold wing to his chest. " Funny, it seems to shine more then I remembered. Back you go to the place of honor." Turning around, he places it lovingly back at the center of the display. picking up the thief's head he inspected it. "Yup! That's the horn head." confirmed Abirdy as he turned the grisly object around in his talons. "Not so smart now, are you? I have just the place for you." he said. Eyeing an empty spot on the wall above the display. "Give me a few minutes to count out your gold." Stowing the head underneath the countertop, he unlocked a strong box and started sifting through his stash.

"So... are we splitting it or what?" asked Gene hopefully. tapping his claws together. Peat gave a sigh before answering.

"I suppose it's only fair. What do you think? Fifty fifty?" Gene gave him an overjoyed expression, but quickly hid it behind a professional mask.

"Ok. Yeah, that sounds fair." Peat could still see the $ $ in his eyes.

After splitting the profits, they left the trader's shop and went across the street to the blacksmith's shop. Gene reveled at his plans to buy a quiver of real steel arrows. Peatmoss on the other hoof, wanted to get a sheath made for his sword. As he approached, the blacksmith, a big unicorn stallion named Evergreen, turned from his work to address Peat.

"I've heard you were up in Squirestone when that dragon attacked. is that true?"

"Yes." he answered. Caught off guard by the sudden inquiry. My son was working there and it's been a day since the attack. You didn't see him get out did you?" Peatmoss felt that stone of gilt knot up his gut as he asked.

"What was his name?"

"Juniper berry. He's a unicorn. light blue, with a green mane." Peatmoss cringed and Gene gave a worried look between them.

The memories of Juniper's death replayed in Peat's mind. The two opinions of his splitting morals starting to conflict.

'Don't tell him.' warned Meadblood. 'A little lie will make this easier for everyone.'

'We can't lie!" countered Peatmoss It wouldn't be right.'

"What happened to him?" pleaded Evergreen at Peat's reaction to the name. "Where is he? please tell me." Peat bowed his head and answered.

"He's dead."

"How did he die?"

'Don't do it!' hissed Meadblood. 'Just a little lie won't hurt.'

'But Gene knows.' Peatmoss interjected. 'What kind of example will we set?'

He raised his head, looked the grieved parent in the eye, and confessed.

"I killed him. Inside the keep." The confession lifted a weight off his shoulders, though the gilt remained. But Evergreen's face morphed from sorrow to unforgiving outrage.

"You son of a whoring fog stalker!" he shouted. Grabbing a chunk of iron and hurling it. The ingot struck Peat in the chest, knocking him back a pace.

"Wait Mr Evergreen!" shouted Gene as he put himself between them. "You don't know the whole story!" Peat took to the air and flew for the north gate. Evergreen's answer fading from earshot.

"I don't care! that murderer took my son from me." He flew for a few miles. His heart stinging worse from the stallion's condemnation then the blow to his chest.

'Just one little lie was all you needed.' murmured Meadblood. He landed and looked back. 'Now we'll never be able to show our faces there again.' Hanging his head he plodded on north up the road. It was like every time he took action, some creature got hurt.

"I'm such a screw-up." muttered Peat to himself. "Ok, enough pitty partying." he huffed. "Focus on the positives. let's see. One, I didn't die. Keep that one pinned. Two, I have over six hundred gold. good for getting a place to stay. Three, I have some food, protection, and I'm still healthy." He paused in his thoughts as he approached the crossroads.

Too the left was the path up to the barrow. There was a road too the right and the main road north. He looked up at the road sign. It had a bunch of names he didn't recognize, except for the three. Squirestone, Stormhelm, and Gallops hill.

'At least I know where I need to go next.' he thought to himself. Remembering what Windcaller had told him. Iron Bloom had encouraged him to go to Gallops hill as well. Something about family or companions there able to help him settle in. Maybe they could help him on his new quest and get a better view of the politics of the Crown.

As he walked, he looked at the beautiful landscape around him. It bore a wild, natural freedom to it. In Equestria, it was kept like a garden. The Pegasi tended weather keeping the grass and foliage at optimal waterings. Restricting them from growing out of control.

Here however, the flora was left to grow free and unkempt. He could see amongst the boulders and rocks, trees in varied states of growth and decay. The over grown grass and weeds intermingled with fallen branches and scraggly bushes. The pungent smell of tree loam carpeting the undergrowth.

It all awoke an excitement deep inside him. A long lost feeling of completeness and belonging.

He was so caught up in the splendor of the moment, that he didn't take notice of the sound of approaching hoofsteps until the big brown and tan minotaur came crashing through the undergrowth. It was cradling a bundle under one arm like a football and looking back over it's shoulder as it came onto the road. Peat tried to dodge out of the way but it tripped over him. Kicking him hard in the side before falling flat.

Before Peat could recover, the minotaur was up and stuffing the object into his saddle bag.

"Hey! what are you doing?!" protested Peatmoss.

"Listen up pony!" hissed the minotaur as he lifted Peat up off his hooves by his coat collar. Glaring him in the eye. "Hold onto that. I'll be back for it later. You rat me out or lose it, I'll make you sorry." Without another word he drops Peat and runs off back into the brush. In moments, the sound of it tearing throu the forest subsided into the distance.

"Did I just get reverse pickpocketed?" he asked himself. Getting to his hooves he dusted himself off. "Guess it could have been worse. What did that minotaur put in my bag?" Before he could reach back to find out, another sound of galloping hooves came through the forest from the same direction the minotaur had come.

Peatmoss turned, bracing himself to avoid being run over again. After a few seconds, out came a tannish-cream mare with an orange mane and tail.

She wore a split-front tunic, white shirt and brown leather boots. His eyes caught hold of a bit of her tuft popping up at the vee of her neckline, but he quickly tore his eyes away hoping she hadn't noticed his gaze. At her side she had a sword that was nearly as long as her. The ponytail tied high on her head swung back and forth as she looked up and down the road before focusing on him. She scrutinized his appearance for a second before giving a look of contempt and pushing up her shirt.

'Buck!' he admonished himself. 'She must've seen.' ignoring him and turning her attention down to the ground, she followed the tracks the minotaur left in the dirt across the road.

"Lady Shikari! Where are you?" came a distant distressed shout from the direction she had come.

"I'm over here!" she called back over her shoulder. "He's close. Pick up your hooves!" With that, she plunged on into the forest. Peat looked back to see a mound of canvas bags and camping gear come blundering through the brush.

Out came a dark grey pegasus colt with a yellow mane. Besides the saddle piled high with gear, he wore nothing but a heavy metal collar around his neck, and a bridle with a lead. He collapsed on the road panting from exertion.

"Are you ok?" asked Peat in concern. trotting over to see if he could help.

"I'll be fine. I just need to," He strained to get to his hooves again for a few seconds before giving up and flopping back to the ground in defeat. "take a quick break for a few minutes." he finished with a wave of his weary hoof.

Then there came a shrill whistle from up ahead and the pegasus's head popped up again. "Sorry! Gotta go!" He desperately pushed to rise and with help from Peat, got to his hooves again. Doggedly he pressed on off the road and into the trees. After a moment in thought, Peatmoss, overcome with curiosity followed them.

Following their trail, he soon came to find them at the foot of the mountain. Where the trees thinned and gave way to rocky slopes and cliffs. As he approached, he heard the mare, Shikari grumbling.

"All this way and he doesn't have it with him. He must've used a drop spot back the way we came." Standing over the now headless minotaur, she gave it a hard kick before going to her companion collapsed on the grass. Picking up his bridle lead and tying it to her belt, she gave it a snap. "Come on. Up on your hooves." After a few seconds of him failing to stir, she gave the lead a tug with her teeth to compel him.

"Can't, huff, we take, gasp, a short, pant, break?" he weezed. Giving a feeble attempt to rise. A look of angered annoyance crossed her face.

"The longer we delay, the colder the trail gets. Now move it!" she snapped. pulling on the lead again.

"Lady Shikari. Please." he begged. "We've been tracking him, for two days straight. I can't-"

"I said, Get, Up!" she cut him off by throwing her weight against the lead. He cried out in pain as he was dragged a few feet over the rough ground.

"Hey! Stop that!" shouted Peatmoss as he ran up to stop her. "Can't you see he's worn out!? You're going to kill," Suddenly Meadblood realized she had drawn her sword in the blink of his eye and was holding it across his neck. He instantly jumped back in surprise.

"Mind your own business Helm," she growled at him around the hilt. "and I'll mind mine." For an earthpony she had been frighteningly swift and precise with her bladesmareship. "Go back to your boozehall and tend to your mug. Or Scorpan help me I'll open you from muzzle to tail." He took another step back. Her stance like that of a wild animal ready to strike. And her glare, as sharp as the edge of her sword.

"Woe now. Hold your horses." said Peatmoss. Holding up his forehooves defensively. "I don't want a fight. I get you're frustrated. I just don't want you to hurt him." This response seemed unexpected, and she eased up on her combative stance.

"It's none of your concern helm." she answered. "This out-of-shape weakling is costing me time. I'm on a job and I can't afford his lazyness."

"All I'm asking is you give him a few minutes to recover. Here, I'll even give him one of my stamina potions." She eyed him sceptically as he pulled out a green bottle and held it out to her. She gave a dismissive snort and sheathed her sword.

"Fine. But I'm not paying for it."

"Who was he?" Peat asked. Nodding at the minotaur as he administered the potion.

"A thief." she answered bluntly. Spitting at the body. "He stole something from the Jarl and I was contacted to track him down. And now that he chose death over giving up where he stashed it, I'm going to have to backtrack all the way back to town." She sat down and crossed her forehoves as she scowled at the minotaur's corpse.

"Well when he ran into me back on the road, he stuffed this bundle into my bag and told me to hold onto it." digging out the bundle, He held it out to her. "Is this what you're looking for?" She looked over the package before taking it and undoing the laceing binding the brown canvas cloth.

Pushing away the fabric, it revealed a blueish green cristal chalice. It was gilded with gold and studded with blue and red gems. Around the silvery band was runes etched in fine swirling designs. It definitely looked fit for a king's treasury. After a few seconds of looking it over, she rewrapped it and stuffed it down the front of her tunic. Giving Peat another brief glimpse of her generous tuft. He felt his wings give a responding need to fluff. He quickly turned his head to his hooves as he fiddled with the empty potion bottle.

'Get ahold of yourself Peat!' he chastised himself. 'You don't want to come off as some kind of creep.'

"Well?" she suddenly asked. He snapped his head back to her as she placed her hoof on her chest. "What do you want for it?"

At that moment he felt a rush of panic. his colt-ish mind jumbling her question to translate too, "Do you want it?"

"I, ee, ye, uh, duh?" he stammered. His cheeks on fire as the bottle tumbles from his grasp. She rolled her blue eyes and gave a sigh. Her tone lending evidence to her fraying patience. 'Good Goddesses.' he threw up in his mind. Wishing she would've mercifully cut his head off rather than allow him to be this jibbering mess before her.

"I meant, how much money do you want for helping me return it?"

"Nuh, nothing at all." 'Kill me.'

"Nothing?" she asked. Cocking her eyebrow.

"Yup." 'Death please' "I I just know if I lost it I would want it back." 'Celestia take me now!'

"Do you have any clue what this chalice is? What it's worth?" Peat just clammed up and shook his head. "This cup is an ancient unicornian artifact capable of magically changing any drink you pour in to it, into fine wine."

"Oh."

"And you're just giving it to me?"

"Heh. To be honest, I just got finished with a similar quest, chasing down a thief through a dungeon to retrieve a gold wing that was stolen from the shop keeper, and return it to him in the town back up that way. So, one might say we're in the same business. And if our places were swapped, I would think I could expect the same of you?" She just crossed her hooves over her chest and narrowed her eyes. "Right?" She leaned back away from him, allowing his question to hang in the air till the pause drifted into awkward silence. "Oh."

He looked down at his hooves as he rubbed them together. Her posture for all the world asking, "Is this pony crazy or just plain stupid?"

"You're not from around here, are you."

'Good Goddess. Instead of a creep, she sees me as some kind of mental patient.' His wings just flop to the ground, as he sighs in dejection.

"Words to the wise," Shikari says, getting to her hooves. Her tone that of a mother to a foolish foal. "you're not in Equestria anymore. Most ponies out here in the wilderness, if you're a drifter, well, let's just say if you wave to someone, they're sooner going to put an arrow between your eyes then wave back." She emphasized her statement by reaching out and jabbing him in the forehead with her hoof tip. "You're lucky you ran into me sooner rather than later. I suggest you get yourself to a town or hold capital. Get a job and surround yourself with ponies that would give a shit if you go missing. Or at least pay to track down were your sorry plot got dumped."

"Yeah. Thanks for the advice."

"Are you rested enough to get back home yet Bolt?" she asked the pack pony.

"Yes my lady" he answered. Grunting as he got to his hooves. Together they moved off the back the way Peatmoss had come. Getting up, he starts off dragging his wings back towards the road.

"Ah, hey." Shikari calls to him from the edge of the treeline. Pausing, he looks back to her. "Listen, I know this is noway near worth what you did for me but, if you're ever down near Jaegervale in need of a warm bed, I own a inn there called the Bloated Mare. Tell the Keeper there Lady Shikari sent you. They'll see to it you get a safe place to sleep for the night. Till then, safe travels." With that she gives a wave and moves off into the forest.

'Well, at least I turned some one's misfortune around.' he thinks to himself as he waves back and continues on.

* * *

After a couple hours of trotting along the road, he reaches the end of the valley. Down the road the mountains curl away and he sees the vast grasslands stretch out before him.

Following the road with his eyes, he sees it wind down by a small river, across a stone bridge, and out thru the ocean of green till it rises again at a stone wall surrounding a city set on the hill. Gallops Hill consisted of three gradual tiers. Atop the foremost crest sat a tall structure of wooden beams and thick thatching.

All that open air, after the long trot thru the forest land, hemmed in by the encompassing trees, he was overcome with the urge to spread his wings and soar out across the flowing fields of green.

Crouching as he extended his wings, then thrust himself into the sky. With a few strong flaps, he gained speed enough to do a quick roll and swoop down close enough to the river to hear it's gurgling song. Giving a loud chuckle, he rose higher and banked left then right, taking in the early summer crops laid out below. They were cut up into irregular squares and angular shapes by narrow hoof paths to connect them to the main road. On a lark, he flew down as close as he could to the tight, orderly rows of what he assumed was wheat or barley. Looking back, he laughed as he saw the tall, closely packed stalks make a vee shaped wave out to eather side of him as he passed. Reaching the edge of one large field, he brought himself up short and flipped around intending to do it again, but somepony shouting caused him to pause.

"Hey you! Yeah you with the green mane!" Turning his head about to triangulate the direction, he spotted a Earth pony off to his right on a hoof path waveing his forehooves in the air. flying over to him he asked.

"Hey there. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?!" he echoed in a yell, bordering on a screech of anger as his tan and brown face turned red. "Who do you think you are?! Dive-bombing out of the sky and stomping all over our crops?!"

"I wasn't going to land. I was just," Peat tried to explain in a calming tone, but was abruptly cutoff by the irate pony as he went on.

"Hog manure! I saw you! You think, just because you can fly, you can flop down and roll around were ever you please."

"But I wasn't," he was cut off again as the pony continues his rant.

"Yes you were! I saw it all! You were all like, "I'm a stupid paguses. I can't see where I'm going. Hurp a derp a doop a dip." Peatmoss narrowed his eyes in annoyance as the pony proceeded to do a mocking impression, moving about on his haunches, his eyes crossed, Tongue out, and flapping his forelegs comically. "But not today! You're lucky I'm not calling the town guard on you!"

"Look mister, I was just,"

"Typical, stupid sky skeever! Your kind just drop out of the sky and trample anywhere you please. Then when winter comes around, You're all like, "Where's all the food? you dumb mud ponies didn't plant enough." Then the moment we turn our backs, you grab up all you can and fly off." Peat just hovers there, crossing his forehooves and waits for the crazy pony to run out of steam.

"That's it! Isn't it?" he shouts in accusation. Jabbing a hoof at Peat "You thought you could swoop down a steal a quick snack! Even if it's not harvest time yet! Oh but you didn't count on me being here to catch you. Did you?! You know what, I am going to call the guard! See how smart you feel when your spending the winter in a dungeon cell with nothing to eat but a single bowl of rotten gruel a day. Won't feel too clever then I'd wager."

'Geez.' thought Peatmoss as he floated there. 'Next he'll accuse me of trying to carry off the entire town in the night.' Quickly he came to the conclusion that this pony had made up his mind what he thought he saw, and wasn't going to hear anything Peat wanted to say. "Ok. It was nice chatting with you. Bye bye." he said in a sarcastically cheery tone and flew off across the field towards the main road. The shouts and screams fading behind him.

"Hey! Where do you think your going?! Get back here! I'm going to..." After a few minutes of flying, he touched down on the road and decided to walk the rest of the way to avoid any other crazy pony's accusations. But after another few minutes of trotting, as he passed nearby a pair of large houses to his left, he is again hailed.

"Hey you! With the thing!" Giving a groan of annoyance he stopped to look around and spotted a yellow coat, and brown maned filly galloping towards him. "You're one of those ponies that kill things." she said running up to him panting. "The warrior type from the place in town?"

"Well I," he stared to say, confused

"Yeah yeah." she said. Waveing away his response. "We've been waiting for one of you guys for days now. Come on." She insisted. Beckoning with a hoof to follow.

"Now wait a second. I think you're confusing," he stammered

"Oh no you don't!" she said with resolve. Darting around behind him, she butted him towards the house. "You're not pulling that again. You're here now so do your job!" she insisted. Jabbing his rear with her hoof.

"Ok! Ok! Stop it." he whined. stumbling forwards. He hated getting poked. Another thing his brothers liked to do to invoke a reaction from him. At least it was a filly this time so it didn't bother him quite so much.

The house was tall and square with a little structure connecting it to the broader one nextdoor. On the outside was nailed a large sign. And written across the top in big letters was Buzzy's Brew, and on the bottom was Meadery. in the center was a cute cartoon filly wearing a bee costume. Snuggled in her forelegs was a fat, round honey bee.

Shoving him through the door she proceeded to yell.

"Ma! Hey ma! I found one!" Popping up from behind a counter an aged mare with similar palette responded.

"Well it's about dang blasted time ya showed up! Another day and another batch would be ruined!" Hobbling over to a large door, she unbars it and swings it open to reveal a darkened stairwell descending down. Without further instructions, the filly shoves him thru it.

"Now hold on!" shouts Peatmoss spinning around and wedging himself in the doorjamb before they can slam it shut on him. "What exactly do you need me to do down here?!"

"There's a humongous spider down there. Kill it!" With one last shove, Peat allows them to dislodge him and close the door.

"Spider huh?" he mutters to him self as he turns and walks down the short stairwell to a cooler, lower floor. "I can deal with that."

Looking around, he saw the entire neighboring house was one big room with tall thin windows letting in just enough sunlight to see. In the upper rafters, on a lattice of scaffolding sat three giant wooden vats accessed by a central block and tackle pulley system lift. The second lower level held several smaller vats, half the size of the ones above. The bottom level, which was lined with cool stones, sat hundreds of bottles and stoneware jugs of various sizes and shapes. To his right was a cellar door, which was framed in old stonework, lead deeper into the Meadery. It appeared to be locked with a big iron padlock hanging off it's latches. Further to the back of the room, under the scaffolding, stood rows of narrow shelving. Each one filled with empty bottles and jugs, but no obvious evidence of the eight legged intruder.

The air was full of a heavy sweet smell of honey, and the bubbling belches of the water locks on the vats above. Taking in that lovely scent of liquid gold reminded him of the night he spent out on the tundra outside Crown. With a fond sigh, he goes about inspecting the room for signs of the pest he was sent after.

It appeared that the ponies upstairs had been in the middle of bottling one of the upper vats when they had abandon the room. Because many of the filled bottles had been left uncorked, and the one under the pipe coming down from above had overflowed and left a golden sticky stream down to a big drain in the middle of the floor. The iron drain grate was knocked askew, no doubt the method of entry by the creepy crawly. Trotting over to the cellar door, he gives it a test pull. Sure enough, it's locked tight.

Seeing no other signs of the spider, Peat took wing and jumped up to the hanging lift. It rattled and swayed, but seemed to be locked in place at the second level. Continuing up to the third, he jumped and flitted around each of the large vats, but found only cobwebs amongst the wood beams and up in the corners. Fine strands from tiny spiders. Not the thick fibers he was looking for. Working his way down, all that was left to check was the shelves at the bottom.

Sure enough, back in the corner he found it's den. A dead rat swung just above it wrapped up in silk. Like the ones he fought before, it had built up a tube of silk about four hooves wide. Too small for him to enter so he began to poke at the silk to coax it out.

"All right. Eviction notice. Come on out." After a few pokes, it came to the entrance suddenly and froze. "Aw, you're just a little one." He lowered his sword. "Come on out and go back down the drain and I'll let you live." Stepping back, he shooed it towards the drain. "Come on. Come on." He said in a soothing tone. But instead it skittered back into it's nest.

Sighing, Peatmoss went back in and using his sword he began to cut around the hole and collapse the entrance. Stamping it down, he pulled away the bottles that it was attached to. Hoping to use it's den like a sack, he pulled it out of the corner, when suddenly it tore open. Like a jack in the box, out jumped the spider, leaping right at his face.

Meadblood threw up his forehooves just in time to stop it, as the arachnid drove him back into a shelf. The empty bottles rattled ominously, threatening to fall and smash on the stone floor.

Meadblood growled as the spider's venomous fangs reached for his muzzle. It's clawed legs hooking into his head and sides. Flaring his wings, he felt his way out to open space and leaped into the air. The gravity pulling the spider under him, he kicked as hard as he could with his rear hooves at it's abdomen. The spider squealed and sprayed him with webbing.

"Arg!" yelled Meadblood in anger and he dropped to the ground, slamming the spider beneath him into the stone floor. Pushing his forelegs wide, he shoved clawed legs off him and swiftly stomped with his right forehoof. Right on it's thorax where the spider's legs converged on it's underside. It squealed again as it's carapace began to shatter. Striking again, it's shell broke like the shell of a boiled egg. As it's legs began to spasm, he brought himself up and threw all his weight into one final stomp. CRUNCH!

Peatmoss fell back panting and watched the spider slowly go still as it gave it's final death twitches.

"That's what you get for not cooperating!" he huffs from exertion. After a few minutes of resting, he brushes the webbing off his rear legs and plods up the stairs to the door and knocks.

"Alright! Job's done. Spider's dead. You can unlock the door now."

"Are you sure?" came a reply.

"As sugar!" he affirmed. Glancing back at the smashed corpse on the floor. "You can come see for yourself if you like." There's a click and rattle from the door unlocking before it opens enough for the filly from before to peek through. Her eyes rove over him, noticing the stray strands of webbing and spatters of green ooze smeared on his chest and chin.

"Ok." she says with a resigned look. Opening the door and pushing past him. "Let's see what the damage is." Trotting down she begins to inspect the room. Giving the dead spider a wide berth. "Wow." she remarks with a surprised look. "You Mighty Helms don't usually leave a room so clean."

"What do you mean?" Peatmoss asked, confused.

"Oh. Ah. Well." she answered with an apprehensive look. "No offense, but a lot of ponies say you Mighty Helms often do more collateral damage then necessary." Then she suddenly takes on a frightened look. Waving her forehooves in front of herself. "Ah! not me of course! Ah ha ha ha." she finishes with a nervous laugh.

"No offense taken." he reassured. Kicking a hoof idly. "Honestly, I'm not even a real member. I just met one down south and was hoping to join them."

"Oh. Well that explains it." she said. Glancing in annoyance at the dead spider. "We've been waiting for them to show up for a week now. Thought we may have to dump another batch soon. I suppose since you beat them to it, you can have their pay. With a little something extra for not destroying the place." she said with a smile. "But before you go. Can you, take care of, that?" she asked. Gesturing to the spider corpse.

"Sure."

"Great!" she said as she trotted back up the stairs. "I'll go tell Ma the good news. Come on up when you're done.

Shoving the spider down the drain hole, he pulled the grate back in to place and stomped it down tight. Below he could hear the squeaking of rats thanking him for the treat before he made his way up the stairs.

* * *

Leaving the Buzzy's Brew Meadery, now with nearly nine hundred gold pieces in his saddlebags, he trotted with a bounce to his step. Partially from the satisfaction of a good job well done, and partially from a swig of sweet mead rolling in his belly. Around his neck hung a medallion bearing the Meadery's logo. A souvenir he bought to commemorate his triumph.

"Ah ha ha." he laughed joyfully. Feeling that happy, tingle in his bones he had experienced outside Crown under the stars. All those days ago. In the distance he could see the city gates. The place Windcaller had prophesied he would find friends to help him fulfill his destiny and drive off the Windigos.

"Help! Somepony help!" a call reached his ears from over the next rise.

"But first!" he declared to himself. "There's evil work ahoof. Meadblood to the rescue!" He galloped over the rise but skidded to a stop as he saw a small garden plot was under attack by a big hairy elephant.

It had stomped over a short stone border wall and was wandering across the soft soil to tare up what looked like young cabbages to stuff into it's mouth. At the side of the garden, a poor mare sat wailing. Tears streaming from her eyes as the beast ravished her defenseless plants.

"He's eating my Babies! Somepony please save my babies!"

'A bit bigger than a spider.' Peatmoss thought to himself. 'Maybe if I give it a few good jabs it'll leave.' Flying up to the beast he pokes it with his sword. "Hey! Hey you. You can't eat," He was forced to dodge away as it's trunk swung up nearly hitting him. "Hey watch it! You coulda," SMACK!

The trunk came back, catching him right in the middle, sending him tumbling through the air. Peat barely recovered before he hit the ground. Shaking off the hit, he looked up to see the elephant baring down on him. Scrambling to avoid being trampled, he made a desperate dash to it's side. But much faster than anything that big should be allowed to move, it teed up and struck him with it's tusk. As Peatmoss sailed through the air, he swore he heard somepony shouting, "FOUR!"

It took him a few seconds to dislodge himself from the furrow his body had made in the tufted tundra. Coughing and spitting up clods of dirt and roots, he noticed that the ground was starting to shake more and more. Looking back, he saw the big hairy beast approaching to fix his divot.

"Sword! Sword! Where's my sword!?" he shouted at himself, casting about till he spotted it stuck in the ground. Grabbing it between his hooves, he rolled over just in time to fend off being trampled. Instead the elephant just swung it's trunk, hitting the flat of the blade. With a pitiful TWANG! The top half of the sword went sailing away. Peatmoss stared in shock at the broken weapon, then up at the elephant rearing up on it's hindlegs. about to do to him what he had done to the spider not but an hour ago.

Then, a big rock about three hooves wide came flying through the air and struck the elephant in the side of the head. Peat used the opportunity to skitter away and saw four ponies in familiar brown canvas coats with light color fur linings. On their heads they wore heavy iron helmets with prominent brow lines, and small wings coming out either side, swept back to guard their ears. Roaring war cries, they surrounded the beast and one picked up the fallen rock and tossed it up at the elephant's head again. It bounced off to another of the group and they caught it, spun around and tossed it back up at the elephant. This went on from one to the next.

Peatmoss watched in fascination and clopped his hooves together in praise. The next one to catch it glanced in his direction before tossing it again. The rock bounced off the now staggering elephant and Peat jumped back in surprise as it thudded into the ground at his hooves. Looking back at the mare who had just thrown it, he saw her waving her forehooves at the dazed beast and shouted.

"Toss it! Toss it!" The others join in, chanting for him to toss it at the elephant. Waving their hooves excitedly. Wrapping his forehooves around the stone, he grunts as it leaves the ground. Then with as mighty a heave he can muster, it flew through the air and landed anticlimactically four hooves away. The four ponies stared in dumb silence at his pathetic toss.

"The hay kina toss wos thaa?" shouted the mare in indignation.

Meanwhile, the elephant shook off it's stun and began stamping the ground in rage.

"Alright! Weapons free!" the mare declared. Pulling out an iron mace and holding it aloft in her teeth with a howl. The other three did the same with their own heavy, sharp weapons. Joining her howl and charging the raging animal. Together, they leaped in and back. Striking, then dodging back to avoid any return hits. And soon, they all stood atop their defeated foe, cheering and waving their weapons aloft.

"Yay." called Peat halfheartedly as he winces at the twinge in his back from the recent over exertion he had foalishly put on it. Glaring, the mare jumps down and marches up to him. She shoves him so hard he is thrown onto his back as she proceeds to shout down at him.

"Alright ye nunkey! Where'd ya git tha coot?!" Peat just stares up at her in confusion.

"Tha Coot! Tha Coot!" she yells louder. Jabbing him in the stomach, "Where'd ye steel tha coot from ye feather backed hootenanny?" she finishes. Hooking his collar with her hoof and lifting him up, shaking him roughly.

"It was given to me!"

"Fat gob a lies tha is!" she snorts. dropping him to the ground as the others gather around. "I'd wagea ya shived ah, an pinched er coot while she bled out. Ya cowardly sky skeevea."

"Or maybe he jus likes dressin in little filly's clothes. Eh Ax Haft?" said the big green buck across from her, pointing out the embroidery designs amongst the latticework of quilting.

"Oh! Is tha it Mace Head?" Ax Haft asked. Regarding Peat's outfit. "Aye! Tha be little Bloom's coot. A vicious grin crawled across her purple face as she dropped her hoof non to gently on his colthood and leaned in. "Fancy ya self a mare do ye? Ya crossdressin slop bucket."

"N-no!" Peatmoss strained as the pressure built. "At Squirestone! We were going to be executed! Dragon attacked! We fled into the keep. She got shot in the gut." he squirmed desperately to get free of Ax's hoof. "I had nothing. Before she died, told me to take her coat for protection. Said to me, if anypony asked, tell them it's her coat and she gives it to who she likes! Please!" he gasped. Now intimately aware of the heavy iron sabots she had shod to her hoof. "Garard! Her friend, was there to witness it! I swear!" She pauses her press to chew over his explanation.

"Garard. What's he look like?"

"Big griffin. Blue head, rusty white colored plumage and tan paws."

She eyed him suspiciously for a few seconds, before snorting and stepping back to allow him to get up.

"Old up." snapped Mace at Ax. "Ye ain't gonna jus swalla the ores shite of aah flyin feather bed are ye?!"

"Ach. Is story a mite to sure fer an off the hoof lie. Side's, ah ain't worried to much aboot no fog stalka gettn one ore Tin Horn." Mace gives her words a thought, then turns his glare down at Peat with a growl.

"Ah still dona like no limp hoof, feather dusta in a clan!" he barked. Advancing on Peatmoss. "Wha makes ye tink ye has any right ta join the Mighty Helms? Ya dirt nosed, grass wearin, Mc dodo!" Suddenly a pang of outrage came over Peat at the big buck's antagonism.

"Hey! I admit I don't know much about your gang, or even if I'd want to join. But given what I've learned from Iron Bloom, I thought I'd find a more respectable lot, Instead of a pack of the uncivil, foul mouths I've just met. Especially when it comes to the pony who brings them news of her passing."

"Ooo." chorus the two to either side of him.

"Ah. So jus cause ya have high flutin morales, ya thinks yer better than everypony else? Ye hat swipin, lightnin thrower." mace prods. Stepping up close. "Little Bloom musta got real soft in the head if-n she put er trust in a rainbow pissin, cloud bucker like ye!" Peatmoss felt a wave of heat wash over his face at the insults. The others just snickered around him.

"What did I ever do to you to make you such a jerk?" Mace Head gave a smerk as the audience rated Peat's question with a round of raspberries.

"Who do ye think ye are, some kind of hero? Is that shabby scrap oh metal layin in the dirt yours?" Mace asked. completely ignoring Peat's question and pointing at the broken sword laying at his hooves. "Ya be better off swingin a tree branch around instead of that rusty hunk of lead. Ya wobbly hoofed nunkey." Again the other ponies give him a round of chuckles at the insults.

'Let me at him.' growls Meadblood in the back of Peat's mind.

"I'll have you know, I'm actually on a very important quest to save the world. So you can keep your stupid club to yourself you big green lump!" His retort earns him more raspberries.

"Is tha so? What's her name? Maybe I've heard of it. Ya mudfaced, moss backed, road apple." Mace says as he swings his hoof out to bat at Peat's green, still dirt speckled mane. His insults continuing to earn him laughs. At that denigration, Peat's anger blossoms.

"I'm P..." he catches himself, not wanting to say his real name after such a humiliating comparison to poop. "Meadblood! And I've been chosen to be the Herald of the Rainbow Warrior by Windcaller himself!" The Mighty Helms all stare at him with looks of surprise for a second before throwing their heads back in laughter. One actually rolling into his back and kicking at the air.

"You?! The Mead blooded?! Haw haw haw!" guffawed Mace "You're not even half the size of me Nan. Haw haw haw!"

"Maybe, heh heh. Maybe he fell off a cloud, heh heh. And landed on his head. heh heh heh!" joined in Ax Haft. Stamping the ground with a forehoof.

"I am Mead Blood!" he shouts in defiance. Spreading his wings in a menacing stance.

"If that's true, and you really are The Mead blooded." Mace said as he took on a sudden serious tone. "I've heard a prophecy about you."

"Really, a prophecy? What prophecy?"

"Oh aye. Somethin about," Mace paused dramatically. Tapping at his chin with a hoof. "Bein the worst tosser of all time!" he blurted out. Renewing the laughter of his companions. Meadblood just sank into an even glare as his rising anger smoldered. "As if ye could do anythin with these limp noodley limbs oh yours." he grabbed one of Peat's hooves and gave it a wiggle. "Ye've got ta be the sorryest waste of bones an blood I've ever saw.

Meadblood just stood there in their midst, a board glare masking the seething rage within. A flame of anger hotter then he had ever felt before. Then slowly, a wicked grin spread across his face as he began to laugh. A low snicker at first, but growing deeper and more baleful by the second till it had bloomed to a full-throated cackle. Killing the laughs of the four around him.

"Ha ha haa! And what about you? At least my name comes with a great story. Ay Macehead? How in Tirik's name did you get a stupid name like that? Ya great green schmuck!" The ponies look between him and Mace, confused over the sudden change in Peat's demeanor. But before he can stammer out a response, Mead blood steamrolls on.

"Is it because you're an overweight, dull, clumsy, unbalanced, ignoramus? Or maybe it's because you're so boneheaded, that the only thing you're good for is smashing anything you sit on. You walleyed, scruffy, dumbbell."

Mace just stared with his mouth hanging open. The deluge of disparaging names that poure from Meadblood's mouth causes him to take a step back.

"But let's not stop there. Just look at what you have on your belt! Not even a mace! It's an ax! What? Did you grab the rong weapon because you were in a hurry? Did your Nan take too long buttoning up your coat for you? You simple minded, half witted, blockhead!" With that, they all stare in silence.

Realizing he was falling behind, Mace opens his mouth but only sputters out a half though out sentence. His mind fumbling to come up with a way to upstage his opponent.

"Mead blood! Mead blood!" the others begin to chant. Slowly at first, but getting louder as Mace continues to stutter.

"Y-ye stupid weaklin... You little weak, um, dirt, weaklin." he tries, but is drowned out by the rising chant.

"Mead blood! Mead blood!" Meadblood fluffs his feathers and sticks out his chest. Grinning in victory.

"Grah!" roars Macehead "Nopony calls me stupid! We'll see ow smart ya feels after I trample ye ta dust!" Rearing up, Macehead charges him. But before he can reach him, Meadblood beats his wings and sends a gust of wind at Mace. It blasts him so hard in the chest that it pushes him up onto his back legs, tipping him over just enough to cause him to fall down on his back.

Peatmoss stares in surprise at the unexpected results of his move, as Mace flails his hooves in the air.

"No fair! He cheated!" shouted the green buck. The others just laugh at him as he scrambles to get back on his hooves. "He used his wings! He's a cheater!"

"Whoa! Whoa there Macy." interjected Ax Haft as she got between them.

"Ye saw im. He cheated! Fight me fare sky skeever! no wings allowed!"

"Easy there Macehead. Save it for the colosseum. Ye'll get yer rematch. An all oh us can get a good show."

"Ya cana be thinkin oh lettin this featherback in ta Rossvaskr?" he protests.

"Oh I ain't worried. E'll have ta get passed ole Bernie first." she reassures with a grin. "Ye can guess ow she's gonna take this news." he blinks, then shares her knowing grin.

"Oh aye. She'll soon clear this up. I'd wager she'll av this slimy little barnacle out of his shell right quick."

"Oy! Mates, look at this!" shouts one of the Helms to Peat's left. They all look to see him pointing out a slow stream of yellow sticky liquid trickling down the barrel strap of Peat's saddle bag, and dripping to the ground.

"Oh, not again?!" cries Peat as he pulls off his bag and upends it. Sure enough, he finds broken shards of crockery from the bottle he had just got from the Meadery. The Mighty Helms stand there aghast. Watching him in fascination as he lays bare all his possessions at their hooves.

They exchange uncomfortable glances between themselves before retreating into a huddle. Peatmoss, oblivious to their collective reaction, grumbles to himself as he sorts out his things and organizes them back into his bag.

He finishes just as they break and turn their attention to the dead mammoth. He watched in morbid curiosity as they set about cutting up the beast. Breaking it down for it's valuable parts. he is interrupted from the grizzly show as Ax Haft hoofs him in the shoulder to get his attention.

"Oy, Mead blooded. If ye want ta join the clan, yer gonna need ta av a chat with Ole Tinhorn up at Rossvaskr. Near the rimward side of Gallops Hill. Ee has a gift oh knowin the measure of ponies jus by lookin em ore. Go see im, an he'll give ye a decent shake." she finishes making to go, but remembering something, she turns back.

"Ah. Ya may wanna see the blacksmith afore ye do. Macehead is gonna be expectin a rematch whens ye gets there." she says, as she hoofs over the broken pieces of his blade. "Ole Burnished Bronze ll ave somethin ye can buy with all that gold ye've been toten aboot. She'll fix ye up real good." Ax finishes with a devious smile.

"Uh, thanks." he answers. Not sure of her implication.

Looking down over his ruined weapon, he laments it's loss. His first sword he really had gotten attached to. He stuck the two broken sides together and speculated how it could possibly be fixed. Knowing he couldn't just will it back together, he sighs and packs it away.

Looking up, he finds the mammoth has already been stripped down to the red smeared bones. Glancing about, he sees the Helms trotting away. Their packs filled with still steaming meat as they disappear over the next rise.

Making his way up the gentle slope of the main road, it followed a part of the stone wall to his right. To his left, a low, partially crumbled rock wall, serving more as a retaining wall then defensive, guided him up to a sharp switchback. There, it lead across a drawbridge spanning a resivuore, through a portcullis gateway, and curved back to a main gate, closed off by two huge wood doors.

Before them stood two stallion guards and a Griffin. All wore a matching color and style barding. It was very similar to that of the Stormwing's chainmail and padding, except it was dyed in the Gallops Hill, straw yellow and tan. On their heads they wore wide brimmed, kettle style, metal hats with bright yellow plooms sticking up out of the top of the helmet. On their barding and shields was painted a stylized bust of a rearing stallion in white. The same as he had seen on the fluttering banners he had seen on the ramparts as he came up.

The two stallion guards stood resolutely to ether side of the doorway with their spears leaning out to cross the door. While the Griffin sat on the step. Seeing him approaching, the Griffin rose and came down the short stairway to the threshold of the gate to meet Peatmoss.

"Hold. What's your name, and what business do you have on Gallop's Hill?" he asked as he pulled out a crudely bound bundle of papers and pencil.

"My name is, Meadblood. And I was summoned by Windcaller to defeat the Windigos." The guard paused in his transcript to look down at the strange pegasus.

"Uh-huh? And...?" The look from the guard suddenly made him think he just might come off as crazy if he continued to talk to strangers about ghosts, Windigos, and stories of destiny.

"Aaand, I was told I could find a blacksmith to fix me a sword. Uhh. fix my sword." he finishes with a, I'm not a crazy pony, smile.

"Are you new to town?"

"Uh, yes." The guard rolls his eyes and gave a long-suffering sigh.

"First rule." The guard began, closing the book and holding up his one talon. "No flying within or over the wall. If you're caught flying anywhere higher then above shoulder hight, you will be charged with trespassing and put to death. Understand?" Peat nods

"Second rule." he goes on, raising his second talon. "When a guard tells you to do something, you do it. No questions. No ifs, or buts. When you don't comply, you will be charged with disrespect of the guard, and be put to death. Disrespect the law, and you disrespect me. Got it?" Peat nods again.

"Third rule." The guard puts up his third talon. "No, stealing." he emphasizes by jabbing Peat's chest with his talon. "If you are seen with something that doesn't belong to you, or things start disappearing around you, you will be charged with theft, and put to death. Understand?"

"Yes. Is there any rules that don't end in death?" The guard's eyes narrow.

"Do you remember what I said about the second rule?" the Griffin asked. Placing his claw on his sword hilt.

"No! No. I mean yes. I remember." Peatmoss stammered backing up a step. "I'll be a good pony."

"See that you do. Sky skeever." he mutters as he turns and climbs the steps to the door. with a wave of his claw, the guard ponies retract their spears and the Griffin pulls the door open just wide enough for Peat to slip through. He glances back to see the guard point at his eyes, then at Peat before pushing the door shut again.

"Alright. No flying. Do as you're told. And no stealing." he repeats to himself several times. "That shouldn't be too hard to do."

Trotting in he spots the blacksmith sign to his right. Just inside the gate like Ax Haft had said. Out front, under a wood-shingled awning stood a finely dressed unicorn stallion, speaking to a large, tan and auburn earthpony mare seated at a work table strewn with pieces of metal and stripes of leather. As he approached, he overheard their conversation.

"All I'm asking is you complete at least fifty by the end of the month. Most blacksmiths can do more then that in a week." pleads the unicorn.

"And I'm telling ya, I've already got me hooves full keepin up with the hold's usual maintenance on everythin from hauberk mendin, to replacement spearheads." Retorts the mare. "Not ta mention the Jarl's regular monthly order of arrow heads. I'm swamped! Why donna ya ask Iron Blood fer help ifn ya need it so bad?"

"Iron Blood?!" the unicorn exclaims. "You know why I can't. He's one of the natives. He might sabotage whatever he produces. I can't present faulty equipment to the,"

"Iron Blood's work is superior to anypony's craft, this side of the rim!" the mare shouts. Cutting him off with her big hoof slamming down on the table. "If you were to give him a good reason to forge for you, anything he makes I would trust with my life!"

"Ok. Ok." he says as he puts his hoof up in a calming gesture. "I just thought, since you were a fellow Equestrian born pony you,"

"I left Equestria for me own damned reasons!" she hissed in a low voice. "My loyalties lay with the good ponies of Crown! They gave me a good honest job, a home, an a family of me own. An I'm not gonna toss them under the carriage jus fer ye ta av more weapons so ya can force them to live by yer rules.

"Alright. Ok. You've made your point." conceded the unicorn. "I'll go and see what he has to say. I had no intent to make it personal." The mare gave an annoyed snort and slumped back onto her haunches. She watches him trot off before giving a shake of her head and returning to her work.

Peatmoss stands there for a few minutes just watching her work in fascination. Using just her hooves and muzzle, she wrapped a thin strip of wet leather around the handle of a steel sword. She grimaces as the brown leather smears and stains her tan muzzle. Holding it in place with a hoof as she spits to the side. Picking up a needle, threaded with a thick, waxed thread, she carefully coaxes it through some prepunched holes before pulling it tight. Sowing it together firmly.

Releasing it from the wood clamp, she looks it over, appraising her craftsmareship. Then she notices him watching her. Her eyes rove over him till she sees his coat. Slamming the sword down, she jumps up from her seat and marches right at him with a glare of angry resolve in her eyes.

Before Peat can even open his mouth to say anything, she thrusts her muzzle into his face and growls.

"Where did ya get that coat ya stinkin skyrat?!" With his vision filled with the look of a giant, irate mother about to gobble him up, he whimpers.

"I didn't steal it! It was given to me I promise! Please don't crush me!" Her heterochromatic eyes, one larger one green, the other yellow, bore into his skull, filling him with dread. They narrow with suspicion. "Iron Bloom said I should take it and go to Rossvaskr. She said I would be welcome there. I swear it's the truth. You have ta believe me."

She then suddenly wrapped her big hoof across his withers and he didn't resist as she forced him to the ground. Bitting onto the nape of his crest, she carried him off the street to the back of the shop like a cat with her kitten. Once out of sight of the street, she dropped him and pinned him back up against the wall with her big hoof.

"What happened to her? Where's Iron Bloom? Tell, me, everything!" She shouted, finishing in a menacing growl. Without needing any second bidding, Peat spilled his guts.

He told her everything from the moment he entered Crown, to his arrival at Gallops Hill. Suspicion at his account of the ambush in Southrim. Judging at the mention of the summary executions at Squirestone. Disbelief about the dragon's attack. Intense attention to Iron Bloom's last words and death. After that, her gaze turned distant and forlorn. Perking once in wonder at his encounter with the ghost of Windcaller in Featherfall Barrow. But falling again as he went on about his numerous encounters along the road to town.

"And then I arrived here. Ax Haft said I should stop in here for a new weapon. I was hoping that you might be able to fix my sword, or sell me one just as good. She managed a insincere nod, but then shook her head.

"I, I'm sorry. Give me a moment." she stuttered, turning and managing a few hoofsteps away before breaking down and crying in stifled sobs.

Not really understanding the reason for her reaction, Peatmoss just stared at his hooves, tapping their tips together. He felt an urge to comfort her, but uncertainty stayed his hooves, so he simply sat there feeling useless. After a few minutes, her weeping tapered off and she sniffed and wiped her muzzle before turning back.

"I'm sorry." she said, still fighting back her tears. "I was hoping, but when I saw you wearing her coat, I thought you may have, I'm sorry." she broke off as she scrubbed at her face with her hooves. Sobs threatening to bubble up and spring anew.

"I had no idea Iron Bloom meant so much to so many ponies." Peat spoke up. Trying to give her more time to compose herself. "I, still don't understand what caused her to gift me her coat. We didn't know eachother, and the little time I was with her, I couldn't talk on account of my broken jaw. I would like to think we could've been friends if we were able to travel together. But, well, she's gone to a better place now." The mare just stared sadly at the ground and nodded in agreement.

"Iron Bloom was my only daughter. She used to help me here in my shop when she was old enough. After awhile she started spendin more of her time up at Rossvaskr with her dad. Joined the Mighty Helms. Did alot of good for alot of ponies. But then the war started. Got ta talkin about joinin up. Things were really looking good for Balgriff's cause. She believed his vision fer Crown would be better for everyone. But when the Equestrians showed up, everythin for the rebels turned sour. She got frustrated at the Helms for not picking a side, and decided to leave and join the Stormwings. I tried to talk her out of it, but she was just as boneheaded as I was at her age. That day, I knew in me heart, I would never see her again."

After hearing her story, Peatmoss was moved to action. Undoing the buttons to the coat, he pulled it off. Folding it as best he could, he held it out to her. She looked at it, then gave him a questioning look.

"Go on, take it." he said. "It's clear that she meant alot to you. I never really deserved it. It's best to have it returned to her family, then be left in the hooves of some nopony." She took it with some hesitancy.

"Thank ya." she says in a near whisper as she traces the embroidered designs of the patches with her hoof. Peat nods.

"Your welcome. Besides, it's been more trouble to me then it's probably worth."

"What da ya mean?" she asks. Giving him a puzzled look.

"Well, every time anypony sees me wearing it, they jump to the conclusion that I stole it. Or murdered her. Or both for some reason. Maybe if I get a change of clothes, ponies will think better of me."

"No." she states after a few seconds. "The Pegasi of Crown have a reputation for theft. For hundreds of years many pegasi made a eazy living stealing from others. And Griffins have a special hatred for thieves. Trust me. no matter what ye wear, ya will always be seen as a thief."

"Oh." Peatmoss slumps in dejection. 'Great. Just great.' he thought to himself. 'How am I supposed to find friends if everypony writes me off as untrustworthy as soon as they look at me?'

"You, said something about a broken sword?" the mare asks. Breaking Peat's train of thought.

"Oh! Uh, ya. My sword I got from Featherfall Barrow broke when that mammoth tried to trample me. But, I heard you were too busy to do any new jobs so, I suppose I'll go talk to that other guy you mentioned. Iron Blood was it?"

"Oh nonsense." she interjected. "Bring it out. let's see what the damage is." Walking over to a nearby workbench, she sets Iron Bloom's coat down while he gets the broken pieces out and presents them to her. Taking them in her hooves, she looks them over for a few minutes before giving her prognosis.

"No offense to yer ancestors, but metallurgy has come a long way since this blade was forged. The iron has been poorly tempered. If at all. Ya see this jagged, crystalline edge?" she asks. Pointing out the broken cross-section of the blade. "The iron is just too brittle ta take any lateral hits without chance oh breakin.

"Ah." says Peat. Most of what she said flying right over his head.

"Now, I could dismount the hilt and reuse it. But the blade is gonna need some serious reworkin before it's a sword again.

"So, you're saying it's basically scrap metal."

"Well, aye." she said apologetically. "Like I said, I could reforge it to be better then it was before with the same shape and balance. But, it's not gonna be cheap. You're better off just buying a new one."

"Hm. How much are we talking?"

"Oh, I'd say I could do it as low as say, five hundred pieces."

"That's it?" he asked. Cocking an eyebrow. "I can pay that no problem." He smiled as he reached back and started pulling out bags of coins and dropping them at her hooves. She just stares in astonishment as the pile grows. Not believing her eyes, she puts aside his sword and opens one of the bags to check it's contents. "I need to count it but, I'm pretty sure I have over eight hundred here."

"Are ya sure you want to spend this much here? With this much cash, ye could almost buy a small plot of land from the Jarl outside the city." Then a look of suspicion crossed her face. "Where did ya get all this anyway?" she asked warily.

"Well, I got some of it when I escaped with Garard. Then a bunch more when I got back from the Barrow and returned Abirdy's treasure. And then a chunk from Buzzy's Brew Meadery. They hired me to kill a spider that had moved in. That's where I got this." he said pointing out the medallion hanging around his neck. she couldn't help but nicker at the way he puffed out his chest and fluffed his wings with pride. Displaying the trinket like a crowning achievement.

"I think I'm starting to see what my daughter saw in ye."

"Really?" he asked. "What?" she just chuckled and held out a hoof.

"My name's Burnished Bronze. But me friends call me Bernie."

"Pleasure to meet you Bernie. My name's Peatmoss." he returned. bumping his hoof to hers."

"Peatmoss ay?" she asks with a rye look. "It's not often I meet a pegasus named after dirt." Recognizing her teasing tone, he just shrugs and answers.

"I'm an equestrian."

* Level up *

Health increase +10.
New perk (Unarmed combat).
(Winged hoofstyle 1/3). Increased damage in combat when wielding just your hooves and wings. +20%

Chapter 7

Night Wishes was dreaming. She knew she was, but went along with it. After all, dreams were just the mind playing out jumbled memory, and couldn't hurt her.

Amid the fog of incoherent thought, up rose a scene of a picturesque grassland and rolling hills. On a hill lounged a white unicorn filly with a pinkish sparkling mane. She wore a silvery crown and luxurious cape. In her hooves were gathered a pile of glittering gems which she snuggled lovingly.

Then down swooped an off white pegasus colt with a lite purple mane. He was adorned with dark iron armor. They seemed to be arguing as the unicorn fended him away from her gem pile.

Then suddenly, a dull pink earth pony popped up out of the ground and grabbed a gem. The unicorn screeched in a high pitched voice incoherently. She chased the earth pony as it dived back into the ground and tunneled through the ground like a mole. As they chased the trailing dirt mound off, the gems scattered.

Picking up one that landed near her, she turned it around in her hooves trying to determine what kind it was. But the more she tried to look at it, the more it became fuzzy and distorted.

"Night Wishes!" called a voice. but she ignored it. "Night Wishes! hellooo!" persisted the voice, now from above her, in a irritatingly, familiar, high pitched tone. "Hey Bedmane!"

"What!" she shouted. looking up to see the pegasus colt hovering there above her.

"Thank the gods! It's about time you responded!" growled the colt. His voice definitely not matching his gender. "The Arch Mage told me to," Suddenly he was interrupted by an orangeish tan pegasus filly in a metal hat glomping onto him. Shivering with fear in her iron armor as she wailed.

"Save me commander!"

"What in the gods name are you dreaming about?!" shouted the pegasus as he squeezed out of the filly's grip. Putting a hoof to his head he groaned and suddenly popped. In his place appeared the aquamarine filly from the university. The voice now matching the face.

"Oh! Swirly Pop. it's you."

"Yeah of course it's me!" Swirly said in annoyance as she hovered there, glancing around. "What are you even? Ugh! Nevermind." she groaned. Turning away from the dreamponies antics. "Wyvern Wax told me to practice my dream walker spell to make sure I can contact you."

"Why you? Couldn't he tell me himself?" asked Wishes.

"That's what I asked him." she whined in frustration." But you know him. He just brushed it away with some magic mumbo about me getting a better reception to your dreamscape. Anyway, shut up and listen so I can get this overwith, and out of this nightmare." Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Swirly Pop began.

"Master told me to tell you that something called Hollows have emerged from Mount (.......) And have started to (.....) for (.......)" Suddenly her dream world began to shake. Obscuring Swirly Pop's voice.

"What?!" she asked. "I didn't catch that!"

"Oh no! You're waking up!" she groans in frustration as she looks around at the fadeing world. "Don't wake up yet! (...) not finished (...)" But the dreamscape continues to collapse and fade. "Crap!" she screams "You better (...) be (.........) on purpose!" She yells angrily, Cupping her hooves too her muzzle as she shrinks away into the fog. Then a sudden jolt brings Wishes back fully to wakefulness.

"Ah!" Night Wishes shouts as she sits bolt upright. The book that had been laying over her face sliding off and clattering to the coach's floor. Blinking away her sleepyness, she tries to remember the dream, but it fades from memory like smoke in a breeze. The clatter of wagon wheels fill her hearing as the coach sways. The lantern swinging wildly as she feels the coach is traveling at a much faster pace then before.

Picking up her fallen book, she stufs it back in her bag before carefully climbing over to the small hatch that opens to the driver's seat.

"Hey! What's going on out there? Why are we going so fast?" she shouts. hammering at the hatch. There is no response. Just the sound of the puller pony's hooves clattering on cobblestone.

Buffing herself with her warming spell, she unlatches the hatch and slides it open. Squinting against the flurry of snowflakes blowing in, she forces her head thru to get the driver pony's attention. To her surprise, she sees that one of the driving lanterns has been torn away, and the driver's seat is empty.

"Where's the driver!" she yells down at the puller pony. Squinting as snowflakes bounce off her face, whittling away at her warming spell. But he ignores her and continues his full on gallop through the night, his reins flapping in the frigid air behind him. The single remaining lantern barely lighting the road enough to see.

Reaching out with her hooves, Wishes waves them around till the reins catch. Hauling back on them as she shouts.

"Whoa!"

"No!" he shouts back. Straining against his bridle. "They're after us! They'll catch us!" He looks back at her and she sees his pale, terror stricken face.

"Who?!" The puller pony just snaps his head forward with a scream, yanking the reins from her grasp. Pulling her head back in through the hatch, she latches it before turning her attention to the side window. Undoing the fasteners, she pushes open the curtains and pokes her head out to look behind.

To her surprise, she sees three equine figures in dark barding in pursuit. Barely visible in the shrouds of night amidst the curtain of snow.

As if sensing her gaze, they seem to double their speed. The sounds of their heaving breaths and snorting muzzles reach her ears over the rushing wind.

Pulling herself back into the coach, a wave of apprehension washes over her at the thought of the imminent combat.

'Oh gods! This is really happening!' she thinks to herself as panic begins to grip at her hart. 'Maybe they just want to rob us.' she reasons. 'They wouldn't really try to kill us, would they? Oh gods! Would they try to violate me?!'

"No!" she asserts to herself. Anger at the thought of being forced against her will galvanizing her resolve.

'Focus on your training Wishes!' Concentrating on her internal lexicon of combat spells, she reviews her memories of the proper use and tactics.

'Ok!' she thinks to herself. 'First, protection and ward spells. Wait! What will I be going up against?' She doesn't remember spotting any horns in their silhouettes. 'They all looked like earth pon,' CLUNK! Her thoughts are interrupted by the sounds of hooves hitting the back of the coach.

"No no no!" she wailes. "I'm not ready yet!" The clunks proceed up the back of the coach and onto the thin wood roof. "Aaah!" Squeezing her eyes shut, she casts her first spell. The Stonehide protection spell washes over her and she feels her dense, short fur prickle and itch as their fibers stiffen. Wishes moves over against the front bench looking up as there's a clatter above her.

'Ok. Next, fire spell? No. To closed in. Ice? In this weather? Not likely very effective. That leaves lightning. But I'll need a target." Just then, a long scarred blade stabs down through the roof, catching her in the rear left hoof. Night Wishes shrieked in terror as she recoils from the weapon. Quickly checking her leg, she sees the boot leather warded off the attack. But it felt looser with the gash down it's side.

The long blade retracts up and she dives to the other side of the coach as it pierces down again in the center. Readying her spell attack as it retracts again, she watches carefully. Then, as soon as it reappears, she unleashes it straight into the blade. There's an unequine shriek from above as it yanks back.

"Ha ha!" she whinnies in victory. Then suddenly a armored hoof thrusts through the curtains on her right, tearing them open. Squeaking in fright, she fires off a rushed bolt that scorches the wooden frame. There's another crash from above and Wishes flinches as bits and splinters rain down on her. Backing up towards the opposite coach door, she mentally scolds herself for rushing the shot, readying her next.

Wishes hears another tearing of curtains behind her an she jumps in fright when a hoof scrapes on her back. Panicked at the thought of them all around her, she begins firing spells out the windows and through the roof at random.

'I'm panicking! Stop panicking!' she screams at herself in her mind, but the flood of panic drowns out her rational thoughts. Before she can calm herself, her magic reserves begin to ache as each spell feels weaker then the last. Suddenly her next spell fizzles. Her horn barely lighting up.

"Out of magic? How can I be out of magic?!" she shouts in confusion. She had never runout of magic before. Sure, after prolonged spell practice she would get tired and achy, but never empty. It made her feel so weak, powerless, and worst of all, vulnerable.

Her attackers hissed and growled as they renewed their siege on the coach. Smashing and tareing away more of the damaged walls and ceiling to climb through. Night Wishes's horn gave a few pitiful sparks of effort, but as soon as she caught sight of one of the attacker's faces, all hope and courage fled her.

It's piercing, inequine blue eyes cut right to her soul, freezing her to the bone. The jagged line of it's mouth displaying sharp teeth, drove away all hope of resistance. Filling her with dread and despair.

Then suddenly, the coach gave a bounce beneath her, breaking eye contact. There was a rumble of uneven ground followed by a sharp jolt as the carriage went airborne. Wishes flailed her hooves as she floated seemingly weightless into the air. Then gravity slammed her down hard as it returned to the ground.

Her world became a tumbling, bouncing, cacophony of crashing, and splintering noise. Gravity tossed her around the interior as the coach fell down a cliff, ending in an almighty CRUNCH!

Wishes couldn't tell how long she lay there, but the next thing she remembers is the feeling of her protection spell dissipating. It had saved her from scrapes and scratches, but she can already feel the bumps and bruises blossoming over her battered body. There's a ping of breaking metal and clatter of the abused lantern falling to the ceiling, now floor, of the collapsed coach. Wishes flinches at the spatter of oil on her muzzle, and watches in a daze as the flickering flame on its wick threatens to snuff out.

But suddenly, it leaps over to the now saturated coach curtains and splintered wood. The flare of fire light and heat brings her swiftly back and she struggles to pull away. To Wishes alarm, she finds her front has been pinned tightly in the collapsed wreck. While her hind quarters scrape at ground and open air. Terror at being burned alive, combined with a rising claustrophobic fear, lends her a burst of strength to buck and squirm till something gives way.

Wiggling with all her might, Wishes falls free and scooches away as the flames quickly gorge them selves on broken wood, torn upholstery, and flammable resin. The falling snow and cold air doing little to hinder it's feast.

She sits there on the snowy ground in a daze, her heart pounding in fright at the near death experience. Then suddenly she snaps out of it in realization.

"My bag!" Leaping to her hooves, she casts about desperately for some way to douse the flames. Then Wishes spots it laying on the ground close to some trees. "Oh my lucky stars! Thank the gods!" she breathes to herself as she gallops over and hugs it too herself.

Flipping open the flap, she checks over the content and fishes out a magica potion. Popping off the cork, she throws it back in one swift gulp. Muscling past the reflexive gag to the medicinal flavor.

"Ug" she groans, eyeing the now empty vessel. "I know he has ways to make these more palatable." But despite her destain for the flavor, Wishes is mollified by the return of the comfortable buzz from her horn.

Slinging her bag onto her back, she glances over at the crackling blaze of the coach. Her gaze drifting up the cliff face and through the flickering flames and rising smoke she thinks she can see three dark shapes moving at the ridgeline. The memory of that horrible face through the coach window compels her to make haste and put as much distance as she can between herself and those monsters.

After several minutes of a swift trot through the cold, moonlit forest, Wishes is reminded of how out of shape she is. Huffing and puffing, she pauses and leans against a tree trying to catch her breath.

'Good gods!' she thinks to herself 'Why is traveling so difficult? I hope I can find a fire and soft bed when I get to...' Wishes pauses in her thoughts when it dawns on her, she has no idea where she is, or what direction she's heading. The quiet peace of the cold night is broken when she shouts in frustration at the moon and stars.

She claps a hoof to her muzzle at the sound of a startled bird winging away through the tree branches. The following silence seems to become less peaceful as the memory of those things that attacked the carriage flashes through her mind. The wind whistling through the trees masking their approaching hoofsteps. looking back the way she had come, she imagines them emerging amongst the shifting shadows of the trees and bushes. Those horrible eyes shining at her. Boring into her soul.

'Stop it.' she admonishes herself, squeezing her eyes shut 'You can't start panicking again. you're a powerful Mage. Powerful Mages don't scream and cry like a little filly.'

Opening her eyes, she glances around the dark, moonlit forest to reassure herself everything is fine. But the lifeless silence pressing in around her causes a whimper to escape her lips.

Shoving down her fears with determination to finish her quest, Night Wishes reaches back with her magic and fishes out the map from her saddlebags. Unrolling it, she squints to read in the dim moonlight.

"Hmm." she muses to herself "Can I risk a little bit of light?" Giving a cautious glance around, she casts a simple candlelight spell.

Catching the small, flickering blue flame between her hooves, she holds it close to the map and finds Los Monokeros. After a few seconds of scanning the map, she finds Gallops Hill, in Gallops hold, near the center of Crown. Just to the left of Pinnacle mountain. Tracing the roads connecting the two places, she memorizes the route as she recalls the clairvoyance spell for guidance.

Closing her eyes, she focuses and casts the spell. After a few seconds, she cracks an eye open, and to her delight, she sees a glittery ball drop from her horn and dart off through the trees. As it goes, it leaves a thin strand of light in it's wake to show the way to her destination.

With a whinny of pride, she packs away the map and snuffs the candle spell between her hooves. The clairvoyance spell only lasts a few seconds, giving her a heading before fading away. So periodically, as she goes she needs to recast it to ensure she's heading the right direction.

Just then, Wishes ear flicks at the rising sound of rushing wind accompanied by periodic beating of powerful wings. Turning about to determine the direction it's coming from, she throws herself up against a tree trunk as she spots a dark shape moving across the sky. The stars winking out as the huge flying creature passes in the night. Holding her breath, Wishes hugs the tree in terror as she watches it wheel about. Circling the sky above her before continuing on out of sight over the mountains.

"Thank the gods." she breathes in relief as the sound of the creature fade to nothing. "What even was that?" But considering the terrors she had already witnessed that night, she really didn't want to know.

After what feels like hours of trotting, Wishes runs into an increasingly thickening barrier of bushes. Despite her caution, their prickly branches reach out and catch in her clothes and cloak, impeding her progress. Determined to follow the spell's trail, she forces herself through till suddenly, she yelps in surprise as she steps into open air and tumbles down a short slope.

Picking herself up with as much dignity as she can muster, she finds herself on a stone paved road. Looking one way, then the other, she recasts the spell and sees it direct her down the road to the right.

"Ha ha! take that stupid bushes." she says to the indifferent shrubs. Then she spots their small red fruits speckling their branches. Looking closer, she plucks one and pops it into her mouth, chewing carefully. "Snowberries!" Spitting out the slightly bitter fruit, she quickly harvests the easiest to reach berries before continuing her journey.

After another few hours of trotting, making much easier progress, her weary eyes see lights from candle lanterns in the distance.

"Thank the gods." she breathes to herself. Her spirit invigorated by the sight of civilization. Approaching the stone fortress gate, Wishes gives it a knock with her forehoof. After a few seconds without reply, she knocks harder causing the door to rattle on it's hinges. "Hello! any pony home?"

"Alright!" comes a shout from the other side. "Quit your hammering! Give me a minute." After a bit, a slit window in the door opens up and a feathery beaked face appears. "Who goes there? What business brings you to Fort Dumpling?"

"I am Adept superior Night Time Wishes of the University of Magnus, seeking shelter for the night."

"Running a little late, aren't you?"

"What do you mean late?!" snaps back Wishes. Her frustration evident in her tone.

"It'll be dawn in a few hours. You'd have done well to make camp instead of traveling at this unholy hour."

"Well excuse me! The carriage I was riding was attacked by monsters several hours ago, and I've been running for my life for half the night!"

"Wait, you're telling me the Los Monokeros coach was attacked?"

"Yes!" she shouts. Stamping her hoof in irritation. "I've got the ticket right here if you need proof." Reaching into her saddlebag with her magic, she floats out the document. The guard squints at the paper, then closes the window. There's the sounds of the bolts being withdrawn and Wishes steps back as the door swings out. The griffin guard steps into the doorway with a lantern held aloft. Taking the paper from her telekinetic grip, he scans it before lowering the lantern to illuminate her glowering face.

"Alright, alright." he said as he steps aside. Giving her passage to enter. "No need to get your tail in a twist. It's part of my job to question arrivals after dark." Despite her annoyance, Wishes is relieved to enter the shelter of the stone walls. "What where these monsters that attacked you?" he asked as he secured the door and lead her towards the inn.

"I'm not sure. They looked like ponies, but their eyes glowed." She couldn't suppress a shudder at the memory of those horrible eyes. The guard paused and gave Wishes a doubtful look. "They had big sharp teeth too!" she defended, projecting a picture of light of the creature on a nearby wall. The guard looked over the image before dismissing her fears for hysteria.

"It looks like some brigands played you for a fool."

"Hay! I know what I saw. And besides, it was convincing enough to spook the puller pony."

"Whatever." he dismissed with a shrug as he continues. We'll have to send word to the jarl about it. Here's the inn." He said. Stopping and pointing out the sign on a one story house. It read (The Stumbling Snowcat) "You can shelter there till morning. No need to worry about any spooky ponies getting in." he finished with a chuckle. Turning his back to ignore the glare she shoots at him.

Pushing the door open and entering the inn took a bit of effort, as she finds several ponies and griffins bedded down on any part of open floor they could find.

"Close the blasted door." came a angry grumble from a pony closest to her. Rasing their head enough to glare at her.

"Sorry." Wishes apologizes. Quickly doing so.

"And make sure you stuff that blanket in tight under it. Keep the wind out." Finding an old blanket there at the threshold, she pushes it in tight to the base before picking her way across the room to an open table at the back.

Shedding her cloak and hat, she slumps into the chair in exhaustion. idly she glances over to the hearth and spots a kettle of water. Reaching out with her telekinesis she gathers up several dried herbs hanging nearby and a mug.

Crushing them up as best she can with her bear hooves, she adds them to the mug and pours in some hot water. Within seconds a pleasing aroma fills her senses and she drinks the brew. The calming sedative of the crude potion relaxes her nerves and she lays her head on the table and allows herself to fall asleep.

Meanwhile outside, after escorting the scaredy pony unicorn to the inn, the guard delivered a report to the Captain of the watch before returning to his post by the gate. Settling down in the patch of bear ground, he wraps his cloak tight around him to await the coming dawn.

After some time, just as his eyelids begin to droop, his ears detect a muted shuffling of hooves beyond the barred door. Concentrating on the sound, he detects the huffing and sniffing accompanying the now distinct hoof falls. Turning his head, he watches the door warily and suddenly the noise stops. Squinting, he strains his ears to hear any more sounds, but silence rains.

After a few minutes he begins to think he may have imagined it, but suddenly the door yanks back against the lock. As if someone is pulling on it from the outside. Stopped from opening by the seeded bolts.

The movement confuses him, because he knows there's no handle or anything to grip on the outside face of it to pull on. After a second, the door relaxes. Almost as if it had been pushed by a light breeze. But the night was calm.

Then again, the door rattles as it is yanked on. Then a third, despelling any benign reason for it's action.

"Hay! Who's there?" he shouts, but the intruder continues. jumping up, he approaches the door. "Stop doing that!" he commands. Gripping the handle to stop the movement, he pulls but the opposing force overpowers him. "Knock it Off!" he shouts. Flicking open the latch on the small window and yanking it open.

There, framed in the slit window, floats two shining blue orbs above a jagged line of teeth. The guard desperately tries to pull his eyes away, but they demand his attention.

"Scorpan preserve me." he breathes as he feels a chill of emptiness pull at his mind. The monster there utters one powerful command.

"OPEN."

Inside the inn, Night Time Wishes is stirred to waking as the room is filled with shouting. Candles are lit and the fire is stoked. Brightening the room with firelight. She groans and tries to cover her ears, but the stamp of hooves and paws, with the addition of the clanging of the alarm bell outside shatters any hope for peaceful rest.

"What's happening?" she asks as she watches them kick away bedding and buckle on armor.

"The fort's under attack." says a nearby pony readying weapons. She feels a chill of fear as the memory of the coach attack flash through her mind.

"Come on! let's go!" shouts a griffin, leading several out the door. Quickly she casts her protection spell as she gathers up her things.

There's a shout followed by a scream outside. A pony walks over and unlatches the door. But before he can open it, a pony spattered with blood followed by a griffin, push in from outside. A pony behind the two stumbles and falls across the threshold and screams as he is suddenly yanked bodily back out. The griffin at the door chances a glance out before slamming it shut and ramming home the bolts.

"What is it? What's going on?"

"A monster!" gasps the bloody pony collapsed on the floor. "It's..." he cuts off as he throws up on the floor.

"It's some kind of demon creature." finishes the griffin as he jams a broom handle in the door latch. "It's tearing through the guard like a bear through a beehive." Wishes's adrenaline rushes in fear as she takes notice of a window behind and above her.

There's a thud at the door and everyone focuses on it. Readying bows and arrows. Some tip over tables and chairs to create impromptu barricades facing the doorway. Then there's a thunderus crash from outside. and everyone gos quiet as the noise echoes to silence.

"What was that?" someone whispers after a few minutes.

"Maybe they killed it." whispers another

"Shush!" hisses the griffin. "Watch the door." A few more minutes pass with out any incident.

"How do we know if it's still out there?"

"If you want to know so bad, go look for yourself." They're questions are answered as the sound of shuffling and sniffing is heard outside the door.

Then, to Night Wishes horror, deep, gutteral words are spoken. Though the language has been unspoken for hundreds of years, the translation from ancient poneish forms in her head, as if spoken directly to her.

(Wood and Iron, to me Yield, be undone.)

With that, the wood of the door gives a slow, heavy groan. As if holding back a mighty flood. The thought of throwing up a counter spell flits into her mind, but before she can even form one in her mind, the lock and hinges crack and wood splinters. Followed swiftly by the door and frame exploding. Sending shards of metal and wood fragments flying. The rush of wind plunges the room into darkness.

Amid the coughs and cries of confusion, in rushes the two dark pony monsters, shrouded in black shadowy smoke. They fall on the defenders and slay without mercy. Wishes fires off several lightning bolts desperately, but amid the low light and shadowy forms, they are impossible to hit.

Suddenly a third appears in the broken doorway and locks eyes with her, and just like that she freezes in terror. As it strides slowly twords her, It's jagged mouth parts and it speaks in that horrible heavy tone.

(Surrenderist thy self, she Monokeros.)

Her spell fizzles and a feeling like a hole opening in her heart causes her legs to weaken. Those vacuous eyes drawing closer, filling her vision. Consuming her spirit.

(You can not escape, your doom.)

It declares as it strides ever closer, the light of a unicorn horn sparkling with blue fire as it draws a fat-bladed dagger. Wishes sobs in despair as any thought to turn and run evaporates from her mind.

Another pony close by, seeing the monster distracted, charges and rams his spear into the monster's flank. It reels and lets loose a shriek of pain so piercing, it's attacker recoils clutching at his head as blood dribbles from his ears.

As soon as eye contact is broken, Wishes flight instinct takes hold of her and she turns and leaps up to the window. Smashing out the stained glass, she wriggles through and falls headfirst onto the packed snow. Scarcely had she landed when she is back on her hooves and galloping full tilt towards the open gate. Ignoring the scattered bodies staining the snowy ground.

Just then, her damaged boot on her rear hoof comes loose, and the next step she takes rolls her hoof sending nails of pain shooting up her leg. She cries out in pain as she stumbles and falls to the cold ground. She lay there for a few seconds bawling in pain. Holding her sprained hoof. Regretting ever leaving the university. Then she spots the monsters emerging from the inn to continue their relentless pursuit. Her fear of them forces her to push down her pain and anguish and continue to flee.

Flipping onto her belly to avoid their horrible freezing gaze she desperately pulls herself to her hooves and limps for her life towards the open gate. Wishes whimpers as their pounding hoof steps approach. Despair fills her as in her logical mind, she knows she is doomed. Within seconds they fall on her.

"Leave me alone!" She cries as the first bites her tail, pulling back, halting her progress. Another grabs her by the wounded leg, lifting it high, causing her to collapse to her belly. Out of the corner of her eye she sees one come up beside her and she immediately squeezes her eyes shut to avoid that terrible gaze. "No! Stop. Let me go." she whimpered and pleaded. She feels it bite onto her right foreleg and they pull, stretching her out. Immobilizing her. For the briefest second, she wonders if they intend to tare her limb from limb. But instead, they flip her over. Pinning her hooves to the ground. Still, she keeps her eyes squeezed shut despite her curiosity of what they're about to do.

"Master Wyvernwax! Help me!" She wails desperately to the night sky. To her surprise, a deep bone-shaking roar answers her.

Opening her eyes, she sees a giant black dragon descend from the night sky and land overtop of her. The blast of wind scatters the dark ponies, and they shriek and hiss as they start to circle. Night Wishes stares in aw up at the dragon as it stands over her. Then she notices that it's holding something hairy in it's right foreclaw. But before she can discern what it is, she is distracted by a firey red glow coming from it's chest as it draws in air. She watches in fascination as the glow moves up it's neck and bursts forth in terrible glory. Lighting up the night in Tartarean fire. It's heat is enough to relight Wishes's will to escape.

Flipping onto her hooves, she quickly limps for the gate. Ducking to avoid the swinging dragon tail as it fights the dark creatures. Reaching the gate, she pulls out a health potion and downs it. She kicks her sprained leg as the tingling sensation runs down it's length. There's a snap of a leather thong, and her loose boot flys off. Pausing to think about going back to get it, the sight of the monsters battling behind her sends that notion to Tartarus.

Limp/trotting down the road helps her gane confidence in her hoofing so she's able to pull off a half-decent gallop. But before long, her energy ebbs out and without adrenaline to buff her, she slows to a walk. Huffing and puffing in exhaustion.

Lifting her head wearily, she sees, just over the horizon, the glow of dawn approaching. And at the sight, she dares to believe, she will survive the night.

"Heh heh. (pant). I win, (pant), this round." Wishes chuckled breathlessly. But her good mood quickly dies as she looks back to see the black dragon rise into the air and turn to fly right towards her. "Oh buck me." she whines. Fishing out a stamina potion and sucking it down. Even as she runs into the morning, despair chews at her mind. Her body, though energized with potion, tells her she's at the end of her rope.

Her legs burn with weariness, her chest aches with fire. And even with the approach of dawn, all she had achieved for her first day outside the university, was trade one terrible end for another. She began to cry again as she felt her doom draw closer with every heavy wingbeat. As inevitable as falling from a great hight. All she could do, was wait for the ground to meet her.

As Wishes hears the giant beast just above her, she turns her gaze upwards to see the form of her death. A huge set of sharp claws fills her vision as they close in around her. Lifting her up into the sky. Wishes screams in alarm as the ground drops away. Her hooves galloping away in mid air.

"Oh gods!" she sobs into the rushing wind. "Why can't you make it quick?!" Then, as she is carried higher and higher, the sun's rays hit her face. Blinking in surprise, she looks down at the land of Crown spread out before her. Bathed in morning's light.

Behind her the sea, dotted with icebergs and ice flats, catch the morning sun's rays. Shattering them into roads of soft rainbow light that streak across the land. Below her are large dunes of stark-white snow and mountain ranges dusted like surgery sweet rolls. Ahead of her stands Pinnacle Mountain. Standing tall like a tower. the only thing tall enough to catch the prismatic light and rise above it. To it's left she sees the steaming flats of Hotmarch. And to her right stretches Gallops hold. Prominently watched over by the Keep atop Gallops Hill. Beyond lays the deep green of Jaegervale hold.

The view is a festival of color and light. Then she takes notice of the dragon's other claw. In the sunlight it is easy to see, that clutched in it's right talons, is the lifeless body of a tan and red mare.

All the annoyances, fears, death, terrors, sadness, and exhaustion, finally takes it's toll, and Night Time Wishes gives in. Allowing herself to fall into indifferent unconsciousness.

o o O O O o o

In her dream, Wishes gallops through the halls of the University of Magnus dressed in her pink robe and slippers. Behind her she can hear the shadowy monster ponies following in hot pursuit. As she gets closer to Wyvernwax's chamber, her hooves become more and more encumbered. By the time she reaches the top of the stairs leading to her Master's room, it feels as if she's slogging through chest-high mud.

Panting and heaving with exertion, she shoves at the doors but they are locked tight. Behind her she can hear them starting up the stares. Sniffing and shrieking.

"Master!" she cries desperately pounding at the doors. "Master please! Open the door! they're coming!"

"Who is it?" replies the cheery voice of Wyvernwax.

"It's me! Night Time Wishes! Hurry and open up!"

"I thought I told you your expelled till your quest is complete."

"But Master! They're to powerful! they'll kill me! Please! Open the door." she pleads. Looking back, she sees their shadows rising up the far wall. Any minute they'll be coming into view. And as soon as they spot her, they'll catch her, and drag her away to gods know where. To do gods know what to her. "Please. I can't do it alone. I need your help." she weeps. leaning up against the door.

"I have already given you all the supplies and skills you need." answers her master from the other side of the door. "It was you who wanted the world saved. You cared so much about all those ponies. Now go and finish what you started."

Then she hears the door unlock and she jumps up and barges in, only to fall flat on her face. Confused, she looks up to find she's laying outside the university's front gate. She gets up and turns just in time to see the iron barred gate slam shut. She stares in despair at the university beyond the gate as the snow thickens. The wind cuts through her to the bone. The fluffy pink bathrobe doing nothing to shield her from it's bite. Above her she hears the windigo howl as it gallops towards New Los Monokeros. As it passes over, ice grows up and covers the tall, majestic buildings. She watches as unicorns inside beat at the windows. Desperate to escape their frosted tombs.

Wishes sinks to the ground and sobs into her hooves as the snow piles up around her.

"Bed mane! Hello!" calls a familiar voice through the icy flakes.

"Swirly Pop?!" she exclaims. Poping her head up to look around. "Swirly Pop is that you?!"

"Ah! There you are." Looking through the iron gate Wishes sees her old school mate approaching. A protective bubble sheds the falling snow. Keeping it from gathering on her. "Why do you have to dream of such a cold place? Can't it be somewhere cozy and warm? Even that crazy toon land would do. Like last time. But without those weirdo ponies." Instantly the snow, stone, and gate disappear. Replaced by green grassland and trees. "Sweet." says Swirly Pop as she drops her bubble and looks around. "But I swear, if somepony hugs me I'm gonna..." she is cut off as Wishes wraps her forelegs around her in a tight hug.

"Swirly Pop! I'm so glad to see you! You've no idea how much misery I've been through." Then she notices Swirly's sour expression. "Oh! Sorry." she apologizes. Stepping back. "I've just been through alot and, um, got carried away." Swirly Pop just scowls. Then cocks her head to look her up and down.

"Ech, Bathrobe? still?"

"Oh! Right." In a flash of magic, the pink garment is replaced with her school uniform. "There. Better?"

"Ech." Swirly replies as she rolls her eyes and turns away. Confused, Wishes asks.

"Swirly Pop. What's rong?"

"Oh nothing, my little perfect hooves." Swirly murmured under her breath

"What?"

"No. Nothing. Just shut up for a minute and let me give my message so I can get back to studying, and you can get back to... dreaming about, freezing your tail off. Or whatever you were doing." Clearing her throat, Swirly Pop recomposes herself and begins.

"Like I was saying before, Master Wyvernwax says there's these things called Hollows that have been sighted in the area, and you need to avoid them at all cost."

"Um, yeah. A little late for that." Wishes interrupted

"What?" Swirly deadpans

"They attacked my coach and crashed it. I've been running from three of them all night."

"Oh. Well Wyvernwax said you can hit them with a magelight to the face to keep them off you."

"How does he expect me to do that?" Wishes whinnies. "I've been trying to hit them with lightning bolts, and can't land a single shot!"

"How can you, of all ponies not land a single shot?!" Swirly Pop exclaims. "Whenever we faced off in the practice hall, you held a solid nine point five. While I could barely keep a consistent seven!"

"Well, it's not that simple. Standing and hitting a stationary paper target is nothing compared to when the target is charging you. Intent on biting your face off." Swirly just stared at her with a strange expression. Clearly envisioning Wishes's dire scenario. "And if they're moving around so fast I can't hit them with a bolt, how in the gods names am I going to be able to hit them with a slow magelight spell?!"

"Huh." ponders Swirly. Rubbing her chin and looking at the ground. "He did mention that Awsanium would work. Said it's just like Silver to a vampire."

"Oh! That would be great." Wishes says with delight as she clopped her hooves together. "Did he send some along?"

"This is a dreamscape Wishes." Swirly Pop deadpans again. "I'm not actually here. I can't carry tangible through the intangible."

"Ah. Right. I see what you mean."

"If you get to town, see if you can buy some. In the meantime, I would think any high yield light spell will be enough to ward them off."

"Hm. I'll need to think about that." Wishes mused. Looking up at the intangible sun in the intangible sky.

"Welp. That's my job done. good luck." With that, Swirly turns away and walks into a heavy fog rolling in from out of nowhere.

"Wait! you can't leave yet! What about the dragon?!"

"Dragon? What dragon?" asks Swirly Pop looking back in confusion.

"The Black dragon. It caught me!" Swirly shouts something back, but Wishes can't make it out. "What do I do?! What if it eats me?!" Wishes gallops after Swirly Pop, but her school mate fades away.

o o O O O o o

"Baa!" Wishes shouts as she wakes up. She has a brief panic attack when she notices a weight on her back. But after a short spaz, she shakes off the leaves and branches that had been piled on top of her. Standing up and glancing around in embarrassment, Wishes is perplexed to find she's back on the ground under some trees. Looking down the rocky slope, she sees the spring crops of Gallops hold stretching out before her.

Looking around the small clearing she woke up in, she finds she's completely alone. Checking where she had been laying, there was just a tangle of branches and leaves.

'Were's the dragon?' she thought to herself. 'Did it just drop me? Why would it go through all that trouble to catch me only, to...' Just then a wisp of stink wafted past her muzzle. She claps a hoof to her nose at the smell. Her stink ward must have worn off while she had slept.

"Gods! I can't believe I left it get this bad." Twitching her ears around, Wishes hears the distant trickle of a stream nearby. After a bit of trotting, she found it running down the slope to a series of pools. Dipping a hoof in the crystal clear water, she finds that it's freezing cold.

'Hm. I wonder if this works.' Charging her warming spell. It worked back at school on the tub. But she never tried it on a natural running water. Overcharging the spell for good measure, she casts it. Testing it again, she's pleased to find it cool instead of freezing.

With several more casts, the pool is just above temperate. After a quick glance around to ensure she's alone, Wishes strips off all her clothes and settles into the water. After a few minutes climatizing to it, she reaches over to her discarded bags with her telekinesis and fishes around inside. Sure enough, she finds a small bar of soap and begrudgingly she grumbles a thanks to her Master's foresight. Working up a lather, she scrubs away at her coat and mane.

After some vigorous washing, she sets the soap bar on a rock and lays back in the pool. As the dirty water is washed away it's replenished by the cold stream nearby forcing her to recast the warming spell to keep it comfortable. Wishes's peaceful rest doesn't last long though. Faintly at first, but getting closer, she hears a clicking squeaking sound. Flicking her ear in annoyance, she tries to ignore it, but it grows louder. Growling in frustration, she cracks an eye open and sees a mound of mud moving up to the rim of the pool where the water empties out. Perplexed, she sits up to get a better look when it rises to reveal the crustacean carrying it, waving it's big claws menacingly.

Disgusted at the sight of the spiky, carapaced bottom feeder, she jumps up with a squeals and tries to throw a spell at it. But it fizzles as she realizes she foalishly used up her magic on staying comfortable. With a berbling chitter, the giant crab begins skittering around the pool towards her. Screaming she clambers out of the water and bolts for the nearest boulder. Climbing up on top with difficulty she kicks at it as it hops up to snap at her with it's big claws.

Suddenly there's a warcry, and out of some nearby bushes leaps a short green earthpony, wearing a mask and colorful outfit, wielding a knoby stick in his teeth. Swinging it down, he splatters the mound of mud on it's head causing it to squeak angrily and spin about to snap at the offending wood. Once it grabs hold with both it's claws, the pony gives the stick a sharp twist. Flipping the crab over to expose it's weak spot. With a impressive leap, the short pony colt lands one massive hit and it's skittering legs instantly go limp. Mopping his masked brow, he looks up at the dripping wet unicorn standing exposed atop the boulder.

"Are you alright lady?"

"Aaah!" shrieks wishes as she scampers down behind the rock.

"Woah! Are you ok? Hey lady?" he shouts in alarm. Running around to check on her. But stopping to duck a flying stone from Wishes.

"You Little Creep!" she yells. Her bright red face appearing just above the boulder as she throws more stones. "You were spying on me!?"

"No! I wasn't!" he answers as he ducks and dodges away from her projectiles. "I was just foraging for food over there and, Ouch! Heard you screaming and came running to see if, Oh! you needed any help! Ah!" Pausing her assault, Wishes pondered his explanation before lowering her next stone.

"Oh. Right. Sorry. And, Thanks." she said. Her ears drooping ashamed as her head sinks behind the boulder. "I guess it's my fault for letting my guard down." Peaking out from under his forehooves to make sure no more projectiles were coming, he turns his back to her rubbing his hooves and explains himself. Meanwhile, she telekinetically grabs her clothes and quickly dresses.

"Yeah. Ya see, my cart broke down just up the road and I've been stuck in the area. I had no idea you were here, or what you were doing. So, if you're alright, I'll just be going."

"Wait!" says Wishes. walking out from behind the rock fully dressed again. "You have a cart? Can I catch a ride up to Gallops Hill?"

"Well, you could. But... Woah!" he stops talking at the sight of her school uniform. "Those robes. Are you a wizard?"

"Uh, yes?" she answers. A little confused at his question.

"Do you know any mending spells? Oh please tell me you know mending spells."

"N, no. Not really. Sorry."

"Oh." he says. Slumping with a sigh. "Because the one wheel got completely busted. And if it doesn't get fixed, I'm stuck. Cause I can't just leave it by the road. What if a band of highway robbers find it? It's full of, all of my... equipment!" Wishes raises an eyebrow suspiciously at his shifty eyed pause.

"Equipment?"

"Yeah!" he answers a little too quickly with a forced grin. "I'm a traveling performer. That's why I'm all dressed in..." he finishes, standing on his hindhooves and waving a short forehoof at his outfit.

"Oh." Wishes says as she takes a moment to take a closer look at his clothes. They seem to be a patchwork of reds and blues. Made up to be a comical jester's outfit. His mask/hat is a quilted red and black diamond pattern, that covers his entire head. Save for his eyes and mouth. His ears make up the twin points which he flops up and down, causing the pompoms on their tips to bounce comically.

"I see. Well, show me what's broken. Maybe I can think of something."

"Ok. But I'm warning you, it's pretty bad."

"Come now. It can't be that bad."

***

'Oh gods. It is that bad.' thought Wishes as she fails to hide her grimace at the sight of the carnage. Filled with heavy looking crates, the axle was propped up with stones and the right-front wheel was laying smashed into pieces. Six of the eight spokes had been completely shattered, and the rim has a nasty U bent in it. So even if she could magic the spokes back together, or make new ones, there's no way it would move without a lot of effort.

"So, any ideas?" asked the colt forlornly. Watching her pickup several splintered pieces of wood in her magic and try to puzzle them together.

"Sorry." she apologized as she hangs her head. "I don't know any way to fix this. Looks like you'll have to get a new one."

"Don't feel bad." he consoled. Patting her shoulder. "I knew it was a long shot."

"Well, I could go to town and buy one and bring it back for you." she offered. Looking up towards Gallops Hill. "Or maybe," she thought aloud spotting a farmhouse and silo just over the next rise. "There's a farm over there that might,"

"No." he cut her off with a sigh. "I already tried asking him. He flat-out refused to help. I even offered to pay, and he ran me off with his pitchfork."

"Well that's just mean." she glared at the house.

"Shouted something about it being my fault or something."

"Let me go have a talk with him." Wishes asserted. Standing up and setting off at a brisk trot. "Maybe I can change his mind."

"Ok. Good luck"

The bluff that the small house sat on top of, rose above the surrounding fields. Big enough to host a three story silo, shed, and vegetable garden. Parked by the shed was a wagon with a spare wheel lashed to it's side. And in the garden, stooped over neat, orderly rows of plants stood a soft shaded purple earthpony with a hoe gripped in his teeth. Trotting up to the whicker fence that ran around the garden, she hooks her forehooves over it and waves to get his attention.

"Excuse me sir. My name is Night Time Wishes. May I have a moment of your time to speak with you?" Raising his head he gives her an appraising look before answering.

"Talk is cheap. But my time isn't. So make it quick unicorn. What do ya want?"

Oh, well. I was wondering if you may have noticed, there's a wagon just down the road that suffered an unfortunate accident and,"

"Yeah. I've noticed." he interrupted "An I don't care. Nice talk. Good day." he finishes curtly before returning to his work. Wishes scrunches her muzzle at his antisocial attitude, but presses on, determined to solve the problem.

"Well I've taken a look at it, aaand all it needs to continue it's journey is a new wheel." The pony just flicks his ear and continues working. "Aaand, I can't help but notice there's a spare wheel just hanging over there on that charming wag,"

"I said no!" he suddenly spat. Dropping his hoe and glaring at her. "My spare wheel is not for sale! If that stubby squat wants a wheel, he can walk his fat lazy plot right up to town and buy his own."

"How can you say that?" gasps Wishes. Putting her hoof to her muzzle aghast. "A pony's stature dose not equate to a pony's obesity or lethargy." The farmpony looks abashed, taken aback by her articulate admonishment. "Why, what if ponies started calling you a smelly sweaty dirt-pony, just because you work hard in the hot sun, diligently caring for your garden. Growing all these beautiful and delicious vegetables. Hm?"

"Well, ah." he stammers in reply. Rubbing a dirty forehoof at his sweat-soaked mane.

"That little Colt down there at the side of the road is a fellow pony who needs help. You've seen the size of that wagon. I'm impressed somepony his size can pull that around all by himself. Surely you can see and respect the determination it takes to do that for a living?"

"Now hold up just a minute." he says. Trying to retake the initiative. "You've seen him. Y'all have to admit he looks sketchy as all get-out with that get-up he's wearing."

"Just because he's dressed ' funny ' dose not equate to being untrustworthy. If, you would've taken the time to talk with him, you would have found out he's dressed that way because of his line of work. Need I address your own choice of attire?" she asks. Eyeing his stained linen shirt and worn, baggy trousers.

"Take me for instance" she continues. gesturing to herself. "At a glance, you may think I'm an evil sorcerer just one spell away from turning you into a frog." she punctuates her words by lowering her voice, sparkling her horn and waving her forehooves menacingly. "But if you put your biases aside for a moment to talk to me, you'd find I'm just a young university filly on a mission to help her fellow ponies. Or? Is it the only way you would even give me the time of day, is if I came cantering up here in a pretty purple dress?" she asks. Striking a pose and flicking her curly mane with a casually alluring air.

"Ah. I wouldn't. Uh." he stutters. turning away to hide his reddening face in embarrassment.

"But if I can't even get two earthponies to get along with each-other, then how can I ever even hope to convince any creature to cooperate." she says sadly. Hanging her head over the fence with a pout.

"Aw. Don't go doin that. Ah guess I am a dumb mudpony. If I can't help another earthpony out, I can't expect anypony to help me if something happens. Aw, just take the wheel."

"Really?" asks Wishes with hopeful surprise as he trots over and takes it down. Hoofing it over the fence to her. "Are you sure you don't want anything for it?"

"Naw. I'm sorry for getting ya down like that. Sides, you taught me a valuable lesson. And I feel like a real horseshoe for not knowing better."

"Oh thank you. Thank you. Thank you." Wishes says before quickly leaning over the fence to give him an unexpected peck on the cheek.

"Daw, get on down the road before you get me in trouble with my wife." he says. Rubbing his cheek and returning to his work.

The short green earthpony stares an aw as he watches as the tall filly mage prances down the road towards him. A spring in her step, a smile on her face, and the replacement wheel rolling along beside her, guided by her magic.

"I can't believe it." he says in wonder as she pushes away the broken debris and slides the new wheel onto the axle. Dropping the retainer pin in and giving it a playful spin. "How did you do it?"

"I just explained the problem to him in a way he could understand. I knew, once he understood your plight he would come around to the proper response." she answers. Turning back to him. "By the way, I realized while I was up there, I didn't properly introduce myself to you yet."

"I am Adept Superior, Night Time Wishes, of the University of Magnus. Sent by Arch Mage Wyvern Redwax to seek out the Heralds of the Rainbow Warrior to banish the Windigos from Crown." she finishes with a short curtsey.

"Oh wow!" he applauded. Clopping his forehooves together. "I had no idea I was in the presence of royalty!"

"Ah. I'm not exactly royalty." she corrects. A bit confused he would think that. "And you are?" He blinks in confusion for a few seconds before answering.

"Oh! I am the famous Ricky Ticky the Great." He runs out of sight to the other side of the wagon and rummages through a crate. Before she can move around to see what he's doing, a large colorful ball flies over and lands in front of her. Followed by Ricky Ticky landing on top of it. "Acrobat Extraordinaire!" he declares as he balances on the tip of his hindhoof, juggling four red balls, and balancing a baton on his nose.

"That's amazing!" She praises as she clops her hooves appreciatively. Watching him manage to roll the ball this way and that. Switching between hindhooves as he maintains his balance all while keeping the red balls circling in the air. "Bravo! Bravo!" she shouts as he finishes doing a flip off the ball and catching the four on top of each-other in one hoof and the baton standing upright in the other.

"That is Extraordinary." Wishes remarks as he gives her a bow and returns his things to the wagon. "But. If you don't mind. I would love to see your face."

"Bu!" he stutters. Accidentally dropping a red ball.

"What's the matter? I just want to put a pony face to the name?"

"Oh, you wouldn't want to see that." he answers. pouncing on the ball and sheepishly returning it to the wagon. I'm not the handsomest stallion. I'm sure whatever you imagine I look like is better than the real thing."

"Nonsense. Just a quick look is all I ask. Besides, you already got an eye full of me." she reminded him. crossing her forehooves. "It's only fair."

"That was a total accident." he defends. Tapping his hooves together and doing a shifty eye again as he forces a smile. She just cocks an eye.

"Oh come on... That was just... It's not that..." he stammers as she taps a hoof. Maintaining an accusatory look. "Oh, alright." he relents with a sigh. "But I'm warning you, it isn't pretty." Wishes smiles in anticipation as he gives a nervous glance around before raising his hoof to pull up the mask.

Wishes's smile melts into a grimace and her pupils shrink as she views the devastation. Slowly, she reaches out and lowers his hoof again. Managing to force a grin back onto her face.

"You're right... That's... a very pretty mask. I have no idea why you would ever want to take it off." Ricky just answers her with an, "I told you so." look.

The purple farmpony pauses his work as Ricky pulls his wagon up the road. He leans on his hoe, returning a wave from Wishes reclining on the back. Watching with a smile as they pass. Then, turning to continue his work he nearly jumps out of his fur when his wife appears, standing right behind him, with a frown.

* Level Up *

Stamina increased +5

New Perk (Speech)
(Bribery) Buying and selling prices are 10% better.

Quest Perk added
(Alluring linguist) using dramatic moves during speech checks grants you +1 charm. Double too the opposite sex.

"Aw come on! Only half level of stamina? No fair." (crosses hooves, makes pouty face)

Charm doesn't work on author.

Chapter 8

Peatmoss stirs to wakeing. The cold nip of morning air nibbling at his muzzle, drawing him groggily into a new day. Sitting up in the early dawn light, the old blanket that had been draped over him slid off his withers as he stretches his wings wide with a yawn. The chilling air rushed in to steal away any heat he had built up the previous night, as he ruffled his feathers and looks around the forge area.

Burnished Bronze was gone and the once hot forge was all but cold, despite the heat they had built up in it the previous evening. He remembered her showing him the process of reforging. Breaking down the blade into smaller pieces, stacking them together in clay and straw, and heating it up red hot.

Once it had set in one chunk, she had him wack away at it with a sledge hammer. Guiding his strikes by hitting it with a smaller hammer as she turned and folded it in on it's self. They had worked on it for several hours, molding, and reheating the metal. He must have dozed off at some point while he had taken a break from swinging. Burnie had just put it back into the forge and he decided to rest his eyes for a few seconds.

Peatmoss spots the crudely shaped bar of metal sitting on the anvil. Stone cold as the morning breeze. Idly he gave his wings a flap and could tell they needed his attention without even looking. Resigning to the chore with a sigh, he began to rifle through his feathers with his muzzle. Nuzzling around till he came across an itchy, loose, or broken feather. With just a sharp tug, he dislodged them and brushes the good ones flat.

After a few minutes of work, he was satisfied. His mane and tail on the other hoof, were in need of a brushing. Maybe a shop in town has a brush he could buy.

Then he noticed a brown earthpony dressed in thin, worn-out clothes stareing at him from the road.

"Can I help you?" Peatmoss asks warily.

"Are you throwing those away?" the pony asks. Gesturing to his discarded ratty feathers with a hoof.

"Uh, yeah."

"Oh! Can I have them?!" the pony begs. Dashing up to Peat with hopeful excitement in his eyes.

"Sure. Uh, knock yourself out." he answers with a nervous smile.

"Thank you! Thank you!" exclaims the pony. Grabbing Peat's hoof and shaking it vigorously. "Scorpan bless your kind hart." Zipping about the yard, the pony snatches up every feather and stuffs them into a sack before the wind can scatter them. Peatmoss just watches him as he finishes and runs off up the road.

'That pony must really like feathers.' he shrugs to himself as he follows at a leisurely pace.

As he trots along, a pony in a tan and brown tunic coming the other way stops and gives him a wide-eyed look. Peat returns the look with a smile and hoof wave as he passes. A few seconds later, another pony dressed in a padded coat, yellow sash, and fur hat gives him a cock-eyed look.

"Hi there!" Peat says with a grin. The other pony snorts and thrusts his nose in the air.

"Another beggar for the slums." Peat hears him murmer as he prances by. "I can't believe the guard is letting skeevers just wander through the districts now a days."

Peat's smile melts off his face and he shoots an annoyed glare at the pony's retreating, ribbon-wrapped tail.

'I wonder how far I can shove that hat down his throat.' growls Meadblood in the back of Peat's mind. Shaking out the violent thought from his head, Peatmoss continues up to a plaza with a well at it's center, ringed with shops and stalls. A number of early morning shoppers crowd the space, blocking his progress up the hill.

Looking about for a break in the herd, he hears a voice call to him from his right.

"Hail there traveler." Turning he sees a pony wave to him with a smile. Grateful to see a friendly face, Peat walks over to say hi. "Tell me you're the replacement Bard from the college to replace Oat Meal at the Prancing Mare?"

"Heh, uh, no. I'm just visiting Gallops Hill."

"Oh. Well that's a shame." said the pony. His smile fading.

"Why? What's wrong with the current Bard?" asks Peat. Not wanting the mood to change.

"Pompous little milk drinker that one." he returned. "His empty boasting and pretentious attitude has been upsetting the humor of the evenings. It wouldn't surprise me if somepony knocks his jaw off that smug face of his one of these days. He dishonors our traditions by singing for gold, and the affection of wenches. Not for passions of life, or glorious battle. A true pony of Gallops hold doesn't chase such carnal desires. Only joy for life and loyalty to kith and kin. Oatmeal gives bards a bad name. So tell me Pegasus, what brings you to Gallops Hill?"

"Well to be honest, that has changed since I entered Crown. At first, it was just to visit my ancestral homeland."

"Ah. So you are one of the Equestrian imperials from Haven hold?"

"No. I entered Crown from South rim. One of the locals pointed me to Featherfall barrow. Ran into some bandits there. And you won't believe it but, a ghost of a Pegasus calling himself Windcaller told me to come here."

"That's some story!" the pony remarks with interest. "Are you certain you're not a bard? You should seek an audience up at the Jarl's keep. He is always in the mood for stories."

"Hm. I may. But at the moment I could use a hot meal. Where can a traveler get some breakfast?"

"The Prancing Mare of course." the colt said. Gesturing with his muzzle to the farside of the marketplace. "Gilded horn has enough food and mead to fill the legendary Mead Blooded himself. And his Companions too probably."

"Thank you. I'll see you around." Peat says with a nod as his belly murmures it's discomfort.

Making his way across the square took time as he had to wait for gaps to open in the crowd of shoppers. Most ignore him, and those that do spare him a look avoid eye contact. Weaving around a pair of gossiping mares, he is drawn into an opening in front of a stall.

Absentmindedly he looks over the baskets and crates piled full of fresh produce. Carrots, cabbages, turnips. Bright red tomatoes, long thin onions. And to his delight, apples. picking up one in his hoof, Peat brings it to his muzzle, but pauses as he remembers the ones he found in Squire Stone. Putting it between his hooves, he gives it a test squeeze and sure enough, it's hard as stone.

'Well at least they have carrots.' he thinks to himself as he picks up a bundle.

"Hay! Hooves off skeever!" Peatmoss looks up to see the Earthpony mare keeping the stall glaring at him. "No hoofouts! Put that back and drag your lazy impoverished tail up to the temple. I'm sure they can toss you some scraps from the Jarl's table."

"I'm not poor." he says defensively

"Oh really?" saps the salespony, flicking her blue and white muzzle into the air. "Then forty pieces! Pay up!" she finishes. Thrusting her hoof out at him.

"Forty?!" he bulks. He is about to argue with her about it, but suddenly realizes the outburst had drawn the attention of several ponies around them. "Alright, fine. Forty." reaching back to his saddlebags, he touches his bare flank. Looking back at his bare sides, it suddenly dawns on him, that he left his bags back at the forge. A rush of embarrassment washes over him at his forgetfulness.

"I, uh. Oops." he stutters as the ponies around him begin scowling. "I um, seem to, uh... forgot my..." As he stammers, the crowd begins to mutter amongst themselves. Little bits of stabbing words reaching his ears from all around him.

"Can you believe the nerve of that skyskeever."

"Must have been stealing so long he doesn't even know how to pay."

"Filthy cloud humper. Not an ounce of shame. Disgusting."

"How can you ponies even say that?" he asks. "You don't even know me."

"Oh mare. Here comes the waterworks."

"Typical skyskeever."

"How long did he practice this bit I wonder."

"Oh, I don't know." says the shopkeeper. drawing Peat's attention back. "Maybe it's hmm, how you're dressed?" Then, the other horseshoe drops.

Looking around the crowd of frowning ponies, not a single one of them has anything less than four articles of clothing. Meanwhile, he's in nothing but his feathers and fur.

"Naked! Naked! Naked!" shouts a little foal. Pointing him out with a hoof, before their mother pulls them out of eyesight into the crowd. Quickly Peatmoss wraps his exposed body in his wings as best he can.

"Where do they sell,"

"General Goods." the salespony answers him before he can finish. "Across the plaza."

"Thank you. Sorry." Peat says as he puts back the apple and carrots before dashing off. The crowd parting before him as if loathed to even touch him.

Opening the door and scampering into the shop, he is relieved to find the room inside unoccupied. Letting out a sigh of relief, he slumps to the floor grateful to be away from the accusing eyes of the town's ponies.

Glancing around the shop, he sees the shelves and tables are full of bizarre nik-naks and odd animal parts. As well as seeds, plant leaves, sprigs, and small stone bowls of colored powder. The hole room smells like that tea shop his mother used to frequent back home.

'Am I in the right place?' he thought to himself. "Hello? Anypony here?" There's a squeak from the open door behind the counter. Followed by a (kish) of glass. Soon after, a light-green filly stumbles out coughing and waving a hoof in front of her face. Whisps of purple smoke following at her bright yellow mane and tail. Blinking, she stops and stares at him for a few seconds.

"Are you ok?" Peatmoss asks. She just sits and rubs at her eyes with her hooves before staring at him again. "Do you sell clothes?" he asks as he glances awkwardly around. Shielding his body with his wings.

"Clothes? Oh! Ohhh. Sorry." She stammers. Averting her gaze to the wall. For a moment there I thought I just invented some sort of see-through clothing potion. No. this is The Hagraven's Cauldron. I only sell potions, tonics, elixirs, potion supplies and spices. You want Magpie's General Goods, nextdoor." she directs with her left hoof.

"Ah. Thanks for the help. sorry for interrupting you." he apologizes as he peaks back out the door before making a dash for the next shop.

"Not at all" she replies cheerily. "Come back anytime you need a potion or remedy. Oh! Wait! Do you have, any, feath..." she trails off as Peat's tail slips out of sight and the door closes. "Ahh! Mountain Flower, you dumb pony." she admonishes herself as she faceplants onto the counter. "They were right there! And you just let them slip right through your hooves."

Darting into the next shop, he looks around and finds it filled with all manner of household items. Everything from furniture too dinnerware. A Black and white griffin with a large pointed beak and blue wings, stands behind the counter with a rag in his claws, polishing a silver candlestick holder.

"Well hello there." greets the shopkeeper. "If it isn't Peatmoss, the little Pegasus bounty hunter. How can I help you?"

"What?" asks Peat. "How do you know who I am? I just got to town last night."

"Oh, a little Birdy told me." he answers with a smug grin, as he puts the candlestick stand back onto a shelf with the others. "More importantly, let's get down to business."

"But,"

"Welcome to Magpie's General Goods!" the griffin says. ignoring the question and going on with his sales pitch. The place where I'll give you the best deal on everything in Crown, or die trying. What is it you're looking for?"

"I, uh. Clothes! I need some clothing."

"Well you are in luck my friend." he exclaims as he walks over and opens a wardrobe. "Ever since the Equestrians have opened operations in Sweet Haven, we've been getting all sorts of the latest modern fashion all the way from Canterlot. That's right! The very city of the Sun Goddess herself!" With a flourish, he pulls out a prismatic rainbow dress with white trim and gold accessories.

"Uh, that's a dress for a filly." Peat deadpans.

"Ah yes. This is just for show actually." The griffin returns the dress to the wardrobe. "If you know any Pegasus fillies that are looking for a dress, you'll know where to send them." Peat decides not to tell him that that dress design is so old, that it has already made it to the dress shops in his hometown of Wellshod. "Now this one," the shopkeeper pulls out a grey suit and top hat. "retails for around Three hundred pieces. But for you, I'll settle for two seventy."

"I was, hoping for, something a little more, local?"

"Ah right. For somepony who adventures through dungeons, you'll need something a little more rugged." Slipping the suit back into the wardrobe, he closes it and pulls out a box and rummages around for a few seconds. Pausing to give Peat's stature a look before diving back in. Then pulling out a rustic green and brown tunic and trousers. "Seventy five, er, seventy pieces. What do you say?"

"That, looks perfect. But. do you have anything cheaper?" The griffin narrows his eyes before setting the cloths aside and ducking down under the counter to pull out a ragged stained beige robe with a rope waist tie.

"Ten pieces. Take it or leave it."

"Ah. Just, the thing is, I was hoping you had something for, like, free?" The griffin gives him a glare at that. "It doesn't have to be much!" Peat pleads. Clasping his hooves together. "I have money. Just not with me. Please! I just need to borrow something to go get it. A blanket, rug, an old potato sack with holes! Anything please?!"

"Hmm." the shopkeeper muses. scratching the underside of his beak. "I'll tell you what." he answers. Laying the robe on the counter. "I'm going to just, leave this on the counter and turn my back for, oh, let's say, an hour. And when I turn back around, it better be right where I left it. Or the money it's worth." He growls. Tapping a sharp talon on the countertop. "But if it isn't. No matter where you hide. No matter where you go. The merchant gild will come for you. They will find you. And they will kill you." He finishes. leaning forward and fixing Peatmoss with a glare. "Understand?"

"Yes. I understand." affirms Peat. Pulling the robe off the counter and holding it in front of himself. "I'll be right back in less then an hour and buy the green one too." he reassures with an apologetic grin. "See you soon." The shopkeeper just cocks an eyebrow doubtfully as Peat pulls the robe on over his withers and dashes out the door.

Hastily tying the rope around his waist Peatmoss weaves his way across the market. Spotting a gap in the crowd, he dashes through. But just as he is about to make it to the open street back the way he came, a tan and white pony with baskets of vegetables steps into his path.

"Ah!" he shouts as he knocks into the pony and stumbles over. Tumbling face first into the cobblestone street.

"My cabbages!" wails the pony as the leafy green heads roll across the ground. "You clumsy horse! Why don't you watch, where, you're..." the pony trails off as he stares at Peat.

"Oh. Uh. Hello again." Peatmoss says sheepishly as he recognizes the pony who had yelled at him for flying over his field outside of town. "Sorry for-"

"Guards!" the pony screams. "Guards! Thief!"

"Woah! Hold on there." Peatmoss said. Waving his hooves. Trying to calm the crazy pony.

"Thief, Guards! Murderer!"

"No! Stop it! I wasn't." But his pleas fall on def ears as the crowd around them solidifies to turn their ire on him again. At that, his flight instinct takes hold and he tries to spread his wings, but the robe is trapping them. Turning, he makes to run, but the screaming pony grabs him around the middle and drives him to the ground.

"No you don't!" growls the pony as Peat tries desperately to escape. "Guards! Guards there's a thief here!" Then a griffin guard appears out of the sky brandishing a spear, jabbing it towards Peat's face. He freezes, cringing away from the point. "Ha ha. Now you're gonna get it." crowed the pony as he releases him. "Guard! Arrest this Skyskeever! I saw him attacking my crops yesterday."

At that accusation, the crowd erupts in boos and hisses. Shouting in anger at Peat as he cowers at spear point. The imminent danger stirs Meadblood at the back of Peat's mind. Preparing to fight his way out as the crowd begins to turn into a mob.

"Hold on! Back off!" shouts the guard as he begins to realize he's losing control of the situation. The crowd pressing in. Farming tools appearing among the angry throng.

Just then. Another griffin guard slams down in the rapidly shrinking circle around Peatmoss and the guard. Rearing up on his hindpaws and letting loose a lion's roar.

"Stop this madness in the name of the Jarl!" he commands. The crowd scrambles back to make room. "The guard is here and is in control of the situation! Disperse!" Having subdued the mob, he turns to the first guard. "What's the meaning of this disturbance?" Then he spots Peat cowering on the ground. "You! What have you done?" he growls. Crossing his arms. Then Peat recognizes, he's the griffin he had met at the gate.

"I-"

"He's a thief!" interrupts the pony Peatmoss had run into, shouting as he steps forward. "I saw him yesterday! He came flying down out of the mountains and started tearing up my crop plot!" At that, the crowd begins to yell in anger again.

"Enough!" the guard shouts. Raising his talons to calm the crowd. "Pegasus you have been accused of crimes against the ponies of Gallops hold and disturbing the Jarl's peace. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I. It's not true. I didn't know It was illegal to fly over the farmland. This has been all a huge misunderstand-"

"Lier!" yells the farmpony cutting him off again. "You're a lier! I saw it all! Captain Saberclaw, arrest this Thief. This little Skeever is guilty!"

"THAT'S! Enough! Wheatsheaf." commands the guard captain. Silencing him with a glare. Then, looking between Wheatsheaf and Peatmoss, he gives a huff of frustration before turning to address the crowd. "Good ponies of Gallops hold, please disperse. The guard is in control of the matter, and will deliver the accused to Grover's reach. Where-upon he will be submitted to the Jarl's Court. Now please disperse."

"But Captain." whined Wheatsheaf. "he's guilty. I-"

"Are you questioning the good judgement of Jarl Galleon?!" snapped Saberclaw. Wheatsheaf flinches and lowers his head.

"No sir."

"Good. Because I think he will be much displeased with anypony who may be seen inciting a riot." Wheatsheaf blanches and shakes his head in fear.

"Thank you Captain." sighs Peatmoss in relief as the crowd breaks up. grumbling amongst themselves as they diffuse. "For a moment there, I thought they might try to tear me apart."

"Don't be so thankful pegasus." warns the Captain. Turning and fixing him with a glare. "The Jarl can think of worse punishments for the crime you stand accused of." he punctuates by jabbing a claw at Peat's nose. Causing him to throw his hooves up in surrender. "I warned you to keep your muzzle clean. Now look at the mess you made! I told you that disrespect of the law ends in your death. But I didn't specify by who or how. Did I?" Peat gulped as Saberclaw places a talon on his sword hilt. "So be thankful to the Jarl. Because I really don't want to interrupt his morning to deal with a petty thief."

"I'm sorry." Peat says. Lowering his head submissively. "I'm innocent. I assure you. I won't resist, and will except any punishment he decides." Wheatsheaf grumbles something under his breath, but clams up at a look from Saberclaw.

"Very well. You!" The Captain points to the other guard. "Escort Wheatsheaf up to the Court. I'll take the, pegasus." Grabbing Peat by the scruff of his mane, he leads him none to gently through the market and up a long stair to pass through a secondary wall gate too the upper level of the city.

Though he is quickly ushered through the second plaza, he observs the strange tree dominating the center and standing as a focal point for the garden. It appears to be still in the grip of winter hibernation. Not dead and dried out, but bereft of any leaves. A stark contrast to the spring flowers and plants in full bloom around it.

Continuing up the street, they pass a shrine around a pair of statues. The one of a horned centaur. Depicted flexing it's muscled arms in a powerful stance. And the other, a bat-winged beast with a lion-like mane framing it's pointed face, and a long whip-like tail. Though fearsome in appearance, it's face has an expression of gentle kindness and caring. Before the two, stands a pony preacher. Shouting out to seemingly no one. Because the scant few ponies and guards nearby are paying him no mind.

Climbing a long set of switch-back stone stairs, they approach the highest house on the hill. The one most prominent at the peak. As they get closer, the more he can appreciate the grandeur of it's size.

As they pass beneath the decorative arches and approach the large double doors, the guards posted to eather side salute before opening the great hall. Entering, it takes Peat's eyes a few moments to adjust to the dark interior. But when they do, he sees a wide stone stair leading to the next higher level. To eather side of it are doorways leading into the Keep's foundations. Milling about are several Nobles and courtiers chatting with one another. A guard standing at the foot of the stair, brakes off his conversation with another and approaches them.

"Good morning Captain Saberclaw. I am the Housecarl on watch." he greets with a salute. "What can I do for you?"

"I have come to request a court of the Jarl's Justice."

"Very well. give me a moment to check with the Secretarius." The officer guard then leaves. Going up the stair and out of sight.

"So in the meantime while we wait, why don't you tell me your real name?" Saberclaw asks after a few minutes

"Huh? What do you mean?" Peat asks confused. His head held at an awkward angle from the Captain's hold of his scruff.

"Oh please! Meadblood." he hissed in a whisper. Glancing down at him. "Who do you think you're fooling? What's the name your mother gave you?" Peat scrunches his muzzle. Predicting the Captain's reaction.

"Hm. If I tell you, will you loosen your grip a little?" He just shoots a glare down at him. His grip noticably tightening.

"Just answer the question."

"It's Peatmoss. Ok?" In his head, he counts down the seconds to the Captain's predictable reply.

"Peatmoss huh? So you're name is dirt."

'So called it.' "Yeah. What? You've been around ponies long enough? You should know that we sometimes have silly names."

"Huh. It's just, I would've thought it would be something more to do with the sky. Or something." Just then the guard returns.

"Scarlett will see you now." Proceeding up the stairway they reach a large open room. At the center, is a roughly chiseled, three-sided table decorated with carved runes and figures of ponies frolicking. To eather side, along rows of pillers, are long wooden tables and chairs. At the end of the room, on a raised dais, sits a kingly griffin Clothed in rich purple robes, with green head feathers and yellow beak. On his head sits a woven crown of grain stalks made of gold, crusted with white and yellow gemstones. He slouches as he rests his head on one claw. To his left is an earthpony, and to his right, a griffin are having a heated conversation with one another over him.

But blocking their path, stands a bright-red griffin hen with white around her eyes and a large black beak.

"Captain Saberclaw." addressed the griffin hen. Glancing over the two ponies with him. "Why do you bring this petty business up here to interrupt the Jarl's schedule. He doesn't have time for every little squabble. Can't you pass judgement yourself? And leave his lordship a moments peace?"

"Apologies Housecarl Scarlett." Saberclaw answers with a dip of his head. "But Wheatsheaf here saw fit to stir up a mob with his accusations against this Pegasus." She turns her glare down at Wheatsheaf and he droops his ears. Shying away from her gaze. "So in order to calm the crowd and maintain the peace, I had to bring this, Peatmoss, to the higher court."

"Then throw him in the dungeon till time is available." she retorted with a huff. "Toss them both in for all I care."

"But Housecarl!" whines Wheatsheaf. "He started it. He's guilty!"

"I'm not!" retorts Peatmoss. "You just let your wild imagination get away from you. I wasn't-"

"You lie!"

"Shut it! The both of you!" snaps Scarlett. "The Jarl has no time to settle a dispute between two petulant-"

"Scarlett?" calls the Jarl. Raising a claw to interrupt the two that are with him. "What's going on over there?" She flinches in regret at being noticed. Taking a deep breath to recompose herself, she turns around and bows.

"Apologies My Lord for the interruption. A small domestic disagreement has arisen. Please ignore us. I'll see that it's delt with myself."

"Nonsense. Bring them forth." He commands. Sitting upright. "I apologize my friends, but Hold duties require my attention at the moment. We'll continue this conversation at a later time." They both give a polite nod and step back as Wheatsheaf and Peatmoss are escorted closer. Scarlett moving ahead of them to stand by the Jarl's side.

"Now then. What is the disagreement?"

"Jarl Galleon Sire." says Wheatsheaf. "This sky bandit attacked my crop yesterday. I saw him do it myself! He's guilty!" Peatmoss makes to object, but is given a shake from Saberclaw who is still gripping his scruff. Signaling him to remain silent till he is addressed.

"Attacking a crop is a strong accusation Mr, Mr eh, hm." Galleon says as he twittels one of his talons, trying to remember Wheatsheaf's name.

"Wheatsheaf, sire." prompts Scarlett.

"Wheatsheaf! Of course." he punctuates with a snap. "Forgive me."

"Yes Sire." Wheatsheaf affirms. Taking on a pleading, pitiable tone as he continues. "As you know, these weeks of their life are the most formative parts of their growth. If disturbed now, it will affect their future yield." Peatmoss can't help but to roll his eyes at Wheatsheaf for pouring on the drama.

"Yes yes. I understand." consoles Jarl Galleon. "Please don't destress yourself any further." Then, turning to Peat, he addresses him. "Attacking a Hold's crops is a serious crime. All the more considering the state of affairs of the entirety of Crown. What do you have to say in your defense?"

"Not guilty." Peatmoss responds with confidence. "Though, at the time I was unaware of the rules against flying around the city. I in no way even touched a single stalk of his field."

"YOU LIER!" shouted Wheatsheaf. "I saw him do it! He came zooming down out of the mountains, and I was right there to see him fly straight through. He's guilty!"

"Mr Wheatsheaf! If you please." reprimands Jarl Galleon. "We all understand that you're upset. There's no need to raise your voice any further." Upon noticing everyone is glaring at him, he cowers and apologizes. "Yes. Now then." Galleon huffs as he returns his attention to Peatmoss. "How is it you could be unaware of the rules against flying in proximity to the city? It has been, to my knowledge, a tradition, if unspoken rule, to refrain from aerobatics close to cities and towns?" he asks. Glancing over to Scarlett for confirmation.

"Not where I'm from." rebuts Peat bluntly. Then, realizing the rudeness of his tone, adds, "Your highness." apologetically.

"And which Hold would that be? Skycart?" Galleon asks as he raises an eyebrow. Clearly displeased with Peat's blunt words.

"Um, no." He stutters. Regretting his careless wording. Not sure if being forthright about his origins will help, or hinder his chances of leaving with his head still attached.

'Quick! Make something up.' Whispers Meadblood in his head. 'You don't want a repeat of what you got from Mr Evergreen. Do you?'

'But honesty is the best policy. What if I mess up and get myself in more trouble?'

'Tell them you're from Sugertop mountain range. It worked last time. They probably don't even know were that is. Just don't say any famous Equestrian places.'

'Well, as a wise pony once said, 'Fortune favors the bold.' he thinks, as a wild speculation of whether they would give him a summary execution or wait to do it publicly for trespassing in Crown. Taking a deep breath, Peatmoss looks the Jarl in the eye and follows his true nature by answering...

"I'm from Equestria."

'You stupid horse. I hope you didn't just get us killed.'

At his bold statement, everyone in the room seems to be stunned as they stare at him.

"Equestria you say?" asks the Jarl. breaking the silence. Peat just nods. "Where in Equestria?"

"Wellshod mountain. North of Canterlot. I grew up around Fourhooves junction."

"Hm." mused Galleon. "Could someone bring me a map of Equestria So I can varify what Mr... um"

"Peatmoss, sire."

"Mr Peatmoss's claims?" he asked. Beckoning with a talon. In a moment, a map is unrolled Infront of him and he scans over it to varify Peat's claim. Then finding it, he taps it as he asks. "What village is this named around the Junction?"

"It's Neighville."

"Ah! Well that clears that up." Galleon declares as he allows the map too curl back up and hands it off. "So you're new to Crown. Are you in any way affiliated with the Equestrian forces stationed in Haven hold?"

"No. I came up through Southrim."

"Southrim. Hm. Did you by chance pass through Squirestone in the past few days?"

"Yes." Peat answers. Growing uncomfortable at the line of questioning.

"And what was the condition of the Fort there?" he went on, leaning forward. "We've heard rumors of a dragon attack in that area. You wouldn't by any chance have insight on that. Would you?"

"Y-yes." Peat stammers again as he shuffles his hooves. The feeling of the walls closing in compelling him to spread his wings. But the robe over his back restricts them. I, was there when the dragon attacked. It was big and black. It tore the fort apart. I managed to escape with a friend."

"So it's true then." cut in the white and grey griffin courtier the Jarl had been talking to when they arrived.

"Scorpan's Mercy!" cut in the other. A red pony with a black mane. "First the heavy snow-storms on the shoreline, then the Stormwing rebellion, Greenmoor's destruction. Now we're hearing of an uprising flaring up down in Southrim over this Mead-Blooded character? Followed swiftly by a dragon moving in to roost! This has to be the end times!" Peatmoss looks back and forth between the two of them. Trying to understand what they're talking about. The Jarl slumps back in his throne with a wide-eyed look of apprehension on his face.

"The end times? Hardly." retorts the griffin. "The snow storms are just the last blusters of winter, and Balgriff's rebellion is all but dissolved. What we should be concerned about, is keeping tabs on the Mead-Blooded. If the Hoof in Claw Concordent has been broken, If he's just as terrible as the legends say, he's likely to fight the dragon first on the pony's behalf. In the meantime, we should strengthen the guard around the Southrim border. And if we can drive the dragon south, all the better."

"But if we do that, the neighboring holds will see a surge in soldiers as a provocation." says the red stallion. "We should first send pony representatives to treat with this, 'Mead-Blooded.' Assure him we bare no guilt in the matter. And instead, focus on resettling Greenmoor hold. Replanting their fields as soon as possible. With the coastal holds unable to plant any spring crops, we're sure to see famine before next winter even begins."

Peatmoss is distracted when Captain Saberclaw looks down at him with a questioning look. But after a few seconds he seems to dismiss the thought and boredly looks away. When he turns his attention back to the conversation, he notices The Jarl eyeing him up and down. An expression of suspiciousness on his face as he idly rubs the bottom of his beak with the back of a claw. A look of pondering in the gesture.

"You come to Crown in extraordinary times, Peatmoss of Wellshod." Galleon says. Causing the others in the room to fall silent. "I'm curious to hear what has compelled you to stray so far from your homeland. What brings you to the far north? Were you perhaps not aware of the dangers we face here in this untamed land?" he asks. Leaning forward intently.

Peatmoss was at a loss for words. Most everyone told him he was crazy for taking the journey. And since the night he entered Crown, the journey had been taken to the incredible. The mix-up in Southrim, the dragon attack at Squirestone, and the ghosts of Featherfall barrow. It all was so different from his old life. Get up, go to work, go home, and go to bed. Thinking back on it all. It was pretty unbelievable.

"The Jarl asked you a question." hisses Saberclaw. Shaking him by the scruff.

"Captain please, there's no need for that. You may release him." Saberclaw hesitates a moment, but with a begrudging nod from Scarlett he let go of Peat. "Go on Peatmoss. I can't help but think there's something more to you then meets the eye. What are you not telling us?"

"To be frank your highness, it's been fairly unbelievable. Like you say, Crown is nothing like Equestria. What I've seen and experienced in the past few days has been just crazy. And I doubt you'd believe me even if I told you."

"Please do tell us." he says excitedly. Settling back in his throne. "I'm always in the mood for a story. Even if they are fanciful." he finishes. Clasping his claws together and putting a childish grin on his kingly face.

"O-ok. Where do I start?" Peat thinks. Tapping his chin with a hoof.

"How about your arrival at Squirestone and the dragon attack?"

"Well, in order to explain that. I'll need to tell you about the mix-up in Southrim. You see. When I arrived. I went to the inn to get some rest. But I got caught up in a confrontation between Balgriff, with band of Stormwing soldiers and the town guard. I tried to get away but one of the guards mistook me for a Stormwing and knocked me unconscious." he explained. pointing out the red, but mostly hidden scars under the fur of his jaw.

"When I woke up, we were arriving at Squirestone. On account of a bandaged jaw, I couldn't voice an objection when they lined us up for an execution. Then, just as I was laid down on the block, The dragon appeared. It was big, and black as night! About three, or four stories tall." he emphasizes by throwing his forehooves up and out to show the size. "It started tearing up the stone buildings and tossing them around like toys. The Guards shot volley after volley of arrows at it, and nothing seemed to hurt it." He mimed pulling back and releasing arrows from a bow a few times before shrugging in despair. "During the Panic and chaos, some of the Stormwings helped me escape down and out through an underground passage."

"When we got out, we flew to Riverdale and my friend let me stay the night there. He offered to take me along to Stormhelm, but after all I had been through, I wasn't sure what I should do." He wraps his forehooves around himself and made a troubled face. "I had just lost all my clothes and money. I was questioning everything I knew. Before we parted ways, he suggested I go up to Featherfall Barrow, a Pegasus tomb nearby, and seek guidance from my ancestors.

The next day, while I was in the village, I learned that the local shop had been robbed. And the thieves had gone up to the Barrow. Since I was heading up there, I promised to retrieve the stolen items. I, was forced to kill them." Peat says regretfully. Lowering his head in shame. "I wish I could have found a way to convince them to give up peacefully. But..."

"I would not distress myself over their deaths." states The Jarl in condolence. "Their deaths, though regrettable as their choices in profession, are the consequences of rejecting an honest living."

"Yeah. But still, it didn't make the weight of my soul any lighter." The shame of killing, of taking away those creature's chance of changing their ways, made his heart ake with sorrow. "But then," Peat begins again. His tone lightening as he shies away from his despair. "You won't believe what happened next! I saw..." he pauses. Not sure of how to describe Windcaller's appearance. "I saw..."

"What?" prompts Galleon as he leans forward. Seemingly cought-up in Peat's tale. "What did you see?"

"Saint Windcaller of the pegasi. He appeared in ghostly form and told me I was summoned too Crown to defend the ponies from the Windigo King."

"Ug." groaned the griffin courtier as he rubbed his brow with a claw. "Pony superstition and nonsense."

"Superstition?!" sputtered the stallion courtier. "Nonsense?! The Windigos are an ancient Evil Magic! They plagued the pony races for hundreds of years before the griffins came to Crown in the second era. It was because of the Windigo disaster that allowed King Grover the lesser's invasion to make such gains. After the Windigo's defeat, it took years before Crown's population was even able to stabilized. If the Cazador Knights had been at full strength, the Griffin's capture and colonization of Southrim and Jaegervale would not have been even possible."

"But, as you say, The Windigos were defeated. This weak, sheltered Equestrian has clearly been traumatized out of his little pony mind."

"But the snowstorms?" the red pony exclaims. "At this late time of planting season?! All the signs are here!"

"Have you even looked up at the sky, Providence?" asks the griffin. Thrusting his claw up in the air. "If they were here, don't you think someone would have said something? Seen big horse ghosts flying around?"

"Oh you, Griffins!" grumbles Providence, the red stallion. As he crosses his forehooves in frustration. "You're so quick to dismiss pony's understanding of magic. Er, present Jarl excluded Your Highness." He looks too Jarl Galleon apologetically, who makes an understanding gesture with a claw. "But one little rumor of The Mead Blooded's return, and you, Galgalad of all griffs, go into a molting fit."

"With do reason!" Galgalad responds. "The song of his vengeance is one of bloody genocide against all Griffs. Cock, Hen, or Chick. None were spared. Even after his death, his legacy drove Grover the third's Court to behead their own king and sign the Hoof and Claw Concordent to save themselves from the mob of freed slaves he inspired. I remind you, I have a nest and hatchlings to think of. So with the news of his return, you see my concern. The very foretelling of his return is still a reason many Griffs refrain from abusing their fellow hooved countrymen.

"The Mead-Blooded's return was always more of cautionary prophecy to keep equal freedom under Griffin rule." Providence reassures with a roll of his eyes. "Since the signing of the Concordent, there has a-risen three equine Jarls. Possibly a fourth with the uprising in Southrim. So his coming now of all times makes no sense. This rumor is most likely a ploy by the Thieves Guild to upset the status quo and gane some advantage."

"My friends." cut in Jarl Galleon. "All this speculation is fascinating, but you seem to forget the object at claw." he said with a gesture to Peatmoss. "If his story is true, we may be in the presence of one of the foretold Harolds. Tell me Peatmoss. have you heard the Summons to High Rossguard?"

"I, don't know what you're talking about." Peat admitted in confusion.

"The Summons is a call from high atop Pinnacle mountain. It has only happened once before. Two years ago, was it?" he asks. Looking to those at ether side of him. "Ironbloom of the Mighty Helms went up there and trained with the Neckbeards. When she returned, she came back a mighty warrior."

"Ironbloom?" asks Peat. The implications of her death worrying him. "Do you mean Ironbloom, Burnished Bronze's daughter?"

"The very same. Why? Do you know her?" Galleon asks. Seeing the haunted look come across Peat's face.

"Oh no." he whimpers. Putting his hooves on his head.

"What's wrong?" Peatmoss gives a sigh of sadness before answering.

"She's dead. In Squirestone, she was one of the Stormwings the guards had captured. During the dragon attack, she was shot by someone with an arrow. I was there to witness her last moments.

"No!" Providence gasps. His face a look of fear. "This can't be! One of the Harolds dead? How can the gods have allowed this?! Did Windcaller say anything to you about this? What words of council did he give you? Tell us."

"I'm sorry. But he told me nothing of Ironbloom. He only told me to find the pieces of the Rainbow Warrior and come here to Gallops Hill. He told me I would find more like me here."

"How can Haven have done this too us?" Providence demands angrily as he looks to Galleon. "They had to know who she was. How could they not? They've doomed us all."

"This is most distressing news." stated Jarl Galleon. Furrowing his brow and rubbing the underside of his beak. "If Haven's guard had Balgriff and his closest supporters in custody..."

"Now that I think of it," joins in Galgalad. "A summary execution at Squirestone makes no sense. Even though he is a rebel, a Jarl is not someone you can just execute without trial."

"Yes." agreed Providence "He should have been taken back to Sweet Haven's Rest to stand trial against a court of hold representatives. Why would Queen Gwendolyn try to violate the jarl's due process? Such an action out-right spits in the face of Stormhelm's people. Could she possibly handle this matter any worse?"

"Damn her!" shouts Galleon. Slamming his fist on the arm of his throne. "Even if it was not by her word, this blunder has upset the balance of law! Her incompetence as a leader is a disgrace. I've half a mind, to believe the interference of the Solar imperium was a blessing from the gods. I wonder what the other Jarls think on this matter."

"If it pleases you Jarl," asks Providence. "I'll see to drafting a letter of admonishment to her jarlship."

"Hm. Perhaps letters to the other Holds as well." suggests Galgalad. "This news must be spread. It may be time to call a Moot to discuss the acting High Queen's actions."

"Very well." affirms Galleon with a nod. "Have them ready by the end of the day for me to look over and signe."

"Ahem." Wheatsheaf clears his throat. Raising his hoof to get attention. "Sire, my field?"

"Ah yes! Of course. Forgive me for getting distracted." apologizes Jarl Galleon. "What is the approximate value of the crop's loss?"

"Ah, well... It's difficult to say. I won't really know for sure till harvest." Galleon raises an eyebrow. "Ah! That is to say, my barley is temperamental if it is subjected to, uh, arial trauma."

"What you're saying is, there is no visible evidence of damage?"

"Yes! Er no. It's only something an earthpony can tell." he finishes. Waving his forehooves in exasperation.

"Told you I didn't touch it." mutters Peat. But he gets a flick in the ear from Saberclaw and a glare from Wheatsheaf.

"Hm. Perhaps then I can contact the planter guild." suggests Galleon. And Wheatsheaf's eyes go wide. "I'm sure they can assess the damage and give-"

"NO! No no no there's no need to bother them with this. Heh heh heh." Wheatsheaf says nervously "They're busy enough as it is. Now that I think about it, I maaay have exaggerated a little bit."

"You MAY, have exaggerated?!" growls Scarlett as he cringes under her sour glare.

"A little bit." he squeaks

"Ah! Well that settles it." declares Galleon. Clapping his claws together. "I, Galleon, Jarl of Gallops Hold, do here-by dismiss the charges levied by Wheatsheaf against Peatmoss. As he is a guest to the Hold, and did accidentally trespass upon Wheatsheaf's field. For recompense I grant a percentage of produce be dropped from his seasonal tithe for the current cycle. Is this ruling acceptable to you both?"

"Oh yes Sire! Thank you Sire." says Wheatsheaf eagerly. Clasping his forehooves together and nodding vigorously. Peat just nods in acceptance.

"Very good then. Wheatsheaf, you are dismissed." After bowing low, Wheatsheaf turns and trots quickly off.

"Now then Providence." Galleon says, turning to his Courtier. "This news has convinced me to consider your proposal. Show me what you have planned for the expansion into Greenmoor."

Pulling out and unrolling a map, Providence begins explaining areas and logistics. Pointing out on the map his plans as his Jarl follows intently. After a few minutes pass of the three of them talking amongst each-other, Peatmoss gets the notion that they've forgotten he was there. Glancing around, he turns to leave but is grabbed by Captain Saberclaw and yanked back into place.

"Stay putt till you're dismissed, Pegasus." he growls in a low voice. "What? Do you have somewhere else to be?" he asks, but goes on before Peat can answer. "Show some respect. Whatever plans you may have aren't even remotely more valuable then The Jarl's Court. So be considerate of his time and wait."

"I actually made a promise to the shopkeeper at-"

"It can wait. now be silent." Saberclaw cut him off. Peatmoss looks up at a nearby window and tries to judge how long he has before the hour he was given is up.

"Yes, that sounds good." The Jarl concludes with a shuffle of paper. Drawing back Peat's attention. "You have my leave to begin immediately."

"As you please My Jarl." Both Providence and Galgalad bow and walk off.

"Now then." Galleon addresses Peat straightening up in his throne. "Tell me Peatmoss, Do you plan on staying long in our Hold?"

"I, don't have any plans to leave anytime soon your highness."

"Very well. Do you have relations in the Hold here? Or what arrangements for accommodations do you have?"

"Hm. Well, before Ironbloom died she suggested I inquire in Rossvaskr. She told me her friends there would be welcoming and give me a place to sleep."

"Ah. The Mighty Helms. Very good. They are a honorable, if ruff-spoken lot. Now, I hear tell that down in your homeland of Equestria, that Pegasi do a wonderful job of using clouds to distribute water across the land. Would you have any experience in such things?"

"Yes actually." says Peat. Brightening at the mention of a familiar topic. "I was an assistant supervisor on the weather team back home before I came here."

"Excellent! Then I hope, if called upon, you may be willing to assist in crop watering? I ask because, as I recall, Ironblood of Rossvaskr is the only other Pegasus currently residing in Gallops Hill. And he's fairly up in years, so he's not capable of much help with weather anymore."

"I will. But. I'm just one Pegasus. If I'm able to find a sufficiently heavy cloud, I could water a standard ten by ten square of ground. You see, back home, we have cloud factories that produce heavy clouds. Me by myself would take a good hour or two to pack together a sufficiently dence cloud. Much longer if I have to gather them together myself. Unfortunately. Without a team of Pegasi, you'd probably be better off having me carry buckets of water from the river. Just for the same time and effort to water the same plot of land."

"Hm. I see. Well, there was no harm in asking. Perhaps I could negotiate with Skycart to supplement their produce pay with Pegasus workers. Would you be willing to assist in supervising such a team?"

"Sure. It's not going to be easy if they're not used to the job. But it's possible. I'll need a team of at least five to start. Depending on their skill, we could cover a few crops a day.

"Excellent. I'll have my griffins look into it."

"My Jarl." cut in Scarlett. "Having so many Pegasus flying in proximity to the city is going to pose a major security risk."

"Not to mention how the Planters Guild will kick up a fuss over it." added Saberclaw.

"Oh you're probably right" sighed Galleon as he put a claw too his face and pulled down in a weary gesture. This'll probably take years of committee and paperwork to implement. But perhaps they'll be more accommodating with the expansion into Greenmoor. It's farther from the river, and city. We'll have to see. In the meantime." Galleon says. Rising from his throne and walking upright on his paws too Peat. "I would like to present you, Peatmoss of Wellshod, with this token of my appreciation." Taking out a small silver broach, The Jarl leans down and pins it on Peat's robe. "Wear it with pride. It will show my subjects you are in my favor. And will assist you in settling in." He returns to his throne and sits.

"Oh! And, as your story suggests. Am I to understand, you are alone here in Crown?"

"Um. If you mean family or friends, Yes. My parents and brothers and sisters are still down in Equestria."

"I see. Well as I am aware. There's a few eligible fillies here in the city that may take an interest in you. If your plans change in regards to taking up residence here in the Hold. Do please let any of my officers know. I very much would like to keep an eye on your progress. If you are indeed a Harold of Rainbow, I would consider it an honor to give you a home here in the Keep. That will be all. You are dismissed." Peatmoss bows followed by Saberclaw. As he turns to go, The Captain beckons Peat to follow.

As they decend the stairs and reach the front doors to the Keep, Saberclaw turns to him and begins.

"Do you understand what that broach The Jarl gave you means?"

"Uh."

"It means, my guards will give you more lenience then usual. But that doesn't give you license to abuse the law. It is a great honor he's bestowed upon you. So you'd best treat it with respect. and don't go pawning it off for a drink or quick cash. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. Now go on and stay out of trouble." Saberclaw concludes. Shewing him out the door.

Stepping out into the mid-morning daylight, he looks down at the broach pinned to his stained robe. it's silvery shine looks so out of place on the ratty garment. Then, he's reminded of his promise to the General goods shopkeeper.

"Oh Goddesses!" he says to himself. looking up at the morning sun. "I hope I'm not too late!" Dashing back down through the city to Bernie's forge.

* * *

Back at the General goods shop, Magpie sits as he leans over an account book and scratches away with a quill. Writing out figures as he takes inventory.

Suddenly, his peaceful zen is interrupted as the door flies open and in gallops Peatmoss.

"I'm sorry!" Peat cries as he lunges over the counter and hugs the startled clerk. "I'm sorry I'm so late! I got caught up in a meeting with the Jarl and couldn't get back in time. Please please please don't be mad. I'll pay you. Just don't call the guard on me pleeease!" Magpie cringes as Peatmoss stares pleadingly up in teary eyes.

"Alright already. Just, let go of me before you get pony snot all over my feathers." he relents as he pushes Peat off himself. Running his claws through his neck feathers, he checks for dampness as Peatmoss pulls out a small bag of coins and dumps it out on the counter.

Pulling out the green outfit from under the counter, he slides it over to Peatmoss as he counts out eighty pieces. He is momentarily distracted by the sound of Peat's heavy bags dropping to the floor with a jingle. Shedding them to change out of the robe to the new outfit.

"Say. Is there anything else you need?" Magpie asks nonchalantly as he deposits the gold into a chest. "I've got some magic scrolls, potions, and accessories, you may be interested in?" Peat grunts something as he struggles to pull the tunic down over his head. He didn't have any experience with non-buttonup clothes.

"Come on you stupid, Arg!" Finally, his head pops up out of the neck hole, only to growl in frustration as the shirt constrains his wings.

"What's rong?"

"No wing holes." he answers. Turning his back to show the wing lumps under the tunic.

"Oh, sorry. I normally have only Earthpony customers. Hm. But I could modify them for you for, say, thirty pieces."

"Really? You do tailory?"

"Sure!" Magpie answers. Pulling out a needle and thread. "I can do it standing on my head if you got the gold."

After taking some measurements and marking for wing holes with a piece of charcoal, Peat returns the tunic to Magpie who promises to have it finished by the evening. In the meantime he cut holes in the robe. Peatmoss struggles to put on the trousers, much to the entertainment of Magpie, but after a few minutes he is able to get it right. It squeezed and pulled at odd places, like a second baggy skin over his rump and hindlegs. He didn't like it, but was hopeful he would get used to it. He had to admit though, it kept the cold air off his hind end. Once again causing him to speculate, was he getting numb to the cold, or was he just climatizing to the weather?

Trotting out of the shop, he fought the urge to buck as the pant fabric slid up and down his legs with every step.

"This is gonna take some getting used to." he grumbles too himself. Pausing, he gives his wings a stretch and experimental flap. The overall baggyness of the robe and trousers discourages flight, and he found himself regretting giving up Ironbloom's coat. It was so much snugger to his body then these, allowing a greater freedom of movement. "Oh well. Eazy come, eazy go."

Glancing around the plaza, he sees that most of the morning shoppers have dispersed. Now only a few wonder between the stalls. Spotting the vegetable stand he had been at earlier, his stomach gave an impatient grumble, reminding him he hadn't had breakfast yet.

Trotting up to the stall with an air of confidence, he picks out a bundle of carrots and places it onto the counter.

"I would like to purchase one bunch of carrots please." The mare turns from arranging her produce and deadpans as she looks him up and down.

"You again. You've got alot of nerve to show you're face around here, after that incident earlier."

"Why? Is there somewhere else I should be?" her expression broke to uncertainty at his boldness.

"Well you, I thought, uh." she sputters.

"Forty pieces was it?" he asks as he pulls out an appropriate size bag and slides it over the counter too her. "Keep the change." With that, he picks up the bundle in his teeth and turns to trot off. Suddenly, a little weight lands on his back with a foal-like warcry, and two little forehooves wrap around his neck. Squeezing with all their foalhood might.

"Arr! I got you now thief. Nopony breaks the law on my watch! Grrr." Turning his head, he sees a young, maroon and white filly perched on his back. Gritting her teeth as she tries to wrestle him into submission.

"Oh nooo!" he cries out dramatically. Playing along with the little filly's daring attack. Drawing everyone's attention in the vicinity. "I've been captured by the Famous Filly, Thief-catcher! I regret being a bad pony!" With that, he sways a few times before flopping onto his side. Allowing the foal to stand on top of him, beaming with pride at her accomplishment.

"Did you see that mommy?! I captured-ed the bad pony! Did you see? Did you see?" the filly asks. Jumping up and down on top of Peat.

"Uh, yes I did Turnips." replies the shopkeeper. Leaning over the counter, she looks down at Peatmoss in confusion and asks. "What are you doing?"

"Being captured of course." he states obviously, before flopping his head back down and sticking his tongue out for good measure.

"Yeah. Being captured." affirms the filly. Crossing her forehooves. "For I, the Famous Thief-catcher Filly have captured him. Can I have a apple slice now?!" she asks her mother with wide, hope-filled eyes.

"Um, sure thing Turnips." she answers with a nicker. "You can let the poor pony up now. I think, he learned his lesson?"

"Yippee" squeals Turnips as she dashes to her mother's side behind the counter.

"So, what do you do for a living?" asks the mare as Peatmoss gets up and brushes himself off. "Are you a teacher or something?"

"Oh, no." chuckles Peat. "I'm just a traveler from Equestria. Come to visit Crown."

"Equestria huh? Are all Equestrians this good with foals?" she asks. Stroking the head of her filly as she munches away at a piece of apple.

"Not that I'm aware of. I just think foals are fun to talk with. At least more fun then some grumpy, judgey clerk ponies I've met." he finishes with a teasing glance at the mare. She just scrunches her muzzle with a snort.

"Just give it some time. You'll find out soon enough how fun the local winged skeevers are." she answers with a roll of her eyes. "Anyway, my name is Spring Dew, and this is my little foal, Sweet Turnips."

"Hey! I'm six winters old now. I'm not a little foal!" protests Turnips

"I can see that." reaffirms Peat. "And what a brave, strong filly you are." Turnips puffs up her cheeks and stands up taller at his words. "My name is Peatmoss and I'm twenty one."

"Woah!" exclaims Turnips as she stares up in wonder at him. "You're almost as old as Mommy!"

"Turnips!" admonishes Spring Dew. Flushing with embarrassment. Turnips's next words are stifled as her mother clamps a hoof over her mouth. "Ha ha! Foals. No filter." she stammers with a bashful grin on her muzzle. Just then, Peat's stomach interrupts with a loud growl.

"Tee hee." giggles Turnips. "He has the rumblies."

"Heh heh. Yeah. I haven't had anything to eat since yesterday."

"Oh! Well, I hope you enjoy those carrots." dismisses Spring Dew. Grateful for an excuse to end the conversation. Giving the two a parting hoof-wave, he trots off up the hill. Set on relaxing in that garden he passed to enjoy his vegetables.

Selecting a bench, he settles down and begins nibbling at one of the carrots. Glancing around, he sees the preacher pony he had heard earlier was gone, leaving the garden peacefully quiet and serene. Closing his eyes as he eats, he listens to the birds tweeting and an occasional wind blow through the branches of that strange tree at the center of the garden. A whispering murmur, just out of range of his hearing to be understood.

He pauses his nibbles to concentrate on the perceived words. Squinting up at it's bare, grey branches. Then he notices a pony sitting at it's pale trunk. Their white hooves pressed against the pinkish white bark. The pony wore a dull orange robe and yellow hood and mantle. He watches as they pushed at the trunk, the pony's white muzzle moving slightly as they spoke quietly to themselves. Perplexed at the pony's actions, he absently moved the carrot to the left side of his muzzle to take a larger bite. But as he bit down, a painfully familiar stab of agony shot through his jaw. He let out a stifled yelp as he cradles his jaw. Wincing in pain till it passes.

'I thought I was past this.' he moaned to himself as it slowly fades again. Giving the spot a gingerly prod, he painfully confirmed it was right where his jaw had broke. 'Garard warned me not to over work it.' he internally admonished himself. 'I should've taken the hint when I felt it through my sword. Stupid, stupid pony.' He gave a sad whimper as he realized he may need to put off eating for another day.

"Oh. You poor pony. What's rong?" Looking up, he sees the robed pony had approached him. She was a white filly with light blue freckles and icy blue mane.

"My jaw got broke a few days ago." he answers through gritted teeth. "And I'm so hungry." he lamented. Looking down at his dropped carrot. His stomach gave an affirming gargle.

"Aw. You poor creature." she cooed. "lie down and let Crystal Springs help you." Gently she guides him to lay down on his back. Peat flinches when she moves to cradle his head in her hooves. "Just relax." she reassures. "I have much experience in bone mending." Closing her eyes, she tenderly caresses his muzzle for a few minutes. Then frowns.

"You used a potion to heal this. Didn't you." she asks in a disapproving tone. He nods, and Crystal Springs sighs at that.

"What's rong with potions?" he asks in a mumble. She shakes her head and sighs again.

"Potions are... fine, for emergencies. But they force healing. And when the bones haven't been properly set, like your jaw was, it'll leave the body horribly disfigured." she explains as she turns away and digs at the ground. Peatmoss closes his eyes and tries to ignore the pain as she goes on in a calming tone. "That is why recovery should be done slowly over time. The body should be allowed to guide the healing naturally. It knows best how to mend the wound. If you rely on just potions to heal your injuries, you will never be free of aching pains. And suffer for the rest of your days. We Earthponies however, have the unique abilities to guide the body's healing through our connection with Equis."

Then he feels something damp and crumbly push against his muzzle. He opens his eyes to see her sandwich his face with two clods of dirt. One in each of her hooves.

"Just lay still. The energies of Equis can expedite the process." Bowing her head, she closes her eyes in concentration. Peatmoss was just beginning to think the filly was talking mumbo jumbo. But to his surprise, the pain slowly subsides. Replaced by a rush of energy buzzing through his muzzle.

Then, the buzz fades as he breathes in the earthy aroma of the dirt she held to his nostrils. A calm washes over him, and his eyes fall shut as his consciousness comes adrift in what-ever energies she was channelling. He feels like his body is sinking through thought and time, into a dark realm he had never been, yet strangely felt so familiar.

o O o

The darkness turns brown and he rises up through the ground. As he emerges from the dirt, he sees grass and flowers towering over his head. As if he were an insect in a garden. He flaps his wings and flies up above the plants and beholds a great pink tree filling his view of the sky. Flying up and around it's massive trunk, he reaches it's branches. The green leaves and bright purple blossoms swaying in the gentle breeze make soft indistinct whispers.

He watches as petals drop off and approach him in a whirlwind. Swirling around him as he hears a mournful cry, like a mare whinnying to a lost foal.

"Oak Seed!"

Peatmoss suddenly feels an emptiness form in his hart and he looks down to see a black cloud seeping from his chest. A face appears with glowing blue eyes and a jagged mouth of teeth. It opens wide in a scream of an unknown language, yet the meaning of the words form in his mind.

"This tisn't what I want-eth. He givest me not another choice. I beg-est thee pardon."

o O o

Peatmoss's eyes snap open and he sees Crystal Springs looking down at him with worried eyes.

"Huh?" Peat asks as he sits up and looks around in confusion. The vision fragmenting into the mists of his mind.

"Your jawbone is now fully healed." she answers. "How does it feel?" He reaches up and touches his jaw and is surprised to feel no pain.

"It's fixed! I can't believe it!" he says in surprise. Poking and proding all over but finding not even a pinch of pain. Scooping up his carrots, he wolfs them down hungrily.

"Ah. That's good." she says in relief. "You seem to have passed out during the process. I thought for a moment I may have done something rong."

"Thank you, thank you so much" he said after swallowing the last of his carrots. "How much do I owe you?" he asks as he pulls out a bag of coins.

"Oh nothing at all." she answers waving a hoof. "As a priestess of the Great Creator, it is my duty to care for all her creations. Both great and small."

"Who?"

"You've never heard of the Great Creator?" she asks in astonishment. Peatmoss shakes his head.

"I'm sorry. I'm not from Crown. I don't know any of their gods."

"The Great Creator is the artist of all Creation. The first pony. The elder Alicorn. With quill in hoof, she drew our world on the canvas of existence. The mountains and valleys. The ground and seas. Every plant, animal, and creature that moves upon Equis. It was she who gave us life and a home."

"The only Alicorns I've ever heard of is Celestia and Luna." Peat says shrugging.

"The Equestrian goddesses." Crystal Springs huffed. Crossing her hooves in disapproval. "They are but mear mortals who stole the powers once held by the unicorn race. It was because of their foalish squabble that upset the cycle of night and day. How somepony can worship them as equals to The Creator is nonsense. The Equestrians look to the Sun, and are burned by it's rays. They call to the moon, and freeze in darkness. They deserve no praise for arresting the role of the unicorn race for themselves. It was because of this, unicorns fell to evil. They lost their purpose and did fell deeds to the poor Earthponies, and Pegasi. You, don't count yourself as one of them? Do you?" she asks. Noticing him slump and droop his ears.

"I, uh. Don't know." he mumbles. Looking down at his hooves. "When I, came to Crown, I had to... do bad things, to ponies in order to survive."

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" she says in regret. Putting her hooves to her mouth. "I didn't know."

"I always believed they were watching over us all. Caring for us, and guiding us no matter what. But, every day since I stole that first pony's life, I've felt so alone and empty. Like I don't deserve their love anymore. I'm, a bad pony." he stutters. Holding back tears. "I, I wish I d-died instead."

"No. Don't do that." Crystal says comfortingly as she wraps her hooves around him. "We all must do what we can to preserve and protect all of Her creations. That includes yourself. This world is a fallen and brutal place. But there is yet still beauty to be protected. And it's worth fighting for. Tell me." she asks. Rubbing at his withers and leaning back to look into his eyes. "Do you feel delight in destruction? Do you desire to hurt or bring harm to anything?"

"No." he replies. Shaking his head and sniffing.

"Then you are still a good pony."she reassures. Patting him on the hoof. "You may have made a mistake, but you did what you could to protect yourself. As children of The Creator, we must not seek to waist or abuse Her gifts too us. Take the Gilded Green for instance." she explains. pointing to the tree at the center of the garden. "There are some on Gallops that would have it cut down and removed. For no priests of the Elder Green yet live. And since the Griffin's invasion and burning of the Hold, it has remained dormant and leafless. Yet every day, I have looked after it. Guarding it. protecting it from harm."

"Why is it still dormant? How come it hasn't grown any leaves?" he asks as he looks up into it's bear branches.

"Because it is grown from a cutting of the Elder Green. The first tree. When the city was burned, it went to sleep to avoid the fire. And someday, it has been said, it will reawaken. All that it needs is to be reconnected to it's parent. Place your hoof on it's trunk, and you will feel it's slumbering mind. It's desire." she finishes. Stepping over and placing her hoof against the tree. Closing her eyes as she does.

A little doubtful, he does as well. He expects to feel something like when she healed his jaw. But after a few minutes, he is disappointed to feel nothing but it's bark beneath his hoof.

"Do you feel that?" she asks. looking over to him with a smile. Sadly he shakes his head and lets his hoof fall back to the ground. "Are you sure? Everypony before, always feels the energy of Equis through the Gilded Green."

"Not me." he says sadly as he looks up at it's branches. They wave gently as another breeze blows through them. Then he catches a whispering sound and he flicks his ears as Crystal speaks up. Drowning out it's words.

"Maybe you're not concentrating right. Try-"

"Shush." he cuts her off. Raising a hoof and focusing his ears. "I think I hear something." Jumping up, he flies to one of it's central branches and perches there.

"What are you doing!" she hisses in alarm. "Get down from there before you break something!"

"Shush shush." he hisses back. "I think I hear something. Be quiet for a few minutes."

Closing his eyes and stretching out his wings, he concentrates as another breeze builds and blows through. Then he hears the subtle flapping of tiny wings. Like when a moth would fly in his window back home. Attracted by the room's lamplight. Opening his eyes, he sees ghostly images of small flying ponies fluttering from blossom to blossom.

"I see them!" he whispers loudly.

"See what?" she whispers back up.

"I see ponies, flying around the branches. Like Pegasi, but with, like, butterfly wings and antennas." he describes as he watches them dig around in the tree's flowers. Gathering pollen like bees. It all seeming to be like afterimages of a memory.

"Ponies with butterfly wings?" she asks in confusion. "Wait! You see the Gusties!" she suddenly shouts in excitement. "Where!" she demands. Her eyes wildly darting around the branches. Even galloping to the opposite side of the tree to look.

"They look like ghosts. They're gathering something from the blossoms."

"You see the blossoms too?" she asks in confusion. Her eyes seemingly not finding what he's describing. "What color are they?"

"Purple. Why?"

"So you can see them too now. But how come you didn't when you... Oh! Crystal Springs, you dumb pony." she suddenly admonishes herself by smacking a hoof to her forehead. "He's a Pegasus. Wind is his element, not earth. Of course he won't see it like Earthponies." Peatmoss thinks, and decides that her reasoning makes sense as the images fade away with the wind.

"What are Gusties?" he asks as he rejoins her on the ground.

"They're a species of Equine that sadly disappeared hundreds of years ago, during the great Windigo Winter. Nopony knows what became of them."

"So what does it mean? How come I can see them if they're not really there?"

"What you're seeing are dreams of the Gilded Green. Memories of times long ago. The Gusties we're said to gather pollen from the Elder Green and carry it far and wide to all the forests of Crown. Keeping every tree connected to the First tree. But sadly, with they're disappearance, the two now remain disconnected. The Elder and Gilded."

"Didn't you say something about waking it up? How can we do it?"

"Well, I do have a theory, but." she pauses and grits her teeth in a cringe.

"But what?"

"I think if we get a few drops of sap from the Elder Green, it may be enough to stir it too blossom. Maybe then... well. It's all the further I got."

"It's a start. Where is the Elder Green?"

"It grows in a valley on the other side of Pinical Mountain. In Hot March. But to even pierce it's bark, you'll, need to..." she trails off and hangs her head in sorrow.

"What? What's the matter?"

"Are you familiar with what a Hagraven is?"

"It, sounds familiar. But I can't remember where I heard of it." Peatmoss waits until Crystal Springs can muster up the courage to explain.

"It may not be very common outside of Crown, but... Whenever a pony and Griffin couple together, the offspring is born predominantly as the mother's species. And rarely is the female in danger."

"What?" asks Peat. "Is that like, were hippogriffs come from?"

"Technically, by the definition, yes. They sometimes bare one, or rarer still two small traits of the other species. But are easily able to pass as one or the other. If they ever reproduce, the trait isn't passed on. However, if the female is taken without love magic... The offspring emerges a horribly twisted amalgamation of the two. And often results in it's mother's painful death."

"Oh." Peat remarks. Frowning sadly.

"A few years ago, a mare from outside town was brought in to the temple. She was in labor. I did everything I could think of to help, but... I had heard the rumors, but, I believed that I could raise it right on my own. Teach it to love and do good. I, was rong. Bad things started to happen around the temple. I had my suspiciouns, but I didn't want to jump to conclusions. Then... one of the foals was found dead in one of the water cisterns. Their, forehooves, they were... Oh Goddess." she brakes down in sobs. Peatmoss places one of his wings over her back to comfort her. After a minute, she calmed and continues

"I confronted her about it, but she wouldn't say anything. Later that night, I checked her bed, but she was gone. Going outside, I spotted her crouching down here at the Gilded Green's Roots, cackling. I snuck up behind her and saw it using the foal's still bloody bone to carve this, symbol, into the Gilded Green." Stepping forward, she pushes aside some of the flowers to reveal a crudely cut shape of a ram's head.

"Then it attacked me." she states sadly as she pulls back her hood and mane. Showing him an old, jagged scar on the side of her temple above her ear. Fortunately, a couple of guards heard me screaming and ran it out of the city. That... knife, of her's. It's the only thing I can think of that might be able to tap the Elder Green to harvest some sap."

"Do you have any idea where... um." Peatmoss trailed off. Not sure what to call the creature.

"I named her Blossom Hope. But I doubt she'll respond to it. I've since heard that it has nested up at Orphan's Mesa. Up past Squirestone." Crystal Springs sighs and rubs at her eyes before continuing.

"I had so much hope that I could raise her to be an exception to the rule. But I should have been wiser. She started showing signs of her true nature from the very first year I was careing for her. I was too naive. She was born out of hate and lust. She could not feel love."

"Hagravens have a chaotic form of magic all their own. And she immediately began using it to terrorize the patrons and priests alike. I tried to empathise with her, talk to her. But I couldn't find any connection with her. I can't help but think, did my naive hope make me responsible for all the evil she's done?" Crystal Springs asks in a whimper. Hanging her head in shame. Peatmoss wrapped his other wing around her as she began to cry again.

"No. I don't think so." he comforted. "She was a thinking, feeling being. She chose to do evil, and you did everything you could to teach her. I'll go and take care of her if she hasn't changed."

"You will?" she asks. Looking up to him hopefully. Peatmoss nods with conviction. "It's very dangerous to confront a Hag. It's been several years since. She may have powers greater than you can handle."

"Don't worry. I'm not exactly a slouch myself. Besides I may be able to find some rough, tuff ponies who can help me."

"Really? Who?"

"I was told I could find the Mighty Helms up around here?"

"The Mighty Helms? They live over there in that, upsidedown boat-shaped hall." She pointed out up the street towards an oddly rounded-roof building, beyond a wooden archway. "You'd best have alot of money. They're not cheap to hire."

"Don't worry about it. I've got an in, if I join their gang." he says confidently as he turns to go.

"Ok. Let me know if you make any progress."

Trotting up the street, he approaches the hall. As Crystal Springs had described, it really did look like somepony had flipped over a wooden ship and made it into a house. It gave him pause to think of all the effort it would take to bring a ship this far inland, drag it up a mountain, and make it into a big house. The planking and keel looks to have been scorched with fire at some places. And a few of the planks were missing. At the center, beneath a row of shields that decorated the ship's rail, was a pare of double doors that he pulls open to enter.

Inside, the hall was predominantly a single room with doors on either end that separate the prow and stern from the larger middle room. At the center of the stone floor, was a long fire pit, smoldering with half-burned logs and sticks. Around it were sturdy wood tables, absolutely cluttered with dirty dishes and half eaten food. The hall was the definition of a pigsty. As if it had been abandoned by once noble ponies, and now was used as a den for wild animals.

Dispite the mess, Peatmoss saw an elderly mare moving about the room. Making slow, but steady progress cleaning up the trash and strewn about furniture. Seeing her struggle, his helping instinct kicked in and he began to do what he could to clean up. After a few minutes, she took notice of him.

"Wait a minute, you're not Green Pea." she said. Squinting at him.

"No. I'm Peatmoss. I just saw you struggling and thought I'd help-out."

"Oh that's very kind of you deary. But you need-int mind. It's my job to clean up."

"But look at this place." he responded. Gesturing to the mess with a hoof. It'll take you all day to clean this place up. Is it always this bad?"

"Well no." she answers. Glancing around. "It seems that one of the Helms threw a tantrum last night."

"Shame on them for making such a mess, then leaving somepony else to clean up after them. What are they? a bunch of foals? Speaking of, where is everypony?"

"Oh. It's really not my place to say, but lady Burnished Bronze bucked them all out when she came in this morning. You'll probably find them out back in the coliseum." Peatmoss snorts and trots over to the back double doors and goes out to see.

Outside the backdoors is a pavilion with tables and chairs. Beyond is a large patch of flat, sandy grass. Backed by a half ring of stone theater seating, facing the hall. Gathered around the center was a group of ponies watching two fighting.

Finding a gap, he joins the spectators and sees Axhaft and a filly rolling around, tussling. Axhaft was missing her helmet, her dark-orange striped mane messed with sweat and grit, and the other filly was dressed in leather scale armor.

Watching the two of them grapple with each-other as they grunt and squeak, rolling about in the sand. Trying to force the other into submission as the gathered spectators called on encouragingly to one or the other. It awoke a strange feeling inside him and his pants felt tighter.

"Yeah! Get her leg behind her back!"

"Yank her tail. Show her who's top dog!"

"Bite her ear!"

"Get her on her belly! Make her taste that sand."

After a few more minutes, Axhaft manages to pin the other under her. Getting the filly into a headlock, she drives the filly's muzzle into the sand.

"Ok! I yield!" the filly shouts. Managing to turn her head to the side, and blowing puffs of sand as she struggles to raise her head. Tapping out desperately with a free hoof to signal she was finished.

"Haha!" howls Axhaft. Panting as she releases her and throws her forehooves into the air in victory. The gathered ponies cheer.

"Alright already." Grumbles the loser, spitting out sand. "Now get off me and let me up." Instead of complying, Axhaft puts her iron-shod hoof on top of the filly's head and shoves it back into the sand.

"Just solong as ye remember that taste Bright Buckler. An think twice next time afore ya question which o us is the big mare." Pressing once more on Buckler's head before she steps off to enjoy the applause of the watchers.

"Oy!" comes a shout of indignation to Peat's right. "Get yer feathers ot of me face!"

"Ga! Sorry." Peatmoss apologizes shamefully. Pulling his fully extended wings away from the greyish-blue stallion with a faded blue goatee.

"Oo are ye? An what ya doin here?"

"You!" says Axhaft angrily. Gritting her teeth and snortting as she scrapes at the ground with her hoof.

"I was just-"

"MEADBLOOD!" she shouts in a warcry as she charges at him, bowling him onto his back. Standing over him, Axhaft slams her iron-shod hoof down squarely on his left eye. Dazed, he blindly brings up his forehooves before she can strike again. Covering his face. But instead of going for his head again, she stomps her left hindhoof down on his belly. With a pained huff, he curls and rolls over onto his side causing her to loose her balance on top of him. Defensively, he swings his right wing up as he moves. Striking her across her muzzle, catching her off guard. Taking advantage of the stun, Peat gets to his hooves and leaps for the safety of the sky. But Axhaft recovers in time to jump after him, wrapping her forehooves around his left hindleg, arresting his ascent.

"Let go, of me, you, crazy pony!" Peat coughs as he flaps his wings, almost lifting her into the air.

"Not till ya give me ma money back ye job stealin skyskeeva!" Feeling her grip slipping on his pantleg as he shakes it to throw her off, she bites down on his hock.

"Ah! No biting!" Peat yells in alarm. Putting his right hindhoof on her snout and pushing. Axhaft growls something through her teeth as he mashes her muzzle with his hoof. Suddenly, there's a popping of stitches, followed by a loud (RIIIP!) Flying up, Peat lands on the pavilion roof and looks back at his hind end, he sees his pantleg has been torn off to reveal a reddening bite mark on his leg. Looking down from his perch indignantly, he sees Axhaft with the piece of ripped garment still in her teeth, shaking it back and forth like a dog. The gathered ponies below seem to find the spectacle amusing, as they chuckle and grin.

"What the hay is rong with you?!" he shouts down angrily. Pulling off the ruined pants and throwing them down at her.

"Woo-hoo!" shouts Bright Buckler. Waving a hoof in the air. "Take em off!" Spitting out the pantleg, Axhaft curls her hoof and waves it up at him as she shouts.

"Git back down ear and fight me like a pony ya cowardly hat-swipa!"

"Make me ya dirt-scraping ground-pounder." he replies. Impudently sticking out his tongue and blowing her a raspberry. causing the other ponies to laugh.

"I'm gonna make ye choke on them words!" With that, she runs out of sight beneath him and he leans forward to see over the edge too where she's gone. To his astonishment, her forehooves appear as they hook on the edge of the roof, followed by her angry face as she pulls herself onto the roof's gentle slope. "I'm gonna pluck ya fer wingen yer muzzle inta our turf. Ye worm-eyed hootin-block!"

"What are you talking about?" he asks in confusion. Stepping back and readying to dodge her next attack. "I went and talked with Bernie just like you suggested. What crawled up your tail?!."

"Ya come inta our territory, disguised as one oh us, taken our jobs, stealin our pay." She growls as she takes swing after swing at him. While he ducks and dodges away from her. "An now ya think we're suppozed ta welcome ye inta the pack?! Like ole mess-mates?! Ye flop-eared, potato sack wearin, pillow stuffer!" Seeing a pattern of openings after each of her swings, he dives forward and shoves her chest with his hooves. knocking her onto her back.

"Ironbloom told me, to take her coat. And for you to stuff it!" Peat clarified. Standing over Axhaft and pinning her down with one hoof.

"Oh I'll stuff ya all-right. An ang ye from the Rossvaskr's framin!" she shouts. Suddenly bringing her rear hoof up between his legs. Kicking him square in his colthood. Peat stumbles back as the blunt strike radiates pain through his body.

"Ooo!" Came a shout from below. "Right between the thighs."

"That, was a low blow." Peatmoss gasps in pain.

"It's what ye deserve fer bein a rotten, feather-backed, nunkey. Ye owe me two hunrd gold!" she growls as she gets back up. Peat leaps into the air and flies backwards, across the gap between the pavilion and the up-turned ship. Taking refuge atop the keel as he tries to explain.

"If you're, talking about the, "job" I did at Buzzy's Brew. I was accidentally taken to be one of your gang. And they were so desperate for help, they practically forced me to kill that spider. They told me they've been waiting for weeks. I did the work. I get the pay."

"Mammoth shite! That money is ours!" Backing up, Axhaft makes a running jump across the gap and hits the hull with a loud thump. She nearly loses her grip, but using the sporadic missing planks, she is able to climb up to the keel. Facing off against Peat. "An I'm gonna beat your scrawny, feathery hide, till I gets it!"

She lunges for him. But with a flap of his wings, he lets her pass harmlessly beneath him and he kicks at her rump, sending her bellyflopping onto the roof.

"What's the matter Axhaft?" heckles somepony from below. "The pegasus too quick fer ye? Ha ha ha!" the watchers laugh.

"Graa!" roars Axhaft. Getting up and spinning around. her purple face flashing red. "Stand still ye slippery chicken!" she scratches at the wood with her hoof a few times before charging again. Crouching and spreading his wings as if to repeat his previous move, Axhaft leaps high to catch him. But instead of taking to the air, he lunges forward rolling in midair, and grabing her by the barrel. Using his wings as a pivot point, he rolls up behind her and kicks. Sending her smashing back-first into the carved, decorative wooden pony silhouette, mounted on the end of the keel.

"Face it filly." says Peat confidently. Spreading his forehooves and wings. "You can't beat me up here. All I need to do is fly in any direction and you can't even touch me."

"What, did you call me?" she growls in a low rumble. Rising to her hooves. Her hide ripples and her teeth look to grow sharper then he thought before. "I, Am Not, a little, Filly!" she roars. Turning to the wood decoration, she grabs it and pulls. Peatmoss watches in astonishment as her forehooves bulge with big muscles, and the wood silhouette moves with a splintering crunch. Tearing it free from it's mountings, she looks at him and winds up to throw.

Peatmoss dashes to the opposite end of the hull and takes cover behind the opposite wood decoration just as she tosses it. It hits it's sibling with a bang, and clatters to the planking. Sliding and bouncing off down the curve of the hull before falling too the ground with a thump.

"You're crazy!" he shouts at her as she approaches. Head bowed angrily.

"You called me a little filly!" she shouts back as she runs around the wood decoration to get at him.

"I did not!" he says as he runs around the other way. Keeping the wood decoration between them.

"Did too! You think I'm a weak little filly!" she looks around at him.

"Did not!" he asserts as he glares back. Skipping around the wood silhouette as she chases him. After a few seconds of this, he gets bored of the dance, and leaps away. Flying down to the ground.

"Oy! where are ya goin?! Get back ear an..." Suddenly she realizes how high up she is and throws her forehooves around the decoration, hugging it in fear. Landing on the ground, Peatmoss turns and notices her terror-stricken expression.

"What's the matter? You're not afraid of heights? Are you?"

"N-no" Axhaft stammers. glancing around desperately for a safe way to get down. The other ponies chuckle as they all watch her struggle. And he can't help but join their laughter as he watches her let go and carefully make her way down the curving slope of the planking.

But as she goes, he quickly recognizes the danger of her situation. Suddenly, she starts to lose control and slip. She screams in terror as she picks up speed. Leaping into the air, he catches her in his forehooves. Axhaft stares at him in surprise, but then smacks him angrily with a hoof.

"I ain't yer filly in destress! Let me go!" she yells. Squirming and kicking.

"Hold still! Before I-." Before he can land, she throws herself out of his grip and falls to the ground. Hitting it with a sickening (SNAP!) "Oh No!" he says in horror as he sees her sprawled on the ground groaning. The others however, seemingly unaware of the situation, erupt into full-blown laughter. Groggily Axhaft tries to get up and Peat lands at her side to try and stop her. "Don't move! I think you broke something. Just lay still and-"

"Get off me!" she shouts. Swinging her left hoof at him to ward him away. It bends unnaturally like a wet noodle.

"Lay still!" he says in alarm as she tries to get to her hooves. "Your leg is broken!"

"Sod off!" she snaps back at him. "I donna need any oh yer hel-." She is cut-off as she tries to put weight on the broken leg. Witch immediately folds under her, causing her to slam face first into the dirt. The Mighty Helms burst into even more riotous laughter.

"This isn't funny guys!" he shouts at them angrily. Thoroughly upset at their apparent lack of concern for their companion.

"Relax." says the greyish-blue stallion. Stifling his laughter as he trots over. "She'll be fine in a few minutes. She's seen worse." Before Peat can ask for an explanation, the backdoors of Rossvaskr slam open and Burnished Bronze appears in the doorway with a roar.

"What's the meaning of all this fracas?!" The laughter immediately dies as everypony stares in fear at her. "Ave ye no respect fer the bereaved!?" Peatmoss feels the need to cower as she sweeps her furious gaze over the group. He could swear he felt the ground shake as she stomps right up to the greyish-blue stallion. "Scorch! what's the meaning oh this riotous disturbance?" Scorch, to his credit, didn't show half as much fear as the rest of them. Standing muzzle to muzzle with Burnie.

"With all do respect, Marm. Rossvaskr be our home, an ye av nay say in what we do ear. Am sorry ta ave disturbed ye. We was jus about ta see this Pegasus off." Burnie cocks her one eye in disapproval before glancing over at Peatmoss, then to Axhaft laying groaning on the ground, cradling her broken leg.

"An why would ya do that?" she asks. turning her glare back to Scorch. "By the looks of it, he's more then a match for one oh yer best fighters. Ye gonna disrespect Ironbloom's last wishes?" He glances down at Axhaft, before snorting and answering.

"It does nay matter. Even if little Bloom was here, it would be up ta the circle ta decide that. An we donna want no fog-stalka ear." he punctuates with a stomp. Burnie leans away from him, screwing her face into a sour expression.

"So that's how it is." she spits in disgust. "After all these years Ironblood's been workin the Cloudforge, ye just gonna drop that road-apple?" Scorch flinches at that. "He's been loyally fixin yer armor, forgen you the best weapons, an the way ya thanks him, is ta shit on his race?!"

"N-naw! It ain't like that! Buckin. Es earned his place here! This little skeever, can't jus wing on in, on the back oh yer daughter's reputation, an take her place. The clan ain't gonna stand fer it!" At that, Burnie hangs her head. Her body seemingly withering in sorrow.

"Oh. I see." She sighs in a whisper. "I suppose you're right. Ironbloom always was just another outsider to you. Just like her ol mare."

"Burnie." Scorch starts in a weary tone.

"No no, I understand." she Whimpers as she turns away. "This has always been all my fault. I should never ave come here in the first place. I, I used to think The Mighty Helms were all about honor, and goodness. But now I see it's just a clubhouse fer gangers and layabouts. There's no room here for anypony who just wants to do some good in the world."

"Burnie, don't talk like that." Scorch begs.

"No. Ye've made yer point." she says in finality. Rubbing the tears from her eyes before turning to Peat. "Come along Peatmoss. I'll at least give ya a place ta stay in my home. We Equestrians aren't welcome around here." Peatmoss falls into step beside her comfortingly as she plods sadly away around the hall. The other Helms turn disapproving glares at Scorch as they walk away.

"Wait. Hold up." he calls, trotting after them in defeat. "I can't approve im joining till ee at least talks ta Kodiak Tinhorn first. Till ee does, I'll discuss it with the rest of the circle. That's the best I can say fer now." Burnie smiles a little as she nods back in thanks. "I think es downstairs in the den talking ta Broad Blade." Scorch says to Peat before turning and trotting back over to check on Axhaft.

"Go on downstairs Peatmoss." Burnie says. Turning to Peat. "His room is at the far end of the vault. You can't miss it."

"What do I tell him?"

"Don't worry about it. Just answer his questions honestly, and your good nature is sure to win him over. Just like it did for my daughter."

"Ok." he says with a thankful nod. "Are you going to be ok?"

"I'll be fine after I have a few more days to grieve. And remember, no matter how your day goes, you'll always be welcome at my home. Now run along. I'll see you later."

Re-entering Rossvaskr through the front doors, he finds that a green unicorn colt has joined the older mare in cleaning. And the room looks to almost be in decent shape. Looking too his right, he finds the stairs down. As he descends, he can't help but notice a large armor stand mounted to the wall in an alcove. On it though, is a partial set of armor. A neck guard, left forehoof and right hindhoof guard, and a croupier. It was a very large grey armor for a large pony. Across it's surface was a honeycomb pattern with decorative bees hear and there.

Passing beneath the floor, he comes to a long hallway built out of stone, running the length of the hall above. The style of stonework reminds him of Featherfall barrow. But instead of cold and empty, it was warm and inviting. lined with furniture, with a wide red carpet running down the middle. On the walls hang tapestries depicting what he guesses are historical events.

The first is one of a ship, presumably the one that serves as the house above, sailing on the ocean. Standing on it's deck are several ponies holding spears and wearing those iron helmets iconic of the Mighty Helms. Behind them in the distance is an erupting volcano, spewing fire and belching lava, with a doomed village beneath it.

The next is a picture of what he thinks is Gallops Hill. But there's no wall around it. And instead of the grand keep, the top of the hill is crowned with a big, humble barn. On the road leading up the hill, is the Helms, carrying the ship on their back, as ponies all around them cheer and wave.

The next depicts the now walled Gallops Hill under siege. Rushing out of it's front gate is the Mighty Helms, bristling with spears. Lead by a huge brown stallion with golden, flaxen hair, and glorious beard. He rears up with a fearsome warcry on his lips, as he drives the attacking griffins before him. They flee in terror as the stallion stands over their apparently fallen king. The stallion oddly seems to be depicted with a splash of yellow liquid behind him. Framing his body.

The next tapestry he is surprised to see is the opposite of the previous one. It depicts Gallops Hill again. But this time, The besieging griffins are reaching out and tearing away at the city with their sharp clutching claws. The brave defenders lay dead about the hill as the heroic stallion from before watches from a distance. Weeping in sorrow as a new, evil looking griffin King, flies over the city with a glowing, golden eye.

Confused at the apparent sudden reversal of fortune, he moves to the next and sees the stallion again. But this time, he is covered in grey armor. Like that partial set displayed in the hall above. All around him are hords of demonic griffins. They hack and stab at the stallion, but his armor turns away every strike. Leaving him unharmed as he forges his way through them towards their evil king, who stands at the back of the army. Directing them as his golden eye blazes with light.

Heartened by the hopeful turn, Peat moves to the last one, and is confused by it's depiction. The heroic stallion sits, atop mountains of dead griffins, slumped in death. Arrows that cover him in piercing wounds, leak yellow liquid, as the Evil king stands over him. With a bow in one claw, he cackls in glee. While behind him kneels three ugly, twisted hippogriffs. In their outstretched hooves and claws, they present the victorious king with more wicked arrows.

Peatmoss looks around for more, but he has reached the end of the hallway. All that's left is the narrow double doors, presumably leading to Kodiak's room. From beyond he can hear low, muffled voices. He sighs in disappointment at the end of the story.

'It must be a historic account.' he thinks to himself. 'The stories of Crown don't have happy endings.'

He knocks at the doors, and after a few seconds, an answering call beckons him to enter. Stepping in to the small study, he finds two earthpony stallions sitting at a small round table. The one, a younger, dark-red, with a black mane and tail. The other, an elderly, though still strong looking stallion, with a light-grey coat and white striped mane and beard.

"Well now," remarks the older stallion, looking Peatmoss over, as the younger, with baggy eyes, looks on boredly. Leaning against the table. propping up his head with a hoof. "a new face enters the hall. What is it you need."

"I was t-told," Peat pauses to clear his throat. Straightening up before restarting. "My name is Peatmoss. And I was told I could find Kodiak Tinhorn down here? I need his approval before I can join the Mighty Helms." The younger stallion snorts in amusement at Peat's weak introduction. But the elder stallion ignores it as he asks.

"Really? An what manner oh madness would compel a Pegasus ta crawl this far under earth an stone to seek my approval? Huh?"

"I, um." he pauses again. Glancing up at the stone ceiling.' It's probably been there for hundreds of years. Why would it fall now?' he thought to himself as he answers Kodiak. "Ironbloom invited me to come here. Said I would be welcome here."

"You? A sky-skeever? Welcome here?" the other pony scoffed.

"What's rong with that Blade?" asks Kodiak. "Ya know we have spare beds in the pup's den that ave been left cold fer a long time."

"You're not seriously thinking of giving him a chance Captain?" asks Blade. Flicking a bighoof in Peat's direction. "And here I thought you were daft when ya let that unicorn join. Whatever." he concluded. looking away to the wall in boredom. "Why do I even care." he mumbles to himself. "That weak scrap of meat will probably die within the first few seconds of the fight."

"Excuse me?!" retorts Peat. "I'll have you know, I've been in a few fights already. Killed some ponies, and griffins too! Just because you're an Earthpony, doesn't automatically make you the meanest, toughest, cock on the trot! Do you want to have a go at me? I've already trounced two of your gang already. So you better be careful of who you're shitting on!"

A profound silence falls over the room as the echoes of Peat's outburst fade away. Slowly, Blade turns his steely glare on Peatmoss as he straightens up in his chair. The creaking of the stallion's armor fills Peat's ears in the silence. Accompanied by a predatory rumble of a growl as he levels his ire on him. Peatmoss feels a trickle of fear run up his spine. The primal prey animal instinct, buried deep in his genes, bubbling up to compel him to flee in terror. But drawing on probably foalish resurves of courage, he roots his hooves to the ground.

"Watch, your, tone, meat. You're trapped here. Stone all around you. Nowhere to fly. I can have my teeth around your neck before you could even turn to bolt."

"Y-you can tr-try." Peatmoss stammers in what he hopes doesn't sound like a squeak. "But I-I've got te-eeth too." he finishes lamely. Blade just holds his gaze for a few seconds before getting slowly to his hooves.

"Oh. I am going to have fun chewing on you." he states. A wolfish grin crawling over his muzzle as he widens his stance.

But suddenly, before eather of them can make a move, Kodiak bursts out in jolly laughter. Completely shattering the tension in rolling, belting, guffaws that ring down the stone hall.

"By the Great Mead-Blooded's glorious Beard!" He shouts as his laughter subsides. "Ye must ave bronze balls the size oh seige stones ta challenge Broad Blade to a close quarters fight." he says as he brushes tears of joy from his eyes. Blade just rolls his eyes as he huffs and returns to his chair. "Come now." he says through a few lingering chuckles. "Take your clothes off so I can get a good look at what you're offering."

Not certain if he's serious, Peatmoss waits a few seconds, but no other command comes. So he unbuckles his saddle bags and sheds his robe. Rising from his chair, Kodiak walks to Peat's right side and picks up his hoof.

"Soft hooves." he mutters to himself as he inspects the underside. "No evidence of ever beeing shod. some wear though." He lets it drop back to the stone floor and moves on to his flank. Peat flinches as Kodiak grabs his right wing and pulls it out too it's full extent. Squeezing and prodding the muscles before allowing it to fold back up. Moving around behind him, he lifts Peat's tail and looks over his cutie mark. Giving his rump a poke. "Fan of sweets are ya?" Peatmoss just mumbles a noncommittal answer as Kodiak drops his tail and picks up his left hindleg. Feeling up his hock and haunch. "Not many miles on these. Typical for a Pegasus I suppose, plenty of muscle though." Letting his hoof down again, he walks back to Peat's front and hooks his jaw to look into his mouth. Then, he sits and takes Peat's head in his hooves and inspects his bruised eye, then the faint scar on his jaw. "Get smacked in the head often? Not a fan of helmets are ye?"

"I've been considering it." replies Peat sheepishly. "I haven't found one in my size eather."

"Ah. We'll have to address that then." Kodiak says as he peers deeply into Peat's eyes. He stares back. The elder pony's creased face a mask of tired, world-weary time. But with a glimmer of something in his gaze.

"You are Equestrian. Am I right?" he asks suddenly. Peatmoss nods gently. "Yes. I see a bit of the Sun-goddess's light still in your eyes." Peatmoss lowers his eyes in shame. "There's no shame in what you are or where you were born." He reassures, letting go of his head.

"After what I've done here in Crown." Peat starts guiltily. "I don't expect to be welcome back in my Homeland."

"I see. The souls of the slain weigh heavily on you. Don't be fooled. You are not alone with this burden." he comforts as he glances back at Blade. Who upon noticing Kodiak's gaze, turns his eyes to the wall again. "The weight of the living can be enough to crush a pony's spirit." he says as he raises Peat's head with a hoof to look him in the eye again. "You would be wise to not try and bear the weight of the dead as well. I see much sorrow and hardship on your path ahead Peatmoss. Honor and respect for ones friends and enemies are the core of what the Mighty Helms stand for. Follow these tenets too the letter, and those who have gone before you will welcome you into Dreamland Castle with open hooves.

"Tell me about yourself Peatmoss." he says as he returns to his chair. "What did you hope to do when you left your home to come here?" Peat takes a deep breath and sighs before beginning.

"I, was tired of my day-to-day life back in Equestria. Like my life wasn't going anywhere. I believed that there was something I was missing. I was just restless I suppose. I decided I should come here and see the land my, ancestors, built. To find the roots of what I was. Not even in my wildest dreams did I expect to see or do what I have."

"I've seen corruption of law and justice. I've heard rumors of world-threatening monsters. Seen evil of ponies and griffins alike. Now? I Just want to help anyone I can.

"And help you shall. I'm sure we can find a few jobs you can handle around Gallops Hold. In the meantime, Broad Blade here will give you a test of strength and endurance." Kodiak says turning to the red stallion. "Try not to make him any more than one piece." Broad Blade just sighs and rolls his eyes as he rises from his chair.

"Thank you Captain Kodiak sir. I'll do my best." Peatmoss bows and gathers up his saddle bag and robe to follow Blade. Kodiak just chuckles and waves him off.

Outside, in the sandy grass, he and Blade squared off. He began with showing Peat a few defensive moves with wooden swords. But after that, they started sparring for real. And all those simple defensive moves got alot harder. All he had to do was hit Blade's buckler he held to his chest. But instead, whenever Peat made a go at it, he got a smack to the legs, shoulders, or head. After a few dozen times, he learned to keep moving. Dancing on his hooves. Move in, jump back. Keep aware of his surroundings.

Blade had demonstrated a few moves like Axhaft, but was much quicker in execution. Finally, after what felt like hours, he finally landed a hit and escaped before taking one in return. Peatmoss was so excited about his achievement he let his guard down and Blade made him pay for it. Knocking him on the head. Dazed, he sat on the ground.

"Had enough?" asks Blade as he stood over him.

"Yeah. I think so." he groaned. Rubbing at his crop of lumps on his head. "Can I have a helmet now?" Blade nickered as he went and hung up his sword.

"Go on up to the Cloudforge. Ironblood will take your measurements and see you get something more protective then that shabby robe. It's just up those stairs over there."

Going up the stairs Blade had pointed out. Peatmoss sees the Jarl's Keep looming above, to his left. But as he asends, he finds a dence mist close around him. Spreading his wings as he reaches the top of the stairs, he senses another Pegasus's magic at work in the cloud. Squinting his eyes, he walks slowly forward. Looking for anything, or anypony.

"Hello? Anypony up here?"

"Don't use your wings." comes a deep voiced command from the fog. He quickly folds his wings in fright.

"Uh, I was told to come up here for some armor."

"Come." commands the voice.

Lowering his gaze to the stonework of the ground, he makes his way forward till suddenly finds a set of big, light blue hooves in front of him. Looking up, he sees the pony they belong to. An elderly, light blue and white Pegasus stallion, with a white and darker blue striped mane. He wore an off-white apron. And as far as he could see, nothing else. The stallion's wings, spread behind him, were a ragged mess. Most of the feathers were missing, and he'd bet his saddle, he couldn't fly to save his life.

"Oh! Hello." Peat says in surprise. "You're a Pegasus too huh? My name is Peatmoss." he says with a smile as he holds out a hoof in greeting. The old pony just looks down at his hoof with tired eyes for a few seconds, before raising his own and bumping it to Peat's. "So. You must be Ironblood?" he asks after a few seconds of silence. The pegasus nods slowly. After a few more seconds of not elaborating, Peat coughs and forges on. "So, I'm a new member, and I need some armor. Do you... have anything in, uh... my size?" The big pony cocks his head and asks in a deep voice.

"You're, Ironbloom's friend?"

"Uh, yeah." Peat stammers. surprised at the sudden question. "Well, that is to say," He glances away as he awkwardly clarifies. "I met her barely an hour, before she... passed. But I'd like to think we, could have, been..." he trails off when he turns his head back to see the pony is gone. Turning around in confusion, he looks this way and that but all he sees is the swirling mist of clouds. After a few minutes of looking around, he realizes he doesn't know what direction he came, and has completely lost his sense of direction.

Then something drapes across his back and he snaps his head around to see the big pony had reappeared. Spreading a large piece of canvas fabric over his back. Ignoring his reaction, Ironblood goes about marking out Peatmoss's dimensions using a chunk of charcoal to trace out the shape of Peat's wings, the root of his tail, his hips and forelegs, and base of his neck. He scratches out a few more things on the fabric before pulling it off and walking away back into the fog. His coat and tail fading away in the mist. Patiently, he waits till Ironblood returns with a pile of fabric and leather on his back.

"It will take several days to complete a set." Ironblood says bluntly, dumping the stuff at Peat's hooves. "You can wear this till then." Picking up the biggest piece, Peatmoss sees it's similar to Ironbloom's coat in shape, but with no decorations or fur linings. Just a simple quilted pattern like the Stormwings, or town guard wore. Tossing it over his back, his wings easily push through precut holes, but he's confused by a loose chain-and-bar string attached to the front of each hole.

"What are these?"

"Wing Jacks." the smith replies bluntly. "Guards the fore of your wings." Taking hold of Peat's wing, he pulls it open and lines up the string of metal with it to buckle them on with small leather straps. Once Peat understands how they work, he lets him do the other while he fastens up the front of the coat. It's a size or so bigger than Ironbloom's, but is good enough for the moment. He buckles on the leg guards. Nothing remarkable about them. Simple strips of metal, with a leather backing. And of course, a helmet.

It's made of a steel brow and cheek guards, and a strip of steel running across the top of his head, with a split in it for his mane to stick through. The rest is leather with holes for his ears. His entire body feels twice as heavy. The armor constricting his motions. especially the metal wing guards, that rattle with every movement. Ironblood steps back and watches as Peat tests it out.

"I have a favor to ask." Ironblood states bluntly after a few minutes.

"Uh, sure." he answers, turning to face the stallion. Surprised at the sudden statement

"I've finished the repairs on Axhaft's helm." pulling out and holding up the iconic Mighty Helm head gear. "Could you take it to her for me. My wife is in mourning, and I must go to her."

"Sure thing."

"That's a good lad." he says as he puts the helmet into Peat's outstretched hooves and pats him on the head with his big, heavy hoof. With that, he abruptly trots off. Leaving Peat alone in the fog. Just as he begins to wonder which way to go, the mist begins to thin.

As it dissipates, it reveals a giant stone Pegasus statue, crudely chiseled out of the stone that forms the Keep's foundation. It depicts a Pegasus pony in mid-leap over a shallow stone pit, smoldering with ash and coal. In front of it sits a lone anvil and rack of tools and nothing else. Packing up his discarded robe, he turns to go. Observing as he does, at the farside towards Rossvaskr, is a scattered pile of different metals and a haphazard stack of crates.

Back inside the hall. Peatmoss finds Axhaft and Macehead sitting at a table with their backs to him. Axhaft, half laying on the table, staring at a mug. Off at the farside of the hall is the green unicorn colt, idly washing dishes. Approaching the two, he opens his mouth to announce his presence, but Axhaft snaps at him before he can get a word out.

"What're ya doing ear, Mead blood? Come ta gloat? Rub yer wet tail in me face? Ya not Ironbloom, ya not gonna replace er. An yer not The Mead-Blooded. Ye'll never be The Mead-Blooded! So git! Afor I make ye me pillow stuffin." Macehead affirmed her words with his own glare at him. Peatmoss scrunched his muzzle in angry frustration. But before speaking his piece, he took a deep breath, and let it out.

"Look, guys. I was completely lost when I met your friend. She made the offer, nothing more."

"It wasn't her place ta say!" Snapped back Axhaft. Interrupting him and spinning around to add her angry glare. "No skeevas allowed in the clan. When I sent ye ta Burnished Bronze, I was hoping she'd stomp ye ta smithers. But ya managed ta weasel yer way out-a that like the Skeever ye are." Peat opens his mouth to speak, but is cut off as she continues. "An now yer prancin all ore town tellin everypony ye jus whooped our tails an now yer king oh the hill."

"I did Not!" he yelled. Snatching her helmet off his back and throwing it into her chest. Knocking her back, off balance against the table. "I'm just looking for a place to stay. And now I don't want to have anything to do with you and your stupid little club. Ever since I met you two, you've given me nothing but grief. For the brief few moments I knew Ironbloom, I had nothing but respect for her. And now I can't believe she was ever even associated with the likes oh you! You bring nothing but shame to her name."

"In fact," he went on, beginning to pace. "If she were here, she'd tell ya, 'Yall are a bunch oh weepy-eyed, foalish idgits, who doneigh ave no honor or respect fer peaceable folk. Ye live like a pack oh wild dogs who shit in yer bed an eat yer own vomit! An the Peabrain should go buck im-self.'" At those last words, Axhaft and Macehead's jaws drop, and they both turn and stare at the green unicorn colt. The pony's eyes go wide as the mug he was washing clatters too the floor.

"She, she said that?!" he stammers as he stares back at Peat.

"Uh, yeah. She... actually did." he replied as he realized, he had gotten so caught up in channeling Ironbloom's mannerisms, he actually accidentally quoted her.

"Aw! Come on!" the colt cried in despair as he threw his forehooves in the air. "It was one mistake. And I paid the ultimate price for it. Haven't I suffered enough?!" With that, he stomped off over and down the stairs. Grumbling and griping as he went. Peat just watches him go. Having absolutely no context for the quote.

"Huh. That does sound like something she'd say." muttered Macehead. Axhaft just frowns and looks down at her helmet in her hooves. Feeling the mood in the room falling again, Peatmoss takes a deep breath and sighs.

"Look, I can see you guys don't want me around. So just so we don't hate each-other for the rest of our lives, if you want the money from the Buzzy's Brew job, take it." Pulling out two bags of gold from his saddle bag, he tosses it to the floor at their hooves.

"It's not about the money." mutters Axhaft bitterly as she ignores it and turns back to the table. Setting her helmet down and taking a swig from her mug.

"Then what!" he snaps, getting frustrated again. "How about I cut my wings off and become an Earthpony. Will that make you happy?! All my life I've never said or did a single thing to disparage anypony about who or what they are. But coming to Crown, nearly everypony I've met takes one look at the feathers on my back, and treats me like the scum of the sky. Within the first day after I've arrived, I've been beaten, nearly beheaded, stabbed, shot, nearly beheaded again, and if it hadn't been for Ironbloom and Garard, I'd ave said buck Crown! Buck the griffins! And Buck your stupid Windigo problem. All you guys deserve to freeze to death. Then maybe the rest of the world will be better off for it!"

"Watch your tone, Skyskeever." says Axhaft with a deep un-Equine growl rumbling from her barrel.

"Oh! You want to go for round two bitch?!" Peat shouts back, yanking off his saddlebags. Stomping his hooves and spreading his wings menacingly. "This time though, I'm not holding back!"

"Good ta hear." says Axhaft casually, as she turns in her chair. A manic grin spreading over her face. "Then neither, will, I." But before she can get to her hooves, Macehead picks up a mug and slams it down on her unprotected head. Knocking her to the floor.

"Hey! What's the big idea?!" shouts peat in indignation. But Macehead snatches up a pitcher and throws it at him. It smashes on the brow of Peat's helmet, dousing him in honey wine.

"You need to cool off!" he shouts. getting up and moving to stand between them. "The both of ye. Or do ah need ta call Kodiak an Blade up here ta tie ye both up, an dump ye in the moat?"

"Ow, Macey." whines Axhaft as she rubs at her throbbing head.

"Shut it! Ye know the rules. Not in here!" He looks over at Peat. Daring him to object further, but Peatmoss just shakes himself off and drops his stance. After a few seconds, he takes a breath and addresses Peat. "Look Meadblood, we're jus still upset at Ironbloom's death. We all have our own way oh dealin with it. Axhaft's is fightin. I'm sure she don't mean nothin by it." She sits up and grumbles under her breath. "Kodiak likes ya. Broad Blade don't mind ye joinin. Scorch, ee's draggin his hooves about makin a decision. And, well... ye knows what Axhaft an I feels. Till that changes, ya can't stay here. It's probably best ye find someplace else ta be."

"Yeah fine." Peat mumbles. picking up his saddle bag and walking out into the afternoon sun.

* Level up! *

Stamina increase + 10.
Perk increased (Light weapons).
(Swords Pony 2/3). Attacks with swords have a 40% chance of doing critical damage.

Perk added
(Jarl's badge) With this item is equipped, you are seen as an accepted member of the Hold, and unlocks new dialogue options with non-quest characters.

Author's Note

Big lore dump in this chapter. Not sure if I did it right. Let me know if you have any suggestions on how I can improve.

Chapter 9

It was late morning by the time Night Time Wishes arrived, riding atop Ricky Ticky's cart. After saying goodbye and promising to come see his show sometime later, she made her way up the road leading to the Gallops Hill main gate. As she trotted up over the drawbridge and through the gate, she heard snippets of conversation from the ponies coming the other way. Something about a Skeever attack on the crops, and an attempted robbery in the market.

Wishes had read about the invasive verminous rodents, but had never seen one in her time at University O M. But the mention of a real, open air market, filled with exotic goods from all around Crown, thrilled her. Though the University's stipend she had packed in her bag wasn't much, she was confident a few wise purchases of some basic alchemy ingredients could get her started on earning more money. Her bag had been stuffed with bundles of flowers and herbs she had telekinetically picked from the roadside as she rode on Rickey's cart.

Red, purple, and blue mountain flowers. Lavender, tundra cotton, and even a few pairs of various butterfly wings. A good supply of base ingredients, but an alembic, and a mortar and pestle would be essential to start. However, for the more expensive potions she could brew, she would have to save up for some specialty equipment.

As she entered the city, she spotted a blacksmith's shop and was reminded she would need a few utensils for her set. So she went to the shop's door and pushes on it to enter, but finds it locked.

'Strange.' she thought to herself. 'Closed at this hour? Whoever runs this place sure isn't a very good business pony.' Snorting in disappointment, she turns and heads up the main street.

"Excuse me Miss." comes a call from behind. She stops and looks back to see a pony in a quilted coat, sash, and fur hat, cantering up to talk to her. "I'm sorry to bother you but, I got one look at you, and just had to come over and find out what brings a charming young mare like you too Gallops Hill?"

"I, uh. oh! I'm on a quest from the University of Magnus." she stammers. Not sure why he would be interested in her.

"The University you say!" he fawns. "My! I knew the moment I saw you, I thought for sure this unicorn of Noble stature is certain to be a pony of note. But for you to have come all this way from Los Monokeros! I so sadly underestimated you." He then bowed low, doffing his fur hat as he did. "Why, allow me, Crystal Decanter, the great pleasure to welcome you to our rude, but humble town. If there is anything I, Crystal Decanter, can do to make your visit more comfortable, then please let me know." he finishes with an almost pleading smile up at her. Wishes felt her cheeks get hot as she gave him an embarrassed grin. Stunned by the heaps of gentile mannerisms he laid on her.

"Oh, thank you. But, no services are needed. I'm just, headed to the local market to buy a few essentials. there's no need to trouble-"

"Oh of course." he interrupted. Just as his smile threatened to faulter. "I should have known. A savvy business pony like yourself wouldn't want to bother with the simple commoner ponies."

"Now wait. I didn't-"

"No no. I know what you must be thinking." he interrupted again. Placing his hat back on his head. "But allow me to reassure you. The pony who stands before you is no common field-hoof. For I, Crystal Decanter, am pleased to inform you, that I am infact, a Noble Thane." Wishes was at a loss for words. "Indeed." he answers her silence. "Shocking to hear, I'm sure. How could an Earthpony climb so high, you may ask, as to be recognized as a member of the Jarl's Court? Well I can assure you, it wasn't easy. I had to work hard to earn my way to the top from nothing. And now I oversee one of the largest farms outside the wall. Fertile Furrow Farm. Perhaps you've heard of it? A very profitable business. Why, not a day goes bye that the Jarl doesn't ask me for advice on crop futures. After all I am the most respected member of the Gallops Planter's Guild."

"You don't say."

"Yes. Oh! But where are my manners. A Unicorn Lady as fare as yourself, must have vast holdings of your own. A prominent position in Los Monokeros? I dare too ask?"

"I'm, actually just a student there. My name is Nighttime Wishes. You see, My Master, Arch Mage Wyvernwax sent me here to speak with the Jarl about solving the Windigo problem."

"I, see."

"He is quite convinced that I will be able to find the Harolds of Rainbow here in town. I have been trained in Both ponish and Griff, I have proficiency in the schools of Alteration, Destruction, Restoration, and enchantment magic. But my real passion is for Alchemy and, it's many, useful..." She trails off as she notices his eyes glazed over in disinterest. despite the sagging smile now pasted on his face.

"Yes. Very fasenating. Mis, er."

"Wishes."

"Right. If you're set on seeing the Jarl, do remember to mention my name. It very well may help you get an audience. Good day." He turns to go, but pauses and looks back. "Oh, and just in case you haven't heard, the guard caught a winged skeever in the district. So if I were you, I'd make sure your purse strings are extra tight." With that, he canters away. Waving his ribbon wrapped tail in his wake.

'Winged Skeever?' she thought to herself. She'd never read about any such rodents having the ability of flight. Except for some squirrels. 'Maybe I missed that chapter.' she thought as she pushes up the brim of her hat to glance skyward. 'Perhaps he was talking about a local variant of rodent.' At that thought, Wishes rechecked her bag's buckles. just in case. There wasn't any sense in testing fate after all.

Continuing up the street, Wishes finds the market. It was smaller than she had imagined. Most stalls sold produce of some form or another. One even advertised, 'Ug,' Meat. Large cuts that sat on platters, or hung on iron hooks. At least, she could imagine, none of it was pony. She hoped.

Giving that one a wide berth, she looks from one too another. When, out of the corner of her eye, she sees a flash of wings. Whipping her head around, expecting to have to dodge a diving, winged rat, she sees a brown and green pony. With wings?

She blinks in astonishment. Wishes had never seen a real Pegasus before. She watches as he trots confidently over to a vegetable stall and starts chatting up the mare behind the counter. His brown wings, unlike the griffins she'd seen before, were smaller, and well proportioned to his athletic body shape. Soft and downy, as compared to a Griffin's, who are large and ridgid.

Looking him over, Wishes felt an unexplainable interest towards him. There was something about the pony that gave her a feeling that drew her eye. A feeling that was hard to describe. What was it? Something familiar. Like when she studied alongside Swirlypop. A desire to draw closer? To stand by his side, like...

'Ga! Wishes! What are you thinking?!' she internally berates herself as she realizes she had been gawking. Glancing around the scattered shoppers to see if anypony had seen, she wonders to the next stall. Trying to comprehend the new feeling as she idly looks over the jewelry display.

Her attention is pulled back when she hears a little foal's roar. Looking over, she sees a small filly grappling with the Pegasus as he struggles playfully against her. Then collapsing as she stands atop him victoriously. Wishes can't help but nicker at the absurdity of the scene.

Her mind begins to wonder again, as she turns back and stares off into space across the stall's counter. Thinking what it might feel like to have wings on her back. The freedom to simply spread her wings and leave the ground and all it's problems behind. To be able to fly away from any strife. To relax on a cloud and let time go bye. Memory of the view she saw as she was carried into the sky earlier this morning came to mind.

'I'd like to see those stupid shadow monsters try to get me when I can just hover out of reach of them, and blast them with any spell I choose.' She gave a low snicker at the thought of their frustration.

"Ahem." Wishes blinks in confusion at the elderly pony standing on the other side of the counter that was addressing her. "Can I help you?" the pony asks. eyeing her with a worried look. Suddenly Wishes realizes that she'd been staring a hole in the shopkeeper's head for the past few minutes, with a suspicious grin on her face.

"Oh! Hi! I'm, was..." 'Smooth Wishes. Real smooth.' she thought to herself. 'Now you sound as dumb as you look.' Shaking the thought from her head, she starts over. "I'm just looking, for..." her mind races in embarrassment, looking down at the array of precious metals on display. Thankfully, her brain throws her a bone, in the form of a memory of her last dream walk with Swirlypop. "Awesanium! I'm looking for a piece of awesanium. Do you have any?" she asks with a disarming smile.

"Awesanium?" the pony asks in confusion. "Miss. You do realize that kind of metal is as rare as dragon tears."

"What? You don't have any?"

"Lady. That stuff was rare back in the second era. You're more likely to find a fork made of sapient pearwood nowadays."

"Huh. I had no idea. I remember my master had a pocket watch made out of the stuff."

"Well he must have been a rich pony indeed. If I had even a speck of it, it would be locked up and hidden away. They say the very smell of it can draw dragons from miles around."

"I think you may be exaggerating a little bit." says Wishes deadpanning. "Master Wyvernwax's little dragon friend never batted an eye at it."

"Well then it probably wasn't the real thing then. I've never even seen the stuff before. All I know is rumors. However. If it's rare metal you're after. I've heard of a place you can find a piece of Stubranium."

"Pfft." puffs Wishes in disinterest. "That stuff is next to useless. Even after refining it, it never stays in the shape you want it to be in. Even dragons can't digest the stuff."

"Oh well." says the shopkeeper Shrugging. "Sorry. No awesanium today." Disappointed, Wishes looks away and sees the pegasus was gone. Glancing around, then up in the air hoping to spot him, but sadly he's nowhere in sight. But she is hartened by the sight of an Apothecary shop on the edge of the plaza. The Hagraven's Cauldron.

Stepping through the door and closing it behind her, she takes a deep breath. Breathing in the familiar smells and scents of the myriad of ingredients and components of the alchemical variety. Walking along the shelves, Wishes nearly drools at the vast supply displayed around the room.

"Wait! Is that? It can't be." Stooping, she telekinetically picks up a fleshy digit. She gives it a sniff. Then, looking around to ensure nopony's watching, she gives it a lick. "It is! Plenty fresh too." she whispers to herself. Her eyes shimmering with delight. "An Anon's toe! With this I can make... But only if they have, ah!" She snatches up a bright orange strand of thin, branching tendrils. "Creepcluster. Excellent. Now I just need..." She looks over the shop's stock. "Come on. They've got to have some... Ah!" Triumphantly she picks up a head of wheat. "Oh, if only they knew what I can do with these." she whispers. Making evil, scheming horse noises.

Glancing around the empty shop, Wishes clutches the gathered ingredients to her chest as she wonders over to the alchemy supplies. After a few minutes of looking over what is available, she ends up selecting a small, travel size alembic set, and mortar and pestle. Trotting happily over to the counter, she sets her things out and looks around for the shop owner. seeing the door behind the counter ajar, she leans over to see through as she pulls it open with her telekinesis.

"Hello? Anypony in there?" In the other room sits a light-green and yellow filly at an alchemy set, with her back to the doorway.

"Oh! A customer." the pony says in surprise, looking over her shoulder. "Excuse me miss. I was just so-" As she turns to face Wishes, her tail sweeps over the table she was sitting at, bumping a round flask and sending it rolling twords the edge. "Oh no!" she gasps as it tumbles over, on it's way too the floor. But in an instant, Wishes grabs it with her telekinesis, saving it.

"Whoa! That was close." says Wishes as she floats it up to the filly's surprised but grateful face.

"Thank you so much." the filly sighs in relief. Setting it back in place and backing away, before turning to Wishes. "Sorry about not noticing you sooner, Miss..."

"Nighttime Wishes. And it's no problem."

"Well Miss Wishes, welcome to Hagravens Cauldron. My name is Mountain Flower. Did you find everything you needed?" Wishes just nods and pushes her things forward. "Wonderful. Now let's see." Mountain Flower quickly hoofs through the items, tallying them up. "My. These are some premium ingredients. Are you very familiar with Alchemy?"

"Of course. Mixing and brewing is a passion of mine. I was trained out in Magnus University. Along with the rest of my magic studies. I'm planning on staying here in Gallops Hill till at least the end of the year. So I just need some basic equipment."

"I see. And you'll only need these few ingredients? Can I interest you in anything else?"

"No. I picked a bunch of things along the road as I traveled. These three are for a potion I perfected when I was still learning."

"Very well. All together it comes to three hundred and eighty crowns."

"Three hundred and eighty!" exclaims Wishes. Banging her hooves on the counter. Causing Mountain Flower to flinch. "That's too expensive!"

"I'm sorry Miss Wishes." she squeaks meekly. sinking behind the counter. "But those alembics aren't easy to make. Especially the small ones. If you get the large one instead, it'll be forty crowns less." Suddenly Wishes understood why the Alchemy teacher, Mr Green, always flipped when one of the students broke a flask, or melted down a burner.

"Aw. I really wanted this one." Wishes Whines. Resting her chin on the countertop to stare at it longingly. "It's just soo cute."

"I'm sorry Miss." Flower says apologetically. Rising again. "But I'm afraid cuteness has a big pricetag."

"How much is it by itself?" she asks with hopeful eyes.

"Two forty." Flower braces herself for another outburst. But Wishes just groans sadly

"All I have is two ten."

"I'm sorry. Then it's the big one for you, or nothing."

"I guess I'll just take the ingredients and the mortar." Wishes sighs. Pulling out her purse to pay. Then a strange vapor wafts past her nose. "Hey. Is something burning?" she asks as she sniffs at the air. Flower's eyes go wide and she whips her head around to look back into the room behind her. Leaning to look around the Earthpony, Wishes sees a flask, suspended over a burner, boiling over.

"No-no-no!" cries Flower in despair. Snatching up a pair of tongs in her teeth and yanking the burner out from under it, extinguishing the flame. Slipping on a pair of leather hoof-guards, she picks up the flask and moves it to a short tripod to cool.

"What is it your brewing? If you don't mind me asking."

"Trying to brew is more like it." Flower responds in a huff. "A family outside of town came down with a bad case of the Trots. They bought up all my stock of Curative potions. I've been trying to brew up some replacements, but I'm beginning to think I've been bamboozled. The ingredients I bought recently have something rong with them.

"A disease cure? That's Mudcrab Chitin and Vampire Dust."

"Yes. But... Vampire Dust is hard to come-by. For the longest time I've been substituting it with feathers, Bat Wool, and some Chard Skeever-hide scrapings."

"Ah. Mareimacro. Worm Queen." states Wishes. Proudly recalling the book's Author and title that Flower was referencing.

"That's right. By the Great Creator's Bones! You have been well trained.

"Oh heh. It is, a passion of mine." says Wishes sheepishly. Rubbing at the back of her head, after realizing how nerdy she must sound. "I've read every book on Alchemy, and ingredients. Some cook books too. Oh! Maybe I can lend a hoof at solving your problem, and you could maybe give me a discount?" she asks hopefully.

"Hmm, well..." Mountain Flower muses. Rubbing thoughtfully at her chin as she glares in annoyance at the darkened sludge left in the cooling flask. "I suppose it'll be worth it. I really am at the end of my rope. It's probably not wise to waste anymore ingredients tossing mashed potatoes at the wall..." Coming to a conclusion, she nods and trots back to Wishes. "Ok. If you solve my problem, I'll give you a discount on the Alembic. Deal?" Wishes nods back in determination. Clopping her hoof to Flower's and shaking.

"Deal!" Trotting around the counter, she approaches the workstation and looks over the gathered ingredients while Flower watches. Picking up the Skeever hide, she holds it up to her ear and flexes it. "The Skeever hide sounds well chard through."

"Yes. I did it myself." Assures Mountain Flower as Wishes gives it a lick. Smacking her lips and finding no issues. "It's the feathers I'm most concerned about. Normally I get them from Ironblood, the blacksmith up the hill, or Waxed String, the Fletcher out of Jaegervale. But Ironblood is old, and the ones he gives me are not very potent anymore. And Wax isn't do to come and trade till fall."

Finding the feathers she mentioned, Wishes picks up a few and looks them over. Immediately she recognizes that shade of brown.

"These are from that Pegasus." she mutters to herself as she turns them around in her magic.

"I believe you're right." affirms Flower. "I bought these from Nobby Knee, who says he got them from that Pegasus that's new in town. He actually came in my shop about an hour ago. But left again before I could ask him for some in more decent shape then these." As she said, the feathers before her were damaged and bent.

"Hm. They look in rough shape, but I don't think it will effect their potency." Bringing it up to her muzzle, she gives it a lick and bulks at the strange taste. "Oh yeah." she coughs. Rubbing the strong taste off her tongue with the back of her hoof. "Definitely potent. No problems there."

"That's what I thought. but I can't shake the feeling that there's something else at work in them."

"Have you tried a purity test on them? It might solidify the contaminants."

"Uh, I don't know what you're talking about." Flower says in confusion.

"Oh! Right." apologizes Wishes. "I forgot you're an Earthpony. It's a spell that can condense the different effects into layers. So they can be skimmed off, creating a purer potion."

Casting about the workstation, Wishes shows her as she lets her watch over her shoulder. Pulling out a mortar and pestle and Wiping it down to ensure it's clean, Wishes takes a feather and grinds it up to a powder. Picking out a clean beaker, she puts in an ounce of water, a gram of the powdered feather, and a drop of solvent. Lifting it up in her magic, she swishes it around till the liquid gose clear. Bringing it down to just under her muzzle, she closes her eyes and takes a careful sniff. The solution's effects appear in her mind as four colors. However, unlike other times Wishes tried it, a fifth effect appears.

"Humm. There's definitely something else here."

"I knew it!" growls Mountain Flower. "I just can't trust Knobby. He must have contaminated it with something. Probably sloshed some of his Mead on it or something to make it seem extra good."

"I don't think so." mused Wishes. "This fifth thing is unlike anything I've ever smelled. Let me try the spell and see what comes out."

Closing her eyes, then focusing her magic on the solution, she casts her purifier spell. Imagining barriers pushing apart the five.

"By the ancients in Dreamland Castle!" She hears Mountain Flower gasp. Opening her eyes, Wishes looks in astonishment as the four separate as usual, but it's accompanied by a prismatic light. It swirls around the solution a few times before solidifying into a glittering speck at the bottom of the beaker. "I've never seen anything like that. What is it?" Flower asks as she steps closer to get a better look.

"I'm not sure." Wishes answers dumbly. Setting the beaker down on the table, she focuses on the speck to pick it up. But in a flash of colors, she feels the floor drop suddenly out from under her. Pictures flash through her mind at lightning speed.

Three ponies standing in deep snow singing as winter storm blew around them. A huge Windigo wareing a crown. A giant pony with wings and a horn, glittering in red blue and yellow. A red and black centaur with a pair of big curving horns in mid-roar. Three stone coffins being carried by a crowd of ponies in black and orange armor. A golden wing being held aloft by brown hooves...

"Wishes! Miss Wishes please answer me!" She blinks a few times as the images fade away into the mist of her mind.

"Wha! Huh!" she stammers as her sight is filled with Mountain Flower's distraught face standing over her.

"Thank merciful Scorpan you're back." She cries. Hugging her.

"Wha? What happened? What are you talking about?" Wishes asks in confusion. Rubbing at her temple as what feels like a nail jabs her brain.

"I, I think you were having a seizure or something." Flower explained. Wiping her eyes on the back of her hoof. "As soon as you tried to pick up that, piece, of stuff in the beaker, there was an explosion of color and you collapsed like a stack of rocks." Wishes followed the point of her hoof to the beaker on the table. Shakily she got up to take a closer look at it as Flower went on. "You just started thrashing around on the floor. Your Eyes and mouth shining with light. It scared me half to death. I thought you might've been possessed or something."

"It, what ever it is, must have some crazy magical qualities." Wishes meused aloud. "I don't think it's enchanted or anything." she tries in vane to remember exactly what she had seen. But the images evaporated like smoke on a breeze.

"Whatever it is, I don't think it's worth messing around with." warns Flower with a uneasy look. " But I'm just an Alchemist, not a wizard." Wishes looks hard at the metallic flake sitting at the bottom of the beaker, but no explanation comes to her.

"Well whatever it is, we know how to get rid of it." Taking an extractor syphon, Wishes collects the purified layer of Curative extract and floats it over to Mountain Flower. Taking the offered solution, she puts a drop on her hoof, and gives it a taste.

"By the gods! That's pure!" she remarks with a big grin. Then, after a few seconds. "My mouth is on fire." She immediately rushes over to a convenient bucket of water and takes a few gulps to extinguish it.

Wishes went on to process the rest of the feathers. Once done, she had a bead about the size of a pinhead of the mystery material. It looked metallic in nature, maybe a blacksmith could recognize it. The mystery of it's identity gnawed at her, but ultimately, she knew she shouldn't mess around with it till she found someone who might understand it's magical properties. So, in the meantime, she put it in a little jar for safekeeping.

In thanks for the valuable, purified extract, Mountain Flower gave her the Alembic. With Wishes's promise to assist her again if she ever had need of her helpful magic skills. With her alchemic hunger satisfied, Wishes felt the need for brunch. So she said goodbye to Mountain Flower and left the shop. Trotting across the corner of the plaza up to the tavern to get some much needed food.

The tavern, the Prancing Mare, was a charming little Alehouse with a scattering of patrons, tables, and chairs. But the nice warm fire burning at the center of the room drew her to it, too warm her chilled body. Sitting at it's side, she stared into the flames lovingly. It's relaxing warm glow returning life to her numb forehooves as she held them out.

'By the gods I've missed you.' Wishes thought to the warmth of the fire. 'I almost forgot how cozy you are.'

She had learned her lesson about frivolously using her magic to constantly stay comfortable. But It puzzled her how, that in the University she never seemed to run out of magic reserves. But upon leaving, she found her magic pool emptied out far too quickly.

'Perhaps there was some magical buffing effect that surrounds the University that I had unconsciously benefited from.' she thought. 'I'm going to have to keep track of my magic use I guess. I wonder if Master-'

"Excuse me my-lady." someone addresses her. Wrecking her train of thought. She turns her head and sees a pink unicorn mare with a blue mane. Is there anything I can get for you? Food, drink, a bed for the night?"

"Oh yes. Food and drink would do wonderfully. What's on the menu?" The pink unicorn smiles in delight and hoofs her a paper with a list of food items.

"While you look over our menu, what would you like to drink? We've got hot spiced apple juice ready. Or, if you'd prefer something sweeter, we have a new drink from the far south called hot cocoa."

"The hot apple juice sounds great for now. Thanks."

"lovely choice. I'll bring it out right away." The unicorn trots off as Wishes looks over the menu. Growing hungrier at the variety of food.

Honey nut treats, oatmeal raisin cookies, spiced fruit cake, honeycomb brittle, apple cabbage stew, grilled leeks and potatoes, boiled cream treats, snowberry tarts. It was all so delicious sounding. After a few minutes, the unicorn returns with her hot beverage and took her order.

Settling in to a nearby chair at a small table, she slowly sipped at the hot sweet drink. Filling her with a warmth as good as any warming spell. Taking out a roll of paper and charcoal pencil, she gently scratches out her thoughts, and things she has yet to do.

'Let's see. I'll need to buy an inkpot and quill sometime when I get an income started. And once I find out where I'm going to be staying for the rest of my quest, I'll need to set-up an Alchemy station to process these ingredients into potions for sale. Go up to the Jarl's Keep and introduce myself. Get access to their historical records and find out all about the Rainbow War-' Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the image of the red, blue, and yellow winged unicorn that she had seen earlier. She stared off into the distance as she tries to recall the rest of that brief vision. But it iludes her. Shaking her head, Wishes returns to her paper.

'-Rainbow Warrior. The Harolds. And the song they have to sing.' Suddenly her train of thought is interrupted again as the image of the three ponies comes to mind. She gives a snort of annoyance at the interruption. Pulling out the jar with the unknown metal inside, she gives it a little shake in frustration. "If you're trying to tell me something, just come right out and say it!" she growls in a whisper. But with no response from the indifferent material, she sighs and packs it away again. Picking up her pencil again, she tries to think of what else she needs to do.

"Here's your order ma,aaam" Wishes looks up just in time to see a tumbling platter of food. It hits her in her side and bounces off. "I'm Soo sorry" says the unicorn that had been carrying the platter. She was a tall, blue unicorn mare with short cut, pink mane and tail. She cowers on the floor as Wishes looks sadly down at the yummy looking food scattered around the floor at her hooves.

"Sapphire! What have you done?" says the mare from earlier as she comes rushing over. "Don't just lay there! Go fetch a bucket of water and a towel! Now!"

"Ye-yes mom." whimpers the server as she scampers away, nearly tumbling over a bench on her way.

"Many apologies ma'am." begs the pink unicorn as she quickly gathers up the mess in her magic. "Please forgive my assistant. She's new and doesn't know properly how to do her job. I'll bring another order right away. No charge. Before Wishes could say anything, the innkeeper ran off.

Brushing the bits and crumbs off herself, she turns back to her paper and sees it dampened from the apple juice that had been knocked over in the storm. She lifts it up and dumps the liquid off but was annoyed at the sight of her writing smearing.

Then, the clumsy unicorn returns and Wishes watches defensively as the blue mare clunks the basin of water on the floor in exhaustion. Hoofing Wishes a clean towel and keeping her head down as she cleans the table and floor.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry my-Lady." She whimpers over and over as she works.

"It's fine." she mutters back. "It'll probably wash out." Trying to ignore the penitent mare, Wishes uses the towel to dry the table and paper. Then wiping at the smears on her clothes. Pulling out a clean paper, she rewrites her previous words.

After a few minutes the clumsy server disappears and a new platter of food is set on the table. Packing away her paperwork, she can hardly suppress a giggle of delight as she tucks in to the fresh food.

Not even half way through her meal, she is interrupted by a tan and brown colt slipping into the chair across from her. Caught off guard by the intrusion, she quickly wipes a hoof across her muzzle to ensure it's free of crumbs before addressing him.

"Hello?" she asks. Eyeing him as he casually strums a lute laying over his lap. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Oh no, it's not what you can do for me. It's what I can do for you. Oh radiant sapphire one." he returns silkily as he watches her through lidded eyes. "My name is Oatmeal. But my admirers call me Oaty."

"A-huh?" she answers with a deadpan. Suspicious at his tone.

"And you are? My azure beauty." he asks after a few seconds. Continuing to strum out soft cords on his instrument.

"Hungry." she answers bluntly. Picking up her honeynut skewer in her magic, pulling the last ball off and popping it in her mouth.

"Haha ha." he chuckles playfully as he leans back in his chair disarmingly. "I mean your name, not your appetite. Miss..." he trails off as he allows his eyes to drift down her.

"Wishes." she says curtly. Tugging her robe closed.

"Wishes. Wishes." he says ponderingly. Lulling his head back as his eyes drift across the ceiling and rafters looking for inspiration. Plucking out a few random notes. "No. There must be more." he concludes. Looking back to her. "There's got to be more to it than just Wishes. My magical, curly-maned angel."

"Nighttime Wishes." she finally huffs with a roll of her eyes. "And if you don't mind, I'm too hungry to talk at the moment. So..."

"By all means. Don't stop on my account. Please, go on and sate your appetite. While smooth Oaty sates your soul." She gives him a sideways look of discomfort before continuing to eat. With a brush of his hoof across the strings of his lute, he begins to sing a limerick.

"I sing you a song of Night-wishes. She is oh so fond of sweet dishes. She may think I'm an oaf, for working my loaf, but I'll bake it in her oven with sweet kisses."

He finishes with a cord. Upon hearing the last line of the song, she stops eating and stares at him.

"Ah. Stunned speechless I see. I don't mean to brag, But I tend to have that effect on the fillies." he says with a grin as he plucks out a few more notes. "Has my dulcet word craft earned me a kiss from the fair blue mare?"

She takes a breath to admonish him, but pauses to think her answer over carefully before voicing her offense.

"E-hem. Sir? What exactly are you implying?" she asks in a careful, even tone.

"I thought my intentions were clear." he answers with a grin. Wiggling his eyebrows suggestively as he leans forward over the table. "Life in Crown can be short. You don't want to die a virgin do you?." At that, she tightens her lips in a frown. "Come on and give me a little kiss." She answers his offered cheek by leaning forward and swinging her hoof with a slap to it. He stares wide-eyed for a few seconds before the grin returns to his face.

"I see how it is." he says knowingly. Putting a hoof to his reddening cheek. "You've got a powerful bout of steam under your tail. Don't you?" Wishes's mouth hangs open, aghast at his brash accusation. He nikkers slyly as he gets to his hooves. "Well, if you feel the urge to let some off, you know where to find me." Turning, he flags his tail as he trots off. Wishes snaps her head away in angry embarrassment.

Having her appetite completely ruined by Oatmeal's rude innuendo, she packs away the rest of her meal. Trotting back out into the street, she heads up the stairs towards the Jarl's Keep. Fuming all the way.

Her mind, a-fluster with anger as she rambles incoherently to herself under her breath. The beauty of the flowers and plants of the garden around the pale, leafless tree going completely unnoticed as she passes.

"You there! Lady!"

"WHAT!" Wishes shouts at the pony in a faded blue robe who called to her. Her face a mask of rage as her horn sparks dangerously.

"Ah, uh, nothing. Nevermind!" he stutters out before bolting away in terror. Immediately realizing her unwarranted snap, she calls after him.

"No wait! I'm sorry. I didn't, mean, to..." But her efforts were in vain as he disappears down the street. "Oh, great job Wishes." she admonishes herself. Plopping her rear on the stone tile paving and rubbing at her face. "You let some stupid pony get under your skin a make you act the foal." Looking over to where the pony had been standing, she sees the two statues of the brother gods, Tirek and Scorpan.

With a sigh, she walks over and places a hoof upon the alter before the shrine at the base of Tirek's statue. It depicts two iron bull horns pointing skywards. Bowing her head, she prays.

"Oh great lord Tirek. God of power. I ask that you grant me the strength to lead the Heralds to defeat the windigo king and his minions." She looks up at the stone centaur for a few seconds before turning and stepping over to his brother's shrine to do the same. It depicts a triangle with two circles and a diamond shape on it's face, and a circular cut out of it's top point. Placing her hoof on the alter, she prays.

"Kind lord Scorpan. God of compassion. I ask you to grant me patience to forgive those who rong me." Feeling a boost to her spirit, she continues on up the winding stairs to the Keep's entrance.

* * *

Peatmoss, ambling slowly down the street from Rossvaskr, weaving his way through the garden where he had met Crystal Springs.

'Well, that was a bust.' he thought to himself. 'At least I got some decent armor.' He glanced back over himself. Stretching out his wings experimentally, he feels the weight along with the rattle and scrapes of the metal. It felt heavy and awkward. Definitely something he needed to get used to. Spotting a guard eyeing him warily, he gives an apologetic grin and folds his wings back up and trots on down the stairs back towards the market.

Business it seems to have picked up as a new crowd of colts and stallions have flooded in 'fresh' from the fields. Peat is forced to jump aside as a herd of foals stampede up the stairs. Laughing and shouting as they carry on playing. Oblivious to any adults in their path. After they pass, he feels his stomach give a hungry grumble. So he heads towards the tavern, drawn by the smell of the cooking fires. Perhaps sencing his hunger, the shop keeper of a meat stand calls out to him. Boasting the freshness of his stock and holding out a fish by the tail. Forcing a polite grin on his face, Peatmoss shakes his head as he passes on. The memory of the soup he had gotten from Garard's sister coming to mind.

Entering the Prancing Mare, he finds it bustling with patrons. Laughing and talking to one-another about their day over drinks and snacks. Weaving his way carefully to the bar, he orders a grilled vegetable combo with extra grain on the side, and a Mead called Blackberry's reserve. It's a stiff, dry drink, with not nearly enough sweetness for his taste.

After quickly chowing down his meal, he casually sips on his drink as his eyes wonder around the room. He spots on the wall, close to the front door, a message board filled with various notes and announcements. He is about to look away when one catches his eye. A hoof written paper with crooked letters and bad spelling.

BOUNTY 200 cr.
Pegasus for Merdr.
Brown coat, Green mane.
See Mr Evergreen, Blacksmith.
Riverdale.

Quickly and as casually as he can, he trots over. Looking around to check if anypony is watching him, he swipes it off the board and hastily stuffs it down the collar of his armor.

Finding an open seat at one of the tables against the wall, he sits down as he recognizes the colt across the table. The same colt who had greeted him earlier that morning on the edge of the market.

"Well hello." greets the colt with a neighborly smile. "I see you survived the Jarl's Court alright. Unless you broke out of prison. Heh!" Peatmoss just chuckles nervously. Not sure how serious he was being. The bounty note tucked in his armor feeling hot against his chest.

"Yeah. I just explained everything to him, and he let me off with a warning."

"I can see that. Did you get a chance to tell him your crazy story?"

"Yeah." answers Peat as he rummages around in his pack and pulls out the silver broach. "He actually gave me this pin for it."

"Ah! A commendation from the Jarl!" the colt said in approval as Peat pinned it too the chest of his new armor. "I had a feeling that Wheatsheaf was exaggerating. He's one of those ponies who spend too much time in the dirt to know how to treat normal ponies. Cheers!" he finishes. Raising his mug in salute.

"I can't argue with that." replies Peat as he raises his stoneware bottle to meet the colt's mug before taking a swig.

"Yes. Once you've been around Gallops for a few years, you'll get to know who's who. My name's Surehoof Warhorse. My family is one of the two largest families in Gallops Hold. The other being the Snowmanes. There's something of a feud going on between us, but it's not something I've any interest in."

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Peatmoss. I'm new to Crown like I said."

"Welcome. I'm a general laborer. I've been helping with building the new grain silos until recently. We've run short on timber, so work is slow untill we get another shipment from Riverdale. What do you do?"

"Hum. Well, on my way from Squirestone, I've done a few odd jobs along the way to the city. Yesterday afternoon I helped Burnished Bronze at her forge. Came up to audition at Rossvaskr today for a job there, but they're not to welcoming at the moment. Was hoping they would have a place I could sleep for the night. Burnished Bronze offered to put me up, but she's got some personal trouble she's dealing with. And I don't want to intrude."

"You can always rent a mat in here for cheap. If you're not picky about communal sleeping. Now and again you may fall asleep by somepony who likes to snuggle, but generally you won't be bothered unless somepony is a loud snorer. But if you got the gold, you can get a private room with a nice bed."

Peatmoss nods as he takes another sip, feeling a goofy kind of feeling coming over him as he watches the Bard Oatmeal prancing around the hall. Strumming away at his lute and singing a song about some stallion getting his head chopped off by a warrior mare. When his song comes to an end, he plops down on a bench beside a blue and white mare sitting at the fireside.

It takes him a few seconds to remember her. Spring Dew, the mare from the vegetable stand he talked with earlier that day. Upon noticing Oatmeal's intrusion, she gives him a sideways frown before returning to her drink. Ignoring him as he inches closer to her.

"There he goes again." says Surehoof with a sigh as he watches Oatmeal's antics along with Peat. "He's had his eye on Spring Dew ever since her late husband died two winters ago. But he can't seem to take no for an answer." No matter how far she tries to slide away from him, Oatmeal scooches closer. Leaning towards her making kissy faces as he does.

"Why doesn't anypony do something about him?" asks Peat.

"Aw, he's not doing any real harm. Sure he's being a creepy nuisance. But he's not breaking any rules. Besides, I think Miss Dew can hoof him if he tries anything." Peatmoss tries to go back to enjoying the atmosphere of murmuring conversation, but when he looks back at the two, he sees Oatmeal putting his forleg around her. She tries to push him away, her expression only of loathing at his touch. With that, Peatmoss is driven to action. Finishing off his cup in one swig, he gets up and marches strait over in mead-fueled boldness. He taps Oatmeal none too gently on his shoulder with a hoof to get his attention.

"What!" Oatmeal snaps as he turns to Peat and glares. "What do you want skyskeever?"

"She's not interested. Can't you see?"

"Like a wind-drifter like you knows anything about courtship. All the mares want some Oatmeal. Spring Dew here and I have known each-other all our lives and I don't want her to miss out on a good opportunity. She's just got a case of cold hooves right now."

"Buck you!" retorts Spring Dew as she takes the opportunity of Oat's temporary distraction to squirm out from under his forehoof. "Like my late husband's farm doesn't have anything to do with it. I've already got two foals to look after. I don't need a third. And Like I told you before." she goes on with a haughty look. "If you're set on marrying me, you're going to have to drop the lute and learn to play the hoe. You do-nothing layabout." she finishes in a low grumble into her mug as she takes a drink.

"Aw. You don't mean that." he says as he puts his leg over her withers again. "The Prancing Mare needs her Bard. What would she be without her music?"

"No problem." says Peat. With boldness born of the Mead in his belly, he hooks Oat's lute and plucks it from his hoof. "I could fill in till they find a new one." He brushes his hoof across the strings to strum a dull cord.

"Hey! Give that back you thief!" At Oatmeal's shout, many of the patrons around the room turn their attention on Peat, and he freezes up. A moment of clarity coming back at realization of what he had just done. "Give me back my Matilda before you scratch her! Or I'm calling the Guard!" he shouts. Springing off the bench. The tavern falls silent as more ponies turn toward the commotion.

"What's the matter, Smooth Oaty?" asks Spring with a smug look after a few seconds. Saving Peat. "You afraid he'll be better then you?"

"N-no!" he stammers in annoyance. His face reddening with anger. "That's my lute. I'm the Bard. And he stole it!"

"Come on Oatmeal. He's just borrowing it for a few minutes. Let him give it a try. I'm sure he can't be that much worse then you."

"That's not the point." he starts to rebut, but Spring cuts him off.

"You need to take a break, and we could get a chance to hear something new?" She looks around at the crowd for confirmation. Many nodding or raising their cups. "Go on Peatmoss. Sing us a song from Equestria." Thinking quickly, a Sea shanty he remembers pops into his head and he clumsily strums along as he sings out. Fear and adrenaline at messing up fueling his hooves.

Whiskey is the life of mares! Whiskey, Honey!
Whiskey is the life of mares! Whiskey for, me Honey-o!

I'll drink Whiskey when I can! Whiskey, Honey!
I'll drink Whiskey from an ole tin can! Whiskey for, me Honey-o!

By the end of the second verse, others around the hall began to join in. Belting out the last familiar repeating line along with him.

Whiskey gave me a broken nose! Whiskey, Honey!
Whiskey made me pawn my clothes! Whiskey for, me Honey-o!

Whiskey drove me around the horn! Whiskey, Honey!
Twas many a month that I was gone! Whiskey for me, Honey-o!

I thought I heard the old Mare say! Whiskey, Honey!
I treat my crew in a decent way! Whiskey for, me Honey-o!

A glass of grog for every pone! Whiskey, Honey!
And a bottle for the shanty-pone! Whiskey for me, Honey-o!

The patrons cheer as he finishes. Stomping their hooves and banging their mugs in appreciation.

"Alright! Alright!" shouts Oatmeal as the applause subsides. "Now give it back."

"Only if you accept Spring Dew's decision and leave her alone." states Peat holding up the lute. Boldness returning at his successful song.

"Screw you cloud humper!" he snaps.

"Then hit the road. Ground pounder." says Peat back. Sticking out his tongue at Oatmeal. Getting a round of chuckles from the other ponies.

"Arg! I don't need to take that from you!" Without warning, Oatmeal springs forward and hoofs him in the face.

Stumbling back in surprise at the unexpected attack, Peatmoss blinks as he becomes loosely aware of a tug at the lute. Causing him to subconsciously tighten his grip with his one hoof and focus on Oatmeal. With both his forehooves wrapped around it Oatmeal struggles to wrench it from Peat's grasp. And Peat, stunned at the pathetic attempt, just watches him for a few seconds.

"Wow Oats." says Peat with a nikker. "How do you expect to properly care for a mare and foals if you're this weak?" The on-lookers laugh at the comment. Easily twisting it out of Oatmeal's grip, he holds it up out of his reach. "Well? What's it going to be? Are you going to leave Miss Dew alone or what?"

"Screw you Fogstalker!" Oatmeal shouts as he lunges and headbutts Peat in the gut. Knocking him onto his back. The lute hits the floor with a clang and slides away under a nearby table. As he scrambles after it, Peatmoss grabs his hindhoof and yanks him back. Taking inspiration from Axhaft"s tussle with Buckler, he jumps on top of Oatmeal and puts him in a headlock.

"Ack! leggo!" he gags. flailing his hooves un-effectively from his position beneath Peatmoss.

"Not until Miss Dew gets your answer." after a few seconds of useless squirming, Oatmeal concedes with a huff of exhaustion.

"Alright already! I will. Now let me go." Hulling him up, he turns him to face Spring Dew, who watches with great amusement.

"Go on. Tell her you're sorry and you're not going to bother her anymore." Oatmeal murmures out a low, half-hearted apology.

"What's that?" asks Spring Dew. Cocking her head and squinting.

"I'm sorry for miff mumble mumble mumble."

"I swear I think I hear somepony trying to talk. But they're mouth is full of Tundra cotton." she says. Looking around in fane confusion. Wiggling a hoof in her ear. The other ponies around nicker as Oatmeal scowls.

"I'm Sorry for Bothering you. And will stop chasing your tail! Now, Buckin let me go!" Peat allows him to wriggle free. He picks up his lute, and stalks off in a sulk as the others jeer. Turning to go back to his seat, he finds Miss Dew has stepped up to his side.

"What is your name? I don't recall if you have said it to me yet."

"It's Peatmoss ma'am. And I don't think I did. Sorry." He raises his hoof to her in greeting. But to his surprise, she grabs it and thrusts it up in the air.

"Cheers to Peat Moss! Hurrah!" she shouts. Causing everypony to cry "Hurrah!" back. He feels his face get hot in unease at everypony's attention.

When the crowd went back to their own conversations, Spring Dew released him and she sat back down on the bench. "Tell me about yourself Peatmoss. I would like to hear about where you come from." she says as she pats the empty spot beside her. Taking the gesture to be an invitation, he awkwardly stepped over the bench and sat down beside her. Not used to fillies taking an interest in him.

He begins by telling her about the place he grew up. About his family and job before he left home. Spring Dew listening with interest.

"Wow. And you left all that to come here. One of the most dangerous places in the world. What were you thinking?"

"Well, I already visited the islands of the tropics years ago. I didn't run into any trouble doing that, so I figured going up north wouldn't be any different."

"Is that so?" she asks. cocking her head with a grin. "And how long have you been in Crown?"

"A few days now. And as you probably know, it's been a rough few days."

"Really? I would've thought since you have wings, it would be easy."

"So did I. But flying up here is almost three times as hard compared to down south. My friend Garard said it was because of the lighter air. Something like that."

He goes on to tell her about his unfortunate run-in with Balgriff and his griffins, and the numerous encounters he had coming to Gallops Hill. She bought him a Mead, in thanks for his story and offered a toast in memory of Ironbloom's passing. To which he excepted.

"It sounds about what I expected if I ever put a thought to travel." Dew says as she looked into the fire. "Not that home life has been all that much better. The night's have felt colder and emptier ever since my husband's passing.

"How did he die? If you don't mind me asking?"

"A couple winters ago, we had a pack of wolves roaming out of the forest. One night they tried to break in to the house. My husband had me take the foals up to the loft for safety, and he held them off as long as he could. By the time they gave up the attack, he was too badly hurt for me to save. Cabbage Blossom and her husband helped me fix up the house so they couldn't get in again. And Ironbloom hunted down the beasts and made sure they never hurt another pony ever again. She was a good pony."

"I'm glad to see you and your foals survived." Dew nods and smiles.

"My foals, Pine and Turnips have been the reason I can get up every morning." Then Spring Dew chuckles. "That way you played with her at market was really adorable."

"Glad to do it." Peat says with a smile. "Foals are always fun to play with. Their joy is always so infectious for me."

"If only their father could see little Turnips and Pine now." she mused after a few minutes of staring into the fire. " He'd be so proud."

As he thought about the sadness of her family's tragedy, a song surfaces from his memory, and he begins to hum the tune aloud. After a few minutes of humming the song several times, he notices Spring Dew looking at him and he stops in embarrassment.

"Don't stop. It sounds lovely." she said. Looking into his eyes. Peatmoss gave a sheepish look before clearing his throat and singing the song.

"Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind. We sing this song, to honor them, as we remember days gone by."

"For the sake of days gone by, my dear. For the sake of days gone by. We toast this cup, of kindness yet, as we remember days gone by."

“For family, not here my dear, having journeyed far and wide. We raise a toast, to honour them, to remember days gone by,”

"For the sake of days gone by, my dear. For the sake of days gone by. We toast this cup, of kindness yet, as we remember days gone by."

As he sang, many around begin to join their voices to the simple tune In a chorus of music.

"So here's a hoof, my trusted friend. And here's your hoof in mine. We drink this cup, to remember friends, and the joys of days gone by."

"For the sake of days gone by, my dear. For the sake of days gone by. We toast this cup, of kindness yet, as we remember days gone by."

"Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind. We drink this cup of kindness yet, as we remember days gone by."

"For the sake of days gone by, my dear. For the sake of days gone by. We toast this cup, of kindness yet, as we remember days gone by."

"Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind. We sing this song, to honor them, as we remember days gone by."

Not soon after Peatmoss had finished his song, a group of griffins sitting together at a table begin a new song.

"Was-sail! Was-sail! all over the town,
Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown;
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;
With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink with thee."

Between them on the table is a large trophy cup like wooden bowl. Guilded in silver with four horn handles around it. One of them stands up as he sings the first verse. Holding the bowl aloft

"Here's to our Jarl, and to his right ear,
gods send us our master a prosperous year.
As prosperous a year as e'er did we see,
With our wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee."

As the others sang the Chorus, he takes a drink and sets it back in the center of the table, and another takes it up to sing the next verse.

"Here's to the Captain and to his right cheek
Pray send us our master a good piece of beef.
As good a piece of beef that may we all see.
With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee."

"Was-sail! Was-sail! all over the town,
Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown;
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;
With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink with thee."

"So here is to Gallops and to her great hold.
Gods send us our master a good crop so bold.
A good crop so bold that we may all see,
with the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee."

"Was-sail! Was-sail! all over the town,
Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown.
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree.
With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink with thee."

"Here's to the mares, and to their bright eyes.
Gods send us our mistresses good apple pies.
As good apple pies as e'er did we see,
With my wassailing bowl I drink to thee."

"Was-sail! Was-sail! all over the town,
Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown.
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree.
With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink with thee."

The last of the four griffins rose and lead the others in a prosession around the room as he belted out the next verse.

"Come griffin, come pony, give a bowl of the best.
Then hope we your soul, in heaven may rest.
But if you do draw us a bowl of the small.
Then down shall go server, bowl and all."

"Was-sail! Was-sail! all over the town,
Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown;
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;
With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink with thee."

As they made a circuit around the room, they offered the bowl to any who would drink. Upon tasting the drink, Peatmoss found it to be a sweet, spiced apple ale, with a light applesauce texture.

After partaking in the drink he was compelled to join the prosession as it made it's way out into the cold plaza. Where they danced and sang. Raising their voices in the night. From there, the evening faded into a blur of laughter, and revelry.

* * *

Meanwhile, up in the Jarl's keep, Nighttime Wishes delved deeply into the chaotic piles of books and records in what she had been told was where the Court Mage's living quarters were supposed to be. Her frustration and despair built as she explored deeper and deeper into the disorderly room. Finding no respite for her questions in the papers and dusty scrolls stacked haphazardly to the ceiling. With no apparent form of organization whatsoever.

Apparently the Court Mage had disappeared several weeks ago researching the very subject she was currently engaged in. And since no one knew were he had gone to, she was given leave to take his place till he could be found.

She almost felt like a cave explorer, tiphoofing along narrow pathways between the stacks of literature. Imagining herself using a pickaxe to pull out volumes of compacted texts like gems from the walls. Her candlelight spell, contained in a magic lantern floating just over her head. Desperately searching for answers to the many problems she felt laying heavily on her withers.

Spotting a potential source of leather bound knowledge near the bottom of one stack, she pulled on it with her magic and it came free with effort. Brushing away the dust on the cover, she cracked it open and read the title page.

"Commentaries on the Hoof-an-Claw Concordent." she read aloud. 'Hm. Na. I don't think this will help.' Never the less, she flips through the pages. Failing to take notice of the sound of shifting parchment. Looking up just in time to receive a face full of toppling literature.

After a few seconds of silence, Wishes burst from the new settling heap. Spitting out a scroll that had seemingly taken her mouth, that she had opened in fright, as an escape from it's plane of apocrypha.

"Whoever, (cough) this Secretfire was." she said after a brief coughing at gasping fit. "Court Mage or not. He clearly had no sense of organization!"

At first she had been hesitant to change anything. Thinking there might be a method to the look of madness a first glance might entail. But after that near premature entombment, she was convinced trying to navigate this deathtrap would drive her loopy. So, with a snort she shoved a clear spot open on the floor and began sorting through it peacemeal. Then maybe some god of order might be appeased and grant her a boon.

Clearing a bank of shelves of trinkets and nicknaks, she sorted out the papers. Much of the surface layer was recent records of crop yields and trade imports and exports. Weather changes month by month and construction labor expenses. It was mildly diverting to see the inner workings of the Hold's infrastructure, But the issue pertaining to the Windigo's return sadly eluded her. Leaving Wishes feeling as if she was tending to a problem that any housemaid could deal with. And well beneath her skills as a aspiring Mage.

After a few hours of sorting, she cleared enough space to discover some furniture, but no relevant information about the Windigos. Between coughing on dust and disturbed dirt of ages past, she cought herself glancing too her bag of alchemy supplies left laying by the door. Longing to set it up and start producing fun potions and elixirs. But she knew it was a distraction and the Windigo problem could not be cured like a simple ailment.

'Or maybe...' Wishes muses. "No." she reprimands herself. "Stay focused. Everypony is counting on you to find a solution. Don't lose sight of your goal. Master Wyvernwax chose you for this. You can't let him down." she finished with a determined tone. But with only a fleeting hope that maybe somewhere, buried in the seemingly unsurmountable heap of parchment, was an answer to the problem. Turning to look up out the window at the moon and stars in the night sky, Wishes gives an unspoken prayer to the gods for aid. But of course, no answer was given back.

After another hour her eyes began to droop, and she lost the will to recharge the lantern. disappointed by her lack of progress on the subject of her search, she wearily collapses onto a cushioned bench she had managed to uncover in the mess. Wishes feels the need to cry in despair, but was too tired for even that. She stares up at the ceiling as the candlelight spell fades. Then, in the quiet of the room, the sounds of merriment outside reached her ears. Sitting up, she turns to the small window in the wall above the bench.

Pushing it open, she leans on the sill and listens for some time as a chorus of voices in song drifts up from the hillside below. Though the night air has a chill to it, she feels a warmth fill her from the music and voices in harmony. And before she realizes it, she drifts into sleep.

Chapter 10

Blurrily Peatmoss came awake as the morning sun rose over the mountains. He smacks his dry lips and rubs his stinging eyes. His body felt dehydrated despite the dampness of the cloud he lounged on. Rolling onto his back, he stares up into the blue, whispy sky, as memories of the previous night crawl back from memory. Right up about to that drinking contest with, what's his name. The details got foggy around there.

Over the sound of the breeze, he hears distant voices approaching on the air. A little nagging part of him says something about their presence should concern him. But instead, he rolls back over and tries to doze off again.

"Which is weird, because ever since I noticed it hours ago, it's just been hanging there." Says the first voice.

"It's a cloud, in the sky. There's alot of them up here. asks the second. If Captain Saberclaw notices us missing our check-in, what are we going to tell him? We wondered off to look at a weird cloud?" At the mention of the Guard Captain's name, the gears in Peat's head ground into motion.

'Why would guards be interested in checking out a cloud? It's not like it's illegal to, be...' His eyes snap open and he immediately sinks himself down into the cloud. Peeling open the bottom of it, he stares down in terror as he finds he's floating just over the city. Zipping it back up, he turns and freezes as he sees the guard's shadowy silhouettes just outside.

"There. You see? Just a fluffy cloud. Look, I'll even stab it with my spear." At that, Peat bolts out the opposite side and flies as fast as he can.

"Whoa! What the."

"It's that Pegasus from last night!"

"Hey you! Stop! Saberclaw wants ta-." The voices of the guards fade as he powers away. Over the crops and across the tundra.

'Roadapples roadapples roadapples!' he shouts in his head again and again as he flies. 'What are you doing?! You're making it worse!' But the thought of being dragged through the streets Infront of scowling ponies again compels him to keep flying.

After a few minutes, he chances a glance backwards to see no one in pursuit. Letting up on his pace, he glides down to a trickling spring running under a stone bridge. Diving under one of the stone arches, he stops to catch his breath. Peeking out again he scans the direction he came for pursuers. Finding none, he slumps down against the stones and buries his face in his hooves.

"Stupid! You stupid little pony. You just broke two of the only three rules." Then the memory of the bounty note pops into his head. Digging around in his padded coat, he pulls out the crumpled piece of paper and stares at it for a few seconds. He groans and smacks it onto his face. Flopping onto his side, he lets it slide off as he stares up at the stonework on the underside of the bridge. "Windcaller. You bet on the rong horse." he mutters in despair.

Peatmoss lays there in the dirt for a while. Dozing in and out of sleep. But blinks awake at the sound of a splash. Getting up, he absent mindedly stuffs the note back into his coat and cautiously looks around. His ears twitching to try and focus on any more sounds. Venturing out, he climbs up the sloping bank. At the end of the bridge he finds a small one pony pull-cart. Glancing around in confusion, he steps up to it and sees it's full of large, dead crabs.

"Hey! Get away from my cart!" Peatmoss turns and sees a old yellow earthpony stallion, charging at him, with a long handled wooden mallet, clenched in his teeth.

"Whoa! Hey. Calm down. I wasn't, Ah!" He quickly flaps into the air, dodging out of reach of the pony's flailing weapon.

"Go on! Get out of here you scavenger! These are mine!" Peatmoss lands on top of the empty lantern holder standing before the bridge. He tries to say something to calm the pony, but his dry throat makes him cough and hack. "Beat it Skyskeever!" the pony shouts picking up stones and throwing them up at him.

"Alright! I'm going!" he finally gives up, flying away downstream and out of sight of the old pony. Landing on the bank at a large pool, he thrusts his muzzle into the cool clear water. Gulping down a few mouthfuls, he wipes his mouth and looks down at his reflection.

As the surface calms, there, staring back at him is a grungy, beaten looking pony, staring back. Dirty coat, disheveled mane, an ugly scar on the side of his muzzle. Peatmoss was an absolute fright. Taking off his bags and armor, he steps down into the cold pool and begins washing himself.

As he finishes up, movement from the corner of his eye draws his attention. Turning, he sees a light blue Pegasus with a grey mane sticking his muzzle into Peat's bag. rummaging around in it.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" The pony jerks his head up and looks at him. Peat's money bags clenched in his teeth. "Those are mine! Put them back!" But the pegasus ignores him, drops them into his own bags, and takes to the air. "Come back here you thief!" Peat shouts as he rushes to get out of the water and give chase. But with his wings, waterlogged as they were, it was no use. He could only stumble and flail as the pony sped off, out of sight over the hills. "Way to play to the stereotype you jerk!" Peat yells after him.

"Lick my carrot stick loser! Hahaha!" comes back a taunting call over the wind. Peatmoss growls and fumes as he stomps back to the waterside. Looking through his bags he confirms the thief had snagged all the money he had left. Letting out a frustrated sigh of disappointment at the betrayal of his own kind, he takes a quick inventory. Surprisingly, he comes up with a bottle of Mead. Somewhere, back in last night's fog of memory, he remembers getting it from some stallion. It was for a favor or something. He couldn't remember exactly.

Using the beige robe as a towel, he dries himself off as best he can and puts his armor and bag back on. It took a little trial and error to buckle on the wingjacks, but he figures out a decent technique after a few tries. Preening his wings with care, he arranges them around the straps to make flying more comfortable. Yet another hassle to get accustomed to.

As Peatmoss makes his way up, out of the creek bed, he thought of how he could improve his predicament. But his thoughts are derailed by the distant, periodic popping sounds. Taking to the air, he homes in on it, swooping low over the rocky tundra dotted with ragged grass and wild bushes. Spotting little smoke puffs near a large, squat stone tower. Standing stoically looking over the road, winding through the wrinkled land.

He spots a group of armored Equestrian soldiers lead by a knight in white plate armor, hunkered down between two ridges in the tufted plains. Landing a ways behind them, he carefully draws closer to get a look at what's going on. Trotting closer, he sees they're sheltering from arrows loosed from the tower defenders. Two of them occasionally pointing long metal sticks up at them and making a sharp, (Crack) of sound and smoke. Almost like miniature thunder claps.

"Peatmoss! What are you doing?! Get away from here!" He looks back to see Scarlett and a band of Gallops Hold guards approaching from behind and taking cover.

"Enemy too the rear!" comes a shout as one of the Equestrians turns their head and spots him. They quickly turn to face the new threat. He suddenly gets the idea he's not were he should be.

"Peatmoss! Get down!" shouts Scarlett behind him. Confused as to what to do, he hesitates and looks back to the Equestrian soldiers. Seeing one of them level the long metal and wood stick at him.

There's a puff of smoke and a loud, sharp, crack of smoke and flame. Suddenly his head is yanked back so hard that he is thrown to the ground, flat on his back. He blinks away the stars in his eyes as he tries to comprehend what just happened. A pounding pain surges through his head along with a twinge in his neck. He groans as he tries to get up, but his limbs don't want to work right. So he stares at the morning sky in confusion as he feels sweat run down the poll of his head. Soaking the base of his crest, Inside of his helmet.

'I feel cold.' he thinks in confusion. 'So why am I sweating so much? How long have I been lying here? When did I fall down?' His thoughts sound even more confused then he was. Then a howling sound far above him reaches his ears. Scanning the sky, Peatmoss sees an ethereal equine form, galloping through the air overhead. Dragging behind it a dark cloud front to hide Celestia's sun. A sharp cold wind brushes his face as he lays there stareing at the sky. Little flakes of snow drift down from the sky as it grows dark. And then a window of clarity opens to him.

"Windigo!" he whispers to himself as an arrow flies by overhead. Reminding him of his purpose. "I need to stop this! Their fighting is bringing the Windigo."

"Screw them." suddenly gripes Meadblood. "We need to get out of here before the Windigo comes down on us!" Peatmoss is shocked by Meadblood's sudden reemergence. He feels him try to assert control, but Peat resists.

Hauling himself up, he feels the cooling sweat run down the back of his neck as he gets to his hooves. His helmet feels looser then before as it shifts on his head, but he ignores it. "Stop!" he croaks. Than, clearing his throat, he yells again. "Stop fighting! You're attracting the Windigos!"

"You fool!" shouts Meadblood. "We need to run!"

Peat ignores him and looks back and forth at the two sides. A wave of nausea sloshing through him as he does. Seeing they are paying him no mind, he throws his forehooves and wings up and out to get their attention. An arrow slices through his right wing. Severing a few feathers, but still he shouts. "Stop! Fighting!"

He sees an Equestrian soldier pop up from cover, and level the metal stick at him again. But the knight in white plate armor beside him pushes it away. A wave of pain flows over Peat's head and he doubles over. The wetness he had thought was sweat on his head runs down the right side of his face, tinting the vision of his one eye red. He tries to rub the stinging eye with his hoof, but his helmet gets in the way, shifting awkwardly. Frustrated, he pulls it off and wipes his brow, and it comes away slick with blood. He stares at it perplexed.

"How did that happen?" he mumbles to himself.

"Back off Equestrian!" commands Scarlett from behind Peat. Looking back, he sees that Scarlett has come out of cover with her curved sword at the ready. For a second he thinks she's addressing him. But her gaze is focused past him towards the Equestrian soldiers.

Following her gaze, he sees the Equestrian knight is standing only a few paces away. His horn aglow, at the ready.

"No!" Peatmoss yells at Scarlett. Putting his hooves up to fend them away from each other. "No more fighting."

"You're delirious Peatmoss. Don't move, and stay down." commands Scarlett. Moving to step around him.

"No I'm not!" he shouts. An unexpected flare of authority flowing through him as he blocks her. The Windigo is here!" he insists, jabbing his hoof skywards. She frowns and glances at the sky before dismissing his absurd claim.

"You're wounded Peatmoss. Calm yourself."

"No I'm-." he stops short. Second guessing himself as he rubs a new dribble of blood off his cheek. He stares for a second at the crimson smear before moving to retrieve a bandage from his bag. Loathing having to use his bloody hoof. But upon opening it, he finds the contents soggy from the mead bottle leaking. Rolling his eyes, he slaps a wet roll of linen bandage to his wound. It stings from the alcohol, so he figures it'll be ok. Pulling the cork out of a bottle of healing potion, he drinks it in one swig.

"It is snowing." comments the knight. Looking up at the few fluttering snowflakes drifting down. His voice echoing behind his closed visor.

"What is the meaning of this attack Equestrian?!" demands Scarlett. Ignoring his observation. "The Jarl will not stand for this breach in peace! Leave at once!"

"It was not we who attacked!" snaps back the knight. "Your guards are the ones who began the assault on my squad as we traveled the road!"

"That is not how it was reported to us! Lay down your arms and submit to arrest!"

"I am an Equestrian Knight of the Sun Princess. I will not be treated as a common criminal!" He flips up his visor to reveal he is actually a White unicorn mare. Her face messed with sweat and oil.

"This is land belonging to the Hold of Gallops Hill. You will surrender to me, Housecarl Scarlett. With authority granted by Jarl Gallion of Gallops Hill! Surrender! Or face death." Scarlett levels her sword at the knight as the guards gather together behind her. Ready for a fight.

"I am Lady Edelweiss, leader of the first company of Her Majesty's Hassars. With authority granted by High Queen Gwendolyn of Haven Hold." she asserts. Straightening her posture As the Equestrian soldiers form up behind her in orderly ranks. "Stand aside and grant us passage. Or this engagement will be considered a direct act of aggression against her."

"Urg!" Peatmoss loudly groans in frustration, holding the bandage to his scalp with a hoof. "Don't you see what you're doing?!" he shouts in exasperation. Waving his free hoof in the direction of the monster over head. "The two of you are going to summon even more Windigos if you keep this up!" He wobbles as he tries to rise to his hooves. "Don't you see it?!" he asks. Looking from one to the other. A few of the others present look up but seem to see nothing. "Look! There's clearly been a misunderstanding here. Nopony needs to get hurt to find out what happened. And neither of you wanted this fight in the first place. As Herald of the Rainbow Warrior, I order the both of you to stop bickering, hug, and make up!" Edelweiss and Scarlett glance at him with a glare, then return to staring each-other down. Ignoring him. "Alright fine!" he shouts. throwing down the used bandage roll between them in frustration. Peatmoss spread his wings and took to the sky. "Just leave me to deal with the monster alone! You stuck-up pair of Nits!" With a hard beat of his wings, he takes off into the sky. Intent on confronting the Windigo.

"Hey! Hey you!" he shouts as he flies closer to it. The Windigo pauses and turns to look at him. It's freezing glare frightens him, but he presses on closer. Hoping he can convince it to leave. "The fighting's over. You can clear off now." Without a word, it takes a deep breath and blasts Peat with freezing cold air and ice. The frosty breath crusts over him, freezing him to the bone as he is blown back. Tumbling out of control. Desperately shaking his stiff wings to break the ice, Peat rights himself before he loses too much altitude.

"Hey! That wasn't nice!" he yells. But the giant apparition just turns away from him in disinterest. The casual gesture of unconcern infuriates Peat. "Hey! Where are you going?! I'm talking to you!" He flaps his wings and charges like an arrow. Slamming hoof first into the back of it's head. To his surprise, his hoof freezes upon contact with the monster. The Windigo gives a grunt of surprise as a corona of golden light radiates out from the spot he hit it. The ethereal being suddenly changes to a solid form from the touch, causing it to immediately plummet from the sky. Peatmoss grimaces in pain as he hugs his stiff frozen limb to himself. Watching the Windigo fall and hit the ground with a massive crash.

It thrashes around till it rights it's self. Looking up at him, it's eyes blazed with cold fury. Throwing it's head back, it bellows in a loud and baleful whinny. There's a sharp (CRACK!) and it flinches. Turning angrily to the soldiers and guards, who thankfully have finally acknowledged the monster's existence and begin to attack it. Shooting arrows and throwing spears. The Windigo responding with blasts of icy breath.

Peat takes a moment to look over his hoof. "Goddess. This is not good." he mutters to himself in worry. His foreleg, up to the elbow, has turned a icy blue color. The armor strapped to the limb seems to have done nothing to protect it.

Biting the straps to undo them, the frozen leather snaps and comes apart like a brittle cracker. It falls away and he tries to rub life back into his hoof. but it remains stiff and unfeeling, and cold to the touch. He begins to tremble in fear as realization sinks in that he may end up losing it to frostbite. He needs a doctor, or a healer. His thoughts go to flying back to the city.

'Miss Springs might know how to fix it. If he gets there in time.' he thinks to himself. He turns to fly, but pauses. He looks back at the guards and soldiers fighting the monster. They try to keep their distance as it lumbers around awkwardly after them. Tearing up the sod as it drags it's body about with it's forehooves. Breathing freezing ice and snow.

"Leave them to fight it." says Meadblood coldly. "They wanted to kill each-other a few seconds ago after all."

"I can't just leave. I need to finish what I started." he rebuts. His conscience tugging at his heart.

"No! you'll kill us both!"

'Us both?' Peat suddenly thinks to himself. The notion of, what he had thought was just a violent part of his psyche, referring to it's self separately, was perplexing. A feeling of guilt washed over him that was not his own. "Who are you?" he asks in suspicion. There was no answer. 'I knew I wasn't going crazy' Peat thought to himself, turning his attention back down to the fight below.

Though they try to keep their distance, the monster continues to hunt them. He watches as one griffin loosing arrows tarries too long and gets caught in an icy blast as he takes to the air. He freezes mid-leap, and smashes to pieces when he hits the ground. Spurred too action, Peatmoss dives down to lend ade in the attack.

"I need a weapon!" he shouts as he flies to Scarlett and Edelweiss, who are desperately trying to direct their combined forces.

"Peatmoss!" says Scarlett looking up at him in surprise. Seeing his frozen leg. "Your leg! You need to get to safety! Leave-"

"It'll be fine! I need a weapon! Somepony give me a weapon!"

"Here!" shouts Edelweiss. Floating up a strange looking spear to him in her telekinesis. Half it's length was wood. The other a steel rod. With a triangular blade forged out of it's tip, almost like a harpoon. Giving it a test heft to feel it's balance, he tucks it in the crook of his right forehoof.

"Peatmoss! Get back here!" shouts Scarlett, but he ignores her and powers away towards the Windigo.

"Leave us alone!" he shouts as he flies up to it's side and begins to stab at it furiously. The Windigo flinches in pain as it turns it's frost breath on him. He flits away though, only getting a little ice dusting on his hindhoof and tail. It focuses it's attention on him, chasing him with it's freezing breath as he buzzes around it like a fly. Allowing Peat no chance to counter attack, lest he be frozen.

The others, Pony and Griffin alike, see his distraction as an opportunity, charge in and overwhelm it under a fury of blows. Feeling his stamina beginning to wane, Peat flies out of it's range to catch his breath.

Turning, he sees the Windigo's exhaustion by resorting to butts and kicks as it attempts to flee. Undulating it's body as it begins to turn ethereal again. Climbing for the open sky.

"Windcaller guide my aim." he breathes as he steadies the spear in his trembling hooves. Flapping his wings as hard as he can, he pours all his determination into his charge. Letting out a cry seconds before impact. Causing it to turn to look at him as he drives, spear first, at it's head. In an instant, the shaft is ripped from his grip as it lodges square in the Windigo's temple.

Peat tries to pull up as he overshoots his target and loses control, angling towards the ground. Clipping a rise, he strikes the grassy, shallow dirt, rolling to a stop. The Windigo, it's head snapping back by the force of the blow, collapses onto it's back and lays still.

Picking himself shakily off the ground, Peat looks over his frozen leg, and is relieved that it hadn't broken off in the crash. Hugging it to himself again, he turns to look at his foe as it lays on the churned up turf. Marveling at it's size, he limps closer, the other soldiers and guards gathering around to stare in awe at the legendary creature. Cautiously he approaches, and there's a hiss of vapor as the monster begins to melt away. It's eyes glaring coldly back at him as it speaks.

"This is not my end, little Herald of Rainbow. One has already fallen. Without her, you shall never defeat the King. He shall raise me again. And this kingdom, will fall. Your, world, is... Doomed..." It's words echo in Peat's troubled soul as it melts away completely, leaving no trace save for the tilled-up, frost crusted tundra where it had touched the ground. The projectiles that had pierced it lay scattered in the midst of it's departure. He slumps to the ground in exhaustion as the weight of what he accomplished, and it's woeful words fell heavily on his shoulders.

"The pony's legends are true!" gasps a griffin to his comrades. "The Windigos are real!"

"Of course they're real." says Edelweiss as she steps over and picks up the spear that landed the killing blow. Looking it over as a frosty vapor wafts off it's impossibly cold tip. "This is why we have come to Crown." she declares. Holding aloft the icy weapon. "This is what we have been warning your Queen of. If you do not find harmony, Crown will be covered in snow and ice, and become a frozen wasteland.

"Peatmoss! That was foolish!" reprimands Scarlett as she grabs him by the shoulder and yanks him around to face her. "You are a Herald! You can't throw yourself into danger so recklessly! Look at what you've done to yourself!" She glares into his face, but he looks away. Scarlett gives a huff and inspects his head wound and leg. "How do you feel?"

"Headache. Neck pain. And I can't feel my leg." he lists off as she prods carefully around the welling lump on his head.

"Looks like it's only skin deep. You may have a concussion. It looks like the helmet saved your head at least."

"He's lucky to be alive." says Edelweiss as she produces his ruined helmet to inspect it. The brow plate bent were the projectile hit. "That shot could have taken the top of his head off. Truly. Crown's metalergy is a cut above the average."

"You could have killed him." snaps Scarlett. Jumping up to confront the Knight. "Then we would be powerless against those Monsters."

"Not so." the knight interjects casually. Then corrects herself. "True. He may have died from the shot. A mistake of apparent misidentification of hostillaties. But driving back the Windigos is a simple task of not allowing yourselves hatred towards one-another and the other races."

"This is not some equestrian foal's tail." shouts Scarlett. Facing off with the Knight. "The Legend says, the only way to defeat them for good is to summon the Rainbow Warrior and slay the King of Windigos."

"Maybe your legends are rong!" snaps back Edelweiss. Giving her hoof an irritated stomp.

"Ladies!" interjects Peat. "Would you please. Knock it off! If you keep this up, there's going to be another one. And I'm in no condition to point it out to you." He finishes by raising his frozen hoof. Then dropping it as a throb of pain runs through it. They both look at him, then each-other before backing off.

"He's right." Scarlett admits with a grumble. "Gallroy! Killclaw!" she commands. Turning to two of her fellow guards. "Take the Herald with all haste to the Temple immediately."

"Lady Scarlett." steps up Edelweiss. "I ask that you allow my medical ponies to look at him. They are-"

"You've done enough damage already today!" snaps Scarlett. Signaling her guards to proceed. "The priests are more then capable to treat him."

"You would have him treated by a bunch of hokey priests, over my trained medical technicians." the Knight snears. "They are far more able to take care of him. Our scientific medical advancement for healing the Equine body is vastly superior to-"

"Urrrg!" wails Peatmoss. "Please! Just get me away from these two bickering females before we're set upon by hoards of Windigos!" he pleads. Throwing his hooves in the air.

Suddenly, a pulse of power trumpets from Pinical Mountain. The words thrumming through Peat like a rolling boom of thunder, echoing across the sky.

"HERALD, COME HITHER!"

They all stare up in astonishment as a ring of distortion expands out from the top of the towering edifice of stone and earth. It moves through Peatmoss, and he feels a draw, like the current of a river pull on his being.

"The call of the Neckbeards!" gasps Scarlett in wonder. "Go! Take him to the Temple at once! And report what happened to the Jarl! Go!" her guards grab Peat between them and take to the air. Speeding for the city.

* * *

The call from the mountain thunders across the land. Causing many to stare up in wonder as it rolls out from the peak. The distortion visible from every corner of Crown. Wishes wakes with a start, and rolls off the bench. Leaping to her hooves as the reverberation moves through her. Yanking her from sleep like her master's commanding voice.

"I wasn't sleeping Master!" she shouts on reflex. "I was just, resting... my..." She blinks and rubs her eyes as she remembers that she's no longer in the university. She gives a shudder from the cold draft coming in through the window. Rubbing life back into her cold, stiff limbs, she Regrets leaving the window open all night and letting in the cold. Turning, she yanks the window shut in annoyance with her telekinesis.

"Let this be a lesson Miz Wishes," she says in her impression of Wyvernwax's teaching voice. "Don't fall asleep under an open window in cold weather." Finishing in a frustrated horse noise. But then, memories of him float through her mind, and a feeling of homesickness flows in to take it's place. The cold of the room adding to the empty loneliness inside her.

'Well.' she thinks to herself. 'At least the room doesn't smell musty anymore.' She casts her warming spell and feeling starts returning to her hooves. Taking notice of how late the morning is, Wishes pokes her head out the door to flag down a servant for hot water to wash herself.

After freshening up and a light breakfast of her leftovers. She returns to the desk and continues her task sorting, as she casually brushes her mane. Working out the kinks and snags. Regretting her negligence with every tug. She is interrupted however with a sharp, (tak tak tak) sound. She gives a distracted glance around her, swiveling her ears, but decides to ignore it. Then again a (tak tak tak) sound, in the direction of the closed window. Followed with a (caw).

Looking at the window, she sees a small, dark, distorted bird shape through the wavy glass panes. Perplexed, Wishes sets down her brush and trots over to the window. Hopping up on the couch to take a closer look. Sure enough, prancing about on the sill outside is a black bird with a big beak. Who occasionally pecks at the window. She watches it, as it looks back at her. Fluffing it's wings every now and again as it pecks the glass.

Unlatching the window, she opens it up again to get a better look. It seems to be a crow. But curiously, attached to it's back was a red saddle with a yellow trim. It looks her up and down before jumping over her head and flitting around the room. Going from stack to stack before landing on the desk.

"Hello there." welcomes Wishes. "How can I help you?" The bird just looks at her with one eye, then snapping it's head around to look at her with it's other. It does this for a few seconds, hopping around the surface of the desk. Then it snatches up her brush in it's beak. Scarcely can she make a shout of indignation, the bird flies out the window and out of sight.

Wishes stares after it, her muzzle agape in stupified anger, before yanking the window shut again. Making sure the latch was good and tight.

"That's the last time I open a window for any bucking bird!" she growls to herself. Fantasizing of grabbing the beast in her telekinesis and squeezing till it said it was sorry. "What did you expect Wishes?" she went on. Returning to the desk. "Did you really think it would say hello back? Sing you a pretty morning song, as if you were some kind of princess?" She sits down and pouts at the empty spot her brush used to lay, before planting her face on the desktop.

Then snapping her head up at the trio of knocks at the door. Giving a quick check over her clothes, she buttons up her robe collar before answering

"Yes! Hello, come on in."

"Pardon the intrusion Miss Nighttime Wishes." says an earthpony guard. Opening the door and giving a quick bow of their head. "But there has been a Windigo sighting south of the city. The Jarl is requesting your presence in the hall immediately."

"A Windigo!?" she exclaims in alarm. A wave of fear washing over her as the panic of unpreparedness takes root in the forefront of her mind. Quickly reminding herself to act professional, she pastes a dignified look on her muzzle and answers with more confidence than she feels. "Yes! Of course. Right away." Getting up, she grabs a random bunch of scrolls and paperwork. Hoping to put on the impression that she hadn't let the Jarl's hospitality go to waste. When the guard turns away to lead her out, she gives one more quick glance over herself. Ensuring she looks presentable. Grabbing her hat on the way.

As they get closer to the great hall, she hears a buzz of frightened voices. Upon entering, she observes the herd of ponies gathered there. The fear is palpable as courtiers and citizens alike fidget and murmur to one-another. A rising urge to gallop thrums through her legs, but she fights it with every step. Unused to being so close to a herd of panicking ponies.

Squeezing along the wall, they approach the deus before the Jarl's throne. Gallion is there, standing on his hindpaws with his talons raised in a calming gesture. A staggered line of Griffin guards below him, holding the herd at bay as Captain Saberclaw paces behind them.

"Please, everypony stay calm." pleads Providence stepping up next to the Jarl. "The Jarl understands your fears and is making every effort to solve the matter. With the help of the Herald, the Gallops Hill guard has already put down the Windigo. So if you all could please.." he is cut off by several ponies crying out over the crowd.

"That can't be the only one! The coastal holds are still in the grips of snow!" shouts one.

"It's nearly April! Winter should be long gone by now!" shouts another.

"There's bound to be hundreds more on the way!"

"What about the rumor that Ironbloom has been murdered?! Without all three Heralds, there'll be no stopping them this time!"

"There is a chance that another can be found." says Providence desperately over the herd. "Have faith that the gods will provide. In the meantime, trust the guard to..." he is cut off again as somepony shouts.

"When has the Griffins ever cared about ponies?! As soon as real trouble shows up, they'll all fly off south with all the treasure. Leaving us poor ponies to starve and freeze to death!"

"WHO SAID THAT!" roars Saberclaw. Leaping into the air and hovering over the herd with his sword drawn. "Who Among you would say such a treasonous thing! I'll cut the traitorous tongue from his lying mouth!"

"Captain Saberclaw!" shouts Jarl Gallion in a loud commanding voice. "Enough! Stand down." Saberclaw hesitates before flapping back to his place.

"Good Ponies of Gallops Hold, lend me your ears." proclaims the Jarl. Stepping forward to gain their full attention. "Have I not done everything in my power to give you justice and security?" He paused dramatically to take the golden crown off his head and hold it out. "This Crown, have you not given me? Have you been blind to the many new grain silos I have ordered constructed, and filled these past few harvests? When I came to this country over thirty years ago, I saw the hardships you suffered at the claws of my predisessor. And when I lead you in revolt to depose that tyrant, it was you good Ponies who placed this burden upon my head. And now, through your great and diligent efforts, I have lead you all to be the single greatest producers of food of All the nine Holds. Making this ancient city a hub of trade, and the envy of all the realm. Prosperity that grants us all safety and security.

"It is true," he acknowledges. Putting a claw on his breast and bowing his head in a gesture of sorrow. "The destruction of Greenmore Hold has cut food supply of the land by nearly a third. But take faith." he went on. "Just yesterday I have put into motion, plans, as many here already know, to send out willing ponies to salvage their crops. I am confident that the hardy strength of you good Earth Ponies will be long remembered when this tribulation has passed. While I, and the service I have done for you will be but a hoofnote in the history of this Great land."

At those words, many in the herd give cries of denial and encouragement to him. Nighttime Wishes feels a well of hope open in her heart as the assembled ponies pour out their love for their sovereign's service and leadership.

"Thank you. Thank you, my good ponies." Jarl Gallion says, raising his claw for silence. "Your words bring me joy. But this outburst has shown me there are, however few there may be, some amongst you that question the dedication of me or those I have appointed over you. As before-" he raises his voice to stem a wave of protest. "As before, I ask you Good Ponies, if there is anyone, anypony who is better suited to take my position, let them speak up, step forward, or hold their peace."

With those words, he holds out the crown. offering it to them. A profound silence falls over the hall. And those gathered there, look to one-another critically. As if daring any one to speak out against their beloved leader. After a minute of no response. Gallion nods.

"Very well. Then, with your approval, I will continue to bear this burden for you." he says as he places the golden crown back on his head. "Now then, I understand your worries and fears that the coming of the Windigos brings. Know this! Through our influence as a primary food provider. And our connection to the history behind the Legendary Rainbow Warrior. Who at the very stone table, in this very hall, the Heralds Sands, Windcaller, and Nova, came together, to forge in unity, the Warrior of legend. The Archmage of Magnus University, in his wisdom, has hoofpicked and sent forth a talented Unicorn Mage representative to ade us." At that, he extends his claw too Wishes and motions her forward.

Destress at the spotlight of everypony's attention, suddenly freezes her hooves to the floor. She would have collapsed then and there if it hadn't been for a shove from the guard behind her. Giving her just enough inertia to step shakily forward, and before she realizes it, she's standing by the Jarl's side.

Turning to the assembly, she clings desperately to the bundle of random papers in her hoof and the crumbling air of professional dignity glued to her muzzle. The critical gaze of so many ponies watching her makes her feel feint. As if sensing her urge to gallop crying back to her room, Gallion places a comforting claw on her withers. Holding her up in support.

"Miss Nighttime Wishes here is well versed in the legend of the Rainbow Warrior, and the history of the Windigo's fall. And paired with the venerable Pegasus Herald, who is now residing amongst us. We will hold the Windigos at bay. As Jarl of Gallops Hill, I dub her Court Mage! In the absence of sir Secret Fire."

'I didn't agree to any of that.' Wishes thinks to herself as he concludes.

"And so, I ask that you return to your duties, and pray to the gods for another Herald to be found, for our dear Ironbloom we have lost."

The assembled herd stomps their hooves in thunderous approval. Then bow in turn, before slowly filtering back out too the city.

"With respect Gallion sir." Wishes whispers. "I never said-." She is cut off as Gallion hisses under his breath from the upturned corner of his beak.

"Keep smiling Miss Nighttime Wishes please, and hold your tongue. I desperately need your help to prevent a stampede." Seeing the wisdom of his words, she forces a smile onto her muzzle and joins him in waving as the last of the ponies are ushured out and the doors closed.

With their resounding (Clunk) echoing through the big empty room, Gallion slumps into his throne as the calm, collected fizod falls away. leaving behind a tired old bird. But after a few seconds he straightens his posture and addresses her.

"Forgive me Miss Wishes for putting you on the spot. I..." he falters. Floundering for the right words to speak. After a few seconds though, he puts a claw to his brow. Covering his eyes.

Then, at that moment she realizes that dispite the encouraging speech he gave only seconds ago, he was truly distraught over the situation.

"What the Jarl means to say..." says Providence. Stepping up to Gallion's side. "There's no end of thanks we can give for you to come to us in this hour of need. And to the Arch Mage Wyvernwax for sending you too us. As you see, the Jarl is at an end of his power. And cannot do much more for his Hold. The news of Ironbloom's death has shaken the faith of all. Do you have any ideas as to what can be done?" Wishes looks down sadly at the papers she has clutched to her chest.

"I... I'm sorry but. I have yet to find any more information on the subject then previously discussed. Your old Court Wizard seems to have had no clear organization. I have been hard at work sorting through the mess all yesterday and this morning, and have found nothing of note. There is a chance whatever he knew, he may have taken with him. I am sorry."

"I see." says Gallion. Nodding his head solemnly.

"This Herald you spoke of earlier." spoke up Wishes. "You say he actually confronted the Windigo? And slew it?"

"That is what was reported to us by several witnesses." confirmed Providence.

"If there is time I could meet him. Perhaps I might learn more from his first-hoof account."

"The Herald is currently being treated at the temple for his injuries." chimes in Gallgalad. "Nothing too serious I'm told. But Lady Springs insists she's given a few hours to do a thorough examination."

"Yes. Very good." states Gallion with a nod. Some of his earlier composer returning. "Captain Saberclaw. See to it that he is brought to me as soon as he's permitted. I'd like to speak with him before he disappears again."

"Yes my Jarl. Right away." Captain Saberclaw puts a clenched claw to his breast and gives a quick bow before turning to go. But pauses and turns back. "I must remind you sire. The Equestrian commander of the soldiers involved with the attack is waiting to give an account of her actions."

"Ah! Right." says Jarl Gallion. Checking over himself quickly. "I take it, it would be unwise to invoke ill will between our Hold and the Solar Imperials. So let us be firm, but hear them out my friends." he concludes. Looking between Providence and Gallgalad. They nod in turn. "You have my leave to return to your search Miss Wishes. I'll see to it that the Herald is brought too you once I have spoken with him."

Wishes gives him a respectful curtsey before trotting swiftly back to her room.

* * *

After a thorough check over by Crystal Springs, Peatmoss steps out of the temple with a bandage around his head and his cold hoof wrapped in a sling. There seems to have been nothing the Priests could do to warm his hoof. The Windigo magic resisted every remedy they could think of. So all he could hope for was for it to clear up on it's own. It burns with a cold pain. But he put on a brave face and thanked Miss Springs for her help.

Outside the door he is met by Scarlett, who insists he came with her at onoce up to the Keep to see the Jarl. Entering Grover's Reach, he is met by the Knight Edelweiss coming down the stairs from the Hall above. Thrusting a hoof out, she blocks their way.

"A moment, if I may Herald. I have some questions I would like to ask of you."

"The Jarl is awaiting his attendance at Court. Knight!" snips Scarlett. "He is not to be kept waiting."

"It'll only be a few seconds Housecarl. Surely he can spare me that much?"

"Fine then." huffs Scarlett. Sitting and crossing her forearms. "Make it quick!"

"Peatmoss. You are the son of Gin-an-Tonic of Wellshod. Correct?" Peat nods. "I've heard you came to Crown only a few days ago by way of Southrim. Correct?" he nods again. "It was brought to my attention that you traveled in the company of a Griffin named Balgriff and his supporters, by way of the road through Squirestone. Am I right?" Peat averts his eyes from her. Guessing the intentions of her questions. "I have been ordered by the Lord General Hud to investigate the dragon's attack on the fort. And a pony claiming himself to be the Legendary Mead Blooded. Do you know anything about the pony in question?" He lowers his head guiltily and avoids eye contact with her. "I see." She states in a knowing tone.

"Housecarl Scarlett." she says. Addressing the Griffin hen. "I wish to take this pony into custody for further questioning."

"I cannot allow that." Scarlett says. Holding up a claw.

"This pony has been charged with treason against Her Royal Majesty Princess Celestia of Equestria!" proclaims the Knight.

"What!" exclaims Peat at the accusation.

"He was found delivering correspondence to an enemy faction of Her Majesty's forces. And was party to a conspiracy, to commit regicide of Her Royal Majesty's nephew." Peatmoss was struck speechless. "Despite what he's done here, it is my duty to place him under arrest." With that, Edelweiss steps forward to take hold of Peatmoss. "He will stand trial with Balgriff and-"

"This Herald," cuts off Scarlett. Stepping between Peat and Edelweiss. Pushing her back. "Is under the protection of Jarl Gallion, and for the time being, outside of your jurisdiction. If you attempt to lay a hoof upon him again, you will be forcibly removed from the City!" At Scarlett's words, Two guards step up to either side of the Knight. Ready to grab her if she presses the matter. "Now step aside. The Jarl is waiting." Edelweiss glances between the two guards menacing her.

"I will relay what has transpired here to the Queen and the Lord General, Housecarl." she states with an even tone. "You have not heard the end of this." she then glares at Peatmoss, giving a frustrated snort, before yielding the way. Scarlett ignores her as she takes Peat by his armored coat and leads him up the stairs towards the Jarl's throne.

As he is lead away, Peatmoss looks over his shoulder at the Knight being escorted out of the Keep. A pit opens in his gut with the realization that, dispite his best efforts, he has become a criminal in the eyes of Celestia. And he will never be able to go home again. For the rest of his life he'll be hunted for what he did to survive at Squirestone.

Reaching the main hall, Peat follows Scarlett past the throne and up a staircase too an inner sanctum of the Keep. There, they find Jarl Gallion, Providence, and Gallgalad sitting around a table covered in maps and reports. Across the large map are small standing flags of different colors. As well as small rough-carved figures, like chess pieces. Gallion notices the two of them immediately and ends his conversation with the two advisors.

"Peatmoss!" exclaims the Jarl. Rising in greeting. Standing on his hindpaws in that curious fashion. Peat sees he has changed out of his kingly robes to don an arming doublet and gold-guilded breastplate with different colored jem decorations. "You have done me and my Hold a great service today." Jarl Gallion pauses when Peat doesn't raise his head to meet his gaze. "What is the matter? Did it go so ill with the temple priestess?"

"The Lady Crystal Springs has treated him the best she can." answers Scarlett for him. "But another issue has arisen. The Equestrian Knight demands to place The Herald Peatmoss under arrest. She accused him of being part of the Stormwing rebellion, and wants to take him back to Haven Hold for his involvement with Squirestone.

"Oh I bet they would." growls Providence with an angry glare. "They've got some nerve trying to get their hooves on another Herald, especially after what happened to Ironbloom."

"It's no surprise to me." chimes in Gallgalad, as he plucks a quill from an inkpot and scratches out some notes on a paper. "With the way she kept prying for information on him. She was probably building a case against him to legitimize her claim. And by convincing us he is a war criminal, we wouldn't lift a claw to keep him. But his ability to make the Windigos visible, and the call of the Neckbeards thundering across all of Crown." He paused for a second to look everyone in the eye before continuing. "There is no doubt, what he truly is. A Herald of Legend." After a silent few seconds, he drops the quill into the inkpot and leans back in his chair. "Of course, it's not enough for them to have the "acting high queen" licking honey from their hoof. If they succeeded in seizing control of the means of destroying the Windigos, who's to argue against falling under the dominance of the Solar Imperium?"

"You're not really suggesting..?" Providence begins to ask. But Gallgalad just answers him with a look. Jarl Gallion begins to pace the floor. One claw on his back. The other rubbing thoughtfully on the underside of his beak. "But what about what happened to Miss Ironbloom?"

"It may be that simple." Gallgalad answers. "An accident. I suspect they wished to break Balgriff's fighting spirit by executing the last of his supporters in front of him. Lady Edelweiss did say Prince Blueblood was there to oversee it. With Ironbloom in their custody, and Balgriff broken, Who else could possibly stand a chance to despute high queen Gwendolyn?" The two then turn to look at Gallion. He stops his pacing and huffs.

"No!" he proclaims. Waving his claw as if to dispell the question from the air. "I have faith that the Moot will vote as they always have before. And I will leave fate to the gods. But enough of this speculation." he finishes. Turning to face Peatmoss.

"For your service and sacrifice to show us the true threat towards Crown, I ask, are you willing to take an oath? To swear to protect the Good Ponies of Gallops Hold?"

"I am." Peat answers. A warm stiring of duty and purpose welling up inside him. With a signal from Gallion, Providence produces a chest and offers it's contents to Gallion. Out of it, he pulls a yellow sash. The same shade as the Hold guards wear. Unfolding it, he holds it draped across his claws as he begins.

"Do you, Peatmoss, son of Gin-an-Tonic, solemnly swear to protect the ponies of Gallops Hold? Come Windigos, war, famine or pestilence? Even to the end of your days?"

"I swear it. And more."

"Then I, as Jarl of Gallops Hold present you with this badge of office." As Gallion says this he wraps the sash loosely around Peat's shoulders like a scarf. And pins a disk broach to his chest, that bears the sigil of Gallops Hill's rearing stallion. Next, Gallion draws out a sword. Presented to him by Gallgalad. "And dub thee, Peatmoss. Thane of Gallops Hill." With those words, he touches the blade to one side of Peat, then the other. "And too these witnesses." Gallion proclaims to everyone in the room. "Do you swear to hold him too his vow?"

"We Swear!" all present say loudly in unison. thumping one of their claws or hooves too their chests.

"Then it's done." finishes Gallion. Passing the sword back to Gallgalad. Now then, Peatmoss. How did your talk with the Mighty Helms go yesterday?"

"Uh. Not, as well as I had hoped I'm afraid." he answers sheepishly. Sitting and scratching at his crest with his good hoof. "There was a, mixed reception. It seems some of them are not too keen on letting a Pegasus join them."

"Hm. Yes. I can understand." says Gallion. Closing his eyes and nodding his head. Scratching the bottom of his beak in thought. "No." he states after a few seconds. "No. that simply will not do. Providence!" he turns and gestures to the earthpony. "See too it that appropriate lodgings are made available. It would be ill-mannered if we were to leave him to sleep on a cloud, out in these cold nights. And... Oh." He pauses. Twittling his talons. Trying to remember something. "What's the name of that pony who's been begging for a special assignment. Water-something. Starts with an L?"

"Water Lilly, sir?"

"That's the one!" he confirms with a snap of his talons. "She'll make a perfect Housecarl. Send for her immediately." He then turns quickly back to Peatmoss and lays his claw on his withers. Guiding him towards a hallway to the residential part of the Keep. "Now, as much as I would love to throw a feast in your honor Herald. Time is of the essence, and we cannot afford to stand on ceremony. Come. There is a pony who's been excited to speak with you ever since she arrived. And it would be an honor for me to introduce you to her.

As they enter the hallway, he notices Scarlett following close behind them.

"There's no need for you to come along Housecarl." says Gallion. Stopping to look back at her. "No need to worry. The two of us won't get lost."

"But my Jarl." rebuts Scarlett. "Given what the Equestrian Knight said. Is it wise to-"

"Scarlett. My dear Scarlett." chides Gallion. As if he's speaking to a foal. "If I can not trust a Herald of Rainbow, after all he's done for this city, to not strike me down while my back is turned. Then Crown is truly lost. Have faith in the gods Scarlett. They have provided before, they shall do so again. Wait for me in the Throne room if you please, and I swear to you, I will meet you there unharmed." She stands there for a few seconds, grinding her beak in frustrated indecision. "Remember Scarlett." he says, adding a seriousness to his tone. "The day the crown of Gallops Hill falls. Is the day, all the realm, shall go to war." At his words, she relents. Bowing her head, saluting with a claw to her chest before leaving them.

"Forgive them for their overprotective actions Peatmoss." Gallion says after she leaves. "My sister-in-law in particular has a hard time trusting anyone these days."

"Sister?" asks Peat in surprise. Following as Gallion takes the lead.

"In-law. Yes. Her sister was the Hen I fell in love with."

"Ah. Sorry. I don't think I've met your wife yet."

"No. You haven't. That is, if you haven't seen any blue, ghostly Griffin hens floating around the Keep." Gallion says in a strange teasing tone. It took a few seconds for Peat to catch his meaning.

"Oh! I'm sorry to hear that. You mean she's"

"Yes. Almost fifteen years ago." Gallion confirms with a sad note to his voice. "Still. If you do happen to, for some reason, see her. Tell her to stop by and say hello will you." Peat gives him an awkward grin at the playful words. "As you may have noticed, Scarlett and I don't have normal colored plumage as compared to other native Griffins."

"Well yeah." confirms Peat. "The two of you do have a warmer palette. Alot like the Griffins of the tropics."

"Ah. So it's true. You have been to my homeland as rumor has it." Peat nods.

"Though, mind you. It was only for a month or so. The heat just got to me after awhile. It was a foalhood fantasy to meet with pirates." He finishes with an embarrassed look.

"Ha ha! Indeed." laughs Gallion. "Sailor tails of Schooners, islands, maroons, and Buccaneers, and buried gold. That old romance that pleases me as it does the wiser youngsters of today. Yar-de har har Harr!" they both laugh.

"It was there where we were married and went traveling." Gallion goes on. "At first Scarlett didn't trust me. So she followed us in our travels all over the world. Of course, after a time she came to understand and except her sister's decision. And we came to Crown settling down here at Gallops Hill. But sadly, one fateful night, there was an attack on the Keep. Whether it was an assassination, or theft gone rong, I do not know. But in the aftermath, my wife lay dead, and my infant son was missing.

"That's horrible!" says Peatmoss in sympathy.

"Thank you. That day was the saddest day of my life. But it came as an utter shock to me when, despite the difference in class and species, all the ponies of the Hold wept for my loss. That day endeared me to them tenfold. And ever since, I have done everything I can to repay them that kindness."

"And your son? Was he ever found?" Peat asked after a few seconds.

"Sadly no. What became of him, the perpetrators took to their grave. The guards tracked them all down. But they were killed before they could be interrogated. Save for the last. Who, before he slit his own throat, said these words. "Praise the Sun." Naturally, everyone believes it meant that Princess Celestia was behind the attack."

"What!!?" exclaims Peat in indignation at the thought. "Princess Celestia would never-!"

"I know. I know." says Gallion. Raising a claw to calm him. "It took me some time though to dissuade them from declaring war on Equestria. Still, some took it upon themselves to harass any Equestrian citizens they found. My former Captain of the Guard, sir Gruff, vowed he would not rest till my son was found. He followed the trail south, and was never heard from again. So I ask you to be patient with them. What they do is out of love for me."

"I understand." confirms Peat. "But I think it's more from what I am. Rather than where I'm from. And from what happened to me earlier this morning, I can't really blame them."

"Oh?" asks Gallion. Cocking an eye questioningly.

"I was robbed by a Pegasus colt while I was bathing in the creek out on the tundra. He swiped all the gold from my bag I left on the bank."

"I see." says Gallion. "Well, now that I have made you Thane, you will have somepony to look out for you and your possessions. As Thane, you will have the respect of the Hold guards. And are permitted to fly within the city limits. Though I ask you to only do so when it is absolutely necessary. Ponies find it very rude and upsetting when creatures fly low over their heads."

"Yes. I understand. I'll do my best to not be a nuisance."

"You have been called by the Neckbeards to the summit of Pinnacle mountain. So you will have to prepare yourself for the climb."

"Can't I just fly?"

"You could try. But I doubt even you could make it half way before you're utterly exhausted. From down here, it may not look far. I myself attempted the climb years ago. But living at sea level for most of my life made me too weak to reach more than halfway up it's side. I assure you it is better to walk it's stairs. The path begins on the far side of the mountain. At a town called Pilgrim's Step. It is more then merely a test of strength and endurance. It is a test of the mind. The will to keep putting one paw ahead of the other. To come to terms with your own weaknesses. And know the measure of your character." Gallion stops and turns to face Peatmoss. Standing on his hindpaws with his claws behind his back.

"I must make this clear to you." he says in a clear and serious tone. Looking down at Peat. "You must take care and prepare yourself well. It is no simple hike. When Ironbloom returned, she was a changed pony. She was born and raised here. And she told me about her struggle to reach the summit. Please, take your time to train your body. Or the mountain, will, break you." Peatmoss thinks about the Jarl's words for a minute before looking up and nodding.

"I understand. And I will." he answerers solemnly. Gallion nods. Satisfied his point is made.

"In the meantime." he then says. Stepping over to a door. "I'd like to introduce you to my acting Court Mage." The Jarl gives the door a polite knock. "Miss Nighttime Wishes? Are you there?" There's a sound of shuffling papers before a sweet, mare's voice answers.

"Ah! Yes. Who is it?."

"Jarl Gallion. I've brought the Herald of Rainbow here to meet you."

"Ah! Of course! Please come in right away!" Turning the door latch, Gallion opens the door and ushures Peat in.

The inside of the room is absolutely piled full of papers, books, and scrolls. And amidst the stacks is a cleared space with a desk, where sits a soft-blue colored filly with a rich blue curly mane. She was dressed in a official-looking, dark-blue robe, with a tannish mantle around her neck. Her high collar and tie made her look very professional. But what caught his attention was her bright yellow eyes.

He felt a spark, and from the look, she did too. Flashes of memory from the moment he met Ironbloom rose from his memory. That feeling of familial connection. A click of two oddly shaped puzzle pieces coming to fit perfectly together.

"Miss Nighttime Wishes." introduces Jarl Gallion. "This is the Herald Peatmoss from Wellshod Equestria. Peatmoss, this is Miss Nighttime Wishes. Personal Protege of The Arch Mage Wyvernwax, of Magnus University. And acting Court, Mage..." He stops and pauses for a second when he notices their shared expression. "Have the, two of you, met already?" he asks. Looking between them in confusion.

"What?! No! No. I've never seen her before." Peatmoss stammers. Embarrassed at being caught gawking.

"Ah! No!" Wishes says at the same time. "We haven't met." She rubs her forehooves together nervously as she looks away. A flush of embarrassment on her blue cheeks shading them purple.

"Ahh." says Gallion as an expression of dawning comprehension comes over him. A big smile spreading over his beak. "Well. I can see the two of you are going to get along just fine. So, if you'd excuse me. I'll leave the two of you alone to get acquainted with each-other." With that. He slips out the door and closes it behind him.

"Sooo. Miss Nighttime Wishes." says Peat after an awkward minute of silence. "You wanted to speak with me?"

"Oh! Uh. Yes!" Wishes stammers. Remembering herself. "Please. Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable." They both stare at the empty space on the floor around them. "Oh! Oh no." she says in exasperation. Casting about for a second. "Give me just a minute." she apologizes. Holding up a hoof before shoving several stacks of paper around in her search. "I'm so sorry. I'm not at all prepared to host guests."

"That's alright." consoles Peat patiently as she shuffles stuff around.

"No no." she frets as she disappears into the mess. "It's very rude of me. I knew you were going to show up, and I should've taken the time to prepare."

"No. it's fine. You must be pretty busy doing all this paperwork and stuff."

"No. This is all from the previous Court Mage." she explains with a grunt as a skyscraper of literature shifts to the side amongst the city of paper towers. "I can't make mane or tails of why he kept some of this stuff. A-Ha!" she exclaims. Re-emerging, holding a cushioned hassock aloft in her magic. As she joins him again, her robe brushes a stack and it topples into a messy heap. She stares at it, scrunching her muzzle in frustration for a second. Then dismissing it with a huff of annoyance and a wave of her hoof. "I'll clean that up later."

Giving the hassock a quick dusting, she sets it in front of him and goes back to sit behind her desk. As he makes himself comfortable, Miss Nighttime Wishes rifles through the desk drawers to pull out blank paper, quill, and ink. Taking up the quill in her magic she dips it in the pot. She's momentarily confused when it clinks on the bottom hollowly. Picking it up, she floats it up to her eye and peeks in. Finding it completely dried out. She tosses it away with an angry snort, and pulls out a fresh pot. Uncorking it, she dips her quill and makes a boarder line around the edge of the empty sheet of paper. Then, with a satisfied smile, she turns her full attention to him.

"Now then Sir Peatmoss. Go on and tell me all about yourself."

"Uh. Ok. Well, I was born on Sunday in the winter of-"

"No no no." she interrupted. "I apologize. What I mean is..." She pauses. Brushing the feather tip of the quill on her cheek as she looks away towards the ceiling in thought. "Start where, the moment you first realized that you were the Herald of the Rainbow Warrior."

"Oh. You mean after I got the golden wing from the theif. And Windcaller appeared."

"That's it." she confirms with a smile. Returning her quill to the paper. Scratching out his every word, as he recounts as best he can remember what the ghostly saint said. It was a little distracting for him to watch the quill dance on the page in her telekinetic grip. Transcribing every word he said. All the while she sat and listened quietly with her eyes closed. Not once taking a moment to look at the page.

"Then he faded away and I decided to come here to Gallops Hill like he suggested." Peatmoss finished.

"Very good." she says. Finally opening her eyes to look over her work. "Now this, Harth's warming tail you spoke of. You say you celebrate it every year?"

"Yeah!" Peat says happily. "It's, The holiday in the beginning of winter. Full of singing, gift giving, food and candy that lasts all winter long, untill winter Wrap up!"

"Hearth's warming." says Wishes. Tapping her chin in thought. "I've never heard of it before."

"You've never had a Hearth's warming?!" Peatmoss exclaims in shock.

"Well, not except for that book." Propping herself on the desk with her hooves, she reaches out with her telekinesis and floats over a saddle bag. "I've heard of the Griffins celebrating their Bluemoon festival around that time of season." she says as she rifles through her bag. "It sounded kind of similar. Ah-ha!" she pulls out a book and shows it to him. "Is it like this?" Then she pauses with an embarrassed look. "Now, I know this is a foal's book but-"

"Oh my goddess!" shouts peat in excitement. "You have a copy!" He snatches it from her magic grip and looks it over. "Oh mares. I remember this! it's in perfect condition too! I used to read this all the time when I was a foal." She watches him with a smirk as he pages through the book excitedly. Caught up in a tsunami of nostalgia.

"So you really know it that well?"

"Do I ever! The one I had at home was in rough condition. But mom would read it too me anytime I asked. Till I could read it myself of course. Oh mares. I tell you, I read it till it fell to pieces."

"You really like that story."

"What's not to love? Just look at these pictures!" He turns the book around to show her. "You see this one of the ponies arguing? If you move this tab here, it makes it look like the snow is falling!" He moves the piece of paper that has an arrow on it. Causing the dial behind the image to turn. Giving the illusion that the snow flakes are blowing about. "And this one is my favorite!" he flips through the pages towards the end. Holding it up to show the three ponies singing in the ice cave. Manipulating it's tab, he makes the three bob about individually with the complex set of paper pullies. Hidden behind the image. "Look! they're dancing! Doot-do doot-do de do! Ha haha." He turns the book back around and looks at the ending page.

"And through their love for one-another, the fire of friendship melted the snow, and their hearts. And together they founded a new land called Equestria." And before he knew it, he broke into that old familiar song.

"The fire of friendship lives in our hearts. As long as it burns, we will not drift apart.

Though quarrels arise, their numbers are few. Laughter and singing will see us through.

We are a circle of pony friends.
A circle of friends, we will be to the very end!"

Then, he suddenly realizes how foalish he's acting.

"Ahh. Eh heh heh. Sorry. Got a little carried away." He scratched at the crest of his mane in embarrassment.

"Yes. Heh." she confirmed with a smirk. "It's clear you're very enthusiastic about that story."

"Yeah, heh. It's funny how I can rattle off like that now. Back when I was in school. When we would have the Hearth's Warming eve Padgent. When I got to play Commander Hurricane, I would screw up my lines so bad. Even when I had a piece of paper with my lines on it, tucked in my costume, I still couldn't spit them out right." Looking back at Miss Wishes, he sees her smirk. "Yeah. I probably would have made a better Private Pansy." he says as he places the book on her desk and slides it back to her sheepishly.

"Oh. Uh, excuse me." she says. Hiding her smirk as she picks up the book and flips through it. "I admit I started reading it, but fell asleep before I could finish. I suppose I shouldn't have dismissed it so quickly. But that can wait for later." she finishes. Setting it aside. "What I'm more familiar with is this, Windcaller, pony. He said pretty much what I read in Crack-a-book's, A brief history of Crown. Second edition, volume one?" She looks to him expectantly.

"Uh. Sorry. I've never read it." he answerers with an apologetic shrug.

"No. I would expect not." she mutters in a condescending tone. Turning her attention to the transcript of his encounter. Peatmoss hangs his head in shame. "Oh! I'm sorry. That came out rong." she exclaims in regret. Spotting his reaction. "It's just, like with your Hearth's warming story. There doesn't seem to have been much cross-cultural exchange between Crown and Equestria. It's not that I think you're stupid, or uneducated, or dumb, or... I'm just going to, shut-my-stupid-trap." she sputters out quickly, "On second thought. Let's just forget I said anything at all. And talk instead about this Gold Wing you found in the barrow." she finishes. Giving him a pleading, apologetic grin.

"Uh, sure. What about it?"

"Well, didn't Windcaller say it was a piece of the Rainbow Warrior?"

"Oh yeah. He did!"

"Well? May I see it?" she asks. Holding out her hoof with a smile.

"Sure. It's..." Suddenly his mental train careened off it's tracks at the realization of his mistake. "Oh, no." He buried his face in his hooves.

"What?" she asks in confusion. "What's rong?"

"I... Don't, have it."

"What do you mean you don't have it?" she asks. Her smile straining.

"I'm sorry! I'm a stupid pony! I was hired to get it back from the thieves, and return it to Mr Abirdy. And he has it now."

"You... you just gave it, too him?" Miss Wishes asks through her gritted teeth as she drops her hoof.

"Yes." Peat answers sheepishly. "It belongs to him. And he paid me for returning it."

"Th-That Wing." she stammers in a growl of frustration. "Is a priceless artifact of the Crown Ponies history. And you just hoofed it back to him for a sack of petty gold? Like some cheap trinket?!"

"I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." he whimpers. "I'm sorry."

"You stupid... Are you brain... Rubbin, fribbin." She cuts herself off by slamming her head down on her desk, covering it with her hooves. Ranting to herself in a different language for a few seconds as Peatmoss rubs ruefully at his bandaged hoof.

Then, after a few more seconds, she raises her head again. Eyes closed as she brushes her mane back. Takes a deep breath. And looks at him again in a calm, but determined expression.

"Ok. It's ok." she reassures. "We know where it is. Let's just go get it." she finishes. Picking up her bag and putting on her cloak and hat. "Come on. There's no time to lose." Stepping around the desk, she grabs his good hoof in her magic and tugs him along.

"Wh-wait!" he stammers as he's pulled around and off his seat. "I can't-!" he is cut off as he tries putting weight on his injured hoof. Only for a jab of pain to shoot through his elbow and shoulder joint. He gives a loud cry of pain. Causing her to release him in surprise, and he slams face first down on the floor.

There's the sound of splintering wood as somepony smashes the door open. Peatmoss looks up to see a big pony clad in ridgid, bright bronze armor, standing in the door shouting.

"What by the gods happened in here?" demands the pony.

"I'm so sorry!" exclaims Wishes. Her haze of temper evaporating in realization at what she just did. "It's my fault. I completely forgot they said you were recovering. Are you ok?" she asks with worry. Helping him get back to his hooves.

"I'm fine. It's fine." he reassures. Hiding the pain as he puts his smarting hoof back into the sling.

"Certainly not!" she says. Not buying his bravado for a second. "Don't worry. I'll make this right. I'll fix this." Turning she stops short at the pony blocking the doorway. "Excuse me please." she apologizes before igniting her horn in a blaze and shoving him out into the hall with her magic force.

"Hey!" he exclaims, falling flat on his back. In the blink of an eye, Miss Wishes picks Peatmoss up in her telekinesis and floats him after her as she gallops down the hall. "Wait! Come back here!" shouts the armored pony as he struggles to rise.

"Sorry!" she calls back over her shoulder.

"Don't drop me! Please!" shouts Peatmoss desperately. Flapping his wings in agitation. Not used to flying through the air outside of his own power.

"Stop struggling and I won't!" she answers looking back at him as she gallops on. A bead of sweat visible on her forehead. So he pulls all his limbs in tight to himself to make it easier on her.

As they come down the stairs and into the Main Hall at the throne, Scarlett spots them coming and steps into Miss Wishes's path. Blocking her.

"Hold it right there Lady Nighttime Wishes." Scarlett commands as she approaches. Forcing her to skid to a stop. Nearly losing her telekinetic grip on Peat, if it wasn't for him flapping his wings to reduce momentum. "And where exactly do you think you're taking our new Thane?"

"Can't you see!" Wishes says. Floating Peatmoss up to Scarlett's face. "This pony is broken! He needs fixing at the temple immediately!" she finishes. Pointing out his bandaged hoof.

"Crystal Springs said she has done everything she could." insists Scarlett. Taking hold of Peat from her magic and setting him on his hooves. "And if she said she's done everything she can, she really has."

"It's alright Miss Wishes." Peat reassures. "I think it's clearing up on it's own. Besides, I still can fly just fine." Miss Wishes doesn't look convinced as she scrunches her muzzle.

"Alright. If you're sure. Let's just hit the road and retrieve the wing as soon as-"

"I'm sorry." interrupts Scarlett. Blocking her path. "The Jarl gave strict instructions that you weren't permitted to leave town without his approval."

"What!" she protests. "He can't do that! You tell him that-"

"Sorry. But no."Scarlett states stubbornly. "he's in a private meeting at the moment. And we've already lost one Court Mage from running off into the wild without warning."

"But I, we need."

"Don't worry Miss Nighttime Wishes." pipes up Peat. "I'll fly over to Riverdale and retrieve it lickity-split. And be back before you know it." With that, he takes off for the front doors.

"Peatmoss! Remember what Captain Saberclaw said!" Scarlett yells after him. Just then, the big armored pony comes galloping up to them, panting.

"Where did he-"

"He's headed for the gate. Better hurry." answers Scarlett. Gestureing with a thumb. The pony groans wearily before barreling on.

Outside, Captain Saberclaw approaches the Keep. But as he nears the front doors, Peatmoss slams them open. Flying out. Causing the guard captain to duck in response.

"What-the? PEATMOSS!" Peat freezes in mid air from the shout as he speeds overhead.

"Uh. Sorry Captain Saberclaw, sir." Peat gives a quick salute. He points out his yellow sash. "Um, Thane of Gallops Hill. Important Herald stuff to do. Emergency. Gotta fly!" Without waiting for a reply, he books it. Down across the rooftops and out of sight. Saberclaw gives a clucking growl as he frowns after him, before turning and reaching for the door latch. But just before he grasps it, the door bursts open again. Nailing him in the beak and laying him out flat. The armored pony in hot pursuit doesn't even seem to notice him. Charging down the stairs and out of sight. The two guards standing to either side of the front door watch the pony go. Then look down at Saberclaw in concern.

"Captain Saberclaw sir? Are you ok?" He just lets out a pained groan for his injury. And not just for the one to his pride.

chapter 11

Fearing Captain Saberclaw's wrath, Peatmoss swoops down and runs through the Main Gate. Nearly stumbling on account of his slung hoof. But pumping his wings along with his legs, he can pass off a half decent gallop. Following the main road out of the city and winding past the fields, till he reaches the bridge over the stream. He takes flight, and cuts across country, over the foothills, towards Riverdale.

As he nears the crossroads between Featherfall Barrow and town, he hears a frightened cry of distress. Coming to a halt, he looks around below for it's source. Then, out of the sky above him, comes a screaming young unicorn colt. Falling uncontrollably through the air. His bright orange robe, and mage hat, sparkling in the sun from it's shiny decorations. Drawing attention like a polished gold bit.

"I got ya! I got ya!" shouts Peat as he flies to intercept him. But just before he falls into his hooves, Peat is blinded by a bright magical flash. Dazed, he blinks and shakes his head, only for a scroll to hit him on the head. Catching it, he looks at it, then up to the sky in confusion. The unicorn now nowhere in sight.

'Did he transform into a scroll?!' he thinks in astonishment. Taking another quick look around before inspecting the rolled-up piece of, 'Parchment? No. Canvas? Wait...' Upon a closer inspection, it was a musty roll of old tan leather. About the same size of a scroll.

Undoing the strand of red ribbon tying it closed, he looks in confusion at the weird squiggly writing, magical sketching, and diagrams. Showing angles and roamain numerals. He had no idea what any of it meant. Giving one more good look around, he slips the scroll into his bag and heads on towards town.

Remembering the manner of his departure after his last visit, Peatmoss slips cautiously into town and ducks into the Woodlyn Trader.

"Well hi there!" welcomes Abirdy from behind the counter. "Welcome back to the Woodlyn Trader! What can I sell you?"

"Uh, hello Mr Abirdy. I was just..." he freezes at the sight of the empty center spot in the shopkeeper's display. "The Wing! Where's the Wing!" he shouts. Zipping up to the counter's front. Leaning over and desperately searching the shelves in terror.

"Relax. Relax." Abirdy calms. Pushing Peat back down with a claw. "It wasn't stolen again."

"Oh thank the Goddess." sighs Peatmoss in relief, slumping down. "For a moment I thought you might not have it anymore."

"I don't."

"What?" Peat asks. The pupils of his wide eyes shrinking.

"Sold and paid for this time." the shopkeeper answers with a happy smile.

"WHAT! But you... How could... WHAT!" Peatmoss sputters. "You said it was your pride and joy! Without it, your display is all off! How could you!!"

"This is a shop. Not a museum." he answers again casually. "Everything is for sale." he finishes. Throwing his arms and wings wide in joy. "For the right price that is." he adds with a wink.

"Noooo." Peatmoss cries. Planting his face on the countertop.

"What's the big fuss?" asks Abirdy in confusion. "I got a good two grand for it." he explains as he pulls up a big sack from beneath the counter, hugging it lovingly. It jingles richly in golden joy.

"Th-That Wing, (sniff) was a piece of the Rainbow Warrior. (sob) Wi-Windcaller told me I needed it to stop the Windigos. It was my responsibility. And because I'm a stupid pony, (sniff) I forgot. And now, because of me, we won't be able to get all the pieces. And everypony's going to freeze to death. And, and now it's gooone."

"Oh." Abirdy says. Scratching his beak in thought. "Sooo what? You think I could have gotten more?" he asks as he gives the sack of money a critical second look.

"Bwaaaha ha haaa." sobs Peatmoss. Covering his head with his wings. Crying a puddle on the counter.

"Come on." says Abirdy with a roll of his eyes. Returning the bag to it's hiding spot beneath the counter. "It can't be that bad."

"I'm a stupid pony." he whimpers in muffled sobs.

"Buck up little pony." Reaching out, Abirdy parts Peat's feathers with a talon to reveal Peat's sobbing face. "Look on the bright side. With as much gold she paid me, I could melt it down and make two of them." But peat goes on crying. "Seriously now." Abirdy scowls with a sigh. Crossing his arms in annoyance at how much Peat's sobbing is getting to him. "Alright! I get it! You're upset you didn't remember to buy the wing first. That's how it goes sometimes. Stop acting like a foal and knock it off already. You're going to ruin my varnish." Finally Peat slumps off the counter onto his rump. His bottom lip sticking out.

"Co-could you at least, Tell me who bought it!" Peat begs. Wiping his tears.

"Sorry. No." he replies. Wiping away the damp spot with a rag. "Customer confidentiality."

"But I need to get it back." he begs. "Everyone is counting on me."

"NO! No ifs, ands, or buts! Now quit causing a downpour, and take your blubbering outside before I have to get a mop! I don't have flood insurance you know!"

"Dad!" comes a disapproving shout from the ladderwell too the second floor. "What by the Great egg is going on down there?!" Looking over through wet eyes, Peat sees a young griffin hen poking her head down to see what the commotion is.

"Camila!" snaps Abirdy. "What did I tell you about showing yourself down here while I'm doing business?!"

"From the sound of it, you're kicking him out on his tail!" she rebuts. Fluttering down and stepping over to Peat. "You heard him. This sounds really important."

"No! I know exactly what you're thinking, and no! If I just gave up information for everypony who turns on the waterworks, I might as well call this the Woodlyn library. Sympathy doesn't fill our bellies or put a roof over our heads. So the answer is still no!"

"But you just said that this is a shop." she reasons. "Everything is for sale! Why not sell him the information?" Abirdy opens his beak to protest but pauses. Thinking for a second before relenting.

"Fine then. I'll sell what I know of the customer for..." He pauses again in thought as he does a quick calculation in his head. "Divide by two, carry the one. Add the difference. Round it down by point seven." he mutters under his breath. "Two hundred seventy." Peatmoss hangs his head and admits.

"Thanks, but I'm all out of money." Abirdy shoots an, "I told you," glare at his daughter while jabbing his open palm at the destitute Pegasus.

"Well, maybe. Hmm." she thinks aloud. scratching her beak in thought.

"No. No charity." huffs Abirdy. Crossing his arms in resolution. Peat just turns and sadly drags his wings towards the door.

"Oh that's real rich coming from you dad. After what you pulled." sneered Camila.

"What?!" retorted Abirdy in indignation.

"Don't give me that, you short changing feather flint."

"Young missy. You should know better than to-"

"And a fine example you're setting." shouts his daughter back. Cutting him off. "After all that grumbling and griping the other day after the robbery, one might think that the unicorn torched the whole shop. The way you carried on."

"But that's."

"You know just as well as I do what the Helms would have charged in gold to go after those thieves. And this Pegasus did it all for almost half the price, without complaint. He risked his life to retrieve your stupid trinket, and even brought back proof of revenge for you." she emphasizes by pointing to the grizzly head hanging on the wall. "And now. When he needs help, you turn him out on his tail like last week's scraps."

"Arg!" growls Abirdy. Pulling at his head feathers in exasperation. "Why did you have to open your big beak about that?!"

"Because daddy. It's bad business. And if you keep pulling it, and not getting caught, you're going to get into trouble." Abirdy hangs over the counter in defeat. "Hey, what about that job you've been waiting on for a couple months to get done? He's already proven to be a capable pony in doing dangerous jobs."

"Alright fine. I'll give him the job! Now get back to your room young lady! You're still grounded for that stunt you pulled with Gene." he says. jabbing a talon upstairs. Camila rolls her eyes and climbs back up the ladder and out of sight.

"Alright. Here's the job. About a year ago a band of Griffins came into the area and started mining just up the road towards Squirestone. At first we only saw them once and awhile when they came to the tavern in town. But they kept getting more rowdy every time, till the fort's guards were called and drove them off. But ever since then, they've started jumping my weekly shipments. And now, with the fort in ruins, it's only going to get worse.

So the Merchant's Guild issued a bounty on them. And it's not been dealt with yet. You go settle it, and you'll be paid for it. Then I'll tell you what I know about the customer. Deal?" he holds out his claw to shake. Peatmoss stares at it and frowns.

"So, dead huh?"

"Look, it doesn't matter if you kill them, make a deal, or pay them off. Just make sure they stop. And know that, if they're seen back at it again, the Merchant's Guild will know where to find you. So do we have a deal or not?" Peatmoss tightens his lips and accepts the shake. As he turns to leave, he pauses and asks.

"You, wouldn't happen to know where I could find Gene would you?"

"Gene? No. He's no longer with us."

"What!" Peat says in fright. "He's dead?!"

"No, not like that!" Abirdy rolls his eyes. Gertrude and Kyle kicked him out a couple days ago."

"Oh." Peat says sadly. "I really must've gotten him in trouble."

"What? No. Are you? Urg. It's a Griffin tradition. When a young griffin shows signs of self sufficiency, the parents force them out of the house to start a life of their own. Something I fear my daughter is almost ready for." he adds in a low grumble of fear and annoyance, as he glances at the ceiling.

"Oh." says Peatmoss in understanding.

* * *

Successfully sneaking out of the shop, past Mr Evergreen while his back is turned, Peatmoss makes it out of town. After a good couple miles, he sees a partially hidden path off the left side of the road. Following it carefully up into the foothills, he comes to an open flat spot before the mountain. Here it looks like the miners dumped the dugout rock to make a small camp at the mine's entrence. With an abandoned fire pit and wood chopping block. All around is littered with trash and broken garbage. But leaning against a crude wooden frame around a gaping porthole, set with a rough wood door, dozes a griffin. He's armed with a sword and dressed in a patchwork armor of tanned furs.

At the anticipation of violence, Meadblood stirs, and immediately lays out a plan of attack in his head. Packing away his hoof-sling, he tests his hoof. There's a bit of a twinge, but it's manageable. Creeping closer, he tries to catch the Griffin off guard. But he must have hit something with his wagging tail, because the guard snaps to waking before he can get half way too him.

"Huh-What? Who are... What do you want? Clear off skeever!" Peatmoss freezes. Then yanks back on Meadblood's rains as he urges Peat to lunge and bite the guard's face off.

"Me?!" retorts Peat. Flying by the hairs of his tail. "What are you doing out here is the real question."

"What?" The Griffin takes a second look at Peat and his eyes go wide. "O-oh sorry sir. I didn't know you were a Hold Guard." he stammers. Suddenly trying to look inconspicuous. "Just enjoying the fine weather we're having sir." His eyes dart around the area as if looking for an ambush.

"Uh-huh." intones Peat. Leaning in on the ploy. "The Jarl heard rumors about a, uhh, mining operation along this stretch of the road and, has sent me too... make sure it's, up to code."

"What this?" he asks. Gesturing towards the door with a thumb. "It's hardly what you could call a mine sir. Just a natural cave I've built a door on. Hardly goes very deep at all. Just a few hooves."

"Really?" Peat asks. Giving the freshly broken stones that make up the ground they're standing on a scuff with his hoof.

"Uh. Heh. Oh! I found this bag of gold laying out on the road today." he says. Pulling out a small bag and dropping it into Peat's hoof. "Maybe You, should Go, and see if any pony lost it. I'm sure they'll want it back."

"Bribing a guard is a serious crime you know." says Peatmoss dangerously. Bouncing the bag in his hoof. Guessing it to be about thirty or so pieces.

"No. You don't get-"

"I want to see your manager!" demands Peat. tossing the bag back into the Griffin's claws.

"You, want to talk to the boss?" he stammers. looking back and forth between Peatmoss and the door. Then he gets a sly glint in his eye. "Uh. Sure. You want to see the boss? He's right in here." The Griffin opens the door and offers for Peatmoss to trot on in.

Peatmoss doesn't even need Meadblood to tell him what's going to happen. Trotting into the mine he listens to the Griffin enter behind him. The door closes, blocking out Celestia's light. plunging the passage into darkness. Deeper in the cavern, he can see glimmering candles beyond. But instead, he extends his senses behind him as he trots steadily on. Hearing the near imperceptible paw pads on the ground behind him closing the distance. Giving his wingtips a flutter, he senses the close dead air just behind him. And when he hears the Griffin's sword slide out of his belt, Meadblood rolls for initiative.

Kicking off combat with a strong double hoof buck backwards. The strike lands in the Griffin's chest and midriff. Knocking him back a pace.

"Gah!" grunts the Griffin in surprise at the blow.

"Don't you know not to try and spook a pony while you're standing behind them?" quips Peat. Spinning around in the dark passage.

"Fuck you and your mother cloud humper." he growls in response as he suddenly takes a wild swing with his sword. Peat feels the air part right under his muzzle, and a flare of fear bursts in his chest as he realizes, if he had been one step closer, it would have passed right through his neck. Panic freezes his hooves, and he throws his wings up in front of himself as the Griffin swings again. There's a resounding (Clank) as the Wing Jacks stop the sword strike. Peatmoss stares for a second in surprise, and Meadblood takes initiative.

Kicking his right hoof forward like a slingshot as his wings open the Griffin's guard. Winding him with his right while slapping his sword arm with his left. There's a dull clank sound of the sword hitting the ground when it's dropped from his grip. Peatmoss cringes in pain from the blow of his left hoof to the griffin's sword arm, as Meadblood headbutts his opponent. Driving him back into a support pole. Pinning the Griffin's right shoulder with his left hoof, Meadblood begins stomping the Griffin's beak in.

Instinctively the Griffin swings his balled up left claw into Peat's face. Hitting his eye. Meadblood blocks the next strike with his hoof as the Griffin digs his talons into Peat's left leg. Tearing through the bandage and ripping hide. Letting out a bray from the fiery pain, Meadblood bites down on the offending claw. Putting all the force he can muster into it. He feels the hollow bones crunch as the forearm kinks in his mouth. The Griffin howls as Meadblood shakes his head. His herbivore teeth too dull to cut, but easily able to crush and grind.

The Griffin, in desperation, brings his hindpaws up and kicks out. His feline claws extending to hook on his armored barding, throwing Meadblood off onto his back. But before the griffin can rise or see to his broken arm, the post at his back shifts. Allowing the beam it was holding up to come down. Square on his head.

Peatmoss rolls to his hooves and scrambles back as dirt and stone tumbles down. Half burying the motionless Griffin in debris.

Ignoring the body, Peat turns his attention to his injured left leg. In the dim darkness of the passage, he can see the blood from the deep scratches blooming red through the ruined bandages. Undoing the buckle to his saddlebag, he takes it off and reaches in with his good hoof.

"Urg!" he groans as his hoof is met with a soggy (Squish). Taking out the nearly empty Mead bottle, whose stopper has given up completely, he has a taste. But Spits it out immediately. Finding, to his disgust, the taste has been spoiled completely from the tannins in the bag's leather. Dumping out his diminished supplies, he uses his last, soggy bandage. Mentally kicking himself for not resupplying his healing potions and bandages.

Making sure the bag is empty of liquid, he puts the scroll from the unicorn in. It surprisingly didn't get soiled. He then picks up the old robe. Finding it Soggy and absolutely reeking of mead. With a sigh, he folds it as evenly as he can, then wraps it around his injured leg. Tying it fast with the rope belt.

Feeling worse for wear, he turns his attention to the Griffin's body and starts digging to check his pockets for anything useful. Remembering how Gene would pick over every body, and find all sorts of valuable odds and ends. But all Peat can turn up that might be useful, is two oddly shaped metal sticks. One flat, with a bend in it. The other, long and thin. With a hook at the end. Without a clue what they were, he drops them in his bag and hoped they weren't something weird. Like Griffin beak picks, or something.

Finding the sword on the floor, he grips it in his mouth and delves deeper. Trying not to think of justifying hole-sale slaughter of whoever else was in this mine.

Descending deeper, he comes to a bend in the tunnel. To his left is a barred storehouse of crates, sacks, and a big chest. Hoping to find some useful supplies, he tries the gate. But it's locked by a rusty latch. After a bit of thinking, he sticks the sword tip through the gap in the jam. To try and bend it enough to pop the locking bar out of socket. But before he can start, he hears a whimpering moan behind him.

Spinning around, he sees another gate, hidden in the shadows. Carefully he steps over and takes a look. Inside is an Earthpony, laying on it's side. A thick iron collar around it's neck. He leans forward and puts a hoof on the latch. To his surprise, it unlatches, and swings freely open. Looking up and down the passage, he slinks in and tries to rouse the prisoner. The pony recoils from his touch.

"No." he whimpers. "No more whip. No more rocks. Too weak. Please." he begs.

"No. I'm not here to hurt you." reassures Peat. "Come on. Let me lead you out of this horrible place." He wraps his forelegs around the pony and lifts him upright. Surprised at how light and frail he feels. The pony's head rolls around to look up at Peatmoss. His wet eyes open and twinkle in the candle light.

"Meadblooded? It's you. You've come for me, at last?"

"I... I..." Peat tries to explain, but his breath keeps catching in his throat.

"Where, have you, been?" the pony asks. Then with a weak sigh, he falls completely limp, and still.

"No... No!... Celestia please no!" But the pony didn't move again. "Wake up! please!" I'm sorry." he cries. Burying his face in the poor pony's bony chest. But the poor pony is quiet. No heart beat. No breath. Silent, and still. Lost...

Then, Peat threw back his head and cried out in a loud voice. The sorrow he had bottled up in himself, of everything he suffered, welled up and out of his throat in one cry. He cried for being too late. He cried for Ironbloom. He cried for Juniper. For his screwups. For Burnished Bronze's loss. Everyone he had killed, and those that died around him. He cried till the echoes died away completely. Leaving him in tired silence. And alone.

But then his ears twitched, he hears voices coming up the tunnel. Hoofsteps and a red glow from deeper in the mine, growing brighter up the far passage. Steeling his tattered soul, he laid the pony gently back down to rest.

A Griffin holding aloft a torch leads two ponies down the tunnel. They quickly approach the bend. Lighting up the barred cells and the hanging open door.

"Gods damn-it!" hisses one pony around a large hammer clutched in it's teeth. "Ya forgot ta lock da buck-n door! Did the scrawny weasel bolt?" he asks as they approach the open gate to look in.

"Didn't bother to." says the griffin over his shoulder. Armed with a torch and ax. "You saw how badly the boss beat him."

"Thank gods." says the other as the light fell over the prone pony's body. He's wearing a lantern strapped to the top of his head, and armed with a long dagger and a small hoof shield, strapped to his left foreleg. "Wait. Is he dead?" the griffin kneels down and gives the pony a poke with his ax.

"Yeah. Looks it." grouses the Griffin. "The boss's whip did him in good in the end. That yell probably was the last of his strength."

"Aw horse apples!" whined the hammer pony, spitting out his weapon. "Now what we gonna do? With the necromancer dead, now the last slave. Who's gonna do the diggin?"

"Maybe the boss will give you the job." snaps the Griffin as he tucks his ax in his belt. "Why don't you go ask him. And he'll give you your first taste of his whip."

"Bonemesa No!" spits the hammer pony.

"Then you harvest him and I'll tell the Boss how excited you are to take the job." the Griffin sneers. Offering him a kitchen knife.

"Stick it up your bung-hole, beak-face." hammer spits. Picking up the hammer and trotting off back down the tunnel.

"You!" The Griffin commands lantern head. Fetch the gut bucket and hurry back. I'll get started." Stepping through the gate he hangs the torch in a sconce. The rising smoke vapors sting Peat's eyes as he looks down from the stony crag he's wedged himself into. Hidden in the shadows of the ceiling. He silently watches as the brigand kneels down and drives the knife into the pony's belly. Slicing him open easily. Butchering him with as much respect as he would a fish.

At that desiccation, something snaps in Peat's mind. Meadblood feels Peat release control, as his eyesight turns red. In a roar of fury, Meadblood drops down just as the butcher looks up in surprise. Coming down on his back and slamming the Griffin beak first into the fresh gore he made. Before he can struggle to get up, Meadblood brings his sword down again and again, till the head comes free and rolls away. The griffin's neck stump and limbs flail wildly for a few seconds before calming. Falling still as the body loses blood pressure.

Then Meadblood hears a hollow (clunk) behind him. He whips his head around and sees Lantern head standing there agast. The said bucket he was sent to fetch dropped at his hooves. He turns to bolt, but Meadblood has already snatched up the ax from the griffin's belt and threw it. Clocking him square in the back. Knocking him flat on his belly. In a flap of his wings, Meadblood is on top of him. Hauling him up and slamming him against the iron bars.

"Why!!!" roars Meadblood in lantern's face.

"Don't kill me! By Scorpan's mercy! Please!" he squeaks in terror as he struggles helplessly against Meadblood's rage-fueled grip. "It's the griffins who sell the meat! I just take care of the slop!"

"What by Tirek's teeth?!" exclaims the hammer pony. Having come galloping back at the sounds of the cries and commotion. Only to see the enraged pony, splashed in blood, filth, and feathers. Turning around, hammer bolts back the way he came. Leaving his fellow pony to Meadblood's mercy.

"Please, Meadblooded have mercy. I don't want to die." blubbers lantern. Tears pouring from his cowardly eyes. Angry at the atrocity, he slams the pony against the bars again and again. Till he gets tired and tosses the pony aside. Dead, or unconscious, he didn't care. There was more monsters to deal with. Picking up the dropped shield knocked free of lantern, he straps it on his wrapped up leg and snatches up the ax as he goes. Growling as he marches down the passage. His wings beating a whirl wind of air behind him. Snuffing out the lights as he passes.

After a Minute of stomping along, Peatmoss returns to himself. Clearing his mind of rage at what he just witnessed. Pushing Meadblood back down as he reminds himself not to act foalish, and be cautious.

Passing through a few twists and turns in the mine, he comes to a larger cavern with a broken ceiling, that lets the afternoon sunlight in. He hears disgruntled voices coming up from out of sight below, along with a pitiful, whimpering sound. Passing an alcove covered in sleeping furs and wool blankets, and a hole in the wall, that reeks of foulness. He creeps to the wood slat railing around the ledge overlooking the lower floor.

Peeking through the gaps, he sees five griffins, hammer pony, and that same unicorn mage he had seen falling out of the sky earlier. Two of the griffins, one almost Garard sized. Dressed in iron armor. The other looking smaller in comparison, dressed in fancy leather, Are to the right. Close to a small open forge. They're standing over the unicorn colt, who they have tied to a post by a rope around his neck.

The other three are gathered around hammer. Holding him as he gasps and wheezes, out of breath. Trying in vain to get the smaller griffin in charge to listen to him as he flails his hooves desperately.

"Well? Can you do the spell or not?" demands the smaller griffin, scowling at the colt. Pointedly ignoring hammer's unintelligible noises.

"I'm trying." whimpers the unicorn. Looking between the book in his hooves, and a lump of raw iron on the ground in front of him. "I can read some of these words here and there. But most of these words I need to decode with what I know."

"Well hurry it up. It can't be that difficult. All I need, is for you to turn this metal, into that metal. It's simple. Do the spell And we'll let you go free, unharmed and, Gha!" the leader suddenly shouts at hammer. "Will you stop your sputtering Ball-Peen! If you got something to say, then spit it out! Or shut your trap so I can have a civil conversation with the horn pony." Then suddenly hammer, apparently named Ball Peen, doubles over and chucks his oats on the floor. "Oh dear Ancestors." the griffin says as he covers his face with a claw. Disgusted with the unprofessionalism of his minion.

"Ug. Gross." sneers one of the three. Covering his beak. "Thanks. Now I'm feeling sick."

"Hard-boiled." directs the leader with a talon to the larger griffin. "Give the stupid mud pony a drink will you?" Hard boiled rolls his eyes and stalks over. Grabbing up Ball Peen by the scruff of his crest, and dragging him kicking and protesting in sputters, away to the back of the cavern. His protests cut out as he's dunked, face first into the shallow, pool of water there. Now making a bubbling and splashing sound as the helpless pony is held down. "Finally! Some peace and quiet!" the boss sighs in satisfaction, turning back to the unicorn. Slowly starting to circle him in impatiens. The unicorn tries to ignore the wet struggles of the earth pony behind him while he desperately studies the book.

Looking around the five griffins, Peatmoss isn't sure he can take on more than three at a time.

'At least the big one and the earth pony are, distracted.' he muses to himself. 'But that still makes four to deal with. How can he...'

"Alright! Times up." declares the boss suddenly after a minute. Plucking the book from the unicorn's hooves. "Now make with the magic. We don't have all day."

"But I-"

"Now don't you worry." says the boss grabbing the pony's muzzle cruelly with a claw. Silencing him. "Just do the spell and everything will be fine. Yes?" the colt gives a stifled whimpering noise as he tries to remove the boss's sharp talons with his hooves. Trying to get him to let go of his muzzle. "No no. No talking. Just nod your head. Yeees." He says as he moves the colt's head up and down before letting him go. Finishing by patting the pony's cheek in mock comfort. "What's the worst that can happen?" After that, he stands back up. Crossing his arms and waiting expectantly.

Looking down at the chunk of iron in fear and hopelessness, the unicorn colt scrunches his face in concentration. His horn lighting up in sparkling golden rays. But after a few seconds, it fizzles and winks out. The boss sighs and shakes his head in tired disappointment. The young colt sniffles and whimpers, on the verge of crying. Blood dribbling from a talon mark on his muzzle.

"Aw. Don't feel so bad." consoles the boss mockingly. Putting a claw around the young unicorn's withers. "You may be a terrible excuse for a mage, but you can still be a cute, and juicy, little pony sausage. Doesn't that sound fun?" The colt bursts into blubbering tears, as the boss just shakes his head. Standing up. "You just can't work with ponies nowadays. Can ya." he asks. Looking too the other griffins for confirmation. "Can ya Ball-Peen?" he calls towards the weakening splashing noises. Hard boiled raises Ball Peen's head and he gasps and sputters. Gulping in air before shouting.

"Bu-buck you up the tail Rat Bastard. I ho-hope the Meadblood feeds ya yer oun gizz- (Bubble blarp.) He's cut off as Hard boiled shoves him under again at the boss's unconcerned claw wave.

"Ya just can't." the boss says sadly with a shrug. "You and you." he points to two of the griffins. "Gut the horn head and the mud pony. I want them cleaned and quartered in twenty minutes. We're flying them to Grinder's place tonight. You!" he says. Directing to the third. "Go up top and see what's taking those two loafers so long. Have them get the stuff ready to go."

'It's now or never.' Peatmoss says grimly to himself. Readying his ax as he moves to the top of the stairs. Peat fights the urge to rush in as the poor colt's wails grow louder.

"No! Please! Give me another try! I can do it!" Pleads the colt. "HELP! CELESTIA PLEASE! HELP ME!!!" he shrieks in terror. Just then, the one griffin bounds up the stairs and Peat hits him square in the chest with his ax. Dropping him with a gurgle.

"I am the Mead Blooded!" roars Peatmoss. As he leaps over the rail and lands in front of the two grabbing at the sobbing colt. Knives at the ready to start cutting. Everyone stops and stares at Peatmoss in astonishment.

"Don't just stand there!" shouts the boss after a few seconds. "Grab him!" The two let go of the unicorn and pull out lassos. Beginning to twirl them over there heads as they advance on Peat.

'Ok. This is unexpected' Peatmoss thinks to himself. The two moving to either side of him. He glances over towards Hard-boiled, but the griffin doesn't seem to want to join the fight. Content to hold his former gang member struggling in the water and watch instead. 'Any suggestions would be great right about now.' he thinks at Meadblood. But infuriatingly, he doesn't answer.

The two draw closer and Peat hears the wooshing sound of the rope on his left change. He throws up his shield hoof to bat it away, but it slips over his head and sinches around his shoulder and under his shield hoof. As he tries to pull free, the other rope flies out and he manages to dodge it. Blowing it off course with a hop and flap of his wings. Then the other griff yanks his rope hard. Causing Peat to fall and tumble to the stony ground. He knows, that if he stays in one place, he's dead. So he rolls over and jumps back up. Ignoring the shooting pain in his leg, he charges the one holding the other end of the rope. The griffin leaps for the air in order to avoid him. But he seems to forget, Peatmoss is not an earthpony.

"Oh come on." groans the boss. Slapping his forehead in disgust as, with one slashing cut across the griffin's lightly armored middle, the griffin is messily spilled on the floor. The remaining griffin gives a piercing cry of rage. Abandoning his lasso, he grabs a spear instead. Flying at Peat with a vengeance. Peatmoss dodges to the right, struggling to get free of the lasso. But the griffin grabs the trailing rope. Looping it quickly through a ring on the young unicorn's post, and pulling hard. Peatmoss flutters in the air desperately as the griffin hauls him in towards his waiting speartip. He tries to chop at the rope, but the bad angle and dull ax blade only frays it.

The griffin licks his beak in anticipation as with every drawing tug, Peat is pulled down closer. Then, the griffin thrusts hard into Peat's side. He yells in pain around the axhandle, as the speartip jabs up into his armor. The dense fabric weave of the armored coat binding up the blade, cutting halfway in, but unable to go deeper. The griffin then begins to wiggle and twist the spear, cruelly worming it in little by little. Driving it deeper and deeper. Peat feels the tip gouging cuts in his hide.

"Stupid griffin!" Peat growls through gritted teeth. Hitting the spear shaft with his right foreleg. Trying to break it, but only sending jabbing pain into his side.

Then suddenly, the griffin gives a loud yowl of pain when the unicorn bites down on his unprotected feline tail. Yanking the spear out of Peatmoss, he turns it and aims a thrust at the colt. Who falls back away. Cowering in fear at the end of his tether. Peat lunges down and hooks the claw holding the spear with his hoof before he can attack. Hauling him back away from the young colt through sheer wing power. The griffin, having lost grip of the rope, tries to slash at Peat's offending foreleg with his bare talons, but the hoofguards do their job. Giving him the time to lever the spear shaft around, and drive it point down into the griffin. He gives a choking squawk. Weakly flailing about for a few seconds before falling to the stony floor dead. Peatmoss collapses to his haunches on top of the dead colt killer. Panting breathlessly.

"And to think those two were my best wranglers." the boss sighs weirily. Shaking his head. "What a disappointment." Peatmoss gives a groan of pain. Doubling over as he clamps a hoof to his torn left side. "What's the matter Mr, The Blooded?" taunts the boss in that damnable mock concern. "You feeling alright?" Gritting his teeth, Peatmoss gets back to his hooves. Pulling the spear from the corps and pointing it at the boss with a growl of fresh anger. "Huh... Alright. Hard boiled." he commands with a snap of his talons. "Kill him."

The big griffin finally rises from the poolside. Leaving the earthpony lying motionless on the bank. Peatmoss grunts in pain as he reorients the spear to face him, as the big armored griffin stalks calmly and steadily towards him.

'Well Meadblood?' he asks in his mind. 'I'm out of energy. You going to help now or what?' There's no answer again as Hard boiled gets closer. Exhausted and racked with pain, he grits his teeth as the big predator comes to a stop a few paces away. Peat braces for the inevitable attack. Hard boiled's eyes slowly look at one dead griffin, then the other, before settling on Peatmoss. Holding his spear at the ready. They glare into one-another's eyes.

The boss chuckles confidently, as he leans back on the workbench beside the forge. Peatmoss's vision blurs for a second as he holds his guard steady. Spear at the ready.

"COME ON!" roars Peatmoss after a minute. Spitting in defiance. Yet knowing he can't hold up much longer.

"Screw this." grumbles the armored griffin bluntly. Straightening up. Without another word, he turns and leaps into the air. Flying up and out through the hole in the ceiling.

"WHA..?!" shouts the boss in surprise and indignation. "HEY! Get back here you Coward! You can't just leave! What do I even pay you for?!"

"You." Peatmoss growls as he rises to his hooves again and turns. Slowly advancing on the boss with his spear at the ready.

"Alright then." sighs the boss too himself. "If you want something done right. You gotta do it yourself." He looks at Peatmoss with a bored expression. "Alright little pony. Let's get this started." Casually he takes a coiled whip off the back of his belt. At the sight of the whip, suddenly, the words of the Griffin butcher back up the tunnel, echo in his mind.

"You saw how badly the boss beat him. The boss's whip did him in good in the end." Peatmoss feels his hackles prickle. Imagining that poor pony back in the cell, beneath that very same lash. The boss grinning in pleasure. Carrying on the beating long after the pitiful cries cease.

A suge of malice fills Peat, like a black, choking smoke in his soul. As if the spirits of every pony who fell beneath that hateful torture device cried out to him. Demanding retribution for the injustice done upon them. Their voices, like the sound of a rushing river, waft from the leather cord as the boss unrolls it onto the dusty cave floor. The spear in Peat's hoof drops to the floor as he abandons any demeanor of sentience.

"Woah now." the boss says. Suddenly dropping his casual air as he takes notice of the change coming over the pegasus. It's stance changing from a tired wounded pony, to that of a feral animal. Crouching on all fours, bearing it's teeth. He raises the whip in his claw and cracks it over the pony's head. But it ignores it, like it didn't even hear it. Disappointed at the lack of reaction, the boss aims his next strike lower. A light cut appears on the right side of the pony's neck. But again, the pegasus doesn't flinch or cower in fear like the other ponies always did. The boss raises the whip to do it again, but hesitates.

He feels the air get tense as he comes to the realization, his weapon is not having any effect. He raises his other claw and waves it calmingly. "Easy there. Nice pony." Taking a step back slowly. The feral equine begins to advance steadily. Growling and hissing like a rabid sabercat. "Nice pony. Good pony... Pretty pony?" he chances tentatively. And the animal springs. "NOT PRETTY!" he manages to shout before turning to leap for the sky. But the Meadblooded is on him. Slamming him into the ground. He Shrieks in terror as he feels the equine on his back dig it's muzzle into his neck feathers. Pulling and tearing at his plumage.

A horror unlike any he felt before grips him as he struggles to shake off his attacker. The sheer terror of the Equine Griffin, predator prey dynamic being flipped on it's head. And in his last moments he realizes, the horror of what the Meadblooded's legend really means. The true meaning behind the look he had seen in every griffin's eye. When they spoke of the old legends in hushed tones, in the dark hours of the night. And as the pony's jaws found his neck, the memory of that old fool of a necromancer pony's curse comes to mind.

"I Curse you griffin, for this Betrayal! When The Meadblooded's time comes, may he tear the very veins from your Treacherous NECK!"

(CRUNCH) ... (RIIIIIP)

The young unicorn colt hides himself behind the post he's tied to. Squeezing his eyes shut, and clamping his ears down with his hooves. But despite his efforts, he can't block out the sound of ripping flesh. Then, the thrashing stills. And silence falls over the cavern. But just as he's working up the courage to peek, a loud throaty voice roars through the air.

"Harken Onto Me! Oh Oaken-Glade! Verily! I Doth Gnaw This Carrion For Thee!"

At hearing the words spoken in the old Ponish accent. He turns and sees, standing atop the dead griffin, is a pony in heavy black and orange plate armor. A ghostly black, hooded cloak shrouds his form. And upon his up turned face, gazing towards the sunlight streaming down from above, is a wooden mask. It's deep cut eyes glow with green light. And from it's jagged toothy mouth, hangs bloody bits as feathers dance about the air. The stunned colt blinks as the image wavers. He rubs at his eyes and looks again.

Peatmoss wipes away the mess on his muzzle as he comes too himself. Shaking his head before turning to look at the colt. Who sits there staring, eyes wide in awe.

"Uh... Hey there. Are you ok?"

"Yeah... I'm fine." the colt answers. Looking away awkwardly.

"Good." says Peat nodding weirily. Before stepping down off the body and walking slowly towards the Colt. "Sorry you, had to see that." he apologizes. Stopping a few paces away and sitting.

"Yeah." he just answers.

"You, don't have any healing potions. Or spells. Do you?"

"Healing? Oh Yeah! I think one of my scrolls said something about that!" he exclaims excitedly. Looking to a discarded bag leaning up against the wall, he lunges towards it and is suddenly stopped short by the length of rope around his neck. "Owww." he whines. Rubbing at his bruised neck.

"Here." says Peat. Picking up a dropped knife and sliding it over to him. "Cut yourself free and get it. I'm... going to lay down here for a bit." He relaxes onto the floor and leaves the unicorn colt to figure out the rest while he puts pressure on his burning side.

Digging through his bag, Glitzy comes up with a scroll and unrolls it. Muttering quietly to himself as he scans over it. Trotting over to Peatmoss, he looks between the scroll and the mangled flesh of Peat's side. Pushing away his hoof for a better look.

"Yeah. Ok. I think I got it." he says as he sits and prepares to cast the spell. "Lay still."

"Are you sure you know what you're doing." asks Peatmoss. Grimacing as the pain grows worse, his adrenaline from the action fading.

"Don't worry." says the unicorn with confidence. "This one's an easy one." Closing his eyes, his horn sparkles in bright beams of golden light. Forcing Peat to squeeze his eyes shut at the dazzling display. He feels his wounds squirm and wriggle as it seals up. An unsettling sensation, but he'd rather ignore the feeling, then go on with holes in his hide. After a few minutes the feeling fades. Leaving him aching, but hole again.

"Well! Good job." compliments Peatmoss as he sits up and looks over his wounds.

"You're welcome." pipes up the young colt with a big grin. "Though, it's all thanks to these informative scrolls I found." he corrects. Parading them through the air above him in a dancing show of telekinetic Magic. "Can you believe that somepony jus left them lying around in a cave?"

"Where did you find them." Peat asks

"In a cave I took shelter in the other day. Over on the other side of that really tall mountain outside."

"Pinnacle mountain?" asks Peat.

"I dun-know." he answers with a shrug. "I just got here a few days ago. Any ways. There was a grumpy Bear living there, but I chased him off with my patented Glitz!"

"Glitz?"

"Yeah! For you see, I, am the Great, and Glamorous Glitzy!" the unicorn announces. Standing on his hindhooves and releasing a show of glittering light. Sparkling in red, yellow, and orange. Dazzling Peatmoss to the point of shading his eyes from the glare.

"Ah. I see." confirms Peatmoss. Squinting and blinking away the sunspots. 'Unicorns and their flashy magic.' he thinks to himself as Glitzy goes on with his story.

"And there, I found a wooden chest just packed full of all these scrolls. I've been trying them out all day today."

"Ah. And I assume that's why I saw you falling out of the sky earlier today?" Peat asks. Pulling out the scroll from his bag and hoofing it over to the colt.

"Oh... Yeah..." says Glitzy. Tapping his forehooves together in embarrassment. The offered scroll floating up to join the procession leading back into his bag. "I thought it was a flying spell. But apparently it's more of a leaping spell. Some of them have words I don't understand. But fortunately, I had the forethought to trigger a Recall spell before I went ker-splat. Heh heh."

"Recall spell?"

"Yeah. It's kinda like a teleportation spell, but easier. And only one way. And that's how I got foal napped. These mean jerks were waiting for me as soon as I zapped back."

"What did they do to you?" Peatmoss asks in a low, growling tone. The numerous references to meat coming to mind again.

"Oh nothing much, thank Celestia. At least till you showed up. Thank you so much for saving me!" He says as he suddenly lunges forwards and wraps Peat in a big hug. Peatmoss goes ridgid at his unexpected embrace. A new instinct of fear at being suddenly grabbed. "Oh! I'm sorry!" exclaims Glitzy when he notices Peat's stiffness to his hug, letting go. "Are you still in pain?"

"No..." he answers through grit teeth and a forced grin. Wrapping himself in his wings. 'Good Goddess.' he thinks to himself. 'Have you really lost so much of your Equestrian nature that you can't except a friendly hug?' "I'm just..." he starts explaining. Trying not to let on that his soul is fraying. "really, dirty." he finishes.

"Oh! Right." says Glitzy. Looking down at the new smears of battle on his bright clothes. "Ah. It's easily fixed." In a flash his clothes are off and floating in the air. Exposing himself and his cutie mark. Three diamond shaped lights, beaming with glitter. With a flick of magic, they are clean again and zapped back on. "Ta-Daaa!" He poses dramatically. "Do you want me to do yours?" he asks with a big smile, stepping closer.

"NO!" Peat shouts. Holding out a hoof and wrapping the other around his armor.

"Why?" Glitzy asks in confusion.

"First rule of Crown. Never take your clothes off in front of other ponies. Especially strangers."

"Oh. But we're not strangers. You're my friend. Aren't you?" the naive young colt asks. Cocking his head.

"Nn. Well yes, but." Peat stammers. Trying to think of a way to explain. "Just... Save it for your Special Somepony. Ok? Or, you should at least ask permission first." he finishes. Looking away and rubbing at his crest.

"Ah. I see what you mean." he says looking sheepish. Then. Peatmoss spots movement over at the pool. Glitzy catches notice of Peat's change in attention. "What? What is it?" he asks. Looking over his shoulder. Peatmoss puts a hoof too Glitzy's muzzle, motioning him to stay quiet.

Slowly Peat creeps closer to Ball Peen's body, still laying down in the shallow water. As he nears the pony, he sees his head is subtly raised high enough to allow him to breathe through his nostrils. Peatmoss frowns as he watches him play dead. Then, inevitably. The pony's tail makes a nervous flick. Revealing him, to actually be a her. Peatmoss scrunches his muzzle as Ballpeen gives a squeak of a whimper, and loses control. Letting out a yellow stream of fear from her trembling marehood. He turns his head to look away, and sees Glitzy standing beside him. Gawking in open mouthed, wide eyed fascination at her exposure.

"Glitzy!" Peatmoss admonishes. Shoving the young colt's head with his hoof.

"Sorry." he says looking away. His face getting even more bright red. There's a splash and Peat looks back to see Ballpeen on her hooves and backing up against the far wall. Face as white as a sheet. They stare at each other for a few seconds, before she starts sliding along the wall till she can bolt for the stairs. Up to a second level, across a rope and wood bridge spanning the water, and out a back exit.

"You're just going to... let her run?" asks Glitzy.

"It's late. I'm tired. And hungry." he mutters wearily. "Let's get back to town."

* * *

The sun is setting when they get out of the mine. With the energetic Glitzy in tow, he doesn't even bother to loot the mine. He's tired, his hoof aches, and his side burns raw with every movement. But he puts on a brave face for the colt. Patiently listening to his perspective of the fight.

"Then! After you trounced them all! It was so cool how you stood there in the sunlight! And shouted that old timey line! "Listen To Me, Oaken, something! I Doth Chew On This Badguy For Thee!"

"What?" asks Peatmoss. Stopping and giving him a confused look.

"Yeah! Don't you remember?" he asks. Bouncing around him.

"Uh. No. No I do not." Peat answers flatly.

"Huh. Maybe it was just my imagination getting away from me." muses Glitzy. Stopping and thinking for a few seconds, before falling into step behind Peatmoss as he slowly trots on.

"Could be." Peat intones. Turning his attention inward. 'What the buck Meadblood? Was what happened back there your doing?' No answer comes. 'What? Is it the silent treatment again?' Glitzy goes rattling on talking about his scrolls and magic stuff that Peatmoss can't understand. So he unconsciously tunes it out. 'Why did you leave me high and dry back there. Only to just take control when you please? Is this going to be a constant thing with you riding in my head?'

'I don't have to answer you.' snorts Meadblood

'Oh yes you do! You're in my head. My rules!'

'Yeah. Keep telling yourself that. Crazy pony.'

'I'm not a crazy pony. I know what you're thinking. And I'm not talking to myself. I'm talking to you, in my head, were you don't belong. Now spill it!'

'Look.' Meadblood sighs. 'I'm here in your head for reasons you cannot even comprehend with your weak pegasus brain. Just ignore me. I'll help if you need it. But don't count on me to fight all your battles for you.'

'No! No freeloading in my head! I want you out! Now!' There's no response. 'Do you hear me?! If you keep doing this, I'm telling everyone I meet that you're in there.'

'Try it. Crazy pony.'

'Don't think I won't. I'll go back to Equestria, turn myself in, and have Celestia herself stick her horn in there and pull you out.'

'No you won't. Everypony will just think you're crazy. And from the looks of it, Glitzy is going to be the first.'

'Leave Glitzy out of this.'

'Fine. Suit yourself. But while you've been arguing with me, he's been trying to get your attention for the past few minutes.'

"What!" asks Peatmoss as he blinks and looks around.

"I said there's something out there Meadblood." says Glitzy. Now trotting very close to Peat. Looking around in fright. Peatmoss stops and looks at the darkening forest as the setting sun casts long dark shadows among the trees and undergrowth. A breeze rushes through the leaves.

"It's just the wind Glitz. No need to act like a scared little-. He eats his words as there's a low predatory growl coming out of the forest. Cutting him off. Glitzy darts under Peatmoss.

"Th-That sounds like a hu-hungry w-wind." the terrified colt whimpers. Peat goes into a defensive stance, seeing something large and dark move swiftly between the bushes.

"Do you know any defensive spells?" he asks the colt in a low whisper, as he watches the bushes.

"No."

"Then just use your flash magic on whatever comes out. It dazzled me. It'll probably work on any monsters."

"Ok."

Peatmoss slowly advances, regretting not at least picking up the ax or spear he had gotten in the mine. The bush rustles and out leaps a roaring animal. Instinct takes hold of him and he throws up his shield hoof. Bashing the snarling beast across the muzzle. Stopping it's lunge dead. Caught up In his blind rush, he surges forward and shoves the animal onto it's back with his shield. Jumping up on top of it, pinning it to the ground beneath him. Stomping the purple muzzled face relentlessly. But it's feral sounds turn into giggles and snorts as it playfully begs him to stop. Trying to fend off his stomping hooves with it's own.

"Stop et! Stop et, ya featha back. It's onley me already. Ha ha ha." With her filly-ish protests, the blind fight instinct begins to fade, as he recognizes the Mighty Helm filly beneath him. His hooves getting bruised on the ridgid iron helmet, while she bats back at him playfully.

"Axhaft?! What the Hay!" he shouts down at her. Battling against the adrenaline pumping through his veins, to stop before he hurts her more. Lightening his blows. "What were you thinking? Skulking around in the bushes like that!" She just grins up at him past her bloodied muzzle, as he finally succeeds in stopping. Like it was just some foalish prank to her. Despite the dribbles of fresh blood from her nose, he notices she's wearing dark streaks of paint over her face. Like some kind of camo. "I could have killed you if I was armed!" he finishes with a reproachful growl, scowling down at her.

"Hah! That'd be tha day." she snorts. Then hocks a bloody luger up at him.

"Ah!" he cries in disgust. Stumbling back off her. "Really?! You're so gross." Peat tries to brush the slimy goo off his chest, but it only smears. Leaving a gooey red stain on his already soiled yellow sash. He eyes her warily as she rolls over and gets to her hooves laughing.

"Ho ho! Ye shoulda seen yer face hahaha. Ya woulda thought it was funny too."

"What are you doing here?" he asks bluntly, giving up on trying to get rid of the smear.

"Lookin fer yer dumb plot." she says finally. Her giggles subsiding.

"Really? what for?" Peat asks. Giving her his full attention.

"Ba hahaha!" Axhaft bursts out in laughter anew. "Macy! Heh! Check oot this pony. Thinks the whole realm revolves round im. Haha." Peat frowns and looks away in annoyance, tiring of her antics. "Ahh. Get yer ed oot from under yer tail. Ye daft Git. Yer shite still stinks like all oh the rest oh us. Heh heh. Eh?" She stops when she notices Macehead is nowhere in sight. "Oy! Macehead! come out already. the ambush is ova." The sound of movement draws their attention as Mace head stands up and glares at Peatmoss. Also wearing face paint camo.

"So why are you really here?" Peatmoss asks Axhaft. His weariness showing on his face.

"Oh, wouldn't ya like ta know." she answers with an obviously baiting tone.

"Alright fine. Keep your secrets. Now, if you're done distracting me, I'm just going to keep trotting."

"What?" she asks. Stepping into his path to block him. "Ye still sore bout us kickin' ya ta the cobbles huh?"

"No." he answers with a glare. "You made it clear I wasn't needed, or welcome. So I moved on to better things."

"What da ya mean? "better things." she presses. Narrowing her eyes and stepping into his path again. Stopping him with a poke to the chest.

"Don't do that." Peat warns in a low tone.

"Do, what?" she asks with a nasty grin blossoming on her face. Punctuating each word with another poke.

"Are you trying to pick another fight with me?" he asks. Flaring his wings in anger. Ax puts on an innocent air as she goes on poking.

"Ah, have, no, I, dea, what, ya're," But suddenly, before he can mash her in the face with another hoof punch, Macehead shoves himself between them.

"We're on ah job in the area." he explains. shooting a glare at Axhaft. who stumbles back scrunching her muzzle foalishly in annoyance at him for defusing the situation. "Ax ear was gettin on everypony's nerves. An Tin Horn said, If she's gonna be pickin fights, she should do it while maken money. So we're out cleanen up some ole contracts."

"Wait. Who are these ponies? Glitzy asks in confusion as he looks between Ax and Mace. "Are they like, native tribal ponies or something?"

"Something like that." replies Peat in annoyance at himself. Realizing he just let Axhaft know what gets under his skin. "They're the Mighty Helms of-"

"The Mighty Helms?" interrupts the young colt. "The! Mighty Helms?! Oh My Goddess! I've read so much about you! Can I, can I get your autographs?!" he gushes. Digging out a pencil and notebook and holding it up to her face. Axhaft leans over to look around the notebook at him for a few seconds, then ignores him.

"Oo's the pointy eaded sun spot?" she asks Peatmoss. "Ya a foalsitta er somthin now?" Before he can answer, she goes on with her teasing. "Tha big important Pegasus Thane, (snicker) now reduced ta a simple nurse mare? Haha."

"Wait. Are you ponies friends?" Glitzy asks. Floating the notebook over to Macehead instead, who relents and writes his name.

"As friendly as you can be with a Badang." answers Peat with a roll of his eyes.

"What's a Badang?" Glitzy and Axhaft ask in unison as Peatmoss moves to leave.

"A small spiky plant seed that sticks into your hoof, if you step on them at the beach. And are a real pain to pull out." he answers. Making to trot on.

"Hey!" shouts Axhaft angrily. Moving over to block his way yet again. "Ya think ya jus gonna trot off afta talkin about me like that? Ya filthy stinkin sky skeeva!" She pokes him hard in the chest again. Punctuating her last three syllables.

"HEY!" shouts Glitzy. Suddenly getting up into Ax's muzzle before Peat can lose his temper again. If it wasn't for the tip of his horn, she'd be taller then him. "That's not a nice thing to call a pegasus! Even if you are a Mighty Helm, that's no way to talk to ponies! Don't you know who this is?!" Axhaft glares at the young colt for a few seconds before pushing him away.

"Yer jus jealous aren't ya?" she continues. Ignoring Glitzy's rebuke. The roadapple eating grin reappearing. "The big important Thane oh Gallops Hill, doin an escort job. Meanwhile, the two oh us are off ta do real pony work, an stomp a brigand camp." she boasts. Casually polishing some rust off her ironshod hoof on her chest. "Muss really burn ye up."

"Oh yeah!" pipes up Glitzy on Peat's behalf. "Meadblood just got done with stomping the feathers out of-." Peatmoss's hoof shoots out and plugs the unicorn's mouth. Interrupting him. Peat's calm returning.

"That's right. I, Meadblood, humble Thane of Gallops Hold, is escorting this young pony to town. After rescuing him from a bunch of foalnappers. While the great, Mighty Helm, earth pony grunts, do the dirty work."

"It's better than changing swaddles, and wipen foal's muzzles!" snaps back Axhaft with disdain.

"Then I won't detain you any further. Best of luck to you. Good evening." Peatmoss finishes. With a flutter of his wings, he trots right over top of Axhaft. She, ducking instinctively, accidentally allows Peatmoss the opportunity to step on her as he does. Her pupils shrink to pinpricks in realization and rage at his action.

"That's it!" she shouts. Spinning around as Peat trots away. "I'm gonna rip yar edd off. An stuff it up yer tail pipe! Arg! Raa! Macehead! Lae go!" He glances back over his withers to see her struggling helplessly, wrapped up in Macehead's hooves in a big bearhug. "Let go oh me Icebrain! Am gonna make his hide inta ah seat cushion!"

Glitzy hurries to catch up. Glancing back every now and again at the two, as distance makes Ax's ranting incoherent insults, less and less intelligible.

* * *

It was twilight when the two of them arrived at Riverdale. The candle lanterns were lit along the street as Peatmoss plodded to the Woodlyn Trader shop. Glitzy oo-ing and ah-ing at everything he sees around the small town. Unfortunately Peat finds the shop door locked, and Mr Abirdy nowhere to be found.

"Welp." concludes Peat. "Looks as if I'll need to wait till morning to collect for the job. So it looks like this is it for us."

"What?" asks Glitzy in confusion. "You're leaving?"

"Those brigands I saved you from. I had a deal with the shop keeper to get rid of them. Since it looks like I won't get to speak with him till he opens tomorrow, I'm going to find some food and a place to sleep till then. Depending on what I learn from him, I don't know where I'll be heading next." he concludes. Giving a glance around the cobblestone street before slowly trotting on. "You got money right?" he asks after a few seconds. Looking towards the colt's saddlebags.

"Yeah. Why?"

"I think that's the tavern over there." Peat points out with a hoof. "You can get food and rest there till, whenever you leave. Or whatever."

"Oh. Ok." Glitzy says with a touch of uncertainty. Looking towards the inviting tavern door. "Where are you going, to, stay..." He starts to say as he looks back to Peatmoss, but falters when he finds himself alone in the street. Glancing around in confusion, he soon hears a rustling sound from beyond a stone wall at the river side of the street. Trotting over, he hooks his hooves over it and finds Peatmoss with his head down in the overgrown grass and dandelions. Eating said flora. "Wha-? What are you doing?"

"Grazing. What does it look like?" Peat answers casually. Munching down on a mouthful of the wirey and tuff, unappetizing plants.

"But, the tavern is right over there!" Glitzy exclaims in confusion. "Why graze?"

"Yeah." he says. Taking a second to choke down a mouthful before explaining. "I'm dirt poor right now. The grass is free and nutritious. I've got a river right over there full of all-you-can-drink water. And I'll probably be able to find a cloud somewhere close to sleep on till morning."

"But. But." sputters Glitzy. Looking between Peatmoss and the tavern.

"You go on and enjoy yourself and don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

"No! No, it's not right for me to leave you out in the cold with nothing but grass and water. I insist you come with me inside."

"No!" asserts Peat. "I'm telling you I'll be just fine. It's not the first time I had to sleep under the stars. And it probably won't be the last. I'm no moocher."

"Come on. You're coming with me whether you like it or not." Glitzy demands. Coming around the wall to shove ineffectually against Peat's chest, trying to push him towards the tavern. "Stop, being, a stubborn, horse and, move." Peatmoss sighs and picks up the colt, setting him down on the other side of the wall.

"No. you are a young colt that has a lot to learn about life in Crown. If you go spending your money on everypony else, you're going to get yourself into big trouble. Now go get something to eat and get some sleep."

"I can't. I just can't leave you out here alone. Please come." Glitzy begs. Verging on tears.

"Why can't you? Why are you so set on letting me spend your bits?"

"You, you saved me from those, mean griffins. They were about to cut me up into little pieces. They kept telling me, if I didn't do what they said, they were going to make me into Sausages. An, and eat me. If you hadn't come along, I would have died. And you got hurt really bad. You're my friend. Won't you at least let me thank you?" Peatmoss's heart broke for the little colt's suffering. So he gave in with a sigh.

"Alright. Ok. I'm sorry I was so rude in refusing your gift." Peat says. Coming over and patting Glitzy's shoulder with his hoof. "I was busy thinking about other dumb stuff. Will you forgive me?" Glitzy nods as he wipes his eyes. Then suddenly throws his hooves around Peatmoss in a hug. Again, Peat stiffens on instinct, but quickly relaxes himself and gently returns the hug.

Stepping into the tavern, they find it to be a long hall with stonework floor and walls. Several wood posts line the sides, holding up a high, wood and thatch roof. In the center of the hall is a big fire pit with a slat metal grill. On it is a plethora of vegetables cooking.

Sliced gord, halved potatoes, carrots celery and onions. They are tended by a mare, rubbing them in spices, and drizzling an appetizing sauce over it all. Filling the air with a mouthwatering aroma. At one end of the hall is a earthpony bard, beating out a rhythmic beat on a drum. And at the far end is a counter tended by a bearded pony.

Along the opposite wall from the entrance, is a row of tables. Occupied by a group of five, rough looking ponies talking to one another. Three are armored in iron, one, a unicorn in leather, and the last is wearing a scrap set of furs. Similar to what the brigands from the mine were wearing. Ignoring them, Peatmoss instead eyes the cooking vegetables as he trots towards the counter.

"Wow." comments Glitzy aloud. "There's a bunch of tuff looking ponies in here. I wonder if there's going to be a tavern brawl tonight." Peatmoss stops dead in his tracks. Grimacing as the hall falls silent. Everypony turning their attention on the two of them. Peatmoss shoots his companion a glare. "What?" Glitzy asks obliviously.

"Don't say stuff like that." intones Peat in irritation. "I've had enough fighting for one day. And I'd like to take a break." Ignoring the stares, he trots up to the counter and addresses the pony tending it. "Hi there. My friend here is buying me food and a drink. What da ya got for cheap?" The tavern pony stares at him for a second before turning his head to look at a copy of Mr Evergreen's wanted post. He looks back at Peat, then back at the paper. "Are you selling food here or what?" Peatmoss asks in irritation. The tavern pony just puts a cast iron pot over his head and sinks into cover behind the counter, as Peat hears heavy hooffalls approach from behind.

"Hey you! Pegasus. You're the pony responsible for what happened to Mr Evergreen's son. Right?" Peatmoss gives a long, tired sigh, as he turns to see the three iron armored ponies standing behind him.

"Yeah." answers Peat weirily. "I tried my best to avoid it. But in the end, he gave me no choice."

"We don't care about any of that." says pony number one.

"Yeah. We're just here to teach you a lesson." says number two.

"We're going to beat the stallion out of you. Pillow stuffer." says pony three. Mashing his forehooves together in an intimidating manner.

"Alright. Look guys." reasons Peatmoss. Glancing around the hall. "This looks to be a pretty nice place here. Mind if we take this outside to reduce the damage?"

"Please do that." pleads the tavern pony cowering behind the counter.

"And give you the opportunity to fly off?" shouts pony one. Hooking Peat by the collar of his armored coat. "Not a Chance!" With that, he mashes his iron shod forehoof hard into Peatmoss's snout. Peat clamps his hooves to his muzzle as he slumps to his rump. Stars bursting in his vision, and blood flooding his senses. Glitzy tries to get between them, shouting something. But he is shoved away as the three close around Peat.

Suddenly, the tavern door slams open and everypony looks to see a bronze clad pony come tromping through the doorway. Peatmoss blinks his watering eyes as he recognizes the pony from the Jarl's Keep. The one that confronted the Court Mage after she'd accidentally yanked him onto his hoof earlier that afternoon. The three jump back in surprise as the big bronze pony trots quickly up to Peatmoss.

"My Thane! Are you alright?" asks the pony in a strange, echoing voice. Helping him to his hooves.

"Hey buddy!" says armored pony one. Kicking at the bronze pony's heavily clad rump. "This sky skeever is our mark!" The big bronze pony ignores him and produces a healing potion.

"Here. Drink this." it commands. Peatmoss readily takes it and drinks.

"Hey!" shouts armored pony two. "Don't give him that!"

"This Pegasus pony is Thane of Gallops Hill." shouts the bronze pony. Turning to address the three. "Leave his presence at once! Or suffer the consequences of this assault!"

"Pound gravel! Fatso!" spits pony one. "We're from the Mercenaries Guild. And he's our mark."

"Yeah!" chimes in pony two. Drawing an iron mace. "We don't care who's rump he licks. We're dropping him like shit in a ditch!"

"So hit the cobbles before that fancy armor of yours gets smashed!" growls number three. Pulling out a short warhammer. The bard changes his drum beat to a battle tempo as the mare tending the fire pit moves away to a safe distance. The two other patrons just turn in their seats with interest to watch.

"I ask your leave to see these horse knaves off my Thane?" asks the bronze pony over their shoulder. Peatmoss manages a nod as he stops up his nostrils.

"No objections here. Just, try not to wreck the place?"

The magic potion sends a tingling feeling through him as the flow of blood ebbs. Peatmoss wiggles his snout between his hooves when he hears a crackling sound through his skull. The strong potion doing its job knitting his nose back up. He wipes the drying blood away on his sleeve as he turns away from the crashing of metal filling the hall. Content to allow the bronze pony to thrash away with the three merks.

"Hey." he says as he leans over the counter, to knock gently on the pot covered tavern pony's head. "Could I get a mead or something to eat?" The pony wordlessly lifts a mead bottle up to him on a hoof. "Hey thanks. Uh... Glitzy? Could you?" He asks his friend. Who's caught up in watching the bronze pony skillfully take on the three with only their bare armored hooves.

"Huh? Oh yeah." Glitzy answers distractedly. Floating out a bag of gold in his magic and setting it on the counter. Pulling the stopper out of the bottle's top with his teeth, Peatmoss takes a big gulp of the warming golden joy. The sweet alcoholic drink washing out the medicinal bitterness from the health potion. Settling onto a cushioned stool at the counter, he relaxes into a doze. Allowing himself to be carried away in the embrace of honey bliss.

* Level up *

[Peatmoss]

Health increase +10.

perk increased (Unarmed combat).
(Winged hoofstyle 2/3). Increased damage in combat when wielding just your hooves and wings. +50%

Quest perk added (Very Important Pony)
Your positive actions in Gallops Hold has gained you the title of Thane. You are more likely to be recognized throughout the hold for your deeds. For better or for worse.

forward

Long ago atop the world of Eques, the three pony tribes were birthed upon the land by the Great Creators.

The Pegasus Ponies, orchestrators of the arts and stewards of weather.

The Earth Ponies, forgers of stone and stewards of plant life.

The Unicorn Ponies, scribes of magic and rulers of the expanse.

Together, they maintained the order of their land, The Crown of Eques.

But one day, discontentment took root and resentment grew.

The Earth Ponies became selfish. Why should they sweat and toil every spring, summer, and fall. Every year. Only to give up third of their hard earned produce, too the Pegasi. Who do nought but sing and dance, all day long. And another third too the Unicorns. Who sit around playing with their magic, and reading their dusty old books.

The Pegasi Ponies became arrogant. For it was their blood and pain their race gave too fight off monsters and griffin raiders. To rearrange the clouds every day, and entertain the boorish Earth Ponies and snooty Unicorns.

And the Unicorns turned Haughty. Anything the Earth, or Pegasus ponies could do, a Unicorn's magic could do just as good, or better. The Pegasi's songs and dances were rife with crude and drab humer. The Earth ponies were dirty and smelly from the fields. And were ever they wondered, they always tracked filth and muck. Not caring for cleanliness and health of others.

So resentment continued to grow and fester. The three pony races came to hate the rolls they played for the good of their fellow Equines, and their hearts waxed cold.

Thru their hatred, the Windigos were born. Creatures of woe who fed on the scorn, and wove their icy magic into the winds, earth, and stone.

Despite the warm spring sun, the cold winds bit down hard on the fragile sprouts. The new crops withered and died despite all the skills the Earth ponies could muster. They grew furious at the Pegasi for not tending the skies. The Pegasi blamed the Unicorns for tainting the winds with troublesome magic, that thwarted their every attempt to wrangle the skies to their will. And the Unicorns starved.

Every new day of the year, compounded their resentment and hatred towards one another. So with every day, the snows piled higher and higher.

The Alicorn Goddess, High Empress of pony kind closed the book, and held it up to display it to her lone spectator.

"A Harthswarming tale." she said. Reading the title to the pony sitting at the table across from her. "Are you familiar with this story?"

The unicorn stallion, a veteran general with a tan coat and bright red mane and sideburns, lowered the teacup from his lips to regard the gilded tome. He wore a clean cut royal purple uniform. The stark white facings free of stains, every thread of gold trim in it's place, and every button polished to a near mirror finish, spoke of his regimental prowess.

"A Harthswarming tale" he answered in an even tone. Setting his cup on it's saucer before him with nery a clink. "Every foal from their first winter has heard that story your highness." He gave a polite smile as he turned his eyes to her. "I had never have guessed that you would call me away from my duties to celebrate Harthswarming. After all you are nearly ten months to early." She gave a polite chuckle at his quip

"No. Not at all my dear Hud." she said as she set the book squarely on the table between them. "It is not for the holiday for which I have called you here today. It is instead, the lesson held with in, I wish to address." He regards the book again, thinking on her words for a few seconds before replying.

"I am sorry your highness, but the book has been in print for over a thousand years. A revision of it now would be"

"The book is nothing." she cuts in flatly. "This Tale is more than words on a page. It contains a historical account of our ancestral origin. A saga of warning." she stats. Punctuating her words with taps of her hoof on the cover. The general quickly picks up on the seriousness of her words and takes another sip of his tea. Chewing over them carefully before answering.

"You believe Equestria is in danger of falling into disharmony?"

"Not imminently, no. But in a roundabout way, it is in danger." Taking up a scroll from her side, she passes it too him as she elaborates.

"I have received corespondents earlier this morning with disturbing news. The Prince's motographer has detected rising levels of unnatural thermal magic within the borders of the Crown." General Hud scans over the letter as she summarizes it's content.

"If my memory serves me right, the Crown is as of yet sparsely populated. Is it not still under Griffin rule? And what has the Prince have to do in all this" he asked

"Precisely what I thought when I received it. But then," she paused, and he caught a slight blush of shame as she floated out a forged iron tube with a security lock on it. "I remembered I had received this mid last year."

Undoing the lock, she slid out a strange looking scroll and passed it to him. Taking it in his magic, he inspected it carefully.

It was about three inches longer than the standard scroll. The parchment it was made from, was thicker than the usual equestrian paper. Almost twice the thickness of canvas cloth. The ribbon attached to the wax seal, was made from a fine weave of silver and gold wire. The seal, which had been broken, bore a griffin crest. Pictured there, was an image of a griffin. It's wings were outstretched with it's feathers pointing down. In it's right claw it held a scimitar, and in the left, a bundle of arrows.

Opening it, he beheld a flowing elegant script. The bottom of most letters ending in sharp swoops. It felt loose in his telekinesis, like cloth, but with a denser weight. The color was a motaled white, tapering to light brown at it's uneven edges.

"It's sheepskin, or goat. I'm not sure which." she told him. Noting his fascination with the material. Upon hearing her statement, he jerked his face away from it with a grimace.

"Um. I'm afraid I'm, ahem, not familiar with this script. what does it say?"

"Neither am I. But between my sister and my protosha, we have deciphered most of it. We believe it to be an ancient griffin tongue. Something to the effect of, "Rising of the equins from the make of ice and snow. Chill winds come with the beating of many hooves, to make war on the hearts of the ancients. Of unity, to build the pyres upon pinnacle of Crown."

"Well that's helpful." Hud said with a frown of confusion.

"Hum, Yes. I believe it's not important how the sentences are structured that's important. But the meaning behind them. Shall I demonstrate?" she asked, gesturing with her horn.

"Please do." Hud said, handing the scroll back to her telekinetic grip. Laying it out on top of the book in the center of the table. The Empress waves her horn across the words, causing them to glitter and sparkle to life. Hud watches in fascination as they shine up, projecting an ethereal three dimensional model of the Crown. A ring of mountain ranges, coming to peaks at the four corners. To the east of center, a mountain rises like a spire.

leaning in, he sees rendered in fine detail roads and rivers. Cities and hamlets. Then he sees a bright blue figure galloping in slow circles around the tall mountain in the center.

"Is this!?" he asks, looking up to her.

"A tracking spell? Yes. This scroll is a griffin technique to allow non unicorns to cast spells on demand. It is a different, yet somewhat similar way we use here in equestria to record spells. It was my sister who recognized the nature of it. Her memories of these ancient things are, hum," she paused to pick her words carefully. "fresher then mine."

"So then, this suggests the windigos are returning." his face gives a dour look as he regards the tiny equine galloping through the air.

"I believe so. Upon hearing this, I despatched the Prince to investigate." Hud cast a questioning look at her. "I know he is difficult to deal with on a personal level, but he has a talent to navigate the political and bureaucratic jungle in ways that even I can't fathom. Ever since he arrived, he has sent back reports of the political climate there." The general takes another sip of his tea as she floats out a bundle of scrolls.

"In these," she continues, indicating the bundle. "he informs me that a civil war has erupted in the land. A faction calling themselves stormwings, lead by a griffin named Balgriff, have started an open revolt against the established ruling class. This is believed to be the root of the rising resentment within the Crown."

"And this is were I come in?" Hud asked. As he poured himself another cup of tea.

"You are the sharpest sword in my armory." she answered with a nod. "I want you to take the army and end this revolt." she looked down at her cup and idly pushed the handle about with her hoof.

"As your premier military advisor, I must tell you that this move would be a mistake. The griffins are creatures of honor. An invasion force of that size would"

"In no way are you to present yourself in a conquering force." she cut in with a desperate look. "Go to the King, present yourself too him, and follow his commands as you would my own. If you are able to bolster his security, their kingdom will stabilize."

"If you are looking to bring harmony, then surely the Bearers of the elements,"

"No! I can't," she starts. Then takes a calming breath and continues. "She is too young to see the brutality of that land. She isn't ready yet."

"Then what about your sister?" he offered. "You yourself have said she is more familiar with the ancient traditions."

"My sister has only just returned. Her body has been healed, but I fear to send her away would prove too harsh a test for her scars. And my last student I fear is lost forever beyond the looking glass."

"Hm. The army is too big a force."

"General Hud. I feel that I must show a strong hoof. I need to demonstrate my concern for the outcome of this war." she said. Placing both of her hooves on the table to demonstrate her determination.

"And what of their duties they are currently dealing with? don't forget the minor insurrection that was resolved just a year ago. There's also the Empire's seal weakening. The changeling incision. Two regiments should suffice."

"I can't respond with anything less than seven." she retorted taking a sip at her tea. She stopped mid sip and added a cube of sugar.

"Three." he countered "Plus two squads of the new Buccaneers."

"Four." she hit back. Adding three more cubes to her tea. "Plus the entire Buccaneer regiment, and three contingents of Hussar Paladins." He watched with a frown as she continued to add sugar cubes.

"Four. One being the Buccaneers, and The Hussars." he finished with finality. Clapping his hoof down on the sugar jar. She stuck her bottom lip out in a pout.

"And three artillery crews?" she pleaded with a hopeful smile. He slid the sugar out of sight with a sigh.

"Your personal feelings about the royal beverage aside. No. It's too dangerous to carry them over the mountains."

"Use our airships then." she said crossing her forehooves. "I'm not budging on this. I'll have your second consolidate the rest of the army. You trust him don't you?" he thought for a few seconds, rubbing his chin. Then smiled an nodded in consent.

"It will take me a day to read over these, and requisition supplies." he said as he floated over the bundle of reports. "But I believe that I'll be able to leave before the end of the week."

Standing, he gave a bow and asked "By your leave your highness?" she answered him with a nod.

"Take this with you. You may need it." she said, rolling up the griffin scroll and slipping it back into it's canister. "It may prove useful." Taking it, he trots to the door. Turns and bows one last time before exiting the room.

Turning her attention back to the melting mound of tea-soked sugar, she pokes at it idly with her spoon. Taking a scoop, she pops it into her mouth and chews for a few seconds. Frowning, she jabs the spoon upright into the mound and pushes it away with her hoof.

looking out the window, her horn sparkles to light. The teapot grows hot and the room fills with a floral smell. Steam blows out of the spout as the tea boils away. Reducing to a brown stain, the pot is left to be mourned over by none. Save for the maid sent to retrieve the teaset.

interlude

University of Magnus.

Wyvernwax crushes up an indistinguishable chunk of blue stone in his mortar and pestle. Once powdered finely enough, he spoons out some onto a scale. carefully measuring it out till the scale levels out perfectly. Taking the pan, he floats it over to a flask of pinkish liquid and dumps it in. Inserting a glass mixing rod, he stirs vigorously till it turns a lemon yellow. Finally he takes a eyedropper and collects a sample of the extract he made earlier and carefully adds one drop to the flask. Wyvernwax watches attentively as it swirls with blue ribbons and begins to sparkle and glimmer.

Taking up a quill, he begins to jot down notes, as behind him, appears a magical glow. Glittering and flashing, and with a golden light, there's a pop of teleportation magic. And there appears the Sun-Goddess herself, Celestia of Equestria, facing the opposite direction.

Wyvernwax glances over his shoulder for a moment in annoyance. But before Celestia notices him, he returns to his work. Looking this way and that, she finally spots him.

"Oh! Wyvernwax! I'm sorry. I didn't know you would be here." she remarks, acting surprised. She didn't fool Wyvernwax in the slightest.

"And where else would I be?" he asks with distain. Not bothering to pay her any attention.

"Well, um, you're usually out when I come over to visit. And I normally have to leave a message with your familiar."

"Hmm." he muses in fain sympathy. "Yes. It's a shame one of us doesn't have a way of knowing when the other will be out."

"Um, yes." She says sadly before asking. "Where is Soris by the way?"

"He's out. On an errand for me down south near Squirestone. So unfortunately, he will not be available to take my messages for the moment."

"Ah! Of course... So, I was wondering if you had received my scroll?"

"Yes. I did. And after ten precious minutes of reading your long-winded drivel, you finally got to the point."

"Ah. That's, good. And your answer is..?"

"No."

"No?" she asks with a frown. "And why not?" He stops writing with a sigh.

"Because, your Majesty." he begins to explain as he turns to her. "Number one, as immortals, we are never to interfere with the fates of the mortal realm. We've all sworn the oath. You know the rules, and so do I. Number two, this is the Creator's story. The Elder Alicorn's pet project. We happy few are just along for the ride. Number three, it goes against the founding principles of the High Magic Counsel. A Guild, You, set-up by the way. Not that I'm complaining of course. It leaves me more time to get research done. Number four, and finally, I'm very busy. There. You got your answer. Now, if you don't mind seeing yourself out. Leave me in peace to complete my work." With that, he turns back to his chemistry set and adds another drop to his flask.

Celestia stares at the back of his head in disappointment for a few minutes. Then, a plan forms in her head, and she casually walks up behind him to watch him over his shoulder. Sencing her presents, he tries to ignore her for a time. But with her head hovering over his, her greater stature giving her a bird's eye view of his work station, makes her presents unbearable.

"Do you mind?" he asks. looking up at her with distain.

"Still trying to figure out the Alicorn formula I see."

"Of course! It's my life's work. And no matter how cold it gets, I'm going to figure it out. For Lauren's sake." he snaps. Resolute to on ignoring her, he goes back to experimenting.

"Your burner is a little too hot." she advised after a few minutes.

"Oh thanks. Shoulder alchemist." he growls. Turning back the flame. "I can manage my own instruments. If you please."

"Ok I understand." She placates. Stepping away to leave. "I just thought I'd be nice and help guide a friend to reach his goal. I know I would've back before getting it right."

"Oh please. I've been trying to get it right for centuries. How can you possibly know what I've tried already. It's not as if, you, know... Wait. You..." He looks at her, then back at his work station. Then back too her. "You! You've already figured it out! Haven't you!" he shouts. spinning around and jabbing a hoof in her direction.

"Hmmm. I didn't say anything like that." she says with all the innocence of a crumb coated foal, holding an empty cookie jar.

"You did! Didn't you! And never told me?! Gaaa!" turning back around, he slams his head repeatedly into his notebook. "Of course you would. You oversized, over powered, freak of nature!"

"I'm sorry Wyvernwax. It's just so much easier to understand and solve when you're, you know."

"Ok, fine." he says as he takes a deep breath and turns back to her. "Are you going to tell me now?"

"Oh, sorry. No can do." she answers. Grimacing sympathetically. "It's part of the Alchemist's Code. Once you understand, you must never reveal it to the uninitiated. Such an action could cause the world to explode."

"Nooo!" he cries too the rafters as he falls to the floor and sobs. "I, have tried, soo many combinations, and methods. I've been driving myself, up the wall, to understand it all, and have nothing to show for it, after all these years."

"Aw. There there Redwax." she comforted. Patting his withers as he sobs into his hooves. "Don't give up hope. You'll get it eventually."

"You don't know that." he cries. Tears streaming from his eyes. "I, have been trying, for hundreds of years. How do I know, if I'm not, going in circles."

"Well. I know Starswirl was working on it before he disappeared. Have you read his books of magical thesis?"

"Starswirl?" he asks "Starswirl!?!" he shouts as he leaps to his hooves in manic outrage. "Don't get me started on that, Mad Stallion! Have you read all his works?! I have! I had to search for his scattered writings from one end of Crown to the other, just to start with. And let me tell you! He was either suffering from obsessive compulsion, or out of his head crazy." Lighting his horn, he floated out six volumes of books from a shelf and spun them over his head manicaly. "Half the time he's just going off on a tangent about his own wild theories. It's so bad, even I'm beginning to believe the rumors he was just an earthpony mare with a fake horn and beard, who just spouted magic mumbojumbo to fool everypony. And I met the stallion!"

"I am sorry Redwax, but my hooves are tied. You know the rules, and so do I. The only way to know the Alicorn formula, is to understand and experience the process of the discovery. Otherwise, I would be steeling a once in a lifetime experience of enlightenment from you."

"Gaaa!" he shouts in frustration and despair. "Haven't I sacrificed enough?! What use is this this life if I never uncover it's secrets in a hundred lifetimes?" Throwing the books away, he falls on his back and Kicks his hooves at the air. Celestia sadly shakes her head.

After a few seconds, he tires and rolls onto his side. Pulling out a pocket watch from his robes, he stares at it's motionless face. Pondering the pros and cons of setting it in motion once again.

"I'll tell you what." Celestia offers. "You tell me what you've seen through your Auger ability, and I'll give you a critique of your progress." Wyvernwax shoves the watch back into his robes and gives her a suspicious look. "It can't be anything substantial mind you. But It'll be better then nothing." Chewing her words over for a few seconds, he then rises to his hooves.

"Ok. But I want you to do the wizards pledge to seal the deal." Celestia smiles and rolls her eyes as she assumes the position. Both of them puting their right hooves against each-other's and raising their left hoof.

"I, Princess Celestia of Equestria, do solomely sware to give Wyvern Redwax an honest critique of his project."

"And I, Arch mage Wyvern Redwax, of the University of Magnus, do solomely sware to divulge my knowledge of the impending Windigo disaster." After that a ball of light appears at the tips of their horns.

"Now then, what have you seen.?" asks Celestia. lowering her hooves.

"I've seen the three Heralds of Rainbow. A unicorn, my personal student, An Earthpony of Crown, and a Pegasus from Equestria. My student I have already sent too Gallops Hill to meet with the other two. The Earthpony and Pegasus have already met in Squirestone and will head to Gallops Hill. There, I believe they will fulfill the proficy and summon the Rainbow Warrior to drive off the Windigos again."

"Ah." sighs Celestia. Putting a hoof to her chest. "That's a relief to hear."

"Yes well. Don't be too confident." reminds Wyvernwax. "My Augery is only just so. Wether or not they succeed in their quest is up to them. Though I'm confident it will not be on account of my pupil. Let's hope your equestrian pony is up to the challenge. And the Earthpony of Crown is sure to be the toughest of the three."

The magic ball at the tip of his horn pulses, and rises to float over his head to signify his fulfillment of the agreement. Noticing it, Wyvernwax turns a smug look on Celestia. She huffs and goes to his work station as he floats out stacks of notes to tower before her. Sitting down, she begins to read page after page. After an hour she lays down the last paper. Getting to her hooves, she stretched and groaned, causing Wyvernwax to stir from his sleepy stuper.

"Ahem. Well?" he asks in anticipation.

"Well. After a thorough read over your notes, I can definitely say..." he leans forward in hopeful excitement. "You are definitely, on the right track." she finishes with a boop to his snoot. He stares at her, flabbergasted, as the ball of light detaches from her horn and floats over her head.

"That's all you can say?" She just answers him with an apologetic smile. He sags forlornly.

"Don't give up hope Redwax. I also think you should reread Starswirl's writings," she pauses as she gathers up the valumes and carefully restacks them. "in this order. Perhaps you may find them in a more coherent line. Now. shall we conclude the ritual?" After a few seconds, he glances up at the waiting orbs with weary acceptance, and nods. Extending his leg to her, she hooks her own to his as they recite in unison.

"Ring around the rosey, pocket full of posy. Ashes, ashes, we all fall down." As they chant the words, they dance in a circle keeping their hooves locked. Then break, thrusting their hooves in the air twice before falling too their backs out from eachother. Laying on the floor, they both watch as the lights rise and pop like balloons with a snap. A sign of their mutual agreement the pact is complete. Celestia giggles but Wyvernwax just groans as he gets up from the floor to return to his work station.

"One last thing Redwax." says Celestia. Getting up. "I don't think I'd ever have understood if I had stayed in my tower. You need to get out and find some friends." Wyvernwax just snorts in frustration as he cracks open the first book.

"I've tried that. Nopony likes me. Nopony understands me." He is surprised when her hooves wrap around him in a motherly hug.

"I like you. I like all my little ponies." he rolls his eyes in embarrassment at her kind gesture.

"Your Master Baker has just finished her latest endeavor of a perfect pineapple turnover. She will be taking a break out back in seven minutes. Leaving her dozy assistant to guard it."

"Oh my!" exclaims Celestia. jumping to her hooves. "That's not alot of time." glancing around to ensure she's not forgetting anything, she dashes to the center of the room and begins casting her teleportation spell. "So-good to speak with you again Hope to see-you again soon-bye." With a flash of golden light, she disappears.

Wyvernwax huffs and begins to read. After several minutes, his ears twitch, as he hears something big land on the roof. Taking a moment to glance up, he sees bits of dust fall from the ceiling, before looking back to his book. A few seconds later, he hears the latch on the large main window of his tower open. Followed by something big landing on the floor behind him.

"Welcome back Soris. How was your trip down south? Productive I trust."

"Yeah, about that." the dragon replies in a deep voice. "We... may have a problem." Cocking his eye, Wyvernwax turns to the black dragon, over twice his size. And sees, Soris kneeling on the ground. While holding, cradled in his arms, the limp body of Ironbloom. Wyvernwax sucks in air through his teeth at the sight.

"Oh, dear."

***

Cloud Palace. Sweet Haven

A young white griffin, with grey and black markings, and dark grey beak, slowly crawls through a wooden duct that passed between the walls of Cloud Palace. The first time he had done this, he had to push through cobwebs and dead bugs to reach the throne room. But his rich clothes have done a good job at sweeping it clean over the past few years.

Traveling by memory, he reaches the sharp turn that slopes up to the top corner of the Royal Court. He needed to be careful in this stretch. His claws can't slip here, or someone might hear him if he loses control and slides back down. As he makes careful progress, he can hear Gwendolyn angrily yelling at someone. She always scared him when she did that to him. And he was glad she didn't know he did what he was now. She'd probably flip her crown.

"One simple job! And all you can say is sorry?!" she yells. The other's response is too quiet to understand. "I don't care if it was Tirek himself who attacked. You absolute disgrace! Your failure, is making me into a laughing stock all across Crown."

Finally reaching the top of the slope, it levels out just far enough for him to lay somewhat comfortably as he peeks through the wooden-slat vent. It was almost at a good angle to view the room below. He had thought from time to time of removing a slat or two, but he always reminded himself that somegriff may take notice. Mostly listening, he focuses on the proceedings going on below.

Queen Gwendolyn, a light-grey griffin hen with tan accented feathers, paced back and forth in front of the throne as a smaller, black and white griffin respectfully retreated away.

"Fortunately the Prince was able to evacuate safely." states a tan and red unicorn with a purple and gold uniform. "As I am told, he did not suffer any physical harm, but he refuses to leave his chambers. I expect he will be seeing himself off on the next airship bound for the Equestrian capital."

"My dear General Hud." begged The Queen. "You see the incompetence I must deal with? I beg you to reconsider the withdrawal. If you could but lend me-"

"Your highness." he stopped her. "My campaign is complete. I have ended Balgriff's rebellion, put down the barbarian hoard of Bowl, and brought stability to your kingdom. As planned. My ponies are weary and have well earned their return home to their families. Any further action must be approved by her Majesty Celestia. They are her little ponies. This last action you demanded to complete yourself, to prove your legitimacy as the next High Queen of Crown.

"But this dragon's interference! Surely you can understand that-"

"I impressed upon you that you have contingency plans when you started, but it seems my council has gone unheeded."

"But my Lord."

"The withdrawal will proceed as planned. I've seen to it that our security patrols have been shared with your staff, and they are more than capable to take them up as we leave. If you feel incapable to perform your duties to the kingdom, I would suggest you speak with your fellow Jarls. You are not alone. Show good character and unite Crown again. Bury your hatchet with Balgriff. Make peace." After a few minutes of silence in the room, he goes on.

"Yes, your husband is now blind, but he still lives. Abandon your desire for vengeance. The kingdom needs guidance to heal. Especially with the overthrow of the Jarl in Southrim. You do not need another civil war. We have been hear for three years already. I cannot allow the army to be used for every little conflict that arises. The longer we linger here, the more the creatures of Crown will believe you are a puppet of the Equestrian empire.

"I understand my Lord, but if you could leave me but one of your bombard cannons, the dragon-"

"The dragon, acording to my scouts, has already left Squirestone and disappeared into the mountains near the far coast. What it's intentions in the south were, I do not know. Leave the Jarl of Northstar to deal with it. As I understand, Jarl Grimclaw is most pleased with the prospect of hunting it down. That is, if the Hunters of Jaegervale haven't already tracked it down and beat him to it. I expect it will be the prize of their Autumn Hunt festival."

"In eather case, what you need is diplomacy, not cannons. Besides, they are property of her Celestial Majesty and are not mine to give. I have sent a detachment of troupes to the Squirestone ruins to secure them till the Equestrian Foreign Legion arrives. They will be stationed there till the Withdrawal is complete and conduct safe passage to any Equestrian citizens who may need to travel out on hoof. Now, if I have your leave, there is important matters I must attend to." With that, the unicorn bows and leaves the chamber.

"Thanks for nothing." growls Gwendolyn as soon as the doors shut behind him. Slumping into her throne, she gives a weary sigh.

"Just as I told you." says a white black and grey griffin with a long yellow beak, dressed in richly adorned robes. "All high and mighty and full of their own hot air. Now how are you going to get me back my Hold? You promised me you would help if I handed over Balgriff and his loyalists. Now that mud-wallower Blackberry is going to rub her stink all over my Palace. We had a deal!"

"Just shut up a second Gallgriff and let me think!" snaps back Gwendolyn.

"I should have listened to my brother what he said about you." Gallgriff mutters under his breath as he begins to pace the floor. After a few minutes she asks.

"What can you tell me about this Mead-Blood pony?"

"I have no idea! Not any more than what the legends say at least. All I know, is that during the ambush, the town guard claimed he revealed himself by bleeding Mead when they attacked him. It's got to be a lie that that Horse! Blackberry started to rile up the rest of the town's ponies to overthrow me! That's all I heard before an angry mob stormed my Palace and forced me to flee for my life!"

"Then it's your fault for not having more security. Not mine."

"My guards had their claws full making sure my end of the bargain was upheld. How was I to know the Legendary Mead-Blooded was going to show up?!"

"But he wasn't the Mead-Blooded." spoke up the small, black and white griffin. Who immediately regretted it when the two turned angry glares at him.

"What? Did you see him Spindle?" asks Gwendolyn.

"I think so." he replies fearfully. "He, was just a Pegasus. Brown coat, green mane. He escaped through the underground tunnels with the Stormwings."

"This, is... Great News!" exclaims Gwendolyn sitting up in her throne.

"Great?! How can this be great!?" spat Gallgriff angrily.

"Shush-Shush-Shush!" she says. Putting a claw too her beak and bounding up to Gallgriff. Glancing around the room before putting an arm around him conspiratorially. "If we play up this Legendary pony rumor. Convince the General that he's joined up with the Stormwings. He'll have no choice but to stay and help fight. After all, if the Meadblood helps Balgriff, there's no telling how long the war will continue. And the longer it goes on, the more equestrian gold pours into our cauphers."

"But how does that get me back my Palace?"

"Forget your old Palace. You play along, and I'll give you the position of Haven's Harbor Master. Think of it! all the wealth of the kingdom of Crown, flowing right through your claws. Rich equestrian goods. You can have any luxury your heart desires."

"But what about Southrim? If they tell everyone it was a lie-"

"Why would Blackberry tell anyone? It's all been a ploy to get her the Jarlship. With her collaboration, think of the possibilities!" The thought seems to excite Gallgriff as he smiles.

"Harbor Master Gallgriff. Ok. How do we do this?"

"It's not safe to speak here. Come with me to my chambers. We'll discuss it there."

A few minutes after they leave the room, the young griffin, quietly as he can, turns around and heads back the way he came through the vents. It takes about ten minutes to get back to his room where he got in. He climbs out and puts the vent cover back into place, when suddenly a sturn voice speaks up behind him. Causing him to jump in fright.

"Where have you been?" he spins around and sees a tall thin griffin standing there in ornate white painted armor that covers him from head to toe.

"Oh Greyword. It's just you." he sighs in relief. Without another word, Greyword steps up to him and grabs him by his shirt collar. Lifting him off the ground and glaring at him through his helmet visor.

"How many times have I told you to not go sneaking off? I cannot preform my duty to the Prince if you go where I can't follow! What if you get stuck in there? I'd be the only one who may know and they're going to be asking questions when they find me tearing up the walls looking for you!"

"Aw, come on Grey." he answers. crossing his arms as he hangs from his powerful grip. "I've got at least two more winters before I'm to big to fit in there."

"And look at the state of your clothes!" Greyword goes on. Grabbing his arm and twisting it to reveal a fresh hole worn in the elbow. "How am I going to explain to your... 'Mother' how you have destroyed another expensive shirt just sitting, doing school work?"

"Hey. I didn't ask for any of this. It was all the Prince's idea."

"Yes. But the more you mess around, the more likely someone will notice you aren't who they think you are. Then it will be both our heads!" Greyword growls. Carrying him over to the bed and dumping him onto it. "Now get back to your studies."

"Ug." he groaned. picking up one of the books on the bed. "But this stuff is so boring."

"It's what a future leader needs to know."

"But that's not me!" he protests. "I swear, I learn more spying on Court then I do when I'm sitting in Court."

"Why? What did you learn?" Greyword asks. After a few seconds, the little griffin responds.

"I think the Queen is deliberately trying to prolong the war. She was talking about someone called Meadblood."

"The Mead-Blooded?" Greyword asks with a start.

"Yeah. She sounds like she wants to use him like a boogyman. Who is the Meadblood?" Greyword remains silent for a few minutes before answering.

"He was an old Crown legend. Back when the Griffins first invaded, under King Grover the second, he was a leading member of the Mighty Helms. He personally slew the King at the battle of Gallops Hill, and stopped the invasion for several years. But when The King's son, Grover the third, took power, he brought with him a powerful magic artifact called The Golden Griffin's eye. It's said that any Griffin who looks into it, becomes a slave to it's wearer."

"With it, the King forced his army to relentlessly attack the city till it finally fell. The Mead-Blooded managed to escape and flee south. After a time, he returned with a suit of impenetrable armor, and lead the Mighty Helms to slaughter all griffins he found. Freeing the enslaved ponies. And no matter how many soldiers the king threw at him, he could not be slain."

"So the King made a pact with the Weirdsister Hags to get arrows capable of piercing the Mead-Blooded's armor. And so, when they met on the field of battle, Grover the third was able to shoot him till he died."

"So, he's dead then?" asks the griff in confusion. "Why would anyone be scared of a dead pony?"

"Yes. He died. But the King, after expending so many soldiers, went crazy and became known as, Grover the Mad. He demanded that his ruined army to go out and re-subjugate the ponies. But beaten as they were, the newly freed ponies rose up in full revolt against their griffin rulers."

"Facing overwhelming tides of the native population, the Jarls turned on the King and handed him over for their lives. And ever since, it became a cautionary prophecy, that if ever the griffin rulers oppressed the ponies of Crown, The Mead-Blooded would return and finish his terrible vengeance."

"Whoooa!" says the yong griffin. Feeling a chill run up his spine. "What happened to the Magical artifacts? The Eye? The Meadblood's armor? Why aren't they still being used today?"

"The Golden Griffin's eye was such a feared thing, that it was supposedly buried with the Mad King. The Mead-Blooded's armor was separated into pieces, and given out, one too each hold."

"What about the arrows?"

"Somewhere safe I'd imagine!" Greyword snaps. Realizing he had been tricked into being a distraction. "And no concern to a young Prince who needs to learn math!" he finishes with an open handed bop to the young Griffin's head. "Now get back to it or I'll inform your teacher you're ready for another lecture."

***

Woodlyn Trader. Riverdale

Mr Abirdy whistles away as he sweeps the floor of his shop. Gathering up the dirt, he dumps it into a bucket, when he hears the door open. Turning to see a tannish-cream mare with an orange mane enter the shop. Her sharp eyes scan around the room before settling on the bright-golden wing on display behind the counter. Wary of her interest, he moves behind the counter and fixes her with a guarded look.

"Welcome to Woodlyn Trader. How can I help you?" After a few seconds, she casually approaches the counter, glancing around the other items for sale. But Abirdy wasn't fooled by her aloofness.

Finally, she returned her gaze to the wing, then to him. As if recognizing her ploy had failed, she sat and put her hooves on the counter.

"So, how much for the wing?" He casually looks up at the display, then turns back to her.

"That depends." he narrows his eyes as he answers. "How much ya got?" her eyes narrow and her face screws into a grimace. Lightning shooting back and forth between their eyes as they lean in towards one-other. Her hoof slowly moving to her bag as the tension thickens.

* * *

Peatmoss's dreamscape

The Lunar goddess surveyed the grassland before her. The dark clouds that shaded it rumbled as a stiff wind blew. A testament to the pony's unease at the crime he had committed.

Since her return from her exile on the Moon, she had been surprised at the innocence of the kingdom's populace. The ponies of her time, now known as the olden days, had much harder spirits compared to those who now live in her sister's kingdom. Even the hardest criminals of Equestria's urban centers amounted to not much more than financial cheats, petty theft, and assault. The mere sight of her full Nightmare visage would sooner drive them too insanity, then give them a chance of reform.

Of course, murder wasn't completely unheard-of. Most often such guilt of it was from the royal guard, who had turned to family and friends to bolster their spirits. Strengthened in the belief their actions were making society safer for all the good ponies. And for those very few that had shed innocent blood, they were no match for even her more moderate powers. None were even close to a match against her. Only the greatest of villeins from her time had faced her full strength and resisted. The last being her own sister, for which she never intended to ever experience again. Yet still, a hunger to flex her full power, to test her might against a deserving foe, gnawed at her.

This pony, who's dreamscape she now trod, stank of guilt. The smell of blood, not sweet like that of the innocent, nor bitter of the deserving, wafted off him. She had had to plumb far to seek him out, causing her to surmise he was near the edge of the kingdom. Though his soul still glittered with her sister's light, the corpses of his victims haunted him like flies. Deep down, it thrilled her to know that even in her sister's brilliant Kingdom, shadows still lingered.

As she moved forward towards the victim of his first crime, closing in on the source of blood. She felt the desire to rush on past these nightmare apparitions. To find and pounce on the guilty soul and torture his spirit. To rake his mind and expose the rot. To express her full might and dominate his mind. It called to her with sweet whispers, like a drug. But she knew where that road ended. She had travelled it before. She now knows, the true path was one of patience. To assess the pony's motivations, and judge him justly.

As she gets closer, she hears a whinnying voice floating over the wind.

"Can't we all just, get along?" Emerging from the tall grass into a patch that was trampled down, she observes a unicorn wearing leather and chainlink armor sitting alone sorrowfully. A sword protrudes from his chest as he stares vacantly into the distance. "Can't we all just, get along?" he asks again. Repeating in a sad tone, as if knowing the answer.

Stopping a moment to look at him, he ignores her as he repeats the line, continuing to stare at nothing.

"Rest thyself in peace little one." she says as she waves her hoof and the pony disintegrates into dust. Revealing it's self to be only a shadow of the victim.

Turning her eyes to the pool of blood that had been around him, she sees the red hoof prints and follows them on. After a few long strides, the grassland ends and turns to a stony path up a mountain. Reaching the top, she sees a large stone house surrounded by tall stone pillars.

The sound of clacking bones surround her as she draws closer. Then suddenly, a dead griffin in bone decorated clothes drops down to hang in front of her. Merely blinking at the swaying corpse, she regards it's slashed open chest unphased. Such simple jump-scares are mere foal's play to her experience in nightmares.

"Ah, fresh horse." cackls a voice in her ear. She turns her head and sees a griffin, dressed the same as the one hanging before her, appear from behind a pillar with a sword. "Only a leg or two will fit the bill." He swings it at her, but it passes right through her. raising it to strike again, an arrow hits his chest and he stumbles back. Then another hits his head and he collapses to the stony ground. A young griffin then flies up to her with a bow and arrows.

"Thank you Peatmoss. You were a great teacher." He then draws an arrow in his bow and disappears just as he looses it at her. Turning her attention back to the trail of red hoofprints, she follows it to the big doors. Around the arch are inscribed runes that look vaguely familiar, but these ruins are merely the pony's perception of the place, and are as understandable to her as they were to him.

Pulling open the doors, she sees it filled with bones and skulls. Stepping in undeterred, the doorway pulls away behind her as the walls, floor, and ceiling, roll like waves of bones and bloody corpses. The clattering sound fills her ears as she watches, looking for clues in the mass.

Then suddenly, the vale is torn away as an Earthpony stallion appears in dark flames.

"Trespasser! Thou doth not belong here." he growls. She silently regards the apparition. "Art thou def? Leave this dream! And trespass no more!" She blinks and looks around in confusion as she comes to the realization he's talking to her.

"What art thou?" she asks to test him. In response, his black flames flare and she feels an unexpected force strike her bodily. Immediately her eyes snap open and she sits bolt upright in her bed. 'He ejected Us?!' she thinks to herself as she glances around to see she's back in her room at Canterlot Palace. The eyes of the Batpony guard standing at her door briefly look at her before returning to stare forward.

'That wast not a nightmare apparition.' she contemplates to herself. 'It seemest that this, Peat moss, is haunted by more than just nightmares.' Then her lips curl at the thought of a potential challenger. "Sir nocturnal." she addresses the guard. "We may have found thee a worthy foe." The guard simply turns to her and respectfully nods.

Author's Note

I'm going to use Interludes as a world building opertunity. Hopefully fill in gaps and explain miner character motivations. Some of these characters won't ever interact with my protagonists, so I can explain/retcon any plot holes.