Jack sighed as he finished. “And that's what happened.”

Ryder could only shake her head as she took another sip of her tea. She was happy that baby boy was okay. But, to hear what happened to him. To know someone close to him had hurt him. Possibly tried to. She could feel her other half trying to claw its way out of her. It wanted to make that mare pay. That mare had better thank her lucky stars her world was not connected to theirs. Otherwise her and Honey Bee would be on the way. She saw a teapot walk over to her and look up at her. It offered some more tea.

She politely declined. “No, thank you.”

The teapot nodded and walked away. The two continued to talk for a little while longer; after awhile Ryder stood up and exited the home. Before she could head to the first district Jack had given her a ticket to the motel located above the cafe there. She thanked him before leaving. As Jack closed the door he heard a buzzing sound.

He asked himself. “A phone?”

He followed the buzzing sound to the guest room. As he slowly pushed open the door; the buzzing grew a little louder. Thankfully, it wasn't loud enough to wake her or Sparky. But, if it continued it would eventually wake them up. He found the phone on the nearby desk. He figured Hitch had placed it there when he put her in the bed. He picked it up and looked at it's screen. She was getting a call from someone named Pipp. He silenced the phone and looked back at the two. Smiling as he saw them sleep peacefully. He could hear Sparky purring happily as he rested against her. Quietly, he stepped out of the room and back into the living room. After shutting the door the phone started to buzz again.

He answered the phone. “Hello?”

He could only hear static; he managed to hear bits and pieces of a voice. But, the phone was out of range. He ended the call and pulled another card from his pocket. He threw it at the wall and another door appeared. This time it was to his room. He opened the door and walked in. He walked over to his workbench and sat the phone down. The phone kinda looked like their communicator. He wondered if he could? He opened a drawer and pulled out a manual; he opened it to the index and skimmed its page for the page number he needed. When he found the number he turned to its page and studied it. He nodded as he opened another drawer and pulled out a small tool box.

He spoke to himself. “Time to make an upgrade.” He grabbed the phone and placed it in the center of the bench. He read the manual as he pulled a small screwdriver out of the box.

Back in Maretime Bay the figure from before kept a close eye on Sunny. She was already being escorted back to her home by Izzy. She still looked broken. Good, that meant she was vulnerable. He wondered why his master didn't go for her back in the jail. They had her right there at her most vulnerable. She was broken completely. So why hadn't he seized the opportunity to take her. He growled a little as he watched her walk up to the doors.

He spoke. “You're gonna pay Sunny.” He started to make his way to the town's exit. He continued. “One way or another. You're gonna pay.”

As he left the town he galloped all the way back to the surrounding woods. He stopped only for a moment to stare back at the town. A place he used to be proud to call home. A place that used to be the jewel by the sea. A place that used to be home to only Earth ponies. A place he........now hated with every fiber of his being. He continued running into the forest. He ran deeper and deeper into its domain. He came to a stop at a small thicket; he scanned the area around him to make sure he was not followed. The moment he saw it was clear; he lifted his hoof and stomped it into the ground. The thicket opened and he walked in. it closed shortly after.

Inside the thicket was a stone lair; a lair illuminated only by the light of a small fire. The figure walked in and sat down by the fire. He stared into it's flames for a moment; before he gazed at the darkness that lay beyond the fire. A darkness that the fire refused to illuminate. A darkness that hid the form of his master.

A voice spoke from the darkness. “What do you have to report?” The voice was horse.

The figure answered. “Master, Sunny Starscout has returned to the Bright house.”

The voice asked. “Is she still broken?”

The figure nodded and answered again. “For now.” He added. “But, I'm sure her friends are going to bring her spirits back up.” He started to suggest. “I believe we should.”

The voice interrupted him. “And, what of the lizard and his master?”

The figure gritted his teeth; not wanting to talk about those two. Especially, him. The one that had everything he wanted. The one that had become the very thing he longed to be. The one who took it all away from him. He answered in slight disgust. “They are gone. I'm not sure where.”

There was a silence in the lair; a silence only broken by the occasional crackle of burning wood. The two sat in the silence. The figure continued to gaze into the darkness at his master. He was tempted to suggest the amulet again. But, his master all but clung to it like a lifeline now. He wasn't sure what the amulet did to them. But, whatever it did; it worked and now his master would not let it go.

The voice spoke. “This changes nothing.” The sound of glass being moved across the floor was heard. The figure watched as a small jar slid out from the darkness. Inside the jar was some kind of clear creature. It violently threw itself against the jar; trying to escape it's prison.

The figure picked the jar up and looked at the creature. It was as small as a bug; but it was vicious. He asked. “What is this?”

The voice answered. “A creation of mine.” It instructed him. “Sneak into the Brighthouse after the sun has set. Release the creature near Sunny Starscout and it will break her from her dreams.”

The figure nodded and put the jar away. It was then black smoke started to circle around his body. He smiled as the smoke moved across his body; before it was absorbed granting him even more magical power. Yes, he could feel the power coursing through his body. Power that would make him the strongest in all of Equestria.

He thanked his master. “Thank you, Master.” He bowed in respect and repeated. “Thank you, my liege.”

The voice chuckled before the opening in the thicket revealed itself again. The figure walked towards the exit and left the lair. Leaving the voice alone. As the thicket closed the voice snuffed out the fire. A pair of yellow eyes opened in the darkness. Eyes that held so much evil in them. It glared forward as it continued to plot its revenge. Soon, it will have a form of it's own again. Soon, it will be returned to it's rightful place as Equestria's ruler. Soon, he will return. He just had to wait a little longer.

Zipp groaned as her eyes slowly opened. For a moment she had forgotten where she was. But, her memory came back to her seconds later. She looked around the room she was in. The room itself looked rather cozy and welcoming. She noticed a nightstand near the bed she rested in. There was a glass of water on it and beside the water was some kind of black ball. There was also a note on the stand. She reached for the note; it instructed her to drink the water and to eat the ball. She looked at the items; she reached for the water and took a quick sip of it. The cold water eased her dry throat. While the black ball; she was a little nervous about it. She reached for it and simply stared at it. She then took a small bite. Only to finish it completely seconds later. The ball tasted like coffee and cinnamon.

She heard Sparky giggling from the other side of the door. Slowly, she got out of bed and walked to the door. As she opened the door she saw her nephew jump at a gryphon. A real gryphon. She thought they were just legends. But, no there was one right there. And, it was playing with her nephew. She heard the gryphon giggle as she caught him and fell over. Sparky laughed as he nuzzled the gryphon.

Honey laughed as she said. “Got me again.” She sat up and lifted him up. She heard him squeal in happiness as she sat him back down. She watched as he was prepared to charge her again. Before he did though; she saw him noticed something to their right. She looked and saw the pegasus from earlier. She smiled and greeted her. “Evening.”

Sparky laughed as he ran up to his Aunt and hugged her leg. Zipp looked down and smiled at him before picking him up. She looked back at the gryphon and asked. “Are you a?”

The gryphon interrupted her. “A gryphon.” She smiled and continued. “Yes.” She introduced herself. “My name's Honey Bee.” She extended a claw to her and finished. “Nice to meet you Zipp.”

Zipp asked her. “You know me?”

Honey nodded and answered. “Hitch told me about you.” She noticed Sparky reaching for her again and smiled. “You want me to hold you Sparky?”

Sparky giggled and cooed as he continued to reach for her. Zipp looked down and noticed how her nephew reached for her. Honey gently grabbed Sparky and pulled him into her hold. He giggled before hugging her and then climbing onto her back. As Honey waited for him to get comfortable; the home shook as a loud boom echoed from outside.

Zipp asked. “What was that?!”

Honey answered. “Hitch and Jack are dealing with some Clow in the courtyard.”

She asked. “Some what?”

Honey looked at her and thought a little bit about what to do next. She could tell her about the Clow. But, then again she could also show her them. She chose the later option and motioned for the pegasus to follow her. Both of them walked outside and she lead them to the ledge that overlooked the courtyard.

When Zipp looked down into the courtyard; she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Jack and Hitch were fighting some kind of creatures. Creatures that looked like they were made of the stars. The one Hitch was fighting had what looked like a sword in it's hold. While Jack was fighting two smaller ones. She watched as Hitch dodged an attack.

He yelled. “Fight with me Kilthane!”

A glow seemed to come from Hitch and out of no where another creature appeared. The creature looked awesome. It was armored from head to toe and it carried a massive shield and sword. It blocked an attack from the creature in front of it and pushed it back.

Honey asked. “Cool huh?”

Zipp asked her. “What in the world are those?”

Honey answered. “Clow.” She watched as Hitch's titan slashed one of the Clows. She explained what they were. “They're beings that feed off the life energy of a world. Horrible things they are.”

Zipp nodded and asked. “Okay, then what is that thing fighting with them?”

Honey answered. “That thing is also a Clow.” She giggled a little at the confused look on Zipp's face. She explained. “Certain Clow can be tamed and used to fight against others.” She motioned towards the titan on the field and explained. “That Clow is a Titan. They're spirit Clow that inhabit magical artifacts called amulets. In order to tame them you have to beat them or prove you have a kindred spirit with them.”

Zipp nodded as she looked at Jack. He sprinted at two Clow that were in front of him. His fist glowed brightly as he entered into a fist fight with them. She asked. “Is he using Clow also?”

Honey nodded and answered. “Yes, but not the kind like Hitch is using.” She informed. “Watch what's happen.”

Zipp focused on the battle below; Jack had just defeated one of the Clows'. She watched as it faded into small balls of energy. The energy flew through the air and into his gear. She was about to ask what just happened; only to have Honey Bee explain. “He's using Clow armaments. Special gear that allows him to fight Clow with their own strengths. The only way to get those is by beating certain Clow and picking up their gear.”

Zipp could only nod as she watched the fight. She was amazed seeing the two of them fight. As she focused on Hitch; she wondered how long he had kept this from them? How long had he known about this place and about these creatures. She also wondered what else he had been keeping from them. She then looked at Honey and Sparky. She noticed Sparky was wearing some kind of headband and an amulet. Was he a Clow user also?

As the last Clow the two looked up at them and waved. Honey smiled before she turned and started walking down the stairs. Zipp followed behind them as they regrouped. Hitch smiled as he hugged his son; while Jack collected the remaining energy.

When Jack noticed Zipp he said. “Hey, catch.”

He threw something at her; she caught it and got a better look. She spoke. “Hey, it's my phone.”

Jack spoke. “Yeah. I upgraded it so that you can talk to whoever has been calling you.”

Zipp wondered what he meant by that. When she turned the screen on; her eyes went wide in shock. She had over one hundred missed calls and texts. All from her sister.

Author's Note

Chapter 3 has been rewritten. Can you guess the references I made with the crow? Also chapter will be posted but fair warning it’s mainly gonna be a filler.