An Alternate Arc

Chapters

A Different Start
A Different Fight
A Different Escape
A Different Save
A Different Outcome
A Different Break-Out
A Different Discovery

A Different Start

As the light from the spear dimmed, he let out a weak and sad chuckle while sliding to the ground, the wounds from his quick fight with Twilight reopening and taking their toll. Ember caught him as she stared in curiosity, helping him to the wagon and doing what she could to stop the bleeding.

“So, it’s good manners to inform your savior your name, although seeing as we have and are saving each other… Ember.”

“Arc. What the hell were those things?”

“Demons.”

A while passes silently as the wagon continues onward.

“So… I got here because a neurotic, purple unicorn who never learned the term, ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ judged the aftermath of me helping a mother give birth as me eating her. You?”

She abruptly stopped and stared at him in disbelief for a bit, him nodding in response. She restarted the wagon while glancing at him every so often.

“… Start from the beginning.”

He told her of him getting dragged into Equestria, his attempts at gaining the locals’ trust, renting a room from a mysterious mare with money that Twilight gave him, helping said mare with personal problems, including giving birth, then fighting Twilight when she first tried casting him into Tartarus. At the end, she stayed silent for a bit while he played with his knife, small streaks of pony and demon blood on it.

“Well, at least there’s two of us.”

“… Got thrown in here under false charges as well? Tell me, if you don’t mind.”

She does so, from her father throwing her out to become a great warrior, to getting falsely charged in Baltimare. A little while later, as they were getting closer to her hideout’s walls, they were told of Mythic Honor’s snatching.

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get him.”

“Uh, excuse me?! Don’t you know what you’re getting into?”

“Dangers, thrills, and a chance to help and forget what one insane idiot of a unicorn did to me. Let’s go!”

With a sigh, she guides the cart towards the eastern hills, where they rescue the kooky and harmless unicorn, bringing him back to the hideout after a brief standoff occurred when Ember tried punching Arc.

“Look, I’m sorry, alright?! I just though-?!”

He growls out his response while gesturing to himself.

“Well, take a good look at the result of the last time someone, ‘just thought’! And may I remind you that you went through almost the same thing!?”

The atmosphere was slightly heavy, with nopony wanting to get between them. The silence stretched for a bit before Ember sighed and stretched out her right claw in apology at the same time Arc did his hand. Freezing, they met in the middle and shook. Afterward, they got his wounds cleaned and bandaged.

“Okay, now that that’s done, I’m tired. Where do I sleep?”

“Well, you’ve already shown yourself to be a formidable warrior, even if some things aren’t as they seem at first.”

His deadpan look and clenched fist almost made her want to take it back.
Almost.

“I suppose you can have the hut next to mi-.”

“Great, where is it? But first-.”

He sniffs himself, with Ember nodding in agreement and showing him where the shower is. He stares in disbelief at its openness, looking up and shaking his head while groaning. Ember couldn’t help but tease him.

“What’s the big deal? Afraid of showing me your micro shooter?”

He froze, then slowly turned and faced her with furious embarrassment. Speaking through his teeth at the now slightly nervous and blushing Ember, he whispered.

“I’m so sorry for not wanting to show my nakedness to a dragoness I had just met, thank you VERY MUCH!!”

“… I’ll give you some privacy, then.”

After cleaning himself, the knife, and the clothes, she came over and gave him a semi-fitting smock from behind the corner. Wearing it, he then was guided to a rundown hut next to hers, where he proceeded to organize it and lay down for a nap.

“I’ll need to wake you up in time for your chores, tiny. Say, in half an hour?”

His reply was drenched in sarcasm.

“Sure. As long as you wake me up with loud banging that sounds like you’re about to knock the door off and kill me with a heart attack.”

“… It won’t be like that. I-… I pr-promise you’ll wake up with r-re-reasonably loud knocking.”

Giving each other a nod, she left while he stared at the broken ceiling, his furious thoughts focused on one unicorn mare.

Twilight, at the moment, was feeling like she was just sent to Tartarus, herself. After having given her explanation to a weeping Derpy in the hospital, she had an unreadable expression. Before anyone could say anything, she spoke.

“Will somepony please hold Dinky?”

With Fluttershy gently holding her, Derpy got up as best she could. Twilight helping her up, she stood firmly while keeping her balance through Twilight’s magic. That quickly changed when she slammed her hoof into her, Derpy silent as she furiously punched her and Twilight desperately apologizing.

With a struggle, they were pulled apart, a bloodied Twilight limping away as Spike helped keep her up. Derpy got back Dinky after cleaning herself and ignored every communication attempt. They got the message and left, Twilight quickly hiding the pain and damage to her face until she was back home.

Looking in her bedroom mirror, she saw that the most severe damage would be a split lip. Shakily sighing, she cast a light healing spell on her face that excluded her lips, fell into bed with Spike, him not taking ‘no’ for an answer, and sobbed herself to sleep.

Meanwhile, the rest of her friends were researching about every way in and out of that place to get Arc out, planning to inform her when she woke up.

Speaking of sleep, one sleeping beauty was gently awakened by Ember shaking the bed.

“What the-!?”

“You weren’t waking up, micro.”

“… Fair enough. Feel free to awake me using my bed however you like and that sounded better in my head.”

The slight giddiness she displayed while nodding made him groan as he got up and followed her.

“Is it safe to say that you’re about to make my mornings a bit more interesting?”

Her sly smile didn’t make him feel better in the slightest, that feeling continuing throughout his chores and armor outfitting. It came to a head during his second shower as Ember invaded his privacy with her own.

“Any reason why I shouldn’t literally kick you out of here, Miss Snoopy Nose?”

“Well, first of all, Mr. Grower, I’m a dragoness, and thus much tougher than most of the things out there. Second of all, I’m a pillar around here, so cross me and good luck with the outside, assuming you’re even alive.”

The only reply he gave was a nod. After a bit, he inwardly sighed and faced her, hand outstretched.

“Hi. I’m Micro Shooter Grower and I need guidance on surviving Tartarus. Willing to teach me more?”

Staring at him, she rolled her eyes and shook his hand.

“Hello, Mr. Girth and Width. I’m Way Out of Your League, yet I’m willing to teach you. Keep it up and who knows?”

She gently slapped his behind with her tail, him audibly sighing in response yet not moving. The days passed fast through training, bug processing, bed shaking and flipping, and the randomness of Mystic Honor.

Meanwhile, in Equestria, the days were passing equally as fast through research and preparation for the hike from Tartarus, with plans for melting the snow through some potions. Derpy was doing research of her own, only looking through both royal and non-royal books if Twilight was out of sight. Spike helped, if only to get her to at least start talking to his sister.

“Spike, if you have nothing to add other than confirmation that Twilight is the last pony I want near me for the rest of my life, then please stop.”

Sadly nodding and apologizing, he retreated to the next aisle over and hugged his misty-eyed sister, who had overheard everything and hugged him back.

When the morning of the trip appeared, Twilight was shocked that, when she came downstairs packed, Derpy was with the others, all packed to the brim. When she tried to speak, Derpy held up a hoof and muttered.

“This is for Arc, and Arc alone. As soon as we get him out, I don’t want to see you ever again. If it’s unavoidable, I’ll pretend you don’t exist. Understand?”

She nodded, cast the spell, and the group was flung into the darkness.

Speaking of darkness, Ember was currently seething with rage towards Mystic Honor and his contact. The fact that the whole room had some kind of dust everywhere thanks to an accident hasn’t done her emotions, or Arc’s, any favors.

“… Thanks for-, achoo! -backing me up with Mystic, Arc. This is… If it wasn’t so- achoo! -important, I wouldn’t be here.”

The duo was in an inn in the demon city of Vengeance, having missed the contact and needing to wait till tomorrow. At the moment, they were in separate beds pushed together, the chain in Arc’s hand.

“So, about that conversation earlier…”

“Yes?”

“What would you do if you had left someone along with your dad in the Dragon Lands?”
She turned around and looked at the ceiling while clearing her nose. After a bit, she sighed and looked at him.

“Try to prove their trust in me isn’t unfounded, like with him. You mentioned someone called, ‘Frankie’, Sir. What’s his deal?”

“He… Sees the best in everyone. Has a group called, ‘The Shards’. Reasoning is that everyone there is from a broken home or orphanage, that’s a place where children with no family stays, and that together, they can create a beautiful masterpiece from the brokenness.
Me? I completely agree and try to do the same, of course. Do what you can for the improvement of society. But there’s an additional aspect to it. There has to be someone overlooking the placement of the pieces.”

“You?”

“If need be. It can’t be just anyone, you know. They have to be strong, courageous, knowledgeable, wise, considerate, and be willing to take both the congratulations and the blame.”

“… Sounds like my dad, only he says a- achoo! -good leader finds another to place the blame on. Can’t show weakness.”

“There’s a saying I’ve heard. ‘Take constant responsibility for your actions. Sooner or later, shoulders will run out, and you’ll be left to hold it all.’ I, for one, will not be stupid… Unlike some people in my life…
Anyway, it’s late. Let’s get some shut-eye. I’ll be wrapping the chain around my hand to not let the timer reset, so don’t move around too much.”

“Thanks. Night, Arc.”

With an audible grin in his voice that, for once, didn’t make her want to punch it off, he replied.

“Night, Ember.”

The next day, the pony group had slept on the spot where Ember and Arc met, following the path as Derpy could feel the spear’s familiar magic. As they got closer to the Vile Tribe’s hideout, they ran into the last group of people that they expected.

“Arc? ARC!”

Derpy galloped ahead with tears in her eyes, a robed Arc kneeling and fiercely hugging her. As the rest of the group caught up, they stared in shock and nervousness at the three other beings with him. Two of them were a mother demon and her child, but the oldest one looked like Ember, only red. It extended to her eyes, even.
With introductions that pointedly rushed over Twilight, they continued to the hideout, the lookout spotting them with a shocked gasp and running to warn Mythic Honor and the rest of the tribe.

“You’ve gone too-!”

With a raspy voice, Ember cut him off.

“OH, SHUT UP AND GET HIM UP THERE TO CLEAR THIS UP SO WE CAN COME INSIDE!”

“B-But-!”

“NOW!!”

Delivering the stallion to the rampart, Ember and Arc quickly explained the circumstances behind the newcomers and the demons. With pointed glares and subtle threats toward Twilight, they opened the gates and let them in.

At a private lunch, Twilight was barely saved from a snapped neck by a near-monotone, yet desperate plead from Derpy. Looking at the shaking unicorn with a cut lip in his grip, the silent pleads of her friends and a long look at Derpy’s hoof on his wrist, he abruptly dropped her.

“Tomorrow, we leave. Keep that inconsiderate filly out of my sight.”

“Do you want me to do something to her, Sir?”

Ember’s furious and slightly bloodthirsty look terrified the ponies, the only thing preventing them from fleeing being the chain Arc held.

“Tempting, but no. I need to hold this thing until after dinner, and I seriously don’t want to have to reset the countdown again. Come to the bedroom- yours or-? Yours. -and we’ll get some rest. Before that, though, we need to deal with whatever's happening to you."

The awkwardness only intensified with the seductive tone she used.

“Yes, Sir.”

As they left with Arc shaking his head, Twilight looked almost disappointed, a fact her shocked friends picked up.

“Ya-Ya-Ya can’t be seri-?!”

“YOU HEARD THEM! IF IT WASN’T FOR HER AND THE REST OF THEM, HE WOULD’VE BEEN DEAD! It would be only rig-.”

Slap!

“I may hate you to the extent that I never want to see you again after this, but it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give up on yourself. You have friends who love you, a military brother who adores you, and another well-read and knowledgeable brother who I would have been grateful to have at any point of my life.’

Her next words were empathized by forceful pokes in the chest.

‘Don’t. Give. Up. Your. Life.’

Standing up, she left towards the forge.

‘Don’t follow me, I’m going to get some armor.”

With Esther and Rebme the only natives there, they decided to make some small talk. That was quickly interrupted by the following alarm.

“THE DEMONS ARE COMING!”

A Different Fight

The tribe’s defenders rushed to their places, the others threatening to throw the demons with them into a cage. They were quickly dissuaded by the ponies surrounding them protectively.

“It’s your funeral, idiots! Let’s find out what they want!”

What the ones outside wanted, turns out, was their lives, as a sudden sickness was spreading through the town. There were no leads whatsoever but given that the lack of leads could be considered one, they automatically assumed the Vile Tribe was behind it.

Their attempt at threatening an answer out of them, however, was severely lacking. They were all weak, confused, and with severe fever. Even the giant of a king was there but dressed in the simplest of clothes and crying with desperation while holding his near-motionless daughter.

“P-p-please… A-A-Anything! We will do ANYTHING! JUST LET US LIVE! LET MY DAUGHTER LIVE!!”

A quick discussion was held, with Arc, after asking for confirmation from Mystic, arguing that as the status quo was in their favor, if there was anything they could do, the demons would have to keep their soon-to-be sworn word of not troubling them forever.

“I’ve been training with and getting to know him for a while. Let’s go for it.”

“A hydra’s humor.”

That instantly turned the Tribe’s feelings around, with them only too glad to let the demons die and the aboveground ponies being confused. As explanations were given and minds were changed, it was decided that Ember and Arc were to go to the swamp and get as many as possible. When Twilight demanded to be allowed to come, it was only Arc and Derpy’s swift intervention that kept her head attached to her body.

As she was cowering in the forges’ corner with Ember roughly roaring every profane insult she could think of, it came to an abrupt and alarming end when she began choking and shaking, eyes rolling up and mouth foaming. When they checked her eyes, they backed off with a terrified shout, as the little they could see of her pupils were green and the rest graying. Honor was the most terrified, making eye contact with Arc.

“Arc? Go. Now!”

Without a word, he gathered his reinforced armor along with Derpy’s spear, Hope, stopped to quickly explain to the desperate, astonished, and equally despairing crowd, and continued atop the wagon at top speed. The instant he reached just outside the swamps a little over thirty minutes later, he stopped and took a few calming breaths, beginning his search in a grid-like fashion while politely calling out.

It was rather rudely interrupted midway through by the whole ground erupting, a massive creature the size of a small skyscraper towering over him.

“WHY HAVE YOU DISTURBED ME, INSECT!?”

He took a deep breath before kneeling. After all, it’s hard to speak having no breath in your lungs after getting knocked to the ground.

“MR. HYDRA, SIR. I HAVE COME TO BARGIN FOR YOUR HUMOR!”

“STRAIGHT TO THE POINT AND POLITE! I LIKE YOU ALREADY! SPEAK QUICKLY AND WE’LL SEE IF-!”

“AAARRRRRRRRRCCCCCCCCCC!!!!”

Quite literally out of nowhere, Ember appeared, her eyes a bright, neon green. Dripping down her tail is a clear liquid, the smell accompanying her pervasive, to say the least. Locking her eyes on the human, her already fragile grip on Courage failed. She then attempted to grab him, but he was able to throw the ill dragon off with his spear’s shaft and legs as they fell backward.

“WHAT THE HELL, EMBER!? WHAT’S-?!”

“HOLD STILL SO I CAN TAKE OFF THOSE NEEDLESS CLOTHES AND YOU CAN BREED ME SILLY, HUMAN!”

With another dive, she came within an inch of grabbing him, Arc grabbing her spear in addition to his own. The only other sound is the hydra’s astonished hum of observation. As Arc held the amorous dragoness back with the blunt ends of both spears, he spared a side glance at the Hydra while shoving her back.

“ARE YOU QUITE DONE OBSERVING ME, OR-?!”

“MOVE.”

With a quick and gentle movement that shouldn’t’ve come from such a huge creature, he traps her under a massive claw. At the same moment, another occupant of the Vile Tribe comes galloping up, one breathless and terrified Mystic Honor.

“ARC! I, I HA-HAVE T-TH-THE RE-REST OF THE C-C-CURE! J-JUST THE H-H-HU-HUMOR, AND WE’RE ALL SET!”

Skidding to a stop, he gives him one of several bottles and drops to the ground, panting heavily as the dust clings to his sweaty coat. Staying completely quiet, the hydra observes the situation, noticing that a now crying Ember is now frantically trying to escape his grip.

“M-MY MATE! P-PLEASE RUN! PLEA-! LET ME GO, YOU VICIOUS BEAST!! NONE SHALL HAVE MY ARC BUT ME!! RUN, ARC! RUN!!”

Wordlessly, he lowers several tendrils, which Arc quickly cuts off all at once. Getting directions from a hoarse Honor, he quickly mixes the cure from one of them, during which he takes the time to calm down while also calming a still struggling Ember.

“Ember? Relax. I’m fine, you can see-.”

“Physically, yes, but I’m not under you, getting pregnant! LET ME GO, YOU!”

“… What if I told you that everything was to get a potion that would allow us to have children? After all-.”

“We’re different species. GIMME!”

Shaking his head, he opened the bottle and poured a bit into a scarily eager Ember, whose smell was now overpowering and causing some rather risqué thoughts to invade his mind. Quickly getting out of her personal zone as she was silenced by a now intrigued hydra, he sat back and drank the water that Mystic brought with him.

“How the hell did you get here so fast?”

“I had finally mixed most of the cure and put it into my saddlebags along with the rest of the equipment so that I could meet you sooner and have the cure ready when we got back to base. However, this dragon broke out of her bonds, grabbed her spear, and flew off. I was just barely able to hold on to her legs as I claimed I wanted to be there to give both of you some, ahem, ‘Amplifying Potion’.

When we were just outside the swamp, she roughly dropped me and flew off, yelling over her shoulder, ‘Follow me! I can follow my mate’s smell!’ And the rest you were here for. Well, not the rest, as you weren’t with me as I ran-.”

“Either way… Thanks, Mystic.”

“From both of us.”

They looked as one to the freed, cured, and contrite Ember, who was nervously shuffling in front of them. Quickly getting up, Arc approached while looking her over.

“You alright? Nothing broken, hurt, or sprained?”

“N-no. J-J-Just aching eyes, a slightly sore groin, and… S-s-still hopeful thoughts, if we’re being honest.”

“… We’ll talk about that later. Right now, we need to move. Those demons aren’t getting better.”

“DEMONS!? DID YOU SAY… THAT YOU’RE GOING TO CURE… DEMONS?! YOU HAVE ONE CHANCE TO EXPLAIN, AS I’VE PROMISED!”

He quickly does, starting with how he was forced into Equestria and then Tartarus, ending by going into detail the deal he could make with the demons. He then spoke of how not only him, who he learned was called Marquis, would benefit from a clean start by again doing good, but the ponies could do the same by getting out altogether, with the chance of Marquis joining the escape party only if he gave them a chance.

“… YOU MAKE A COMPELLING ARGUMENT, ARC! WHEN DO YOU PLAN ON LEAVING?!”

“Tomorrow at noon, Sir!”

The silence fell like a ton of bricks. It nervously stretched to the point where only the bellowing breaths signified that Marquis was alive.

“… YOU DRIVE A HARD BARGIN. IF THIS ‘MYSTIC’ IS WILLING TO SUFFER HARM FOR MY OLD FRIEND’S DAUGHTER, AND SHE’S SECRETLY IN LOVE WITH YOU…! VERY WELL! I’LL COME WITH YOU AND WAIT TIL TOMORROW OUTSIDE YOUR HIDEOUT!’

Then, much to their confusion, he looked them over and spoke.

‘IT LOOKS LIKE YOU’LL NEED NEW TRANSPORTATION, ANYWAY! I OFFER MYSELF.”

It turns out that in her sexual rush, Ember had accidentally destroyed the cart, leading her to blush in embarrassment and hide her face behind her wings the whole trip home.

When they arrived, it was too late for some, their families’ and friends’ sobbing cries piercing the heavens. Quickly dismounting and going into the crowd as some struggled to either flee or defend themselves, they gave the sickest ones a few sips. When it became clear that they were helping, the rest of the crowd accepted, the weakest first. There were those close to the dead who were too out of it to accept, choosing to die and being forced to drink.

As everyone was cured, with the king going last, he knelt in front of the strange trio, vowing to keep any promises that wouldn’t harm his people.

“Tomorrow at noon, everyone, pony and non-pony, inside this building will be leaving Tartarus through the gate. We want your explicit promise that neither you OR your family OR your army OR ANY of your people, will stop us, try to sneak out with us, or hold any of us hostage in any way, shape, or form, whether that’s through physical force, coercion, deception, ‘just because’, or persuasion.”

The ones who heard him were shocked at the thorough points of his promise, none more so than the demon king. Gritting his teeth with a few tears falling, he slit his hand and let a few drops of blood fall on the ground while repeating, unnecessarily loud, the terms of the promise word-for-word. Leaving as one, it turned out that there was someone left behind, that being the king’s daughter.

Before the Vile Tribe could say a word while trying to stop the ringing in their ears, she fell on her knees, a piece of obviously royal paper held out in front of her.

Skeptically grabbing it, Arc read it once, looked at her, then passed it to Ember and Esther, who read it twice before passing it to Mystic, them staring at her. When he had read it thrice, he threw it over his shoulder in disbelief, where Applejack caught it with her hat and read it while he whispered.

“Ember, Arc?”

Arc was the one that spoke up.

“… Esther?”

“You asking me whether they’re being truthful? I honestly wouldn’t-.”

“They are.”

Everyone turned as one to the farmer pony who was staring at the princess, the letter from her and her father in her hoof.

“I have an Aura of Honesty. Comes with being the Bearer of the Element of Honesty and having been on the wrong side one too many times when I was younger. I used ta lie, cheat, and steal in ways that foals shouldn’t hear, before the Orange side of mah family straightened me out.

Long story short? There ain’t no way this letter is lying. She want’s ta start over, and the only way to do tha’ is to leave this blasted place.”

Arc approached her, then stretched out his right hand, which she nervously shook, quickly dropping it and running to Esther’s side. As everyone reentered the hideout, the packing started in earnest. Abruptly, a sizable pile of Marquis’ scales was dropped into its center.

“IF I MAY INTERRUPT FOR A LITTLE BIT! I WANT THOSE SCALES TO BE CREATED INTO NEW ARMOR FOR ARC AND HIS NEW MATE! SOMETHING TELLS ME THAT HIS JOURNEY WITH EMBER ISN’T OVER YET!”

The abrupt silence was deafening, before Pinkie Pie whipped out her Party Cannon with a gleeful shout and fired, the whole square suddenly decorated for an engagement/wedding/moving party, the couple in question dressed for the occasion, and everyone, including Marquis, wearing a top hat, suit, bonnet, and dress, depending on their sex.

The shock at the whole thing quickly wore off with an explanation as everyone except Twilight approached the still shocked and stuttering couple, congratulating them. The only other pony missing was Mystic, who waited until the party got into full swing to drag them towards the forge to make their armor, with Rarity being a surprising help.

“Of course, Darlings! You don’t think I got to where I am today by not expanding my horizons!?”

Twilight was able to chip in only after she begged, having memorized various nigh alicorn-level spells for defense, offense, and magical/physical healing, while helping everything go much faster for both suits. Rarity advocating for her extensive depth of magical knowledge mostly helped. At the end, they were sweaty, tired, and wanted to collapse into their beds.

Unfortunately for them, there was only the one in Ember’s room, a couple soundproof spells having been cast. With twin glares, they were removed, but being too tired to say anything else, they fell asleep with their clothes on.

At least they tried to, and when the silence got overwhelming...

“Ember?”

“… Yes?”

“Kiss me.”

“… Why?”

“I want to make sure I’m dreaming. Why in the hell-?!”

Ember threw her claws up in disbelief.

“That’s what I’m wondering! What I’m even more curious about is how we just stood there and let it happen. What happened to our sanity?!”

“Got blasted out of our skulls with Pinkie Pie’s Party Cannon. Also, don’t ask about her. Seriously, don’t. I tried asking Twilight about some of her stranger abilities after we first met, and in return got a torrent of words that included, ‘melting minds’, ‘self-hatred’, ‘obsession’, ‘cupcakes’, ‘padded room’, ‘party dungeons’, and either ‘lobotomy’, ‘brainwashing’, or both.

Oh, and drooling. Lots and lots of drooling.”

Her face of astonishment slowly transformed into the urge to laugh, but that was quickly shut down by the memory of that early afternoon’s impromptu party. The weak laughter that did escape transformed into a moan that she muffled by burying her face into Arc’s shoulder.

“… To tell you the truth, I was going to ask you to become my mate a couple days from now, when I saw those scales. But it was going to consist of us fighting basically to the death, so that when you defeated me and we’ve both aged a few hundred years, we would actually have this celebration, only more… Draconic. And sweaty. And-.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to take the initiative and impregnate you now?”

He got up with a sly smirk, not even off the bed when the sound of spells was cast, the outside ambient noises suddenly silenced. Lying down with a self-satisfied smirk, he smelled the same scent on Ember she emitted in the swamp as she whimpered.

“I… I’m not supposed to show w-w-weakness in front of any creature… B-but…’

She took a deep breath.

‘You mentioned that neither of us are the same species. What are the biggest differences from what you’ve told me?”

“Well, there’s our-.”

“Don’t care. Next.”

With growing confusion in his voice.

“We’re also very-.”

“Doesn’t matter. Next.”

With visible confusion.

“We age very-.”

That part was cut off by a passionate and desperate french kiss. During it, she attempted to strip him naked, the only thing preventing her being too rough and finishing was his innate fragility and him, with gentle firmness, pushing her away.

“I don’t care that we might never have children, nor your weaknesses, nor your all-too-brief lifespan! I want you as my mate!”

She fell on and hugged him, begging from the bottom of her heart, tears flowing like a waterfall.

“We’ll figure out a way, my dear. We’ll figure out a way,’ with a small grin, ‘my mate-to-be.”

First her ears, then her eyes flicked up, hope shining from them as she had a giant smile.

“Together?”

He caressed her cheek and gently kissed her lips, then hugged her.

“Together.”

A Different Escape

Author's Note

I hope no one takes seriously how I semi-copied the 'ancient law' speech. I liked how it was written.

A Different Escape

The next day, the whole tribe got up and finished packing while “inconspicuously” hanging around Ember’s hut. The couple was sneakily peeking outside, Arc whispering in Ember’s ear.

“Marquis was trolling everyone, I know it.”

“What gave you that idea, sir?”

“Gut instinct. The only question is, how do we get out of it?”

She scoffs while gesturing outside.

“Look at them, sir! We can’t! It’s like dragonesses can’t be complete without a mate!”

“Isn’t that necessary since the Dragon Lord must have a mate?”

Gritting her teeth, she nods.

“What really sucks is that you’re not a dragon, sir, so children are out of the picture,’ this last part she mumbles sadly, ‘which also means my father wouldn’t even allow marriage, official or otherwise, in the first place.”

“… What if I internalized your magic, or actually became a dragon, or partly, anyway?”

She froze, then laid on the floor and yanked his waist down with her tail, looking at him with bedroom eyes.

“I just remembered a few stories, sir, where it was given to another species through-.”

She stopped at his blushing and nervous face and as the slowly opening door made them visible to everyone who stood there with in shock.

“They went at it almost all night, and they’re about to keep going?!”

They quickly got up and packed while alternating between avoiding eye contact and glaring at everyone. The rest of them couldn’t help but make some rather subtle innuendos on their journey to the gates. As they got closer and closer, the king was in front of the gates to his city.

“HOW HAVE THEY TREATED YOU, MY DAUGHTER?!”

“K-kindly, father! The n-na-tive Equestrians have treated me as a friend. T-The purple one, in particular. Her name is Twilight.”

Making eye contact with her, he kneels to make it easier for her to look him in the eye.

“YOU WON’T MISTREAT HER?!”

“N-NO, YOUR MAJESTY!!”

“SHE’LL BE FREE AND SAFE TO EXPERINCE EVERYTHING YOUR LAND HAS TO OFFER?!”

“Y-Y-YES, YOUR MAJESTY!! I PROMISE YOU THAT!!”

Holding eye contact for a bit longer, he nodded and went back into the city, tears falling the whole way. Going through the gate, everyone was free and shivering from the increased cold and roaring snowstorm. Everyone but Twilight, that is. Her crying friends began throwing themselves at the barrier to no avail, AJ being the loudest.

“N-n- TWILIGHT!! WE AIN’T LEAVING YOU BEHIND!”

She shook her head with a sad smile as she wore her invisible cloak, hood down.

“It’s… It’s alright, Applejack. I’ve gotten him out, and all of you are safe. I can stay with a clean conscious. P-please take care of Auriel. Give her my stuff, Golden Oaks, and say goodbye to Spike and my brother, Shining Armor… Goodbye, my v-very b-best friends.”

With the hood lifted, she’s gone. Her friends stand there in shock and surprise before redoubling their efforts. Arc, on the other hand, stood there rather impassively, Ember’s chain still in his hand.

Abruptly, it was tugged forward as the dragoness stalked toward the gates, a confused and pissed Arc gritting his teeth.

“And may I ask why we’re saving a mare that you wanted to kill just yesterday?”

Stopping just in front, she slightly turned toward him.

“Because it’s the right thing to do, sir.”

Standing there with a gaping mouth, he shook his head, sighed, and shook his head again as they went through the gates, again.

“I think I’m a bad influence on you, Ember… Where should we start searching fi-?”

The mare herself pops into existence in front of them, eyes with tears, legs trembling.

“W-… Why…?”

Arc shakes his head and scoops her up, wrapping her the best he could in the armor’s blood-red cape. Walking through the gate, he gently puts her down as her friends rush her, scooping her into a group hug. Derpy stared at him and Ember in blatant surprise before shaking her head and going to the Vile Tribe. Sighing, the human-dragon duo followed her, who was currently helping with preparing trees fallen by Marquis for a few large cabins to sleep in. Everyone else who escaped eventually helped, and they all finished close to sunset with the help of the snow melting potions clearing up land.

As everyone crowded around a massive bonfire for company, Twilight in the middle of the literal pile of her friends, Ember and Arc asked Mystic how much longer they have to wait.

“At least around midnight, a little later to be sure.”

Abruptly holding up a claw, Ember looked around a bit before focusing on the direction of Ponyville.

“There’s an army coming, and it’s rather large.”

At the exact same time, portals opened on the other side, crystal armored ponies marching out. Leading the ones in the middle was-.

“Cadence!”

The two mares rushed to each other, the Princess throwing off her armor and hugging her. Breaking the hug, she leaned back and stared at Twilight.

“WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! YOU’RE LUCKY YOU WERE ABLE TO CROSS THE GATE!”

“Um, pardon me, Yer Majesty? She didn’t. Arc an’ Ember, that’s the dragoness next to ‘im, went back and got her out.”

Backing up a bit more, she took in fully the gathered creatures, including a trio of demons and a massive hydra. As her army began to get a bit fidgety, she stood upright and wore her armor again.

“Applejack, Element of Honesty, right?”

“Yes, Yer Majesty.”

“Did they do the same for anyone else?”

“Nope, Yer Majesty. ‘Ust her.”

Taking a few more looks while quickly trotting around, she ends up in front of her troops.

“Troops! We have an unknown army heading toward us! Defend the innocent!”

With commanding shouts the troops got in position around the clearing, and not a moment too soon. The golden armor of the Royal Guards led by Captain Decimus was coming into view through the blizzard.

“Princess Cadence! I’m glad that you’ve joined me to arrest these generational cri-!”

“They exited Tartarus by themselves, and thus are innocent, Captain! We will accept an escort to-!”

“My dear Princess. The fact that they were born there automatically pro-.”

“It. Proves. Nothing! Will you let us leave…’

She gets in battle-ready position, her army following suit.

‘Or will we force our way out?”

“I DARE SAY THAT SUCH A DEMOSTRATION OF A PRINCESS OF EQUESTRIA HAS SHOWN THAT PONYKIND HAS TRULY CHANGED SINCE MY TIME! UNFORTUNTELY, IT SEEMS AS IF THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ‘THOSE’ PONIES.”

That forced the Equestrian army to pay attention to the elephant in the room, leading to much shaking and wetting.

“You’re going to let a hydra walk free?! That proves-!”

He was silenced by the abrupt and brutal slap of laughter. Arc’s laughter, that is.

“You must be completely and utterly out of your mind, Captain! Questioning Your Princesses, who set it up this way!? Tell me, what are you going to do next? Oh right-!’

His voice becomes monotone.

‘You don’t think, just do.”

The Captain was shaking in fury while gritting his teeth.

“Charge.”

One particularly brave Lieutenant gulped while stepping forward.

“Si-?”

Whipping out his sword, he snarled while rearing up, preparing to gallop.

“CHARGE! FOR THE GOOD OF-!”

A brutal pain roared through his spine, into his mind, and erupted out of his throat, sending him to the ground. Clutching his broken right rear leg, he glared through tears at the nervously confident Shining Armor, who was holding his sword at him as the rest of the army looked nervously between three ponies – Princess Cadence, the Captain, and the Lieutenant.

“Nothing good will happen from slaughtering innocent ponies who did pass the test our-.”

“HOW BUCKING DARE YOU! KILL THIS TRAITOR!’

Nopony moved.

‘I SAID, ‘KILL HIM!’ NOW!’

After a few short moments, the army lined up behind Shining Armor, with a few quickly coming around with magic-suppressing items. They restrained him before he could do more than sputter furiously, carrying him to the medic as he lost it. Cadence approached the Lieutenant, promoting him on the spot to Captain, pending approval from Luna.

Turning back to the impressed gathering who were gazing at Arc admirably, she walked to him and gave him a scroll and quill with ink on its end.

“There is an ancient law that states that a Princess cannot be indebted to anypony for any reason. When the two of you risked your lives to save my good friend Twilight here, I became indebted to you. As such, I’m bound to repay you however you see fit.
Write what you would like, and I’ll do my best to accommodate you. Princess Celestia will also be indebted to you for saving her favorite student; until she returns, you’ll have to take a rain check on that.”

Taking a few moments to think, he writes a few items before passing it to Ember. She didn’t have to think before writing what she wanted. Passing it back to the Princess, she looked over it with an interested and semi-smirking face before glancing at Ember with a knowing expression.

“As the official Princess of Love, I’ll do my best, Miss Ember.’

She looked at Arc with the same interested expression and a touch of admiration.

‘For you, Mr. Arc, moving will be up to the owners of the house, and of course, you’re hereby granted amnesty and citizenship in this nation, with all the rights, responsibilities and privileges granted to every citizen therein.’

Looking around, she nods and orders her soldiers to leave through the same portals they came through.

‘As much as I would want to stay and catch up with everypony, I’m afraid duty calls in the Crystal Empire. See you!”

Stepping through the portal, they all snap shut with a bang. A few silent moments later, the whole ground shook from the celebration that erupted.

A Different Save

As the Mane Six, the demons, Derpy, and the couple were escorted home to Ponyville, all kinds of questions erupted toward Twilight’s brother, Shining Armor, who answered them to the best of his ability. Meanwhile, a staring Derpy had to be partly carried by two amused soldiers due to Arc answering her question.

“Are you sure-?”

“Derpy, if Princess Cadence has the same level of authority that Princess Luna does, then she’s able to give you a significantly better house than what you have right now.”

Ember butts in.

“Speaking of authority, Sir, have either of you wondered just what prompted such an overreaction on Canterlot’s part? To send a bloodthirsty stallion willing to go against his own ruler?”

“Miss Ember! While Captain Decimus had certainly crossed the line, he and his ancestors has done a great many things that has kept Equestria safe over the centuries, and I will not hear his name trod upon!’

He spots Arc looking forward, smirking and shaking his head as if he knew something.

‘Care to let us in on the joke, Mr. Arc?”

“The CD, mostly. If that’s the kind of stallion that normally gets promoted to such a high level, present company (possibly) excluded, then it speaks to the general mindset of the army. After all—'

He looks around at the soldiers’ incensed and waiting faces, stopping on Shining’s downright furious one.

‘How many here, disregarding your training, would’ve unhesitatingly attacked me and Ember if we’d been just outside the gates of Tartarus alone? Because CD certainly disregarded his.’

Their faces got angrier for a moment as they seemed on the verge of shouting, but a second look at the now-nervous demons, with one hiding her baby, the stoic human, and the protective dragon made them rethink their position. Shining forced himself to look at Twilight’s devastated look as she buried her face in the nearest pony’s mane and quietly cried, Pinkie Pie stroking her neck and the rest of her friends also comforting her.

Before anypony could move, he held up a hand.

‘I’m not looking for your pity or apologies. Just do better.’

Catching Shining’s attention again, Arc has a congratulatory look as he nods towards him.

‘In other news, how much longer is this going to take, Captain Shining Armor?”

“Two more hours, since we have to sparingly use the Heating Potions my sister created because of the snowstorm.”

The look quickly cooled to caution as Ember wrapped her tail around his waist. Before he could do something to try and start repairing her and Arc’s relationship, Arc stepped closer to Armor and spoke in a monotone whisper.

“Your sister essentially tried to kill me after pulling me from my world while being drunk. The only reason she isn’t dead twice over was because Derpy, my true first friend, stopped me from snapping her neck. Ember reminded me that saving her from where I had been trapped was the right thing to do.’

His tone turned harsh as Armor tried finding a way of getting a word in.

‘I don’t want your sister to be so much as a glimpse on the horizon when we’re back in Ponyville. I don’t care how it’s done, only that I don’t want to see that sociopathic unicorn except when it’s absolutely unavoidable or necessary.”

With a heavy internal sigh, he nodded in acceptance, only for his attention to be drawn to a massive surprise gathering of “armored” ponies that included two familiar actual armored ponies. The latter two galloped up, weapons unsheathed and speaking as one.

“HEAR US NOW, TROOPS OF EQUESTRIA! WE WILL GIVE YOU ONE CHANCE TO RELEASE THE HUMAN, OR ELSE!”

Shining Armor also galloped to the front, stopping a couple of feet in front of his troops and proceeding to quickly explain what happened. At the end, the atmosphere was heavy, only the wind speaking through the trees. It was broken by the Cakes screaming as one.

“Then take Twilight Sparkle with you! She doesn’t deserve to live in our town!”

It was quickly taken up by the rest of the outraged populace, who took a few threatening steps toward the army. While nervous enough to not do anything, the presence of the whole town was enough to make the army nervous in turn.

Meanwhile, her friends were trying to convince the people that she had learned her lesson, but the former’s words were shouted down as the latter fiercely questioned their loyalty to Arc. Said human was currently being escorted by his “fiancée”, several guards, and Derpy to the rejoicing half of the crowd. They were accompanied by the demons, who, after quick reassurance from Arc, were welcomed in. As the crowd turned as one to the Mane Six, they made one last demand.

“Leave her, or never come back!”

“Or join me and Ember on any of our potential journeys and prove yourself.’

They turned as one to the cross-armed and narrow-eyed Arc, muzzles and irises as wide open as possible. As questions flowed across the crowd, he strode forward, ending between the two groups.

‘She did a very horrible thing, yes! The fact that she was willing to stay trapped there, helped make me and Ember practically indestructible armor infused with every spell a warrior might ever need, and create potions that helped us survive the intense cold, should tell you she’s on her way to making things better! Will I forgive and forget what she did?’

He leaned forward and silently gave her a death glare for a few moments.

‘… My silence should make my answer clearer than any curse word.
Now, Twilight Sparkle. Deal, or no deal?”

Gulping, she glanced to and fro, from her silently wondering brother, to her worried friends, to Arc. With a shuddering sigh and tears, she shakes her head.

“I-I-I-I-.”

“I’ll TRAIN YOU, TWILY!’

Everypony whips their head towards the captain, who was quickly trotting to his sister.

‘If you’ll give me several weeks, or a few months, that’ll be enough time to train her to where you won’t need to start from scratch!”

Looking as one at each other, the human-dragon duo turns back to them and nodded in agreement, Twilight breathing a huge sigh of relief. As everyone heads back to town, Twilight’s friends encouraging her, the two armored ponies struck up a conversation with Arc. The one on the right spoke first.

“We can tell that your armor has some… pretty advanced and overpowered spells, Arc.”

“Yeah well, you can thank Twilight for that. She said that she memorized the most powerful spells she could. How powerful? When she was done infusing them, she passed out.”

As one, they looked at each other, then looked back at the still softly crying Twilight, who was tiredly leaning on Pinkie Pie.

“Well, she had certainly done something to start making things right…”

“But would that be enough?”

Facing forward, Arc shrugged his shoulders while replying in a whisper.

“We’ll see, my neighbors. We’ll see.”

Several weeks pass, the library having been taken over by Auriel and Esther, with Rebme being babysat by Derpy at her new, more luxurious house a short trot away.

Meanwhile, AJ had gotten a disturbing and coded letter from her cousin, Cherry Jubilee in Dodge Junction. In it, she told her—in “glowing” letters and phrases—that she had gotten married to Buffalo Bill. Their honeymoon was to take place in Baltimare the day the letter was to arrive, causing a panicked Applejack to gallop to Arc’s new house, Derpy’s old one.
Hearing grunts and panting caused her ears and cheeks to burn, but she unhesitatingly pounded on the door with both hooves. Upstairs, Arc and Ember had just finished moving a positively heavy and uncomfortably designed desk, deciding that workouts out of their armor would help. Collapsing on their shared bed, they leaned on each other while listening to the frantic pounding and shouting downstairs. Arc finally caught his breath after a bit and spoke.

“Who’s going to get up and check it out?”

“Not me.”

“Well, I can’t get up and get down there, not without help.”

With a shared moan, they helped each other and half-stumbled, half-walked there, calling out that they were coming as the pounds and shouts kept coming. Unlocking and turning the doorknob, the pony in question ended up falling flat on her face. Quickly getting up, she tore into their house, waiting until they sat on their couch before throwing the decoded letter in front of them.

“Mah cousin’s in trouble!”

They read it, eyes becoming alarmed at the letter’s contents and Ember speaking up.

“At least we can get some rest on the ride over. Apple-?’

“On it. Where do ya leave da armor?”

‘Hallway closet. We haven’t-.”

“On it!”

Opening the closet, she grabbed the disorganized pieces and put them as neatly as she could on her back, neck, and head, gulping and sliding down the stairs, backwards. The duo winced at her muted groans of pain coming down, giving her sympathetic looks she ignored as she shook her plot. Setting the pieces on the table in front of them, she galloped back upstairs and got the rest while Ember used her magic to set Arc’s helmet on his head.

That immediately revitalized him, allowing him to get up and do the same for Ember then armor up. As she did the same, Applejack repeated the backward sliding, stepping up and giving them the pieces as needed. When they’re suited up, AJ held out a sack of bits they looked at questionably while she headbutts Ember out the door.

“There ain’t no time for y’all to get your own money! Da next train leaves in a literal minute, and-!”

“Understood!”

Snatching it, they run to the station with seconds to spare, get a ticket, and leap into the train’s first class. Literally stumbling onto a bench, they stared dumbfoundedly at the upside-down mare next to them, Stetson on her plot.

“D-did ya really think Ah was ‘bout to let ya leave wit’out me?!”

“And your ticket, Miss-?”

“Ah’m well-known enough for that ta not be a problem! Now git ‘hat armor off an’ get some sleep! We’ll be hitting the ground running in a few hours!”

The hours pass dreamlessly for the trio, two too tired, one too worried to do more than a light nap.

“BALTIMARE! BALTIMARE IN FIVE MINUTES!”

Waking up with a moan, the human-dragon duo stretched, about to get up before freezing and passionately kissing. When they were finished, it hit them like a pound of bricks that they weren’t alone. Quickly sitting down, they made sure to stay a good distance from each other as a lightly yawning AJ stretched and looked at them with a light grin.

“Afternoon, Sugarcubes! Rest well?”

They nodded while getting up and leaving their cabin, stopping in the meal car and getting some snacks. When the train finally arrived and they exited, Arc whistled at the size of the city and Ember scowled. As Applejack led the way to the nearby hotel, they encountered a pale-yellow mare, with light pistachio-colored eyes and a mane with two shades of moderate crimson. She was escorted by two rough-looking stallions who were carrying several bags, some being bits and others being products.

“CHERRY!”

“APPLEJACK!!”

They rush towards each other and hug, the stallions following while rolling their eyes. Stopping as the two chatted, they looked at Ember and Arc with admiration, the right one speaking.

“Looks like the Apple Family finally remembered their roots. How many Trials did you two have to go through and how many “volunteers” did you have to beat?”

Applejack interrupted with a flawless Manehatten accent.

“Excuse me, gentlestallions, but The A’s don’t do Trials. We only ask for those who show that they have the ability and skills to keep our Family safe. These two are fairly new to Guarding life, so go easy on them during the next Meeting.”

They tip their hats in response as Cherry and AJ hug again and kiss each other’s cheeks, leaving with wave and hat tip. As they got further and further apart, AJ finally allowed a fierce scowl to enter her face as she bypassed their chosen hotel and entered an Orange store, which sold everything that could be possibly made from the orange.
Trotting to the back of the store, she knocked twice, then thrice, then once, and then thrice again. A hidden entrance opened, barely wide enough for AJ. Entering while keeping it open, she manually widened it so that her companions could enter, then closed and locked it.
In front of them was a simple desk, a light brown Pegasus mare behind it with some simple green glasses, cute freckles, and a blue skirt with a white blouse, flowers, butterflies and animals embroidered on them.

“I hope you have-.”

“Buffalo Bill forced Cherry to marry him, M. They’re having their honeymoon here, and I, for one, AM NOT ABOUT TO LET THAT WALKING PILE OF FILTH RAPE HER!!”

M dropped everything she was doing and let them through while making some calls, the last thing they heard being the following before the door slammed shut.

“Cami! Don’t sha-. We don’t need more-!”

In front of them was a cloaked pony in shadows, their voice disguised.

“This true, Applejack? Our best customer?”

“Yes. I understand about leaving The Families to run their section of Equestria how they see fit, but-!”

“It needs to be bent just this once. You have the support of my Friends and some Family.”

She turns to her silent “bodyguards” with a mischievous grin as she turns to leave.

“Just as backup, Ab. Just as backup. The Open Land Hotel, as usual?”

“I’ll have everything ready by 6:30.”

When evening fell, the trio came downstairs, armor hidden under a robe. They were meeting in the lobby a tan earth pony with curly hair, with his first words being as follows.

“So, we’re dealing with a criminal mogul who’s threatening a mare because he’s a crybaby and she’s a coward who didn’t ask for help when she needed it the most. Is this supposed to be a challenge?”

Arc and Ember resisted reacting while Applejack’s eyes took on a hardness that wouldn’t look out of place on Tirek. Stepping forward as Cami realized he stepped over the line; she gently placed a hoof on his left shoulder, slightly increasing the pressure continually.

“Now, Mr. Cami. I know this might be new for you as you were never mentioned at any Meeting but let me tell you how this whole thing works.’

At this point he was trying to put up a brave face as the pressure was getting unbearable. That quickly fell off as she slammed him into the ground, a few tiles getting cracked as he muted his cry of pain.

‘You, are not on your Family Grounds. We’re on Neutral Grounds in every Open Land Hotel. However, as things are a… bit unusual right now, I can do this to convince you that this isn’t a Family Game.
You, are here to help that so-called “coward”. My cousin. From getting raped. For the rest of her life. Thus, you are here to do your best.’

She leans down and whispers into the terrified stallion’s ear as she helps him up.

‘Do you understand?”

Backing away, he nodded furiously as the squad trotted out as Ab’s personal carriage pulled up, the pony themselves in the center seat facing the door. With everyone in their seats, they were on their way to a waterfront restaurant.

“I trust that my Family has been the utmost picture of helpfulness in your short time together so far?’

Applejack nods, with the pony replying, a smile audible in their voice.

‘There’s no need for you to lie to me, Element of Honesty, even if it’s to protect one of my own. Have you resisted smashing his face in?”

“I did have to remind him why he’s helping us. Sorry for forcing you to repair some tiles.”

“Tiles are replaceable and customizable. Family isn’t on both counts and that’s why you must learn to live with and love the one you have. Of course, that doesn’t mean you’re forced to be a doormat. Even I had to and have to be told off. It happened a lot during my younger years, I’ll admit.
We’re here. Stay alive, keep each other safe, and check out the drinks on your immediate left side.’

They’re gently persuaded out, where they find that yes, they are at their destination.

‘Farewell.”

The carriage went down the street at a moderate speed, turning the next corner and disappearing completely. Staring as one at the shocking sight, they shake the feeling off and enter the grand restaurant, being guided to the equally grand ballroom on the floor above. Rejecting the drinks immediately offered them, they went to the snack table and grabbed those drinks, gulping them down as others tried to ‘accidentally’ spill them.

Backing off with a glare, they were about to call for backup when a disguised Buffalo himself entered the room, the spotlight on him and a subtly sad Cherry on his right side. The group split up after going over a plan suggested by Arc in contrast to the ‘head-on’ attack plan of AJ and Ember, mingling with the rich and powerful as best they could. Ember was with Arc and Cami was with AJ.

“So, what’s your special talent? Your Cutie Mark is no help.”

“That’s the idea, sis. Can’t be a spy and have everypony know who I am.”

When she discreetly tried to wipe it off, he smoothly grabbed her hoof and pulled her into a dance which she quickly and semi-mechanically followed. While he tried to make conversation with her, Arc implemented part 2.

“Time to disappear, my dear.”

Simultaneously, they cast off their robes in their respective bathrooms and turned invisible, making their way to the back of the building. Finding out that Bill was planning to wrap up the night by taking a boat ride, he put a stop to it by noiselessly stabbing numerous holes in the bottom. As it instantly went to the bottom, they went to wait at the pier’s entrance only to find a terrified Jubilee frozen in fear and confusion.

Meanwhile, AJ was dealing with the sudden twist of everypony but her falling unconscious right as Cherry was escorted outside. Cami had somehow disappeared during their dancing, and she was left dancing with a somewhat lecherous, somehow respectful stallion. At the end, when they respectfully parted and Applejack went looking, the pony in question was right next to Bill as he was telling him to go through and grab everypony’s bits and jewelry.

“I’m sorry, Bill. I can’t let you do that.”

Allowing a split-second look of confusion, a disguised Cami was surrounded by yellow and dark-yellow flames and replaced by a black Changeling drone with yellow eyes and dark yellow inner ears before attempting to knock him out. Unfortunately, he was scarily fast, catching the punch and returning it three-fold, embedding him into the wall. Making his escape outside, he got clotheslined by Ember and dragged back in by a coldly furious AJ, who started with his lower legs and eventually ended with his neck. By general consensus, his body is wrapped in Cherry’s dress, weighed down with his bodyguards’ armor and other heavy items, and tossed into the harbor.

Getting back to the Open Land Hotel, each of the visitors is given three thousand bits and a magically compressed storage ring each, with Arc also given ten thousand bits for coming up with the plan. Appearing to think for a bit, he decides to give Ember his three thousand bits, the observers disbelieving how a human would be willing to give up even a small amount of his wealth.

The next day, they find out that they’ve been given a hero's farewell to the train station, Judge High Justice having a slight and unnerving rictus smile on his face as he gives them the key to the city at the station.

A Different Outcome

Author's Note

Warning: Spoilers for the original story near the end of the chapter.

A Different Outcome

As the resulting explosion blinded those watching, the two Heroes stared in disbelief as black blood exited her chest and was pulled into the spear, leaving her to hurl the spear away and Blinking the armor off before dropping to the ground and sobbing. Arc rushed to her and pulled her into a hug which she desperately returned, Ember quickly joining it.

From the confused and terrified group of stallions watching trotted up an Earth pony mare with a familiar rainbow mane, very light brown body, and green eyes.

“Heroes of Light and Tempest Shadow?’

To their semi-nervous nods, she secretly showed her Apple-shaped medallion with three ponies holding together an Apple, Orange, and Pear, respectively.

‘I would like to offer you three a drink. Family treat. First, to make a clean getaway…”

With a subtle scowl, the whole area was covered in freezing fog, allowing them to sneakily make their way downtown and into an Open Land Hotel. Straightening, the brother and sister receptionists activated the ‘Shadow Alarm’ as the mare on the right spoke.

“Miss Maker, Mr. Arc, and Miss Ember. We have the requested specialized equipment for Miss Shadow.”

Making subtle movements with her front hooves, the stallions in the back replaced the special anti-magic ring with light armor and a scarf. As they were carried out, the human, dragon, and unicorn trio were led by Weather to an old fashioned and charming restaurant to the right side of the entrance.

Being seated, they were given menus for drinks and food, the former two ordering some hearty meals while the latter two either observed or silently wept with a trembling grip on Arc’s chair. It was a testament to the chair’s construction that it wasn’t breaking from the strain being placed on it, even with the relaxing presence of Arc’s hand.

Trotting to them with a covered tray, irregular lumps on it, a unicorn mare with a red bow in her curly hair, red skirt, and white blouse bowed while keeping the tray aloft. Taking it off her back, she whipped off the fabric with a flourish, and with a dramatic twirl, transformed into-. CLONK! It was rudely interrupted with a bop to the back of the head by the real mare, leaving a rather unnerving abomination of Cami and her.

“Forgive my brother, but he doesn’t know when to be… Rational. My name is Close Listener.”

In response, he finished transforming into his Earth pony disguise, stuck his tongue out at her, then refocused on an astonished Shadow as he held the tray out. Hesitating while reaching towards the armor, he gently encouraged her to grab it, which was a sleek gold-silver combination of Day and Thestral. It was light enough to allow for flight; had camouflage, fire, and heat spells and runes engraved into it; and was reputed to be able to withstand the full force of Celestia herself blasting the poor soul wearing it out of Canterlot Castle while being severely damaged.

As she stared at it in disbelief, Arc gently tapped her shoulder, jolting her out of her trance. Bowing to Cami in thankfulness as she quickly wore the armor, he shook his head and tutted while lifting the long scarf. Grabbing it, she recognized that it was linked to the armor, being a fabric counterpart to the HoL’s rings and a flexible helmet. Finishing wearing the armor, she also wore the scarf and stared at herself in the mirror provided, tears of joy falling.

“H-how were you able to get into their good graces? There aren’t-.’

She grins and shakes her head at the realization.

‘Applejack. She had to claim that both of you were rookie Bodyguards, right? To be honest, I’m surprised that they’re-.”

Close Listener interjected with a smile as the food came and the couple began eating.

“Of course we, the MC’s, would. Why wouldn’t we want to show appreciation to Cherry’s saviors, the new owners of Dodge Junction, and the Heroes of Light?”

That brought deafening quietness crashing around them, the trio turning as one and staring at the other befuddled trio, Ember speaking up with a stutter as crumbs fell from her mouth.

“I-I’m sorry, but… ‘Owners’? How-?”

Cami spoke up while shapeshifting into Arc, standing up and pretending to fight while expertly keeping his balance.

“Cherry’s marriage was, in every sense of the word, legal. That joined her and Bill’s businesses together, and since he owned almost everything in D.J except for Filthy’s shop, that makes the two of you owners in all but name. Wha- you don’t know, then.

She was tired of everything going on in The Families, so she signed ownership of Cherry-Bill Corp over to the two of you this morning. Along with the money you two have from everything else you’ve done; I calculate that both of you have around 12 million bits… each.”

Once again, the silence crashed around them, Arc and Ember now turning towards each other and staring in shock. Stuttering, they tried to deny what they were told, but the small and non-apologetic smiles from the three family members told them otherwise. As the gears began turning in Arc’s head, he turned to Close Listener and asked.

“So… What does that mean for… us? We have no idea how to run a company, or a town, for that matter.”

Cami leaned until his upper body was parallel to the floor, staring uncomfortably at the duo. This prompted Tempest to forcefully cough while glaring at him. In response, he merely shifted to staring at her, which caused them to enter into a stare-off. Almost instantly, Listener grabbed her brother’s ear and twisted it until he transformed back and apologized. Accepting it, Tempest nevertheless felt like she needed to have the last word.

“Any time, any place, just the two of us.”

With a blink of surprise and a warm smirk, he accepted with a hoof shake and a nod, which she returned. After he transformed back into his usual disguise, he finally explained.

“The Family will take over the day-to-day aspects of running the business. You two will only be involved in the larger decisions. Sounds good?”

Thinking it over a bit, they hesitatingly nod. Suddenly, Close interrupted while flicking her ears to her right.

“Trouble on the coast. Foals are falling asleep and are unable to wake up. A few have almost drowned. Some suspect mermaids. Others, Changelings.’

She stood up while lighting up her horn to communicate with the rest of her family.

‘Lu? We’ll need your strength. Mom, your food spells. Bodyguards? Meet us at Beach Boulevard.’

Darkening her horn, she speaks to their guests.

‘You three are free to come and observe or enjoy the food.”

Looking as one at each other, they devoured the food and got up, armor appearing on their bodies as they did so. With a flash of her horn, the group disappeared from the restaurant and reappeared on the sidewalk of the aforementioned street. A moment later, another group of ponies appeared next to them.

As the foals were fed the food and awakened, Lu stood silently, ears twitching as they swiveled. Suddenly turning to the south, her strength lent itself to her speed as she left her escorting bodyguards in the literal dust. She was a speck to an astonished Ember, Arc, and Shadow as she leapt into the air and landed into the mouth of a barely noticeable cave.

As Lu fully entered, Listener’s ears began twitching and rotating aimlessly as her fur stood on end, eyes fully dilated and wide open. Cami noticed and produced a notepad, pen, and recorder.

“Mom?! Close is about to hear ‘The Other World’ again.

Arc, Em? Don’t freak out. You too, Ms. Shadow.”

[SPOILERS]

They first hear Luna’s and Twilight’s voices.

“Celestia.”

“Your sister?”

“She’s not-.”

That led to audible shock by everyone there, Listener struggling to stand. Just as quickly, they then hear Tempest’s and Dinky’s voices.

“You’re just like your father, Dinky.”

“How so?”

“He was one of the few stallions in my adult life to be able to look me in the eye without-.”

The two mentioned beings glanced at each other in surprise, curiosity, and shock, with Close falling to her knees. Dinky’s voice rang out again, followed by Cherry’s, Tempest’s again, then Apple Bloom, and ending with Cherry.

“Miss Cherry, are you ABSOLUTELY certain of this?!”

“Yes! I saw the whole thing happen! She stabbed your father with her horn before throwing him aside!”

“But why would she do that?!”

“I don’t know! Decimus- and the princess… she… she shot Arc with all her might!”

“That- doesn’t- sense! Everypony knows Princess Celestia is kind and honest!”

“Well, in that moment all I saw was a vicious ANIMAL!”

A sweating Close Listener finally collapsed while a snarling, denying, and trembling Ember hugged Arc protectively, almost everypony around them gasping and whispering denials. Then, a few more words rang out in a whisper.

“You’re not having second thoughts again are you, Big Brother?”

“Kinda. Like I said before, I do want to remember my life before this happened. But I’m still kinda worried that I’ll learn just how bad I really am.”

That threw the gossip ball through town, with ponies spreading the news and speculating what spells could have been cast to cause Arc to forget his life so thoroughly. The conclusion everyone independently came to was that it was the fault of the “busy” Princess Celestia, leading to Ember and Tempest shaking in near demonic and volcanic fury, their eyes glowing golden-green and red, respectively. While Cami tended to his sister, Lu came back with a Changeling over her shoulder, leading a crowd of ponies who were twins to almost everypony there.

It quickly led to panic as the fakes quickly disappeared and tried to flee, only to get stopped by the commanding voice of Cami. The localized roaring wind of Maker also knocked them to their knees and threatened to crush them into the cobblestone.

“I’ll give you five seconds to tell me where it is.’

Trembling, they refused.

“How can you threaten somelings that never existed? Three. COME ON, WRACK YOUR BRAINS! You might be able to come up with some lame excuse to go on living! In Two. On-!”

With a flash of their horn, one in the very back told him what he wanted to know, both siblings letting the crowd up and turning them over to The Family’s Police. Escorting the protective duo and graceful Arc back to Open Land, they offered to put them up in the nicest room they had to offer, which was accepted.

Ember and Arc washed each other in one bathroom while Tempest washed herself in another.

“I swear, nothing will happen to you as long as I live, Arc. Nothing.”

A Different Break-Out

The next day, everyone was gathered in the restaurant for a private discussion, Arc and Ember being a bit late and Tempest poking at her food. Cami, being Cami, decided to poke some fun at her.

“So, the two lovebirds kept you up last night?”

With the ignition of her anger to just below the flashpoint while her body language said otherwise, he got the message that she didn’t want to talk about it. He promptly ignored it, moving his eyebrows in a suggestive motion while having an honesty disgusting grin. Before his sister could reprimand him, Tempest was a blur, leaving Cami with numerous bruises and some dislocated limbs. Standing with a moan and smirk, he popped them back in place as his Family medallion glowed, healing the rest of him almost instantly.

“You know-.”

“I’ve killed 274 Changelings so far, half of them at once. Half of the remainder, I tortured until they gave up intel, then continued until they gave up the rest. The rest of them were death by a thousand cuts, with some in… intimate, places.’

She turned to a white and trembling Cami while Weather shook her head and patted him on the shoulder, cleaning up the mess he made on the floor by freezing and sweeping it up.

‘Want to die?’

He shook his head as she held it in place with her magic, the shocks hurting him as he struggled to get away while she drew closer. Getting right in his face, her scream echoed through the lobby as everypony else there ignored it.

‘THEN STOP ACTING LIKE EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND YOU!!”

After it finished ringing through his head, he nodded and left, stumbling out past an amused Arc and Ember as they entered, sat at a table, and began eating the meal they ordered from their room. At the end, Arc wiped his mouth and spoke two words.

“Luna Bay.’

The amount of food that exited Ember and Tempest’s mouths were comically large, and as he finished his drink, left a tip and left the building, the table was rushed to be cleaned. When everyone was finished staring at each other, they rushed to catch up with him on the sidewalk. Staying next to him as he walked towards the coast, they waited for him to clarify, which he did after handing Ember a scroll from their predecessors out of his box.

‘Two mares. Aloe and Vera Green. In prison for the ‘heinous crime’ of self-defense against their disgusting criminal parents three years ago, there wasn’t enough ‘physical proof’ for their innocence, so the judge decided to throw the book at them and dump them into the worse jail possible. The previous Heroes couldn’t do anything, having retired, so they left this scroll and yours, Miss Shadow, close together so their successors could do something.’

Glancing at the nervous, horrified, and in the case of Tempest and Ember, visibly excited, group, he nods at their unspoken thoughts.

‘Yes, I’m going there to get their case reevaluated.”

Tempest got up in her hind legs and pretended to fight.

“If that doesn’t work, we-?”

She pantomimed punching through a poor soul’s chest and out the back. That, along with her excited, toothy grin unnerved nearly everyone else, to which he shrugs.

“Probably. Now, who’s with me?”

Colonel Klink stumbled off his chair in surprise as Sergeant Shultz rushed in, babbling.

“S-s-s-sir! ThenewHeroesofLight! They’rehere,andtheyhaveaguardfromTheFamiliaMC! Whatshouldwedo?!”

Getting back up while shaking his horned head clean of oatmeal, he ate normally while twisting his Sergeant’s wing.

“Now, speaking normally, tell me what’s happening.”

“New- Heroes of Light! Here! Have- Familia guard!”

“Hm. ‘New Heroes of Light’? Let’s take a look at the cameras and see if you’re telling the truth.”

Taking a few more bites, he trotted to his desk and sat down, breath quickening and eyes dilating as they locked onto the Sigil. Gulping, he quickly made his way down to the front and bowed. The whole time, Shultz whimpered, struggling in silence to keep up and pleading with his eyes.

The group subtly winced in sympathy at the sight, Arc stepping up.

“Sir? While I’m glad you’re eager to do your job, your Sargent is suffering.”

“Really?’

He looks at the crying and whimpering stallion.

‘He’s looks alright to me.”

What followed a gesture from Arc was choking and a body slam from Ember and a mild beating from Tempest, ending with a direct kick to the groin. As a moaning Klink was escorted to the medical ward, Colonel Shultz graciously led them to The Deck that overlooks The Yard. It was currently full of prisoners eating, a pair of them being the mares in question, who Arc points out.

“Them. We want them and their files.”

Looking at him questionably, Schultz shrugs and calls for them to come up, the other guards holding guns and crossbows to prevent anypony else from making any sudden movement. As they climbed up, chains were brought, but were waved off by Arc, their magic being absorbed when they insisted. They were shocked, to say the least, but before they could do anything, the twins reached the top. They were reverse colorations of each other, one with a blue coat, pink tail and mane, the other with a pink coat, blue mane and tail.

Looking at him in awe, they followed him to the Colonel’s office that was currently being cleaned. Signing some documents, they were released into his custody, and as they left through the preexisting Sigil in front of the prison’s entrance, the new Colonel sighed as he began to reorganize the office.

“Time to get things improved around here!”

Stepping out of the portal, the twins were semi-nervous, having ended in front of city hall. It turned to slight confusion when they were escorted to the Open Land Hotel. It only increased when they were offered jobs on the spot by Weather Maker. Looking as one at each other, then Arc, he answered their unasked question.

“It was the right thing to do.”

Right then, the Sigil on Arc’s right gauntlet glowed, a scroll with the seals of Luna and Cadence appearing in his hand. Opening it, he sees that there’s a Light Competition for the guard(s) who’ll join them whenever asked, Twilight not counted as the Heroes asked her directly. Each branch will have the opportunity to show off their best, fighting each other for the chance to join the Heroes. The first event was at noon, Cadence’s guards vs Luna’s, then the winners vs Celestia’s in the evening.

“Mind if I leave a Sigil next to this table?”

Food Healer, Weather’s Aunt, gestured for the trio to follow her as she went towards the elevator.

“We’ll do better.”

Leading them to his suite, she gestures to a trio of work ponies who are finishing polishing a large circle with elegant bordering in the middle of the space between the living and dining rooms. Nodding in thanks, he kneels and places an equally large Sigil in the center of it, Ember and Tempest, her armor inside her scarf, joining him.

Reappearing in a deserted Throne Room, the waiting guard asked them to follow her. She guides them to a balcony overlooking a private courtyard, where Cadence and Luna were sitting on royal chairs, two others to their right with the Hero’s Sigil on top. The one to Luna’s right had a crude handprint underneath, with the second having a flame. A third was set to the right of the last one, with a nervous Tempest taking it. Arc and Ember switched their chairs so that a shuddering Tempest could hold his hand, and as everyone sat, the chosen guards began stepping out.

“Excuse me, Your-?’

“Please, Mr. Arc. Just our names when we’re alone. What is it?”

‘What if we were to have the three teams fight all at once? Not only would we see how each of them play off of each other, but there would be less chance for something bad to happen tomorrow and for us to not catch it.”

Looking at each other in wordless communication, they nod in agreement, calling for Celestia’s guards to come out and for all to have a battle royale. Not questioning this, they joined the other group, bowed toward the balcony, then turned towards each other, weapons drawn and ready to pounce. Luna turned to Arc, sweeping her hoof towards the waiting soldiers.

“You do the honors, Heroes of Light.”

“On three, Arc?”

“Like you have to ask.”

‘One.’

‘Two.’

Simultaneously.

“THREE!” “THREE!”

Lunar and Love immediately turned on Solar, the two somehow working together despite their contrasting fighting styles. Lunar soldiers emphasized individual attacks, while Love soldiers were paired off, each able to work with another pair or alone as needed. Despite their valiant efforts, the Thestrals providing distractions the Love guards effectively took advantage of, the Solar guards were able to beat them both at the same time with few losses. The Solars helped up their brothers and sisters in arms, all the groups having red and blue marks on their body representing a lethal or near-lethal strike.

As they lined up, their commanders stood in front of them, looking up expectantly for their final choice.

“My love, I think we have our best of the best! ... Arc?”

Turning to him, she and everypony else was surprised at the blank slate that was Arc’s face at the moment. After a few more moments, he turns to Their Majesties.

“How capable would you say they would be able to work together?”

The two princesses looked as one to each other, then to the puzzled troops and commanders, then back to the duo as Tempest began wildly grinning and vibrating in place. As this caused Arc to suffer the same vibrating effect, he held up a hand to stop the guards and leaned back with a satisfying sigh, gesturing for a now chuckling Tempest to continue. Relaxing for a bit, he stopped as Tempest froze from the icy glare the Princesses sent her.

Noticing this, he sent them a brief glare in response while patting her hoof, making them stand down. Standing up and stepping to the railing, he gestured for the rest to join him, which they did. Sweeping an arm across the yard, he spoke.

“This is a competition for us get the best back-up/personal guards/advisor(s), right?”

They nodded as he continued.

“Well, I would like for the newest of each group to step forward.”

Their faces becoming downright befuddled, they nodded, the equally dumbfounded Commanders following Arc’s request. Four ponies stepped forward, their nervousness obvious.

“Congratulations, you four. You’re now with us. Further details will be provided soon.”

As the group headed to the Throne Room, when the princesses or Ember would try to get clarification, Arc would place a finger on his mouth and shush them. When everyone was reunited, he got to explaining.

“I’m going to go right to the point.

You guys are going to have to metaphorically forget everything you’ve ever learned.”

Everyone except Tempest stared incredulously at him, the mare in question trotting excitedly in place. As all looked at her, Arc lifted an eyebrow questionably.

“You’re going to teach them how to work together in new ways that has to do with a mix of my training and theirs, which means that they would have to adapt themselves from scratch!”

Blinking at this point, the princesses and soldiers are about to verbally question him when he nods and grins at her statement, Tempest’s hoof pumping at being right. Opening their mouths, they decided to shut them with the exception of the Solar soldier.

“We’ll introduce ourselves just outside your new Base in Ponyville, Heroes of Light.”

That short-circuited Ember’s and Arc’s minds for a bit, Ember recovering first and asking what he meant. Princess Luna answered with an embarrassed blush.

“Forgive me, for I had forgotten to discuss the layout of your base, as well as… Even inform you that… There was one… In the first… Place.”

Coughing, she gestured for everyone to follow her to the nearby Sigil, teleporting them in front of the already massive, grand, and castle-like half-finished base, complete with towers, moat, gate, and an interior courtyard able to fit the whole of Ponyville plus two hundred guards. Turning to the traveling trio, the Princesses chuckled at their shock as Arc and Ember’s mouths flapped soundlessly. As the latter turned towards them with a huge grin, the former with a questioning semi-frown, and Tempest continued staring excitedly, Princess Cadence announced with a voice just a tick below the RCV.

“WELCOME TO YOUR BASE!!”

A Different Discovery

When they got home, the first thing the trio noticed was the screaming. Actually, that was the second thing. The first was the massive bear towering over Ponyville and the rainbow and golden-grey blurs zipping around it, a light pink shield keeping it from the town.

The third thing they noticed was the military and press cars, which were right next to each other. Glancing at each other, they leaped off the train and dashed to where ponies were galloping and screaming away from.

“Do you have a better plan this time, you two?!”

“Other than knock ‘im out? Enope!”

“I think it’s going to be better depending you for the plans from now on, my mate!”

“EM-! *sigh* We’ll talk about that later, my mate-to-be! AJ, how strong are your bucks?!”

“While Ah’m mighty honored, mah bucks ain’t that strong. Wha’ abou’ you an’ Ember hitting her at da same time?”

Looking at each other, they nod and redouble their efforts, and the instant they had a clear shot--.

WHAM!!

The bear was lifted a foot or so, crashing into the ground and flattening the trees behind it. As it groggily shook it’s head and tried to get up, it was met by another twin hit, this one from the two armored ponies from the previous chapter. Faced with four warriors, along with the shield pony, robed pony, and the pathetic purple pony, she had enough and ran.

The ground shook from the townponies’ cheers, them grabbing the four warriors and carrying them up to the town square stage, where they were subjected to more cheers and photos from the news for a good minute straight.

“SIR!? HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO LET THEM CHEER!?”

“FOR AS LONG AS THEY WANT, SARGENT FLASH! IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE HEROES OF LIGHT MADE AN APPEARANCE IN BATTLE, AND MY INSTINCTS ARE TELLING ME THAT SOMETHING MOMENTOUS IS GOING TO HAPPEN! WHAT, I’M NOT TOTALLY SURE, BUT I’M GOING TO KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT!”

As it turned out, they were right. The previous Heroes of Light announced they were passing the torch to Arc and Ember. As one, they gave them the sigil of the HoL, a sword behind a shield and both in front of the outline of Equestria. It was simple to place on his right gauntlet, exactly like a tattoo, but when it caused Arc’s whole armor to glow, it was pretty obvious it was anything but. When the second pony was going to place one on Ember, however, she politely denied it.

“Where he goes, I go!”

Nodding, they then reply,

“And now we must ask a final favor from you two.”

“Name it.”

Both of them unhook the hoofguards with the sigil from their armor and place them in his hand. “Take these to Canterlot, present them to the Princesses. They’ll understand.”

Nodding as one, they salute each other, the former Heroes of Light backing away and disappearing in a literal Blink as the newer ones followed, assuring the gathered ponies they’ll be back ASAP. Appearing in the right side of the Throne Room out of the holographic Sigil that appeared in advance, they looked down to see that there was one physically engraved into the floor beside the Thrones. Looking up, they saw the nobles and guards bowing to them as the Princesses strode to their side, teleporting to yet another location.

There are pictures of numerous Heroes, each of them with the Sigil in a place of their choosing, such as a chest plate, armband, even a horn guard. The actual piece of armor is on a pedestal right beneath them. Beside each of them are bookshelves filled with numerous scrolls, books, and artifacts. Ember was the first to ask the obvious, Luna answering.

“Where are we, if I may ask?”

“We’re in the Forbidden Section. Only this once do you need our permission. Afterwards, you’ll be automatically infused with our magical signatures and may come as often as you like. Pass me the sigils.”

Handing them over, she sighed and held them to her forehead, closing her eyes and whispering a short prayer in an unknown language before gently placing them in their place. Turning to them, she quietly gulps before asking.

“Did they suffer?”

Arc shook his head.

“They didn’t, Your Highness. They decided to retire after one last outing.”

Her face had relief written all over it.

“Good. I’ve read so many of these scrolls. How a partner died, what they did to avenge them, how they died… Too much death.’

She turns to the filled bookshelf behind her.

‘At least here’s another one that’s deathless and peaceful. I’ll- I’ll leave the rest to you, niece. I’ll have the Captains of the guards prepare their best for the Light Competition.”

As Luna Blinked away, Candence approaches them with two plain boxes.

“Every Hero of Light is given a special box they can change the form of to fit their needs. It’s divided into three sections. The top is linked with your bookshelf, the right is linked to any other shelf you personally handle stuff from, and the left is a direct drop into a special space in Tartarus.’

Opening them, they see that it’s separated into three triangular spaces. The top is the same color as the box, the right is pure white, and the left is black with red jagged lines throughout. Looking at each other, they gulp nervously before storing it in their rings, much to Cadence’s amazement.

‘So that’s how those works… Looks like you have some powerful friends, you two.

Hopefully, they won’t be needed a lot, because you two now have the same power and authority as us in every aspect, including in the event that we are incapable of ruling, unable to deal with certain situations, or… or attempt to take total control for herself.

That means that you can take control of any aspect of Equestria in order to counteract whatever she, or we, try to do. Yes, including the military, special forces, and spies.’

They stared at her with even more nervousness, shakily breathing and slowly nodded in understanding. She suddenly became serious, unnervingly so.

‘Now, I need your full attention to what I’m about to say.

My aunt and Luna’s sister, Princess Celestia, has been missing for nearly two months and a half. It happened when a mysterious mirror appeared in the gift room during her birthday celebration. None of the other royals were aware of it, with hidden lie detector spells confirming.

The next day, when royal scientists unveiled it, she was Blinked through it despite precautions taken. While we figured out she’s not on the planet itself, we’re at a complete loss as to where to direct their scrying. We’ve started broad, trying to find her magical signature, but with as many solar systems we’ve discovered just from the basic pulses alone…’

She shuddered and attempted to hold back tears as Arc slowly approached and stroked her mane, not stopping until she calmed down. Meanwhile, Ember was thinking, speaking up when they were done.

“I’m assuming the first thing you did was try to use the mirror, right?”

She nodded.

“How much later did you give Twilight the mirror Arc got dragged out of?”

“Three days later, why?”

“Was that mirror in anyway close to or linked to the one your Princess got kidnapped by?”

She shook her head, then thought, her eyes snapping open as she wrote on a sudden piece of paper which she sent to the head scientist. Barely thirty seconds later he sent back confirmation that she was on Arc’s planet, and they were starting to narrow their search.

“That’s good! Er, do you guys have any idea about the size of my planet or its population?”

“None. Any help will be useful.”

“Thankfully, Twilight and the former Heroes installed more upgrades in this thing… Let me… A-ha!”

Out of a small jewel in his helmet came a sizable holograph of the planet, leading to the Princess of Love to skeptically inch forward.

“Your planet doesn’t look that big with so much water. How large are your continents?”

“The smallest one to your lower right is roughly three million square miles, called Australia, and is home to around 26 million people. The ones nearby are called Africa and Asia, with a combined land area of about 28 million square miles and an estimated combined population of around 5 billion. The other three-.”

A thoroughly unnerved and frankly terrified Candence halts his monologue.

“Are huge and have millions or billions of humans. Got it.’

She turns around and Blinks away, the last they heard being,

‘I hope Sunburst-.”

Staring at the space she left, they stared at each other before shaking themselves and deciding to walk around a bit, exploring the shelves. The first one they checked was their immediate predecessors, which, safe to say, had a storied and exciting life.

One particularly unnerving mission was when they picked up two orphaned fillies from an abandoned town that didn’t exist the next time they went. The unnerving part was that the land it was on, upon further investigation, was completely undisturbed.

When asked, Princess Celestia informed them that there was a powerful spell that made it so that its target was, as it’s called, ‘reconned’. The only problem was that there was an insanely limited number of ponies or a large group of them that could cast such a spell. That immediately eliminated her and any potential alicorns, as well as any creatures from Tartarus. If there was any creature or group of creatures capable of such a thing, they would have had done something by now.

The two fillies, one called Tempest Shadow and her sister, Cerulean Skies, were then transferred to the New Beginnings Orphanage in Vanhoover, where one grew into Special Agent Shadow, and the other into the personal assistant for Vanhoover’s judge. The former became the best of the best before “retiring” and became the new Matron for NBO, where 90 percent of Equestria’s military began coming from, while the latter helped many families out of poverty with her ‘personal touch’.

Ember read a newer scroll that was bound to the older one. This one was dark blue and had traces of Luna’s magic.

“This whole orphanage is disturbing, Arc. Every soldier from there has been reported to have the majority of the nations’ worse nightmares. They’re of a shadowy pony starving them, beating them, or forcing them to fight each other for the right of dessert and/or to use the restroom. They also, quite bizarrely, dream of the same pony, covered in light, rescuing them from its counterpart and doing the exact opposite.”

Through grit teeth and furious eyes, Arc replied.

“That’s definitely not a coincidence. Make a copy of it and let’s get to the train station.”

“New Beginnings?”

“New Beginnings.”

After she made a copy, she replaced the original, then froze as her claw left the scroll.

“What if the sister princesses are behind it?”

Furrowing his brow, he stares at a spot in the floor, then grits his teeth.

“There’s no way they can’t be behind it. I mean, a Special Agent being assigned to overlook an Orphanage, dreams and nightmares from the grown-up foals themselves being recorded on paper right from the Dream Princess herself…!’

He makes eye contact with an increasingly furious dragoness.

“To be fair’, she makes air quotes’, ‘maybe those were dreams that exaggerated what happened?”

“And for them to be as vivid as described? Not a chance for it to be overblown imagination or exaggerated memory. And even if there was a “surprise inspection”, my gut tells me that such a highly placed agent would still have friends and if not that, contacts here. And if it was dealt with, as the notes in this scroll,’ holding up the older scroll, ‘imply, why isn’t there another detailing how it was done, as they would’ve wanted to be involved?”

After a moment of silence, they say simultaneously.

“We’ll do it ourselves.”

As they made their way to front gates, they were politely stopped by a subtly scared-to-death Twilight, who meekly requested they follow her to the kitchen. Halting just inside the doorway, they found an overly excited Lyra with an amused Luna and a slightly blushing Candence around a table in front of a lit fireplace, the darker pone speaking up.

“So, ‘they aren’t picky about which hole they use!’ Huh?’

To the duo’s look of utter befuddlement,

‘Your species’ supposed ‘mating habits’, Arc.”

They froze, and while Ember’s imagination started to run wild, Arc glared furiously at the now terrified Lyra.

“Where. The buck. Did you hear. Such a disgusting. And vulgar. Thing?”

She gulps and shakily takes out a rather old book, holding it out to Arc who not-so-gently takes it from her with telekinesis. Reading it, he alternates between confusion, sadness, amusement, frowning, and at one point, outright hatred. Unfortunately, that last emotion was the one he ended the book on, slamming it shut and awakening Ember from her extended daydream.

“Wha-? What ha-?”

“Lyra. As soon as I can, I’ll have an interview with you so that we can…clarify some of the more… revolting things and outright lies.’

To prove a point, he hurled it into the fire. Nodding, Lyra slowly gets off her chair, snack unfinished.

“So, interview for to-?”

“Delayed.”

“GoodgoodIwasjust… Ahem! Good. Um-bye!”

She left behind her shadow, who squeaked in terror and followed her body at an equally fast pace. Growling, he shakes his head and sits next to a still amused Luna, while a slightly dripping Ember sat on his other side next to a subtly shaking Candence.

“Now, what have you discovered, Heroes of Light?”

Looking as one at each other, they shake their heads and shrug.

“Nothing much.”

After they chatted a bit while barely keeping their anger in check, they immediately made their way to Vanhoover, where they found the orphanage after some questioning. The building in question was happy, but not overly so, with spots of darkness that made the lighter paint pop a bit.

“Uh, Arc? Are you sure-?”

“I am. This has to the right-.”

A dark purple unicorn with a broken horn, flank blank, and a scar over her right eye approaches them, admiration in her eyes as she bowed, then quickly hopped up.

“Whoa, so my gut was correct! There are new Heroes!”

To say they were taken aback was putting it lightly. As Shadow led them around, the doubt and questions only grew and grew as they saw the foals genuinely loving her and her returning the affection. She ate with them, played with them, bathed them, and read to them until they went to their mid-afternoon nap.

As she gently closed the door, she released a shuddering sigh before forcing a smile as she urged them to her office.

“N-Now, w-which families are you adopting for?”

Biting their lips, Ember showed her the copy of the scroll, to which Shadow sighed and shook her head, her breathing becoming erratic and tears threatening to fall.

“Be… Believe me, if you were to face my ‘twin’, neither of you would survive, which is why they’ve left me alone for all this time…”

“What’s been done?”

She made eye contact with them.

“EVERYTHING. They’ve tried cures, they’ve tried artifacts, they even tried killing her, which she amusedly allowed, up to Celestia straight up blasting her and me… Nothing.”

Looking at each other, Ember’s actions were a blur, ending with Courage and Hope in Shadow’s chest and stomach. The unicorn in question smiled sadly, tears falling, as she effortlessly pulled them out and handed the first to Ember and the second to Arc.

“P-please… adopt them… As many as you can, before she comes out for the week. This is the only day I get to enjoy-.”

She screamed in surprised terror as a spearpoint erupted from her chest, blood pouring from it and covered her. The last thing she did was Blink them into the foals’ resting room, where they stood bravely in wait. Ember was the first to react.

“Wha- what are you doing?!”

“B-b-being brave for Miss Shadow. She’s-she’s terribly sick, and we need to be ready for the evening.”

The next thing they heard was heavy, echoing hoofsteps, the locked door being slowly unlocked and the unicorn’s body, now wearing black, heavy armor, entering, holding a pitch-black spear with the same point on it. Staring in distain at the armed and ready Heroes, she sighed and Blinked away her suit and weapon.

“I… Suppose I could play with my food befor-.”

She moved like lightning, bucking Arc in the chest and striking Ember in the face. As the two were blasted through the walls, Ember was able to thrust her spear into the ground, using the force to fling herself back and block another strike.

Meanwhile, Arc had used the Armor’s magic to Blink himself into Tempest, slamming her to the ground. She countered with her legs, bucking off and electrocuting him. Much to her slight surprise, her magic did nothing but strengthen the armor and its magic, allowing him to get up and move almost just as fast.

“Hm, looks like I get a challenge, after all.”

The strikes, dodges, and blocks between the three went on for a bit, the foals supremely worried as various guards who tried intervening got their motor control forcefully rewritten by her electrical magic and used as cannon fodder. The duo was able to knock them out, but they were getting tired.

“Give up, already! I’ve trained for this for my whole life!

You two? What, you spend some time in Tartarus, be backup in taking down a gang, and just deliver some taps to a monster, and you expect to outmatch me?! I would be laughing if it wasn’t so pathetic.”

As they helped each other up for what felt the hundredth time, a force activated from within Ember, while another force flowed from Derpy’s spear into Arc, with Tempest Blinking on her armor and grabbing the spear. Moving even faster than before, she’s only able to get 1/3rd of the way there before the energies joined and penetrated the exact center of her chest.