Fallout Equestria: Desperados V3 (Bonds of Platinum)

Fallout: Equestria

Desperado’s V3: Bonds of Platinum

Ch 26, Blood of Platinum, Part 1.

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Though I couldn't remember what my dream was, I was sure it was a rather nice one, as I felt far too refreshed for how uncomfortable of a position I woke up in. Turns out that not just Fizzy was a sleep hugger, but so was Lair, and they both had me pinned.

After some mocking from the rest of the mares, they finally helped me out and we got ready for the day. We all had a simple and hardy breakfast delivered by Arras, and chatted about nothing to fill the time as we waited for any word from Umberfold.

A letter eventually came in, letting us know Hollow and Swift would be returning shortly, so it was time to get properly dressed. I chose my normal outfit, feeling that it was wise to take the ballistic weave dress, and my jacket so that I can easily hide my pistol. I also made sure my recon drone had full power, which Order made a happy smile through my hud at me.

I also packed up Majesty's harp to take with me as well. I doubted it would be useful, but if everything goes well, I wanted to at least leave the harp in a safe place while I still can.

As for the others, Lair was dressed up in something that resembled a ship captain, armed with a cutlass and rapier, along with her large pistol. Strangely, she had a second, smaller pistol, complete with a suppressor.

“Why the second gun?” I asked.

Lair let me have a closer look at both, they had the same chrome and brass with symbols of Thorn all over it. “Their sanctified pistols, mostly a mark of status than to be used as a real gun. Well the bigger ones generally are, as fifty caliber is a bit much even for me. My father insisted I keep the big one on me openly, and the smaller one kept hidden, so that the faithful just focus on one gun.” showing off the smaller one, and though simulator in appearance, it also had some of the same symbols as the coins Lair decorated herself with. “Uncle got me this .45 subsonic version, this one isn't just called a saintified gun, but has some simple spiritual blessings to it. Haven't gotten the opportunity to try it, but supposedly I can shoot goats with it.”

That was rather interesting, and reminiscent of zebra guns from the war.

I then showed her my fathers revolver. “So it is like mine, kept hidden until needed, though not magical.”

“Now that's a nice gun, looks like a classic law revolver, but both smoother and with a thicker barrel.” Lair commented.

I nodded. “It's a standard issue for members of Orthrus. Something to do with always being armed with a reliable gun in an unreliable world.”

We both put our guns away, disappearing them under our jackets. “That's a good philosophy, though the Barbary Islands view on this is a bit more pessimistic. Since we see it as the world wanting us dead, we don't make it easy for the world to get rid of us. Or something like that.”

“Why would the world, like, be so mean like that?” Fizzy said as she jumped between us into a hug. She had on the dress we got from the boutique, but had her saddlebag coolers on and a Sparkle-Cola crystal mug hanging from a rope.

“Shouldn't you, ya know, arm yourself?” I asked.

Lair cocked an eyebrow at me. “You want this clumsily mare armed with a gun?”

Fizzy let us go and shook her head. “I umm, don't like guns, or hurting, like, anypony.” She said, looking a bit ashamed as she held up the mug. “But I can still defend myself. This mug is dangerous if I hit ponies with it, and I can still charm others.”

The mug was certainly magical, even I could feel it, as it seemed to be actually a talisman. As for her own magic, I was in no doubt that if Fizzy wanted too, she could send the city into chaos all by herself.

“Alright, well if any fighting starts, just stick closely to us, okay.” I told her.

Fizzy gave me another hug before backing away. “I hope it doesn't come down to that.”

“Same.” Lair said. “No clue what tricks Purity has under her wings, and I rather not find out.”

I couldn't agree more, but I had no doubt that once, if things go well, Purity finds herself in our trap, she's going to throw everything out. Our only safeguard was that she will likely play along until she finds what she is looking for.

Stepping out of our tent, we were greeted by Arras and Willow waiting for us. To my suprise, Willow wasn't in her robes, but in a black dress, and draped in a black fishnet like veil, giving her a bit of a ghostly appearance.

“Willow, it's good to see you.” I greeted the beautiful mare.

“Good to see you too.” She greeted me back. “Elder Magnificence has requested that I aid you, we also have asked the Platinum Guard to be on high alert. I don't exactly know what is going to happen, but you can trust that we are prepared for most trouble.”

“Platinum Hill hasn't existed this long without being able to deal with a disaster of two.” Arras bosted. “This will be no different.”

“Well, if things go well, there won't be any trouble.” Lair said to the unicorns. “The real issue is our wildcard, this Corps Brigade.”

Arras nodded at that. “Ya, we only got Harp and Stars word on them, but seeing how tenacious Star can be, any fight with them is going to be a slog.”

“Worse.” I spoke up. “They can actually shrug off injuries that most ponies would be left in shock over. Seen it myself.”

“But you think they would act so publicly, I mean, isn't Victoria a celebrity?” Slowtrot asked with the male members of our little Chapter behind him.

“She's got proxies.” Star pointed out. “In terms of magic, Puppet Strings could be the biggest threat. But there are quite a few veteran sailors in the Corps Brigade that could dance rings around us. Truthfully, I'm betting that Carving Doll is still alive, and will show up out of nowhere soon. I mean, you never saw her die, so it's possible.”

That thought sent a cold shiver down my spine. Carving Doll was a mad mare that got her wings ripped out and replaced by rippers. If anypony could get away from Red Steel, it was that monster.

At least I knew that Blackspot and his two murder mares were all dead, though they refused to die quickly.

Willow let out a long and annoyed sigh. “Dear Celestia, please don't let this be another winter of troubles.”

“Could be worse.” Live spoke up with a hint of mischievousness. “Could be another Long Winter.”

“Do not joke about such things.” Willow snapped. “Though Platinum Hill was spared the worst of that year, thanks all due to the city cremating bodies to prevent cannibalism, that necromancer would have eventually turned his sights on us. Elder Magnificence is powerful, but even she can't stop an army of the dead. Thank Celestia, a hero managed to stop that madness.”

“Necromancer?” Star said with an eyebrow cocked high.

“Wait, you know what actually happened during the long winter?” Live asked.

“It's well recorded in our archives.” Willow said with pride. “Elder Magnificence had to recall all of our mages back to the city just to prevent the necromancer from claiming them for himself. That and help the city with the disastrous winter the necromancer had conjured over the Equestria.”

“Haven't seen one myself, but my uncle has. Real nightmare shit from his descriptions of them. Some can even will themselves to keep moving even after death. Said it takes some serious magic to put them down permanently, and even then they can still come back.” Lair told us.

“Right, well let's hope that doesn't happen.” Star said nervously.

A sharp whistle came from further down the camp, and we saw Swift and Hollow trotting over, along with the Privateer, Chum.

“Your backup?” I asked, looking at Chum.

“Lady Nightfall insisted I protect 'er daughters.” Chum said loudly “and ain't no fuckin' way I be lettin' some shitbag blessed spearrr even 'arm a 'air on their 'eads. The Cap'n would tan me 'ide if I let that there fuckin' 'appen.”

“Now that's the Barbary Ponies I remember.” Arras said, sounding annoyed.

“Oh, yarr got a fuckin' problem yarr rottin' shitstain corps o' an ass barnical.” Chum sneered.

“None at all ya sea thief.” Arras responded. “But I am worried that with ponies like ya around, all it will take is a few coins to make ya a turncoat.”

Chum laughed. “So little, it be a fuckin' farrr more than a few coins to buy me off. Even then, I ain't tunin' me reputation to shite o'er coinage. Yarr can only backstab the fuckin' Darkheart’s once, but ye be paid bigtime many times by bein' loyal. An' I be likin' bein' paid big every yearrr.”

“And Purity is rumored to be quite stingy with her payouts.” Hollow added. “Probably why she works with those Buccaneer dredges… no offense, Star.”

“None taken, my so-called mother was a whore after all.” Star said, half annoyed.

That strangely put a smile on Hollow's face, reminding me of my sisters whenever a pony of lower status grovaled to them in a subtle manner. Though I bet Star just didn't want to fight right here, and just surrendered ground to Hollow for now.

Before any more verbal jousting could continue, I cut in. “Alright, now that everypony is here, any word from Bishop Pitch and the Blessed Spears?”

“Ay.” Chum spoke up. “The good Bishop has… convinced the Blessed Spears t' hold back. So no worries about 'em bein' a nuances.”

“They need time to confirm if they have lost the Weeping Pegasus.” Hollow added. “But they're not going to pass up on a possible new ship, even if they still have the old one. Bishop Pitch has also offered to endorse Dystopian to replace her mother. Though still a puppet to the clergy, the mare was still raised by their previous Bishop, whom they respected far more then the current. This should put Purity in a rather… unfavorable position until the pistols are obtained and the condition of their ship is confirmed.”

That was good to know, the more Purity's actions are restricted the better. Still, I wish we didn't have to give her anything.

“Good, then all we need to do is get this over with, and hopefully have Purity and her lackey to leave without starting a fight.” I then looked over at Swift. “I assume you're coming along?”

He shook his head. “Naw, it's best if I stay with my herd. I may fucking hate these uptight assholes here in the city, but no way am I going to give them the smug satisfaction of me failing to maintain order. No, I'll be directing my troops in the outer-city, I've already called my Umberfoal forces in to take over for the mission here. By the time any trouble starts, any of mine that are compromised will be halfway to Umberfoal.”

“Uncle says that he should be able to detect any magical tampering on them.” Hollow added.

“If he can help them, I'll be in his debt.” Arras said. “But until then, I'll be locking down the camp, and making sure nopony is doing anything they shouldn't.”

“Which leaves the Red Light District.” Slowtrot said as he trotted over with the rest of the Red Caps. “From how you described the place, I can't see how we're going to block it off.”

“I suggest just keeping an eye on the church, and take the Smuggler with you.” Lair suggested.

“Why not just smash building first?” The yak Amralt suggests.

“Blasphemy!” Sprocket gasped at the yak. “Such desecration would demand retribution!”

Pilfer chuckled. “That and I bet they will see us coming. Who knows if they got tunnels or not. Or possible fortifications. Also, the Red Light District is really packed together, a gunfight will surely kill innocents.”

I wasn't surprised that the thief had been visiting there.

“Just keep an eye on the building and have your guns at the ready. That should be enough to keep ponies in line.” Swift told them. “Oh, and if any of those nutjobs come out to complain, let the priestess deal with them.”

Sprocket's cybernetic tail swished from under her robe. “Ay, the church may become a new holy workshop of the saint, and I have the honor of sanctifying it with holy oil.”

At the very least, I was sure that even if things did escalate at the church, it will stay an internal matter between the Thorns. Well, escalate in terms of religious dogma.

“Well, at least I know you got everything covered.” I told Swift, though still worried about chaos breaking out. But at least if anything does happen, it should be relatively short.

He let out a snort that came off pridefully. “Of course, I ain't no fool. I know that big fights are eighty percent sitting on our asses waiting for the fight, ten percent extreme violence and ten percent counting bodies. You don't know when the fight starts, or where, only that you must be ready for it.”

“Agreed.” Arras said, patting Swift on the side. “I haven't survived this long by being reckless, and that goes for you two as well. So I expect to see you both return alive, you understand me.”

We both nodded in agreement.

I didn't know what exactly was going to happen, or how it would happen. I didn't even know if anything at all would happen. For all we knew, Purity Spiral might just play nice today, and leave without even uttering an insult. And that… that scared me the most.

“Alright, then I guess we move out then. I'll secure the deal with the Blessed Spears, and hopefully keep Purity from whatever she is really after.” I said psyching myself up.

“And I'll make sure nopony starts any trouble without getting knocked down.” Swift added, then motioned at Slowtrot and Live. “Ya two, we're taking the bikes into the Red Light District, bring your Redcaps along and show me how much you are a Desperados.”

I watched as they all trotted off to the old parking lot, leaving my team with Arras.

“Harp, I don't know what you will find in there, but remember, anything in there will not be worth your life.” Arras told me.

But I shook my head. “You know that's not true. Who knows what dangers are down there. Still, I understand.” I gave the old ghoul a hug, and though he had withered over the last two hundred years, I could feel the toned muscles he still had.

“Just… don't do anything you will regret. Take it from me, an old fool with several lifetimes of regrets.” He said, patting me on the head. “It's amazing actually, the longer we are together, the more I can remember Majesty. You even have the same voice now that I think about. And your eyes are familiar, yet not exactly Majesty's.”

“Thanks.” letting him go, I turned to my group. “Star, Fizzy, Henbane, Alpha, Caval and the Darkheart sister's with their body guard were waiting for me. I even saw the shimmer of two other Nightstalker. “Let's go!”

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As it turned out, Willow had an express ticket to the back entrance to the tomb by teleportation. Several members of the Coven of Clovers were there to receive us by slip teleportation, along with Elder Magnificence, with Willow appearing last after all of us had arrived.

Even the Platinum Guard were waiting for us, taking proper position to great royalty, with Gold Leaf in the possession of where the royal guard captain would stand. “Greetings Lady Harp, It brings us joy for you to visit us again. Though it saddens me that we were never able to talk properly.”

This… didn't sit right with me.

“I'd think you were mocking me if I didn't know better.” I told Guard captain Gold Leaf. “How long have you known? And who else knows.”

“Just the ponies here.” Elder Magnificence said as she tipped her hat to me. “When Purity Spiral was looking for members of the guard to influence, Gold here came to us for confirmation about her claims. Not that we could, that is.”

“Then I showed up.” I said, feeling like a fool. “I should have known, no way you could tell who I was by magic alone. Not when I'm not a unicorn.”

Mag chuckled. “True, but when you know what to look for, it becomes so much easier to detect. Both your entering the teahouse and the tomb ‘s grounds was all I needed to confirm the truth. Even if you were a descendant of royalty, that didn't mean you were considered royalty. And frankly, if you weren't, I was going to turn Purity into bubbles for her insult, like so many others before her.”

A cold chill ran down my spine, giving me no reason to doubt Mag. “Then why keep her alive? Why all this?” I asked.

“Because she wants to get inside the tomb as well, and you would never open that door unless it was necessary.” Lair said. “There's something inside she wants as well.”

Mag just smiled and trotted into the tombs garden, saying nothing.

Willow let out a sigh. “Personality, I don't care about whatever is in the tomb, I just want this powderkeg to remove itself from my city. Even if it means selling out the royal family.” I glared at her, but Willow rolled her eyes back at me. “I have children to protect your majesty, and I don't care who I have to make a deal with, so long as they're safe.”

“My mother warned me about this, a Faustian bargain she called it.” I told Willow.

“This is no deal with demons for power or knowledge!” She snapped.

I shook my head at her as I remembered my mothers lessons. “Rarely does it ever involve power or knowledge. That's just old Breezy tales, in most cases it involves water, or food, but mostly it is for the ponies children.” I said as I looked her in the eyes, causing Willow to look away.

With nothing more to say, I trotted past Willow, and into the garden itself.

I didn't know what deal they made with Purity, or what threat she hung over their heads, but I didn’t intend to hold it over their heads for it. I was no different from them after all. But the fact they knew Purity was here and didn't warn me, and even pretend to not know about her, that pissed me off the most.

“You okay, Harp?” Star asked, and I sighed. “Ya, I get that. It's like everypony knew before we even got here, kind of shitty.”

“Not that unusual.” Hollow said, seemingly enjoying the royal treatment of power armored guards. “Everpony is playing a great game, after all.”

“Careful dear sister, it's bad luck to say such things.” Lair said as she eyed Gold. “Say, does your sister know anything about this?”

Gold Leaf shook his head. “My sister can't be trusted to not tell grandmother. And Elder Fullmetal has a very different view on the tomb and our role with it.”

“And that is?” I asked.

“She’d keep it sealed, and let the Platinum Guard be slowly absorbed by the Steel Rangers. As much as she says she loves the Platinum Guard, she is still Steel Ranger through and through, and like the Rangers, she'd choose entropy over saving the guard.” Gold explained. “There is no guarantee that we will ever get this chance again, and without something more to rally the guard, it's only a matter of time that the Steel Rangers will gain full control of the Inner-city, and we will become just another chapter of them.”

“And Elder Fullmetal isn't going to live forever.” Willow added. “She is the only pony among the Guard the Rangers remotely respect, and once she is gone, the Rangers will move in to annex the Guard. Elder Potato Pie has already gained many supporters among the Guard, and has made motions to replace Grandmother when she does step down. After that, their eyes will fall onto the Coven of Clovers to be turned into their scribes.”

“And you think Thorns Chosen will help you?” Star asked bitterly.

“We will deal with them when the time comes.” Willow growled. “It's not the first death cult we have purged from our city. Right now it's opening the tomb that's important.”

And that's the problem, it's not a cult, and they can't just be purged. I knew this and the Darkheart sister's knew this, but the ponies here have yet to understand it themselves. It was like the Equalists all over again, with powerful ponies underestimating how much of a threat this new group is, and choosing to make deals instead of purging them before it's too late.

If Pewter was correct, and this Clergy was planning to take this city through subterfuge and chaos, without a proper counter to them, the city was doomed. Both the Coven of Clovers and Platinum Guard might just have to submit themselves to the Steel Rangers just to survive if this was to happen. But at least we have them on guard for now, and with the Darkheart’s help, the damage could be kept minimal.

Lair gave me a knowing look, telling me she was thinking the same thing. “Self fulfilling prophecy.” She whispered, getting an annoyed glare from Willow.

“Think what you will bicorn, but this land has existed since Celestia first stepped hoof on Equestria soil, and will be here when she returns to us. No invaders will ever truly claim it for themselves.” Willow said with full confidence.

Passing by a beautiful rose bush, I noticed that the grounds were relatively empty of knights and squares. “You have everypony out on patrol?”

“Elder Fullmetal took Magnificence warning seriously, and has my sister leading much of the guard in checking our defense. There aren't that many of us compared to the Steel Rangers, so it’s an all hooves on deck order.” Gold Leaf explained.

That was both good, and probably very bad at the same time. The city was more secure, but the tomb wasn't.

Rounding a corner, we came to the tomb's entrance, where Magnificence was now standing next to Bishop Purity Spiral, Utopian Vision, and four members of the Blessed Spears. Two of which were the Corps Brigade unicorns from the curch, and one was that shotgun priest.

“Good of you to come, I almost thought you'd chicken out.” Purity said with venom at the tip of her tongue.

“I'm only here to make a deal with the Blessed Spears, isn't that right?” I said to the one priest I haven't met yet. He was similarly dressed to that of Utopian, but was much older, and far more battle worn. I was only assuming, but he had to be of equal, if not, a higher rank then Utopian.

He looked annoyed, but the priest nodded. “That is correct.”

Pure rage flashed on Purity's face. “What is the meaning of this? As your Bishop, all such deals go through me!”

The priest sighed. “It has come to my attention that you have lost our ship, all thanks to that heretical Corps Brigade. I know that it was by the order of the Clergy that we must be in this dreadful land, but our home was still placed in your hoove, and if we return to the Holy City to find it stolen from us, it is your head on the block!”

Purity's eyes glared at me, showing both her confusion and rage. “How, when?”

“The Weeping Pegasus led the invasion of my home, and a Red Steel was part of that invasion. She's the daughter of a Flintlock Hoof as 6ou might know. If I wasn't flung into the wasteland like I had, I'd have likely been there to help Red take the ship.” I then tapped my pipbuck, which then played the deal Red Steel had forced me to make.

It was clear on her face that this was the first Purity had heard about this. “Lies, you think you can trick us with lies!”

“Matters not.” the older priest said. “The evidence is solid enough for us to take this matter very seriously. Carving Doll was only permitted to watch the ship and conduct official duties, not mercenary our ship to that bitch, Flintlock Hook! Your mother would never have let such a thing ever come to pass!”

Purity flared out her wings at the old priest, and a thin cut slashed under his eye. “Never, ever, bring up my mother again!”

The priest didn't flinch, just looked down at Purity with contempt. “Prey that this non-believer lies about my ship, and tells the truth about those pistols.” His eyes then shifted to Lair with the same disgust. “And don't think our views on you heretics have changed whatsoever.”

“Nor do I expect it to change.” Lair said as she trotted over to them. “Only three of us are going in, so who are you bringing?”

“Four.” Mag said. “I'm going in with you.”

Purity, despite her rage, managed to smerk. “All but the high priest and one of the priestesses are coming.”

The old priest let out a snort of annoyance. “Fine then, but do recover Alginate's Pistols first and foremost.” He then turned his attention to Lair. “And don't think we will trust Bishop Blackheart's word, we have a pony ourselves who can check their authenticity.”

Letting out a huff, Purity folded her wings as she relaxed. “Duly noted. Just don't forget whom the Pope trusted with this holy mission.”

So that was it, Fizzy, Lair, Mag and I will be going inside with Purity, Utopian, a priestess, and the Shotgun priest. We both had our own trick as I felt Alpha rub up next to me, though I wasn't sure what trick Purity had, but I did have a feeling that she didn't know the priestess might be a Corps Brigader.

“You sure this is wize Elder Magnificence?” Gold protested. “We should all go!”

But Mag shook her head. “Too many cooks, my good knight captain. Anyway, I am more than enough to keep these fools in line.” Mag then tilted her head towards me. “Harp, if you would lead the way.”

I was still pissed off at her, but what had been put into motion could not be stopped, and I trotted into the tomb.

Among the main group, both the high priest and Star joined us into the entryway, along with Willow, Gold, Hollow and her bodyguard. Most of them stopped at the Barbary Islands display.

“That's… my cutie-mark?” Star stated, looking at the black tattered pirate flag.

“And those are clearly replicas of harpy pistols made by Mouser. We have several originals of them on display at our manor.” Hollow stated.

“They were used by the Blackhearts during the Barbary Islands War, the one that Celestia waged.” Lair added. “It was a popular pistol back in its time.”

Letting the Privateers fawn over ancient guns, I trotted over to the tombs door, the magic ripping as I got closer.

Mag joined me, clearly seeing the same distortion. “Don't see with your eyes, for they can't see everything.”

I let out a sigh, now understanding why she forced the magic sight onto me. So closing my eyes and feeling out with my magic, I focused on being able to see without eyes.

The room became an outline, a mess of shapes at first, but all quickly taking on recognizable forms and colors. The replicas on display were all dull, yet still had magic to them, either a protective spell, or that they had been here so long that they developed a magic of their own. The ponies themselves burst to life, such as Fizzy and Willow, one with a powerful and untamed aura, the other a modestly powerful and controlled aura. Lair and Hollow were nearly identical, both having a subtle yet beautiful color to them. Utopian was a mess of magic, looking like he was infested with several parasitic magics. Star on the other hoof looked as though she was in a near symbiotic relationship with her evil eye. Then there was Magnificence, who now that I could truly see her, was considerably strange. Her magic was strong, somehow reaching out from her hooves and flowing up to spread out… like a tree? But her form, it strangely felt more like a shell, it was old and cracked, yet still strong.

Turning my attention back to the door, its form shifted and a new story formed, the door telling me the history of my ancestry straight into my mind.

There was an image of an army, a unicorn in armor leading them. “It all started with a fool who wished to become king, a warlord who was friends with a young wizard.” Next to the armored pony was a unicorn in a big floppy hat decorated with stars.

“But the warlord didn't believe in friendship, and used the wizard to gain power, and all he desired.” The door depicted the wizard casting a spell, and the armor pony became victorious in battle, and even bedded a mare while disguised as her husband, among other unfavorable deads.

“Disgusted with his friend, the wizard would abandon the now king, and without his friend, the king would fall.” The armored pony was shown with several arrows in his back, clenching a sword stuck in a stone.

“Hope had not died in the wizard, and took his friend's only son to be raised into a true king. All hail Pendragon!” The Wizard held a unicorn foal with love and care, and that foal as an adult pulled his fathers sword fr9m the stone.

“But not all celebrated, a few cursed his name and his father.” Again it showed the father bedding the mare, his form shifting for a moment to reveal his true self. All while a filly watched from a hiding spot. The filly watched with a scowled as her brother was born and taken by the wizard.”

“Hatred becomes like a curse, a wound upon your soul, a cure embraced by La Fay.” The filly found herself at a gathering of three old mares around a cauldron, magic flowing around them. The filly became a mare, powerful in magic, and was then shown among others watching the Pendragon crowned king, still scowling. Then it showed the two bedding each other, the mares from shifting, using the same magic his father used on her mother.

“As Pendragon rose to power, under the guidance of the Wizard, and forming the round table, so would La Fay gather power to usurp Pendragon using their son.” Pendragon would stand at a round table, cutie-marks appearing that match that of other ponies at the table. But below them was an image of Le Fay now part of a tro of mares around a cauldron, and watching both of them was a unicorn colt.

“Peace would come to the land under Pendragon’s rule, the six tribes unified under one flag.” Ponies of different types, stallions and mares with swords held high, dashed away from the table and to defend other ponies in danger.

“But with power came those who covet it.” The colt grew into a young stallion, watching Pendragon, and joining his order, all with eyes filled with wanting. But another Stallion had appeared, a pegasus with a cutie-mark of a heart shaped mirror, who looked to be good friends with Pendragon, rising as his second.

“One betrayal would lead to another, a king brought low not by enemy forren, but by those considered friends.” A scene showed a wedding between Pendragon and a mare, but another showed the same mare in bed with the pegasus stallion. Then it showed the pegasus and mare being chased out by a mob as the king sat alone on a throne, his face held in his hooves.

“His honor tarnished, reputation muddied, and with no heir to stand beside Pendragon, La Fay revealed herself, along with their son, Mordred.” Pendragon and now what was clearly Star Swirl the Bearded stood on one side of the round table as La Fay stood on the other, along with her now adult son, and next to him a filly in the colors of purple and platinum.

“Neither Pendragon nor the wizard accepted Mordred, seeing him unfit to take the throne, a mere puppet of La Fay. But the court became divided, as Pendragon had no other heir, so day and night took sides, and the flames of war erupted.” The table shattered as the once united ponies turned into two divided army's. Unicorn, Pegasus and Earth ponies followed Pendragon, where Bicorns, Bat like ponies and Kelpies followed Mordred.

“None would be victorious as father and son would strike each other low, leaving only the wizard and witch to decide fate.” Star Swirl and Le Fay stood in the middle of the shattered table, magic surrounding them as Pendragon and Mordred collided on a battlefield, both running each other through with beautiful swords.

“The wizard stood victorious, but he stood alone as Le Fay uttered one last curse, that if she could not have the throne over pony kind, non will. So the Wizard found Pendragon, his son in all but blood, and took him to Avalon for his last rights.” Le Fay was portrayed as stone, covered in chains, and placed in a cage. All while Star Swirl carried Pendragon off, and the further he became the more white the scene became as icy blue ponies galloped through the sky.

It was the Wendigos!

The scene on the door shifted again, showing the filly of purple and platinum grown into a mare, inside a ruined castle, surrounded by white. Next to her a green unicorn mare, draped in a brown cloak, served Princess Platinum a cup of tea. “I waited for father to return, for grandfather to return. My noble uncles sir Gawain and Sir Gareth had off to hide grandmother away, so that she may never return to darken these lands. I even waited for Star Swirl, though I knew nothing would ever convince him to return. And as the lands grew barren, and the unity we once held turned to hate, I knew we could not stay.”

“So I played one last song, one of hope, so that maybe a new land can be found, and that the tragedy of the shattered table will not happen again. A song taught to me by my father, a lullaby I cherished deeply.” Princess Platinum held the golden harp, the same one I now had, playing it to a crowd of worn and tattered unicorns.

The door shifted one more time, showing the story of heartwarming Eve, and the founding of Equestria. “But in the end I could not do it alone, not like my grandfather could, for I was not worthy of a crown like he. Heed our cures, for in our blood runs hope and despair, and so long as we covet power, we will equally gain both.”

Mag looked at me, and I could see the magic in her eye, but they were unnatural and filled with a chaotic scene of desire. “Can you see it? The spell to open the door?” Mag reached out, a spot in which depicted a heart, and inside that heart was a golden harp.

I reached out with Mag, and we both pressed the heart.

With a gravely clunk, the tomb opened.

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