Anon and Celestia made their way from the dining room to the throne room of the castle with light conversation between them. Along the way, Raven and Javelin joined in, and the quartet soon found themselves sitting on their respective thrones, or standing at their respective guard posts for the opening of day court.

However, before Valorant could begin day court proceedings, a wisp of green flame snaked in through the window, manifesting into a scroll with a *pop* just in front of Celestia.

"Ah, that must be Twilight's response." Celestia smiled, opening the scroll with her magic. As she began to read the letter, Anon leaned over her wither to read along with her.

~

Dear Princess Celestia,

Thank you for your letter. It is certainly wonderful news to hear that Prince Anon has found the information I was unable to, I am afraid that I will be unable to return to Canterlot to assist with this journey. I have found that there is a pressing matter here in the Crystal Empire that I must attend to expediently. Aside from that, Spike has fallen ill, and even sending this letter was quite troubling for him. I would ask that you refrain from sending any more correspondence for the time being, to spare his health anymore fiery disruptions.

As for this journey, I think it would make for a great experience for Prince Anon. From what I can recollect, he has several guards that can accompany him on his travels, so I see nary a reason that he should require my assistance on this journey.

Yours faithfully, Twilight Sparkle

~

Anon and Celestia shared a quick look before setting the letter down.

"Uh... was it just me or did she sound kinda... off in that letter?" Anon asked, his brow furrowed in scrutiny.

Celestia shrugged, "Indeed she did, though... given the time of day and her quick response, I'm somewhat inclined to believe she's stayed up through the night. She has a tendency to do that, much to my and everypony else who cares about her's chagrin. Combine that with her entire last two weeks being spent reading old books and archaic language, and I can see her speaking like this," She replied with a hum of thought, "I just hope that poor Spike is alright. I've no idea what illness he could have. He was perfectly fine the last time they sent us a letter."

Anon nodded, "She didn't really say what was wrong with him. Just that he'd 'fallen ill... that seems a bit unlike her." He reasoned.

Celestia merely shrugged again, "This is Spike's claw-writing. I'd recognize it in an instant. Strange, there appears to be a few smears in the ink... probably from a runny snout or something... Poor dear must be sicker than a dog. She probably didn't want to write too much so he could just rest... though I wonder why she wouldn't just write to me, herself." She muttered, scratching her chin with her hoof.

"Yeah... so I guess she's not gonna make it back then, huh?" Anon asked, the question they were both thinking.

Celestia let out a quiet sigh, "No... it appears she will not. Are you... certain you can't wait until she returns to go on this little adventure of yours?"

Anon shook his head, "I mean, she did say to just go ahead without her. Whatever 'pressing matter' she has to deal with could take who knows how long." He shrugged.

Celestia sighed, "If... you are certain, though I want you to bring Dusk, Echo, and Javelin with you for sure."

Anon happily nodded, "I was already planning on bringing them."

Celestia smiled, "I thought as much. Now what to do with this letter from Twilight... surely she would've mentioned what kind of 'pressing matters' she had to attend to. Even if it was personal, she usually would at least admit that much..."

"Princess, Prince. Would you like me to postpone Day Court for a while?" Valorant asked, politely.

Celestia quickly shook her head, "No no, nothing like that. This is a little strange, but Twilight has done stranger things in the past, to be fair," She chuckled, "Go ahead and start Day Court, Captain."

Valorant nodded and turned back to the large doorway while Anon leaned over to Celestia's ear.

"You still want me with you for this?" He asked.

Celestia smiled and shook her head, "No, I can tell you're holding yourself back from bouncing in your throne. Go ahead and gather everypony who's going to go with you. Whenever you're ready to set out on your journey, please just have somepony let me, Luna, or Chryssi know. We'll all want to send you off." She relented.

Anon smiled and quickly locked his lips with hers, one hand coming to her cheek to gently brush against the soft fur of her face. Meanwhile, the ponies coming into Day Court were treated to a view of their prince and princess passionately making out upon their thrones. Several gasps and wolf whistles were heard.

"Love you, Babe." Anon smiled, upon pulling the kiss.

"Love you more, Stud. Now shoo. I have a Court to run, mister." Celestia teased, shooing him away with her hoof.

With that, Anon hopped out of his throne and trotted down to the line of guards standing in front of him and Celestia. After the past few years, he could easily identify his target from behind, and proceeded to grab Javelin. One arm went under his barrel, and one around his chest as Anon heaved the stallion into the air.

"Gah!" Javelin exclaimed, flailing his hooves around uselessly.

If the rest of the guards were surprised by this behavior from their prince, they did not show it, as their eyes stayed stoically ahead. Raven on the other hand, was not trained to ignore such breaches of decorum.

"Anon! Put my husband down this instant!" She cried, standing up on her seat.

Anon quickly ran toward the exit hallway, still carrying Javelin in his arms, "He's mine now! I saw him first!" He called, over his shoulder as he disappeared from sight.

Raven growled, already hopping out of her chair to give pursuit, but a snow-white feathered wing halted her in her place.

"Relax, Raven. It's just Anon being Anon. You know how he gets when he's nervous." She tittered.

"B-but..." Raven went to protest.

"Don't worry, Raven. Your husband will be returned to you in just as good or better condition than when Anon took him. Might I request your assistance with Court proceedings today? Or would you rather run around the castle, looking for Anon and getting dragged into any shenanigans he can cook up while on the run?" Celestia asked. Her voice was polite yet teasing, as if she already knew the answer.

Raven let out a terse sigh, "Fine, fine! I don't need a repeat of the inking incident..." She muttered, suppressing a shiver.

Celestia giggled, "I thought as much. Now, let's get to business."

Anon strolled back and forth in front of the group of stallions he'd assembled in front of the Night Guard barracks room. While Javelin was standing begrudgingly at attention, Echo and Dusk were both struggling to not fall over each other and go back to sleep, the both of them having been woken up merely an hour after they'd gone to bed. Anon observed them all like a general surveying his troops before leading them into the battlefield.

"Gentlemen, we have a mission. It'll be perilous, difficult, long, and arduous. That said, there are no group of bros I'd rather do it with than the three of you." Anon addressed the group, his sharp voice snapping Echo and Dusk awake.

Echo wiped the drool from his muzzle and smacked his lips as he sleepily observed Anon, "Wait... what are we doing again?" He asked.

Dusk yawned, the act quickly making Echo yawn as well, and then Javelin, and finally, Anon as well.

"I dunno. What're we doing, again?" Dusk asked.

Anon sighed, "Guys! I just told you!"

"To be fair, you basically dragged them out of bed while hastily giving an abridged version. They weren't even awake yet." Javelin shrugged.

Anon facepalmed, "Ugh, alright. Guys, we're going on a journey to find the elixir of magicae. If we can get this, we'll be able to make me immortal so I can, ya' know, be a dad to my kids and such for the rest of their lives, not just mine."

"Ooooooooooh." Dusk and Echo replied in sync.

"You said that Twilight couldn't find any more info on it's location, right?" Javelin questioned.

Anon nodded, "She's urging us to go and my takeaway is that she can't find a damn thing about this place that we don't already know."

"What else do we need to know, exactly?" Dusk questioned, curiously.

"After having Chryssi read her emotions, it turns out that Tempest is telling the truth. She actually does know where it is. So, we're going to have Tempest lead us there." Anon explained.

"Wait... Tempest? As in, the Storm King's commander that we just apprehended and put in prison not even a month ago?" Echo raised an eyebrow in scrutiny. Dusk quickly joined him in his eyebrow raising.

"Look, I know that nobody trusts her, and I sure as hell don't either. That said, if she does this, I have promised to grant her freedom and restore her horn-" Anon began, before both bat ponies cut him off.

"You're gonna do what!?" They exclaimed.

"You know, my wives reacted the exact same way..." Anon sighed.

"Anon, buddy... are you sure that's the best decision here? I mean... she's a traitor." Javelin cautioned.

"I know. Trust me, I know. You think I'd be trusting her if we had any other choice at all?" Twilight could spend decades looking for this information and by then... who knows what might happen." Anon replied, making a terse frown form on all the stallion's faces around him.

"We'd never let anything happen to you. You're our charge, but more than that, you're our friend, Anon." Dusk offered, unfurling a wing and gently patting Anon's back.

"I know, guys... and I'm thankful to have you all in my life. Still... after Tirek... I'm not holding anything against any of you, you all did everything you could and then some. You were all damn fine soldiers that day... but my wives... my kids were helpless before me and that monster was just seconds away from killing them all. I can't ever let that happen again, I just can't. I need to be stronger, not just for Equestria, but for my family too. What kind of dad looks into his kids eyes and tells them he can't carry the weight of the world on his back?" Anon rebutted, a sad look on his face.

A heavy silence filled the air as the gathered stallions pondered Anon's words. For a few moments, none of them had a response, but soon enough, Javelin spoke up.

"I think I get what you're saying. I didn't want to be a father for a long time. Was too scared of being tied down like I'd seen so many of my buddies before during heat seasons in the past... but when Raven gave birth to Ivory, I knew right then and there that there was nothing I wouldn't do for her. She's become my favorite part of going home at the end of the day, rambunctious as she might be." Javelin chuckled, prompting a similar reaction from Anon.

As the pair finished their laugh, they looked over to Echo and Dusk, who were both looking around at anything but them. Upon feeling two pairs of eyes upon them, they both chanced a quick glace.

"Uh, I don't have any foals of my own... that I know of." Dusk stated, awkwardly.

"I think she was on the potion, but uh... I was pretty drunk that night... we'll see if that mare... uh, Stella- I think... is pregnant, in a few weeks I guess." Echo sheepishly chuckled.

Anon and Javelin rolled their eyes, "Alright, maybe you two can't relate but can you at least help me when I need you?" Anon pressed.

At the humble request, both bat ponies gave a quick salute, "Come on now, Anon. You know you can count on us." Dusk replied with a smirk.

"Just don't get too mushy. Save that for your wives, will ya'." Echo teased, prompting a snicker of amusement from Anon.

"Speaking of which, shouldn't at least one of them go with us? It's not that I don't think we can handle her, especially if she's got a mana nullification ring on, but none of us can tell if she's lying like Chrysalis can." Dusk noted.

"Yeah, that's a great point, actually. Shouldn't Chrysalis come with us?" Echo agreed.

Anon shook his head, "She can't. She has to take care of the new brood of kids we just had. Apparently she can't really leave their side and since they're all proto-queens, she can't just have any of the other changelings feed them. They have to be tended to by her and her alone."

Dusk and Echo deflated slightly, but Javelin quickly chimed in, "Well, it's not like Chrysalis is the only changeling that can sense when somepony isn't being truthful. I think we just need to get another changeling to come with us and we'll be set."

"That's... a fucking great idea, actually." Anon acknowledged.

"Better yet, have that changeling transform into Chrysalis and Tempest will never know the difference. It'd be a deterrent to keep her from trying anything." Dusk added.

"Alright, then that's the plan. Now the only question is 'which changeling to come with us'..." Anon scratched his chin in thought.

"Well how about Thorax? He was the first one to stand up for you when we needed their help with Tirek." Javelin suggested.

"True... I'll send him a letter and see if he's willing. If not, I guess we could ask Pharynx." Anon shrugged.

"Anon, you're the prince of Equestria and Chrysalis's lover. If any of them refuse, just ask her to tell one of them to do it." Dusk deadpanned.

"I know, I know. I just don't like to make anyone feel like they don't have a choice. I'm not a tyrant or anything." Anon huffed.

"Despite his best efforts." Javelin snarked.

"Jav." Anon stated.

"Yeah?" Javelin replied.

"Shut up." Anon ordered.

"You got it, boss." Javelin grinned.

Rolling their collective eyes at the exchange before them, Dusk and Echo turned to make their exit.

"Alright, well just have somepony come get us when it's time to go. We'll be packed but until then, we're going back to sleep." Dusk announced.

"Fair enough. Alright, guys. You get some sleep. We're gonna be heading out after a few hours at most. Jav, let's go get Tempest." Anon announced, prompting a round of nods through the group before they dispersed and went their separate ways.

As Dusk and Echo went back to their barracks room to catch as much sleep as they could, Anon and Javelin soon found themselves back in front of the doorway leading down to the castle dungeon.

"Welp, let's get this over with." Javelin sighed.

"Just like old times, ain't it, bud?" Anon replied, grinning at the shorter stallion.

"Old times? When have we ever been escorted across Equestria to who-knows-where by a literal traitor before?" Javelin raised an eyebrow.

"I was more just referring to you and me doing some dumb shit, if I'm being honest." Anon shrugged.

Javelin held up a hoof to protest, but quickly put it back down on the floor, "You know what, that's a fair point."

With that, the two approached the guard at the entrance.

"Prince Anon!" She greeted, saluting immediately.

"I'm going to be taking Tempest out of prison. She's to keep the mana ring on, but have her brought up here. Javelin and I will be escorting her to the train station." Anon explained.

"Sir, I wasn't aware that we were transferring her..." The mare replied, hesitantly.

"It's a long story. Would it suffice to say that I have a mission I need her for?" Anon offered.

"You're the prince, sir. If those are your orders, then I'll see to it that they're carried out. I'll have her brought out for you." She replied, before turning tail and heading inside.

The wait for the prisoner wasn't a long one, but for Anon and Javelin, the time dragged on. Whether it was because they were both dreading the arrival of the Storm King's commander or just eager to get the whole journey over with, neither could say. As the sound of chains clinking against one another grew louder and louder, Anon tensed slightly. Javelin glanced over to him, an eyebrow raised in concern.

"You alright, dude?" He asked.

"Yeah. Just got a lot on my mind." Anon replied.

Before Javelin could pry any further, the door to the dungeon opened, and the guard trotted out. Just a few paces behind her, Tempest followed suite, coming out in front of the group with her forelegs and hindlegs still bound by chains. While she bore a scowl on her face as she looked at the guards around her, that look quickly turned to a smug smirk upon seeing Anon.

"Ah, there he is. I was beginning to wonder if you'd reconsidered." Tempest greeted.

"That is his royal highness, Prince Anonymous. You will address him as such." Javelin ordered, leveling a glare at the captive unicorn.

"It's alright, Jav," Anon cut in, before focusing on Tempest, "You have exactly one chance here. Don't give me a reason to put you in a hole and throw away the hole." He ordered, sternly.

Tempest tried to hold a hoof to her chest in mock offense, though she couldn't quite reach due to her chains. She tried for a few seconds, before giving up and holding a hoof just above knee height.

"I am shocked that you think so little of me. Your personal lie detector knows I'm telling the truth. Why would I lie now?" Tempest questioned.

"Because literally none of us trust you. And speaking of which, you'd better keep telling the truth because Chrysalis is coming with us. So any funny business from you and we'll know about it." Anon rebutted, firmly.

Even though her mask was nearly perfect, the tiniest twitch in Tempest's smirk betrayed her ire at the information. She quickly let out a snort and held her head up high.

"Very well. It would make things considerably easier for all of us if you removed these chains. Unless of course, you aren't in a hurry and can afford to get their when we've all died of old age." Tempest announced, nodding down to her chains.

"Sir-" One of the guards began.

"Remove her shackles. I want her escorted to the dining room. Keep her under close watch until I come get her." Anon instructed.

Albeit with a moment of hesitation, the guard saluted, "Yes sir."

Her and the other two guards behind Tempest, quickly unlocked her shackles, freeing her in every way except her horn. Tempest shook the sleepiness and fatigue out of her legs before stretching. Once she was satisfied, she smirked to Anon, who'd been watching her the whole time.

"See something you like?" She asked, giving him a sidelong glace as she turned to walk away.

Utterly flustered by her comment, Anon recoiled slightly, "J-just get her over there already." He ordered.

"Right away, sir." The guards replied, forming a triangular perimeter around Tempest as they escorted her away.

With the mulberry menace gone, Anon brushed his hand through his hair and let out a long sigh. Javelin gave him a curious glance before shaking his head and lighting smacking Anon's leg with his tail as he turned to leave as well.

"Come on, let's go get that letter sent to Thorax." He intoned, over his wither.

Anon shook his head and trotted after the stallion.

.

.

.

.

.

Several Hours Later

"Looks like that's the last of it." Chrysalis announced, levitating the last of Anon's clothing into his rucksack in the royal bedchambers.

"We should only have a few days of travel between resupply locations. A lot of this trip is still in Equestria's borders or friendly countries." Javelin added.

"Now the big question is the safety of that elixir Tempest seems to know all about." Raven mentioned.

"Now that you mention it, I was wondering about that. Hasn't this elixir been sitting there for like, thousands of years or something?" Javelin wondered aloud.

"I think Twi said something over a thousand years. Not too sure, myself." Anon replied, checking over his rucksack once more.

"And you're supposed to drink this thing?" Javelin questioned, warily.

Anon shrugged, though he felt wary, himself, "Uh... I'm sure that it's like honey and never spoils... I think."

"Anon... for the love of Faust, if there's black goo or glowing green goo coming out of it, don't drink it. ." Raven deadpanned.

"I imagine there's some spells in place to keep it fresh, or worst case, we'll have to remake it ourselves. We'll have to see when Twilight returns from the empire. Hopefully she'll have more information then." Celestia replied.

A sleepy yawn stole all their attention away from their preparations and to the source standing in the doorway behind them. Luna, dressed in absolutely nothing, with her mane sticking out in all odd angles as well as her fur clearly needing a thorough brushing, greeted them with a sleepy nod. On her back, were the sleeping forms of Artemis and Dawn, both of them wearing a set of fuzzy pajamas. Dawn's were comprised of blues and purples, along with a splattering of white dots that make up the cosmos, while Artemis wore white with a singular yellow sun in the center of his chest.

"Luna, what're you doing up?" Anon asked, curiously.

"Well, you didn't think I was going to miss the chance to bid my husband farewell before his life-changing journey, now did you?" Luna teased, sluggishly closing the distance between them.

Anon smiled at her approach, dropping to a knee to more easily hug her without disturbing their children. He brushed his hands up and down Luna's neck, earning a soft coo of approval from the lunar alicorn before they pulled away slightly, though still remained connected.

"I'll be back before ya' know it. Promise." Anon offered, a soft smile on his lips.

"I'll hold you to that, Love. You owe Artemis another sibling when you get back, and I think I'll be going into estrus just in time..." Luna purred, leaning in and pressing her lips against his.

"Geez, get a room, you two." Chrysalis teased.

Anon and Luna broke the kiss with a fit of giggles, both returning their attention to the rest of the room.

"Don't you worry, hun. By the time I'm done with you, we'll have a whole continent of alicorns running around. That goes for you two as well." Anon replied, pointing and Celestia and Chrysalis.

"I think I speak for all of us when I say we'll be holding you to that." Chrysalis grinned.

Celestia trotted over to Anon and pulled him into a hug. She kissed him deeply, longingly, as if it were the last time as the held him close. Upon breaking the kiss, she still kept close enough to rest her forehead against his.

"Just be careful. Tempest is dangerous and I don't want anything to happen to you. I love you." She quietly murmured.

Anon placed his hand on her cheek, holding her gently, "I promise. Love you too, Celly."

"Remember, you're just going to get the elixir. Don't drink it until you make it back and we can analyze it to ensure it's safe." Celestia quickly added.

Anon chuckled, "I know. I won't. Last time I drank mystery juice I was blacked out for a whole day... never again." He replied, prompting a similar chuckle from the solar diarch.

As they pulled away from each other, Chrysalis sauntered over to Anon and pressed her lips against his. The kiss involved much more tongue than Anon was expecting, and for a few moments, her long, serpentine tongue absolutely dominated his. After she'd completely subdued him and expressed her love, she pulled away, licking her lips as she did.

"Just so you remember what's waiting for you when you get back. Love you, Nonny." She smirked, giving him a quick wink before turning away .

"Heh, love you too, Chryssi." Anon replied, dumbly smiling after her.

As Chrysalis held Anon's attention, Raven walked over to Javelin. He gave her a curious look for a minute before she lunged forward, wrapping her hooves around his neck and passionately kissing him. He was startled at first, but quickly returned the kiss, holding her dearly as their lips collided again and again.

"Don't let his dumb flank get you killed out there, alright?" Raven whispered, finally breaking the kiss.

Javelin chuckled, "Come on, Rayray. You know me. It's gonna take more than Anon's dumb ass to get me killed."

"Faust, he's got you making the donkey joke now too..." Raven rolled her eyes before Javelin smiled and pulled her into another kiss while Luna nudged Anon with her wing.

"Don't forget your foals now, Anon." Luna tsked, leaning over slightly so Dawn and Artemis were easier for him to reach.

Smiling, Anon crouched down until he was just inches away from his foals.

"Hey guys. Dad's gotta go away for a little bit, but I promise I'll be back soon. Before you know it, you're gonna be all grown up and taking the world by storm... and I'm gonna be their for every second of it. Love you kids. Be good for your moms while I'm gone, okay?" He whispered, so as not to wake them.

Anon gingerly kissed Artemis on his forehead, before doing the same with Dawn. He stood back up to his full height and smiled at the family he'd be leaving in a matter of minutes.

"Alright, time to go. Jav, let's hit the road." Anon announced, bidding his family farewell.

A chorus of goodbye's were shared between them as Anon and Javelin departed, leaving only the royal family and Raven.

"Well, back to bed for me and these two." Luna yawned.

"And back to work for us." Raven sighed.

"Actually, before that, I have a favor to ask, Chryssi." Celestia announced, receiving a quirked eyebrow from the Changeling Queen in response.

"What do you need?" She inquired.

Celestia took a breath, "Something was... off with Twilight's letter. I wrote to Cadence to see what was going on but... I haven't received a response yet. Cadence is almost as punctual as Twilight so I am a bit... concerned. Could you send a couple changelings up to the Empire to check on them?" She asked, her tone conveying a clear sense of worry.

Chrysalis scratched her chin for a moment, "Hmm... I think I have a couple I could send."

Author's Note

Whew boy, finally on the road. Hope you guys are excited cause there's a lot of crazy shit to come.