The beginning of the end the remix.

Chapters

Chapter: 1: A gathering of angels.
Chapter: 2: A call to action.
Chapter 3: Come sail away with me.
Chapter 4: Kobayashi Maru
Chapter 5: Everhoof

Chapter: 1: A gathering of angels.

Kitsu froze in fear. One moment she’d been going back and forth in her room trying to wrap her head around the quantum mechanic’s assignment she needed to have done no later than Monday, and then suddenly she was in a damp cave illuminated by bioluminescence. She’d simply turned around and there she was.

“Lord Tirek,” called the voice of Queen Chrysalis somewhere in the cave.

“A changeling?” He replied.

Kitsue knew Chrysalis's voice, her gaze quickly finding her in the dim light. Not far away stood the grizzled form of the old centaur. Her fear morphs into anger at the realization of what just happened.

“Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings. Or at least I will be. When I am restored to my rightful place. Why have you summoned me?” Her tone is haughty and demanding.

“He did not bring you here?” Kitsu stated with an edge to her tone.

“You?!” Lord Tirek accused. “Why have you freed me from Tartarus?”

“It wasn’t I,” Kitsu offered as the three closed in on each other. Nearby on a pedestal sat a ball, a crystal ball that looked suspiciously like a Palantir to Kitsu, its one demonic eye watching them. “You can rot for eternity for all I care.” Nearby smoke coalesced into the form of King Sombra, laughing at his newfound freedom.

“Hello Daddy,” Kitzu offered in a greeting that was devoid of any warmth.

“King Sombra, why have you brought us here… Daddy?” Chrysalis asked and then looked back at Kitsu. An eyebrow raised, and she smiled.

“What?” Sombra said softly his gaze quickly going to Kitzu.

“He didn’t,” called a large blue goat with a red harness on which were affixed four small brass bells as he walked into the cavern. Whether or not he’d heard Kitsu he made no indication of it. He continued into the room walking past the others until he was behind the eye, and placed his front hooves up on the stone on which the eye rested. “It was I, Grogar.”

“Thee Grogar?” Chrysalis challenged. “I thought you were a legend?”

“I thought he’d be taller,” Kitsu muttered.

“As cocky as ever, Miss Nova Moon Nightfoal,” Tirek said in a cautionary tone and then louder to the goat, “I thought you were a legend as well?”

“I have heard of you,” Sombra stated in a decisive confident manner. Almost as though he’d rehearsed it. In truth, Sombra would have known the goat personally.

“I assure you, I am very real. And you have all been brought here as part of my plan to rid Equestria of Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Once and for all.”

“Shouldn't there be a ‘Princess’ in there somewhere?” Kitsu asked. “Gro-cart, was it?”

“Grogar!” growled the goat. “I’ve been away far too long if my name doesn’t immediately strike fear into the heart of one so tiny. Kitsu found herself being backed onto her heels by the goat's bravado. She wasn’t exactly foal-sized, but she was small in comparison to the company she presently held. Nearby she could see Tirek raise an eyebrow. Perhaps wondering why the brash little fox pony hadn’t torn into the goat.

“Perhaps a demonstration is in need?” Grogar stated more than asked. He took one of his bells and produced a glowing orb of energy which he passed over to Tirek who devoured it greedily. It took but a moment for the magic to do its thing, to reverse the march of the years on Tirek making him young again.

“Yes, I remember,” Tirek began. “Long ago Equestria was little more than a loose collection of farms administered by a child of all creatures.”

“Her name wasn’t Celestia, was it?” Kitsu asked.

“You butt out.
“It was Grogar who united the land and made a mighty empire of it.”

“I too have heard of the first emperor of Equestria,” Sombra announced pompously. “Father of monsters.”

“Indeed, I gave life to the foulest of creatures and allowed them to run wild. My rein was a glorious epoch of darkness in Equestria.”

“Until Gusty the Great rose against you and banished you,” Kitsu cut in.

“The fool believed taking my bell would defeat me, but it only weakened me temporarily.”

“I can’t help but think your ideas of temporary coincide with the temporary nature of a glacier,” Kitsu quipped sarcastically.

“Silence!” Shouted the old goat. He turned and began to pace. “I spent a millennium gathering power. Biding my time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to seize control of Equestria.” He returned to the eye. “And I’ve been watching all of you. I’ve seen all of your humiliating defeats at the hooves of six puny ponies.”

“Shouldn't there be a pathetic in there?” Kitsu teased.

“Pathetic indeed. Do you know why they’ve always bested you?”

“Because they cheat,” Chrysalis interjected.

“Because they are annoyingly lucky,” Tirek added.

“Because of magic rainbow lasers?” Kitsu asked.

“It’s because they work together,” Grogar stated. “Where one is weak another is strong. When unified they become a formidable force. But we, we shall use their strategy to defeat them.”

“What are you suggesting?” Chrysalis demanded.

“I am suggesting nothing. I demand that you join me and together Equestria will be ours.”

“Ours, Oh, I don’t do ours,” Sombra stated in his haughty tone. “I only do mine.” Sombra vanished in smoke to reappear right in Grogar’s face. “I will take the Chrystal empire back on my own. And I will destroy any pony who gets in my way.”

“Such confidence,” Grogar stated as he put some distance between the two. “Go on then. Try to take back your kingdom. I shall send you there myself. If you prevail, you may keep it. But when you fail you will submit to me.”

“And if I refuse your deal?”

“Then I will return you to the shadows from which you came.”

“Fine, but this is a waste of time as I will crush those who defy me. I will defeat all who get in my way.” And with another orb of magic from one of Grogar’s bells he was gone.

Grogar angrily advised the others to learn to work together and stormed out the way he’d come in.

“I’m surprised you didn’t try fighting him,” Tirek said after Grogar was gone.

Kitsu put her hoof to her mouth and then with a shift of her head gestured towards the eye. “Maybe I’m just a little more mature now.”

“So now what?” Chrysalis asked.

“We wait,” Kitsu offered as she began to explore their new home. “And yes, I wanted to put my hoof in his smug nose.”

“Grogar or Sombra?” Chrysalis pressed. “Is King Sombra really your father?”

“So I’m to understand. Mom was supposed to marry him.”

“I do seem to recall hearing something about it,” Tirek offered. “They would have made a powerful pair. Where are you going?”

“Oh, I just thought I’d explore our new digs. I figure we are going to be calling this place home for the foreseeable future. Oh, I like this room, dibs.”

“Now hold on one minute!” Chrysalis protested as the three entered the chamber.

“Chrysalis, let's keep in mind that you could have gone home any time you wanted.” And then she lowered her voice. “Have a care what you say in the vicinity of that eye and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he can use it to hear everything in these chambers.”

She continued looking about the place as the other two followed, each picking out an area they liked until they’d wandered to the entrance. The three looked on in dismay.

“Where are we?” Chrysalis asked.

“Hayseed swamps is my best guess,” Kitsu offered.

“You going to make a run for it?”

“I don’t think she is. I’d say she’s in it for the long haul,” Tirek stated. “After all, she could have teleported away.”

“We need to be in range of something we recognize,” Chrysalis informed them. “That’s just the way teleportation normally works, and we are so far out in the boonies that there is nothing I recognize that’s in range.”

“Grogar used some sort of unconditional summoning spell to bring each of us here,” Kitsu explained. “If we try to run, what’s to stop him from just bringing us right back?”

“It would depend on how many times he’s capable of doing that,” Tirek offered. “One plus is that he’s apparently not all-knowing.”

“And what makes you say that?” Chrysalis asked.

“Miss Nightfoal here isn’t a villain. More of an antihero. Nearly beat me once.”

“Aye, and then Discord butted in so he could play his games.”

“You think he was playing with me?” Tirek asked.

“Of course, he was playing with you. You can’t control his magic any more than you could control mine. And now, we have this Grogar to tend to whether we want to or not.” Suddenly Kitsu had snatched one of the little pearls at the top of Chrysalis’s crown, followed by a stick she’d been carrying, and dashed out onto one of two stone arches that passed over the soggy remains of a massive fortress.

“Give that back! Give them back!” Chrysalis dashed after her but skidded to a halt when Kitsu stopped and held the two items over either side of the causeway with her magic and began chanting something.

“Please don’t.” Chrysalis’s heart stopped when Kitso slammed the two together in a shower of sparks. Kitsu turned to face the others and set a newly formed pony down. ZA teenage version of Twilight sparkle with wings. “You… you…” Her jaw hung slack at the sight of a young Princess Twilight sparkle. Only, not Twilight. Her colors were decidedly darker, the purple nearly a dark gray and she had wings that were so dark they were ebony black. Her mane and tail were equally dark, and she had a vermilion stripe and a white stripe in her mane and tail.

To Tirek’s utter astonishment, the dark pony sprinted to Chrysalis and embraced her.

“From this point forward, we will be antiheroes,” Kitsu announced. “We will not be the heroes Equestria wants. We will be the Heroes Equestria needs.” Tirek raised an eyebrow at Kitsu’s declaration.

“How did you know? How could you know?” Chrysalis said softly as she dropped down, followed by returning the hug. “My little Sparkle.”

“I could see it on the tip of your mind, and for someone who so hates Twilight Sparkle, you have a funny way of showing it.”

“She cost me my hive.”

“No, you cost you your hive. You could have accepted friendship. You could have stayed as you are and simply refused to leave. But no, you chose to run away. Since then you have been dedicating your life towards getting back at Twilight Sparkle.”

“And why shouldn't I?”

“Because it’s not healthy. But enough of that, Grogar doesn’t know about Midnight Sparkle. We dare not leave even for a supply run. I dare not show my face. If I am caught I could end up back in Tartarus. If we do not stop Grogar, we will all end up in stone.”

“And what of Cozy Glow?” Chrysalis inquired. “Isn’t she the one who got you thrown into Tartarus in the first place?”

“One evildoer at a time. We end Grogar. In the meantime, Midnight here can do supply runs for us. That bastard has dumped us here with nothing to sustain ourselves.”

“Speak for yourself, pony.”

“Fine, he’s left Tirek and me with nothing, and don’t tell me you never eat solid food. That and we’ll not be food for you if we starve.”

“Alright fine, I wouldn't mind some roasted beetles right now anyway. The big juicy ones.” She thought for a moment. “Midnight?”

“Well, we can’t call her Twilight now can we?”

“No, I suppose not.”

“Did you seriously just make a pony from a stick and a pearl?” Tirek asked. “What’s stopping me from taking the magic from that puppet?”

“I used my magic. You know what happens when you take my magic. So unless you want to experience beating yourself into a pulp again, lay off.”

“Puppet?” Midnight asked. “Am I not a real pony? Are my memories of my mom not real?”

“Memories?” Chrysalis asked softly.

“I’m sure your memories are very much real. Why I’d say they are the realest part of you. And someday if you are good and brave, you’ll be a real pony.”

“Um… OK.”

“Good, now…” Kitsu conjured up a pair of saddlebags and draped them over Midnight’s shoulders. “The bags are charmed to be bigger on the inside so there will be plenty of space.” She then produced some Equestrian bits and gave them to her. She stopped to look around. Yes, see those peaks, that should be the Haymaker Peaks. On the other side are the Badlands. You don’t want to go that way but memorize the positioning of the peaks. Head east, and use a flight spell to speed yourself up.”

“A flight spell. That’s a really good idea. Curious, I seem to know all sorts of spells.”

“You probably picked up a good deal of my knowledge when I brought you back into existence. But enough of that, I’m thinking that the coast won’t be too far. When you see the coast turn left to go north. And make sure to locate anything you can use as a trail marker to find your way back. North you will find Horseshoe Bay. Baltimare is on the north side of the bay but any small community with a store will due. And if any pony asks you questions just tell them your moms sent you on a shopping trip. Might not do to tell them anything about Tirek over there. Or that Chrysalis is a Changeling. In fact, our names can be Chrysanthemum and-”

“Chrysanthemum?!” Chrysalis protested.

“It’s a flower name. How about Chrissie, for short.”

“Fine. And what will your name be?”

“How about Tsuki Nym Sparkle? Yes, I think that will work.”

“Tsuki Nym?” Midnight asked with an odd expression.

“I’m from Neighpon. And if Tirek should be mentioned by accident or necessity he can be Uncle Tea.”

“Uncle Tea?” Tirek asked sounding like he wasn’t too sure about it.

“Well, the only other name that came to mind was Tiberius. I’m not too sure how ponies would react to that name.”

“Fine. Not that there’s anything wrong with Tiberius.”

“Now that that’s settled...”

“Um… what if some pony sees me coming out of the swamp?”

Kitsu thought for a moment, conjured up a straw hat, and plopped it onto her head. “That should take care of that issue and hide the horn and if anyone wants to know what we are doing out here you can say we are archaeologists and Chrissie and I are your moms.”

“Ah, so I’m to be tagging along for a dig. Got it. Shouldn't be too hard to sell.”

“Just one word of caution, don’t let the goat see you, and don’t be seen nor heard by the big eye that’s inside. And if you should run into Discord, go the other way. Don’t let him see you no matter what. The last thing we need is him complicating things.”

“Perhaps he could help?” Tirek asked.

“You mean like how he helped you? He gave you Equestria, and then gave you to Twilight.”

“Ah… point taken.”

“Now, Midnight, time’s a wasting. We are counting on you.”

“Stay safe, and swift journey,” Chrysalis offered and gave Midnight another hug. Midnight returned the hug, hugged Kitsu, trotted over to Tirek, hugged him, and then sprung into the air. Her first few moments were fraught with potential disaster as the golem named Midnight Sparkle figured out how to fly straight.

“Well, that’s that,” Kitsu offered once the little pony was out of sight. “Let’s see if I can conjure up some decent furnishings.”

“I think I’ll gather up some trees and vines to make some furnishings for myself,” Tirek announced, and headed over the causeway. He jumped a gap and then continued.

“Miss Nightfoal…” Chrysalis began tentatively.

“I think I can manage something for you.”

Later that day Kitsu had managed to conjure up enough furnishings for the two while Tirek was busily building himself a decent man cave.

“I must confess, my lings did everything for me,” Chrysalis admitted as Kitsu was teaching her how to make a grass mat. They’d a fire going in the center of the big cavern, and the place was feeling very cozy as the world outside darkened.

“Sometimes a little independence is a good thing,” Kitsu replied as the sound of goat hooves could be heard entering the cavern.

Chapter: 2: A call to action.

“What? What is all this?” Grogar bellowed as he looked about at the cave that had been decorated with fox magic.

“Well, you didn’t expect us to just sit here all day?” Kitsu asked.

“But where did all this come from?”

“I conjured it up. You know what I can’t conjure? Food, I can’t conjure food. So how is Daddy fairing?” Midnight Sparkle had already returned and was presently having an early bedtime in Chrysalis’s chamber.

“Daddy?”

“That is the rumor,” Chrysalis offered.

“Are you telling me that Sombra and Luna…”

Tirek made a rude gesture with his hands.

“Well, technically, Nightmare Moon would be the one. Didn’t you know?” Kitsu asked.

“I know everything… alright fine, I missed that. But how. Nightmare Moon didn’t happen until after Sombra was defeated. Which he has succeeded in doing again. Failing miserably.”

“Darling, the Night Mare had her grips on Luna long before she tried to take over,” Chrysalis informed him. “Trust me, we changelings could tell.”

“So, Sombra failed, did he?” Tirek all but teased.

“Yes, he failed! And he can serve as a warning to anyone who fails to follow my plan.”

“We’ve decided that we will work together,” Chrysalis offered.

“Then we will work together to bring Equestria to its knees!” Grogar shouted and then started laughing maniacally. The others just sort of nervously laughed along with him.

One week later finds Kitsu, Chrysalis, and Midnight looking out from Chrysalis’s chamber down at Grogar.

“Does he do nothing else?” Chrysalis asks in a whisper. “All he does is stare at that blasted eye.”

“I know,” Kitsu confirmed. “Behold the great wizard contemplating eternity.” Chrysalis had to hold back a snicker. The two had developed a cordial relationship and one would almost say they had become friends. Not so Tirek who took to pacing like a caged animal whenever he wasn’t lifting his homemade weights.

“If we don’t do something I fear Tirek may do something rash,” Chrysalis remarked about a moment later.

“If nothing else we need to send Midnight on another food run.”

“Think we can distract him from that stupid ball?”

“I think it’s time to be a little petty.” And with that, Kitsu got up and walked down to the podium.

“I wouldn't want to tattle on my good friend Tirek, but… you might want to know that he left food out,” Kitsu announced in a sort of passive-aggressive tone. “Again.”

“I’ll deal with it when I’m done,” Grogar griped.

“Don’t trust anything that nosy little fox says,” griped Tirek as he came down from his chambers.

“I don’t trust anything any of you say.” Grogar turned back to his ball only to discover Chrysalis now all but perched on the thing with a hoof blocking his view.

“Are you planning on attacking any pony any time soon?” Chrysalis bemoaned. “If not, I don’t know why I’m wasting my time here when I could be out playing pranks on Twilight. I am a Queen, you know. I have better things to do.”

“Enough!” Grogar ordered. “I’m leaving. Given it’s impossible to accomplish the work I need to do with you three constantly bickering. I suggest the three of you come to some kind of accord. I don’t care how, but you must learn to work together. Only then can we accomplish what you so greatly desire. The defeat of Twilight Sparkle and her friends!” With his declaration made he stormed out.

“That worked better than I thought it would,” Kitsu announced with a grin.

“Worked?” Tirek asked while studying the two mares. Both of them had silly grins on their faces.

“Is he gone?” Midnight whispered from around a corner.

“Let me check,” Kitsu offered and produced a fox fire screen to check the area. A moment later, Chrysalis had thrown a blanket over the eye. “He’s gone. Quickly now before he comes back.”

Tirek couldn't help but chuckle as the little alicorn scampered out the entrance. “You had me fooled too. I see that I should never underestimate any mare.”

“What I greatest desire indeed,” Chrysalis muttered as she looked in the direction of Tirek and then Midnight. In the time we’ve spent cooped up together, I’ve come to realize that my family and freedom are more important than any revenge on Twilight.”

“Think I’ll go lift some weights,” Tirek said and returned to his chambers.

“You think he’d like to go home too,” Chrysalis asked softly even as Kitsu was working a spell. “What are you doing?”

“Putting up a banner. Team Frenemies.”

Chrysalis turned her head to see crude representations of Tirek, herself, Grogar, and Kitsu on the banner. “I hate it.”

“I imagine Grogar will too.”

“In that case, I love it.”

“As for Tirek, he just wants to get out of here. It’s every bit as bad as being in Tartarus.”

“I imagine the amenities are considerably better.”

“True. Granted the place hadn’t fully dampened my magic.”

“That's how you got out?”

“My little Moonie came for me. Let’s just say she’s a construct similar to Midnight. Together we found a way out.”

“That sounds suspiciously like a friendship lesson.”

“Is it? I imagine it kind of is. Not even Tartarus can hold good friends down. When Grogar plucked me from my home she was left behind.” Kisu suddenly got an idea into her head and trotted up to Tirek’s room. “Say, Tirek, any chance you can make us some bowling pins?”

“Bowling pins? Can’t you just conjure some up?”

“They wouldn't have the same gravitas.”

“I suppose you want me to make you a ball too?”

“Na, I was thinking of using that eye thingy.”

“Are you saying that you want to intentionally aggravate Grogar?”

“Um, yes. Actually. I’d kind of like to get some idea of what we are dealing with.” Granted Kitsu already knew. She just wanted to try pushing Discord’s buttons.

“You’re a mad fool, I like it,” Chrysalis chimed from where she was. Grogar stuck his head out of his room.

“I’ll see what I can come up with.”

“Enough!” Grogar shouted shortly after returning a little over three weeks later. The trio had been arguing over the score of their bowling game.

“Well, he keeps cheating,” Chrysalis complained.

“I’d thought that by now you’d have resolved your differences, but I see that I was wrong… is that my eye? What have you been doing with my eye!?”

“We were bored, and it made such a nice bowling ball,” Kitsu explained followed by a vein popping on Grogar’s forehead.

“That’s an extremely delicate magical artifact.”

“Perhaps if we knew what your plan was we’d be better able to prepare. Instead, you keep us cooped up in this place with nothing to do,” Chrysalis complained.

“Pretty sure even the best of friends would be at each other’s throats under these conditions,” Kitsu pointed out. “But then again, what would you know about friendship?”

“Do you even have a plan?” Tirek asked.

“Of course, I have a plan.” Grogar was staring daggers at Kitsu, quite possibly because he liked to think that he did know a thing or two about friendship.

“Spoken like someone with no plan,” Kitsu quipped under her breath to Chrysalis who let loose an unbidden twitter.

“Silence,” Grogar ordered. “I’ve located an object of power and it occurred to me that this is the perfect test for the three of you. Chrysalis can even take her stick with her if she wants.”

“Stick?” Chrysalis asked softly.

“Curious…” Kitsu said in just as soft a tone.

“It seems to me that the three of you should have no trouble retrieving what I need. And against this item, those ponies won’t stand a chance. But who to lead you?”

“I am a queen, I can lead us.”

“I am Lord Tirek, I had those ponies on their knees.”

“If this is to be a group effort we need no leader,” Kitsu offered. “Each according to their strengths.”

“Let’s keep in mind that each of you failed to defeat Twilight Sparkle and her friends!” Bellowed Grogar causing the others to cringe. “My power is greater than all of yours combined. What you have seen is but a fraction of it! Understand?”

“Yes, sir,” Kitsu replied meekly with a bow, the others making similar gestures.

“Thousands of moons ago…” Grogar began. He then went into a long-winded excuse about how Gusty the Great stole his bewitching bell, the centerpiece of his collar. Gusty could not destroy the bell so he hid it in a place where no one creature could gain access to it and it had taken Grogar a millennium to discover its location. “High atop Mount Everhoof High in the Chrystal Mountains within an enchanted cave is where you will find it. Scale Mount Everhoof, and bring me back my bell.”

“Ha, the ease of this task is laughable,” Chrysalis said with much mirth.

“We still have to get out of this swamp, and I’m not carrying Tirek,” Kitsu quipped.

“Will a small boat do?” Grogar growled.

“Better not be too small, Tirek is a big boy after all, just look at these muscles,” Chrysalis added as she took the moment to tease Tirek. Though in truth the banter was more aimed at annoying Grogar.

“It won’t be,” he said and stormed out.

“Where is he even going?” Tirek asked.

“To go find a boat I’d imagine,” Kitsu offered. “Let’s pack some things and get going. Also, I better go find Midnight and warn her not to come back.”

“How much do you think he knows?” Chrysalis asked. “About Midnight.”

“We’ve been playing with that eye for a couple of weeks now and he didn’t come running so I can’t help but think we overestimated him in that regard. I am curious that he said stick and not a puppet or anything like that.”

“He can see right through to what she really is, is it?”

“The question is, is he seeing through the spell, or does he not see the spell at all? He can see all my conjured furniture and draperies. Be useful if we knew, but I don’t know any safe way to find out. then again, maybe he's just being antagonistic.”

Kitsu went up to her room, arranged a few things in a pack, put a pair of goggles around her neck, and then put on the pack. Once satisfied she’d the bare necessities, she trotted back down. Called out that she would catch up with the others, and then headed for the exit. The sunlight revealed her white fur had dulled to a dingy gray cast from living in a cave. Even her wings despite her best efforts looked dingy. Overall, it gave her the appearance of a silver fox. She would need to conceal her true identity anyway so cast a spell that enhanced the silver effect and camouflaged her horn. After all, a horn on a winged pony was sure to attract attention.

“Not trying to get a jump on us is it?” Tirek accused from the entrance.

“A whole lot of good that would do. Like he said, it’s going to take all three of us. Probably going to take a couple of days just to get into range of that mountain as is. I don’t want Midnight showing up while we are out wondering where we went. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

“Why do you care so much?”

“Why? No idea. I just do. Friendship is funny that way, and I doubt I could make another Midnight without that specific stick. See ya,”

“Friends?” Tirek said softly as Kitsu spread her wings and lifted into the sky. “Are we... friends?”

Kitsu sped away to the coast and on seeing the coast turned northward. Even with her magically enhanced speed it still took her a little better than an hour to get as far as the southern heal of Horseshoe Bay just north of a decent-sized cove lay a small fishing village that sported a lighthouse out on the point. The village consisted of one main street with little more than three or four side streets and a couple of cart paths to outlying homes. Most of the buildings were clustered not too far from the small harbor which even boasted a breakwater. Kitsu drifted on in in hopes of locating Midnight seeing mostly earth ponies. The truth was, considering how long it had taken her to get here, it simply didn’t make a lot of sense for Midnight to keep going and this looked very much like to description Midnight had given them.

Some of the ponies out and about gave her dirty looks as she glided by. She paid then no never mind. She chose to land on seeing a market and walked on in to be greeted by the sound of a rather unusual hush followed by Midnight demanding she be given back her hat.

“She’s an alicorn,” Said a sandy pony behind a counter in a hushed tone.

“She’s not an alicorn,” Kitsu scolded as she ambled into the store. “Nor is she a pretender. She was born that way.”

“Ah, oh, welcome to Maritime Cove,” offered the tan Earth pony. Midnight was in front of the counter, a short distance away a teal green colt earth pony had her hat, and just coming out of an aisle, a maroon earth pony mare. Possibly the colts mom.

“I’m her mom, Tsuki. She’s just a pegasus with a horn. Ponies giving her a hard time is why we took her along with us.” Midnight looked Kitsu over, and then slowly walked over to her. Kitsu leaned down and whispered explaining she was using a spell to disguise herself.

“Ah, that’s what it was… why are you here?” she asked also using a hushed tone.

“Something came up and we are all headed for the Chrystal Mountains. Might be a wild goose chase, might be a big breakthrough.”

“The Chrystal Mountains?!” Midnight asked in genuine surprise. “Everyone is going? Will I be there all by myself?”

“Let’s just say there won’t be anyone there I trust. Grogar knows about you and I think it might be a good idea for you to stay away for a while.”

“But where will I go? Where will I stay?”

“Let’s see…” Kitsu looked at the ponies in the shop. “Something’s come up, any chance I can talk any of you ponies into foal sitting for a few days?”

“You would ask perfect strangers to foal sit?” Scolded the mare.

“Our team has to make a run to the Chrystal Mountains. There will be one individual holding down the fort, but… to be honest, I’ll trust a stranger before I trust him. A goat. Acts like he has all the answers and it’s kind of hard to tell him no because he’s the one leading the expedition.”

Midnight tugged at Kitsu’s leg and when Kitsu leaned down she whispered, “But what if they find out I’m just a stick?”

“I see…” Kitsu replied softly. “Listen, what Tirek said, he can’t even begin to comprehend what fox fire is capable of. He can’t control it, but it can control him. That’s why he’s afraid of me. You are growing inside. Slowly becoming a real pony. A little different, but that’s what makes you so special. You are worthy of love. And I’m thinking that being around earth ponies might prove beneficial as well.”

“I can take her in,” Offered the shopkeep. “She can help out here in the shop.”

“Ah, splendid. That’ll be perfect. Just no hot baths. She likes a cool shower, but don’t let her stay in too long. We don’t want her getting over-watered, and she’s an allergy to excessive salt so she’ll need to stay out of the ocean. Lots of sunlight, but don’t let her get scorched.”

“Is she a filly or a potted plant?” asked the mare.

“Ah, Mom’s just teasing,” Midnight quipped. She had a silly smile on her face.

Kitso hugged her and whispered, “I gave you a second chance because I thought you might be the key to saving Chrissie. Midnight, if anything goes wrong, it’ll be up to you to carry on where we left off.” She let her voice go back to normal. “In the meantime, do what Mr Sand-dollar tells you.”

“How’d you know my name?”

“Maybe because it’s on your sign?” The mare asked sarcastically while the colt face hoofed and laughed.

“Ya, I kind of figured the name on the sign might be yours.”

“Does she have any sort of overnight kit with her?”

“Afraid not. Everything is happening rather fast. I will need the supplies she came for though, and if you could be good enough to take care of her needs…” Kitsu fished out a single large coin, took it up to the counter, and laid it down. Now if you are wondering where she was getting the money, she’d figured out how Pinkie stored everything in her mane and had been using the same to avoid having to carry a bag around with her. This bit of hammerspace was the one bit of kit that had come with her when she’d been pulled from the human world.

“Why that’s a Royal. That’s worth a hundred bits. I couldn't take that?”

“It is indeed, and I’ll not have you take her on out of charity.”

“You know, I could…” The mare began tentatively.

“You had your opportunity,” Kitsu stated, cutting off the mare. “You didn’t offer when you thought we had nothing, but now when you see that we do, you offer. I dare say that if I were to let you take Midnight in, you’d spend the money on yourself and lock her in a shed.”

“I would do no such thing! The nerve. Come along, Sprout. Lock her in the shed indeed. And what kind of name is Midnight anyway?”

“It’s Midnight Sparkle. We are related to the Sparkles, as in Princess Twilight. Names that hearken to times of the night are tradition.”

“What?”

“Come on mom…” Sprout prompted with an eye roll and led his mother out the door.

“That’s telling her,” Mr Sand-dollar offered with a chuckle. She never does anything unless there is something in it for her. And don’t worry about little midnight, my wife and I will take good care of her.”

Chapter 3: Come sail away with me.

Once Kitsu was satisfied Midnight would be safe, she took the saddlebags and headed back. She would find Chrysalis and Tirek in a little dinghy lost in the swamp. She swooped down, ignoring their bickering, and hoisted the boat up into the air passengers and all.

“Nova! What are you doing?!” Chrysalis shouted out in dismay. A moment later the rowboat had transformed into the gondola of an airship.

“What?” Kitsu asked, now standing at the helm.

“Just how much power do you have that you can do... this?” she gestured about herself.

“It’s fox magic. Fox magic can do some pretty impressive things. In this case, we’re still in the boat you had, but I levitated the boat and the illusion makes us see an airship. So long as no one disrupts the spell the boat will be an airship.”

“The fact that she hasn’t tried to take on Grogar has me more than a little apprehensive. Princess Nova, you’ve changed. You aren't the pony I fought, and you aren’t the pony who spent time with me in Tartarus. What changed you? How are you so much, more… and what is Grogar that you aren’t willing to confront him directly?”

“A lot of things changed. After I got out, I ran. I ran just about as far as a pony could run and then ran even further. I was taken in by a good pony who helped me to mature, to learn how to use the power I have. She knew what Grogar is. I can’t tell you what I have in mind, all I can ask is that you trust me.”

“Trust you?”

“Grogar is playing a game with us. If he wins, we spend the next thousand years or more locked in stone.”

Kitsu piloted her airship north and then turned northwest on spotting Horseshoe Bay. By the time the Princess Amore River between the Canterlot gap and Mount Canterhorn and the Foal Mountains came into view the last rays of the sun were highlighting the peaks of the mountains.

“Any idea where we are headed?” Chrysalis asked.

“Into Yak Yakistan,” Kitsu replied. “The light of the moon will highlight the river. We’ll follow it north.”

“It occurs to me that that Goat expected us to walk the whole way,” Tirek muttered. “How was Midnight?”

“She’s in good hooves,” Kitsu replied. “She was worried they might find out what she is.”

“She was worried?”

“That they would discover that her core is a stick.”

“Wait, she knows?!” Chrysalis asked.

“It wasn’t exactly kept a secret from her when I reanimated her. It’s OK, she’s fine with it. She was more worried about being found out. She’s more than a stick though.”

“A stick and one of my pearls.”

“That stick is growing. She’s alive and a whole lot more than just a spell. She remembers. That’s why she gave you that hug. She is alive and not just an enchantment. And now that I think of it, I'm wondering if Grogar saw you with the stick earlier and doesn't have clue one about Midnight?”

“She…” Chrysalis said softly. “..is alive. I have a daughter.”

“You have a whole hive full of daughters,” Quipped Tirek.

“I’ve three sons. No daughters. Kevin, Pharynx, and Thorax. Pharynx was always my favorite. Strong and courageous. Kevin was just odd. A bit of an outlier. He left the hive years ago and became an outcast. Thorax was always the weakest link. Oddly enough, I’m kind of proud of him, in an odd sort of way. Never expected him to spearhead my overthrow.”

“Nobody was making you leave, you did that on your own,” Kitsu pointed out. “From what I hear they kind of need you. Thorax…”

“Go on, say it. He’s an idiot. The hive was attacked by a Bug Bear and Pharynx was the only one with enough initiative to try to drive it off. Thorax did eventually rally the hive but that should never have happened. Ever since Thorax took over every ling has been trying to be individuals while neglecting the needs of the hive.”

“I’m surprised.”

“At what?”

“That you’ve been keeping tabs on them.”

“They are my hive. Why shouldn't I?”

“When we are done with Grogar, I say we go pay them a visit.”

“Might be fun,” Tirek offered.

“You would want to visit my hive?”

“I’ve been in and out of Tartarus for so long I doubt I’ve anything to go back to. What about you, Miss Nightfoal? You had a place you call home, did you not?”

“I did. Getting there could prove difficult.”

“How so?”

“I’d need to access a portal under Canterlot Castle.”

“A portal?”

“To another world. There should be one in the Everfree, but no idea if it’ll even take me to the right world. Grogar pulled me out of another world. The portals are something Star Swirl discovered and figured out how to replicate. He and Clover the Clever used one of the portals as a dumping ground. I knew they were there so picked a portal that seemed the most promising and went for it. I was able to start all over again. I had a life there. The pony that took me in was none other than an older version of myself.

“And she was able to warn me and prepare me just in case.”

“You want me to take over for a bit?” Chrysalis asked. “All this magic outlay must have you worn mighty thin. Or is this one of those you have to stay awake things?”

“Everything will be fine. Yes, thank you. Just follow the river north. When you spot Neighagra Falls we head north over Lake Mackintosh. Or if all you see are a bunch of big huge lakes, just keep heading north.”

“Not a problem. Go get some sleep.”

“Thank you.” Kitsu let her take the wheel, went to the aft end of the gondola, and lay down on a sofa.

“There’s another sofa back there,” Chrysalis suggested to Tirek.

“I’m good for a while yet. Offering to help… that’s the sort of thing friends do, isn’t it?”

“Colleagues help each other to achieve a common goal,” Kitsu offered with eyes closed. “Chrysalis… don’t transform.”

“I wouldn't dream of it.”

Kitsu awoke as the first light of morning streamed into the canopy, and when she opened her eyes she found that Chrysalis was asleep on the other sofa. She got up, and went forward where Tirek was minding the ship.

“Good Morning,” he offered.

“Morning,” Kitsu said nothing more and proceeded to rummage through one of the saddle bags she’d taken from Midnight. A moment later she’d produced a coffee pot, a canteen of water, and everything she’d need to make coffee. Once she had that going she pulled out sweet bread rolls covered in syrupy goodness and filled with pudding.

“Here, yes, I know, but under the circumstances it’s the nectar of the gods. Baked yesterday.”

“Ah, so you had more in mind than just catching up with Midnight.”

“The more magic I use, the more sugar I need. Well, that and we needed our supplies.”

He took a bite out of the one she’d offered him. “Hmm, sweet, like pony magic.”

“Is that what pony magic tastes like to you?”

“Not far off. Not like what Grogar gave me. I could taste his bitterness. There was a quality about it that was hard to define… like… like Discord’s…” There was a look of realization and panic on his face.

“Hold that thought, and it might be best not to say anything to Chrysalis.”

“Discord,” he hissed.

“Trust me. The bell is the way to undo him. We can do this. We must, we have to. We’ve no other choice.”

“No other choice than what?” Chrysalis asked as she sat up.

“Asking for directions from the Yaks,” Kitsu offered. “Or whomever we happen to come across first once we reach the mountains.”

“Oh, OK. Um, what about just looking for the tallest peak? Isn’t it supposed to be the tallest?”

“I think we’d have to fly up higher than it’s safe to do so to be able to tell. Even I have my limits.”

“Stop and ask for directions then it is,” Tirek announced with a grin on his face. “What is that you are brewing?”

“It’s called coffee. It’s noxious but fills the drinker with new life and energy.” She’d dumped the grounds into the water.

“And you learned of this brewing technique. how… ah, are you letting Chrysalis feed off you?”

“Princess Luna practically invented coffee, and yes. I have plenty of love to give.”

“Not so much in the mornings, you don’t,” Chrysalis lamented only to have a sweet bun shoved in her mouth.

“I see a town up ahead, do you want to stop there,” Tirek asked. “Looks like ponies.”

“I imagine Chrissie and myself can go into town. They have a small wharf, might drop down onto the river and ditch the airship.”

“You don’t want me going into town?”

“You aren’t exactly inconspicuous and if there is any pony there who can identify you it it could end in disaster.”

“And she’s not inconspicuous?”

“Hello, changeling?”

“So long as they don’t have any detection charms in place we should be fine.”

“Ha, those detection charms are worthless.”

“Glad to hear that. In that case, all we need to worry about are bat ponies and fox ponies.”

“Why’s that?”

“They can out a changeling. I knew you weren’t Cadance. If there’d been any pony who could have backed me up…”

“Sorry about that. They shut down Twilight too if that’s any consolation. I will have to admit that I was genuinely surprised when you gave me that right cross. No hard feelings. Seeing that kind of fire in a sea of sheep was kind of exhilarating.”

“Thank you, I guess…
“It’s just occurred to me that if Lord Tirek can do a decent Iron Will impersonation he could come along.”

“He’s a Minotaur,” Chrysalis pointed out. “and a doofus.”

“You want me to play the fool?”

“I want you to not be Lord Tirek. We could go with the same cover story we gave Midnight, that we are Naturalists and archaeologists on an expedition. A three-day survey of the environs at the base of Mount Everhoof. Nothing about trying to climb it. They’d probably try to stop us.”

“I know, I can be Mane Allgood.” suddenly Chrysalis was a dark peach-colored pegasus with bleach blond mane and tail.

“Ahhh,” Kitsu wasn’t too sure that was a good idea.

“She’s the only naturalist I know well enough to be able to pull it off. That and she and Snap should be at the ruins of the palace of the two sisters right now. They’d been permitted to do a detailed survey of the site. What? I hang out around Ponyville a lot.”

“Think I’ll stick with Tsuki Sparkle.” She switches her attention to Tirek. “I know, you can be Doctor West Hill,” Kitsu suggested. “No, make that Underhill. Doctor West Underhill, archaeologist.”

“I shall be Lord Westerly Underhill. Yes, that sounds pompous enough.”

“Oh, you are going for pompous. Well then, you’ll need this, this, and this,” Kitsu offered as she pulled out a large white pith helmet, a monocle, and a brown denim jacket that was loaded with pockets.”

“It fits… or is that more of your trickery.”

“Believe it or not, Midnight had ordered it for you and it just came in. Along with the helmet. The monocle is just a cheap magnifying glass that the grip fell off. Just use it to inspect anything that looks interesting.
“Now, I think I’d best take the wheel. I’m going to put it down on the river and turn this thing into a small riverboat.”

Moments later they were gliding through the water, their airship now a small motor launch with a cabin and because Equestrian motors were all powered by magic there was no need for exhaust.

“You are by far a good pony to have around,” Chrysalis proclaimed. “Miss Tsuki.”

“I still can’t believe Grogar expected us to go on foot.”

“I’m wondering if he thought we’d just give up,” Kitsu suggested.

“In that case, are we even going to find anything on that mountain?” Chrysalis asked.

“Oh, it’s up there. And to get it, it’s going to take all three of us working as a team.”

“So he wasn’t kidding when he said we needed to work together,” Tirek remarked. “Why though? Why give us the ability to defeat him?”

“We defeat him, and let him get away. Let our heads get too big for our flanks, take on Princess Twilight and all of Canterlot, and lose.”

“All of Canterlot?” Chrysalis asked knowing full well that three individuals didn’t have much of a chance in that regard. Not if a whole hoard couldn't do it.

“What’s the best way to unite creatures? Provide them with a threat. Unified in their endeavor they activate harmony magic, and before we’ve a chance to say it was Grogar’s orders, we are all turned to stone for however long that much magic is good for while the architect of evil goes about doing whatever he wants.”

“Well I say we spoil his plans,” Chrysalis offers with a tone of determination as they slowly pull up to the village’s dock. Kitsu threw on a cloak to cover her cutie mark, hurried aft, threw out a line, and looped it onto a dock cleat. She then jumped onto the dock with another line, tied one end to the midship cleat and the other around a cleat on the dock followed by going forward, securing the line to the forward cleat on the ship, and then tying it off to the next cleat up. And then just for good measure she climbed up onto the bow, took the anchor, and tossed it forward of the boat.

“That should hold it a while.”

“Howdy stranger,” offered a grizzled old earth pony. He’d one of them white captain's hats on. “That there yer boat?” The numbers on the bow weren’t making a whole lot of sense to him. WH 1212 SY The name on the fantail read Kobayashi Maru, Riverside, Iowa.

“Loaned out to us. We have to give it back when we are done. Name’s Tsuki Sparkle. We were sent up this way to do a three-day survey at the base of Mount Everhoof.”

“Mount Everhoof? Why would you want to go there?”

“Can’t say really. Just that someone at the Canterlot Museum of Natural History has wild hair up their backside.”

“Tsuki, please,” Chrysalis scolded lightly.

“Oh, this is Mane Allgood. She’s our naturalist, and the big guy inside is Lord Westerly Underhill. He’s the archaeologist. I do hope it will be alright to leave our boat here until we get back?”

“It’ll cost you?”

“Just send the bill to the White Hall Agency,” Mane offered. “They cover all our expenses.”

“Mane Allgood, weren’t you supposed to be married,” the old pony asked.

“I am. Snap Shutter. He’s at the castle of the two sisters. The palace to be exact. Something the team found prompted this trip. Dear little Scootaloo, our daughter, wanted to come but I thought it’d be best she stayed behind. I hear the mountain can be dangerous.”

“Underhill,” Tirek offered in a very good impersonation of a Canterlot noble. “Lord Westerly Underhill. At your service.”

“Welcome to Trailhead… oh my, he is a big-un.” Tirek had decided to get out of the boat followed by Chrysalis.

“Well, truth be told, we just brought him along in case there was any heavy lifting. By any chance are there guides available in town?” Kitsu asked as she tossed all their gear up onto the dock. Tirek picked up his pack, Chrysalis gathered up her saddlebags and Kitsu grabbed both a pack and saddlebags.

“There’s an Inn at the center of town. You can’t miss it.”

“Thank you,” Kitsu offered and then the three companions made their way into the small community. And yes, Tirek gathered every eye in the community.

Chapter 4: Kobayashi Maru

“You two might just as well wait here,” Kitsu offered when they arrived at the Inn.

“Nothing doing, I’m going in,” Chrysalis stated as she pushed past.

“This early in the morning there aren’t likely to be many…

“OK, fine, I’ll wait outside.” Chrysalis had done a rather curious about-face.

Kitsu poked her head in to see a bat pony and a fox pony sitting at a table.

“Your friend seems a bit shy,” the fox offered. He was a silver fox pony with markings nearly identical to Kitsu's minus the colored stripes.

“Can’t say I know what got into her,” Kitsu offered as she entered the building. “My Name’s Tsuki. We were hoping to find a guide.”

“I’m called Loki. My friend here is Glider. We are guides. Whereabouts were you headed?”

“Mount Everhoof. We are with the Canterlot Museum of Natural History and they sent us out here to do a quick three-day survey.”

“Did they now…”

“And what if we say no?” asked Glider.

“We have a choice between finding our way and losing our jobs. The higher-ups are set on this. It has to do with some findings from an ongoing survey at the castle of the two sisters.” Kitsu let her ears droop a little.

“We’d be delighted,” offered Loki cheerfully.

“Now hold on one minute, we never agreed to nothing. Or is it you see a cute filly and suddenly you want to help.”

“Maybe. She is cute. Wonder what she’d look like all cleaned up?”

“They want to go to Mount Everhoof.”

“No harm in taking them as far as old Rusty Bucket’s place.”

Glider closed the difference between the two and whispered, “That blond is a changeling.”

“Changelings are reformed now. I’m sure she has a good reason for presenting themselves as a pony. Furthermore, if we do not offer our services they have but to cross the border and a Yak will guide them.”

“And based on the twitching of her ears she can hear every word.”

“I will guide them if for no other reason than because she reminds me of the banished princess.”

“Every filly reminds you of the banished princess.”

“So, um, are we good or do we need to make a run for the border?”

“Young miss, of course, we are good. My friend and I were just discussing our fee rate.”

“A hundred thousand bits,” Glider announced.

“We aren’t climbing the mountain!” Kitsu protested. Sure, it was an out-and-out lie, but then again, they weren’t planning on going all the way to the top.

“A hundred thousand!?” Chrysalis protested and poked her head in.

Kitsu leaned over and whispered, “They know you are a reformed ling.”

“Reformed or not, that’s a mighty steep price just to show us to the mountain. For that price, we can find it ourselves.”

“Don’t pay him any attention,” Loki offered with a smile and a chuckle, “He’s just teasing you. Thirty-five thousand to see you there and back.”

“Best I can do upfront is a couple hundred to show us the way and that’s just about cleaning me out.” Their faces fell.

“What about an IOU?” Chrysalis asked. “To be paid by the White Tower Agency in Canterlot. A voucher which I will fill out and any time you are in Canterlot you can get it paid.”

“Sounds sketchy to me,” Glider muttered. “Not to mention that neither one of us is very welcome in Canterlot.”

“Dare I ask?”

“Are we planning on hanging here in the doorway all day?” Tirek asked as he pushed his way in. “This is an Inn, is it not? Please tell me they serve breakfast.”

“Who?” Loki asked as he watched Tirek find his way to the front counter.

“His Lordship Westerly Underhill,” Kisue informed them and then went over to sit at a table next to the one they were at.

“Maybe he’s got money?” Glider asked.

“Oh, I never carry money on me. Where exactly is the help?”

“Given that no one typically ever shows up before noon they won't be in till later,” Loki informed them. “There is a continental breakfast set out if you are interested.”

Tirek looked about, spotted a counter on the far wall with an assortment of goodies, and ambled over to it. The first thing he did was find the coffee pot, pick it up, and give it a sniff. Satisfied he poured some into a cup and gave the cup a tentative sip. Satisfied, he filled the cup and set the kettle down.

“I thought you didn’t care for coffee, based on your reaction to what I made, that is,” Kitsu groused.

“Oh, is that what that was supposed to be? You hadn’t even put a filter in it.”

“I’m a tea drinker. I was in a hurry.”

“Long as we are here,” Chrysalis said as she headed for the food. Kitsu let out a sigh and followed. The three dumped their gear at the table Kitsu had sat down gathered up some goodies returned to the table and decided to relax over a bite to eat.

“What was your name again? Miss Tsuki?”

“Tsuki Nym Sparkle, and no, I can’t wire Princess Twilight for money. I’m a distant cousin, I doubt she even knows I exist.”

“I’ll help, I’ll guide you. No charge.”

“Seriously. No strings attached?”

“No strings attached.”

“How soon can we get started? We are kind of in a hurry.”

“Well, um…”

“I’ll give you an hour and then we leave.”

“Why are you in such a hurry?” Glider asked.

“Because we have a limited amount of time. Next week I have to be back in school. Mrs Shutter there needs to get back to Ponyville, and Lord Underhill… OK, I have no idea what he’s doing, probably a book tour.”

“OK, that’s fair enough.”

“I’ll go get my things,” Loki offered, got up, and rushed down a hallway beyond the front desk.

“Oh, alright, I’m going too,” Glider said, and followed after Loki.

“Miss Tsuki…” Chrysalis said softly. “For what it’s worth, I was thinking about going home before all this started.”

“Can’t say I blame you. Even if you don’t want to be a reformed ling, being a thorn under Thorax's hoof has a certain appeal.” Chrysalis couldn't help but chuckle at the idea.

“Did you see the paper?” Tirek asked. “Coronation of Twilight Sparkle as new Crown Princess of Equestria on indefinite hold. Says the authorities are investigating numerous acts of sabotage.”

“Just a wild guess, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised to learn that Cozy was behind it,” Kitsu offered.

“So she stirs everything up, and if certain individuals were to show themselves,” Chrysalis said in a dry tone.

“Be like walking into a hornet's nest,” Tirek replied. He thought for a moment. “What happens if we fail?”

“We can’t fail. Not just our lives depend on it, all of Equestria is counting on us whether they know it or not.”

“Can’t say it ever occurred to me I’d be playing the part of a hero someday. Kind of feels good, and exhilarating all at the same time.”

Meanwhile in Loki and Glider’s room…

“You can’t be serious?” Glider protested.

“I’m telling you she’s the banished princess.”

“Who is supposed to be in Tartarus for trying to suck all the magic out of Equestria. And then she suddenly shows up here with a changeling and a centaur.”

“Kitsumi was innocent. At least the Kitsumi I knew would never have done something like that. Not knowingly. Next, you’ll be saying that’s Queen Chrysalis and Lord Tirek with her.”

“And what if they are? Yes, I know it sounds preposterous now that we’ve said it out loud. It’s just that I can’t help but think they are up to something.”

“All the more reason to go with them.”

“I ever tell you I hate you?”

“All the time.”

The party, now consisting of five individuals in all, made their way out of town just shy of an hour later.

Canterlot City, Royal Guard Investigation Burow.

“Oh look, another telegraph from old man Commodore in Trailhead.

“So who’s he reporting as suspicious this time?”

“Three individuals arrived by boat…”

“Nothing unusual about that.”

“We have a Tsuki Nym Sparkle, oh and Mane Allgood of all ponies, and some Lord Westerly Underhill. Can’t say the name rings a bell.”

“Any info on the boat?”

“Registration number WH 1212 SY and the name is Kobayashi Maru, Riverside, Iowa. Does seem an odd name for a boat.”

“It’s a Neighpon registration. Everything they have is something or another Maru. Look, if they got past customs in Baltimare they’re fine. I swear that Pony would report the Princesses if they showed up. Just file it.”

“My hooves are killing me, why can’t we fly?” Chrysalis complained.

“Because we need Lord Underhill,” Kisu reminded her. “And these canyons are too high and too narrow for an airship.” Chrysalis was about to argue that they could have taken the airship when they turned a corner to discover the wreckage of an airship that had attempted it high on the face of one of the mountains.

“Weather closed in on them,” Loki informed them. “Killed every pony on board save one.”

“Alright, fine.” Chrysalis knew when she was defeated.

“We could stop for a break if you’d like,” Glider suggested.

“Be noon in another hour. Mrs Shutter, think you can hold out till then?” Kitsu asked.

“Mrs… oh, right. Just call me Mane. Yes, I suppose I can go that long. I don’t do a lot of walking when I don’t have to. Spend most of my time analyzing plants.”

“I will admit that I don’t care for a lot of walking either,” Kitsu offered. “That is unless a school assignment has me stumped. Then I’m back and forth like a caged animal.”

“Somehow I can’t picture you being caged, at least not for long,” Loki offered.

“So tell us something about yourself.”

“Oh, not much to tell. I doubt you’d believe me anyway.”

“He’s Prince Loki Moon,” Glider announced. “Adopted son of Princess Luna, and I’m his trusty servant. We found ourselves transported through time at the climax of the fight between Princess Celestia and Nightmare Moon.”

“Oh really.” Kitsu looked over at Loki.

“I said you wouldn't believe it. We made the mistake of diving right into the middle of the fray to go after a headstrong filly who was right in the middle of the fight.”

“When the fight was over, the palace and the Everfree citadel in ruins, we went to Canterlot. At the time we weren’t sure what had happened. It was strange, the palace looked like it had been in ruins for a thousand years and the city had sprung up overnight.”

“When we presented ourselves at the gate of Canterlot Castle we were arrested for attempting to perpetrate a fraud.”

“I see…” Kitsu wasn’t sure what to think of their claim. It had all been such a long time ago. That and she knew full well what it meant when a young noble’s son was adopted into a family that had a daughter.

“Ah, I do recall records of a young prince who’d been betrothed to the young Princess. If not for Nightmare Moon,” Chrysalis announced with a big smile on her face. “The two would have grown up together and presumably fallen in love. I can picture them now, going on long walks, leaning into each other…”

“Constantly fighting,” Glider offered. “Well, they were.”

“Yes, that does sound familiar,” Tirek offered with a smirk on his face. “The two of them headlock and headlock.”

“It wasn’t like that,” Loki protested. Kitsu had held her tongue because there had been someone who she’d been best friends with who, now that she thought about it, matched the description.

“Her mom gave her a pendent, a captain’s medallion with her name added, and three gemstones. She wore that thing everywhere,” Loki offered.

Kitsu’s ears went up. None in the present day knew it had been a Captain’s Medallion. “Hang on, three stones?”

“Two stars and a moon. The moon was done with a semi-precious gemstone. Rumor had it the stones for the stars had been enchanted stones.”

Of course, the moon was a gemstone, but Kitsu had dismissed it given it was inert. Only two of the stones were important.

“The pendant went missing a few years back,” Loki continued. “When they imprisoned her in Tartarus, unjustly I might add, the pendant was placed in the palace collection. They’d put it on display under glass. The guards say it was the spirit of Nightmare Moon who had come for it in search of her daughter.”

Tirek gave Kitsu a knowing look, and when Chrysalis looked his way he gave her a wink. “Now that I think of it, she had that pendant when she fought Lord Tirek,” he offered sagely.

“I heard about that. Nearly won, but then Discord betrayed Equestria,” Glider offered.

“Everything that creature does is for his amusement,” Kitsu said in nearly a growl.

Following lunch, Chrysalis had gained her second wind and it was Loki and Glider who were feeling the miles.

“You totally fed off them, didn’t you?” Kitsu hissed in her ear as they walked down the ever-narrowing lane. “Stop that.”

“You’re just saying that because he’s your foal hood special some pony.”

“And I can’t tell him. Think about that. Think about Grogar, about how that piece of road apple ruined my life. Think about how he’s trying to take your choices from you.”

“You don’t have to remind me. You don’t think I think about it? Well, I do. He’s taken my freedom from me in a way I never thought possible. And then he gives us a task I doubt we would have had a chance if you weren’t with us.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. You’d have done it. It would have taken you a lot longer, but you’d have done it.”

“You bet I would have done it. I’d do it by myself if that was even possible.”

“The best protections always require more than one individual to overcome them. Let’s face it, he’s a goat. Climbing a mountain should be easy for him.”

“One would think.”

“And yet he needs the three of us to get it for him.”

“On the one hoof, his type never bothers to do the dirty work. On the other hoof, maybe he did try for it and failed. Maybe he just knows he’d never be able to. In the end, he needed some patsies to do the hard work.”

“And that’s us.”

Chapter 5: Everhoof

When they made camp late that afternoon Tirek amused himself by asking Loki and Glider about the Palace of the Two Sisters and the castle in which it had been built. Believing him to be an actual archaeologist they were eager to share everything they knew. Nor did it take long for Kitsu to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Loki was indeed her foal hood friend. Kitsu waited until after dinner and then on the pretext of going for a walk took off to scout out the approach to the mountain. She’d been warned to watch out for dangerous creatures but in truth, there wasn’t anything in those woods that could match any of the trio. If there was a match for any of them, it was the mountain itself.

As predicted just as soon as she reached the mountain heavy winds began to buffet her. Even folding in her wings and using her magic to body surf proved difficult. She then dropped down to check out the landscape at the base of the mountain. When she had satisfied her curiosity she went back.

“I was about ready to go looking for you,” Loki offered as she ambled back into camp.

“A filly does need her time alone now and then,” Kitsu replied and then went to sit quietly by the fire.

Chrysalis went over to her and sat down. She then whispered into Kitsu’s ear that they were going to have to ditch their guides sooner or later.

“I know,” Kitsu replied softly.

Tirek, Chrysalis, Loki, and Glider awoke with a start sometime in the middle of the night.

“Damn it!” Loki yelled moments after getting up. Not only were Lord Underhill, Mane Goodall, and Miss Tsuki gone, but he and Glider were now trapped under a small dome of magical energy.

“Everyone up!” Kitsu called. “We are going, now.”

“Where’s the camp?” Chrysalis asked as she looked around.

“I teleported us.”

“He’s going to come after us,” Tirek pointed out.

"Us?" Chrysalis said with a laugh. "It's Miss Nova he's looking for."

“Well, he’s going to have to break out of the shield spell I put over the top of the camp first. I want to get going now and get as high up onto the mountain as possible before that happens.”

“I guess I might as well ditch this disguise then,” Chrysalis said with a shrug, turned back into herself, and gathered up her things.

The three were on their way moments later.

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!” Loki exclaimed as he cast balls of fox fire at the shield.

“Hate to say I told you so, but I told you so,” Glider scolded.

“That was Kitsumi!” He dropped to the ground in frustration.

“Kitsumi is in Tartarus.”

“I could see the telltale sign of a horn being camouflaged on the upper portion of her forehead,” He said softly. “And this shield isn’t fox magic, it’s unicorn magic.”

“And next you are going to say that was Lord Tirek, and Queen Chrysalis with her.”

“Well, maybe it was.”

“Well, I’m going back to sleep.”

“How can you sleep at a time like this? She’s in trouble!”

“Something tells me-yaaa!” Glider let out a yell of fright as a beast emerged from the darkness to lunge at Loki.

To Loki’s dismay, an Ophiotaurus was now right in his face outside the dome only it had smashed its head into the shield and was now out cold. “What is that thing doing here?! They aren’t supposed to be in these parts… are they?”

“Well, so much for sleeping,” Glider muttered as he looked out at the half snake half bull creature.

“What’s with the flame from your hoof?” Chrysalis asked Kitsu. “You keep stopping and doing that?”

“It’s a way to predict the future. Right now I’m using it to plot out our path.”

“How about using it to get rid of all the spiderwebs we keep walking into?” Tirek griped.

“Grab a stick and hold it out in front of you… here,” Kitsu picked up a long branch that had fallen down, handed it to Tirek, and then stuck some of her fox fire on it so he could use it like a torch. “Come on, we are going to go through that forest.” This time Kitsu lit up her horn. Up until that moment, the light of the moon had been enough. More than enough for Kitsu and Chrysalis, both of whom could see well in the dark. Not so much Tirek who’d been following the other two as best he could and in among the scattered trees along the path he’d been dealing with more than just the occasional web across their path.

The forest was pitch black inside and yet Kitsu just seemed to know the way. Any time she was unsure she’d whip up a bit of her blue flame and use it to judge if she was on the right path. The forest was full of animal paths and the last thing Kitsu wanted was to end up going around in circles. Two hours later they emerged on a saddleback ridge that provided them a bridge onto the mountain itself.

“The winds not so bad,” Chrysalis stated as they crossed.

“The wind always dies down this time of night,” Kitsu offered. “Even enchanted winds.”

“It does seem your little excursion has paid off,” Tirek remarked as he looked down at the side of the mountain they hoped to scale illuminated by the moonlight.

“Come on,” Kitsu prompted and started walking again.

Back at the camp Loki had managed to wake the Ophiotaurus and was waving his plot at the creature.

“What are you doing?” Glider protested.

“If it hits the shield hard enough the shield will break.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Thump!

“And it’s out cold again.”

“Did it occur to you that you might not get away in time?”

“Ahh…. Um, well…”

“I’m waiting... Look whatever trouble she’s in, if you can’t negate her shield you might just end up getting in the way. Did you never think of that?”

“No, I didn’t. And you know why? Because all I can think about is losing her again.”

“That must be the old stallion's cabin Loki talked about down there,” Chrysalis announced. They’d been trudging through the snow for a while now, the trees getting shorter and shorter. Tirek was out in front.

“Tirek, that snow field in front of us, mind striking it with your stick?” Kitsu asked. He shrugged his shoulders, struck the snow, and then jumped back as the whole mountainside came loose.

“How’d you know?” Tirek asked.

“Just a hunch.”

“I think the cabin is buried,” Chrysalis said as she looked down at the mountainside. “Should we maybe do something? That is if we are supposed to be heroes now?”

“If he was in the cabin he’d be fine.”

“If he wasn’t?”

“There’d be nothing we could do anyway, and we’ve got a bell to find,” Tirek pointed out.

Kitsu produced her flame again and looked around. “They'll be fine down there. Come on, this way. We need to climb up here.” Her horn brightened followed by a rope gushing out and up the mountainside. Kitsu took hold of the rope, gave it an experimental tug, and started climbing.

“I will have to say that you are a good pony to have around,” Chrysalis commented as she followed.

“I learned that spell in the other world. A mad wizard used a similar spell to get the jump on me and my friends. We still won the fight. One wizard against three alicorns. He never had a chance.”

The three climbed until they were above the slide where they were able to cross over into a relatively easy slope covered in scattered evergreen to which the snow clung. Tirek took the lead again and pushed through the snow. Not to be outdone, Chrysalis would turn herself into an Ursa to clear the path of fallen debris. Higher and higher they climbed, the wind now buffeting them and the stunted grouping of trees on the slope.

At the top of another steep climb up jagged rocks, they were momentarily stopped by a deep chasm in the side of the rocks. Kitsu checked her fox fire and let out a sigh.

“We have to cross that.” She tried her rope spell only to have the wind blow it back into her face.

“Give me that,” Chrysalis ordered, turning herself into a large bird of prey.

“What about just teleporting over the gap?” Kitsu asked. Chrysalis looked at Kitsu, transformed back to herself, and with a smile and a flash of light, she was on the other side. Between the two they build a substantial rope bridge that Tirek was able to cross with ease.

“This should be it,” Kitsu offered as she turned a corner into a large crevice in the side of the mountain. Within the crevice, there was a cave entrance marked by large spirals and arcane symbols cut into the rocks.

“Chrysalis don’t!” Kitsu called as the changeling rushed the entrance only to be stopped like she’d run into something solid. Kitsu approached and placed her hoof on an energy barrier that shimmered when touched.

“Well, do something,” Chrysalis ordered Kitsu.

“Any attempt I make to destroy the shield could bring the mountain down on us and bury the entrance.”

“And fail in our mission,” Tirek offered. He chose not to point out that he’d likely be buried or swept down the mountain to be buried while the other two flew away.

“What about absorbing the magic?” Chrysalis asked him.

“I can only absorb the magic of living beings.”

“Like one of us,” Chrysalis said softly.

“Tirek, Lord Tirek, you are going to have to trust me.”

“Trust you?”

“Absorb my magic and punch a hole in the barrier. Chrysalis can turn herself into some small pathetic creature…”

“Like this?” Chrysalis had turned into Cozy Glow causing the others to stifle a laugh.

“If you were any other pony I’d be asking you to trust me,” Tirek replied.

“Just get it over with,” Kitsu chastised. A moment later a beam of light blue energy rippled off her horn and into Tirek’s mouth turning into a golden orange color. Tirek began to grow, and Kitsu dropped.

“So much power!” Tirek boasted as he flexed never realizing Kitsu had cut him off rather than risk him getting all her magic.

“You want to keep it down?” Kitsu asked as she got up.

“Welcome back baby!” Tirek boasted and then hit the magical barrier with the magic from his horns.

“Chrysalis, go!”

“Alright, teamwork,” Chrysalis cheered in Cozy's voice as she flew through the small opening Tirek had made, his magic holding the hole open.

“Can’t hold much longer.”

Cozy lept back out of the cave to land on a snow bank. “Tada!”

“My magic?” Kitsu asked.

Tirek shrugged and returned, most of her magic.

“I wasn’t sure you were going to give it back,” Kitsu stated.

“Neither was I,” Tirek admitted. “It’s just that working together just seemed smarter.”

“Helping each other just feels better.”

“I haven't felt like this since before I lost my hive,” Chrysalis admitted. “Such a strong feeling of accomplishment. Of friendship. Maybe there is something to this friendship thing…”

“Chrissie, don’t transform,” Kitsu cautioned.

“Don't tell me what to do.” And with that, Chrysalis was enveloped in her green magic which turned into a light blue chrysalis.

Kitsu walked over to the pail peach alicorn with a bright pink to magenta mane and tail and placed a wing over the stricken pony.

“What just happened?” Tirek asked in astonishment.

“Queen Chrysalis is Princess Amore of the Chrystal empire.”

“But how?” Amore said breathlessly. The look on her face was one of shock.

“Turned you into crystal, and dumped you along with the changelings into a magical cesspool. At least that’s the running theory. We think it might have been Starswirl the Bearded who triggered the transformation. I’m friends with your counterpart.”

“What have I done?” At this point, Amore started to cry.

Kitsu quietly took the bell from her and passed it over to Tirek. “Oh, please don’t cry. We are going to fix everything. That and you’re eyes might freeze shut.”

“You would trust me with this?” Tirek asked as he took the bell.

“I would. And I need you to trust me. Meanwhile, we are going to have our work cut out for us getting Princess Amore down off this mountain.”

“What about Grogar?” Amore asked sounding panicked. Fear of Grogar was more than enough to arrest her runaway emotions.

“Short of he is watching us and caught that transformation, Chrysalis is dead,” Kitsu offered. “Fell to her death while attempting to climb the mountain.”

“Fell to her death?” Amore asked. “Such an ignoble end.”

“Hit a glacier, slid down it, dropped into a crevasse, and covered by an avalanche.”

“I suppose that’s a little better. But what am I to do? I can’t go back. Not like this. And what about Midnight?”

“Just a guess, but I’d say that you are free of him now. Queen Chrysalis is no more. And let me worry about Midnight. She's safe where she is for the time being anyway.”

“Then where am I to go?”

“For now you can go with Loki. And then I think you might want to go home.”

“He loves you,” Amore stated, possibly not wanting to talk about going home just yet.

“Ya. But you can’t tell him. Tirek and I still have to take on Grogar.”

“By yourselves?”

“We must,” Tirek offered. “We have a way to shut him down now.”

“But we don’t even know how to use the bell.”

“Not entirely true. I know how to use the bell, and I’ve got a plan.”

“Glad to hear it,” Tirek offered. “Now can we get going? It’s getting cold up here.”

“If it makes you feel any better your counterpart got her flank kicked,” Kitsu informed Amore as she helped her up.

“I fear this mountain may kick all our flanks yet. Just one question, how do we explain myself suddenly popping up out of nowhere?”

“Freed by the avalanche sounds likely,” Kitsu suggested. “Frozen in snow and ice until a chance moment in time.”

“Sounds as good as any,” Tirek commented.

“But is lying about what happened a good idea?” Amore asked.

“I think it best we not let the general public know the full truth,” Kitsu cautioned.

"One more thing, how am I to know if you were successful?"

"If we succeed, we'll go to the Chrystal Empire. I can't say when. Look for an airship unlike any in the Equestrian fleet."

"Another fox illusion?"

"We'll see. It's hard to describe, but I've a really good feeling like everything is going to fall into place."

The three slowly made their way back down the mountain and when they spotted Loki and Glider digging out the cabin they sent Amore down to help them dig out.

“Princess Amore?!” Loki said in astonishment. “How are you here?”

“It’s her. It’s really her,” Glider said softly.

“I’m afraid that explanation is going to take a long time. Is it alright if I help?”

“Yes, of course, you can help,” Loki replied. “Were you up on the mountain? By any chance did you see two ponies with a centaur?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. They, that is the centaur and Miss Tsuki are already on their way back. They have a pressing matter to attend to.”

“No sign of the other pony?” Glider asked.

“She… she fell. Sacrificing herself valiantly to free me from my prison. Now, what say we free the pony under all this snow from this.”

Tirek and Kitsu made considerably better time on their return trip minus Chrysalis and their guides and returned to Trailhead the next evening.

“I think we deserve a night in a decent bed,” Tirek offered as they entered town.

“Grogar can wait, is it?”

“If we are to face him, I’d like to be at my best.”

“Alright, I guess it can’t hurt. Grogar may not even be there when we get back anyway.”

“Do you think she’ll be alright?”

“She’ll be fine. And if all goes well we can come back to check up on her.”

When they entered the inn they were greeted by a large group of climbers and the idea that they might have walked into a trap was more than enough to make them look distressed.

“Is there something we can do for you,” asked a mare with an apron on.

Thinking quickly Kitsu informed her, “There was an avalanche. The base camp cabin was buried and we’ve lost a member of our party.”

“What? Oh my!”

“Loki and Glider are there digging the cabin out.”

“And they sent you back on your own?”

“I brought her back so that we could inform every pony,” Tirek offered. “Underhill, my name is Westerly Underhill. But there is good news. Seems the slide freed an alicorn from the snow. She’s at the cabin now helping to dig it out.”

“An alicorn?!” the maid asked in astonishment.

“Alicorns are immortal after all,” Kitsu offered. “It’s Princess Amore from the Crystal Empire. Don’t ask me why she was up there, but it looks like she got lost in a storm and buried in snow and ice.”

“Come on in, sit down, you poor dear, you must have had a harrowing experience,” the maid offered. “Call me Gloria, every pony does, but what happened? Weren't you out with Loki and Glider?”

“We, um, kind of got into a hurry and, well…”

“You ditched them, didn’t you, and a pony paid the price.”

“Wasn’t Mane Allgood with you?” asked one of the stallions in the room. “Some pony said they saw Mane Allgood.”

“She wasn’t,” Tirek offered. The two quickly concluded that their decision was going to put them in deep yogurt if they didn’t think fast. “Turned out to be a changeling who’d been masquerading as Mane.”

“We saw her transform as she was falling,” Kitsu offered. “Black chitin, as black as night she was. It was her idea to skip out on our guides. Isn’t that right, your lordship?”

“Indeed she was. The Queen of the changelings herself. The mountain has her now.”

Author's Note

Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-ri-a, bring us more rum, Gloria.