Daniel Book Four- Zebrica

by cooliofir135

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Alternate Universe, Romance, Comedy, Adventure, Human
Length: 21163

Daniel goes to train with the zebras!

The wait for the next installment is over, and Daniel is back! This time though, he's not going to be staying in Ponyville, but instead, will be in Zebrica learning the arts of the great nation. But as he learns, he begins to find that not all knowledge is friendly, and that sometimes, ignorance can truly be bliss.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-08-22 04:11:26 UTC

Author's Note/ Intro/ Prologue

Author's Note

Okay, the only thing that I can think of in the previous book was, where the buck is this thing going. I mean seriously, I don't even know what I was thinking, it wasn't going anywhere where I wanted it to. I suppose it stems from some troubles here in Trottingham, I had to go visit my grandmother in Ponyville, and that threw me off track, but I'm back, so let's see if I can do this correctly! This story starts about four days after Ditzy asked Daniel to marry her. To those who haven't read the previous books, surprise!

Intro

Hello. My name is Daniel. You may know of me from previous adventures, or you may be beginning here. If you are beginning here, let me fill you in. My full name is Daniel T. Sallite, I am a human, sort of, and I live in a world full of strange people, magic, and adventure. The people here aren't human, nope, some are ponies, some are dragons, others are griffins. Heck, I even know a phoenix by the name of Peewee. Well, this is my story, be warned, it's not all happy and joyful. It gets dark, with deceit, betrayal, lies, and more. The journey ahead is long one, but I hope that you can stick with me until the end.

Prologue

"Daniel! Get up! Come on please!" Applebloom called up at the tree that the said thirteen year old usually slept in. there was a rustling, then Daniel dropped down behind Applebloom.

"What? What is it? Are we being attacked?" Daniel asked frantically. He had drawn his sword, and was standing protectively in front of Applebloom. Applebloom just laughed.

"No, we're not being attacked. I just need some help down at the bar, two ponies are starting to fight, and the ponies I have keeping it under control are not exactly the best for the job." She said. Daniel nodded.

"Got it, let's get going," and with that they were off to the tavern.

*   *   *

Daniel followed Applebloom inside the bar. Inside were two familiar ponies holding two not so familiar ponies back. Daniel chuckled slightly. "What's going on here?" He asked, and everypony turned towards him. The two that were being held back started yelling at the same time. Daniel just shook his head. "Alright, be quiet," he paused and nodded at the pony on his left, "Talk, what's wrong?" Daniel asked.

"This idiot took my wedding bracelet!" growled the pony.

"Hmm, alright, what's your side of the story?" Daniel said, nodding at the other pony.

"He started accusing me of taking his bracelet, when I did nothing of the sort!" He yelled. Daniel just sighed with a bit of a chuckle, and turned back to the other.

"Is it gold, with two diamonds on each side?" Daniel asked, the pony nodded.

"How did you know?" He asked.

"It's hanging out of your left saddlebag," Daniel said, laughing. The two ponies looked at each other, and walked their separate ways. One to the bar, and the other out the door. Daniel followed the one out the door, and was stopped by none other, than Ditzy Doo.

"Daniel, we're needed in Canterlot." Was all she said. Daniel looked at her slightly confused.

"What for? Is something wrong?" Daniel asked, Ditzy just shook her head.

"No, no trouble, it's just a diplomatic meeting Between the leaders of The Griffin Empire, and Equestria. All alicorns must be present, and you are an alicorn." Ditzy said frantically.

"What's the hurry?" Daniel asked.

"We can't be late, and it starts in five minutes, and if we're late, we could be starting a war!" She said. Daniel's eyes widened.

"How are we supposed to get there in five minutes?" Daniel asked, Ditzy gave a shy and guilty grin. "Oh no," Was all Daniel managed to get out of his mouth before the ground beneath hi feet was ripped out from under him, along with the rest of the environment, and before he could fall, another ground, made out of marble was shoved under his feet. As his world turned into that of a meeting room inside Canterlot castle. Daniel threw up. They had just teleported. Upon looking up, he was met with a rather angry Lunar Guard.

"What are you doing here with your pet Miss Doo?" Growled the Lunar Stallion. Daniel glared at him.

"Ha ha, it is to laugh. I'm an alicorn too, you over grown bat. I just hate teleporting, I always get sick. I'll clean it up," Daniel growled back, growing out his horn, to do just that. He teleported the mess away into the nearby garbage can, and masked the smell. The Lunar guard stepped threateningly towards Daniel who glared into his eyes. After about three seconds, they both burst out laughing.

"Good to see you sir," the guard said, his growl in his voice seeming more friendly.

"Good to see you too Aegis, tell you what, after I'm done here, I'll come back, and we can talk." The pony, who was now known as Aegis nodded.

"Vivas Clementia," The stallion said saluting Daniel. In the olden language it meant long live humanity.

"Vivas Noctus," Daniel replied, clutching his hand over the area his heart would be. In the olden language, it meant long live the night. Before they could talk anymore, Ditzy pushed Daniel inside, and just in time as well.

"Ah, Diane, I was beginning to think you had decided not to come. I see you brought the bipedal friend of yours." A griffin male said, he was sitting at a table, directly across from Celestia. His eyes were a deep green, and he seemed to radiate power.

Ditzy nodded and sat to Celestia's right, and the table was filled, with Ice Fire on the far left, Luna next, then an empty chair, next was Celestia, then finally Ditzy. Daniel just stood, until Ice Fire growled out, "Sit down." Daniel nodded, and took the only free seat in the middle. Celestia began to speak.

"As ruler of Equestria I decree that this meeting shall begin," She said regally.

"I second that motion," the griffin across the table said.

"I third this motion," Ice Fire growled out. Everybody turned towards me.

"Uh, I'm sorry, please forgive my ignorance, but this is my first meeting, what am I supposed to do?" Daniel asked. The griffin across the table chuckled slightly, then nodded.

"You are the one with the most power here, politically anyways, you are the one to start the meeting," he said kindly. Daniel looked confused.

"Me? I'm just a regular alicorn, I think that you might be mistaking me for somepony else," Daniel replied. Celestia leaned over and whispered in his ear.

"The fifth has more power than anybody at this table, for he is the protector of the world, not just Equestria, start the meeting." Daniel shrugged ad nodded.

"Uh, I declare this meeting started," Daniel said, still slightly confused. The others nodded, and Celestia spoke.

"Sir Gildrinedin you have declared a meeting between our two lands, and we have acknowledged your request. Please tell us why you have gathered us here today."

"I'm here to tell you that war is coming," The griffin said darkly, and all alicorns' eyes widened.

"This is a very dangerous statement, you shall explain yourself," Celestia said, no emotion in her voice.

"I am here to tell you now, an ancient evil has awoken. You may know of it, it calls itself the Newborn, and they are not here to make amends," Gildrinedin said. Celestia's eyes widened even more.

"Alright, it was predicted, although I hadn't guessed it would have been so soon. I don't know if he's ready to actually train with them yet," Celestia said cautiously. The griffin shrugged.

"Ready or not, it's time, he may bring two others, but we are leaving in two hours." The griffin nodded at Daniel, "Unless you may need some more time," Daniel was extremely confused.

"Could someone explain what's going on here?" He asked.

"You are going to train in Zebrica, and there is nothing I can do about it. You may bring two others as said, choose wisely, and good luck, we will not see each other again for a while," Celestia said, then added softly, "be careful."

"Oh, well then, um, I choose Ditzy and Gilda, if it's okay with them of course," Daniel said cheerfully, and Ditzy nodded.

"Oh, trust me, I'm going with, and I don't think Gilda will have a problem with it either, as a matter of fact, I can get her right-" Ditzy popped away, and was back in a second, "now!" Gilda was now with her. She wobbled, then looked up.

"Oh, hey Boss, I take it we're going on a another adventure?" She said, shaking away her queasiness. Daniel nodded.

"Uh-huh, we're going to Zebrica, something about training for me," Daniel replied.

"Alright, works for me," she said nonchalantly. And in two hours, after getting prepared, with some items to their use, they were off on yet another adventure.

Although on this adventure, none of them will ever be the same...

Chapter 1.5- (IFP) Shot

This is an Ice Fire Practice Chapter. No need to read, because I'm getting warmed up. But still slightly interesting and in sinc with the storyline.

"Sir Daniel, it's time to wake up," Candy Cane said, gently nudging said person. Daniel opened his eyes and rubbed them.

"Just call me Daniel, I don't need any titles."

"Very well Daniel," she replied.

"Alright, I made blueberry muffins! so who's hungry?" Ditzy said, walking into the room, Candy Cane gasped.

"You cooked Blueberry?" She said, her eyes wide, and Ditzy laughed. "Why would you laugh? That's horrid!"

"I didn't cook your friend, I don't think she would taste that great anyways, I cooked blueberry muffins, with real blueberries. Wow, that was funny," And with that, Ditzy walked into the small dining area, and floated a muffin to her mouth and took a bite.

"Gilda, get up," Daniel said to the sleeping griffin, she didn't move, Daniel chuckled, and leaned down to her ear and said, "Blueberry muffins." Gilda shot up.

"I heard the word muffins, is Ditzy baking them?"

"Uh huh, now get out of bed," Daniel replied, walking into the dining room himself. Gilda and the two zebras followed him in.

"Uh, Daniel, we may not have time to eat here, I don't mean to offend you, but we have to be at the grounds of the ancients in an hour, and it's an hour walk, but it is not my place to force you to go," Candy Cane said softly, Daniel looked up from the tray of muffins on the table.

"Oh, uh, well okay, I guess. Wait, Ditzy, can we teleport there?"

"Uh yeah, but I thought you hated teleporting," she replied.

"Your muffins are worth it," was the response.

*   *   *

"Well here we are!" Ditzy said cheerfully, and turned around to see the other four losing their muffins in a nearby bush. "Still think it was worth it Daniel?"

"Yes actually, I love your muffins," Daniel replied, then looked up at the large gate in front of them. It was open, but there was two guard zebras in front of it, both white with black stripes, although one seemed to be black with white stripes. Daniel and the others walked forward, but were stopped.

"Nobody may enter, except for the fifth alicorn and his group, all others must leave," the stallion on the left said. Daniel nodded, and remembering what he was taught, began to speak.

"I am the fifth alicorn, and these are my friends that are with me always, and these two are my, ugh, my temporary slaves, they will be coming as well."

"Very Well, prove yourself the fifth, and we will let you pass," the guards said simultaneously. Daniel shrugged, and turned into an alicorn.

"Does this prove it then?" He asked. The guards widened their eyes, then nodded, allowing them through, save for the two zebras, who tried to get to Daniel. Daniel sighed with relief. "Oh, uh you two can go back to the place and do, whatever it is you do, I guess." Daniel said, changing back into his human form. The two zebras looked at each other then nodded, trotting away. "Oh wow, I thought we would never be able to get rid of them." Was Daniel's only comment before the attack. It started with Gilda slumping over like a sack of potatoes. Daniel and Ditzy instantly rushed to her side, and Ditzy dropped down to, Daniel was now crouching.

He heard a whistle to his left, and quickly jumped back as a dart flew past him, and hit one of the guards, who dropped. Daniel didn't have time to chuckle. Several more darts flew at him. he grew his wings and flew into the air. Daniel quickly looked around, trying to find the source of the darts, he quickly saw a flash of blue and black, and as quickly as it had come it was gone, and with that distraction, Daniel felt a prick on his neck, and realized he was falling, as everything was fading to black.

Chapter 2- The Past in the Present

Daniel groaned as he woke up, slowly rubbing his head. He stood up and examined his surroundings. He was in a mirrored room, and his reflection was everywhere. "What in the name of Equestria?" He asked his reflections. They didn't answer of course. But somebody else did.

"Welcome to the world of the living Daniel, now, come we need to be going," the voice said, Daniel whipped around, only to see his reflection. The voice sounded familiar somehow.

"Who are you?" Daniel asked.

"You know me, for we have battled once before, but fear not, for we are not enemies. Come, quickly we must get going," The voice replied. Daniel thought back, and realized why his voice was familiar. It was his own, only dark, and sinister.

"Tenebrae? What are you doing here?" Daniel asked, confused.

"I am your guide, and if you complete your training, a very powerful ally. Now please, come quickly, it is not safe to stay in one place here." Dark Daniel said. Daniel nodded, and looked around. Finally spotting a door, he ran to it, and grabbed the handle, and walked through, and found himself face to face with Tenebrae. Daniel instinctively kicked him in the gut. He collapsed but quickly stood up.

"Sorry, but you nearly scared the Faust out of me," Daniel muttered. Tenebrae just nodded, unfazed.

"Daniel, this is going to hurt. A lot, and for that I am sorry," Tenebrae said calmly. Daniel raised an eyebrow. "I'm going to enter your body. This is not permanent, yet, and your body will try to reject me. But I am telling you right now, don't fight me yourself, or you will not survive. I am going to give you some enhancements to your body, but trust me, you will not like the process." Daniel nodded and swallowed hard. Tenebrae flew into him, and immediately, he heard his heart thorbbing into his ear, as his body felt like it was going to explode, and it might as well have, for it was expanding ever so slightly his blood vessels were strained, and could be seen bulging on his skin. He could barely breathe, and with his exhales, he screamed, and he had to force the screams out, as his air passageways were closing slowly. His nerves suddenly felt like fire was burning them, and he managed to scream louder.

"Daniel, you are fighting me, you must let the pain take you, or it's going to kill you," Tenebrae's voice was in his head. Daniel could barely hear him. But the voice's instructions were clear, and Daniel collapsed down, and let the pain take him. And as quickly as the pain had started, it was gone. In it's place was a voice in Daniel's head. "For now, I must go dormant. But remember, if you need help, be it physically, or mentally, I will be there," and with that, the presence in his head, seemed to fade away. Daniel found himself in a mirror room once again. Looking at it, he saw a few changes in himself. His eyes for one, were a lighter shade of blue, (yes that is possible), and they seemed sharper. More alive, almost as if a fire was flickering behind them. His teeth felt a little sharper, although no noticeable change could be seen in his mouth. He examined his hair, which had stayed the same for the most part, but had one rather noticeable change in it. There was a streak of light blue, almost like lightning, going across the black. Daniel turned slightly to see if there were anymore changes, and something glinted in the corner of his eye. He quickly drew his sword.

It had changed. It's hilt was now a jet black, and the blade itself, while in looks had not changed, seemed somehow, darker, more, sinister. It seemed to suck away the light of the room itself, and inflict fear. Daniel quickly sheathed the sword, and went towards the only other door in the room. Upon opening it, he was met with an odd sight. Ditzy and Gilda were sitting at a large table, along with both of the zebras that Daniel had hoped he had left behind. His entrance had gone unnoticed. Gilda and Ditzy were talking.

"Where is he? that damn zebra promised he would arrive here unhurt," Gilda growled.

"I swear, if I learn that somebody hurt my stallion, er, man, I'm going to be ripping somepony's, or zebra's, head off," Ditzy said, venom pouring out onto the ground.

"Uh, no need," Daniel said sheepishly. All eyes turned to him. Ditzy rushed up and tackled him with a hug.

"Thank Faust you're alright, you had us worried, it's been four hours since they told us you were going to be here, something about old memories." Ditzy said, holding Daniel close.

"Uh Ditzy, could you maybe let me stand up so I can breathe?" Ditzy obliged, but not before giving Daniel a quick peck on the lips. Once she pulled away, the two zebras came up next.

"Look Sir Daniel! They let us in, so we could serve you!" Blueberry said excitedly, with Candy Cane nodding. Daniel face palmed. Hard. "You look as if you are not pleased to see us. did we do something wrong?" Candy Cane said sadly. Daniel sighed.

"No, it's alright. I just don't really know what to do with you two. I mean, I have no need for a slave, let alone two, I mean what am going to get you to do? I don't need much," Daniel said.

"Well, we will be here if you do need anything!" Blueberry said, smiling brightly as Gilda walked up and gave him a quick check.

"Uh boss, what happened to your eyes and hair?" Gilda asked. Daniel shrugged.

"I'm not entirely sure myself. I'll explain it at another time," and as he finished the sentence, another familiar face entered.

"Daring?" Daniel said.

"Hello Fifth. Apparently you don't have the sight yet. Well we will work on that," Daring said, as she burst into a green flame, and changed into a changeling.

Chapter 3- Battle With a Changling

This one has a theme! It's also the theme of CC.

Youtube Video

Ditzy had grown into a full alicorn, and Daniel drew his sword because of it. Gilda followed suit by placing her paws firmly on the ground and baring her teeth at the changling. Daniel leaned next to Ditzy, "Uh, why are we looking menacing and about to attack?" He said quietly.

"That thing is a changling, they tried to take over Equestria a long while ago, before you arrived here in Equestria. It has the power to devour the love you give to it while it changes into somebody else. The form of the pony, or in some cases, person, that you love truly," she whispered back. Daniel just nodded and kept on looking menacing. the changling walked up, looking Daniel up and down.

"Very good form young one, hmm, although your left foot is two inches close to your right, with something like that in your stance, it would be simple to take you down. Watch," the changling said, and with a swift sweep with it's back hooves, Daniel was on the floor. The changling held out  hoof to help him up, and Daniel took it, and with a swift pull, he was upright again. The changling caught fire once more, and in its place, was Daniel himself, only nude. There was something wrong in the anatomy though. In the fact that their was a part that was lacking. The Daniel in front of them, was a girl. Daniel widened his eyes, and summoned his magic quickly, and materialized some of his clothes onto the changling. Everypony stared at the real Daniel.

"What? I'm really shy about that kind of stuff, even if it's the wrong gender," he said sheepishly. The changling shrugged and began to speak.

"Try to take me down, without use of magic or sword please." She widened her stance, and Daniel glanced at Ditzy, who shrugged. Daniel shrugged himself, and went for a sweep, only to hit nothing but air. "All I needed was my stance to stop you, and as you will learn, the Newborn shall have great stance," and with that her horn grew out of her own head, glowed, and the room shifted into another one, a lage circular room, with one exit behind a cage.

"Uh, would you mind teaching me how to teleport like that?" Daniel asked. She shook her head.

"Not at the moment, we must work on your battle skills. Now, use whatever means necessary to take me down without use of weapons or magic. I have all your weaknesses, if that helps any," The changling said. Daniel nodded as Ditzy and Gilda came up near him.

"This is so weird," Gilda muttered.

"Uh huh," Daniel agreed. Ditzy laughed.

Daniel charged forwards at, uh, Daniel? Whoa, hold on, pause. Let's just call the changling CC for now. Alright? Now, got side tracked, oh yes.

Daniel charged forward at CC, who easily side stepped Daniel. CC then grabbed Daniel, and through him into the wall on the far side of the room. Ditzy and Gilda exchanged surprised glances, and charged at the changling. In a second, Ditzy landed on top of Daniel, and Gilda landed on top of her. All three got up and looked at CC, amazed. "Uh, okay, let's go at this a little more slowly," Daniel said. The other two nodded in agreement as the began to walk towards CC. CC just stood where she was. They all slowly circled her, until Daniel went in for a kick. His foot was grabbed, and he was pushed back, stumbling, he fell. But he was quick to get up, only to get slammed down again by a griffin, then a pegasus. All three got up.

"Okay, how about this time we fly into attack?" Daniel suggested. Again the other two agreed, and Daniel's wings grew out, and he gave them a couple of powerful flaps. Followed by the others, he dove in, and once again found himself underneath Gilda and Ditzy.

"Uh Boss, I think we need a strategy," Gilda said, Daniel nodded.

"Alright, well, she said she had all my weaknesses, so let's see here, my left leg is significantly weaker than my right leg, I was never quite good defending both of my sides at once, and I have this really odd spot in the exact center of my back that if hit hard enough, will cause me enough pain to paralyze me temporarily, leaving me open for a good blow to my head. So, you two go for the sides, work on the left leg, and while she's distracted, I'll get her back," Daniel said, the other two nodded. "Oh, and don't come at me directly, that's where I'm best at attacking and defending. sides and back only," Daniel said.

"Alright, well, let's get to it!" Gilda said, and they broke. Ditzy went left, and Gilda right, while Daniel charged directly at her. Ditzy jammed a hoof onto CC's leg, and she turned to swing her arm, as Gilda scratched her right side. Daniel jumped over her, and spun around, quickly dealing a powerful punch into her back, causing her to yelp with pain, Daniel quickly hammered on her back again, and she collapsed, changing back into a changling. She got up, and nodded at Daniel.

"It's a start, but in reality, you would already be dead. We have a lot of work to do great alicorn herd." The changling said.

"Hey, I am not part of his, or any, herd!" Gilda yelled, but the changling had already unlocked the cage around the door, and walked through. Daniel just laughed and pat her on the back. What an odd way to start off somewhere.

Chapter 4- This is Where Everything Gets Complicated

Daniel entered through the door, and found himself in a very large room, with a very long table. On one end of the table sat the changling. Daniel walked up to her, and stuck his hand out. "My name's Daniel," he said cheerfully. The changling looked into Daniel's eyes and shook his hand with her hoof.

"Cartline Cadianidina, although you can call CC," she said with a neutral expression. Daniel nodded.

"Alright CC, I hope I can consider you a friend," Daniel said. CC's horn glowed and she smiled slightly, licking her lips.

"Sure, it's nice to have some friends. Them's good eating!" And with that she laughed. Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I can see, feel, and absorb emotions. Sorry, I thought you already knew that," she said with a shrug. She then proceeded to get serious. "What training have the three of you had?" She asked. Daniel spoke up first.

"Uh, I cannot speak for all three of us, but as for battle, I know a few spells, some sword combat, some hoof to hoof, and a little hand hoof. I can say that I have been through quite a few battles though," Daniel thought back to some, the manticore battle, the battle with Bane, and even the battle with the darker version of himself. Speaking of which, what the heck was going on with that anyways?

"Uh huh, well, you have never faced something as nasty as a Newborn. Not a Newborn child mind you." CC said with a dark chuckle. "Okay, the rest of the herd, come on!"

"I'm not part of the herd!" Gilda yelled defensively. CC rolled her eyes, and then looked at Ditzy.

"I have been trained as an alicorn, rigorous and deadly, I have been trained as the Fifth's alicorn protector, although he has shown that he is more powerful than I. I know many spells, although my hoof to hoof fighting skills are fairly weak due to my bad coordination," Ditzy said, gesturing towards her eye that always seemed to go in the wrong direction. CC nodded.

"Alright, griffin, you're up," CC said.

"I am a black belt in the heavy feather arts, other than that, I'm helpless," she said sheepishly. Both Daniel and Ditzy raised an eyebrow. Glancing at either of them, she sighed, "Okay, that was a load, I don't know how to fight all that well. Normally I charge head on, and hope for the best, or one of these two over here to save me." Gilda gestured to Daniel and Ditzy.

"Alright then, what about you two?" CC turned towards the zebras.

"Uh, I don't really fight, so I'd rather not say. If that's alright," Blueberry said.

"Same here," Candy Cane agreed. CC squinted, as if in thought.

"I know you two from somewhere, I just can't place my hoof on it," CC said. Blueberry looked worried. CC suddenly widened her eyes in realization and picked up a knife. twirling it in her hoof, she then flung it across the table straight at Blueberry's head. Several things happened.

Time seemed to slow down for everybody, the knife met Blueberry's gaze as she planted her hooves down, and Candy cane flipped, literally flipped, over Blueberry and faced the knife. CC just examined the knife as it flew. Daniel tried to stop it, but couldn't reach it, suddenly time sped up once more, and to everybody's astonishment, Blueberry did not have a knife stuck in her body, but instead, the knife was in her mouth. Spitting it out she glared daggers into CC.

"I knew it. You aren't just Blueberry and Candy Cane, you are the Blueberry and Candy Cane, the zebra alicorns. Slaves, due to customs, and under the only authority that is more powerful than you even if you were not slaves. But then again, you were supposed to end up near him weren't you," CC said, smug.

"Yes, fine, you caught us, but it's our duty to make sure no harm comes to the fifth during his stay here. His death cannot happen yet." Candy Cane said, growing both in size, and in power. A horn and wings sprouted, and she had grown to full height, as had Blueberry. CC nodded.

"Alright, shrink back down to your normal size before you blow a blood vein. I just wanted to prove it to myself," the changling said. The two alicorns glared death into her and made a move to get to her, but Daniel spoke up.

"Hey, it's alright, and besides, no real harm done," he said carefully. The other two immediately shrank down on the order given, their innocent smiles returning. Daniel closed his eyes trying to process his information. Pieces were slowly, very, very slowly, fitting into place. CC seemed to be some sort of chosen trainer for him, and his two slaves were his slaves on purpose. Alright so what about Dark Daniel, how did he tie into all of this? Daniel had not realized that upon thinking of said entity, Dark Daniel had appeared from his shadow.

"Daniel, look out!" Came Ditzy's worried voice. Daniel opened his eyes, and drew his sword. Spinning around quickly, his sword was met by Tenebrae's. They gazed at each other for a moment, and both sheathed their weapons.

"Alright, seeing how you're here, it's time for some answers," Daniel said with a growl, for some reason feeling angrier.

"I never left, and watch the anger, all bad emotions that you feel at nearby people are intensified twenty fold when I am physically near you," Tenebrae replied. "Oh, and if I were, you, I would talk to Ditzy about that anger at her. It's never healthy for a relationship," he said calmly.

"I have to agree with him," came another familiar voice. "Although, relationships only hold you back. Unless they can benefit you in another way, like mine with Luna's," the female voice spoke. Daniel recognized it now. He drew his sword and turned towards the voice. Seeing the human female, he swung the sword, and down she went, only to get back up. "Ah, so you do remember me. You never seem to bring me up." Bane said.

"Horrible things of my past must stay dead," Daniel said darkly. His hatred only increased by Tenebrae. "And you are most certainly dead. Not even dead, I obliterated your very essence, your soul. You aren't dead, you don't exist. your energy was absorbed by that of my own," Daniel said, his voice was grim as he remembered some of his own memories, mixed with that of Faust. "You cannot be here," and with that statement, the candles lighting the room up were immediately put out, and the moon that had began to rise dimmed as well. It was there that everybody in the room began to realize that Daniel's power was not something to be trifled with.

"My power is a mere ghost of what it was. I am a part of you, and I can finally show myself. For some reason, your emotions have been increasing slowly since earlier this very day. The energy off of it has been feeding my power, but my power is only another part of yours. And in all honesty, I'd rather be dead then have to share any of my power with anybody, especially you," Bane snarled back. CC began to realize that she had been feeling the change as well, although she didn't dare speak. A cold presence seemed to shroud the room, like that of a dark night. It gave off the felling of loneliness, and hate.

"Daniel, do not destroy her, she will be able to help you, as much as I can. Maybe even more." Tenebrae spoke, unafraid.

"I don't care, back off," Daniel hissed, his voice seeming to be more animal than pony/ human. Tenebrae nodded, and stepped back as the looming fear pressed ever deeper.

"Daniel, please, don't, she cannot harm anypony any longer. Bane is gone, in its place is the ghost of what you fought, do not destroy her. Please," came the words from not Tenebrae, but Ditzy, who had padded up next to Daniel, along with Gilda.

"Yeah, come on boss, it'll be alright," Gilda said, her voice more gentle than her normal brash self. Daniel glanced at the two, and for a moment, everybody in the room thought that somebody was not going to live. But slowly the candles began to relight, and the looming presence disappeared, along with Daniel's consciousness.

Chapter 5- Rainfall

[youtube=[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation\_id=annotation\_545850&feature=iv&src\_vid=bF9XPtkNtUE&v=GyUwg2fBg3k]]

Ditzy gazed at the sleeping human on their shared bed in their new bedroom. According to CC, it was the one best suited for a three person herd, and had a large kitchen and three bathrooms. Gilda had chosen to sleep on the couch instead of sharing a bed with the two. A crash of thunder outside startled her slightly as the rain began to pour. She began to think. What's with the entities? Bane? Tenebrae? Who was Tenebrae anyways? Daniel seemed to know him, but how? And also, Tenebrae had said that Daniel was angry with her.

"Hey," Gilda's voice brought her out of her thinking. Ditzy turned and found said griffin gazing at her with a serious expression. It was odd to find her with any expression when Daniel wasn't around or awake.

"Hey," Ditzy said cautiously.

"Can I talk to you about him," Gilda asked. Ditzy raised an eyebrow.

"I suppose."

"Was he this powerful when you met him?" Gilda asked.

"I met him a day before you met him, so you should already know," came the response.

"That's not what I'm asking though."

Ditzy sighed and shrugged slightly. "I don't know anymore. When I first met him, he was this dinky kid that had about as much knowledge about what was going on as the three fillies who found him. I thought he was, well never mind," Ditzy said, faltering at the last moment.

"What?" Gilda pushed.

"I thought he was a Newborn at first okay. I had no trust for him, and he didn't seem to like me very much either, save for my mane."

"Your mane?"

"He liked the smell of it," Ditzy said awkwardly, still not sure why Gilda was talking to her. She normally kept to herself when Daniel wasn't around and conscious.

"Alright, why did you think he was a Newborn?"

"He had hatred in his heart. He still does, more hatred than any one pony can have. But he also has many other emotions tied in with that. He contains so many, more than any of us could ever possibly hope to feel at once. Sometimes I wonder how he doesn't explode," Ditzy said, turning back towards him. "You know it's funny, when he's asleep, he looks so, innocent. Like he hasn't been through anything life changing. Sometimes I wonder if it would have been better if he never would have come here to Equestria. He really doesn't fit, and as much as I love him, I still wonder if he ever misses his old universe. When he's awake, it's a different story. His eyes when he first came here were so full of awe and wonder, but one day, he went into a temple room with another, you were there, you saw him leave. When he did he was alone, and that wonder in his eyes was gone. In its place was something else. Something darker. He never spoke of it again, but I know that he killed Trick Coin in that room, it broke him. He is still Daniel, the same person, but I think that was when he stopped being that dinky little kid for good." As if in response, Daniel shifted over and a light smile graced his lips as he dreamed of someplace happy. Both girls were quiet for a time. The rain began to pour even harder against the window, and Ditzy grew her horn and cast an unbreakable spell on it, only to find that there was already one there.

"What you said, that happened slightly before those events, although, I don't think it exactly took the child out of him. It matured him nevertheless though. It was when we were in the Everfree Forest way back when. He went deeper in with you, and when he did come back, he had a unicorn horn. He was different after that. What happened?" Gilda asked. Ditzy's face darkened.

"He nearly died, I won't go any further on the subject there. If you wish to know about it, ask him yourself," came the response. It wasn't angry, nor happy, nor sad, it was simply neutral, and stated much like a fact. Gilda shrugged it off as a groan came from the bed.

"My head hurts, jee friggin wiz, did I bump my head on a branch?" Daniel asked nobody in particular. His memories came back in shortly after as he sat up strait quite suddenly. He looked around with a worried expression, and found hi gaze met with that of the other two.

"How long was I out?"

"A few hours, you feeling okay?" Ditzy asked cheerfully.

"Well, sort of. I have something to tell you, it's about what Other Me said."

"Other Me?" Ditzy said confused.

"I meant Tenebrae. Look, he knew I was angry with you, and I suppose you know it too. There's something I have been meaning to tell you for a while. The thing is, I'm not angry at you, but more or less, the secret you kept from me. Ditzy, I know your pregnant."

Chapter 6- The First Newborn

Ice Fire felt something. Some sort of power close by. It was dark, and almost familiar. He swooped down from the cloud he was on, silent as the air itself, drifting slowly down, scanning the area. Nopony was out in the Ponyville streets, which was normal. But he still could sense the power, a looming presence, full of hatred, and full of evil. Ice Fire lowered his brow in thought as he continued to search the area for its source. He found himself over Ponyville's park area, and the power seemed to grow stronger. As he swooped lower he saw the source. Daniel? Daniel was near the tree he usually slept in. Ice Fire rolled his eyes and landed behind the kid.

"Hey kid, aren't you supposed to be in a different country?" Ice Fire growled. Daniel stopped doing whatever he was doing and turned slightly.

"Oh, am I? And where might that be alicorn?" He said, his voice... off. Ice Fire immediately suspected something.

"What's wrong with you kid? Are you hurt?" Ice Fire asked, concerned, although it came across rather snarly.

"No, not at the moment, now, I'll ask again, where am I supposed to be?" Daniel said, turning around, he had a grin on his face that was anything but friendly, the gleam in his eyes caused Ice Fire to take a step back. There was definitely something off about Daniel, more than off, Daniel didn't seem to even be Daniel. Ice Fire had an idea.

"Look Ice Fire, you need to get inside with me," Ice Fire said. 'Daniel' nodded.

"Alright, fine, I'll come with you," the false Daniel said. Ice Fire without any hesitation spun around quickly, bringing his back hooves to the impostor's jaw.

"You shouldn't have done that," said the creature, his face contorting to bare a wicked and crooked grin. He grew slowly with audible cracks in the joints of his body. Large curving blades began to come out of his shoulders, and several more from out of his back, all of them a sickly dark green, almost black color, and his skin as well began to melt off, leaving in it's place a rough and jagged layer of Faust knows what, with the same color as the spikes. The contorted grin melted last with it falling to the ground and melting slowly there, bubbling, oozing, and finally fading into a pile of green goo that smelt strangely of some unmentionable things. In place of the face that was Daniel's, was a jagged grin, with burning embers coming out of it. The eyes were cold, with radiating green eyes to replace the blue that had been there. the creature grew out a tale with a jagged hook coming off the end of it, and stepped towards Ice Fire. Ice fire inhaled deeply, then exhaled deeply as the change seemed to stop, but not before the thing grew out two wings not covered in feathers, but instead, the same green substance that the eyes seemed to radiate with. With it's same crooked grin it took a step towards Ice fire, who stood his ground.

"Well, I kind of had to you ugly fuck," Ice fire said, cracking his neck, and flying up into the air with a strong flap of his wings. He started to light up his horn as a storm came in from the Everfree, his horn glowed brighter, and brighter as the thing slowly and rather clumsily flapped its own wings. Ice Fire's horn finally shot a bolt of light into the sky, and a necklace with a jet black lanyard slowly was beset upon his neck. The medallion, that of three cogs interlinking glowed with a green aura and beeped once, and suddenly everything seemed to slow down. Ice Fire began to speak.

"This goes to Daniel, the fifth legendary alicorn. Int this message comes with all of my alicorn power, and as such I wish for it to be treated well. May this message also be heard by Alicorns Celestia Equine, Luna Equine, and Diane Herald Ditzemina Doo. May it also be heard by griffin Gilda Strongheart. I am now facing the first Newborn of many. Let it be known that they can change forms, and are extremely grotesque in their true form. May Faust help us all." And with that, Ice Fire's medallion glowed even more brightly then before, and in a flash it was gone, and his wings had shrunk slightly. In Ice Fire's Place was Stratus, co-founder of the Shadowbolts. He was still Ice Fire, and he knew it. He would fight until death, it meant delaying the creature from finding the fifth.

"So strange, you give up your power, when it might be the only thing strong enough to save you. I will never understand you ponies, especially not you. We have watched you for quite a long time Alicorn, you never give up anything, you are nasty, and never are friendly to others, hell, I don't even think you have friends. What is the point of going on for you? All you do is spread fear to others, intimidating them. My only question is why, why now do you do something kind?" The Newborn said. Ice Fire smiled and gave a dark chuckle. his smile showed not happiness but contentment.

"I wish not to be known, I watch over the world, and I love the people in it. I never try to spread fear to those who don't deserve it, but I come off as threatening. I suppose you wouldn't understand love, judging by your heart. I'll tell you something, if there is anybody I love the most, it would have to be Daniel. That kid reminded me of something I didn't remember anymore. He reminded me that there was hope. And I have hope in him, he will bring your kind down. Al of your hatred, all of your evil, everything. He has touched everybody he has been around, myself included. He will defeat you, my only regret is that I won't be able to help him, even though he won't need it." Ice said proudly, and charged forward at the beast. As he got closer and closer, he knew that all of his words were the truth, and for that he knew that he didn't regret charging into the belly of the beast, both literally, and figuratively. A single tear came out of his eye, and trailed down his cheek, not of sadness, but of joy. Ice Fire was happy, and at peace, after years of pain, he was at peace.

"You care for him, and therefore are weak. You shall die, and he shall as well. I know it, for we have seen it." came the sickening voice as Ice Fire closed in. Finally at the last second he closed his eyes as the end neared.

*   *   *

The medallion neared Luna as the message began to play. Luna listened, a tear coming out of her eye. "Good bye my rose, may your stem grow buds in a new life. I will never forget you my love, never," she said softly as the medallion spun away.

It seemed that after the message was relayed to Celestia, and even to Daniel, Ditzy, and Gilda, Luna was hurt the most.

Chapter 7- The Gift of a Princess

Celestia listened to the message, then debated for a while before sending it off to Daniel. Finally she sighed and muttered her own message into it, and the medallion glowed gold for a moment, and then was gone.

*   *   *

Daniel, Ditzy, and Gilda were still all standing shocked, for it had only been ten minutes since what had been said, had been said. They were jolted out of their stupor when the medallion appeared, and spun around violently, until Ice Fire's voice could be heard, relaying the message that had been previously recorded, right up until... Celestia's message began to play after the cutoff.

Daniel, Ditzy, and Gilda, this message is not going to be anything but information, with this message will come a power of mine that I do not use. This power is that of travelling upon the Dreamscape, or the land of dreams. This can be very dangerous if you are not careful, and Luna will help you out whenever you enter. She will be able to explain more, for I still don't understand it. And to all three of you, I know you wish to mourn Ice Fire, but we must keep preparing ourselves, Daniel, Ice Fire gave you is energy, his alicorn power, his strength, and his skill. Use this to your advantage, and as you see fit. Good luck to all of you, especially Daniel, you will need it the most. And with that ominous finish, the amulet stopped spinning, and a gold streak flew from it, and into Daniel, instantly knocking him to the floor, once again passed out.

"Who Dares enter our domain so boldly?" Boomed a large and powerful voice. Daniel instantly went for his sword, but found that it wasn't there. Nor were his clothes. He tried shifting into an alicorn, but found he couldn't. His eyes widened as he realized he was at the mercy of the beast who was speaking. Going for an intimidation approach, he spoke himself.

"I am your master, for I am the fifth alicorn, surrender yourself, or face the wrath that is mine," He said venomously, trying to make his voice boom like the previous one had. He had no idea what the reaction would be, be it an attack, them fleeing, or them even to laugh. He was wrong on all three guesses.

"Daniel? What is thou doing on the Dreamscape?" Came a much gentler voice. Daniel didn't recognize the voice, but it did sound familiar. He swallowed.

"I will tell if I know thee to be friend and not foe. Show yourself!" Daniel said, wary of an attack still. A blue alicorn stepped towards Daniel, materializing out of nowhere. Daniel immediately relaxed as Luna stepped towards him. And then realized he was stark naked. He quickly used his hands to cover himself up. "Oh, hi, Luna. Heh. Uh, would you happen to know where my clothes went?" Daniel said sheepishly.

"Thou wishes to put clothing on just because we are here? There is no need to be dressed up because we are a princess." Luna replied curtly.

"Uh, it's just that, I'm uncomfortable without them, I don't have any fur to cover up certain, uh heh, parts on my body up, if you catch my drift."

"Ah, yes, we forgot that odd human taboo about nudity, even around members of your herd," She replied coyly, with a sly wink. Daniel blushed.

"Please Luna, I can't access magic here."

"Very well." Luna's horn glowed as Daniel's normal clothing appeared upon him. Daniel relaxed. "Now, what are you doing on the Dreamscape, and better yet, how did you get here?" Luna asked darkly.

"I'm not sure, but since you are here, I must tell you, the Newborn are back. And Celestia had said something about the Dreamscape as well. She said that you would be able to explain the power I have over it, or something similar." Luna's eyes widened as he said this.

"Get on, we have work to do." Luna said, motioning him with her wing to climb upon her back.

*   *   *

"What happened? Why did he get knocked out?" Gilda asked worriedly. Ditzy shrugged.

"I have no idea Gilda."

"Well, he's probably in the Dreamscape at the moment. Just watch over him, he should be awake in about five minutes at the most. Time does pass faster there," CC said, picking the boy up, and laying him once more upon the bed, and lying down beside him, turning to look at him. "So odd, that such a fragile and unbalanced looking thing, is the one person on this world who can save it from the Newborn." She said softly, brushing away some hair from his eyes. "Odd indeed. Well, I have to get the arena prepared for tomorrow's training with you three, good night."

*   *   *

"So, what is this place anyways, I mean I know it's the Dreamscape or whatever, but what is it?" Daniel asked the galloping alicorn beneath him.

"It is the place of dreams and subconsciousness, We are in the realm of dreams, and can go to any dreaming person's dream anytime we wish. But before we do, I must train you on the basics, and then you'll be out of here for a while." Luna said, stopping suddenly at a swirling glowing hole like object. She quickly said some words in gibberish, and it sucked the both in, landing them in a large domed room. "Alright, we must begin training. Let's start with basics. A lot of body functions are not needed here, but are outside in your real body. You must realize that you are dreaming at the moment. Do you know this now?" Daniel nodded.

"Yeah, I suppose, so I'm asleep. Gotchya."

"Very well, now, instead of trying to change into you alicorn form in the Dreamscape, try to do it in the world of the living." Luna replied, and Daniel nodded.

*   *   *

Ditzy watched as Daniel shivered suddenly, and violently she went to wake him up, but instead his tail jutted out and scratched her thigh. "Damn it! Again with the tail!" She yelped. Gilda spat out the water she had been drinking and laughed. "Why don't you try waking him up then?"

"Fine," and with that Gilda walked over, and leaned over him, just as his horn grew, and jutted her in the chest, knocking her back.

*   *   *

Daniel changed into his full alicorn form, his sword mysteriously still able to meld with his body. "Very good, now, for magic use, the spells cannot be called upon like a normal spell, you must imagine it. simply think it up, and channel it not through your horn, but instead through your entire body. Simple enough." Luna said.

"Okay, so bring my thoughts and use my body, where will it come out of?" Daniel asked. Luna shrugged. Daniel nodded, and began to focus his thoughts on levitating a rock, which had appeared out of nowhere, then let the idea flow through his body, until it went down to his front hooves, and the rock floated. Luna gasped, just as the world around Daniel shattered.

Interlude- Planning

Daniel woke with a gasp, now again in his human form. He glanced around, and saw Ditzy, Gilda, and CC staring at him wide eyed, and huddled in a corner, all hugging each other like scared foals. Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Daniel, you just shot a concentrated blast of arcane magic into the wall, from your hands. Don't do that again." CC said carefully. Daniel raised his other eyebrow, looking at the rather large hole upon the wall, above two sleeping zebras.

"Right, gotchya, no more magic in Dreamsc- oh I don't feel well," and with that Daniel keeled over one last time.

*   *   *

"Ugh," Daniel said, getting up out of the bed he was in. He took a couple of seconds to stretch, and remember his surroundings. 'Oh, right, Zebrica. Third day in, and already have fainted at least three times.' Daniel thought to himself as he looked around for, well, anything. What he found was a note on the small nightstand marked with Ditzy's signature. He opened it.

Daniel, Sorry I didn't spend the night with you, but you have been acting extremely strange lately. And dangerous. meet me down the stairs.

~Ditzy

Daniel shrugged. He turned around, and jumped backwards, hitting his head on the wall. Standing in front of him were the two zebra alicorns, in their earthpony forms. Daniel swallowed, not knowing what to do. They decided.

"Are you okay master? Are you hurt?" Candy Cane asked.

"I'm fine, I guess. You spooked me is all. Now, could you point me to the shower?" Daniel replied.

*   *   *

Daniel walked down the hallway, and opened two large doors to the a rather large table, that everybody was sitting at, eating. Daniel sat next to Ditzy, who was eating (what else?) a blueberry muffin. Daniel took one for himself. "Morning everybody, what's on the agenda today? Training, mystery, fun, or adventure?" He asked. They all glanced at him, and put on nervous smiles, save for the two zebras, who were giving genuine happy grins, and CC, who looked like she was trying not to laugh. Daniel raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?"

"We're going to my hive to begin training today! Oh, I just can't wait to introduce you to our hive queen, Farodinonine!" CC said excitedly.

"Okay, I guess. Sounds interesting," and with that Daniel took another bite of his muffin.

"Now, my hive is in the Griffin Empire, and we are to travel there using nothing but our bodies, and whatever we can carry, this is part of your training Daniel. We will resupply as often as possible, and use our combined talents to survive, on the trek, we will be first going through the Samarea Desert, after that, we will arrive at the great canyons of runes, leading us on to the land of the Griffin Empire. To enter the canyon, we will have to go through the temple of eternity, said to only open to the great fifth alicorn. According to legend a great choice will be made there by him." CC said, now serious. Daniel's eyes widened.

"No, absolutely not, last time I went into a great temple, I received a power that I still do not want, there is no way that I will be going into another one," Daniel said darkly. "I'll still go on the trip though."

And thus, another adventure in the boy's life had started.

Chapter 8: The Newborn Power~ Blades

Everybody was busy in their separate rooms getting ready, and packing what was necessary in their packs, Daniel though, didn't have to much to pack. Just some dried meat actually, so he was sitting on the large king sized bed alone, waiting for CC to arrive. He suddenly felt a tugging in the back of his mind, and Tenebrae came out of nowhere, instantly increasing Daniel's emotions, of which he didn't have to many on the surface. "Daniel, before you go on this quest, there is a power that you must take from me, the power of blades."

"What?" Daniel asked, confused now. Ditzy was outside the closed door, listening to the conversation.

"Blades, it is a powerful attribute that only an alicorn would be able to handle, it allows you to create unbreakable blades that protrude out of the body, wherever you need them to be. I will not lie, the process is extremely painful, but after the first time, you won't ever feel it again. Be warned though, this process can and will kill you if you don't do exactly as I say. Am I understood?" Daniel was getting an odd sense of dejavu.

"Alright, fine then, I'll trust you for now," was Daniel's response. Instantly, he felt himself drop. In an instant he shot back up, and looked around, but found himself in a realm of darkness, the only thing he could see was himself, and nothing more, there was no light to allow his vision to see himself, but still he saw.

"Daniel, you must do everything I say. No matter what, or else, you will die," Tenebrae's voice rang out, Daniel simply nodded. "Begin breathing," Tenebrae said.

Daniel began to inhale through his nose, and exhale slowly through his mouth. "Now, I want you to think about chaos, about pain, about suffering." Daniel again nodded, and began to think of war, how many fought for any reason, and how many died because of it. His body began to tingle, like tiny pins being gently pushed from the inside out. Daniel ignored it. "You need to think of more devastating things than war Daniel." Quickly changing his thoughts, he began to think of greed, and power, and how it could take a firm hold of somebody, and pull them under, into the abyss known as hell. The tingling instantly grew to a painful pressure as his skin bulged out in different places along his bones. Daniel screamed in agony from the pain, blood coming out of his nose and mouth. He couldn't think anymore. His ears were ringing, and he could barely hear Tenebrae's voice over the pounding in his ears.

"Think Fifth, come on, think, or else you WILL die, come on," he growled, igniting Daniel's anger, he instantly wanted to kill Tenebrae, for what reason, was unknown to him. He could feel his rage boiling, as his hatred grew, and in an instant, sharp blades shot out of his body, everywhere. There were hundreds, and they all began to retract, save for two, one on each elbow, protruding out with a menacing curve. The blades themselves were a dark black, and were dripping with Daniel's own blood. "Daniel, I am sending a small wave of dark creatures your way, they can only be killed by the blades that you now of control over, if you kill all of them, then you can go on your quest," and with that, a growl came from out of the darkness, and two glowing red eyes appeared, followed by an impish like creature, with no face. It ran at Daniel, who snarled himself, and quickly cut the head off the creature using the blade on his elbow. It was a crude cut, but it sliced through it like butter. Daniel gave a slight smile at his kill, he had never felt so alive. The thrill of the blood oozing out of the creature gave him joy for whatever reason. Many more began marching forward, some charging. Daniel charged as well, and began slicing and dicing as he saw fit, eventually, all that was left, were the bodies of the creatures, and Daniel standing alone with a sadistic grin as he licked his lips. Tenebrae's voice rang out once more, "Daniel, I must warn you, this is a Newborn power, and as such, should not be used when I am around, or else your hatred will show, and you will end up killing friends as well as enemies. Heed this warning great one."

*   *   *

Daniel instantly shot awake on the floor he was on, he found himself face to face with Gilda. "Uh, boss, is it normal for blades to be coming out of your arms like that?" She asked.

"It is now, and would you look at that, the FLAW held together like it was made of liquid. Rarity, you are a genius." Daniel said with a slight laugh. He felt good, really good, like the energy of everything was being poured into him, he felt like he could climb a mountain and be back down all within ten minutes. Gilda stared at him.

"What's got him so happy?" Gilda thought to herself as Daniel walked out the door, right into Ditzy, where he swooped in and kissed her, making Ditzy blush, with a small smile at Daniel's grin. They walked off together as CC came and greeted them.

"Where's your other mate?" CC asked, looking in between Daniel and Ditzy.

"I'm not his mate, I told you this before, besides, they wouldn't even let me into their nest, er, herd anyways," Gilda said sharply.

"What makes you think that?" Daniel and Ditzy said simultaneously. Gilda shrugged and nodded to CC to get her to speak.

"Alright, first up, is the Samarea Desert, a vast expanse of nothing, save for scorpions, spiders, bandits, and other dangerous things. I hope you are all packed. We have a long journey ahead of us." And with that, her horn glowed as their environment suddenly got hotter. They were in a small town, and on the edge of it was the said desert, and CC was the first to take a step into it.

Chapter 9- The First Night

The quest had traveled enough leagues into the desert that the town they had come from had disappeared, and was replaced by the dry sand that covered the ground beneath their hooves. It was currently night, and they had set up camp. Ditzy and Gilda had already went to the tents that had been packed, and Daniel and CC were still sitting at the fire they had created. Daniel was staring into the fire, his eyes deep in thought. CC just stared at him.

"So, how did you get to this world anyways?" CC said gently, hoping to get Daniel's mind off of whatever was bothering him.

"I'm not sure, maybe it was Faust, or maybe I died and came here. Your guess is as good as mine." Daniel said darkly, his gaze not leaving the fire.

"Did you like your old home world?"

"No," was the reply, CC could feel hatred flare up, along with sadness. She swallowed.

"Okay, you're emanating hatred like a bad disease, might I ask what's troubling you?"

"I just feel like, for whatever reason, that when we're done with this trek, I'll lose something important. The only thing is, I don't know what I'll be losing," Daniel said with a humorless chuckle.

"Well, I'm no alicorn, but I am here to help."

*   *   *

Gilda and Ditzy sat in a tent. "So, Gilda, can I ask a question?" Ditzy said, turning her good eye on the said griffin. Gilda shifted to face her. she gave a nod. "Why do you always follow Daniel into the stupidest of things?" Gilda laughed gently.

"I don't know really, it's just that, whenever Daniel says something, it's not like he's just saying some random bit of nothing, like everybody else, but as if he tries his best to actually think about what he says. Whenever I see him get in danger, I get this feeling in my gut that tells me to stand by his side, I'll always follow him, and I'll always follow you. Even if it means my life," Gilda said, eyes squinting slightly as she thought about her words herself.

"Wait, I understand that fact about Daniel, but what do you mean you'll follow me?" Ditzy asked curiously.

"Well, while Daniel may be the voice of both rhyme and reason, you always seem to know what's best for others. You are cheerful when you need to be, and serious when that is needed as well. You and Daniel are the perfect pair, because when you two are together, nothing is impossible, and to top it all off, when I see you two together, it's almost as if... as if your love can warm even the darkest corner of hell, sometimes, I wonder what it's like," Gilda replied.

"What's that?"

"To be loved, and part of a nest, or herd in your case. Especially with those as wonderful as you two."

*   *   *

"What do you mean help?" Daniel asked, moving his eyes to meet CC's.

"I'm a changeling, I have some control over emotions, and that means I can feel them, and I know how people that I have been around long enough react to certain things. The thing is, you can't really lie about your emotions around a changeling. So, I guess I'm suggesting therapy," CC replied. Daniel let out a cheerful laugh, and CC felt his flicker of amusement, which died quickly.

"No, that's alright," he said gently. "You know with those sharp canines, I bet you like meat, huh?"

"Well, I guess, but what's your point?" CC asked, as Daniel pulled out a bit of jerky, and gave it to her. She took it hesitantly, and swallowed it. Daniel smiled and closed his eyes gently, just as the ground began to shake with a large rumbling boom. they both sat up straight and stared out at the desert night as the moon began to rise. Again there was a large rumble, and a pony, jet black in color, with a sharp short horn, and bug like wings came to a stop at the campsite.

"You ponies need to leave. Now." He said darkly, his red eyes seething with anger.

"What? Why?" Daniel asked boom. Suddenly the air and the ground became very cold, and the fire flickered out of existence. boom. A shrill screech filled the air, and Daniel drew his sword out quickly. CC stood up as well, as Gilda and Ditzy came out of the tent.

"That answer your question idiot?" The odd pony said. Suddenly a giant talon hit the dirt by Daniel, sending all three of them flying. "We are so boned."

"Not yet we aren't. Can it think as anything more than a beast?" Daniel asked.

"No, it's just a demon, wait a minute, is that Deadstrom?" The odd pony asked, pointing at Daniel's sword. "Never mind, of course it is, you must be one of Luna's angels. Good, let's go for the attack." The pony said, and darted into the air with a kick of the dust, and charged directly at the large beast, which turned out to be a hideous mix of bird, pony, and rabbit. The left foot was that of a rabbit, the right, a bird's talon. it had the head of a pony, and had large wings that darkened the sky. the body itself was undefinable, for it had a mix of grey fur, red patches of skin, and feathers all the same scattered randomly in splotches. Daniel was about to jump in, just when he felt a small tug in his mind, and Tenebrae whispered softly, "blades, Daniel, you have blades." Daniel smiled, and let several blades come out of his body, one at each heel, one at each elbow, and as he grew his wings, and his sword became his tail, two more stuck quickly out of each of his shoulders, two above, and the others below the arms. Everybody, save for the new arrival and CC took a step back. CC smiled gently.

"You're learning kid," She said softly as he jumped towards the large beast. With a quick takeoff, he had landed on the back of it. He quickly started to jab it with his many blades, jumping and flipping in an odd dance of destruction. Meanwhile, the other pony, was busy launching spells into the eyes and mouth. The beast roared in annoyance, and quickly shook both of them off. Daniel landed with a hard thud next to Ditzy. His blades were gone. He looked around, and found them still in the back of the large beast. He looked to Ditzy, who smiled and nodded towards the thing.

"I'm bedding a warrior tonight," she said slyly. Daniel blushed slightly at this, and then quickly shook himself out of it, as both Ditzy and Gilda charged past him to get to the battlefield. Daniel jumped again, and instead of real blades, he made spikes come out of everywhere upon his skin, and curled into a ball. landing on the demon, he proceeded to launch these spikes directly into it. This time they hit closer to home, ripping through its body, and coming not so cleanly out the other side, and hitting the sand below. The creature wailed in agony, and quickly jerked its head back around, revealing that its neck was that of a snake, and swallowed both Daniel and the new pony, whole.

"Oh shit!" Gilda yelled, and went up to the beast as it roared in her face. She quickly was blasted back by the mere force of the breath. She hit Ditzy, and they both went flying. CC just examined the battle as it went. Daniel's life force, along with that weird pony's were still going strong, judging by the fact that their combined hatred in that thing's stomach were more than everybody's else capacity, save for Ditzy's, which was growing past the point of no return.

"You killed Daniel. Now I'll obliterate you!" She yelled, then charged, her horn glowing an extremely bright gold, as she became a complete alicorn. "Now Die you stupid son of a--" She couldn't finish her sentence as the creature exploded into a disgustingly array of guts spattered across the sand. In this array, was two beings, one human, the other pony, whose eyes were glowing a faint red as they approached. Each were covered in more blood and bits of flesh matter than the others.

"Okay, my work here is done, now, goodbye, and give me a call if you ever find another one of those. They're harder to find than to kill, believe it or not." the odd pony then disappeared in a flash of red.

"Okay, weirdo besides, how the fuck did you do that? Blow the creature up?" CC asked, walking up to him.

"I didn't, that other pony did. I just went along on the ride, oh shit, there go the legs," and with that, Daniel once again passed out.

Chapter 10- A Warning

"Fifth, get up." A voice said. It was male.

"Ugh." Daniel felt as if an elephant had danced on his body, and grenades had one off in his head. But he knew the drill. Big powerful voice, listen, wake up. He got on his hands and knees, and stood. His shirt was tattered, and pat of it was blowing in a nonexistent breeze. As he looked at himself he saw many scrapes and gashes on his skin. large bruises spotted his skin as well. Looking around, he saw that the normal dreamscape of darkness was gone, instead, he was surrounded by a large factory working hard. steam was shrieking out of metal pipes, large plates smashed blocks of tin like substance, and far below him, he could see that the floor was really many vats of liquefied metal. Daniel looked around for the source of the voice, and found a draconic like figure, dark blue, with jet black spines running down his back from his head. His body had jet black lines that almost looked painted on his scales, but as he examined more, he saw the markings were permanent, for they were engraved deeply into his scales.

"Ah, the great and powerful fifth, or should I call you Daniel?" He said smugly.

"What do you want?" Daniel said.

"Me? Nothing. I was created a long time ago by a power greater than Faust, sort of. I was created to help you. There was just a small problem." Something about this character rubbed wrong on Daniel.

"And this problem is?"

"I was made to be incompatible with you. But none the less, you need my help, and therefore will receive it," The creature said, disappearing in a cloud of smoke, and reappearing right in front of Daniel. Daniel's eyes widened in shock, and he took a step back, and nearly fell of the ledge, just as the person pulled him back up. "Careful, hat body right there will save you someday, don't destroy it yet, it isn't even totally finished."

"What does that even mean?" Daniel asked, now annoyed.

"It means exactly what I said it does," The creature said. "In t he name of, Ice Fire I have a name!" The thing sa-- "Thing? Come on!"

"Who are you talking to?" Daniel asked.

"Oh, never mind, I suppose I should tell you my name then. You can just call me Friend."

"Alright, then, Friend, how can you help me?" Daniel snapped.

"Oh, cool it, I'm here to warn you. You will be facing a nearly impossible decision soon. I'm just giving you this. Whatever happens, you will come out alive. Now wake up, and get going."

*   *   *

Daniel gasped awake, startling the other two in the tent. Ditzy had a scratch on her back, it was shallow. Daniel found one of his blades protruding out of his arms. She muttered a quick healing spell, and then turned to Daniel.

"What's wrong?" Ditzy asked quietly. Daniel only looked into her eyes regretfully.

"I'm sorry about that love," Daniel said, his look forlorn. The words of Friend kept echoing around in his head. Whatever happens, you will come out alive...

But what, did that mean for him?

Chapter 11- Crawlers' Pass Part One~ Bane's Story

The quest had packed up everything, and had already eaten. The two zebras were gone, without any trace, save for a forgotten breakfast. Now CC stood in front of the rest, and began to speak.

"Alright, now that we're all ready to go, I need to give a few warnings of the path we are taking. It is known as Crawlers' Pass, and it gets that name for a reason. Let's all hope you never know that reason. You will need these. Do not, under any circumstances drop them, or lose them." CC handed them all goggles. "These are magically enchanted so that you can see in the dark. They only have a limited amount of time to be used, so we will be using torches for the time. The goggles are only for emergencies. This cave harbors three threats, two of them are very easy to ward off. One, will not take it to kindly if we cross its path. The first two are bats, and antimagic. If you're okay with not being able to cast spells, then you should be fine. The bats shouldn't be too much of a bother. Is this understood?" The others mumbled their yeses.

"What about the third one?" Daniel asked. CC turned around and began to walk.

"Hopefully, you will never have to find out." She said darkly. Daniel nodded.

*   *   *

after two hours of walking, they came upon a boulder jutting up from the ground like an arrow had been shot at the ground by Faust herself. next to the cave was an old worn sign, that had Crawlers' Pass written in old red paint, beneath it was Enter at your own risk demise. The sign itself was falling apart, and splintered all over. CC walked past it without a second glance. The others wearily followed her in a grim silence, as the cave's presence seemed to assert itself like the air within it was alive, but dying. All hope was literally lost at the entrance, and fear grew within the empty void that it had left.

The cave itself was dreary and horrid. the stalactites seemed to be reaching down at the company, the claws of the cave wishing to pick them up. The stalagmites came up in many different sizes, some short, like thorns from a bush, or rose, and others tall, almost reaching the ceiling, as if it were an old forgotten civilization, buried for thousands of years. The air was hot, heavy, and saturated with years of being underground. The light dimmed when they entered, and they felt as if something important was lost. Daniel felt an all to familiar loss of hope, and dreary horizon. It was as if he had been yanked back onto earth.

"That would be that magic cancelling field I told you all about. Don't get me wrong, the cave itself is depressing, but without part of your very soul, the one that produces natural happiness from the environment around you, depression takes on a whole new meaning. I would say you get used to it, but then I would be lying. Anyhow,we have four torches, and each lasts a whole 6 hours, so we have exactly one day to get out of this cave. Might I suggest picking a partner, and talking with said partner as we go through the cave? But know this, the cave always separates groups. Only once per group, but it does. Don't ask me how or why, because I don't know, but that's why everybody has received a map, and a compass." CC said, just as a rumbling started all around them. "Eeyup, that's exactly what i was talking about." It was then that rocks fell from the ceiling of the cavern, right in between Daniel and Ditzy, leaving Gilda and Ditzy stranded with each other, and same could be, and would be, said for Daniel and CC.

"Daniel! CC! Are you two alright!?" Came Ditzy's voice from the other side.

"Ugh, yeah, I'm fine, but it seems that the torches are on your side. we'll have to use my changling sense of sight for this cave it seems." CC yelled back as Daniel slipped into unconsciousness.

*   *   *

Daniel found himself awake, and extremely sore. He slowly, and painfully pulled himself up, as he blinked the sleepiness away from his eyes. The sight he saw, was not a friendly one. he was in Canterlot, that much he knew, but it had changed. The castle was in ruins, along with the rest of the city block that he could see. A dog in the distance barked an unfriendly bark. Meanwhile, a foal walked past him, she was bruised and battered, and was carrying what looked like a crossbow over her back. Upon seeing Daniel, she scampered away.

"I personally like what I've done with the place, don't you?" A voice behind Daniel said. It was female. Upon turning around, he found himself facing bane, his female counterpart. "Gives it a sort of, Daniel failed at saving the world kind of feeling, doesn't it? Of course, I couldn't have made it nearly this creepy, if I hadn't used places not from Canterlot. Like for instance, that little town you call a city that you had once lived in a long time ago, what was it called? Oh yes, Dermitile." She was smiling, but it was a broken smile, one that contained no true happiness. It was wide, and seemed to make Daniel more remorseful, rather than happy.

"What do you want Bane?" Daniel asked, emotionless.

"Well, for one, a soul would be nice. But I don't think you'd even let me if I could. No. Instead, I must warn you, this place is in your future if you fail. I did not make this entire place, because i have seen it. Long before you came to Equestria, and even for a longer time before I joined with Luna, I went by a different name. My name was Sarah. I was the first human ever to come to Equestria. Long before it was even known as Equestria you know."

"What point are trying to make?" Daniel asked, showing slight interest.

"The point? No, not a point, not yet. I'm telling you my story. I am very old, and I need to lighten the weight upon the soul that I do not have. You must bear my burden from here on out. You best not hope though, that you end up like me, because if you do, what you see around us both, will be very much a reality. I will now pick up where I left off. I was the first human within the wide world of Equestria, back then, it was all a great Pangaea, no Griffin Empire, no Zebrica, only Equestria. Back then, the ponies had been on the verge of war, and the season that year was cold, for a different reason entirely to what everyone thought. The true story was lost through the ages, and is now known as a petty squabble solved by singing happy songs to keep a great fire burning. All a lie. The only thing keeping that fire alive was my magic, which has been passed on to you. Sure, the happiness helped, but it was because of my magic that it worked. I had not even known I had powers like that. I was able to draw power from the environment, instead of within myself like most unicorns.

"It was then that I earned my horn, and rather painfully. My wings and tail are another story all together. My horn was almost never used, for I like using my power from the world around me, as you can now do.

"Anyways, long after that, a pony was brought to us, and brought to power, by Faust herself. You know her by Celestia. For some reason, when Faust had put her on the planet, I had began to fade. Don't ask me what i mean, because we don't have enough time. But after a long while, I was just a thought. Something embedded deep within the hearts of every living thing. I had become a stain on a perfect world that did not need me. After a while, Faust put another on the world, you know her as Luna. The rest of the story, you already know." Bane finished.

"So what? Why tell me all of this?" Daniel asked calmly.

"I told you already. No benefit to you, only me. You will be waking sometime soon. As a matter of fact, I feel you being pulled back into existence." Bane suddenly disappeared, as Daniel awoke, and found himself staring at CC. She nodded at him, and Daniel realized that it was really dark.

Chapter 12- Crawlers' Pass Part 2~ Wandering

"Welcome back to the world of the living. Now before you say anything, I know you can't see a thing, and no, you're not blind." CC said.

"I can see just fine. Though it is rather dark." Daniel replied.

"Well, that's convenient, look, we got separated, and now, we are no longer safe. We have no magic, and no torches. The bats won't be a problem, but without light, we maybe running into... other dangers." She said the word other in a way that sent chills down Daniel's spine. "Well, nothing to do now, but keep on going. Might as well chat toward off fear and sadness. So, what's it like in Ponyville?"

"Uh, well, it's great. lots of friendly people, and always some fun to be had." Daniel said, following after the already walking CC. "What about you, what's it like where you come from?"

"Well, unlike many hives, my hive is actually a wonderful place. And I'm living proof that they always assign their foals correct assignments." CC said happily.

"So, what exactly are Changlings hives like? How are your kind treated?" Daniel asked. CC was silent for a moment.

"Changlings are not 'born' in the sense of the term, instead, the hive's queen lays eggs in the hatching caves within the hive, and later, these eggs hatch. Different hives treat their young in different ways, for instance, my hive actually celebrates every time a new set of eggs is hatched, and assigns each of us the job that we are meant to do. My hive is a happy place, even if it is dark and dank. But one hive, who's queen is known as Chrysalis, treats their hatchlings with little care, or respect, they are born and bred for killing, only ten out of every hundred eggs is allowed to survive, all the others must be devoured alive by their own kindred. I, as an ambassador and trainer, have seen this for myself. It's horrible, the newly hatched changlings eating each other, all because they need to live. I remember a long time ago, when I first visited there, I was told of one who had eaten every single one of his brethren." She said darkly. Daniel was quiet while he processed this.

He spoke after several minutes of walking. "By the tone of your voice, it sounds as if you did more than hear of it, something tells me that I do not want to be visiting that place anytime soon. How about you tell me more about your own hive. You seemed cheerful enough about that," Daniel was obviously trying to lighten the sour mood that the cave radiated.

"It was a great place, I learned most of everything I know there, or at least the basics. I wasn't aloud outside of the hive like others though, not until I was twenty."

"Why?"

"Because I'm a princess." CC replied, just as a rumbling sounded, and the ground beneath them both gave way, causing them to drop into the depths of the earth.

*   *   *

On the other side of the original cave in, was a different story, one that no transition could be thought of for it...

"Alright, so with this collapse here, and no compass, we might be stuck." Ditzy said calmly. They had gathered the torches and had put them in their saddle bags.

"Lucky for you, I actually carry a compass on me. Here," Gilda stated, pulling said compass out of her pocket. Yes Griffins have pockets, don't ask me why, cause frankly, I don't know.

"Uh, thanks, I guess," Ditzy said, placing the compass on the map. She studied it for a few minutes, and finally pointed to a direction. "That should be the quickest way out, now come on, I don't like to linger in uncomfortable places."

"If you say so," Gilda suddenly felt a deep chill, that went down to her core, as she pulled out a match to light the torch. When the torch was lit, it cast unfriendly shadows across the walls of the cave. "Cave is pretty creepy," She said, her voice seeming to go on forever, and at the same time, stop immediately.

"Doesn't smell too nice either," Ditzy said with a forced chuckle. Gilda tried to laugh as well. "So, what was your home like back in the Griffin Empire?"

"Oh, uh, it was, nice, I'm personally glad to be away from that giant jungle surrounded city myself. I mean, it's way better hanging out with my nes-- er, my friends," Gilda replied.

"You almost said nest!" Ditzy said with a laugh, then stopped laughing when she saw the look on Gilda's face. "Oh, you almost said nest," her voice was very quiet now.

"Look, it doesn't mean anything, let's keep going." She said softly, but Ditzy shook her head and sat down.

"Gilda, do you want to join my herd?" Ditzy asked.

"I, well, I--" Gilda was cut off by a rumbling, just as the ground swallowed them both.

Chapter 13- Crawlers' Pass Part 3~ Creepy-Crawlies and their Prophecies

"Whoa! Ha ha ha!" Daniel cried out. All four of the quest were now sliding down natural slides in the earth. Suddenly Ditzy collided with Daniel, and they were sliding down together, and something similar happened to CC and Gilda. They all went their separate ways, the groups now switched around once more. The twists and turns curved around like a water park. Suddenly they were all ejected into the air, and in that moment of weightlessness, none of them could have felt any giddier. but just as soon as they were in the air, they had been put back on slides.

"W-whoa, I do not feel comfortable about this," CC said as she was launched into the air switching slides once more.

"Are you kidding? This is awesome!" Gilda cried out with a laugh. She was launched over to the area

CC was in, and landed directly in front of her. Daniel wasn't listening, only enjoying himself as he too was rocketed towards Ditzy, and almost fell on her as he landed backwards in front of her.

"Hello love," They said simultaneously, just as the two groups split up, and were dumped in different spots rather far away from each other. Daniel found himself under Ditzy.

"Ugh, I think you broke something," Daniel grunted, and pulled a carrot broken in two out of nowhere. "Oh."

"Sorry. I just don't know what went wrong there," She replied as she got off of the other alicorn, "Now, the question is, where are we?"

"The Cave of the Crawlers," A deep and dangerously suave voice sounded, after which came a series of clicks. "The only reason you both are still alive, is because our oracle wishes to see the boy." Another series of clicks. Daniel suddenly went pale, and Ditzy tensed up when he did so.

"Daniel, what is it, what do you see?" Ditzy asked gently. She had never seen him this scared, as she sent to touch the fifth, she found that he was shaking. All he did was point a finger at something behind her. Ditzy slowly turned around, and saw something that made her lose her footing from surprise. In front of her, was a spider, slightly taller than her. and was a gross mix of black and red.

"Odd, I smell fear on only one of you, but I cannot tell which. Tell me, do you have a fear of spiders?" The spider asked, a smile forming on it's face that would make a nun faint. And apparently Daniel.

*   *   *

"I think I'm going to throw up!" CC said, and she was looking a little bit more sickly than usual.Gilda laughed, then realized that CC was directly behind her.

"Oh no, make sure you do that on the side." Gilda threatened.

"Whoa!" Daniel and Ditzy exclaimed as they dropped. The other two barely noticed, as they hit another jump, and landed on the other side and went into a corkscrew.

"Oh no, I can't hold it in any- Blarge--" CC let her lunch fly off to side. "Ugh, nasty." She said as she shuddered slightly, just as they reached a steep drop, going down, faster, Faster, FASTER, FASTER! Then suddenly they found themselves in the air, flying upwards, and landing in a large tunnel. CC rolled off of Gilda and neither said a word about it. CC went and sat near the wall. "Just give me a moment, at least until the wall in front of me stops spinning. After a few minutes of deep breathing and trying not to throw up again, CC got back on her feet and looked around, and found the cave lit by the red gem it was made out of. CC gasped, and then took a slow gulp.

"What? What is it?" Gilda asked getting into battle formation.

"This is no ordinary cave. Keep your eye peeled for anything unusual, especially if it's, creepy, if you see something slither, close your eyes immediately." CC replied dangerously. "Also, if you see giant spiders, don't kill them. In this case, they are an ally. Is this understood?" Gilda promptly nodded,

"Ah, but alassss, no arachnid will passss into my cave." Came a silky smooth female voice, followed by an unnerving rattle. "They find me rathher sssscary." Gilda felt something cold and clammy slide against her leg, and she immediately dropped in a faint.

"Well, at least she won't open her eyes. Now as for you, I know that not many things kill your kind, and I currently have in possession none of these items, but that doesn't mean I can't knock you out. This is your one warning, leave now, or face the consequences," CC snarled as a green fire melded her eyelids shut in a creepy changeling way.

"Ha ha ha ha you and what army, young shape shifter?" The golden voiced snake asked, finally coming into the light, it was long, about twice the length of manticore, and one point five times taller. CC had a fearful look, but she got into fighting stance.

*   *   *

"--does have a tendency to scare most folk. I've told them to stay outside. He should be nice, safe, and okay, oh, and he's awake." A male voice said. Daniel opened his eyes and looked around. He was in side another cave, only this one was lit by torches on the walls. the cave walls had paintings on them, many many paintings, some looked old as Celestia herself, and others looked so recent that the paint is still drying. the walls were colored and filled with many things: civilizations falling, ponies evolving, swords being crafted, creatures brandishing armor, and as Daniel studied this, the paintings began to move, showing a great batlle against a darkness, in that Darkness he could see nothing, and the ponies on the battlefield were still marching towards it, save for the many that were running away before it even started, and at the front of this battle was not a pony, but a man, leading them all into battle they went forward and into the darkness, and then--

"Daniel! You never told me you were scared of spiders!" Ditzy said with a giggle, snapping Daniel out of his daze. He looked at Ditzy, and then back at the wall, which once more, just depicted many ponies gathering around in a field.

"Young one, your eyes had glazed over, did you see anything?" A zebra asked, walking up. The zebra was black with yellow stripes and had the cutie mark of a moon, but it was done in such a way, that it reminded Daniel of Zecora's cutie mark. Daniel nodded.

"A, a battle. between a dark cloud and those ponies." Daniel said grimly. The zebra nodded, the fire casting menacing shadows across the wall, as the zebra's eyes seemed to have a veil go down them, and he stepped towards the wall, and pulled a brush from nowhere, and began painting. When he was done, he put the brush down, and it disappeared. On the wall, was now the darkness that Daniel saw, and the ponies were all turned, looking into it fearfully, and the man, was in the middle, gazing upwards.

"What does it mean?" Ditzy asked. Both Daniel and the zebra shrugged.

"My name, is Zeekial, and I have been waiting for you for a long time, Great Fifth, please allow me to give you news both disturbing, and possibly hopeless." Zeekial said. Daniel exchanged a glance with Ditzy and shrugged.

"Go for it, I guess," Daniel replied hesitantly. Zeekial nodded.

"I will start at the beginning, once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there came an age, where a group of unicorns, who were very adept at the arts of magic, created a relic of power, and it was good. Among the unicorns, the creators names were Sombra, Starswirl, Bane, Tenebrae, and calvarious. Each one was skilled in a specific art involving magic, and had put there best work into this relic. Sombra, who was skilled at the darker arts of summoning, put into the great artifact, the power of shadows, Starswirl who was advanced in the pure arts of arcane magic, put into this ancient item, the power of true magic, Bane, who was great in the arts of weapon conjuring, put into this item the power of weapon mastery, Tenebrae, who was deep in the wonders of the mind, put into this the power of sight, and calvarious, who was the first to discover the horrid art of necromancy, put into the ancient relic, the power over the dead souls still onthe plane of the living.

"This item started off as a great wonder, kept safe by the creators, but one by one, they started to want the powers themselves. It started with Bane, for she wanted what she could not have, and so inflicted this upon others, creating hatred, and jealousy, she was the first to become corrupt, and tried to take it. She found that now, the power could not be touched by her, and so she was sent away as a different being.

"Next, came Sombra, he tried as well to take the power so he could betray his kingdom, but was fought off by the original two alicorns, and banished to the shadows, but he took the crystal kingdom with him.

"Finally Calvarious, decided to corrupt the instrument of power itself, believing that if he did so, nobody would wish to receive it, but he was wrong, later came another after the cursed item. His name, was Nicoladine. He came in, and said, he was merely seeking knowledge, and they allowed him to observe the artifact. But they were deceived, and Nicoladine reached to obtain the powers in the mysterious item, and a battle ensued, in which Calvarious had died, and he had been cursed. Nicolidadine retreated, and vowed to return.

"It was then that Starswirl and Tenebrae realized that the item must not fall into the wrong hooves, and so broke it apart and hid it. There are many pieces across the land known as Zebrica, and one that you already have."

The room had darkened, even though none of the torches had gone out, and Daniel found himself facing Ditzy and Zeekial. Daniel swallowed, and spoke. "What is this item that you say I have?" Daniel and Ditzy both felt a fear in the pits of their stomach, a fear that neither were able to explain. It went deep, and felt as if they were alone.

"Your sword. it is known as Deadstrom, the sword of souls. Every corrupted soul that has been felled by your blade, has at least passed through your sword. It gives you power, whether you know it or not. But now is not the time to talk, for your other two friends are facing a deadly foe, one that you were meant to kill."

*   *   *

"No eyessss, no eyessss. However will you ffind me?" The basilisk hissed gently at CC. CC in turn fired a bolt of magic in the direction of the voice, but it hit nothing but the reflective walls, and bounced around. until it hit the ground next to CC. The snake just laughed, and whipped her tail around, but CC heard the shift, and grabbed onto the tail, and begun to get flung around. She then magically attached her hooves in the serpent, and began crawling upwards, and finally arrived at its back, and proceeded to grow sharp bone-like spikes out of her hooves, and slamming them into the creature. Which just hissed, and shook both the pain, and CC off.

"This is going to be a lot harder than I thought," CC muttered.

"Maybe not!" Daniel called, jumping towards the large basilisk, and swung his sword. The snake turned, and caught him by the leg, and slammed him into the ground. "Ouch." CC took this moment to go at the serpent's soft underside with a slice of her spike, causing it to yell.

"Ssso, you have ffriends? All the more ffood for me!" She cried out in crazed glee. She then turned around, and stared at Daniel, who stared right back.

"No Daniel! Don't let it look you in the eyes!" CC yelled. But it was to late, and Daniel was... swinging his sword?

"What! No!" The basilisk cried out with sudden terror, just as her flat slithering tongue was cut in half by Deadstrom. Blood that was a dark green spewed out, as Daniel rolled over to the right, and proceeded to jab and slash randomly at the snake.

"Ha ha! With the help of Tenebrae, nothing is impossible!" Daniel yelled as he grew out his wings, and with one powerful flap, he launched himself far up into the air, right before his head hit the ceiling, he flapped once more, and dive bombed at the snake, and stabbed it with his sword yet again, just as Ditzy came through with her eyes shut blasting incinerating blasts everywhere at random.

"Everybody get down!" She yelled, the cave was in chaos, Ditzy's powerful spells firing everywhere, and Daniel's sword cutting the snake, while CC went at it with her own hooves. The snake was writhing about in pain and panic, just as daniel came, and stabbed it in its left eye. She screamed once more, as Daniel threw the eye to the ground and then stomped on it, squishing it with a disgusting squish. The green blood was everywhere and the snakes innards were beginning to seep slowly out of its gashes on the underside to the point of just being seen. Finally Daniel came down, and began stabbing it in the head. and Ditzy came up, and fired a blast of burning ice into the holes, and the head fell off, the snake had been beaten.

And Daniel once more, passed out.

Chapter 14- The First Piece/ The Newborn Power~ Scales

"We did it." Daniel said as they entered Zeekial's cave. Zeekial was currently upside down on a pole made of bamboo.

"I trust you did what I asked?" Zeekial asked, flipping off of the pole, and then kicked it so it leaned against the wall.

"Yeah. I stared into its eyes, and nothing happened, other than us kicking its butt." Daniel replied.

"Very good. That demon need  a good 'butt kicking'," the zebra said, nodding his head. "Now, if you will follow me, I have something for you."

The zebra walked towards a wall, and then went straight through it. Daniel shrugged and went in after him, and the others followed suit. On the other side of the hidden passageway was a very large room, and it was not lit up by anything,    *but they could see fine. Dead center of the room, was a pedestal with a glass dome on it. It stood at four feet tall, and the dome itself rose another foot, and was six inches in diameter. Standing by it, was Zeekial.

The room was cold, so cold in fact, that the quest could all see their breath mist out of their mouths. Something seemed almost, wrong, with the room, and as they drew closer to the pedestal, the each, one by one stopped moving, as if they had just failed the simple task, and simply gawked at the strange pedestal, all save for Daniel, who walked straight up to Zeekial. "Alright, i do not wish to linger in here, please get whatever you need with me done with, and I'll be on my way," Daniel said, shivering slightly.

"Very well. All you must do, is remove that glass dome, and put on the brace that it is covering." Zeekial said simply. He nodded towards the pedestal, and Daniel went up to it, and grabbed the small glass cover, and lifted it off. underneath, was a silver brace, with an icy blue gem in it. As Daniel went to grab it, he heard a whisper.

"Power, comes with a price, even to those who must take it..." As quickly as it had come, it was gone. Daniel swallowed, and grabbed the brace, and it grabbed him, instantly attaching itself onto his arm, as a horrid burning sensation came over him. He suddenly found that he couldn't breathe as Tenebrae came up. Tenebrae's lips were moving, but Daniel couldn't hear anything over his own heartbeat. His skin started to bubble as if it was a boiling liquid, and Daniel began ripping it off of himself, and underneath it was a slimy mess of hard scales.

Daniel realized that the burning had stopped where he had ripped off his skin, and began tugging and tearing off the rest of it piece by piece, it falling to the floor in a bloody mess, until finally, it was gone. His skin was off. Tenebrae's voice was now apparent, but Daniel still wasn't listening, for his skin, was growing back, slowly. It felt like needles being pushed into his body all over. Then, it stopped, and Daniel collapsed, brunt out from the pain.

*   *   *

Daniel returned to consciousness and sat up. Looking around, he saw Zeekial, Ditzy, Gilda, and CC. Getting up, he walked straight over to Zeekial, and grabbed him by the neck, and lifted him up, and stared into his eyes. The zebra did not struggle. "I am getting really tired of all of these painful experiences," He said darkly, and then dropped him.

"I am sorry that you must experience so much pain in such little time, but it is only to make you stronger," Zeekial rasped out, followed by a series of hacks and coughs. Suddenly a deep rumble came from somewhere nearby. Zeekial looked up, and his eyes glossed over for a few seconds. When he came to, he looked scared. "This is not good," he said fearfully. Another rumble, followed by several yells.

"What is it?" Daniel asked calmly. Zeekial looked into Daniel's eyes.

"An Army."

Chapter 15- Battles and Surprises

"What do you mean an army!?" Daniel was no longer calm, neither were Ditzy or Gilda. CC seemed fine though, for some reason.

"Here's where we can put your training to the test Daniel!" CC said excitedly. She received a confused look.

"Uh CC, what training are you talking about?"

"Your training! The weeks of physical training for your mind and, oh wait a minute, we haven't even started yet, have we." CC face hoofed. None of them had any time for a reply, for a very large spider scuttled in.

"You all need to get out of here now, we have team Bravo holding off the first division of forces, we're here to get you out." The arachnid said calmly. Everybody nodded, save for Daniel, who wasn't where he was. Ditzy turned her head, and saw him hiding in a corner.

"Daniel come on! We got to get out of here!" Ditzy yelled. Daniel just shook his head.

"No thanks, no spiders for me. I am quite alright right here in the corner, the nice not arachnid corner." Daniel had lost it.

"For the love of Faust! Change your forms!" The spider yelled at his team, which then all flashed green, and changed into changelings. The leader changed as well.

"What? You were Changelings?" Daniel yelled.

"Of course we are! Now get your ass moving." The lead changeling said, as a loud crash sounded from somewhere nearby in the caves. His eyes glowed green for a few seconds, and then he let out an extremely frustrated groan. "Faust damn it, the exit's blocked off. Which one of you is the most powerful, we need your help to clear the path." Everybody in the room turned towards Daniel.

"I think that would be CC," Daniel said obliviously. CC face hoofed.

"I believe that if we work together, it might be a great help. We all know how to fight here," CC reported officially.

"Alright, then come with me." Another large crash. The team of Changelings started filing out, and the quest followed suit. Zeekial was nowhere to be found. Suddenly there was a large flash of light, and the next thing everybody knew, was that they were all on the ground, with many unfamiliar ponies wearing armor charging into the cave through a new hole in the wall.

Daniel shook himself out of the daze faster than what would have been thought possible. He quickly grabbed his sword as several of the armored ponies charged at him. Tenebrae showed up almost immediately, and Daniel felt a surge of power. He swung his sword at one of the soldiers, and the mare was blasted back a couple of feet. "Find the openings in their armor," Tenebrae said. Daniel nodded, and examined the mare that he had just hit. He saw an opening in between the helm and the neck guard, and he quickly lashed his sword out, effectively slicing through the pony's throat. Smiling sadistically, Daniel began to swing his sword about in an almost random fashion, but every swing hit home.

CC was next to get up. She quickly hopped up to her hooves, and began throwing punches and kicks. Grabbing onto a stallions head, she twisted quickly, and the resounding snap was drowned out by the sounds of a battle. She quickly assessed her situation, and found that they were all surrounded. She jumped into the air, and landed on a pony's head, sending them to the ground. She then bounced from head to head in her deadly dance of battles. When she again landed on the ground, she charged forward at a random enemy, and had her horn grow in size, effectively causing it to stab straight through the armor.

Ditzy slowly stood up, and grew into her alicorn form, and started sending out blasts of magic spells. The enemies around her fell one by one as she sent the missile like spells out of her horn. She cast a shield around her quickly as several ponies came at her from all sides, and as they ran into it they all bounced off, and received a serious headache. While they were dazed, Ditzy quickly took them down. She then started heating up several of the other soldiers armor, and effectively roasted them alive.

Last but not least, Gilda stood up. She quickly started flying above the ponies in the seemingly endless fight, and dived down, claws at the ready. She quickly began pounding on their helmets, but found that it didn't do much to them. Thinking quickly, she dived down at them once more, and began removing their helmets, and for extra measure, began dropping the helmets as they hit the heads of the enemy.

"Ah shit! Where the hell are they all coming from!?" Daniel yelled.

"Good question!" Ditzy replied sarcastically. "Maybe we can figure that out when we're done here!"

"Come on, we need to get out of here!" CC yelled. She blasted a few back through the hole that they were all coming through, and charged forward. The others followed in a similar fashion, and they were out of the cave.

And in a new one.

"Damn! How are we supposed to get out of here with so many of these ponies? There has to at least be a hundred!" Gilda yelled.

"One hundred and thirty, excluding the ones that have already been taken down. I can feel their emotions," CC called out.

"Make that a hundred and ten!" Daniel called out after blasting a shot of his spikes in all directions.

"Quit your bragging for a moment and focus, we need to get out of here!" CC yelled, she tried to cast a spell, but was hit with an attack that she quickly fought off. With the rate that the enemy ponies were piling in, they might as well be looking at three thousand instead of, "Three hundred more? What the heck is going on here! Shit! Daniel, Ditzy, I need you to cover me, I'll get us out of here, but I can't be distracted, and there is a lot more of this army than I thought, so I suggest you get your asses over here!"

Daniel and Ditzy acknowledged the request, and began fighting their way through the massive army that was smothering everything. Gilda, although not addressed, started making her way over as well. After what seemed like forever, they had made it to CC, and were all forming a protective circle over her, but the form+

ation was broken quickly. "Damn! Okay, everybody listen to me, Daniel, I need you to cast a forcefield, and a big one, around CC, stay inside it as well," Ditzy was interrupted by several of the soldiers coming at her, she made quick work of them as Daniel did what he was told. Ditzy quickly regained her train of thought, "Gilda, I need you to help me not let to many ponies try and break this barrier, can you do that?"

"Sure thing!" Gilda  called out, beginning to fly over to Ditzy, when the unexpected happened. One of the many below her stuck their spear up, just high enough, to hit Gilda in the belly. She went down, and fell onto the forcefield, Daniel quickly opened it to let her in, and closed it, barely breaking concentration with the help of Tenebrae. He also shoved Ditzy inside of the forcefield, and promptly fainted...

But Tenebrae did not. He quickly gained control of the body, and it swung slightly as a puppet, but the effect could be seen. Daniel's horn that he had grown out in the spur of the moment quickly receded, but the forcefield, grew. Daniel's hands now glowed an icy blue, as icy as his eyes. which were currently closed. "Change of plans Diane, start tending to Gilda immediately, Cartline, can you get us out of here yet?" Tenebrae asked out of Daniel. The voice was not Daniel's own, but a darker more sinister one.

"Yes, here we go, long distance teleport. nobody move an inch!" CC called out, and a bright flash exited her horn, and they were suddenly all in front of a large temple, where everybody collapsed, all save for Ditzy and Gilda, who was still awake, but just barely.

The Temple of Eternity

Something tickled at Daniel's face, but he swatted it away, but the tickle came back and he opened his eyes to see a golden tail, and something else underneath that. He quickly got up, and looked around. Everybody was scattered across the sand, and in front of him, was a large and old structure, with strange hieroglyphs engraved upon it's large golden entrance.

It seemed to call out to him, beckon him, and as if under a spell, Daniel began to walk towards the large gate, just as CC started to get up, and charged after him. "Daniel! Don't go in there! Not without a guide!" She cried out fretfully, but Daniel didn't listen, for all he heard was the humming of an ancient chant, it seemed to come from his mind, and from the temple itself, and it entranced him to walk, as the doors slowly opened, and Daniel dissapeared into the darkness, as the large golden doors swung shut with a large boom.

This boom, had woken up the other two. Ditzy was on her feet in a second, and trotted up to CC. "Where is Daniel CC?" Ditzy asked calmly. CC hung her head low as Gilda got up and walked over as well.

"At the gates of Tartarus. Alone, without a guide to help him. Only Faust knows what will happen next," CC said, then remembering who Daniel was, added, "No, not even she shall know."

And thus ends another chapter in the Daniel series...

Chapter 1- A New Place, New Customs, and Two New Annoyances

"Welcome, to Zebrica Daniel," Ditzy said, the moment the plain's door opened. And upon looking out, was a sight to behold. For below, were almost no ponies, but instead, were zebras, and plenty in number, and not just in the normal black and white stripe patterns. All sorts of colors could be seen, ranging from the deepest violet to the brightest red. Sure, there were a few that were black and white, but most weren't. It was a rather remarkable sight. As they got off the plane, they were greeted by one that was white with red stripes, (Red with white stripes?).

"Welcome Great Fifth, I hope your ride was pleasant." The zebra said. Daniel stretched, then nodded.

"It was great, really relax--"

"Do not speak out of turn stallion, know your place," The zebra cut Daniel off, then raised a hoof, as it came down, Daniel caught it, and threw the zebra back easily.

"Three things, one, I was not speaking out of turn, two do that again to any of us, I'll break the leg that tries, and three what the heck is wrong with you?" Daniel threatened.

"I was not addressing you servant, I was addressing the fifth," The zebra said, pointing a finger at Gilda. Who raised her eyebrow, as well did Daniel and Ditzy.

"Uh, sorry to break it to ya, but the one you just tried to assault, called a servant, and treated rudely, is the fifth, I'm just his friend," Gilda said, chuckling slightly. The zebra's eyes shrank to pinpricks, and she just about fainted, but stopped when she saw them all laughing it off. She walked up to Daniel and bowed her head in shame.

"I am sorry great one, please punish me as you see fit," the zebra said. Daniel stopped laughing and looked at her strangely. There was actually a small crowd surrounding, staring, as if hoping for the worst possible punishment.

"Uh, what?"

"I damaged your honor, and your dignity, I beg of you not to do the same to me, and punish me as you see fit." The zebra said. Daniel just stared.

"Uh, no, it's alright, I won't punish you," There was a collective gasp, and a few hushed whispers:

"He would do that?"

"Who would insult another's dignity knowingly?"

"Only a stallion would be so cruel,"

"Hey, that last one was a bit sexist, don't you think?" Daniel called out. And in about ten seconds there was officially two zebra's, the new one blue with black stripes, bowing before Daniel, asking him for punishment. Daniel looked to Gilda, then to Ditzy. Ditzy gave a rather derpy face, and Gilda rolled her paw in a get on with it way.

"Uh, alright, for your punishment, I uh, make you my slaves for a while, I guess," Daniel said, his face was contorted into an odd look of surprise, bewilderment, and confusion. The zebra's in the crowd nodded with approval and all went about their business. The two in front of him stood up and looked into Daniel's eyes expectantly. "What?" Daniel asked.

"Well, you made us your slaves, what do you command master?" The Blue and black one said.

"Okay, uh, first of all, could I ask of your names please?" Daniel asked cautiously, looking back at Gilda and Ditzy. Gilda was laughing and rolling on the ground, and Ditzy seemed to be just as confused as Daniel. The two zebras nodded.

"I am Blueberry," The one with blue and black stripes said.

"I am Candy Cane," the other said.

"Uh, alright, I guess you two are stuck with me for today, so, uh, why don't we just go to where I was supposed to go in the first place, I guess you can fill me in on certain zebra customs that I might need to know, even if I might already know of it, on the way there," Daniel said, gesturing for Candy to lead the way, and once the two zebras were a little ways ahead, Daniel whispered into Ditzy's ear, "What the heck have we gotten ourselves into now?" Ditzy nodded in agreement, as Blueberry went up to Daniel, and started to fill him in on zebra customs.

*   *   *

After arriving at a hotel, and getting to their room, Daniel spent two hours with the two zebras who taught him about ten hours worth of customs. (He can remember things fairly well). After that they all started to get prepared for bed, and seeing how there was only one restroom, Daniel had to wait until the other two were done, and seeing how Gilda had chosen to fly through some clouds to wash herself, she had already gone to her bed and was passed out. The two zebras just sat in front of him, and stared at him. Daniel coughed.

"So uh, how long is customary for your punishment to last? Exactly," Daniel said sheepishly. He rubbed his neck with his palm.

"Oh two to three months of slavery should do it," Blueberry replied, getting a nod from Candy Cane. Daniel face palmed with a painful sounding thwack, "Though if you wish for a longer time, it is not uncommon," Blueberry said hurriedly, mistaking Daniel frustration.

"What about a shorter time?" Daniel asked, taking a deep breath.

"Are you saying that you wish not to have our dignity and honor restored?" Candy Cane replied. Daniel just sighed.

"Never mind," Daniel said, leaning his head back against the couch. "If you're uncomfortable, you can sit on the--" The two zebras shuffled up on either side of Daniel "--couch," he finished awkwardly. Candy Cane looked at Daniel.

"You seem tense, why not remove those clothes, we are not at any official event, and if you need it we can always help you with your stress," Candy Cane said, and Blueberry nodded in agreement.

"Uh, what do you mean by that?" Daniel asked.

"Oh you know, massages, aroma therapy, and physical pleasure, if you wish it," Blueberry said. Ditzy walked in after about two seconds. Two very long and awkward seconds.

"Ditzy thank god, er, I mean I'm off to take a shower, bye." And Daniel was in the bathroom with the door shut behind himself. Ditzy stared at the two on the couch.

"Uh, so how long have you two known each other?" Ditzy asked.

"I just met her today," Candy Cane said, and again Blueberry nodded in agreement.

"Right, if I didn't know any better, I would say that you two would be sisters. Uh, I guess you won't want to sleep on the couch together, so what are your customs about sleeping?"

"Oh, we are to sleep on or near our master's bed, so they can call to us if they need us," Candy Cane said. Blueberry nodded.

"If I ever see you sleeping in the same bed as him, I'll rip your heads off, and send them to the moon. Is this understood?" Ditzy threatened darkly, They both nodded, then trotted to the bathroom door, and sat in front of it. Ditzy raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Ten minutes later, the door opened, and Daniel stepped out.

"Oh cheese and crackers!" He yelled upon seeing the two zebras. He nearly dropped the towel around his waist. This was going to be a long two months.

Not quite 13

Back in Ponyville...

Rain. Unscheduled, Everfree Forest, rain. There was no way to get rid of it except wait it out. And it was coming down hard. Only a lone figure moved through the hazy day it seemed, just as fog began rolling in as well. Not very many knew that the Everfree Forest was trying to protect the ponies of Ponyville. Most dismissed it as "that darn Everfree Forest Acting up again," As Applejack would say. As a matter of fact, the only pony who knew this, was out on the streets of Ponyville right at that moment, and she wasn't even a pony. No, Zecora was investigating around the town, looking for whatever trouble that caused the Everfree to act up.Her hood was pulled so that the Everfree could hide her in the mist. If one was to look closely, they would have seen that the rain did not touch her. Instead, it literally went around her.

"What kind of weather is this to be out in, Oracle?" A gruff male voice sounded behind her. Zecora didn't even turn her head around.

"The weather is what I keep in log, for protection the Everfree gives us rain and fog." Zecora replied, her voice showed no emotion.

Always rhyming Zecora, ever since you were a kid. Speaking of which, I would like to know, is there any way to help the fifth, even though I have reached postmortem?" The familiar voice intoned.

"Yes, there be a way, but from a path you must not stray. Hard it will be, more trouble than even I can foresee, only if you love the boy, should you make this big of a choice."

"The memories of his father have been in me since I turned 23. That of his mother's, was sent elsewhere, but the thing is, he is my son, and I have looked after him, ever since he got here. I would die for him, if I was alive. I have already made my choice Zecora. I made my choice .a long time ago. What do I have to do?" Ice Fire growled out.