The Search For The Everglade

Chapters

A Meeting With Royalty
The Watchers of Time
The Quest
Bladewing
The Soldier and the Astronomer
The Nightmare
Through the Phoenix Woods

A Meeting With Royalty

The Search for The Everglade

"What has he told you?"

"Nothing, your highness."

"Nothing? You've been in here for three hours!"

The regally dressed Unicorn stamped her hoof on the ground angrily, glaring at her royal torturer before turning her attention to the one tied up in the seat, a Pegasus scout they had shot down just outside the city.

"Are you planning some sort of invasion?" The princess asked seriously, leaning in towards the Pegasus and glaring into his eyes, "You're miles from home with trail rations and a map, where were you going?"

"I'm not telling you anything." he replies, not moving from his seat, "...You think you can scare me with your magic and your crown, but I know the unicorns aren't doing any better off than we are."

Princess Platinum took a step back, just listening to what the scout had to say.

"You can torture me and you can break my wings, and you can throw me to the griffins for all I care... but you are not going to find out why I'm here, I swore an oath."

The Pegasus fell quiet, his short, dirty black mane barely covering his eyes as he waited to hear his fate.

"Oh you Pegasi... if there's one thing you can count on it's your loyalty to your arrogant commander." Princess Platinum chuckled, causing the Pegasus to look up at her with a confused expression. "Do you really think we are so brutish and barbaric? We are unicorns, my feathered friend... you'll find we have better ways to get our prisoners to talk than by beating them within an inch of their lives."

Princess Platinum gracefully lowered her hoof to the ground and tapped it twice on the stone floor, causing the Pegasus to flinch and turn his attention to the torturer. The torturer returned his gaze from behind the black mask he wore, but made no movements. Instead the door at the end of the room opened and a pony came in with a large tray of various fruit cut up into slices, the Pegasus stared in awe.

"It's all seed and hay up in your cloud towns, isn't it Pegasus? No where you can plant trees," The princess began with a sly smile, taking an apple segment with her magic and hovering it just in front of his face. "Tell us all you know... and you'll eat like a king."

"It's poisoned!" The Pegasus replied quickly, trying to convince himself of this, "You wouldn't just give me food, not with the famine plaguing every race... your mind games will not-"

But before he could continue, Princess Platinum shoved the apple segment into her mouth, chewing it a few times before swallow, she gave a smug smile over at the scout, "...Delicious... perhaps I'll have another."

"Wait." The Pegasus spoke up. Princess Platinum turned her attention to him as he gave a defeated sigh. "We recently raided a griffin settlement that had been causing us trouble. We burned a lot of the nests, but it's reported that some of the nests still had green leaves in them, as well as food. Those weren't Evergreen leaves either, those were from apple trees, or oak trees."

Princess Platinum's eyes widened as she heard the news, dropping the banana segment she was holding and instead using her magic to choke the scout, lifting him out of his seat and into the air. The torturer moved to intervene but stopped the moment the Princess raised her hoof to him. "Talk!" she hissed angrily.

The scout struggled in the air, as the ropes binding him came lose his gripped his neck, "I was told to fly south-west! that was the direction of their hunting grounds, I was to find the land and map it out! Commander Hurricane calls it the Everglade!" he explained between gasps, kicking his hooves around as the world began to seem distant.

Princess Platinum watched as the Pegasus' face began to turn blue, waiting for just the right moment before dropping him. "Good... torturer, lock him away, he may have more information for us. Give him the hay from his bag... that is all."
The scout landed with a crash on his chair, rolling around for a moment before pushing himself up to his feet, "W-wait... you said I'd eat like a king if I told you my mission."

"So I did..." the Princess replied with a smile, "...but there is no king here, you featherbrained fool. It's only by my generosity that you're eating at all." she paused for a moment, "Aren't you going to thank me for my generosity, you cowardly, snivelling worm?"

The scout glared at her, opening his mouth to speak his mind only for the torturer to give him a swift buck to the side to knock him down. The scout let out a pained cough and looked up at the Princess weakly, a mixture of hatred and fear in his eyes.

"Well? ...Thank me!"

"...Thank you... your majesty."

"Hmph... there's just no pleasing some ponies." the Princess remarked, leaving the scout to the hooves of the torturer, the light fading from the room as she slammed the door behind her.

The Watchers of Time

Chapter 2: The Watchers of Time

As the sun lowered from the sky and it's orange glow faded from the city of Noveria, four unicorns stood atop a tower at the corner of the city wall. The largest of the four stepped forward to address the others.

"Alright Watchers, let's ease her down for sunset. Dusk will lead the pull with Witching Hour, North Star you work on the stars and I'll take the lead on the moon. Ready?"

"Ready!"

The four unicorns closed their eyes and put their horns together, each putting their own spell into the mix as they began their daily duty of lowering the sun and raising the moon. The Watchers of Time were an order of Unicorns chosen by the Princess to raise and lower the sun and the moon, it was hard work for the most magically advanced ponies, and these ponies were just that.

The newest member of the group was a dark blue colt named North Star, dressed in a tunic and an archer's hat, he had star patterns speckled over his body that shone in the dark. His cutiemark was a simple one, three white stars dotted over his midnight blue flank. He had only joined the order recently as part of the night crew, his job was to light the sky up with stars and sometimes help out his mentor Moonshine with bringing the moon up.

Moonshine liked to joke that his name actually had something to do with his day job at the local tavern. All the members of the Watchers of Time had multiple jobs, either working at day or at night dependant on where they stood with their talents. North Star had chosen to work mapping the stars in the night sky, allowing him to work both his jobs at night, though it often meant he slept all day.

As the sky darkened with the unicorns' magic and the sun went down, North Star watched as the stars began to come out one by one, ushered out by his magic. As they did so his coat began to sparkle with the glowing pattern that went over it, he found himself lost in the moment as he watched the stars glistening as he called them, and they called back.

"North? ...North!" Moonshine shoved him, causing North Star to jump and his magic to fluctuate, quickly finishing his job. "hey kid... don't get distracted, alright? you break a star and it'll be star dust everywhere."

"If you're going to drop a star again, at least aim for the Pegasus city this time." Witching Hour added in a deadpan voice, keeping her usual serious expression as she looked out over the field, watching the snow glisten in the moonlight. "I think we're done here, boss."

"We are... good work, Team. See you all tomorrow night, alright?" Moonshine replied to the others. Dusk and Witching Hour gave a mumble of agreement each, moving to the tower steps and descending back down them, but North Star just went back to staring at the sky, "You guys go ahead, I'm going to try to finish my star map tonight."

"Why do you make those anyway?" Moonshine asked, moving to stand beside North Star as he looked out over the snowy wastelands, "Look out there, kid... there's nothing but snow and forest for miles, and there's no news of us leaving any time soon," he turned to face him as he continued, "our scholars are working day and night to find a spell to create food so we can stay here. There's no point of mapping the ground or the sky, because we're not going anywhere."

"I find it relaxing," North Star replied, "Besides, I don't ask you why you spend your days making a drink that causes most ponies to either go blind or do something reckless."

"It's my special talent, kid. Show some respect," Moonshine replied, standing up proudly, "My drink is as much of an art form as your maps. I give these ponies a way to get over their problems and relax."

There was an awkward silence for a moment as the two stared at each other, North Star could feel that something wasn't right, but Moonshine was just trying to find the right words to explain it.

"...A royal guard came by today asking about you, North Star. You've received a summon from the Princess, and I've been told that tomorrow night we'll have a new unicorn taking over for star duty."

North Star felt his heart stop as he heard this. Why would the Princess summon him? why was she sending a guard to find him? why was he being replaced? as he began to panic Moonshine reached out and put a hoof on his shoulder, looking into his eyes.

"North Star, I know you didn't do anything wrong. This is probably just a promotion or something, but if you want my advice... go to the castle, talk to the Princess and find out what she wants." he tells him seriously, "If you run, it's just going to make things worse."

"Oh skies, no! This is about the fallen star!" North Star whimpered, avoiding eye contact with his mentor.

"This probably has nothing to do with that, that was an accident and no pony was hurt." Moonshine replied, "Look at me," he told him, turning the unicorn's head so they were eye-to-eye. "...You're fine, kid. Go to the castle. And if it turns out to be bad news, I'll be there to support you."

"Moonshine..." North Star replied, taking a few steps back, "...I just wanted to say thank you, for teaching me, for helping me get started in the Watchers. It's meant a lot."

"Kid... shut up." Moonshine snorted, "That sappy tone doesn't suit you. You walk out of here with a smile and you keep your head high, and you never, ever look back. Got it?"

North Star stared at his mentor for a while, looking up at the old stallion. He smiled weakly and then raised his head up, moving to descend the stairs, though instead of taking the path down to the city, he walked along the wall towards the castle.

The Quest

Chapter 3: The Quest

North Star's hoof-steps against the stone floor echoed through the castle as he entered, despite his attempts to be as quiet as possible. It hadn't been five minutes and he had already forgotten his mentor's advice, he was panicking about his first time meeting the Princess, especially under the pretenses that had been set. Every guard he walked past seemed to glare at him, but then they seemed to glare at everyone, perhaps it was just part of being a guard.

Eventually he made his way towards the closed door of the throne room, he reached out a shaking hoof to push it open, getting closer and closer to opening the door as his heart started to beat rapidly.

"Can I help you?"

He nearly jumped out of his tunic, letting out a yell as he turned around to face the stranger, a unicorn with a brown cloak covering her body while the hood of the cloak covered her head.

"Oh! Mr. Star, we've been expecting you." the hooded unicorn smiled, bringing down her hood to reveal a friendly smile, "My name is Clover the Clever, I'm Princess' Platinum's advisor."

"O-oh, of course." North replied quickly, bowing his head, "It's so wonderful to meet you, Miss Clover. I've heard all about your work, your thesis on advanced star control made my job so much easier-"

"I'm flattered, really..." Clover cut him off, "But you really don't have to try to win me over, North Star. You're not here because you're going to be punished... you're here because of your deeds mapping out the stars. There is a task that only you have the skills to achieve."

North Star breathed out a heavy sigh of relief, easing up almost instantly as the situation was explained to him, though Clover didn't look so relieved. "The Princess has reason to believe that the pegasi have found a new land, and plan to leave us here in the snow to die... I don't want to believe it, but the evidence is all there."

An anguished cry came from the throne room, Clover looked over her shoulder at the door and closed it with her magic before turning her attention back to North Star, "The princess isn't taking it very well."

North Star cringed at the scream, cowering a little before standing up tall again, trying to keep his head high as Moonshine had instructed, "Let's not waste any more time talking then... I want to help the princess."

"Thank you, North. I'm sure the princess will be thrilled you've taken up her quest." Clover replied with a smile, opening the door just in time for a plant pot to come flying out of it and whizz over North Star's head, though Clover managed to catch it before it hit the floor.

"Stupid, Brutish, Arrogant, Traitorous Pegasi! How DARE they plan to leave me behind, I am the Princess of this city!" Princess Platinum stormed around her bedroom, stamping her hooves loudly against the ground. North Star watched her in silence, unsure of whether to speak or not, but before too long Clover decided to make the presence known.

"Your Highness? North Star is here about your request." Clover began.

"Command, my dear. When I ask a pony to do something, it's a command." she replied patronisingly to Clover, who just rolled her eyes and grumbled incoherently. Her attention shifted to North Star, who immediately bowed, keeping his head low. "Your highness!" he blurted out.

"You may Rise, Noble Stallion," Princess Platinum said, raising her nose and looking down it at North Star as he got back up, "I have heard of your work for my ponies, and your expert navigation skills... and thus, you are perfect for the task... are you ready for the briefing? "

"Yes, your majesty." North Star gulped nervously, "May I ask what I will be doing?"

"But of course! ...That's why I'm such a wonderful Princess." Princess Platinum smiled enthusiastically, "You see.... those pesky pegasi have sent out scouts to the south-west recently... at first I wondered why, but then we managed to capture one of them and he told our interrogator some interesting things," her face dropped, her smile instantly fading, "...this blizzard does not span the world... and the Pegasi have found a perfect place to build a new settlement..." North star opened his mouth to get a word in, but Princess Platinum instantly cut him off, continuing the briefing, "...I want you to find this... 'Everglade', map it out and return to the castle to show us where it is so we can seize it and build our kingdom.."

"Yes, Princess! I won't let you down!" North Star's horn glimmered as he stood up proudly, not only was he not being punished, he was being given a mission that would no doubt secure his name in history.

" Excellent! ...Clover the Clever will give you the supplies you need. If you do not return in two weeks, we will assume the worst." The Princess gave a friendly smile, glad to see that the unicorn was as enthusiastic as she was, "Oh and... make sure to get a cloak before you go... it's chilly outside" she giggled at her own joke, though before long her giggling turned into a roar of laughter from herself, and the nearby guards trying to win her favour.

"Ha-ha... yes, well, I have prepared a bag of supplies with the basics you'll need out there... Everything the Pegasus scout we found had on him, as well as a few extra items." Clover spoke up, levitating a bag over to North Star.

"Two weeks?" North Star asked with a forlorn expression on his face, taking the pack and putting it on his bag, strapping it to himself to make sure he wouldn't lose it.

"Hmm.. I suppose I am being rather generous with how much time I'm giving you, aren't I?" Princess Platinum teased smugly, tapping her hoof against her chin as if reconsidering the amount of time she would give North Star.

"Wh-what I meant to say was that Two weeks was the perfect amount of time, thank you... your highness." North Star explained quickly, backing towards the door.

"It is perfect, isn't it?" Princess Platinum asked with a dry smile, her ego fed by the compliment, "Clover, show him to the door, would you? ...all my fuming over the pegasi has me in need of a bubble bath."

"Of course, your highness..." Clover replied lethargically, moving out of the door with North Star and closing it behind him. North Star gave her a worried glance, but she returned it with a warm smile, "I have faith in you, North Star. You're very good at what you do, and you've also got a good heart... I know you'll succeed in your task." she told him, walking along with him towards the castle gates.

"Thanks, Clover." he replied, lowering his gaze to his hooves as he walked. He hated that he had to leave so suddenly, he didn't have a family to say goodbye to, but he did want to let Moonshine know that he was alright.

"Head South-West," Clover told him, breaking him from his thinking as they arrived at the castle gates, "You should be able to find something to tell you where the scout was going after that." North Star nodded in response and moved to the other side of the gate, Clover watched him step out into the city, "Good luck, North Star."

As North Star made his way towards the city gates, he noticed Moonshine looking down at him from the Watcher's Tower, they stared at each other in silence for a while, neither speaking but both knowing what the other was thinking. Moonshine knew that North Star was okay, and North Star knew that Moonshine wished him well. With a silent salute, North Star stepped out of the gate and into the cold blizzard that raged over the snowy wasteland.

It was his first step outside of the city, and it felt like it would be the last time he saw his home.

But he didn't look back. He kept his head up, and he smiled.

Bladewing

Chapter 4: Bladewing

As the lights of the city of Noveria disappeared behind him, North Star pulled the cloak he had found in the bag around his shoulders and shivered from the cold. The snowy plains seemed to go on forever in every direction, but by watching the stars he was able to continue on his course South-West, his star-pattern markings glowing kept a light around him so he could see where he was going.

"Maybe I should've tried to get out of it." He thought out loud as wandered along, the blizzard had died down some, allowing him to wander without having to fight the wind, He saw it as a sign that someone out there wanted him to succeed. His eyes widened at that thought... succeeding... he'd be the pioneer who discovered the new land, "A new land..." he muttered to himself, "...and I'll be the first unicorn exploring it, maybe even the first pony."

As he travelled he began to wonder whether the snow-covered field would stretch on forever, though just as he was planning to stop for a break he noticed something in the distance. He quickened his pace to a trot as he saw the forest in the distance, jogging until he reached the edge of it where he stopped to examine the entrance. The trees had no leaves, allowing him to still navigate by the stars even as he walked through the forest.

"At least it's some protection from the wind." he told himself, stepping into the forest as his horn and star pattern lit up once more, continuing to follow the stars. But as he walked he began to hear something. The sound of metal on metal, and the yells of combat. He darted behind a tree and listened to the voices as he crept along, trying to locate the source of the sounds.

"Grab her wings!" a raspy voice yelled out.

"I'm trying, she's too fast!" a snively voice responded furiously.

As North Star got closer he noticed something moving out of the corner of his eye, he ducked behind the tree and stopped himself from glowing as he peeked out, watching the fight. A single pale blue Pegasus filly jumped about, as three diamond dogs tried to attack her, the largest wielding a hammer and the smallest wielding a dagger. The pegasus flipped over one of them, her wing spreading out and the diamond dog letting out a cry of pain as a red cut appeared along it's back.
The Pegasus landed a few feet away from them and spread her wings, shining steel blades along the ridges of each of them, she flicked the blood off them but kept them spread, preparing to leap again.

"Leave me alone, you dogs!" the pegasus yelled out, "I have nothing of value!"

"LIAR! You have silver on your wings!" the largest growled, raising his club and charging at the Pegasus.

'A pegasus...' North Star widened his eyes, realizing the mare was outnumbered, and despite her stance he could tell she was getting tired. He closed his eyes tightly, summoning up his courage before leaping out from behind the tree. His horn lit up and began to fire random coloured beams and stars. It was enough to throw off the large dog's aim and cause the hammer to smash into the ground next to the Pegasus, who jumped past him and slashed at his left arm.

"What are you doing?! GO!" The Pegasus called out to North Star as the smallest jumped on her back, the unarmed diamond dog charged towards North Star, flailing his arms and trying to scare him away.

North Star let out his best battle cry as he brought his head back before thrusting it forward, sending a bolt of magic from his horn straight into the diamond dog's chest. The Diamond dog hissed and writhed in response, rolling around on the floor as he tried to get over the pain of the magical burn.

The large diamond dog finally got his hammer free of the ground, and seeing as the smallest had the Pegasus pinned her ran towards North Star, raising his hammer once again, "Stupid Hornhead! Let's see how sparkly you are when you're smashed!" he bellowed out.

The small diamond dog continued to pin the Pegasus to the ground, though as it raised the dagger she closed her wings, cutting into the side of his body with one wing while blocking the blade with the other. It let out a cry of pain and held it's wound, dropping it's weapon, at which point the Pegasus threw it off and kicked it into a nearby tree, a heap of snow falling from the branches and burying the dog.

North Star barely avoided being crushed as the hammer slammed into the ground next to him, once again getting stuck. The Diamond dog let go of the hammer and grabbed at the Unicorn, only for North Star to fire off a blast of magical energy into the Diamond dog's face, causing it to stagger back and roll around, screaming into it's hands as it clutches it's face.

"Leave, now... you have caught me feeling merciful." The Pegasus warned the others, taking a few steps so she was at an equal distance from each of them, the medium sized diamond dog grabbed the largest and fled, leaving the smallest below the snowy pile.

"Miss Pegasus-"

"What are you doing this far from the city, Unicorn?"

Silence fell over the forest, after the combat it was a welcome one, though it didn't stop North Star from feeling awkward.

"I'm... doing a favour for the princess." he replied after considering his answer for a while, it was best to be honest.

"The Princess?" The Pegasus asked skeptically, North Star nodded in response, causing Bladewing to flick the blood off her blades and tuck her wings back, the blades folding naturally with them, "Such a title, and to think it gives someone like her power over others. If she were a pegasi, she'd have been overthrown years ago,"

"Well, she's not a pegasus, so we have to deal with her." North Star replied defeatedly, after his first encounter with the princess he really didn't think much of her, though Bladewing seemed to smile at his disliking of her. As he turned his attention back to her he began to look her over. The Pegasus had a long mane, the same colour as his coat, which matched her long tail, she wore a cloak that covered her cutiemark. The blades along her wings on closer inspection had joints dotted where the wings naturally bended, allowing the blades to fold when the wings did, though they looked like they had seen a lot of action.

"...So, you're a pegasus?" North Star asked excitedly.

"Of course... was there ever any doubt?" she replied, a little confused by the question.

"Well, I've never met a pegasus before... you're the first one." he replied shyly, feeling embarassed about that.

"Really?" The Pegasus replied with some surprise, only to instantly drop back to her deadpan expression, "And I thought I was sheltered." She turned away, "Still, do not get used to my appearance. I must continue my mission." She reached back under her cloak casually, only for her eyes to widen as she began to rapidly pat around. "My bag!"

She glanced around where they had been fighting, beginning to pace and search for it, only to notice the three mounds of dirt where the diamond dogs had fled, it seemed even the smallest had survived.

"Thieving dogs!" The Pegasus yelled, stamping her hoof on the ground. North Star looked onwards on the situation, staying silent as he watched her dig at the ground with her forehooves, only to turn around and kick it with her back legs. "Without my compass I'll never complete my mission..." she paused as the direness of her situation dawned on her, "...I'll never return home."

"Wait, what -is- your mission. Maybe I can help." North Star offered quickly.

"I cannot tell you my mission and you cannot help me." The Pegasus snapped, "You're a unicorn..." her expression softened a little into one curiousity, "...though apparently not like the others."

"What are the others like?" North Star asked curiously, sitting down to listen to this.

"Idiotic, uppity... full of themselves, like your princess." The Pegasus rolled her eyes, "Skies forbid she ever get a little rain water on her mane, she might slaughter my entire species for treason."

"Heh... that's her alright." North Star laughed at the description, causing the Pegasus to give him her most confused look yet.
"You.. appreciate what I'm saying? you won't defend your Princess?" she asked uncertainly.

"Well, she's not the most level-headed unicorn out there, but no one else really wants to lead, I guess. Besides, I've heard your leader isn't exactly the nicest pony out there either." North Star explained.

"Commander Hurricane can be strict," Bladewing lowered her eyes to the ground, remembering the Pegasus commander clearly, how he towered over her and barked orders, "...Sometimes a little hasty with his punishments..." she added, recalling the many times the weaker fliers had rocks tied to their legs to strengthen their wings, only for more than a few to plummet to their deaths, "...But, I've never doubted he wants what's best for us."

She spread her wings, revealing the blades along each of them, getting a gasp of awe from North Star as she did so, "Even with the burden I carry, I know it is because in doing so I will find the pegasi a new place to graze..." she looked off in the direction she was heading before, "...They will no longer starve."

"You're investigating the new lands too then?" North Star perked up, getting back onto his feet. "You know, given where we're currently standing, I'm assuming you've been travelling since sunset... isn't it dangerous to fly at night?"

A look of horror crossed the mare's face as she realized she had revealed her mission, though she tried to return to her natural calm expression, "Very clever, unicorn... yes, I'm investigating the new land, and I can fly whenever I please." she turned sharply, some snow being kicked up as she did so, "...Though perhaps it was against my better judgement that I flew through the forest at night... it did after all get me here, fighting off those dogs..." The Pegasus seemed to pause on this thought, "...I must thank you again for helping scare them off."

"You're welcome, I wasn't expecting anypony else to be travelling at this time of night though, much less a Pegasus." North replied, moving to stand next to her, staying out of the reach her wings.

"And I wasn't expecting to see anyone other than a pegasus scout, we were both surprised." the Pegasus replied, looking over to the colt, "Though it's a fortuitous encounter... you've traveled this far, it means you know how to navigate... and without a compass."

"Yeah, I can navigate by the stars!" North Star chimed, his horn glowing and his markings lighting up, causing the mare to jump back, "It's okay, it's not a combat spell, It's used for navigation." North Star explained, "I can use this to navigate by night... it's like a visual star chart in my head."

"You can navigate by night, but not by day..." Bladewing began, lowering her wings, "...and I can navigate by day, but not by night," the mare stroked her chin with her hoof, considering this opportunity, "...Unicorn, I have a proposition."

"What's that?" North Star asked curiously.

" I need to find the Everglade, but cannot without a means of navigating... I will travel with you," The Pegasus paused as she saw North Star's face light up, she kept a stern expression, "but only if you promise that what you find will not reach your princess. The Everglade cannot be touched by her ridiculous rules and terrible leadership."

"Th-that's not fair! If I don't get that information back to the Princess, my friends are going to starve and my species will die out!" North Star glared at her, clearly uncomfortable with the idea.

"I'm not saying that!" The Pegasus replied, equally aggressive, though after a pause she breathed out a heavy sigh, "...Your kind brings the moon and the sun... without unicorns the skies would not change, the stars would fade... we need you." she paused, "...We just... don't need her." she explained, referring to the Princess.

"She's not all bad, The Princess cares about us all." he lowered his gaze to the ground, "She's just hard to deal with."

"Just like Commander Hurricane." the mare replied sympathetically, "...I know it isn't easy, but this is what's best for everypony... a few pegasi, a few unicorns and a few earth ponies. We will have enough food to share, and we won't have to fight over it."

"I don't like this.." North Star replied before taking a few steps, "Maybe we'll figure it out when we get there... let's just keep walking." he concluded, making his way along. "I'm North Star, by the way."

"I am called Bladewing." the Pegasus replied, tucking her wings back and shuffling them a little as she followed him.

"Your name is Bladewing?" North Star asked curiously, it seemed like a strange name to give to a child, even in a militarily-focused society like the Pegasi had.

"That is my purpose." Bladewing replied simply, "Until my mission is over, I go by Bladewing." she lowered her eyes, North Star could hear the regret in her voice.

"You military types don't have a lot of fun, do you?" he asks, leading her along towards the edge of the forest.

"We play after we work... besides, there's a certain thrill in combat..."

"I... see." North Star replied with a shudder.

Whether by luck or destiny, North Star had obtained a companion, though he wasn't sure if having Bladewing around made him feel safer or more vulnerable. The Pegasus clearly had no problems with killing, and no fondness for unicorns... and yet, she travelled by his side and spoke of a future where all the races could live in harmony.

...perhaps this was destiny after all.

The Soldier and the Astronomer

Chapter 5: The Soldier and The Astronomer

Bladewing watched North Star closely as they walked along, the magical glow of his markings and horn mystifying her as she walked, she hadn't been travelling with the unicorn long, but the glow he emitted was warm, comforting, it reminded her of the nights she would spend watching the stars back at her home. As North Star caught her eyeline she quickly looked away, trying to keep an eye out.

"You seem nervous, Bladewing." North Star commented, hoping to start up a conversation, "We've been walking in silence for the last half hour.. is something wrong?"

Bladewing looked up at the sky at let her eyes slowly drift over to the mountains nearby, "No, not yet anyway." she replied, flicking her tail as she took the lead, "See those cliffs? They're from the Gryphon mountains... this patch of forest goes right between them and-" she looked to her left, seeing the edge of the path and the sheer drop into darkness that laid beyond it, "The Gorge."

"Woah, good thing you noticed that." North Star replied, taking a few steps away from the gorge before looking over at Bladewing, "Have you come here often then?"

"No, this is my first time..." Bladewing closed her eyes for a moment, reflecting on the stories she had heard about the Gryphon kingdom, "But what one scout knows we all know... if word doesn't get around the city about our findings, it's because the commander doesn't want it to."

North Star nodded slowly and looked around, following Bladewing's lead and watching the skies for Gryphons as he continued onwards through the snow. But once again as he watched the sky, the clouds parted and the stars began to light it up, he found himself lost in them. He began to remember the tower, he had only been walking for a few hours but it felt like days... and that's when it hit him.

"Bladewing... how long have we been walking anyway?"

Bladewing looked over her shoulder at him before looking up at the skies, "...It's hard to say... the sky is lightening up, it'll be dawn soon." she paused, "Don't you have to raise the sun?"

"The Watchers of Time do that..." North Star replied, running a little to catch up as he noticed the distance between the two of them had grown somehow, he wasn't walking as fast as Bladewing, but he couldn't fault her for her speed, if she wanted to she could fly and leave him in the snow.

"We have orders too... the Pegasi, I mean," she began as she rolled her eyes at his attempt to catch up with her, continuing to walk along at her own pace despite his struggling, "The Bladewings, like myself... the Ironwings, who prefer blunt weapons... and of course the earth pegasi who farm to give us our crops... hardly earth ponies, but our race needs to be self-dependent if we are to survive."

"You mean that's not what Pegasus feathers really look like?" North Star asked with a gasp, causing Bladewing to remember she was the first Pegasus he had ever met.

"What? ...No!" Bladewing looked along her wings, spreading them further and allowing North Star to see the blade clearly, "See? My feathers are undisturbed, but these metal parts along the top of my wings are not natural... They are my weapons, Wingblades. Forged by the greatest Pegasi blacksmiths of our time."

"There are Pegasi Blacksmiths?" North Star gawked, hurrying along after Bladewing as she wandered ahead, rolling her eyes at his questions. As North Star noticed the behaviour his eyes dropped back to the snow, "I'm sorry, it's just... there's so much I don't know about Pegasi."

"And so much you'll continue to not know... I'm not here to answer your questions, North Star. We're on a mission." Bladewing snapped at him, flicking her mane from her eyes as the wind disturbed it before perking her ears and glancing up, suddenly tensing up as they entered a clearing in the forest. "...Hold on."

"What is it?"

"Put out your light!" Bladewing whispered to North Star, crouching down and lowering her wings into flying position.

"What? Why?" North Star asked, crouching as he saw Bladewing do so.

"Just put it out, you'll kill us both!" Bladewing whispered angrily, her voice sounding like a hiss. North Star immediately put his light out and the two stayed together in the snow... for a while, there was nothing, not a sound or movement, and then suddenly a shadow passed along the ground infront of them, disappearing from sight as quickly as it entered it.

"What was that?" North Star whimpered, curling up as he saw the shadow.

"North Star, listen to me... Stay low and follow me." Bladewing told him sternly, starting to creep along the ground to the edge of the clearing. North Star crept along behind Bladewing, closing his eyes tightly and choking back the tears of fear as he trembled with each step.

Bladewing made her way towards the edge of the clearing, holding her breath as she neared the safety of the forested area ahead. Though just as she dug her hoof into the snow by the first tree, she heard a scream behind her. She turned around, her wings spreading out instantly with a metal 'shink'. At first she saw nothing, but that was the problem... where was North Star? As she looked around in a panic she heard a cry from above.

"BLADEWING!" North Star screamed, struggling in the grip of a Gryphon, a mad look of blood lust in its eyes as it opened up its beak to bite down on the stallion's neck. Bladewing launched herself into the air at the Gryphon, aiming to behead it as she went by, only for the Gryphon to swerve and duck, still holding North Star tightly in its talons.

The two winged fighters swerved and dived about the other, The Gryphon trying to get away from Bladewing to enjoy it's meal, and the Pegasus trying to rescue her friend from it. North Star closed his eyes tightly, his horn sparking to life with magic and firing a burst before the Gryphon, causing it to shriek in surprise and throw him towards the ground. Bladewing gasped as she watched the unicorn fall and barrel-rolled downwards, going into a dive after North Star, catching him moments before he landed and lowering herself to the ground.

North Star gave her a terrified looked, but the Pegasus had no time for thanks. "Idiot!" she hissed at him before flapping her wings and taking off again, slashing at the Gryphon as she flew past it and cutting along it's front, "I thought you were a Soldier!"

"I'm not a Soldier!" North Star yelled over the sounds of battle, hesitating to fire in case he hit Bladewing, though he kept the spell charged and shot at the Gryphon when she was clear of it, missing it with most of the magical bursts he made, "I work at the observatory! I'm an Astronomer!"

"You're a what?!" Bladewing screamed back at him in a mixture of surprise and anger as the Gryphon flew at her, she span around and dug her wings into it at the last moment, falling momentarily to hit it with one of North Star's blasts before getting her wings out of it's flesh once more and spinning back into hovering upright, the Gryphon only growing angrier as the fight went on.

"I'm an Astronomer!" he called up to her again, firing three consecutive shots at the Gryphon, the last being enough to finally take it out of the sky, it barrel-rolled towards the woods and out of sight, the sound of it's neck snapping against the trunk of a large pine tree echoing throughout the forest.

...

"...You study stars." Bladewing repeated for what seemed like the eighteenth time since the Gryphon fight. She sat by the campfire and watched North Star setting up the tent from his camp, a bandage around her neck from where the Gryphon had bitten her.

"Yes." North Star replied as he looked over at her, the fire lighting up his face.
"But your destructive spells--"
"Fireworks," North Star corrected her, "I learned the spell to help out during the festivals... it's the same reason I learned the healing spell, in case anypony got hurt because of my magic." he explains, using his magic to adjust Bladewing's bandage, causing the Pegasus to glare at him and turn away, "...Are you angry at me?"

"Yes." Bladewing replied without a second thought, looking into the flames, "This is becoming less of an opportunity and more of a burden... you don't know how to fight, I'm going to have to look after you the whole way, aren't I?"

"What? No! I mean--" North Star breathed out a heavy sigh, "Look, this is all new to me. Fighting, travelling, I'm struggling to even set up the tent," he finally moved away from the pile of sticks and the cloth that covered over them, "But I need you and you need me, our people are counting on us, Bladewing... and I don't know about you, but I don't want to let down the unicorns."

"You're questioning my loyalty?" Bladewing scoffed, spreading out her wings, "My blades are proof enough I wish the Pegasi to survive... I will do everything I can to save my people, even if it means escorting you around the frozen wastes," She got up and tucked her wings back once more, starting to move the sticks around, "Here, let me give you a hoof with that."

As the two set up the tent, the stars shimmered and began to go out one by one, it would soon be dawn, but as the travellers could only navigate by night there was no harm in sleeping during the day. Soon the tent was set up, but as the two looked at how small it was their eyes drifted to eachother.

"It's pretty cold out tonight," North Star began, "And there's probably room in the tent for both of us."

"I'm not sleeping in there with you," Bladewing replied defensively, looking up as she began to search for clouds above them, "I'm a Pegasi warrior... I've slept in far worse than a little snow." she added, her tail flicking to get some snow off the tip, "I'll find a cloud and keep a look out."

"Do you have to be 'on duty' every hour of the day?" North Star asked, taking a step back towards the tent as he prepared to enter it.

"While I have my wing blades, I do." Bladewing looked over her shoulder at him, her ears perking up, "We travel at midday tomorrow."

"Midday... right." North Star replied, lowering his gaze sadly, he couldn't help but feel bad for the Pegasus despite her circumstances being her choice. He turned to enter the tent.

"Goodnight, North Star. Sweet dreams." Bladewing told him before spreading her wings and flying up to a nearby cloud."

"....Sweet-, what?" he looked over his shoulder a little surprised at the sudden softness, but Bladewing had already taken point on a cloud overhead, staring into the distance. North Star made his way into the tent slowly and shut out the cold, and collapsed in the middle of the tent, curling up as the world grew distant... his first night had been exhausting, and it was only a small step in the long walk ahead.

Endless Snow behind him,
Endless Snow to either side,
...but suddenly, there was a light in the distance.

The Nightmare

Chapter 6: The Nightmare

Through the forest the two ponies walked, and the dark trees seemed to reach out and try to grab at them, but the ponies ran... ran to the Everglade, a lush green forest, apples on every tree and a large lake in the center.

Bladewing ran ahead, looking around with a bright smile, "It's Beautiful, North Star." she cheered, her eyes sparkling with delight.

"It's amazing... I can't believe we made it so easily." North Star replied as he took a few steps forward to stand by her, watching her as she spread her wings, unable to stay on the ground as she felt such delight from completing her mission.

"I know... it was all thanks to-" Suddenly Bladewing stopped, her happy expression disappearing instantly as he coat seemed to pale, "...Wait, something's not right." she lowered herself back to the ground and landed, taking a few steps back."

"Bladewing?" North Star asked, concerned for his friend as he took a few steps towards her, "What's wrong?"

"It's the frost..." Bladewing whispered, snow starting to flick past the two of them. As North Star turned, he saw the forest behind them beginning to shift and change, a wall of snow appeared in the distance but rapidly grew closer, moving over the forest and turning everything it touched into ice. It was heading straight for the Everglade, "RUN! The frost is coming!"

"Why is it following us?!" North Star screamed as he fled with Bladewing, though the ground began to turn to mush beneath his feet, he walked as if he were moving through thick snow while the frost continued to speed along, freezing everything it touched, "This is supposed to be a paradise, free from that horrible winter!"

"I was wrong, we were all wrong! The winter..." She skidded to a halt as she reached the lake, before them the frost moved in, no matter which way they turned the frost came towards them, "It's everywhere..." Bladewing whispered as she stepped back, her back hoof pressing against North Star.

At first North Star felt comforted, feeling Bladewing's hoof so close to his, only to fall as Bladewing slammed her back hoof against his back leg, crippling him. As she took to the skies, flying straight upwards.

"Bladewing... No! Don't leave me!" he screamed out in fear, holding his leg as he tried to drag it along with him, struggling to get back on all four hooves as the frost continued on it's path, the apples falling from the trees and shattering like glass as they hit the ground.

But Bladewing was already gone, she had disappeared into the clouds. Though the Pegasus didn't stay gone for long, she came hurtling back through the clouds and towards the ground, landing with a splash in the lake frozen solid. A look of lifeless fear stuck on her face as the lake began to freeze over, sealing her under it.

North Star watched helplessly as his friend disappeared under the thick ice, starting to slam his hooves against it to break it, but as he did so ice began to form around his hooves until eventually it sealed him to the lake. The ice began to move up his legs, causing him to panic and struggle as it neared his face, he kept his head high, his horn glowing brightly as a powerful flare shot from it and into the sky.... the world went back and he struggled to breathe-

. . .

North Star jumped up from his bed, glancing around the small tent. It had been the worst nightmare he had had in a while. He poked his head out of the tent and saw that the fire had gone out, but as he looked up he saw Bladewing standing on the cloud looking down at him.

"Is something wrong?" She asked, flying down to stand before him, fluttering her wings as she landed before tucking them back.

"No... just, just a crazy nightmare." North Star replied, heading back into the tent, though as he did Bladewing followed after him. He laid down on his side and looked over at her as she laid down by him, closing her eyes. She began to sing softly:

"When you sit upon a cloud, watching over me.
Let the rain come crashing down, until it's all I see.
When lightning strikes and thunder roars, I won't run away,
But if I do, know I'll return to be with you some day."

She hummed the verse softly, and North Star's fears began to disappear... the haunting melody of the tune lulling him back to sleep. He was in the Everglade with Bladewing once more, but this time it was covered in snow... she was free of the ice, and with a soft 'oh well' shrug, they continued to seek their new home as the melody echoed through the trees.

Through the Phoenix Woods

Chapter 7: Through the Phoenix Woods

For a while it seemed as if the two would wander through whiteness forever, eating away at their rations until they had nothing left. It had been a week since the two had met and began to wander the frozen wasteland, searching for a place they had little evidence to prove even existed.

Each night when the sun left the sky, North Star would use his magic to bring out the stars to guide their way, although doing so would always tire him out. Bladewing would watch in curiosity as North Star wasted his magical energy night after night, and soon she felt the need to speak up.

"North Star.... may I ask you something?" She asked as they walked along through the snow, she paused for a moment to kick some snow off her hoofwraps as North Star turned to face her.

"Huh? ...Of course, Bladewing. What is it?" he replied with his usual friendly smile, albeit a little tired from bringing out the stars.

"Why do you bring out the stars every night? The unicorns in Noveria are already doing it... you're probably not even making any difference with how difficult it is for them." Bladewing frowned, "You're wasting your energy, and it's making you tired faster... and that impedes our progress."

"I'm sorry..." North Star apologized quickly, causing Bladewing to roll her eyes at him and continue onwards.

"You apologize so quickly, North... are all unicorns so quick to back down from an argument?" Bladewing asked as she walked ahead of him, stretching and flexing her wings before tucking them back again.

"What? No." He replied just as quickly as before, stumbling over his words as he follows after her, "It's just... I don't want to make you mad or anything, we're friends."

"Allies." Bladewing corrects him seriously, "...Pegasi do not have 'friends'."

North Star lowered his head a little as Bladewing said that, he seemed to be taking one step forward and two steps back when it came to getting her to be less militaristic. He watched Bladewing continue onwards without him for a while before suddenly speaking up, "Wait."

Bladewing looked over her shoulder as he heard him speak, the wind flicking her mane away from her face so she could see him clearly.

"The reason why I bring out the stars at night... it's because it reminds me of home." North Star explained, causing the Pegasus to tense up a little, "When I look up at the stars, I feel something... maybe it's a sense of belonging, maybe it's something to do with my magic, or my markings," He looked down at his star-patterned markings which continued to glow and light their way, "...But it gives me some solace... it makes me feel safer, happier... so, I do it."

They two stared at each-other for a while, Bladewing opened her mouth to speak but North Star spoke over her, "And I'm going to keep doing it every night for the rest of our journey whether you like it or not. So just... deal with it, okay?!" his horn sparked angrily as he moved forward, walking straight past Bladewing and onwards towards an evergreen forest, "South-west is this way."

Bladewing watched him in silence as he walked onwards, though eventually she began to follow after him. Once again she found herself envying the unicorn, having a home he actually wanted to return to. She could wander the wastes forever and feel the same love she felt in the Cloud City. Silently she began to follow after him again, her wings tucked back and her eyes watching the snow for hoof-prints that didn't belong to her or her companion.

As two ponies took their first steps into the forest they began to notice the lack of snow on the ground, North Star's attention turned to the trees as they began to block out his view of the sky. He stopped for a moment and closed his eyes, bringing out a light spell, though as the path before them was illuminated they realized something. Attached to one of the trees was a sign, it read: 'Tambelon: 4 miles'

"I've heard of Tambelon." Bladewing noted, walking up to stand by North Star's side as she looked up at the sign, "It's an Earth Pony colony... they've tried to stay out of the race power-struggle... I don't know if they even report back to Chancellor Puddinghead."

"Are they friendly?" North Star asked, beginning to walk along the path through the forest.

"It's hard to say... best we don't draw attention to ourselves." Bladewing replied unsurely, "Put out your light."

"But without it, we won't be able to see." North Star replied nervously.

"The path is clear, North Star... just turn out your horn." Bladewing told him again, reaching out and batting at the horn with her hoof.

"Ow! Watch it!" North Star yelped as his horn sparked and fizzled before the light went out completely, but as it did the two were lit by an orange glow from above.

"Is that your magic?" Bladewing asked curiously, looking around the treetops as she noticed they seemed to glow orange.
"No... the glow's coming from the trees." he watched the trees, filled with both curiosity and caution as he waited for Bladewing's thoughts on them. The blue Pegasus flew up into the trees, disappearing behind the leaves for a moment before returning and landing once more.

"Phoenix nests..." she told North Star, flicking her tail to get a few leaves off it, "This must be their mating grounds."
"We'll be fine then," the Unicorn said, breathing out a sigh of relief at the good news, "Phoenixes are generally passive unless provoked..."

The two continued on their way through the forest, the path lit by the glow of the Phoenix nests, occasionally they would hear the rustling of leaves in the treetops as one of the firey birds would return or leave it's nest.

"...I feel like I owe you an apology." Bladewing began as they walked, though North Star just avoided eye-contact with her as he walked ahead, "You're not a warrior... this is the furthest you've ever been from your home. I guess I'm being hard on you because I don't want you to die out here."

"I get it, you don't have any faith in me." North Star replied apathetically, "Nopony does... Princess Platinum said if I didn't come back in two weeks they'd just forget I ever existed." he looked back at Bladewing, "I'm guessing Commander Hurricane said the same to you too, huh?"

Bladewing paused for a moment to reflect on what she was told. That if she didn't return, her family name would be shamed and she'd go down in history as the most worthless Pegasi to ever carry a set of wingblades. "...Yes." She replied, sparing North Star the details as they walked, "...Something like that.... how have we been travelling?"

"A little over a week now. I have four days to get to the Everglade and get back... the more we talk, the worse our progress... let's just keep going."

The two continued through the forest, their path lit by the soft, warm light of the phoenix nests. They walked in silence, trying to avoid eye contact with eachother wherever possible, occasionally North Star would stop at a hole in the canopy to check the stars, and occasionally Bladewing would stretch her wings and take a moment to look around for trouble. Finally, their silence was broken by the presence of something other than leaves and phoenix feathers on their path..

A large bundle of sticks seemed to be laying in the middle of the path, Bladewing stepped up to them, only for North Star to step in front of her at the last moment, "I've got this." he told her seriously before turning his attention back to the sticks, closing his eyes as his horn began to glow along with his markings.

A soft blue light surrounded the sticks and began to lift them up, though North Star struggled to move them. Bladewing watched onwards as the unicorn continued to try, though as he did so.. a bright orange eye shone out from amongst the sticks and a low growl emitted from them, "...I don't think this is any ordinary pile of sticks..." North Star mumbled nervously, letting his spell end as the sticks started to shift and rise.

"...Oh no." Bladewing muttered, spreading her wings and taking on an aggressive stance, "North, get behind me!" she called out to him. North Star turned and fled back from her as the beast rose, letting out a howl and revealing itself as a Timberwolf, it's orange eyes going red with rage.

"Stars above, are you serious?!" North Star screamed out, Bladewing shoved him to give him a running start and he quickly took the hint, fleeing alongside his Pegasus companion with the Timberwolf hot on their tails.

"Why is everything trying to kill us?!" North Star yelled back at Bladewing, tripping and staggering as they left the path and went through the forest, As they fled North Star began to panic and ramble, "And furthermore, why are we running from something made of wood? WOOD! I have tables made of wood back in Noveria!"

"Just shut up and run, North Star!" Bladewing called ahead, the Timberwolf was rapidly gaining on them, being used to the forest environment, and was soon within pouncing distance. It leapt with a snarl, landing on Bladewing and biting into her wing, the wing blade not seeming to affect it at all. She screamed out in pain as the Timberwolf managed to draw blood from the bite, but she gritted her teeth through it, "RUN!"

North Star skidded to a halt as he realized that his companion was no longer following him, he looked back and narrowed his eyes. "No... I'm done running." he whispered, his horn glowing brightly, "I'm sick and tired... of always... RUNNING!"

In a flash of light a ball of fire shot from his horn, flying towards the Timberwolf and the blue pegasus it had pinned. Bladewing saw the oncoming fireball and managed to kick the Timberwolf off at the last minute, throwing it at the fireball and causing it to howl in pain as it ignited. Bladewing shakily got to her hooves and curled her injured wing before running deeper into the forest, "This way, quick!" She called to North Star, who was quick to join her while the Timberwolf was rolling around trying to put the fire out.

As they fled they heard more wolves starting to snarl and howl from the forest, the Phoenixes were spreading the fire that North Star had created, and soon the whole forest was ablaze. North Star skidded to a halt and looked around, realizing that no matter which way they went they'd be running into trouble, and then it hit him... "Fly us out of here!"

"I can't, that Timberwolf clipped my wing." she groaned in pain, coughing as the smoke of the forest fire began to surround them. North Star's eyes darted about before he looked to Bladewing, moving over to her and closing his eyes, "Hold onto me."

Bladewing hesitated at first, but as she looked around she realized this could be the end, and she didn't want to go out alone. She closed her eyes and wrapped her hooves around North Star, "...I'm sorry." she whispered.

"...There's no need to be." North Star replied, his horn starting to glow, "...After all the times you've saved me, it feels right I save you."

The trees began to crash around them, falling due to the fire, the Timberwolves stepped out from it, some ablaze and snarling in pain. Bladewing moved to fight them, but North Star held her to him, whispering to her. "Trust me."

A bright flash emerged from his horn and engulfed the two... leaving the the timberwolves, the phoenixes and the burning forest behind them.