Bright Haze: The Mo'ka Choice

I trotted toward the Ponyville graveyard where Heart Breaker supposedly was with Tage on my back and a grin on my face. I was still wondering slightly how Shadow had been in the cloud house but he was unicorn so probably some magic of his or Twilight's. The graveyard was on the top of a hill just outside of Ponyville, not near Apple Acres and not near the school. Ponies were worried a graveyard would scare the fillies and colts. I know Tage hated the graveyard but had no idea why. She shrunk her head into my back and scrunched up where she sat, riding my back because she was still that little to do so. Tage was very small for her age. Maybe that was why she couldn't fly yet. I didn't know. I saw the alicorn from ages away, before we had even gotten to the graveyard. He was at the gates, presumably seeing me and going to it to wait. I walked up the small hill and we looked into each others eyes in silence for a moment. He then turned to go to Aeb's grave. I followed

with Tage on my back.

"Three years he has been dead." Heart Breaker suddenly said as we neared the Changelings grave. I nodded in silence.

"Yeah. Fuck I miss him." I replied. Tage groaned at the sound of me swearing and I said sorry. She squeaked and moved her small body as if she was going to go to sleep.

"He was a good pony. One of the best." Heart Breaker added. I nodded, then that bastard Kalmor Rift had killed him, and nearly me. The three of us made it to the gravestone and I looked to the stone again.

"Here lies Sir Aeb of Equestria. Warrior. Knight. Friend. May he rest in peace, in the time of peace. Who died for peace in Equestria. Like so many. 5794th pony to die in battle since the Changeling war." I read aloud. I still couldn't believe how many ponies had died during that short amount of time. But I guess it stacked up, during the sacking of Cloudsdale, the sieges on Canterlot. As I read this the sky went dull and grey. It was  probably just really good convenience but the sky went grey and the rain slowly but surely began.

"So what brings you here Haze." Heart Breaker asked.

"I won't live forever, non of us will. So thought I would make the rounds again, plus I failed Aeb. I promised myself to see him everyday, but haven't." I muttered in a reply.

"He would understand." Heart Breaker replied, truthfully. I hoped.

"That's another thing, we never found out why he was randomly changing just before he died, well during Kalmor's return." I said. Heart Breaker nodded.

"Yeah, well its not just Aeb, reports have been coming in from the Changeling empire for almost a year that their drones are going through this. Also many unicorns are having trouble with their magic. Celestia says the rift is getting bigger, and the magic of Equestria is failing. I can't help but feel responsible." Heart Breaker replied.

"Why?" I laughed. "Its not like you were from the other side and are holding it open by your presence eh?" I joked. "Its not your fault as much as it is mine. I am sure the rift will close eventually and what's the worst that could happen. Discord returns and I have to launch him off a mountain again?" I said. Tage steered in her sleep, muttering something. I couldn't understand so presumed it was to quiet to or she was talking like a little filly, without a known language.

"That's the thing Haze." Heart Breaker began then a bolt of lightning hit not to far away and I looked to Heart Breaker. He looked to me. Tage slept soundly.

"We better get into cover." Heart Breaker said, I nodded, whatever it was he was going to say could wait. We ran down the hill which was covered in mud now and bolted toward Twilight's library.

"Do the Dweller still send summons for you at all anymore?" Heart Breaker suddenly asked as we ran, the rain was pouring heavily now and more lightning struck the area.

"No!" I shouted back over the booming thunder. "I think they finally realised I don't give a shit about them and that Luna is now the princess over them. They still only mine though. Not one have a weapon of any sort. Those who manage to are thrown in the prison." I added. The Sky Dwellers had stopped asking me for stuff nearly two years ago now actually. I had already told Heart Breaker this when it happened, but I guess he was making conversation. Hell, even Princess Celestia referred to calling me a knight now rather than a king. Which I personally thought was great. Although being a king really did help in 'the sack' with Dee, as it were. She loved the idea of calling me her king whilst we, made Tage...

Anyway moving on.

We finally made it to Twilight's and I knocked on the door. Dari opened it.

"Herro." Dari said, a childish way of saying hello. Clearly. I replied with a hello and we stepped inside.

"Is Twilight here?" I asked. Dari thought for a moment then pointed upstairs happily.

"Upstairs with Tree and Spike." Dari replied and ran away up the wooden stairs.

"Ponies! Ponies!" She shouted.

"Fuck, that rebirth really did a number." Heart Breaker muttered.

"I think she is getting worse." I agreed. Twilight came downstairs with Spike. The lavender pony's hair was spiked up on ends and small lines of smoke was drifting from her.

"Wha-" I began.

"Don't ask." Twilight interrupted. "But putting in a lightning rod during a storm is the worse idea ever." Twilight added, I held my laughter in. She had probably gone onto the roof to put in this rod and got hit by an aftershock of a bolt. Not painful or dangerous, it just leaves a comedic affect to the victim.

"So how can I help you?" Twilight then asked.

"Well Haze is doing his rounds finally. And I was at Aeb's grave. Then the storm hit and we came here." Heart Breaker explained, Twilight nodded then noticed Tage on my back.

"Oh hi Tage, didn't see you there." She said, when Tage made no reply I looked to her.

"How the fuck are you still asleep kiddo." I muttered. Twilight laughed.

"Hey where's Tree Born?" I asked. The pony would also be three now because she was born before Tage was.

"Upstairs. I put her to bed." Spike said. I nodded a thanks.

"You still okay with this Twi?" I asked, she didn't seem to hear the question at first then caught up with the world and smiled.

"Of course. I have done for three years now, give or take." She replied. I nodded again. It was still raining outside but I better get a move on if I wanted to see Nick and Steven before Dee got worried for Tage and myself and came looking. I thanked Twilight again for everything.

"Don't worry about it." She muttered in reply. Didn't sound so sure.

"Okay. Well I best be off, got more ponies, and knives to see." I muttered then opened the door to leave.

"See ya mate." Heart Breaker shouted, apparently stating here for a while.

"See ya Heart." I replied and left.