New Friends and New Enemies

Chapter 10
Party Crashers
Thank you to my special Editor ADMKLINE

Markus adjusted his collar for the tenth time or so. He was dressed in a classic three piece suit, a tuxedo from his world - black shoes, pants, a white shirt, black jacket, and a black bow tie. A black cane with a gold cap helped accent it with the head of the cane an equine head. He had left the blade of forest in his bed chambers.

Rarity slowly approached him as she asked, "Is the collar too tight?" Rarity was lovely in a snow white silk dress, the hems trimmed in a wonderful lavender colored lace and the seams of the dress, where they could be seen, had gold embroidery. It was utterly flawless.

With a soft smile, Markus said "Not at all. The fabric is soft, the collar is perfect. I can move around. The uh... issue is that I don't enjoy these types of gatherings."

Twilight Sparkle was in a lovely lavender dress with amethyst gem stones set around it, her wings laid against her sides. She looked around at her friends. Rainbow Dash was in a lovely sky blue dress with white borders that had a cloud look to them. Pinkie Pie was in a cherry red dress with a pink boarder and Fluttershy was in a lovely pink dress with gold embroidery.

"Has anypony seen Applejack?" Twilight asked, somewhat concerned. The Grand Galloping Gala was alive with everypony who was somepony. Even Gilda, her father and of course the Gryphon King were there. Markus had not had a chance to speak with him due to the formalities being observed. He looked to see if he could spot the farmpony then said, "No, I haven't seen her yet." All of her friends seemed concerned as none of them had seen her either and she was very late.

A pegasus pony was approaching them. A male Markus could tell from his walk and swagger. He had on a black top that allowed his wings to rest at his sides. His mane and tail were two toned colored blue and a light green in tone. Noting his cutie mark Markus saw it was what looked like a red lightning bolt that zigged and zagged ending in an arrow point down.

Looking behind her Rainbow Dash smiled as she said “Swiftie!”

The pegasus trotted up beside Rainbow Dash as he gave her a kiss on the cheek making her blush.

"Dashie!" he said as everymare there gave an "Ohhhhhhh."

"Oh and who is this stallion to think he can kiss my Dashie?" a smug Gilda said approaching with a predatory gleam in her eye that said her territory was being invaded.

"Oh hey Gilda! This is Swift Wind my coltfriend!"

Gilda looked over at Rainbow Dash, arching her eyebrow up as she inhaled her scent.

"Smells like he's more then that Dashie." The shock and horror made Rainbow Dash blush very brightly and chuckle innocently.

"So you are Dashie's coltfriend," Gilda said as she walked around Swift Wind like circling her prey, narrowing her eyes before coming back up to look him in his eyes making him swallow hard. "I guess we will have to see how good she is on picking out her stallions." Gilda smiled in a seductive way what make everypony's jaw drop.

Twilight Sparkle couldn't help but smile. Markus, hoping to distract Twilight from her concern for her missing friend as well as distract the ponies from Swift Wind and Rainbow Dash came to get on one knee and asked, "Princess Twilight Sparkle, would you honor me with a dance?"

With an intense blush, Twilight offer her hoof when Markus extended his hand and she accepted, saying "I would be honored."

The sight was not lost on the Gala as Markus rose leaving all eyes on him as he explained, "Most of our dances are for bipeds..."

"Oh that's not a problem. We can walk on our hind legs for a while. I will need to balance on you of course," she said.

"A burden I will happily bear." When Markus and Twilight walked to the middle of the ballroom everypony turned their eyes to watch making Twilight self-conscious.

"They are watching us," she whispered.

"Let them princess. Let the worries melt from your mind and enjoy our dance," Markus said as he faced the princess and she reared up on her hind legs while Markus came to take her front hooves. Carefully he placed her right hoof on his left shoulder. Holding her left hoof in his right hand he brought his left hand under her right foreleg to hold her side.

"A few moments to show you the dance and how to move around. If you will, look at my feet and please watch the horn." Markus at that point allowed Twilight to see his feet as in front of everyone he showed Twilight a two legged dance step for formal dancing.

Amazed at how she could move around on her hind legs, he was surprised that the ponies had not evolved into anthropomorphic beings. Twilight and Markus held the entire attention of the ballroom. Slowly as Twilight and Markus spun and turned Twilight let herself be lost in the dance not even realizing that Markus had pulled her closer to hold her, inhaling the scent of her lavender perfume. Combined with the scents of her library it was a wonderful contrast.

Sadly for everyone this happy moment was not to last. The main door to the ballroom burst open as four pegasus Lunar Guards brought in a red stallion earth pony with a blonde mane and tail with a halved green apple cutie mark. Around his neck Markus could see as a classic horse yoke for pulling plows and such. His condition told Markus that he had been through a fifteen round boxing match and did not come out on top.

Carried by the Guards Big Macintosh lifted his head up and said, "Applejack and the Cutie Mark Crusaders have been foalnapped by Queen Chrysalis!"

The news stunned everyone in the ballroom. Rainbow Dash and Rarity stared in shock and horror. As the ponies were recovering from the shock, a green gem fell from the yoke around the stallion's neck. The gem flared up and then projected an image which turned their blood cold. Markus' eyes glared with murderous intent. Before everypony, they could all see Applejack and the fillies covered in what looked like a resin that held them to the wall of the hive. Around them a number of changelings moved as Chrysilis rested on her side on her throne. The black and green throne was accented by what looked like a number of pony skulls.

With a wicked sneer that showed her teeth the pony-like insect said, "As you can see, I have your pathetic Element of Honesty and those three worthless fillies. If you hope to see them alive again after today, I want Markus Ordain to come to the old castle ruins before morning, armed only with the Blade of Forest, and unarmored."

"Out of the question," Celestia said as a golden aura slowly formed around her. The Princess of the Sun was angry. She cared more for her subjects then she did herself at times. Luna, the Princess of the Moon stood beside her sister scowling.

"Then I will simply kill the most worthless. Kill the flightless pegasus."

At that point Markus stepped up as he said, "I'll come. But you-"

Celestia cut him off as she said, "Out of the question." Her tone was firm and harsh. "I will not let her gain possession of the Blade of Forest."

Realizing he needed to do something or else this would get out of hand Markus said with a flat tone "Alright, I believe this is the place where I say we should forget about the Cutie Mark Crusaders and you can always find another Element of Honesty." The sheer emotionless tone caught everyone there off guard.

Celestia looked shocked, almost horrified. Luna could see the emotions in Markus' eyes and realized what he was doing.

"Are you saying we should just forget about the fillies and Applejack, that another Element of Honesty can replace her?" Twilight said in utter disbelief that Markus could be so callous. Even Celestia was taken aback by what had been said. Luna made a subtle motion for Celestia to keep out of this.

The utterly blank face on Markus was one of controlled focus. His eyes boring into Twilight Sparkle, she was shocked when all he said was "Yes."

Even Chrysalis simply stared in disbelief at the total disregard he had just shown. Those in the ballroom was also aghast.

Turning angry Twilight shouted as she said, "No way! They are my friends just as I though you were! They are still alive! I know it in my heart! They have as much right to live as you do!"

With a shrug to his shoulders Markus said, "Alright. On the other hand I would um..." He trailed off, swallowing hard.

Celestia, in a very cool voice asked "You'd what Markus?"
Looking over to Celestia he said, the temper in his voice rising with each word "Well, I'd like to crush these creatures into cosmic dust. I'd like to utterly and unequivocally slaughter them. I-I-I-I want to kill them all." By the time he was finished his voice held the contained tone of rage.

Turning his eyes to the projection of Chrysalis he said, "If you harm those four, I promise you that is exactly what I am going to do. I will show up alone at the castle ruins armed and armored."

"You are not in charge - " she started to say in a commanding tone only to have Markus cut her off.

"Then kill them so I have a reason to butcher your species into oblivion!" Markus' eyes boiled with hatred and malice. "I have killed tens of millions of sentient beings without a second thought, without hesitation! Your species would be a tiny footnote! If you doubt me...ask the Element of Honesty. My ancestors once opened a portal to Hell, Hades, Tartarus, call it what you want! But one of my direct ancestors not only closed that portal but destroyed the invading forces entirely."

Chrysalis looked through the viewer with cold calculating eyes. Everyone could see the realization that she may have made a mistake in this course of action. But she never got a chance to speak as Markus spoke.

"As I was about to say, you will bring Applejack and the fillies with you. If they are not there and unharmed, I will begin the slaughter of your race then and there!"

He stepped on the gem, crushing it under his foot.

Turning around Markus could hear his heart pounding in his ears as he bared his teeth. The ponies and the others all gasped as he turned and looked to a pair of Royal Guards. "Get my armor from my room."

Feeling something running down his upper and lower lips he brought his hand to his face. Pulling it away revealed crimson blood. His blood pressure had shot so high so fast he started bleeding from the nose. "I will bring Applejack and the fillies back. If I can't I will bring you the head of Queen Chrysalis served in the traditional manner," he said to Celestia as he turned to leave the ballroom.

Celesita asked "In what manner?"

"Why upon a silver platter of course."

After Markus had left the ballroom, the Gryphon King came up beside Princesses Celestia and Luna.

"Note to self - 'Do not anger Markus or his species'."