The Elemental Swordby Elaine_LunarisChaptersChapter One: The Elemental SwordChapter Two: Where am I?Chapter Four: New Forms and Meeting the Princess (Again)Chapter Five: Three Weeks LaterChapter Three: Memories and Awkward SituationsChapter One: The Elemental SwordIt was dark, damp and quiet. No sound was made in the long forgotten dungeon as the swordsman strolled through. The dungeon was something out of a nightmare, full of monsters, skeletons, discarded weapons and death. But the swordsman did not worry about that, for he had something many did not. A sword like no other, he had The Sword. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = He was pissed. After five days in this long forgotten dungeon he was fed up with it. Five days without talking to someone. Five days without the natural comforts of being in a bed, or warm food. Five days without company of any kind. Unless one would count the monsters in this god forsaken dungeon as company, but he would disagree with that. But now the swordsman was lost in here without an exit, and no map to help him find a way out. He looked around the dark dungeon, trying to find an escape from the horrors that may lurk around every corner. Turning down a left corridor he came upon a door rimmed in shimmering gold and black iron. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a note. ‘Once you come upon a door rimmed with gold and black iron. Open the door with this sword, for it is the key.’ He looked down toward his sword, then back to the door. Discarding the note the swordsman drew the strange looking blade and looked for the lock. Strangely enough, he found it right in the middle of the double doors. Looking around for monsters one last time, before plunging the swords into the look. Gaining a satisfactory click from the lock, and grunting with the effort, he turned the sword in the lock and pushed the door open, and took a look inside. The room not like the other rooms in the dungeon; it was furnished with couches tables and book shelves, but it still looked old. He pulled the sword out of the lock and went into the room. Hearing a click he turned back around to face the way that he had come. Finding that the door was locked from the other side. Great.... another locked door, I can add that to my list of things to be pissed about. Sighing the swordsman continued on his trek around the room. He went toward one of the shelves and pulled out a book bound in a brown casing with golden designs in each corner, and what looked like a golden unicorn with a green eye on the front. Opening the book, he swore to himself. It just HAD to be in another language...... sighing the swordsman took his new found treasure and stuffed it into his backpack, which was enchanted to be able to create a pocket dimension for storage. Walking over to a golden lined chest in the corner of the room, he grabbed the weird sword out again and jammed it into the lid and shimmied it open. Jackpot! Inside the chest were tons of platinum coins with what looked to be two flying horses on the front of each coin..... And Gems! Tons of gems were inside the chest as well, ranging from diamonds all the way to amethysts. He shrugged and took out his enchanted backpack and stuffed all of the coin and gems inside. After he was finished putting the coins and gems into his backpack, he stood up from his position on the floor. Puting a hand to his chin in thought. Now that that’s done, what do I do now? Looking around the room again, this time taking in every detail about it. He found that there were in fact TWO doors in the room. One was which he came from; the other was in fact never there before. Wandering towards the new door he stopped before it and looking the door over in mild interest before searching for a lock to open it. Seeing none he reached for the door and pushed it. The door opened with ease, inside showed a room which there was a pedestal in the middle, with six globes of some sort suspended by pylons connected to the middle of it. Walking forwards he climbed the stairs and reached the middle of the pedestal. The swordsman looked around himself in wonder, the room was almost empty and devoid of anything that might be of value. A faint humming noise filled the room but the swordsman did not notice; he was admiring the decorations around the room. Looking down he noticed two things. One: there were two familiar symbols on the pedestal. Upon closer inspection they were found to be similar to his people’s symbols of time and transformation. And two: there was a familiar looking hole in the pedestal that looked like an all too familiar sword that was strapped to his waist. Looking around himself yet again for monsters and traps, he reached for his sword and pulled it out of its sheath. He didn’t move forwards until the entire room had been looked upon by his gaze. One thing stopped him from looking back to the hole in the pedestal. The sweep of the room had unnerved him, for where there was meant to be the exit. There was only a blank wall of stone. He was now trapped in this room. He was stressed now, and started to sweat with the tension in the room. Looking back to the pedestal, he centred his blade over the hole, and plunged it into the lock burying it down to the gem encrusted hilt. What’s the worst that could happen? Giving a grunt as he twisted the blade to unlock whatever secrets the pedestal may have hidden within. The hum in the room now getting louder, he finally heard it, and looked around fearful of what might happen. He tried to remove his hands from the sword but found that he could not; the orbs were now floating with a pure white aura surrounding them. Tugging at the sword with all his might to try and remove it from the stone grasp that clung to it. The orbs were slowly levitated from their original standing point and slowly began travel around the swordsman. Picking up speed as they went along, he was sweating heavily now. With had no idea what was going on, the swordsman was scared of what might happen should this be allowed to continue. Finally the orbs had reached a crescendo, a cascade of colours from all the spectrums of the rainbow crashed into him. He expected pain, suffering at least a little bit of discomfort. But all he felt was cold and stiff as the rainbow continued its assault onto the swordsman. ^^^^^^ Temple of the royal pony sisters – Everfree Forest ^^^^^^ Twilight Sparkle walked through the old ruined castle of the royal pony sisters where months ago she and her friends had become the elements of harmony. Her princess and mentor had earlier that night sent her a letter urging her to investigate a large magical disturbance in the old ruined castle. Twilight reached the inside of the castle in but a few minutes of her time. Looking around the ruined area she examined the magic in the old castle, but sensed nothing unusual in the magic around her. But upon closer inspection the magic near where the elements were before her friends and herself removed them to defeat nightmare moon, was strangely more active than usual. Twilight approached the pedestal cautiously, using her magic to scan it. Slowly a magical charge appeared around the pedestal that used to house the elements of harmony. Until the charge burst forth in a display of multicoloured of the rainbow, she recognised the power of the elements of harmony at work and averted her eyes from the blinding light. When it was all over the only thing that had changed was that there was a sword sticking out of the top of the pedestal that the elements were upon. The sword had a blade of multiple colours all representing the colours of the element users themselves, it shifted from purple, to yellow, to pink, to white, to cyan and finally to orange. The blade of the sword had six gems incrusted within it. Each one representing the cutie mark of the elements themselves, a lightning bolt, a balloon, an apple, a butterfly, a diamond and a star. The hilt itself was made of some type of wood that was elegantly fashioned with vines wrapping around the hilt to make a sort of grip around it to be able to hold it properly. At the base of the hilt was a pure white gem that glowed slightly in the darkness that surrounded the pedestal. She stared at the sword for what seemed like a few hours but only a couple of minutes in real time. She had no idea what to do with the sword that was inside the pedestal. She walked slowly over toward the imbedded sword, stopping sharply when she heard somepony talk. ‘Where am I? Hello? Is anyone there?’ Chapter Two: Where am I?‘Where am I? Hello? Is anyone there?’ Twilight looked around her for the source of the soft voice, “Hello? Is somepony there?” ‘Um hello, who are you?’ Twilight stopped turning around looking for the voice. “My name is Twilight Sparkle. What is your name?” The voice was hesitant at first. ‘I.... don’t remember.’ Twilight’s face turned to one of bewilderment. “Okay then, where are you?” The voice hummed to itself, obviously thinking and Twilight thought to herself that sounds beautiful just as fast as the humming began it stopped and the voice spoke again. ‘I can’t move my legs.... In fact I can’t FEEL my legs.... I think I might be stuck.’ Twilight looked around again before taking a cautious step forward. “Can you see anything around you?” Again the voice spoke up in a melodic tone ‘There are walls and an open window with shards on the ground, I appear to be on a pedestal’ Twilight looked towards the pedestal were the elements of harmony once rested, only to see the sword from before with only a part of the blade and the hilt showing. “Are you sure that’s where you are? All I see on the pedestal is a sword.” The voice gasped, clearly distraught with finding something out. ‘A-are you s-sure about that, No weird hairless ape like thing?’ “No, no weird hairless ape like thing, just a sword.” The voice sounded nervous now, after a few minutes it gasped. ‘Oh no.... the transformation rune.... Oh God... I don’t believe it...’ Twilight still looking at the sword in the pedestal, thought for a moment. What in the name of Celestia is a hairless ape like thing? What did it mean by a transformation rune? She gasped as the realisation hit her. “I don’t believe it, are you saying that the sword. IS you?” ‘Look I know that might be hard to believe, I know I’m having a swell time trying to comprehend it myself. But now is NOT the time to be freaking out!’ “I’m not freaking out; you are the one that’s yelling at me!” ‘Look are you going to help me or not?’ Twilight sighed as she moved toward the embedded sword. “You realise I don’t even know what to do to help you?” The voice sighed ‘Look we can either argue about this all day-‘ “It’s night right now” There was a smacking sound and a shuddering sigh as Twilight finished speaking to the voice. ‘All NIGHT’ the voice said ‘Or you can help me get out of this fix’ Twilight placed a hoof to her chin and thought to herself for a minute. “I have only one condition to me helping you.” The voice sighed ‘What is this condition?’ Twilight smiled to herself and raised her foreleg while saying “It’s simple really; just answer any question I ask you once we get you out of there.” The voice thought about his chances of any other person, or whatever this thing was. That would stroll by and rescue him. The chances came up slim to none and NOT in his favour. Begrudgingly he agreed to this mare’s deal. ‘Fine, but after I’m out I want to speak to whoever is in charge here.’ “Do we have a deal?” ‘We have a deal; now can you please help me out of here?’ “Well since you said please....” Twilight moved over to the pedestal, and gripped the swords hilt in her magic. She tugged at the hilt and slowly but surely the sword moved out of the pedestal, revealing the blade with the gems in it. She stopped as she inspected the gems. The voice seemed confused as to why this ‘Twilight Sparkle’ had stopped pulling him out of the pedestal. He voiced his concerns with audible confusion. ‘Err, Twilight? Why did you stop pulling?’ She stuttered “T-that’s I-impossible!” The voice was confused by what Twilight had said he had no idea what she was talking about, so he said what he was thinking. ‘What are you talking about, what is impossible?’ Twilight looked toward the glowing white gem at the hilt of the sword before saying “These are the elements of harmony; they are supposed to be in the Canterlot castle vault. How do you have them?” ‘How am I supposed to know? You have to remember that I have no idea what’s going on here. As for the Elements of whatever you called them. I have no idea what they are, now can you please help me and after that I will answer any questions you may have about my situation.’ Twilight nodded and continued to tug at the weapon until a noise was made; it was metal scraping against stone. Twilight redoubled her efforts to free the sword from the stone, going so far as to grip the sword with her hooves for better leverage. As soon as Twilight touched the blade, it changed from its multicoloured hues to a dense purple. Like paper stuck together with glue the sword, inch by inch, came out of the stone pedestal. Neither the voice nor Twilight heard what was happening around them, for a sound was being produced. A low hum just like the one that had sent the voice here, was being heard by the animals nearby. Finally the sword came loose from the stone, and a frightening crack was heard as a bolt of purple lightning was flung from the sky to impact at the tip of the blade. Energy coursed through the dense metal making the purple glow along the length of the blade all the more brighter. Each gem that represented the elements glowed with a new found brightness, but only one was shinning more than the rest. The gem for the element of magic started to glow an all too bright purple. At the hilt of the blade where the bright white gem was located, the wooden hilt started to shift. Instead of the plain wooden hilt, it shifted to look more like a star itself with the bottom of the star being where the new grip was. The gem had moved from the bottom of the hilt to the centre of the star hilt, the vines that were previously on the hilt started to meld into the wood itself leaving runes engraved into the wood. Twilight recognised some of them, one was a barrier rune, another was a booster rune, and the last one she could tell of was a healing rune. Finally the gem itself changed colour and shape. Instead of the brilliant white glow that it had before, it now had the same purple glow that Twilights coat was. Instead of a rounded gem it melded into the design of the hilt making a small purple star in the centre. After the blade had changed something new pressed against Twilights mind. At first she tried pushing whatever it was away, but that only caused her discomfort. Finally against her common sense she allowed whatever was pressing against her mind entrance. Two voices gasped as one and Twilight fell to the floor as new images and sensations assaulted her mind. The voice also felt the changes to his sword, and the assault of new information on his mind was staggering. Finally after many minutes the blade started to lose its brightness and became lighter in Twilights hooves. After lying on the floor for more time than either could count the voice spoke. ‘Well.... that was interesting to say the least.’ Twilight sucked in air greedily, trying to calm her racing heart. After she had done so, she looked to the sword in her hooves. “What in the name of Celestia was THAT?” She could feel as if the voice shrugged at her and ‘he’ because she had felt that too said ‘I have no idea what just happened to us Twilight, but I might suggest that we move out of the Everfree forest while we have the chance.’ Twilight was confused by his newfound knowledge but before she could say anything he cut her off. ‘And before you ask me how I know of this, I think it was when our minds melded together. I gained all of what you know and you gained all of what I know. Almost like an information swap. Now I suggest we get moving before a Manticore comes and rips us a new one.’ Twilight nodded and prepared her spell to teleport to the edge of the Everfree forest, it surprisingly took less time than normal for her to cast said spell. ‘It must be because of the runes on the hilt, look into it later Twilight’ she silently agreed with him and launched her spell. In a blinding flash of purple she disappeared from the old castle and reappeared at the edge of the Everfree forest. Twilight walked past many places as she walked into Ponyville, she passed Fluttershy’s cottage, Applejack’s Farm, Rainbow Dash’s cloud house, Rarity’s Boutique and Sugercube Corner where Pinkie Pie worked and lived. After the walk they ended up at their destination, Twilight Sparkle’s tree house. It being the local library was an added bonus that Twilight liked about the tree house. As they walked in the door Twilight was greeted with a familiar ‘who’ from Owlowicious and Twilight too tired to say anything to the Owl, smiled weakly before putting him down on the couch. ‘I take it you are too tired to ask me any questions tonight Twilight?’ the only response he got from her was a weak nod. ‘Well you might want to put me out of reach of spike, or anypony for that matter’ again another weak nod and a purple field of energy gripped the sword and slotted it away at the top of one of the shelves. He smiled to himself as she placed him in the top corner of an empty bookshelf. ‘Goodnight Twilight’ Chapter Four: New Forms and Meeting the Princess (Again)‘I assume, princess that since you are here. You wish to hear my story, yes?’ The solar princess stared at the blade leaning against her students bookcases. The sword looked oddly more familiar than she would care to know. Upon closer inspection, she could finally figure out why. The swords blade was embedded with the Elements of Harmony! Celestia turned to face the sword known as Ultorius and said “I will ask you this once and once only, WHY do you have the Elements of Harmony with you?” A hum filled the room as Ultorius thought about his predicament. ‘I do not know why these ‘Elements’ are on me, I just know that they are. And since I can’t see myself I suppose one of you will have to tell me what I look like.’ Twilight stepped forward from the others and cleared her throat. “Well Ultorius there are six Elements of Harmony; each one represents the aspects of friendship. Loyalty....” Rainbow raised her hoof and placed it on her chest, all the time looking smugly at Ultorius. “Laughter....” Pinkie Pie stepped forward and giggled at him. “Generosity...” Rarity flicked her mane out of her eye and smiled at him. “Honesty...” Applejack stepped forwards tipped her hat at Ultorius and moved back into the line. “Kindness....” At that Fluttershy hid behind her mane and moved behind her friend, Rainbow Dash. “And Magic, me” Twilight smiled at Ultorius as she finished her introductions. After Twilight did that she pointed a hoof at him and said. “The elements of Harmony have both a spiritual presence and a physical presence; the spiritual part is in each and every one of us in one way or form. And the physical part is these gems imbedded into your blade. Plus there’s these weird diagrams on your hilt which you said were Runes.” At that Ultorius gasped ‘THE RUNES DESCRIBE THEM!’ Twilight was scared by Ultorius yelling at her and the princess did not look happy that he had done so. Ultorius collected himself and drew in a shuddering breath. ‘I am sorry for yelling Twilight.... Please, tell me what these ‘Runes’ look like.’ Twilight looked towards the hilt of the sword and spoke out in a calm voice. “One looks like a Star-” ‘That would be a Pentagram’ “Right, one looks like a pentagram surrounded by each element in a circle. In the middle of the pentagram there is what looks like a water droplet..... That’s not water is it?” Ultorius swore to himself. ‘I just HAD to activate the ancient trap didn’t I? God damn idiot....... What you see Twilight is now what I confirmed to be the results of a Blood Ritual. Very powerful Rune, also very hard to undo without the blood of an ancient magical being..... Even then it would not guarantee 100% of me turned back to normal. If what I think has happened then I am on an entirely different world, and my body may adapt to become more like your own.’ Twilight looked towards the princess knowing that Ultorius was mentioning her when he said ‘Blood of an ancient magical being’ and said “Your highness, I know that your first meeting with Ultorius wasn’t the greatest but he needs our help to find out what sent him here and-” Twilight continued to talk to the princess as Spike entered the room. When he saw the blade lying against the bookcase he was in awe. Spike moved towards the blade cautiously looking towards Twilight and the princess before reaching out and touching the sharp part of the blade. Retracting his hand from the sword, as the blood of the young drake seeped from one of his claws to fall upon the white gem at the hilt of the blade; he quickly grabbed a cloth and wiped away the blood before a voice spoke to him ‘Might want to get a plaster on that young dragon, and make sure not to touch my sword again.’ Spike left the room in a hurry to do as the voice said, heading upstairs just as Twilight and the princess turned around to help Ultorius. No one had seen him enter, and no one had seen him leave, except Ultorius..... ^^^^^^15 minutes later^^^^^^ “Ok Ultorius I will help you regain your true form, but you must after that come with me to Canterlot and answer my questions that I have.” ‘That is agreeable princess. Now please step forward, this will only hurt for a second....’ The princess moved towards the sword lying against the bookcase and reached out with her magic to grasp the sword. Bringing the point to her hoof she made a small cut on it, and let the blood trickle off to fall onto the sword. The red droplet hit the white gem that only a little earlier Spike’s own blood had hit. Everypony present watched intensely as the Pure White gem faded and turned to a Blood Red. The room filled with red light making all present including the princess back away from the sword and cover their eyes. Growls of pain filled the room as the Blood Magic was flushed from Ultorius body. The sword glowed with a bright intensity and each of the gems colours intensified beyond the point that a little ball of rainbow light was all that was left. The rainbow ball was outlined with blood as each power tried to dominate the other. The harmonious magic trying to expel the blood magic out of him while the blood magic trying to force its way back into Ultorius’ body. Princess Celestia could tell that the colliding powers that be could expand outwards at any moment. Teleporting all the ponies present into a clearing inside the Everfree forest, the solar princess threw up a shield around her subjects and herself at exactly the last moment. Harmony in the end won over the blood magic and it was dispelled in an explosion of magic that bent the trees in the clearing backwards, scorching the ground and igniting the air into lava. This continued for several minutes before the lava on the ground cooled into stone and the raging inferno of magic stopped. Celestia hesitantly lowered the shield and the smell of burnt wood and earth assaulted the noses of all ponies present. What they saw before them left them in awe, for no one could have survived the explosion of magic that had radiated outwards from the conflicting powers. What was left in the centre of the clearing was a crater filled with lava, and any grass remaining from the explosion was quickly set alight by the flames flickering out of the pit. Twilight moved forwards cautiously, but a look from her princess stopped her from continuing forward. They all stopped and stared at the lava pit before them, expecting something to happen. A bubble appeared on the surface and popped, beyond that nothing else happened. Twilight looked towards her mentor. “Princess.... Is he... going to be alright?” The solar princess looked towards her student with a look of pity in her eyes. “My faithful student I’m afraid that Ultorius is-” A bolt of rainbow lightening struck the centre of the lava pool and created a straight line down the middle. They all heard it collide with something deep inside the pool of lava. After a few minutes nothing seemed to have changed, and as the princess was about to continue her sentence the pool of lava erupted outwards and a death defying screech filled the air. What had erupted from the lava pool was a being of fire and stone, the wings on the creature made of red leather in the middle. The creature looked almost Draconic in nature, were it not for the twin horns on its head. It flew upwards from the pool of lava, straight up into the sky. The princess looked up in worry. “Twilight, take your friends and head back to the library and put up a shield. Who knows what in Tartarus has been unleashed upon the world but I intend to stop it, no matter what.” Twilight flashed her friends away in a bright light of purple before looking at her mentor, probably for the last time. “Please... stay safe.” In a flash of purple light Twilight too was gone from the clearing. Celestia stared up into the sky, spreading her massive wings she took flight after the demon.... ^^^^^^6 minutes later^^^^^^ A clawed hand shot out of the lava reaching for the edge, gripping it with intensity the creature struggled to heave itself from the fire. Reaching out with the other hand it dug the clawed hands into the baked earth and pulled its way out of the fiery depths of the lava pool. It stood on four legs which ended with talons; it had shimmering blue fur and scales along its body. Blue feathers lined the draconic wings on its back, with black leather in-between each. Its muzzle was almost drake like in appearance and almost pony like, a cross between the two resulted in the creature standing on the ground. Each tooth in the creature’s mouth was a stark white. The draconic being had silted eyes outlined by green and surrounded by gold. Atop its head was a long horn that would allow it to use magic to aid itself in times of need. The creature had an ethereal mane that looked like the roaring sea. All in all, the creature was 4 feet taller than the Sun Princess. Looking up with eyes more sharp than any eagle, the creature saw the princess in battle against the demon that had tried to steal its soul. Spreading its massive draconic wings it launched itself into the sky, and in a matter of seconds reached the two fighting in the sky. It screamed past them both, stopping fifty feet above them. Neither the demon looking one of the one with the flowing mane had noticed it go by. Using its height above the demon one as its advantage, it dove towards it. The creature ROARED at the demon and smashed into it, causing its wings to cave in and fall towards the ground. The draconic creature stopped just before the ground and pulled up. Causing the demon to smash into the ground and shattering the earth beneath it. Landing on the ground where the demon hit, the creature spoke. “Come out you filthy mongrel, I know that you are still alive!” A clawed hand reached out from the crater in the ground and grasped the edge. A huff was heard as the demonic being climbed out of the hole. One horn was broken; a wing shattered by the impact and it was limping on only three legs. The demon looked at the creature before him and spoke out in a deep voice. “Who are you to call me a Mongrel, Half Breed?” The creature backed away from the demon while snarling at it. “What did you just call me?” “You heard me correct, I called you a Half Breed.” The Draconic creature reached out with a clawed appendage and gripped the demons throat, bringing its face closer to its own the creature snarled at it. “You will regret calling me that demon!” With all the strength it could muster it threw the demon into the trees, splintering them upon impact. It flew after the demon, flying at almost Sonic Rainboom speeds it grabbed the flying demon and flung it into the sky. Celestia watched in awe as the strange being attacked the demon that so easily wore her down was now being defeated by this strange being. She watched as it flung the demon into the forest and chased after it at breakneck speeds that a certain speed demon would be jealous off. The sun princess watched as the demon reappeared in mid air, only for the creature to grab it in mid air and rip both of its wings off. Holding it by the tail now, she watched as it flung the demon at the ground again, spearing it on a small tree that splintered upon the demons impact. She watched as the creature flew down and landed next to the blooded body of the demon that had caused her so much trouble. It leaned next to the demon as it spoke to the creature. Scowling at the demon it promptly grasped its head and twisted it, snapping its neck and killing it. Looking up it spotted Celestia and flapped its massive wings, making it speed up from the ground in a matter of seconds. Flying towards the Alicorn above it, the creature stopped before her and growled. “You know it’s not nice when somepony thinks you are dead because of a small amount of lava.” Celestia’s eyes widened as she recognised the voice. “U-Ultorius, is that you?” The draconic creature shook its head. “Twas my name once Princess of the sun, I am no longer known as Ultorius in this form though.” The princess was confused by what he meant by form. Sensing her confusion the being that was once Ultorius spoke up. “Remember the blood ritual?” After her nod he continued. “Many of my people know how to make transformation runes that allow us to change our appearance. This is what I meant by form, and in this form, I will be known as Draco Lamina, The Dragon Blade.” ^^^^^^Twilight’s Tree House, During the Battle^^^^^^ “Quit your pacing Twi’! The princess will be fine, trust me.” Rainbow watched as Twilight kept on pacing regardless of her words. “I’m not worried Rainbow, do I look worried because I sure the hay am not!” Twilight looked towards her speedy friend as she said this, causing her to shake her head in annoyance. “Twi’ Rainbows right, ya need ta calm down.” Applejack was holding her hat in-between both her front hooves. Pinkie spoke up next. “Yea Twilight stop being a worry wart, if the Princess was in trouble my Pinkie Sense would have told me!” When she said this Twilight visibly relaxed, as did the others. That is until the felt the earth beneath their very hooves shake from some unseen force. They all remained still as the tremor subsided. After several minutes they felt it was safe to release their holds on the objects they had latched onto during the tremor. “WOAH! Thatwassomuchfuncanwedoitagain?” Pinkie had begun bouncing around the living room spouting random stuff that was incomprehensible to the others present. Twilight shook her head at Pinkie’s antics, gaining a laugh from the small dragon sitting beside her. “Well at least we know that Pinkie was having fun.” Spike smiled at the pink pony jumping around the room. Twilight sighed at her assistant. “Well it may be fun but the princess and-” “HONEY I’M HOME!” All eyes looked towards the source off the voice, what they saw was a Dragon Alicorn carrying the solar princess on its back. It walked into the room and placed her on the couch before looking around itself. “What? No hugs for an old friend?” The Draconic creature spoke to them. Pinkie rushed forward at the half dragon half Alicorn, slamming it into the ground and started squeezing it. “ULTY YOU’RE BACK!” All the girls looked at Pinkie hugging the dragon thing and had looks of shock on their faces. “Pinkie, that’s not Ultorius. That’s a drag... Actually what in the name of Celestia are you? AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PRINCESS!?!?!” The half Alicorn looked towards the puzzled and mad librarian and just smiled at her. “I seem to distinctly remember you asking something similar to that this morning Twilight. As for the princess, She was tired after her fight with the demon and-” All the elements eyes reduced to the size of pinpricks and Fluttershy curled into a ball behind Rainbow Dash. Twilight looked at the newcomer and said “D-did you say....” “Did I say demon? Why yes I did say demon Twilight, I fought a demon that the princess could not. And I won.” The librarian was shocked that this creature knew her name, now that she thought about it; the creature’s voice sounded very familiar had a deeper and more of a growl than a melody to it. “Want me to prove I am who I am to you Twi’? Ok then.” The creature looked directly into her eyes and said ‘Is this better? Or do you prefer actually speaking to me this time?’ Twilight looked at the beast before her in realisation and shock, snapping a claw next to her head he said. “And my name is Draco Lamina now, just so you know.” Spike was looking at the new Dragon in awe. He had deep blue fur and scales black leathered wings laced in blue feathers along the bone, a few ruby red spines travelling into his mane and down his tail. His ethereal mane was a deep sea blue and moved like waves, and his piercing eyes were a green around the iris and gold around the green expanding the rest of his eye to the whites. His muzzle had scales and some of his sharp white teeth were clearly visible to the young drake. His talons were a sapphire blue, and he stood 4 feet taller than the princess herself. And he had a HORN for magic! No other dragon in the world had a horn for magic! “What are you looking at their Spike?” The blue Dragon pony called to him. He looked up into the eyes of the older dragon and smiled. “I’m not alone anymore....” The dark blue Dragon Alicorn smiled at the young purple drake. He lifted a paw and patted him on the head. “No Spike, you were never alone. You had your friends and family to look out for you, you never were and never will be alone Spike. So long as you have friends like these.” He waved a paw around the room to emphasise his point. “You don’t have to be alone.” Spike’s eyes started to water as he realised that the words that he had spoken rang true. He ran towards the tall Alicorn and hugged one of his legs crying his eyes out. Lamina smiled at the young drake, and placed a paw on his back as he cried. He hadn’t shown affection towards any other person or dragon in this case, for a very long time. He picked the young drake up and placed his in-between his wings. Watching Spike curl up and fall asleep there calmed the Dragon Alicorn. “So Lamina,” The Dragon Alicorn looked around the room, only now just noticing all of them were staring at him. He looked to the princess who was lying on the couch. “Yes princess?” “What are you?” He was confused by the statement that the princess had said. “Pardon your highness? I don’t quite understand...” She got up off the couch and walked over to him. She glanced all over him, walked in a circle around him, all the time muttering to herself ‘scales... horn...’ or some other mumbo jumbo that didn’t make sense to him. Lamina was confused by what the princess was trying to accomplish by muttering to herself when she said. “You appear to be part Dragon, but also Part Alicorn.... A Dragon who can perform magic, and an Alicorn immune to most magical attacks.... Strange...” she poked him around in a couple places, including the wings. Twilight perked up at this statement by the princess. “Does this mean we have discovered a new race Princess?” oh boy Lamina thought to himself. “Yes Twilight, it appears our friend here discovered a new race..... But what do we call it?” Both Twilight and the Princess had their hoofs to their chins in thought. Rainbow couldn’t help but chuckle at this. After 5 minutes of them humming in thought Lamina blurted out “Dralicorn.” Both of their eyes widened at that, and the Princess smiled at him. “Indeed. A Dralicorn.... It is a fitting name.” Lamina heard a snoring from behind him and looked to see the young drake asleep on his back. Smiling again he said to all those present. “WELL! As much fun this has been I need to sleep, and so does this little guy.” With that he walked upstairs and into Twilight’s room. Lamina placed Spike in his basket, curling around Spikes basket was a natural feeling to him. And as soon as he had done so, he promptly fell asleep.... ^^^^^^Downstairs^^^^^^ Twilight looked up the stairs at the sleeping duo and smiled to herself. Walking back into the lounge she found that the Princess was getting ready to leave. “Princess, are you returning to Canterlot now?” Celestia smiled at her student, “Yes Twilight, I am returning to Canterlot now. Somepony has to be there to raise the sun in the morning.” She stopped before the door. “Oh and remind our feathered Dragon friend that he has to come to Canterlot tomorrow.” Twilight smiled as she watched her mentor walk outside and disappear in a flash of magic. All of her friends had either returned to their homes or were busy doing something here. Walking back upstairs she spotted the draconic duo sleeping, she smiled as Lamina curled up tighter around Spike’s basket. Levitating a blanket from her cupboards, she draped it over the two drakes. She prepared to head back out to see if Rainbow Dash was still there when she heard a voice call out. “No... That’s... Muffin... Chocolate.... Caramel....” She brought her hoof to her mouth to block the giggles as she realised the Dralicorn was dreaming, what about, she had no clue. When she was out of earshot she let herself giggle at the Dralicorn’s sleep talk. She might have to talk to Pinkie about baking a chocolate caramel muffin for him.... ^^^^^^9am Ponyville Library^^^^^^ Yawning as he got up, Lamina stretched his tired body. Oh yea that felt good.... looking around the room he noticed several things. One: he was taller than before. Two: he could hear snoring from below him. Three: he had claws and wings. And Four: he smelled what seemed to be pancakes coming from downstairs.... Processing..... Processing.......... Analysis complete! There are pancakes downstairs! His eyes widened and he started to run out of the room, waking Spike from his slumber. “PANCAKES!!!!!” Spike jumped out of bed and grabbed onto Lamina’s tail as he dashed out of the room, dragging Spike along for the ride. Spike held on for dear life as Lamina dived of the top of the stairs landing on the ground with a thud. Twilight jumped at the sound and turned to see Spike and Lamina sitting at the table, forks and knifes in claw. Smiling she said “Good morning boys, I made gem pancakes for breakfast.” Spike started drooling at the thought of having gem pancakes, but Lamina seemed confused by what had been said. “Gem pancakes? What the heck are those?” Spike had a look of shock at what Lamina had said. Twilight remembered that he used to be a sword, and before that a human and she casually looked over to the Dralicorn. “Dragons here in Equestria eat gems as a source of food Lamina.” He looked at her with a face that said ‘ah I get it now’. Looking towards the young drake he said. “So which gem is the best to eat?” “Fire Ruby is defiantly the best.” He hummed at the thought as Twilight placed down the pancakes and said “Dig in!” Spike tore into his pancakes while Colerem looked thoughtfully at his. “You know, Dragons where I come from don’t eat gems.” Twilight looked at him as he started talking; levitating a notepad and quill over to her she sat down as he began his explanation. “Dragons, who we thought to only be myth, had actually been in hibernation for over 5 millennia. The first Dragon to exit hibernation set fire to one of our cities in the North. We didn’t even know what hit us until it was too late.” Twilight was scribbling notes down unto the paper before her, while Spike was listening to the story. “Many people were lost that day and reports estimated that the death toll was over six thousand,” Twilight gasped at that, most deaths in Equestria were almost slim to none. “I was there at the time of the attack; the city that I was in was called Starlight. You remember this bit right Twilight?” She looked at him and shook her head. “Well it was the time of my hanging, who knew looting was considered a crime against the crown? Anyway as you know Twi’ my dear friend Maria saved me from being hung, but after that the Dragon arrived.” Lamina looked downcast at this point. “The screams of lots of dying people filled the streets and many were fleeing from the town. The Dragon whom we knew later on was the Dominus among them that means Lord in Latin.” Twilight nodded at his tale. He stopped himself from continuing his story and began to eat his breakfast. Twilight wrote a note to remind her to look into his memories at a later date. After they were finished a breakfast of hay and gem pancakes Twilight mentioned what the Princess had said last night. “Oh yes, we need to go into Canterlot today. The Princess wishes to meet you.” He hummed to himself in thought. “I might need to find a place to stay for a while though. In case there is no way back to my world.” He looked sad when he said that. “Well I’m sure the princesses will figure something out. Oh, look its Applejack, good morning Applejack!” The orange pony turned to face them. “Mornin’ Twi’ mornin’ Lamina, ah popped in ta see if ya’ll want a job at sweet apple acres, Celestia knows we need th’ help.” Lamina looked at the orange work pony before replying. “I would like to have a job at your farm Applejack, but the Princess has requested my presence at Canterlot today.” Applejack nodded at the Dralicorn. “Well if ya ever need a job, ya come ask me.” With that the work pony tilted her hat and walked out from the room and out the door, to do whatever it is that work ponies do. Twilight looked at the door her friend had exited from and hummed to herself. “Might need to get you back tonight in time for the party or Pinkie will be sad.” Lamina just nodded his head and they walked towards the door, which was when he had a thought. “Hey, um Twilight won’t they be afraid by my appearance?” Twilight looked towards the Dralicorn as her eyes widened in realisation. “Oh....” was the only response the purple mare gave the Dralicorn. He looked at her and sighed. “Alright..... Let’s see if this works, it worked for the backpack.” And with that Lamina concentrated on imagining himself as a Unicorn, a few minutes passed and nothing happened. Twilight was about to say something but just as she was there was a flash of rainbow light and where Lamina once stood was a Unicorn stallion with a three different shades of blue for his mane and a deep blue for his coat, his eyes retained the same colour as his Dralicorn form and his height had reduced to the same as hers. He retained the more refined air around him and the charming smile that was always evident in his Dralicorn form. He looked at her then after a few seconds. “Is that better Twilight? I don’t know if it changed anything or not. Oh I'm smaller, aparently it did something.” Twilight stared at the stallion in front of her; to say he was handsome would be an understatement. He was drop dead handsome, the kind that mares would be tripping over their own hooves if he walked past them. She would have to be careful least she fall for him herself. “Twilight, are you there?” Waving a hoof in front of her face seemed to not get a reaction out of her. Raising a hoof to Twilight’s face he bopped her on the nose. This managed to get a reaction from the purple mare, and she blushed and shook her head. “S-sorry Lamina, my minds a little distracted.” Twilight was acting as nervous as Fluttershy at that point and this elected a chuckle from Lamina. “Tis nothing to worry about Twilight, but we should get moving, no?” Twilight looked towards the door and then back to Colerem before smiling. “Well?” Lamina was confused by what Twilight meant when she said that. “Well what?” She rolled her eyes and pointed at the door. “Aren’t you going to be a gentlecolt and open the door for a mare?” Swerving his head around the room in confusion he said. “What mare? All I see is a lot of books and a book worm.” Twilight struck him on the shoulder causing him to go into hysterics at the mare’s response. “I’m only joking Twi’.” Walking towards the door and opening it with his magic, he bowed slightly at Twilight, causing her to blush yet again. Walking outside the two noticed that Ponyville was less active than usual, only a few ponies were out and about, and this confused Lamina. “Twilight where is everypony?” Looking around Twilight noticed what he was saying “They probably haven’t woken up yet, it is early in the morning on a Sunday.” “Hey Twi’, who’s the new guy?” “Rainbow Dash you’re up early!” Looking up, the two noticed Rainbow Dash lying on a cloud with her tail and head only just poking over the sides. Lamina chuckled at Rainbow Dash and looked to Twilight ‘Hey Twi’ want to have some fun?’ Twilight smiled with the corner of her mouth and nodded slightly. “Greetings fair maiden, you must be the one Miss Sparkle has mentioned to me.” Rainbow Dash Tripped over her hooves and fell off the cloud. Right before she hit the ground she spread her wings and glided down and looked at Lamina. Rainbow looked at Twilight then back to him. She flew over to Twilight and dragged her off to the side where they began talking. Lamina pretended not to pay attention to what they were saying. His attention more focused towards the ponies only just now coming out of their homes. Some of the mares where staring in his direction with a blush on their checks, and some stallions where paying him no mind whatsoever. “- and so we’re here now, so come on Twi’ let’s go!” Lamina looked towards the two mares in front of him, both of whom were staring at him. He looked between each one of them with a confused look. Twilight looked at him with a smile on her face. “You are coming Lam, right?” He smiled at the new nickname that, and nodded at the purple mare. They trotted to the train station where the four other mares were awaiting them. Twilight waved to them. “Hi there girls we ready?” The four mares nodded at Twilight, after a few minutes they noticed the new addition. Rarity looked at Colerem with a smirk on her face. “And who is this dashing stallion Twilight?” Lamina chuckled at Rarity, and smiled at her. “Why Rarity, if I knew it would be looks that would win you over I would have tried this ages ago.” All five mare’s faces were in shock, it took them a couple minutes to compose themselves. It was then that Rainbow spoke up. “Lamina? Is that you?” This received a smirk from him and a slight bow, “My previous appearance would have scared the townsfolk, so I simply shifted to a Unicorn form.” Rarity was the one that spoke up then. “How were you able to do so?” He simply waved two forelegs in front of himself and used his magic to create a small rainbow spreading between each hoof and said “Maaaaagiiiiiic!!” This cause the pink party pony to giggle and Twilight to smile at him, he looked at the others confused faces and said “What?” Twilight shook her head and walked forwards to talk to the train attendant about accommodations on the train for their new passengers. Lamina looked at the other ponies gathered and smiled, causing Fluttershy and Rarity to blush and the farm mare to hide beneath her hat. He leaned towards Rainbow and whispered quietly. “Am I really that good looking?” Rainbow smirked mischievously and leaned in to whisper back. “Dude you may not know this but you are hot.” He looked away from the rainbow mane mare and whispered. “Daaaayum....” ^^^^^^Canterlot Castle 5-6 hours later^^^^^^ “Ugh.... Remind me to make an airship when we get back...” Twilight looked confused at Lamina and said. “You mean a hot air balloon?” His eyes widened in shock as she said that. “Oh god no... Don’t tell me you don’t have air transport....” Twilight smiled at the disguised Dralicorn and said. “Oh we do... but what’s an airship?” Lamina looked at the purple mare and started his speech. “An airship is a power-driven aircraft that is kept buoyant by a body of gas that is lighter than air. Or it was until someone discovered the rune to make stuff float. Now day’s parents make their kids airships so that they can fly around. Anyway I need to build one of those someday so I can travel around faster.” He started rambling on about how he would ask the princesses for the required resources and a lot of other stuff. Twilight was only staring at him until Rainbow spoke up. “Welcome everypony to Canterlot Castle!” Lamina stared slack jawed at the architecture of the castle, marble pillars, water fountains. The sort of stuff that castles are supposed to have, only one word was in the disguised Dralicorn’s mind as he looked upon this wonderful sight. “B-beautiful....” “Yes it is isn’t it?” A voice that was familiar to them all said from behind them, turning around he saw Celestia standing there. He smiled at the Alicorn and said. “Princess it is good to see you again.” This confused the princess as she could not remember meeting this stallion before. “I’m sorry, but I haven’t met you before. So how can it be good to see me again?” The disguised Dralicorn’s face was simply put in an ‘oh’ he looked around and said to the princess. “Ahem, princess it’s me, Lamina.” “Ah...” Celestia looked at him intensely, “Were you not a Dralicorn before?” Lamina looked down at his hooves and smiled. “I did not wish to scare the townsfolk, so I changed forms. Give me a second and I’ll revert back.” Celestia was confused by this, revert back? Whatever does Lamina me- A flash of rainbow light appeared and everypony was blinded as the Dralicorn resumed his natural form. “I suppose this is better for you Princess?” The princess smiled at the Dralicorn, “Yes Lamina, just remember that it is better if the inhabitants of Ponyville get used to you in your more natural form than if you were being fake around them.” The Dralicorn thought on that for a moment, “Well they won’t have to get used to me, I rather like it on a mountain, and I suppose you won’t mind having a guest around the castle for a while.” The princess smiled at the Dralicorn. “Yes, having a guest around the castle will make things less dull. I suppose I could find you a room to stay in.” “Oh if you don’t mind I’ll take the room with the good view.” Chapter Five: Three Weeks LaterHey there, this is Lamina. For some reason Celly wants me to write down what’s happened over the past few weeks. No clue why, probably wants to document my mind. Bah like that will ever happen. Anyway, over the past few weeks I have spent at Canterlot castle, many interesting things have happened. Like the time the Dragon’s came here for negotiations over the border. Boy, were they surprised to see me. A lot of other interesting things happened over the past few weeks, finding out I’m immortal, learning my Dragon abilities, same thing with my magic. I’ve learned many things here, so I decided to write whatever was on my mind down in my book that I enchanted with runes so that the pages will go on forever. Kind of handy that Rune makes stuff seem endless. Anyway my second week here I asked the princess for some materials for my Airship I wanted to build. She asked me for schematics for more airships, I told her no. So during that week half my airship was completed and Luna asked me out to lunch. Oh I had an analysis done by a doc, she said I MIGHT be slightly insane in the membrane. Heh, dragon joke funny. Anyway that’s a quick sum up of the past few weeks. I should probably get going now. Before Tia or Lulu asks me to do something else time consuming.... Your friendly Dralicorn -Draco Lamina ^^^^^^3 weeks later^^^^^^ Lamina walked into the bright marble room, which was apparently bigger than it was on the outside. Looking out the window he saw a view off of the mountain side, and it was some view. Lamina could see the entirety of the land off in that direction. The beautiful sunset highlighting everything there was to see. Lamina deciding to entertain himself began to chat to no one in particular. “Tis a beautiful sunset is it not?” He smiled at the thought. “You know, I’m glad I’m here, hated Earth. Full of crap, stupid people that try to hang you for looting some old temple.” He frowned. “How was I supposed to know it was the royal vault?” shaking his head in frustration. “It’s not like they clearly marked it to be the royal vault. No symbols or anything. Bah, bunch of pansies anyway.” He turned away from the window and headed to the closet. “Luna wants me to do her a favour today. Bah” He snorted. “I’ll die before she gets me in a suit.” Reaching into the closet he pulled out his backpack, and chucked the notebook inside. “After that some ‘test’ for Twilight that I’m supposed to discreetly help with? How in the name of Tartarus am I supposed to do that?” Reaching into his backpack he took out his wallop stick. “Well at least she said I could take something with me....” looking at the wallop stick with disdain he put it back into the backpack. “Well it could be worse. She could send me off to the Dragon lands to conduct the negotiations for the borders.” He completely ignored the fact that the door had opened and that Celestia was standing in the doorway with an amused look on her face. “Hmmm what to take thou- Oh” He stopped and looked in the mirror and saw his fangs and claws. “Oh yea forgot I had those for a second then.” Celestia was struggling to repress her urge to giggle at the Dralicorn; watching him take items out of his backpack and saying “nope!”Every so often, she stopped entirely when he pulled an orb covered in runes out of the backpack. “WOAH, where did this little guy come from? I don’t remember having a Thermo-Runic Bomb....” At that Celestia’s eyes widened and she looked at the small orb in the clawed hands of the most cunning, and albeit slightly insane Dralicorn. Clearing her throat she caught his attention. Lamina’s head swerved to look at the sun princess. “Oh hay Tia.” She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Was that another one of your horse puns Lamina?” She looked at the devious smiling Dralicorn and sighed. “Those have gotten less funny over the time that you have been staying here.” She watched him place the small orb pack into the backpack and pull out a scroll. Reading down it he said. “Sorry Tia I haven’t got anything else on my list of puns to say now, that was the last one.” She smiled at that; no more would he walk up to a guard and say something completely random to said guard in order to try to get them to react. “Well that’s a relief, I came here to tell you that Twilight and her friends should be arriving soon.” “Ah.” He picked up the backpack and placed it between his wings. “Well I should be going then, see you at the throne room?” With a nod from the Dralicorn he dived out the window and flew in the direction of the throne room. She smiled as she watched him fly in a couple of loops and then through the window of the throne room. Her horn glowed with magic and Celestia reappeared in the throne room of the castle...... And couldn’t find the Dralicorn anywhere in sight. She looked around confused as she walked towards her throne. Until she noticed that behind her throne was a particular sword that a particular Dralicorn was able to transform into. She smiled at the sword, and heard Lamina speak. ‘Nice to see you smiling like usual Tia, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you smile properly. This whole Crystal Empire business has had you pretty busy.’ She nodded at the Sword and stood facing the window as her sister Luna entered the room and stood next to her. “Are you sure you don't want me to go as well?” her sister asked. Celestia looked out the window. “Yes. Princess Cadance and Shining Armor are already there.” She looked at her sister. “The others will be joining them soon.” Her sister looked at her then out the window. “The empire's magic is powerful. It cannot fall again, my sister.” “She will succeed at her task. And when she does, we'll know that she is that much closer to being ready.” “Ahem.” Both sisters looked to the door and saw Twilight smile sheepishly at them. Luna started to walk away from her sister, but before she got too far she said. “Trust me, little sister.” Luna started to trot down the aisle and Twilight up the aisle. “You wanted to see me? To give me a test?” Luna passed Twilight and she looked at her. When she passed her she looked back to her mentor. “I brought my own quills and plenty of paper to show my work.” Levitating the saddlebags off her back she placed them on the floor, only for all the contents to spill out. “Sorry! Sorry!” She nudged the paper to pick it up, only for Celestia to levitate it and ravel it all back up. “This is a different kind of test.” Placing all of Twilight’s belongings back into the bags she said. “The Crystal Empire has returned.” Lamina was listening intently and silently laughing to himself, he listened as Celestia explained the situation to Twilight. The princess moved past the throne and Lamina watched her, grabbing a gem out of a glass case she placed it onto the floor. Bah he thought to himself as he watched her do great feats of magic to explain to Twilight the severity of her task. Well he thought time to get into my place. And with that he turned into a six gem incrusted bracelet and teleported into Twilight’s saddlebags. After a long muffled time he heard the princess say. “Then go. There is no time to lose.” Well, time to settle in for the long haul...... ^^^^^^One Duet and a really long train ride later^^^^^^ Lamina awoke to the sounds of someone shuffling about on a throne. His first thought was. Did Twilight leave the bags behind? And his second thought was. Never mind I can’t sense her. He focused on teleporting out of the saddlebags and succeeded to do so, but was grabbed in a hoof a moment later. “That’s odd, Cadance did Twilight bring a bracelet with her?” Shinning Armor asked his wife. “No. Not that I remember.” Well that singles out whoever is in the room. He concentrated on teleporting to the other side of the crystal throne room; two collective gasps were heard from the Unicorn and the Alicorn. ‘I would greatly appreciate it if I wasn’t manhandled by you, thank you very much!’ Shinning Armor looked around the room in search of the voice. “Who’s there? Show yourself!” he mentally rolled his eyes at the Unicorn. ‘Calm down I was sent by the princess to help Twilight with her test’ Shinning Armor didn’t relax from this statement and he sighed. ‘Fine I’m going to show myself, but remember I was sent to help.’ He concentrated on his original form and the six gems on the bracelet began to glow. A bright rainbow light appeared in the aisle and the two ponies were blinded by it. When they turned their heads back to the spot the light had originated from they saw the Dralicorn in all his glory. Lamina bowed to the two and greeted them. “Greetings I am Draco Lamina, sent by the Princess to help Twilight discreetly in her task.” Cadance looked the Dralicorn up and down before saying. “So you are the one Aunt Luna has mentioned?” She watched the Dralicorn’s eyes widen at this. “Aunt Luna? Oh she is so not going to live this one do-” Shinning Armor coughed to catch his attention. “Sorry, but if Luna means a deep blue scaled Dralicorn then yes I am he and he is I.” Shining Armor and Cadance were confused by Lamina’s statement and he chuckled at this. “Well I am here to assist however I can in the task ahead. But, can I ask what the problem is?” Cadance and Shining Armor nodded before he said. “Well the problem is that we were sent by the princess to protect the crystal empire when it reappeared.” Shining Armor looked at him with a downcast look. “It wasn’t the only thing to return...” Lamina looked at Armor and Cadance in turn. “King Sombra has returned, hasn’t he?” The married couple looked around the room before nodding to the Dralicorn in front of them. “Well I can assist you only in terms of giving magic, maybe holding Sombra back for a while, but like the princess said. This is Twilight’s test, and I am not to interfere in anyway.” He walked up to Shining Armor and noticed the black crystals on his horn. “Huh, Sombra got you good didn’t he?” he remarked to Shining Armor. He nodded and moved over to his wife, asking if she was ok. When she nodded to him he walked over to the Dralicorn. “Can I ask you a question Armor?” he said to the white Unicorn. Shinning Armor nodded to him. “Why do you do it?” This confused the guard, what did he mean why do you do it? “Why do you do all of this?” Ok that he could understand. “I do this to protect my family-” He looked towards his wife, and out the window where his sister was singing. “No matter how strange things get I will protect them. It’s also my duty to protect every citizen of Equestria, no matter the problem.” He smiled as his sister finished singing. “And sometimes, the good things weigh out the bad....” The Dralicorn looked out the window to see that all the six friends surrounded each other and were laughing together. He smiled, “Yeah... I guess some things are worth protecting.” ^^^^^^Crystal Empire, 4 hours later^^^^^^ “Ok, so it’s ShowTime?” The Dralicorn asked the white Unicorn next to him. “That’s right, King Sombra broke through and it’s our job to stop him.” “But as soon as things get out of claw or in this case for you, out of hoof. I’m teleporting us out.” Shining Armor nodded as the black mist got closer to them. “Well, in case we don’t make it, it-” Shining Armor stopped him with a raised hoof, “Don’t even finish that sentence, we can, and will protect everypony.” They both looked off the top of the hill as Sombra got closer to them. The Dralicorn smiled at the unicorn next to him. “Sorry mate, but you can’t fight in your condition.” Shining Armor started to run at him as magic glowed around the Dralicorn’s horn. And with a flash of multicoloured magic, Lamina sent Shining Armor away. ^^^^^^Meanwhile at the Crystal Castle^^^^^^ Twilight laughed as she slid up the stairs with Spike clinging to her back. “I actually studied gravity spells, thinking it might be on my test! Turns out I was prepared for this! Wooohooo!” They laughed as they came to a sudden stop and crashed to the floor. Getting up Spike and Twilight saw what they had been searching for, the Crystal Heart. She looked to her number one assistant and he motioned her forwards. Twilight stepped towards the floating heart and onto the platform. Which immediately turned black as night as one of King Sombra’s spells activated alerting him to the danger. In but a few moments Twilight was trapped inside a black crystal prison and the heart was knocked loose, falling beside Spike. Looking around dazed Twilight said, “The Heart... where's the Crystal-” Spike called out to her. “Here! It rolled over to me when you dropped it!” He moved towards Twilight and little black crystals appeared on the floor making the path towards her treacherous to take. “Don't move!” Spike started sweating as more black crystals appeared on the ground. Twilight looked out of the prison at her assistant. “You can move, just not toward me!” Spike backpedalled away from the prison as Twilight tried to escape using a teleportation spell. Sombra’s spell dragged her back inside and slammed her against the wall. “How could I have been so foolish...?” Using her hooves as leverage she pressed against the wall of her prison. “I was just so eager to get it! Then when I saw what was going on outside, I...” “You have to get out of there, Twilight! You have to be the one who brings the Heart to Princess Cadance! If you don't, you'll fail Celestia's test!” Twilight looked around as the Crystal empire was transformed around her into the black crystals. “King Sombra is already attacking the Empire. He could reach the Crystal Ponies at any moment... reach Princess Cadance, my brother, my friends... there may not be enough time for me to find a way to escape.” Realisation dawned on Twilight as she looked outside at Spike still dodging the little black crystals on the ground. A look of determination crossed Twilight’s face as she looked at the little dragon. “You have to be the one to bring the Crystal Heart to the faire.” Spike shot up from his sitting position “Me? But Twilight-” Twilight shouted at the little drake. “Go!” Spike looked at Twilight. “But-” Twilight lifted her head and screamed “GOOOO!” Grabbing the Crystal Heart, Spike dived out the window as the room exploded with dark crystals. ^^^^^^Lamina^^^^^^ He grunted in pain as Sombra threw his against one of the buildings, blood flowing from multiple cuts on his half scaled form. He smiled at the flowing mass of darkness as blood trickled from his lips. “That all you got ghostie?” “I never thought one such as you would be enough to distract me from making this place mine again!” He chuckled as Sombra moved away. “What’za matter Ghostie? Scared of getting a little blood on you tunic? Or are you, A Chicken?” With a roar Sombra grabbed him again, this time though Lamina was ready for it and breathed his rainbow dragon fire on the black form, causing it to roar in pain and throw him against the castle wall. Falling to the balcony below him he startled Shining Armor and the gathered ponies, Applejack spoke up “L-Lamina?” Coughing up blood he smiled at the orange farm pony. “Well gals and colts, I think now might be the time for plan B.... Cause my plan A failed...” He chuckled at that before his head fell to the floor and he closed his eyes for a much needed rest. The last thing he heard was Spike calling out to those below saying “I got the Crystal Heart!” ^^^^^^Several Hours Later^^^^^^ Waking up Lamina felt the covers on his body, and the bumps of the train on its way back to Canterlot. Oh.... I guess we won....... Realisation dawned on him as his mind played over the past few days. Oh no..... Tia’s going to kill me.... I wasn’t discreet at all! His whole body was in pain as he realised that. Hearing the door open he remained silent. “So is he awake yet?” Spike asked Twilight as they moved closer to the bed. He groaned as they talked, a pounding in his head only now making its presence know to him. “Who hit me upside the head with a ballista round, cause I’m going to shove a Thermo-Runic bomb up their-” Twilight cleared her throat and motioned her head towards Spike, who looked confused about what he was saying. “......You know what. Stuff it.” And with that his head hit the pillow and he blacked out. Twilight shook her head at the Dralicorn and moved over to the table that had his backpack on it. “I don’t know why the princess sent him to help, but I’m sure they had their reasons. And what the hay is a Thermo-Runic bomb?” Spike shrugged at Twilight and moved over to the stretched out Dralicorn. “Is he going to be ok?” He asked the librarian. Twilight smiled softly at the young drake, he looked up to Lamina as an older brother, maybe even a father figure. She shook her head and smiled again at her assistant. “I’m sure he’ll be fine Spike, go get some rest” She nudged him out of the room, making sure he got some sleep for the trip home. Once that was done she walked back into the separate carriage and over towards the Dralicorn. “You are going to be ok right?” The wounded Dralicorn groaned as Twilight said that. “How did you know I was still awake?” Twilight smiled at him. “Well I can see that your breathing had changed, not to mention the fact that your ears swerved around whenever somepony spoke.” “Ah.....” He opened his eyes and smiled softy in her direction. “So who do I thank for taking care of me while I was out?” She thought for a moment before answering. “Well we all took shifts until you were stable.” He cocked an eyebrow at this, sighing she said. “You had several broken ribs, a punctured lung, two broken legs, and one of your wings was broken.” “Well.... looks like I’m not moving for a while. Mind grabbing a scroll and inkwell for me?” He turned towards the librarian and waited. “Sure Lamina, I can do that.” She smiled and walked over to her bags, grabbing the scroll and inkwell in her magic and levitated it to the injured Dralicorn. “Ok... thanks Twi’” He smiled at her and she blushed from his thanks. This makes no sense he explained already that he was immortal to us. So why do I feel like this? He dipped his claw in the inkwell and held the scroll in his levitation spell. After several moments of his scribbling on the page he put the inkwell to the side. “Here to hoping that Celestia is accepting letters at this hour...” and he breathed on the parchment with a rainbow fire, turning it into a multicoloured wisp of smoke. Twilight was confused by this. “You can send letters to the princess?” He looked at her with a confused expression. “Well.... Yes and no.” Twilight looked at him, even more confused than before. “See my fire is different than Spike’s fire. Mine is able to send messages to whomever I want to send messages to. Also, my fire can do many different things; I’m only getting some of it now though. Other things will have to wait till ‘I understand myself more’ at least that’s what the princess said.” Twilight nodded at him. “Soooo...” He looked at her. “What?” she looked around the room, anywhere but his eyes. “Twi’ what’s wrong?” “Um.... Do you... You know, have a special somepony yet?” He blinked at her, and then blinked again. “I-I haven’t really given it much thought Twi’.... Guess I’m just not the kind of guy to get tied down.” Twilight’s head lowered in defeat at his words and he sighed. “Twilight....” Her head shot up at him calling her name. “I told you once that because of this form I am immortal right?” She nodded at his words, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. He looked her in the eyes and saw that glimmer of hope, and he sighed. “I-I’m sorry Twi’...... But it would never work between us. It’s best if you find a stallion that does want to be with you, and isn’t immortal, not that I’m s-saying that I do not like you but I’m the adventurous type of guy. I NEED action in my life otherwise I go stir crazy, that’s one of the reasons I travelled a lot in the time I’ve been here, why I’m building the airship, why I came along to help you, not that you needed it, but I was of some help..... Right...?” He looked at her with his head tilted to the side and his eyebrow raised. She chuckled at his statement. “Yeah Lamina, You helped us out a lot.” “Oh... That’s good.... I’m going.... -Yawn- Get some rest now....” His head flopped back down onto the pillow and he was out like a light. Twilight smiled and walked to the end of the carriage, flipping the light off as she left.... ^^^^^^Canterlot Castle 5 Hours Later^^^^^^ “What do you mean he’s in intensive care!?!?” Luna nearly screamed at her sister. “It’s exactly what I said dear sister, he is in intensive care right now from his ordeal in the Crystal Empire.” Luna walked up to her sister and stood next to her. “Can we go see him?” Celestia shook her head. “Why not, surely he is well enough-” Celestia interrupted her sister with a raised hoof. “He is asleep dear sister. And we cannot disturb his rest; he will need it in the days ahead.” Luna’s head lowered to the floor and her sister sighed. “Do not give me those eyes- No I told you it won’t work- UGH! Fine, go see him... Do not blame me when he kicks you out though...” Luna walked towards the medical section of the castle with a skip in her step and a smile plastered on her face. She passed the castle staff and guards on her way to the wards. She even passing Blueblood in the library but paying him no mind, eventually she reached the medical ward of the castle and went inside, it was then she heard a familiar voice. “Get off me! I told you I don’t need it! No! I AM NOT A CHILD! Now get off me before I roast that damnable thing into oblivion!” Sighing she walked towards the door labelled ‘Room 106’ where she heard a scream and what sounded like the Dralicorn breathing fire. Walking into the room she saw a roasted platter metal platter and more than 15 broken syringes against the wall. The Dralicorn looked at the white coated doctor in front of him and huffed smoke from his nostrils. “Try to force that thing in my arm again and I will break yours.... Do I make myself clear?” The doctor, scared of the Dralicorn before him, nodded quickly and left the room at a full gallop leaving the moon princess and the Dralicorn alone in the room. “Oh hey Luna, how were things going at the castle while I was gone?” Luna looked at the wounded Dralicorn and smiled. “Afraid of needles are we?” He scowled at the broken shards on the floor and said. “Nasty evil things that cause pain and misery were ever they go, sucking on the blood of innocents and pumping them full of toxins that make you sick to your stomach. Given the chance I would eradicate them from the face of the Universe.” Raising an eyebrow at him she said. “It just sounded like you described a Vampony there.” Looking at Luna with a confused look he said. “What in the name of all that’s holy is a Vampony?” Luna looked at him with shock, “do not bother, it was a slip of the tongue.” Nodding he turned to face the wall. “So, Lamina.” He looked at her again. “What are you going to do when you are healed?” He smiled at her and turned to face out the window. “Adventure.” Chapter Three: Memories and Awkward Situations^^^^^^Twilight’s Tree House 10-am^^^^^^ The sword awoke to people talking. Thinking that someone had found him inside that long forgotten dungeon, and that last night was but a dream he opened his eyes. What the sword saw before him was not what he expected. Looking down from his viewpoint, he saw what was talking. It was a blue winged horse with a rainbow mane, immediately he knew what this was. It was one of Twilight’s friends, the one know as Rainbow Dash. That meant that last night wasn’t a dream, and that he was trapped in a new world. He sighed to himself and looked back over to Rainbow and Twilight. Rainbow was talking to Twilight about some book? It appeared that way. He listened in to what they were saying. “Are you sure this is the next book Twi’?” Rainbow asked. Twilight looked towards her friend and smiled. “Yes Rainbow I am sure that is the next book in the Daring Doo series.” ‘Daring Doo and the Time Temple. It sounds like it would be a good read to say the least’ Twilight’s eyes widened as he said this, but it appeared that Rainbow did not hear him talk. Strange... he thought to himself. He would need to check on that at a later date. Twilight was now moving towards the shelf he lay on. “So you’re awake now?” ‘Yes I am awake now, and yes I did have a good night’s rest’ Rainbow looked confused by why Twilight was talking to herself. “Twilight who are you talking to? There’s nopony here.” Twilight looked to her friend with a puzzled expression. “You mean you can’t hear him?” “Hear who Twi’?” The sword intervened in the conversation ‘If I may say something Twilight. I believe that I can only talk to those I make contact with. So yes it would be a good idea to take me off the shelf.’ Twilight closed her mouth; shaking her head, she would never understand how he knew what she was going to say before she even said it. Using her magic, she pulled the sword off the shelf and levitated it towards Rainbow. Rainbow looked towards Twilight and then back to the sword, “that’s a cool looking sword Twi’ where’d you get it?” Twilight looked towards Rainbow before placing the sword on the counter. “You remember how the princess sent me that letter yesterday?” Rainbow nodded, “well it turns out the magical disturbance at the old castle yesterday was this sword. It appears to be a normal sword except... well look at the blade.” Rainbow complied and looked at the sword carefully she gasped as she looked at the blade of the sword. “Those are the Elements of Harmony! How are they on a sword?” Twilight shook her head and said. “I don’t know Rainbow, but that’s not the only weird thing about the sword. Go ahead and touch it.” Rainbow looked nervously at Twilight before slowly inching her hoof towards the blade. When her hoof made contact she saw that the blade changed colour from purple to blue and the sword started to shift back to its original form on normality. After the sword returned to its normal state Rainbow felt somepony talk to her. ‘Hello miss Dash, it is a pleasure to meet one such as you.’ Rainbow Dash removed her hoof in shock her eyes going into pinpricks of their former selves. “T-Twi, d-did the sword j-just talk?” Twilight moved towards Rainbow and the sword, reaching out a foreleg she laid her hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder. “Yes Rainbow the sword just talked, I still have no idea what to call you though.” ‘Well since I have no idea what my name once was, we shall have to come up with a new name for me wont we?’ Twilight nodded towards the sword and then looked towards the startled Pegasus. “Rainbow, stop freaking out, we’ve encountered stranger things in our time in Ponyville.” Rainbow looked towards Twilight with an expression on shock. “But Twilight, it’s a TALKING sword! How am I supposed to get over THAT?” Twilight shook her head at her friend’s antics, “Believe me when I say that I was more than shocked when I also found this out. But like I said, now is not the time to be freaking out. He needs our help to find him a name.” ‘Also I wish to meet this Princess Celestia of yours; she might be able to help me to return to my normal form.’ Twilight nodded in the direction of the sword “Right first things first, a name for our new friend here!” ‘Yay.... new names....’ ^^^^^^Three Hours Later^^^^^^ “What about Blade, that sounds like a fitting name” ‘Just because I’m a sword does not give you the right to make a pun at my expense. And by the way, you already said Blade, three times.’ Twilight blushed at the swords words, she hadn’t realised that Blade had already been said between the two of them. Rainbow spoke up. “UGH! This is taking forever! Can’t we hurry this up I have things I need to do!” The swords words hung in the air ‘What is so important that you need to leave on a Saturday?’ “W-well I need to go practice my routine for the Wonderbolts!” ‘Ah yes your daily stunt routine, sounds fascinating to watch. I’ll have to look into it sometime.’ Twilight butted into the conversation before it could escalate further “LADIES we can’t argue right-” ‘I’ll have you know that I am a man. So do not call me a lady’ Twilight facehoofed at the swords words, and both ponies could hear him chuckle to himself at Twilights actions. ‘Well I think I have one, it is in one of our languages. I believe it is Latin, so how about Ultorius?’ Rainbow perked up at this “Hey that doesn’t sound half bad!” Twilight nodded to herself. “Ultorius, sounds like a good name but what does it mean?” ‘It means Vengeful in Latin.’ Ultorius’ words hung in the air as he said them. Both girls looked at each other then back to the sword on the table. Rainbow looked scared by what he had said and Twilight looked chocked by what he had said. ‘Do not worry girls, it is just a name and I thought it sounded good for a sword.’ Both Twilight and Rainbow nodded at Ultorius and started to chat amongst themselves. Ultorius just sat there on the table, thinking back onto the past few days. All the precious loot that he had gained over the years was all stored in his magical backpack. But he could not reach it so he thought about it. Twilight sensed Ultorius doing something with magic, she was about to question what he was doing with magic until a small pop! Was heard amongst the three, silence followed as the three stared at the backpack that had appeared on the table next to the sword. ‘Well...... that solves one of my problems.’ Ultorius stared at the backpack until Rainbow spoke up. “Uh... Ult’ did you do that?” Ultorius sat next to the backpack doing nothing. After a few minutes he spoke. ‘Rainbow I have no idea how I did that. I just know that I did, and that confuses me. I have never had magic before and now I do? That just doesn’t seem likely to me...’ Twilight looked at the backpack on the ground then towards Ultorius. “Why doesn’t that seem possible for you to do? Many Unicorns here are able to do that.” ‘It doesn’t make sense to me because my species as a whole have never had magic before Twilight. I mean sure we discovered Runes but those were of a race that passed long before we found them. So it doesn’t make sense for me to have it now.’ Rainbow looked at Ultorius then to Twilight. “Hey guys I think I know why Ult’ has magic now.” Both Ultorius and Twilight looked towards Rainbow Twilight with a questioning look on her face and Ult’ just sat there. Both answered at the same time “How” Rainbow looked nervous as she prepared to say what she thought the problem might be. “Well I mean Ult’ said that his species doesn’t have any type of magic except Runes right? So I was thinking maybe it was because of how you two melded minds and swapped experiences and information. It might not be that his race never had magic; it might be that they never had the information to ever tap into their magic to be able to use it. And since the information swap between both of your minds he gained the experience to be able to do that now.” Twilight looked towards her friend with a confused expression on her face while Ultorius just remained silent. Rainbow looked at the both of them before saying “What I paid attention in SOME of my classes at school.” Rainbow crossed her forelegs and turned her head away from the two. Twilight continued to stare at Rainbow before Ultorius snapped her out of it. ‘Pay attention Twilight, all of your friends went to school remember?’ Twilight blinked at the statement and finally snapped out of her trance. She looked towards Rainbow Dash and said. “I’m sorry Rainbow it’s just that you caught me by surprise when you said that.” ‘Anyway, before an awkward crisis emerges how about you introduce me to the rest of your friends?’ Twilight looked towards Ultorius “That sounds like a good idea, Rainbow can you go get the others please?” Rainbow Dash nodded and flew out the door to go fetch all the others. ‘Let me guess.... you want to ask me some questions now?’ Twilight looked at Ultorius before saying “Yes I would like to know more about you and your species, and especially how you came to be in this situation.” ‘Well... first let me say this. Not all of my species are the same, we are all different like you ponies..... HANG ON A SEC! Didn’t the information swap thing give you the answers to all your questions?’ He had Twilight there the information swap did explain a great detail of many things. But some things were a little complicated because they didn’t make any sense to Twilight. So she explained this to him. 'Ok.... ok, fine I’ll try to answer whatever questions you may have, we DO have a deal to uphold.’ Twilight smiled triumphantly at Ultorius’ words before saying, “Ok first question, how did you end up in that dungeon?” ‘Well that might be better explained when all the rest of your friends get here, I’ll say this though it is an interesting tale.’ Twilight could understand the logic in wanting to wait for the rest of the Elements to arrive before talking about the Dungeon he had been in. “Ok then, second question, what is your species?” Ultorius thought about that question for a few seconds then responded with ‘My race is called Homo sapiens or more commonly called Humans’ Twilight was confused by Ultorius’ response; she had always thought that Humans were an old mare’s tale, not really a live race. “Ultorius, There’s no such thing as humans.” ‘Delve into my memories Twilight Sparkle, you will find my answer correct then. And don’t worry I’ll alert you when the others get here.’ Ultorius thought of the backpack going back to where he had got it from and with a flash of multipule colours, The backpack disappeared. Twilight Sparkle looked into her mind in search of the answers she was looking for, what Twilight found in the memories of Ultorius was not what she was expecting. The last words she heard from Ultorius were. 'Oh nice to know that still works....' ^^^^^^Memories of Ultorius^^^^^^ Ultorius stood on a chair in front of a crowd of people, all of them crying out for the blood of the traitor. One voice rang out above the cries of the crowd “You are hereby charged with treason against the crown! How do you plead?” Ultorius looked around at all the faces of the crowd searching for that familiar face that had helped him the last time this had happened. Again the voice called out to him “HOW DO YOU PLEAD?!?” Ultorius turned his head around to stare at the executioner, “I plead, not guilty!” The executioner huffed at his statement, “Any last words then traitor?” Ultorius stared out amongst the crowd again looking at each of the faces. His gaze stopped on one familiar face. He smiled at the hooded person and the person smiled back. “No? Okay then. By order of the crown you are sentenced to hang by the neck till death.” A deep drum began playing as the executioner moved towards the lever that was all that kept Ultorius alive. He looked out over the crowd again, seeing the hooded person move amongst the people shifting them slightly as he/she went past them. “Can I have one last request?” he asked the executioner The executioner stopped next to the lever that suspended Ultorius above a small pit. The man turned around and faced him. “Name it.” He smiled at the executioner “I wish to sing one song, before I die” The executioner nodded towards Ultorius, “It would entertain the crowd, and you may begin. Ultorius coughed to clear his throat and began to sing a song from one of the famous movies. “Home is behind, the world ahead And there are many paths to tread Through shadow, to the edge of night Until the stars are all alight The hooded person moved closer as the first part of the song Edge of Night by Pippin in Lord of the Rings the twin towers came to an end. Mist and shadow Cloud and shade Alll shall fade All shall fade” As the song ended the hooded person reached the back of the scaffolding and jumped up behind the executioner. Grabbing a dagger from a hidden hold in the robes, the hooded person gripped the man’s head and jerked it back exposing his throat. She/he moved the dagger and slit his throat open, chucking him into the audience making them all scatter in terror. I looked towards my hooded saviour with a smile. “Maria it is good to see you again.” “The same cannot be said for you my amicus.” “Etiam, I could not have put it better myself Maria.” Maria nodded at Ultorius before moving towards him in order to cut him down..... ‘Twilight....’ ^^^^^^Ponyville Twilight’s House^^^^^^ ‘Twilight, the others are here.’ Twilight Sparkle came out of her trance as Rainbow Dash entered the tree house. Shaking her head to clear the air Twilight looked for Ultorius to ask him who that was. ‘Not now Twilight, the others are here.’ Twilight nodded and moved forward to greet her friends, first entered Rainbow Dash, then Applejack and Rarity, and lastly entered Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Twilight smiled at her friends and greeted them “Hi girls, how’s everypony going?” Applejack was the one to respond first, “Jus’ dandy Twi’, mind tellin’ us why ya’ called us here. Applebuck season is right round the corner.” Rarity was the next to speak up “Yes darling could you please tell us why we are here, I have an order I need completed by the end of this week.” Pinkie Pie spoke up next “So where's the new pony, oh I wonder if he likes parties!” Fluttershy was the last of her friends to speak up “I-if you don’t m-mind that is....” After Fluttershy had said that she hid behind her mane. Twilight looked at each of her friends in turn before saying “Well girls, the reason I called you all here was because I have somepony important for you all to meet.” After Twilight had said that, she levitated the sword into an umbrella rack and into the centre of the group. Rarity was the first to speak up “Well dear where did you get this marvellously decorated sword?” Twilight looked at Rarity before saying “You girls remember the letter the princess sent me yesterday?” After they had all nodded she continued “Well the letter the princess sent asked me to investigate the old castle where we defeated nightmare moon.” ‘And that Twilight was quite the feat. Well done I must say.’ Twilight rolled her eyes at what Ultorius had said, this gained her confused looks by everypony gathered except Rainbow Dash who had also heard what Ultorius had said and was chuckling to herself, Ultorius was laughing at Twilight’s reaction. “Well after the letter was sent I went to investigate the magical disturbance that the princess had mentioned. When I arrived it appeared exactly the same as we had left it, except for one difference. This sword appeared in a flash of rainbow light on the pedestal the Elements of Harmony were on, right in the centre of it.” After the girls had nodded at her to continue her story she cleared her throat, “After the sword appeared I heard somepony asking for help,” Twilight looked at Ultorius who said ‘Well are you going to tell them of am I?’ Twilight sighed and said what Ultorius had said “The voice asked me ‘Where am I? Hello? Is anyone there?” Rainbow looked at Ultorius and she could feel him smile. ‘Hey Dash? Want to play a prank?’ Rainbow smiled and nodded eagerly ‘Okay here’s the plan, ever heard of a ventriloquist before?’ Ultorius didn’t think it was possible but Rainbow Dash’s smile got even bigger. “- and that’s how we came to be here right now.” All the girls were slack jawed as Twilight finished her story about Ultorius. After a while Applejack spoke up. “So yer expectin’ us ta believe that some magical who-ha happened at th’ ol’ castle an’ this here sword appeared on te pedestal?” “Applejack, darling you are the embodiment of the Element of Honesty surely what Twilight says is the truth.” Applejack looked down at the ground and kicked at the floor with her front hoof. “Ah guess so.” Twilight looked at all the girls with as smile before saying. “Okay so the only way Ultorius can talk to you is if you touch the sword. So off you go girls.” The girls all walked forwards towards the sword and Ultorius smiled to himself. ‘You ready Rainbow?' Rainbow smiled at him which he took for as a yes. The 4 other ponies present all placed a hoof on Ultorius, and then Ultorius and Rainbow began their little prank. As soon as he started talking Rainbow slowly shifted her lips as to give the illusion that Rainbow was actually speaking. ‘Greeting little ponies I am Ultorius the Elemental Sword.’ The girls all gasped and fell backwards as Ultorius spoke to them, all but one. Pinkie Pie had noticed Rainbow Dash using ventriloquism and she had started to giggle at Rainbow’s antics. “Dashie stop using ventriloquism to scare us, it won’t work!” All the rest of the girls were now staring at Rainbow Dash, and Twilight had a frown on her face. Rainbow stared at Pinkie with a confused expression plastered on her face. “But Pinkie Pie.... I’m not using ventriloquism.” Ultorius added after that ‘Yeah Pinkie she’s not using ventriloquism...’ Needless to say all the mare’s faces except for Twilight’s and Rainbow Dash’s were stuck in a state of shock and horror. Finally after a long time, Rainbow and Ultorius started to laugh; Rainbow fell on the floor while the air around the sword started to quiver. ‘HAHAHAHA.... You... should see....he he... looks on your....pfft...HAHAHAHA’ Ultorius busted into a new bout of laughter, while Rainbow Dash had fallen to the floor clutching her sides. After a long time the two stopped laughing hard enough to hear a low growling sound from Twilight, Rainbow looked at Twilight and then at the steam coming out of her ears. “Uuuuh, Ult’ I think we pushed her too far.” ‘Agreed’ Twilight’s mane busted into flame and she growled at the both of them. Rainbow dash as quick as ever flew out of the door with Ultorius screaming ‘WAIT!!! TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!!!’ Rainbow left a rainbow trail as she bolted out of the tree house, she could hear an agonised scream as the Twilight’s house became a blur on the horizon and the scream of Ultorius died down. She stopped for a brief rest before she could hear a scream coming from the distance, getting louder and louder as it closed in on her. Rainbow closed her eyes expecting Twilight to pop up next to her and start scolding her. What really happened was that Ultorius landed next to her with an UMPH. ‘Remind me never to piss off Twilight......’ Rainbow opened her eyes to see Ultorius lying next to her on the grass. Smoke coming off his blade and the hilt a little bit on fire. ‘Um, can you hide me? Please?’ Rainbow smiled at the question “Maybe, Maybe not. Depends on what you can do for me later...” ‘Look Twilight should either be here in a couple of minutes of she could just teleport here right now. Either way we need to move, NOW.’ Rainbow nodded at Ultorius and picked up the now cool sword and started flying towards her cloud house off in the distance...... Just as Princess Celestia’s carriage flew by overhead. ^^^^^^Canterlot Castle before Ultorius wakes up^^^^^^ Princess Celestia was sitting in her room as Twilight’s message came through in a puff of green smoke. Levitating the paper in her magic she read the message on the scroll. Dear Princess Celestia My investigation has drawn up more questions than answers at this time. During my investigation into the magical disturbance you sent me to investigate at the old castle in the Everfree forest, I found something rather interesting that I must request you presence in Ponyville in order to fully explain this strange phenomenon to you. Your student, Twilight Sparkle. Princess Celestia hummed to herself in thought; Twilight would never ask me to come to Ponyville unless it was extremely urgent. Moving off her bed and down the corridor to her sister’s room, she knocked politely on the gilded door before entering. “Luna? Are you awake?” “Uhhhhg what is it Tia? I was trying to sleep.” “Well I just received a letter from Twilight urging my presence in Ponyville; she would like to explain something she found in her Investigation of the magical disturbance that you felt last night.” Luna looked towards her sister “You mean the one at the old castle that housed the Elements of harmony? And where Nightmare Moon was defeated?” Celestia looked at Luna from the darkened doorway. The room was dark and on the ceiling was what looked like the night sky; the bed had Luna’s Cutie Mark on it and was a deep blue colour like her coat. Everything around the room reflected Luna’s ponyality? (Personality, Might need a little help with that one everypony). Luna looked at Celestia, “Sister, are you going to Ponyville then?” Celestia’s gaze drifted around the room, then back to her sister. “I suppose I should see what Twilight needs me to look at, it might be something important.” Luna nodded at her sister and laid her head down to go back to sleep. Celestia excited the room, closing the door quietly and walked down the corridor to the carriages outside on the strip that had been designated for the landing and taking off of carriages. Hoping into one carriage she told the four ponies that were pulling said carriage to take her to Twilight’s tree house in Ponyville. The guards nod and take off, flying in the direction of Ponyville. Just as the solar princess nears Ponyville she hears a scream from the town. Looking down she sees Rainbow Dash, the Element of loyalty, fly past leaving a rainbow trail behind her. Following the trail backwards, she sees that Rainbow had come from Twilight’s home. Celestia smiled to herself, thinking of all the new antics her student had probably gotten herself into over the past few months in Ponyville. Landing in front of Twilight’s library she excited the carriage and walked towards the door. Before the princess could raise her hoof to knock on the door a purple flash could be seen through the window. Puzzled the solar princess stops to think what could possibly be happening inside that required Twilight to teleport around. Just as she finished thinking this another purple flash could be seen from the window, plus the screaming of a mare. The princess frowned and knocked on the door and just as quickly as the screaming started, it stopped. Twilight opened the door to find the princess standing in front of her, with a frown on her face. She gulped and spoke, “G-good morning Princess Celestia, did you come this morning in regards to my letter?” The solar princess frowned at her student. “Twilight Sparkle, why do I hear screams coming from your home?” Twilight smiled weakly at her mentor, “Err, no reason princess. Just Rainbow Dash being Rainbow Dash.” Princess Celestia smiled to herself and said to her beloved student, “Would you mind if I come inside then Twilight?” Twilight looked back inside her home and back to the princess, a nervous smile plastered on her face. “S-sure Princess j-just let me tidy up!” Just as quickly as the door was open it was closed on Celestia; a muffled scream was heard before another purple flash was seen through the window. Having had enough on her student’s antics, she opened the door with her magic and walked inside to find Twilight on top of a bound and crying Rainbow Dash. The princess’s eyes widened as she came to realise what she had just stumbled upon, Rainbows eyes looked at her pleadingly and Twilights reduced to pinpoint as she realised that Celestia had just opened the door. Twilight’s head turned towards the princess as she said “Princess! It’s not what you think!” The solar princess’s head swerved around the room looking at the gathered ponies. Applejack and Rarity standing in one of the corners sitting in the couch, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were sitting at the dining table and Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle who were on the top of one of the tables in the main room. Celestia’s gaze drifted over each and everypony’s faces before responding to her students words. “Then what is going on here Twilight?” “Well Rainbow Dash and Ultorius thought it would be funny to play a prank on me when they knew you would be arriving soon.” The princess thought about this for a moment. Who was this Ultorius that Twilight had mentioned “Twilight? Who is this Ultorius that you mentioned?” Celestia’s hoof bumped against something cold on the floor as she walked into the room, looking down she found a sword that had some oddly familiar gems imbedded into the white blade. And then a deep melodic voice filled the room. ‘That would be me your highness; it is a pleasure to finally meet you. Twilight has spoken highly and often of you.’ Celestia’s eyes drifted away from the blade on the floor to look around for the source of the voice. ‘Ahem, down here your majesty.’ Looking down again she found the odd sword lying against her hoof, she looked at it in confusion as she tried and failed to comprehend what was going on in Twilight’s home. Before she could say anything the voice spoke up again. ‘Princess would you mind picking me up and placing me on the table top please? Or in the rack over there, as comfortable as your hoof is I would rather be someplace where I could see everypony’s faces rather than their hooves.’ The princess’s face turned from one of confusion to one of shock as she realised just WHO Ultorius is and more importantly WHAT he is. “Don’t worry Ulty I got you!” Pinkie said as she picked up the blade and leaned it against the wall. ‘Thank you Pinkie Pie, it is nice to know somepony here has the common courtesy to pick a gentleman off the floor and dust him off once in a while.’ Pinkie Pie giggled at Ultorius’ statement and walked back towards the dining table were Fluttershy was sitting. The table was stacked high with an assortment of sweets ranging from muffins and cupcakes to, well cake. Grabbing some plates from Twilight’s kitchen, Pinkie Pie started to hand out the sweets. Ultorius coughed to get everypony’s attention. ‘I assume, princess that since you are here. You wish to hear my story, yes?’
Chapter One: The Elemental SwordIt was dark, damp and quiet. No sound was made in the long forgotten dungeon as the swordsman strolled through. The dungeon was something out of a nightmare, full of monsters, skeletons, discarded weapons and death. But the swordsman did not worry about that, for he had something many did not. A sword like no other, he had The Sword. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = He was pissed. After five days in this long forgotten dungeon he was fed up with it. Five days without talking to someone. Five days without the natural comforts of being in a bed, or warm food. Five days without company of any kind. Unless one would count the monsters in this god forsaken dungeon as company, but he would disagree with that. But now the swordsman was lost in here without an exit, and no map to help him find a way out. He looked around the dark dungeon, trying to find an escape from the horrors that may lurk around every corner. Turning down a left corridor he came upon a door rimmed in shimmering gold and black iron. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a note. ‘Once you come upon a door rimmed with gold and black iron. Open the door with this sword, for it is the key.’ He looked down toward his sword, then back to the door. Discarding the note the swordsman drew the strange looking blade and looked for the lock. Strangely enough, he found it right in the middle of the double doors. Looking around for monsters one last time, before plunging the swords into the look. Gaining a satisfactory click from the lock, and grunting with the effort, he turned the sword in the lock and pushed the door open, and took a look inside. The room not like the other rooms in the dungeon; it was furnished with couches tables and book shelves, but it still looked old. He pulled the sword out of the lock and went into the room. Hearing a click he turned back around to face the way that he had come. Finding that the door was locked from the other side. Great.... another locked door, I can add that to my list of things to be pissed about. Sighing the swordsman continued on his trek around the room. He went toward one of the shelves and pulled out a book bound in a brown casing with golden designs in each corner, and what looked like a golden unicorn with a green eye on the front. Opening the book, he swore to himself. It just HAD to be in another language...... sighing the swordsman took his new found treasure and stuffed it into his backpack, which was enchanted to be able to create a pocket dimension for storage. Walking over to a golden lined chest in the corner of the room, he grabbed the weird sword out again and jammed it into the lid and shimmied it open. Jackpot! Inside the chest were tons of platinum coins with what looked to be two flying horses on the front of each coin..... And Gems! Tons of gems were inside the chest as well, ranging from diamonds all the way to amethysts. He shrugged and took out his enchanted backpack and stuffed all of the coin and gems inside. After he was finished putting the coins and gems into his backpack, he stood up from his position on the floor. Puting a hand to his chin in thought. Now that that’s done, what do I do now? Looking around the room again, this time taking in every detail about it. He found that there were in fact TWO doors in the room. One was which he came from; the other was in fact never there before. Wandering towards the new door he stopped before it and looking the door over in mild interest before searching for a lock to open it. Seeing none he reached for the door and pushed it. The door opened with ease, inside showed a room which there was a pedestal in the middle, with six globes of some sort suspended by pylons connected to the middle of it. Walking forwards he climbed the stairs and reached the middle of the pedestal. The swordsman looked around himself in wonder, the room was almost empty and devoid of anything that might be of value. A faint humming noise filled the room but the swordsman did not notice; he was admiring the decorations around the room. Looking down he noticed two things. One: there were two familiar symbols on the pedestal. Upon closer inspection they were found to be similar to his people’s symbols of time and transformation. And two: there was a familiar looking hole in the pedestal that looked like an all too familiar sword that was strapped to his waist. Looking around himself yet again for monsters and traps, he reached for his sword and pulled it out of its sheath. He didn’t move forwards until the entire room had been looked upon by his gaze. One thing stopped him from looking back to the hole in the pedestal. The sweep of the room had unnerved him, for where there was meant to be the exit. There was only a blank wall of stone. He was now trapped in this room. He was stressed now, and started to sweat with the tension in the room. Looking back to the pedestal, he centred his blade over the hole, and plunged it into the lock burying it down to the gem encrusted hilt. What’s the worst that could happen? Giving a grunt as he twisted the blade to unlock whatever secrets the pedestal may have hidden within. The hum in the room now getting louder, he finally heard it, and looked around fearful of what might happen. He tried to remove his hands from the sword but found that he could not; the orbs were now floating with a pure white aura surrounding them. Tugging at the sword with all his might to try and remove it from the stone grasp that clung to it. The orbs were slowly levitated from their original standing point and slowly began travel around the swordsman. Picking up speed as they went along, he was sweating heavily now. With had no idea what was going on, the swordsman was scared of what might happen should this be allowed to continue. Finally the orbs had reached a crescendo, a cascade of colours from all the spectrums of the rainbow crashed into him. He expected pain, suffering at least a little bit of discomfort. But all he felt was cold and stiff as the rainbow continued its assault onto the swordsman. ^^^^^^ Temple of the royal pony sisters – Everfree Forest ^^^^^^ Twilight Sparkle walked through the old ruined castle of the royal pony sisters where months ago she and her friends had become the elements of harmony. Her princess and mentor had earlier that night sent her a letter urging her to investigate a large magical disturbance in the old ruined castle. Twilight reached the inside of the castle in but a few minutes of her time. Looking around the ruined area she examined the magic in the old castle, but sensed nothing unusual in the magic around her. But upon closer inspection the magic near where the elements were before her friends and herself removed them to defeat nightmare moon, was strangely more active than usual. Twilight approached the pedestal cautiously, using her magic to scan it. Slowly a magical charge appeared around the pedestal that used to house the elements of harmony. Until the charge burst forth in a display of multicoloured of the rainbow, she recognised the power of the elements of harmony at work and averted her eyes from the blinding light. When it was all over the only thing that had changed was that there was a sword sticking out of the top of the pedestal that the elements were upon. The sword had a blade of multiple colours all representing the colours of the element users themselves, it shifted from purple, to yellow, to pink, to white, to cyan and finally to orange. The blade of the sword had six gems incrusted within it. Each one representing the cutie mark of the elements themselves, a lightning bolt, a balloon, an apple, a butterfly, a diamond and a star. The hilt itself was made of some type of wood that was elegantly fashioned with vines wrapping around the hilt to make a sort of grip around it to be able to hold it properly. At the base of the hilt was a pure white gem that glowed slightly in the darkness that surrounded the pedestal. She stared at the sword for what seemed like a few hours but only a couple of minutes in real time. She had no idea what to do with the sword that was inside the pedestal. She walked slowly over toward the imbedded sword, stopping sharply when she heard somepony talk. ‘Where am I? Hello? Is anyone there?’
Chapter Two: Where am I?‘Where am I? Hello? Is anyone there?’ Twilight looked around her for the source of the soft voice, “Hello? Is somepony there?” ‘Um hello, who are you?’ Twilight stopped turning around looking for the voice. “My name is Twilight Sparkle. What is your name?” The voice was hesitant at first. ‘I.... don’t remember.’ Twilight’s face turned to one of bewilderment. “Okay then, where are you?” The voice hummed to itself, obviously thinking and Twilight thought to herself that sounds beautiful just as fast as the humming began it stopped and the voice spoke again. ‘I can’t move my legs.... In fact I can’t FEEL my legs.... I think I might be stuck.’ Twilight looked around again before taking a cautious step forward. “Can you see anything around you?” Again the voice spoke up in a melodic tone ‘There are walls and an open window with shards on the ground, I appear to be on a pedestal’ Twilight looked towards the pedestal were the elements of harmony once rested, only to see the sword from before with only a part of the blade and the hilt showing. “Are you sure that’s where you are? All I see on the pedestal is a sword.” The voice gasped, clearly distraught with finding something out. ‘A-are you s-sure about that, No weird hairless ape like thing?’ “No, no weird hairless ape like thing, just a sword.” The voice sounded nervous now, after a few minutes it gasped. ‘Oh no.... the transformation rune.... Oh God... I don’t believe it...’ Twilight still looking at the sword in the pedestal, thought for a moment. What in the name of Celestia is a hairless ape like thing? What did it mean by a transformation rune? She gasped as the realisation hit her. “I don’t believe it, are you saying that the sword. IS you?” ‘Look I know that might be hard to believe, I know I’m having a swell time trying to comprehend it myself. But now is NOT the time to be freaking out!’ “I’m not freaking out; you are the one that’s yelling at me!” ‘Look are you going to help me or not?’ Twilight sighed as she moved toward the embedded sword. “You realise I don’t even know what to do to help you?” The voice sighed ‘Look we can either argue about this all day-‘ “It’s night right now” There was a smacking sound and a shuddering sigh as Twilight finished speaking to the voice. ‘All NIGHT’ the voice said ‘Or you can help me get out of this fix’ Twilight placed a hoof to her chin and thought to herself for a minute. “I have only one condition to me helping you.” The voice sighed ‘What is this condition?’ Twilight smiled to herself and raised her foreleg while saying “It’s simple really; just answer any question I ask you once we get you out of there.” The voice thought about his chances of any other person, or whatever this thing was. That would stroll by and rescue him. The chances came up slim to none and NOT in his favour. Begrudgingly he agreed to this mare’s deal. ‘Fine, but after I’m out I want to speak to whoever is in charge here.’ “Do we have a deal?” ‘We have a deal; now can you please help me out of here?’ “Well since you said please....” Twilight moved over to the pedestal, and gripped the swords hilt in her magic. She tugged at the hilt and slowly but surely the sword moved out of the pedestal, revealing the blade with the gems in it. She stopped as she inspected the gems. The voice seemed confused as to why this ‘Twilight Sparkle’ had stopped pulling him out of the pedestal. He voiced his concerns with audible confusion. ‘Err, Twilight? Why did you stop pulling?’ She stuttered “T-that’s I-impossible!” The voice was confused by what Twilight had said he had no idea what she was talking about, so he said what he was thinking. ‘What are you talking about, what is impossible?’ Twilight looked toward the glowing white gem at the hilt of the sword before saying “These are the elements of harmony; they are supposed to be in the Canterlot castle vault. How do you have them?” ‘How am I supposed to know? You have to remember that I have no idea what’s going on here. As for the Elements of whatever you called them. I have no idea what they are, now can you please help me and after that I will answer any questions you may have about my situation.’ Twilight nodded and continued to tug at the weapon until a noise was made; it was metal scraping against stone. Twilight redoubled her efforts to free the sword from the stone, going so far as to grip the sword with her hooves for better leverage. As soon as Twilight touched the blade, it changed from its multicoloured hues to a dense purple. Like paper stuck together with glue the sword, inch by inch, came out of the stone pedestal. Neither the voice nor Twilight heard what was happening around them, for a sound was being produced. A low hum just like the one that had sent the voice here, was being heard by the animals nearby. Finally the sword came loose from the stone, and a frightening crack was heard as a bolt of purple lightning was flung from the sky to impact at the tip of the blade. Energy coursed through the dense metal making the purple glow along the length of the blade all the more brighter. Each gem that represented the elements glowed with a new found brightness, but only one was shinning more than the rest. The gem for the element of magic started to glow an all too bright purple. At the hilt of the blade where the bright white gem was located, the wooden hilt started to shift. Instead of the plain wooden hilt, it shifted to look more like a star itself with the bottom of the star being where the new grip was. The gem had moved from the bottom of the hilt to the centre of the star hilt, the vines that were previously on the hilt started to meld into the wood itself leaving runes engraved into the wood. Twilight recognised some of them, one was a barrier rune, another was a booster rune, and the last one she could tell of was a healing rune. Finally the gem itself changed colour and shape. Instead of the brilliant white glow that it had before, it now had the same purple glow that Twilights coat was. Instead of a rounded gem it melded into the design of the hilt making a small purple star in the centre. After the blade had changed something new pressed against Twilights mind. At first she tried pushing whatever it was away, but that only caused her discomfort. Finally against her common sense she allowed whatever was pressing against her mind entrance. Two voices gasped as one and Twilight fell to the floor as new images and sensations assaulted her mind. The voice also felt the changes to his sword, and the assault of new information on his mind was staggering. Finally after many minutes the blade started to lose its brightness and became lighter in Twilights hooves. After lying on the floor for more time than either could count the voice spoke. ‘Well.... that was interesting to say the least.’ Twilight sucked in air greedily, trying to calm her racing heart. After she had done so, she looked to the sword in her hooves. “What in the name of Celestia was THAT?” She could feel as if the voice shrugged at her and ‘he’ because she had felt that too said ‘I have no idea what just happened to us Twilight, but I might suggest that we move out of the Everfree forest while we have the chance.’ Twilight was confused by his newfound knowledge but before she could say anything he cut her off. ‘And before you ask me how I know of this, I think it was when our minds melded together. I gained all of what you know and you gained all of what I know. Almost like an information swap. Now I suggest we get moving before a Manticore comes and rips us a new one.’ Twilight nodded and prepared her spell to teleport to the edge of the Everfree forest, it surprisingly took less time than normal for her to cast said spell. ‘It must be because of the runes on the hilt, look into it later Twilight’ she silently agreed with him and launched her spell. In a blinding flash of purple she disappeared from the old castle and reappeared at the edge of the Everfree forest. Twilight walked past many places as she walked into Ponyville, she passed Fluttershy’s cottage, Applejack’s Farm, Rainbow Dash’s cloud house, Rarity’s Boutique and Sugercube Corner where Pinkie Pie worked and lived. After the walk they ended up at their destination, Twilight Sparkle’s tree house. It being the local library was an added bonus that Twilight liked about the tree house. As they walked in the door Twilight was greeted with a familiar ‘who’ from Owlowicious and Twilight too tired to say anything to the Owl, smiled weakly before putting him down on the couch. ‘I take it you are too tired to ask me any questions tonight Twilight?’ the only response he got from her was a weak nod. ‘Well you might want to put me out of reach of spike, or anypony for that matter’ again another weak nod and a purple field of energy gripped the sword and slotted it away at the top of one of the shelves. He smiled to himself as she placed him in the top corner of an empty bookshelf. ‘Goodnight Twilight’
Chapter Four: New Forms and Meeting the Princess (Again)‘I assume, princess that since you are here. You wish to hear my story, yes?’ The solar princess stared at the blade leaning against her students bookcases. The sword looked oddly more familiar than she would care to know. Upon closer inspection, she could finally figure out why. The swords blade was embedded with the Elements of Harmony! Celestia turned to face the sword known as Ultorius and said “I will ask you this once and once only, WHY do you have the Elements of Harmony with you?” A hum filled the room as Ultorius thought about his predicament. ‘I do not know why these ‘Elements’ are on me, I just know that they are. And since I can’t see myself I suppose one of you will have to tell me what I look like.’ Twilight stepped forward from the others and cleared her throat. “Well Ultorius there are six Elements of Harmony; each one represents the aspects of friendship. Loyalty....” Rainbow raised her hoof and placed it on her chest, all the time looking smugly at Ultorius. “Laughter....” Pinkie Pie stepped forward and giggled at him. “Generosity...” Rarity flicked her mane out of her eye and smiled at him. “Honesty...” Applejack stepped forwards tipped her hat at Ultorius and moved back into the line. “Kindness....” At that Fluttershy hid behind her mane and moved behind her friend, Rainbow Dash. “And Magic, me” Twilight smiled at Ultorius as she finished her introductions. After Twilight did that she pointed a hoof at him and said. “The elements of Harmony have both a spiritual presence and a physical presence; the spiritual part is in each and every one of us in one way or form. And the physical part is these gems imbedded into your blade. Plus there’s these weird diagrams on your hilt which you said were Runes.” At that Ultorius gasped ‘THE RUNES DESCRIBE THEM!’ Twilight was scared by Ultorius yelling at her and the princess did not look happy that he had done so. Ultorius collected himself and drew in a shuddering breath. ‘I am sorry for yelling Twilight.... Please, tell me what these ‘Runes’ look like.’ Twilight looked towards the hilt of the sword and spoke out in a calm voice. “One looks like a Star-” ‘That would be a Pentagram’ “Right, one looks like a pentagram surrounded by each element in a circle. In the middle of the pentagram there is what looks like a water droplet..... That’s not water is it?” Ultorius swore to himself. ‘I just HAD to activate the ancient trap didn’t I? God damn idiot....... What you see Twilight is now what I confirmed to be the results of a Blood Ritual. Very powerful Rune, also very hard to undo without the blood of an ancient magical being..... Even then it would not guarantee 100% of me turned back to normal. If what I think has happened then I am on an entirely different world, and my body may adapt to become more like your own.’ Twilight looked towards the princess knowing that Ultorius was mentioning her when he said ‘Blood of an ancient magical being’ and said “Your highness, I know that your first meeting with Ultorius wasn’t the greatest but he needs our help to find out what sent him here and-” Twilight continued to talk to the princess as Spike entered the room. When he saw the blade lying against the bookcase he was in awe. Spike moved towards the blade cautiously looking towards Twilight and the princess before reaching out and touching the sharp part of the blade. Retracting his hand from the sword, as the blood of the young drake seeped from one of his claws to fall upon the white gem at the hilt of the blade; he quickly grabbed a cloth and wiped away the blood before a voice spoke to him ‘Might want to get a plaster on that young dragon, and make sure not to touch my sword again.’ Spike left the room in a hurry to do as the voice said, heading upstairs just as Twilight and the princess turned around to help Ultorius. No one had seen him enter, and no one had seen him leave, except Ultorius..... ^^^^^^15 minutes later^^^^^^ “Ok Ultorius I will help you regain your true form, but you must after that come with me to Canterlot and answer my questions that I have.” ‘That is agreeable princess. Now please step forward, this will only hurt for a second....’ The princess moved towards the sword lying against the bookcase and reached out with her magic to grasp the sword. Bringing the point to her hoof she made a small cut on it, and let the blood trickle off to fall onto the sword. The red droplet hit the white gem that only a little earlier Spike’s own blood had hit. Everypony present watched intensely as the Pure White gem faded and turned to a Blood Red. The room filled with red light making all present including the princess back away from the sword and cover their eyes. Growls of pain filled the room as the Blood Magic was flushed from Ultorius body. The sword glowed with a bright intensity and each of the gems colours intensified beyond the point that a little ball of rainbow light was all that was left. The rainbow ball was outlined with blood as each power tried to dominate the other. The harmonious magic trying to expel the blood magic out of him while the blood magic trying to force its way back into Ultorius’ body. Princess Celestia could tell that the colliding powers that be could expand outwards at any moment. Teleporting all the ponies present into a clearing inside the Everfree forest, the solar princess threw up a shield around her subjects and herself at exactly the last moment. Harmony in the end won over the blood magic and it was dispelled in an explosion of magic that bent the trees in the clearing backwards, scorching the ground and igniting the air into lava. This continued for several minutes before the lava on the ground cooled into stone and the raging inferno of magic stopped. Celestia hesitantly lowered the shield and the smell of burnt wood and earth assaulted the noses of all ponies present. What they saw before them left them in awe, for no one could have survived the explosion of magic that had radiated outwards from the conflicting powers. What was left in the centre of the clearing was a crater filled with lava, and any grass remaining from the explosion was quickly set alight by the flames flickering out of the pit. Twilight moved forwards cautiously, but a look from her princess stopped her from continuing forward. They all stopped and stared at the lava pit before them, expecting something to happen. A bubble appeared on the surface and popped, beyond that nothing else happened. Twilight looked towards her mentor. “Princess.... Is he... going to be alright?” The solar princess looked towards her student with a look of pity in her eyes. “My faithful student I’m afraid that Ultorius is-” A bolt of rainbow lightening struck the centre of the lava pool and created a straight line down the middle. They all heard it collide with something deep inside the pool of lava. After a few minutes nothing seemed to have changed, and as the princess was about to continue her sentence the pool of lava erupted outwards and a death defying screech filled the air. What had erupted from the lava pool was a being of fire and stone, the wings on the creature made of red leather in the middle. The creature looked almost Draconic in nature, were it not for the twin horns on its head. It flew upwards from the pool of lava, straight up into the sky. The princess looked up in worry. “Twilight, take your friends and head back to the library and put up a shield. Who knows what in Tartarus has been unleashed upon the world but I intend to stop it, no matter what.” Twilight flashed her friends away in a bright light of purple before looking at her mentor, probably for the last time. “Please... stay safe.” In a flash of purple light Twilight too was gone from the clearing. Celestia stared up into the sky, spreading her massive wings she took flight after the demon.... ^^^^^^6 minutes later^^^^^^ A clawed hand shot out of the lava reaching for the edge, gripping it with intensity the creature struggled to heave itself from the fire. Reaching out with the other hand it dug the clawed hands into the baked earth and pulled its way out of the fiery depths of the lava pool. It stood on four legs which ended with talons; it had shimmering blue fur and scales along its body. Blue feathers lined the draconic wings on its back, with black leather in-between each. Its muzzle was almost drake like in appearance and almost pony like, a cross between the two resulted in the creature standing on the ground. Each tooth in the creature’s mouth was a stark white. The draconic being had silted eyes outlined by green and surrounded by gold. Atop its head was a long horn that would allow it to use magic to aid itself in times of need. The creature had an ethereal mane that looked like the roaring sea. All in all, the creature was 4 feet taller than the Sun Princess. Looking up with eyes more sharp than any eagle, the creature saw the princess in battle against the demon that had tried to steal its soul. Spreading its massive draconic wings it launched itself into the sky, and in a matter of seconds reached the two fighting in the sky. It screamed past them both, stopping fifty feet above them. Neither the demon looking one of the one with the flowing mane had noticed it go by. Using its height above the demon one as its advantage, it dove towards it. The creature ROARED at the demon and smashed into it, causing its wings to cave in and fall towards the ground. The draconic creature stopped just before the ground and pulled up. Causing the demon to smash into the ground and shattering the earth beneath it. Landing on the ground where the demon hit, the creature spoke. “Come out you filthy mongrel, I know that you are still alive!” A clawed hand reached out from the crater in the ground and grasped the edge. A huff was heard as the demonic being climbed out of the hole. One horn was broken; a wing shattered by the impact and it was limping on only three legs. The demon looked at the creature before him and spoke out in a deep voice. “Who are you to call me a Mongrel, Half Breed?” The creature backed away from the demon while snarling at it. “What did you just call me?” “You heard me correct, I called you a Half Breed.” The Draconic creature reached out with a clawed appendage and gripped the demons throat, bringing its face closer to its own the creature snarled at it. “You will regret calling me that demon!” With all the strength it could muster it threw the demon into the trees, splintering them upon impact. It flew after the demon, flying at almost Sonic Rainboom speeds it grabbed the flying demon and flung it into the sky. Celestia watched in awe as the strange being attacked the demon that so easily wore her down was now being defeated by this strange being. She watched as it flung the demon into the forest and chased after it at breakneck speeds that a certain speed demon would be jealous off. The sun princess watched as the demon reappeared in mid air, only for the creature to grab it in mid air and rip both of its wings off. Holding it by the tail now, she watched as it flung the demon at the ground again, spearing it on a small tree that splintered upon the demons impact. She watched as the creature flew down and landed next to the blooded body of the demon that had caused her so much trouble. It leaned next to the demon as it spoke to the creature. Scowling at the demon it promptly grasped its head and twisted it, snapping its neck and killing it. Looking up it spotted Celestia and flapped its massive wings, making it speed up from the ground in a matter of seconds. Flying towards the Alicorn above it, the creature stopped before her and growled. “You know it’s not nice when somepony thinks you are dead because of a small amount of lava.” Celestia’s eyes widened as she recognised the voice. “U-Ultorius, is that you?” The draconic creature shook its head. “Twas my name once Princess of the sun, I am no longer known as Ultorius in this form though.” The princess was confused by what he meant by form. Sensing her confusion the being that was once Ultorius spoke up. “Remember the blood ritual?” After her nod he continued. “Many of my people know how to make transformation runes that allow us to change our appearance. This is what I meant by form, and in this form, I will be known as Draco Lamina, The Dragon Blade.” ^^^^^^Twilight’s Tree House, During the Battle^^^^^^ “Quit your pacing Twi’! The princess will be fine, trust me.” Rainbow watched as Twilight kept on pacing regardless of her words. “I’m not worried Rainbow, do I look worried because I sure the hay am not!” Twilight looked towards her speedy friend as she said this, causing her to shake her head in annoyance. “Twi’ Rainbows right, ya need ta calm down.” Applejack was holding her hat in-between both her front hooves. Pinkie spoke up next. “Yea Twilight stop being a worry wart, if the Princess was in trouble my Pinkie Sense would have told me!” When she said this Twilight visibly relaxed, as did the others. That is until the felt the earth beneath their very hooves shake from some unseen force. They all remained still as the tremor subsided. After several minutes they felt it was safe to release their holds on the objects they had latched onto during the tremor. “WOAH! Thatwassomuchfuncanwedoitagain?” Pinkie had begun bouncing around the living room spouting random stuff that was incomprehensible to the others present. Twilight shook her head at Pinkie’s antics, gaining a laugh from the small dragon sitting beside her. “Well at least we know that Pinkie was having fun.” Spike smiled at the pink pony jumping around the room. Twilight sighed at her assistant. “Well it may be fun but the princess and-” “HONEY I’M HOME!” All eyes looked towards the source off the voice, what they saw was a Dragon Alicorn carrying the solar princess on its back. It walked into the room and placed her on the couch before looking around itself. “What? No hugs for an old friend?” The Draconic creature spoke to them. Pinkie rushed forward at the half dragon half Alicorn, slamming it into the ground and started squeezing it. “ULTY YOU’RE BACK!” All the girls looked at Pinkie hugging the dragon thing and had looks of shock on their faces. “Pinkie, that’s not Ultorius. That’s a drag... Actually what in the name of Celestia are you? AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PRINCESS!?!?!” The half Alicorn looked towards the puzzled and mad librarian and just smiled at her. “I seem to distinctly remember you asking something similar to that this morning Twilight. As for the princess, She was tired after her fight with the demon and-” All the elements eyes reduced to the size of pinpricks and Fluttershy curled into a ball behind Rainbow Dash. Twilight looked at the newcomer and said “D-did you say....” “Did I say demon? Why yes I did say demon Twilight, I fought a demon that the princess could not. And I won.” The librarian was shocked that this creature knew her name, now that she thought about it; the creature’s voice sounded very familiar had a deeper and more of a growl than a melody to it. “Want me to prove I am who I am to you Twi’? Ok then.” The creature looked directly into her eyes and said ‘Is this better? Or do you prefer actually speaking to me this time?’ Twilight looked at the beast before her in realisation and shock, snapping a claw next to her head he said. “And my name is Draco Lamina now, just so you know.” Spike was looking at the new Dragon in awe. He had deep blue fur and scales black leathered wings laced in blue feathers along the bone, a few ruby red spines travelling into his mane and down his tail. His ethereal mane was a deep sea blue and moved like waves, and his piercing eyes were a green around the iris and gold around the green expanding the rest of his eye to the whites. His muzzle had scales and some of his sharp white teeth were clearly visible to the young drake. His talons were a sapphire blue, and he stood 4 feet taller than the princess herself. And he had a HORN for magic! No other dragon in the world had a horn for magic! “What are you looking at their Spike?” The blue Dragon pony called to him. He looked up into the eyes of the older dragon and smiled. “I’m not alone anymore....” The dark blue Dragon Alicorn smiled at the young purple drake. He lifted a paw and patted him on the head. “No Spike, you were never alone. You had your friends and family to look out for you, you never were and never will be alone Spike. So long as you have friends like these.” He waved a paw around the room to emphasise his point. “You don’t have to be alone.” Spike’s eyes started to water as he realised that the words that he had spoken rang true. He ran towards the tall Alicorn and hugged one of his legs crying his eyes out. Lamina smiled at the young drake, and placed a paw on his back as he cried. He hadn’t shown affection towards any other person or dragon in this case, for a very long time. He picked the young drake up and placed his in-between his wings. Watching Spike curl up and fall asleep there calmed the Dragon Alicorn. “So Lamina,” The Dragon Alicorn looked around the room, only now just noticing all of them were staring at him. He looked to the princess who was lying on the couch. “Yes princess?” “What are you?” He was confused by the statement that the princess had said. “Pardon your highness? I don’t quite understand...” She got up off the couch and walked over to him. She glanced all over him, walked in a circle around him, all the time muttering to herself ‘scales... horn...’ or some other mumbo jumbo that didn’t make sense to him. Lamina was confused by what the princess was trying to accomplish by muttering to herself when she said. “You appear to be part Dragon, but also Part Alicorn.... A Dragon who can perform magic, and an Alicorn immune to most magical attacks.... Strange...” she poked him around in a couple places, including the wings. Twilight perked up at this statement by the princess. “Does this mean we have discovered a new race Princess?” oh boy Lamina thought to himself. “Yes Twilight, it appears our friend here discovered a new race..... But what do we call it?” Both Twilight and the Princess had their hoofs to their chins in thought. Rainbow couldn’t help but chuckle at this. After 5 minutes of them humming in thought Lamina blurted out “Dralicorn.” Both of their eyes widened at that, and the Princess smiled at him. “Indeed. A Dralicorn.... It is a fitting name.” Lamina heard a snoring from behind him and looked to see the young drake asleep on his back. Smiling again he said to all those present. “WELL! As much fun this has been I need to sleep, and so does this little guy.” With that he walked upstairs and into Twilight’s room. Lamina placed Spike in his basket, curling around Spikes basket was a natural feeling to him. And as soon as he had done so, he promptly fell asleep.... ^^^^^^Downstairs^^^^^^ Twilight looked up the stairs at the sleeping duo and smiled to herself. Walking back into the lounge she found that the Princess was getting ready to leave. “Princess, are you returning to Canterlot now?” Celestia smiled at her student, “Yes Twilight, I am returning to Canterlot now. Somepony has to be there to raise the sun in the morning.” She stopped before the door. “Oh and remind our feathered Dragon friend that he has to come to Canterlot tomorrow.” Twilight smiled as she watched her mentor walk outside and disappear in a flash of magic. All of her friends had either returned to their homes or were busy doing something here. Walking back upstairs she spotted the draconic duo sleeping, she smiled as Lamina curled up tighter around Spike’s basket. Levitating a blanket from her cupboards, she draped it over the two drakes. She prepared to head back out to see if Rainbow Dash was still there when she heard a voice call out. “No... That’s... Muffin... Chocolate.... Caramel....” She brought her hoof to her mouth to block the giggles as she realised the Dralicorn was dreaming, what about, she had no clue. When she was out of earshot she let herself giggle at the Dralicorn’s sleep talk. She might have to talk to Pinkie about baking a chocolate caramel muffin for him.... ^^^^^^9am Ponyville Library^^^^^^ Yawning as he got up, Lamina stretched his tired body. Oh yea that felt good.... looking around the room he noticed several things. One: he was taller than before. Two: he could hear snoring from below him. Three: he had claws and wings. And Four: he smelled what seemed to be pancakes coming from downstairs.... Processing..... Processing.......... Analysis complete! There are pancakes downstairs! His eyes widened and he started to run out of the room, waking Spike from his slumber. “PANCAKES!!!!!” Spike jumped out of bed and grabbed onto Lamina’s tail as he dashed out of the room, dragging Spike along for the ride. Spike held on for dear life as Lamina dived of the top of the stairs landing on the ground with a thud. Twilight jumped at the sound and turned to see Spike and Lamina sitting at the table, forks and knifes in claw. Smiling she said “Good morning boys, I made gem pancakes for breakfast.” Spike started drooling at the thought of having gem pancakes, but Lamina seemed confused by what had been said. “Gem pancakes? What the heck are those?” Spike had a look of shock at what Lamina had said. Twilight remembered that he used to be a sword, and before that a human and she casually looked over to the Dralicorn. “Dragons here in Equestria eat gems as a source of food Lamina.” He looked at her with a face that said ‘ah I get it now’. Looking towards the young drake he said. “So which gem is the best to eat?” “Fire Ruby is defiantly the best.” He hummed at the thought as Twilight placed down the pancakes and said “Dig in!” Spike tore into his pancakes while Colerem looked thoughtfully at his. “You know, Dragons where I come from don’t eat gems.” Twilight looked at him as he started talking; levitating a notepad and quill over to her she sat down as he began his explanation. “Dragons, who we thought to only be myth, had actually been in hibernation for over 5 millennia. The first Dragon to exit hibernation set fire to one of our cities in the North. We didn’t even know what hit us until it was too late.” Twilight was scribbling notes down unto the paper before her, while Spike was listening to the story. “Many people were lost that day and reports estimated that the death toll was over six thousand,” Twilight gasped at that, most deaths in Equestria were almost slim to none. “I was there at the time of the attack; the city that I was in was called Starlight. You remember this bit right Twilight?” She looked at him and shook her head. “Well it was the time of my hanging, who knew looting was considered a crime against the crown? Anyway as you know Twi’ my dear friend Maria saved me from being hung, but after that the Dragon arrived.” Lamina looked downcast at this point. “The screams of lots of dying people filled the streets and many were fleeing from the town. The Dragon whom we knew later on was the Dominus among them that means Lord in Latin.” Twilight nodded at his tale. He stopped himself from continuing his story and began to eat his breakfast. Twilight wrote a note to remind her to look into his memories at a later date. After they were finished a breakfast of hay and gem pancakes Twilight mentioned what the Princess had said last night. “Oh yes, we need to go into Canterlot today. The Princess wishes to meet you.” He hummed to himself in thought. “I might need to find a place to stay for a while though. In case there is no way back to my world.” He looked sad when he said that. “Well I’m sure the princesses will figure something out. Oh, look its Applejack, good morning Applejack!” The orange pony turned to face them. “Mornin’ Twi’ mornin’ Lamina, ah popped in ta see if ya’ll want a job at sweet apple acres, Celestia knows we need th’ help.” Lamina looked at the orange work pony before replying. “I would like to have a job at your farm Applejack, but the Princess has requested my presence at Canterlot today.” Applejack nodded at the Dralicorn. “Well if ya ever need a job, ya come ask me.” With that the work pony tilted her hat and walked out from the room and out the door, to do whatever it is that work ponies do. Twilight looked at the door her friend had exited from and hummed to herself. “Might need to get you back tonight in time for the party or Pinkie will be sad.” Lamina just nodded his head and they walked towards the door, which was when he had a thought. “Hey, um Twilight won’t they be afraid by my appearance?” Twilight looked towards the Dralicorn as her eyes widened in realisation. “Oh....” was the only response the purple mare gave the Dralicorn. He looked at her and sighed. “Alright..... Let’s see if this works, it worked for the backpack.” And with that Lamina concentrated on imagining himself as a Unicorn, a few minutes passed and nothing happened. Twilight was about to say something but just as she was there was a flash of rainbow light and where Lamina once stood was a Unicorn stallion with a three different shades of blue for his mane and a deep blue for his coat, his eyes retained the same colour as his Dralicorn form and his height had reduced to the same as hers. He retained the more refined air around him and the charming smile that was always evident in his Dralicorn form. He looked at her then after a few seconds. “Is that better Twilight? I don’t know if it changed anything or not. Oh I'm smaller, aparently it did something.” Twilight stared at the stallion in front of her; to say he was handsome would be an understatement. He was drop dead handsome, the kind that mares would be tripping over their own hooves if he walked past them. She would have to be careful least she fall for him herself. “Twilight, are you there?” Waving a hoof in front of her face seemed to not get a reaction out of her. Raising a hoof to Twilight’s face he bopped her on the nose. This managed to get a reaction from the purple mare, and she blushed and shook her head. “S-sorry Lamina, my minds a little distracted.” Twilight was acting as nervous as Fluttershy at that point and this elected a chuckle from Lamina. “Tis nothing to worry about Twilight, but we should get moving, no?” Twilight looked towards the door and then back to Colerem before smiling. “Well?” Lamina was confused by what Twilight meant when she said that. “Well what?” She rolled her eyes and pointed at the door. “Aren’t you going to be a gentlecolt and open the door for a mare?” Swerving his head around the room in confusion he said. “What mare? All I see is a lot of books and a book worm.” Twilight struck him on the shoulder causing him to go into hysterics at the mare’s response. “I’m only joking Twi’.” Walking towards the door and opening it with his magic, he bowed slightly at Twilight, causing her to blush yet again. Walking outside the two noticed that Ponyville was less active than usual, only a few ponies were out and about, and this confused Lamina. “Twilight where is everypony?” Looking around Twilight noticed what he was saying “They probably haven’t woken up yet, it is early in the morning on a Sunday.” “Hey Twi’, who’s the new guy?” “Rainbow Dash you’re up early!” Looking up, the two noticed Rainbow Dash lying on a cloud with her tail and head only just poking over the sides. Lamina chuckled at Rainbow Dash and looked to Twilight ‘Hey Twi’ want to have some fun?’ Twilight smiled with the corner of her mouth and nodded slightly. “Greetings fair maiden, you must be the one Miss Sparkle has mentioned to me.” Rainbow Dash Tripped over her hooves and fell off the cloud. Right before she hit the ground she spread her wings and glided down and looked at Lamina. Rainbow looked at Twilight then back to him. She flew over to Twilight and dragged her off to the side where they began talking. Lamina pretended not to pay attention to what they were saying. His attention more focused towards the ponies only just now coming out of their homes. Some of the mares where staring in his direction with a blush on their checks, and some stallions where paying him no mind whatsoever. “- and so we’re here now, so come on Twi’ let’s go!” Lamina looked towards the two mares in front of him, both of whom were staring at him. He looked between each one of them with a confused look. Twilight looked at him with a smile on her face. “You are coming Lam, right?” He smiled at the new nickname that, and nodded at the purple mare. They trotted to the train station where the four other mares were awaiting them. Twilight waved to them. “Hi there girls we ready?” The four mares nodded at Twilight, after a few minutes they noticed the new addition. Rarity looked at Colerem with a smirk on her face. “And who is this dashing stallion Twilight?” Lamina chuckled at Rarity, and smiled at her. “Why Rarity, if I knew it would be looks that would win you over I would have tried this ages ago.” All five mare’s faces were in shock, it took them a couple minutes to compose themselves. It was then that Rainbow spoke up. “Lamina? Is that you?” This received a smirk from him and a slight bow, “My previous appearance would have scared the townsfolk, so I simply shifted to a Unicorn form.” Rarity was the one that spoke up then. “How were you able to do so?” He simply waved two forelegs in front of himself and used his magic to create a small rainbow spreading between each hoof and said “Maaaaagiiiiiic!!” This cause the pink party pony to giggle and Twilight to smile at him, he looked at the others confused faces and said “What?” Twilight shook her head and walked forwards to talk to the train attendant about accommodations on the train for their new passengers. Lamina looked at the other ponies gathered and smiled, causing Fluttershy and Rarity to blush and the farm mare to hide beneath her hat. He leaned towards Rainbow and whispered quietly. “Am I really that good looking?” Rainbow smirked mischievously and leaned in to whisper back. “Dude you may not know this but you are hot.” He looked away from the rainbow mane mare and whispered. “Daaaayum....” ^^^^^^Canterlot Castle 5-6 hours later^^^^^^ “Ugh.... Remind me to make an airship when we get back...” Twilight looked confused at Lamina and said. “You mean a hot air balloon?” His eyes widened in shock as she said that. “Oh god no... Don’t tell me you don’t have air transport....” Twilight smiled at the disguised Dralicorn and said. “Oh we do... but what’s an airship?” Lamina looked at the purple mare and started his speech. “An airship is a power-driven aircraft that is kept buoyant by a body of gas that is lighter than air. Or it was until someone discovered the rune to make stuff float. Now day’s parents make their kids airships so that they can fly around. Anyway I need to build one of those someday so I can travel around faster.” He started rambling on about how he would ask the princesses for the required resources and a lot of other stuff. Twilight was only staring at him until Rainbow spoke up. “Welcome everypony to Canterlot Castle!” Lamina stared slack jawed at the architecture of the castle, marble pillars, water fountains. The sort of stuff that castles are supposed to have, only one word was in the disguised Dralicorn’s mind as he looked upon this wonderful sight. “B-beautiful....” “Yes it is isn’t it?” A voice that was familiar to them all said from behind them, turning around he saw Celestia standing there. He smiled at the Alicorn and said. “Princess it is good to see you again.” This confused the princess as she could not remember meeting this stallion before. “I’m sorry, but I haven’t met you before. So how can it be good to see me again?” The disguised Dralicorn’s face was simply put in an ‘oh’ he looked around and said to the princess. “Ahem, princess it’s me, Lamina.” “Ah...” Celestia looked at him intensely, “Were you not a Dralicorn before?” Lamina looked down at his hooves and smiled. “I did not wish to scare the townsfolk, so I changed forms. Give me a second and I’ll revert back.” Celestia was confused by this, revert back? Whatever does Lamina me- A flash of rainbow light appeared and everypony was blinded as the Dralicorn resumed his natural form. “I suppose this is better for you Princess?” The princess smiled at the Dralicorn, “Yes Lamina, just remember that it is better if the inhabitants of Ponyville get used to you in your more natural form than if you were being fake around them.” The Dralicorn thought on that for a moment, “Well they won’t have to get used to me, I rather like it on a mountain, and I suppose you won’t mind having a guest around the castle for a while.” The princess smiled at the Dralicorn. “Yes, having a guest around the castle will make things less dull. I suppose I could find you a room to stay in.” “Oh if you don’t mind I’ll take the room with the good view.”
Chapter Five: Three Weeks LaterHey there, this is Lamina. For some reason Celly wants me to write down what’s happened over the past few weeks. No clue why, probably wants to document my mind. Bah like that will ever happen. Anyway, over the past few weeks I have spent at Canterlot castle, many interesting things have happened. Like the time the Dragon’s came here for negotiations over the border. Boy, were they surprised to see me. A lot of other interesting things happened over the past few weeks, finding out I’m immortal, learning my Dragon abilities, same thing with my magic. I’ve learned many things here, so I decided to write whatever was on my mind down in my book that I enchanted with runes so that the pages will go on forever. Kind of handy that Rune makes stuff seem endless. Anyway my second week here I asked the princess for some materials for my Airship I wanted to build. She asked me for schematics for more airships, I told her no. So during that week half my airship was completed and Luna asked me out to lunch. Oh I had an analysis done by a doc, she said I MIGHT be slightly insane in the membrane. Heh, dragon joke funny. Anyway that’s a quick sum up of the past few weeks. I should probably get going now. Before Tia or Lulu asks me to do something else time consuming.... Your friendly Dralicorn -Draco Lamina ^^^^^^3 weeks later^^^^^^ Lamina walked into the bright marble room, which was apparently bigger than it was on the outside. Looking out the window he saw a view off of the mountain side, and it was some view. Lamina could see the entirety of the land off in that direction. The beautiful sunset highlighting everything there was to see. Lamina deciding to entertain himself began to chat to no one in particular. “Tis a beautiful sunset is it not?” He smiled at the thought. “You know, I’m glad I’m here, hated Earth. Full of crap, stupid people that try to hang you for looting some old temple.” He frowned. “How was I supposed to know it was the royal vault?” shaking his head in frustration. “It’s not like they clearly marked it to be the royal vault. No symbols or anything. Bah, bunch of pansies anyway.” He turned away from the window and headed to the closet. “Luna wants me to do her a favour today. Bah” He snorted. “I’ll die before she gets me in a suit.” Reaching into the closet he pulled out his backpack, and chucked the notebook inside. “After that some ‘test’ for Twilight that I’m supposed to discreetly help with? How in the name of Tartarus am I supposed to do that?” Reaching into his backpack he took out his wallop stick. “Well at least she said I could take something with me....” looking at the wallop stick with disdain he put it back into the backpack. “Well it could be worse. She could send me off to the Dragon lands to conduct the negotiations for the borders.” He completely ignored the fact that the door had opened and that Celestia was standing in the doorway with an amused look on her face. “Hmmm what to take thou- Oh” He stopped and looked in the mirror and saw his fangs and claws. “Oh yea forgot I had those for a second then.” Celestia was struggling to repress her urge to giggle at the Dralicorn; watching him take items out of his backpack and saying “nope!”Every so often, she stopped entirely when he pulled an orb covered in runes out of the backpack. “WOAH, where did this little guy come from? I don’t remember having a Thermo-Runic Bomb....” At that Celestia’s eyes widened and she looked at the small orb in the clawed hands of the most cunning, and albeit slightly insane Dralicorn. Clearing her throat she caught his attention. Lamina’s head swerved to look at the sun princess. “Oh hay Tia.” She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Was that another one of your horse puns Lamina?” She looked at the devious smiling Dralicorn and sighed. “Those have gotten less funny over the time that you have been staying here.” She watched him place the small orb pack into the backpack and pull out a scroll. Reading down it he said. “Sorry Tia I haven’t got anything else on my list of puns to say now, that was the last one.” She smiled at that; no more would he walk up to a guard and say something completely random to said guard in order to try to get them to react. “Well that’s a relief, I came here to tell you that Twilight and her friends should be arriving soon.” “Ah.” He picked up the backpack and placed it between his wings. “Well I should be going then, see you at the throne room?” With a nod from the Dralicorn he dived out the window and flew in the direction of the throne room. She smiled as she watched him fly in a couple of loops and then through the window of the throne room. Her horn glowed with magic and Celestia reappeared in the throne room of the castle...... And couldn’t find the Dralicorn anywhere in sight. She looked around confused as she walked towards her throne. Until she noticed that behind her throne was a particular sword that a particular Dralicorn was able to transform into. She smiled at the sword, and heard Lamina speak. ‘Nice to see you smiling like usual Tia, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you smile properly. This whole Crystal Empire business has had you pretty busy.’ She nodded at the Sword and stood facing the window as her sister Luna entered the room and stood next to her. “Are you sure you don't want me to go as well?” her sister asked. Celestia looked out the window. “Yes. Princess Cadance and Shining Armor are already there.” She looked at her sister. “The others will be joining them soon.” Her sister looked at her then out the window. “The empire's magic is powerful. It cannot fall again, my sister.” “She will succeed at her task. And when she does, we'll know that she is that much closer to being ready.” “Ahem.” Both sisters looked to the door and saw Twilight smile sheepishly at them. Luna started to walk away from her sister, but before she got too far she said. “Trust me, little sister.” Luna started to trot down the aisle and Twilight up the aisle. “You wanted to see me? To give me a test?” Luna passed Twilight and she looked at her. When she passed her she looked back to her mentor. “I brought my own quills and plenty of paper to show my work.” Levitating the saddlebags off her back she placed them on the floor, only for all the contents to spill out. “Sorry! Sorry!” She nudged the paper to pick it up, only for Celestia to levitate it and ravel it all back up. “This is a different kind of test.” Placing all of Twilight’s belongings back into the bags she said. “The Crystal Empire has returned.” Lamina was listening intently and silently laughing to himself, he listened as Celestia explained the situation to Twilight. The princess moved past the throne and Lamina watched her, grabbing a gem out of a glass case she placed it onto the floor. Bah he thought to himself as he watched her do great feats of magic to explain to Twilight the severity of her task. Well he thought time to get into my place. And with that he turned into a six gem incrusted bracelet and teleported into Twilight’s saddlebags. After a long muffled time he heard the princess say. “Then go. There is no time to lose.” Well, time to settle in for the long haul...... ^^^^^^One Duet and a really long train ride later^^^^^^ Lamina awoke to the sounds of someone shuffling about on a throne. His first thought was. Did Twilight leave the bags behind? And his second thought was. Never mind I can’t sense her. He focused on teleporting out of the saddlebags and succeeded to do so, but was grabbed in a hoof a moment later. “That’s odd, Cadance did Twilight bring a bracelet with her?” Shinning Armor asked his wife. “No. Not that I remember.” Well that singles out whoever is in the room. He concentrated on teleporting to the other side of the crystal throne room; two collective gasps were heard from the Unicorn and the Alicorn. ‘I would greatly appreciate it if I wasn’t manhandled by you, thank you very much!’ Shinning Armor looked around the room in search of the voice. “Who’s there? Show yourself!” he mentally rolled his eyes at the Unicorn. ‘Calm down I was sent by the princess to help Twilight with her test’ Shinning Armor didn’t relax from this statement and he sighed. ‘Fine I’m going to show myself, but remember I was sent to help.’ He concentrated on his original form and the six gems on the bracelet began to glow. A bright rainbow light appeared in the aisle and the two ponies were blinded by it. When they turned their heads back to the spot the light had originated from they saw the Dralicorn in all his glory. Lamina bowed to the two and greeted them. “Greetings I am Draco Lamina, sent by the Princess to help Twilight discreetly in her task.” Cadance looked the Dralicorn up and down before saying. “So you are the one Aunt Luna has mentioned?” She watched the Dralicorn’s eyes widen at this. “Aunt Luna? Oh she is so not going to live this one do-” Shinning Armor coughed to catch his attention. “Sorry, but if Luna means a deep blue scaled Dralicorn then yes I am he and he is I.” Shining Armor and Cadance were confused by Lamina’s statement and he chuckled at this. “Well I am here to assist however I can in the task ahead. But, can I ask what the problem is?” Cadance and Shining Armor nodded before he said. “Well the problem is that we were sent by the princess to protect the crystal empire when it reappeared.” Shining Armor looked at him with a downcast look. “It wasn’t the only thing to return...” Lamina looked at Armor and Cadance in turn. “King Sombra has returned, hasn’t he?” The married couple looked around the room before nodding to the Dralicorn in front of them. “Well I can assist you only in terms of giving magic, maybe holding Sombra back for a while, but like the princess said. This is Twilight’s test, and I am not to interfere in anyway.” He walked up to Shining Armor and noticed the black crystals on his horn. “Huh, Sombra got you good didn’t he?” he remarked to Shining Armor. He nodded and moved over to his wife, asking if she was ok. When she nodded to him he walked over to the Dralicorn. “Can I ask you a question Armor?” he said to the white Unicorn. Shinning Armor nodded to him. “Why do you do it?” This confused the guard, what did he mean why do you do it? “Why do you do all of this?” Ok that he could understand. “I do this to protect my family-” He looked towards his wife, and out the window where his sister was singing. “No matter how strange things get I will protect them. It’s also my duty to protect every citizen of Equestria, no matter the problem.” He smiled as his sister finished singing. “And sometimes, the good things weigh out the bad....” The Dralicorn looked out the window to see that all the six friends surrounded each other and were laughing together. He smiled, “Yeah... I guess some things are worth protecting.” ^^^^^^Crystal Empire, 4 hours later^^^^^^ “Ok, so it’s ShowTime?” The Dralicorn asked the white Unicorn next to him. “That’s right, King Sombra broke through and it’s our job to stop him.” “But as soon as things get out of claw or in this case for you, out of hoof. I’m teleporting us out.” Shining Armor nodded as the black mist got closer to them. “Well, in case we don’t make it, it-” Shining Armor stopped him with a raised hoof, “Don’t even finish that sentence, we can, and will protect everypony.” They both looked off the top of the hill as Sombra got closer to them. The Dralicorn smiled at the unicorn next to him. “Sorry mate, but you can’t fight in your condition.” Shining Armor started to run at him as magic glowed around the Dralicorn’s horn. And with a flash of multicoloured magic, Lamina sent Shining Armor away. ^^^^^^Meanwhile at the Crystal Castle^^^^^^ Twilight laughed as she slid up the stairs with Spike clinging to her back. “I actually studied gravity spells, thinking it might be on my test! Turns out I was prepared for this! Wooohooo!” They laughed as they came to a sudden stop and crashed to the floor. Getting up Spike and Twilight saw what they had been searching for, the Crystal Heart. She looked to her number one assistant and he motioned her forwards. Twilight stepped towards the floating heart and onto the platform. Which immediately turned black as night as one of King Sombra’s spells activated alerting him to the danger. In but a few moments Twilight was trapped inside a black crystal prison and the heart was knocked loose, falling beside Spike. Looking around dazed Twilight said, “The Heart... where's the Crystal-” Spike called out to her. “Here! It rolled over to me when you dropped it!” He moved towards Twilight and little black crystals appeared on the floor making the path towards her treacherous to take. “Don't move!” Spike started sweating as more black crystals appeared on the ground. Twilight looked out of the prison at her assistant. “You can move, just not toward me!” Spike backpedalled away from the prison as Twilight tried to escape using a teleportation spell. Sombra’s spell dragged her back inside and slammed her against the wall. “How could I have been so foolish...?” Using her hooves as leverage she pressed against the wall of her prison. “I was just so eager to get it! Then when I saw what was going on outside, I...” “You have to get out of there, Twilight! You have to be the one who brings the Heart to Princess Cadance! If you don't, you'll fail Celestia's test!” Twilight looked around as the Crystal empire was transformed around her into the black crystals. “King Sombra is already attacking the Empire. He could reach the Crystal Ponies at any moment... reach Princess Cadance, my brother, my friends... there may not be enough time for me to find a way to escape.” Realisation dawned on Twilight as she looked outside at Spike still dodging the little black crystals on the ground. A look of determination crossed Twilight’s face as she looked at the little dragon. “You have to be the one to bring the Crystal Heart to the faire.” Spike shot up from his sitting position “Me? But Twilight-” Twilight shouted at the little drake. “Go!” Spike looked at Twilight. “But-” Twilight lifted her head and screamed “GOOOO!” Grabbing the Crystal Heart, Spike dived out the window as the room exploded with dark crystals. ^^^^^^Lamina^^^^^^ He grunted in pain as Sombra threw his against one of the buildings, blood flowing from multiple cuts on his half scaled form. He smiled at the flowing mass of darkness as blood trickled from his lips. “That all you got ghostie?” “I never thought one such as you would be enough to distract me from making this place mine again!” He chuckled as Sombra moved away. “What’za matter Ghostie? Scared of getting a little blood on you tunic? Or are you, A Chicken?” With a roar Sombra grabbed him again, this time though Lamina was ready for it and breathed his rainbow dragon fire on the black form, causing it to roar in pain and throw him against the castle wall. Falling to the balcony below him he startled Shining Armor and the gathered ponies, Applejack spoke up “L-Lamina?” Coughing up blood he smiled at the orange farm pony. “Well gals and colts, I think now might be the time for plan B.... Cause my plan A failed...” He chuckled at that before his head fell to the floor and he closed his eyes for a much needed rest. The last thing he heard was Spike calling out to those below saying “I got the Crystal Heart!” ^^^^^^Several Hours Later^^^^^^ Waking up Lamina felt the covers on his body, and the bumps of the train on its way back to Canterlot. Oh.... I guess we won....... Realisation dawned on him as his mind played over the past few days. Oh no..... Tia’s going to kill me.... I wasn’t discreet at all! His whole body was in pain as he realised that. Hearing the door open he remained silent. “So is he awake yet?” Spike asked Twilight as they moved closer to the bed. He groaned as they talked, a pounding in his head only now making its presence know to him. “Who hit me upside the head with a ballista round, cause I’m going to shove a Thermo-Runic bomb up their-” Twilight cleared her throat and motioned her head towards Spike, who looked confused about what he was saying. “......You know what. Stuff it.” And with that his head hit the pillow and he blacked out. Twilight shook her head at the Dralicorn and moved over to the table that had his backpack on it. “I don’t know why the princess sent him to help, but I’m sure they had their reasons. And what the hay is a Thermo-Runic bomb?” Spike shrugged at Twilight and moved over to the stretched out Dralicorn. “Is he going to be ok?” He asked the librarian. Twilight smiled softly at the young drake, he looked up to Lamina as an older brother, maybe even a father figure. She shook her head and smiled again at her assistant. “I’m sure he’ll be fine Spike, go get some rest” She nudged him out of the room, making sure he got some sleep for the trip home. Once that was done she walked back into the separate carriage and over towards the Dralicorn. “You are going to be ok right?” The wounded Dralicorn groaned as Twilight said that. “How did you know I was still awake?” Twilight smiled at him. “Well I can see that your breathing had changed, not to mention the fact that your ears swerved around whenever somepony spoke.” “Ah.....” He opened his eyes and smiled softy in her direction. “So who do I thank for taking care of me while I was out?” She thought for a moment before answering. “Well we all took shifts until you were stable.” He cocked an eyebrow at this, sighing she said. “You had several broken ribs, a punctured lung, two broken legs, and one of your wings was broken.” “Well.... looks like I’m not moving for a while. Mind grabbing a scroll and inkwell for me?” He turned towards the librarian and waited. “Sure Lamina, I can do that.” She smiled and walked over to her bags, grabbing the scroll and inkwell in her magic and levitated it to the injured Dralicorn. “Ok... thanks Twi’” He smiled at her and she blushed from his thanks. This makes no sense he explained already that he was immortal to us. So why do I feel like this? He dipped his claw in the inkwell and held the scroll in his levitation spell. After several moments of his scribbling on the page he put the inkwell to the side. “Here to hoping that Celestia is accepting letters at this hour...” and he breathed on the parchment with a rainbow fire, turning it into a multicoloured wisp of smoke. Twilight was confused by this. “You can send letters to the princess?” He looked at her with a confused expression. “Well.... Yes and no.” Twilight looked at him, even more confused than before. “See my fire is different than Spike’s fire. Mine is able to send messages to whomever I want to send messages to. Also, my fire can do many different things; I’m only getting some of it now though. Other things will have to wait till ‘I understand myself more’ at least that’s what the princess said.” Twilight nodded at him. “Soooo...” He looked at her. “What?” she looked around the room, anywhere but his eyes. “Twi’ what’s wrong?” “Um.... Do you... You know, have a special somepony yet?” He blinked at her, and then blinked again. “I-I haven’t really given it much thought Twi’.... Guess I’m just not the kind of guy to get tied down.” Twilight’s head lowered in defeat at his words and he sighed. “Twilight....” Her head shot up at him calling her name. “I told you once that because of this form I am immortal right?” She nodded at his words, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. He looked her in the eyes and saw that glimmer of hope, and he sighed. “I-I’m sorry Twi’...... But it would never work between us. It’s best if you find a stallion that does want to be with you, and isn’t immortal, not that I’m s-saying that I do not like you but I’m the adventurous type of guy. I NEED action in my life otherwise I go stir crazy, that’s one of the reasons I travelled a lot in the time I’ve been here, why I’m building the airship, why I came along to help you, not that you needed it, but I was of some help..... Right...?” He looked at her with his head tilted to the side and his eyebrow raised. She chuckled at his statement. “Yeah Lamina, You helped us out a lot.” “Oh... That’s good.... I’m going.... -Yawn- Get some rest now....” His head flopped back down onto the pillow and he was out like a light. Twilight smiled and walked to the end of the carriage, flipping the light off as she left.... ^^^^^^Canterlot Castle 5 Hours Later^^^^^^ “What do you mean he’s in intensive care!?!?” Luna nearly screamed at her sister. “It’s exactly what I said dear sister, he is in intensive care right now from his ordeal in the Crystal Empire.” Luna walked up to her sister and stood next to her. “Can we go see him?” Celestia shook her head. “Why not, surely he is well enough-” Celestia interrupted her sister with a raised hoof. “He is asleep dear sister. And we cannot disturb his rest; he will need it in the days ahead.” Luna’s head lowered to the floor and her sister sighed. “Do not give me those eyes- No I told you it won’t work- UGH! Fine, go see him... Do not blame me when he kicks you out though...” Luna walked towards the medical section of the castle with a skip in her step and a smile plastered on her face. She passed the castle staff and guards on her way to the wards. She even passing Blueblood in the library but paying him no mind, eventually she reached the medical ward of the castle and went inside, it was then she heard a familiar voice. “Get off me! I told you I don’t need it! No! I AM NOT A CHILD! Now get off me before I roast that damnable thing into oblivion!” Sighing she walked towards the door labelled ‘Room 106’ where she heard a scream and what sounded like the Dralicorn breathing fire. Walking into the room she saw a roasted platter metal platter and more than 15 broken syringes against the wall. The Dralicorn looked at the white coated doctor in front of him and huffed smoke from his nostrils. “Try to force that thing in my arm again and I will break yours.... Do I make myself clear?” The doctor, scared of the Dralicorn before him, nodded quickly and left the room at a full gallop leaving the moon princess and the Dralicorn alone in the room. “Oh hey Luna, how were things going at the castle while I was gone?” Luna looked at the wounded Dralicorn and smiled. “Afraid of needles are we?” He scowled at the broken shards on the floor and said. “Nasty evil things that cause pain and misery were ever they go, sucking on the blood of innocents and pumping them full of toxins that make you sick to your stomach. Given the chance I would eradicate them from the face of the Universe.” Raising an eyebrow at him she said. “It just sounded like you described a Vampony there.” Looking at Luna with a confused look he said. “What in the name of all that’s holy is a Vampony?” Luna looked at him with shock, “do not bother, it was a slip of the tongue.” Nodding he turned to face the wall. “So, Lamina.” He looked at her again. “What are you going to do when you are healed?” He smiled at her and turned to face out the window. “Adventure.”
Chapter Three: Memories and Awkward Situations^^^^^^Twilight’s Tree House 10-am^^^^^^ The sword awoke to people talking. Thinking that someone had found him inside that long forgotten dungeon, and that last night was but a dream he opened his eyes. What the sword saw before him was not what he expected. Looking down from his viewpoint, he saw what was talking. It was a blue winged horse with a rainbow mane, immediately he knew what this was. It was one of Twilight’s friends, the one know as Rainbow Dash. That meant that last night wasn’t a dream, and that he was trapped in a new world. He sighed to himself and looked back over to Rainbow and Twilight. Rainbow was talking to Twilight about some book? It appeared that way. He listened in to what they were saying. “Are you sure this is the next book Twi’?” Rainbow asked. Twilight looked towards her friend and smiled. “Yes Rainbow I am sure that is the next book in the Daring Doo series.” ‘Daring Doo and the Time Temple. It sounds like it would be a good read to say the least’ Twilight’s eyes widened as he said this, but it appeared that Rainbow did not hear him talk. Strange... he thought to himself. He would need to check on that at a later date. Twilight was now moving towards the shelf he lay on. “So you’re awake now?” ‘Yes I am awake now, and yes I did have a good night’s rest’ Rainbow looked confused by why Twilight was talking to herself. “Twilight who are you talking to? There’s nopony here.” Twilight looked to her friend with a puzzled expression. “You mean you can’t hear him?” “Hear who Twi’?” The sword intervened in the conversation ‘If I may say something Twilight. I believe that I can only talk to those I make contact with. So yes it would be a good idea to take me off the shelf.’ Twilight closed her mouth; shaking her head, she would never understand how he knew what she was going to say before she even said it. Using her magic, she pulled the sword off the shelf and levitated it towards Rainbow. Rainbow looked towards Twilight and then back to the sword, “that’s a cool looking sword Twi’ where’d you get it?” Twilight looked towards Rainbow before placing the sword on the counter. “You remember how the princess sent me that letter yesterday?” Rainbow nodded, “well it turns out the magical disturbance at the old castle yesterday was this sword. It appears to be a normal sword except... well look at the blade.” Rainbow complied and looked at the sword carefully she gasped as she looked at the blade of the sword. “Those are the Elements of Harmony! How are they on a sword?” Twilight shook her head and said. “I don’t know Rainbow, but that’s not the only weird thing about the sword. Go ahead and touch it.” Rainbow looked nervously at Twilight before slowly inching her hoof towards the blade. When her hoof made contact she saw that the blade changed colour from purple to blue and the sword started to shift back to its original form on normality. After the sword returned to its normal state Rainbow felt somepony talk to her. ‘Hello miss Dash, it is a pleasure to meet one such as you.’ Rainbow Dash removed her hoof in shock her eyes going into pinpricks of their former selves. “T-Twi, d-did the sword j-just talk?” Twilight moved towards Rainbow and the sword, reaching out a foreleg she laid her hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder. “Yes Rainbow the sword just talked, I still have no idea what to call you though.” ‘Well since I have no idea what my name once was, we shall have to come up with a new name for me wont we?’ Twilight nodded towards the sword and then looked towards the startled Pegasus. “Rainbow, stop freaking out, we’ve encountered stranger things in our time in Ponyville.” Rainbow looked towards Twilight with an expression on shock. “But Twilight, it’s a TALKING sword! How am I supposed to get over THAT?” Twilight shook her head at her friend’s antics, “Believe me when I say that I was more than shocked when I also found this out. But like I said, now is not the time to be freaking out. He needs our help to find him a name.” ‘Also I wish to meet this Princess Celestia of yours; she might be able to help me to return to my normal form.’ Twilight nodded in the direction of the sword “Right first things first, a name for our new friend here!” ‘Yay.... new names....’ ^^^^^^Three Hours Later^^^^^^ “What about Blade, that sounds like a fitting name” ‘Just because I’m a sword does not give you the right to make a pun at my expense. And by the way, you already said Blade, three times.’ Twilight blushed at the swords words, she hadn’t realised that Blade had already been said between the two of them. Rainbow spoke up. “UGH! This is taking forever! Can’t we hurry this up I have things I need to do!” The swords words hung in the air ‘What is so important that you need to leave on a Saturday?’ “W-well I need to go practice my routine for the Wonderbolts!” ‘Ah yes your daily stunt routine, sounds fascinating to watch. I’ll have to look into it sometime.’ Twilight butted into the conversation before it could escalate further “LADIES we can’t argue right-” ‘I’ll have you know that I am a man. So do not call me a lady’ Twilight facehoofed at the swords words, and both ponies could hear him chuckle to himself at Twilights actions. ‘Well I think I have one, it is in one of our languages. I believe it is Latin, so how about Ultorius?’ Rainbow perked up at this “Hey that doesn’t sound half bad!” Twilight nodded to herself. “Ultorius, sounds like a good name but what does it mean?” ‘It means Vengeful in Latin.’ Ultorius’ words hung in the air as he said them. Both girls looked at each other then back to the sword on the table. Rainbow looked scared by what he had said and Twilight looked chocked by what he had said. ‘Do not worry girls, it is just a name and I thought it sounded good for a sword.’ Both Twilight and Rainbow nodded at Ultorius and started to chat amongst themselves. Ultorius just sat there on the table, thinking back onto the past few days. All the precious loot that he had gained over the years was all stored in his magical backpack. But he could not reach it so he thought about it. Twilight sensed Ultorius doing something with magic, she was about to question what he was doing with magic until a small pop! Was heard amongst the three, silence followed as the three stared at the backpack that had appeared on the table next to the sword. ‘Well...... that solves one of my problems.’ Ultorius stared at the backpack until Rainbow spoke up. “Uh... Ult’ did you do that?” Ultorius sat next to the backpack doing nothing. After a few minutes he spoke. ‘Rainbow I have no idea how I did that. I just know that I did, and that confuses me. I have never had magic before and now I do? That just doesn’t seem likely to me...’ Twilight looked at the backpack on the ground then towards Ultorius. “Why doesn’t that seem possible for you to do? Many Unicorns here are able to do that.” ‘It doesn’t make sense to me because my species as a whole have never had magic before Twilight. I mean sure we discovered Runes but those were of a race that passed long before we found them. So it doesn’t make sense for me to have it now.’ Rainbow looked at Ultorius then to Twilight. “Hey guys I think I know why Ult’ has magic now.” Both Ultorius and Twilight looked towards Rainbow Twilight with a questioning look on her face and Ult’ just sat there. Both answered at the same time “How” Rainbow looked nervous as she prepared to say what she thought the problem might be. “Well I mean Ult’ said that his species doesn’t have any type of magic except Runes right? So I was thinking maybe it was because of how you two melded minds and swapped experiences and information. It might not be that his race never had magic; it might be that they never had the information to ever tap into their magic to be able to use it. And since the information swap between both of your minds he gained the experience to be able to do that now.” Twilight looked towards her friend with a confused expression on her face while Ultorius just remained silent. Rainbow looked at the both of them before saying “What I paid attention in SOME of my classes at school.” Rainbow crossed her forelegs and turned her head away from the two. Twilight continued to stare at Rainbow before Ultorius snapped her out of it. ‘Pay attention Twilight, all of your friends went to school remember?’ Twilight blinked at the statement and finally snapped out of her trance. She looked towards Rainbow Dash and said. “I’m sorry Rainbow it’s just that you caught me by surprise when you said that.” ‘Anyway, before an awkward crisis emerges how about you introduce me to the rest of your friends?’ Twilight looked towards Ultorius “That sounds like a good idea, Rainbow can you go get the others please?” Rainbow Dash nodded and flew out the door to go fetch all the others. ‘Let me guess.... you want to ask me some questions now?’ Twilight looked at Ultorius before saying “Yes I would like to know more about you and your species, and especially how you came to be in this situation.” ‘Well... first let me say this. Not all of my species are the same, we are all different like you ponies..... HANG ON A SEC! Didn’t the information swap thing give you the answers to all your questions?’ He had Twilight there the information swap did explain a great detail of many things. But some things were a little complicated because they didn’t make any sense to Twilight. So she explained this to him. 'Ok.... ok, fine I’ll try to answer whatever questions you may have, we DO have a deal to uphold.’ Twilight smiled triumphantly at Ultorius’ words before saying, “Ok first question, how did you end up in that dungeon?” ‘Well that might be better explained when all the rest of your friends get here, I’ll say this though it is an interesting tale.’ Twilight could understand the logic in wanting to wait for the rest of the Elements to arrive before talking about the Dungeon he had been in. “Ok then, second question, what is your species?” Ultorius thought about that question for a few seconds then responded with ‘My race is called Homo sapiens or more commonly called Humans’ Twilight was confused by Ultorius’ response; she had always thought that Humans were an old mare’s tale, not really a live race. “Ultorius, There’s no such thing as humans.” ‘Delve into my memories Twilight Sparkle, you will find my answer correct then. And don’t worry I’ll alert you when the others get here.’ Ultorius thought of the backpack going back to where he had got it from and with a flash of multipule colours, The backpack disappeared. Twilight Sparkle looked into her mind in search of the answers she was looking for, what Twilight found in the memories of Ultorius was not what she was expecting. The last words she heard from Ultorius were. 'Oh nice to know that still works....' ^^^^^^Memories of Ultorius^^^^^^ Ultorius stood on a chair in front of a crowd of people, all of them crying out for the blood of the traitor. One voice rang out above the cries of the crowd “You are hereby charged with treason against the crown! How do you plead?” Ultorius looked around at all the faces of the crowd searching for that familiar face that had helped him the last time this had happened. Again the voice called out to him “HOW DO YOU PLEAD?!?” Ultorius turned his head around to stare at the executioner, “I plead, not guilty!” The executioner huffed at his statement, “Any last words then traitor?” Ultorius stared out amongst the crowd again looking at each of the faces. His gaze stopped on one familiar face. He smiled at the hooded person and the person smiled back. “No? Okay then. By order of the crown you are sentenced to hang by the neck till death.” A deep drum began playing as the executioner moved towards the lever that was all that kept Ultorius alive. He looked out over the crowd again, seeing the hooded person move amongst the people shifting them slightly as he/she went past them. “Can I have one last request?” he asked the executioner The executioner stopped next to the lever that suspended Ultorius above a small pit. The man turned around and faced him. “Name it.” He smiled at the executioner “I wish to sing one song, before I die” The executioner nodded towards Ultorius, “It would entertain the crowd, and you may begin. Ultorius coughed to clear his throat and began to sing a song from one of the famous movies. “Home is behind, the world ahead And there are many paths to tread Through shadow, to the edge of night Until the stars are all alight The hooded person moved closer as the first part of the song Edge of Night by Pippin in Lord of the Rings the twin towers came to an end. Mist and shadow Cloud and shade Alll shall fade All shall fade” As the song ended the hooded person reached the back of the scaffolding and jumped up behind the executioner. Grabbing a dagger from a hidden hold in the robes, the hooded person gripped the man’s head and jerked it back exposing his throat. She/he moved the dagger and slit his throat open, chucking him into the audience making them all scatter in terror. I looked towards my hooded saviour with a smile. “Maria it is good to see you again.” “The same cannot be said for you my amicus.” “Etiam, I could not have put it better myself Maria.” Maria nodded at Ultorius before moving towards him in order to cut him down..... ‘Twilight....’ ^^^^^^Ponyville Twilight’s House^^^^^^ ‘Twilight, the others are here.’ Twilight Sparkle came out of her trance as Rainbow Dash entered the tree house. Shaking her head to clear the air Twilight looked for Ultorius to ask him who that was. ‘Not now Twilight, the others are here.’ Twilight nodded and moved forward to greet her friends, first entered Rainbow Dash, then Applejack and Rarity, and lastly entered Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Twilight smiled at her friends and greeted them “Hi girls, how’s everypony going?” Applejack was the one to respond first, “Jus’ dandy Twi’, mind tellin’ us why ya’ called us here. Applebuck season is right round the corner.” Rarity was the next to speak up “Yes darling could you please tell us why we are here, I have an order I need completed by the end of this week.” Pinkie Pie spoke up next “So where's the new pony, oh I wonder if he likes parties!” Fluttershy was the last of her friends to speak up “I-if you don’t m-mind that is....” After Fluttershy had said that she hid behind her mane. Twilight looked at each of her friends in turn before saying “Well girls, the reason I called you all here was because I have somepony important for you all to meet.” After Twilight had said that, she levitated the sword into an umbrella rack and into the centre of the group. Rarity was the first to speak up “Well dear where did you get this marvellously decorated sword?” Twilight looked at Rarity before saying “You girls remember the letter the princess sent me yesterday?” After they had all nodded she continued “Well the letter the princess sent asked me to investigate the old castle where we defeated nightmare moon.” ‘And that Twilight was quite the feat. Well done I must say.’ Twilight rolled her eyes at what Ultorius had said, this gained her confused looks by everypony gathered except Rainbow Dash who had also heard what Ultorius had said and was chuckling to herself, Ultorius was laughing at Twilight’s reaction. “Well after the letter was sent I went to investigate the magical disturbance that the princess had mentioned. When I arrived it appeared exactly the same as we had left it, except for one difference. This sword appeared in a flash of rainbow light on the pedestal the Elements of Harmony were on, right in the centre of it.” After the girls had nodded at her to continue her story she cleared her throat, “After the sword appeared I heard somepony asking for help,” Twilight looked at Ultorius who said ‘Well are you going to tell them of am I?’ Twilight sighed and said what Ultorius had said “The voice asked me ‘Where am I? Hello? Is anyone there?” Rainbow looked at Ultorius and she could feel him smile. ‘Hey Dash? Want to play a prank?’ Rainbow smiled and nodded eagerly ‘Okay here’s the plan, ever heard of a ventriloquist before?’ Ultorius didn’t think it was possible but Rainbow Dash’s smile got even bigger. “- and that’s how we came to be here right now.” All the girls were slack jawed as Twilight finished her story about Ultorius. After a while Applejack spoke up. “So yer expectin’ us ta believe that some magical who-ha happened at th’ ol’ castle an’ this here sword appeared on te pedestal?” “Applejack, darling you are the embodiment of the Element of Honesty surely what Twilight says is the truth.” Applejack looked down at the ground and kicked at the floor with her front hoof. “Ah guess so.” Twilight looked at all the girls with as smile before saying. “Okay so the only way Ultorius can talk to you is if you touch the sword. So off you go girls.” The girls all walked forwards towards the sword and Ultorius smiled to himself. ‘You ready Rainbow?' Rainbow smiled at him which he took for as a yes. The 4 other ponies present all placed a hoof on Ultorius, and then Ultorius and Rainbow began their little prank. As soon as he started talking Rainbow slowly shifted her lips as to give the illusion that Rainbow was actually speaking. ‘Greeting little ponies I am Ultorius the Elemental Sword.’ The girls all gasped and fell backwards as Ultorius spoke to them, all but one. Pinkie Pie had noticed Rainbow Dash using ventriloquism and she had started to giggle at Rainbow’s antics. “Dashie stop using ventriloquism to scare us, it won’t work!” All the rest of the girls were now staring at Rainbow Dash, and Twilight had a frown on her face. Rainbow stared at Pinkie with a confused expression plastered on her face. “But Pinkie Pie.... I’m not using ventriloquism.” Ultorius added after that ‘Yeah Pinkie she’s not using ventriloquism...’ Needless to say all the mare’s faces except for Twilight’s and Rainbow Dash’s were stuck in a state of shock and horror. Finally after a long time, Rainbow and Ultorius started to laugh; Rainbow fell on the floor while the air around the sword started to quiver. ‘HAHAHAHA.... You... should see....he he... looks on your....pfft...HAHAHAHA’ Ultorius busted into a new bout of laughter, while Rainbow Dash had fallen to the floor clutching her sides. After a long time the two stopped laughing hard enough to hear a low growling sound from Twilight, Rainbow looked at Twilight and then at the steam coming out of her ears. “Uuuuh, Ult’ I think we pushed her too far.” ‘Agreed’ Twilight’s mane busted into flame and she growled at the both of them. Rainbow dash as quick as ever flew out of the door with Ultorius screaming ‘WAIT!!! TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!!!’ Rainbow left a rainbow trail as she bolted out of the tree house, she could hear an agonised scream as the Twilight’s house became a blur on the horizon and the scream of Ultorius died down. She stopped for a brief rest before she could hear a scream coming from the distance, getting louder and louder as it closed in on her. Rainbow closed her eyes expecting Twilight to pop up next to her and start scolding her. What really happened was that Ultorius landed next to her with an UMPH. ‘Remind me never to piss off Twilight......’ Rainbow opened her eyes to see Ultorius lying next to her on the grass. Smoke coming off his blade and the hilt a little bit on fire. ‘Um, can you hide me? Please?’ Rainbow smiled at the question “Maybe, Maybe not. Depends on what you can do for me later...” ‘Look Twilight should either be here in a couple of minutes of she could just teleport here right now. Either way we need to move, NOW.’ Rainbow nodded at Ultorius and picked up the now cool sword and started flying towards her cloud house off in the distance...... Just as Princess Celestia’s carriage flew by overhead. ^^^^^^Canterlot Castle before Ultorius wakes up^^^^^^ Princess Celestia was sitting in her room as Twilight’s message came through in a puff of green smoke. Levitating the paper in her magic she read the message on the scroll. Dear Princess Celestia My investigation has drawn up more questions than answers at this time. During my investigation into the magical disturbance you sent me to investigate at the old castle in the Everfree forest, I found something rather interesting that I must request you presence in Ponyville in order to fully explain this strange phenomenon to you. Your student, Twilight Sparkle. Princess Celestia hummed to herself in thought; Twilight would never ask me to come to Ponyville unless it was extremely urgent. Moving off her bed and down the corridor to her sister’s room, she knocked politely on the gilded door before entering. “Luna? Are you awake?” “Uhhhhg what is it Tia? I was trying to sleep.” “Well I just received a letter from Twilight urging my presence in Ponyville; she would like to explain something she found in her Investigation of the magical disturbance that you felt last night.” Luna looked towards her sister “You mean the one at the old castle that housed the Elements of harmony? And where Nightmare Moon was defeated?” Celestia looked at Luna from the darkened doorway. The room was dark and on the ceiling was what looked like the night sky; the bed had Luna’s Cutie Mark on it and was a deep blue colour like her coat. Everything around the room reflected Luna’s ponyality? (Personality, Might need a little help with that one everypony). Luna looked at Celestia, “Sister, are you going to Ponyville then?” Celestia’s gaze drifted around the room, then back to her sister. “I suppose I should see what Twilight needs me to look at, it might be something important.” Luna nodded at her sister and laid her head down to go back to sleep. Celestia excited the room, closing the door quietly and walked down the corridor to the carriages outside on the strip that had been designated for the landing and taking off of carriages. Hoping into one carriage she told the four ponies that were pulling said carriage to take her to Twilight’s tree house in Ponyville. The guards nod and take off, flying in the direction of Ponyville. Just as the solar princess nears Ponyville she hears a scream from the town. Looking down she sees Rainbow Dash, the Element of loyalty, fly past leaving a rainbow trail behind her. Following the trail backwards, she sees that Rainbow had come from Twilight’s home. Celestia smiled to herself, thinking of all the new antics her student had probably gotten herself into over the past few months in Ponyville. Landing in front of Twilight’s library she excited the carriage and walked towards the door. Before the princess could raise her hoof to knock on the door a purple flash could be seen through the window. Puzzled the solar princess stops to think what could possibly be happening inside that required Twilight to teleport around. Just as she finished thinking this another purple flash could be seen from the window, plus the screaming of a mare. The princess frowned and knocked on the door and just as quickly as the screaming started, it stopped. Twilight opened the door to find the princess standing in front of her, with a frown on her face. She gulped and spoke, “G-good morning Princess Celestia, did you come this morning in regards to my letter?” The solar princess frowned at her student. “Twilight Sparkle, why do I hear screams coming from your home?” Twilight smiled weakly at her mentor, “Err, no reason princess. Just Rainbow Dash being Rainbow Dash.” Princess Celestia smiled to herself and said to her beloved student, “Would you mind if I come inside then Twilight?” Twilight looked back inside her home and back to the princess, a nervous smile plastered on her face. “S-sure Princess j-just let me tidy up!” Just as quickly as the door was open it was closed on Celestia; a muffled scream was heard before another purple flash was seen through the window. Having had enough on her student’s antics, she opened the door with her magic and walked inside to find Twilight on top of a bound and crying Rainbow Dash. The princess’s eyes widened as she came to realise what she had just stumbled upon, Rainbows eyes looked at her pleadingly and Twilights reduced to pinpoint as she realised that Celestia had just opened the door. Twilight’s head turned towards the princess as she said “Princess! It’s not what you think!” The solar princess’s head swerved around the room looking at the gathered ponies. Applejack and Rarity standing in one of the corners sitting in the couch, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were sitting at the dining table and Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle who were on the top of one of the tables in the main room. Celestia’s gaze drifted over each and everypony’s faces before responding to her students words. “Then what is going on here Twilight?” “Well Rainbow Dash and Ultorius thought it would be funny to play a prank on me when they knew you would be arriving soon.” The princess thought about this for a moment. Who was this Ultorius that Twilight had mentioned “Twilight? Who is this Ultorius that you mentioned?” Celestia’s hoof bumped against something cold on the floor as she walked into the room, looking down she found a sword that had some oddly familiar gems imbedded into the white blade. And then a deep melodic voice filled the room. ‘That would be me your highness; it is a pleasure to finally meet you. Twilight has spoken highly and often of you.’ Celestia’s eyes drifted away from the blade on the floor to look around for the source of the voice. ‘Ahem, down here your majesty.’ Looking down again she found the odd sword lying against her hoof, she looked at it in confusion as she tried and failed to comprehend what was going on in Twilight’s home. Before she could say anything the voice spoke up again. ‘Princess would you mind picking me up and placing me on the table top please? Or in the rack over there, as comfortable as your hoof is I would rather be someplace where I could see everypony’s faces rather than their hooves.’ The princess’s face turned from one of confusion to one of shock as she realised just WHO Ultorius is and more importantly WHAT he is. “Don’t worry Ulty I got you!” Pinkie said as she picked up the blade and leaned it against the wall. ‘Thank you Pinkie Pie, it is nice to know somepony here has the common courtesy to pick a gentleman off the floor and dust him off once in a while.’ Pinkie Pie giggled at Ultorius’ statement and walked back towards the dining table were Fluttershy was sitting. The table was stacked high with an assortment of sweets ranging from muffins and cupcakes to, well cake. Grabbing some plates from Twilight’s kitchen, Pinkie Pie started to hand out the sweets. Ultorius coughed to get everypony’s attention. ‘I assume, princess that since you are here. You wish to hear my story, yes?’
