The Unknown History and The Magical Future

The four Malhornesi sat in silence on the train to Canterlot. Only a few days ago they were found at entrance to the Crystal Empire. They were fed and their scars tended to. The ponies of the Empire seemed strangely kind and trusting towards the new arrivals. When Princess Cadence and Shining Armour had written to their alicorn relatives in Canterlot, they had received a response only seconds later. The ancient ponies were requested in Canterlot. That day they would put on a train with several other guards, and they tried to accept the fact that they were gone for several thousand years, that they had won the war, and that now the alicorn sisters ruled over a beautiful empire of their own, Equestria.

The aged warriors were given strange looks, and curious stares as they were escorted to Canterlot Castle by the royal guards. When they reached the regal building at the city's edge, they were brought to the chambers of the regal sisters. The escorts left the room and the tall wooden doors closed behind them. Out from another came Princess Celestia followed by her sibling, Luna. The sight of their rulers brought back painful and horrific memories for the two third generation ponies.

They recalled their brutal training and terrible losses. Ambrose without a tip to his left ear, and a deep scar traveled down the right side of his face. Leech's heart grew heavy with memories of his lost lover, rivals during training and throughout the war, and deep within himself, he realized with regret that the world he knew was no more.The two towering alicorns sat on cushions opposite of their ancient warriors. Following their elders, the four soldiers of old sat upon their own soft seats. The eldest sister's horned glowed with a yellow aura and a soundproof spell was cast on the room. It was also she who spoke first.

"My faithful subjects, my sister and I would like to begin by stating that we are deeply sorry. We have realized our mistakes of the past, and we hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive us. However if such mistakes were made public then there would there be great unrest, and confusion, so we must require of you to remain silent as to those details." It was then that Luna spoke.

"And as compensation for your loss and mistreatment, we have not only decided to give you full royalty status, wealth, and homes but he have agreed to allow you to come forth with your own reasonable requests as further compensation."

Priscilla in a spoke a calm, indifferent voice to the alicorns, "As always I will do as you request my princesses." Pandora was next to reply.

"I will as well, but not only for myself but for the betterment of the people and their lives."

The next to respond was the pony who possessed the Soviet Stallion accent: Ambrose. "I, too, agree to your terms, but my conditions are a little more...extensive. My first demand is to be placed at the head of your royal guard. My second order of business is to be given a mansion in Canterlot. My third is to be introduced to the public as a honorable veteran of the princesses'. And my final request is to be given a dinner with the beautiful Princess Luna." And at his last remark Luna shot a quick glance towards her older sister.

After hearing his conditions both Luna and Celestia turned to the last pony, waiting for a response. Leech's thoughts had been festering since the moment the princesses had voiced their request. Now all his thoughts turned to words. "You’re…sorry. You’re... SORRY?!? Sorry doesn't bring back the dead! Keep your homes and your bribes, but know that you were always wrong. I'll keep quiet but you will leave me alone till the end of my days." He then rose and stormed out of the room in a rush.

As Priscilla and Pandora left the room, Ambrose was stopped at the doorway by Princess Celestia, who desired to go more in depth with Ambrose about his...requests.

Hours later Leech was lying on his bed, in a deep slumber. His mind had drifted off to a place of dreams, that soon turned to nightmares. Images of his long lost lover clouded his thoughts, and memories of her played through his mind on their own. He couldn't stop the onslaught of joyful recollections mixed the horrible realization: she was gone forever. All the images and replays stopped fading into darkness, and instead his vision was filled with a dark cave filled with crystals. At its center he could see what looked like a cocoon made of crystals that shined with a overwhelming scarlet. A voice rang from it, and every time it did the light flickered and faded, restoring itself with the conclusion of every sound.

"Leech," it said "I can give you her back..." His vision was filled with the image of his love one last time and as he sat up in bed he saw her. Standing over him was the love of his life, Rosetta. He could feel her hooves press against his chest, and the pressure slowly disappeared and though he reached up and grabbed her, she slipped out of existence as her whole body became transparent and his hands filled with air.

Leech burst through Priscilla's door, scaring her half to death. She looked up from her book to see his wings outstretched and breathing heavily. Leech then asked her something, something she wished nopony would every ask her. He asked her about an old myth he had heard of. He asked: "Priscilla, what do you about the one they call Metus?"

As Leech walked back to his room his mind raced with something he hadn't felt for who knows how long. He felt hope. For days after his first encounter his dreams were haunted with images of his lover and constant taunts. Priscilla had told Leech everything she knew. He now knew who was tormenting him so, and every time he woke up he would get one more moment to spend with Rosetta, making saying goodbye all the more difficult. For a week the harassment continued, by the week's end he become obsessed with the time he could spend with his lost companion. But Priscilla then realized Metus's plan, his plan to escape. Without Leech's permission she cast a spell upon him to block out the Malhornesi of doom.

Leech was going crazy, he couldn't stand it, she had stopped coming and his dreams had left as quickly as they had appeared. Though soon Metus realized the Priscilla's spell's counter-effect and he changed targets. He directed his magic towards Priscilla, filling her dreams with scenes of torture, rape, and death. The horrific portrayals would haunt her for the rest of her life. She began to see the effect he was having on her and cast yet another spell to expel the visions from her dreams. But without her knowing the spell around Leech was broken with Metus's constant assaults, leaving her protected but him vulnerable.