My Little Warcraft - New Friends

Chapters

Chapter 36 - Worgen Hard Or Hardly Worgen?
Chapter 37 - Extreme Woodcutting
Chapter 38 - Sharing The Pain
Chapter 39 - An Untimely Arrival
Chapter 40 - Our Goodbyes...
Epilogue - Dear Princess Celestia...
Bonus Chapter: In Our Belief
Chapter 2 - Ink Spill
Chapter 3 - Faithful Soul
Chapter 4 - Needle and Thread
Chapter 5 - Diamonds are Forever
Chapter 6 - Beguiled Empathy
Chapter 7 - Rainbows Hit Hard
Chapter 8 - Just Wing It
Chapter 9 - How Magnets Work
Chapter 11 - Forsaken
Chapter 12 - Like Clockwork
Chapter 13 - If That's Okay...
Chapter 14 - Right Click, Inspect
Chapter 15 - Not Enough Dresses
Chapter 16 - Squeaky Clean
Chapter 17 - Sciens Friendship
Chapter 18 - Bread And Butter
Chapter 19 - Shadows In The Light
Chapter 20 - Hearthfire
Chapter 21 - Dire Straits
Chapter 22 - Heartstrike
Chapter 23 - Righting Wrongs
Chapter 24 - Mending Bonds
Chapter 25 - At Her Request
Chapter 27 - Impatience and Appreciation
Chapter 28 - Blackluster
Chapter 29 - Revelation
Chapter 30 - Lay On Hands
Chapter 31 - Repentance and Redemption
Chapter 32 - The Burden of Guilt
Chapter 33 - Just One Night
Chapter 34 - Nights Into Dreams
Chapter 35 - The Ember of Friendship
Chapter 1 - Prologue
Chapter 10 - Elven Slumber Party
Chapter 26 - Bad First Impressions

Chapter 36 - Worgen Hard Or Hardly Worgen?

It was all just a tad too much for the blood elf. When was the last time he had such a good time? Even though he lived through the years as though they were days, with his memory keeping track of events as quick, he couldn't remember the last time he had such a party, surrounded by those whom he called his friends. How long had it been since he sat at a table eating a large cake, playing party games, and drinking so much that he fell arse over head when he tried to sit up from his seat?

He felt like he didn't deserve to be there.

With Applejack's barn house -- the venue of Pinkie's grand party -- getting the last of the cleaning sorted, Gai'vahros sat upon a bundle of cube-shaped haystacks, looking over to the horizon as the sun sat at midday. His eyes were ever set upon the view in front of him -- a giant apple tree orchard that spanned lord knows how far.

Gentle hoofsteps padded the grass as Twilight made her way towards him. "Oh, Gai'vahros," she called out, She gave a soft sigh. "I've been looking for you everywhere."

"Sorry about that," he replied as he turned towards her, rotating on his backside and facing her. "Didn't mean to worry you, my Lady Twilight."

But despite that usual, cheery tone, Twilight raised an eyebrow. "You okay?" she asked with suspicion. "What's on your mind?"

"Hm? No, nothing. Just thought I'd come and get some fresh air. Beats the smell of timber and oil paint, you know?"

"That's a fair excuse, Gai'vahros, but I know when something's bothering you." Twilight climbed upon the stacks and sat next to Gai'vahros. "Whenever you're down you always sit and look up at the sky or into the distance. So, what's wrong?"

With a soft sigh, Gai'vahros leaned back onto his hands and gazed off onwards. "It's been a weird week," he responded. "Ever since I came here I've been thinking about what's happening back home. Makes me wonder what will have changed when I go back. It's pretty scary…"

Twilight paused for a moment to consider her words. "Don't take this the wrong way," she spoke, "but you said it yourself that you're just an adventurer, right? I'm sure that there will be others who will take your place and do as good a job as you would."

"Aye, but it's not all that simple. I was supposed to help lead the blood knights, but now that's left solely to Lady Liadrin. I just hope that it won't be too much of a burden for her -- or at the very least she'll have some company with her."

Twilight couldn't help but giggle. "You're pretty overprotective."

"Oh, shush." Gai'vahros smirked and gave Twilight a gentle nudge, chuckling ever slightly. "So, where's everyone else?"

"Applejack and Pinkie Pie are both cleaning up the barn house. Some party, huh?"

"Yeah, it was pretty wild."

"Gilda and Rainbow Dash took off on their own somewhere. I guess they're catching up with each other." A sweet smile crept over her lips. "I'm glad that they got back together, you know? In fact, I'm glad that we've all managed to put our differences aside."

"I know what you mean," agreed Gai'vahros. "They say, "to err is mortal, but to forgive is divine". I always thought the phrase to be pretty stupid, but it's in trying times that you finally make sense of it."

"You found it pretty hard to forgive someone, Gai'vahros?"

"Not to forgive, but to put aside the grudge at least. When we finally beat the Lich King, something happened. Something I didn't think would ever happen in a million years. I felt… bad."

"Bad? Whatever for? This Lich King was going to destroy your world, right? He had already drove your people to extinction!"

"You're right. But after the dust settled, we didn't see a "Lich King". We saw Arthas Menethil -- the man whose soul was taken by his sword and became nothing more than a cold, ruthless killer. I still remember seeing him, laying upon the ice and dying, gasping for air with each breath. As the spirit of his father cradled his dying body, he asked of him, "Is it over". When I saw him… the hatred was gone. All I felt was a deep sense of pity for him. It was as if we had freed him of a curse, a possession."

Twilight sat in silence, listening intently towards the elf's words. "Kind of like when Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon…"

"I would think so, except Arthas wasn't fortunate enough to meet a kinder fate. It made me think. Made me change my stance and my views on things. Are people truly evil? Are they just misguided? or do they believe that their way is the right way? Is there truly evil in the world? Or are there just different views to the same situation?"

"I guess… but what about things like hurting kids? or attacking innocent people?"

"I guess those things would be considered evil. But what I'm saying is that we can't just think things as black and white and then be ignorant to everything other than our own conclusions."

But Twilight didn't reply. Truly, she didn't even need to. It was never something she had thought about before, but now that it was brought up she at least now had an opportunity to do so. What he said did make sense, after all.

"So, what about everyone else?" continued Gai'vahros.

"Oh, right. I think Rarity and Spike went to go collect gems, and Fluttershy said she was going to go check up on her animals for a quick moment."

"That's right, wasn't Mogan looking after them?"

"Apparently he got… um… "called back" to the Argent Crusade."

"Lucky him, getting teleported around so freely."

Twilight could almost taste the frustration behind his words. "You miss your world, don't you?" she asked softly.

"I kind of see it like a terrible job," replied Gai'vahros, though much to Twilight's confusion. She raised an eyebrow. "As much as I don't fancy going back to war, I'm compelled to do so. It's my duty to my people to do so, or rather my commitment to do so."

"Strange. Only a couple of days ago you said that fighting made you feel alive, like it was just a natural part of you as much as walking and breathing."

"War is a dirty business, you know. When you go to war, you don't fight for your own ideals; you fight for someone else's. You fight for things that you don't believe in, for ideals that aren't your own, and for a truth that you've only been fed. But you fight because you want to protect those you love and care about, and fighting is the only way to do it."

"There're things such as peace talks and negotiations, Gai'vahros."

"Only to those who do not have deaf ears. There are times when talks are not an option, because your enemy only wants to crush you and everyone else beneath their heels. That's how conquering works."

"I guess you've seen a lot of that…"

Gai'vahros smirked with a light chuckle. "I don't expect you to understand, my Lady Twilight. You are still young and naïve about these kinds of things. But I will say this: always keep your mind open, and never judge things as black or white."

"… I'll be sure to keep that in mind." Twilight looked onwards, but something caught her eye in the distance. Against the bright skies it could only be made out as a silhouette of a flying creature, almost bird-like. It was heading with great speed, but as it came closer it was only Fluttershy. "Oh, welcome back, Fluttershy," greeted Twilight with a smile. "How are all your animals?"

"T-They're fine," stammered Fluttershy, "but I've found something in the Everfree Forest!"

"What kind of "something"?"

"Well, I was flying back from my home and I noticed something large in the clearing -- something I'd not seen on the way to. So, I went down to check and it was… um…"

"It wasn't something… horrible, right?"

"N-no, no, no! It was just really… strange. It was an overturned caravan wagon."

Gai'vahros raised an eyebrow in suspicion. "An… overturned wagon? In the forest?" he repeated in disbelief.

"Yeah… but it was in a clearing where there's only a narrow path -- much too narrow for a wagon to get through."

Gai'vahros and Twilight shared glanced at each other, but Twilight only shrugged.

"How do you suppose it managed to get there?" Gai'vahros asked Twilight. "If it was dropped from the sky then surely we would have noticed it? Lady Fluttershy even testified that it wasn't there on her way to her home."

"I guess it could have just appeared in the clearing, like with a teleport or translocation spell." As Twilight finished, she noticed Gai'vahros had dropped into silence. "You have any idea what this could be?" she asked him.

"There's been a lot of appearing acts lately," he spoke up. "First I arrive, and then Liliandra shows up, and now presumably this caravan. Fluttershy, do you recognize the wagon as being of Equestrian design?"

"Oh… Well, now that I think about it, it looked kinda similar to the ones used in Manehattan, but… it looked a lot more decorative, and it had lanterns on the back of it."

"You think that this wagon came from your world, Gai'vahros?" asked Twilight.

"I have a pretty strong hunch that that's the case."

"Well then," Applejack called out from the side of the group, "how's about we all take a lil trip down to the Everfree Forest, then?"

"Absolutely not," commanded Gai'vahros as he hopped down from the haystacks. "If this is another group of people from Azeroth then I can say that it could be a group of Gilneans."

Applejack only gazed at him in confusion. "And… what exactly is wrong with that?"

"Gilneans are trained hunters. To them you'd be seen as either fair game or pack mules that need taming. Or food."

"F-food?" stammered Fluttershy with a audible squeak, holding her fore-hooves up to her face. "W-what do you mean by that…?"

There wasn't much point in trying to find a way to soften the blow now. "Gilneans are… They're lycanthropes. Werewolves."

"W-What!?" they all cried out at the same time, although Fluttershy wasn't as worried as the others.

"W-well, maybe I can try talking to them… and see if I can console them…"

"They're not animals, my Lady Fluttershy," settled Gai'vahros. "They're people, just like me and you. Well, you know, more like me… just more furry. And with longer claws."

Shifting on her hooves lightly, Applejack began to sweat. She could feel a bead or two run down her brow and along her cheek. "Uh… Heh… I think I'll just stay here an'… clean the barn… an' stuff."

"I'll stay and give you a hand," joined Twilight with a crude smile. "If that's okay with you, Gai'vahros?"

He merely shook his head with a smirk. "Sure, sure. I'd rather you kept out of this anyway, just to be on the safe side. Although, my Lady Fluttershy…"

"O-oh, um… Do you need me for something?" she asked softly.

"As much as I don't want to bring anyone in harm's way, I do need someone to show me the way, and… well, you're the only one who knows where it is."

"O-okay… Just follow me."

The tops of the trees blocked out nearly all sunlight that dared tried to pierce through, forming a phalanx-like formation over the land. If the darkness wasn't bad enough then the stagnant atmosphere and the heavy tension definitely put some strain on the elf. From the continuous shift from hard dirt to sticky mud to rocky terrain, trying to keep a good walking pace was like shifting through a thick bog. If it weren't for his rigid boots he was certainly sure that he would have broken his ankles by now.

But the tension he could feel in the area was incredible. Even though he had seen a lot of hostile creatures and monsters to the point that all but the most largest of wyrms and giants were trivial, he could feel it once more. That dark, foreboding feeling of fear of being pounced upon before you knew it. It reminded him of walking through the Ghostlands and Duskwood.

"How do you even keep your footing in this forest?" muttered Gai'vahros audibly. "I've climbed mountains easier than this."

"I don't think I'm having too much trouble," responded Fluttershy, leading the elf along a couple of feet in front. "But I guess I'm just used to walking around here every day."

"Every day? I thought you said this place was really dangerous?"

"Oh, well, it is… for other ponies, but I always talk to the animals here so that they would be more nice and not so vicious…"

"Huh. Sounds like a neat skill to have when trekking out in places like this, I suppose."

Climbing over the occasional log and leaping across the odd ditch, both of them found themselves upon a path that was a lot more forgiving towards Gai'vahros' ankles. It was almost like the entire pathway was stamped flat by passing travellers.

Fluttershy stopped as she came across a small cut-off that lead along another path. "This is the place," she said, looking down the narrow pathway that was flanked by large, thick trees.

Gai'vahros understood what she meant by its size limiting what could travel across here. He was sure that a wagon cart couldn't get through here. "Great. Thank you, my Lady Fluttershy," he responded with a smile. "But I think you should head back -- quickly, now."

"O-okay… Just… be careful…" Quickly she shot from the ground and soared out of and over the forest top, heading back towards Sweet Apple Acres.

Cautiously Gai'vahros took step after step upon the dirt path, but it was hard to keep his footing on ground that was largely cracked and rocky. The lack of light would have been a hindrance to most people but thankfully his darkvision lent some aid.

But as he continued down the path, the terrain began to change. The dirt turned to moss and then to grass. The trees became more revitalizes, their bark not dried up or flaking off. It was as though the further this path went on, it showed the flora around him return to life.

And sure enough, as he stepped out from the path and into the clearing, it was covered in life. The area, perhaps fifty yards in diameter, was filled with grass, littered with flowers, and surrounded by trees that looked as though they had just returned to bloom for the Summer season. It was a marvel to behold, if confusing at the same time.

In the middle of this lush scenery was the overturned, battered caravan that Fluttershy had seen. The exterior was shaped quiet weirdly, coloured in a smooth, ivory white with the timber struts giving it support were unpainted. The two sides were given blue tiled awnings, although many have either been dislodged or shattered. One of the wheels lay broken in half, while another was detached from the cart itself some feet away. As Fluttershy said, there were a few lanterns attached, although two seemed prefixed on the back.

"Thought so," Gai'vahros muttered to himself. "Definitely a Gilnean caravan." Quickly he drew his sword and shield at the ready, carefully approaching what remains on the wreckage. Turning his head to view the roof of the wagon, he found only that a huge part of it had been knocked through, presumably by brute force.

Gai'vahros ears pricked up. It was faint, but somewhere behind him he could hear the gentle rustling of leaves. The wind was wafting a cool, gentle breeze, but it wasn't enough to sway the branches of the tree tops, let alone the bushes on the ground. Turning around, he tried to focus on where the rustling was coming from. Slowly scanning from left to right, he shifted his eyes around to try and find anything out of the ordinary.

And the bushes rustled again. This time, though, he saw it. He gazed forward, raising his armaments in front. "Show yourself," he called out. But there was no response. He shifted his head to one side, trying to peer around to the side of the shrubbery. He didn't see anyone, but what caught his eye was something a bit more worrying. As he shifted his sight, the light reflected off of something round and silver like a ring.

A ring with a fairly large hole in it.

A sudden locking sound came from the bush and, as quickly as he could, Gai'vahros raised his shield in front of him. What followed next was a sudden, loud bang, and him being knocked back against the wagon as a large amount of force bashed against the shield. His head snapped back, whacking the wagon, although his bushy ponytail cushioned most of the impact. Nonetheless, he could only see with a blurred vision.

A large figure rose from the bushes and stepped over it, making its way over to the prone elf. The figure was that of a slender female, complimented with a typical lady-like dress sense; she wore a beige tunic with sleeves up to the elbows and a long, green skirt. Around her head was a purple hood that tied under her chin.

But her form… Her form was most distinct. Her entire body was covered in thick, grey fur. Her hands and feet were bare, being bestial and more paw-like, with long, black claws stretching from their digits. Her face was canine, wolf-like, and vicious. Her expression was ever constantly angry, even if she had no reason to be.

She had her arms at her midriff, holding in her bony fingers a long, silver rifle, with her finger still on the trigger. Her breathing was heavy, and she let out a snarl as she stopped only a few feet in front of her target. "Well, what do we have here?" she spoke up, her voice deep and raspy. "Seems there's a lot of elves running around these days."

Gai'vahros looked up to her, keeping his eyes locked onto her toothy face. "Funny," he responded with a light smirk, "because I've not seen a lot of you "worgen" running around lately." His hand shifted slowly, reaching over for his sword that lay only a few inches away.

But the beast planted her foot on his glove, pinning his hand down, and raising the barrel of her rifle only inches away from his head. "I wouldn't try anything funny if I were you," she warned with a low growl. "There's a reason why I've survived in the Plaguelands for months. Make any sudden moves and I'll paint this caravan with a new colour I like to call, "Hint-Of-Brain"."

More rustling came from the side, along with the emergence of another two figures, both clad in heavy armor. The first was short yet stocky, his build large and muscular, with a huge, ginger beard. His was clad in dark blue and bronze armor, wielding a shield and a white warhammer. The second was another blood elf, with long, swept back red hair, and clad in shining silver armor with a blackened greatsword in hand.

"Are ya alright, Fiona?" called out the shorter of the two, sounding incredibly worried. "We heard a gunshot, an'--" he stopped for a moment as he saw her holding up Gai'vahros. "Well bust me balls an' send me to Ironforge, I never thought I'd see ye in action!"

But his elven companion had no reason to compliment her, deep in thought. "Wait a moment," he spoke up finally, making his way over to the two of them, "I've met this man before." Making his way over to the blood knight, Fiona lowered her rifle and stepped back. "You…! You are…!" His face turned a pale white. He stepped back, almost mortified.

"You recognize this elf, Tarenar?" asked Fiona. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"This… This is Lord Gai'vahros!" Quickly Tarenar planted his sword into the ground, kneeling down upon one knee. "Please, forgive her!" he begged, his head hung. He dared not make eye contact.

"Um…" Gai'vahros looked around, almost as confused as the other two were by Tarenar's behaviour. "I've not been called a Lord before, but… thanks for the prestige?"

"Get up off yer knees, Tarenar," the dwarf protested, prodding his friend's arm with the head of his hammer. "Yer look like a right pansy."

"Gidwin," he responded, "you were there in Mount Hyjal, too! Do you not remember him?"

Turning to Gai'vahros, Gidwin moved his head closer, stroking his beard. "A-aye, you're right! You're that elf who's been fightin' in the Firelands invasion! But… Gai'vahros? That means you…!"

Gai'vahros sighed. "Can I at least stand up, now?"

"O-of course," muttered the pair of them, rushing over to him and helping to pick him off the floor and stand him up, taking it in turns to brush the dirt from his armor.

"Oh, Lord Gai'vahros, please don't report me to the Lord Regent," pleaded Tarenar.

"An' dun hold any ill will to Fiona, here," added Gidwin. "She's jus' been a bit on edge after the recent happenings."

Without a hint of restraint, Fiona bopped the dwarf on the head with the butt of her rifle. "Enough of you, Gidwin. You're making me look bad."

"Wait, wait. Hold up," intervened Gai'vahros, cutting off their exchange. "What do you mean by, "recent happenings"? What on earth is going on on Azeroth?"

"What do you mean, "on Azeroth"?", asked Tarenar. "How can you not notice all of the thunderstorms and anomalies that's been going on the last few days?"

Gai'vahros stopped for a moment. He gazed at the three of them, one at a time, before realizing that they were not aware. "Guys -- and girl… You do realize that you're not on Azeroth anymore, right?"

The other three gazed at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Come on, now," chuckled Gidwin, "what do ya take us for? We ain't a troupe o' two brainless tin cans an' a fur rug! Of course we're still on Azeroth… right?"

But before Gai'vahros could answer, a loud noise of grouped footsteps made its was quickly towards them. The thundering trotting got ever louder until the whole group made their way to the clearing. Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy stood in front of the path, halting quickly.

"Gai'vahros," called out Twilight, her voice full of worry, struggling with bated breaths, "are you okay? We heard a loud noise!"

The others turned as they spoke out, and all apart from Gai'vahros were stunned.

"Did that… Did that horse just talk?" asked Tarenar as he pointed towards Twilight.

Fiona, however, only raised her rifle to her sight. "It won't be for long," she said callously.

As the other ponies moved in front of Twilight, Gai'vahros stepped up to Fiona. "Give me that damn thing," he yelled at her, grasping the barrel of the rifle and yanking it from her grasp. "I'm getting real tired of you waving this thing around!" Without giving Gidwin a chance to pay attention, he tossed the rifle towards him, with the dwarf scrambling to get a hold of it. "As long as you're here, she doesn't lay a single paw on that gun -- or I'll cut her down myself. Are we clear on that?"

Fiona dared not to challenge him. Tarenar was not one to fight among his own kin given their people's experience, and the fact that he looked up to Gai'vahros like an idol. Gidwin, whose power was not as great as most other paladins, would never dream of facing up against the man who helped end the Lich King, destroy the Firelord, and vanquish the Destroyer of Worlds.

"Aye… you can count on me," spoke Gidwin softly, holstering the rifle across his backpack.

Fluttershy, however, was not as intimidated as she was curious about them. "Um… So they aren't animals?" she asked with intrigue. "They look really… different from you." Her focus turned to Tarenar. "But you're another elf, right?"

Tarenar didn't know what to say at first. His mind was still flipping around in his head trying to get to grips that a winged horse was talking to him -- and incredibly well, too. Her sweet, gentle voice cooed into his ears in a way that gave him the great urge to cuddle her. "Y-yes," he spoke finally, "I'm a blood elf, like Lord Gai'vahros."

"Uh, "Lord" Gai'vahros?" repeated Applejack as she made her way forward. "What's the deal with that, Gai? You never told us you were a Lord."

"Hey, I only just found that out myself just now," he responded with a shrug. "Tell me, Tarenar, why the prestige?"

"You do not know? All knew blood knights are told about the greatest of blood knight champions -- Lady Liadrin, Lord Bloodwrath, Master Pyreanor, all of them. And then they always leave you, the best, till last."

"Huh. I never knew that the blood knight order cared so much."

"Also," intervened Fiona, approaching Fluttershy, "could you not refer to us as animals?"

Fluttershy squeaked, backing off quickly on light wings with her hooves to her mouth. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to insult you…"

"Could ye at least explain what in the nine hells is goin' on, lass?" spoke Gidwin in impatience.

"Don't worry," spoke Twilight as she approached, "I'll be happy to explain what is going on…"

Chapter 37 - Extreme Woodcutting

"… And that's pretty much it," finished Twilight.

But Fiona and her troupe were still dumbfounded with what had happened and where they were -- a world ruled and governed by talking animals both magical and mythical.

"So, we're all on a different world," Tarenar began to retell, "in a land called "Equestria"? And this place is ruled by two Princesses?" He shook his head before turning to Gidwin with a smirk. "Hey, Giddy, are you --"

"Not now, Tarenar," snapped Gidwin. To everyone's surprise, he was dancing on the spot, squatting low and kicking a leg up one at a time like a Cossack dance. "Can't ye see I'm busy showin' this wee pony how it's done?"

Pinkie Pie, however, was showing no sign of fatigue or slowing down, keeping up with the dwarf pace by pace. "Hey," she called out with a scowl, "it's now like you're beating me, buddy! Besides, I can do this!" Dipping a hoof into her mane, she pulled out a teapot and balanced it on her head, all the while keeping the rhythm.

"Ye two loafs short o' a bread basket, lass, but ye got skill! Now, try an' beat this!" Taking a page from Pinkie Pie, Gidwin took the rifle from the straps of his backpack and carefully placed the butt of it on the tip of his nose, balancing it. "Hah! Now what do ye think o' that, eh?"

Chuckling, Tarenar chook his head again and returned his focus on the others. "Well, I guess getting his opinion is a bit out of the question for the moment. So… exactly where are we right now?"

"We're all in the Everfree Forest," spoke up Fluttershy, a lot more confident than she was before. "It's a pretty dangerous place, so… a lot of pony folk try to keep away unless it is absolutely necessary to come through here."

"Nothing you can't handle, Tarenar," complimented Gai'vahros. "After all, you've been stationed in the Plaguelands for a long while, and you helped us in Mount Hyjal. I'm sure simple large beasts are nothing compared to the mass Scourge and Fireland invaders you've dealt with."

"You praise me too much, my Lord."

A low yet audible hum came from Applejack. She held her head low and with a hoof on her chin. "But you said somethin' before about weird thunderstorms, right?" she asked.

"That is true," replied Fiona. "A few nights ago we began having these very strange thunderstorms in the eves; crackling lightning of vivid pink and purple colours."

"Pink and purple?" repeated Twilight, also befuddled. "That sounds like some sort of magical anomaly -- here, at least."

"A few nights ago…" muttered Gai'vahros. "That's around the same time I tried stepping through the portal to the Isle of Thunder and ended up here. Fiona, what do you last recall before you were sent here?"

The worgen paused for a moment, her hand on her hips. Her fingers tapped against her dress. "Well, me, Tarenar, and Gidwin were at the riverside that bordered the eastern and western Plaguelands. Instead of making our way back normally, we decided to use Tarenar's hearthstone to get back to Light's Hope Chapel quicker. And then… well, we "landed" here."

"Yes… it all makes much more sense, now."

"Have you figured out what's going on, Gai'vahros?" asked Twilight.

"I'm not entirely sure, but…" Gai'vahros paused, taking the moment to make sure that what he was hypothesizing was accurate. "I believe that this weird storm is somehow interfering with translocation magics."

"But what's the connection? Surely a storm can't do that to powerful magics, right?"

"Unless the storm itself is magical," intervened Tarenar. "You see, translocation magic is created by opening two arcane anomalies that connect to each other through a tear in space via the Twisting Nether, creating a sort of tunnel. Although the distance is so far apart in terms of space, the journey from one point, through the Twisting Nether, to the second point is near instantaneous."

As he explained, the whole group -- especially his fellow companions -- gazed at him, jaw-dropped. Gidwin had stopped dancing altogether, with the rifle falling backwards onto his face.

"What in the blue 'ell did ye just say?" groaned Gidwin, rubbing his face.

"You had me all the way up to "you see"," added Gai'vahros, scratching his head.

"My sister bores me to death with her explanations of anything arcane," replied Tarenar. "It's hard not to have some of it embedded into your brain when she goes off on an hour tangent."

"Hey, guys," spoke Applejack, "I dun wanna be a downer or nothin', but shouldn't we discuss this somewhere a bit safer? Like Ponyville?"

"Yeah, sounds like a plan," agreed Gai'vahros. "What do you guys plan to do with your caravan? You just going to leave it here?"

Fiona sighed heavily, turning to the overturned wreckage. She made her way over before stopping by the roof, sweeping away some of the debris with her foot. "There's not much to do with it now," she said, her heart almost broken. "It's had a good life, but… there's not much we can do about it. Most of the equipment's been wrecked, anyway."

Gidwin softly treaded to her, wrapping his huge fingers gently around her hand. "It'll be okay, lass," comforted Gidwin. "We've all got each other, at least. That's what's most important, right?"

Tarenar joined her on her other side, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Giddy's right, you know," he agreed. "Even if it's all gone, we still have everything right here..."

"… Thank you. Both of you…"

Twilight smiled as she nudged Gai'vahros. "I guess there is some friendship in your world, huh?" she said. "Even though Tarenar is a blood elf -- a Horde race -- he is still able to mingle with two others that are part of the Alliance."

Gai'vahros pondered for a moment. Twilight was right in some respect. "If only it was that clean cut," he responded. "When you join the Argent Crusade, it's like giving up most of your loyalty to your own faction. As a neutral party, the Argent Crusade cannot side with either the Alliance or Horde."

"I think I get it. But still, even before then, didn't they mention how they were great friends even before the wars started?"

"That's true."

A low growl cut them from their conversation as Fiona slowly shifted her eyes, scanning the area in front of her. Her lips began to peel bag, revealing her sharp, cream teeth, baring them with a ferocious snarl. "Do you smell that?" she spoke as she sniffed the air. "That stench…"

But no matter how hard the rest of them tried to pick up anything that wasn't the smell of flora, they couldn't grasp anything that was foul.

"Are you sure you're not… miss-smelling?" asked Gai'vahros.

"I guess my nose is just more sensitive," Fiona replied, still taking strong whiffs of the air around her.

"Can ya describe what it's like?" asked Applejack.

"It… reminds me of the Plaguelands. Foul. Rotting. Like dead trees infested with mould, maggots, and the stench of decay."

"Wait," spoke Twilight, "foul stench? I wonder if… Oh, no…!"

But it was too late for twilight to warn them. From all around them, within the thick foliage around the clearing, heavy footsteps, the rustling of bushes, and the snapping of twigs and branches surrounded them from all sides. Before long, it wasn't just Fiona that could smell the foul odour that she had described. Echoes of low snarls could be heard, followed by that rotting stench of decaying fungi and sulphuric soil.

"Gidwin," Fiona called out, "chuck me my gun!"

"But what about what Gai'vahros said?" he responded.

"I don't care what he says, just get me my gun!"

Gidwin turned to Gai'vahros, looking for some sort of reply. The elf merely nodded. "R-right," he stammered, turning around and picking the rifle off the ground before passing it to the worgen.

"Twilight," uttered Gai'vahros, "what exactly are we up against?"

"Timberwolves," she replied, her voice shaky. "They're vicious predators that feed on smaller creatures, but they will attack anything in packs."

"And how big do these packs get?"

"Three. Five… Sometimes ten…"

"… Huh. I thought there'd be a lot. Tarenar, you think you can handle a few?"

The elf chuckled. "Please, this will just be like the Ghostlands all over again. No big deal, right?"

Several glowing spheres of verdant hue pierces the foliage like powerful lights. The smell became ever more present as their heads honed into view, followed by the rest of their unimaginable form. Their entire body was composed of logs, twigs, branches, vines, and leaves, all in the shape of a large canine. With no lips to call their own, their teeth were forever revealed in the forms of sharp, pointed wood.

But the group found themselves surrounded from all sides, caught in a pincer as more and more stepped out from the darkness. Fiona, Tarenar, and Gidwin huddled to each other, their backs together as they tried to cover each other's blind spots. Gai'vahros, however, felt the pressure of trying to keep his new friends safe from such numbers. Gritting his teeth, he held his shield in front of him and his sword poised to strike.

"So much for "sometimes ten", eh?" scoffed Gai'vahros. His eyes scanned the clearing as more timberwolves poured from the shrubbery.

"I-I don't understand," stammered Twilight, the fear in her voice making itself clearly audible. He legs jittered from under her. She began to count them, "Five, seven, ten… fourteen… eighteen…! W-why would there be so many?"

"Pack tactics," replied Fiona, holding her rifle at eye level and keeping watch of two in front of her. "They must have sensed all of us, so packs join together in order to outnumber their prey. More than likely they're made of three or more packs joined together for their hunt…"

"Don't worry 'bout protectin' us, Gai," assured Applejack. "We've had our own share of experiences with these beasts! We can handle ourselves!"

Giving a nod, Gai'vahros bashed the pummel of the elven blade upon his shield. "Then grab your coats, girls, because we've just pulled."

Gidwin, in turn, released a loud roar, raising his hammer into the sky. "Then come at us, beasts! Go, go, Paladin Pals!"

"… And then I was all like, "Get your hands off her, you snitch!"" exclaimed Gilda before giving off a chuckle.

Above Ponyville, Rainbow Dash and Gilda didn't even begin to falter in rekindling what friendship they had lost before. The two were all open-mouthed, sharing their stories with one another, laughing with one another. Whatever ashes were left in the wake of their break-up rose into a phoenix of something much more. A friendship so beautiful that it brought them closer together than ever before.

"Yeah, well, she deserved it," agreed Rainbow Dash. "She did try to take your position, after all."

"Chyeah, ain't that right. Still, all done and dusted."

The two swooped lower, passing through the clouds as they headed back to Sweet Apple Acres. But there didn't seem to be anyone around. Landing within the farm yard, just shy of the barn house, the two of them glanced around.

"Where'd everyone go?" said Rainbow Dash. She called out to them, "Twilight? Applejack? You guys here?"

"Huh," huffed Gilda, rolling her eyes, "good to see them ditch the place and still leave it a dump."

"M-maybe something came up?" Quickly Rainbow Dash headed into the barn house, only to see Big Macintosh hauling several bales of hay. "Hey, Big Mac, have ya seen Applejack and everyone else?"

Gripping the strong that wrapped around the hay, Big Macintosh effortlessly tossed it onto the pile in front of him before turning his attention to her. "Eeyup," he replied with a nod.

"Did she tell ya where they all went?"

"… Nnope."

"Gah! Where did everyone go?"

"Hey, Dashie!" Gilda called from outside. "Rarity's here!"

Hurrying outside, Rainbow Dash met with the unicorn, who was carrying a handbag with several sheets of cloth hanging out, some fastened with small gems of sapphire and ruby.

"Rainbow Dash," spoke Rarity with concern, "where is everyone? I didn't think I was gone for too long for everyone to get impatient…"

"You've a better clue than we have," she responded. "We only just got back ourselves. So, you dunno where they've gone, either?"

"Not a clue, darling. Me and Spikey were out gem gathering."

"Wait, where's Spike now?"

"He said he needed to go back home and find a couple of books at Princess Celestia's request."

"Books? For the Princess?"

"Yes, well, I didn't think it would --"

Another loud bang erupted from the distance, interrupting the two of them. The noise echoed a few times, coming from the Everfree Forest.

"Was that… cannon fire?" wondered Gilda.

Rarity felt her face turn pale. Well, more pale than it usually was. "You… you don't think…?"

"Well we can't stand around and work it out," exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "Let's get moving!" Both her and Gilda bolted into the skies, headed towards the Everfree Forest.

"W-wait!" called out Rarity. "I can't move that fast! Somepony carry me!"

A silver bullet pierced one of the timberwolves square in the forehead, piercing all the way through and splintering the back of its cranium as it exited, flinging small shards of wood into the bushes behind it. Although put down, its eyes remained ever filled with life, still glowing within the dimness.

"Boom, headshot," sneered Fiona with a toothy grin.

Her rifle was powerful, but it wasn't as satisfying to Gidwin as a strong blow to the skull with a warhammer. Another timberwolf lunged at the dwarf, its claws extended from its wooden paws, but only met with the flat steel of his shield before receiving a face full of mace.

"Take that, ye bastard!" he cried out as the beast tumbled to the side. A second wolf leaped over its fallen kin, ready to chomp down on Gidwin's swinging arm. Clamping its maw around the dwarf's arm, it crunched down with great force, but it was nothing compared to the thick dwarven iron. Gidwin raised his shield arm and bashed the wolf in the side of the head, cracking and chipping away at the wood. A second strike created a small crater in the side of the beast's head and dislodging its mouth from his arm, leaving behind several wooden teeth in the plating. Finally, a third, powerful swipe with the edge of his shield shattered the beast's skull entirely. "And ye can eat that, ye smelly twat!"

Canine whimpering could be heard from under Gai'vahros' boot, having managed to pinned down one of them by the throat. A single, loud yelp flooded the clearing as the elf's blade pierced through its body where its heart would have been, if indeed they had one.

"Does he always get this fired up?" asked Gai'vahros as he pulled the sword from the beast's limp body.

Tarenar gave a soft chuckle as he swung his greatsword to one side, flinging away a timberwolf that had the misfortune of leaping towards the blade. "When things get this interesting, he does," he responded, reading his sword once more. "Says it helps him get into the fight more."

"A good way of taunting, I guess. How're you holding up, girls?"

The three of the four ponies huddles together much like how Fiona and her companions were, with their backs to one another. A small shield enveloped the three of them with thanks of Twilight's magic, but it was attracting the attention of more of the beasts with its bright, purple glow.

"I think it's going well," replied Twilight, watching as the timberwolves tried their best to paw and gnaw their way through it with little luck. "How're things on your end, Applejack?"

Another yelp came from a wolf as its jaw was splinted and dislocated, having been on the receiving end of Applejack's powerful hind legs. "As easy as buckin' an apple tree," the replied with a smirk. "I got plenty o' strength in these bad gals to buck a wagon over a hill!"

Fluttershy, however, was less than proactive. She could only watch and gaze at the wolves who tried to get through the bubble, their faces smeared on its glowing walls like they were pressed against glass. "Um, mister timberwolves," she spoke, "could you please not eat us anymore? That would be really nice of you…"

But no matter how many they slew, another would come to take their place. The wolves became more aggressive, attacking in pairs and trios. Gai'vahros barely found any space to manoeuvre, surrounded by three of them as they attacked from all sides. A swipe of his shield managed to bat away two of them, but the last had grabbed his cloak and dragged him down to the ground with a hard thud. Spinning on his side, he drove his foot into the beast, knocking it away. With no chance to stand back up, he resorted to fighting prone, holding his shield up as the other two wolves pounced on top of him, threatening to maul his face. "This is impossible," he grunted. Raising his sword up, he drove the blade through one of the wolves' stomachs. "And where the hell is Pinkie Pie?"

"Weeee!" her voice cried out. Gripping a hold of the branches a top of its head, Pinkie Pie was riding one like a bucking bull, much to the chagrin of the wolf. Frantically it kept swinging its head from side to side, doing the best it could to toss the pony off of it. Another two wolves kept chasing after it, trying to knock Pinkie Pie off, but all their struggles only met with getting unwillingly hit by their frantic friend. "Hey, you guys should really try this out!"

"… That's Pinkie Pie for you…"

Soon the group was overwhelmed by their sheer numbers. Fiona sat on the ground, her back against the caravan wreckage, holding away a duo of timberwolves with the length of her rifle as it held them away from between their mouths. Gidwin fought as much as he could, but with his weapon knocked away from him he could only hold the two back with his shield in front of his face. Tarenar had no such luck, using only his hands to hold back one of them while continuously trying to avoid a second one that tried to maul at his neck, all the while complaining about his hair.

Even Pinkie Pie couldn't keep her grip on the wolf. With a great swing of its head, Pinkie Pie was flung towards the others before barrelling into the purple shield, passing through it. "Oh, I'm back!" she exclaimed. "Twilight, you feeling okay?"

"I… I don't think I can keep this up much longer," grunted Twilight, her face strained as she tried all her might, all her magic, to keep the shield going.

Applejack couldn't find the time to catch her breath as she kept knocking them away time and time again. "I'm startin'… to run out of steam here," he panted, gasping for air between every few words. Her legs shook, causing her to stumble a little.

"W… what are we gonna do," quivered Fluttershy, folding her wings in front of her body. "This is terrible…"

Gai'vahros' face planted the earth as he stumbled forwards, the sword sliding along the ground as his grip faltered. "I never thought," he mumbled, "that after all of this… I would be taken down by damn wooden dogs…!"

"G-Gai'vahros!" yelled Twilight. "This is… hopeless…!"

As the timberwolves closed in for the kill, the light that shone into the clearing began to dull quickly. A giant shadow cast over them, drawing the beasts' attention. Before the others could react, a loud, eardrum-bursting screech shot down towards them. Too much for anyone, Gai'vahros and the others tried all they could to cover their ears, while the wolves could only recoil away.

The shadow grew smaller as the object drew closer to the earth. A series of quick taps sounded as the object touched the ground on all fours. "Glad we got here in time," her voice spoke.

Twilight had no choice but to release her spell, having caused great fatigue in her. As her head relaxed and slumped down, she used whatever effort she could to gaze up at their saviour. "G… Gilda…?"

"Sorry we took so long," the griffon replied. A gentle breeze rushed through the area as Rainbow Dash swooped down, carrying Rarity in her forelegs. "Seriously, Rarity," she huffed, "you gotta lay off those iced muffins."

"How rude!" she exclaimed, turning her head away. "I've not put on any weight in the last week! My scales say so."

"That's because your fat broke the readings the last time you got on them!"

"Hey, gals," yelled Applejack from the distance, "could ya stop fightin' for a few minutes? We've got company!"

The wolves began to stalk towards them again, showing no signs of backing away from them. Low, rumbling growls flooded their ears from all sides as they drew closer, ever slowly, and ever weary.

"Heh, right," replied Gilda. "Just cover your ears." Arching her back and rearing her head, Gilda took in a deep, heavy breath. Lunging forwards, she let out another loud, piercing screech. This time the wolves straddled backwards hurriedly, whimpering and barking in fear before turning away, rushing back into the forests as fast as they could.

"Oh yeah!" cried out Rainbow Dash, throwing a hoof into the air. "And that's how it's done!"

With the wolves scared off, the group struggled to get to their feet. Fiona, Tarenar, and Gidwin stood up, collecting their armaments.

"Well that was sure a pain in me arse," muttered Gidwin, straightening his beard and plucking bits of wood from it.

"How am I ever going to wash this stench out?" bawled Tarenar, trying his hardest to wipe all the drool from his armor. "I smell almost as bad as your breath, Fiona."

"Don't toy with an angry wolf, Tarenar," she warned, "especially one with a gun."

Twilight and her exhausted friends made their way to the others, still breathing heavily. "You… you saved us," she responded with a smile, though a weak one. "Thank you, Gilda."

"Ah, it was nothin'," she replied with a wave of her paw. "That's what…" she gave a small smile " that's what friends do, right?"

"Well, you certainly returned the favour for me, at least," spoke Gai'vahros as he limped over to the rest. "And now… and now…" The elf lurched forwards, groaning audibly as he tucked his hand to his side.

"Gai, what's wrong?" exclaimed Applejack, hurrying to him and looking down to where his hand was placed. "Are you hurt?"

"I…" slowly he removed his hand. The chest plate had several deep tears in it, but around them was a dark stain of dark red that dripped down onto the cloth. The same stains made their way onto the palms of his gauntlets and fingers. "I was… careless…"

"B… Blood!" gasped Rarity. "W-we've got to get him back to Ponyville!"

"No," intervened twilight, "it's too far! We'd better take him to Zecora."

"But we can heal him," Tarenar replied. "me and Gidwin can do what we can to heal his wound!"

"No," Gai'vahros responded, his voice raspy and weak. "This is beyond our capabilities… I feel… so tired… so… drained…" His eyes rolled to the back of his head, his lungs gave out what air it had inside, and his legs gave out from under him as he tumbled forwards.

"G-Gai'vahros!" cried Twilight as she and Rarity used what magic they had to keep him steady.

"I've got him," said Tarenar, placing the fallen elf's arm around his shoulder, holding him up the best he could despite his own fatigue. "It's okay. He's just unconscious."

"It's worse than I feared," quivered Twilight. "He's been infected with Oakblight. We'd better hurry to Zecora's before he gets any worse…!"

Chapter 38 - Sharing The Pain

Twilight banged her hoof on the front door of the hut over and over again. "Come on, Zecora," muttered Twilight, "please open the door…!"

Applejack stood by Gai'vahros alongside Tarenar and Gidwin, her hoof placed on the limp elf's forehead. "He's burnin' up a fever, Twi," she said with grief. "He just keeps getting' worse by the minute."

"Come on, Gai," cooed Rainbow Dash from behind him, her head against his ear, "you can pull through this! What kinda knight gets put down by a fever, eh?"

A click came from in front of them, followed by a gentle creaking noise as the hut door opened. In the doorway stood a tall-standing zebra. The equine has a black and white, mohawk-styled mane that matched her coat and dark grey eyes. Around her long, slender neck were several gold rings, as well as a few adorned on her ears and around a single foreleg.

"Ah, Twilight," the zebra welcomed, "how do you do? I see you've brought some… um… strange friends with you?"

"Thank goodness you're here, Zecora," replied Twilight. "We were attacked by timberwolves and Gai'vahros is wounded! Please, we need your help!"

Stirring a little, a soft groan came from Gai'vahros. His head began to lift a little, but his view was none the better. Groggy and weak, he was only met with a sharp pain in his head and heavily blurred vision. "Where… where am I…?" he mumbled.

"H-he's come to!" exclaimed Applejack. "Gai, how're ya feelin'?"

"Can't see… Can't... hear much…" His head hung low again, once more drifting back into unconsciousness.

Zecora gasped and rushed out the door, standing before the barely conscious elf. From his eyes to his midriff she scanned him, seeing his drooping, dark eyes and noticing the wound upon his body. "It is as I thought," she spoke up with a sigh. "It is Oakblight that he has caught. Quickly, bring him inside. With quick treatment, he will survive."

"Quickly, girls," exclaimed Twilight, "get Gai'vahros inside."

"I'm afraid that some of you will have to be denied," apologized Zecora. "My place is none too big, so some of you will have to wait outside."

"I… I see…"

Tarenar smiled as he noticed Twilight's saddened expression. "Don't worry about us," he assured her. "You go in with him. We'll wait out here for you."

"But… are you sure? Will you guys be okay?"

"Pfft! Nothin' I can't handle," scoffed Gilda, brushing her nose with her paw.

"Nothing we can't handle," correct Rainbow Dash.

"And besides, darling," added Rarity, "I think he would want you to be there for him."

"I… I guess." It was difficult for Twilight to see her friend in such a state, though. With a brave face she channelled her spell around Gai'vahros, coating him in a soft, soothing lavender glow, gently pulling him from Tarenar's support. His limp body hovered a few inches from the ground, dangling in the air like a drowned corpse. Okay… Let's get this done quickly."

"Then follow me, little Twilight," said Zecora as she headed back inside. "I know just the thing to get rid of Oakblight. Or, rather, a friend of mine has the cure. He will be a great help to us, I am sure."

"You give me too much praise, girl," a voice called from within the small hut. Standing tall, the creature was bipedal, clothes in strange, tribal-like garments. His voice was clearly masculine, but was deep and with a strong accent similar to Zecora's. His skin was a dark grey-blue, almost as though it was covered in dust. His limbs were long and slender, with three digits on each hand and two on both feet, with a third protruding from the heels. His body was clothes in a dark brown and gold robe with a dark green shirt that draped past his knees.

But his visage was what was most intimidating. His face, hidden by a large, intricate tribal mask that looked like a skull, bore two long, sharp tusks that came at least a foot forward. Like the elves, this creature had long, pointed ears. His hair was wild, spiking backwards and slightly to the sides. The eyes and mouth, though, ever glowing a strange turquoise, ever present, kept constant watch over Twilight.

She trembled a little at the sight of such a wild creature. "Z-Zecora," stuttered Twilight, not able to remove her eyes from him, "who -- or what -- is that?"

"This is my friend I told about," responded Zecora. "And please, do not shout."

A heavy, deep chuckle came from the creature, made even more intimidating as it echoed through the mouthpiece of his mask. "I am used to da fear dat I inspire in dose unfortunate souls," he spoke, lifting a bone-carved dagger from behind a nearby table. "Den I take it dat you are not 'ere for me to experiment on?"

"W-what? No!" cried out Twilight, horrified at the thought.

"I told you not to scare off the consumer," exclaimed Zecora. She gave a heavy sigh. "Forgive him. He has a black sense of humour."

"It only be a joke, mon," he apologized, albeit without much effort. "What can ol' Zakaara do for you today?"

A groan came from Gai'vahros' barely conscious body. Slowly his head raised, but barely enough to get a look at anything in front of him besides the furnace that the cauldron sat upon. "I," he forced from his lips, "I recognize that voice… Troll…"

Twilight raised an eyebrow. ""Troll"?" she repeated. "So… that person is a troll?"

"Ya be correct," Zakaara replied. "From da same world as he. I did not expect ta see anyone else from Azeroth 'ere. I guess da gods be upset with him, too, ya?"

Another grunt came from Gai'vahros. His head began to lift higher, his arms moving from back to front. "You… you are not Darkspear…" His eyes gazed through his fringe, glancing and gazing at Zakaara. Though his vision was blurry, he immediately recognized his presence. "You are… Zandalari…!"

"Ah, so you two have met?" said Zecora. "Well then, at least introductions are set."

But Gai'vahros wasn't one for pleasantries with such a being. His arm struggled to reach for his sword, but his fingers were able to grip the handle and draw it. But with such a clouded mind he only realized that, as he tried to move, he was being held up by Twilight's own magic. "T… Twilight," he grunted, "release me! This troll needs to be killed!"

Zecora, however, wasn't about to let that happen. Quickly she pounced between the two of them, scowling at the weak yet headstrong elf. "If violence is what you seek, then you will have to go through me!"

"Gai'vahros," exclaimed Twilight, "they are here to help you! They can cure you!"

"Do not be swayed by his silver tongue," he cried. "The Zandalari only live to conquer and spread their empire! What makes you think that he is no different?"

"Because he has told me everything," responded Zecora calmly. "What he is, and what he has been."

Gai'vahros looked down at the two of them. "H… he has…?"

"Dat be right, blood elf," responded Zakaara as he began cutting the stems of several flowers. "What you say be true, however, dat da Zandalari only seek ta conquer what they have yet to. But dat is not how I remember da Zandalari. From da day dat I can remember, we had always been scholars, lorekeepers, of da troll empires. But dat changed a long time ago -- before your ancestors even came to be. I was banished for defiling my "people" and my "Loa". I was banished… here."

Gai'vahros relaxed his arm, letting his sword drop by his side. "… I… ugh…" Quickly he raised his hand to his head, placing it on his forehead. "I can't feel my face…"

"Zakaara, please clear the table," asked Zecora. "We'll rest him on there. Hopefully it will be stable."

Fiona gripped her dress tight in her claws, lightly shredding through the cloth at the same time. Her head hung, eyes staring into the dirt in front of her feet. "… Will we ever be able to get home?" she muttered to herself sullenly. "Not that the Plaguelands are any better, but… I have family there, at least…"

"We'll find a way home, lass," comforted Gidwin, who was sat beside her on the step of the hut. He turned to the others. "Ye can get us home, right?" he asked calmly.

The mares looked at each other, looking for someone to reply with some semblance of possibility or hope. But no one could speak up on their behalf, cemented only by their continuous gaze between one another.

Rarity smiled sheepishly, if only to hide her discomfort. "Um, well, darling, I'm sure that there is some way to get you all home," she responded the best she could, doing all she could to keep their spirits up. "I mean, Twilight's spell didn't work for Gai'vahros, but it is possible that it was just a mishap. Yes, I'm sure that's it! When she is done, we'll ask her about it."

"She seems to be a fairly adept mage," praised Tarenar in regards to Twilight. "Do you think that she will be able to transport all three of us back to Azeroth?"

"O' course she will," replied Applejack. "She said she was able to complete the spell for Gai, so she'll definitely be able to do it for all y'all. I just hope it'll work out this time…"

"So, what happened last time?"

"Um… I'm not entirely sure, but apparently somethin' stopped Gai from focusin' on where he wanted that weird magic stone thing to take him."

"You mean his hearthstone, right?"

"That'll be the one! Anyway, Twilight said the spell was s'posed to take him back to wherever it was made so long as he concentrated on it hard 'nuff. I guess with that death knight runnin' around, he wasn't 'bout to leave us none too quick."

"D-death knight?" exclaimed Gidwin, jumping from his seat. "Tarenar, you don't think… the Ebon Blades?"

"I'm not sure," the elf responded, his face stricken with grief almost as much as his companion. "It's not like the Ebon Blade to strike out like this. A rogue assailant, perhaps?"

"Well, whatever it is," interrupted Rainbow Dash, fluttering between them, "we'll be ready for it! Gai already knows what he needs to do, and so do we! Ain't that right, girls?" Her rally was met with support, with them all giving a nod.

Gilda scoffed as she gazed at her raised talon. "If this meathead is anything like those timber wolves," she sneered, "then I'll have fun rippin' it to shreds!"

Gidwin grinned in marvel of Gilda's prowess. "Aye, lass," he said, "with them there great big claws o' yours, we'll be able to kick the arse o' all manner o' beasts 'n' monsters! I'll even ride ye into battle as me trusty steed!"

"Pfft! As if I'd let a bearded tin can like you get on top of me!"

"Hey, don't be a jerk, Gilda," scolded Rainbow Dash.

You would have thought Tarenar would be the one to raise a word, but the only thing that came from his mouth was a belly full of laughter. The elf lurched forwards, slapping a hand on his plated knee as he continued with his hysteria. "Oh, Giddy," he managed to speak through a gasp of breath, "should I try to find a mage to frost bolt you, because you just got burned!"

"Oi," shouted Gidwin as he pointed towards Tarenar, "ye shut yer mouth you ginger, pointy-eared slag!"

"Hey, I wanna join in, too!" cried Pinkie Pie. "Look! I'm yelling, too!"

Rainbow Dash scowled at Gilda. "Now see what ya gone and done?"

"Oh, come on," protested Gilda, "I didn't ask them to argue!"

Rarity sighed, shaking her head slowly. "And the common language breaks down to its Neanderthal foundations of grunts and slurs…"

Gai'vahros lay barely conscious upon the wooden table, his upper body stripped bare, revealing a large gash under the left side of his torso. His eyes were barely open, fluttering as he struggled to keep them so.

"So then," spoke Zakaara as he stood over the prone Gai'vahros, bone-carved dagger in hand, "which part do I cut open first?"

"Uh, preferably a part that won't kill him?" responded Twilight suspiciously. "Zecora, are you absolutely sure that this guy is the… uh… "troll" for the job?"

"He has my complete confidence," replied Zecora with a smile. "Only he knows of his anatomy, so it would only make sense."

Gai'vahros groaned lightly, rolling his head to one side up at Zakaara and Twilight. "Ugh… Speak for yourself," he mumbled. "You're not the one about to get your side cut open…"

"Ya not ta worry, brudda," reassured Zakaara, "ya not to different from us trolls. Dis should be easy enough."

"Good thing I can't feel anything below my arms…" Gai'vahros sighed before laying his head back, looking up are the thatched ceiling. "If my liver falls out, be sure to put it back in as quick as you can…"

"Heh. I be sure to do jus' dat." Zakaara raised the dagger up to the elf's body, but as he brought the point to his flesh he noticed Twilight out from the corner of his eye turn her head away. "If ye be feelin' uncomfortable, then you'd betta leave. Things are about ta get real messy."

"N-no," denied Twilight, "I've seen blood before. It's just… he's a friend, and… you know…"

"Sadly, Zakaara don't know. But I can begin ta imagine, if only a little. You best not ta look while I work. I don't think ya got da stomach for it."

Twilight whimpered a little, but nodded before turning away, heaving to one of the corners and staring down at the floor as though she'd been told off and told to stand there.

"Now den… Let's see some o' dat blood…"

The tip of the troll's barbaric instrument punctured a small hole into the side of his patient where part of the wound had closed up. The dagger sank deeper, creating those blood-curdling squelches as the flesh severed and split open. A little gurgling sound came from Twilight as she shut her eyes, trying not to pay attention to it as her stomach turned.

The sharp edge ran upwards, reopening the entirety of the wound as trickles of blood began to pour out. the squelching noises became louder and clearer the more Zakaara ran the dagger through, to which Twilight had no choice but to cover her ears with her hooves.

"That be da first step," muttered Zakaara. Removing the dagger from the side he held it up in front of him, twisting it in his hands as he examined both sides of the blade. "Ya blood is a little on da green side," he responded, noticing the change in colour, albeit slightly. "Dis definitely be a case of Oakblight."

Gai'vahros struggled to raise his head, trying to look past his body to see the damage that Zakaara had done. "… My liver's still in there, right?" he asked groggily, a hint of humour on his tongue.

"Aye, ya still got it," replied Zakaara, "but it's probably been infected, too. Nuttin' a little potion couldn't fix."

"… You know a lot about these things. How long have you been here for…?"

Zakaara chuckled as he scraped the flat side of the dagger along the rim of a bowl, letting the blood drip into it. "Zakaara be getting' old, mon. De mind can't keep track of da times… Maybe a month. Sure feels like it."

"A whole month…? Longer than me, then…"

"You don't say? So tell me, "blood elf", how long ya been in dis world?"

"… four days."

"Gyeheheheh! Ya been 'ere for four days an' ya get yaself roughed up dis badly? An' ye be da one to save Azeroth, eh?"

"… Just shut up and work…"

Zakaara could only snicker while he ground some pink petals and silver-shining dirt into a mortar and pestle. "I only be yankin' ya chain, brudda. But, in truth, Zakaara be havin' great respect for ya and ya companions."

"An interesting confession for a Zandalari," sneered Gai'vahros.

"Aye, but all confession are from da heart, wouldn't ya agree?" Gai'vahros didn't reply, only allowing his silence to reflect upon his agreement. "Da Zandalari only care 'bout demselves. Only care about conquerin'. But you are so much more dan dat. You help, you aid, and you make da world a place worth livin'. Without you, brudda, dere wouldn't be an Azeroth for da Zandalari ta conquer."

"… You keep calling me "brother"."

"Aye. Dere be a reason Zakaara said dat we are more alike dan you might think."

"… You suggest that we are related? You going to pull out the "I am your father" card?"

"Hah! Not on ya life, or ya infected liver. Ya see, elf, da trolls have been around for thousands o' years -- before da night elves. Da dark trolls o' Mount Hyjal stumbled upon da Well of Eternity. From its magics, dey evolved into night elves."

"… So you suggest that all elves, at the beginning of all things, were born from trolls?"

"You have some dark troll blood in ya veins, brudda, but dat be de extent of it -- so minute, o' course, but it be dere."
"Oh, good. Not only is my blood infected, but it has a bit of scum mixed in, too."

"Pretty much." Pouring the blood into the mortar, the ground petals and dirt began to fizz and bubble, creating crackling and popping sounds, spluttering some of the mixture onto Zakaara's thick fingers. "Seems ta be workin'."

Gai'vahros raised an eyebrow as he asked, "is that supposed to happen, then?"

"Aye. Da herbs attack da Oakblight in da blood, stopping it from spreadin'. When it is done reactin', den we inject it back into ya wound and let it do its work."

"And how long does it take to take effect?"

"No more dan an hour, so Zecora says. No idea how long it will take for you, mon. Could see some side effects, too."

"Great… So my liver will me disease-free but also have a chance of exploding."

"Hah! Ya liver won't explode. Dissolve, maybe, but not explode."

Zecora sighed and rolled her eyes. "No part of you will explode," she assured him. "You just need to rest, relax, and take off a load. But be sure to eat your greens and drink plenty of juice -- or you can mix them up in a nice, delicious soup."

"You know, I could really do with some tomato and herb soup," responded Gai'vahros with a weak smile. "I think I'm feeling better already…"

"Dat just be da anaesthetic soothing your senses," replied Zakaara. Taking the bowled concoction, he carefully poured the liquid into a small vial. "Da potion be ready, brudda. I'll pour a bit in ta see if dere be any ill effects."

Gai'vahros couldn't help but bite his bottom lip, trying to look over to see what would happen. As the liquid poured into the wound the sound of that familiar crackling began to occur, although with no harmful after effects -- or if there were any then he certainly couldn't feel them past the strong anaesthetic. "Is that supposed to happen, too?" he asked.

"Not that I know of," responded Zecora, walking around the table to Zakaara and looking down at the wound. "Perhaps it is just reacting with your blood. I don't think anything bad will come of it. We should just wait for a little bit."

The noise began to dwindle quickly until it was no more. The both of them looked closely at the wound, gazing at the lacerated flesh and bloody opening for any malformations or any other ill effects that may have occurred. But there was nothing. The flesh remained its pinkish colour with no discolouration or breakout of growths or anything else out of the ordinary.

"I believe dat it's been a success," concluded Zakaara. Quickly he poured the rest of the potion into the wound, then grasped at the two folds of flesh, holding the opening closed. "Zecora, can ya get me da needle an' thread?"

"of course," she responded as she turned to the table behind her and grasped at a large spool of thread and a sewing needle before passing them over. "Just try not to put too much force."

"Ol' Zakaara 'ere has a steady hand. Hold da needle, please," he responded as he took the end of the thread and, with Zecora still holding the needle in her pursed lips, threaded and tied it through the eye single-handedly before taking it from her. Quickly and with precision he began to thread it through the two folds of flesh, stitching the wound close with great haste and professionalism before doubling back over. "Dat's da wound closed, but we should bandage it up in case it opens again."

Slow hoofsteps made their way over to the three of them as Twilight slowly walked over, still trying to avert her eyes from the wound. It was inevitable that she would end up seeing it, however, but as it came into view she sighed in great relief. "It… looks better already," she spoke up with a small smile. "Gai'vahros… how are you feeling…?"

"Like a paraplegic," responded Gai'vahros. "I still can't feel much below my abdomen. But at least I haven't got a splitting headache anymore…"

"Here, I'll give you a hoof sitting up. or a horn, rather."

A faint glow surrounded both her horn and Gai'vahros' body. Slowly she sat him up, his body raising off the table slowly while he tried to support himself with the use of his arms.

"Ah… Thank you, my Lady Twilight…"

"It seems that cure is more than true," said Zecora. "You look as good as new."

"Aye, it seems da potion is more effective of you than others," added Zakaara with intrigue. "perhaps it be da spirits, or da Light, dat aids you. Or maybe elves are betta with antidotes. Zakaara needs to confirm dis…"

"Um, maybe some other time," intruded Twilight in opposition. "I think Gai'vahros needs a little rest."

"Or perhaps never," added Gai'vahros. "I would like to keep my body as experiment-free as much as I can."

"Hah! A wise decision, brudda," agreed Zakaara, though somewhat disheartened at the decline.

"I think we should get you home now," said Twilight. "Thank you -- both of you -- for all your help. I really appreciate it."

"Not nearly as much as I," added Gai'vahros. "Zakaara… Thank you. Thank you for all that you've done for me. May the light embrace you, friend."

"Spirits be wit' ya, mon," replied Zakaara in kind.

"Would someone get this guy off me!?" screamed Gilda, swinging her body from one side to the other.

"I'm tellin' ya this is a good idea!" exclaimed Gidwin as he desperately held on for dear life a top of the bucking griffon. "I can make ye go faster if ye would stop buckin' 'round!"

"I told you already" -- she panted heavily -- "that I don't want you anywhere near be, with that stupid beard of yours!"

To add even more frustration to the helpless griffon, the rest of them had no intention of lending her a hand nor a hoof. Instead, they all decided to shower her with fits of laughter as they watched her flail around madly and aimlessly, including Rainbow Dash.

"Hoo-ee!" cried out Applejack, waving her hat above her head. "Now that's what I call a rodeo! Keep it up, Gidwin! Ya doin' great!"

"This. Isn't. Funny!" Gilda let out a screech as she tried with all her strength to shake the dwarf from her back, but no matter how hard she tried she couldn't get the tin man to budge. She could have sworn that he had glued himself to her back somehow.

"Feel the energy, lass!" exclaimed Gidwin, a single hand gripped around her shoulder as he held aloft his mighty hammer as though he was leading a charge. "Feel the power of my crusader's aura!"

"You'll be feeling my power when I get my claws on you! Now get off me!"

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but chortle through her hooves as she pressed them hard against her mouth to stop her from laughing so much. "Pfft! Come on, Gilda," she goaded, "you can do better than that! Or are ya aiming to get outsmarted by a dwarf?"

Gilda gritted her teeth and growled. "Shut up, Dashie!" she cried out. She stopped, seemingly giving up. "I… won't… LOSE!" With great force she pounced up into the air and somersaulted forwards, finally flinging Gidwin from herself, sending him flying over everyone.

But at that same time Twilight carried Gai'vahros from Zecora's hut and unknowingly in the way of the path of the zooming dwarf. Before either one of them had a chance to react, Gidwin ploughed into the elf and smashing him several meters backwards into the shrubbery behind.

Twilight gasped heavily. "G-Gai'vahros!" she cried, rushing to him as he sat slumped a top of the bushes. "Oh, my gosh! A-are you okay?"

Even with no feeling in his body Gai'vahros still had the wind knocked out of him. "Ugh… Can't an elf catch a break?" he mumbled, trying to push himself from the bush. "What in the hell happened?"

The rest of the group rushed over, doing whatever they could to help Gai'vahros -- pulling him upright by him arms, untangling his feet from the branches, and trying to brush his ponytail back into perfect shape.

"I-I'm sorry about that," apologized Gilda, pulling him from the bushes from under his arms as Twilight kept him upright, "but that stupid tin can with a beard kept trying to ride me."

As Tarenar let go of Gai'vahros he turned his head towards the greenery, trying to gaze into the distance. "But where did Giddy go?" he said.

A low, muffled voice was all that responded, sounding frantic.

"I think he's over there," spoke Fluttershy, pointing towards one of the trees. Tarenar, Fiona and Gilda made their way over, brushing past the low-hanging branches and the undergrowth. several meters from the edge, the three of them found the backside of Gidwin -- the other half of him stuck in a large rodent hole under a tree.

"Hah! You look so good like that, tin man!" taunted Gilda before cracking up.

"Get me outta this bloody thing!" muffled Gidwin as he frantically kicked his little legs.

"Oh, I don't think so…" With a sinister grin, Gilda touched the rump of his armor with a single claw and traced a few circles, one inside the other, leaving a pattern similar to a target. "… Not until I've had my fun."

Fluttershy gasped. "Oh! Um… please don't hurt him," she pleaded.

"I've got to go tell the others," spoke Tarenar as he headed back. "They'll definitely want to watch this!"

Gidwin began to struggle harder. "H-hey! Hey!" he yelled. "L-let's talk 'bout this, lass! W-we can sort this out another way, right?"

Gilda didn't miss a heartbeat as she bucked her hind legs into Gidwin's backside, letting out a huge smack from his armor and an ever bigger cry of pain from the dwarf.

"Wrong," sneered Gilda. "Maybe after five or ten minutes. Maybe."

Chapter 39 - An Untimely Arrival

"So, you've learned your lesson, right, shrimp?" challenged Gilda as she looked back at Gidwin.

Still ever cautious of any more skulking timberwolves or any other beasties that may be keeping close watch on them, the group made their way through the wide, dark paths of the Everfree Forest as they headed back to Ponyville. Still without feeling in his lower extremities, the still drowsy Gai'vahros relied upon both Twilight and Tarenar to lend him support lest he wanted to crawl back.

Gidwin, however, wasn't fairing much better. His gait was wider than usual, mainly to provide comfort in whatever was left of his posterior. "Aye, lass," he muttered. "And now I cannae feel me arse."

"I-I'm sorry I couldn't help," apologized Fluttershy, "but Rainbow Dash did tell me not to…"

"Well it was funny," defended Rainbow Dash with a huge smile. "And it wasn't just me, by the way! Tarenar wanted to see it, too."

"Well, it was one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities," replied Tarenar with a crooked smile and a shrug. "You understand, right, Giddy?"

"Ah, shut yer stupid, lipstick-wearin' face, ye daft git," exclaimed Gidwin.

Gai'vahros gave a hearty chuckle, feeling somewhat energetic for the first time since they had set off. "Well, look on the bright side, Gidwin," he joined, "at least you can still move your legs."

"With any luck, the anaesthetic will run out sooner than later," said Twilight. "In the mean time, we'll see if the hospital will lend you a wheelchair."

"That means we can have wheelchair races, right!?" bellowed Pinkie Pie as she popped her head from above Twilight. "We gonna have a competition, too?

"I… don't think they'll be too happy if we used their stuff like that, Pinkie."

"Not even for just one teensy-weensy race?"

"No."

"Awwwww…"

Though the party-going Earth Pony was disheartened at the denial of her race, she soon perked up as her face was bathed in the warmth of the light. Finally the group of them found their way out of the Everfree Forest, only a minute's walk from Fluttershy's house.

"Ah," sighed Applejack, "feels good to be back home."

"Chyeah, you could say that again," agreed Rainbow Dash. With a deep breath she took in as much air as she could. "And it smells better out here than in there."

But for Gidwin, Tarenar, and Fiona, this was all completely new to them. Slowly their eyes gazed in awe and wonder at the landscape before them, taking in the beautiful colours of the grass, the pearlescent white-blue skies as it carried thin veils of clouds on its gentle winds. They could barely even recognize the trees for what they were, having only known the deadened branches and the overgrown fungi of the Plaguelands.

"This…" uttered Tarenar. "This is --"

"-- Incredible!" finished Gidwin. As quick as he could, he waddled over to one of the trees nearby and placed his hand gently upon its bark. Any tree in the Plaguelands would have had its bark snap upon the pressure of his fingertips, but it wasn't the case here, much to Gidwin's joyful surprise. "It's… real! Hey, Tarenar! It's bloody real!"

As Tarenar rushed over to Gidwin, almost dropping Gai'vahros flat on his face had Twilight not been there to support him, the rest of the pony folk and Gilda looked on with complete confusion.

"Uh… why are they fascinated by a tree?" asked Twilight openly. "It's nothing special. Just your common alder tree."

"It's the fact that it's a tree is why they're excited," replied Fiona as she watched the two of them run their hands along its trunk and upon its leaves. "You see, the Plaguelands is just that -- an entire landscape infected with plague. Nothing grows there. No bushes, no trees, nothing."

"But surely they don't spend all their time in the Plaguelands, right?"

"Unfortunately, they do. Ever since joining the Argent Crusade two years ago, they've only ever left the Plaguelands once after Deathwing was destroyed. They recognize the Plaguelands more than they do their own homes."

"Kinda like how I recognize Ponyville as my home and not Cloudsdale," said Rainbow Dash.

"Or how Cloudsdale is my home instead of the Griffon Kingdom," added Gilda.

"… And how Ponyville became mine ever since I moved from Canterlot," uttered Twilight. "But at least our new homes are placed we actually want to live in. I can hardly imagine what you three have had to put up with in your "Plaguelands"."

"It's not too bad," replied Fiona with a smile. "It's not the place that makes a home a home; it's the people who make it a home. We've got each other, and the rest of the caravan back home, and our friends at the Argent Crusade. They're all what makes a place that is completely inhabitable a place worth living, I think."

"That's very sweet of you to say," cooed Fluttershy as she hovered next to Fiona. Without an afterthought she began to scratch behind the worgen's ear with her hoof, completely letting her motherly instincts get the better of her. "You're such a kind wolf~"

Fiona growled a little for a moment, but even her canine instincts couldn't ignore how good it felt to be petted on the head. "Mmm, that feels good~" the purred, brushing her head against Fluttershy's hoof.

But Fluttershy stopped abruptly as she gazed forwards. Despite her senses, she couldn't see anything that was immediately out of place. She stared into the distance, her eyes only glancing from side to side momentarily, as though she was in some sort of trance.

"Um… Fluttershy, darling?" spoke Rarity. "Are you feeling alright?"

"It's just… everything seems really quiet," the Pegasus replied.

"Are you sure it's not your imagination? It is getting pretty hot out here, after all. The heat is probably playing with your senses, dear."

"No, it's definitely something. None of the birdies of the squirrels are singing like they usually do. Actually… I don't see them at all…"

"… Squirrels sing, now?" pondered Gidwin.

"Different world, Giddy. Things probably work differently," replied Tarenar. "They probably have flying fish, too."

Gai'vahros remained vigilant as he gazed around, looking for anything that may be amiss or out of place. "I don't suppose someone else has turned up while we were all gone?" he wondered.

"Just how many more of you guys are gonna start popping out?" said Gilda with veiled contempt. "We gonna start expecting you guys to start falling from the skies like rain?"

"If they did, I'm not the one who's going to be cleaning them up," replied Gai'vahros with a grin. "Either way, we had better search the area for any clues."

The rest nodded, splitting up within pairs or trios. Tarenar, Gidwin, and Fiona searched around the greenery just before the bridge over to Ponyville, while Rainbow Dash and Gilda flew overhead to try and gain vantage from a bird's-eye view. Gai'vahros and Twilight made their way to the back of Fluttershy's house while Applejack and Fluttershy moved round to the front. Lastly, Rarity and Pinkie Pie made their way over the bridge to the other side to find anything on ground level that Gilda and Rainbow Dash might have missed.

"Any idea what you're looking for, Gai'vahros?" asked Twilight as she carried him a few inches off the ground.

"I've had a thought," he admitted, "but I'm not sure if it's viable at this point. When I landed I left my body print in the grass, and so did the carriage. I'm thinking that if we can find some sort of print, then that would mean that someone else landed here."

"Well, I'm not seeing any impressions in the ground or anything. Anything else?"

But before Gai'vahros replied, Applejack called out to them. "Hey, Twi! Gai!" she yelled from the front of the house. "I think we've found somethin'!"

Twilight quickly made her way round to the front of the house with the limp elf in tow. In front of the four of them stood only half a door on its one hinge, the upper half having been charred away. But beyond that there was nothing else that was damaged, save for a small ring of soot and ash in the middle of the rug inside the house.

"Jus' what in tarnation happened here?" uttered Applejack.

"Wha… What happened to my home…?" whimpered Fluttershy, her hooves held tight against her mouth. "W-where are all my…!"

Fluttershy slowly floated inside, gently touching the floor with her hooves as she settled down. As she did, a great number of tiny animals -- mice, squirrels, bunnies, and others -- quickly peered out from their hiding spots in the furniture and other places. Quickly they scurried to her as though they sought refuge with her.

"Oh! I'm so glad you're all okay!" she released with a heavy breath of relief, petting and nuzzling those she could. "What happened here?" Gently she leaned her head down to Angel, her own pet bunny rabbit, he began to squeak into her ear. "Oh…? That's weird… Oh! That's terrible! Uh-huh…"

It was a tad weird for the elf, who could only look on with a raised eyebrow. "Is she talking to a rabbit?" he uttered.

"Yeah," responded Twilight, "it's her talent. Or part of her talent, rather."

"I… see…"

"… Right… Okay. Thank you, Angel." Fluttershy turned to the other two as she spoke, "Angel says that there was another person here who looked like Gai'vahros, but wasn't Gai'vahros, and that he appeared in a small burst of purple light. All the animals got scared and hid from him. And then he blew open the door with fire."

"Blew open the door… with fire?" repeated Applejack in shock.

"More than likely a mage," said Gai'vahros. "When in doubt, Pyroblast the crap out of it."

"… so why didn't they just use a Knock spell or something?" wondered Twilight.

"… Uh… Knock spell?"

"It's a spell that opens locks."

"There's a spell that does that?"

"Are you saying that there's no spell in your world that opens locks? It's one of the easiest spells to learn!"

"Well excuse me, princess. I'll be sure to rag on our Magisters when I get back because they can't unlock stuff."

"Hey now, you two," butted in Applejack, "you forgettin' that we got a five-foot eight pyromaniac runnin' loose? We gotta find him!"

"Right, of course. Let's head back to Ponyville and see if the others have found anything on the way."

"That's so cool!" exclaimed Apple Bloom from her seat, almost jumping off it. "So what else can ya do?"

The blood elf smiled at her as he waved his hands slowly in front of his face, a visage of youth that held numerous years of sage-like wisdom and experience. His hair was of shoulder length at the back, but with two long bangs that draped past his breast. His attire consisted of incredibly fine, red, silken robes with gold filigree that spanned the entire outfit. Down the front and along the sleeves were strips of soft, violet cloth that gave the outfit an extra spruce of much needed colour.

"Well, how about--" the elf casually ran his hand into the sleeve of his robe before sharply pulling it out again, holding a small cupcake in his fingers "--this? How's that?"

The girls' eyes lit up with amazement, their mouths agape in awe.

"he really is a magician!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle. "You gotta show us how you did that!"

Scootaloo rushed to him, sticking her snout inside his sleeve. "You just had a cupcake up here already, right?" she assumed, trying her best to fit her head inside to get a deeper look.

The elf chuckled as he pulled his arm away. "No, nothing like that," he said. "It's part of my profession. I'm a mage. I work with the arcane in all manner of ways -- like so…" With a gentle wave of his hand, the air sparkled around his fingers and palms before forming the silhouette of a small ball. Within the blink of an eye, a crystal orb formed within his palm than dazzled in a multitude of colours. "You see?"

"That's so cool!" the three fillies cried in unison, their eyes wide and sparkling as they gazed into the crystal ball.

"But, uh, can I have the cupcake?" queried Spike from behind him, looming over the elf's shoulder.

"Oh, yes, of course," he replied, bringing his hand to Spike's tiny snout before the gluttonous dragon gripped it with his claws, smiling widely before scoffing it down in a single bite. "So, are you sure that your friend will be coming back shortly?"

"Well, she said they'd be back in an hour," replied Spike, trying to pass his words through the chewed mush of cake in his mouth, "and that was a while ago… so she should be back soon."

"I see. And you are all fine with me waiting here?"

"We ain't got a problem," said Apple Bloom.

"Yeah, so long as you keep doin' magic tricks," added Scootaloo with a grin.

The elf chuckled with a grin of his own. "Oh, we'll play it like that, then? Okay, how about this…" Doreiya held out his fist, with his fingers loosely wrapped around his thumb tucked inside. Sharply his flicked his thumb out, making a *shick* sound with his mouth. Quickly, he did it a second time. On the final time, as he flicked his thumb out, a small ember of flame ignited over the tip of his thumb like a lighter.

"W-woah!" they all exclaimed, the fillies arching away a little in surprise, while Spike jumped back far enough to fall off the table he was standing on.

"Y-you just set your thumb on fire!" gasped Sweetie Belle.

"Well, not just my thumb," the elf replied mysteriously. As he held his hand up, palm facing out, he slowly uncurled his other four fingers, revealing them to also have dancing flames on the ends of them. "How's that for a magic trick?"

"That's so cool!" cried Scootaloo.

The elf chuckled before blowing on his fingers, extinguishing each digit like a candle. "Some of us Magisters have a saying: "The only limit is your own imagination"." Sighing heavily, the elf took a turn of displeasure. "But, where I am from, the only thing that crosses the mind is which enemy do you burn first…"

"Yeah," agreed Apple Bloom in an equally sombre manner, "Gai's said 'bout that kinda stuff a while ago."

" "Gai"?" repeated the elf, looking up through his bangs. "You mean Gai'vahros is here? Where is he? is he upstairs?"

"Naw, he's with our friends. And, uh, how do you know him?"

"You see, I am--"

Before the elf could finish, the front door to the library crashed open as Applejack and Rainbow Dash burst in, splitting off to the sides before Gilda and rarity joined them with post haste.

"Is everypony alright in here?" exclaimed Applejack as she gazed around the room. Immediately they all turned their eyes to the crowd in front of them, as did the members of the library in return. "Hey… There is someone else who came through," said Applejack as she glared at the elf.

"Oh? There are more talking ponies," the elf cheered with a large smile as he rose to his feet slowly. "Please, I mean you no harm. I've only come here to seek out an elf named Gai'vahros."

"And here, I am." Slowly making his way through the door, only mere inches from the ground, the glowing blood knight hovered before the mage. "You… Magister Doreiya?" uttered Gai'vahros.

"It's good to see you still remember me, Lord Gai'vahros," replied Doreiya with a smile. "How long has it been? Eight years? Has your skills grown so great in such short time that you can now levitate at will?"

"Never mind that, Doreiya; how is it even possible? You were among the named deceased in the Purge of Dalaran! How… how is it that you stand before me?"

Doreiya tapped an index finger on the side of his temple a few times. "Smoke and mirrors, my friend. When we were attacked, I created a mirror image in my stead while I turned invisible. My death was faked, and Lord Aethas a forged eye-witness to "confirm" my death. In reality, I took the opportunity to escape through Dalaran's sewers on a procured dragonhawk."

"Hah! Doreiya, you magnificent bastard!" With a big smile, Gai'vahros turned to Twilight. "My Lady Twilight… please release your hold on me."

"B-but, Gai'vahros," she uttered, "are you sure? Are you getting some feeling back?"

"Enough to stand, I am sure. If you would…"

"O... Okay…"

The strong, purple glow dwindled slowly from around Gai'vahros as he descended upon the ground. Softly his toes found purchase upon the wood flooring before both feet were planted. his knees buckled ever slightly, but as the levitation dissipated fully the weight of his body became almost too much, causing his to drop to one knee.

Before anyone could react, Rainbow Dash made the first move to him. "Gai!" she exclaimed, nuzzling her head under his arm to give support. "You need to take it easy!"

"I-I'm fine, my Lady Rainbow Dash," he assured here. "It was just unexpected…" With whatever strength he could muster, he pushed himself upon his other foot as he allowed Rainbow Dash to provide support in hoisting him upright again. He looked back up to Doreiya with a sigh and a smile. "I'm glad to see you're alive, Doreiya…"

"Good to see you're still in one piece, Gai'vahros…"

The two of them couldn't hold it in any longer. Doreiya opened his arms as he walked towards his friend, and Gai'vahros in turn, although weakly. Their arms wrapped around one-another, embracing each other in a hug as though they had been separated for a lifetime.

"Awwwww, isn't that so cute?" cooed Rarity with a big smile on her muzzle. "It's like watching two great friends reunite!"

"Yeah, I think we know how that feels," added Rainbow Dash as she nudged Gilda with her elbow.

"You can say that again," agreed Gilda.

"It's almost like they're brothers," spoke Apple Bloom.

Quickly the two elves released from their embrace, feeling their hearts fill with joy and relief.

"Listen, Gai'vahros," started Doreiya, "we have to talk. It's important."

"You're not here by mistake like the rest of us?" responded Gai'vahros. "Well, we can discuss this outside. It's getting a bit too crowded in here."

Everyone gathered among the lawn in front of the Library. The six girls and Gilda stood among one group, while Fiona and her companions and the young fillies with Spike stood among themselves in separate groups. The three of them formed a triangle between them, leaving Gai'vahros and Doreiya standing with one-another.

"Gai'vahros," began Doreiya, "I am sure you are aware of what is happening in Pandaria. You know of our military effort to push into the Isle of Thunder, correct?"

"Only a passing mention, give or take," he replied. "I was told that we were to assemble the rangers, the Magisters, and the Sunreavers for departure. I was to help lead the blood knights alongside Lady Liadrin."

"I am afraid that things have changed, though perhaps not for the worse. After learning that the Silver Covenant and the forces of Dalaran are making the same move on the Isle, the Lord Regent has reduced blood knight forces to a minimum for more… anti-magic infantry."

"Anti-magic infantry? What is he planning?"

"Spell breakers."

Gai'vahros paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing. "Spell breakers? What are you talking about? We don't have anymore spell breakers! All of them were either killed during the Third War, or flocked to Kael'Thas--" he stopped. A thought crossed his mind, but one that he dared to push. It was ludicrous. But what else was there? "… Is it Cornelius?"

Doreiya smiled and nodded. "Yes, Gai'vahros. Cornelius has returned to us."

It was almost too much for the still-weary elf. First Doreiya, and now a friend that he thought was long lost. "How? When? Is he okay?"

"He's fine. After Kael'thas' death, he tried to take over the role of finding a way to end our magical addiction -- never knowing that we already have. After years of fruitless search, he returned to us some time ago. Since then, he has been working alongside us Magisters and the Lord Regent in recreating the spell breakers."

"Some time? You mean he's been with us for a long while?"

"A year or so."

Gai'vahros' eyes dropped along with his head. "Why didn't he come and see me?" he uttered. "Why didn't he say hello, pat me on the shoulder, and ask how well I've been…?"

"I'm sorry, Gai'vahros," sympathised Doreiya. "We had to keep this all secret from everyone -- even our own people. The enemy could have found ways to combat us should word of it escaped. We had to keep all of this under wraps -- even our own people."

"Yes… I understand. I guess I should be happy that Cornelius is okay. What about everyone else? What about Faeran? Helios? Irenicus?"

Doreiya shook his head. "I've not heard anything on them. I tried to keep tabs on Irenicus, but I had lost track of him some three years ago. I last tracked him to Winterspring."

"Figures. He always had a spot for cold places."

"I apologize, Gai'vahros, but I must continue. In the last few days we've experienced great magical turbulence on Azeroth -- magical storms have been cropping up all over Kalimdor, the Eastern Kingdoms, and Northrend. We've discovered that it has been affecting the magical powers of Azeroth's ley lines, thus affecting spacial travel."

"So that is why our hearthstones have sent us here."

"Correct. Hearthstones, portals, gateways -- all of these have been distorted for mere moments frequently over the last few days. It seems that those portals have connected to this world. Fortunately, we've managed to lock onto it."

"… Doreiya… You don't seriously mean that the Horde move to and from here, right?"

"No, only we are able to move. The Magisters are the only ones able to access this world. However, as for the Kirin Tor --"

"Damn the Kirin Tor! Doreiya, I don't care what you have to do, but you have to destroy any portals, any devices, and any evidence that shows that you can create a portal to this world!"

"Gai'vahros, please understand that this is only to undergo a rescue attempt for anyone who may be trapped here -- including you."

Even the others around the two of them began to display signs of concern for Gai'vahros.

"Doreiya, listen to me. If Hellscream gets a hold of this knowledge, he will no doubt bring our stupid war here, too. We don't need a recreation of Pandaria… Not here, of all places…"

The mage paused. His head swept from one side to the other, passing by the two groups of ponies that stood before him. "I know what you mean, Gai'vahros," he admitted softly. "I've only been here for an hour, give or take, and I've already fallen in love with this place. It's like Quel'Thalas all over again."

"Then if not for our sakes, do whatever you can to make sure that we can never set foot here again for their sakes. Please, Doreiya…"

"… Okay. I can't guarantee anything, but I'll do what I can. Actually, perhaps you can."

"Me? What are you saying?"

"… I should have mentioned this from the beginning. Grand Magister Rommath will be arriving here today."

"T-the Grand Magister? What for?"

"Much like Dalaran, he has volunteered to lead whatever rescue mission needs to be spearheaded here. However, he is not to come until I have returned with a report."

"So you yourself are able to move freely?"

"Yes. I have attuned myself with the ley lines here. Unfortunately, I have found to attune myself with a house full of small animals.

"Oh," intervened Fluttershy, "that would be my house…"

"I-it's your house? I-I'm really sorry, madam. I, uh, blew the door off…"

"It's okay. I'm sure you had good enough reason to…"

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Typical Fluttershy," she said, "always ever forgivin'."

Gai'vahros chuckled as he brushed his fringes from his eyes. "I'm glad you agree with this, Doreiya. I've only spent a few days here and I already feel like it's my home, you know?"

"… You'll be staying, then?"

"I've not decided yet. Doesn't feel like I've had enough time to make a decision, but I guess I'll have to soon."

"In that case, I bid you farewell for now. We shall return in due time."

"We'll meet you at Lady Fluttershy's house?"

"Hah, no need. I've attuned myself to just outside this place." With a wave of both of his arms in a circular motion in front of him, two large striped of blue, arcane energy formed a large oval. Quickly a burst of light shot from it, creating a glowing visage of Silvermoon. "In fact, we'll return in a couple of hours, so you'll know when to expect us."

"Okay. You take care of yourself, Doreiya."

"You to, Gai'vahros. And, again, sorry about the door. I'll get Rommath to pay the bill." With a gentle wave to everyone, Doreiya stepped through the portal before it slowly shrank behind him, eventually dissipating into a fount of violet dust.

"And you told us you didn't have many friends," goaded Twilight with a grin. "I never thought I'd see this kind of side to you."

"Yeah… you're right," agreed Gai'vahros with a small smile. "I guess I just forgot what it was like to have a great friend. Now that I know that two of them are still alive… I feel alive, too."

"How can ye be happy?" exclaimed Gidwin. "He jus' blew the bloody door off!"

Chapter 40 - Our Goodbyes...

The room stood still as though frozen in time. Everything in the library was quiet, so much that you could hear the woodlice scurry across the floor. The gentle winds rattled upon the loose hinges of the windows and made quiet whispers through the gaps in the frames.

It was hard for anyone to speak. Some of ponies sat quietly upon the seats around the tables and desks, while few others lay upon the floor. Applejack, her body tense as she lay upon the wood, could only run the tip of her hoof in circles on the floorboards. Many of the others had their hooves together in their laps as though in a waiting room. Gilda and Rainbow Dash stood by one another, trying to support one another through this immense waiting game.

But Twilight couldn't help but keep her gaze upon the pondering blood elf that sat against the wall, his arms out and perched on his knees as he stared at the ground between his feet. Ever empathetic of others, she felt a tight knot in her stomach and her breath a little bated.

Or perhaps that was how Gai'vahros was feeling?

"… Have you made a decision yet, Gai'vahros?" spoke Twilight softly, her tightened throat making each word muffled.

Their eyes shifted onto Gai'vahros, clenched in both their body and mind as they anticipated his reply -- his decision. But the elf didn't respond. He never even gave any gesture as to whether or not he had heard her. Or perhaps he didn't want to hear.

"You there, Gai?" asked Rainbow Dash, trotting over to him and nudging his shoulder with her hoof. "Whatchya thinkin' about?"

Gai'vahros sighed heavily, whipping his head up, nearly hitting it against the wall. "I wish I had a bit more time to think about things," he uttered. "I've not spent enough time here to really make a decision… if such a decision could be made."

"Still thinking about your home, huh?" asked Twilight.

"Yes. It's been on my mind for some time, but I was having so much fun here that I had forgotten about it. But now it's the only thing I can think about now. if I don't go back, then… what will happen? Will we lose in the Isle of Thunder? Will we be slaughtered by the Kirin Tor? What will happen to those of us held in the Violet Hold? What will happen to Silvermoon? Argh, so many thoughts!"

"Hey, relax, Gai," exclaimed Rainbow Dash, placing her hoof on his shoulder and sitting down next to him. "I really doubt that your entire population will be destroyed because one guy wasn't there to stop it. And even in the highly unlikely event that it somehow happened, you can't take all the blame. And I don't think they would blame you at all."

"Y'know she's right, Gai," bolstered Applejack. "Even you said it yaself that there're so many others that can take ya place in the wars 'n' stuff. They'll be totally fine without ya."

"… But it's not just that, my Ladies," continued Gai'vahros. "I won't be able to meet my friends again. Or my people. Or Azeroth altogether. It's like… My Lady Twilight, what would you do if you had to choose between returning home or leaving your friends?"

"M-me? I… uh…" Twilight sighed with forfeit. "I don't know…"

"It is that level of choice that I must contend with -- and with only a small amount of time to go."

"I know it is hard, Gai'vahros, but just remember that, no matter what decision you make, we will fully support it." A small smile spread upon her lips, trying to comfort and assure the stressed elf the best she could.

"Thank you. I appreciate it. I appreciate all of you being here."

A small chuckle escaped Gidwin. Briskly he ran his hand over his braided beard. "Aye, I wouldn't o' thought this to be such a hard decision," he admitted, much to the surprise of his companions.

"You're having second thoughts, too, Giddy?" asked Tarenar.

"Think about it, Tarenar. Here, we have everythin' -- green grass, growin' trees, blue skies, singin' birds that don't try an' peck yer eyes out… It's like bein' at home again. Y'know, a real home from home…"

"I agree, Giddy, but it's not our home. And besides, we have a duty to fight alongside the Argent Crusade. That was our goal, right? We can't give up on it now."

Gidwin couldn't help but sigh, resting his chin on his hand. "I guess yer right," he reluctantly agreed. "Plus I wouldn't find me a good lass 'ere, anyway."

"Not if all you do it go 'round jumpin' on them," sneered Gilda. "That's the quickest way to get socked in the chin."

The others couldn't help but chuckle, although Gidwin only narrowed his brow and folded his arms tight along his chest, giving an audible huff.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" exclaimed Rarity. "What about your sister, Gai'vahros darling? If you leave, then… what will happen to us?"

The elf's fingers tightened across his knees as he gripped his boots firmly, his eyes narrowing at the thought of her. "… You're right," he responded. "I'd completely forgotten about her. I'm sure that she will follow me should I return. It is the only reason she remains here, after all."

"We still ain't found your other sword, either," added Rainbow Dash. "It's gotta be somewhere around here, right?"

"Well, if you do find it, be sure to mail it to me," joked Gai'vahros with a smile.

But no matter how much he smiled, there was that one nagging feeling that kept nibbling the back of his mind that he just couldn't hide. It was the decision he made, nor his missing weapon, or even how he would have to leave his new friends behind. His eyes kept shifting to one direction, but couldn't work out what exactly he was looking for.

As his eyes shifted once more, he found the cause of that nagging feeling. Uncharacteristically, Pinkie Pie was incredibly quiet all this time. Fluttershy, sure thing, but Pinkie? In fact, she wasn't even smiling.

"… My Lady Pinkie Pie," he spoke softly. Her ears pricked up, slowly followed by her eyes. "Are you okay? You've been quite silent."

"Oh! S-sure I'm okay!" the suddenly cheerful pony assured with a huge grin on her face. "I mean, you've got to see your awesome friends again! And now you… you get to…" slowly her smile faded. Her lips dropped, dropping into a frown. Her eyes grew sadder. "… Now you get to go home…"

It was heartbreaking for the distraught elf to see Pinkie -- a pony who spreads their laughter and cheery nature to all those around her -- fall into such depression. It pained him to look at her, to look at those big, blue eyes almost fill with tears.

And it made his choice all the more harder.

"It'll be okay, Pinkie," comforted Applejack, wrapping her arm around her friend's body, staying close to her. "Gai can always come visit us from time to time. Ain't that right, Gai?"

"Oh, uh, sure I can!" Given that he was the reason, albeit unwillingly, that Pinkie was upset, playing along with Applejack's assurance was the least he could do.

"Y… you will?" asked Pinkie.

"Absolutely."

"You pinkie promise?"

"I… I pinkie promise."

"No one breaks a pinkie promise! Okay?"

"S-sure thing…"

"Yay!"

It was the least Gai'vahros could do to ease her pain, a smile etched across his lips at being able to cheer her up again. But it didn't change the fact that it was the one promise that he wouldn't be able to keep should his wish for the Magisters to forget about this world come to fruition.

The elf slowly stood to his feet, brushing himself off with a hand. "What do you girls think?" he asked. "Do you want me to stay?"

The girls looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

"I don't want ya to go," mewed Apple Bloom. "Can't ya stay here a lil longer?"

Applejack patted her sister on the head softly. "I think what she means to say, Gai, is that she wants ya to come visit every now 'n' then."

"That wasn't what I meant," retorted Apple Bloom, frustrated a little. "I meant what I said! Gai… I know that we ain't known each other for a long time, but… it really does feel like I've known ya since forever."

"… I know what you mean, little Apple Bloom," admitted Gai'vahros, his voice strained. "But if I don't go back, then Hellscream might send more people here. If I go back and convince our Magisters to halt the research here, then at least only Doreiya will have the knowledge to come here."

Twilight nodded in agreement. "We understand the implications of your decision," she said. "And like I said: no matter what choice you make, we will all understand."

"Sounds like your choice is already made up," huffed Gilda. "I woulda liked to have sparred with ya when you got better, too."

"Sorry, my Lady Gilda," apologized Gai'vahros with a smirk," but I guess you'll have to wait for that."

"Pfft. Figures." She turned to Gidwin. "What about you, Shorty? You know it ain't nice to leave a lady hangin'."

"Only if you leave me arse out of it this time," grunted Gidwin.

A sudden jolt in the earth caused the library walls to shake abruptly though only slightly, making the windows rattle and the front door to open a little. Colours of light violet and blue shone upon the walls through the nearby window, refracting and spreading through the room.

Tarenar peeked his head around the wide of the window. "Looks like they are here," he said. "Are you ready, Lord Gai'vahros?"

"… I think so," he replied. "Let's get this over with."

An awkward situation, surely, that a huge crowd of ponies and Azerothians congregated outside upon the grass as though there was some sort of tribal war occurring. Gai'vahros, accompanied by the others, stood opposite a platoon of blood elven Magisters -- including Doreiya -- lead by their Grand Magister, Rommath.

An imposing figure to be sure, Rommath stood up straight, an inch or so taller than most others of his kind, with the exception of Gai'vahros at present. His body, cloaked in a long, sleeveless robe of red and gold, bared only his toned arms that were draped in long armbands and dark red tattoos. Even his face was mostly obscured by a large, full-face collar that revealed only his stern brow and piercing gaze. His dark, navy-blue hair was swept back, tied into a long ponytail that reached past his lower back.

"I am glad to see that you are in one piece," the grand Magister spoke aloud. "I trust that you fare well here?"

"It is good to see you, too, Grand Magister," replied Gai'vahros in return, bowing a little. "This place is none a threat to those worthy or a sword or staff."

"I see. I understand that our Magister here has informed you of what is happening right now?"

"More or less. But I must confirm with you first, Rommath: is it true that your Magisters now have access to this world?"

Rommath turned silent. His head turned slowly, his sights on Doreiya. "… I see that he has told you more than what is needed. "But, indeed, what you know of is true. No doubt that he has told you the reason, too?"

"To be able to relocate any other members of the Horde and to bring them back."

"Good. He hasn't told you all of the reasons."

"You mean there is more? Tell me, Rommath! What are you thinking?"

But the Grand Magister only slammed his staff down onto the dirt, his eyes narrowing. "You will not demand anything from me, blood knight!" he snapped back. "What we do is for the good of the Sin'Dorei!"

The girls became defensive, standing by Gai'vahros and maintaining their ground. As much as Rommath was displaying an aggressive position, so did they.

"You'll find that this is our world, buster!" exclaimed Applejack.

"And if we don't want you here, then we'll kick your butts out by force!" threatened Rainbow Dash, her wings flapping slowly yet with powerful bursts.

But the Grand Magister was none threatened by their words. "You'd best to mind your tongues," he threatened, raising his staff and pointing the blade-like tip towards them. "You'll not be able to speak when you're nothing but piles of ash!"

"Enough!" yelled Gai'vahros, swinging his arm to the side. The girls took a step back as his arm flashed before them, but nonetheless held their ground, while Rommath lowered his staff to his side. "Rommath… do not bring our war to another world. It is bad enough that Hellscream has restarted this war and to have brought it to the peaceful lands of Pandaria. I will not allow you to risk making this world our next battleground.

"In hindsight, I do not care for whatever reasons you have for creating pathways to this world. All I care about is severing them so that no one -- not even the Sin'Dorei -- can come here. If that means cutting you down and every single Magister to do it… then it shall be done."

At his words, the Magisters that stood behind Rommath readied their weapons -- staffs, daggers, wands, and spell books all flung forward to put down this one blood elf should they be commanded to.

"Lower your arms," commanded Rommath. "My thoughts were misplaced… Gai'vahros, you have a strong conviction, a good sense of justice -- something that I, myself, am envious of. You must really think highly of this place. But you must understand that we have no intention of bringing Hellscream's damn war to this world. We only want to help those who have befallen the same fate as you."

"And what of your other reasons? What is it that you are planning that you would hide it from me, a supposed "Lord" of your blood knights? Am I not trustworthy enough for you?"

"… It is not that. This is of great secrecy to anyone outside of a high rank. It is not something that should be discussed… openly. For all we know, your talking animal friends here could be Alliance spies -- perhaps even druids who have assumed the form of ponies!"

"Hey, we don't drool!" snapped Pinkie Pie.

"No, he said "druid", darling, not "drool"," correct Rarity.

"In that case, Rommath," said Gai'vahros, "walk with me. Let me show you around this place. Let me show you only a glimpse of what I have seen."

"… Very well," replied Rommath with a nod. He turned to those that accompanied him. "Maintain your positions here," he ordered. "Should you be met with hostility, fire at will. Are these terms agreeable with you, Gai'vahros?"

But he couldn't help but feel uneasy, even if he was certain that nothing would happen. "I accept the terms," he agreed with great reluctance, "however I am certain that none of them will bother instigating a confrontation." His eyes glanced over and Rainbow Dash and Gilda.

"H-hey! We ain't gonna start anything!" defended Rainbow Dash.

"I'm sure you won't. However, as for your Magisters, Rommath…"

"Doreiya can scry the situation for us. Through his magic, he will record what happens here while we are gone.

"Now, shall we be off?"

The breeze gently rolled by, passing the two elves as it carried the sickly sweet scent of chocolate, strawberries and cream. Only a minute's or so walk down the lane brought Gai'vahros and Rommath to Ponyville's great, renowned bakery -- Sugarcube Corner.

"Take a look at this, Rommath," cheered Gai'vahros with a smile. "You ever seen a building that looked like something that you wish you had for dessert?"

"… That's not real chocolate on the roof, right?" asked Rommath, an eyebrow raised as he gazed up to it.

"No, no, it is just made to look that way. And, no, that's not real icing sugar or candy canes, either."

"Huh. In one manner, I am quite surprised. First, there are talking ponies; second, brightly coloured and highly decorative buildings. Having seen what I have seen so far I wouldn't dare put it past this place to have structures made of confectionary."

Gai'vahros chuckled at the thought. "I had the exact same opinion when I first saw this place, too. But you have to admit that it looks good. And smells good, too."

"Well I'm not sure about the smell of the building, Gai'vahros, but the colours are rather… vibrant."

"Not the smell of the building; I'm talking about what's coming from inside the building."

"Oh, of course. That smell is quite nice, isn't it?" A small groan escaped the Magister's throat, along with a small rumble from his stomach. "I didn't think it would make me hungry, though…"

"Hah! How about I buy you some things to take with you before you leave?"

"It would be uncharacteristic of me to decline your offer, Gai'vahros."

"Basically, you're a tightwad."

"… Do you have any other places to show me? Or are we done here?"

Gai'vahros pondered for a moment, turning back around to the occupied streets. Nothing really caught his eye, though; there were only a few houses that had been rebuilt from before, and a small café that he never actually visited.

Although, he did have something else in mind.

"I've got an idea," he said. "How about we go meet some of the other ponies here? You've seen their town, so how about you get to know some of the people -- uh, ponies -- here?"

"You must have hit your head pretty hard when you came here," retorted Rommath. "You expect me to… converse with talking horses?"

"No, I expect you to converse with talking ponies" goaded Gai'vahros in response. "Come on, it will be a great, new experience for you."

"You got the "new" part right…" the Magister sighed heavily, shaking his head. "Okay, fine. Who should we talk to?"

"Well…" Gai'vahros looked out onto the streets, but there were only a handful of ponies to choose from. His eyes targeted a single stallion that stood by one of the houses, checking his pocket watch as though waiting for someone. Shaking his head, Gai'vahros continued, switching his attention to the café. Sure enough, there stood two mares that appeared to be in gossip just outside. "Them two, over there," he muttered, nudging his head in their direction.

"Fine. How should we do this?"

"You just follow my lead, okay?"

"You seem awfully calm about all of this."

"One does not simply roll a blood knight without high charisma. Come on, follow me."

Rommath shook his head as he kept close by Gai'vahros. "I should have stayed in bed," he mumbled from behind his collar.

Casually the two made their way across the street, passing by many of the other ponies, all of whom glared at the Magister.

"They glare at me so," he spoke.

"You'll get used to it," responded Gai'vahros. "I was the same when I first arrived. I guess they didn't expect to see another blood elf here."

Without too much delay, the both of them found their way to the café, standing just shy of its large porch roof that hung over the outside tables.

"Okay, like I said before: just follow my lead, and let me start the talking," whispered Gai'vahros.

"I trust your superior expertise," replied Rommath.

Almost in unison, the both of them shrugged their collars before making their way to the friendly couple, shifting through a couple of tables and chairs.

"Good afternoon," greeted Gai'vahros with a smile and a wave. "Would it be out of bounds for me to ask if we may join you?"

The mares turned to each other, almost unsure of what to say, but giggled instead.

"Oh, um, sure," one spoke out. Her coat was a pearly-white colour with a long, flowing pink mane tied up into a ponytail that hung over her shoulder, watched by her lavender eyes. On her flank was a mark of a pair of smiling, sparkling teeth. "It's nice to see… uh… new faces--" she turned to Rommath "-- or in his case, half a face."

Gai'vahros chuckled a little, joined by his two new acquaintances, much to the chagrin of the Grand Magister. "It's just his uniform, I assure you. Isn't that right, Rommath?"

Rommath's head shot up, his eyes shifting as he was put on the spot. "Oh… Yes, quite…"

The other mare giggled. "Oh, so he's the quiet type," she assumed. The pony was a very light aqua colour, with a fringed mane of snow white and baby blue. On her flank was a cutie mark of a tube of toothpaste. "Rommath, right? I'm Aqua Fresh. Nice to meet you!"

"Y-yes, likewise," he stuttered.

"And I'm Darlie Crest," the white mare introduced to Gai'vahros. "You're Gai'vahros, right? The one who helped at the hospital?"

"And the one who helped rebuild Ponyville, too?" added Aqua.

Gai'vahros couldn't help but blush. "Yes, that's right," he replied with a smile.

"Ooooh, and such healthy teeth, too!" praised Darlie, moving her head closer to the elf's smiling lips. "You must take real good care of yourself."

"Well, I try… Hehe… "

"And, what about you, Rommath?" inquired Aqua, moving her head closer towards Rommath, who recoiled as she came dangerously close. "What are you hiding behind that huge collar of yours? Come on, let's see those pearly whites!"

"Do you even have a mouth behind that collar?" teased Gai'vahros.

"Of course I do! It's just… I can't remove it."

"Oh, sure you can," said Aqua placing her hooves around it. "You just unbutton it, right?" Much to the Grand Magister's discomfort, he couldn't help but let the pony fumble around with it. "There's… no buttons?"

"It's part of the robe, ma'am."

"Then take your robe off."

"E-excuse me?"

"You heard me. Take it off."

"I will not… strip in front of you and everyone else here!"

"What's the big deal? You cold or something?"

"I'm not about to strut half-naked in a café just so you can see my teeth! Gai'vahros, a hand, if you please!?"

But Gai'vahros merely chuckled. "Come on, Rommath, what's the big deal? Everyone else here is naked."

"Apart from you!" Rommath paused for a moment. "I will only strip for you should my companion here do the same."

"W-woah! Hold on there, Rommath," challenged Gai'vahros. "Do not drag me into this!"

"What's wrong, Gai'vahros? I thought it wasn't a big deal?"

"It is when I'm being dragged into someone else's mess!"

"I would have thought you would jump at the chance to show off your amazingly toned body. Does that not fall under your "high charisma"?"

"I will not do it for you nor anypony else!"

"Did you just say "anypony"?"

"Argh! Be quiet, Rommath!"

Aqua couldn't help but roll her eyes. "They're a bit on the stubborn side, aren't they?" she whispered to Darlie as the two elves argued.

"Understatement much?" she responded sarcastically. Her voice boomed as she spoke, gaining the elves' attention, "Look, just do this for us! We just wanna see your friend's teeth, okay? Think of it as… like a free check-up."

"No way," denounced Gai'vahros. "I'll have no part in this!"

"Well…" Aqua glared at Darlie. Immediately their faces turned from impatience to a crooked, sinister smirk. "If you're not going to do it…"

"Then we're gonna have to get a bit more… involved," finished Darlie. Both of them turned their gaze to the now scared elves.

"… Gai'vahros," spoke Rommath, "you don't think they mean what I think they mean… do you?"

"If that is the case," he replied, "then we're in quite a bit of trouble…"

"… Your call, blood knight?"

"Quite simple." Quickly Gai'vahros turned tail, vaulting over the table before sprinting away. "Wipe it, Rommath! Wipe it!" he yelled out. The Grand Magister followed suit, turning and tumbling over the top of the table behind him, following Gai'vahros.

"H-hey!" yelled out Aqua. The two mares quickly gave chase, weaving around the table and chairs.

"Get back here! We're not done!" cried Darlie.

With aching legs, heavy breaths, and pounding hearts, both Gai'vahros and Rommath leaned against a single tree as they tried to get their breaths and bodies back. Their bodies carrying them to Fluttershy's place, the two managed to lose the two adamant mares -- for the moment, at least.

"I can't--" Rommath took a deep breath "--I can't believe what just happened…!"

"Come on, Grand Magister, you know you had fun," goaded Gai'vahros with bated breaths through a smile.

"I'm warning you Gai'vahros: just one -- just one person calls me a naked pony-toucher and I'll kill you!"

"Calm down, Rommath. We've lost them now…"

"Hmph! Some fine day this turned out to be!"

The two picked themselves off the floor, dusting themselves off.

"Now that we're alone, Rommath," began Gai'vahros, "how about you tell me of the other reasons you are here? What are you after? I highly doubt that you would waste resources just to procure stray members of the Horde."

"… Okay. It is best that you knew, since you've been here for a while." Rommath looked around, scanning the immediate surroundings. "There are two other reasons why we've anchored a portal link here. First, we've come to understand that there are strong magics in this realm -- magic that can possibly help us permanently overcome our arcane addictions, or otherwise help our race prosper."

"Prosper? At what? The cost of innocents? I dare say that you have planned to wage war or to otherwise forcibly take whatever magics you are looking for."

"Don't be naïve, Gai'vahros. With our numbers thinned from the Third War, the war on Northrend, and Garrosh' war, we couldn't begin to hope to stand any sort of chance here. But you are right: we did have plans for an offensive strike -- but only if the locals here proved hostile. No, we will do things diplomatically, just as Lor'themar wants."

"It is good to see that were are choosing words over swords for once. But I must inquire: what do you bring to the table that you believe will aid in your diplomacy?"

"Trade. Just as we had taught the mortal humans of Strom our arcane prowess, we are offering to trade magical secrets and resources -- lumber, iron, gold -- in return for their knowledge. If we can do this, then it will help us evolve our knowledge."

"… And what of your second reason?"

"Our second reason… is to capture any members of the Alliance."

"What?" growled Gai'vahros. His brow narrowed. "For what reason? What happened to you not bringing Garrosh' war to this world?"

"We are not bringing Garrosh' war to this world, Gai'vahros. What we are doing is gaining equal footing in our war against Dalaran. Whether you choose to remember or not, Gai'vahros, but a lot of our kind were either captured or killed during the Sunreavers' purge from Dalaran -- innocent elves whose only crimes were making an honest living in what they believed to be a haven for them! By capturing their own people, we will be able to negotiate the release of our people in return for theirs."

Gai'vahros looked down, sighing. "… It's frustrating. It's frustrating to know that what you do is justified, and yet I feel sick knowing that this world will be at risk of further conflict. Alright, Rommath, I concede to your beliefs. But I am of no doubt that Doreiya has informed you of my thoughts on this matter."

"He has done. Gai'vahros, I must thank you for showing me around this place. It reminds me of what Quel'Thalas used to be like -- especially when we were with the Alliance. However, I must ask for your cooperation and understanding in why we do what we do."

"Then let us compromise, Rommath. I don't want you to risk Garrosh or anyone else gaining this knowledge, and you want to gain access to this place for a number of reasons, so I propose this: limit the knowledge to those who may wield it."

"It is only our Magisters who know it."

"Not good enough. Limit it further."

"To what? Ten people? Five?"

"Two."

"Two!? Are you serious?"

"Dead serious."

"… Who do you propose to keep the knowledge?"

"You, and Doreiya."

"Doreiya? Why not Aethas?"

"Because I have known Doreiya for a very long time. He is a great friend of mine, and someone who I can trust fully. And Aethas... Something troubles me about him…"

"I'm glad it isn't just me. Regardless, Gai'vahros, I will agree to your terms…

"But I must ask one more thing of you…"

Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth, a bead of sweat dripping down her face, her foreleg shaking as she laid on the grass with her hoof locked with a Magister's hand, struggling to fight against the surprising strength of her opponent's arm.

"I never thought you bookworms would be this good," he goaded with a smirk.

"Do not take the Sin'Dorei lightly, pony," the robed elf responded in turn, wrestling with Rainbow Dash' own prowess. "but I admit that I am also surprised at your strength, too."

"C'mon, Dashie," cheered Applejack, "you can do better than that!"

"Focus, mage," coached Doreiya from behind. "If you are to be a spell breaker, then this is only a glimpse of what strength you'll need!"

But their cheers were only a small portion of the grand orchestra; the rest of the ponies, Fiona, Tarenar, and Gidwin gave their hearty support for Rainbow Dash, while the entire lance of Magisters gave encouragement to their fellow blood elf.

But as the elf began to gain the upper hand in this arm wrestling contest, Rommath and Gai'vahros had made their way back.

"What on earth is going on here?" called out Rommath, shocked at what he saw before him.

The Magisters all looked up, including Rainbow Dash' opponent. "G-Grand Magister!" the elf spoke in shock.

But with his guard down, Rainbow Dash took the opportunity to capitalize on the opening, slamming the Magister's hand down into the grass. "Hah!" she yelled out, bursting from the ground with a strong beat of her wings. "Told ya I was gonna win!"

"T-that was not fair!" challenged the Magister, banging the ground with his palms before clambering to his feet. "I demand a rematch!"

"That is enough," said Doreiya, pulling his compatriot by the shoulder. "On the battlefield, there is no fairness; only life and death. And you died. Horribly."

Rommath cleared his throat loudly, garnering the attention of those present. Hoisting his staff, he planted it onto the ground. "If we are all done playing games, then now is the time that we discuss matters. First, I must ask: which one of you… um… ponies is in charge?"

They all turned their eyes to Twilight. Despite her uncertainty, Twilight nodded. "I guess that, in light of what is present, I shall hear what you have to say," she responded.

Rommath spared no fine detail in what he was to discuss. As he had done with Gai'vahros before, he discussed about how they were able to venture to Equestria, how they have come to seek aid in return for their own knowledge and supplies, although the Grand Magister was careful to omit the part about capturing Alliance personnel -- something that Gai'vahros was glad that he had done.

Twilight pondered as Rommath finished. "I am grateful that you are here of no ill will," she said, "and I would be more than happy to give you any knowledge I can, but this is not something I should be decisive of. You would have to speak with the Princess'."

"Oh. I see. It is unfortunate, but our time grows short. Now, Gai'vahros…"

Surprisingly quiet throughout the ordeal, Gai'vahros only nodded to Rommath. "Yes. I understand, Grand Magister."

But the rest of the ponies only looked on, their mouths opening as if to say something, anything, but no noise was made aside from the rustling of grass beneath their shifting hooves.

"So… Gai…" spoke Applejack slowly. "have you made your decision…?"

"I'm afraid so," he responded. "Or rather, it was Rommath who made the decision for me."

"W-what are you talkin' about?" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. Her expression began to skew, becoming angry. "Who the hay is this guy to tell you what to do!?"

"One of my superiors, unfortunately. In the end, if it is to benefit my people, then I shall obey."

"So, what? You just gonna bend over and take whatever he gives you? What about your thoughts? What about your decisions?"

"Rainbow Dash, enough!" called out Twilight. Reluctantly, Rainbow Dash retreated before landing on the ground. Her head hung low, her eyes gazing away. "I'm sorry, Gai'vahros. I know how Rainbow Dash feels, but… if it is something you must do, then you must do it. Like I said before, we will all support the decision you make."

As hard as it was for him, Gai'vahros looked over to Rainbow Dash. Just seeing her like she was made his heart crack. "… Thank you, my Lady Twilight," he responded softly. "Grand Magister, whenever you are ready."

Rommath nodded, picking his staff from the ground before heading towards the portal, with Gai'vahros following by his side. "Move out, brothers. We are done here."

The Magisters lined up into a long, single file line in front of the portal before making their way through one by one. After a minute or so, all of the Magisters besides Doreiya had made their way through.

"I guess I'll see you back on Azeroth in a few, then?" spoke Doreiya. "Take care, everyone." with a smile and a wave, he stepped through the portal.

As Doreiya faded through, Fiona and her companion took their leave from the group, much to their surprise, and headed towards the portal.

"So you've decided to return to the Argent Crusade?" asked Gai'vahros.

"Aye, lad," responded Gidwin. "We set out to join the Crusade, and now that we're in it, we can hardly let them down now. Sure, it means goin' back to the cesspit that is the Plaguelands, but we'll always have each other."

"Well said, Giddy," agreed Tarenar with a smile. "Despite having a worgen and dwarf with me, I'm sure that we will have no problems making our way back to Light's Hope Chapel through Silvermoon."

"I will see to it that you will have no issues," assured Rommath. "With all the help the Argent Crusade has done for all of us in the war on Northrend, you are all welcome through our gates any time."

"We appreciate your hospitality, Grand Magister," spoke Fiona. "Now, boys, shall we be off?"

"Aye, let's get goin'." Gidwin turned, waving off to the others. "See ya soon, lasses! Take care, Gilda!"

"O-Oh!" exclaimed Gilda, caught off guard. "Chyeah, see ya later, tin man…"

"See you on the other side, Lord Gai'vahros," said Tarenar.

The three of them made their way through the portal, leaving only the Grand Magister, Gai'vahros, and the rest of the Equestrians standing in the field. But the others began to shift uncomfortably amongst themselves. From their rustling hooves to their jittering bodies, restlessness and anxiety sat upon them.

"So… I guess this is it then… ?" muttered Applejack. "Gai… I know we haven't met for a long time, an' I know that it's silly o' me, but… I'm really gonna miss you."

"I wish you could stay with us, Gai," pouted Apple Bloom, tears welling up in her eyes. "Wish you could stay for another day or two… or a week…"

Gai'vahros turned to them, watching as their saddened faces pierced through whatever armor he was wearing, sundering it, and stabbing into his heart. But he remained silent as they spoke.

"We never got to have that sparring match, either," joined Rainbow Dash. She lifted her head up, smiling. "But maybe some other time, right? I know you'll be back one day!"

"Oh! Gai'vahros!" cried Rarity, her eyes squinting, trying to hold back her tears. "I can't believe that you're leaving us so soon… But, when you looked at that diamond, you'll think of us, won't you?"

The elf's hand reached into the pocket of his leggings, his fingers wrapping around a hard, stone-like object. As he pulled his hand out, he gazed upon the shield-shaped diamond, turning it in his palm with his fingers, the light refracting through its many facets and shimmering in multiple colours.

"I… I'm sad to see you go, Gai'vahros," spoke Fluttershy from behind her long mane, "but I'll be happy for you knowing that you can go back to helping others in your world… I… I'll miss you…"

"I was gonna throw you a going away party," spoke Pinkie Pie, dangerously quieter than her usual self, "but I…" her mane and tail suddenly deflated, falling straight down. "I just didn't have it in me to do one for you… I don't want you to go…"

"Y'know, I haven't known ya as much as Dashie and the others have," admitted Gilda, "but… you saved my life… And you saved my friendship with Dashie… I don't think I can ever begin to pay you back for everything… I mean, what I'm trying to say is… Thanks, man."

Twilight stepped forwards, hesitating to move any further, but found it within herself to keep on towards Gai'vahros. Her eyes locked with his as she stood before him. "Well… I'm glad to see that you've finally found a way back home," she said with a half-hearted smile. "And you get to see all your friends back home, too."

Gai'vahros shifted his eyes away, then turned to look at the others before him. "At the cost of others," he spoke sombrely.

"I… I know…"

Twilight hung her head. Her eyes began to strain, to sting a little. Her body trembled and her legs wobbled. Her lips began to quiver, her throat forcing out soft whimpers. Clenching her eyes shut, the tears trickled down her cheeks, soaking into her coat and skin as small whimpers passed through her clenched throat. Her whimpers quickly turned to heartbroken sobs.

"Please… don't leave…"

The touch of silk pressed along the back of her neck and head, guiding her forward, pressing her cheek and chest against the warm metal of Gai'vahros' breastplate. His silken fingers brushed through her mane, stroking her head as he held her close.

"You don't need to worry," he whispered into her ear. His grip loosened, letting Twilight go. She in turn looked up to him, her eyes glistening through her tears. "Thank you, Rommath."

"Not at all, Gai'vahros. For as long as you remain here, you shall represent the Sin'Dorei. I hope you enjoy your new position." Taking his staff, Rommath proceeded through the portal. Slowly the portal collapsed upon itself until it had faded completely.

The looks of surprise and confusion spread amongst the rest of them.

"Does that mean…" spoke Rainbow Dash. "… Does that mean you're staying with us?"

"Truly!?" added Rarity, a huge smile across her muzzle.

Gai'vahros smiled back. "Yes, everyone…" his eyes looked down to Twilight, his smile purging the heartache from the poor Unicorn. "… I'm here to stay."

Twilight blinked as she gazed up into his emerald eyes. Her heart throbbed from within her chest, a huge load lifted from her very soul. Her lips spread across her muzzle, forming a smile greater than what the elf had ever witnessed before. "You're staying!" she yelled out, pouncing at the unsuspecting elf as she wrapped her forelegs around him, snuggling up to him. "I can't believe you're staying!"

The cries and cheers of the others was more than enough to deafen the hearing-sensitive Gai'vahros. Like a rush of bulls, the others galloped towards him and tackled him to the ground as he let out a loud *oomph*, holding him in one, huge, collective cuddle.

"Yay! You're staying!" cried Apple Bloom, holding onto Gai'vahros' waist.

"So we can have that sparring match, now!?" exclaimed Rainbow Dash with an escalated smile.

"We can throw a Gai'vahros-gets-to-stay-with-us party, too!" added Pinkie Pie, her hair now fluffed up back to its usual good, curly self.

"Okay, okay, girls!" announced Gai'vahros, trying to push himself back up, but the others were so eager to let him up just yet. "Gah! You're all so heavy!"

Twilight only giggled at Gai'vahros plight as he struggled. "I told you, Gai'vahros…" she said.

"I know. You're right, my Lady Twilight. Friendship really is magical -- and breath-taking, but that's probably just you all squeezing my lungs really hard…"

Epilogue - Dear Princess Celestia...

While Ponyville had seen its share of bluster and excitement in the days gone by, Canterlot still kept its streets organized and, well, not destroyed. Even as the sun began to sink into the horizon as the day began to end, the streets were still occupied by the out-going socialites of Equestrian society. Some carried bags and satchels over their backs, full from their day-long shopping spree; others sat in the coffee shops and cafés, enjoying a good cappuccino and such. Others were just waiting for the night to roll on by before enjoying the evening with their companions.

But a couple of special Alicorns had other matters to attend to.

Within the highest tower of Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia sat by a low desk, her head almost buried in a pile of papers and opened books. Her eyes dropped a little before she suddenly jolted her head up, trying to keep herself awake for what was a painfully boring reading session.

Her mouth opened widely, letting out a quiet yawn. "I could have sworn it was in this book," she mumbled to herself before flipping the page over with a hoof.

A couple of knocking sounds came from the door. "Sister," a voice called out, "are you busy?"

"N-not at all, Luna," called Celestia, trying to keep her words from slurring from fatigue. "Come on in."

The door creaked a little as it opened inwards, Luna pushing it open with a hoof. "You are still searching for his book, sister?"

"I've gone through all that I have -- even all of the parchments and scrolls that he kept in the library -- and I still haven't found it…"

Luna's eyes shifted away. Slowly her horn began to glow, creating the same glow around a small tome on her back. "This is… because I had it…"

Celestia's eyes looked up, widened, almost fully awake as she watched the book float from behind Luna towards her, following it with her head as it planted itself upon the desk. "… But… Luna," she said, "what were you doing with this book?"

"I took the book… a long time ago. I used it to try and learn all of his spells, but I never got very far with it. A lot of complicated things within those pages. I'm sorry I didn't inform you sooner, sister, but… I have my doubts."

Celestia paused for a moment, her eyes shifting to her sister with disappointment. But they quickly changed as she giggled. "I see you're not lost your touch," she replied with a smile. "You could always read me like an open book."

"I still do not believe that she is ready for the challenge that you wish to present to her, sister."

"I understand your concern, Luna," Celestia replied as she sat from her desk, making her way over to the window. "That is why I have decided not to task Twilight with it until we both agree that she is ready for it, though I would still like to keep his book within reach should it be required."

Luna made her way over to the desk, looking down upon the opened pages of the book. The handwriting was neat, formatted perfectly into paragraphs and bullet points. Diagrams were drawn in several places, showing constellations, vials, pony anatomy, and other drawings. "… I remember when he first started writing this," spoke Luna, her voice ambivalent.

"Star Swirl always was a highly gifted Unicorn," replied Celestia. "Do you remember when we explored the caves of Maretania? How he combined the Light spell with the candlestick to enchant it?"

"I was surprised that even a studious stallion like him could learn to master enchantment spells so quickly."

"A powerful caster, he was. No matter was adversary he faced, nothing was too big nor too dangerous for him to overcome. And yet, no matter how powerful he grew to be… he could not stop the flow of time… Now, the only things left of him are his papers."

Tension settled upon the room like a heavy blanket, almost smothering the Princess' under its weight, choking them of whatever oxygen filled their lungs.

"… Sister," Luna eventually spoke, "it is Saturday, is it not? Have you not received a letter from your "faithful student"?"

"I have not," replied Celestia, though with a smile as she turned to Luna. "I think that, with all that has happened to her in these few days, she has probably forgotten. It's not a problem though."

A sudden flash of light shone in front of Celestia, causing her to recoil her head and squint her eyes. From the shining light came the silhouette of an envelope, sealed with wax and two pieces of red ribbon.

"Oh! speaking of which," she said gleefully with surprise. Grasping it with her magic, she quickly opened it and withdrew the paper from inside.

"Dear Princess Celestia,

I have come to learn a lot this week, especially where friends are concerned. In these last few days, I've come to know a whole lot of new people, from small dwarves, to black-humoured trolls, to really-scary-but-not-actually-scary wolf-like creatures. Even though we only met for not even a full day, I felt a great connection with them. Kind of like our hearts were connected.

But I've also learned of something I never thought I would experience something, or at least hoped I would never experience. I learned of what it was like to suddenly lose a friend forever. When Gai'vahros was given the chance to return to his own world, I felt my heart sink. I felt it crack in two. And I felt it shatter in my chest. I found myself crying over the prospect of never seeing him again.

But it is with great joy that he has decided to stay here. Even though if he stays here it means we'll have to deal with his sister, I don't think any of us were convinced she would have followed him back home anyway. I don't think I can convey with ink and parchment how happy I am -- how happy we all are -- that he's staying with us. It's like making friends with everyone all over again!

~Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle"

"Isn't that sweet, Luna?" cooed Celestia. "I remember when Twilight first wrote when she made all her friends in Ponyville. I'm glad that she's having a great time with Gai'vahros."

Luna smiled and nodded. "I think so, too. But there's more in the envelope."

"Oh?" Once more, Celestia focused her magic upon the contents, pulling out several thick, glossy pieces of paper. "Photographs?"

"And there are things written on the back, too."

The two Princess met with one-another as they walked over to the desk. The two of them looked over the photographs one by one, smiling and giggling at each one.

"We told Gai'vahros that the pool near Ponyville would help heal the wound he got yesterday. I think he was expecting a nice, relaxing bath, but… well, Pinkie Pie happened."

"After his bath, Rainbow Dash told him that we could totally make his hair look twenty percent cooler. I don't think he had this in mind, though."

"This is Gidwin, our dwarf friend. Yes, he is that small. From what I have observed, the only sustenance that a dwarf needs is alcohol. Luckily, Applejack had some cider on hoof, but I think they both went a bit overboard with the drinking…"

"Tarenar is another elf whom we met, and Gidwin's best friend. He's a lot more lightened up than Gai'vahros -- and younger-looking, too -- but I don't think his hair nearly as cool-looking. Pinkie Pie wanted to throw a "we-just-made-three-new-friends party", and Tarenar was the first to get with the festivities."

"Fiona is a scary-looking "worgen" -- some sort of bipedal wolf person, but she's a good person when you see past her ragged fur, long claws, and sharp teeth. Rarity really didn't like her outfit, so she made her a new one! And yes, that is her happy face… I think."

"I was surprised that Gai'vahros had a baby dragon companion that he looked after. I was even more surprised when she kept chasing Spike, too! It was so adorable that I had to get a quick picture of it!"

The two shared a huge smile, giggling as they got to the last photo. But as Celestia flicked it to the back, there was a folded piece of parchment between it and the first photo.

"Huh? This isn't a photograph," pondered Celestia. Quickly she tilted and unfolded it. Upon it was another letter. "I don't recognize this handwriting."

"Well, let us read it," suggested Luna.

"Gai'vahros…" Celestia folded the parchment back before placing it back into the envelope with the rest of the contents, sitting in upon her desk. "I expect a great deal of things from him…

"But I also sense an even greater deal of misfortune…"

Bonus Chapter: In Our Belief

The gentle breeze swept across the face of Gai'vahros, caressing the pale, cold skin of his cheek and flicking at the bangs of hair that drooped over his unfixed gaze as it carried the scent of the sea with it. The chill of the air numbed the skin and the mind of the blood elf, and the thin mist dulled his sight to where he could only make out the sea before him in swathes of grey and pale blues.

The clopping of hoofed feet patted against the dank, darkened wood of the docks. Mares and stallions of various dulled colours passed by the zoned out elf without so much as a hearty hello or a kind word. No, contrastingly, mostly they treated him as though he wasn't even there, invisible to their eyes like a ghost. But some did snap brief glances at him; glances of disdain.

But despite his lack of focus on anything—not even the view before him—his mind was fixed on only what had happened only some hours earlier this day—a day in which he wished never happened. The thought of it, along with the bite of the wind, caused Gai'vahros to shudder.

'How could this have happened…'

The elf's long ear twitched to the left in direction of a disconcerting voice. With his thoughts interrupted, his head turned slowly, his eyes catching a glance made by two ponies that stood by the ramp to an old sailing ship. Their gaze was not welcoming, shooting daggers at the elf as they refused to relinquish their stares; not even when one of them leaned towards the other to talk.

"Why do they still let this cursed creature live?" the pony asked, his lips barely seen moving beneath the huge black bush of a beard of his. "Shoulda given 'im a harsher punishment!"

"Aye, ye'd think that considerin' his—" the other pony shuddered as he shifted uncomfortably from one hoof to another "—considerin' what he's done."

And yet for all their troubles of whispering, no cross word had escaped earshot of the disdained elf. With everything that had happened and everything that they had said, he could only let out a breath of sorrow and grasp at his cape, wrapping one side around him to shield from the biting chill of the air.

'I didn't do it. How could I…?'

It was the only thing Gai'vahros could think about; his mind rushed through so many of these thoughts and passing images as though he had opened a large tome and flicked through the pages as fast he could, having no time to read, recognize or recall. Just dismembered speeches and blurred memories. And yet one stuck out every single time.

"You are hereby banished from Equestria…"

The sounds of heavy footsteps knocked upon the wooden planks of the docks, getting louder as a tall, burly stallion approached the dazed blood elf. The equine had nothing but a blue and white-striped shirt, a black bandana, and a thick leather eye patch across his left. He looked down judgmentally at Gai'vahros with his one good eye and gave a loud, angered grumble.

"It's things like you that cost me an eye, mate," the stallion said with a deep, gravelly voice as he moved his head closer to Gai'vahros. He snarled as he caught a glimpse of the elf's flickering emerald eyes glowing from behind his split bangs. "Aye, such pretty eyes you have. They don't suit a monster like you."

'…I'm not a monster…'

The stallion snorted as he turned away violently, whacking Gai'vahros' arm with his tail as he did so. "We're headin' off. Git yer flank on that boat now."

Like a stringed puppet, Gai'vahros moved to the command of the pony. Wrapping his gloved fingers around a shoulder strap of his backpack, he made his way to the boarding plank with gentle, slow steps.

Then a fast-paced rhythm of galloping caught the small amount of attention the elf could give. The hoofsteps grew louder and louder, then changing from knocks on dirt to knocks on wood.

"Gai'vahros!" a voice called out from the grey veil, followed by a couple of short gasps for breath. The elf turned to face his caller, seeing the flushed, panting face of Twilight, who was carrying a long, wrapped object on her back. "I'm—just give me a minute…" The exasperated pony breathed harder as she stood before him, drawing in whatever breath she could before speaking, "I'm glad that you haven't… haven't left yet."

Gai'vahros only looked back at her with empty eyes and grimaced before shifting his eyes from her. "I didn't want you to see me like this," he responded in a quiet, stricken tone. "I didn't want you to see me as… As a monster."

"You're not a monster," exclaimed Twilight, shaking her head as she did. "We know you didn't do it. We all know you didn't do it."

"And yet I managed to tarnish my own name—and all of yours too."

Twilight went silent. Her eyes drooped as she turned her head from Gai'vahros. "It wasn't your fault, Gai'vahros. It was that jerk prosecutor who said all those things…"

"What more proof do you need, prosecutor Capital Suit? You have six eye-witnesses stating that the accused was with us at the alleged date of the murder!"

"And yet we have in this very courtroom the murder weapon with both the victim's blood and the accused fingerprints. Not only that, but your eye-witnesses are known friends of him. I would go ahead and surmise that you're all lying just to defend this criminal!

"And to think that the 'Elements of Harmony' would lie in a court of law to protect a murderer. How absurd!"

"Yet what is done is done all because of me." Gai'vahros sighed heavily as he turned away from the troubled pony. "I should have gone back when I had the chance. None of this would have happened."

"Don't say things like that," snapped Twilight as she paced beside him, turning her head to try and make eye contact.

"Oi!" the large stallion called from the deck of the ship, his tone abrasive and callous. "I told ye to git yer flank on this boat!"

The two looked up to the ship, but only Twilight gave the pony any sort of attention. "Sorry! Can we just have a couple more minutes, please?"

The stallion huffed. "Fine. Let the criminal say whatever last words he has, and then we be rid of him." Swinging around, the stallion walked away from sight.

Twilight sighed as she walked round to the front of the elf, looking up into his eyes. "Look, It doesn't matter what others say about you or us; we are who we are! We're still the Elements of Harmony and we still do our best by Equestria. And you are still a knight who fights for those who can't and for those who rely on you to protect them! We…" Her throat tightly clenched, stopping her mid-sentence. "We need you…" Her head hung low, tears slowly welling up as she clenched her teeth.

The rustling of cloth and armor made Twilight's ears perk up, and she caught a glimpse of the knight's golden armor descend to her level. A single silk-palmed hand gently touched her chin as the fingers curled around and brushed against her cheek. Gai'vahros raised her head, and in turn so did her eyes meet with his caring smile. "Thank you so much, my Lady Twilight," cooed Gai'vahros. "Thank you for reminding me that I'm not the monster I used to be."

" "You were never a monster; just a misguided soul"—Princess Celestia always said this." Twilight gave a forced smile as she swept the tears from her eyes.

Gai'vahros nodded, then looked back up to the ship. Slowly he stood to his feet as he caressed Twilight from her chin to her mane. "I'm sorry things came about like this, my Lady Twilight. I guess this is where we depart."

"I'll find a way, you know. I'll try and appeal to the court, and I'll try and find new eye-witnesses, and new evidence, and—"

"I know you will. You have my faith, Twilight. You have always had my faith."

"… I'll do a better job at defending you this time, Gai'vahros. I swear it!" Suddenly she let out a gasp before turning her head to the item on her back. "Ah! I almost forgot!" The light purple veil of magic enveloped her horn and the burlap-wrapped object, lightly lifting off of her back and towards Gai'vahros. "Speaking of defending—this is for you to take with you. You might need it."

"A going away present? How thoughtful," the elf jested with a smile. He reached out his hand to grab it, but immediately recoiled. His smile quickly dropped, and his attention switched from the item to Twilight. "How… Twilight, how did you get this?"

"Princess Luna gave it to me. She said that, with the trial over, it was no longer needed to be kept as evidence. And it's yours to begin with, anyway."

Gai'vahros gulped, his uncertain hands shaking a little. But slowly he moved both arms towards the object and wrapped his fingers around the burlap, pressing against the two ends that formed the shape of a blade and hilt. A small veil of light shone from the flat side of the blade, forming archaic runes that could be barely seen through the thick covering.

'Quel'Delar… The astonished elf couldn't help but mouth the words he couldn't speak. "… Please give the princess' my thanks… And tell them that I hold no ill will or bitterness towards their decision."

"I will. Please… Please take care of yourself, Gai'vahros."

"I'm an adventurer; there isn't anything that can put me down."

"Except timber wolves."

"Right. Those annoying little—"

"Time's up, ye waste of life! Time to get yer flank on the boat—or I'll put ye on the boat myself!"

Gai'vahros grunted, shaking his head and furrowing his brow. "That guy's gonna be a pain in my flank if I have to spend the whole journey with him. But I'd best be going."

"We'll see you again, Gai'vahros." Twilight pressed her cheek against the knight's cold chest plate. "I know we will."

"In our belief, I know we will." Gai'vahros held the hurting mare close, wrapping his hands around her withers and cradling her head against him. "In our belief, we will make things right." Letting go of her, the elf made his way across the docks and up the boarding plank, ignoring whatever glances were given to him by the others who followed close by.

Twilight could do nothing but watch as the mist took him away from her, but she never took her eyes off of him. Even when he disappeared from sight she still tried to follow his movements from the sounds of his footsteps until he was out of earshot.

"In our belief… You will come home…"

Author's Note

A bridging chapter between this book and another book. Inspired by this music;

Chapter 2 - Ink Spill

It was quite a shock for Gai'vahros to see such a spectacle as a talking pony. He wanted to open his mouth and just let his thoughts pour out, but what is it he could say that his mind hadn't even strewn together yet? The words just wouldn't come to his mind besides a blank slate of disbelief. He had to spend some time to gain composure but then it sprang to mind that, in his world, there are animals that talk. However, those animals were deities or some sort of natural spirit in bestial form. This filly was just... well, a small horse. Nothing about her looked grand or omnipotent; just a normal pale yellow foal with cherry hair. And those huge eyes. Damn those cute, huge eyes.

Gai'vahros couldn't help but just stare into the eyes of the pony and just watch her stand there. Her expression was one of mild fear, more than likely under the belief that Gai'vahros was, indeed, an evil hedgehog monster. Her eyes fixated upon him before slightly shifting up and down, scanning his presence. Even though so much seemed to happen, it was all just in a small window of time. To Gai'vahros it seemed liked minutes, to which he was surprised that the young filly hadn't made a single move. He wanted to move, to say something, anything, but was afraid that his sudden course of action was going to startle her. He had to be gentle. Subtle.

"Ahhhhh!" The pony screamed, quickly turning and sprinting away, leaving behind a trail of dust behind her. The breeze picked up a little as it violently caused the Elf's cape to whisk and shimmer in the wind to one side. It wasn't the gentleness nor the subtlety that Gai'vahros was planning for.

"Ugh, so much for subtlety," the elf muttered to himself, turning to the left where his cloak kept flowing, grasping it with his arm and pulling it back down behind him. "but, then again, I'm not a rogue." The breeze seemed to die down a little as he looked down to the pathway, able to see faint tracks of hooves in the dirt that gave way to the young pony's destination. Careful not to wipe the tracks away with his own or with his cape, Gai'vahros trailed it, noticing the path lead off to the side and onto a second. "Where is everyone anyway? For a town, it seems... deserted."

It seemed the entire path was just made of neatly trimmed grass, about a width of three feet that seemed to go in a straight line and was cut much shorter than the rest of the field, giving it a much lighter shade than the two sides. The trees surrounding the area looked so beautiful to Gai'vahros, as they had reminded him of the days in Quel'Thalas, just a lot more green and not as autumn-y. The breeze picked up a little, causing the fringes in front of Gai'vahros' face to swish to one side, almost blocking his sight as a result.

Within short time, Gai'vahros came across a small hill. The pathway traversed over it, though not too steeply, flanked on both sides by lush purple mounds growing shades of emerald green grass and small forms of fungi. The Elf had seen this kind of thing before, normally in the wake of the Scourge or through some sort of arcane, or even necrotic, infusion. He didn't pay much attention to it in the least, however; it wasn't likely that the Scourge would be able to come here, and even if they did there would be a lot more telltale signs of an undead invasion.

Trekking over the hill, Gai'vahros laid eyes on something he never thought he would see again, at least not in such a short span of time since his aid of Mount Hyjal. In sight of the elf was a rather large tree that resembled a sort of house or shop. The door shaped into an acute archway with a crimson door fastened by gold or brass hinges with a sign with a book outside of it to the left. Parts of the tree has small balconies on them, sky-lined with grassy thatched roofing above them. Amethyst coloured windows sat upon oak window frames with some of them with interior framing styled to look like branches. On the top of the tree rest one more balcony although this one was fastened with a telescope upon it. Gai'vahros believed that maybe this was some sort of mage shop or astronomy emporium. Whatever it was it felt extremely bizarre to him.

Gai'vahros began to reach the conclusion that whoever lived, owned, ran or even indeed built this colossal monument was one of great wisdom and power. Proceeding towards the structure Gai'vahros began to here small voices from behind the door, which was only an inch or so shorter than he was, and he was quite small himself. He began to see humour in the thought of a draenei, tauren or night elf try and fit through the door frame. Regardless of his mind deciding to lament in hilarity, Gai'vahros thought it would be wise to try and find help, or even refuge, in the wake of his unfortunate predicament.

"But, Twi, I'm tellin' ya the truth," Gai'vahros could hear murmurs behind the redwood door. A deep treble in the voice seemed to indicate it was some sort of heated discussion or argument. That and the fact he was standing several meters from the door, "there really is a huge hedgehog monster outside!" Gai'vahros definitely recognized the voice now, but it was the only thing here that referred to him as a "huge hedgehog monster".

"Apple Bloom, for the last time," the other voice sounded very stern, sweet, and impatient at the same time, "there's no such thing as a "huge hedgehog monster". This book has details of every living creature, real and mythical, in Equestria, and nothing in here suggests of a huge hedgehog monster. Except a large hedgehog, of course."

"Fine, i'll get mah sister to come help me then!" Suddenly the door flung open. Surprise surprise, the same young pony from earlier burst through the doorway with a good head of speed. However, she seemed to be looking back towards the building when she suddenly collided with the steel boots of Gai'vahros. Shaking her head, the pony looked up at the staring eyes of the elf before letting off another scream. "Twi, TWIII! It's here! It's following me!" Before Gai'vahros could even so much as raise a smile, Apple Bloom turned and blitzed back inside the building, twice the speed as before, before slamming the door shut.

"... Ah..." Gai'vahros raised a hand as if to call after her but then let it slump down to his side. Giving a soft sigh he stood and waited for something to happen. From the corner of his eye he saw Apple Bloom peek out from the side of the window, though as he turned his head she quickly pulled back to the side. "Well, this escalated quickly."

"Alright, alright, Apple Bloom," The door opened, revealing a pale lavender-toned pony with a very neat and tidy style of mane of indigo that cast a small fringe over her, while the rest was swept back and part of it hung over her left shoulder. Her mane had two stripes of colour as well; one of a deep purple and one of violet, like highlights in a person's hair. What Gai'vahros noticed the most was she had a horn on her head. He never thought horses could naturally grow horns. The pony didn't seem to notice Gai'vahros though, what with her head turned to the side and looking down, more than likely addressing the young filly with her. "Let's see what your hedgehog monster looks--" As her head swung up to meet Gai'vahros, though a distance of a few meters between them, her eyes widened while her pupils shrunk a fair amount. She seemed to have a look of absolute surprise on her face. "--Oh my gosh, it's a huge hedgehog monster!"

'Why does everyone have to keep calling me that?' Gai'vahros thought to himself, rolling his eyes to the side, using one of his hands to fiddle with one of the bangs that sat over his face before staying his hand. "I don't suppose you could--" As he spoke, the lavender pony lowered her head and raised her flank upwards, as though in some sort of battle pose. Her eyes darted towards him while her face twisted into a scowl. The horn on her head began to glow in an aura of purples and blues, more than likely casting a spell.

"I don't know what you are or what you want, but I won't have anyone scare or hurt my friends," her voice took a very serious and protective tone. She was serious enough to use her magic as a means to deter Gai'vahros one way or another. "so I think you should just leave!"

"Listen, Miss, I just--" Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a small hard object clonked the elf in the side of the head, causing him to stumble sideways slightly, almost tripping over his own feet. Holding his head and wincing slightly, he turned to see a small stone on the ground beside him. "Some sort of... telekinetic power?" Gai'vahros mumbled to himself quietly. He didn't think that magi could use telekinesis. He looked back up to the horned pony, rubbing his head lightly to check to see if he was bleeding. Fortunately no, but now his hair was ruffled slightly.

"There's more of that if you continue to stay here!" The pony was determined to get rid of Gai'vahros but he would not have any of it. If he needed to he would be rid of her one way or another if it meant he could get some help. He wasn't fond of slaying horses; in all the things he's had to do he ended up having to bring horses back to their owners. He didn't know if he felt comfortable with this.

"Listen, I need to--" Again the elf wasn't able to finish his words. From out of the door, three quill pens darted towards him but, due to his armour, they simply just ricochet off the gold plate and were flung in different directions. "Hah, is that really meant to--" Suddenly, something dark was splashed into the Gai'vahros' face. Spitting a bit out, Gai'vahros recognized the taste of it. "Ink... ink!? No, not in my... not in my HAIR!" Gai'vahros grabbed the front bangs from his face and desperately tried to ring out the ink, but to no avail. He then tried with the locks that hung over his shoulders but it only began to stain his pale golden strands.

"I'll ask you one last time, beast." The pony wasn't afraid to unleash whatever horrors could be unshackled that had a good possibility of ruining the elf's brilliant looks and astonishing hair. "Leave us alone or I'll... I'll... do something REALLY bad to your hair!"

"My word, what kind of monster is this?" Gai'vahros muttered to himself, wiping away the ink from his face, leaving a mask of black smudge along his face. "If only I had four others here to help me..." Gai'vahros was beginning to get a bit more desperate. He knelt down to one knee and began to plead with the young horse. He never, ever thought he'd have to concede against a mare. "My Lady, please, I'm here to seek help." Finally the elf managed to get a word in that wasn't interrupted by a flying rock, quill pens or the dreaded inkwell.. He began to understand the pain that spell casters have to go through in combat.

Twilight's horn began to lose its glow, signalling her stay of combat. She reared to an upright position again although her eyes didn't change for the most part; her look changed from danger to caution, but she still had a sense of histility towards him. "Help? What sort of help do you need?" Her voice seemed to change to a more hospitable tone although she kept a fierce gaze upon the elf.

Gai'vahros sighed a little before looking around. He didn't think it was be appropriate for him to tell his long tale in the middle of the outdoors, at least not in these circumstances. "I'm sorry, but may we discuss this inside?" The elf dared not move considering her stance in this confrontation. He knew it would be best to play it subtle and diplomatically under her circumstances, considering the fact that he had not any of his armoury with him besides his uniform.

Twilight was remaining cautious although the look on her face did relent with a soft sigh. Her eyes became much more kind-hearted than earlier, with a small smile fixed upon her face. "Oh... okay. Come in." She turned and walked through the door, leading into a large room on what seemed like oak with a surrounding facade of bookshelves. Gai'vahros could just about see inside but noticed the scenery immediately. The room also consisted of a small red rug and a small desk in the corner next to a window, just about big enough to fit himself upon. "You seem like a good... creature. You never once retaliated, so you must be sincere in your words, right?"

"Yes. Thank you, my Lady Pony." Gai'vahros gave a small smile and bowed slightly in respect before gently kneeling down in order to get through the doorway. The room wasn't much smaller than he was, although, upon entering, his highly worn ponytail did brush against the ceiling. He had hoped that no dust or cobwebs would ruin his perfect do.

"Hehe, you can just call me 'Twilight'," Twilight gave a small giggle as she stood next to a small table in the center of the room. Apple Bloom, the other young filly, stood at the far side of the room to one of the nearby windows. "Oh, and don't mind Apple Bloom. She tends to get pretty scared of new creatures she finds."

"Hey, I wasn't scared! I was just a bit... cautious!" Apple Bloom had a cute expression of mediocre frustration on her face that seemed to just make her look more adorable, at least to Gai'vahros, anyway.

"Haha, it's okay, as long as I'm not known as the "big hedgehog monster anymore", and that you don't throw ink in my face either. Thank you again for the hospitality, my Lady Twilight. I appreciate it."

"When I said 'Twilight' I meant... Oh, nevermind. Welcome to my home."

Chapter 3 - Faithful Soul

The day passed on as though nothing was within discomfort for the poor blood elf. Even though he was in a land completely different from his own and, indeed, anything he had ever encountered before, he still took some joy in living in the splendid world that he had no choice but to take refuge in. However, despite the good tidings that seemed to just envelope him at every moment, he still felt the longing to be back in the field of battle that was on Azeroth. He had come to live in the moment of war as though it was just another normal part of his daily life. He did seem to miss the gold he received for his efforts the most, though.

Gai'vahros had found himself sat upon the small desk in the middle of the room, strong enough to hold his rather short yet muscular frame and also half of his armour. The top half of his raiment sat in a neat golden pile that glistened in the sunlight as he sat bare-chested, while Twilight used her magic to start cleaning the ink from the blood knight's amazingly groomed hairstyle and face. Gai'vahros was still in disdain that someone would spoil his good looks, not even caring about the wound on his head. Unless, of course, he started bleeding, then that would only stain his hair more.

"I'm sorry for earlier, by the way," Twilight had a very apologetic look on her face and she gave a small yet sweet smile, using her horn to channel magic that poured a sort of conditioner from a dark blue bottle while also holding out lengths of his hair to apply it on, acting like shampoo, "but this conditioner should get out all of the ink from your hair. At least, I hope it does. By the way, what is your name? You've not introduced yourself yet."

"Yeah well, I hope you aren't going to charge me so much gold for this," Gai'vahros gave a small huff as he muttered his words while a scowl of contempt and shifted emerald eyes fixated upon the young equine. "A simple haircut and those goblins think they can charge me through the nose for it." The blood elf was ranting at this point, but at least he knew he could get his hair fixed. Hopefully at a small price. "Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Gai'vahros Dawnbreaker."

"You... have goblins who fix your hair, Gai'vahros?" Twilight was rather astounded that the rather elegant creature would let monsters of such hideousness take a pair of clippers and a comb to his hair. "I don't think I would trust them to open a cupboard door."

"No. No, neither would I, my Lady Twilight. They would probably find a way to blow it up."

"So, uh, mister," the young Apple Bloom spoke as she trotted over to where Twilight and Gai'vahros were still grooming, looking up to the elf with wondering eyes as though she had taken a certain liking to the man, "what are ya? I don't think I've ever seen ya around in the Everfree forest before. Are ya from around these parts?"

"I see you haven't had much run in with humanoids," Gai'vahros started. His eyes shifted from Twilight to Apple Bloom though he dared not turn his head, not while Twilight still took a firm grip of it with her magic. "I'm a blood elf. I come from a different land, or even a different world, than here, called Azeroth."

"A... "blood" elf?" both Twilight and Apple Bloom stuttered at the same time. Twilight gave the impression that she was concerned, while Apple Bloom had the tone of fear, thinking that anything with the term "blood" in it wasn't good news.

"Yes. We were once part of the quel'dorei, the high elves. After being exiled from the rest of elven society for dabbling in the arts of arcane magic we managed to live in peace within Silvermoon, our new home. That was, until the Scourge..." The elf tightened his hands that were laid upon his thighs into fists, grasping as the red cloth that lay under his leg plates. "We were nearly all killed... driven to the brink of extinction. Us survivors renamed ourselves sin'dorei, blood elves, in honour of those who died in the battle during the Scourge Invasion... " Gai'vahros looked down, lowering his head a little. His mind began to wonder for a moment while Twilight and Apple Bloom looked on with sympathy upon their faces as they looked at the silent knight. The tension in the air was thick, so much so that none of them knew how to respond. "My Lady Twilight, are you nearly finished with my hair?" Gai'vahros looked back up, his eyes more uplifted and with a small smile upon his lips.

"... Oh! Oh yes, we're done now," Twilight was lost in thought, lost in the despair, that she seemed to enter at the look of the elf's face. Suddenly, for a few second that felt like minutes, she found herself imagining the fate of his people, cut down and destroyed. And then she put herself in that position. Then she put Ponyville in the quel'dorei's positions. Finally, she played it through her mind one moment after another. It was heartbreaking for the young equine, and yet she looked back at the creature who lived through it all, who could still look back at her with a smile. She had great respect for this elf. "So what of the land you live in? Is it all war and fighting?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so." despite all that he has said, Gai'vahros still kept a look of enjoyment upon his face as though he was about to tell stories of glory, though it was far from that, at least in the minds of present company. "Azeroth has always been about fighting. Since the foundation of the Horde and Alliance, the two factions have been warring over the four continents of Kalimdor, Eastern Kingdoms, Northrend and Pandaria. It is, in essence, a world of warcraft."

"But... that sounds horrible!" Apple Bloom was starting to get more fired up from listening that it began to become physically hurtful for her. "Why must two groups fight over a whole world! Surely there was a time when there was all smiles an' laughter, right? ... Right?"

"A few times. After the Legion invaded Azeroth in the Third War the Horde and Alliance stood on common ground against a common foe, and stayed at peace with each other for a few years. I'm not sure how but the peace treaty was broken after that. Then it seemed that, for a number of years, we aided one-another in the enemies to come; Illidan, Kil'Jaeden, Arthas, Deathwing, all fell before the might of Azeroth's greatest warriors... me included. And now, we're back to fighting each other again, bringing our ridiculous war to a beautiful land that hadn't seen conflict in ten thousand years."

"They all sound like such powerful creatures. And in the span of time you faced each one, you must have been quite the war veteran." Twilight looked upon the elf with admiration that reminded her of her brother Shining Armor. "I think the royal guards could do with some-pony like you."

"Don'tchya ever get tired of fighting, Gai?" Apple Bloom had a sad look on her face, not wanting to hear so much about fighting.

"..." Gai'vahros stayed silent for a moment. He looked to the young filly and seemed to catch on that she didn't want to hear so much about his war efforts and violence. "No, young Apple Bloom. I do not," but before she could feel any sort of heartache from his words, he placed his soft, bare hand upon her head, petting her mane gently. Apple Bloom was bewildered as to how someone who only ever fought for a living could be so gentle in his approach, "but that's because we all fight for what we think is right. We fight for our ideals, to protect our home, our family, our friends, our people. That is why I fight. That is why I live."

"Oh, Gai'vahros, I've finished cleaning your armour now." Twilight used her magic to display the elf's armour as though it was hanging on a mannequin, displaying the pure perfection in the shine and craftsmanship in the plates, the softness of the embroidered silk and the tanning work in the leather straps. "It seems like this conditioner works really well on clothes and metal, too. Maybe I should try giving this to Rarity?"

"Oh I don't think you should make your conditioner too rare, my Lady Twilight," Gai'vahros suggested in good faith to the young pony, starting to adorn his armour once again, slipping on the underlay first before strapping the shoulder plates back on. "I think it would be great if more people could experience the perfection of that concoction. And it smells strangely like raspberries, too."

"Hehe, no, not that kind of "rarity"." Twilight gave a small giggle as she placed a small cork back onto the bottle before slipping it into a satchel. She began to proceed to a small stairwell that lead to an upper floor. "I'll be right back, I'm just going to find some more of this stuff." Happily, she proceeded up the steps with soft sounds of trotting, leaving Apple Bloom and Gai'vahros on their own. "Oh, if Spike comes back, tell him I need a new ink well!"

"Yeah, I don't need reminding of what happened to the last one." Gai'vahros gave a small sigh as he straightened out his spaulders after slipping his gauntlets on. "uh, exactly what is a "Spike" anyway? Is that the name of her pet?"

"Oh, no. Spike is our friend," Apple Bloom said with a smile on her face. "He's a lil' baby dragon that Twilight was given while he was just an egg. He helps her around the place from time to time."

"A dragon? Pray tell, what colour? Blue? Black? Red?"

"Noooo, he's purple. Why d'ya ask?"

"Nothing, just curious." Gai'vahros began to think for a moment, though he'd never come across a purple dragon... Then it clicked. Yes he has come across a purple dragon before. "... No... surely not the Twilight... anar'alah, it all makes sense!" Gai'vahros muttered to himself but he couldn't help but raise his voice at the end, with Apple Bloom in earshot.

"Uh... Gai, what makes sense?"

"I don't see why I didn't notice it before! Lady Twilight is purple -- the same colour as the Twilight Dragonflight -- and now Spike is a friend or hers and a purple dragon, too, signifying him being of the Twilight Dragonflight! Twilight Sparkle is an agent of the Twilight's Hammer and is raising Spike to be the new harbinger of death!" However, as soon as the blood elf finished his synopses, the door flung open at the shove of a small dragon foot, revealing the same little dragon that Gai'vahros had spoken about not moments ago. "... Now that's not what a twilight dragon looks like at all."

"Oh hey, Spike," Apple Bloom exclaimed as she saw the little reptile carrying a handful of books and sheets of paper, "Twilight said ya need to go get a new ink well for her. The last one got... uh... knocked over." She gave a wide, cheesy grin as she strung the last few of her words together.

"Heya, Apple Bloom," Spike greeted her in kind, which amazed Gai'vahros greatly; he never knew dragons so young could learn common so quick. "Well, I'll get a new ink well later. I need to eat something badly." Spike couldn't see over the books and sheets so well so his notice of the tall elf didn't click until he rested the books down, noticing a large body to one side. Looking up, he was greeted with glistening emerald eyes and a wild mane. "Gah! A-Apple Bloom, what is that!?"

"Oh Spike, this here is an elf! Spike, meet Gai. Gai, meet Spike." Apple Bloom looked from one party to another when she addressed them both by name, still keeping a small smile on her face.

"Oh... uh, hey. You're not here to hurt us or anything?" Spike still wasn't comfortable for being in the same building as Gai'vahros, let alone talking to him.

"No no, of course not," Gai'vahros said cheerfully as he sat up, causing the young dragon to flinch for a moment, backing behind Apple Bloom. "I came here seeking assistance from your master, Lady Twilight."

"Hey, I ain't anyone's master," Spike snapped back in retaliation to what was an offensive notion for him. "I just do things for her because... well, she's my friend. One of my best friends."

"Heh, that's great." Gai'vahros gave a little chuckle as he knelt down to Spike's level, which still made the elf several inches taller than him. Spike seemed a bit nervous at first but he still stood his ground. "Doing things for your friends, sharing that special bond, is a great thing to have, my friend." The blood knight placed his silk hand upon the head of the young dragon, who found that it felt like being bathed in warmth, reassuring him of his intentions. "It's a very admirable trait. Don't lose sight of it. Never leave it behind." As sudden as he did, the elf lifted his hand from Spike and stood up straight again.

"Yeah... perhaps I am admirable. I mean-- sure I am! I'll do anything for my friends! At least as long as I get some ice cream as a reward, or a ruby! No, a sapphire! Or an emerald! Ohhhhh I'd love a diamond!"

"Oh, Spike, you're back!" Twilight made her way back down to the ground floor, carrying a couple more bottles in her pack. "Did you have time to talk to our new visitor?"

"Uhuh, he said I was admirable!" Spike was very proud of himself now, but all children, in Gai'vahros' opinion, just need praise in their lives to grow to be great people. "So, Twi, how else can I admirably help you?"

"Hehe, oh, Spike." Twilight gave a giggle and smile at her friend's newfound inspiration in helping her. "Well, I need a new ink well, three quill pens, raspberries, saffron, aloe vera, five small corked glass bottles, red silk, purple silk, and a couple of buckles. Think you could get all that for me?"

"And I thought the things I had to get were atrocious..." Gai'vahros gave a small sigh, feeling sorry for the poor dragon.

"Uh... okay, Twilight..." It seemed that newfound inspiration took a turn for the worse as he became a bit overwhelmed with the amount of things he had to get.

"Don't worry, Spike. I'll ask Rarity if she'll give you a new big diamond for being such a great and admirable friend." And like that, Spike's inspiration was, well, newfound. Again. "Apple Bloom, I think you should go home now. Applejack is probably worried about you."

"Awwwwww but, Twi, I wanna hang out with you and Gai!"

"You can later, Apple Bloom. I don't think Gai'vahros is going anywhere anytime soon. Oh, by the way, Gai'vahros, do you want to accompany me to Rarity's place? She's a good friend of mine and I think she would love to see your clothes. Maybe you can inspire her?"

"Oh, she's a tailor? Can she make magic carpets?"

"Haha, oh, Gai'vahros, you never cease to amaze me with your quips." Twilight let out a small chuckle as she headed out of the door.

"... But... I was being serious..."

Chapter 4 - Needle and Thread

The veteran, Gai'vahros, and his new associate, Twilight, ventured from the tree-built library along a different path that seemed to be scattered with cobbles but was largely made of grass. The way was flanked from the north and south by rows of cottages that were only slightly smaller than what existed on Azeroth, although it had been a while since Gai'vahros had actually seen Alliance-esque architecture. In a way the elf seemed calm at the sight of what was recognizable within a world whose natural workings were much different than what was back home.

"So, Lady Twilight," Gai'vahros began, looking down at the lavender equine, with which his tone was that of curiosity, "what kind of skill does your tailor friend have? Expert? Artisan? Master?" The elf was more inclined to refer to certain professions by a skill category, as was the norm back on Azeroth, although it was unbeknownst to him that Equestria doesn't have such titles.

"I'm not exactly sure what you're getting at, Gai'vahros," Twilight replied as she looked up to the side of him, not so close but perhaps a few inches apart. She was confused by such titles and, even to her, she didn't know whether or not these titles existed in Equestria or not, though certainly not in Canterlot, "but she is a great tailor. She once made us all dresses to the Grand Galloping Gala! You should have seen what she made for us with... well, not so much help from us..." She began to remember about the time when her and her friends went a bit too demanding for the first set of dresses, which didn't turn out so astonishing.

"Well, she can't be of too high a rank or of much skill if she can't create a magic carpet." Again, Gai'vahros' ignorance of professions began to weigh him down as he belittled Rarity's talents, although not out of spite or bad intention. "I mean surely she would be able to make one if she had the materials?"

"For the last time, Gai'vahros, we do NOT make flying carpets! I mean, sure, there's probably a spell or two in the Royal Library's scrolls that will let us make a carpet fly, but tailors cannot make magic carpets!" It seemed that they had kept circling this conversation for some time, although Gai'vahros couldn't get his head around the fact that a high level tailor couldn't make a flying carpet.

"..." Gai'vahros paused for a moment before he came to a sudden, and wrong, conclusion. "So perhaps she just decided not to bother learning how to make magic carpets?" The blood elf felt rather sure of himself.

"Ugh." Twilight was starting to show signs of her frustration with the constant questioning of Rarity's tailoring and magic carpets. "Yes, Gai'vahros, that's exactly right. She just didn't want to learn how to make flying carpets..."

It seemed that throughout the entirety of their conversation neither of them had taken notice that the village was much more lively than before, what with many a pony out around the town conversing with each other, buying their shopping at the market stalls, playing and such. However, activity seemed to cease from mass enactment to a slow crawl as the ponies turned to watch Twilight and to stare at the shining elf that stood several inches taller than the mare and every other pony around. It seemed that with their unsettling conversation over the two of them took notice of the gawking.

"Oh, Hello. Hello there. Good Morrow. A fine day, yes?" Gai'vahros gave a slight wave to those who he turned to catch their attention, but most ponies he had greeted within a warmth manner did not seem to return the favour except giving uncomfortable smiles or quickly turning away from his emerald eyes. "I don't think they're taking a liking to me, my Lady Twilight." the blood knight stated quietly within earshot of his companion.

"They're just not used to seeing new, uh, people." Twilight gave a hesitant reply as to how exactly to address Gai'vahros by species, though the common form seemed appropriate to her. "Every-pony is just afraid of the unknown, so to say. They'll get to know you in time. Don't worry, Gai'vahros."

"I can only imagine what they would do if I were alone. Probably form a mob and declare a man-hunt for the dangerous hedgehog monster." Gai'vahros seemed to take black humour at his own expense with his new title of evil hedgehog monster.

"Oh come now, Gai'vahros. They wouldn't do that. They'll probably just hide in their houses until you disappeared. It's happened before."

"Oh, so I'm not the only one? It's a shame that people could suffer such prejudice and bigotry." Gai'vahros gave a small sigh as he gazed back to the ponies the two of them had left behind, but his flowing cape seemed to give a sense of tyranny as it blew behind him, causing the ponies to turn away or to quickly walk in the other direction. "Perhaps Lor'themar was right-- We do exist because of the racism of others."

"Hey, don't be like that." Twilight stopped for a moment in front of an arching wooden and marble bridge of pearl white. "When Zecora came to our village, we were all afraid of her. But, ever since Apple Bloom showed us that she wasn't dangerous at all, we all became friends! So don't worry, Gai'vahros, you'll fit right in with everyone once they all get to know you." Twilight's smile definitely set a good comfort zone for the elf. Turning back towards the bridge, she began to trek across it. "Come, Rarity's place is not far from here."

Gai'vahros gave a toothy smile as he followed a few feet from behind Twilight. He began to understand why she was able to have so many friends despite, by her own account, that she had not been in this village for an awfully long time. It seemed that, whenever he had stood next to her, her joy and overall happy nature radiated from her and poured itself into the elf's own soul. The only time he had ever felt such a feeling was in front of the Naaru and the Sunwell. He began to entertain the thought that perhaps Twilight Sparkle was the pony equivalent of a Naaru in terms of giving off her great nature.

Within a few minutes the pair of them came to a pathway that seemed to be cut much shorter than the rest of the grass that circumferences around a rather large structure in the middle. The building was made of marble and patterned in checkered and stylized filigree of light pinks and blues. Upon the ground floor two large, circular windows with saffron curtains adorning along the tops of them sat on the sides next to a lavender door with diamond-shaped windows, while the outside walls were fitted with a circular awning of pale pink supported by striped dark indigo pillars. The first floor was much of the same although there was one large window with pink curtains around it, supporting a large cone-shaped dome with the same pillars as the ground floor, but with two pony-like statues on either side. It seemed that whoever owned this building was indeed rich, successful or otherwise influential. Gai'vahros thought that perhaps she must be a great tailor if she could afford such a marvelous piece of architecture.

"Ah, here we are," Twilight blurted out in contentment as he looked up to the building before looking down at the door. Trotting up to it, she used her fore-leg to knock on the door twice, casually. "Rarity? Are you home?"

"Oh! Twilight! I'll be with you in just a moment!" a rather shrill yet very sophisticated voice yelled from within the confines of the building although it was very quiet, even with Gai'vahros' ears having a little bit of trouble picking it up despite being several feet back from Twilight. A moment gave a brief pause before the door opened to reveal a rather elegant white pony, long lashes and an equally elegant hairdo of deep purple. "Why, Twilight, darling, what an ab-so-lute pleasure to see you! In fact, I needed someone to--" She paused for a moment as she took notice of the rather tall elf standing off in the distance. "Oh, Twilight, is that a friend of yours? Please say yes!" Rarity seemed to be more ecstatic of Gai'vahros than afraid of him, gazing upon him with a large smile over her lips.

"Uh, actually, we only just met a short while ago and--" Twilight tried to give a response but wasn't able to finish as Rarity galloped out of the door, past her, and right in front of Gai'vahros.

"Oh my, your friend has a great sense of fashion about himself, Twilight! Just LOOK at him! Such great armour of pure polished gold, shimmering and shining in the sun that could put the Royal Guards to shame! Oh, don't tell them I said that." She was completely infatuated with the raiment that Gai'vahros had upon his person, using her front hooves to touch, feel and caress the metalwork and cloth, much to the discomfort to the blood knight. "And won't you just FEEL this cloth! I mean it's nothing compared to Equestrian silk, of course, what with the low thread count and lack of detail, but I think with my expertise we can, shall we say, rework some of these problems?"

"Oh, my Lady Rarity, I'm honoured that you would do such a thing for me," Gai'vahros stuttered for a moment, pressing backwards a little as the pony began to invade more and more of his person with her curious hooves, "but I can't accept such a gift-- we've only just met one-another."

"Ohhhh and such a masculine yet sophisticated voice!" It seemed that whatever Gai'vahros did the obsessed mare would just eat it up from his hands. The elf thought that perhaps the best thing to do was just to keep his mouth shut. "And, darling, I always make new clothes for all of my friends, and anyone who's a friend of Twilight's is a friend of mine. Come, come, come. We have much work to do." As she spoke she went round to the back of Gai'vahros and, with two front hooves, quickly shoved him forwards into Twilight, shoving the duo into her store before closing the door behind all of them.

As the time began to pass slowly, the trio began to take part in conversation pertaining to Gai'vahros. Although the conversation seemed to flow in the same direction that Twilight and Apple Bloom had taken part in back at the library, Rarity was more interested in the workings of how fashion worked within Gai'vahros' own world. The elf could not give as much detail as he had wanted to, however, mainly because he himself was not a tailor. He'd never thought of being a tailor, and thus had no knowledge of what tailors could achieve, besides creating magic carpets. Twilight was more than eager to halt Gai'vahros' attempt in discussion about such a matter though-- she was more or less done with the topic of magic carpets.

"So, Gai, darling," Rarity spoke as she sat at a sewing machine, draped with red equestrian silk as she began to sew several drapes together that was part of the faulds that were attached to the chest plate of Gai'vahros' armour, which again lay next to a table with all of the cloth removed, "how do you go out into battle all the time and yet keep this garb in such pristine condition?"

"Well, it gets battle-worn regularly." Gai'vahros gave out a soft sigh, once again finding himself sat at a table almost completely naked besides the dark tan boxers he had on under his armour, refusing to take them off even at Rarity's request. "Every so often I get them repaired and patched up. I can't recall how much gold I have spent over the years on repair bills..."

"I must say that whomever has been keeping up with the repairs has done a remarkable job with it." Rarity praised the craftsmanship that was performed by Azerothian blacksmiths. "Well, except the embroidery, it's still a bit tattered here and there. But don't worry, my darling elf, Rarity will make sure that you leave here looking like a completely different knight."

"Again I must thank you, my Lady Rarity. I'm glad that there are those that do not look upon the unknown with judgmental eyes."

"I told you, Gai'vahros," Twilight intervened into the conversation in aim of assuring the blood elf, "there are ponies here who will gladly make friends with you, although it seems that Rarity is more in love with your clothing." She gave a small chuckle as she finished her words, with Gai'vahros doing the same with a smile on his lips.

"What's that now?" Rarity's ears pricked up as she gave a concerned look towards her new elven friend. "Ponies have been mean to you? Well whatever for?"

"Oh it's nothing, Rarity. The ponies in the town were just staring at Gai'vahros here, but nothing bad or mean was said by anyone. You know how every-pony gets when they see a new creature-- uh, person-- in town."

"Well I never! How dare anyone be discourteous to my darling Gai! But I guess you are right, Twilight darling-- people can be rather... cautious when new people show up. But, Gai, don't take it personally. I'm sure Twilight has told you that the new people who stay here find that they easily fit in."

"But, my Ladies, that's the thing," Gai'vahros stood up from his seat, up straight, showing off his toned and athletically built body. Using his arms he swung them down in front of him as though he was presenting himself to his associates. "I'm not a pony. I'm not even from this world! I'm just--"

"A friend of ours, Gai'vahros." Twilight placed a fore-hoof on the hardened muscle of the elf's forearm. "It doesn't matter what others think of you. What matters is that you have friends here and that we'll be here for you."

"Exactly, Gai darling. What with Twilight's book smarts and why fashion sense, you'll have a great time here until we can find a way for you to get back home. Well, up until the getting you back home part. I'm not sure how my fashion can help you with that."

"Heh, maybe you can tailor me a portal back to Silvermoon." Gai'vahros joked as he gave a little laugh, followed by the laughter of both ponies. To the elf, he felt a lot of happiness being with these equines despite the complete contrast in what he was used to. He always thought of settling down, raising a family, and living a quiet life, so perhaps this was a taste of what life outside of monster slaying and adventuring was like.

"Oh, we're done now!" Rarity exclaimed as she used the magic of her horn to hold up Gai'vahros' suit of armour, much like Twilight had did some time before, after fitting the new cloth to the plates while they were conversing. Even from a distance Gai'vahros could tell how much better the armour looked in its cloth as it shimmered from the light that glistened through the glass windows. With a smile, Gai'vahros stepped forwards and began to adorn himself back into his raiment, noticing a completely different feel as the equestrian silks caressed over his bare skin. It felt so much better than elven silk by far. "So, how does it feel, Gai darling?"

"It... it feels absolutely amazing, my Lady Rarity," Gai'vahros was dumbfounded by the difference from before. He felt more flexible and also felt much lighter than before, suggesting that this equestrian silk was lighter than that of elven silks. "I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for me today. There must be a way for me to repay you."

"Oh it's nothing at all, dear. But, if you must repay me, you could stay a while longer while I get Twilight to do some fitting for a new dress I'm making, just so I can get a good look at your hair style. It looks so... fierce! Like it screams "come at me, evildoers, for I will strike down with great vengeance and furious retribution!" Maybe I could start a new beauty salon as well, or even pitch the idea to the beauty spa!"

"Haha, okay then, my Lady Rarity. Maybe I can talk with you about tailoring, such as magic carpets."

"Oh, please no, not with the magic carpets!"

Chapter 5 - Diamonds are Forever

The sun emblazoned the sky upon the glitter of sun-kissed gold and hues of the palest veil of yellows, coating and piercing through the cotton clouds that wisped slowly through the mid-afternoon sky. Slight washes of violet and reds began to mask the horizon as the sun started to set in the distance, suggesting that the time was somewhere between 4pm and 7pm though it was hard to be precise, what with no knowledge of the climate, seasons or even what the time itself was.

At the Carousel Boutique grounds it seemed that it was closing time for some of the other shops, with ponies leaving their tents, doing up the zippers to the entrance folds to keep them closed, packing their belongings and heading off back to the town square for a good evening of rest and relaxation. The equine were friendly to one another, greeting one another and asking about their day, to which were a mix of replies from fantastic to abysmal, before finally exchanging farewells.

Rarity's boutique was no different. Gai'vahros and Twilight were finally done with Rarity's request in her pattern cutting, and so felt as though it was time to take their leave. Rarity wasn't too keen with the two of them leaving, however, feeling that their stay was short despite being a few hours.

"Oh but, darlings, do you have to go? And so soon." Rarity was vividly disappointed and wasn't about to let up on her insistence. "And I had tea and cupcakes ready for all of us, too." It seemed at some point during her work she was baking, most probably for tonight's tea time. The pony had a big smile on her face to further abstract the guilt and empathy from her two friends.

"I'm sorry, Rarity," apologized Twilight to her friend, smiling back but showing her sympathy for putting Rarity's not-so-hard work at baking to waste, "but I really need to get back and start on my schedule. Oh, and I want to try and introduce Gai'vahros to everyone before it gets too dark."

"Oh, I understand, Twilight," Rarity responded in a more cheerful manner, understanding that it would be in Gai'vahros' best interest to make him feel at home and comfortable here due to the uncertain nature of the duration of his stay. "Well, take some of these cupcakes with you. There's no sense in letting them go to waste." As she spoke she proceeded to the kitchen and, after a moment, came back with a tray of cupcakes balanced on her back before shifting them onto the table beside the three of them.

"Oh, my Lady Rarity, you are too kind," Gai'vahros praised the pony, who responded with a small giggle, "but I only eat after a harsh battle. Perhaps I should give my share to your pet Spike, Lady Twilight?"

"Oh yes," Rarity said in sudden inspiration, trotting over to a small chest she had tucked away under a cabinet next to one of the side windows, "I almost forgot about my little Spikey-Wikey! Here, take him one of these. I'm sure he'll love it!" Rarity came back with a rather large gem in her hoof, that of a pristine emerald. The gem was a square cut most probably used to fasten onto cufflinks or as buttons.

"Oh, thanks, Rarity. I almost forgot I promised Spike that I would bring him back a jewel for all the hard work he's done for me today."

"Oh my, hard work? Like, heavy labour?" It seemed that Rarity was concerned for the young dragon, rushing over to her chest again. "I should give Spikey another one so he can get his strength back, the poor darling!" Again Rarity came back with another gem within her grasp, this time a sapphire of utmost quality, shaped like an oval.

"Actually, my Lady Rarity, I was hoping if I could take one as well?" It was a rather forward request from Gai'vahros, although he gave a small bow with a hand upon his chest as a sign of respect for the equine. "You've done so much for me that it is within my honour to repay your generosity, but I must locate my equipment first."

"Oh, Gai darling, you've already done so much for me, but if you insist." A final time she proceeded to her chest, but this time taking longer, reaching in deeper into the chest as though she had already known what she was looking for. Indeed, she did, and after a brief moment she gave a small cry as she trotted back, rather sure of herself, and presented a rather large gem in front of her. "This is an Equestria diamond, my dear-- one of the rarest gems in the whole land!" The large diamond was of perfect clarity although the diamond itself was distorted in shape, being of a rounded cube but was completely unsymmetrical on all faces. "But, it looks so... awkward, and huge, that I just can't find anything to use it on. So, I'm going to give it to you. Maybe you can find a use for it."

"Don't worry, my Lady Rarity," Gai'vahros gave a small smile as his hand wrapped around the great gem, lifting it from her hoof and, surprisingly, was quite light for a diamond of its size. "As soon as I find my kit I'll return it to you better than ever before. You have my word on that." The elf handed the gem to Twilight, who immediately placed it in her satchel though not without staring at the jewel as though it was worth her weight, and that of her library and everything in it, including Spike, in gold.

"Well, I guess we should be off now," Twilight spoke up after pocketing the diamond. "Thank you for everything, Rarity. I hope that lotion works really well for you." Twilight was pleased that she could help out her friend by giving her the new cleaning liquid for her clothes and materials. Both her and Gai'vahros headed to the door, with Gai'vahros opening it for the young equine, exchanging smiles before following her.

"Oh, not at all, darlings. I hope to see more of you tomorrow." Rarity came to the door and waved the two of them off before closing the door behind her.

"We should go to Applejack's place next," Twilight said as she gave a little smile to Gai'vahros. "She's Apple Bloom's older sister. And we can check to see if Apple Bloom has gone home, too. It's on the other side of Ponyville but it shouldn't take us too long. Oh, by the way, Gai'vahros, what do you think of Rarity?"

"I, uh..." Gai'vahros felt put on the spot for a moment, not knowing whether or not Twilight was expecting a specific answer. "Lady Rarity is a magnificent woman-- uh, pony. Sophisticated, glamorous... it's hard to describe in words."

"Haha, if I didn't know any better I'd say you were infatuated with her." There was a rather long pause, to which Twilight expected a reply from the elf. But no such thing came. "Gai'vahros, are you infatuated with Rarity?"

"No, of course not!" Gai'vahros shook his head violently, a look of discomfort on his face mixed with frustration that someone would suggest a thing like that. But, again, another brief pause occurred as he looked away, turning his head to the side to avoid eye contact. "I mean if she was an elf then... you know... I possibly would find her attractive. Probably."

"Oh." Twilight felt rather embarrassed pushing this line of questioning. "Well, let's head over to Applejack's."

Without further pause the two of them traveled over the bridge and back to the center of town, where it was still populated although with many fewer pony than before. As Twilight and Gai'vahros walked through the pathway many of the equines turned to notice the blood knight, some having seen him the first time though most were new. These pony folk did not look upon him as a monster but as a figure of glamour, with many of them recognizing the silks and satins that were prominent in Rarity's tailoring. Even though they were more interested in his clothes rather than himself, Gai'vahros did not seem to mind so long as he wasn't being looked upon in abstract judgment.

Suddenly, one little foal proceeded slowly to Twilight and Gai'vahros. The little pony was that of a pinto breed, by Gai'vahros' understanding of equine terminology, having a darkened white coat with pale brown patches on his hind, his underbelly and over his eyes. His mane was that of a dark auburn colour, styled in a forward fringe. Gai'vahros was rather baffled at first but he took to the understanding that it was just another friend of Twilight's.

"Oh, Pipsqueak." Twilight greeted the little colt with a warm smile. "it's good to see you. Is there anything we can help you with?"

"Hello, Twilight." Pipsqueak replied, though Gai'vahros thought his name sounded a bit demeaning. "Actually, I thought it would be jolly good to welcome the new person! I think it's brilliant that we get to have new people come stay in Ponyville."

"I'm honoured that you would do so," Gai'vahros replied with a small smile, looking down at the little pony before placing his hand on his head and petting him. For a moment Pipsqueak smiled but his face soon became more relaxed, soothed; a blanket of warmth and the feel of glistening silk felt as though it wrapped around his small frame, like a child would wrap the covers around him at night in fear of monsters. The feeling felt light, exhilarating, but not overwhelming, but began to dissipate slowly as Gai'vahros lifted his hand from him. "You're a very kind and noble foal. I can see you achieve great things, little one." Pipsqueak blushed but couldn't think of a way to respond besides to show his embarrassment.

"By the way, Pipsqueak, have you seen Apple Bloom? Do you know if she went home?"

"I'm sorry, Twilight. I haven't seen her all day. I've been helping mother and father with cleaning up the house."

"That's okay, we'll head over to Sweet Apple Acres and see if she's there."

"Okay. See you around, Twilight! Nice meeting you ... uh... hedgehog person!"

"Ugh, I should have seen that one coming." Gai'vahros sighed in dismay as some still referred to him as a hedgehog person, contemplating on just changing his hairstyle in the future. As the two of them proceeded to Applejack's place, Gai'vahros began to think and wonder about something, looking down at Twilight's flank before responding. "My lady Twilight, I must ask; what are these pictures that you and others have on your rear?"

"Oh, those are our cutie marks," Twilight responded, turning back to see Gai'vahros looking down at her flank. She felt rather scholarly in teaching him the things of their world to the point of being somewhat smug. "You see, when a pony discovers their special trait-- be it a personality quirk, an in-born trait, or a particular talent-- it manifests itself as a cutie mark on our flanks. Take mine for instance; it shows that my special talent is magic."

"Oh, yes, that makes a lot of sense now. So what about Lady Rarity? She's a tailor and yet she has three gems as hers. I would have thought her "cutie mark" would be a wrapping of cloth or silk or something to that extent."

"Well, Rarity got hers because tailoring wasn't actually her strong point, so to say. You see, when Rarity first created her costumes she insisted that they were not as good as they should be. That was when she discovered a boulder filled with gems and, after she put them on the costumes, did she finally believe they were as good as they could be. And that's why her cutie mark is three gems."

"That's some story. I've got to find some of these gem-filled boulders." Gai'vahros thought of himself as being much more knowledgeable, but the answer only sprung another question. "But Apple Bloom and Pipsqueak didn't have any cutie marks. Does that mean they have no talents or anything?"

"I hope not, but a pony is born without a cutie mark, and so they gain it later on during their life, usually during their school days. Miss Cheerilee has taught every-pony that any-pony can get their cutie mark at whatever age; earlier or later. But Apple Bloom is lucky with being able to have the freedom of exploration, to find out who and what she is, and have an infinite number of choices in her life."

"I understand that fully, my Lady Twilight," Gai'vahros admitted, to which he knew fully as to what it meant to be forced into a role, but he also knew of the fortune and virtues of it, too, "but is it not also true that, once you discover your role, that you can then dedicate your body and soul to the purpose, and to help those you love with your newfound talents?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right, Gai'vahros."

"So this Miss Cheerilee, is she a trainer in Equestrian lore?"

"By "trainer" you mean "teacher", and by "equestrian lore" you mean "education", then yes. Does your world not deal with the prospect of education and schools?"

"We do things a bit differently. As children we are raised in whatever way our parents see fit; to become farmers, scholars, to gain martial training as a warrior, to follow the Holy Light in the role of priests, or even to study the forces of the arcane as we become magi. As children we become apprentices to guilds or masters of the craft we seek. I guess you could see it as a way of seeking out a cutie mark through hard work, experience, and determination."

"So Gai'vahros, what made you decide to become a... uh, blood knight?"

The elf didn't know what to say. He stood for a moment, his head lowered as the trees swayed and danced upon shallow drifts of wind. Twilight did not notice for a moment, but eventually she turned back and saw the elf standing with his head drooping, looking to one side with a look of discord upon him. It seemed that the subject of his past was one that hurt him deeply; one he'd rather not recall. "I'm sorry, my Lady Twilight. Perhaps another time." Gai'vahros looked up, but not with the smile that Twilight had started to get used to seeing. His lips straight with the look of indifference on it as he began to walk again, catching up to Twilight. "Your friend is this way, right?"

"Oh... yeah..." Twilight felt disheartened that she would bring upon a subject of turmoil for her new elven friend. She had hoped that he had not held animosity against her as she began to lead him once again. "I'm sorry, Gai'vahros... I didn't mean to--"

"It's okay, my Lady Twilight. Just... it's not lore I would say, even to my confidants. Some other time, perhaps."

Twilight gave a sigh as she began to look sorrowful of what she had done. The young equine felt embarrassed, ashamed and regretful of questioning him about something that she had no right in knowing about. Even though, at the time, she felt it was harmless get to know him small talk, she couldn't help but feel as though it was her fault. However, without much further thought on the matter-- before Twilight to delve any deeper into her dark despair-- a sudden burst of light filled her soul as she felt the silk hand of Gai'vahros brush against her head and mane, stroking her from the top of her head to the base of her neck. It felt revitalizing, radiant, while purging the shadows from her mind. She looked back to see the elf smiling down at her.

"You worry too much, my Lady Twilight." Gai'vahros' eyes remained the same, but instead of being upset with himself he was upset for Twilight, knowing that it was his chagrin who had caused her pain. The elf lead with a smile to guide the pony's own. "Forget the past. Embrace the present. Look forward to the future."

"Oh, Gai'vahros..." Twilight looked upon the golden knight with almost tear-welled eyes while sprawling an awkward smile upon her lips. She felt as though Celestia herself had blessed her with her own boon as soon as Gai'vahros placed his hand upon her. Turning back, she looked towards a large structure shaped like a barn house, surrounded by a small fence with a large orchard out front. "Oh, it's just over there. Follow me."

Twilight dashed off into a gallop, heading straight towards Sweet Apple Acres. Gai'vahros, now in good spirits after inspiring his lavender friend, kept his large smile as he sprinted after her.

Chapter 6 - Beguiled Empathy

It was a great spectacle for the Gai'vahros to behold, for when compared to his own farm Sweet Apple Acres dwarfed his to minuscule levels. His eyes widened as he approached the farmstead in all its expansive glory. His head turned from one side to the other, panning across its width although he understood that it wasn't as big as the Heartland, though perhaps that was the most impressive part of it; its size was comparable to a large farmstead housed by dozens of Pandaren, and yet one pony maintains this place on their own.

Sweet Apple Acres wasn't as lush as the fields of the Valley of Four Winds but it was still easy on the eyes. The darkened path lead to a small opening in the fence with a hedge archway above it, with a wooden sign held by chains with an apple cut out of it. It was the best indication that this farm was run by Twilight's friend, Applejack.

The farm seemed to be split into three sections. The left side was filled with barn houses and chicken coops, likely as livestock to produce eggs, milk and any other produce that would be necessary, though Gai'vahros began to wonder if the ponies here actually eat livestock; he couldn't imagine Twilight gnawing on the meat of a roasted chicken leg, appearing almost barbaric in his own mind. Though besides livestock there was also bundles of hay and straw, mainly used for bedding for the other animals and for the chicken coops.

The right side was an entire expanse of tilled soils and earth-- being the main area for crops-- although Gai'vahros' limited knowledge of farming made it difficult for him to tell what crop was what out of the ones that were still not fully grown, although he could make out the tops of carrots, corn and cabbages. It seemed to be the most attractive section for the blood elf due to his newfound liking for farming in the last few months. Besides the crops there was also two wells used to water the crops, and several barrels likely used to store the food in.

The last section sat at the opposite end; an incredibly large orchard filled with rows upon rows of apple trees. Most of the orchard sat upon low ground from the rest of the farm so it was difficult to know exactly how many trees there were, but, judging from where the elevation started and then rose again in the distance, Gai'vahros guessed it could be hundreds of yards long. The elf began to think to himself that, surely, not one person does all of the apple picking on this farm, or even half of the other things that needed doing.

Lastly, in the center of it all, there was a large house-like structure that resembled a large barn house. Magenta is its colour scheme besides the white strips of wood on its corners, doors and other joinery work. It was decorated in dark paint on parts of its four faces that looked like vines. The roofing seemed to be of very light purple slates, set upon the entirety of the top and stretching onto two gable windows on its western side. The ground floor also had an outcropping with its own door and side windows although, combined with the dark double doors on its southern side, Gai'vahros couldn't understand which one was the front door.

"Here we are, Gai'vahros," Twilight said with a smile on her face. She turned to her elven friend as her eyes shifted from him to the farm. "So, what do you think? Pretty impressive, huh?"

"You could say that again," Gai'vahros responded with a little chuckle under his breath, "I mean, it's not the biggest I've seen but it definitely is most impressive, even more so that she works here on her own, too."

"Oh, she doesn't work on her own, Gai'vahros. She has her family to help out, too." Twilight clarified Gai'vahros' misinterpretation of things before casually strolling through the archway.

"You don't mean to say that little Apple Bloom does hard labour, right?" Gai'vahros was concerned that a child or that age was put to hard labour, especially when it wasn't urgent as it was during the Amani Wars. The blood elf followed her through though he was a bit embarrassed when his ponytail brushed against the wooden sign, causing it to rattle.

"No, of course not! I mean, she helps crush the berries into juice but that's about it. What I mean is she has her brother, Big Macintosh, and the rest of her family to help out."

"Ah, I understand." Gai'vahros looked around once again, something seemingly put him off. "It seems awfully quiet for a farm. So where is your friend, if I may ask?"

"I'm... not entirely sure," Twilight said, herself scanning the area with no signs of any work activity. "Applejack said she was going to be spending most of the afternoon harvesting her crops, but there's nothing here to say so; no tools are out, the plough is in the barn house... this doesn't make--"

"Now Apple Bloom, I told ya that yer not to go anywhere outside of Ponyville without Twi or anyone else with ya!" A rather powerful, booming voice erupted from the large house just tens of meters from the duo with a very powerful accent very similar to Apple Bloom's.

"But Sis, I wasn't in any danger! Honest!" Gai'vahros recognized that as Apple Bloom's voice, seemingly distraught.

"Okay, now that makes sense." Twilight sighed as she couldn't help but keep eavesdropping on the lecture that Applejack was giving her little sister.

"Sounds as though she's giving her sister a bit of a seeing to, don't you agree, my Lady Twilight?" Gai'vahros sighed as he couldn't do anything to help, still standing beside his equine friend as he heard the back and forth of raised voices. "The poor girl..."

"I guess when you have a younger sibling, you do all that you can to protect them, even if it means having to be a bit harsh."

"I know the feeling too well..."

"Oh, you have a younger sibling, Gai'vahros?" Twilight looked back at the blood knight. She thought that she would see a smile and a look of reminiscence upon his fair face, but all she saw was a cold, dark abyss that dwelled within the depths of his eyes and expression. Cold. Dark. Empty. Gai'vahros did not respond to any word of hers; not even with a shift of his head or his body. It was like he stood still in a state of death to which not even time could traverse. Twilight could feel it all too well, like it was pouring into her own soul. But, thankfully, the tendrils of sorrow retracted in retreat as a third voice pierced the void.

"Oh, Twi! What're ya doin' here?" From the double doors of the large barn house-like structure stepped a pony of a peach colour, with long, tied platinum-blonde hair and shining, beautiful emerald green eyes. Her hair was covered by a pale brown cowboy hat to which the likes of has never been seen by Gai'vahros before. Her flank showed for a brief moment as she turned to head towards the two of them, her cutie mark displaying three red apples formed in a triangle fashion.

"Applejack, I came by to see if Apple Bloom had gotten home safely," Twilight said with a soft smile upon her lips, although it turned somewhat sour, her eyes contort in the display of regret. "although we, uh, kind of heard everything..."

"Oh! Oh... ah, sorry 'bout that," Applejack wasn't annoyed by their admitting of eavesdropping, and even felt embarrassed herself. "but y'know how it is. She shouldn't be wanderin' 'round the outside of the village by herself." Despite her words being directed towards her friend, her head and eyes would occasionally shift and jitter in the direction of Gai'vahros. By the end of her speech she had fully turned her attention to Gai'vahros, shifting her gaze from his body to his face. "So yer the hedgehog thing that Apple Bloom was talkin' 'bout?"

As her head turned towards Gai'vahros, his in turn gave attention to Applejack. His expression changed, differed slightly from what it once was only moments ago. From emptiness came compassion, and from the void grew emotion. The blood knight reared back his left leg, and dropped it down to one knee. His back arched slightly with his head hung low, bowing to Applejack, of whom was confused while Twilight looked to him in awe. "Forgive me, my Lady Applejack. It was I whom your sister was threatened by, but I don't mean her or anyone else any harm; I wish only help to get me back to my own home."

"Pfft, y'all don't need any of that fancy-smancy stuff," Applejack said with a smirk on her lips, crossing her hooves over one-another as she looked down at the obviously benevolent elf. "and I know from what Apple Bloom has said, about how a "shining golden hedgehog" needs our help. She may have a way with saying some bizarre things but I know she's honest. Well, most of the time. But, in any case, she spoke very mighty of ya!"

"Thank you, my Lady Applejack." Gai'vahros said as he reared his head up, but the first thing he saw was not Applejack's face. Rather, several meters away through the ground floor window, he spotted a young filly-- the visibly upset face of Apple Bloom. Applejack seemed to have noticed, too, as her head turned to the direction where Gai'vahros' gaze was fixated. "Please, may I speak to her?" Gai'vahros said softly.

"Well, she's supposed to be grounded, but..." Applejack looked at the elf, but she couldn't understand why he was so determined. "Oh shucks, go right ahead. Not too long though; she's supposed to be grounded, after all."

"Thank you." Gai'vahros replied to her permission, rising back to his feet before heading towards the barn house.

"Did you see it too, Applejack?" Twilight asked the peach equine, walking towards her as they both turned to watch Gai'vahros.

"Sure did," Applejack said calmly, although her head was still trying to make sense of it. "that guy seems to have strong feelings for Apple Bloom."

"When I tried to ask about his siblings, Gai'vahros just... froze. Like he kind of died inside. I guess he must miss his family more than anything else. Maybe he sees Apple Bloom like a younger sister?"

"Ya thank so, Twi?"

As the two turned to watch him, Gai'vahros proceeded inside the barn house, looking around at the large expanse of the interior. The walls were equally as dark as the outside but in a more mahogany hue, with the supporting beams and rafters made of pure lumber. The floor was made of a very dense hardwood, more than likely oak. With each step Gai'vahros made, an audible "tock" would ring though not too loud.

On the left side was a small door-shaped opening that lead into another room. This time the room was definitely more of that of a house, with what seemed to be the main living room; there was a stairway off to the right side that lead to the second floor. The room was coloured in a dull beige coat, clearly revealing the age of the structure in its lack of redecoration, while the flooring was a more softer kind of wood. A small table lay in the middle with a rocking chair that matched. The chair wasn't empty though; an old pony slept peacefully as she rocked backwards and forwards like she was being cradled. Gai'vahros gave a small smile as he slowly and carefully trudged past.

Another door stood opposite him that lead into the kitchen where the window that Gai'vahros saw Apple Bloom through was connected to. Kitchen units of beige and mahogany decorated the scenery for the blood elf, but he took notice of the yellow filly with the cherry hair sat at a wooden table next to the window. It seemed that the poor girl hasn't noticed him yet, with her head staring forwards in front of her, staring at nothing but a few cupboards, with her head resting on her forelegs that lay crossed on top of the table.

"Hello, Apple Bloom." Gai'vahros gave a soft greeting to the otherwise upset filly, to not startle her too much but also not to awaken the sleeping elderly pony in the next room. Apple Bloom's head shot up as she immediately recognized the very soft and sophisticated voice of the elf, reminding her almost of Rarity.

"Oh... Hey, Gai," Apple Bloom sounded happy at first, showing off a little smile in the presence of her elven friend, but crept back into a depressing frown as she lay her head back down on her forelegs, looking straight ahead while her eyes shifted into Gai'vahros' direction. "I'm grounded, so... I shouldn't be talkin' to ya."

"Not exactly," Gai'vahros said with a little grin, aiming to cheer up the young pony, even if a little. To an extent it succeeded; Apple Bloom's eyes were fully open as though his words caught her attention. Her head once again raising to look at the blood knight. He walked around to the other side of the table and took a seat, although the chair was like that of a child's chair made from what seemed like oak yet more sturdier, if such a thing was possible. "your sister allowed me to talk to you."

"Oh. Well, whatchya wanna talk about? Am I still grounded?" Apple Bloom was like a lost little lamb at this point, seeing Gai'vahros as her shepherd, looking to him for the answers.

"I've got no answers for that," replied Gai'vahros. Apple Bloom gave a sigh, not hearing the words that she was hoping for. "but, Apple Bloom, you must understand why she did what she did, and will do so for a long while. Do you know why?"

"I know why, Gai. It's because she's a big sister, and that's what big sisters do!" Apple Bloom seemed more agitated, but the response only made Gai'vahros shake his head, which seemed to make Apple Bloom relax a little. She was always sure that there was more to it, but never knew what.

"Your sister does what she does to protect you, to make you learn, even if the methods are harsh," Gai'vahros' words came out rather forced, pressed upon a long drawn sigh and a reluctance to speak. From out of nowhere, Gai'vahros placed his own hands upon Apple Bloom's hooves, gripping them gently as though caressing a pair of hands. "You may not understand it because you've no little sister of your own, but Applejack's biggest fear of all is losing you."

"I understand," Apple Bloom seemed to feel empathy for how her sister feels whenever Apple Bloom is in possible danger. "but how comes you know so much about it, Gai? Do you have a little sister, too?"

"..." a long pause fell upon silence for what felt like moments. Gai'vahros sat without a word with his hands upon Apple Bloom's forelegs before suddenly shrinking back towards his body. His grasp loosened while the red silk of his gloves trailed along Apple Bloom's hooves and across the table. "I did..." Gai'vahros sat up slowly, the oak chair sliding back across the laminated wood flooring with a gentle shift, but he never stopped smiling. He understood, just from talking with someone with a similar issue, that he had to be strong for them and not waste it on self pity. "I'm glad we had the time to talk, little Apple Bloom. Oh, I'll try and get Applejack to not punish you too badly." The blood elf gave a little wink before heading out through the side door.

"He "did"? I don't get it..."

Chapter 7 - Rainbows Hit Hard

It was definitely a very satisfying experience for Gai'vahros to visit a new world that wasn't filled to the brim with seething hatred for others, brimming with conflict and total nonstop warfare. He was only just beginning to fathom that this world was so easy going and that he was, perhaps for the first time in a very long time, meeting people-- or rather ponies-- that he could call "friends". He was definitely satisfied that this was not just another world of warcraft.

As the blood elf approached the two equine he realized that, while he was comforting the saddened filly inside, they had been watching him the whole time. Gai'vahros felt a bit uncomfortable as they gazed at him, with not one of them giving off their usual splendid cheery smile. He felt that he was about to be reprimanded for something, although his mind couldn't begin to conjure a scenario to which he did something wrong. For a moment the only sounds that could be heard was the creaking of the lightly swinging barn house door and the flowing wind, but neither of them separate or combined could cut through the tension that Gai'vahros was feeling. He had to break it somehow.

"I think everything will be okay now," Gai'vahros reassured the two of them with a big smile on his face as he clapped his hands together, giving off a soft thump as the silk gloves patted together. "your little sister is a bit more understanding of her punishment. I hope, anyway."

"So, what were ya talkin' 'bout?" Applejack questioned. She was awfully surprised that this creature was able to bring some sensibility to the otherwise rash and headstrong Apple Bloom. Surely the elf had said something rather spectacular if he was able to "tame" the young filly.

"Oh, it wasn't an awful lot, my Lady Applejack," Gai'vahros replied in a soft tone, but he didn't mean to patronize the pony. "I just told her about your fear of losing her." The response seemed to garner a rapid reaction from Applejack to the point where Gai'vahros could see it in her eyes that she was starting to imagine that dark reality.

"Y-yeah," Applejack began to stutter a little as she tried to keep her attention on Gai'vahros and not on the possibility of losing her little sister. "I guess I never thought of it that way before. Hurt, maybe, but never... y'know..."

"I understand fully, my Lady Applejack," Gai'vahros reassured her while placing a hand on her shoulder. Whatever it was he was doing Applejack felt so much solace in it, but it was only a gentle touch on her shoulder. It was nothing spectacular, and yet, when he did so, it felt as though a heavy burden was lifted from her back. "but I think maybe you should be a little lenient of your punishment with Apple Bloom. Don't you agree?"

"Hmmm... yeah, I guess you're right." Applejack was hesitant as first, but something about this elf's presence made her feel more lightened up as though just being with him felt securing. It was perhaps this quality that made Apple Bloom think so highly of him. Gai'vahros nodded in acknowledgement before taking his hand off the pony's shoulder.

The wind began to pick up a great deal. A huge gust blasted through the acre; crops swaying to one side past a forty five degree tilt. The branched in the trees began to swish around up and down, side to side, something even in circles. The large barn house doors began to swing on its hinges more so but not clashing into the structure itself. Lastly, the small wooden sign that was hanging by a couple of chains began to swoon back and forth like a swing. As the three of them looked up they all noticed a small flying object heading to them at a very fast speed, a speed to which Gai'vahros had not witnessed before, although he did recognize the shape as a flying horse. It was very peculiar to him as he had not seen a pony with wings in this world yet, to which he began to postulate that perhaps there are some similarities with this world and Azeroth.

As sudden as it came, the pony stopped almost immediately in front of Twilight and Applejack. The pony was of a bright sky blue colour with sparkling amethyst eyes, a rainbow colour mane and tail, and large feathered wings on her back. The pony seemed to be slightly out of breath, as though she had been flying for hours at a time.

"Ah, Twilight," the pony started, exhaling hard as she huffed the name of her lavender friend. "I've been looking everywhere for you! I need your help with something!"

"Rainbow Dash, what's wrong?" Twilight tried her best to get a word in edge ways in between Rainbow Dash' frantic and heavily-breathed words. "You sound like you've seen trouble."

"Well, gee, that's because I HAVE seen trouble!" Twilight and Applejack reared back with open mouths in shock for a moment at Rainbow Dash' exclamation. "See, I was chillin' out in Cloudsdale-- practicing my moves to show off to the Wonderbolts-- when I noticed this huge, odd shaped hole in the cloud! So, I was hoping you had a book or something that could help us figure out what caused it."

"This sounds pretty serious," Gai'vahros said from the side, to which Rainbow Dash took a glance at hm. She was considerably cautious of the elf for a moment. "If you wish, I can--"

"Hey… it's YOU!" Rainbow Dash' eyes took a turn from contemplation to one of hostility. "You're the one who made the hole in Cloudsdale!" With utmost intensity, she threw one of her forelegs forwards, pointing harshly at the blood knight who, to his credit, didn't know what she was accusing him of.

"What are you talking about?" Gai'vahros questioned her with a half-smile and confused eyes. His facial expression showed a look of confusion. "I've no idea what this "Clouds Dale" is, and I sure as hell can't blow things up. I can't even place bombs at the right door."

"You can't lie to me, vandal; I'd recognize that stupid pointy mane anywhere, and those ridiculously large shoulder pads!"

"Hey, large shoulders are the fashion, and I certainly don't--" however, before Gai'vahros could finish his verbal reprimand of Rainbow Dash' insults, he was suddenly struck with a fast and strong flying kick from the agitated pony. Her hind leg ploughing straight into the elf's abdomen, sending him flying backwards several meters onto his back before he slid to a sudden halt.

"Rainbow Dash, what are you doing!?" Twilight stepped forwards with a shocked look on her face. "Gai'vahros couldn't possibly have done it; he has no way to get there!"

"I know he did it, Twi," Rainbow Dash responded with determination to deliver justice to the fallen blood knight. "the hole looks exactly like this guy! How else would I recognize him?"

"Ah… good shot," Gai'vahros struggled a bit, placing a hand on where the blue pony had kicked him. The gold plating wasn't damaged or dented despite so much of the force being prevented by it from damaging his own body, although it still winded him for a moment. "but if fighting you is the only way to make you listen, then--" as he was about to finish his acceptance to her challenge he reached the left side of his waist for his weapon, but realized that he hadn't any of his equipment with him. "Damn it. Well, I've no need for weapons to best you, horsey." Gai'vahros certainly noticed his opponent's rash nature, so taunting her to attack head on was an apt strategy.

"Whad'ya say to me!?" Rainbow Dash began to become flustered from being taunted by the rather cocky elf, narrowing her eyes. "You ain't getting up after this one!" Rainbow Dash charged forwards with great speed with a foreleg stretched out to deliver a powerful blow.

"Kneel down." Gai'vahros wanted her to do exactly this, and quickly pushed his hand out, open, palm facing towards the rushing pony. Suddenly she stopped in her tracks, where she floated a foot or so off the ground before dropping onto her flank. With his powers of the Holy Light Gai'vahros used his spell, "Hammer of Justice", to stun the pony, keeping her from acting for a few moments.

"Ugh… H-hey, what's going--?" for a moment Rainbow Dash was dazed as the sudden concussive force caused her eyesight to dazzle and blur.

"And repent." as holy energy began to surge through the outstretched arm of Gai'vahros and into his hand, he closed his fingers quickly into a fist, causing Rainbow Dash to be struck by a surge of light although it was not harmful by any means. The blood knight's "Repentance" spell caused Rainbow Dash to enter a meditative state with her head dropping down as her eyes closed.

"Gai, what in tarnation did ya do to Rainbow Dash!?" exclaimed Applejack, rushing over to her sleeping friend, looking across to her face. She sounded angry and yet concerned for her friend as well.

"Don't worry, I've only put her in a meditative sleep," Gai'vahros walked towards the two of them who were only a few meters away from him. "though I'm rather confused; she recognized me because the shape of this "hole" is the shape of me? Surely I couldn't run through a wall without killing myself."

"Oh, Gai'vahros, Cloudsdale is… well, made out of clouds," Twilight corrected him as he began to wonder how he would run through a brick wall. "it's located a little bit outside of Ponyville, in the skies."

"Ah, I had a similar experience back in my world, within the realms of the Vortex Pinnacle and the Throne of Four Winds," Gai'vahros began to understand while reminiscing some of his recent activities. "ah, good fun…"

"So, Gai, you're sayin' that you didn't make no hole in Cloudsdale, and yet Rainbow Dash recognizes the hole was made by your body? You ain't lyin' to us, are ya?" Applejack was dubious about the situation; there was no way Rainbow Dash could have recognized him by any other means, but Gai'vahros seemed sincere in his denial.

"I honestly don't know what to tell you, my Lady Applejack," Gai'vahros said with a small shrug of his arms and shake of his head. He was just as confused as the rest of them. "If I decided to run head first through a city made of clouds, I'd remember something like that. However…"

"Do you have something in mind, Gai'vahros?" Twilight was more or less the middle person in this mystery. She had no reason to take sides or suspect anything, especially without seeing it for herself.

"I do, although…" Gai'vahros paused for a moment as he began to contemplate on his own scenario as to how he caused the hole. It was far-fetched but he couldn't rule it out considering it was his only lifeline at this point. "I can't say for certain unless I see what has happened myself. How far is Cloudsdale from here?"

"From the outskirt of Ponyville? About a few minutes, but you can't get there without wings. I can make us up a few potions to give us what we need to get there, though."

"Oh, no need to bother yourself in making me a potion, my Lady Twilight," Gai'vahros held out a hand in a gesture of consideration. "I'll be able to get there myself. You just need to give me a few directions."

"But, Gai'vahros, you don't have any wings, and all of your equipment is still missing." Twilight was baffled as to what Gai'vahros was harping at, not noticing anything on him that would suggest he could fly.

"Hah, I'd almost forgotten about that, but watch." Gai'vahros placed his hands together as though beginning a prayer and, with a sudden wave of his arms to the side, four bright luminescent wings, entirely of light, formed on his back behind his cape. Almost reminiscent of a butterfly, the top wings were a bit larger than the bottom ones, which pointed downwards as opposed to the former pointing upwards. All four wings gave a slight flap forwards, flicking forwards what was similar to gold dust before remaining stationary, pulsating a radiance of light every second.

"Well I'll be," Applejack was the first to speak, astounded by the power of the elf and the beauty of his light-touched wings. "you're just full of surprises, ain't ya?"

"Hah, I'll say," Twilight couldn't help but agree with Applejack. "but… shall we leave Rainbow Dash here?"

"Oh no, of course not," Gai'vahros gave a small chuckle before turning to the sleeping pegasus. As he approached her his wings began to fade, dissipate into glittery shards of light. "I think she's ready to snap out of it." The elf stretched out his hand and, with his index finger, prodded Rainbow Dash' forehead, watching as it rocked back and then forwards.

"Uh… ah…" Rainbow Dash sounded considerably groggy although that was just the usual effects of being hit by a Repentance spell. Her eyes slowly opened, though her vision was still blurry for a small duration, looking on as Gai'vahros' smiling face came into focus. "W-what happened? What did you do to me?" Rainbow Dash was much calmer than before as she began to speak to the blood elf, although that was mainly because she felt a bit dizzy.

"Well, you needed to cool down for a little," Gai'vahros said with a hint of humour in his voice. "but we're going to go to this Cloudsdale place and try and figure out what caused the hole and, if it was me, how the hell I managed to do it."

"Pfft, sounds like another excuse to go and make more holes!" Rainbow Dash couldn't help but still feel inclined to suspect this person of malicious intentions, although she began to understand that, if Twilight and Applejack were going along as well, he wouldn't get away with it. "Well, fine then. But I'm coming with you, too!"

"I wouldn't have it any other way, my Lady Rainbow Dash." Gai'vahros said, walking away towards Twilight and Applejack. Rainbow Dash grumbled as she blushed a little, not being called a "Lady" before, or at least very rarely. "So, my Lady Twilight, shall we get back to your place and start preparations?"

"Sure thing, Gai'vahros," Twilight nodded in agreement, turning back towards the fence with the others following suit. "By the way, what are you missing from your belongings? You said all of your equipment went missing, right?"

"Yeah, that's right," Gai'vahros responded while trying to recall what was in his bags. "well there's two swords, a shield, my hearthstone, my jeweller's kit, a pickaxe, my surveying equipment, my cooking supplies, my fishing rod, my pet stone, and my mount stone."

"Dude, you carry all of that stuff with you, like, all the time?" Rainbow Dash was surprised that he could carry so much stuff in one bag. "Doesn't that tire you out?"

"I don't understand," Gai'vahros turned his head back to the pegasus. "that's not an awful lot. I usually carry a second change of clothes too, as well as some other things. I usually carry a few tens of stuff."

"That's a LOT of things," Rainbow Dash couldn't help but feel some sort of admiration for the blood knight, but she wasn't about to admit it. "but you said you were missing a few stones, right? I picked up a couple at the scene where the hole was, but I left them back at my place in Cloudsdale."

"Oh, really?" Gai'vahros had a rather large smile on his face that some of his equipment was beginning to show up sooner rather than later. "If I could have them back, my Lady Rainbow Dash, I'd be most grateful."

"Chyeah, when we get the hole patched up first," Rainbow Dash huffed, with a blush on her face again as well as an irate expression. "and don't call me "Lady"!"

Chapter 8 - Just Wing It

The spring sun began to dawn down into the horizon ahead, transcending the light orange sky into a more violet colour, contrasting as the glare from the bright orange overlapped the cool backdrop of violet clouds. From Gai'vahros' experiences in Quel'Thalas, where the sun seemed to shine the most, it was around six o'clock. It had been a very long time since the he had seen such a scenery. Proud and majestic in its presence, it made him feel calm as though his burdens were being whisked away along with the sun. It reminded him of the scenery he saw after he had reclaimed the Sunwell; the end of, perhaps, Azeroth's greatest threat, and the start of a new day.

The group had made their way back to the tree house library where Twilight had resided. The five of them, Spike included as he was tidying up the ground floor earlier, sat around while Twilight began to create the potions upon a nearby desk close to the far side window. The desk contained a multitude of alchemical equipment that Gai'vahros could recognize from seeing many apothecaries experimenting in the ways of potion-making; tube racks, glass vials, bottles, distillers and other pieces of fragile tools lined the desk almost in a straight line, but the blood elf couldn't take his eyes off them.

"So, what are ya doing here, anyway," asked Rainbow Dash, floating a few feet off the ground with her forelegs crossed while she kept a close eye on Gai'vahros, although she wasn't as fixated in aggression like before. She still felt cautious around the elf, naturally, though she wasn't showing her ferocity like before. "you come here for a vacation or something?"

"Hah, I wish," Gai'vahros replied with a humoured tone of voice, shaking his head as he leaned forwards on his chair, turning his attention to Rainbow Dash. "but to be honest I don't even know how I got here. I was meant to be taking a portal to the Isle of Quel'Danas-- an elven outpost north of our city-- but something went wrong and the portal sent me… well, here. I ended up just south of this village with nothing on me save for the clothes on my back."

"So someone sent you through a portal and you ended up here? On your own?" Rainbow Dash seemed puzzled by the blood elf's story; in her mind it didn't add up.

"Well it wasn't done on purpose," Gai'vahros responded quickly to save the pegasus the hassle of attempting to figure out something that wasn't there. "something weird happened before I was sent through the portal; some sort of… magical arcane disturbance or whatever. I assume that whatever the disturbance was affected the portal's working and, evidently, sent me to the wrong destination. Some sort of bug, perhaps. I'm sure they're patching it up as we speak."

"Sounds mighty dangerous for ya to be using fancy magical stuff right after experiencin' some sorta turbulence," Applejack approached the conversation with concerning words for the blood knight. "Heck, you coulda been ported to some sorta… demon infested world or somethin'!"

"Yeah, thanks for the words of encouragement," Gai'vahros huffed with a smile on his face, hanging his head down for a bit as he began to contemplate being at the heart of the Legion, tearing through its ranks with sword in hand and faith in his soul. "but I've been through worse. As a champion of the Holy Light, it's my duty to face opposition with a stalwart heart."

"So you're like a knight or something, Gai?" Rainbow Dash seemed to be more accustomed, and more intrigued, to the elf the more he spoke to the point that even she was starting to doubt that he created the hole. At least, not intentionally. "You don't mind me calling you Gai, right?"

"Hah, not at all. And yes, I'm a knight of sorts. I'm part of the Blood Knight Legion of the Silvermoon army."

"And, what do you "blood knights" do exactly?"

"Well we… uh…" Gai'vahros paused for a moment. He wanted to say something, to share his eccentric knowledge of the blood knight's history, but he couldn't think of anything good to say or even what to mention in their recent activities or achievements. "well, we defend Silvermoon City alongside the royal guards, although our recent activities have been fighting our enemies on the newly discovered continent of Pandaria. We serve as the backbone of our army, so to speak."

"That… sounds so COOL!" Rainbow Dash was completely overtaken by desire for Gai'vahros that all sense of distaste of him just vanished. "Do you think you could show me some of your cool moves and, like, teach me how to be a knight?"

"Haha, don't you remember?" Gai'vahros asked rhetorically as he reclined back on the chair, "I already showed you some of my moves earlier." He was obviously trying to get a reaction out of the brash pegasus.

"Hey, you know that's not what I meant!" Rainbow Dash' eyes turned sour as she folded her forelegs across her chest again. "C'mon, Twilight, how much longer are ya gonna be with those potions?" it was apparent that Rainbow Dash was hiding her lack of patience with the blood knight by acting impatient towards Twilight's preparations.

"There, they're ready," Twilight said softly, exhausted from the ordeal. "sorry I took so long, guys; I was trying to recall the recipe from memory. I'm quite sure I've got the mixture correct."

"Now hold on a sec," Applejack was dubious, with good reason as well, as to whether or not to drink some of that potion. "so you're sayin' that this might not even work?"

"Of course it'll work," Twilight responded, using her magic from her horn, causing two sealed bottles to float from her desk with one of them drifting towards Applejack before hovering several inches from her. "just… you know, there might be some side effects."

"Oh, like what," Gai'vahros opted to join in on the conversation. "blue warts? Hair loss? Pinkeye? Hoof blisters?" Gai'vahros didn't mean anything serious by his words, but felt like teasing Applejack with discouraging ailments.

"Well, possibly," Twilight responded, causing Gai'vahros to develop a gaunt expression on his face as his cheery smile dropped. "but the effects won't be too severe. Or too long. I hope."

"You know, I was joking when I said all of those things." Gai'vahros sighed as he placed his hands on his knees before leaning forwards, pushing himself off the chair to a standing position. As he stood he looked over at the small alchemy lab for a brief moment before turning back to Twilight. "That's a point; why are you trying to recall it to memory? Don't you have a book to read it from?"

"Well, I did," Twilight muttered, rolling her eyes before glaring at Spike, who was busy putting a stack of books back on one of the far book shelves. "but someone managed to spill ice cream on the pages, which ended up sticking several of them together. One of those pages being the recipe for this potion."

"Hey, I couldn't help it," Spike spoke up in defence, stopping his chores as he turned to Twilight. "you made me jump when you screamed because you accidentally left your quill in the ink well!"

"Well, there's no point in arguing over it," Gai'vahros said before this discussion could heat up any more than it already had. "what's done is done; no amount of words will unstick those pages. Oh, that's a point," the blood knight turned and proceeded to the handbag that Twilight was carrying earlier, seeing it hanging around the top of the newel of the staircase. Reaching inside, he pulled out a wrapped up cupcake and the two gems that Rarity had given them, one emerald and one sapphire, before handing them to Spike. "There you go, Spike. These are from Lady Rarity."

"What? R-Rarity said these are for me?" Spike seemed flustered for a moment as a small blush of red formed in his little purple cheeks.

"Well, the gems are from Rarity. The cupcake was for me but I thought maybe you'd want it more." Gai'vahros gave a warm smile as he looked down at the visibly overjoyed little dragon, who held his presents close to him like a child on Winter's Veil day.

"W-wow. Thanks, Gai," Spike replied, his little face sprawled with a huge grin as he looked back up to the blood elf. "you're awesome! I gotta go say thanks to Rarity!" Spike turned to one of the nearby desks, heading over and placing his presents upon the oaken surface. "Don't eat my stuff while I'm gone!" without much time to say goodbye, Spike rushed out of the door, slamming it behind him.

"W-wait, Spike!" Twilight yelled, trying to call after him though her cries fell on deaf ears. "He still hasn't finished putting the books back." she gave a sigh as she turned to look at the two piles of books stacked on the floor.

"Aw shucks, Twilight," Applejack intervened in a soft tone of voice. "leave the lil guy to do his thing. I've not seen Spike so choked up in a long while. Anyways, me, Gai, and Rainbow Dash can help ya with yer books, right?"

"Yeah, don't worry about it," Rainbow Dash joined in as she flew over to the piles of books. "we'll have this done in ten seconds flat!"

"Don't you girls worry about it," Gai'vahros reassured the ponies as he took a handful of books, carrying them upon one arm. "I'll put these away for you. Alphabetically, right?" the elf turned to the nearby bookshelves, which were all labelled from A to Z on the front of the shelves. Picking one up from the stack he was holding he looked at the front cover; 'Manual of Monsters' the title was. A red book, hardback, that had a laminated finish upon it. Gai'vahros thought it might come in handy or prove to be an interesting read while he was here, so he made a mental note of it before placing it on the shelf where it belonged.

"Gai'vahros, you don't have to do everything, you know," Twilight said while watching as Gai'vahros was at work filling empty spaces on the shelves. "with the amount of things that's happened today, don't you think you should slow down?"

"Haha, this is only light handiwork compared to what I do on a daily basis," Gai'vahros replied as he kept reading the titles of books before placing them-- 'Dungeonmaster's Guide', 'Potions 101', 'Harmony', 'A Game at Dinner'-- the blood elf wasn't one for reading although he was definitely intrigued by this equine literature. He had decided that he'd have to try and dedicate some of his time to reading some of these books. "and besides, I have to repay all of you for the hospitality you've shown me. This is the very least I can do for you."

"I'm very grateful for the help you've given us, Gai'vahros, but you've had a long day. Perhaps we should call it a day after we've investigated Cloudsdale." as Twilight spoke she released her magical grip upon the bottle in front of Applejack, letting it drop into her grasp between two hooves. "Come on, Applejack, we'd better get this over and done with before it gets too dark."

"Well… alright, Twi. I trust ya." said Applejack in reluctance. Removing the cork with her teeth, Applejack tipped the bottle and downed the potion in a few second, with Twilight following suit. After drinking the concoction both ponies stood for a moment, waiting for the effect to occur. The two paused before speaking, trying to focus on feeling any changes to their body. But nothing occurred. "You sure ya got the recipe right, Twi?"

"I don't understand, the effect should be--" before Twilight could finish her explanation the two of them suddenly sprouted a pair of rather large wings on their sides. Twilight had a pair of feathered bird-like wings, similar to Rainbow Dash, in the same lavender colour as her fur. Applejack, on the other hand, manifested a set of wings not unlike that of an Atlas moth, although the coloration was more in line of Applejack's natural coat. "--instantaneous. Oh, there we go. Now remember; this potion only lasts for one day."

"So, Twi, what's wrong with using that spell from before?" Applejack raised a valid point. From what she could recall from past experience, Twilight had used a spell version of this effect on Rarity, though this time it was in the form of a potion. "I was gonna say somethin' before but that was before knowing that I could probably get pony pox from this stuff."

"Well, as I said before, the spell is considerably difficult to perform that I could only do it once a day," Twilight recapped for Applejack, who was flapping her wings softly to get a feel of it. "so I bought a new potions book which had a recipe for the spell in potion form. It's not as taxing to do, and I can make as many as I have ingredients for it-- much more practical and economical."

"Yeah, and I feel sorry for the poor sap who had to go farm those materials," Gai'vahros joked as he finished putting the last book on the shelf. It didn't take as long as he thought considering he had two stacks of books to put back-- around thirty books in total. "but seeing as we're now all sorted and everyone has their wings and such, shall we make a move?"

"Actually I thought maybe me and Applejack could take the time to get used to these wings." Twilight responded casually despite saying earlier that they'd best hurry before nightfall. The unicorn looked at both of her wings, flapped each one individually, and then began to flap them both at the same time. Slowly she ascended from the floor by an inch, then two, then ten, before stopping at around a foot and a half off the ground. "Oh… this feels a bit… weird. How are you feeling, Applejack?"

"I'm feeling a little queasy…" Applejack voiced her discomfort as she had already reached the same height as Twilight, and then higher. The earth pony was around three feet off the ground, matching Rainbow Dash' height, whom couldn't help but snicker.

"Haha, you not enjoying the view, Applejack?" Rainbow Dash teased the nauseated pony, who had a sickly look on her face.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it," Gai'vahros tried to comfort her as he watched her float off the ground before grabbing one of her hind legs and pulling her down a foot or so. "It feels awkward at first-- spending all your life on the ground then suddenly ending up in the air. I was the same, too, but it all stems from confidence in not plummeting to the ground. As soon as you have confidence in your control of flight, it'll become second nature to you."

"Y-yeah… so, uh, shall we get going?" Applejack seemed more comforted although it was just a pretence of confidence.

"Not until you're happy with your new position," Gai'vahros responded, grabbing Applejack by her foreleg and walking her to the door and opening it. "we have to make sure you're confident in your flying. Start off slow, start down low, and get higher and faster when you feel you've got the knack for it. Don't worry, I'll tag along with you while you practice. In fact, why don't we all spend an hour or so practicing?"

"That sounds like a great idea," Twilight admitted as she fluttered through the doorway into the outdoors, ascending to several feet in the air. "we'd better get used to the altitude that Cloudsdale is accustomed to."

"Yeah, we'd better make sure Applejack can handle something that isn't just three feet off the ground." Rainbow Dash again joshing around with Applejack.

"That's not funny, Rainbow… urp… Dash…"

"Ah, don't worry Applejack," Gai'vahros assured the earth pony, who was starting to look rather pale. "If she keeps going, I'll put another hole in Cloudsdale. Purposefully, this time."

Chapter 9 - How Magnets Work

The wind through his hair, the chill of the dusk sky upon his cheeks, and the enjoyment that he was feeling within his heart accompanying new friends as he blitzed, looped and spiralled through the air. Gai'vahros couldn't help but laugh in gaiety whilst dancing upon unseen currents with a few winged equine. Within the hour, Applejack seemed to have gotten over her fear of flying by gaining confidence and control of her newfound wings, while Twilight was still experimenting in how she could perform under certain aerodynamics, altitudes and other scientific variables that no one else seemed to be caring about. Rainbow Dash and Gai'vahros were both showing off their moves and speeds, though Rainbow Dash was, without much doubt, outdoing the bedazzled blood elf. Regardless, it was definitely time to head over to Cloudsdale.

Rainbow Dash lead the brigade as she guided them, slowly, to Cloudsdale. Despite Twilight knowing the direction by heart due to past visits she was still hanging back with Applejack, as was Gai'vahros, to make sure tshe didn't encounter any problems on the way there. Gai'vahros was fairly aware of the duration of potions and, considering that this perhaps wasn't the most stable of benefits, remained under Applejack to be ready to catch her if her wings ever dissipated prematurely.

The cloud city was a sight to behold for the blood elf. He had not seen such architecture before, though he had never seen a city made almost entirely of clouds before either. The design of its surroundings were not familiar to him, with columns fashioned in a 'post and lintel' style where the columns were thick, long, and with grooves along their length, supported by flat surfaces that helped spread the load it was keeping up. The sides of these lintels were carved in curved, ornate patterns. It was a marvel to behold in the eyes of Gai'vahros to which he wished something like this existed on Azeroth. It made him think of kaldorei architecture, but much more refine.

"Well, here we are guys," Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she swooped down, landing upon a bed of clouds as though she was walking on solid ground. "Gai's hole isn't too far from here." she casually walked through the halls of columns that flanked both sides of what looked like a runway, possibly used as a designated entrance into the city.

"Yeah, I would appreciate if you didn't use that term as though it was to label me a vandal." Gai'vahros resented the comment from Rainbow Dash while making sure that Twilight and Applejack had a safe landing. "You feeling better now, my Lady Applejack?" Gai'vahros was concerned for the earth pony, staying by her side as she landed.

"Ah, yeah," Applejack responded although her face was still showing signs of uneasiness, though this was more than likely because she was now walking on clouds, which to her felt like walking across a bouncy castle though with the possibility of falling through. "but walkin' on clouds feels like chasin' a hog through a field of marshmallows."

"Right, though I've no idea where you'd find a field of marshmallows." Gai'vahros responded with a confused look on his face although he acquitted it to just being one of Applejack's rather exotic figures of speech. As Gai'vahros set foot on the cloud he felt his feet sink a few inches into it, almost falling through, but stopping suddenly. No matter how much he tried to lift his legs they were stuck almost firmly in place with only slight room for movement. "Uh, a little help, please?"

"Huh? Well, that's odd," Twilight turned to the elf's distress, looking on with a puzzled yet intrigued face. "I've never heard of something being stuck in a cloud before. Ah, if only I had my things with me I could have made a note of this!"

"Yeah, that's all rainbows and sunshine, my Lady Twilight, but do you think you could commit it to memory for later and, I don't know, get me out of this?" Gai'vahros was just as puzzled as her; he had never been stuck in a cloud before, even when going to the Vortex Pinnacle.

"Don't worry, Gai, we'll give ya a hand," Applejack trotted up to the elf and took a hold of one arm, lifting into the air a few feet off the ground. "Come on, Dash, give us a hoof over here!"

"Ugh, fine," Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at seeing Gai'vahros stuck in what was essentially airborne fluff. She quickly flew over to the opposite side of Gai'vahros and took a hold of the other arm, also flying a few feet of the ground. "Okay, AJ. On the count of three, pull him upwards." Applejack nodded in understanding, holding tight onto the elf.

"One. Two. Three!"

With a sudden *pop*, Gai'vahros was pulled out of the cloud as Applejack and Rainbow Dash quickly and forcefully pulled upwards with their forelegs while flying several inches higher for more elevation. The blood elf gave a brief sigh of relief as he continued to use his wings to provide mobility as soon as Rainbow Dash and Applejack let go of him.

"Well, that wasn't expected," Gai'vahros muttered while floating a few inches off the ground, or clouds, reluctant to land again in case he was to be stuck again. "I guess I'll have to stay afloat while I'm here. Uh, please, continue, my Lady Rainbow Dash."

"You need to get out of that habit, bro." Rainbow Dash sighed in disapproval of the blood elf still using that title for her. The pegasus continued to lead the troupe through the halls before coming to a large open expanse that was all buildings, likely residential, with a large fountain in the middle of the circular district several meters high and spouting water from several founts around a central tower. "It's just over here." Rainbow Dash lead them through the district, following a linear path that lead to a crossroad with its corners housing a line of commercial shops. However, as the pegasus looked around the corner, she paused and pressed everyone back against the wall of a large cloud structure, with Gai'vahros sinking into it.

"Oh you've got to be kidding me!" Gai'vahros tried not to yell too loud as he struggled to try and get free of the crevice he found himself in, flailing his arms forwards though Twilight and Applejack quickly pulled him free, trying not to snicker at his expense. "What's going on? Why did you stop us?"

"Just look over there," Rainbow Dash whispered to the three of them, waving her hoof behind her as if to point over her shoulder. The group lightly peaked around the corner to which they saw a group of pegasi stallions wearing guard armor, sky blue in colour, to signify their association with Cloudsdale. A few of the guards were looking over at the hole while some of them were using some sort of foreign equipment that were used to analyse it. "we ain't gonna be able to inspect the hole while they're there, and as soon as they see Gai he's gonna get arrested!"

"That's not a problem at all," Gai'vahros said in a cheery voice, starting to float around the corner. "I'll just explain it was an accident and--" though before he could finish what he was saying, or even get too far from the group, Rainbow Dash grasped at his cloak with her teeth and whipped him back around the corner, planting him into the wall again. "Oh for the Light's sake!"

"What are you thinking, Gai," Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she stared at the stuck blood knight. "what're you gonna say to them? "Oh hi there, I'm sorry I caused a huge gaping HOLE in your CITY, can I get a slap on the hoof?" 'Cause that'll totally work, right?"

"… Well, when you put it like that, probably not," Gai'vahros agreed after thinking about the scenario playing through his mind. Even he couldn't deny that it was going to go over well. "so how are we going to get over there?"

"Hmmm." the three ponies began a collective hum as they started thinking of a way to circumvent the guards to get to the hole, or to get rid of them entirely.

"Well, how about luring them away," Applejack responded first, a light bulb flicking inside her mind. "someone could grab their attention and make a distraction, right?"

"Sounds like a great idea, Applejack," Twilight agreed although she didn't condone hassling authority where it could be helped, but, at this point in time, it couldn't. "Rainbow Dash, do you think you could provide a distraction? Seeing as it's your home turf you might be able to find a way better than the rest of us."

"Hah, leave it to me, Twilight," Rainbow Dash grinned as she gave her approval, very enthusiastic about it. "I've got a great idea!" the pegasus took off around the corner as she aimed to set her plan into motion.

"Great, now can you get me off this damn wall?" Gai'vahros said impatiently as Twilight and Applejack turned to him, smiling embarrassingly before helping to pry the elf from the cloud.

As Gai'vahros, Twilight and Applejack watched from behind the corner Rainbow Dash made her way over to the guards, but realised she needed to look more frantic in her approach. With a great burst of speed she zoomed to the guards before stopping, her breath heavy while the look on her face came off as shocked or worried. "Guards! Guards!" Rainbow Dash called out while floating off the ground as her wings flapped frantically.

"What is it, citizen?" three of the guards turned while the middle stallion spoke up with a soft but powerful voice. His eyes were stern as he gazed at Rainbow Dash.

"I… I saw who made this hole! He... he ran over there, through the rainbow factory," Rainbow Dash pointed with her right foreleg towards one of the crossings that lead to a huge structure. "he said he was gonna destroy the factory so no more rainbows could be made! You gotta stop him!"

"What!?" The guards cried out together. The group of them taking off the ground quickly. "Thank you for the assistance, ma'am. We'll catch this criminal post haste!" Without missing a heartbeat the whole group of them took off, though not without one of the guards putting down a bright yellow safety hazard sign first.

As soon as the guards were out of sight Rainbow Dash turned back to where the other three were, waving her hoof to beckon them to approach. "The coast is clear, guys." the pegasus called for them before turning back to the hole. Twilight, Applejack and Gai'vahros quickly made their way to the site, gathering around it, with Twilight leaning forwards to get a good look. "So, Twilight, what can ya make out of this hole?"

"Well, first, you didn't tell me it was in the floor of Cloudsdale," Twilight spoke up, a bit discontent with Rainbow Dash' clarification, who only smiled back awkwardly. "and the angle of the cross section of the hole in the clouds isn't straight, as in a perfect outline of Gai'vahros' body."

"So, uh, in lament's terms, sugar cube?" Applejack questioned Twilight as she gawked at her in confusion.

"Well, think about it," Twilight started, pointing to the cross section of the cloud where Gai'vahros went through. "if Gai'vahros fell through here straight through, the angle of the cut through of the cloud would be straight. Basically, Gai'vahros fell through Cloudsdale at an angle, which would explain how he ended up on the other side of Ponyville and not directly under here."

"Okay, that makes a bit more sense," Applejack nodded as she followed Twilight's trail of thinking. "so what's this 'bout this hole being a perfect cut out of Gai, then?"

"It's quickly simple, actually," Twilight said with a smile on her face but not trying to be too smug nor patronising in her tone. "you see, when something flies through the air vertically the entire body becomes straight, vertically, too,, as the force from the wind pushes the body back until it becomes aerodynamic. So, if Gai'vahros did fly through this hole, he would have flown through head first, thus completely changing the shape of the hole."

"I thought as much," Gai'vahros spoke up as he looked at the hole, sighing softly. "I only remember going through the portal and then waking up on the ground. From what I can piece together the portal must have relocated me in the air somewhere above here. Whilst unconscious, my body plummeted towards the ground, through Cloudsdale at a slanted trajectory, before hitting the ground just outside of Ponyville. But then that raises an even bigger question; how in the world did I survive a fifteen thousand foot free fall with no injuries?"

"Unfortunately we don't have an ace attorney to work out that contradiction," Twilight shook her head, not having an answer to what was a glaring thorn in the side of hers and Gai'vahros' theory. "but I also noticed some sort of static electricity resonating from the hole. Maybe this force slowed your fall to the ground by some sort of force field of static electricity?"

"Well, whatever it was, without it I'd be a nice splat in the meadow," Gai'vahros stated with a huff, crossing his arms. "but, anyway, can't we repair this hole and make it good as new?"

"But that's just it," Rainbow Dash started as she looked through the hole. "clouds reform themselves after just a few hours, the same for Cloudsdale, but something is stopping it from fixing itself." Rainbow Dash pulled her head back through the hole, ending up with a large spiky mane to which she didn't notice. Applejack and Gai'vahros couldn't help but giggle at the pegasus' predicament.

"I would assume it's from the static," Twilight went on to say while using a single hoof to run around the edge of the hole, inducing a tingling sensation into her leg. "simply put, it seems that whatever Gai'vahros did when he flew, or fell, through the hole, has caused the cloud to become charged by the same charge of static, or at least this hole became charged. The charges seem to be of the same polarity, causing the edges of the hole to repel each other, like two magnets, and thus not close properly."

"… did you get any of that, Gai?" Applejack's eyes shifted to the blood elf, who was equally jaw-dropped with Twilight's explanation.

"I had her all the way up to "simply put"," Gai'vahros hadn't a clue about what static, or polarities, or even how magnets worked, and so was simply bombarded with explanations that almost made his brain stop working. "so, basically, I made it so this hole can't close?"

"Well, uh… yeah," Twilight was a bit dubious in putting it bluntly. "but the effects aren't permanent. Once the cloud runs out of this charge it'll close up again, but that could take a day or so." Twilight looked up as she noticed a crackling sound coming from in front of her. "Hey, can you guys hear that sound?"

"Yeah, I noticed it a moment ago," Rainbow Dash turned her head as she tried to track the sound, her head getting close to the hole. "I thought maybe it was the weather factory but it sounds too crisp to be far away."

"I here ya, Dashie." Applejack agreed as her head hung low, first listening at the hole but, almost in unison, all three ponies turned to Gai'vahros' feet before realising that the crackling sound was coming from his metal boots.

"Gai'vahros, it's you making that noise," Twilight looked up at him before looking back down to his boots, noticing that his feet were only a few inches from the cloud. "just as I suspected; the metal armor you're wearing is causing static between it and the cloud, causing the cloud to magnetise! That would explain why you kept getting stuck!"

"That makes sense," Gai'vahros nodded in acknowledgement. "so I assume that the hole has been "magnetised" by my armor when I fell through it?" he was still clueless about all of these fancy words but he was starting to understand, slowly.

"Exactly," Twilight assured him, but paused for a moment. "but that's odd; clouds are only made of water vapour, and any static is discharged as lightning; it's impossible for a cloud to become magnetised. Also, your armor didn't become magnetised. Strange."

"I'm sure we can talk about it until daybreak," Gai'vahros spoke before Twilight could continue voicing her theories, "but can we return to Ponyville? I'm exhausted." he stretched his arms wide, but one of his hands ended up going through a lamp post of cloud, causing his hand to get stuck. "Damn it!"

"Hahaha, you need a "hand", Gai?" Rainbow Dash teased the blood knight, laughing hysterically alongside Applejack and Twilight as they watched Gai'vahros try, with great effort, to get his hand free.

"Yeah yeah, good one." Gai'vahros huffed as he watched, in irritation, as the three ponies found his misfortune humorous. "I can see why so many people disliked the Throne of Four Winds…"

Chapter 11 - Forsaken

White and with patches of the palest of blues, the sky never looked to calm before. A field of emerald grass and a painted palette of coloured flowers extended across the landscape. From the regal shades of blue to the kindest of pinks, the meadow was something more of a garden out of fantasy or something that not even the druids of the Cenarion Circle could hope to accomplish. It was truly a sight to behold, if not for its beauty, then for its tranquility. Trees only several meters high and large canopies of orange and tan leaves overlooked this place. Despite being the middle of spring the leaves took on a visage that suggested it was the fall of the year, but that's what gave this place its charm. That's what gave Quel'Thalas its beauty and its tranquility.

Within the field was a young high elf girl looking no older than her early twenties by human aging standards. Her clothing was astonishing, made only from the finest of silks. A small but long-sleeved white top covered her chest, leaving her midriff exposed. Her lower half was that of a royal blue long dress, tucked under her legs and softly brushing against the blade of leaves as she knelt down. Her feet were adorned with pearl-finished slip-ons, though a single, gold buckled strap helped tighten them should they be too loose; a one-size-fits-all design, as it were. Her eyes glistening an ice blue colour, and her hair was of a royal, golden blonde.

The young girl knelt over a small patch of flowers as her delicate hands gently tugged at them, pulling them from their stem and fastening them together into a flower chain of a rainbow coloured design. The elf hummed a soft tune as she worked her fingers in a calm and collective manner, leaving no mistake in her craft like an artisan in her own right. As she worked, a male high elf entered through what was an archway, made up of tree branches, into the field. The man looked slightly older, perhaps late twenties to early thirties by his looks. A spiked ponytail sat atop of his head while a few locks hung around his shoulders and over his face. The man was dressed in a white shirt and black pants, donning shining black dress shoes.

"Getting excited for your big day, huh, Lily?" the man spoke out with a warm smile on his face as his shining blue eyes shone in the glistening sunlight. "Haha, even now you still find the time to make your flower chains. You still need to prepare for the coming days. You should really get your dress measured today."

"Silly, I've got plenty of time today to get all of this done," Lily gave a little giggle as her fingers began to tie the stems of two flowers together; a lilac coloured flower coupled with one of a bright, ice blue hue. "anyway, you haven't even got your tuxedo measured yet, so don't give me lectures about time keeping."

"Haha, yeah, you got me there," the male elf gave a chuckle as he used a hand to flick one of his bangs off to the side. "but that's all I have left to do. You still need to get your dress done, your hair, your fancy make up… need I go on?"

"I know, I know," Lily replied as she began to fasten more colourful flowers together. "but it shouldn't take too long, right? Besides, I like being out here. It helps put my mind to ease."

"Well you can't spend all day out here, sis. You're better off finishing that little flower chain of yours before the day is wasted. Plus, you can't keep a man waiting for too long."

"Oh, but Gai, I feel so nervous," Lily responded to the man who stood beside her. "it's not every day that a woman gets married. And, just being out here makes me feel so … comforted. Like all of my worries just flow away in the winds."

"Aw, come on now. What're you worried about," Gai'vahros sat down next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and gently pulling her closer to him, causing her to lose her balance and fall against his body. "what's got you all worked up? You can tell your big brother, right?"

"Well, you know, I'm about to get married and all. It's only natural for me to feel nervous, right? All of our friends and family will be there, and they'll all be crying and stuff, and that'll make me cry, and…" Lily gave a heavy sigh as she dropped down to her knees, her hands hung in front of her legs, still holding her flower chain. "It's a lot to take in, you know? Even though I've been preparing for days, and known about it for much longer, I still feel like I'm not ready for it. Like I'll never be ready for it." The girl gave out a soft sigh, her eyes dropping into a more saddened look.

"… Is that all, Lily?" Gai'vahros hunched forwards, turning his head to look at his sister's face, noticing her expression. He began to suspect that there was more to this than she was letting on. "Lily, tell me everything what's wrong with you. I know that look on your face; you always look like that when you're upset about something."

"Well… It's about Jaycen…"

"Jaycen? You're not gonna leave him standing at the altar, are you?"

"N-no! Of course I'm not! It's just that, ever since he proposed to me, he's been very… secluded. He's been more active in his duties lately, he's been coming home later and later every evening, he doesn't talk to me as much as usual… what if he doesn't love me anymore…?"

"Oh, Lily…" Gai'vahros held her close with both hands, kissing her on the forehead as she became more emotional with each word. "The truth is Jaycen was called to help train the new recruits, what with this god-forsaken war going on. What with the high elven army bolstering the humans in Lordaeron we've been tasked to help repopulate the militia here. Jaycen has just been so overworked right now."

"But, why didn't he say anything to me?"

"He wanted to surprise you on the wedding day, I suppose. He made me swear to keep it secret 'til the big day but I don't want to see you upset. You know, they've granted him retirement as soon as you two got married so he wanted to do all he could to help his people before he hung up his armor. He's a really good elf, Lily. Greater than most I have known."

"Oh, Gai… I feel so stupid in doubting him, now…" The girl buried her face into Gai'vahros' shirt, a few tears streaming down her cheek as she sobbed softly into his chest.

"H-hey, you're gonna get my best shirt all wet." Gai'vahros humoured her as he wrapped his arms around her, embracing her, cuddling and comforting his sister. "Lily, you had all the reason to be concerned about losing Jaycen. That shows that you really care about him, and that's the kind of devotion befitting of a newlywed. Or rather, to be newlywed. Anyway, your stupidity gives you your charm."

"T-thanks, Gai. You're always there for me. You'll always be there for me, won't you?"

"Of course I will, Lily. I'll never leave you behind or leave you alone. In all my heart, I will never leave you."

"But… Gai… I have one question."

"What is it, Lily? What do you need your big brother for, now?"

"… Why did you let me die…?"

"W…what?" Gai'vahros felt his heart pound against his chest. His throat began to close involuntarily. Something sent a chill down his spine and back up again, his mind almost frozen in a state of shock and horror.

"Why did you leave me to die…?" The girl looked up at Gai'vahros. A horrific visage of despair and death upon her face. Her expression was gaunt as her jaw hung open, her mouth agape. Her skin looked as though it was stretched across her skull like a plastic bag across its contents. Her complexion was hagged and wrinkled. Her eye sockets showing through her flesh as its pale blue hue gave a translucent look upon her bones. "You promised me… you promised you wouldn't leave me alone!"

"N-no! I… I-it wasn't my fault!"

"You left me to perish at the hands of the Scourge!" Her hands clawed up at the high elf's shirt. Her nails were long, chipped and stained of pale yellows and greens. Her bones showing through her flesh as though she hadn't eaten for weeks. Quickly her shaking, trembling fingers gripped upon the face of the horrified man. Her touch was rough, dry, and as cold as death itself. Her hair began to split and flicker in a violent wind that swept over the both of them, shifting from a shining blonde to a rusty white colour, the ends of her hair bronzed in a decrepit rust colour. "You left me to be torn apart by those monsters! What say you, Gai'vahros? What say you…?"

"Lily… I-I'm sorry! I didn't know! I… I didn't know!"

"You weren't there for me, Gai'vahros," her voice became shrill, darkened and raspy. The skin upon her bones began to slowly peel and flake away, showing only a bleached skeleton underneath with mottles of a sickly green as though fungus began to fester in. The scenery began to change, twist and warp into a sinister visage as the entire landscape metamorphed into a nightmarish plane; the trees became withered and twisted while their branches contorted and coiled around one-another; the fields became corrupt with dark purple patches of decayed grass and fauna, maggots crawling in stinking mounds of soil. The scenery turned from its glorious morning into a dank and ominous blanket of twisted shadows and darkness. "you were never there for me. You were never there for anyone…"

"No! I couldn't save anyone! It wasn't my fault! Please, forgive me! I beg for forgiveness!"

"… I will not… I forsake you…" her voice rested for a moment, but her voice became dark and distorted as though a thousand souls began to speak through her, each one Gai'vahros made out to be another elven voice. Men, women, children; Gai'vahros could make out each and every one of them as clear as crystal through his ears-- through his mind. As he looked on in horror and sorrow the skin upon his sister's face began to flake away faster. Before long he was merely looking into the opened eye sockets of a decrepit and festered skull with white hair. "We ALL forsake you…"

"NO!" Gai'vahros thrust himself forwards, his arm outstretched as he tried to call, to grasp, for someone. Anyone. But, all the elf found was a dark room with bookshelves around him, a few windows on opposite walls and a desk near them. He looked around as a cold sweat dripped from his brow and cheek. His eyes were widened and his breathing frantic and heavy, but, as he looked around frantically, he began to calm down slowly. The blood elf had recognized that he was back in the Golden Oaks Library. "I… I'm… It was all just a dream…?"

The ordeal was almost too much, almost completely shattering the foundations of his heart. He looked down at the table in front of him before placing his elbows upon its oak surface, arms up right as he leaned forwards and held his head between his palms. It was painful for the blood knight to have to revisit such painful events from his past.

"Why does this haunt me so…?" Gai'vahros muttered to himself, feeling choked up and shaken to his core from experiencing such a horrible nightmare. He began to breathe slowly, but deeply, still feeling like he was left severely winded. "Is this my repentance…?" Gai'vahros looked up as he heard a rather loud snort coming from the center of the room. Rainbow Dash was still asleep soundly. Her body was sprawled out on the mattress as half of the cape she used to cover herself draped over the sides and off her body, leaving one of her hind legs exposed and half of her upper torso. The pegasus snored quite loudly, almost so much that it was a wonder as to how Gai'vahros, or anyone else, was able to sleep through it.

Gai'vahros gave a heavy sigh as he reclined back in his chair for a moment. He began to stare up at the bare oak ceiling as his mind began to wander within a tandem of thoughts, memories and regrets. Quickly he raised both hands to his face and pressed them hard, dragging his fingers down as he tried desperately to claw the sorrow from his mind, but to no avail. His hands dropped onto his knees with a audible slap before leaning forwards, standing to his feet as he pushed the chair away from him with his calves, making a light squeak noise as the chair legs scraped against the floor. Slowly, he turned and walked towards the door and gently opening it a little, enough for him to squeeze through and close it quickly so that he didn't let too much of a draft come into the library.

The sky was calm, mystical and inviting for the troubled blood elf. He looked up at the stars above, each one glinting and glistening like a diamond upon ebon silk. He turned his attention to a bench that sat nearby on the grass between a pathway and the trunk of the library. The design reminded him much of Silvermoon's own furniture, although much smaller and made of a harder wood. Slowly walking towards it, Gai'vahros let his body fall upon a seating position on the bench, looking out towards the rest of the town before, again, staring back up at the sky.

"I wonder which one of those is Azeroth…" Gai'vahros murmured to himself before reaching a hand up in front of his face. His gloved hand stuck out, open, palm facing towards the sky as if trying to reach out for the stars before closing it into a light fist. Giving a soft sigh his arm dropped down to the side as it made a little thud against the wood of the bench. "so far away… so, so far away…" It felt good for him to get some fresh air into his lungs, much fresher than what he remembered back on Azeroth. What with the war on Pandaria the only air he breathed in was a mixture of sulphur from the Goblin and Gnomish contraptions and machinery, and the smell of iron in the blood of those he was tasked to slay.

His mind began to clear up. The visages of his nightmare began to shrivel and shrink into a collapsed void, although the trauma still stuck in his mind like paints to canvas, never to be erased. Regardless, he took another deep breath before standing back up, making his way back into the library. After he had carefully entered through the doorway, not wanting to awaken Rainbow Dash by the cold or by any noise, Gai'vahros sat back down on the chair as he did prior, leaning back against it. He thought for a moment, but his eyes began to close as fatigue began to set in as his mind felt taxed.

"Am I really forsaken…?"

Chapter 12 - Like Clockwork

Daybreak began to motion into the horizon within the early hours of the morrow. The sun raised slowly as it began to beam colours of oranges and reds upon a skyline of blues and pearl whites. Seeing the sun reflect off the clouds in the sky made the horizon something of a lustrous painting upon a global canvas. Everything felt so vivid and alive despite it only being a scenery. As the light glared upon those mounds of fluff that drifted upon gentle breezes it rendered them as dark patterns of waves upon the skies, making the sunshine feel all that more glamorous. It was a sight to remember, surely.

Within the Golden Oaks Library, things were still peaceful and at rest. Twilight and Spike were on the first floor inside Twilight's sleeping quarters, with Spike curled up in a small bed-like basket, sleeping upon a soft quilt while blue silk blankets kept him tucked in and cosy. Twilight was more or less in the same state; laying on her back with her forelegs over the covers as she looked so at ease within her slumber. Rainbow Dash remained in near enough the exact state as last night, with half of Gai'vahros' cape over her body while the other half was hanging over the side of the mattress'. Gai'vahros, however, looked restless as he was hunched forwards over the desk, looking as though he couldn't get comfortable after he fell back to sleep.

Within a moment's notice, a loud ringing sound began to blare through the house for several seconds before stopping. A small *click* came from upstairs as Twilight pressed her hoof against a button on a small alarm clock. She sat up slowly before giving a big yawn and stretching her forelegs to the side. Although her eyes were half closed and looked as though she hadn't had much sleep through the night she was quite energetic as she quickly kicked the covers from her with her hind legs.

"Ah… morning already." Twilight yawned again as she spoke, holding a hoof up to her widened mouth-- a natural reaction to avoid being impolite around others when she showed her tiredness. "I hope Gai'vahros had a good night sleep… Come on, Spike, we have a lot of work ahead of us."

"Uh-hmm…" Spike tossed a little, turning over to his side as he began to mumble in his sleep. "Just five more minutes …" the baby dragon gave out a small yawn himself as he snuggled up to his pillow with an arm wrapped around it.

"No, Spike, I need you to be up to look after the library while I'm out do introduce Gai'vahros to Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie." Twilight turned and removed herself from her bed, setting down onto all fours before making her way to a dressing table.

"Nnnnng… okay, okay." Spike grumbled, sitting up in his basket. His face was still gaunt and sleepy although he knew that he had to get up at this time to help maintain the library. "Gee, Twilight, you look like you barely got any sleep last night. You normally look more… well, ready."

"I guess I still felt a bit uneasy about the whole leaving the library thing we talked about yesterday," Twilight replied to her friend as she used her magic to take hold of a soft hair brush, gently running it through her mane. "I mean, I've never left the whole library unattended for this long before. Maybe I can ask some-pony to watch over it for me while I'm gone?"

"Oh come on, Twilight, stop being such a worrywart. It's not like anyone's gonna break in here just to steal a book, right?"

"Yeah, perhaps you're right. Well, it's in my best interest to try and show Gai'vahros a good time while he's staying in Equestria."

"Oh, speaking of which, Twilight, do you think he's still sleeping? Should I go wake him up?"

"Don't worry, Spike, I'll go wake him and Rainbow Dash up. We'd better get moving early if we're going to be spending the afternoon camping. Spike, take a schedule for me, if you please?"

"Sure thing, Twilight." The little dragon was already up and on his feet at this point, quickly rushing to a nearby chest of drawers and pulling out a long piece of parchment and a quill pen already dabbed in ink somehow. "'Kay, shoot!"

"First; go and meet up with Fluttershy. Second; go meet up with Pinkie Pie. Third; return back here and get ready for camp. Forth; make sure everything is pristine, clean, and organized. Fifth; let every-pony know that we'll be away for a few days. And, finally; go camping. All of this needs to be done by at least 4 o'clock this afternoon. Did you get all of that, Spike?"

"Sure I did!"

"Good. Gotta always make a schedule when preparing for something like this. Anyway, I'd better get Gai'vahros and Rainbow Dash up so we can get going." Twilight placed the brush back down on the dressing table and made her way to the stairwell, with Spike following close behind her. However, as she trotted down the steps with little knocking sounds following her, she noticed that Gai'vahros was already wide awake on a seat next to a desk by the window with a smile upon his face.

"Ah, good morrow, my Lady Twilight. Little Spike." Gai'vahros greeted the pair of them with a soft tone and a small wave of his hand. "I trust the both of you slept well last night?"

"Probably a lot better than you did, Gai'vahros," Twilight made her way to the bottom of the steps before looking around, trying to find the second mattress but couldn't see it. "don't tell me you spent all night asleep on the chair."

"Of course. Lady Rainbow Dash felt the mattress was too uncomfortable on its own, so I let her have mine as well." Gai'vahros looked down at the sleeping pegasus, who was still snoring. looking completely relaxed.

"I see you gave her your cape, too," Twilight said with a small giggle, smiling at the two of them as the blood elf returned with a little chuckle himself. "I'm sorry you had to stick your neck out for Rainbow Dash. I appreciate you having to give up your accommodation for her, and I think she'll appreciate it more."

"It was nothing at all," Gai'vahros raised his hand as if to gesture to hold her compliments, shaking his head a little. "I was more than happy to make sure she had a good night sleep. I kind of owe it to her after what happened yesterday."

"But, Gai'vahros, you know it wasn't your fault. We all know that."

"Even so, we all do things we know that isn't out fault, and we still hold guilt over them. Making up for it puts the mind at ease. You understand, don't you?"

"Hm, yeah. You're right." Twilight nodded as she made her way to Rainbow Dash, standing over her as the pegasus kept snoring with her mouth wide open. "Rainbow Dash, wake up. You gotta get ready for camping today." the pegasus only replied with a snort before rolling over onto her side. "She really is a heavy sleeper…"

"Don't worry. I know what will work." Gai'vahros gave assurance to Twilight as he stood up from his chair and walked over to Rainbow Dash. Kneeling down in front of her, he moved his hand close to her open mouth and, with his thumb and index finger, slowly placed them inside and pinched her tongue slightly. In reflex, her mouth closed, her lips around his digits, awaking immediately. In shock as to what was happening, Rainbow Dash bolted backwards with great speed, flying off the mattress and hovering in the air.

"H-hey, what the hay are you doing!?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she stick her tongue out, trying to see what Gai'vahros had done to her. "What did you just do to me, Gai!?"

"Gai'vahros… How did you know that was going to work?" Twilight questioned the blood elf's methods with a raised eyebrow.

"And old trick I learned back home." Gai'vahros was ready to explain while wiping the pony's drool from her tongue into the cloth of his faulds. "You see, while the body sleeps it still maintains a certain spacial awareness. The mouth, for example, will close and stimulate the brain to awaken it should anything touch the inside. This reflex prevents the sleeper from inhaling and choking on objects while they sleep. Pretty cool, right?"

"No, that wasn't "cool"," Rainbow Dash complained as she began to spittle to one side. "I thought you were trying to suck out my soul or somethin'!"

"No no, of course not; that's a warlock's job."

"Well, anyway, I'm glad you're awake now, Rainbow Dash. We need to get going to meet up with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie so we can keep on schedule."

"Pfft, schedule-smedual," Rainbow Dash wasn't pleased with Twilight keeping a schedule on what was meant to be a fun week out with all of her friends. "I have enough time tables to keep up with while I'm on duty. I didn't take the week off from weather forecasting to jump hoof first into more of them."

"In any case, I think we should probably get going," Gai'vahros didn't care about schedules although he cared less for possibly having to sit through an argument between Rainbow Dash and Twilight about the importance of timekeeping. "So, my Lady Twilight, where are we headed to, first?"

"We should head over to Fluttershy's first," Twilight used her horn to pull the schedule list from Spike's grasps, holding it up to her eyes a few inches from her. "I know Sugar Cube Corner is on the way but Pinkie Pie's probably still asleep. Fluttershy will be up feeding her critters at this time."

""At this time"? Exactly what time is it?"

"It's six-thirty in the morning, Gai'vahros," Twilight said, turning to a small clock on the wall near the door. "it says so right there."

"Hm?" Gai'vahros turned, noticing a small, round, wooden device, similar to a saucer or a plate, with a glass window and numbers in a circle. Two hands-- one long and one short-- pointed at the number six on the southern face of this contraption. "What kind of machine is this?"

"Gai, that's a clock," Rainbow Dash responded with a dumbfounded tone in her voice and a raised eyebrow on her face. "you know what a clock is, right?"

"No. I've never seen such a device before," Gai'vahros was astonished by the work of equine engineering that he had to absolutely have a better look at it. Gently, he lifted it from the hook on the wall it was sitting on, holding it between his hands and turning, flipping, rotating it so he could examine it. "I mean, I've never seen one such as this before. I know that we have timers on explosives but nothing that is actually used to tell the time. We use sundials to give us the time base on the position of the sun."

"Haha, sundials," Rainbow Dash gave off a bellow of laughter as she hunched forwards. "how archaic are you guys?"

"Well, if it does the job, it does the job. No sense in fixing what isn't broken, as they say." Gai'vahros gave a calm response as he hung it back into the hook. "So this thing isn't a timer for any explosives?"

"Uh… no," Twilight gave a blunt answer. "I don't think I would want to blow up my own home, would I?"

"Oh. Yes, that makes sense."

"Well, let's go. I'm sure Fluttershy will be happy to see us."

"Hey, you guys go on ahead," Rainbow Dash said as she made her way to the door, opening it while looking back at the others. "I need to head back to Cloudsdale to get my stuff ready. I'll catch you guys up at Sugar Cube Corner." the pegasus didn't bother giving a farewell as she zoomed out the door and through the skies, heading back to Cloudsdale.

"Follow me, Gai'vahros. I'll take you to Fluttershy's place," Twilight followed suit of Rainbow Dash and headed out the door with the blood elf following her from behind. "Spike, could you look after the library while we're gone? We should be back in a few hours."

"No problem, Twilight," Spike said in a confident manner, saluting her as a token of duty. "Say "hi" to everyone for me, won'tchya?"

"Sure we will, Spike." Twilight giggled before closing the door behind her with her elven friend standing beside her. "Fluttershy's place isn't too far from here. We just got to go east of here, near Rarity's place, but we take the middle bridge this time."

"Oh yes, I recall seeing three bridges when we went to Lady Rarity's shop," Gai'vahros replied in acknowledgement of the scenery, recalling a moment when he was intrigued by the many bridges that crossed over Ponyville's river. "but where about does the third bridge lead to, my Lady Twilight? I'm rather intrigued, seeing that it leads to outside of your village"

"That bridge leads on to the main road to Canterlot. It's an hour or so walking, but we usually take the train there; it's only half an hour or so by locomotion."

"That doesn't sound like such a long time," Gai'vahros gave a light sigh before he could imagine having to spend that short a time walking from one city to another. "I remember the days when I would spend three day's grace on horseback from Silvermoon to Lordaeron. I only wish I had transportation as fast as yours to get me there in half an hour, my Lady Twilight."

"Wait, wait. "Horseback"?" Twilight stopped for a moment as they reached Sugar Cube Corner, as her rather disapproving expression beamed towards the blood knight. "You mean you ride them? You use horses to carry you?"

"Well, yes," Gai'vahros wished he hadn't mentioned such a thing; he was pretty empathetic towards Twilight, in that she had to imagine her race being used as labour. Gai'vahros probably would feel the same way if his people were used as pack mules. And they were, during the third war. "but you must understand, my Lady Twilight, that the horses and other creatures in our world are not sentient being like you and your people - uh, ponies - are. We help raise them, and look after them, and in return they become our steeds and our carriers. Kind of like helping each other. Companionship."

"I can hardly imagine a world where ponies and stallions aren't sentient," Twilight admitted as she felt rather discomforted with this information, but she would not let it strain her relationship with the Gai'vahros-- not after everything they've been through despite there being such short time. "but, then again, I guess it's hard for you to imagine a world without elves, right?"

"Haha, you can put it that way, yes," Gai'vahros gave a more comforting chuckle to help raise the spirits of his friend, "but our worlds have completely different workings. I can understand and appreciate that your world, Equestria, has no other sentient humanoids like me around. Perhaps it's better that way."

"Gai'vahros, don't say that," Twilight tried to comfort the elf despite him not looking as though he was discontent with his predicament or about his own world, but Twilight knew better; she could see that the elf was sorrowed over the fact that his world knew nothing but fighting, be it over politics, distrust, or prejudice. "you're not the only one in your world who dislikes warring between people."

"Yeah, you're right," Gai'vahros said, petting Twilight on the head, which made her feel much more at ease. Twilight could recognize that, whenever Gai'vahros touched her, it was like he was pouring his heart and soul into her. "I guess I'm just upset that I'm the only one who gets to experience what true peace can feel like. I just wish everyone could feel the way I feel right now."

"Oh, Gai'vahros…" Twilight softly cooed. She was so infatuated, so admired, towards the elf's ideals, his nobility, and his devotion. It was hard for her to believe that anyone like him could exist, even in Equestria, let alone in a world that was scarred by the rapture of strife and conflict. "we should get to Fluttershy's soon. Maybe we can help her with her critter friends." Twilight proceeded over the bridge and towards the pathway to Fluttershy's place, with Gai'vahros following behind her.

"I just hope I don't scare the pants off her. You know, if ponies wore pants."

Chapter 13 - If That's Okay...

The sun began to peer over the horizon into the morning sky, changing from an orange and violet cascade of colours to a pale, sky blue shade. The clouds drifted on soft streams of breeze through the morrow skyline, calmly to the songs of birds that spread their vocals for all those who were lucky enough to hear their beauty. The gentle swaying of the branches in the trees made the area seem more lively than it really was, rustling their leaves upon one another but not so much that it was causing a large amount of noise.

Despite Gai'vahros having seen a lot of nature and tree-bound structures in Ponyville nothing could prepare him for what would be bestowed upon him. The bridge was made of a dull gold stone with a strip of moss on each side. A few trees stood around the bridge and the house in the distance, each one fitted with small bird nests and bird houses, some of differing sizes but all the same style though with roofs of differing colours between dark regal blue to emerald green to cherry red. A small, winding pathway of tightly packed beige stone led to the front door with patches of daisy flowers at the sides.

The house itself looked like a large hill in itself but it was simply a large dome-shaped roof made of, what seemed to be, grass and other flora. The top of it had two gable windows, spread in the same foliage as the rest of the roofing, with a tall thin chimney with a bird house on the side of it. It wasn't the only bird house, though, as a couple more could be seen; one was atop of the large arch that housed the front door, while another hung from a hoop of string attached to a post near two side windows on the ground floor.

"Here we are, Gai'vahros," Twilight spoke out as they both passed halfway over the bridge, with Twilight stopping to allow Gai'vahros to marvel at the scenery in front of him. "do you like it?"

"It's very, uh, green," Gai'vahros was a bit embarrassed to speak. He wasn't entirely sure what to say although he knew what he wanted to say in his heart. He didn't want to come across as being overly attached. "but it's very beautiful, I must say. It's not every day that I get to see something so… ah, what would be an apt phrase? Inclined to nature, I guess."

"Fluttershy's really great with animals, you know," Twilight expressed a great deal of respect for Fluttershy's gift, "I remember when she scared away a cockatrice by staring at it."

"She sounds like an excellent beastmaster," Gai'vahros complimented the pegasus with terms native to his world, "but what is a cockatrice? I've not heard of such a creature. A fearsome foe, by the sounds of it."

"I'll say. The cockatrice is a dangerous creature, with the head of a chicken, body of a snake, and with bat-like wings. It has the power to turn to stone whoever stares into its eyes."

"But, wait, didn't you say your friend Fluttershy scared it away by staring at it?"

"Yeah. Well, the cockatrice was turning her to stone, but she managed to hold out long enough to make it change me and Fluttershy back to normal before scaring it away."

"To think that all I've heard is about how your friend is shy, timid and easily frightened, and, yet, she would put her life on the line for her friend. She truly is a great inspiration to all. A little peculiar, but a great friend regardless."

"Hehe, I'll be sure to tell her that." Twilight giggled as she felt a bit embarrassed about how much praise the elf was bestowing upon Fluttershy. As the two of them made their way through the winding path they both stood just in front of the door, although Gai'vahros made sure to stay behind his escort as to not appear too up front and intimidating. Twilight raised her hoof and knocked on the red wooden door three times. "Fluttershy? Are you home?" After a pause, there was no reply. Twilight and Gai'vahros stood back, waiting for someone to answer, or something to happen, but nothing.

"I guess she's not in," Gai'vahros said quietly to the unicorn, not wanting to pierce the peaceful sounds of the surroundings with his loud voice. "do you think maybe she's gone out somewhere?"

"No, I wouldn't think so," Twilight was sure that Fluttershy would be at home at this time. "she always gets up and tends to her critters at this time of day. Maybe she didn't hear me?" though before Twilight could go make another knock at the door, she saw the door creek open a little before opening fully. Stood on the other side upon a large, square, red rug was a pegasus pony of a light yellow colour and pink hair. The first thing that Gai'vahros took notice was her large, cute eyes and long eyelashes, but her long pink hair made her look even more adorable. Her cutie mark couldn't be seen, what with the pegasus standing forwards and her wings blocking the view.

"O-oh! Hello, Twilight," Fluttershy said in a quiet, very soft-spoken voice. While most ponies would have difficulty trying to listen to her, it was considerably clear to Gai'vahros' large ears. "I'm sorry I didn't answer sooner, but Angel needed his tail fluffing…"

"It's okay, Fluttershy," Twilight understood Fluttershy's reason for being a bit late answering the door. The unicorn turned to Gai'vahros, who stood behind her, to introduce him. "Fluttershy, I'd like to introduce you--"

"Oh my, Twilight, did you find this little guy in the Everfree Forest?" exclaimed Fluttershy in concern as she lifted off the ground and made her way towards the rather confused elf. "I've never seen a hedgehog like this before… maybe he's a new kind of armoured, bipedal breed?"

"Uh, no, Fluttershy, he's a--"

"Just look at his quills and skin," Fluttershy was obviously confused by Gai'vahros' hairstyle and suit of armor, not recognizing them for what they were. "he looks so thin and famished! Don't worry, little guy, Fluttershy will look after you." the pegasus was smitten with him, falsely recognizing him as a large hedgehog creature. As she spoke she began to pet him on the head like any owner would do their pets.

"I'm flattered that you would treat me with such hospitality," Gai'vahros spoke up quietly, trying to mimic Fluttershy's level of volume as to not frighten her with his sudden outburst. "but I'm not a hedgehog. Or a pet."

"Eep!" Fluttershy squeaked as her eyes widened, shooting away from Gai'vahros with a sudden burst of speed, staying several feet from him. "Y-you can talk! I-I've never heard of a talking hedgehog before…"

"No, Fluttershy, he's not a hedgehog," Twilight walked up to the two of them, her head turning to Gai'vahros. "Gai'vahros here is an elf from another world. He somehow ended up here, so we're taking care of him. I just thought we'd come by and say hello."

"O-oh, okay," Fluttershy acknowledged the situation. She had her own lot of questions to ask, but she wasn't one to pry into other people's business. "It's nice to meet you, Gai'vahros."

"No no, the pleasure is all mine, my Lady Fluttershy," Gai'vahros gave a small bow with a hand across his chest to signify his etiquette. "I'm happy that I am able to meet a pony as faithful to their friend as you, from what kind words I have been told from Lady Twilight here."

"O-oh… I-I'm not that faithful…. I don't think…" Fluttershy blushed as she hid her face behind her fair, turning sideward's to help that notion. She began feeling embarrassed and shy that someone, that she had only known for a few moments, was praising her with such admiration.

"Oh, Fluttershy, you are a great friend to all of us," Twilight spoke up as she continued to praise Fluttershy as a follow up to Gai'vahros' own words of kindness. "you've helped us out a lot of times."

"T-thank you, Twilight," Fluttershy peeked out from behind her long pink fringe, still blushing, with a sweet smile upon her lips. She turned to Gai'vahros again but a with bit more comfort as she started to get used to being around him, almost seeing a spitting image of Twilight's own friendly face in the blood elf's own. "and thank you, too, Gai'vahros. Uh… can I help you with anything else?"

"Actually, my Lady Fluttershy, we were wondering if you'd like to come camping with us this evening?" Gai'vahros gestured to himself and then to Twilight with a wave of his arm. "we're all going to go camping in the woods later. Me, Lady Twilight, little Spike, Lady Rainbow Dash, Lady Applejack and little Apple Bloom will all be going."

"C-c-camping? Oh, oh no, I couldn't do that," Fluttershy began to stutter her words quickly and softly, keeping her head down and hiding her face back behind her fringe. "I-I, uh, have to stay and look after the critters… if that's okay with you…"

"Oh, right, I didn't think about that…" Twilight became dumbstruck that she had completely forgot about how the animals were going to be taken care of while they were out. "maybe there's some-pony in Ponyville who will volunteer to look after them while we're gone?"

"Oh, oh no, I couldn't let anyone else look after them," Fluttershy insisted that she should stay and look after the critters, if not because she didn't want to impose a heavy responsibility on another person then because she did not think anyone else could be suited for such a task or have a knack for it like she does. "I-I don't want to bother any-pony else while I'm away…"

"Hmmm…" Gai'vahros thought for a moment. He knew he had a solution but it was taking a while for it to come to his mind. Someone who was good with animals would be the perfect candidate. Then it struck him; he did know of one who was legitimately great with looking after animals. "Oh! I know just the person!" Gai'vahros exclaimed, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the amber pet stone.

"O-oh… you do…?" Fluttershy didn't sound as happy as one would have thought, suggesting that her excuse was used as a scapegoat to get out of going camping though both Twilight and Gai'vahros were oblivious to that fact.

"Sure thing. Stand back." holding the gem in one hand, while hovering the other above it, he began to channel a small amount of magic into it. A small stream of blue and silver colours began to flow from the palm and tips of his fingers, swirling and dancing around the stone like a small whirlpool. The magic began to grow in velocity and expanse as the strands became thicker, sparkling as its arcane infusions began to clash, like steel upon steel, causing magnificent sparks to glisten inside the stone. Within moments the stone shone a bright golden hue before forming, in a spark of light just in front of Gai'vahros, a small humanoid creature. The person stood roughly four feet tall, slightly smaller than Twilight herself, with a bright green hue of skin and dark, brown eyes. His hair was that of a spiky mohawk style colored a dark brown with a hint of purple. His clothing consisted of a long-sleeved white shirt and dark, black pants, with no footwear of his own. Over his shirt he wore a white tabard with a symbol consisting of a pale gold circle with a black star around the outside of it.

"H-huh… where…?" the little person spoke in a child-like tone of voice, sounding a little course in his throat-- the voice of an orc. The young boy turned to look at Gai'vahros, turning his confused expression into one of happiness. "Oh, Sir Gai'vahros! H-how can I help you? You need a letter delivered? Need something put on the auction house?"

"Haha, no, no, Mogan. I need you with something a bit more delicate; something more along your line of expertise," Gai'vahros praised the young lad on having something particular that required him specifically. "my friend here, Fluttershy, needs you to look after her animals for a few days. You think you can handle that?"

"O-of course I can do that! Gruntling Mogan at your service." he turned to see both Twilight and Fluttershy standing in front of him. Fluttershy was a bit shy, but Twilight was more open in her standing with the young orc. "So, shall I start with these two, Sir?"

"No, no, no," Gai'vahros chuckled as the young boy mistook the two ponies for the animals he was tasked to look after. "this here is Fluttershy. She needs you to look after the animals she has in her house."

"W-wait, a winged horse is looking after animals? Is this that "maternal instinct" I've read about, where animals look after other animals of a different species?"

"U-uh, I'm not their mother. I just look after them." Fluttershy spoke in her natural soft voice, correcting the assumption that the little orc had made.

"Ah! The horse! It talked!" Mogan recoiled in surprised, hiding behind Gai'vahros. "Since when could horses talk like that?"

"Our world works a bit differently from yours, the way I understand it," Twilight responded as she tried to approach the small orc, but it was a little too much for him at the moment. "like you and Gai'vahros, ponies in Equestria are sentient."

"That's… quite a lot to take in," Mogan began to understand although he was still a bit uncomfortable with this predicament. It was more or less the fact that he was such a big animal lover, much like Fluttershy, that he was so composed. "so, uh, where are the ones I need to look after?"

"Oh, right. My Lady Fluttershy, would you like to show Mogan where your animals are? Don't worry, he's been trained to know the needs of every creature on Azeroth. He's an excellent naturist. We'll see you guys later, okay?"

"O-o-okay… Uh, follow me, Mogan. I'll show you around…" Fluttershy was a bit dubious with letting him inside her house although if he was a friend of Gai'vahros, who was a friend of Twilight's, then she was happy with that.

"Okay." replied Mogan. He was completely comfortable, almost infatuated, with being around Fluttershy. "Uh… Miss Fluttershy? Do you think I could brush your mane? Or clean your wings? If it's okay with you, that is…"

"Oh… that would be nice. Thank you…" the two of them headed inside, closing the door behind them. Gai'vahros and Twilight smiled at each other as they turned back towards the bridge, happy that the two of them were getting along so well, and so closely, despite their brief meeting.

"So, Gai'vahros, who is that little person?" Twilight asked but was unable to think of the words that didn't sound as offensive. "He seems to admire you greatly."

"Oh, Mogan? He's my assistant, as it were." Gai'vahros began to explain, prompting Twilight to understand that Mogan was, to the blood elf, as Spike was to her. "When I was crowned an Argent Champion, Mogan was inspired and, well, became my little assistant-- an "Argent Gruntling", as is his title."

"The "Argent Champion" title; are you part of a knightly order other than the blood knights?"

"It's a long story. We'll talk about it more at camp, okay?"

"Oh, sure thing, Gai'vahros. So, about Mogan, what does he do?"

"He's a smart little boy, raised in the right way outside of this war between the Horde and the Alliance. As part of the Argent Crusade he's been taught to fight against those who threaten Azeroth. Mogan was a young stable boy, looking after the horses for the knights and paladins, but he was so good at it, so well versed with it, that it just became his mainstay. Then they found out that he was good with animals other than horses-- pack wolves, bears, giant bats-- whatever animal approached him, be they feral or aggressive, they just… became tamed. He's kind of like an orcish version of Lady Fluttershy."

"Do you think he'll be okay with Fluttershy? This is a different world, after all. Maybe he won't be able to handle the animals here."

"He will. I have faith in the boy," Gai'vahros spoke softly with a smile on his face, turning to Twilight. "that's all you ever need in someone, my Lady Twilight. A little faith, and a little trust, can go a long way."

Chapter 14 - Right Click, Inspect

Back in the village of Ponyville everything was a lot more active than it was yesterday, and the days prior as well before Gai'vahros had turned up in Equestria. The town square was booming with life with all sorts of ponies coming and going, looking into shop windows, sitting outside of the café, and generally just having a great time outdoors. Even the noise from their talking was not like it had been in the prior days, with an abundance of warm greetings, casual conversations and cheerful small talk.

It didn't take too long for Twilight and Gai'vahros to make their way back to the town square, where they had noticed a much larger density of pony-folk than yesterday. However, the greater population made Gai'vahros a bit more nervous, remembering the commotion that he had caused yesterday with his new clothing being his only saving grace. He thought that, perhaps, the novelty of Rarity's tailoring would wear out quickly.

"There sure is a large crowd today, wouldn't you agree, Gai'vahros?" Twilight turned to speak to her elven friend but noticed an uneasy look on his face. "Uh, Gai'vahros, are you feeling okay?" Twilight had a concerned tone in her voice as she tilted her head to try and see the whole of his expression.

"I'm not so sure, my Lady Twilight," Gai'vahros replied in a soft-spoken voice. His words jittered as they left his mouth-- a slight hint of nerves affecting his speech. "I just get this feeling that we're going to have a repeat of what happened yesterday. I'm just… wait a minute," Gai'vahros took a step and moved his head forwards. His gaze fixated upon a female pony wearing a rose red and deep purple coloured skirt. "do you see that pony over there? Those colours; they're the same as mine."

"Wait, are you sure?" Twilight didn't think it was purposefully done or even to believe him. Following suit, Twilight took a close look at the same pony that stood several meters away from the two of them, who was standing near a set of double doors of a shop with a strong-looking stallion. The pony was, indeed, wearing colours that resembled the silk garments of Gai'vahros' suit. The main fabric was a red colour, while a pattern of swirls and curves weaved through the folds. "You're right, she is wearing your colours, but it's just a coincidence, right?"

"I'd like to think it, but…" Gai'vahros said quietly, muttering to himself as he placed a gloved hand on his chin in thought, fiddling with his goatee with his index finger. "yesterday, Lady Rarity needed you to help with her pattern cutting, right? Not to mention she took quite a fancy to my clothing, too."

"Are you suggesting that Rarity just… put two and two together, and decided to make a dress using your colours?"

"It's a very strong possibility. How about we ask her?" Gai'vahros was rhetorical in his question, quickly making his way to the pony in the unique dress.

"No, wait, Gai'vahros!" Twilight tried to grab at his arm to pull him back but the blood elf moved a bit too quickly for the unicorn to catch him. She gave a deep sigh of discontent as he walked off without her. "I get the feeling this is going to be really bad…"

It seemed as though most of the pony-folk were too busy or preoccupied with other things to direct much attention to Gai'vahros as he made his way through the crowds. However, the more ponies, whose visions he began to walk across, noticed him. the more began to take look at him. It was even more so recurring as he placed his hands on them gently, as a gesture to excuse him, as he moved through. Of course, most of these equines had never felt the gentle touch of Equestrian silk that lined his gauntlets, let alone the rather ticklish feel of humanoid hands and fingers along their sides. After a few moments Gai'vahros had managed to gain presence to the pony in the unique dress.

"Excuse me, my Lady," said Qai'vahros, giving a small bow as was his usual custom to new people he would greet or introduce himself too. "my name is Gai'vahros Dawnbreaker of the Knights of Silvermoon. May I--"

"You're "Gai'vahros"? Ohhhh, charmed to meet you," the lady replied in a very posh voice. She was a quite tall, cyan coloured pony, much like Rainbow Dash, with orange hair done up in a very intricate style that was reminiscent of high elven styles, with two sets of pearls around the top. The pony was very well-spoken and incredibly well-mannered; it was surprising to Gai'vahros that she had reacted in such a way, but more so to the fact that she had repeated his name as though she had heard of him. "so you're the one who should be credited for the absolutely marvelous dress?" twirling around a little and shaking her rump, the pony began to show off the flow of the silk in the sparkling sun, in which hints of gold began to shine through as though it had been infused with gold dust or glitter. "Oh, where are my manners? I'm Giselle, and this is my friend, Hairy Tipper."

"Ah, pleased to meet ya." the rather large stallion spoke as he was introduce. He was a few inches taller than his lady friend-- almost as tall as Gai'vahros. His coat was a greyish colour, with a brown mane and tail, a handlebar moustache, chest hair, a pair of sunglasses and, most noticeable of all, wore a sparkling green collared shirt.

"The pleasure is all mine, Sir Hairy Tipper." Gai'vahros responded in flattery as he bowed to the stallion in his usual demeanour. Turning back to Giselle he tried to ask her about the dress once more. "Lady Giselle, may I ask where you got that dress and how you know who I am?"

"Why, of course, dear," Giselle replied cooperatively, "this dress was made by the talented Rarity, and can be found in a lot of clothes shops in Ponyville. The posters said that the design was "Gai'vahros' Inspiration". Naturally, no one had even heard of who this was. It's a very popular design, mind you, and that there has been talks of extending the design to Canterlot!" Giselle was incredibly well-spoken about the dress design, praising its designer by a large amount. "I can see where she got that inspiration from, looking at that incredible suit of armour you're wearing."

"Haha, oh, you flatter me too much, my Lady Giselle," Gai'vahros began to blush a cherry red, scratching the back of his head as he gave an awkward smile to the pony. "I didn't even think that Lady Rarity would consider using my armor as a basis for her own clothing. I'm honoured to be of assistance to her."

"Heehee, modest and polite. I'm beginning to like you, Sir Gai'vahros." Giselle began to become quite infatuated with the blood knight, despite being a completely different species than him. It was apparent that she was a great example of someone who could see past a person's looks and see them for who they are, if a bit too much. "Listen, I heard that, if they do end up marketing this new line of design in Canterlot, that they'll be making a public advertisement. I'm sure you'll want to get in on the action, right?"

"Oh, that would be splendid." Gai'vahros felt as though he was beginning to fit in with the Equestrian community quite well, even if it was only a small community in Ponyville.

"Great! Since you know Rarity quite well I'll send her a notice, and to let you know about it, too. I must rush, though; I've a train to catch to Canterlot. I hope I'll be seeing more of you soon, Sir." Giselle gave a grin and batted her eyes as she strode past Gai'vahros, with Hairy Tipper following behind her.

"Ahah, yeah…" Gai'vahros was more nervous than he was before, now, breathing a sigh of relief as she had walked out of earshot. His body was so tense that he still felt like his back was locked into position, having no chance to relax throughout most of that conversation. Giselle's infatuation towards him made the blood elf feel uneasy.

"Ah, Gai'vahros," Twilight spoke out as she managed to meet up with the Gai'vahros. She looked back towards Giselle, who had walked off into the distance north, before turning back to the elf. "I'm surprised you didn't scare her away, walking up to her like that from out of nowhere. I heard the whole thing from nearby. Sorry for eavesdropping. Uh, are you feeling okay?"

"You said you heard the whole thing, and you still ask me that?" Gai'vahros sounded as though he was completely out of breath. "That was probably the most awkward thing I've been a part of. And I've done a lot of awkward things in my time."

"Oh… yeah, that was pretty hard to watch," Twilight admitted to the blood elf, "but I saw Pinkie Pie head towards Sugar Cube Corner while you were, uh, talking with that pony. Come on, I'll take you there."

"Good. Maybe later I was wash my brain out with soapy hot water…"

The two of them left the shop corner and headed towards Sugar Cube Corner with Gai'vahros following a few feet behind Twilight, not having much motivation to try and keep up with her for the moment after what had just transpired. It didn't take too long, though, what with the distance between the shop and Sugar Cube Corner only being a hundred yards or so.

It seemed that the more things Gai'vahros was seeing, the weirder it was to him each time. In front of him stood a large building, at least four stories high, that reminded the blood elf of a huge sponge cake. The main bulk of the building looked like a thatched roof cottage, only the roof looked like it was made of chocolate with icing around the edges. The walls were of a cream coloured plaster with light brown wooden trimming. A couple of windows sat on each side of the pink front door with rose-tinted glass. Above the door was a small arch supported by two columns that looked exactly like pink striped candy canes. The top of the roof had a two storey tower that looked like two cupcakes atop one another with three lamp posts on top in the style of candles.

"This is truly, uh, awe-inspiring, to say the least," Gai'vahros tried not to offend Twilight by his use of words, and so opted to sugarcoat it. "I must admit that every building I've seen looks completely vivid to me, but this takes the cake. Uh, no pun intended."

"I think it looks rather fitting," Twilight responded, giving compliments to its architecture. "this is a bakery, after all. I think its looks gives the place a nice, bubbly charm. Don't you agree, Gai'vahros?"

"Now that you put it that way, I guess--"

"HEYA!" Suddenly, from the left side of Gai'vahros, a loud high-pitched voiced bellowed into his huge ear, causing him to stagger sideways and nearly trip over his own feet. "Oh, hey, a clown! I love clowns! You gonna tell a joke? Oooooh, no, make a balloon animal!"

"First a hedgehog, and now a clown…" Gai'vahros muttered under his breath as he turned to look at the one who almost burst his eardrum. The pony was a neutral pink colour with thick, curly hair of an even hotter shade of pink. Her eyes shone a bright aqua blue. Gai'vahros was also able to make out her cutie mark-- three balloons adorned her flank; one yellow and two blue. "Lady Twilight, is this… your friend?" Gai'vahros felt he didn't need to ask; a pink pony called "Pinkie Pie" made a lot of sense to him, at least more so than the chocolate sponge cake bakery.

"Yeah, she can be a little… crazy." Twilight leaned up to Gai'vahros to whisper into his ear.

"Oh, hey, Twilight," Pinkie Pie said cheerfully, bouncing up and down on all fours before bouncing towards Gai'vahros and Twilight. "did you come to see the clown make balloon animals, too?"

"Pinkie, this isn't a clown," Twilight began to explain to Pinkie. Whether or not it would be much good even Twilight didn't know. "This is Gai'vahros. He's from another world from ours."

"Oh my gosh, another world!?" Pinkie stopped in a frozen position. Her eyes widened as she glanced at Twilight, then to Gai'vahros, then back to Twilight. "… Do you think he's here to eat our brains…?" Pinkie leaned forwards, whispering into Twilights ear before shifting her gaze to Gai'vahros.

"Uh, no, Pinkie. He ended up here by accident. He's a knight in his world and we're looking after him until we can find a way to take him back."

"Oooooh, a knight? Well WHY didn't YOU say so!?" Pinkie Pie jumped as she yelled out as a huge smile sprawled across her face. She dashed over to Gai'vahros, turning him around so he was facing her before she began staring at him. It was as though the pony became a living statue; not moving, probably not even breathing, and just staring at him.

"…" Gai'vahros paused in a fixated position, staring back at Pinkie Pie like they were having a staring contest.

"…"

"…uh, may I ask what you are doing…?"

"Well, DUH, I'm inspecting your gear! Oh, and your spec!"

"… my gear? And my "spec"?"

"Yup!"

"… Lady Twilight… help me… it's like she's staring into my soul…"

Twilight gave a soft sigh as she walked over to Pinkie Pie, putting a hoof on her shoulder. "Pinkie, uh, we really wanted to talk to you about something."

"Oh! Okay!" Pinkie halted her staring, much to the absolute relief of Gai'vahros. "So, whatchya wanna talk about, Twilight?"

"Well, we were all going to go on a camping trip in the forests this evening for a couple of days. You know, so we can all get to know Gai'vahros better. We were wondering if you wanted to come along with us?"

"Oooooh, I like camping! Almost as much as I love parties! No, wait, no, that's not right. I like crumpets as much as I like parties! Oh, unless there's crumpets at the party then it's an AWESOME party! Will there be crumpets when we go camping?"

"Uh… sure, Pinkie…"

"So, Gai, you're coming, too? Mind if I call you "Guy"? How about "Vah"? Maybe "Ross"? Oooooh, no, how about "Guy-vah"? Or maybe just… "Gah"?"

"U-uh, "Guy" will be more than acceptable," the blood elf was still incredibly uncomfortable around Pinkie Pie, but he knew that she was a close friend of Twilight's so he had to try and make the most of it.

"Oh, okay, Gai. I'll see you later! Bring crumpets, too!" Pinkie Pie gave a rather bellowing farewell before hopping down the street around the corner from Sugar Cube Corner.

"Anar'alah belore," Gai'vahros gave a heavy sigh as he wiped his brow with the back of his hand. "for a moment there I thought she was trying to make my heart explode. With her eyes."

"Oh, don't worry, Gai'vahros," Twilight said with a small giggle, trying to reassure him-- not that it was going to work. "that's just Pinkie Pie being, well, Pinkie Pie. I guess now we'll have to see if Rarity wants to come, too. Oh, oh no, I forgot to put that down on my schedule!"

"Ah, don't worry about the schedule, my Lady Twilight," Gai'vahros reassured her, comforting her in her worry about losing track of time. "we've got plenty of time to do that before we start packing, right?"

"Yeah, you're right. Sorry for being such a worrywart."

"No need to apologize. Oh, actually, isn't Lady Rainbow Dash meant to be meeting up with us here?"

"Someone mention my name?" A voice came from behind the both of them. Rainbow Dash hovered only a few meters from their position, holding, around her body, a large backpack likely filled with camping equipment. "So, Gai, did ya meet up with Pinkie Pie? I bet you had a blast, right?"

"Yeah… you could say something like that…"

Chapter 15 - Not Enough Dresses

The skies began to become much clearer now as the clouds retreated and dispersed into the four winds. Thin veils of cotton were all that remained in the open air though that only made more room for the golden sun to shine upon Ponyville. There wasn't much of a breeze, either, like there was earlier in the day. The air felt still and stagnant though there was still a feel of coolness in it, although it was contrasted by the warmth of the sun upon the horizon.

Gai'vahros began to feel a bit dizzy, going back and forth from place to place as though he was just running around in circles. At this point it wasn't exactly far from the truth. Himself, Twilight and Rainbow Dash had made their way back over the southern-most bridge towards the Carousel Boutique-- Rarity's home and workplace-- in order to try and get Rarity to join them on their camping trip.

"Come on, Twilight," Rainbow Dash called out to her friend, who was walking a few feet in front of her, as she tagged along from behind, floating a few feet off the ground. "you honestly think that Rarity, of all ponies, will wanna come camping? You know what she's like."

"Well, there's no harm in trying, right?" Twilight replied in a manner of defence for Rarity, "Besides, it's not like I can just leave Rarity out of this. She'll be more upset if I didn't ask her than suggesting the idea to her."

"Oh? Why won't she want to join us?" Gai'vahros opened the question for one of the two ponies to answer. He wasn't well versed in Rarity's preferences, so he couldn't understand why she wouldn't want to come.

"Because little miss prissy-pants doesn't like getting her hooves dirty," Rainbow Dash replied in a somewhat callous tone, though it was more of a joke than an insult. "she'd much rather relax in her room with all of her clothes and perfumes where everything is all clean and tidy and stuff."

"I'm sure she'll come with us," Twilight spoke up in positivity as the three of them made their way over the bridge, "with the rest of us going I think she'll be more inclined to join us."

It didn't take too long before the trio made their way to the front of Carousel Boutique. For a moment they all stopped to try and notice any sign of life coming from the building, to make sure that Rarity was in, before knocking. Some sounds could be heard coming from the ground floor though the most prevalent of these was a sewing machine, something that Gai'vahros began to mistake for an engineer's working station.

Twilight walked up to the front door and, strongly, knocked a few times upon its hard wooden surface. "Rarity, are you home?" Twilight called out, though it was pretty obvious to the lot of them that she was inside. The sound of machinery came to a halt after a moment.

"Oh, Twilight," A glamorous and joyful voice called out, although it was muffled what with a door being between them. "I'll be with you in just a moment, dear!" Rarity quickly hopped off the stool she was on and trotted to the front door, opening it to see the faces of Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Gai'vahros. "Good morning! I see you brought your little friend as well. Oh, and Rainbow Dash."

"H-hey, what's that supposed to mean!?" exclaimed Rainbow Dash with an agitated look upon her face as she looked down at Rarity.

"Why, nothing at all, Rainbow Dash, dear." Rarity replied, with a smile on her face, in satirical humour at the pegasus' response. Turning back to her machine she trotted across the room before taking a seat on the stool. "So what brings you all here so early?"

"We came to ask if you wanted to come camping with us, Rarity," Twilight answered in a calm tone, as though she was expecting to say "yes". "Everyone's gonna be there."

"C-c-camping? You must be joking," Rarity spoke in a shrill voice, "I absolutely can NOT risk to get my hooves dirty. Do you know what kind of bacteria thrive in the wild!?"

"Hey, did someone say "camping"?" A little, tiny voice came from the stairway. A small filly, the same size as Apple Bloom, came down the stairs as soon as the word 'camping' was mentioned. She had a snow white coat and pale green eyes, with a thick, curly mane of lavender and rose pink. She looked towards the ground, taking a keen notice of Gai'vahros in particular. "Hi, Twilight. Hi, Rainbow Dash. Uh, hi… hedgehog."

"Sweetie Belle, don't be so rude," Rarity scolded her little sister for referring to Gai'vahros in such an uncouth manner. "this here is Gai'vahros. He's the one who gave me inspiration to make this dress design."

"Ah, so it WAS you who made that red and purple dress I saw earlier today?" Gai'vahros spoke up; it was the reason he wanted to speak to Rarity, after all.

"You mean, someone has already bought my dress!?" Rarity exclaimed as she pressed her fore-hooves into her cheeks. "Well, this is ab-so-lute-ly WONDERFUL! I have to keep working so I can keep up with demands! Oh, I'm so sorry, where are my manners? Gai'vahros, this is Sweetie Belle-- my little sister."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, little Sweetie Bell," Gai'vahros said with a smile on his face, offering the filly a small bow. "I wasn't aware Lady Rarity had a little sister. I never got the chance to meet you yesterday."

"Heehee, that's because I was at the clubhouse with Scootaloo all day yesterday," Sweetie Belle replied with a cheerful look on her face, though it quickly turned into an expression of confusion. "but I didn't see Apple Bloom all day, either. Is she sick?"

"Oh, no, no, nothing like that," Gai'vahros assured the little filly that Apple Bloom was okay. "she was with me and Twilight for most of the day, but she got grounded for being outside of the village without supervision."

"O-oh… that's my fault," Sweetie Belle mumbled her words although they were still audible to everyone in the room. "me and Scootaloo were trying to make jewellery and, well, we asked Apple Bloom to look for some gems while we were getting the metalwork done. I'm sorry we caused so much trouble…"

"Hey, it's okay," Gai'vahros walked over to Sweetie Belle and knelt down, comforting her by petting her head with a silk hand. "it's not like you put your friend in danger or anything. You couldn't have known she'd get in trouble, right?"

"Yeah… you're right, I guess…"

"Good. Anyway, Lady Applejack and little Apple Bloom will be coming with us as well, so you can talk to her then. Oh, that's right, Lady Rarity, why don't you come with us? I'm sure your adoring fans can wait a few days before getting their dresses. Exactly how many have you made already?"

"Oh, not a lot, dear," Rarity replied, "only a hundred and fifty seven. No, eight, a hundred and fifty eight."

"… a hundred… and fifty eight…? I-I'm quite sure that will be enough to tide your customers over for a few days while we're out."

"Well, yes, but I refuse to go camping! It's all dirty, and wet, and filled with itsy, bitsy, squishy creepy-crawlies out there! Gosh, it's mortifying even thinking about setting one hoof in the forest!"

"Awwwww, but Rarity, I wanna go camping," Sweetie Belle looked up to Rarity with a sad expression on her face. "and we can spend lots of sisterly time together!"

"Absolutely not, Sweetie Belle!"

"Pleaaaaase?" the little filly moved her head closer, her eyes swelling up like a little puppy dog's. The notion began to make Rarity more inclined, soothing her displeasure at such a trip.

"Oh… oh, alright," Rarity accepted the offer, albeit still rather reluctantly, putting a foreleg around her little sister and holding her close. The two of them gave a little smile at one another before Rarity turned her attention to her guests. "I guess I can take a little break, what with working on new designs all week."

"Awesome!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, pumping her hoof into the air. "Hey, if Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle are coming along, we'd better bring Scootaloo with us, too."

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle responded, rushing to the front door. "I'll go tell Scootaloo right away! Cutie Mark Crusader's camping trip!" the filly rushed out the front door as she yelled a powerful cry.

"Uh… "Cutie Mark Crusaders"?" Gai'vahros opened the floor for any response to his question.

"Uh, we'll let them explain when we go camping," Twilight responded, "but that's everyone, right? Me, Gai'vahros, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo…"

"I'm pretty sure that's everyone, Twi," Rainbow Dash assured her friend that the entire roster was accounted for, "so shall we head back to yours and get everything packed?"

"Oh! Oh!" Sweetie Belle rushed back through the front door, yelling as though she had just remembered something or had a good idea. "That reminds me, I found something outside the clubhouse! Be right back-- I'll go get it!"

"Oh, Sweetie Belle," Rarity had a rather disappointed tone in her voice, rolling her eyes as her little sister ran back up the stairs. "I told her to take that thing to the guards so they can handle it."

"Handle what, Rarity?" Twilight asked.

"Oh, Sweetie Bell found some crummy, dirty, battered old rucksack outside her clubhouse. She thought she'd bring it back here just in case it belonged to anyone. It kind of reminds me of Applejack's hat, actually. Well, minus the crummy, dirty, battered part."

"Here it is," Sweetie Belle cried after galloping down the stairs with the top handle of the backpack held in her mouth. The filly placed it down on the ground where it stood upright almost without any sag as though it was held up by a large amount of densely packed objects. "so, uh, does this belong to anyone?"

"Wait, hold on," Gai'vahros exclaimed in a surprised manner, his eyes lighting up upon seeing the old tan rucksack. Swiftly he moved from the doorway to where Sweetie Belle was and knelt down. He placed his hands over it, feeling the rough and frayed linen upon his fingers. "this is my rucksack! Oh, thank you so much, little Sweetie Belle!" Sweetie Belle giggled and blushed cherry as the blood elf looked up with the biggest smile on his face. Quickly, he unclipped the buckle on the front and lifted the flap. Everything that he had missing was in here-- his hearthstone, jeweller's kit, pickaxe-- everything that he had brought with him was all here, including a few change of clothes.

"Oh, I'm so relieved, Gai'vahros," Twilight exclaimed in a sigh of relief, heading over to him. "is that everything?"

"I'm afraid not," Gai'vahros replied as he placed his hand down near the bottom of the rucksack, pulling out a large hand-sized stone of pearl white with a single engraved rune. "my hearthstone seems to be out of power. I was hoping to use it to return back home, but I guess the magic infused into it doesn't work here."

"Oh… I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, my Lady Twilight. Don't be absurd. I wouldn't return home yet, anyway; I'm still missing my arms."

"But, they're right there." Sweetie Belle said as she placed her hooves on his forearms, oblivious to the fact that he wasn't referring to that kind of 'arms'.

"Haha, no, not those kind of arms," Gai'vahros chuckled as he took the filly's forelegs into his hands and placed them back on the ground. "I'm talking about my weapons. They weren't in my backpack, so I'm thinking they were probably scattered elsewhere."

"Hey, you never know, Gai," Rainbow Dash tried to cheer up the otherwise visibly disappointed blood elf, flying over to him and placing a hoof on his shoulder. "we might find them when we go camping. How about we go south to near where you fell-- one of them is bound to turn up near there, right?"

"You make a good point, my Lady Rainbow Dash, but I doubt it's as easy as that. Still, that's the best idea we've got so far. So, camping to the south it is?"

"Sounds great," Twilight nodded in agreement as Gai'vahros stood back up, slinging his backpack over his shoulders. "we've still got plenty of time. So, how about we set off at four o'clock?"

"Sounds fabulous," Rarity agreed cheerfully though her joy was directed to her pattern cutting rather than the trip. "that'll give me enough time to reach two hundred dresses in total."

"Perfect. Well, see you all in a few hours time, then!" Twilight gave her goodbyes, as did Rainbow Dash and Gai'vahros in their own way, before making their way out of the door. "Gai'vahros, you seem to keep playing with that little box in your hand. Is it something important?"

"Oh, this?" Gai'vahros replied, holding his hand still so he could show the two ponies as he began to explain. "No, it's not overly important. This is a jeweller's kit. This has all the tools I need in order to cut gemstones and "empower" them, so to speak."

"Huh? To "empower" them?" Rainbow Dash was confused as she flew a little closer to inspect the intricate box. "You can infuse magic into gems?"

"In a sense. Allow me to explain," Gai'vahros held the box in front of both ponies so they could see better. The box was as large as the blood elf's open palm and a few inches high, made of solid wood that wasn't like anything found on Equestria. The box was a dark mahogany colour though there was hints of a lighter shade similar to birch wood. Metal trimmings and livery lined the edges and corners of the box in bright gold that shined with great clarity in the sun. Gai'vahros placed his index finger on a small clasp on the front of the lid, which slowly sprung open on two circular hinges on the sides, revealing a small mirror on the underside of the lid and various tools inside the box' main body, including a set of small side cutters, various different pliers, a small hammer, a felt cloth, a small whetstone, and a straight edge blade. "jewelcrafters have a kit that contains all the essential tools for cutting gems. They can be cut to any shape or size-- it doesn't affect our ability to empower gems. Once the gem is cut we can use our knowledge as jewelcrafters to give the gem a certain quality that affects the wearer or holder."

"You mean, you can make jewellery and give them a certain power?" Twilight asked, trying to hold back her enthusiasm. She began to think back to another set of jewellery that had certain kinds of powers.

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Gai'vahros replied, closing the jewellery kit with his thumb. "we can bestow certain enhancements to certain gems depending on their colour. For example, jewelcrafters can empower rubies and other red gems to grant their holder extra strength or agility, or empower blue gems with the power to give the holder increased stamina. Gems that have the colour of two gems can benefit from both powers but at a smaller rate. An example would be that we can empower a purple gem-- a colour comprised of red and blue-- with both strength and stamina, but not as much as a gem that is a prime colour."

"That's… amazing, Gai'vahros," Twilight was astonished that something like that could exist outside of the Elements of Harmony. "Is that why you asked Rarity for a gem? So you could cut it for her and empower it for her?"

"Yeah, that's right." Gai'vahros blushed a little with a smile on his face.

"I just hope that Spike hasn't… uh… oh no…"

"Spike hasn't… No. Nooooooooo!" Gai'vahros yelled out as he clutched the jewellery kit in his hand, sprinting off over the bridge as Twilight and Rainbow Dash followed close by. "If that dragon's eaten it, I'll gut him like a murloc!"

Chapter 16 - Squeaky Clean

Back at the Golden Oaks Library, there didn't seem to be much commotion as there was a few hours ago. The town square was a lot quieter than it was in the early morning although this was likely due to most of the ponies doing their early shopping while others were heading off to their workplace. Still, there were little scatters of pony-folk who still hung around the streets, providing the atmosphere with a sociable vibe, idly talking among their peers as the day went by.

Inside was much more of a different story. The air wasn't filled by the noise of small talk and conversations, but rather the clattering of kitchen utensils. The library had a scattering of various sacks and cartons, ranging from flour, milk, sugar, cinnamon and other ingredients generally used for baking. Whoever was utilizing these ingredients was making a messy job of it; the sack of flour was almost completely on its side, allowing the contents to spill lightly on the floor, while the tablespoon used for measuring the sugar was on the floor, away from the sugar container.

"Oooooh, I can't wait to try this," Spike spoke to himself in utter excitement. The little dragon held a large glass bowl in one hand while stirring the mixture inside it with a long wooden spoon. He kept his eyes on a cook book in front of him, showing the recipe of a large two-tiered cake. "and I really can't wait to see what you taste like!" Spike shifted his head from the cook book, looking at a large diamond sitting on the table beside him. For a moment, the dragon began to drool but quickly composed himself; he didn't want any drool in his cake batter.

Spike paused for a moment and let go of the spoon, letting it fall to one side of the bowl. Reaching out, he picked up the diamond and held it close to his face. He marveled at its utmost perfect clarity as though it was made out of glass, but it was in his draconic instincts that he knew that this was the greatest of all gemstones. He began to turn his hand to see the light refract through its faces, causing it to give off a rainbow-like projection of light as it passed through. "Oh gosh, I just can't wait to taste you," at this point, Spike was all but possessed by his lust for the gem. "maybe… maybe one little bite will be okay…"

Suddenly, a huge crash came from the front of the library. The door swung wide open, revealing a mortified Gai'vahros panting heavily as he tried to get his breath back from sprinting half the length of the village as quickly as he could. "Stop right there!" Gai'vahros yelled out, his arm stretched and pointed at the little dragon who was still holding the diamond close to his mouth. "I can't let you do that, Spike!"

"W-what? But I'm making a cake!" Spike cried out, but it was of no use. Gai'vahros ran across the room, leaping over the table, where everything that Spike was using sat, knocking over the cook book and pouncing on the baby dragon. The poor dragon fell backwards, flinging both the diamond and his mixture into the air. "N-no! My cake!"

"Ah! My diamond!" Gai'vahros looked up in shock as he saw the gem fly towards the center of the room. As quickly as he could, he tried to scramble to his feet but, with a small soft dragon underneath him, he found it difficult to try and get up without stomping on him. In desperation, the blood elf scrambled only to one foot and, with all the strength he could muster, pushed off of his strong leg and made a dive for the diamond. Landing belly first on the tree trunk table in front of him he stretched out his hand as the diamond fell, managing to grasp it. "Haha! I've got--" without a moment's pause, so did Gai'vahros catch the bowl of cake batter, except the wrong way up, on the top of his head. "…it…"

"Gai'vahros! Are you okay?" A voice called out from the side of the blood elf. Twilight rushed in through the door to see the commotion but ended up looking more at the scenery than at the humiliated Gai'vahros. "Wha… what happened in here?" Twilight was speechless as she found parts of the library covered in white powder, as well as a few pieces of furniture knocked over and her assistant knocked prone.

At almost as soon as Twilight spoke, Rainbow Dash turned up just outside the doorway, looking around before bellowing a huge fit of laughter while holding her stomach. "Haha! Gai, what're you doin' with a bowl on your head?" the pegasus didn't know what was funnier; the image of seeing an awesome knight slumped over a stump with a bowl on his head, or the fact that cake batter was dripping down his face and shoulders.

"HE'S what happened, Twilight," yelled Spike as he got up, visibly frustrated at Gai'vahros, pointing towards the slumped elf. "I was making a jewel cake and then he comes busting in, yelling at me, and then pounced on me!"

"And not a moment too soon." Gai'vahros finally gained composure as he pushed himself off the stump with his free hand, still holding the diamond in the other. Taking the bowl off his head, he felt a shiver down his spine as he began to feel the cold cake batter drip over his forehead and seep through his hair onto his scalp. "Ugh… my hair… twice in two days…"

Twilight, however, felt more sorry for the distraught blood elf than she did for her favourite assistant. Walking over to Gai'vahros, she gave a soft sigh as she picked the diamond from his hands with her magic. "Spike, this jewel isn't for you," she said in a disappointed tone towards Spike, making her way over to a nearby desk and setting the diamond down. "Rarity gave this Gai'vahros so he can cut it for her."

"R-Rarity gave it… to Gai…?" Spike muttered quietly. Inside, he could feel his heart begin to crack, distraught that she would give something so amazing to a guy she'd only know for a day at the time. "But, what was it doing in my bag?" the dragon asked with a confused look on his face.

"What do you mean "in your bag"?" Twilight responded, equally baffled as to what Spike was yammering about. "The diamond was in the bag I took yesterday, along with those bottles of lotion for Rarity."

"But, Twilight, your bag was here all day hanging over there." Spike pointed to a small coat hanger fixed onto the wall, holding a small beige satchel with two books inside.

"O-oh… I must have taken your bag by accident, Spike. I was wondering why there were so many sheets of paper inside it, though I thought they were just notes." Twilight sighed as she walked over to Spike with an apologetic look on her face. "I'm sorry, Spike. It was because of my rushing around that all this happened."

"It's no big deal, Twilight," Spike said as he hugged Twilight's leg. "I just wish I got to taste that awesome diamond."

"Oh, don't worry, little Spike," Gai'vahros spoke up in a more relaxed manner while using a spray bottle in his backpack to get most of the mixture out of his locks and off his face. "you can still make that jewel cake of yours when I'm finished with the diamond."

"Y-you really mean it!?" Spike exclaimed, his eyes lighting up at the thought of having his diamond jewel cake.

"Sure. When jewel-cutting, there's always going to be shavings that are usually discarded or cut into smaller gems. Whatever shavings I don't need, you can have. Okay?"

"Chyeah that's okay," Spike jumped with joy as he could finally get to make his cake. "thanks so much, Gai. You're the best! Well, Twilight's the best, naturally, but you're definitely a close second!"

"My pleasure. But, I think we'd better tidy up. After that, I could do with a bath…"

The group were more than capable of revitalizing the library within an hour or so. Twilight began to use her magic in order to put some of the books back on the shelf that had been knocked from their places during Spike and Gai'vahros' scuffle. Rainbow Dash used her powerful wings to create small gusts of wind to blow the clouds of dust and smoke from the flour out the windows. Spike was occupied with the washing up and replacing all of the things that he had taken out when he was making his cake. Lastly, Gai'vahros helped out by wiping down the surfaces and cleaning the floors, desks and walls of any dirt and stains, all the while mumbling about the cake batter drying in his hair.

"Whew," Twilight wiped her brow with a hoof, looking around as to how much cleaner the place looked. "I thought it would take a lot longer than that."

"Pfft, if I was on my own I coulda got this all done in ten seconds flat!" Rainbow Dash scoffed at Twilight's remark as she crossed her forelegs over her chest.

"And you probably would have blown all the books and furniture out the window, too," Gai'vahros made a little quip, followed by a humoured laugh. Twilight and Spike joined in with the laughter while Rainbow Dash turned her head to the side and huffed. "but I must insist I go take a bath or something."

"Ah, I know just the place." Twilight said with a smile on her face.

A half an hour later, Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Spike found themselves laying on long silken masseuse beds, each one laying on their backs as they began to relax, settling themselves in. A few spa ponies were available to the trio, offering their services should any of them require them.

"Ah, it's been a long while since I've had the chance to relax like this." Twilight cooed as she rolled over onto her side, looking at Rainbow Dash. "Don't you think this is great, Rainbow Dash?"

"Well yeah," Rainbow Dash said in a rather reluctant voice as she kept eyeing one of the spa ponies. "but she keeps coming over here with that file, like she wants to give me a hooficure or something."

"Well of course she would, you agreed to have the 'small package'; that's a massage, hot bath and hooficure. It's not like anyone comes into the spa for a small package and not get a hooficure."

"Well I didn't know what I was getting." Rainbow Dash snapped back at Twilight. Stretching her wings a little, she rolled over to the other side and watched one of the doorways at the back of the spa. "Speaking of which, when is Gai gonna finish in there? It doesn't take this long to get changed, right?"

"I don't know, Rainbow Dash. I mean, I would think taking off those clothes and armor would take some time. Probably not twenty minutes, but still..."

"Hey, Gai," Rainbow Dash called over to the dressing room, "you done in there yet?" Rainbow Dash was expecting a quick reply but, after waiting for a moment, there was no such thing. The pegasus instead turned to one of the nearby spa ponies. "Uh, excuse me?"

"Oh, miss, you would like that hooficure now?" a pink spa pony with bright blue eyes answered Rainbow Dash while holding a file between her teeth.

"Uh, no, no thanks," Rainbow Dash declined as she shifted her rear legs away from the spa pony. "could you, uh, check on our friend?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," the spa pony apologized, hoping that it wouldn't offend Rainbow Dash. "your friend said he was going to be a while and… uh, he asked that we don't check in on him while he's changing."

"Aw, man," Rainbow Dash moaned as she hit the back of her head against the soft pillow of the bed. "How long is he gonna be!?"

Just at that moment, the door slowly began to open, causing everyone within the spa to turn around. Even the customers who had been here before the gang's arrival, who had noticed Gai'vahros as well, turned in anticipation to see the blood elf make his entrance. After a brief pause, Gai'vahros poked his head around the door and put one leg out. Even though he was used to being bare around Twilight, he wasn't comfortable being stark naked, minus a long bath towel around his waist that hung to his ankles, around a huge crowd. The more he looked, the more faces he counted; around fifteen ponies, all with their eyes on him. Standing tall and with a huge blush on his face, Gai'vahros stepped out fully. His body was toned, showing off his musculature, which began to make many of the ponies blush-- Rainbow Dash included.

"Anar'alah, this is so embarrassing…" Gai'vahros mumbled to himself. He began to walk over to the nearby hot tub before being intercepted by a spa pony.

"Oh, Sir, I'm glad everything is in order," the pony spoke, smiling as she looked up to Gai'vahros. However, she was unable to take her eyes off him for a moment. "is there anything I can do for you?"

"O-oh, no, thank you," Gai'vahros replied with an awkward smile on his face; he just wanted to quickly get into the bath, wash himself down, and get out of there. "I appreciate the hospitality." the spa pony gave a little nod as she went about her business again.

"Why are you wearing that towel, Gai'vahros?" Twilight called out. It was strange to her that Gai'vahros would need a towel considering he was only going to have a bath.

"W-why? Because… because I'm cold," Gai'vahros quickly replied with an excuse, "and I don't have a fur coat to keep me warm like you ponies do."

"Hey, Gai," Rainbow Dash said, watching the blood elf move across the room. "you do know you're gonna have to take that towel off before you get in the bath, right?"

It was as if time had stopped for the Gai'vahros. Rainbow Dash' words began to seep into his mind; he did, indeed, need to take off the towel. Frozen in place, his eyes shifted to Rainbow Dash as her and Twilight kept gazing at him. The longer they stared, the more nervous he got. Thankfully, all of the other customers had gotten over the novelty of seeing a half-naked elf in their spa, so they weren't paying him much attention.

'My god. I completely didn't think that through!' Gai'vahros thought to himself as he made his way up the steps to the bath. Bashfully, he looked around but, like a rock star on center stage, he noticed that he was the most noticeable person in the spa, standing on the highest elevation in the building beside the huge tub. Now all eyes were on him. Quickly, without thought, the Blood Elf hopped over the side and landed feet first into the tub while still wearing the bath towel. The ponies looked on in confusion as he vaulted over the edge, still in the towel, and watched as the blood elf took the towel out of the water and set it on the floor beside him. "Ah, that was easy enough…" Gai'vahros murmured to himself with a smile on his face, leaning back against the side with his arms draped over it.

"Gai'vahros, you're supposed to remove the towel BEFORE getting into the bath," Twilight yelled out across the room, feeling embarrassed that he did such a thing. "Isn't that how you do things in your world, too?"

"Oh… uh, no, we don't do that in our world," Gai'vahros replied with an uneasy smile while dipping his head into the water, wetting it and rinsing his hair out for any dried cake mixture. "It's considered polite to not show your naked body to other people, so we remove our towels after getting into a bath."

"Yeah, right. I bet he's hiding something." Rainbow Dash called out Gai'vahros on his bluff, who only responded with a small blush though it was hidden behind his long locks of hair. "Doesn't matter, anyway; he still has to try and get out of the tub without a towel, now."

Gai'vahros looked up at the pony and then over the side of the tub. Trying to lean over the edge, Gai'vahros extended his arm to try and reach the towel but it was too far for him to grab without standing up. Naturally, he couldn't afford to do that.

"There's always something in a plan that has to go wrong…"

Chapter 17 - Sciens Friendship

By the time the group had got out of the day spa, a gentle breeze rolled over the town, passing through pony and structure alike. It felt cool, refreshing, and pampering to the touch. It felt even better as the warmth of the sun bathed those in its presence, making the coolness of the wind that much more pleasant. Along the ground, the fields of grass and the families of flowers swayed and waltzed as they were softly nudged by the breeze.

It seemed that most of the crowd had cleared away from the town center despite being greatly active some time before. There were still a handful of pony-folk taking strolls through the village, although there was not as much of a rush as before. Everything looked a lot more peaceful-- quiet, calm, and relaxed.

"C'mon Gai, I just wanna know what you're hiding," a powerful voice exclaimed. As the group walked back towards the library, Rainbow Dash was hovering in front of Gai'vahros, trying to peak down his outfit. "why else would ya try so darn hard to pick that towel up without standing up?"

"L-look, it's nothing, really," Gai'vahros stammered, rather irate at the pegasus' constant persistence at trying to get the information she wanted out of him. "like I said, it's rude for people like us to show our naked bodies to others."

"Chyeah, but you're not on your world anymore, are ya? And, neither are you getting naked in front of other people like you! I mean, look at us. We don't wear dresses and shoes all the time, do we?"

"That's different, my Lady Rainbow Dash. It's only natural for ponies to wander around without clothing. For us, it's more… delicate than that."

Twilight, however, shook her head and sighed, mainly at Rainbow Dash' persistence but also at Gai'vahros' secrecy to which she couldn't understand. "Well, in Gai'vahros' defence, Rainbow Dash, you did jump into the bath with him and try to look under the water."

"Hey, I didn't know he was gonna kick me!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she prodded Gai'vahros in the cheek with her fore-hoof.

"I told you that was a natural reflex," Gai'vahros pleaded with the pegasus, "and it's not normal for a person, or pony, to just try and look… there. It's a delicate matter."

Eventually, after their bickering from one person to another, the group finally made their way back to the library. The place was amazingly quiet, which was quite a surprise to Spike and Twilight. Usually there was some kind of noise coming from the building, be it the sound of shuffling books, papers, equipment, or Spike snoring during one of his midday naps. There was only the calm sound of silence.

Twilight made her way to the front of the door as the rest hung back to allow her through. With a hoof, she slowly opened the door as though she was expecting to see something, something gone horribly wrong while they were out. To the unicorn's relief, nothing was out of place. "Good, everything's still here." Twilight spoke to herself as if to reassure herself that everything was fine.

"You have troubles with break-ins, my Lady Twilight?" Gai'vahros asked in concern, looking around to make sure nothing was missing or out of place to the best of his knowledge. "I can't think of anything that anyone would want to steal from a library that they couldn't just borrow."

"Nah, that's just Twilight being a worrier again," Rainbow Dash huffed, "she's always got her mind on this place if she leaves it for too long without anyone looking after it."

"Oh, my Lady Twilight, I didn't think you were one for martial prowess," Gai'vahros smiled at the unicorn, feeling a greater deal of respect for her considering her already established magical prowess, too. "but I've never seen you carry a sword before."

"No, Gai'vahros, 'worrier', not 'warrior'," Twilight was quick to correct the blood elf, not wanting him to get the idea that she's a violent pony. "but Rainbow Dash is right. I do tend to worry too much about things."

"Ah, but that's just who you are," Gai'vahros placed his hand on the unicorn's head and petted her a little. "that's just a reason why you have so many friends. No need to regret having such a trait, my Lady Twilight."

"Thanks, Gai'vahros. Oh, by the way, what time is it?"

"Oh, it's… ten past twelve," Rainbow Dash said as she turned to the clock that hung only a few feet away from her before turning back to Twilight. "see? I told ya we'd have plenty of time! No need for schedules and time tables and all that work stuff."

"So, what're we gonna do for four hours?" Spike asked, though he meant it in a rhetorical manner. The little dragon made his way to one of the desks nearby the window, taking a seat. "We ain't gonna leave until four o'clock, right?"

"Well, we still need to get ready, right?" Twilight responded, using her horn to pick up her satchel-- the right satchel, this time-- and emptying the contents onto the table next to her. Despite being such a small bag, it held a lot of things. Out from its seemingly bottomless depth were several papers, an ink well, a quill pen, a few strong glass bottles, two books, and a long piece of parchment. "I just hope I can make enough room for all the things I need."

"What do you mean?" Rainbow Dash looked over at Twilight, who was starting to group everything in separate piles. "You only need a sleeping bag, Twilight. Don't tell me you plan on doing work while we're supposed to be, y'know, RELAXING."

"Hey, I can't neglect my work, even when I'm out, right?"

"No, no, this will not do," Gai'vahros tutted, making his way over to the table where Twilight began shifting things around. Reaching up to where the bag hovered in the air, Gai'vahros snatched it and, with his other arm, swept all of the content into it before tossing it back onto the coat rack. "I can't let you do that, Lady Twilight."

"Hey! What're you-- give me my bag back!" Twilight yelled at the blood elf.

"I won't allow you to work while we're camping, my Lady Twilight."

"Just watch!" Twilight exclaimed in hostility towards Gai'vahros, trying to walk around and past him. However, before her head could pass by, the blood elf extended his arm out and blocked her. A bit irate, she gave a low growl before trying to duck under him arm, which was only met by him lowering it. "Gai'vahros, this is important!"

"More important than spending time with your friends, Twilight?"

Twilight wanted to speak, but she really had no answer. Her expression wasn't as angry as before, but she still felt some animosity towards Gai'vahros for telling her what to do. But, as she thought about it, he was right. Spending time with her friends was, indeed, more important to her than doing some research. Research could wait, after all. Ponies, however, get impatient. "… Yeah, you're right," Twilight looked towards Rainbow Dash and Spike, who were in awe at seeing Gai'vahros' capricious nature. After a moment, so was Twilight. "Gai'vahros, you didn't call me "Lady"."

"You're right," Gai'vahros answered in a soft, brooding tone. He turned away, noticing that he had left his backpack on the tree trunk table in the center of the room. The blood elf opened the main section to make sure nothing was taken while he was out. "that's because you weren't acting like a lady."

"I… I'm sorry. I guess friendship is a high regard for you?"

"On the contrary, my Lady Twilight. Where I come from, there is no need for friends. Rather, the concept of 'friends' is more in line of 'comrades'. In the art of war, there are no friends; only allies. Allies can become enemies in an instant, and you wouldn't even realize it until they had already stabbed you through the heart."

"T-that's terrible," Rainbow Dash was almost physically hurt from hearing of such a thing. She understood that friendships could end, sure enough, but she couldn't begin to conceive the idea that it could turn to violence. "how could something like that happen?"

"I guess you don't have many issues with war here. It's very simple; two guys could be comrades-in-arms, working alongside each other to a common goal. But, at times, their peoples-- their nations-- could be at war with each other. At the end of the day, they must then choose whether to forsake their families, their kin, and their homeland… or to forsake their friendship."

"But what about friends of your own kind, Gai," Spike asked. The little dragon knew what it was like to live outside of his own species. "don't you have any friends back home?"

"No. When you do what I do-- adventuring, seeing new places, meeting new people-- you don't have time to make new friends, and, those who you do make friends with, usually end up dead in the midst of conflict. For me, I'm better off not making friends than to lose them."

"But we're your friends, right?" Rainbow Dash swooped towards the rather melancholic blood elf, wrapping a foreleg around his shoulder and pressing her body against it. The pegasus gave a big smile, but Gai'vahros did not return the sentiment or even give her his visible attention. "…Right?"

Gai'vahros paused for a moment. His hands stopped, motionless, as he held the bag open with two hands gripped lightly around the edges of the opening. After a bit of time, the elf gave a small smile before turning to look at Rainbow Dash. "Yeah," he said with a soft but more happy tone of voice. Taking a hand off the bag, the Gai'vahros petted Rainbow Dash on her head, stroking her mane a little with a finger and thumb. "yeah, you're definitely my friends."

The atmosphere began to change from one of a thick layer of discord and melancholy to one of heightened love and care. Twilight couldn't help but smile knowing that, despite all that Gai'vahros had said, he found it in his heart to call each of them "friends". Spike stood a ways from the blood elf and Rainbow Dash, feeling a small tear well up in his eyes but he was able to hold them back.

Gai'vahros stood up, removing his hand from the top of Rainbow Dash. Even though he was wearing gauntlets he could still feel the soft fluffiness of the pegasus' mane. "Anyway, you guys still need to pack, right?" he spoke, addressing both Twilight and Spike. "All my things seem to be in order, so it's just you two, now."

Before any one of them could respond, two ponies appeared at the front door. Both Fluttershy and Rarity stood at the doorway before allowing themselves entry into the library. The two of them had smiles upon their faces as though they were looking forward to the camping trip despite earlier reluctance.

"O-Oh, I hope we're not interrupting anything," Fluttershy said sheepishly, lowering her head in embarrassment. "w-we can come back later… that is, if that's okay with you guys…"

"Don't worry, Fluttershy, you didn't miss anything," Twilight giggled as she opened a small cabinet under one of the bookshelves, taking out a small bedroll. "we were just packing. By the way, you guys are here early."

"Well of course, dear," Rarity spoke aloud as she made her way to Gai'vahros. "I thought we could relax a little, the whole group, together! Well, that, and I ran out of material for my dresses and was completely BORED sitting at home doing nothing."

"Oh, actually, my Lady Fluttershy, how are the animals," Gai'vahros had some concern over Fluttershy being comfortable with her friends being left with his assistant. "is Mogan keeping a close eye on them?"

"Oh, oh yes," Fluttershy seemed incredibly joyful as she spoke as though the orc gruntling was a miracle worker. "all of the animals took a really strong liking to Mogan. I've not seen them so happy and comfortable with a stranger before."

"Haha, that's great news. Oh, my Lady Rarity, where is your little sister? I thought she'd be with you by now."

"Oh, no, I haven't seen her since she left to find Scootaloo," Rarity responded, although she was amazingly calm about the prospect of her sister being away for so long. "though they're probably at their little Crusader's clubhouse. Don't worry, she'll be here on time."

"Well howdy there, every-pony," a deep accent came bursting through the doorway. Applejack casually strode into the library, which was starting to feel very packed. "ah hope y'all don't mind me an' Apple Bloom comin' early. I thought maybe I'd let her see a certain someone."

"Heya, Gai!" Apple Bloom came dashing out from the side of Applejack, running up to Gai'vahros and nuzzling the side of his leg affectionately. "Are we REALLY goin' camping together!?" It seemed as though, out of all those present, Apple Bloom was the most enthusiastic pony about going.

"Haha, it's great to see you again, little Apple Bloom," Gai'vahros chuckled with a big smile on his face, petting the little filly on her head. "and you bet we are. You ready to have some awesome fun?"

"Sure am!" Apple Bloom couldn't control her excitement, lightly hopping up and down on the floor.

"Hey, I wanna have fun, too!" A very high pitched voice made itself known as everyone turned to see Pinkie Pie at the doorway. Or, rather, hanging upside down from the top of the doorway with her upper body in view. She quickly, and amazingly, flipped down from the door frame and landed on all fours, turning to the crowd inside. "Did ya remember to bring crumpets, Gai?"

"Uh… aha, they're in the post?" Gai'vahros replied with an awkward smile and a sarcastic comment.

Pinkie stared at Gai'vahros for a moment before sneezing, shooting out confetti from her nose, much to the astonishment of everyone-- especially the blood elf. "Oh! Okay! Did they send it to here? Oh, no, wait! What if they turn up while we're camping? You shoulda had them mail it to the forest! Oh, but the forest doesn't have any mailboxes…"

"Uh, Lady Applejack? How did Pinkie do the whole sneeze thing, with the confetti and party blower noise?" Gai'vahros whispered to Applejack, who leaned her head into his direction.

"Ah, beats me, Gai. That's just Pinkie Pie bein'… well, Pinkie Pie."

"Yeah, Twilight said something like that earlier…"

For a while, everyone took a seat inside in a large circle of chairs as though they were at some sort of meeting. All those present were having a good time while they were waiting until four o'clock to head off camping. Twilight was instructing Spike to write down some reminders, which the little dragon did, as they were spoken. Fluttershy and Rarity were talking about how they were going to spend their time camping, a conversation that was apparently a carry on from before they came. Pinkie Pie was entertaining Apple Bloom by, well, being Pinkie Pie. Finally, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were talking and making quips at each other about Applejack's flying yesterday when they went to Cloudsdale.

It was all alien to Gai'vahros. As the blood elf sat back on his chair, he just looked around, watching all of these ponies talk, laugh, argue, smile, help each other-- so many different things that he had never seen in such a long time, what with the war effort on Azeroth. For a moment, Gai'vahros began to think back to the times when the Horde and Alliance worked together to face a common enemy. It was those times where he felt like what he was doing was the right thing.

"Hey, Gai, are you gonna tell us more stories, tonight?" Applejack's voice suddenly caught Gai'vahros' attention. "I'm sure Rainbow Dash here would just love to hear about how you fought off scary undead stuff."

"H-Hey, Applejack! That's not funny!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, lightly nudging the earth pony.

"Hah, I've got plenty of those stories to tell," Gai'vahros replied with a smirk on his face, noticing the chagrin on Rainbow Dash' face. "but I promised Twilight I would talk about the Nexus War. I think it would be best to demonstrate that magic should not be abused."

"Heya, everyone!" the conversations between everyone came to a halt as they all turned to the door. Stood at the archway was Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, who stood beside her. "Oh, everyone's here already? I thought we were meeting up at four? It's only half past one."

"Oh, Sweetie Belle, darling," Rarity quickly got up out of her chair and gave her little sister a big hug. "we all thought we'd come early, I guess." the unicorn looked at Scootaloo, who seemed a bit shy for the most part. "It's good to see you, too, Scootaloo."

"Hey there, kiddo," Rainbow Dash looked over her foreleg that rested on the back of the chair, turning sideways to give her attention. "you lookin' forward to camping?"

"Oh, hey, Rainbow Dash," Scootaloo looked up with a cheery expression on her face, looking up at her idol. "yeah, I'm totally psyched for it! But… uh, who's the guy sitting next to you?" Scootaloo was a bit nervous as Gai'vahros looked back at her. She tried not to make eye contact, though.

"Oh, this is Gai. He's from another world! But, he's stuck here until we can find a way to send him back."

"A-another world?" Scootaloo's eyes widened and lit up, looking at the blood elf who only smiled back in return. "Oh my gosh, this is AWESOME!"

"I know, right!?"

Gai'vahros turned his chair a little so that he could turn on it and present himself to the little pegasus. "Haha, I'm not sure if it's THAT awesome," the blood elf spoke in modesty, "but It's a pleasure to meet you, little Scootaloo." Gai'vahros held out a hand to offer a handshake to her.

The little pegasus paused for a moment before extending a foreleg, bumping the end of his hand. "Is that how you hoof-bump someone who isn't a pony?"

"A… "hoof-bump"?" Gai'vahros was dumbstruck by such a concept that he didn't even know how to respond, besides repeating the phrase.

"Anyway, girls-- and guys-- we're all here." Twilight stood at the back of the room, drawing everyone's attention. "I think it would be good if we all set off now. We could always have a picnic, too."

"Oh, that's a brilliant idea," Rarity spoke up as she turned to Fluttershy. "me and Fluttershy have got ALL the necessary things for just an occasion."

"H-hey, but the crumpets haven't arrived yet!" Pinkie Pie couldn't help herself but yell out obstructively, what with crumpets still on her mind.

"Anar'alah, I hope to heaven that Lady Rarity or Lady Fluttershy have crumpets prepared…"

Chapter 18 - Bread And Butter

The afternoon was still early within this part of Equestria. The sky still blanketed the land in its pale blue colours, interrupted only by the drifting of thick white clouds and the passing of many colourful birds. The atmosphere was set not only visibly but audibly as well. Every bird gave out a soft, sweet chorus of song upon the base line of the whistling winds. Even though it was in the afternoon, the entire scenery and atmosphere made it seem like it was in the early hours of the morning.

For Gai'vahros, that wasn't a bad thing at all. If there were two things he loved it was the sunrise and the sunset of the day, but he was definitely considering adding this feel to his list. What the blood elf enjoyed the most was being able to just relax, and that was probably what made the day feel so good. For years, all he ever did was fight, crusade, and kill. It hadn't crossed his mind even once to take a day off from it and enjoy the peaceful life. His only regret was not doing this years sooner.

"Yay! Crumpets!" a high-pitched cry erupted from Pinkie Pie, who was gazing down at a large plate of crumpets on the picnic blanket. "So the mail pony came after all!" she was obviously still oblivious to the fact that the whole 'in the mail' comment was only a gag.

"Uh, yes, dear," Rarity gave a rather uneasy chuckle as she watched her friend have, what could be described simply as, a staring contest with the plate of crumpets. "but, Gai'vahros, darling, you haven't even touched your food. Is there something wrong?"

"Haha, of course not, my Lady Rarity," Gai'vahros assured her that there was nothing the matter with her food; in fact, everything looked so good that he began to wonder why he hadn't taken a bite out of anything yet. Leaning forwards, he picked up a sandwich from a selection of plates. "It's just that I've never really done this kind of thing before. It's a lot to take in-- almost too much." though before anyone could respond, Gai'vahros took a small bite out of the sandwich he was holding. Everyone was more interested in his reaction than to ask more about himself, for the moment. "Oh, egg and tomato. This is good."

"I'm glad you like it, Gai'vahros," Fluttershy responded with a small hint of blush on her cheeks, although most of her mane hid it from the eyes of those present. "me and Rarity spent a lot of time making all of this food…" it was the way she said this that almost made Gai'vahros feel guilty for not eating any of it sooner, and even more so if he didn't help polish all of it off.

"Well, you two made an awful lot of food, y'know," Applejack said with a smile on her face while scanning over the entirety of the enormous blanket, spotting sandwiches, cakes, and scones, amongst a plethora of other concoctions. "but this'll definitely last us while we're all campin'."

"I'll say," Twilight was just as amazed; she had a plate with a few sandwiches, small cut fries and several biscuits, and the picnic still looked as though it hadn't been touched. "but this is a little too much for three days, right?"

"Hey, I just had a great idea," Rainbow Dash said as she hovered above the edge of the blanket with a carrot and lettuce sandwich in hoof. "why don't we keep camping until we run out of food? It'd be great to spend some extra time out here!"

"So about two days, judging from the amount of food that Spike's had so far." Twilight said sarcastically, looking down at her faithful assistant.

"I can't help it," Spike spoke, though his mouth was muffled by the mush of lightly chewed cupcakes. The little dragon looked back at Twilight, holding a cupcake in each hand while his plate consisted of a few more, some sandwiches, and some small precious gems that Rarity had put aside especially for him. "Rarity's food is so good, and these gems go so well with cupcakes."

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, Spikey," spoke Rarity in gratitude, "I made those cupcakes just for you." with a small smile, Rarity gave a wink at Spike. Her affection towards the young dragon caused his cheeks to swell with blush.

Fluttershy gave a little giggle as she noticed Spike's rosy red cheeks, but stopped as she looked down at her plate only to spot a baby squirrel nibbling at the crust of her bread slices. "Aw, poor little squirrel," spoke Fluttershy in a loving manner, "do you want me to share my food with you?" the little squirrel looked up with her and gave a very excited nod. Fluttershy gently peeled the crusts from the edges of the bread, leaving them in a little pile on the picnic blanket for her critter friend to eat.

Gai'vahros, too, began to remove the crust from his half-eaten sandwich before leaving them on the other side of the squirrel. At this point it looked as though the critter was sat between two towers of bread. "There you go," spoke Gai'vahros softly, "I'm not a fan of edges, anyway." the little squirrel looked back at Gai'vahros and then to the small pile of leftovers, giving a large smile and a squeak.

"Oh, he said "thanks"." said Fluttershy, turning her attention to Gai'vahros. "You're a really kind person, Gai'vahros, sharing your food with him."

"Don't mention it, my Lady Fluttershy," replied Gai'vahros as he lightly raised a hand up, "there's no sense in letting food go to waste if someone wants it." Gai'vahros gently placed a finger on the head of the squirrel, who began to nuzzle the silk.

"Gai, are ya gonna tell us a story," asked Apple Bloom, looking up the blood elf from the other side of the blanket. "preferably one without war an' stuff?" the filly wanted to hear of a tale that was more peaceful and not as destructive as she believed Gai'vahros' world to be.

"Hah. Way to me on the spot, little Apple Bloom." chuckled Gai'vahros as he gave a smile, but it was difficult for the blood elf to think of anything that didn't involve him slicing something in half. For a moment, he gave pause before speaking. "Actually… I can't really think of anything," he responded with a soft sigh as he picked up a small cup of tea beside him, taking a sip of it. "but I do know of one person who tends to be involved in crazy things."

"Oh? Who's that?" asked Apple Bloom, visibly interested.

"An old friend of mine; Stavros Kazantzitis," replied Gai'vahros before starting to chuckle under his breath as he placed the teacup back on the saucer. "he's a priest of the Alliance as well as a good friend of the family, so to speak."

"But aren't you at war with the Alliance?" asked Twilight, questioning the relationship between Gai'vahros and Stavros.

"Not exactly," Gai'vahros corrected her, "the Horde is waging war against the Alliance while the Alliance fights back for two reasons; to protect Pandaria, where the war has escalated to, and to dethrone the Horde Warchief-- Garrosh Hellscream. Me and Stavros, as well as a lot of other adventurers, however, do not care about this fruitless war effort. We do what we do and fight the fights we think are worth fighting for. As far as I'm concerned, I'm not at war with the Alliance; I'm at war with Hellscream's "Horde"."

"You make it sound like your "Warchief" is an evil warmongering dictator."

"That's because he is. That is why the Alliance is against us. That is why, every day, hundreds of humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, draenei-- including innocents-- lose their lives."

The tension thickened like resin. Everyone at the picnic looked upon Gai'vahros as if they were waiting for him to burst from the obvious resentment he had towards the Horde-Alliance war as well as his hatred towards this "Garrosh Hellscream". Gai'vahros just sat, legs crossed, with his fingers entwined together and his chin resting upon two extended thumbs. Even though he was staring blankly forwards, his eyes darted in Apple Bloom's direction, causing her to feel incredibly uneasy. However, before the filly could voice her concern, Gai'vahros looked up with a grin on his face.

"So, about Stavros," exclaimed Gai'vahros, causing everyone to jump a little as he suddenly switched back to his more cheerful demeanour. "he's always a good laugh to be around if only because his raging is so funny to watch. I remember when we got into an argument over who would get the lack of the cake only for the mage to teleport it to Dalaran. It took us nearly all day but we managed to find it. Unfortunately, it had already been eaten. He was in such a huff over it we couldn't help but burst out laughing."

"He sounds like a great person," Rarity spoke in admiration, "but what is his relation to your family?"

"He was the one who taught my father the ways of the Holy Light during the Second War," Gai'vahros replied, though he wasn't so cheerful when saying it. "back when the "blood elves" were still considered high elves; back when we were part of the Alliance. I was young then, but I remember him greatly, and fondly, too. He was like an uncle to me, looking after me whenever father went off to war. I guess it was because of my father and Stavros that I became a blood knight. God I haven't seen him in some time."

"This might not be a question answerable, but do you know what he thinks 'bout the war?" asked Applejack, hoping to get an answer that would bolster her interest, and enthusiasm, in Stavros.

"… I've no idea." replied the blood elf, shaking his head. "The last I heard of him was during our victory over the Destroyer-- Deathwing. After the fight, we parted; I went back to Silvermoon while he returned to Stormwind. I guess that, with the defection of Archbishop Benedictus, Stavros will become a candidate to take up the mantle of Archbishop to lead the Church of the Holy Light. He's more than likely hung up his mantle as an adventurer."

"But that's a good thing, right?" Sweetie Belle challenged Gai'vahros' notion that Stavros' new position, and retirement of his previous one, would somehow reduced him. "If he becomes an Archbishop, wouldn't he be able to help out a lot of people without having to fight? Wouldn't it be better for him to live a more quiet life?"

"Yeah, you're right," Gai'vahros gave a small smile as he turned to Sweetie Belle. In his heart, he knew that his old friend would be better off spending the rest of his time in retirement, what with him getting on in his elderly years. "I guess I'm just upset that everything we've all worked towards feels like it's all crumbling down around us."

"Hey now, don't go an' bring the mood down, Gai," Applejack scalded the rather pessimistic elf. Before continuing, she took a bite out of an apple that rested in her hoof. "friendships and bonds aren't easily broken, y'know. I bet, if you went and saw him, he'd give ya a big hug and a howdy-do!"

"He probably would, but with my allegiance to Silvermoon and, thus, the Horde, I've no chance in being able to meet up with him or any other of my companions that reside within the Alliance territories. I can't even send him a letter."

"Well how 'bout you go an' send a neutral party to deliver the letter, instead?"

"Because I don't know anyone neutral." Gai'vahros sighed, picking up his cup of tea and taking another sip. As he stared into the amber honey-sweetened brew, a spark went off in his mind. "Oh, actually I do know of one person. The only problem is that he doesn't frequent the Alliance territories all that often. Perhaps I can ask him as a favour; he owes me a few favours from all the things I've done for him."

"Then it's settled; when you get back to ya own world, you can give a letter to that friend o' yours and he can deliver it to Stavros for ya."

"Oh yeah? Do you propose that this third party plays messenger all day long?" with a smirk, Gai'vahros looked back at Applejack before chuckling under his breath. Applejack was speechless at this point, having no viable response to Gai'vahros' challenge. He, on the other hand, didn't expect one. "Ah, it doesn't matter. At some point, Stavros will find his way towards this conflict if it means defending Stormwind. That will probably be the day we cross paths again."

While most of the group were getting more and more into Gai'vahros' personal life, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo sat beside each other with Rainbow Dash sharing a tale with her little companion. "Y'know, kid, I remember when I was your age and I got to see The Wonderbolts perform in Cloudsdale. It was so awesome watchin' them pull off awesome moves, like the "Chandelle", the "Inside Loop", and the "Lazy Eight". I remember when everyone shouted out "do a Barrel Roll"! It was a good day."

"You're so lucky, Rainbow Dash," squealed Scootaloo in both admiration and envy, wishing that she could have seen their performance, or any of their performances for that matter. "being able to see The Wonderbolts live. Do you think, if I get really good at flying, that I'll be able to get to meet them?"

"Sure thing. In fact, the next time I get tickets to see them, I'll grab one for you, too."

"Really!? You're the best, Rainbow Dash!"

Gai'vahros couldn't help but turn his attention to the two of them although not showing it visibly. At first, his ears picked up on their conversation before Scootaloo's outcry of excitement, at which point the blood elf turned to show his interest. "These "Wonderbolts" sounds pretty interesting," spoke Gai'vahros finally as he placed a finger and thumb on his chin. "are they acquaintances of yours, my Lady Rainbow Dash?"

"I wish," scoffed Rainbow Dash though not to show any disrespect towards Gai'vahros nor her idols, "they're, like, the most famous ponies in Cloudsdale. No, scratch that, they're probably the most famous ponies in the whole of Equestria! Uh, royalty not included, obviously."

"I see. So these pegasi-- I assume that they're pegasi-- are a troupe of aerobats? What makes them so famous?"

"… Dude! I can't believe you just said that! I mean--" Rainbow Dash was on the urge of exploding at this point. She was so dumbstruck, so speechless, by Gai'vahros' words that she didn't even know how to reply appropriately. "--come ON! They're just totally amazing by all means!"

"I'll take it from here, Rainbow Dash." Twilight spoke up as she watched her friend lose her patience with the blood elf. "You see, Gai'vahros, The Wonderbolts are also a demonstration team and professional flyers. Also, they have an academy where potential new recruits are trained. They're highly respected for what they do-- and they do a lot-- as pegasi."

"So what else do they do? I don't see their aerobatics as "a lot"."

"I guess your world doesn't behave like ours where pegasi are concerned. Pegasi in Equestria have a lot of tasks that need to be done on a daily basis. Things like the weather-- making rainbows, crafting snowflakes, and even moving around storm clouds-- are all done by pegasus ponies. The Wonderbolts not only take part in this but also direct and coordinate other groups under them, namely the new workers."

"I think I'm beginning to understand, although your world is very… eccentric when it comes to the workings of meteorology. Nonetheless, I can't argue that they, and other pegasi, have very important roles in Equestrian society."

"Now you're getting' it," Rainbow Dash spoke with a smirk, having a chance to calm down while Twilight educated the unknowledgeable blood elf. "but perhaps it would be better if you went and saw them in person than just hearing about them. I guess that's three tickets I'll be getting next time."

"I'm more interested in this "academy" you spoke about; the one for new recruits." Gai'vahros couldn't help but entertain the thought of undergoing The Wonderbolts' trials. "I assume anyone able to fly can enrol in it?"

"It's not that easy, Gai. First, you gotta send a letter of interest to their head office. After that, you gotta wait for a reply, which could either say you're in or to take a hike. But, it would be pretty interesting to see if you get in or not; there's never been a non-pony in the academy before."

"Perhaps I can humour the notion of being the first non-pony Wonderbolt by applying." joked Gai'vahros as he swept one of his locks from the front of his face, still wearing a grin on his face. "What's the worst that can happen?"

"So you want me to put in a good word for ya?" asked Rainbow Dash as she gave a smirk, enjoying the prospect of Gai'vahros aiming to join The Wonderbolts. "Don't forget, though, that I'll also be applying at the academy! Don't think you can outdo me at what I do best!"

"Hah, "outdoing" you would be an understatement. You'll be wiping the dust from your face after I'm done with you." Gai'vahros laughed as he spoke, taunting and challenging the pegasus. Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, didn't find it as an insult as much as she found it a boast.

"Chyeah, right. I guess you're gonna tell me that you did so much better than me when we were flying around yesterday?" the pegasus took this as a humoured debate, taking it in her stride. She turned to Scootaloo, nudging her shoulder with her elbow. "Yesterday, me and Gai got into a lil "competition" over who could pull off the more awesome stunts. Naturally I was the better pony."

"You were the only pony doing it." Gai'vahros quipped, pointing out that he wasn't a pony. "But I concede, though, that you pulled off some pretty amazing stunts. I'm quite surprised that you yourself are not a member of these Wonderbolts. They must be deaf, dumb and blind to not notice your talents yet."

"H-hey, I ain't that great," stuttered Rainbow Dash as her cheeks began to blush. Her eyes kept shifting from one side to another, looking to the left, then around to the right before shifting back again. "and besides, if I was so great, they would have asked me to join the academy by now, right?"

"A friend of mine told me, once; "Sometimes people come to us to seek their fame. Sometimes it's the famous who come to us"." replied Gai'vahros, showing off a bit of philosophical teaching. "Basically, people don't have to be told that they are great or extraordinary. People can be overlooked or just not noticed. You just got to go out there and show them that you're great and extraordinary."

"You really think so?"

"I know so, my Lady Rainbow Dash."

The picnic went on for quite some time as the sun began to withdraw from the sky, allowing the night to take its place. The sky began to shift from its clear blue shade to a tone mixed between orange and violet. The clouds drifted upon calm currents of winds, bringing more life and more depth to the horizon.

Twilight and the rest of the group began to tidy away the picnic before it got too dark. While Twilight and Spike were wrapping up the food, Applejack and Apple Bloom folded the blanket as the food was being removed. Rarity and Sweetie Belle started placing all the wrapped up food back on a small cart that they and Fluttershy had brought along with them. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie sat upon the grass, discussing about their camping location to which Fluttershy didn't seem fond of-- the "scary woods" south of their location. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo laid upon the grass, opposite of Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, looking up at the sky.

"Y'know what really relaxes me, Scootaloo?" Rainbow Dash started, turning to her companion. "Getting to lay back and look at the sky. Always helps clear my mind, y'know?"

"Oh," Scootaloo replied as she turned to Rainbow Dash. Turning back to the sky above, she began to let her eyes relax and her mind wander. "I've never really thought of it like that before." the young pegasus began to watch as the clouds drifted overhead. The shine of the dawning sun refracted through openings in them, leaving a trail of glistening light.

Suddenly, their sights were blocked by a soft and thick covering of silk. "Guess who?" a voice called out to the two of them. Gai'vahros stood behind them, placing a hand over each of the ponies' eyes.

"Hah! Hey, Gai," Rainbow Dash replied, pushing the elf's hand from her face, as did Scootaloo. "you gonna come and join us?"

"Nah, Miss Bossy-Boots says we've got to head to the camp site," Gai'vahros pointed over his shoulder with a thumb, his naming directed to Twilight. "so when you two are ready, we'll be heading off. Don't be too long."

Chapter 19 - Shadows In The Light

The night began to quickly dawn upon the plains of Equestria. The sun had set fully into the horizon, leaving the full moon and the glistening stars to take its place within their own domain. Thin strands of darkened clouds veiled the sky, giving a sense of life to what would otherwise be an empty cascade of violet. A gentle breeze rolled through the air, brushing up against the tops of the trees and the leaves upon their branches. The bushes rustled quietly as the woodland fauna scurried to and from, retreating back to their nests, retiring for the night. Everything was quiet, calm, and peaceful.

The bright glow from the campfire illuminated a small clearing amongst a group of tall trees, colouring the faces of the group in a hint of orange and yellow. The warmth bathed each of them equally, lovingly, shielding them from the cold winds. Each of them sat around in a circle upon fallen logs as they gave their undivided attention to the blood elf perched upon a trunk.

"… Then, as we darted down the path, Arthas called upon a huge, thick wall of ice to block our path," Gai'vahros was continuing one of his stories to which the rest of the group was undoubtedly drawn to. As he spoke, he began acting out some of the story with his hands, raising them up as he described the wall of ice growing from the ground. "all of us thought that we were definite goners, but Lady Sylvanas began to chip away at it. The rest of us turned to face the Lich King, arms at the ready, as he called upon his hordes of undead to attack us. We all knew, however, that he was merely toying with us."

"Oh wow, Gai," Sweetie Belle was considerably impressed as she began to picture the action playing out in her mind. "that's musta been totally scary!" even though she had stopped Gai'vahros in mid-story--and the fact that he was sitting before them today-- she couldn't began to imagine how he and everyone else could survive the trap. Even so, the one thing she found amazing was that she was sitting with, what she believed, an almighty hero.

"You could say that," replied Gai'vahros with a light chuckle, "it was daunting that the Lich King crept ever closer to us, with death's door appearing in sight with each step he took. We all battled on as the Scourge leapt at us wave after wave, their numbers not seeming to dwindle despite the many who fell to our might and magic. But, when all hoped seemed lost, Lady Sylvanas called out to us; "the wall is down! Quickly, heroes, make your way to the other side". Before the undead could overwhelm us we retreated down the tunnel, noticing an opening at the far end. That was our goal."

"Well that was mighty lucky of y'all," Applejack spoke as she gave a soft sigh of relief. Like Sweetie Belle, she could scarcely believe that Gai'vahros could come out of this encounter in one piece despite him telling it, alive and well. "what with yer "Sylvanas" bein' able to take down that wall. So, you managed to get to the other side after that?"

"Hah, no," exclaimed Gai'vahros as he looked to Applejack, "like I said, the Lich King was merely toying with us. I think all of us had in mind that he wasn't about to let up on us so easily. The six of us ran alongside Lady Sylvanas, and all of us probably expected the same thing; another huge wall of ice, taller than the first, rose from the glacier underfoot to impede our escape. Again Lady Sylvanas instructed us to hold off any undead that came as she began to strike down the barrier."

"You did it the first time, right?" asked Rainbow Dash with a smirk on her face, "The second time woulda been a piece of cake for ya!"

"It wasn't so simple, my Lady Rainbow Dash," Gai'vahros shook his head before looking up to the pegasus. "remember that the wall was much larger than the last. It was strenuous for Lady Sylvanas to take down the first one, so fatigue began to set in. Not only that but more undead began to rush towards us. Arthas was beginning to show more aggression; tens of undead swarmed us in overwhelming numbers of waves. It was only by the grace of the Light that Christoph was able to combat and keep the pressure, with Stavros providing much needed support, that we were able to take control of the fight. In the end, me and Emilia were able to whittle down any and all enemies who opposed us as Lady Sylvanas tore down the second barrier."

"Uh, who're Christoph and Emilia?" Apple Bloom asked, "You've not mentioned them 'til now."

"Oh, yeah," replied the blood elf, a bit embarrassed that he had not introduced the two of them properly prior to the story. "I guess I'd better do that so you're not confused. Christoph is a paladin of the Alliance. One of the best that they have to offer, in my opinion." Gai'vahros sounded a bit hesitant as he spoke about his comrade, pausing before mentioning him being a paladin, and again at mentioning his opinion. "He seemed to have a personal stake in the war against the Lich King that to this day I do not know of. Emilia is a close friend of mine-- another blood elf who survived the Scourge invasion. We met during the Nexus War to which she was a target of, being a mage as well as an ambassador of the Kirin Tor."

"And what about Christoph? How did you get to meet him?"

Gai'vahros paused for a moment. For a reason kept to himself, he did not like talking about this particular human, but he knew that, if he didn't, the others would catch on. He had to swallow his pride on this one but also had to accept the consequence that may arise from discussing this topic. "We did not meet under good circumstances, I must make clear first. We first met in Lordaeron while I was delivering a message to Lady Sylvanas. Ironic, really; Lordaeron was where he was born before Arthas destroyed the kingdom and, after that, the Forsaken had claimed it their home. He knew what us blood knights were; the embodiment of the mockery of paladins."

"What do you mean, Gai'vahros," asked Twilight, who was concerned as to why her friend would be called a mockery of another class, "why would he think you're insulting paladins?"

"I was afraid it would come to this." Gai'vahros sighed, placing a hand on his forehead as he looked down to the ground. More scared of divulging more of his dark past, he was afraid of his new friends changing their opinion of him. For a moment he sat in a hunched position. The rest of the group stared at him, worried for him but, despite knowing that he was to speak of bad times, they awaited the rest of his tale. "You see, where the paladins gain their power by worshipping the Holy Light, blood knights gain their power by siphoning the energies of the Sunwell. However, before the Sunwell, we siphoned the energies from something else. Even to this day I still carry the burden of guilt of that sin."

Twilight was too scared to ask as she stared into the horrified eyes of the blood elf. Her heart kept pounding heavily against her chest, feeling as though it was trying to burst out. Her throat began to open and close uncontrollably as she tried hard for her words to come out. Her mind, however, couldn't even began to piece the words that she was trying to let out together. Slowly she began to inhale a lungful of air, which managed to do her some good as it helped clear her mind. Finally she could open her mouth without slurring a phrase, asking the one thing she didn't want the answer to. "What… what was it?"

"A living being." uttered the visibly stricken Gai'vahros. His head turned to Twilight, seeing only the shrunken pupils of her eyes and the confused yet mortified expressions of those around her. He knew that they understood what he was saying. "Us blood elves, in our desperate struggle to sate our addiction to magic, resorted to living off demonic "fel" magic. However, our "prince", Kael'thas Sunstrider, captured a naaru-- a being of pure light energy-- and sent it back to Silvermoon to help us with our addiction without having to resort to demonic energies. Most blood knights chose to do so in necessity as an alternative to fel magic. Me and Lady Liadrin, however, did so out of spite."

"What do you mean "out of spite"," Rarity asked. Despite being horrified by what Gai'vahros and his people had done she was still willing to hear the whole thing, hoping to clear up anything she needed to know along the way. "you mean you had a personal grudge against this "naaru"?"

"No," Gai'vahros replied bluntly, "we both had a grudge against the Light. While I was trained as a paladin by my father, Lady Liadrin had always been a priest of the Holy Light. After the Scourge Invasion me, Lady Liadrin, and every surviving high elf, believed that the Light had abandoned us. In our most dearest time we needed the Light more than ever, it had failed us." the blood elf's voice was soft, quiet, and brooding. "Lady Liadrin was the first to be initiated as a blood knight while I followed in her footsteps soon after. I remember her initiation clearly; her cries of anger echoed through the halls, cries of how the light had forsaken her, her family, and her people, as she forcibly drew the naaru's life force into herself. I remember seeing her crumble down to her knees, crying as her emotions overwhelmed her. I remember doing the same when I became initiated."

Silence sank into the atmosphere as Gai'vahros stopped. For some time, no one said anything or even dared to so much as cough. The tension was thick, thick enough the smother the mouths and minds of all those present, preventing them from muttering or even thinking of a response. Applejack and Apple Bloom looked to one another as though they were expecting to hear something reassuring, but nothing was spoken. Rarity and Sweetie Belle wanted to try and console and comfort the blood elf but dared not risk provoking an outburst of emotion from him. Fluttershy was visibly upset; a small well of tears filled her eyes. Even pinkie Pie had a sense of decorum, not bursting out into any jokes or antics. Rainbow Dash became scared both of and for Gai'vahros, not ever seeing him so distraught before. Scootaloo kept close to her idol, trying to tuck herself under Rainbow Dash' wing alongside Spike, who had the same idea. Twilight knew she wasn't going to like the reply but even she didn't foresee this no matter how much she thought about it.

"But there's a happy end to this, right?" Twilight thought for a moment before she spoke out again. She understood that, after the ordeal of the naaru, Gai'vahros helped reclaim the Sunwell. "You said before how you were able to take back the Sunwell."

"Yeah, that's right." Gai'vahros spoke a bit more cheerfully. His look of regret quickly changed into a small smile. "Well, after Kael'thas had betrayed us to give his allegiance to the Legion the blood knights of Silvermoon pledged our allegiance to the Shattered Sun Offensive-- a faction of warriors and adventurers alike whose goal was to defeat the Legion's forces that had attacked Shattrath City, as well as the Isle of Quel'Danas through the Sunwell Plateau. Me and Lady Liadrin were the first to pledge our arms to fight beside Shattrath City. It was also then that we understood that M'uru-- the naaru who we had siphoned our energies from-- knew of his role in the whole ordeal as prophesied by the draenei Velen. Despite our victory over the Legion and the cleansing of the Sunwell, to which we blood knights now gain our powers from, we cannot help but feel as though our sin cannot be forgotten-- cannot be forgiven."

Gai'vahros felt something soft press against his back, and then a second, finally a third. Twilight, Rarity and Rainbow Dash each placed a foreleg upon the shoulder blades of the blood elf, comforting him with their presence. Gai'vahros' head looked up to meet with Twilight's before turning his head to look to Rarity, and then to Rainbow Dash. All three of them had a smile on their face, something that the rather confused blood elf would not have thought there would be.

"I admit that what you did was wrong, Gai'vahros," conceded Twilight as she looked into the eyes of the still visibly distressed elf, "but one mistake doesn't immediately make you a bad person forever."

"Exactly, dear," continued Rarity, "you understood that what you did was wrong, and you've done so much for everyone-- including us-- to show that you're a great person at heart."

"Sure thing, Gai," spoke Rainbow Dash, "and besides; if you weren't a good person, you wouldn't have awesome friends like us, right?"

"I…yeah, I guess so." Gai'vahros didn't know what to say. for years he had bared the burden in his chest and carried the guilt around his neck like a two-ton medallion. He had never told of anyone before now of his painful past, but it felt good for him to get it out. It was even better for him that these ponies-- his friends-- were there to support and encourage him. A bright smile sprawled across his face as he looked back to those who were there for him. "Thanks so much, ladies. It means a lot to me to hear you say such things."

The atmosphere was so much for Fluttershy that she spontaneously burst into flight, making her way to Gai'vahros before embracing him in a big cuddle. Even though she knew he wasn't an animal her natural instinct made her still treat him like one. "I'm so sorry you had to have such a hard life, Gai'vahros," Fluttershy sobbed as tears began to roll down her cheeks. At this point, Gai'vahros wasn't sure if he should feel bad about himself or if he should try to comfort Fluttershy. "but we'll always be here for you! If that's okay with you…?"

"It's always okay with me, my Lady Fluttershy," Gai'vahros replied, wrapping an arm around the pegasus and holding her close to his side. "and I will always be here for you guys."

"But what about you gettin' back to yer own home, Gai," Applejack questioned, "or do ya plan on stayin' here with us?"

Gai'vahros looked back to the pony, who had a small smile on her face. As soon as she mentioned if he was staying in Equestria, Gai'vahros looked to see everyone's faces; they all had a look of expectation as though they all wanted him to say "yes". The only problem was that Gai'vahros still didn't feel as though he fit in-- he was the only elf in this world. In his mind he began to think about long-term commitments; could he fit in a world ruled by ponies? What would he do for companionship? What about the rest of his friends back on Azeroth? What about his commitment to his people? He only had one answer for Applejack.

"… I'm not so sure," he responded to the ever-waiting Applejack. He expected a collective groan in disappointment but all he noticed was a handful of smiles from the group. "I still have business back home, what with the war and everything."

"That's fine," Applejack wasn't disappointed with his words as he had thought she'd be. "you've still got yer friends an' people to protect. They need ya a lot more than we do."

"I guess you're right in that respect," Gai'vahros admitted. His embrace around Fluttershy loosened as he moved his hand from around her shoulder to the top of her head, softly stroking her mane. "but that shouldn't be a measure of where I should go. I like it here and, given different circumstances, I would have told you "yes, I plan on staying here". The problem is that I'm the only elf in this world. What will I do for companionship?"

"Oh, you mean like a girlfriend?" the otherwise extremely quiet Pinkie Pie spoke up from out of nowhere. With the sullen mood over, she thought it best to try and brighten up the situation with her usual light-hearted antics. "Well I think it'd be a neat idea to get you to go out on the town and meet some cute mares! C'mon, you'll have fun!"

"I don't mean to be offensive, Lady Pinkie Pie, but horses and ponies aren't to my taste."

"Oh… oh! You're more of a deer person? That's okay, too! We could always go to Appleloosa and introduce you to a nice deer there!"

"No, no, no. I mean I'm only attracted to females from my own world-- other elves."

"Oh. Why? What's wrong with dating a pony?"

"Nothing! It's just-- can we change the subject, please?"

"Sure! You ever tried a cherrychanga?"

"Uh… a what?"

"A cherrychanga! it's mashed up cherries in a tortilla that's deep fried. Oh, wait, no, that's a chimicherrychanga. Isn't that the most funny word you've ever heard? Like "kumquat"!"

"I think my brain's going to explode…"

"Anyway, guys," by the grace of the Light, Gai'vahros thought, Twilight spoke up before Pinkie Pie could say anything more. "I think it's time we got some sleep. We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Truer words have never been spoken," agreed Applejack, stretching her forelegs to the side as she gave a big yawn. "me an' Apple Bloom are gonna hit the hay. I'll see you girls in the mornin'." the two sisters hopped off the log, making their way and tucking themselves into their sleeping bags.

"I think we will, too," Rarity spoke, having the same idea as Applejack. Her and Sweetie Belle made their way to a huge castle-like tent that sat upon the far side of the clearing. "Have a good night, every-pony."

In time, everyone had made nestled into their sleeping accommodations with the exception of Twilight, who sat beside Gai'vahros. "You not tired yet, Gai'vahros?" she asked, turning her head to the visibly awake blood elf. His eyes were still wide open with no sign of fatigue setting.

"Nah. Can't sleep when I have things on my mind." Gai'vahros replied, still looking into the blazing campfire that he had made earlier in the evening. "You know, if things were different I could have taken up Lady Applejack's offer in staying here."

"Yeah, you said that earlier," Twilight responded as she believed Gai'vahros to be repeating himself without him knowing it, "but you said you've got people back home to protect and… well, more chance of love."

"That wasn't entirely true," revealed Gai'vahros, "the reason I can't stay here is because your world is just too… peaceful. All I've known is fighting-- It's all I'm really good at. It's also the only thing that makes me feel alive, feel like life is worth living. I don't expect you to understand, my Lady Twilight, for you have not experienced continuous warring, but for me it's like second nature."

"So you enjoy fighting? You enjoy the destruction that comes with it?"

"… That's correct," Gai'vahros hesitated for a moment but he felt as though he could let out everything about his personal life while around Twilight. In essence she became his closest--and only-- confidant. "but that does not make me an indiscriminate killer. I only oppose those who would threaten my people and for what I believe in."

"And what do you believe in?"

"That I should fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, that I should fight against tyranny and evil wherever it rears its head. It's not uncommon for those like me to keep fighting and fighting until our dying days-- that's still several hundred years for me."

Twilight was silent for a moment. She was immediately impressed with elven longevity in terms of life expectancy but it was harshly offset by her opinion of the blood elf, learning that he enjoys fighting. "Would you still long for fighting even if fighting stopped entirely in your world?"

"That wouldn't happen in my lifetime nor the lifetime of my great-great-grandchildren," Gai'vahros spoke in a sarcastic tone, turning to Twilight with a smirk on his face. "but to honour your question with an answer; maybe, maybe not. I guess that, should there be no more fighting, I'd have no more reason to defend my people since there would be nothing to defend them from. But on the flipside I wouldn't know if I would be bored out of my mind or just grow sick of doing nothing."

"I guess it's kind of like ponies who do extreme sports-- cliff-diving, aerobatics, et cetera-- feeling the adrenaline rush and the excitement of what they do, and then longing for it when they stop. Except your line of work is more dangerous and barbaric."

"Haha, you could put it in that respect and not be wrong about it, I'll admit. But that's why I never said this earlier with everyone here; I didn't want them to think lowly of me, especially after everything I've said this evening. You're a very wise pony, my Lady Twilight, and an even greater friend. I'm glad you understand my feelings on the matter."

"I understand them, Gai'vahros," Twilight spoke softly as she hopped off the log and onto all fours, "but that doesn't mean I agree with them."

"I don't ever expect you to, and I hope you never do. Your world is better off without barbarian-brained fools like me." Gai'vahros chuckled a little as he gave a half-smile to the pony, who returned the sentiment.

"You're a good barbarian-brained fool, so that's okay in my book." Twilight responded in humour before making her way to her sleeping bag. "Goodnight, Gai'vahros. Don't stay up too late."

"I'll try not to. Goodnight, my Lady Twilight."

Chapter 20 - Hearthfire

Even in the early hours of the morning Gai'vahros did not feel the fatigue inflict upon his body. Even though parts of his body began to feel numb with the lack of blood oxygen flowing through, his brain was still working well into the day. The still somewhat troubled blood elf thought about how he could change his life to live a more peaceful yet still dutiful life, one that didn't involve the continuous fighting and killing that he had become so accustomed-- if not addicted-- to. He imagined a time, perhaps not so far off into the future, where he would be at peace with his more brutal half. He imagined that he would be a married to a beautiful elven lady, not so much younger than him-- by a few decades at most-- whom he would be devoted to, whom he could direct his devotion and sense of duty towards. He imagined having kids who he would train as priests or paladins of the Holy Light, just as his father had done to him. But he knew that there would be no conceivable way for him to put aside his love of fighting.

The blood elf stared at the large diamond he held in his hand, with a thin yet durable blade in the other. Slowly, carefully, Gai'vahros cut along the edges of the diamond, shaping it into a more symmetrical and rounded shape. As the steel edge of the knight cut through the gem it began to bring out the clarity and shine of the gem; the surface of the diamond was scratched and tarnished from the time it had been in Rarity's chest, being thrown around as she shifted through her gems, causing the other gems to scrape and damage it. All of the trimming that were being cut off fell into a small pile inside the jewelcrafter kit, kept aside for Spike as Gai'vahros had promised yesterday.

"Anar'alah," Gai'vahros cooed in a soft and slow tempo, his voice carrying the harmonic words of a traditional elven tune. His hands moved along the surface of the diamond as though directed by an orchestral conductor, following the stead of his voice. "anar'alah belore… sindorei…"

"That's a good voice you got there," a quiet yet strong voice teased from a few feet of Gai'vahros. Applejack, looking restless, looked to Gai'vahros. The elf quickly turned back surprised to see Applejack still awake, who only met with his eyes with half-closed eyelids and tiny bags under them. The pony gave an open yet quiet yawn before sitting down beside him. "You ever thought of singin' when you retire?"

"Not if I was the last vocalist on Azeroth," Gai'vahros responded with a sarcastic tone in his voice and a smirk on his lips. The elf kept his gaze upon the sleep deprived Applejack, concerned about her condition but didn't think to voice it. "but I thank you for the encouraging words." His thumb began to stroke a few of the many facets of the gem, wiping away any excess chippings or dust from it. The two of them stared into the gem as Gai'vahros began to move and rotate his hand. The ember glow from the campfire caused the diamond to glisten and shine an array of colours from the fieriest of oranges to the most divine of golden yellows. "What do you think of it so far, my Lady Applejack?"

It was a rather bewildering question for Applejack as she began to think of a reply. The pony tried moving her head forward, squinting, tilting her head-- anything to try and make out a shape in what was only a large spherical gem with diamond facets around it. "It's uh… pretty," Applejack blurted finally, moving her head back and giving an awkward smile to Gai'vahros, "but what's it supposed to be?"

"Oh, nothing at the moment," replied Gai'vahros, bringing the gem up to his face to inspect it. "I had to cut away the excess and reshape it to a more workable shape. This way It will make it a lot easier for me to cut it into a more symmetrical shape by using the facets as a guidelines to know where to cut and how much I need to cut off."

"Sounds mighty… fiddly. But you know what yer doin', so it's no big deal for you, right?"

"Ah, not quite," Gai'vahros spoke admittedly while using his thumb and fingers to rotate the diamond orb on its axis, "I still haven't really decided on what shape I should craft this into. I usually cut gems into Round Brilliant, Trilliant, or Square cuts, but I thought that perhaps I should do something a little more unique, something that people will embed itself into the memories of those who see it."

"Hmmm…" Applejack thought for a moment, thinking of various different shapes that would stand out and reflect Gai'vahros' magnificent craftsmanship. "Well, since you're a knight an' all, why don'tchya make it into the shape of a shield? I think that'd look mighty impressive as a necklace or a brooch, or even a bolo tie."

"I think you may be on to something there," Gai'vahros envisioned it within his mind's eye; a large two inch gem encased within a solid gold socket used to fasten the garments of an ambassador, or hung around the neck of a fair elven maiden by a thin, glistening chain of truesilver. "Yeah, that sounds like a great idea. You've been a great help to me this evening, my Lady Applejack."

"Aw shucks, it was nothin'," said Applejack with a little bit of red in her face coupled with a small grin. "But do ya really think you'll get it done now?"

"Oh of course not, but I'll have the whole week to get it done. I just hope that Lady Rarity will like it."

"A little present for her?"

"Well, it was her diamond to begin with. I just asked for it so I could cut it for her. She said that it was too large and too unworkable for her to be able to do anything with it, and she was right, too. I thought that, maybe, this could be a good way to thank Rarity for fixing up my clothes."

The fire crackled as the twigs and branches fuelling it smouldered to a blacken char. Applejack gave a small yawn as he head lightly drooped down in front of her chest; she hadn't slept for long before waking up in the middle of the early hours of the morrow. However, a few footsteps caused her to bolt awake as she began to doze off, as well as drawing the attention of Gai'vahros. The two of them turned towards the origin of the noise.

"You're still awake, guys?" a soft voice of concern came from Rainbow Dash as she made her way to the two of them. Her wings were ruffled a little from the tossing and turning in her sleeping bag, while her hair puffed up in a few spots. She didn't look like she had much of a good night's sleep, either, for what little time she had spent sleeping. "I thought you'd be hitting the hay by now."

"Ah, yeah, I couldn't get much sleep either, Dashie," responded Applejack with a trying smile, "I guess my body just don't wanna turn off."

"Yeah, your yawning gives it away terribly so," teased the blood elf, noticing that Applejack was obviously tired but yet remained awake. "So why are you still up at this time in the morning, my Lady Applejack?"

"Well… I guess I just wanted to try an' get to spend as much time with ya before you leave," Applejack began to feel a bit embarrassed and silly for saying such thing, having known the elf for only a couple of days. "I mean, no one knows when yer gonna leave, right?"

"I don't even know if I'll ever be able to leave," responded Gai'vahros quickly, "considering that my hearthstone doesn't work here and I have no other way to get myself back home. The only options I have are either; wait for someone to figure out where I am and to come pick me up through another portal; or hope that somewhere in this "Canterlot library" there's a spell that can get me back home. If neither one of them works then… I guess I'll be stuck here."

"Now there's no need to be too down in the dumps, Gai," Applejack placed a hoof on the shoulder of the blood elf, comforting and assuring him as best as she could. "You just' gotta have a lil' faith in yer friends. Why, I'll bet that they're tryin' to find a way to find ya as we speak."

"I guess so," replied Gai'vahros, "but how will they find me? They probably don't even know how the hell I got here in the first place. But thanks for being so optimistic, my Lady Applejack." Gai'vahros wasn't buying it, but he didn't mind all so much. A part of him wanted to stay here and experience this world a while longer.

"Heh, can't blame a gal for tryin', right?" Applejack shifted from the log onto all fours before heading back to her sleeping bag. "I'm gonna get some sleep. I'll see y'all in the mornin'."

"Now that's a point," spoke Gai'vahros as he turned to look back at the cyan pegasus standing behind him on the other side of the log. "Why are you still up, my Lady Rainbow Dash? Can't you sleep either? Or do you just want to spend some quality time with me?" he teased with a smirk across his lips.

"N-no!" exclaimed the flustered pegasus. "I was just… on my way to the bathroom! Yeah, that's it."

"Oh the bathroom?" Gai'vahros thought he'd humour her and play along. "It's just down the path there. It's the second tree on the right," he said as he pointed in front of him towards a small group of trees. "Oh, wait. That's the men's room." He gave a small laugh as Rainbow Dash looked away in embarrassment. "So what is you want to talk about?"

"I, uh, just wanted to talk to you 'bout stuff." Rainbow Dash turned back to Gai'vahros as she spoke. With a flap of her wings, she lifted from the ground and casually plonked herself beside him on the log where Applejack once sat. "You know. About you." She was a bit dubious in making such a comment considering how Gai'vahros had shown great anxiety whenever his personal life, such as his past, was brought up.

"Well, what do you want to know about?"

It was a shock to Rainbow Dash that Gai'vahros would be so open about letting himself be interviewed about his personal life. It was only a few hours ago that the blood elf was so distraught and distressed at divulging some of his more guilt-ridden experiences, but now he showed no such emotion or restraint. "Well… uh…" It was an unexpected curveball from out of nowhere for the pegasus. Gai'vahros' response wiped her mind blank, and all of the questions she had vanished from her thoughts. "so what kinda weapons have you got?" she finally spoke, asking the first question that popped into her head.

"I didn't think you were one for weapons," smiled Gai'vahros, "but I always thought you as the fighting type." Rainbow Dash gave a large grin as if to show her enthusiasm in all things martial. "I have a few weapons-- all of them acquired throughout the years of adventuring. I carry two different weapons with me, however; Quel'Serrar, the "High Blade"; and Quel'Delar, the "Sister Blade". Both swords were created, at different times, by the kaldorei and the children of the Aspects. Quel'Serrar was created many thousands of years ago as a symbol of unity between the dragonflights and the kaldorei. It had been kept hidden, protected, by the Shen'dralar Ancients, awaiting the day for the blade to be restored. I was able to forge and temper this prismatic blade with the use of the fire and blood of the dragon brood mother Onyxia. It was then that the sword was born fully."

"And what about the "Sister Blade"?"

"Ah, a tale much longer," replied Gai'vahros as he shifted himself to get more comfortable, swinging his leg over the log as though riding it, positioning himself so he could give Rainbow Dash his full attention without having to turn his neck all the time. "Quel'Delar was forged at the same time as Quel'Serrar-- several thousand years ago, even before the War of the Ancients. The blade had been passed down from father to son until it was finally bestowed upon a high elf by the name of Thalorien Dawnseeker. I remember him well-- dedicated to the pursuit of justice and even more so to his people. He wielded the sword in both the Troll wars three thousand years ago, and again during the Scourge Invasion. It was a crushing blow for all of us that he had fallen against the death knights."

"You mean… he died?"

"Unfortunately so." Gai'vahros sighed as he leaned back a little. "It was only after the attack that the sword would appear again. A young warrior by the name of Lana'thel stumbled upon the sword and took it as her own. She was a close friend of Thalorien, apparently, so I guess it was fitting that she would wield it in his stead. That was when Kael'thas Sunstrider joined forces with Illidan Stormrage to lead an assault on Icecrown-- Arthas' domain on the frozen continent of Northrend. It was a lost cause; the battle was lost and the few survivors were scattered to the four corners of Northrend, only to be hunted down one by one by the Scourge. It was there than Lana'thel fell and was risen as a powerful undead in the service of the Lich King."

"That's… that's horrible," muttered Rainbow Dash, terrified of this "Lich King" that Gai'vahros had constantly brought up during his stories. "How could anyone be so evil?"

"Sometimes it's better to not think about it and to just fight it," replied the blood elf. "So, it was said that Lana'thel could not stand the sight of her sword. It was said that every time she turned to look at her sword she would cry out in anger as she remembered her life before her turn. In her rage, she shattered the sword and flung the pieces as far as she could. I was able to recover a small piece of the sword; the hilt was found carried by one of the Lich King's necromancers."

"So you were able to reforge the sword?"

"Eventually. No one was able to recognize the sword by its hilt alone, and so I was tasked to retrieve a book on prismatic weapons. We learned soon after that the sword was, indeed, Quel'Delar. I was tasked to reforge the sword by using a dark metal called "saronite" and a tool called "the maker's hammer". With both of these, the blade was created, but could not be used. I was then instructed to temper the sword within the Crucible of Souls, to temper it with the fury of thousands of restless dead. It was then that we discovered our folly."

"Your folly? Something went wrong?"

"Indeed. You see, Rainbow Dash, saronite is the hardened black blood of an evil entity, an Old God. The Old Gods are creatures of utmost evil, chaos, and destruction. The blade had become tainted and, as it dwelled within the halls of Icecrown Citadel, or anywhere else under the Lich King's influence for that matter, was slowly taking in the evil presence surrounding it. The blade had to be cleansed. I took it to the Sunwell for it to be bathed in its holy waters, and cleansed it was. That was how I came to acquire, and be chosen by, the sword."

"That's totally awesome!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash as she put her fore-hooves to her cheeks. "Hey, that reminds me; weren't we supposed to be searching the forest for your equipment?"

"Ah, that's right," agreed Gai'vahros. The blood elf leaned forwards, placing his hands on his knees, before standing up and giving a stretch of his arms, "but I think we should leave it for daybreak; it will be much easier to find what we need with a little bit of sunlight. Besides, you need to get some sleep."

"Pfft. Who needs sleep when we've got a job to do?" asked Rainbow Dash rhetorically. "Plus, you talkin' about that sword has got me totally psyched to try and find it as soon as possible!"

Gai'vahros couldn't help but let out a rather loud and tired sigh. "Fine, fine," Gai'vahros reluctantly agreed to Rainbow Dash' insistence, "we'll go take a look, but only for an hour or so."

The pair quickly made their way towards the opening that lead towards the deeper, darker areas of the forest. Even the shine of the moonlight could not fully pierce through the thick, dense barrier of twisted and contorted branches, with only a few streaks of silvery light managing to pierce and break through the canopies. It was the only source of light for the two of them, which made locating anything that wasn't rock or bush even harder. The only things that either one of them could identify with certainty was the hardened dirt underfoot and the rough bark of trees. It appeared to be a lost cause for the two of them.

"You know what? I'm beginning to think you had the right idea," Rainbow Dash called out to Gai'vahros, admitting that what he said was beginning to look like the better alternative. "I can't see anything in here! What about you?"

"I'm finding it a little bit impairing if I am to be honest with you, my Lady Rainbow Dash," replied Gai'vahros as he knelt down onto the ground, trying to feel for anything that felt like cold steel. "Even with low-light vision I'm still having some trouble trying to depict anything. Everything just looks like a smudge of dark upon dark."

"You wanna give it five more minutes before heading back?" Rainbow Dash began to look up into the trees, thinking that any of Gai'vahros' lost items could have gotten stuck within the branches, hoping that what little moonlight there was could help make them stand out.

"Wait," Gai'vahros yelled out, "Rainbow Dash! I think I've found something!" The blood elf quickly made a sprint towards a small yet sharp glow of pale turquoise, pushing aside low hanging branches and bushes that got in his way. Thankfully for Rainbow Dash, the moonlight reflected brightly off of the gold of Gai'vahros armor, making it easier for her to find and keep up with him. Eventually the duo came onto a small circular clearing, staring down at a large object. The large gem embedded into it let off a strong light that revealed its shape; the large piece of gold was crafted into the shape or a large ornate helmet much like a royal guard's helm, but with large "wings" on both sides. "Ah! My shield." Gai'vahros knelt down, grasping at his shield with a hand on each side of it before turning it to face him.

"Wow, Gai, that's one impressive shield," spoke Rainbow Dash, looking down at the shield with a look of impression and admiration. "I've never seen a shield like this before, or even this size."

"It's served me for a long time," Gai'vahros responded as he ran his hand across the face of it, wiping away some dirt and soil from the metalwork. "This was a gift given to me by Lady Liadrin after I had done my duty alongside the Shattered Sun Offensive. This beauty has seen almost as many battles as I have."

"So should we head back now?"

"Yeah, I think we can call it a night. In any case, if we don't find the rest of my stuff we could always come back here and take another look-- with sunlight, preferably."

Author's Note

For those interested, the song Gai'vahros sings is Lament of the Higborne.

Chapter 21 - Dire Straits

"Hey, Gai! Time to wake up, you lazy bum!"

It was some hours since the break of dawn. The morning sun bathed the forest in a sea of light, striking upon every tree, rock and bush that stood before it. The warmth veiled over every pony, critter, and any other living being that welcomed its presence. Well, that was to say that almost every living being welcomed the wake of Equestria's most prized possession.

"Hmm… five more minutes." Gai'vahros rolled over onto his side, reaching a hand over his shoulder to pull his cape back over him as though it was just a bed sheet. The elf let out a soft hum as he got himself a bit more comfortable, preferring to spend more time waltzing and dancing within the land of dreams than to get up. It wasn't like him at all to prefer his sleep over the chance to adventure and explore, but he did only get a few hours sleep after all.

"Come on, Gai'vahros," spoke Twilight as she made her way over to the peaceful elf though not with the act of diplomacy. Her horn glowed a light lavender colour as her magic began to envelope and tug at Gai'vahros' cape, pulling it away from the grip of his hand. "We've got to start making our way to the next camp site!" However, the disgruntled elf started to retaliate in kind, pulling back against the might of Twilight's power. The longevity of this struggle wasn't to last, though; with much of her power, Twilight quickly and sharply whipped her head to the side, causing the cape to motion in that direction with a great deal of force, forcibly pulling the cape backwards and, though unintentionally, causing the now shocked Gai'vahros to flip backwards heels over head and land on his belly. "O-oops… hehe… sorry about that…"

"I would flog you with the might of leather and steel of my glove," grumbled Gai'vahros as he lifted the cape that was now draped over his head from his face, "but I am far too tired to do anything that doesn't include sprawling out on the grass and falling asleep." Gai'vahros groggily stumbled to his feet, dusting himself off before letting out a huge yawn coupled with the arching of his back and the stretching of his arms upwards. "But, I admit, you are right. We'd better make way to the next camp site."

"Hey, Gai," called out Pinkie Pie from the side, her gaze fixated upon a solid slab of ornamented gold that leaned back against one of the fell logs used last night, "I never knew you had a gold surfboard. But there's nowhere to go surfing around here. Oh, actually, maybe you were thinking about going surfing in the river? Wait-- how did you know that there's a river here? You must be PSYCHIC!"

"Uh… well, first, that's not a surfboard; it's my shield. Second, I didn't bring it with me; me and Lady Rainbow Dash found it last night in the forest. Third, I've not been here before so, no, I didn't know there was a river here. Lastly, I'm not psychic, though the prospect of that notion is something I may humour the thought of."

"Oh! It's a shield! Awesome! Hold still. I need to inspect your gear again." Pinkie Pie plonked her flank down on the grass in front of Gai'vahros, squinting her eyes as she slowly crept her head forwards, gazing at his armor. "I was a bit concerned that your Item Level was wayyyy too low last time."

"Uh… "Item Level"?"

"Shhh! Stop moving!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie in hushed tones, with Gai'vahros only complying out of fear of pain of death for defiance. For a few moments the pony kept staring, occasionally tilting her head from side to side-- and at one point, turning it upside down. Sitting back up, Pinkie Pie gave a small hum as she stroked her chin with a fore-hoof. "It's getting better, but the lack of a weapon is bringing it down a bit."

"I… haven't a clue as to what you're talking about," the rather curious, concerned and-- rightfully-- scared elf responded with an awkward smile, "but I will agree with you that I do need to find my weapons. With any luck it won't take me too long."

"Goody! That should boost you up to four-eight-six!"

"… Boost what up to four-eight-six?"

"Duh! Haven't you been listening to a word I've said? Your Item Level, silly! Pay attention!"

'I don't always feel intimidated by creatures,' Gai'vahros thought to himself as he watched Pinkie Pie walk away from him with a look of impatience on her, directed to the elf's lack of understanding in her explanation, 'but this pony creeps me the hell out.' As Pinkie Pie walked a distance away from him, Gai'vahros left of a heavy sigh of relief before turning back to Twilight. So, my Lady Twilight, in which direction do we take our leave?"

"I sent Rainbow Dash to scout out the area," responded the unicorn while she had her snout buried in a small map of Ponyville, "so she'll be the best to tell us where to head next. Saying that, she should be back soon."

"I heard ya call my name." A sudden burst of air blasted between and past Gai'vahros and Twilight as Rainbow Dash jetted between them, showing off as per the norm. The pegasus had a smirk on her face as she stopped abruptly, hovering off the ground with her forelegs crossed over her chest. "But don't wear it out, okay?"

"Honestly, Rainbow Dash, must you always make a scene?" Twilight wasn't as impressed with her friend's entrance as she herself was if only because the map that she had held onto the ground nearly blew away from her grasp.

"I must concur," Gai'vahros responded in kind while fixing the bangs of his hair with both hands. He, too, was not impressed although not for the same reason as Twilight. "My hair is more than likely in a bad state from sleeping on dirt; I certainly don't need you messing it up any further with those blustering winds you bring."

"Oh lighten up, Gai." Rainbow Dash did not take the elf's words seriously and instead retorted by flapping her wings forwards, causing a gust of wind to blow through his hair and blowing the bangs that hung in front of his face over the top of his head.

Despite the visible agitation on the face of Gai'vahros all of the other ponies couldn't help but snicker and giggle under their breaths, though this was due to the silly look of his hair than out of malice of him becoming more irate at Rainbow Dash. Even Twilight, who was before lacking amusement of the pegasus' antics, had to bite her lip lest she burst out with a chuckle.

"Hah! I admit that that was pretty funny," replied Gai'vahros. With a smirk on his face he stared back at Rainbow Dash while sweeping his bangs back down in front of his face. "But I think this is even more so." A surge of golden light danced and spun around his hand before he thrust it outwards with an open palm facing Rainbow Dash. Suddenly a bolt of light struck the snout of the pegasus, causing her to drop to the ground in a groggy fashion. Rainbow Dash found it hard to see clearly; her vision blurred by the sudden shock of Gai'vahros' spell.

"H…hey… not this again…!" Rainbow Dash could hardly keep her words straight, instead slurring them as she began to feel dizzy. It wasn't like before, though; while she simply stopped in her tracks the first time, this time she felt dizzy, struggling to keep her balance as her legs began to wobble from under her own weight. "Why do I feel so dizzy…?"

"This isn't the Hammer of Justice, my Lady Rainbow Dash," replied Gai'vahros with a half smile on his face. "This is a more powerful spell; the Fist of Justice. Don't worry. The effects are only a few moments. How do you feel, by the way? Humoured?"

"N-no! Feels like I've been spinning on the spot…"

It seemed that, like Gai'vahros before, the other ponies began to chuckle at Rainbow Dash' predicament although they had no intention of holding it back, bellowing huge gouts of laughter from all sides of her. Rainbow Dash couldn't help but feel embarrassed and humiliated, but she understood that it was like a game of practical jokes between good friends, and so took it in her stride. Fortunately for her the effects started to quickly wear off, with her vision becoming steady along with her equilibrium.

"Okay, now that that's out of everyone's system," huffed Twilight, trying to catch her breath from laughing too much for too long, "did you manage to find a good place for the next camp site, Rainbow Dash?"

"Oh! Yeah, that's right! I scouted out the east and I managed to find a shortcut through the forests, but…" Rainbow Dash paused for a moment in hesitation, placing a hoof under her chin as though in thought.

"But wha?" Applejack asked after waiting a moment to give Rainbow Dash the chance to finish her sentence.

"Well… I saw claw marks on some of the trees around there. There were also broken branches on the ground, too."

"More'n likely caused by an angry bear… or an ursa minor… maybe an ursa major." Applejack wasn't feeling at all confident about using the shortcut. With a look of distress on her face she turned to Twilight, who was also in thought about these descriptions. "I reckon we'd better take the long way round."

"Nah, they definitely weren't bear claws," responded Rainbow Dash, trying to ease the strain of Applejack's worry. "Also, the branches were cut clean in two. I've never seen anything cut a tree so cleanly before."

"So a sword, then?" spoke Gai'vahros. "Only a hardened steel blade has the capacity to cut through something so thick without any fraying. My Lady Twilight, is there anyone in your world who would have direct access to weaponry?"

"Only the royal guards would have access to weaponry," responded Twilight, "but that's only on very rare occasions such as in defence of Canterlot or when traversing to hostile areas. The forest isn't exactly known to be hostile so it's very unlikely a guard would be here, let alone with a sword. But, if Rainbow Dash is right, there was definitely a struggle there."

"I was afraid you would say that, my Lady Twilight."

"Well what ever do you mean by that?" Rarity intervened, confused but also worried by the sullen tone of Gai'vahros' words.

"I've always had it in my mind as a possibility, but with this new information I'm starting to find it to me more truthful than just fiction that I may not be the only one here from Azeroth. I get the feeling that I'm not alone here, for better or for worse."

"You think someone else from Azeroth may have done this?" asked Twilight.

"Hard to say without assessing the warzone myself." Gai'vahros turned to his shield and quickly scooped it up with both hands before fastening it to his left arm. "My lady Twilight, I must ask that we take this shortcut through the forest. I don't think my mind can be at ease knowing that there is a possible threat wandering around here. Do not worry, my Lady Applejack. You will be safe with me here."

"Uh… aw, shucks, why the heck not?" Applejack relented with a smile on her face. The pony had no reason to disbelieve or distrust the elf considering she had seen his actions at work before, even if it was only against Rainbow Dash.

"But I cannot allow the children to remain with us." Gai'vahros turned to speak to Rainbow Dash as though he was a commander instructing his soldier. "Rainbow Dash, can I entrust you with getting little Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Spike back to Ponyville?"

"Hey, no way, Gai," Apple Bloom stepped forward with a determined look on her face. "I wanna come, too!"

"Yeah! Nothin' can scare the Cutie Mark Crusaders away!" Scootaloo joined in with the bravado.

"You have no say in this matter!" yelled Gai'vahros, his voice booming with the force of a hurricane and the authority of a deity. It was a huge shock and surprise for all-- especially for the young fillies-- to see such an angered expression on the elf's face and to hear him raise his voice as much as he did. Despite the boast that Scootaloo had made not second ago the three of them were certainly intimidated by Gai'vahros. It didn't take long for him to realize this, and so he quickly softened his expression and sighed, though still keeping a look of seriousness. "Apple Bloom, do you remember the talk we had a couple of days ago?"

"U-uh… yeah…" The filly only gave a slow nod as she looked down to the ground. She was too embarrassed to even look at Gai'vahros in the eye as she replied.

"Then, Rainbow Dash, could you be so kind as to see everyone safe passage back to Ponyville? We shouldn't be too long dealing with this."

"Yeah. No problem, Gai." Rainbow Dash lifted off the ground and made her way to the trio of fillies and Spike. "This way, guys." Without a moment's pause the four of them followed close behind. Apple Bloom, for a moment, looked back to Gai'vahros, visibly upset that she had been yelled at. The elf, in understanding, gave a smile and nodded, making Apple Bloom feel much better and returning the sentiment before catching up with the rest of the group.

"Gai'vahros… are you okay…?" asked Fluttershy in caring tones. She was almost as intimidated by Gai'vahros' disposition as much as the crusaders were if not more so.

Gai'vahros only looked on to see the group lead by Rainbow Dash head down the path, though he spoke up after watching them pass over a small hill out of sight. "I've seen so many people come and go, live and die. Some of them don't even garner my attention or sympathy, for they knew of the risks beforehand and venture head first through death's door out of recklessness." He turned to face Fluttershy, who was still worried for the elf, knowing that his actions and words would affect her the most; he understood that she was an incredibly emotional pony. "But the deaths of children will always be on my conscience. And I already have enough of them as it is."

Silence befell the rest of them as Gai'vahros walked over to a nearby path to the east, heading to where Rainbow Dash had described the conflict. At this point the ponies could only stand and watch as the blood knight was to make his way through the thickets, but he only stopped in front of the path and turned back to face them.

"But it is to you whom I give the choice," spoke Gai'vahros, his attention undivided and fixated upon the five remaining ponies. "As much as I would implore the rest of you to return, I also know that I cannot force you to do so. You can either head back to Ponyville, or you may accompany me further. Please think things over care--"

"What's there to think about, Gai?" Applejack responded, crossing her legs over each other. "I woulda thought you'd know by now that we sure as heck ain't gonna let ya face danger on your own. You can count me in!"

"Me too, darling," agreed Rarity in kind. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing that you'd be eaten by some huge creature while I did nothing !"

"Yeah, friends gotta stick together like glue," spoke Pinkie Pie, joining in much to the surprise of Gai'vahros, "but not like superglue, otherwise you'd have a bad time getting it out of your mane."

"Yes. It would be much better and safer if we went as a group." It was even more surprising to the elf that the emotional and timid Fluttershy was all for accompanying him to the forest.

"We're all ready to fight beside you, Gai'vahros." Twilight was more than ready and determined, and perhaps even eager, to aid Gai'vahros in any way they could. She also understood, or had an educated guess, as to how strong people from Azeroth could be. She had witnessed Gai'vahros' excellence of his mastery over the Light to the point where such spells that he performed could be considered high level if compared to Equestria's magic, and he could perform them with so little effort too. She understood the possibility that whatever this threat was was out of her league in terms of combating it. But, she knew that she couldn't leave him to fight it alone. "This isn't just a threat to you. This could be a threat to the whole of Ponyville."

"Heh. Understood." Gai'vahros smiled as he scanned in front of him, seeing the faces of what was now his adventuring party as he had come to think of them for a moment. But they were much more than just his party. They were all his closest friends. "Stay close, and keep guard at the rear."

The group passed through much of the forest but had not seen any sign of a fight yet. Gai'vahros kept to the front alongside Twilight, trying to spot or listen out for anything that may provide a clue to a conflict or a possible ambush, with Twilight keeping her horn at the ready should there be an assault from the front. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie stood in the middle, with Fluttershy looking out to the sides to try and spot anything that she could recognize, be they claw marks or anything else that she could recognize, while Pinkie Pie was, well, being Pinkie Pie. Lastly, Rarity and Applejack kept to the rear as Rarity used the magic in her horn to detect any movement from the flanks while Applejack kept her caution up, prepared to buck anyone who would attack from the rear with her powerful hind legs.

"You sure Rainbow Dash mean east and not… well, somewhere else?" Applejack was getting impatient the more trekking and less discovery they made as they continued down the dirt path. "We been walkin' for minutes now and I've yet to see anythin' that could come close to a scratched tree or a nicked branch."

"Well I don't think we should doubt her yet," Twilight replied, defending her absent friend, "considering she's one of the lead weather pegasi. I'm fairly sure she wouldn't make such a simple mistake such as that."

"A shame she didn't tell us exactly how far east she saw the scene," added Gai'vahros, who was also starting to feel a bit underwhelmed with the fruitless search. "At least that way we'd have some indication as to where we were going."

"Uh, excuse me," Fluttershy spoke up in a soft voice, "but I found--"

"True enough, Gai'vahros," Twilight replied to Gai'vahros, not noticing Fluttershy at all, "but at least we know which direction we're going in. At least, I hope we do."

"Uh… Twilight… I think I--"

"I do hope we find it sooner than later," Rarity whined, a look of exhaustion on her face. "My hooves are killing me!"

"Girl, we've only been walkin' for a few minutes." Applejack was amazed by Rarity's lack of stamina today.

"Um… Gai'vahros… I did find--"

"Hey! Do you think that this guy from your world would like parties, Gai?" Pinkie Pie, ever the optimistic one, asked aloud as though she was to expect a positive answer. "We should totally throw a welcome party! There'll be cake, and balloons and kumquats!"

"I think that whoever is here would rather cut a slice out of your body than a slice of cake, my Lady Pinkie Pie."

"Guys!" Fluttershy roared in a slightly more audible manner than her previous attempts. It worked, though, causing everyone to turn to look at her. Even so she felt a bit embarrassed, not realizing that she had raised her voice so much despite it actually being so little. "Uh… I think I found where the fight happened…" Fluttershy pointed to a path just behind her that lead off south.

"Why didn't you say so earlier, Fluttershy?" Twilight responded thought didn't allow the pegasus to respond, instead making a dash to and down the path while everyone else followed, with Fluttershy trailing behind a little bit as she tried to answer the hurrying unicorn.

It was a definite sight to behold, surely. The entire path was littered with litters of fallen leaves, chipped back, kicked up dirt and broken branches. For each one of them it felt incredibly ominous. Well, that was to say that for each of the ponies it was; Gai'vahros, on the other hand, was not entirely phased by such scenery. He had seen worse, after all. A whole lot worse.

I guess Lady Rainbow Dash wasn't mistaken, after all." Gai'vahros placed a hand over one of the claw marks on the tree. Some of the bark had been torn away to reveal the pale wood underneath but most of the claw mark stayed intact on the surface. "I've not seen such wide markings before. It's like a dragon made these, but I know not of a dragon with such thick claws yet close together."

"I think this is some kind of giant bird," spoke Fluttershy as she moved her head close to inspect another claw marking on the opposite tree. "I can just make out an imprint in the bark; definitely talons."

"Seems like it." Applejack picked up a large dark brown feather with her hoof, twirling it around. The feather was incredibly long as though belonging to a much larger-than-average eagle or condor. "I've not seen somethin' this huge before. What about you, Fluttershy?"

"Hmmm…" The pegasus tried to pin the feather to a creature but even she, with her extensive knowledge of common and exotic animals alike, could not identify it. "I'm sorry, Applejack, I can't say where it came from. It's too large to be any bird I know of."

"And the talon marks are just as mysterious, too," spoke Gai'vahros, trying to identify the imprint that Fluttershy had found. "To leave an imprint in bark like this would mean that the tree was either struck or slammed into. But what kind of bird would dropkick a tree?"

"Maybe the branches will give us a better clue?" suggested Twilight.

Gai'vahros shifted his attention to the numerous cleaved branches on the ground before looking up at the trees above. The first thing he noticed was that nearly all the trees down the path for several meters were broken off. The second thing he noticed-- and the more frightening of the two-- was that the ends of the branches and some of the leaves were charred as though they were burned. Kneeling down, the elf took a hold of one of the branches that lay on the path. Everything about this sliced piece of wood felt abnormal. The stick was cold to the touch, even through the thick leather of his gloves. It felt brittle in his soft grasp to the point that parts of it were beginning to flake away and crumble. The sliced end bore a rim of black and purple char.

"Do you notice anything strange, Gai'vahros?"

"I think a better question would be, "do you notice anything right?"." Gai'vahros rolled the twig between a finger and thumb. Not much to his surprise, the branch crumbled down the middle and snapped in two as soon as he put any more pressure on it. "If what caused this is what I think it is, then we're in much more of a dire predicament."

Chapter 22 - Heartstrike

It was a tough pill to swallow for the blood elf. Both pieces of the branch crashed upon the dirt and, despite the path being very soft and loose, splintered into smaller fragments. The inside of the wood bore more evidence of corruption; streaks of black and purple char and ash ran across the grooves and gradients while turning the rest of the branch into a pale, dull grey colour. It was as though the wood was petrified from the inside out. As though it had all vestiges of life sucked from it.

"Gai'vahros…" Twilight felt a chill rush down her spine, causing her mane to stand up on end and her tail to jitter slightly but violently. The unicorn felt her stomach flip and churn, feeling like it was doing high profile gymnastics. Gai'vahros' words made her feel sickly, his words an ominous toll of the death knell. "Have you… seen this kind of thing before?"

"Unfortunately, yes," replied the dumbfounded Gai'vahros. A few thoughts began to pass through his mind; the Scourge Invasion passed through his mind, as did the battle of Icecrown. "This is a definite sign of decay, corruption of undeath. This is a definite sign of the Scourge."

"But, Gai, didn't you say you defeated the Scourge years ago?" Applejack was perplexed by Gai'vahros' explanation, especially since he had told them about the assault on Icecrown Citadel not a few nights ago. "Do you think that some survived and… made their way here?"

"It seems likely--" Applejack couldn't help but feel the same feeling Twilight did, almost feeling sick to her stomach. "--but impossible," Gai'vahros finished, which helped ease Applejack's and Twilight's anxiety. "If this was a Scourge attack, you wouldn't have a forest anymore. You wouldn't even have a Ponyville anymore. But things could be worse, as if that's easy to believe."

Against her better judgment, Applejack lowered her head towards another of the cut branches, placing her snout next to it. "Smells a bit funky," she said with a disgusted look on her face as she took a sniff of it, whipping her head away as the smell of rot and burning attacked her senses. It almost felt like it attacked her brain as well as her sense of smell. "The last time I smelled somethin' this bad I had to spend an hour cleanin' out the pigpens."

"But what's this about things being worse, Gai'vahros?" spoke Fluttershy.

"Aye, I guess I should fill you all in." Gai'vahros quickly stood upright, turning to his companions. "This shares the corruption of what is similar to the Scourge, but it is not identical-- not nearly as mindless nor evil. The damage done here was caused by a dark, cursed blade."

"And you know what it is?" Twilight responded.

"Shadowmourne."

""Shadowmourne"?"

"Yes. Shadowmourne is an axe infused with the blood of evil gods, powers of undeath, and the souls of the tormented. It was forged by the commander of the Ebon Blade, Highlord Darion Mograine, as a hard counter to the Lich King's own weapon, Frostmourne. A haunting blade, to be sure. Only a warrior of immense strength and equally as great willpower could control such dark powers without being overcome by it. By comparison, Quel'Delar only shares but a minute fraction of Shadowmourne's taint before I had cleansed it in the Sunwell, and even I had trouble subduing the blade. Shadowmourne is… a class of its own."

"But how did it get here?" asked Rarity with a puzzled look on her face.

Gai'vahros let out a small sigh. "I would think the same way I got here-- by accident," he responded, "more than likely through a death gate."

"A "death gate"?"

"The death knights of the Ebon Blade use their death gate to return to the Acherus. I can only assume that whatever caused my portal to Quel'Danas to malfunction has also taken its toll on other powers that involve translocation."

Twilight felt more uneasy than she had been before, and for good reason. The unicorn walked slowly towards the monologue-driven blood elf with a look of confusing and distress. "Gai'vahros… you make it sound like you know who caused this."

"Would you like to make an educated guess, my Lady Twilight, or would you rather I spelled it out for you?" It was as much of a shock to everyone else as it was to Twilight, although the way that Gai'vahros had spoken about such knowledge already gave the suggestion that he knew the blade's wielder-- they merely needed confirmation. But, what with this revelation, the others began to feel a bit more relaxed; they had it in their mind that anyone who knew Gai'vahros was surely a friend. "I know this person all too well. It was alongside them and many others that we actually managed to defeat the Lich King."

"Who is this person, Gai?" Applejack was almost elated to hear about another hero from Azeroth. "When do we get to meet this dark knight?"

"Never, with any luck," snapped back Gai'vahros as soon as Applejack had finished her sentence, holding off on cutting Applejack off in mid speech. "This person is not friend nor-- hopefully-- foe. I do not doubt that their intentions are malevolent, but I can only guess that whatever transpired here was an act of self defence on their part."

"How do you figure that?"

"Simple." Gai'vahros strode over to beside Applejack and Twilight before turning back round to face the littered path. "Look before you. A fight resulted in a sullied dirt path covered in the remains of forestry. Considering the fight was between a huge clawed creature and a heavy bladed weapon, what's missing from this picture?" The ponies looked to each other as though they were hoping another would provide the answer. Rather, that one of them would say it. They already knew what was missing. "The bloodshed," Gai'vahros finally revealed after such a deep pause of silence. "I would think the lack of blood-- or body parts-- would suggest that they fended off their attacker without using lethal force. That would also explain why there are embedded talon marks on the trees; the attacker probably had them against the trees and took a swing, missing them as they moved out of the way and striking the bark instead."

"That still doesn't explain why half of the forest got a trim," pointed out Applejack. The pony wasn't wrong in pointing out the flaw in Gai'vahros' explanation, either; it was a perfectly valid concern. "If this person did retaliate in self defence, then what part of it gave the idea of cuttin' down the forest like a hyped-up lumberjack?"

"Sometimes the best deterrent is to just swing your sword," Gai'vahros responded with a shrug of his shoulders, "but you do have a point. In any case, I cannot guarantee anyone's safety now. We should call the whole thing off until I can verify if who we're dealing with is friend or not."

"But… I thought you knew this person, Gai'vahros," spoke Fluttershy is her usual soft manner. "aren't they a friend of yours?"

"They are not. This person does not follow any tenets, morals or code. They do not follow the orders or whims of anyone besides their own. Hell, they only joined in the fight against the Lich King for revenge, as most of the other death knights of Acherus did. Most importantly of all, this person is a death knight; an undead warrior whose very nature is to cause death and destruction. It is in their way of living in the same way that breathing and blinking is in ours."

Before anyone could continue the discussion, Rainbow Dash bolted over the tops of the trees above the group, rustling the remains and stumps of branches that still jutted from the canopies and causing more leaves to rain down softly upon the heads of those within. The pegasus quickly swooped down to hover between Gai'vahros and the remainder of the group. "Everything's been taken care of," she exclaimed, gesturing a salute towards Gai'vahros. "So are we gonna keep camping?"

"Change of plans," Gai'vahros responded without even turning to look at Rainbow Dash. "We're heading back to Ponyville until I can figure out what to do next." The elf threw his right foot forward to kick at some of the cindered branches that were scattered in front of him, the force of his foot causing them to crumble to pieces. "Are the children secured, my Lady Rainbow Dash?"

"Yup," she replied, "I sent them all back to the library with Spike. I just hope they haven't wrecked the place."

"I also set up a ward spell around the library before we left," joined Twilight. "You know, just in case we do end up having a break-in. The spell will block out anyone who hasn't been scribed on its ward stone, so only us girls-- and guy-- should be able to get in."

"Good." The elf marched past the six of them back to the main pathway, turning to look east and then west. Finally, he turned back to face the girls, letting off a small yet deep sigh. "I'm sorry that we have had to cut our camping short, but it's vital that we are not to proceed any further for the moment. As I've said before, I do not know if this woman is friend or foe-- only that she is violent and has no qualms in attacking the innocent should her bloodlust call for it."

"We all understand, Gai'vahros," responded Twilight, "and you're right; we should head back to Ponyville to make sure everything is okay."

"I'm glad you agree, my Lady Twilight." Gai'vahros' voice dropped in tone by the end of his words, becoming more brooding and sullen-- and fearful. It was this scenario that he did not want to happen, to have others from Azeroth find this place, knowing full well that most people he knew would come here to spoil the land and to treat it as though they had right to harvest their lumber, ore and food supplies. It was even more heartbreaking for him that the person he knew did not need trees, minerals or livestock to satisfy their hunger. They only needed souls. "Then we are to depart immediately. Lady Rainbow Dash, can you direct us back to Ponyville?"

"Sure thing, Gai. Just follow me." Rainbow Dash took off at a quick pace, knowing that all of them needed to get back to the village as soon as possible. The group were all too eager to do the same, bursting out into a sprint.

"Hey, Gai," Applejack responded between her own beats and breath, "you never… told us who this knight was."

"Perhaps some other time… Lady Applejack," he responded, not thinking this the best of time to start asking questions, preferring to lead with caution and to not divert his attention from the surrounding area. "I'll perhaps explain… when we get back." Applejack nodded in acknowledgement of the elf's suggestion.

"Guys! You're back!" cried out Apple Bloom, turning to see the front door swing open to reveal the visages of the mane 6 and the blood knight. The young filly rushed to her sister, wrapping her forelegs around hers and nuzzling into her coat. Sweetie Belle did the same as soon as Rarity stepped inside. "I was worried about you, sis…"

"Huh, no need to sweat sugar cube," Applejack responded with a chuckle and a hoof around the neck of her tearful sibling, comforting her the best she could. "We had Gai with us, after all."

"Did you… did you find who you were looking for?" Sweetie Belle asked Rarity as she looked up at her, then to Gai'vahros.

The elf only shook his head, however. "I'm sorry," he responded in disappointment, "we weren't able to find them. They're still out there somewhere." His words were not the best of encouragement, evident to him immediately as he looked to the group, seeing the worried faces of the young fillies. "Applejack. Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo. I want you all to go home this evening."

"What? Why?" Rainbow Dash retorted, feeling somewhat offended by the fact that Gai'vahros took her lightly. "We can fight this thing together! We can all--"

"No, you can't." The elf's voice became much more broad and commanding as he exclaimed to the floating pegasus, causing her to shrink her head back into her shoulders while Gai'vahros fixated his stern eyes upon her. "Death knights are not easily beaten, by sword or sorcery. I'm sorry to say that your might and magics here are futile at best, especially if your guards rarely carry their weapons and your highest grade of magic is gender-swapping."

"Hey! Don't underestimate us, Gai!" If Rainbow Dash wasn't offended before, then she certainly was now. Her temper got the better of her as she zipped across the meter gap between her and the elf, staring to prod at his chest with her hood between her words. "Do, not, think, I'm, weak!" Before the pegasus could even finish giving him a scowling look, a hand dashed out forwards and grasped her by the top of her head. Gai'vahros' palm lay flat across her forehead while his digits curled around her temples and cranium, gripping tightly and only getting tighter. Rainbow Dash tried her best to wriggle out using her head alone but couldn't get it to budge. Her hooves wrapped and gripped around his wrists, trying to pull away, but to no avail. Suddenly she gave out a squeal as she felt his hand clamp tighter around her head. "G-Gai! Stop! Y-you're hurting me! Ahh! L-let go!"

"Gai, what are you--" cried out Twilight, stepping one hoof forward.

"Showing her how weak she is." Gai'vahros did not turn back to look at Twilight, but merely kept his gaze fixated upon the whimpering pegasus. No one else could believe what was going on; everyone looked on in horror as Gai'vahros single-handedly manhandled Rainbow Dash. Cries of "stop!" and "let go of her!" bombarded the elf, but he paid no attention. He knew they would not act, because he knew that they knew that he would not harm her further.

"Please, Gai! Let go of me!" Between her yelps of pain and discomfort, Rainbow Dash pleaded with the elf to release her.

"You do not listen to reason, my Lady Rainbow Dash… so I must bestow reasoning upon you by force. Forgive me…" His fingers relaxed, dropping Rainbow Dash to the floor as she began to feel the pain subside. The pegasus couldn't help but whimper, and to look up upon the knight with mortified eyes. But all she saw was the look of a distraught blood knight with a single tear down his cheek. "A death knight will not listen to reason. A death knight will not listen to your pleas of release and cries for help. Rather, they would, but for their own sick amusement before crushing your skull to pulp. So please, my Lady Rainbow Dash… go home."

Everyone, including Rainbow Dash, was speechless. The pegasus only gave a scared glance at Gai'vahros as she trotted past him, quickly taking off through the doorway and northward. Most had eyes on her as she left the building before turning to gaze back at Gai'vahros, but Twilight had always kept her gaze upon him. It was painful for her to bear witness to such a thing to the point that she just wanted to cry out. But she couldn't.

"Gai… How could you?" the unicorn spoke up, trying not to choke on her own words. "You went too far!"

"I know." The elf hung his head low, breathing in deeply before drawing a heavy sigh. He turned his head to Twilight's direction slightly, but dared not make eye contact with her. He didn't want to see the look on her face, just as he did not want her to see his, his bangs obscuring the sadness in his expression and the tears in his eyes. "But it was the only way to get her to understand, to understand that she would only get herself killed if she confronted them. Maybe I could have convinced her some other way… but it was the only way I could think of." It didn't matter to him that he could fully justify his action to himself; it was the fact that he could not justify it to everyone else.

"Well, we'll be headin' off," Applejack tried to break the tension, but not for Gai'vahros' sake. She, too, was upset and angry with what had just transpired, but more upset for Rainbow Dash than for the action itself. She knew that Rainbow Dash needed to listen to Gai'vahros, but even she didn't deserve what she got. "I don't want my head crushed for nothin'. Come on, Apple Bloom…" The young filly followed Applejack, distraught but still hopeful for the elf.

"Gai," Apple Bloom called softly, turning her head back to the motionless elf, seeing only his tense shoulders and dropped head from behind as she stood by the doorway, "we're still friends, right? We're all still your friends… right?" There was no response. Still he stood motionless, unwavering, unsaying. Apple Bloom only bore the look of sorrow as her ear dropped down before turning back to the door, following her big sister home.

"Gai… I… I thought you were cool…" Pinkie Pie hiccupped between sobs, tears streaming down her cheeks. "But… you're just a meanie…!" The pony burst out into tears as she ran out the door and down the streets. Fluttershy, too, was brought to tears by Gai'vahros' violence but did not say or do anything; she was too in shock to even move.

Rarity, on the other hand, was all but full of words for the elf. "Gai… I never thought you--"

"I know what I did," the elf spoke back, cutting Rarity off. All of it was just too much for him. "… I'll take my leave…" Gai'vahros tried to keep his head down and away from the eyes of those present, avoiding eye contact with anyone as he turned. He stopped at the door. "But, please… Lady Rarity… Lady Fluttershy… stay here for tonight. Your homes are too close to the forest. You'll be much safer here with Lady Twilight around…" With that, the blood knight took his leave.

The stars were especially bright tonight. Each wasn't listened in the void of the sky like a beacon of hope in the surrounding darkness. At least, that was hope Gai'vahros wanted to interpret the view, as some sort of metaphysical semblance of how he felt at the moment-- his heart, the star; the sky, his anxiety. The moonlight shone upon the still grieving elf who sat upon a bench only several meters from the library. He had always felt that the sky could bestow upon him some sort of comfort if he gave it a little attention and a little thought. It helped him to reflect upon himself and the things that he had done through his life, especially his more questionable actions.

footsteps rang through the air, echoing softly as they slowly began to become clearer, approaching the blood knight. Gai'vahros, though, was too deep in his thoughts to even warrant paying the sound any attention. However, he would soon change his thoughts upon hearing a familiar voice. "I thought I might find you here," called Twilight, stopping only some feet from the bench. Her voice did not sound pleased in the least bit, and a soft sigh from her mouth only helped reinforce that fact. "I thought you said you were going?"

"I still have some friends that need protecting," he responded before turning to give his attention to the unicorn. He only saw the drooped eyes of disappointment gazing back at him. "Even if you hate me, it won't change that fact." Gai'vahros waited for a response about how they didn't need him, or how he wasn't their friend anymore. But nothing of the sorts was said. Nothing was said. He didn't know whether to take that as a good or a bad thing. "… How is everyone…?"

"I managed to calm Fluttershy down. I told her that, sometimes, people do the harshest of things in order to protect the ones they love. I told her that you're a great person and that, even though you were harsh to Rainbow Dash, you'll do anything to protect her and the rest of us. I told her that you were one of the greatest friends we could have."

"Do you believe that, Lady Twilight?"

"I don't. Well, not at first. But, after hearing myself say it out loud, I've come to realize that it is true. It was still hurtful seeing you do that to Rainbow Dash."

"I know. I only wish I could apologize to her. She probably doesn't even want to see my face ever again." drawing a heavy sigh, the elf looked back up to the stars. "For these last few hours I've been trying to tell myself that what I did was acceptable. That what I did was justifiable. But every time I try to tell myself that, a voice in my head tells me it wasn't. Tell me, Lady Twilight; was it?"

"I'm not the one you should be asking. Tomorrow, you should go see Rainbow Dash in Cloudsdale and apologize to her."

"But she won't want to even so much as see me, let alone talk to me. Please come with me, Lady Twilight, so you can talk to her too."

"Sorry, Gai'vahros, but you're on your own with this one. Don't worry. If you really want to apologize to her, with all your heart, then you'll be able to find a way to do it. Just have some faith in yourself, okay? But, you know the way to Cloudsdale, right?"

"Sure thing. Northwest of here, right?"

"Right," spoke Twilight with a nod before turning away, making her way back to the library. "And come inside. You'll catch a cold out here."

"It's okay. I don't mind the cold. I think I'll sleep out here tonight if it's all the same to say, Lady Twilight."

"Okay… Goodnight, friend."

"Hm. Goodnight, my Lady Twilight."

Chapter 23 - Righting Wrongs

"It's… finally over. Well done, champions." The paladin gives off a heavy sigh of exhaustion and relief, his eyes closing for a moment, thoughts of the past and present racing through his mind as, finally, the evil is put to rest. "I'm sorry that I could not be of much help to you all, but you have all shown great tenacity, courage and strength today. Finally, the thousands of tormented have been freed thanks to your heroic efforts."

"Highlord Fordring… you praise us too much," responded Gai'vahros in modesty, his arms relaxing to his side, the point of Quel'Delar pressed against the ice of the platform around them. "But it's finally over. Finally, the fallen of Lordaeron, Silvermoon, and the unfortunate people who were slain in Arthas' wake can rest in peace knowing that their deaths were not in vain."

"No, Gai'vahros. Without all of your help, together, we would not have been able to secure victory over the fallen prince. I only wish now that Arthas will find nothing but misery in death… as well as atonement." Tirion let out another sigh as he turned his head to look back down at the shattered runeblade behind him. The sword, dark as night and evil as the hells themselves, lay shattered in pieces as the jagged blade and rusted hilt were all that remain. "Even though I know that it was ultimately this damned sword that drove Arthas to madness, I still can't help but think that something happened to him much earlier. Perhaps it was Mal'Ganis that drove him to the edge. Maybe it was the culling of Stratholme that pulled him from the path of retribution to the path of vengeance."

"It is hard to say, Tirion," interrupted a voice from behind Gai'vahros. The young human Paladin, Christoph Andrews, stepped forwards to confront the Highlord of his doubts. "It is too late for us to think about matters that we will never know the answers to. Though with his death, as tragic as it may or may not be, know that he may find respite-- as will the rest of us."

"Ehhhhh the young prince will be remembered, though ehhh perhaps for not the right reasons." A strong, heavy voice with a Mediterranean accent approached the conversation with much more light-heartedness than the others. "Ostoso, may we remember him for the good things he has done. Eh, Gai, you always reminded me of him, you know. I look-- I look into your face and I see his."

"That's not exactly the greatest of compliments you've given me, Stavros," replied the elf in sarcasm, "but perhaps you'd like to explain how I remind you of Azeroth's most vile opponent?"

"Eh, malaka, you know that is not what I meant," Stavros replied in impatience with the blood knight, waving his pointing finger at him as he reprimanded him. "I see the light in your eyes and the divinity in your heart, agori mou, just as I saw it in your father and Arthas. Katalava, you have so much more to give, Gai mou, much more than the prince. You can achieve greatness! But, prota, you must have faith in yourself, and believe in the things that you do! Only then will you know greatness the likes of which kings can hardly dream of."

"The old codger's right, Gai'vahros," the voice of a young female assured Gai'vahros, though caused some chagrin to the old priest whom she had offended. "We can all become awesome if we just believe in ourselves and in each other. We can become great just like Tirion, and Thrall, and Varian, and Muradin-- we can be like them!"

"That's not what I want, Emilia," replied Gai'vahros, his voice becoming harsh. "I don't want fame or glory or a legendary title. I don't want to lead, don't want my head stuck in politics, and I sure as hell don't want to deal with this ridiculous and petty rivalry between the Horde and Alliance. I want to travel the world, help right the wrongs of others and to defend those who cannot defend themselves, no matter how small the problem. Adventuring is my life, my blood."

"Heh. A good an answer as any that you could give, young knight." Tirion gave a smile as though he was bestowing his blessing upon a squire. The paladin patted Gai'vahros on his shoulder gently, showing his respect for him. "Like you father before you, I have no doubt that you will make an excellent knight."

A sudden groan alerted the group to another of their team, one that not all were comfortable with being around. The figure of a slender woman clad only in the most ebon of metals-- an armor of pure saronite-- stomped past them. "I did not come here so I could hear you fools ramble on about how great you are and how glorious the light is," her voice burst out in agitation and impatience as she made her way to the steps of the frozen throne. "I came here to rend the neck of the Lich King, and I have done so. I'll be taking whatever trinkets I can take before taking my leave."

"… As you wish, death knight," Tirion mumbled after some hesitation. "Mograine would like a word with you before you leave here. You can find him at the Lower Citadel."

"No doubt the Highlord wishes to congratulate me on a job well done." The death knight hefted her weapon above her shoulder before bringing it down to the side, arcing it horizontally and cleaving the top of a small wooden chest off. Inside were several items-- A small, notched sword with various dents and scrapes along its blade, a badge that bore the emblem of a silver, fisted gauntlet, a vial of frozen red blood, a small golden locket with a ruby inset in a socket, and a glinting blue gem. "Tch. Mere junk. Maybe someone will know what these are." The unsatisfied knight scooped up all that lay in the chest with a single hand, clenching them while her weapon remained gripped in the other.

"I assume you'll be taking that cursed blade with you?"

"Unless you aim to pry it from my cold undead hands, then yes, I'll be taking it with me. No objections, I hope?" She bore a wide smirk on her face as she gazed upon the disgruntled looks of those before her. However, her gaze fixated sharply upon the blood knight that stood mere feet in front of her. Her eyes beamed aggression towards Gai'vahros, which he only returned in indifference. "Remember this well that I only came here to defeat a common enemy. The next time we meet will be on the battlefield-- and not as allies, either. You have been warned."

"… If that is how it should be. Farewell, death knight."

"Hmph. Still won't address me proper? Fine, then." The knight pulled her gaze from his as she made her way to a small portal. "We will meet again Gai..."

"Gai… Gai'vahros… wake up, won't you…?"

For a moment, Gai'vahros mind became fuzzy and cloudy as the unnaturally gentle and comforting voice swept through his ears. He kept his eyes closed for a moment, making sure that what he was hearing was not still in his dreams. Of course, the voice was as real as the feel of the hoof that nudged his shoulder gently, rocking him softly from side to side like a baby in a crib. Slowly his eyes opened, his vision still blurred and distorted from the sand in his eyes and the fatigue that had still settled in his body-- only five hours sleep can do that to an elf. As his vision began to clear, to create a perfectly visible picture in front of him, he saw a pale yellow snout, bright eyes and pink hair in front of him.

"Oh… Lady Fluttershy…" Gai'vahros felt his chest tense up after looking at her, noticing that she didn't have a smile on her face like he was used to seeing. His eyes shifted away from hers for a moment, not wanting to look into hers for fear of feeling guilty. He couldn't keep this up though, knowing that he had to do something about it now. Now was the only time he may have. "I… uh… what are you doing here?"

"Um… I thought I'd come check on you," she replied. "Twilight told me that you were sleeping out here just now. Why didn't you come sleep with us…?"

"Lady Fluttershy, I…" The elf didn't know what to say. His head dropped for a moment, not wanting to look at Fluttershy knowing that she was feeling-- or was about to feel-- upset again. With a sigh, he rose his head again. "I didn't feel like I could show my face again. I upset everyone. I hurt Lady Rainbow Dash. Worst of all, I made you and Lady Pinkie Pie cry."

"Well… yes… but Twilight explained to me and Rarity about why you did what you did. She said--"

"That I was a good person inside? I know all about it. Lady Twilight came and spoke with me last night. I guess you and Rarity were asleep when she came to spoke to me."

"Oh… yes. Probably."

"Listen, Lady Fluttershy, I don't expect you to forgive me, and I don't expect you to accept it, but I want to say that I'm really sorry for having made you and everyone else upset. I wasn't thinking right, but I had to do something to make Lady Rainbow Dash understand. I know it wasn't the right way to do it, but it was the only way I knew how…"

"I understand, Gai'vahros. We know that you didn't mean to hurt Rainbow Dash."

"Well, you needn't worry about me hurting you anymore." Placing his hands on his knees, Gai'vahros hunched forwards and stood up from his prone position, swinging around and standing upon the cobblestone pavement. "I'm going to Cloudsdale later so I can hopefully apologize to Lady Rainbow Dash, and then I'm leaving."

"L-leaving? But, Gai'vahros, where will you go?"

"To the forests. I said I was going to protect you, to deal with this threat we're all facing, and I intend to keep that promise. After that… I'll go wherever the wind takes me. I'm an adventurer, after all." With that said, Gai'vahros walked past the still shocked Fluttershy, heading up north down the path. "Please tell everyone how sorry I am, won't you? But, please, don't tell anyone of my departure. It will be better if they did not know."

"Please, Gai'vahros… don't go…" pleaded Fluttershy, her voice trembling a little as she forced her words out. "I don't want you to leave us…" It was too hard for the emotional pegasus to handle. Small pools of tears formed in her eyes as she watched the elf walk further and further into the distance with no sign of stopping or even listening to her cries. "Gai'vahros… please…!"

Her cries finally reached the sullen Gai'vahros. The elf stopped in his tracks, pausing, hesitating to take another step forwards. His mind began to run circles in his head, thoughts pouring in from all sides as he began to think-- is this just one step closer to joy, or damnation? Is Fluttershy the first step back to regaining his friendship? Is this what Stavros meant when he said that he had to have faith in himself? "Lady Fluttershy…" Gai'vahros turned back to look at her, visibly hurt emotionally as he looked to see those same sad eyes that he saw yesterday. "Do you think… do you think we can still be friends…?"

"Fluttershy gave a big nod, closing her eyes tightly for a moment to hold back her tears, bearing a smile on her face-- a smile that Gai'vahros always wanted to see, all the time. "Yes. We'll always be friends."

A small smile spread across the lips of the joyful elf. He turned back to face Fluttershy, walking towards her slowly, not wanting to take his eyes away from the happy look on the pegasus' face. He just wanted to see it as much as he could, as often as he could. Suddenly, Fluttershy pounced forwards, wrapping her forelegs around the waist of Gai'vahros, much to his shock and surprised. He could feel it-- the softness and warmth of her body and coat. Or was that what friendship felt like, he thought. He wrapped his arms around the back of Fluttershy, cradling her, holding her close. "Lady Fluttershy… if I ever hurt you again, feel free to whack me in the face," he spoke humorously.

"Um… I'll try…" Feeling a bit embarrassed, Fluttershy quickly let go from the embrace, as did Gai'vahros. She could feel her cheeks heat up, forming a nice cascade of pale red over them. "Perhaps we should head inside…?"

"Do you think Lady Rarity and little Sweetie Belle will mind?"

"Oh, I'm sure they will. Twilight told us everything." Very optimistic, Fluttershy was. The pegasus made her way back towards the library, thinking that Gai'vahros would follow her close by but, when she turned her head back, noticed that he still stood there. "Come on. Don't be shy."

Gai'vahros chuckled a little at the irony of Fluttershy's words. The knight followed her back to the library, keeping a few feet behind. Even though he was on good terms with Fluttershy, he still did not feel it was okay for him to treat this rekindling as though everything was okay. Everything was not okay, and he needn't risk overstepping his boundaries.

As they both got to the door, Fluttershy opened it casually before stepping inside. "Twilight, I'm back," she called out, "and I brought someone with me…" Both Rarity and Twilight turned as soon as Fluttershy came inside, but only saw her.

Twilight's eyebrow rose as she stared out the door. "So… where is he?" she questioned while trying to peek around the corners of the frame from where she stood.

"Huh…?" Fluttershy looked back only to find an empty space where she thought Gai'vahros would be standing. Quickly, she turned and headed to the entrance, looking from one side to the other. As she turned her head, she noticed the still nervous blood knight pressed gently against the outside wall. "Gai'vahros, come in… please?"

The elf sighed. "Okay, okay…" Following Fluttershy inside, Gai'vahros slowly made his way from the corner of the entrance to the doorway before stepping inside. He felt his heart skip a beat momentarily, catching a glimpse of the hardened stares from Twilight, Rarity, and Spike. The pressure began to get to his head, feeling a rush of blood flow into his brain, beginning to feel slightly dizzy. Finally composing himself, he took a deep breath. "I know what I did was wrong," he began, gazing blankly forwards, not particularly fixated or directed to anyone but to those whose attention he garnered, "and I won't try and justify why I did it-- you all know the reason. I don't know whether or not it was a good reason, but it was the only thing I could think of given the circumstances. I need to say, whether or not you'll accept it, that I'm sorry for the trouble and heartache that I have caused you all. I don't expect forgiveness, but I'll be happy knowing that you two-- Lady Rarity, and little Spike-- would accept these tokens of apology."

Reaching into his pocket, Gai'vahros gave a moment of pause before pulling out the small jeweller's kit and opening it. The lid sprung open on its two hinges, revealing two items. One was a cut diamond, while the other was a small burlap sack. The elf placed a few fingers inside and gently picked up the glistening diamond from the kit's compartment, holding it up in front of his face while the colours dazzled as light began to pass through its facets, glistening in flashes of red, blue and yellow.

Rarity was astounded by such clarity in a gem the which of likes she had never seen before. "My gosh, Gai'vahros," she spoke up, surprised and amazed by such workmanship but also the fact that Gai'vahros had managed to accomplish such a thing. Rarity had almost forgotten entirely that she had given him the valuable jewel to begin with. "is that--?"

"It is, my Lady Rarity." The elf made his way to the dazzled unicorn and bestowed upon her his gift. "I made a promise that I would return it to you in the best of shapes, and this is what I have done." Placing it upon her hoof, Rarity looked down and marvelled at its creation. The gem bore the shape of an intricate shield, cut in a Trillion style but shaped like a top-pointed heater shield.

"Gai'vahros, I…" Rarity forced her words through her half-closed throat, almost screeching her words through a flood of emotions. She couldn't even find it in herself to be mad at the elf anymore. She was sure of herself that what she witnessed yesterday was brutal and unwarranted to which she protested greatly against, but she knew Gai'vahros better than that. She knew he was a great person and an even greater friend. "Thank you so much!"

Gai'vahros only gave a big smile upon his deterred lips. At this point he did not need to know if it was a sign of forgiveness. He didn't even care if Rarity had forgiven him. All that mattered was that he could do something to make her smile again. Satisfied with the outcome, Gai'vahros turned to the young dragon who stood beside Twilight to find a rather wide, toothy smile on his snout.

"Gai," exclaimed Spike as he held his hands together, his little fingers entwined between themselves, "does that mean--"

"Why don't you take a look for yourself?" replied Gai'vahros with a small smirk on his face as he lifted the small sack from the jeweller's box. Spike kept his eyes of it as it hung from the elf's grasp as though mesmerised by it, following it closely as Gai'vahros placed it into his open palms. The young dragon could swear that he could smell a slight hint of diamond from the sack, hovering his nose above the tied opening and taking a little sniff. Eagerly, as though he was opening a big birthday present, he untied the two laces that tightened around the top of the bag and peered inside before reaching a small hand inside. The contends were smooth, hard and a little sharp around some of its edges, but not enough to cut into his tough, leather-like skin. His claws tightened around a few of these shards before pulling them out.

"W…wow…!" Spike was more than ecstatic from the view that lay before him. In his hand held several shards and chips of equestrian diamond, but they were all shined and polished to the degree of what would be seen on perfectly cut gemstones that would be used in jewellery-- they no longer resembled discarded cuts. "Gai… did you cut all of these?"

"Kind of," replied Gai'vahros. "I had the thought that you like gems based on their value and clarity, so I thought it'd be a shame if I just gave you scratched and damaged chippings. I just smoothed them out, give them a bit of polish and buffed out all the scratches and imperfections, that's all."

"You-- you'd do all of that for me?"

"I'd do that, and much more, for any of you. You're my friends, after all."

"Dude…" The dragon's eyes began to well up with tears as he gazed up at the pure, smiling face of Gai'vahros. With such emotion, Spike leapt at Gai'vahros' leg and hugged it as close as he could. "You're so awesome…!"

"If you say so, little Spike." It really felt like a big step back in the right direction for Gai'vahros, knowing that he could do such greatness for his new friends despite emerging from such darkness. It was a great feeling for him, but he knew that this direction had a few more hurdles that he needed to jump over-- some bigger than others.

As Spike found the time to relinquish his newfound love for him, Gai'vahros looked back to Twilight to see a happy and satisfied look on her face. "I'm happy that they've found it in their hearts to forgive you, Gai'vahros," she spoke with a smile on her face. "I'm sure everyone else will, too."

"And you, my Lady Twilight? Do you still forgive me?" Even though he had heard it the night before, Gai'vahros still felt inclined to ask a second time. He needed to have that closure, to hear it from her a second time.

"Of course I do," she responded adamantly, "and I told you I did last night. In fact, I had forgiven you the moment it happened. I just… well, I just had to make sure that what you did was out of reluctance and necessity and not out of cruelty."

"I understand, and I hope that you understand that I only ask again for closure."

"I understand."

"Okay, cool," spoke Spike, "so we all understand each other now? But, what are we gonna do about Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash?"

"I'm taking my leave for the moment to head to Cloudsdale," Gai'vahros responded, "so I can apologize to Lady Rainbow Dash. I just hope I'll be able to find her and, on top of that, hope that she can forgive me."

"Um… would you like me to accompany you, Gai'vahros…?" asked Fluttershy.

Gai'vahros shook his head slowly. "No, it's okay, my Lady Fluttershy," he responded, then turned his gaze to Twilight with a small smile. " I think it would be best if I went on my own, to show my devotion as it were." Twilight nodded in response, glad that Gai'vahros had come to his own conclusion as to why it would be better if no one went with him. "Northwest of here, right?"

"That's right, Gai'vahros," responded Twilight, confirming the direction of Cloudsdale. "Have a safe flight, okay?"

"Always do, unless a flying pegasus knocks me out of the air. Let's just hope it isn't Lady Rainbow Dash."

Chapter 24 - Mending Bonds

'I hope I'm not too late..' Gai'vahros thought to himself as he burst through the skies on light-forged wings, bursting through clouds and breeze alike. Thankfully for him there were no other pegasi for him to worry about crashing into-- it was a straight and clear run to Cloudsdale. Regardless of the little time it would take for him to get there, time felt as though it was coming to a crawl as his mind began to cycle thoughts over and over, exchanging one for another. For as long as he remained in flight he kept thinking of so many scenarios where Rainbow Dash would deny him forgiveness, leading to so many possible outcomes where he could turn to darkness, harbour his own anger, or even lash out at those close to him. Not one of these outcomes ended in forgiveness, for he knew that he had to brace himself and expect the worse so that it would not come as a shock to him.

The elf eventually made his way to the ramp way at the west of Cloudsdale, the same entrance which he and the others had come to the first time they had arrived to the cloud city. The area did not change much from the last time Gai'vahros had laid eyes upon it, except that there were now some pegasi scattered around the scenery as though they were preparing for some big event, with some of them positioning banners, tables and chairs around the place. Swiftly, the blood knight took to a much lower elevation but not enough to touch the clouds-- he remembered all too well the problems he had the last time he came to this place.

"Hey, you!" A loud, strong voice of immense authority yelled out towards Gai'vahros. Her voice was powerful enough to cause the elf to jump a little as he sharply turned in the direction of such command. Before him was a yellow pegasus with a fiery orange mohawk-like mane, dressed in a blue military jacket with numerous commendations and badges upon the lapel, her darting eyes hidden behind a pair of shades. "This area is off limits to unauthorised personnel! Speaking of which, I've not seen you around here before-- and neither do I care as to where you came from! Speak your piece, trespasser, before I call the guards."

"Forgive me, my lady," spoke Gai'vahros quickly, feeling the pressure of this pegasi's authority swallowing his nerves-- he hadn't felt such a way since he had first met Warchief Hellscream, "I did not mean to trespass, but this is the only way I know of as to gain entrance into Cloudsdale."

"Hmph. So you're not new here then? Then, hedgehog man, why on Equestria have you not heard of this event today? Everyone who comes here knows of the bimonthly Wonderbolt demonstrations."

"Wonderbolts, eh? I had heard of this troupe of performers from a friend of mine."

""Troupe"? "Performers"?" The pegasus raised an eyebrow above the rim of her tinted glasses, intrigued by Gai'vahros' choice of words. "So do you have an opinion of the Wonderbolts?"

"Hah. Do I. A bunch of aerobatic circus performers, from what I can gather. They put on a few shows here and there to "demonstrate" their flying prowess. I would think that even the youngest of ponies would have no trouble flying; it is in your nature to do so as much as walking and talking is."

"Go on…"

"But I also know how important they are in your society. They help manage the weather with teams of other pegasi. They help bring coordination and teamwork where none other can. They inspire the younger generation to become all that they can be, and then more. I can relate to that, being a captain of the Silvermoon army myself."

"Hm? "Silvermoon"? Is that a place far from here? I don't recall hearing about it."

Gai'vahros gave a small smirk on his face. "I thought you didn’t care as to where I came from?"

The pegasus returned the gesture in stride. "Heh. Fair point."

"Ah, I must apologize, my lady," spoke Gai'vahros as he gestured his usual bow of respect, "for I have yet to introduce myself. My name is Gai'vahros Dawnbreaker-- blood knight and captain of the Silvermoon army. Would you be so kind as to return in kind?"

"Such good manners for someone of such ignorance. My name is Spitfire, and I am the coordinator of this event. Oh, yes, and I am also the captain of the famous circus troupe-- the Wonderbolts."

A bolt of lightning pierced through one side of Gai'vahros mind and exited out of the other, or it felt like one did, at least. His pupils dilated, his eyes glazed over, and his mouth hung open a little as he began to understand just how much of an idiot he had made himself in front of the Wonderbolt's own captain. "I-I-I'm terribly sorry, my Lady Spitfire," he spoke up, stuttering as his mind wasn't fully able to get back to speaking, still trying to get over this revelation. "I did not mean to come across as rude or aggressive!"

"Well, you did acknowledge our importance, so your ignorance isn't too astounding as to warrant a good, old fashioned punch to the noggin. I'll let you off this once, and once only." Spitfire removed her shades with a single hoof before pulling out a small piece of cloth, wiping the lens of her shades clean of the spittle from Gai'vahros' dribbled words. "You mentioned that a friend of yours told you about us," she spoke as she placed her shades back on. "Are you here to see her? Is that why you are here today?"

Gai'vahros felt a bit uneasy for a moment, not knowing exactly how to answer her. "Yes. Well, sort of. It's a bit more complicated than that."

"Oh? Is that the status of your relationship?"

"N-no! It's nothing like that! We just had a bit of a… falling out…"

"Your rather sharp tongue being the cause of it?"

"… You could say that…"

"I see." Spitfire turned to one of the pegasi at the newly placed kiosk, and called out, "You there! Bring me two tickets!" Without so much as missing a heartbeat the pegasi did as he was told, bringing two small strips of laminated paper decorated with images of the Wonderbolts, handing them to the captain. "Here. I think this should help you smooth things over with your friend."

"Oh? What are these?"

"What, are you dense as well as unknowledgeable? These are two tickets to the Wonderbolts demonstration this afternoon! I think this gift could be your own ticket to rekindling your relationship with her."

"Look, this is not--" Gai'vahros halted, letting out a drawn-out sigh. "I mean, thank you so much for your generosity, my Lady Spitfire. How can I repay you for this act of kindness?"

"First off, you can get rid of that 'Wonderbolts are glorified circus clowns' attitude. Second…" Spitfire hesitated for a moment, thinking of a way to make the elf understand the Wonderbolts a bit more. "Hm. "Gai'vahros", right?"

"Yes, my lady."

The pegasus spread a grin across her lips. "Good. I'll be sure to commit your name to memory. At least until I jot it down on your invitation."

"Invitation to what?"

"Oh, you'll find out soon enough. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a demonstration to organise."

"Oh, yes, of course. Thank you so much for everything, my Lady Spitfire." With a smile of utmost gratitude, Gai'vahros dashed past his new acquaintance upon his golden wings towards the city center.

"Hey! Hey, Rain Cloud," the voice of a young female pegasus called out, "what's with all of the guards around the place? Did something happen?"

"Huh? You mean you didn't know, Thunderclap?" a voice returned back. "There was this huge hole in the middle of the street a few days ago, but it's gone now. But, the guards are still keeping an eye out for any suspicious ponies, still trying to find whoever done it."

"Ohhhh. I hope they find him quick!"

It wasn't the only conversation of its type to be spoken amongst the dense population of Cloudsdale's center. The ponies where bustling with small talk, rumours , speculation and conjecture about what had happened and why the guards have been ever so vigilant in the last few days-- every street corner had one or two guards posted.

It wasn't exactly the greatest of views for the concerned blood knight. As soon as he reached Stratus Lane he immediately took notice of a patrol of two guards walking along the adjoined street. Quickly, Gai'vahros pressed himself up against one of the walls to avoid being caught in their sights. His gaze kept fixated upon them until they had passed by. Breathing a sigh of relief he tried to push himself off the wall, though, remembering a bit too late, he realised that he had gotten himself stuck to the cloud.

"Oh… damn," he muttered under his breath, agitated with being stuck again. What annoyed him even more was the fact that he had no one to help him on hand, realizing that, with reluctance, he'd have to ask for help. Fortunately for him, two ponies passed around the corner and immediately took notice of the elf. "Ah… hello," he called out to the bewildered duo. "Can, uh… can you help me for a moment?"

"Uh, Rain Cloud," one pony spoke up to her companion in whispered tones, "I don't like the look of that person…"

"I know what you mean," she replied in kind. "I think we should go get the guards."

"No! Wait!" Despite their quiet demeanour during their conversation, Gai'vahros' ears were acute enough to pick up on their talking. "Please don't get the guards! I'm here to find a friend of mine but I've gotten myself a bit… uh, stuck."

Rain Cloud raised an eyebrow as she saw the struggling elf trying to get free of his predicament. "How the hay did you manage to get stuck in a wall made of clouds?" she asked. For a pegasus-- or even a knowledgeable pony in general-- getting stuck in a cloud was nigh on impossible. Even Gai'vahros thought it was, too.

"I think it has something to do with the armor I'm wearing," he replied to the confused and sceptical pegasus. "Something to do with charges and magnets and-- ugh, I don't even understand it myself. So, could you please help me down?"

"Come on, Rain Cloud, let's help the hedgehog down," Thunderclap insisted as she nudged her friend. "He said 'please'."

"Oh alright, but let's be quick. I wanna be first in line for the Wonderbolts Demonstration."

Much do Gai'vahros delight both of the pegasi agreed to help him. Quickly, they headed to the unfortunate elf's position and grasped a hold of his arms, with Rain Cloud taking the right while Thunderclap took the left. at the count of three, both ponies pulled as hard as they could, pushing backwards from their legs and arcing their backs backward, and with a sudden *pop* Gai'vahros hurled forwards slightly as the two ponies fell backwards.

"Ah! Thank you both so much!" Gai'vahros exclaimed in joy, grasping the two of them by their hooves and pulling them to their feet. "Sorry for taking up your time."

"Glad we can be of service," Thunderclap spoke cheerfully, happy that she could help a stranger. "After all, a Wonderbolt always helps out whenever they can, wherever they can, no matter how small the problem."

"Oh? You two are Wonderbolts?"

"We wish," Rain Cloud huffed, "but we will be soon! We've already sent our applications to the academy, so we just have to wait for an invitation."

"An invitation, huh?" Gai'vahros paused for a moment, thinking. "I wonder if that's what--"

"You there!" A loud masculine voice boomed down the quiet street. As Gai'vahros, Rain Cloud and Thunderclap turned to see where the call came from, two broad pegasi clad in pearlescent silver and blue armor began making their way towards them, the pair fixated upon Gai'vahros. "Stop! You have violated the law! Pay the court fees or serve your sentence!"

"Violated the law?" questioned Gai'vahros, unbeknown as to what he was being charged for. "You jest, surely, but what laws have I broken? I've been here not five minutes and you've already a charge sheet written up?"

"Witnesses have informed us that you were the culprit of the incident involving the hole in Cloudsdale not two days ago," the second guard spoke up, stepping forwards. "Not only that, but you've also vandalised several structures here both then and now!" His hoof shot forwards, pointing past the elf towards the massive imprint his body had left in the building."

"Oh… sorry about that."

"Your apologies doesn't fix the troubles you've caused-- though fortunately for you, time does. Regardless, we are officially placing you under arrest! Nobody breaks the law on our watch! Now pay your fine or it's off to jail."

"But… I don't have anything to pay with!"

"Well, I guess it's a few weeks behind bars for you, then."

Gai'vahros knew that he was up against a wall here-- not literally, thankfully. With each step the guards took towards him he began to lose his cool more and more. Finally shaking it off, he gave a smirk before turning to his helpers. "Well, I'd better get going. Good luck with your applications, you two." With a large spread of his wings, Gai'vahros emitted a bright radiance of light, blinding the two guards in front of him.

"Gah! What was that!?" one of the guards exclaimed, his head swung to one side in reaction, shutting his eyes tightly and holding his foreleg in front of his face. The powerful flash caused his and his colleagues eyes to sting for a moment before dissipating. Slowly their eyes opened, trying to regain their vision, but saw only a trail of light past them created by the speeding blood knight. "Stop right there, criminal scum!"

Gai'vahros made his way to the central square of the city, but found that it was being patrolled and its corners stationed by pairs of guards, and each one of them knew that he was a felon and needed to be reprimanded. His sudden blitz into the area caused many of the idle ponies to cry out in surprise, alerting the guards to his presence. Each one turned their attention to him, quickly taking off the ground and heading straight towards him. Gai'vahros looked around quickly, seeing no opening but straight up. With a heavy beat of his wings he shot skyward on a streak of golden light, but the guards only did the same and pursued him with the utmost of tenacity. Evasion was of no use, either; no matter if he circled around them or tried to lose them in the clouds, they all kept up and tailed him. Without any better ideas, Gai'vahros quickly spun around the face them, still propelling forwards, and attempted to barge through them. However, the guards spread out to the sides to about the same width as a normal pony and held their forelegs out, a few of them catching the elf by the arms while the others caught him by the body and legs. Their grip was like being held in a vice, to which even the physically powerful Gai'vahros could not break out of. Quickly, the guards brought him back down to Cloudsdale at floor level before being reapproached by the two guards from earlier.

"To think that you thought you could out-fly a pegasus," one of them mocked with a smirk on their face. "So not only did you vandalise out city, you also evaded arrest and intended to assault officers of the law. I can see a long jail time for you."

"Please listen to me," Gai'vahros cried out, not even bothering to break free from his restraints. "I didn't come here to cause trouble! I just came here to find a friend of mine!"

"You still caused it, regardless! And it's the only thing you've found today, and the only thing you'll be finding during the next month is a cold cell and a dusty bed. Now come with--"

"Stop!" a shrill voice called out from beside the guards, garnering their attention. "You've got the wrong guy. He's not what caused all the vandalism."

"R…Rainbow Dash…?" the elf muttered under his breath in exhaustion.

"What do you mean, "he's not what caused it"?" a guard spoke up with a raised voice. "Not only did we have a witness account to him doing it, but we even saw him commit it ourselves! Not only that, he also evaded arrest!"

"Then the witness was wrong," Rainbow Dash snapped back, "because he was with me all week while I was having my time off. We've been staying in Ponyville. You can even ask the people there-- they will tell you the same thing. Also, it's his armor that's making the clouds go funny; it's not his fault. And, he's a bit of a klutz and an idiot. He's not used to being chased by guards."

The guards looked back at Gai'vahros, who only looked back at them with a face of indifference though it was enough for the guards to relent on their hounding of the elf. "Fine then. Seeing as this is your first offense, and that you're new here, we'll let you off the hook this time. But stay out of trouble! Oh, and take off your armor if you're going to be frequenting here-- we don't need you wrecking the place because of your clumsiness."

The guards let go of Gai'vahros, letting him hover in the air just a few inches from the clouds. "Right. Thank you, Sir," he spoke up, trying to be grateful for the guard's generosity. "I'll, uh, try not to ruin anything else while I'm here." The guard merely huffed before returning back to his post several streets down from where they were, as did the rest of the guards. With a sigh of relief, Gai'vahros turned to Rainbow Dash. "Thank you for--"

"Save it." Rainbow Dash scowled back at the elf. Her head swung round as her body turned away from Gai'vahros, walking away. "Why don't you just go back to Ponyville? I don't want to see you here!"

"Please, Lady Rainbow Dash," Gai'vahros pleaded, following her with haste, "I came all this way just to see you!"

The pegasus violently whipped back round, her expression that of anger. "Why!? So you can crush my head like a tomato again!?"

It was a hard blow to the elf. Even though he had to live with the thought, it was her harsh and blunt description of the event that hurt him more than him remembering it did. The severity and sincerity of his apologetic face did nothing to ease the look that Rainbow Dash fired at him, and neither did his silence. "I… I know what I did was wrong, but I had to show you that the threat we face is not something to be taking lightly. I'm so sorry…"

Rainbow Dash' expression calmed as Gai'vahros spoke, to the point that even she felt guilty. "I-I'm sorry too, Gai. I know why you did what you did but… I couldn't get over it. You… you hurt me so much… even when I asked you to stop. Why didn't--"

"Because you're a close-- no. You're one of my only friends. One of my best friends. And I couldn't bear the thought of losing you or anyone else." Even the baring of his emotions didn't do much to cement their renewed friendship, but Rainbow Dash gave a smile.

"Gai… we're all friends here, and we'll all face this together."

"Lady Rainbow Dash, didn't you hear--"

"I did hear you. And I thought about it. But what if you're not here, Gai? What if you go back home and someone else comes and attacks Ponyville? We have to learn to defend ourselves from things like this-- we can't keep relying on you!"

"I… no. You're right. Funny-- if you were just another foot soldier under my command, I would have told you exactly what you just told me. But because you're a friend of mine… I got too overprotective. I go too caught up in wanting to keep you safe that I did not even consider thinking about how you felt. I'm sorry, Lady Rainbow Dash."

"Tch. Water under the bridge, right?" Rainbow Dash gave a smirk, finding it within herself to understand her friend's feelings and reasons, and within herself to forgive his harsh yet protective acts.

"Oh. That reminds me…" Placing his hand in his pocket, Gai'vahros pulled out two small strips of laminated sheet. "I got given these as a present-- two tickets to the Wonderbolts Demonstration later today. I thought maybe you should have them."

"Huh?" Rainbow Dash was perplexed, astounded as Gai'vahros showed her the tickets. Taking a hold of them, the colourful imagery and amazing photos of the Wonderbolts in action captivated her for a moment before looking back to the elf. "But… how? How did you get these? They've not even announced ticket sales yet!"

"I, uh, bumped into the captain of the Wonderbolts on the way here and--"

"W-w-w-what!? You met Spitfire!?" At this point, Rainbow Dash was completely dumbfounded that he had met her long time idol. "I can't believe that you of all people just happened to randomly bump into the captain of the Wonderbolts!"

"Well… one thing led to another and she gave me a couple of tickets."

"You gonna come with me to see them right?"

"No, I've got a better idea. Why don't you give the second ticket to little Scootaloo?"

"Huh? Why?"

"Because she looks up to you. I think she idolizes you in the same way you do Spitfire. What better gift for a fan that to give them what they've always dreamed about-- sitting beside their idol as they both watch the greatest aerobatics team in the whole of Equestria?"

"Gai…" Rainbow Dash held back her emotions verbally. Instead, she leapt forwards and gave the elf a hug. "You're so… screwed!" With much strength, Rainbow Dash dragged the elf downwards, planting his feet into the clouds, sticking him to the floor. "Hah! Didn't see that comin', did ya?"

"Ugh… no I didn't," he responded in disdain, though he did give a smirk after a brief pause. "So this makes us even?"

"Hay no! Maybe an hour or so, then we can call it even."

"What!? An hour!? I can't-- you can't do this! Get me out of this, Rainbow Dash!"

Chapter 25 - At Her Request

"So where is he then?"

A gathering of ponies awaited the arrival of Gai'vahros within the library. Fluttershy and Rarity stood by the far left bookshelves from the doorway, their gazes shifted from time to time to the entrance as they heard footsteps pass them by, hoping that the blood elf had returned. Twilight and Spike stood on the opposite side of their friends, idle by the window and desk just next to the stairwell. Applejack, Apple Bloom and Pinkie Pie waited just a few meters in front of the doorway, still disgruntled at what had happened the day before.

"I'm… not entirely sure," responded Twilight to the impatient Applejack, confused as to why he was taking so long. "He was only meant to be there for an hour or so."

"What time did he leave?" asked Applejack.

"Eight. Eight-thirty. Something around that."

"Twi, it's nearly four in the afternoon-- seven hours since he left."

Fluttershy gasped in shock. "You don't think… something happened to him, do you…?"

"Probably got himself stuck in a cloud again," Applejack joked.

"Oh… I hope not…"

Their conversation was cut short when the group's attention turned to the loud voices from outside the library. Yelling, laughter and other noises could be heard even through the six inch thick oak walls of Twilight's home.

"Don't worry," assured Twilight as she made her way to the door, "I'll go see what's going on." The door swung open casually with a firm nudge of her hoof. She took a step outside and looked around, her head scanning from left to right before noticing three figures some distance from her. She now understood why it was so loud.

"C'mon, Gai," exclaimed Rainbow Dash, "you know the best bit was when Spitfire was all like" -- her forelegs flung into the air -- "Whoosh! Double somersault for the win!"

Gai'vahros tutted in response. "Oh please, that wasn't as awesome as Soarin's barrel roll through those charged storm clouds!"

"I thought Rapidfire's loops through the rings were cool," intervened Scootaloo.

"You guys remember when--" as Rainbow Dash' head turned to face the front, she caught the gaze of the idle Twilight coupled with a smug-looking expression. "O-oh! Hey, Twilight. I didn't think we'd be here so quick."

Twilight giggled. "So I guess time really does fly by when you've got catching up to do. So what have you three been up to?"

"It was awesome, Twi," Rainbow Dash yelled out in excitement, "but I'll let Gai tell ya."

"Sure thing," responded Gai'vahros with a nod. "Well, when I arrived in Cloudsdale I bumped into the captain of The Wonderbolts. We got to talking and she gave me a couple of tickets for their performance for me and Lady Rainbow Dash. Some, uh" -- his eyes shifted from one side to the other -- "stuff happened and I gave both the tickets to her."

"Both tickets?" Twilight questioned, confused.

"Yup," Rainbow Dash responded. "He gave his one to Scootaloo. But, when we all go to the ticket booth, Spitfire gave Gai a third one. She's so awesome!"

"So you guys are all friends now?"

"Sure are," the three of them responded at the same time in perfect unison.

"Good," said Twilight, giggling, turning back to the library's doorway, "because I have some ponies who'd like to talk to you, Gai." She headed off inside, letting the group follow in their own time.

The elf gave a sudden gulp, anxiety starting to settle on his chest. "I guess I'd better face it sooner than later."

"What's going on, Gai?" Rainbow Dash was concerned for him, sharing his pain.

"I'll let your friends fill you in. Come on -- we'd best say "hi"."

Without further pause, Gai'vahros followed Twilight with Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo just inches behind him. It didn't hit him until he had stepped fully inside the building that Applejack, Apple Bloom and Pinkie Pie were just a few meters in front of him, each one gazing upon him with negativity. Pinkie Pie and Applejack burned through his soul with eyes of frustration, while Apple Bloom looked upon him with sadness -- and that was what got to Gai'vahros. He understood and accepted that they would be angry with him, but he could not forgive himself for making Apple Bloom upset. It tore into him, lacerated his heartstrings.

"Well, well," spoke Applejack, her nose turned up at the presence of the blood knight, "look what we have here -- the man of the hour showed up at last."

Rainbow Dash stepped forwards, infuriated. "Hey! Why you gotta--"

A gold gauntlet stopped her from continuing as Gai'vahros flashed his hand in front of her in gesture for her to halt. "It's okay, my Lady Rainbow Dash," he spoke in a quiet, sombre voice. "They have all the right to be angry with me."

Batting his hand away, Rainbow Dash' gaze fixated upon the rest of the group, her eyes sweeping the library. "What about the rest of you guys? Why won't any of you stick up for him!?"

"Because they know that it's got nothing to do with them. They understand that it's just between me and them, my Lady rainbow Dash." Gai'vahros turned to look upon the frustrated pegasus. "Please don't intervene on my behalf -- as a friend."

"But… but it was me who was hurt. Why's everypony else mad at you?"

"You weren't the only one hurt, my Lady Rainbow Dash. Understand that everyone felt hurt by my actions -- not physically, but emotionally. Everyone was upset for what happened. Now I have to fix this myself."

His sage yet sombre words finally got to Rainbow Dash, her temper calming down as she stepped back behind him. "I'm sorry, Gai. I did all this…"

"No. I did this. I didn't appreciate your loyalty when you were only trying to help, in the same way that I lashed out in frustration. My the Light have mercy on me…"

Gai'vahros thought it would be easier the second time, but looking back at the faces of those before him only caused him as much pain as the first. His arms hung loose by his side and his head held high, not letting his negativity affect what he had to say. "You all have the right to be angry with me -- and I accept it. I upset all of you -- and I accept whatever consequences you have for me. I especially hurt you, little Apple Bloom, because you're only a child. You shouldn't have to see what you saw yesterday. Lady Applejack -- I know that Lady Rainbow Dash is a close friend to you, possibly closer than anyone else, and perhaps you were more hurt by what happened than she was. Pinkie Pie… I probably hurt you the most, because I made you cry, and that's what hurt me the most. I know what I did was wrong. I know what I did cannot be easily forgiven. And, with a heavy heart, I will accept if you don't."

The tension only thickened with each word Gai'vahros spoke before and during his speech, and for each moment that remained silent thereafter. Time felt like it had stood still for the entirety of the library -- no one spoke, no one moved. Everyone except Applejack, Apple Bloom and Pinkie Pie looked around, their eyes shifting to and from one-another, expecting one of the others to say something.

"We already have, Gai." Applejack stepped forwards, a half-smile on her face. "You know what ya did was wrong. It was hurtful to all of us, but we know that ya never meant to do that. We all know why ya did it even if it was goin' too far. You're a good guy, Gai, and everyone makes stupid decisions an' mistakes. Doesn't change who ya are, though."

"I… I don't understand," Gai'vahros responded in befuddlement. "What do you mean, "we already have"? When did that happen?"

"After I tucked Apple Bloom to bed I thought I'd best check up on Pinkie Pie. We got to talkin' and we understood why you did what ya did."

"So… all this time, you--"

"Yuppers!" Pinkie Pie cried out, jumping up and down. "I thought we'd deadpan you as a lil joke. Did we get ya good? I bet we got ya good! We totally got ya good!"

'Twice in one afternoon,' thought Gai'vahros. He groaned under his breath a little so that the others could not hear him, or at least so Applejack and Pinkie Pie couldn't hear him. They probably wouldn't hear him even if he was more audible with it -- they were too busy laughing at his expense. "So… does that mean…"

"Yeah," responded Applejack, "we're all friends."

"This calls for a group hug!" yelled Pinkie Pie.

Before Gai'vahros -- or even Rainbow Dash -- could object to the notion, the entire room crowded around the soon-to-be-smothered blood elf, embracing in one, gigantic group hug. For a moment he tried to struggle, but accepted it as he felt the warmth not only from their bodies but from their hearts as well. It was all crazy to him, seeing such compassion from others, feeling such love from them, bathed in their charitable empathy. He hadn't felt this way in hundreds of years -- hundreds of years too long.

"Hey, wait," Apple Bloom called out while clinging to Gai'vahros' lower leg. "What're we gonna do 'bout that death knight still runnin' around in the woods?"

"Oh my gosh, you're right, Apple Bloom," responded Twilight in shocking realization that they had forgotten about the threat at hand, releasing Gai'vahros from her grasp, followed by everyone else. "Gai'vahros… I know after all that's happened that it feels cheeky to ask--"

"You've no need to ask, my Lady Twilight," interrupted Gai'vahros. "I gave you -- all of you -- my word that I would protect you to the best of my abilities. I don't intend to go back on it."

"Thank you. I appreciate it. We all appreciate it." Twilight turned to Spike. "Spike -- take a letter for me."

"Sure thing, Twilight," the little dragon responded, taking out a parchment and quill pen.

"'Dear Princess Celestia, I…'" pausing for a moment, Twilight tried to think of what to write. "Uh… actually, I don't really understand what's happening. Gai'vahros, could you author it for me? You know this threat better than all of us."

"Oh, sure thing. 'Dear, uh, Princess Celestia, I must urgently inform you of terrible danger in Ponyville. An invader -- a humanoid knight of ebon armor -- has come from another world with likely hostile intentions towards your subjects. The subject is heavily armed and highly dangerous. Please bolster your defences should this threat ever find its way to...' Canterlot, right?"

"Right."

"'…Should this threat ever find its way to Canterlot'. I think that should be suffice, my Lady Twilight."

"Okay. That should do, Spike."

"No problem." Spike quickly rolled up the scroll and wrapped a seal bearing the Canterlot emblem upon it around the parchment, holding it up to his snout and breathing a small gout of green fire over it, causing it to disappear.

"H-huh? He just incinerated it!" Gai'vahros cried out, pointing to Spike.

"No, no, Gai'vahros," assured Twilight, "that's how he sends letters back to the Princess. She'll receive it instantly."

The elf gave a heavy sigh of relief. "You nearly gave me a heart attack. So what now? Sit around for a reply?"

"Pretty much."

"And how long does that take?"

"Well, the Princess doesn't normally take too long to respond to me."

"Define "Too long"."

"I don't know. A minute or two?"

"And when it isn't normally a minute or two?"

"A day. Or two."

"… If you think I'm going to wait around for forty-eight hours for a letter then you--"

A loud belch interrupted Gai'vahros in mid complaint, the noise coming from Spike as a puff of green flame and smoke erupted from his mouth and nose, creating the form of a rolled up sealed parchment like the one that they had just sent.

"See," said a smug-looking Twilight, "told you it would only be a minute." With a soft nudge of her hoof, the parchment unrolled a foot across the wooden floorboards. "'Dear Twilight Sparkle'," she began to read aloud, "'Thank you for bringing to my attention the situation in Ponyville. I would like to speak with you and your friends further on this matter, so please hurry to Canterlot as soon as possible. I have also sent a force of guards to defend Ponyville from any attacks'. I guess we're heading out to Canterlot now."

"She only called for you six," Gai'vahros interjected. "I will remain here to protect Ponyville."

"But, Gai," spoke Applejack, "we need ya to come with us. You're the only one who knows what's goin' on -- you need to tell the Princess all you know. Besides that, a whole squad of guards will be here to take care o' things."

"But your guards will be no match for a death knight! They'll be walking straight to their own deaths!"

"Gai'vahros, please have some faith in our guards," Twilight pleaded with the elf. "They've seen a lot of fights and battles. They'll be able to take care of this."

"But I…" Gai'vahros sighed. "You're right. I guess I'm just being overprotective of everything. I'll trust your guards to be able to protect Ponyville while I accompany you to Canterlot."

"Thank you. We'd best be on our way -- the next train arrives in twenty minutes."

"You said you needed to go to the library too, right?" reminded Rarity to Twilight. "You said you might be able to find a scroll to send Gai back to his own world."

"Oh, yes, I almost forgot about that," responded Twilight as she grabbed her satchel from the hook on the wall. "We'd best make tracks. Let's go, everypony. And Gai'vahros."

Steam and smoke wafted through the station from the coming and going steam locomotive that frequents this stop every half hour, pass through and by those who were still waiting for the train to arrive from Ponyville to Canterlot. Some of the passengers stood idly and patiently, while others sat upon benches nearby reading the newspaper or talking to their friends. Some of them were anxious and impatient, pacing up and down the platform, checking their watches and mumbling about how the train was late or how they had missed the previous one.

"You'll like it in Canterlot, Gai'vahros," inspired Twilight, trying to ease the elf's visible anxiety. "A lot of the ponies there are very friendly to, uh, non-ponies. A lot of other creatures come to Canterlot from all over Equestria, so they're used to seeing other people."

"But I'm not from this world, my Lady Twilight," replied Gai'vahros, sweeping his hand through his hair and across his brow. "I don't know anything about Canterlot or even the rest of your world besides Ponyville. How will I know what to do or say?"

"Well they don't know that. And just be yourself -- it's done you a world of good so far, hasn't it?"

"Yeah… yeah, you're right. I've got nothing to worry about. I'll just do what I usually do and I'll be just fine."

"You might even get yaself a fancy, huh?" Applejack teased with a sly grin along her lips, nudging the now blushing elf with her elbow.

"Haha! I knew you'd find yourself a nice girlfriend, Gai!" cried Pinkie Pie, hopping up and down around him.

"N-no!" exclaimed Gai'vahros as he began to feel his face get hotter and hotter, knowing that he was breaking out into a cherry blush. "I'm not attracted to you ponies! I mean -- I'm not attracted to animals! I mean -- ugh, you know what I mean!" The elf couldn't help but feel embarrassed and shy, what with the group laughing at him.

"Hey, Gai," said Apple Bloom, looking up at him, "have you ever had a girlfriend before?"

"Hm? Oh, no," replied Gai'vahros after a moment to regain his composure, "I've never had courtship before. When you're an adventurer you don't really get the opportunity to spend time with people, don't get the time to get to know people -- that's why I said it's hard to make friends. Well, when you're adventuring with other people or getting to meet them over and over again during your adventures, then there's a better opportunity."

"What about Emilia -- that mage you fought alongside with against the Lich King? Did ya not think about going out with her?"

"… Once, perhaps. It was some years ago during the assault on Icecrown Citadel when me and Emilia sat at the central fountain of Dalaran. We were commemorating that year's 'Love is in the Air' festival -- a time of love and friendship. I always used to spend my time in Dalaran those weeks. It was the only time of the year where the Horde and Alliance could just… put their differences aside, at least in Dalaran. But for us two it wasn't about love for each other or our friendships -- it was love for our people and our world and for the friendships of those that we had met during our travels. I think… I think it was the thought that Icecrown could possibly be our last fight together that got us to kiss each other. I had never been so alive that moment, nor had my resolve ever been bolstered like it was before. The thought of losing everything inspired me, gave me the strength I needed."

Like how he was given inspiration during those dark times, Gai'vahros' words gave his friends around him the strength, inspiration and repose to face this threat in the same way that Gai'vahros was when he joined the crusade against the death god.

"What happened after, Gai?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"We never saw each other for some months after. She went back to Dalaran to continue her studies with the Kirin Tor while I returned to Silvermoon to rejoin the rest of the blood knights. That was when I met Lady Liadrin again. I hadn't seen her since… well, since the cleansing of the Sunwell two years earlier. She was always on my mind since we had both arrived in Shattrath, pledging our might to the Shattered Sun Offensive."

"Sounds like you have a crush on her," Rainbow Dash teased.

"… Probably. Maybe something more." Everyone looked at Gai'vahros in ambivalence, feeling shocked yet happy for him. "Emilia was a good friend but I hadn't really thought of her in that way. We never had much in common, we valued different things, and we never saw much of each other. But me and Lady Liadrin shared a lot together, especially during the creation of the blood knights and the reclamation of the Isle of Quel'Danas. I think the ordeal brought the two of us close together, but I haven't seen her since our victory over the Lich King, and that was… three years ago, I think."

"… did you ever tell her?" asked Twilight.

Gai'vahros shook his head slowly. "… No. It was the best opportunity, too, but I got cold feet at the last minute. I remember we went back to the Sunwell together to pray to the Light. We both used to be followers of the Church of the Holy Light, as had a lot of us blood elves back before the Scourge Invasion. We both prayed for hours in hopes that the Light could forgive us for forsaking it as we believed it had forsaken us those years ago. I always felt secure when I was with her. Such a strong woman, she is. She could lead a band of elves bare footed across hot coals, shattered glass and barbed wire had she commanded it. But now with another war going on against Dalaran as well as the Thunder King, I doubt I'll get another opportunity for a long while."

"You'll get the chance again, sugar cube," Applejack assured him, placing a hoof on his shoulder. "Ya already had two chances, so a third's a charm."

"Why of course, darling," joined Rarity. "A handsome, charming and noble elf such as you would have no problem proposing courtship to a lady of her stature."

"Totally," Rainbow Dash praised. "You're awesome! You're a hero! You're, like, the role model of toughness and championship!"

"Thanks, girls. You're all such great friends to me."

The sound of heavy locomotion could be heard off in the distance, chugging and chooing as it made its way from the horizon to the station on steel tracks. "Ah. There's our train," said Twilight as it drew closer to the platform. It began to slow down gradually, gradually coming to a complete stop as a final jet of steam escaped from the smokestack.

"All aboard for Canterlot!" the train conductor called as the carriage door slid open. A sheet of steam covered the platform as it escaped the pistons that opened the door, revealing a number of large, white stallions in gold armor. One at a time they departed from the train and onto the station's platform, one of them looking towards Twilight.

"Lady Twilight," the guard spoke. His armor had light accents of silver around the edges of his chest plate and helmet, signifying his position as commander of this particular group. "We are here at the request of the Princess. We've heard that there is some sort of danger at Ponyville."

"Yes," she responded. "There's a dark knight somewhere around the outskirts of Ponyville whom we suspect may be dangerous."

"I see…" The guard couldn't help but shift his gaze to the idle blood elf. "And you must be that clumsy hedgehog that Cloudsdale reported on. Try not to vandalise Canterlot on your visit there, would you? You'll probably be banished to the moon if you do." The guard chuckled before gesturing his men to move out.

"What did he mean by Cloudsdale reporting you?" Twilight turned to Gai'vahros, an eyebrow raised. "And what did you vandalise?"

"Nothing! Just that, apparently, a witness saw me fall through Cloudsdale when I got here. And I kinda got stuck in a building earlier and had some kind pegasi lend me a hand to get me out, which made a hole in the wall. You know -- silly stuff."

"I just hope you don't make holes in Canterlot or fall through the royal court."

Chapter 27 - Impatience and Appreciation

The entire hall stood still in time in absolute silence, in absolute motionless. Even the guards that had overheard the commotion from outside dared not even so much as turn their heads to look through onto the court in fear of witnessing the Princess' wrath despite her anger being rarely seen, if ever at all. No one dared to move or say anything in case it would further degrade the situation than it had already been, as if such a thing would be possible given the circumstances.

But the elf's sense of justice and duty was much larger than his own fears of reprisal from the Princess. Gai'vahros quickly removed the shield from his arm and stood it on the ground upright, held in position with his hands on top and knelt before Celestia, a practice that was very common among elven and human cultures on Azeroth though used with a sword -- a sign that a knight was under his sword and his sword under his king or commander, or other superior. A sign of utmost respect. "I'm so sorry, Your Majesty," his voice spoke softly, carrying the burden of guilt on his tongue. "I allowed my anger to get the better of me once again. If I had known… If I'd known that she was of your kin, of royalty, I would have restrained myself."

The group only shared glances from one to another, all clenched and tense as they awaited the Princess to respond to the knight. The Princess' glance shifted from Luna to Gai'vahros, gazing down at his bowed head, not able to peer into his eyes, his soul, his spirit. Her wings slowly folded back into her sides as she took casual steps towards him, her eyes never leaving him. "Even if you are a friend of Twilight's, I cannot condone this aggressive behaviour in the royal castle in the least," the Princess exclaimed, her voice piercing through the atmosphere like a dagger through parchment. "You dared to display your violence before the court and even attacked a Princess of Equestria!" The Princess paused, letting out a heavy sigh as her gaze shifted to her sibling. "But I did, indeed, see what had transpired here. You were mistreated by young Luna here, and your actions were of no surprise despite being rash and reckless. You are forgiven, blood elf."

Luna's eyes widened as Gai'vahros was given peace, allowing him to stand on his feet again. With great force she stomped one hoof forwards with a loud thud of her metallic shoe. "Sister," she intervened with a great deal of anger and objection, "how can you let this creature off with such ease? He has committed an act of treason against royalty by physically attacking me--"

"In which you had provoked him both verbally and physically. It is of your own fault that this man had retaliated on both counts. Now, apologize to Gai'vahros."

"But, sister--!"

"Now, Luna."

The dark Princess was none too happy to be reprimanded by her own older sibling, though she knew that her words carried truth. With a heavy sigh she retreated her dismissive stance to one of more royal etiquette, keeping her heels together and turning to face the blood knight. "I apologize for being discriminative of you, elf. It was wrong of me to do so."

Anyone else would feel smug for appearing higher than royalty, to have royalty bow down to them, to regard them as superior. Gai'vahros did not feel smug, proud nor empowered by such turn of events. "No, Your Majesty," he responded with a soft tone as he turned his body to face Luna. In as much respect as he had given Celestia, he planted his shield on the ground upright and knelt down before her. The Princess stepped back a small step as she looked upon him in surprise. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I allowed my temperament to get the better of me. And you had all the right to question my presence here today."

"Well, what is done is done." A little smile made its way onto the lips of Luna, appreciating Gai'vahros for his nobility and modesty. She began to appreciate his company more than before. "Stand, Gai'vahros." The elf looked up before standing to his feet, but he had noticed that the wound he had inflicted on her was still present and painful for the Princess despite her hardest to try and hide the fact.

"Princess. Allow me," spoke Gai'vahros softly as he extended an arm towards her. Luna reared her head back sharply, unaware and slightly untrusting of the elf's intention. A small veil of light enveloped the blood knight's hand and extended through his palm and up his fingers. The presence of the light did not cause Luna any distress as it had before. Whereas before the hostility of Gai'vahros' Exorcism spell was filled with righteous fury and divine retribution, it now felt comforting, alluring, welcoming and protective. And it was just as she had thought as soon as he had placed his velvet palm upon her chest a top of the wound. The pain eased as though being purged not only from her skin but her soul, too. The last time Luna had felt such comfort was in the presence of the Elements of Harmony. After a moment of contact, Gai'vahros pulled his hand back to show no mark, no burn, and nor scar, as though nothing had even touched her. "How do you feel?"

"I feel... better." Luna tried not to show her inner astonishment, trying to maintain a calm manner despite her obvious brash nature. "But, what exactly was that flash of light?"

"Exactly what it is, Your Majesty -- a Flash of Light. Those who wield the light can use it to heal and cure others."

"… The Light…" muttered Luna slowly. Her eyes suddenly shifted to her sister as though she was waiting for some sort of confirmation, to which Celestia only gave a nod of her head. Luna's attention turned back to the somewhat confused blood knight. "I see. Your magic truly is strong, Gai'vahros."

"But we must deal with the matter at hand," intervened Celestia as she made her way down onto the landing, standing right beside Luna, Gai'vahros and Twilight. "You say that there may lie a great threat to us in Ponyville?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," replied Gai'vahros with a nod. "A person of great power, perhaps even greater than my own -- a death knight -- has somehow arrived from my world to yours, though perhaps in a similar manner to me. I implore you now, Princess, to set up whatever defences you can before they can make their way here."

The Princess closed her eyes for a moment, deep in thought, collecting in her mind what information Gai'vahros could give. Her eyes opened, determination set. "I see," she softly spoke. Her head turned to Twilight and then to the others, confirming the truth in the knight's words as she gazed upon their expressions. Some nodded in agreement while some were more or less showing their worry and doubt as Gai'vahros began to describe the threat once more. "This is probably not the best of places to discuss this," said Celestia as she walked down the flight of steps. "We can discuss this in the throne room -- away from prying ears. Walk with me, girls. And elf."

The group stood inside the royal chamber, with Celestia and Luna stood upon one of the steps of the throne. The others stood upon the goblet-shaped platform of the finest of marble, raised above black and white checkered tiles. Gai'vahros stood forward with Twilight near the foot of the solid gold throne, not daring to speak until royalty had permitted them to do so.

"I advise that we are to keep this meeting to ourselves," spoke Luna commandingly, "so that we not spread any panic to outsiders."

"Very good," acclaimed Celestia with a nod. "Whatever we discuss here and now is not to be spoken outside of this room. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Princess," acknowledged Twilight.

"Good. Now, Gai'vahros, could you explain to me, in as much detail as you can, about this threat that you know of?"

"Of course, Your Majesty," said Gai'vahros with a gentle bow. "The threat that approaches us is a death knight -- an undead soldier that commands brutal strength and deadly black magic. They are ruthless, destructive, and violent. They do not care who gets in their way so much as they have a means to inflict pain and suffering wherever they go."

Both of the Princess' gazed to one-another in horror as though they were being told of some sort of monster from a horror story brought to life. In a way, it was. Celestia turned her attention back to the elf, her mouth open to try and speak a sentence, but nothing came out besides her lips forming a few words silently. "But, surely, this "death knight" can be reasoned with?"

Gai'vahros groaned impatiently. "Did you not hear me the first time?" he snapped at the Princess in frustration. "A death knight cannot be bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. They exist only to bring chaos and death. That is what they were created for, what they were brought back into undeath for. A death knight who does not quench their bloodlust finds themselves suffering from severe wracking pains -- a means to ensure that they carry out their purpose."

"You seem to know an awful lot about these "death knights", Gai'vahros," Luna interjected with a voice of suspicion. "If you're well aware and well-versed with such a creature then why haven't you vanquished it yet?"

"If I had the power to do so, then do you honestly believe I'd waste my time coming here to warn you?"

"Are you saying that you do not have the power to defeat such an opponent?" questioned Celestia.

"That is correct. This death knight used to be a mutual ally of mine from some years ago, though we are not on the best of terms. I have not seen them in some time and thus I have no idea if they're friend or foe. From what I have seen in the forests outside of Ponyville I can conclude that they come with hostile intentions."

"This is no problem at all, sister," spoke Luna in great confidence. "The royal guards--"

"-- Are probably already dead." The eyes of the elf darted gravely from one Princess to the other. He was not confident in their abilities in the least. Both Luna and Celestia recoiled their heads in disgust, not only at the mention of their elite forces being destroyed but at the notion that Gai'vahros believed them only to be fodder.

"Nonsense," retorted Luna, snapping her head forward towards the blood knight. "The First Legion is our greatest military force in Canterlot! They were even trained by our Ex-Captain of the Guard, Shining Armor!"

"Then your captain did not train them hard enough. Do you honestly believe that your guards have the power to subdue a warrior who has bathed in the blood of others every day for the last three years? Do not overestimate your forces, Princess, and do not underestimate the power of a death knight."

"Perhaps it is you who should stop selling our forces short, elf. We have had reports of your meddling in Cloudsdale, and, according to the paperwork, it only took six of their own guards to bring you down. If you were able to be subdued by little more than a lance of guards, then I believe an entire platoon of our elite guards will be enough to bring down one death knight." A soft sigh came from Gai'vahros before turning his back to the two Princess', making his way down the carpet as everyone followed him with their eyes. "Where do you think you're going?" demanded Luna.

Gai'vahros stopped halfway down the carpet some feet from the group. "It is obvious to me that you are no more than a brick wall when it comes to being talked to. I've no further wish to waste my breath on you any longer." A slight turn of his head gave Luna the last of his attention for the day. "Oh, and the reason they subdued me was because I had no intention of cleaving a single one of them in half for my own amusement. A death knight won't be so kind, I assure you." His words at rest, Gai'vahros made his way out of the chamber.

"G-Gai'vahros! Wait!" Twilight's call fell on deaf ears as she watched the elf vacate the premises, watching him be escorted from the castle by flanking guards. It was hard to witness what had transpired for the young Unicorn, to witness a friend and a mentor butt heads with one-another. Hesitantly she turned to face Celestia, looking up with her with sombre. "Princess… what will you do now?"

Celestia remained silent for a moment, not speaking immediately. Her face showed her deep in thought for a period before she turned to her sister, who had returned the sentiment. Luna raised an eyebrow towards her sister -- even she had no idea as to what Celestia was thinking, but knew that she was giving the elf's views some form of consideration and merit. Without much further pause, Celestia turned back to Twilight.

"Your friend is very impatient, isn't he?" spoke Celestia with some form of resentment towards Gai'vahros.

"Never mind him, Princess," retorted Twilight with an ounce of impatience herself as though she was speaking on behalf of Gai'vahros. "What will you do about the threat of the death knight?"

"I will do what I can, Twilight. I know very little about this threat -- and of Gai'vahros, too -- but I understand that whatever threat this is is most likely incredibly dangerous. Probably even more dangerous than what we have faced before. I have witnessed Gai'vahros' strength myself, and Luna has experienced it firsthand. You girls have probably seen much more than I have." The Princess sighed as she turned to gaze out of one of the large cathedral style windows overlooking the entirety of Canterlot and beyond. "I can see it in his eyes that he has experienced much trouble and turmoil in his life. Whatever world he comes from must be a very brutal one. And that worries me…"

"Princess… what worries you?"

"A part of me feels like he can bring much good to our world. His strength and his knowledge can help us in ways that we cannot hope to reach. But, a part of me tells me that he will bring chaos and strife wherever he steps, and this threat is just the first of many." Her attention turned back to Twilight. "Twilight, I am worried that you will be pulled into this person's conflicts and into immediate danger. I would prefer that you -- all of you -- did not stay close to this elf."

It was hard for Twilight to hear the Princess say such things about Gai'vahros, and unbearable to think that Celestia would forbid them from being with him. Even though she did not explicitly say that they could not associate with Gai'vahros, Twilight knew that what she said was with great authority. "Princess..." spoke Twilight softly, her eyes looking at the ground, at her reflection on the marble platform. Twilight felt that she saw not only her physical reflection but also her inner self. No, she saw more than that. She could see her feelings, feelings that were for Gai'vahros. She reflected upon how they had met. How they had laughed. How they had cried. How they had argued. But, most importantly, how they had bonded. How they had all bonded. Twilight looked up at Celestia with resolve. "I won't abandon him! He's my friend -- our friend. And if he brings danger wherever he goes, then we will stand beside him through thick and thin."

The answer was more than what Celestia could imagine from her honourable student. With a smile, Celestia nodded in acknowledgement. "Despite the danger, I am happy to hear you say such words, Twilight. As for the defences, I will order whatever guards I can to patrol the city and put up whatever barriers are accessible. If what Gai'vahros says is true then the barriers should be enough to hold them back. Now you'd best be going -- you have someone to catch up with."

"Yes. Thank you so much, Princess." With a burst of Speed, Twilight galloped out of the chamber with her friends close behind.

"Oh! Sir Gai'vahros! You've arrived just in time!"

A huge crowd of several tens of ponies gathered outside of a large shop, all cheering and whistling towards a huge platform that housed a range of stylised, elegant dresses of bright hues and shimmering colours as they danced in the soft wind. The store was a large clothing boutique specifically tailored to the more wealthy of Canterlot's population -- which was effectively everyone. Gai'vahros deduced that this was the store that would be supplying Rarity's new range of dresses based around his own uniform's colours.

"Lady Giselle," responded Gai'vahros, almost jumping out of his armor as she pounced in front of him completely out of left field, "a pleasure to meet you once again. Am I to understand that this is the great opening ceremony for Lady Rarity's new dress line?"

"Most certainly! Oooooh, I'm so excited! But, they won't conduct the ceremony until Rarity gets here. Do you happen to know where she is? Please tell me she's in Canterlot at least."

"Yes, she's here," assured Gai'vahros. "She should be along shortly. We just had to stop by the castle to speak with the Princess about some things and--"

"Oh my gosh! You actually got to speak with Princess Celestia!?" A high pitch squeal erupted from the overexcited mare, hopping up and down on her legs on the spot. "You have just got to tell me all about it!"

"I'm afraid I can't, Lady Giselle. Celestia has me sworn to secrecy to not discuss the topic outside of her chambers. I'm sorry."

"Aw, that's a shame. So it was quite an eventful meeting, then?"

"… You could say that…"

Both of their attentions turned to the crowd once again as their uproar increased in volume and tempo, getting more and more restless as the wait dragged out. "Hey, I've got a really good idea," spoke Giselle as though a light bulb clicked in her head. "Why don't you go up there and say a few words to tie the crowd to tide them over until Rarity gets here?"

"I'm… I'm not sure if that's a good--"

"Oh don't be so shy, Gai'vahros," Giselle interrupted as she made her way behind him, pushing him around the side of the crowd and towards the side of the large platform. "You'll have them eating out of the palm of your hoof. Or hand."

"H-hey, wait! Don't push!" Before he knew it, he was already standing by a set of steps at the back of the platform though no one had really paid much notice or attention to him -- which was good for the flustered elf.

"Wait here. I'll go up and announce you." Before Gai'vahros could protest against the notion Giselle had already made her way to the podium. Tapping the microphone twice to make sure it was on, she leaned her head forwards. "Ladies and gentle-colts, I'm apologize for the wait but our guest hasn't arrived just yet." A huge roar of booing blasted the platform, with Giselle trying her hardest to assume her speech. "But, instead of the creator, I bring you the inspiration! Every-pony, please put your hooves together and give a huge round of applause for Mister Gai'vahros Dawnbreaker!"

Despite none of them even knowing the name or even who he was, the mention that he was the inspiration for Rarity's dresses deserved a huge thunderclap of applaud, if not more than Rarity herself. It was incredibly nerve-wracking for Gai'vahros to have to speak to so many strangers at once, especially out of his comfort zone. Slowly he crept up the stairs and revealed himself to the large audience as he made his way to the podium. The crowd drew absolute silence as they marvelled at what they believed was some sort of majestic creature or avatar of the light, what with his attire of bright golds and reds.

"Hello --" Gai'vahros cleared his throat " --Hello, everyone. I'm… uh, I'm Gai'vahros Dawnbreaker, and…" An awkward smile crept on his face, nervous about being in front of a large crowd that seemed to just stare blankly at him, some with looks of confusion on their faces, some judging him with their eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm not used to talking in front of large crowds…" His fingers strummed along the edges of the podium as he leaned forward, using his arms to support himself.

"I'm not really sure what to say, really. I --" As his gaze looked to the back of the crowd, he noticed that Twilight and everyone else had finally made it, though no one had noticed them arrive. Gai'vahros only focused on Rarity, though, as she in turn looked back at him. "-- I haven't been in Equestria for a long time. A few days, at best. I've had the opportunity to cherish your lifestyle, to meet new faces, to go new places. I've gotten to live in Ponyville since my stay here. I've been able to end up… stuck… in Cloudsdale. I even managed to go meet the Princesses just moments ago.

"But the best thing that has happened to me, in only a few days, was to make friends -- and Lady Rarity is one of the bestest friends I could make." Rarity gazed right through the crowd to Gai'vahros, a smile on her face and a little tear in her eye. "People have said that I was Lady Rarity's inspiration, that I was the base for her new, beautiful dresses. But I'd like to think that she was more of an inspiration to me than I was to her. She is an incredible girl, she is. Well-spoken, polite, charming, beautiful -- I could be here from now 'til dusk listing everything great about her.

"When I arrived here, my clothes were but scrap metal and rags, and, out of the kindness of her heart, she had repaired it all for me. She even gave me a cupcake to take home with me. She has taught me an awful lot over these few days -- they all have. There is no end to the amount of thanks I can give her and to all of my friends here today. That is why, ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honour that I introduce to you the creator of these dresses. Please give a huge applause for Lady Rarity!"

A huge round of cheers for Rarity exploded from the crowd -- clapping, whistling and calls of her name could be heard from every single pony in the crowd, and even from various passer-bys that weren't even in the crowd to begin with but joined simply because Gai'vahros' heartfelt speech had drawn them in.

Rarity couldn't hold back her tears any longer. Her lip quivered as she kept repeating in her mind the words that Gai'vahros had spoken throughout that few minute-long speech. Streams of tears flowed down her snow white cheeks as she tried to blink to hold them back, but it was no good. Without much further delay for the crowd, Rarity made her way from the back of the crowd to the stage with everyone turning their attention to her as she climbed the steps. The elf's smile never vanished for a single second throughout the whole thing and even now he still wore it proud in front of Rarity. The Unicorn pounced forwards, embracing Gai'vahros in a huge hug, with him returning the affection. The crowd burst into a tremendous uproar as the two embraced, with huge, loud chants of "Rarity! Gai'vahros! Rarity! Gai'vahros!" over and over again.

"Thank you," choked Rarity, struggling to get her words out through her overwhelming emotions. "Thank you so much, Gai'vahros…"

Chapter 28 - Blackluster

Dusk began to slowly settle over the city of Canterlot. As the sun passed the hills in the distance, the sky changed from its subtle blues to powerful oranges and violets. Despite the rather late time the pony folk still congregated throughout the city, in front of the late night cafés and the malls. Although the town was brimming with ponies it was very quiet considering the turnout. Quiet conversations could be heard between couples and groups as they took consideration for the ones who had retired to their homes for the evening.

A patrol of guards paced around in a circle along the path that wrapped around a tall, pearl-white tower. A duo stood on either side of the large double doors that stood on its southern face, a pair of lances between them held in their hooves stood upright. The guards were not like they were before -- donned in heavy silvered armor with crescent moon-shaped gems embedded in the chestguard, they were considerably different from the daytime guards.

"Are you absolutely sure that we'll both be able to get into this library, Lady Twilight?" asked Gai'vahros, uncertain that his presence would be taken in stride considering how much many of the other guards know about his track record from the last few days.

"Don't worry, Gai'vahros," assured Twilight with a confident smile. "As long as I'm allowed in, there should be no problems taking in visitors -- after all, I was able to get in with both Spike and Pinkie Pie with me." She made her way towards the library tower with Gai'vahros following close to her side. "You need to stop worrying so much. Ponies might think you're suspicious."

"Oh, right, because the fact that I'm a six-foot elf with full battle armor and a shield isn't suspicious…"

Regardless of the elf's protests, Twilight approached the guards whom did not suspect the pair of them of anything more than mere visitation rights. "Good to see you again, Miss Twilight," the right guard welcomed with the utmost hospitality. "I assume you're giving your guest here a guided tour of Canterlot?"

"Something like that," she responded with a chuckle. "We're here just to see if there are any scrolls that could help Gai'vahros here get back to his own world."

"His "own world"? You make it sound like that this person is some sort of interstellar galaxy-hopper or something."

An amused Gai'vahros only laughed softly at the notion. "You could say that. But what Lady Twilight says is true -- I am from a world far from your own called "Azeroth"."

"Well I'll be…" Both guards were bemused by such talk though with much marvel, seeing a creature not of their planet. It made them think of what else could be beyond their sights and reach aside from Gai'vahros and Azeroth. "Well, I'd better let you in," the guard continued, stepping to the side and opening the door before them. "Hope you find what you're looking for."

The elf let out a soft chuckle. "I hope we do, too." The two strode inside as the guards closed the door behind them. Gai'vahros expected the tower to be of a hollow structure with spiralling staircases that lead to the higher floors, but instead found that inside was just a single circular corridor with several doors circling a large central column that housed a multitude of rooms. "So where about is this "Star Swirl the Bearded wing", my Lady Twilight?" asked Gai'vahros.

"It's not too far from here," she replied. "It's on the third floor. Just follow me." The mare led him around one side of the branching corridor, taking him to a flight of spiralling steps. "You never told me about this "Nexus War", Gai'vahros. Something to do with powerful magic, right?"

Gai'vahros looked up at her as he took his first step on the stairs, remembering about the promise to tell her about this particular event. "Hah. I completely forgot," he responded softly with a smirk, though he wasn't sure if he should really talk about it outside of those involved. He spoke with reluctance, "It all started back ten-thousand years ago during the War of the Ancients. The blue dragonflight's leader, Malygos, lost his entire flight during that war that drove him to near-insanity. In time, he finally snapped from his dementia and lead a newly born blue dragonflight, and "awoken" with clearer eyes. Perhaps too clear."

"Too clear? How so?"

"Malygos is the aspect of magic -- the draconic personification of all things arcane and magical in nature, his mind a trove of knowledge of everything in and beyond the nether. So, when he awoken, he came to the conclusion that all mortal races on Azeroth were "misusing" magic, casting it too frequently without regard. He feared that it would draw forth the Burning Legion again just as the Highborne did ten-thousand years ago. He waged open war upon the magic-users of Azeroth -- thus started the Nexus War."

"That sounds… horrible…" Her mind flooded with thoughts of how powerful magic on Azeroth could be to be able to instigate a full-blown war between mortals and dragons. "So… what happened…?"

"A lot of bloodshed, my Lady Twilight." Gai'vahros sighed from a mix of exhaustion and remembrance. "The rest of the dragon aspects fought against him, believing that what he thought was wrong. In the end, most of his dragonflight was destroyed and he himself was slain. It was a great loss to all of us despite his malevolence. We had since crowned a new aspect of magic, though. All for naught, I might add."

"What do you mean?"

"A year ago -- perhaps longer, I've no idea -- we had defeated the aspect of earth -- The Destroyer, Deathwing. When that had happened, the rest of the dragon aspects lost their divine powers gifted to them by the "Creators", the Titans. I had only learned some time after that it was prophesized that they would lose their domains after saving our world from "its biggest threat". Loremasters had thought it would be another Legion invasion but was, in fact, harkening the end of Azeroth had Deathwing achieved his goals."

"You mean your world was nearly destroyed? That entire battle was what stopped it from happening?"

"True enough, but all our other fights could be down to saving or breaking our world. Our fight against the Legion in Outland and our crusade through the Sunwell stopped Kil'jaeden and his armies from potentially destroying Azeroth. Our war against the Lich King stopped him from invading Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms and turning our entire planet into nothing but death and decay. We've all been through a lot, but it's those fights and battles and raids and wars that keep us hardened and vigilant. We fight because we must."

"I don't know how many times I can think or say it, Gai'vahros, but you and your world -- your whole culture -- never ceases to amaze me."

"It never ceases to amaze me either, my Lady Twilight…"

The last three steps were all that remains before reaching the third floor. "Here we are," exclaimed Twilight as she lead the elf around the corridor to a set of double doors at the center. A large plaque of hardened silver and bronze livery and letters read "Star Swirl the Bearded Wing" above the doorframe. "The scroll we're looking for should just be in here."

Twilight opened the doors to allow both of them to step inside at once. The entire room was filled wall to wall and in several rows with bookshelves, containing a multitude of small books, heavy tomes and rolled up scrolls and parchment. At the center of the back of the room stood a peculiar-looking monument of a huge hourglass on a pedestal. Beyond it were several alcoves filled with more bookshelves with even more scrolls.

A purple glow enveloped Twilight's horn as she began shifting through scrolls, dragging them to her and reading them one at a time but going so fast that it looked like she would be done within minutes. It was any wonder to Gai'vahros how she could read each scroll as quick as she was, only gazing at them for a second if that. "It's around here somewhere," grunted Twilight. "I'm sure of it."

"You sure that no one else might have taken it?" suggested Gai'vahros.

"I highly doubt it," she responded. "All the things in here cannot be taken out of the library, and -- Ahah!" A huge smile crept over her lips as she cried out. "This is the right spell! I just… hope it works…"

Gai'vahros looked from the parchment Twilight held in front of her to down at her face. Her voice quietened for a moment not like she had been before -- cheerful and enthusiastic. Her voice sounded sombre and saddened. "Lady Twilight… what's wrong?"

She sighed softly as her eyes slowly shifted towards him as she turned around. "It's just… I'm gonna miss you, Gai'vahros." The scroll quickly rolled back up and sat within her bag. "I know I'm being selfish and that I should be happy for you to return home, but… I just wish that you could stay longer."

"I know, Lady Twilight. I wish I could too, but…"

"But what?"

"But every day I spend here means another day goes by on Azeroth without me knowing what's going on. Some of my people are being held as prisoners of war by the Alliance -- prisoners who are only guilty for being blood elves. Who knows how many more have been captured, or even killed. I have to go home."

"But what about that death knight? With you gone, and if they are as powerful that you say they are, then who will defend us?"

"No one, because you will have no need to be defended." Confused, Twilight raised an eyebrow. "When this death knight finds out that I am no longer here, they will have no reason to remain. I am certain that this death knight has come here specifically to follow me. Perhaps to finally kill me. That is also why I am returning back to Azeroth as soon as I can, so no one has to be caught in our crossfire."

Twilight began to understand the worlds Celestia had spoken before, that wherever Gai'vahros went, havoc followed. Despite her notion of sticking beside him to the very end, she also had to respect Gai'vahros' own wishes. She gave out a heavy sigh. "I… I understand…" The scroll rose from her bag with a light lavender glow, unravelling between the two of them as they both browsed its contents. "The preparation seems simple enough. All that needs to be done is to channel my magic into any sort of item that originates from the area you wish to be transported to."

"An item that originates from that area, huh?" Rummaging through one of his pockets, Gai'vahros grasped and withdrew a small stone with a sigil carved in a spiral shape upon its rounded face. "This hearthstone originates from the Ruins of Silvermoon. You're saying that your magic can set this to transport me back to the Ruins?"

"Correct, providing that it works. Let's get started."

Holding out his hand, Gai'vahros awaited for the Unicorn to channel the necessary magic needed according to the directions given. Her horn touched the cold surface of the artefact, bestowing upon it the magic required, letting it flow freely yet controlled from the horn to the stone. At first she did not appear strained by the process, but after a moment had gone by she began to show signs of struggle. Her brow wrinkled and her eyes narrowed, focused and determined on completing this task with a great deal of concentration. Suddenly the flashes and sparkles of pinks and purples vanished, being pulled into the center of the hearthstone. The sigil upon its domed face began to glow once again, glowing in that familiar bright aqua colour that Gai'vahros recognized so well.

"This… Is this ready now?" The elf withdrew his hand after Twilight reared her head back, looking up at him. The stone was only mere inches from him as he began to pivot and turn his hand, scanning and examining the functioning hearthstone. "I'll be able to get back home now?"

"Yeah.. you can leave whenever you want…"

That same tone as before struck Gai'vahros' ears harder than a banshee's wail. Peering past his hand he gazed upon the saddened expression of the young mare before him. His arm lowered as his other hand stretched outwards, placed upon her head and petted her gently. "I'm sorry, my Lady Twilight. I know you wish for me to stay longer, but I must get back as soon as I can. I'm needed on the front lines."

"But Gai'vahros… you'll be…" Twilight pried the words from her mouth through her clenched throat. A small well of tears formed in her eyes but not noticeable by the blood elf. "I'll probably never see you again…"

"I…" Hesitation sat upon his mind as he began to contemplate her words. She was right. He didn't even know how the hell he ended up here, or even if the anomaly could be replicated again at will. He wasn't even sure if the most of Dalaran's brilliance could find out what caused the problem, either. "I know, Twilight… But I'll find a way to come back even if it kills me."

Twilight let out a forced chuckle. "That would defeat the point, you know."

"Hah. True enough. You'll give my love to the girls, won't you?"

"Sure thing. I'm sorry you won't be able to say goodbye to them yourself."

"Not as sorry as I am, my Lady Twilight." Concentrating his focus on the hearthstone, Gai'vahros' hands became enveloped in a bright green glow as the hearthstone began to work its magic. Strips and ribbons of emerald light whisked and swirled around his hands and arms as the magic of it became more and more apparent. "I'll never forget you, Twilight."

"I'll never forget you, too…"

The vortex of energy began to circle the blood elf, bathing him in magics that made his body feel light, softened and restful. Swinging his hands up into the air, the dazzling colours of the hearthstone's magic quickly transcended from emerald green to a clear and bright aqua colour. A column of light shot from his body upwards to the ceiling. However, the light burst outward from his body in all direction like a popped bubble as streams of aqua descended towards the ground, fizzling and dispersing in mid-fall.

"Gai'vahros… are you okay?" asked Twilight, bemused as to what happened, or even if that was supposed to happen.

"Twilight…?" Gai'vahros looked around but saw only what he had seen some seconds prior -- bookshelves filled with scrolls. "It… it didn't work…?" Looking back down to the hearthstone, the sigil upon its face was completely burned out again, no longer holding the glow it had after the spell was complete. Once again, it was devoid of its magic. "I guess that spell wasn't powerful enough."

"I don't understand." Again, Twilight opened the parchment and scanned the directions from top to bottom to the top again, double-checking and triple-checking. "Everything I did was to the letter, for what little letters there are to begin with." The scroll dropped to the ground, ravelling back up on its own. "I'm so sorry, Gai'vahros… I did… I did all I could…" She had never been as upset as she had been up until now. With a mind lacking amnesty, she blamed herself for the failure of the spell despite Gai'vahros' explanation. The mare felt that she had failed him greatly where he needed her the most, and had failed herself for not being able to complete such a simplistic spell, in her opinion.

Gai'vahros shrugged. "Oh well," he responded lackadaisically, slipping the hearthstone back into his pocket. A small smile spread across his lips. "You win some, you lose some."

Twilight was more than baffled by the elf's demeanour. "But, Gai'vahros… aren't you upset? The spell didn't work!"

"No, not really." Turning back to the doors, he pushed one side open. "I've been meaning to try out some of those cakes at Sugarcube Corner anyway." Gai'vahros motioned with his head for Twilight to follow him as he made his way from the wing.

"I don't understand," spoke Twilight as she followed him out, closing the door behind her. "I thought you wanted to go home? You said how you wanted to protect your people, and to protect your world?"

"Things are much grander than I make them out to be, my Lady Twilight," responded Gai'vahros, allowing Twilight to take the lead as they made their way back down. "I am only one of hundreds of people on Azeroth who stand tall against our enemies -- Hell, I'm only one of hundreds of blood elves to become adventurers. Where I am gone, many will rise to take my place. I won't always be around to fight, so I must clear the path for the next generation as it were. I'm sure they'll be fine without me for some time."

"Heh. You make it sound like you want to stay here." Though Twilight was only teasing in retrospect of their prior conversations, she awaited some sort of dismissal from Gai'vahros. The elf did not reply audibly, but only looked back at the Unicorn with the same smile as before, then looked forwards again. "Gai'vahros… do you?"

A light chuckle poured from his lips. "I've been thinking about it for some time now," he responded softly. "The more I remain here, the less I think about back home. I'm beginning to feel like I've no longer a place in the battlefield, what with so many rising adventurers to heed the call in my stead. Perhaps I was right. Perhaps I do need to just settle down, relax, and retire. Stavros probably had the right idea."

"You mean… thinking of staying here?"

"Probably. Probably not. A lot of great blood elf family lines have ended prematurely due to the wars. Sunstrider, Dawnseeker -- only a couple to be named to whom have no successors. I would like to leave a bit of myself for the future. I nice, cute, bouncing baby to succeed me in whatever way they want. But, a partner is obviously required."

"I think you and Lady Liadrin would make a great couple."

"Hah. Probably. I think… I think the next time I meet her, I should confess my feelings towards her."

The two set foot upon the ground floor, back amongst the many doors that circled the inner column. Just beyond them lie the doors back outside, to which they proceeded with Twilight taking the lead. With a foreleg she pushed the door open, trying not to gaze directly towards the light as the sudden wave struck her eyes with blinding results. The mare gazed away while Gai'vahros placed his hand over his face.

"I never thought it would be so dark in here to allow the light to appear so bright," grumbled Gai'vahros, stepping outside into the fresh air, his eyes adjusting slowly to the luminosity.

"I know what you mean, Gai'vahros," responded Twilight in equal deterrence. "I always thought the library needed bigger windows."

A silhouette appeared in front of them just down the path, hovering a foot off the ground and quickly heading towards them. As the figure drew closer it quickly revealed the visage of a Pegasus guard in shining gold raiment. "T-Twilight! Gai'vahros!" the Pegasus heaved with as much force as his lungs could project, audibly exhausted. "I'm so glad I found the pair of you! Ponyville… Ponyville was attacked…!"

"W-what?" exclaimed Gai'vahros. Violently his grabbed hold of the idle guard's shoulders. "Who did this!? Was it…?"

"I-I'm not sure! I've only been told that they were attacked by "the dark knight". That's all I know!"

A heavy growl rumbled in the elf's throat. "God damnit!" he cried out with such frustration, shoving the guard to one side before sprinting down the path.

Twilight galloped after him, running as fast as her legs could take her. "G-Gai'vahros! Wait up!"

Cobblestones lay scattered across the pavement, dislodged from the path they were used to pave. Chunks of the grass and soil that spanned the village lay within small piles, kicked up -- or even carved out -- from the earth. A couple of the buildings were not saved from whatever catastrophe happened here, with chunks of masonry and even roofing laying scattered among the rest of the debris. Shards of glass could be seen scattered from the windows and doors that were once whole.

A few ponies lay on the ground, alive but barely mobile, struggling from the pain and injuries that they had suffered in the midst of the event. One such stallion tried to rise to his feet, pushing himself off the ground with his forelegs but his hind legs hadn't the strength to support him, buckling under even the smallest of weights, hindered by a large gash across his thigh. The wound was not like any normal cut -- the laceration was a char-black as though afflicted with necrosis.

"You will do nicely."

A soft and sinister chuckle permeated the skies, more terrifying and ominous than a banshee's wail. The thundering metallic steps of heavy boots echoed upon the stony path. The rustling of banded chains rattled like blackened iron shackles with threats of no escape. The sound of death and despair drew ever closer to the poor stallion. With whatever strength he could, he tried to push off the ground with whatever legs he could still move, trying to get away from the darkness. But, it was all just a snail's pace compared to a death knight.

"Where do you think you're going?" the death knight callously taunted. Her voice pierced the ears of whomever heard her, carrying an echo of cold bitterness like a spectre. An open hand reached out slowly in front of her deadened, pale white face. A smirk spread across her cold, blue lips as she thrust her palm forwards. From the air, pillars of ice and cold chains formed from the vapours, burying and wrapping around the frightened pony. The knight's steps stopped just inches from her victim. "I bet you know who I'm looking for… don't you? Choose your answer carefully."

The pony shivered with such visibility that he couldn't even begin to mouth the words he wanted. Whether it was from the cold of the chains or through the permeable fear in his soul, he could not speak his mind. "I-I…" he garbled. With a gulp, his voice became more clear. "I d-don't know where he is…!"

"Now that's not a good answer…" A dark tendril of shadow shot from the death knight's hand, grasping and wrapping around the throat of the stallion and dragging him off the ground, pulling him face to face with the undead warrior. "You sure you don't know where he is?"

"N-no! W-what I mean is, he's not here -- in Ponyville! H-he went out of town!"

"Oh? He took a vacation? Without sending me an invite? How rude…" Her icy-blue eyes drew upon the scowl of her face, her cheeks showing wrinkles not of age, but of lifelessness. Staying her hand, the tendril loosened, dropping the stallion hard on the ground in a heap as the shadows dissipated. "You've been a great help for what it was worth." A large axe heaved from her side to over her shoulder, displaying the visage of death along its surface and blackened runes across the blade.

"You've earned your rest."

Chapter 29 - Revelation

"I would have much rather taken the train…" the shaken Rarity spoke with trembling lips as she was being carried high over the lands of Equestria by her midriff by the winged Gai'vahros, his hands locked around her and held close to his body as the group soared through the skies. With Twilight having used the last of her potion of flight to grow wings it only left Applejack and Pinkie pie, whom were carried by Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy respectively.

"The train is too slow, Lady Rarity," responded Gai'vahros while using a portion of effort to heave the rather heavy mare through the sky. He was quite pleased that he required no extra concentration on his part where his flying was involved. "This will get us back to town in less than a quarter of the time it would take by train."

"Besides, this is awesomely fun!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie, waving her arms in the air while she enjoyed the flight.

"P-Pinkie Pie," spoke Fluttershy, trying to keep her balance in check as Pinkie Pie kept shaking from one side to the other with her flailing, "please don't do that. I might drop you…"

"Oh! Well, that's not very fun at all. Sorry, Fluttershy," apologised Pinkie Pie with an awkward smile.

"Well if the others weren't so slow, we'd already be there by now," spoke Rainbow Dash callously.

"Well sorry for everyone not bein' as fast and flighty as you, Rainbow Dash," retorted Applejack sarcastically. "Some of us have better things to do than to show off all day."

"You callin' me a show-off!?"

"Darn right I am!"

"You won't think so when I drop ya!"

Gai'vahros' patience couldn't run any thinner at this point. "Shut up, both of you!" he cried out as his head whipped violently around to the both of them. The two quickly kept their mouths shut, their lips clamped together as though glued together. "Your bickering isn't going to make us go any faster. Focus on the task at hand."

"S-sorry, Gai…" whimpered Rainbow Dash apologetically.

"I'm not the one you should be sorry to," replied Gai'vahros.

Rainbow Dash understood, knowing in her heart that he was right. She looked down to the hanging pony in her grasp. "I'm sorry, Applejack. I didn't mean--"

"I'm sorry, too, sugar cube," intervened Applejack. "I shouldn't have snapped at ya. We're all just worried about what's happenin'."

"I just hope everything's okay," spoke Twilight, looking ahead of her to spot anything that might give notice to how bad the attack could have been -- smoke, fires, even a mushroom cloud at this point. "One person couldn't have done too much damage, right?"

The elf let out a heavy sigh. "I wouldn't have thought so."

Ponyville soon came within view over the hills after some time -- or rather, its train station did. Quickly the group swooped down from the sky towards the central platform, letting the gravity take them faster as they cut through the air. Gai'vahros' wings dissipated as soon as he touched down on the floor on the train's platform, putting down Rarity. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Twilight soon followed suit, flapping their wings to slow their descent as their hooves touched the platform, releasing their passengers as the party landed safely together.

"Move, move, MOVE!" The steel hand of Gai'vahros shoved and pushed whomever stood in his way out of it, whether or not they had seen him coming or even if they could brace themselves for his surplus force. The crowded platform saw only a trail of gold blitz through a newly-opened path as the blood knight dashed through with Twilight and the others following close behind.

"I just hope we're not too late," exclaimed Twilight, worry overtaking her emotions above all else.

"Sweetie Belle…" murmured Rarity under her breath. Despite being carried back to Ponyville she still spoke as though out of breath -- the sudden strike of panic drove her speech, her breathing and her thoughts into jumbled messes.

"Don't worry, darlin'," spoke Applejack, trying to comfort the distraught Unicorn. "As long as they're all in the library, that death knight won't be able to lay a hand on 'em." Even through her words of confidence, even she could not keep away the thoughts of the worse.

As the lot left the train station, two guards stood in front of them, halting their advance as they stood in opposition of Gai'vahros. "Stop immediately," one of them called out as the two of them held up their forelegs in gesture. "You can't go back to Ponyville! It's far too dangerous!"

A heavy growl erupted from the blood knight as the two guards pushed him back. "Move out of the way," he cursed to them."

"I cannot! It's for your own good that we wait for reinforcements!"

"I said, get out of my way!" A sudden strike from Gai'vahros connected with one of the guard's stomach, striking with enough force to wind him and cause him to collapse. Before the other guard could retaliate, the elf swung his shield to collide with the side of his head. Despite the guard's helmet protecting him from much physical damage, the force was more than enough to knock him out. The girls were in shock seeing Gai'vahros single-handedly take out two guards with no problem, but also from his aggression. "Come on, girls!" he rallied as he sprinted down the path.

The visage of destruction loomed into view even far beyond the village itself. Stopping halfway down the path, the group took in the destruction that lay before them. It was almost exactly the same as they had seen before during the camping trip -- the branches of the trees around them were sheared off, cut too clean to be anything than a tempered blade. The bark of the trunks were shattered from heavy trauma that resembled a hammer or some other large blunt instrument. Charred remains of wood, dirt, soil and leaves littered the path in front of them.

"G… Gai…" stuttered Rainbow Dash, shifting her eyes all around her. A deep chill raced down her spine and made her fine hairs stand on end.

Gai'vahros shifted his gaze from the ground to the sides, eyeing the bark of the trees. "I know, Rainbow Dash…" Carefully he stepped forwards, caution being the only thing on his mind for the moment. His hand gently touched the bark of one of the trees, his fingers running across the grooves that were carved deep. "The same as before. Undeath, lifelessness, corruption. We'd better hurry." Again the elf made haste back to Ponyville, running as quick as he could down the path.

With every second they spent along the trail the worse the damages got. Gai'vahros tried not to pay much attention to the destruction around him. He knew that this destruction was out of character for the death knight that he knew, that they would not have rhyme or reason to destroy anything that wasn't a living creature. It was about sending a message.

At long last the tail opened up into a large clearing upon the north side of Ponyville. But, what they had found was much worse compared to the desecrated trail. Chunks of soil were kicked up, likely from the mad rush of ponies running in terror. Scrapes of charred grass spread over the lawn and pavement, leaving only the faint smell of burned flora and patches and streaks of black. Paving stones were smashed, shattered and scattered across the streets as though artillery fire had been shot from the skies. Shattered doors, windows and even roofs could be seen with their debris strewn about the proximity of them.

"This --" Rarity's voice almost broke from the sudden shock of seeing her hometown in such chaos. "-- this can't be real… Please, please tell me this isn't real…!"

"Gai'vahros…" the whimpering voice of Twilight crept to the elf's ears, "this wasn't done by one person, right? Right…?"

He didn't reply. He couldn't reply. His eyes began to blur and shake in their sockets as he kept gazing from one patch of destruction to another. Flashbacks of Quel'Thalas flooded his mind -- high elves struck down by the blades of skeletal onslaughts and the hatchets of abominations appeared with such clarity that it felt like he was reliving that time again. The images fizzled from his sight as suddenly as they appeared much to his relief, but he instead noticed many ponies collapsed on the floor within the streets -- something that he never thought would be more dire than seeing his kin fall. Gai'vahros' eyes took a glimpse of one of the stallions trying to move, struggling to push himself along the ground.

The blood knight rushed over to him, kneeling down by his side. "Hey," he called out to try and get some sort of response. One hand rested on the stallion's side while the other was used to lift his head up, cradling his neck with whatever comfort he could. "Are you alright? What happened here?"

The pony's eyes opened slowly, squinting as the light obstructed his sight but he knew who stood before him. His gaze shifted to the elf. "You… you're back…?" His voice struggled against the pain and exhaustion, barely having the energy to even lift a leg. "Everything… I thought everything was lost…"

"Who did this? Who attacked the village?"

"It was her… the dark knight…!" A violent cough erupted from the stallion, hunching forward suddenly. "But… that young filly saved me…"

"Young filly? You don't mean--" Looking up, Gai'vahros couldn't see what should be in the distance -- a large bubble-like dome over the library. "--Oh no." Quickly, Gai'vahros lay the head of the stallion back onto the ground and pressed both of his hands on the deep cut on his leg. A veil of gold light flowed from the tips of his fingers and spread over the wound. In moments the laceration closed, fully healing with not so much of a scar left. "You'll be fine, but I have to leave you. Can you stand?"

"I…" A burst of energy spread through the stallions body, giving him the effort to move his legs as though he'd not been attacked at all. Quickly he got to his hooves and shook each one. "I can stand… but what did--"

"There's no time to explain. Get whoever you can and take all of the injured to whatever medical facility you have. I have to go check on the library." Before the pony could respond, Gai'vahros had already bolted towards the library. A bad feeling fell over his mind, trying to figure out how or why that barrier came down.

The tree house came into perspective fully as soon as Gai'vahros sharply turned the corner, hopping over the fence instead of circling around with the path. Violently he burst through the front door, almost knocking it clear off its hinges and bracing himself for the worse. But there wasn't anything to brace himself from except from the sudden screams of Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Spike. The noise settled as soon as they all took in the situation.

"G-Gai!" Apple Bloom cried out. "Don't scare us like that!" Despite her irritation, the young filly galloped to the elf and hugged his leg tightly. Her head looked up to meet with Gai'vahros' eyes. "Where's everyone else?"

"Apple Bloom!?" cried out Applejack as she brushed past the blood knight, scooping up her younger sibling in her forelegs and holding her tight. "Oh, sweet Celestia, I thought I'd lost ya!"

"I-it's okay, Applejack," Apple Bloom wheezed through the bear hug. "but ya crushin' my ribs…"

The rest of the ponies quickly gathered inside the library from behind Gai'vahros, all of them far more than grateful that no one was hurt. "Oh, Sweetie Belle," spoke Rarity, running to give her own sibling a huge tearful hug. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

"We've been fine all along, Rarity," the young filly responded.

"You're not hurt, are ya, Scootaloo?" asked Rainbow Dash with a great amount of care for the young Pegasus.

"Course not!" she spoke with feigned bravery and fearlessness. "Just… y'know, protecting everyone else! Heh…"

Whipping the handbag from around her neck onto the ground, Twilight galloped to her trusty assistant, embracing each other. "Oh, Spike," cooed Twilight as she held the young dragon close. "Spike, what happened? Why is the barrier down?"

Before Spike could respond, Apple Bloom stepped forwards. "It's… it's my fault, Twilight…" She dared not look her in the eyes, fearful of seeing her expression.

"What d'ya mean, Apple Bloom?" asked Applejack.

"Well, it happened like this…"

The death knight growled under her breath, annoyed by the revelation that Gai'vahros was no longer in Ponyville. Releasing the shadow, she let the stallion crash onto the ground in a heap. "You've been a great help -- for what it was worth. You've earned your rest." The terrible, cursed blade of primordial saronite loomed over the stallion -- ready to deliver a swift execution.

"STAHP!"

The knight's eyes shifted to one side as the piercing cry of a child-like voice garnered her attention. She turned slowly, tightening her grip on her cursed blade, and saw what could only be described as a baby pony. Despite her cold heart she found some sort of admiration for the filly. It wasn't every day that she had found someone who would openly oppose her. If she did, she wondered if that person didn't know who she was or if they were just looking to die.

"Why ya gotta go around hurtin' people?" Apple Bloom scowled at the death knight without any regard for her own safety. The heat of the moment and the fire in her own heart forbid her to back down.

A cold, echoing giggle poured from the death knight's cold lips like the echoes of a spectre, carrying with it the sound of despair. "Oh, how cute," she patronized. Heavy steps of steel made their way to Apple Bloom, and with each step that thundered on the cobblestones, the less confident the pony felt. "You want to play the good girl, hmm? Well then, stop me." Twirling the axe upside down, she spearheaded the point of the weapon through the pavement, piercing the concrete in front of Apple Bloom. The filly jumped back in fear as her eyes gazed upon the dark skull on the side of the axe's head. "What's the matter? I thought you wanted me to stop? So, stop me."

"I-I…" Apple Bloom's heart raced so fast that she could feel it beating against her own ribcage. She felt the blood rush from her chest to her head with such pressure that she began to feel lightheaded and dizzy. Her eyes kept shaking, shifting from all around her, then back to the death knight. "W-what do you want from us…?" Her voice began to tremble even more so than her body at this point.

"I'm only looking for one elf, child. He isn't too hard to miss -- tall, blonde hair, walks around in a suit with more gold than the auction house." Shifting her eyes to the library in front of her, the death knight gazed upon the magical dome surrounding the library, not even aware of its existence beforehand as she had tunnel-vision on Apple Bloom. "You're hiding him in there, aren't you, pony?"

"No! He's not even here! He went to Canterlot to warn the Princess of you!"

A dark snicker burst from the death knight before a torrent of wailing laughter followed. "Oh, please. And what will your little "Princess" do to stop me? Her worthless guards have already been defeated. What chance does she think she has against my power?"

"Well… Gai will beat you when he comes back! You'll see?"

"Oh? So you know him personally, do you? Then, runt, tell him this--" Violently she grasped hold of Apple Bloom's mane and hoisted her into the air. The filly kicked and screamed as the knight's grip tugged at her roots painfully. "--that I will not rest until I find him. Tell him that I will be back here by tomorrow's fall, and if he doesn't turn up… Well, I'm sure he can guess the consequences." Treating her like a ragdoll, the knight tossed Apple Bloom back through the bubble and smack against the front door.

"For your sake, runt, he had better show up…"

"Then, after that, she left on some bony bird thing. But, I was my fault the barrier went down… I didn't wanna see her--"

"It's okay, little Apple Bloom," comforted Gai'vahros, kneeling down and petting her mane with gentle strokes. "What matters most is that you weren't hurt. Well, not as bad as you could have been. But, what you did was reckless and stupid--" Apple Bloom turned her head away "--and brave. You willingly put yourself in harm's way to save another. And that was very heroic of you."

"You really think so…?"

A nod and a smile was all the reply that Gai'vahros needed to give, and all the reply that Apple Bloom needed to see. Standing to his feet, the blood elf turned to the door and made his exit to the front lawn.

"Gai, darling," spoke Rarity as she followed him with a turn of her head, "where are you going?"

"Well I'm sure as hell not waiting for tomorrow," he replied. Slowly he kneeled down on both knees on the grass, hands placed flat a top of his thighs. "The sooner we get this over and done with, the better." His eyes closed slowly and his breathing began to slow but relax. His body slowly began to spawn a faint silvery glow, coating his armor is a bright shine and sparkles. Quickly the light erupted skyward in a column of spiralling silver streams, dancing around one another as they headed endlessly to the clouds above.

"What in the world…!" gasped Rarity, her breath taken away from the sudden display of magical prowess from the blood knight.

"What kinda magic is that?" exclaimed Rainbow Dash as she marvelled the sight before her. She hoped that either Rarity or Twilight could enlighten her with a shower of knowledge of all things magical.

"I've… I've never seen anything like this before," admitted Twilight. Despite her own wealth of knowledge to all things phenomenal, even she had no clue as to what kind of magic the elf was displaying, though she quickly accepted that this was more of Azeroth's unique magical powers.

"Maybe…" started Pinkie Pie, a hoof on her chin. "Maybe this ain't even his final form?"

"I highly doubt that's the case, sugar cube," replied Applejack.

The silver light began to dissipate slowly. The column began to narrow and shrink back down towards Gai'vahros and the glow began to fade from his armor, eventually disappearing entirely as though it began to seep back into his armor. His eyes opened as the colour of fel green shone through his eyelids. Slowly he rose back to his feet, giving a gentle sigh. "She should be here soon," he spoke out. His eyes shifted to the skies above him.

"Gai'vahros, what did you just do?" asked Twilight as she walked up to him from behind. "What was that light?"

"A beacon," he responded as his head turned to show his attention to the Unicorn. "She knows that it belongs to me. She'll definitely come."

"How… how long?"

"Seconds. Minutes--"

"-- Or now?"
A dark, bony shadow raced across the fields as the large skeletal gryphon flapped its cold, hardened wings through the air. A top of the beast sat the death knight with an ever-growing grin across her lips. A dark chuckle echoed down upon the group. "Oh, Gai'vahros. Making new friends, are you? I wonder how long it will be before their deaths because of you."

The blood knight showed no sign of animosity or anger as he would have usually displayed when so much as thinking about the death knight. His head tilted up, gazing his eyes upon her own frozen pupils of glowing icy blue. "To think that after all this time, we would meet like this. I expected something more favourable, death knight."

"Hah? "Death knight"? Is that how you would refer to me after so much time apart?" Lifting one leg over the saddle of her mount, the knight hopped from her minion and to the ground before. A heavy thud filled the air as her heavy greaves struck the soil with great impact. "Always the rude one, you were, Gai'vahros."

"Gai'vahros," spoke Twilight, pressing forward and keeping her stance beside the blood elf, "she looks… she looks like an elf…"

The grin soon turned into a smile of hysteria before the death knight burst out into a fit of wailing laughter, sending a cold chill through the ponies. "You mean to tell me that you have not told them exactly who I am? That hurts me… brother."

If her deathly voice and howling cackle didn't send a cold wave through their bodies and minds, then the revelation of the death knight sure did. The entire group let out a collective gasp of shock. It was so much for some of them that they dared not begin to believe what they were comprehending from the death knight's words.

"Yeah, right!" cried out Rainbow Dash, hovering to the other side of Gai'vahros, remaining close to him. "As if you could be related to Gai! For one, Gai is cool AND awesome! Second, you're --"

"-- Correct," interrupted Gai'vahros. Rainbow Dash could hardly believe -- and neither could anyone else -- that he was confirming her notion. "This death knight… she is Liliandra Dawnbreaker -- my younger sister."

Chapter 30 - Lay On Hands

The air was thick with tension and laced with long strands of fear, if not into the hearts of the ponies that stood with Gai'vahros then definitely in their minds as they watched the two siblings confront one-another. The reveal of Liliandra's kinship with the blood knight still weighed heavily on the minds of those present despite Gai'vahros being completely complacent about it -- or so he appeared.

"Oh, now you decide to call me "sister"?" the death knight taunted him with a grin across her lips, causing the skin to stretch and split. "I didn't think you would have it in you, dear brother." Gai'vahros' brows narrowed and fixated upon the undead elf, but his expression only caused her to chuckle under her breath. "Oh, also, It's not "Dawnbreaker". It's "Deathstrike" -- Liliandra Deathstrike to you."

"So it's not enough for you to forsake your own people," sparred Gai'vahros against her words, "but you would piss on our family name, too? Do you plan on ransacking Quel'Thalas, too, like that scumbag Arthas before you?"

"I haven't made my mind up yet, but thank you for the tip -- it sounds much sweeter when it comes from your mouth." Gai'vahros scowled at her, almost bearing his gritted teeth. "And, they're not my people, "blood elf". My people were a proud race that fought valiantly with the powers of the light and the might of the arcane. My people didn't resort to using despicable demonic magics and siphoning the lives of others just to keep their own pathetic addiction in check."

"And, now, your people stand on the crumbling edge of hypocrisy, waging war against their kin alongside the Alliance because of a difference of ideals and nothing more."

Liliandra scoffed, brushing her long hair to one side. Her demeanour turned from one of snide to one of aggression. "I'm not here to discuss politics or factions, Gai'vahros. I'm here to discuss your death at my hands!"

The six ponies stood up and in front, forming a wall in front of Gai'vahros. "Like heck we're gonna let ya do that," exclaimed Applejack in defiance against the death knight. "You'll have to get through the lot of us first!"

"That can be arranged, beast," retorted Liliandra, swinging her huge weapon over her shoulder. "But, that time is not yet right. I'm only here to deliver you two things: a present, and a warning."

Gai'vahros raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "A present? I don't think anything that would come from you could be called a "present"."

"Oh? is that so?" The fingers of her gauntlet let out a loud, low ring as she snapped her fingers. Her skeletal mount lowered to the ground beside her. Reaching into one of the huge saddlebags strapped around its bare ribcage, she pulled out a long sword that was over half of her height in length. The hilt was forged of pure gold, curved and ornate with a blue jewel on both sides. The handle was wrapped tight in blue cloth with a gold pommel. The blade was long, wide and thin yet strong enough to carve through dragon scales and dark iron. Colours of pale pinks, royal blues and gentle aqua reflected from its pearlescent, prismatic surface as the light shone upon the blade. Elven runes were etched on both sides of the blade that seemed to glow a bright blue from time to time. "What about this? Would you call this a "present"?"

The blood elf's eyes widened as he stepped forwards past his companions. "Quel'Serrar! But… how did you get a hold of it? Where did you find it?"

"I found some mangy creature carrying it while I was trekking through the forests. Did you see my handiwork, by the way? I don't think I could have done much better with the place."

"So it was you who caused all that destruction. I thought the debris came from that damn blade of yours, Liliandra." It occurred to Gai'vahros that he was still standing among the wreckage of her most recent attack on the village, too caught up in their conversation to have noticed earlier. "What of the guards that were sent here? What did you do to them?"

"Oh, they're around. I'm not all that much of a monster, Gai'vahros, despite what you might have told your new friends here. Killing these pathetic animals wouldn't satisfy my blood thirst even if they sent their whole kingdom after me. They're no better than Quilboars. "

"Hey," cried Rainbow Dash, pressing forwards though held back by her tail, firmly gripped by Twilight's teeth. "We ain't as dumb as boars! We'll take you on any day of the week! Right, Gai?"

"Wrong!" yelled Liliandra as she flung the prismatic blade down towards them, causing the ponies to stagger backwards out of harm's way as it embedded itself in the dirt just a few feet in front of them. "You mongrels have no power over me -- even you, Gai'vahros! That is precisely why I am returning this to you. I have no wish to kill you while you are unarmed, weak and pathetic. Killing you in such a state would not satisfy me, much like how these ponies would not. I strongly urge you to get stronger, strong enough to face me in one-on-one combat. I will await you in the cold north, Gai'vahros." With great strength she leapt off the ground and onto the leather saddle of her mount. It reared back as she tugged on the reins roughly before taking off the ground. "Oh, and, that warning I mentioned: don't get too attached to that sword." With a hideous cackle she took off northwards towards the mountains.

A breeze of relief blew past the mares, relaxing their bodies and breathing sighs as the death knight faded into the distance. Twilight, however, could not help shake the feeling of omen as the last words of Liliandra echoed in her mind. "Gai'vahros," she spoke softly, "what did she mean by not getting too attached to your weapon?"

The elf looked down upon the sword's visage as it stood halfway into the earth. His eyes scanned the entirety of the body -- the blade, the guard and the handle all looked unchanged from what he remembered it looking like. Slowly he approached it despite the protests of his companions, laying a hand on the pummel. He didn't feel anything wrong with it. His hand slid down the handle, feeling the smooth leather wraps before curling his fingers tight around it. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Swiftly he unsheathed it from the soil and into the air in front of him, pointing it outwards and turning the sword as he peered along the blade's surface. No form of corruption seemed to touch it, or, if it did, the trace was not noticeable by any stretch despite his acute sense to necromancy. "I'm not sure," he spoke finally. "I don't sense any dark magics within the blade. I wouldn't put it past her to say such things as a means to cloud my mind with doubt."

"I hope you're right." With one problem out of the way for the time being, Twilight focused on the next. Her head turned from one side to the other, seeing the aftermath of the destruction and violence around her. "We have to help get everything back to normal."

"We can help, too, Twilight," spoke Fluttershy, making her way to one of the knocked over plant pots and sitting it back up. She turned to Twilight and gave a big smile as though she had done something incredible to the cause. Twilight merely gave an awkward smile in return, but a legitimate smile nonetheless.

Gai'vahros let out a small smile at Fluttershy's commitment as well as everyone else's visible pledge to the cause. "We'll need everyone's help," he responded. "Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, could I trust you to comb the village for the injured and to take them to a nearby medical facility?"

"No probs, Gai," exclaimed Rainbow Dash as her and Fluttershy took off.

"Applejack, you think you'll be able to secure any building materials?"

"Sure can, Gai," she responded with enthusiasm. "We've got plenty of stuff back at the farm. Me an' Big Macintosh can get the stuff delivered in the time it takes a cow to chew the cud!" The pony galloped off towards the farm, leaving a trail of dust behind her.

"… What a nice thought," he muttered to himself as he recalled Applejack's comparison. "Twilight, Rarity, could you use your magic to help patch things up and assist with the rebuilding of the town?"

"Why, of course, darling," said Rarity as though such a task was simplistic. "Me and Twilight won't have any trouble giving people a hand! Just don't expect me to handle any mortar or soil."

"Right. Finally--"

"Ooh! Me!" cried Pinkie Pie as she pressed her face against Gai'vahros', hopping up and down with such energy and excitement. "What about me, Gai? I can help, right? You need tea? Cake? Belgium?"

"Oh, uh… Pinkie, you can… um…" Gai'vahros' eyes shifted from one side to the other, trying not to make eye contact with the hyped up pony as he tried to think of something to say. "You can… bring cake and laughter to the patients at the hospital…?"

"Yay! I can do that!" The pony hopped away with as much enthusiasm as glee as she normally managed, undeterred by what happened moments ago. "Oh! Wait! Sponge, fruit or carrot cake?"

"Carrot cake!" Gai'vahros cried out with almost the same dedication and enthusiasm that Pinkie did. Realising his utter deviation from his usual character, the elf cleared his throat. "I mean, yeah, carrot cake should be fine."

"Heehee! Okey-dokey, artichokey!"

A smile crept upon the lips of the elf. He began to understand more of Pinkie Pie. More so deeply than he could have conceived beforehand. He understood that she was the cheer in the despair. The joy in the sorrow. The hope in the hopelessness. It was her joyous nature and personality filled to the brim with humour and jubilation that made everything seem okay -- even what had happened just now. A chuckle escaped his lips as he watched her bounce away. "I guess that's everything sorted."

"Hey! Wait a minute, Gai," the small voice of Apple Bloom rung to his ears as the three young fillies approached him from behind. He had completely forgotten that they were still here. "Ain't there somethin' that we can do?"

The first thing he wanted to say was that they should get back inside or to go home and stay out of harm's way despite knowing that the threat was no longer present. However, he thought it would be better if he gave them a sense of duty. "Actually, there is something you can do for me," he spoke softly. "Can I count on you three to go around the houses and tell everyone that everything is okay now, and if they can help restore the village?"

"We can totally do that!" exclaimed Scootaloo, striking the air with her foreleg. "Cutie Mark Crusaders go!" the three of them cried out in unison before sprinting off towards the north.

Twilight gave out a giggle as she watched the three of them rush off with great passion and sense of helpfulness. "They never cease to amaze me," she said. Her gaze turned back to Gai'vahros to see his equally joyful smile, and yet her mind began to sullen. "Gai'vahros… are you going to go after her?"

"In time I will," he responded. "but my duties lie with Ponyville first. There are still things that we need to do, things I can help with."

"So what will you do now?" asked Rarity.

"I'm going to head over to the hospital and do whatever I can to treat the patients there. I can put my healing skills to use there."

"You mean like with Princess Luna and the stallion?"

"That's right. I'll leave everything to you, Twilight." Like Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash before him, Gai'vahros made way to the hospital to the south. "We should all meet back here when we're done so we can discuss what our next move will be."

"Good idea. See you soon."

The hospital was a lot bigger than Gai'vahros had imagined it to be, thinking that it would be like the usual medical establishments back on Azeroth where it would be a small hut or bunker. The entire building was as big as a mansion and almost in the same architecture, too. The walls were made of pale yellow masonry with strips of timber strewn across for support and for appearance. Dark magenta slates lined the roof and across the upper gable windows of light lavender. A top of the front of the roof and on a large marble sigh outside the building was the symbol of a red circle and white cross, indicating it as a medical center.

The elf allowed himself entry as he pushed open the double doors. Contrasting to the exterior, the interior of the hospital was almost all pure white and sky blue. The floor consisted of pale white laminate while the walls were painted in a pale, calm blue with stripes of white a few feet apart from one-another. The front hall consisted of two desks handled by receptionists along with several rows of seats for those awaiting treatment -- and with the sudden influx of injured patients, that would be a lot.

Approaching one of the reception desks, Gai'vahros tried to appear friendly although the bewilderment of finding himself in such a huge medical center was still a marvel to him to the point that his expression gave him away as someone who was more lost than helpful. The receptionists were as much afraid of him as he was impressed of the hospital to the point of trying to find a way to avoid contact with him. But, being receptionists, they had no choice but to acknowledge him and to try and be as helpful as they can. "Uh… Good afternoon, uh, Sir," one of them spoke out nervously. "Can I help you with anything…?"

"Oh! Yes, sorry," apologized Gai'vahros, realising that he wasn't paying attention. "My name is Gai'vahros Dawnbreaker. I was wondering if I could assist you with the treatment of your injured patients?"

The receptionist was beginning to feel more uncomfortable being around the elf, if not for his presence then for his query. "Are you a doctor?" she asked, raising an eyebrow above her oval glasses.

"Uh… sort of. I have skills and experience in first aid and I have many healing spells to help treat the wounded."

The receptionist starting pressing a small button underneath her desk rapidly. "Oh.. I see… could you just wait right here one second?"

"Of course." Gai'vahros stood for a moment before deciding to take a seat so as to not make the place feel untidy. He looked around and only saw the painful faces of many ponies around him, all suffering from injuries related to the attack on Ponyville. It hurt him deeply to see so many wounded in one place.

A minute passed before Gai'vahros was approached by a stallion wearing a long, white doctor's coat with a stethoscope around his neck. "Can I help you, sir?" the doctor asked as he looked down at the elf.

"Yes, Sir," he responded. "I was hoping I could aid you with the treatment of your wounded."

"The wounded? How do you know about this? And what could you possibly do to help?"

"It's a long story. And I can help heal your wounded with my healing."

"Huh! I don't know who you are, but I won't let you practice your voodoo hocus pocus in my medical establishment! Can you kindly leave here now?"

"This is not voodoo or simple magic," retorted Gai'vahros with impatience. "I shall prove it to you." He stood up and looked over to a nearby mare sitting only a few seats to one side of him. The poor pony looked exhausted as her breathing was slow and hazy. A large bruise on her head showed its blue-purple colour under her fine turquoise fur and a large gash in her foreleg was visibly causing her a great deal of pain.

Slowly he walked to her with good intent, but her face scowled at him, distrusting of him. However, she had not the energy to move or to fight back. "Let me help you," the elf spoke softly into her ear as he sat next to her. Gently he placed his hand upon her head, causing her to flinch and whine a little in pain as he pressed his palm on the large bruise. A veil of glistening, comforting light wrapped around his hand and fingers, shining more as the seconds passed by. The mare didn't feel threatened or uncomfortable. Indeed, she felt the warmth of the sun upon her head. The shooting, stinging pain numbed before disappearing entirely . The only feeling she had left was the feeling of being held and comforted like a newborn. A smile spread across her face. "How do you feel?"

"I feel… amazing," she uttered softly, still breathless though she began to feel her energy return to her, revitalizing her. "You're some kind of miracle worker…?"

"I only work with the will of the Light, ma'am." His other hand reached over and gently wrapped around the cut foreleg of the pony. Again she let out a yelp of pain as it shot through her, but, like before, the pain eased and dulled as the light enveloped the wound. Slowly the cut began to close as though the skin was regenerating itself. Her smile turned to an open mouth as she saw the wound disappear as though it had never even existed. The lights dulled as Gai'vahros took his hands away, revealing a perfectly closed wound and completely recovery of the bruise. "Do you feel better?"

The mare was astounded. She held up her foreleg in front of her, turning it around from one side to the other, trying to find some sort of catch or magic trick. She then touched her head where the bruise was, pushing and prodding on the skin but could feel no pain. "You… I'm… I'm completely cured…!" She let out a cry of joy as she jumped from her seat, showing off her treated wounds. "Look! Nothing! No pain or anything!" With great joy the pony dashed around the seats and out the front doors, yelling, "It's a miracle! He's a miracle!"

Gai'vahros gave a big smile as he saw her leave in a state that was the complete opposite from what she had been earlier. The doctor, however, was completely stunned and bewildered as he watched with a jaw-dropped expression. "I… I can't believe it," he muttered to himself though the elf was still able to keep within earshot of his soft words. "Sir, please, you have to help us! We're such short staffed at the moment and, with all of our prior patients to this sudden influx of wounded, we can't give everyone treatment as soon as possible. You said, you'll help us, right?" Hastily the doctor took out a small book from his pocket and a pen from behind his ear, flipped it open and jotted down some numbers. "What can I pay you? Five hundred? A thousand? Two?"

The velvet hand of Gai'vahros touched upon the doctor's hooves gently. Taking the pen from his grip and closing the cheque book, he smiled as the doctor looked back up at him. "The only payment I need is knowing that I've done what I can to help you, Sir." He placed the pen back behind the pony's ear. "Tell me what I need to do."

Small shines of glistening golds and pale yellows dazzled and sparked at one side of the waiting room as Gai'vahros worked his magic on those who needed it. With only a small bedroll for the patience to lay down on and the doctor beside him holding the appointment schedule, the elf kept up on the treatment required for each individual pony. Despite his fatigue after the first four or five patients, he did not relent nor even so much as ask for a break -- his skills as a healer were very limited at best, so it took more out of him than it would for someone who specialised in it. Regardless, Gai'vahros kept the line moving as one patient thanked him after another. Even Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy stopped to marvel his work after they were able to bring in the last of the wounded in Ponyville.

"Wow, Gai," exclaimed Rainbow Dash as she kept her eyes plastered on the dazzling showcase of twisting and twirling strands of gold, "you're doing awesome! You've already gotten through most of the patients in only half an hour!"

Fluttershy, however, was more worried than in awe with Gai'vahros' handiwork. She kept gazing at him, scanning him with her eyes, noticing his hands began to shake and beads of sweat rolling down his brow and cheek. "Gai'vahros, are you feeling okay?" she asked, concerned for the well-being of the elf as he strained himself.

"Yeah… I'm fine," he spoke with a heavy breath after letting out a heavy pant, trying to breath in deeply to get some oxygen into his system. "I can't let up now. I'm almost done, right?"

"Only several patients left now, Sir," the doctor responded as he trailed his pen down the list, counting each name that hadn't been checked off yet, "but you should take a break. You've been at this for an hour now with no break or anything."

"An hour?" questioned Rainbow Dash. "But we didn't even bring that many patients in, right? We only bought in thirty or so wounded, if that."

Gai'vahros gave an exhausted sigh as he tried to focus on the wounds of the stallion in front of him, slowly closing up a large cut across the side of him. "These aren't the patients you brought it, my Lady Rainbow Dash. All of these other patients are those who had been in the hospital for days or even weeks -- ponies who have been in here since before the attack."

Fluttershy couldn't help but eye him with astonishment. "But how many are there?" she asked.

"Two dozen," the doctor responded, "maybe more. Even those who weren't injured were treated by him. Even the poor and sickly ponies were treated by him -- he's almost completely freed up our entire lot of vacancies on his own!"

"That's… that's amazing…" Before Fluttershy could take in the imagination of Gai'vahros working his miracle cures like he was some sort of prophet, she began to notice him slowly slump forwards, his eyes drooping. Quickly she moved forwards to catch him before he could collapse on top of the now cured stallion. Rainbow Dash and the doctor quickly helped support him up, resting him back against wall. "Gai'vahros! Are you okay?"

Gai'vahros looked back at Fluttershy, his eyes glazed over and jittering from side to side. His head began running around in circles, bounding against the front and sides of his skull as he tried to get his breath back. "I'm… I'm okay," he responded in stubbornness. He raised his hand up as though trying to reach out to something. His wrist was getting limp, shaking up and down. "I have to… keep going…"

Rainbow Dash took a hold of his arm, trying to stop him from shaking but it only caused her forelegs to move up and down to the rhythm of his twitches. "You gotta take a break," she spoke, laying his arm down to his side. "You're too exhausted to work. Sit back and relax for a while. The patients can wait for you, right?" She was right, too. The patients began to look at him as though he was a lot worse off than they were. Not a single one of them spoke or even gave the impression of disappointment or complaint as they gazed at the struggling elf.

"You're… you're right," relented Gai'vahros, leaning his hot head against the cold surface of the hospital wall. "A few minutes, I think… then I should be fine." His gaze shifted to the doctor. "You got any milk and cake?"

"I'll send for some immediately."

The minutes rolled by as Gai'vahros began to get his energy back. The nourishment from the food and drink helped him to recover much quicker, although he wasn't able to finish it despite the rather small portions. What few patients he had left began to quickly move quickly as he easily cured them one after the other as he had when he first started. Within minutes, the lot of them were done with.

"That's the last of them," the doctor said, scratching off one more patient from the list. "But…" He hesitated for a moment as though he was concerned about something.

"What's wrong?" asked Gai'vahros, standing to his feet, leaning over to the clipboard. Despite the doctor's claims of helping the final patient, there was still one more name on the list. Although, it was not a name as much as it was a label. "What's this one? "Griffon"?"

"Yes," the doctor acknowledged, "we had a griffon come in some time ago with extensive injuries, but no matter what we did, we could not improve her recovery. Right now they're just laying in one of our respite rooms, monitoring her progress… but nothing."

"Maybe I can help?"

"You're very welcome to try. Follow me. You can bring your guests, too."

The doctor lead the three of them down one of the corridors, leading them to a small room marked "M04". Slowly and quietly, he opened the door and made his way inside, leaving the door open for them to follow. "Please close the door behind you," he asked. He turned to the griffon laying on the bed. "Here she is."

The state of her was painful to look at. Various lacerations were spread along her body and limbs, some small yet some were visibly deep and wide. Some of the cuts were partially healed but some remained raw as though freshly created despite the lack of blood loss. Patches of fur and feathers were missing as though burned away. Large bruises covered much of her torso and head, showing signs of blunt force trauma -- heavy strikes from something large and dense, like the hilt of an axe. The body was hooked up with various wires and an oxygen mask over her beak, kept in a constant state of life support.

Gai'vahros recognized the blackened necrosis along some of the wounds -- corruption caused by Liliandra. It was no doubt that it was her who attacked this poor creature. "I've not had many good encounters with griffons before," spoke Gai'vahros in a sombre tone as he gazed upon the motionless and battered body, "but even seeing this creature in such a state pains me…" Rainbow Dash began to slowly approach her as though she had recognized her. Her expression was daunting to the blood elf. "Lady Rainbow Dash, are you okay?" he asked.

The Pegasus didn't reply. Gently she placed a hoof on the head of the Griffon, touching the three feathers that fringed her brow. "G… Gilda…?"

Chapter 31 - Repentance and Redemption

It was hard for Rainbow Dash to look down upon the beaten, almost lifeless body of who was once her best friend. Even as she ran her hoof along the top of her head her feathers felt dry and brittle as though they were on the verge of dying. Her breath quickened, exhaling with more force than she was taking in. "How… how could this happen? Why is she here…?"

Gai'vahros moved forward, feeling that his approach could give the Pegasus some sort of comfort. He turned to her, looking at her saddened expression. "Lady Rainbow Dash," he spoke, "do you know of this person?"

"Yeah," she responded. "She's…" She hesitated for a moment. The memories of what had happened months earlier began to rush back to her in her mind, playing before her eyes like a slideshow. She recalled how the Griffon bullied Pinkie Pie. She remembered how she had made Fluttershy cry. She was reminded of how she had hurt many of her friends. She relived the moment of when she had walked out on her. "She was a friend of mine… my best friend…"

"But," intervenes Fluttershy, "she was also mean to all of us, too…"

Gai'vahros was surprised to hear Fluttershy say that, if not for being completely out of character then because of how Rainbow Dash was still showing care for Gilda. "Is that true?" he asked Rainbow Dash.

She found it hard to answer. She knew that it was the truth, obviously -- she was there when it all happened. But, she didn't want to say it. Not when the person she was talking about was like this. "I… Gai…" Her voice became strained as she tried to force the words from her throat. Her hoof dropped back to the ground as she turned to look at the elf. Her eyes winced as tears filled them. "I don't wanna see her like this…"

The doctor cleared his throat. "I'll… leave you three to be alone with her. If you need anything, I'll be at the reception." With his last word, the doctor made his way out of the room, closing the door slowly behind him.

Fluttershy tried not to whine, feeling bad for what she had said. "I'm so sorry, Rainbow Dash…"

"No, it's okay… She was mean to all of us, but… she doesn't deserve this…"

"That means a lot," a soft voice spoke before them. The light sound of rustling sheets breezed past the ears of the three of them as feathers scraped along the pillow and mattress of the hospital bed. Gilda's eyes were half open as she tried to focus on the face of Rainbow Dash. "Hey, Dashie," she spoke again, her voice raspy and fatigued. "Sorry you had to see me like this…" Her eyes shifted from the Pegasus to Gai'vahros. She let out a little sigh. "I see you've got a new friend…"

"Gilda!" she exclaimed, quickly turning back and standing by her side as close as she could. "Gilda… what happened to you?"

"Ah… kinda a long story," she replied. A loud cough escaped her beak, causing her to lurch upright a little. "I was delivering a parcel for the Griffon Express Mail when I noticed something shining in the forest. You know me, right? Can't keep my claws to myself when there's something shiny involved." She chuckled as she tried to lighten the atmosphere, if only by a little. "When I went to see it, I noticed it was a sword. A huge sword." As she spoke, her eyes shifted down to the waist of Gai'vahros. "That's it," she exclaimed through her crippled throat. "That's the sword right there…"

"So it was you who found Quel'Serrar," assumed Gai'vahros. "Does that mean… you were also attacked? By a dark knight?"

"Heh… Hit the nail right on the head there," she responded in humour. "So I guess that you beat her?"

"No. She gave it back to me."

"Gave it back…? Why would she do that…?"

"Because she's my younger sister. One That I may have to kill."

"Your… sister…?" Gilda couldn't hardly believe it, but then it wasn't the most important thing on her mind at the moment. She gave a little smirk. "Oh, yeah… I can see the similarities."

"Well, it's not like we're hard to notice," Gai'vahros retorted with a smirk of his own. Like Gilda, he tried to make the most of the situation despite the heavy toll it was taking on Rainbow Dash' heart.

"Gai," spoke Rainbow Dash, "you can heal her… right?"

The elf looked upon the wounds once more. He was surprised that most of the wounds had already healed themselves despite the fact that they had nearly all been caused by Liliandra's weapon. The smaller scars had no sign of necrosis and had almost completely closed, while some of the larger, deeper wounds only had a small amount of it. Anyone else struck by Shadowmourne would had been killed on the spot, or, if they had survived, would have died moments later. "I'll do what I can," he replied.

Gilda sighed heavily as she turned her head away. "Save it," she forced. "None of the doctors here know what to do… I don't even know how long I've been hooked up to this stupid machine for… What help could you be?"

"But, Gilda," spoke Fluttershy as she walked to her, "Gai'vahros is a really great healer. He cured dozens of wounded ponies just now."

"Yeah, right… and I'm the President of Manehattan…"

"It really is true, Gilda," backed Rainbow Dash. "Ponyville was attacked by the same person who attacked you. A lot of ponies were injured. But, Gai managed to heal everyone back to full in short time! He can help you!"

The Griffon huffed as she tried to roll over onto her side, hampered by her wounds and the wires that connected to her. "I don't need his help… nor do I want it. Leave me alone…"

The silence in the room quickly turned to tension. Rainbow Dash became more upset the more that Gilda refused help and cooperation. Gai'vahros tried to think of some way to help the poor Griffon, but he knew that nothing he could say could convince her otherwise. He turned to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. "Could you two leave me to work on Gilda? I'll need complete concentration if I'm to heal her to full."

"Please, Gai," replied Rainbow Dash, "let me stay here with you!"

"My Lady Rainbow Dash, something could go wrong while I'm healing her. I don't want you to see it should that happen, and my worry for you will affect my focus." Despite his words, Rainbow Dash wanted to stay, but she knew that he was right. With a sorrowful face, she nodded. Gai'vahros let out a sigh. "Fluttershy, please take Rainbow Dash with you."

"Oh… yes," she replied, taking Rainbow Dash by her foreleg as they both made their way out.

As the door closed, the only sound that remained in the room was the steady beeps of Gilda's heart monitor. Gai'vahros took a seat next to her bedside, sitting down slowly, his eyes on the still turned away Griffon. "She's gone now," he spoke softly.

"And what're you still doing here?" she snarled.

"You didn't tell me to leave."

"I told all of you to leave!"

"You meant you only wanted Rainbow Dash to leave." The mattress creaked as Gilda slowly rolled back over. Her eyes gazed at the elf with a mix of confusion and shock. "You said it yourself that you didn't want her to see you like this. I can see it in your eyes, Gilda. Something troubles you."

Her head turned to gaze up at him. Her eyes showed emotions of comfort, yet also of regret. "What Fluttershy said… she was right," her voice creaked. "I was mean to everyone… I bullied so many ponies -- ponies that I didn't even know…"

"And it lead to your friendship with Rainbow Dash being strained, right?"

"Strained…? That's the understatement of the year…" She sighed heavily, forming a mist of condensation on the inside of her respirator. "We never spoke to each other again after that day… for over half a year we never said a single word, never sent a single letter…"

Gai'vahros paused for a moment. He found it hard to question her in her state, feeling like he was treating her like a convict. "Gilda… you can talk to me about it, if you'd like?"

She gave a smirk and a light chuckle. "So, what? Now you're my agony aunt?"

"I just don't want you two to be at each other's necks anymore. Friendship… is not something I know a whole lot about. But, from what time I have spend with Lady Rainbow Dash and everyone else, I know that it's something pretty amazing. Something special. Something that shouldn't be lost. You know it, too, don't you?"

It was like he could read her like an open book. Gilda couldn't keep her eyes off the elf, off of his smiling, caring face. Even though they'd only known each other for not even ten minutes, she felt comfortable around him. She felt comfortable talking to him. "I… always thought of Dashie as more of a sister than a friend. We would always do everything together -- flying, swimming, pulling pranks on people. She was the first person to say "hi" to me when I moved to Cloudsdale, y'know.

"But, I got jealous of her. When I went back to visit my father at the Griffon Kingdom, I couldn't stop thinking about what Dashie was doing without me… I never thought that she would find new friends. When I got back to Cloudsdale, and saw that she had new friends to hang out with… I got jealous. I got upset. And, I got… frightened… I was scared that she would replace me with those other ponies. I bullied them… humiliated them… and I don't even know why. I was horrible to everyone…"

It was hard for Gai'vahros to understand her feelings and motivations for her actions considering that he had not much more experience of friendship than she did. But, he understood what it was like to lose friends all too well. "But, you know what you did was wrong, right?"

Gai'vahros could not predict what happened next. As he finished his words, streams of tears fell from the eyes of Gilda, trickling down her dirt-covered face and onto the pillow, leaving small, dark patches. "Every day during that time we broke up I would wake up and go to sleep regretting it." Her voice began to strain more, getting higher as she tried to force her words, sobbing lightly. "I tried so hard to take my mind off it… I began working for the mail just to have something else to think about, but… but every time I flew over Ponyville, I saw her. I saw her happy, laughing, playing with her friends. I tried moving back to the Kingdom but no one wanted to know me. They looked down on me because I went to go live in Cloudsdale…" Her eyes kept filling more and more with tears, now forming into streams as she turned her head to the side and buried it into the pillow, holding it tightly against it. She began to cry softly, hiccupping between heavy sobs. "Ever since the day I left Dashie… I.. was already dead…" Her sobs became heavier as her cries became more frantic. "I just… I just… want my little Dashie back…!"

He wanted to cry, too. Just looking at the Griffon and hearing about all the time she spent on her own with nothing but regret embedded in her mind made him want to shed a tear, too. Slowly he placed his hand on her head gently, stroking it, trying to comfort her. It seemed to work as her sobs became quieter and less frantic. "It's okay, Gilda," he cooed into her ear calmly. "It isn't the end of everything. You can still regain her friendship, and everyone else's, too."

She sniffled as she looked back up at him past his gentle, silk hand. "But… how…? They won't want to talk to me again… not after all I've done…"

Gai'vahros knew first hand of how forgiving they all were. He remembered that horrible day that he, too, hurt Rainbow Dash. But, he also remembered how forgiving she was, more so than the others were given the circumstances. "You'll be surprised, Gilda. We've both done terrible things, things that we wish we could take back. But, at the end of the day, those events remain cemented in our history. The only thing we can do to move forward is to repent and to seek forgiveness. Are you ready to move forward?"

She couldn't bring herself to answer the question, not with as much self-hate as she still harboured inside her. "… Gai, right?" she asked. "Your name's Gai."

"Seems to be the nickname Lady Rainbow Dash has given me, yeah…"

"Gai… could you tell her… that I'm really sorry for everything that I've done? That I'm an idiot, and a bully, and a jerk? That… I just wanna be her friend again…?"

The elf removed his hand from her head, gazing into her open yet teary eyes. "No." Gai'vahros stood up as Gilda narrowed her eyes in sadness, feeling shot down. Gai'vahros stood over her, raising his hands above her body. "You can tell her yourself when you've the energy to stand. Now, hold still. This could take a while."

She looked down the bedside and watched him in necessity as his hands began to weave strands and ribbons of golden light over themselves. "What are you doing…?" she asked weakly. Her voice spoke with discomfort yet she made no attempt to stop him or even to suggest denial.

"I'm gonna try and heal you the best I can." Gently, Gai'vahros placed his palms on her stomach, starting with the more minor lacerations first to help stabilize her body. The veil of light spread over her fur, causing it to lighten, not from the luminescence of the magic, but from the revitalization that it was receiving as life began to pour back into the Griffon. The wounds began to heal quickly, much quicker than the ponies' wounds. "You're pretty tough to be able to survive such a beating," admired Gai'vahros.

"Heh… Us Griffons are tougher than you might imagine," spoke Gilda with confidence. She gave a sigh of relief as the stinging pains on her underside began to dissipate entirely, leaving nothing but the comfort of the warmth of the light. "That feels… really good…"

"The Light can do a lot of wondrous things. It can be used to heal our fallen, to protect our loved ones, and to smite our greatest enemies. It takes a lot of dedication to gain such power in it."

"Like a miracle worker…?"

"I guess in your world I could be considered a miracle worker." Gai'vahros trailed his hands slowly along her body, trying to feel any signs of scarring that were minute and hard to see under her fine yet dense fur. With nothing to find, his hands ran to her sides. "This may sting a little, but bear it as best you can," he warned of her as he placed his hands upon one of the larger cuts on her side.

"Gah!" she cried out in pain as the elf's hands touched upon her raw, lacerated flesh. "Hey! What was that all about?"

"I'm sorry, Gilda. These wounds aren't exactly superficial." His hands examined her wound as though he was using his own eyes to do so. His fingers gripped the two folds of skin, bringing them together to close the wound as his magic began to take hold. "Many of your wounds have suffered from necrosis. I'll have to take time cleansing it before I can heal them up. But…"

"But, what? I don't like the way you said that, Gai…"

"It's nothing." He paused for a moment, contemplating. "You said you don't know how long you've been here for, right? Could you give me some idea?"

"I dunno… A few days, maybe…?"

Gai'vahros chuckled, much to the confusion of Gilda. "You really are one tough creature. Anyone else with only a single wound from Shadowmourne would have died after the first dawn, and yet… you're still here."

"I told ya we're tough…" The raw, shooting pain throughout her side died down dramatically, causing her to give another sigh of utmost relief. "Gai… Thanks… for everything…"

"You've no need to thank me, my Lady Gilda. I wouldn't be able to live with myself had I'd done nothing." His fingers relaxed from her skin, revealing the wound closed completely and devoid of any sort of infection like it was brand new. "That's one. Just several more to go…"

The hospital was amazingly quiet, having next to no visitors in the waiting room what with Gai'vahros having healed all of them. The only noises that could be heard were the ticking sounds of a nearby wall clock as the seconds passed, and the sound of scribbles as the receptionists pushed pencil to paper, trying to get all of the paperwork done before the day had finished.

It was difficult for Rainbow Dash to play the waiting game. She was a Pegasus who was more about action than patience, patience not being one of her virtues. She sat beside Fluttershy on the seats directly opposite Gilda's monitoring room, her forelegs folded crossed over her chest. Her eyes never once shifted away from the door.

Fluttershy, however, was more anxious and nervous. She was upset for Rainbow Dash having to be put into such a situation, but also worrisome for Gilda despite having the utmost faith in Gai'vahros' abilities. She began to fidget with her long, curled mane as she began looking around without aim. "You know she'll be fine, right, Rainbow Dash…?" she spoke up quietly, her voice piercing the silence. But, Rainbow Dash didn't respond. "I mean, Gai'vahros is really good at this kind of stuff…"

A low growl rumbled in Rainbow Dash' throat. She bolted from her seat with quick flaps of her wings, startling Fluttershy as she let out a squeak. "But how long is he gonna take?" she exclaimed in impatience, pacing up and down the corridor on her wings. "Gosh!"

"R-Rainbow Dash… please sit down. He shouldn't be too much longer…"

"But, how long has he been in there for?" She looked up at the clock that hung on the far wall at the end of the corridor, but only gave a frustrated sigh. "Gah! I don't even know what time he went in!" Rainbow Dash quickly dashed back to the reception, finding the doctor against the counter filling out a schedule book. "Hey, doc, what time did Gai go in?"

The doctor looked back up her past a pair of glasses. "About an hour ago, Miss," he responded. "I'm surprised he's taken this long, too, what with being able to cure all of the other ponies in the same amount of time. But, having saw what I saw earlier, I have to put my trust in him. That, and that her wounds are a lot more, and a lot worse, than the others. I guess, now that I think about it, I'm not too surprised in the duration."

"But, what if… something went wrong…?" Rainbow Dash began to worry more and more. Her voice began to tremble. "What if she's--"

"Don't worry. If anything were to go wrong then an alarm would sound off behind the reception desk. Go sit down and relax, Miss. I know it's come of a great shock to you, but everything will be okay."

"O…okay…" Her head drooped as she slowly hovered back to her seat with Fluttershy. Slowly she slumped down on the chair, her body slightly slid off it. "Fluttershy… Do you think that…" Her voice trailed off as her head lifted back up, staring at the door to Gilda's room.

"Do I think what, Rainbow Dash?"

"Do you think… that me and Gilda could be friends again?"

"Oh… I… I think so. Probably…" She felt awkward having been asked such a question on such a touchy subject. It was clear to her that Rainbow Dash still had some feelings for the Griffon despite all that had happened. "Well… do you think you can forgive her…?"

"I don't know," responded Rainbow Dash in frustration at her own ambivalence. "I mean, if Gilda hasn't changed then I don't wanna know her anymore. But, what if she has changed, Fluttershy? What if she's… y'know… really sorry and stuff for all the things she did before? I'd totally be friends with her again, but… what about you? What about everyone else?"

"You know we all will. If she really has changed, and really is sorry for what she's done, then we're all here to support your decision. That's what friends are for, right?"

Rainbow Dash sniffed a little, trying to hold back her emotions. "Thanks, Fluttershy. You guys are amazing…" Fluttershy gave a big smile before leaning forward, giving Rainbow Dash a big hug, much to her embarrassment. "Uh, okay, Fluttershy. You can stop now."

"O-oh! Sorry!" she apologized, quickly retreating back to her seat.

A long, drawn sign escaped Rainbow Dash' lips before soon after turning from a gloomy expression to a little smile. "I remember when me and her would sit on the side of Cloudsdale and watch the sunset. She'd always go on about how she was gonna be this really awesome warrior for the Griffon army, the Red Talons."

"You two must have had a lot of fun together."

"Yeah, always. We'd do everything together, y'know. We'd always try and race each other from Cloudsdale to Redrock and back again. We never beat each other, though, even on the first touch at Redrock we'd always tie with each other. She's one of the best fliers of the Kingdom, or so she says." She gave a chuckle. "She was probably over-exaggerating, though.

"But, everything we did, we did together. Swimming, soccer, going to the Wonderbolts demonstrations -- everything. I always said that we'd never stop being friends, even after she left to go see her family at the Kingdom. But… now…" She began to tear up quickly. Pools began to fill her eyes, glistening in the hospital's lights that gave them away no matter how hard she tried to hold them back. "Now… I'll probably never get to do it again…"

"Rainbow Dash… please don't cry."

She sniffed as she turned her head away. Her voice began to shake and screech. "I ain't cryin'," she spoke out against Fluttershy. But, she couldn't help it. She began to sob on the arm of her seat, laying her head against her forelegs as they rested on the arm. "Every day I keep thinkin' about her, about how she left me, and then Cloudsdale altogether. But now… now that I saw her in there… hooked up to that machine…" The tears began to pour down her flushed cheeks, landing on her forelegs as she tried to keep them from falling on the arm of the seat. She nuzzled her forelegs, trying to wipe the tears from her eyes, but they just kept flowing the more she tried. "I don't… I don't want her to go…! I don't want her to die…! I want… I want her back!"

Fluttershy wanted to cry, too, if not because her friend was upset then because it was Rainbow Dash who was crying. For as long as Fluttershy had known her in all their years as friends, from Cloudsdale to Ponyville, she never once saw Rainbow Dash get upset, let alone burst into tears as strongly as she was now. She leaned over, wrapping her forelegs around her body, holding her close, cuddling her. Her head leaned against Rainbow Dash', pressing her soft cheek against hers, nuzzling her. All the while, Rainbow Dash didn't once try to deny her. "It's okay, Dashie," she cooed into the Pegasus' ear, trying to comfort her as best she can. "When Gai'vahros comes out, the first thing he'll say is that everything will be okay."

"Hey, that's my line," a soft, humoured voice sounded from beside them. As Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy looked up, they saw Gai'vahros smiling as he closed the door behind him slowly with a soft clicking sound of the latch.

"Gai!" cried out Rainbow Dash, pouncing from her seat and pressing the elf against the wall with a big hug. Her relief couldn't have been any more noticeable as she pressed herself close against his armor, holding him tightly and closely. Immediately so, though without embarrassment, she let go and looked up at him. "Is she… is she gonna be okay?"

He let out a small chuckle before patting her on the head, stroking her mane gently. "She'll be fine, my Lady Rainbow Dash," he responded with assurance and certainty. "It took a while, but her wounds are all fully healed and cleansed. She'll be back to her old self in no time."

Rainbow Dash looked past him, making her way to the door. "Can I… go see her?" she asked.

Unfortunately, he shook his head. "I'm sorry," he responded, "but she's resting now. I told her that she needed to get some sleep. But, don't worry. She'll be up and out of the hospital by the morning with any luck."

"But, I… I wanted to talk to her…"

"I know." Rainbow Dash was confused by how he would know of such a thing. At least, not until he spoke once more. "Gilda wanted to talk to you, too. She has a lot of things to say, and a lot of things to ask... especially for your forgiveness."

"You mean… she…" she stumbled as she gazed back at him, waiting for some sort of response or confirmation. With a big smile, Gai'vahros gave a nod. Her heart raced and jumped as she finally realized that she would win back a long lost best friend. Again she pounced on Gai'vahros, holding him close, but this time with tears as she sobbed into her chest, crying with tears of joy. Fluttershy, too, began to tear up and she heard and watched the two of them. "Thank you… so much, Gai… for everything…!"

"I'm just glad you've got your friend back, Dashie." For the moment he held her close, wrapping his arms around her back and cradling her against his chest. "It's getting dark. We should head back to Ponyville and see what's going on."

"Yeah… you're right," agreed Rainbow Dash, pulling away, wiping the tears from her eyes. She gave a little smirk. "Race you both there!" With a burst of her wings she blitzed past him and out the doors, almost knocking over some of the benches.

"Looks like she's back to her old self," said Fluttershy, smiling.

"Yeah… she will be."

Chapter 32 - The Burden of Guilt

Applejack stood back as she gazed over the crowd before her. "Heh. Ponyville ain't never looked so much better! Ain't that right, Twi?" she said cheerfully.

Everyone around Ponyville was helping with the reconstruction of the town. Earth Ponies carried palettes of bricks and buckets of mortar on wagons. The Pegasus Ponies used their wings to take them to the higher levels of buildings to help with tiling the roofs and other remedial works. The Unicorns used their potent magics to help move and gather everything to make the jobs quicker for everyone. Even the ponies who had been healed by Gai'vahros some time before helped with the labour, completely revitalized both physically and mentally.

Within such a short amount of time, so much had been done. A lot of the buildings had been rebuilt and all of the ground work -- paving, cobblestones, grass -- had been amended.

"This is a lot better than I expected," replied Twilight before handing another pony a hard hat and a set of goggles. "Even all the injured ponies at the hospital are working with us. Gai'vahros must have done something pretty amazing to get them all so… active."

"Hey now, speaking of which, where is he? Actually, I haven't seen Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash for a while, either." Applejack's eyes dulled. "You don't think…?"

Twilight shook her head. "I doubt it. She said she would meet him in the frozen north. I don't know why, but… I have to believe her -- this much, at least."

"Why do ya think that?"

"I don't know. When I saw her look on her face when she spoke to him, it was like she wanted something from him. Then when she gave him back the sword, I knew what it was. She want to…" Twilight shut her eyes, shaking her head to one side.

"Hey," -- Applejack placed her hoof on Twilight's shoulder -- "don'tchya worry 'bout nothin', sugar cube. We're all here for Gai. Ain't none of us gonna let anythin' --"

"Hah! Told ya I'd win!" yelled Rainbow Dash as she came to a sudden halt on the ground, skidding a few meters and leaving four trails of dirt in the grass. As she turned to look behind her, she didn't see anyone. "Huh. Guess I was too fast."

"C'mon now, Dashie!" exclaimed Applejack as she bonked her on the head with her hoof. "We just finished getting' this grass tidy before y'all came an' ruined it again."

"O-oh! S-sorry," cooed Rainbow Dash, blushing with a large, innocent grin.

"Nevermind about the grass," said Twilight, "where's Gai'vahros and Fluttershy?"

"Oh! Well, we were racing and… I guess I lost 'em?"

Sounds of heavy panting could be heard from behind them. As the three ponies looked on, Gai'vahros came jogging -- albeit sluggishly -- down the path, with Fluttershy casually fluttering beside him.

"H-hey," wheezed Gai'vahros as he came to a stop. Hunching over with his hands on his knees, he tried to grasp whatever breath he could. "You didn't…" he raised his hand in the air "Hold on… okay…" quickly he straightened up, shrugging off his shoulders. "You didn't lose me… I was just cruising."

"Yeah, right," scoffed Rainbow Dash. "Why didn't you use your wings?"

"Thought I'd give you a fighting chance."

Fluttershy placed her hooves on the elf's shoulders. "Gai'vahros, you shouldn't be exhausting yourself so soon! You need to sit down and rest."

"Nah, I'm okay. I just need something to drink. All that healing drains you, you know."

"Okay. I'll go get you some," spoke Fluttershy before heading off into the town.

As Gai'vahros slumped down onto the cobblestones with out-stretched legs, Applejack smirked as she trotted over to him. "Looks like ya had a pretty tirin' day, Gai."

The elf looked up at her with a smile. "Yeah… you could say that." His eyes began to look around the scene before him. Even though his vision was blurry, he still saw that so much work had been done while he was gone, even noticing that the ponies he had aided at the hospital were helping here. The feeling made him feel at home, welcome, knowing that he could be of so much help here. But he saw more than that. He saw a village of people who helped each other, worked with one another, like they were all just one big family. Just like Silvermoon. "But it was all worth it."

Gai'vahros lifted the large bucket to his lips, tipping it upwards as he began to monstrously gulp down the water. Streams of it began pouring from the sides and down his lips and chin. Some of it even washed past his face altogether and soaked his locks of hair down his shoulders. All the other ponies could do was sit in awe with widened eyes as they saw him engulf the bucket's contents like a whale.

With a large clang, Gai'vahros slammed the bucket onto the picnic table. "Ah! I feel so much better now!" he cried out with a big smile. "Thank you, my Lady Fluttershy." As he turned to her, he noticed her blank yet staring disposition. He soon realized everyone else had the same look when his eyes turned to them. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

"Gai'vahros," spoke Rarity softly. "I've never seen anyone drink something so… barbarically! It just doesn't suit someone of your status!"

"I'm just wonderin' where he's puttin' it all," spoke Applejack.

"I think I saw his armor pop out a little," joined Rainbow Dash, pointing at Gai'vahros' stomach.

"What? I was thirsty," mumbled Gai'vahros, crossing his arms on top of the table. "But anyway, it's nice to see the town rebuilt this quick. Kinda makes me annoyed that Silvermoon has been destroyed for seven years and yet there's still nothing rebuilt, and yet Orgrimmar gets two renovations in one year! What's taking them so damn long?"

"Well, when we find a way to get you back home, we could always come and give you a hand with rebuilding your city," comforted Twilight.

"That would be great."

"Oh! That reminds me," said Rarity, "how did the visit to the hospital go? You were gone for an awfully long time."

"Yeah, sorry about that," apologized Gai'vahros. "The patients didn't take all that long, but something… something else came up…"

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "I don't like how you trailed off like that. What happened?"

"We… met someone… called Gilda." The whole group gasped, with Applejack nearly choking on her sip of drink. "I guess it's true. You all know of her?"

"Know of her?" repeated Applejack. Her eyes narrowed and her teeth gritted against each other. "She came in here and started causing a ruckus! That no-good, bent-beaked --"

"Applejack!" Gai'vahros chided her.

As Applejack looked up at him, she was met only with a sorrowed expression on his face. The elf shook his head before turning to Rainbow Dash. Applejack's eyes followed, and saw the same expression on her friend. "I… I'm sorry, Dashie…"

"Gai'vahros, Rainbow Dash," cooed Twilight softly. "What happened?"

Rainbow Dash turned to look at Twilight, but her eyes trailed off into Gai'vahros'. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Instead, she shook her head before resting it against the elf's arm.

"It's okay, Rainbow Dash," spoke Gai'vahros, putting his arm around her side and holding her close. With a sigh, he turned to the group. "Gilda was in the hospital as well. She suffered major harm that were… considered fatal."

"Oh, no…" whimpered Rarity, shaking her head. She hunched forwards. "What did it? Is she okay? She's not going to… is she…?"

"No, nothing of the sort," replied Gai'vahros with a smile, relieving Rarity of the burden of thought. "The attack in the forest was what happened. Liliandra attacked Gilda in the forest. She suffered a lot of injuries from it."

"But… why was she attacked?" asked Twilight.

"Gilda was carrying Quel'Serrar. She said she found it in the forest. That would explain how Liliandra got a hold of it."

"… How is she…?"

"She's doing really well." A smile crept on Twilight's face, and, to his and Rainbow Dash' surprise, so it did on everyone else's. "She's a tough Griffon. Anyone else would have died after a day, but she went nearly a whole week. I managed to heal her wounds the best I could, but that's why we took so long."

Rainbow Dash sat up from Gai'vahros before looking up at him. "Did she say anything to you, Gai…? Anything at all…?"

"Yeah. She told me a few things." Gai'vahros stood to his feet and stepped over the bench. "But I told her that she can tell you in person when she gets out of the hospital. I spoke to the doctor and we agreed to give her some rest until she's discharged in the morning. You can go visit her then."

"You're a great person, ya know that, Gai?" spoke Applejack.

"I try my best. Oh, my Lady Twilight, do the trains still run at this time?"

"They run at all times. Why do you ask?"

"I need to go see a couple of people. Need to go put things right." Twilight gaze a nod in response. "I probably won't be back until the morning, so don't worry about me too much. Have a good night, girls."

A stream of silver-blue streaked across the night sky, leaving only a trail of cascading moonlight and the glittering sparkle of the stars in its wake. A number of bat-winged Pegasus guards pulled the hefty, decorated indigo carriage across the currents before heading back to Canterlot Castle. Swiftly descending, the guards landed upon a large, circular, domed balcony.

"You took six-point-eight seconds longer than yesterday," exclaimed Princess Luna in frustration. "I demand you be at least ten seconds faster tomorrow evening!"

"Y-yes, Princess! Apologies, Princess!" the guards barked simultaneously.

"Hmph!" Luna walked from the balcony into the castle her hoofsteps louder than usual. "I am retiring to my chambers early! I am not to be disturbed under any circumstance!"

"Yes, Princess!"

The Princess' heavy steps echoed through the halls of the castle, even as they were muffled from the lines of red carpet. Her angered eyes kept shifting from side to side at the guards who lined the walls -- and every one of them bolted straight as soon as they locked eyes with her.

Except for one guard, who was the unluckiest of them all tonight.

"You! Guard!" cried out Luna, her voice ringing throughout the halls. "Approach me this instant!"

"Y-y-yes, Princess Luna!" the guard stuttered, beads of sweat dripping down his cheek as he stumbled towards her. He stood in front of her, but could barely keep himself straight as his knees shook.

"You call that standing in attention, guard!? Stand up straight while I'm talking to you!"

"Y-yes, Princess! I'm s-sorry, Luna!"

"Luna!?" she screamed in repetition. She lunged forward as the guard, pressing her snout against his. "A guard such as you would dare address me with such informality!? You are to address me as "Princess!" Do I make myself clear!?"

The guard could only stare into her piercing, aqua eyes and whimper before her. "… I… I'm…"

Thankfully, Luna relented on her pressure, making her face away from his and walking past him. "Get back in line, guard," she demanded. The poor stallion shook in terror as he slowly made his way back. Luna climbed the steps of the main hall, retiring to her quarters with a loud slam of the door.

Luna gave a frustrated sigh as she walked over to her dressing table. Sitting on a large, silk cushion, she used her magic to groom her hair with a nearby hair brush while removing her shoes. Her glance into the mirror turned from one of anger to one of regret. "I shouldn't have lost my temper," she spoke softly to herself, turning her gaze from her own reflection. "It wasn't his fault…"

But it wasn't enough for her to admit so little. Her eyes trailed back to the mirror as she finished grooming her flowing mane. As she went to place her hooves on her collar to remove it, one of them ended up trailing down the strap and upon her chest. She pressed it gently into her coat, pressing the skin. It still burned a little. That fierce look returned to her eyes.

"It's all his fault!"

A duo of slow knocks brought her out of her episode, but she nonetheless remained ever so irate. "Who is it?" she yelled. "I told you that I'm not to be interrupted under any circumstance!"

"B-but they say it's urgent! News about the guards stationed in Ponyville just came in!"

Luna halted briefly. "Ponyville…" she mumbled to herself. "Fine. He may enter."

The door opened ajar for a moment. Luna only kept her gaze upon the mirror, seeing everything reflected upon its surface. Her eyes widened, however, when she noticed a set of red-silk, gold, plated digits wrap around the frame of the door and pushing it open slowly.

"It's me," a voice spoke from behind the door. The door creaked softly on its hinges as Gai'vahros pushed it fully open, stepping inside and closing it behind him. "I'm sorry for dropping in unannounced, Princess, but --"

"So it wasn't enough for you to disrespect me and my sister, as well as our royal guards. Now you have to barge into my room, too?"

"Forgive me, Princess… but you allowed me to enter."

Luna's head violently turned to him, her eyes piercing through his golden armor. "If I'd known it was you I would have had you thrown flank first off the balcony!"

Gai'vahros, however, stayed silent. He stood as though in attention to his own Regent Lord, giving Luna all the respect she deserved. But he knew he couldn't give everything he wanted. Not after what happened earlier today.

"… The guard said you bring news of Ponyville…?"

"That's correct, Your Majesty."

Luna gulped a little. "… How was everything?"

"Could have been worse."

"How --" she cleared her throat "-- how many guards lasted?"

"… None."

The Princess sighed heavily, hanging her head low. "I… I see…"

"Do not fret too much, Your Majesty. None of them were killed, only wounded. They've received healing, and will be back in Canterlot by the morning."

"What? Under whose orders were they to return?"

"Mine."

"Yours? You have no right to --!" Luna stopped herself from speaking further. She knew it was inevitable. "No… You're right. If they weren't able to defend Ponyville, then they have no further need to be there. What about the civilians?"

"There were a lot of wounded, but no casualties. Some of the town got destroyed, too, but we're already undergoing reconstruction."

For the first time all day, Luna gave a smile, if only a little. "I'm glad to hear that we've had no major losses, Gai'vahros." Slowly she stood, turning to him. "My sister was right. You're the only one who knows about this threat to its full extent -- a lot more than anyone else." Her smile turned sour once more, frowning as she looked down. "I was stupid to ignore your advice, and it… it almost got our guards killed…"

Gai'vahros walked over to the saddened Alicorn, placing his hand on her chin. His soft, silk fingers pressed against her coat. "Luna. Look at me."

She did so, slowly inch after inch, as her eyes gazed up to his.

"You did what you believed was necessary. None of us know what choice is right or wrong until it's happened. Besides, if your guards weren't there to hold out for as long as they did, then a lot worse could have happened to Ponyville. There could have very well been casualties. There could have very well not been a Ponyville anymore."

Luna paused before quickly whipping her head from his grasp. "I don't need your pity! I don't need you trying to comfort me with your words."

"But it is true, Your Majesty. You did what you had to do for the best of your people. Your guards fulfilled their duties without question, because they knew it was their duty to."

"It's their duty to throw their lives away in my name?"

"It's their duty to protect Equestria in your name. Whether they choose to die is their choice -- not yours. The fact that they stayed in the face of a death knight shows more courage and dedication than you give them credit for." Gai'vahros kept his eyes on Luna, watching as her saddened look began to ease. But, something troubled him. Something didn't sound right. "… Do you not expect your guards to die for you? Has Equestria never seen war before?"

Luna remained silent. Her head swung low, away from Gai'vahros, in discomfort. After a pause, she looked up at the fireplace, watching as the silvery-blue flames flickered in the alcove. "I've seen a lot of good people die in the Chaos War. Ponies, Griffons, Dragons -- I've seen them all perish in that time. That was over a thousand years ago. Even so, it still flickers in and out of my consciousness."

"… I'm sorry to hear that…"

"Don't be. It's not like you were around that time ago."

"I was."

"Truly? You look very… handsome for your age."

"Not as good as you, I fear."

The both of them chuckled in unison. For the first time in a long time, the both of them found another to laugh with.

Luna turned and smiled at the elf. "You remind me of him, you know. I think my sister does, too."

"Remind you of whom, Your Majesty?" asked Gai'vahros.

"A Pegasus whom we both adventured with all that time ago, during the Chaos War. Light's Beacon was his name." A gentle sigh rolled off her breath, but not one of dissatisfaction like before. "He was always there to protect us and everyone he saw that needed help. He'd always inspire us to keep going -- even in the darkest of times. He was a natural born leader. And the greatest friend we could ask for."

"He sounds like he would have made a great paladin." However, Gai'vahros only came to realize why she had not mentioned him before. As his own mood fell, he could feel it in Luna, too. "I'm sorry for your loss, Your Majesty."

"He… departed in a manner fit for a great pony. It was his choice to leave us." Again she gazed into the eyes of the elf. For her, she felt comfort in his calm, gentle demeanour. She felt the same way about Light's Beacon, too. "Gai'vahros, I'm… I'm sorry about earlier. I'm sorry for everything I've done to --"

"No, Your Majesty," interjected Gai'vahros. "It is I who should be sorry. I once again let my emotions get the better of me."

"You've all the right to. I hope that, mayhap, we can begin anew. I would like it if you would stay for tonight's dinner. I'm sure my sister would appreciate your company, as well."

Gai'vahros chuckled. "Oh, Your Majesty, are you asking me out on a date?" he asked through a wily grin.

"Do not push your luck," she retorted, but couldn't help but smile back. "But maybe you can treat me for dinner at a later time."

"Hah. Well, I humbly accept your invitation, Your Majesty."

"Please, call me Luna."

"Certainly, my Lady Luna."

"No, just… oh, nevermind."

Gai'vahros was overwhelmed by the grandeur of both the dining hall and the table he sat at. The hall itself was at least a hundred yards long, with the table nearly the same length. The elf hadn't seen something like this often, although flashes of Karazhan began to resurface.

He remembered the ghostly patrons walking about the tables, serving the guests their food and drink upon intricate, expertly crafted dishes and trays. The diners all dressed in white and blue garments, showing their riches beyond mere coin. A banquet of such splendour was probably just an everyday occasion for them. Despite their ghostly appearance, all of them acted like they were still alive, oblivious to their ultimate fate. Karazhan was still much a mystery to him and everyone else who ventured through it.

But probably not as much a mystery as to why this dining table was so large to fit a hundred guests if the only diners were the Princesses.

"I'm glad you decided to stay with us," spoke Celestia from one end of the table. "I hope you find everything to your liking."

"Everything is immaculate, Your Majesty," replied Gai'vahros graciously, his eyes travelling up and down the top of the table. Various fruit and vegetable salads, sandwiches, confectionary, and other foods littered the entirety of its length so much that he could hardly believe there was enough room -- and how long it would take to clean up. "It's just that… I've never really been asked to attend a feast before…"

"I'm surprised to hear you say that, Gai'vahros," responded Celestia. "You're a very noble person. I would have expected you to be treated more homely considering your position."

"I am but an adventurer and a blood knight, Your Majesty. I am just a guard for my people in the same way that your own guards are for you. I don't see you inviting them to the table, either."

Celestia paused for a moment. Her eyes shifted to Luna, and saw her with a face of discomfort. Despite the question, Celestia had to answer in the only way she could. "No. I suppose you are right." Her focus returned to the elf, watching as he began to place some of the food on his plate. "But you are different. A man who saved your world twice should be treated with as much respect as a noble, if not more."

Gai'vahros was about to pick up one of his sandwiches before his hand stopped, frozen in place. His gaze looked up to the Princess in suspicion. "How do you know about this?" he asked eerily.

"Twilight has sent me a couple of letters talking about you. She says you marched upon the fortress of this "Lich King" and defeated him and his undead forces. She also spoke of how you destroyed a colossal black dragon to stop him from destroying the whole world. She thinks very highly of you."

"She shouldn't." The elf placed his fingers on top of the bread, tapping his index finger on it, seemingly without presence of mind. "Did she tell you of how many atrocities I've committed? How I took part in sucking the life out of other creatures just to fuel my own power in a quest for vengeance? And how I --" he stopped. His eyes closed as he placed his elbow on the table, resting his head in his hand. "… How I hurt her and her friends?"

"… Yes. She did." Celestia expected him to react, but nothing. She sighed and, with a glowing, pink flash from her horn, created a piece of rolled up parchment. The scroll floated towards Gai'vahros, stopping just in front of him. "I think you'd best read this, Gai'vahros. Twilight sent this to me a night ago."

"A night ago…?" Gai'vahros head rose. Seeing the scroll before him, his hand grasped it and quickly unrolled it. "That was when I…" He stopped for a moment, then began to read through the contents.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Tonight I have experienced something truly horrible. Something frightening. Something that I thought would only exist in the darkest reaches of Equestria. I saw one of my friends tortured before my very eyes -- by someone who I thought was truly great. Someone I looked up to. Someone who I really admired. It was then that I realized that sometimes friendship isn't worth holding if your friend can be someone and do something so cruel. I want nothing to do with him anymore. I just want him away from me. Away from all of us.

"Why…?" Gai'vahros' grip tightened around the paper, scrunching the side of it. "Why would you show this to me?"

"Read all of it. You'll understand."

The elf's eyes shifted back to its words.

I can imagine him now when he told us how he nearly killed a "Naaru" to gain power. About how he…how he used it to defend his people. To take back his homeland. To save his world…

With every word I write to you, I begin to think, to understand. Even though I know he hurt Rainbow Dash as a way to keep her from further harm, I still find it hard to forgive him. But I know that deep inside he's a good person. I really do. Everyone has problems, right? And from what he has told me about himself, about his world, I don't think I can possibly hope to ever understand just how hard his life has been. And yet, despite that, he always smiles. He always cares. He's always willing to put himself in front of others. And perhaps, sometime, somewhere, it'll cost him his life. And that's what scares me the most.

That's why I've decided to try and make things right between him and us. I've always been taught that friendship is magical. If that's true, then something like this cannot simply destroy it. I just hope that I'm doing the right thing. No, I know I'm doing the right thing -- for all of us.

Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.

Before Gai'vahros even noticed her, Celestia stood right beside him, gazing over his shoulder as he finished reading. "Do you see now, Gai'vahros?" she spoke softly into his ear. "Everyone has their faults, but we shouldn't simply look down on others because of them. A person should be merited for their good deeds, too. Despite your "atrocities", you've done far more good than you have done bad. Do you understand?"

"I do…" His grip loosened on the letter before setting down on the table gently. His fingers still rested on its surface, lightly stroking it with slow twitches of his fingers. "But, even so… the guilt weighs heavy on me. Nothing I can do will atone me for it."

"But whom do you seek atonement from if the forgiveness of the person you offended is not enough?"

"I…"

Gai'vahros stopped. Even though he felt like it wasn't enough, Celestia was right. Who was it that he sought forgiveness from if not from the ones he acted against? A'dal gave him forgiveness when he took part in draining M'uru of its life, and everyone gave him their forgiveness after he hurt Rainbow Dash. In fact, it was Rainbow Dash who forgave him the most -- she even tried to defend him when he went back.

Maybe it was all the forgiveness that he needed.

"You're right, Your Majesty," he spoke up at last. "I shouldn't worry about trying to give forgiveness is everything and everyone. Maybe it's their forgiveness that really matters in the end. Thank you."

The Princess giggled. "It's alright, Gai'vahros. And, just call me Celestia."

"As you wish, my Lady Celestia."

"No, no, just Cel --"

"Do not worry about it too much, sister. Just go with it."

Chapter 33 - Just One Night

The elf watched Luna with a smile on his face, watching her brush her mane in front of the large dresser mirror. He wondered why she spent so much time brushing it considering she was doing it not an hour ago before dinner. That, and it was also in the evening. Even by blood elf standards it was quite eccentric.

"You seem to take good care of your appearance, my Lady Luna," pointed out Gai'vahros finally. "Why is it that you do it in the evening? Don't you sleep?"

"The more I brush it, the less I have to worry about knots and tangles," replied Luna without even so much as reflecting upon Gai'vahros' tone of voice, it sounding almost patronizing. "With a mane as long as mine, I need to give it lots of attention."

"Huh." Gently running his fingers through one of the bangs in front of his face, Gai'vahros pondered for a moment. "I've not really thought of it that much. Then again, elven hair rarely gets tangled. Maybe it's some sort of hereditary thing?"

"Count yourself lucky, Gai'vahros, for needn't ever experience the hassle and agony of trying to brush out knotted hair."

Gai'vahros chuckled lightly, shifting his feet on the cushion as he uncrossed his legs. "Oh, and thank you for the dinner tonight," he spoke with great gratitude. "I admit that it was a lot more… different than what I normally eat."

"Different? How so?"

"Like the "sandwich". Never in all my life had I ever thought if taking two slices of bread and putting slices of fruit and veg between them."

"… You don't have sandwiches in your world?"

"No. But this "sandwich" concept… It's pure genius!"

Luna couldn't help but laugh at the concept of how a great knight could find awe in something as simple as a sandwich. To her, it made him look more like someone whose been out of touch with civilization for millennia. "I can imagine it now when you go back: Gai'vahros, inventor of the sandwich!" joked Luna.

Except Gai'vahros didn't see it that way.

"… Anar'alah belore, you're right!" he exclaimed before rising to his feet. "I could bring the marvel and wonder of the sandwich to everyone! I could bring it to Quel'Thalas! No more would there simply be bread and wine to go with our fruit and meat, but plates filled with triangle-cut sandwiches filled with tomato, cucumber, and banana!"

"You're… carnivorous?" Luna sounded shocked by the thought of him eating other animals. He certainly didn't look vicious.

"Well, I like chicken, beef, pork, and --" Then it hit him. A flash of inspiration struck the elf like a bolt of lightning -- and nearly as strong. "… Anar'alah, I could put slices of meat in between the bread and make meat and vegetable sandwiches! I could make something spectacular… a "Pee-Ell-Tee"!"

"A "Pee-Ell-Tee"?"

"Yes! A Pork-Lettuce-Tomato sandwich! And then -- and then I can bless it with powers from the Sunwell, and enchant it with flavour that would sate even the hunger of the undead!"

"I think you're over-thinking all of this…"

"… Oh. Yes. Probably…" Gai'vahros sat back down, his face showed signs of disappointment. "I doubt I could bathe a sandwich in the Sunwell, anyway. Would probably end up corrupting it again."

"Or maybe you'll accidentally create a powerful being made entirely of bread and butter."

That was not a good thought for Gai'vahros. He stared blankly at one of the walls, replaying the sacking of Quel'Thalas in his head again, but replacing all the undead with giant sandwiches with legs. He saw before him square slices of bread attacking elves with sharp pieces of lettuce, throwing carrots from a distance like javelins. He even saw a giant ball of dough in the shape of an Abomination swinging a large pickle, bashing it against any who stood in its way.

"Oh please, no," he exclaimed before burying his face in his hands. "I don't want to be the one to create evil sandwich creatures! I mean, what would you even call them? The Un-bread Scourge? Lead by the 'Wich King? What would be his choice of weapon? Crustmourne?"

"… You've a very vivid imagination."

"You're the one who put it into my head!"

"It was meant to be a joke!"

The two glared at each other before simultaneously bursting into laughter. Gai'vahros placed a palm on his face as he turned away from Luna, while she herself shook her head before turning back to the mirror to continue her grooming.

"Heh. What was I thinking?" spoke Gai'vahros with a smile on his face, staring into the lit fireplace. "I couldn't imagine something so daft ever happening." His voice turned gravelly, imitating the Lich King, as he spoke, "I am the 'Wich King, and you are my chosen Champion, bread knight! Go and sow the seeds of terror and tomatoes upon my enemies!"

Luna shivered a little. "Could you not do that voice, Gai'vahros?" she pleaded. "That's a bit too creepy for my liking."

"Oh. Sorry, Luna." Gai'vahros couldn't help but notice that Luna was still brushing her hair even after all this time. He smirked and shook his head. "Aren't you going to give your hair a rest sometime this evening?"

"I'm being slow and steady," she retorted, not losing her focus. "I can still feel some knots."

"Would you like me to give you a hand?"

Luna merely scoffed at his proposal. "Hah. What would you know about grooming?"

"Asking a blood elf what he knows about grooming --" he rose to his feet and walked over to her "-- is like asking why the leaves fall and the wind blows: it's in our nature." He grasped at the floating brush, holding it in place as Luna reluctantly released her hold of it. "Besides, do you think I could achieve a hairstyle like this if I didn't know what I was doing?" he asked rhetorically, pointing at his hair with a thumb.

"Well, I guess when you put it that way…" she replied. "Very well. You may start."

Taking a handful of her mane, Gai'vahros gently placed the brush against the Princess' scalp. "This could hurt a little. Or a lot," he warned before slowly running the brush down her mane, occasionally tugging as a few tangles and pulling back on Luna's head slightly. Her muffled grunts cued him to try and be more careful, but he knew that any less effort wouldn't get the knots out.

"Hey!" exclaimed Luna. "That hurts, you know!"

"My apologies, Your Majesty, but I noticed that you weren't brushing from your head. There are probably quite a lot of knots near the roots, so this could take a while."

Luna huffed as she tried to take her mind off of the tugging pain on her head. She began to relax more and more as Gai'vahros finished getting the tangles from her roots, appreciating his suggestion as something she would need to bear in mind in future. "So, how often do you brush your mane, Gai'vahros?" she asked.

"Twice a day," he responded, slowly running the brush across handfuls of her hair. "Once in the morning and once in the afternoon."

"Hah. For someone who would make a note of me brushing my mane too often, you don't exactly brush yours irregularly, do you?"

"Well, us blood elves take a lot of pride in our hair. And overall looks. A bit too vainly, I fear." The elf had noticed it earlier, but being near Luna's hair made the smell ever more clear -- the smell of the night sky filled his senses and made his head feel lighter, calmer, and relaxed. "Princess, of what scent do you use for your hair?"

"I've nothing put in my mane. Why do you ask?"

"It smells… It's hard to describe. When you sleep in the wilds, and you can smell the cold air in the night sky alongside the scent of the trees around you and the smell of rain in the clouds. It's that kind of smell."

"I've not noticed it before. I hope it doesn't offend your nose."

"No. It smells good. It reminds me of my younger years when I would go camping in Eversong Woods."

"On your own? That doesn't sound like a good camping trip."

"Oh, no, with others. Me and the other initiates at the academy would spend every 30th day of every month camping. It was like a social thing, something that we always put time aside for. It helped us relax a bit. Get to know each other outside of sparring and chores and everything else. There was me, Jaycen, Cornelius, Irenicus, Faeran, Helios…" He let out a soft sigh. "Always had fun."

Luna hesitated for a moment before speaking. "And… what happened to them? Good things, I hope."

Gai'vahros paused for a moment. "… Jaycen died during the Scourge invasion," he finally replied. "Cornelius, Faeran and Helios followed our "Prince" to Outland. I never saw them again after that -- not even in my own travels on that world. Irenicus… last I heard he had been expelled from the Kirin Tor for stealing archives that only the Council of Six were allowed access to. No one even knows where he is now."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Gai'vahros." It was more trouble for Luna that she had thought it would be. Parts of her were beginning to tremble slightly, her mind becoming hazy as only one thought broke through to the front of it -- a thought she had to speak. "I just hope it doesn't happen to Twilight and her friends."

"It's a painful thing to think about, indeed. But we can't think about possibilities that are beyond our control, or it will only eat away at us from the inside." His hand reached over Luna's shoulder, placing the brush down on the desk in front of her. "All done, Your Majesty."

Luna turned her head in different directions, looking upon the result of Gai'vahros' handiwork in the mirror. A small swish of her head caused her mane to flutter lightly in the air. "My word," she spoke, "this is pretty good work! You have some sort of special technique for brushing hair?"

"Well, remember to always brush from the roots to the tip, and do a handful of hair at a time and not as a big bunch. That's about it, really."

"Even so, I must thank you once again."

"It's no problem at all, Your Majesty." Standing to his feet, Gai'vahros turned and made his way to the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me?"

"W-wait! Where are you going?"

"Well I need to look for an inn before it gets too dark. I don't think I can handle another train back to Ponyville so soon. They're a bit weird."

"But how are you going to pay for a room?"

"Don't worry. I have money," replied Gai'vahros as he pulled a small sack from his belt. "I think a few gold should cover a room for the evening."

"Don't be serious, Gai'vahros! You've no need to pay for anything while you're here."

"Then where do you suggest I sleep? On the street?"

"Of course not! You can --" she stopped herself any further. Her eyes gazed away as a hint of blush formed on her cheeks, veiled by her dark coat. "Why don't you sleep here for the night?"

Even Gai'vahros felt awkward about the situation. "W… where here?" he stuttered softly.

"You know. Here. In my room."

"Y-Your Majesty, is that appropriate?"

"No. I mean -- Yes! Probably! I don't know!"

"But where will you sleep?"

"In my room, too, fool!"

"B-but --" Gai'vahros looked around "-- there's only one bed! You're not suggesting that… we sleep in the same bed, are you?"

Luna turned even redder, now visibly showing through her indigo fur. "Well it's the only option we've got, Gai'vahros! Or you could sleep on the floor, but I… rather you didn't…" As soon as she stopped, she knew that her words could be taken the wrong way. "I mean -- you shouldn't sleep on the floor! It could give you a bad back not sleeping on a mattress!"

"No different to how I usually sleep then," responded Gai'vahros in wit, sitting himself down on the large, mauve rug that had a circular, tube-like pillow at one end of it. "Besides, I shouldn't be wearing all this armor in a bed. Might end up ruining the sheets."

"Then take all of that armor off before getting into bed."

"I would rather not bare my naked body in the presence of a lady -- especially one of royalty."

Luna began to flush, but more in irritation than of embarrassment towards the elf. She did not like being talked back to, or having her authority denied. "Why are you being so difficult, Gai'vahros? Everypony here walks around bare, so stop being such a whiny gnat and sleep in my bed for the one night!"

"Look, Luna, no matter what you do or say, I'm not --"

Luna had had enough of this.

"WE DEMAND YOU GET NAKED AND SLEEP WITH US TONIGHT!"

Her voice boomed loud enough to cause the ornaments upon the walls and the lights hanging from the ceiling to rattle, chiming sounds of glass and gold every second they swung. The two of them gazed upon one-another, waiting for the other to say something to break the silence. Anything. Anything that would slice through the steel-like tension that settled upon the room. Everything became quiet, eerily so.

Gai'vahros finally spoke. "Um…" he paused for a moment, trying to find the right words to say. "Do you think someone heard you?"

Luna's heart jumped into her throat, almost too embarrassed to reply. Even if she wanted to, she felt her throat close so tight that it was difficult for her to swallow, let alone to speak. But she was able to after a moment, her body relaxing a little. "I… really hope not," she responded in a much softer tone.

Gai'vahros' voice became quieter like soft whispers. "… What if Celestia heard you?"

A small squeak passed through Luna's mouth before she gave a worrying whimper. "She's bound to have heard me!" she replied in kind while pressing her hooves together, holding them in front of her face against her snout.

The sound of steps rung outside in the halls. The sound of metal on stone struck quietly but gained volume with every second step, drawing closer to the two of them.

"Oh no!" Luna turned back to Gai'vahros, grasping his collar. "Gai'vahros, what are we going to do!"

"I don't know!" The elf looked around, trying to find some way to hide or sneak out. "Hide under the bed?"

"It's too narrow for either of us!"

"Out the window?"

"It doesn't open!"

"What! What kind of window doesn't open? Nevermind -- what about out the chimney?"

"Don't be stupid!"

"… A dumbwaiter?"

"Don't you dare start insulting our kitchen staff!"

A click came from the door as the doorknob began to turn. The two froze in place, only watching the door as the knob stopped turning. The steel hinges creaked softly as the door slowly opened ajar before widening to its fullest. Celestia stood before them, her hoof settling on the floor as she looked at the pair of them with suspicion. Her eyes set upon her sister before shifting to Gai'vahros, then back again.

"Luna," she spoke, "is everything alright in here? I heard you screaming."

"S-screaming?" Luna replied in denial. She shook her head. "I-I wasn't screaming! Was I, Gai'vahros?"

"No! Of course not!" he testified, chuckling with unease. "W-what made you think that you heard screaming, Your Majesty?"

"I was sure that I heard, and I quote, "We demand you get naked and sleep with us tonight". In fact, even the guards heard you scream. The two just down the corridor nearly jumped out of their suits."

Luna gulped hard. "Oh! Oh that! W-well, you see… Gai'vahros had no place to sleep, so I said he should sleep here in my room, but he said he didn't want to wear his armor in bed, so I told him to take it off, and he said --"

"Oh? So when you said "we", you were using your Royal Canterlot voice?"

"Y-yes! Precisely!"

Celestia giggled. "Oh, well then that makes perfect sense." She turned to Gai'vahros. "You know, it's been a very long time since me and Luna shared a bed, you know. She always had a habit of snuggling up to her pillow and taking the bed sheets."

"S-sister!" yelled Luna, her face red like a cherry. "You're embarrassing me! In front of a stranger, no less!"

"Oh come now, Luna. That's nothing to be embarrassed about. Not when compared to your infrequent bed-wetting, at least."

"Sister! Stop it!"

Celestia smiled, giggling again. "Okay, okay. I get the picture." She grasped the doorknob with her hoof and began to close it. "I'll leave you two lovebirds alone, okay?" she finalized with a big grin on her face.

The door closed before the two could even oppose her.

"Argh! Sister!"

"Y-Your Majesty!"

The two gazed back at each other, unsure of what else to say. Luna cleared her throat and got to her hooves, walking over to the bed and pulling the sheets back with her teeth.

"I-I suppose we should get some sleep," she said. "I've got a lot of work to do tomorrow and I need to be up early."

"R-right. Me too," Gai'vahros replied, laying down on the rug and propping his head up on the circular pillow. "Can't believe this just happened," he mumbled, blushing, trying to hide it with the locks of his hair.

"How do you think I feel? Never have I been so embarrassed before, and being insinuated with loving a wild creature -- By my own sister, no less!"

"Hey," replied Gai'vahros before rolling over, "I'm not a "wild creature"! I'm a blood elf! And besides, what's not to love about me? I have beautiful eyes, fabulous hair --"

"And a big mouth to make one disastrous bundle!"

"I'll have you now that a lot of people have complimented me on my lips! Blood elves, high elves… humans… pandaren… --" he shivered a little " -- gnomes. Ugh."

"Lips fit for a dolt." Luna tucked herself under the covers and pulled them over her body before rolling onto her side, facing away from Gai'vahros. "Maybe you should try dating yourself if you think you look so good."

The elf chuckled as he rolled over again, mimicking Luna. His hand grasped at his cape and pulled it over himself like a blanket. "I tried once," he joked. "But I didn't like the taste."

Luna paused for a moment. It took a while for her to understand. "Eww! Gai'vahros!"

The elf only burst into a childish giggle before falling silent. "Good night, Luna."

"Hmph. Good night, Gai'vahros…"

"... Hey, Luna?"

"What?"

"Did you really used to wet the bed?"

"Shut up and go to sleep!"

Sitting at her desk with only an inkwell and quill to keep her company, Twilight traced the words across the pages with her eyes slowly, trying to find anything that could help her. She skimmed backwards several paragraphs, trying to find anything that she had missed the first several times she read through them.

"Is there really nothing in any of these books that could help me perform any translocation or teleportation spells?" she spoke heavily in disappointment.

"C'mon, Twilight," exclaimed Pinkie Pie, her head over the Unicorn's shoulder, "what do you need teleportation spells for?" She prodded Twilight's horn with her hoof. "That's whatchya got this thing for, right?"

"Not for me, Pinkie Pie," replied Twilight, rolling her eyes. "I'm trying to find something that will help us try and get Gai'vahros back to his own world. But everything that I've read so far" -- she turned to a large pile of books -- "doesn't have anything that could help. Even the scrolls in the Canterlot library didn't help, either."

"I've just had a thought," said Applejack. "Why don't ya just write a letter to the Princess and ask her for advice, or if there's anythin' she can do to help us? She's the Princess, after all. She probably has some sorta magic spells an' stuff that none of us know about."

"I'm still surprised that the scroll didn't work," joined Rarity, who was sitting by the desk with Spike snuggled up to her side. "Are you sure that you did everything correctly? Maybe you misread the scroll?"

"No, I'm definitely sure I read everything correctly -- double-checked and everything. Maybe the spell just wasn't strong enough…"

"Well, what did the scroll say?"

"Nothing too complicated. It said that I had to imbue my magic in an item that originated from where the person wants to be transported to. After that, we both had to concentrate during the channelling, to focus on the task at hand -- for me to concentrate on performing the spell, and for Gai'vahros to focus on the place he wanted to return to."

"So what do ya think went wrong?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"I'm not sure. The spell worked up to where the channelling stopped, and I was definitely concentrating on the spell…" Twilight looked up, the realization having just hit her. "I think… I think I know what this means now."

"Half-Life Three confirmed?" exclaimed Pinkie Pie, pressing her face against Twilight's.

"… Um… No, Pinkie." Twilight moved back from Pinkie and sat up from her seat. "I think Gai'vahros really didn't want to leave. I think that's why the spell failed."

Everyone fell silent. Each one began to think, began to contemplate why the elf did not return to his own people if what Twilight suggested was in fact true.

"I don't get it," spoke Applejack. "He was always goin' on about how his people needed him and how he was worryin' about what was happening back on Azeroth. Why would he willingly decide to stay here?"

"Maybe it wasn't willingly," responded Twilight, flicking back through the pages of the book on her desk. "Maybe he felt some sort of need to stay here for the time being. I think the fact that Liliandra has come to Equestria is the reason he feel he can't return home yet."

"So kinda like, a subconscious thought kept him from going home?" theorised Rainbow Dash.

"Exactly. Look here," responded Twilight, pointing at one of the paragraphs in the book. "It's all about conscious-driven spells." She began to read aloud, " "Some spells only function correctly through concentration and force of will, such as the Teleport spell and the Move Object spell. These spells require the user to will the spell in the way they desire, such as teleporting to a specific location that the user is thinking about. Some spells can backfire due to lack of concentration or conflicting thoughts"."

"So because Gai had conflicting thoughts about staying and going, the spell didn't work properly?"

"That's what I can conclude at the moment, yes."

"Poor Gai'vahros," said Fluttershy quietly. "Is there nothing we can do to help him, Twilight?"

"I think the only thing we can do is to just do whatever we can for the moment, whatever he needs. That, and we need to find a way to get rid of Liliandra. But… we'll probably have to fight her."

"No problem!" cried Rainbow Dash as she folded her forelegs across her chest. "We'll all help Gai knock her back to Azeroth, right? There's seven of us and only one of her!"

"Eight including me!" bellowed Spike after popping a small ruby out of his mouth.

"No, no, no!" protested Rarity. "I'll not let you get involved in such a dangerous situation! Now, shush and enjoy your ruby -- and no more nonsense." She prodded the ruby back into Spike's mouth with a nudge of her hoof, much to Spike's displeasure of being babied by Rarity. But it was Rarity, so he sooner snuggled up to her than argued with her.

"What are you guys talking about?" retorted Twilight, gazing at each of them. "You heard what Gai'vahros said, right? He doesn't want any of us involved, and will probably not let any of us get involved either. Rainbow Dash… don't you remember what happened when you said this before?"

"I don't care about that anymore, Twilight! This isn't just Gai's problem anymore. This is all of our problem. Some jerky, dead-faced dweeb comes to our world and nearly destroys our town, and we're to sit back and do nothin' about it? Heck no! This is all our fight now, not just Gai's!"

"She's right, sugar cube," agreed Applejack. "As much as Gai doesn't want any of us involved in his lil family feud, we've already been involved whether he likes it or not. And Dashie's right, y'know. We can't just sit back and watch Gai put himself in danger while we do nothin'. It's all our fight now. Well, not including Spike."

Twilight sighed. "I guess you're right," she relinquished. "I guess for now she's not a threat. But we can't do anything until we're all ready and prepared. We'll have to wait until he gets back from Canterlot before we can all decide what we're doing."

"And when we tell Gai we're gonna help him, we're not taking "no" for an answer!"

"Right!" Twilight turned to the window, looking out over the town and towards Canterlot. "I wonder how he's doing right now. I hope he's not being too much of a bother for Princess Celestia -- or Princess Luna for that matter."

Rainbow Dash chuckled. "I doubt it. I mean, it's only for the one night, right?"

"Yeah. I'm sure one night couldn't hurt either of them."

Chapter 34 - Nights Into Dreams

"Back here again, huh?"

The hard knocks of metal on stone rung in the air as Gai'vahros strolled along the sidewalk. His footsteps were heavy yet with no real rush, casually strolling along the path of the Bazaar to no particular destination.

"How many times do I have to keep seeing this?" he mumbled to himself, shaking his head slowly as the scenery assaulted his vision. From the pale stone, blue slate, and the gold livery of the structures to the oranges, yellows and greens of the falling leaves, the sight of Silvermoon would never fade from his mind. 'But what am I doing here?' he thought to himself.

It was some form of Silvermoon, yes, but it was not the Silvermoon he knew nor was it the Silvermoon he craved for. The streets were filled with folk, sure, but they all seemed… lifeless. They all stood around, some with their packs against the wall or squat down close to the floor, all with their heads hung low. It was like they were waiting for something.

"H-hey! You!" the voice of a young lady called out towards Gai'vahros. As the knight turned to face her, he saw only a reflection of his own heartache in the form of a young, living Liliandra. Her pale-white skin contrasted with her sapphire-like eyes and gold hair that only shined in the light of the sun. She strode quickly towards him with a gentle smile on her face.

"L-Liliandra?" spoke Gai'vahros softly in surprise. He took a step forward as his sister drew ever closer to him, his hand outstretched ready to grasp her, to embrace her. "I thought I would never --" but as soon as his hand touched her shoulder, he felt nothing. In a blink of an eye his hand passed right through her, and then she through him in her entirety. "W-what?" Gai'vahros turned around as Liliandra walked further away, but saw her stop in front of another elf.

Liliandra scowled at the elf, pointing her finger at his face. "What do you think you're doing spreading lies and falsehood about the city guards, huh?" Even her voice felt as intimidating as her expression despite how fair she looked.

"It's true, isn't it?" the male spoke back with a smirk on his face. His eyes were far from caring, either. "Who'd have thought that King Anasterian would bother joining up with the humans and those little, scrawny dwarves against this "Horde"? It's bad enough that they would send your brother to his death with the rest of his "token" army, but now they've agreed to share arcane secrets with them as well?"

"Don't you talk down about my brother like that!" snapped Liliandra, her voice screeching momentarily.

"Come on, Lily. Get real and look at it realistically. About a hundred elves against an entire invasion, not knowing even how much of the humans survived the First War? It wouldn't surprise me if your brother was laying blood-soaked and barely alive in the forests right now."

Gritting her teeth and impaling the man with vicious eyes, Liliandra balled her right hand into a fist and reared it back, swinging for the elf with a tremendous hook, clobbering him in the jaw and knocking him down to the ground. "Bastard! You'd dare mock us Dawnbreakers? Let's see you try that again!"

Gai'vahros merely winced at watching his sister deliver such a blow to someone who was about a foot taller than her like he was just a ragdoll.

"That was one heck of a right hook, won't you agree, Gai'vahros?"

"Hah, yeah, that looked like it had to have hurt. Wait, what?" Gai'vahros turned to look behind him, seeing another young female elf about the same age as his sister. She was dressed in a long, flowing, violet robe with strands of silver livery trimmed along the pleats and around the waist, and again along the chest and abdominal sections. Her hair hung low and past her shoulders, coloured of a light indigo hue, while her skin was darker. A lot darker. Her eyes shone an icy-blue colour not unlike a death knight's.

"This is quite the dream. I didn't think you elves were this violent."

"Wait… Luna? Is that you?"

"Took you long enough to recognize me." She smiled softly and held her arms out to the side, letting the sleeves of her robe hang freely. "What do you think? I thought I'd try to blend in. I thought I did --"

"You failed pretty hard," blurted Gai'vahros as he shook his head. "As a night elf, probably, but hardly as a blood elf."

"What's the difference?"

"About forty-five shades of blue different, that's what. Look around you. How many dark-skinned elves do you see? And how many with blue eyes?"

"… You're such a nitpick, you know that? Anyway, no one else can notice you except me. Seems like you're having some sort of dream created by your subconscious."

"I thought that, too." With a soft sigh Gai'vahros turned back to face his sister and the elf who was probably now missing a tooth. He watched as Liliandra pinned him down with her foot on his back, pressing pretty hard. "But I don't remember any of this. I don't recall seeing, hearing, or otherwise being told about what happened. Is this… even real?"

Luna approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "The mind does a lot of strange things, Gai'vahros. Have you ever had a dream, a really weird dream, about something you never knew and then woke up realizing that what you learned was true? Or having a dream about something you'd never done before, then the next morning finding out you could?"

"I… Yeah, I think so. I remember having this weird dream where I was sneaking around in Lily's room and I ended up finding her lingerie in the middle drawer of her cabinet. Sure enough, the next morning I looked and they were there."

Luna narrowed her eyes at him. "… Okay, that was probably a bit too much for me. But you understand what I mean, right? Perhaps this is just something that happened that you never knew about, but it's showing you now."

"Kind of like some form of clairvoyance?"

"Exactly. Oh, by the way, who is that person? He doesn't seem to have a lot of faith in your ruler nor their decisions."

Gai'vahros smirked before turning away, heading through the archway towards the main street. "Him? That's Jaycen -- my sister's future fiancée."

"W-what!? But she just clobbered him like a piñata!"

The sun began to set behind the main gates of Silvermoon, casting a long shadow through the Walk of Elders, and yet still creating an eminent casting of light on the city alongside the reflection from the marble and gold decorations. Various large yet faint blue swathes of light bathed the surroundings from the large, floating, arcane crystals that could be found around the entirety of the kingdom. But there was one thing that didn't sit right with the city. One thing that made Gai'vahros resent coming back here time and time again.

"I adore the architecture here," praised Luna with a smile as she looked up and around at the scenery before her. "It reminds me a lot of Canterlot, but just with a lot more red everywhere." She paused for a moment, but turned to face Gai'vahros. "Are you okay, Gai'vahros? You seem preoccupied with something."

"Not exactly." His fel-filled eyes stared sternly at a large statue that stood erect against the large and wide column that supported the ring-shaped walkway between the main gate and the entrance to the district -- a statue of a regal and handsome blood elf male dressed in a highly stylized and decorative robe with a large mantle and shoulder cape, complimented with a wide, curved collar that stood up at the back. "Every time I see that, it makes me feel sick."

"See what?" Luna shifted closer to him, leaning her head over his shoulder. "The statue? What's wrong with it? It looks incredibly well crafted."

"Not the statue," he responded, "but the man it depicts. That is Kael'thas Sunstrider, our "Prince". He is possibly one of the greatest reasons why Silvermoon still lays in ruin alongside Arthas."

"The man whom took away your people's source of energy, correct?"

"Right. But after his allegiance to the Burning Legion was revealed, it became more than just a case of removing our source of subduing our magical addiction. He allowed the Burning Legion to invade our homeland, and even attempted to corrupt the Sunwell to allow one of the Legion's demonic lords entry onto Azeroth. If he had succeeded…" His voice trailed off as he head hung low. No more did he wish to see such a man -- in person or personification -- before him.

It was hard for Luna to see such a man feel so low. Gently she placed her hand upon his, threading her fingers between his and holding the back of his hand with a gentle grip. "The past is a terrible thing to remember for some of us," responded Luna softly, "but we cannot change what has happened, so there is no reason to regret it. If we have to regret our past, then we should know to lead our future in the right direction, and not think of the wrong one we took."

Gai'vahros' eyes shifted as he looked up to Luna. "You sound like you know of it. Whatever happened between you and your sister all those years ago?"

"It was… terrible. I'm surprised young Twilight hadn't told you."

"It's not something you casually bring up after a few days introduction," he responded with a smirk. "But I think Twilight understood that it was not something she should bring up -- especially before knowing you first. Judging a book by its cover, so to say."

Luna sighed before taking her hand from his. "I guess you are right." Slowly she shifted slightly towards Gai'vahros, facing him, and he too did the same. "You see, over a thousand years ago, after the Chaos War, we were without a ruler. With no ruler to govern over Equestria we were forced to seek out the Tree of Harmony -- a magical force of nature that is the personification of the Light."

"The "Tree of Harmony"? Is that where the Elements of Harmony come from?"

"That's right. We beseeched the Tree to help us, to guide us, into the right direction. We felt lost. We all did. It was then that the Tree of Harmony opened to us and gave both of us the power and the strength to lead. Sister was given the domain of the sun and the day, and I was given the domain of the moon and the night. Through our combined powers we were able to continue ruling over Equestria."

"It sounds like you've been through a lot -- both of you."

"It's more than that. When I --" Luna looked down for a moment "-- I was overcome with so much.. anxiety. No, it was more jealousy than anything else. And it turned to anger. Then into nothing but the fetid, indistinguishable salve of darkness."

"… What for, Luna?"

"I was jealous of my sister. I envied how she walked in the light of how everyone loved and worshipped her, hailed her, gave her all the respect and attention one would expect. I had none of that. I had nothing. I had no presence at all with anyone. All I ever did was raise the moon and the stars, and not once was I ever thanked for it." Her fingers curled, gripping her robe tightly. "Even when I talk about it now I feel all of those emotions burning inside me…"

As she had done earlier, Gai'vahros gently placed his hand on hers, gently holding the back of her hand as he curled his fingers around her fist. "It's okay, Luna," he cooed. "It's like you said before: no point in regretting the past when we can use the future to better ourselves. What happened after?"

"I.. I stood against her. Overcome with so much hatred in my heart, I fought my sister. But I lost. With the Elements of Harmony she struck me down, banishing me into the moon. For a thousand years that's all I chose to cling onto -- the memory that my own sister had beaten me. I wanted only vengeance against her and the whole of Equestria.

"But Twilight… Twilight and her friends saved me. With the Elements of Harmony, they all released me from the darkness that I clung onto so much. And it made me see. It made me see that being a Princess was important to me, but it wasn't as important as being with my sister. Since then I've tried to forget everything. I didn't care if our subjects slept through my domain. I didn't care if all I did was raise the moon and the night. I didn't even care if I received no appreciation for my duties. What I cared about was not forsaking everything that I had loved -- even if it meant I'm just a silhouette in the background."

Gai'vahros clenched her hand tighter and lifted it off of her lap. "You're nothing like a background character, Luna," he spoke softly, shifting his head to try and look into her eyes. "You do a lot for your people whether you realize it or not. You even have a night dedicated to you, even if it's not after your best of times. Everyone cares about you whether or not they openly say it or show it."

"I just wished that somepony would say or show it, though. That's all I need. Maybe if I--" Luna's eyes widened as she sat frozen, watching as Gai'vahros' face became increasingly close to her. Without a second to react, she felt his soft, warm lips upon her cheek as he gave her a small kiss. She felt her cheeks heat up, blushing heavily as his gentle portrait pulled back. "G-G-Gai'vahros! W-what was that for?" she stammered, her voice shaking uncontrollably.

Gai'vahros smiled as his took his hand from hers. "Showing you that I care about you," he spoke with a gentle voice. "I care about all of you. I care about everyone on your world. That is why I came back to apologize to you. It's also why I've decided I'm going to stay here until this business with Liliandra is finished." Placing his hands on his knees, Gai'vahros pushed himself from the bench. "Oh, and you look very beautiful as an elf."

"S-shush!"

The gentle sound of falling water echoed through the square with only the chirping of woodland birds to accompany it. Lavished with pale orange paving, the deep green of the growing hedges, and the bright orange of the autumn trees, the Court of the Sun was possibly the most beautiful of places to be within Silvermoon. Sure enough, the place was a lot more lively than the Bazaar and the Walk of Elders; couples and groups of elves stood around or sat on benches talking idly of gossip and news, the guards maintained their posts and patrols with nothing but devotion and focus, and children were running around, playing with their toys and trinkets -- a couple were even playing hide and seek behind bushes, in trees, and even in the buildings.

How much everything was so different back then.

Gai'vahros sat upon the edge of the fountain, watching everything go by. His arms rested on his lap while his fingers tapped in rhythm upon the armor. "I'm glad I got to see all of this again," he spoke up. "With everything that's happened, I never once thought I would take all of this for granted. I don't think anyone could have guessed what would come."

Luna sat close to him, she too watched everything unfold around her. "I don't know what we would ever do should Canterlot ever become your future of Silvermoon." She sighed heavily, watching two of the children -- one girl, one boy -- hold hands and share a slice of cake with one-another, giggling and all smiles. "I don't think I would be able to cope with it…"

"You do, in time. With the remaining undead contained, Silvermoon has become a lot more prominent than it had been years ago. The Sunwell has been restored, our numbers have grown, and we've begun restoration of our lands thanks to the efforts of the Cenarion Circle. Not before long we will see this again."

"I wish that we could do something to help you and your people, Gai'vahros."

"Only time can help now." Gai'vahros chuckled softly. "That, and more construction workers."

Luna giggled a little. However, her eyes turned from the children to many of the guards walking around. "I've noticed that there are different guards in different uniforms," she said. "Are there different types of guards and duties here?"

"Hm?" Gai'vahros looked up towards where Luna was referring to. "Oh, yes. That one over there--" he pointed to a guard adorned in shining, pearlescent silver-blue armor and gold livery "--is a royal guard. They are mostly positioned here in the Court of the Sun to protect the royal family, but they're all over Silvermoon as the first line of defence. And that one--" he shifted to a warrior donned is long, flowing black, blue, and gold robes with phoenix-like shoulders, carrying a huge tower shield and a black war glaive "--is a spell breaker guard."

"A "spell breaker"?" repeated Luna, confused yet not faltering her admiration for the man's attire. "Do they destroy magic? But I thought elves relied on magic?"

"We do. But these spell breakers were created to combat it should it be used against us. You see, during the Troll Wars we taught one-hundred humans how to wield the arcane. However, Anasterian Sunstrider wasn't one to make back-up plans in case things went awry. Fearing that the humans may turn against us directly after the war, or even at some point in the future, he created the first group of spell breakers.

Spell breakers are powerful martial units who are immune to arcane spells, and could even drain the powers of arcane from their enemies. I'm told that a single swipe from their glaive could cripple even an advanced spellcaster. Not only that, but they could even steal magical empowerments from their opponent and give them to their own allies. They were considerably feared during the Third War where they were actively used."

"So they weren't ever used beforehand?"

"The only time they saw combat was when Arthas attacked Silvermoon. They were only ever positioned to protect Silvermoon as the last line of defence should the royal guards somehow be defeated."

"I understand." Luna watched as the royal guard maintained his position, and followed the spell breaker with her eyes as he walked past them. "So what were you, then?"

"Hm?"

"What position did you have all those years ago." Luna turned back to Gai'vahros, her eyes scanning his body. "Your armor doesn't match them two. They're wearing blue armor, and yours is red. Did you have some sort of special position?"

"No. I was a royal guard, too."

"So what's with the different armor?"

"It's a long story."

"So what else is new? We have time."

"Alright, alright. Look around you Luna. A lot of the structures here are primarily blue in colour, from the roofs to the fine details. Blue and gold. This was what everything was like before the Third War. However, since then we rebuilt Silvermoon not as "high elves" but as "blood elves", to honour our fallen kin. As such, everything changed from blue to red. Imagine all of the royal blue here turning to a bright, rose red -- just like my armor."

"It matches the name of "blood elves", I guess. It's a bit creepy."

"It's more than that. It helped us distance ourselves from the Alliance whom had failed us. It showed that we no longer cared for our past as far as alliances were concerned. We only looked to forward our people and nothing more -- going as far as siphoning demonic magics to do it."

"So you got that armor after the war? That explains the colour, but not the design. Was it made for you?"

Gai'vahros didn't answer. He only held his hands in front of his face as he looked down upon them, turning them occasionally, gazing into the palms and then the back of them.

"Gai'vahros? Are you okay?"

"… This armor wasn't mine," he responded slowly, quietly. "After the Second War, King Terenas Menethil sent a request to Anasterian that he wished to see my father. I was told that it was the king himself -- with Anasterian's approval -- who recommended him into the Order of the Silver Hand, the first order of paladins. I was told that he was given the opportunity due to his skills as a warrior, for his role in the Troll Wars, and for his assistance in the Second War. He was commemorated with this armor, forged specifically for him."

"… Did you… change it?"

The elf nodded slowly as he close his hands. "The armor was originally blue. Just like the Alliance of Lordaeron. Just like Silvermoon. But when we distanced ourselves I, in my own anger, changed it. Desecrated it. I dyed all of the blue parts red, galvanized all of the dull gold parts to a more brighter hue, and I tore all the cloth from the armor and had a tailor sew on some silk. But I still kept this" -- he placed his hand on his chest, his fingers caressing a lion emblem -- "as a reminder to who we once were. What we once became. How prosperous we were."

"… I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to make you feel horrible…"

"But I don't. Ever since I spoke to your sister yesterday, I had felt… renewed. Like a load had been shifted from my shoulders. For years, oh so many years, I carried the burden of guilt for what I had failed to do, and the wrongs I had done because of it. But now I know that I haven't anything to regret or to be guilty for, because I had already been forgiven. I was just too caught up in my own doubt to see it."

"I guess we're a lot alike. We've both done things horrible in the name of anger and hatred. But we've been forgiven for our sins, and given a second chance to make a new start, to do the right things."

Gai'vahros turned with a smile. "Yeah. You're right."

Luna smiled back. "So, what was it like being a royal guard?"

"Boring," the elf replied as he leaned back on his hands. "It was mostly just handling internal conflicts -- troublemakers, that sort of thing. The only time I saw real combat was when me others were sent to aid the Alliance during the First War in the surrounding forests. That was the first and only time I ever fought alongside my father. It was like a rite of passage."

"You sound very close to your family."

"More than anything else. I never really knew much aside from fighting and defending my people, especially my family. Perhaps -- no, I know that that was my biggest failure. I wasn't able to save them. I did what I could but, out of everything I did to save my people, I wasn't able to save my own family."

"You did all that you could, Gai'vahros. Under the circumstances, and from what it all amounted to, you and everyone else did what they could. But you and those who helped in protecting your people made sure that there were survivors. You helped keep your people alive so that they would not go extinct. You've helped given your people another chance at a future."

"Luna… I…" Gai'vahros sighed heavily. "I'm sorry. It seems like every time we talk about something it just ends up turning into something depressing."

"But that's okay. They say that confession cleanses the soul -- and they're right. When you told Twilight of your past, when you told Celestia of your problems, and when you tell me of all your burdens, don't you feel "renewed"? What was it you said earlier? "Like a load had been shifted from your shoulders"?"

"I know. But I don't want people to worry about me or feel like they have to watch what they say just because of my own problems."

"Everyone has problems to face, Gai'vahros. But the bravest ones are the ones who can tell them to others. Don't bottle everything inside you, else they will slowly eat away at you from the inside until that's all that remains. Your friends will be there beside you to help you see them through."

Gai'vahros chuckled. "You seem to have learned a lot about friendship, Luna."

"There's always something to learn. Twilight and her friends have shown me that the magic of friendship is something truly powerful -- perhaps even more power than both me and my sister."

Gai'vahros smiled as he looked up to the crawling clouds in the sky. "I wonder just how powerful it really is," he wondered out loud.

"It must be a new concept for you, Gai'vahros."

"It is neither arcane nor divine nor shadow nor nature. The concept that friendship and harmony is some sort of magical, sentient force outside of the will of humanity is just… I don't know. Absurd."

"Absurd? You do not believe in friendship?"

"As a philosophy, yes, but not as some sort of magical power. Or perhaps… perhaps it is some form of power on Azeroth and we just don't know about it yet. It is as you said, Luna: there's always something to learn."

"Not everything is lay bare before us. There are times when we must discover it ourselves, and only then might we truly understand it."

The area around them began to shine and glow in a soft, shimmering, silver light. Structures began to fade away or scatter into sparks of shining silver and the foliage dispersed into gold fragments. The clouds spiralled into the middle of the sky as the colour shifted from its subtle blue to a pale golden hue.

Gai'vahros bolted to his feet, shocked at the city disintegrating around him. "L-Luna!" he exclaimed. "What's going on? What is happening?"

Casually the Princess rose to her feet. "It's nearly time to go, Gai'vahros?"

"Go? Go where?"

"Why, to go wake up, of course." Luna's body began to slowly scatter into the winds, her feet breaking up into golden, glittering strands. "You don't plan on staying asleep forever, do you?"

"I don't know," he responded with a smirk. "I quite like it here."

"Well, you're needed in the waking world. We both are."

"Yeah, you're right." Gai'vahros looked on reluctantly as her body had disappeared up to the waist. It was hard for him to see everything crumble away like he was losing everything again. "Luna?"

"Yes, Gai'vahros?"

"Thank you for visiting me tonight. I'm glad I got to talk to you a bit more… and I appreciate you listening to me."

"I feel the exact same way. It's not often that I have someone to talk to. Tonight was very… beautiful."

Gai'vahros smiled. "I'll see you soon, then."

"Sure. Breakfast at eight, by the way."

"Will there be cake?"

Luna giggled. "Sure," she responded before the last of her visage disappeared in a small fount of shining gold.

Gai'vahros turned and sat back on the now disappearing edge of the fountain as the rest of the world slowly vanished. "Yeah… she was totally lying…"

Chapter 35 - The Ember of Friendship

"Y'all just need to move it a lil bit to the left!"

By the early hours of the morning the pony folk of Ponyville were already making a new start on the reconstruction of their half-destroyed town. Despite most of the work having been done the day before there was still a huge turnout of helpers. Even the royal guards were volunteering -- without the command of either Princess, too.

"Now jus' set it down slowly!" called out Applejack, directing a flock of Pegasi as they gently began to place an entire roof on one of the smaller buildings by a few thick strands of rope. Each one struggled to not let it slip from their teeth. "Okay, now settle it down! And… done!" Applejack wiped her brow with a hoof. "Phew. Good job, everypony!"

"It's good to see everything looking good again," said Twilight as she made her way over to Applejack. "I'm surprised it only took a couple of days to get everything repaired again."

"New roof," added Spike, holding a long sheet of paper that trailed behind him in one hand, with a quill in the other, "check! With that done, we've only gotta replace the street lights and benches."

"Hah! Lookin' "good"?" exclaimed Applejack, swinging her head from one side to the other, scanning the town around her. "Everythin's lookin' better than before! Even Sugarcube Corner looks good enough to eat."

"Wha!?" Pinkie Pie raced towards Applejack, her eyes wide and her lips covered in a brown substance. "You mean you can't actually eat it?" she asked.

Twilight giggled. "No, Pinkie Pie, you're not--" her eyes lowered to the pony's mouth "--Why do you have brown stuff on your lips?"

"Well I was really, REALLY hungry, so I got up to get some food from the fridge, right? And then I looked out the window and I saw this HUGE candy cane just peaking from the side, and so I raced outside to go get it! But when I ran outside I was all like, "whoaaaa!", when I saw that the entire bakery was covered in chocolate! So I took a bite! And then I heard Applejack say, "even Sugarcube Corner looks good enough to eat", and then I yelled, "wha!?", and so here I am!"

Applejack and Twilight stood in awe with only a shifted glance between them before they focused back on their hyperactive friend.

"Uh, Sugarcube," spoke Applejack, "that wasn't chocolate. That was wet paint we just put on."

"Ohhhh! I was wondering why it tasted like Equestrian Standards One-Four-Nine-One-Five wood cladding."

"Seriously, Pinkie, at this rate you'll end up doin' more damage than that death knight did."

Before anyone could add anything further, Rainbow Dash swooped down from one of the other nearby structures. "Hey, hey!" she called out to her friends. "Now's not the time to be talkin'! We've still gotta long ways to go before we can call it a day."

"She's right," agreed Twilight. "Applejack, has Big Macintosh delivered the bench materials yet?"

"Eeyup," the voice of the burly pony flaunted softly as he stood behind Twilight, much to everyone's surprise. Carefully he unhitched the large trailer from his collar, settling it on the path.

"Oh! Great! Is that everything?"

"Eeyup."

"Good. Applejack, did you bring the tools?"

"Uh… I thought you were bring them, Macintosh?"

"… Nnope."

Twilight pressed her hoof against her face. "Ugh. I'm sorry, Big Macintosh, but could you go back to the farm and bring the tools?"

"… Eeyup." Macintosh nodded before making his way back down the path he came.

"Thanks, Macintosh!" Rainbow Dash called after him. "Much appreciated!"

"Ah, Rainbow Dash, darling," a voice came from behind the group. Rarity casually trotted along with a smile on her face and a piece of folded cloth sticking out of her handbag. "I need you to do me quite a big favour. It's really quite important."

"Wait, Rarity," intervened Twilight, "I thought you were making new curtains for some of the windows?"

"Oh, please, it doesn't take all morning to make twenty sets of curtains," she replied with a wave of her hoof. "I've been working on something fantastic!"

"So, uh, what exactly do you need me to do?" asked Rainbow Dash. "If it's something to do with your new dress line then you can wait until we're done."

"No, no, it's nothing like that -- although you did remind me that I still have dresses to work on. No, I would like you fetch me a rain cloud when you're not too busy."

"Why would I get you--"

"--A rain cloud," finished Rarity. "Why, I'm glad you asked, dear. You see, I have here--" she reached into her bag and whipped the cloth out, unfolding it in front of them "--silk that it one-hundred per cent waterproof!"

The rest were collectively astonished at Rarity's masterpiece. The cloth shimmered a pearlescent white as it fluttered gently on the breeze.

"Does it taste good?" questioned Pinkie, leaning forward and pressing her snout against it. "Does it taste like frosting?"

"… No, dear, it doesn't taste like frosting."

"Awwwww…"

But Twilight was more interested in it than anyone else. "Oh, wow," spoke Twilight, placing her hoof on it. "It really does feel like silk." She looked up to Rarity, noticing a slight look of smugness on her face. "How on Equestria did you manage to come up with this?"

"Well I couldn't have done it alone, I admit," she responded as she tucked the cloth back into her bag. "When I replaced all of the silk on Gai's armor I kept it all so I could study it. I found that, even though it was very rigid and thick compared to Equestrian silk, it was completely waterproof. So after a few hours work I was able to come up with something that is as light and delicate as Equestrian silk and waterproof like Azeroth silk."

"And you did all of this… why?" questioned Applejack with narrow eyes.

"Can you imagine the uses for such a material?" exclaimed Rarity. "You could make dresses out of this that you could risk wearing out on rainy days, or even if it starts raining after you've gone out! How many times have you spilled something over your new clothes that is a royal pain to get out?"

"Um, that would be never," replied Rainbow Dash. "We don't wear clothes that often."

"Well, sure, we don't, but all of the rich and important ponies in Canterlot do." Rarity paused for a moment. "I have a good idea. Why don't I make cushions for the benches?"

"Hey, now that's an idea," exclaimed Twilight. "Instead of ponies sitting on wood all the time, they can sit on the cushions."

"And you won't have to worry about the rain ruining them, either," added Rainbow Dash with a grin. "As much as I'd love to kick up a down pour for ya, I have to ask: why do you need a rain cloud to try it? Can't ya just run it under a tap or something?"

"I already have -- and it works. But I need to put it under more… strenuous tests. I need to make sure it can take a lot of beating for a long time."

"… Just run it under a tap for a few hours?"

"Ugh, you just don't understand. Can you get more a cloud or not?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure. As soon as we get everything done first."

Before Rarity could finish, however, she heard a chuckle. It was one that was all familiar to her but she just couldn't place it. In fact, everyone found familiarity in it. All of them shifted their ears and eyes to the direction it came from -- from behind the library. Waiting for something to appear, anything, felt like an eternity.

"It's good to see everything goin' well," the voice spoke out. A large figure revealed itself from the shadows. A pale, white, feathery head and brown, furry body honed into view, along with large, bird-like wings and talons. "Good to see that nothin's changed."

Rainbow Dash drifted forwards past the rest of her friends. While they watched her with worry, so did Rainbow Dash to the griffon. "… Gilda…"

The warm, pale light of the sunlight shone upon the dining hall in a myriad of pale and soothing colours, from soft lilac to cool blues to passionate reds. The colours blended seamlessly into each other as they gave beauty to the otherwise dull, grey floor tiles and stone walls. It felt like a form of new life was given to these halls.

The two Princess' sat at the table with their elven guest, dining on an early breakfast with great etiquette -- something that Gai'vahros was not used to, watching as they dug their faces into their food or used their magics to lift them to their mouths. It was still difficult for him to take in how they could eat like… well, horses, and find absolutely nothing wrong with it.

"Is there something the matter, Gai'vahros?" asked Celestia as she held her head up from her plate, with specs of breadcrumbs stuck to her lips. "You've been staring for a while."

"Oh. I'm sorry, Your Majesty," spoke Gai'vahros. "It's just that you have…" He paused before he trailed a finger around his lips in gesture.

"Oh, I understand," replied Celestia as a small napkin lifted from the table in a glow of pink, pressing against her mouth as she wiped the crumbs away. "I apologize. I should be a bit more careful around guests, after all."

Gai'vahros chuckled lightly under his breath. "It's perfectly fine. You've no need to act any different that you usually would around me, Princess."

"I should do. After all, it's not every day that we have guests, let alone one from an entirely different world."

"Well you certainly eat like every horse I've met."

Luna gave Gai'vahros a glare from across the table, although her puffed-up cheeks filled with crumpets didn't do much to help with her expression of seriousness. "That is not any way to speak to my sister!" she exclaimed with a muffled voice, talking with her mouth full.

"And that's not any way to talk at the dining table, either, Luna," retorted Celestia. "But it's quite alright. It is quite… calming, assuring, to know that your world also has pony folk and the like."

"But not entirely the same, however. Here, you're all sentient beings, capable of more than just behavioural instinct. On Azeroth, horses and other creatures are just… beasts. Animals that are incapable of higher thought. We use them as beasts of burden, to carry heavy loads from place to place. Some we will use as mounts as a means of transportation."

Celestia paused for a moment, her expression of that in thought. "It's hard to imagine such a thing," spoke Celestia slowly. "I guess the same would be for you should you come across a world where elves are little more than animals used to pull stone and lumber."

Gai'vahros' eyes glazed over as he shuddered a little. "For the both of us, who are so used to how things work in our worlds, we both consider our ways of life, our natural order, as something that should be. In the same way that I could not ever believe that elves would be anything but intelligent creatures, so do you in regards to ponies."

Celestia nodded. "I believe that is the case. But I think it's even more scary knowing that there are worlds where it does happen -- Azeroth and horses, for example."

Celestia and Luna looked at one another, but said nothing. Even so, it was fairly clear by their eyes only that they felt worried or scared.

Gai'vahros sighed, tapping his fingers on the table slowly. "I'm sorry, Your Majesties, if I have caused you grief."

"No, it is not your fault, Gai'vahros. It is just how things go."

"We should not worry about affairs that are beyond our scope," added Luna. "There is no sense in worrying about something that we cannot change. As you said, it is just how things work in your world in the same way that we are of intelligence in ours."

Gai'vahros looked away as he chuckled lightly, much to the surprise and curiosity of the sisters. "Ironic. Every since I could remember all those years ago, there's been nothing but war and conflict over the pettiest of things -- or nothing at all but the sake of just fighting things that were not us. I wonder how many casualties there have been on the Alliance side trying to take Thunderbluff."

Celestia gazed at the elf as he rested his head on his hand. "Gai'vahros…?"

"And yet coming here, being here for only a few days, I have learned so much. I have learned more here in over half a week than I have on Azeroth for nearly two-thousand years." The revelation of his age caused the Princess' to recoil a little as they gazed at one-another. "I have lived for so long, and yet I find myself knowing so little.

"When I first came here, I was taken completely aback by everything around me. I saw something that I never thought I would ever see again. I saw… quietness. I saw peace. I saw a land where there was no war, no conflict, not even so much as a petty squabble over whose grain belonged to who. It's ironic that a race of creatures I thought of being no more than glorified baggage handlers create an entire empire built on harmony and friendship. It's like we really are the beasts when compared to you."

"That is not so," responded Celestia. "Equestria has not always been like this. There was once a time where resources were scarce and plagued with constant war."

"Exactly," joined Luna. "Back before Equestria -- and even Canterlot -- was founded, the Earth ponies, the Unicorn ponies, and the Pegasus ponies were all separate clans that wanted nothing to do with each other, but had to work together in order to maintain a hospitable life -- the Earth ponies would grow crops and harvest food, the Pegasi brought with them the weather, and the Unicorns would bring forth day and night."

"But I thought you two brought forth the day and night?"

"You're half-correct," responded Celestia. "You see, before Equestria was founded, the last Princess used her powers to bring forth night and day. But after the Chaos War, there was no one left to do it. Because of the damage to the whole of Equestria during that time, we both had to task each of the pony tribes to a particular task -- the daily cycle was given to the Unicorn ponies until we came upon a solution."

"That was when we had found the Tree of Harmony," joined Luna. "The tree gave us our powers to continue our royal duties, as well as the Elements of Harmony should another powerful threat make itself known."

Gai'vahros raised an eyebrow. "Gain powers? Were you not originally Princess' then?"

"It's a complex manner. Though not of any relation, Alicorns are gifted with the blood of royalty, and thus any Alicorn can so take up the mantle of "Princess". It is of belief that only an Alicorn can possess the knowledge and spirit of royalty."

"… But what if there is no Alicorn to take up the mantle of Princess once the current ruler passes?"

"There are means to assure that there will always be a successor."

Gai'vahros paused for a moment, not knowing whether or not he was delving into knowledge that does not concern him. "I understand," he spoke. Casually he pushed back from his chair and stood to his feet, placing the napkin from around his collar onto the plate.

"Leaving so soon, Gai'vahros?" asked Celestia, doing the same.

"I'm afraid so, Your Majesty," he responded, stepping out from the chair and pushed it back under the table. "I had better get back to Ponyville in hopes that nothing more has happened to it."

"We understand," added Luna. "Shall we escort you out?"

"I'll take the balcony, if that's all the same with the both of you. I'll be able to get back quicker by flying."

Celestia tilted her head to one side, raising an eyebrow. "Flying? This should be a treat to see."

The two Princess' lead the elf from the dining hall and across the main foyer to the landing on the opposite side. Numerous Pegasus guards were stationed around the outer edge, with some of them practicing drills and flight training. Squadrons of them raced around the skies and over the balcony dome.

"Here you are, Gai'vahros," said Celestia, stopping just past the center. "I'm glad that you took the time to visit us once more."

"And I appreciate you coming to apologize to me, as well," added Luna with a smile. "Thank you."

"I'm honoured that you would bother gracing your presence and hospitality to a lowly elf such as me," responded Gai'vahros as he gave a small bow with his hand upon his chest. "It is I who should be thanking you for everything."

"Don't be so modest," Celestia added after a giggle. "You've done a lot for us. But I know you'll continue to do greater things."

Gai'vahros nodded. "For as long as I am here, I will do whatever I can to help you -- all of you." Turning away, Gai'vahros closed his eyes and gently placed his hands together in front of him, his fingers locking with one-another. A bright glow of shining gold erupted from his feet and began to raise and circle around him in a veiled aura before finally forming, growing into a pair of large, bird-like wings of glistening light.

The Princess' could hardly believe their eyes as they watched the blood knight form wings not unlike that of an actual Alicorn.

Celestia smiled as she watched the elf raise off the platform a little. "Gai'vahros," she called out, "please, for whatever may come, and for whatever may happen, please protect Twilight Sparkle!"

Gai'vahros turned his head and nodded. Quickly he raised into the air before spinning around and facing them. "Oh, and Luna," he spoke with a smile, "thank you for last night. Thank you for everything." In a burst of speed, Gai'vahros took off into the sky.

Celestia looked on with a gentle gaze. "Who would have thought that he had wings."

Luna wanted to chuckle. She wanted to smile. But she heard that voice before. One-thousand years before. "He reminds you on him, doesn't he, sister?" she spoke softly. "He has that same presence."

Celestia sighed, lowering her head. "I see him in his face sometimes. It is almost like he's an elf version of him." Celestia turned and headed back into the castle, with Luna soon following beside her. "By the way, what did he mean by last night?"

"Oh, well, we took the time to talk to one another. I got to see things."

Celestia grinned. "Luna, you know that I've told you to find more than just "looks" in a stallion."

"Not that kind of thing, sister!" cried Luna as a deep red formed in her cheeks, piercing through her dark coat. "Besides, he isn't my type!"

"I think you would both make a great couple. Perhaps even leave behind a successor for Canterlot?"

"I said be quiet!"

Gilda gave a little grin as she looked on to the rest of the ponies in front of her. Hey eyes jittered from one side to the other, not making direct eye contact with a single one of them. But no matter how much she wanted to avert her eyes from the judging faces of them, she could never take her eyes off of Rainbow Dash, who was now only a few feet away from her.

"I like what you've done with the place," she said as turned her head towards one of the roofs of a nearby house. She gave a light yet force chuckle. "Not as good as our stuff, but you're getting there."

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to speak but nothing came but a tiny squeak. It was hard for her to say something, to say anything, now that she was actually in front of her past best friend. For months she wanted to vent all of her frustrations on her, about how she had treated her new friends, about how she made Fluttershy cry, and about how she constantly bullied Pinkie Pie.

But now that she was face to face with her, and given the circumstance, she felt only a sense of longing. And pity.

"G-Gilda," forced Rainbow Dash, her voice soft, almost whisper-like. "How… I mean, are you feeling okay? You are okay, right?"

The griffon raised her head and turned it from one side to the other. "See for yaself, Dashie," she responded confidently. "Not a scratch on me. Still a bit of ache in the joints 'n' things, but I'm pretty much fit for flight."

Rainbow Dash smiled back, although her eyes could only convey the tension between the two of them. And as she gazed at Gilda, she saw the exact same thing. "I'm… real glad to see that you… y'know, got better and all."

"Could that be any more forced, Dashie?"

"I wasn't forcing it at all! Gilda, I'm happy that you weren't --" Rainbow Dash stopped from finishing that line. That dark thought crept into her mind, becoming more and more vivid with each word on her tongue. "I didn't wanna lose you…"

Gilda kept her eyes on Rainbow Dash ash she looked down and away. Carefully she approached the Pegasus before standing right in front of her. Slowly and raised her talon and gripped the pony's chin gently, raising her head to hers before letting go. "Come on, Dashie. Did ya really thing that was gonna do me in? I'm a lot tougher than you think."

Stepping back with a smile, Rainbow Dash nodded. "Chyeah, whatever."

"But… that wasn't the worst I've had," added Gilda, her voice trailing off, becoming more sombre. "Dashie… ever since we stopped seeing each other, my life has just been one whirlwind of mess."

"What do you mean?"

"Ever since we broke up, I've not been able to do anything. I couldn't eat properly. I couldn't sleep comfortably. I couldn't even talk to people confidently. All I did was do my job and pay my way through everything. I was…" she brushed her foreleg along her nose, sniffing softly. "I was pretty lost without you."

Rainbow Dash smiled awkwardly, then gave a tiny grin. "Aw c'mon, Gilda. I know you're into pranks and all that, but you ain't getting me with this one." But her smile faded away as she saw wells of tear form in the griffons eyes. A small bead trickled down her cheek. "… Gilda?"

"I really missed you, Dashie!" she exclaimed, her voice raspy as it tightened through her cries. "Every day when I flew over Ponyville, I just wanted to come and say "hi" to you! But I couldn't! How could I, after everything I had done?"

"Gilda… please don't be like that. I don't wanna see you upset…"

But nothing could stop her now. More and more her eyes flooded, streams pouring down her face. Her beak began to quiver as she tried to speak, but hysteria prevented her at first. "I'm sorry, Dashie!" she finally cried out, sobbing as she spoke, sniffling between her stops. "I'm so sorry for everything that I did!" Her hind legs gave away from the aching, plonking her down onto the pavement. "I was so scared that you would forget about me if you found new friends! I just don't wanna lose you!"

But as she cried more and more, so too did she find the warmth she wanted, the warmth she needed. Rainbow Dash gently pressed her nose against the feathered neck of her crying friend, nuzzling gently. Her spread wings folded forwards, wrapping around the griffon in a tight, loving embrace.

"I don't wanna loose you either, Gilda!" stuttered Rainbow Dash as she began to tear up as well, letting her tears flow and onto the fur and feathers of her renewed friend.

They were not the only one to shed tears, either. From way behind them the rest of the group looked on as the two of them rekindled their friendship. Fluttershy and Rarity couldn't help but cry for their friend's joyful reunion, while Twilight and Applejack looked on with great care for Rainbow Dash -- and for Gilda, too.

"I always wondered if this'd ever happen," said Applejack as she stood to the side of Twilight. "It's great to see both of them together again."

"Friendship is a powerful thing," spoke Twilight as she watched Rainbow Dash and Gilda cuddle each other with their wings. "It's never truly gone, I don't think."

"It's such a beautiful thing!" cried out Rarity, sobbing lightly with joy.

"Hey! I've got a real great idea!" yelled our Pinkie Pie, bouncing up and down on the spot. "Why don't we throw a we-just-made-a-new-friend party?"

"I think that would be a great idea," agreed Twilight with a nod, along with everyone else's approval. "It would be good if Gai'vahros could join us, too, so we can throw it for him as well."

Almost as if on cue, the winged elf swooped down from over the building behind them before gently setting foot onto the grass below. His wings dissipated into flickers and fragments of golden light as he approached them. "I hope I haven't missed anything," he spoke with a smile.

"You just missed something quite spectacular," responded Twilight before turning back to Rainbow Dash and Gilda, both of whom were now having small yet friendly talk between themselves. "It's always great to have a new friend -- especially one that was once someone we didn't like."

"You're not going to go into all that "friendship is magic" lecture, are you, my Lady Twilight?"

She giggled a little. "Only if you want me to, Gai'vahros." She paused for a moment before turning to him. "When you went to the hospital, did you know about all of this?"

"Well, I guess you could say I had a small hand in it, yes. Gilda told me everything."

Twilight let out a gentle sigh of relief. "Healing ponies, befriending royalty, and now mending bonds thought broken. You're a real miracle worker, Gai'vahros. Just look." She turned her head to Rainbow Dash. "I haven't seen her this happy in… well, since they both met each other all those months ago."

"I'm not a miracle worker," retorted Gai'vahros. "I just help out in whatever way I can. That is my duty, after all."

Before Twilight could respond, Pinkie Pie bounced in the elf's face. "Hey, Gai'vahros," she spoke excitedly, "you're gonna come to our we-just-made-a-new-friend party, right?"

"Oh! Uh, sure."

"And don't forget to bring crumpets this time!"

Chapter 1 - Prologue

The day-born sun gave a bright calming glow upon the magnificent architecture of the old elven city of Silvermoon City. As the rays of the light beamed down upon the desecrated grounds of the plaza it nonetheless gave the surrounding an aura of life around it; the gold trims around the rims of pathways. The underside of balconies and the frames of doors and windows glistened and dazzled. The gemstones embedded into the walls of the city itself and the buildings that were nestled within the confines of elven architecture refracted light like morning dew in the autumn days, while the transparent curtains hung upon the building doorways transformed the light into hues of red, gold and blue to give untold magic in the eyes of those who could witness this illumination.

Regardless of the splendour, wonder and grandeur of Silvermoon, it still remained shell of its former glory; a husk that has been left behind in favour of greater places. Among the dancing flowers that float upon arcane magic in mid air, the green fel crystals that suspend themselves in place with their own magic. It seemed that no one was here to enjoy the scenery of what was once one of the greatest cities that had ever existed.

Although, it wasn't all abandoned. Indeed, one lone blood elf, garbed in armour of pure gold and draped in fabrics of crimson and violet, proceeded down the stone path of the surrounding Court of the Sun; a plaza that had been built in two levels with a pair of stairs on either side of a large, gold fountain that allowed access to the higher plane. The elf strode on towards the fountain as he had a look of discern upon his complexion. Although he was happy to be back in what was still left of Silvermoon, he was sorrowful of what has become of it during the Third War, with Arthas' campaign across Quel'Thalas. He longed for the day that Silvermoon would be rebuilt back to its former glory. Regardless, the elf was not about to lose sight of what he can still do for his people instead of dabbling in events that has already happened.

"Has it really been three years?" the elf couldn't help but mutter to himself as he gazed around his surroundings. The masonry of the city around him spanned high into the skies as he began to take in the vivid colours of red and gold that pierced into his eyes. It reminded him of his old days as a recruit of the blood knights. "And yet the city still looks the same..." Sighing softly, the elf took a gold coin from out of his bag, twirling it around the fingers of his gold and leather gauntlet before grasping between a finger and thumb. "I just wish, someday soon, that we'll once again become what we once were, what this city once was, what our lives were like before the Scourge... selama ashal'anore." The coin was pushed upon the length of the elf's thumb before being flicked into the middle bowl of the large fountain that stood before him. He then made his way to the left-most stairway to the upper plane.

For many a time he had come here for one reason or another, but this time his presence was needed urgently. The elf looked up in front of him, the large ramp draped in a long red carpet, flanked by two large statues of beautiful blood elven women on pedestals, while the path itself was maintained by elven sentry. fifteen guards stood on each side, each garbed in royal sin'dorei plate and robes, carrying large tower shields and long, golden glaives. The elf couldn't remember the last time he had come to the Sunfury Spire, let alone the last time he was summoned here. Nonetheless, he proceeded to scale the ramp, his boots making soft noises as they passed from the stone paving onto the velvet carpet. He couldn't help but look to the sides as he walked, making eye contact with the guards. Some of them nodded to him in acknowledgement, while others gave a slight bow in respect.

As the elf reached the final incline his eyes gazed into the large open doorway of the main court inside the Sunfury Spire. The room was dark, but the glowing crystals that scattered in suspension around the outer area of the room gave the court a deep violet glow. The floor was draped in a large circular rose carpet with gold livery, again offering the grandeur of the importance of this particular area. It was, after all, once the royal family quarter of Silvermoon before the Third War. Giving a small sigh, the elf proceeded inside to be met with three other blood elves; Ranger-General of Silvermoon, Halduron Brightwing; Grand Magister Rommath; and, of course, the Regent Lord of Quel'Thalas, Lor'themar Theron. The three ceased a discussion among themselves, one that the elf could not pick up on despite his large ears, as they noticed the armoured warrior make his entrance.

"Ah, Gai'vahros," Lor'themar spoke aloud and clear, taking several steps forwards to greet the veteran elf. The Regent Lord had a small smile on his face, one that most of the blood elves, including his co-advisers, had not seen in a long time. "I'm glad you came as soon as you could. Again, I wish to thank you for assisting Rommath during the situation in Dalaran. Your expertise could not have benefited us any more than it did."

"Regent Lord, you praise me too much," Gai'vahros gave a small bow with a hand on his chest in gratitude to the praise that his racial leader was bestowing upon him. "I had only done what any other sin'dorei would have done in my place. It was ludicrous that our brethren would be purged from the city they had called their home."

"I understand your feelings, blood knight, but your actions have helped not only the innocents that had inhabited Dalaran, but you also helped us in rescuing members of the Sunreavers, as well as Aethas. Without him..."

"My Lord, where is Aethas?" Gai'vahros peered a little over the shoulder of Theron, not noticing the former councilman of the Kirin Tor. "Was he not supposed to be joining us today?"

"Ah, yes, Aethas has asked me to apologize on his behalf. It seems that... his pants were ruined when they were flung from the spire's balcony into the fountain. Not that that's anything new, mind you." Lor'themar couldn't help but give a small chuckle, as did Gai'vahros. "As I had told you the day before, Gai'vahros, I am to make the next move upon what has transpired in Dalaran. As well as the rangers, the blood magi, and the Sunreavers, I am bolstering the ranks with the blood knights as well."

"Blood knights as well?" Gai'vahros was astounded by the immense force in which the regent Lord was amassing against Dalaran. It was enough that he was pressing the attack with a legion of blood magi and rangers, to which could probably match the Alliance armies of Stormwind, but now also adding the blood knights to the equation too. "I assume you're suggesting I tag along for the battle as well?"

"Tag along? Gai'vahros, had you been such a novice, harkening back to your initiate years, you'd be a foot soldier. But, your abilities are astounding. You served our kind greatly during the Outland campaign against Kael'Thas, you helped bring the Northrend invasion to a close, and you prevented the Destroyer from achieving the cataclysm. Your powers, your skills, and your experiences are astounding. No, I don't want you to "tag along". I want you to help lead our forces to victory!"

"My Lord..." Gai'vahros could hardly believe it. At his core, at his foundation, he had always been an adventurer, walking a path that only lead him from one stranger to the next, gaining new experiences with each person he helped. It was the last thing that he could expect from the Regent Lord, naming him a commander of the blood elf forces. It was so unexpected that he had already began to feel the pressure of the position, but he could not let it get him down. The Regent Lord, a ranger himself, was cast as the leader of the blood elves despite his disdain for the job, but he still does it because there is no one else to turn to. That was what Gai'vahros needed to do today; to claim responsibility and to lead his people to victory, to salvation. "My Lord, you bestow upon me a great honour. I accept the position fully. I won't let you down."

"I know you won't, Gai'vahros." The Regent Lord extended an arm forward, placing it on the blood knight's shoulder. "You'll be commanding the blood knight offensive with Lady Liadrin. You'll have a lot of time to catch up while you're with her."

"Lord Regent," a voice called from the back of the room. Rommath was gazing in the direction of Lor'themar and Gai'vahros, "the portal to Quel'Danas is ready. By your orders..." It seemed that Rommath was using the translocation orb located near the seat of the Lord Regent to redirect its location from the Undercity to the Isle of Quel'Danas, an island north of Silvermoon that is part of the Quel'Thalas empire.

"Very good. Halduron, return to the Sunwell by your leave. Rommath, stay here to keep the portal open while we move our forces through. Gai'vahros, accompany Halduron to Quel'Danas. We'll send the blood knights shortly."

With the Regent Lord's plan set in motion, those who were given their orders proceeded as instructed. Halduron ventured first, disappearing into the bright green void, seemingly to its target location. As Gai'vahros approached, Rommath reeled back slightly, pulling his arms away as though a sudden surge of energy shot through his limbs throughout his body.

"Ahh!" Rommath gave out a small yell of pain as arcane energy began to flow violently through his arms. The portal remained although its visage began to shake and blur, the colours twisting in a spiral before Rommath placed his arms back forwards. "Some sort of magical surge... but I can maintain this. Go now, blood knight."

Gai'vahros was skeptical at first but nonetheless proceeded as ordered. However, as he stepped through the portal, another surge of energy raced through the surrounding area, sending out a powerful shockwave of arcane energy. While Gai'vahros was pulled into the portal, the energy caused it to explode outwards violently. Rommath and Lor'themar were sent flying away from the place of the portal, with the Grand Magister flung across the room and colliding against the wall, while the Regent Lord was sent flying out the doorway and onto the ramp, landing softly on the carpet. The guards surrounding the ramp looked on in shock, while a handful of them raced to their Regent Lord.

"My Lord, are you alright?" one spoke in concern.

"Has there been an intrusion?" another questioned, glaring at the Sunfury Spire.

"Do not, touch, THE HAIR!" Lor'themar yelled out as he shrugged off a guard who had misplaced his hand to a part he forbids anyone touching. Climbing back to his feet, the Regent Lord glanced forwards but noticed nothing strange within the Spire, as though nothing had happened. Rushing in, the elf looks around only to find the Grand Magister getting back up, his back pressed against the wall.

"My Lord... there's been some sort of disturbance! The portal, its composition changed as the blood knight walked through!" Rommath's voice was not without a sense of dread. The Regent Lord looked upon him before turning to where the portal once stood.

"Rommath, what are you saying? Where the hell did Gai'vahros go?!" Lor'themar couldn't help but feel agitated that once again his plans would suffer a setback. "Where did that portal lead to?"

"I'm sorry," Rommath shook his head. He proceeded to where the portal exploded, only to sense a large amount of energy that seemed to distort and disturb the arcane energies around the translocation orb. "The portal, when it changed, felt like nothing I'd felt before. He's not here, nor on Kalimdor. Probably not even on Azeroth itself..."

Meanwhile, the blood knight lay semiconscious upon dirt-ridden ground. He lay crumbled on his belly, his cape draping over his body in folds while his armour was tarnished in dirt and leaves. His eyes began to open slowly. Although he was expecting to see some form of darkness before him, he saw only the bright light as it shone upon emerald green grass. His eyes shifted to the side, looking up at the sky to see bright blue skylines, painted with dabs of clouds that floated through the air on gentle winds. Despite him wanting to move his body it seemed that it was not going to move easily. His whole body felt numb and his front felt bruised, prompting him to believe that he had fallen from height. With as much strength as he could muster, he placed his hands upon the ground and pushed his body up. Shifting one leg under himself, he supported himself to all fours before gazing up at his surroundings.

Gai'vahros could not believe what he saw in front of him. It was almost as though he found himself in a fantasy land; flowers of a multitude of colours danced in the breeze in a waltz with the blades of grass, the trees grew to such large sizes in singles and groups, and the sky was much clearer than Azeroth's. The architecture too was nothing Gai'vahros had seen before, although it reminded him subtly of Gilnean design. The houses and buildings were of thatched roofs with beige or cream plastered walls, decorated in strips of pink with paler pink windows. For Gai'vahros, it seemed all too... pink.

"Ahhhhh!"

Gai'vahros winced as his ears pricked upwards, hearing a loud scream from behind him. Turning around, he saw a small yellow filly with a cherry-red mane.

"It's a giant evil hedgehog... thang!"

"Huh...?" Gai'vahros couldn't help but look up at his own hair, using one hand to brush at his ponytail. But, more importantly, he was surprised at seeing a talking horse. "Anar'alah, you've got to be kidding me..."

Chapter 10 - Elven Slumber Party

Darkened upon starry skies as a canvas of indigo stretched upon the world, the sun had finally set in the distance as night time dawned upon Ponyville. Far off upon the blackened horizon a object that looked like a chariot passed from east to west, pulled by several pegasi as they heaved the object across the yonder. Silence was all that remained of the pony folk who returned to their homes, with only the sounds of the night owls and the chirps of crickets in the flora within the outskirts of the village.

However, all lights were out except within the Golden Oak Library. Within the hollowed out old tree were Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Spike and Gai'vahros. Twilight was stood over the tree trunk table in the middle of the room, making sure all of her equipment were cleaned from the alchemy earlier while Applejack and Spike were cleaning up the books that Twilight was looking over after they had returned from their trip. Gai'vahros and Rainbow Dash sat over at a table near the left side of the doorway, with the blood elf sharing one of his many stories.

"Then, suddenly, me and the rogue sprinted through the Dead Scar, avoiding all of the undead as they swung their sickly, bony arms and swinging their blackened, corroded swords," Gai'vahros was trying to tell this story like an action adventure, but Rainbow Dash was hearing it like a horror story, what with the mention of undead. "while this huge, decrepit, rotting abomination ran at us; a hatched in one of its rotting hands, a chained hook in the other, and a sickle in its third hand attached to its shoulder, yelling "LUZRAN CRUSH YOU!" Then, as we got into the open, I turned and pounded him into the ground while the rogue was dancing around behind it, stabbing until he dropped into a huge pile of meat!"

"U-uh… t-that's cool, Gai," Rainbow Dash was almost on the edge of her seat. A bead of sweat dropped from her forehead down her cheek. "S-so is that, y'know, the end of it?" she was getting nervous at Gai'vahros' flailing arms and twisted facial expression as he re-enacted the scenes enforced only the horror atmosphere of his tale.

"Oh, of course not; we've still got the other two acts to go through, yet." Gai'vahros gave a smile, oblivious to the fact that Rainbow Dash was getting uncomfortable hearing about risen creatures, skeletons, zombies and such, although the pegasus was far to prideful to admit it. She let out a soft, barely audible, squeak as she realised that she had to sit through another half hour of Gai'vahros' grim storytelling.

"C'mon now, Gai, don't be spoilin' plots without the rest of us," Applejack intervened, suggesting that the elf should tell his stories when everyone is gathered. With her pausing Gai'vahros, Rainbow Dash sighed in relief with her friend getting him to hold his tongue. "why don'tchya wait 'til tomorrow an' we can go camping or somethin'?"

"That sounds like a great idea," Twilight joined in with encouraging words while she began lifting her alchemy equipment and other tools with her magic, storing them into a nearby cupboard that sat under a book shelf. "tomorrow we can go meet Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, then you guys can all go camping."

""You guys"?" Gai'vahros repeated, turning to Twilight who was now examining two gems on a desk near the right side of the door, opposite from Rainbow Dash and the elf. "You aren't coming with us, my Lady Twilight?"

"Well someone has to look after the library," Twilight replied, her eyes fixated upon the gems. "and I don't really want to keep Spike here on his own overnight."

"Oh, you worry too much, Twilight," Rainbow Dash spoke up, "you're always workin' and keeping your head in your books. You and Spike can come with us, and stop worrying about looking after the place."

"Sure 'nuff, sugar cube. You barely ever get any time to yaself," Applejack responded in kind towards Twilight's excuses, finally finishing helping Spike with re-shelving the books. "the fresh air will do the both of ya a world of good."

"Come on, Twilight," Spike pleaded, pressing his hands together and giving her the puppy dog eyes. "we rarely ever get to hang out all together! And I wanna hear more of Gai's awesome butt-kicking stories!"

"Oh, okay, okay," it seemed that with everyone's approval, and Spike's cute little face, Twilight caved in with their requests, giving a soft sigh mixed with a small giggle before turning back to the two stones that sat upon her table. "but I really want to study these two stones first. I just can't believe that nothing in any of my spell books have anything in relation to space travel, besides the teleportation spell. I've just… never seen anything like this before."

"It's not something that can easily be explained, my Lady Twilight," Gai'vahros stood, making his way over to the table. Both of the stones were, in fact, Gai's possessions; the pet stone and mount stone, which Rainbow Dash had gotten from her house before leaving Cloudsdale. The pet stone was made of a glistening amber, round cut, swirling with oranges and purples like the dawning sun as its arcane magics danced and dazzled inside. The mount stone was of a more intricate oval cut, dark cobalt blue in colour that shined a more royal hue as light reflected off it, with indigos and violets swirling and spinning inside. "the magi who dabble in these arcane arts are capable of great feats like this, and then more. Perhaps this is something that cannot be replicated by your world?"

"No, I refuse to believe that," Twilight retorted, not able to conceive that there is magic that cannot be replicated, not able to imagine that Equestria's magic does, indeed, have a limit. "I'm willing to bet that somewhere in Canterlot library's Star Swirl the Bearded wing there's something that can replicate this magic, or something close to it."

"Careful, my Lady Twilight," Gai'vahros warned the unicorn, putting a silk hand upon her shoulder. "magic is not something you should pursue without control over it. Even if you did find something that can replicate this, or similar, then what? Will you blindly practice such power without prior knowledge of its nature or if you can control it? Remember; to seek power is a goal, but to abuse it is an end. Don't allow temptation to create risks."

"How do you know so much about magic, Gai'vahros," Twilight turned her head to the elf, who was still looking at the stones. "have you experienced such a disaster with the use of abused magic?"

"No, not a disaster. A full-blown war," Gai'vahros responded with a more serious expression on his face as well as in his voice. Twilight, on the other hand, looked more shocked than interested. "we called it the "Nexus War". Maybe we'll talk about it tomorrow around the campfire, if you're interested?" Gai'vahros gave a lighter smile as he offered her his tale, giving her a light shove as he gave her more incentive to join them on their camping trip.

"Yeah, but there's just one small problem," Rainbow Dash strained as she rolled her eyes. "how the heck are we gonna get Fluttershy, of all ponies, to come on a camping trip with us? You know what she's like; as soon as she hears a rustle in the trees she'll duck under the covers."

"I take it this "Fluttershy" friend of yours doesn't do too well in the dark?" Gai'vahros was rather intrigued by this friend of theirs.

"Dark, light, and every shade in between," Rainbow Dash joked as she gave a little smirk. "for lack of a better phrase she's a big scaredy-cat."

"Now, Rainbow Dash, you know that ain't a nice thing to say 'bout Fluttershy," Applejack reprimanded Rainbow Dash for her rather harsh tongue. "Fluttershy is… well, like her name says, shy. But she can also be pretty timid at times."

"Yeah, times between midnight and midnight."

"Hah, she sounds like a peach," Gai'vahros chuckled as he took a seat near the window, sitting next to Twilight on the opposite side of the room from Rainbow Dash. "I just hope that she isn't intimidated by my presence like most others around here."

"I… probably wouldn't get your hopes up if I were you, Gai," Twilight hesitated for a moment but even she couldn't deny that Fluttershy is easily intimidated by strangers, at least ones who weren't other ponies. "but I think if you allow me to introduce you first she'll be a lot more comfortable around you."

"Hm, that makes sense," the blood elf nodded in agreement, making a mental note of sticking behind Twilight and waiting to be introduced, all the while smiling to present himself more friendly to the shy pony. "I guess it's a good thing that I've not got back the entirety of my equipment just yet; nothing is more intimidating than a guy with a weapon at his side, right?"

"Heh, you could say that again." Twilight found some sort of satirical humour in Fluttershy being face to face with a sword-wielding elf in full armor, although she didn't entertain the thought long enough to get any ideas from it. "I guess I can continue studying these stones after we've finished our camping trip. Thanks for letting me take a look at these, Gai'vahros."

"Not at all, my Lady Twilight," replied Gai'vahros, placing his hand over the two stones, both of which were only half of his hand in size, gaining a light grip into them before pulling them to himself, pocketing them. "I'm sorry that you weren't able to delve into their secrets. Perhaps, after our camping trip, we can visit this library you were talking about?"

"It's not really that simple, Gai'vahros," Twilight shook her head. "the wing is heavily guarded both day and night. It took a lot of effort for me to get into it the first time round."

"Well, that's only because you were a bit coo-coo trying to get in in the first place, Twilight," Spike intervened, showing that it was because of Twilight's approach that made entrance difficult. "but the guards let you in when they recognized ya. You're the princess' student, after all."

"Well, now that you mention it, you're right," Twilight agreed after almost forgetting about how she managed to gain access without need of all the espionage, much to her chagrin. "but I can't guarantee that Gai'vahros will be able to come in with me. I don't even know if he'll be able to set foot on castle grounds."

"You've no need to worry about me, my Lady Twilight," Gai'vahros reassured her, giving a comforting smile. "If I'm not allowed within the library then that's okay; I can always wait for you outside of the library, right? And, you never told me you were the student of royalty. That's quite an accomplishment."

"Heh, well, I didn't want to come off as bragging," Twilight blushed a little as the elf complimented her. "and I don't want to leave you outside while I take your gems with me. Also, they won't let me take any of the scrolls or parchments outside of the archives."

"I trust you, my Lady Twilight. You've done a lot to aid me in the short time I've spent here thus far that I have no reason to deny you of such a trivial request. Besides, I could always take a walk around Canterlot and do a bit of sightseeing."

"Well, if you're perfectly sure about it…"

"Sure I'm sure. Maybe I can meet this "princess" of yours, too. It would be dishonourable of me to visit Her Majesty's city without introducing myself."

"Hehe, I'm sure Princess Celestia will be most appreciative of that, Gai'vahros."

"Ah, well I think it's time we all catch some Z's," Rainbow Dash interrupted with a rather loud yawn, stretching her forelegs to the sides and arching her back backwards. "and I don't really fancy flying all the way back to Cloudsdale. Mind if I crash here, Twilight?"

"Sure thing, Rainbow Dash." Twilight responded in agreement although she began to think about sleeping arrangements and how she was going to fit everyone in.

"What about you, Applejack? You gonna crash with us, too?"

"Naw, I can't do that," Applejack refused politely while heading to the door. "I don't wanna leave everyone at home hangin', wonderin' where I've been all day. I'm gonna head home and make sure Apple Bloom isn't past her bed time. G'night, y'all." Apple Jack gave her goodbyes as he made herself out, closing the door behind her.

"Uh, Twilight? What're we gonna do about beds and stuff?" Spike was on the ball when he questioned about sleeping arrangements, seeing as there was only one bed for Twilight and a small one for himself.

"I know it's not an awful lot, but there are a couple of spare mattresses in the basement," Twilight responded although she was embarrassed that it wasn't much for the two guests. "but I don't have any sheets or covers to go with them. Spike, could you go grab them for me?" Spike nodded as he dashed down the stairwell to the basement floor.

"Nah, that's okay, Twi," Rainbow Dash assured her friend that it wasn't a downer for the pegasus. "we'll just sleep down here. And who needs covers, anyway?"

"Well, okay, if you're sure about that." Twilight reluctantly agreed to cater to Rainbow Dash' wishes before noticing Spike struggling with the two rather large mattresses on his back before giving him a helping hand with her magic. "Ah, thanks Spike. We should be off to bed anyway. Good night, guys."

"Yeah, good night, guys." Spike repeated as both he and Twilight made their way up to the first floor.

"Goodnight." both Rainbow Dash and Gai'vahros responded, with the blood elf giving a little wave of his hand. Twilight had left both of the mattresses side by side, to which Rainbow Dash quickly pounced upon as she sunk into the soft springs.

"Eh, this doesn't feel right," Rainbow Dash complained as she kept shuffling on top of it but, after a moment, just got off entirely. "it's too soft. I can feel the floor press against my back." Gai'vahros gave a little chuckle before picking up the mattress next to him, tossing it onto the pegasi's. "Gai, what're you doing?"

"What does it look like?" Gai'vahros said sarcastically as he took a seat at one of the tables, reclining against it. "I'm giving you my mattress. You shouldn't have to worry about being uncomfortable now."

"But what about you?" Rainbow Dash felt bad taking his mattress, wondering how he was going to sleep tonight.

"I'll just sleep on the chair. Don't worry, I'm used to this. And besides, the mattress is too small for me."

"Oh… well, thanks, Gai." Rainbow Dash was grateful for Gai'vahros making sure she had a good night sleep, laying back down on the stacked mattresses. It felt a lot better for the her, reminding her of what laying on a cloud felt like, although more dense. However, as a few moments passed, Gai'vahros noticed that Rainbow Dash began to shiver. Although he couldn't see it in her body, her wings quivered in the cold. The blood knight got up slowly and, placing a hand on one shoulder, unclipped the cape from his left shoulder pad, and then the right. Walking over to Rainbow Dash, Gai'vahros gently draped his cape over the pegasus like a blanket, which caused Rainbow Dash to turn around as he made his way back to his seat. "H-hey, I told you I don't need any covers."

"Like hell you don't," Gai'vahros said with a smirk, sitting back down. "the shaking in your wings tell me otherwise."

"Oh. Right… thanks, Gai. G'night." Rainbow Dash said softly as she tucked herself under the cape to keep herself warm, with only her head sticking out. Her eyes closed as she began to drift to sleep. "Oh, and Gai? I think your hair and shoulder pads look awesome..."

"Heh. Thanks. Goodnight…"

Chapter 26 - Bad First Impressions

With the roaring of its steam engine and the powerful chugs coming from the pistons and the driving wheels, the train sped down the single path of tracks towards Canterlot with speeds that Gai'vahros could not believe were possible for a vehicle of such size and mass.

The cabins were large both tall and wide. The walls were mainly just arches carved to fit in round-topped windows that were much larger than any pony, framed by the light colour of medium oak while the rest of the dome-shaped walls were plastered with a light cream shade. The ceiling and flooring were of a strong turquoise hue, with the corridor of the floor lined with a strip of green carpet decorated with large swirls.

"Are you absolutely sure that we're not in the royal suite?" asked Gai'vahros in concern, lightly bouncing up and down on his seat, feeling the comfort of the soft cushions underneath him.

"For the last time, Gai'vahros," exclaimed Twilight as though she could spare little more patience for the elf, "all of the carriages on all of the trains have these kind of seats."

"You allergic to comfort or somethin', Gai?" asked Applejack sarcastically.

"No, of course not," he responded in dismissal. "It's just that none of the carriages back home have anything like this save for the human royalties of Gilneas and Stormwind. Even the Regent Lord and the royal house of Sunstrider never had this kind of luxury when taking transport. It feels… out of place for me."

"Even so, for all of the things you have done for us, this is the least we can do for you." Twilight gave a soft giggle as she got herself comfortable on her seat. "Just sit back and enjoy it while you can."

Gai'vahros relented, submitting to her reason. "I guess you're right." The elf placed an arm on the window sill, glaring and admiring the view before him. The countryside past by slowly as he gazed into the distance, watching the sloping green and gold fields pass on by slowly to the gentle dawning of the sun. The colours of the sky emblazoned a light orange tint over the lands, striking upon the great clouds that drifted on by. "I remember the times when I used to sit upon the banks of the Elrendar River with my sister and stare at the sundown. They say that Silvermoon is the last place on Azeroth where one can watch the sunset."

"You miss your own home, don't you?" spoke Rarity.

"Only it's older years, back when I could actually call it "home". Now it's just decorated ruins of what it once was. My home is everywhere, as it is for any adventurer."

"But what about your people?"

"My loyalties still remain with them, do not construe that much. But my people and my home are two different things -- homes can be rebuilt at any time, and a person can move from one home to another, but your friends and your kin and your family never change. An elf lost is an elf lost."

Rarity looked away for a moment, pondering. "I guess so…"

"Hypothetically speaking, my Lady Rarity, what would you rather lose: your boutique, or your sister?"

The Unicorn gasped, physically hurt by his words. "Gai'vahros! How could you ask such a thing? We all know I'd pick little Sweetie Belle over anything!"

"But that's what I'm trying to say. Anyone would pick their people before anything. Even if I do not think of Silvermoon as my home, my people are still my family. Nothing will change that."

A tense silence fell before the train aside from the pistons and engine at work. The elf's words began to cause the group to reflect upon his words, Twilight especially. She was more aware of this more than most, as Canterlot used to be her home until she settled in Ponyville. But it was her friends who made the place her home. Without them, Ponyville would have just been another town like any other.

"You think the rest of the elves are okay, Gai?" asked Rainbow Dash, almost worried for them as much as she would be her own friends.

"Us elves have always been strong, my Lady Rainbow Dash, throughout all of our history. Through the War of the Ancients to the Troll Wars to the Scourge Invasion to the Burning Crusade, we have shown our unfaltering will and our indomitable strength countless times. I don't foresee much trouble for my people for some time to come."

"Are all y'all elves as great as you, Gai? Sounds like y'all could handle yaselves in a bull ring with only a chair and a stick."

"I would like to think so," replied Gai'vahros with a chuckle and a smile. "The blood elves have made so many advancements in warfare in the last decade or so. blood magi, blood knights, spell breakers, the elven rangers, mana bombs, arcane constructs -- all of these created by high or blood elven hands. Sometimes I wonder what the next big thing we'll bring to our world could be."

Twilight let out a heavy sigh, her eyes closed as she shook her head. "A shame that all of these wonderful 'inventions' are all for the art of war," she spoke with mild disdain.

"Yeah… you're right." It wasn't hard for Gai'vahros to understand how Twilight felt about all of this talk of fighting and killing when compared to the mentality of a human or an orc, for he himself did not find much love in the prospect of killing others because that's what they were told to do by their own superiors. It definitely wasn't what a paladin or a blood knight should be doing.

Before the conversation could prolong much more a rather slender pony in a blue uniform and cap made his way through one of the carriage doors, sporting a yellow coat and dark brown eyes, greeting with a cheerful smile. "Next stop to Canterlot in ten minutes," he called out before retreating back through the door.

"Looking forward to your first visit, Gai'vahros?" asked Twilight, visibly excited that she could get to show the elf around another place, to have a second shot at feeling academic.

He sighed as a first response. "I'm not entirely sure." He shifted on his seat a little, getting room to place one leg over the other as he reclined back on the seat. "I know you said they are nice and all, but I can't help but feel like an oddity. I doubt anyone in Canterlot has even seen an elf before." Twilight only drew silence as a response. "Oh, that's a point," spouted Gai'vahros, "I was told that they were going to do some sort of public advertisement of your new dresses, my Lady Rarity."

"W-w-w-WHAT!?" A white veil fell over the unicorn's already white-as-snow face, shocked and astonished by what she had been told. "A-are you sure? How do you know about this?"

"Well, while I was in Ponyville, I met with someone who came from Canterlot to buy your new dress -- the one that based off my clothes. Apparently your dress was selling really well and they were going to market it and others in Canterlot. Did you not get her notice?"

"I… haven't checked my mail for the last few days. I was busy making dresses and all, and I haven't been home since our camping trip."

"Oh. Well, we can always go see it after our business with your Princess."

The train ran along high above the ground as it turned onto a tall railway bridge of solid stone, supported by arched columns a hundred feet high -- a feeling that Gai'vahros did not like despite having a multitude of experiences with heights. As he looked out the window, he could see a guard house on a platform manned by a royal guard, paired with a second on the opposite side, with lances crossed over to signify their status as sentries. The two of them recoiled their weapons as the train began to slow, gently approaching the platform a little further down. The locomotive turned steadily along a roundabout-like rail, slowing and eventually stopping at the platform, signified by the sudden sound of released steam from the engine.

The door to the front of the cabin receded to the side as the train conductor once again made his presence known, never faltering with that smile of his. "The train to Canterlot has just arrived," he announced with a degree of enthusiasm. "Please enjoy your stay."

With a stretch of their limbs, the group stood to their legs and exited onto the station. However, as they began to file from the doorway onto the platform, a small lance of guards no more than six made their way to the docked train. Or rather, towards Twilight.

"Hail, Twilight," the pony at the front saluted, signifying his status as captain among his squad, with the others behind him following suit. "We've been tasked with ensuring your safe arrival here. Glad to see you made it safely."

"There wasn't any issues, Sir," responded Twilight with courtesy, making sure to show respect to what was essentially her superior in position, "but thank you for the concern. I assume you're the group heading back into Ponyville?"

"Correct. The Princess believes that we will be capable of handling whatever hostility you have reported. We will also be investigating the outskirts of the village to see if we can find any signs or clues as to what we're dealing with."

"A death knight." Gai'vahros stepped forwards as though speaking to them on equal ground if not as though he was superior to them. "An ebon knight of the blackest of hearts has stepped from my world into yours. If it were up to me, I would advise you to proceed with absolute cautions and with no recklessness--"

"But it is not up to you, hedgehog man," the captain snapped back, irate that this creature would speak to him as though he was of higher authority of even the Princess. "That reminds me -- are you not the same person who created so much commotion in Cloudsdale the other day? Something to do with destroying property and evading arrest, if my memory serves me correctly."

Twilight raised an eyebrow before turning it into a light scowl, directed fully at Gai'vahros. "Exactly what does he mean by that, Gai'vahros?" she questioned with a tone of disappointment. "Is this the same thing that the other guards were talking about in Ponyville?"

"Well… when I went to apologize to Lady Rainbow Dash I had a bit of a run in with the law… and stuff."

"You never told me you got in trouble with Cloudsdale guards!" roared Twilight, her face almost in Gai'vahros' if not for the fact he was a few inches taller than her.

"Well it matters not," the captain intervened before marching past the group with his group behind him, glaring at Gai'vahros as he passed him by. "If Cloudsdale sees you as nothing as a nuisance then that's their business, but if you pull anything here in Canterlot then you can be sure that we'll haul your flank straight to Princess Celestia! Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal."

"Good." The captain stood by the door as the rest of his group followed him inside one by one." We'll see you whence you return to Ponyville. Good luck, Miss Twilight." The door slid shut as the train began to choo, spinning its wheels slowly as it began to set off from the station.

Twilight still kept her eyes fixated on the blood elf. "You do realise that we're going to have to talk about this little "commotion" you caused in Cloudsdale, right, Gai'vahros?"

"Yup."

Without much further word on the subject, Twilight proceeded to the station's exit and into Canterlot with the others close behind her and Gai'vahros at her side.

Gai'vahros didn't think that Equestrian architecture could get more dynamic than what he had already seen beforehand, but seeing the sites of Canterlot only served to impress him more than ever before. His head looked and scoured around at the buildings, spires and towers that loomed overhead and into the distance. His eyes were drawn to the marvel of the intricate style of architecture, taken by the similar style of Gilnean masonry yet honed to perfection, bathed in the purest of white and decorated in the beauty of golds and lilacs. He loved how the light shades of the green paving and footpaths complimented the rest of the kingdom elegantly, coupled with the colours of the pale blue sky overhead.

Rarity took a deep breath of the fresh air. "Just being in Canterlot never ceases to make me feel so… alive!" she exclaimed with great energy as though the atmosphere here completely rejuvenated her. It wasn't much surprise to Gai'vahros, though -- he expected that someone would such class and sophistication like Rarity would find solace in a place like this.

"Well, it is a pretty fancy place, hon," spoke Applejack, "so you would fit perfectly here."

Twilight took notice to Gai'vahros' amazement at what he was seeing around him, smiling in comfort of his visible like for the place. She, too, began to take in the view of Canterlot around her despite knowing it so well, as though just seeing him enjoy the scenery made her appreciate it all the more. "So what do you think of Canterlot, Gai'vahros?"

The elf put a hand on his hip to create the façade of appearing cool, though it was still apparent that he felt like he was a little kid opening the biggest of his birthday presents. "The place looks amazing, my Lady Twilight," he responded calmly. "It reminds me a lot of Gilneas back home but just with more… finesse. Elegance. It's like if our high elven architecture and Gilnean architecture merged into a single style, it would look like this."

"Glad to see you offer it so much praise." Turning her Head, Twilight laid eyes upon the castle that stood before her in the distance, with Gai'vahros following suit as soon as he noticed that she looked beyond him. "That's where we're heading, Gai'vahros. That's where we'll meet with the Princess." The young Unicorn lead the group onwards towards the castle.

Gai'vahros took a deep breath and exhaled heavily before brushing his hair to one side. "Right. I guess we should meet with her as soon as."

"You nervous, Gai?" asked Rainbow Dash, hovering just behind the blood knight.

"It's not every day that I get to meet with royalty. Even when I was a young recruit I never got to so much as catch a glimpse of Kael'thas or his father before him, let alone formally meet either of them. I'm more experienced with meeting with commanders and captains."

Rainbow Dash smiled, nudging the elf's shoulder lightly. "Hey, you'll be fine. Just act like you normally do, make sure not to say anythin' stupid, and don't get stuck onto any walls."

"That's not funny, Lady Rainbow Dash."

"Sure it is," she replied as she heard a small giggle behind her. "Even Fluttershy thought it was funny."

A small gasp came from Fluttershy, paired with a small blush. "Well, um… I didn't really find it that funny," she spoke before squeaking, "I'm sorry…"

Applejack wasn't paying much attention to the hilarity before her, still lumbered with thoughts about Ponyville. "You think it was a good idea to leave the youngins back at the library, Twilight?"

"I think so," she replied with half-hearted confidence. "Only the names of those inscribed on the ward stone can get through the barrier I've put up, so whoever we're after shouldn't be able to get through. But, I don't know much about who we're facing. Can this death knight get around our barrier, Gai'vahros?"

"I wouldn't think so. Death knights are known to be incredibly resistant to magic but not known to combat it to great effect. I doubt they would have the power to bring down such a powerful barrier on their own."

"That makes me feel a lil' better," appreciated Applejack, smiling a little.

"Have you any word on Twilight's arrival, guard?"

The royal court stood tall as the ceiling reached heights of several meters, surrounded by cascades of bright colours shining through stained glass windows of great proportions, shining off of the black and white marble tiled floor. A tall, dark indigo Alicorn stood at the top of a single set of stairs that branched off to the sides, lined with royal red carpet. The Alicorn stood with great authority, her mane and tail flowing like a gentle stream of the darkest of shades yet glistening in the brightest of sparkles. Her large and powerful wings were folded back against her sides, their small appearance deceived their grand size.

"Yes, Princess," the guard responded with a bow, "they are on their way here now, I have been told."

"Good. Be sure to--"

The doors to the court slowly opened as two guards on the opposite side pushed the heavy oak gates open to reveal Twilight and the rest of her companions. Quickly they made their way inside although Gai'vahros saw no such hurry as they were already there, opting to stroll along from the rear. He was, after all, just a tagalong.

"Oh!" called out Twilight in surprise. "Is Princess Celestia not here?"

"She will be along shortly, Twilight, but I -- Who is that behind you?" The Alicorn raised her foreleg, pointing towards the complacent blood elf that stood behind the group. "I won't allow unknown hedgehog monsters in the castle!"

"You don't understand. This is--"

"I'm getting sick and tired of this," exclaimed Gai'vahros, aggression fixated upon his face as he stormed forwards. "I'm tired of stupid pea-brained horses like you calling me a hedgehog! Get it through your stupid, thick skull that I don't even look remotely like a hedgehog, so shut your damn snout before I shut it for you!"

The entire room stood gobsmacked. Not a single pony could begin to take it what just happened.

Applejack tried to speak for a moment, but could only lip her words. "…Tell me…" she was able to croak, "please tell me he did not just say that…"

The Alicorn gritted her teeth in anger before bursting out with a loud, powerful, commanding voice. "You would DARE speak to me in such manner!? I shall teach you manners!" Her large horn on her forehead began to glow a bright, powerful indigo shine before firing a stream of dark energy towards her adversary.

Gai'vahros did not waver, raising his large shield in front of him, blocking the equine's attack and reflecting it upwards, causing it to destroy a small segment of the marble ceiling and rain fragments between them. "Your dark magic will never find its way through my defences!" The knight charged through the hall towards the stairs, his shield held front of him. "You will fall before me, girl!"

"No, wait!" cried out Twilight in desperation. "Stop, Gai'vahros!"

It was much too late, though. Heavy iron thuds on the carpet drowned out most of Twilight's plea, but it was the fact that the Alicorn dared to insult Gai'vahros and physically provoke him that kept him heading straight. Rearing his arm back, the blood knight flung his shield as hard as he could, spinning through the air. The equine was not one to be easy hit by conventional means, however, as she ducked low to avoid the boomerang-like shield as it quickly returned to Gai'vahros. The mare rose her head sharply, swinging her horn upwards at the now close blood elf as though it were a sword, clashing with the defensive blood knight's barrier of gold.

"Hmph," the Alicorn huffed with reluctance to praise her enemy. "You're not too bad, monster."

"I'm not even using my skills, girl," reprimanded Gai'vahros. Rearing his right hand back, a bright golden glow enveloped his clenched fist, blasting outwards as soon as he thrust his open palm into the chest of the Alicorn. A bright blast of holy energy erupted and shocked the mare, sending her toppling backwards several feet onto the landing coupled with a fierce cry of shock, surprise and pain. Gai'vahros slowly proceeded up the steps with gentle strides before stopping in front of the Alicorn, his gaze fixated upon her fallen and weakened body. "I've no quarrel with you, pony. We've only come to speak with your "Princess Celestia"."

"And here I am." The shining snow white coat of another large Alicorn, much larger than the one that lay beat in front of the elf, shone through the hall as the rays of light glistened off of her body. Her massive, broad wings outstretched to the side as though given to signify her presence or even to display intimidation. Her hair and tail flowed through the air in all the colours of the morning sky as though she was its avatar. Her eyes widened in shock as she gave a gasp. "What in all of Equestria's history is going on here!?"

"P-Princess!" stuttered Twilight, rushing up the stairs with her friends following close by. "I'm so, so sorry for what my friend here has done. Please forgive him…!"

The fallen Alicorn looked up towards the Princess, still reeling from the sudden strike that the blood elf had delivered to her, slowly she stood to her feet, groggily. "You couldn't have picked a better time…"

"Twilight," the Princess called out in audible frustration, "exactly who have you brought here? And why has he attacked Luna?"

"I'm so sorry, Princess. This is Gai'vahros Dawnbreaker -- an elf from another world who knows the most about the threat I reported to you. He was the one, in fact, who conducted the letter I sent. And… I think he was provoked into confrontation…"

"My Lady Twilight, why do you conduct yourself with such an apologetic stance," intervened Gai'vahros. "It was my own fault that this happened and no one else's -- especially not yours." His gaze shifted to Luna, whose sharp dagger-like eyes pierced back at him. "And who is this pony, anyway?"

"Gai'vahros… this is Princess Luna. She's the younger sister of Princess Celestia…"

The tension grew thick enough to smother a bear at this point. Time seemed to stop for the blood elf though he could still feel his heart race and his blood pump with each second that passed. His eyes fixated upon Princess Luna for a moment, then to Celestia, then to Twilight. He wanted to say something, to do something that could fix the problem, though his charisma was not nearly as effective and duct tape would be.

"Let me guess. I'm in trouble?"

"Yup."

"Probably going to get banished to the moon or the sun?"

"Most likely."

"… Buck…"