A Game of Chess

Chapters

Unraveling the Past
An Audience With the Princess
The Last Day
Into the Darkness
Fight and Flight
The Royal Decree
Revelations
Preparing for Midnight
The Winter Gala
The Midnight Dance
Setting the Stage
The Night Before the Journey
A Flash of Light
Crossing the Desert
The Mysterious Mercenary
An Unwilling Ally
The General's Ambush
The Underground Pass
Into the Light
Unwelcome Guests
Those Wreathed in Flames
A Foe Too Familiar
Crafting the Plan
The Rising Fire
Those Born in Darkness
A Wretched Inferno
Flame and Frost
Unanswered Questions
The Master of the Game
Fond Farewells
A Curse Called A Blessing
The Walkers of Eternity
Darkened Ashes
Behind the Curtain
The Shadows Beckon
Agonizing Memories
The Bitter Cold
A Simple Question
Whirlwind
A Dance of Blades
Stumbling Through
The Final Turn
Checkmate
The Aftermath
Where There is Light...
The Everfree Forest
A New Arrival

Unraveling the Past

Twilight Sparkle was furiously reading over the several books laid out before her. Of the hundreds of books available, she only found a select few that would help her with this. She grimaced to herself as she pored over the pages.

Who'd have thought that learning to fly would be so difficult? Even if she was new to having wings, Twilight didn't think that such a thing could be so irritating.

Then again, she reasoned to herself, learning magic took her years of studying, and she was trying to teach herself how to do a corkscrew when even Rainbow Dash took weeks to learn it.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Spike?" she called, "could you get that for me?"

"Sure thing, Twilight!" the young dragon replied, stepping over to and opening the door.

And then, surprising both of them, Checkmate's voice rang throughout the library.

"Twilight Sparkle," he said, as Spike jumped back in shock, "former student of Princess Celestia."

She turned towards the door, quickly. "Y-yes?" she asked, her voice a squeak.

The mysterious stallion simply walked inside, and glanced about the library.

"I've come here looking for a book," he replied, his voice as cold as she remembered it.

"W-well... we've got... uh... hundreds of books," Twilight said, uneasily. "What are you looking for... exactly?"

"It's called The Adventurer's Bestiary," Checkmate replied. "I'm certain that you've heard of it."

"O-oh, yeah!" Twilight stammered. "Spike! C-can you get it for us?"

The little dragon was holding said book in his claws no more than fifteen seconds after the words left her mouth, and was presenting it to Checkmate like a trophy.

"Here," he said, "it's all yours!" He added a bit of nervous laughter afterwords, as Checkmate looked it over.

"Indeed," the stallion mused, holding it in an odd way, with his hoof bent unnaturally over the cover, "this is exactly what I've been looking for."

Spike gulped. "What do need it for?" he asked, obviously trying to keep his voice from quivering.

"Research," the reply was so simple, yet so cold and unfeeling that the young dragon looked as if he were about to faint.

Twilight, on the other hoof, was pleasantly surprised by this. "You're a researcher?" she asked, the nervousness having left her voice. "What are you researching?"

Checkmate looked over at her. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, I mean that The Adventurer's Bestiary is a book that primarily focuses on monsters, so..." she paused.

The tan stallion said, with a face that was entirely straight. "Windigoes."

"That's odd," mused Twilight.

"How so?"

By this point, the two were engaging in a simple conversation, with Spike looking back-and-forth between the two as they spoke.

Twilight tapped her chin. "Well, I mean that the windigoes mostly died out centuries ago, so it's kind of odd that you'd be studying them."

This seemed to take Checkmate by surprise. "D-died out? What exactly do you mean by that?"

For the first time since he'd arrived to Ponyville, Checkmate was showing her some emotion, and over windigoes at that.

"Well, I mean that they were defeated by the six ponies years ago. You... do know the story, don't you?" Obviously he didn't, based on the look he was giving her.

The earth pony sighed. "Unfortunately, no. I've never heard that version in my life."

"What version... have you heard?" the alicorn asked, cocking her head.

"It's a bit..." Checkmate stopped as he tried to find the correct word, "darker... than that."

"Would you care to tell me...?"

"I'd rather not," he interrupted. "It used to traumatize me as a colt... usually followed by..." Checkmate stopped, then, and shivered, glanced around the room, and touched his hoof - the one not occupied by a book, of course - to his face, running it along one of the scars.

"Well, anyway..." Twilight was eager to change the subject, "why don't you come and see the production up in Canterlot with us? I mean, if you've never heard the actual story, then I think you'd enjoy it."

Anything to get him away from imagining whatever got him his scars. She, unlike a certain cyan pegasus, did not want to know how he had obtained them. Even if, normally, she would have wanted to research his past, there was something that just unsettled her - and everypony else, apparently - about Checkmate.

And then, what really surprised her, was when Checkmate lowered his hoof from his face, passed her a glance, and replied. "I think that I might, actually. I... need a bit of joy in my life at the moment, even if it's artificial. May I ask, when is this production?"

"Next week," Spike interjected, quickly.

The two of them turned towards him, looking surprised that he was there.

Checkmate appeared to be mulling it over for a few moments, and looked over at her, his eyes cold again. "Yes. I should still be here then. I'll agree to this, Twilight Sparkle."

"That's great!" the mare said, grinning. "I'm sure that Prin- er, Celestia would be really glad to know that... Oh! I almost forgot."

"Forgot what?" Checkmate asked.

Twilight glanced over at him. "Celestia told me that she wanted to speak with you. She said that she really wanted to meet you, and that you're really famous and all of this other stuff!" she paused, and frowned. "But... famous for what, exactly...? She never actually said..."

The stallion grimaced in reply. "Of course," he muttered, "I am to have an audience with Princess Celestia, aren't I?"

"What's wrong with that?" asked Twilight, confused.

"Nothing," Checkmate reassured her. "Nothing in the slightest. I've actually been hoping for this ever since I came here to Equestria. In fact, if this audience is so important, then I will go to Canterlot immediately."

"Great! I'll get us a chariot, and-"

"Nonsense. I'll walk."

Twilight's face contorted in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"I'll walk," replied the stallion, simply. "I've walked far more treacherous roads in my life. Roads that were longer and filled with monsters that would tear me apart at the slightest provocation -" he grimaced "- I should be fine simply walking to Canterlot."

"But..."

"Twilight Sparkle," Checkmate mused, "don't concern yourself with me. Ponies as innocent as you shouldn't try to understand my motivations."

"What does innocence have to do with it?" the purple alicorn asked, cautiously.

"Not much, truly," he admitted, "but Equestria is virtually a utopia. Certainly, there are... complications, but the creatures live together in harmony, the monsters that attack generally have good intentions or are forgiven and join society... What I mean to say is that, where I come from, the world isn't this bright and beautiful. I don't want to drag anypony down into the depths with me."

"But just talking to you isn't going to kill me!" Twilight protested.

"Not yet, anyway," Checkmate replied, "but I don't wish to chance it."

He turned, then, the book still held in his hoof, as he walked out of the library.

"Wait!" Twilight shouted, and Checkmate stopped.

"What is it?" he asked, quietly.

"Why... why are you so concerned about Equestria?" she demanded. "Why do you care so much about us ponies?"

He turned towards her, then. "My motivations are mine to suffer. I... There's much that I've done wrong in my life, and I intend to correct it, no matter what the cost." He glanced away. "Your friend, Rainbow Dash, was curious about me, as well, but I can't answer any questions."

"Why not?" asked Spike, and the two looked at him in surprise once more.

"Because if I were to tell anypony why I'm like this," Checkmate ran his hoof along his scar, again, "then I'm almost certain that, seeing how determined everypony in Equestria is, they would rush towards it in order to destroy it and save those like me. But I cannot allow that."

"Why not?" prompted the dragon, again.

"Because... nothing can destroy my enemy," Checkmate replied. "My foe is monstrous, evil, and immortal. He kills all who go anywhere near him with a joy that can only be described as 'sadistic'... and it was only by luck that I was able to escape him."

"Well... what's his name?" asked Twilight. "Who was it that did this to you?"

"I've already said too much," Checkmate said, quietly. "I can't say any more... but I will leave you with this, Twilight Sparkle: there is only one true evil in this world, and he's a monster. A monster that's worse than Hell itself."

And then, with that, Checkmate Vigarde exited the library, book in hoof, leaving Spike and Twilight staring after him.

"Hey, Twilight?" asked Spike, "why did Princess Celestia say she wanted to meet with Checkmate?"

The alicorn sighed. "She said it was important," she replied. "I just hope that she knows what she's doing. If what Checkmate says is true about this monster, than I expect us to need all the help we can get. Especially if he's going to speak with her directly."

"Why?"

"Because, Spike," Twilight replied, "it means that we may be in for the fight of our lives."

An Audience With the Princess

Canterlot.

A beautiful city, to be sure. The streets were lightly dusted with snow, and large, elaborate candy-canes stuck out of the ground at irregular angles.

But Checkmate wasn't there to see the sights. He wasn't there to see the homes, their outsides decorated with lights, or to see the ponies who were clad in outfits that made no functional sense.

No, he was there to see the palace. Or, more specifically, its interior.

The walk to Canterlot was most certainly easy for him. He had, after all, sprinted across areas that were ten times its size, and much more dangerous. If anything, it was only slightly inconvenient to walk there, and he hadn't broken a single sweat.

The city itself, on the other hand, was rather troublesome to him. All throughout it, he could see the ponies, some looking very wealthy, with clothing decorated with jewelry, and some who looked rather like the ponies in Ponyville, clad in simple clothing. However, they all acted the same around him.

They all stood back, allowing him to pass through the streets, their faces awash with terror at the mysterious stallion who passed them, his face adorned with scars.

Checkmate paid them no mind, however. He didn't care about what they thought of him. If he cared, then he wouldn't even bother going outside, much less traveling to the city containing the wealthiest and most elegant ponies in all of Equestria, who stared at him as if he were some kind of monster. It was rather irritating, however, to see the ponies run away as if he were attempting to kill them all.

He didn't even care as he heard a voice from behind him, cold and sharp.

"Excuse me, sir. We've heard of a stallion causing a public disturbance. Would you mind coming with us?"

"May I ask who you are?" Checkmate replied, coldly.

"We are members of Princess Celestia's royal guards," came a different voice, strong and willful.

Checkmate turned to face two pegasi, one white like a cloud and the other a light gray, clad in golden armor that reached around their bodies, and grimaced. Of course he would look suspicious; he was still wearing his cloak, just as he had been whenever he went out into public.

"And where would you be taking me?" he asked.

"To the royal palace," the first pegasus, with the gray coat and a cold voice that rivaled his own, stated.

"Excellent," Checkmate mused. "That is where I am going right now."

"Really?" the second pegasus's eyes narrowed. "And for what reason?"

"I have been requested by Celestia herself for an audience, apparently," the earth pony replied.

"Indeed?" the first pegasus asked. "What is your name?"

Checkmate met his eyes, giving him a look that could freeze water solid. "Checkmate."

"Checkmate... Vigarde?" the second guard asked, sounding almost nervous.

"Correct."

"And how can we be sure that you're Checkmate Vigarde?" the pegasus with the gray coat asked.

And then, before their eyes, Checkmate threw the transparent blue sword, the Glacius, as it was called, up into the air, catching it in his hoof without even looking at it.

"Is this enough?" he asked, deadpan.

"That should be sufficient," the first guard stated. "After all, a hoof shouldn't bend that way naturally, and that's what we were told to look for, besides the blade that you're wielding. Very well. Come with us."

Checkmate nodded, and began to walk behind them. Around them, the nervousness in the crowd began to die down as they stared after him in awe.

It was rare for a stallion's ability to be acknowledged by the royal guards so readily.

The three stood outside the throne room of the royal palace, the two guards having moved beside the door.

"Very well, Checkmate Vigarde," the first guard said, "the princess awaits you beyond these doors."

"My thanks," Checkmate said, nodding to the two guards. "I'm fairly certain that the ponies were ready to burn me alive out there."

"Not a problem in the slightest," the second guard replied. "Anything for the princess's honored guest."

Checkmate stepped through the doors, entering into the throne room. He stepped up several small flights of stairs, before at last reaching the throne itself.

There, on the throne, sat an enormous pony, larger than even the tallest of stallions, with a coat the color of fresh snow, and a mark that showed, without a doubt, just who she was.

"Princess Celestia," Checkmate said, as he bowed low. "It is a pleasure, I'm sure."

The princess had a warm smile on her face, as she replied, "Checkmate Vigarde, you shouldn't bow to me. It's a pleasure to have you here in Equestria, though. How... how are you?"

It was such a simple question, yet one that carried with it a large meaning. Checkmate was not simply being asked how he felt at the moment, but a topic much more broad than that.

"Good, thank you," he replied, still deadpan, "and yourself?"

Celestia simply smiled. "Checkmate... tell me honestly. How are you feeling?"

"I said that I was -"

"And you're lying. It's alright; You don't have to keep up this facade around me just because you think that your hatred will help Wendigo."

And then, Checkmate sighed. "Really?" he asked.

"Of course. There is nothing for you to worry about here."

And then, the gaze of the earth pony began to soften, as he sighed. "Thank you, Celestia," he replied, his voice quiet. "Are you sure that he can't syphon my hatred, here?"

"No. You're fine. Trust me on this," the princess said.

"Right. I'm sorry," his voice was strangely emotional, with an odd sorrow and tiredness that pervaded it.

"There is no need to apologize," Celestia said, "but... tell me. How long have you kept all of your emotions bottled up inside?"

"As of today?" Checkmate asked. "Eight years, next week. Although I've never been able to hold it all in for long, before it begins to slip out again..."

Celestia stared at him, with an almost motherly look. "You shouldn't concern yourself with hiding everything away, Checkmate," she replied. "One pony isn't going to cut off Wendigo's power."

"I know," he whispered, "although, sometimes, I like to think so. It gives me a reason to keep going. But... I'm sure that you didn't call me here so that we could talk about my feelings."

"You're wise for your age," the princess replied. "I was hoping to ask you some questions... about Darkfrost."

"It's Hell," Checkmate said, simply, "and it's all because of Wendigo. The windigoes on their own are fairly friendly - with the exception of Deun, but even his soldiers are fairly kind -, but Wendigo? He's a monster."

"I know that," Celestia said, gently, "and that wasn't exactly what I meant by 'questions about Darkfrost'."

"Then... what exactly did you mean?" asked Checkmate, curiously.

Celestia paused, just for a moment, as if trying to find the correct words. "How did you escape?"

"Luck," the stallion replied. "Simple, dumb luck. By all rights, I shouldn't be here right now; I should be writhing in agony on that damned Zephyr. But I got lucky, and Wendigo left me alone at a crucial moment."

"What do you mean?" Celestia asked.

"I... I was running, and Wendigo caught me. I was right next to the border, and I could see Equestria - the grass, the clear sky - for the first time in my life." Checkmate choked back a sob at the memory. "Wendigo challenged me... and we fought. He with Conviction, and I with a simple knife. It... went about as well as you would expect."

Celestia gestured for him to continue, and he spoke again.

"I was knocked unconscious," Checkmate said. "I... lost all hope. I thought that I was going to... to die. But I woke up, then, not too long after, in the same position, but with this sword, the Glacius, at my side. I... I picked it up with my mouth, and I ran." He smiled a bit at the memory, tears in his eyes, "I crossed the border, limping and bloody, but I escaped into Equestria. And all it took for me to do it was to be impossibly lucky."

He looked over at her, then, and frowned, as the tears stopped falling. "But here is my question for you: why now? Why wait until almost eight years until I've escaped, and, most importantly, how could you even know that I've escaped from Darkfrost in the first place? Wendigo is not one to announce his failures that easily, unless they hurt some other pony."

The princess smiled, sadly. "I knew that you'd escaped from Darkfrost three years ago, back when Luna first escaped her imprisonment. She told me of a pony - a stallion - who was limping across the border between Ponyville and Darkfrost, who was clutching at a blue sword and was bleeding heavily." She looked away, then. "I searched all throughout Equestria for the last three years whenever I could, seeking you out. I needed the help of a pony, one without magic, who could stop Wendigo. But no matter how hard I looked, I could never mind him."

"Until yesterday, right?" Checkmate asked.

"Yes," Celestia replied. "Twilight sent me a letter describing you. She said that you were cold and dark, and that you carried a blue sword with you, as well" - She glanced back at him - "I-I had to be sure that you were the Checkmate Vigarde that I'd heard about from Luna; that you were the one who had escaped from Wendigo."

"I understand," Checkmate mused. "And I understand why you would call on me now. It's the Zephyr, isn't it?"

Celestia nodded. "Again, yes," she said. "Wendigo has nearly accomplished his goal, and the Zephyr is almost done. When it's completed, it could spell disaster. Not just for Equestria, and not just for Darkfrost, but for the entire world."

"Don't worry," mused the stallion, "I've been planning to kill that bastard for years. No matter the cost, I plan on ending that abomination of nature that he's created, one way... or another."

"You have?" Celestia asked, seeming surprised by this, "and did you know how close he was to its completion?"

Checkmate nodded. "Based on what he told us back when he was torturing us -" he spat, contemptuously "- the Zephyr should, unfortunately, be complete within five months of next week. Unless we can stop him, of course."

The princess of the sun nodded. "And that's the plan. I understand that you were going in on your own to stop Wendigo, and I would like to ask you what day would be best, given your current position."

The stallion mulled it over for a while. "I told Twilight and her friends that I would watch their version of how Equestria was discovered" - Celestia winced at that, but Checkmate continued - "so I believe that I'll go afterwords. Next week."

"I'm sorry about this, Checkmate," Celestia said, quietly. "I don't wish to open the wound any further, but I must do what I can for Equestria."

Checkmate smirked at this. "You have nothing to apologize for, Celestia," he said. "I was planning to go there as soon as I could, anyway. Either way, the only difference is that there is a princess supporting my choice."

"Really?" Celestia raised an eyebrow. "You were already planning on this? If that's the case, then I will be more than happy to provide transport."

This time it was Checkmate who raised an eyebrow at this, stretching his scars. What was it with all of these ponies wanting to get him chariots?

"Very well," he conceded, knowing full well how far it was from Equestria to Darkfrost on hoof. "I won't object to that."

"Also, would you be able to take along...?"

"No."

Celestia blinked. "I didn't even finish my question!"

"I know, but I refuse to take anypony with me who does not already know just how dangerous Darkfrost really is. The same logic applies to your false tale, stating that 'the windigoes were all purged by the fires of friendship 2,500 years ago'." He threw The Adventurer's Bestiary on the ground in front of him, the page opened to the section on windigoes. Again, Celestia winced, and Checkmate's voice turned cold again. "If you do not wish for your ponies to suffer under knowing that there is a monster greater than the most relentless evil in Equestria, then don't break the rules just because you want to stop it."

The princess shifted uneasily at this. "Very well," she stated, "but are you so sure that you can defeat the king of the windigoes on your own?"

"I've made it this far," Checkmate replied. "I didn't have any help then, and I don't need any help now."

"Alright," Celestia said. "I shall arrange a chariot to take you to Darkfrost next week, on the day of the performance of... of how Equestria was founded. Does that sound correct?"

"Perfect, actually," he said. "Then I guess I'll see you then."

As he turned to walk away, Celestia called after him. "Wait! I have... one last question."

"What is it...?" Checkmate looked back.

"Have you ever heard of... Velios?" the princess asked.

"No," Checkmate replied. "Who is Velios?"

"I see," Celestia mused. "It doesn't matter. It was just a question from me to you."

Checkmate shrugged. "Very well. I'll be off, then. I'll see you next week, Celestia. Until then."

And then, replacing his cold eyes and voice, Checkmate Vigarde stepped from the throne room, leaving Celestia by herself to ponder her thoughts.

Celestia simply sighed in relief. So Wendigo had yet to know of Velios. At least that gave her a small amount of comfort. If Wendigo knew of that... that monster, then he would have undoubtedly used that name to torture his ponies even more so than they already were.

But just the thought of Velios, his cold eyes, that monstrous smirk, that dagger made of ice, and his magic that brought death upon the entire world, and that it took so much to simply subdue him...

And, especially, the fact that he was still alive, and out there somewhere.

Thankfully, there were only two ponies still alive who knew just what he was.

She was one, and the other was...

She stopped those thoughts, immediately turning her thoughts to the matter at hoof. Because now, that was not what mattered. What mattered was getting Checkmate to Darkfrost.

And, hopefully, he would make it back alive.

The Last Day

One week had passed since that fateful day. Since the day that Checkmate had spoken, alone, with Princess Celestia of Wendigo, of Darkfrost, and of his plans to pursue both. Of their plan to reach the land of ice and shadow, and to free the innocents and slay the monstrous king.

And Checkmate, naturally, did nothing more than train, each and every day, for that last week. Several ponies had watched him, from Rainbow Dash, who followed him every day, to even the three young fillies who wanted to know what his "cutie mark", what they seemed to call their talent sign, was.

The ponies in this town were so strange to him. How could they be so happy? How could they be so friendly and kind and compassionate? And why, in the end, did he just want to stay here, to forget Wendigo, and to just end his days surrounded by creatures like these?

But, everyday, he had to remind himself that that wasn't an option. He certainly wished it was, but he had no choice in the matter. However, he didn't try to fight it. He knew that he had to kill Wendigo, that he had to save the creatures who suffered in Darkfrost, be they unicorn, pegasus, earth pony, or windigo.

No, he had to fight. He wanted to fight. All that he wanted to do was to protect those in Darkfrost, no matter the cost to himself. If he died, so be it. If he lived, so be that, as well.

But the one thing that he would not allow was for those in Equestria to become entangled in his quest.

Checkmate cleared his mind of these thoughts as he stood, alone, outside of the library in Ponyville. Today was the day of the Hearth's Warming Eve production, and he had arrived precisely on time, as always. Today was the day that he would finally - finally - put his guilt. sorrow, and shame to rest.

And so, his thoughts plagued with pain, he knocked thrice upon the door of the library.

Ten seconds later, it opened, and Twilight stepped out, giving him a small, awkward smile.

"Oh, Checkmate," she said, "I'm sorry I was so late."

"It was approximately ten seconds," he replied, simply. Checkmate had grown completely used to this by now. He knew all of these ponies inside-and-out. Surprising, given that he rarely entered the town proper, and that most of them - being, of course, Twilight and her friends - had come to meet him in the forest.

"I know," the alicorn muttered, sheepishly, "but I can usually get out here in less than eight..."

"Well, I'm here to go with all of you to Canterlot," Checkmate replied. "Although, I have to say..."

"What?" Twilight asked, cocking her head slightly.

The stallion sighed. "Listen to me, Twilight Sparkle," he said. "I have to tell all of you something before we go."

"Oh, well they're all right in here," she gestured for him to enter, and he did so.

And there, of course, in the center of the library sat Twilight's five other friends, along with Spike, engaging in idle conversation.

It took much of Checkmate's energy not to break his facade of emotionlessness and tell them all that he would, truly, miss them. No, he had to be more subtle about it; after all, if they cared about him, then he was sure that they would follow him back to Darkfrost.

"Greetings," he said, keeping his voice cold. "It's a pleasure to see you all again."

"You wouldn't know it," muttered Rainbow Dash.

"Calm down, there, Rainbow," admonished Applejack.

"I'm completely calm!" shouted the cyan pegasus, and Checkmate found it near impossible to avoid smirking in reply to that.

Somehow, he kept himself calm, and continued. "All of you... It is about time for me to say my farewells."

"WHAT?!" the cry was unanimous.

"Indeed," replied the stallion. "I... doubt that I shall be returning here after today. I may be, but that would require me to be very lucky."

"But... why didn't you tell us?" Pinkie Pie gasped, looking over at him. "I would have thrown you the bestest going-away party ever!"

"'Bestest' is not a word, Pinkie," said Twilight. "Checkmate... Why didn't you tell us?"

He had two choices lain out before him. First, he could have said the truth. He could have told them of the windigoes, of Darkfrost, and of the monster orchestrating it all.

But, instead, he chose the other.

"I didn't think it seemed overly important," he replied.

Rainbow Dash immediately flew over to him, and glared straight into his eyes. "'Not important'? 'Not important'? How could this be any less important?!"

"Rainbow Dash!" Rarity called, "calm yourself. I'm certain that Checkmate had a very good reason not to tell us this."

"Really?" The pegasus glared at him. "And what was this 'reason', Checkmate?"

The stallion turned away from her. "I have something that I must do," he replied, coldly, "and today is my last chance to do it."

He heard the anger in her voice from behind him. Good. At least it would keep them from following him.

"The same exact line you've said every day," she growled. "What the hay are you hiding from us?!"

"It doesn't matter," he said. "What does matter is that this - today - is our last day, possibly. So whatever it is you wish to say, make sure that you say it now."

"I hate you!" Rainbow Dash shouted, her eyes burning with rage. "How could you be so cold?!"

"The same way that you're always so hot-headed and passionate," replied Checkmate.

He wanted them to hate him. It would make it much less traumatic if he didn't survive this mission.

"Please calm down, both of you..." came a quiet voice from behind them.

Checkmate turned back, as he saw Fluttershy, who had spoken to him only once or twice, looking afraid.

"There's nothing to calm down from," Checkmate mused. "All that I want is for this last day to be memorable."

"And it will be memorable, and for good reasons," replied Applejack, stepping up between Checkmate and Rainbow Dash. "But only if y'all want it to be that way."

Rainbow sighed, then, and said. "Fine, whatever. This doesn't mean that I'm gonna like you, Checkmate, but I'm going to this with you, anyway, for my friends."

Checkmate shrugged at this. He wouldn't have it any other way.

Well, he would, of course, but not at the moment. If he survived fighting Wendigo, then he would allow himself to become friends with those around him. But only if he could do so.

And only if he could forget her...

He swallowed, then, and glanced back. The images still, to this day, raced through his mind.

The blood, the knife, the flesh...

He shook his head. There would be plenty of time for thinking of that later. Now, however, was a time for him to break off his ties, and for him to, at last, learn just what it was that the ponies knew of the windigoes.

Rainbow Dash felt like an idiot.

How could she even think of trusting a guy like Checkmate?

For days, now, she had been following him into the Everfree Forest, trying to discover his past, maybe get to know him a bit. However, all that she'd learned was that Checkmate Vigarde was a jerk, plain and simple. He was cold-hearted, rude, and just generally unlikable. It was all she could do to not take back what she'd said back in the Everfree on his second day.

Thank Celestia that he was leaving. Thank Celestia that she would never have to see him again.

Or, at least, that was what she wanted to think. Something about him, though, thoroughly intrigued her. Maybe it was his past, which was so mysterious that nopony knew anything about it, or maybe it was just the way that he acted so civil, despite being so cold.

Or, maybe, it was what he had said to her in the Everfree Forest.

"My mistakes, my consequences, are mine to suffer. I do not want any of you - you being yourself and your friends - to get hurt on account of me. If you want to know what I've done, then fine. Do so. But I refuse to allow anypony to have their lives torn apart because I was a fool."

What had he meant by that? That he didn't want to hurt any of them because of what he had done?

Why did he want to protect them?

These thoughts echoed in Rainbow's mind all the way from Ponyville to Canterlot, as even the sounds of the train itself were drowned out by these questions.

And then, as they exited the passenger train and entered the city of Canterlot, she finally came to a conclusion.

She had to know Checkmate's past, no matter what. Otherwise, she would know absolutely nothing about him, besides him being an earth pony with a sword and no emotions.

And so, having come to this conclusion, Rainbow prepared herself.

Wherever Checkmate was going after the production ended, she would be sure to follow along.

The auditorium where the play was performed was oddly small, and rather cramped. None of the other ponies had even passed him a second glance, which Checkmate was secretly thankful for.

The last thing he needed on this day was to grab anypony's attention.

So he watched the play undisturbed, bar Rainbow Dash constantly glancing over at him throughout it.

Most of it, he thought, seemed rather accurate. The six ponies who ruled over the frigid land - Princess Platinum and Clover the Clever from the unicorns, Commander Hurricane and Private Pansy from the pegasi, and Chancellor Pudding-Head and Smart Cookie from the earth ponies - attempted to migrate, along with some others not shown in the actual production due to casting limits.

Fair enough.

However, the problems arose not too long afterwords, as the leaders and their assistants found a new land, untouched by the blizzard that had taken their homes.

That was not true, Checkmate knew. That never happened. Finding a new, unfrozen land would have been impossible with Wendigo ruling over Darkfrost.

And yet, in spite of this, he continued to watch, attempting to remind himself that this version was to keep the ponies from fearing the reality of the situation.

Soon, however, he began to feel sick, as he watched the windigoes - obviously automatons - beginning to circle overhead the six, the three main leaders frozen.

"W-what are those things?" asked one, pretending to be terrified (and Checkmate had to admit that she was a very good actor).

"Windigoes," replied the actress playing Clover the Clever.

"W-windigoes?" the other two whispered.

The actress nodded. "My mentor, Starswirl the Bearded, told me about them; winter monsters that feed on anger and hate. The more hatred we feel, the colder it becomes."

Checkmate watched as the rest of the play unfolded with distaste. The heroes, of course, won, presumably killing the windigoes with the magic of friendship (which made Checkmate realize just why it was deemed as so important in Equestria), and founded the nation by placing a flag into the middle of the earth, containing a picture of Celestia and Luna.

But nothing about Chronos.

By this point, as the crowd roared with applause, Checkmate worked his way up, feeling uneasy and ill.

He left, then, and stood outside for the others. It took them all of three minutes to escape from the horrifically crowded building, and meet him.

"Very well," he mused. "My thanks for showing me that. It was... intriguing. However, now it is the time for me to go."

Twilight looked over at him. "Checkmate, are you sure that you have to go?"

"Of course. Celestia demands it."

And then, silence reigned over the group, as it dawned on Checkmate what he had just said.

"I mean..."

"Princess Celestia?" gasped Rarity in shock. "But... why?"

"It doesn't matter," Checkmate said, quickly. "I simply... I have to do something important, and Celestia is helping me do it."

"Really?" asked Rainbow Dash, skeptically. "I'm not sure that I believe you."

"Believe what you like," he said, calmly, "but I've much to do, and -"

"Not much time to do it?" replied the pegasus, mockingly.

"Yes. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be off. Farewell to all of you."

And then, he turned to walk away.

"Wait! Checkmate!" he heard Twilight cry.

Checkmate turned back towards her. "What is it?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Does this have something to do with that audience you had with her last week?"

Again, silence reigned, and Checkmate struggled to find the correct words.

In the end, he just settled on the easiest answer he could. "Yes. It does."

"An audience... with the princess?" whispered Rarity. "Checkmate, just who are you?"

The stallion turned away, then, and replied. "I am Checkmate Vigarde. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Or maybe you're just lying!" Rainbow Dash accused. "We don't know anything about you! How can we be sure that you're not a spy or something?!"

"You won't be sure of anything," replied Checkmate, "because I don't want you to be. My past is too complicated, too painful, to tell to anypony. I don't have the time to tell it, nor the will. All that I want, now, is to finish my quest."

He was so close. All that he had to do was get away from them. Then, once that would be accomplished, he would finally, after eight years of hiding, be able to kill Wendigo once and for all.

"Well I won't let you finish it until you tell me just what it is!" shouted Rainbow, angrily.

"So you would go against the will of Celestia?" his reply was sharp, and cold.

And then, Rainbow Dash stopped. He couldn't see her, but Checkmate was fairly certain that her face had paled at this.

"Anything else?" he asked, coldly.

Silence.

"Very well," Checkmate mused. "I may see you again. But then, I'm more likely to not. So, on that note, farewell to all of you, once more."

At last, the others saying nothing, Checkmate began towards the castle. Finally, he would do just what he had desired to do for all twenty-three years of his life.

At last, he would kill Wendigo.

Into the Darkness

Rainbow Dash watched, hidden, through the window of the royal palace. She made sure to keep her back pressed against the outer wall, using her head, which was exposed, to stare through the glass.

"Are you certain that you're ready for this?" Princess Celestia asked Checkmate.

The stallion, his voice sounding oddly emotional, simply nodded. "Yes. I've done everything that I could possibly do in order to prepare myself for today."

What was so important about today? Besides it being Checkmate's last day in Equestria, according to him.

Princess Celestia nodded. "I hope so, Checkmate..." she whispered. "I don't wish to send you into Darkfrost unprepared. We both know full well that Wendigo will leap at whatever opportunity he can to kill you."

Rainbow felt a shiver run down her spine. Wendigo? Who was that? And why did that name make her so nervous, so terrified?

Princess Celestia looked up at him, then. "Did you... say your goodbyes to your friends?"

Again, Checkmate nodded. "I can't risk them following me to Darkfrost. It's far too dangerous for anypony there. I had to hide a lot of information about this from them, just so that I could make it here without them getting too worried about me."

Rainbow Dash felt her face pale for the second time in the last hour. Checkmate... did care for them? No, that couldn't be true. Checkmate Vigarde clearly didn't care for any of them, she was sure of it.

"Again... I'd like to apologize for this. Luna feels sorry as well, I'm sure."

"You've nothing to apologize for, Celestia, and neither does your sister," said Checkmate, a small smile on his face. "I just... this is my only chance to stop Wendigo. If I'm killed, then I don't know what will happen to the world." He frowned, and shook his head. "The instant that I step onto Darkfrost, I'll become easy prey for that heartless bastard. Unless, of course, I can stop him, first."

"Right..." Princess Celestia sighed. "I have no jurisdiction in Darkfrost. If you find yourself in a tough situation, I... won't be able to save you."

And then, at that statement, Rainbow felt her blood run cold. Checkmate was sending himself off into death in order to save the world, all against some monster called "Wendigo". The facts were hitting her too hard, too fast. But, still, she had to see for herself.

And then, she heard Checkmate's reply.

"I understand the consequences of this," he said. "I just... It's something that I must do. Even if it costs me my life, I won't stop until Wendigo is dead. It's the least that I can do to atone for what I've done."

It was all that Rainbow could do not to shatter that window and tell him that what he was doing was stupid. But, still, she had to watch, and wait, and then follow him to this place he called "Darkfrost".

"I know," Princess Celestia whispered. "Very well. Follow me. The chariot to Darkfrost is out in the courtyard."

The cyan pegasus watched the two from above, cautiously, as the princess led Checkmate out towards the courtyard in question. There, in its center, stood a simple, non-decorated chariot, with four pegasi guards holding it.

"I realize that it's not much..." began the princess, but Checkmate cut her off.

"It's sufficient," he replied. "Thank you, Celestia, for everything."

Princess Celestia smiled. "The team has been instructed to take you to the outskirts of Equestria. After that, you will need to reach your village on your own. If you're successful, you'll have to return to Equestria by hoof."

"I understand," said Checkmate. "Right. Let's be off, shall we?"

He climbed aboard the chariot, and sat down.

"One last thing, Checkmate," mused the princess. "I understand that this must be strange to you, but I must tell you that Luna, myself, and even Discord all support you. And, also, when you win..." She smiled, slightly, "I hope that you'll make it to our Winter Gala."

Checkmate grinned, his face stretching beneath his hood, "Well, I'm certainly looking forward to it. I've also got a few questions that I want answered. I'll make sure to ask them once I return."

And then he nodded to the guards, as they took off towards Darkfrost, with Rainbow Dash in tow.

Checkmate struggled to keep his hood from whipping back as the pegasi flew him towards Darkfrost. He changed his demeanor mid-flight, returning to his cold and stoic mindset.

If he was to face a creature that fed on hatred, then he would make sure that he had no hatred for him to feed on.

The earth pony glanced down towards the Glacius at his side. He was certain, through years of studying, that it was one of the few weapons that could harm a windigo. Although he didn't know what the others were, that was not important to him at the moment. What was important, however, was killing Wendigo before he could do any more damage to the world around him.

He would miss Ponyville. Of this he was certain. The ponies there were friendly, not reclusive, and open about what they felt. He actually really liked the idea of a place like that, and, if he was successful, he would gladly settle down there.

Perhaps Darkfrost would become like Equestria once its cruel king was slain. And, on the other hoof, maybe it would still be a nation filled with hatred, bitterness, and anger, as it was then.

Either way, it didn't matter to him. All that he wanted, at that point, was to stare down the king of the windigoes and plunge the Glacius into his neck. Checkmate could already hear the joy of the other ponies in the area, including the other windigoes, as their foul leader would be dispatched with haste.

Or, again, perhaps not. But Checkmate did not want to think about the ice, about Wendigo's dagger in his back, or...

He shuddered, but quickly retook his stoical state.

The stallion would have to remain calm, emotionless, and confident in his abilities.

Otherwise, the monster would kill him with ease.

"We're here!" one of the four guards called back to him, as he felt the chariot touch down.

Checkmate leapt down from the chariot, and looked over the four pegasi.

"My thanks," he said. "Did Celestia tell you exactly why I was...?"

"No," replied the same guard. "She simply told us to bring you to the outskirts of Equestria, and that it was very important. We heard a few snippets of your conversation, but it was nothing that overly interested us. Just talk of the two princesses and Discord and the Winter Gala."

The earth pony nodded. "Very well. Thank you, again."

At least there weren't any ponies who knew about Wendigo. He was thankful for this, but made sure to watch the sky, just in case.

The last thing that he needed was for Rainbow Dash to have followed him, again.

Rainbow Dash was, of course, following him again, watching from the sky as Checkmate stepped from the chariot to the ground, which was covered in snow and ice.

Ahead of her, the sky was gray, and filled with large clouds that appeared to spread all the way to the horizon. The land beneath them was dark, like an eternal night, but with the slightest amount of sunlight working its way beneath the clouds.

The effect it had was entirely unnerving, especially as Checkmate began to walk into the darkness, over the ice, and towards... wherever it was he was going.

The cyan pegasus continued her pursuit, flying behind him in order to avoid being seen.

The earth pony didn't look back, but kept going forward, and Rainbow simply continued her trek.

After what felt like hours of flying, Checkmate stopped, and stared at what lay around him. Rainbow Dash was looking around, as well, and heard Checkmate sigh.

"At last," he said, quietly, his voice sad, "I'm home."

He stepped forward, entering a tiny village, with around twenty houses made of stone and wood that looked as if it would collapse just by looking at it, each with several small torches adorned to the outer walls. Again, Rainbow followed him, making sure to keep a safe distance away.

Then, however, she couldn't, as the wind around her became too powerful for her to fly against, and Rainbow was forced to land. Her hooves felt awkward against the uneven stone path that ran between the houses, and, looking around her, she saw various ponies - unicorn, pegasus, and earth pony alike - all scarred, all wearing long cloaks - watching her from the homes, their eyes filled with fear. She had to be cautious, vigilant, and, of course, attract as little attention as possible. Otherwise, Checkmate could locate her, and then she would have to either return to Equestria or have the stallion chew her out for stalking him again.

And then, she heard a voice from behind her. "You! What are you doing here?"

Rainbow turned around in shock, seeing a large creature, with a transparent white coat and eyes the color of snow, staring at her. It looked like a normal pony - exactly, in fact - save for its ghostly appearance.

A windigo.

"I-I..." She couldn't talk. Her tongue seemed to go dry inside her mouth.

"Dammit... get out of here," growled the windigo, angrily. "It's too dangerous for a pony... from..."

Its jaw dropped. "Checkmate!" it cried, running over to the stallion, a good thirty feet ahead of her. "What hell are you doing here?!"

The earth pony rubbed his eyes, and turned towards the windigo. "Rolan... is that you?" he asked. "You haven't changed much, have you?"

The windigo glared at him. "Checkmate, did you take this mare here with you?!"

"Mare?" Checkmate replied. "I came here alone."

"Then who the hell is that?!"

Rainbow Dash quickly hid behind a nearby building, leaving Checkmate and the windigo unable to see her.

"I don't see anypony," mused Checkmate, "and to answer your first question... I'm sure that you know the answer now, actually."

The windigo sighed. "Fine," it muttered. "If you're going to fight Wendigo, then I'm not going to stop you. But what happens if you fail? The dozens of ponies in this village - in all of Darkfrost - will lose their hero. Is that what you want? To take away that last ray of hope for them?!"

"They'll live," Checkmate said, coldly. "I'm going to make sure of it. No matter what happens, I cannot fail."

"So you say..." the windigo muttered. "And if you do?"

"Then I die. Plain and simple," Checkmate replied.

The windigo's gaze softened. "Are you... certain that you're prepared for this?"

"I've answered that question already today, and the same answer applies now: I've been prepared to do this for the last week, Rolan," said Checkmate. "I promise you that I won't die here."

"Right. You with all of your self-confidence," the windigo laughed, seeming to grow more comfortable with Checkmate being there. "You really haven't changed at all, have you? Even with you pretending to have no emotions, you're still just the same old Checkmate."

"I know," he replied, "but how have you fared, Rolan? Has Wendigo been treating you well?"

"Sure," said the windigo, ruefully. "If you count 'continues to murder innocents and stabs you at every opportunity' as 'well'."

"After today, I'm sure that conditions will improve here," said Checkmate.

The windigo sighed, again. "I'd say I'm looking forward to it, but I know better at this point. Just don't get yourself killed, okay? Wendigo's execution platform is just ahead."

"I know. Thank you."

Checkmate immediately turned towards the area where the windigo was leading him, and began to step closer to it.

Rainbow left her hiding spot, as the windigo glared at her.

"Mind telling me who you are?" it asked.

For some reason, it wasn't nearly as terrifying as the monsters from the play, and looked much more like an average pony than some kind of demonic spirit. It almost seemed like any other stallion from Ponyville, in fact. In addition to this, it was strangely compassionate, and seemed to care for Checkmate more than this "Wendigo" seemed to.

"Rainbow Dash," she replied, voice shaking slightly, "the greatest flier in a-all Equestria!"

The windigo laughed at this. It wasn't a mocking laugh, but more of a laugh that a parent would make after their child said something foolish. "I'm afraid that isn't going to help you much here. Wendigo has created winds that prevent pegasi from flying around at their leisure. Of course... it also keeps pegasi from escaping via flight."

"Well... I'm not here to fight this guy, I'm just here to learn more about Checkmate."

"In that case, here's the first thing you should know," said the windigo. "Checkmate Vigarde? He spent the first fifteen years of his life here, and all of those scars - every last one of them - were given to him by the bastard running this sick show, with possibly a few from his general, Deun, but he's less known for scarring innocents. He escaped the day that he stepped in on his parents' corpses. Naturally, you can guess who cut them down."

Rainbow felt her legs grow weak, "Y-you mean Wendigo...?"

"Had them killed? Yeah. Brutally, too. It was because of their deaths that Checkmate tried to escape, and managed to get away from this place."

"How could anypony be so cruel?" Rainbow whispered.

The windigo glanced away. "Nopony really knows why. All they know is that Wendigo will kill them if they do anything to displease him. He's known as a heartless bastard around here, and commits no less than one public execution every day."

"How does a pony do that in a village this small?" she didn't really want to know, but her imagination would likely create worse scenarios if she didn't hear it from this windigo.

"This isn't the only village in Darkfrost. There are dozens - some towns, some villages, some even cities. This is just Wendigo's primary town - the capitol of Darkfrost, called the Hellgate Mines due to the caverns nearby. That platform is where he spends most of his time, and every execution is carried out here in this town. And when he doesn't have enough to sate his foul appetite" - the windigo glared off towards the platform - "he just picks them up from other nations. Nations at war, nations in famines... None dare to stop him. He's too powerful. The bastard's working on a monstrous floating fortress - the Zephyr, he calls it - and he's using no less than one million ponies - pegasi, unicorns, earth ponies, and even his own windigoes - in its construction."

"One-one million?!" Rainbow Dash practically screamed. She was wrong. Her imagination could never, not in her life, be that horrific.

"One million," the windigo stated, again. "It's a wretched thing. And that dagger of his, Conviction, is the most horrific thing in existence, next to the monster who wields it. If a creature is killed by it, their soul becomes a part of the Zephyr, to writhe about in agony forever. And their body..." it trailed off, and shuddered.

"I've got to help Checkmate!" Rainbow Dash cried, and began to fly towards the platform, only to be stopped by the windigo.

"Don't throw your life away!" it shouted. "Nothing can hurt Wendigo, save for that blade Checkmate's got, its twin, and a few others. You'd only add to the Zephyr's construction, and possibly even bring war to Equestria."

"But... I can't let Checkmate suffer a death like that!" she may not have liked him that much, but to writhe about in agony for all eternity...

"Let me pass!" She shouted, again, pushing against the windigo. Who would've thought that a creature that was transparent couldn't be passed through?

"LISTEN TO ME!" it shouted, and Rainbow stopped. "I understand that you don't want Checkmate to die. I don't either. But there's little that anypony can do at this point. The only way to save Checkmate's life would be to take him away from here, again, or for him to kill Wendigo by himself."

"Then I'll get him out of here!" Rainbow growled. "Just let me pass!"

The windigo sighed, "Fine. I can tell that nothing I say will change your mind. But don't interfere unless it looks like Checkmate is gonna die... otherwise, he could be killed by Wendigo before you get to save him."

It stood to the side, as Rainbow Dash flew, as fast as she could, towards where Checkmate was.

Checkmate stepped up the stairs leading to the platform, holding the sword close by. His heart was pounding quickly, but he didn't care. He was shivering, but he didn't think of it, as he pulled the cloak tight around him.

He looked back, once, and shouted towards the sky.

"Wendigo!" he called. "Show yourself, you bastard!"

The air began to converge in front of Checkmate, then, as foul laughter began to pervade the area around him.

"Well, Checkmate! I didn't think to see you so soon!" The voice was cruel and horrific, and seemed to come from everywhere.

"I had something that I needed to do," replied Checkmate, holding the Glacius up, "and now is my chance to do it."

"Ha! The Glacius, eh? So I guess that you've come for me," laughed the voice. "Then let me show you just how foolish your aspirations are."

And then, before Checkmate, appeared a large windigo, as tall as Celestia. He had a large, semi-transparent coat and mane, and eyes that were the color of ice, and a large smirk that took up most of his face.

"Welcome back to Darkfrost, hero," mocked Wendigo. "I was hoping that you'd show up. It'll make it all the more enjoyable to crush these pathetic creatures' dreams and make you into a part of the Zephyr."

"I should warn you," mused Checkmate. "I'm far more powerful than when we fought eight years ago."

"Good..." the windigo gave him a cruel smirk. "I was hoping that you'd last more than ten seconds. Maybe this time you'll last eleven."

"More than that," countered the stallion. "I'm going to defeat you, Wendigo, here and now, and return peace and balance to Darkfrost!"

"How... noble of you," Wendigo said, and laughed, "but I'm afraid that you'll just have to settle for death instead!"

The king of the windigoes lunged, as Checkmate held up his sword and blocked the attack.

"Impressive," Wendigo mocked. "It's already been twelve seconds, and you're not dead yet. Maybe I underestimated you."

He turned to strike, and Checkmate parried his attack, "It would appear so," he replied. "Now let's see just how long you can last against me!"

"Is that a challenge?" Wendigo sneered.

"Perhaps it is," replied the stallion.

"Fine then," said the windigo. "I'm curious to see just how long it'll take for you to kill me with the Glacius. That is, of course," he struck again, as Checkmate blocked once more, "If you don't die first!"

Fight and Flight

Two blades crossed. One, a dagger of obsidian, with a curse that condemned all to agony. The other, a sword with a blade like ice, with a power that could cut the flesh of even the most powerful monsters.

It was these swords, and their wielders, who fought atop the sacrificial platform in Darkfrost, blocking, countering, parrying, and dodging blows that flew from all directions, vertical, horizontal, and diagonal, as Rainbow Dash could only watch in awe.

Checkmate fought Wendigo, the two locked in a dance of blades, as they struck out at each other, neither hitting their target, but instead hitting the other's weapon, with accuracy that absolutely surprised her.

Wendigo struck out with pure power and agility that was shocking for one so large, stabbing and slashing and dodging so quickly and strongly that Checkmate looked as if he were to collapse under the pressure of the dagger.

Checkmate, on the other hoof, swung with an odd grace that was as fast as Wendigo - if not faster - and was taking a more defensive approach to the battle, striking out only when an opening appeared, but having it blocked every time.

Rainbow couldn't interfere at this point. The battle was too intense (and, she had to admit, really, really cool) for her to just run in there, grab Checkmate, and get him out of Darkfrost. No, that required a perfect, precise timing, so she just stood, along with several others on the ground, a good distance from the platform, watching the battle in awe.

"Impressive, isn't it?" asked the windigo from earlier - Rolan, as Checkmate had called him (based on his voice and build, Rainbow assumed him to be a male).

"Yeah," she replied, awe-struck.

"Wendigo's always been known for his power and magic," said Rolan, "and Checkmate's always been known for his speed and his ability to learn things quickly. This may actually be the most intense battle between Wendigo and anypony for the last few centuries, depending on how long it lasts."

He grinned at her. An odd sight, given the fact that his teeth were semi-transparent.

"If Checkmate can win this and kill Wendigo, then we - everypony in Darkfrost - all go free."

Rainbow looked over at him. It was unheard of for a windigo to be friendly. According to the ancient lore, they were all selfish, vile creatures that only wanted to destroy whatever lay in their path. But there, beside her, was a surprisingly friendly and laid-back windigo who was watching this battle with a large grin on his face. It seemed especially odd to her, given that the same windigo had just been shouting at her and telling her to return home.

"Do you really think he can?" she asked.

Rolan shrugged. "It depends. If he can get the upper hoof, then he should have no problem. On the other hoof, however, this is Wendigo that we're talking about, and he didn't become the king of the windigoes for just sitting around and giving us orders... It could go either way at this point really."

"You sound awfully casual about it," Rainbow replied. "I mean, your king - who you all seem to hate - could be killed here and you could be freed. You don't exactly seem too excited about it."

"After a few thousand years, Rainbow Dash," replied the windigo, "you learn not to get overly excited over something like this. Otherwise, you may be disappointed."

They turned back, and watched as Wendigo struck out towards Checkmate.

"You worthless brat!" the king of the windigoes growled. "Just go to Hell already, will you?!"

"Not yet," hissed Checkmate. "Not until I've killed you!"

"Too bad," sneered Wendigo, striking from below. "Looks like you're just going to die here!"

Checkmate blocked the attack, and ducked to dodge a horizontal slash. "You think that I'm going to die now? I've struggled - by Chronos I've struggled - for eight damned years! All to kill you, and I won't let you hurt anypony else!"

Checkmate slashed from on high, but immediately changed the direction of his blade so that the sword went diagonal, the tip of the blade grazing the area just beneath Wendigo's eye.

The monster shouted in pain, dropping the dagger to the ground, and clutched at the area below his eye where blood the color of foamy water dripped.

Wendigo simply smirked at this, though. "Ha! You've drawn blood. Already you're one of my best opponents."

"Are you admitting that I'm good with a sword?" Checkmate asked, seeming genuinely surprised.

"Of course!" said Wendigo, smirking. "Anypony who can even hit me deserves some credit. However, I'm afraid that this game of ours is at an end."

Rolan tensed up, "Dammit, no!" He hissed, angrily. "Checkmate...!"

And then, Wendigo raised his hoof, the one not holding a dagger, and pointed it straight at Checkmate. In an instant, ice covered the stallion's legs, leaving him immobile, as the sword went flying from Checkmate's hoof and landed on the platform, elsewhere.

"Too bad, Checkmate," taunted Wendigo. "And here I thought that you knew of my magical proficiency. Oh, well. I guess that you'll just have to die. Slowly, and painfully."

The windigo raised the dagger high above his head, plunging it into Checkmate's back, and tearing his cloak. The stallion let out a scream of pain, and the monster began to laugh.

"D-damn... you..." Checkmate hissed. "I..."

"What's wrong, Checkmate?" Asked Wendigo. "I thought that you wanted to die, coming out here and all... And if you desire death, then who am I to deny you the right?"

Rainbow felt herself beginning to fly, but Rolan quickly grabbed her tail.

"Get down, you idiot!" He hissed. "Do you wanna die, too?!"

"I have to help him!" She countered. "Let me go! I'm not about to let him die!"

"Why not?!" Rolan hissed. "What does Checkmate mean to you?! Is he worth dying for?!"

"Of course he is!" The words left her mouth before she thought of them. "Because Checkmate is my friend!"

Immediately, the grip on her tail was released.

"That's all that I needed to hear," replied Rolan. "Now get going! If you're gonna save Checkmate, then do it now!"

"R-right!" Rainbow flew forward, landing on the platform behind Wendigo. "Hey! Bastard!" She still didn't know what that word meant, but it seemed to get the windigo's attention.

He turned towards her, pulling his sword out of Checkmate's back, leaving a large red stain on his cloak as the stallion, now unconscious, lay on the metal.

"Now... who are you?" asked Wendigo, seeming rather surprised by this. "Why don't you tell me, so that I can make your death nice and painful?"

"Yeah, right!" Rainbow countered. "I'm not stupid, you know! I'm not about to give my name away to some psychopath!" Again, a word that she didn't know the definition for, and had only learned from Twilight. However, it seemed oddly appropriate here.

"Smart brat," muttered the windigo. "So I guess you're here for Checkmate, eh?"

"What does it matter to you?" Rainbow growled. "Just let him go, and I won't hurt you."

"You? Hurt me?" Wendigo threw back his head and laughed. "Oh, what a stupid, worthless little brat you are. Nopony, save Checkmate and a few other, slightly more significant creatures can even touch me."

"Well, I will!" Shouted the cyan mare. "You wanna know why? Because I'm the most awesome pegasus ever!"

Wendigo smirked. "Let's see you put your money where your mouth is, while Checkmate bleeds to death!"

This time, Rainbow Dash was the one who laughed. "You really think that I'm gonna fight you?"

"Wh-what do you...?" the king of the windigoes looked surprised, again. "What do you mean?!"

"I mean that I'm no fool. I've planned this out, and now, I take Checkmate out of this place!"

Rainbow Dash shot straight up, to as high as she could reach, before she began to spin rapidly, massively accelerating. Then, she began to flash between every visible color of the rainbow - fitting, of course -, as she flew straight down towards where Checkmate lay, creating a massive ray of rainbow light that shot off in all directions.

"A sonic rainboom," whispered Rolan, in awe. "I haven't seen one of those in years... Maybe this mare's got more to her than meets the eye..."

"What the hell...?!" cried Wendigo. "How could any pegasus generate this much speed?! Gah!" he shouted as Rainbow Dash flew through him, the energy knocking him down, as she grabbed Checkmate and flew off.

"You worthless brat!" shouted the king of the windigoes, in rage. "I'll kill you for this! I'll kill both of you!"

But Rainbow Dash was not paying attention, as she was holding Checkmate, who was bleeding heavily, and flying through the wind storm, leaving a massive rainbow in her wake. She flew with an impossible amount of speed, towards the horizon and out of Darkfrost, making sure not to fly directly towards Equestria, but away from it. That way, she figured, Wendigo would not be able to track her. As she continued to fly, this time readjusting her trajectory to go towards Equestria, she saw the clouds begin to give way to moonlight. But, still, she continued to fly with alacrity, not stopping for anything.

At last, after mere minutes of flying, surprisingly, she reached Ponyville, carrying Checkmate's prone form.

The stallion had lost consciousness, and was still bleeding heavily. The hospital couldn't help a pony like this, as they dealt only in broken bones and small illnesses. Perhaps, occasionally, a more serious disease, but never such a massive gash. They would never even have seen such a thing before, let alone treated it.

No, Rainbow had to find a pony who could close up this wound, and fast. Her mind quickly came to a conclusion on who to seek out, and she grimaced as the option came to light. It would have to do.

Without any hesitation, she flew to Carousel Boutique, and knocked on the door as loudly as she could.

Rarity opened the door, then, and stared at her for several seconds before talking.

"Rainbow Dash, why are you out flying at this time in the morning?" she hadn't noticed Checkmate yet, and sounded as tired as she looked, with her eyes half-closed, appearing as if she were to fall into unconsciousness then-and-there.

"Rarity, please! It's Checkmate!" Rainbow begged.

"Why, what's wrong with...?" and then she saw him, bloody and unconscious, and her eyes snapped open. "Oh, Celestia... Come on, get him inside. I'll see if I can sew up this wound. And... don't wake up Sweetie Belle, whatever you do! The last thing that I need is for her to see this..."

"I-is there anything else that I can do?" asked Rainbow, desperately.

Rarity looked up at her, as she pulled the cloak off of Checkmate's back. "Yes, go and get Twilight! For a wound this great, I'll need all the help that I can get to ensure that it heals properly and does not become infected... Oh, Celestia..."

Rainbow leaned in to see, and Rarity clamped her hoof over the pegasus's eyes. "Don't look! Just... just go and get Twilight."

"R-right, I'll..."

"Hurry! We don't know how much time there is before he bleeds out, and a wound this large could become infected by anything around it!"

Rainbow, as soon as these words left Rarity's mouth, rushed from the boutique to the library, and knocked on the door even harder than she did at the unicorn's house.

The door was answered by Spike, who looked almost half-dead from tiredness.

Dead...

No, she couldn't think about that! Without even letting Spike say anything, Rainbow rushed inside, glancing about frantically for Twilight. She had to find her... Otherwise, Checkmate would...

"Spike," she shouted, cutting off her own train of thought, "where's Twilight?!"

"She's upstairs, trying to -"

"Twilight!" Rainbow shouted, as she flew up the stairs. She was frantic, and rushed as fast as she could, nearly hitting the ceiling due to her speed.

The cyan pegasus quickly glanced about the upstairs, attempting to locate the alicorn. At last, after what felt like an eternity (but was really only two seconds), Rainbow saw Twilight in the lone bed that sat in the room, and flew over to her, shaking the lavender alicorn with all of her might.

"Twilight!" she shouted, again, "wake up!"

"Wh... whatizzit?" Slurred an obviously tired Twilight Sparkle.

Rainbow grabbed her, then, and pulled her out of bed.

"Twilight, come quick! It's an emergency!"

The alicorn immediately snapped awake. "Wh-what's wrong?!"

"It's Checkmate! He's..." Rainbow sobbed.

"What is it?!" Twilight shouted in reply. "What's wrong with Checkmate?!"

"He left today, and I followed him, and... and he's..."

"Where is he?" Twilight asked.

"I left him at Carousel Boutique. Rarity's... Rarity's sewing up the wound. She wants you to help her heal it up completely."

Twilight immediately began to run, not questioning Rainbow anymore. "Alright, let's go, then!"

It was evident that she realized just the restriction on time the two had, even with not knowing the whole story.

The duo ran - well, one ran, one flew - from the library to Carousel Boutique as quickly as they could, and burst into the front, quickly running into Rarity's sewing room.

The white unicorn was using her magic to sew up Checkmate's wound, staring at it with horror and disgust as she ran the thread through it.

"Rarity! I've got Twilight!" said Rainbow.

"Good," replied Rarity, urgently. "Now get her over here!"

Twilight walked over, stared at Checkmate's back, and her eyes widened in horror. "Oh, Celestia..." she whispered.

"I know," said Rarity. "It's no wonder he never took that cloak off."

Rainbow ran over. "Why? What's... Oh..."

Checkmate's back was covered in no less than twenty scars, green and yellow in color. They completely took up his back, running all over it, some straight lines and others curved, and gave it a wretched, discolored look. Such a disgusting thing as that made Rainbow all the more enraged with Wendigo and his actions. How could anypony, regardless of their reasons, do such a thing...?

She shuddered. "That... that monster..."

"Pardon?" asked Rarity, not taking her eyes off her work. "What do you mean?"

"The one who did this to him... he's the one who Checkmate was after," Rainbow explained.

Twilight looked over at her as she used her magic to heal the wound. "The one who did this to him? He wouldn't happen to be a... windigo, would he?"

"How'd you guess?" asked Rainbow, grimacing.

The alicorn shook her head, as her magic began to wash over the gash. "A week before he left, Checkmate picked up a book from my library. The Adventurer's Bestiary, a book on monsters, and told me that he was researching windigoes. Plus, based on the way that he reacted to hearing me say that they'd all died out years ago..."

"You're right," Rainbow muttered, ruefully. "He was a windigo. The king of them, actually. Some... bastard called Wendigo."

"A windigo named Wendigo?" asked Rarity, still focusing on stitching up the wound, as it was absolutely massive, and it was evident that the unicorn was taking her time to ensure there were no mistakes. "That doesn't exactly sound very creative. In fact, it sounds positively bland."

"That's not the point!" growled the pegasus. "The point is that Checkmate suffered - for years - in a land that we thought no longer existed! And now... Now look at him!"

"Calm down, Rainbow," said Twilight, quietly. "We need to be careful about this. If we make one mistake, then Checkmate could end up being scarred."

"Why would it matter?" Rainbow asked, coldly. "He's already got twenty."

"Just go upstairs and sit down, darling," said Rarity. "We don't want to wake up Sweetie Belle and have her see... this."

"R-right," the cyan mare whispered. "I'll just go and sit down for a bit." It was a bit strange, coming from her, but she just needed a way to calm herself down after seeing Checkmate get his back cut open. She needed to relax, to clear her thoughts. After all, freaking out wouldn't help the stallion become better.

If anything, it would only make things worse.

And so, Rainbow Dash flew upstairs, and walked into the guest room. She sat down on the bed, and had almost cleared her head of everything when she saw something sitting against the wall.

She stepped over to examine it, and leapt back in surprise, a small cry escaping her.

It was a blue sword, semi-transparent, like ice.

Just like the sword that she'd left back in Darkfrost.

Rainbow examined the blade, quickly, and saw the milky-white blood from Wendigo on its tip. She felt her heart beginning to race, and her face paled, again.

How... how was this possible? She made sure to fly away from Equestria at first so that Wendigo wouldn't find them, and the rainboom should have died off by then, so how had this sword found its way back to them?

Unless... No. That couldn't be possible.

She held the sword in her mouth, and glanced at it from several angles, before she replaced it against the wall.

It was the exact same as the blade that Checkmate had used.

Which meant that either the windigoes had somehow found them, in which case they were trying to help Checkmate defeat Wendigo...

... Or that it followed them back to Ponyville itself.

The Royal Decree

Blood.

Blood was everywhere, coating the stones, the buildings, the snow...

And Checkmate stood, amidst it all, his eyes unfocused as if in a daze. Where exactly was he? It appeared to be his hometown, the Hellgate Mines, but it seemed... off. Even the darkness that covered it bathed it in an eerie, crimson glow that seemed to burn all that it touched.

"Why...?" the stallion heard.

He turned towards the voice, his eyes widening as he recognized it, but saw nothing.

"Why... did... you..." it was less of a question, and more of a demand, as the voice, quiet, filled the air around him.

Checkmate bowed his head. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean for this... any of this... I didn't want it to happen..."

"But it did happen..." the air converged before him as a unicorn, her coat a dark red, and her mane a dark blue, stepped from it. "You know what you did... don't you... Check?"

"Yes... I was such a fool... Khaza," he said, not meeting her eyes. "I didn't realize... just... what it was that I'd done... until after the knife left my hooves..."

The unicorn stepped over to him, and placed a hoof on his shoulder. "I understand," she replied, her voice calm. "I'd have done the same in your position. Honestly, I would've."

Checkmate smiled, slightly, "Thank you," he said, and shook his head. "I just... I can't even find the correct words. It's been... how long, now? Eight years. To think that day..."

Khaza looked away from him. "Yes, I know," she answered. "It has been far too long, hasn't it? But this place... you know where we are, right?"

"No... It looks like the Hellgate Mines, but I don't exactly..."

"It's your mind, Checkmate. This is how you view your home."

"My mind?" Checkmate cocked his head at this. "You mean... I'm dreaming, aren't I?"

"What is the last thing that you remember?" asked Khaza, as she stepped around him.

Checkmate followed her with his eyes, "Wendigo plunged Conviction into my back... but I remember nothing more. I assume that I lost consciousness?"

"Yes," Khaza replied. "Wendigo almost killed you... but you got lucky at the last minute."

"And... I guess that you're an illusion of my mind, Khaza?" Checkmate asked.

"Perhaps," the unicorn mused. "Although... who's to say? I could be but a figment of your imagination... or perhaps a Dreamwalker. Like, for example, the princess standing behind you."

Checkmate turned, quickly, and found himself facing a large alicorn, a coat the color of the night sky, and a mane that wavered and rippled as if it were alive.

"Checkmate Vigarde," she said, quietly, "Celestia sent me as soon as she heard from Twilight Sparkle of what happened in Darkfrost. I'm... sorry."

The earth pony relaxed, "You've nothing to apologize for, Luna," he replied. "You've done nothing wrong... I... however... I failed, didn't I...?" He hung his head, "I should have guessed, from the beginning, that I don't have the ability to fight Wendigo... I'm weak. Too weak, even."

"Check..." Khaza whispered. "You're not weak. I'd know firsthand that you're strong."

The stallion winced at this, as though he were struck. "I am weak, though..." he whispered. "I... Wendigo was right. I'm absolutely... worthless. I can't save Darkfrost. Not now... Not ever."

"But... you have to!" Luna said. "If you do not... then all hope is lost, and the world will perish."

"That's my point!" Checkmate shouted. "All of you... Celestia, yourself, Discord... You all expect me to be this great and all-powerful hero. Well guess what? I'm not a hero. I've never been a hero, and I never will be a hero. Eight years of my life were spent suffering at my training... I fought, and I fought, but I never grew any stronger. And so, in the end, I failed. I failed, and now Wendigo has won."

"But that's the problem," said Khaza, as she turned towards him. "You are a hero, Checkmate. You just don't think that you are."

Luna nodded. "She's right. You mustn't give up hope, not when you have done so much for so many ponies."

"Fine!" Checkmate hissed. "Name one pony who I helped. One pony whose life I made better."

"Mine," Khaza replied.

Checkmate and Luna turned towards her in surprise.

"How did I make your life any better?" The stallion asked. "I... I couldn't have. But if this were just a dream, then there's no way that you'd simply be forgiving me for everything..."

"Are you real?" The princess of the night asked the unicorn, "or are you a piece of Checkmate's dream?"

"What do you think?" Answered the mare. "Am I real? Or am I false?"

"It doesn't matter either way," mused a new voice, "because you will all die the same."

The three whirled around, quickly, and found themselves facing a windigo only slightly smaller than Luna. Unlike the others, his coat was slightly grey, rather than entirely white, and he stood tall with a knightly posture, his stance resembling that of the royal guards.

"Deun," growled Checkmate, "why are you here?"

Luna's eyes narrowed. "And, more importantly," she said through grit teeth, "how did you arrive here? Few ponies can swim the Dream Channels, much less find a specific pony."

"Indeed," replied the windigo, coldly, "And that is why Wendigo chose me for this mission. My abilities to travel the Dream Channels are... quite useful, to put it simply."

"'Useful' indeed," Luna growled. "To think that there are still windigoes with such power... And windigoes who still obey Wendigo without saying anything."

"I thought that all windigoes hated Wendigo," Khaza muttered. "Why are you acting so different?"

Deun turned away. "I have my reasons," he said. "None of them, of course, concern you. But that is beside the point."

"Why are you here?" Checkmate demanded, again.

"I've come to deliver a message from Wendigo. Nothing more." The windigo's eyes betrayed no emotion, instead looking between each of the three ponies with steel and ice.

Luna stepped towards him. "A message?" She asked. "Do tell."

"Of course. By royal decree, all who aided Checkmate Vigarde in his escape from Darkfrost shall be... put to death. Regardless of from where they hail. In addition to this, Checkmate himself is now an enemy of all windigoes. Besides me, of course, whoever sees him is to kill him on the spot. That is all." Still, Deun's eyes showed nothing, but instead a cool, steely glare that seemed to pierce through the three before him.

"He's waited long enough," Checkmate muttered. "And you, Deun... I'm amazed that Wendigo would send his own general after me."

"Indeed," Khaza growled. "How much has changed in the past eight years?"

Deun kept his face motionless. "Much, I'm afraid. Since the day that you decided to act upon your own selfish will and betray our nation, Khaza, I'm afraid that I've only become stronger, and Wendigo has accepted me as his most trusted general. And to think that you - especially you - would only surrender your abilities for such a heartless cause..."

"That's enough from you!" the unicorn hissed, her horn beginning to glow. "One more word... and I will end you!"

The general sighed. "So... emotional. How pathetic," he murmured. "But, as I said, I am not here to fight. If you so desire to challenge me, then simply pursue this useless quest of yours."

"'Quest'?" Luna asked. "What quest do you mean... exactly?"

"The foolish quest for the Ignis," Deun explained. "The only blade that can make a windigo's flesh become like that of a pony's... and possible to damage with conventional weapons. The blade held by the accursed sleipnirs, enemies of our kind, and those wreathed in flames."

Checkmate stepped towards him, "Why... are you telling us this?" he asked. "You never had to say that... so why did you...?"

Silence reigned for a few second, before Deun spoke. "Remember this, Checkmate Vigarde. I am a windigo, bound to the will of Wendigo. He is my king, and my commander, and I am not to question his orders. You, on the other hoof, are not my enemy, but nor are you my friend. I do not wish to see you become collateral damage in our want to build the Zephyr, but if you attempt to slay the king of Darkfrost, then I will use every weapon I have in my arsenal - be it magic, swordsmanship, or sheer numbers - in order to kill you. And I will not, no matter what occurs, give up on my pursuit."

He turned as if to leave, as Khaza stepped up to him from behind. "Halt! Tell me this, Deun," she said, coldly. "What has happened to Darkfrost?!"

"Whatever do you mean?" asked the general. "How could you - a... fabrication of Checkmate's own mind - know anything of how Darkfrost used to be... Unless, of course... No, that is absurd." He shook his head, as if purging himself of a thought.

Luna simply looked over at Khaza as if surprised. "Khaza, a-are you really a fabrication, or...?"

The unicorn continued, interrupting Luna's line of thought. "What has that bastard done to it in the last eight years that I'm not aware of?! Tell me!"

Again, for but a moment, there was absolute silence, before, once more, Deun spoke. "Again... it matters not. Regardless of who you are, whether the true Khaza or an illusion, I refuse to elaborate on my reasons. Farewell to all of you."

And then, just as quickly as he arrived, the general of the windigoes vanished, dissolving into nothingness, as he left Checkmate's dream.

The earth pony turned towards Khaza. "Tell me... Khaza... How do you know so much about this, when even I don't know some of this information? If you're just a dream, then tell me."

Khaza stared at the stallion, for just a moment, before she stated. "Checkmate... I understand that this must be confusing for you... given that Deun spoke to me as if I'm real, and with what I know... but... I cannot say everything yet, either. I'm sorry... but there is much that you mustn't know as of now. All that you need to know is that Deun is dangerous, and with this new decree... any windigo that finds you is to kill you. Or they'll face death."

Just as the general had vanished, so too did Khaza, as her body became like mist and joined the air around them.

Luna turned towards him, then. "Checkmate... who was that? You knew her, I'm sure."

"Her name... was Khaza. My best friend for ten years in Darkfrost, ever since I was just a colt, since I was only five years old," replied the earth pony, his voice quiet. "She and I were extremely close. We spent hours just talking, playing around... Everything that friends do, right?"

Luna nodded, and Checkmate continued. "However... eight years ago, everything changed," a tear ran down his face, as he said. "I returned home one day - the day that I ran - and found myself staring at several dead bodies. My entire family had been slaughtered, and I could do nothing... nothing to help them."

"But... what of the unicorn? What of Khaza?" asked the alicorn.

"That day... It's a day that will haunt me forever," Checkmate whispered. "Everypony that I cared for died... My parents... my sister... and Khaza herself. All because of a certain heartless bastard."

"Wendigo."

"Yeah. It was after Khaza's death that I fled to the border... And that I escaped to Equestria. It's all because I was so weak... I have to become stronger. Not just for Darkfrost, but for myself. So that I'll never have to watch innocents die by that monster's hoof again."

The mare placed a hoof on his shoulder. "And you shall become stronger," she said, quietly. "I know that for a fact. After all, nopony besides you has ever escaped from Darkfrost. That is a very notable accomplishment."

The stallion shifted. "I know... but it was all luck. From what I remember, I just passed out, and then... Somehow I awoke, unharmed by Wendigo."

"I understand that you were very lucky," she admitted. "But that is not what matters now, is it? The point is that Wendigo considers you to be a credible enough threat that he is attempting to kill you, even sending General Deun after you. Isn't that a good thing?"

Checkmate could not deny that she seemed much less formal, and certainly much more childish, than Celestia, who was already rather informal to begin with. It was somehow both endearing and, strangely, adorable. How she did that, he would never understand.

"Perhaps," he mused. "If Wendigo considers me to be a threat, then that means that he sees me as powerful enough to possibly defeat him... and, in that case, I may be able to do just that..."

"So... you'll try again?" Luna looked surprisingly excited.

"... Yes," Checkmate replied, after some hesitation. "I will."

"Yes!" Luna shouted, throwing her hoof up into the air in joy, before coughing. "Er... I mean, that is excellent."

Checkmate smiled, in spite of himself. He found himself liking this princess even more than Celestia.

"Well... in that case..." he said, "do you think that you can allow me to wake up? I'll need to consult my... my friends on this matter, and if I'm going to find this 'Ignis' that Deun mentioned..."

"Say no more," said the princess of the night. "I shall send you back to the world of the awake immediately. And I'll also make sure to tell my sister of what happened here."

And then, Luna's words still ringing in his ears, Checkmate Vigarde awoke.

Revelations

Checkmate awoke with a start, quickly sitting up in the small bed. His back felt odd, as though it had been sewn shut, and he had barely any energy in him whatsoever.

He turned as if to try and exit the bed, but let out a gasp as a wave of pain ran through his spine. The stallion's vision was blurred, slightly, and the lights around him ached just to look at. So, naturally, he just chose to lay back and close his eyes.

Where was he? He knew, for a fact, that he had been rescued from Wendigo, but by whom?

Then, he heard a voice. "Oh, you're awake!" it was obviously feminine, and sounded familiar. "Thank Celestia for that... You were out for three days, and..."

Checkmate tried to speak, but his tongue was too dry, and was stuck to the roof of his mouth, forcing him to let out another gasp as his answer.

"Hey, are you alright?" the voice asked again, but Checkmate couldn't see who was speaking. "Oh, right! I'm sorry. I guess you're pretty thirsty... Here."

The stallion felt a small canister of water touch his mouth, and he drank. His throat burned as the water ran over it, but he didn't care. It tasted surprisingly good, and he felt his voice beginning to return.

At last, he was able to speak once more. "Where... am I?" his voice was still slightly raspy, but it sounded far better than it had beforehand. Which was, to say, that he could speak.

"We're at Carousel Boutique," the voice replied. "Rarity's home, remember?"

"Rarity's..." that was right, the white unicorn. Of course he remembered, but still, this voice was bothering him immensely. He knew it. He'd heard it often, but his mind was so muddled with tiredness and pain that he couldn't think of who it belonged to.

"Yeah," another voice, somewhat different, said. "We've been lookin' after ya for the past couple-a days."

"Indeed," yet another voice added, although it was more prim and proper. "We had to make sure that you were alright. Even Princess Celestia herself sounded worried when we told her the news of your run-in with that ruffian."

"Ruffian"? Did she mean Wendigo?

"Who's... there?" Checkmate found himself asking. He knew those voices, but he couldn't put them to any names...

"C'mon, Checkie!" Came a fourth voice, almost playfully. "Open up your eyes and see the sunshine!"

At last, the stallion was able to force his eyes open, the light shooting into them and causing them to burn. And, yet, he allowed his eyes to adjust as he saw the seven creatures surrounding him. That was when Checkmate realized that, while his cloak no longer covered his back, his hooves still were wrapped in their cloth.

"All of you..." he whispered, his voice returning to its normal state by this point. "Why are you here?"

Twilight Sparkle, who had been talking to him the whole time, stepped over to the bed. "We wanted to help you, Checkmate," she replied. "Rainbow Dash told us everything. About Wendigo, Darkfrost, the windigoes... and we told Celestia about them, as well."

"You know everything...?" Checkmate whispered, again. This was too much for him to process in one sitting. These ponies and the dragon had all come to help him.

Rainbow Dash looked away. "Sorry, Check," she replied. "I'm just... I had to tell them. It was the only way that they'd believe me."

The stallion looked her over. "You... you saved me... But... how did you know...?" his mind immediately found the answer. "Rolan... What did he tell you?"

"He told me about how much harm Wendigo's done," the cyan pegasus replied. "And... also about how your family..."

"Checkmate, I'm so sorry," whispered Twilight. "I wish that I'd known about all of this beforehand... I could have helped, and..."

"That's why I couldn't tell you," the stallion replied, and the seven stared at him in surprise. "If anypony from Equestria knew of my plight, I knew that they'd want to help me... and... I couldn't let that happen."

Pinkie Pie jumped on the bed, placing her face just inches away from Checkmate's. "Why not, Checkie?" She asked. "I mean, all that it would take would be for us to aaalllllll get together, and then blast Mr. Meany-Face with the Elements of Harmony! And then, he would've been like 'Agh!", and we'd be like 'Yay!', and then he'd be like 'Nooooo!', and we'd all be like, 'Yeeees!'" She was using hoof motions the entire time, somehow making that last statement into a semi-coherent splatter of words.

"What... Pinkie means, is..." Rarity interrupted, "we would have been more than happy to help you stop Wendigo. After all, as the Elements of Harmony, we would be able to stop him with the power of friendship, and you wouldn't be in this state."

Checkmate let out a single, barking laugh, and the seven jumped in surprise. "It's a nice thought," he admitted, "but... it's impossible. Wendigo can't be hurt by magic of any kind, whether it's friendship or raw power."

"How does that work?" asked Twilight, cocking her head. "I mean, nopony is resistant to magic naturally, so how could Wendigo have that much power?"

"There's much you all have to know," replied Checkmate. "And... do you desire to know it?"

The nod was almost unanimous, with Fluttershy being the only one not to do so.

"Very well," conceded the stallion. "Wendigo was born - or, rather, created, as windigoes are - 3,000 years ago, approximately, in Darkfrost. It's said that he used to be... almost, normal. Quiet, calm, and friendly to those around him. That is, until he was around 500..."

"What happened then?" Applejack asked. "Ah'm curious."

Checkmate nodded. "Around the age of 500 years, Wendigo's heart, it's said, began to freeze. He turned cruel and sadistic, slowly at first. A murder here, an execution there... But none know the true cause for his transformation into becoming such a monster. Just that, along with his change in personality, he also gained power. Power enough to kill the old king, take Darkfrost for himself, and turn it into a vile nation, filled with anger, bitterness, and hatred."

"So none know what caused this change?" Twilight asked.

The earth pony shook his head. "None. There's a theory, however, that there was something that... interfered in his growth process. Those in Darkfrost call it the 'Catalyst', something that caused a massive shift in Wendigo's personality. Some say that it's a demon that wandered the world five millennia ago, and others claim that it was the combined bitterness and hatred of our kind. None know for sure, as I said. The Catalyst, however, is believed to be the true cause of all of this destruction and chaos. But, again, it's but a theory. Albeit a theory that ponies in Darkfrost cling to, in hopes that, perhaps, Wendigo is just being manipulated and that he'll change his ways eventually."

"The Catalyst..." Twilight whispered, softly. "What a strange name... But... it's just a theory, right?"

Checkmate sighed. "None are certain. All that we know is that Wendigo kills indiscriminately. He doesn't care whether or not his prey is a child or an elder... All that matters to him is that he wins. Personally, I don't believe in this 'Catalyst'. It's foolish to blame Wendigo's changes on something else, when it could just as easily be that he grew up in a hostile environment."

Rainbow Dash nodded at this. "Yeah. When I saw that guy, he gashed Check's back open after freezing his hooves solid. I don't think that there's any justification for his actions."

"Agreed," Rarity mused, "but that's beside the point. Checkmate, you say that Wendigo gained an immunity to magic, correct?"

"Yes," replied the stallion, "and that's the next part of the story. Wendigo had taken Darkfrost for himself, turning it into a hellish, wretched place. My village, the Hellgate Mines, stood as its capitol, so the bastard spent most of his time there. You can imagine, I'm sure, that the ponies weren't overly satisfied by being violently tortured every day. So Chronos, the original ruler of Equestria, stepped in, making a deal with Wendigo: In return to giving fifty percent of Darkfrost's ponies over to Equestria in order to become citizens. In exchange, Chronos gave Wendigo a magical barrier that blocked any-and-all attempts at striking him with any sort of magic. This includes, of course, the Elements of Harmony."

"How could he give that monster a barrier?" asked Twilight. "That sounds absolutely... just... I don't even know how to describe it."

"To be fair to Chronos," mused Checkmate. "Wendigo had already killed Equestria's strongest warrior: Chronos's son, and Celestia's brother."

It took a while for this revelation to sink in. "Wait..." whispered Applejack, "are ya tellin' me that this 'Chronos' was actually Princess Celestia's...?!"

"Father?!" Finished Rarity, in shock, "but that would mean that he is Princess Luna's father, as well, correct?"

"Was," Checkmate corrected. "Chronos died centuries ago. And I suppose that you can all guess who killed him?"

Twilight grit her teeth. "Let me guess," she muttered. "His name was 'Wendigo', wasn't it?"

"Yeah," the stallion replied. "Isn't it amazing what happens when you give a sadistic windigo - who's already immune to most physical attacks - an immunity to all types of magic, as well? Chronos didn't survive for more than a week against Wendigo, which was the second longest battle the bastard fought in, next to Celestia's brother."

"How do ya know all this?" asked Applejack. "Ah mean, there's no way that ya've been alive fer so long."

Checkmate sighed. "How could I not?" he asked. "This was one of Wendigo's favorite lessons... that he was so powerful, that even an alicorn king couldn't stop him. He enjoyed watching us lose all of what little hope we had. Next to, of course, his personal favorite..." As he said this, he began to unwrap the cloth from his hoof, but left it there, regardless.

"Well, we know that we can't fight Wendigo with magic," Twilight murmured, "so how do we beat him?"

"I," corrected Checkmate.

"What?" Twilight looked surprised.

"How do 'I' beat him," Checkmate replied, "because I refuse to put all of you in danger."

"But that's not -!" Rainbow Dash started.

"Be quiet!" The stallion shouted, and the entire room fell silent.

Checkmate sighed. "Listen to me: None of you can fight Wendigo. None of you can touch him, even. Only the Glacius and its twin, the Ignis, can damage that bastard. No matter what any of you try, Wendigo is absolutely impossible to kill by conventional means. Magic doesn't work. Physical attacks don't work. Nothing works, save for, again, the Glacius and the Ignis."

"Well, we're not just gonna do nothing!" Rainbow shouted. "If you go to fight Wendigo again, then you'll just be killed."

"Don't you think that I understand that possibility?!" Checkmate shouted, slamming his hoof into the covers of the bed. Once more, the seven jumped back. "I have to take this journey by myself. Wendigo is already looking for me, and the windigoes will kill anypony who tries to help me along the way!"

Silence.

"Don't you see, yet?" Checkmate asked, quietly. "I was greeted by Wendigo's general, Deun, last night. He told me that the bastard announced a 'royal decree' that forces any windigo who meets me to kill me, and anypony who travels alongside me or aids me, or else Wendigo will kill them. Rainbow Dash is already in danger for having Wendigo see her back in Darkfrost, and he could have followed her back here to Equestria!"

The cyan pegasus in question shifted nervously. "Um... Check? I wanted to talk to you about that... It's about that sword - you called it the 'Glacius', right? - um... is it possible that the sword is, well, alive?"

Checkmate stared at her for a few seconds. "It's a sword, Rainbow Dash. I'm fairly certain that it's not alive..." he tensed as soon as he finished that statement. "Wait... why are you asking me that...?"

Rainbow continued to shift from side-to-side, as she said. "Well... I left it back in Darkfrost after I grabbed you an flew off - I didn't realize how important it was - but... when I returned to Ponyville, after I had Rarity and Twilight fix you up, I found it up in this room..."

Again, there was silence, as they processed this information.

"That's..." Rarity started. "How could that possibly be?"

Checkmate grit his teeth. "Wendigo did send Deun after me," he muttered. "Looks like I've got less time than I thought..."

He stood up, and attempted to exit the bed, but stumbled as his hooves hit the floor, dropping the cloth onto it. Immediately, Rainbow flew and grabbed him, supporting his body.

"You're in no condition to leave!" She said, angrily. "You need more rest... Oh, Celestia! Y-your hoof!"

"Like I said," whispered Checkmate. "Wendigo's personal favorite lesson. How did you think I could hold a sword?"

He knew just what his hoof looked like. From experience, he knew that it was wretched; The flesh inside of it had been cut out, leaving what could best be described as a "lumpy bowl shape". Certainly, it was awful, but the reactions of everypony else surprised him greatly. They stared at it with such disgust that one would assume Checkmate to be the worst case of Wendigo's torture.

If anything, he was the best.

"Oh, Celestia," Rainbow repeated. "How could Wendigo do something like this...? Come on, Checkmate. You need more rest. Now."

"I haven't the time for 'more rest'," the stallion replied. "Wendigo could have already found us, and if that's the case..."

"Then wouldn't he have killed us by now...?" The voice was quiet, and terrified, and Checkmate looked over to see that it was Fluttershy, the most silent of the group, who had spoken. "I... I mean..."

"That's a good point," Twilight mused, "If Wendigo does know about us being in Equestria, then why hasn't he sent his forces after us?"

"Because he's planning something big."

The eight in the room looked towards the source of the new voice.

"Rolan?!" Checkmate cried. "Why are you here?"

The windigo looked throughout the room, at the shocked faces of the ponies, and grinned. "What, did you expect me just to leave you be, Checkmate? You're quite a bit too important to the windigoes who aren't Deun and his soldiers for that."

"You're Rolan?" Twilight cocked her head, slightly. "How'd you find us?"

"Simple," replied the windigo. "I just followed Deun back here. The Dream Channels are easy to follow, if you know the right routes, and it was easy to locate you based on the fact that you spoke with Luna last night. Unfortunately, that applies to a certain heartless bastard as well."

"So Wendigo has found us..." Checkmate muttered.

Rolan sighed. "Yeah, unfortunately," he said. "He's planning to attack Equestria at a time that it wouldn't expect anything."

"When?" Twilight asked, cautiously.

The windigo stopped, for just a second, and swallowed. "Tonight."

"During the Winter Gala?!" the alicorn cried.

"Yeah. Wendigo isn't exactly known for his courtesy," Rolan growled, "but let me tell you this; that sword, the Glacius? None of us windigoes touched it after Checkmate fought against the bastard. It just vanished on its own." He glanced away, and Checkmate suspected the Rolan was hiding something, but didn't press it any further.

"How is that possible?" Rainbow whispered. "I mean, swords don't just teleport on their own, right?"

"Of course they don't," Checkmate said. "One of Deun's soldiers probably placed it here or something. But that isn't the point, now, is it?"

"'The point'?" Rolan asked, cautiously.

"Yeah. The point," said the stallion. "The point that every windigo who meets me is supposed to kill me, right? Then why aren't you...?"

The windigo smirked. "Please. I could care less about what Wendigo thinks about me, and considering how us windigoes just become 'reborn' after our death with new personalities, I shouldn't worry about dying. After all, I'm not about to betray a friend just to save my own metaphorical skin. Sorry to disappoint you, Checkmate, but back to the matter at hoof."

"He's right," mused Rarity. "Despite the fact that he may be a windigo, Checkmate trusts him quite a bit. And so, with much regret, I, too, shall place my trust in this... gentlecolt."

"Much obliged, my lady," said Rolan, mockingly. "If none of you trust me, I don't exactly blame you. I am a windigo, after all. But, as I was saying, Wendigo is planning to attack tonight's gala at roughly midnight. He doesn't plan to kill anypony, as that would destroy his plan to keep out of war with Equestria. See, Equestria is loved very much by several kingdoms around here, and attacking it would draw every nation into war against Darkfrost, and there are enough weapons that can kill windigoes to cause him trouble if that happens. No, he's gonna be much more careful. After all, there's only one pony that he's after right now."

"Me, I presume?" Checkmate asked.

"Precisely," the windigo replied. "He's going to the palace, either way, but he's going there alone. There will be no general, no soldiers, and no other windigoes there. Why, you may ask? Well, the answer is simple: Wendigo's going to threaten Celestia with death unless she hands Checkmate over to him, but he's never going to follow through on that promise for the reasons that I just stated. The instant that you're handed over to Wendigo, he plans to leave Equestria be until the Zephyr is completed. Now, here's where my plan comes in: we already know about Wendigo's attack in advance, so all we have to do is be prepared for it."

"And... how do ya reckon that we do that?" asked Applejack, slowly.

"Simple," there was a twinkle in Rolan's eye, "we give him just what he wants."

Preparing for Midnight

"This guy is absolutely crazy," Spike muttered, as he, Twilight, Checkmate, and the others walked into Canterlot. He'd been complaining the entire walk to the city (Checkmate had insisted that, with Rolan, they'd best be careful not to be seen, so they walked; naturally, the windigo went out of his way to attract as much attention as he could).

Checkmate himself was able to walk, unsupported, after a long day of lingering in bed. Some things, he realized, were most appreciated when you didn't have them anymore.

The ponies on the streets were stepping out of their way as they walked past, but didn't protest as they had when Checkmate had entered the city alone. However, they stared at Rolan as if he were some monster, and screamed in fear and cowered as he walked past as casually as one would through the streets of Ponyville.

"How so?" the windigo asked the baby dragon, cheerily. "I mean, the townsfolk don't seem to mind me much. Hey there!" He called to a couple on the side of the road, who instinctively cowered behind some other ponies.

"Hatred..." he muttered. "You'd think that they'd never met a windigo before, eh?"

"Well, of course they're hating you," Rainbow said. "I mean, hello! You're a windigo, the creature that we've been told we're supposed to fear from birth!"

Rolan cast her a look of amusement. "Oh, I wasn't talking about them hating me. Certainly you've heard of Lord Hatred before, right?"

"Lord... Hatred?" Asked Twilight.

"Sure. You know, the creator of us windigoes? Chronos's old friend? Eh, I'll tell you about him someday. Maybe."

The calmness and laid-back attitude of the windigo was absolutely astonishing. He seemed to have a response for every question he was asked, and, even when he didn't, he came up with one almost immediately.

Checkmate would have to ask him how to do that someday.

"This 'Hatred' guy doesn't sound very nice," said Pinkie. "I mean, how could anypony with a name like 'Hatred' be anything but a big meany-face?"

"You'd be surprised," Rolan said, calmly. "He threw some great parties - you'd be amazed to see how nice a pony called 'Lord Hatred' could be -, and Chronos seemed to like him well enough."

He stopped, then, "Ah... we're here. The royal palace."

Indeed, the group stood outside the massive building, its spires reaching into the clouds themselves. The entire building looked just as beautiful as when Checkmate had first seen it, but was no less solemn and dark for it.

"C'mon," the windigo said, turning towards his companions. "If we're gonna warn Celestia, we may as well do it now, before Wendigo proceeds to attack the palace."

"Right," Checkmate muttered. "Come on, let's go."

The group stepped up to the gate, as a royal guard looked them over, before turning his attention towards Rolan. His face went pale as he saw the windigo.

"Y-y-y-y-y-y-y..." the poor stallion couldn't even get one word out.

Rolan flashed him a grin, "Hi there," he said. "Would you permit me and my companions here access to the palace? We have an important message for the princess."

"I-I-I-I-I'm n-not..." the guard continued to stammer. "I-I-I-I-I-I..."

The stallion then proceeded to faint, dropping like a rock before their eyes.

"How pathetic," muttered Rolan, annoyed. "Honestly, the first thing that I do once Wendigo is dead will be restoring the reputation of the windigoes..."

"How do we get in, now?" Twilight asked, stepping over the unconscious guard. "He was the only one who could open up this gate at the time, so what do we do?"

"Simple," Applejack said.

The orange earth pony stepped over to the door, turned her back on it, and slammed her hooves into it with an intensity that made even Rolan flinch. The gate burst from its hinges, smashing down into the hall behind it.

"Nicely done," the windigo said, grinning again. "You kick things often?"

"Ah buck the apple trees down on the farm," replied Applejack, and she grinned as well. "Ha! Ah've been waitin' ta try somethin' like that fer a while, now! Worth it completely!"

"Are you certain Celestia will be alright with this?" Twilight asked, touching the area where the gate once stood.

"I'm not gonna lie, AJ," Rainbow hovered over to the orange mare. "That was awesome. I've gotta try doing that sometime!"

"We can worry about that later," Checkmate said. "We've got to go and meet Celestia, and fast. Twilight, I assume that you can get us into the throne room?"

"Of course," the unicorn seemed to completely forget about Applejack's act of vandalism.

"Good. Okay, odds are there are going to be many royal guards who run away, faint, or try to attack us as we make our way to the throne room, and I need you all to be on your guard throughout the entire -"

"None of that is necessary," said Celestia, as appeared before them. "The guards on the barracks told me of a 'hostile windigo'. Of course, this one doesn't look very hostile at all."

"I'm not sure about that," Rolan mused. "I'm a very dangerous guy when I want to be."

"Good to see you again, Rolan," the princess said, chuckling. "I haven't seen you in centuries."

"Ha! Well, I just barely got away from Darkfrost today, and already your ponies are treating me like I'm a criminal," he pouted, although it was evident that he was just teasing her. "You really need to work on your guard's etiquette, Celestia. I mean, really, shouldn't I at least get a decent greeting?"

"Oh, my apologies!" Clearly, the two had done this before. "I'm so very sorry that your greeting was inadequate, Lord Rolan."

Everypony save Checkmate had a double-take at that.

"L-Lord Rolan?!" Twilight cried. "What... what is...?!"

"Oh, that's right," said the windigo, absentmindedly. "I never did introduce myself properly to... well, to any of you, did I? Checkmate, would you do me the honors?"

"Certainly," the stallion had a grin on his face at this. "All of you, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Spike -"

"Why did I have to be last?" muttered the dragon.

"- Allow me to introduce you to Lord Rolan Rimeheart, former king of Darkfrost."

"WHAT?!" The cry was absolutely, impossibly unanimous.

"A pleasure to meet you all," said Rolan, smirking. "Although that was a... different me, to say the least."

"Agreed," mused Celestia. "You were much too formal last time around. And your attempts at 'blending in' to society were... well..."

"I used the Royal Canterlot voice once," murmured the former king, "and that's all anypony is ever going to remember me for, isn't it?"

"Of course it is," Celestia replied, "but I don't suspect that you came here just to catch up about our pasts."

"You're right about that," Rolan said, "but here is not the place to talk about it. After all... you never know just who could be listening."

"Indeed," mused the princess. "Come with me to the royal hall. I think that it'd be best if we speak there."

A short walk later, the odd group of ponies had arrived at the throne room. It was, again, just as Checkmate remembered it, but the level of tension had increased exponentially. Even if Celestia knew not of what she was about to get into, even she could see the urgency in their eyes. Instinctively, she called upon her sister to speak with the group as well, and was even able to ask Discord to sit in. All of this in mere minutes.

"Oh, hey there, Rolan!" said the god of chaos, cheerfully. "How's it been, lately? I haven't seen you since... well, the last time you came to the gardens, actually. How long ago was that? five-hundred years? Yeah, that sounds about right."

Rolan regarded him coldly. "Yeah. The last time I saw you, you were a lump of stone sitting on a pedestal. It's nice to see that the most dangerous creature in Equestria is wandering about freely."

"Even with a new personality, your tongue is as sharp as ever..." muttered Discord.

"You don't have to worry about him," mused Celestia. "Fluttershy is making sure to keep him under wraps."

"This meek little creature?" scoffed Rolan, pointing at said mare, who instinctively cowered away. "Gee, I wonder how long that'll last? A month? Two? Five? You're not talking about a mere draconequus, a dangerous creature in-and-of itself, but the god of all chaos. The one who ruled over Equestria with an iron fist?! Honestly, though, sometimes I think that your brother was right about you being too soft..."

"Please don't talk about that," Luna said, stiffly.

Rolan glared at her. "As if you ever met him. He was... gone... centuries before Chronos went and fathered you. But, again, that's not why I'm here. If I wanted to argue with Discord over the chaos he's caused, I would likely be doing so in a castle made out of cotton candy with waterfalls of chocolate milk." He glanced over at the draconequus and cracked a smirk. "You've really ought to change your diet. That can't be especially healthy, I'm sure."

Discord shrugged. "Meh, I'm immortal. I'll live."

"Indeed," Rolan muttered. "Unfortunately for us all..."

Celestia coughed. "Getting to the matter at hoof..."

"Right, right," Rolan said, calming down, and he sighed. "I'm sure that you've all heard of Wendigo, king of Darkfrost?"

"Oh, yes!" Discord said. "He and I go way back! Tell me, how is old Wendy?"

Checkmate avoided spluttering out laughter at this, but only barely. The other ponies all gave him an odd look at how he was just barely holding it in.

"Well," replied Rolan. "Let's just say that... tonight isn't exactly going to be a fantastic night for Equestria."

"How so?" Luna asked, cocking her head slightly.

"Because," Rolan's voice was cold, "a certain heartless bastard is coming here. Tonight."

"Tonight?!" Celestia gasped, stepping from the throne. "Why would he...?!"

The former king glanced up at the princess. "Isn't it obvious, Celestia? He's looking for somepony. I'm sure you know who, as well. What better time to attack than when you wouldn't expect it? Especially at the Winter Gala, when you all are celebrating your 'victory' over the windigoes."

Checkmate stepped forwards, his face as straight as he could make it. "Indeed. He seeks me, and he plans to threaten you unless you hand me over to him."

Discord stared at him in surprise. "You? What could you possibly do to somepony like Wendy? I mean, honestly -"

The stallion was at the god's throat before the latter could complete that statement, the Glacius's tip touching it.

"Anything else?" Checkmate asked, coldly.

Discord flushed. "I-I'm good," he stammered. "Erm... That's the Glacius, right?"

"Of course," the stallion replied, stepping back to join his group. "Now do you understand just why Wendigo wants me dead?"

The god of chaos simply nodded, and swallowed.

"Now, can we get back to business?" asked Rolan, simply. "After all, we have a violent, brilliant god-like monster planning to attack tonight's gala."

"What, then, should we do?" Luna asked, obviously trying to keep herself sounding formal. "If Wendigo is attempting to get at Checkmate... then what is our best course of action?"

"It's simple, actually," replied Rolan. "We give him Checkmate."

"I... don't understand," said Celestia, frowning. "How are we going to stop Wendigo if we just give him Checkmate?"

"Because Checkmate Vigarde," started the windigo, calmly. "Will be ready to attack the bastard before he can find him."

"A preemptive strike..." Discord mused. "Simple... and difficult to pinpoint."

"Exactly," Checkmate stepped forward again. "All that we need now is a way to keep the ponies at the gala calm when the inevitable happens."

Celestia grimaced. "It's the best plan we have, but it seems dangerous," she sighed. "When does Wendigo plan to attack?"

"Midnight," Rolan replied, simply. "He's well known for being dramatic."

"Midnight," repeated Luna, dryly. "How cliché."

Just then, as soon as these words left Luna's mouth, there was a loud knock on the door. Rolan glanced back, and let out a sigh.

"Well, it would appear that..." he started, only to be cut off as door burst open, and a duo of ponies stepped in.

"... We have guests," he finished, deadpan.

The two stepped up towards the throne, as a pair of guards followed after them.

"Halt!" one of them said. "You cannot just enter the throne room without an audience!"

One of the original two, a unicorn with a blue mane and a pair of sunglasses perched on her horn, sent him a smirk. "Please, like I care," she said. "I mean, really! You didn't stop us from entering just now!"

"She doesn't speak for me..." the other, an earth pony with a dark mane, muttered.

"In any case..." the guard growled, "you cannot just..." His jaw dropped as he caught sight of Rolan, who sent him a cheerful wave. "W-w-w..." No more sounds exited his mouth, as the guard fainted right then-and-there.

The windigo sighed. "Really, Celestia?" He asked, turning towards her. "Your guards aren't exactly known for their backbone, are they?"

The princess winced at this, as the other guard ran from the chamber screaming. "And here I was hoping that Captain Blade was at least giving them some discipline training..." she said, angrily.

The blue-maned unicorn turned towards her friend, shrugged, and began to walk up the steps again.

"Princess Celestia, my apologies," said the other. "Vinyl here wanted to tell you of our song for tonight's gala as soon as she could." she looked over at Rolan, stared for a second, and turned back towards Celestia. "Huh... I'd ask what you're discussing, but I'm not sure that I really want to know."

Vinyl, on the other hoof, did just that. "Oh, what is this?" She asked, excitedly. "Is that a windigo?" She ran over and tried to poke Rolan, only for her hoof to go right through him.

"Why, yes," the windigo was grinning. "I am."

"Cool," the unicorn was not fazed in the slightest by this revelation. "Well, Princess, we're just here to give you a listen to our little song for the Midnight Dance."

Vinyl handed a small box to Celestia, and grinned. "We've been working on it for weeks, now!"

The other pony rolled her eyes. "Indeed," she said. "Vinyl had to learn how to play the electric guitar just for this one song. It may not be our best work, but it fits the mood of the Midnight Dance, if I recall correctly."

"Excuse me," Twilight growled, and the two turned towards her. "We're discussing a very, very important matter, here. It could determine the fate of all Equestria."

"And furthermore," supplied Luna. "You are in the presence of a windigo. How could you remain so calm when even the royal guards could not?"

Vinyl giving them a surprisingly hard look for one so energetic. "Octavia and I saw the Grand Galloping Gala collapse three years ago, as you and your friends tore the palace apart. The two of us were stuck in the middle of a changeling invasion, we were both forced into an eternal night by Nightmare Moon, and the one standing by the princess nearly destroyed everything that we've ever cared about. Nothing fazes us anymore, not even a windigo. Now, Princess, could you please give that a listen so that Octavia and I can leave you and your guests to your business?"

The others, and even Octavia herself, stared at the blue-maned unicorn with jaws agape.

"What?" asked Vinyl. "I was only answering your question!"

Pinkie stared, indignantly. "Well, just because we destroyed the entire palace one time...!"

"I like this mare," Rolan declared, ignoring Pinkie. "What's your name, kid?"

Vinyl lowered her sunglasses and grinned again. "Vinyl Scratch, or DJ Pon-3 to my fans."

"And my name is Octavia," said the other. "Cellist, violinist... Pretty much any string instrument you name, I can play."

Rolan smirked. "A cellist and a DJ? Odd friendship, I'm guessing?"

Octavia grimaced. "Yes... Vinyl is quite a bit... informal."

"Oh, you mean like Luna?" Discord added, helpfully.

"H-hey, I resent that remark!" Luna shouted, her mask of formality shattering completely.

Checkmate chuckled. "It is strange, honestly," he mused. "I wasn't exactly expecting guests. This is a very important meeting, after all."

Vinyl glanced over at him. "I guessed that much," she said. "But... well, we're just here to have the princess tell us what she thinks of the song for the Midnight Dance."

"There's a Midnight Dance?" Checkmate asked. "Well... that could get... complicated."

"How?" Octavia asked. "Well, I suppose that it doesn't matter. I don't want to pry. Either way, Princess Celestia, would you be willing to listen?"

"Certainly," Celestia said, finally speaking. "It's the least that I can do, given that you've just shown more bravery than the royal guards." She muttered something to herself, but Checkmate couldn't quite make it out.

The princess held the box up to her ear, and there was the sound of something clicking.

The room fell silent, then, as Celestia began to listen to the song. Three minutes later, she pulled the box away from her ear.

"It's perfect," she said, simply. "Perfect... given that at midnight..." The princess paused, then, and smiled, sweetly, "Yes, yes, it's fantastic. I'm certain that the ponies at the gala will love it."

"Awesome!" Vinyl shouted, leaping into the air. "C'mon, Octavia! We've gotta go practice a bit more!"

"Wait, don't you want...?" Celestia called after them as the duo turned to leave.

"Nah, you keep it," Vinyl said, looking back. "After all, we've got dozens of 'em. Just have it as something to whet your appetite for tonight!" She giggled as she and her friend left the room.

"Well," Discord said, calmly. "That came out of absolutely nowhere."

"Agreed," Luna mused. "It's amazing just what lengths these ponies will go to just to show us their accomplishments. Somewhat sad, really."

"How so?" Rolan asked.

"Well..." Luna sighed. "Think about it. They ran past several guards, spent weeks on their work, and, even now, they're still trying to improve their technique just for one night. And considering what is going to happen at midnight -" she shook her head "- I don't think that their song will ever be heard."

"Not so," Celestia said, smiling.

The many creatures turned towards her, confused by this.

"What do you mean?" asked Rolan. "If Wendigo is to attack at midnight, then their song - for a dance at midnight - shall never be heard, right?"

"Yes, but you must remember," Celestia glanced throughout the room. "This is no mere monster we're dealing with, but the king of the windigoes; it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if he longed to hear this song just as a background for his threatening. And you'd all be surprised just how fitting it really is..."

"Crisis averted," muttered Checkmate, dryly. "You realize that we've completely distracted ourselves from what actually matters just to talk about a song?"

"A song that those ponies - Octavia and Vinyl Scratch - poured their hearts into," Celestia said, gently. "Checkmate, these ponies aren't like the ones in Darkfrost. They have hopes and dreams besides just running away or destroying any other races." The princess grimaced. "They made this song specifically for tonight, you know. And I'm not one to let good talent go to waste."

"He does have a point, though," Twilight admitted. "Wendigo's going to be here tonight, and we have to ensure that we're completely prepared for him when he appears. You... do know what he did to Checkmate back in Darkfrost, right?"

Luna looked away, but said nothing. She didn't even have to, as that one action said everything for her.

"Yeah," Rainbow said, quietly, "but you didn't have to see it, did you?"

Everypony in the room turned to look at her.

"No, not really," said Discord. "Do tell."

Rainbow shot him a look filled with anger, before she began. "Wendigo... he cut Checkmate open. Right down his back, and he was gonna kill him. If I hadn't been there, he wouldn't be here."

"So now you're taking all of the credit for saving Checkmate," mused Rolan. "Then again, I do have to admit that the sonic rainboom you created was immensely impressive, and I really did nothing but hinder you, so I'll let you pass on this one."

Rarity scoffed. "Well, I was the one who had to sew up the wound, you know," she said, primly. "Honestly, Rainbow Dash. You act as though you're the only one responsible for Checkmate's survival. And it was not just you and I, but Twilight as well, you know. And, again, all of the ponies in this room - save for Rolan, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Discord, of course - all watched to ensure that he recovered fully. Based on how he's walking unaided, I'd say that it was a success, no?"

"Wh- No!" Rainbow said, flustered. "I meant to say that if I didn't pick him up after Wendigo cut him open..."

"I know what you mean, Rainbow Dash," said Rarity. "I was only kidding. You're so... sensitive to these things."

Rolan sighed. "You're all such... children."

"Coming from you?" Asked Celestia, smirking. "Really, Rolan, you can claim that we're children and you're not?"

The windigo laughed. "I never said that, Celestia," he stated, grinning. "Just that they're all children. Or... well... childish, I guess."

"Well, Spike's still a kid," Twilight said.

"H-hey!" interjected the baby dragon. "I'm no kid!"

"Of course you're not," muttered Checkmate. "We're falling off topic. Again."

"Lighten up, Checkie!" Pinkie said, her grin even wider than Rolan's.

"L-lighten up?!" Checkmate growled. "Wendigo, the most dangerous tyrant in the entire damned world, is coming here! Tonight! We don't exactly have the time to make jokes and laugh... and..."

Everypony was staring at him as if he were crazy, and then they all burst into laughter, themselves.

"What... Why are you all laughing?! We don't have the time for..."

"Calm down, Checkmate," Applejack said, stepping up to him. "Yeah, we all know 'bout Wendigo comin' here... but sometimes you just gotta laugh at these things. It helps keep yerself from goin' insane with worry. Right, Twi'?"

The purple alicorn winced as though she'd been struck.

"We already have our plan," continued Applejack. "One of them 'preemptive strikes', or whatever it was ya called it." She shrugged. "Ah'm just sayin' that ya can't get too worried over somethin' like this. Otherwise, it'll only hurt ya in the end."

Checkmate stared at her for just a second, before sighing. "You're never afraid to speak your mind, are you?"

"Of course not," Applejack said, proudly. "Ah'm the element of Honesty, after all. Jus' like how Fluttershy's the element of Kindness, Rainbow Dash is Loyalty, Pinkie is Laughter, Rarity is Generosity, an' Twilight is... well, Magic, or somethin' like that. I never did understand it that much... Seems like it shoulda been a part of her personality, rather than her skills, but hey, Ah'm not one to complain."

The stallion smiled, despite himself. "Well, with the Elements of Harmony by my side, I'm not exactly afraid of losing," he declared. "So we have a plan, we have ourselves prepared for tonight in nearly every way possible, and... we have a... song for the time that Wendigo arrives. Or something."

"Then we're all set," replied Discord. "That's good... Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to get some beauty rest. Chaos isn't easy to spread when tired, you know." He paused, "Oh, yes. Wake me up when it's time to fight Wendy, eh? I've got some choice words for him..."

Then, before their eyes, the god of chaos vanished into thin air, leaving the others standing in the throne room.

"Well, then," Celestia stated, "are you all truly ready for the gala?"

Checkmate nodded. "Yes. Well... I am, anyway. There's nothing more I can do to prepare myself, after all. What about all of you?"

"I'm ready," Twilight said. "I mean, what is there that I can really do to get ready for the gala, now?"

"Same," Rainbow agreed. "There's nothing more that I can get."

"Nothing for me, either," Applejack said, grinning. "Although... Apple Bloom's comin' tonight to the gala, okay? I'm jus' gonna stay with her for awhile and make sure that she don't get into any trouble..."

"Likewise," Rarity added, "and I'll make sure to keep Sweetie Belle from asking any questions of Wendigo."

"Oh, right," Rainbow muttered. "I'd better keep a close eye on Scootaloo, too... Last thing I need is for her to run off into trouble and get herself hurt. So I guess that I'll be hangin' with you and AJ tonight, Rarity."

"Not a problem," Applejack replied. "Pinkie, how 'bout you?"

"Duh!" Said the pink mare, indignantly. "I mean, of course I'm ready! I never leave home without everything that I need for a perfect party! Let's see..." She began to pull items out of thin air, "Party cannon... Pranking kit... Oh! And fifteen-dozen cupcakes!" A massive stack of cupcakes fell next to the cannon and the small kit.

"How..." Checkmate started.

"Don't question it," Twilight replied. "We stopped trying to a while ago. Oh, she also has a sixth sense."

"Of course she does," the reply was completely blunt, without any emotion whatsoever.

"Fluttershy!" Applejack interrupted. "How 'bout you? Ya ready fer tonight?"

"W-well... I-I'm not exactly sure..." stammered the yellow mare. "Well... maybe but... I think I have... e-everything..."

Rolan turned towards Celestia. "This is the one who's looking after Discord," he said bluntly. "Remember that."

Celestia grinned. "Did you know that she took down a manticore once?"

"One manticore? Fine, let's say she did. That still doesn't -"

"- And a cockatrice," continued Celestia.

"Okay. Again, fine. She beat a cockatrice. Anypony can -"

"- And a dragon," finished the princess.

Rolan's jaw went slack. "She... beat a dragon?"

"By staring at it."

Rolan turned towards Fluttershy. "I'm sorry I ever doubted you," he said, sincerely.

"Th-that's..." stammered the pegasus, again. "That's... okay."

"Well, now that that has been resolved," mused Checkmate. "What about you, kid?" He turned towards Spike.

"I'm not a -" Spike was cut off as Twilight threw him a glare. "- ... I'm ready," he muttered.

"Good," Checkmate said. "That's everypony. Are you all sure about this? There's no turning back after this point."

The nod was unanimous.

"Good," repeated the stallion. "Then, tonight, we drive Wendigo back. After that, I can begin the quest for the Ignis, and then..." He paused.

"Then, I defeat Wendigo. Once and for all."

The Winter Gala

The time was eight-thirty at night.

Three-and-a-half hours until Wendigo attacked.

Checkmate sat in one of the four corners of the grand hall, along with Spike and Fluttershy. Pinkie was dancing with an intensity that could only be described as "impossible", and Applejack, Rainbow, and Rarity were off making sure that the three kids were safe. Twilight herself was talking with Celestia back in the throne room, and Luna was enjoying the festivities as well through her own dancing.

Although Checkmate's companions were not very good conversationalists, that hardly mattered to him. Spike looked was anxiously glancing around every five minutes or so, and Fluttershy had placed herself in such a position that talking was out of the question, her face even more terrified than Spike's.

"Honestly," he muttered, "it's at times like this that I wish Rolan was around..."

The windigo had gone off to guard the perimeter of the castle, watching it carefully so that Wendigo would not pass unknown. The last thing they needed was for him to show up early or, even worse (due to the building anxiety), late.

"Why the long face, Checkie?" Pinkie asked, bouncing over. "C'mon, dance! We've still got a few hours before that mean guy comes along!"

"I'm good, thanks," Checkmate replied. "I've never been too much of a dancer."

Pinkie shrugged. "Eh, suit yourself," she said, and bounced away again. "I'll be back to ask you later if you get in the mood, 'kay?"

Checkmate looked out a nearby window.

Three-and-a-half hours left...

Time passed quickly for Checkmate. He had nothing better do, after all, except wait for Wendigo to show up. So, as Octavia and Vinyl played various songs and the ponies around him of their anticipation for the Midnight Dance, he did nothing but listen, quietly.

Before he knew what had happened, three hours had already passed.

Checkmate sighed, and stood up from the table. Spike had already gone off to meet Twilight, and Fluttershy was nearly underneath the table, her eyes darting back-and-forth.

Sometimes, Checkmate worried that the mare was going to terrify herself to death.

Still, he had not spoken to anypony all night, save for Pinkie, who'd come over to ask him to dance once every ten minutes or so. He was beginning to grow anxious, however, and felt himself touching the Glacius at his side nearly once every five minutes or so.

Checkmate could not deny that he was absolutely terrified for what was to come.

Thirty minutes remained...

Thirty minutes had passed, just as quickly as they'd come.

By this point, all the ponies involved in the operation - himself, Twilight, Rainbow, Luna, Celestia, Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Spike, Applejack, Discord, and even Rolan - were sitting, gathered in the grand hall. Few ponies questioned why so many important ponies were all together, strangely enough, but passed them odd looks as they walked by. The strange group had actually joined together only a few minutes before, with little conversation between them, but that hardly mattered; they were not at the dance to talk, after all.

The three fillies, on the other hoof, were off a good distance away speaking idly of their time.

"Time's up," Rolan muttered. "Be on your guard, everypony."

"Right," Checkmate replied. "All of you... this is our time. Come on, let's do this."

Just as he finished speaking, cracks appeared on a nearby window, and the air became cold. Several ponies began to shiver, and hugged their bodies for warmth.

Then, at that moment, a voice resounded about the room.

"Princess Celestia," it said, "I see that you're... enjoying the festivities, eh?"

The ponies glanced about themselves in confusion and fear, some pulling their friends towards them to keep them from running off.

"Oh, that's right..." The voice said. "I almost forgot to show myself."

The air in the middle of the room converged, as a massive creature - the build of a stallion but the size of Celestia herself - appeared.

Discord stepped forward, waving cheerfully. "Hey there, Wendy!" he said, grinning. "How've you been?"

The windigo's eyes flashed. "Oh, I've been absolutely fine, Discord," his voice was thick with sarcasm, and a wolfish grin crept across his face. "I've just been... exterminating those who I find irksome. For example, certain gods who don't know when to shut up."

The draconequus stepped back, looking afraid. Not nervous, but afraid. Terrified, even.

"W-well," he said, "in that case, I certainly wouldn't want to annoy you..."

A shudder ran down Checkmate's spine. Discord, the god of chaos, was terrified of Wendigo.

"Wendigo!" Celestia growled, accusingly, stepping forward to take Discord's previous position. "What could you possibly want here?!"

By this point, Checkmate had already snuck around the figure, to an area where he could not be seen, and readied his blade.

"Nothing much," replied the windigo, the smile having dropped from his face. "You see, an annoying little brat decided to... run away from Darkfrost. He was well known around the Hellgate Mines as a murderer, and I can't allow such a pony to be freed, you know."

Checkmate froze. A murderer... he'd been called a murderer...

The blood... The knife... The flesh...

All of this - the images that he'd so tried to forget - began to resurface, and he shuddered in reply. No, he could not think about that, now! This was too important.

"A murderer?" Celestia asked, cocking her head slightly. "Pray tell, who did he kill?"

"That's not important," sneered Wendigo. "I'm just here to ensure that he brings no... harm to Equestria. You understand, I'm sure?"

"And if I refuse?" asked the princess.

"Then your head will come with me instead," replied Wendigo, smirking. "Although, I don't think that you'd have the courage to refuse me, anyway... Ah, that reminds me: how fares your brother?" The smirk had grown so much that there was nothing but cruelty and pure sadistic glee in Wendigo's eyes.

Celestia froze. "You know exactly how he 'fares'," she hissed.

Checkmate held the blade out, pointing it directly at Wendigo's back. Just one stab, while Celestia distracted him, would stop him.

"Of course I do," said the king of Darkfrost, "but that hardly matters now, eh...?"

Checkmate ran up behind him, and leapt into the air, only for Wendigo to spin at the last second and block the strike with Conviction.

"- Eh, Checkmate?!" he laughed at this. "Did you really think that a preemptive strike would work against me? You're nothing but an idiotic little fool."

"How did you know?!" Checkmate growled.

"It should be obvious," replied Wendigo. "I have ears after all, and running produces such a lovely sound... You truly must be a worthless fool to think that you could get away with attacking me from behind while running."

"Better than being a heartless bastard," Checkmate struck on the last word, attacking from below.

Again, of course, the attack was blocked. "Ha, how foolish!" Wendigo said. "I mean, really? Is this the absolute best strategy you could come up with? Trying to stab me when my back was turned?"

The center of the room was completely open, now, with all of the ponies save for Checkmate and Wendigo pressing themselves up against the walls.

The former placed himself into a fighting stance, moving towards the ground and placing his feet in such a way that he could not be moved.

The latter, on the other hoof, did none of this, and instead lunged forwards to attack Checkmate.

"Ha! Another block?" he asked. "Is that all you can do? How... disappointing."

"You want a strike?" Checkmate asked, eyes gleaming. "Then here you go!"

The windigo dodged the attack, instead spinning to add an extra amount of power to his next slash. The attack came from above, and Checkmate sidestepped it with an odd grace before thrusting the Glacius towards Wendigo. The latter brought Conviction forward, the tips of the two swords meeting and generating sparks that burned the carpet slightly.

"Ha! You really are pretty good when you put your effort in," Wendigo said, slashing diagonally, "but I'm afraid that this fight'll end just like last time - you, on the ground, with a sword in your back!"

"Never!" Checkmate dodged this next blow. "Because you forget what happened last time, don't you? I didn't die, as evidenced by me being here!"

Out of the corner of his eye, as the two fought, Checkmate could see Rolan out in the audience, watching, along with Celestia, Luna, Discord, Twilight, and the others. Their mouths were agape in awe of the ability shown by both sides. Rolan, however, had a dagger in his hoof, and was staring intently towards Wendigo as if seeking an opening. Checkmate allowed himself a small smile at that.

"Wipe that grin off your worthless face!" growled Wendigo. "C'mon! I didn't come all the way to Equestria just so that some little, worthless brat would die immediately! Give me a challenge, and focus on the battle!"

The blades crossed perfectly, both sides attacking, dodging, and blocking at the perfect times. And yet, even through this, Wendigo was still not satisfied? Well, then, he would just have to unleash all of his power.

Checkmate struck again, this time with more force, and dodged another one of Wendigo's attacks, slashing immediately as he escaped yet another. The blade was instantly stopped, again, but he pushed it forward still. The two weapons - the dagger and the sword - were shoved into each other, towards their enemies.

At last, Checkmate, with one final, powerful burst, shoved Conviction back completely, opening up a hole in Wendigo's defense.

"Wh- How...?!" Wendigo gasped, his guard broken.

Checkmate reared back, pulling the Glacius up, and stabbed it towards the windigo's chest, only for the latter to roll out of the way.

"Excellent!" Wendigo laughed. "Your technique is quite good for a worthless brat. Now, here's another test for you: let's see how long you last when these ponies know the truth!"

"What do you mean?" Checkmate asked. "What could you possibly...?"

"Well, allow me to tell you ponies of a creature called Khaza, friend of the worthless brat I'm fighting now," started Wendigo, his eyes flashing. "She was a unicorn from Darkfrost, a creature who had nopony that cared about her. Rightly so, for she was very dangerous. Her magic was immense and her power was superb, but she had a very violent temper."

"Wendigo! Stop!" Checkmate shouted, but his hooves had been frozen to the ground.

"Only one pony in all of Darkfrost bothered to try and help her. His name? Checkmate Vigarde. The same pony who's trying so foolishly to kill me, here. Now, Checkmate and Khaza were close... Oh, they were excellent friends, and I couldn't have that. Not in a land so filled with hatred as Darkfrost." His mouth curled into a cruel smirk. "So I manipulated the worthless little filly one day, eight years ago; I had her slaughter Checkmate's family. And it was beautiful, the effects of that choice... You remember, I'm sure, Checkmate?"

"Wendigo... Don't..." Checkmate gasped.

"Yes," the windigo's eyes were filled with malice. "The colt walked in on his so-called friend with a knife in her hoof, and his family members's corpses, everywhere... There was much blood covering everything..."

Several ponies in the crowd shivered, and Luna's eyes widened in realization.

Wendigo laughed, then, loud and long. "So naturally, Checkmate, not seeing her face and giving her no time to react, ran towards her... and he stabbed her. Right between her eyes."

The gasp from the crowd was immense, and Checkmate could feel tears in his own eyes as the memories resurfaced.

The blood on the ground... The knife in his hoof... Her flesh, pierced...

"So you see, now?" asked the windigo. "That, dear Celestia, is why Checkmate Vigarde is a threat. He killed his closest friend with a dagger... and then he ran before his punishment could be exacted. Certainly, he is somewhat justified for his actions, but murder is still murder, and the brat would have died for her own crimes without Checkmate's intervention. But, instead, he took justice into his own hooves, and ran as a refugee. A pity..."

"I'm sorry to tell you this, but you're wrong," Luna said, stepping forward.

"Whatever do you mean, Luna?" Wendigo asked, coldly. "Checkmate Vigarde killed his best friend in retaliation for her killing his family. Plain and simple."

"There is only one problem with that," replied the princess of the night. "It's not plain and simple."

"Why not?" Wendigo asked.

"Because," Luna started, "I met this 'Khaza' last night... and she was alive and well."

"That's impossible..." hissed Wendigo. "She couldn't have been real! She was in Checkmate's dream, so how could she have possibly been alive?"

"I never said it was a dream," Luna said, coldly. "I simply said that I met her. So, if I might say, did General Deun. And don't try to claim that he told you about it, either, because you know what?"

"Wh-what?!"

"There's a certain spell that tells me whether or not a pony is real or an illusion. That 'dream' was real."

"Deun never told me you casted a spell like that!" Wendigo growled, stepping back. "So how could you possibly know that the Khaza in Checkmate's dream was...?!" His eyes widened in realization of what he'd just admitted to. "No...!"

Luna smirked. "I didn't. You just told me. For the second time in just a few minutes, you let me - and everypony in this room, for that matter - in on an important matter. So Khaza is alive, Checkmate never killed her, and you just lost your only possible reason that Celestia would give you this stallion."

Checkmate's eyes widened. "Wait... So I didn't actually...?"

Wendigo started to laugh, then. It was slow and quiet, at first, but gradually gained in pitch and speed until the entire room was filled with it. "So what?!" he shouted, smirking. "It hardly matters, anyway. The brat lives. Again, so what? It hardly makes a difference. You see, Checkmate, your guilt weighed you down for years, when she's been alive all along. So show yourself, Khaza! Show Checkmate something that could easily have been explained eight years ago! Show him what you've been doing while he tortures himself over your 'death'!"

You'd like that, wouldn't you, you bastard?

Checkmate stared down in surprise. The Glacius was glowing a strange bluish silver.

"Of course I would! I'm sure Checkmate would as well, don't you think? To know that you've been faking your death, just because you didn't want me to find him." Wendigo's smirk covered his whole face. "So c'mon out of that damned shell of yours. Show us all just what makes the Glacius, a sword able to cut windigoes, possible to do so when only immortals, windigoes, sleipnirs, and some other legendary creatures are able to that!"

The Glacius flew from Checkmate's side, hovering in the air for just a moment before it began to reshape itself. The blade became a torso, the hilt split into two legs, and the tip became two more legs and a head.

The end result was another windigo, smaller than Rolan, who stared up at Wendigo with fire in its eyes.

"So?" it asked, its voice feminine, "what do you think, Wendigo? Is this exactly what you've wanted?!"

"A pleasure to see you once more," replied the cruel windigo, "Khaza."

The Midnight Dance

The room was completely silent. Nopony made even the slightest sound as Khaza, the strange windigo, stared down Wendigo with eyes of fire, and as Checkmate stood, confused, yet happy, amongst it all.

Finally, Wendigo broke the silence. "So, I see that you're doing well for yourself, eh?" he asked, smirking, as usual. "How's it been cracking Checkmate's heart open and filling it with salt?"

"You shut your mouth," growled Khaza. "I didn't do it to hurt him!"

"Oh, but you did hurt him," Wendigo's said, laughing. "Don't you get it yet? You did this protect him, yet it only sewed the seeds of despair and doubt into his heart. Seeds of pain and suffering. I hope you understand that, because you're nothing but a fool."

Khaza's eyes glimmered. "I hurt him? I wasn't the one who commanded a child to slay his family, you bastard!"

"I'm not sure if any of you understand what that word means," mused Wendigo. "However, you were the one who went through with the action, no? You had every opportunity to disobey me."

"Really?" she growled in reply. The two were circling each other like lions, waiting for the chance to pounce. "You would have killed them yourself and made them into a part of the Zephyr, and you would have laughed while doing it. You're nothing but a sadist."

The look in Wendigo's eyes changed. "Is that really what you think?" he asked, quietly, and his eyes changed back. "Because if so, then you're a smart little brat! Either way, Checkmate's family would have died; You're a hero, Khaza, for giving them a gateway to the next life... and in a way that made your only friend think you to be a monster, and he to be a murderer, too. You've grown up so fast."

"You monster," hissed Checkmate, and the two windigoes stared at him surprise. "You made me suffer for eight damned years... And Khaza, as well... We all suffered... and all because of you!"

"Anything else to add that is entirely obvious?" asked Wendigo, absentmindedly.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Checkmate screamed.

"I get that a lot. Nopony has yet to actually follow through on that promise."

Khaza smirked. "Well then, we'll be the first!"

"Please," Wendigo laughed. "You and that brat? You can't fight me together. The Glacius is the only weapon that can touch me, save for another windigo's weapon, the Ignis, or another one of - Argh! What?!"

"Sorry," said Rolan, grinning, holding his dagger deep into Wendigo's back. "I couldn't let you two have all the fun, you know."

"Rolan!" Khaza was grinning. "Good to see you again. At least you've not changed."

"Of course not," mused the former king, pulling the blade loose. "However, Wendigo here certainly has. Don't you agree, old friend?"

"Don't call me your friend," hissed Wendigo, as he gasped with pain, clutching at the stab wound. "I have no friends."

"You certainly used to," mused Rolan, coldly. "2,500 years ago you did, at least... Although, to be fair, that was before you went and usurped my throne. You were certainly much friendlier, then. Tell me, what happened?"

"Shut up," growled Wendigo. "I... Nothing has... SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU!"

"This bastard's insane..." muttered Khaza. She turned to Checkmate. "Well, shall we?"

"Kill Wendigo?" asked Checkmate. "We've only just met again, but I suppose that we can catch up later."

Rolan stepped up beside them. "See?" he said. "We're one big, happy family again, so let's celebrate." He held the dagger out, still slick with Wendigo's blood.

"Good idea," replied Checkmate. He turned towards the audience. "Any complaints on this matter?"

There was no reply except for a rigorous shaking of heads side-to-side.

"Good," repeated Checkmate. "Alright, then. You both ready for this?"

"Of course," Khaza said. "I've been waiting for decades to fight this guy."

"Likewise," said Rolan. "C'mon. We may as well get this over with."

By this point, Wendigo had regained his composure, and stood tall. His eyes narrowed on the three creatures before him, and he let out a bark of anger.

"Bah!" He shouted. "Do you brats honestly think that you can defeat me?! Please... I'm immortal. Nothing can kill me."

Checkmate could've sworn that Wendigo muttered something immediately afterwords, but didn't pay much mind to it. "Immortal?" he asked, coldly. "Nothing's immortal, Wendigo. Not you, not me, and not even the alicorns here. Immortality does not exist."

"You'd think so, wouldn't you...?" murmured the windigo, before he threw his head back and laughed. "Oh, well. Maybe I can die. Maybe I can, but so what? That doesn't necessarily mean that I will, at least not yet. You, on the other hoof... Oh, you will die, Checkmate. Here, this damned night, in this damned palace!" He ran his tongue over the outside of his mouth. "And it shall be my blade that does you in! And finally, I will ensure that you as well, Khaza... That you actually stay dead!"

Checkmate felt a chill run down his spine at that, the wound on his back slightly aching from the threats. Certainly, he was not afraid of Wendigo face-to-face - the windigo was dangerous, yes, but he knew Wendigo well enough not to be afraid of any empty threats - but this didn't so much scare him as it did horrify him.

The realization hit him immediately. Khaza...

The windigo turned towards him, knowingly. "Yeah," she murmured. "This is going to be impossible like this... So, I may as well just give you the honor of killing this bastard."

Her body began to shift, then, as it warped back into the Glacius, landing on the ground in front of Checkmate. The stallion reached down and picked it up, staring at it for just a second before turning towards Wendigo.

"Well," he said, coldly. "Now that we have that out of the way -" his eyes blazed "- shall we dance?"

"Ha!" Wendigo laughed. "Very well. We'll end this accursed facade here... With your blood, and the blood of the foolish former king, painting the carpet crimson!" His eyes flashed towards the group of Octavia, Vinyl Scratch, and the ponies acting as accompaniment, who had been awaiting the entire gala to show off their song. "Now!" he shouted at them. "Start the music!"

The four exchanged nervous looks, before Octavia nodded to Vinyl. The white unicorn stepped up to her microphone, her sunglasses now over her eyes.

"Um..." She started, shifting nervously. "My name is... uh... Vinyl Scratch, DJ Pon-3 to my fans... -" the mare gulped, seeing Wendigo's eyes, and began to talk quickly "- and, uh, tonight we'll be playing our song for the Winter Gala's famous Midnight Dance. This year... we... um, opted for a less traditional piece... so..."

"Get on with it," Rolan said, calmly. "We just wanna kill Wendigo already."

"Right..." Vinyl said, gulping again. Clearly, what she'd earlier - that nothing fazed her - was not true.

Octavia took over use of the microphone. "Tonight we shall be playing a piece that involves two normally conflicting instruments for a quicker, more dramatic song. I hope you all" - she glared at Wendigo - "enjoy it. Sit back against the walls so that you don't die and enjoy Invitation to Madness by the famed composer, Nobuo Uemaretsu."

Instantly, the look on Vinyl's face became one of pure excitement. "Hit it!" she shouted, holding up the electric guitar via magic.

The drummer, a stallion around Vinyl's age, sighed, magically raised two drumsticks up, and began the song.

"Invitation to Madness?" mused Rolan, holding up the dagger. "How very appropriate."

Wendigo laughed. "Indeed," he said, smirking. "Just as appropriate as how you will die here."

The windigo lunged towards them, as Rolan and Checkmate quickly dodged out of the way. Wendigo turned and struck at Checkmate, who blocked the attack as Rolan struck out at their foe from behind.

The windigo immediately blocked the former king's attack, leaping to the side in order avoid another strike from Checkmate, leaving the two ponies standing in front of Wendigo, again, their blades drawn.

"Intriguing," mused the tyrant. "I never imagined that you two would work so well together. Oh, well, it hardly matters."

He lunged again, this time focusing all of his efforts on Checkmate. The stallion dodged all of his blows with the same grace he'd shown earlier, but looked to be losing his energy as he did so.

Rolan, seeing this, struck out, again, at Wendigo from behind, as the tyrant flipped backwards over the former king, again putting himself in a position so that the two were in front of him.

He laughed, and lunged once more. This time, however, he attacked Checkmate's ally, focusing his efforts on Rolan instead of Checkmate Vigarde, and placed all of his power behind his blade. The earth pony attacked Wendigo, but this time, rather than from behind, he slashed towards the tyrant's side.

In reply to this, the windigo leapt back, before striking out at the stallion before the attack could land, cutting slightly into the cloak and drawing blood from his flesh beneath it. Wendigo stood, then, with the two in front of him, as he had before.

Checkmate was clutching at the wound, having collapsed to the ground. It wasn't a massive cut, but it still ached like hell, "Dammit," he hissed, angrily. "What is this...?"

"I've been doing the exact same thing every time," Wendigo answered, absentmindedly. "After all, the trick to fighting two at once is always to keep them both in front of you, after all."

"Of course," growled Rolan, helping Checkmate back to his hooves. "Lunging, jumping back... You're trying to expend all of our energy! Well, now I'm afraid that isn't going to work anymore."

Wendigo laughed. "What does it matter, honestly?" he asked. "I could kill you both in an instant if I wanted to."

Then why don't you? Khaza's voice asked. You have every opportunity to, but you're not.

"Because," the windigo said, coldly. "I have no reason to."

"What...?" Rolan asked. "What do you mean?"

"Please," Wendigo said. "Look at Checkmate, will you?"

The stallion was having trouble just standing. The gash on his side, while not deep, made it painful just to be still, and he felt his legs almost collapsing underneath him.

Until, of course, they actually did, sending him to the ground.

"Checkmate!" cried Rolan, rushing over to his friend's side.

Wendigo shook his head. "Don't you see?" he asked. "Checkmate is wounded. As in, to put it mildly, he can hardly stand. Even I would not fight an enemy who can't hold a weapon."

"Really?" hissed Checkmate, as he struggled to his hooves. "Y-you... You have no honor at all!"

"Perhaps," replied their enemy, calmly, "but what fun is there in fighting a foe who can't even hold a sword without falling? You're strong, certainly, but not so strong as to avoid pain itself."

He turned, as if to leave, as Rolan rushed up behind him. "Wait!" he called.

Wendigo stopped. "What is it?" he asked, his voice still surprisingly calm.

"Tell me this, Wendigo," Rolan said. "If you just want us dead, then why? Why aren't you just killing us?"

"Why do you long to know?" asked the windigo, not looking back.

"Just a bit of curiosity," replied Rolan.

The tyrant turned back towards him, wearing his smirk once more. "Let me tell you, then, Rolan. You see... to me, this is all but a game."

"A... a game?!" growled Checkmate, clutching at his wound. "What do you mean?!"

Wendigo laughed. "This is all but a simple game, for me. A game of chess, if you will. And, like every game, the players cannot participate if unable to do so... no matter the reason, be it pain or death. No... you both? You two shall live, yes... to see another day, for I still have need of you." He turned away, again. "Checkmate Vigarde, while you may be powerful, you have yet to know the true strength that you can convey. Come and meet me in Darkfrost again, once you have acquired the Ignis, and once you have unlocked your true potential. That is, of course -" his eyes glimmered "- if you aren't killed by Deun and his forces, first."

And then, before their eyes, the tyrant king vanished from sight, converging with the air around him, and leaving the room wreathed in silence.

Setting the Stage

The day after the gala, all hell had broken loose in Equestria. Ponies from the press were questioning Celestia and Luna about the "windigoes who attacked the Winter Gala" (although the only windigo who attacked them was Wendigo, and they actively ignored Rolan and Khaza not attacking civilians or attempting to help). It was all that the two rulers could do not to run away from the mob of curious, sometimes enraged, ponies.

Checkmate stood with the princesses as they addressed the reporters, the questions often coming to him, directly. As much as he despised answering the questions of those who would only go on to sew fear into the hearts of ponies everywhere, he knew that, if he chose not to answer, then the reporters would only become more suspicious, perhaps going into a frenzy over his denial.

"Excuse me, sir?" one of them, a bright-looking mare, stated, "is it true that you have been consorting yourself with monsters that have attempted to destroy all of Equestria?"

"Yes," replied Checkmate, bluntly, ignoring the looks from the other reporters and the two princesses.

The mare wrote that down, then, and continued. "Is it also true that said windigoes are planning an attack on Equestria?"

"No," Checkmate's response was just as blunt as it had been, "not that Wendigo has told anypony of, at least. So, based on the fact that he enjoys watching others suffer, he's likely not coming after you anytime soon."

The reporter breathed a sigh of relief, before adjusting her hat, and writing again. "And, as a final question, since you are obviously so ingrained within the culture of these barbaric creatures, what can you tell us about them?"

"I'm not sure," replied Checkmate. "What about you, Khaza?"

The windigo, having left her form of a sword, stepped out from behind Celestia's throne. "Oh, we're very fascinating creatures," she said, voice calm. "Why you should know just what we do to ponies who annoy us..."

The reporters all let out a unanimous scream of "WINDIGO!" and ran as if their hooves were on fire.

Checkmate allowed himself a small smirk. "Well, that was satisfying," he said, and turned to the princesses. "Well? How about it?"

Luna was grinning at this. "Ha! Did you see them run?" she put her hooves to the side of her face in mock horror. "Windigo!" She started laughing, and nearly doubled over in mirth.

Even Celestia could not hide her smile. "Yes, at least it cleared them out for us," she said. "Although... I'm not exactly sure if this will look too good for us when the papers roll around."

Khaza rolled her eyes at this. "Really? Is that all that you can think about? Believe me, Celestia, your subjects aren't stupid; I'm sure that, after last night's little escapade, they can judge for themselves whether or not I'm some evil Hell-demon born to reap their souls and devour their children."

Celestia grimaced. "Yes, you're right about that... Considering that Checkmate, yourself, and Rolan all fought diligently against Wendigo last night, I'm certain that at least most of the ponies who were at the gala will at least have some trust in you."

"Indeed," mused Checkmate. "There's nothing for you to worry about. After I make Wendigo pay for what he has done, I will ensure that the windigoes will gain the respect that they deserve."

Khaza grinned. "Looking forward to it," she said. "But I'm amazed, Checkmate. You don't seem to have too many questions, considering that eight years of guilt has just been lifted off your shoulders."

Checkmate shrugged. "I'm just happy to know that you're alive. And, after what I've seen, I've learned not to question these kinds of things. Yet this leads me to a question in-and-of itself..."

"What's that?" Luna asked, pulling herself off the floor.

"The Ignis," Checkmate said. "It has a spirit as well, right?"

Khaza nodded. "Yes," she said. "The Ignis contains the spirit of a sleipnir."

"A... what?" Checkmate cocked his head at this, as he had never heard of sleipnirs before, barring Wendigo's outburst the previous night.

"A sleipnir," repeated Khaza. "They're kind of like us windigoes. They feed on fear, are phantom-like in appearance... Oh, and they have eight legs."

"That sounds rather cumbersome," Celestia mused.

"You would think so, but those guys are faster than most ponies," Khaza said. "Not to mention the fact that they can hold several weapons at once without terribly restricting their movement."

"How do you know so much about these 'sleipnirs', Khaza?" asked Luna.

"There's always been a massive rivalry between sleipnirs and windigoes," answered the spirit of the Glacius. "After all, windigoes are spirits of ice and wind, and sleipnirs represent fire and earth. The two factions were pretty much made to hate each other." She rubbed the back of her head with her hoof. "However, Wendigo's been trying to win them over for centuries with promises of 'limitless fear' and other such crap. They're smart enough to understand that what he means, though, is just 'you fear and hate me, and I grow stronger'. He's pretty much given up on them at this point."

"You windigoes are just full of information, aren't you?" Luna said.

Khaza sighed. "When you've got nothing to do but talk and listen for 2,500 years, you generally learn a lot of useful information, and then you just want to tell it to everypony who'll listen."

"So, Checkmate," Celestia said. "You plan to go to the place sleipnirs call home and ask them to give you the Ignis, correct?"

"It'll be easier than you think," Checkmate said. "If they hate Wendigo, after all..."

"Of course," breathed Luna. "Then you can just tell them that they can help kill Wendigo, and then..."

"While that is all well and good," Celestia stated, "the fact remains that we do not know exactly where sleipnirs live, correct?"

"I do," Khaza said, ruefully, "although I doubt that you're gonna like what I tell you."

"Really?" Luna asked. "Where are they?"

The windigo looked throughout the room, to the three ponies, before she answered. "Windigoes live in a place where it's almost always cold, right? Well... sleipnirs live in a place that is almost always hot."

"Go on," Checkmate said.

"Well... sleipnirs live close to Equestria's borders as well. There's enough fear in this area that they can live peacefully nearby, but... the problem lies in getting there."

"We can easily send some of our guards with Checkmate in case things get nasty," said Celestia. "Please stop beating around the bush and tell us just where it is he'll need to go."

"Sleipnirs don't live somewhere easy to reach like Darkfrost," Khaza said, slowly. "They live somewhere harder to reach." She licked her muzzle, and looked away. "In order to reach their home, an underground cavern filled with magma, Checkmate is going to have to traverse the Desert of Death."

Celestia's eyes widened with horror. "You... you're not actually being serious now, right?"

"I told you, didn't I?" asked Khaza, shaking her head. "I told you that you wouldn't like it."

Luna bit down on the outside of her mouth. "The Desert of Death... We can't bring Checkmate to the sleipnirs's home by chariot because of the high winds, and the area is too dangerous for even the most hardened of soldiers..."

"Let me guess," Checkmate remarked, dryly. "We can't just go around it, either, because their home is located in the middle of the desert, isn't it? Right in the center?"

"Naturally," replied Khaza. "They had to keep their home safe somehow... And with all of the predators in that place, its short supply of water, and that's not even getting into the worst of it..."

"And not only that," Checkmate said. "Deun is going to be tailing us, too, and his army is likely more dangerous than anything we could possibly find out there."

Celestia sighed. "Indeed," she said. "This quest is dangerous regardless of who goes on it... But going to the Desert of Death yourself is suicide."

Checkmate looked her in the eyes. "I'm going to guess that you have an idea of just who to send with me on this mission, right?"

At this, Celestia smiled. "Of course. I'm sure that you've met them before. They may just be some of the strongest ponies in all of Equestria."

At that moment, as if perfectly on cue, the massive door to the throne room opened, and inside stepped the six mares who Checkmate knew all too well.

He stared at them for just a moment. "You're not entirely serious, are you?" he asked.

"Of course," Celestia's eyes seemed to twinkle. "They are the six Elements of Harmony, after all. Who better than they to go with you on your journey?"

"Yeah, Check!" Rainbow said, grinning. "I mean, you still owe me for what happened back in Darkfrost."

"Maybe," he admitted, "but you do realize that you would be going on a dangerous, life-threatening journey, right?"

"It wouldn't be the first time," Twilight replied. "Believe me, Checkmate, we've fought off changelings, Nightmare Moon, Discord, King Sombra, ursa minors... I think that we should be fit to tackle this 'Desert of Death'."

Checkmate sighed. "You planted them there just to come in at this moment, didn't you, Celestia?"

"Of course," replied the princess. "I figured that they would need to know just what to look out for."

The stallion sighed, again. "Very well," he conceded. "I can tell that I'm not going to change your minds, regardless of what I say... Just know this: If we are attacked by Deun, or, Chronos forbid" - Luna and Celestia winced slightly at that - "Wendigo himself, I do not want you all to get yourselves killed. So make sure that you express the utmost amount of caution that is physically possible."

"Don't worry, Checkie!" said Pinkie, appearing behind him and making the stallion jump. "I'm sure that we'll be absolutely fine against any mean ol' windigoes who attack us!"

Khaza coughed, and Pinkie turned towards her. "Hey, I'm not talking about you! Just about that big ol' mean Wendigo and that other guy... what'd you call him?"

"Deun," Checkmate answered. "Wendigo's general."

"Hey, speakin' of nice windigoes..." Applejack said. "Where's Rolan? Shouldn't he be here ta talk 'bout this journey?"

"Rolan went back to Darkfrost," replied Khaza. "He's seeing what he can do to slow Wendigo down between now and when we arrive. Also... I don't think that the sleipnirs would be too happy to see the former king of the windigoes arrive in their land. They're rather hot-headed creatures."

"Oh, like yourself?" asked Rarity, immediately covering her mouth with her hoof after realizing what she'd said.

Khaza's eyes changed to a strange light red for just a second. "Who are you calling hot-headed?!" she shouted, angrily. "I am not hot-headed!"

Rarity stepped back, trying to make herself look small. "Please... Please don't hurt me..." she whimpered.

The windigo's eyes returned to normal, and she glanced around at the ponies, obviously terrified (save Checkmate of course - he'd long since grown used to her bouts of anger).

"Right," mused Checkmate. "Let's move on with our conversation, shall we? We're not going to have Rolan with us on this trek, and based on the fact that Khaza will likely have to remain as the Glacius for the duration of it, we will have to use our own arguments to get the sleipnirs to give us the Ignis."

"But didn't you say that you already had an argument for that?" asked Twilight. "I mean, we just have to tell them about Wendigo, and how the Ignis could stop him, and then wouldn't they give it us then?"

"Not necessarily," replied Khaza. "Sleipnirs are proud creatures. If they think that they can stop Wendigo on their own, then we'll never get the Ignis. Our best bet is to do something important, something that can help their kind and give them a debt to us. If we can do that, then they'll certainly feel inclined to hand over the Ignis, just to make us both even."

Celestia nodded. "Yes... If they're as proud as you say they are, Khaza, then they will likely not just give up such an important spirit as the Ignis just because you tell them that you might be able to defeat Wendigo."

"But what could we possibly do for them?" asked Rainbow, sighing. "I mean, I'll admit that I'm kind-of-sort-of too proud sometimes" - This earned her a look from her friends - "but even I know that some ponies just can't be talked into things."

"Right," Checkmate murmured. "Worst case scenario, we'll need to take the Ignis by force. Hopefully it won't come to that, but we must take all necessary precautions, just in case."

"Just in case..." repeated Twilight, softly. "Hey, Checkmate? I've been meaning to ask you, but... What did Wendigo mean by what he said last night?"

"What part of what he said?" Checkmate asked.

"The part about this entire thing being 'a game of chess'..." Twilight said. "What do you think he meant by it? He didn't specify his role in it, after all..."

"I'm not exactly sure," mused the stallion, "but there's something... off about what happened last night. Wendigo is not the type to just walk away when his foe is wounded, especially with such a minor wound..."

"Right," Khaza said. "There's definitely something going on, here... Normally, that bastard'd just go on with the attack, anyway. Unless, of course, he's planning something, but that's absurd."

"How so?" Celestia asked, turning towards her.

Khaza scoffed. "Please. What kind of a plan involves putting yourself in such a dangerous position? Wendigo is not the type to gamble; he makes his plans specifically so that nothing can fail for him. Letting his most credible threat - or, at least, the most credible threat who is actively trying to kill him - live is just... not his style."

Luna nodded. "Maybe," she said, "but the fact remains that he did just that. And yet... it does seem off, doesn't it? If he's as much of a 'chessmaster' as he implied last night in his speech... then this plan of his must have hundreds of failsafes."

"But that's just it," Twilight said, and the room turned towards her. "I mean, like I said, Wendigo never specified just what he was in accordance to this 'game of chess'... He never said if he was the player, or the king, or the knight, or even the pawn..."

"She's right," Checkmate said, "For all we know... There could just be something else... Something pulling the strings, here."

Khaza snorted. "You're not honestly insinuating that the Catalyst is behind this, are you?"

Checkmate shook his head. "No, I doubt that. I doubt that there even is a Catalyst, much less one that would still be forcing Wendigo's hoof this late into his life... But that doesn't change the fact that there is still the possibility of such a thing existing."

"That is an excellent point," Rarity mused. "Perhaps that ruffian is being controlled, but we cannot base everything upon the fact that he never specified his position in a last-minute speech."

Applejack nodded at this, "She's right," said the mare, "Such a thing as this ain't ta be messed with... It's just a possibility, ain't it?"

Rainbow Dash flew up. "And either way," she said, through grit teeth. "That bastard's gonna pay for all that he's done to Check! Nopony messes with our friends and gets away with it!"

Luna looked at Rainbow Dash, bemused, and glanced over at Checkmate. "You taught her the word 'bastard'?"

Checkmate shrugged. "She overheard me calling Wendigo that when I went to Darkfrost. I still don't think that she understands its meaning."

"Either way," mused Celestia, "Rainbow Dash has a very valid point."

"I do?" asked the cyan pegasus, before puffing out her chest. "I-I mean... Of course I do!"

Twilight nodded at this. "Yeah. No matter what the case is, it doesn't change the fact that Wendigo's done a lot of bad things back in Darkfrost -"

"Understatement of the last three millennia..." Khaza muttered.

"- And we can't let him get away with what he's done!" Twilight finished, ignoring Khaza.

"So then," Checkmate mused, "we're all agreed?"

"YEAH!" Even Fluttershy joined in on that cheer, albeit at a much lower volume than the others.

"How long should you all take to prepare?" Checkmate asked. "And, before you ask, we are going to need water, food, and possibly some form of shelter to protect us from the cold desert nights."

"It shouldn't take me long at all, actually," Twilight said. "I'd say... no more than one day, at the most."

"Same fer me!" Applejack said. "I'll make sure ta stock up on apples fer the journey there! How long do y'all reckon we'll be in that Desert of Death?"

"Theoretically speaking," said Luna. "It should take you no more than four days, provided that you keep to the path and do not become sidetracked."

"Alright..." Applejack said, "So, uh... seven ponies... four days... at four meals a day... uh... Well, I'll just bring along two-hundred."

Checkmate's jaw dropped. "T-two-hundred?" he gasped. "How do you expect to carry that?"

"Easy," mused the orange earth pony. "Hey, Pinkie, can I borrow that weird bag of yours? The one that lets ya carry all that stuff around with you?"

"No problem, Applejack!" Pinkie replied, grinning. "I've got about a dozen inside of the one I already carry with me!"

Checkmate turned towards Twilight. "How...?"

"Don't ask, Check," Rainbow said. "Twilight spent days trying to discover the secrets of Pinkie Pie. She nearly went insane, had various objects dropped on her, and was almost eaten by a giant hydra before she accepted the randomness that surrounds her."

"But that... that doesn't even make sense from a physical standpoint!" Checkmate said. "I mean, just... I'm beginning to wonder if Pinkie could possibly kill Wendigo, now that I think about it..."

The pink pony shrugged. "Sorry, Checkie," she said, sadly. "If Discord can't beat him, I don't think that I can, either."

Checkmate looked at Twilight, who answered. "Discord and Pinkie are... similar in the way that they break the laws of reality," she supplied. "The main difference is that Pinkie's abilities are more based around her physical being, and Discord's are more based around everything that surrounds him. To put it simply, Discord can do everything Pinkie can, and more, and if he can't even stop Wendigo - if he's as terrified of Wendigo as he showed last night - then she can't, either."

Checkmate sighed. "You know what? I've seen Wendigo -" he paused, and shuddered "- never mind."

"What?" Asked Khaza, "What've you seen Wendigo do?"

"Some things are better left unsaid..." whispered the stallion, and he shuddered again.

"Well, let's not press any further, shall we?" asked Twilight. "I mean, we just got completely sidetracked, again, with a conversation about Pinkie Pie's impossible reality-warping abilities - I'm seriously wondering if she's somehow related to Discord, but that's beside the point - and we need to get back to the matter at hoof."

"Right... Checkmate?" Khaza nudged the stallion, still shivering, in the side. "C'mon, Check. Get up!"

"R-right..." he whispered, and shivered. "Rarity... how much time should it take you to get ready for the journey?"

"In total? Well, I'll need my make-up applied, probably designing outfits for the occasion..." At a glare from the others, she sighed. "It should take me about a day. I'll need to convince Sweetie Belle not to come along with us on this journey."

"Same for me," Rainbow admitted. "That squirt'll get herself killed if I take her along..." She shook her head. "Yeah, I'm gonna be about a day, too."

"And it'll be too dangerous for Spike," murmured Twilight, "so I'll just need to find somepony to look after him while I'm gone."

"I'm ready anytime!" Pinkie said, pulling a suitcase from nowhere. "See? I've got my luggage and everything?"

Checkmate's eye twitched. "I'm not even gonna question this," he stated, bluntly. "Pinkie, I'm afraid that a suitcase isn't going to cut it, here. You realize that we're going to be crossing a desert, right?"

"Of course, Checkie! That's why I'm putting this in my bag," as she did so, Checkmate could almost feel a piece of his sanity snap in half. "See? I'm all set and raring to go!" She jumped into a fighting stance.

"Right, right..." said the stallion. "Fluttershy, how about you?"

The pegasus, for lack of a better term, shied away. "W-well, I'll need to find somepony to care for Angel while I'm gone... The others can probably keep themselves occupied, but he is... well..."

"How long?" Checkmate asked. These ponies, while kind, were beginning to grate against his nerves. He was beginning to question whether going alone would actually be a bad thing, at this point.

"Probably... erm... a day?" offered the mare, before stepping back further.

"Okay, then," Checkmate said. "How about this: in approximately thirty-six hours from now - in order to give you all time to prepare - we'll meet here in this throne room. Celestia, you can provide us with transport to the edge of the desert, correct?"

The princess nodded. "Yes," she replied. "I can definitely get you a chariot there. Thirty-six hours from now, I'll have a chariot waiting for you all in the royal gardens. We'll wait as long as is necessary, but make sure that you don't take too much time."

"Good," Checkmate mused. "Do you all understand that?"

The nod was completely unanimous.

"Very well," he said. "In thirty-six hours, the seven of us shall gather here, once more, and then..."

His eyes glimmered. "... And then we shall go and find the Ignis, and from there, we shall progress towards Darkfrost, to end this battle once and for all!"

Four children watched the entire conversation through a crack in the door.

"Really?" asked one, her voice cracking slightly on the word. "They're going on this big adventure, and they didn't invite us?"

"I know," grumbled another, a male dragon. "I mean, really! I proved just what I can do in the Crystal Empire, but Twilight doesn't want me to come along because I'm young?! Figures..."

"Well, not much we can do about it," said the third, her voice having a slight accent. "Ah mean, this doesn't exactly sound like a safe journey..."

"Don't chicken out on us now, Apple Bloom!" hissed the fourth, a pegasus. "This could be just the chance that we're looking for!"

"What chance?" remarked the third, dryly. "A chance ta get our flanks handed to us?"

"No, I mean our chance to get our cutie marks!"

The dragon rolled his eyes. "You're willing to risk your lives just to get a mark on your side?"

"Well, to be fair," said the first, "Checkmate obviously got his from adventuring!"

"How can ya tell?" The third asked. "He's always wearing that cloak."

"After he was beaten up by Wendigo in that Darkfrost place they keep talking about, I snuck a peek at him in Rarity's room. It wasn't a pretty sight, but his cutie mark was of two swords - a blue one, like the one he has, and a red one - and they were crossing."

"Weird," said the fourth, "but cool! Maybe we can get ours from hunting monsters with them!"

"Ya think they'll be mad?" asked the third, cautiously. "Ah mean, we're gonna bring along our own stuff, right? Food, water..."

"Of course we will," said the first, "and I'm sure that they'll be fine with it."

The dragon sighed. "Well, if I know Twilight well enough, then she'll yell at us for about twenty minutes, berate us in a softer voice for five, and then either let us join or send us back."

"Well, there's a fifty-fifty chance," said the fourth, "and you know how much I like to gamble."

"So it's settled, then?" asked the first. "We're going on this journey with them?"

"Ah guess so," said the third. "Spike, what 'bout you?"

Again, the dragon sighed. "At this point, I think it's better for me just to go along with you guys..."

"Awesome!" said the fourth.

And then, in perfect unison, the trio of ponies - to the combined amusement and horror of the dragon - shouted out their catchphrase. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS ADVENTURERS, YAY!"

The Night Before the Journey

Twilight stood in the library, packing her small bag with only the barest necessities: Some food (just in case), water, and several small books, just to pass the time.

She glanced about her, at library, the place that she'd called "home" for more than three years. Certainly, she left it often, and she spent time away from it for several days at a time when she did, but this time felt... different. It almost felt like, after this journey, everything would somehow change. Twilight wasn't sure whether it was because of the danger that the quest provided, or perhaps just the thought of her being away from the place, built into a tree, for what would probably amount to around two weeks.

Dejectedly, she looked over at Spike, who seemed to sleep peacefully in the night, and turned back to her packing.

As she did so, however, the door burst open, and Spike nearly flew from his bed to the floor.

"Twiley!" A familiar voice shouted, "what the heck is going on, here?!"

Twilight instinctively spun around quickly, facing the one who shouted, "Shiny!" she said, running over to her brother. "Why are you here in Ponyville?"

"Because of this," Shining Armor said, throwing a newspaper down at her hooves.

Twilight leaned in to read it. "'Windigoes Attack the Winter Gala: The Evil Spirits From the Old Days Threaten All of Equestria'," she blanched. "Wait... How did this reach the Crystal Empire so fast?"

"Luck," her brother said, through grit teeth. "When did you plan on telling me this?"

"I didn't..." Twilight said, her face falling. "I mean... I didn't want to worry you..."

Shining's eyes softened. "I know," he replied, "but that doesn't change the fact that you're going on some dangerous journey to stop this guy."

"It wouldn't be the first time," Twilight said, smiling ruefully. "But wait... How did you know that I'm trying to stop Wendigo?"

The stallion sighed. "Princess Celestia told Cadance and I everything, Twiley. She wants us to put up a shield over the Crystal Empire until you all get back."

"I'm sorry," said the mare. "I mean, I didn't know anything about this until just a couple of days ago, and now I'm going off with all of my friends on yet another journey to stop some evil mastermind from destroying the world."

"How many is that, now?" deadpanned Spike. "Five? Yeah, that sounds about right... Anyway, don't feel bad, Shining. She didn't invite me either."

"It's too dangerous for a baby dragon!" Twilight interjected. "I mean, we're going to a place called the 'Desert of Death'."

"And it's not too dangerous for you and your friends because...?" Spike started, looking for an answer.

"Because I'm an alicorn," said Twilight. "I can't die out there in the desert, you know."

"And what about the others?" asked Shining. "What about your friends? They're not alicorns."

Twilight sighed. "Yes, I know that..." she murmured, "but we all know the risks that we have to take for this. They're all great at dealing with this stuff by now."

"Then let me help!" Spike said. "If you're not worried about your friends, then what about me?! I'm more than capable of taking care of myself!"

"Spike..." Twilight started, gently.

The baby dragon scoffed. "Whatever," he muttered. "I'm going back to bed. You can do whatever you want, alright? I'll see you when you get back from your escapade."

"You'll see me tomorrow!" Twilight urged. "I'm not leaving for another twenty-four hours!"

Spike simply looked back at her. "You know what? I'm not even sure if I want to see you before you go." He stalked off, muttering to himself as he stepped over to his bed and lay down.

Shining sighed. "I'm sorry about that," he said, sheepishly, "but he does have a point, you know. You shouldn't worry about him that much. And, as for myself, I'm sure that you can do this. You're stronger than most members of the royal guard here in Equestria, Twiley." He ruffled her mane, playfully, "Just promise me this, alright? Just come back safely."

Twilight nodded, already feeling tears in her eyes. "I... I'll make sure of it," she said, proudly. "I'll bring us all home safely. Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, myself -" she bit down on her lower lip "- and... and Checkmate, as well."

"Checkmate?" asked Shining. "He's the stallion from the headlines, right? The one who fought Wendigo last night... I just hope that he knows what he's doing with that weapon."

"Why?" asked Twilight, curiously.

"Because," stated the unicorn, "a sword isn't like magic. In all of its forms, a sword is designed to bring death. A weapon like that can be used to bring good... but it can be used for evil, as well, if it falls into the wrong hooves."

"Right..." Twilight murmured. "I guess that I'll see you tomorrow, then... Right?"

Shining nodded. "Yeah. I'll see you then... G'night, Twiley. I hope that your journey is as much as a success as you do."

And then, Shining Armor let himself out of the library, leaving Twilight alone with her thoughts.

Rainbow Dash lay in her bed, everything packed already, and having already spoken to Scootaloo (who enthusiastically nodded her head and said, "Uh-huh," to just about everything she was told). She was entirely prepared to go on this journey, but she wasn't exactly sure just what Princess Celestia had in mind for them.

After all, she figured, maybe Twilight could be of some assistance, but what about her? What could she possibly do in a desert where the wind was as strong as the princesses claimed? What could the others do, even?

Rainbow shook her head, clearing herself of these thoughts. What help would she be if she doubted her own abilities? She'd be no help to them, and with the power that Wendigo displayed, they would need all of the help that she could offer.

The pegasus stretched out in her bed. She knew her own abilities, her strengths, and, yes, even her weaknesses, but she could not allow those to cripple her out in the desert.

No, if anything, Rainbow would just have to be even stronger than ever. For her friends - no, all of Equestria. She would have to break her own limits, shatter them, and cast them into the wind, and allow herself to take up the mantle that she always knew she held. The mantle of loyalty.

And she knew, for a fact, that she could do just that.

Giving herself this little pep-talk (if one could call it that), Rainbow Dash fell into an uneasy slumber, somewhat nervous for the activities of the next day.

"C'mon, Rarity!" Sweetie Belle whined. The young filly was absolutely, impossibly indignant. She absolutely refused to listen to reason, even as Rarity attempted to coerce her sister to do just that.

"Sweetie Belle," she said, calmly, although she felt close to snapping under the weight of her sister's protests, "you must realize that this journey is dangerous, horrific, and, most of all, disgusting! We'll be crossing a desert, with all of that sand and grit, and that is absolutely no place for a filly like yourself!"

The filly in question rolled her eyes at this remark. "Really?" she asked, deadpan. "I'm surprised that you aren't complaining about how badly your mane will be messed up with all of the 'sand and grit'!" For these last words, she took on a mocking portrayal of Rarity's voice. "I mean, you're just gonna end up complaining all about it, aren't you?"

The older unicorn flushed. "Wh- How dare you accuse me of something like that!" she coughed, regaining her composure. "I am a delicate, kind young mare, you know. However, I'm willing to get myself a bit dirty for the sake of my friends."

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes once more (honestly, Rarity had to admit, she was beginning to become quite good at that). "Yeah, Checkmate Vigarde," she muttered, "the stallion who you've only known for one week. Are you sure that it's a good idea to just... go off on a journey with him?"

Rarity scoffed at this. "Oh, come now, Sweetie Belle," she said, "the others and I only knew Twilight for one day before we went off on a journey with her, and nothing went wrong, then."

"Yes, nothing," Sweetie muttered, and she sighed. "You also went on a quest that only lasted a few hours."

"Hmph. And we've known Checkmate for a week, for a quest that should only be about a week long," replied the unicorn. "I don't quite understand what your point is."

The younger unicorn, once again, rolled her eyes. "Sometimes I wonder whether or not I'm the sanest pony around here..."

"Well, that's absolutely ridiculous," Rarity said, incredulously. "After all, we both know that Twilight is clearly the sanest pony in the entire town."

Sweetie Belle shuddered, visibly afraid. "Well, that's certainly a good sign, considering what she did that one time with the Smarty-Pants doll..."

"We all have bad days," the older sister mused. "I mean, even I've had my share of freak-outs, calm and composed as I am."

"Calm and composed," said Sweetie. "Although I kinda think that Khaza has less freak-outs than you..."

Rarity's ears perked up at this. "Wait, what was that?" she asked, her voice sounding as if it were going to crack. "I could have sworn that you just said something about Khaza."

The younger unicorn blanched. "Erm... Well, based on how she reacted to Wendigo last night during the gala... I-I just assumed that..."

"O-oh," Rarity mentally kicked herself. Of course Sweetie Belle would know just who Khaza was, given that she was at the gala just the other night. For a second, she had been nervous that the filly had heard their conversation back at the royal palace, but she realized just how stupid such an idea as that was.

"Right," she said. "My apologies, dear, I just assumed for a second that you had... ahem..." She coughed.

"Ahem, yes, on to other matters," Rarity said, changing the subject, and turning away from her sister. "Yes, I must take care of who you will be staying with while I'm gone... Mother and Father are in Manehatten... Hmm... I wonder if Applejack's family will be free for the next week or so... I'll have to ask them tomorrow."

Sweetie Belle let out a sigh. "But... what if you don't make it back?"

Rarity stopped. For the first time that night, her hooves began to shake, as the reality of the question came crashing down on her like a tidal wave.

What if she didn't make it back? What if she and the others were killed by Wendigo, or the sleipnirs, or the general (his name had slipped her mind)?

But still, she had to be strong, for her sister, and for her friends, so Rarity turned back towards Sweetie Belle.

"Don't you worry, dear," she said, soothingly. "I promise you that I shall return."

It was as if Fluttershy was living in a nightmare.

The buttercream pegasus was glancing about herself, hurriedly, making sure that everything was perfect. Her animals all needed at least two weeks-worth of food (just in case the trip went over, although she gave them three just to be sure), and they all needed to be completely ready for when she departed.

Her bags lay, packed, on the couch of her cottage, and she was now tending to the last animal: Angel. Although she loved the small rabbit dearly, Fluttershy found herself becoming extremely stressed due to his demands.

First, and foremost, was getting him somewhere to stay. After the fiasco with Spike just a bit earlier in the year, the pegasus knew that she had to find somewhere else to keep the bunny. Certainly, the dragon had done an excellent job with her pet, but Spike seemed nearly dead by the time they'd arrived home. That had only been a day, and this was to be a week or two, so Fluttershy knew that she needed somewhere else to send the rabbit to.

At last, after almost half-an-hour of searching (which was spent going over several areas in Ponyville), Fluttershy had at last come to the decision to have Angel spend the time that she was on this journey at Sweet Apple Acres. After all, Granny Smith, Big McIntosh, and Apple Bloom, she was sure, could easily take care of one rabbit - even Angel - while she was gone.

So, after spending another hour writing up instructions for them to follow (all of which were very specific), Fluttershy allowed herself to collapse back onto her bed, for her eyes to close, and for a well-deserved rest to take hold of her.

Pinkie had everything she could possibly need. Naturally, she had packed several necessary items, such as water, extra food, and, of course, her party cannon. One couldn't have a party without it, after all, and she planned to introduce the sleipnirs to the joys of a Pinkie Pie Party (and, of course, the windigoes, once they beat that jerk-face Wendigo).

The earth pony had been entirely ready to go, in fact, for the past several hours, and had given the Cakes her pet alligator, Gummy, to look after for while she was away in the Desert of Death (honestly, that place sounded like it could use a party or two).

But even she needed rest, although she still felt ecstatic for the journey ahead. Was she afraid of Wendigo? Certainly, but that only made sense. After all, even Discord had shown fear around the windigo. However, that only made the prospect of the journey more exciting for her. The thought of being able to make any more ponies happy - to help them and make them smile with joy - was something that justified any amount of danger that she could possibly expose herself to.

Pinkie's only hope was that her friends could take the pain that inevitably would come with this journey, but she'd spent enough time with them to know that they most certainly could.

And the party, she decided, would be the best that she'd ever thrown.

The party that they would celebrate after vanquishing Wendigo, and after they saved Darkfrost from his tyranny.

"C'mon, Applejack!" whined Apple Bloom, her eyes wide. "Can't Ah come along with y'all on this journey?"

"For the eighth time, no!" Applejack reprimanded. She loved her sister, dearly, but the young earth pony was starting to get on her nerves.

"B-but Rarity's goin' on it! An' Fluttershy! An' Twilight, an' -"

"No!" Applejack's patience was nearly broken at this point. "It's too dangerous fer you ta come with us!"

"B-but..." her sister had taken upon herself the famed "puppy-dog-eyes" look, as if to guilt Applejack into taking her along.

The elder sister grimaced. "Ah said 'no'!" She shouted, angrily. "Don't'cha get jus' how dangerous this is gonna be? I ain't gonna risk yer life jus' cause ya wanna get yer cutie mark!"

"B-b-"

"No!"

At last, Apple Bloom began to saunter off, muttering to herself as she did so.

"Sometimes, Ah jus' don't know what Ah'm gonna do with that kid..." muttered Applejack, shaking her head. "Ya feel the same, I reckon?" She turned towards Big Mac.

"Eeyup," her brother replied, his voice as deadpan as ever.

"Yeah, sometimes..." she shook her head. "I trust ya ta keep a close watch on this place while Ah'm gone?"

Big Mac smirked, slightly. "Eeyup," he said, again, "but yer gonna have a bit more ta do when ya get back."

Applejack winced. "Right, right..." she muttered. "Guess that savin' the world don't account fer me missin' my chores, huh?"

"Eenope."

"Oh, well," sighed Applejack, dejectedly. "Guess Ah'll just have ta do alla yer work fer a bit."

Big Mac shot her a confused look. "I ain't gonna quit workin' jus' 'cause you ain't been here a while. Ah'm jus' sayin' that our sister's gonna be a hoofful fer ya once ya get back. Ah'll cover yer work until then."

"Oh, thanks fer that..." Applejack rubbed the back of her head with her hoof.

"No problem," her brother replied. "Jus' make sure that, when ya come back, ta tell me all about it. Ah'm a bit interested in what ya'll're gonna do, and Ah'm sure that ya'll can stop Wendigo."

Applejack smiled, and hugged him.

She made a mental note to do just that when she returned.

Checkmate Vigarde stood, in his room, speaking with Khaza. He was almost completely packed, but needed a few more necessities before he would be entirely done.

"Hey, Khaza?" he asked, not looking back at her as he packed, "can I ask you something?"

"Sure," replied his friend, "ask away."

Checkmate stopped packing, and looked over towards her. "Why did you choose me, of all ponies, to wield you as the Glacius?"

Khaza cocked her head, slightly. "I don't quite understand," she mused. "What do you mean?"

"Well," Checkmate replied, "I'm not especially strong, and even after all these years, my technique is still somewhat sloppy. I don't really have anything too noteworthy about my skill with a blade, is what I mean to say."

"I didn't pick you because of your skill," said Khaza. "I picked you because I trusted you."

"The pony who jammed a knife between your eyes?" deadpanned Checkmate.

"Yep," Khaza replied, brightly, "but that's not what I meant."

She turned away, looking out a nearby window. "I mean... when we first met, all those years ago, I was an outcast. Wendigo had forced me to take the form of a unicorn so that nopony could discover that I was actually the Glacius. That's not even beginning to mention the fact that my own magic, enhanced because of my standing, kept the other ponies terrified of me, so nopony even seemed to acknowledge my existence. I'd just about lost all hope, and that..."

She paused, and smiled. "That... is when I met you."

"Are you saying that the only reason that you trusted me enough to let me wield you as the Glacius," Checkmate said, "is because... I was nice to you?"

"It does sound rather cliché when you put it like that, but... yes, I guess," Khaza admitted. "You were the first non-windigo to accept me - and to befriend me, at that - and I loved the fact that you did, despite everypony else being afraid of me. In a way, what you did touched me more than anything else that anypony has ever done for me."

"So, what you're saying is that anypony, so long as they'd befriended you, would have been trusted enough to use the Glacius?" asked Checkmate.

"Maybe," Khaza said, "although I'm not sure. What I can say for a fact, though, is that you've certainly used it much better than most other ponies back in Darkfrost would have. Most of them would've just gone running up to Wendigo and stabbed away at him, getting themselves killed. You, on the other hoof, thought this all out, and spent much of your time just researching the Glacius and training yourself to become stronger."

"Please," scoffed the earth pony, "you make me sound like a genius."

"You're not?" asked Khaza, looking over at him with surprise. "You always seemed to be."

Checkmate shrugged. "I'm not a genius," he said, "but I'm not a fool, either."

He turned back, and started to pack again, making sure to put his copy - or rather, Twilight's copy - of the Adventurer's Bestiary into the bag. He was almost certain that a book such as that would be useful to them on their journey.

"I think you're wrong on that matter," Khaza mused. "I think that you are a genius. Maybe not on the same level as Twilight, but you're certainly quite good at dealing with situations."

Checkmate turned back towards her. "I stabbed you," he said, slowly, "between the eyes. With a knife. I don't think that I'm that good at dealing with situations, Khaza."

The windigo shrugged. "Say what you will," she said, "but I've seen you in action, Check, and let me tell you that you are good at dealing with most dangerous situations."

Checkmate scoffed, but said nothing.

"You know, like the time that you took down that treant out in the Emerald Jungle while suspended from those vines? Or the time you fought off that dragon with your hooves literally tied behind your back? Yeah, I think that you're a genius, Check. A tactical genius. A strategist, if you will."

Checkmate simply shook his head, and turned back towards his bags to continue packing.

Khaza rolled her eyes. "Alright," she said, "be that way. I'm just telling you what I've seen you do. You can claim you're not strong, or not smart, or too hasty all you like, but I know what I've seen."

The earth pony sighed, but continued to pack, trying to ignore the windigo.

"After all, Check," she mused, leaning in to add to the effect. "I was there with you the whole time."

"Will you stop this?" Checkmate asked, turning towards her, again. "I know what it is that I've done, Khaza, it's -" he shook his head, and sighed, again "- just because I got lucky a few times doesn't mean that I'm any of those things. I only beat that dragon because he looked away at a crucial moment, and I was able to send him flying away with pure luck. I only stopped that treant because it cut the vines over me when I ducked, and I was freed, and able to cut it down. And, of course, I was only able to escape from Darkfrost because of pure luck."

The smallest ghost of a smile formed on Khaza's muzzle. "Really?" she asked. "I wasn't aware of that. I thought that the one who saved you from Wendigo..."

Checkmate's eyes widened in realization. The sword... He'd found the Glacius at his side after he'd awoken from Wendigo's assault. But that meant...

"You... you saved me from Wendigo?" he asked.

"Of course!" said Khaza, grinning. "I managed to get him away from you after you passed out, I turned into the Glacius, and the rest is history."

"How'd you get him to stop attacking me?" asked Checkmate, cocking his head slightly.

"Simple," Khaza's teeth were showing. "I told him to leave you alone, and he did."

Checkmate stopped, his eyes widening. "Wait... was it anything like what happened last night?"

"Exactly like that, actually," said Khaza. "Wendigo's been prone to doing that a lot, lately -" she shook her head "- but that hardly matters, right? All that matters is that you got out of there alive, and now we're all about to embark on this quest to find the Ignis and end Wendigo's pathetic life, once and for all!"

"Do you know who the spirit of the Ignis is?" asked the stallion, curiously.

"... Yes," said Khaza, after a moment's hesitation. "She and I are old friends... being that we've both known each other for several hundred years. She's rather nice, especially for a sleipnir."

"Well, that'll at least make things a bit easier on us, then," mused Checkmate. "Theoretically speaking, you should be able to convince her to come with us, provided that the sleipnirs hand the Ignis over without a fight..."

"Yeah," the windigo replied, "it would be... except for the fact that I can't exactly show my face in the home of the sleipnirs."

"Why not?" asked Checkmate, although he already knew the answer.

"Because, Checkmate," said Khaza, "I'm a windigo, and our kind and sleipnirs aren't exactly known for getting along very well. Certainly, it's nothing major - there haven't been any wars, yet - but we're still too opposing factions."

The windigo sighed. "If I show my face in the home of the sleipnirs, to put it simply... Well, I'm not sure if we'd all get out of there alive."

A Flash of Light

Arc II - The Blade of Fire

It was hard to describe the collective feelings of those who were about to go on the journey to obtain the Ignis. Some were excited, ecstatic, even, to go and gain this sword that could assist in saving the world. Others were visibly nervous, some of those even terrified, by the prospect of, perhaps, not returning home.

Checkmate was most certainly not of the latter group, nor was he of the former. Instead, the stallion - whether brave or foolish - felt only a sense of duty to Darkfrost, to himself, and to his friends. However, even he felt fear in his heart.

The fear he felt was not for himself, though, but for those around him. Checkmate was no fool, and he knew just how wretched the world beyond Equestria's borders could be. Certainly, the Griffon Kingdom, the Zebra Kingdom, and the Crystal Empire were all allies, and many of them were great places to live, but the rest of the world was as stable as a powder keg. Powerful monsters roamed several lands freely, wars were as abundant as the nations in which they were held, and there was always a crippling sense of fear that seemed to grip those who wandered the land.

But Checkmate had still not seen much of it. His entire life had been spent only in either Darkfrost - which he despised, save for the few nice ponies and the more compassionate windigoes - or Equestria - which he loved, save for Wendigo's interference and the few obnoxious and cruel ponies -, and he had yet to see the true horrors that waited outside of the borders of both lands.

He didn't care, though. He didn't care if the rest of the world was covered in mutated creatures, wallowing in misery, or horrid monsters that would tear apart anything for a chance to live.

No, the worst thing in all of the world - so many ponies claimed, anyway - was what he had witnessed back in Darkfrost. It was the same reason that, no matter how he tried, no matter how many times Khaza forgave him, he couldn't get that sickening sound out of his mind; That wretched sound, as the blade went between her eyes.

"There are no graves in Darkfrost."

It was a hideous saying, something that the ponies of that land knew all too well. The most wretched thing in existence was that one saying, and the connotations that it held.

Checkmate knew his friends to be strong. They didn't need any of his help, he was sure, in order to survive this mission (mostly because Twilight, as an alicorn, was effectively immortal). However, that wasn't what he was so worried about with them.

What terrified him was the idea that these creatures, once so innocent, would be subjected to the most hideous and horrible thing in the entire world. Again, he knew that they were strong, and wise, and could likely get through this intact. They'd seen things that he could only dream of, after all. They'd stopped Nightmare Moon, and redeemed Discord, and stopped the changelings, and even saved the entirety of the Crystal Empire. However, that still didn't change the fact that what he'd seen would never leave his memory.

"There are no graves in Darkfrost..."

The group of seven was speaking with the princesses and Discord, and several members of the guard, including Shining Armor, had stepped in and saluted them as they left of their quest.

"Twilight," Celestia said, "you and your friends are the only ones who can stop Wendigo, now. I realize that this is the most arduous task that I've ever placed upon you, but I'm afraid that it is necessary."

"Don't worry about me, Pri- Celestia," Twilight hastily corrected herself. "I promise you that we'll stop Wendigo, once and for all!"

"I'm glad to hear it," Celestia replied, warmly. "And the three of us" - she glanced over at Discord as she said this - "will make sure that we will put up a barrier to keep him out of Equestria while you are gone. I'm afraid, however, that you won't be able to enter Equestria until exactly two weeks have passed; That's when we estimate that you'll have defeated him, and that is when the barrier will lower. We've sent out a warning to the Griffon Kingdom, the Zebra Kingdom, and the Crystal Empire, as well, just to be on the safe side. The very last thing that we need is for Wendigo to cripple our allies."

"Right," Twilight said, although her face fell, slightly. "I understand, Celestia. I guess I'll see you and everypony else in two weeks, once we've stopped Wendigo."

The young alicorn stepped away from the princess, looking somewhat melancholy, and went to exchange words with her brother.

Fluttershy was talking to Discord (about what, Checkmate did not understand. Fluttershy was mumbling, and it appeared that the god of chaos was attempting to imitate her style of speech), and he sighed, turning towards Celestia and Luna.

"So, I understand that we will not be able to return here, then?" he asked. "It makes sense, but..."

"Yes," Celestia replied, sadly. "I know the risks of doing such a thing, of barring anypony from leaving or entering Equestria, but the danger of Wendigo is far too evident. If he gets the chance, he'll not just destroy Equestria, or ruin Darkfrost any more than he has, but he'll take the entire world for himself."

Checkmate simply nodded. "I know," he said, "but the fact remains that we... may not return. What makes you so confident that we will succeed?"

Celestia looked away, the faintest glimmer in her eye. "I knew a pony, once," she said, slowly. "He was... determined, strong, and brave. He longed to slay Wendigo, to protect not only our ponies, but those of the world, as well. More than 2,500 years ago, he set out on this quest, and he fought Wendigo for weeks on end. It was a sight to see. However, in the end, he failed. The stallion was... killed. He never was able to return to Equestria."

"What does that have to do with me?" Checkmate asked, cocking his head, slightly.

The princess of the sun looked back at him, before sighing. "The stallion was my brother. He was the strongest swordscolt I've ever met. But you, Checkmate... I've confidence that you can out-duel his greatest foe, and defeat Wendigo. Maybe you're not the best at fighting, but you've got something to fight for. Not only that, but with your experience, I'm almost certain that you can easily match Wendigo's strength."

"Wendigo? The one who defeated me for everypony to see?" Checkmate asked, sarcastically. "I'm sorry, Celestia, but... I don't share your confidence. I mean, I've done crazier stuff before, but fighting a monster like Wendigo? Every time we fight, he gets some advantage. An advantage that I can't counter, being an earth pony."

"You act like that's a bad thing," Celestia's eyes twinkled. "Believe me, Checkmate. My brother was only better than you at swordplay because he had thousands of years of practice, not to mention being an alicorn, with a signature style that most ponies feared just to look at."

"Did your brother have a name?" Checkmate asked. "I mean, you've been referring to him only as 'my brother', and 'he'. Didn't he have a name?"

"... Yes," Celestia's response was delayed. "However, his name is not meant to be known to any except for myself, Luna, and some other important leaders."

Checkmate sighed. "So he's that kind of brother, eh?" he asked. "Well, I understand. I get that you wouldn't want to say his name if it causes you heartache."

"Hey, Check!" came a shout, and Checkmate looked over to see the six ponies having boarded the chariot. "Hey, C'mon! Don't keep us waiting!"

"Right..." he murmured, and turned back towards Celestia. "I meant to ask you some questions just the other day... But I'm afraid that they'd slipped my mind at the time. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to."

"I've no problems, Checkmate," answered Celestia, "but... I do have one thing that I want to ask you. Do you remember last week, what I asked you just before you left?"

Checkmate tried to remember. "Something about... what did you call it, 'Velios'?"

"Him," Celestia said, quietly. "I just want you to answer this one question for me, just before we leave: what do you know about alternate universes?"

Checkmate stopped, and stared at her. "I know that every time a new action is taken, be it living or non-living, a new universe is born. What does that have to do with this 'Velios'?"

"Everything," whispered Celestia. "Checkmate, you must guard that name. Nopony, besides myself, and a select few immortals - with possibly being only myself and one other alicorn -, is to know anything about it."

The stallion rolled his eyes. "Don't worry," he said, "I've no plans to tell anypony about something I've never heard of. Is that all?"

Celestia nodded in reply.

"Very well," Checkmate said. "I guess I'll see you when we get back, and maybe I can finally ask you those questions."

"Good-bye, Checkmate," Celestia said, as he turned to leave, "and I wish you luck on your quest!"

Checkmate stepped over to the chariot, where the other six ponies were seated.

"About time!" Rainbow Dash muttered. "We've been waiting here forever!"

"Not really, though," Twilight said. "Girls... and, uh, Checkmate... are all of you ready to go and save the world, again?"

"YEAH!" As per usual, the cry was impossibly unanimous.

"Alright!" she said, grinning. "Come on, guys, we've got a desert to cross, and then a monster to kill!"

After casting one last, wistful look off towards the three immortals who stood watching them, Twilight motioned for the chariot to lift off, sending them up into the clouds. The chariot hovered, for just an instant, before going flying forwards at impossible speeds.

Rainbow Dash just sat, looking bored, while the rest of them held onto their belongings.

"Gah, this is so slow!" complained the cyan pegasus.

"A-are you kidding me?!" Checkmate gasped, finding it hard to speak.

Rainbow rolled her eyes, "Well, yeah!" she said. "I've flown at least ten times faster than this!"

"I'm-I'm sure that's impossible..." breathed Checkmate, still gasping for breath.

"Believe what you want," Rainbow said, smirking. "Just do whatever makes you feel good about yourself."

You want to have a race, some time? Khaza teased, the Glacius shimmering. I think I'd beat you, pretty easily, though.

Rainbow laughed at this. "You're challenging me to a race?" she said, through tears. "Oh, you are so on, when we're done here! I'll fly laps around you!"

Looking forward to it, Khaza replied. Windigoes have high affinities for wind and ice, you know, so we should be pretty evenly matched. Well, there's just another motivation to beat the crap out of that heartless bastard.

"Yeah!" Rainbow said, throwing her hoof into the air. "It's always great to get a racing challenge! Now I'll at least have something to do when we get back to Equestria... or Darkfrost, wherever you prefer."

Ha! Yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to it...

Checkmate wished that he could share their sentiments, rather than be in the position that he was: gasping for air, having to hold onto the hood of his cloak, lest it blow away, and fighting an inherent fear that they hadn't checked everything well enough before leaving.

Then, there was a flash of red beside the vehicle.

Before Checkmate knew what had happened, the chariot had fallen to the ground with a crash, and those inside it were sent into the air for a few seconds before landing safely upon its seats.

"What the heck was that about?!" Twilight shouted, looking over the two pegasi carrying the chariot.

"I'm sorry, Princess!" one of them gasped, clearly younger than the other. "We got to the edge of the desert, but something just attacked me!"

He showed them his side, which was bruised just under the wing.

"No, not the crashing," Twilight murmured. "I'm fine with that, considering I was expecting something like that. I mean, what was that red light?"

The other pegasus, the older of the two, glanced back at them. "I've never seen anything like it in my life, Princess... I'm not sure what it was, either, but odds are that it was hostile, if it just up and attacked Cloud Cutter like that. In any case, leaving here with the chariot isn't an option for a while. We got you to the edge, but I'm afraid that you'll have to get through the rest of the Desert of Death yourself."

"That was always the plan," Checkmate informed him. "Thank you, sergeant."

"It was nothing, lad," replied the sergeant, "but watch your step... I've walked these sands once before, and the monsters in it are nothing to sneeze at. I'm not talking about manticores, but about truly dangerous creatures. Jadetails, gold vultures, and the worst of the lot: antlions. You'd better be careful out there."

"You've been in the Desert of Death before?" Checkmate asked, "but this isn't a part of Equestria."

"No, it's not," admitted the sergeant, "but not all of us are from Equestria, are we? I was born in the Zebra Kingdom, so going through deserts was normal for me. This place, however... It's like some wasteland, filled with pain and things that'll kill you if you even stop for a chance to breathe. Like I said, watch your step, kid. Get that sword, get over to Darkfrost, and slay that windigo king. Anyway, the two of us will be returning to Equestria, now. The barrier isn't going up until we return, and I have to make sure that Cloud Cutter here gets some good medical care."

"I-I'll be fine!" said the younger guard. "I mean, it's just a bruise, see?" He touched it, and winced as he did so. "See? I'll be fine!"

"Ugh, you kids get going," said the sergeant. "I'll take the kid back to the palace. You should all watch out for whatever it was that attacked us. We're going to leave the chariot here, since we won't be able to carry it back with Cloud in this condition."

The sergeant and Cloud Cutter took flight, the latter limping slightly. "I'll see you guys when you get back," the latter said, weakly, before the two flew off.

Checkmate turned to the others once the two guards had gone, and leapt to the ground. "We'd better get used to all this sand," he muttered, stepping over to the back of the chariot to grab his bag. "It's all that we'll be seeing for a while... Oh, you're absolutely kidding me."

"What's wrong?" asked Twilight, glancing over at him.

Checkmate reached in, grabbed something - something that squirmed - and pulled it out. "Does this belong to anypony?" he asked, annoyed.

"Oh, buck," muttered Rarity, as elegantly as one would imagine, "Sweetie Belle, why would you-?!"

The young unicorn looked terrified, and gulped. "R-Rarity... I'm..."

"Three more," deadpanned Checkmate. "Two more ponies, and a dragon."

The three were systematically removed, berated, and chastised.

"Why would y'all do this?!" shouted Applejack. "Don't'cha realize why this place is called the 'Desert of Death'?! It ain't fer fillies, or a baby dragon!"

Checkmate's eyes flashed. "I hope that whatever reason you have is worth risking your lives," he said, his voice low and ominous.

Scootaloo blanched. "W-well, you see..."

Spike stepped towards them. "It's my fault!" he shouted, and the others stared at him in surprise. "I wanted respect," he explained. "After all, I saved the Crystal Empire, and I did a brief stand-in for Rainbow Dash against Discord, but nopony seemed to care, so I planned to come out here. These girls just kinda came along with me... I'm sorry, guys. It's all my fault."

"You're lyin'," Applejack said, but without malice. "Listen, Spike, I know that ya wanna protect 'em, but the fact is that y'all're here, now. An' with the sergeant and Cloud Cutter flyin' back to Equestria, y'all ain't gonna be returnin' there anytime soon."

"Dammit," Checkmate hissed. "That's right... we can't even return them to Equestria at this point... And we can't just leave them here..."

"Would it be safer to just take them along?" asked Rarity, sounding worried. "I don't want to leave my own sister and her friends here, where they could just as easily get themselves killed by themselves. I'd rather take them with us so that I'd at least know where they are."

Checkmate turned towards her. "Into the Desert of Death?" he asked. "I'm not sure if they'd be safer here, or with us, but I don't want to take any chances."

"Then we'll take them with us," Twilight said, cutting in. "The worst thing we could do is leave them here, unable to return to Ponyville. If we take them with us on our journey, we'll at least be able to keep them safe ourselves."

Checkmate sighed. "Alright, alright," he said, defeated. "I get it. You're both right. We could leave them here, but that could raise problems, and I don't want to leave any of you behind to take care of them. So these four get to see just what it is that they've brought themselves into."

"Checkmate, are you sure you don't just want one of us to stay with them...?" asked Fluttershy.

"Nonsense," replied the stallion. "I survived at their age, and what Wendigo did was at least as bad as whatever this desert has to offer." He rubbed one of his hooves, unconsciously, as the six mares winced, knowing what lay beneath the blood-stained cloth. "Besides," he added, "Celestia wanted all of you to come along with me on this quest, and I'm not leaving you out of it."

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah, he's right," she said. "I mean, what's the worst that could happen? You guys are hanging around us!"

"That's not very reassuring..." Scootaloo muttered, "but hey, I get to hang out with Rainbow Dash a bit more, and I'm perfectly fine with that!"

"Same!" said Apple Bloom. "Ah did say that Ah wanted ta come with you, Sis!"

"And maybe this'll get us our cutie marks!" Sweetie Belle said.

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS ADVENTURERS, YAY!" The three fillies shouted, as Spike covered his ears.

Checkmate rubbed the side of his head. "Is this what Hell is like?" he asked Twilight, deadpan.

The alicorn had to stifle her laughter.

The scout watched, carefully, stealthily, as the group of ponies talked so jovially in front of her.

She mentally kicked herself for that mishap that led to them crashing down into the sand, and continued watching, making sure not to make any noise. That was what her job entailed, after all, and her friend would be quite upset if she got herself killed by them. Although, the scout convinced herself, she could probably take them. They weren't anything but a bunch of candy-colored overly emotional ponies, after all.

Then, her eyes set on two of them in particular.

First, the alicorn. She was lavender, somewhat short, and the wings looked rather awkward on her. She looked different, but the scout remembered her all too well, and felt her hooves beginning to clench one of the daggers by her side at the memory. In fact, looking over them, almost all of the ponies were the ones that she remembered from one year ago, and it enraged her to see them wandering so freely. Oh, but that would change soon enough...

However, the second pony terrified her. He held a sword at his side, and stood with the appearance of one who had seen much pain and suffering. A mercenary, the scout assumed, who'd been hired to help them with... whatever it was Celestia wanted them to do. But he didn't carry himself like a mercenary, and seemed to be making idle conversation with the group. The fact remained, though, that he was undoubtedly dangerous to her, and everything she planned to do.

Especially, she reasoned, since the sword that he was wielding was the Glacius.

Oh, but she had time to be cautious. She had all the time that she needed, and soon she would do just as her job entailed.

All that she had to do was wait...

Crossing the Desert

The Desert of Death, so it was called, was one of the most notorious places in the entire world. Known as the "place of fell light", the desert was a wretched, horrific place. Monsters dwelled within the dust and beneath the various crags and crevasses that were filled with sand, and they were things that nopony was ever meant to face. The temperature fluctuated so massively - wherein the night froze like an arctic night, while the day burned like solar flares - that it was nearly impossible to so much as step through it without proper preparations. Even with the proper equipment, enough water and food to last the time necessary, and enough training to survive the creatures of the sand, the desert was still extremely difficult to traverse.

And now, much to their own chagrin, four children were tagging along with the seven adults into this horrible place. Nothing could be done, now, as the way back to Equestria had shut closed along with the departure of the wounded Cloud Cutter and the sergeant.

No, the foals had to come along, regardless of what hell was to follow.

And hell was not one to disappoint.

The sands seemed to scratch away at their hooves as they walked. Checkmate was the worst off, having to constantly readjust the cloths on his hooves in order to avoid getting any grit into the scarred lumps of flesh. The others were more discreet about their uncomfortableness, and even the four children did not complain, but simply carried their bags on their backs with quiet disdain.

Although they had yet to encounter any monsters, Checkmate knew that they eventually would; After all, their luck wasn't exactly known to be perfect, and the idea of stepping through one of the most dangerous places on the planet without at least drawing the attention of one creature of the sand, regardless of whether it was a gold vulture or, Chronos forbid, an antlion.

Checkmate shook his head. It would do them no good to step through the sands if they were afraid. No, they needed to be careful, cautious, and always on their guard. Otherwise, something could easily take them by surprise.

But no matter how much the stallion reminded himself of the danger in the desert, all that he could think of was that red flash that attacked Cloud Cutter, and sent them toppling towards the surface. What could it have been? He was almost certain that the flash was not an ally, but was it a foe? Perhaps, but he couldn't be too reckless out in the Desert of Death.

Not with Deun stalking his every move.

At last, after roughly two hours of paranoia and walking, Checkmate stopped.

"We should rest," he said. "Are you guys up for a twenty minute break?"

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Yeah, you guys take a rest," she said. "I'm gonna scout out this area for any monsters, or any windigoes out to kill us."

Before any of the others could protest, Rainbow Dash had flown off, leaving the group without its cyan pegasus.

Twilight let out a sigh. "She just can't go two hours without taking off like that, can she?" muttered the lavender alicorn.

"Well, y'all know how Rainbow is," replied Applejack, staring off into the sky, "but... Dangit, that girl's gonna get herself killed one of these days!" The farmer shook her head.

"Agreed," Rarity murmured. "Maybe if this wasn't in a place called the 'Desert of Death', I would feel safe, but this is too dangerous for her!"

"Oh, c'mon!" shouted a voice, and the group turned towards Scootaloo. "Rainbow Dash is the coolest, toughest, most awesomest flyer in the world! I don't think that some desert is gonna kill her."

Checkmate shook his head. "If it were just the desert," he said, "I'd have no problems. The problem is that there's a certain general following us. Wendigo's general, to be precise."

"Deun..." Twilight said, quietly. "That's what Wendigo called him, right?"

"Yeah," Checkmate replied. "Deun's the one that I'm worried about. Not the jadetails, not the gold vultures, and not even the antlions. At least, none of them even begin to reach his level of power."

Twilight glanced over at him. "Tell me about him," she said. "If we're going to end up fighting him, we'll have to know just who he is, right?"

"Deun is not just a mere windigo," Checkmate replied. "He's... dangerous. Not crazy, and not sadistic like Wendigo, but just... dangerous. Deun is renowned for his strategic abilities, his horrific speed, and his coldness."

Fluttershy looked over at him, as well. "C-coldness?" she asked, quiet as ever. "W-what exactly... I-I mean, what do you...?"

Checkmate looked away from all of them, instead choosing to watch the sky. "He shows no emotion, regardless of what's happening around him."

"Oh, you mean like yourself?" Rarity asked, "or, I should say, as you used to be?"

The earth pony let out a sigh. "Not exactly," he said. "You can tell that Deun is hiding something beneath his exterior, but you just don't know what. His eyes are absolutely cold, and it's almost impossible to understand just why he fights for Wendigo."

"Why he fights..." murmured Twilight, thoughtfully. "Why would anypony willingly fight for that... monster?"

Checkmate, once more, shook his head. "Like I said," he mused, "none are entirely sure. None except for Wendigo himself, and maybe Rolan."

"What do we do if we come across this guy, then?" asked Spike.

"You'll do nothing," Checkmate replied. "Deun is too powerful for anypony so young to defeat, and considering that he's a windigo..."

"Magic," Rarity guessed. "You feel that he would be vulnerable to magical attacks?"

"That," said Checkmate, "and the Glacius as well. The Ignis, too, if we can find it before he attacks us."

"Which, knowin' our luck," muttered Applejack, "means that this guy'll get ta us before we get even a chance at gettin' the Ignis."

Checkmate glanced back at them. "Right," he said. "Odds are, Deun is being as cautious as possible. He's not he type to risk the lives of his soldiers in battle. Unlike Wendigo, he actually cares for them. So it's likely that he'll try and stop us before we can compromise his mission."

For just a second, there was silence, before Rainbow Dash burst back towards them.

"Any news?" asked Checkmate.

"All clear," replied the cyan pegasus, before she sat down. "Ugh, my wings're killing me."

"All clear..." Checkmate repeated, softly. "Good, then let's rest for a few minutes, and then get going."

But, at that moment, it appeared that fate had different plans, as a sound of deep rumbling began to permeate the air around them.

"Hey, what's that?" Rainbow asked, standing up, quickly.

Pinkie looked around her. "Ooh, maybe those sleipnirs sent out a party, or something!"

"Pinkie, I doubt that's it," said Checkmate. "It's coming from below us..."

Twilight's eyes widened. "B-below... But..." she looked over at the fillies. "Kids, look out!"

The lavender alicorn threw herself at the four children, shoving them - and herself - out of the way, as a massive object burst from the sand.

It was at least ten feet in height, and it appeared to be covered in a green metallic substance, ending with a massive stinger. And then, beside it, emerged another, and yet another beside the first.

"Wh-what the hell is going on, here?!" gasped Checkmate. "Wait... those tails...!"

"What a gaudy color for tails," muttered Rarity, "but... is this one creature, or three...?!"

Twilight stepped back to the group, as they formed a line in front of the children. "I'm not sure," she admitted, "but I think that I get just why the sergeant wanted us to be wary of jadetails."

From the sand, a good distance in front of the three tails, there emerged a large claw from the sand, and another a good distance away from that one.

And, at last, the massive creature flew from the sand. Three large tails, each ending in a stinger, came from the scorpion's back. Its claws were the same jade color, albeit a much more faded shade of it. The monster's back was covered in scales that ran from its head - small, compared to its body - to its massive tails.

"So," Checkmate gasped, "This is a jadetails?"

He drew the Glacius, not taking his eyes off the monstrosity. "All of you," he said, "stand back, and allow me to handle this."

Twilight stepped up next to him. "Sorry, Checkmate," she said, "but I'm not going to let you fight alone. If we're going to help you fight your battles, then we're going to start with this one!"

The other five stepped up to him, as well.

"Yeah!" Rainbow declared. "We'll take this thing down with you!"

"Indeed," agreed Rarity. "Perhaps I can make something using this monstrosity's carapace. Now that could be an intriguing project."

"C'mon Checkie!" laughed Pinkie. "Let's do this thing!"

"They're right," Applejack said, crouching into a fighting stance. "After all, we ain't gonna leave ya alone yet!"

"R-right..." murmured Fluttershy. "I wish I didn't have to fight, but... I-I'll do what I can..."

Checkmate looked back to the six mares. "A-all of you..." he started.

Rainbow flew up into the sky. "There's no more time for words, Check!" she shouted. "If we're gonna stop this thing, let's do it now!"

The stallion simply nodded, although he couldn't hide the grin on his face. "Okay, all of you!" he shouted. "Come on! Let's see just how good of fighters you girls are!"

The jadetails let out a screech, and stabbed at Checkmate with one of its massive tails. The stallion dodged the attack, instead veering off to the side, while Twilight used her magic to lob sand into the beast's face. The scorpion let out another screech, this time of rage, as the sand blinded it temporarily, and it proceeded to turn around wildly in search of the one who removed its eyesight.

The monster stabbed wildly with its tails, not aiming for anything in particular, and Rainbow Dash grabbed one - the one on the far right - before it could strike the ground. The pegasus pulled away as if to try and pull the appendage from the jadetails's body, only for the scorpion to spin rapidly and knock her to the ground.

Before it could attempt to strike her, however, Applejack ran into the jadetails's side, but couldn't quite knock it over. Instead, the beast turned towards where she'd attacked it from and attempted to crush her with one of its claws. The earth pony, nimble and strong, escaped before she could be gripped, and instead grabbed the fallen Rainbow Dash, pulling her out of the jadetails's line of fire.

"H-hey!" protested the pegasus. "I was doing just fine!"

"Sure you were, Rainbow," teased her friend, "but that don't mean that ya didn't need mah help, does it?"

Fluttershy stayed behind, along with Pinkie, as the two kept the four children away from the jadetails, in spite of their insistence that they could easily take it down.

The scorpion, however, had other ideas. As its eyesight returned to it, its vision focused on the one who had blinded it: One Twilight Sparkle. The creature struck out at her with its claws as the alicorn leapt back, trying to escape from the beast's attacks.

Jadetails, in spite of their bodies appearing to be rather bulky and slow, were actually quite fast. This one in particular was quickly overtaking Twilight, in spite of her attempts to blind it once more. Without Rainbow Dash and Applejack (the latter of which was tending to the former), the beast looked as if it were going to horribly injure (because alicorns could not be killed by conventional means) Twilight.

Checkmate, noticing this, rushed towards it from behind, attempting to gain its attention. However, as his blade struck the carapace, a new, horrified thought entered into his mind.

"I-it's not working," he breathed. "The Glacius is not piercing its carapace!"

Twilight, still dodging the jadetails attacks, let out a cry at this. "Wh-what?!" She screamed, horrified, "but then... what can we do?!"

And, as these words left her mouth, one of the jadetails's signature "jade tails" rose into the air, seeming to focus in on its target before striking down towards her...

... Only to fall, harmlessly, to the ground, detached from the monster's body.

The jadetails let out a shriek of agony and rage at this, blood running down its back and onto the sand.

Twilight stared forward, her eyes wide in shock. "Who did that...?" she asked.

Then, before their eyes, a figure stepped forward, slow and deliberate. It was quite evidently a stallion, apparently an earth pony, with a sword at least three feet long held effortlessly in his front-right hoof. He was covered in scars - discolored marks that were even more evident than Checkmate's - that ran over his entire being, making his coat's color hard to make out, but his eyes appeared to be a bright and clear orange, and his mane, a mixture of light purple and midnight blue, hung just above them.

"My apologies," the stallion said, his voice deep. "I would have come earlier, had I known that you were being attacked. It would appear that I've arrived just in time to give you assistance."

"Who are you?" Checkmate asked. It was the only question that he could ask, at this moment.

"My name?" replied the stallion. "I think that we can worry about that later, at least until after we've taken care of this jadetails, wouldn't you?"

Checkmate stared at this new arrival for just a few seconds, before nodding. "Right..." he said. "Right, right! Okay, let's take this thing down!"

"Good," said the stallion, calmly. "You all - meaning all of you - can pitch in, here. We're going to need your assistance if we're to take down this jadetails."

Twilight stepped up beside them. "Alright," she said, still seeming somewhat shaken. "What can I do, here?"

"Whatever you can to help," replied the stallion, raising up the massive sword, and holding it out in front of him. "You just let Constellation and I take care of the rest."

The Mysterious Mercenary

The scout watched, hesitantly. Suddenly, this entire mission seemed to be an awful idea, as another stallion with a sword had stepped in. However, this one had shown such immense power, prowess, and a horrifically calm demeanor, that just the thought of challenging him - or any of the others, at this point - sent a chill down her spine.

In short, she was absolutely terrified of him. But, still, her quest was one that had to be completed. Even as she watched the group of ponies tear into the jadetails, as she saw them take down the scorpion, the scout knew that this was not going to be as simple a journey as she'd hoped.

She let out a sigh, but made sure not to let them see her. At this point, she was beginning to question just why she'd decided to scout out the Desert of Death. Even if her friend had warned her against it, why had she been so idiotic as to just venture out into a place like that? She was almost certain that it was due to her sick, stupid pride, and she should have known better than to put herself in such a compromising position.

The scout winced, slightly, as that sword of the newcomer struck deep into the jadetails's side, cutting deep into its armored carapace. There was no way in hell, or in that wretched Tartarus, that she was prepared to face off against that bastard with the blade. In fact, she was tempted to just fly off, now, and get the hell away from from the two ponies with the weaponry.

Although she smirked, albeit only slightly. After all, physical attacks were never her forte. No, she preferred stealth. Stealth, agility, and speed were her best traits, and, as her friend claimed, "a mind sharp enough to cleave diamonds in two". The scout didn't quite find herself that intelligent (although she did find enjoyment in snarking at nearly everything around her), but went along with it regardless.

And to that end, her plan was unfolding almost precisely as calculated, with only a few minor complications. As soon as they rested, she would be on them in a flash. The scout would take one of them, specifically the alicorn, back with her to where she called home, and then at last, she - and the rest of her kind - would have exactly as they desired.

Revenge.

But still, the sell-swords made her shy away. The scout was terrified by their abilities. The first was fast and agile, and the second showed strength and power that could cut through even the carapace of a jadetails. Even if she was after getting at least one of them, the scout would have to either sneak past the two sell-swords, or she would have to kill them.

And, although she despised killing those who had nothing to do with her, that was beginning to look like a better solution the more the scout thought about it.

The jadetails let out a howl of agony as the new stallion's blade ripped through its carapace like a knife through butter. He struck with such force and precision that it was a wonder that the beast was not yet dead.

On the sidelines, Twilight and Rarity hit the beast with magical energy on its left and right side, respectively. The former had given up attempting to bind the beast, as that only enraged it, and instead focused her attacks on causing any damage to its outer shell that she could. The latter, however, seemed rather nervous about the whole affair, instead glancing over at the four children whenever the opportunity arose.

In the sky, Rainbow still flew around it, not creating a sonic rainboom due to its explosion being fatal to anypony in a certain distance of it. Rather than risk her friends' lives, the pegasus instead flew overtop the beast, looking for, and pointing out, and weak areas in its armor, which were quickly taken advantage of by Checkmate.

Checkmate and Applejack worked on areas of its carapace not being attacked by the new stallion, slashing and kicking at any weak-looking areas of its shell. The strange pair attacked with speed and power, striking with all their might at every area that could potentially cripple the massive scorpion.

The beast let out yet another screech, as the ponies overwhelmed it, tearing into its flesh with their bare hooves, magic, and weaponry. Beside it, Pinkie had begun to twitch furiously, warning the others as it attacked them in an effort to tear them apart. Her friends, and the new stallion, in turn, dodged the strikes, having known in advance just where it was they were coming from, and when they were coming.

Fluttershy took a similar position to Rainbow, flying above the scorpion, but, rather than point out weak points, attempted to disorient the creature by circling its tails as it attacked, but wore an expression of terror throughout the entire escapade. The yellow pegasus was obviously frightened, and somewhat disgusted, by the prospect of killing a creature only attacking those who trespassed on its land, but did not protest.

Before long, the jadetails, still screeching in agony and angrily attacking those around it, reacted in surprise as the new stallion leapt up into the air, held the sword out in front of him, and landed on its back. The monster attempted to swipe him off using its claws and two remaining tails, but its wounds, inflicted by the stallion, Checkmate, Applejack, Rarity, and Twilight, were too deep for it to do so successfully.

The stallion held the blade up high, above his head, and, with a glint in his eyes, plunged the blade downwards, deep into the jadetails's back. It let out one last scream, one that seemed to permeate the air, before falling, dead, to the ground.

He sheathed the massive sword, then, and leapt down from the jadetails's back. "There," he said, "are you all alright?"

Rarity let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, yes!" she said, smiling. "Thank Celestia that you arrived in time. I would hate to see what would have happened had you not..."

Checkmate stepped towards him. "Yeah," he said. "Thank you for helping us, there. What's your name?"

The stallion turned towards them, and Checkmate saw him clearly for the first time. He was tall, and looked muscular. His coat was a dark, grayish-blue, although it was difficult to see beneath all of his scars, which covered his entire body to the point that he appeared to be a splash of hideous, disgusting colors, with marks running everywhere from his back to around his neck. His face, however, appeared untouched by these wounds, with his eyes seeming perfect and bright, albeit somewhat sad, and his ears not even cut slightly.

"Dusk," he replied, his voice calm and level. He turned, then, as if to leave.

"Wait!" Twilight shouted. "Where are you going?"

The stallion stopped. "I've something important that I must do," he replied, "and -"

"- Not much time to do it?" finished Checkmate, knowingly.

Dusk turned back towards them, seeming bemused. "Exactly," he replied. "Although... I wonder if you could help me."

"How so?" asked Rainbow, flying in front of him.

The mysterious stallion turned towards her. "That sword," he started, "is the Glacius, isn't it?"

That's right, responded a voice, as Khaza appeared before them from the blade.

Dusk stared at her, for just a second, before looking away once more. "There's only one reason that a group of ponies would enter the Desert of Death with the Glacius in tow. Well, several, technically, but this one is the most likely." He turned back to them. "You seek the Ignis."

"That's right," Twilight said, although she seemed somewhat shaken, "but how did you know about that?"

"More importantly," mused Khaza, "why would an earth pony like yourself enter this desert alone?"

Dusk stared at the windigo, seeming confused by this. "An earth pony?" he asked. "Who ever said that I was an earth pony?"

"Well," Checkmate said, "you don't have wings, or a horn, so..."

The other stallion silence him by lifting up his mane, revealing a bump, the top of which was flat and cracked, on his forehead. "I'm no earth pony," he said, calmly, "although I suppose that I'm not exactly a unicorn either. I still have enough magical energy to properly use most of my techniques, but my full potential has been... compromised."

Twilight, instinctively, reached up and touched her own horn, as if to make sure that it was still there.

"Who are you, exactly?" Applejack asked, cautiously.

"Like I said," replied Dusk, "my name is Dusk. I am a unicorn mercenary, traveling the world on a personal mission."

"You sell your sword?" clarified Checkmate. "But why did you help us, then?"

"Simple," the other stallion said. "I've something important that I must accomplish, and only a few months to do it." Dusk looked away, again. "And I know that you are in the same situation, and we both have an enemy who I'm sure that you want to kill."

"Wendigo," muttered Checkmate.

"Exactly," said Dusk. "We both desire to see him dead, so I want to ask for your help. In exchange, I'll travel with you through the rest of the desert, Solace, the home of the sleipnirs, and to our last battle with the bastard himself. To put it more simply, I join you on your journey to slay Wendigo."

"And what do you get, in return?" asked Checkmate, cautiously.

Dusk's eyes met his, and a strange fire seemed to burn in them. "Simple," said the mercenary, again. "I get what I've wanted for years, but have not had the power to accomplish." He stopped, and the smallest smirk crossed his face. "I get closure that the Zephyr is not in production, and..." He stopped, and shook his head. "Yes, I just want to go with you to Darkfrost. On my own, I can't defeat Wendigo; I'm strong, and this blade is excellent, but by myself the two of us would be trapped in a stalemate. With somepony wielding the Glacius and the Ignis, however? Together, we could stop the bastard, once and for all."

"There's something that you're not telling us," Twilight said, stepping around him. "Why did you enter this desert in the first place? It seems almost as if you were waiting for us, based on what you're claiming."

"Maybe I was," replied Dusk, "but why should I tell you everything about me? I merely wish to help you stop Wendigo's reign of terror. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Why do you want to stop Wendigo?" asked Checkmate. "What reason could you possibly have?"

Dusk hesitated, for just a moment. "That is my own reason, and I do not feel the need to elaborate on it with all of you. It's the same reason that I was here in the desert to begin with, and I don't need to explain it to any of you. Let's just say that this sword in my hooves is no ordinary weapon, and that I'm no ordinary mercenary. However, if we're to travel together, I'm going to need your names."

The others all appeared uneasy, but spoke, nonetheless. The eleven ponies - including Khaza, Spike, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo - introduced themselves, in turn, to the mercenary.

Dusk looked over the group. "A pleasure, I'm sure," he said. "Now, then, shall we be off?"

Checkmate sighed, but followed the scar-covered stallion, regardless. The others, particularly Khaza and Twilight, seemed uneasy around the mercenary, but they still went with him in spite of their misgivings. Unlike the walk to where they'd fought the jadetails, however, this time the group stepped with an odd confidence. Despite his rudeness, Dusk had firmly established himself as an experience and excellent fighter, and just being with him made Checkmate, and the rest of the group, he presumed, feel at least slightly safer.

However, oddly enough, the mercenary kept stopping throughout their trek, and glancing off to the sides. Twilight and the others seemed to think nothing of it, but Checkmate could not stop the sinking feeling that a certain windigo general was watching them. Although, he reasoned with himself, he had the same suspicions that Wendigo was watching him for the past eight years, when it was actually Khaza who was doing so.

In just a few hours of walking - during which the group had, conveniently, met no more jadetails or any other desert beast - they stopped. Night had fallen, and the temperatures dropped immensely, to the point that even Khaza, the sword made of ice, complained about the chilling wind.

"It should be safe, here," Dusk said, turning back towards them, "Let's break for camp. We can make our way towards Solace again tomorrow, once we are ready. I'll take the first watch, and you kids get to sleep."

There were no objections to that, and almost everypony had fallen asleep a few minutes after camp was made, and even Checkmate found himself, soon after hitting the ground, falling into slumber, his body aching from the activities of the day.

Night had fallen, and the scout's eyes flashed with joy as her prey had fallen asleep. All that she needed to do, now, was grab the lavender alicorn and get the hell out of that cursed desert.

She licked her muzzle. The lot of them were asleep, and she couldn't see the more dangerous-looking of the sell-swords anywhere. Odds were, she reasoned, that he'd left them, considering that he was nowhere in sight, and she'd checked the area around her at least five times before making sure to watch again. Things were definitely looking up for her.

That's when the scout felt something sharp touch the back of her neck, and she froze.

"Don't move," came a voice, cold and deep.

She whirled around, quickly, and found herself facing the same damned sell-sword who she'd been worried about the most.

The blade had moved from the back of her neck to her throat, as the mercenary's eyes glistened. "I told you not to move," his voice was still cold, yet calm.

"I like to see the guys who threaten to kill me before they do so," snarked the scout.

The sell-sword smirked, but only slightly. "You didn't get a good luck at us during the day?" he asked, rudely. "How disappointing, because I saw you well enough."

Her face paled. "H-how?" she breathed. There was nothing that she could be sarcastic about in this instance.

"The next time you desire to stalk ponies," said the mercenary, "perhaps you should try a different color in the desert than bright red? Honestly, tan would have worked. Light tan would have been fantastic, or possibly even a buttercream color like that pegasus, Fluttershy, but red? Red with a black mane?"

The scout hung her head, embarrassed. She knew that she should have changed the color of her coat, or at least covered herself in sand, before she attempted this, but her stupid pride had gotten in the way.

"I checked this area out five times," she whispered. "How did you get passed?"

"Simple, really," the mercenary tapped his head. "Tell me: What color is my coat?"

"Dark blue," replied the scout, and she felt her eyes widen in realization.

"That's right," said the mercenary. "Dark blue. The perfect color for blending into shadows, wouldn't you say?"

"Dammit..." she hissed. "What, are you gonna kill me, now?!"

"I should," admitted the sell-sword. "After all, a pegasus who uses stealth and agility, and who carries a dagger? I'm almost one-hundred-percent certain that you're an assassin."

The scout let out a laugh, at this. "A-an assassin?" she said, "Come on! I'm not a killer!"

"Really?" asked the mercenary, drolly.

"Yeah," said the scout, "I'm just here to check out the area."

"Alright," he said, although he didn't sound convinced. "Who sent you?"

The scout felt herself freeze, again. "I-I'm..."

She couldn't tell him. She couldn't tell any of them. Putting herself into this position was bad enough, but being asked that question caused her heart to almost stop in her chest.

"Well?" the mercenary pressed the blade up closer to her throat, to the point that she could feel pain.

"I-I'm not..." she stammered. "I'm not..."

The mercenary's face remained cold. "You refuse to tell me who sent you out here?" he asked. "Fine then, I've no reason to challenge you. But you've provided no reason for me to believe that you're no assassin, or that you're just some scout. I'm not going to kill you, because you could be completely innocent. However... I'm not going to risk leaving you be, either, only for you to turn around and stab us when we are not looking."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

The stallion sheathed the sword. "I'm taking you along for this journey," he said, calmly. "After that, you will be free to go. Nothing more, and nothing less."

At last, the scout spoke with a normal tone of voice. "You expect me, a pegasus, and a possible criminal, to just sit around and not fly off once your back is turned?"

The sell-sword simply smirked at this. "Of course I don't. In fact, I'm not even going to tie your wings, or cripple you in any other way. The choice is entirely yours. But know that, if you do run off, I'm not one to just let my quarry escape. I'll follow you to the gates of hell itself, and I shall end you."

Her face paled, once more. "Wh-who the hell are you?" she asked.

"My name is Dusk," replied the sell-sword. "I'm nothing but a simple, unicorn mercenary. A mercenary who does not desire any harm to come to his... employers, so to speak."

There was something about his calmness that just sent a shiver down her spine. The scout could tell that this bastard was going to follow through on that promise of his, regardless of what stood in his way.

"Now tell me, kid," he said, calmly. "What is your name?"

The scout licked her muzzle, but spoke in spite of her fear. "My name?" she asked. Part of her was nervous to say this, but a bigger part of her knew that this sell-sword was not just some cheap purchase, based on how easily he'd killed that jadetails.

So, despite her misgivings, the scout knew it was better to tell him her name, so she did.

"Valice."

An Unwilling Ally

"Wake up!" shouted Dusk. "It's daybreak, and we should be moving before the sun rises completely."

Checkmate's eyes opened, slowly. That last night of sleep had been wretched, as he'd awoken several times throughout it. He hadn't quite been able to shake the thought that Deun and his soldiers would attack them at any given moment, regardless of whether or not Dusk watched to ensure their safety. In fact, he wasn't able to remove the thought that they'd been followed at all, instead having a creeping sense of paranoia throughout the entirety of the night.

Then, Checkmate's eyes met those of a new pony, a pegasus. Her coat was red, cherry-colored, and her mane was almost raven. The mark on her side appeared to be nonexistent, although a closer look showed that the coat around that area was a slightly darker red-orange, but he didn't quite understand what it meant. In addition to this, she carried, sheathed to her sides, two daggers, shorter than the one wielded by Rolan.

Dusk, on the other hoof, had his sides so badly scarred that his mark could not be seen beneath the burn marks and discolored lines.

"Hi," said the new arrival, although her voice was neither friendly nor kind. "My name is Valice, and I've been... forcefully recruited -" she paused, and cast a glare over at Dusk "- to help you on your quest."

Twilight cast Dusk a look of annoyance. "'Forcefully recruited'?"

"Yes," replied the mercenary. "This mare was stalking us throughout the rest of yesterday's trek through the desert. I thought that she could, perhaps, be an assassin, so I decided to take her along so that I could keep an eye on her."

"And you're sure she won't jus' fly away?" Applejack asked, skeptically. "Ah mean, Ah've known Rainbow here for awhile, an' I ain't sure that Ah'd trust her in this position."

"Hey!" shouted the cyan pegasus, indignant, "I'll have you know that I am very trustworthy! Now, I'm not too sure about you, here, Val-whatever-it-is. I'd bet you anything that she's just some spy!"

"Huh," Valice mused, running her hoof through her mane, "that's not actually too far from the truth, actually. Oh, and my name is 'Valice', not 'Val-whatever-it-is'. Learn it before you start accusing me of anything."

"Ah!" Rarity exclaimed. "What arrogance!"

"You're not exactly a princess yourself," quipped the pegasus. "Although I guess that I should expect such a thing from a pony who obviously uses too many tacky products in order to make herself seem better than she actually is."

Rarity flushed, but stepped away without saying anything else.

"This is going to be absolutely wonderful, isn't it?" Checkmate muttered, deadpan. "I can tell already."

Valice smirked at this. "Certainly," she replied, obviously feeling pretty good about herself.

"Oh, we should throw both of you parties!" Pinkie exclaimed, flying up from nowhere and startling the new pegasus, "I mean, I never got the chance to throw Dusk one andnowthatwe'realltogetherweshouldtryandallhaveagoodtimesothatwecan -"

"Pinkie! Quiet!" shouted Rainbow, and she turned towards Valice with fire in her eyes. "Listen here, Valice. You may think you're some hotshot, but I'm the best flier in all of Equestria, and I bet you anything I'm the faster of us two. Now, unlike the others, I'm not about to trust you for one minute, got it?"

Scootaloo poked her head up. "That goes double for me!" she exclaimed. "Anypony who Rainbow Dash doesn't trust, I won't either, especially one who's been following us all over the place like some crazy stalker."

"They have a good point, Dusk," Twilight said, eyeing the new arrival cautiously. "If she followed us all throughout yesterday's walk through the desert, do you really think that we can trust her at all?"

"No," the answer was so blunt that Valice visibly flinched, "but I am not bringing her with us because I trust her. I'm bringing her along because I don't trust her, just to make sure that she doesn't try anything when I don't have my eyes trained on her."

Valice rolled her eyes. "Sheesh," she muttered, "it's nice to know that everypony cares so much for me."

Rainbow didn't take her eyes off the new pegasus. "Yeah, of course we care," she replied, her voice thick with sarcasm. "We're obviously going to be so worried about a pony who's been tailing us for days. Yeah, of course we're gonna care about every little thing you say."

"Why does everypony here feel the need to use sarcasm at every possible opportunity?" Dusk asked Twilight. "Certainly, I partake in it from time to time, but this desert is so full of dry wit that I'm surprised we aren't all dying from dehydration."

Valice, Checkmate, Rainbow, and Twilight all answered at the same time. "It's fun," they said, glanced at each other, and then looked in opposite directions.

Dusk chuckled at this, but quickly resumed a straight face. "Very well," he said. "That's as good a reason as any."

The red pegasus allowed herself a small smirk. "Indeed," she said, and looked over at Checkmate. "You were right earlier; This is going to be a very fun little adventure, indeed."

"Filled with sarcasm, and an annoying, probably dangerous pegasus," muttered Rainbow. "My favorite."

"Could ya'll stop that?" Applejack said, annoyed. "Soon, Ah'm not gonna be able to tell yer sarcasm from yer sincerity."

Rarity flipped her mane, having regained her composure. "I agree with Applejack," she said, although she looked somewhat rueful to admit that. "Can we keep this journey as... earnest as possible? The last thing that I need is for Sweetie Belle to start developing your levels of snide commentary."

"You're right, Rarity," replied Sweetie, laying on the sarcasm as thick as possible as if to taunt her sister. "Sarcasm is the single worst possible thing EVER."

The other ponies of the group, excluding Rarity (who flushed at this) and Dusk, immediately burst out into laughter at this, enjoying their mirth and the young filly's defiance.

Dusk rolled his eyes, as the others stood up and calmed down. "Now that we've accomplished absolutely nothing," he said, his voice completely flat, "shall we be off? As I said earlier, back when you all weren't wasting our time: we've much ground to cover, and we've no idea when we could be attacked, be it by some desert creature, or by Deun's army."

Checkmate stopped. "How did you know Deun was out to attack us?" he asked.

Dusk's eyes met Checkmate's. "That," he enunciated, slowly, "is nothing concern yourself with. What I know, why I was out here, and how I know everything that I do is not necessary to this quest. All that matters, now, is finishing off Wendigo before he can cause any more harm to the world."

At that moment, Valice stopped. "Wendigo..." she breathed. "You mean the enemy of love? The beast who rules over Darkfrost with a hoof of iron? That's what your quest is?! To... No, that's completely impossible."

"How so?" asked Twilight.

Valice shook her head. "Nothing can kill Wendigo. Not magic, not physical attacks... You're wasting your time with this."

Checkmate drew the Glacius. "Do you know what this is?" he asked. "This is a sword that can cut through the flesh of windigoes. And now, I'm going to grab its twin, and I'm going to stop Wendigo, regardless of what hell follows."

Valice stared at him. "Just... who are you?" she asked.

The earth pony looked away. "My name," he said, "is Checkmate Vigarde."

"Ch-Checkmate...?!" gasped the pegasus. "Wait... you're the stallion who escaped from Darkfrost eight years ago, and that sword... it really is the Glacius...?"

That's right, said Khaza, as she appeared before the pegasus.

Valice jumped in shock, but quickly regained her composure. "Okay, fine," she said. "You can fight windigoes, and you can kill 'em, but what does it matter if Wendigo is as strong as everypony knows him to be?"

"Then I help him," replied Dusk, drawing the blade at his side. "I trust you've heard of Constellation?"

Valice's eyes widened. "Another legendary weapon..." she breathed. "Where did you...?"

"I told you, didn't I?" asked Dusk. "My name is Dusk, and I believe that you can piece the rest together from there."

Khaza stepped towards her. "Don't you see?" she asked. "Regardless of how impossible this all seems, we can stop Wendigo, and that's just what we plan on doing. I'll kill the bastard myself if I have to."

The red pegasus looked between all of the ponies before her. "Fine," she repeated. "Fine, I get it. I get that you're qualified, but still, what can you do?"

"Whatever it takes," replied Dusk, and he began to walk away. "Come on," he said, glancing back at the group. "We've already wasted ten minutes that we could use to get closer to Solace. We might not have much time to get there, so let's hurry."

Without any more words, the group began to step across the sand, faster than they had the day prior, and began on the long trek towards Solace once more. Once again, as if due to some miracle, the group encountered no monsters, instead seeing only peaceful wildlife and the occasional gold vulture circling a bloody carcass. No, their journey may as well have been perfectly charted out, with several of them having minor conversations as the walk went on, and introducing themselves to the new addition to their group.

In fact, it was almost perfect how easily they dodged any - and all - possible threats. It was suspicious, as well, because, theoretically, the desert should have had many more jadetails, several antlions (even if they required large areas to live and therefore weren't especially common), and several hundred more gold vultures that should have posed them threats, but there simply... weren't.

Then, after several hours of walking and talking, the group came upon a large field of sand that had several rock spikes sticking upwards and into the sky. Littered around these spikes were several animal pieces. Jade-colored claws, tails, and carapace shards covered the sand, and golden feathers rested around the bases of the spikes. However, the corpses themselves were completely missing from the scene.

"Oh, Chronos," breathed Checkmate, horrified at the gore that rested before him.

"Who could have done such a thing...?" whispered Fluttershy, tears in her eyes. "These animals were all... killed so brutally..."

Dusk rushed over, looking at the edge of one of the tails. "The cut is mostly clean," he said, "and based on how the wound was formed, it appears to be from either a dagger, or possibly even a short-sword..."

Checkmate's blood ran cold. Deun used a short-sword, and with all these corpses laying around...

"That's strange, though," said Twilight, although she seemed rather unnerved. "I mean, the tails, claws, and feathers are sitting here, but where are the remaining parts of the jadetails and gold vultures?"

"I think that this can answer that," Dusk said, although his face had gone pale. "Take a look at this."

Checkmate and Twilight ran over to him, with the rest staying behind and looking over the carnage blankly, and the two looked at the wound in a jadetails's claw that Dusk was showing them. The injury started off looking like a normal dagger cut, clean and simple, but seemed to devolve into an almost barbaric tearing of flesh as it reached the other side of the scorpion's claw.

"A windigo would not do this," Dusk said. "They wouldn't go this far to gain prey, considering that they feed primarily on hatred and anger, with only a bit of physical sustenance required. No, this isn't the work of Deun, and this doesn't appear to be the work of a sleipnir, either." Dusk looked up and met their eyes, "However, there is one creature that has claws like daggers, and tears its victims' flesh apart, although I doubt you'll like the implications of what I'm about to say..."

"Really?" asked Checkmate. "What could possibly be worse than Deun, at this point?"

Dusk let out a sigh. "It looks as though we've trespassed onto the land of an antlion."

Checkmate didn't even blink at this revelation. "Of course we have," he muttered. "By this point I'm beginning to think that fate just enjoys giving us as much bad luck as possible..."

"It makes sense, though..." Twilight murmured. "We haven't seen any monsters recently because they're all terrified of the antlion, and that's why so few creatures attacked us!"

Dusk looked to them. "We just have to watch our step throughout this place," he said, "and watch the skies, as well. Antlion larvae dwell beneath the surface, and adults live in the skies, flying about. Just proceed with caution, and we should be alright."

A decent idea, came a cold voice, but I'm afraid that option is no longer available to you.

The air before them began to converge, as Dusk, Checkmate, and Twilight were sent flying back into the other members of their group. Out of the air, a new windigo stepped. He was tall, roughly the size of Luna, but he walked with such stride and dignity that one would suspect him to be the taller of the two.

"Greetings again, Checkmate Vigarde," the windigo said, in a voice that was higher pitched than Dusk's, yet deeper than Checkmate's, as he stepped towards them. "I trust that you've been enjoying the Desert of Death?"

Rainbow stepped up beside the earth pony stallion. "Check, who is this guy?"

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, I'm sure," said the windigo. "My name is Deun, general of Wendigo's army. And, I'm afraid, your little adventure ends here."

"G-General Deun...?" breathed Twlight. "This is the guy who's been following us throughout this entire place?"

"In a matter of speaking," replied Deun, coldly. "Checkmate Vigarde, enemy of all windigoes, and traitor to Wendigo's nation of Darkfrost... it is my job to kill you, and ensure that you do not continue on this journey to endanger our prosperity."

"Prosperity?" asked Dusk, stepping towards him. "Truly, you might as well become a comedian, Deun. It's been awhile, hasn't it?"

Deun stared at Dusk for just a moment. "You have more scars than the last time we met, Dusk, although that sword at your side is still quite dangerous. I cannot risk any of you escaping, or, worse, threatening Darkfrost and the windigoes who live within it."

"As if you can stop us," Rainbow said, smirking. "The last time I checked, there are thirteen of us -" she grimaced at this, as it appeared to be fate's way of mocking them "- and only one of you. And, as far as I know, you aren't immune to magic like Wendigo is!"

"You're right," admitted Deun. "I'm not immune to magic. However -" He stamped his hooves into the ground, as six new windigoes emerged from the air, surrounding the group "- there is far from being only one windigo here. Only about half of you are even a minor threat to me, but I had to be cautious on this matter. Surrender now and I'll try to convince Wendigo to make your deaths quick and painless."

Dusk grimaced. "You always were one to be prepared, but I suspected you to be the last one who would support Wendigo, seeing how much you cared for the windigoes. Why change your stance?"

Deun's eyes flashed. "Why I'm doing this is for myself to know, not for any of you," he said. "However, it doesn't matter either way, as I've no intentions to tell you of my reasoning, not even as you go towards your deaths."

The general drew a short-sword, then, with a silver blade, and pointed it towards them. "Now, make your choice," he said, his voice cold. "Will you surrender, or shall Wendigo kill you slowly and painfully?"

The General's Ambush

"Make your choice, Checkmate Vigarde," Deun said, his voice cold. "Will you surrender here, or shall Wendigo tear you apart? I'll be fair to you all, and you can each make your choice. But, either way, this is the end, so take which way to die you desire. Make your choice."

The group of thirteen - surrounded on all sides by half-a-dozen windigoes - stood in a circle, their backs to each other.

"Dammit," hissed Valice. "This looks about as good as when Dusk held me at sword-point last night..."

"Agreed," Dusk muttered. "Nowhere near as satisfying, though..." He drew Constellation, pointing it towards the general. "You would truly contend with me, Deun? Here I thought that you were supposed to be brilliant."

The general regarded him with eyes of steel. "I don't believe I've ever claimed such a thing," he mused, and his eyes flashed. "However, I'm no fool, Dusk; I know fully well just how powerful you are, but I'm almost certain that you'll not unleash it here."

Dusk stepped towards him. "Brave words, General," he said, smirking, "though perhaps you'd like to know just how wrong you are?"

"Is that a threat?" Deun asked. "You've no right to make them in your position."

"Perhaps," admitted Dusk, "but are you going to test me? I could incinerate the lot of you in seconds, and I will if you try to capture or kill my allies."

The general began to look somewhat uneasy at this, but retained the level of his voice. "You do not frighten me, Dusk," he said. "We both know that I could rip you apart before you even get the chance. Surrender, and that won't need to happen."

"You're right," mused Dusk. "You could rip me apart in seconds, before I can even act. However would you still risk the lives of your soldiers? Make your choice."

"Indeed," replied Deun, "but would you truly try and stop me, Dusk? I'm doing what is necessary."

"Necessary?!" hissed Twilight. "There is no 'necessity' in this!"

"So you would say," mused Deun, "although you lived your entire life in a utopia, alicorn, a place free from the damnation known as war. You understand nothing about this, about anything. So make your choice, now, and I shall open your eyes to the agony that you know nothing of."

"There is no war in Darkfrost," replied Dusk. "There may not have been, I should say, but now there shall be."

"Is that a threat?" asked Deun, once more. "Are you declaring war upon our land?"

"I've always been at war against Wendigo," said Dusk, gravely, "although I think that it's time that this facade that you call 'peace' comes to an end. Farewell, Deun."

The ground beneath them began to shake, as Deun let out a gasp. "You... you were stalling," he hissed, his calm demeanor beginning to slip.

"That's right," Dusk said, smirking. "I think it's time that we get the hell out of this place. What about the rest of you?"

Checkmate looked over at him. "Wait, Dusk, what exactly do you -?"

He didn't have time to answer that question, however, as the sand beneath them began to fall into a deep crevasse, and, with it, the group fell as well, leaving the general and his soldiers staring down in awe, having leapt away from the pit.

Deun stared at the area where the group had once been, and turned towards his soldiers. All had escaped the fall, and stood on different sides of the now-opened crevasse.

"Saved at the last minute..." he murmured. "How... typical of you, Checkmate." He shook his head, and looked over at the six windigoes. "Are you all alright?"

They all nodded, and several saluted at this. "Yes, sir!" said one of them, a young sergeant. "We are all fine."

Deun lowered his head and sighed. "Good," he said. "Good, that's excellent."

Another of his soldiers stepped up to him. "Should we pursue them, General?" she asked.

"No, Lieutenant Fryn," he replied. "Wendigo told us to attempt to capture them here, at this exact area, so we will return to Darkfrost and report our failure in this mission. Following them now would only prove our disobedience towards him and his goals."

"Yes, sir!" she said, and saluted before stepping away, although he could see the fear in her eyes.

Regardless of their reasons, it was impossible to deny Wendigo's cruelty, especially towards those who failed him. Deun shuddered, but quickly regained his composure. He had a reason to do this, after all, and he would not show weakness in front of his soldiers.

That would do nothing to help them survive. Instead, however, Deun stepped over to the edge of the crevasse, and looked in.

"Checkmate Vigarde..." he murmured, quietly. "It would appear that fate is on your side... or perhaps you're just immensely lucky. I cannot say, but -" he shook his head again "- it matters not. I shall do what I must, for the windigoes, and for Darkfrost."

Deun turned away, and cast back one last glance at the crevasse, before he joined with the air, once more.

Checkmate stood up, uneasily, his legs aching from the drop. His entire body was at least somewhat sore, even as the sand had cushioned their fall, somewhat, although his legs and hooves had suffered the worst. The young earth pony could feel the grit inside his hollowed-out hooves, and wanted to wash it away before it ended up cutting them even worse than they already were.

"Are you all alright?" Dusk asked, on his feet, and looking no worse-for-wear.

"Yeah," muttered Twilight. "Next time, please tell us that you're going to do something like that, okay?"

The mercenary shrugged. "If I had, then I'm fairly certain that Deun would have taken us before the sand fell."

"I'm amazed that he isn't coming after us now..." said Rarity, looking up. "One would expect a predator of such caliber, as I've heard him to be, to not just leave us down here."

Twilight looked over at her. "That's a good point, but I don't think we're out of the woods just yet..." she turned away, and looked out in front of her. "This cavern's immense, and I'm not sure if it's a good idea to go forward..."

Valice paled, staring at the massive, gaping entrance to the caves below the desert. "No way," she said. "No way in Hell am I going in there!" The pegasus took a step back, and spread her wings, before taking off in an attempt to escape.

Rainbow Dash quickly caught up to her, and pinned her down to the sand-covered ground. "You're not getting out of here!" she growled. "Not after you followed us all the way through the desert, knocked us out of the sky, and wounded one of Princess Celestia's soldiers! You are not. Getting. Out of here!"

The red pegasus's eyes widened. "Do you really think you'll be able to stop me?" she asked, thrashing about. "Who the hell do you think you are, some kind of damned hero?!"

Rainbow's eyes, in turn, flashed. "Yeah, I do!" she shouted. "I'm the fastest pegasus in Ponyville, in all of Equestria, and I'm not gonna be out-sped by some spy!"

"That doesn't mean anything when you're dead!" Valice hissed in reply, still struggling to get free.

"Y'all better calm down right now!" Applejack shouted, pulling Rainbow off of Valice. "The two of ya are actin' like a couple of fillies!" She cast eyes of flame at the two pegasi, who glanced away from each other. "Now, apologize ta each other!"

The tone of voice that she used was so angry that Apple Bloom visibly shuddered. It was evident that she'd heard it before, likely many times in her life.

Rainbow and Valice - who just now stepped back to her hooves - glanced over at each other, letting out a half-hearted "Sorry" before looking in opposite directions once more, not even bothering to meet each other's eyes.

"There, ya feel better?" coaxed the apple farmer, her voice softer, but her eyes still showing annoyance.

"Yeah, sure," muttered Valice. "Nothing is better than getting attacked by some crazy, multi-colored pegasus with anger issues and an ego the size of Equestria..."

"And absolutely nothing is better," Rainbow muttered in reply, "than a deserting, obnoxious pegasus who feels the need to spy on ponies just casually walking around the desert..."

"Good," replied Applejack, before looking back between the two. "Now, Ah don't wanna see any fightin' between ya'll, 'cause the last thing we need is ta turn on each other, got it? If Ah catch the two of ya tryin' somethin' like that again, there won't be anymore 'Nice Applejack' around here, and that's a Pinkie Promise." The farmer went through the motions of the ritual, not taking her eyes off of the two as she did so.

Checkmate turned towards the others. "Like I said," he muttered, deadpan. "This is going to be absolutely beautiful."

Dusk cocked his head. "Is Applejack always like this?" he asked Twilight.

"Only when we fight like this. Why?"

"That's good," Dusk mused, turning towards the farmer in question. "We could use a good moderator around here, especially with ponies such as these."

"Hey," Applejack's head seemed to do a complete one-eighty, "are ya insultin' mah friends, Mr. Big-Sword?! Ah'll have ya know that Ah'm not one ta jus' let mah friends get mocked behind their backs!"

Dusk looked away, not meeting her eyes. "You know what, Checkmate?" he asked.

The tan stallion turned towards him, looking away from the two pegasi who now had their backs to each other. "What?"

"I think I agree with you on what you just said," muttered the unicorn, ruefully. "This journey is going to be absolutely beautiful."

The farmer stared at him for just a few moments, before she seemed to calm down. "Mah apologies, Dusk," she said, sheepishly. "Ah'm jus' a bit protective of 'em, is all."

"No need to apologize," said Dusk. "That's a great trait to have. It means that you truly care about them."

Valice muttered to herself, just loud enough for them to hear. "Yeah, such a wonderful trait. Nothing's better than berating everypony who so much as looks at them the wrong way. Outstanding."

Applejack whirled around, quickly, and pushed her face into that of the red pegasus. "Ya heard me, didn't you? Ah said that if ya continue doin' this, then there ain't gonna be a 'Nice Applejack' 'round here anymore."

"What, is this 'Nice Applejack'?" asked Valice, sarcastically.

"That's right."

The pegasus paled, for what must have been the fifth time that day. "Well, in that case..."

She immediately straightened her back, made her face look more friendly, and closed her wings. "There," she said, "how's that?"

"Better," admitted Rainbow, looking back at her newfound rival, "but it could use some work."

"That means you too, Rainbow!" Applejack said, not even looking at the smug pegasus.

"Actually, I'm kind of interested," mused Valice. "How can I make this look better?"

A grin fell over the cyan pegasus's face. "Well," she started, as she landed next to Valice, "if you really wanna fool AJ, then you've gotta put all of your effort into it..."

Checkmate tuned himself out of that conversation (mostly because he had a good idea of how it would end), and instead faced the area where the light began to fade.

"So," he said, "I guess we're going in there, right?"

Twilight stepped over and looked in. "It seems to be a better alternative than going above ground, at this point," she admitted. "With Deun and his cronies running around, it'd probably be safer for us just to go underground. It might be faster, too."

"Only one problem with that theory," said Dusk.

"Really?" asked Rarity, "What could possibly be worse than going back into that wretched desert?"

"Simple," muttered Dusk. "It's because this cave belongs to an antlion."

All talking stopped, and everypony looked over towards Dusk, the cave entrance, and then back towards the top of the chasm.

"That... doesn't exactly sound safe," Checkmate said, slowly. "Although I'd take an antlion over Deun."

"Same," replied the mercenary. "At least antlions can be killed with conventional weapons and can't send ponies to become parts of the Zephyr."

Checkmate shuddered at this. The Zephyr. He'd almost forgotten about it. And that brought, with it, a new line of thinking.

"There are no graves in Darkfrost..."

"And by the look of things, we're not getting out of here anytime soon," said Rainbow, annoyed. "Even if I flew up there, I wouldn't be able to carry any of you that far up..."

"Same," said Valice, seeming equally annoyed by this turn of events, "and I'd rather not go into some hellhole deep underground, if you understand. But" - she shuddered, visibly - "you know what? If we don't have a choice, then I guess I'll have to."

"That's a good point," agreed Twilight. "We really don't have a choice in this... Of course we don't. Right when we think we've hit a patch of luck..."

Rarity flipped her mane, which was now covered in sand. "Hm," she said. "I dislike the idea of taking Sweetie Belle and her friends into such a dangerous, disgusting place, but I shall if I must!" She added a strange, dramatic power to the last three words of that statement.

Spike stepped from foot-to-foot, obviously more than a little bit nervous. "W-well... if Rarity's going in there, I'll go too!"

"And if Rainbow Dash isn't afraid!" declared Scootaloo, dramatically, "then I'm not gonna chicken out now!"

"Well, since there's not exactly a choice..." muttered Sweetie Belle, "I guess that I'll come... too...?"

Apple Bloom simply let out a sigh. "Well, there ain't a choice, Sweetie Belle," she said, dejectedly, "but hey, at least we're safe from that Deun guy, right? Ain't that a good thing?"

"It is, sugarcube," said Applejack, softly, "but we ain't got time to waste lolly-gaggin' 'round here. We'd better get goin', before somepony - or somethin' - catches up ta us."

Fluttershy simply nodded in reply, but the meek pegasus seemed somewhat unnerved by the obvious danger that awaited them. Checkmate didn't blame her for that.

Instead, however, the male earth pony simply looked into the almost abyssal cavern that awaited them, and gulped. Even he could not deny his fear, although he could hide it. And yet, even as he made his way forward with the rest of them, with Dusk and Twilight in the front and Rainbow and Valice (who seemed to have gotten over their fight) in the back, he still felt as though his heart was to burst from the unknown darkness that spread before him.

And without even thinking, he'd plunged in.

The Underground Pass

The cavern was large, but not to the point that it was impossibly massive. The ceiling hung low, and arched off to either side of them, creating an almost semi-circular path. The sand and grit lay behind them, now, leaving only the cool floor of the desert underpass.

But the darkness, however, hung around them like an eerie cloak, hiding everything away.

Twilight let out a shudder. Even if her eyes had long since adjusted to the shadows around them, she still couldn't rid herself of the fear in her heart. Next to her, however, Dusk walked onwards, his face a mask of calmness.

"Something the matter, Twilight?" he asked. "You seem a bit worried." He looked over at her with a smirk.

She let out a sigh. "Sorry, I'm just not too good around dark places..." murmured the lavender alicorn in reply.

Dusk looked forward, once more. "Do you fear the night?" he asked, his voice still calm.

"Well, no," Twilight said, "but that's because, even if it's dark, there's still some light to keep me from getting lost."

The mercenary scoffed. "Light and darkness... How odd, Twilight, isn't it? Let me ask you a question -" he glanced over at her "- what do you think of the two forces?"

She bit down, and answered. "I know that dark isn't evil, or anything," she said, "but the fact is that some ponies don't do very well when we can't see anything."

"Fear of the unknown," translated Dusk, looking back towards the area that they were going to. "However, I understand your point. Dark isn't automatically evil, just as light isn't automatically good. It's what a pony does with these elements that makes them what they are." He looked over at her, again. "What about you, Twilight Sparkle? Which of the two do you prefer?"

"Light or darkness..." she said, quietly, before looking back to the mercenary. "Do I really have to choose? I mean, I like both of the princesses!"

Dusk said nothing for a few seconds. "... The princesses of the moon and sun," he said. "How... humorous."

"How so?" asked Twilight, but she continued walking.

"It should be obvious for you," replied the mercenary. "You are - or rather, were, I suppose - Celestia's protégé, weren't you?"

"Wait, how did you know that?" Twilight asked, surprised.

Dusk simply stared forward, once more. "I'm a mercenary, Twilight," he said. "I have... connections, so to speak."

"Like Deun?" pushed the alicorn. "How do you two know each other?"

"We met awhile ago," said Dusk, not elaborating any further, "on a little... 'quest' of my own."

"Huh," Twilight knew better than to pursue this further. It would inevitably end with Dusk just brushing off her attempts to learn more about his past.

"But enough about me," mused the mercenary. "What of you, and your own exploits?"

"What do you mean by that?" asked Twilight, cautiously.

"Well," started Dusk, "I doubt that one as... brilliant as Celestia would send several creatures such as yourselves on this journey, unless you've proved that you can hold your own." His eyes flashed. "Even if you are the Elements of Harmony."

Twilight sputtered. "Wait, but how did you -?"

"Like I said," replied Dusk. "I'm a mercenary. I have connections."

He stepped on ahead. "Damn," he muttered, "this place is as dark as Hell..." He touched the sword at his side, and raised it up.

Twilight watched in silent awe as the blade began to glow. Various white lines that ran along the black sword began to shine with a beautiful, wondrous light that seemed to carry throughout the cave. Even the ponies behind Dusk held up their hooves in surprise at the vast amount of new brightness.

"Yes," Twilight heard herself mutter, "just wait until our eyes adjust to the darkness before you blind us."

Dusk grinned. "Well, I needed a way to change the subject," he said, "and this seems to have done it the best."

Twilight simply shook her head, waiting until her eyes adjusted to the brightness before she spoke again. "Right," she said. "Nothing's better for changing the conversation than just blinding everypony around you."

"Exactly," said the mercenary, still grinning, "but this... this is only a fraction of Constellation's power."

"Really?" asked the lavender alicorn. "What else can it do... besides cause permanent damage to my retinas?"

"You'll have to wait and see," replied Dusk, his face becoming serious once more. "This is one of several legendary weapons, and its power is enough to do things that no ordinary sword could even begin to accomplish. The light its emitting is one of its most basic features, next to its immensely sharp blade, and another ability that I'm sure you'd enjoy." He held it up in front of him. "And, after years, after several experiments, I've managed to finally realize its full potential. I prefer not to use its more advanced functions except for times of urgency due to the massive amount of magic that they drain, but -" he shrugged "- sometimes one has no choice."

Twilight stared at it. "How do you even carry a thing like that around?" she asked, genuinely curious.

As if to show off, Dusk threw the sword into the air, stopping just short of the ceiling, and caught it. "I've no idea what you're talking about," he said, smirking, before shaking his head. "To be serious though, years of practice."

"... How many?"

Dusk looked away from her, and paused for about ten seconds. "... Many, many years," he said. "Too many, one could say."

"You're dodging my question," she supplied, annoyed.

The mercenary looked over at her with a grin. "You're just noticing it now?" he asked. "But, honestly, these scars are quite symbolic, wouldn't you say?" He touched one of the many markings on his side. "Symbolic of every failure that I've ever made. Of my failures when I was studying Constellation, of my failures on the field of battle... They're all marks of wretched, horrific failure. All of them, and especially..." He trailed off again, his eyes filling with a strange sorrow.

"Forgive me, Twilight," he said. "Memories. Such wretched things..." He shook his head, and smiled, sadly. "Yes, such cruel things memories can be..."

The lavender alicorn refused to pry. Instead, she simply walked along beside Dusk, not wanting know just what cruel memories he held deep within his mind, not wanting to know just what 'wretched things' his memories were.

Instead, they walked in silence for several minutes, with only the sounds of their friends's conversations leaving Twilight with the knowledge that they were alright. Even in the brightness of the cave, she still feared for their safety.

However, not letting this show, the lavender alicorn still walked on, as more time passed, and the conversations began to gradually die down. After several hours of walking in relative silence - with only the children talking, Valice and Rainbow Dash exchanging stories, and the occasional talk between Dusk and Twilight - the cave walls suddenly lurched outwards, leaving them standing before a massive, almost perfectly circular room.

On the far side of the chamber was another passageway, but one that seemed to give way to a place filled with light. However, the area itself was not entirely dark, as the ceiling formed a kind of funnel, allowing a small amount of light to trickle in, as well as sand.

And, in that trickle of light, the creature that lay there was all too evident. Its body was shaped like a rounded diamond, but seemed to act more like a turtle's shell in appearance, and had several legs, some large, and some small, poking out from underneath it. On its circular head, two large mandibles could be clearly seen, and its eyes lay just beside those, closed in slumber. Around the odd insect lay several pieces of jade-colored carapace shards, but there were no claws or tails in sight.

"Naturally," Dusk said, quietly, as he put the light of Constellation out so that the creature would not wake up.

"What is that?" hissed Checkmate, stepping up to the front.

Dusk grimaced. "I think you can guess for yourself. Take a look -" He gestured to the funnel "- we're in sand-pit-trap. And the fact that there's at least one dead jadetails in here..."

"This is an antlion's den," translated Twilight. "The antlion doesn't look too dangerous, though, if a bit large..."

It was true. The creature was roughly fifteen feet long, just slightly longer than the jadetails that they'd met the day prior. Its mandibles, however, were at least five feet in length.

"The problem is, though," Dusk muttered, "this is just a larva. Thankfully, it's sleeping, but it could still tear us apart in seconds. Not as fast as Deun, maybe, but I'm not about to say that's a good thing."

"Look over there," Valice said, stepping forward as well. "Do you see that light in front of us? I'll bet you anything that it puts us right in front of Solace."

"What makes you say that?" asked Checkmate. "Solace should still be days away, theoretically."

"Well," explained Valice, "considering how stupid our luck seems to be - getting us away from Deun only to find ourselves in this situation - wouldn't it make sense for something like this to happen? At this point, I'm honestly expecting that we've somehow bypassed a lot of what makes this desert take so long to travel across."

Dusk sighed. "Good point," he said, "although it wouldn't surprise me if the antlion wakes up just before we reach the exit."

"After we step on a conveniently-placed shard from a jadetails's carapace?" continued Valice, and she grimaced. "Yeah. There's no way we're getting out of this without a fight, are we?"

"You two sound like you've been through this kind of thing before," observed Twilight.

Dusk shrugged. "You learn a lot as a mercenary, Twilight. In all of my travels, every single time that I've encountered a sleeping monster, regardless of whether it's an adult or a baby, it always wakes up. Always."

"Well that's comforting," muttered the lavender alicorn.

"Hey!" Valice said, indignantly, "I was going to say that!"

"Regardless," Checkmate passed a look between the two, "it doesn't look as if this thing is just going to let us pass. So... what are our options?"

"We kill it," said Valice, readying her twin daggers, and standing on her rear-legs.

"Sounds like our best option," Dusk admitted.

"Isn't there anything else we can do...?" asked Fluttershy, the meek pegasus looking back-and-forth throughout the group. "I-I mean... it's just a baby..."

"No, unfortunately," Dusk said. "Nopony's ever been able to tame or escape from a ravenous and enraged antlion, and odds are we're not getting around this thing without a fight..."

Fluttershy hung her head in defeat, and looked away from the creature, obviously not desiring to see what was about to happen.

Twilight, Checkmate, Valice, and Dusk stepped up to it, while the others kept themselves standing away from the center of the room and protecting the children, and readied themselves to attack the gigantic insect.

Then it awoke.

Deun and Wendigo stood in a large cavern behind the Hellgate Mines, the place where the king of the windigoes made his "castle", so to speak. The king of the windigoes stood in front of a long passageway, but none had gone beyond the chamber and seen just what lay in the room beyond it. Regardless of this, however, many windigoes speculated just what could lay in it.

Wendigo stared over at Deun. "So," he said, "I take it that the brats escaped?"

Deun bowed his head, refusing to meet the king's eyes. "Yes, Wendigo," he said. "Unfortunately, I underestimated them, and I allowed Checkmate Vigarde and his allies to escape into an underground cavern."

"You really are worthless, aren't you?" sneered Wendigo, but then he asked, his voice somewhat softer. "And what of your soldiers? Are they all alive?"

"They all survived," Deun said, calmly. "Many of them have lost much of their morale due to our failure to capture Checkmate, but, for the most part, they're all safe."

"Good," said Wendigo, looking away, his voice still retaining the odd softness. "The last thing that I need is to lose any more windigoes..."

"What are we to do about Checkmate Vigarde?" asked Deun, coldly.

Wendigo smirked, his smile like that of a wolf. "You don't worry, Deun," he said, and he laughed, his voice returning to its original volume. "After all, it's been far too long since I've met with the brat and his entourage. I think it's high time that I pay those damned sleipnirs a visit. You and your lot are to stay behind in Darkfrost, where you can't screw anything else up."

Deun bowed. "Very well," he said. "Is there anything else?" His body was rigid, as he knew that Wendigo was not one to let those who failed him off lightly.

"No, nothing more. Get out of here."

Deun bowed, once more, and turned to leave. Although he was confused to not be punished - a method that usually involved permanent scarring or gashing - for not capturing Checkmate, he took this opportunity with no questions, and the slightest amount of joy.

However, as he left Wendigo's chamber, he could almost have sworn that he heard the sound of ice being smashed against stone.

Into the Light

Checkmate, Dusk, Twilight, and Valice reacted quickly, dodging the antlion's strikes and separating to various areas around the chamber. Twilight began to throw bursts of magical energy at the massive insect, attempting to incapacitate it while she ran throughout the cavern. Checkmate and Valice struck out at its sides with their weapons, cursing as they were deflected from the shell on its back.

However, those three were not the ones the antlion focused on. Instead, the creature struck out at Dusk, who seemed overwhelmed by its surprising quickness, and swung at the mandibles in an attempt to cleave them from the beast's face. These attacks, though, were in vain, as the monster refused to surrender its prey, and showed such power as to push the mercenary back.

"Dammit," hissed Dusk. "I hate these things so much..."

Checkmate lowered the Glacius as he watched the mercenary be driven back. "Dusk!" He shouted, and the unicorn looked over.

In that one second that Dusk dropped his guard, the antlion struck, cutting deeply into his left foreleg with one of its pincers. Dusk let out a scream of agony, and dropped Constellation to the ground as he clutched at the wound, which, oddly enough, did not seem to bleed much for one so deep.

Then, immediately after Dusk fell, a shout echoed throughout the chamber, as a certain pegasus, yellow in color, flew straight up to the antlion, even as she hovered within its mandibles.

"How dare you," she hissed, her eyes boring into its.

Dusk stood up, still clutching at the wound. "Get out of there!" he shouted. "That thing will -"

"HOW DARE YOU!" shouted Fluttershy, her voice level reaching the point that a chill ran down Checkmate's spine. "HOW COULD YOU EVEN THINK OF HURTING MY FRIENDS?! YOU SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!"

She leveled herself to it so that her eyes met its perfectly, as they seemed to tear into its very soul. "Now," she hissed, "what do you have to say for yourself?"

The antlion began to tremble, as if terrified, and Dusk's jaw dropped.

"Oh, Chronos," breathed the mercenary. "I can't believe it..."

The creature, its kind long since seen as beasts of prey, began to shake, and shiver, and it tried to avert its gaze, only for Fluttershy's eyes to follow it wherever it went.

"Well?" asked the pegasus, her eyes cold.

The antlion stepped back, and lowered its head before letting out a noise that indicated either fear or sorrow. Checkmate assumed the former, and made a mental note never to enrage Fluttershy. Then, out of nowhere, the antlion stepped forward and touched its head to the pegasus's body as if nuzzling her.

"There, there," she said, her voice suddenly becoming more compassionate. "You just got woken up from your nap. Just go back to sleep, and it'll all be fine, okay?"

The antlion nodded, stepped back to the center of the room, and closed its eyes, the sound of its slumber echoing throughout the chamber.

"Fluttershy..." breathed Rainbow Dash, "that was awesome!"

Dusk stepped towards them, clutching at the area where the creature had cut into him. "Agreed," he said. "Do you realize what you just did?"

"O-oh, I'm sorry...!" squeaked Fluttershy.

"You just convinced an antlion - regarded as one of the most deadly predators in the entire world - to stop attacking us," Dusk said, slowly. "That's something that nopony has ever been able to do before."

Fluttershy blushed. "I-I just have a way with animals," she said, smiling.

"I guess so," replied Dusk, and he stepped forward. "Well, then, shall we?"

"What about your wound?" Twilight asked, stepping up to him.

The mercenary turned towards her. "It's nothing to concern yourselves with. I've walked away from far worse."

He removed his hoof from his leg, and Twilight stared in awe. The gash had vanished, instead being replaced by another scar that ran across his leg.

"What... how did you...?" Twilight started to ask, but Dusk had already stepped out of the passage behind the sleeping antlion.

Checkmate stepped up to her. "There's no point in asking," he said. "Dusk'll probably just brush us off."

Twilight lowered her head, and sighed. "Yeah, you're right," she said, "although it just makes me even more curious..."

"All of us are," remarked Valice. "Like how he managed to find me, where he got that sword... There's a lot that we all want to know about this guy."

"Yeah!" agreed Rainbow. "I mean, I guess I trust him, but isn't there something... off about him?"

"Everything is off about him," quipped the red pegasus, "but I just want to know why it's off..."

"Well, we're not gonna get anywhere jus' sittin' around here, are we?" asked Applejack. "C'mon, let's jus' get outta here before we try ta come up with anythin' else."

And so they did, as they stepped from the darkness of the cavern into the passage behind it, and, from there, into the light.

There, right outside of the underground cavern, as Valice predicted, there lay a massive mountain, surrounded on all sides with sand, from which smoke seemed to spew.

"Well, it looks like I was right," said Valice.

"Yes," Dusk said, rejoining them. "This volcano is Solace."

"So the windigoes have an entire nation, and the sleipnirs get a mountain?" asked Rainbow. "That doesn't seem very fair to me."

"Most sleipnirs don't actually live here," said Dusk. "They're... different from windigoes, after all, and these differences are very obvious, once you learn about them."

"Like what?" Checkmate asked, cautiously.

"You'll see," replied Dusk, ominously, as he stepped towards the massive mountain.

Checkmate grimaced. "Dammit, I hate it when he does this..." he muttered.

"I think that we've already established that," said Valice. "Although let's just repeat it a dozen times, shall we?"

The stallion rolled his eyes, and walked over to join Dusk on his trek to the volcano.

"Why can't you just tell us anything?" he asked the mercenary.

Dusk smiled in reply. "I don't think that I could quite do the sleipnirs justice if I did so," he said. "Besides, I think it's best for you all to learn these things on your own, rather than have me tell you everything. That's part of life, isn't it? Discovering new things."

"I'd rather know that the sleipnirs aren't going to kill us the instant we step in there," complained Checkmate.

"Please. With Fluttershy helping us?" Dusk flashed him a smirk. "I think that we'll be safe, considering that she took down an antlion without even fighting it. That kid has a lot of potential."

"There's something we can agree on," remarked Checkmate. "All of them do, actually."

"Yeah," replied Dusk. "They can all do things that some of the most hardened and most dangerous ponies in the world couldn't dream of, and the absolute power they exude is immense. I'm looking forward to see how this plays out, once we face Wendigo. And, perhaps, even..." He cut himself off, then, and smiled. "Well, you understand. I'm certainly looking forward to when we charge into Darkfrost."

"Why do you want to stop Wendigo, anyway?" asked Checkmate. "Is it a personal thing, or is it more general than that?"

"Personal," said the mercenary, but he didn't elaborate on it further.

"And what about you, Checkmate?" Dusk asked, changing the subject. "Why do you want to stop Wendigo?"

"I want to end his tyranny, once and for all," replied Checkmate. "After what he's done to me, I can't let him do that to anypony else."

"Really?" Dusk asked, bemused. "Is it truly that you want to stop his tyranny, or perhaps -" he paused "- Is it that you want vengeance for all that he's done to you?"

"I-I'm not sure, really," Checkmate admitted. "I mean, I want to make sure that nopony has to suffer down in those damned mines ever again, but... I also do want to watch him die... for everything that he's ever done to me and to those I've cared for."

"Don't worry about it, about longing to watch him die," Dusk said. "You're not the only one."

Again, he said nothing more on the subject, but began a new one. "I must admit, though, your abilities with a sword are excellent. How long have you been training?"

"Eight years," replied Checkmate, as he held out the Glacius. "One year with my right hoof, one with my left, two with both, and four just trying to master everything that I could in total."

"Huh, I'm impressed," said the mercenary. "Most would just run up to Wendigo and stab away at him until he ended up killing them, but you took your time. You must have a lot of patience."

"You have no idea," Checkmate shook his head.

"I think I do," replied Dusk. "After all, I've been training quite a bit myself, and all so that I can finally do exactly what I've meant to for years."

"Kill Wendigo?"

"Something like that."

The two walked in relative silence for a while, the sounds of the others behind them being the only thing showing that they were still there.

"Ah, here we are," said Dusk, as they reached the base of Solace. "Well, are you all ready? I can't exactly say that we'll get a good welcoming party once we step inside..."

"Where's the entrance?" asked Rainbow, flying over to the side of the mountain. "It looks like it's just a flat wall!"

Dusk walked over, and placed his hoof on it. "You're right," he said. "It certainly looks like just a flat wall... But sometimes you must look past the exterior of things. Rainbow, if you would? Please hit this area with your hoof."

The cyan pegasus gave him an odd look at this suggestion, but nonetheless complied, slamming her hoof into the wall several times in succession.

"Now what?" Valice asked. "Do we just... wait for them to answer?"

"Exactly," replied Dusk. "You seem to have a decent knowledge of how this place operates, Valice. Is there something that you're neglecting to tell us?"

The pegasus smirked. "Only when you tell me about just who the hell you are."

"Then we're trapped in a stalemate," said the mercenary. "A pity."

Then, another voice began to ring throughout the area. "Who is there?" it asked in a somewhat evident accent that was similar to Rarity's.

"Travelers," said Dusk, calmly. "We are here to make a request of your leader."

There was silence for a time, but then the voice came again. "Very well," it said, "I shall grant you a chance to speak your place."

The wall began to change, then, as pieces of it began to go inward, before it swung open like a massive door, leaving the interior of the volcano, and its guardian, showing.

He stepped towards them, and seemed to take a strange delight in their looks of surprise at his form. His body was similar to a windigo's in stature, being mostly the same as that of a stallion, but with a reddish-orange color - while still being semi-transparent - rather than a coat that was similar to ice (the coat of a windigo commonly was anywhere between white and light-blue), and his mane was crimson, as well. However, what struck Checkmate the most - and presumably his friends, as well - were the number of legs the sleipnir had.

Instead of having four legs like a windigo - or any other type of pony, for that matter - the sleipnir had eight legs, four on each side, that reached the ground.

"I assume that this is your first time meeting a sleipnir?" he asked, looking to all of their faces.

Dusk nodded. "Theirs, at least," he said. "Would you mind taking us to your leader? We have a very important matter to discuss."

"There is no necessity for that," came another voice, as another sleipnir stepped from the mountain, flanked by two others on either side.

The new addition was roughly the size of Luna, his coat a slightly darker shade of red than that of the gatekeeper, and his mane a dark auburn that ran over his eyes, and down to the back of his neck. His voice was sounded similar to Checkmate's, but slightly lower and with the same accent as the gatekeeper.

"Who are you?" asked Dusk, cautiously.

The new sleipnir held out a hoof. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance," he said, his voice completely polite, "I am called Asgard, the lord of Solace."

"Asgard...?" breathed Dusk. "But what of Illia?"

"Illia? How do you know her?" asked Asgard, and his eyes seemed to gleam. "Are you an old acquaintance of hers? If so, then I must apologize."

"What for?" Dusk asked.

"I'm afraid that Illia was killed years ago in an attack on our beloved home."

Dusk paled. "What...?" he breathed. "By who?!"

"The same creature who tortures us to this day, and why we must be so... cautious," replied Asgard. "He is a beast born in the deepest pits of Tartarus, who fled its depths in an effort to take our beloved land for himself."

"What is his name?" asked Dusk. "Anypony who could slay Illia would truly be an immense threat..."

"Indeed," agreed the sleipnir. "He is called "Hecatoncheir", although we know him as one of the twins born in flames."

Dusk stared him over, his eyes showing nothing but distrust. "My condolences for your loss," he said, sadly. "Although I've not come here to talk of my old friend's death. No, we're here to ask a favor of your kind."

"Whatever could that be?" asked Asgard.

"We would like to request use of the Ignis," replied the mercenary.

"Whatever for?"

Dusk sighed, and turned away. "I think that my friend here can tell you better than I," he said, and gestured towards Checkmate.

The earth pony gulped, but stepped forward. "Asgard," he said, slowly, "my name is Checkmate Vigarde." He noticed a flash in the sleipnir's eyes as he said this. "I am an enemy of Darkfrost, Wendigo in particular, and I feel that the only thing that can stop him is the sword that you hold deep within this mountain. If you give me permission to use the Ignis, then I promise you that I will do everything in my power to end Wenidgo's tyranny once and for all."

Asgard turned away. "... Allow me a chance to think on this," he said, not looking at them. "You are welcome to stay the night, if you so desire. I shall have my answer for you in the morning."

And then, before their eyes, the mysterious lord of the sleipnirs began to step away, his eight hooves hitting the ground as he did so, and they were soon to follow suit.

Unwelcome Guests

Valice stood in the room that the sleipnirs had assigned her and the others to. Even if they were monstrous creatures and freaks of nature - having eight legs rather than four -, the scout had to admit that the creatures were quite polite. Especially Asgard, who never seemed to raise his voice or act in any way other than what could be considered as being perfect etiquette. However, even as she stood, watching the sleeping forms of those around her, her mind still ached for a question to be answered.

Why didn't she just run? Why couldn't she force herself to just flee, get away from the others, and make her way back home?

The only reason that she could come up with was that she was afraid of the damned sell-sword, Dusk, and possibly the others as well. The more she looked at them, though, the more something else began to worm its way into her mind. Maybe she hated Dusk, but she could hardly fault the others for the hell that they had to endure.

No! She purged the thought immediately. These ponies were her enemies; They'd taken everything away from herself, her friend, and all of her friend's subject all those years ago.

But, at the same time, Valice couldn't find it in her heart to hate them, even if she knew that she should, even if she ached for vengeance. Only Dusk was the subject of her disdain, and that was mostly because he'd held a sword to her throat and threatened her with death if she didn't comply to his wishes. Checkmate, Rainbow Dash, and the others, however, did the exact opposite for her.

She actually was starting to kind of like them.

Rainbow Dash may have been an egomaniac, and had such pride and arrogance that the air around her reeked of it, but Valice couldn't deny that she had some interesting and exciting adventures, and that she was probably as strong as she claimed.

Checkmate Vigarde, however, created mixed feelings whenever she saw him. One of them was simple: Pity. She felt pity for all the pain that he'd inevitably gone through at Wendigo's hooves, and part of her wanted to try and stop him from getting himself killed for something like revenge or a desire to help his friends, no matter how noble it was. The other was different, being a desire to see him reach his goal, and a want to watch him cut through the flesh of her friend's ultimate enemy. Checkmate's victory over the one who'd hurt him throughout his life, in other words.

However, the more she thought about it, the more she saw her actions as being completely selfish and arrogant. After all, she didn't want to see Wendigo die so that Checkmate could feel at ease, or that the ponies of Darkfrost could be freed from his wretched influence.

No, it was all so that the hatred - that damned, damned, damned hatred - could be forever wiped away from that place. So that the hate could be replaced by love, and then...

Valice heard herself giggle slightly, but regained a straight face. The more she thought about it, however, the worse she felt. Checkmate - all of those creatures, be they pony or windigo - suffered for years at Wendigo's monstrous hooves, and she planned to make sure that nopony else would have to hate their oppressor anymore. There would perhaps not be as much love as was necessary, but her friend was a patient creature.

All that was necessary, now, was to give Checkmate assistance, and she could become not only be able to stop the bastard, but do something that was deemed impossible, as well. This was shaping up to be a fruitful scouting mission, even if she had been caught, and even if what was happening was far from what she had planned.

Her thoughts were interrupted, however, as the sound of eight hooves hitting the ground behind her snapped her out of the fantasy.

"Enjoying your stay, I hope?" asked a calm and polite voice. Unlike Asgard's, this one was distinctively feminine, but carried an air of coldness that seemed to be only slightly less evident than that of Deun.

Valice turned towards the source of the noise. "Of course," she said. "And... who are you?"

The new sleipnir had a coat like copper, and a mane the color of rust, and was roughly the size of an average mare. Unlike Asgard, whose eyes were bright-green, hers were light-red, but not quite pink. Her voice was close to Twilight's and Valice's in range, but was somewhat higher pitched than theirs were, and she carried a short-sword - again, much like Deun's - on her side.

"My name," said the new sleipnir, "is Cora, the captain of Asgard's guard. He sent me here to ensure your comfort so that you would be well-rested for tomorrow."

"How thoughtful of him," said Valice, although she added some slight sarcasm to it. "You sleipnirs are very hospitable, aren't you?"

"We very rarely get any guests," replied Cora. "We must make sure that, when they arrive, they are rather well-situated. The last thing that any of us desire is for Hecatoncheir to tear you to pieces, after all."

Valice sighed. "Yes, I can understand that sentiment," she said.

Cora sighed, as well. "Indeed," she said, but her eyes were cold. "That is why I have come here. If there is anything I can do, please do not hesitate to ask."

The scout waved her off. "Don't worry," she said. "We're all fine."

"Very well," Cora said, bowing her head. "Then I would advise you to rest. Depending on Asgard's choice, tomorrow may cause you some pain, however I would like you to know that you are very welcome here, no matter what some may say." She turned as if to leave, but paused, and looked back. "Even if one of those who says that is myself."

Then, just as she'd entered, the sleipnir turned and left, leaving Valice to her thoughts once more.

The scout looked over to the prone forms of her allies, all of whom lay on their beds except for Dusk, who had fallen into slumber while sitting in a nearby chair. How easy it would be to just leave then-and-there, she told herself. But still, as it had before, something held her back. Maybe it was, as she thought, her selfish desire to stop Wendigo just for herself and her friend. Maybe it was fear induced by Dusk, Checkmate, Twilight, Rainbow, Applejack, and Fluttershy (she'd made a mental note not to enrage the pony, lest she feel the wrath of her and - quite possibly - an antlion, or maybe a dragon, because she could never be so certain about the seemingly benign yellow pegasus). Or, perhaps, it was something more than that...

But the more she thought about it, the less sense it made. If she didn't want to stop Wendigo for selfish reasons, or for reasons fueled by terror of the various creatures around her, then why? What reason could she possibly have to continue this quest, if neither were the case?

"No reason" was her first answer, that she was doing this spontaneously, just going along with what was happening. However, an even better reason which was far more simplistic and obvious was evident not too long after the first thought crossed her mind. Perhaps she simply wanted to see the others succeed, regardless of what they'd done to her in the past. Perhaps, just perhaps, she wanted her allies to win this battle just so that the ponies that the bastard hurt could go free.

Or maybe it was just one of reasons that she'd thought of before, and she was just trying to justify her own terror. That was as possible as anything else, she thought, but went back to going over her motivations anyway.

After all, it wasn't as if she had anything better that she could do at that point, considering that the others slept so peacefully, but that she, in her nervousness and questioning of everything, could not rest.

Eventually, however, this questioning of morals took its toll, and Valice soon fell into an uneasy, pained slumber.

Rolan was not well-known for his stealth. Perhaps it was due to his newfound youth that came with his newer personality, or perhaps it was simply because he enjoyed trying to make ponies slightly happier (he'd have to talk to Pinkie about throwing a nice party for Darkfrost once Wendigo was slain). Despite this, however, he was not the fool that everypony claimed him to be.

In fact, one could go so far as to claim him to be a genius when he tried, or when he had the chance for a pre-emptive strike. So, naturally, he did neither of those, and instead stepped through the streets of the Hellgate Mines as one would through the streets of Canterlot, blissfully ignoring the fact that Wendigo clearly wanted him dead.

What surprised him, however, was just how calm many of the windigoes - and even the ponies themselves - had been when he'd grilled them for information. Any weaknesses that Checkmate could exploit, and areas that could be easily snuck into, and others of the like were his main points of questioning.

That was, of course, until he ran across Deun.

The general stood, calmly, in front of him, regarding him like one would an ant or rat. "You've returned, Rolan," he said, but his voice was neither caring nor kind. "How... interesting."

"I have, Deun," replied Rolan, his voice surprisingly serious as he realized the gravity of the situation, "although I can tell that you're still enjoying your time as Wendigo's lapdog rather well."

The two locked eyes. Even before Rolan's betrayal and Deun becoming Wendigo's general, the two never were anything except for allies. Even long before the tyrant usurped the king's throne from the former and when the latter had been nothing more than a simple soldier in Rolan's defense force, the two had rarely regarded each other as much except for the king to be loyal to and the knight who was loyal. Although, they had at least had several friendly conversations then, and Rolan had seen Deun's excellent skills when the windigo was at a young age, even planning a promotion before the bastard took the throne and turned the word "Darkfrost" into a synonym for "Hell".

But that was many years ago. More than twenty-five-hundred, in fact, and Deun had since changed. Gone were his traits of loyalty to the former king, his compassion towards his fellow windigoes, and his love for the ponies of the land. Instead, they had been replaced with betrayal and deceit, as well as the coldness that permeated the air as he spoke.

"Indeed," said the general, "although I'm afraid that your betrayal is not one which I can easily overlook."

"Of course," supplied Rolan. "Of course... However, I'm not here to bicker with a child."

"Intriguing," Deun's voice didn't fluctuate in the slightest, "because the only one who is acting the role of a petulant child is yourself. Leaving Darkfrost, attacking Wendigo, joining with Checkmate and his foolish friend, Khaza..." He shook his head, although his eyes seemed somewhat sad by the last fact. "A shame, truly, that you would waste your life so readily."

"'Waste my life'," muttered the former king. "Indeed. Just as you have done by working for a certain heartless bastard."

"I'm not one to sit idly and be belittled by an ignorant, foolish monarch who lost his crown on account of his weakness, and the fact that he could not protect his own country," said Deun, his voice sharp as ice, and twice as cold. "Perhaps it is time to bring this to an end." He drew the silver short-sword at his side, pointing it towards Rolan. "Do you not agree?"

Rolan grit his teeth. "Perhaps," he responded, his hoof dancing over the hilt of his own dagger. "Perhaps I -" and then he stopped and let out a gasp of pain, as blood began to run down his side, and he clutched at the massive wound that had only just emerged.

"My apologies, Rolan," said Deun, now behind the former king, and he flicked the now-bloodied short-sword with his hoof, causing the liquid to run off its blade, "but I'm afraid that was necessary. You will awaken shortly, I'm sure, but by that point you will have to answer to Wendigo of your betrayal."

The former king felt himself falling, then, and dropped to the ground as he lost consciousness.

Those Wreathed in Flames

The next morning came all too quickly for Checkmate. That night of sleep had been the best in days, and he'd fallen into slumber not long after hitting the bed.

However, the morning had come within only a few hours, and the stallion and his allies had been roused from their slumber at daybreak. The thirteen ponies - on the word of Cora, the captain of Asgard's guard - had gathered into the chambers of the lord of Solace so that they could either be granted the use of the Ignis or refused.

They stood, somewhat awkwardly, as the large sleipnir stood in front of them, and let out a sigh. "My... apologies," he said, his voice as calm and polite as it had been before, "however, after strenuous thought on the matter, I must refuse you access of the Ignis."

Checkmate felt his jaw drop at that statement. "What...?" he breathed, "but without the Ignis, how can we stop Wendigo?!"

"Again, my apologies," said Asgard. "However... this blade is necessary, for reasons that are far too important to disclose."

"Indeed?" asked Dusk, stepping towards the sleipnir. "What if we return this blade once we've slain Wendigo?"

Asgard shook his head. "I'm afraid that would do little good," he said. "After all... what if Hecatoncheir attacks our nation whilst you take this blade - our greatest weapon of defense - away from here? No, it would do us little good. None at all, actually."

Then, the lord of the sleipnirs looked them over. "Before you say anything else," he mused, "allow me a scenario, will you? Let us say that I arrive in your nation, and request use of the Elements of Harmony. How would you react?"

"Well... it depends on what you want to use the Elements for," Twilight said. "I mean, I'm sure that Celestia would give you their power if you really needed them, but..."

"So she would," muttered Dusk. "Celestia would, of course, just hand them over, no questions asked..."

Asgard looked them over, bemused. "Well, in either case, allow me to alter this scenario, ever so slightly. Perhaps, in this event, some monstrosity - let us say, for the sake of argument, Queen Chrysalis and her wretched changelings - was striking at Equestria, or, perhaps, simply threatening it with destruction. Do you suppose that your princess, kind as she may be, would grant me the powers that could potentially stop the loss of many lives?"

Valice shifted visibly. "I'm sure that Celestia and her ponies could stop the changelings without the use of the Elements, since they've done it before," she stated, a strange bitterness in her voice, "so I'm sure that they wouldn't need them if you wanted them to stop Hecatoncheir."

Dusk cast her a glance, a small smile forming on his muzzle. "Well, in that case, Asgard, if Hecatoncheir is truly as great a threat as you claim," he started, "what if I make you a deal?"

"A deal?" Asgard's eyes flashed. "Do tell."

"If we can kill Hecatoncheir for you," replied the mercenary, "will you grant us use of the Ignis?"

For just a second, a look of nervousness crossed the lord of Solace's face. "If you can slay Hecatoncheir," his voice changed as he spoke, but it was only somewhat noticeable, "and if you can stop the... greatest threat we've ever faced, I shall do just that, and I will allow you to not only take the Ignis, but keep it, as well."

"To keep it?" Checkmate asked, surprised. "Do you honestly mean that? I mean, certainly, I understand you allowing me to just borrow it for until Wendigo is dead, but... you're just going to let me keep one of the most powerful weapons in the world?"

"If you can slay Hecatoncheir," replied Asgard, "but I highly doubt that you can. He's been haunting these lands for the past two-and-a-half millennia, after all" - he cast a glance at Dusk, and his eyes glimmered - "and nopony has since been able to stop him, or to even so much as cause him any permanent injury. Certainly, there have been some wounds to him, but none have been able to finish the creature completely."

"Just a question, Asgard," said Twilight. "All of the sleipnirs here have called Hecatoncheir one of the 'twins born in flames', right? Then does that mean that there was another sibling of his?"

"In a matter of speaking, yes," said Asgard, as he turned away. "Hecatoncheir and his twin brother were born in the deepest pit of Tartarus - the thirty-second floor down, where only the worst criminals are sentenced to - and one day escaped from these depths after committing the murder of an infamous criminal. His brother was slaughtered along the way, and the beast, insane as he was, continued, alone, to the surface. He unfortunately reached it, and managed to seek us out."

"Tartarus..." breathed Twilight.

"The place where most sleipnirs are actually born," said Dusk, calmly. "Some of them leave for Solace to avoid the tensions of the place, even while the top floors are beautiful, and some are simply..." He stopped, and glanced over at Asgard. "Yet you are saying that Hecatoncheir cut his way up from the deepest level of Tartarus? That he went through thirty-two levels of armed guards, monsters, and even passed by Cerberus unharmed? He must truly be a formidable foe..."

"How else would he have slain Illia?" asked Asgard, though his voice was completely calm. "How else could he have possibly been hunting and haunting us for all these years? Of course, he does not desire to kill us, as that would do him little good."

"Then why?" asked Twilight. "Why would he be like that if he doesn't want to kill you?"

"What do sleipnirs feed on?" Dusk asked, not meeting her eyes.

"Fear," said Asgard. "He has been sapping and siphoning fear from our kind for thousands of years, now. That is the power of the sleipnirs; Windigoes devour hatred, changelings, love, and us, fear. That is where our strength emerges from, and that is why our kind is renowned for our terrible appearance. After all, an eight-legged pony is quite frightening, or, at the very least, unnverving, would you not say?"

"But why hasn't anypony from Tartarus come after him if he's such a threat?" Valice asked. "They sound like a bunch of idiots if they're not trying to stop him..."

"They do not see him as a threat to Tartarus itself," replied Asgard, although there was fire in his eyes, "and so they do not attempt to take him back to their world. Either way, however, it makes little difference. Nothing can possibly defeat him."

"But if we can," said Checkmate. "You'll allow us to use the Ignis, and to keep it, too?"

"If you can stop Hecatoncheir - not even kill him, but prevent him from attacking Solace ever again - then I shall certainly hand that blade over to you."

"Then we'll do just that," Dusk said. "However, we'll need a complete analysis of his abilities, first."

Asgard nodded. "I shall allow Cora to take care of that for you. She is far more versed in that subject than I. For now, however, I would request that you all return to your chamber, or, at the very least, do not leave Solace. I do not desire for any of you to be slain by an antlion, a jadetails, or the monster himself."

"Good point," replied Dusk. "We'll leave, then. Any objections, or any final questions on the matter?"

Nopony said anything, instead letting their silence speak for itself.

Dusk nodded. "Good," he said. "Very well, then, Asgard. We'll see you soon, I hope."

"Indeed, you shall Dusk," said the sleipnir. "Indeed... you shall..." He turned and raised his hoof, signaling for them to leave.

The group left the chamber, then, and walked back to their own, across the obsidian bridges that stood over magma rivers, and entered the passageway that opened into their chamber.

"So, what's the plan?" Rainbow asked. "We just find this 'Hecatoncheir' guy and punch him?"

"Something like that," Dusk said. "Although there's something that has been bothering me since we've entered Solace."

"What is it?" asked Apple Bloom, looking up at the mercenary.

Dusk shook his head. "I... cannot say. We don't know who could possibly be listening, be it Asgard or one of his own soldiers."

Silence reigned for just a short while, before Cora stepped into the room. The sleipnir captain carried herself with an air that even Deun would have scoffed at, right before he would have inevitably have resumed his cold personality.

"Asgard told me to answer you all any questions that you had about Hecatoncheir," said the captain, coolly, "What do you desire to know?"

Dusk stepped up to her. "Give me his personal talent."

"His personal talent?" asked Cora, and she seemed somewhat surprised. "Dusk... of course you would be the one to ask that, wouldn't you? Some ponies never change..." She chuckled, surprising them.

"Okay, Dusk, seriously," Valice said. "First Deun and now Cora? How do you know so many ponies?"

"I'm a mercenary," said Dusk, and he smirked. "I've many connections. But that is not what matters, is it? Tell me, Cora: what is is that Hecatoncheir can do?"

"He's known as 'Hecatoncheir of One-Hundred Arms'," replied Cora, although her voice had become far less cold, and even less formal. "He is able to make appendages using the environment around him, using materials such as sand, stone, and magma."

"One-hundred of them, I'm guessing?" snarked Valice.

"Exactly," said Cora. "You see, sleipnirs are different from windigoes in more ways than just our appearance and elemental alignments. Each of us has an ability that sets us apart from others of our kind. Not in the same vein as your talent signs, but more in the vein of magical abilities. For example, I can tell the abilities of a creature with a simple glance, Hecatoncheir can craft one-hundred extra appendages from materials, and Asgard -" she grimaced "- well, actually, none of us are quite sure exactly what it is that he can do. Some of us assume that his intelligence, which has earned him the role of our strategist, is his talent, but none of us are entirely sure."

"And what about Hecatoncheir's twin?" asked Dusk. "What was magical talent?"

"That say that his brother had one of the greatest gifts in the entire world," replied Cora. "Foresight."

"He could see the future?!" Twilight gasped.

"That's what I've been told, yet he couldn't predict his own death," she shook her head. "It's a pity, really. They always said that Hecatoncheir's brother was the wiser, more level-headed of the two. Why did you want to know?"

"Curiosity," replied Dusk. "Normally, I would say that he's not truly dead due to the way that slepnirs work, however, if he was killed inside of Tartarus, then I've no doubt that the kid's in Hell right now."

"Indeed," said Cora, "and that's our greatest concern regarding Hecatoncheir. If he's killed, then we don't know how long it will take for him to craft a new body, or for him to use our ability to travel the dream channels to his advantage."

"New body?" Twilight asked. "You mean that if a sleipnir is killed, they can just create a brand-new body and go on with their lives?"

"In a manner of speaking," said Dusk. "However, these bodies take years - centuries, in some cases - to create, and do you know what is required to make them?"

"Fear," said Valice, and the others turned towards her in surprise. "They need fear in order to make their bodies don't they? And they need fear in order to sustain them, too."

"That's right," said Dusk, a small smile indicating that he was impressed with Valice's knowledge. "They require fear not only to create new forms that they can use, but to keep this form from breaking apart, as well. The same is true of windigoes as well; They need hatred to survive, but the amount required is minimal for a large amount of time. That is why they must create fear - or hatred - artificially, so that they may live."

"Well, we've certainly learned a lot today, haven't we?" quipped Valice.

Cora shrugged. "You're the ones who wanted to know so much about us sleipnirs, aren't you?" she looked at the pegasus, and sighed. "My apologies for what I said last night. I was tired, and a bit annoyed at you being new arrivals. However, Dusk is an old friend of many of us, and, if he trusts you, I will as well."

"Indeed," said Dusk. "What is our next course of action?"

"Simple," said Rainbow. "We find this guy, Hecatoncheir, and we beat the tar outta him!"

"You make it sound so easy," muttered Twilight. "We don't even know where he is!"

Then there was the sound of a scream, long and loud, and Cora grimaced. "We do now," she said, and she glanced back at the group. "You guys either have the best luck or the worst."

"We know," said Checkmate, ruefully. "Well, then, let's go, shall we? We've got a monster to slay."

Dusk grinned. "And it seems like we don't have much time to slay him."

They ran, then, to where the scream had emerged: the gate that led outside.

The gatekeeper lay, his back pressed to the door, and his eyes wide while he panted. "O-oh, Fear," he breathed, his face pale, "You all... why are you...?"

"Step aside, Lynar," said Cora, her face calm. "These wanderers want to exit this place, and they desire to see what lies outside."

"What?!" gasped Lynar, "but... but if they exit this place... They'll be killed!"

"I assure you, we won't be," replied Dusk. "Our group has cleaved jadetails in half, stared down an antlion until it cowered, and escaped from Wendigo's most dangerous general. I do believe that we can handle whatever creature lay beyond this door."

"Open the door for them," Cora said. "Lynar, you do understand who this stallion is, don't you?"

The gatekeeper's face paled as he took in the creature who stood before him. "D-Dusk..." He breathed, and he nodded, "Very well. I'll open this gate for you, but I want you all to make sure that you return, alright? Also, leave the children here. They'll be safer inside this fortified volcano than outside where the predator can take them as his prey."

Checkmate stepped up to him. "I've no complaints to that," he said. "Alright, all of you, let's see just what this 'Hecatoncheir' is like, and then we'll take him down! When we're done here, we'll take the Ignis, and then we'll go to Darkfrost and stop Wendigo!"

With a unanimous cheer (besides, of course, the youngest, who grumbled), the door began to open, as the group, now consisting of nine, stepped outside, into the desert, and into the waiting arms of the monster feared by the sleipnirs.

A Foe Too Familiar

As the door to Solace closed behind them, Checkmate felt his heart nearly stop. Before their eyes stood a creature with an appearance that was all too familiar. The creature stood tall, its back straight, and a dagger the color of blood in its right hoof. Its eyes were a sickly violet, its coat the color of rust, and its mane auburn.

In short, the creature was very smiliar to Asgard, with the only exceptions being its dagger, eyes, and that expression on its face. It was the same expression that Wendigo always held: A cruel sneer, and eyes that showed nothing but callousness.

"Ah, so what do we have here?" the creature asked, smirking, in a voice that was slightly lower than that of Asgard. "Oh, I see. So that fool Asgard sent out a bunch of idiotic mercenaries, eh? Well -" he laughed "- this should be fun."

There was no mistaking the similarities - personality-wise, at least - between the lord of Darkfrost and the beast who stood before them now.

"W-Wendigo...?" breathed Checkmate, horrified.

"Wendigo? That bastard?" the monster laughed. "Please. My name is Hecatoncheir, the twin born in fire, the one damned into the lowest of Tartarus's floors! I am the beast feared and despised, and I shall ensure that you all are..." He stopped, then, and his eyes glimmered. "Ah, the Glacius... I get it, now... Oh, yes, it makes perfect sense... Well, this should be quite enjoyable for me!"

"Cut the crap," Dusk growled, stepping towards it. "You're the one who killed Illia, correct?"

Hecatoncheir's eyes flashed, and he grit his teeth. "An old friend of hers, I presume?"

"You could say that," admitted Dusk. "So tell me, then, how is it that you bested her, one of the greatest sleipnirs to ever live?"

"The same way I broke free of Tartarus all those years ago," replied Hecatoncheir, as he stepped around them. "Hm, so this is the best that Asgard could offer? A shame. I should have you all begging for death in... oh, about an hour or so."

"Do you want to test that theory?" Dusk asked, smiling ruefully, and holding out Constellation.

The beast laughed, its head drawn back. Exactly like Wendigo. The only true differences seemed to be their appearances and the fact that Hecatoncheir seemed to revel in his vile and sadistic nature even more than the king of Darkfrost ever could.

"Do you truly intend to best me?" Hecatoncheir asked, still laughing. "I've fought against creatures more dangerous than you could even imagine."

"How interesting," Dusk replied, "because so have I."

"Then this shall be more fun than I could even imagine!" Hecatoncheir said, and he sneered. "I'll start with you, of course. You look to be the most dangerous of these louts, so it should be best for you to be the first to die. The rest of your companions can watch, then, as their one chance at victory begins to crumble. Into. DUST!"

Hecatoncheir lunged, then, and struck out towards Dusk. The beast attacked in a way that showed neither grace nor beauty, instead flailing away with attacks that seemed designed for power, and nothing more. Dusk blocked and dodged these graceless swings, whilst countering them with attacks of his own.

Then, in the middle of the battle, Hecatoncheir seemed to alter his tactics, as his techniques became more advanced and graceful. He began to apply a strange beauty to his own moves that seemed to take Dusk completely by surprise, as the mercenary was forced back, slightly.

"Wh-what the hell...?!" he breathed, "You... you've been...!"

"But of course!" replied Hecatoncheir, and he laughed. "You think me to be a fool, I'm sure. An ignorant child who knows nothing of swordplay. Thus, I've been using only that which you expect: the skills of a novice, followed by the moves of a master." He ran his tongue over the blade, and Checkmate could see that the dagger - its true color grey - was, actually, covered in blood. "Although I must admit that you're quite skilled, as well. And that's what shall make this even more delightful for me..."

He lunged once more, and, this time, Dusk was prepared for the strike. Rather than dodge, the unicorn mercenary met it head on, using his own masterful skills to match that of the cruel sleipnir who fought back at him, in a style far too similar to that of one who was far too familiar.

"Wendigo..." breathed Checkmate. "This bastard's almost exactly like -!"

His words were unheard, however, as the two combatants continued their fight. Hecatoncheir simply struck at Dusk, and style was wretchedly familiar. It was impossible to deny the similarities between the beast before them and the lord of Darkfrost, regardless of the fact that they were clearly different ponies.

Perhaps there was just a Wendigo for every type of creature, and they'd just found the one for sleipnirs.

"Excellent form, I must admit," said the sadistic creature, his face twisted into a foul sneer. "However, I'm afraid that this game is at an end!"

Those words sent a shiver down Checkmate's spine. They were so familiar, and yet so different when this new bastard spoke them. When Wendigo said them, there was something odd - indescribable - in them, but when Hecatoncheir said those words, there was nothing more than a sadistic, insane delight, perhaps more so than the heartless bastard himself.

Immediately as he finished speaking, however, several arms - Checkmate counted seventeen - emerged from the ground, composed entirely of sand and stone, and swiped at Dusk as he and Hecatoncheir fought around them. The mercenary dodged them expertly, not even watching the ground, but instead the one wielding the blood-covered dagger as they fought.

"Ha!" laughed Hecatoncheir. "I haven't had this much fun in years! Come on, Dusk! Let's see your true power!"

Dusk paused, for just a moment, and stared at the creature. "Wait," he growled, "how did you know my - Agh!" He looked down, then, just as one of the hands grabbed his leg, and tightened itself until it became like iron.

"Oh, did I just distract you?" asked the sleipnir, mockingly, although he looked somewhat nervous. "My sincerest apologies, Dusk. Now to kill you. Slowly, and painfully!"

Checkmate didn't know what compelled him to move when he did. Instead, his hooves seemed to move on their own, as his sword was drawn, and he rushed towards Hecatoncheir as he raised the dagger above his head to stab into Dusk. The Glacius met the sleipnir's flesh, and a blood-curdling scream enveloped the area.

Blood ran from a wound in Hecatoncheir's left side, where the Glacius had penetrated his flesh, and where it had since exited. The creature continued to howl, then, and Checkmate watched in awe as a change came over him.

The transparent body of the cruel sleipnir began to alter, becoming more opaque, until, at last, he was completely solid.

"No!" he gasped, stepping back. "That's... No!"

Hecatoncheir's eyes settled on Checkmate. "Oh, I won't worry about you now, Dusk!" he shouted, in rage and agony. "I'm going to tear this little maggot apart FIRST!"

Another three arms emerged from the ground, gripping onto Checkmate's legs that were not holding weapons and locking him in place. Hecatoncheir stepped towards him, slowly, gripping at the wound on his side.

"You're going to DIE, Checkmate Vigarde!" he hissed. "I'm going to tear you apart until NOTHING REMAINS! I'm going to shatter your damned soul and send you to Hell where you belong!"

All of the others had closed their eyes at this point, not wanting to witness what was about to happen.

Then, out of nowhere, a new sound entered the area, and a large mandible emerged from beneath the sand, piercing directly into Hecatoncheir's furthest-back-left leg, and another howl of agony and rage filled the area.

"DAMN YOU!" screamed Hecatoncheir. "DAMN YOU ALL! I -" his eyes widened, and he leapt back, his back-left leg tearing slightly on the antlion's pincer "- I... I can't... No, not now! This is a terrible time for you to want to - Ugh, dammit!"

The beast turned then, and didn't even look back at them. "You little bastards," he hissed. "We'll finish this another time, and then I'll tear ALL OF YOU APART!"

Then, he vanished - or he was absorbed, as it seemed - into the sand, along with the hands that he'd crafted, as they all sank into the desert and disappeared from sight.

"Dammit," muttered Checkmate. "We almost had him..."

Rainbow flew up to him, and put her face close to his. "Almost had him?!" she shouted. "He was just about to kill you! You and Dusk both! How is that 'almost had him'?!"

"She has a point, Checkmate," murmured Dusk, as he rubbed the area where the hand had gripped him. "That was too close for my tastes. We severely underestimated him, and look what almost happened to you because of it."

"What almost happened to me?" Checkmate asked. "He was going to kill you, too!"

"I've stepped away from worse," muttered the mercenary. "Believe me, Checkmate. I can take care of myself, but you all can't. Let's face the facts: we're fighting an enemy that seems to be an even more sadistic version of Wendigo, but he also seems a bit weaker, as well. Although I do have to admit that you're probably the luckiest damned stallion on the face of the planet. I mean, honestly, would any of you have expected an antlion to just burst from the ground and stab through Hecatoncheir's leg at just the right point?"

"We do have the stupidest luck ever," muttered Valice. "I mean, let's look at the examples, shall we? First, we escape from Deun, enter an underground tunnel, skip several days of travel to get to Solace, befriend an antlion, and said antlion shows up at just the right moment to save our lives. I swear to Chronos, our luck is absolutely ridiculous."

"How can you tell that it's the same antlion?" Dusk asked, bemused.

Valice pointed, and Checkmate and Dusk followed her hoof towards the creature, which now was nuzzling Fluttershy and purring like it was some sort of cat, instead of an all-powerful predator.

"Of course," Dusk muttered, and shrugged, "but should we really be questioning our luck? We managed to fend off Hecatoncheir, and somehow Fluttershy was able to befriend an antlion which just saved our lives. This is what happens here in this universe, and such is just how it works."

"I guess so," murmured Valice, before she turned away. "In any case, though, what should we do next? We've driven Hecatoncheir off for the time being, but I don't think that he's going to take this loss lightly, and once he's intangible again..."

"Indeed," Dusk replied, and he turned towards the others. "All of you, I must tell you all something that's been bothering me since we first spoke with Asgard at the gate. I couldn't say it because the sleipnirs could have easily been spying on us, but if we go somewhere that they won't be watching us, we should be safe. Also, Khaza will be able to speak again, at least, so that should be reason enough that we leave the area around Solace."

"Where to?" Checkmate asked.

"Fluttershy," Dusk started, "would you mind asking that antlion if it would be alright allowing us to enter into its cave to speak of this matter? It's very important, and will perhaps change all of your views on this little journey of ours entirely..."

The yellow mare looked at the antlion, and started to speak. Oddly enough, the creature seemed to actually understand exactly what she was saying, and seemed to communicate back by shaking or nodding its head.

After around five minutes of communication, she turned back towards them. "She says that it's alright," said Fluttershy, her voice quiet, yet surprisingly firm. "However, she doesn't want us to spend too much time in there. Jadetails have a surprisingly good sense of smell, apparently. But she'll be fine if we're only there for about an hour or so."

Dusk grinned. "Perfect," he said. "An hour is all that we'll need."

Spike held the cards up, making sure that the crusaders wouldn't peak over at his hand, and that Lynar and Cora wouldn't be able to see the smirk on his face at the full house.

Somehow, the two sleipnirs had convinced the four youths to try and play poker with them. Somehow, they'd fallen for it. The totals were with the youths and the captain at no wins, and Lynar at fifty-seven.

At last, however, Spike held in his claws the one hand that could win him this game, that could give him the triumph that he truly desired!

"Sorry," said Lynar, although he was grinning from ear-to-ear. "Royal flush." The gatekeeper laid the cards on the ground, in order from ace to ten.

The group of five groaned as he collected his winnings - which, by this point, consisted of one of Spike's scales, small rocks from the crusaders, and seventy-three bits from Cora.

"Another game?" asked Lynar, innocently, as he dealt out the cards once more.

"Sure, but no more betting," muttered Cora, rubbing her temples with two of her eight hooves. "I swear to Fear and Chronos, I'm not going to be able to get any food this month if this continues..."

Apple Bloom leaned forward. "How are ya so good at this?" she asked.

Lynar grinned. "Well, since you've all fallen so far behind, I'll tell you," he said. "As you all know, each of us sleipnirs has a special talent, right?"

"Like our cutie marks!" piped up Scootaloo. "Isn't that right?"

"Cutie marks?" the gatekeeper asked, casting Cora a glance.

The captain shrugged. "I think they mean their talent signs," she replied, and looked over at them. "Leave it to Celestia to come up with a name as cutesy and pure as that..."

"Well, they're somewhat similar," admitted Lynar, as he held his cards up once more. "In a manner of speaking, of course. For example, however, each of us has one specific ability that we can perform -"

"We know that part!" snapped Sweetie Belle. "We just want to know what your talent is!"

Lynar didn't take his eyes off them, but spoke. "Huh. Not a bad hand, kid," he said, and he looked over at the unicorn filly. "Two aces, a king, and two queens? You're getting a bit lucky, aren't you?"

Sweetie looked down at her cards, and let out a gasp. "How did you do that?" she gasped. "That's amazing!"

"It's why they commissioned me as the gatekeeper," explained Lynar. "I can see through solid objects." He laid down his hand. "Huh, guess I win again."

The group let out another groan, as they laid down their own cards to the ground. Of course, Lynar had still won.

"Kinda like x-ray vision?" Spike asked.

"Somewhat like that," replied Lynar. "However, all of our abilities have drawbacks or limits. I can only see through objects that have a high heat, such as volcanic walls. Cora can scan creatures and learn of their strengths, weaknesses, and elemental affinities, but she can also read into their pasts and agonies; she rarely sees Asgard, and he always requests that she turn off her scanner whenever they do talk. Even Hecatoncheir, that big, bad guy that your siblings and friends are fighting has limits to his skills. The more hands he makes with his magic, the more energy it drains from him, and his power drains quickly. That's why he often uses only anywhere between ten and twenty arms."

He dealt out more cards. "What about all of you?" he asked. "What are your talents?"

Scootaloo hung her head. "We don't know," she admitted. "That's why we're here, because we're trying to get our cutie- er, talent signs!"

Cora chuckled. "You can't rush these things," she said. "It took me at least a century to discover my own abilities, and Lynar here -" she gestured to him "- how long was it?"

"Two-hundred and eighty-six years," replied the gatekeeper, and he chuckled. "Then again, most of us sleipnirs here in Solace are several thousand years old, with our oldest, Asgard, being at around three-thousand or so."

"Th-three-thousand?" breathed Spike. "That's incredible!"

"Indeed," said Cora. "I think he's even older than Princess Luna. Certainly not older than her night, but Chronos was able to take care of that on his own, I've heard."

"Huh," murmured Sweetie Belle, now looking over her new cards, "so you sleipnirs are about as old as the windigoes?"

Lynar grimaced. "Ugh, I understand that Checkmate desires to help them, yet would you mind not bringing them up around here? We're enemies after all, or at least not allies. Certainly, I've no problems with them, but you never know just who might be listening..."

Cora cast him a look. "I'm the captain of Asgard's soldiers, Lynar," she said, bluntly. "I think I can say as I please."

"But yes," Cora continued, "we're exactly their age, actually. Sleipnirs and windigoes were both created by Lady Fear and Hatred - who is now dead, unfortunately -, respectively, over forty-five-hundred years ago. They say it was after a great, monstrous creature was banished from our world, and the two siblings desired to craft races that could deal with it in case it ever returned, but we've been lucky so far. Their sister, Love, later - about two-thousand years afterwords - decided to take a chance for it, as well, and made her own race, the changelings, so that they could deal with this beast, just in case." She stabbed at the ground with one of her middle hooves. "Naturally, it has yet to return, and it would appear that both the windigoes and the changelings have fallen from their former grace thanks to their leaders. Asgard is particularly livid towards those two for what they've done to their once-powerful races, although it can be said that Chrysalis is at least trying to better her kind. Wendigo is doing but driving them towards ruin, and he's been reveling in it for centuries."

"Huh," repeated Sweetie, as she continued to look over her cards, "so you're telling us that changelings are actually good?"

"Well, they're not evil, at least," replied Cora, and she smiled slightly. "Many of them simply want the best for their kind. Why do you think that they invaded Canterlot? It was all so that they wouldn't starve in this world ruled by hatred. Now, that's not to say that there's anything wrong with hatred; in small amounts, it can be quite healthy for somepony so long as it's not directed towards another living creature, but when you gather such a massive amount -" she laid down her cards: An eight, three tens, and a two "- you get Darkfrost, and what that bastard has done to it. I think that Asgard would have liked it more if Rolan was still in charge, but I guess that a hierarchy must eventually change. Just look at our nation, and what Asgard has done to help us since Illia's death. What I'm trying to say is that nothing in this world is black and white; there's always a grey side to things, and the only true evils that I can think of are Hecatoncheir and Wendigo themselves."

Lynar rolled his eyes. "Sheesh, I swear, Cora, sometimes you're worse than some of those windigoes when it comes to giving information." he grinned. "Of course, they were the ones who asked about it."

"Right," she grinned back at him, "but it looks like you've lost this round."

Lynar glanced down, and his eyes widened. Across from him, at Sweetie Belle's hooves, there sat four aces and a king.

"Haha!" he laughed, and he clapped with his two frontmost hooves. "Good show, kid! I guess I was a bit too wrapped up in Cora's story to pay too much attention to that. Maybe your talent is gambling."

"Please don't," Spike begged, as the three crusaders cast each other knowing smiles, and the dragon clamped his hands over his ears.

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS GAMBLERS, YAY!" came the scream of the three youths.

"Excellent job, Lynar," muttered Cora, pressing a hoof to her left temple. "Not only do you seem to have set three innocent children on the path towards becoming gambling addicts like yourself, but you've also caused me permanent ear damage."

"Well, they needn't worry about that," said the gatekeeper. "After all, they don't have the marks now, and we've played sixty games or so at this point. So I think that's a bust."

"Aww..." came the groan, in unison, as the three fillies checked their sides.

"Well, at least we'll have something to tell the others once they get back," said Spike, standing up. "We've certainly learned a lot more than I would think from a poker game..."

"Indeed," Lynar started to clean up the cards, as well. "However, it would also appear that your friends will be a bit late. I can't see them in the desert, but I can't see Hecatoncheir, either. They must be giving chase, but I'm sure that they'll make it back soon, especially considering that Dusk is traveling with them."

"How do y'all know Dusk, anyway?" asked Apple Bloom. "Ah mean, are y'all friends of his or somethin'?"

"Let's just say that Dusk is truly an interesting pony," Lynar replied, the fifty-two cards now stacked into a deck. "He's one of the most powerful and dangerous mercenaries on the face of the planet, and the reason behind that is rather simple once you learn it..."

"What's the reason?" Scootaloo asked, leaning in. Clearly, she was excited to possibly learn more about his origins after being brushed off nearly every time by the odd mercenary.

"You'll have to learn it for yourself," replied Lynar, as he stood up. "That's one of the joys of life, after all. Sometimes, you must see these things with your own eyes. Otherwise, you may not believe it."

The gatekeeper stood still for about fifteen seconds, cast a glance at the deck, and looked back at the fillies. "Say," he started, "do any of you know how to play 'nervous breakdown'?"

Crafting the Plan

The antlion's cave was exactly as Twilight remembered it: Dark, dank, and with a floor slightly covered in sand, and very covered in pieces of deceased jadetails. However, there was a new air to it; Something that seemed... different than it had when they'd exited from it the day prior. Perhaps it was the fact that the creature didn't look as threatening when it was nuzzling Fluttershy, or perhaps it was simply the fact that Dusk's words held a strange tension in the air that refused to break its grip on them.

"... All of you," he began, slowly, "as I said, there's... something about this that's been bothering me since we spoke with Asgard yesterday. I'm sure that you noticed it as well, Khaza, if you don't mind."

Yes, came the voice of the windigo, I think I understand what it is you're talking about.

She materialized, then, in front of them, cracking her neck and shoulders. "Damn," she muttered, "it feels like it's been forever since I've been able to talk to anypony..." She looked over at the mercenary. "But I do understand exactly what you mean, Dusk. You're talking about Illia, aren't you?"

"That's right," replied Dusk, and he looked away. "As you all know, Asgard has claimed that Hecatoncheir has slain Illia, correct? And that he is offering us the Ignis in the case that we slay Hecatoncheir, as well?"

"Yes," Twilight said, stepping towards him. "That's been brought up a lot by this point..."

"The bastard's lied to us," said Dusk, not even waiting a second to speak. "Illia cannot be dead. Not if the Ignis is still in existence."

Twilight's eyes widened. "Wait... are you saying what I think you're saying? That Illia is the Ignis?!"

"That's right," Khaza said. "So either Asgard offered us something that doesn't exist anymore, or... Illia is not dead at all."

"But why would he lie like that?" breathed Checkmate, stepping forward. "What would he have to gain if he...?" His eyes widened. "Of course... Without Illia in the way, he's the ruler of Solace..."

"That's exactly what I thought," agreed Dusk, "and I'm guessing that Hecatoncheir is a part of this, as well. For all that we know, the two could have had this entire thing planned from the beginning... On the other hoof, however, it's plausible that he simply lied so that we would help them with Hecatoncheir, but either way, what we must do is the same." He looked up at them, his eyes flashing. "We need to speak to Asgard himself, and we need to learn the truth of the matter."

"And you expect him to tell us the truth?" Rarity asked. "The one who could have been pulling all of the strings from the very start? If anything, it is plausible that the sleipnirs themselves could easily be assisting him in this, and that is not even beginning to mention that Hecatoncheir may be."

Valice looked away, refusing to meet any of their gazes. "I think that... No, never mind," she said, although she looked uneasy. "There's just something about this that's really, really screwed up..."

"Tell us," prompted Twilight.

Valice, however, just chose to turn away. "I-It's nothing, alright? Nothing's the matter..." she looked over at all of them. "Why are you all staring at me like that? I told you that nothing's the matter, okay?"

She rubbed her temples. "Sorry," Valice murmured, "I just need some air."

The red pegasus then exited through the passageway outside, until her steps could no longer be heard.

Dusk let out a sigh. "Well, that came out of absolutely nowhere. However..." He shook his head. "All of you, whatever happens next, we'd best be prepared for it. Once we return to Solace, we'll no longer be able to speak like this, and Khaza will not be able to speak at all."

The windigo in question let out a sigh. "Well, that's a bit painful," she muttered, rubbing the side of her head. "Oh, well. Let's just go and learn the truth from Asgard, get ourselves the Ignis - or learn that Illia's dead -, and get the hell away from this place so that we can actually end this damned quest."

"That's the plan," Checkmate said, and looked back towards the passageway, "so I guess we'd better be completely prepared for anything."

"Right," Dusk said, and he followed Checkmate's gaze. "If we must resort to fighting, then we'll do what we have to. Nothing more, nothing less."

Khaza nodded, and changed back into the Glacius, which Checkmate promptly picked up. That's right, she said. We can only do what we, well, can do. That's all there is to it.

"I guess so," Twilight whispered, as the rest of them looked towards the opening to the desert. "Well, then, I guess we should go."

"Indeed," replied Dusk. "I'm almost certain that we can put some trust in Lynar and in Cora, but we can't be entirely certain of anything at this point. If we can explain the situation to them, I'm positive that they'll at least listen, and probably the other sleipnirs as well. Nopony likes Wendigo, after all, and if we can convince Asgard of that, we'll be able to take the Ignis with little difficulty, possibly without any bloodshed at all, if we're lucky."

"We're very lucky," Checkmate said, "but I'm not sure just how long that'll last. For all we know, we could all end up killed."

"Hasn't that been a risk this entire journey?" Twilight asked. "I think that we're used to life-threatening situations at this point. But Dusk, you know everypony, don't you? What about Asgard? If there's anything we can use to our advantage -"

"I've never met him, actually," Dusk interrupted. "He's a complete enigma to me. Honestly, it's strange; I'd never even heard of him until yesterday."

"So we're dealing with a pony we know nothing about," Twilight deadpanned. "Of course."

"Of course," repeated Checkmate, and he sighed. "Well, what else is there to do? We need the Ignis, and - whether or not it exists - we have to obtain it, or at least learn the truth about this."

Rainbow sighed, as well. "But this just all sounds really reckless," she said. "I mean, us going against a guy we don't know anything about? Even if I'm completely awesome, I can't exactly fly very well in a confined space..."

"We'll have to make due," said Dusk. "We'll just have to try swordplay, or magic, if we can. But either way" - he grimaced - "the fact remains that this may be our greatest challenge yet."

"Isn't everything?" deadpanned Twilight, and she rolled her eyes. "Don't get me wrong, we've gotten lucky, but Checkmate has a point; how long until our luck runs out?"

"Hopefully not too long," replied the mercenary. "We'll need some in order to make it out of this unscathed."

Applejack decided to throw something in. "Um... y'all do know that we have no idea if this fella's lyin' or not? This could jus' be an honest mistake..."

"That is a good point," admitted Checkmate. "We can't simply antagonize him without the facts."

"That's why we're going to get them," replied Dusk, "and we'd best hurry. The last thing we need is for them to start searching for us..."

So they left, with everypony except for Twilight and Pinkie exiting through the passageway to join Valice outside in the burning desert air.

The lavender alicorn turned towards Pinkie, and noticed a sad look in her eyes. "Pinkie, what's wrong?" she asked, genuinely curious; few times had the party-obsessed mare ever showed such sorrow, or broke her hyperactive personality to show this more thoughtful layer beneath it.

"It's just... Dusk," replied Pinkie, her ears drooped and her mane flat. "Can't you see it?"

Twilight cocked her head at this. "See what?"

"Whenever he smiles, or grins, or smirks, can't you see it in his eyes?" Pinkie's lower lip quivered. "I mean, I guess that all of you aren't focusing on his eyes, but I can see it perfectly."

"Okay, seriously," Twilight said, "what do you mean?"

"He's sad," Pinkie's answer was blunt, and surprisingly melancholy. "You know, Twilight, that I can tell when a pony's sad or not, right? Well, that's all that I see when I look at Dusk. Not happiness, not joy, not even fear or anger. Just... sadness, and loneliness, and depression."

Twilight's heart fell. Pinkie always did have a way of telling whether a pony was in a good mood or in a bad one, even if she didn't claim to show it. Often, she just left her friends be if they seemed to be upset, rather than potentially make it worse. But Dusk, if her reaction was anything to go by, seemed especially serious.

"So what do you plan to do, then?" Twilight asked, although she thought that she knew the answer.

"Well," Pinkie's mane suddenly seemed to explode into life, and her eyes took on a more happy expression, "I plan to do whatever it takes, Twilight, because that's just what friends do. Even if he's struggling, or in pain, or sad, I'm going to do whatever is necessary to snap him out of his stupor, and make him the hap-hapiest pony in the world!"

Twilight felt herself smiling at this, in spite of the circumstances. No matter how much she hid it behind her mane or her vibrant, childish eyes, Pinkie had a strange maturity and intellect that Twilight couldn't even begin to comprehend the depths of.

"Come on," she said to the pink mare, "let's get out of here. We need to get the fillies and Spike back at Solace, and see what we can do about Asgard."

"Okie-dokie-lokie!" said Pinkie, as she began to bounce after her friend out into the desert sands.

Light.

Light seemed to coat everything in its beautiful yet hellish embrace, locking everything into its foul brightness, and appeared to mock and jeer at the sleipnir as he stood, staring at the accursed blade in the ground.

"They suspect us, you believe?" Asgard asked, his voice seeming to crack in a strange anger as he spun the dagger in his left hoof. "Is that truly what you think?"

"That's the case, alright," hissed Hecatoncheir, snatching the dagger away and holding it in his right hoof, while clutching at his side with his left. "That damned little bastard, Checkmate, managed to wound me pretty bad... One look, and it's all over, and they're probably going to return soon."

"So, then, what are our available options?" Asgard asked, but he answered just as quickly. "We could always simply grant them use of the Ignis, and have them keep it for the rest of their lives. I doubt that anypony could possibly learn the truth with the only ones suspecting it long gone."

"But there are two flaws with that idea," muttered the other, still clutching at his side. The wound had stopped bleeding, and he was intangible once more, but still it seemed to cause him agony. "If we simply give it to them, who's to say that the little brat won't go yapping to any other ponies, or that our dear friend Wendigo won't attack Solace whilst our best way of defense is gone?"

"And that's the problem," murmured Asgard. "However, if we simply kill them, don't you think that it could be an even worse situation that we create for ourselves? Even if we take the Glacius and the Ignis to face against him, it would be suicide to challenge a pony as strong as Wendigo..." He shook his head. "Perhaps it would be for the best if we simply give Checkmate the blade, Hecatoncheir. I cannot see any other solution that does not involve senseless murder, leading into our own destruction."

"Perhaps," agreed the sadistic sleipnir. "However, we can't allow anypony to learn of our secret, otherwise it'll be the end of everything we've worked towards!"

"You're right," said Asgard, but he glanced away from the Ignis. "Our hooves are metaphorically tied, now, and there's no way to get them undone. We either give them the Ignis and risk losing everything, or we kill them, and lose our world to that monstrosity." He glanced over at the sword, once more. "What have you to say in the matter, Illia?"

The Ignis seemed to shake, but otherwise didn't move. I've something important to say on this matter, actually, came a voice from within, and that is simply that I hate both of you with every fiber of my being.

"You would challenge us?!" growled Hecatoncheir, and he stalked over to the blade, limping from his injury. "We could shatter you into pieces, and none of these idiots would be any wiser."

"Indeed," agreed Asgard. "After all, no sleipnirs in all of Solace know that the Ignis and their former ruler are one and the same. Perhaps you should have explained that to them before you decided to make a fool of yourself and wind up trapped in that form of yours."

The Ignis lay silent.

"I have an idea, Hecatoncheir," murmured Asgard, as he turned his back on the sword. "It's not as well thought-out as my others, but it should suffice, nonetheless. It could end up with us being slaughtered, but it will lead to our victory if we succeed."

"Oh?" asked the other, a smirk forming on his muzzle. "Do tell me, won't you? I'm quite curious as to just what this 'plan' of yours is."

Asgard nodded. "As I said, it may be foolish, and not quite... finished, so to speak, but I think it should be perfect for our necessities," he smiled, slightly. "You see, they'll likely come here to ask us about our plans, about everything, and about the truth. If such a case occurs, then we simply have to put ourselves in a position that allows us to question them. After that, we'll determine whether or not they are a threat. If they are, then we'll kill them, and if not, we give them the Ignis and allow them to leave."

Hecatoncheir laughed, and clapped his front hooves together, but pressed one of his left hooves to his side as the wound ached once more. "Perfect," he said, smirking. "So we're either safe to continue, or safe to kill 'em all. And what of those four brats back at the gate with Lynar and Cora, eh? Are we going to kill them, too?"

"No," Asgard's response seemed to catch him off guard. "I've no want to have the blood of such innocent creatures on my hooves. You know how much I detest killing creatures who don't threaten me. We'll leave the children be, for now. If they cause us any strife or any difficulties, then you'll be free to do as you like. Only, however, if you agree to make their deaths quick and painless."

"Oh, very well," replied the other, although he let out a sigh. "If you say so, then who am I to argue the facts? You are the strategist, after all... But the others are fair game, I presume? After all, that little red pegasus gave you quite the odd look, earlier. I'm almost inclined to say that she knows of our secret. And that other one, that mercenary, Dusk... He seems to know who Illia is, even though we sealed her away all those years ago."

"Probably," said Asgard, "However, we mustn't make assumptions. So long as we can get out of this with Solace intact, the sleipnirs mostly unharmed, and our secret kept safe, that is all that matters to me. You can continue to frighten them, but I wish for you to make it more subtle so that they don't begin to suspect us."

Hecatoncheir smirked. "Of course," he said. "Although my definition of 'subtle' may not quite be the same as yours."

"That is fine by me," said Asgard. "After all, you're the one who's always been so keen to keep yourself hidden, planning out every last detail so readily for the sake of our secret being just that." The lord of Solace smiled, but only slightly. "Although, I can't deny that I'm the same in that regard. Don't you agree, Brother?"

The Rising Fire

Rolan lay, alone, within a small cave in Darkfrost. Or, rather, a dungeon, for it was where Wendigo was known to store his most dangerous threats (mostly being treacherous windigoes, or ponies who had managed to form rebellions amongst the tortured populace). There was nopony anywhere near him, and the former king lay upon the cold stones. Leaving was impossible due to the odd magic that laced the cave, and the wound on his side had since stopped bleeding, yet still ached.

He shook his head, and looked away from the bars that locked him inside. There were no windows, and the only lights were two flickering torches positioned outside of his cell. In short, the former king could do nothing, and the wretched conditions - albeit better than they were for some ponies - made even sleeping within the prison horrible and wretched.

"How... fitting," Rolan heard himself murmur, but only to himself. "A prison as wretched as this... for a king as foolish as I had been."

"Fitting indeed," came the reply, as cold and cruel as he'd remembered it, "but you always were the one to seek out the subtext or the symbolism, never focusing on the actual story. Eh, Rolan?"

The figure appeared before him, the air having converged as the massive windigo made himself apparent to the prisoner.

"Wendigo," Rolan said. It wasn't accusatory, it wasn't angry, it wasn't even sorrowful or annoyed. The voice that spoke had no energy left for any of those, and instead sounded tired.

"Indeed," said the beast, a cruel smirk on his muzzle. "So I take it that you've been wandering around our beautiful little nation, worming your way past the windigoes, and trying to convince several ponies to tell you of information that could aid the traitor, Checkmate?" He shook his head, but the smirk remained. "What a... shame, Rolan."

"I assume you're here to kill me?" asked Rolan, still tired. "If so, then you may as well get on with it, instead of trying to screw around with my head."

Wendigo sighed, and glanced away. "Honestly, you think that I'm here to kill you, Rolan?" he asked, and shook his head. "Please. If I wanted you dead, I would ensure a public execution, so that everypony here in Darkfrost could see just what happens to those who rise against me."

"They already know that," said Rolan, and his voice had become cold. "They've seen everything you've done, already."

Wendigo turned his head back towards Rolan, and laughed. "But of course!" he said. "How can they learn to obey if they are wrought by their ignorance and arrogant ideals? A god requires his servants to worship him, no?"

"You think yourself to be a god?" Rolan hissed, his energy returning. "You must truly be insane."

"Insane? Perhaps," Wendigo admitted. "It's certainly plausible, given that... No, that's unimportant. What truly matters is why I'm here now. Aren't you the slightest bit curious?"

"To mock me?" guessed Rolan.

"Not even close," replied the tyrant, and he turned away. "You see... I've simply come to visit an old friend. Is that so hard to fathom?"

"Coming from you?" Rolan said. "Yeah, that is somewhat hard to believe, really. Considering that you betrayed me, killed me, and took my throne for yourself, I think it's a safe bet that you're just the heartless bastard everypony here knows you to be."

Wendigo shook his head. "Allow me a question, Rolan, if you will: why do you all claim me to be a heartless bastard?"

"Because you're a monster," growled Rolan, not even hesitating. "You kill ponies for fun, and then you..." He shuddered. "You're just a sadistic monster. You kill, you destroy, and you do it all just to make yourself seem more powerful, like some kind of foul god."

"I am a god, Rolan," replied Wendigo. "You just don't know it, I'm sure, but I have the power to destroy this entire world if I desire. The difference is that it's much more enjoyable to watch it all play out."

Rolan looked away from the monstrosity. "What happened to you, Wendigo?" he asked, somewhat sadly. "You used to be so -" he thought for a second "- friendly, and compassionate, and just... not this. So what happened to you?"

Wendigo was silent, for just a moment. "... Ponies change, Rolan," he said, quietly. "What once was, that innocence, that compassion, is now lost into eternity's maw. Sometimes one must pull back the curtains and look at what lay beneath." He touched the side of his head. "And what lay beneath - the true me - was... this. This is my destiny, and there is nothing that can be done to alter fate. It's simply a fact of life."

"Fine," Rolan said, "but allow me a question, won't you?"

Wendigo said nothing.

"Tell me this," Rolan started. "Is there really a Catalyst?"

Wendigo turned towards him, but didn't meet his eyes. "It's as I said, Rolan," he replied, his voice surprisingly soft and reserved. "Ponies change. Don't pursue this any further than you have; the further down this path you tread, the more painful the outcome shall be."

Then, he turned away once more. "Now then, Rolan. I must be off. You see, I've business with Checkmate Vigarde in Solace, and I'm not one to allow my targets to wait for me. I shall tell Deun to allow you your freedom once I've returned; I'll tell him that I mentally scarred you, or some such crap as that."

"Why?" Rolan asked, confused. "Why are you being so... reserved, instead of how you usually are?"

Wendigo laughed, bitterly. "Like I told you," he said. "Don't pursue this matter any further. I'm not about to give some heartfelt apology, or change sides, or atone for my actions. I'm not looking for sympathy for what I have done, because I know just what I've become. I'm not letting you live because of any of that; I'm letting you live, and I'm not about to torture you, because you were the first one to accept me all those years ago, and if it weren't for a certain... event... that happened, I'm sure that we'd still be the same today."

The windigo left, then, leaving the prisoner to his thoughts. Thoughts of an old friend, of his monstrous change, and, most importantly, of which personality was Wendigo's true one.

The first thing that Checkmate and the others saw once they'd entered into Solace was Lynar, sitting on the ground, along with the fillies, Spike, and Cora, holding cards in his hooves.

"Oh, hey there!" Lynar said, grinning as he noticed the group enter into the area. "How did it go?"

"About as well as you'd expect," Dusk muttered, rubbing the side of his head with his hoof. "We would like to speak to Asgard, if you wouldn't mind?"

"About Hecatoncheir?" Cora asked, standing up, and glancing over at him. "I'm not sure if he'd be able to talk. He always goes to the Ignis's chamber whenever Hecatoncheir appears, for some reason or another..."

Lynar grimaced. "Hecatoncheir's alive?" he asked, and he let out a sigh.

"Unfortunately," said Dusk. "We were unable to kill him. However, we were able to give him deep cuts on his side and one of his legs. I doubt that he'll be able to escape easily if we meet him once more. He's no longer threatening Solace, for now, at least, so we would like to ask Asgard some questions."

Cora and Lynar exchanged a glance. "What kinds of... questions?" asked the former.

"Simple enough," replied Dusk. "We just wish to know a few... facts about this matter that may have been denied to us. Such as, for example, Hecatoncheir's elemental alignment, and any weaknesses that we can exploit."

Cora let out a sigh of relief. "Alright," she said. "For a second I was worried you were going to ask him about his past. Asgard is very touchy about that subject, for some reason or another."

"Really?" Twilight asked. "What do you mean by 'touchy'?"

"Well," replied Cora. "He always makes me turn off my scanning before we meet up, and rarely talks to me anyway... He's very secluded, compared to the rest of us."

Dusk grimaced. "I see," he replied. "Could you possibly get us an audience with him now? I'm inclined to hear his answers to our questions."

"Certainly," said Lynar. "In fact, I'm sure that Cora could just escort you there now, if that's alright with her."

The captain in question smiled. "Sure," she said. "I've no problems with it, after all, and I'm sure that Asgard will be quite happy for anything that can help rid us of Hecatoncheir."

Checkmate felt his blood run cold. Did she really not know? Did none of them know the truth? Of course, it was possible that Asgard himself didn't know the connection between Illia and the Ignis, and that was why they needed to talk to him, rather than simply attack, yet...

"Good," Dusk said, interrupting his thoughts. "We'd best be going now, though, while we still have time before that bastard's next attack."

The group, which now included the fillies and Spike (who related everything they'd learned to the others on the walk), and Cora, spoke as they walked along the obsidian pathways, over the bridges that stood over magma, and over the lakes that seemed to be bubbling with the molten rock.

Twilight looked at Cora. "Hey, I've been meaning to ask... shouldn't the magma theoretically kill us?"

"That's a good question," replied Cora. "There's a kind of magic in this volcano that creates a barrier around the magma itself. The heat it exudes is decreased massively, but it still has the same properties. Basically, just imagine that the magma is blocked off from the rest of the area by the magic, although it doesn't mean much to us. Those with an affinity for the fire element don't feel heat as much as the other elements do, so us sleipnirs don't really notice it as much as most other ponies do. Windigoes, on the other hoof, would do terribly in this place, and we'd do just as bad in Darkfrost. This hasn't stopped Wendigo from attacking us, of course, but he's much more reserved and far less dangerous here than he is back where the elements work in his favor."

Sweetie Belle looked up at them. "For the record," she said, dryly. "This is exactly how the entire time you guys were fighting Hecatoncheir was like for us."

Dusk grinned. "Well, Cora's always been a bit of a chatterbox. Always wanting to show off the information that she knows..."

"That would have been nice to know before you left us with her and Lynar..." Spike muttered. "I'm amazed she and Twilight haven't started talking about complex theorems, or which elemental affinity has the advantage over the others, or something like that..."

"Well, there is no elemental affinity that's better than the others," said Twilight. "They all have their strengths and weaknesses, after all..."

"That's right," agreed Cora, the two suddenly walking next to each other. "It's the ponies who have a connection to more than one element - alicorns, sleipnirs, and windigoes all have more than one - and those who have an affinity for three - which is especially rare, but sometimes some of the more powerful sleipnirs, windigoes, and alicorns have that, but it's usually for more god-like creatures - who are the most powerful. I like to think that light and darkness are the two most powerful, but they're also the most useless unless a pony is Celestia or Luna, or can manipulate shadows automatically."

"What do the affinities do?" Checkmate asked, curious.

Twilight turned towards him. "Well, the debate is still ongoing about it - mostly because it's not a very common subject since so few ponies know what their's is - but, from what we can tell, fire affinities are strong in warm environments, but bad in the cold, ice is the opposite, water is able to hold their breath underwater for longer but are more susceptible to electricity, lightning is the opposite of water, earth is naturally sturdy and powerful, and wind is fast and can resist powerful gales. That's not it, of course, but that's the most that we know at the moment about them."

"What about light and darkness?" asked Checkmate.

"Nopony really knows," admitted Twilight. "So few ponies have either affinity that nopony understands just what advantage ponies with them have. The only ones most of us know about are Celestia and Luna, and even they don't seem to understand just what they can do."

"That's right," Cora said. "Very few sleipnirs are born with a third element - since we're all a combination of fire and earth -, but if they are, the element is usually lightning or, occasionally, wind. There hasn't ever been a sleipnir who has access to dark or light except for one, as far as I know, at least, and I'm the one who can read affinities."

"What's mine?" Checkmate asked, once more.

"Yours?" Cora stared at him for a few seconds as they continued to walk. "Huh, that's odd. You're neutral, it seems."

"Neutral?" Checkmate cocked his head, slightly. "Do you mean that I'm not especially strong either way?"

"That's right," Cora replied. "You're not particularly good at any element, but you're not bad at any either. I think that you're the one with the advantage, really; it makes life much more interesting to not have to plan everything out."

Twilight grinned. "Yeah, it sure seems like you're at least not too complicated, Checkmate. For a second, I was worried that you'd somehow be light or darkness or something like that. Or some type of unheard-of element."

"That really would be stupid, wouldn't it?" Cora asked, and she grimaced. "Although, to be honest, neutral isn't exactly common, either. It's somewhat rare among ponies - not especially rare, I mean, but not as common as the six primary elements, and it's certainly more common than light or darkness -, and sleipnirs and windigoes never have access to it, but there's really no advantage to having it, either."

"Good," replied Checkmate, and he smiled. "I'd rather have no disadvantage than have some easily exploitable weakness."

"Huh, you really are learning," said Cora. "I mean, most ponies in your position would curse Chronos for giving them no real strength, but I think you've found yours."

Checkmate held up the Glacius. "Yeah," he said. "I think I have, and once I've gained the Ignis, Wendigo will know my strength as well."

Twilight looked back at Cora. "But what about the rest of us?" she asked. "What are our affinities?"

Cora looked her over, before grinning. "Please," she said. "I'm not going to tell you that. Part of life is letting things come as they do. In Checkmate's case, I could at least tell him since there's nothing for him to worry about more than anything else. The rest of you have affinities of your own, but telling you would just make you paranoid."

Twilight sighed. "I guess that makes sense," she admitted, "but it could be such an interesting subject to study..."

The captain laughed. "I'll tell you what, Twilight: I'll try and give you all back in Equestria a hoof in your studies after you've all taken down Wendigo, alright? After that, I'm sure that Asgard will be glad to let us out of here, once the threat of that bastard has vanished."

The lavender alicorn nodded, but glanced over at Dusk, who nodded. They both knew all too well what was about to happen, but said nothing to the captain.

"Ah, we're here," Cora said, stepping up to the door of Asgard's chamber. "I'll go in with you, just to be sure that he understands the importance of this matter. If we don't find him, we should just go to the Ignis's chamber further in, and I'm certain he'll be there."

The nod from the group was unanimous, as they entered into Asgard's chamber. Naturally, the place was empty, so they did as Cora suggested and walked through a passageway in the back, down obsidian steps and through dark walkways until, at last, they reached the chamber where the Ignis lay.

The room was round, with the top - a layer of red rock - suspended over a vast pool of molten magma. In the center of the platform lay a pedestal, wherein a sword stood with its blade inside of it. In front of the pedestal stood a figure that was all too familiar to them; tall, dark-red, and with eight legs.

"Asgard," said Cora, stepping towards him, "I've brought you the ponies. They wish to ask some questions regarding Hecatoncheir."

The figure turned, slowly, and Checkmate noticed a wound on his side. He stood before them, his face a mask, and his eyes cold.

"Very well," said Asgard. "What exactly do you desire to know?"

Dusk stepped towards him. "First things first," he said, calmly. "You claimed that Illia is dead, didn't you?"

"Indeed," replied the sleipnir. "It was a tragedy, to be sure. A shame that such a powerful, strong-willed, determined -"

"Cut the crap," growled Dusk. "Illia isn't dead."

"Whatever do you mean?" asked Asgard, his left hoof trailing to a dagger at his side; a dagger that was the color of blood.

Dusk stepped towards him. "Illia cannot be dead," he replied. "She's sitting in front of us now. Or perhaps you didn't know the secret of the Ignis, although I'd think that to be false. You're its protector, so don't deny that you've known this for so long."

Asgard let out a sigh, and turned around. "You're quite intelligent," he replied. "In fact, I may go so far as to claim you to be a genius. However, if I may remind you of an important matter..."

Pinkie stepped towards him, her eyes blazing with an odd fury. "Well, why don't you tell us this 'important matter', then, Mr. Liar-Liar-Pants-On-Fire!"

"Indeed I shall," Asgard's voice remained level, almost monotonous.

And then, as if out of nowhere, he reached forward, his frontmost-right leg pulling itself around Pinkie's neck, and pulling her so that her back was to him. Then, with his left hoof, he pulled the blood-colored dagger up, and held its point to her throat so that a single bead of blood ran down it.

"Around here, in this place called Solace," he said, calmly, although his voice shook somewhat as he spoke, "they call me 'the strategist'."

"Asgard, release her!" Checkmate growled, stepping towards him.

"I will, don't you fret," replied the lord of Solace, the dagger still pressed to his hostage's throat. "But first, allow me some questions of you."

Those Born in Darkness

A foul silence had taken hold of the chamber in which the Ignis sat, as Asgard held the dagger firmly to Pinkie's throat. The pink pony's eyes were wide, but whether it was fear or surprise, Valice was unsure. However, the scout was not watching her eyes, but merely focusing her attention upon the sleipnir and the dagger in his left hoof.

At last, after a few minutes of simply staring at each other, Dusk broke the silence. "What kind of questions?" he asked, hesitantly. "What is it that you wish to know of us?" The sell-sword had shed his more friendly personality, instead showing only the coldness that he'd seemed to revel in the night that he'd held a blade to Valice's throat.

Asgard didn't even blink, with his eyes remaining narrowed as he looked upon the ponies in front of him. Even Cora, his own captain, seemed surprised and horrified at this new change that had overtaken him.

"Nothing that is too important," said the lord of Solace, his gaze unwavering. "I simply have two questions of you. Whether you answer them correctly or not, I shall release this creature to you. All that I ask is that you answer them at all."

"Well, what are they?" Twilight asked, unmoving.

Asgard moved the dagger away from Pinkie's throat, but only slightly. "Pay close attention to what I'm about to say," he replied, and took a breath.

"Long ago - thousands of years prior, actually -, there were born two brothers, twins, into the lowest level of Tartarus. The two were renowned for being polite, compassionate, brilliant, and genuinely enjoyable to be around. They were famous to the creatures living upon their floor, mostly due to their optimistic look on life, and were scheduled by Fear herself to move upwards to the thirty-first floor within mere decades of their birth.

"You see, in Tartarus, ponies move down further the worse crimes - be they arson, murder, or anything of the like - that they commit, and higher the better they act towards those around them. Naturally, the highest floors are beautiful, wonderful, and perfect, while the lowest are wretched, horrid, and hellish. That may sound fair, as us sleipnirs are given thirty-two chances to err before we are sentenced to burn in hellfire for eternity. However, that is not the case; if a sleipnir is born unto Tartarus's lowest floors, he is not simply moved to the first, but is left there to rot. Naturally, it should be easy to expect the bitterness felt by those born into those depths.

"These children, however, averted that immensely; they never fought, robbed, nor challenged anypony else, and only showed love and compassion for those around them, even as their parents had been slaughtered by vile criminals around them. Instead, they were peace-lovers, and both were loved, in turn, by everypony there. However, that beauty, that wondrousness... it was not to last.

"You see, one day, one of the two twins - a sleipnir known as 'Hecatoncheir' - began to change, mentally. His mind, and all kindness that remained for other ponies, deteriorated until only a sadistic insanity was left. The only pony he cared for was his brother, who he genuinely loved in spite of his mental alteration. However, his brother suffered differently; his twin's transformation into cruelty left him cynical and jaded of the world around him, with only his beloved brother to comfort him of the wretched place in which he lived. Ponies stopped caring for them, and thoughts to move them upwards were forgotten.

"Eventually, even that wretched world was thrown into turmoil, as Hecatoncheir one day accidentally caused the death of another sleipnir. He was a well-known and feared criminal who'd threatened he and his brother with death if they did not comply to his wishes. So Hecatoncheir slew him, tearing apart his enemy until nothing remained. Naturally, you can all guess exactly what happened after this."

Asgard looked at all of them, then, and laughed, bitterly. "They were stalked by Fear's forces, now enemies of all life in Tartarus. So, of course, the two decided to take a route that nopony had completed beforehand; they decided to flee from Tartarus, so that they could escape from the darkness and into the light.

"Of course, this trek was not without complications. For the first thirty floors, it was a simple enough trek for the two; they simply used stealth and speed - two traits that Hecatoncheir was not excellent at, if I may say - and managed fine up until that point. At the thirty-first floor, however, they ran into... complications. Fear's most dangerous soldiers patrolled that area, due to her wanting to stamp out all crime from the first and second floors, and thus, stealth was no longer and option. The two brothers were forced to fight for the remainder of their escape, with Hecatoncheir using his infamous arm creation, and his brother using his foresight to deflect attacks that could have possibly killed either.

"As you all can likely guess, that went about as well as expected. These children were not yet five centuries, and they were thrust into this hellish situation, with Fear's soldiers attacking them with the intent to kill. Hecatoncheir was able to escape perfectly unharmed. His brother, however..."

Asgard laughed, once more, with the same bitterness as before. "His brother was killed trying to defend Hecatoncheir from death, and the guard that delivered the finishing blow was quickly slain by the enraged twin. In the end, Hecatoncheir was able to escape from Tartarus, past the vile Cerberus, and out into the Desert of Death, before he found his way to Solace. This was more than twenty-five-hundred years ago."

The lord of Solace stopped, then, and turned away, still holding Pinkie, and still with the dagger to her throat. "Now, then," he started, slowly, "here is my first question for you: what was the name of Hecatoncheir's brother?"

Valice felt like screaming, at that. She wanted to shout with all of the effort she could muster, "Asgard! His name is Asgard!", but she couldn't. After all, if she told the lord of Solace what she knew, then questions would begin to arise. How did she know that? What could she see? Who was she, really?

No, the scout couldn't say it, even as the pink pony was before them, the smallest amount of blood dripping from her throat. She couldn't speak, although she wanted to. Half of her simply wanted to say it now, before they went any further, but the other half - the half desiring survival - had locked the truth away.

This revelation, the thought that she'd let an innocent die because of her own desire for life, made her feel sick. Even if she despised their kind, Valice could not deny the kindness, the compassion, and the hospitality that seemed to exude from these creatures that she'd, at one time, wanted nothing more than to gut.

Nevertheless, silence seemed to have consumed the room. Her jaw was clenched shut, and her throat felt dry and ached from the heat around them. The others were all in a similar situation; None could speak, but all seemed like they wanted to guess.

At last, after what felt like an eternity, a voice that was all-too-familiar spoke up. "Asgard," Dusk said, calmly. "That was his name, wasn't it?"

Asgard turned towards him, and smiled, sadly. "That's correct," he said. "That was the name of Hecatoncheir's brother. Asgard, born in Tartarus, born in darkness, and born with nothing. And, before you ask, yes, the 'Asgard' that your friend refers to, name-wise, -" he paused "- is the one standing in front of you."

Checkmate's eyes widened. "You..." He breathed, "You're Hecatoncheir's brother?!"

"Indeed," replied Asgard, as he stepped towards them, "Why are you all staring at me as if you are in view of the dead? It's quite... unnerving, truly."

"You... you are dead!" Rainbow shouted, "Didn't you just say that you're -?"

"That's correct," said the sleipnir, as he turned to the side. "Asgard died that day, his body rotting away inside of Tartarus. However, that leads me to my second question, and, after this, if you can answer properly, I shall release your friend."

Asgard turned towards them, his eyes cold. "Which brother," he started, "is standing before you now? Hecatoncheir, or Asgard?"

"What..." Twilight breathed. "What do you mean 'which brother is standing before you now'?"

"There were two brothers," replied Asgard. "Which one of the two is in front of you at this moment? I'll give you... let us say... five minutes to create your answer."

Valice felt her legs beginning to shake, and to shiver, and to be filled with fear and nervousness. The first answer was somewhat obvious; after all, Asgard essentially gave away everything through his speech to them about he and Hecatoncheir. The second question, however, was impossible. Dusk looked confused, and seemed to be straining to figure out the response, and the others simply looked blank.

She was the only one who knew the truth.

And it was time to make sure that the others did, as well. Even if it meant telling them just who she was, she would rather see Pinkie released than have her head roll on the floor, no matter how annoying she perceived the creature. Without her, it was possible that the others would never smile again, and that wouldn't help her in the slightest. No, it was time to say exactly what she'd been hiding since the beginning.

Valice stepped towards Asgard, then, and her eyes were cold and set, her legs were sturdy, albeit still shaking somewhat, and her back was straight.

"That's impossible to answer," she said, her voice firm.

"Whatever do you mean?" Asgard asked, his grip on the dagger loosening, slightly.

The scout's eyes flashed. "Because there isn't one pony standing in front of us," she stated. "There isn't simply Asgard or Hecatoncheir in front of us now. There are both of you, sharing the same body!"

"WHAT?!" came the cry from everypony around her. Even Dusk's voice had raised in surprise at this revelation.

Asgard's eyes widened, and he stumbled back. "What..." he breathed. "How could you possibly have...?!"

"Two reasons, actually," said Valice, her voice calm. "The first is the most obvious, and the one I'm sure that everypony noticed the instant they stepped in here."

Twilight's eyes widened. "Th-the wound on his side...!" she gasped. "It's the same one that Hecatoncheir got from Checkmate earlier!"

"Exactly," said Valice. "And, if you've seen his rear legs, he has the same wound that the antlion inflicted on his twin earlier today, as well. One wound wouldn't be major, but two? It's impossible to deny the similarities."

"What's the second reason, then?" asked Dusk, his voice sounding bemused, but his face straight. "I'm curious."

Valice smirked. This was it, her time to tell them everything. It would all be done in one movement, in one graceful statement.

"Your soul," supplied the scout, "or 'souls', rather, that are in your body. I can see them quite clearly. Hecatoncheir's is clearly the one that owns this form, and yours is the one that's currently in control, based on the size of them."

"H-how is that possible?" Twilight asked. "Not even an alicorn like Celestia is able to see into a pony's soul, and Luna can only do it while a pony is asleep!"

"Because, Twilight Sparkle, isn't it obvious?" asked Valice, and she turned back to the lavender alicorn. "I'm not seeing their souls, per se, but instead what their souls are holding for each other." She turned back towards Asgard, who looked somewhat nervous. "You and your brother... you have quite a bit of love for each other, don't you?"

"Love...?" Asgard started, and his eyes widened. "No... you cannot possibly be...!"

Valice laughed, and her eyes burned with joy. She'd wanted to throw off the cowl for far too long, and now was her chance to truly show these ponies what she was capable of.

"That's right," the scout said, smirking, as green flames began to envelop her body.

The cherry-red body was completely engulfed in the fire, as her body began to change. The mark on her side vanished, as a dark-colored carapace covered in small holes took its place, followed by a spike of the same substance that appeared on her forehead. Insect-like wings replaced her feathery ones, and her eyes became an icy blue.

The new figure that stood before the ponies stared into Asgard's eyes with a strange anger. "Well, are you happy, now?" she asked, her voice the same. "Now that you can all see me for what I truly am? You asked me, Dusk, on the night that you captured me, a question that I'm sure you've wanted answered for awhile. Well, I have the answer for you now, and I'm not ashamed to admit it, either."

The changeling's eyes lit up, as a smirk crossed her muzzle. "My name is Valice, famed scout, and one of Queen Chrysalis's closest fri- er, allies."

"A changeling..." Asgard muttered. "Of course. It is no wonder that you managed to see through the veil cast by my brother and I. Now all of the ponies created by Fear, Love, and Hatred are completely present; the Glacius, myself, and now this changeling." He paused, then, but spoke once more. "In either case, I am a sleipnir of my word."

Asgard lowered the dagger, then, and pushed Pinkie back towards her friends. "I despise killing those who have yet to truly experience their lives," he said, and shook his head. "However, I am afraid that I cannot allow you to exit this chamber with yours."

The others regarded Valice with fear in their eyes. While it was understandable, due to what had only recently occurred in Equestria, she still could not deny the pain that she felt as they stared at her in horror.

Dusk, however, said something that surprised her completely. "It certainly took you long enough to reveal that fact, didn't it?" he asked, smirking. "I mean, it was fairly obvious that you weren't exactly a normal pegasus from the beginning."

"What do you mean, obvious?" asked Valice, annoyed. "I tried as hard as I could to be discreet, and you're telling me that it was obvious?"

"Quite," said Dusk. "To me, at least. I didn't expect a changeling, but I knew that you were not simply a normal pony. The talent sign you used, after all... Far too blatant that you couldn't create anything better, so you just used a slightly different color and claimed that it was 'stealth'. Really, you'd think that the others would have at least thought about it at a little bit..."

Checkmate grimaced, but drew the Glacius. "We can discuss this later," he said. "Don't you think we should take care of Asgard, first?"

Twilight nodded. "Yeah," she said, "We can talk all about these... things later. For now, it might be best for us to focus on what really matters."

"I couldn't agree more," replied Asgard, and he shook his head. "Don't believe that I want this, however. As I said, I do not want to kill any of you, but this is what is necessary."

"Why?" asked Cora. "Why are you helping Hecatoncheir after all that he's done?"

Asgard looked at them, and they could see tears in his eyes. "He's... Hecatoncheir is my brother," he replied. "My parents have been slaughtered and now lay burning in hellfire. He... he is all that I have left. Even if he has become a monster, he's my brother, and he's the only creature on this world - or in any other - who cares for me, and loves me, and gave me a chance to survive."

"But how is that possible?" Dusk asked, although his voice was surprisingly soft. "If you died inside of Tartarus, then how could your spirit still be here now?"

"The answer to that is simple," replied Asgard, though he sighed. "It is an ability that many sleipnirs gloss over, widely regarded as a monstrous and evil technique."

"How fitting," quipped Valice, and the others stared at her in shock, as if surprised that she still retained her old sense of humor, even in her new form.

"It's a technique that is used to absorb a fallen foe, and add his strength to our own," said Asgard. "You see, it's easy to perform, but many think of it as barbaric, as it destroys the soul entirely of that which it absorbs, and it leaves not even enough for a creature to go into the afterlife. However, it requires one single, simply precaution." He raised up his left hoof. "The hoof dominance must be the same on both the absorber and the one who is being absorbed. If they are not the same, then the soul being taken is instead stored within the body, and is able to take command of it or exit it whenever necessary. As such, Hecatoncheir and I made this our conjoined form, and I, when he is in control, would simply move my soul elsewhere."

"What do you mean... elsewhere?" asked Twilight, cautiously.

Asgard smiled, but the tears were still evident. "Us sleipnirs, as we are known to spread fear, do it in a simple, unobtrusive manner: the dream channels."

Twilight gasped. "Nightmares...!" she breathed.

"That's correct," said Asgard. "We spread fear through dreams. What we create is nothing major or fatal, but nothing that can be simply ignored, either. A nightmare is nothing more than a sleipnir who has lost his form and who seeks to use your fear to create a new one. Nothing but harmless fear, and nothing less than that."

Checkmate lowered the Glacius. "So all of this," he said. "Sealing away Illia, cursing this place with Hecatoncheir, taking over Solace... It was all for your brother?"

"That's correct," said the lord of Solace. "Everything that's happened - all of this - all came down to this moment. I lost my foresight due to lacking my own body, and I lost my own elemental affinity, but I'm close, now, to its creation. And once it is done, I can have a form of my own, and my brother and I can finally leave this place, and find somewhere in which we can truly be at peace."

Valice actually felt her heart break at this. A pony who felt such love - even for one who devoured love, it was wretched - that he was willing to sacrifice everything just for the one creature who cared for him.

"Enough," said Asgard. "As I said, I cannot allow you to leave here, not knowing what you do. It would be a simple matter to just give you the Ignis and allow you to be off, but I cannot let our secret be revealed to anypony."

He threw the dagger up in the air, and caught it in his right hoof. "Please accept my apologies," Asgard said. "It is nothing personal, but this is something that I must do."

The sleipnir's eyes began to change, then, taking upon the hue of Hecatoncheir's own. "Ha!" he laughed, a foul sneer appearing on his muzzle. "I was waiting for this chance!" He threw the dagger into the air, and caught it. "I am Hecatoncheir of the light!"

Asgard's eyes reappeared. "And I am Asgard of the darkness!"

"And now," said the former, his eyes reasserting themselves. "I believe that it's time my beloved twin and I rip you lot apart - particularly you, Checkmate - LIMB-FROM-LIMB!"

Then, laughing insanely, Hecatoncheir rushed towards them, the dagger glistening in the light of the cavern.

A Wretched Inferno

Checkmate and the others reacted quickly, in a matter similar to what they'd done with the antlion. The main difference of their current situation, however, seemed to be that what they were facing now was far more animalistic than the predator had ever been, not even showing a single hint of the odd grace that he'd revealed to them out in the desert, and instead attacking with that mad, flailing charge that they'd thought was his style.

"Hyahahaha!" Hecatoncheir laughed as he struck out at them. "Are you brats really this weak?! Really, I was hoping for a challenge!"

Dusk countered another strike from the vile sleipnir, and slashed back towards the creature. In response, Hecatoncheir leapt into the air, jumping overtop the mercenary, and striking out at him from behind.

Checkmate jumped into the attack, blocking the strike, and sending Hecatoncheir backwards, as Dusk repositioned himself. "Weak?!" Shouted the earth pony. "I assure you, Hecatoncheir, that we're not weak by any means!" He rushed towards the sleipnir in question, striking out towards him. "We've fought through this damned desert" - He struck from on high - "We escaped from Deun the Whirlwind" - Checkmate countered an attack, slashing diagonally and surprising his enemy - "We challenged an antlion and tamed it" - This time, he dodged Hecatoncheir's attack, and stabbed the Glacius into one of his side-legs - "And we did it all over the course of a few days! So if you want to call us weak, then you should know just how powerful we truly are!"

Hecatoncheir let out a gasp as blood ran from the hoof stabbed by Checkmate, and he screamed as the transparent form he used became opaque. "Damn you!" He hollered. "Damn you, Checkmate Vigarde, and the lot of you! I'll tear you all to shreds for my brother!"

Checkmate held out the Glacius. "You're going to be the one who is ripped apart!" He declared.

Dusk rushed out towards Hecatoncheir, slashing with Constellation out towards the sleipnir. "He's right," said the mercenary, as their enemy dodged. "You can't best all of us. Perhaps if Checkmate or Twilight or any of them alone, but together? We overwhelm you by sheer numbers."

Hecatoncheir leapt back, so that he stood at the edge of the platform. "Well, then," he said, smirking even as the blood ran down his leg, "perhaps it's time that I even the odds, wouldn't you say?"

Immediately as these words left his mouth, eight long, spindly arms burst from the magma behind him. They swayed to-and-fro, and the molten rock that composed them dripped off their fingers like blood. "Well?" asked Hecatoncheir, "how is this? I think that this makes it quite a bit more fair, wouldn't you" - His eyes glimmered - "Checkmate?"

"You're good at making enemies, aren't you?" Valice asked, casually, although the twin daggers were in her hooves. "I mean, Wendigo, Deun... now even this guy you didn't know until just earlier. Maybe that's actually your special talent."

Checkmate grimaced. Even if Valice was actually a changeling, her sense of humor was still as dry as ever. Whether that was a blessing or a curse could be decided after they'd gained the Ignis.

"Of course he is," said Asgard, his eyes reaffirming themselves. "Checkmate Vigarde, you are an interesting creature, truly... A shame that my brother and I must slay you now. I had been hoping for a more peaceful way of settling this dispute, but after the injury that you imparted, I feared that such a thing would be but a dream."

"It seems that you were right," growled Twilight, her horn lighting up. "No matter how much you love your brother, we can't let you both get away with what you've done!"

Asgard sighed, and flipped the dagger over so that its blade was inverted. "I understand," he replied. "As much as I wish I could say his hooves were clean, I am afraid that would be but another fallacy. So come, all of you! Let us bring this to an end, now, in this place of light that I despise!"

His eyes became those of Hecatoncheir once more, who grit his teeth. "You'd dare threaten my brother?" he asked, enraged. "Well then, I think it's time that I up the ante a bit, wouldn't you? Oh, I know! First, I'll rip out your damned tongues so that you can't scream. Then, I'll take your eyes, one-by-one, and your ears shall follow. You'll have no sight, no sound, and nothing shall remain but agony as I burn you lot to death!"

The sleipnir lunged towards them, as yet another blade blocked the strike. "Come on, now," said Cora, the short-sword holding back the beast of light, "do you honestly expect us to just sit back and let you do that?!"

"Perhaps not," admitted Hecatoncheir, as he held the now inverted blade, "but I don't exactly need that, now do I? I'm armed after all!" He laughed at this, as the eight arms began to move, launching themselves at the platform, gripping onto it, and tearing off small stones that were embedded in the walls to throw at the group.

Checkmate was about to ask how arms made out of magma could hold rocks without causing them to melt. He decided to leave that line of questioning until after Hecatoncheir was dead, instead dodging one of the arms as it reached towards him.

Dusk grimaced. "Of course," he muttered. "Now that we're here, it seems that our luck is beginning to run dry..." He leapt to the side, and slashed upwards, severing one of the magma arms and causing it to fall back into where it came from, joining the molten rock. "However, perhaps we can make use of this..."

"How so?" Valice asked, blocking several pieces of a flaming rock with her daggers. "This isn't like out in the desert, Dusk; we're in an enclosed area, and we're surrounded by magma on all sides!" Her eyes glinted, as she raised the daggers just in time to block yet another throw from the remaining seven arms.

"That's right," said Dusk, and he rushed towards Hecatoncheir, who proceeded to block the strike. "However, what if we don't perform as we're expected to?" He dodged a strike from the sleipnir. "What if we take advantage of this area, rather than let it defeat us?"

Checkmate's eyes widened, and he severed yet another arm. "Of course," he said. "Sleipnirs aren't the only ones who can take advantage of this situation!"

"Really?" Rainbow asked, looking confined and pained that she couldn't fly as much as normal. "Who else can, then?"

"Simple," Dusk said, and his eyes flashed. "Twilight! I need a favor!"

"Bad time, Dusk!" replied Twilight, her born blasting magic into the stones and fire as they flew towards her.

Dusk leapt back, dodging yet another strike from Hecatoncheir, and countering once more. "No, it's the perfect time," he said. "I need you to use your magic to gather up as much magma as you can!"

Twilight, still dodging, began to do just that, her magic raising a large amount of molten rock from the pool below. "Okay," she said, "what do I do now?"

"Shoot it towards Hecatoncheir!" Dusk replied, his blade and the sleipnir's meeting once more, and sparks flew from the connection between the two metallic weapons.

"What -" The sleipnir didn't even have time to finish that thought, as molten rock began to slam into his now-corporeal form.

Hecatoncheir let out a scream as the magma connected with his flesh, and as it began to burn. While sleipnirs were mostly resistant to fire, magma - especially magma that had been sitting in the core of a volcano for centuries - had the same effect as if one were to throw boiling water onto a pony; literal burning pain.

The sleipnir clutched at his face and screamed, the arms in the magma falling back into where they'd originated from due to his lack of focus. Hecatoncheir fell to the ground, then, still clutching at the burns that had now appeared on his face and legs, and the dagger in his hooves had since fallen to the ground.

Everypony simply stared in awe at what Twilight had just done. In one move, she had reduced the sleipnir from a sadistic, murderous psychopath into a screaming, burnt mess. Cora visibly winced at the wretched creature that stood, screeching in agony.

"Impressive," Valice admitted. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

"You already have," said Twilight, bitterly.

"CHECKMAAAATE!" screamed Hecatoncheir, then, as he stood back up. His face was scarred very badly by the molten rock, and his hooves were so wretchedly burnt that he looked as if he were to collapse. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

The sleipnir stumbled towards them, then, and his eyes showed nothing but pure, unfiltered hatred. The dagger was returned to his hoof, and four new arms had burst from the stone around his newest target, who happened to be his original target.

The new arms each gripped one of Checkmate's legs, holding him down to the platform as Hecatoncheir slowly advanced. The other ponies stood, simply staring in shock, as this horrific display occurred before their eyes.

Hecatoncheir stood above the bound earth pony - his head positioned so that he had to look up at the monstrosity, as the dagger was held just above his stomach. "I think it's time I REPAID YOU for what YOU DID TO ME EARLIER, DON'T YOU?!" His screams of agony were so audible that Checkmate saw the others shudder in horror. "But how about we make this more FUN, EH, CHECKMATE?! I'm going to RIP YOU OPEN, and I'm going to SPLIT YOUR DAMNED HEAD SO THAT YOU CAN SEE IN TWO DIRECTIONS!"

The dagger was held above Checkmate's eyes, between them, in the same way that Wendigo often used his weapon before a pony's death.

Checkmate felt his heartbeat raising, the sweat on his brow beginning to emerge and spread all over his forehead, his legs and stomach begin to feel light, and his eyes became unfocused as the sweat dripped into them.

"Oh, are you afraid, Checkmate?" Hecatoncheir's voice had returned to its normal volume, but the pain was still evident. "Oh, how absolutely beautiful... This terror is unlike anything I've fed on before, and it's perfect in every way... Perhaps I should leave you alive just so I can feast, but I think I'll get the same result from your idiotic friends."

"Ch-Check...!" Rainbow gasped, but her hooves seemed glued in place. Even she, in all of her bravery, couldn't force herself to try and help him, but Checkmate didn't blame her.

"Time to DIE, Checkmate Vigarde!" Hecatoncheir held the blade up high, just above Checkmate's head, and thrust it downwards -

The next thing the earth pony felt, however, wasn't pain, but a warm, wet fluid that ran down his face, just below his left eye. Blood was on his face, and it was running down towards his neck...

But the blood wasn't his.

Instead, a figure was above him, and blood ran from where the dagger had plunged into its back, where the tip exited its chest, and down onto Checkmate's head from there.

"Wh-what?!" hissed Hecatoncheir. "How DARE you interfere?!"

"I-I suppose..." wheezed the figure, but Checkmate couldn't quite place the voice, "it was just a... spur-of-the-moment thing, really..." The figure coughed, and the earth pony felt blood from its mouth on his forehead.

Checkmate's eyes began to clear, slightly, and he could see the creature better. It was somewhat tall, dark-in-color, and had eyes that were shut tight against the agony that it likely felt.

The agony that he was supposed to feel...

Checkmate began to tremble, and he could feel tears mixing with the blood, and running further down his face, towards his chest.

The figure was now perfectly in his life of sight, and was now perfectly visible him. It was as tall as he'd thought, still dark, even in the light of the magma, and its eyes had since opened, and met Checkmate's own. In addition to this, however, something else caught his attention; something that was far too evident to not be mentioned.

Scars. Scars that ran across the figure's back, chest, and legs were in his line of sight, and, as he saw them, Checkmate knew all-too-well just who had done this to themselves for his sake.

"D-Dusk..."

Flame and Frost

The first reaction to seeing Dusk's blood drip onto the ground and Checkmate's body was simple: shock. None of the ponies watching could believe their eyes as the mysterious, stoical mercenary had thrown himself between Hecatoncheir's blade and its prey, taking the blow rather than its intended victim.

"D-dammit..." gasped Dusk, obviously in massive pain. "I-I probably should've thought that... through a b-bit... a bit more, shouldn't I?"

Hecatocheir let out a gasp of pain, then, as the dagger fell from his hoof. Dusk fell with it, crashing down on his stomach beside Checkmate, the blood-soaked weapon's hilt sticking up from his back, as blood began to pool beneath him.

"Dammit, you idiot!" shouted Valice, as the changeling ran over to the fallen unicorn. "What the hell were you trying to accomplish?!"

Dusk groaned. "I-I'm not sure," he admitted. "I guess... I just wanted to help Checkmate... but... I guess it's too late now... i-isn't it?"

"Too late?" hissed Hecatoncheir, and he let out a cry of agony. "Oh, it most certainly is TOO LATE! I swear to Fear, Chronos, and all those other damned gods, that I will tear you pathetic lot apart! Oh, but Dusk" - His voice became more cruel, and less enraged - "you're right-hooved, aren't you?"

Cora's face paled. "Wh... You wouldn't dare!" she shouted. "How could you even insinuate such a thing?!"

"Please," snarled the burnt sleipnir, "I... Argh! He's already dying, isn't he? Not absorbing him would be a... a WASTE!"

He reached a hoof over Dusk's body, just as Valice drew the twin daggers and pointed them at his throat. "Don't even try it," she hissed, "or, I promise you, I'll kill you."

"Oh, a worthless changeling is showing love towards others? How... cliché..." Hecatoncheir's eyes widened, then, and he gasped in pain. "D-dammit! DAMN YOU ALL...! Such worthless, useless creatures... I-I am immortal! I can't... be bested by such..."

Dusk's eyes glimmered. "Perhaps, it's time, then," he said, although his voice still shook, "that I show you... that I show you the true power of a pony such as I..."

He stood, then, slowly, as he worked his way to his hooves. His legs shook, and his face showed clear signs of agony, but still, Dusk stood.

"But... but how...?!" Hecatoncheir hissed, stepping back. "How could you possibly show such willpower...?! To even be able stand with such an injury is... IMPOSSIBLE!"

"What's the matter...?" rasped Dusk, as he slowly stepped forward, stumbling as he walked. "Are you... afraid, Hecatoncheir? Is a sleipnir showing fear...? How... cliché..."

"No, stay BACK!" screamed the burnt sleipnir.

"Stay back?" asked Dusk, and his voice seemed to quiver in rage. "You and your brother... you threatened an innocent with death... You tried to kill these children... And worst... of all... Hecatoncheir, you tried to kill my friends..."

Twilight's eyes widened. "F-friends..." she whispered.

"LEAVE ME BE!" screamed Hecatoncheir. "You... NO! STAY AWAY!"

Dusk still continued to step towards his enemy, stumbling and nearly falling several times, but continued, nonetheless. "This dagger," he gasped, running his hoof over the hilt, "it's yours, isn't it...? Well, then, do want to take it back...? Because I'll show you... I'll tell you just why I've know Illia for all these years... why I knew to come here to the Desert of Death after these ponies... and... why I have so many scars, but not on my face... Can you guess why, Hecatoncheir...?"

At last, he had the beast cornered, at the edge of the platform. "Here," he breathed, and his hoof closed around the hilt of the bloody dagger, "let me show you!"

The dagger was ripped from Dusk's back in an impressive show of blood and gore, as both burst from the wound, as if the dagger had been actling like a lid on the gash.

"Take a good look, Hecatoncheir!" Dusk shouted. "Look at the reason for everything!"

The group let out a collective gasp, then, as the wound began to change. A small, light-blue light ran along its length, and the gash began to sew itself up, as the blood stopped erupting from it.

All that remained was yet another scar that seemed to blend in with the rest.

Hecatoncheir's eyes widened, then, and he screamed once more. "You...!" he cried. "You're... an ALICORN?!"

"Former alicorn, actually," Dusk wheezed, "a prototype, so to speak, but everything's still here. I can't die, and wounds simply heal themselves up, I have immense power, and my magic is still powerful, even with a broken horn." He threw the dagger, then, into the magma, and watched as it disintegrated.

Checkmate stood up, as the hands around him had dissipated, and he stared at Dusk in shock. The others seemed to be following suit, as they drunk in everything he said with wide eyes and gaping mouths. The only one who didn't display those traits was Cora, who simply watched with a deadpan, cold look on her face.

"Twilight Sparkle," said Dusk, then, and the mare jumped in surprise, "do you recall what I said yesterday, as we went through the cavern towards the antlion's den? That lighting up was only one of constellation's most basic abilities? Well, I'm about to show you a more... intermediate one, and the reason that this blade is truly so special."

He held the massive sword outwards, then, and the group watched in silent awe as the sword known as "Constellation" began to alter. A layer of ice began to form over the blade, as the sword itself became a pale, whitish-blue, and the lines that ran over it changed to grey. Then, to their collective surprise - for the umpteenth time that day - Dusk himself started to change, his coat becoming pure white, and his mane a light-blue. The scars still remained, however, even through the alteration.

Hecatoncheir stepped back once more, so that his hooves were just barely touching the edge of the platform. "No... NO NO NO! D-don't... DON'T EVEN TRY TO...!"

"So you are afraid," said Dusk, nonchalantly. "How positively droll. I was originally just going to wait until we challenged Wendigo to make this reveal - after all, it feels somewhat off to have two of these in a row, wouldn't you say? - but I feel as if this is necessary. I'm not just going to kill you, Hecatoncheir; that would be far too light for a being such as yourself."

"No, you wouldn't dare!" hissed Hecatoncheir.

"I wouldn't?" Dusk asked, his voice cold. "You don't know me, then, do you? You don't understand who I am, what I am, and why I'm here now. I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to shatter your soul, and I'm going to send you to hell where you belong!"

Hecatoncheir gasped, then, and looked behind him. Fire behind, ice in front. Flame and frost, both undesirable outcomes. "I... I don't..."

The blade was plunged in, then, into Hecatoncheir's chest.

The beast let out a gasp, and whimpered. "I-I... I don't... want to... die... Brother..."

And then, before their eyes, Hecatoncheir slumped forward, dead, and Dusk pulled the blade from his body. The mercenary looked at the creature with disgust, before he shook his head, sadly.

"Too late," he said, quietly.

The others still stared, their eyes still wide with shock, before Twilight decided to speak. "Dusk..." she breathed, "that was incredible! Why didn't you ever tell us that you could do that?"

And then, before Dusk could speak, a new sound entered into the room: clapping. Slow, mocking clapping that seemed to echo around the area.

"Good show, Dusk," said the voice slowly, mockingly. "Honestly, you're quite good with a sword, although I shouldn't expect any less from you, should I?"

The group whirled around, then, to see a figure standing in the passageway that had once been blocked by fire. It was a windigo; tall, with a cruel smirk on its muzzle, and eyes that were like ice-flows.

"Wendigo," Dusk growled. "Why are you here?"

"You two know each other?" Rainbow asked, looking between the tyrant and the mercenary.

"Oh, but of course!" laughed Wendigo, as he stepped over to Hecatoncheir's corpse. "Asgard was such a fool, thinking that he could hide his brother behind himself and call it a 'disguise'. A shame that his consciousness was able to flee, though... Oh, well, it won't distract me from this, I'm sure."

The windigo gripped the hilt of the Ignis, and looked it over. "Such a strange weapon, wouldn't you say?" he asked. "A blade that can not only pierce the flesh of a windigo, but that can force them to become tangible, opaque... How intriguing, eh, Checkmate?" Wendigo threw the blade up into the air, then, and Checkmate caught it.

The stallion looked over the red blade that shone in his left hoof, and back up at Wendigo. "Yeah," he said, "it's strange, alright, but considering what we've just learned over the last hour, it seems absolutely normal."

Dusk shook his head, and glanced over at Wendigo with eyes of fire. "But that begs the question: why are you here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Wendigo said, and he laughed. "Please, why else would I be here, if not for this thing that lay before me now?" He gestured to Hecatoncheir's dead body, and ran his tongue over his muzzle. "Well, would any of you like to make a guess?"

Cora's face paled. "You're not -!"

Wendigo laughed once more. "Oh, you're quite intelligent, aren't you? What about you, Checkmate? Do you understand?"

"You bastard...!" hissed the stallion.

"I certainly try," replied the tyrant, as a cruel sneer fell over his face. "Indeed, what an idiot these two are... it would be such a waste to just leave this body here, unabsorbed, un... devoured."

Twilight's eyes widened in realization. "You sick monster! How could you even think of doing that to anypony?!"

"T-Twilight..." Applejack said, her face pale, "he doesn't really mean... devoured, d-does he...?"

"D-don't be ridiculous, Applejack," Rarity said, although she seemed nervous, "not even a ruffian such as him would do such a... a revolting thing, I'm certain!"

Wendigo laughed, again, and clapped his hooves together mockingly. "You honestly believe that I have standards?" he said, and showed off his teeth. Many of them were flat, but some had been noticeably filed into sharp, jagged structures. "Oh, come, now! A cruel, irredeemable bastard such as myself?"

"At least he admits it," growled Valice, readying her daggers.

"Why should I bother to hide it away?" asked the beast, as he stepped closer to their dead enemy. "It's true, isn't it? You lot despise me, you want to see me dead, and gone, and away from those worthless little creatures you call 'friends'..."

"You're disgusting," said Checkmate, not even bothering to hide the venom in his voice. "I don't know how Rolan could ever have come to trust you in the first place, you Chronos-damned, heartless bastard!"

"Seconded," said Dusk, drawing the ice-coated Constellation. "Do you really think that you can best us?"

Twilight stepped up between the two. "Yeah," she growled, "you can say whatever you want about yourself, but it doesn't change the fact that you're just a sick, murderous criminal!"

"Ha!" laughed Wendigo. "I guess there's no arguing with such shortsighted fools! None of you can possibly understand the will of a god such as I!"

"'A god'?" asked Rainbow. "You're no god! Celestia is a goddess and Luna is a goddess, but you? Even Dusk is more of a god than you'll ever be!"

Wendigo looked towards the mercenary in question. "Dusk, eh?" he asked, and he smirked. "Really, do you find my old foe to be as powerful as I? I am the strongest creature on the face of this damned planet, and in its heavens, and even beyond that! Some mere former alicorn cannot possibly be even a fraction of my true strength!"

"You're just inflating your own ego," Dusk growled.

"Perhaps," admitted Wendigo, "and that's where the Zephyr comes in. I'm already powerful as I am now, but with a weapon as great as that, I shall become the most perfect creature in this entire world - no, this entire universe, and then..." he stopped, and his eyes widened. "Never mind, that isn't important."

"What isn't?" Cora asked, cautiously.

"What I was about to say, of course," replied the tyrant. "It doesn't concern any of you, after all, so why should I say it? What is important, however, is the body at my hooves... You did quite a number on him, didn't you, Dusk?"

Wendigo reached down, then, and sliced one of Hecatoncheir's forelegs loose from his charred front. "Hm... I love it when my meat is already cooked. It makes it so much more worth the wait, wouldn't you agree, Checkmate?"

Checkmate's eyes widened. "You're not seriously going to...?!"

He didn't even have time to finish that thought, as Wendigo bit down into the charred flesh that lay in his hooves. "Perfect," he said, "you're quite a chef, Twilight Sparkle, wouldn't you say?" He laughed again, throwing his head back as his foul mirth filled the air around them, and blood began to dribble down his chin.

Checkmate began to shudder, then, as the words that were sewn into his mind began to resurface.

"There are no graves in Darkfrost..."

Twilight began to tremble, horrified. "You... you...!"

"What's wrong?" taunted the tyrant. "Is there a problem with eating the flesh of another species? Griffons do so, and nopony ever calls them out on it."

"They don't eat sentient ponies!" Rainbow hissed, although her eyes were wide, and her face looked green.

"Oh, but is there truly a difference between a rabbit and a sleipnir? Both are beneath me, after all."

"What disgusting arrogance...!" Rarity growled. "So this is the reality of Darkfrost! It is of little wonder that Checkmate wants a beast such as you dead!"

Wendigo laughed. "Oh, but can he do so? That is the question. I am immortal, powerful, and have the entirety of Deun's army serving me. Nothing can stop me."

"Famous last words," Valice growled. "I promise you that, when we're finished, Darkfrost shall be freed!"

"But can a changeling truly stop me? If your worthless queen can't stop me, can a lowly servant such as you do so? And of the rest of you, Dusk is the only one who even remotely worries me, and he's lost much of his powers since our last clash, so now, nothing can stop me, short of Chronos himself, or Pr-" He stopped, then, and cursed, silently. "No, nothing can stop this, so I'd advise you to either surrender now, or to die with the rest of your pathetic kind!"

And then, before any of them could say anything else, Wendigo vanished once more, not even attempting to fight them. With him left the body of Hecatoncheir, and the leg that he'd torn into with his fangs.

Dusk let out a gasp, then, and fell to the ground, the ice disappearing from Constellation, and his coat and mane changing to become normal, once more. "Ugh, I think I pushed that a bit too much..." he gasped.

"Dusk!" Twilight, Checkmate, and the rest of the group gathered around him. The former alicorn didn't move, his eyes shut, but they could still see the steady rising-and-falling of his chest.

"He's alive," Rarity said, stepping back. "It seems that he's lost consciousness due to using a large amount of his magical energy on that transformation. But still, to imagine that he held that much power within himself, and he never thought to tell us..." She shook her head.

"We'd better get him back to our chamber," said Checkmate. "Cora, can you tell the others about what happened with Asgard and Hecatoncheir?"

There's no need for that, said a new voice. They should be fine if I speak with them.

The Ignis began to change, then, as a new sleipnir appeared before them. She was about Khaza's height, and had a crimson mane and a copper-colored coat. She spoke in a voice that held the accent that all of the sleipnirs seemed to have, and was slightly higher pitched than Rarity was.

"My apologies for everything," she said, and shook her head. "I did not expect Asgard to go so far to protect his brother, but I am here, now, and I want to make things right."

"Thank you," said Cora, softly. "I'm sure that the others'll listen if you're the one to tell them, Illia."

"I certainly hope so," replied the spirit of the Ignis, and she sighed. "However, who's to say that they'll listen? Perhaps they will assume me to be an impostor..."

"I think they'll just be happy to know that Hecatoncheir's gone," said Twilight. "But I don't think that this is over just yet. Remember what Wendigo said? Something about Asgard getting loose...?"

Illia sighed, once more. "I wouldn't worry about Asgard. Without a body, he's quite harmless, and has not truly done much to warrant an arrest, in any case. The only crime that he's truly guilty of is sealing me away, and even then, it was all for his brother..."

Checkmate shook his head. "I'm amazed that such good intentions would lead to all of this," he said, quietly.

"The world isn't black and white, Checkmate," said Cora. "It's all grey, and sometimes even the villains only want to do the right thing, but wind up on the wrong side..."

"In either case," said Applejack, "Ah think that all of us should go an' rest up. We ain't got a clue jus' what tomorrow's got in store fer us, an' we'll prob'ly have to leave here soon if we wanna stop Wendigo..."

"She's right," Twilight said. "I think we're all a bit shaken up over today's events. Let's just go and get some sleep, and try to recover from all of this, okay?"

"Sounds good," admitted Spike. "This entire day's just been really stressful. Pinkie's kidnapping, Valice and Dusk revealing their true identities, and watching all of you dominate Hecatoncheir makes a dragon tired..." He yawned, then, and began to walk away. "Yeah, I'll see you guys tomorrow. I think I'm just gonna sleep..."

"Wait up, Spike!" Apple Bloom shouted, as the fillies ran after the baby dragon, determined to get to bed, as well (or, as Checkmate assumed, form some other pointlessly elaborate plan).

Checkmate shook his head. "I think we should hit the hay as well," he said. "I don't think tomorrow's going to be much easier, and we've still gotta head off towards Darkfrost, and stop Wendigo for good."

"Bed first," said Rainbow, and she yawned. "Let's just go to sleep, then we'll think about stopping Wendigo..."

"Right, let's do just that," said Twilight, and the group began to walk back towards the chamber, exhausted from the activities of the day.

Unanswered Questions

Everything had gone as smoothly as one could hope for. Cora and Illia had explained the situation as best as they could, and the sleipnirs seemed to welcome the freedom from Hecatoncheir and the revival of their previous queen with joy and gratitude. The group had been hailed as heroes in spite of their protests that Dusk was the one who'd stopped the beast, and Lynar had taken up the position of watch once more so that the sleipnirs could be sure that Wendigo wouldn't attack them once more.

Checkmate lay, now, in his bed, his eyes affixed to the uneven roof of their cavernous chamber. Beside him, the other ponies snored, content in their rest, with sole exceptions being Dusk - who had left earlier after awakening -, and Valice, who asked for a different chamber due to the looks that were passed to her by the others. Even Khaza had stopped speaking, the Glacius losing its light as the spirit who inhabited it fell into slumber, along with the others, leaving Checkmate as the sole creature who was awake in that room.

And yet, in spite of how tired he truly was, Checkmate could not fall asleep. His mind was too crowded with thoughts, with all that they'd learned that day, to possibly lose consciousness. Valice's reveal as a changeling, Dusk's reveal as a former alicorn, and everything that pertained to Asgard and Hecatoncheir seemed to be forcing him awake, and his mind was racing with all of that knowledge, and questions, as well.

Who was Dusk, really? How did he know to go into the desert? What did he mean by claiming he was a "former" alicorn? Did those truly exist? Was it possible to strip away what made a certain race of pony that certain race? Could a pegasus have their ability to fly cut away, a unicorn their magic, or an earth pony their strength and stamina?

The more Checkmate thought about that, the more his heart began to race. If one could take those abilities away from a pony... could they be given them, as well? He already knew that Twilight had gained the abilities of an alicorn via her mentor, Celestia, but such power could be used to cause as much evil as it could good. It was possible that, if it fell into the wrong hooves, destruction could echo throughout the world. And who was to say that it was strictly limited to the pony races? What if it included windigoes, sleipnirs, changelings, griffons, and all sorts of other magical beings?

What if Wendigo got his hooves on it?

That last question terrified Checkmate more than anything. The thought that his greatest foe - who also seemed to stand as Dusk's own nemesis - could gain such power was the most horrific thing that Checkmate could think of, even pushing the bastard's carnivorous tendencies - which wouldn't have mattered if it was simply a squirrel or other non-sentient creature, as that was completely normal for many windigoes - to the back of his mind.

However, he made sure to console himself on the matter. He didn't know for certain what kind of magic had taken away Dusk's status as an alicorn, or if magic was even involved at all, and couldn't simply assume that the spell could do anything to anypony. Such magic would have certainly been forbidden, or be so difficult to cast that only Chronos himself, or possibly even Hatred, would have been able to do so.

But still, the idea that a monster such as Wendigo could gain the power to take away the powers of a creature such as Celestia was truly chilling. If he had that power, the beast would be able to do whatever he wanted to Equestria, even if the princesses already feared his power, and even if Discord was frightened by his evilness. And then, another thought entered Checkmate's mind, one that seemed to terrify him more than even what he'd just thought.

Wendigo wouldn't need any kind of magic if the Zephyr was completed. If that abomination was built fully, the entire world would be set to crumble beneath his hooves, due to the sheer amount of souls that went into its construction, and the absolute terror that the monstrosity invoked just from being looked at.

Checkmate shuddered, then, and felt sweat on his brow. The sheer amount of variables that could go wrong was horrifically high, and, no matter what, they had to keep the bastard from completing the Zephyr. No matter how terrifying the prospect of magic that could alter a pony's very existence was, the thought that Wendigo would not even need that in order to achieve his goals was even more so.

On the other hoof, however, something else disturbed him about this idea. Had Wendigo requested Chronos give him immunity to all kinds of magic specifically for that one spell, so that his plans couldn't be derailed, or was there something else that worried him, magically? It could simply be that he wanted to not have to worry about Chronos's intervention, but, in that case, why did he have to kill both him and Hatred? If he was entirely immune to magic of all types - be it something as simple as telekinesis or pyrokinesis - why would he need to kill either of them, if that was their specialty?

Checkmate rolled over onto his side, and let out a sigh. Questions such as that wouldn't help him stop Wendigo, even if they would greatly assist the formulation of a strategy. Being as tired as he was certainly wouldn't make it any easier either, and he knew that all too well.

Instead, he let out a yawn, and, as his mind began to empty of these questions, Checkmate felt himself losing consciousness, and fell into an uneasy sleep.

Valice grimaced, her hooves deep in the sand of the desert. Sleeping was impossible for her with Twilight giving her such threatening looks, and the others with looks filled with terror and rage. As such, she'd chosen a different chamber to rest in, but found even that to be impossible.

Everything terrified her, now, but she wasn't one to show it. What would Chrysalis say if she knew just who she'd spoken with? Would she be accepting, her queen and friend reveling in the fact that Wendigo had been felled - or would be, rather -, or would she be angered, enraged, and would Valice be ostracized for joining the group that now despised her?

The changeling shook her head, her body having retaken the form that the others had grown comfortable with. The pegasus's form - so swift, so nimble, with a body that was completely aerodynamic - compared to her own - filled with holes, awkward, and slow in the air - was perfect, wonderful, and disgusted her to no end. Valice loved being a changeling, and loved the feeling that a pony's happiness gave her, but she despised the pathetic creatures, as well.

What made her hate them the most, however, was the horrible way that they'd treated her kind. They'd been devised by Love herself to create feelings of joy, and then to reap their benefits, but ponies only looked upon them with scorn, just as they did to windigoes. In that way, she'd found a strange jealousy towards the creatures, as they, at least, had the excuse of being led by a foul and heartless king who was trying to take the world for himself, and many of them didn't want to go along with his wishes.

But Chrysalis, however, was different in that regard. She only wanted what was best for her kind, even if that meant invading Equestria so that they could harvest love from the ponies, no matter the cost. Many times, Valice had tried to convince her that there were other options available - that they could speak to Celestia, or take on the forms of ponies and live peacefully -, but Chrysalis knew better than that.

"They'll never accept us, just because, to them, we're monsters. This is the only way that we can survive as a species, and the only way that our kind can live on. Besides, have you heard of what Celestia does to those she fears and despises? Her sister was banished to the moon over jealousy, and her brother... Well, nopony knows exactly what's happened to him."

Valice knew all of this to be true. She knew that Celestia had banished her sister, and that her brother had run off into death against Wendigo, but what disturbed her the most was exactly how true that statement was. Did she hate Celestia? No, she didn't, because she understood that the monarch only wanted to protect her ponies, and that was something that she, Chrysalis, and the rest of the changelings admitted that they respected about her.

But Chrysalis had taken up that position as well, and that had only led them into despair and suffering. If the ponies didn't fear them before, they certainly did, now, and changelings were deemed as one of the most monstrous races in Equestria's history.

And, unlike windigoes, everything that happened was true. They did attack Canterlot, brainwash the groom, kidnap the bride, and set a plan in motion that would make Chrysalis the queen of Equestria, with Valice watching in silent awe. However, nothing had gone as planned, and they'd been bested by that which they'd desired the most.

Valice let out a bitter laugh at that. How ironic it was that they'd longed to gain love, yet the love they'd gained had destroyed everything they wanted. Now their kind was stranded by the Mercury Spring, slowly dying from starvation, and being unable to find the love they desired in the world that was filled with hatred and fear.

And who gained the most from that world?

Wendigo.

He was the one to whom everything was being given, and the one who sewed the seeds of hatred in the hearts of ponies. If he were to die, then Darkfrost would be liberated, and the changelings could try things anew. If she helped to save the world, then maybe it would convince the ponies that changelings weren't completely evil, and that they could do the right thing when necessary.

And so, this new plan being formulated, Valice found the smallest smile forming on her muzzle. No matter what happened, she was going to see this thing through to the end, and she was going to stop Wendigo along with Checkmate and the others. Even if they tried to send her away, even if they distrusted her, Valice wasn't going to let them go through with this alone.

Because, in the end, she would do whatever to took to make her kind great once more.

Dusk, Illia, Cora, and Lynar stood in the chamber that had once belonged to Asgard.

"What are our options, then?" the mercenary mused. "I'm afraid we'll have to take you with us, Illia, although I'm not sure exactly what the sleipnirs will have to say to losing their leader once more..."

"Indeed," Illia replied, and she sighed. "That is looking to be our only option. Wendigo is unlikely to fall, even with your power, if Checkmate challenges him with only the Glacius's might. Khaza may be powerful, but she is only able to do so much against a beast as monstrous as he..."

Cora let out a sigh, too, and shook her head. "Then what do we do?" she asked. "It's not likely that the sleipnirs are going to want you to leave so soon, and I doubt that we'll be seeing you for awhile, if at all."

Lynar grimaced, and began to pace. "Well," he mused, "we could always appoint a new leader, but it's possible that they won't be very accepting towards him or her due to what Asgard brought upon us..."

"Indeed," Illia repeated, "that is why I asked the two of you to join us."

Cora and Lynar glanced over at her in surprise. "What do you mean?" the latter asked.

Illia smiled, slightly. "As of tonight, I have decided to appoint a new leader so that the sleipnirs may have a trustworthy creature be in charge of their operations. Cora, I have made my decision, and you are the one who is most capable for this position."

The captain's eyes widened in surprise. "M-me?!" she gasped. "But wait... why me?"

Dusk looked her over. "I think I understand," he said. "You were the one who was able to best cope with the situation once Asgard revealed his true intentions. You fought, regardless that he was your leader, because you wanted to protect those around you, right?"

"W-well, yes, but..." Cora looked very flustered, and didn't meet Dusk's eyes.

"That's exactly it, actually," admitted Illia. "Had it been another sleipnir, I doubt that they would have the same conviction that you showed, and that they would not have attempted to fight against Hecatoncheir."

"Then, may I ask," said Lynar, "why is it that you asked me to come here?"

Illia's eyes seemed to twinkle. "I needed a pony to act as a witness for this moment," she replied. "I needed a sleipnir who would be able to say, completely in earnest, that there was no foul play involved in this selection, and that Cora was chosen specifically for her abilities."

"Good," replied the gatekeeper, and he grinned. "For a second there, I was worried that you were going to give me some other responsibility. Although I guess that watching the gate in case we're attacked by Wendigo is already quite important."

Dusk allowed himself a small smirk. "Only somewhat," he mused.

Illia rolled her eyes, a surprisingly childish maneuver for one who was long since considered elegant. "Indeed," she said. "You already have much that you must do, and I don't desire to cause any more stress or anxiety among those as childish as yourself."

Lynar winced at this, but quickly replaced his grin. "You say that almost as if it's a bad thing."

"But to think," Cora said, in awe. "To think that I'm now in charge of Solace... Are you sure that you think I have what it takes?"

"Of course," replied Illia. "You're one of the most capable creatures who I've ever met, Cora."

"I second that," Lynar said. "After all, you didn't become the captain of Asgard's guard just by sitting around all day, so what makes you think that you can't run this place? You pretty much did before."

"Exactly," Dusk mused. "Considering how much detail you pay attention to, I'm positive that Solace will be far better under your rule than it was under Asgard's, especially considering that, with Hecatoncheir now dead, you no longer have to fear his cruelty."

"Ha! Well, since you all so much confidence in me," Cora started, "I guess I can give it a shot."

"That's the spirit!" said Lynar, and he grinned. "Now, how about a celebratory game of poker?"

Cora, Dusk, and Illia all grimaced. "Lynar," started the mercenary, "I've learned an important lesson in my lifetime: never bet with you, or else I'm going to lose everything. Illia, Cora, have fun. I'm going back to my room to rest up for tomorrow. I'll see the three of you then, before my group and I head out to stop Wendigo and what he's doing."

As the three protested his exit, Dusk waved them off, walking down the passageway and out of their line of hearing, before he chuckled to himself.

He walked down the hallway towards the chamber, then, muttering to himself as he did so. "Wendigo," he said, his hoof clutching the hilt of Constellation and his voice quivering in quiet rage, "let's see, shall we? Let's see, this time, after so long, just who the worthless one really is..."

The Master of the Game

Arc III - The Howling Gales

The chamber of the Glacius was small, cold, and dark. It was nearly identical to that of the Ignis, with the most major of differences lying in the material that surrounded the platform - water that had frozen over into ice, and that was level with the stone - and the stone itself, being a light-gray as opposed to darker, obsidian-colored rock that made up the chamber of the Ignis.

And, in the middle of the chamber, standing over the pedestal from which the Glacius had been drawn, stood a tall windigo. His back was straight, and his eyes were cold, piercing the area around him as his teeth ground together in silent anger.

"Dammit..." he hissed, quietly. "No matter how many times I eat another creature's flesh, the foul taste still remains..."

Wendigo spat, then, onto the ice that surrounded him, and grimaced in disgust of his own actions. "I trust that you gained some joy from it, didn't you?"

Perhaps. However, you should know by this point that I do not find joy in such mundane, pathetic tasks as yours.

The voice was flat, emotionless, and carried only an air of foul supremacy that made Wendigo's blood boil whenever it spoke down to him with such derision.

Wendigo scoffed. "I suppose you wouldn't," he muttered, "especially considering that you're the one who's pushed me to this point. To think, that after forcing me to take on the mask of Hecatoncheir's personality, you would have me devour him whole... I'm almost surprised that such a vile creature as yourself exists."

It does, much to your chagrin, I'm sure. The ponies of this insignificant universe call it "Wendigo", do they not?

Wendigo gripped Conviction's handle, his hoof clenching so tight around it that his flesh changed from white to dark-blue. "Indeed," he growled, although there was nothing but anger behind his words. "Such despicable acts, such a wretched, foul being..."

... And such a useless, meaningless universe, with its denizens all wide-eyed, naive idealists who believe themselves to be perfect. There is no perfection in any of these universes; only chaff, and that chaff must be torn from the wheat, lest this accursed imperfection shall fester until only it remains.

Wendigo's grip on Conviction only tightened, and his eyes shone with fury at the beast that spoke only to him. "You realize, don't you?" he asked, his voice quivering. "I could speak your name at any moment, and Primary would come running to bring you to an end."

I highly doubt that even Primary could bring my fate to a close. And, in any case, he would likely slay you, as well, just so that he could have some semblance of peace at my defeat.

The hoof's grip loosened on the blade, and Wendigo let out a sigh. "Perhaps that is for the best," he admitted. "I'd sooner be dead than have your damned voice echoing in my head for the rest of eternity."

But in the case of your passing, how would you ever achieve that vengeance that you so desire? Instead, that which you want the most shall be tossed aside, thrown into a void within the maw of eternity. Even if you are not slain, your power will diminish without my aid, and your desire will instead fester. Yet, for me, it makes little difference. If you are to fall, I can always take another fool into my grip, just as I've done before.

Wendigo's teeth began to grind together, and his grip on the hilt tightened once more, but he said nothing.

Because, you see, in this game of chess, there is but one victor. And that victor... is me.

"Are you done, yet?" snarled Wendigo. "Because this conversation is really starting to irritate me."

Just as it does every day, I'm certain. However, perhaps you should have better planned out Deun's ambush on Checkmate Vigarde and his band of insolent allies. Instead, the militia that they appear to have constructed of themselves are to begin their journey to arrive here soon.

"Perfect," replied Wendigo, and the look on anger on his face had been replaced with a smug smirk. "Oh, and I believe that I've planned everything out beautifully, for your first point. Why do you think I had Deun attack them at that exact spot?"

What? Why would you do such an idiotic, foolish maneuver as that?

Wendigo could hear the irritation and the anger behind the voice, and his smirk only grew. "Two reasons, actually," he said. "The first, to spite you, and to gain this reaction. The second, however..." He laughed, then. "You see, friend, I've a plan; a plan that has been almost a decade in the making, and one that is about to be completed."

A plan, you say? You have piqued my interest.

He grimaced, as the voice had returned to its monotonous, flat state. "Oh, come now," he said. "I claimed that a plan had been constructed, not that I had any intention of telling it to you."

Perhaps it would be best for us to reaffirm just who among the two of us is truly the most irritating. However, it matters not; everything shall go just as it was always meant to. The Zephyr shall soon reach its completion, and this useless universe shall perish into the darkness of eternity. You and I, Wendigo, shall destroy this entire world and everything beyond it, and then perfection shall be ever more close to being achieved.

Wendigo spat, once more, onto the frozen water, his saliva instantly freezing. "Perfection," he muttered, angrily. "This universe may as well be 'perfection'. It's far better than most other places around here, until you decided to screw around with it, of course..."

You appear to have grown attached to this insignificant, imperfect place.

"What can I say?" Wendigo asked, calmly. "I like this place, and the creatures who live in it. If it weren't for you worming your way into my skull all those years ago, I think that I'd be able to appreciate it far more than I do now..."

Perhaps that should have been what you thought about before you agreed to our deal. I've given you the power that I promised, and the means for your vengeance. Our vengeance, I should say, for we both desire the same creatures to fall into agony and destruction, to watch as their precious universes crumble into the dust.

"Well, then," Wendigo started, his voice becoming more relaxed, "how about I place a new deal?"

A new deal?

"If Checkmate Vigarde can put a stop to me - if he can kill 'Wendigo' -, then you are to let me be, and you are no longer to torment any creatures in this universe. In fact, to make you agree, I'll challenge him with all of the power that this form can muster."

Intriguing, yet you must realize that a creature as worthless as he could not even begin to injure this form of yours, with the power I have provided you.

"Yet what if he does? What would you do in that case?"

Silence reigned for but a few moments after Wendigo had finished speaking.

In the case that Checkmate Vigarde, useless as he may be, can kill the form known as 'Wendigo', I shall leave the creatures of this universe be, and I shall ensure that you shall never be blessed with my presence again. If he is able to end this creature's life at its highest amount of energy, then there is no doubt that this universe is one to save until the end of my conquest.

"Perfect," replied Wendigo, and his smirk returned. "That's just what I'm asking for. Besides, I know Checkmate enough to understand his power, and the strength of the two weapons should be enough to end this pitiful existence of mine."

I'm almost surprised that a creature such as yourself, ever eager to cling to his life, would run so blindly into death. Even though I understand just how impossible Checkmate's victory over you is, I must say that your confidence in him is rather... interesting.

"What can I say?" asked Wendigo. "I like Checkmate. I like every creature in this universe - even the ones burning in hellfire - a good deal more than you, anyway. This mask you've made me wear is really starting to grate against me, but I know that I can't exactly remove it do to your... interference. Besides, at this point, who would expect me, the foul and evil Wendigo, to turn out to actually be even remotely benevolent? No, death is the only way that I can be released from this Hell that this form has left me with. Even if that solution is artificial, it would be better than living a lie as a monster." He ran a hoof down his side. "To think that the Catalyst is real would be something that none of them would even give a second thought to, because, no matter what, the body that committed these atrocities, the one who was always in control of this form -" Wendigo shook his head "- was me."

How utterly droll. Perhaps you should take a lesson in acting, because your less vile side seems to always show through. Your little show at the Winter Gala, nearly revealing my identity to Rolan, and this last escapade of yours... How long until you proclaim that a calavern is the one behind these acts? You already nearly revealed yourself to Dusk because of your last slip-up, and you almost stated Primary's name for the creatures back in Solace. What would you have claimed, once he learned the truth of the matter? You've proven that not only are you an idealist, but also an idiotic, insolent child who deserves the punishment that has been due for years for his crimes.

Wendigo raised up his hoof, then, and slammed it into the ice before him. The sound echoed throughout the chamber; the sound of ice being smashed into stone, and what several ponies had undoubtedly heard throughout his talking with the beast in his mind.

"Fuck you," he hissed, his voice cold, angry, and his hoof now bleeding into the water from where the broken shards of ice had cut into it. "I hope that Primary learns the truth of the matter, that Secondary, that Zectao, that Diasnier, that Verin, and that every other damned calavern learns just what you're doing!"

Do you really think that they can, though? Even if they learn the truth of the matter, do you truly assume that they'll listen to a word that comes from your lips? To them, you are the enemy of all that they stand for, and nothing can change that fact. Yet soon, there will be no need to, and another universe shall crumble into the depths of eternity, just like every other one that I've had the pleasure of annihilating. Because I am the true lord of this game of chess, the master of the game, and the one who commands all. The reckoning of every creature shall come, and a perfect universe shall arise in their place. All that must be done is the destruction of those last remaining calaverns.

"You make it sound so simple," growled Wendigo through grit teeth, clutching at his injured hoof. "All that I have to do is deny everything that you tell me to do, and this game of yours comes to an end."

But you won't, as I've said, because you and I both desire the same thing, in the end. Both of us desire to see Primary's carcass, lifeless, and useless, as he drifts amongst the sea of eternity. His dreams shall have been shattered, just as every one those creatures shattered mine.

The last word of that statement contained nothing more than pure, concealed rage that showed even through the monotonous speech. Even as he wanted to watch it squirm for all that it had done to him, Wendigo said nothing, instead attempting to ignore the voice once more.

Perhaps we shall see, then, Wendigo. We shall see the true power of Checkmate Vigarde, and, perhaps, we shall witness the power of a creature who can rival even my might. I must say that it truly is rather interesting. He and the other, the mercenary, seem to be the greatest threats. Indeed, this is an interesting situation, and I am quite curious to see how this plays out. Perhaps it will be as exciting as when I found you twenty-five-hundred years ago, or, perhaps...

... You shall simply meet your end at the hooves of these creatures that you have done nothing but slaughter.

Fond Farewells

It was nearly impossible for Checkmate to describe the flurry of emotions that seemed to run throughout the chamber now occupied by he and the group. On one hoof, they seemed rather nervous at the prospect of meeting Wendigo once more – as they should have, of course – yet, on the other hoof, those who were not showing nervousness seemed almost excited at the prospect of going on another trek.

If only he could share their enthusiasm.

Instead, Checkmate’s eyes felt heavy, and his hooves felt weak. The night prior had not treated him well, and sleep had all but eluded him, leaving him restless and exhausted. His mind, still racing with several of the previous night’s questions, felt sluggish compared to his body, even as the others seemed rather well rested.

Then again, none of them had been forced to grow up in Darkfrost, and many seemed excited just for the opportunity to see it with their own eyes, while the others – including Rainbow – were hesitant at this chance. Among that group stood Twilight, of course, and Valice, who avoided the glares that the former shot at her, even as she had taken upon herself the form she’d once used. Although Checkmate didn’t blame Twilight for her rage at the changeling, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for Valice, who looked painfully uncomfortable with the others regarding her cautiously.

However, that may have simply been because he knew that feeling all too well. It was the feeling of being ostracized because of your differences from those around you, and being despised because of them. Although the reasons he was despised didn’t include “attempted to take over Equestria”, so he wasn’t entirely sure if he trusted Valice, either.

And, compounding that fact, it made sense that the ponies would be so quick to trust the windigoes. After all, none of them had done anything recently that could be proven.

Checkmate shook his head, clearing himself of that train of thought, and instead focused on what Illia was telling them.

“As I have told all of you,” continued the sleipnir, ingoring the looks that passed between the ponies, “this second journey should, theoretically, be far more simple than the first. For, you see, us sleipnirs can assist you in exiting the desert rather quickly, and, from there, you can make your way to Darkfrost in a matter of days. The trouble will arise when you – or should I say we? – get there; Wendigo shall likely be waiting for our arrival, and Deun shall, as well.” She grimaced, and began to rub her left temple. “While Deun should be possible to defeat with all of us – difficult, but still possible –, Wendigo should prove to be far more challenging. Even with the combined powers of the Ignis, the Glacius, and Constellation, this battle will likely be one of the most difficult, painful, and bloody encounters you will have to face, possibly more so than yesterday’s skirmish with Hecatoncheir.”

“Isn’t that just typical?” Valice muttered, and cast a quick glance over at Dusk. “You’d think that having an immortal being on our side would make things at least a bit easier, wouldn’t you? But no, I guess our luck’s just about run out…”

Twilight didn’t respond, but she didn’t need to; Checkmate could see the pure, unfiltered anger that was shooting through her eyes and straight towards the changeling.

“… She does have a point,” admitted Rainbow, although it sounded very rueful, and at least somewhat forced. “Wouldn’t it make more sense to just send Dusk in and have him take care of Wendigo for us? I mean, he’s immortal, so he wouldn’t have to worry about being killed, so…”

Dusk sighed, and smiled sadly. “It’s nice to know that you all have so much confidence in me,” he said, sincerely, “but I’m afraid that would do us little good. Even if I challenge Wendigo alone, it’ll just end in a stalemate. The Glacius and the Ignis are our trump cards, so to speak, since they are what should give us our great advantage over that bastard. I could challenge him for days, but I’d just delay him. The process should only take about fifteen-to-twenty minutes with Checkmate and I fighting Wendigo, especially if the two of us can formulate an attack strategy that makes the most of both of our talents…”

Twilight nodded, but didn’t take her eyes off of Valice. “Yeah,” she said. “I’m probably not going to be much help in this fight, considering that my specialty is magic, but I’ll gladly help create a strategy if I can.” Her eyes narrowed, then, and Valice turned her head the other way.

The changeling licked her muzzle, her lips seeming very dry. “Well, I’m glad to know that there’s so much friendliness here,” she stated, her tone as dry as the sand in the desert. “I mean, for a second there I was worried that you guys were going to hate me for being a changeling or something. I’d better make a mental note about the accepting, caring creatures that live in Equestria.”

Checkmate rolled his eyes, wanting to get out of there as soon as he could. “Can you two do me a favor,” he started, “and not kill each other on this journey?”

“You can’t expect me to trust… that,” said Twilight, indignantly. “It’s a changeling, Checkmate! It attacked our capitol, brainwashed my brother” – Valice visibly winced at this – “foalnapped Cadance, and tried to take over everything my friends and I care about! I’d sooner work with Discord. At least he and Fluttershy are close enough that I can trust him not to try and destroy everything that I want to keep safe…”

“For the record,” replied Valice, “I’m female. Also, I can think of worse allies on this journey.”

“Indeed,” agreed Dusk. “The name ‘Wendigo’ comes to mind…”

“And Hecatoncheir, and Asgard,” added Rainbow. “I mean, Twilight, don’t get me wrong: I don’t completely trust Valice either, but she told us all what she was just to save Pinkie. Don’t you think that she at least deserves some credit for that?” The cyan pegasus let out a sigh. “I mean, I’m pretty sure that she could have just played along in her disguise for this whole journey, but she decided to go and ruin it for herself to help us out.”

“Well, to be fair,” Dusk admitted, “I’d probably have told all of you that once we’d stopped Wendigo as well, and once I’d gained enough evidence to prove it.”

“You’re not free from this, either!” Twilight snapped. “You could have easily told us that you were a former alicorn, but you just… didn’t.”

“Let’s be logical here, shall we?” Dusk smirked, but glanced away from Twilight. “Never throughout this entire journey did I lie to you. I am, currently, a unicorn mercenary who has a personal grudge against Wendigo, wields a legendary weapon, and has a broken horn.” He laughed, then, bitterly. “Never did I say that I wasn’t a former alicorn, or that I’d always been a mercenary or a unicorn. Everything that I claimed was a fact. Valice, on the other hoof…”

The changeling in question grimaced. “Can we go five minutes without talking about that?” she asked, and sighed. “It seems like the only topic any of you ever care about. ‘Oh, Valice is a changeling!’, ‘I bet she’s totally different than how she was before we knew her!’, ‘Please don’t eat me, death beast!’.” Valice rolled her eyes, stood on her back hooves, and crossed her forelegs. “Chronos, can’t you guys ever just shut up about something like that? It’s literally all that we’ve talked about, and Illia is just waiting there for us to get the hell out of this place, so that we can… oh, I don’t know… do what we were going to from the beginning?”

The group simply stared at her in awe, and Checkmate found himself rather surprised – and impressed – at this display of hers. She’d shown her annoyance towards Twilight, Dusk, and the rest of them, and she’d done it all in one swift, snarky motion.

Checkmate coughed, loudly, and the group turned towards him. “Yeah,” he said. “Shouldn’t we just go to Darkfrost already? The more time we waste here, the more time Wendigo will have to murder another innocent, and the closer to completion the Zephyr will be.”

Twilight grimaced, and didn’t answer for a few seconds. “… Fine,” she muttered, finally. Again, like with Rainbow’s first statement, it sounded forced.

However, it was good enough for Checkmate, who simply nodded. “Illia,” he said, “will you be able to help us with this? You said you could take us out of the desert faster, right?”

The sleipnir nodded. “That’s correct,” she said. “It should take us no more than ten minutes to leave here, provided that this is done properly. From there, it should take us no more than two days of travel – including today, of course – for us to reach Darkfrost. At that point, it should take us roughly… I’d estimate five hours… to stop Wendigo, in the case that we meet with Deun before we see him. However, before then, it would probably be an excellent idea to regain what energy could be lost on the trek, so I would add another two hours to that.”

“So, basically,” started Applejack, “we’re gonna be finishin’ up this journey a week before the princesses put down the barrier o’er Equestria?”

“Shortcuts,” mused Checkmate. “It’s amazing how much time they save.”

Valice grimaced, once more, evidently wanting to have been the one who said that.

“Agreed,” Dusk said. “The journey to Solace was meant to take four days, originally, but that underground pass enabled us to skip half of that… It’s great that we did, too; anything could have happened in that time, after all. However, that moment felt almost… planned, wouldn’t you all say? After all, Deun attacked us at that exact location, and did not pursue even after we fell…”

“Maybe he was worried about his soldiers,” offered Pinkie. “I mean, he wasn’t really mean to them like Wendigo is, so it makes perfect sense that he wouldn’t just wanna make ‘em all squeeze into that pass to catch us.”

“And disobey Wendigo’s orders, risking their lives even further?” replied Dusk. “No, Deun’s not like that; he’s too brilliant, too… caring. He’s the kind of stallion who would chase us into Hell’s maw just to keep Wendigo from hurting one of his troops… Which means, logically, that the reason he didn’t pursue us any further than that –“

“… Was because of Wendigo, right?” finished Checkmate, and he placed his hoof on his chin. “But what would he have to gain from letting us reach Solace? There’s nothing I can think of.”

“Likewise,” admitted Dusk, and he grimaced. “There should be no reason for that, which tells us that one of two scenarios occurred: either Wendigo told Deun to attack us in that specific area, knowing that the sand would fall, or Deun’s orders were so wretched that he’d rather have taken the punishment then attacked us.”

Valice grimaced, as well. “Based on what you’ve told us,” she said, once again ignoring the looks she got, “Deun wouldn’t ignore Wendigo’s orders for any reason, no matter how terrible they are. So, in that case, the first of the two seems to be the more likely, no matter how unlikely it seems to be.”

The silence that now held the chamber was almost tangible. Could it have been true? Did Wendigo honestly allow them to reach Solace, knowing entirely what lay inside the volcano, and what they were seeking? If so, then what was he after, and how important was it to him that he would risk his own life in the process?

None of it made sense, no matter how much Checkmate thought it over. Wendigo simply wasn’t the kind of windigo who would readily gamble with his life on the line. He was too cautious, too careful, to risk everything on something that he couldn’t control the outcome of, especially putting an enemy into a position of power.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” Rarity murmured. “Regardless of his reasons, the case remains that that ruffian decided to place one of the greatest weapons available into Checkmate’s hooves, and placed him – considering that we aren’t truly in this equation, after all – into such a powerful position against himself. Unless, of course, we are incorrect in this assumption.”

“That’s an excellent point,” Twilight said, and placed her hoof on her chin. “It could all be just a coincidence, but it doesn’t seem likely. Too many events lined up perfectly, with our shortcut, escape from Deun, taming the antlion… It doesn’t make sense that Wendigo would just… well, leave us like that, but the chances of it all just being chance are slim-to-none, at best.”

Valice nodded, but quickly caught her mistake. “I’m not sure about that,” she replied. “It’s always possible that we’re just stupidly, ridiculously lucky. We can’t assume that Wendigo was actually moving us along until we have all the facts, otherwise we’ll just look like idiots.” She sighed, and met Twilight’s hate-filled eyes. “Well, Twilight, it seems you have something you want to add.”

The alicorn spoke through grit teeth. “Yeah,” she muttered, “you’re right. Until we know everything, we shouldn’t make assumptions. I’m just saying that it seems likely, is all.”

“See?” Dusk asked, surprisingly cheerful. “Building off of each other’s opinion in order to make your logic sound; you two seem to have this ‘teamwork’ thing down, even though you seem to hate each other. Perhaps you trust each other more than you claim to.”

“Wh... trust her?!” Twilight shouted, her voice dripping with venom. “Dusk, she’s a changeling, the one race that absolutely cannot be trusted!”

“You make us all sound evil,” muttered Valice. “I guess Chrysalis was right, though: your kind doesn’t trust us, so we had to try and take over Equestria because, otherwise, none of you would have opened up your ears that seemed to be so clogged up with your precious ‘only cute, fluffy things can be good’ policy. I’m surprised that you haven’t led a war against the griffons, yet; I hear they do things that scare ponies, like walk into them when they aren’t looking.”

“It’s not that!” Twilight shouted, her eyes burning. “It’s…! You know what? Never mind. You’re obviously not going to listen to anything I say anyway, changeling.”

“Likewise,” muttered Valice. “Now, can we stop getting sidetracked, and can you teleport us out of here or whatever it is you plan on doing? The sooner I can get away from this insane mare, the better.”

Illia looked between the two – the lavender alicorn who seemed to be burning with rage, and the changeling who looked completely annoyed – and let out a sigh. Checkmate couldn’t blame her for feeling exasperated, and agreed with Valice completely: the sooner they finished their quest, the sooner she and Twilight could be wrenched away from each others’ throats. After all, there was only one creature that Checkmate wanted to see dead, and it most certainly wasn’t either of the two ponies who refused to meet the other’s eyes.

“Right.” Illia let out another sigh, and suddenly looked very tired. “If you will all follow me, I will try and get all of you out of Solace before your anger causes the volcano to explode. Again.” She grimaced, causing Checkmate to realize just how often everypony seemed to do that. “Very well, come with me, but be warned; once you leave Solace, you’ll need to brave the entire desert once more if you want to come back. Do you all have everything you need for this journey, or do you wish to spend a bit more time preparing yourselves? Either way, it shouldn’t take too long, I hope.”

The group exchanged a glance, and everypony quickly checked their bags, before they all nodded. Everything was in place, and they had everything that they needed for the journey ahead.

“Excellent,” said Illia. “Well, then, we’d best be off. Once more, follow me.”

The group did as she requested, the thirteen creatures walking behind her in a straight line – Dusk in the front, Valice in the back – as they made their way towards the room that Illia had prepared for them.

At last, after several minutes of walking over the rocky bridges that rested overtop the unmoving “rivers” of magma, Illia stopped in front of a passageway. “We’ve arrived,” she stated, and stepped in.

The group followed suit, and found themselves in an area of Solace that they had yet to see. The chamber was set up similarly to that of the Ignis, with a large, circular platform hanging atop magma. The difference, however, lay in the room’s size – being far larger than the chamber that Hecatoncheir had been battled in – as well as the light that shone in from above: sunlight.

“This is the volcano’s crater,” said Illia, as though it was the most normal prospect in the entire world. “It is here that we’ll be departing the desert from.”

“Wait… how does that work?” Rainbow asked, cautiously.

Illia smiled, mischievously. “Allow me to say this, if you will: hold on to your bags.”

She then raised her front-most hooves into the air, as if preparing to strike at the ground, only to lower them as a new voice echoed throughout the chamber.

“Stop!” called a familiar voice, as two sleipnirs ran into the chamber. “Did you honestly expect to leave here without saying ‘goodbye’?”

Dusk looked over at the new arrivals, and smiled. “Lynar, Cora,” he said, warmly. “What impeccable timing.”

“I’ll say,” mused the gatekeeper, stepping up towards them. “Honestly though, Dusk, you were all just going to run off from here without saying anything?”

“Really, Dusk,” Cora said, and she sighed, “you ought to have at least told us you’d be leaving via… well, this, and not bothering to tell us.”

“Why are you two here?” Illia asked, looking surprised. “I thought you already said your farewells.”

“Yeah,” Lynar mused, “to you, Illia, but not to any of them. What, did you all think you could just sneak out of here unnoticed? The thirteen heroes of Solace, who slew Hecatoncheir, unveiled the truth about Asgard, and freed Illia? I’m insulted.” He chuckled at this, and shook his head. “Besides, I need to give you something before you go.” Lynar pulled out a small bag, then, and tossed it at the ground.

Dusk reached down and picked it up. “What is it?” he asked, although he didn’t look inside.

“It’s for the kid, Sweetie Belle,” mused the gatekeeper. “It’s her winnings from yesterday’s game. I forgot about it at the time, but it’s here, now.”

“But… we didn’t bet anything,” Scootaloo said.

“What’s that?” Lynar asked, airily. “Huh, I don’t recall that part. I just remember lots of betting, lots of games, lots of cards… I mean, how can I possibly keep track of it all?” He chuckled, again. “Well, just think of it as a gift, then, for putting up with me and Cora yesterday, and for not passing out when Hecatoncheir attacked. Just a little something for you to spend once you get to Darkfrost, get some food, and prepare yourself to fight Wendigo.”

Realization crossed Checkmate’s face. “These aren’t winnings,” he said, slowly. “They’re funds.”

“Well, they’re both forms of money, and I wasn’t really lying,” Lynar said, and he grinned. “Everything in that bag is what I won from Cora yesterday. Would you believe that she’s terrible at poker, Dusk? Frightfully unlucky.”

Cora grimaced, punched him on his right foreleg, and looked away. “That’s enough out of you,” she muttered. “Let’s just have our sad, teary goodbyes so you guys can get on with your journey, alright?”

“Why, Cora,” Illia said, teasingly, “are those tears in your eyes?”

The new queen of Solace flushed, and turned away so that only about a quarter of her face was showing. “D-don’t be ridiculous!” she snapped. “I’m not crying!”

Illia giggled, surprisingly inelegant for one so formal. “I never said you were,” she replied. “Although, I suppose I can understand your plight; after all, Dusk is such a close friend of yours, but I can’t really see your relationship going any further than that, can you?”

Cora’s blush only intensified, and Dusk cocked his head. “Cora, do you honestly think of me in that way? Because, considering the age gap between us, and the fact that sleipnirs and ponies are fundamentally… well, completely different, that could be somewhat awkward…”

“Sh-shut it, won’t you?!” Cora snapped, again. “I-I’m not involved in a romantic relationship with anypony, nor do I plan to be!”

“Well, Cora,” Valice said with a wicked grin, “I can feel quite a bit of love going in the direction of Dusk… Are you sure you don’t have a one-sided relationship with him?”

Checkmate chuckled. “Looks like we’re seeing a whole other side of you,” he said, grinning as well. “I didn’t expect you to be so romantic, though.”

“That’s Cora for you,” Lynar said, smirking. “Always the romantic, always the chatterbox. I’m almost amazed that you didn’t see this yesterday when Hecatoncheir stabbed Dusk through. A part of me wishes I was there to see Dusk kick the bastard's flank, but I know I’d likely have reacted the same way she did.”

“Can you all just shut up?!”

Everypony was laughing, then. Even Twilight and Valice had seemed to forget their animosity – if for only a second – as they laughed at Cora’s predicament.

“Ha… I’m surprised,” Dusk said, chuckling. “I honestly never thought you to be such a romantic, and I’ve known you as long as I’ve known Lynar.”

“I think she’s been trying to hide it around you,” replied the gatekeeper, his smirk still remaining. “I mean, how embarrassing would it have been for the all-powerful soldier to have a crush on you of all ponies?”

Dusk grimaced, for what must have been the twentieth time any of them had done so that day. “What’s wrong with me?” he asked.

“Oh, nothing,” Lynar replied, and he chuckled once more. “Although, I need to say… Dusk, Checkmate, all of you… it’s been a real pleasure, and I hope that you all return once you’ve bested Wendigo. So go in there, and give him a few stabs for me!”

Cora turned back towards them, her face becoming a mask. “And… and me, too.”

Checkmate nodded. “Don’t worry,” he replied. “I plan to give him enough stabs for all of Solace, Darkfrost, and Equestria.”

“I’m not entirely sure that’s possible,” mused Lynar, “but okay. Just take him down, and make him pay for what he’s done. Actually, you know what? Forget what I just said. Once Wendigo’s dead and we patch up our relationship with the windigoes, how about we visit all of you? I’m sure Celestia would like to meet a sleipnir for herself, and that Luna would enjoy learning just where nightmares really come from. Not to mention the prospect of getting to gamble in somewhere that isn't Solace, and against some ponies who aren't Cora..." He paused, then, and tapped his chin, thoughtfully. "Huh, I wonder if Celestia plays poker...”

“Sounds like a plan,” said Dusk. “Alright, then. The next time we all meet, I hope that it shall be either in the newly-freed Darkfrost, or somewhere nearby. There’s only so much one can do in Equestria, after all.”

Rather then question just why he said this, Lynar simply nodded. “Okay, then,” he mused. “I guess we’ll see you then.”

“And,” Cora added, “I’ll make sure to give you some assistance with your studying of affinities, Twilight, just like I said I would. Until then, all of you, I hope you have a safe flight!”

“Farewell!” Checkmate said, only to pause. “Wait, what exactly do you mean by ‘safe flight’?”

“Hold on to your bags!” Illia shouted, and it was the same call that she’d said before, as Cora and Lynar fled the room quickly.

Then, before Checkmate knew what was happening, the ground below them suddenly jerked upwards, and a strange, red, almost smoky air began to engulf his body. Then, he, along with the rest of the group, began to fly out at an immense speed in the direction where Darkfrost – and the Hellgate Mines in particular – lay.

A Curse Called A Blessing

To some, the prospect of adventure, of traveling the world, would come as an excitement, a chance to flex one’s metaphorical wings – in the case that they weren’t a pegasus, of course – and show exactly what they could create or destroy.

To Checkmate, however, the prospect of adventure crafted only pain, as he felt now that they had landed from their flight away from Solace. Although the area around them was lush and green – further evidence that they were in neither the desert nor Darkfrost – his legs still ached from the speed at which they’d descended. Or, as he thought of it, crashed.

“Chronos…” Dusk muttered, rubbing his left foreleg with his right, “you should’ve been a bit more careful in that, Illia. It’s a miracle none of us broke anything…”

“Maybe it’s our incredible luck.” Valice was rapidly shifting between the forms of the pegasus and the changeling, obviously showing that she’d lost control of her own abilities due to the crash. “Dammit, though… Ugh, who’d’ve thought that getting launched out a volcano in the middle of the Desert of Death would get us so close to Darkfrost?” At last, she seemed to regain control, as the form of the pegasus remained, and she rubbed the back of her head with her hoof. “There, much better…”

Twilight rolled her eyes, but remained silent. Most of them had recovered from the crash with only small bruises, and none of them had lost any of their items, but they still appeared shaken. Twilight had been one of these, and most of the others still were asking their friends for confirmation of their safety.

“I apologize, again,” Illia said, sheepishly. “I… wasn’t expecting it to be that difficult to control. I suppose that twenty-five-hundred years of being sealed away within a sword can make one’s skills somewhat… rusty, so to speak.”

“Well, it worked,” Checkmate said. Even if the wounds weren’t large, some of his scars had caused him pain after landing. “I can’t exactly say that it worked well, but –”

Dusk stepped up in front of Illia, then, cutting Checkmate off. “It did what it was intended to do, and that was to get us closer to Darkfrost. While it may have caused us some minor injuries, in the end it will save many innocent creatures, and slow down the production of the Zephyr.” He glanced back at the ones who were complaining of their bruises. “Wouldn’t you all say that that is the most important matter at this moment, or are you all going to continue to whine?”

“Well, I didn’t realize just how snarky you were, Dusk,” Valice said, smirking, and with her injuries forgotten. “I’m beginning to think that you could rival myself.”

Dusk shook his head, and sighed. “Never mind,” he murmured, and he turned towards Illia. “I’m afraid we are going to have to keep you in the form of the Ignis for a while longer. Do you have any objections?”

Illia let out a sigh of her own. “No,” she said, her voice surprisingly calm, “I understand that this is necessary to the world’s protection, so I’ve no complaints to this matter. Besides” – her eyes twinkled – “It’ll give me a chance to speak with Khaza once more. I haven’t had a decent conversation with anypony besides Asgard and Hecatoncheir in two millennia.”

“And yet you act as if you’ve been away for a day…” Valice muttered. “Seriously, I know that you’re not so old that twenty-five-hundred years is just a day to you. It’s a significant portion of your life, and you spent it as a freaking sword. Doesn’t that faze you at all?”

Illia shook her head in reply, before turning away. “No,” she said, once more. “Actually… no, that’s not entirely true. The reality of the situation is not as simple as you all seem to think. I was unable to speak to anypony save Asgard and Hecatoncheir whilst I was imprisoned, but that didn’t mean I was trapped; so long as I was cautious, my spirit could be freed from the blade, and could travel into another pony’s dreams. While it didn’t allow me to speak to them, or to any sleipnirs who commanded their nightmares, it prevented me from losing my sanity. Again, I was unable to make any contact with them, yet it was the best I could hope for.”

Dusk nodded. “It’s the same principle as when Luna was trapped on the moon,” he replied. “While her body was stuck there, her mind was free to travel the Dream Channels, and, as such, she was able to keep her sanity by speaking with the ponies whose dreams she inhabited.”

“Exactly,” said Illia, smiling. “Certainly, it was not nearly as refined or useful, but it served the same purpose, nonetheless.” She sighed, and turned back towards them. “However, I can honestly say that Asgard and Hecatoncheir, the more I knew them, the more I came to pity them, even while I still claimed derision of their very existences. The two only ever thought of each other, yet to go to such lengths for one you care so much for is both impressive and terrifying. But, of course, we should not stand around here and chatter idly, whilst Wendigo still remains on the loose. Let’s end his reign of tyranny first. After that, we can speak of this matter further.”

Rainbow flew up into the air at this, spreading her wings. “Yeah!” she shouted. “With the Ignis and the Glacius, we can easily take this guy down!”

“She’s right,” said Twilight. “No matter what the circumstances are, we have to admit that we’re all here, now, so let’s make the most of this. Even if some of us are… less than wanted.”

Valice grinned in reply, ignoring Twilight’s last remark that had undoubtedly been directed at her. “I agree with Sparkle,” she said. “No matter how much anger we have for each other, the fact is that we have the power and the will to stop this bastard, so let’s end it for him, and let’s finish up this journey once and for all!”

“’Sparkle’?” Checkmate asked. “Since when have you referred to any of us by our second names?”

Valice’s grin only grew, until even her eyes danced with the light of her own innate mirth. “Thought I’d give it a chance and see how it sounds. Why, do you have a problem with it, Vigarde?”

“Great,” Dusk muttered. “I suppose that this is to be your new... quirk, so to speak?”

“Hey –” the changeling shrugged “– it’s better than just having everypony say ‘Twilight’ or ‘Checkmate’ all the time. It gives our little... relationship a bit of an added flair, wouldn’t you say? Besides, it shows a nice amount of contempt for the pony who completely destroyed my hive’s chance at not dying out in the middle of nowhere.” Those last words were spoken with such bitterness and venom that Checkmate could almost feel it on them.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Who invaded whose home, again?”

“I don’t know,” replied Valice, dryly. “Why don’t you ask your precious Celestia, and how she wouldn’t have allowed us in, anyway?”

“Well, this conversation went south, fast,” muttered Applejack. “Now, y’all’d better not be fightin’, or Ah’ll be forced to make ya both quiet down.”

The two creatures – alicorn and changeling – turned away from each other, muttering angrily about their derision towards their opponent.

Checkmate pressed a hoof to his forehead. “Can’t we just get going?” he asked, calmly. “The last thing we need is for two more bodies to pile up just because you two can’t stop your bickering for five Chronos-damned seconds.”

“But, I -” Twilight started.

“Shut up, both of you!” snapped Checkmate, causing the two of them to jump. “Just shut the hell up, and listen to me! I understand that you two are opposing species – that changelings and ponies aren’t exactly friends right now – but do you know what? I don’t give a damn. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t there for the invasion of Canterlot last year, or maybe it’s because I only know one changeling, and she’s not as bad as everypony claims, but I don’t give one damn about your squabbling. Do you know what will happen if we don’t work together and stop Wendigo?” He paused, but didn’t take his eyes off of the two creatures. “The world will die. There won’t be any love, there won’t be any fear, and there won’t be anything else. No, that’s not right, because there will be something left: hatred. And that hatred will consume everything else, and the world will fall into chaos! No, not even chaos – because I can at least trust Discord slightly –, but pain, and despair, and destruction! There will be nothing left, so I think it’s more important that we at least try and work together, don’t you? You can bicker, and you can fight, and you can try and destroy each other’s lives once we’ve ended Wendigo, because, if we don’t, there won’t be anything left for you to fight over.” He bored into both of their eyes, and the other ponies seemed to be watching with mouths agape. Even Dusk appeared shocked at Checkmate’s outburst, but seemed impressed, as well. “Canterlot will be gone, Ponyville will be gone, and your hive, Valice, may as well not exist. So either shut the hell up, or get the hell out of here, because I’d rather have a world than have nothing.”

The ponies continued to stare at him in shock, as Checkmate turned away. “Now, then,” he muttered, “let’s go, before my head explodes.”

“Checkmate, wait,” said Illia, as she stepped up to him. “I... think it would be best if I am to travel as the Ignis, rather than as a sleipnir. It would make our trek more difficult if a sleipnir is found within Darkfrost. Our relationship is... strained, after all.” And then, without even waiting for Checkmate to reply, Illia’s body began to shift back into the transparent, fire-like sword that now lay on the grass.

Checkmate reached down, then, and picked it up. “Fine,” he murmured. “Well, come on, all of you. We’ve got something that we need to do.

“And we don’t have much time to do it.”

Twilight stood, alone, Checkmate’s words still milling about her head. It had been several hours since they’d set out on their second journey, and night had fallen. She was now atop a large, grassy hill, looking over all that lay below, where a small pond and several trees decorated a flowery field, and where her friends now lay in slumber.

If Wendigo won, then all of that would vanish in ice and snow.

It was a chilling thought, quite literally, and she could almost feel herself shivering as she imagined the world before her being coated in the darkness that she’d been told about, with nothing more than pain, suffering, and hatred remaining.

She looked down, then, and glanced over at Valice. She despised the creature, she truly did, but she wanted the world to be safe more than she wanted the changelings to die out. No matter the cost, the world had to be kept safe, and she had to be one of those protected it. After all, she was an alicorn – and a princess, at that – so it was her duty as Princess Twilight Sparkle to see this thing through to the end.

“Do you mind if I join you?” asked a new voice, startling her slightly.

Twilight turned around, and saw Dusk. “Oh, Dusk!” she said, although she still sounded shocked. “Um… sure.”

The mercenary stepped up besides her, joining her in looking down upon the land below them. “My apologies if I frightened you, Twilight,” he said, sincerely. “There’s just something that I wanted to speak with you about. Well… several things.”

“What is it?” Twilight asked. “But if it’s something about getting along with Valice, I promise you that I won’t -”

“It’s nothing to do with Valice,” interrupted Dusk. “It’s simply… It’s just… Huh, I’m having trouble finding the correct words to say on this matter, so I think I’ll just say what I mean to, no matter how blunt it may sound.”

“And what’s that?”

Dusk turned towards her, then, and sighed. “Immortality is Hell, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight blinked at this. “Wait, what do you mean by that?”

Dusk sighed, once more. “Well… I shouldn’t say it like that. What I mean is that… if one is in the position that you’re in, they’re fine. You have the princesses, who you love, and several other ponies who care for you, and who you’ll know for years to come. If you’re in my position, however, everything is different.” He shook his head, and turned to look back down at the land below them. “When you are a mercenary, Twilight, you must be prepared to deal with certain… situations. I cannot say how many ponies I’ve befriended, only to watch them die on the battlefield, or to be slaughtered by wild beasts, to be tortured until their bodies simply give out, or to be killed in the most wretched of ways that I can't even begin to describe. There is no method of torture that I have not seen, mental, physical, or emotional.” He paused then, and touched a scar on his leg. “Or, for that matter, that I have not experienced.”

Twilight’s face paled. “W-wait,” she said, “you’re immortal, right? Then shouldn’t it -?”

“Just because I’m immortal doesn’t mean I can’t feel pain,” Dusk said, quietly. “It only means that I can feel it for longer than others. I’ve had my body electrified, thrown into icy waters, stabbed through so many times that I can’t even count them anymore, filled with poison, burned to the point that even my talent sign could not be seen, decapitated…” He laughed, bitterly. “And every time – every single time – I felt it. I felt all of it. And it didn’t merely stop, but it continued. There was at least one occasion that I was tortured for months at a time. And the agony I felt was not merely that of torture; I've been cut open so many times on the battlefield that I've forgotten the exact number, and I've been hit with magic and weaponry that would kill any other pony, but instead of death, there was nothing but agony. The pain I felt in those years nearly sent me over the edge and into madness, but there was one time of solace for myself: sleep.”

“Sleep…” Twilight said, her voice as quiet as Dusk’s. “You’re saying that the only way out of all of that... that suffering was to lose consciousness completely? But how did you ever escape?”

“Patience,” said Dusk, simply. “I waited for those who I fought for to come and save me, or for my allies to assist me. Of course, after several centuries, my abilities made it nearly impossible for anypony to capture me, and the torture was forgotten. But what was not forgotten was the one who saved me from my own insanity, and protected me, and led me forth into the light: Luna.”

Twilight’s eyes widened in surprise at this. “L-Luna?!”

“That’s right,” replied Dusk. “Approximately one-thousand years ago, I had given up on living, knowing that it only brought more agony. My mind was somehow still intact, yet it felt broken, pained, and filled with such sorrow and despair that I couldn’t do anything at all. Eventually, my lust for death increased to the point that I tried to bring it upon myself.” Twilight gasped, realizing the connotations of that statement. “Yet... no matter how hard I tried to end this pitiful life of mine – throwing myself into battles that I knew I couldn’t win, allowing myself to be captured and tortured – it still wouldn’t. However, after I’d lost all hope, after everything seemed to be over, I met the one creature that gave it to me.

“Luna and I met in one of my dreams, only a few months after she’d become Nightmare Moon. She and I were in a similar situation, as both of us were lost, alone, and afraid, so we decided to simply talk for one night so that we could attempt to forget the struggles of life. That one night became two, then ten, then five-thousand, and then three-hundred-thousand. Nearly every night since the day we met, the two of us have ensured that we speak within my dreams, always talking, and always simple, casual conversations, about... anything, really. They may be only ten minutes, or possibly two hours, yet the two of us became friends after that, my first friend to actually live as long as I. Soon, I forgot my want for death, and gained a new reason to live on because of her encouragement. Instead of fighting so that I could die, I wanted to fight so that I could live, and so that the one who caused me to suffer this way would not do so to anypony else.”

“Wendigo,” guessed Twilight. “He’s the one who’s put you through this, isn’t he? That’s why you want to stop him so badly, and why he seems to know you so well. And, I suppose,” she added as an afterthought, “you meeting with Luna is how you knew we’d be in the Desert of Death, right? She told you that we’d be there, you decided you’d meet us there and help us…”

Dusk nodded. “Again, you’re right,” he said. “You really are a smart filly, Twilight. I think Chronos would be proud of you if he were to meet you, now. However, that’s not it… That’s not the only reason I’m here. It’s true that Luna asked me to come out here and help all of you, and that my motivation for this is mostly so that I can finally bring Wendigo’s foul reign to an end. However, I didn’t simply come out here tonight to tell you about my life story, especially considering that I left much of it out.”

Twilight nodded. “Yeah, you said you wanted to ask me about something, didn’t you? Or… is there some kind of question about your story you want to ask me, to see if I was paying attention, or something like that?”

“No, I simply wanted you to realize just what immortality truly is, and how wretched it can truly be if one is in the wrong situation,” Dusk replied. “I... I’m not about to say what Wendigo’s stolen from me, because I’m positive you can figure that out for yourself, if you have enough time. However, there is something else you must know, and this is something that very few ponies know anything about.”

“What do you mean by ‘very few ponies’? Do you mean yourself and… your fellow mercenaries?”

“No, because they wouldn’t have been alive to have known it, and none of them still... still live today,” replied Dusk, and he glanced away for a minute, his eyes shimmering with melancholy. “Only two ponies should, theoretically, even know this name. This name – this wretched, horrid name – that sent nothing but terror and pain into the hearts of ponies five-thousand years ago.”

“Then why would you tell me this now?” Twilight asked, suddenly nervous.

What was she going to hear about? Would it be some ancient demon, or a beast even more dangerous than Wendigo?

Dusk sighed yet another time, and turned to face her. “Twilight, this matter is important. While I agree that his actions were wretched, and foul, and absolutely evil, the fact remains that ponies should at least know of his existence, or even his name, so that nopony shall forget those who lost their lives in the battle for our universe. If you don’t wish to know it, then I’m fine with that, but I simply want you to answer my question. Is that... alright with you?”

Twilight nodded. Even if she didn’t want to know about this thing if it was as wretched as Dusk claimed, she would rather not have the suspense of it and her own imagination devour her.

“Very well, then. Twilight Sparkle, tell me this: have you ever heard of Velios?”

The Walkers of Eternity

For a few seconds atop the hill, there was silence, as Twilight searched the innermost depths of her mind for any information relating to this "Velios". Yet, no matter how hard she attempted to find it, the name -- and the beast that it undoubtedly referred to -- were not anything that she'd ever heard of.

"N-no," she said, after a moment's hesitation, "I've never heard of... of 'Velios'."

Dusk shook his head, and let out a sigh. "Perhaps that's been for the best," he admitted. "Only two souls in this entire universe know anything of that beast's identity, after all..." He shook his head, and turned away. "And yet... now, I believe it shall be three, if you desire to learn of him. Do you?"

Twilight was nervous, of course, but her inner scientist was nothing but excited. "Of course," she said, attempting to hide the anxiety from her voice. "I... I want to know about Velios, and to learn just why you're talking about him like this."

"Very well," Dusk said, his horn starting to glow. And then, as if from nowhere, a massive dome of greenish-gray energy engulfed the two, and all sound from the outside world was lost. "My apologies, Twilight, but this is simply... a precaution, so to speak."

"A soundproof barrier?" Twilight asked. "Is this information really that discreet...?"

"Indeed," replied Dusk, and he sighed. "However, it's not simply others who I'm worried about hearing this, but of Wendigo discovering the truth of the matter, as well. He could easily be listening in on this conversation, after all."

The alicorn nodded, then. "Either way," she said, "this magic is incredible, and I can't hear anything going on outside, so I'm guessing that they can't hear anything we say, either..."

Dusk nodded. "That's right," he said. "So long as this barrier remains situated, they won't be able to hear anything about Velios, nor anything about his kind."

Twilight cocked her head at this. "Do you mean that this 'Velios' belongs to some species nopony's ever heard of? If so... that could make an amazing scientific discovery..."

"No, Twilight," responded Dusk. "Rather, it's not that nopony's ever heard of his... species, so to speak, but that only two creatures in this universe remember anything about them. Only myself and Celestia should even know their name, and Velios's name, as well. However... that's why I'm here, now: to ask you if you desire to know of him, and of everything he's done, and the horrid afterglow of his work on our universes."

"'Universes'?" Twilight asked, curiously. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

Dusk turned back towards her, his eyes looking tired. "Twilight," he started, "what do you know -- exactly -- about alternate universes?"

The lavender alicorn placed a hoof on her chin, thoughtfully. "Only what I've read," she admitted. "I know that every time an action is taken, a new universe is born where that action doesn't occur, or happens differently, or... well, there are infinite possibilities for universes."

Dusk turned away, once more, and looked down at the ponies slumbering below. "What if I told you that there are creatures who can cross the boundaries between these universes at will, without the need for magic or technology? That there are creatures who exist only to protect the fabric that makes up eternity from tearing apart?"

Twilight blinked at this, rapidly, and looked over at Dusk. "Are there really creatures like that?" she asked, her inner scientist wishing that she'd brought along her notebook so that she could take notes on all of this. "That there are creatures who can just... walk around eternity?" The thought was staggering, surprising, and could change everything the ponies knew about how alternate universes functioned. If there were creatures who could do such a fantastic thing...

"That's exactly right," Dusk said. "Although... I wouldn't advise trying to harness their power for yourself, as it seems you want to do. Creatures throughout eternity have paid with their lives for attempting to elevate themselves to godhood using the powers of these walkers."

Twilight flushed at this, and looked away, realizing that Dusk had virtually read her mind. "But... where does Velios come into the equation? Did he want to take their powers for himself and become a god, or something?"

Dusk shook his head. "He didn't need to absorb their abilities," he responded, "because he already was one of them. Their kind were called 'calaverns', and all they desired was the order and stability of the universes that exist within eternity." He grit his teeth, then. "All of them... except for one, it appeared."

Her face paled, realizing that such a powerful creature -- a beast who could walk through the universes with no difficulty, and one who was apparently evil -- had entered their own universe. "Velios..." she breathed, quietly. "If he didn't want to protect the universes, then, what did he...?" Twilight's eyes widened in horror, then, as the realization of the statement came crashing down on her. "... No..."

"Unfortunately, yes," said Dusk, ruefully. "Of all the calaverns -- the ones I've met, at any rate -- Velios was the only one to show a desire for destruction, to end all around him with his own anger and vengeance. When he came to our universe, Chronos was unable to stop him alone, so he called on aid from Hatred, but even their combined might was unable to bring down Velios.

"You see, Twilight, calaverns don't function the same way that we do. One can't simply kill a calavern by stabbing them through with a sword, or by electrocuting, burning, or drowning them. No, only one of their own kind can bring an end to them, and, as such, Hatred and Chronos called on further aid, and it came to them almost instantly."

Twilight nodded. "Another calavern, right?"

"Exactly," Dusk responded. "Three, actually. You see, Velios renowned for his monstrous nature amongst the other dozen-or-so calaverns in eternity. And, in order to combat him, three of their most powerful kind came to our universe. They were Primary, the first calavern, his brother, Secondary, and Velios's own brother, Zectao. The three managed to fend him off, and force him to leave our universe be, but they were unable to kill him."

"So he's still alive..." Twilight said, but not as a question. "But I don't understand... why would he want to destroy our universe?"

Dusk shook his head. "I asked Primary, but he didn't say. All that he said on the matter was that it was an act of vengeance. Vengeance against Primary, apparently, for something that he'd done. However, that wasn't why he selected our universe, specifically... No, it was because our universe is... different from those around it."

"How?" Twilight asked.

"Universes, when a new action is taken, split into two identical ones. However, due to there only being one of each calavern -- thankfully, in regards to Velios -- in existence, when one enters a universe, that universe loses the ability to split. But if a calavern enters a universe while in the middle of cloning itself..."

"... That universe gets stopped halfway through," Twilight finished.

"Precisely. Our universe was incomplete in its cloning process, and, thus, now there are two of them, linked together only by the thinnest thread of eternity. However, the universes that are inhabited on both sides are like a... mirror of sorts."

"Mirror?" Twilight asked. "Like... everypony is gender-swapped, or something? Or that we're different creatures, or the world is ruled by Discord, or...?"

"No, nothing like that," Dusk replied. "It's more... subtle than that, so to speak. The genders are mostly the same, the species are mostly the same, and the world is most certainly not ruled by Discord. The only true differences lay in the personalities of the creatures on either side; they're completely inverted."

Twilight's eyes widened. "So Velios came to our universe because it's composed of two conjoined universes, and because the universes are basically complete opposites of each other?"

"Basically," repeated Dusk, and his turned back towards her. "However, Primary thought that there was more to it than that. He claimed that the universe had frozen -- that it had stopped splitting -- several millennia prior to Velios's arrival; that there was another calavern who had come to our universe, and that the bastard had been drawn here by the remaining power, yet he didn't say just who it was." He grimaced. "Odd, too, considering that only a dozen or so calaverns exist..."

"Like how there are only two princesses in charge of Equestria, but on a much greater scale," Twilight said, her hoof moving back to her chin. "Having so much space to cover, but very few creatures to do so..."

Dusk nodded, and he smiled. "Precisely," he said, "but the differences in power between the two groups are absolutely staggering; calaverns are completely immortal, and all of them are several million years old. Far older than Celestia, or Luna... even Chronos was only around twenty-thousand." He looked away, again. "And to compound to that effect, every calavern, so Primary said, has a perfect memory."

"Th-that's astounding!" Twilight gasped. "With a perfect memory, they could easily document everything they've ever seen!"

Dusk shook his head, and turned back towards her. "They could," he admitted, "but the fact remains that living forever and never forgetting anything could be completely disastrous. The three of them ensured that I realized just how horrid the prospect is. Imagine, if you will, Twilight: you've killed a pony, and you'll always remember their name, face, their last words, and everything else they've bothered to say to you. It's a miracle that none of them have been driven insane at this point..."

"Then that means that... that Velios," Twilight started, "could be wanting vengeance for something that could have happened hundreds upon thousands of years ago. And you said that he's still alive, so who's to say that he won't be coming back to this universe to finish what he started...?"

"It's doubtful," responded Dusk. "That was five millennia ago that Velios attacked us, and none of the calaverns are idiots, either. All of them are geniuses, since they remember literally everything, and Velios is smart enough to understand that coming back to this universe would do nothing for himself but draw attention from Primary once more."

Twilight shook her head, then, and looked behind her. "Why does this all have to be so complicated?" she asked, and sighed. "I mean, having to fight against Wendigo is one thing, but worrying about some universe-crossing god is another thing entirely! And why are you even bothering to tell me this now, anyway?"

Dusk smiled, ruefully. "I needed a pony I could trust," he said. "Celestia would never release this knowledge until it's too late -- until Velios attacks -- and Luna, though I trust her with my life, would likely relay the information to Celestia immediately. There would be no secrecy, no discretion, but instead the knowledge would be lost. If I told it to another mercenary, or a king, it could spread a panic throughout the world, which would only hasten Wendigo's conquest, with him using the panic to his advantage. No, I needed a pony who is... intelligent, and powerful, and who can use this information to better ponykind. I don't care if Velios never again attacks this universe, or the one it's conjoined to, so long as the ponies at least know to be wary of him in the case that he does return." He shook his head, then. "But, at the same time, you're not the first one I've told this to, Twilight. I've actually spoken to many 'immortals' about this matter in the past. However... none of them are still alive today. That's part of why I chose you; I saw a pony who I know can survive with this knowledge, and thus would be able to put it to use."

Twilight nodded, although made a mental note about the bitterness in Dusk's voice as he spoke of Celestia. "But this means you've been around at least five millennia, right, if you knew all of these... these calaverns as they came here? Have you been wandering the world for that long?"

To this, the mercenary responded with a bitter laugh. "No," he said, "if that were the case, I think I would've completely lost any trace of intelligence years ago, back when I didn't have anything left. I've lived for a long time, Twilight, but I can say that I've only spent the last few thousand years as a mercenary, and it's when I became a sellsword -- as Valice seems wont to call it -- that I lost my wings and my status as an alicorn, and became a unicorn."

"That's another thing," Twilight said, her hoof on her chin once more. "How did you cease to be an alicorn?"

Dusk didn't respond for several seconds. "... In the same vein that you became an alicorn," he finally said. "In a manner of speaking, the two of us are complete opposites. You, the one who went from being a unicorn to an alicorn, and I, who went the opposite direction; alicorn to unicorn. However, the causes of our transformations are quite different..."

"Why...? Did Wendigo take away all that power from you?" Twilight asked, her heartbeat suddenly increasing. Just the thought that she -- that Celstia and Luna, even -- could lose their powers so simply...

But Dusk simply shook his head. "No," he said, "I ceased to exist as an alicorn not because of Wendigo, but because of another creature. One whose name I'd rather not claim here, but they were a barbarian nonetheless. Their transgression I could overlook, but Wendigo did nothing more than twist the knife ever further into the wound, and he stole from me everypony I cared for. And yet it all wasn't all at once. No, he allowed my hopes to soar, and then taunted me as soon as he ripped everything away from me..."

He grit his teeth again, and Twilight could almost hear the pure, unfiltered venom in his voice in his next words. "He claimed me to be worthless, and useless, and pointless, and called my existence 'inconsequential'. Oh, but I've been training, and forcing myself to learn this blade's secrets..." He gripped the hilt of Constellation, then, and pulled it free. "And the next time that we meet upon the battlefield, I shall prove just how 'worthless' I truly am."

Twilight instinctively took a step back, realizing that Dusk was likely to begin ranting about his desires to slay Wendigo, and knowing that she'd heard enough of that from Checkmate earlier.

And then, to her complete surprise, Dusk shook his head. "But no," he said, his voice suddenly calm. "Wendigo had nothing to do with me becoming an immortal unicorn... in fact, I can hardly blame it on the one who stole my power, as well, because, in the end, I was the one who caused it to occur, no matter what I may claim... I can't hide behind a veil of lies, Twilight, but I'm not about to disclose everything, either. It's likely that you'll understand everything yourself someday, but for now, the fact remains that I'm here to speak of the calaverns, not of myself."

Twilight let out a sigh of relief at this. For a second, she'd been worried that the conversation was going to be completely derailed, and that all of her questions would be unanswered.

"What about their appearance?" she asked, almost instinctively. "I mean, if Velios returns to our universe, then what can we expect him to look like? Are they alien in appearance -- or, well, 'alien' in the way that ponies think aliens would look like -- or what?"

"Appearance-wise," replied Dusk, "well... it's as I said: a calavern is not the same as a pony, or a griffon, or any other available race you can imagine. In fact, calaverns don't even truly have a true 'appearance' that one could describe them with, since they function mostly by possessing dead or inanimate objects and communicating through them, and then being able to shift between forms at will. Each calavern does have a main form -- which all are of the same species, if I may add -- but describing that would be rather... confusing, so to speak. To put it simply, their main form is the one that they cannot die in, lest they be truly killed, and their soul erased from eternity completely."

"Confusing..." Twilight heard herself say quietly. "At least that should make it simple to find them, if they're not possessing some other creature."

"Perhaps," admitted Dusk, and he turned away once more. "Velios especially, provided that we meet him in his main form. You see, their main forms have... digits, like how dragons have claws, and hands. Velios's hands -- there are two of them -- are burnt, charred to the point of being red and black and horrible..." Dusk visibly shuddered at the thought. "His digits, too, are also rather... horrid. On his left and right hands there were once five of these digits. Now, on each, there are only three. Primary told me that somepony had once cut them up out of anger and rage, and that they'd caused the horrible burns, but, again, he didn't bother going into any details on the matter. Is there anything else you'd like to know about this?"

"Yeah," Twilight said, after a moment's hesitation. "How likely are we -- really -- to have to meet up with Velios?"

"Unlikely," Dusk admitted, once more. "However, I can't rule out the possibility that he's just given up. Not yet. Not until I know, for a fact, that he's no longer a threat to this universe. In this vein, I actually have to admit that he's likely an even worse threat than Wendigo, in the case that he does return, but, again, it's very unlikely that he will. After all, there are so many universes in existence that ours would be like one grain of sand out of every grain of it in the universe, so we should be safe."

He shook his head, then, and sighed. "Though I have to say this: Velios was... strange, certainly, but he didn't appear the type to just up and attack us like that. He actually emerged in our world centuries before he began his rampage, and, before that, he wasn't any threat at all; he was courteous, friendly, and much different than what he became, which only raises more questions on the matter." His eyes changed, then, for a second. "Just like what Wendigo was..."

Twilight shook her head in reply, and sighed, mirroring Dusk. "I... I think," she started, "I'm just going to head to bed, now. This is all a bit much for me, really, and... I think I should get some sleep, and think on all of this."

Dusk nodded. "Very well," he said. "I've no objections to that. I've said everything I meant to. But please, Twilight, I want you to do me a favor: do not reveal that name to anypony, unless Velios does return. If not, it could cause widespread panic, or terror, and could tear this universe apart in his stead."

The barrier around them was lowered, then, and Twilight turned away. "Right," she replied, simply, bluntly. Nothing more needed to be said, and nothing more was said, as the alicorn and the former alicorn parted ways, the words he'd spoken still fresh in her mind.

And, more than that, a new question entered her mind; one that she hadn't given much thought towards up until just then.

Just who was Dusk, really?

Darkened Ashes

Canterlot city was on fire.

The flames ran along the streets, across the buildings, burning, hissing, screeching, and scorching all that they touched, as if some wretched inferno had taken hold of the once-beautiful city.

Ponies lay dead, dying, and suffering in the streets, their mutilated forms screaming for release that would never arrive, and the horrid agony that they felt was unknown as the viewer watched, her eyes simply reflecting the blaze even as the tears streamed down her face. Their bodies were ripped asunder, scars crossing over them, their gaunt forms unable to move.

The worst of all, however, was what lay above them: upon the highest apex of the royal palace lay an alicorn, her pristine coat stained red as the spike atop the tower pierced her heart, and her back was arched, her eyes wide open yet rolled back to the point that the irises were completely hidden.

Below her was another alicorn, younger and smaller, with a darker coat, who hung above the gate, her chest pierced through by another spike, and her hooves bound behind her back. Breathing indicated that this one still lived, although her body convulsed in pain and agony.

The other did not.

On the side of the road lay Captain Shining Armor -- odd, as he should have been in the Crystal Empire -- whose horn had been ripped from his head, and now lay jammed into his heart, his dead expression one of fear and terror as the blood still flowed freely from the wound. And there, next to him, was his beloved wife, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, better known as Cadence. Her body was so wracked with scars that it took all of the viewer's energy not to turn away.

And then, however, was what lay in the center of it all: in the middle of the road was a massive platform, one of steel, and, upon it, stood two figures that were all too familiar. One of the two was Checkmate Vigarde.

The other was Wendigo.

The tyrant laughed, as he stepped around the victim, his eyes cold and cruel. "I truly must congratulate Deun," he said, smirking. "He did an excellent job capturing you and your friends, Checkmate, and now look at your failed attempt at resistance. The Zephyr's almost complete, and now the world shall soon fall to my might."

Checkmate spat, then, though his hooves were bound behind his back. "Go to Hell!" he shouted, indignantly, still defiant even in that situation.

"Hell? Come, now," Wendigo's eyes flashed. "The only Hell is the one that you'll be entering. Do say 'hello' to Hecatoncheir for me, won't you? I'm sure he'd appreciate it." He held out Conviction, then, and pointed it directly between Checkmate's eyes. "Oh, and when I claimed the Zephyr to be 'almost' complete? I meant there was but one position left, and I've reserved it specially... for YOU!"

Then the dagger was thrust forward, and the watcher clamped her eyes shut...

... Only for the sound of burning, crackling, and screaming to subside, and for the world to become entirely dark. At that moment, Twilight's mind instantly opened, and the realization of the moment crashed down on her like a wave.

It was a dream.

"It's amazing how quickly one's fears can alter, would you not say?" asked a voice. It spoke with an odd accent, one that reminded her of Rarity's...

Twilight's eyes snapped open, then, and she saw the figure before her. It was a dark shade of red, semitransparent, and its mane was auburn.

With eight legs...

"A-Asgard!" she shouted, jumping into a fighting stance. Perhaps she'd seen Checkmate do that too much, yet it seemed completely appropriate for the situation. "What do you want?!"

The sleipnir regarded her coldly, calmly, for but a moment before he spoke. "You believe that I'm here to cause you any harm, I'm sure," he said, his voice unwavering, though he let out a sigh. "I suspected as much... To be entirely honest, I probably should have realized that this would be nothing more than a mistake..."

"Wha... What do you want?!" Twilight repeated more forcefully, and her horn began to glow.

Asgard sighed, once more. "Do not concern yourself with that," he replied, as polite as ever. "I simply had something that I needed to say... and something that you must know."

Twilight's stance did not drop, though she didn't speak any further. Instead, she began to weigh any means of escape that she could locate. Certainly, she could simply wake up if she stalled for long enough, but it was possible that she could best Asgard in a fight if necessary.

So she stood her ground, her eyes boring into his like drills, and her horn only glowing brighter in a show of her own magical supremacy.

"I see," Asgard said, and shook his head. "Very well, I've no reason to remain here whilst you appear to desire my leave, so I think I shall do exactly that." He turned, then, and Twilight could see that the wound on his leg had completely vanished. "Farewell, Twilight Sparkle, and my apologies for any inconvenience I've caused you through this."

As he began to walk away, however, and into the void around them, Twilight called out. "Wait," she said, "you're not here to attack me, or to get revenge for what happened?" Of course, she didn't believe it for a second, and, although her magic had since dissipated, she remained on high alert. However, Asgard had simply left her be, and didn't appear to want to cause her any trouble, even though he had great reason to.

The sleipnir stopped, then, yet kept his back to her. "Why should I desire vengeance?" he asked, quietly. "Certainly, I'm not without reason, yet that won't change what has since transpired. No, Twilight, there is but one creature for which I have a want to tear into oblivion, and that most certainly is not you, nor is it any of your companions."

Twilight grimaced. No matter how much she despised the sleipnir for what it had done to them -- particularly in foalnapping and holding Pinkie hostage -- she couldn't deny how absurdly polite he was, no matter what it was he talked about. "Really?" she asked. "And what, pray tell, is that?"

Of course, her mind was still reeling from the massive amount of information that Dusk had told her regarding the calaverns, and it appeared that Asgard was only going to add to the pile that was now clogging her brain, and that she couldn't help but think about.

Asgard was silent for a moment, then, and still kept his back to her. After several minutes of an awkward silence, however, the sleipnir turned back towards her, his eyes still calm. "The one I desire to tear asunder?" he asked, although his voice didn't waver in the slightest at this, and Twilight shuddered; all that she could hear behind his words was a concealed, venomous hatred that would have gone undetected, had it not been for having spent so much time with Valice and mastering the art of speaking like that.

Twilight's only response was a weak nod, although she felt her legs beginning to shake. She wondered, then, if it was from the horrid nightmare -- the images of it still flashing in mind mind, particularly what had happened to Celestia -- or from the sheer calmness in Asgard's voice as he spoke of killing.

And still, even then, her guard was high, and her eyes were set and focused on the sleipnir. Although they stood in a featureless, empty space, Twilight figured that she could use that to her advantage in the case that he decided to attack her.

"That, in truth, is why I am here now," Asgard responded, and his eyes flashed. "You see, Twilight Sparkle, I necessitated a creature to whom I could grant the use of this information, and I figured that the one who I spoke to would be the one who could make the most of it." He turned aside, then, and sighed once more. "I deduced, then, that the ones best suited to bear this knowledge would be among your group; the ones en route to do battle with Wendigo. And so, in order to accommodate for that, I desired to only speak with one of you; yourself in particular, Twilight."

Twilight grimaced, again. Why was it always her? It could have always been Rarity, or Rainbow, or Applejack. They could certainly use such a large purpose in this quest, seeing as they all agreed that there wasn't much they'd done at all, no matter how much she reminded Rainbow of her original role in saving Checkmate, or Applejack of herding the fillies and keeping them from getting themselves killed.

"Why me?" she asked, at last, and she genuinely meant it, too. Twilight was really getting tired of all these ponies wanting her to give her even more knowledge. Even if she was a scientist -- and had an amazing memory, so she'd been told -- there was only so much she could learn before she had to write anything down, or else she'd just forget about it.

"Because," responded Asgard, "you are likely the only one of your group to give me even a second of speech. Your friends, I'm certain, would be quite... unappreciative of my earlier efforts, as I'm sure you are. Dusk, given his actions towards my brother, is one I wish to avoid, and the others are unlikely to so much as give me a chance to speak before they attack, or attempt to, at any rate. Or, in the case of that pegasus -- Fluttershy, I believe she is called -- cower away from me in terror, not allowing me a single word." And then he sighed, and turned to face her once more. "Besides... I doubt that your other friend, Pinkie Pie, would be glad to see me, given the circumstances."

"You did hold a knife to her throat," Twilight pointed out, "and don't act like all my friends are just... one-dimensional, either! I mean, yeah, Rainbow and Applejack would probably try to attack you, and Dusk probably would want to kill you immediately, and I don't even know what to say about Checkmate, seeing as he doesn't have any swords in his dreams without Illia and Khaza... but saying Fluttershy would just cower away is, well --" Twilight raised a hoof then, as if to accentuate her point "-- kind of silly. You know she tamed an antlion, right?"

"Truly?" Asgard arched an eyebrow at this. "I heard from Hecatoncheir that an antlion was the cause of his injury, but I hadn't the idea that your friend was the one who had summoned it." He placed a hoof on his own chin. "You truly have intriguing friends, Twilight Sparkle. I wish I could claim the same of myself."

"You have no idea," she replied, rolling her eyes, and allowing herself a small smile. "The things that I could say about Pinkie Pie... Wait, that's not important!" She immediately dropped the smile, instead retaking her disbelieving face. "You're getting me off topic!"

"Perhaps," admitted Asgard, "although that is part of the reason that I desired to speak with you. You may be the most forgiving out of all your friends, Twilight Sparkle. Certainly, I cannot claim to know them, yet I know enough of them based on our few conversations to facilitate a few assumptions of their personalities."

Twilight let out a small, bitter laugh at that. "The 'most forgiving'?" she asked, although she couldn't hide the smirk. "Have you even seen me interact with Valice? I don't think I'm as forgiving as you say I am." While she wasn't necessarily proud of proclaiming that, she couldn't deny the truth of that statement; she wasn't about to forgive Valice, after all, nor did she ever plan to.

"No, I haven't," replied Asgard, calmly. "Not besides the moment where she revealed her true nature as a changeling, at the very least, yet I cannot say that the same is true of everything. After all, regarding the wedding that took place within Canterlot, you appear to have forgiven your friends rather easily, have you not?"

At that moment, Twilight felt her blood run cold, and she paused for a few seconds before answering. "... Wait," she said, slowly, "how do you know anything about that?"

Asgard smiled, albeit one that appeared forced. "I am a sleipnir, Twilight Sparkle," he said, simply. "I exist to sow the seeds of fear within the hearts of ponies, and to reap the benefits that are created. As such, I have spent several occasions within the minds of those in Canterlot." He chuckled, and it sounded surprisingly genuine. "You would be quite surprised, I believe, that many of the rich have quite... interesting fears. However, several times, I allowed myself to enter into the minds of ponies such as... Hmm, how should I put this?" He placed a hoof on his chin, then, as if in thought. "You see, the rich, whilst their terrors are interesting, mostly have uninteresting personalities, and I much prefer to learn of the pony whose dreams I am visiting. As such, I decided to test new waters, so to speak, several times, with ponies whom I have yet to know of."

"You've entered my dreams before," Twilight translated. She had no idea whether to be enraged or fascinated at this piece of information, so she decided to keep her mouth closed while she allowed Asgard to continue speaking.

"Precisely," responded Asgard. "You see, Twilight Sparkle, I decided to test your mind for myself -- learn the personality of Celestia's latest pupil -- approximately one year prior to now. It was at that moment that I discovered the truth of the infamous royal wedding that had occurred." He sighed, and grimaced. "My most sincere apologies for everything you were forced to endure, then, and I can understand your animosity towards changelings. However, considering your relationship with your friends now, and this dream in particular, I have come to the conclusion that you have forgiven them for their transgression towards you, and that is the reason for which I chose you, tonight."

At that moment, Twilight remembered exactly why Asgard wanted to speak to her, and made a mental note to try to avoid being sidetracked while they talked. Although, she did have to admit, all of this information was very interesting, and she'd have to make note of it once all of this was over, especially since sleipnirs could enter the dream channels at will when they lacked a body.

"You said you wanted to tell me something, right?" Twilight asked. Even now, long after their talk had begun, she had yet to lower her guard, instead remaining steady and firm as she uneasily watched the sleipnir.

Granted, she couldn't deny just how heartbreaking his story was, but that was no excuse to hold her friend at knifepoint and to nearly kill them while his insane, evil twin who could make hands of fire made use of his body.

Twilight took a moment to mentally remind herself of just how insane this entire journey was before she turned her attention back towards Asgard.

"Indeed," he replied, quietly. "You see, there is a piece of information that is imperative that at least one other creature knows of: the cause for my brother's insanity."

All of the sound in the area -- which, essentially, referred to only Twilight and Asgard, as there was literally nothing else -- came to a halt, then, and silence fell over the abyss of Twilight's dream as the sleipnir's words clicked into place in her mind.

"The cause of Hecatoncheir's insanity..." she breathed, and placed a hoof on her chin. "You mean that you're going to tell me the reason that he ended up killing that sleipnir, and the reason that you two had to flee Tartarus?"

Asgard nodded, then, and turned to the side once more. "Your memory is impeccable," he said, simply. "Yes, that is precisely what I intend to tell you of, if you would be willing to listen."

He turned towards her once more and sighed. "You see, Twilight Sparkle, there is but one creature whose life I wish to staunch, and it is the one who has wrought this wretchedness, and the one has sewn despair into the hearts of many." He grit his teeth, then, and Twilight nearly felt her heart stop. To see Asgard showing such anger -- rage, even -- was not something that she could have ever expected.

Twilight gestured for him to continue, even while she was nervous about just what he was going to say, and realized that she'd felt the exact same way before Dusk spoke of the calaverns to her, Velios in particular.

Asgard, at last, let out yet another sigh, unclenching his teeth. "We -- my brother and I -- had nearly accomplished our goal, and the two of us had soon to be granted access to the next level of Tartarus. Had that been accomplished, what was next to occur would not have destroyed our lives so utterly."

His eyes flashed, and his voice became filled with a calm, tranquil fury. "For you see, Twilight Sparkle," he hissed, "approximately twenty-five-hundred years ago, before Wendigo's uprising against Rolan, something wormed its way into Hecatoncheir's mind; a foul, hellish parasite that seemed to want nothing more than to ruin his very existence. The foul monstrosity forced upon him its own wishes, and told him to slaughter ponies around him, to take vengeance for our placement in life." His teeth clenched once more, and Twilight could hear the sound of them scraping together as Asgard attempted to keep his voice level. "Within one month of its burrowing into his mind, my brother's sanity began to deteriorate, and the results of that... you and your allies have already bore witness to the wretched aftereffects upon his mind."

"But... why...?" Twilight breathed, horrified by such a thing. "Why would anypony do such a thing?"

"I do not know the reason," responded Asgard, still visibly trying to keep his rage under control. "However, its name is a different matter entirely, for Hecatoncheir claimed, in his last bouts of sanity, that it had crafted a moniker for itself... and that is why I came here to explain this, now, given your recent history with Wendigo."

"Wh-what was its name?" Twilight heard herself ask, albeit quietly.

Asgard looked straight into her eyes, then, and she could see that they were filled with a mix of sorrow and rage.

"It called itself the 'Catalyst'."

At that moment, the world seemed to completely disappear around the two -- the real world, not the dream that they were inhabiting -- as the connotations of that statement hit Twilight like a sonic rainboom. Her mind flashed back, then, as various statements seemed to collide at once, and information that she had just learned seemed to explode with new meaning.

"Those in Darkfrost call it the 'Catalyst', something that caused a massive shift in Wendigo's personality."

"Some say it's a demon that wandered the world five millennia ago..."

"It's doubtful. That was five millennia ago that Velios attacked us..."

"The Catalyst, however, is believed to be the cause for all of this destruction and chaos."

Twilight's legs gave out, then, as she fell back, Asgard quickly catching her before her head slammed into the invisible ground below them.

"Ch-Chronos..." she whispered, "that's... that can't possibly be..."

Twilight looked up towards Asgard, then. "A-Asgard," she heard herself say, "this... this 'Catalyst'... did it say anything else...?"

The sleipnir sighed, but gently lowered her down before he spoke. "It did claim that it desired vengeance of its own," he replied, "but nothing more than that. Its motivations are quite unclear to myself, and I am the only one who knows anything of it."

Twilight blinked, feeling the oxygen reentering her brain, and she stood up again, albeit on shaking legs. "But why didn't you tell anypony?" she asked.

Asgard didn't respond, instead looking straight into her eyes with his own, still clouded with rage and sadness. And, in that one instant, the reality of the situation hit her once more, for what must have been the tenth time throughout the day.

"O-oh..." she whispered, her ears drooping as her head lowered.

The sleipnir nodded. "Exactly," he said. "Even today, even as it tears into the minds of ponies throughout the world, the Catalyst is still thought of no more than a dream, an apparition of a foal's mind in an effort to conjure a less vile image of Wendigo's evil. But that simply begs the question, does it not: is Wendigo truly the one to blame for all of this, or could the reality of the situation be that the Catalyst is not a mere myth, as many claim it to be?"

Twilight steeled herself before she spoke next. "It doesn't matter if he's being manipulated," she pointed out. "He's still the one controlling his actions, just like Hecatoncheir was. Even if he was completely desecrated by Vel... by the Catalyst" -- she hastily corrected herself -- "that doesn't change that what he did, everything that he caused, was still by his own hooves."

There was silence once more for a few seconds. "... You are correct," responded Asgard, hesitantly. "I can attempt to claim my brother to be manipulated, yet the fact remains that it was by his own will that everything came about. Had he been possessed, or placed under some spell, the case would be different. However, the fact remains that what you claim is true."

He sighed, then and turned away. "That is why I wished to tell you this, Twilight Sparkle. I wished for somepony to know the truth of this matter, that there has always been a creature behind the scenes, pulling the strings on this operation as if they were some monstrous chessmaster, and this is all but a game." His eyes flashed again. "And that voice, that wretched, horrid creature, stole away my brother's sanity, and our chance to live happy, joyous lives. The two of us were used, then tossed aside like toys, and Hecatoncheir's new personality... have you not seen the similarities between he and Wendigo?"

Twilight's eyes widened. "Hecatoncheir's and Wendigo's personalities... Of course, that's why they seemed so similar! Because they're both being manipulated by the same thing... the same monster!"

"Precisely," Asgard said. "It's plausible that the two are but pawns in its game, that both are being manipulated for the sake of its delight. However, it is impossible to prove such a theory without the acknowledgement of Wendigo on the matter, but it is just as possible that he is truly the monster that he acts as, and that the Catalyst has had no hoof in his corruption. Again, however, both are impossible to say, at the moment."

He held his left foreleg, then, and looked at the hoof. "Yet what I do not understand," he noted, "is why it would attack Hecatoncheir. After all, would it not make more sense to attempt to take the brother who could view the future into its thrall? The one whose affinity made its power all the more great within the darkness?"

"Wait," Twilight said, "your affinity is darkness?!"

Asgard nodded. "My brother and I are opposites in more than just personality," he responded. "I am left-dominant, and my affinity is for the shadows that many fear. My brother, however... is right-dominant, and his affinity..."

"Is light," Twilight finished. "But how could a pony who represents light be so evil, and one who represents darkness be so... well, affable?"

"Such is how our world functions," responded Asgard. "Just as how windigoes, changelings and sleipnirs are not good nor evil as species, neither are light and darkness set in stone. There are infinite choices for either, and both can be conceived as either good or evil, depending upon the action taken."

"Changelings aren't evil," scoffed Twilight. "That's ridiculous..."

"Perhaps," admitted Asgard. "However, the fact remains that one cannot hold vengeance towards another creature forever. Even I, Twilight Sparkle, only desire to bring an end to the Catalyst's reign of destruction and chaos, and to learn its true identity, as well. I want to watch it scream in horror, to know that, once my new form is complete, nothing shall ever bring an end to me again..."

"That... doesn't really adhere to your statement about not holding vengeance," Twilight pointed out.

"Perhaps," Asgard repeated, "but that changes nothing on the matter. Simply because I cannot release my grip upon the past does not mean that you should cling to it. Forgiveness is a part of life, so the saying goes, yet I have yet to reach that point, it would appear. However, running from the past only forces you to face it later in life, just as I plan to do once my new form is completed. And then, finally, I can perhaps bring myself to apologize to you and your friends for what happened to them..."

Twilight sighed. "Why don't you apologize, now?" she asked. "They're all really forgiving, especially Pinkie."

Asgard shook his head. "I... cannot. Not yet, at any rate. I am not sure that I could possibly apologize for a transgression that great at this point. In the future, in two years, once my form is complete, however, I would request that you and your friends return to Solace. Perhaps then I can finally find a chance to begin anew, and to begin my quest to bring an end to the Catalyst."

He turned, then, and his body began to fade away. "Twilight Sparkle," he said, and he smiled, slightly, "my thanks for giving my tale a chance, and for at least somewhat forgiving me of this. The knowledge of the Catalyst is yours to use as you will, so please make use of it in order to discover the truth."

Twilight nodded, her body beginning to feel light. "A-alright," she heard herself say, slowly.

"Good," responded Asgard. "Farewell, then, until we meet again --" he stopped, for just a moment, before he said one last word "-- Twilight."

And then, there in the abyss that remained in Twilight's mind, the sleipnir -- the one who had caused her and her friends pain, and fear -- vanished, a smile on his muzzle as he thanked her for the knowledge that he had imparted unto her.

And then she awoke, too.

Behind the Curtain

Valice clenched her jaw as she walked through the grass, ignoring Twilight as best as she could. No matter what she tried, though, the annoying alicorn did nothing but pester her, this time not even bothering with words, or with glaring. Those she could take. She'd seen both often, and many times before she'd even revealed herself as a changeling.

No, what she couldn't take, what she despised, was what was showing in Twilight's eyes, now.

Nervousness.

Valice hated being feared more than anything, and for good reason, as well. Most of the ponies who showed her fear were those who stereotyped changelings so easily, and into such horrid ideas. Were there evil changelings, or, at least, criminals among her kind? Certainly, but she didn't think she was one of them.

In fact, she despised being roped into those who used their powers for their own selfish gain, and being treated as if she were a bomb about to go off and destroy Equestria.

It would have been easy for her to deal with Twilight's anger -- or all of their anger, because she could see that none of the others trusted her in the slightest -- but being looked at as if she were going to tear them all apart because she was a changeling was disgusting to her. After all, windigoes were free to do as they pleased, but changelings? Chronos forbid that they ever change form, or that they so much as look at another pony.

"Just let them all die out," seemed to be the common consensus. "Why should anypony care about what happens to them?"

Just imagining that made Valice clench her jaw even tighter.

Around her, several ponies were talking -- the three fillies spoke amongst themselves, Checkmate and Rainbow Dash had engaged in casual conversation, and even Dusk, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity were talking about something or other, while Pinkie Pie casually bounced down the road, humming to herself as she did -- but Twilight and Spike just walked beside each other, the latter attempting to draw the former into a conversation whilst she instead regarded Valice with the anxiety the scout despised.

At last, after several minutes of feeling immense, alicorn-shaped irritation, Valice snapped, turning her head back towards the two of them. "Can I help you?" she asked, her voice as deadpan as ever, "or do you just want to stare at the back of my head for the rest of the day?"

Twilight flushed, and looked away. "Wh... I... I have no idea what you're talking about," she announced, her voice surprisingly calm.

Valice rolled her eyes, stepping back so that she was next to Twilight. "Really?" she said. "In the same way that you're not regarding me as if I were a time bomb, right?"

Twilight simply continued staring away, her face still flushed, so Spike interjected. "W-well," he said, indignantly, "we're going that way, aren't we? So of course we'd be... uh... staring in... your... direction...?" He petered out towards the end as Valice's eyes bore into his.

"Huh," she responded, her voice still flat, "I didn't realize that in Equestria you watch the back of the ponies in front of you while you walk. I thought you focused on the path. Like most ponies do." Her gaze shifted to Twilight, then. "If you want to insult me, or condemn me, or whatever the hell it is, just say it."

"I'm not-!"

"Oh, come on!" Valice snapped. "Yesterday, all you did was look at me like I'm some kind of disease. So just say it, won't you? 'Changelings are monsters,' or something like that? Just say it."

"I'm not going to!" Twilight snapped in retaliation, yet kept her voice quiet enough so that the ponies in front of them wouldn't turn to look. "Why should I even try to make you listen to reason? It's obvious that you won't listen to a word I say, anyway."

"Of course not!" replied the scout, annoyed. "All you've been saying to me for the past day is how much you hate me, when you even bother talking to me at all. Otherwise, it's just this." The changeling's body became engulfed in flames, then, as she turned into a perfect copy of Twilight Sparkle, before cloning her anger-filled glare, as well.

Twilight looked at her with surprise, but said nothing, leaving Spike to intervene once more. "Hang on," he said, drawing both their gazes, and he gulped. Evidently having two Twilight Sparkles glaring at him was too much to bear, so Valice changed back into the form of the red pegasus. "Twilight," he said, hesitantly, "didn't you say that you were gonna... you know, apologize to Valice, instead of doing this again?"

The changeling's eyes widened, then. Of all the things that she could have heard that day, that was the one that she would never have expected in the slightest.

Twilight coughed, then, looking extremely uncomfortable, before she looked into Valice's eyes. "R-right," she said, as slowly as Spike had, obviously uncomfortable with how quickly the conversation had changed with that comment. "Valice, I just wanted to... um... to say 'I'm sorry' for how harsh I was yesterday. I guess I was just in a bad mood, but..."

Valice blinked several times, not knowing how to respond to that statement. It was the same feeling she'd had back when Dusk held Constellation to her throat; she didn't know what to say, but she knew that she had to say something. "Er... I... accept your apology," was the best that she could muster. "Um... th-thanks?"

At this reply, Twilight cracked a small smirk. "I... I never thought I'd see you of all ponies at a loss for words!" she said, and she laughed.

Valice's face flushed, then, and she looked away, nearly mimicking Twilight's previous act. "I... well, what am I supposed to say?" she asked, suddenly feeling embarrassed. "I mean..."

"I think that works pretty well," Spike said, puffing out his chest with pride, before he let out a yawn. "Urgh... How long until we reach Darkfrost, again? I could use some sleep..."

Twilight chuckled, using her magic to place the baby dragon on her back. "Illia did say that it would be around two days in total," she said, "so it should probably be another couple of hours of just... walking."

Valice grinned at this, suddenly noticing that Twilight was not regarding her so closely anymore. "And, once we get there," she added, "you'd better be at your full capacity. Knowing our luck, we're probably gonna have to fight with Deun once we get there."

Spike sighed. "I'm beginning to question why I let those three talk me into this..." he muttered, glancing over at the three fillies in question, who now spoke idly.

To that, Twilight cocked her head, slightly. "Why did you come along, anyway?" she asked. "Those three I can understand, but you, Spike? You're the one I have to literally drag out of bed everyday. I didn't think this would really be too interesting for you."

"It's not," Spike admitted, although he sounded very tired. "I just... I just wanted to get a bit more respect for what I've done... I mean, I saved the Crystal Empire, but nopony really seems to care, so I just..."

"... Wanted to be made known," Valice finished quietly, and she shook her head. "Well, I can attest to that. It's not a very good reason to just throw yourself into this quest, but --" she shrugged "-- well, what can be done, now?"

Spike simply sighed, but the two mares quickly heard the sound of snoring.

"I suppose we'll never know," responded Valice, and she looked over at Twilight. "Well, why'd you apologize now?"

Twilight blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Well, considering your animosity towards me yesterday, I'm guessing that you must have some reason for just saying that you're sorry. So what is it?"

The alicorn sighed, then, and shook her head. "I, uh..." she started, eloquently, "I'm not sure, really. I guess... forgiveness is just a part of life, and postponing that won't help us get any further into stopping V... er, Wendigo."

Ignoring that small mistake in her sentence, Valice decided to press further. "Really?" she asked, "is that it? You just want to forgive me -- one of the ponies who invaded Canterlot, foalnapped Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and all that other stuff you were listing off -- just because... you want to forgive me? I think there's more to it than that. You want to know something, don't you?"

Twilight bit her lower lip, but nodded. "Yeah," she responded. "I... just... Why would you invade Canterlot, of all places? Sure, there's a lot of love in that area, but I'm sure that there are other places in the world that have more love than Equestria."

Valice shook her head, and sighed. "It's not that easy, Sparkle," she said. "My kind, the changelings, are dying out. The world is already filled with hatred, and with fear, but love? Yeah, there's plenty of love, but not enough for us to live. It's not the amount that matters, but the concentration of it. Hate causes us pain, in large amounts, and we needed a place filled mostly by love in order to counter that." She smiled, sadly. "It just so happens that the highest concentration of love is in Equestria."

Twilight looked at the changeling, then, and let out a sigh of her her own. "But you could have just asked Celestia, and I'm sure she would've-"

"... Let us in? No, I doubt that." Valice glanced away. "Do you know what ponies think of when they see changelings?" Without waiting for a response, she continued. "Fear, and hatred, and anxiety. Our kind causes the opposite of what we want, because everypony who sees us gets so damn paranoid that their neighbor, or their brother, or their uncle, or anypony else is one of us." She ran a hoof down her side, and grimaced. "That's all we bring, and then the windigoes and sleipnirs get all they could want. It's the same principle in Equestria: ponies fear us. Even if we spoke to Celestia -- or, rather, if Chrysalis had the common sense to actually go and talk with her -- I doubt she'd listen."

"That's not true!" Twilight said. "Celestia is the most accepting, compassionate ruler in the world! ... Besides Luna," she added, quickly.

"And you know what?" Valice asked. "You're right. Celestia and Luna are the two most compassionate monarchs in the world, and that's why they would never allow us in. After all, what would their subjects say, unless we get secluded to a certain area?" Her eyes flashed. "We'd be looked at like the diamond dogs, or the hydras, or anything else you can think of: disgusting animals who only care about themselves. Never mind the fact that the job of changelings has always been to spread love, but I guess that Love didn't exactly know what ponies find 'unthreatening'..."

Twilight sighed, and shook her head. "I think you would be found much less threatening if you hadn't invaded Canterlot," she pointed out, her voice bitter. "I still think that Celestia would have allowed you all to enter Equestria -- and to live there in peace, too -- if you'd actually talked to her first, instead of just... well, doing everything you did."

"Again, you're right," responded Valice, "but my point still stands. No matter what you say about this, ponies still hate our kind, and fear us, and everything we do only breeds more of both. Thanks for the apology, really, Sparkle, but that doesn't change anything about this." She stopped then, and shut her eyes, gritting her teeth. "And I should hate all of you, too! You all took away the changelings' only chance to not die out, yet... I can't blame you. I can't blame anypony for this. We were struggling, and we decided to only worsen our situation."

Her eyes opened, then, and she looked back at Twilight. "When this is all done," she said, "I'll see if I can convince Chrysalis to talk to Celestia. But either way, I don't want this kind of thing to happen again. Otherwise, it'll just end in more suffering on both sides."

She stepped away, then, but continued speaking. "Thanks, Sparkle," she said, "for the apology, I mean. Sometimes, the smallest things have great effects, you know? I know that you haven't forgiven us, and that you probably never will, but..." She shook her head. "Anyway, I think I should just... walk by myself for a bit, if you don't mind."

And Twilight didn't even object as Valice continued to walk away, seeming lost in what she'd just been told.

Several hours had passed since Valice and Twilight's conversation, and the changeling had grown bored. Not tired, not exhausted. Bored.

Walking through the seemingly-endless meadow was about as exciting as flying through a clear sky with a light breeze: it wasn't. There were no monsters, no danger, and no excitement in the slightest. Granted, Valice was never one to live for excitement -- that seemed to be Rainbow's shtick -- but having nothing to do, or nothing to worry about in the slightest, was even worse.

All it did was give anypony a false sense of security, before Wendigo, or Deun, or some other really powerful creature would jump out of nowhere and attack them, and Valice hated that. She hated the silence -- even as the ponies talked so idly, with Checkmate and Rainbow still engrossed in their conversation, and several of the others continuing to speak, as well -- that surrounded her, and knew she had to fill it up somehow.

That's when she heard a voice from beside her.

"Hey, er... Valice?" Apple Bloom asked.

The changeling sighed, and rolled her eyes. While she'd never actually spoken to any of the three fillies on their journey, Rarity had told her about them, and about what they would inevitably ask her.

She would have to thank her for that, someday, provided that any of them ever bothered to speak with her again once this quest was over. Even if Twilight had apologized, she could still tell the rage that burned in her eyes against all changelings, so she wasn't particularly optimistic in that regard.

Valice rolled her eyes, once more. "Alright, what is it?"

"Well..." Apple Bloom started, "do changelings get... uh... talent signs?"

At least that was a simple question to answer. "No," she responded, "we're not like windigoes or sleipnirs, either."

"What about when you turn into a pony?" questioned Scootaloo, the orange pegasus cocking her head ever-so-slightly. "Do you get their talents then?"

"No," Valice said, again. "All changelings have the same talent, and that's metamorphosis."

Sweetie Belle placed a hoof on her chin, which was rather impressive considering that they were still walking. "Huh," she said, "so what now?" She turned towards her friends. "I mean, we've already asked Checkmate, we can't even see Dusk's..."

"Well, I have some questions for the three of you," said Valice, and the three looked up at her in surprise. "First and foremost, why are you all so... casual around me? Don't you realize that I'm a changeling?"

"So?" asked Scootaloo, her voice reaching levels of deadpan that brought the smallest smirk to Valice's face, "why should that bother us?"

"Yeah," Apple Bloom stated. "Ya did save Pinkie, after all. Even if yer a changeling, that doesn't change much 'bout how any of us're gonna view ya. Just 'cause Twi' is still mad don't mean the rest of us are."

Sweetie Belle nodded her agreement. "They're right," she said, grinning. "Twilight's only mad 'cause of how personal that wedding affected her, but we're... um... oh, what's the word?"

"Different?" offered Scootaloo, hopefully.

"No, that's not it..." Sweetie Belle removed her hoof. "It was something like that, though..."

Valice smirked, slightly. "I think you're thinking of indifferent," she said.

"Yeah, that's it!" Sweetie said, grinning childishly. "Indifferent! We're completely indifferent!"

Valice chuckled at the filly's smile, as it was the complete opposite of what one would expect from Rarity's sister. Considering how -- in her personal opinion -- polite and well-spoken Rarity was, the bluntness of Sweetie Belle was very refreshing.

Although, that only created another thought for her entirely. They'd all admitted to not caring about that she was a changeling, and that Twilight only cared so much because of what had happened (which, Valice had to admit, was completely terrible on Chrysalis's part). But if that was the case -- if so few ponies really cared as much as the fillies -- could the case really be that the Equestrians didn't truly hold so much against the changelings? That there really could be a chance of them reentering the verdant, beautiful land rather than the dullness of the Mercury Springs?

Could there be a chance that the changelings could, after so long, find creatures who would accept them?

No, that was absurd; a pointless, worthless fancy that would only further hurt their goals. But still, no matter what, it filled her with a newfound hope, even in the pain. Granted, odds were that none of those who were personally involved -- Celestia in particular, although Cadenza, Shining Armor, and possibly Luna -- would never look upon them as anything other than shape-shifters, beasts that lived only to sew despair.

"... Um, Valice?"

She was brought back into the real world by that statement. "Oh, uh, what is it?" she asked Apple Bloom.

"Nothin', really," admitted the youth. "You were jus' starin' off inta space like that, and Ah wanted ta make sure that you were alright."

"O-oh, thanks," said Valice, sheepishly, before another question entered her mind. "Say, I've been meaning to ask... why did you all come along on this quest, anyway?"

Scootaloo sighed, then. "Well we wanted to get our cuti... talent signs," she said, correcting herself, "but we haven't really done anything useful."

"Yeah," sighed Sweetie Belle. "I mean, I wish we could do something to help, but I just feel like dead weight." She grimaced, then, and looked back. "All we've done is had to be protected, but I just wanna do something useful at least once."

"Same," replied Apple Bloom. "I mean... I wanna be like one of those... what're they called? 'Deuce machines'?"

"Deus ex machinas?" said Valice, helpfully, helping them find the correct word for the second time that day.

"Yeah, one of those!" said Apple Bloom, grinning. "Ah just wanna... well, Ah wanna do somethin' useful, no matter what it is. Otherwise, Ah'm just gonna feel like Ah'm sittin' around doin' nothin'."

"Same," said Sweetie Belle, mimicking her friend's statement. "I want to help, too, but... well, what can I do? I mean, yeah, Rarity taught me some self-defense stuff, but what good's that when I can't even hit my targets? Or if it's in not-self defense?"

Valice sighed, and looked at the two fillies, both of whom now looked sad at the revelation that, yes, two children couldn't really do much in a land populated by what were essentially phantoms. "Who knows?" she said, her voice surprisingly warm. "Maybe you both can do something useful to this. Chronos knows that I probably can't..."

Changelings weren't especially strong as it was -- which was the primary reason that Valice taught herself how to fight with two daggers, since they would give her a considerable advantage -- unless they were empowered by love, of course. But a land covered in hatred, filled with rage, pain, and sorrow, would be nearly impossible for her to do anything in. Even moving would be painful for her.

"Even me?" asked Scootaloo, curiously.

Valice chuckled. Why did she find these creatures so endearing? "Yeah," she said, "I'm sure you will."

She stepped away from the three, then (who were now openly debating whether they should change their name to "Talent Sign Crusaders" or keep it as it was), and moved back to walk, alone, along the meadowy path, where she continued somewhat contentedly, a new hope beginning to shine in her mind.

The Shadows Beckon

Several hours had passed since the trek had begun once more, and Checkmate felt anxious. After all, how close were they to Darkfrost, now that so much time had passed? It looked as if there were only a few minutes left, and Rainbow had left to talk with Dusk (something about how terrible losing the ability to fly must be, based on what he overheard).

And yet, the more he walked, the more excited he felt, as well. It was likely because of how close they were to bringing down the tyranny that Wendigo had painstakingly crafted, and restoring Darkfrost to how it was millennia ago, before the bastard could sink his fangs into its history and alter it to his will.

But what could they even do? If they stopped Wendigo -- if they brought and end to his horrid agenda -- would that truly solve any of their issues? Certainly, the production of the Zephyr would completely cease, and that wretched creation of wind and ruin would forever vanish, its denizens free to rest in peace after so many years of torment, but what would it truly do?

Could they truly end the hatred, the horrid anger, that lay so deeply embedded within Darkfrost's history? If Rolan were to become the king, would the ponies of the land -- and the other windigoes, for that matter -- truly accept him, or would his rule be seen as but a repeat of Wendigo's, and the windigoes rebelled against?

Checkmate shook his head, then, and sighed. None of those questions would get them any closer to Darkfrost, and doubting, now, would only bring about their own ruin. He had to act, and there was nothing anypony could claim to change the facts of the matter.

Wendigo had to die. Otherwise, there would be no peace within Darkfrost. All that would remain would be sorrow, and despair, and hatred. No, even if the hatred remained in the aftermath of his destruction, even if nothing changed, Wendigo had to fall.

If he didn't, then the Zephyr would be completed, and the whole world would become like Darkfrost; cold, empty, and filled with pain and sorrow.

The more thought he put into it, the more Checkmate's resolve increased. He knew what had to be done, and he knew what his role in the matter was. The two blades that lay at his sides attested to that fact, even as they lay, silent, watching the events unfold.

Roughly thirty minutes passed before Darkfrost began to come into view. The place was just as Rainbow had remembered it; cold, dark, and filled with snow and ice. The same gray clouds hung overhead, and those high winds still blew at the high altitudes.

"So..." Twilight whispered, "this is Darkfrost?"

"An apt name, indeed," Rarity said, stepping forward to the point where the snow and grass met, and looking at it with disgust. "To think that something this horrendous exists so close to Equestria's border..."

Checkmate nodded. "Horrendous is right," he muttered, before turning back to all the others. "This is the point where our journey is about to reach its peak. As soon as we step onto the snow, and beneath these clouds, we're in Wendigo's domain." He paused, then, and let out a sigh. "If any of you want to just stay here and-"

"No, we don't," interrupted Valice, her voice unsurprisingly deadpan. "I probably speak for everypony here when I say that we all just wanna get in there and help you any way that we can, regardless of the cost. I mean, it's not like I'm gonna enjoy walking into what's basically a place filled with the bane of my existence, but it's better than just sitting around here."

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah," she said, and flew up into the air, "we didn't come all this way just to sit this out! We came here so we could watch you kick Wendigo's flank, and possibly do something to help, too!"

"Same with me," responded Applejack. "'Sides, it ain't gonna be all that bad. Considerin' what we've all had to deal with, t'ain't gonna be nothin' but another journey."

Ignoring the blatant double-negative, Rarity smiled primly. "I feel the same," she said. "After all, you may need a pony with the ability to heal your wounds, and one who can sew up any gashes that may occur. Indeed, in spite of the painful darkness and the affect that this cold shall have upon my beautiful mane, I SHALL TRUDGE ONWARD!"

Fluttershy opened her mouth as if to let out her own mini speech, only for foul laughter to emanate throughout the area.

Oh, my apologies, came a voice, foul and cruel. Am I interrupting anything?

Instantly, everypony whirled around towards where the voice came from, watching as a massive figure materialized in front of them. "How absolutely droll," Wendigo said, smirking. "I never imagined your group to be so poised with such drama, Checkmate."

Nopony spoke as the figure stepped around them, his body stepping from the snow to the grass. And there, in the light, for the first time, Rainbow noticed that something appeared... off about his form, compared to the other windigoes she'd seen in bright areas. She hadn't seen it due to the darkness at the gala, and she'd barely noticed it when they were in Solace, but his flesh seemed almost as if it reflected the light as it hit him, like a mirror.

Could that have been the barrier Checkmate had told them about?

"I must say, I'm impressed that you've made it this far," Wendigo continued, the others watching him warily. "Perhaps you deserve a reward for being so persistent in your approach, and even going so far as to proclaim your desire to continue." He smirked. "I was almost inclined to let you all finish, but I grew so bored with watching you all spout of such useless information. So I prepared a little... something for you."

Again, he was greeted with silence.

He laughed, then. "Truly, it's a shame that you all are so silent, now. Very well, then, I'll show you precisely why I've come here. After all, Checkmate, you must appreciate this, I'm sure."

And then, behind him, a massive... thing began to rise up, and Checkmate's face paled, and Dusk's, as well. "You... no, why would you show anypony this?!" screamed the earth pony, his eyes wide.

"Don't you agree that it's time," Wendigo started, "that I show them the true beauty of the Zephyr?"

The massive, shapeless thing rose up, then, until it was positioned in the sky. It was the height of an average house in Ponyville, and the width of the entire royal palace. It was colored a disgusting mixture of gray, silver, and black, all mixed so that the shimmering of the latter two contrasted with the blandness of the first.

But then, as she looked closer, the truth of the matter struck her. On its sides were things that were forever burnt into Rainbow's mind: faces. Faces that were the same color as the mixture around them, all screaming, with no eyes and mouths agape. Around them were several other appendages that hung out of the blob randomly; legs, tails, horns, wings...

All of them, horrifically, hung off of the monstrous titan's body, but no sounds emerged from it.

"Th-that's the Zephyr...?" gasped Twilight, one of her hooves clamped over her mouth. "You... you would do this to so many ponies...?!"

Valice screamed, then, and fell to the ground, her eyes wide with terror and pain as she wrapped her forelegs around her body. The others ran over to her, then, and she gasped. "Th-this thing..." she coughed, then, "there... there's nothing in... in it but... but hate...!"

"I know," said Wendigo, and his smirk only deepened. "Isn't it absolutely beautiful?"

Rainbow's anger flared up, then, as she stared at the creatures who were undoubtedly suffering. "You... you heartless bastard!"

The lord of ice simply yawned at that. "Is there nothing more you can claim?" he asked. "That's such a tired title that I'm beginning to grow bored of hearing it..."

"You sick son of a bitch!" hissed Dusk. "To desecrate so many souls... Just what the hell do you think you are?!"

Wendigo laughed, then, and his eyes flashed. "Oh, isn't that obvious? I'm a god, and this shall grant me the power to rule this entire world, and everything beyond it!"

"Wendigo!" Checkmate cried, "I promise you this: I'll not stop... I'll never stop until you lay dead!"

The monstrous king's smirk only grew. "Good," he said, "I look forward to our encounter. Once you have mustered up the courage to end me, why not return to the Hellgate Mines? I'll await you within the chamber where all of this began." He turned, then, and began to walk away. "Oh, and in case you're curious as to why I would bother revealing the Zephyr now... I should thank you for all the hatred you have granted me. The power that runs through me now has made me nearly invincible! So come, Checkmate Vigarde! Come and see if you can truly end all of this!"

And then, there, before their eyes, Wendigo vanished once more, his body joining with the air around him, and becoming one with the icy wind. And with him went the Zephyr, the monstrous titan becoming like a black mist before it, too, vanished into the darkness.

"Dammit," hissed Checkmate, before he turned around.

"So that was the Zephyr..." breathed Rarity, her eyes still wide. "I cannot believe such an abomination exists, and those ponies looked like they were in such pain..."

Twilight grit her teeth. "That's disgusting," she muttered. "I don't care anymore if... if... Ugh, that monster!"

"I... ugh... agree with Sparkle's eloquent statement," muttered Valice, still looking as if she was in pain, although managing to keep her voice flat.

Rainbow flew over to the changeling, then, and looked her straight in the eyes. "Are you alright?" she asked, genuinely concerned. Even if Valice was a changeling, and even if what had happened during the wedding still made her feel guilty, she refused to let that stop her from looking at the scout as if she was a monster.

Valice worked her way up, then, her legs shaking. "Y-yeah," she said, "I'm just a bit... a bit shaken, is all."

"Right. Shaken," Twilight muttered. "Valice, you look completely exhausted!"

Valice rolled her eyes, evidently feeling much better. "Don't worry about me..." she said, although she let out a gasp at the end. "I'm just... I'm... I'm fine."

"You sure 'bout that?" Applejack asked, stepping over to her. "That was an awful large amount of hatred fer you ta take."

"Seriously," Valice said, sounding much better, "I'm... I'm alright."

Checkmate sighed, then, and looked back at all of them. "Will you be okay to come along with us?" he asked. "I don't want to risk this again."

"Like I said," snapped Valice, "I'll be fine! Don't worry about me, okay?"

Checkmate shook his head. "Alright, if you say so," he stated, and looked back at Darkfrost, and at where Wendigo had been prior to his exit.

"So," Dusk said, stepping up beside him, "this is it. The final leg of our journey. Are you ready for this, Checkmate?"

Rainbow noticed that he appeared to be contemplating his response, standing still for just a moment before he spoke. "... Yeah," he said, at last, "let's end this, once and for all."

She grinned, then, and flew over next to him. "Like I said, Check --" she grinned "-- I'm gonna be here all the way to the end!"

"Same," said Twilight, "and I'm not about to let anypony change that fact. I made a promise to Princess Celestia that I would accompany you, and I'm not going to back down now."

Rarity stepped up to him, then. "A shame that I already used my own statement that I'd been preparing," she muttered. "However, let it be known that I shan't run. After all, I wish to bring that ruffian to the ground, in order for him to condone for what he has wrought."

Huh, Khaza murmured, I'm wondering why she and Illia haven't spoken, yet.

Because even I can only take a certain portion of politeness, came the reply.

Point taken. Say, I wonder if Rainbow Dash is still looking forward to our race? I should ask her on our way to the Hellgate Mines. Khaza's voice let out a small giggle, then.

Checkmate rolled his eyes. "If you two have something to say, why not say it to all of us instead of using your powers to just talk to me or each other?"

Because this is more fun, remarked Illia. Even regarding Dusk, I am not entirely sure just how much has been altered over the past two millennia. Although I do desire to figure out more of him and what has occurred, I do not feel as if it is the correct time at the moment.

Checkmate didn't have time to respond to that statement, as the three fillies walked up to him. "Yeah!" Sweetie Belle claimed. "This isn't about us trying to get our cuti... talent signs anymore!"

"It kinda is..." Apple Bloom started, only to get cut off by a glare from Scootaloo.

"We're here to do whatever it is we can," said the little pegasus, standing up straight, "and we're gonna do it right!"

Pinkie bounded over to him, then. "The same is with me, Checkie!" she giggled at the rhyme. "I mean somepony's gotta give these Darkfrost-ians the bestest, most funneriffic party that they could want, and I'm just the mare for the job! So let's get this guy good, and let's make this whole town smile!"

Spike and Fluttershy, like on the night he had entered Ponyville, awkwardly swayed from side-to-side. The former coughed, slightly, before he spoke. "Well, I'm not sure what I can do to help," he admitted. "All that I've really done is stand around, sit out battles, and play a game of poker against Lynar." He smiled, slightly, at that memory. "But that doesn't matter, because I'm gonna do what I can, just like how everypony else is. If that involves sitting out any battles, then fine, but if I can do anything to help, then I will!"

Checkmate felt a small grin on his face. "You've really matured, Spike," he said. "I remember when you couldn't even introduce yourself last week because I have all these scars."

"It didn't help that you were pretending you couldn't feel anything," pointed out the baby dragon.

"Yeah, I guess it didn't..." Checkmate shook his head, then, and looked at Fluttershy. "What about you?"

"I-I don't know..." admitted the pegasus. "I-I... What... wh-what can I even do...?"

"You tamed an antlion," Dusk said, helpfully.

"I-I guess, but what about... here?" she glanced, around, her eyes wide with fear.

"Please, the Element of Kindness?" Checkmate asked, stepping around her. "You're just what these ponies need. They need sompony who's strong, and smart, and who can truly care for them."

She blinked at this. "Do you really think that I can...?"

"I'm sure of it," responded Checkmate, warmly. "Like I said, you're just what they need at this time, so I'm sure that you can be of help."

"Th-thanks," Fluttershy said, quietly, "I'll... do my best..."

"That's all I can ask for," Checkmate said, nodding, before he turned back to the other twelve, all gathered, and all looking like they were ready to move out.

"Alright, all of you," he said, "this is it. This is what the past several days have lead up to. We're about to face off with our greatest foe yet, and to bring about peace to Darkfrost. This will be our final battle!"

And then they began, again, on their trek, their hooves now hitting the snow that lay beneath them, and walking towards where the shadows beckoned.

Agonizing Memories

Rolan waited, patiently, his back somewhat slack as he leaned against one of the many rotting houses that littered the streets of Darkfrost. Although Deun had since released him from Wendigo’s prison, he had spent much of his time either speaking with windigoes throughout the Hellgate Mines -- mostly regarding Wendigo himself, as he had prior to having been captured -- or simply standing in that exact location, waiting for Checkmate to eventually make his appearance.

Granted, the former lord of Darkfrost wasn’t entirely certain that his friend could bring an end to Wendigo’s rule, yet he was not ready to surrender what hope remained. Was Checkmate strong? Certainly, but his strength alone was perhaps not enough to guarantee that the foul tyrant would meet his end. But as long as even the smallest glimmer of hope remained, he was not going to stop.

And so, Rolan, while these thoughts plagued him, found himself locked within his own mind as he waited, and allowed himself to be lost within the memories that he had once looked at so fondly.

After all, it wasn’t as if there was any other action that he could take part in.

The day was long, and the air was cool, as Rolan waited, patiently, outside of Khaza’s “castle”. The young queen of Snowfall wasn’t exactly known for her precision when it came to scheduling, and he had since grown used to it as time went on, to the point that he would often just wait wherever she’d left him for hours on end just so that Rolan would not miss her whenever she inevitably would return.

That day, however, was different; certainly, the birds chirped in the trees, and the sunny sky reflected off the beautiful snow-covered ground, it was impossible to deny the difference in atmosphere that lay over the land.

Although Rolan could sense the difference, it wasn’t until the other figure approached him that he understood it for himself.

He was another windigo, somewhat short, but carried himself so that he appeared taller than he truly was. His coat was a similar icy-blue to Rolan’s own, but seemed somewhat paler, as if to accentuate the fact that the new arrival was nearly translucent. “O-oh,” said the other, his voice shaking, slightly. “I’m, uh… I’m sorry if I’m interrupting anything, but Lady Khaza asked me to come here…”

Rolan arched an eyebrow at this statement. After all, Khaza rarely asked for a specific pony to speak with her, instead preferring to talk only with those she deemed trustworthy. Naturally, these were very few and far between, mostly consisting of himself and a few sleipnirs. “Truly?” he asked, somewhat impressed. “Khaza specifically asked to meet with you?”

The other windigo glanced away, and bit down on his lower lip. “Er… Yeah, something like that. I don’t really understand it myself, but…” He shrugged. “Well… uh… anyway, what’s your name?”

“Mine?” replied Rolan, cocking his head, slightly. “I am called Rolan, Khaza’s… acquaintance.” There was no necessity in claiming that he was her closest friend; almost everypony in Snowfall knew that already. “And what is yours?”

The other held out his hoof, obviously expecting Rolan to shake it. “My name?” he asked, slowly. “… Wendigo.”

Rolan blinked. “A windigo… named Wendigo?”

Wendigo chuckled, nervously. “Y-yeah,” he said, “my family wasn’t very creative when naming me, I guess. They just picked the first thing they could think of.” He shuffled, slightly, on his hooves, evidently still nervous.

“Why do you seem so anxious?” Rolan asked, his voice calm. Although he didn’t especially care for how informal and casual this windigo was acting, he wasn’t one to deny a question when it arose.

“It’s just… I…” Wendigo gulped, then, and licked his muzzle. “I’m just a bit nervous, is all. Nothing else, really. I mean, I’ve never met Khaza before, and now she’s just asking for me?”

Rolan had to admit that it was a bit odd. For a pony who had never even spoken to Khaza before to suddenly gain an audience was unheard of, and completely confusing and strange. What was she thinking?

He grimaced, then, as he realized that she’d likely made it up on the fly, so to speak, and had just randomly decided on a pony to speak with.

Sometimes he wondered just what went on in her head, mostly due to the fact that she would often prank him (or, occasionally, those around them) and generally acted rather childish, in sharp contrast to Illia.

“Agreed,” he responded, not meeting Wendigo’s eyes. “It really is rather odd… I hope that Khaza can give a decent explanation on this matter.” Or that she at least would apologize to the young windigo, he mentally added.

The two simply stood, then, awkwardly. They didn’t speak, and they didn’t even meet each others’ eyes, instead preferring to look elsewhere. After awhile, however, a new voice rang throughout the area as a familiar face came running out of the cavern.

“Rolan!” Khaza called, loudly, her voice ringing throughout the area. “Oh, and I see Wendigo’s here, too! Great!”

The other windigo blushed, slightly, and looked away. “Um… y-yeah,” he said, although Rolan could see that he was trying to add an air of formality to his voice that seemed to be sorely lacking, “you asked me to come here, right…? Lady Khaza,” he added at the end, quickly.

Khaza grinned, and stepped over to him. “Of course I did!” she said, not once taking her eyes off of Wendigo. “After all, I have a very, very important job for you.”

Before Wendigo could ask exactly what that was, she spoke, again. “See, Rolan here’s a bit uptight --” she gestured over to him, smirking as she did so “-- and I wanted a pony who help him lighten up a bit.” She chuckled, slightly, at that. “So, to commemorate this, I’ve decided that from this day forward, you, Wendigo, are going to be our new friend!”

“WHAT?!” both of the other windigoes shouted in unison.

Rolan couldn’t even begin to fathom what Khaza was thinking with that. Certainly, he was very formal, but to just randomly befriend a pony -- and to ask them so bluntly, at that -- was absolutely insane.

Khaza giggled, before she continued. “See, I’ve been keeping an eye out on all the windigoes around here,” she started, “and I saw you, Wendigo; you’re friendly, bright, and, best of all, you don’t feel the need to use large words in order to pretend that you’re ‘formal’ or ‘intelligent’.” She winked at Rolan, knowingly, and he flushed. “So I thought to myself: ‘why not add him to our little group of friends?’ Besides, it would help even out the dynamic we’ve got going for us.”

Of all the things that Khaza could have said, nothing made Rolan both simultaneously surprised and annoyed as much as that did. While he couldn’t deny her brilliance, adding Wendigo to their group of friends -- and not knowing him prior to their meeting that day -- seemed to be one of the most idiotic and childish things that she had ever said. And, to add insult to injury, her claim that he was so uptight was completely unjustified, mostly because Rolan knew that he had to protect her, and that he couldn’t risk forming friendships with ponies besides she and the three sleipnirs.

However, he did have to admit that she had a very good point in that assumption of hers, foolish as it may have been; Khaza did need a friend who was as informal as she was, and who could be seen at a moment’s notice. Also, it likely couldn’t hurt, seeing as Wendigo didn’t appear to be dangerous in the slightest.

The windigo in question blinked. “Wh… Wait, a-are you being serious about this, Lady Khaza?” he asked, voice trembling. “I… I mean, I…”

Khaza giggled, again, at the very evident blush that had appeared on Wendigo’s face, made even more obvious by the fact that he was nearly the same color as the snow around them. “Of course!” she said, in her singsong voice that she knew annoyed Rolan to no end.

When he didn’t answer for a few seconds, she added, “So? What do you say?”

“I-I’m…” Wendigo said, and he licked his lips. “… S-sure, I guess…”

Khaza clapped her hooves together, then. “Awesome!” she said. “From this day forward, the three of us shall be friends! This I decree, as Queen Khaza of Snowfall!” She raised her hoof into the air formally, before breaking out into hysterics.

Rolan sighed, and rolled his eyes. He could sense nothing but trouble from this.

“Wh… Me, are you certain?” Rolan asked, standing in the main room of Khaza’s “castle” (which was actually just the area attached to the chamber of the Glacius). “I mean, this is a fairly important choice on your part…”

Khaza nodded, her expression oddly serious. “Hey,” she said, “I did name you as my successor, and I don’t think I’m really cut out for ruling a nation like Snowfall.” The queen yawned, then, and held one of her hooves out. “Besides, you’ve always been better at political stuff than I am.”

Rolan thought this over for a moment. “But didn’t the last king of Snowfall declare that the only way a successor can take the title of the current ruler if they are killed?”

“You’re right,” said Khaza, and she grinned, “but… I’m the queen, y’know? I think they’ll make an exception, especially considering how much everypony here seems to like you.”

Rolan blinked. “Everypony likes me?” he asked, surprised. “Huh, I thought most of them hated me…”

“Ha! How could anypony hate you, Rolan?” asked the current queen, chuckling. “I mean, yeah, you’re a bit uptight, but I think you’re a genius. Smarter than I am, at least.”

“I-I don’t think…”

“Oh, c’mon!” Khaza said. “Who was it who managed to point out the unfairness of our treaty with the Griffin Empire, and get a new one written up? Who beat Lynar in a game of poker?”

Rolan almost interjected to point out that the two statements had absolutely nothing to do with each other, and that the second was primarily based around his luck, rather than his intellect, before Khaza interrupted him. “You did, Rolan,” she said, unnecessarily.

He sighed, then. “… I suppose that you’re not going to take ‘no’ for an answer, are you?” he asked, and sighed once more when she shook her head. “But… allow me this, at least: why not Wendigo?”

In spite of his brashness, their friend had shown an immense intelligence, particularly in politics, which had impressed even he.

Khaza let out a sigh of her own. “Yeah, I know,” she said. “He’s brilliant, but...” She stepped towards him, and placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Well, I’m really not sure, to be honest. I mean, yeah, he’s a genius, but I think it’s more that I’ve known you for longer, and that I can pretty much crawl into your head, and understand just what you’re thinking. It’s not that I trust you more than him; I just know, for a fact, that you’d make a better ruler.”

“That… makes no sense,” Rolan said, not bothering that hide his feelings, “but I think I can understand your logic. Somewhat.” He rubbed the back of his head with his hoof. “But what if I don’t accept?”

Khaza nodded. “I figured you’d ask that,” she admitted, “and I’m not gonna say, ‘Rolan, you have to do this,’ or something like that. If you don’t accept, then I’m not gonna challenge you on it; it’s your choice.”

That was precisely what he wanted to hear on the matter, so Rolan looked up, then, and smiled. “Very well,” he said, “I accept.”

The sextet of creatures sat around a low table, looking each other with eyes ablaze, attempting to find any sign of weakness that could be located on their foes in their heated battle.

“Full house!” Lynar announced, cheerfully, as he lay his cards -- consisting of three kings and two aces -- down onto the table.

The rest of the group let out a simultaneous groan of annoyance as the sleipnir took his winnings for the fifteenth game in a row.

“Ugh, I knew we shouldn’t have accepted…” muttered Khaza, her head in her hooves. Even the spirit of the Glacius was not immune to Lynar’s ridiculous luck.

The sleipnir flashed her a winning smile, then, and began to deal out the cards once more. “Well, maybe you shouldn’t have offered a game, Khaza,” he responded.

Cora sighed. “Would you believe that this isn’t the most he’s won?” she grumbled, but didn’t wait for a response. “We’ve gone fifty-seven games, once…”

“Fifty-eight, actually,” Illia said, her face now completely focused on the cards she now held, studying them intently. “Although, I cannot deny that there was the time, once, when Rolan bested Lynar. How long ago was that, again?”

“Too long,” Khaza muttered, darkly, keeping her eyes on her cards.

Wendigo nodded. “Yeah,” he said. “That was… what, four-hundred years ago? Not too long after you met me, right, Khaza?”

“Indeed,” Rolan said, and spoke no more.

The cards met the table, once more, and Lynar let out a bark of triumphant laughter. “Ha! Four-of-a-kind!” he shouted, gesturing to the three queens and two jacks that adorned his side of the table. “Guess I win again, huh?”

The sleipnir reached into the middle of the table, then, and grabbed his winnings, much to the annoyance of his opponents.

“Dammit,” Khaza hissed, “this is ridiculous!”

Cora grit her teeth. “I know!” she shouted.

“I think you are all getting a bit too excited over a poker game,” said Rolan, chuckling slightly. “It’s just a game of chance; it’s not as if the world is at stake.”

Illia grinned. “That is an excellent point, Rolan,” she responded. “Perhaps Khaza was right to put you in charge of Snowfall, after all… You’re far more level-headed than she.”

Wendigo smirked. “Honestly, Khaza, it’s just a game.” He ignored her rage-filled eyes, and chuckled. “It’s a bit like a game of chess, in that regard.”

“How so?” asked Lynar, bemused.

Wendigo simply flashed him a small smile, and said, “You see, Lynar, chess is a game of intellect; a game of knowledge. You must know your opponent, recognize their next move, and throw them into a trap of your own.” He lay down his own hand, then, for the round had yet to truly end. “And by taking my queen, I have stolen your king.”

He lay the cards down, then, as the others gawked in surprise at his hand. “Royal flush,” Wendigo announced, smirking.

“What!” Lynar gasped.

Khaza laughed, clapping her forelegs together, and Cora joined in, as well. “Whaddaya think of that, Lynar?” the former queen of Snowfall shouted.

Rolan leaned back, smirking to himself. Very few ponies had ever bested Lynar in a game of chance; the sleipnir’s luck was infamously ridiculous, and his ability only made him even better. However, Wendigo had bested him already, and had provided quite an interesting speech, too.

He truly was brilliant, and knew just how to make an entrance. Rolan knew, then, just who to make his successor.

It was at that moment, however, that a new figure burst into the room. He was a windigo, and was somewhat short compared to the others -- save Wendigo, of course -- but he stood with his back somewhat straight, even as he rushed into the chamber.

The young windigo let out a gasp, trying to catch his breath. “L-Lord Rolan!” he breathed, “m-my apologies if I’m interrupting anything, but…” He coughed, and tried to make himself seem taller than he was, before he continued, only to be cut off by Wendigo.

“Say, Deun,” he said, cheerfully, “good to see you! Why don’t you join us?”

Deun flushed, then, and looked away. “I-I, er…” he stated, eloquently. “I… I was given a message for Lord Rolan Rimeheart.”

Illia shot the king of Snowfall a glance. “’Rimeheart’?”

Rolan shrugged. “I desired a title that I could use,” he said. “’Lord Rolan’ sounds somewhat bland on its own.”

He looked over, then, at Deun. “But I see that you’re playing the part of the messenger. Alright, what is it that you wish to tell me?”

The young private stepped in place a bit, and cleared his throat. “I-I… you’ve received a request to be met, Sir,” he stated, slowly, and licked his lips, “by… by Lord Chronos.”

There was silence, then, for several minutes. Lord Chronos desired to see Rolan? But why? What reason could there possibly be for such a meeting? Rolan wasn’t particularly important; Snowfall was only a small nation near Equestria, after all, and the windigoes were not known nearly as well as anypony could hope, instead being thought of as mere apparitions throughout much of the world, rather than actual creatures.

“… Thank you,” he said, at last, and nodded to Deun. “You are dismissed.”

“Actually, hold on a moment!” Wendigo said, and he grinned. “If you’re gonna be gone for awhile, Rolan… mind if we have Deun fill in for you?”

The younger windigo flushed, again, clearly not used to being looked at like that. “Erm…” he started, “I’m… not sure if I…”

“That’s a good idea,” agreed Cora, ignoring Deun. “I mean, we could get a bit lonely here without you…” she added, teasingly, having evidently forgotten her outrage towards Lynar.

Khaza chuckled. “I don’t have any complaints about it.”

“Same,” responded Lynar, still looking somewhat annoyed over his loss.

Deun was clearly trying to make himself look smaller than he was, before he said. “W-well, I’m not sure what the soldiers back at the barracks will say about it…”

“Just tell ‘em it’s a direct order from Lord Rolan Rimeheart!” said Wendigo, still grinning. “I don’t think any of them’ll deny you, then.”

“Okay… if you say so,” Deun said, nervously, before sitting down at the spot that Rolan had now left.

The king of Snowfall chuckled, then, looking over the small recruit. He had heard much about him from several of the more famous generals, especially of his intellect, skill, and speed, but of his low self-esteem and general shyness around ponies.

He couldn’t wait to see just what an incredible soldier Deun would become, once he was helped with the latter two, and left as the young windigo began to draw cards from the pile, his hooves shaking as he did so.

The royal palace, situated in the young, thriving village known as “Canterlot”, sat, piercing the sky with its tallest spire, a marvel for all to see, and that would likely last forever.

Rolan stood amongst it all, awkwardly, as he waited within the main lobby, the massive door that guarded the throne room shut so tightly that not even the smallest sliver of wind could escape nor enter.

He felt anxious, nervous, at the very idea that he could be meeting with the famous Lord Chronos, king of time itself, and the god whom others bowed their heads to in respect. Rolan couldn’t even begin to fathom the reason why such a magnificent and powerful being would desire to meet with him, who simply stood as the king of a newer, non-famous race. As these thoughts bombarded him, he felt his legs acting on their own, and began to pace to-and-fro, slowly, deliberately, whilst his legs shook.

What could it be about? Could it be due to Khaza suddenly granting him the title of “King”? Could it be because Lord Chronos felt he was unworthy of such a role?

What possible reason could there have been for the god of time to ask to speak with him?

At last, after several minutes -- which felt stretched into hours -- of simply walking around the lobby, the door to Lord Chronos’s chamber opened, the massive oak doors swinging back to reveal a place filled entirely with light.

Two soldiers, an earth pony and a unicorn, stepped from the light, their bodies covered in gleaming, golden armor. “Lord Rolan Rimeheart of Snowfall,” the earth pony stated, his voice deep, “Lord Chronos shall now speak with you.”

“Indeed,” stated the other, her voice higher-pitched. “Follow us, if you will, and we shall lead you to him.”

Without awaiting his response, the two guards turned away, stepping back and into the light behind them. Rolan followed, despite his instincts telling him otherwise, that something terrible was to happen.

And then, his body hitting the sheet of light, the room behind him vanished, and the room before him emerged. It was, evidently, Lord Chronos’s throne room, the color blue, and the walls covered in several stained-glass windows that depicted his victories over monsters, and his son’s and daughter’s victories, as well. All of them allowed a beautiful, wondrous light to radiate into the long chamber, and made Rolan feel immensely small in comparison. But nothing made him feel smaller than the figure before him.

There, sitting upon the largest throne, was the figure that he had been seeking. Lord Chronos was tall, his body no less than eight feet in height, and his eyes filled with nothing but a strange compassion. He was stark white in color, the same as a blank canvas, with several black signs adorning his figure, each representing a number on a clock. His wings were pulled in towards his sides, while his horn radiated magic from where it lay on his forehead, nearly covered by his gray mane.

Beside him sat the young, beautiful princess of Equestria, Celestia, who appeared to be somewhat small, as well, and looked about as nervous as Rolan felt at the moment. She was seated upon a smaller throne, and was desperately avoiding Rolan’s gaze, instead focusing upon the windows, the two guards who had brought him in, and Lord Chronos, himself.

The god of time stood, his presence seeming to overtake the entirety of the chamber. “It is a pleasure to meet you, truly,” he stated, in a voice that Rolan could not even begin to identify; it was soft, yet powerful, and warm, while still showing restraint. It could hardly be described as anything but “deep” and “powerful”.

Rolan could feel tension in his throat, closing it up. He tried to speak, but nothing would leave except for the sounds of small squeaks and quiet gasps. At last, after several minutes of the four figures in the room staring at him, all seeming unable to understand his appearance, he was able to blurt out, “VERILY, ’TIS A PLEASURE TO MEET THOU, AS WELL!”

It was fantastic that he had allowed himself the chance to discover how, exactly, to use the so-called “Royal Canterlot Voice” while traveling from Snowfall. However, the effect of what he said was not what he had in mind.

Princess Celestia looked him over for a few moments, biting down on her lower lip while tears began to form in her eyes. Had he offended her, somehow? Had he caused her any stress, or pain?

And then, in that instant, she started to laugh. Not a dignified laugh, as one would expect from a princess, but rather she fell off of her throne, clutching at her stomach while she showed her mirth at that statement. “Th-that’s…” she said, and was unable to continue that statement.

Rolan flushed, knowing that he had obviously already made a massive error in speaking with that tone.

“Th… I don’t…” laughed the princess, unable to contain herself.

Even Lord Chronos and the two stone-faced guards below him seemed unable to keep their laugher in check, with the dignified, calm face that he was so known by nearly shattering as they all laughed at Rolan’s plight, his cheeks now a bright red.

Once Lord Chronos had composed himself, he coughed, loudly. “Ahem, yes,” he said, struggling to retake his flat expression. “Lord Rolan, you must know that the Royal Canterlot Voice is only to be used in public, and only to convey our strength and position to the ponies around us, no?”

Princess Celestia still laughed, albeit not as hard as before. “Th… I don’t think that was used in proper vernacular…” she said, giggling. She reminded him of Illia, somewhat, in that regard.

The guards had since regained their stolid, flat faces, yet were very clearly trying not to break out of that façade they had formed. The unicorn looked to be having the hardest time, constantly looking away from him, while the earth pony’s eyes seemed to be watering.

“O-oh,” he said, sheepishly, “I… apologize, then, if I may.”

Lord Chronos nodded. “But of course,” he said. “It is only natural for a pony not from Equestria to be unfamiliar with our customs. Besides,” he added, with a small smile, “I don’t believe I’ve seen my guards nearly double over in laughter for years. You must be commended for that, at the very least.”

Trying to change the subject quickly, Rolan said, “Lord Chronos, what is it you desire to ask of me?”

Lord Chronos nodded, once more. “I see that you are straight to the point,” he mused. “Very well, in that case, I shall tell you what you desire to know.” He nodded to the guards in front of him. “Captain Oceana, Lieutenant Gild,” he stated, “you two may leave us.”

The duo nodded, and, wordlessly, exited the chamber through the door that opened into the curtain of light.

The king of time looked towards Rolan, then. “Lord Rolan Rimeheart,” he said, “you have been called here by I, Lord Chronos, king of Equestria, in order for me to make a simple request of you: I would ask that you -- and the rest of the windigoes, for that matter -- allow Snowfall to be made into a province of our nation.”

Rolan’s heart stopped at that. Becoming a province of Equestria, one of the most powerful nations in the world? It was an astounding opportunity. Yet that left one question, and it was the one that he truly wanted answered. “And… what is the benefit to Snowfall in the case that I accept?”

“I realized that you were likely to ask that question,” admitted Lord Chronos, and he nodded. “I… cannot guarantee that much will change in how Snowfall is, as a nation, yet I can say, with full confidence, that I shall do everything in my power to benefit the ponies, windigoes, and other species who live there.”

Rolan blinked. “’Benefit the windigoes?’” he asked, quietly. “Most creatures outside of Snowfall do not know of our existence, and the few that do believe us to be monstrous creatures who sow the seeds of hatred purely for the purpose of reaping its rewards for ourselves. In that case, however, why would you ever desire to assist our kind?”

“Because, Lord Rolan,” came a new voice, one that was calm, and polite, yet oddly cold, “Chronos and I both desire to see the windigoes rise to their full potential, and that cannot be done unless they are given aid.”

A new figure stepped forward. He was an alicorn -- or, at the very least, he held the appearance of one -- and was at least as tall as Lord Chronos. He was a deep, dark purple in color, with red mixed in to add detail, with a black mane. The alicorn’s entire body seemed to have been formed out of some kind of steel, and his wings were like flames that danced across his back.

“My apologies for being late, Chronos,” he said, somewhat casually. “I had some difficulty arriving here on schedule.”

“I suppose so,” said Lord Chronos, ignoring that his title had been forgotten. “Please, come and join us, Hatred.”

Rolan’s heart nearly stopped, again. The abstract force who represented pure hate, yet who seemed almost devoid of it himself, and the creator of the windigoes, stood before him. “Very well,” Lord Hatred said, mimicking Lord Chronos’s speaking patterns. “I’ve no objections in regards to that.”

The lord of hatred stepped up, then, and stood at Lord Chronos’s side, the opposite position of Princess Celestia.

Rolan gulped, then. “Um…” he started, his voice eloquent, “I…”

Princess Celestia smirked at his predicament. “Huh,” she said, “I didn’t realize that a windigo’s face could get that red.”

“Celestia,” Lord Chronos said, sharply, “please do not cause any more stress for Lord Rolan than is necessary. I do not desire to cause him any difficulty on this matter.” He looked towards Rolan, then, and sighed. “Forgive my daughter,” he mused, “she is… rather new to politics. But, rather than dwell into my daughter’s past, allow me this: have you made your decision?”

Rolan sighed, and looked away. If he didn’t watch either Lord Hatred or Lord Chronos, he figured, that would likely make it far easier for him to answer. “… No,” he admitted, “I haven’t. However, before all of this is over, Lord Chronos allow me a question.”

“Ask as many questions as you require,” replied the king of Equestria.

Rolan nodded. “Very well,” he said. “What if I decline your offer? What, in that case, would you say?” It had worked before on Khaza, after all. There was no reason why it shouldn’t have worked on Lord Chronos.

As if on cue, he nodded in reply. “You have every right to decline,” he said, attempting to meet Rolan’s eyes. “I do not desire to inconvenience you in any way, in the case that you do.”

Rolan nodded, again. “Very well,” he repeated, and met Chronos’s eyes. “Then I cannot accept your offer.”

Silence took hold of the throne room, as the four ponies within allowed that question to sit for a moment. Princess Celestia’s eyes were wide and her jaw had dropped in shock at the prospect of denying her father, Lord Chronos was silent, staring into Rolan’s eyes, and Lord Hatred stood, his eyes wide, as well.

“May I ask… why?” Lord Chronos asked. His tone was not angry, nor annoyed, but genuinely curious.

“Lord Hatred is right,” replied Rolan, quietly. “The windigoes -- as they stand, now -- are weak. Our kind isn’t particularly dangerous, or powerful, and we are far from our maximum potential.” He shook his head, then, and sighed. “However, allowing another nation to take us, to add us to their ranks, would do nothing for our kind. We have to get more powerful, and more prosperous, not by your merits, though it pains me to say, but by our own.”

Lord Hatred was silent for a moment, before a small smile crossed his lips. “Didn’t I tell you, Chronos?” he asked, the formality he had once held slipping away.

“I suppose so,” replied the king of Equestria, and he sighed, turning his head back towards Rolan. “You have brought up a very good argument, Lord Rolan, and I cannot claim otherwise. But you are wrong on one matter.”

Rolan cocked his head at this, curiously. “What is that?”

“The windigoes are not weak,” Chronos said. “You showed us that, just now.”

“Yeah, he did, didn’t he?” laughed a new, more feminine voice.

Lord Hatred’s hoof fell just short of his forehead. “Of course you would be eavesdropping, wouldn’t you?” he muttered. “You really must stop being so nosy, Fear.”

Immediately as these words left his mouth, the air around them changed, and a sleipnir stepped from it. She was tall, around Princess Celestia’s height, and had a dark red coat with a rust-colored mane.

“I dunno about that,” said the avatar of fear. “I mean, when two of the most powerful creatures in existence decide to gather together in order to talk to some windigo, who am I to stay away?” She jumped right in front of Rolan, then, startling him. “Ha! So you’re Rolan, right? My name’s ‘Fear’, queen of terror, nightmares, and all that other crap.”

“Fear!” Lord Chronos shouted, annoyed, “can you not still your tongue? We’re in the middle of an important talk, here!”

Fear giggled. “Oh, c’mon, now, Chronos!” she said, smirking. “It’s not like any of us are gonna judge you, ya know. You can drop that ‘high and proper’ act of yours.”

Rolan looked to Lord Hatred for an answer to what was happening, and he sighed. “This is Fear, as you can likely guess,” he grumbled. “My sister, to be specific, and likely the most annoying creature ever to walk upon the ground.”

Fear sighed, and straightened her back. “And you, Hatred,” she said, her voice losing its airiness, and becoming almost serious, “can stop acting like the world revolves around you. Honestly, ‘Lord’ Hatred? ‘Lord’ Chronos? Please. I don’t make ponies call me ‘Lady Fear’, do I? Sheesh, you two need to stop being so uptight about everything for once in your eternal, never-ending lives.”

“Wh… Fear!” Lord Hatred shouted, his face red.

Rolan, then, began to laugh, watching the antics that occurred before him, and felt a strange joy overtake him. Maybe it was because Fear had a decent point in that regard, or perhaps it was due to Lord Hatred seeming to shed his more dignified persona in order to scold his sister, but he didn’t quite care.

As soon as he stopped laughing, however, Rolan cleared his throat. “I trust this conversation of ours is over?” he asked. “Because if so, I would ask if I might take my leave.”

“Really, you’re leaving so soon?” Fear asked, and she sighed. “I didn’t scare you off, did I? ‘Cause, ya know, I’m kinda good at that…”

“F-Fear!” Lord Hatred shouted, annoyed, “leave R… Lord Rolan to his peace, so that he may return to Snowfall!”

Lord Chronos sighed, and began to rub his temples. “Yes, Rolan, this meeting has ended. If you desire, you may return home.”

Rolan smiled, slightly. “Good,” he said. “I may make it in time to finish that poker game…”

Fear instantly looked up. “What’s this about a ‘poker game’?” she asked, curiously.

Rolan sighed, knowing that he would have to answer. “A friend of mine -- several friends, I should say -- hold a game of power sometimes, provided that the six of us are free.”

“Well,” Fear said, grinning, “mind if I join you? I could go for a game of poker at the moment…”

“I-I’m not sure that they would…” Rolan started, only to trail off once Lord Hatred looked up.

The avatar of hate nodded his head. “Perhaps, if you don’t mind, I wish to join, as well,” he said, taking on his more formal demeanor. “At this point, I haven’t much I can accomplish, given that I effectively only sit back and watch the windigoes grow. It could be intriguing, this game of chance, I mean.”

“Oh, can I come, too?” asked Princess Celestia, jumping up. “This place is really boring, at least right now, but you seem pretty cool, Rolan! Mind if I come, too?”

“B… I…” Rolan could say literally nothing at the moment, his mind blank and his eyes wide. The very idea that anypony would actually want to play poker against Lynar was astonishing.

Lord Chronos stood up, and smiled. “If this poker game is to be that exciting,” he said, “perhaps I should join, as well. I expected our session to last longer, so I scheduled seven hours of speaking, and I’ve not anything else to do between now and then…”

If it wasn’t for the fact that Rolan was extremely excited about that idea, he would have passed out, then-and-there. At last, however, he was able to compose himself. “W-well,” he said, “I just want to warn all of you… you’ll be playing against one of the luckiest stallions in the entire world, so…”

Fear grinned. “Please, I doubt he’s that good.”

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?! screamed Fear, as Lynar collected his winnings for the eighty-third time that night. "Dammit, Lynar!"

The young sleipnir wore a smile that blended both complete innocence with complete evil. "I don't know what you're talking about, Fear," he replied, and smiled at all the others around him. "Say, any of you want to go for another round?" Before waiting for a response, he shuffled the deck -- using two, now, due to there being too many ponies to play with just one -- and dealt out the cards.

"Dammit, his luck is ridiculous," Fear muttered, ignoring that she'd blatantly refused to listen to Rolan, earlier.

Cora grit her teeth. "I know, right?!"

"Wendigo, you'd better get another royal flush!" Khaza snapped, glaring at the small windigo.

"Yes, Khaza," he replied, "I should just pull a complete victory out of thin air, like how most ponies do."

Hatred laughed, looking surprisingly joyful at this. "Well, I'm certainly glad I decided to join you in your game," he declared, having dropped most of his formal tone, and had instead taken upon himself his more casual, less dramatic true personality. "This is far better than simply standing back and doing nothing."

"I'm pretty sure just about anything is better than simply watching time flow by," replied Illia, her eyes affixed to the cards that she held, and she sighed. "However, I must say that the prospect of being no more than a watcher is truly a wretched ideal; I believe it is best that you decided to join us in our game, Hatred. And the rest of you, as well."

"It's certainly made it more interesting," added Wendigo. "Especially watching you all be so surprised when Lynar wins... again." He said the last word completely casually, not even having a single touch of venom to it as he spoke.

When the five of them had arrived in Snowfall to join the game, the other six -- including Deun, who rarely spoke to them throughout it -- had reacted precisely as one would have expected: they all were worried, and spoke with such formality that the four gods had since asked them to stop. After that, even their titles were null, and they simply all sat around the table, the eleven of them having to squeeze in, slightly, as they played their game of chance.

Princess Celestia was oddly quiet, focusing on the cards she held using her magic with immense intensity. "This is fun," she said, "and I wish I'd known about all of this earlier. We should do this more often!"

"Yeah," Fear said through grit teeth, "maybe one of us'll actually manage to freaking beat Lynar."

"I don't know about that," responded Khaza, and she lay down her hand. Not nearly enough to win. "Wendigo beat him, earlier."

"What! Are you serious?!"

"Yeah. It was pretty amazing," Cora said, and she sighed. "I think I'm running out of things to bet..."

"Same here," replied Hatred. "I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this..."

Illia sighed. "Well," she said, matter-of-factly, "we have reached round eighty-four, as it were, so I would imagine that we cannot continue for far longer than this."

Chronos chuckled, and Rolan noted how odd it was to see such a powerful creature being so informal, and so casual, and calm around other ponies such as they. It was somewhat humbling. "Well, I have little left that I can bet," he admitted, "and I do not desire to be forced to use any of the national treasury in order to continue our game."

The others let out a small laugh at that, and Lynar grinned, laying down his hand. "Well, guess I'm walking away as our champion. Again."

Fear rubbed her temples, muttering under her breath about how much she wanted to rip Lynar apart. Meanwhile, Rolan noticed that the others had all been studying their cards, as if trying to figure out if what they held was anywhere near as valuable as what Lynar had laid down, but Rolan knew better than to challenge him; not once during their entire game had Lynar needed to use his talent, after all, and he was still the victor so many times, only proving his completely improbable luck in the matter of... everything.

"No, Fear, I will not accept 'your soul' as a bet," Lynar said, dryly, bringing Rolan back to reality.

"But I don't have anything else on me!"

"And whose fault is that?"

"Yours," said everypony, all completely deadpan. Even Deun, the nervous, shy little creature, had spoken, albeit quietly.

Instantly, the room broke out into laughter, the eleven creatures -- from the smallest to the largest -- burst out into peals of mirth at their combined statement, which was so perfectly timed that it may as well have been planned. Even Lynar couldn't resist the joy that seemed to surround them, doubling over on the table as he nearly choked.

Rolan allowed himself a small smirk, looking over the group. This easily had to be one of the greatest things he'd ever had the pleasure of witnessing, and simply seeing the joy felt by the ponies all around him was wonderful. If he could capture any moment forever, and know that it had happened, that simple game of poker would most certainly have been it.

He wanted every day to be as great as that one, but knew that such a thing would be impossible. After all, had he been able to guess what was to happen in only a century, perhaps he would not have claimed such a thing, after all.

Nearly a century had passed since Rolan had declined Chronos's request -- as they had long since dropped their titles -- and he had made good on his goal to make Snowfall a beautiful, prosperous nation. Certainly, it was nowhere near as wondrous as Equestria, yet that did not matter to him; as long as its citizens were happy, the windigoes were getting by, and the lands around them saw them as a viable threat and chose not to invade, Rolan was satisfied.

It was a slow day, certainly, and he stood in what Khaza had once called her "castle"; a small cavern connected to the chamber that had once held the Glacius. Nopony had come to meet him for days, save Wendigo and Khaza, and even fewer had requested anything of him that was in his power to act upon.

However, he was still happy, and, as Wendigo stepped into the throne room, he knew he would be even happier.

"Wendigo," he said, "how are you?"

His friend nodded, but his eyes looked somewhat forlorn. For just a moment, he was silent. "... Lord Rolan Rimeheart," he stated, slowly, "I, Wendigo, have come to challenge you for the right to rule Snowfall."

Rolan felt a chill run down his spine. Had it been any other day, or had Wendigo's tone not been so quiet, he would have believed it to have been a joke, but with the current circumstances, he could not deny the obvious intent in the windigo's eyes. "Whatever for?" he asked.

Wendigo met his eyes, then, and he saw a strange coldness in them. "No true reason," he replied. "I simply desire to see you dead."

"Wh-what?!" Rolan gasped, only to stop, as he felt something pierce his chest, and let out a scream of agony as he fell to the ground.

"Such a fool," muttered Wendigo, stepping around him. "You really assumed that any of that idiotic 'friendship' was out of a mutual desire for companionship? Please. I played my cards right, and I mastered this game; I convinced Khaza to befriend me, you to befriend me, and was even able to get Chronos and Hatred on my side, as well. Ha! You truly are fools to have all fallen for such a trick." Rolan could see, out of the corner of his eye, that Wendigo held two daggers; one was the color of obsidian, and the other was nearly transparent.

He leaned down, then, and placed his face close to Rolan's, smirking. "Especially you, Lord Rolan Rimeheart. Naming me your successor has just now backfired quite horribly, hasn't it?" he laughed, humorlessly. "And now here you are, dying on the ground, like the worthless, useless, damned fool that you are!"

And then, there was the feeling of something sharp in between Rolan's shoulder blades, and the world around him turned dark.

Rolan stood, his back still against the building, quietly, as he waited. All of those memories had once been things that he loved, and that he looked at with such joy; his two closest friends, however, had been snatched away from him. One had fallen into evil, and had sated his monstrous appetite with blood. The other had been locked away, forced to take upon herself another form, and left in the snow to lay in pain.

However, Rolan had yet to give up hope. Although he doubted that it could be true, he still hoped, prayed, that there was still some scrap of compassion within Wendigo's frozen heart, no matter what had occurred. He couldn't deny that he hated the bastard, but there was still that desire to know precisely what had happened, and what had caused him to kill so readily.

They couldn't change the past, but they could still alter the future, and make it brighter, and better than what had already transpired. The Wendigo he had once known no longer existed, he had told himself, and there was nothing that could be done except for learning the truth.

And then -- only then, once the truth was discovered -- could they truly bring an end to Wendigo's foul regime.

And the nation could finally become Snowfall once again.

The Bitter Cold

Darkfrost was not somewhere that Twilight could easily describe. Certainly, it was dark, and there was ice everywhere, which probably contributed to its name, but there was something so completely alien, and strange, and just, overall, different about the befouled nation that made her feel sick just to look it over.

Maybe it was the sheer feeling of loneliness, of abandonment, of pain in the air that almost overtook her as she walked across the frozen sheet that coated the earth.

Maybe it was the fact that this place nearly looked like what Nightmare Moon had sought to create; an endless, eternal night, but with there still being a small amount of sunlight, and snow that covered everything.

Or, maybe, it was neither of those, and instead lay in what she had since learned. Everything -- the knowledge of the calaverns, her theory that the Catalyst was truly Velios, seeking vengeance for... whatever it was -- had been weighing her down ever since the night prior, and her hurried apology to Valice hadn't made it any easier.

Asgard had told her to use the information he'd given her to help best Wendigo, but how could she, given the circumstances? If she said that the Catalyst was real, and then told her friends that Asgard had been the one to grant her that information, how would they respond? Would they believe her, or would they simply think it was a dream, or would they choose not to trust anything that the sleipnir had to say?

And then the second point of her revelation -- of what she supposed was the Catalyst's real identity -- was something that she simply could not tell anypony. None except for Dusk, at the very least, and there would be no chances to tell him, given how close they were to the end of their journey, and how there did not seem to be any time that the two could speak in private.

Twilight let out a quiet sigh, trying not alert anypony around her to her presence, as she stepped over the snow. No matter what, she couldn't say what she'd learned. Otherwise, it was likely that nopony would believe her.

She was quickly torn away from her thoughts as she heard Pinkie's teeth begin to chatter. "Wow!" she gasped, shivering as she bounded through the snow. "Th-this place is r-really... c-cold!" In spite of what she was claiming, the young mare was still grinning widely.

Checkmate breathed out, and Twilight could see his breath in the air. "Of course," he muttered, although he seemed unaffected by the chilling air. "Wendigo wouldn't have it any other way."

"But... don't'cha guys think it's not that bad?" Rainbow asked, flying a bit above them, scouting out the location of the Hellgate Mines. "I mean, yeah... it's cold, but it's not, well, freezing, or anything."

Pinkie grinned, her teeth chattering. "U-um, y-yeah," she said. "But it's still... a bit chilly, wouldn't'cha all say?"

Dusk looked over at her, and nodded. "'A bit chilly' doesn't even begin to describe it," he said, and sighed. "Wendigo specifically designed the airflow of this place with two things in mind: one, making it possible for ponies to survive here without the worry of frostbite, but still cold enough that they suffer, and two --" he looked away, and let out another visible sigh "-- he covered the sky in clouds, leaving only the faintest amount of sunlight into the land. Day and night are nearly indistinguishable, and the only way to tell is that night is only slightly darker."

Applejack arched an eyebrow. "You seem ta know quite a bit 'bout this place," she observed. "Ya been here before, Ah reckon. A few times?"

"Yeah," said the mercenary, and he held up Constellation, "I've been here a few times in my life." Naturally, as was befitting him, Dusk said nothing more. "And what about all of you?" he asked. "I'm sure that Checkmate's not the only one who's come here."

Rainbow flew down, then, and began to walk next to him. "Yeah," she said, "but... I think I'm the only one, right?"

Rarity nodded, and she smiled. "Indeed. If it had not been for her, I highly doubt that Checkmate could possibly survived his excursion."

"O-oh, well... I'm not sure if I was that important..." Rainbow said, bashfully, her face having turned a bit red at this claim of her heroism. An odd reaction, given how common it was for her to burst out claiming just how "awesome" she was.

"She's right," Sweetie Belle said, smiling slightly. "If it wasn't for Rarity, Twilight, and you, Rainbow Dash, I don't think this journey would've ever kicked off!" She leaned in towards Dusk, then, and whispered. "I mean, you should've seen just how big that cut on his back was..."

Dusk looked over at Checkmate, and stared at the cloak he wore with interest. "Really?" he asked, curiously. "Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen you without that cloak of yours..."

Checkmate grimaced, and held up a cloth-covered hoof. "I doubt that you'd want to," he said, his voice serious.

"Can't be any worse than I am," responded the mercenary, running a hoof over his charred, scar-covered side. "Can't even see my talent sign anymore."

"Ya know, Ah've been meanin' ta ask..." Apple Bloom said, suddenly beside Dusk. "Jus' what is yer cu... talent sign s'posed ta be?"

Dusk looked down at her. "I'm not entirely certain how to describe it," he mused. "It's fairly complicated. Not what it represents, of course, but its appearance is simply... interesting, to put it mildly."

Scootaloo instantly flanked him on his other side, Rainbow Dash having retaken her position in the air. "Well?" she asked, curiously. "What does it mean? Is it like, swordplay? No, wait, that's Checkmate... Oh, maybe it's magic-swordplay!"

Sweetie Belle had joined in the two, standing beside Apple Bloom. "Or maybe..." she started, before she looked him over, "it's supposed to mean that he's really, really strong!"

Dusk looked around him, trapped in between three of the most curious creatures he would likely meet in his entire life. "Um," he started, clearly not knowing how to respond to the three fillies suddenly gaining an interest in what his talent sign was meant to portray. However, he seemed to have quickly regained his composure, as he said, "Actually, it's none of those."

"Then... what is it?" Apple Bloom asked.

Twilight chuckled to herself, as she watched Dusk fumble around for an answer. "... It represents more than simply my strengths," he replied, and he looked away from the three fillies. "It represents my standing; what I did before I was forced to take on the form of a unicorn."

"And what's that?" prompted Scootaloo.

Dusk sighed, and smiled, slightly. "You'll have to see for yourselves," he replied, and looked over at Twilight. "That's one of the joys of life, isn't it? Discovering things for yourself, rather than having others spoon-feed them to you."

Scootaloo sighed. "You say that a lot," she muttered.

"Yeah, I guess I do." Dusk was silent, then, and stepped away from the three fillies, who all stared after him with a mixture of confusion and curiosity in their eyes.

Twilight simply watched as he walked away, silently, unable to say anything. She continued to walk along behind the others, alone, and quiet, her mind beginning to return to thoughts of the bitterness of the air, and the silent rage, hatred, and anger that seemed to fill it.

Several hours passed before the Hellgate Mines came into view, and Rainbow's description of it -- no matter how accurate it had been at the time -- had not quite done it justice.

The entire place looked rundown, broken, and wretched. The houses -- what few there actually were -- were all composed of what appeared to be rotting wood and cracked stones, affixed in such a way that there were small gaps in the walls that were caked in snow, mud, and ice. None of the windows of the houses were filled in, instead being massive, irregular shapes that were left open. Even the doors of the homes were made from cracked boards, each rotting, and some with massive holes in them at random points.

Outside of the town sat a sign that read, in letters that appeared somewhat fresh: "The Hellgate Mines -- Where the Damned Fear to Tread." Twilight shuddered; clearly, Wendigo was not one to take anything lightly. Beside the sign, and leading into the town, was a path of stones that were partially covered by the frost, each looking jagged, irregular, and completely painful to walk over.

And there -- at the very back of the village -- there sat a massive wall of rock, what looked to be a cliff face that rose hundreds of feet into the sky above them. Twilight knew, without anypony saying anything, that the mountain they saw made up the titular Hellgate Mines.

"Welcome," Checkmate stated, dully, as he stepped forward, and turned towards them. "Well? What do you all think?"

Pinkie's eyes were filled with sorrow, and anger, yet her mane remained as it normally was. "If you want my honest opinion," the normally hyper pony said, flatly, "I think that Wendigo is a complete, heartless bastard."

The word seemed to draw some surprise from her friends, who all took a step back in shock. "Wh... Pinkie!" gasped Rarity. "I would never expect one so friendly and excitable as you to utter a word as... as repulsive as that!"

Checkmate sighed and looked them over. "Well, I can't deny either of those points." He gripped his hoof around the hilt of the Glacius, and grimaced. "But... well, this is it, I guess. We're here, at the place that this all started in, and we have what we all set out to find."

Rainbow flew down towards them, and grinned. "All we gotta do is take down Wendigo, and this whole thing comes to an end!" She flew back up, and held out her hooves, as if preparing to punch something.

Applejack simply smiled, and shook her head. "Well, while Ah'm not sure it's gonna be so simple, we ain't gonna make any progress jus' sittin' 'round here an' talkin', are we? Best get a move on."

"She's right," Dusk said, and he stepped towards the entrance to the village before turning back to face them. "However, there is something else that we must do before we challenge Wendigo. I've no doubt that much of your energy has been expended on our route here, right?" None of the others responded, and Dusk sighed. "It would be best for us to stop and attempt to regain any energy that we may have used on our journey here before we face against Wendigo, or Deun, even. Otherwise..."

He didn't finish that statement. He didn't need to.

Checkmate simply nodded in reply, but said nothing. Clearly he just wanted to finish up their quest as soon as they could.

Fluttershy stepped forward, then, to everypony's surprise. "Th-that's... a good point," she said, slowly, cautiously. "If we're too tired to go any further, then we won't be able to stop Wendigo... I-I think we should at least get something that we can... eat, or... um... drink, I guess... Oh, if just for the fillies and Spike... They seem really tired after walking so far..."

Twilight glanced over at the four youths in question. Sure enough, most of them looked completely exhausted from the walk through the ice and snow, with Spike looking like he'd had the worst of it, looking as if he was about to collapse. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked extremely tired, yawning even as they tried to hide it. The only one who didn't look very affected was Sweetie Belle, and she still appeared to be much more tired than the adults.

"Alright," Twilight said, and she sighed, "is there somewhere that we can stop around here? Somewhere, erm --" she chose her next words carefully, not meeting Checkmate's eyes "-- trustworthy?"

The tan earth pony, seeming to understand her meaning, let out a sigh. "I think just about everywhere here is 'trustworthy'," he said, his voice cold, "but I know the perfect place for us to gain some of our strength back." He pointed towards a small building towards the back of the town. "See that? It's a tavern. Rarity, stop giving me that look; it's perfectly fine, as long as they don't order anything alcoholic."

Rarity let out a dramatic sigh. "Oh, very well," she said, "but do tell me that we can trust the owner of this establishment?"

Checkmate nodded, once more. "... Yeah," he said, slowly. "He and I go back a few years."

He said no more, then, as he turned, and began to walk into the town -- although Twilight was a bit cautious to call it even that -- that lay before them, not saying anything else as he did so.

Until, of course, he saw a familiar figure leaning against a house close to the entrance. "Rolan!" Checkmate ran over to the windigo, who appeared to have just about fallen asleep.

Could windigoes sleep? Twilight made a mental note to ask that question when everything was finished.

"H-huh?" Rolan asked, appearing to awaken, and looking over at Checkmate. A large smile broke out on his face. "Checkmate!" he said, and he ran over to his friend. "Good to see you made it. I've been waiting there for hours."

Waiting? Khaza asked, curiously. I didn't think you would do that anymore...

Rolan smiled, bitterly. "Some habits just take awhile to die off, Khaza," he responded, and shook his head. "But that's not important, now, is it? I see you have the Ignis, Checkmate."

Good day, Rolan, said Illia. How have you faired?

"About as well as you'd expect, but that's not what you're here for." He looked over the group, and nodded, wordlessly, at Dusk. "Huh, I'm amazed at the ponies you've amassed," he noted, and grinned.

Twilight sighed. "I'm sorry that we'll have to... uh... cut this reunion a bit short," she said, "but we have to stop Wendigo, right? Can we save all of this until after we've saved the world?"

"Sounds reasonable enough," Rolan said, and he turned around. "Well, let's get going, shall we? The sooner we take the bastard down, the sooner the world is saved. So, where to?"

"We're stopping at Night's tavern." Checkmate stepped up beside him, and pointed towards the building, again. "We're going to get ourselves prepared, first, before we challenge Wendigo."

Rolan nodded. "Of course," he remarked, sagely. "That's probably the best course of action you can take right now; the worst would be to just run in, especially considering that you all probably just trekked all the way across the frozen plains to get to here. Take awhile to rest up, get yourselves situated... and then go and run Wendigo through."

"Exactly," Dusk said, before he grimaced. "Provided that we do not meet with Deun, of course..."

Rolan said nothing, but instead began to walk forward. At last, he spoke. "Yeah, you're right. Meeting Deun is the last thing we'd want to happen, especially now."

Valice stopped, for just a moment, before looking all around her. "Huh," she said, at last, her tone as dry as ever, "I guess that fate's not being a complete jerk today. I would've expected him to emerge from nowhere right after you said that."

The windigo grinned. "Huh, I don't think we've met. What's your name?"

The changeling grinned, then, as green fire consumed her body, and she became her true form once more. While Twilight still couldn't get over how unnerving that was, she had, strangely, grown used to it over the course of the day, when Valice had constantly shifted between the two forms she'd been known for. "Valice."

Rolan didn't even react to the fact that she was a changeling, instead turning towards Checkmate. "You've an odd taste in friends," he remarked.

Checkmate grinned. "I know. I chose you, didn't I?"

His friend rolled his eyes. "Yeah, of course," he muttered, before he smiled. "Well, let's be off, shall we? It would be better for us to actually try and get this done, instead of joking around." His face turned solemn, suddenly. "Wendigo sure won't wait."

The message was heeded, and the group soon began to walk along the path, silently. Valice had retaken her form in an effort to keep the ponies in the homes -- who stared at them out of cloaks and hoods -- from paying them much attention. Naturally, this attempt went unnoticed, and the denizens of the Hellgate Mines only seemed more curious of the group of ponies who now made their way towards the center of the town, where the metallic platform that Rainbow had described lay.

A Simple Question

The group stepped into the tavern past the plaza, the wooden flooring creaking beneath their hooves. The area was a small room, darker even then the world outside, with burnt-out torches hanging on the stone corners and in the windows. Several tables adorned the room at random areas, each with a single, long, pillar-like leg that held them into the boards.

Behind the counter stood a single unicorn stallion, clad in a colorless and fraying cloak that hung over his body, but left his head and dark-gray mane exposed, as well as various scars. His coat was a strange pale black, impossible as that appeared. He was silent, using his magic to use a cloth while he cleaned a glass in front of him, its rim slightly chipped.

The bartender didn't bother to look up as the sound of hooves echoed across the flooring. "Can I help you?" His voice was calm, but was strangely sorrowful, as well.

Checkmate stepped up to the counter and sat down. "Night, it's good to see you again."

The bartender -- whom Checkmate appeared to call "Night" -- glanced up, quickly, at the sound of the stallion's voice. "Ch-Checkmate?!" he gasped, and he rubbed his eyes as if attempting to make sure that the pony before him was real. At last, however, he seemed convinced, as he stared at Checkmate in surprise before he said, "I'd heard that you had escaped a few days ago, but... I hadn't expected you to come back here."

Checkmate offered a small smile at that statement. "Yeah... I guess not." He paused, awkwardly, as the others motioned for him to continue. "But I'm here now, so I'm going to see this through to the end."

Night said nothing, but began to polish the glass, again. He didn't say anything for a long while. "Too bad you're so late," he replied, his voice oddly bitter.

"What do you mean?"

Night was quiet, again, before he magically placed the glass, carefully, onto the counter. He met Checkmate's eyes, then, and his own were filled with fire. "White Shadow's execution was last week."

That seemed to completely catch Checkmate off guard, as he gripped the side of his stool as if to balance himself. "But..." he started, evidently horrified, "but Shadow wasn't even a threat..."

"Yeah, but he couldn't exactly do anything, either," Night's voice quivered, the rage in it impossible to miss. "You remember just how bad his leg was, right?"

Checkmate grimaced, and Twilight could see anger flaring up in his eyes. "But that wasn't any grounds to-!"

"I know!" Night slammed a hoof into the counter, and the entire group jumped. "But that doesn't change anything. He's dead, Checkmate, and talking about the 'who's', 'what's', or 'whatever-the-hell elses' is not going to change anything." Night grit his teeth, to the point that they could be heard grinding together.

Rarity stepped up, then, and flipped her mane. "Pardon me, but how do you know this... 'White Shadow'?"

The bartender's shoulders slumped, and he let out a very audible sigh. "He... he was my son," he responded, his voice quiet.

Several of the ponies let out a simultaneous gasp, covering their mouths with their hooves in shock and disgust. "Th-that's terrible...!" Fluttershy gasped.

"Welcome to Darkfrost," Night muttered, bitterly.

Twilight stepped up to him, and met his gaze. "Sir... this is your tavern, right?"

"Sir?" The bartender cocked an eyebrow. "If you're going to call me something, at least use my name. I'm Shadowed Night, and yes, I own this tavern."

"Perfect!" she said, although she didn't feel especially excited, given what they had just learned. "We... uh... we need something that we can eat... Oh, before we go fight Wendigo, that is," she quickly added.

Night looked her over. "You're an Equestrian, aren't you?" Without waiting for a response, he continued, "All of you look to be, actually --" he glanced over at Dusk "-- except for you, at least, and Checkmate." He blinked, his eyes finally resting on the form of the windigo in their midst. "... Rolan, too? Quite an odd group."

Dusk grimaced. "Of course," he mused. "However, we are not here so that we may speak of just how strange our group dynamic is." He passed a glance back to Valice, who flushed. "We're here so that we can bring an end to Wendigo, and, to do so, we will require sustenance."

Shadowed Night did not even blink. Obviously, he had dealt with ponies like Dusk before. Instead, he looked towards Checkmate with a quizzical expression. "Well, you'd better best him," he mused. "After all... those were my son's last words; 'Checkmate will stop you,' so you'd better go and do just that."

Just as Checkmate opened his mouth -- in a move that made Twilight think he was about to agree with that statement -- a new voice let out a dark chuckle. "Really?" it asked, sounding very masculine. "You really think he can beat Wendigo?"

The group of fourteen instantly turned towards the one who had spoken. He was the only other patron in the bar, and was clad in a cloak that appeared used, but not overly so. He had the hood pulled up to the top of his head, slightly covering his copper mane, and sat with a single drink in front of him. Beneath the cloak, small bumps could be seen on his sides, making Twilight assume him to be a pegasus.

"Yeah?" Rainbow asked, irrate, "and what's it to ya?!" She flew over to him, her face only inches away from his.

The stallion met her eyes, his expression one of bemusement and intrigue, and his lips in a small, sarcastic smile. "Nothing much," he admitted, "but I think you'd best listen to what I have to say before you make assumptions."

Rainbow Dash's eyes narrowed. "And whaddaya gotta say?"

His lips became neutral, and he sighed. "First," he said, holding up a cloth-covered hoof, and leaving the drink on the table, "I have to say that Checkmate is probably strong. He would have to be in order to get this far." When Rainbow opened her mouth to interject, he held the hoof up to her face and shook his head. "That being said," he continued, "hundreds of ponies -- thousands, even -- have tried to best Wendigo over the years. What makes you think that you can do it?"

"Because I've gone through tougher things than that bastard throughout my life," Checkmate remarked, gravely. "I've seen plenty of ponies die -- I thought I'd killed one of those ponies, actually. But I still continued onwards. I've trained myself into becoming what I am, now, and I know that I can -- no, I will beat Wendigo, regardless of the circumstances."

The stallion nodded, and he picked up the glass, but didn't drink anything from it. "Alright, then," he mused, his face still neutral, "here's my second question, if your friend here will allow it." Rainbow Dash instantly planted her hooves onto the flooring, but continued to glare at him. "Alright, then. Let's say this, shall we: let's say that you do kill Wendigo, that you stop the king of Darkfrost, rescue all of the ponies, help out the windigoes, and all of that stuff, alright?"

He paused, looking around the room at the ponies who stared at him, as if waiting for them to respond. After a few seconds, he let out another sigh. "But what, exactly, do you think that'll do?"

Pinkie grinned. "Well," she started, in her normal, bubbly voice, "it means that we'll have saved alla these ponies and stopped the big, mean ol' monster, of course! And then everypony lives happily-ever-after!"

He met her gaze, and looked up towards the others, before licking his lips. "Well, that may be how it works in Equestria, but Darkfrost is... different, in that regard."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Rainbow asked, her eyes still boring holes into him.

"Just because you bring down Wendigo doesn't mean there are going to stop being ponies." He raised the glass up to his lips, then, and drank the entire thing in one gulp, before he rested it on the table. "Ponies like me."

Night grit his teeth. "Heatwave, stop!"

"Whaddaya mean by that?!" Rainbow Dash growled, obviously getting tired with the stallion being so cryptic.

Heatwave, however, smirked slightly. "Nice wings, kid," he mused, and he met her gaze perfectly. "Do you want to see mine?" Without waiting for her answer, the pegasus threw the cloak from his back with a great flourish.

A loud gasp arose from every Equestrian -- and Valice, as well, although Dusk remained silent -- in the room at what he had referred to as "wings": two lumps of feathers and bones, both looking so twisted and mutilated that no words could even begin to describe the feeling in Twilight's stomach.

Valice, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash all looked as if they were going to be sick. Scootaloo was sick, her friends having to rush her out of the tavern before she vomited onto the floor. Even the unicorns and earth ponies looked disgusted at the mere sight of the horrid, broken structures that lay upon Heatwave's back.

"Wh-wh-what h-happened...?" Rainbow Dash managed to gasp, her eyes wide with terror as she touched one of her own wings. It was natural for pegasi to fear losing their wings; they were the most important part of them, and they would not be able to do anything anypony else could without them. After all, they couldn't cast magic like unicorns -- except for some minor, weather-controlling spells -- and they didn't have the strength nor endurance of earth ponies.

In short, a pegasus without wings was like a unicorn without magic; they needed them in order to survive. And while wings were known for their quick recovery, that would most certainly not occur in the case that they were so badly mutilated.

Heatwave let out a small, bitter chuckle. "Mining accident. They got caught up in some machinery, and... well, you can see for yourself just what happened." He smirked slightly again, the lumps on his back barely moving. "It's been about... a month, I think."

"What does this have to do with anything?" Checkmate asked, appearing unaffected by the wretched sight.

"Well, I just want to ask you something. A simple question, actually." Heatwave remarked, and looked over the ponies who stood about him. "Let's say that you do beat Wendigo -- hell, for that matter, let's say that you save all of Darkfrost, and do everything I just listed off. But still... do you really think that'll change much?"

Twilight shifted, uncomfortably. "What... what exactly do you mean by that?"

"Okay, allow me to put it this way." Heatwave passed a glance over to Checkmate. "If you stop Wendigo -- no matter what else there is to say -- does that really change the fact that ponies like me'll always be here? Ponies who can't use their talents; unicorns who can't cast magic because their horns've been ripped off, pegasi whose wings are so badly mangled that they'll never heal... earth ponies, even, who are completely crippled! Those who have been mutilated, ruined, broken... What makes you think you can save any of them?" He turned, then, and threw the glass so that it slammed into a wall, shattering into pieces. "No matter what you do... no matter what you try... Darkfrost is screwed."

Rainbow stepped towards him. "But... but that's not-!"

"Shut up, won't you?!" Heatwave grit his teeth, the calm face he'd worn shattering. "How will you ever be able to help the ponies who have been completely destroyed by Wendigo, huh?! Have your fucking princesses walk over here, give 'em a bandage, apologize, or some crap like that?!"

The ponies around him -- even Rolan, even Checkmate, and even Dusk -- all sat in silence, unable to respond to that statement, and the mutilated pegasus let out a sigh. "Do whatever you want. We've got no future, except to rot away. Even if Wendigo is stopped, those who have been as badly scarred as I have... what could we ever do? Sure, some of us could make it in society, but do you honestly think that just killing him'll bring an end to all of this suffering?"

Shadowed Night bowed his head, lowering the glass he had been polishing to the table, and Heatwave grit his teeth. "All you'll do is prevent the creation of the Zephyr, which is fine, I guess... but what of us who have lost everything? What could I ever hope to do in a world without a bastard like Wendigo in charge? I can't fly, I can't control clouds... there's literally nothing that I can do. And the same goes for the others who have suffered as pawns in Wendigo's twisted game of chess." He leaned back in his chair, and stared up towards the ceiling. "When this game is up... there will be no place in whatever world remains for us."

"Shut up!" Rainbow shouted, and the room turned to look at her in shock. "All you're doin' is sitting around here and complaining! I don't care what you say, because we can change this all, we can bring an end to this, and we will save Darkfrost! You wanna know why that is?"

Heatwave stared at her, silently, unmoving, unblinking. Rainbow Dash stepped over to him and nodded. "It's because we haven't given up, and we don't plan to anytime soon! We've made it this far, haven't we? So why should we stop now? Yeah, you'll have some trouble when we're done -- everypony here will -- but we'll do whatever we can to help all of you guys out."

Twilight smiled, slightly, and leapt down. "She's right," said the alicorn. "We're not here just to kill Wendigo. When we're done, we're gonna do everything in our power to bring an end to what he's brought on this place, no matter what it takes for us to do it."

Rarity smiled, as well. "Indeed. It doesn't matter what has happened, after all, but what will happen. We are not wont to surrender, after how far we have traveled to reach this point. We'll end this game, and make Darkfrost a place where anypony can thrive."

Heatwave looked to all of them, before a small smile crossed his lips. "Alright, then," he mused, his voice becoming calm once more. "I'm curious to see just how far you all can make it, at this point... Let's see where your 'hope' gets you, first, shall we?" He looked towards Shadowed Night, then, as the smile grew. "Night, they said they wanted something to eat, right? Put it on my tab."

"What...?" the bartender asked, in shock. "Are you sure about that...?"

"'Course." The smile grew into a grin. "Besides, if they fail, it's not like I'll ever be using that money, anyway, so I think I'll pay for 'em. Like I said, I'm curious to see just how far they go."

Checkmate stepped down from the stool, and smiled at the mutilated pegasus. "Th-thanks, Heatwave," he said, evidently surprised by his change in tone. "I guess we'll owe you for this, huh?"

Heatwave raised up a hoof. "That can wait until later. After you've stopped Wendigo, I should say."

That day, the meal that they ate tasted of triumph, of joy, of hatred, of love, and of many other things that Twilight couldn't truly place. It was strange, honestly, to see that such a simple thing as hope could completely change how a pony felt, that faith could make their lives so different.

But no matter how much she tried, Twilight could not shake that feeling of doubt that seemed to have overtaken her. Could they truly best Wendigo? Yes, of course Checkmate could, and Dusk, as well. But what of her, and the others?

And something else, too, nagged at the back of her mind: Velios and the Catalyst... could they truly be the same creature? If so, how could any of them -- even Dusk, as powerful as he was -- contend with a beast that was effectively a god among gods?

No, Twilight could not think of that. The odds that the two creatures were actually one were impossibly low, to the point that it was almost completely improbable, yet she still couldn't escape the feeling of doubt that had crossed her mind, even as the others seemed almost cheerful as they ate their fill.

And so, in an effort to not stand out, she ate what she could, attempting to take her mind off of these thoughts, and instead focusing on what truly mattered at the time: preparing herself for the last step of their journey, and bringing Wendigo's wretched regime grinding to a halt.

Whirlwind

Deun was not one to complain.

He had seen ponies -- innocents, criminals, and whatever lay in between -- be slaughtered before his eyes. He had watched windigoes for whom Wendigo had become displeased have their lives blotted out, not even having the chance to protest, or to fight back. All of that had only made him stronger. It had tempered his will, to the point that it was as stout as iron, as unbreakable as diamond.

So long as his soldiers could walk away safe, Deun did not care what he had to do.

Wendigo stood before him, tall and imposing. "Deun, I assume you know by this point that Checkmate Vigarde has infiltrated the Hellgate Mines, correct?"

The general nodded, but continued his steel-laden gaze towards the lord of Darkfrost. "Unfortunately, I do," he said, his voice cold, as always. "Many of my soldiers have reported to having seen him in this area, yet they did not act." Seeing the expression on Wendigo's face, he amended, "That was likely my own fault, of course; I told them to avoid acting unless I ordered them to do so."

Wendigo regarded him for a few moments, his face oddly neutral. "Whatever the case may be, that does not change the facts of the matter." His eyes glimmered, as a small smirk appeared on his lips. "A potentially dangerous creature is walking around free, and has even gathered a small militia to aid him in his attack on Darkfrost. Should you allow such a threat to go free?"

Deun was quiet, his gaze still like steel. "... I understand," he responded. "I suppose that you desire for my soldiers to end him and his allies?"

"That's right," Wendigo said, and he sighed. "I would take the time to do it myself, but I have something... important that I must accomplish, now. All that I ask is that you end Checkmate Vigarde and those with whom he travels."

The general nodded again, and turned, wordlessly, to exit the chamber and to do just as Wendigo asked.

"However, I have a request for you in regards to this."

Deun stopped, and turned back towards the windigo as he stood. He said nothing, and kept his gaze as cold as it was known to be.

"... Do not die." Wendigo's voice was strange; it was neither cruel nor kind, but held something else entirely. "Should you find yourself thrust into a position in which you look to be slain, you and your soldiers are to retreat."

Deun was still silent, attempting to process what he had just been told. Wendigo was never one to say anything along the lines of that, nor was he one to show even the slightest bit of compassion towards another living creature, windigo or not.

However, Deun could not argue, nor question the motives behind that statement. Instead, he simply nodded, and stepped away from the chamber, ignoring the new questions that had arisen.

There was only one thought that he concerned himself with: doing what was necessary for the stability of Darkfrost, no matter the personal cost. He would meet Checkmate on the field of battle, and the two would see, truly, just who was the stronger of the two.

The general... or the renegade.

The group had rested, and their energy had since returned to them in a surprisingly tremendous amount. Perhaps it was due to the sheer excitement from the ponies in the tavern -- for several others had wandered in whilst they had eaten -- who seemed greatly joyous at the prospect of Wendigo's defeat, and who seemed to almost be channeling their energy into the creatures before them. Perhaps it was simply because the group themselves were excited to see an end to the beast who had plagued Darkfrost for millennia, and who threatened everything that they cared for.

For Checkmate it was definitely the latter.

Throughout their rest, Illia and Khaza had made sure to catch up with Rolan on the details of their venture, many of which the former king seemed to have difficulty believing. Rainbow Dash spoke to several of the other ponies of Darkfrost, telling a greatly-exaggerated tale of their journey (with such matters as her having single-hoofedly defeating Asgard and Hecatoncheir in such a way that it absolutely defied the laws of both physics and common sense). Pinkie Pie was speaking to the creatures around her, talking so quickly that even Twilight or the others seemed to have absolutely no idea what it was she was saying.

Several of the others, however, simply watched, quietly, or spoke idly amongst themselves. Twilight had become engaged in conversation with Shadowed Night about what kinds of magic the ponies of Darkfrost learned (those who still could cast magic, at any rate), while Rarity and Applejack were in a heated debate about why the former wouldn't go and try to talk to the other ponies from Darkfrost. The quiet Fluttershy, however, simply stood back, speaking with the three fillies and Spike about something that Checkmate couldn't quite make out. Oddly enough, even Dusk and Valice had started to talk amongst themselves, also speaking about something that Checkmate couldn't quite hear.

Checkmate, however, sat alone, not desiring to talk to anypony at the moment. Instead of being engaged in conversation, he was engaged in thought, picturing every possible route that they could take to reach Wendigo's location, and over every possible outcome that he could imagine.

At last, however, he leapt down from the chair in which he was seated, and nodded over to the others. "I think it's time we get going," he added, looking up towards Night. "Thanks for this, Night." He glanced over at Heatwave. "And you too, Heatwave. We'd best get going, though, before Deun or any of his soldiers find out we're here."

Twilight looked over at him, and nodded. "Yeah, the worst thing we can do is just sit around here." She reached over the counter, and grabbed something -- a book, it looked like -- and smiled at Night, before quietly thanking him, and slipping the item into her bag.

All around them, the group stepped away from whatever it was they were doing in order to join back together; Pinkie stopped talking to the extremely confused ponies, Rainbow let out a sigh and walked back to the others, and all of those who had been talking idly simply continued their conversations as they met back with Checkmate and the group. Khaza and Illia retook their forms as the Ignis and Glacius, much to their own private chagrin.

Then, with a silent nod, the group began to walk once more, exiting the tavern. The ponies around them did not speak, or even act in any way, as they passed, their sights set now upon the massive cliff behind the town. Yet they did not walk quickly, but slowly, deliberately, walking down the irregular stone path and towards the chamber where the Glacius lay.

While most of them stayed silent, Checkmate could overhear Twilight and Rarity speaking. "I saw that Shadowed Night gave you a book," the unicorn stated, her voice quiet so as not to draw attention. "Would you mind if I ask you what it is?"

"Oh, of course." Twilight smiled slightly, and pulled it out of her bag with magic. It was somewhat large, and seemed rather thick, with a dark blue cover bordered by several white lines. "It's a study book for magic-users, like unicorns," she explained. "Night told me that there's a really useful spell in here for fighting against windigoes, and that his son was trying to learn it."

Rarity grimaced. "Indeed, that should be quite useful against the one windigo who happens to be completely immune to magic," she said. "I honestly cannot see very many times that we could find it useful, particularly now that we're so late into this journey."

Twilight let out a small sigh, and pushed it back into her bag. "Yeah," she agreed, "but that's not the only spell in there. There's a whole untapped world of magic in this thing, and I'm gonna try and learn as much of it as I can!" She smirked, and looked over at Checkmate. "Besides, I don't think I've ever seen this book at the library. I've been looking for a new addition to fill in the gap left by a book a certain stallion decided to take with him on this journey and never use..."

Checkmate sputtered, suddenly remembering the book that even now lay in his bag, probably collecting dust. Although he'd wanted to make use of it on the journey, there had simply not been a single chance for him to have looked over it, or to learn of any monsters for when they were attacked.

Twilight grinned, and instantly looked back at Rarity. "Oh, well, that's not important. What is important is just how much magic is contained in this thing, and I'll need something to do once we finish up this quest."

"And... Night just gave that to you? For no cost?"

"Yeah, I know." Twilight sighed, and pulled the book out again. "He said he doesn't want to look at it anymore, now that White Shadow's been killed. He asked me if I used magic or focused on flying --"

Checkmate smiled to himself, remembering the bandage that she wore on the first day he'd entered Ponyville, and her statement regarding how bad she was at flying.

"-- so I told him that I use magic, and he just handed this to me and told me to use it however I can."

"Really?" Rarity asked. "And he said nothing else on the matter?"

Twilight nodded, and looked in front of them, where they were approaching the cliff face. "He said that he didn't want to talk about it."

"... I see." Rarity said nothing more.

The group stopped completely, now standing just in front of the massive wall of rock, a single large entrance. Its sides were wooden, and the top was held up by a large board which, unlike everything else in the town, all looked completely new, likely to keep the mineshaft from collapsing.

Checkmate stepped forward, and placed a hoof upon one of the boards that supported the entryway. "We're here," he said, his voice solemn. "This... or these, I guess... these are the Hellgate Mines."

"So Wendigo's in there?" Valice asked, and she grimaced. "Wait, why the hell am I asking that? Of course he is."

Sweetie Belle both took a step back, her eyes widening at the gaping maw of the dark abyss. "Th-that doesn't look too safe..." she breathed. "Wh-what if it caves in? I-I think I'll just wait here until you're all done... it... it should be safer."

"That does raise a question..." mused Rolan. "Wouldn't it be safer to just leave the kids back at Night's? At least until this is over, I mean."

"Perhaps," Dusk admitted, "but that would also leave them in a position where they could easily be abducted by Wendigo, or even Deun. And then they'd just be held for leverage... perhaps even killed, and everything would be for naught." He shook his head. "No, we'll have to take them with us. Regardless of how bad it may seem, there are enough of us that we can at least make sure they're safe. It's a better alternative than having Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight be worried for them."

Spike blinked. "Wait, did you just say that I'm a kid?"

Sweetie Belle shuddered. "B-but I can't go in there... It's too dark, and we don't know how much oxyclean is in the air, and it could all collapse on top of us, a-and..."

"Oxygen," Twilight hastily corrected, but she shook her head. "But she's right, Dusk. This seems like it could be really dangerous, especially for ponies who haven't even really fought before, and can't really use any magic."

Scootaloo rolled her eyes, and coughed loudly, directing all of their attention to her. "Um... Twilight," she said, in a tone that Valice grinned at, "we crossed the Desert of Death. That's one of the most dangerous places in the world, and we've seen and encountered many other dangerous things, too. Not to mention that we've already been underground before, and you didn't complain then." She passed a glance over at Sweetie Belle, who sunk down into the snow.

"B-but..." Sweetie supplied, quickly, "there weren't any windigoes, then!" Suddenly, as if remembering the reason why they had to take the underground passage, she immediately added, "A-at least, none that were waiting for us in the darkness, trying to kill us, and take our souls, and make us into a g-giant freakish monster!"

Apple Bloom, however, grit her teeth in obvious annoyance. "Listen to yerself, Sweetie Belle! Yer jus' gonna sit out here an' cower while they're off fightin' after we've been through so much? C'mon, now!" She walked over, and, to everypony's collective surprise, stepped under the entrance. "See this? Ah don't think this here thing's gonna fall on me, do you?"

"B-but..." Sweetie Belle started, again, before trailing off as she shuddered.

Apple Bloom sighed. "Yeah, yeah, Ah know that this is gonna be dangerous, but we've been through a lotta stuff by this point. 'Sides, what's the worst that can happen, huh? These beams're pretty sturdy, so it ain't gonna fall on top of any of us, an' long as Dusk has that light of his goin', there ain't gonna be no darkness 'round us. An' the windigoes? Ha, Ah betcha that Checkmate an' Dusk can take 'em out in ten seconds, flat!"

Sweetie Belle looked back-and-forth between the creatures around her, all of their expressions mixed -- Checkmate, personally, was for having the group be together as they went down into the cavern, but that was simply his desire for them all to be in one area.

However, the young unicorn put on the bravest face she could muster, and smiled, although it appeared somewhat shaky. "U-um... yeah," she said. "I'm not... I'm not gonna worry about this... I'll try to... to be as brave as I can..."

Rarity looked at her sister, her eyes filled with a mixture of pride and sorrow. "Sweetie Belle..." she said, softly, before she smiled. "Well, I should hope that you will come with us. It shall certainly make our journey into this deep, likely extremely long cavern far more eventful, would you not say?"

Checkmate's face was deadpan. "Actually, the trip to Wendigo's cavern is only about five minutes."

There was silence among everypony, several of them pressing their hooves into their foreheads at those words. "Wh... then why did we just waste time having this discussion?!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "You know, you could've said something, Check!"

Rolan grinned. "Ha... I meant to say something about that, myself, but these kids were making such an inspirational speech to their friend that I completely forgot." He shrugged, before looking back at them. "See, back before Wendigo took over, his old chamber used to belong to Khaza... and since she wanted it to be convenient for ponies to reach, she simply designed a small tunnel system to reach the room where the Glacius was once held, and the larger room that she used for holding audiences."

"Well, on the plus side," Applejack mused, stepping up beside her sister, "at least we'll be gettin' this thing done soon. All we've gotta do is walk a bit, an' then we jus' go an' take Wendigo down."

Indeed. It would be quite simple... if not for my existence.

Checkmate's eyes widened, as everypony turned back towards the mineshaft, and Apple Bloom and Applejack took several steps back. The air began to converge, and a tall figure stepped away from the area where there had once been nothing. His semi-transparent body somehow showed extremely clearly in the darkness, a sword of silver on his left side.

Deun stepped towards them with his eyes as cold as the air around them. "However, life is not as simple as I'm sure you all wish it was. You all know why I'm here, I'm certain."

"Let me guess," Valice muttered, dryly. "To show us love and affection?"

The general did not even blink, nor did he even acknowledge her response. "Of course, I have been given the order to rid Darkfrost of your presence." He lay his hoof on the sword at his side. "You, Checkmate Vigarde, are a threat to the stability that this nation commands."

"Yeah?" Rainbow Dash growled, stepping towards him. "Well guess what: we don't have the time to spend messin' around here with you!"

Dusk placed his hoof on the hilt of Constellation. "Agreed," he mused. "Besides, there are enough of us to pose a threat towards you, Deun, so I would advise you to tread carefully."

Deun cast a cold glare at the mercenary, his face as neutral as always. "Perhaps it would be. However, I'm not one to come ill-prepared, as you all surely remember." He took another step towards them, and the group took a collective step back. "This place is not like the Desert of Death; there, I did not have complete access to all of my soldiers, but here?"

He slammed a hoof into the ground, as several dozen windigoes appeared before the group, blocking the path forward. "Here... I have my full army available to bring an end to you and what chaos you shall rain upon our nation." Another step towards them, and another, less-confident step backwards. "The Desert of Death was an accident; a testament to the excellent luck that all of you showed. Here, however, is not the same."

Dusk grit his teeth. "Dammit...!" he hissed. "There are too many of them, even for us!"

"Of course there are," Valice muttered. "I swear to Chronos, we just had to say that the path forward would be quick, didn't we?"

Even the normally-courageous Rainbow Dash looked frightened at the odds before them. "Well... what do we do?!"

Checkmate's eyes flashed, as he looked between the groups before them; no less than eighty soldiers stood in the entrance of the passage forward. However, that lead to an interesting design of how they could best them. He looked to the sides: to the left, a narrow walkway between one of the homes and the cliff; to the right, a less narrow path, with both of the two looping around to the same area.

"Rarity!" he shouted, surprising the unicorn. "You take the fillies, Spike, and Fluttershy down the path to the left! Do not stop for anything! If any windigoes get near you, blast them with your magic! Applejack, Valice, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight! You four take the path to the right! And Rolan, Dusk, you two come with me down the path behind us! We'll rendezvous at the plaza!"

The group, without saying anything, immediately hurried to follow the paths that he'd listed off for them, with himself, Rolan, and Dusk not even looking back as they rushed down the road behind them. After all, he knew the most of Darkfrost, and the layout of the Hellgate Mines perfectly.

Checkmate could hear Deun's voice -- unsurprisingly calm, of course -- from behind him as he hurried. "Lieutenant Fryn, take fifteen soldiers and follow the left path, Lieutenant Aero take thirty and run towards the right. Split your battalion and block the exit to the plaza before they can escape through it. The rest of you, follow me after Checkmate Vigarde. Do not allow him or any of his allies the chance to flee."

His heart began to race, then, as the sounds of hooves clattering into the stone-covered path began to grow closer, whilst he and the others rushed towards the plaza for their last stand.

A Dance of Blades

Rainbow Dash grit her teeth, flying down the path and matching the others' collective speed. After all, the last thing that she could want would be to rush in front of them; they needed to stay together, to escape so that none of Deun's soldiers could catch them.

"After them! Do not allow any of them to escape!"

Applejack and Pinkie ran without not looking back, instead focusing solely on the path laid out before them. The two -- even the ever-optimistic party-loving pony -- appeared completely terrified, their hooves aflame and crashing into the snow-dusted road.

Twilight, however, appeared to be doing something entirely different; while Pinkie and Applejack ran without looking away from the path, she was hurriedly flipping through the pages of what appeared to be a spell-book, her eyes darting to-and-fro across the pages.

"T-Twilight!" Rainbow shouted, looking over at her friend, "what are you doing?!"

The alicorn instead continued to flip through the pages, her eyes not moving from them for even an instant. "I'm... I'm looking for a spell!" she called back, which Rainbow thought was strange considering how close they were to each other. "Night told me that there was something in here that's good against windigoes!"

Behind them, the sound of hooves crashing into snow became more apparent. "Do not allow them solace! We must ensure that they cannot escape!"

Rainbow blinked. "Wh... but why wouldn't Night have used it to stop 'em, or anything like that? Why didn't any of the other unicorns cast it? If it's as good as you think it is, couldn't it-?"

"It's not that simple," Twilight replied, her hooves moving with a great amount of speed. "It's an advanced level spell-book. As in, the kind that only ponies who have studied magic for several years can use. And none of the ponies here in Darkfrost have the magical energy needed to cast it, if they can use magic at all."

"So... what? You're the only one who can, I'm guessing?" Rainbow shot her friend a smug smirk. "Well that's certainly a surprise!"

Twilight rolled her eyes at her friend's obvious sarcasm. "It's not just me, Rainbow Dash," she responded. "Anypony with sufficient practice should be able to --"

"Turn right!" Applejack called back, before disappearing around the corner of a house.

"-- should be able to cast it," Twilight finished, as she and Rainbow passed the corner, the plaza in sight. "Rarity can, too. It's just a coincidence that Night gave it to me."

"Coincidence. Right," Rainbow said. "Just like how you coincidentally became an alicorn, or how we coincidentally managed to escape death by the skin of our teeth about three times so far due to sheer luck, or how Checkmate coincidentally chose Ponyville over any other town in all of Equestria to visit."

Twilight continued to leaf through the pages. "Exactly," she noted simply. "In the same way that you managed to coincidentally create a sonic rainboom, giving all of us our cutie marks and setting us on the road to defeat Nightmare Moon, Discord, Chrysalis, Sombra..."

"Okay, okay! I get it!" Rainbow muttered, by this point completely ignoring the fact that they were being chased.

"They have almost reached the plaza! Do not allow them to regroup!"

Applejack grimaced. "We're almost there! We're so close!"

Pinkie grit her teeth. "Yeah, we just gotta turn our speed up a notch!" She flashed her friends a small smile. How she managed to remain calm, even in such a dire situation, Rainbow would never understand. "So take that dial and turn it up to eleven!"

With much surprise from those around her -- or not, because Pinkie was always known to break the very laws that governed the universe -- the pink pony took off with an incredible burst of speed, flying down the remainder of the path before Rainbow even had a chance to blink. "C'mon!" she shouted, looking back at them. "Hurry up!"

The battalion of soldiers behind them -- now fifteen, Rainbow noted, looking over her shoulder -- continued to close the gap that lay between the two groups. Certainly, she could easily outrun them, but what about Twilight and Applejack? These were creatures who ruled the wind, and the wind wasn't known for simply sitting by and watching the world.

Twilight continued to flip through the pages. "Where is it?" she muttered. "It's gotta be in here somewhere!"

"Twi', we've gotta hurry up!" Applejack shouted, now running next to her. "If we don't, they're gonna get us!"

For the first time since the chase had begun, Twilight lowered the book, and looked behind her. The alicorn let out a cry of shock as several of Deun's soldiers -- were they considered infantry or cavalry? Rainbow was completely unsure -- grew nearer, and she instantly began to run faster, looking back at the book.

"C'mon, where is it?!"

She immediately stopped, however, and let out a gasp, as she ran directly into a large structure made entirely of steel.

Rainbow looked around her, in surprise at how quickly they had actually reached the plaza, before turning back towards the soldiers that now had stopped, their bodies blocking the path back. She whirled towards one of the other four sides -- the one that faced neither the mines, nor the one that Rarity and the others were entering through -- and saw the rest of the lieutenant's battalion, standing in such a way that the fifteen soldiers that composed each group completely covered any way out.

The lieutenant -- Aero, as Deun had called him -- stood his ground, his eyes filled with an odd fire. "Impressive," he mused. "Your speed, I mean. Other than that, I have to say that you're all fools. Challenging General Deun is the last mistake that any of you will make, I promise you that!"

Rainbow glared at him, and saw the others enter the area out of the corner of her eye, as the rest of the windigoes blocked the other two routes out, and leaving the group trapped within the area of the plaza.

Twilight, however, quickly picked up the book, completely ignoring him, and continued to read, her eyes darting rapidly across every page, while Applejack and Pinkie leapt into fighting stances.

"Truly, I must agree with Aero on this matter," mused a cold voice, and everypony turned to watch as Deun stepped past the group before him, consisting of no less than twenty windigoes, stallions and mares alike. "However, your run is at an end. You are trapped within this plaza, near this platform that so many have died on."

And then, Checkmate did something that surprised even Rainbow: he took a step back, before he turned, ran, and jumped on the blood-stained platform, his hooves clattering into place on the steel. "Then maybe I should be on it," he replied, his voice oddly calm. "After all, you want to kill me, don't you?" He grabbed the Glacius from his side, immediately unsheathing it, and did the same with the Ignis, now standing on his back legs. "Then come and get me!"

Everypony in the area, including those who had come to watch, were silent at Checkmate's challenge. Rainbow could practically feel her jaw having fallen at the sheer amount of courage, bravery, and stupidity in those five words he had spoken. Even she knew when to call it quits; this was just ridiculous.

But Deun apparently didn't think so, as he stepped forward with slow deliberation, and stepped onto the massive platform, even as his soldiers showed their dissent towards such an action ("General, it's too dangerous!" "He has the Glacius and the Ignis, Sir, he could kill you!" "G-General, please... don't...").

The general stepped forward until he was close to Checkmate. "Very well," he stated, his voice and eyes as cold as they had been in the Desert of Death. "In the case that you would challenge me, I shall accept." He gripped the silver short-sword at his side. "And so our stage has been selected, our weapons chosen. So here, on this day, let our dance of blades" -- he pulled the short-sword free of its sheath, his eyes flashing -- "begin!"

He immediately vanished, before reappearing right behind the stallion, holding the blade up high. "Now let us both see your power," he said, his voice cold.

Rainbow, and nearly every other pony in the group, let out a gasp. "H-he's fast!"

Twilight's reading of the book instantly became faster, as she continued to leaf through it at an alarming pace. "It... it has got to be here somewhere!"

Deun struck at Checkmate, his blade singing through the air with remarkable speed and precision, arching straight for his enemy's chest. Checkmate leapt backwards, dodging what would have been a fatal blow, and striking towards Deun's right foreleg with the Ignis in an attempt to make him tangible. The general, however, swung back with beautiful technique, both blocking Checkmate's strike and forcing the stallion backwards.

"I am Deun, the Whirlwind," the general stated, calmly. "I am the crux of Wendigo's army, and the one who shall end your life here."

Checkmate grit his teeth, and tried to regain his balance. He raised the Glacius, and pointed it towards his enemy, while the Ignis soon followed, covering his exposed chest.

Deun's response came immediately as he vanished, before reappearing behind Checkmate, and slashing towards the back of his neck with the short-sword. The stallion turned and blocked yet another potential fatal attack, being sent backwards once again. He was struck towards once more as Deun continued his assault, blows coming from behind, in front, and to either side, but all of them were blocked or dodged by the determined Checkmate.

Why wasn't he attacking? Rainbow Dash stared up with shock as Checkmate continued to dodge all of the attacks that went his way, not once raising up his swords to strike back. Not since the beginning of the battle, at the very least, but why not?

Her thoughts were completely derailed as Twilight let out a triumphant cheer, directing everypony's eyes except for those of the two creatures locked in battle, their swords now creating sparks that flew between them as a result of Deun's incredible speed meeting Checkmate's blocks.

"I found it!" Twilight held up the spell-book for all of the ponies around them to see, looking as happy as she did when the bookstore received a new shipment. "It was on the last page!"

"Figures," Rainbow heard Valice mutter.

"Wait, what spell?" Dusk asked, immediately taking his eyes off of the action on the platform -- he claimed he did not wish to disturb the battle; a duel was meant to be honorable, so he'd said -- and stared at the page in question, before his eyes widened. "That... that's... That could work."

How good was that spell?

Twilight nodded, and looked around her. "I was able to get a good look at it. It doesn't look too hard to cast, but it'll take me a few minutes to get it down well enough that I'll be able to use it. It might be a bit awkward, since I've never seen it before, but it should do the trick."

The windigoes, however, weren't paying attention, and instead focused on the battle above them, which Rainbow now turned back towards.

Deun struck out towards Checkmate once more, who blocked the attack with the Ignis, and continued to take a more defensive approach to the battle. Once again, Deun vanished, only to appear above Checkmate, and he held out the short-sword, the wind whistling over its blade as he aimed it downward towards his foe's head. The stallion turned upwards, and held both the Ignis and the Glacius above his head, crossing the blades so that his enemy's strike continued to produce sparks that ran along their swords.

The general leapt away from Checkmate, his emotionless eyes showing nothing but steel. Once again, he vanished, only to appear behind the other once more. Checkmate appeared to have anticipated this, however, as he not only managed to block the attack, but was also able to counter the move and strike out towards his opponent.

Deun stepped back, and held the blade forward so that its point was lined up with Checkmate's chest. "Your skill with those blades is excellent, particularly given how you only just recently received Illia... or the Ignis, I should say. However, I must say that you have missed something very important in regards to our battle."

Checkmate lowered the blades for just a moment. "And what is that?"

He let out a gasp as Deun vanished once more and appeared behind him, shoving Checkmate to the ground and holding the short-sword to the back of his throat. "Never lower your guard around your opponent."

"Ch-Check!" Rainbow gasped, taking a step forward, before Dusk reached out a hoof and blocked her from going any further.

"This is their fight," he noted, gravely. "We cannot interfere, as much as we would like to."

Rainbow grit her teeth, but stared up at what was occurring before them.

Deun shook his head, his eyes and voice still showing nothing. "As I said, your skill with a blade is excellent, but your technique is unrefined. It truly is a shame; your skill is meant to be swordplay, is it not? You trained for eight years to bring an end to all of this, did you not? Then why is it that you cannot best me? Why is it that you would fall for such an amateur mistake in our duel?"

Checkmate let out a gasp, Deun's foreleg trapping him against the blood-stained platform. He reached to the side to grab the Glacius, which had fallen along with him, but he could not reach it.

"After so many years of practicing, the most you have been able to produce is simply this? Wendigo would end your life within mere minutes, whether-or-not Dusk joins you in your fight, and whether-or-not your allies are able to fight, as well. Your talent is swordplay, but your best is to be felled before you can even reach your goal. A pity."

And then, Checkmate did yet another thing that Rainbow Dash would never forget: he began to laugh. It was quiet, certainly, but it was laughter nonetheless. "You... you really think that?" he asked, gasping again.

"What do you mean?" Deun asked, cautiously.

Checkmate let out another gasp of laughter, his voice somewhat stifled against the platform. "Ha... my talent is swordplay... I wish it was. It would certainly make everything so much easier. Let me ask you this, Deun: I got this sign after Wendigo knocked me out cold and left me to die, right...? Why would I get a talent sign for failing to do something? Unless I got it for something else, of course."

Deun seemed unconvinced. "Truly? And what would that happen to be?"

Checkmate smirked. "Strategy."

He immediately rolled to the side and out of Deun's hold, grabbing the Glacius as he did so, and leapt up. He pointed the blade at Deun's throat, but let the Ignis on the ground before him.

"Never let your guard down during a battle," he echoed, his face now neutral.

"Perhaps I had underestimated you," Deun admitted, his voice oddly cold for one who had a sword to his throat. "But nothing more."

Everypony who was watching seemed to be in complete shock at Checkmate's recent action. Rainbow, for one, had never even once suspected that his talent sign represented anything except for swordplay. How could it, given how excellent with a blade he was? If it hadn't been for him outright saying then-and-there -- or the fact that he'd never once actually claimed it to be his ability to so easily use weaponry -- she would never have believed it.

Deun, however, did not appear even remotely surprised by this revelation, instead immediately vanishing after he spoke. The general reappeared behind Checkmate once more, the stallion turning towards him to block the strike again. The stallion's eyes flashed as he struck back towards his enemy, blades meeting in the air as sparks poured forth.

Silver and blue blades crossed, their owners seeming swept into their dance as they countered, struck, parried, and blocked. If it hadn't been for the fact that the two were silent as they fought, Rainbow Dash could have mistaken the moment for when she had watched Checkmate's duel against Wendigo.

"Alright, I've got it," Twilight said, and the others looked over to her once more.

Dusk simply smiled, slightly, but turned his attention back on the two figures as they fought. Rainbow followed his gaze, knowing that watching Checkmate and Deun fight was more exciting than watching Twilight perform magic.

And that's when every windigo around them became opaque, including Deun, who seemed to ignore it as he and Checkmate fought, the latter now dodging and countering his blows perfectly. The other windigoes, however, reacted with cries of shock and terror at the revelation that they were no longer intangible.

Rolan looked over himself for just a moment, before glancing over at Twilight. "Say, what spell's that?" he asked, surprisingly calm (or not surprising, given that he was Rolan). He stepped over to the book, as Twilight opened it up to the last page and showed him. "Huh, 'Take Away the Intangibility of Nearby Windigoes...' I'm guessing it's temporary?"

Twilight nodded. "It's only for a few minutes, but it should do the trick."

"What 'trick' is that?"

"Take a look for yourself." She pointed up towards Deun, who only then seemed to notice the fact that he was no longer transparent.

The general looked over at Checkmate. "You have intriguing allies," he mused. "However, nothing more than that. I can already see your reasoning behind this magic; you attempted to distract me, yet I am not one to break my discipline." He held the short-sword out towards the stallion. "I believe it is time that we bring this to an end, do you not?"

"Right," Checkmate replied, "but there's one thing that you're wrong about: I don't have intriguing allies. I have intriguing friends!"

Before Deun could react to his statement, Checkmate ran forward and grabbed the Ignis off of the steel. He inverted his grip on both swords, and jumped as he stabbed them both into the platform, sending himself high into the air. Checkmate then replaced his grip on the Glacius...

... and stabbed the blade directly into Deun's back.

Everypony in the area, once more, let out a gasp of surprise at what had just transpired. The windigoes, especially, all let out cries of shock and terror as their general had been pierced by his foe, and as he crumpled to the ground. The eighty soldiers began to shout, their eyes now affixed to the ponies around them as they readied their weapons.

Checkmate stepped away from his opponent, and lowered the Ignis and the Glacius to his side. "Deun," he stated, calmly, "it's over."

The general attempted to stand up, but only managed to barely hold himself upwards, coughing as blood ran across his chest and from the corner of his mouth. Even in that state, his voice remained strangely neutral. "Y-yes," he gasped, "you are right..."

He looked to the side, his head barely moving, before he coughed again. "All of you... lower your weapons."

The soldiers did as they were told without even a single complaint, all eighty of them listening to their general even as he lay in a pool of his own blood.

Rolan stepped onto the platform, and walked up next to Checkmate. "Why would you do this, Deun? Why would you go so far for Wendigo?"

Deun coughed. "Is it not obvious?" he gasped, still managing to keep his eyes and voice like steel even as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. "The creatures of Darkfrost suffer every day... they toil in the mines, or must force their efforts into keeping the sky dark and filled with agony, all to sate the hunger of a monstrous king... When Wendigo stole the throne, I was but a child, a private in the royal guard, and one who was of no note... I... despised seeing those around me suffering in such a way, so I worked to become stronger... I hid away my emotions... I trained until my hooves bled... but eventually it all paid off."

He coughed again, as the pool below him grew larger. "Wendigo took me as his general... the one who was to ensure that the creatures of Darkfrost did not disobey his laws... and I accepted his proposal. I claimed responsibility for everything that would happen to the windigoes around me... that they were my soldiers... and that I, as their general, deserved to suffer for them... I did whatever was possible to keep them safe, and alive... even if it required my own pain..."

But killing Checkmate would not have changed anything! Khaza shouted, as she appeared from the Glacius. "Why would you try and stop him, instead of just letting us through? If we could kill Wendigo, then-"

"And that is the problem..." gasped Deun. "What... would you truly think, in my position...? I've seen... hundreds of creatures try, only to all die... in the end... Even you, Khaza, must know this..."

Khaza lowered her head, not bothering to meet Deun's eyes.

And what of yourself? Illia appeared before them, standing beside Khaza. "Had you slain Checkmate, all that would have come would be the deaths of millions at the hooves of Wendigo, not even beginning to mention what he could possibly accomplish with the aid of the Zephyr."

Deun nodded, although it was barely noticeable. "You are right..." he replied, "but... in the case that... that the Zephyr was nearly completed, I was fully... prepared to take matters... into my own hooves..." He slowly raised the short-sword, the meaning behind his words clear.

Illia nodded, her eyes filled with sorrow. "I... I see."

"Checkmate..." Deun said, looking over at him, "you are strong... stronger than I, at least... I have confidence that you... that you can beat Wendigo... But... I have a request." Without waiting for a response, he continued. "Please... make a world where an action such as mine... must not be taken... One where a creature must not feel the... the need to destroy their life... just for the sake of protecting those they love... is not necessary... A world where there isn't... just hatred, but... but love, and fear, as well... Perhaps I am wrong... perhaps it is impossible, but I do not wish for a creature to have to do as I did... solely to protect those they care about... That is the world that I want to see... no matter how long it takes to see it..."

Lieutenant Fryn took a step forward. "G-General...!"

"As for all of you... I have an order..." Deun coughed once more, blood still dripping onto the platform. "Until Checkmate... can defeat Wendigo... you are all to evacuate as many ponies from Darkfrost as possible..."

Aero joined in. "General, that's...."

"That... is my last order as your general."

The windigoes around them went completely silent, and all of them nodded, before they vanished into the air around them.

Deun looked towards Checkmate, and nodded. "Now go... you said that you wanted to kill Wendigo, didn't you...? Then go... I'll be waiting when you get back." When the group looked unconvinced, he touched the bloody platform, gingerly. "These wounds are... not as bad as they appear to be... I'll live..."

Checkmate simply stared at him for a moment, before he nodded, and turned away. "I'll see you when we're done," he said, quietly, as he began to walk away.

Everypony looked at the wounded general for just a moment before they began down the path before them, and towards the titular Hellgate Mines once more. None of them looked back, as they all walked, their eyes on either the road in front of them or the ground.

Two creatures, however, had chosen to stay behind, while the others walked onwards. They hadn't looked back, and didn't seem to notice that the two had disappeared. Applejack was one, while Rolan stood as the other, who only stayed because he noticed that she had. The two had climbed onto the platform, but refused to look directly at the general before them.

When she was sure that the others were out of the range of hearing, Applejack looked down at the metal beneath her hooves, not wanting to meet Deun's eyes.. "You… you're not gonna be here when we get back, are you?" she asked, her voice quiet.

Deun coughed, struggling once more to rise. "No… my wounds are too great." He gingerly touched the area where Checkmate had stabbed him, only to wince in pain. "Ha… I won't survive for long, I assure you both of that."

"Dammit, Deun," hissed Rolan, "why the hell would you lie about something as serious as that?!"

"How do you think that… any of them would have responded… knowing that my blood was on their hooves? Their morale would… be shattered… like ashes in the wind." He looked up, his eyes meeting the cloud-covered sky as tears began to form in them. "No… Wendigo must be stopped, regardless of the circumstances… He must… not be allowed… to continue with this monstrous evil that he has performed…" Deun then turned his gaze on Rolan, and -- for the first time in centuries -- smiled. It was oddly calm and peaceful and seemed to cover his entire face with joy. "Rolan…"

Rolan blinked. "What?"

"I know that… that you'll make a fine new king of Darkfrost…"

"Wait, whaddaya mean by that?" Applejack asked. "Can't a windigo only become a king if they're made a…" She stopped, her eyes filling with realization.

Deun nodded, and looked over to her. "Three days ago, Wendigo… he finally named the creature who he wanted… who he wanted to succeed his rule of Darkfrost… The name he chose was-"

"Mine?!" Rolan finished, shock filling his face. "But… why would he…?!"

"I… cannot answer that," responded the general, still struggling to push himself upwards. "He told me nothing of the matter. But I… was the only one who he confided that information in. I do not understand it myself, yet…" He coughed again, flecks of blood hitting the area between him, Applejack, and Rolan. "Something has been odd about him, recently… Again, I cannot quite describe it, nor can I describe what he told me before I came to battle with Checkmate Vigarde…"

Applejack looked over the bloodied general, attempting to keep the tears hidden within herself. "Wh… what did he say?"

"… 'Deun… do not die.' He told me that… in the case that my life was threatened… I was to retreat…"

Rolan took a single step back, clearly attempting to process the information that he just been told. "But that's… that can't…" He turned away, placing a hoof on his chin as he did so. "But… could that mean that he really hasn't…?"

Deun turned to Applejack, staring at her for a long while. "You… are the one who kept Rolan here… correct? The one who… who realized I was lying?" After she nodded, he continued, "What is your name…?"

"Applejack."

"Applejack…? It was a pleasure to meet you… and thank you for allowing Rolan to learn the truth…" Deun turned his head towards the ground. "However… this is it, I'm afraid. I… can already feel the ice of the Glacius… throughout my body, and I have not much time left before I… I succumb completely…" With a great amount of effort, he raised one of his hooves into the air. "Go… Do not concern yourselves with… my fate… I am a windigo… I shall be reborn, eventually… All that I ask is that, when I am… the world that I am born into --" he coughed again "-- is better than the hell… in which we are currently living…"

Rolan stared at him for a short while, before he nodded. "I promise that I'll do everything in my power to make a world like the one you want possible. No, I'll make it a reality if I can." He looked towards Applejack and nodded. "C'mon. Let's get back to the group before they notice we're gone. And Deun… farewell."

Applejack said nothing, instead taking one last look back as she and Rolan began to step down from the platform, and watched as ice began to slowly cover Deun's body as his eyes slowly closed, sending the general into the embrace of death. And there, where the general of the windigoes had once been, there now stood a massive statue of ice in a pool of blood, pushing itself upwards and towards the sky, a strangely peaceful look in its eyes.

Stumbling Through

Deun is dead. Another creature has fallen... all due to your ignorance.

"I know," Wendigo stated quietly. His eyes met those of his reflection's; those eyes that he despised, and hated, and wanted to see blotted out for all of eternity.

Or, perhaps, his ignorance would have been the more accurate statement; did you not order him to flee in the case that he was to find himself nearly dead? Yet he simply stood. What a fool.

Wendigo grit his teeth, eyes dancing with fury at the thing that mocked him from within his own mind. "Shut up," he growled in reply. "Deun fell because I was an idiot. It wasn't his fault... If anything, it was yours. It wouldn't be the first time, either."

... What are you insinuating?

"Perhaps it would do you some good to not blame everyone for your own mistake," he replied. Was he truly going to finish that thought?

Yes, he was. "Maybe, before you look at everyone in existence as the cause of this, you should look to yourself." Wendigo's eyes glimmered. "Don't blame all of us for what you failed to do!"

There was silence, but Wendigo could clearly feel the absolute rage and hatred that the voice was concealing. At last, when it spoke again, it dripped with hidden malice that sent a shiver down his spine.

... Quaternary died because of all of you. Primary, Secondary, Zectao, Solin, Noctus, Abyssin, Diasnier, Verin, Terran... All of you killed her. And so you will all suffer... every calavern and every other damned beast who refused her aid. You'll all rot... and Primary shall be the first to die.

Wendigo shivered once more. The voice -- the Catalyst, it wanted him to call it, even if he knew its true name -- had never come so close to showing hatred as it did in that statement. Certainly, it had occasionally showed emotion, but it hadn't ever been so purely filled with rage, and it had never had such a struggle to keep itself stoic in all of the years Wendigo had acted the part he'd been forced into.

However, in spite of the nervousness that now gripped him, Wendigo pressed on. There was one last bit of information that he needed his inner foe -- or his ally, in a manner of speaking -- to learn before Checkmate arrived; one final piece of knowledge that would change almost everything.

"Perhaps," he admitted. "However, there is something that I think you should know: you recall Chronos, do you not?"

Indeed. You killed him.

Wendigo's lips curved into a small smirk. His legs shook and small beads of sweat ran down his face, not to mention how much he despised himself over Deun's death, but he still held the face of one who was completely confident.

"I'm afraid that piece of information is incorrect."

... What? You are not honestly stating that-

"Of course I am," Wendigo interrupted. "Chronos still lives even now."

That cannot possibly be. You...

"... I tricked you, of course. It was rather simple, to be honest; you're so easy to fool that it's sickening to know that you've lived for millions of years longer than I." He laughed bitterly. "That's not all, you know. See, Chronos -- I told him everything. All about myself, I should say."

You... What have you done?

"Ruined your damned plan, perhaps? While you were off screwing around with Asgard and Hecatoncheir and destroying their lives, I was off letting Chronos know the truth of the matter. Why do you think he gave me that magical barrier, anyway? It's because he knew he wouldn't have been able to kill me, given the circumstances." Wendigo held his hoof out in front of him, as a thin, glassy dagger appeared in it. "And then... more than a thousand years ago, when he and Hatred came to stop me, I let him go.

"Even now -- wherever he is, for even I don't know where he could be -- Chronos knows everything. Well... not about you, of course, but about me."

The voice was silent for a long while, and its rage could nearly be felt from within Wendigo's mind, echoing across the walls of his skull. However, just as soon as he felt its anger, it ended, leaving behind only the emotionlessness and cold rationality that it always displayed.

... And what changes in that case? All that occurs is that a fool continues to thrive.

Wendigo stopped, another chill running down his spine. "Wh..."

Say whatever it is that you desire; you won't change what is to occur. Checkmate Vigarde and his ignorant band of allies shall soon arrive in this accursed chamber, and the lot shall be slaughtered by your own hands. The foolish children's lives shall be made null, and this universe shall fade into eternity's maw. This universe... and every other.

Wendigo grit his teeth. Even though he knew the beast who spoke so closely -- even if he remembered its name, its face, and that cursed deal -- the thought that it could control its emotions so simply was absolutely horrifying. It was almost in the same vein as Checkmate; one who acted the part of the emotionless, yet whose true nature was far from that. "Do you not understand?" he growled. "Chronos knows the truth. He knows-"

Yet can you truly claim that to be any alteration to the events that now take place? Let us entertain the notion that Chronos can convince any of these other equines -- be they windigo, sleipnir, griffon, pony, zebra, changeling, or whatever else may exist -- that such a being as I exists, or that you are but a pawn in my game. What does that truly change? Should I desire, I could simply slaughter every living creature upon the face of this world, and I shall, should the need arise. It should be said that one of the creatures I could slaughter with simplicity would be Chronos himself.

"And Primary would know everything, too," Wendigo replied, through clenched teeth.

Indeed, and that is why I must hide away, and why you must grant me aid in this matter. As I have stated so often: we both desire Primary's head, and I know that you would go to any lengths in order to acquire your vengeance upon the creature who ripped your life into oblivion, just as I wish the same.

Wendigo spat onto his own reflection. "We share the same goal," he admitted, "but nothing more than that. When we have finished this, I promise you that I will end you, regardless of the cost."

Lying is looked down upon, so I have heard. As is the arrogance that you feel the necessity to display, and the ignorance of you and your ilk. Windigoes, especially, are worthless creatures as a whole. What they do is naught but create storms and cold, and feast upon the hatred that you bear with pride. Yet they are hardly the most worthless of creatures in this universe. Indeed, fools such as Checkmate Vigarde -- heroes, the title that they bear -- are no more than fodder for the more powerful of this universe's creations.

"Fodder indeed," Wendigo replied, turning away from the eyes that met his own. "Just as calaverns are fodder for the more powerful beasts of eternity, no? Or how Quaternary was fodder to those who slew her while you just sat by and watched?"

Do not speak ill of her death. Primary is fodder, and Secondary and every other calavern who walk eternity are all lower than even he. The entirety of the calaverns are but worthless, useless fools who know not the destruction that they cause. I, however, shall craft a perfect universe... one of beauty, of wonder; a veritable utopia that shall stretch onward forever, regardless of what I must do to maintain its greatness. One where none must feel the agony that a creature as monstrous as he felt the need to curse me with.

"So I assume that you're supposed to be infallible? You claim that all of us are worthless, but who's the one who has to use all of us because he can't show his own face? The one who has to brainwash a child and ruin him and his brother just to cause a minor distraction in lieu of 'my' takeover? Who forced me to betray my closest friends and claim that I hated them all along?!" The sound of glass shattering echoed throughout the chamber once more, Wendigo's hoof once more having met the ice that now lay broken before him. "I'm not worthless, Catalyst. The worthless one is you."

The voice was silent once more. There was absolutely no noise that came from it, not even its quiet breathing. Instead, the room had fallen into stillness, as though nothing existed within. Wendigo waited, allowing the seconds to pass, but the voice still did not return.

He let out a quiet sigh of relief before turning back towards the entrance of the cavern. After all, Checkmate and his group were liable to soon approach, and he had to be prepared for when the time of his death arrived.

"Come, now, Checkmate..." he heard himself whisper. "Let's see if you can do it... If you can finally bring an end to all of this destruction, and bring this damned thing to an end."

Darkness.

Darkness touched everything, cloaking the world in a place of shadows. The walls of the mine were the color of the night sky, the ground and ceiling darker still. There was not even the gentle light of Dusk's blade to show their way, leaving the group to stumble across the uneven stone in their way.

Checkmate knew the accursed area all too well. While he, personally, had not spend an absurd amount of time in the depths, he had still worked in the darkness of the upper levels on various occasions. Usually after his parents had grown sick and they had not had the money to purchase any commodities. The pain of those memories still haunted him; seeing creatures whose bodies had been literally ripped apart by the machinery, the ones who were devoured by the beasts that stalked the lower levels -- fine when they met that morning, and dead by nightfall -- and those who had been so utterly broken that their very minds and sanity had been stripped away, along with most of their flesh.

Those were the ones who Checkmate feared the most. The ones who had literally nothing left, and who had very nearly lost their own emotions into the maw of the void. Wendigo had taken special care to annihilate all of them in the most gruesome and horrid ways imaginable, adding more terror to the already-increasing pile that existed within him.

That had been part of the reason why Checkmate had gone so far as to hide away his emotions; had he shown them so much as they did, there was a chance -- no, a likelihood -- that his death would have been as disgustingly vile as theirs, and then his flesh devoured.

A chill ran down his spine and he shuddered, looking about the darkness in an effort to ensure that they were not being stalked by any creatures that prowled within the areas where what little light remained did not dare to touch. Nothing was behind them, and nothing in front. Checkmate breathed a relieved sigh, turning his attention back towards the path.

Surprisingly, the others were all completely silent; even the breaths that they took were almost impossible to hear as their hooves carefully and slowly stepped across the uneven terrain. Even the children and Pinkie Pie were quiet, their eyes set upon the darkness that spread before them.

They walked further, hooves touching stone, as the group slowly made their way down the corridor. The Ignis and the Glacius both sat at Checkmate's side, his hooves ready to dart out and grip their handles when the need would arise. Beside him, he could see Dusk, his hoof on the hilt of the massive sword on his back, and Valice, already holding her daggers as she strode.

The silence continued, seeming to nearly echo off the walls and into the black, unrelenting curtain that hung near the wood and stone, as if goading them onwards to see just what lay beyond the shadow.

Eventually, the darkness began to lift, a strange light filling the area as a large chamber was revealed to them; the walls curved upwards, joining into a large dome; the ground was a single long walkway, with ice to its left and right; and there, at the very end was a small staircase, behind which was yet another entrance into a different passage.

The sound of clapping permeated the air, as a familiar figure stepped from the area across the bridge. "I must say, I'm impressed that you all made it so far! I would have thought you all would have been slaughtered by this point." Wendigo smirked, stepping down the staircase with great deliberation. "Well, it's not as if it makes some difference; after all, a group of children can't kill a god, now can they?"

"Do you still honestly think that you're a god?" growled Dusk, taking a single step forward, his hoof tightly clasped around Constellation's handle.

Wendigo laughed. "Oh, but of course I do! After all, I fit all of the criteria, don't I? All-powerful... immortal... and above every other creature in existence."

Twilight's eyes flashed. "You... you are no god! What you are is just a monster!"

"Wow, how very perceptive of you. I really can see just why Celestia took you on as her protégé; you're just as stupid as she is."

Rarity took a step onto the ice, her eyes seeming to blaze with quiet fury. "How dare you claim such a thing of her, you... you..."

Wendigo turned to the side, not bothering to meet any of their gazes. "Because Celestia is just a stupid, ignorant bitch who thinks that the world is hers to play around with. I mean, really! She sent all of you out here on this journey that'll probably wind up with all of you dying, and she didn't even bother to try to come here herself! It's hysterical, really." He laughed once more, before turning his head to face the group. "Don't you all think so, too?"

"Where the hell do you get off pretending to be superior to all of us?!" Rainbow hissed. "The last time I checked, we've mopped the floor with dozens of threats, so what makes you think you'll be any more difficult for us to stop?!"

"Isn't it obvious?" Wendigo disappeared from sight, merging with the air around him. "Because" -- his voice came from behind them, prompting everypony to turn, seeing the cruel figure leaning against the area where they had just entered from -- "I'm superior to all of you. Ponies? Worthless creatures. Windigoes and sleipnirs are even more so, and changelings are the most useless and stupid of all. 'Oh, hey, we devour love, so let's go and try to make everypony hate us!'" He broke down into yet another fit of laughter, clutching at his stomach as he did so.

"You son of a bitch!" shouted Valice, her eyes also burning with pure rage and anger. "I'll kill you myself!"

"How adorable." Wendigo stood tall, his smirk growing. "Don't any of you realize just how powerful I am? I am a god! A god among gods, even! Celestia fears me, Luna despises me, and even Discord is terrified by me! Try as much as you all want; you're not going to be able to stop me!"

"Maybe not," Applejack admitted, "but we can at least try, and we're gonna save every single creature in Darkfrost that we can!"

"Optimistic, too! Or stupid, I can't really tell the difference. Either way, it doesn't change anything; you'll die regardless."

Checkmate took a step towards his hated foe, drawing the Glacius and the Ignis as he did so. "You're wrong, Wendigo; the only one who will die today will be yourself!"

Wendigo vanished once more, this time appearing back where he had started. "Very well, if you're so ignorant as to think that you can best a god... if you are asking for death... then who am I to deny you the right to vanish into eternity's maw?" He drew Conviction, his grip on it reversed, as his smirk only continued to grow. "Do say hello to Hecatoncheir for me when you've arrived in Hell, won't you?"

Rolan, who had been silent from the beginning of the conversation, began to walk forward, his hooves slowly hitting the stone bridge. "I... have one last question for you." He looked up and met Wendigo's eyes, his own completely calm. "Tell me this: if you plan to kill us, and you despise us... then why did you name me as your successor?"

The tyrant froze, the smirk on his lips completely fading away at his enemy's statement. He opened his mouth as if to speak against the claim, but no sound exited. His right hoof, which had held the dagger, slowly lowered to the ground. "... It matters not my reason. It was simply something that I chose to do... And where did you learn of that?! I only told it to... one..." His eyes widened in horrified realization, although Checkmate thought that he could see something else in them; something that he could not quite place. "Deun..."

"He told me everything; about how you made that decision three days ago... and about what you told him before he was sent to try and stop us. So why don't you tell us the truth about all of this?!"

Applejack stepped up beside him. "And he wasn't the only one, either. I heard them -- Deun's last words -- along with Rolan. So you can't call him a liar 'cause of it!"

"Nnnnn..." Wendigo growled, his eyes darting across the fourteen figures before him, from the youths to Dusk. "No... I... that's... not... I... Ugh!" He took a single step back, before turning and sprinting down the passageway behind him.

"You're not getting away!" Checkmate shouted, as he began to run towards the staircase. He pushed both Rolan and Applejack aside, racing up and into the passage that his foe had since vanished into.

From behind him, he could hear Dusk call, "Checkmate, wait! Do not be so hasty," followed by the sound of hooves crashing into stone from the room that he had only recently exited.

Checkmate did not look back to see who had chosen to follow him, instead focusing his sight on the path onwards. The Glacius and the Ignis both shimmered with a dull light as he rushed towards where Wendigo had fled.

The Final Turn

"Don't any of you realize just how irritating you are?"

Checkmate stepped into the chamber, noticing that it was nearly identical to the one in Solace. However the stones that made up the area were lighter in color, and the platform was surrounded by ice and water. The walls seemed to glow with an etherial light, leaving the chamber entirely illuminated.

Wendigo stood at the edge of the platform, facing away from him. "None of you seem to understand just when to give up. First, you got away from Darkfrost, but you couldn't just live out a normal, peaceful life... No, you had to go about and be a Chronos-damned hero, didn't you? I never should have allowed Khaza to interfere, and I should have just killed you that day. But no, I let you live, and you became nothing but a thorn in my side! Everypony in Darkfrost began to proclaim you as some sort of savior, that you were going to end my reign. And you did nothing to contradict these proclamations... you just took them, and ran with the idea that you were going to save all of these foolish creatures."

Checkmate raised the Ignis and the Glacius. "... Wendigo," he started, "is it true... what Rolan said back there? Did you really-?"

"Save your breath, Checkmate. You'll need it for later." Wendigo let out a deep sigh, still facing away from Checkmate. "I told him to not interfere, that he would only walk down a path towards misery and pain! But he didn't listen... and now we're here because of it." He turned his head downwards. "Well? You want me dead, don't you? Then why bother with this useless drivel?"

Checkmate nodded. "You're right," he admitted. "I do want you dead, especially after all of the destruction and pain that you've caused --" he paused, contemplating his next words "-- but I want to know the truth more than that. I want to know why this is all occurring as it is."

Wendigo chuckled, although it sounded almost tired. "Truth? What truth is there for you learn?" He turned, slowly, his face and rage-filled eyes coming into view. "Well? What truth do you desire, eh? You want me to spout a load of crap? Give you my damned motive?!" He began to visibly calm down, looking away from his foe. "I don't really have one, to be honest. I do what I do because I can, and I continue because it's fun."

"Stop lying," hissed Dusk's voice as he walked up beside Checkmate. "Tell us the truth!"

"There is no truth!" Wendigo screamed, and his eyes widened before he stumbled back, clutching at his head. "U-ugh, dammit... sh-shut up..."

Dusk stepped towards him. "No, there is a truth, and you're hiding it away! Say it, damn you!"

For but a second, Wendigo continued to clutch at his head, looking as if he was in agony, before he stood up tall. For just a second, Checkmate could have sworn that his eyes changed; it wasn't anything highly noticeable or anything drastic, but they seemed to alter for just a brief moment. "... Say the truth? Ha... how absolutely stupid of you, Dusk... I would, but that route is no longer available to me." He began to laugh -- slowly, quietly at first, before he broke out into a loud, fast, and utterly psychopathic scream that echoed throughout the chamber.

Dusk's eyes widened in horror. "Th-that laugh...! That's...!"

"It's hilarious, isn't it? I thought if I left you be as Khaza told me, you'd eventually realize just how stupid you all were, and you'd give up on this disgustingly idiotic farce of yours! But you... you're like some sort of plague, never leaving me be! And I'll show you... I'll show you just who I am, just how I became so powerful, just how I became a damned god! And in order for you to understand my might, I'll just have to give you both an upfront demonstration!"

Wendigo proceeded to smash one of his hooves against the ground as ice began to gather at the entrance to the chamber just as the others ran towards it, all being stopped by the frost that coated the area.

"Check!" Rainbow shouted, smashing her hoof against the wall, her voice somehow audible past the thick ice.

Valice grit her teeth and slashed at the ice with her daggers, only for the blockade to remain. "Dammit!"

Wendigo's smirk was replaced on his face. "Ah, perfect... you get to have your friends watch whilst you die! And this time I won't simply let you go! You may have convinced me before, Khaza, but I promise that I'll tear your little friend into pieces, and then I'll shatter the Glacius and the Ignis into dust and let the wind carry them into the depths of Hell!" He raised Conviction into the air, his eyes setting on Dusk. "And you desired death, Dusk... a death that I shall now provide, and that your so-called 'immortality' shall not allow you to escape! I will watch the two of you squirm as your souls are burned into the Zephyr for all of eternity!"

Checkmate raised both swords up once more. "Alright, Dusk, this is it!"

Let's give it all we've got! Khaza shouted triumphantly, and let's kick Wendigo's flank down to Hell where he belongs!

Likewise, Illia began, formally as always. Our shared pasts mean nothing based upon the present we now face. The Wendigo who Khaza and I once knew is now dead, and this monstrosity is all that remains. Let us bring an end to this destruction, and restore the peace of the world once more!

Dusk grimaced, unsheathing Constellation. Flames began to lick the blade of the massive sword, with Dusk's own body beginning to alter because of his magic. "This will be our last duel... this is the battle for the souls of everypony who has had to suffer at the hooves of this wretched tyrant! Raise your blades, and this shall decide the fate of all who live in Darkfrost... Equestria..." His eyes flashed, almost knowingly. "... No, this is for the entire world, so let's make it count!"

Wendigo stepped towards them, Conviction in his right hoof, and a new smirk on his lips. "It's time for the lot of you to die!"

Wendigo lunged towards the two, both of them dodging to the side of his strike. The obsidian dagger seemed to nearly slice through the air of the cavern as the lord of Darkfrost turned his gaze on Checkmate, slashing downwards with the wretched weapon in an attempt to end his foe. Checkmate quickly raised the Glacius -- now shimmering with a powerful determination -- and used the blade to block Wendigo's attack.

The Ignis's crimson-orange blade glinted in the light as it approached the tyrant's throat, only narrowly missing its intended target as Wendigo leapt backwards, placing himself between both Dusk and Checkmate. The duo exchanged a quick glance before they ran towards the king of Darkfrost from front and back.

Wendigo quickly turned his body, barely avoiding Constellation's burning blade, before he swiftly blocked Checkmate's strike with Conviction. "Ha! Is that truly the best you can muster, Vigarde? Do you want to see your precious world die?" he taunted. The smirk fell from his face as the Glacius's blade reached forward and slashed under his left eye, causing the white blood of the windigoes to drip from the small wound.

Checkmate pulled both blades back, admiring his work. "Not quite," he replied, his voice strangely calm even as excitement ran throughout him.

Wendigo wiped the blood away, his face filled with anger. "Annoying little brat!" he hissed. "I think you need a lesson in manners!" He swung downwards on the last word, Conviction's dark tip aimed directly for Checkmate's heart.

Checkmate matched his strike with the Glacius, striking once more with the Ignis from the front whilst Dusk aimed towards Wendigo's left. The tyrant leapt to the right, dodging both blows and turning his gaze back towards the mercenary, and slashed the dagger towards his newfound prey.

Dusk raised Constellation over his head, its massive blade acting as a natural shield against Wendigo's thrust. He pushed the blade towards his enemy and forced him to stumble backwards due to the sheer force of the shove. Checkmate instantly went in for the kill, holding the Ignis and the Glacius forward as he rushed towards Wendigo's right side.

The tyrant's eyes flashed in rage as he turned to the side and dodged yet another strike that would have inevitably ended his life had it connected. He touched the wound beneath his eye and winced, his teeth grit in pure, unfiltered hatred towards the one who had caused its existence. However, just as soon as the anger appeared, it was replaced with something else entirely, which Checkmate could not quite place.

"Ha... you're strong, I'll give you that much," he admitted, his breaths seeming somewhat shallow and pained. "But -- unfortunately for you, Checkmate Vigarde -- strength and determination aren't enough!" Wendigo then slammed his front-left hoof into the ground, causing ice to ensnare the legs of both Checkmate and Dusk, and holding the two in place as the weapons fell out of the wielders' hooves.

Checkmate was sent to the ground, and felt the wind become knocked out of him as his chest slammed into the stone. The image was all-too familiar, but this time, Dusk was in the same position: bound to the earth, and unable to move even slightly due to it. "U-ugh, dammit..." he gasped, panting for breath.

Wendigo let out a sigh as he walked up to Checkmate and placed Conviction under his chin, forcing the stallion's head up. "Y'know, that's what annoys me the most about you, 'Check'," he said mockingly, the smirk having returned. "You think that just because you have the 'determination' or the 'drive' to stop me that you can. But all that you're doing is just digging yourself deeper into Hell, along with the idiots who you roped into this." He removed the blade from its place, but ran it along Checkmate's cheek slowly. "You wanted to protect 'em, right? Well, what did you think would happen if you failed? I'd just send them all back to Celestia, maybe have a little party, show up at your funeral, some crap like that? Please. Life isn't that simple, I'm afraid."

Checkmate let out another gasp, Conviction's blade now on the recently-stitched wound that ran down his back. "And since you seem to have thought -- or think, I guess, based on that stupid look in your eyes -- that you could stop me... Well, let's pretend, shall we, that you manage to beat -- no, kill -- me. What'll happen, then, in that case? You think that Darkfrost'll be all sugar, candy, and rainbows? That its populace will forget millennia of torment, torture, and death? Ha! Your naiveté is absolutely adorable, don't you think, Dusk? Of course you do, based on that cheery look you're giving me." Wendigo laughed, pulling Conviction away from Checkmate's back, and replacing it under his chin. "And your friends, too." He cast a glance towards the entrance, the smirk on his face slowly growing, and looked back at Checkmate. "No, this damned place'll just continue to suffer, and they'll suffer for centuries more.

"After all, you can't just put a bandage on a wound like this. Yeah, killing me'll boost morale, but what good is that when none of the freaking townsponies can so much as walk? Or the pegasi that can't fly? Or maybe the unicorns who can't cast even the most simple of spells?" He laughed, and looked over at Dusk's broken horn, fully revealed due to his mane being pushed out of the way. "See, you'll do nothing but make 'em all a bit happier -- at first, but then you'll just plunge them all into a hell more wretched than anything I could have ever dreamed of!

"The ponies of Equestria will fear and mock them for their differences, which will lead to resentment and bitterness. How long, then, until that sprouts into full-on hatred? Civil war, destruction, death... that's all you're gonna lead these pathetic, worthless creatures towards by killing me, whether you like it or not. And that, Checkmate... that is the 'truth' of my actions, because even if I die, the world still suffers beautifully!"

He broke down laughing, then, standing tall as he continued to hold Conviction to Checkmate's throat. His eyes gleamed with a mad desire -- but, again, something else seemed to live in them that the stallion could not quite place.

Rage filled Checkmate, his teeth grit as he felt the dagger beneath his chin. Every time he fought, the situation always ended with him on the ground or in some other such wretched situation. During the battles with the jadetails, the antlion, Hecatoncheir, and every single time his blade had ever crossed with Wendigo's, he had needed somepony to save him, to help him up when he could not stand.

And that infuriated him more than anything; more than the dagger at his throat, the smirking monster above him, or the fact that he couldn't even walk. He was the one who was supposed to protect them -- he was the reason that they were putting themselves into such terrible positions, after all -- but he could do nothing but lay in the dust as they struggled to keep the journey going.

"Y... you..." he gasped with some of the air that his lungs allowed him to hold. "Y... you're..."

Wendigo met his eyes and chuckled. "Wrong? See, there's another thing about you that annoys me... you never listen to anything I-"

"No... you're right," Checkmate managed to choke out. He coughed onto the ground before breathing in deeper to speak once more. "Yes... the creatures of Darkfrost are weak... and... and yes... putting them into a position like... that could be... be catastrophic..."

Wendigo stopped, his eyes seeming to change slightly, although the wretched smirk still remained. "Then why bother to fight it?"

Checkmate grit his teeth, before he slowly pulled himself upwards, standing on legs that shook from pain and tiredness. He coughed again, and breathed deeply in an effort to keep himself steady. "Because no matter what... what hell they are forced to endure..." He met Wendigo's eyes, his own burning with defiance. "It will never be as wretched as what you have caused them to live in! Maybe it will take centuries... maybe millennia... but I'd rather have them take that first step to freedom than... than live in this damned place forever..."

"Ha! How hilarious! Do you really think you can help them?" The dagger was still against Checkmate's throat, unwavering from its location. "All you'll do is lead them to their deaths, no matter whether I'm involved or not. Face it, Checkmate, this world is going to die, and you with it!"

Checkmate's eyes flashed. "Shut up! I'm sick of this... of you spewing all of this bullshit!" He closed his eyes, and quickly moved his left foreleg upwards, a sickening cracking sound emerging as he cried out in pain. His shoulder had been dislocated by the action, but the ice had been torn upwards as well, detaching his leg from the ground. "I... don't give a crap about... anything you... say... because I'll... do whatever it... ugh... takes to... stop you...!"

Wendigo took a step back in surprise, gritting his teeth but saying nothing.

Checkmate reached to the side, his hoof gripping the handle of the Ignis as its heat caused the ice to melt from it. Although he was in terrible pain, Checkmate still moved the Ignis over to his other legs, choking back sobs of agony as he did so. The ice melted from them, and he dropped the Ignis to the ground with a gasp. "Because... no matter how long it takes... this damned rule of yours'll come to an end, and these creatures... they'll all know the freedom that... that they long for...!" He reached over with his right foreleg, moving his left shoulder back into place with another cry of pain. "And that, Wendigo... that is the truth!"

Wendigo took yet another step backwards, his eyes wide. However, that look soon vanished, leaving behind that same face that he always wore, the smirk regrowing. "Ha... how foolish..." He looked over to Dusk, and slammed a hoof into the ground before the ice vanished from around his legs. "Well, then... if you're so determined, then why don't you show me your so-called 'truth'!"

Before Checkmate, Dusk, or anypony behind the wall of ice could respond, Wendigo lunged forward once more, Conviction gripped in his right hoof as he hurried towards them, that wretched, maniacal grin stretched over the entirety of his face.

Checkmate

Four blades crossed in the chamber of ice. One was a dagger of obsidian, its blade designed to curse those who fell by it to an eternity of agony and destruction. The second was a blade with a blade like ice, its own curse one that forced the dead to shatter into shards of frost. The third was one -- a twin of the second -- with a blade like fire, which caused those felled by its edge to become ash.

And the fourth, as it swung through the air, seemed to dominate the others. Checkmate could not even begin to describe the level of power with which Dusk wielded Constellation, flames dancing across its blade as it struck towards his hated foe.

Wendigo's eyes flashed as he raised Conviction high, blocking the strike from the massive blade with the thin dagger's edge. The tyrant's smirk widened as he pulled his weapon back, his eyes dancing with a foul joy. "What's the matter, Dusk? I thought that you were a damned expert in swordplay! Don't tell me that you're so weak that you can't even cut me?" He swung out with a terrifying swiftness that most certainly did not fit his size. "C'mon, now! I thought you were supposed to be a god, or did you lose your strength due to that bitch's intervention?! Show me your power! Let me delight in your strength!"

Dusk dodged backwards as Wendigo's blade sung through the air, thrust towards his heart. Checkmate quickly ran to his side, pressing his back against Dusk's. "Dammit," he hissed, "I knew Wendigo was strong, but this is...!" His words were cut short as Wendigo struck from on high, causing him and Dusk to both dodge to the side in an effort to avoid the culling blade.

"Ridiculous, I know," Dusk growled, raising up Constellation to his face. "It's as if his power's been multiplied tenfold!"

Wendigo's eyes glinted as he spun Conviction in his right hoof. "Oh, come on. Surely you two can't be giving up? What the hell happened to that 'I've gotta save everyone' crap that you were spouting earlier? Did you think that just 'cause you've got a few new fancy weapons, you have a chance against me? Ha, how delightful!" He rushed towards them, shouting as he did so, "If you want to save Darkfrost so badly, then you'll have to do better than that!"

Dusk hurriedly blocked the strike with Constellation, causing flames and sparks to burst from between the two blades as they crossed from the sheer velocity of Wendigo's speed. "Dammit!" he growled, trying to push his enemy back. "This... how can this be possible?!"

Wendigo simply laughed, his eyes boring into Dusk's. "Oh, you know fully well, Dusk!" He laughed again. "As I said: I'm superior to these damned creatures! Chronos, Hatred... and yes, Dusk, even they are all beneath me! Khaza, Rolan, and even you could not stop me! Nobody can stop me!"

Checkmate grit his teeth, clutching the Ignis and the Glacius so tightly that he thought their handles would shatter beneath his grip. He had a clear shot for Wendigo's back, and knew when to take the shot. He pulled himself back, and his gaze between the tyrant's shoulder-blades.

He let himself loose then and ran. His hooves were quiet on the cavern floor, the sound not even echoing across the brightly-lit walls, with the lights instead shining on the two blades that he held, causing them to reflect across the area -- the ice, the walls, and even the area beyond the blockade all shone with a brilliant mixture of red and blue light.

However, just as the Ignis was mere inches from Wendigo's spine, the foul god turned, blocking both at once with Conviction. He said nothing, but his eyes spoke for him, showing only a depraved, monstrous delight in having seen his enemy fail so utterly.

Checkmate let out a gasp as Wendigo quickly pushed him back before turning and dodging Dusk's strike, placing the two of them before him once more. "Come, now! Is this truly the best that you both can muster? What a shame --" he let out a sigh, before running a hoof over the side of his head "-- because it's here that you'll both die!" He instantly lunged again, eyes filled with that same depravity.

Dusk's reaction was immediate, using Constellation as a shield once more, before he dodged back, and let out a sigh. "... I was hoping that this would not be necessary, but I suppose that I'll have to use up a bit more of my energy for this moment."

Before anypony could ask what he meant, Dusk's eyes flashed. The mercenary held out Constellation, both Checkmate and Wendigo watching in fascinated shock as the blade began to alter once more; light from the walls began to coat and enter the blade, mingling with the fire, as well as himself. The result was that the blade glowed like the stones on the walls with a soft white light, but also burned red with the inferno that now seemed to have engulfed it.

Wendigo stumbled back, a strange amount of fear showing in his eyes for the first time. "T-Two?!" he cried, watching Dusk as he stepped forward. "That's... that can't possibly...!"

Dusk smirked slightly. His coat had become an odd mixture of light-tan and orange, with both colors appearing to have mixed together, and his mane had become a strange light-auburn. "Unfortunately, that appears to be the truth, Tyrant," he spat, holding Constellation forward. "Your elements -- they're wind, ice, and darkness, if I recall correctly. Three elements at once would be impossible to hold for so long, but two? I believe we can end our duel in due time in that regard, do you not agree?"

Wendigo grit his teeth, eyes darting over to Checkmate. "It makes little difference! The end result will be the same!"

As soon as he spoke, Wendigo turned and struck out towards Checkmate, all of his energy placed behind Conviction's edge. Checkmate quickly blocked the strike by crossing both the Ignis and the Glacius in front of him, but the force behind the attack sent him sliding backwards until he stood with his back to the lake of ice. He let out a gasp as he held the blades up once more, struggling to stand tall even as his foe loomed over him with a wretched look of triumph in his white eyes.

"And after that speech of yours, too, you still are just backed into a corner," Wendigo taunted. He held Conviction in front of him, its tip placed at Checkmate's forehead. "Sure, you've grown far stronger than you were when we dueled here last, Vigarde, but what difference does it make? And Dusk, I would advise you to relinquish your grip on that sword, or your friend here might be... well, you know."

Checkmate's gaze moved past Wendigo and to where Dusk stood behind him. Already the mercenary appeared somewhat drained of his energy, likely from the alteration, and seemed to be having difficulty standing.

"Ha... life's funny like that, isn't it? You work so long, spend so much time doing something, only to watch it fade away in a flash of light." Wendigo pulled the dagger away and looked over it. "Sometimes you have everything you could want: friends, family, creatures who care for you and respect you... but then, one day, something worms its way in -- an idea, a monster, anything -- and refuses to let go. And then everything you've worked for... everypony you've ever cared for --" he grit his teeth, looked Conviction over once more, and tightened his grip on its handle "-- they all fade away... Ashes to ashes; dust to dust."

Checkmate grit his teeth, trying to ignore the threat of death that now loomed over him once more. His grip on both of the swords only tightened as he looked for an opening. Behind the tyrant, Dusk nodded at him, still trying to stand tall.

Wendigo sighed, and looked away. "That's all that life it, Checkmate... so what makes it so worth living to you?"

"I'm... not sure," Checkmate responded, shakily. "At least, that's what I would have said eight years ago... then, I didn't know what I wanted. I wasn't sure why I even bothered to live. All that I wanted... all that I desired... was vengeance for the deaths of those I cared about. My mother, my father, my sister, and Khaza... I just wanted to take you down because of them." He stood tall and lifted the Glacius. "But now... now I know just what I really want out of life. I have a world that I want to protect, and friends and creatures who care for me and want me to go living."

Checkmate's eyes flashed as he swung the Glacius towards Wendigo's head. The tyrant quickly blocked the strike with Conviction, leaving him staring into Checkmate's eyes. "And I will not let you hurt them." Checkmate swiftly cut across Wendigo's left foreleg with the Ignis, forcing him to turn opaque. "Dusk, now!"

Wendigo's eyes widened as he turned around quickly, but was too late to stop the blade from entering his chest. Constellation's blade shown with fire and light as it burned into Wendigo's abdomen, leaving the tyrant to stumble back in horror as the blade remained trapped in his body. The strategist simply looked over the brutal display, and added:

"Checkmate."

Wendigo choked, continuing to stumble back until he was just above the pool of ice. "N-no... that can't be...! Ch-Checkmate...! I-it was supposed... to... be..."

And without another word, the lord of Darkfrost -- the wretched tyrant who had made so many creatures' lives hell -- fell to the ground, his life collapsing into the dust where he now lay.

Dusk stepped over to the corpse and unceremoniously wrenched the blade free of his chest. "It's over," he stated simply, and looked to Checkmate. "Can you believe it? Twenty-five-hundred years of this bastard's rule... and it all ended with a few short words." He reached down, then, and grabbed Conviction from the ground next to Wendigo's hoof and picked it up. "Such a small dagger... but such a disgusting weapon. Do you want it?" he asked Checkmate. When he shook his head, Dusk merely shrugged and placed the dagger into his bag.

Checkmate shuddered, stepping away from the corpse. "Hard to believe that nopony else came this close, isn't it?"

"Hard to believe," Dusk echoed quietly. He looked away from their shared enemy, and nodded towards Checkmate. "Come, let's be free of this wretched place; I don't desire to stay here any longer."

"Agreed."

As the two prepared to leave, however, Checkmate was tackled by a familiar figure. "That was awesome, Check!" Rainbow Dash declared, before noticing that she'd knocked him to the ground. "Oh, uh... s-sorry about that..."

"Don't worry about it," he replied, and smiled. "Right now I'd rather be tackled than gutted, so..." He shrugged, and looked over the others. "I... sorry I ran off on my own there."

Rolan looked over at Wendigo's corpse and grimaced. "It's not a problem," he replied, "but I can't help but feel that... no, it's nothing."

"Yeah, besides," Valice added, stepping up to him, "that was pretty cool towards the end there. How'd you learn to dislocate your own shoulder, anyway?" She poked it tentatively.

Twilight stepped over to him as well. "Guys, I think we should wait to ask Checkmate these questions for a while; he looks a bit tired."

Checkmate chuckled. "Tired? Now that's --" he paused, and felt his face grow pale "-- D-Dusk!"

The group instantly turned towards their companion, who now lay passed out on the cavern's floor. His colors had returned to normal, and Constellation now lay in the sheath on his back. Although he seemed to be rather uncomfortable -- given the circumstances, that was only natural -- his eyes seemed almost peaceful.

Valice grimaced. "So... who has to carry him out of here?" When she was greeted with a rather awkward silence, she continued, "Well, I guess I'll have to." She hoisted him onto her back and grimaced. "Ugh... Dammit, this bastard's heavy... must be that freaking sword of his..."

Twilight grimaced. "Can't you just... change into a stronger form or something?"

"You don't know anything about changelings at all, do you?" Valice muttered, still evidently trying to not get crushed under Dusk's weight. "Just 'cause I can take a stronger looking-form doesn't mean it makes me any stronger... it's mostly just aesthetics..."

"Well, in that case..." Twilight lifted Dusk from Valice's back, using her magic to suspend him in the air. "I probably won't be able to teleport him with that sword of his, but I should be able to get him out of here like this."

Valice grinned, cracking her shoulders. "Ah, thanks for that, Sparkle," she responded. "That's a load off my back, figuratively and literally."

Checkmate grimaced, and looked back at the corpse of his fallen enemy. "... Um, can we just get going?" he asked. "We can talk later, but I just want to get out of here, and away from --" he gestured towards the broken and bleeding body of Wendigo "-- that."

"Right," Rainbow said, looking away from the corpse. "Let's... let's just get outta here."

"One last thing, if none of you mind," Rolan said, stepping over to them. He looked over the group, the two blades that shone, and Dusk, before he added: "Everything here today, and over the course of the past week -- it was all thanks to you guys. You guys fought well, and hard, and did everything all for the sake of Darkfrost -- no, Snowfall. So, tonight, I've declared that we're going to celebrate, and we're going to have the greatest celebration we can!"

Pinkie grinned, nearly exploding in joy. "Yes! It's time for me to throw the greatest 'We-Just-Saved-The-World-Again-Time-To-Kick-Back-and-Relax Party' ever!"

Rarity smiled. "Well, there is no sense in letting these creatures wait, now is there? Come, let us all be off, and give them the good news!"

And so, with the victory over his greatest foe under his belt, Checkmate Vigarde departed from the icy cavern with the rest of the group, the odd fourteen leaving behind the corpse of one of the most monstrous creatures in history, and the nightmares that had since been arisen by his evil.

The Aftermath

Epilogue

Several dozen ponies had gathered at and around Shadowed Night's tavern, celebrating the occasion with tears, laughter, and joy. The lights that adorned the building -- placed by Pinkie herself -- shone with a wondrous brilliance beneath the night sky, the moon hanging over it all.

For the first time in millennia, the sky of Snowfall was clear, allowing light to pass through to the earth below.

Night passed out another round. "C'mon, you lot!" he shouted jovially, "it's on the house tonight, so drink up!" He levitated a glass over to the counter and placed it down. "Huh, you're drinking a lot less than normal, Heatwave," he observed. "Are you feeling alright?"

The pegasus -- if he could even be called that anymore -- chuckled, bringing the glass up to his lips. "I've got no real reason to drink now, do I? Ha... I can't believe that kid did it..." He drank the liquid slowly before he lowered it and wiped his mouth. "Then again, I guess that his 'hope' paid off, huh?"

"Yes, indeed," Night replied, smiling sadly. "I... I guess I should feel happy, right? Then why do I feel like there's this hole in my chest...?"

"Death's a funny thing like that," replied Heatwave calmly. "No matter what happens, it's something that remains forever. All the lives lost for that bastard's Zephyr... None of 'em will ever come back, but there's no use in grieving when we can just look to the future." He nodded to his friend. "Listen -- I know that it hurts, but you'll have to move on. I mean... what would White Shadow say if he saw you like this?"

"You're right," Night said, and he looked away. "I can mourn, but life will just have to go on. But, until then... I think I may want to grab some of these." He poured himself a glass, drinking it in one gulp, before looking over at Checkmate, who had only just approached. "Huh... what about you, Checkmate? Do you want anything?"

Checkmate shook his head. "Sorry, I've never really been one for alcohol. It hasn't been much use in fighting off Wendigo, after all..." He took a seat on the stool next to Heatwave, looking him over. "You're not wearing your cloak?"

The pegasus shrugged. "What's the point? It's not that cold anymore. Besides," he added, "I don't have any reason to hide these. They're a part of me, even if I do despise them." He ran a hoof over the mangled lumps on his back.

"Fair enough," Checkmate said, before he glanced towards the area a few seats over. Valice and Dusk sat, the former being the one who spoke as a group of ponies surrounded them.

The changeling hiccuped, placing a glass down on the counter behind her. "And then Checkmate wash all, 'Shtop shpewin' your bullshit!' or shomethin'. Whatever it wash, it wash sho badash!" She hiccuped again and giggled. "He jush' shtood up and beat the crap outta that shtupid ol' bashtard!" She giggled again, raising her hooves into the air as she told her story.

Dusk turned to the counter before letting out a sigh. "I will never understand how one gets so inebriated due to one glass of liquor..." he muttered and rubbed his temples.

"One glass?" Heatwave raised an eyebrow. "Is that even possible?"

Dusk grimaced. "Evidently."

"Huh."

Checkmate scanned the crowd, looking between the ponies who had been crammed into the small area. Among them, he could see Pinkie Pie -- dancing to the music that she had somehow brought out of thin air -- and Rarity -- who stood among a group of ponies all clad in cloaks, offering them tips on fashion.

It was an odd feeling, Checkmate thought, that so few of the ponies were actually there in the area. He already had his suspicions of the others, but decided to investigate regardless.

"Alright, I'm going to head out. I'll see you in a bit, Night," he said.

He stepped down from the stool, pushing through the crowd of creatures who seemed intent on thanking him and shaking hooves, managing after several minutes to finally exit the tavern and enter the outside world.

Checkmate looked up towards the sky. It was truly strange to see it so bright and clear, with the moon hanging over it and the stars of the night sky shimmering in the distance.

He turned aside and stepped around Night's tavern, his hooves cracking the ice and snow that coated the path. He was in no hurry, and for the first time in his life, Checkmate walked comfortably, not feeling the necessity to check around the area for any potential enemies.

And, as he stepped into the village's plaza, he saw exactly what he expected to view: Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash all stood, their eyes affixed to the statue of ice before them.

Checkmate walked over to the others, joining them. "... I knew I'd find you all here," he mused, before touching a hoof to the side of the statue. It was cold, as to be expected, and felt rather rough and irregular.

Twilight looked away. "I can't believe it..." she said quietly. "Is this the price that we had to pay in order to beat Wendigo...? We should have stayed... Celestia, we should have stitched up his wounds, at least, o-or something..."

"Ah know, sugarcube." Applejack shook her head. "Ah don't know what to say, but... Deun's dead, and we can't change that."

"Dammit..." muttered Rainbow Dash, "he should have said something, at least! We could've helped him, and we just left him here to die..."

Checkmate grimaced. "At least none of you were the ones who acted as the executioners. Deun was right... I can't imagine that I would have been able to face Wendigo knowing that I'd done this." He stepped back, and continued to look over the statue, before he slammed his hoof into the platform, his teeth grit. "Dammit! Too many lives were stolen for this... Deun's..."

"... Asgard's..." Twilight continued, "and Hecatoncheir's, even... I can't believe that anypony would go this far..."

Rainbow Dash looked over at her. "What do you mean by that?"

Twilight flushed, and looked back at them. "It's... it's nothing. I'm just talking to myself." Everypony simply continued to stare at the alicorn, not believing her claim. "Girls... er, guys, don't worry about me. It's nothing important."

"Ya sure 'bout that, Twi'?" Applejack asked cautiously. "Seems like somethin''s eatin' you up."

Twilight gulped and grimaced. "It's just something Dusk told me about last night, and... Really, you guys don't need to worry about it."

Fluttershy looked over at her. "I... are you sure you're feeling okay?" she asked, her voice as quiet as ever.

"You look a bit pale," Checkmate observed. "Maybe you should just get some rest. It's been a tiring day for everypony. I'm amazed that Dusk's even conscious right now, and Valice is probably passed out in the tavern..."

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah, it has been a pretty long day... and watching you fight always seems to make me a bit tired." She yawned as if to emphasize the point. "Oh, yeah... how long do we have 'til the shield around Equestria drops?"

"One week," Twilight noted, before yawning as well. "Sheesh, I guess I am a bit tired... We'll have more time to talk about this stuff tomorrow, I guess."

Checkmate smiled mischievously. "Not quite."

"And, uh... why's that?" Applejack asked, her voice ripe with suspicion.

"I signed us up to help out with the repairs tomorrow... and wednesday, thursday, friday... we'll probably spend all of our time for the next few days fixing this place up."

Rainbow stared at him for just a few moments, her face completely flat. "Check?"

"Yes?"

"Did I ever tell you how much I hate you?"

Checkmate looked over at her and grinned. "Yes," he replied. "Just last week, actually."

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth as if to respond, but no words came out. After a few seconds, however, she was able to speak. "Well, last week feels so long ago now."

"Yeah," Twilight mused, "and today feels like it's gone on for months." She placed her hoof on the statue once more. "And Deun... I still can't believe that it was only a few days ago that we met him out in the desert on our way to Solace."

"Or that we only met Wendigo less than a week ago," Fluttershy added. "It's weird when you think about it..."

Checkmate chuckled. "And we only knew Dusk and Valice for three and two days before they revealed who they really were... Time's a weird thing." He looked down at the platform once again. "To think: we did something in a few days that ponies have been trying millennia for."

The five ponies stood in silence for a long time, simply gazing at the general's corpse before them, the ice that encased him, and the blood that had splattered on the platform.

Checkmate finally said, "Eight years of my life have gone into achieving this, and now that it's all over, I don't know what I should do." The others all turned their heads to look at him, and he continued. "Twenty-three years of my life were stolen because of that bastard, and because of everything he stood for... but what should I do, now that it's all come to an end?"

Rainbow Dash grinned. "You could always move into Ponyville," she offered. "I'm sure that Princess Celestia could use a good strategist."

Checkmate smiled wearily. "I suppose," he noted. "I think... that such a peaceful place as that would be wonderful. Maybe I can finally put everything behind me."

"Maybe," Twilight echoed quietly, before she turned away. "Well, if that's it, and we're going to have to wake up early tomorrow, I think I'm going to head to bed. Or maybe," she added, suddenly sounding very excited, "I can start looking over some of this magic...!"

As soon as she was out of sight, Rainbow Dash yawned once more. "Yeah, I'm gonna hit the hay, too. G'night, Check."

She and the others said their farewells, before they left Checkmate alone, and staring quietly at the statue of ice before him. After a time, he turned away, and began to step away. "Deun," he said quietly to general's corpse, "goodbye. And... thank you."

"Ugh... dammit... Why does my head hurt so much...?" Valice complained, holding an icepack up to her forehead. "And what the hell happened last night, anyway...?"

Twilight grimaced. "If it means anything, we found you passed out on the floor of Night's tavern."

Valice groaned and slammed her head into the sign in an effort to quell the pain. Naturally, it only made it worse. "Remind me to beat the crap out of Checkmate later for making us do this..." she muttered, using her other available hoof to hold the paintbrush steady.

"Why does this job take two ponies, anyway?" Twilight asked, looking over their work as she moved the paintbrush to and fro. "It seems like it'd be fairly simple..."

Valice groaned again, and picked some snow off the ground to cover her head. "Would you rather be lifting those girders with the others...?" Even hungover, her wit hadn't dulled in the slightest.

"Point taken," Twilight said.

She stepped away from the sign, admiring their work. In neat, even letters was spelled out:

Lux

-- Where the Light Shall Always Lay --

"Heh, that looks pretty good," Valice said, temporarily forgetting the splitting pain in her skull. "Odd name, though."

Twilight looked over at the changeling and nodded. "Yeah. Rolan came up with it last night. He said it was meant to symbolize the light that Dark... Snowfall now gets." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Huh, I wonder if all the other towns'll have to do this."

Valice gulped and winced in pain. "Ugh... I hope not. This freaking headache is killing me..."

"No, not with our --" Twilight stopped, and sighed. "Forget it."

"I'm just amazed at how calm you are now," Valice observed, attempting to ignore the pain. "Just yesterday you wanted me dead... or are you just trying to be nice?"

Twilight flushed and looked away. "I... It's like I said: I don't forgive you for what you've done, but you just seem so... normal, I guess. I've been finding it hard to remember that you even are a changeling at this point..."

Valice grinned. "That's because I like this form better."

Twilight cocked an eyebrow. "Really? Why wouldn't you --?"

"I think you can answer your own question, Sparkle," Valice responded. The pain in her head seemed to recede somewhat, and she let out a small sigh of relief. "Honestly, I hate the fact that I'm a changeling. Everywhere I go, ponies would fear me, or hate me, or... or anything as long as I would use my natural form." As if on cue, the telltale green flames appeared around Valice's body, causing her to take on the insect-like form of a changeling. "It's the same rap that windigoes and sleipnirs always get. Windigoes feed on hate, so they must be evil, and sleipnirs feed on fear, so they must be evil, too. And changelings? We may as well be monsters. Especially me, since I'm so close with Chrysalis."

Twilight lowered the paintbrush, staring at the creature before her with pity in her eyes. "But that's not true!" she said. "You saved Pinkie Pie, y-you..."

"I attacked Canterlot," interrupted Valice. "The rest of that crap doesn't matter. I could have rescue Celestia herself and ponies would still hate me. Changelings are just despised, and that's why I hate this damned body so freaking much..." The flames consumed her once more, and the red pegasus stepped out of them. "Heh... Isn't it funny? I can change my identity all that I want, but I'll never be able to escape..."

"I understand," Twilight said quietly.

"No you freaking don't!" Valice snapped, only to feel a sharp pain in her head. "Ugh... Sparkle, until the day that everypony fears you, hates you, thinks that you're some Chronos-damned, Love-damend, and every-other-god-damned monster... that is the day that you'll understand."

Twilight looked away, but said nothing for a long while. After at least three minutes of awkward silence, the alicorn nodded. "C'mon," she said, "let's go and... and tell Rolan that we're done."

Valice didn't reply verbally, but simply nodded. She pressed the icepack against her head, attempting to stifle her groans as she and Twilight returned to Lux with as much alacrity as they could muster, given the circumstances.

The next several days passed methodically, like clockwork, leaving only one day until the barrier that blocked Equestria was set to recede.

In the time that it had taken, Snowfall had completely transformed. Gone were the houses formed of rotting wood, with new, well-structured ones having taken their place. The jagged, irregular path had been uprooted and replaced by a simple road of dirt, and the platform in the town's plaza had been scrubbed clean of blood and death.

The buildings still had no windows, but there were plans to purchase several panes of glass from Equestria following the barrier's demise. Eventually, it was said, everything that was so horrendous about Wendigo's rule would be broken down, with the major remnants of his evil being displayed in the mutilated ponies who lived in Snowfall.

However, there was one other piece that was to be remembered of the tyrant's rule: a single large statue of steel and iron, depicting the great general, Deun, who had died in a sword duel with Checkmate Vigarde, an eternal reminder of the lives needlessly lost due to Wendigo's foul regime. The statue itself was placed on the massive steel platform, while the real corpse lay in the chamber of the Glacius, still frozen due to the sword's power, and would likely remain frozen forever. It had been a burial requested not by Rolan, but by Khaza, who claimed that Deun deserved a tomb as grand as that.

Meanwhile, Wendigo's corpse had mysteriously vanished. None of the windigoes seemed to care, however, and the common thought on the matter was that it was simply either a graverobber who stole it or a pony who burned it and scattered the ashes. Either way, the ponies of Snowfall were too preoccupied with renovating the area and adapting to the world outside of the darkness to care about Wendigo's body.

And Checkmate was too concerned with watching what was to ensue next.

"So, who do you think'll win?" Valice casually asked him blithely. "My money's on Khaza."

"Are you kidding?" Checkmate smirked as he looked over at her. "Rainbow Dash could fly circles around her."

Applejack grimaced. "Either way, Ah'm just hopin' those two ain't gonna get themselves hurt... This thing could be brutal."

Rolan grinned, looking over at the farmer. "Ha! Are you kidding? That's part of the fun!"

In front of them, near the entrance to the mines, Rainbow Dash and Khaza were crouched and staring ahead. The former had a confident, almost-cocky smirk on her face, which the second seemed to reflect with gusto.

"Ready to get your flank kicked?" Khaza asked her opponent.

Rainbow laughed. "Oh, c'mon, we both know who's really gonna win this thing."

Illia, who stood between the two of them, let out a sigh. "However did you manage to force me into this game...? Ugh, it's unimportant, I suppose..." She coughed, before she looked over the two contestants. "Very well, in five... four... three... two..." She paused, appearing to savor the moment. "... One... go!"

The were off instantly, and Checkmate watched in awe as the two flew at such breakneck speeds, Rainbow Dash leaving a technicolor trail behind her while Khaza seemed to rip through the wind itself. The two appeared to be almost perfectly matched, flying perfectly beside each other as the wind attempted to shove them backward.

Fluttershy jumped into the air, seeming far too excited for the events that were occurring. "C'mon, Rainbow Dash!" she shouted, drawing the surprise of everypony around her with the exceptions of her five friends.

"Yeah, take her down!" Scootaloo hollered, waving a small technicolor flag that Pinkie Pie was handing out (along with white and blue ones for Khaza. All that Checkmate wanted to know was where she got them from).

Rolan whistled. "C'mon, Khaza! I know you're faster than she is!"

"Brutal is right," Dusk deadpanned, stepping up to Valice and Checkmate. "I'm interested to see how this plays out..."

The two racers had rounded the final stretch, both coming in for the last move, when Rainbow Dash suddenly stopped. Instead, the pegasus had begun to rapidly fly down as if attempting to gain speed.

Dusk's eyes widened. "Chronos, she's not seriously..."

"I... I think..." Valice mumbled, before she saw the telltale signs of the wind forming around Rainbow Dash's body. "Everypony, get down!"

Without any hesitation, every creature gathered in the area jumped to the ground as a massive, earsplitting crack resounded about the area, followed by a large ray of rainbow light flying in every direction from its source.

Checkmate looked up just in time to see Rainbow Dash flying at a simply absurd speed pass by Khaza, through the area, and on to victory.

A loud cheer resounded throughout the area as the mare landed, gracefully, followed by Khaza.

"Huh," the windigo mused, "you're better than I thought you'd be. Nice job."

Valice smirked. "And," she remarked dryly, "let it be known that a sonic rainboom is faster than the freaking wind."

Rolan let out a disappointed sigh before he leaned back against a nearby house. "Ah, well," he said, "better luck next time, I guess. I've gotta say: I didn't expect Rainbow Dash to pull another sonic rainboom. I guess I should've, since that was how she got you out of here, Checkmate."

"I guess so," Checkmate breathed, still in shock at the display.

"Well, that's that," Dusk responded. He looked over the group and nodded. "I suppose this is farewell. The barrier around Equestria is lowering... but I'm afraid that I would not be welcome there."

Twilight cocked her head slightly. "Wait, why not?"

Dusk simply smiled sadly. "Let's just say that... No, that would not be the correct thing to say. To put it simply, I just do not expect that the princesses would be too excited to see me once more, and because you are all going back there now..."

Valice nodded. "Yeah, the same's true for me. I... I don't think that Celestia or Luna or Cadance, especially, would really like to see me right now. Thank you guys for this, though. These last few days have been a lot of fun, and... well, if I can turn Chryssy's mind, I hope I get the chance to see you guys again."

Checkmate looked between the two. After several seconds he nodded, and sighed. "So... I suppose that this is goodbye?" he asked.

"For now, at least," Dusk mused. "Life is a funny thing, Checkmate. Perhaps, someday, we shall meet again, but I cannot say for sure. It mostly depends on how long you live," he added.

"And I'll see you guys when I get the chance," Valice said. "But, until then, I guess I'll just have to get back to the Mercury Springs and tell Chryssy that the enemy of love's no more."

Pinkie sighed. "Darn it," she said, attempting to keep the tears from leaving her eyes. "I hate having to say 'goodbye'! It's always so sad, and bad... and makes me so un-glad!"

"Well, then," Dusk said. "I guess you'll love saying 'hello' if we meet again, right?"

Pinkie sniffed. "Y-yeah, I guess..."

"Then we will."

Checkmate smiled, and looked over the two creatures. Certainly, he had not known them for very long, but he felt like he knew them well enough. Regardless, it still saddened him to know that they were leaving. "Well," he said at last, "it was fun while it lasted. Dusk... Valice... thank you both so much for everything you've done. Thanks to the both of you, Wendigo has fallen, and Snowfall's been made a better place for everypony."

Twilight nodded. "Yeah," she said, "and Dusk... thanks for what you told me the other night. About... um... 'them'. I'll make sure I put the information to good use if I can."

"I'll hold you to that," the mercenary replied. He turned away and said, "Very well... Twilight, Checkmate, Valice... all of you... farewell, and I hope that your days are many."

And without a single other word, the strange stallion simply stepped away until he vanished over the horizon.

"And what about you, Sparkle?" Valice asked, turning towards Twilight. "What are you gonna do now?"

Twilight looked over the faces of all of her friends -- Rarity and Sweetie Belle, Applejack and Apple Bloom, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Checkmate, and Spike -- and placed her gaze back on Valice.

"I'm going home."

Where There is Light...

Warning: In roughly two weeks, I will unpublish every chapter of this story in order to edit it. I'm sorry for any inconveniences I am causing through this, but I feel the need to make this story better.

Canterlot seemed alight with a mixture of excitement and relief. As Snowfall had celebrated its liberation from Wendigo, the creatures of Equestria's capitol seemed alight with excitement due to the fall of yet another threat upon them. Then again, Checkmate could hardly blame their joy; he, himself, felt ecstatic at the prospect and felt as if a massive weight had been lifted off of his shoulders the instant the beast had fallen.

The gates to the royal palace swung open with a strange jubilee that had not been present any other time that he had visited Canterlot, allowing the eleven creatures entrance. Although the guards wore expressions that could easily be compared to stone, their eyes seemed to shine with the joy that the other ponies of Canterlot, Ponville, and Snowfall had all showed.

The group stepped down the hallway toward the throne room, and Checkmate found himself looking over the guards that lined the walls. One in particular seemed to stand out to him: a unicorn stallion with an off-white coat and blonde mane. Under normal circumstances, that would merely be seen as ordinary; many of the guards, Twilight had said, dyed their coats in order to look identical to the others. However, it was his armor that truly drew Checkmate's attention: whereas the others wore suits of golden-bronze, his was light-blue, and the mark on his side was that of a golden sword. A sign of authority, perhaps.

Said stallion stepped up to them as they approached Celestia's chamber and bowed low. "You are Checkmate Vigarde, correct?" he asked. His voice -- in spite of his powerful, if somewhat small, appearance -- sounded youthful, with a fairly high pitch. The formality of it sounded rather forced as well. The unicorn looked towards Twilight and nodded. "It is a pleasure to see you again, Miss Sparkle. I am First-Lieutenant Lustrous Blade."

Twilight cocked an eyebrow. "'First-Lieutenant?'"

"I was given a promotion while you were all away. Now... I understand that you are all here to visit the princess, correct?"

Checkmate nodded. "Yes. We're here to share the success of our journey."

The lieutenant nodded. "Very well, come thi-"

"Blade!" snapped a voice.

The lieutenant paused, his face somehow growing even more pale, although he didn't turn around. "Uh... Y-yes, Captain?" he asked, the formality seeming to fade from his voice. "What's... er... What seems to be the problem?"

Shining Armor stepped up beside him, glaring at Blade angrily. "When did you plan to tell me that Twilight was coming back? I only learned about it from Cadance this morning, and I had to book a train here, too!" His eyes narrowed, and Blade turned away sheepishly. "That money's coming out of your paycheck, Lieutenant."

"B-but, Sir, that's not-"

"That's not what, Lieutenant?" Shining growled. "Did Princess Celestia not say that they were returning to Equestria?"

Blade lowered his head, refusing to meet anypony's gaze as Shining chewed him out in front of the entire royal guard. "Well... n-no... but..."

Shining at last let out a sigh, before he place a hoof on the lieutenant's shoulder. "Listen," he said, "I understand just how difficult it may have been to remember, or you might've thought that I would be told either way, but that was a rookie error. A first-lieutenant should not be making mistakes like that."

Checkmate coughed loudly, prompting both ponies to look at him. "Excuse me," he noted, "but we're not here to watch you two hug it out. Would you mind leading us to Celestia, now? We have to tell her what happened, and of Snowfall's current situation. Otherwise, there are likely to be many pieces of information lost in translation..."

Lustrous Blade stood up tall and nodded. "Er... yeah, alright. I was going to open the gate for you, but I was interrupted partway through..." He smiled slightly, replacing the formality in his voice. "Yes, as I had been saying... Come with me."

The lieutenant turned towards the massive door behind him, and his horn lit. Unlike many of the other unicorns' horns when magic was about to be cast, his seemed to glow pure white. "Very well," he mused, "just allow me to open the way for you, and-" Before he finished that statement, a thin blast of light emerged from his horn and slammed into the door.

However, unlike he had claimed, the door to the throne room did not open; no, it simply exploded.

Shining coughed, choking on the smoke that poured from the entryway. "B-Blade!" he shouted.

"U-um... I, uh... I meant to do that..." Blade said sheepishly, before he looked over his shoulder. "Er... Hey, look at the time! I really should... uh..." He took a single step back, looked over the glaring soldiers -- and a very enraged-looking Shining armor -- laughed nervously, and immediately ran out of the area.

Rainbow trotted over to Shining Armor. "Hey, what's up with that weirdo?"

Shining Armor grimaced. "Let's just say that Blade's... interesting," he replied. "His magic is incredible, but his maturity... not so much."

"Don't seem like the brightest bulb in the barn, either..." Applejack murmured.

"And he's the one in charge of training the new recruits?" Checkmate asked, and he let out a sigh. "I'm suddenly kind of worried about living here..."

"Listen, can we just not talk about him?" Shining asked. "I know you're all here to see the princesses, and I don't want to hold any of you up for too long." He cast a quick glance over at Twilight and smiled. "You should all just go on ahead; I'll catch up with you later."

Checkmate nodded, and stepped past the wreckage of the door. "One of this place's doors is just always going to be destroyed somehow, isn't it?" he deadpanned, before quickly looking over at Applejack.

The farmer blushed and lowered her hat over her eyes. Apple Bloom, however, blinked in surprise. "Wait... when the front door was all broken up before the Winter Gala... th-that was you?" She looked her sister over in surprise before she nodded. "Huh, I gotta buck more trees..."

"Maybe apple-bucking's our talent...?" Scootaloo offered, and a look of excitement crossed the trio's faces before they opened their mouths and prepared to scream.

"No, not here!" snapped Rarity, giving the trio a glare that probably could have caused Solace to freeze over.

"U-ugh..."

Although Celestia and Luna did not look overtly pleased that their door had been completely decimated, the two still wore regal expressions of joy. On closer inspection, however, Checkmate could clearly see Celestia trying to keep the tears in, and she bit down on her bottom lip as if trying to keep from bursting into laughter.

"Elements of Harmony, Checkmate Vigarde, and friends," Luna said regally, "I welcome thee back to Equestria. Pray tell, was your journey a success?"

Checkmate nodded. "Indeed. Although I wish that all of us could be here to share the joy of our victory... Unfortunately, we were forced to leave several of our companions behind." Seeing the suddenly shocked expressions on the princesses' faces, he immediately amended his statement, "No... they're not dead, they simply did not feel as if they would be welcomed here."

Celestia cocked an eyebrow. "Why would they presume that? We would have gladly accepted them here for their aid in liberating Darkfrost... or Snowfall, I suppose."

Checkmate nodded to Twilight, and the alicorn nodded before she stepped forward. "Um... I'm sorry, Princess, but... Rolan didn't want to come here because he thought that it wouldn't be a good idea, given how sensitive the subject of windigoes is as of late... Valice didn't want to come here because she's a... uh..."

"'Valice?'" Luna asked. "That is an odd name for a pony..."

Checkmate Vigarde immediately coughed.

Twilight murmured, "W-well, it's because she's a..." The last word of that sentence was completely incomprehensible.

Celestia looked over at her. "What was that, Twilight?"

"She's... she's a... uh..."

"She's a what, Twilight?" Luna asked, obviously impatient.

Twilight swallowed. "She's a... a changeling, Princess."

Celestia simply stared at Twilight for a few seconds, before she spoke. "... Oh, I see," she said. "I suppose that would make sense, then..."

Rainbow Dash frowned. "Uh... you... don't seem too surprised by that, Princess," she pointed out needlessly.

"Yes... I do understand just why she would not want to show herself here, given everything that the changelings have caused," Celestia admitted, "but I've had the pleasure of meeting several friendly... or, rather, well-meaning changelings." At the confused expressions of the group, she chuckled. "Have none of you truly thought about it? Not all of the changelings live in the so-called 'Hive'; many of them live in Equestria's own borders. It just seems that nopony really thinks of the more friendly ones, given what they have caused in the past, yet..."

Twilight facehooved, letting out a groan. "... Why didn't you ever tell me that...?" she muttered. "I could've been over my anger at Valice so much faster if I'd known that..."

Celestia sighed. "I was worried that you would go on a spree of vengeance if I had told you, given what occurred last year at your brother's wedding... I didn't even know it myself until a short time ago, and I have been meaning to create a treaty with Chrysalis for a time..."

Nopony seemed to feel the need to state anything else on the subject. Instead, Luna simply coughed. "So..." she said slowly, "who else did not want to return with you?"

"Only one other pony, actually," Checkmate responded. "He was a mercenary we met out in the desert, and he gave us great assistance on our journey. It was actually him who struck the final blow to Wendigo in our duel, so I've no idea why he wouldn't want to return with us..." He met Celestia's eyes. "He called himself 'Dusk', and apparently used to be an alicorn. He seemed to know you, actually..."

Celestia's face went pale, and she looked across the faces of everypony in the area, and then to Twilight. "Would all of you mind if you leave here? ... Except for you, Twilight, I have a matter I wish to speak to you about."

The ponies all looked her over, confused, but decided to comply. They all seemed to realize that there was absolutely no point in arguing, and many seemed simply relieved to have the chance to finally go back to their homes. Even Luna wordlessly teleported from the chamber, likely realizing that whatever conversation was to take place had no place for her, and, along with the others, left the room for the two princesses to speak in private.

Rolan was still for a long time, looking away from the others as he lay down his hand, consisting of a king, two queens, a jack, and a two.

Lynar placed his own hand down -- two aces and three queens -- and let out a sigh. "I guess... back to the good old days, huh?" he murmured, although he did not sound especially convinced.

"Back to the good old days," Khaza echoed quietly. She stared down at the cards she had placed on the table, before gritting her teeth and slamming her hoof into the table. "Dammit!" she shouted. "Why the hell did all of this crap have to happen...?"

Cora grimaced, but did not look up. Instead, the queen of Solace lay down her cards wordlessly and sat in silence. Even Rolan was able to see the tears in her eyes, no matter how hard she tried to hide them.

"Why the hell are we all so sad?" Lynar muttered through grit teeth. "This is... isn't this supposed to be..." He was unable to finish that statement, however, as the sleipnir lay his head down on the table and stifled his sobs. "D... Dammit... This is such... such freaking crap..."

Illia sighed, placed all of her cards together and laid them upside-down. "No matter what has occurred," she said quietly, "the pain of what has transpired still runs deep..."

Rolan nodded, although he said nothing. No words could match Illia's statement, and nothing would change how any of them felt. Even if Wendigo had been a monster, the sixth chair still remained empty. Not even Deun could fill it anymore, where he now lay in his icy tomb.

"Crap... why...?" Khaza breathed, clearly trying to hold in her own tears. "What's the point in any of this anymore?! I don't even have any reason to act the part of the Glacius anymore... Wendigo's dead, Hecatoncheir's dead, and... There's just no point to any of this..."

Cora grit her teeth, finally managing to speak. "Why did you bother to call us here, Rolan?" she asked stiffly. "Was it just so that we could all get together again and play our game, and to pretend that nothing had occurred? If what you've said is true, then... then..." She hiccuped, finally letting the tears to flow. "W-Wendigo... you stupid, Chronos-damned... fool..."

"And Deun," added Lynar, gripping the cards so tight that they began to bend. "That blasted idiot... Why the hell would anypony go so far for something as freaking stupid as that...?"

Rolan finally looked over the quartet before him, and stood. "All of you," he said shakily, attempting to keep his voice steady, "I wanted you all to come here so that you could give me some help in what I'm trying to do." The four all looked to him wordlessly. "I... I'll need your assistance on two fronts: the first and foremost of which will be the reintroduction of Snowfall to the rest of the world, and I'll need all of you to assist me in order for this to work properly. But the second matter..."

Khaza gestured with her hoof for him to continue, and he nodded. "I... I want to know the truth about what transpired here over the last three-thousand years. I just... I'm sorry, and I understand if you all don't want to help, but... I... I have to..." He touched his chest, and looked down. "For the sake of everypony who suffered in Darkfrost over the course of the last several thousand years, I have to discover just what drove Wendigo to acting as he did. Again, I understand if you all don't want to help, but I--"

"Oh, can it," muttered Cora, wiping away the tears. She looked up at him and smiled, uneasily. "What, do you think we're heartless or something? Of course we're gonna help you. It's better than just sitting around all day, at least..."

"Besides," Lynar added, grinning, "somepony's gotta find the guy who screwed this world up, right? And then we can have Checkmate and Dusk and all of those others help us beat the crap out of it!"

"I'm with the rest of 'em!" Khaza declared, and looked down. "I thought something was off based on what Wendigo said to us before the fight, but... did any of you see his eyes? What was in them?"

Illia nodded, her face downcast as well. "Sorrow." She looked up and met Rolan's eyes. "I, too, will help. If there is anything that I can potentially do, I will. After all, I would rather like to know the monstrosity that created this nightmare."

Rolan looked between his friends, and smiled. "A... All of you..." He wiped a tear from his eye and nodded, taking on a more serious expression. "Alright, I do have a plan in regard to this, but I'll need you all to help me. We might not find anything, so I just want you all to be prepared in case that happens, alright?" The others in the group nodded. "Alright, then here's what I have in mind..."

Checkmate stared over the edge of the railing, his eyes affixed to the party gathered below. The dark sky of the night was illuminated by the moon and stars, all of which seemed to be focused primarily on the courtyard.

It all seemed so strange to him, the more he thought of it, as he continued to simply watch the creatures celebrate. It was almost as if he had awoken from a wretched nightmare, or perhaps he had fallen asleep and now lay dreaming of the beauty that now lay around him.

However, Checkmate knew -- through various tests -- that the world below was no mere dream. He had won -- they had won. Wendigo was dead, and all that he had wrought would heal in time. As much as his foe had claimed that the world would perish even after his death, the creatures of Snowfall and Equestria seemed to differ; several of them, including Heatwave -- who now walked without his cloak -- strolled about the party, and appeared to be mingling rather well with the ponies of Ponyville, and even some of Canterlot's richer ponies seemed interested in speaking to them.

Of course, he could see several instances of ponies stepping away from those who were heavily scarred, but they most certainly did not make up the majority of the creatures. If anything, very few of them were visible to him.

"Hey, Check, what's up?"

Checkmate turned to see Rainbow Dash flying near the balcony, likely attempting to avoid the hustle-and-bustle of the party down below.

He shrugged. "Not very much, actually."

Rainbow landed next to him, looking over the courtyard. "Heh, sorry about this. It's just a bit too cramped down there, and I needed a place to get away from all of the ponies..."

"Same for me," Checkmate replied, placing his hooves over the edge of the railing. "Well, sort of, I guess. I've just been thinking a lot since last week. It feels like it's been so long, doesn't it?"

"I guess," Rainbow mused. "So... what've you been thinking about?"

He sighed, and looked over at her. "Well... what am I supposed to do with the rest of my life? Yeah, 'Chief Tactician' is a pretty nice title, but... I was hoping that I'd be doing something less war-based." Checkmate blinked, and cocked an eyebrow. "Hey, why are you asking me this, anyway?"

"Oh, no reason. Hey, what do you think Princess Celestia wanted to talk to Twilight about?"

Ignoring the terrible segue, Checkmate grimaced. "I'm not sure; she told me that Celestia didn't want her to tell anypony, even her friends. Though she did say something about 'powerful creatures' and Dusk... I wonder if it has anything to do with..." Checkmate trailed off. He wanted to finish that statement, and say that name, Velios, but remembered vowing secrecy on the matter with Celestia.

Rainbow leaned over the railing as well and met his gaze. "Um... 'anything to do with' what?"

"Oh, it's nothing. So, why did you want to know what I've been thinking about?"

She let out a groan, placing her head on the railing. "Ugh... you saw through that, didn't you...?"

"Transparent."

Rainbow stood up and sighed, turning her eyes upward. "Really, it's nothing. I was just curious, especially since how terrible it was for everypony three weeks ago when you first showed up here..." She looked over at him again. "I mean, look at us then and now! You were all... Well..."

"Cold?" Checkmate offered.

"Yeah, and I was kinda a jerk, I guess..." Rainbow Dash grimaced. "What I mean is just that we got off on the wrong foot. Heck, I even stalked you into the Everfree Forest just 'cause I was so worried you were a spy or something..."

He nodded. "Not without reason. If I'd seen a creature covered in scars run go into a dangerous place and just start killing things, I probably would be fairly paranoid, myself."

"No, it was before that!"

"What do you mean?"

Rainbow Dash turned her head away. "I mean... The day I met you, Check, I thought you were gonna up and kill everypony in Ponyville, or at least Princess Celestia. I think the first day that I really started to doubt that was... well, when you told us that she'd called for an audience with you and you didn't do anything."

"And... you just wanted to see the rest for yourself?"

"Yeah. Something like that."

The two stood in silence, awkwardly avoiding each others' eyes, and simply watching the lights play out in the area below. Although Checkmate could feel the minutes passing, time seemed to have stopped everywhere except for where they now stood.

A moment of serenity, of peace, and of friendship.

Naturally, the moment was shattered with frightening speed. "Hey, Check, how's it going?" came the jovial call as Khaza appeared right next to him.

"G... What, Khaza?!" Checkmate gasped after getting over the shock of his friend appearing from nowhere. "Wh... Why are you here?!"

"Not merely her, I'm afraid," came the elegant voice of Illia, the sleipnir's form coming into focus near Khaza's. "My apologies if we... ruined the moment, but we simply wished to come here and tell you the good news."

Checkmate exchanged a glance with Rainbow Dash and looked back to the duo. He waited several seconds, before he managed to speak. "Good news? What would that be?"

Khaza smirked. "The two of us... yeah, we'll be sticking around for a while."

"Oh, well that's..." Checkmate blinked, realization dawning on him. "Wait a second... Why?"

"Sheesh, you'd think he'd be happier to see us..."

Illia coughed, causing the three others to look at her. "Rolan simply requested that we spend our time around you... In the case that another being attacks our world, it would be unfortunate to force you to brave the desert to Solace once more, and travel the distance to Snowfall -- or Lux, rather -- for the purposes of facing it."

"Yeah, so he wanted us to live here from now on." Khaza leaned on the railing, the smirk on her face only continuing to grow, until she realized her mistake. "Er..." she added, quickly, "I don't mean that we'll be living with you, Check. Just... uh... around here. Yeah."

Checkmate looked between the two spirits, and let out yet another sigh. "Of course," he added, and he smiled. "Well, I'm actually pretty happy; it'll give me a lot of time to practice, and I guess I won't have to worry about losing my edge... so to speak."

Rainbow Dash smiled slightly. "Well... um... in that case, I guess I'll just get heading out of here, and I'll let you three catch up... or something..." She turned and raised her wings, preparing for liftoff, and called back, "Hey, Check, I guess I'll see you later!"

"A-alright, I'll see you."

The pegasus flew into the air with the same speed that she had shown so often before, and Checkmate turned towards Illia and Khaza. "Well, I guess it's just us, then."

"I guess so," Khaza echoed. She looked down at the party below, and smirked. "Huh, two parties in such a short time? Guess I can't blame 'em." Her smile waned slightly. "Ugh, do either of you mind if I... uh...?"

Illia waved her hoof. "Go ahead," she said. "Just make sure that you do not get lost again. I would hate to have to venture down into that mass simply to fish you out once more..." The sleipnir grimaced.

"Hey, I'm fine with you feeling hatred," Khaza joked, and looked over at Checkmate smiling warmly. "Well... I guess I'll you tomorrow, Check. And... thank you, again... for everything."

Before Checkmate could say anything, the windigo had taken off into the sky, the wind splitting in her wake as she flew towards the courtyard below. While Checkmate could have sworn he heard the sound of a collision, he chose to ignore it for the sake of the worried Illia, who now stood next to him.

She, however, appeared to have heard it as well, and smiled at him weakly. "W-well, Checkmate, I would love to stay and chat, yet I must ensure that Khaza has not caused everypony down in that courtyard distress..."

"Don't worry about it; just go."

"Very well. Good night, then. And... as Khaza said, thank you for everything that you have done." Illia nodded toward him, and turned to fly down. "And not merely for Snowfall; for Solace, as well."

Checkmate simply nodded in reply, and watched as the final member of the group vanished into the light below, leaving him alone once more on the balcony, with only the light of the moon to accompany him.

"Farewell, Darkfrost," he heard himself mutter into the darkness, "and may your tenure in demise be eternal, as was your leader's life."

He turned to exit the balcony, and to rejoin the group below, before he bowed his head, and quietly murmured. "And farewell... to those who have suffered in Wendigo's hell, and may their eternities be great... as they all deserve... Farewell..."

Checkmate then began the descent back into the world below, knowing, with nothing less than fact, that the deed he had set his life upon, and what he had struggled for so many years to accomplish, at last had come to an end, and his life had only merely begun anew.

And so, with one last glance over his shoulder, Checkmate Vigarde turned and began to walk down the stairs, leaving the burdens, his guilt, and his fears of the past behind on that balcony, left only to be seen by the moon's light, and to be forgotten.

A lone figure stalked across the desert sands, hooves crashing into the dust that lay upon the flat plain. Upon his back was strapped a massive dark blade, although it did not appear to cause him any hindrance in the slightest.

You are Dusk... correct?

He froze, any movement immediately ceasing as the strange voice seemed to resound about his mind. He could not connect it with anything he heard in his life, but the sheer emotionlessness of it struck him.

For a moment he said nothing, before he responded. "Yes, that is correct."

Very well. I am here in order to grant you that which you desire: vengeance upon those who dared to force you into this position in which you now live.

Dusk grit his teeth. "Odd... You sound almost exactly like those barbarians who pushed me to this point. Besides, I gave up on revenge long ago."

And you would ignore the creatures now beset by the tyrant? Those who suffer due to the ones who thrust you into a world of death, despair, and loneliness? You would simply allow their plight to continue? They shall return soon, and all of Equestria... nay, this very universe shall perish under their might.

"And why should I listen to anything that you have to tell me?" Dusk responded. "As I said, I've no want for revenge; everything that occurred was-"

Her fault, was it not? Did she not say to you, "Dusk, disobey his orders, and strike down that bastard?" Did that not occur? And you would allow those so-called "barbarians" to rise once more, and to bring about an end of that kingdom you love so dearly?

"I don't believe you."

Believe what you will... I am merely proclaiming the truth of this matter. You can take the ones who destroyed your life and give them what they have long since deserved... or you can allow them to freely travel the world, unhindered as you are, and free to cause destruction and tragedy to every creature whom they so desire to slaughter, particularly the one who only recently broke his oath through the use of his off-hoof. The choice is entirely yours.

Dusk stepped forward once more, and lowered his head. "And let's say that I agree to your terms. What will you expect in return?"

That is not your concern, although I assure you that it will be nothing for you to fear. It is merely a... personal matter.

He stopped once more, and turned his gaze upwards. Dusk said nothing for several seconds, before he managed to speak. "What is your name?"

My name?

You may call me the Catalyst.

To be continued in What Once Was.

The Everfree Forest

Rainbow Dash watched, cautiously, as Checkmate made his way towards the Everfree Forest. She didn't trust him in the slightest, after all, and seeing him walking so briskly and quietly towards one of the most dangerous areas in all of Equestria did little to calm her mentally.

And so, out of his sight, she flew, watching him like a hawk watched its prey, waiting for a chance to prove him as a monster, or a criminal, or anything else that would make her point known to any who thought that he seemed like a nice enough pony.

Admittedly, it was mostly so that she could point at them and say that she was right, and that those who thought otherwise were all right in that he was really creepy and dangerous, but little things like that didn't matter to her. No, what mattered was that she won. That she was able to look at him, that smug jerk, and say "Ha! I guess that you lose! Better luck next time, Checkmate!"

Only there wouldn't be a "next time", because she would save all of Ponyville. Possibly even Equestria, but she wasn't going to stretch this thing too far. That might make her forget what she was doing, and just think of all the praise she would get.

But then, she watched closer, as Checkmate hesitated at the front of the Everfree Forest, before, at last, he entered.

She made sure to stay behind him at all times, and to leave his line of sight if he even glanced in her general direction. Rainbow couldn't have a small mistake ruining her entire operation.

Although she felt kind of bad, stalking him like this. He didn't seem to be doing any harm in slightest, as he walked out into a small clearing, the ground lightly dusted with snow, and pulled out the light-blue sword, holding it in his hoof in such a way that it almost looked unnatural, as hooves were not made to bend like that. He simply stood for a few seconds, as if contemplating something, before he turned around and stabbed the sword into the nearest tree.

Rainbow let out a small gasp - small, of course, as she was too cool to just lose herself over something like that - as he pulled the blade from the tree, and slashed quickly across it. Somehow, one stab, followed by a single stroke of a sword, caused the entire tree to fall, crashing down to the snow-coated earth.

There! That was all that she needed! He was killing trees, and possibly the animals that were living in them, and destroying the natural ecosystem of the Everfree Forest! Now that she had this, she had all that she needed to convince everyone that Checkmate Vigarde was an evil, heartless, monstrous, cruel, bad-mannered -

And then her train of thought stopped, as Checkmate spoke.

"I know you're there," he said, loudly.

Rainbow's blood ran cold and her face paled. How did he know? How did he...?

And then, almost miraculously, Checkmate turned towards the opposite direction of where she hovered above him, and held the sword out in front of him.

At that moment, a large creature, the size of a grown stallion, but composed entirely out of bark and leaves, leapt towards Checkmate from the trees. It had sharp fangs (again, made out of twigs and other plant matter) and claws that could tear open even the most stout of boulders, and it was staring down Checkmate as if he was to be its prey.

The earth pony did not look amused by this in the slightest, and instead sighed. "Truly? My second day in Ponyville and already I'm being hunted again? This is beginning to get old, fast."

What did he mean "hunted again"?

But that was not what mattered at the moment, as the timberwolf, obviously very hungry, lunged at Checkmate like one would expect an animal to.

Rainbow's heart nearly stopped in her chest. She may not have liked him, but she didn't want to watch Checkmate get mauled to death by a timberwolf.

Thankfully, she didn't have to, as the stallion immediately reacted, dodging the lunge and striking back at the creature from side.

His attack missed, and the timberwolf lunged again, only for Checkmate to sidestep away from the attack again, before striking at the timberwolf from above with the sword. This time, the attack connected, as the blade split straight through the middle of the timberwolf's face. The bramble composing it fell to the ground, and the rest of its body followed suit, leaving it, once more, as a mere pile of plant matter.

Checkmate stared at it for a few seconds, and sheathed his sword, turning his back on what had once been a timberwolf.

Rainbow let out a sigh of relief. Part of her would have been happy to know that Checkmate was no longer a threat, but being killed by a timberwolf would be the worst way to go.

Although, she did have to admit that what he'd just done was pretty cool.

And then, suddenly, Checkmate turned towards where she flew, and he spoke again.

"And I know you're following me as well, Rainbow Dash."

Nothing could have prepared her for that, as she flew guiltily down towards him, and he simply stared at her with a look that was neither angry nor joyous. In fact, there was nothing in his face, not even disappointment or annoyance.

"You followed me all the way out here, didn't you?" he asked.

She simply nodded, not meeting his gaze.

"Why?" Checkmate asked.

Rainbow Dash looked deep inside herself, hoping to find an answer that would not offend Checkmate. She didn't find one.

"I don't trust you," she said, as plainly as she could. "I wanted to make sure that you're not a threat to Ponyville!"

Checkmate stared at her for a few seconds, before he spoke. "I understand your reasoning, and you have a right to be wary of me. I've done nothing since I've arrived here but show disdain and apathy towards others. And besides -" he glanced away, and Rainbow could have sworn that she saw a hint of regret in his eyes "- it's only natural for one to desire to defend their home."

"Y-you're not mad?" she was completely caught off guard by this.

"Of course not," responded Checkmate. "Simply... annoyed, I guess would be the correct word."

"So you're not out to destroy Ponyville, right?" the pegasus asked, cautiously.

"No," Checkmate said, "I don't want to do anything that would hurt this town. Even if it does have the most unoriginal name on the entire planet."

Did the most stoic pony Rainbow Dash had ever met just make a joke? Either way, she felt a small smile appear on her face after he said that.

"Then why are you here?" she asked.

"Because... I have something that I must do," Checkmate said, quietly, "and I plan to accomplish it."

"That's kinda vague," the pegasus said. "I'm not exactly sure if I believe you completely."

"Believe what you want," said Checkmate, dismissively. "It's your decision."

"Well... what's all of this?" She waved her hooves towards the fallen tree and the bundle of sticks that had been a timberwolf.

"I have to train, Rainbow Dash," the earth pony said. "It's the only way I'll ever get stronger. Don't you have to work to complete your goals?"

"My goals don't generally involve swords and monsters," she replied dryly.

Checkmate sighed, and turned away.

"Anyway," he said, "I have something that I must do. It's a choice, certainly, but it's one that I have to make in order to..." He stopped, then, and cut himself off.

"In order to... what, exactly?" asked Rainbow, getting annoyed by Checkmate's vagueness.

"I'd... rather not say," mused Checkmate, calmly. "It's a personal matter, and I don't want to have anypony get hurt because of my mistakes."

The cyan mare stared at him. "Your mistakes? C'mon, we all make mistakes! Stop acting like yours are so bad!"

The tan stallion snapped back towards Rainbow and glared at her, then, with a look that could melt ice. "My mistakes, my consequences," he enunciated, slowly and forcefully, "are mine to suffer. I do not want any of you - you being yourself and your friends - to get hurt on account of me. If you want to know what I've done, then fine. Do so. But I refuse to allow anypony to have their lives torn apart because I was a fool."

His voice carried with it an odd amount of emotion, for Checkmate, at least. Not fury, not anger, but a strange kind of sorrow that lingered in the air even after the words had left his mouth, leaving Rainbow speechless for several seconds as the earth pony's eyes bore into hers like drills.

She shuddered slightly at the implication of his words, and at the look in his eyes. What had he done that caused him to be like this? Even if she didn't necessarily like Checkmate, she couldn't deny that he wasn't cruel, or mean-spirited, or callous. If anything, he was just blunt and cold, but nothing more than that.

Great. Now she was feeling guilty over stalking him out into the Everfree Forest. Now she wished that she hadn't followed him out there, and that she'd just been smarter about the whole thing.

But still, she had to say something. Anything, she thought, that could get her away from the conversation - away from Checkmate - as he struggled with his demons. At last, after what felt like an eternity, an idea crept into her mind.

Rainbow Dash sighed and said. "You know what, Check?"

He gave her a strange look at this, making all of his scars (and there were many of them) stretch slightly. The effect was rather disturbing, but Rainbow stopped the sickness that she could feel rising in her throat.

"Check?" he asked. "Is that my new nickname? Like how Pinkie Pie is calling me 'Checkie'?"

The mare smirked. "Yep, just like Pinkie."

"Very well. You were saying?"

"You... don't actually seem like too bad of a pony, I'm not gonna lie."

"Really? You've spoken to me for less than ten minutes and already you completely trust me?"

Rainbow Dash flushed. "What... No! I mean that you don't seem like the kinda guy that everypony thinks you are. Which is weird, since this is just making me want to know where those scars came from more, but -" she paused, and changed the direction of what she was saying "- what I mean is that you're kinda weird, yeah, and you don't really act like you care about anything, but overall, you seem pretty cool. I mean, I've never seen a pony that good with a sword before, and that was actually really awesome, the way you dealt with that timberwolf! What I'm saying is, I'm sure that you'd make a great friend for anypony, once they get over the fact that you rarely seem to care about anything."

There. She wasn't sure how she'd been able to say that with a straight face, but it seemed to have done the trick.

Although she did actually find the way that he'd fought off the timberwolf very impressive. After all, nopony could use a sword without magic, and Checkmate just walked up to that monster and cut it down without even looking worried in the slightest. Even Rainbow Dash, in all of the pride that she was known to have, had to admit that he was really good with a sword, especially considering that he didn't even look uncomfortable bending his hoof that way.

Checkmate stared at her for just a few seconds, allowing her words to sink in. "Honestly, the ponies in this town are just obsessed with friendship, aren't they?"

"What's wrong with that? Friendship is awesome!"

"Maybe for you, Rainbow Dash. But for me... I've never really been one for it, is all."

"Oh, come on! You can't really mean that!" The very idea that a pony didn't really care about friendship was especially surprising, given that Ponyville was almost entirely built on it.

"I do, though," said Checkmate. "I don't desire friendship. It's hurt me too much in the past for me to long for something like it."

Rainbow cocked her head slightly. "How could friendship...?"

"Please... don't ask me that."

"Fine," she grumbled, dejectedly. She was so close to cracking the secret of Checkmate...

Well, actually, she wasn't close at all, and that just made her even more determined to learn about him.

"Good. Now, I think that it's safe to say that I've done enough for now," Checkmate mused, glancing about his surroundings.

Rainbow Dash stared at him, rather surprised by this. "Wait... you want to train, but you only fight a tree - which doesn't even actually fight - and a timberwolf?"

"Yes," Checkmate replied, turning away from her. "After all, I've been seeking something for a while. A book, actually, and I'm sure that the local library contains it. Especially considering that it contains hundreds of books found nowhere else..."

"Wait... so you're gonna leave now? Just like that?" she flew in front of him, then, and stared at him in confusion. "For a book?"

If there was one thing that she thought Checkmate was, an egghead sure wasn't it. Then again, given her own history with reading, Rainbow knew that she probably shouldn't judge his decisions.

"Yes," Checkmate said, again, as he walked past her. "I've much to do, and not too long to do so, after all. I can always return to this forest after I've acquired the book. I can't risk it being loaned out to anypony else, after all."

"You keep saying that, but I don't quite get it," Rainbow replied, folding her forelegs over each other and watching as Checkmate continued in front of her.

"I know," he mused, and stopped walking. "Anyway, I must be off. I suppose I'll see you later when you stalk me into the Everfree Forest once more, Rainbow Dash?"

The pegasus flushed, and stammered. "Erm... well... I might not..." She rubbed the back of her head and glanced away.

Checkmate simply looked back at her for a few seconds, and then began to walk away, towards the exit of the forest.

After about a minute of just flying in place, Rainbow Dash sighed, and flew up, high above the trees. She looked out, over the horizon, and then flew back towards Ponyville.

Did she trust Checkmate? Kind of, but not entirely. Not yet, at least. She still had much she needed to know about him, and she wouldn't trust him completely until she knew why he acted like he did.

And, one way or another, she was going to know just what drove the stallion to this state. After all, if she gave up now, then she'd end up losing this challenge against Checkmate.

And Rainbow Dash hated losing.

A New Arrival

Arc I - The Blade of Ice

Darkness.

Darkness covered everything, and snow and ice clung to the small homes, comprised only of stone and rotting wood.

The town – village, rather, as, while there were many ponies that lived there, the entirety of the populace were shoehorned into the tiny homes – was entirely silent, its citizens watching as a young colt was led up to the center, where a large platform sat.

The poor creature was shuddering and shivering in terror as he glanced about him, his breath visible to all who sought to look at it. Although, of course, few would desire such a thing; after all, the terror in his eyes was all that anypony saw.

At last, after what seemed an eternity, a tall, ghostly creature stepped over to the colt, a dagger of obsidian in his hoof (which was bent in such a way that one could wield a sword, dagger, lance, or any such other weapon, although it did not look especially comfortable, given the circumstances). The creature simply stared down at the colt, a look of pure, sadistic glee in its eyes.

“White Shadow,” it said, smirking, “it would appear that you’ve not done your part for our little nation. What have you to say for yourself?”

The colt, although visibly terrified, managed to force himself to speak. “G-go to Hell!”

The monster simply laughed at this. “Please, you expect me to fear you? I’ve heard that line thousands of times in my lifetime. That, and ‘heartless bastard’, although I think that the second is my personal favorite.”

“W-Wendigo,” growled Shadow, stuttering, “I-I know that you’ll… that you’ll be…!”

“Be what, brat?” asked Wendigo, mockingly. “Be defeated? No creature – not in this universe, not in any – could possibly stop me. I have an army at my back, and a nation beneath my hoof. A nation full of worthless, useless creatures such as yourself, if I might add.”

The colt suddenly gained a small amount of courage in his eyes. “Checkmate,” he replied. “Checkmate will stop you!”

The windigo immediately began to laugh, his entire being shifting in-and-out of existence with his foul laughter. “Checkmate Vigarde? Really, you fools are just getting more so by the day! First you say Chronos, then Celestia, and now that worthless, pathetic brat Checkmate? Your standards have certainly dropped. But enough of this pointless banter.”

Shadow’s eyes widened, then, as the dark blade was held directly over his forehead.

“You remember Conviction, don't you?” Wendigo mused, flicking the blade so that a small cut appeared between the colt’s eyes. “Ha! I wonder… how much agony will you feel after becoming part of the Zephyr? How many years, do you think, it will take before it is completed? Five? Twenty? One thousand? Oh, the hatred you will feel… I’m going to quite enjoy this…”

And then, the dagger was plunged deep between the colt’s eyes, as he screamed with pain and agony. Wendigo threw his head back and began to laugh, a cruel, barking laugh that resonated all throughout Darkfrost.

“Well then!” he shouted, “Let’s see, Checkmate, if you’re truly the hero this brat thought you were.” His voice lowered, then, becoming very quiet. “Or, perhaps, you’re just the pathetic creature that you seem to be.”

The stallion stood, steadfast, upon the outskirts of Ponyville, the light-blue sword around his side. His journeys had taken him long and far, and they had been met with much suffering from all involved.

He grimaced, although his face quickly took upon itself his old look, and he began to walk, slowly, but quickly picking up speed, towards the village.

The stallion had something he had to do.

And he didn’t have much time to do it.

It was a beautiful day. The birds were singing, the sky was near-cloudless, and the ponies were moving joyously throughout their daily activities.

In other words, all was right with the world.

Pinkie Pie hummed a happy tune to herself as she hopped down the street, smiling as always. It was another amazing day for her. After all, there was another new citizen of Ponyville, and she couldn’t wait to meet them! The young mare was already imagining how great of a party it would be, and the look of surprise and joy on their face as she greeted them.

Just imagining it got her extremely excited, and she could already feel her speed increasing. It was so increased, in fact, that she didn’t notice herself running face-first into one Twilight Sparkle, knocking her to the ground.

“Gah!” the lavender alicorn cried. “Pinkie… watch where you’re going!”

The ball of compressed energy, surprisingly, stopped. “Oh, sorry Twilight! I’m just super-duper excited for tonight’s party!”

Twilight worked her way back to her hooves, and used her magic to pick a large stack of books off the ground. She shook her head, and smiled slightly.

“Just be careful, alright, Pinkie?” she asked her friend. “We wouldn’t want this new pony to feel overwhelmed.”

“Overwhelmed? By me?” Pinkie stared at Twilight in surprise, before laughing. “Puh-lease! I’m sure that they’ll find my party to be the absolute bestest ‘Welcome to Ponyville From Wherever-it-is-You’re-From-Land Party’ in aaaallll of Equestria.” In order to make her point, the word “all” was stretched out for a long period of time. Twilight would never be able to counter THAT logic!

The young alicorn simply sighed, ignoring the fact that “bestest” was not a word. “That’s kinda my point, though… We don’t know what they’re like, Pinkie. We wouldn’t want a repeat of… well… MY first day in Ponyville, would we?”

Although Pinkie looked a bit deflated by this logic, she still smiled. “Well, they could be the happiest, friendliest, most open, compassionate, and emotional pony we’ve ever met! Well, next to Fluttershy, of course.”

Twilight rubbed the back of her head, and replied. “That’s a good point… I really wish Princess Celestia, or at least the mayor, would tell us about who’s coming to Ponyville when they do…”

“Well, we can learn more about them at tonight’s party!” Pinkie supplied, helpfully, and grinned one of her enormous smiles. “Say, that reminds me! Hearth’s Warming Eve is coming up soon! And didja see the list of actors for this year’s performance! Some of the best in Canterlot! Oh, maybe we could take this new pony with us this yearbecauseI’msurethey’denjoyitand –“

She was cut off when Twilight began to speak. “Hearth’s Warming Eve, huh… What an odd time to move to Ponyville…”

“I know! But hey, I’m not gonna judge,” the pink mare seemed to have completely forgotten what it was she planned to say. “Oh! But maybe we can have a joint ‘Second Welcome to Ponyville and Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve Party (or whatever it is you celebrate; we don’t judge here in Ponyville) Party’!”

Twilight simply shook her head. “Well, Pinkie, I’ve got a lot of work to do. Prin- er, Celestia wants me to get to know how to fly better, considering that I just got these wings and all, and after that… er… ‘disaster’ at my coronation ceremony, so I’m going to ask Fluttershy for some help!”

Pinkie opened her mouth to say something about how Rainbow Dash was likely a better flight teacher, but she said nothing on the matter after seeing the bright look in her friend’s eyes.

“Okie-dokie-lokie!” she said, smiling, “and I’ll continue to work on making this the most super-duper funnerific party that I can for our new arrival! It’s only a matter of time, after all!”

As Twilight passed by, however, Pinkie winced at the mental image of Fluttershy trying to teach her how to fly.

That night, it could be said, was certainly one of Pinkie’s greatest parties. The banner clearly displayed everything that she wanted to say (“Welcome to Ponyville From Wherever-it-is-You’re-From-Land Party”), and everypony in Ponyville – even a few from outside of the town – were attending it with hopeful looks.

At last, as they hid out of sight, the door began to creak a little, and they all began to tense up in anticipation.

At last, the door opened, and inside stepped a young, tired-looking male earth pony. He looked rather strange, with a light-brown hooded cloak over his light-tan (almost stark-white, oddly enough) coat, and four pieces of cloth, a strange mixture of pink, red, and white, around his hooves. Under the cloak, a grayish mane, like a cloud during a storm, could be barely seen, with just a few hairs sticking out beneath the hood. In addition to this, he had a strange sword at his side, sheathed, but it appeared to be a transparent blue from what little of it they did see.

At last, he reached over, flicked the light switch, and –

“SURPRISE!” shouted everypony in the room, followed by cheers.

The stallion glanced around him in confusion, certainly surprised, and at last they got a good look at his face.

His eyes were a strange light-green, but what everypony was staring at were the three discolored lines, ranging from a sickly looking yellow to an even worse-looking green, that ran across his face at irregular angles. Or, to put it more simply, scars, that left him looking dangerous, as if he were a criminal.

The cheering all died down as they got a good look at him, and it became silence, as he did not even react to the party around him.

At last, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke. “Can I help you?” he asked, coldly.

That caused the silence to continue as the crowd drunk in his voice. Despite his face and body looking mysterious and cruel, his vocal chords were oddly untouched by the many scars, leaving him, instead, with a voice that was clear and full.

Plus, he was a tenor. Not many male tenors in Ponyville that actually spoke to anypony.

Then, out of absolutely nowhere, Pinkie exploded into view. “Welcome to Ponyville!” she shouted, as confetti appeared behind her.

The stallion blinked several times, before replying. “Oh, thank you, I suppose,” although his voice still retained that coldness. “However… would you mind moving this elsewhere?”

“What… b-but why?” Pinkie asked.

The stallion simply sighed, “My apologies,” he said, “but… I have much to do tomorrow, and… not much time to do it. I need to rest up a bit. I hope you understand.”

At last, unable to take it anymore, a cyan-colored pegasus with a rainbow mane rushed up to him, glaring straight into his eyes. “After going through all the trouble to throw you this party, you’re just gonna let it go to waste!”

He simply stared at her, unfazed, with eyes still completely cold. “Yes. That is what I plan to do.”

“What… but that’s just… so lame!” she shouted, surprised by his remark. “I mean, we did all of this” - she gestured to the area around her - “for you” - she pointed accusingly at him - “and you just want us to pack it all up and run off?!”

“Yes,” he replied again, simply, “that is exactly what I’m asking you.”

Silence reigned, again, as he stared into her eyes for what felt like hours, before he said. “Tell me this. Why do you want to throw somepony a party that you’ve never met?”

“Because it shows that we want to get to know you!” the pegasus shouted, again.

“If you want to get to know me, you should at least tell me your name.”

The pegasus squinted her eyes. If looks could kill…

“Rainbow. Dash,” she punctuated both words, as if to add emphasis.

“A pleasure, I’m sure,” he replied. “My name is Checkmate. Checkmate Vigarde.”

Again, there was no emotion in his voice as he spoke, but just a coldness that seemed to make everypony around him shudder.

“Weird name,” Rainbow said dismissively.

The thinnest ghost of smile appeared on Checkmate’s muzzle, before vanishing again. “I can see that your family named you after your color scheme,” he replied dully.

Again, strangely, Pinkie Pie popped up in between the two, grinning as she looked the stallion over. “Good to meetcha’ Checkie! My name’s Pinkie Pie!”

Twilight stepped over, as well. “And I’m Twilight Sparkle, former student of Princess Celestia.”

Checkmate looked her over. “You’re an alicorn,” he mused. “Odd to see one around this area.”

“Odd to see a stallion carrying a sword, wearing a cloak, and covered in scars anywhere,” Rainbow muttered from where she was floating.

Pinkie was staring at it, as well. “It’s so… shiny!” she gasped, reaching over to touch it, at which point Checkmate reflexively stepped back. “Oh, sorry,” she gasped as she realized what she’d done, “I didn’t mean to scare you!”

It appeared to take all of Checkmate’s energy in order to keep from chuckling at that. “Believe me. Nothing frightens me, anymore.”

“So, Checkmate,” Twilight interjected, in an attempt to change the conversation, “where are you from?”

“I’d… rather not say,” mused the stallion. “However, I can see that this party is not going to stop anytime soon -” he cast a glance around him “- so I’ll just assume that you all want to introduce yourselves?”

The ponies began to shift nervously from side-to-side, and several of them were already looking towards the door. A few were even looking towards the windows.

“By all means,” Checkmate mused. “I don’t want to keep you from your work. If you want to go, then do so.”

Half of the room was gone in less than thirty seconds, and the other half was out by the next ten, leaving only him and ten others.

“Well, I assume that the rest of you want to meet me?” he asked, looking back-and-forth between the other ten. They all nodded, and he let out a sigh.

The first to step up to him were two earth ponies, one with an orange coat and a straw hat, as well as a smaller one with a yellow coat. The first looked uncomfortable, but still spoke nonetheless. “Howdy there, pardner,” she said, sheepishly. “The name’s Applejack, member of the Apple family, and this here’s my little sis’, Apple Bloom.”

“Glad to meetcha’, Checkmate!” the younger of the two said, with a strange amount of enthusiasm considering what had just happened.

“Likewise,” he replied, simply.

“So, uh, how’d ya get your –“

Apple Bloom was instantly cut off by her older sister’s foreleg covering her mouth. Applejack grinned sheepishly, again, before stepping back a bit and leaving Checkmate without the question that had very nearly been asked.

The next to step towards him was a single unicorn, with a coat the color of fresh snow, and an elegant and clearly styled mane.

“A pleasure to meet one of such refined words, darling,” she said, primly. “My name is Rarity, and I would like to welcome you to our… wonderful… little town.”

“Indeed,” again, simple, without much real attention.

After she had gone back to join the others, another two fillies walked up to him.

“Hi!” said the first, a darker orange in color, with a purple mane. “I’m Scootaloo! Hey, how’d you get all of those… uh…?”

“Don’t ask.”

“O-okay then!” the young pegasus whispered, stepping back slightly. “Sweetie Belle! Why don’t you…?”

Although, at this point, the younger was hiding behind Rarity, who Checkmate presumed to be her sister, due to them both being unicorns and both having similar appearances.

Checkmate looked over at her, and sighed. “Right.”

The last two looked rather awkward, with one, a yellow pegasus, hiding in the corner shyly, and the other, a young dragon, was standing next to Twilight and glancing about.

At last, Twilight stepped forward. “Um, Checkmate, this is my friend, Spike. He's uh... he's a dragon,” she gestured towards him, “and that’s Fluttershy. She was teaching me how to fly earlier.” If the bandage above her left eye was of any indication, it was most likely not a very good teaching job.

Checkmate wasted no time in vocalizing these thoughts, "Judging by the wound above your eye, I'd imagine her to be a great teacher," he said, but without any emotion behind the sarcasm. "Now that I've met all of you, would you mind leaving me alone? I've much to accomplish tomorrow, and not much time time to do so."

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to speak, but Checkmate shut her up with a cold look.

“Fine,” she muttered. “Alright guys, let’s just leave this guy alone, so that he can do whatever it is he needs to do.”

And then they left. Just like that, they stepped out the door (or flew, in Rainbow’s case) and left him alone.

Checkmate fell against the door then, which was locked, and sighed to himself.

“So…” he mused. “Such a strange little place.”

He held the sword up to the light, watching as it ran through the transparent blade, and sheathed it.

A sword that appeared to be made of ice, the element he almost completely despised. The element that he almost hated – no, not hated. He could never hate. He could never feel anything again, or he’d be killed.

And then, he would never complete his quest.

He would only fail it.