//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7 
// Story: Dungeons, Dragons, and a Little Friendship 
// by Lawrence Gander 
//------------------------------//


Dungeons, Dragons, and a Little Friendship
Chapter 7

 
Fluttershy peeked around a corner into the room that had Ted and Andur within; she had heard what happened yesterday from Cartanis when he was walking past her cottage with Zecora. So she wanted to check up on them, for the clinic was on the way to Rarity's anyway. Ted was laid up in a bed with bandages around his midsection, while Andur was out cold on another bed in the room. Well they don't look too bad, Fluttershy thought to herself. She resided to leave the small care package she had with the nurses so she wouldn't disturb them.
 
She felt someone tap her on the shoulder, she was so surprised by it she let out a squeak of fear, only to turn around and see Pinkie Pie behind her. “Hi Fluttershy, why are you trying to be so sneaky in the clinic?”
 
“Oh, I just wanted to make sure they were OK. I brought them a gift basket to thank them for helping everypony,” she gestured to a small basket she had in her saddlebag “but they are asleep so I think I'm just going to leave it with the nurses so they can have it later. Why are you here?”
 
“I'm just here to give the Dungeon Masters a surprise, surely to brighten up their dreary day!” Pinkie pie said rather loudly.
 
A voice from the room echoed out to the hall, “I do hope this surprise can make up for the fact one of us was having a lovely dream, which just got interrupted.” Fluttershy and Pinkie looked within the room to see Ted had woken up and was staring at them rather unkindly.
 
“Well I was going to wait for Cartanis to show up, I can't give out such a neat little tidbit of information without the whole crew together now can I?” Pinkie Pie said as she hopped her way into the room.
 
“I suppose you can't,” he then drew his attention to Fluttershy, “but you wouldn't mind if I had some of those lovely snacks I can smell now would you?” Ted stated to Fluttershy.
 
She entered the room as well and set down her basket on a small table that was next to the bed. She looked over to Andur, who was still unconscious, “Excuse me Ted,” Ted looked up from a muffin he was digging into, “What’s wrong with Andur? He doesn't seem to just be asleep.”
 
Ted stopped eating for a moment and his eyes flashed over into grey for a moment, “He is definitely doing better than yesterday, but what he is suffering from is something far worse than physical trauma.” He absently attempted to shift his weight in the bed and cringed in pain as he grasped at his chest, “He would probably be doing better if that lying Wizard was here hours ago with those potions.”
 
“Oh I hate it when I don't see through a bluff attempt!” Pinkie Pie stated.
 
“Well I like it better when I succeed at mine, although I have never been able to alter reality with one... yet.” Ted stated back.
 
Fluttershy just stared at the two ponies who seemed to be smiling at each other like they were in on some inside joke.
 
Cartanis then entered the room, followed closely by Applejack, “Look here Cartanis, I still don't get how in the world Andur can run out of steam and yet you and Ted Can't.”
 
Cartanis sighed, “Think of it this way, our power comes from another place, we call out to it and it answers our call. Andur never was calling out to a source of power, he was using his own, and it was not getting supplemented or aided along by his benefactor anymore. So he eventually-” Cartanis looked about to see all of the other ponies in the room, “ran out of said steam.”
 
Ted looked at Cartanis rather frustrated, “I thought you said it would be a few hours, I had to spend a night like this.” Ted gestured to the harnesses on the bed that stopped him from putting pressure on his chest.
 
Cartanis gently laughed, “Well I got an opportunity to find out if I could make more, and Zecora is quite well versed in both herbalism and rhymes. Besides, it couldn't have been that bad to take a break for a night.”
 
“Oh yes it’s just so lovely to be deprived of movement and feel pain whenever I want to breath regularly.” Ted said with a sneer, “But if it means we can expect more potions in the future, fine by me.”
 
“Wait,” Applejack Interrupted, “You mean to tell me, you were with Zecora for most of the day yesterday before you helped us clean up the town. How did you even understand her?”
 
“Oh she’s not that bad Applejack.” Pinkie Pie said.
 
“Pinkie is correct,” Cartanis stated to them, “Of all the cryptic riddle rhyming beings we have met in our travels, she is about the eighth most perplexing.” Cartanis chuckled a bit, “I think Ted here remembers the worst of them all.”
 
Ted started to chuckle as well, “Please Cartanis have mercy, a potion before all this, I’ll hurt myself if I start laughing too hard.”
 
Cartanis held out his top hat, “Hat! Potion!” a small clink was made as he grabbed the potion that hovered out of the hat and gave it to Ted, as he was drinking it Cartanis said out loud, 
 
“Life is your butter
I shall be the margarine
Beware heart disease.”
 
Ted almost spit up the potion he had chugged, he forced it down, sputtering a bit, “I said mercy Cartanis!” with a smile on his face.
 
All the ponies in the room looked curiously at Cartanis for an explanation.
 
“Don't ever say I don't have a sense of humor Ted,” Cartanis turned to the ponies, “The worst riddler we had to deal with was a golem mastermind, which had a funny habit of spitting out prophetic haiku that made no sense to the situation as it tried to kill us.”
 
Ted winced as he felt his ribs mending themselves from the burst of restorative energy, “I can handle flesh mending, but bones,” he shuddered “they just never want to go back together smoothly.” As Ted began removing himself from the various pieces of medical equipment, Cartanis went over to Andur, as he began taking another potion out of his hat Ted interjected, “You know maybe I should see what I can do around tow-”
 
“I know its sappy Ted, but we have got to be here for him. At least for now.” Ted knew Cartanis was right.
 
“Maybe you girls should go, don't take this the wrong way, but this is something between long-time friends.” Ted said to the group of ponies that had gathered.
 
“I understand,” stated Pinkie Pie, “But you just need to come see me when you guys are done with all your drama.”
 
As they left, Fluttershy asked Applejack, “You were talking to Cartanis about this... I think. What’s so wrong with Andur that we should leave?”
 
Applejack sighed as she turned to speak with her friend, “Imagine for a second Fluttershy, that whatever is wrong with Andur, would be like you having to go'n'tell Rainbow Dash that she would never be able to fly again.”
 
Fluttershy gasped, “Oh my, that's horrible.”
 
“I know it is, sugar-cube, I know.”
 

[/][/][1][/][/]

 
Andur woke to the familiar aftertaste of a health potion, and then opened his eyes to see the sterile white of the clinic room. Well if I am not outside anymore, he looked to see he was still a pony, then we must have won somehow. He looked around the room a bit more, noticing a rather stern looking Cartanis undressing the bandages around his arm, Ted was off by a wall trying to look busy with some food. “Just one question, how many got hurt?”
 
Cartanis finished undressing his bandage and spoke, “Luckily we managed to track all the Bulettes down in time, only a few got hurt in the panic but nothing serious, thanks in no small part to you.”
 
Andur moved his limbs a bit; the muscles ached from disuse and welcomed the stimulation. He then got up off the bed, dwarfing his companions with his stature.
 
“You have been recovering for about a day now, which makes it about late morning of our fifth day here, I believe.” Cartanis said as he scratched at his chin in thought.
 
Andur noticed his bag of holding looped around Cartanis, well at least I know who has my stuff. He looked over to Ted, “Just what are you so nervous about; you're not one to pick at your food.”
 
Ted looked over to Cartanis, “I'm just here for support, and I told you I am not breaking it to him.”
 
Andur looked back to Cartanis, who seemed to be getting ready to say something, “Andur, I'm not one to pretty up the tough stuff.” He took a deep breath, “If you try to use your powers again, it will probably kill you, assuming you can still use them.”
 
Andur chuckled slightly, “I wondered if that was the case.”
 
“You knew?” said a slightly baffled Cartanis.
 
“I wasn't able to say for certain, but I had clues here and there that something was off.” Andur remembered a few, “the strange suffocation feeling, that power I felt when my very soul seemed to become one with my weapon, Morellia.” He drew a little sullen, “My inability to get an answer from Pelor.” He looked about to the faces of his friends.
 
“You seem to take this better than I expected,” Cartanis Admitted.
 
“What did you expect?” Andur said indignantly, “A temper tantrum, a cry against cruel fate, I am not a drama queen.” Andur calmed himself before addressing them further, “I know that the skewed idea of fairness is something that many abide by, even then it is usually something that has not been earned that makes them believe things are fair. But I have faced trials like this my whole life, I know of life's inequality. To give in and stop trying, or to beg for it to stop, is to be like that pile of worthless trash that is Dra'nahb!” He took a moment to calm himself again.
 
“Sure, the good guy gets thrown around a bit, he gets reduced to something less than he was. But I’ll be damned before I let that stop me, for there are more ways to help the innocent than simply smiting evil.” A smile graced his face, “I am not happy with this; I will admit that, but...” Andur remembered that he had saved Dodge “I don't think I could of asked for a better way to make use of the last of my power, there is no cause more noble than that.”
 
Ted looked up from his food, “That's the Andur I know, good to see you don't take all of this like some overly emotional child.”
 
Cartanis gave Andur his bag of holding, “Nice to confirm that our leader is still himself.”
 
As Andur slung the bag over his head, “Now let’s see about checking out of here shall we?”
 
The trio walked out into the hallway, Cartanis showed them the way to the reception area. As they walked past the desk a clerk sat there mouth agape at seeing two heavily traumatized patients trotting past him. 
 
As he prepared to say something Ted interjected, “Don't worry about us, we heal fast.”
 
“How-”
 
“Trade secret, can't tell you, would get sued for everything we own.” 
 
Cartanis just rolled his eyes, “Shall we move along then?” Ted waved a goodbye to the befuddled clerk and they marched out the front doors.
 
Outside they found Pinkie Pie patiently waiting for them, alongside her other friends. “There you are, you didn't take that long, are you sure there was going to be drama?”
 
Ted sighed dramatically, putting a hoof to his forehead “For our hero did weep soft tears of remorse, recounting his deeds of heroism and goodness did he cry out in defiance to his cruel lot in life.” He stood upon two hooves making a grand gesture, “The telling of such an epic opera would cause many to swoon and shed tears of-” But he was cut off by an unhappy look from his comrades. “Bah, both of you are no fun.”
 
Cartanis looked back over to Pinkie Pie, “You wanted to speak with us?”
 
“Oh yeah, well since you guys were new in town, I wanted to throw you a party. But I never got a chance to thanks to all this interference from the Thunderheads and those weird monsters.” Pinkie Pie began smiling brightly, “Then the mayor put me in charge of the Eastavis celebration, it’s something we ponies do every spring to welcome it back after winter wrap up. So I got to thinking if I could somehow make the two happen at the same time, so I asked the mayor if I could, and she said it would be a great idea to have you three as the guests of honor for all the help you've been doing for the town!” Pinkie Pie was jumping around giddily, “Isn't that just spectacular!”
 
The trio stood, Cartanis had blanched, Andur was smiling, and Ted was ecstatic.
 
“I think the Dungeon Masters would be honored to be... well... honored in such a fashion Pinkie Pie.” Andur responded.
 
“Great!” Pinkie Pie shouted, “Oh but I got so much stuff to plan still,” an idea struck her, “Hey Ted you want to help.” 
 
“Do I!?” Ted galloped over to Pinkie Pie, “Does an elf have an inexplicable ability to improve the perceptions of his comrades?”
 
“YEAH! ... wait what’s an elf?”
 
Ted frowned, “Oh please you catch every other joke I make and that's the one you don't understand? I am disappointed Miss Pie.”
 
Pinkie Pie smiled, “Hehe I’m just bluffin' with you Ted.”
 
Surprise read on Ted's face, “You sly little pony you, give me some hoof!” Ted outstretched his hoof, which received a loud clop as Pinkie Pie returned the gesture in kind. “Miss Sparkle would you be so kind as to assist us in this matter?”
 
“What?” Twilight twitched at the sudden call for her assistance, “I don't know, I mean I’ve got some stuff I should clean up back at the library.”
 
“Please Twilight, “Pinkie Pie walked over to her friend, “You're really good at organizing stuff, and we could really use your help.”
 
Twilight looked at the sad expression on her face, “Fine...” she said rather sullenly
 
“This way.” Pinkie Pie happily hopping down the street followed by Ted and Twilight.
 
Cartanis had calmed down a bit and advanced upon the party of four other ponies who stood, “Well with the joyful bunch done being in the way for now, I would like to request the skills of you, Applejack, and you, Miss Dash.”
 
“For what?” Rainbow Dash asked.
 
“Let's just say I want to... set up a burglar alarm. It'll make more sense once I can show you it properly. But I’ll need your flying skills and Applejack's knowledge of the land. So I would prefer it very much if you both accepted.”
 
“If it'll keep out whatever you consider to be a burglar, I'm in.” Applejack stated.
 
Rainbow Dash just shrugged and followed the duo as they began walking to the outskirts of town.
 
Andur was now standing out in front of the clinic with Rarity and Fluttershy, “So... anything happening on your end?”
 
Rarity seemed to light up with an idea, “Say Andur, do you happen to have anything more dashing than that simple work ensemble you had on a few days ago?” 
 
Andur shook his head no.
 
“Then may I re-extend that offer I made you not so long ago and have you over at my boutique for a suit making? You can't be the guest of honor at Eastavis and look like some simple work pony.”
 
“I don't see why not,” Andur responded, “when I left the farm they said they would be fine without me for a while.”
 
As Andur began following Rarity he looked back to the rather quiet Fluttershy
 
“Don't you have anything to do today?” Andur asked
 
Fluttershy just seemed to stare at Andur, he was slightly worried by her gaze, she was looking so pitifully at him.
 
Rarity spoke up, “If you want Fluttershy, Opal has been rather fussy lately, you could help me deal with her while I get Andur all dressed up for the celebration.”
 
“That would be nice.” Fluttershy stated with a weak smile.
 

[/][/][2][/][/]

 
As Applejack lead Cartanis to the place that he had described, she had to ask a question, “Cartanis, I’ve been thinkin' about somethin' that just doesn't add up for a while now,” Cartanis gave her his full attention, “You said back at my place that you and your buddies were something different back where you came from, before you had become ponies, but these monsters I hear about don't seem to be any different from what you told me about 'em.”
 
“Well Applejack, you see that is quite the conundrum. From what I have gathered there are two... no three, possible explanations for their lack of any significant transformation.” Cartanis took a moment to formulate his words.
 
“The first,” Cartanis began, “possibility is that at least one of the Bulette's physical forms survived the trip through the void, using this information, your world simply reconstructed them as they were for it would be the path of least resistance. Less resistance than attempting to convert them or make something new, and may have had a part in the fact that the veil tear shocks were so belittled.”
 
“The second could be that your world actually does have Bulettes elsewhere in it, or they could be some long extinct animal. I have looked through some fauna books at the library, Manticores, Cockatrices, Hydras, even Phoenixes; your world has some other allegories to our world as well. As possible as it is, evidence has pointed more towards the first.”
 
“That leaves the final possibility, while strictly theory, it has no real impact on the matter unless I can gather more evidence as to whether it is actually possible.”
 
Rainbow Dash raised a curious eyebrow, “So what is this theory, it's not like we don't have the time to listen to you.”
 
Cartanis sighed, “Let's just say that the implications of the third would mean neither of you would need to worry about much anymore, for soon there would be absolutely nothing to worry over.” He took the looks the two ponies shot him and continued, “If what the third possibility says is true, there would be nothing any of us could do, and everything here would be better off in blissful ignorance of the inevitable.” Cartanis stopped at a rather large rock they had just started to pass, “Ah yes this should do quite nicely.”
 
Applejack looked at the rock, “So this rock is going to be some magic watchdog or somethin'?”
 
“Just sit back and enjoy the show.” Cartanis let loose arcane energies into the ground in front of the rock. The ground seemed slightly alive with electric snaps and faint purple light as symbols began to appear around where Cartanis had placed his hoof on the ground. As the large circular shape was filled with all manner of unfamiliar arcane runes, Cartanis cut off his power and let the shape hum with its own power. “One down, about seven more to go.”
 
Rainbow Dash spoke up, “That was kind of cool, but why do you need me?”
 
“Your part to play will become apparent when I have finished with the other seven,” Cartanis turned back to Applejack “now Applejack could you take me to a place that is a little northeast of Ponyville, preferably another place with a nice landmark such as this.” he gestured towards the rather large boulder.
 
“I think I know a place, just follow me ya hear?” Cartanis nodded to Applejack's command and let her lead once more.
 
So the trio walked about the outskirts of Ponyville, Cartanis stopping whenever he found a landmark that caught his eye, performing the same feat as before. The trend continued until he had finished with the eighth. “Now Miss Dash, you will get to know your part.” Cartanis removed a parchment of paper from his waist belt, and gently slapped it against Rainbow Dash's forehead.
 
“Umm, what’s this for?” Rainbow dash asked.
 
“First I shall do this,” Cartanis used his arcane power to write runes and etchings upon the ritual paper on her forehead, “which will allow me to scry... or 'see' from your point of view. This,” Cartanis drew more markings on the paper, “will allow you to hear me through the use of an advanced ghost sound spell. So that you may know what you have to do as you fly high above overhead” he stated as he pointed to the sky, “I really need a better view to accomplish this.”
 
“Well what was the point with all this strange thingy-ma-jiggie drawin' for?” Applejack interjected.
 
“To be more specific, my little 'burglar alarm' is a simpler spell that alerts me to intrusion. I have modified it in two ways, the first is that it should be able to distinguish between residents of this world and our world; it should also help me detect breaches as well. The second is the rather grand scale of it,” Cartanis gestured “the landmarks I've had you lead me to will help me inscribe the magic properly, while also letting me have a better idea of where intruders will have entered. It'd really help us out and the town in general, against another incursion.”
 
Rainbow dash hovered a few feet into the air, “So how high do I need to go?” 
 
“High enough so that I may see the loose circle I have been drawing around Ponyville, so probably a few thousand feet. The ritual paper and various runes I have inscribed will enhance your vision to see the world as I see it. To help give you an idea of what you need to see for me.” 
 
So off Rainbow Dash flew, high off into the air, wings flapping furiously as she began to soar past the clouds when she heard a voice.
 
“Take a minute and look down would you? You may be high enough already.”
 
Rainbow Dash was a little thrown off at hearing Cartanis' voice but otherwise did as he commanded. She could see the entirety of Ponyville from where she hovered, “Is this good enough Cartanis?” Can he even hear me?
 
“Yes that should be perfect, just keep your eyes over the northwestern area and follow the light as you see it.” he responded.
 
Answers that question, Dash thought to herself. She then noticed a bright purple light explode, from where she had taken off over by Cartanis, “Are you nuts! That's going to freak out everypony in town!”
 
“Calm yourself, I told you the spell would augment your vision didn't I? That light is something only you and I can see, and said light is me calling upon arcane power to begin drawing the perimeter. So do please keep your eyes on it.”
 
Rainbow Dash tracked the light as it began jumping from point to point towards the north.
 
“There's that first landmark!”
 
The light then connected with the first rune that was drawn earlier in the day, as it connected a brilliant flash of light appeared, a loose curve of energy linked between the northwestern and northern points before it slowly faded.
 
“Alright, first connection is done. The rest should be a bit easier”
 
Rainbow Dash continued to keep track of the light as it raced between each compass direction around Ponyville. With each point on the compass it met, the light would grow brightly and a perimeter line which showed the path it had taken could be seen before fading. Once it approached the final point, back where it began, the light grew bright once again.
 
This time, however, the line which appeared had arced between all of the points. Glowing intensely to mark the completion of the event, before fading away until even Rainbow Dash was unsure if anything was there.
 
“Thank you for your assistance Rainbow Dash, now all I have to do is...” Rainbow Dash heard Cartanis' voice trail off as ashen residue seemed to drift off her forehead.
 
Cartanis looked around with his own eyes again to see Applejack patiently waiting for him to finish.
 
“Thank you for your assistance as well Applejack.”
 
“Oh, it wasn't too hard to just find you some landmarks.” She humbly responded
 
Cartanis checked at the suns position, it was starting to get late into the afternoon, “Say, when does this Eastavis business begin anyway?”
 
“That doesn't really get started until tomorrow, a few hours after mornin', and tends to go until sunset or a little later.” 
 
Cartanis realized he was going to have a lot of time to kill. Rainbow Dash then returned from her hiatus up in the clouds, “So what now Cartanis?” she said as she landed.
 
He looked about absently as he spoke, “Well... I don't really have much planned. This was the biggest project of the day, now I don't have anything else.” he shifted his weight around a bit, realizing how he had nothing at hand to really keep himself busy, besides tedious book repair work.
 
“I could show ya around the farm. You are practically livin' there now.” Applejack interjected.
 
“Doesn't sound like too bad of an idea, I barely got to know your family before I had to run off anyway.” Cartanis looked over to Rainbow Dash, “Are you up to anything special today?”
 
“Not really, the other weather patrollers have got the entire forecast covered for now. So I don't-” she struck upon an idea, “Hey Cartanis, you wouldn't happen to know any cool tricks you could perform to make an aerial show cooler would you?”
 
“Excuse me?”
 
“You know, like, creating a giant ring of fire. Or-or creating a bunch of fog to help make a grand entrance onto an air field!”
 
Cartanis raised a curious eyebrow, Applejack whispered to him, “She really wants to join the Wonderbolts, it’s her dream, think of them like Equestria's best stunt fliers.”
 
Realization dawned on his face, “While I will admit following your dream is admirable Miss Dash. My power is something I really wish to try and only use when necessary at this point.” He then took on a slightly sarcastic tone, “Besides, you wouldn't want to get into the Wonderbolts because of your awesome special effects. I think you want to get in based on your own skill more so.”
 
“Well, I guess you're right.” She frowned slightly as if she was in thought. “I know I don't want them asking for me to join because I didn't earn it with my own skill. Same reason why we don't talk about the Ele-” but she cut herself off short and looked rather flabbergasted.
 
“Ele- what?” Cartanis asked curiously. He then felt Applejack prodding him into moving.
 
“Oh, look at the time. If you want to see the whole Apple Family Farm we better get movin' before, uhhh, the chickens get tired!” She continued to try and get him to move.
 
“Please Miss Applejack,” he pushed her away, “I may be fifty-seven years old, but I am not senile, I can figure out something is a secret when I hear one.” he dusted off his robes, “Now I don't know exactly what she was about to say, but if it’s so important you won't let me know, I’ll understand.”
 
Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked around rather ashamed, Applejack then spoke up, “Sorry about that, it’s just when Celestia herself tells you to keep somethin' on the down low. You tend to heed the request.”
 
Cartanis raised an eyebrow, “Well I can't very well ask you to betray the trust of a being like that.” he sighed, “Just tell me it isn't anything dangerous.”
 
“Oh they aren’t a mite dangerous on their own.” Applejack slapped a hoof against her mouth.
 
“Perhaps you should quit while you’re ahead, which way to your farm?” Cartanis trailed off down a road Applejack pointed out.
 
Rainbow Dash whispered to Applejack, “I can't believe you almost blew it.”
 
“I did?” she said with a tinge of anger back to Rainbow Dash, “You remember what Celestia said after she reunited with Luna, the Elements of Harmony are very, very, powerful magic. If the wrong pony gets a hold of 'em, or tries to make us use them wrongly, we could put all of Equestria in danger. I for one believe her, because we six simple ponies took down an all powerful alacorn. That's why none of the books talk about us, and that's why I am not lettin' Cartanis know. Because he may be a good pony, but knowledge of power like that could corrupt the nicest of us all.” 
 
“Alright fine, you made your point.” Rainbow Dash followed Applejack as she caught up to Cartanis, “but I am not letting you blow our cover.”
 
Applejack rolled her eyes as they finally closed the distance Cartanis had given them.
 

[/][/][3][/][/]

 
Andur took note of the various ponies that seemed to be either surprised or grateful looking to see him walking down the streets on the way to Rarity's store. As they approached her store, Andur realized he may not fit through the front door to easily. “Umm, do you happen to have a larger port of entry?”
 
Rarity looked confused at the question, and then she realized what he was on about, “I'm sorry dear, I forgot about your stature. Maybe I can manage to do something with you outside.”
 
Andur looked about her shop, he noticed a rather large window and contemplated trying to use it, but disregarded the idea as silly. His next idea felt like a moment of inspiration, but it still left him feeling slightly mortified, “Actually I might be able to do something about this.” Andur set his bag of holding on the ground, widening the opening as far as it would go, and hopped inside. His feet hit the floor; he could feel some of his stuff brushing against him but nothing serious, all the while his head managed to still stick out of the top of the bag, “I believe this shall suffice until we get inside.” 
 
Rarity seemed partially stunned at what she saw, “I knew you had some kind of magic bag Andur, but that is just perplexing to see with one's own eyes.”
 
“Just imagine it's some kind of mobile magical storage locker.” Andur heard the sound of something slightly shouting and then a faint plop of it smacking against the ground. He looked around to see a pink pony fainted on the ground. 
 
“Fluttershy you best take Andur inside before we make too much more of a scene.”
 
Fluttershy grabbed the strap of the bag and whisked herself away inside the shop as Rarity was busy getting the flustered mare back on her feet.
 
When they got inside, Andur managed to pull himself out of the bag, despite being slightly disoriented from swaying back and forth while in transit. He looked about the shop, seeing various pony mannequins wearing differing kinds of suits and dresses.
 
Rarity then trotted inside, “That situation has been properly dealt with, onto the main event. Please stand over there by the mirrors Andur.”
 
Andur stood upon a small raised platform that was flanked by mirrors on most of its sides, and then he noticed various pieces of fabric floating around him.
 
“Just get comfortable, this could take a while.”
 
Andur was standing for a time as Rarity trotted around the shop looking for fabrics to compare against his coat, talking about mane contrast and form fitting angles. Eventually it all seemed to dull into an indecipherable explosion of words and gasps as she was inspired. 
 
In time Andur noticed that it was almost noon, and he realized how tight the collar was on his neck. He looked down to see he had some sort of tie on, “You really think it should be that tight?”
 
“I'm sorry Andur; I just can't seem to figure out what will go well with your suit. I have the light brown to accent your mane and beard, it’s not too showy because you are rather simple yourself. But I can't just seem to get any accessories down right. Usually I can tell by cutie marks what would go well with a pony but well...” 
 
Andur looked towards his bare flanks, “I might have something in my bag that could help, if you would please.” Rarity floated over his bag to him, watching curiously as he sifted through the contents. He pulled out a small sun medallion.
 
“Oh my, Andur, this is lovely. Where did you get this? Is it something from your world?” Rarity asked as she gawked over the artifact.
 
“Just consider it a family heirloom. It was...” Andur sighed at what he said, “IS, the symbol of my office.”
 
“Could I see it for a moment,” Rarity lifted the medallion from his hoof, looking over the intricately designed six pointed sun emblem; she noticed some writing on the edges. “What does this say here?”
 
“It's an old tongue from Manderton. 'For they shall guard the peoples from mortal suffering and evil, until the day one shall arise above the rest and fulfill the charge that was given.' It’s essentially the oath one takes in the Clergy of Pelor before they are deemed a Champion.”
 
“Would you mind if I took this with me for a moment, I might have something in the back that could... ooh yes, that would go together quite nicely. I'll just be a moment dear, take a rest while you wait.” Rarity trotted off to some stairs, bringing the medallion along with her magic.
 
She went up a flight of stairs, up into her part workshop part home that was the second story of the shop. Wandering around the halls she found Fluttershy playing with Opal, Rarity remembered something, “Oh Fluttershy I almost forgot to ask you about what I wanted you to bring today. Do you have it?”
 
Fluttershy looked about nervously, “Well I did bring it Rarity... but I still don't think it’s a good idea.”
 
“Oh don't be so worried Fluttershy, they have never done anything peculiar unless we had all of them together. Besides, it'll help you look fabulous during Eastavis.”
 
Fluttershy continued to look unsure in the matter.
 
“Just come see what I've done with mine, I know you'll think it’s just divine.” Rarity went into her workshop with Fluttershy close behind. She gestured to a mannequin that was covered in a half finished dress.
 
Fluttershy looked surprised by it, “Rarity, did you copy Cartanis?”
 
Rarity was flustered at the accusation, “No, of course not. I just did a little... note taking.” she began to point at various areas of the dress, “First of all mine is white, with some blue trim to bring out my mane and eyes. Yes, I have the robe-like cape that covers the dress, but I have not a vest or a suit-like under-layer, something far more feminine and chic.” She looked a little perplexed at her incomplete dress, “Besides, I can't seem to replicate what Cartanis had with all those marking on his. Must be something only he knows how to do with his magic.”
 
Fluttershy noticed the necklace of the dress was glowing slightly; a look of fear was upon her face. Quickly she located her knapsack that she had set down in the room and took out her own, it too was slightly glowing, “Rarity I told you this was a bad idea.”
 
Rarity was perplexed, “What do you me-” she then noticed what Fluttershy was holding up.
 
“I should have never brought my Element of Harmony out of hiding, this isn't even a possible emergency, this is just vanity.” Fluttershy quickly stuffed it back into her saddlebag and wandered out into the hall.
 
Rarity went after her, setting down Andur's amulet on a table in the workshop. “OK you were right Fluttershy, just don't make a scene, you're all flustered and Andur is not the type to just let you slip past all anxious like this.”
 
Fluttershy stopped in the hallway, “I know but,” she fished the Element out of her saddlebag again, it had stopped glimmering. “We just need to keep them separated unless it’s an emergency Rarity, I don't really need a new dress anyway.”
 
Rarity looked slightly ashamed with herself.
 
“You just want to do the best you can with what you got Rarity... I can respect that but... this is dangerous, I don't want to have a hoof in it if it'll hurt somepony.” Fluttershy said rather meekly.
 
Rarity sighed, “Maybe winning the Eastavis fashion show was getting to me a bit more than it should have. It would mean a lot for my business, not to mention my reputation.”
 
“You're set on doing this?” Fluttershy questioned. 
 
Rarity simply confirmed with a nod, “Business has been rather slow lately, and I need all the help I can get. Without my Element of Harmony, the ensemble just... doesn't feel right.”
 
“Then promise me something,” Rarity looked over at Fluttershy to see her sporting a rather serious face, “If anything funny starts to happen, anything at all, you excuse yourself from the pageant and get your Element somewhere safe.”
 
Rarity had never seen Fluttershy seem so serious before, “I promise.” Rarity meant it with everything she could, “Now I still have to pick out something for Andur's suit, if you would excuse me.”
 
As Rarity went back into her workshop, Fluttershy calmed herself and went downstairs. As she walked through the store towards the exit, she noticed Andur laying down on the platform; he looked over to acknowledge her presence. Before he looked back at the floor and seemed to drift off into thought again.
 
What Applejack had said to her earlier was still eating at her, What could Andur have lost that was so close to him? Fluttershy couldn't stand to see something else looking so sad. She tried to build up the courage to speak, “Hey, A-Andur, umm...” but her resolve faded.
 
Andur looked up from his thoughts, “Yes? Is something amiss?”
 
Fluttershy tried again to speak, “I just... I talked to Applejack and she said something about you not being... or having something that you had before... and I’m sorry, I was just curious, and-”
 
“And you want to settle your mind as to what is wrong with me?” Andur helped her finish.
 
Fluttershy nodded, “If it’s not too hard, maybe talking about it would help.”
 
Andur chuckled a bit, “You are quite the caring little pony aren’t you?” Fluttershy blushed a little, “Did Applejack ever tell you about what I did for her family?”
 
“Yes.”
 
“Imagine Fluttershy, having that power, the ability to help others in a way no one else can.” Andur seemed to get lost in thought, “Evil would cower at hearing your name, and the weak would gain hope just knowing you were around.” Andur smiled a bit, “That is the side of me I mourn, don't think I am  beaten, not by a long shot. But that doesn't mean it won't hurt to realize reality.”
 
Fluttershy could tell he liked to embolden himself with confidence, “Wow Andur, how are you so brave all the time?”
 
“Brave? This isn't bravery... it’s more like, acceptance. Bravery is something else entirely.” Andur’s eyes seemed to glow as he remembered something else, “There are brave things one can do. I may have attained the right to be called that a few times, but I have yet to do something as Brave as my father did.”
 
“He must have been a very great pony... or person, if you call him brave.”
 
Andur looked about, he realized that it was still rather early in the afternoon, “Does Rarity usually take a while trying to figure out her ensembles?”
 
Fluttershy giggled a little, “She might be up there the rest of the day.”
 
“Then would you like to hear a story?”
 
“Sure.”
 
Andur took a moment then began.
 
“In the far off reaches of the mountains, there was a village, much like Ponyville. In which lived a group of people, the Mandertonian, who carved out a living amongst the most cold and barren land as you would ever see. From the very ground had they worked for their livelihoods, taking everything that life could throw at them. Even though they never came away unscathed, they also ever gave in to it. They had earned the right to the land as a people, following in the word of Pelor, and created a beacon of hope amongst a land of darkness.”
 
“With the teaching of Pelor, they continued to prosper ever more, from the land with their own hands had they created a means to support themselves and generations after them. But there were some in the world, who sought to correct what they saw as an imbalance. Seeing the small utopia, did jealousy and greed well up in their souls.” “
 
“Why should they be so lucky, how DARE they be more fortunate than me, I could do ten times what they do with their own wealth and resources. These dark thoughts drove them to attack Manderton, almost razing it to the ground.”
 
“Had it not been for the work of the towns own Peloric Order, a group of pious warriors who sought to smite the wicked. Thanks to them, the lives of many townspeople were saved, and the invading forces driven back. But, the victory was left hallow by a fact that they had discovered that day. That fact was that their home was no longer safe, they had to abandon what was left, and find a new place to call their own. One amongst them however, thought of a different way, he voluntarily accepted a task in order to root out the cause of all the hatred towards his people. He left with everything he held dear to him, even his young son of twenty years, who refused to allow him to go it alone.”
 
“What about your mother Andur?” Fluttershy interjected.
 
Andur was slightly surprised she caught on so quickly. “Well I had no mother.” he realized how strange that would sound, “That is to say I was not raised with one, I was essentially adopted. Let me turn back the clock on my story a little.”
 
“When Manderton had just started to truly blossom, and the Peloric Order was in its infantile stages, the town was seen as a hapless and fattened calf to be used. One night, a haphazard raid was attempted on the town, while it was not a resounding success the invaders managed to make off with many of the townsfolk. What was the Peloric Order of that day gathered their forces and went after them. Luckily the invaders were not as familiar with the land as The Order was, and were quickly tracked down. But not before they had enacted some part of their foul plan.”
 
“The Order was tested that night, slaying countless undead abominations, as they fought their way to save what was left of the kidnapped. Many had been turned that night, but many also made it out alive thanks to the heroism of the Order and its Champion. Amongst the survivors there was a child, whilst his parents had been turned and subsequently laid to rest, he had survived the process. Many of the Order saw it as a sign of corruption and evil within the babe, but their Champion Kroodur, spoke of the child's gift that he saw. 'Evil sought to destroy this life, it has failed, do not seek to accomplish what evil could not!' with his words the order recognized their truth. So the Champion adopted the boy, and trained him in the teachings of Pelor. When he was old enough to decide for himself, the boy was allowed to leave if he so sought to, with no knowledge of his past or his ability; the boy stayed.”
 
“So you never got to know your own parents?” Fluttershy asked.
 
“It wasn't until after I was sixteen winters had I even known Kroodur was not my birth-father. I eventually came to grips with the fact that... maybe birth doesn't determine your parents all the time, sometimes it’s whoever will step up to the challenge of rearing a child.” Andur retorted, “Anyway back to where I was... oh yes.”
 
“The Champion of the Order left his people, along with his son; he sought out the cause of all the hatred towards his people. What force would seek the destruction of a peaceful village, the greed driven invaders had been far too organized to be a haphazard raid of barbarians. For five years the duo tracked down clues, finding out about nefarious secrets of some great power that sought to end what it perceived to be a threat to itself. This power, The Tiefling Theocracy, saw the town as a beacon that exposed their lies of betterment through ruling with a powerful few. It showed the truth, that mortals could drive a path in life their own way, free from tyranny and oppression any could have a good life; given that they tried hard enough.” 
 
“Even beneath that great power, the duo discovered one person in particular, who had possibly set all the events into motion centuries ago. Who had possibly built up the Theocracy from nothing, who wanted to use it for his own ends. They only had a feared name to go by, The Void Caller; even asking about him was dangerous. For eventually they found themselves dodging assassins at every turn, abominations hunting them through the wilds. But with every encounter, they learned more about this feared man. Eventually they tracked him to his lair.”
 
“Once within, the duo was split up by forces not of their control. The son was apparently the target of The Void Caller the entire time, ever since the attack on his village when he was a baby. The son tried to find the father, but every turn he took seemed to lead him deeper into the lair's maze, eventually he was face to face with The Void Caller himself. Locked in combat with no way of retreat, the son was easily bested, but the Void Caller stopped short of killing him.”
 
“ 'These things must be done carefully' he said, and then the son was impaled with a foul dagger which injected something into his very soul. He felt it tearing at him, destroying him, for what felt a lifetime it scratched and ebbed at his very life. Eventually the father fought his way through the maze, and with his might scattered the lich, forcing it to return to stasis for months to come before it would be a threat again. But The Void Caller was not bested yet.”
 
Andur began recalling the memory much more vividly, as he spoke of it to Fluttershy.
 

[/][/][4][/][/]

 
“No, NO, NO. You’re not ready for something like this!” Kroodur shouted to Andur, as he kneeled next to him.
 
Andur wanted to respond but the thing within his soul had taken that from him.
 
Kroodur seemed to draw into himself, resolve clear on his face, “You can beat this Andur; you're just not ready... But I can help you.” Andur felt his father calling out to his soul; the thing that tore at his own life was nipping and biting at his father's power as he reached out to him. When his father finally connected, he felt a surge of energy, like a spark had just ignited a blaze. 
 
Andur felt the beast that had been devouring him recoil and menace in pain, its form blasted from his being, his soul seemed to return along with his power. The world seemed to return much clearer than it was before, he felt himself able to move, and his father helped him to his feet. Andur looked down at the dagger which he had been impaled with; it lay broken on the floor, shattered into countless pieces.
 
Kroodur smiled, “I knew you could do it.” he snapped around however to the sound of countless beasts roaring down the tunnels towards the lich's throne room. “Even scattered that blasted lich can still manage to call his horde.” Kroodur looked about, “There Andur, take that exit, it leads straight outside.”
 
“What about you father?”
 
“I'm not long for this world.”
 
“What?” Andur used his power to search for his father; he saw the beast that had been attacking his soul was now attached to his father's own.
 
“Don't try anything Andur; all you'll do is contract it again.”
 
“But can't you-”
 
“No Andur I can't,” Kroodur looked back towards his son, “You are so much more than you realize, so much more than I could ever be. I saw it the day I saved you twenty-five years ago, and I saw it again just now. Dra'nahb wanted to end you, because he sees you as a threat to his plans, but I,” Kroodur drew his sword and shield, “I know that there is more to all this than some Lich who's hell bent on destroying everything in some vain attempt at easing the suffering of mortals.”
 
“What am I? Why can't you just-”
 
“There is no time. Just know that Dra'nahb may fear you, but there is a force greater than him, greater than that accursed Theocracy, out there that is terrified of you. Not just you, but what you shall accomplish with others.” Kroodur laid down his weapon for a moment before removing his medallion, “I won't need this anymore, and the title of Champion WILL belong to you one day.” Andur took the sun medallion that his father handed to him.
 
“I won't let them win, I'll find a way.”
 
“I know you will,” the sounds of the beasts were becoming much more clear against the echoes of the room, “Now get going, you can't fight evil when you’re dead now can ya?” Kroodur picked up his sword, pain obvious on his face from the infection. “I'll hold 'em off; Dra'nahb can't possibly keep control of them for long after a recent scattering.”
 
Andur knew his father, there would be no turning back, he was always leaping into help others regardless of the danger to himself. He began running down the exit that was pointed out earlier. As he left the room he shouted back one of his father’s favorite lines of scripture, “Bear his light as though a torch!”
 
“And Pelor shall light your path through the darkness!” Andur heard his father retort as the sound of battle began behind him.
 
As Andur made his way through the ruins of the old caves, he used his power to keep track of his father. Each time he felt him use his power; the infection seemed to grow more over the light that was his soul, slowly eating away at everything that was Kroodur. As Andur made it to the fresh air of the outside world, he finally witnessed his father's death. A great burst of light signaled his last attempt to hold back the onslaught, what Andur sensed then horrified him. 
 
He had been in the village for years, used his power to help ease the suffering of dying souls. They had always seemed to drift away, as though they simply were being taken to another place to be put at rest. But this, this was not rest, it was recoiling pain that lead to emptiness; as though something had come along and snuffed out a brilliant candle. The silence of it was like a hollow pit in the world around him. Andur knew that whatever happened, his father was not resting in peace, for there was no piece left of him whatsoever.
 
He continued to run through the wilds, on his way back to civilization. I won't let evil win, I won't allow any more to suffer. Life just attempted to throw a curve ball at Andur, he had taken the hit, but he wasn't going to let it stop him. Not for a single moment.
 

[/][/][5][/][/]

 
“Wow, so your father did all that? Just to save you?” Fluttershy stated.
 
“Sometimes it’s hard for me to believe he saved me as well, seven years ago.” he chuckled, “Sometimes it felt insurmountable, but we're still here, and even without my power. I won't let them win, and I won't let life try to stop me, we'll find a way back. Even if we don't, there is plenty I can still do here to aid any who need it.”
 
Rarity then appeared on the other side of the room by the stairs, “I think I finally got it.” she stated excitedly. A pair of sun themed glasses floated onto Andur's face.
 
“Really?” Andur stated.
 
“What you don't like them?” Rarity asked.
 
“Rarity, maybe you're just over-designing it. I enjoy simple things; the suit by itself is rather impressive. I'm still rather surprised at how well it fits me, maybe you can take a hint from my lack of a 'cutie mark', and realize that maybe I don't need accessories.”
 
“Hmmm,” Rarity looked Andur over once more in his suit, “Maybe you're right, I haven't done a simple design in a while.”
 
Fluttershy spoke up, “A strong foundation always leads to a sturdy house.”
 
“Well I think that about sums it up Andur, I’ll have your suit ready by tomorrow.” the various pieces of the suit Andur had on floated off his person and onto a number of mannequins in the room. Andur took his medallion as it floated back to him, wearing it as it was supposed to be.
 
“I’m going to go see what Ted is up to, sometimes he likes to get himself in trouble and it has been a while.” Andur started to open up his bag of holding so he could be carried out.
 
“Oh don't worry about that, I should've thought about it earlier, but we have an emergency fire escape window here on the first floor. I can open it from the inside.” Rarity opened three latches on a window by the front door; it easily slid out of its frame and was more than large enough for Andur to simply hop through.
 
Fluttershy followed Andur outside, “I need to go see Pinkie Pie anyway, and they are all probably still at Sugarcube Corner.”
 
Andur took note of the almost setting sun as he followed her to the bakery.
 

[/][/][6][/][/]

 
“What about to the left of the stage?” Pinkie Pie asked Twilight.
 
Twilight looked over the floor plan of the Eastavis celebration. It was going to be held out in the fields by Whitetail Wood, and they still had to make arrangements for the fashion pageant amongst all the other things. “I don't think the food court would make much sense there, maybe if it was somewhere that the crowd could get at it without having to push through everypony to get at it.” she drew an x, where she believed it would be best, “Out here by the other vendors would be better, besides it helps to have the place where you spend all your bits in one area.”
 
“That is why Miss Pie, she is the organizer,” Ted smiled a bit, “but I still think she’s a stick in the mud.”
 
“She's not like that all the time.” Pinkie Pie said back.
 
“Well most of your townsfolk are, we save them and I hardly get more than a few thankful glances.”
 
“That's because you’re a hero not a celebrity, they have gratitude for you, not unhealthy misplaced affection.” Twilight retorted.
 
“You make a fair point Tiddly Glitter.” Ted jested.
 
Twilight didn't really understand Ted, he's been aloof all day, always making jokes, checking in his bag, or looking over his bow. A guy this silly is a wizened veteran of a war? “Well that about sums up all the planning, you should be able to take this to the mayor now.”
 
“OK.” Pinkie Pie rolled up the plans and walked to the stairs that lead to the bakery so she could leave, “I'll be right back, Fluttershy is coming by and I don't want her leaving just to go look for me. So if she shows up just tell her to wait.”
 
Twilight noticed the early afternoon sun, and looked over to Ted, who was once again fumbling with something in his bag. “What’s so interesting about that bag of yours?”
 
Ted looked up, obviously pulled from his train of thought, “Just some things that need to get done, and I was hoping to get around to fixing it.”
 
“Fixing what?”
 
“This,” Ted exclaimed as be pulled out a suit of armor, its layer of scales glinting in the light. “As you may notice I didn't get the chance to repair it.” Ted pointed out a large gash in the scaling and under-layer of padded armor across the mid section.
 
Twilight looked at the strange markings across the armor; it was built to cover Ted entirely from the base of his neck down to each of his hooves almost. The only places that lacked the silvery scaling were the joint sections; even then the padding seemed more than capable of stopping even the most stubborn attacker. “Who made you this?”
 
“Oh it’s all custom made by me, well maybe not anymore since your world reconstructed it. But its close enough for little old me.” he saw Twilight reach for one of the gauntlets, “You might not want to touch that.”
 
Twilight stopped, “Why not?”
 
Ted carefully picked up the gauntlet and slipped it onto his wrist, it sat just above his hoof on his front leg, looking more like some form of armored bracelet disconnected from the rest of the greave which normally was a part of it. 

“Because they're a little touchy,” he flicked out his wrist and caused one of his blades to extend from its hidden compartment. “Took me ages to figure out how to smelt together the proper metals and engineer the mechanisms in this thing.” he twisted his wrist slightly to one side, causing the blade to extend a little farther. Then in the other direction, causing it to retract until it went back into the compartment. “Only a few forges I knew of that could allow me to make the necessary metals, luckily one exists here, in Cartanis' hat.” he took off the gauntlet and set it back down amongst the set.
 
She noticed a rather distinct looking emblem on the chest piece of the suit, “What does that represent.”
 
“Hmm?” Ted looked over to where she was pointing, “Oh that's just the emblem of my pirate crew.”
 
“You were a pirate?”
 
“Yes and a terrible one indeed, we went around in my land-sub and stalked around looking for aquifers in the ground so we could hunt the illusive snipe. Worth a ton on the market I can tell you stories-.”
 
Twilight just glared at him, “I know you’re from a different world, but that sounds a little far-fetched even to me.”
 
Ted laughed a little, “Learn to laugh at a tall tale, Miss Sparkle, you shall find I am full of them. You didn't think I would tell an acquaintance of a friend my origin, when I haven't told them of it for good reason did you?”
 
Want to play it this way then huh? “Well I know that Eladrin are apparently all stuffed shirts according to you. Your half and half breed also suggests something to me, as well as the respect you have for your Eladrin father.”
 
“So you WERE listening at the meeting, and here I thought you were just milling about in the background noise.” 
 
“You also thought your buddies were a lot of fun, staying with them past a work contract. So from that I can infer you enjoy adventure, or at least danger, but you don't act seriously at all. So I can guess that if you thought the same of your father, he too was like you in a way.”
 
“Oh the old man and I used to toss the old ball around the back yard, fighting off dragons with sticks and stones as we did so.” Ted was making fake throwing gestures. “We both enjoyed a good quip every now and then, I will admit that.”
 
“I might not know much about symbolism in your world, but that crest on your armor looks like a coat of arms, you don't just engrave two wolves overlooking a wellspring for nothing. If this is custom made by you, and you dislike your origins, why would you pay homage to them in some way? It could possibly be something from your mother’s side, but you haven't said anything about her.”
 
Ted seemed to quiet down a little, he just sat there, patiently listening to her continue. Almost as if he was waiting for something.
 
“So the crest must be some family thing from your father, who must have had a love for his own culture. But not enough to stay with them, as he sired a family with someone not of his own race. He must have had enough love for you, and your mother to show you his old lands, but it soured you to them somehow.” Twilight set down a hoof on the table, “You respect your father for the ideals he set forth to accomplish, but his people did not agree. In some form of conflict with an opposing force, quite possibly Eladrin, you lost your mother. So with respect you don't talk about her memory as not to stain it.”
 
Twilight was almost surprised by Ted's silence; he seemed to have all the silliness drained from his face. A rather stern, much older looking, Ted seemed to be staring back at her now. “I will commend you on your keen powers of intuition Twilight Sparkle.”
 
That's the first time he said my whole name without lampooning it! “Oh... well... thanks.”
 
“But I can't have you going around gossiping something you think is true.” Ted smirked a bit, but retained his serious demeanor, “Maybe I can confide something to you, and let you decide if it’s necessary for others to know.”
 
“Ted are you OK?” Twilight was rather thrown off by how serious he was sounding, expecting him to throw out a joke any second to catch her off guard.
 
“I thought you were listening at the meeting, do you not remember my age? I am about a hundred and forty; don't think that I am incapable of having a serious conversation.”
 
“You never had your age mentioned.” Twilight stated.
 
“I didn't? Well then I must not have been listening too well, remind me to never get involved in a salt-cube contest again would you?” Ted chuckled a bit, “Now as for my past, I would like you to listen and listen well.”
 
“I never lost my mother to some war with my own people, she’s doing fine alongside my father, who was a rather swashbuckler type fellow as myself. He is the lord of house Zavyard, among the Eladrin it’s considered a rather powerful house that one should heed.”
 
“Well what is so special about that? Are you royalty?” Twilight interrupted.
 
“Technically, I don't hold any sway over major decisions, and I am not guaranteed to ascend to the throne.” he smiled gently, “But I make a lovely hostage.”
 
“So what's the big deal, why don't you just tell your friends that?”
 
“It's all about politics really, that's all it’s ever about with the Eladrin. They just go through so much protocol to do anything. Let me explain from where it would make sense.”
 
“For the Eladrin enjoy working carefully, they don't want to disturb things too hastily and possibly upset some idea of a perfect future they have. A long time ago, before I was born, and my father was about sixty I want to say; give or take. Since they usually live to around three-hundred, sixty is rather young for an Eladrin. He was but another soldier of the house, in a war in the shadows against a young nation that was on the rise to power, it was known as the Theocracy. It had yet to gain any momentum in the world, and was little more than an idea traveling about the land at the time.”
 
“But the Eladrin knew of its creator, one who they feared, his true name was Dra'nahb: The Void Caller. Who was destined to destroy everything he came across, unless something was done about it at the right time. This was the point of the war in the shadows, but as hard as they tried, the Eladrin alone were unable to halt their rise to power. So they enlisted the help of their old kin, the Elves.”
 
“At first, it was working; they began to win engagements with the Theocracy much more often. But soon, old hatred loomed within our own ranks. The house's aristocracy saw themselves as cultured and superior to the elves, and ignored the Elves who asked for more help on difficult assignments. While the Elves began to see the Eladrin once again as the foolish ones who abandoned the world to hide in the fey, usually attempting things without the Eladrin's consultation, causing breaks in the chain of command.”
 
“Combined with the infighting, the alliance was once again ineffective, allowing the Theocracy to take root much easier. Eventually becoming too strong for even the alliance to deal with, so the Elves retreated back to the wilds to prepare, and the Eladrin went back to the fey in order to wait for an appropriate time to strike. All the while, the Theocracy gathered its own forces, subjugating the people of the lands. It had yet to become an international power, but it was quickly on the way to being more than a trouble for the southern lands.”
 
“Um, hi, pony who has no idea what the Fey is right here.” Twilight said with a smile.
 
“Oh, imagine it’s like some form of mirror world to the one you reside in now. Different beings reside there and such, if you had the means you could live there and travel between it at will.” Ted quickly let his eyes flash solid grey, “I have this power thanks to my Eladrin heritage, and the world I cross over into here is less... lively than the fey. But it seems to accomplish the same things. Now back to my story.”
 
“My father, however, stood against the orders of his house. He accepted banishment, and went off into the world to find a way to slow the advance of the Theocracy, to give the realm of mortals more time to prepare. He believed that if you simply tried, you would have no need for prophecy to tell you the right thing to do, for all the planning in the world would not save it from destiny.”
 
“In his travels he tried to reason with the various tribes of Elves, but they wished to be just as foolish as the Eladrin, they stayed in their colonies away from the growing empire and spent their time in a bid to strike when they were most vulnerable. During one visit to a town, of no real significance, just some port town that had a bar with some good ale. He met an elf, another who had been unable to understand why her people did not wish to at least attempt to save those who were currently suffering under the reign of the Theocracy.”
 
“Oh and your parents just fell in love at first sight.” Twilight rolled her eyes, the story was fanciful so far, but this was just silly.
 
Ted laughed a bit.
 
“Suffice to say, my father tried to join in her employ, but she would have none of it. He was far too aloof for her to take seriously, so they split ways that day. It wasn't until my father was on the trail of a speaker of the Theocracy, one who spreads the message of it to new places. Once he had this speaker tracked down, he listened to him for a few moments, for he had fought them for decades now. But this was the first time the sermon he was giving was different, instead of the original indoctrination through fairness for all, it spoke of a race of enlightened rulers who would see through the lies of others and rule justly against the unjust.”
 
“As the crowds cheered towards his message of deliverance, my father realized that if he killed the man now it would only martyr him. Resolved that he had solved nothing in attempting to glean information he prepared to journey from the town, but instead he waited when the familiar elf from before stood before the speaker. She encroached on his authority; she spoke of the things she had seen amongst the man’s “glorious” empire, the lies of their salvation. How he was preaching hate, how he was speaking lies, and why the people just stood there and simply listened to them. Almost begging for the Theocracy to take from them their freedom.”
 
“Her words rang with truth that day, and as the crowd began to recoil at the man’s idea, the speaker declared them heretics and damned to being an enemy with the parasites who reject their ideas. The force that had been the speakers guard descended upon the crowd, with that final act, the elf unleashed her power amongst the enemy. But she was outnumbered, and being the Eladrin my father was, he went in after her. Suffice to say that day, the theocracy was slowed, my mother took my father much more seriously, and a few years later I was born.”
 
“The houses and tribes had been slow to listen to their words; it was not popular to be in relation with each other at this time. So the couple set about the world on their own, doing their best to keep the Theocracy in check, all the while I was growing up with them.”
 
“Why are they so stubborn? That doesn't make any sense. If this thing was such a threat why didn't they do something about it? Especially if they found this new way to stop people from joining into the lie. By confronting the lies in public instead of fighting in the shadows.” Twilight retorted
 
“The long lived races are known for being... patient, to say the least. I never had much love for them, the few times I was taken to the Feywilds; everyone there simply treated me like an outcast anyway. A few didn't, the first to really not mind me was a blacksmith, and oh how I hurt myself the first time I tried to smith something.” Ted's eyes seemed to be gleaming with pride, “But how I loved it the first time I managed to make my own weapon.”
 
Twilight raised a curious eyebrow, “Wait you learned how to be a blacksmith in a day?”
 
“No, no, no Twilight. I was there for a while; we would plead and wait for years sometimes in a bid to earn support for our task. I never really liked it, if you ever asked them to do anything, it was always about favors this for favors that. It was like every Eladrin there was trying to play some political mind game with you. Eventually I couldn't take it anymore, I simply wished to take leave from my parents, and I was well into my nineties. It’s not like us to stay with our families for that long anyway. But my father was a hard man to dislike, and my mother loved me very much.”
 
“My parents allowed me to go, they wanted me to see some of the world, and maybe they thought it would help drive me to know what we were fighting for. All I knew is that I was bored, so I left to find out about blacksmithing from the other races. Each little adventure taught me a bit more, although I had to spend a few years in each place to understand it all properly. I eventually found myself in the same port town my parents had been in when they first met, my father and mother would always go on about the great ale they had there so I went to partake.”
 
Ted laughed a little, “But instead when I got there, I had found it had a lovely little theocracy banner. The Tieflings had apparently taken it upon themselves to believe they were the enlightened race to rule over the others, and hijacked the movement into overdrive. I never realized how fast time moved until I sat at that bar, a hundred and thirty five years old. Looking at the old bar where my parents had met so long ago.”
 
“So I was just enjoying myself, the ale was good, but not great. When in through the tavern door smashed a Tiefling officer with the theocracy, a rather angry looking top hat wearing wizard soon behind him, who was followed by a calmer looking bearded man. Suffice to say the Tiefling began spilling his guts about various locations of the army and other such military intelligence. They needed a guide and I felt like joining them, for a modest fee.”
 
“Just like that? You just FELT like joining them? Two strangers bust something through a wall and you have an uncontrollable urge to go with them?” Twilight objected.
 
“You've met Andur haven't you Twilight?”
 
“Yes, I don't really know him. But I have met him.”
 
“Then you must know what he is like, there is something about him. You can't put your hoof on it, but he just seems to be a natural leader. If you ever saw him fight you would know of what I speak, he never shows fear, evil simply drives him to fight you harder than he was before.”
 
Ted laughed, “I was surprised when I found out he was a Cleric of Pelor, the orders had broken down so much since the Tiefling Theocracy had taken over, and the religious sects were little more than something used to personalize your home. The Tiefling Theocracy had control of everything, you had a better chance of a mortal fighting a god than you did a civilian standing up to their oppression. That day, in the middle of all that dull servitude, those two dared to cross a line no one had in years. If I had ever seen something that was going to be ground breaking it would be that. I knew I wanted to be in on it, I knew I could help them out somehow.”
 
Ted eased a bit, “If they don't know much about me, and the fact that my father had risen to lord of the house. Fine by me, because being treated like royalty gets old FAST.”
 
“Your friends wouldn't treat you any differently if they knew about your past.”
 
“That may be the case Twilight, but I keep my identity hidden because the houses of Eladrin are... or were, not entirely willing to aid us in the war. All my father needed me to do was to prove to them that this army Andur was creating could stand up to the Theocracy. If the houses knew I was a part of it, they would've seen us as another fluke of my father’s blundering and go back into their hiding.” he sighed a bit, “We would have their support right now if that blasted thing-a-ma-bob didn't decide to get all apocalyptic when it died.” he then stuffed his armor back into his bag, “Although I believe the army will still receive the support, the Eladrin were getting desperate, and that was still assuredly a victory.”
 
“Well maybe you should tell them about your past then, it doesn't help to have secrets like that.”
 
Ted laughed a bit, “But then I lose all that mysterious, mysteriousness, I've been building up for years with them.”
 
Twilight just rolled her eyes at the once again aloof Ted, “If you do tell them, I’m sure they won't think any less of you.” 
 
“I would love to see the look on their faces if I told them I was royalty.” Ted smiled.
 
Then, Pinkie Pie returned up the stairs, “Ted, Andur wants to see you downstairs in the shop.”
 
“He actually figured out how to fit through the door? Well looks like my bet with Cartanis just netted me some free enchantments.” As he went down the flight of stairs he only saw Fluttershy standing with her back to him in the bakery, “Why Fluttershy, hello there, have you seen An-” but he stopped when she turned and he saw what she was holding.
 
Andur saw the look on Ted's face, “Alright funny guy, get it out of your system.”
 
Ted began laughing furiously, occasionally snorting as he fell to ground. Tears were in his eyes as he couldn't believe what he was seeing. “Oh good lord, it hurts. Ha-ha-ha, please Andur, ha-ha, tell me that you at least tried to use the doors the normal wa-way.” was all he could muster to say before guffawing incoherently.
 
Andur looked around a little confused, “Well, the doors in the clinic were rather large and so were the ones at Applejack's farm. These normal ones in town only seem to be big enough for regular ponies.”
 
Ted managed to stand back up, slightly giggling every once in a while as he walked over to the door, “I made a bet with Cartanis that you would figure out how to fit through the doors of a normal house here, the thing is, I know more about these doors than he did. I was hoping you wouldn't do what you did, but you did anyway, so I'm out some magic paper.” he cast an eye back to Andur, “But it’s so worth it.” Ted opened the door to the bakery, “layer one.” He then undid a latch on the frame of the door, allowing the frame to swing loose and join the door on its own hinge, “layer two.”
 
Andur could clearly see it was large enough for him to fit through, “Fluttershy, would you mind.” Fluttershy set Andur down and he pulled himself out of his bag of holding. “How did you find out about this?” 
 
“Apparently it’s rather common in this world to have removable frames like this, makes it easier to fit in larger furniture items into the house. I found out about them when I was fixing things at the Boe Family Blacksmith.” Ted still giggled every now and then, “Please let me tell Cartanis about this!”
 
“Then how would you win your bet?”
 
Ted stopped smiling for a second, “I see where this is going, touché Andur, touché.”
 
Fluttershy spoke up, “I'm really sorry Andur I didn't know.”
 
“You’re too nice to pull a prank like that on me Fluttershy, but why didn't Rarity-”

“Her shop doesn't have one... I think, she always used that big window for things like that, and my cottage doesn't have a frame door like other houses.”
 
Andur looked back to Ted, “Well I don't know about you but I'm heading back to the farm, it has been a long day for me.”
 
Ted walked out the door, “I shall as well, I need to get a hold of Cartanis anyway, and chances are that's where he is.”
 
“He messaged me, and he is.” Andur followed Ted out, thankful for the shred of dignity he was able to retain.
 
Fluttershy then walked up the stairs to Pinkie Pie's apartment above the store, “Hi Fluttershy.” Pinkie Pie said, “Are you ready for the sleepover!?”
 
“Actually Pinkie Pie, I needed to talk to you about that.”
 
Pinkie Pie looked confused, “But, you said you wanted to stay the night this year, so you could make it in time to see the start of the Eastavis celebration.”
 
“Well you see Pinkie Pie I need to go home and-” but she stopped when she saw Twilight in the room, oh no, she would be furious if she found out about me bringing my Element of Harmony out of hiding. “I-I-I umm...” Her mind drew a blank as what to say next.
 
“Is this about what happened last year Fluttershy?” Twilight spoke up.
 
“Huh?”
 
“Don't worry, I helped organize it this year and the costume contest and the fashion pageant are going to be as far apart as they can logically get. You can watch the pageant without having to worry about getting scared at some of the costumes those ponies manage to make during the winter.” Twilight shuddered a little, “Some of them just look so real it’s creepy.”
 
“I didn't mean to scare you with my Zompony costume Fluttershy, honest.” Pinkie Pie said to her friend.
 
Fluttershy didn't want to keep her Element of Harmony out of her hiding spot, but if she kept pushing the issue now, Twilight would get suspicious and definitely find out. It'll be safe for one night, just keep it in your saddlebag here and take it back after Eastavis. “Thanks.” was all she said.
 
Pinkie Pie happily jumped around knowing the slumber party was still on; Twilight said her goodbyes and made her way back to the library.
 

[/][/][7][/][/]

 
“Say Cartanis, did you know Ted is royalty?” Andur said to Cartanis on their way back to the workers cottage.
 
“Really? I guess that explains all of his eccentric mannerisms. Did he tell you anything else?” Cartanis asked.
 
“Not really, he was rather serious with me for once, it was strange. He still cracked a joke here and there, but not the usual amount. He let me know some things about him, but said that he had to keep the rest from us for his own reasons.” Andur shuddered, “I've never seen him seem that old and wise before, it just doesn't sit right.” Andur noticed Cartanis' hat was missing, “hey where is your-”
 
“Ted is using the forge to repair his armor; he is set up inside the cottage.” Cartanis looked to Andur, “Do you still have your armor in your bag?”
 
Andur looked into his bag, “Yeah it’s here... wait” he shuffled through it all quickly, “my damaged shoulder-plate where the Bulette got me is miss-” He looked up to Cartanis, “How does he do that?”
 
Cartanis groaned, “Two lost bets in a row, now I have to spend half the night repairing his messenger book right away.” 
 
Andur wanted to change the subject from Ted and his strange abilities, “Say Cartanis, what do you think about this Eastavis thing tomorrow.”
 
“Not too worried about it, I’m just not keen to being in the public eye is all.”
 
“You thinking the Thunderheads will try something as well?”
 
Cartanis looked up, “Oh I forgot to tell you Andur, some good turn of events in that subject.”
 
“Really?”
 
“It seems there was a lot more evidence at that place than just some illegal items, there was apparently enough to take down well over half the Thunderheads leadership. With a little help Reginald and all those Thunderheads we captured apparently spilled all the beans they had, so to speak.” Cartanis smiled, “They've collapsed from a power vacuum and went into infighting over whose turf is what, and I don't think they could retaliate if they wanted to at this point.” Cartanis sighed with some relief. 
 
Andur was overjoyed to hear the news, but something was still eating at him, “It just doesn't feel right, I can't place it Cartanis but something just doesn't feel right.”
 
Cartanis raised an eyebrow, “You haven't been trying to use your power have you?”
 
“No, I know when to pace myself. This is just, familiar, and not the good kind of familiar.”
 
“Maybe it’s just your body reacting to the loss of a regularly used sixth sense, you'll get used to it.”
 
Andur just sighed, “You're probably right, but I know this feeling. It’s so close in my mind it’s just out of reach.”
 
“Maybe you need to rest a bit more, health potions kick start the healing process of the body, the soul is something else entirely.”
 
Andur just nodded and made his way to the workers cottage, off to sleep.
 
Cartanis gave a heavy sigh, I know I don't pray that often, but whatever benevolence protects Andur, just give him one night of respite. He drives himself too hard. Cartanis then worked his way quietly into the cottage, finding his way to the hat that was laid open on the floor, Time to get started on that book.
 
 
 
 

End of Chapter 7