//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 
// Story: Dethronement 
// by cajunbrony25 
//------------------------------//

	“We must reach New Foaleans. You do know that’s almost three days’ travel by hoof?” Aelu remarked, the group still a good distance away from Hoofington, but not nearly as close to New Foaleans as they’d like.
“We have to get going if we’re going to make it in time! For all we know, Celestia might be dead within days!” Aero said, trying to keep his voice down as Cermina and Luna pulled the cart outside.
“I see your matter is of urgency, but we cannot speed up time. If Landcastra is searching for the Princess, any attempt at magic use would be seen as a potential target for him. We cannot risk using a teleport spell to assist our progress...”
Stencil nodded. “It’s the reason we’re asking you if you know any shortcuts that would cut down our travel time.”
Aelu rubbed his chin. The group were close to the base of the Central Mountain Range of Equestria, and it would be a long trip around the base, then across sparse flatlands towards New Foaleans, which was still quite a ways away.
“Perhaps there is one route...” Aelu muttered, tapping the base of the mountains on the map.
“There is an old mountain trail we dragons follow, though many fly over it. But those without wings...” he motioned to himself and then to Cermina. “Are forced to walk.”
“So you’re saying we go through the mountains?” Stencil asked.
“This cart can handle that, I assume?” Aelu asked.
“Well...” Stencil sighed. “It might be a long haul. I’m upset Alnna is unable to manage anything right now considering her condition is still a tad uneasy, but...what worries me the most is those two.” He motioned outside. “They’ll be bickering the whole way. I’m rather glad they haven’t come to blows with one another just yet.” The sudden pause of the cart’s movement begged to differ as shouted suddenly erupted from outside. Stencil shook his head. “Guess I spoke too soon” he said as he, Aero and Aelu moved over to the door.
“You dare mock our ability as a ruler for this land!?” Luna protested, coming to a stop as Cermina gave a smirk.
“Considering that you are here, and not back in Canterlot vanquishing that bastard, I’d say you and sister Celestia have met your match. Vhat could have you done to help her if she could not handle dis Landcastra?” Luna was quite flustered by Cermina’s boastful notion.
“And what knowledge dost thou have of Landcastra? We see no such creature as you daring to face him in such dark times! Thou art stepping beyond your bounds, dragon. Do not test us!”
“Test you! Haha, I bet I’d fail you vight off bat, little miss Moonbutt.”
“Moonbutt! How dare you Speak such an insolent name towards our title!?”
“Oh I can say more than that, but then, who vas it that found you all broken and alone? Or did you forget that?”
Luna grumbled, turning about. “We… We are incapable of aiding our sister. We wished to, yet we could not; he was too strong. And for our… negligence in understanding our enemy, we have failed.”
“You did more then that, you had butt kicked.”
“Not by choice!” She barked, turning back, “We would have destroyed that wretched canine had we not been able to land a proper blow!”
“Den you failed even vorse when you couldn’t fight, no vounder you stay in shadows, at least Celestia can f-” It was all Luna needed as she suddenly lunged at Cermina, slamming into the drakess as the pair tumbled away from the cart, Cermina and Luna’s harnesses breaking apart as they rolled off the road.
Cermina eventually regains her footing, kicking Luna square in the gut and off the drakess’s body.
“You...asshole.” Cermina muttered, slowly rising up. “You are this stupid to challenge me?”
“We shall… we shall show you what we are made of!” Luna retorted, easing up as she huffed, “We are NOT a shadow of Celestia! We are Luna, Maiden of the Night and Guardian of Dreams!”
“Then I shall be sure to put you into dreamland. Permanently!”
Luna grunted, bracing herself as Cermina ducked low and lunged at her. She had never seeing a dragon move so quickly before. Instantly, Cermina was upon her, and a flurry of strikes from those taloned fists went at her shield. The princess quickly wove a shield from the air, a blue aura enveloping her and flickering with each strike as the drakess let loose several punches before parting.
“Ha… cheap trick, Comrade! That all you got?” she said, moving again to strike Luna when the princess’ shield suddenly vibrated and then exploded outward, sending the drakess back into a tree, slamming her through it before it fell upon her with a giant thud.
“Ha! There is plenty more we can do than a beast such as you!” she said, “You wish to continue to mock us now?” Cermina growled, shoving the tree off her as she hissed, before picking it up and snapping it over her knee, taking the one of the halves in both claws.
“You vant my response? Then eat this!” she barked, throwing the five foot tall trunk right towards the Lunar Princess.
Luna smirked. “Is that all?” she said, stopping the tree with a magical field before turning it about and preparing to throw it back. But she didn’t get a chance.
Cermina cut her way right through the tree to reach Luna once more, slamming a fist into her face and sending her quite a distance back into another tree on the other side of the road.
Luna had had enough, quickly breaking away from the tree she was propped against, she gave a loud grunt, snorting from her nostrils.
“Thou hast dried our patience, we shall show thee!” she barked, taking wing as her eyes began to glow a pure white.
Cermina hissed, watching the mare take to the skies as her horn began to glow gently at first, before becoming a violent eruption of magical energies.
“Prepare thyself!” she called as a bolt zapped burst out, slamming into the ground in front of Cermina, leaving the grass scorched and billowing with smoke.
“Ah, now this shall be fun.” the drakess said as Luna charged a second blast right towards Cermina.
The drakess dodged, avoiding the strike as it hit where she once stood, leading Luna onward. The princess kept her distance, but continued to fire volleys of energy where Cermina had been only seconds before. The drakess kept her ahead of her as she dodged around the area, finally coming to a halt before the cart.
“That all you got comrade? Come now, I thought miss moonbutt vas better than this!” she barked, slamming her chest with her fists as Luna let out a shout.  Her horn glowed with a midnight blue aura, getting brighter until it was blinding to look at. She fired a bolt right towards Cermina as the drake went wide-eyed, shielding herself as the massive energy struck her, slamming her into the cart as the shockwave not only rippled along the drakes body, but cascaded into the cart’s own structure.
“What's going on?” Stencil shouted as the cart gave a lurch and the entire interior suddenly crackled with magical energy.
Aelu huffed, preparing to draw steel as he looked around in dismay, “Have we been found?” he muttered, crouching as the cart’s shaking slowly subsided.
Stencil groaned, figuring that the two outside had done just what he expected. All this fighting and bickering was one thing for the two, but the fact that the cart had just violently shuddered from whatever impact had struck it, and how much energy had spread through the inside, he could only think of one mare responsible.
Fixing his glasses, Stencil galloped towards the door, opening it to see Cermina implanted into the side of the cart beside the door. Obviously distraught as she looked over.
“C-comrade...” she muttered “Ve… Ve’re just having practice fight. Luna certainly stronger than first thought...” she muttered, embarrassed by the admittance of strength by the Princess as she slowly pulled herself off and down to the floor with a thud.
Luna was standing triumphantly across from the carts entrance as Stencil shook his head.
“Hah, thou hast seen my true power! Perhaps now thou shalt bear more respect for our abilities.”
“Respect? ha, that vas childs play, perhaps you need to go for round two!” Cermina began before Stencil trotted before the two.
“Enough!” he shouted, his eyes fixed on Cermina.
“Do you realize what you’ve done, how much danger you’ve just put us all in?” he barked, moving his stare towards Luna as he turned to face the Princess. His own patience had come to an end as he started to approach her.
“W-why Sir Stencil, what dost thou mean?”
The stallion snorted, huffing as he came closer to the alicorn. “I thought a princess such as yourself would have wised to the fact you’re being sought by a very powerful foe, and the fact he is seeking you for your magical ability only makes the fact of you using it to be an even stupider idea.” he tapped his head. “Do you realize now that you might have just given away our position to him or his guards? That even as we speak he could very well be sending his forces to take us in, and everything we’ve done up till now would have been for naught!?”
Luna seemed to pale, her expression dropping instantly from her once proud demeanor as the stallion kept his eyes fixed upon her, staring her down as she felt very small towards this stallion.
“We- we had not thought of such a thing… Your associate Cermina had drawn our temper to such a degree that-”
“Don’t shift the blame, Luna, you are a Princess of Equestria. Act like one! Would your sister have been so easily swayed by a dragon taunting her?” Luna’s face sank further; she looked like she was about to break down as Cermina started to chuckle.
“Moonbutt in trouble, moonbutt in trouble!” she sang as the Stallion turned about face to her. Her face dropped instantly.
“And you, Miss Talos, no rubies for you, and I’m making you eat your emeralds.”
The Drakess gasped. “No, comrade! Yo-you wouldn't dare!”
“It’s either that...” Stencil began with a coy smirk. “Or apologize to the Princess and acknowledge her superiority as a Princess of this realm. Perhaps that might settle that arrogance you have and let you start seeing this mare for what she is.” he huffed.
“You...you dare to prevent me from my treats, Comrade?” Cermina exclaimed.
“I’ll do a lot worse if you keep this up! We’re already in danger because of Luna and yourself bickering and fighting, and now that she’s already come to realize just how dangerous it is, you and her are going to have to start being nice to each other in this, not enemies, not rivals, not nothing!”
Cermina growled, clenching her claws as they rested at her sides. She was at a loss for words.
“Lets pray that Landcastra has missed your fireworks. Hopefully the mountains to our north were enough to hide some of them...” he growled as he turned back towards the cart. “Now...lets get going, we’ve still got a long ways to go, so no more fighting!”
Luna watched Stencil enter the cart, seeing the stallion so upset. Never had anypony done such a thing to her; taking such a stand against their own princess, even for her benefit, in such troubled times. She felt her heart skip a bit as she turned to Cermina.
The drakess was in a fury as she gripped her head. “I hate emeralds, I hate emeralds...” she grumbled, passing Luna a look and huffing.
“This is your fault!” she barked as she turned to her, anger across her face.
“Cermina!” called Stencil from inside, “Don’t make me get the bucket!”
“Bucket?” Luna asked, smirking, as Cermina went pale.
“Ah, ve’re not doing anything! Ve are friends now!” Cermina called, suddenly jumping to Luna’s side to half-heartidly embrace the mare in her grip, petting her mane as Luna shot her a look.
“Put us down!” she demanded.
“Shush!” Cermina muttered with fear in her eyes. “Bucket is worst enemy to Cermina. Do not wish to show you true rage if that happens...”
Luna just blinked, somewhat confused, but quite keen on why a bucket would be such a vile thing to this strong drakess. She sighed, shaking her head a bit before a shrill scream erupted from inside the cart.
Stencil rushed into the back room. Aelu and Aero were already at the doorway as the  medic arrived to see an extremely suprised, if not petrified, mare sitting atop the table with...a pump potbelly where a fit frame used to be. Alnna had just woken up to see what had happened to her.
“S-Stencil, what in the hay happened to me!?” Alna spoke in a wavering voice as Stencil rushed up to her bedside with Aero and Aleu close behind.
The Stallion blinked as Aero fluttered around in a panic.
“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!” he exclaimed, grabbing Stencil by the collar, “What happened to my wife?” he shouted as Stencil pushed him back.
“Aero, calm yourself! I have no clue, but I don’t plan on keeping it that way.” he explained as Luna and Cermina now stood at the doorway.
“Vhat is all the noise?” Cermina muttered.
Stencil brought a stethoscope to his ears and placed it onto the mare’s belly. He closed his eyes to listen as Aero continued to flutter in circles above Alnna, muttering worrisome thoughts to himself.
“Hrmmm...” he muttered, withdrawing the scope as his horn lit up. A small high-pitched whine begun as an aura took hold around Alnna’s stomach, slowly growing higher in pitch until it was inaudible. Stencil’s brow furrowed as he listened intently, his eyes widening.
“By Celestia’s mane!” he muttered as he levitated a chart nearby before him, flipping pages.
“What? What is it!?” Aero muttered, hovering above Stencil.
The unicorn grinned, slowly lowering the chart. “Facinating...” he muttered as he turned to Aero. “Well...I don’t know exactly what happened, but somehow or other...your wife’s pregancy just accelerated by eight months.”
“But- but how?” said Aero after a moment of stunned silence.
Stencil rubbed his chin, “I can’t say for sure… but I know that the crystal powering my cart can have unusual magical properties under extreme conditions.” His face suddenly darkened. “Perhaps it was Luna’s little… outburst caused a surge in it’s power, which affected Alnna’s pregnancy. That’s the only possible cause I can think of that might have caused such a surge in growth.”
Everyone stood in silence, looking at Stencil for a moment.
“Either way,” Stencil continued, breaking the tension, “Congratulations, Aero. Within one month, you’ll be a father.”
Alnna gave a wide, if very surprised, smile, “Oh Aero, ain’t that just amazing!? We gonna have a child far sooner than we first thought, oh how wonderful, ah can’t wait to see our new foal… Stencil, is- is it a boy or a girl?”
The stallion looked again, checking the fetus before grinning. “From what I can tell, its going to be a filly… pegasus wow… you two are going to be proud parents to a beautiful daughter.”
“Oh… Ah wish Ah could see it, Sugh, but… Ah can’t bear to waste the surprise… ain’t that just grand Aero, we gonna have a daughter!”
Stencil removed his glasses with a smile as he  chuckled “I better get us some cigars when we get to New Foalines to celebrate. Sound good Aero-”
There was a thud as Aero landed on his behind before Stencil, his eyes like dinner plates and his pupils like pinheads as he just lay there.
“Aero?” Alnna asked, blinking in surprise as she was quite calm for the news 
“Are ya alright?” she asked as the pegasus stallion just sat there, devoid of all life as Aleu slowly approached him. 
“Aero... are you alright?” he asked, gently putting a claw to his shoulder as the surprised pony suddenly collapsed to the floor in a heap.
“He has fainted… He’ll be alright.” Aelu muttered as Stencil and Alnna blinked.
Aero woke up sometime later in the medical bed. His head hurt a bit, and his mind was a jumble of things that had happened before he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye.
“Ah, you’re awake,” Stencil said as he trotted up beside him, levitating a small lamp to check the stallions eyes. “Was worried when you collapsed like that, you feeling okay?”
“Uh...” Aero muttered.
“Yeah, just... a lot to take in.”
“That you’re going to be a father?”
“Yeah… That I’m going to be a father… it feels like it’s too soon.”
Stencil chuckled. “Hey, you’re at the right age for getting a wife and family. You’re a grown stallion Aero, you should be very proud.”
“I am!” Aero insisted. “I am very glad to be having a daughter, but... do I want one to be born into the world as it is?”
Stencil sighed, looking at Aero, then looked off to the side. “I don’t know, your kid’s sudden acceleration of development was surprising, but we can’t choose to stop it now; I’m glad that you’d be willing to take the responsibility of it anyway and make sure she grows up right. Besides, even if we are living in a very difficult time, it will come to pass, and better to have a daughter understand the reality of living like this than clouded with good-fortune and ignorance to what could happen.”
Aero sighed. “Really? I don’t know Stencil, its just...” he paused, “I wanted to have her when we weren’t on the lamb. Now, will it be… something we could handle?” Stencil smirked.
“You have a month at best before the baby is due, I’m sure we can settle this insanity before then.”
“Really?” Aero asked.
Stencil nodded. “Of course, we have the Lunar Princess, two dragons, myself, you and Alnna. We tackled the frozen wastes, we can tackle this place too!”
Aero smiled, nodding with a new sense of determination. “Yeah...we can!” he eased off the bed. “Where’s Alnna though?”
“She’s sleeping.” Stencil replied, putting the lamp away. “She’s going to need lots of it now that her body is in that state. Best to have you sleep here considering...” he chuckled, “She takes up three quarters of the bed...”
“Hey!” Aero barked, “She’s my wife! Don’t be talking about her like that.” Stencil waved a hoof.
“Haha, relax, relax,its true though, she’s got the whole bed taken. You’d best sleep here at least.”
Aero grumbled. “She’s not fat...”
They suddenly heard someone entering and turned to see Aelu.
“I come with some news. there is a path we can take to get to New Foaleans much faster.”
“Really?” Stencil asked in surprise. 
“How?” he asked as the drake smirked, ushering them over. The duo were led to the main area of the cart where Aelu had set up several maps on the table.
“I have been studying the maps you have here Aero, and from my own travels, I have found something of interest.” He pointed to a field not too far away. “There is an old Diamond Dog proving ground around this place; the dogs have dug many holes here in their search for gems, and if I am not mistaken, they had been routed when they connected to a mining tunnel of your fellow equines.”
“So...you're saying there’s a mine route down there?” Stencil asked.
Aelu nodded. “An old path, I had remembered hearing about it from other travelers before I came to you. It connected to a mine being dug out by ponies contracted by a New Foalines mining company, but their connection with the dogs caused some unsettling events to follow. Since then, those mines have been left abandoned by both parties.”
“So...perhaps we could use those tunnels to get to New Foaleans?” Stencil asked.
“We could!” Aero exclaimed, “And we could remain hidden from Landcastra too!” he shouted with glee.
The cart soon came to a halt as the group exited the forest region they had spent the past day traveling through; it was a relief to come to open ground once again as their faces and manes were graced by the wind.
The view was not promising. Before them stood nothing but rolling fields, mountains beyond and further still would be the city of New Foaleans.
“It’s still three days away...” Aero muttered as he, Aelu and Stencil stood outside the cart with Luna and Cermina.
“So...where’s the entrance to this mine?” Aero asked as Aelu smirked
“It is not far, you will know we we start seeing holes.”
“Holes?” Luna asked as she trotted over, curious about the dragons notion,“What need have thee for holes?”
Aero turned to the Lunar Princess as he smiled. “Aelu has found a quicker, and perhaps safer route towards New Foaleans! We’re going through some old mining tunnels below ground where we’ll be out of Landcastra’s view.”
“Oh... wonderful,” Luna said, her expression a mixture of happiness, and uneasiness. Cermina noticed, walking up behind her.
“Ah is Princess glad to find hole to crawl into now and hide?” Luna huffed as she shot Cermina a look.
Luna tramped the ground angrily. “We would not stoop to hiding like a foal from that barbarian! We simply seek the best strategy for reaching our destination!”
Cerina smirked as she nudged her. “Oh, that is it, or perhaps you are afraid.”
“We are not afraid!” She barked, turning her head away as Stencil sighed.
“Cermina...please, just, cut it out...” The Drakess sighed and groaned 
“I am jesting comrade. Vere is your funny bone?”
Stencil rolled his eyes as Aelu smirked.
“Perhaps Cermina enjoys Luna’s company more than she lets on, considering how much she pesters the princess. She probably just has a crush on Luna.” The drakess went red, redder than she was already as she crossed her arms and turned away.
“You joke Aelu, I do not like Luna, she is snotty brat!” Luna huffed, looking back at her with a content glare, letting her blush remain hidden before Aelu grinned.
“The path we seek would be the largest hole,” he continued, “Diamond dogs tend to make their mine entrances larger for their hoard and carts. I am not sure if your chariot would fit, but we could always use myself and Cermina to go deeper; aside from those canines, we drakes are capable diggers.”
Cermina puffed her chest. “We can out dig any damn dog, comrade!” she boasted. That being said, it was quite a surprise when they came about the location Aelu had pointed out.
At first they thought it to be a series of holes, but they soon found that many of the openings were filled back up.
“Well, this is a surprise,” Stencil said as he trotted into the proving grounds, looking about in disbelief.
Aelu stepped in behind him. “The holes have been filled up, how unexpected, we may need to dig a new hole altogether.” he muttered. “These lands remained untouched for many a season, and yet, when we require them the most, they are filled. I had been here only a year before and the holes remained open” he eased down near one of the holes, putting his claw atop the smooth ground. “It certainly seems that somepony… or something… has taken a lot of time to fill these back in; this is too smooth to be natural.”
“Perhaps it wasn’t, but I doubt ponies would do this, or diamond dogs.” Stencil muttered, looking at the holes as he trotted forward. “What do you think, Aero?” he asked, turning to see the pegasus stallion planting his ear to the ground.
“Aero?” Stencil asked as he started trotting towards him before the stallion lifted a hoof.
“Shhhh....” he muttered as he looked up. 
“If somepony filled these in, then there might be something to lead us to who them.” he whispered as he looked closely at the ground, studying the grass. He noticed a few slight deformations. “Tracks! Follow me...” Aero said as he suddenly flew off.
“Cermina, Luna, lets go!” Stencil barked as he and Aelu went off behind Aero as the mare and drakess grunted, grabbing the cart as they kept glancing at one another.
“Here!” Aero called as he led them to a particularly large hole, much larger than any of the other ones they’d come across before. Unlike the others, it had been dug up again.
“Seems fresh.” Aelu muttered as he felt the dirt, it was still warm as Aero fluttered around the opening. 
“The tracks are heavier here. They must have went down with something big.”
“Who? And when?” Stencil asked. “The dogs, ponies...or Landcastra’s troops.”
“I don’t know...” Aero said with a bit of dread. “We can’t be sure unless we go, but whatever the case is, its the way we probably would have to go to get to New Foaleans.”
“He’s right..” Aelu muttered  “This is the only path. This hole was the diamond dogs’ main access route to their mines, and who… or whatever dug it up, certainly had done so with an intent in mind; the hole is much larger than any diamond dog could be.”
“Then maybe ve got some trouble brewing down there...” Cermina muttered as she slammed a fist into her palm.
The group prepared the supplies they needed to venture down the hole
“So...Aelu, you know how to navigate this route then?” Aero asked, seeing the dragon shift the map back in his saddle bag.
Aelu smirked, admiring the little trackers’ attentiveness.
“Yes....but I have one condition.” He pulled Aero in front of him “He comes with me,”  he said to the rest of the group.
Aero’s jaw clenched. “Uh.. I...I wouldn’t mind, but... it’s likely to be dangerous.” He looked back at the group apprehensively.
Aelu motioned for the rest of the group to go down first, and they slowly trotted down into the hole. 
He gave an annoyed glare to the little pegasus. “Is that a problem?” he asked.
Aero gulped, and replied “I... I don’t think so but... I just...” Aelu approched him and sighed
“Fear is what makes you hesitate, hesitate, and you’ll die. You need to swallow your fear, and prgress... for your wife, and for your child.” His words of encouragement, caused Aero’s eyes to light up and head right into the hole, having no fear of what was to come. 

It was dark, much darker than the night as Aelu and Aero led the way. Cermina took second point behind them as Luna kept behind her. Her ethereal mane seemed to glow with starlight in the deep blackness.
Cermina chuckled after awhile. “My, Princess is certainly out of place in deep, dirty cave! Spends so much time vashing fancy mane in fancy castle, has probably never seen dirt in years.”
Luna glared and tried to ignore the drakess.
“But then, is still quite fetching,” Cermina continued mischievously, “Makes Princess look lovely… cute, even.”
“W-we are not c-cute!” Luna retorted. “We are The Princess of the-!”
“I know that!” Cermina snapped, “You cannot take compliment easy, yah?”
Luna only fumed silently.
“Spoiled brat...” Cermina muttered with a sigh,  a tad of self satisfaction passed through her mind about the Princess. She wasn’t all-powerful as she made out to be.
After a moment of silence, Luna quickened her step; she didn’t wish to be left behind. Keeping close to Cermina, She illuminated her horn to give as much light as possible for the group.
Stencil was pulling the cart behind them. The stallion sighed, finding no issue with lugging the thing as he was also using his magic to push the wheels forward. Who or whatever had dug through this tunnel had made the floor flat and easy to navigate, certainly more than just a single dog, considering there was more than enough space for the cart to move unhindered through the path.
“This is strange..” Aelu muttered, “Diamond dogs aren't usually this precise.” 
“They are often a mess of tunnels, this not feel right...” Cermina muttered, “How...how could such a creature forge such deep and wide cavarns?” she asked, grinning with a glance to Luna, “Perhaps it vas a giant rock eating monster that seeks to eat unsuspecting ponies!” she raised her claws and opened her maw, her red eyes gleaming. Luna jumped back with a start, bumping into Stencil as Cermina let out a hearty laugh.
“Ah, Princess Moonbutt so funny!” she said as she walked over to help ease her up.
“T-this is no time for jokes!” Luna protested as she huffed, hurrying to stand and give Cermina a cold glare.
“Haha! Oh such fun this is going to be!”
“You insolent welp!” Luna barked at Cermina before turning to Stencil with a glare, “Sir Stencil! Control your dragon.”
Stencil grimaced. “I can’t do much to her here, Luna. Cermina’s the best asset we have if we do face diamond dogs. And for pony’s sake, Cermina! The mare’s in dire fear. Help her, don’t scare her.”
Cermina scoffed at the thought, “Ruin fun, don’t you, Comrade Stencil.” she walked over to Luna, gently putting an arm around her neck as she pulled her away, “I vill vatch over her like hawk, she vill not come to harm.”
The stallion shook his head. It was good Cermina was so kind to Luna, finally; he wouldn’t want them to be at each other's throats, especially here. Stencil began to press onward, knowing that the cargo within the cart was something to be quite concerned about.
Luna pulled herself away from the drakess’ grip, trying to stay in the open to avoid the confining walls around her. “This does not sit well with us, to be in such darkness without the openness of the skies.” Luna muttered.
“Its vhat you get use to...” The drakess replied with a wry smile, “Besides, there vill be times vhen there is no light to guide. That is vhen you rely on instinct and sense of heart.”
“Sense of heart?” Luna asked.
Cermina nodded. “The gut feeling you get, it helps you guide yourself onward,” she said, “Besides, you have Cermina to protect you, noting bad vill happen.”
Luna looked at Cermina for a moment before turning away with a sigh. “It is not often we are given such care and kindess, especially from a dragon, such as yourself.”
“Ah, do not fret comrade, ve are use to it. Ponies usually afraid of folk like me at first.”
Luna was surpised. “Hast thou been within the realm of Equestria before?”
“Yah, vith Comrade Stencil. Ve have spent many days in Canterlot vith Aero and Alnna in past, before our adventure to the north.”
“The north? We have rarely seen the splendour of the land of ice and snow, what sought thou there?” Cermina gave a wide grin.
“Haha, vouldn’t Moonbutt like to know. You had to been dere to understand it. Vas truly, as they say, ‘awesome’.” 
Luna squirmed, “No, tell us at once! We wish to know this ‘awesomness’ you speak of!”
Cermina chuckled, “Haha, that is not enough to get drakess to spill. Vas thrilling tale of much adventure and heroism by all parties.”
Luna fumed. “Tell us, drakess!” she shouted.
“Perhaps another time comrade, but now, ve get through dis adventure first?”
Luna grumbled, pouting as she looked away. “This is not funny! We wish to know of thine exploits in our country.”
Cermina chuckled. “Vell, perhaps you vill see my adventures first hoof.”
As the group drew further into the caverns, it began to get wider and wider, and from the once imposing darkness came a small crack of light. “This way, hurry!” Aero said 
“Is that the exit?” Luna asked, darting towards the light, “Such joy to see the light again. We must make haste!” she added, trotting forward as Cermina growled softly.
“I vould not be so eager to see vere this tunnel ends. Caution, little one, that is all I can say.”
Luna turned, giving Cermina a look, “Thy princess can defend herself from danger, and the chances of somepony being around this desolate cave are small! Now quickly, we must make haste from this suffocating confinement at once!” 
Cermina growled, “You’re still stubborn. Ve should not rush vithout knowing.” 
Luna didn’t listen, but instead turned back, “We shall remain here not a moment longer!” she cried as she turned and trotted past Aero and Aelu into the clearing.
Her scream sounded from beyond the wall of light. “Luna!” everypony called as Cermina rushed to the exit, only to suddenly feel a strong grip around her from behind as two armour-clad ponies lept out from both sides, agile despite their heavy armour, pinning her to the ground.
“No!” Stencil barked, just as more guards rushed around them, swords and spears drawn as everypony was held at blade-point.
“Move it!” One ordered, pushing his blade close to Aelu. The drake growled, claws white at the knuckles as they gripped his hilt, but Stencil shook his head, hearing Cermina knock one guard off her.
“Cowards!” she barked, slamming her fist into the second one’s helm, causing him to stumble back and topple over with a clang, which was enough to draw everypony’s attention. Aelu seized the opportunity to break free of his captor’s grip, drawing his sword and slashing him across the withers in one smooth motion.
A gurgling noise escaped the soldier’s mouth as he fell forward to the ground. The other soldier, who was about to restrain Aero, glanced over in alarm when he heard the sound. It was enough time for Aelu to bring his short blade to his throat, growling, “Do not move.”
Aero used the opportunity to fly out of reach of his captor, while Aelu disarmed the soldier.
Many of the guards were already attacking Cermina, but despite their advantage in numbers the drakess remained defiant as ever.
“Come on, Cermina take all you on!” she barked as she knocked two together before getting a hit in the back. She hissed as she turned and slashed her talons across the assailant's head.
Aero whizzed over to Stencil, quickly helping him free from the harness as Aelu moved like the wind, bounding off the walls to strike at the guards surrounding the group.
Stencil grit his teeth, levitating something inside the cart. His Lunar and Solar Guard sword flew to his side under the spell of his horn. He drew the black steel blade of the and twirled it under his magical control.
“Aero, go inside the cart and stay with Alnna, you’re not fit to fight here.”
“But Stencil?” Aero exclaimed.
“No buts, Aero. No matter how much the Plounge cries. You’ve got a bigger responsibility to handle there. Go! We’ll handle these brutes,” Stencil said. Just then a guard charged at the pair with an axe. Stencil moved quickly to toss Aero aside and let his own sword meet the blade of the attacker’s axe.
“Go, get inside, stay there until its over!” he barked as he shoved the stallion back and stabbed the guard before another came at him from behind. Stencil’s sword moved like lightning, blocking the strike in an instant before Stencil slammed his rear hooves into the guard’s face.
Aero grumbled, but Stencil was right, Alnna was pregnant, and if any of those guards decided to get into the cart. Aero closed his eyes as he rushed into the cart’s open window, looking about, finally noticing Stencil’s other blade, a Solar Guard sword, on the wall. He quickly rushed over to take it from its hold. The weight was much more than he thought it would be as he began to drag it over to Alnna’s room. He’d stay outside and, if he had to, fight anypony daring to approach.
Outside, however, was a different story, Stencil was knocked back as three guards took him at once, causing him to lose his footing. They floored him, weapons all pointed at him, but no killing blows came; they merely kept their blades at his neck. Aelu and Cermina were faring no better as more and more guards came out of the woodwork. Just how many there were was unknowable. Aelu was surrounded, and Cermina, despite having felled several soldiers, was now being overwhelmed and jumped by several of them as they pinned her down by magic and brute force.
“You’re coming with us,” one guard said to Stencil.
“Why, so you can kill us?”
A harsh, gravelly laugh echoed through the cave. “Why would Dyavol do that?” A huge, grotesque figure appeared at the exit of the cave. A massive diamond dog approached the group with Luna tucked under one of his massive arms, giggling to himself.
“Dyavol finally got little Moon Pony!” he said, grabbing his belly with his free hand. He laughed again as Stencil stared in horror, seeing this massive beast of a dog simply carrying the Lunar princess. It was clear, though, that she hadn’t given in without a fight from the numerous fresh wounds lining the dog’s face.
“W-who...are you?” Stencil stammered as the diamond dog lumbered over, dragging his knuckles across the floor.
He looked Stencil in his eyes and grinned wickedly. “Dyavol serve Landcastra! Landcastra crush puny ponies! Dyavol do what Master says!” He laughed again, gripping Luna tightly as the mare slowly roused herself. “Master says kill you!”
“W-what...what has happ-” Luna paused, glancing up to see the giant diamond dog.
“You!” she bellowed as she struggled against his grip, “Release us this instant! How dare you assault the Princess of the night!”
Dyavol growled, looking down at Luna as the mare continued to struggle. He gripped her tightly with both forepaws, keeping her held in place as he laughed.
“You try to fight! You just tickle Dyavol!” He burst out laughing again as he tightened his grip, squeezing the air out of Luna’s lungs 
Dyavol and the troops led Stencil, Aelu, Cermina and Luna, with the cart in tow, towards a massive opening in the mining tunnel. At first the group thought it was another exit, but what they entered was a large opening similar to a massive auditorium, its height spanning high above the floor. A dim light shone from above. Heavy machinery used for digging filled the area, the machines’ designs mimicking the black and red armour of the Guards that escorted them as many more clambered around the area.
As the group surveyed the land, they could see that the place there were in had been newly dug. A massive pit lay between them and the long pathway upwards towards the surface.
Dyavol grinned, holding Luna tightly in his grasp as the other guards remained vigilant around the others as Dyavol turned to face them.
“Little ponies in city thought diamond dogs were gone! Diamond dogs always have tunnels under city! Master says invade city from below!” He laughed, looking at Luna with glee. “Dyavol finish what Master wanted Dyavol to do in first place!”
Luna looked around to see her companions. All were at blade-point, and Cermina was chained with magical enchantments around the wrist, her claws pinned together prevent any attempt to flee. Her head was downwards, and Luna couldn't see the all-too-familiar glow the eyes of the drakess had given. Luna felt the worst for her. This entire time she had seemed so strong and invulnerable, and now she was beaten down and shackled.
Luna narrowed her eyes in fury at Dyavol. “Beast of that wretched fiend, you shall be cast down by the Princess of the Night for your crimes against our kind, and your harassment of those I hold dear!”
The massive beast snorted. “Little pony so small. Little pony can never hurt Dyavol!”
Luna’s eyes went wide, turning to a solid white as her horn suddenly began to glow brilliantly. 
“We shall not stand idly by as you harm our friends! You leave us no choice but to unleash the might of the moon upon thee!” and with a defiant shout, she unleashed a solid blast, the whole room filling with a blinding light as everypony, even the guards, drew back from the glare.
The beam engulfing the upper body of the massive diamond dog. Luna landed on the ground and smiled as debris from the blast settled, confident she had beaten her opponent.
Cermina stirred, recovering from the heat and brilliance of the attack before regaining her focus. She couldn’t remember how she got here or why she was in chains, but she knew she wasn’t going to be held by this bunch of dogs anymore. She moved her arms, but found them stuck firmly together.
“Magic. Those rotten bastards,” she said. Her expression suddenly turned to a grin. “I’ll show you magic, dragon style!” She took a deep breath, brought the chains around her wrists up to her mouth and let out a white-hot tongue of flame, causing the braces to ooze off of her and hiss on the ground. Her hands now free, she quickly rushed towards the princess’ location, her tail mashing the two guards who held her and sending them flat on their rears.
As the smoke from her blast cleared, Luna’s worst fears came to life at what she saw standing there. Dyavol was unhurt; there was nothing but a slight burn across his upper chest and face. He was stunned, but slowly began to grin.
“You think that hurt Dyalvol?” he chuckled, “Puny Moon Pony! Dyavol kill Moon Pony!” He picked up the Princess and slammed her down to the ground, the impact picking up dirt, rocks and debris, nearly crackling the stone floor. It was enough to send her into a shock. She looked up with no breath left in her lungs as the beast pushed his hindpaw firmly into her gut.
“Dyavol kill Moon Pony! Make Moon Pony suffer!” Luna gasped helplessly as the dog’s fist slammed into her side, the pain rippling across her.
“S-Sister....”  she whimpered, “H-help...me.”
“Dyavol make little pony suffer!” he said, shifting his other hindpaw up to her head.
“He take little pony’s favorite thing away!” he grinned as he gripped her horn and began tortuously pulling on it. “Little pony nothing without magic. Pathetic pony!” He cackled as
Luna shut her eyes, about to cry out from the pain, just as there was a loud clank. Cermina’s foot drove itself into Dyavol’s chest in a devastating roundhouse kick. The diamond dog staggered back from the mare.
“What? Little dragon thing come to save-” He didn’t finish. The drakess nailed him in the face with her tail. The sudden blow was enough to make him draw back, the spines of her tail lodged in his forehead, but he remained standing.
Dyavol finally smirked. “Little Dragon never hurt Dyavol! Dragon as pathetic as little pony!” He ripped the tail from his face and shoved her aside without a moment’s hesitation, sending the drake flying into a stalagmite nearby, sending chunks of it all over the place.
Cermina crumpled to the ground, her back pressed against what remained of the rock, before standing slowly with a malicious grin across her maw.
“You think that hurt Cermina? Please, fool, you speak to renowned drakess of Talos. I would be quite glad to make your end come here.”
Dyavol grinned, patting his chest in defiance. “Drakess no hurt Dyavol!”
Cermina gave a smirk, cracking her neck as she clinked her talons once more. “Drakess will so hurt Dyavol!” she hissed as she darted right towards the dog, landing a punch straight into his face again. But she could only land one before he gripped her head and kicked her in the gut, sending her sailing across the chamber to the openings of the mining paths near the ceiling. She slammed into the woodwork of one of the paths, showering splinters and dust against stone and metal.
“Dragons not laugh at Dyavol!” the diamond dog shouted up at her, “Dyavol rip them in pieces!” The other diamond dogs watched with twisted grins.
Suddenly, a solid wooden post flung itself from the ruin and sailed right into Dyavol’s head, the wood spintering against his skull. Dyavol brought his paws to his face, when another post slammed into him. Then another. And another. Three more wooden poles rushed forward, as the drakess leaped out behind the bombardment and prepared another swing. He slammed her through the dust, sending her careening. She was flung to the far end of the platform, her flight interrupted by a mining cart that was conveniently parked nearby. Her body broke through it before smacking against the wall behind it, casting the coal and contents from within as she laid in a heap admist wood plates and steel sheets.
She shook her head a bit as she exhaled, huffing in desiblife. 
“Why can you not stay down, dumb brute?” she growled, watching Dyavol slowly walk over to one of the posts and picking it up like a stick. 
“Dyavol make little dragon pay! Dyavol make dragon learn-” Cermina rammed into him again, her horns slamming into his throat and jaw with devastating impact. Dyavol recoiled from the impact but quickly recovered. He smirked, and suddenly pulled her roughly against himself.
Both massive paws wrapped tightly around Cermina’s body, keeping her firmly planted against him as he began to squeeze her very tightly.
“Now Dyavol really show what Dyavol mean!” He gripped firmly against the drakess’ body, his arms crushing her more and more tightly. He sneered, “Dyavol suprised, Dyavol never get enemy that keep coming back. Little drake fights good!” He chuckled again. “Little drake make good lapdog for Dyavol!”
Cermina let out a hiss as she tried to free herself from the dog’s grip, only to find it tightening. She could feel her breath forcing itself out of her body as Dyavol’s paws crushed her. Suddenly he let her go, and she crumbled to the ground. She summoned her strength, but there was none; she could only let out a whimper.
“Dyavol show little drake what she worth! Dyavol break little drake for trying to be better than Dyavol!” With both massive paws, the dog suddenly gripped Cermina’s lower and upper body, lifting her roughly from the ground with ease.
“Pretty drake make nice pet! But drake must be taught lesson for fighting master.” he said, suddenly lifting her up over his head. Cermina’s vision blurred, but she shook her head trying to regain focus and free herself from the dog’s hold as he lifted her above his head to put her into a backbreaker.
“Dyavol will break drake, and drake will never defy Dyavol again!” he barked, just as a sudden blast struck directly into his gut. Dyavol yowled, the beam of energy burning his flesh. The diamond dog lost his hold on Cermina as he recoiled. 
“What is this?” he asked, suddenly finding the drakess out of his grasp as he looked around to see Luna rushing towards him, her horn shining with magical energy again. Dyavol turned away from Cermina and charged at Luna, grabbing her by the neck.
“You make Dyavol lose new toy! Dyavol not like losing new toy!” he barked, throwing the princess backwards. The princess quickly picked herself off the ground and reared up at him, armoured hoofs preparing to strike the dog’s underbelly before he was upon her again.
“Dyavol will make moon pony suffer! Reign of moon pony end here!”
Luna’s only response was to resume the fight by breaking free of his grip with a jolt of energy to the dog’s face. Luna fought back far quicker than the behemoth of a dog, and was able to keep him from gaining an advantage for a moment, but his strikes kept getting closer, and the princess couldn’t always dodge his attacks.
Finally, one of her blows sent the dog sprawling on the ground. Luna watched apprehensively to see if he would rise again. Dyavol seemed to be struggling to get up, until he suddenly whipped around and hurled a rock directly at her. Luna deflected it, spreading her wings defensively, only to have one caught by the diamond dog.
“Got you!” he shouted, throwing the Lunar Princess off to the side as she tumbled in a heap at the base of a stalagmite. Dyavol was about to leap at Luna, when suddenly a fiery blow cut him off in his tracks. 
With the quickest of motions, Cermina had lunged back into the fray, slashing at the diamond dog’s back with all her might.
“I t’nk its time to settle this, mongrel. I don’t plan on backing down, and you soon see why Cermina not von to take lightly!” she shouted. The drakess broke a piece of the limestone stalagmite and swung it, just as Dyavol looked to see. He was able to stop it quickly and smirked at her.
“Drakess so pathetic! Weaklings must know their place!”
But the very next instant another blow sent him reeling backwards. Cermina’s eyes practically glowed with rage. Her fury charged her attacks with more energy than ever as she pummeled the dog relentlessly.
The impacts rocked through Dyavol’s body to his very bones as the dog stumbled, his paws backpedalling as Cermina put her full force into every swing, each one landing square on its target.
Each blow drove Dyavol closer to the edge of the pit in the centre of the chamber. 
Cermina lashed her tail at his head, the force enough to rattle his brain before his head snapped backwards and his body began to fall toward the open space. His footpaws latched to the dirt tightly just in time.
“Dyavol will never die!” The drakess growled, her claws still blazing as she struck the beast one final time, driving directly into his sternum. The diamond dog was lifted off his hind paws as he fell down the pit, helplessly reaching out for a something to stop the descent. His yelp of anguish echoed through the whole cavern.Cermina stood by the edge and watched him fall into the total blackness beneath. She let out a hiss, feeling her claws slowly cool before she turned to see Luna, laying in a heap.
Her expression softened; she had seen the Princess’ valiant fighting skills. The drakess knelt down to inspect Luna’s wounds. The princess’ pulse was still strong. Cermina let out a hurr.
“Yeah, you are not hurt. Come little Princess... time to wake up.” she said, nudging the mare to revive her. Luna’s eyes opened, slowly focusing ahead of her before the she began to stutter.
“Tia?” She whispered, eyes finally  focusing to see the Drakess. She immediately came back to herself, slowly easing upright as she looked about. “Cermina… it- ‘tis you!” She then looked around in apprehension. “W-what happen to the beast, where did he flee?”
“Down the pit to the netherworld, comrade. You’re safe for now, Cermina thinks.”
Luna looked up, blinking at the drakess, not wanting to admit she had been saved by this insolent drakess, but Cermina’s words were comforting. The princess slowly rose to her hooves.
“Pray wait a moment,” Luna said, breathing heavily, “We need to recuperate. Such was the brute strength of that Dyavol beast, even our magic would not have much effect on him. How didst thou ever defeat him in such a short time?”
The drakess smirked. “Guess you can say Cermina play ace in the hole. Was no sweat, you see.” she rubbed her claws against her chest as the night princess shot her a sarcastic look.
“Oh? And we had not done our part to fall that monstrosity?” Luna looked upward, and moved towards the battle site as fast as her sore legs would allow. She looked down at the imprint her body had made in the ground. Such power it had. How could Landcastra create such a thing? she asked herself.
“There may be other guards upon us soon,” she said, turning back to the group. “No doubt they would be alerted by the sound of this fight if they were anywhere near. Come, let’s make our escape.” She stepped forward, only to see Cermina suddenly crumble to her knees.
“Cermina!” Luna shouted, trotting over quickly before the drakess hissed.
“Don’t touch me!” she shrieked, as Luna froze in place.
“W-what? We are concerned for thee! why has thou refused us?” Cermina shot her a look as steam began to fume from her nostrils.
“That bastard dog put me to the test. I did not think he vould be that strong.” she said, starting to pant, and cough. “Body vent into turbo... stayed too long in that one... going to have to cool down before ve go on.” She let out a foggy breath. 
“Damnit... is it just me, or is hot in here?” Her claws glowed, as did her eyes. Her chest turned to an amber glow, making the drakess’ body steam. Her scales blackened and her body glistened.
Luna was amazed before the sudden sound of hooves echoed behind them. Somepony was coming close to them. Luna turned quickly towards the dark passageway where they had come from, knowing full well it would be up to her to defend Cermina while she was in this state. The mare snorted, lowering her head aggressively and fixing her stance.
“Come, have at thee, vile beasts! We shall permit none to pass!” she shouted just as Aelu and Stencil forged ahead, bringing the cart up behind them.
Luna relaxed instantly. “Sir Stencil, Aelu! Such a relief to see you here. What of the guards?” she asked, easing aside as the pair come to a halt in the chamber.
“They will not be a problem.” Aelu spoke, his sword held in his hands. 
“The guards have camped for the night. I think we’re safe from here on in,” said Stencil. 
Luna exhale, bringing a hoof to her chest.
“Thank goodness. Hurry, Cermina needs help, I do not know what to do for her!”
Stencil blinked, looking past Luna to see Cermina steaming. He sighed in relief, gently tapping Luna’s shoulder. “It’s alright, we’ve just got to give her time.”
“If you say it, then we shall trust thy word,” Luna said, “But pray tell, what in Equestria has happened to her?”
“She’s an element of fire Luna.” Aelu interjected, “Her body can survive extreme heat with ease. But her ‘residual’ heat, as it were, has yet to subside, making it a risk to be near her for long.”
Luna blinked, looking at Cermina.
Stencil nodded and continued explaining. “Unlike normal dragons who breathe fire, Cermina’s ‘flame’ spreads heat to her horns, talons and scales. She’s far more powerful in combat than a normal dragon, but she has a drawback of overheating if she uses her power for too long.”
Luna was awestruck; she had never heard of a dragon such as that before. The concept of Cermina’s internal fire was almost too much to comprehend.
“I… see,” was all she could say as she turned back to look at Cermina, “Then we shall wait for her to cool before we proceed!”
“Is going to be long vait comrade...” Cermina muttered, slowly rising to her feet. She looked exhausted as she let her left arm hang, gently rubbing her shoulder with her right as she exhaled, her breath still smoky.
“Better get moving. Vill cool down… as ve valk.” The sudden growl of her gut caused the drakess to blink in surprise, a faint blush appearing across her cheeks.
Luna stifled a giggle. “It seems thou needest more than time. Thou art hungry art thou not?”
Cermina looked away. “P-Perhaps… fighting big monsters takes lot out of me. Will need a big meal to make up for it.”
Luna only smiled as she trotted past the drakess. “Then we shall see to it that thou art given the feast of a queen. Come! Let us make haste to New Foalines!” And off she went, the group following behind her