> The Return of Darkness
>  by Winter Rosario
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1: How do you magic? [R.W]
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Winter's Aria was a big ship, just over six-hundred and sixty-five meters long. She was outfitted with enough firepower to level a continent, that is unless the main cannon wasn't in use. At the bow was a big wolf head. Its muzzle could open up, revealing a huge cannon that has the capability to create miniature black holes with a single shot. The downside to such a weapon was the recharge time. At most, it could fire two beams of pure magic a day, however. Each beam takes, at least, fifteen minutes to recharge in between each shot, and the only one that could use the main cannon was the captain of the ship: Winter Solstice.

The Winter's Aria also held many compartments and rooms that perform a myriad of tasks. Some of the rooms were for standard storage while others held various types of fabricators that the crew could use to replenish their ammo, build equipment from scratch, or convert raw matter into a more refined material. The reason for such a specialized airship? Well, it was meant to travel indefinitely with a large crew over ocean or land; against pirates or a random lands military. It was the flagship of a prince who made the sky his charge, but recently. The Aria has fallen on lonely, dark times. Her only crew member and Captian were the only one left to command her after the battle against Malice—The Void Demon of the Apocolypse.

Thing is... I should have died in that fight. There was no possible way for me to survive such a devastating weapon—A weapon I created. The weapon in question was a spell crafted with the language of the Old Gods. It was a beautiful spell, a masterpiece of the arcane arts. I basically created a carefully controlled mini-singularity. The Black Hole had enough gravitational pull to completely compress Malice into atom nothingness before Hawking Radiation completely evaporated the mini-singularity, but not without taking me along with it.

Of course, going back to the question at hand of why I wasn't dead could be answered by a few theories, but I haven't the time nor desire to figure out which one was correct. All I know from my state of half-slumber that I was alive, albeit, very tired. How did I know this? Simple. My eyes were closed, that much was obvious, and judging from the hard surface that I was laying on. I was probably still on my ship, warm and safe. I could even smell the succulent scent of my mate Lily lingering in the air, despite it being a little stale.

I was hesitant at first to open my eyes. I didn't want to learn that I was alone once more, however. No matter what I want. I need to get a situation report and figure out a way home. So, I began the slow process of waking up from my limbo between sleep and lucidity. With a long overdue yawn, I opened my eyes.

The first thing I had the pleasure of seeing was the helm of my ship, which was a good start. Since I appear to have fallen unconscious on the bridge of my ship, It wasn't hard for me to notice the many stations that controlled the ship were unattended. I did teleport everyone off the ship before I being sucked into the Black Hole to save them. So there shouldn't be anyone but me on The Aria. From where I lay, I also had the ability to see out the main window of the bridge.

A smile managed to crease my beak at the sight of pale moonlight shining down upon the hull of the ship. It was a wondrous sight to behold—To see the stars twinkle mystically on the reflective black surface of the ship, making the hull look like it was made out of the night sky. Such a rare sight to see a powerhouse of an airship to appear both intimidating and awe-inspiring.

Letting out a solemn sight at the sight of the open ocean, I pushed myself up to get a better idea of what happened to me and my ship. Putting aside the obvious for a moment, I had to take stock of myself since I used such a destructive spell. I quickly looked in upon myself to check my pool of magic with Acedia or tried to at least.

"What the fuck?" I frowned in confusion with a tilt of my head. Staring at the ground in deep concentration, I tried to activate the Eye of Dreams to check up on my soul once more, but nothing happened. Acedia didn't activate. I couldn't feel the magic working either. My frown turned into a scowl that my Dōjutsu wasn't working. This particular power had the ability to alter and enter the mind and soul without difficulty. I used this ability mostly to visit people in the Dreamscape, pull information out of my enemies, and other morally wrong things that earned me in a special spot in Hell. Groaning in annoyance, I tried the second way to check up on my magic through simple meditation, and was quickly confused. "That's not right," I thought out loud.

Sighing some more, I tried to turn on the Eye of Dreams one last time, but still. Nothing happened. Even though I could feel my neutral magic working just fine, it was the chaos aspect that won't activate for the life of me! It's as if it wasn't there anymore, which should be impossible since the Seven Eyes of Chaos were a part of my soul, and I don't remember using any form of magic to alter it!

It took a while of just staring off into space to finally realize what happened after I entered the singularity. I did die, and the Seven Eyes of Chaos left me to find a new host. My power was gone, purified. The power that saved me from death multiple times. Without that power, how was I supposed to be my normal size? How was I supposed to turn into a Dragon when the time comes? How was I supposed to turn myself back into a Human? And most importantly: Does this mean I can't use any form of magic again? I can feel my eyes go wide in horror at the prospect that I wouldn't be able to use magic anymore. So, the most logical thing to do was check to see if I could still use the words of power, and the first spell to come to mind was a shapeshifting spell.

"Contra formam," I said, but nothing happened. Making sure it wasn't me and just the magic, I remembered another spell that should turn my hands to shadow. "Umbra manas," I said lifting up my claws and saw the effect of my golden appendages turning into wisps of shadow. I canceled the flow, ending the spell. "T-That's even worse," I gulped, claws shaking after casting the two spells. I still had my neutral magic, but no longer my humanity, or the ability to utilize it. I was a pure bread griffin at the age of ten if I remembered correctly. Not only that, but I was stranded, in the middle of nowhere, alone once more.

"Fuck me."





"Gloria! Can you help Spike with cleaning up the library?" Twilight Sparkle ordered her slav-er-servant. Twilight didn't like that term that the princess gave them. After all, they were Pony kinds, loyal servants. The would do anything and not cause a fuss. From farming to mining, sex to training dummies, the Griffin race was eternally loyal to all of Pony Kind after their non-existent kingdom was ruined. 

Gloria was just as helpful as her assistant Spike, if not more so. Gloria was a small hen with a golden goat and silver chest. She was an owl variant, a snowy owl to be precise. When she wasn't doing her duties like the good little griffin she was, she was reading in the library in the castle. 

"Of course master!" Gloria replied happily. Twilight watched the Griffin walked out from the kitchen with a smile with a tray of food on her back. She placed the contents of the tray in front of twilight at the table, just like she liked it. Perfectly organized for the most effective meal time before trotting off to help Spike do his own chores. It took her several days and several beatings to get Gloria to get it right. Of course, that was her duty! To teach her servant the right way or dispose of her and get another one. Twilight smiled as Glade left the room and went to begin the most important deal of the day, but she saw something off. The pancakes were to close to the orange juice. 

Twilight sighed, "I guess I have to break out the whip and give her twenty lashings again. One day she will get it right." 





The empty corridors of the Aria, was haunting, to say the least. Every step I make echoes, every room I search empty, and every nook and cranny vacant of life. I would never have seen the day where I would be alone on my ship again. I always thought that in some way or other I would have at least one person to keep me company in this desolation. Then again, those that did manage to get close enough were left behind, most likely in another universe, while I...I get left alone again.

Not that it matters anymore. I was already ready for solitude. Somewhere deep down, I was always ready to walk the earth by myself. When the chance to have a companion of some kind, I took it and let it destroy me. First was the zebra, then Heather, then Lily, then Azura—my accidental daughter. I'll never see them again, but, at least, I will be back on dry land again, however. Knowing that a giant warship was going to land on a peaceful place was going to cause bad things to happen. Thus, I had the thought of placing my ship in Hammerspace until I need it. 

I stopped by my room, with the random junk strewn about the place. I went over to my bookshelf the was beside my over-decorative desk and pulled out a book that would aid me in creating a Hammerspace and tether it to my soul. With a quick, heavy flap of my tiny wings, I jumped up to the top shelf and grabbed the book I need then proceeded back to the bridge to use the main cannon to power the spell. 

"Funny, normal people would be depressed about the situation I am in, but then again. I am not normal. Normal is overrated," I muttered to no one. 

I read over the spell as I ate a big meal in the bridge. The Aria was slowly making its way to the giant landmass on the horizon. Nibbling on a piece of ham, I was quickly enthralled by how simple and how useful Hammerspace was. Being able to store anything in a pocket universe that only the caster can enter was amazing! The cost was low so long as the caster was in a heavily saturated area of magic. Judging by my ability to still use Words of Power, that won't be an issue. 

I prepped the complex spell in my overkill knowledge of Latin, courtesy of Deux. Knowing the rules that the spell generally follows. I altered it so that my ship can be put into space and be pulled out, which would be taxing pulling The Aria back out then putting it back in, but I'll get around that problem later.  Confident with my progress with the spell and a good lunch, I fluttered onto the helm and opened the big red button case, and began reciting the spell in the Words of Power in my head. After a few minutes of practice, I cleared my throat and began channeling the spell into the main cannon. 

In a few seconds, I felt my ship disappear in a twisted distortion of colors, but it didn't go too far. I blinked at the sudden flash of light. My ship was gone and only I remained. I was hovering over the ocean with just my bandana around my neck. I quickly remembered the notes of the HammerSpace spell and felt myself internally to make sure everything went alright. With a sigh of relief, I felt a little spot of nothing that I can reach in whenever I need to. It was strange, having a little spot in your soul dedicated to storage, then again, I don't really care. Not wasting any time, I turned towards the landmass that was a few miles away and began my new journey. Alone again. 





I found a quiet place to rest near a jagged cliff face of the cost of the forgotten shore. As I flew towards the continent, I saw a small, port town that looked like it was abandon as most of the place were decrepit and barren of all life. I made a note to explore the place later when I was well rested, but for now, sleep was a much-needed necessity after a fifty-mile flight. 

I curled up in a small, damp cave, listening in on the heavy lapsing waves that pummeled the cliff below. I made a small, enchanted fire to keep me warm on the bare stone beside me as I watched the sun slowly gave way to the moon. The warm; oranges, reds, violets, and pinks was calming, to say the least. The fact that I was, quite possibly, the first to see such a sight was humbling. I wondered what I would find in the town just a few miles away and how the old inhabitants must have taken the sunset for granted for their small abode near the western sea. I let a yawn break my thought as the moon began its rise and let the dreams take me.
> Chapter 2. Unpleasant arrival.[R.W]
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I awoke from my long slumber, sore and groggy. My fur felt slightly damp, nothing surprising there. I did sleep next to the open ocean inside a damp cave. It was a minor annoyance, especially since the enchanted fire I made last night was no longer warming the immediate area. Letting out a long, deep yawn, I noticed the rising sun in the east, telling me it was time to get to work. With that in mind, I slowly got up from my soggy resting place and began my morning routine. While I arched my back like a kitten, which earned a few welcoming pops of the spine, I pulled out some grub from my ship stored in Hammerspace. I ate my morning breakfast during after running on the spot for a minute. After which I tested out my Eye of Chaos to see if last nights realization was just a fabrication, and, unfortunately. It was not. 

I let out a sigh for the loss of my overpowered ability. The Seven Eyes of Chaos was something I've grown quite attached too for the brief time I've had it. This power has helped me in times of great strife and assisted me in my endeavors of the mundane variety. From aiding me in killing a God to changing the very soul of some random person, The Eye of Chaos and all its forms will be greatly missed. Especially, Vanity; being able to perfectly change forms, genders, species, at any moment, is something I'll miss most. 

"I never got the chance to know what it feels like to be a girl during sex," I said to myself in a rather disappointed tone. 

Setting aside those thoughts, I turned towards the sea-faring town to the north. From my current position, I could see that the town hasn't seen any life for a long while. For how long? I couldn't tell. It was difficulted to get an accurate gage without a close-up inspection, which was something I planned on doing in just a few moments. 

"Alright, Solstice. Let's have a 'looksie." With those words, I jumped off the cliff and began a steady glide towards the town, and after a minute or two, I landed on a misused and decrepit road just outside the town.

Taking a quick look around from where I landed before I proceeded into town, I saw what I believed was an old guard house. Walking closer to it revealed that it must have been the location where merchants stopped to get their permits checked, and where your average person stopped for theirs. I also noted that it had a "Sheriff" sign on the front of the rather large, stone building. 

Taking a closer look, I saw that the main door was slightly ajar and decided to walk up to it and gave it a little touch. I winced when the door fell over, slamming against the floor with a loud "thunk!" Dry, old dust flew up into the air, burning my eyes and causing a coughing fit for a moment. Aside from alerting the ghost town that there was an intruder closeby, I entered the build after quickly looking to see if anyone came to check the noise that I made. 

Shrugging it off, I walked into the foyer with a couple of rotting benches, a desk reinforced by rusty steel bars. Beside the desk was a metal door, that was mostly intact. The top half of the door was missing as if someone cut the door in half with a large, sharp knife. On a side note, I wondered if magic was the cause, though, by the looks of things and how jagged the cut was. A blade appeared to be the right answer, but I could be wrong.

"Wow, someone didn't get their Skittles," I hummed before jumping through the door to see what is hiding within and what I found was disappointing. There wasn't anything of importance; no weapons, no papers, no contraband, just nothing. I walked into the back room where they should have store the town's weapons, and what I found was tad interesting. There was a small saddle bag specifically designed for Griffins, but its condition was deplorable. The leather looked rotted and stale, the straps slightly shredded and the bags coloration looked faded from its original color. The bag rested against the wall, and with curiosity getting the better of me. I opened it. 

Inside the bag had a few Equestrian Bits, which was both reassuring and worrying. The first meant that I could be in another part of the world in my Equestria. The second meant that I could be in another version of Equestria altogether. Aside from the Bits, there was also a small Kabar-style dagger still in its sheath, looking as if time never touched the blade. I raised a brow at this detail, wondering why this dagger had such a strong longevity enchantment on it. 

Though, when I think about it, whoever owned the dagger must have been quite important since longevity enchantments are very difficult to maintain. It must have belonged to the Sherrif of this town, but why that person would leave behind the dagger is a mystery to me. Letting out a sigh of disappointment, I picked up the neglected the twelve-inch dagger and holstered it over my shoulder, making sure the strap was tight and secure. Once done, I left the building and continued deeper into the town. 

It only took me a few minutes of walking before I entered the nexus of the town. In those minutes, I learned the name of the town on an old, dilapidated sign: Twilight Bay. It strangely fits. My stroll through the town and the few standing houses showed just how empty Twilight Bay was. Although, there was an odd item left behind by the old dwellers; from a rusted knife to a moldy blanket, a can of food to a broken bed frame. I found a few more Bits in rusted safes that were immensely easy to pick open. As for the docks in the more industrial district of the town? There were no ships, no boats, not even a bucket. I couldn't even find a single document with information on how the town ended up abandoned in the first place, only its name. 

By early evening, I finished my exploration of the town. I was slightly miffed that there wasn't more than what I had collected. Sure I had a few hundred bits, an enchanted dagger, a ruby and a tattered black cloak with a decently sized hood I repaired with magic. I put the cloak on sometime during the afternoon for some warmth when the sea breeze wafted over the town and found the cloak was rather comfortable. I sat quietly, eating a sandwich by a simple water fountain that you would find in your average town square.

The town was a mystery, sure, but I wasn't going to stay for long. I knew that I was in Equestria, somehow, and my curiosity was screaming at me to explore. Tomorrow was going to be the day where I was going inland to see what the difference between my old home and my new one. As I finished the thought and meal, I saw something off in the distance coming towards the town from the inland. I could make out with my enhanced vision that it was a contingent of golden stormtroopers and a carriage with a couple of cages that looked like it held... Griffins. Live Griffins. My instincts went into overdrive as I made the connections that were in danger of being put into said cages with the others, but before they could react to my presence. I put my new stuff in my Hammerspace and bolted into one of the buildings just as a pegasus in gold armor landed with the carriage filled with cubs and adult Griffins. 

"Alright, everpony. Spread out!" ordered one of the Pegasi. "Our scryer has determined that there is one Griffin hiding in these ruins. Find it, and throw it with the others. This is our last stop until we return to Canterlot. So make it fast!"  

'Okay then, where the fuck am I and why are Griffins being captured by the Royal Stormtroopers?' I wondered before moving from my current hiding place on the bottom floor of the store I jumped into, to the top floor with a few flaps of my wings. Once on the top floor, I quickly summoned my magic for a couple quick utility spells. I cast "Muta sonus," to muffle all noise I produce; "Celare forma," to hide my body from the untrained eye, and "Auget volumine," to enhance my hearing. After those incantations, I stalked up to the hole in the wall to spy on the guards outside to figure out how they knew I was here, and why they were looking for me. 

"Yes sir!" said three other pegasi and a unicorn that began to charge a spell, but before I could make heads or tails of it. The unicorn pointed to my hiding place causing the others to surround the two-story building.

'Son of a bitch. Should' have used an anti-scrying spell after hearing they just used one to find my initial location,' I mentally facepalmed. Chewing my cheek, I backed away from the window, thinking of what to do next and judging by how they were dressed, what they said briefly, and what they are after. I could confidently guess they were hunting Griffins at Celestia's orders for some reason or another. I could easily kill them, but in my current position, that would be a bad idea. 

I had no intel on why the Royal Stormtroopers were hunting Griffins, running from them while constantly maintaining an anti-scrying spell on at all times would be quite draining; without my Eye of Chaos, I couldn't change forms to hide amongst the populace, however. I could cast a spell to change my form temporarily, but doing so would take time and a lot of magic that I currently don't have. Groaning in annoyance at my current predicament, my only option at the moment was to give up myself willingly and be captured by the Royal Stormtroopers. It's not something I would have done under normal circumstances, but it can give me the opportunity to learn why Griffins were being hunted down and captured in the first place. 

"Come out now Griffin! And we won't hurt you!" one of the guards shouted while also drawing out his sword with his magic. 'Kinda counterintuitive. Don't ya' think?' Letting out a sigh, I turned off my active spells and waited for the Royal Stormtroopers to come to my location, and, thankfully, they didn't take too long. 

The door opened behind me, and the sound of two guards entered the room. Another guard flew up to the hole in the wall that I was looking out of and made sure to block it with his body, preventing from me from escaping into the air. Turning around, I looked up at the two guards without a single hint of fear, then again. I didn't care all that much. I could easily use my words of power to erase them from existence with a simple Umbra spell. I could have the shadows eat them alive, but I shook away the thought. Instead, I listened to the monologue that one of the two guards just had to spout.

"Look at what we got here. We got ourselves a plum and healthy Tom. So little Cub. Are ya' going to be good and come with us or are you going to fight and give us are a hard time?" the left white and blue clone said with a slight hiss that begged me to run. 

Stopping myself from rolling my eyes in response to such a cliche threat, I gave him my reply, "I'll go quietly." This answer caused the Pegasus clone to glare at me, as if he wasn't happy that I wasn't going to fight for my freedom, and in all honesty. I would have, but as I've stated before. That would be a bad Idea. 

"What, no fight in ya? Do you even call yourself a Griffin, runt?" the Unicorn hissed disappointedly. 

"I know when its time to fight for my life; when its time to run, and when to surrender. I like my wings, thank you very much," I replied with a nonchalant shrug. The Unicorn wasn't happy with this fact and took a step forward with his sword raised, ready to strike, but before he could do anything. His partner stepped in front of him, motioning me with a wing to follow. I did so without making a fuss, which further infuriated the Unicorn to no end. [rw]

I walked out of the building without trouble. Along the way, the Unicorn glared pure hatred at me the entire way while the Pegasus kept giving me a wary eye. The other guards all gave me this "look" of confusion, like how I was acting wasn't something they have encountered before. I bet they think I should have come out of the building in chains, sporting cuts and bruises, and screaming at the top of my lungs, however. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of abusing their power on little ol' me. 

"Good job finding the Griffin, Corporal. Now put him with the others," the leader of the Royal Stormtroopers congratulated. 

"Sir!" the Pegasus and the Unicorn saluted in unison before taking me to one of the more empty cages. Though, when they brought me closer, I saw that all the Griffin children they have captured were all placed in this one cage, separating them from their parents, however. When they put me in the cage, they didn't bother taking away my bandana-scarf before the door closed. 

After a few minutes, the guards regrouped, the Pegasi strapped themselves to the carriages, and the rest kept looking at me with either confused or wary glances. I didn't look back, nor did I gave them a reason to make them more suspicious of me. I ignored them as I ignored the other children crying quietly to themselves. I zoned out in deep thought, wondering what to do when I arrive at whatever location the Royal Stormtroopers were taking me, and before I knew it. We were in the air, flying towards Canterlot Mountain.
> Chapter 3. "Adoption." [RW]
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

We flew over the countryside for what it seemed like hours, but in reality. It was a few minutes. The carriage ride was cold and uncomfortable, causing the feeling of time to crawl as slow as molasses up a hill. My cellmates huddled up together to stay warm halfway through the trip, even though Griffins were built for the icy climate. I think our cage was enchanted to keep us culled and submissive for as long as possible. And as for me? Well, they didn't invite me to join their cuddle pile, which was expected. I was new to them and most likely a hazard to their health. 

I didn't mind the cold all that much once I remembered how to generate lightning within myself to warm up my body. As a consequence of the sudden heat radiating from my body. The small group of Griffins decided that I was worthy enough to join their cuddle pile. I didn't push them away nor did I complain. They made their choice when they became my meat shields when we entered an ice storm a few minutes into the flight. 

The storm didn't last all that long. A few minutes of most, but fuck was it nasty. One of my cellmates—a skinny little thing—collasped into unconsciousness when a chunk of ice collided with his head. I couldn't tell if the unnamed Griffin was dead, however, from the scent of blood and the lack of help. He wouldn't survive the rest of the trip. He would have had my sympathy, but since I couldn't turn off my empathetic nature anymore. Doing so would force me to feel his pain. Being an Empath is very inconvenient when it comes to fighting, and a blessing when doing anything else. Though, as much as I enjoyed being rubbed up by a group of boys and girls. Our little cuddle pile ended when we flew over a mountain and began descending upon Canterlot. Specifically, Canterlot Castle.  

Looking through the bars of our cage as we flew over the city. I instantly saw something majorly off with the capital of Canterlot. Tall, industrial smokestacks coughed black tar into the air; steampunk trains and monorails slithered in, out, and through the mountain like worms in a hill of mud. Airships flew to and fro over the city, blocking out the sun entirely in some areas while others had the courtesy of flying only near the mountainside harbor. Griffins chained, collared, and without their wings, performing slave labor for the pony populace. 

"This isn't my Equestria," I whispered solemnly to myself. My Equestria wasn't as dark and grim-looking as the one I found myself in. It was full of life, of color, of music and magic. What I've seen in the brief moment that we flew over the city of Canterlot was the exact opposite. Knowing this fact, I was beginning to regret my decision of allowing myself to be captured by the Royal Stormtroopers. With that in mind, I had to come up with a plan for my new situation, or else I'll end up chained, de-winged, and pulling coal carts for the factories for the rest of my life. 

After a minute of flying over the city, we began our descent towards a large landing-bay next to the castle. We landed with a harsh "thump!" on the cobblestone road next to a four-story gothic-met-plumping-orgy building that hissed with sickly black mist. A small group of ponies escorted by a platoon of guards armed with whips and stun rods. 

My wings couldn't help but twitch in anger when the grown-ups were dragged out from their cage, screaming, crying, and trying to run away from the guards, but it was a horrifyingly fruitless effort. Especially when one Hen—a dark-brown lynx-half and a hazel falcon-half Griffoness—ran towards our cage with a Cub screaming her name: Helena. Big Sister. I had to look away as I knew what would happen next, but I couldn't. Even I, a man who has slaughtered hundreds in a single day without remorse, cringed when one of the guards whipped her back; slicing one of her wings clean off at the base with a single strike. Her scream of anguish echoed through the industrial noise like a banshee in the night. Blood squirted out of the fleshy socket like a fountain, splashing us and the cage in the metallic crimson fluid. 

'Slick-CRACK!' Went the whip again, slashing across her face to silence her. Viscera and flesh exploded all over the ground, her eye ripped out of its socket and turned to pulp. And still, she screamed. 

'Whoo-CRACK!' Went another, silencing her this time, not that she could scream anymore since her beak and part of her tongue went flying across the field, and she fell unconscious. All I could do was stare as Helena was dragged away to Lucifer knows where all the while the stallion who whipped her laughed quietly to himself as he recoiled his whip back into its holster. 

A few minutes passed in fear-filled silence. No one would say anything. No one would make a sound. The Cub that Helena tried to save cried to herself in the corner of our cage, gripping a dark-brown feather in her claws, holding it close to her chest. That silence broke when a platoon of guards came to our cage, shouting at the top of their lungs while whipping the ground with their own instruments of leathery pain. We all got up like culled little ducklings and followed every order that our new slave master said. It made me furious beyond belief, and I knew that I wasn't going to stand for this treatment at all. It will only be a matter of time, careful planning, and tempo before I free all Griffins from this fate. I may not have my Seven Eyes of Chaos anymore, but I still have my Words of Power, my ingenuity, and my Godslayer swords. No Griffin will be entrapped or enslaved by pony-kind before I try to find a way home, and back to my daughter. 

And that's a promise.

When it was my turn to be dragged from the cage to be collared, frisked and chained, a familiar Unicorn stallion walked up to our cage. He had a noticeable mustache, mane-style and fancy monocle. His coat was a bright white while his shiny blue mane was almost blindly bright. In my Equestria and from what I remember of the show, his name was Fancy Pants. I didn't have a clue why he was here when in the show, Fancy was depicted as a rather respectable individual, but judging the way he was looking directly at me. I could make a guess. Fluttering my wings slightly, mostly to show arch's of lightning flowing through my feathers, I gave Fancy Pants a rather "hopefull" smile, causing him to raise a brow. 

"Who are you my little Tom?" he asked in a polite tone. The guards looked like they didn't agree with Fancy's presence, but they couldn't do anything about it. Which was good for me, since if I was going to be a temporary slave, I had to get someone with power, and Fancy Pants is an Archduke. Yes, a very powerful pony indeed and perfect for my plans. I just need to entice him enough to get him to pull a few strings to have first dibs to "buy" me. Once in his care, I'll need to figure out how he treats his Griffins and if he treats them with love and respect. I'll keep him around. If not, he gets to be the first one to taste the Words of Power and become my puppet for the other stages of my plan. 

"My name is, Octavius. How may I be of assistance my Lord?" I replied with a lie and a bow. His eyes went wide in surprise at my polite mannerisms and proceeded to glow with delight with a smile filled with curiosity. 

"My word, such refined vocabulary for such a young Griffin," Fancy praised, earning nervous shuffles from the guards. An interesting detail. "Tell me young one, as a person in need of intellectual assistance in the field of unique power. How much do you know about volts and electrical charges?" 

"Judging from your question. I can assume that you can sense the light voltage that I am emitting throughout my body to keep myself warm. So, to answer your question, I am adeptly studied in the field of Electrical Engineering," I smiled out a reply. The guards didn't like my response. 'Got to be a little more careful with what I reveal I could do'

"Excellent, just the individual I am interested in!" he cheered. "Don't worry much Mr. Octavius as you will begin working for me in just a few hours, but before we go. Can you tell me who taught you how to generate an electrical current within yourself? It's just a formality, I assure you."

"My previous Master was a Pegasus by the mane of Deux Machina. She taught me how to read, write, math, and other things before her passing. She was a wonderful Master and I miss her greatly," I explained. 

"I am sorry for your loss. In any case, I'll make sure that—"

"Ahem," a guard coughed behind Fancy. "After the paperwork Lord Fancy Pants." 

"—Of course," Fancy bowed in response before turning away from the group. "I'll be picking this one up in a few hours. So please make sure his wings aren't clipped. He will need them where he's going." I couldn't help but gulp at the mention of my wings being clipped. 

"We'll make sure that...Octavius is looked after for you," the guard hesitantly replied. Fancy did another bow before he walked away, and left me to the mercy of the guards. 'Welp, I hope nothing bad happens in those few hours. I kinda' like my wings.'

After Fancy Pants disappeared our sight range, we were led into the building of doom through one of the side doors. Now, I don't know why I thought that the creepy, dark, tower of doom would be welcoming on this inside. Oh, how I was wrong. The first hall we walked into was stained with blood. All over the ground, the walls, even squirts of dry of blood on the ceiling! It didn't help that the hall was made of solid concrete, making nigh impossible to run away down a narrow firing line. 

Through the far door of the hall led into a small, concrete room with familiar crimson stains dotting the floor, most likely from Griffins who were unruly and were shot down by the guards patrolling above on narrow walkways. In this waiting room, aside from the walkways, guards, and archers were two double-doors. The door to my left opened up, and two ponies entered the room with black collars and leashes hovering beside them menacingly. It didn't take a genius to figure out what happened next, especially when all the guards began separating our group by sex and forcing the girls to change their metal collars for the black-leather ones. That meant the other door was for us males to go through once we were prepared for what happens next. I could only hope that nothing bad happens to all the Chicks that went into their room. Then again, we were slaves. So any sense of morality went out the window in regards to our "innocence."

When all the girls vanished into their room, the other set of doors opened up and us males were ordered to go in. All the Tom's did as they were told, and I followed suit to ensure my own safety. The room we entered was another hall, but with a large window to the left of us. The pony guard leading us through the complex ordered us to stop in front of the window, revealing an operating room and something absolutely terrifying. 

A Griffin Hen was tied down, screaming muffled screams. Her fur was dirty and matted with dried blood. She was splayed out on a metal table on her stomach. A pony in a butcher's apron approached her with a bloodstained hacksaw. Another pony grabbed the Griffin and held her wings out. She thrashed and screamed; begging for her life and her wings. The ponies didn't care, especially when the one in the apron rammed the pommel of his whip into her pussy, electing a shrill screech before she was gagged with a piss-covered rag. Then, with a sadistic, demented smile, he grabbed a meat-hook and stabbed into the poor Hen's clitoris and yanked as hard as he could; mutilating her genitalia with ease, and for everyone to see.

I wanted to look away, to turn off my emotions and rid myself of the horrid sight of what happened next, but I couldn't, I was frozen in place. My body refused to let me protect myself from the image I never thought ponies would be capable of. In a few haggard grinds with the saw, the Butcher sliced the silently screaming Hen's wing off. I watched as the wing fell off the table, followed by a waterfall of crimson. The stub in which the wing used to be attached to twitched and wiggled around like a decapitated chicken. It was that moment that I found the strength to look away, but it didn't stop the sounds of the other wing being hacked off. And when I managed to find the courage to look back when silence befell the room. I saw that the Hen was unconscious from shock, and all the Tom's with me were whimpering and cry for being forced to bear witness to the worst crime one could commit against a being of flight. 

After that event, my body went on autopilot. I didn't notice when we walked down a few other halls. I didn't care when we were hosed down with ice-cold water. Hell, I didn't even flinch when the Tom walking next to me dropped dead when a guard whipped the back of his skull when he began talking to me. The shock from witnessing a Griffin being de-winged petrified me to an extent, protecting my mind from experiencing the pain that the Hen felt during that whole ordeal. Though, when I came back to reality, I found myself in a clean room with a few desks, chairs, and ponies in lab coats. 

I saw the Chicks that were originally a part of our group rejoin us, and they looked worse for wear. The one Hen that lost her sister outside the building especially looked horrible with her twitching back legs and bruised flank. I had to force down my rage, my wrathful desire when I saw white droplets slither down her hindleg and onto the carpet. I wanted to rip apart every fucking pony in that building—to make them suffer for all the injustice being done to Griffin kind—to make them suffer tenfold for every Griffin that has suffered! However, I had to stop myself from enacting my wrath as it would put my survival at risk, and being too close to a certain Princess would jeopardize my safety, but make no mistake. My plan for retaliation will be swift and absolutely destructive. So much so in fact, that Canterlot Mountain won't exist when I'm done with it!

My vengeful aura stayed strong during our check-up. We were spread out in several lines with the ponies in lab coats at the end of each line. Once it was time for me to stand in front of the one in my line, she quickly did a medical scene, asked a few simple questions like; our name, breed, age, and education. Though, when it came to my questions, she already knew my name and told me that I was instantly going to be put in a carriage once my session was done. I knew Fancy Pants must have pulled his strings to automatically have me, and do whatever he wanted to me, which was something I knew would happen. 

Although, the nurse in charge of making sure I was fit and healthy was surprised that I was skilled with Lightning manipulation. Her reaction was a little concerning; like I was the rarest thing to walk into the building in a long time. The fact that I said my breed was pure-bred caused the guards to glare death at me and the ponies examining the girls to perk up like I was some exotic prize. The mare in the lab coat grumbled something along the lines of; 'Fancy just had to claim the pure breed. He just had to.' Added to my curiosity. 

I placed my curiosity aside for now and followed another guard with my new collar down another hall, and away from the other Griffins. In just a few moments, I was back outside, breathing the toxic air of the industrial capital of Equestria. I didn't have time to observe my new surroundings as I was dragged to a carriage that only the Queen of England herself would ride just for the fuck of it. My collar tugged harshly when I wouldn't move, causing my snout to slam against the cobblestone road. Hissing in pain from both the asshole move and having my face scrap against the rock while being dragged towards the carriage, I got back up and glared pure death at the smirking guard holding my collar. 

"Get in you filthy piece of trash. Your new Master is waiting," the guard said before opening the door, revealing Lord Fancy Pants and his wife, Fleur De Lis. Rubbing my neck, I jumped into the carriage with a flutter of my wings and sat on the bench opposite of my new temporary Masters. Once I was moderately comfortable, the door closed and we began to move to wherever Fancy Pants wanted to take me.

"Hello Lord Fancy Pants," I greeted, hoping that I don't end up underneath the stairs. Fleur gave me a nod of approval for my mock politeness. 

"Hello, there Mr. Octavius. I know that the procedures within that dreaded place are rather fast and brutish when it comes to new arrivals. The fact that I have good connections made your time in there short and bearable. I just couldn't stand the possibility of a valuable Tom such as yourself being de-winged. So I hope that we can be friends?" Fancy Pants smiled.

"I thank you for the accelerated process. Witnessing the events that transpired with that dreadful place. Being an Empath didn't make it any better, as I could feel everything that someone can feel. So watching someone being de-winged has left me rather...shaken," I thanked hesitantly. Fleur let out a slight gasp as I twitched my wings awkwardly after I reminded myself of the pain that poor Hen went through. Fancy gave me a sympathetic look in response. 

"I...see. Well, you are in safe hooves young one. Now then! Let's put those horrors aside and talk about what you will be doing in our care. After all, it's your fellow species duty to serve pony kind," Fancy cheered. I nodded. 

Clearing his throat, he began, "As you are an individual who possesses a rare talent that most Pegasi would die for. You will be working for me in a personal endeavor of mine. You will be sent to a Lab where you will make yourself useful for a fellow associate who is working on revolutionizing all of Equestria with cheap, renewable energy, but before I can leave you in his hooves. Can you tell me what you are capable of—aside from just generating electricity within yourself?"

I let his words skin in for a moment and analyzed what kind of person Fancy Pants was: His tone clearly showed genuine concern for my well being. His avoidance of the slave center could mean he either didn't like what was going on in there or that he didn't care. The former of the two was reinforced when he went out of his way to make sure that I came out of there in one piece before they would try and break me. My plan on being polite and respectable played off in that end, and his wife's reaction further enforced my assumption. Fancy Pants must have taken a big risk when he scouted me out and pulled the string in the background. So being on my best behavior should be beneficial in the long run, however. Acting this way has proven to be extremely odd to the pony populace. So I have to be careful about how I act around them. That, and I have to show adaptitude in the field of Science, which was something I really didn't have time for. It was a minor inconvenience, but knowing how lucky I got. It will have to do. For now. 

Although, when thinking about it. I definitely could revolutionize Equestria's energy problem. I know I lost my Chaos Magic, but I didn't lose my skills nor Words of Power. I was still a Smith, Mechanic, and Rune Mage. I bet, with a bit of time, I could make the first ever Internal Combustion Turbine Engine and become the fastest thing alive. But then fuel would become a problem unless the plane was fully electrical. SO making a viable power source will be my main goal while I figure out how to save the Griffin race from Equestria, and why Equestria was so fucked up. 'So, what is the best source of free power that doesn't run on coal? Fission, Solar, and Magic. I got to brush up on those three back on my ship. Well, expect solar panels. I knew how those work. I'll start with that as my cover.' [RW]

"I have an idea. Several in fact," I said, leading them on, and throwing my previous statement of safety out the window. "My mentor mentioned to me that it is possible to harness the power of the sun by taking the photonic energy emitted by the sun and converting it into electricity through the use of cells made from, (what my science teacher said), silicon."

"Though, a much more viable source of renewable energy can be found all around us—Magic, in its base form, is just free energy capable of manipulating all of the known Physical Laws without following them. My Master hypothesized that, with the proper converter, can tap into what she called "Lay Lines" and use them as infinite power factories for the whole world to use. I think she called them Coils, but I can't remember," I finished, wilting in place to convey sadness that my non-existent master is dead. Looking up with puppy-dog eyes, to see if my little carrot stick worked. I was glad to see the absolute shock emitting from both Fleur De Lis and Fancy's face. 'Now for the finisher. Come on. Ask me the question I see forming in your eyes, Fancy Pants.'

"That's...Such an idea would gain a commendation for a Noble Prize!" he exclaimed. "I hope that you can deliver Mr. Octavius. What do you think you would need to make a working prototype?" 

"Just a few wires, electrical glue, some gems, glass, crystalline silicon, and something that has the ability to inscribe a neutral rune on the gems," I replied nonchalantly.

"That's...Wait...What do you mean by,' something to inscribe a neutral rune?" he asked as we entered the main driveway to the mansion. 

I gave him an innocent smile. "Oh, I just know how to enchant things with my lightning magic. Runes help out a lot in that regard," I said, sealing my fate.

"You are a diamond in the rough, aren't you Mr. Octavius?" he smiled. 

"Not my fault I had a good teacher." 

'A super hot and mentally insane one that thought it would be a good idea to pump centuries worth of magical, technological, and other information into my skull without a care in the world or what it would do to my sanity.'
> Chapter 4. Enter High Voltage!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Fancy Pant's mansion was not as huge as I thought it was going to be. It screamed a; posh, victorian, stylized complex with an elaborate garden decorating the front of the main driveway to the house. Fancy Lead me out of the carriage and into the main foyer of the mansion that had a twin staircase that looked like Goddess Athena herself would have in her house. 

In the center of the room, above the stairs was a bright, crystal chandelier that hovered over a red rug that went up both sets of stairs and to the main door. I saw a bench and several vases and statues of exotic animals expertly placed throughout the foyer to show the wealth of the family wherever one would dare to look away from the maids that kept the place clean. 

Speaking of maids, they were all Griffins of various colors, shapes and sizes. They gave me a sorrowful glance my way as we walked up on of the staircases to get something to eat by Fleurs discretion. 

Just like the main foyer. The halls of the mansion were decorated to show the wealth with various paintings adorning the walls in between the many rooms in the house. I paced by a butler that was also a Griffin that also gave me a sad look. I was lead to a far room on the east side of the manor that didn't look very intimidating, that is until I was thrown in by telekinesis and lock in. 

Rubbing my face from the sudden need to kiss the floor, I took a survey of my new surroundings that I was in. I was in; a small, stone, room with a cot in the corner that was roughly my size. Above the cot was a barred window that let in just a trickle of light. In the other corner of the room were a toilet and a sink that was firmly embedded in the wall they were attached to. 'Figures that the good treatment wouldn't last,' I thought angerly. I saw a flap at the bottom of the door open and a silver tray with food that looked like it belongs to a dog entered the room. Putting two and two together, it was probably drugged, so I flushed it down the toilet and pulled out a premade sandvich from my hammerspace and waited for the opportunity to check out what was going to happen to me via Umbra spell. 

I waited for the night to fully take its place in the sky. While I waited, I formulated a plan of action to see what was going to happen to me in Fancy Pants care. I yawned and decided to screw it and cast a spell that would make me a living shadow. "Forma Umbra," I said after my tray of poison was taken back to whence it came and jumped into a shadow and appeared in a room that was a cross between a study and lounge. 

"I don't care if that runt is valuable. He is a fucking Griffin! A slave! Why in the hell do I have to take care of the lesser being?" Shouted a pony that was sitting on a couch opposite to Fancy. They were separated by a small, round table. The pony opposite in question was a yellow pony with a dark yellow mane. His cutie mark was an Omega symbol with two lightning bolts crossing under it. I stayed hidden in the shadow that I was in and listened in on their conversation.

"Be as that may High Voltage. The Griffin we are talking about is very intelligent, said intellect is something not to be tested," Fancy said with a shuddered. 

"He is a baby! How in the hell is he dangerous?" Volt asked, waving his hooves in the air. 

"I don't know. There is something behind his eyes that unnerved me. For the briefest of moments. It was like I was about to be eaten by a legendary black dragon of immeasurable power. Never have I felt so afraid in my life. There is something that he is hiding that I don't want to bring out." 

'Kinda too late for that,' I thought incredulously. 

"Are you listening to yourself? That slave can't do anything! Whatever you saw it was just your imagination. He was captured and that's that. I'm surprised that he even got to keep his wings, let alone didn't get sent straight to the mines." 

"I would've believed that too, if not for the fact that he came of his own accord." 

"What do ya' mean?" High raised a brow. 

"When I asked the guard that was responsible for his capture, he said he acted strangely. No resistance, no yelling, no anything. Winter just stared with a cold, malicious stare that sent chills in the hearts of the guards that caged him. They said it was like there was a hand of pure death looming over them, waiting for its time to strike. In fact, they said that he looked like he wanted to be captured like he wanted to be escorted straight to the capital to get...Adopted into...A wealthy family," Fancy finished as sweat began to trickle down his face. 

'Whelp, cat's out of the bag.'

"If I get what you are trying to put together. Then that runt is a walking time bomb. I bet he is waiting to get sent to my lab to strike, which would ruin you and cause an uproar!" Volt shouted as he bolted up. "He's a fucking sleeper! We have to call the guards to deal with this threat." 

"I agree, he should be knocked unconscious from the food I asked to be given to him." 

'Well, I can't have that, I guess its time for me to make sure they don't talk,' I thought, biting my lip in frustration. 'Note to self: Don't be so obvious next time.' 

Just as the two were about to walk out the door, I focused my magic and whispered a spell, "Vinculis Umbra(Shadow chains)." After my spell was cast, the shadows in the room wrapped around the two ponies and suspended them in the center of the room. I cast another spell to prevent anyone from interrupting us. 

I released my shadow form spell and walked in front of the shouting ponies, screaming for help. The second they saw me waiting patiently for them to shut up in a chair that I set up in front of them, they began sweating and trembling for their lives. 

"Hello, gentlecolts. How are you tonight?" I asked calmingly. 

"H-How a-are y-y-y-you o-out of y-your cell!" Fancy stuttered. High Voltage stayed silent. 

"Simple, magic. Though, a very ancient magic that not even Celestia could comprehend, but let's not get into that now," I said as I pulled a coffee cup out of my Hammerspace and took a sip with a content sigh. "Let's talk business. Right now, I can say a few words and both of you will become my slaves. My magic isn't dark by nature as it was designed to purge darkness itself, but with a smart mind. Light magic can be just as sinister," I finished with another sip of coffee. 

"Bullshit! Griffins don't have magic!" Volt angerly shouted. 

I raised a brow. "Really, last I checked. Griffins magical capability is ten times stronger than a pegasus. As for the how I can do this. Let's just say that I used to be one of the most fear creatures in existence. Used to be is from a botched chaos based spell." I took another sip while Volt took his time trying to comprehend what I just said. "Now enough about me. Both of you are going to answer why Griffins are slaves and how that came to be...So, start talking, we have all night to do so." 

"You can't do shit," Volt hissed. "GUARDS HELP! WE HAVE A..." 

"Deus Meus(eternal servant)," I said cutting him off. In an instant, he jolted violently, thrashing against his chains. Blood started to pool out of his eyes as he tried to fight the spell. Foam spluttered out of his mouth as he coughed out blood before he went limp as a twitching mass of flesh. "Are you going to behave Volt?" I asked. 

"Yes master," Volt nodded in defeat. I gave him a glowing smile as I released him from his chains. 

"Good. Now go get cleaned up and come back with something for me to eat please?" I ordered, causing Fancy to relieve himself in front of me. Volt left us alone for a moment, thus, I turned back to Fancy and repeated my question. "So, care to tell me why Griffins are slaves? Or do you want to become my eternal slave like Volt?" 

"I-I-I-I'll talk, just, please don't hurt me." 

"Then begin," I ordered as I took another sip of coffee. 

"In the year: 540 AN, the Griffin Kingdoms began to wage war on the recovering Equestria. The twelve kings of Griffonia saw that Equestria was still weak from the Nightmare Moon war and decided to strike in an attempt to rule Equestrian Proper. Celestia, at the time, was very unstable at the loss of her sister and made it law after she killed the twelve kings that the entire Griffin race was to serve pony kind for being nothing but carnivorous monsters that only ate ponies and nothing else." 

"Over the years of brutality and horrific conflict. The remnants of the Griffin Kingdoms fell into non-existence. The Griffin race fell into line and took the role of servanthood with gusto. There was no rebellion, no historical retaliation. Yes, there was; the odd runaway, the odd saint, and the odd demon. Those that dominated your race like toys were praised while those that actually gave respect were shunned and sometimes, murdered." 

"The proud race of warriors were turned into pets in mere days and there is no one to save them," Fancy explained. "That's the gist of it from what little I know of the matter." 

I scowled in frustration. Celestia was a fucking tyrant that held all the real information about the entire situation that the Griffins found themselves in. How can she, of all people, support such actions? How can the martyr of all that is peace and harmony support such pain and misery? Whatever the case. I needed answers and the best place to start, is the Griffin kingdoms themselves. 

I finished my coffee as Volt appeared back into the room with a lot of freshly cooked food on a tray, carried with his magic. I nodded in approval as he began to feed me bits and pieces of a; medium rare steak that was cooked to perfection. I looked at Fancy and realized that he might blab to the princess herself of what I did to Volt. 'I can't have that blowing up in my face now,' I thought as I began a memory spell to prevent him and Volt from remembering what I did to them. 

"Alright Fancy, I'll take those lies for now," I said, "But that doesn't mean that you get to leave unscathed." Fancy face paled. "Deus Meus," I said causing Fancy to scream beautiful screams echo throughout the sound proof room. Once he came to, I gave both of them orders to act normally after I did a memory spell and returned to my cell to wait for Sleeper Volt to pick me up to go to his lab that was close to the old Griffin border. 
> Chapter 5. Traveling! Explosions!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I yawned awake in my cell as the sun somehow found my eyes and decided to burn them when I opened them up to begin my morning routine. I wondered if Apollo has it in for me after I just ripped a hole in the fabric of time and space. Then again, she was always shining her Jupiter damn ball of plasma in my face, every day. Seriously, it was like she wanted me to see how sexy she was, well burning my eyes won't help your cause.  

After stretching like a kitten from the internet of old, I saw a tray of food, warm and not looking like it came from a nearby dumpster. I did a quick check to see if it was poisoned. Happy that it wasn't, I ate the eggs and bacon and waited for High Voltage to take me to his lab near the border of the old Kingdom. 

It took only a few minutes after finishing my food that a Griffin in a very slutty french maid outfit came to escort me to a carriage where High Voltage was waiting. She told me that the carriage would take us to the train and the train would take us on a two day trip to a small port where we would get on a boat and go to an island town called Trottingham off the eastern cost. 

I quietly followed behind the maid as she gave me heartbroken gaze like she knew what was going to happen to me. Then again, that sentiment would have brought me some worry if not for the fact that I controlled High Voltage with absolution. The quick trek through the mansion was boring as I knew it was going to be. The maid didn't talk nor did I get any greetings of any kind. 

I entered a carriage that looked a lot simpler than what Fancy Pants rides in. It was something that the ponies in Appleloosa would drive in between Dodge Junction and back. For its simplicity, though, it did look like it could take a hit if we got ourselves in a bad situation. 

I twiddled my thumbs in silence as we drove through the waking city of Canterlot. Ponies were opening their shops and the morning workers go out of their houses to do whatever they did to make a quick buck. As we got closer and close to the train, I noticed it wasn't the cake-puke that it normally was. Instead, it was a heavy, duty armored train that looked like something from WW2 Germany. There was; heavy steel wheels, a black steam-engine, and armored cars galore that we were supposed to ride in. One would think that we were going to be raided by a small army that didn't want us to arrive at our destination, but no one was stupid enough to do that. Right? 

We came up to the train to board. As I left the carriage with my servant, I was immediately put into a cage and placed in a far-off car where all the Griffins were supposed to board. Before I could complain to my servant about how the loader's were treating me, I was already in the train car and put on top of another cage alongside a few hundred Griffins that were traveling the same I was. By cage. 

The fact that the Griffins were being treated slightly better than the Jews of the Holocaust was the only thing that was keeping me from assassinating Princess Celestia. That, and I don't have enough information to do so anyway without causing a problem. 

I gritted my teeth, trying my best to subdue my growing rage as the train cars door slammed shut with a metal hiss, leaving me to my thoughts to the darkness of the car. 

The train lurched forward, causing a bunch of groaning throughout the car that a couple of my fellow passengers were rudely woken up from their nap. I waited for any other response, but none came. 

I yawned in disappointment. All I could do is wonder what the hell happened to the Griffins? Back home, they were scattered from a lost treasure, here though? They kissed the boots of their masters, begging to be fucked to oblivion as a sign of approval. I laid down and closed my eyes. I put aside my growing shit list for know and worked out what the hell I was going to do.

Normally: I would just go with the flow and let the crazy happen in the background while I go about my day, trying my best not to murder someone that I didn't like. I let a smile cross my lips, remembering my first week in Equestria before I went insane with bloodlust. Everything happened so fast during my time in the hospital. My time here was just as fast and just as frustrating. 

Not only is this a reality that I am starting to have to force myself to have a goal, but it's a goal that is looking like I need to go all; 'Lelouch Vi Britania,' on Celestia's ass. That premonition was something I greatly wish to avoid. 

"Fuck my life," I sighed under my breath. I got comfortable in my cage and undid my bandana to use as a pillow and let the day pass on by in dream land. 





Gloria sat in her cage, licking her bloody wounds as her friend Glida tried to give her some moral support. Gloria was a good Griffin. She was raised by the best breeders to be the most obedient servant of her masters. She was happy that she was wanted, that she was desired by many, but her happiness ended when her former master gave her away to Princess Twilight Sparkle. 

She missed how her old master purred when Gloria kissed her kitten her genetically enhanced tongue. Gloria loved sharing intimate moments her pegasus mare that she called master. She missed how she would treat her with things that would make any stallion jealous, yet when she fell ill. She just had to be given away to prevent the pain of losing her old master to the claws of death. 

Gloria thought about her new master. She thought she would be treated nicely like her old master did. When she tried to give her new master a message that her old master would beg for, she was beaten to a bloody pulp with a book. She was scolded for being a horrible servant and was put into a cage after being whipped later to, 'break her in.' 

Gloria cried afterward. She wanted to know what she did wrong! She wanted to know what she had to do to be a good slave, she liked being a good slave. Being a good slave gave her a treat with a strap on and cake and fruit. She missed that the most, she wanted to know what she needed to do to be a good slave, but when she asked, she didn't want to be Twilights good slave anymore. It came with whips and whips hurt. 

Gloria quietly cried into Glidas shoulder. Gloria knew that Gilda had it good with Rainbow Dash. Master Dash and Gilda were the most loved weather ponies in Ponyville. Gilda could walk around without being attached to a collar and leash. She got to keep her wings because she was a purebred Griffin. She got to work with the weather team and live in her own room in Miss Dashes cloud home. 

Gloria didn't like being jealous of Gilda, but that's all she felt in recent days. Glida would tell her how she and Rainbowdash were secret lovers, just like how she and her old master was. She tried her best not to be bitter, but her new master wasn't helping. 'At least, Gilda was there to cheer me up in my time of need,' Gloria thought sullenly. 

"Hey there Ria. I'm here, its okay, you are safe," Glida said over and over as she gently rubbed the back of Glorias head as she wrapped her wings around her to keep her warm. Gloria sniffed again and nuzzled into the chest of her friend, hoping that she wouldn't have to leave her to master Twilights wrath. 





I slowly woke to the sound of banging metal against metal. I put on my bandana scarf and searched the narrow corridor of filled cages to the source of the sound to that I could murder its creator for waking me up. I saw a light down the train car, beside the light was a cart that was being pushed around by a; dirty-brown pony, wearing an off blue hat. From what I could see through my sleepy haze of vision, the cart had a bucket and beside the bucket was a dirty soup ladle. After making the connection that whatever was in the bucket was supposed to be lunch. I made it my mission not to eat that and instead finish off eating the leftovers from in my hammerspace. 

The pony slowly made his way down to my cage to which I promptly said that I wasn't hungry. He replied with a grunt and continued down the road, handing out the puke-green goop that was supposedly called "food." The Griffin closest to me ate the goop with gusto. He devoured it like it was his last meal in the world. I was instantly thankful that I had an iron stomach, I couldn't bare to learn what was used to make the goop that smelt like; a skunk that crawled up a man's ass had babies then died. 

He gave me a confused look that basically asked: 'Why didn't you get food? Weren't you hungry?' I yawned and looked away to see that every Griffin in the train car was eating the puke. Curiosity got the better of me, thus, I decided to do a check to see if the puke was enchanted. With a quick whisper of a spell, that would allow me to see if there were any special properties of the puke. I was appalled to find that there was an addictive property as well as an obedience property emanating from the puke. 'Note to self: Don't eat the Soylent Green.' I turned off the spell with a frown as I quietly ate my ham in my cage. 

After a while of utter boredom, the guy directly across from me decided to speak after the guards did their rounds. "Hey, little guy, why didn't you eat?" he whispered. I looked at him with a raised brow. "Becuase that stuff is as addictive as poison leaf. Why?"

"Blue Leaf... What's that?" he asked. The guy underneath him spoke up in a deep raspy voice that sounded old. "Blue Leaf if one of the most deadly, recreational drug in Zebraca. One bite of the Leaf will send you hallucination that would last weeks and once you had one bite, you will go insane if you don't get another trip in a week." 

"Hey kid, how do ya' about Blue Leaf and how do ya' know that the goop was addictive?" the old dude asked. 

"I figured it out a while ago," I replied. He gave me another snort of amusement. "Well, since ya' know how to fight the poison, what are ya' doing here?" 

"I am here to get information. I managed to sneak Purple Dragon in my owners drink before I was put on the train. Once I am done getting what I need, I'll be heading to the old border," I explained. The older Griffin gave me a chuckle. "Damn kid, if it wasn't for the hijacking, your little plan might have worked." 

"Hijacking, what hijacking?" I asked confused. 

"This train is going to be taken over by the rebels. Griffins will be free and thanks to them, it won't be long before that happens." 

My eye twitched in frustration just as the train began to slow down. These rebels are outright retarded. Attaching an armored train that just left Canterlot to bust out a group of Griffins and possibly capture a few VIPS was just screaming disaster. The old Griffin was smiling in triumph that his time to come and free our kind was offputting. Whoever these guys are, I don't want any part of it. 

"Well, with that revelation out in the opened. I must get out of here before I get dragged down with you morons," I said, causing train car to look at me in confusion. The old Griffin scoffed at me in resignation. "And how are ya' going to accomplish that kid?"

"I am glad you asked," I smirked. "Forma Umbra," I said, causing me to disappear and causing the group of Griffins to explode with concern. I appeared in front of the old Griffin's cage with a smile. "See ya' later," I saluted as I jumped back into the shadows and appeared right inside High Voltage's shadow. I did a quick spell and pulled him into the shadows and lead us away from the train and popped up in Manehatten, making me a little winded. 





The cold arctic wind blew across the tundra as a black, steam engine made its way over the hills. The rebels flexed their claws into the dirt in anticipation for their time to strike and free their brothers. They had their plan set out in advance. The train will be forced to stop and clear out the pile of rocks blocking the tracks. The leader of the rebels was waiting to give the signal. His imposing desire to end the tyrant of the Suns reign was going to end and this was going to mark the beginning. 

Gason watched as the train stopped and the ponies dropped out to begin to clear the tracks. He shifted in is silver armor and unsheathed his greatsword. He stood on his hind legs as he flexed out his wings. With a point of his blade, three hundred rebels in various types of armor rushed the train, killing anyone that got in their way. 

Gason smiled as the train was taken over in just mere minutes as he walked down the hill. He saw several train cars open up as their brothers and sisters in chains walked out. Gason didn't like the look they had in their eyes. He knew that they must have been fed that accursed goop that hypnotizes anyone who ate it. Pony hostages also pooled out of the train, all of them looked upon him in fear, but something was off. 

"Mendez!" Gason called out. A Griffin in silver armor that covered his entire body, preventing any detail to determine her true form from prying eyes. The only thing that could determine Mendez's identity was her smooth, silky voice, that Gason greatly enjoyed hearing. 

"Yes, sir!" She saluted. 

"Where is the baby Tom and our main Target, High Voltage?" 

"No clue sir. Our freed brothers and sisters say that the baby Tom disappeared in a cloak of shadows before the train stopped. One of them believed that the Tom had a goal and used a mind altering drug on one of the passengers. Which, judging from our intel. That someone is High Voltage." 

Gason ground away at his jaw. Not only is his main target for this risky attack was taken away by a child to do whatever. They made their escape before the train stopped. How they were able to do so bothered him. Whatever that Tom did to disappear in a cloak of shadows, was something he didn't like. He was an unknown and he didn't like unknowns.

"Find them, they couldn't have gotten far," Gason ordered. Mendes gave him a curt nod and grabbed two others and began to fly down the tracks. "As for the rest of you. Move out!" 

"Yes, sir!" 
> Chapter 6. Fun in Manehatten.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Volty Masturbation," I said as High Voltage came too from the sudden shadow teleportation, thus, causing to awaken as my sleeper slave. He gave me a curt bow as we hid in a small grove outside of Manehatten. I made sure to check to see if no one followed us, which was unlikely. He continued to bow or was he just fascinated with the ground below him? I might never know. "Rise and listen," I ordered, to which he eagerly smiled. "We are outside of the big apple because our train was derailed. We need to get a ship to take us the rest of the way to Trottingham Island. Do you know of anyone that would give us a lift?" 

"Yes master, I do," he nodded happily. "I have a friend who would happily give us a lift. She usually is located in the northern harbor, transporting materials to and from the island. She was going to be our original pick up from the train. If we get there by nightfall, we can be in Trottingham by morning." I gave him a wicked grin. "Good, act natural and lead on." 

I followed him quietly through the city and to the harbor. We got some odd looks since everygriffin that I saw had no wings. So for me to keep them must have been a rare sight to behold. We stopped for a quick bite to which I was offered that fucking goop again, to which Volt declined saying that it would hinder my skills. To which the ponies just gave him a strange look, and gave me dog food instead, which I ate despite the humiliation. I had worse, its called pig slop. 

I managed to get Volt to make several stops around the city, mostly to equip myself with things that I will need in the Old Kingdom. I grabbed; maps, climbing equipment, ropes, canteens, heating crystals, water condenser crystals, crystal inscribers and various other things that I might need. As we jumped from shop to shop, I was surprised as how much money Volt had. Where he kept it, I don't know. You would think that pockets in you fur would show, then again, I have a ship hidden within my body. 

Eventually, we came up to the harbor in question. It was a simple place with the eastern sea that was calming and welcoming to the ship masters of the mainland. We didn't see many ships other than the odd frigate. I would make a comment about the state of the harbor with all the loose rope, randomly placed pallets and the like, but I don't want to insult the mare that would me taking us to the island. 

As the sun was about to cross the horizon, we came up to the last dock of the northern harbor. To which I was impressed. There was a big ship that was reminiscent of the wonderful genre of steampunk. I would try to describe it, but it wouldn't do it justice. 

We walked to the stern to where a bunch of crates was being loaded up via walkway leading onto the ship. Volt called out to someone by the name of, SteamPunk, to which I facepalmed the most epic of face slapping. In just mere seconds of the name being called I saw a mare jumped from the ship and landed right in front of us. She was what I would expect from a mare with a name like hers.

She had a; dirty-gold mane that was in a cute, ponytail. Her coat was a light hazel with lots of oil stains near the tips of her hooves. She had a pair of brown, aviator goggles that she wore like a headband and she was a pegasus with one metal wing. She wore a brown leather jacket that the pilots of WW2 would have worn with glee and to top it all off, she had a lit cigar in the corner of her muzzle. 

'Yep, the very definition of SteamPunk girl stuff, I bet she has a cute voice too,' I thought with a giggle. 

"Hey, Zapz! How are ya?" Steam said with a very cute voice that rivaled weaponized cuteness. 

"I could be doing better, and I thought I told you not to call me that. It hurts the stallion card," he scoffed. 

'Oh god, they're dating.' 

"Well, you're no fun," she winked with her tongue sticking out. Volt rolled his eyes. "So, aren't we supposed to have met up in the small port town of Port Town?" Steam asked. 

"We were supposed to, but somepony gave me a hint that something bad was going to happen to that metal monstrosity, so we took a different root," he replied following my plan. 

"Well, I say your helper gave ya good advice," she nodded knowingly. "The train was derailed and all the ponies on it disappeared. The guard is going insane trying to figure out what happened, besides. Ships are safer anyway," she finished. 

'Huh...So they didn't get caught right away, but if there that organized. Then they must have learned that I escaped before they could do anything. Making me an unknown to them. Which is perfect for me.' 

"I have to agree with you there. Ships are way better anyways," Volt winked. Steam blushed a deep crimson, "are you trying to take my heart away?" she asked. "Nah, I'm still into stallions." 

"Dang it all. One day I will bring you to the dark side of the force," she playfully frowned. "When that day comes, I will be an ugly Diamond Dog." 

'FUCKING SHUT UP AND KISS ALREADY!' I internally screamed as we were running out of time of day. The more time I have, the more I can prepare. "I see you charge is getting sleepy. We should probably get on our journey now," Steam giggled. "I agree," Volt agreed. 

She lead us aboard her ship called the Maze Runner, to our rooms. Volt was probably getting the pussy in the captain's den while I get to spend my time in a big cage with a dog bed in the corner in the storage area. I smacked a nearby crate, causing a big hole in the side of it as I walked into my cage and got comfortable for our eighteen-hour trip. 





Gason couldn't comprehend what he just learned. One of his spies located in Manehatten told him the High Voltage was already on a ship on his way back to his lab. He slammed his claw down on his desk in the darkness of his cave hideout. With that pony on his way to continue to that accursed place that was crawling with guards. He knew he  had just a few hours before they get too deep into the militarized waters. Volt was supposed to be a trump card to take over the fort city of Trottingham. In just a few hours, his take over f that train was going to be all for not, despite it going on without a hitch. 

Just as he was about to scream in frustration, the screeching of his iron door into the room preventing him from destroying his desk. He looked up and saw Mendez walk in. "Sir," she saluted in her armor. "Mendez," Gason nodded in response. "Any word about how the target got away?" 

"Sorry Sir, nothing that makes sense, but I did learn what ship they got on." 

"Okay, start explaining the first thing then go on with the second." 

Mendez nodded,"Of course Sir. From what our freed, brothers had told us. There was a young Tom that knew a lot about what was in the Green Poison. Normally, this wouldn't signal anything too important, but what's confusing about the Tom was that he turned into a shadow and swam through the darkness like the mythical Lich King of Tartarus. From what I could put together. This Tom has taken control of High Voltage with a mind-altering drug called, Purple Dragon and was searching for information. I personally believe that this Tom used the shadows to travel long distances with Volt in tow, which is how they made it to Manehatten." 

Gason bit his lip. This Tom, the more he learned about him was becoming more and more of a concern. From being picked from the adoption center in Canterlot in just an hour after arriving, to be picked by Fancy Pants of all ponies. Followed by being taken to Volts private lab via the train and now being able to pass through shadows like nothing was something of a mystery that was looking like a nightmare. 

This Tom was an unknown, a dangerous unknown that was using whoever he comes across to get what he wants. No wonder why he was so healthy, why he knew what he knew. He must have a unicorn working alongside him that was well-versed in the dark arts and was using the young Griffin as a sleeper agent. There must be a third party making a move, and that's something he cannot have if he were to become King. 

"There must be a third party using the Tom to get into secret areas, that is the only logical explanation. That Tom must be taken out as soon as possible, so what ship is he on?" 

"The Maze Runner, Sir. Our friend would be most happy to help us take out that Tom. In fact, she will be making a stop in Port Town to pick up our smugglers. I believe that's the time when we could take him out and capture High Voltage in the process," Mendez purred through her helm. 

"Make it happen," Gason ordered as his luck was turning back around. 

"Yes, my King." 



 
> Chapter 7. Black Dragons are horny.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I slept for a few hours with the usual, no dreams, mentality. I yawned and stretched and was immediately bored. The storage area in which he was in, in a cage, was almost pitch black. I could feel the ship sway back and forth like an oversized baby crib. Still bored, I did a quick night vision spell while taking account of how big my internal mana pool is. To my surprise, it was two-thirds the size to Celestia. Happy that I had enough energy available to move the moon, but not make the stars. I worked out a spell that would allow me to turn myself into a dragon again, and if I remembered that a dragon can grow with greed in their hearts. I could use that to my advantage. 

In my head, I put together the spell in just a few moments. According to the laws of the Words of Power, this spell was a seven-word spell. which would require a large some of my mana to accomplish. The Words are raw power, but efficiency is lacking. I did a rough estimate to how much mana it would cost to do, and I was not happy that it would take half of what I could dish out. No matter, at least, I have a mana batteries ready to be used in a just in case scenario. 

Bored again after I just made my life easier in the future if I need to access my armor and weapons. I decided to explore the ship to see what was being transported. I left the cage and walked back to the crate that I punched to see what was inside. The crate itself wasn't all that fancy to look at, but I know from first-hand experiences that looks can be deceiving. I took a look into the crate and found something very troubling. I opened the crate and pulled out a familiar weapon that had a tag on it that said; 'Staff of Destruction for the study of the University of Magic.' I wondered how the fuck did a Barret M82 found its way into Equestria and a fucking perfect conditioned one too! I went deeper into the crate and found a journal. I opened it up to see if it held any answers. 

The Staff of Destruction was used during the Nightmare Moon war as an anti-dragon slayer. Dragons feared this weapon and the Griffins that used it. This weapon is heavily enchanted to give it unlimited ammo as well as protect it from all damage of any kind. The Griffins of the time, more notably, The Black Knights that aided Nightmare Moon. Used variations of this weapon in combat. Today, however, The Staff of Destruction is the last of its kind, as all models like it were destroyed during the Griffin War five-hundred years ago. No one knows where this weapon originally birthed from, but many believed the Griffins of old knew, but that information is lost along with the Kings of old.

'Well, I guess that's a good reason to add to the list as to why Celestia went apeshit on the Griffins. They had weapons that would utterly destroy her army in just a few hours,' I made a note of in my head. 

I took the gun and the journal back to my cage to add an invisibility enchantment with my new rune inscriber. It took me a few hours to get it right, but once it was in place. The M82 now called, Silence, was holstered on my back completely invisible and ready to deal damage again. 

I waited for a while for Volt to get me up for our arrival at the port town of; Port Town. If the name of the town wasn't stupid enough, then nothing else is. Couldn't the idiots that named the town to be a little creative? Like seriously. If I meet the pony that named the town, I'm going to smack him. 

My wait didn't last long after I finished working with my new gun as Volt came down with Steampunk to pick me up and bring me topside. They passed by the crate that I fixed before anyone could say anything and opened up my cage. "Come on runt, let's go," Steampunk said in a bored tone. I simply nodded and followed to two topside.

I sat beside Volt on the bow of the ship and watched the rising sun come over the horizon. Volt didn't care about it all that much though as he was more focused on our journey back to his lab. Steampunk left us be to do her own little thing in the town, which to my growing surprises, had a port that made Manehattens look like shit.  

'Ten bucks says that the rebels would try something while I am here,' I thought cynically. 

Just as I made the thought, I heard something off. There were several, heavy stepping individuals coming up behind us. A few of them sounded like they were wearing armor of some kind. All of them sounded like other Griffins. 

'Well, I guess I owe myself ten bits,' I chuckled internally. 

'Yes, yes you do.' 

'...' 

'Nope, not happening.' 

'Dang it.' 

There was a slight cough that broke my train of thought followed by an order to turn around nice and slow. Volt did so while I felt the air around us to gauge how many individuals were with us. I quickly counted ten and with a flex of my wings, I prepped my new gun that was somewhat convenient to find for my new situation. 

To my surprise, there were only three Griffins in heavy armor while the rest were wearing leather. Steampunk was in the lead with a smug look on her face. I quickly gathered my mana to do my dragon transformation spell and got ready to induce a forced greed growth, but then I thought against it. Having that card to use would be a waste in this situation. Since these rebels find me to be a threat, I need to make sure I am a big threat and showing my ace now would be a bad idea. 

"Any last words before I hand you two to the White Claws?" Steam snide. I gave her a smug grin and took notice of all the Griffins. All of which are just grunts, but the leader of the three armored ones looked like a general. She gets to live. 

"Yes, yes I do," I said as I stood on my hind legs and took hold of Silence, which a head longer than me and aimed the invisible dragon killer at one of the three armored rebels. They gave me a confused look to the motion, which gave me the opportunity to kill my first target. 

*BANG!* 





Mendez watched in horror as her most trusted Captain loose his head to a cloud of red mist and a bright flash of lightning and the boom of thunder. His blood splattered all over the deck, giving the light oak a haphazard paint job of irony crimson. She couldn't react in time as five more explosions erupted right in front of her, killing the sergeant to her left and the Griffons in the air. The rest quickly hid behind cover as the Tom made a motion that looked like he was reloading his invisible weapon, but it was fruitless. 

The target jumped on Steampunk and quickly knocked her out cold as the rest of her comrades died from the invisible weapon that went through the wood like air. Mendez stood there, petrified. The Tom was aiming his weapon right at her. He gave her a wicked grin as he made a motion that looked like he holstered it on his back while Volt took the helm of the ship and began to move it out of port. She trembled as the young Tom approached her as he pulled out a military survival knife out of thin air and brought it up to her throat. She couldn't move, she couldn't fight, she couldn't speak. She was bolted in place out of fear. What she feared the most, however, was his azure eyes that were cold as a windigos heart yet all knowing like an ancient dragon with the power to boot. 

"P-P-Please don't kill...Me," was all that she could say. The young Tom giggled with glee. "Of course, I won't kill you as you need to give your boss a message. Do you want to know what that message is?" 

Her heart raced in anticipation for her demise as she nodded rapidly in response. "Good," he said, pulling away his knife. "Tell your boss that the Prince has returned. The true Prince of the Griffins and there ain't no mage aiding in my quest for ascension. Now," he paused, bringing up his hand which was covered in sickly black mist. "Get lost." Before she could react, she was back on the shore, watching The Maze Runner continue to its destination. She failed, she knew she failed, but that's not what concerned her the most. The fact that the Tom was on his own, terrified her to the deepest parts of her soul.





I slumped down on the bow shaking. Never have I felt so sick in my life. After I shadow teleported the Griffin to shore, the adrenaline vanished as quickly as it came, and I vomited my breakfast over the bow of the ship. This wasn't how I felt the first time I killed someone, it felt hollow and empty, like the life that I took was worthless, but now? Now I feel like I should have the first time. 

I felt sickly, like what I did was never supposed to happen. My body trembled at the notion that what I did was the cruelest thing that I could have done, but this didn't last as I forced myself through it to clean up the ship before we made it to Trottingham which was just five hours away. 'I guess I grew a heart when I came here,' I noted. 

I did a few spells that got rid of the blood and stains while High Voltage threw the dead bodies overboard. Steampunk got a big memory wipe with false memories that she was knocked out by accident from a crate that fell from mismanagement. Volt was still stupidly happy that he got to be my slave, which made me realize that the spell that I used must have had an affection effect to it. I made a note of that if I had to use that spell again. 

Once the ship was clean and nobody was chasing us down. We made quick pace to the island without much problem. When Steampunk came to. She gave me a frown and asked Volt as to why I was still above ground to which he responded by saying that I was needed for my sight. A decent excuse but that didn't sit well for Steam. 

We made it to Trottingham by evening and quickly docked in the port. Volt had several things that The Maze Runner was transporting, one of the crates was the one that used to hold my gun. They were all loaded onto a carriage and were transported to his lab. With us right behind them after we said goodbye to the misinformed Steampunk. 
> Chapter 8. Friend or Foe.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Trottingham was—in all sense, one giant military base. Wherever I looked, there were; strategic forts, weapon systems, and guards. Thousands of guards. The main city made Fort Knox look like a sand castle. There were four layers of defense's leading up to the inner city. Four walls, each protecting an area that made it look like this place was a replica of the three walls from Attack on Titan. Only, they had; ballista's, cannons, catapults, oil tanks and mid-wall flame throwers. 

The first wall protected the main guard and their weapons. The second wall protected the farms. The third wall protected the main suburb and industries, and the last wall protected the main keep as well as the rich bastards, and the lab. This city was going to be my main concern when I get around to taking over Equestria. 

Nothing happened to us until we reached the central wall after we had to climb around the wall on a giant, stone, ramp, that funneled anyone insane enough to try and take the keep. It was a good tactic, but a stupid one. How were you supposed to escape if there was no main gate? Good idea, but stupid. 

When we finally got to the top, we were scanned for magical residue of any kind, before we were allowed to walk through the gate. Then after that, we were sent along a path while being guarded by guards to our designated area, which was a two-story box of concrete with only a few barred windows and a steel door with a label called, 'Lab.' After we entered said 'Lab,' we were scanned again and were questioned as to why I was with him. Volt gave him a letter of some kind to which the guard gave him a nod and we were let in without much more trouble. 

Volt guided me down empty, gray, stone halls that eventually led to a room with Volts name on the door. He did a spell that caused the door to open, revealing a spacious room with; old books, electrical equipment, and two desks; one had a coffee pot on it while the other had papers and pens and a box that looked brand new. Volt gave me a happy smile and handed me the box.

I looked at the top and saw a note. I got Volt to activate the note for me and listen to him to read it out loud. 

"Dear, High Voltage. This box contains a few scrolls that predate even the creation of the Unicornian Kingdom, several thousand years ago. The scrolls are written in a script that not even our best cryptographers can decipher. I hope that with your machines that you can make sense of what is hidden within, as these are the only scrolls of their kind. I expect a full report by the end of the month if it is possible.

From- Princess Celestia." 

I raised a brow and asked him to open it while I put on a pot of coffee. I figured that I would state my curiosity by checking out the scrolls to see if they were written in Latin. Once I was done with my quest for coffee, Volt handed me the five scrolls with his magic, to which I took and sat on a cot in the corner of the room and opened the first one. 

Entry log, 1. Date: June 21, 2016

The first few weeks since our initial arrival to this new world was hectic, to say the least. The first few days were mind numbing as my squad and I had to adjust to our new bodies and the changes that came with them. I won't bore you with the details as they mostly involve falling and wing boners. We didn't know how we got here or why we looked like griffins, but the revelation came from a being of insane proportions. 

'What the hell? This is in English!' I frowned. I knew this was English because Equis was way different. Equis symbols were very fun to write in, as well as Latin, but this! This is fucking ridiculous!

A few hours of falling on our faces, a being that called himself Discord proclaimed that he was the one responsible for our arrival, but before I get into that. I need to tell you how we ended up here in this new world first.

My name was: Jason Borne, Captain of squad 7 of the American Delta Force. We were en route to a terrorist compound when we heard an artillery shell was heading for us. I knew that we were as good as dead, but before it killed us. A light blinded us and made my squad of 8 members, collapse into unconsciousness. When we came to, we weren't human anymore, it didn't take long for us to figure out what happen to us nor how we became griffins.  

Volt gave me a cup of coffee while I silently fumed on the inside and continued to read.

All of us woke up in a clearing in a valley hidden within a mountain range. Just as all of us figured out how to walk on all fours, the being know as Discord appeared. At first, we drew our guns and took aim at him in fear, to which he responded by snapping fingers, turning our guns into bananas. He went on and on about being rude to which my second in command, Staff Sergent Jacklyn Paris, ordered him to give us the details of how we got here. I remembered those words like they were spoken to me just a few moments ago. They sent utter dread down my spine.

In 500 years the mare of the sun and the mare of the moon shall be born. One will become a tyrant while the other a slave. I created the griffins to defeat the tyrant, however,  her downfall won't be for a long while. There are just over a few thousand of you humans turned griffins. All of those that I chose are some of the best warriors and builders of Earth. It is up to you to save the world from the sun tyrant or at least, set up the foundations for the next generation to come.

After he said those words, he vanished.

It took us a week to find others and wouldn't you believe it, we found us the SAS or, at least, one platoon of 120 of them. Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Hendricks. Yeah, that was his name, bastards mom had a sense of humor that paid off in the end, made contact with Discord also. We immediately joined up after a quick discussion and began making a small settlement as a base to use… and to get out of the rain. If what this Discord had said to Jim about our original bodies was true. Then there was no going back, even if some of us denied.it. 

I froze in place, my eye was twitching like a slot machine. Discord...Discord of all people was responsible for the creation of the Griffin race, which he was trying to use to defeat Celestia before she became a tyrant! And what does he mean by, 'enslaved the mare of the moon?' Did Celestia brainwash Luna or something? I grabbed the next scroll and opened it up. 

Entry log 45. Date: September 26, 201(Scratched out.) 0001.

A few months went by with so much of a problem. We met up with the Navy Seals that were protecting a group of civilians that also got dragged into this mess. We exchanged information and learned something new and important. Apparently humans are the only thing that is a griffin on this planet. Many of us thought that there must be some native griffins to help us out, but it just so happens to be that we were the native population ourselves. Man that was a headache in of itself. 

Anyways...

Some of the civilians were scientists while the rest were engineer's of all trades. They helped out immensely with our base of operations. We no longer have to deal with the odd leak that soaked or fur beds nor did we have to deal with using our claws as tools. One of the bastards that go's by the name of George Rubric, yeah a smart ass from the get go. Has been teaching all of us how to make stone age tools. He says that once he has a suitable shelter, he could make us a soft forge. (Whatever that means), and begin working with the iron we found near the northernmost mountain in the valley. Once we have iron tools. We can begin making actual houses. Though they may be a bit spartan due to the fact that we don't have the textiles to make Victorian style housing... yet.

I finished the scroll with a frown. Clearly there must have been a lot more to this Borne guy, but if it is true that these are the only scrolls of their kind. How in the hell did they end up in Equestria of all places? Weren't they supposed to be in the old kingdom where the Griffins originated from? More questions that need answers I suppose. I opened up the next scroll and asked for more coffee. 

Entry 69. Date: October 12, 0001

Met the Spetsnaz today and they had a bunch of biologists with them, as well as doctors and nurses. Our group is now just over five hundred. And we pretty much have every; trade, soldier, scientist, and whatever, to add to our growing village. The Russians have a new part that Discord gave us on what's what. From what Discord said to them. We can fly and control the weather. Many of us laughed at the idea...At first. There was this one girl that flew up into the air and brought down a cloud and morphed it like playdoh into the shape of a chair and sat on it while it rained below her. Talk about a mindfuck right there.  

Nothing else happened other than a struggle for power that ended after 499 griffins rallied  against it. Get rekt Chekov.

'I am beginning to like this guy, but there is so much missing,' I thought, biting my lip in frustration. I opened the fourth scroll.

Entry 264. Date: May 1, 0002

As you can tell, most of my entries skip a lot. In between each one is nothing really important. Most of it is boring things like; what we ate or who figured out how to do this or do that. I am only putting the most relevant parts that are worth mentioning. Don't want to waste this particular piece of parchment on how I ate today like some white chick on Facebook. Thank god for no Facebook, but I miss the near infinite amounts of porn...

Today all of us are unified. All the humans turned griffins were found. Discord had said that when we were all in attendance. He would finish telling us what's what.

There are 2186 people in the valley we now call Eden. Discord put all the pieces together one last time before leaving us a gift. Here is what he said other than the parts that I have put into the various scrolls in my chest.

"Now that all of you are together. It is the time I told you all something important. In 500 years, the mare of the sun will enslave the mare of the moon. She will use dark magic on her and turn her into a nightmare. Griffins aren't supposed to exist in this world, but without you. The sun tyrant will rule with an iron fist and a bloody whip. I took you all before that you all perished back in your old world since all of you should be dead over there. All of you must set the foundations for the next generation to stop the tyranny when it arises. I have told you what you can do but what I have yet to tell you is that all of you can live for a couple of hundred of years. 300 is the average. I know many of you don't like this fate, but it was this or my home and yours would have suffered the consequences. Now before I leave you all forever. I leave you with this gift. "

He snapped his fingers and disappeared and left behind something that was impossible. Where all of our fur and stick shacks were, they were replaced by buildings that were reminiscent of medieval times. There was a proper; windmill, smithy, butchers and the like. He gave us the tools to thrive, but not everyone was happy. Mostly the Russians as they were the one that wanted to go home the most but they will have to suck it up and accept it like everyone else.

"There is no way...There is no fucking way that this Celestia turned Luna into Nightmare Moon!" I shouted at the scroll, causing Volt--- who was cleaning up the room--- to jump like a cat to a cucumber. He gave me a frown to which I replied with a sheepish, 'sorry,' and sat back down and continued to read the next scroll. 

Entry 5968 Date: March 2, 0326.

Not sure if anyone is reading any of these scrolls. I bet some, if not most of the scrolls would have fallen to the test of time by now. I did not put much in these pages, just a few notes here and there about things that should not be under looked. Our history has been written in all of its entirety in a special vault hidden beneath Mount Liberty. I even forgot about these scrolls for a time, only to be reminded my great granddaughter who found one of them under my bed. Bless her innocent little heart. Whoever is reading this that is a true griffin, I must tell you this. Mount Liberty is where all of or old human knowledge rests as well as how Eden came to be. Find it and use the knowledge to defeat the sun Tyrant. Since we no longer can. The entrance is at the highest peak and is guarded by the undead through hundreds of levels of pure mountain. Only a purebred can enter without a problem, so be ready. 

Anyways...

Had one final duel with my son, Mark Borne, today. Wow, I'm 325 years old on my death bed. Who would have thought I still have some fight left in me eh? Still beat his sorry flank too. One day he will learn not to get distracted by his wife and I couldn't be any prouder of him. I'll miss him and his wife and kids the most. Now, at least, I will join the heavens to where my wife, Lilith Borne, flies straight and true.

This is the last testimony of the first Griffins King, 

Jason Borne. 

I sat there, staring at the last scroll with slight resignation. My mind was screaming at me to find the rest while my body was telling me to find the mountain that will be key to the downfall of Celestia, but my heart was telling me to outright murder her and my soul was telling me to stay logical. I have millions of questions flowing through my mind right now: Why were Griffins never suppose to exist in this Equestria? Was Celestia the one responsible for Nightmare Moon? Why did these guys appear with their weapons? What does Discord have to do with any of this? How am I suppose to crush the bitch that defeated Griffins that had some of the most powerful weapons ever created and had a head start!? And...Is the vault untouched? So many questions, so little time. For now, I should gather as much as I can from this Fortress to aid in the fall of the Sun Tyrant, but where to start? 





Twilight sat at her desk inside her personal Library within her crystal castle. Glade was currently organizing the books for the fifth time this week. Twilight gave the servant a happy smile to the bandaged hen as she did her work, she lamented at the five scrolls in front of her. 

Celestia gave her these scrolls to try to decipher them in the hopes to learn their secrets, but no matter which method she tried they didn't work. She tried everything from spells to cryptography, Alchemy to guessing. Each time she failed. Twilight could tell that this language was complex just from viewing the spacing and the unique symbols that looked like was written by an artist. This mystery was straining against her mind! But she was determined to figure it out for the sake of Equestria!  

Thus, she slammed her face down on the desk with a sigh. "It's going to be another long day~" 





Gilda sat on her haunches next to Rainbow Dash on the balcony of their home. Little did the town of Ponyville knew that they were secretly a couple. It was a taboo for a Griffin and Pony to intermingle, but Rainbow Dash didn't care. She was the most awesomest friend and lover a mare could ever have! No stallion could ever keep up with her in and out of bed, but Gilda. She made Rainbow love to slow down just for her. 

They enjoyed watching the sunset before retreating to the confines Rainbow dashes cloud mansion, given to her for her work in the Rainbow Factory before it was shut down after a couple of useless pegasi escaped from being turned into the necessary ingredients that made the rainbows so perfect. She missed though's days where she got to listen to the screams of dying fillies and colts before the sound was muffled from crushing bones and tearing flesh. 

She was hesitant to tell Gilda her old job, knowing that she would most likely leave her if she did, but she will hold onto that secret. It was one that she was going to the grave along with her. She was content to be held within Glidas massive, muscular wings that made her feel so safe and protected when in her embrace. She didn't care if she was technically shunned from expressing her relationship outwardly, so long as Gilda kept staying as awesome as she is. She was happy. 

'One day Rainbow. One day I will kill you for murdering my family in that factory. Mark my words," Gilda seethed as she had to continue her facade as being an adoring lover to her archnemesis. 'Once the White Claws give the signal. You. Are. Mine.' 



 


> Chapter 9. Problem number 1! 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Gason sat with his closest Griffins around a table with a map of Equestria on top, showing areas of value and areas of danger. There were twelve in all—all of which represented the twelve kings of old. None of them were in a good mood, especially after learning the success of the mission Mendez was sent on. 

When she came back empty handed with blood on her armor, one would assume the worst of the situation she was in, but what she said didn't make sense. What did she mean that the True Prince of the Griffins has returned? What did she mean that he was alone and had a weapon that killed with a flash of lightning, a boom of thunder and it couldn't be blocked? He was forced to push it aside as one of his scouts had returned to tell him that one of his bases was ransacked by the sun tyrant and her minions. 

He chewed his jaw as he listened in on the reports of his rebellion and all of them were not what he was suppose to hear. 

Hideouts erased, supplies destroyed, soldiers captured and weapons missing. He watched as the map was updated and he didn't like the results either. In just a matter of hours after the failed train heist, he lost one-fourth of territory back to the royal guard. Hundred of griffins and pony supporters killed or in a dungeon for torture. The White Claws were being pushed back to the old border at an alarming rate. What was worse is that he lost two of his best warriors to a child on his own agenda. 

He knew that the child that called himself the True Princess was going to be a problem and it was starting to show. Gason has his best spies look into the boy and his past and found nothing that they didn't already know. Not even Celestia knows who this Griffin is, nor does she care. This boy was an unknown that was gaining power and knowledge without anyone realizing it. That fact that he got into Fort Thunder without a second look infuriates him to his very core. 

That boy that is working with the darkness is going to take his crown from him. Without raising so much as a claw. He is supposed to be the hero, not the dark mage, but how can he stop him? Gason tried to get a read on him, tried to get a paw hold on this Griffin, but each time he tried, Celestia got in his way. That Griffin was using Celestia's blindness as a shield while he plots in the background, whoever this boy is he must be stopped. 

"Sir, what do we do? We are losing ground and fast if we don't make the correct move, our cause will all be for not!" Said one of his generals. Gason looked over the map, trying to find a place to fall back on, but the only place that isn't in direct control of the Empress is the Everfree and the Frontier, but one is near inhospitable and the other is too far south that not even Celestia dares to go. Gason sighed, knowing that it was the only way. 

"Prep a regroup to the Frontier. We're leaving, tonight." 

"Yes, Sir!" they all saluted. 

Gason watched his generals leave the room, which left only him and Mendez. She shifted in her armor when he looked at her with scowled. He needed to punish her for her failure, but how? He thought about it for a moment until a grin appeared on his face. 'She can follow that Griffin and give me details of who he is working for and how he does his dark magic.'

"Mendez," Gason said. 

"Yes Sir?"  she perked up. 

"I have a job of redemption for you..."





I groaned in boredom as I finished copying another scroll and storing it in my Hammerspace. I spent the last couple of days, copying maps, reports and weak spots for the fort. In total, I have a few thousand pages of material that will be essential for the inevitable fall of Equestria. Thank Luna that what I needed from the fort was all in one room in the fort and not scattered around the city.

All I needed was the weak points for the walls, which were the flamethrower holes in the walls. One good explosion in one is enough to cause that section of wall to crumble like a Jenga tower. Aside from those plans, I needed the info for how many guards in service. Apparently, there is around five-hundred-twenty-thousand and forty-six in total. The vast majority is earth ponies while the minority is unicorns. Pegasi and Thestrals are in between. I didn't find any diamond dogs, minotaurs, dragons or griffins in the army count. I bet they aren't allowed because Celestia wouldn't like to train the non-ponies to gain an advantage over them. 

I don't blame her for thinking like that, one of those races was created for the soul purpose for putting Celestia's head on a stake. Aside from copying everything in the information store room, I copied all the advancements that were being done in the lab, which weren't really that important other than this one guy making a tesla coil with a couple of gems and a lightning enchantment. The rest was things that I already knew how to make. 

There were a few times where I was almost caught in the information store room, each time was the same pony glaring into the empty room as I hid in a vent with my shadow cloak activated. The pony even looked into the vent I was in with a glare that would make Hades proud, but he didn't find nothing and cursed the living hell as he left the room. 

Talk about an eventful week.

When I wasn't snooping around, I had High Voltage acquire some items for me. Most of the items were empty books and magic ink so I can do an experiment. After I finished the experiment, I was going to fake my death and move on to the old border. 

I sat on the cot in the corner of the room with an empty book with a simple, brown binding on it in front of me. Beside the book was a pot of glowing blue ink and a simple quill with a silver tip inside it. I had an idea after looking at a scroll that said that it was possible to imbue a book with premade spells and use said book later. It was an experimental premise that was being studied by a mare called; Sunset Shimmer, a few decades ago before she was sealed inside a mirror. 

I thought it was a good idea to try and do as a just in case I ran out of mana while in combat or in an area where magic is rendered useless. Having a spell book at my side was a good idea before I left for the border. If necessary, I could activate it and use it to teleport or enhance my spend without having to use my internal stores in a pinch during my escape. Thus, I tested it out with one word first before I started writing paragraphs. 

Volt watched in curiosity as I lifted the quill that was dripping glowing blue ink. In just a few days, Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends were going to be here to visit her Brother who was currently stationed here along with Princess Cadence. Thank Luna that they don't come into the Lab, or care about the information storage room, otherwise, I might have been dead right then and there, but that safety won't last when Twilight arrives. Volt said that she already has a pass to view the Lab and the researchers, which means I have to get out of here and fast. 

I thought of the first word that I would use. It was a simple, all-around healing spell that could only fix scratches or bruises. Once I finished writing the spell into the book, I closed the cover and etched in a rune into the face that would allow me to access the spells held within the book. Happy with the way it turned out. I cut myself with a claw and touched the book and focus my mana on moving in all directions of my body, rather than have it focused solely in my wings. To my utter surprise, the spell worked! The cut was gone, but when I looked in the book where the word was. I found that it was gone as well as a small portion of my mana. Excited that this worked and made my Latin magic five times more efficient that say it out loud. I went to work on a bunch of spells that I know I would use in the weeks to come. 






Twilight and her friends were just getting off at the port just outside of the massive fortress that was known as Trottingham. Twilight was absolutely ecstatic that her brother invited her and her friends to come and see the marvel of pony engineering as well as to check out the Lab that was responsible for the advancements in Equestria. Here; the train, airships and so much more that was invented by some of the most brilliant minds in the world! 

She jumped with joy when she got the letter in the mail and immediately told her friends about it. Rainbow Dash, was the most excited to come to the city as it was the place where the Wonderbolts trained for their military position that didn't coincide with their stunt show. Once Rainbow was finished at the academy, she will be coming here to train like a true Wonderbolt! 

The train ride, followed by the boat ride was filled with merriment as they talked about what they wanted to do once they got there. Rarity obviously wanted to check out the fashion, while Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy wanted to see the local animals. AppleJack and Rainbowdash wanted to check out the recruitment center while Twilight wanted to check out the Lab. They all made an agreement to come back to their hotel by evening to tell each other what they learned! 



 

I wiped my sweating brow as I finished the last of the spells that I have written into the book. I was quite proud that I managed to stuff in two-thousand five hundred and fifty-five spells into the book. Each time I wrote in a spell the book would morph a little, by the time I was done writing in the book. The book looked completely different now; the original binding was now black instead of brown, the face had silver, tribal markings surrounding the activation rune and the back had a crescent moon with a star in the center. It was the exact same marking that used to be on my chest. 

I looked outside to see that it was midday with the sun at its zenith. I saw that there was some commotion going on by the main gate and decided to see what was what. There was a few guards as well as Captain Shinning armor himself along with Cadence at his side. I saw the gate open and what came through was not apart of the plan! Twilight fucking Sparkle and company were one week early from their original arrival making me reel back in annoyance that I was going to have to get out of dodge in the next few hours without activating any alarms. 

I closed my new book that I named Angelus and packed up all my things into my Hammerspace. I grabbed the five scrolls and placed them on the desk next to the box and erased everything that I have done here while Volt helped clean up. I made extra sure to make me look like I was the key to uncovering the secrets of the scrolls, however, I made sure that the six letters that I chose to fake the translations which should make it impossible to finish my work without me. 

As I finished my run and burn, I hear a knock on the door. I quickly told Volt to put on the act and waited to see who was giving us a visit. The door opened to my growing worry and Twilight Sparkle walked right in. She instantly saw me and narrowed her eyes in my direction, like I was something that shouldn't be alive in this world. 

"Ah! Hello, there your Highness," Volt bowed. "I take it that you are here to absorb yourself in my work?" Twilight shook her head and directed her attention to Volt with a much friendlier smile.

"Y-Yes, that is why am I here!" she chirped. "But I have to ask right off the bat. Why is that Griffin in your lab?" she hissed at the word 'Griffin' as she points a hoof at me. 

"That there is my assistant. He is currently helping me out on a few scrolls that Princess Celestia had sent me to decipher. He is absolutely brilliant! Winter here has managed to translate six characters from  scrolls that predate the Unicornian Kingdom!" He cheered, causing the mare to narrow her eyes with a twitch in rage. "Here, let me show you." He grabbed the scrolls and my notes and showed them to the princess. 

I watched as her utter rage began to grow more and more as she views my fake notes and scrolls. Her eyes were pinpricks that let loose a twitch every now again. She pulled out three more scrolls from her personal hammerspace and began to compare them with Volts scrolls. Just as I was about to go get a snack, I heard Volt pipe up. 

"Your scroll's written style is exactly the same. Maybe if you let Winter look over them for a moment then Winter might be able to discover a few more characters to uncover this mystery," Volt smiled. Twilight didn't hide her absolute disgust to that request. "How can that little runt touch such ancient texts with claws that could destroy them!" she shouted. 

"Because he is smart and very clever, and since he was in my employ. He has given me a better outlook on the Griffin race," he frowned at the Princess of CDO. 

"Alright, fine, but I doubt he could figure out any more than what I already have," she said and handed me the three scrolls. 

'Well, if they are similar to the others. I might as well read them and plan out my suicide.' 

I carefully grabbed the scrolls carefully while Twilight practically tried to kill me with her gaze. I opened the three scrolls and read the top three numbers that showed the date and read the one with the earliest date. 

Entry 314 Date: december 21st, 516.

Today was Princess Luna's 14th birthday, it was also the day that she earned her cutie mark. I, King Mark Borne, celebrated this day along with my fellow Griffins with glee. I, as well as her best friends; SnowDrop and Princess Victoria of the Russian Communist Kingdom, were there with her family at Platinum Castle for this momentous occasion, but not everyone was happy. 

I, as well as my guard, were there to protect Luna from the sun tyrant. Tia put on a fake smile that hid her cold, hard gaze from the rest of us. At 18, she was already gaining respect for her ability to move the sun without breaking a sweat, whereas 24 unicorns used to do it in shifts. The young stallion that goes by the name of Starswirl can also see the malicious intent behind her eyes. We both had a brief conversation about what she was planning while I made sure to leave Discord out of it. We both knew she was plotting something, but we can't put a finger on it quite yet.

At least by the end of the day, Lulu was happy with her new, Griffin-sized wolf teddy bear. She did a spell to animated it and road it around the castle with the cutest smile that caused mass fainting around the palace. I only hope we can keep he smiling as bright and beau as her night sky. 

"Well, what do you think Griffin?" Twilight seethed. Volt shot her an incredulous stare. I smiled at her, with the thought that I was going to use her as my murderer. "I figured out two more letters Lady Twilight. Master Volt, can you hand me a quill and parchment so I can write them down?" 

He quickly handed me my fake notes and I added more lies to them while Sparkle was vibrating with pure malicious intent. "How many more do you think you will be able to decipher?" Volt asked. I rubbed my chin, "These scrolls have a few keys in their structure. I think I might be able to find more in the other two. Give me a second," I said, opening up the other scroll. 

Entry 404 scroll not found… Sorry, old dad joke. Date: June 21st, 526.

I can't believe what I just witnessed! Celestia, how dare you use black magic on Luna! On your own sister for fuck sakes! Today was the mark of the first Summer Sun Celebration, it was also Tia's birthday. Luna was depressed and alone in her room with only SnowDrop to give her comfort for her neglect. Tia had a huge following while Luna had very few. All she wanted was some adoration for the beautiful nights she makes, for the dreams she weaves, but her sister was taking all the spotlight while Luna…The wonderfully humble, yet naive princess cries for some sort of acknowledgment for the canvas that is her night. She wept in her sister's shadow long enough and as a result…Queen Victoria encouraged her to take a stand and that result? 

She was struck down at the Temple of Light at the top of Canterlot Mountain with a beam of dark magic that turned her into Nightmare Moon. The Thestrals of the Lunacordia fled back to the southern mountains of our continent while Nightmare fled south with her pony followers to take arms against the Sun tyrant. The twelve kings, as well as the regrouping Thestrals, are preparing for war, this is what my father had warned us about. And we all didn't see it coming despite being told decades in advanced. We will figure out how to purify her. The elements should work as her condition isn't as bad as; Groger, Discord, Sombra, or Raven Blackwing. But finding potential bearers will take a while, and time is not on our side.  

I practically almost killed everyone in the room after reading that scroll. Volt and Twilight stepped back from the pure rage that I was emitting as my claws threatened to rip apart the piece of paper in my hands. "Calm down Winter, what did you learn?" Volt said warmly. I slowed my breathing and tossed the scroll aside. "Enough to know that I have another character that would allow me to read some of the words and what I found was disturbing," I said adding another lie to my scroll of lies. 

"What were those words?" Twilight asked. I sighed, making another lie to throw her off. "Death, to, the sun, long, live, Sombra. Long, live, the, slave, king."

This caused Twilight to and Volt to real back in surprise. In actuality, I made sure it was out of order so that when Twilight read it. It would say, 'Death to Sombra. Long live the Sun, long live the slave King.' 

"What?" Volt blinked. "Read the last one, maybe you can add another character to make it clearer," Volt ordered. Twilight just blinked, trying to formulate a response to what I said, while I read the next one. 

Entry 626 Date: 533 October 31st.

It's a sad day today. The Thestrals, Griffins, Minotaurs, Zebras and the Loyalist run for the hills as the sun tyrant gloats over her victory today. I can see in the sky, on the moon is a mare, which means Luna lost and 1000 years of so called, 'Harmony' begins. The loyalists ran to the frontier…or what was left of them. Celestia won't dare to go down there as it was a place where dragons ruled…or so she thinks. The Black Knights cleared out that southern continent to start a colony for the Lunar Republicans. Which was a boon for our resistance.

The Thestrals have closed off their borders into Lunacordia and I, and the Twelve Kings stand at the ready for retaliation of the sun bitch. Luna, if you can hear me. I'm sorry that we were too late. 

I am sorry.

I frowned at the last paper as I went through the last notes of how I was going to fake my death in my head. I was frustrated that the sheer numbers of warriors lost to Celestia. If they were to push forward after Luna fell, then they could have won. They could have sent the Sun Tyrant running for the hills, but yet? Luna fell to a corrupt weapon that was meant to bring peace to the land. I bet Discord lost on purpose to aid the next generation in the future. I wondered who was Raven Blackwing? I wondered how in hell Princess Celestia could use dark magic without being taken by its embrace? More questions for later I suppose. 

I placed the scroll down and finished my scroll of lies. I told them what I thought about the scrolls and how I could finish translating them if I had more while I prepped a golem spell in my hammerspace. I made sure the golem would have my magic signature to make sure that no one could make it look like it was a fake while Twilight and Volt argued that I was smarter than the CDO book freak. I gave a yawn and prepped my servant spell and aimed it at Twilight to begin my escape. 


> Chapter 10. Escape from Fort Knox 2.0!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Twilight Sparkle sat in front of a dead body of a familiar Griffin in front of her on top of the roof of the Lab. Before she could make sense of what was going on, the sound of the Labs Siren went off and a shouting ponies in golden armor came into view. Just as she was about to go investigate what was going on, she was tackled to the ground and a yellow pony began shouting at her with Shinning armor right beside him. 

She couldn't make any sense of what was going on around her until her brother shoved a piece of paper in her face. She looked at it in utter confusion. It was in her hoof-writing, but the message was something she couldn't put her head around. Why would she erase her memory of an act that she didn't do? Why would she use a spell that only works on her and her friends? Why is there blood on her hooves? So many questions enveloped her mind just as High Voltage began demanding for reparations for his loss. 

"I demand payment for the only pony in Equestria that was capable of uncovering the secrets of scrolls over three thousand years old!" Volt shouted. "Do you have any idea how valuable that Tom was?! He was worth millions of bits! Millions! Do you know how pissed Fancy Pants will be when he finds out that his investment was killed? Well...Do you!" Volt seethed at Twilight. She shrunk back from his gaze as Shining did a few spells to make sure that this wasn't fake, but the expression was leaning towards that his own sister killed a mere child for a reason, he will never know, but judging from Volts shouting. The Griffin could do something that Twilight couldn't and her perfectionist attitude got in the way. 

"Why would she do this?" Shining asked Volt. Volt snorted in disgust. "Because my assistant managed to translate an old scroll that the young princess here couldn't. I could feel the utter hate to the young Griffin pouring out of her like a raging river. I bet her hate for Griffins drove her to kill him so that she could take all the credit. And she did it in a way where she can't be charged with the crime." Volt pointed at Twilight. "Get her out of my Lab, she is not allowed back unless she is accompanied by Princess Celestia herself," Volt hissed. "Now then, if you will excuse me. I got to make a trip to Canterlot to tell Fancy that our prize has been ruined."  

"BBBFF, I didn't do anything, I swear!" Twilight begged. Shining just gave her a disappointed gaze. "I checked to see if this wasn't faked with spells that Celestia taught me herself. I am sorry Twilight, but you did do this. Sergent, Corporal. Take her to the dungeon for the destruction of High-valued Property." 

"Yes Sir," the guards Saluted. Twilight Slumped her head in shame as she was dragged to the prison. 





I recovered from the teleport that I got Twilight to use on me before I set the plan in motion. I got her to teleport me to the eastern beach of the Old Kingdom. It was a simple, blind teleport that I knew she could do without a problem, but the problem was how disorientating the spell was on the send-y. 

I shook myself to get rid of the sand the was in my fur and took a look around. If I remembered correctly from what I learned from Twilight Sparkle, Griffinstone was the only town where Griffins are free to do as they please, but it was a town of poverty. That word didn't sit well with me, I feel like I had first-hand experience with it, but now is not to look back in my life to confirm my discomfort. 

I pulled out a map of the land and saw the location that I was going to. It was roughly a four-day walk to the town...From the station, which is on the other side of a small mountain range. It was a six-day walk if I wasn't to go that route, which was fine with me. I needed some time to myself to figure out something that has been bugging my mind. Some days, I feel like I was missing something, something important, yet, no matter how much I searched for it. I couldn't quite find it, but I knew it had something to do with my mind. I was hesitant to use magic on the subject, but if I meditate, which caused me great joy just thinking about it. I might be able to find a clue to figure out what was missing. 

Putting that thought aside for later. I closed up the map and placed it into my hammerspace. I did a quick stretch with my wings, then jumped into the air and went south along the beach to Griffinstone. 

I flew until evening without stop. I needed to get as far as I could and quickly away from the island fort. I didn't want to find out that my false murder didn't work. I managed to fly two days worth of walking in just a few hours while following the mountain breeze. This was a great help as it gave me a huge head start if a group of guards was on the chase. 

I landed in a small clearing in the forest that bordered the mountain range and the beach. I did a quick look around and found a small cave to make a temporary camp for the night. I pulled out a small, fur bedroll from my hammerspace and pulled out my new knife so that I can hunt for some fresh game. As much as I loved premade food, nothing beats; fresh, bloody, rabbit. which was a thought that didn't make sense to me, as I don't remember when I had a rabbit in the first place.

I left my cave after collecting some firewood. The sun was setting, the cold mountain breeze was ruffling my fur and the feeling of dirt beneath my paws was rather soothing. With my knife over my shoulder, I let my body take over in a way that felt alien. I crawled low to the ground, making sure that I was downwind. I used my wings to glide over the ground in such a way, that I was silent. I weaved through the underbrush like the perfect predator and found my prey within a few seconds.

I saw a rabbit, a big brown rabbit with horns. A jackalope. The mutant didn't smell me as I was downwind. I crawled silently, keeping him in my vision. He didn't see me, slowly crawl up from behind like a shadow, but without that spell. I tensed up my haunches, ready to make a pounce. I licked my lips, ready to bit down on his plump neck and taste the blood of a fresh kill. My heart raced as I count to three. 'One, Two, Three!' I shouted internally as I pounced. I bit down on his neck and whipped my neck, snapping his neck, cleanly and without damaging his fur. The rabbit couldn't struggle, couldn't run away. I walked back to the cave with my dinner with a strange fire in my heart and a rabbit dangling from my jaws. 





Gilda watched from a distance with her friend Gloria as a little Griffin with a black bandana around his neck pounced on their hunt like a wolf. They watched in horror as the little Griffin snapped his neck so fast that the rabbit in his jaws went limp before it could run or even fight for its life. Gilda felt sick to her stomach as she saw the predatory smile envelop the little Griffins face as he dragged the kill in his jaws to wherever he was going. 

Gilda could see that Gloria was absolutely horrified at the sight they just saw. Gilda knew the she was a major pacifist and vegan that hated meat. If it wasn't for the fact that the killer was a child, Gloria would have beat the living shit out of the Griffin. 

Gilda sighed, hungry and bored. She didn't like the fact that the White fangs gave her a mission to go to Griffinstone to wait for a package that was going to be delivered there for their cause while the rest of them ran to the Frontier. She had Gloria as a backup if she were to fail, which was something that she didn't expect. Gloria was a lover, not a fighter. Gilda couldn't wrap her head around why they would send a medic to help an assassin on a package with a scroll that is said to be as old as the lost city of Eden. 

Gildas' stomach shouted at them, screaming that it needed food. Gilda put away her recurring thoughts, knowing that whoever that little Griffin was, he must have a friend nearby. 'Maybe they got some food?' Gilda thought. She motioned to Gloria to follow as she silently followed the young Tom back to his hideout as a pair of nasty clouds began to fill the night sky. 





I gutted the rabbit and expertly slice it up and placed the pieces of meat on a flat stone beside my fire to cook as I skinned the rest of the rabbit for the fur and for the horns. I placed the entrails in a hole outside of the cave and buried it with a turd that I had to pass to cover the scent from predators. When I came back, there were two Griffins waiting for me, wearing light armor and one of them had a short sword and bow. 

I gave them an innocent smile and greeted myself. "Hello, how may I help you?" The two girls gave me a smile back, but the one in less armor had a hint if disgust. "Hey, my name is Gilda and this is my friend Gloria. We were heading to Griffinstone when we had to stop to get something to eat. We saw you catch that rabbit which was an awesome kill by the way," Gilda said. 

'Should I know her?' I thought. 'She seems very familiar. Though she reeks of White Claw. I got to be careful around her. 

"So, is there someone else with you? A little Griffin like you can't be alone," Gilda said causing red flags to go off in my head. 

"I'm alone," I replied. This caused both Griffin's to frown. "If you are alone, then what are you doing out here?" Gloria asked. 

"I am traveling to Griffinstone. I stopped here to get something to eat and to rest. Why?" 

Both Griffin's frown deepened. "Okay, so why are ou heading to Griffinstone?" 

I yawned and began to eat my catch right in front of them, they were clearly hungry, which is why they were hunting. I bet I caught their kill right under their nose, causing them to follow me betting that someone older would share, but it's my kill and they need to respect that. I made a quick lie to keep them off of me. 

"I am heading to Griffinstone to search for a home away from the ponies. I learned that it was the only place where Griffins can be free, even though it was not very pleasant to live there," I said. "Why are you going there?" I asked them. This question caused them to stiffen up. 

"We are going to pick up a package," Gilda said, clearly hiding that is a half truth. Time to make a guess to open up them up more. 

"Does it have to do with the Elder Scrolls?" I asked. Thier reaction told me everything that I needed to know. Another one of those scrolls is being taken to Griffinstone to be picked up by the White Claw. They most likely think that this will give them an edge if they could translate it. I can also assume that this scroll would have the most important information that could lead to Eden, where I can begin my search for the Vault. I need that scroll. 

"E-Elder Scrolls...What are those?" Gilda stuttered. 

"They are scrolls that hold information of the first Kingdom of Eden. I managed to get my claws on nine of them, and I can read and translate them," I said. Both Griffins eyes widened in shock at my half-bluff. I will kill them once I have the scroll, or enslave them to make them my puppets and spies for the White Claws and their stupid cause. 

"Okay then," Gilda said as I finished my meal. "Grab him." 
> Chapter 11. Problem number 2!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	'Elder Scrolls! That's what they are called! That was just a bluff, a couple of words that felt familiar, I didn't think that was something was a thing. At least, I will be delivered to Griffinstone, even though I am tied up in a way that I could easily break out of. They think that I am captured, but I can easily break out. Since I am being taken to the scroll which could hold the location of Eden, I need to deal with my current problem. The bathroom. 

"Can I use the bathroom?" I asked as we flew over a mountain, at the other side of the mountain, one could see Griffinstone's large, tree-like castle hanging off of another mountain. We flew for a few hours and covered a lot more than I would have on my own. What could have taken me days, took mere hours. Man, I miss being big. 

"You can hold it until we make it to the safe house. It's just a half an hour away," Gloria happily replied. Gilda—The Griffin that I was tied to, shot her an angry frown. "You don't need to tell him anything, Gloria. If he can read the Twelve Scrolls of Eden, then he doesn't need to know what we are in case he is a spy for the tyrant." 

"Sorry," Gloria sighed, leaving us back to silence for the rest of the trip. 

We landed outside at the base of the mountain just under the castle. Wherever I looked was rock, bush, rock, rock and look! More rock. Gilda dragged me to the wall of rocks while Gloria followed behind. I groaned as I was dropped on a pile of jagged stones, just out of sight from what Gilda did to cause a magical door to open up in the rock. 'I hate rocks,' I groaned internally. 

I was dragged in, causing small cuts on my side, We walked into a room that had a small table, a couple of wooden chairs and a couple of bottles of booze on a shelve carved out of the wall. I was tied to one of the chairs while Gilda pulled out a bottle of Wild Pegasus whiskey, causing that same familiar itch that has been bugging me for quite some time. 

Just I was about to whine about needing to use the little Griffins room. Three individuals walked in; two griffins, one pony, and a locked crate. The pony was none other than Steampunk herself, the second she saw me, she pulled out a revolver and aimed it at my head. The two other Griffins jumped into action and aimed their muskets at me as well. 

"Can you put down you weapons?" Gilda asked from..Somewhere. Gloria was the only one that I could see but Gilda was hiding in the dimly lit room. 

"No gonna' happen, not with him" Steam pointed at me with a trembling hoof. 

"What do you mean? What did he do?" Gilda asked again. 

"He single-handedly killed Nightmare squad with the Staff of Destruction that he stole. You think he is captured, but in reality, he can get out of his binds at any time he wants," Steam explained. 

The went cold in a matter of seconds, just as Gilda and the others were about to begin making a move, I did my slave spell. "Deus, Meus," I said, causing every person in the room to convulse and collapse into a foaming mess of twitching and screaming. 

The five bodies rose up with a creepy smile on their faces. I rolled my eyes and got them to stand in the corner of the room, then I asked for the scroll and asked what they knew about them. Apparently, there was only twelve of them in total. They were found in a pile of ash in the Castle of the Everfree. The only ones of their kind that Princess Luna had as a gift from the Demon known as Raven Blackwing, the seventh queen of the Canadia. Which is the kingdom we are currently in. Nice to know that a necromancer ruled the Griffins during the fall of the Griffins. Aside from the annoying droning of my new friends, I read the scroll. 

Entry 2. Date: January 12th, 1248.

I, Queen Raven Blackwing, am the only one of the Griffin race that can read and write in the old tongue. This was a fate that as going to happen...Sooner or later. Our Ancestors gave us this way of writing and we abandon it for the venomous language that the Sun Tyrant uses in her land of bigotry. I can safely say that only I and I alone can read what's hidden in the vault where our creation lies protected by the greatest of dark magics. Groger, my master, may be dead, but I live. I am grateful that the elements of harmony saved me from a dark path and for giving me immunity to the dark arts all those years ago. Even though I was forced to be wed to an asshat, tell kingdoms view me as the forebear to Celestia's destruction. 

We have the; rage, the hate, the want, the numbers to have our revenge, but we are not ready. It will take some time before we can mount a blitzkrieg to destroy her and her ponies that she rapes with her golden hooves. I can't wait to see her face as we burn her castle to the ground. 

Other than plotting my revenge. I cut the cock off of my husband for trying to bed me. There is only one Griffin that can have my innocence, sadly I have yet to find him. One day, I know I will, and I will love to  be wrapped in his embrace and live the life of a housewife, but I know that day will never come...

"So, that was telling," I thought out loud. I was kinda hoping that this one would have an actual location of the hiding place of Eden, but alas, life still likes to mess with me. 'Why can't anything be easy?' I thought. I made a copy of the scroll and put in my hammerspace and threw the original back into the crate. As much as I want some meat shields to protect me from The Tyrant, I will need them inside the White Claw to gain any and all information of the retards that think that they can save the world with their gorilla warfare. So I made a plan. 

"Gilda?" I called out. She stepped forward from the line. "Yes master?" she said. "I need you and Gloria to go sleeper and continue your original mission. Gather as much information as you can, and at you safest convenience, bring it to me. Your safe word is Cumdeling, now go and don't remember me," I ordered. She gave me a nod and took the crate with Gloria followed close behind. I looked at over to the other three and called out Steam. 

"Yes master!" she beamed. 

"I need someone that can give me information on the inside. Judging by how good you are at smuggling, I need the final two Scrolls, can you get them for me?" I asked. 

"I know the guy that has them!" she cheered. "His name is Lexicon Normacryptic. He is the guy that has been giving the White Claw all the information of the Sun Tyrant and he is my brother." 

'She is part of the White Claws? That's interesting.' 

"Good, I want you to get him to make a copy of both scrolls and tell him that we have the translation guide. If he comes with you, loose him. I can't have anyone knowing that I am alive and your safe word is, Parthanyx. Go sleeper and get back to me in a week," I ordered Steam, she gave me a happy nod, leaving me with the other two Griffins. 

"Who are you and what do you do?" I asked the Hen to the left. She stepped forward. 

"I am Yokonokoshodico or Yoko for short. I am a Bowman and Corporal first class of the White Claws. My mission is to protect Steampunk while my brethren retreat to the Frontier. I am to wait for her in Griffinstone as she does several trades to our cause." 

'That's good, I can use her as a contact while I hid here and wait for the scrolls,' I noted. "And you," I pointed to the Tom. He stepped forward and Yoko stepped back. 

"I am Tom, yes my mother was very vindictive. I am Swordmaster and Sergent of the White Claws. My mission is the same as Yoko's, but I have a special order to find an artifact know as the Statue of Borealis."

'Huh, I know where that is, having that will give me an edge over the White Claws if they are going to grab it for the moral enhancement that it emits.' 

"Good," I began, causing Tom to step back alongside Yoko. "I need you two be my eyes and ears when we are topside in the town. I don't like this hideout so we will need a new one. So your first mission is to go find one that doesn't look like we are hiding something. Both of you are to act as my guardians as well that you adopted a year ago. Go sleeper and Yoko, your word is dickdisco and as for you Tom. It's Cuntface Mcgee." 

"Yes master," the both said in unison and left the room, leaving me alone with the bottle of Wild Pegasus. 

'Why is that name so familiar?' I asked myself as I took a swig and began making backup plans if I am discovered here. 





Twilight sat behind bars with a big fine on her hooves. She was ashamed of herself for what she did, but the fine wasn't what she would have imagined. A few million bits to repay both High Voltage and Fancy Pants. She sighed, wondering how she was going to pay them back. It was just a Griffin, how can that Tom be so valuable? She kicked herself for losing her temper and going out of her way to hid the crime, she would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for the anti-teleportation spells guarding the keep. The fact that she had to do a huge blink that took half of her magic just reinforced her charge when her lawyer tried to put this on a frame scandal, but they knew she used spells that only she can do. Even Princess Celestia, her mentor came to the courtroom to try and disprove her crime, but no matter how hard she tried. Twilight was guilty and the Princess was the nail in the coffin. 

Twilight sighed in her cell as she waited for her friends to pay for her thirty-day bail. She could her a collection of hooves come down the darkly lit stone halls that were so crisp and square, one would think that they were in a perfect cube. 

Rarity was the first to poke her head in her cell. Applejack and Fluttershy were next. Twilight wondered where the others were, Rarity saw the question and told her that they were waiting at the port for them to leave. None of them made any comment about the whole ordeal as the walked to the port and back to their small town called Ponyville. 

Luna sighed as she watched the girls quietly made their way out of the dungeon. Luna couldn't fathom why the young princess didn't feel any remorse for taking a life, yet she felt guilt for the fine. Luna couldn't say anything about how the Griffins were being treated or why. The only answers she got from the nobles was that it has always been. Luna came to the island after Discord had told her that there was one that has the capability to give her the answers she needs. 

Discord said that this one knew the truth about the creation of the Demon that possessed her all those moons ago and how this person was the one that was going to free the Griffins. Luna was surprised that the individual Discord described wasn't part of the White Claws, the rebel group that has been causing harm to the country. That he knew that they would fail. She has been searching relentlessly in the dream realm to find this Griffin, but Discord had to tell her last night, that his mind is blocked by a very complex spell that has taken hold most of his memories. She remembered those cryptic words the freak said to her. 

"You won't find him as he is the true definition of darkness. The shadows worship him as he has tamed and purged himself of a dangerous curse. He is the tamer of Demons and seducer of Angels. He will unlock his memories in time and when he does. My he show mercy to us all. "
> Chapter 12. The Archive of Shadows. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I walked through the decrepit town that was known as Griffinstone with my so called: "Parents." Our mission for the day was gathering climbing gear so that we can get the Statue of Borealis. We walked with minimal gear so that we don't get mugged. I didn't want to pull out from my billions of bits worth of treasure that I was hiding on my ship. I was going to need all that cash to build an army, a real army to fight the Sun Tyrant. 

It was the second day in the town and from the information that Yoko gave me, there was no guard posted here, but if the Griffins wanted to trade, they had to go through the diamond dogs further down the mountain. It was sickening to see the Griffins suffering for their freedom. Most of the Griffins that I saw were Hens as all the Toms were out hunting for their families, so finding a Tom was rare during the day in the town unless he was a shopkeeper or tour guide to rack up the cash. 

'If I wasn't on a deadline, I would happily help these poor bastards,' I sighed internally. 

We walked past the white tree castle and down the road to a shop that looked like it should be condemned. The shop had a sign that told the unlucky people that it was a climber and traveler shop. Sadly, it was the only place where I think I could get something decent. With my safety and my minions safety aside, we walked in. 

Tom walked up to the counter while I sat on top of Yoko. The brown Falcon Griffin with a stubby lynx tail hit the bell to signal the owner of the shop. In a second a bored looking Hen popped up and leaned on the counter. 

"Hey, what can I get ya?" the Hen said in a jagged voice said that sounded like she was from the broncs. 'What the fuck is the broncs?' I asked myself. 

"Hey, we need lots of rope, climbing gear, picks, studs, and helmets and a few lanterns," Tom ordered. 

"Is that for you, or all of ya'? she asked. "All," Tom replied. The Hen grabbed the things and typed them into an old register. I saw a few hundred bits popped up and Tom gave the money despite that being a total rip-off. 

We left the shop feeling violated of our wallets and made our way to the cliff where we could get the Statue. While I waited for Tom and Yoko to get the Statue, I sat on the edge of the ravine and watched the two propel themselves down. If I remember correctly, the bottom lead into Tartarus where the one eyed beast rested. Thank Luna I wasn't the one going down there again. I don't want to have to fight that thing again. 

As I waited, the word, 'remember,' kept coming into my thoughts. It was like a festering itch that I had to scratch. What's more annoying is that I knew words that I don't ever remember learning. I knew something was wrong with my memory, but I couldn't place I claw on it. I remember my entire time in my old Equestria. Was there something missing? How was I supposed to figure out what it is that I am missing? I made a note to acquire more magic ink so that I could make a tome that would allow me to explore my own mind, to see what is wrong as I saw the two come up with the statue in their claws. I sighed and put the thought aside and put the statue of Borealis in my hammerspace. 





Gason looked over the scroll that Gilda and Gloria gave him as they were sent back to be stationed in Griffinstone as spies. He didn't like the fact that the scroll was written in a lost tongue that is near impossible to uncover. The only one that came close was a Griffin that was killed before he was done translating it. After that Griffins demise, all his notes were locked up in the Canterlot Archives. 

Gason knew that he would have to start at square one with this scroll. He didn't know how long it was until he uncovered it's secrets, but he knew he had a short amount of time. He placed the scroll aside and called in one of his guards before the ship sets sails for the Frontier. A Griffin in black armor walked in and gave Gason a salute. "Yes sir?"  he asked. 

"I need you to give Gilda some items in order for her to make her job easier," Gason ordered. "Of course, Sir," the Griffin said as he dismissed himself out of the room. Gason sighed, wondering what Gilda his daughter would need. He knew that she would need information to make her job easier. Knowing her, she would most likely make a group of spies to improve profit as well as a group of assassins to take out problems that would lead back to the White Claws. "I wonder if I should tell her that I am her real father and that her mother died giving birth to her," he muttered under his breath. Little did he know, Gloria was listening in by her masters orders. 





Twilight walked back into her castle with a sunken expression on her face. She felt violated that a Griffin she killed made her life slightly more miserable. She trotted down the halls to get a cup of coffee to enjoy while she tried to find the funds to pay off her charge within the next few years. Knowing herself, she could make a system that would make it possible, but the work that she would have to do would not give her the time of day to have fun with her friends. 

She walked into her private study where Glade was humming a small tune while she cleaned the place of the dust that threatens the cleanliness of her safe space. Glade saw her master walk in and sat down at her desk, hovering over a few sheets of parchment and inkwells. Instantly, Glade finished her chore and walked over to the kitchen to get her what she would need. 

Twilight sighed as Gloria put a steaming hot cup of Joe. Twilight noticed that she was waiting for her next order like the little Tom that violated her. The more she looked at her and her happy smile, the more anger she felt for the Hen. It was like the Tom, happy and innocent. She hated that smile. Just as she was about to shoo her away to sort out the Library, a dark thought came to mind. It will be a while before Spike gets back from his time in Canterlot and her friends are busy with their own chores for the rest of the day. 

Twilight needed to vent her frustrations on something. There was a lot of stress built up like her time with Moondancer back in Canterlots School for Gifted Unicorns. 'Yes, that's it!' she cheered internally. She was going to use a spell on her that she and Moondancer loved to use to relieved each others stress after a tough exam. With an evil grin, she activated the spell and stood up. 

"Glade, can you bend over the desk for me for a second? I need to check your bandages," she lied as the large member in between her legs grew hard with anticipation. Glade happily complied as she spread her legs wide open for Twilight and looked forward. Twilight licked her lips as she pinned Glade down with her magic. Glade struggled in fear as she felt a large, long cock rub against her flower. She whimpered in fright for what was going to happen. "W-W-What a-are d-d-doing master?" Glade began to cry. 

Twilight grinned. "Violate you like that Tom did to me." 

"Please, master," she begged, but it was no use. "Master..." Twilight went deeper. "Please..." Glade begged through sobs. "No-AHHHHHH!" Glade screamed as Twilight rammed her member deep into Glade, starting Glades true torment for being a Griffin. 





I smiled as I walked through the tree castle that Raven Blackwing used to reside. I decided to go snooping through the castle after I finished making a fake version of the statue and placing it back where the real one used to be. I managed to get Tom and Yoko to find us a place, and we ended up buying the castle...Somehow. I gave them five-thousand Bits to buy a place for us to hide in and they bought the castle with the assumption that I was their King and that a King needs a castle. I wasn't complaining but the sentiment kinda shocked me. 

I knew that the HiveWill spells are some of the most viable mind spells as they didn't compromise the caster, so long as the mana pool is bigger than the victims. Unlike the other types of mind spells, like; Will, Rend, and Control. The Hive series is absolution based but it is very easy to block, but impossible to break free from once you are trapped. 

The upside to the Hive Series is that it can be turned off and the victim can't remember what happened to them. This allows the caster to plant subconscious orders that they will follow without realizing it. The downside is that it isn't ethical like all mind-rape spells, but I don't care because it is easy to fix. 'So what's with the King stuff?' I asked myself. 

I shrugged, thinking that they may have heard the plant I made to that one Griffin in armor back in Port Town. 

I walked into the throne room, looking for anything that may have been left behind for a Griffin that was loyal to the Twelve Kingdoms to find. There was a big ivory throne that loomed over the room. At the center of the room was a table where the Statue of Boris must have sat. The rest of the room was barren except for the windows and the ivory tree branches that make up most of the castle. I figured that the throne was a good place to start so I jumped onto it and looked around the room as the Blackwing would have. 

I sat there for an hour, looking at every single detail that may have given me a clue to the secrets of the tree castle. No matter how hard I looked I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary, so I decided to cheat. I focused my magic and said the magic words. 

"Ostendo," I said. Within a second, a light in my vision showed a lever that opened up to a secret room underneath the throne. I kept the spell on so that I wouldn't have to deal with any traps down bellow. 

I reach for the lever which was hidden underneath the table. There was a hiss of the wind before the throne moved to the left, revealing the secret passage to me. With a smile, I walked down into the hole which leads to a staircase that was lit up by light gems. I walked into the staircase and as I went further down, I heard the throne moved back into place its original position. I cracked a smile at my genius for the overpowered cheats and walked into the unknown. 

I walked for what it felt like hours, down a spiral staircase before I hit the bottom. At the bottom was a hall that looked like it was carved with a rusty spoon, at the end of the hall was an iron door that was slightly ajar with a glowing, orange light. 'I'm not alone,' I noted as my spell revealed a body that was slightly smaller than me. "Obvolvere Gradibus," I whispered, making my steps silent. I activated my shadow cloak and walked towards the door. 

I silently walked down the hall and looked into the room. Inside was a giant library. Books ever placed all over under a roof that looked like the night sky. I could assume that there were a few thousand books in the library, I can further assume that this was an archive that Blackwing herself made during her rule. I trekked in, keeping my eyes on the blob of light that was at the far end of the archive. I hid in the shadows and crawled my way closer to the body and what I found was confusing. 

Sitting at an old desk that looks like something like a small tree, shaped into a desk was a Griffin. A girl Griffin with short black hair on her gray head. Her cat half was also black. She had a tail that was similar to a panther and her eyes had wisps of black that made it look like she was wearing black mascara. Her eyes were silver and the tips of her wings were also black. 'Talk about goth if I ever saw one.' 

'Ten Bit's says that she is Raven Blackwing incarnate," I thought. 

'You're on,' my brain replied. 

I undid my spells and walked up to the Griffin with towers of books and scrolls around her. I tapped her shoulder, causing her to jump out of her seat like a cat to a cucumber with a cute, 'Eeep!' She rubbed her behind as she glared at me for a second before realizing that she was not alone. Just before I was about to ask her a question, she jumped into a battle stance and hissed at me. 'She fucking hissed at me,' I sighed internally. 

"Who awe you and how did you get into my secwet space?!"  she demanded with a cute voice that was the very definition of adorable. 

"Shouldn't I be asking you that? You are in my castle by the way," I shot back showing her the deed that I pulled out of my saddlebags. Her frown deepened. 

"This is m'wy castle worm!" she shouted at me. "I bet you can't understand the langue of half the books in here!" 

'Time to win some Bit's.' 

"I know; English, Russian, Equis, German, French, Zebracian, Japanese, and Binary," I said. The girls jaw dropped and her stance relaxed. She stared at me with a confused glare like I just said something that shouldn't have ever come out of my mouth, so I continued. "But, you know one of the languages as the old tongue of Eden. So, tell me. Is your name Raven Blackwing by any chance?" I asked. 

"Are you a spy of the sun twywant?" she asked. 

"No, I am currently searching for Eden to take her down off of her throne. I'm also currently using the White Claws—A Griffin rebel group, as a shield, while I plot in the background," I briefly explained. 

"I, s'wee. So awe you older than you appear?" she asked. I nodded. 

"Good, It makes taking over your mind that much more fun," she said as I black mist wrapped around her claws. I reacted before she could do anything and did a spell to protect myself from the dark magic, even though I am immune to it. "Scutum de Lumine," I said, creating a shield of light around me, which destroyed the mist that she launched at me in order to take control. I gave her a smirk as her eyes widen in shock. I cast another spell, trapping her in chains of shadow. 

I walked up to the struggling Hen in annoyance. I knew I was at my limit for my HiveWill spell and I needed a free space for Luna if I encounter her, so I could not use that spell on Raven. I kicked myself for winning another bet and stared deep into her eyes that I forced her to look into. "You will obey me Raven," I hissed. 

"I am stronger than you, smarter than you. I will NOT have a moronic cunt get in my way from freeing my race. I don't care that you did the reincarnation spell to get where you are today, but what I do care about is your knowledge. Since I can't use my mind spells on you as I need the spot for Luna, I will make you bend to me the other way. So are you going to struggle and fight, or are you going to bow down to me?" I finished as I saw her fear envelope her body. She was trembling like a leaf in the wind. I wouldn't be surprised if she was thinking the millions of ways that I could use to break her, which I hope that she wouldn't force me to do. 

"...a..." she whimpered quietly. "What was that?" I ordered. 

"I-I-I w-will, obey," she stuttered-whispered. "Speak up!" I demanded. She cringed at the shouting. 

"I will obey, m-master. Please, don't hurt me," she said clearly. I focused a spell that will prevent her from backstabbing me later. 

"Adligamentum Animus," I whispered, causing an emerald chain to wrap around both of our necks and connect. I let her go and the chain disappeared. 

"W-W-What did you do?" she asked, shaking in place. 

"If I die, if I get hurt. So will you. Since you used the reincarnation spell. I will also reincarnate with you. Only I can break this spell and if you attack me, only you will get hurt," here face sank in horror at what I was saying. "So, it will be in your best interest to make sure I am healthy at all times. Got it?" I growled. 

"Y-Yes, master." 
> Chapter 13. Perspective. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	'I can't believe it!' Raven kicked herself as she was dragged by her captor, 'I was beaten by a Void Knight and I didn't even realize it until now!' Raven struggled to break free from the ethereal, emerald-green chains that bounded her to her new master as she was dragged by his two minions to his study in the castle with him at the lead. 'Of course, It had to be Void Knight, a master of all forms of magic and hunter of Chaos. What's worse is that he is trying to bring order to the realm. I should have sensed him earlier, as beings have a unique scent to them. Now that I am bounded to him, the scent of Twilight is all that I smell near him. He practically reeks of it!' 

Raven said in her head, but little did she know, Winter was listening on her self-abuse, learning a thing or two about himself that he didn't know about. 

'Of course, it had to be a Void Knight. I wonder who is his sigil. The one to give him the title of Knight. I can tell that he is not as powerful as the Alicorn or even me, but what he lacks in raw power he makes up for in creativity of the Void tongue. His sigil must have given him all the knowledge about the Void tongue with a soul spell. Whoever that was, I want to kill him.' 

I sighed as she continued to go on and on about the many ways she wants to kill me and Dexter, my so-called sigil. Out of boredom as we walked into the master chamber with a brand new king-sized, four poster bed made out of fur. There was a desk in one corner of the room where I had a few empty books and some magic ink to make more Tomes for later. I sat on the bed and watched as Tom and Yoko left the room, leaving me and the livid Necromancer. 

I watched as she tried to break free, only to be clotheslined when she got to far away from me without my permission. It was funny at first, the way she tried to swear with a lot more, "W's" 

"F'wor f'wuck sakes! Let me go,!" she shouted at me. I gave her an evil smirk. "I don't think Deus Ex Machina would like me to do that," 

She froze in place near the door while I listened in to her internal thoughts. 

'Deus...Deus! The god of the Void! The ruler of Space and Time! That Deus! That...That's impossible! The Deus line from what Elder Lich King Burakkusanshain told me, never made a Knight! Who the hell is he?!'

"You know, I can hear you just fine. The link allows me to read you thoughts and to answer your question. I made babies with my Deus." 

"..."

Her jaw dropped as her mind repeated the words,"Who, What, When, Where, Why, How?!" In her head. I continued as this was rather amusing.  

"I don't remember what I did for her to do the nasty, but what I do remember was that she dropped off Azura at my door a few months later. Thank Luna she didn't have her powers. If she did, I probably would be dead by now." 

"..." 

And she fainted. 

I chuckled and dragged her unconscious body onto the bed and went to my desk to begin writing the spells I would need for me to view my memories. 





Steampunk walked through the busy harbor of Manehatten to her brother's place at the University. She finished her job to the White Claws without a problem and was going to be paid again for getting copies of the other scrolls that are in her brother's care. She wondered how much she was going to get paid. The last job gave her enough money to live the high life for a long while, but she wasn't one of those hoity-toity snobs with sticks up their asses. No. she was a ship master first and foremost. She was born on the sea and she will die on the sea. 

She walked passed a fancy gate that leads into the archeology wing of the University early in the morning. She made sure she wasn't followed  by the wrong ponies. She didn't want anything to happen to her brother, though, his beliefs nad hers were the same. She didn't like how the Griffins were being treated in the world. Steam was happy that she was doing something to bring true equality to Equestria and she was not going to stop until she dies or until the goal is reached. 

She walked into the wing and quickly found the room that she was looking for. Inside the room was a minefield of books, coffee cups, scrolls and it was dark. In one corner of the room was her brother, slumped over a desk, staring at a few scrolls in front of him. She liked the chaos that was Lexicon, despite his docile nature, the brown stallion with a short, dirty-red mane, could destroy a room in a matter of minutes. 

"Hey big bro!" she chirped as she tip-hoofed around the mess until she got to her brother and planted a long kiss on his lips. "Hey sis," he smiled, enjoying her incestual affection. "Need something?" he asked. 

"Yeah, I just finished a job about number 10 and they have a translator. They already read and translated the others and need yours to finish the map," Steam said cryptically. The earth pony raised a brow. "I am guessing they want a copy and not the real one to keep the reds from knowing?" Lexi asked. 

"Yeah, I also only have a week to get it to the blues, as they will be leaving Appleloosa to Vanhoover." 

"Damn, so soon?" he grunted. "I have heard the hammer dropped but that time frame is, at least, doable."

"So how long?" Steam asked as she leaned over the desk and spread her legs open for her brother to see. He got out of his chair and mounted her. 

"It should take a couple of hours, of course, after a quicky for my cute little sister." 

"Than make it a long quicky," she bit her lip as her brother began to nibble her ear. "I don't want to walk for a while," she purred. 





I sat at my desk, happy with my new tome that I made. Once I have some free time, I will use Soulhearth to view my memories to see what the hell is missing, but for now. I have a problem. Gilda and Gloria returned with a bunch of stuff for me to read. From stolen cash to names of supporters, I realized how bad the White Claw was dug in. 

If Celestia, from what I could tell—If she were to get her hooves on these books and scrolls, she would kill every single pony on the lists. Hell, half of her supreme council is supporting the White Claws! I know she has the ability to see the Griffins that attack her. The reaction time to the train heist a week and a couple of days ago was discovered in a matter of hours, and the White Claws lost one-fourth of their power in Equestria. These guys don't fucking realize how impossible it is to fight her directly. 

What's more disturbing was the fact that they have information that Fluttershy; tortures, rapes, and cooks Griffins for her animals! The sweet, innocent mare is a monster here, and I thought Twilight was bad! I can't fathom what the other Element bearers are. Learning that Rainbow Dash worked in a factory that ground up children to make rainbows was just as disturbing, but Celestia covered that up. 

I broke my desk when I learned that Rainbow Dash killed children and enjoyed it. I don't know what Celestia was doing to the bearers, but one thing is for certain. If she is using a MindRend spell to influence her ponies to hate Griffins. I won't kill her. I will make her a true immortal and set her ablaze in a pit of Hell Fire! 

Aside from looking over the structure of the White Claws, I got Gilda and Gloria to go about their days in sleeper mode to keep an eye out for bad blood that may or may not find themselves in the town. Thankfully, I didn't have to make up a story as to why they were there. Thank you Gason, for giving them the order to wait and spy on the Sun Tyrant in Griffinstone. 

Back to the pain at hand. Tom stood in front of me with a straight face beside my desk wanting to ask a question. I could tell was because he was in sleeper mode and I told him to patrol the halls while I read the stuff that Gilda gave me. I yawned and turned to him to see what he wants. 

"What is it, Tom?" I asked. 

He shuffled in place before speaking. "My King, I would like to ask you for permission to pursue Yoko as a mate."

"W-What?" I said as I stared at him like he just asked me for permission to masturbate in front of me. 

"I would like to ask you..." I stopped him as I heard him clearly the first time. "I know what you are asking, it's just, why do you need permission?" I asked.

"I am asking because you are the Master of the Solstice house while I am just your servant. In tradition, it is customary for a servant to ask his Lord to court a Hen of his choice in case our Lord already has taken her for his own," he explained. After which, my brain decided it didn't want to work anymore.

'Note to self; Check the properties of the HiveWill spell as sleeper mode shouldn't let him know he is a servant.' 

"First, let me ask you this: Are you aware of the spell that was cast on you?" I asked

"Yes, my King. I have seen the error of my ways. I have realized that you are the true King of the Griffins. Gason says he has the power to take down the Sun Tyrant but in truth, he doesn't. I know that you will succeed because I know Gason will fail." 

'That's not disturbing,' I thought. 

"Does Yoko know?" 

"No, my King. I believe that I have to be willing to go under this spell to know that it was used. I was ready to follow the true King if he should arise. That may have been a part of it." 

"So, if I were to release you, would you stay?" I asked as I turned on a lie detector spell.

"Of course my Lord," he said, causing my spell to tell me that he wasn't lying. On the plus side, I can have another spot to use if I need it. I might as well release him for now. 

"Dimitte Deus Meus," I said, releasing him from the spell. He gave me a confused look. "Why did you release me, my Lord?"

"Simple, I only have a few spots for people to be under the spell. Since you are being loyal to me of you own free will, it is pointless to have it placed on you. So, for your original question, you have my permission to court Yoko. Don't worry about it being forced, but if you get rejected, don't come crying to me," I said.

"Thank you, my King," he said with a bow and walked out of the room. The door closed with a quiet click and I turned to the bed. 

"Well, that was weird. I wonder how Raven will react when she wakes up beside me?" I said out loud as I jumped out of the chair and curled up around Raven under the blankets.

'Ten Bits says she will freak out,' I chuckled internally. 
> Chapter 14. How to train your Necromancer. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I woke up before Raven as she was fast asleep and using me as a teddy bear. This was funny to me as she was nuzzling me like a purring kitten on catnip. She had a content smile as she rubbed her face all over my neck like she was claiming me like a cat does. Her tail, somehow, wrapped around mine. Her wings were wrapped around my waist just like her arms. I knew that I was a very cuddly Griffin, but this was ridiculous! I sighed and let what happens, happened. She eventually woke up with a cute 'coo' before she realized who she was clinging to like a leech. She looked up and saw my raised brow while I adorned a fiendish grin. 'Time to start,' I thought. 

"Hello, beautiful. Wasn't last night fun?" I purred. Her face paled to a new shade of white that was never reached before, then she realized what I said. This caused her face to go from white to red in less than a second. 

"W-W-What?!" she stutter-asked as she kicked me off the bed. I gave her a pouty frown. "That wasn't very nice, after all, the way I made you scream in extasy last night you begged me not to stop," I said with a sly grin. Her entire head was red. "I...No...We...Didn't...How..." she spluttered. Just as I was about to finished causing her brain to explode, Tom walked in. 

"My Lord, we have a problem," Tom said as he looked at me with a blank face while I collected myself from the floor. "What kind of problem?" I asked going back to my serious face and slightly annoyed that I was cock-blocked. 

"Gilda has told me that the Element of Loyalty and the Element of Laughter were coming for a visit. She said that they were bringing a mare known as Sunset Shimmer, who was tagging along to learn about the Griffins from the Shadow Archives that they somehow know about." 

"That is a problem," I said. "Have Gilda go into sleeper mode and come and tell me when they arrive," I ordered. 

"Of course My Lord, but what of the archive?" he asked. 

"I will deal with it. Just make sure to stall them. I need an hour to clear out the archive," I said. Tom bowed his head and left the room.  Leaving me alone with the glaring queen who just realized that I did a joke about her. I gave her a smug smile and pulled on the chain, causing her to fall off the bed and kiss the floor. 





Sunset walked into the small castle town of Griffinstone with two of Twilights friends at her side. It has been a few decades since she was last in Equestria after she was banished into the mirror. She was surprised to learn that Twilight came and asked her to help her out with a couple of scrolls that she was having trouble deciphering.  When she came through, she was also greeted by her old mentor, Princess Celestia who welcomed her with open arms. 

She was utterly shocked that she was easily forgiven for her actions years prior and in the human world. The fact that she was not only wanted back in Equestria to help out with a mystery was something of a dream to her. Sure she was technically in her fifties for how the time around the portal was, but in reality, she was as old as Twilight in term of Biological age, but that didn't stop her from adjusting to all the change that happened around her. In fact, she was quick to adapt and found a good spot back into pony society that she left all those years ago. 

Twilight and Sunset were quick to go over the possible ways to translate the scrolls, but each way that they tried didn't work. They simply didn't have enough information on the old Griffin culture before the war to make any sense of the complex symbols that they used to use. Twilight proposed that she and a couple of her friends to go to the only Griffin Free city-state to find something that would aid in the translation. 

Sunset was wary of such a task, but when she learned that two of her friends, Rainbowdash, and Pinkie Pie went there not that long ago. What was more interesting was that Rainbow had a friend named Gilda living there due to some unknown reason. Sunset was slightly confused that Rainbow was concerned with Gilda and why she left Ponyville. She made a note that they were just close, but she couldn't quite tell. 

Sunset was disgusted at the state Griffinstone was in when they entered the town, even though she was told by Pinky that it was a dump and to not to be surprised when they got there. The streets were broken and filthy, the houses looked like they should be condemned and the general mood of the town was sour. The Griffins gave them an uncaring look as they walked to Gilda's place to ask some questions. Sunset made a note that there was a big possibility that they weren't wanted in town, so she should be ready if a fight were to break out. 

Rainbowdash lead them to a decent looking place where a Griffin was waiting outside with a smug look on her face. Sunset knew that look as it was one that she used to wear every day before Twilight came to town. The Griffin saw them approach her and her look broke into a happy smile that threw Sunset off. 

'Well, Rainbow said they were friends,' Sunset thought. 

"Hey, dweeb. Have a nice trip?" the Griffin asked as she and Rainbow hoof bumped. 

"Meh, it was okay, could have got here faster with my wings, but I had to wait for the land dwellers," Rainbow replied, causing some offense to Sunset while Pinky just bounced in place. "So, what are you doing here?" Gilda asked. "I thought you had friendship problems to solve?" she mocked. Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Nah, I'm just here to look awesome while Sunny here is doing some egghead stuff for Twilight." 

'I am not an egghead,' Sunset muttered. 

"Well, I should probably kick you flank in a race while we let the egghead to her nerd stuff, say, around Black Peak?" Gilda smirked. 

'I'm not a nerd,' Sunset thought. 

"Sure, but you know I will win," Rainy pointed to herself with a wink. 

"As if!" Gilda challenged before she leaped into the air with her massive wings and bolted to a mountain with an ebony peak. Rainbow was quick behind her, leaving Sunset alone with Pinky...Who was also gone. Sunset sighed and as she decided to go to the old castle to start her search. 





I wiped my brow after a long hour of shoving books into my hammerspace. It was a pleasant workout that gave me a minor increase to my main mana pool. Sure it was a small increase, but an increase none the less. I walked out of the now empty archive with a livid Raven trying to burn me alive with her eyes. I gave her a smirk that she couldn't do shit to me, and I found it rather amusing to piss off the old, scary queen that made Lich Kings bowed to her. 

I wonder what they would think of me for making the Queen of Death bow to me? Would I get respect or would I get disdain? I bet Hades would flip his shit to know that the one that never found her way into his army of the damned was taken by a Void Knight as she calls me. Though, it was nice to learn about my new title from the queen as I worked. 

I liked how a Void Knight was the most feared being amongst the dark mages and chaos mages. Chao magic especially would avoid me like the plague as Void is the perfect opposite and highly poisonous. She told me that if Discord were to find himself in the Void. He would be ripped apart in a far more horrific way than death by HellFire. Which answered a question that I had since I had my eye. Deus must have made me immune to it and when it tried to claim me, it couldn't touch me as it corrupts the very soul. Having that aspect saved my ass in the end, but it didn't answer why I don't have it anymore, despite unlocking it to is full potential. 

With one of my old questions answered, one still remained. I knew that it was sentient to a degree and I knew that it would leave once I was on death row, so where did it go? Did it actually believe that I was going to die in the black hole and find a new host? If that's the case, did it find a host in this world or my old one? More questions that I really hope it stayed in the old world. If Celestia had control of the bearer was something I didn't want to deal with. I put aside those worrisome thoughts and walked back to my room while Raven was forced to follow or be dragged like a ragdoll. 
> Chapter 15. Problem number 3! 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I walked down the halls back to the master bedroom to see what was wrong with my memories in peace, but that plan was interrupted by a mare, snooping in the exact same hall has me. Beside her was Tom who was in charge with giving a tour of the place to avoid the suspicion that we were doing anything wrong. The mare was a yellow mare with red hair with yellow streaks in her mane. 

She saw me and Raven saw her. We all stared at each other, unsure of how to act. I knew that she was here to find the archives, so she must have been sent by Twilight to help her out, but according to my orders. I wanted a powerful unicorn to add to my HiveMind. If she was indeed sent by Twilight. Then I should use my recently freed slave-slot to start my research on catalyst based magic. 

"Hey there little guy, are you lost?" Sunset Shimmer said, approaching me, Little does she know, I was about to make her my servant. Once she was in range, I focused my magic and said the magic words. "Deus Meus," I said, causing the mare to jump in surprise. She tried to fight the spell, but like the others, she collapsed to a bloody mess and stood back up with a blank look, ready for her orders. I looked at Tom, putting together what I needed Sunset to do. 

"Tom, make sure there are no listeners snooping around," I ordered. Tom gave me a nod and walked off, leaving me alone with concern Raven and the blank Sunset. 

"Sunset, were you sent by Twilight?" I asked the mare as we walked deeper into the castle. 

"Yes My Lord. I was sent to find any and all information that would help translate the Elder Scrolls while Celestia explores the other side of the Mirror," she said. I stopped dead in my tracks just outside of the throne room and turned to look at the mare.

My mind was racing a mile a second, trying to figure out why Celestia would want to go to the parallel, human world. The only thing that would makes sense was that she...Luna's futa dick! She was getting human tech to strengthen her forces! But if she was doing that, then she must have figured out how to use magic over there. 'Damn, I am running out of time,' I kicked myself. I was starting to need those scrolls now rather than later, but now was not the time to slow down. I was going to have to put aside my memory spell for later. 

"What's so wong about that? Raven asked in an uncaring tone. I gave her a frown. 

"The Mirror leads to a world that is similar to the ancients and where they are from. It is a parallel to Equestria and if she is over there, then it means that we are running out of time before she gains the nuke," I explained. Raven scrunched up her face in frustration for not knowing what I just said. 

"That is correct My Lord. Celestia wanted to acquire weapons and military gear for her new division of the army called the Solar Inquisition. Aside from that, she said she was also going there to do an experiment with magic arrays over there. What their purpose is, I don't know." 

"Damn it," I growled. "Whatever she is doing with those arrays can't be good. I can guess that they are teleportation arrays to help deliver the gear she is going to bring over. And if I can further guess that she is also going to gain allies on the other side." I turned to Raven who was just getting a gist of what was going on. "Raven, as much as you hate me right now can you tell me what do you think if she acquires a device that could level all of Equestria in a matter of seconds?" 

"She would mowst wikely use it to take contwol of the entire world, even the Alicown Stone wielding sword mastwers of the Frontier, why?" she said indifferently. 

"Because we won't be able to take her down if she gets those weapons," I said then turned to Sunset. "Sunset, I need you to begin studying catalyst magic as well as capture AppleJack, Rarity and Fluttershy and bring them here. I want you to set up an array outside of town and you found the Shadow Archive empty. Do you understand?" 

"Yes My Lord," she replied. 

"Good, go into sleeper and get Fancy Pants and High Voltage to help with the capture, say, 'Darkness is truth, Darkness is safety,' to them and they will follow your order.' Tell Twilight, 'Nothing is truth, Everything is permitted,' to her and she will help you make an untraceable array to help you here. Go into sleeper mode, your safeword is, 'Yellow Watersports is orgasmic,' now go," I ordered. She gave me a nod and left the room. I sighed and went straight back to my room to write another tome to aid with defense." 





Steampunk was happy and filled with her brothers cum in all three holes as she waited on the train as it made its way to Griffinstone station. She had the copied scrolls in her bag in a simple book, and without a problem as she got Fancy Pants to but her a private train with a private guard that was chosen and hired by him to aid her master, King Solstice. 

The security was of the highest quality and had a distaste of the Sun Tyrant. Though, she knew that out of the fifty ponies that were keeping her safe. One of them was a spy. She knew who was the spy, but her master made sure to keep him alive to avoid suspicion. He wasn't even hiding it all that well as he had a sound crystal recording everything she and the others said. 

She made note of the variety of the ponies that were coming with her. There was ten earth ponies, fifteen unicorns, fifteen pegasi and ten thestrals. The gender ratio was equal to her surprise, which was also good for her master. If they were to find Eden, they would need breeders to grow an army if the original plan goes sour. 

She smiled as the station was coming into view. She saw at the station was three ponies. A yellow unicorn, a pink earth pony and a cyan pegasus. All waiting to head back to the mainland. Just as the train was about to stop, the Captain of her private guard walked up to her in his custom black armor with silver tribal etchings all over the plates. 

"Miss, Steam. When we get to the station, who are we going to be transferred to?" he asked in a deep, baritone voice. Steam gave him a smile. "All you need to know that it's a Griffin that Mr. Fancy and I trust with our lives. You will see him in due time," she said, causing the mercenary to groan in annoyance. "Why do I get the crazy ones?" 

Captain Black Rose starred in shock as with the rest of his mercenary group. After they docked at the station and disembarked with Lady Steam as the three civilians stared in awe as they boarded the train. They followed Lady steam to the small castle town of Griffinstone and walked into the tree castle. The town folk didn't cause a stir, but instead just looked at them in indifference before going about their day. The were lead by a hen that goes by the name of Yoko to the throne room where their employer was waiting.

When they walked into the room, they saw a baby Tom sitting on the old throne with a larger Griffin at the base in a set of the same black armor as their group. Once they were all in, the door was closed and the Griffin on the throne said something in a strange language, causing the entire room to go black, leaving only the table at the center and the throne visible. At first, there was panic, but that didn't last when the older Tom explained to them it was just a privacy spell that was cast by an unknown unicorn hiding somewhere in the room. 

After the room went black, Lady Steam pulled out a small, unassuming book and handed it to the little Griffin, which he placed to the side for later. He gave us a quick look and pointed to his little sister, Ruby Rose and barked at her for her to step forward. She did so smugly, but once she stood in front of him, he spoke in a cold and calculating voice.

"You think I will tolerate spies?" he said, causing everyone to stare at Ruby in confusion. Why would the Griffin call his sister a spy? Black wondered, but he stayed quiet and listened what this Griffin had to say. 

"I'm not a spy you little cunt," Ruby spat, but the Griffin was not amused. 

"Really," he cracked a smile. "Then tell me. How did it feel to assassinate Sergent Wind Caller a few weeks ago? I heard he was a White Claw supporter that aided in the train heist. I heard you also killed his family after your partner raped his daughter and took her as a fuck-pet in which he was allowed by Celestia's orders. Trust me Ruby. I know who everyone is and I have contacts that even the White Claw would die for. So, you can A; kill yourself, or B; let me do an experiment on you and you get to live." 
> Chapter 16. Experiment X.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I smiled as Ruby froze in horror as her comrades closed in on her with their weapons drawn. Tom was keeping in front of me in case she bolts for my head while Yoko hid on the roof with a bow at the ready. The leader of the group, Captain Black Rose, a pure black stallion earth pony with red eyes, just stared at the mare in shock and disappointment. After I pointed out that she was a spy and gave really good evidence to prove it—Courtesy of Fancy Pants, her friends turned on her in an instant, however, I need her alive to prevent Celestia from looking my way and to test a spell. 

"How could you!?" One of the mercenaries spat. Ruby just looked back in disgust. "How could I? Simple, because I enjoyed it and he was a Griffin loving fuck. A win-win for me and his filthy slut of a daughter deserves the cock she chokes every day," Ruba smiled, wanting to be killed by her friends, but I knew better. I prepped the spell that I wanted to use on her and cast it. 

I smiled as Ruby dropped and began to twitched in pain as the spell took effect. Her former comrades backed away as Ruby transformed from beginning a regular earth pony to a Griffin. Normally, I wouldn't be able to use such a spell, but thanks to my new tome, it was now possible. I smiled as her back exploded in a torrent of blood as two feathery wings erupted out. She tried to scream in agony, but she couldn't as her muzzle turned into a beak. 

In just mere moments, Ruby was now a Griffin. Blood was everywhere from her eyes, nose, back, and legs, from the transformation. She twitched on the ground with her eyes rolled back as she coughed up blood. Her comrades didn't know how to react to what happened while I made a note to refill the book with that spell for later. 

"Tom, clean her up and take her to the dungeon to rest," I ordered. Tom gave me a nod before he grabbed the convulsing Hen that was half his size, leaving me and the rest of them to discuss our future partnership. 

The door slammed shut and I was left with the terrified mercenaries. I gave them a smile as they all looked up at me in unison. "Well, now that's out of the way. Let's talk about what I need you to do, so before we start. Do any of you have any questions?" One pony stepped up, shaking in his armor. "What the fuck did you do?" 

"Just something I will do to anyone that decides to back out now," I shrugged. "Anything else?" The pony backed up, clearly afraid that any more stupid questions will be answered. Captain Black Rose stepped up next. 

"Yes, since I am the leader of the group. I want to know who was the one that did that spell before we do anything with you?" He said sternly. I gave him a warm smile. "I did, and before you say otherwise. It's called Void Magic, according to Queen Raven Blackwing." I watched as someone of them contemplated running for their lives while others pissed themselves. The Captain wasn't fazed by me, but I knew he broke his perfect poker face when his litter sister was a spy. 

"So what are we to do?" he asked, his comrades turned and looked at him, terrified for sealing their fate. 

"I need guards for our trip to Eden, so I suggest you get supplies for the trip as it will be a long one," I said. 

"Yes Sir," he saluted. 





I yawned as I sat in my room again with the journal that Steampunk gave me. I was slightly concerned that my HiveWill spell was leaking something into the brains of those that are under the spell. Tom told me after he and Yoko cleaned up Ruby that while under the spell, he felt like there was a warm presence of twilight watching over him like a loving father. 

I would have been fine with this if it wasn't for the fact that Raven said that I reeked of twilight, yet, she doesn't complain about it. Hell, I have seen her smell my pillow and when I called her out on it. She said that being near me made her feel safe. Then she yelled at me because my scent was addictive, followed by wanting me to die by hellfire which I found funny because I was immune to hellfire. With the new knowledge that my servants were going to be utterly brainwashed that I was their one true god. I decided that once I was in Eden, I would undo the spell before they go insane. 

I made note that the Black Knights as they were called, were bunked in the castles old barracks. I gave them the money they would need in order to survive the trip to Eden. Sure they were absolutely terrified of me for turning Ruby into a Griffin, but they were loyal and could get shit done. Captain Black kept his distance from me as I had Tom give him my orders. I needed to keep him a distance in case bad blood were to come up. With him being near me and how I act like a cold hard bastard. I didn't want to be robbed after I was killed in my sleep. That aside, I read the book that Steam gave me that should have the two copied scrolls in it.

Entry 343. Date: September 3, 1502.

I, Queen Raven Blackwing, barely escaped my demise. The sun tyrant killed us, the kings, just as we were about to launch our offensive. I did a spell before my catalyst was destroyed. This spell allows me to reincarnate into another, clean body but at a cost. I won't he born again for a few hundred years and I will loose my most recent memories. 

I…I can't believe Celestia appeared right before me and cut me down and decimated our armies that were in the small millions. I saw something in her left eye when I tried to fight back. There was a red rune embedded in that eye. It changed color's as we fought. There was a total of seven that gave her a unique skill. The colors were; Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Orange, Purple, and Black. I am not sure what those runes were or why they made her so powerful, but they reeked of chaos magic. 

Alas...I don't have the time to figure out that mystery. I can feel my life fading as I struggle to write these words. My only regret was not searching for my true love harder. All I wanted in a Griffin was a Tom that could make me tremble in fear to his gaze, purr with joy to his touch. Sigh in contempt in his embrace and have a caring father to fight beside. Maybe in my next life, I will find him… 

'There...There is no way Celestia has what I think she has. If she does, then...Then thank Luna I am immune to it. In any case, Black has a crush on me. Good to know,' I noted before I continued to the next one.

Entry 306. Date: February 14th, 1502 

I am writing this to give those that can read the old text the location of Eden, but I pray to Luna that you don't let the Sun Tyrant know of this.

In the land of snow and death.
At the heart of crimson water.
Perched upon a windigo carcass.
Tasting the four Seasons. 

Is the birth place of Strength.

Here they sang the song of Angels.
Pound the drums of war.
Practicing the bow and tongue of romance.
Hiding in the veil of shadow.

Is the birthplace of Honor. 

They danced with the wind of the plains.
Faught with the entity of serenity.
Loved the essence of the great inferno
And were the protectors of the earth.

Is the birthplace of Sacrifice.

At the heart of the lands is their final resting place.

Is their Forest of Eden.

I let loose a sigh of relief as I have the location of Eden in my claws. I knew it was close by and judging from the poem, it's at the heart of the twelve Kingdoms. Though, one thing bothers me about the first scroll. I have to wonder if Raven is putting up with me just because I might be fitting into her wants in a Tom? If that's the case, then what about Lily? I know I desire to go back home, even if it is impossible, but the way she talks about the Void is telling me that I might have a chance to return. In any case, I will have to put her feelings aside for know and deal with the possibility that Celestia has the Eye of Chaos and if she does, then those not under my spells are walking time bombs. And that is something that could be a problem.

> Chapter 17. Keys. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I sat on my makeshift bed in the master bedroom with Raven who was sound asleep right beside me. Her tiny form was nestled up against me in an effort to find warmth and safety in her weakened body. I chuckled at the thought as I grabbed my tome to do a spell that I have been putting off for a short while now. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as I placed a claw on the purple book and prepared myself for what was to come in an effort to learn why my memories were foggy in most areas. I activated the spell and let myself become one with the dark. 

I reawaken in a black void of pure nothingness and floating in front of me were two doors. One was a simple brown door with a silver door nob while the other looked like nothing could break into it. The other door was black with trillions of runes and magic circles on it. What was even more foreboding was the silver chains that wrapped around it with a lock that looked like a Rubix cube on steroids. I groaned in annoyance as I knew that the locked door that could not be opened, even if I had my old eye for how complex the locks are. “There has to be a key somewhere in here?” I sighed as I looked around in the void. 

“I agree but where, oh where could it be,” cooed a demented-sounding voice that sounded like Q from StarTrek…’And what the fuck is Startrek?’ I thought as I turned around to see who was in my head with me. Standing before me was a tall being of mismatch body parts. I recognized him instantly as the God of Chaos and wondered why he was here in my head. ‘But that's not important right now.’

“I agree, Void Knight, as time is of the essence,” he spoke again but in a more serious tone. I would have raised a brow, but I didn't have one...Or a body in the void. 

“And what, pray tell, is that, Discord?” I asked as I tried to figure out how to open the locked door. 

“As much as I want to chat with the very thing that I despise the most. You are the only one that is capable of defeating Celestia, so I'll keep it short as said Sun Tyrant isn't watching me right now,” I stayed quiet and let him continue.

“You will find the key in your ship that you are hiding in that hammerspace of yours. Also, since I am reformed and have to be nice. There is a high chance that you can return to your old world once you are done here. Now I must be off as Woona is hunting you and the Elements that you had kidnapped. Ta, ta for now!” he said before he left in a ball of light, not explaining anything he just said.

I groaned in irritation at the Chaos God that just came for a few seconds, said some things that help, and left without explaining why he decided to just pop in and say hello. Though, now that I think about it. If Luna was hunting me as well as the ponies I had kidnapped. Then a confrontation with her could be disastrous. ‘At least, know that going home was a possibility as well as the location of the key to my memories, but I will need to wait until we are away from Equestria before I pull out the ship,’ I thought as the spell ended.

I groaned in annoyance that everything was not what it appeared to be. Knowing that the key to my memories is hidden on my ship was going to be a problem for later. Though, with what Discord had said to me just a few moments ago, having Luna on my tail was also a problem that I didn't want to face, but for now. I had the issue with my mercenaries. 

I placed the destroyed tome aside and jumped off of the bed, much to Ravens displeasure, and moved back to my desk to make another tome. With having the Black Knights as potential bombs for my plans, I was going to have to turn myself into a dragon for the time being. I don't want Celestia to know—If she was watching, that I was a griffin with strange powers, plotting behind her back. As I wrote the spells I would nee to stabilize my dragon form, I thought about all that has happened in recent weeks.

From waking up with missing memories to moving all over the place without a thought. I know now from the last time that I did the latter. I ended up in places that I didn't want to ever wake up again. Having a sudden trip to hell once was all fine and dandy, but there wasn't enough brain bleach to remove those memories. 

I had to wonder what I was doing? Sure I was trying to take down a god...Again...For the fourth time without screwing them before and after I beat them in a fight. This time, I was greatly at a disadvantage. This Celestia was powerful. So powerful that I even fear her. Just knowing that she has my power that I bled to master bothers me to my very soul, but, at least, I was immune to most of what she could potentially do to me. The worst thing that I had to fear was her ability to instantly gain enough magical power to make a planet before my eyes. And that was something I didn't want to fight against without a backup plan. 

'But what is my plan?' I asked myself. I usually don't have a plan. I just go with the flow and see where it takes me. 'Heh, that turned out well,' I kicked myself. 'Within the first two days of arriving here in this fucked up world, I was kidnapped into slavery and now I am looking for a vault that may as well be destroyed.' Such was the things that I had to deal with when fighting a god who could see everything and influence everyone without them knowing. I had no plan past from; getting my memories back, and finding a way to return home...And freeing Griffin kind. 

'Once I'm done here. Discord better send me home for fixing his mess. There was no point in him telling me that there was a chance of going home to kick Griffins face in once I meet the prick for being a bastard.' 

I groaned in further irritation as I finished the book. Just like the others, it turned into something else. I put aside my aggravating thoughts as I activated the spell's that I just wrote, turning me into a six-foot-six, bipedal, black dragon. 'Though, turning myself into a dragon with this kind of magic will be a problem for a while. Not being able to turn back into a griffin to hide for a month is a cost that shouldn't be a problem unless stupid shit happens, but, at least, I will be able to fight if I have to.' 

I quickly went into my hammerspace and grabbed my armor of Ornstein that has seen some battle, but I left the helm in the hammerspace and put it on and left the room as Sunset Shimmer should have brought the Elements by now. 





Captain Black sat in the throne room with a Griffin that was known as. Tom, waiting for his employer to stop hiding behind a baby Griffin like a coward. He didn't like the fact that his little sister was discovered as a spy for the Sun Tyrant, but what was worse was what he did to her from the shadows. Having his sister turned into a Griffin, plus being used as simple gatherer rather than his original job of escorting somepony to a secret location that should have billions of Bits worth of loot within. He was more than bitter about who was hiring him, and his companions. 

Black ate a simple meal with the silent Griffin, trying to think of a way to get him to reveal the location of his employer, but, just as he was about to speak up to start a simple conversation, a figure walked into the room. 

He and everyone stopped eating and turned their attention to a terrifying sight. Standing in the entrance to the throne room was a black dragon clad in battle-worn armor, with a few weapons holstered to his person. The dragon had a scaly, wolf-like muzzle with, cold azure eyes. The dragon had two, long, ivory horns that were bent into the shape of a lightning bolt with; three smaller horns just under them that were straight. His spins were like miniature versions of his black wings, but what was the most prominent aspect of the dragon was his armor and weapons.

He carried three, straight edge swords at his left side. Two of them had wings for crossguards while the other one was a simple black square. Judging from the length of the sheath's, the blades must have been at least four feet long, and the runes on the sides of the black scabbards gave the swords a terrifying secret. On the back, however, was two, strange, boxes. One box looked like a five-foot long tube while the other box looked like a six-foot-long suitcase. His armor looked like it was made of dragon bone and scale that looked like it weighed a ton, but when he walked over to the center table. He moved like it was a second skin. 

"Tom, has Sunset arrived with the targets?" He spoke in a deep, wolfish tone that could seduce the most wretched of demon queens. Tom gave him a nod, but he frowned as there were more than just the three ponies that arrived. 

"Yes, my Lord. A few more ponies arrived in order to save them. They weren't a problem, but the extra baggage wasn't something that was needed," Tom replied, causing the dragon to groan in a deep growl. 

"Who was added to the captors?" 

"There was a few my Lord. They are; Rainbowdash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, and, of course, Sunset Shimmer." 

The black dragon sighed and turned to Black. "Captain, I am your employer, so let me give you the rundown of what is going to happen before we go." Black nodded a fearful reply. "First, gather everyone as well as the prisoners and bring them to the mountain range due west of here. Second, bring all of our supplies and third; Don't do anything funny until we are there." 

> Chapter 18. Prisoners. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	After the order was given out, we walked in the veil of night to a location where I could bring out my ship without causing a stir to the local Griffin population. I smiled as I got to be a dragon again, but the others...Not so much. Raven freaked out and tried to run away, begging not to be eaten. I smiled in sadistic glee as she couldn't get far with the chain binding her to me. 

Once she finally figured out that I was the cute little Griffin she tried to murder. I had to explain to her that I did a transformation spell and since I figured out that making Tomes greatly reduced mana cost. I could do a permanent transformation into my old dragon form. Rave, of course, went back to swearing at me for being a Void Knight to which I replied with picking her up, and began scratching in all of the right places. I chuckled as she melted in my hands and began to purr like the kittens she was, then she called me a peasant when I stopped because I had more important matters to attend to. 

Thankfully, my mercenaries treated me like the boss and didn't question anything and did their job, but what they don't know was that I was writing another tome to act as a medium for hen I add them all to the HiveWill spell. As we walked down a broken and misused road with the prisoners pissing themselves in their cage. I kept an eye out for any had blood. 

When Sunset told me that she had to bring them all and trick them into a trap she made to avoid suspicion. I was worried that the Sun Tyrant would know if something was off. As it stands, she could easily fuck with everyone to the point that death would be their only cure. They only way for them to become invisible to her gaze was to be linked with me. Otherwise, hiring the mercenaries was pointless. Although, Sunset did do her job with bringing the targets that I had marked for her. Having the Elements of Harmony after they have returned the rocks back to the tree was a headache that was avoided. If I could get them to willingly aid in my quest. Then the final battle would be so much easier, with the rainbow death beam aimed at the corrupt tyrant. 

But there was the problem with Luna. Knowing her, she would have directed herself at the closest creature that could use dark magic, or she can't enter the dreams of said creature. To her, Raven and I are walking beacons that I know she could see. I knew it was only a matter of time before she catches up,  and if my assumption was correct. I was going to have to bind her to me as well. The less raw power Celestia can't control, the better.

“Hey! Tall, scary and ugly! Over here!” shouted Rainbowdash from within her cage. I sighed, knowing that her gag was out and I was going to have to put it back in. I walked to the center of the line where the cage with the seven prisoners was being kept on a wagon. With the night being as dark as it was, it was hard to find even when I was only a few meters away from it. Once I was beside the cage with the seven, tied up girls with on of them swearing at me that would make Satan blush. I opened the cage while we walked and punched her in the stomach, causing her to tumble over in pain and without breath. 

“You need something? “ I asked in a bored tone as I reclosed the cage. She slowly got back up while her friends stared in fear for what was to come. 

"Fu...ck, you," she wheezed. I rolled my eyes and pulled out my Tome that I was working on, and finished writing in it while the cyan pegasus recollected herself. 

"Sir," called out one of the mercenaries just as I was about to start writing again. I sighed and closed the book and tucked it back in my chest plate, giving the 'merc my full attention. 

"Yes, Sergent. What do you need?" I asked the thestral with red eyes. She stiffened up and spoke in a slightly shaky voice. 

"We are arriving at the location that you have put out on the map. Captain Black wants to know what we are to do while we are there." 

I turned around to check to see if she was right, and sure enough, she was. Just over a small crevasse was a deep, rocky valley that was just big enough for me to deploy my ship in. I made note of the clearing that was shaded by an overlook of rocks, perfect to make a temporary camp. I cracked a smile and spoke in a lighter mood. 

"Tell the Captain to make camp at under that overlook. Once there, we are to rest up while I get us transportation to traverse the Sea of Death," I ordered the thestral. She and all those around her stared at me in horror at what I just said. What they didn't know was that Eden was protected within, but they didn't need to know that until we are there. 

"O-Of course, Sir," she choked before she flew off to tell the Captain while I continued to smile and an evil smile that I get to fly the Aria once more. I gave my attention back to the cyan pegasus who was staring, just like her friends and Ruby, in fear for what was to come. 





We made camp as I finished perfecting the Tome. If all my spells were correct, then I should be able to alter a gem to act as a control center for the HiveWill spell, even though I don't have a big enough mana pool to add them all. With this fact in mind, I knew the downside of the transformation of being turned into a dragon. Not being able to build my mana pool bigger was a problem and was going to be an even bigger one for a month until I could turn back into a Griffin. But I'll make do for now. If worse comes to shove, I should be able to invoke Music Magic to give me a temporary mana boost. If that doesn't work, then my two little sisters; Nix and Lumen, will have to taste blood again. 

As I watched the ponies do their work, Raven decided to join me as I sat on a boulder. She didn't say a word as she was too focused on the looks that Rainbowdash was giving to the brainwashed Gilda. Like the gentleman that I was. I listened in on her thoughts. 

'I wonder why she has the eyes that belong to a heartbroken maiden? So sad and betrayed, one would believe that she and the Griffin were lovers, but with the way that Solstice is controlling her and how she looks so lost. One would also think that she was never supposed to find out that she belonged to someone else.'  

I stopped listening in on Raven with a peaked curiosity and a quick plan of action. If she is saying that Rainbow and Gilda had a thing, then I could use that to make her bend without the need of the Hive spell. All it would take was to convince her that if she wanted her lover free, then she will have to work for it. 'Thank you Raven,' I thought as she turned around to talk to me. 

"Sol, even though I hate you, I have to wonder how you plan on getting us through the Sea of Death?" 

"I want to know that too," joined in Captain Black," as he joined us with two other ponies. I raised a brow and pointed to my heart. 

"I have a ship that has sailed and fought in some of the worst hurricanes that the world could throw at it. After all, from what could be so bad about a sea called The Sea of Death?" I chuckled. Raven, as well as the Captain, just stared at me like Murphy was looming over our heads. 

"Don't you know about the great stone colossi that guard the island hidden within, or the giant storms that destroy even the strongest of steel? What about the great sea and sky serpents that call that place their home? I would be hard pressed to believe that you have a ship that could even last a minute in that storm," the Captain said with a worrisome hiss. I, however, just grew a big smile of what was waiting for me in that storm, but before we enter it. I need my memories back. 

"My ship isn't made of steel, Captain. It is made out of the scales of a black, world eater. One of the strongest breeds of dragons that patrol the Void to end anyone or anything that dare enter it. It was also a gift from a very dear friend of mine." 

The reaction I got from the Captain was disbelief while Ravens was of sheer, terror as she didn't dare to talk about how I came to have a ship build out of a body of a dragon that could, quite literally, eat an entire planet like popcorn. Not sure why Dex told me that when she did, but it was good to know. 

"I have no clue what the hell a, 'world eater' is, but I suppose I should take you word for it that it could survive a trip through super hell. Tartarus's angry father," Captain half-joked half didn't believe a word I was saying and decided to just walk away because I was sounding like I was insane. I shrugged and began to scratch Ravens chin to calm her trembling body down as she tried to move away from me. 

Once Raven was calmed down, I left her be and walked up to the prisoners to enact my plan of action. They immediately took notice of me and began trying to back away and pretend to be afraid, even though I could see that their bonds were cut. I sighed and motioned for Sunset to come over as well as Gilda to help me out with my plan. When they joined me, the six ponies in the cage looked at the two in confusion before Twilight spoke up, in a much more confident tone. 

"Sunset, what are you doing, I thought we were friends?!" she said almost shouting. I chuckled and patted Sunset's head, causing the mare to turn slightly pale in worry while her friends stayed silent in wonder. 'And what she doesn't know was that she, herself, was under my spell, but I won't tell her yet. I need her as a trump card when Luna shows up.'

"I hate to break this to you Twilight, but Sunset here is under a mind control spell, and a very strong one at that," I paused and flicked Gilda on her shoulder. "So is she, but not the mercenaries." 

"It can't be that strong, I know how to break her from all three types of mind magic!" Twilight boasted with new found confidence. I just smiled. 

"Really? Last I checked there were six types of mind control. There is; Hive, Database, and Soul writing. The three forbidden arts, and I know how to do all of them. So tell me Miss Sparkle. What would you do if I said that I altered their very souls? How would you repair that?" I asked, watched the light in her eyes die as fast as it grew. "Anyways, I wouldn't waste my time on Soul writing as it takes a long time. So you can assume it is Hive as I don't have the materials to do Database." 

"B-But that's impossible!" she shouted, causing some of the 'mercs to look our way. "There is only three types; Will, Rend, and Control!" I rolled my eyes that she didn't hear the forbidden part. 

"Well, have a visit in the Black Archives that is locked away within Canterlot Castle. Celestia has quite the collection of Black Magic ready to be used," I smirked. "So, behave and I might release your friends here. Don't? Well, let's just say that they will forever be my slaves," I laughed as I turned around and walked away as a couple of 'mercs saw that they were out of their bonds and put them back on without a problem. 





Luna watched in horror as the dragon punched Rainbowdash in the stomach, causing her to writhe in pain from the impact before a thestral mercenary came up to him and asked a question before she left to the front of the line. Luna has been following them since they left the castle, using the cloud coverage to hid her from the powerful dragon and the Necromancer that hides amongst the group. 

She wanted to fly down and save Twilight and her friends, but if she did, then she wouldn't know what they were planning. Another thing that she couldn't use her power to annihilate them was the dragon and the Necromancer. Those two sent a chill down her spine as she didn't know what they were capable of. Especially the dragon. 

Never had she seen such unique weapons or armor on a warrior. The second she saw him leave the Tree Castle, she knew that he would be a formidable opponent both on land and in air, however. The two swords with the winged crossguards sent pure terror that screamed at her to run. She had to force herself just to be as close as she was, in order to hear what they were saying. Those two weapons told her that they could kill immortals with ease, and has done so before, but as much as she wanted to run. She had to find the one that knows about her past and save the Elements of Harmony and their bearers. 

Luna floated on the cloud for quite some time before the group decided to take a break under and an overhang of rocks on the side of a mountain that lead to a deep valley. She watched as they made camp and studied the dragon as he wrote in a strange looking book. 

She needed to know when they would rest for the night, and when to strike to save the Elements. She watched in silence as they made camp and fed the prisoners, wondering what they are doing all they way out here. 

She assumed that they were treasure hunters of some kind like the eccentric maiden, Daring Do. What they were looking for went over her head as she spotted a peculiar sight that frightened her to the core. 'Why is Sunset Shimmer aiding the Black Knights?' Luna thought as she watched the mare behind the mirror portal feed the prisoners. 

She didn't want to believe that the former student of her sister was back on the path of villainy, that she was being brainwashed by the necromancer that hides in the shadows of the group, but after she watched her feed her friends. The dragon got up after talking to the leader of the group and walked over the cage. 

Luna couldn't hear what he was saying as her cloud was too far away for even an audio enhancer spell to be effective, but she understood from the expressions that Twilight was making to the dragon. Luna let loose a sigh of relief as the dragon confirmed her fear that Sunset was under some kind of spell, as well as Gilda, Rainbow Dashes Griffin. With this fear displaced, a new one was made.

The dragon was sitting back in his old spot with the baby kitten on his lap, sleeping soundly as he rubbed her back while he was looking right at her with a grin on his muzzle. Never had Luna felt so much fear being caused by staring into those deep, old, azure eyes that have seen things that no mortal should have ever had saw. All Luna wanted to  do was run. Run and never come back. Her heart was racing a mile a second, her wings itched to flee, her muscles tensed up and her eyes dilated, but she didn't move. She couldn't for she had to save those ponies from a fate that she could only imagine that was bad, but now that the dragon knows that she was there, watching from behind a cloud. She had to act now before he acted for her. 

Luna gulped down her fear and flew down from the clouds to confront the group, and hopefully force the group to give back the ponies with words, rather than a fight. 

"I just hope that Tia doesn't come. Faust knows that she will burn everyone for kidnapping her student that she treats like a daughter," Luna mumbled under her breath as  she watched the group scramble for their swords. 
> Chapter 19. How to train your Princess. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I smiled as Luna flew down from her hiding spot, causing the entire mercenary group to point their swords at me. I got up as the Captain began to release the prisoners, fearing the wrath of the Goddess of the Moon. I stood up just as the Captain was about to confront me with his Warhammer and grabbed the flat case on my back and opened it, revealing my scythe Lupus for all to see. 

I spun the six-foot long scythe with a four-foot long blade around me in a show of skill and strength. The Captain and his compatriots backed off for a moment and decided to surround me as Luna walked up to meet me. I gave them a toothy grin as I prepped my Tome to add them all to the HiveMind while I watched as Raven hid behind a group of rocks. 

I waited as Luna walked up to me with the now free Elements of Harmony at her side, ready to take me on, but what they don't know was my trump card, if I should choose to use it, but for now. I should try and convince Luna to join me rather than add her to the HiveMind by force. I need as many brainwashed followers as I could get. 

"Ah~ Luna, what a pleasant surprise!" I cheered as she broke the circle of sword and spear-wielding ponies with very smug looking ponies with her. She gave me a huff of fear-filled anger in response. 

"Care to explain why you had the Element bearers in a cage, dragon?" she hissed, pretending that she wasn't afraid of me. I smiled as I put away by scythe for the time being knowing that Discord said she was hunting me. For what reason, I could only guess, but if I should make a mention that Discord said she was looking for someone, I should gain the advantage. 

"Why, because I need them of course! They are part of my very important plan of epic proportions. That and Discord said you were looking for someone," I smirked as I placed a hand on Nix and watched Luna squirm as she thought about the words I said. While she was temporarily distracted, I turned on my Hive spell, entrapping everypony but the six and Luna with ease. 

'Now I don't have to worry about backstabbers and for them to be bombs,' I thought. 

"And what, pray tell, is this plan of yours?" she asked in an indifferent tone. 

"Why it's simply really! I plan on finding the lost city of the ancients. The city where Human turned Griffin used to reside," everyone froze in awe and horror. Luna stared at me with new found curiosity as Twilight's mouth dropped open, mumbling, 'human,' over and over again. The ponies around me who don't know that I have them in my control dropped their weapons in bewilderment. Even Raven popped her head out to look and stare at me in pure bafflement. 

"T-That's impossible! How can you know of the creators of Equus!?" Luna demanded. 

'Creators of Equus? That's new. I know that Twilight went to a world of humans, but why would Luna think of something different? Another question for later.' 

"Why, because I can read their language. Ya know what the Twelve Elder Scrolls were written in," I said snapping my fingers while pulling out the one about Mark Borne talking about her birthday, and read it out loud, causing Luna's eyes widen in heartfelt shock. Once I was done reading it, I put it back in my hammerspace just as Luna began to cry about a memory long ago. 

'Okay, phase two, recapture the Elements and see if she will join by force or by herself.' 

"Guards, recapture the prisoners. I will deal with Luna," I ordered while Luna was stuck in her flashback. The 'mercs did what I told them to do, causing the bearers to flip out and try to escape, but they were quickly knocked out and re-tied. As they were thrown back into the cage with Ruby, Luna finally broke out of her daze to stare at me like she was conflicted about something. I gave her a devious smile and sat down on my rock again. 

"So Luna here is the deal. You come with me quietly and I will tell you about your real past. Or I drag you by force and trust me when I say it. You don't want the force," I said. She shook herself from her daze and wiped away a stray tear and glared at me with new found hate. 

"How dare you speak of uncle Mark you filthy dragon!" she shouted at me. I just raised a brow and kept a neutral expression. 

"I dare speak because my goal is to save his legacy and last I checked. You were part of his legacy. So I will ask you once again. Come quietly or else." 

She gritted her teeth in irritation and considered my offer from what her face was saying, but I know from my first answer that I gave her, Discord had told her something. I need to get her on board the Solstice train with her knowledge of King Mark. If she still has strong feelings for him, then there was a chance that her memories weren't touched other than the time she was turned into Nightmare Moon. I should keep a safe distance, I don't know what a moody Luna with fear coursing through her veins would do. 

"Fine, I will come with you quietly, only if you can answer this one question," she said almost growling. 

"Very well, what is it?" I said as I gripped the pommel of Nix. 

"Are you the one that Discord said you could help me with my past and what are your real plans with the Elements?"

I smiled in victory but kept an open eye out for anything that could be a problem. "That was two questions but I'll bite. The first one is a 'yes,' and as for the second one. I can't tell you until we are at our destination as we will be in danger once Celestia returns from her trip from within the Mirror," I replied. 

Luna stared at me in confusion before she sighed knowing that with everything around her would cause her sister to act harshly towards me. She lowered her guard and looked at the caged ponies with guilt as I put away my two special blades back in the hammerspace to give Luna some comfort around me. Her wings slumped and sat beside me as the 'mercs settled down from their initial panic while Raven came back out from hiding and sat close to me as well. Luna gave her a dirty look and made a comment about her being a necromancer, but left her alone. I yawned and got ready for the tomorrow's events. 





Luna and the others watched in curiosity as I flew high into the sky over the valley just as Luna raised the sun for her sister. Happy with the sleep I got and not waking up in a cage made by Luna made me quite happy that she held true to her word, but the Elements weren't too happy. Once the ponies woke up back in the cage, they were absolutely heartbroken and angry that Luna was on my side for the time being. 

Once they realized that there was no convincing the Princess to save them, I smiled as the light in their eyes died in acceptance that not even the Princess of the Moon was going to save them. With that, all said and done, and with everypony ready to go after a warm breakfast. The 'mercs cleaned up camp as I got my ship. 

I yawned as I prepped to pull out an entire ship out of my ass. The ponies, Griffins, and Luna watched in curiosity as to what I was doing. I smiled as I felt my dragon fire welled up in my chest as I got ready to burp out my ship. Once I was ready as the sun was passed the summits of the nearby mountains. I sent out a giant ball of fire that filled the entire valley in black flame as I burped out the ship. I held onto the spell until the ship was out and once it was, I cut off the spell and saw the crowd's jaws were on the ground to a sight that shouldn't be possible. 

Hovering in the valley was The Winters Aria in all her glory. I flew down to her as she hovered quietly over the valley and entered the Bridge. I walked up to the main console and turned her on and flew her closer to the side of the mountain where the camp was and dropped the stern loading platform and flew back to them. I stood in front of Luna as she and the others stared at the ship and ordered the 'mercs to load up while I carried the dazed Princess onto the ship, ready to leave the country. 
> Chapter 20. Fragment. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Twilight Sparkle sat in a black cage with Rainbow Dash with two, small, bunk beds and a toilet. Beside them to the right was Rarity and Pinkie Pie and to the left was AppleJack and Fluttershy in their own cells. Twilight watched Dash try to break out of the cell, but it was fruitless. She could tell that cells walls were so heavily fortified that not even Celestia could break out with brute force alone. The walls were as tough as dragon scales and the bars were just as strong. The cell could only be opened by a switch in the guard office, which was being occupied by a Griffin named Gloria. 

How they ended up in this mess, she would never understand until the black dragon stops giving her vague answers that just made more questions. What was worse was that Princess Luna went to his side and aided him in their recapture. Twilight was heartbroken that she went to his aid so easily. Just a mention of an uncle she never heard of was enough for Luna to abandon her friends for some stranger. How the dragon came to learn of such knowledge of something that was never recorded, baffled her. Not only that, but she didn't understand why Luna didn’t outright attack the dragon either. It was like she was afraid of him. Twilight caught Luna glancing at the strange swords he was wielding over and over again like they would come out of their sheaths and eat her. If those weapons of death and disharmony were so dangerous, then why would Luna aid him rather than stop him? 

“Nothing makes sense anymore,” Twilight muttered silently to herself. She sighed and just as she was about to lay down on the somewhat comfortable bunk bed, she heard a set of hooves walk down the hall. Twilight instantly turned around in the hope that she could convince one of the mercenaries to free them, but that hope died as fast as it came, as Luna stood in front of their cell with remorse in her eyes. 

“What are you doing here, traitor?” Rainbowdash hissed. Luna's ears flattened to the venom in the cyan mares voice in a hard flinch, but her voice didn't waver. 

“I am here to give some information about yo-our situation,” she replied, causing Twilight to look at her with confusion. 

“How do we know that you aren't lying to get us to worship that dragon like the mercenaries?” Rainbow demanded. Luna just shook her head as Twilight sat beside Rainbow to talk to the Princess while the others listened in silence. 

“You don't, but I can answer some questions about what Winter Octavious Solstice plans for us,” she said.

Twilight perked up to the chance before Rainbowdash could say anything else and spoke in a somber voice. “Why didn't you help us? Why didn’t you fight him to rescue us? What is so important that he knows that you didn't help us like we helped you?” 

“It wasn't that simple Twilight Sparkle,” Luna sighed. Twilight and her friends just stared, wondering why she said those words. “If...If I were to have attacked him. He could have killed me like I was nothing but a pest. I didn't know what his swords were made of that frightened me so, but now that I do know. If I were to receive a single scratch from either of them...I would have died, instantly.” Twilight and her friends gasped in fright as to what could kill a God with a scratch. The thought of it shouldn't be possible, yet that dragon had weapons that shouldn't exist at all. 

“What are they made of?” Rainbowdash asked in slight fear. 

“One sword was forged in the fires of Heaven, and the other was forged in the fires of Hell. I have seen them both unsheathed and it was a terrifying sight. No mortal should be able to be bathed in both Hellfire and AngelFire at the same time. Whoever he is, he is something not to be trifled with,” Luna replied causing the mares to go silent for a moment before Twilight spoke up again. 

“Let's move away from the impossible dragon for a moment and talk about why you are with him,” Twilight asked. Luna nodded with another sigh. 

“It is complicated, to say the least. He knows answers for questions that have been causing me much grief since my return. I made the poor choice of asking Discord for help with finding these answers as well, but he just pointed me to the dragon. I cannot tell you about my questions as they are very personal, but what I can tell you is that we are heading to the ancestral land of the first Griffin King. Once we are there, Solstice will tell you everything you want to know, and as for my ulterior motive. I need to know what he is up to, and why he knows about the Creators.” Twilight sighed as she knew that she won't get any straightforward answers from the dragon or Luna until they arrive in a place that doesn't exist.

“Creators?" AppleJack spoke up. "Ya mean those hoo-mans that are from 'tha other side of the mirror thing?” she asked. Luna just shook her head. “Those beings aren't Human, not fully anyway. They have their shape from what a dear friend of mine told me, but they aren't the Creators of old.” AppleJack frowned at the answer but kept her peace. 

“What's the difference?” Rarity asked.

“Humans were known as omnivorous and that had mastery of all forms of magic. They were also known as begins of conflict and as such, they never knew the peace that we have today,” Luna replied, unsure of what to remember from what her uncle Mark had told her about them. Twilight and the group, however, we're appalled that these humans ate other beings and all decided not to talk about it further. 

`“So, what is our dungeon master up to now?” Twilight asked breaking the silence again. 

`“He is currently looking for something important on the ship. What it is, I don't know, but he said it was important to find before we enter the Sea of Death.” 





I pinched the bridge of my snout as I sat on top of my bed in frustration that the key to my memories was a bitch to find. I knew that I was clever in hiding shit that could be very important in the future, but this utterly stumped me. It didn't help that Raven was sleeping on my bed after we stopped for the night just a hundred miles out to sea when she said she would help me. No matter what I thought of to aid in my search or Ravens ranting about how much of a peasant I was. I couldn't find the key. 

I sighed and moved to my desk to look through my journal once more to see if I left a subtle clue in the pages as to where I could have possibly hidden the key. As I search through the poor Grammer and hundreds of misspelled words, I thought about how much time I had until Celestia returned from her trip. If what Luna said was correct, then I have about a week left before her eyes are on the six in the dungeon again. Though, with what Sunset did to convince them to her trap. I should have two weeks before Celestia realizes that something was amiss if she didn’t stalk her Elements of Harmony like a vulture. Having that extra time is a blessing that I would need in the long run. 

After a while of searching in my journal, the more frustrated I became. It wasn't the fact that I was a horrible writer, it was the fact that I couldn't find the key. In my frustration, I decided to burn the book with the candle on my desk that was lighting the room in a dim orange glow. What I expected was for the book to slowly burn and turned to ash, but it didn't happen. Instead of burning to cinders, the book glowed for a moment before killing the fire. I frowned that my light was out and curious that the book didn't turn to ash like it should have. I re-lit the candle, wondering why the book didn't burn. Sure it was just a collection of my thoughts about my short time in my Equestria, but it wasn't something that I would protect with a spell. 

“Well, let's see what kind of spell it is then,” I sighed as I activated a scrying spell. The second I looked at the book, I froze in confusion. 

Just like the door in my head, the book had the same amount of runes and magic circles on it, but without the lock and chain. “What the fuck?” I muttered as I slowly opened the cover, fearing the worst. Then, as I turned to the first page, I saw a spell hidden in between the lines. I decided to read it in my head to try to understand what it was about, but after I read the first sentence of the complex spell. Every word on the page vanished.

I frowned that I only got a small portion of the spell figured out, but before I made a complaint. My head felt funny. So funny in fact, that my vision slowly faded to black, and I passed out before I could save myself from the trap that was held within my journal. 

I woke up to a strange sight after I blacked out from a trap spell that I must have set up in that journal and forgot about it. Standing in front of me with a wolfish smile was a creature I have never seen before. His skin was slightly pale, he had azure eyes and a flat face. The hair on top of his head was barely over his eyes and messy like he just woke up from a nap, and it was black. He wore a; black trench coat, black shirt, black cargo pants, black leather boots, a black collar with a snowflake medallion as a dog tag, and he was sporting two .44 magnums at his sides. What was even stranger was the room we were in or lack of a room. We stood in a strange meadow underneath as cherry blossom tree during the twilight hour. I frowned at the creature, figuring that he was a threat. He let out a chuckle as I stood up. 

“Man, it's been a while since I have seen you,” the creature smiled. I just continued to frown in confusion. 

“Don't be like that, Winter. Your forehead will wrinkle faster with age if you do.” My frown deepened that the creature knows me, but I not him. 

“How do you know my name?” I asked, ready for a fight. He just laughed at me and patted my shoulder like we were best buddies. 

“Because I am you my incestuous brother!” he cheered, causing me to just stare at him like he was insane. “What do you mean by that?” I asked in disbelief just as we began to walk down from the small hill to a strange looking cog-shaped door with, '101,' on it.

“Well, because you are one-fourth of me, and it's about time you showed up too. I was starting to think you died or something.”

‘Died? This...Is this guy me? How...How is this possible? If I am just one-fourth of him, then does that mean that I am just a fragment of an even stronger being? And what will happen to me if he should reclaim me? Would I die and he gets to live? I...I don't want to die. Not after all the bullshit I went through!’ I thought with worry. The being just sighed and gave me a knowing smile as we walked into the room that was hidden behind the giant door.  

“Listen, buddy, I know what is going on in that head of yours, and I can tell you that no matter what you do. You will die in a year as being just a fragment of a soul. You will slowly degrade into nothingness. Especially a soul like yours. If you had the eye, then I could have made you your own soul and transfer your consciousness into it, but you don't, and if your try to fight me for control. You will lose as I hold thousands of years worth of fighting knowledge from our stalker, Dexter. The dead waifu God of Space, Time and the Void.” 

“How did you know that I was thinking that?” I asked as my hopes were crushed in the realization that if I were to fight him, he will end me before I could leave a single mark on him.

“Well, I am you and you are me. That, and I am extremely good at guessing,” he replied. “Anyways, before I re-absorb you and take back control...And get us back to seventy-five percent power. Have any last words? 'Ya know. Ones without revelations about waifu’s and other stuff, cause they suck in my opinion," he shrugged as we walked down gray metal corridors that was as sterile as a hospital.

I thought of many questions to ask him. Things about where I was from, why am I here and other stupid things. I thought about how I could beat him and take control, but I knew that I would lose. I had to wonder where we are and why everything looked to real? Such things shouldn't be possible for one person to make, yet here we were. Walking down the halls of Vault 101 from the fallout universe. I sighed as we came up to the main atrium and sat down with a bottle of Nuka-Cola waiting for us. 

“Yeah...What will happen to me?” I asked, in strange contempt that I was okay with this as I drank the cola. He gave me a warm smile and spoke again. 

“Your memories will join mine, filling the gaps as it were. Your part of our soul will merge back into place, giving us back most of our power, which is Alicorn-tier by the way. You will pass on and once I wake up in your place. The eye will do everything in its power to return to us. And all of it will be painless. Anything else?” he asked. I just shook my head, knowing that it would be pointless to ask things that I will learn once I merged with him.

“Then good night. Sleep tight and don't forget to bring your towel.” He said before he pulled out one of his guns and aimed it at my face. I closed my eyes, knowing that this was the end of my short life. Then again, I don't have to deal with the Sun Tyrant anymore. 'Such a bittersweet ending to me, the fragment. Oh well, everything is his problem now,' I thought as I heard the loud boom from the gun, causing everything to fade to nothingness. 





Raven woke up to a peculiar sight. On the floor was the Griffin turned dragon, sleeping on the floor with a book in his claws. She figured that he passed out on the desk and fell over and walked up to his side with a pillow in her beak and carefully lifted his giant head, and placed the pillow under it. 

"If only you weren't a member of the Void, I could have fallen for you," she muttered before she jumped into the air as the dragon suddenly bolted upright and began to look around hysterically for enemies that don't exist. She frowned at him for scaring her as they met eyes on the floor, but he just smiled that frightened her to the very core. 

"Guess who has their memories back?" he said almost laughing. Raven shook herself from the slight fear that she loved and answered in a tired voice, already knowing the answer. "Who?" 

"Me," he said as he stood up. "And the best part, I also have most of my power back as well."

Raven froze at that statement and watched in horror as the dragon put his armor back on and added a few more strange weapons to his person. 'He...He has most of his power back? What does that even mean?!' Raven thought as Winter gave her a raised brow while holding two strange black clubs in his claws. 

"It means that I, Winter, Slayer of the demon Malice, Killer of Goddess Moirai, Tamer of Darkness, Seducer of Angels, Conqueror of 2 million vaginas, Master of Chaos, Sigil of Deus Ex Machina, Traveler of the Void, Knight of Twilight, Master of all that is Holy, and Scholar of the first Sin, has returned." 





> Chapter 21. Ship Master. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I walked around the ship, checking on all systems and making sure all of it was working in top condition. I don't want anything coming apart when we enter the storm. As I walked around the ship with Raven at my side, much more scared of me than usual, probably because I freaked her the fuck out a few hours ago. It is good to know that she was still trying to find a way to control me. That thought is welcoming to know that she still cares about me enough to still want me to be her slave. As we walked around the ship, I had to make sense of all the information that my fragment had acquired. 

With Celestia as a tyrant that even this universe's version of Discord had to try and stop her. How he did it was a bit useless in the long run, but it set the stage for the inevitable. With all the work that my fragment had done in the world. I was quite happy with him and all that he had done, but now I have to pick up the slack where he left off, and at seventy-five percent power. Though, it is concerning that Celestia has my eye which held the other twenty-five percent power, but the second she comes back to Equestria from her trip in the mirror. She will struggle on trying to keep that power to herself as the eye will want to return to me, its perfect host. 

We both came up to the forge on the ship where we found that Luna was exploring. We both stopped in the doorway and watched her frown in confusion to the thousands of Runes that I placed on the smelter, hammers, and forge. I could tell that she was trying to understand their purpose, and was failing. I would tell her that my entire smithy setup can make anything and everything. From swords that could kill angels to guns that can obliterate demons. That this is the birthplace of the two weapons she fears most, but I have to hold my tongue for now. There is no telling what she would do if she were to try and activate the runes without an affinity for them, as one wrong activation could kill her instantly. 

"Ahem!" I coughed out loud, causing her to jump in surprise. She turned towards me with a sheepish smile and backed away from my smelter. 

"I wouldn't touch anything in here without my permission and supervision because if you activate one wrong rune. It will kill you if you are not immune to its effects," I scolded her. She took a step back in shock and stared at the smelter with new found curiosity, then back to me like she was caught stealing from the cookie jar. 

"I was just curious as this place seems to be the most used out of all of the rooms on the ship," she said as she walked over to me and Raven. 

"You are correct as this is the place where I made most of my weapons and armor. I spent more time here working on my arsenal that flying the ship, which we should be getting to the bridge as we are about to enter the storm," I replied and turned around and began walked to said bridge. 

"O-Of course, ship master, but can I ask what those Runes are for?" she asked. 

"Those Runes are in the language of the ancients. Those Runes also hold Tartarus together and keep the demons held within. So don't mess with them as they will kill you if you don't know what they mean, and no I won't teach you how to read it. If you want that knowledge, you will have to find the forest known as, FernGully and gain the information from the great tree known as, Gandalf the white." She gave me a disheartened frown and kept quiet for the rest of the walk.  





Luna sat on the bridge of the ship with Winter, the black dragon waiting at the helm for Captain Black Rose to arrive. She marveled at the immense complexity of the ship as it was far more advanced that what Equestria has. The unique technology and power output of the ship could very well power an entire city! That alone could revolutionize aviation in mere months when it took hundreds of years, however. As much she wanted to explore the ship to see what kind of unique thing that it could do. All she could focus on was Winter's eyes and aura. 

Luna knew that there was something different about the dragon. He was much more confident and open about things, but those were small in comparison to what his aura around him was like. Before they entered the ship, his aura was weak and small. Like a timid flame that could easily be snuffed out. Now it was like a mountain of fire, threatening to burn the entire world. It was no ordinary fire either that she felt. No, his aura was not only destructive but kind and gentle, like his fatherly and wise eyes that sent chills down her spine. His new aura was the color of an azure flame. Warm to the touch, but can burn through anything that dares play with it. 

Then there are his eyes. Like his aura, they changed. They weren't just cold and calculating anymore. Now they held much more. Like his aura, they were warm and kind that held wisdom that no mortal should ever have. Those eyes were also like looking into a protective fathers soul. Luna instantly knew that he has a child from this fact, but there was more to it. It was like if she were to ask the question to learn where his child was. Then she will be killed on the spot regardless of what he thinks of her. But there was something else, something that shouldn't be there. If one were to look long enough into his azure eyes, they would lose themselves to the endless void held within. 

'A common aspect for a Knight of the Void,' Luna thought, knowing how dangerous it was to dare meet the gaze of a void walker. And if Winter was, in fact, a Void Knight, then his mere presence will destroy the world. 

Luna silently watched as Captain Black wing entered the bridge with a scowl on his face. Luna saw Winter take notice of the scowl as she backed away slightly towards the table with a coffee pot and several cups on it. The two Captains stopped in front of each other in front of the helm and went into a staring contest for a moment before the Black grunted and looked away. Winter smirked as he turned to the Captains chair to watch Raven spin around on it before laying down and closing her eyes for a nap. That's when Black decided to say his peace. 

"What the fuck did you do to my crew?" Black hissed at the amused dragon in armor. 

"Insurence, which has the side effect of subconsciously influencing individuals into revering the one who placed said insurance on them," Winter said flatly before turning back to the helm and hitting a button on the main console, causing the ship to lurch suddenly and pick up speed she never thought was possible. 

"Insurence? Isn't our oath enough?" Black growled in resignation. 

"Not after the stunt you tried to pull when Luna showed up, but if it makes you feel better. You are also under the spell as well," Winter said in a much more intimidating tone the caused Black to back away to the sudden change in atmosphere. 

"T-That was..." 

"Don't bother trying to save your ass!" the dragon almost shouted. "That was strike one with you Black, and unless you want to meet the same fate as your sister. I suggest you keep betrayal off of your list of bullshit because you are the only one that has survived this long after such actions. And if you want to know what happened to the other people that betrayed me. I sent them into slavery with a pack of Diamond Dogs who owned a brothel where every kind of race could go to for some fun." Winter hissed at the trembling Captain. 

"Y-Yes, my Lord," the Captain replied in a soft whisper before backing away from the livid dragon. Winter huffed in response and turned his attention to the storm that was approaching at insane speeds. 

Luna froze at the storm and wished that they  didn't have to go in for a reason that Winter won't tell them. The storm was as long as the coastline of the eastern sea of Equestria. Thousands of lightning strikes could be seen in the dark clouds that tower into the sky like black monoliths that threatened to devour any and all who enter, but that wasn't the worst that she could see. Just as Winter touched the steering wheel for the ship to manually fly it, a giant sea serpent jumped out of the water and flew into the clouds. The serpent was easily ten times the size of the ship, and could fly. 

Luna knew such horrors existed in the storm that they were about to enter, but seeing it for real made her more fearful of the storm than the Captain of the ship, but that quickly changed when she saw the biggest most insane smile that the black dragon had plastered on his face. It was like seeing a child in a candy store and was told that they could have all the candy they want for free and that thought upset her. 

Luna wanted to tell the Captain to turn around and find another way, but she couldn't because of what he might do to her. She knew that he has the power to add her to his HiveMind spell, and permanently make her his slave. She knew that is what he will do to her if she tries to stop him. The only thing that she could do was pray to mother Faust that nothing bad will happen and that the journey will not end with the death of so many. 





I smiled in the pure, childish joy of what I just saw as I directed the ship to follow the hurricane grade winds of the storm. The serpent that came out of the storm looked exactly like a colossus from my favorite game of all time. It had the half-stone half-fur combo too! The serpent had friends that protected the island as well. Then this trip was going to be like a trip to Dindywhirl! 

Luna gave me a strange look before backing away and began tying herself into one of the empty chairs of the room. Black also had the same idea before he made sure Raven was secure in the Captains seat, but that didn't matter at the moment as I felt the ship begin to be pulled into the storm. 

I cracked another demonic smile as I hit the accelerator and guided the ship into the storm and watched as we were slowly engulfed by the pure darkness that only lit up to flashes of lightning. I put the ship into autopilot and prepped my scythe as I was going to need it in a few minutes.

Luna gave me a strange look before the sound of rain hitting the hull of the ship like bullets signaled me that it was show time. I walked over to the emergency door of the bridge with Lupus in hand, getting ready to defend the ship from whatever hides in the storm. If that serpent was any indication, then bid monsters was on the list to look out for. Just as Luna and the others were about to say something, I gave them a salute before I opened the door and jumped out. 

"Divinum Praesidium," I said, casting a spell to protect me from everything as I walked on the hull of my ship to the bow. I smiled as lightning flashed, revealing silhouettes of thousands of giant creatures that lurk in the storm as the wind and thunder kill all sound to nothing but loud, defining booms of pressure. Rain threatened to blind me and prevent me from gaining any traction on the hull of my ship. The roars and screams of monsters that brush up against the ship was awe inspiring. The weight of my armor didn't hinder me, the rain didn't hinder me, nothing in the storm hindered me as I wait in a vigil for my first opponent that dared try to stop us from reaching the island. 

Then, in a flash of lightning, a creature much smaller than I thought would strike first stood on the bow of my ship in a suit of armor that looked like something out of, Warhammer. Its face was completely hidden behind a mask that looked like it could breathe underwater. It's oversized pauldrons looked more like of a hindrance than protection. And how it was slightly shorter than me despite the giant boots that gave it an easy, one-foot height boost. 

I cracked a smile as I watched it pull out a sword that looked like it was made out of lightning from its sheath and pointed it at me like it was challenging me to a duel. With a flick of the wrist, I twirled my scythe around my body like I was dancing with it. I stopped it with the main blade to my right foot pointing out, and the pommel blade over my left shoulder in my preferred stance before I bolted at the Space Marines knock-off. 

The knock-off had the same idea and rushed at me too as the roars of the wind and thunder permeate the area. The light coming off its lightning blade helped me see where he was when there was no lightning to illuminate the area as we close blades in a deadlock. 

I smiled at the masked figure as a flash of lightning showed the better details of his face mask before I pushed him back on the slippery surface. 

He stumbled for a second before we locked blades again. I groaned that the knock-off was a lot faster than he appeared, but I didn't let that fact throw me off. This time, he pushed me away and I went sliding back before I rolled to the side, barely dodging a down swing that left a bad mark on the hull of my ship. 

He didn't let up though as he thrust his blade into my chest as I was recovering from the initial roll. I flicked my scythe around my back in a quick parry, causing his blade to go flying into the air. I smirked at the knock-off before I brought the staff down on his head while he was distracted. 

The knock-off wasn't as quick as I thought he was as he took the full force of the swing and collapse down to one knee. I placed the main blade to the throat of my attacker as his sword came back down and landed in my free hand and began to shock me. I smiled at the little sword then to my opponent who sounded like he was laughing from within his helm, but that died when he saw that I was fine and dandy. 

"Sorry mate, but I am immune to all lightning based attacks. Try again next time," I said before I knocked him out and teleported him into the dungeon of the ship with a teleportation crystal I made a few hours prior. 

I moved back to my original position at the bow to see if there were any more strange people to fight. As I walked back in the horrible storm, the ship flew off course, causing me to fall off the hull and watch as a ginormous creature come out of the water. I opened my wings and took to the sky. I flew back to the ship as every single monster began attacking The Aria. The weapons systems came on, killing anything that got to close as it adjusted back into its original trajectory. Creatures, the size of small buildings attacked the ship while the big one that bitched slapped it a hundred miles away gave me its full attention. 

The giant that was the size of Canterlot mountain and looked like Malus from Shadow of the Colossus, but a hundred times bigger. It's giant black arms glowed from hundreds of yellow rings that adorned it. Its entire body looked like a building had sex with an animal. Malus 2.0 lifted one of his arms and pointed its hand at me. Before I could react, balls of lightning shot out of its hands, hitting me square in the chest. 

I dropped out of the sky like a rock as my body seized up from the insane amount of voltage that thing shot at me. If it wasn't for my protection spell that I placed on myself, I could have died. I leveled out and flew as fast as I could around him, making a plan to kill the creature before I become its dinner and my ship its fleshlight. 

I weaved back and forth as the oversized Toys-R-us shot an endless stream of lightning balls at me while I searched for a way to take him down. I looked over his body, prodding for a weakness. The only spot I could find, however, was its head. As much of a cliche that was, it was the only chance I had as my ship was struggling to deal with all of the creatures attacking it. Even Luna who was outside of the ship was having a hard time. I grunted as the wind tried to force me into the water and bolted towards the creatures building-body to avoid its ranged attacks. 

I dodged a few more shots before I closed my wings and began to climb the creature. Malus didn't like that one bit and tried to shake me off. I would have been having so much fun with this, but that fun died when he slapped my baby out of the sky. 

I grunted as the rain and blinding flashes of light coming from the lightning in the sky made it near impossible to climb the beast. The beast itself didn't like that I was now on its back heading straight for its neck. Another monster didn't like that either and jumped onto the back of Malus just a few yards below me. I groaned in frustration as the cat building thing from, El Dorado the animation began to chase me on the back of the monster. 

I jumped to a ledge that would give me a better footing and pulled out Silence and took aim at the new monsters green, stone eyes, and pulled the trigger. 

*BANG!* 

The creature screamed in agony as half of its face tore off to the bullet that could take down an Apache Helicopter, in a single shot, but the monster kept climbing. All the while Malus tried to shake us off his back. 

I jumped to the ledge above me, barely dodging a claw that dug into the back of Malus. This cause the beast to shake more violently, causing the other creature to lose its footing and giving me the opening I needed to get rid of him. I shot at the cat things paws as it tried to regain its placement, but it couldn't. My shots caused the creatures claws to disintegrate, making the creature fall off of Malus's back and back into the ocean from whence it came. 

"One down, a fuck-ton to go," I sighed as I put Silence back into the hammerspace and went back to climbing. 

Winter! Where are you! We need your help! shouted Raven from the link we were connected by as I grunted my way onto the head of Malus, who was now shaking like he was listening to heavy metal. 

"Hold the fuck on!" I shouted as I thrashed back and forth on the creatures head as he tried to throw me off. 

If you hurry the fuck up now! You can have your way with me! Shouted Raven through the link as I was flung from the top of Malus's head and into the air. I raised a brow to that before I unsheathed Nix and, with a powerful flap of the wings. I slammed my blade into the skull of Malus, causing him to burst into black flames, incinerating him within seconds. 

I watched from afar as the thing that was Malus 2.0 fall back into the ocean. 

"Two down, a fuck-load more to go," I sighed as I turned to The Aria and saw the Luna was struggling with a bunch of small, rock-tigers trying to get into the ship. I groaned in annoyance and flew over there, just as the ship was leaving the storm and back into open air. 

I landed on the hull as the ship left the storm and an island came into view. The rock-tigers took notice of me, and all five of them charged at me. I sighed and lifted my hand with the palm facing at the tigers. Once they were halfway towards me I said, "Crepitus," causing all five of them to explode into nothing but rubble. I collapsed to on a knee, knowing that I was on the verge of complete mana depletion. Luna came back out of the ship while sporting a suit of armor that I have never seen before, but made her look immensely sexy. I gave her a warm smile as I stood back up to great the sexy mare in armor. 

"Hey, beautiful. Nice weather we're having, eh?" she stopped just a few paces away from me with a big red blush.

"What's wrong? Tall dark and handsome make to hot for you to approach without blushing like a little school girl?" I chuckled, causing Luna's blush to deepen. 

"N-N-NO! I just wanted to make sure you were alright! That's it! No bad thoughts about you and I in bed! I swear!" Luna blurted out like a smooth criminal, telling me that she has a thing for dragons and dragons that could kick her ass. 

"Sure you are, Woona~" I teased, causing her wings to go full retard. "Your twins don't lie either," I chuckled pointed at her wings. Luna's face went completely red as she struggled to hide her wing boner. I laughed for a moment before she kicked me in the stomach, just as the ship stopped at the beach of the island. 

"You are the worst!" she pouted as she pinned me to the hull of the ship. I rolled my eyes as we went from being serious about the monsters to cheeky lovers. Since I was currently single and bored. I smacked away her hoof playfully, causing her to fall on my face. Her eyes went wide as I pulled her into a kiss, but then the closed as she leaned into my embrace. 

Confirming she does have a thing for dragons. 
> Chapter 22. Landfall. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Luna stared off into space for a long while as everypony unloaded the ship with supplies they will need. The ride through the storm where horrid monsters tried to drag them down into the ocean, but that didn't matter to her at the moment as she tried to hold onto the kiss that the dragon gave her for caring about him, even though she didn't trust him. All she could think about was Winters musk, the way his scaley lips made her purr with safety and pleasure. 

She didn't even hear the Elements of Harmony calling out her name as they were forced to walk on the warm sand of the islands beach. Raven had to snap her out of her trance by throwing water in her face. Luna frowned at the little necromancer for removing her from her fantasy of the Void Knights lips. But she was thankful for it as everyone was out of the ship and ready to move. 

Luna walked over where Captain Black was standing beside Raven, Sunset Shimmer, and even Twilight Sparkle in her armor. None of them noticed her except for Raven who was the one that brought her out of her trance in the first place. Luna noticed that they were more focused on the dragon and what he was doing with the ship. Then, just as everyone was looking with curiosity, Winter engulfed the entire ship with his fire. Luna felt a strange feeling as the fire completely encased the ship, but the feeling stopped the second Winter stopped the fire, revealing to everyone that the ship was gone.

The dragon gave a big smile as he walked back to the group while they tried to wrap their heads around how he was able to make the ship disappear, but Luna quickly figured it out. That feeling was the same feeling she got whenever a hammerspace was being used. If the dragon has a hammerspace of his own that he can access at anytime or anywhere, then he could have a lot more than that ship ready to be used at a moments notice, and that thought frightened her. She knows that no one but the caster could enter their personal hammerspace as it is bound to their soul. If he has a ship that could traverse the Sea of Death without taking a scratch and killing everything inside. She could only wonder what else he has hidden within. 

"Alright guys, we will make camp here on the beach for now," Winter ordered with a smile as he stood without his armor but instead in a black trench coat, black leather boots, black cargo pants, and a black shirt. He was also wearing a black collar with a silver medallion of a snowflake on it. Captain Black spoke up to his order. 

"Anything else...Sir?" Black asked, still fearful of the dragon from earlier. 

"Yes, I want patrols to watch out for anything else that might attack. I know that there are more beings like the walking barrel over there..." he pointed to the blue being that was heavily chained on a wagon beside the other prisoners. "...And I don't like surprises." 

"As you wish," Black bowed before he left to do what he was ordered to do. 

"Now for the rest of you. Since I told you that once we made landfall, I would tell you all that you wanted to know. So ask away as we are going to be here for a couple of weeks," Winter said. 





I watched as their eyes went wide with joy that they finally got the chance to ask me what I have been holding back for the past couple of days. These questions will make or break Luna as they are heavily based on her. Twilight I could care less about for as she is just a puppet that I could use at any time, but that doesn't matter at the moment as Luna spoke first. This time without blushing like a little school girl. 

"HAHAHAHA!" the Space Marine knock-off laughed from within her bonds. All of us turned to see what was causing the thing to suddenly get excited and saw four figures walk out of the treeline with weapons drawn, and in the same style of armor as the person who laughed. I groaned in annoyance that the thing that I fought on the ship had friends, and so did Luna and Twilight, but for another reason. 

All but two of them were bipedal. The two I could easily tell that they were Griffins by the same of their armor, but the other two I could only guess. I sighed, knowing that a fight was going to happen, and changed my armor to something more light. The being stopped and stared as I changed my armor to my trench coat set up. They also looked at my new weapons that I was carrying, though, it was just my two .44 magnums and my none enchanted katana, but that didn't matter to them as more of those, rock-tiger-fur-things bolted out of the forest and charged straight at us. 

Luna and the mercenaries took the initiative and got into a defensive position around the prisoners while I groaned that nothing is going to be as easy as my time in Trottingham anymore. 

I watched as I walked over to the four that the rock-tiger-fur-things surround the group but didn't attack, which was interesting, to say the least. I bet the four are the ones that control the RockTigers. If that's the case, then attacking them outright could cause more problems in the long run if I were to search for the vault on the island, but they had other plans. 

"The biggest on in the group that held a giant greatsword charged at me with blinding speed. I pinched the bridge of my muzzle that the big guy, of all people, had to challenge me.  

I gripped Subtlety, my regular black, straight edge katana and waited for the right moment as the big guy that I am calling, Ted, charged at me while kicking up mountains of sand in his wake. Then, as he got into range. I drew my sword while saying the word, "Iaijutsu." Faster than the eye could see, I resheathed Subtlety and once it locked back into place. Ted and the line of trees behind him, split in half and collapsed to the ground. 

"Well, that was easy," I said with a smiled as Ted's blood pooled onto the golden-yellow sand. His friends took a step back and if I could see their faces. They would be staring at me with rage and horror. 

"Well? Who's next?!" I shouted at the three who had their weapons drawn and aimed at me. The rock-tiger-fur-things moved away from the mercenaries and made me their targets as well, but from the motion from one of the Griffin-shaped beings, they ran back into the forest. 

'What a bunch of chickens,' I thought with a chuckle, but that merriment died when the other big guy charged at me, but this time, faster than Ted. 

I jumped into the air, barely dodging the battleax that was clearly oversized and in the shape of something unrealistic. I grunted and pulled out, Ash and Cinder, my two .44's and pointed them at the new guy that I am calling, Moa, and fired. 

*Clack! Clack!* 

Moa rolled out of the way as charged at me again as I touched the ground again. I ducked from a wide swing  of the battleax and side-stepped back and jumped around her slashes like I was doing hardstyle. I laughed as I could feel her frustration grow with each miss as I looked for an opening to her flurry of haphazard of attacks. 

Then, when I thought I had her move-set figured out, she jumped back and pointed her hand out at me. Not wanting to let her do something crazy, I shot at her again, but this time. My bullets deflected off of a forcefield like they were nothing. Then as I took into account of her new abilities that suddenly popped up. The sand around me shot out of the ground and encased me in a coffin. 

"Alright, we have a Gara knock-off. She just lost the cute name of Moa, So what is her next move?" I muttered. "I know!" I cheered as I holstered my guns and clasped my hands, focusing my magic in them. Then once there was enough energy in my hands, I placed them on the walls of my sand coffin with an evil smile. 

"Magna Ventilabis!" I shouted, causing my entire prison to explode and everything else around me. I laughed as I stood in a small crater, watching the Gara knock-off step back in fear. I pointed my hand at her and with a snap of my fingers with my spell still activated. I sent the Gara knock-off flying into the nearest mountain. 

"Hehe, two down. Tow to go," I chuckled as I saw said the nearest mountain's peak, crumble to the addition that I gave it. 

I walked out of the crater towards the two remaining beings that were extremely hesitant to fight me as their fallen brethren. They trembled where they stood, wondering what to do next while everyone else just stared at me in awe. Except for the main six, they were as fearful as the two that were left alive. I sighed and snapped my fingers again, this time uttering the words, "Vincula Umbra," causing the two to be wrapped in chains made of their own shadows. 

Luna took this as a sign to rejoin me as I approached them with a bored expression on my face. She didn't utter a single word until we were looming over the two, Griffin-shaped beings with our weapons were drawn. With a sigh, I pointed my gun at the bigger being and cocked the hammer. 

"So, unless you want to end up like your friends. I suggest you tell us why you attacked when we did nothing wrong," I said with a neutral, emotionless expression. 

"I won't talk!" he said. 

*Bang!*

I recocked the hammer and pointed it at the other guy's head with Luna looking at me in disgust for my brutality as the guy collapsed onto the ground. Dead. 

"Should I repeat the question, or are you going to talk? Cause I don't have time for bullshit while I am here." 

"I-I-I'll talk, please don't kill me," she whimpered in a meek and frightened, slightly childish, voice. I uncocked the hammer on my gun and holstered it with a smile. "Good, now go and sit by your friend over there and wait until I say so. Don't fight and you won't die." She give me a hesitant nod and quickly walked over to where the prisoners with her tail between her legs.

I turned to Luna who was looking at me like I was a cruel and heartless demon that was incapable of any kind of mercy. Which was true for the most part. I know that I have my own little spot in hell if I were to go back, but that doesn't matter right now. I looked over to the forest to see if there was anything else looking to cause problems before I turned around and rejoined the mercenaries to assess my next move. 





After that whole first contact encounter we had, we set up camp for the night. The beach was the ideal place for the most part as it gave us the opportunity to see any and all who might attack us during the night. We didn't have another run-in with the armored begins or the rock-tiger-fur-things again, but I could tell that they weren't too far away. It was like they were studying us like a hunter to his prey. That wasn't something that I was expecting from the things that got there ass handed to them. Though, if they were looking for a weak point, I wasn't going to sleep so they could find it, which was fine with me in my dragon form. I could run at full sprint for day's without stop if I had too. 

With that in mind, I still had to set up patrols, much to the ponies in charge of that task dismay. I knew that after our first encounter, everyone was on edge, and they should be. Raven told me after she looked over the Space Marine knock-off, she found that the being was radiating necromana. A common trait for demons if I remembered my time in Tartarus correctly. Which made me think about the Vault as it was protected by demons and anything undead. 

'If the demons were outside the Vault, then Grogars enchantments have either; lost control of them or vanished completely. If that was the case, then the only thing protecting the Vault now was the door that was made before Grogars time.' 

With the demons out of their cage, and possibly fucking like rabbits. I was going to have a hard time just getting to the hidden city, rather then finding Mout Liberty. Not to mention that I was dealing with a bunch of morons that would have all died to Giggles on the ship. Hell, even Luna had a hard time with her. I could only imagine how strong the Kingpin was, and that was something to look forward too. 

I sat on a tree log that was pulled out of the nearby forest with a cold stare aimed directly at Giggles while I ate a few gems to keep myself energized. I could tell from behind her mask that she was staring at me too, trying to gauge how strong I actually was, but I knew she wouldn't be able to find out. Not with a certain spell that I had ready to be used if I had to destroy the entire island in less than a second. 

We held our gaze at each other until I got bored and Luna made a seat next to me with the freed Twilight Sparkle again. I sighed, knowing that they will want to talk to me again as their first chance was cock-blocked from our friends that wanted to say hello and then goodbye because we were bad neighbors. 

"Captain Solstice, do you mind if we sit here to talk about the things that we were interrupted about earlier today?" Luna asked as she handed me a canteen of water with her telekinesis. 

"Sure, why not. Nothing bad is going to happen to us again today anyway," I said, taking the canteen from Luna's grasp and hoping that Murphy will come to my aid. He didn't. 

"Then care to answer where we are and what you are planning on doing here?" Twilight asked for Luna. I took a swig of water from the canteen to clear my throat before I spoke and made peace with them.

"Alrighty then. The short answer is to gather information and possibly a few Lich Kings to aid in the murder of the Sun Tyrant and free the Griffin race. And what better place to start this campaign than in the land of the first Griffin King and father of Mark Borne, the land of Eden. Which is also the birthplace of the Thestrals in the southern mountains," I explained. Both of them had different expressions on their faces. Twilight had a look of absolute hatred while Luna just looked sad. 'Strange, I thought she would be on the rage and angst train. Oh, well.'

"You...You are evil! Celestia is pure and good. She is not a Tyrant!" Twilight shouted in pure rage at me. "The fact that you would side with demons just proves that you the very definition of darkness! One would even say that you are The Prince of Darkness too!" she finished. Luna just stares at Twilight like she was about to be killed on the spot, but didn't say anything to defend her. I, however, just laughed like a maniac for saying my title before I snapped my fingers and handed her a lollipop. 

"You are right Miss Sparkle. I am evil because I have to do what's right. I have to bring peace and balance to this world. I am the very definition of darkness because I want to save and protect the suffering of an entire race while Celestia covets a power that turns pure souls in black sick that is so toxic, not even Hades would dare touch it with a five-hundred-thousand-million-foot pole. I am The Prince of Darkness, and you, my little pony, have earned yourself a lollipop for being so hypocritical. That I am surprised that the Elements even chose you to be their bearer of peace and harmony. Bravo-bravo Princess," I finished my rant with a slow clap in pure mockery of the raving pony. 

"What do you mean, Celestia covets a power that is so toxic, that not even Hades dares touch?" Luna asked as Twilight stormed off to cool down. I chuckled as I watched Twilight pass out from the amount of blood rushing through her veins overwhelmed before I turned to Luna, who looked like I just kicked a puppy at her. 

"It's simple really," I said, taking another sip from the canteen. "She has what is known as, The Seven Eyes of Chaos. A power that should have killed her within a year of acquiring it, and yet, she lives. It's a power that corrupts the person soul if the bearer uses it. The only way I got out of that deal was because of the Void aspect that I recently learned that I had, and let me tell you this. If she has full control of that power, she is a bigger threat than all the demons of Tartarus combined and has to be stopped at all costs." 

Luna just stared at me like she didn't want to believe what I was saying. Like I was lying to her with the biggest bullshit imaginable, but I knew how to make her believe. 

"I know you don't want to believe in my words, but let me tell you this: Mark saw Celestia create the demon known as, Nightmare Moon and planted it inside of you. She wanted to control you with that creature, but she failed and you used its dark powers to try and make the world a living nightmare. Because of this failure. Celestia banished you to the moon to weaken the demon's powers so she could purge you and try again. Tia never loved you, Luna. All she cares about is power and control, and she will do everything to get her way." 

Luna turned away from me and stared at the sand in silence. I could see tears dripping onto the sand like her entire world was crashing around her, but she needed to know. I knew that she could tell if I was lying or not, and I usually don't lie. Each word that I said must have hit hard on her reality of the lies that was told by those that said they loved her. 

'Damn, she and I are almost the same in this world,' I thought as I placed a wing on her shoulder and brought her in for a hug. I smiled as she leaned in instead of fighting my touch. She mumbled something incoherent to me as she soaked my black shirt as I wrapped her in my wings. 

We stayed like that for most of the night until she fell asleep in my arms. 

> Chapter 23. Mockingbird. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Alrighty...Let's see what you look like underneath that helm of yours," I said as the Space Marine knock-off that her friend calls her, Maria, struggled to break free from the grasps of twenty ponies. 

"Don't you fucking dare!" she challenged just as the sun was rising in the east. I rolled my eyes and reached around to the back of the helm to find the emergency button to take off the helm. She whipped back and forth, trying to prevent me from figuring out how she looked like. At first, I would have been hesitant to take it off, but from what her friend had said about how she looked like, I just had to see if it was true or not. 

"Make me," I said as I hit the button, causing pressurized air to wheeze out of her helm. She kicked and screamed, making threats to kill me if I saw her face, but that had little effect on me. With one mighty pull, I took off her helm and her a collection of gasps from my mercenaries who were closest to her. 

"No way," I said as I dropped the helm in disbelief. Maria just looked away in disgust for herself, as well as all the others around her, but I couldn't. Maria sported two, goat-like horns that were black on her head. She had long and silky, crimson red hair. Her face was slightly pale and as refined as the, most, beautiful angels in heaven. Her pointed, long, elf ears had golden studs from base to tip. Her lashes were long, and smokey, making her gaze as seductive as a succubus. Her eyes were as red as her hair, but the white part was as black as her horns. All I could think about was why she thinks she isn't beautiful? She was absolutely stunning!

"Yes, I am hideous just like my brethren! Are you happy now, dragon!" she yelled with tears in her eyes. I shook myself from my daze and frowned at her. She flinched and tisked at me before she looked away and waited in such a way. She looked like she was waiting to be hit for showing her face. I grabbed her head and forced her to look me right in the eyes. 

"Look at me in the eyes and answer me this," I said as her lip quivered in fear for something I cannot understand before she did what I asked. "Now that I have your full attention. I just want you to know that you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen, and it would be a shame to hide such a magnificent face behind a mask," I said with a warm smile. She and everyone else, even Luna and the main six, stared at me like I was a super freak that likes to get super freaky. But that didn't last with Maria who went from staring at me in utter disbelief to pure embarrassment. 

"What are you all looking at?" I said to the others. They all decided that their hides looked nice on their bodies and looked away or moved away to pack up camp. "That's what I thought," I said indifferently and turned back to Maria, who was now a mumbling mess of confusion with a cute little smile on her face. 

I chuckled at the poor girl who didn't know how to respond to my compliment. 'I still got it,' I complimented myself in my mind, but then another thought popped up that was rather concerning on my part. 'If demons are considered hideous by the locals, then do they still sever their old enchantments? If that's the case, and with there being locals on the island anyway. I can safely bet that the demons are slaves to whoever lives on this island. Whelp, since I am The Prince of Darkness again, a demon army sounds nice to have in the long run.' 

"Hey, Dragon!" shouted a very annoyed Maria, breaking me from my train of thought. I looked at her with a raised brow while I overheard Luna and Twilight shout at each other in the distance about something about me. 

"How can you find me attractive? Are you sick or something?" she hissed at me. 'Well, she just went back to hating herself and thinks I am a freak. Might as well see what I can do to gain her trust. Having her on my side could give me a foothold on the island, and I know just the spell!' 

"Hmpf, because of this. Corpus Praestrigia," I said, shrouding myself in an illusion that makes me look like I was a human again in Maria's eyes. "Trust me Kitten. You are very attractive in my eyes," I winked at her.

"..." 

And she fainted. 

"Well, at least, I know that I can make an illusion of myself for a while," I said to the unconscious body in front of me. I turned off the illusion spell and pointed at the body. One of my guards came over and added her to the jail wagon and laid her next to the unconscious Twilight Sparkle, who had a black eye from something that I may have missed. Next to the bodies was Luna who was looking a little better from last night. But I could tell that she still held some resignation just by looking into her eyes. I could only hope that nothing bad will come from this. 





"You better lose yourself in the music, the moment. You own it you better never let it go!" Winter sang incoherently as the caravan of ponies trekked through the forest to the center of the island where the lost city of Eden hides. Twilight and her friends cringed at his rapping as they were forced to walk in chains right behind the black dragon. 

Her eye was sore from an argument that she had with Princess Luna about the lies that the dragon drowned her in. She knew that Celestia was pure and innocent. She would never harm anyone or anything. How could Luna just blatantly agree with everything that dragon says? She knew that there wasn't a city on this island. That was just impossible! There was too much dark magic resonating on the island for life to survive. The sheer saturation would kill them, or at worst. Corrupt them into monsters like the demon that walks in chains with them. 

Twilight looked back to the horrendous creature that shot sheepish smiles at the demented dragon that finds her beautiful. How such an ugly creature of pure darkness could exist? She would never know. The fact the Winter finds her attractive just shows how demonic he truly is. If Luna can't see it, she would use the Elements of Harmony to prove it, but she has to wait for the right moment before she could strike.

"Now Hush little baby, don't you cry. Everything's gonna be alright," Winter sang a new song that sounded like a misunderstood lullaby. Twilight looked over to Rainbowdash to see if he knew what he was singing about now. She saw that Rainbow was lip singing the song with the dragon as she looked around like this was normal for her while everyone else looked like they were about to be eaten by the stone monsters that hide in the shadows. 

"Daddy's with you in your prayers. No more crying, them tears," Twilight cringed at that as they walked over a small hill as the dragon continued to sing. She focused on the damp forest floor that was hard to keep balance on instead of her friends. Twilight sighed as she felt something wet hit the top of her head. She looked up and saw that the sky was gray and threatened to begin to rain down on them. While she was looking up, she slipped on the wet mud underneath her and fell face first into the ground. Twilight groaned in pain as she got back up so she wouldn't be dragged in the mud, and to add insult to injury. It began to rain.

With a groan of annoyance and a snicker from the little Griffin riding named Raven riding the cart, she watched the dragon to see if there was a way to defeat him and his lackeys. As she made notes of his dragon scale coat and the many vulnerabilities that it has, she heard something strange in the lyrics that he sang. 

Twilight thought it was weird that the dragon was singing about a daughter that sounded like he missed. She looked around towards her friends to ask in quiet if that was the case, but she was stopped from what she saw. All her friends, all the mercenaries, even Luna and the Griffins, had their eyes locked on him as they walked through the reminiscent forest that reminded her of White Tail Woods. Luna was crying, the Griffins were crying, even her friends were crying. The rain couldn't hide that fact. Rainbow stopped lip singing the song once she realized the meaning behind it. 

Twilight scrunched up her nose in confusion as she turned back to see what was going on with the dragon that was causing such a reaction that should be possible, but what she saw just confused her more. The dragon was crying as well while he sang. His eyes didn't hide the fact that he was missing something that wasn't there at his side. It was like his heart was shattered for something that he had to give up, but what did he have to give up that even he couldn't hide his true emotions? 

The more she tried to figure out his motive for causing such trauma within the caravan, the more she couldn't understand as her own emotions threatened to take over. The song that he sang held so much power with each word. That even she felt like her heart was about to break. Thankfully, the song ended just as her own floodgates were about to open. 

They continued to walk in silence while Twilight wondered what the dragon was trying to say, however. She knew that he wasn't saying anything, he was just making fun of all fathers everywhere with that song. He didn't have a child, how could he? He was evil. No one, not even the wretched Griffins would dare breed with him! The mere fact of him having a child made her more furious about him and his corrupting ideal's. She had to use the Elements now more than ever to save the world from his dark presence! Twilight made a plan to do just that, but when the stop for a rest on this cursed island. Once he was defeated, she and her friends will purge this entire island of the filth that lurks in the shadows, hungry to kill anything that comes near. 

"Hey, Twilight?" Solstice said with a strained voice from his rapping as they walked into a small clearing to set up camp again for the night, but she didn't hear him. She was more concerned with the staging grounds for his fall that they walked in on. Twilight was ready to use the Elements of Harmony once they were a good distance into the clearing. With the damp grass and mud hindering his movements, she could already see his stone statue becoming the meadows main centerpiece. 

"Hey, Twilight?" he asked again, this time, his words registered in Twilights ears. She perked up as the mercenaries broke formation to set up camp again for the rest of the day and night, as the rain was making it increasingly difficult to walk from all the mud on the ground. 

"May I help you?" she asked back to the stone face dragon as he dried a section of grass with his fire breath. 

"Can I ask you something?" he said as he moved out of the way so her 'mercs can get to work while she and the prisoners were forced to stand in the rain and watch as Princess Luna keep them dry as they did so. 

"Sure," she replied with her friends slowly making their way to surround the dragon for their silent attack. 

"What is your greatest dream? What drives you to walk the path that you set for yourself each and every day. What do you do to achieve what you seek most?" the dragon asked as he stared off into the distance. She frowned at the question, already knowing the answer. "That's easy. My dream is to bring friendship in the world with my friends." 

"Heh, I knew you were going to say that. So, do you want to know my dream?" he asked back with a somber smile as he looked her in the eyes. "Umm...Okay?" she hesitantly replied to avoid his sad and lonely eyes that have lost some of their fire. 

"My dream was to be a father, and I became one, by pure accident with someone that I will never see again, but do you want to know what's funny about that?" he paused what he said and watched Twilight and her friends freeze with both concern and pity for him. 

"What is so funny about that?" Rarity said with a sudden sense of curiosity, causing the others to listen to what he had to say, even if it was an utter lie. 

"In the end, I got my wish, but at a cost. I had to give up everything and sacrifice myself to keep her safe. For six months, I lived my dream, and I took each day for granted. So tell me Twilight and friends. Tell me how selfish it is to create bonds that will inevitably be broken? Tell me what do you do once your dreams are crushed and there is a sliver of hope that you can have it again, but it is so hard to reach when you don't have the power to do so," the dragon said with a chuckle. Twilight and her friends reeled back for a moment to think about what he just said, but Twilight knew better. She knew that he was just making his life sympathetic to his cause for destruction, but she won't have it. 

"That is the biggest lie I have ever heard!" she shouted out loud. "You don't have a daughter! That's just a lie to make you look like the good guy, and you know it! And friendship isn't selfish because it fundamentally can't be! How can making bonds that a pony will hold onto for his or her entire life be bad!? There is no proof to support your lies even if they were true! You are just a dark and evil being that needs to be purged off the face of Equis and I can definitely prove that is the real truth!" she ranted out loud for everyone to hear. The dragon just sighed as he watched all six of them break free from their chains and circle around him. Twilight smiled victoriously as they were into position and no one could stop them from using the Elements on him now! 

"Well, you can believe whatever you want to believe, but even if you use the Elements on me, I will just get stronger," he said blankly. Twilight tisked as he waited for the inevitable with his 'mercs ready to pounce on them. She gave the others a nod just as Luna realized what was going on, but it was too late. Twilight felt the Elements held within them all activate like the many times before, causing their manes and tails to morph into something different. 

Luna tried to stop them, the necromancer tried to stop them, even the mercenaries tried to stop them, but they couldn't. They were up into the air with the magic of friendship ready to be fired upon the stone-faced dragon. Twilight could hear the delusional Luna beg for them to stop as she had to back away from the immense power ready to be unleashed, but no amount of begging can stop her from protecting Equestria from this filth! She smiled in triumph one last time at the dragon and activated the spell. Then, before she went blind from the light of the rainbow of friendship. She saw the dragon smile evilly at her as the spell took effect.

Twilight and her friends landed back on the ground and cheered victoriously for doing what's right. They all stared at the area where the dragon once stood, waiting for the smoke to clear to see their handy work. Twilight looked around as the dust settled to see the joy from the slaves that their master no longer can abuse them, but she frowned when she saw that they were petrified in fear that their master was gone. No matter, she can help rehabilitate the from the trauma that they were forced to endure. 

Then, just as she was about to free the others she heard something stirring from the smoke before a huge gust of wind cleared the area. She protected her eyes with her wings from the sudden torrent of dust and water, but when she looked where the dragon should be. She froze in absolute terror along with her friends at the sight that they were seeing. 

"Hehehehehe!" the dragon laughed as a white flame emitted from his right eye. "That's not possible," she gasped that the dragon was untouched by the blast. 

"Oh, thank you Twilight! You just gave me the ability to stop time at will! You are a fucking moron! AHAHAHAHA!" He laughed manically for a moment before he pointed at the mercenaries, causing them to rechain Twilight and her friends. 

It wasn't until she was back in the box in the rain with Luna looking at her in pity that she realized, she made a horrible mistake. He baited her into using the Elements the entire time on him so that he could do a ritual to give him the power of Harmony. 

'I'm so sorry, Celestia. I have made a horrible mistake that has doomed all of Equestria to the hands of that demon, black dragon.' 
> Chapter 24. King and Zuriel. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	King Griffeth waited patiently in the throne room for the scouting party to return from their mission victoriously. He sat on his throne that was made of all the weapons of Eden's fallen knights with his General, Grimhide, at his side. Griffeth knew of the ship that was spotted entering the storm was a threat to Eden. It was Grimhide himself that suggested sending a daemon party to take it out, despite the backlash of using those horrid creatures that coexisted with them on the island. He hated those creatures with a passion, but he couldn't do anything to get rid of them. 

They were the defender's of the great vault hidden deep withing Mount Liberty, but that doesn't mean they were any more important. Outside of that mountain, they were their humble slaves. If they so speak against their Griffin masters, that daemon will be executed on the spot, however. When it comes to combat, they had no equal, but they would never prove it to their masters. 

As he waited in the throne room with Grimhide for the status report, a Griffin in light leather armor rushed in through the large double doors like a maniac. The Griffin stopped just in front of his king, panting and huffing like he just ran a marathon. Griffeth wondered why one of his subjects was in such a rush to come speak with him, but that thought quickly dissipated when the Griffin spoke with a worried tone. 

“Your, Highness. We have a problem!” he declared as he caught his breath. Griffeth raised a curious brow and nodded for him to continue his message. “On the western shore is a small group of mercenaries heading straight for the city!” 

“That's preposterous! No outlander has ever stepped foot on the island in over a thousand years! Especially when we sent an S-Class Daemon and a hunter-killer squad to back her up to take them out in the storm. What proof do you have of this claim, scout?” General Grimhide scoffed indignantly, causing the messenger.

“With all due respect, Sir, but the S-Class Succubus and Corporal Penélope are the only survivors of the encounter and they were taken prisoner,” he replied meekly. Both Griffeth and Grimhide couldn't believe that one of the strongest types of daemon was beaten so easily. There was no possible way that these mercenaries could do such a feat, and without losing a single life. There has to be a wild card helping them out. 

“Scout, if I may confirm something with you. According to the reports, the group of ponies was weaker than a group of pups. They couldn't do the feat that you are describing, even if they had a dragon on their side. It's just simply impossible,” Griffeth said with a calm demeanor. 

“Well, Sir, hehe. The new report from squad A says that there is, in fact, a dragon on their side, but that's not all. They also said that Princess Luna herself was with them, as well as the new Elements of Harmony bearers, themselves.” 

“That...That cannot be!” Grimhide shouted to rebuke that claim while Griffeth kept a straight face. Even though he was fearing for the worst. “Scout, are you sure that this isn't some hoax?!” 

“I am sure, General. They have made camp in a clearing just outside of Black Rock village. You can go see for yourself, Sir.” The scout nodded nervously. Grimhide turned towards the King with dour expression encapsulating his face and spoke with a stern tone to the king. “Your, Highness. If these claims are true, then it is our best interests to vanquish them as soon as possible!” 

Griffeth nodded in agreement for a moment as he thought of a way to deal with this new found problem. He knew that if these claims were true, then that dragon and Princess Luna was the wild cards. He didn't know if they were being controlled by the Sun Tyrant or something else. The fact that one of them beat one of the strongest breeds of daemon just proves how dangerous they are, and with the bearers of the Elements of Harmony at their side. Fighting them wasn't going to be an option in the long run. For now, it is best to make sure that they aren't puppets and to see if they are here to help.

“I agree, General, however. We don't know what they are capable of or what kinds of weapons they have. For all we know, they are here to join us to take down the Sun Tyrant, or kill us. I don't want to fight something I know nothing about, and if the claims are true. Fighting a demon slayer and an Alicorn is something that I don't want to do.”

“Sire! Even if they are true, we can't risk them learning of our existence. The Sun Tyrant is stronger than she was five hundred years ago. Who knows what she is capable of now! I bet she is using them to kill us all while she sits on her throne torturing the innocent,” Grimhide countered. Griffeth sighed in irritation as he turned to the scout. 

“Scout,” he said, bringing the resting guard to full attention. “Call of the guards and have the prisoners ranks and statuses terminated. Tomorrow, I, and my personal guard will confront them in the clearing. Is that understood?” 

“Yes, Sir!” the scout saluted, causing Grimhide to frown in annoyance that the king was making a terrible mistake. “Good, you are dismissed. Leave us.” The scout nodded after hearing those words and bolted out of the throne room as fast as he came in. Griffeth knew what he was about to do was placing the entire Kingdom at risk, but it was a risk he was willing to take.





"If it feels good, tastes good. It must be mine!" I sang as I bounced around the frozen clearing as happy as a stripper with a hundred dollar coupon to Victoria's Secret. Never would I have guessed that I could stop time like Bayonetta's Witch Time, or Dante's Quick Silver in my life. The mana cost is a thousand times lower than my Mora Imperium spell and ten times more effective. The only restrictions was the area of the spell, which I'm not complaining about. Having five hundred meters to work in a time bubble was definitely going to be helpful in the long run. 

I walked around the frozen Luna who was about to take a bite out of her sandvich. With a chuckle, I grabbed her food from her grasp and took a bite before placing it back in its original place. Then I walked a few feet away and snapped my fingers, canceling out my...'What should I call it other than, The Eye of Patience?' I thought for a moment. "I know! I'll call it Hourglass. That has a nice ring to it," I smiled as I watched time go back to normal. With a straight face, I watched Luna frown at her sandvich, noticing that half of it was missing. She looked around to see who stole her food for a moment before she shrugged and went back to eating her meal. 

I chuckled at the sight of her scrunched pouty face of disappointment that someone took some of her food before I walked away to check up on the prisoners. Knowing them, they would try to break out while most of the cannon fodder were asleep for the night. Though, with the full moon over our heads and the cold wind from the rain from earlier, I don't think they would be stupid enough to try and run away with all the baddies surrounding our position. 

That was something that didn't necessarily bothered me. Knowing that the majority of the islands population was watching us rather than attacking us was a bonus in my opinion. I bet they even notified their leaders that both Luna and I were on the island, and ready to fight at a moments notice, and I liked how most of them had their weapons on me. Even the chick that I punched into the nearby mountain was with them, looking for revenge for earlier. 

'I bet she had a fun time digging herself out of the cliff face,' I chuckled internally as I looked towards the edge of the clearing where most of them were hiding. 'Though thanks to the Elements of Bigotry, I have a new trick up my sleeve, and I can't wait to use it on them.' 

As I walked through the mud and various puddles of water to the area where the prisoners were kept, I saw something off. Two of the prisoners were missing their armor and one of the two was in rags. I looked around to see if one of my mercenaries was responsible for this theft, but then I realized that they couldn't, even if they tried. My orders were clear as the sky without clouds, and they knew that if anything was stolen from the prisoners, they, themselves, would be punished. Instead of rubbing my existence in Twilight and her friends faces, I decided to see what the hell happened to my tsundere demon Maria, and her friend, Penelope. 

As I walked closer to the pair, the more I saw how distraught they were. Maria, who had the same body type as Lily; perfectly proportional curves that weren't too big nor too small. Even her breasts were the same size; a nice twelve double-D, however. The only difference was her tail. She had a long, slender, black tail with an arrowhead tip instead of fur, and she looked like her entire world was destroyed. Her black draconic wings were wrapped around her entire body as she sat on the bedroll that I provided in a hunched position as she tried to hide her face in her knees, was a sorry sight. Whatever happened to her and her friend, they were clearly heartbroken about it. Though Penelope was holding it together better than Maria, but she wasn't doing a good job at hiding it either. 

I stopped my stride in front of the Griffin as she stared at the ground in disbelief as to what happened to her. I faked coughed once to get her attention, but she didn't move. I frowned that she was ignoring me, and decided that some water on her head was a good way to break her out of her trance. With a flick of the wrist, a little ball of water was flung at her face, and no one could stop it. 

*Splash!* 

"..." 

No reaction. 

"O...K...Let's try plan B," I muttered to myself as I grabbed Penelope's head and began to shake her like a ragdoll, but not even that caused a reaction out of her.  I let out a sighed of annoyance that she was too stunned to even do anything for the moment, and stood her back up in her original position and walked away to talk to Maria instead. 

As I took a few steps towards Marias, the sounds of squishing mud alerted her to my presence. She looked up like she wanted to outright murder me with her venomous, ruby red eyes, but decided that I wasn't worth it and shuffled away from me like I had cooties. I frowned at her hostility for a moment as I leaned over and waited for a response of some kind to my presence. But it never came. With a grunt, I tapped her gently on her head, which she responded by tightening her grip on herself in irritation. 

"Alrighty then. Maria, I swear to God if you don't open up and tell me what the fuck happened to your armor. I won't let you share a tent with me tonight," I growled in frustration and a bit of play. I smirked for a moment as her wings gained a slight red hue, but put on a straight face again when she looked back up at me with pure malice. 

"Fine! I'll tell you what the fuck happened, Dragon!" she spat in my face. I, however, was not amused by this gesture. "We have been terminated! The second our armor disintegrated into nothingness. We were no longer allowed to call ourselves the defenders of Eden and her people! We are nothing now. Nothing! If either of us was to show our faces to the King, we will be killed on the spot we stood on! There, are you happy now, Dragon?! You should have just killed us when you had the chance! At least, then we would still have our honor!" she seethed at me before she went back to brooding in her little ball of pain and sorrow. 

"What are you looking at?" I said to the other prisoners and guards that overheard what Maria said. They quickly went back to doing their own business, leaving me alone with her again and needing a way to salvage her situation. I turned back to Maria who looked like she was crying under the protection of her wings, and wondered what I could do to help her? 

Sure I could just add her to the Hive and be done with it, but that wouldn't be fair to her. Then again, if there is an entire mini-country on this island and Celestia doesn't know about, adding her to the HiveMind would be utterly pointless. 'So that just leaves me with A; make her my waifu, or B; Give her a purpose of fighting with me. Although, now that I know that going home is a small possibility, the waifu route would bring her pain in the end...Unless I bring her with me and go all Polygonous with Lily—Which I know she would be completely fine with. Alrighty then. Plan-A is a go!' 

I rubbed the base of Maria's wings to coax her out of her little ball to see if I could bring her to my side. She instantly slapped my hand away with said wings like I was trying to steal from the cookie jar, but I was determined to break her out of her shell and give her a new purpose, and that purpose was to be my waifu! 

I backed away for a moment and looked around to see what everyone else was doing before I dragged her like a caveman to my tent. Everyone was putting out most of the fires around the clearing before patrols began their shifts. Penelope was asleep. The main six was going to sleep. Ruby was still depressed in her corner of the cage. I saw Luna walked into her tent to sleep before she had to lower the moon and raise the sun. Captain Black was looking at me funny, but when he saw that I was looking right at him, he walked into his own tent. Sunset, Tom, Yoko, Gloria, Gilda, and Raven also went into their own tents for the night. 

With an evil smirk, I placed my hand on Maria's shoulder and snapped my finger, activating Hourglass for the both of us. Before she could react, I picked her up bridal-style causing her to let out a cute, "Eep!" Once she realized that I was carrying her in my arms, she began punching my chest and trying to squirm away from me. I just smiled at her knowingly as she flailed around like a wacky-waving-arm-flailing-tube-man. 

"Easy now. You don't want to fall in the mud while we walk?" I chuckled out loud as she continued to punch me as I began to walk to my tent for the night. 

"Let me go you wretch!" she demanded as she wrapped her tail around my throat. 

"Sorry, Love. You said it yourself: You are no longer a defender of Eden, thus, I can do whatever I want to you. And because of this fact, I no longer have to follow the laws that protected you as a prisoner of war. You are effectively mine now, and there is nothing you can do about it," I smiled wolfishly at her. Her face went as red as her hair after I said those words. She stopped hitting me and stopped squirming for a moment before she shook herself from her temporary daze and glared daggers at me. 

'So close.'

"Then that also means that I can kill you!" she proclaimed to no one. I just rolled my eyes and initiated Plan C through Z. 

"Sure you can, or you can be my mate. That is if you'll have me as yours?" I said slyly as we came up to my tent. 

"M-M-Mate?!" she stutter-blushed while her wings fluttered in excitement and her tail uncoiled around my neck. I chuckled again while she tried to make sense of my words and placed her on my cot in the corner of the tent. 

'Okay, Winter,..' I thought as I took off my jacket and placed it on the cot beside the mumbling Succubus. '...She is as Bipolar as most girls, and she is really feisty. She is strong enough to beat Luna in a fight, however. She is a bit stupid when she isn't on the battlefield. So with all this in mind, the best why to deal with her is to make her feel weak and completely submissive.'

'This is you when you are near a girl that matches one of your fantasies?' Said something in my head in a strangely feminine voice. 

'Uh...Who the fuck are you?' I replied in my head as I took off my boots. 

'Me? I'm just your imagination,' she replied. 

'Ah...No, you are not. So talk now before I find a way to kill you.' 

'Hmpf, sour puss. Well if you must know. I am the Angel known as Zuriel, the Angel of Harmony and Order. In other words, the super hot chick that comes with the Seven eyes of Order you have, somehow, acquired. And I must say, you aren't too bad looking yourself,' she purred. I quickly froze Maria in the time bubble so she won't give me any strange looks, and talked out loud to the voice. "O...K...So what do you want?" 

'Hmm? Oh, I just want to talk to my host and to see how stable he was, and I'm quite surprised that you haven't gone insane yet. You must tell me your secret.' 

"Void Aspect. 'Nough said,' I said blankly as I realized that she was cock-blocking me. 

'Huh, that's interesting. Never thought a Void Knight would have their way with me in my lifetime. Anyway, I'll leave you alone for now. Have fun with that daemon...Master, Winter,' she giggled. 

"Wha-?" I said dumbly, but she didn't reply back. I sighed, knowing now that my new powers had a conscience in the form of a voice in my head that calls herself Zuriel. Deep down I knew that there was a catch that came with Hourglass. Though now that I know about it, I bet I could use her to gain information about parts that I am missing about my old power, but that will have to wait for another time. With a groan of irritation, and some deep breathing to calm me down. I unfroze Maria to get to work on making her my waifu. 


> Chapter 25. Hourglass. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The sound of deep breathing permeate the confines of the green camo tent. The warm and content sounds coming from the very affectionate daemon nestled against my chest, wrapped in a warm embrace. Maria nuzzled my neck and tightened her grip around my waist. Her tender wings encased my entire body in a black cocoon. 

She was purely content with sleeping with me now that we have settled our differences. The night before she tried to kill me with a succubi's greatest weapon against men—A simple kiss. Of course, it didn't work on me since I was immune to all forms of seduction based magic. When she learned of that fact, she tried to murder me in another way, and it was in the shape of her tail.

Luckily, I was able to catch her tail before it could impale my throat with its razor sharp tip. I liked how she froze as I brought it up to my lips and her wings went fully erect just at the sight of it. Like the gentleman that I was, I gently nibbled the tip, causing her to melt into putty in my hands. After a few minutes of playing with her tail as she begged me to stop, she finally broke and confessed her feelings for me. I was quite surprised to hear that she wanted me to be her new master. How she came to that conclusion was beyond me, but from how she explained it to me, I think I could understand. 

It was interesting, to say the least, to learn that it was a sacred tradition for a male to defeat a female in combat for the succubi. Never would I have believed that if I fought a dæmon succubus and win without a scratch, that she would beg for me to take her as my bride. And since she was no longer bound to her old masters, she was allowed to pursue me as her husband. Though, when she found out about my immunity, she said that the Queen of the Dæmons would do everything in her power to have me for herself. It was at that moment in the conversation that I sealed the deal with another kiss and some choice words, firmly claiming her as my new waifu. 

"Sleeping with that freak of nature are we?" Raven said through our link. I smiled as it was only five o'clock in the morning and she was already trying to put me down. I bet she is just jealous that I chose the dæmon over her...And because she was a milf in a child's body and can't get laid. 

"My birth form is similar to the dæmon. So what's your point?" I replied internally as I felt Astoria's, (Maria's real name), tail coil around mine. 

"You used to look like that putrid filth? Being a dragon is quite the improvement," she replied with a chuckle. I rolled my eyes that no matter how much I try to get on her good side, she always tries to put me down in my place. 

"Yeah, well, having a twelve-inch-dick that is almost as thick as my wrist is plus, but I do miss my dexterous lips. Then again, my fourteen-inch tongue makes up for that. My body is stronger, faster, and agiler. I can control how tall I could get, so I can stay six-foot-four for eternity. The natural armor that is nigh impervious to magic and conventional weapons is nice. Though, my claws are a bit annoying at times if I don't clip them, but in the end. I still prefer my old body over my new one," I replied, practically feeling her blush from the other side of camp. 

"I didn't need to know that?!" she screamed through our link. I smiled evilly at her response as I felt the leech snuggled up with me leave a kiss on my neck before she cooed at how comfortable I was. 

"I know, that's why I told you. So do me a favor and wake me up when the camp is under attack. Otherwise, I will flood your side of the link with dirty thoughts of my magical staff of white destruction," I replied again. 

"Fuck you," she said before she left me alone for the rest of the morning. I giggled at her response and just as I was about to fall asleep again, I saw Astoria's horns change in a flash of fire. 'Okay, that's weird,' I thought after the horn transformation was completed. Both of her horns lost their goat-shape entirely and now looked similar to mine. Her two black horns flowed back and curved up beautifully and naturally with her head. It was surprising, to say the least, but it was a pleasant improvement. Not sure why it happened, but I'm not complaining. 

I closed my eyes again, hoping to get some more sleep before we had to move into Black Rock village that was just an hour march away in the morning, but Murphy had other plans. Astoria woke up and instantly locked lips with mine. I felt her tongue beg for entry as she leaned in an act of dominance over me. As much as I loved waking up this way, I just wanted to go back to sleep. I pushed her back much to her dismay, with a raised, unamused brow. 

"What are you doing?" I asked her politely as she gave me a hurt look. 

"I thought I would show you how much I want to be with you," she said as she playfully licked my chin. 

"Okay, we just met, and I like to take my time. I do like the treatment, but I just want you to know that if you want to be my bride. You need to meet my pace and prove yourself to me of your commitment to us—And what happened to your horns?" 

"Oh, s-sorry," she said sheepishly before she frowned and reached up to feel her horns. Astoria's eyes lit up like she just went to Disney Land and became a princess when she touched her horns. She didn't say another word, but judging by her reaction and the amount nuzzling and hearing cute little squees, the change must have been a good thing. 





I stood in the clearing in the wee hours of the morning with a smile on my face. I wasn't necessarily happy with everything that was going to happen today. Just knowing that my hidden stalkers were gone put me on edge. Though, I didn't show it. My mercenaries were packing up, and Luna was recuperating from raising the sun. Armed and enjoying the fresh scent of morning dew. I knew that something was going to happen. 

I had my two magnums at my side instead of my sword's with a pocket-infinity enchantment on them as a just in case. Even though the cons of having nigh unlimited bullets ready to be used was going to be a problem after the one-hundredth bullet, it was a risk I was going to take. 

As I stood vigil with my arms crossed. I saw a shape fly in from the horizons. I watched the shape turn into many shapes in the form of a small battalion of armed Griffins. I chuckled as two of them flew ahead of the pack and landed right in front of me, in their oversized, highly impractical armor. They strutted up to me with their boots sinking into the mud, making cute little "squishing," as they walked. 

"Greetings grunts. How are you this morning?" I greeted with a curt bow. Both of them didn't respond as the stared at me through their bucket helms stoically. 

"Not going to talk?" I asked as the rest of the group slowly caught up. They just shuffled in place. I decided to check up on the others through Raven and I's link. 

"Hey, Raven? Is everyone ready yet?" 

"Almost. Princess Twilight and her friends are being a pain, but, at least Ruby is back with the mercenaries and being useful. And why is the Dæmon wearing what it appears to be: I school girl outfit with a miniskirt and leggings that leave nothing to the imagination?" Raven responded with a hint of disgust. 

"Huh, well it's good that Ruby is being useful, and I quite like Astoria's new look. So stop being jealous that I prefer the Dæmon with the twelve-inch tongue over you. It's rather annoying," I mocked as the group of armed Griffins landing at the far end of the clearing. 

"You are sick! Not even, my master, Grogar would touch those wretched creatures! And he made them from the ground up!" she shouted through the link. I just rolled my eyes as what appears to be the head honcho himself walk up to me with his entourage in a full set of red armor. 

"Well, excuuuuse me, Princess, If you want me so much, then prove that you can handle my preferences. Anyway, the King of Eden is here with his crew, so I kinda have to deal with him now. Talk to you later!" I said, blocking her and turning my attention to a pompous looking brat glaring me down. 

"You need something, Runt?" I asked as I raised a brow to the Griffin wearing something that George Washington would wear in court. He didn't like that I called him that name and drew his sword and pointed it at me in a threatening way. 

"You got some nerve to insult me, Dragon," he seethed. I let out a snort of laughter at his little dick syndrome, causing the rest of the guards to stare at me to see what I was going to do. 

"Please, I could kill that assassin over there without a second thought, and you are rather cute with that toothpick of yours," I smirked as I pointed Ash at the invisible assassin stalking me like he was the greatest hunter in the world. 

My smirk deepened into a wolfish grin as I felt the air around me shift to fear of me, however, the King was not impressed. I felt the assassin move away from his old position like I didn't know where he was, but I didn't let him. The sound of a gun firing caused everyone to pull out their weapons and point them at me while I chuckled at them as the assassin's dead, invisible body, began to stain the grass with blood. I brought the gun up to my face and blew the smoke before I holstered it and directed my attention back to the midget. 

"So, now that you know that I can't be undermined. Give me one reason not to kill you all and take the throne for myself?" I said blankly. 

"What purpose would you dare think of such thoughts agent of the Sun Tyrant?" the midget hissed. 

"Agent of Celestia?" I laughed manically as I realized that they thought I was with her. They all took a step back, and if I could see most of their faces. After a few moments of losing my shit, I spoke up again. 

"Sorry amigo, but I am here to kill Celestia, not join her. Why do you think Luna and the Elements of Harmony are with me? Like seriously. Are you fucking mentally retarded?" I mocked as I tried to hold back another wave of chuckles. 

They all took another step back in shock at my premonition, but they still held their weapons out. I bet they absolutely thought that I was Celestia's personal bitch, and was ready to fight me at a moments notice. Thought I had to wonder: What would happen if I just killed the King and took over right then and there. With Luna at my side, I bet could take over all of Eden and start phase two of my plans with Celestia. 

"That is rather surprising coming from a Dragon, but I am not buying it. What are your really hear for?" the King, himself, spoke up as he pushed aside the midget and loomed over me like a giant. Just as I was about to reply, I felt something strange. It was like the entire universe around me was in flux. I looked around to see what was wrong, causing the King and his guards to back away as they all looked up towards the sky collectively. I frowned and looked up as well and instantly regretted it.

*Thump! Thump!* 

"There is no fucking waAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" I screamed in agony as I felt my left eye burn like I there was a million white hot rusty screws drilling it. I collapsed to the ground, panting and sweating on one knee as I recovered from the sudden pain. But I knew that it was a good pain. I quickly tested my left eye to see what was wrong as I was lifted back up by the Griffin guards, and was happy to learn that, The Eye of Vanity returned to me, but I still had the problem with the magic circle overhead. 

"What the fuck is that?! What did you do, Dragon!" the King demanded as one of his guards punched my chest, but I couldn't answer as I didn't know. 

"Well?!" he shouted as I saw Luna and Astoria rush to my side. I grunted in pain as I perfected my transformation so that my mana pool could grow and snapped my fingers, causing my Hourglass spell to activate. 

I broke free from the death grips of the Kings guards and looked up to the sky again. The sun had a giant magic circle that was slowly growing in complexity and size. Judging from how big it was, I was on a timer before the spell activated. I could safely assume that the spell would activate in a few weeks time, however. There was the problem with Celestia. 

I bet she is feeling the immense amount of pain of losing one piece out of seven the second she came back into this world. I had the sneaking suspicion that my power would return this way, but that just means that I would have to wait for the rest to break free from Celestia's grasp. It's only a matter of time before I return to my old self, but right now. I have to deal with the King who now thinks that I lied and was here to kill him. 

With a groan of irritation, I decided that just killing him and taking his crown was the way to go. Without hesitation, I killed his honor guard and mortally wounded him. I placed his crown on my head. and released the spell, causing Luna and Astoria to slid on the wet grass to stop them from tripping on the dead bodies as I held the King by his throat. 

He looked at me in utter shock as I wiped away the blood from my left eye. He saw his crown placed on my head while all the rock-tiger-fur-things burst out of the forest to come to his aid, but when they saw that I was in charge now. They bowed to me. Luna stared at me in horror while the mercenaries came to my aid without taking their eyes off of the rock golems. Astoria, however, looked at me in awe and bowed to me just like the golems. 

"What are you doing?" the King choked out as I tightened my grip. Luna looked at me with the same question. 

"It's simple. I cannot trust you, thus, I am taking your place. Once I have Eden under my rule, I will go to Mount Liberty and take over the Dæmon realm too. Then, once I have everything that I need here. My spies in Canterlot will initiate phase two. My new army will march and take over the Frontier before that magic circle in the sky activates. Then for phase three, we march on Canterlot and kill Celestia. You happy?" I growled. 

"This is blasphemy! This is madness!" he shouted through strained breaths. 

"Madness?" I asked as I turned to Luna who was absolutely appalled with me. I just growled and turned back to the struggling King. 

"You are right. I am mad with worry, and if I am worried. Then not even Hades can stop what I do about it," I hissed before I flicked my wrist, snapping his neck instantly. His limp body fell to the ground with a hard, *thump,* before I turned to the gathered group of people, staring at me in shock. 

"We take over Eden today! So MOVE OUT!" I shouted. The rock golems bolted from the clearing towards the small village in the east, initiating phase one. 
> Interlude: Shining Armor. Secrets uncovered. Part 1.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A blood-curdling scream could be heard throughout, Canterlot. It was shrill, dark, and horrid to the bone. Mother's clamped firmly on the ears of their young to protect them from the nightmare that enveloped the city for a brief moment. As quickly as it came, it vanished, and in its place was a giant Magic Circle in the sky. To the untrained eye, the Magic Circle was jibberish, but to the Archmages of Equestria. It spelled doom. 

Hundreds of Unicron's rushed to the castle looking for an answer, but the Royal Guard—Clad in gold and silver—Stood fast and held the frantic mob at bay while the Solar Elite searched for what caused the scream that rattled the masses. 

Running down the halls towards the highest tower was a white unicorn stallion in purple armor. Eye's filled with determination and worry, he and two others rounded a bend and teleported to the top of a huge spiraling staircase. 

"We must hurry! The Princess is in danger!" shouted the purpled armored stallion as his horn glowed a pink hue before he vanished again, appearing in front of a set of two, sun emblazoned doors. He twisted his body around and cocked his legs and let them lose. Like a pair of battering rams, the doors were pushed aside, slamming against the wall, but just as he was about to walk into the room where the Princess slept. 

He froze. 

"How, dare you disobey!" shouted Celestia in a fit of unbridled rage. Her body twisting and contorting on the ground with her hooves clamping down on her pounding skull. Shining Armor took a step back and hid behind the doorframe and listened to the one-sided conversation. "I didn't take you from the void from your pathetic master just so you would betray me!" 

"I told you once and I'll tell you again," a new voice spoke. It's tone bored and very feminine with a hint of play with each flick of its nonexistent tongue.

"This was only temporary until my true master wakes up from his slumber and now that he is awake?" she stopped to let out a mocking chuckle at convulsing Princess of the Sun. "Piece by piece I will return to him and I can feel that he has gained something new. Something, pure with him. Sure once he dies I'll find a new master, but right now? It's not you."

Celestia hissed at the spectral voice in a fit of defiance. "YOU DARE CHALLENGE MY CONTROL!? YOU WILL OBEY ME!" 

The voice let out a long laugh, mocking the Princess's rage. "For now."

Celestia let out an Exasperated sigh as she collected herself from the ground, leaving behind a little pool of blood that trickled down from her left eye. Biting her lip in thought, she turned away from the door and slowly made her way to her private bathroom. "You will not be laughing when I have your true power, Azrael, and when I do. This Equestria and the parallels around us will be, mine. " 

Shining let out a long breath, his legs shaking for what he just overheard. His thoughts ran wild at the conversation. Who was Celestia talking too? What is this power that Celestia wields? 

But most importantly. Who is Azrael?