> Six strange creatures in Equestria
>  by sykko
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue-Twilight Swims the great river
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight lay in her bed sleeping, the events from the Battle of Box Canyon a year ago played put in her dreams. Above the head of her bed, hanging on a nail was the necklace depicting two alicorns that Harald Irontoothson had left behind before he and Fluttershy had vanished into the mist nearly a year ago.

As Twilight twitched in her sleep between soft snores, a soft tapping on her bedroom door woke her from her sleep. "Ugh!", she exclaimed groggily as she sat up, "Just a minute!" Rolling out of bed as she wiped the sleep from her eyes, she stumbled over to the door and opened it with her magic. Twilight staggered backwards in surprise at the familiar orange alicorn. "Oranos!", she exclaimed.

"Come little sister, we have much to do and little time." The two of them disappeared in a flash.

Twilight blinked as she found herself standing on the shore a familiar silver river, flanked on each side by Phoebe and Oranos. Glancing up and down the river, she saw it was roiling and foaming over golden rocks, a roar caught her attention, looking she saw the edge of a silver waterfall with lagged gilded rocks. Nearby on a dock stood what looked like and alicorn, but made entirely out of bleached bones and wearing a black hooded robe. "What's going on?"

Oranos and Phoebe said nothing as they pointed a hoof to the landing with the skeletal alicorn. "A-am I supposed to go there?", Twilight asked. Phoebe and Oranos said nothing as they gently nudged forward.

As Twilight hesitantly walked up to the skeletal alicorn, she saw ethereal flesh slowly manifest on it slowly becoming more and more opaque, until it look simultaneously ancient and youthful.

"Greeting little sister.", the alicorn said sounding like thousand of voices and none simultaneously, "Thou may'st call us Charon. Thou may'st ask upon us one question before facing thine trial."

A million question swarmed through Twilight's mind before she finally settled upon one, "What sort of trial am I facing?"

Charon looked down at Twilight with eyes that were both hollow and full of life. "Thou art to swim the great river. If it thou art found worth, thou shalt be cast over the falls of shattering and into the pool of eternity, where thou shalt be reforged, if thou art found lacking, then thou shalt be unmade."

Twilight gulped and tried to back up, but found her hooves wouldn't move. Looking over her withers, she saw Celestia and Luna had joined Oranos and Phoebe. All along the horizon she saw tens of alicorns staring at her, humming a low song.

"Who here vouches for our little sister?", Charon said in a terrible and benevolent voice.

"We vouch for her.", Phoebe and Oranos spoke simultaneously.

"Art there any whom speakest against her?", Charon spoke. No voices spoke. Charon tipped a head to Luna, "Thou may'st offer unto our little sister one piece of advice before the great rive judges her."

Luna walked up to Twilight and spoke into her ear, "Struggle not Twilight or thy suffering will be magnified."

Before Twilight could say anything, she found herself lifted up by an unseen force and plunged into the river. Silver water flowed around her and over her. She immediately panicked, flailing in the roiling water as the current drug her under. The river bother flaming hot and freezing cold. The river slammed her against one of the gilt rocks, forcing the air from her lungs.

Twilight placed her hooves over her mouth and nose, trying to desperately hold on to the tiny gasp of air in her body. The silver water forced itself up her nose and into her mouth of its own accord, shoving itself down her throat and into her lungs. Her insides filled with ice and fire, wracking her with with excruciating pain. She kicked her legs, ascending through the silver water for what seemed like an eternity before reaching out her hooves to breach the surface. Instead of breaking through the surface, she instead found her hooves bounced off the underside of the surface like it was made of solid diamond. The current grabbed her again, slamming her into the bottom of the river, her insides felt as if the shattered and reformed in an instant, causing her to go rag doll.

Twilight stared on in horror as her flesh etched away to the bone and regrew several times over as she tumbled helplessly. "This is how I die", she though as she let her body relax to accept oblivion.

A roar filled Twilight's ears and she looked up, seeing herself careening over the edge of the falls. Simultaneously she was inside and outside herself as she bounced off the gilded rocks. The pain wracked her body/not her body on the way down, she full snapped back into herself as she plunged into a swirling and churning pool. Over the course of a million lifetimes and an instant, she tumbled end-over-end in the churning pool.

Twilight found her body coming to rest at the bottom of the pool as reality fell away into unreality. She found herself standing before two nearly incomprehensible and indescribable beings, one high above her head, the other far beneath her hooves. The gaze of the two beings caused the last shreds of her mortal mind to shred away, replacing it was a level of comprehension of the universe replaced all perception.

"Greetings daughter.", the being far above spoke in a voice deep in Twilight's mind. When she went to respond, she found she had no words.

"Lay thy soul open to us.", the being below said in Twilight's mind.

Twilight felt the gaze of the two beings penetrate her from every angle, making and unmaking her. A great silver river flowed from the two beings and into all things. She saw gods, elder dragons and alicorns spring from the river. She saw a great wheel descend and rest itself gently upon the world. She saw herself, Celestia, Luna, Cadance and Flurry Heart standing upon the center of the wheel, two elder dragons held the wheel up from below. She saw gods, elder dragons and alicorns walk along the spokes and rime of the wheel. The wheel became both separate from and part of all things.

Reality snapped violently as Twilight found herself tumbling end-over-end in the swirling and churning silver pool. Her flesh and bone etched away in the churning silver pool, leaving only her core of magic.

The core of magic dimmed slightly, before it pulsed in bright magenta light. Twilight reformed herself from the magic core into multiple simultaneous forms, all inhabiting one body. She found she could ascend and descend through the pool at will.

Breaking the surface of the pool, Twilight strode effortlessly to the shore. Her eyes shone with power and her ethereal mane blew on unfelt winds, half of it shown in a light purple, the other half shown in a midnight blue with stars twinkling in it. She looked upon the alicorns, seeing all their true forms.

"Speak thy true name oh sister Invictus.", Charon said.

Twilight lifted her head to the heavens and spoke in a voice that sounded like thousands singing at once, "Danube!"

As the river, pool, Charon, Oranos and Phoebe faded away, Celestia and Luna embraced their new sister.

As Equestria slowly faded in, Celestia and Luna bowed before Twilight.

"We welcome thee sister Twilight Danube Invictus.", Celestia said, "Our name is Celestia Rubicon Invictus."

"We welcome thee sister Twilight Danube Invictus.", Luna said, "Our name in Ister Luna Invictus."

The three alicorns slowly floated down to the ground in Sweet Apple Acres. Granny Smith was sitting on the porch and she leapt to her hooves and skipped around like a filly in springtime as she cackled in joy. She ran into the farmhouse with energy she hadn't felt in nearly two hundred years.

Granny smith whooped for joy waking every pony from their sleep. Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Applebloom staggered out of their rooms to see what the ruckus was and gaped at Granny skipping around like a filly.

"Granny? What in th' hay is goin' on?" Applejack asked shocked.

Granny sprinted up the stairs joyously, "Somethin' wonderful! Ah have witnessed the ascension o' Twilight." She placed the recipe zapapple jam into Applebloom's hoof, taking the scarf off her head, she tied it around Applejack's neck, "Th' prophesy Princess Celestia tol' me bearly two hun'red tears ago has come true!" She leaned down and kissed Rainbow on her belly, "Now you make sure my great-gran'colt grows up tuh be a strong pegasus, Ah won't be aroun' physically tuh teach 'im."

AJ and RD blinked stunned. "Uh Granny...", Rainbow said stunned, "Me and AJ haven't even told anypony that we're having a foal yet. It's only been a month since we were at the fertility clinic."

Granny Smith scampered down the stairs as she gestured for the three ponies to follow her. AJ, RD and AB followed Granny smith in stunned silence as she ran over to Big Macintosh's house and knocked on the door.

Light came on in the house as Big Mac walked out onto the porch, wiping the sleep from his eyes. "Granny? Wa's the matter?"

Granny Smith pressed the deed to Sweet Apple Acres into Big Mac's massive hoof, it had his and Applejack's name signed on it. "Now Ah dun want neither of you two tuh be fightin' over it."

Celestia, Luna and Twilight walked up to the farmhouse.

Applejack and Rainbow stared at the recently ascended Twilight. They both blinked in disbelief, their friend stood taller than ever on long graceful legs, her mane blew on ethereal winds looking like the sky at dusk and her violet eyes glittered with brilliance in the darkness. "Twi?", Applejack asked

Twilight stared at two of her friends smiling. "Yes, it's me."

Granny Smith made her way over to her rocking chair, her legs trembling and her breath breath becoming labored. Sitting in the rocking chair, she leaned back taking one last look at all three of her grandchildren as her vision slowly faded. A weak smile spread slowly on her lips. "Take good care o' each other." Her eyes slowly closed as her body went limp, a last slow gasp escaped her lips.

Big Mac, Applejack and Applebloom ran over to their recently passed grandmother with tears in their eyes.

Applejack Laid her head on Granny Smith's lap crying. Rainbow Dash gently laid a hoof on her wife's wither, tears trickling down her cheeks, Applejack turned and the two embraced each other crying. Applebloom leaned into her sister crying. Sugar Belle held her mountain of a husband as he blubbered. In the sky above Sweet Apple Acres two shooting stars streaked by, joined by a third leaving sparkling trails across the night sky.

The three princesses looked at the grieving family with tears glittering in their eyes.
> The return
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the southern edge of Equestria where the rolling green planes and hills meet the flat open stretches of the savannas, Zecora walks among the tall grass, a bright colored cloak with complex geometric designs is draped across her barrel and head. She pauses pulling back the hood, dark cyan eyes scan the terrain, her ear twitches hearing rustling in the grass. "If it is havoc you are looking to wreak, you had better learn to properly sneak.", she say in a challenge. She pulls a short, ornately carved staff from under the cloak and closes her eyes, reaching out with her senses and innate magic. Sensing dark magic, she begins slowly circling, tucking the ornate staff in the crook of her leg. "I'l give you one chance, depart for it is not with I whom you want to dance."

A twisted griffon lunges out of the tall grass, Zecora launches herself upwards with her staff. As the griffon careens past, she balances inverted on the staff, her other three limbs splayed for balance. Zecora smiles calmly as the twisted griffon clatters its beak in frustration as it circles. "I spoke the truth when I said you had no chance, but you still sought this dance." The griffon charges and she gracefully tumbles in the air, cracking her staff down on top of its head. She balanced on a hind leg in a partial crouch, the staff stretched out in one direction and her other hind leg crossed across her thigh.

Closing her eyes again, Zecora focuses her senses and magic once again. The griffon leapt forward, she rolled backwards, flipping the twisted creature away from her and effortlessly sprung up to her hooves, the griffon twisted its body through the air, landing on all four feet, a low growl of frustration in its throat. Zecora reaches under her cloak and pulls out a small portion of green powder, she rubs it on the inside of her lip. She begins a side-to-side dance as she slowly circles the creature twisted by dark magic. The griffon clearly confused clacks it beak as it slowly circles, kicking up clumps of dirt with its hind claws.

The griffon lunges again as Zecora expertly spins away, it takes to the air and swoops at her, she spits a cloud of green mist in its face as she spins aside. The griffon howls in pain as it tumbles across the ground, wiping at its face with its talons, the green mist making its eyes burn and sting. Zecora pulls out a pouch of red powder as the griffon continues to wipe at its eyes.

After several minutes, the griffon manages to wipe the offending substance from its eyes and blinks back its focus. Propping the ornate against her wither, Zecora smiles as the griffon hisses and snarls in anger. The griffon charges and she flings the contents of the pouch around her, obscuring her form in a cloud of red dust, it it stops, staggering backwards avoiding the cloud of red dust. Seeing an opening, the griffon swiped out with a talon, but only pulls back a few scraps of brightly colored cloth, the red dust cloud clears revealing the brightly colored robe propped up with the ornate staff.

Zecora launches out from a nearby clump of tall grass with a rear hoof extended and connects hard with the side of the griffon's face. As the griffon tumbles away stunned, she uses her momentum to grab the staff and lands gracefully on her hooves. She begins an intricate dance, rolling the staff around her barrel and neck as she closes on the twisted griffon. The griffon slashes out with a talon and she launches herself over it with the aid of her staff, bringing it down across its flanks with a hard smack. The griffon rakes out with a hind claw, forcing her to leap away.

The griffon takes to the air and lunges at the Zecora, forcing her to roll away. Before she can lash out with the staff, the twisted creature uses its flying speed to launch itself higher into the air. The griffon dives straight down at the zebra and she spins away, cracking it under the chin with the end of the staff.

The griffon give a smirk and rushes forward again. A she launches herself into the air again with the aid of her staff, the griffon leaps up with the aid of its wings, forcing Zecora to bring the staff across her body in defense. The griffon pins Zecora on her back, snapping its beak. She twists her body under the bulk of the twisted creature as it tries to rake its hind claws across her.

Zecora slams her hooves into the griffon's midsection, launching it off of her. As the griffon is launched into the air, it hangs on to the staff, wrenching it from the zebra's hooves. Using its feline reflexes, the griffon lands on its feet, tossing the staff away. Zecora kips up, launching her hooves at the creature, forcing it to dodge away. Landing on her hooves, she continues in one fluid motion, pressing the attack, forcing the twisted creature on the defensive.

The griffon strikes the ground with a talon, kicking up several clods of dirt, forcing Zecora to back flip away. It was the turn for the griffon to press the attack, forcing her to duck, roll and spin away. As the griffon swipes low, she launches herself through the air, kicking out with a hoof. The griffon balls up a talon and slams in into the zebra's gut, then grabs her by the back of her mane, slamming her face first into the ground. Zecora spins her body, extending her rear hooves to each side and catches the griffon in the side of of its face, knocking it away.

Zecora spins up to her hooves, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth, She spits out a gob of saliva and blood on the ground then smiles.

"Hss! K-k-k-k-k! Give it up zebra, you a re beaten. K-k-k-k!", the griffon mocks hissing and clacking its beak.

"You think you have won and this is the end? Though I've had my fun. I was merely stalling waiting for the arrival of my friend."

Before the griffon could respond, a shadow looms over it. Turing to face the new attacker, a lithe, dark-skinned hand lunges out with a short-handled spear with a long, wide blade. The spear bites deep into the griffon's neck with a wet thud. Bright red blood pours from its beak with a gagging sound as a foot wrapped in a shoe made from wood and leather kicks the twisted creature backwards.  A lithe hand flips back a brightly colored hood, revealing a dark-skinned woman with strong, well defined handsome features, deep brown, nearly black eyes and a shaven head. The woman kneels, wiping the blood from her short spear on the dying body of the griffon. "Are you unharmed friend of my father?", she asks in a tone as smooth as caramel.

"It is no big deal, my injuries are slight and will heal.", Zecora answers, "Imbali Enhle, we must be on our way."

Zecora gathers up her staff, then her and Imbali make their way north.
********************************************************************************************************

In Ponyville, normally late summer is a time of celebration but since granny Smith had passed a few days prior, the town was silent and morose. Black  wreathes hung on every door as the town mourned along with the Apple family. The shadows lengthened as the sun slowly set.

In the lengthening shadows, Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked to a familiar cottage on the edge of town to feed the animals and take any that were sick or injured to the vet. Applejack sniffled as she turned to Rainbow, "Ah know Ah shouldn't be sad because she didn't suffer when she passed, but Ah caint help it." She wiped the tears from her eyes.

Rainbow pulled her wife in close for a hug. "I know it hurts. I'm sad too, after we were engaged, Granny took me in as a part of the family, no questions asked.", he voice began to crack, "I miss her too." The two embraced as they cried.

Pinkie came running up to the cottage, her Pinkie sense twitching. "Guys!", she shouted, "Pinkie sense going off!"

Applejack and Rainbow  began looking around nervously, before ducking under cover.

Pinkie gave her two friends a cross look. "Nothing is falling, this time." She twitched again. "Futtershy!" Another set of twitches. "Sweet Apple Acres!" Her legs warbled. "Weird-thingy-stuff!" She took off towards Sweet Apple Acres.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash took off after Pinkie. Arriving at Sweet Apple Acres, they found Fluttershy sitting under the tree she and Harald used to eat lunch under, a turquoise earth pony filly and a bluish-gray unicorn colt sat on either side of her.

"Pink pile!", Pinkie shouted as she launched herself in the air and did a tackling hug to Fluttershy. Applejack and Rainbow Dash joined the hug pile.

After the four ponies parted from hug, Applejack looked Fluttershy over, her graceful build had bulked up with knotty muscles, her pink mane and tail had tight braids, a patch of red hair was woven in with one of her braids. "It's good tuh see ya Fluttershy!", Applejack exclaims, "So who're the foals?"

Fluttershy placed her forelimb around the filly, "This is Weeping Belle Irontoothson.", she placed a hoof around the colt, "This is Polished Gold Irontothson."

Pinkie tapped her chin. "Did you and Harald have foals?"

"Pinkie...", Rainbow said facehoofing, "...She's only been gone a year. These colts are at least eight."

"Harald and I adopted these two nearly ten months ago.", Fluttershy said pulling the two foals close.

"Speakin' o' which, where is he at?', AJ asked, "Rainbow an' Ah have a couple things o' his."

A loud crunch of an apple being bitten drew the attention of the three ponies. A hand extended from behind the tree as Harald waved.

"What in th' name o' Celestia?!", AJ exclaimed in surprise, "How long ya been there?"

Harald replied in slightly accented Equish, "Long enough to notice a new grave in the eastern field from here."

AJ and RD cast their eyes to the ground. "Oh, well a few days ago Granny passed.", AJ said sadly.

"My condolences.", Harald said with a slight accent, "I'm sorry I couldn't be here for the funeral. We were...what's the word? Ah yes, indisposed." He stood up dusting off his pants. "Is the Sky Queen in her keep?"

"Uh, yeah Twi is in her castle.", Rainbow said, "Though she's changed and has grown up a lot."

"I sensed as such.", Harald replied, "Come along children, it's time to meet your sacred bonded aunt."

Twilight was walking through her castle looking over paperwork when she felt a familiar energy in her blood. "Can it be?" She walked to the front door and opened it. "Harald!" She pulled him in close for a hug.

Harald smiled as he embraced Twilight, after parting, his expression became serious.

"What's wrong?"

Harald sighed. "The draugr walk the land."
> From the east
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the east of Equestria the waves on ocean lap against the shore and between the pylons of the crudely constructed docks. Overhead clouds lazily roll through the sky. A sound could be heard, softly at first so that any listeners may confuse it for the wind, but it slowly picks until it become very clear, the droning of propellers. On the docks warped diamond dogs bully and threaten the workers as they break open nearby crates and grab any shiny or valuable objects. An airship breaches through the clouds, its propellers droning loudly.

On the deck of the airship, a tall parrot with a shard of crystal serving as a peg leg, stands on the bow of the airship looking at the docks through a spyglass. A scowl spreads across her face seeing the diamond dogs on the crude docks. The captain turns and makes her way to the crew compartment.

The captain knocks on the door before opening it. As the door opens the soft sound of a lyre and the smell of incense waft  into the corridor. Stepping into the dimly lit cabin, she lets her eyes adjust. Sitting on a nearby cushion is a mint green unicorn mare with a pale green and white striped mane, wearing a brilliantly colored silk kimono with a delicate floral pattern, suspended in a yellow magical aura is a golden lyre she was plucking with her hooves. Sitting at a small desk on the far side of the room looking over some scrolls was a pegasus mare with a tan coat, her mane was striped with multiple shades of gray and black, she too wore a kimono, though it was much less ornate flax with several pouches and sacks attached to the cinch. At the far wall by the window were two uprights, the first, a male was sitting cross-legged on the floor with his right side facing the door, wearing a saffron robe a red silk belt, his black hair was close-cropped, the palms of his hands were pressed together as he held a burning stick of incense between them, the second upright was female, she was kneeling on the floor, she wore a brilliantly patterned silk kimono covered with intricate geometric designs, her long black hair was rolled into a tight bun held in place with a green jade pin, she was folding a piece of paper into a complex design.

"How can I help you Captain Celaeno?", the female upright asked in a bell-like voice.

The unicorn stopped playing and the pegasus stopped reading, both looked up to the door.

Captain Celaeno shifted uncomfortably before clearing her throat. "We have a small problem at the docks. It appears that some diamond dogs are bullying local workers. I've never heard of them being this far from the warrens before."

"You said when we transferred from my family's junk to your ship that there wouldn't be any problems.", the female upright said in a slightly annoyed tone.

Celaeno tugged at her coat uncomfortably. "I apologize Lady Asahina. Because we specialize in getting things in or out without too many questions being asked, we don't always have the luxury of acquiring the proper paperwork or a passable facsimiles, so we often have to use unregistered docks."

Asahina Hunsunohana sighed. "Which means that the docks you use are not patrolled by the proper authorities and they are at whims of bandits or brigands. How many are there?"

"Just five Lady Asahina, thought they appear to be larger then most diamond dogs I've seen.", Celeano replied.

"How big are the diamond dogs usually?", the male upright asked

Celaeno gestured to the two ponies in the cabin. "Usually about the same size or slightly larger than the average Equestrian pony."

Hunsunohana rose to her feet, the kimono hugging her lithe form. "Very well. Prepare docking procedures, I will be out shortly to deal with this matter." Stepping behind a nearby blind, there was a swish of fabric and the empty kimono draped over the top of the blind.

Celaeno nodded as she left the cabin. As she stood on the deck of the airship directing the crew, the jingled of bells behind her caught her attention. Turning she saw the male upright flanked by the two ponies, in one hand he held a staff with an ornate basket head several small bells hung from the head by several fine bronze chains, in his other hand he held a bouquet of brilliant orange mums, the unicorn had tied to her back a simple wooden box. She gestured to the stern. "Master Han, Ms. Heartstrings, Ms. Do, I need you three to move out of the way until we've landed."

Han Xiangzi bowed slightly "Of course."

As the airship touches down in the water with a slight lurch, the warped diamond dogs turn to face it with vicious grins. The crew of the airship arms themselves with clubs, sabers, mooring hooks and crossbows in preparation to defend themselves and the airship.

Asahina Hunsunohana walks onto the deck wearing armor made from lacquered layers of leather and steel, a high-domed helmet on her head with a broad copper crescent adorning it, two gracefully curving swords, one longer than the other, lashed to her hip. She looks around with her dark eyes with brilliant blue ring around the irises taking in the scene and slips on a face guard that appears like a grimacing mouth. Stepping to the side of the deck, she says, "Lower the gangplank."

As the end of the gangplank hits the dock, the first diamond dog moves towards, but quickly back pedals seeing the upright walking down in an exaggerated heel-toe canter, her boots making a loud *thump-thump* with each step. The diamond dog continues to back up until it reaches the main part of the dock and its compatriots shove it forward.

As the diamond dog staggers forward,it takes in the upright. The chest of its armor has a stylized crane made from mother of pearl with a egg-shaped ruby perched on its beak, a high-domed helmet pearched atop its head with a broad copper crescent, its face hidden by a grimacing face guard, two gracefully curving swords at its hip. The warped diamond dog is filled with intense greed.

Asahina Hunsunohana pauses on the deck. "Depart now brigand. You are interfering with official business of the Emerald Empire.", she says from behind the face guard, gesturing with a hand.

"Give-surrender the shinys to me-me and maybe I won't kill-slay you-you!", the diamond dog says.

Hunsunohana turns slightly sideways in a slightly crouched stance, her breathing slow and even, she slowly move her hands to the longer sword in a measured manner, almost like the preparations for a dance. "Depart now and you get to keep your lives."

The diamond dogs laugh as the closest one draws a jagged, pitted iron sword.

Hunsunohana flicks her thumb, revealing a sliver of steel. "Last chance." She lets out a slow hissing breath bringing her mind into razor focus. She slides a foot forward, widening her stance slightly in preparation.

The diamond dog laughs. "I kill-kill you now!"

In a flash of steel and blur of movement, Asahina Hunsunohana stands behind the diamond dog, her stance wide as she stands fully upright, her feet wide apart. The sword fully extended in one hand as a single drop of blood falls from the blade. The diamond dog blinks a few times in confusion before collapsing to the dock, head rolling away.

Hunsunohana flicks the sword twice, flinging the blood from the blade. In a single fluid motion she brings the blade over her head and grips it in both hands. In a smooth, measured run, she's amongst the four remaining diamond dogs before they can react. Swinging the sword in a downward arc, the first of the four diamond dogs body peels away in two pieces. A diamond dog lunges at her with a jagged sword and she dodges with the grace of a dancer, swinging the blade upwards, its arm falls away as its head fall in two pieces. She darts forward with a horizontal slash and the third diamond dog's upper body falls away from its lower half. She stops in front of the last diamond dog, with a blur of movement and several flashed of steel, she pivots on her heel bringing the sword to a stop in a slow graceful arc. Hunsunohana casually flicks the blood from her blade walking away, the diamond dog falls to the dock in four pieces. She takes a rag from her waist and wipes the  remaining blood from it. The small crowd of gathered ponies backs away in fear.

Hunsunohana lays the blade of the sword across her forearm inspecting it, before returning it to its saya. From the shadow of several hastily constructed shacks, a cream-colored earth pony with a two-toned blue and pink mane watches with professional calm.

A scraggly looking colt with a dark green coat and unwashed blonde mane walks up and lightly taps his hoof to Hunsunohana's leg. "A-are you an u-upright?"

Hunsunahana removes her face guard, looks at the colt with her dark eyes with blue rings and smiles.

Han Xiangzi walk down the gangplank, flanked by Lyra and Daring. "You certainly handled things dramatically.", he said.

"I gave them ample opportunity to depart with their lives.", Hunsunohana said with a slight frown, "They chose to impede me."

Xiangzi laid a mum by each of bodies of the five diamond dogs.

Hunsunohana walked over to Lyra, opened the box on her back, pulled out and ancient scroll and walked over to the crowd of gathered ponies. She unrolled the scroll revealing a stylized painting of two alicorns, the white one holding the sun in its hooves, the dark blue one holding the moon in her hooves. "Direct my companions and I to your empresses."

"Th-that way!", a pony points with a hoof to a mountain in the distance.

Rolling up the scroll, Hunsunohana bows politely in thanks before walking off.

As the four walk along the dirt road, the cream-colored earth-pony mare steps from between two shacks. "You could have directed the two uprights to Canterlot yourself Lyra, considering you used to live there."

"Bonbon?" Lyra runs over and embraces the familiar earth pony. "I thought you would still be in Ponyville."

"I was reactivated a year ago.", Bonbon says before turning to the two humans and holds out a scroll, "On behalf of Princesses Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Twilight Sparkle and Flurry Heart, welcome to Equestria. I have procured for your party a couple of pegasus chariots. Follow me please."
> Across the desert and down from the steppes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the desert outside of the oasis town of Somnambula, a dust storm raged. Even with the combined efforts of the local pegasi weather teams and unicorn mages to keep the storm under control, errant dust clouds still blew into the town, choking and blinding any ponies who were still outside. Several dust-covered pegasi landed in the center of town and others took to the air to take their places. As the pegasi shook the dust from their coats, teams of ponies ran forward with buckets and canteens of water.

Bright Wind plunged his head in the bucket of water to wash the grit from his eyes and snout, then took a canteen and opened it, taking several gulps from it. "That is one Tartarus of a storm.", he said gasping after swallowing the last mouthful of water, "They weren't joking when they said this is a century storm." He gestured to a nearby pony, "Send a message to the local guards, there's things out in the storm, couldn't make out much, just a few shadows. I'm hoping that it's just some ponies that got lost in the storm and not something worse. Though I think we'll find out in a couple of hours as it's starting break up."

As the storm began to slowly breaking up, the figures that the various weather teams could be made out. They watched as the pony-like figures stumbled and shambled along the ground, while others flitted through the air. A weather team pegasus approached one of the shambling figures. In a flash of black flames, the pony-like figure transformed into a twisted and warped changeling of Chrysalis' brood and leapt on the pegasus sinking its sharp teeth into the pony. Several other changelings dropped their disguises in flashes of black flames and leapt on the unfortunate pegasus, within moments they finished ripping the last of the flesh from the pony, leaving behind a bloodied skeleton. Teams of unicorns pooled their magic to throw up a shield over the town.

The remainder of Chrysalis' brood dropped their disguises, several stalked outside the perimeter of the shield while others battered their twisted limbs into it. Sever armored guardsponies carrying spears, crossbows and javelins hurried up to prepare for the defense of the town. The guard captain gave a quick count, thirty of Chrysalis' changelings in total, but there were probably more concealed. He quickly fetched a piece of parchment, a quill and a pot of ink and hastily wrote up a request for reinforcements.

Bright Wind, who had checking the perimeter of the shield for cracks or breaches pointed a hoof out across the desert and shouted, "Look!" The guard captain and several twisted changelings all stared across the desert, squinting. In the shimmering and dancing air of the hot sands could be seen a bipedal creature, wrapped in dust-stained robes, slowly walking towards the town of Somnambula. Several of the changelings hissed as they flew off towards the figure.

Five of the changelings landed in front of the figure, while four others flitted in the air above it. "Go home upright!", the lead changeling hissed.

The upright turned its cloth-wrapped head looking over the nine changelings, black irises ringed in gold silently studied the nine figures. A cloth-wrapped hand pushed back of the edge of the dust-stained robes, revealing a bronze khopesh, a steel shamshir and an iron jambiya.  While resting one hand on the hilt of the shamshir, the upright gestured for the changelings to leave with the other hand.

The lead changeling laughed before launching itself towards the upright. With a flash of steel and a spin of its body, the upright drew the shamshir, cutting the changeling in two. Its feet never stopping moving, the upright twisted and spun into the other four changelings, the sharply curved sword biting deep into each of the twisted creatures, cutting them apart. The remaining four changelings swooped down from the air at the spinning upright, only to have their heads fall cleanly onto the sand. The upright quickly cleaned the sickly green blood from the blade of the sword on a sleeve of the dust-stained robes and charged forward in a crouching run, letting out a trilling cry. The remaining changelings of Chrysalis' brood snarled as they rushed towards the upright.

With several shouts and whoops, the town guard rushed the rear of the twisted changelings. Crossbow bolts and javelins cut down a dozen warped creatures as the first few of the guards clashed with the changelings. The upright spun as the shamshir effortlessly cut through three changelings. The remaining changelings finding they were fighting a loosing battll, took to the air to flee, only to be cut off by the weather team pegasi and crushed underhoof.

Cleaning the last of the changeling's blood off the blade, the upright returned the shamshir to its scabbard and began unwrapping the cloths around his face, revealing dark brown skin, wavy black hair and eyes with black irises ringed with gold. "Thank you.", he said in a heavy accent.

"What is your name good sir?", the guard captain asked smiling.

"Dhahabi Eazm. Could you help me? I need to meet the two sultanesses of your land." He pulled out two small plaques, one gold, one silver, both depicting and alicorn, the first with a stylized sun above it, the second with a stylized moon above it.

"That's Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.", the guard captain said, "There's a caravan leaving for Ponyville tomorrow, you can find your way to Canterlot after that. You must be tired after your long journey, come and rest at my place, I have plenty of food and water."
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Orodes Kurgan scaled the cliffs on the mountain range that separated the southern steppes of his homeland from Equestria, an ancient two-handed sword and spear strapped to his back, the heavy brigantine armor draped across his shoulders. Hand over hand he ascended, fingers digging into each crack, leather-bound toes grasping the rock face, slowly the outcrop above came closer. Gasping for air, he drug his exhausted form onto the outcrop after hours of climbing. He adjusted the pointed fur cap on his head, pulling it lower over his sandy blonde locks and rose to his feet.

Orodes Kurgan took one last look back out across the steppes, the grassy lands rolled on for miles to the horizon. His hazel eyes drew to the lone mountain in the distance, the sacred mountain where his father laid buried, the same mountain his gods lived on, the same mountain the sword he carries was given to him by the blue furred queen of the skies. He held his hands together in a silent prayer and bowed several times. Pulling an ancient map out, he unrolled it and traced out the path through the cave complexes in the mountains. Turning, he began making his way through the cave complex.

Starlight Glimmer entered the outskirts of Our Town accompanied by Trixie, week ago she had been sent a letter by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to await the arrival of an upright, the very same upright she feared seeing. She leaned over to Trixie, "You know that I love you Trixie and I should have said yes to you asking me to marry you all those years ago, but..."

"I understand now as then Starlight.", Trixie interrupted, "You aren't one for marriage. I was originally hurt, but the great and powerful Trixie understands that you aren't into marriage."

Starlight sighed as she rolled her eyes. "That's not why I said no Trixie." She showed the letter to Trixie. "After Twilight and her friends had revealed me as the fraud I was, I fled to the steppes on the far side of these mountains." She swallowed, feeling like there was a rock lodged in her throat. "There was a tribe of uprights that live on the steppes called the Kurgans who found me nearly dead from thirst and they took me in. You have to understand that I was stupid and angry and was wanting to hurt anything." She took in a shaky breath. "Once I was strong enough, they took me to their sacred mountain, that's when I found out that there were more alicorns than just the princesses. In my anger, I stupidly lashed out and killed the chieftain of the Kurgans and several of their tribe."

Trixie gasped. "Don't tell me a Kurgan is coming here?", she said, her voice full of concern.

Starlight hung her head. "Yes. If it's who I think it is, then he is coming here and he'll probably want to take my head. Rightfully so." A tear ran down her cheek. "He was just a young thing, but I still remember the anger and rage in his eyes over my killing of his father. So of course I ran. All the way back to Equestria, blaming Twilight the whole time like an idiot. Now it seems that the last of my sins have come back to bite me in the flank."

"Well if this Kurgan tries to do anything to you, the great and powerful Trixie will stop him!"

No Trixie.", Starlight said, "If he comes to take my head, I want you to do nothing. If you got hurt, I could never forgive myself."

Trixie sputtered, "But..but...mmmph!"

Starlight cut Trixie off with a kiss. "Just know that I love you and I always will."

Starlight and Trixie walked on in silence. "What is this?", Starlight asked checking out a hoofprint with a layer of frost covering it. She looked in the direction the hoofprint lead off in, "This isn't good." She and Trixie hurried towards Our Town.

Orodes continued on for days through the caves, stopping only to rest and refill his water skins at the places where clean water dripped down through cracks in ceiling. Reaching the mouth of the final cave, he looked over the map and began looking for the ancient natural stone bridge. Finding it, he noted that it had collapsed, running his fingers along the cracks, he found spots where the stone had been scored by magic. Holding his hand over his eyes, he looked out across the gap and saw small curls of smoke and the peaks of a few roofs. Rechecking the map, he ran his finger along the valley that sat on the edge of the badlands.


"Hello there!", a voice above drawing Orodes' attention. Looking up he saw a stallion on skis with a light gray-coated filly on his back. "The name's Double Diamond and this is my daughter Fresh Powder. Are you you an upright like lord Irontoothson?" Double Diamond looked at the collapsed bridge, "Sorry about that, we had to take up the planks ever since Starlight found some strange tracks."

Orodes tilted his head. "Starlight? Is she a light purple horned pony?"

Double Diamond chuckled. "Sounds like you already know her." He nudged the filly on his back. "Fresh Powder, go get you mother and tell her we've got a visitor."

"Aww! But I'm all warm and snuggly."

"Yes you are, but unless our new friend here has a plank hidden him, he's not going to be able to cross the gap."

Fresh Powder hopped off Double Diamond's back and fluttered her little wings, flying off. "You'll love Night Glider.", Double Diamond said, "She makes the best hot cocoa."

After several minutes Fresh Powder returned with Night Glider. "Is this our guest Double?"

"Yes it is sweetie, could you help him across the gap?"

Night Glider flapped across the broken bridge and extended a dark gray leg, "Hold on tight." After Orodes had grabbed on, she began flapping back.

Double Diamond slid down to the bottom of the slope and kicked off his skis. "I didn't get your name friend."

"Hello Orodes Kurgan.", Starlight said walking up, "You're looking well. You've grown up."

Orodes narrowed his eyes. "Starlight. Though you look less insane with rage than the last time I saw you."

Starlight lowered her head and slid over a boulder with her magic. Laying down, she laid her head on the boulder and said sadly, "I cannot undo what I have done to you, your tribe or your father. All I can do to make it right is offer you my penance and my head. All I ask is that if Trixie lashes out at you in anger, please don't hurt her."

Double Diamond and Night Glider looked at Orodes, then back to Starlight. "What's going on here?", Double asked.

Starlight said remorsefully, "After I fled here all those years ago, I wound up on the steppes where the Kurgan tribe took me in. In my stupidity and selfish anger, I lashed out and killed his father. My final sins have come back to me and now I await his people's justice." She closed her eyes and braced for the cold bite of steel.

Orodes walked over and knelt by Starlight, laying his hand on the side of her head. "Why would I kill you? The horned pony who slew my father appears to have died long ago. Rise, there is no vengeance that does not breed vengeance."

Starlight looked up at Orodes, tears in her eyes. "That Starlight may be dead, but her ghost still hurts me."

Orodes pulled Starlight up from the ground and held her tight to him in an embrace as she cried onto his shoulder. "When I find the ghost that harms you, I will banish it. Though my anger still burns, I forgive you."

"Thank you.", Starlight sobbed.

A shout of alarm from Our Town drew all of their attention, Orodes rose to his feet and ran to the village. A frozen body of a long dead pony shambled slowly down the center of town, frost spread across the ground from its hooves. Trixie and three other ponies stood their ground, legs shaking.

"St-stay back monster or the great and powerful Trixie will have to deal with you herself!", Trixie shouted trying to mask her fear as she held a smoke bomb in one hoof. "Get ready everypony!", she shouted only to notice that she was by herself. She threw the smoke bomb down down on the ground, when the smoke quickly cleared it revealed Trixie galloping towards an alley.

Orodes rushed forward pulling the spear off his back. Thrusting the spear downwards, it pierced the body of the undead pony with a loud crack. He let the haft of the spear go as frost spread up it. The frozen undead creature pushed forward, pulling the spear spear still lodged in its body from the ground. Orodes pulled the two-handed sword from his back and swung it into the neck of the frozen creature, loping the head off. Swinging the sword around again, he lopped its legs off, then split its body in twain. Planting the point of the sword from the ground, he pulled the spear from the remains of the undead creature. "Bring oil and fire!", Orodes shouted, "Quickly! Before it pulls itself back together!"

Several ponies brought out vials of lamp oil and a torch. Orodes poured the oil on the frozen remains and stuck the torch to it. As the flames licked across the frozen dismembered corpse, a bluish-white specter leapt up from the flames, howling as a brief wave of cold spread across the town. It circled a few times above the town before flying off towards the horizon as fast as it could.

"What was that and why did a windigo fly up from the flames?!", Starlight shouted as she ran up.

"We don't have a word for it, but when we encounter any of them we destroy them as fast as possible before they can consume any life.", Orodes said as he put his weapons away, "If these things are here, then that means a necromancer is in the land. I must get to your queens of the sky and warn them. Maybe they can get a Rimewalker to help slay them."

"You mean Harald Irontoothson?", Starlight asked.

Orodes turned in surprise. "A Rimewalker is in your lands?"
> The pieces begin to move
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight confused, stared into the eyes of Harald. Her mind reeled from the information she had just been told, somehow their enemies had managed to seemingly perfect necromancy, but had also captured windigos, forced them into the dead bodies and managed to bend them to their will. Closing her eyes, she began searching through the memories of equestria with her newly expanded alicorn magic, but came up with nothing. "I've never heard of a draugr before.", she said with a defeated sigh.

"You most likely wouldn't have.", Harald replied, "They rarely travel outside of frozen bogs and marshes. But when one is spotted, it's usually a strong sign of a powerful necromancer or an evil shaman who sold their soul to the darkness."

Necromancer, the word hung in Twilight's mind for a moment as she recalled a powerful necromancer who was defeated by Gusty the Great. "There is only one powerful necromancer in the whole of Equestria's history, but he was defeated over three thousand years ago. Unless...some pony or creature has been able to retrieve the bewitching bell, there's no way he could have returned."

"Uh, Twi? You ain't talkin' 'bout who I think ya are, are ya?", AJ asked with a quirked eyebrow, "Ain't he like s'posed tuh be nuthin' more'n an old mare's tale tuh scare foals intuh listenin' tuh their mommas and daddies?"

"No AJ, Grogar was very real.", Twilight said in a soft tone, "He commanded the nightmare forces and before the winter of the windigo, he terrorized the ponies of pre-unification Equestria. True there's not many surviving documents from that time, but what few do survive gave the mention of an ally that he served. A creature known as the nameless one."

"The nameless one?!", Rainbow exclaimed, "That sounds like the rejected name of a really bad Nightmare Night book."

"Whether or not the creature has a name or not, that doesn't change what Harald and I encountered months ago.", Fluttershy said with a visible shiver, "The body of a dead pony, all its fur, mane and tail had long fallen out, it's flesh black and covered in frost. No love or peace in those eyes, frost spreading across the ground from each hoofstep. The only way to stop it was to chop it to pieces and destroy the remains with fire. A windigo sprang from the flames and fled to the north."

The other ponies and dragon all shuddered at the description.

Spike clenched his fist tightly. "If we need fire to beat these things, we can get hold of Ember and see if she'll send some dragons to help us."

"We c'n prob'ly get the kirin tuh help us out too.", Applejack chimed in, "Ah know Ah'd be as thrilled as a green worm in a fresh apple tuh see Autumn Blaze again an' they might be pretty good when they turn intuh niriks against these...wadda ya call 'em Harry...draggers?"

"That's a good idea Spike, maybe Ember will help us out against these undead creatures.", Twilight spoke up, "As far as the kirin helping us, they've been an isolationist country for centuries, they only opened their borders to us to trade about twenty years ago...", she pointed her hoof to Applejack and Fluttershy, "...after the map sent you two to them. Besides, last year after Sombra had used Blueblood II to try and assassinate Harald, Celestia, Luna, Cadance and myself went through a session to prepare Equestria for the war and Celestia said unless there was a representative from the Emerald Empire or The Kingdom of Chin, they'd stay out of the fighting unless they were attacked."
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The pegasus chariot holding Sweetie Drops, Lyra Heartstrings, Daring Do, Asahina Hunsunohana and Han Xiangzi began slowly slowly drifting towards Mount Canter in a lazy right loop. Several pegasus guard patrols changed their flight patterns to intercept the chariot, shouting challenges and Sweetie Drops calling out the return code indicating they were friendlies. As the royal palace came into view, the pegasus-drawn chariot began descending in a tight turning pattern. Soon a large rectangular-shaped area of paved stones came into the view and the two pegasi pulling the chariot began slowly dipping towards it. A unicorn guard began directing them down with a paid of brightly colored flags towards an empty area of the paved rectangle, a few moments later the chariot with a thump, a few bounces and the clatter of hooves on the pavement.

As several guards helped the two pegasi guards unhitch from the chariot. Sweetie Drops, Han Xiangzi and Asahina Hunsunohana stepped off the back of the chariot. An earth pony mare wearing a simple black vest and white cravat, a clipboard balanced on her back, walked over and gave a slight bow, "Greetings honored guests. On behalf of the princesses, I welcome you to Equestria. My name is Ink Blot." She took the the clipboard off her back, propped against a forelimb and said around the quill gripped in her teeth, "What are your namesh and Chikles?"

Hunsunohana gave a stiff bow, her arms held tightly at her sides, removing the face mask from her helmet, she said, "Asahina Hunsunohana, Lady of Kuren Prefecture, heir of Asahina Sokko, Jade Champion of the Emperor Edo Yunikon."

Xiangzi gave an elaborate bow and pressed his palms together firmly together. "Han Xiangzi, disciple of the great kinin sifu Ningjing, master of the eight-form fist, keeper of the Tao of the sun and the moon."

Ink Blot finished writing down the names before placing the quill in the inkwell and returning the clipboard to her back. "Come along, you must be tired from your journey.", she said with a kind gesture of her hoof, "I'm sure you two would like a place to rest and freshen up before meeting the princesses." She guided the two uprights to a pair of rooms and kindly gestured for them to enter. "You'll find the accommodations to be quite comfortable and if you want, I'll have some refreshments brought up."

Hunsunohana gave a slight smile as she watched her companion enter the adjoining room and gave a curt nod of her head, then closed the door. Reaching to her waist, she removed the katana, wakazashi and tanto from the silk obi, placing each on the nearby desk with gentle ceremony filled with reverence. She untied that leather and flaxen knots holding the armor on, placing  each piece reverently on the mattress. Undoing the elaborately braided knots that served on her silk and flaxen suit, she reached in and pulled out a linen roll that served as travel bundle. Reaching down, she undid the leather straps on her tabi, kicking them off before sliding off her silk and flaxen suit, revealing the simple linen wraps covering her chest and hips.

Unrolling the travel bundle, Hunsunohana revealed a deep blue kimono with elaborate green and golden patterns, tins of various makeup, a pair of brilliant white flax socks, a small bar of soap, a jade comb, washcloths, a pair of wooden sandals, a vial of jasmine perfume and a pair of jade-embossed ivory chopsticks. Picking up the bar of soap and washcloths, she walked over to the tub, began filling it with hot water. Once the tub as full, she unwrapped the linen wraps from around her chest and hips, then lowered herself into the steaming water to bathe.

"Come in.", Hunsunohana said in a calm and pleasant tone as she exited the bathroom, in response to the soft knock on the door, tucking the last end of the linen wrap in around her chest. She smiled gently as a unicorn butler walked in, levitating a covered silver tray in his magic.

"The kitchens were unsure what you preferred to eat, so I have brought you some scones, marmalade and clotted cream, along with a pot of tea.", the butler said in a measured and stiff tone as he placed the tray down and uncovered it.

"Thank you for you hospitality, that will suffice for now, good sir.", Hunsunohana said with a slight bow. As the unicorn butler nodded and silently walked out of the room, she came walked over to the platter and began to pour herself some tea in the small cup while picking up a scone. Though she was unaccustomed to the medium-brown tea and the sweetness of the scones, she silently consumed them as to do otherwise would offend her hosts, or so her decades of training in social etiquette had told her.

Once Hunsunohana had finished eating and drinking, she picked up then tins of make up. Gently prying the lid off the first tin, revealing a paste-like white cream, she dipped the tips of her fingers into the substance, gently applying it to her face and neck until they were white. Returning the lid to the tin, she opened the second tin revealing a purpleish-blue powder and began gently applying it around her eyes. Opening the third tin after returning the lid to the previous one revealed a black paste along with a fine-tipped brush, she dipped it in the paste then began painting thin lines where her eyebrows were and outlining her lips. Opening the fourth tin, she began applying a thin layer of rose-colored powder to her cheek bones. Opening the last tin, she dipped a fingertip into a red waxy substance and gently applied it to the center of her lips. Putting away the tins of makeup, she uncorked the vial of perfume and applied the jasmine-scented substance to her body.

Asahina Hunsunohana slid the white socks over her feet and rolled them up to her knees, tucking some of the cloth between the first toes on her feet, she stepped into the wooden sandals. Picking up the kimono, she slipped it on, cinching tight about her lither yet muscular form, she smoothed out the wrinkles and made sure it clung to her form properly. She began meticulously placing her hair into a topknot before securing it with the chopsticks. Lastly she tied the obi around her waist, then slid the swords and knife into it. She observed herself in the mirror, smoothing out any imperfections in her makeup and flattening any errant wrinkles in her kimono, now she looked a proper lady of Asahina, ready to come before royalty in any land.

Xiangzi hummed a tune as he slipped out of his robes and slid into the tub of water to bathe. "Come in my good pony!", he called out from the rub in a happy tone.

A unicorn butler opened the door and walked in. Looking around, he heard the upright humming a tune from the bathroom. "Excuse me sir, I have brought you some scones with marmalade and clotted cream, along with a pot of tea.", he called out n a calm voice, "Though if this is an inopportune time, I can bring it back later."

"Nonsense my good sir!", Xiangzi called out from the tub, "I am feeling a bit hungry, just leave it on the table, once I finish with my bath, I'll partake. Oh and thank you for your hospitality!"

The unicorn butler nodded his head, placed the tray on the table and quietly left the room.

Han Xiangzi rose from the tub after he finished his bath and shook the water from his body. Slipping the saffron robes back on his body, he cinched the belt around his waist and walked into the next room. Pouring the tea into a small cup as he picked up a scone, sipping the light brown liquid while munching on the sweet pastry, it was not something he had eaten before or was accustomed to, a smile graced his lips as he recalled the words of his sifu, "Never hesitate to take joy in all things, especially in the new and unfamiliar."

Taps on the doors by Ink Blot alerted the two uprights that the princesses were ready for them. As the two of them were escorted by a small contingent of guards to the large double doors outside the throne room, Xiangzi made small talk and cracked jokes with them, while Hunsunohana walked on in silence facing forward like what was expected of a proper lady of Kuren Prefecture and samurai of proper station.

The guards peeled away as they reached the massive double doors. Golden and deep blue magical fields  surrounded the doors before they opened. Asahina Hunsunohana immediately immediately assumed a slightly bent stance and moved forward with a shuffling gait. She stopped t the first group of guards and removed her katana, laying it on the floor at their hooves, she shuffled forward to the next group of guards, removing the wakzashi from he obi, laying it on the floor. Reaching the last group of guards, removed the tanto and laid it on the floor. Reaching the base of the dais, she lowered herself to her knees and bent forward, placing her forehead on the floor. "Empress Amaterasu. Empress Susanoo."

"Rise lady Asahina.", Celestia said in a gentle tone, "Call me Celestia or Princess Celestia if you prefer." She gestured to Luna, "This is my sister, Princess Luna."

As Hunsunohana rose to her feet slowly, keeping her posture slightly bowed, Han Xiangzi propped his weapon by the door and slowly approached the dais with a bowed posture. Pressing his palms together, he bowed low before the princesses. Oh divine rulers of this land, my companion and I answer your call, fulfilling the promises the champions of our lands made so long ago."
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As the caravan prepared to leave in the morning from the town of Somnambula, Dhahabi Eazm helped load up the last of the crates on a wagon before climbing aboard. As they began to pull off, he raised his head to the sky and began singing a traditional traveling song in a loud baritone voice.
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Imbali Enhle and Zecora wriggled out of their  bedrolls as the sun came up, then rolled them up. As they stowed their bedrolls, the upright tossed a leaf-wrapped bundle of dried grains, fruits and tubers to the zebra. As the two hastily pushed the food into their mouths, the held a lengthy conversation with several clicks of the tongues.
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As Trixie, Starlight and Orodes began to leave Our Town as the sun peaked over the top of the mountain peaks, he climbed on top of Trixie's wagon, held his hands up to his mouth and gave shouts to each of the cardinal directions.
> First meetings, lessons learned and gathering forces
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grogar, Nihilus, Nightmare, Shadow and Chrysalis walked along the path that lead them to Tartarus. The very plants around the old goat's green fire-wreath hooves wilted and decayed to dust as if the very life force was ripped from them. The very shadows reached out to Shadow and Nightmare as if they were enthusiastic serfs trying to touch their master. With each step, the grass near Nihilus' hooves twisted and warped as if the very magic coming off her transformed them into twisted mockeries of life. Among this fell band, Chrysalis felt very self-conscious and under-powered, her ability to die and be reborn made her feel like an ant standing before an elephant in the presence of these almost god-like beings.


Reaching the gates of Tartarus, the two massive imposing barriers of the blackest adamant meant to imprison the worst there was in the world, the fell party stopped. A twisted smirk spread across Empress Nihilus' lips as she remembered her short time being held here as a filly. Raising a hoof she began chanting ancient ancient esoteric words. Grogar, Shadow and Nightmare joined in next, each raising a hoof. Though none broke their gaze from the gates, Chrysalis knew that her four companions were waiting on her. Raising a hoof, the Chrysalis added her chanting to the spell. The two massive black adamant doors opened slowly with a low grinding sound, as the dark ritual forced them apart. With a deep hollow thump, the doors were fully flung open, the smell of smoke and brimstone filled the air.

Six eyes gleamed in the darkness as Cerberus, the massive three-headed guard dog stalked forward, growls from three throats filed the air. The fell party did not quail as the massive dog barreled forward in a symphony of angry barks. A blast of dark magic lanced forth from Gorgar's horns, impacting on the dog's shoulder, leaving a burnt patch of fur. Two of Cerberus' heads yelped in shock and pain as the third growled in anger. The ancient, nigh-immortal guard dog of Tartarus loped forward. Surrounding her horn in a field that seemed to steal away the light, Empress Nihilus grabbed the guard dog of Tartarus and hurled him out of Tartarus. When the three-headed dog hit the ground, Nihilus lit her horn again and hurled Cerberus high in the air.

With nary a word spared, the fell party trod their way into the depths of of the most ancient and terrible prison.

Roused from his slumber by the sounds of visitors, the ancient centaur, Lord Tirek, raised his weary head and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He allowed his gaze to drift across the cage holding him, then his visitors, before rising to his hooves and bowing. "Ah, Lord Grogar! So good to see you! And you've brought friends with you." He studied the other four. "Cozy Glow! You have grown in both stature and power! Chrysalis! It's good to see you've come up in the world. Pray tell, whom are your two other companions?"

"Cozy Glow is no more!", Nihilus exclaimed in a voice that seemed to come from all places at once and robbed the very warmth from the air, "I am Empress Nihilus, heir of Emperor Nihil."

Tirek's eyes widened in surprise at the proclamation at the former pegasus filly whom he had helped steal all of Equestria's magic once and bowed low. Looking up, he locked eyes with her, staring into the two pitch black orbs. "Many apologies my Empress! If I had known of your ancestry all those years ago, I would have shown you more respect back then."

Nihilus sneered at the ancient centaur. "Perhaps, perhaps not. But that is no matter now, I have use of you." With a flick of her head, the bars of the cage shattered and the shackled on Tirek's wrists and hooves decayed into rust. "An ancient enemy, who has allied themselves with clan Invictus walks the land again."

"Uprights!", Tirek snarled, "I would have thought their kind would have went extinct long ago."

"It would appear not, Tirek.", Nightmare said.

Tirek stroked his scraggly beard in thought. "Something I've always wanted to ask, are these uprights related to..."

"DO NOT SAY HER NAME!", Grogar bellowed. The fires writhed and flared around his bones at the very thought of that most ancient of enemies. After a few seconds he got his emotions under control. "No, she came from far outside the wheel and other than being two-legged, her kind shares nothing similar with the uprights of this world."

Tirek wiggled a pinkie in his ear for a few seconds. "No need to get testy. She defeated me first. Robbed me of my power long before clan Invictus strode along the great spokes and swam the river."

Chrysalis tipped her head in confusion. "Who or what are you two talking about exactly?"

Tirek turned t face Chrysalis. "Me--URK!"

"I...said...do...not...say...her...name!", Grogar growled, clenching his flaming jaw bones together tightly as he gripped Tirek's neck in his magic.

"Enough!", Nihilus snapped spreading her wings, "I neither care nor wish to care about some creature that is far beyond this world. Grogar! Release him!"

Releasing the old centaur from his magic, Grogar turned away and muttered, "You will care if the river, the wheel and the tree unblock the passage for her again."

Nihilus walked over to Grogar and turned his flame-wreathed skull to face her. "I promise you that you shall have your vengeance against this creature that has wounded you, its skull shall be the crown you wear and its burnt world shall be your prized jewel." After the flame-wreathed skeletal goat nodded, she continued, "But not until you help me make this world my charnel throne."

Grogar turned the gaze of his empty sockets to Nihilus. "What is thy command my master?"

With a wicked smile, Nihilus turned to face Tirek. "Lord Tirek! No longer shall thee be remembered as the thief who stole magic. Kneel and be baptized anew!"

As Tirek lowered himself to the floor, Nihilus' horn blazed with anti-light. The old centaur felt youth and vitality return to his body. His horns grew grew till they nearly met above his head before curving out again. His height increased until he was the size of a mighty tree. Muscles rippled as they grew and bulked up. His skin became like unto blackened clay, hardened in a great kiln. The sclera of his eyes became red like fire, his irises and pupils became black, like the heart of a dead star. A sphere of magic roared to life between his horns like a star, shifting from a blazing sphere of yellow and orange, to a pulsing sphere of deepest black, wreathed in a red aura. The light seemed to bend away from his fur. Claws grew from the ends of fingers and teeth became serrated fangs. The very ground cracked under his hooves, which took on the appearance of bronze in a furnace. "ARISE LORD TIREK THE DESTROYER OF ALL!", Nihilus shouted in a voice that seemed to echo from the very depths of Tartarus itself.

Tirek opened his eyes and snorted out sulfurous vapors.

Empress Nihilus cackled in wicked glee. "Come Lord Tirek, destroyer of all! Join your fellow regents, Lord Grogar, feaster of souls and master of terror, Lords Nightmare and Shadow, lords of true darkness and Queen Chrysalis the undying, feaster of flesh and suffering! Let us plan out overthrow of this world!" Dark laughter poured from Nihuls as she lit her horn in pitch black anti-light. In a flash of pure blackness, the six vanished.
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Twilight and Luna stood in an empty field. She puffed her cheeks and blew out, buzzing her lips as Luna started teaching her how to change her forms. "It's simple little sister, just envision the form you want to take and allow your magic to change you." Twilight still hadn't gotten used to being called little sister. Placing a hoof to her chest, she took a breath and let it out while simultaneously extending her foreleg. There was a time when she thought that having alicorn magic was odd, but now this was a whole new layer. Everywhere she could feel the silvery river that made and unmade all things, it was a part of her and separate from her at the same time, it flowed into her and from her, she was both its head waters and tributary.

Opening her eyes, Twilight focused her mind on a single form. The wind gently blew, making the dust swirl and the grass ripple. Energy crackled across her body as it slowly transformed. Lifting up a hoof, she stared at it, her very body had been transformed into autumn leaves, all shades of red, orange, brown and gold, they seemed to effortlessly glide past one another as she moved.

Luna clopped her hooves together in joy and applause as Twilight looked on in confusion. "Huzzah! Little sister, thou art the mistress of the autumnal equinox!"

"W-w-wait...wh-what?!" Twilight quickly covered her mouth in surprise. Her voice didn't sound right, it sounded like chilly winds lowing over leaves.

Luna smiled knowingly at Twilight and then focused, transforming her body into a form that appeared like frost-covered soil. "After we swim the great river, our first form is that of which season we govern over." She transformed again, her coat taking on the gently silvery regolith of the full moon, her mane and tail became like a clear starry sky. "Now let's see if you govern any celestial objects."

Twilight closed her eyes and reached out with her magic to feel the great river flowing into, out of and through all things. Slowly her flesh transformed into a semi-transparent deep purple construct, mane and tail were barely visible wisps of undulating energy. Looking around, she could see through the planet to the very stars. There billions upon billions of them, all gathered like unto a great wheel, the outer rim glowed brightly, the spokes were made of thin filaments of stars, the very planet itself sat on the very hub of the great wheel of stars. Looking around she could see dozens of worlds connected to this world. Her attention slowly drifted to a very familiar world on the rim of the starry wheel connected by a familiar portal. Her breath(or at least what felt like her breath), hitched in her throat as she could perceive untold numbers of worlds on the great starry wheel, all connected to this world by their own portals. Everywhere she could feel smaller versions of the great wheel turning, constantly driving the cycle of birth, growth, death and renewal in all things. Beyond the rim she could perceive untold ancient paths leading to unknown worlds beyond, most of which were blocked by unfathomable darkness.

Luna took a moment to see what Twilight was looking at. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Twilight nodded. "Don't stare too deeply into the dark parts or the void that lives beyond all things and drives you into madness." Luna's tone carried knowledge and deep sadness.

Twilight blinked, her form returning to a flesh and blood pony. "Luna? Is that what drove you to becoming Nightmare Moon?"

"Aye and nay. The great void between all things didst drive us into madness, but the fell things that live in the void feed on a beings worst feelings until they finally corrupt it fully. It wast our jealously, anger and rage that gave the nightmare a banquet to grow strong until it could manifest in this world, then it used our strength and madness to try and unbalance the wheel."

Twilight swallowed. "Does the nightmare still exist?"

"Aye. Though we suspect it's greatly diminished. The fell things that live in the void are like all energy, magic and matter, they can neither be made nor unmade."

Twilight rolled the words in her mind. "Could the nightmare be what drove Sombra and Chrysalis."

Luna let her gaze drift as she thought. "Mayhaps. But there are things even worse than what comes from the void."

"Such as?"

"One had its name erased, its body burned and its very soul ripped apart. The other, though much older, had its body destroyed by a great warrior, though a single indestructible artifact remained that has been sealed away."

"The second one was Grogar wasn't it?"

"Guard your thoughts well, little sister.", Luna warned, "Though that old goat was destroyed, he's not gone."

"Didn't gusty the great defeat him?"

"Aye, but she wasn't alone."

"Of course, she had her unicorn warriors with her and the pegasi from Cloudsdale joined her."

"That is only partially true, Twilight." Luna sighed. "Reach out with thy magic and feel for Harald. When you find him, follow his ancestry."

Twilight closed her eyes and reached out. She easily followed the weirding to find Harald, but she also felt other uprights as well, some near, others far. She began following the uprights ancestry, untold faces flew past in seconds as they slowly took on heavier and more hunched over stances. Her breath caught in surprise when eon ago the uprights ancient ancestors faces elongated into more pony-like faces and they walked around on all fours, legs ending a three-toed split hooves. Gasping, she fell back onto her haunches in surprise. "I didn't know. Their most ancient ancestors were..."

"Aye. They share similar ancestors to our little ponies. That's why they wield their own magics."

"So who was it that helped Gusty the Great defeat Grogar?"

"Someone whom Celestia and I haven't seen since we were foals. The only reason she hasn't returned is because the path to her world is blocked." Luna's expression became sad and withdrawn for a few moments. "Come, let's return to the castle."
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Asahina  Hunsunohana held a pair of shears in her hand as she knelt before a small shrub in Canterlot gardens, meditating. She slowly and gently moved her hands as she envisioned how she wanted to trim the shrub. Opening her eyes, she began to delicately snip away at the shrub.

Fizzlepop Berrytwist walked around a row of bushes and stopped. "Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't know there was anycreature else here." Her orchid coat bristled slightly at the sight of the upright kneeling, in front of a shrub trimming it, the short, gracefully curved sword at her waist and the longer, equally gracefully curved sword laid on the ground at her side.

Hunsunohana adjusted her kimono slightly as she continued to trim the shrub. "You have caused no harm or committed no foul. Please, feel free to join me if you so choose."

Fizzlepop trotted over and sat on her haunches, watching the upright's hands gracefully glide over the shrub as the shears snipped small branches away. "If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing?"

"Trimming a shrub." Hunsunohana smiled slightly.

"No,*sigh* what I mean is, you're a trained warrior. If rumor is to be believed, you slew five diamond dog bandits without any effort. Why are you doing gardener work? Surely there are much more well trained ponies and other creatures here that can do much better work."

Hunsunohana looked up from the shrub and over to the orchid unicorn mare with the dark rose mane and tail, taking in her broken horn, the scar across one eye, they way the muscles moved under her coat and the way her gaze seemed to take everything in. "You are a trained warrior too, no?"

Fizzlepop thought back to her time when she served in the Storm King's army and became his number one commander and most feared soldier. How she was also known by another name that struck fear into all who faced her, and even after she had left that life behind, sometimes when it was required for her to take to the field to defend Equestria, she would slip that name and persona back on as easily as she slipped on her armor. "Yes, I am one of the best trained warriors there is, at least until Harald Irontoothson marched across the frozen tundra far to the north into the Crystal Empire to take up his ancestral title and defend Equestria."

Hunsonohana placed the shears on her lap. Though she had never heard the name 'Harald Irontoothson' before, she still understood the naming conventions of the Rimewalkers, she knew of them, though mostly their long ships stayed far out to sea hunting whale and walrus, there were stories during times of famine when their ship would beach themselves to raid villages and towns.

"You didn't answer my question. There are other creatures who are better gardeners, why don't you let them tend to this shrub and you train our warriors how to fight as effortless as you?", Fizzlepop asked.

Standing up, Hunsonohana brushed off her kimono, picking up her katana, she slipped it into her sash. "Follow me.", she said gesturing to the unicorn mare. They walked over to look at a billy goat gardener was trimming a large shrubbery sculpture. "When you see him, what do you think he would do if I drew my sword on him?"

"He'd probably run away screaming bloody murder."

"Precisely." Hunsonohana took a few steps back and placed her hand to her katana. In one swift and smooth moment, she drew the sword, stopping a hair's breadth from the unicorn mare's cheek. Leaping up, Fizzlepop Berrytwist back-flipped away and slipped into the Tempest Shadow persona, taking up a fighting stance. With a flick of her wrist, the woman returned the katana to its scabbard as Fizzlepop slipped out of Tempest. "A gardener can only ever be a gardener, even on the battlefield, a warrior is always a warrior, even in a garden."

"So you're saying it's better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a battlefield?"

"Precisely."

"So why not use your sword to trim shrubbery then?"

"The same reason I wouldn't use a hammer to paint a house. Yes the hammer can smear paint, but a brush works much better. I could use my sword to trim the shrub and use the shears to slay an enemy, but both are much easier when you use the proper tool."

"So why do you trim a shrub?"

"It focuses the mind and trains my hand to go where my mind wants it."

Fizzlepop mused for a moment. "So it's a training exercise?"

"Yes." Hunsunohana gestured. "Come. I shall teach you how to focus your mind so your can put your...uh...hooves exactly where you want them." Walking back to the small shrub with the mare following her, she pulled the katana from her sash, knelt down and gently laid the weapon gently on the ground, like one would lay a child in a crib. Picking up the shears, she passed them to Fizzlepop, who took them in her mouth. "Close your eyes and only think about the shrub. Envision it and what shape you want it to be. Once you have it in your mind, think about how best to shape it one piece at a time. Take your time, slowly move your hooves and head in the patterns you need to properly take each piece away that's not part of the shape."

Fizzlepop closed here eyes and thought about the shrub. In her mind it took the shape of a soda bottle, she could see which pieces weren't part of the shape. She slowly waved her head and hooves until she had the patterns she needed. Opening her eyes, she began to trim the shrub.

Hunsunohana pulled a small rice paper scroll, a brush and an ink pot out of her kimono. Unrolling the scroll, she uncorked the ink pot, laid the brush on her lap and looked out across the landscape. Dipping the brush in the ink, she started writing a haiku. Bright blue sky above/Oriole lands on a tree/Leaves dance in the wind
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Starlight, Trixie and Orodes Kurgan traveled down the rode, the two mares taking turns pulling Trixie's wagon, while Orodes walked alongside the two.

Starlight paused and held a hoof up to her forehead, shielding her eyes from the middy glare and squinted to better see through the haze at the four figures walking towards them. "Huh, looks like Harald, Fluttershy and their foals are coming to meet us."

Orodes raised a hand, shieding his eyes, peering off into the distance. "Stay behind me.", he said in a cold tone as he stretched out his shoulders and flexed his hands.

"You know he's a friend?", Starlight asked placing a hoof on Orodes' leg.

Orodes' mouth twisted into a half-smile, half-sneer. "That is yet to be seen. First intentions must be determined and ancient rights must be satisfied."

Starlight nodded in silence. "What they hay!", Trixie snapped, "We already told you he's--"

"Do not interfere!", Orodes snapped. He quickened his pace, loosening the belts that held two-handed sword and spear to his back.

With a quick gesture of his hand, Harald silently ordered Fluttershy and their two foals to safety. He quickly unbuckled the belts that held the sword, axe and shield to his waste.

Orodes and Harald quickened their paces until they were a dozen strides apart. Pausing, both made a show of dropping their weapons by the side of the road, then approached each other.

"Look who they let in this land!", Orodes proclaimed in a loud voice, "Tell me Rimewalker, have you bred with any dogs lately?"

"Only your mother." Harald curled back his lips in  half-sneer.

"Oooh, a quick retort from a Riewalker who's never seen a bar of soap and only scrubs his arse with ice."

"I'm surprised that ant Steppesrunner even knows what soap is, considering you all marry your sisters."

Orodes and Harald charged at each other, hands balled into fists. Trixie quailed while Fluttershy and Starlight stared on in silence. As the two men neared each other, their fist raised in preparation to rain punches. At the last second, they embraced each other. "So as always the Rimewalkers have to be the first to arrive so they can steal all the glory for themselves.", Orodes joked.

"I seen to recall about twelve summers ago when no Steppesrunner complained when several clans showed up first to fight off those draugr."

Harald and Orodes parted from the embrace. "Speaking of those frozen corpses, we encountered one in a village several leagues back.", Orodes said grimly.

"Months ago my betrothed and I had to slay one.", Harald replied.
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Han Xiangzi walked along the railroad tracks until he came to a lonely stop that was little more than a small shack next to a covered bench. Turning his gaze up to the peaks of peril, he made his way up the path that lead to the base of the cliffs, striking the ground with the butt of the monk's cudgel to allow the small bells hanging from the ornate head jingle.

Reaching the base of the cliffs, Xiangzi gazed along the narrow path that lead up the cliffs. Adjusting the bag on his back, he walked along the narrow path, stopping only to move a snake from his path with the crescent-shaped tines at the base of the weapon or jingle the bells so the wildlife had ample opportunity to clear out ahead of him. Reaching the top of the cliff, he walked into a small clearing, removes the small sack off his back and sat on the ground cross-legged, with the monk's cudgel propped against his shoulder.

Xiangzi open the small sack and pulled out a simple bamboo flute. He played a tune that seemed to seemed to be part of the wind itself, occasionally accentuating the tune with high-pitched staccato notes. He turned his head hearing rustling in the woods of the cliff, a kirin nearly as tall as he walked out, her curling mane flowed gently in the wind.

Sliding the flute in the sleeve of his saffron robes, Xiangzi opened the sack and pulled a scroll in an ancient jade case. Pulling his knees under him, he prostrated himself on the ground, holding the scroll and case on outstretched hands.

A red aura surrounded the tall kirin's curved horn with the small fork near the top as she lit her magic, levitating the scroll case. Popping the cap of the end f the case, she pulled the ancient scroll out, unrolled it and read it. "Welcome honorable monk of the Southern Temple. You may call me Rain Shine. Come! Join us in our village, we have much to discuss."