> The Elements
>  by hell00001
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1: A Timely Rescue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elements Chapter 1

Shadows zipped through the Everfree Forest towards the eerie buildings that loomed in the distance. As the clouds moved along in the dark, bleak sky overhead, they cast menacing shadows that danced off of the ancient trees of the forest. Vines looked like snakes in the darkness, and the bark from the tree trunks twisted to cast malicious faces that sent chills down everypony’s spine.

A squad of five ponies snaked their way through the forest at a brisk pace, their powerful hoofsteps muffled by the dense foliage. Leaves had begun falling from the trees in preparation for the upcoming winter, and the animals that had once been present in the forest had mysteriously vanished. They passed through thick bushes and deep mud puddles, but their coats remained dry and unscathed underneath their thick, protective armor. Everypony carried a spear across their back and a light dirk sheathed to their sides. 

Princess Celestia stopped the squad once they reached a clearing of the forest, and she gazed up at the desolate tower that rose above all of the other buildings of Everfree City. The Tower of the Stars only stood at half of its height, destroyed utterly sometime during the battle between Everfree’s Guard and the mutated Flutterponies. Celestia shuddered at the tower’s ominous appearance, and redirected her gaze to the clearing that stood before the squad.

“Moonlight,” Celestia said, looking back at the purple unicorn mare in question, “scout ahead and see if there are any Flutterponies ahead of us. Now that we are closer to the city, we might run into some resistance.”

“Yes, your majesty,” Moonlight Sonata said, trotting ahead of the squad and out into the clearing.

Moonlight disappeared behind a thick group of bushes beyond the clearing, and Celestia sat back on her haunches. A cold wind blew against Celestia’s group, and she slightly shifted her wings against her body. The atmosphere of the forest felt dark and unforgiving, and Celestia felt unease creep into her bones as she glanced around.

After ten minutes, Moonlight Sonata reemerged from the thick bushes and quickly trotted up to Celestia. Celestia raised herself back onto her hooves and nodded at Moonlight when she had returned safely back to the squad.

“We are clear from here to the breached wall of Everfree,” Moonlight Sonata said, glancing behind her. “From what I saw, there are only two Flutterponies guarding the wall by the breach, but it isn’t something that Fallen Star can’t handle.”

“Right,” Celestia said. “Fallen Star, lead on.”

Fallen Star—dark blue pegasus—nodded at Celestia, and stepped in to take the lead across the clearing. In a few minutes, the squad had reached the breach in the wall, and they all took up positions at the very edge of the forest. Celestia quickly spotted the two Flutterponies that Moonlight had mentioned. They were walking back and forth casually on top of the wall, and she motioned for Fallen Star to pull his crossbow off of his back.

Celestia listened intently until Fallen Star had completely notched the crossbow bolt, and said, “Wait for the two to walk in front of each other. When you think you have a shot, aim for their necks.”

Celestia’s eyes strained, and her heartbeat steadily increased as she saw the two Flutterponies draw closer to each other. She bit her lower lip tightly just as one Flutterpony’s nose passed in front of the other, and she held her breath when she heard the thunk as Fallen Star’s crossbow released its bolt.

There was a faint splatter of blood, and both Flutterponies stopped in their tracks when the crossbow bolt passed through each of their necks. They collapsed into a heap atop of the wall, and Celestia released her breath before turning back to the squad.

“Okay, you know the drill,” Celestia began in a hushed whisper. “No sound, stick together, and do not kill anypony unless it is absolutely necessary. We cannot alert the guards or our entire rescue mission will be for naught. Move out.”

Everypony in the squad saluted Celestia, and together they made a dash for the wall breach. They took their time to climb over the debris of stone and gravel, careful not to allow for their metal armor to clink against any of the stone that protruded from the large mound.

Moonlight was the first to reach the other side of the wall breach, and she motioned for everypony to follow her once she had glanced in both directions. The squad broke into a gallop for the first house that they came upon, and smashed the door open to allow for everypony to gather inside. Celestia glanced out of the window that looked back out into the street. She froze, and shut her eyes and turned back away.

Moonlight looked over at her, and asked, “Is something wrong, You Highness?”

“This is the Northern Disctrict,” Celestia said quietly. “This is the place where architectural development in Equestria had reached its peak. To look at it now and see the chaos that was brought upon it is heartbreaking.”

Moonlight walked up behind Celestia and placed a forehoof on her shoulder. The rest of the squad glanced over at Celestia with empathy.

“Discord shall pay for what he did to Everfree,” Moonlight said, “but now is not the time to get caught up in the former glory of this city. Let us keep moving.”

Celestia nodded, and she fell in behind the squad as they made their way out into the backyard of the house. They began to traverse between the backyards of each house, slowly making their way to the castle that stood in the center of Everfree City. The once magnificent towers grew larger as they made their approach, and under the darkened sky they chilled Celestia’s bones with the defeat and despair.

The squad reached the main avenue that ran through the center of the Northern District, and Fallen Star was the first to peek his head out into the avenue. He quickly pulled his head back in, and motioned for the squad to take up positions hidden out of sight from the street.

“There are two Flutterponies coming our way,” he explained. “I suggest that Thunderhoof and myself take them out.”

Celestia nodded, and Fallen Star and Thunderhoof quickly moved themselves into position, unsheathing their dirks. Celestia’s ears swiveled around as she started to pick up the hoofsteps of the two Flutterponies. Her wings folded tightly against her side, and her heart rate began to thump inside of her throat. She watched as Fallen Star and Thunderhoof slowly slide around the bush they were hiding, disappearing from view. After a few seconds, the sound of steel sliding through leather echoed quietly, and Celestia peered over the bush to see that Fallen Star and Thunderhoof were dragging two Flutterponies across the street and into a house.

“Let’s move,” Celestia said.

The remaining three ponies crossed the street and entered the house with Fallen Star and Thunderhoof. The two Flutterpony bodies had been piled in a corner of the room.

“Let’s keep moving,” Fallen Star said, motioning towards the rear of the house.

Celestia followed the squad out into the house’s backyard, and they quickly resumed their trek towards the castle. They passed through the backs of more houses, each yard looking the same with being littered by debris from their respective houses. Celestia cringed as she walked through each backyard, and focused to look straight ahead towards the front of the squad.

Finally, the five ponies reached the inner wall protecting Everfree Castle. Celestia gazed up at the top of the massive structure, her eyes scanning along the stones and tracing the intricate vines and leaves that decorated the wall. She took a deep breath, and rustled the feathers of her wings against the sides of her body.

“Find a breach in the wall and enter from there,” Celestia said, leading the squad along the wall. “I think I saw an opening not too far from here.”

Celestia trotted to the head of the squad again, and lea\d them all along the wall in the direction of the second wall breach. The city was eerily quiet save for the groaning of the many decimated buildings that surrounded the squad. For each rock that came unhinged, the squad stopped in their tracks and looked around them. When the coast was clear, they resumed their search for the next wall breach.

After what seemed like half an hour of walking along the the inner wall, the squad finally came upon the breach in the wall that Celestia had mentioned. Celestia held a hoof up to bring the rest of the ponies to a halt, and she closed her eyes and charged her horn. Her magic extended from her body and made contact with the wall. Magical tendrils shot from her horn and seeped into the stone, and when Celestia opened her eyes again, she was able to make out everything that lay beyond the wall.

“We’re in the clear,” she said. “I’ll go first, just in case.”

Celestia spread her wings and lifted herself to the top of the rubble that was piled in the wall breach. She gave a quick glance on the other side of the wall, and then motioned for the rest of the squad to follow her. Celestia leapt from the top of the pile of rubble, and slowly started to make her way through the Everfree Gardens. 

The tall, unkempt grass brushed against the tops of Celestia’s metal shoes, and she paused when she looked down a long corridor of cherry blossom trees. A mental image flashed through her mind of the time when she pulled Luna along on a picnic blanket when they were just small fillies. The cherry blossom trees were in full bloom, and the pink flowers were floating down all around the fillies as they zipped through the entire orchard.

The trees were now scorched from the explosive onslaught from the Flutterponies, and no tree held even a single beautiful, pink flower. The grass was long, with patches of the orchard completely devoid of life from the craters left by Flutterpony bombardments. A light breeze picked up, but the only thing that rustled in the wind was Celestia’s mane.

“Are you alright, Princess?” Moonlight Sonata asked.

Celestia blinked away a tear, and said, “Yes, I’m fine. Let us continue on.” 

The squad resumed their trot towards the castle down the corridor of trees. Celestia remained at the squad’s head, and her wings shuffled against her sides uneasily when another breeze picked up. She gazed up once again towards the top of Everfree Castle.

Massive holes covered the castle where the Flutterponies had shelled it. The many towers that had dominated the Everfree City skyline were now toppled and jutting into the sky like primitive spears. The beautiful, white stone walls of the castle were now dirtied, and they looked very dark and menacing against the dark sky above.

The squad finally reached the castle, and they passed by the Equestrian Fountain that had now run dry. The massive doors that marked the entrance to the garden were already left wide open, and Celestia was the first to poke her head into the castle. The rest of the squad gathered behind her, their metal shoes clanking noisily on the marble steps that led up to the door.

“The coast is clear,” Celestia said, stepping away from the door. “Fallen Star, take point and lead us to the dungeons.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Fallen Star said, and he stepped into castle.

Everypony else fell in behind them, and they traversed through the castle at a slow walk. Debris from the Flutterpony attack on the castle littered the castle everywhere the squad looked. Priceless paintings and vases were ripped and shattered, their contents strewn across the floor. Windows were broken or missing, and major sections of the floor were cracked and dirtied by rubble. 

The squad walked past the doors to the throne room, and upon glancing over, Celestia noticed that the magnificent, wooden doors were splintered and pushed open. She quickly looked away when she saw that her mother and father’s chairs were gone. 

After a few more minutes of walking through the castle, the squad came upon a heavy, metal door with a multitude of locks attached to it. Celestia stepped forward and released a beam of pure, superheated magical energy from her horn to slice through the locks. All of the locks fell to the floor, and Fallen Star pushed the door open and peered inside.

“We’re clear,” he said.

Fallen Star was the first to step onto the staircase, and he led the rest of the squad down into the depths of the castle. The deeper into the castle they descended, the darker the corridor became, so Moonlight Sonata charged her horn to illuminate their path. The air started to become thick and rancid, and Celestia suppressed a gag that was rising into her throat. When they reached the bottom of the staircase, they were met by an unlocked, barred door. 

Fallen Star pushed the door open and entered the room, quickly followed by Celestia and Moonlight Sonata. The light that shone from Moonlight’s horn was barely enough to illuminate the room, but on the opposite side Celestia was able to make out an equine figure trapped behind a set of bars. Her body tensed up, and she stared with her heart rising in her chest as the last two ponies of the squad entered the room.

Moonlight strode up next to Celestia, and said, “We don’t have much time, Celestia. We’ll secure the entrance”

Celestia snapped back to attention, and she looked back at Moonlight Sonata.

“I won’t be long,” she said. “Search the other cells for any other prisoners.”

Moonlight saluted Celestia, and then made her way over to the first cell on the right. Celestia took a deep breath, glancing once more to the equine figure in the cell, and then she began to make her way over. She illuminated her horn to bring some more light to the dark walls of the prison, and she stopped in front of the rusted iron bars that confined a dirty white stallion with a two toned orange mane.

“Firemane,” Celestia said quietly.

Firemane stirred from his bed of straw on the stone floor. He twisted his head to look in Celestia’s direction, and his eyes shot open while he scooted himself into a corner in the cell. Celestia’s face fell, and she slightly lifted one of her forehooves.

“No,” Firemane said, shaking his head. “This is another trick. You can’t be Celestia! S-she died, or... or she’s Discord’s pet!”

Tears welled up in Celestia’s eyes as the light from her horn shone over Firemane. He had scars and burns all over his body, while his hooves were unkempt and caked with dried blood from bindings. He had an eye patch over his left eye, and one of his ears looked to be chewed in half. 

“What did they do to you?” Celestia whispered, a single tear sliding down his face.

Firemane stopped squinting from the light that shone from Celestia’s horn, and his muscles started to visibly relax. He slowly edged himself towards the door, looking past Celestia for a second to the four other ponies that were in the room with her. When he returned his gaze to Celestia, he bounded the rest of the way to the cell door and stuck his head between the iron bars.

“It really is you,” Firemane said, staring into Celestia’s eyes.

More tears slid down Celestia’s face, and she pressed her lips against his. Firemane gratefully returned the kiss, and they brought their hooves together between the bars.

“Princess Celestia!” Moonlight Sonata called, “We have another survivor!”

Celestia and Firemane broke from their kiss, and Celestia briefly turned to look for Moonlight Sonata. She saw that Moonlight was standing next to a cell four doors down from her, and was staring into the cell with wide eyes.

“Who is it?” Celestia asked, charging her horn with superheated, magical energy.

“I’m not sure,” Moonlight said, “but she’s a Flutterpony.”

“Is she mutated?”

“No.”

Celestia’s eyes widened, and she quickly looked back over at Moonlight Sonata and asked, “What does she look like?”

“She’s incredibly beautiful,” Moonlight said, stepping closer to the iron bars. “She is pale white with red hooves and tattered, red butterfly wings.”

“That is Forza!” Celestia shouted, beginning to cut through the lock on Firemane’s door with her magic. “Get her out!”

“She appears to be unconscious,” Moonlight said, charging her horn and cutting the lock on Forza’s cell door. “Thunderhoof, come help me carry her!”

Celestia was halfway through cutting the lock on Firemane’s door when there came an ear splitting shriek behind her. She cringed, and when she turned around, she stared in horror as a mutated Flutterpony made a dash for Fallen Star. Fallen Star easily dispatched the Flutterpony, using one of his crossbow bolts to stab it through its neck, and he pushed it to the side and looked over at Celestia.

“Who let this thing through?” he growled, looking over at the fifth pony in their squad.

“No time to cast blame!” Moonlight shouted, exiting the cell with Forza slung over her back. “The Flutterpony must have used its hive mind to tell the others where we are. We don’t have much time before we become swarmed by Chrysalis’ horde!”

Celestia finished cutting through the rest of Firemane’s lock, and made a dash for the door with Firemane in tow. They fell in behind Moonlight Sonata as the unicorn continued to carry Forza on her back. The squad rushed up the stairs as quickly as they can, their hooves clopping noisily on the stone steps and the air noticeably becoming more and more clean.

They burst through the exit from the dungeons and into the hallway. A series of screeches rang outside of the castle, and the squad trotted towards the same direction they came from. Their hooves noisily calttered on the dirty, marble floors, and behind them glass crashed from the impacts of the Flutterponies making their way into the castle. 

“Keep going!” Fallen Star shouted, leaping over a large piece of debris on the floor.

They rounded another corner and saw that the exit to the Everfree Gardens was just ahead of them. The entire squad broke into a full gallop, closing the distance between the door and themselves. Screeches echoed behind them from the Flutterponies that had started to give chase, and the entire floor of the castle shook as there was an enormous explosion of rock and dust that erupted next to them.

Celestia, Firemane, and Moonlight were thrown to the side under the shockwave from the explosion. Celestia groaned, and she quickly got to her hooves when she heard a powerful snort. Standing in a large hole on the side of the castle was the largest Flutterpony Celestia and ever seen. It had scars marked all over its body, and only one of its sharp fangs protruded from its mouth. The behemoth growled as it took a step forward.

“Firemane, help Moonlight get Forza onto her back,” Celestia said, staying her gaze on the behemoth as it slowly edged closer to her.

The behemoth reared its head back, and let out a deafening growled that rocked the very floor that Celestia stood on. Celestia cringed from the pain that vibrated inside of her ears, and she quickly let off a bolt of magical energy that struck the behemoth on the side of its neck. The Flutterpony faltered, and Celestia charged, her horn alight. 

The Flutterpony noticed Celestia’s advance, and quickly brought its head forward in an attempt to stab her with its horn, but Celestia teleported herself to the side of the behemoth and shot another larger blast of energy. The blast hit the side of the behemoth, and the monster was thrown from its feet into a group of Flutterponies that had reached the fray.

“Let’s go, Princess!” Moonlight called from beyond the door to the gardens.

Without giving the behemoth a second glance, Celestia turned and galloped out of the door and into the gardens. The air echoed with the sounds of hundreds of buzzing wings, and the squad continued to make their way into the scorched cherry blossom orchard. Flutterponies attempted to try and follow them into the orchard while still in flight, but their efforts were quickly defeated when their wings tore on the dead branches of the trees.

Celestia focused her eyes directly ahead of her, watching as the squad quickly pushed its way through the orchard and then over the debris of the inner wall breach. They turned the corner around the wall, and made their way back towards the avenue that would lead them to the outer wall breach. Celestia’s heart was racing her chest as she pumped her legs into powerful gallop to keep pace with the rest of the squad.

The ground around them started to vibrate as the Flutterponies began to dive bomb the squad’s position. Their bodies powerfully struck the houses and ground around them, spraying shards of debris and dust in every direction. Celestia’s mind snapped back to when she first experienced the shelling from the Flutterponies. Their green bodies looked like meteors as they rained down upon the city, decimating buildings and filling the streets with massive craters. Explosions and screaming had filled Celestia’s ears, and the entire ground shook from the onslaught.

The squad ran around one last corner onto another avenue. Directly ahead of them they saw the breach in the outer wall, and everypony pushed themselves to pick up speed. The ruined houses of the Northern District flew by them, and the Flutterponies continued to pelt the squad’s path with craters and holes.

Just as the squad was about to make one last push for the breach in the wall, a Flutterpony crashed into the middle of the squad, sending everypony flying in every direction. Celestia was thrown against a lamppost, completely knocking the lamppost over with a huge clang.

Celestia groaned as she slowly picked herself up, her ears ringing. She looked up and saw that their position was quickly becoming swarmed by Chrysalis’ horde. The Flutterponies were landing all around the squad, quickly encircling and trapping them.

“This doesn’t look good,” Firemane said, standing next to Celestia.

“We need to get out of here,” Celestia said, looking back towards the rest of the squad. Everypony else had already gotten onto their hooves, and Forza was once again securely resting on Moonlight’s back. Celestia and Firemane bounded over to the rest of the squad, and she said, “You all need to get out of here now.”

“Oh no, Princess,” Fallen Star said, loading his crossbow, “You and your sister are the leaders of this resistance. There is no way that you are going to sacrifice yourself in order to let us escape.”

Celestia looked over at Fallen Star, and she saw his eyes glimmer slightly. He gestured his head backwards towards the wall breach behind them, and said, “You all go. Thunderhoof and I will be okay.”

Celestia nodded her head slowly, and said, “You will not be forgotten for all you have done today.”

Before Fallen Star had time to acknowledge her, Celestia released a powerful bolt of magic directly into the group of Flutterponies that were blocking the squad from escape. The Flutterponies flew in every direction, and Celestia broke into a hard gallop for the wall breach. She was quickly followed by Firemane, Moonlight, and the last member of the squad, and they all rocketed themselves over the debris that marked the wall breach.

Celestia heard a crossbow release behind her, and the clash of metal upon flesh, but she slid down the mound of debris before she could give one final look to the two ponies that were left behind. Moonlight and Firemane quickly overtook Celestia, and they all disappeared into Everfree Forest before any of the other Flutterponies had a chance to catch up with them.
> Chapter 2: Six Months
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elements Chapter 2

Celestia was the first to break through the edge of the forest, emerging onto a flat, open stretch of grassland that extended all the way to the mountain range beyond. The sun was beginning to rise over the eastern mountains, staining the green plains with waves of orange light. She paused, taking a deep breath just as a gentle breeze rustled her mane against her face. A few leaves crunched behind her, but Celestia didn’t turn when Firemane walked up next to her.

“So that’s Canterlot?” Firemane asked, nodding his head at the largest mountain that jutted out of the range.

A faint discoloration on the mountain marked where Canterlot was located. The small mountain town rose only a few hundred meters above the grassy plains, but it was clearly distinguishable by its white and orange buildings that contrasted against the gray rocks. Moonlight Sonata emerged from the forest, still carrying the unconscious Forza upon her back, and strode up to the other side of Celestia.

“Yes,” Celestia said, taking a second to blow some of her mane out of her face. “Canterlot lies just beyond these grasslands. If we hurry, we might be able to make it to the town by midday.”

Everypony nodded, and they began to make their way across the grass towards a road that snaked its way along the edge of the forest. The road was quite narrow—wide enough to allow for a pair of ponies to walk side by side—and the tallgrass encroached on the sides of the road. Firemane walked next to Celestia, but they both remained silent.

The sun rose higher and higher into the sky as the group trotted across the plains. Without any shadows to protect them from the sun’s rays, they kept their eyes downcast while beads of sweat ran down their faces. Cicadas buzzed unique, monotonous melodies from the safety of the grass. Celestia noticed from the corner of her eye that Firemane’s wings shifted uneasily against his sides.

“You know,” Firemane said quietly, “the entire time that I was imprisoned beneath Everfree Castle, I thought you had actually died at the claws of Discord.”

Celestia opened her mouth, but Firemane sniffed slightly and straightened his posture.

“The Flutterponies that visited me daily to bring me my scraps of food told me that you were dead,” Firemane continued. “They would tell me that it was Discord that had killed you, or that it was your mother that killed you so you wouldn’t have to live through the torment of being Discord’s pet. They even once told me that you died to one of Chrysalis’ torturing instruments for information on the whereabouts of the Element of Harmony.”

Celestia cringed inwardly, but she put on a weak smile and bumped her flank against Firemane’s. She said, “But you know that I’m alive now, Firemane, thanks to my mother. She teleported Luna and I...” Celestia paused, and she looked away from Firemane to gaze off towards Canterlot.

Firemane glanced over at Celestia with his one eye, and he gently brushed the tips of his wings against her own. Even though there was no smile across his face, his eyes remained bright.

“I somehow always knew that you were alive, Celestia,” Firemane said. He leaned over and kissed Celestia on the cheek. Her ears fold back from his touch, and he added, “How did you know I was alive, though?”

“I didn’t at first,” Celestia said, staring directly in front of her. “After our mother teleported us away from Everfree to Canterlot, we remained in hiding thanks to Moonlight Sonata.”

Moonlight coughed audibly behind them, and Celestia smiled slightly before continuing.

“For months, stories came in to Canterlot about the extensive searches Chrysalis and her horde were performing all over Equestria. She searched all of the outlying villages around Everfree Forest, stationing Flutterponies at the villages that decided to cooperate and burning the villages that didn’t. Eventually she turned up empty hoofed on our whereabouts.”

Celestia looked down at the dirt, watching the dust float around her hooves as she took each step.

“Even with Chrysalis’ failure to find us, Discord has continued his search for the Element of Chaos. He is using Chrysalis’ Horde as we speak to overthrow the cities of Equestria one by one. Only the great cities of Hoofington and Stalliongrad remain defiant against Discord’s tyranny, but that won’t last much longer.

“Meanwhile, Luna and I have remained in hiding within Canterlot. Rarely have we left the town, and have spent the majority of our time training ourselves and trying to find some lead for how we might combat Discord.”

A few birds flew overhead, and Celestia’s gaze drifted off to the birds as they flew away. Her wings opened slightly once the birds had flown a fair distance away, and she turned back to look at Firemane.

“One day, a haggard pony came staggering into Canterlot. He told Luna and I that he was one of the ponies that fought to defend Everfree City, and that he had been hiding out in the Everfree Forest for months trying to heal his wounds. When I asked about what happened to you, he said that the last time he had saw you was when you were getting dragged into the depths of Everfree Castle’s dungeons.

“So, I staged a rescue mission. Luna warned me not to go back to Everfree—that the mission was too dangerous. I have half a mind to agree with her, but I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to try and save you. Moonlight quickly joined up with me, along with the three other ponies that you saw.”

Everypony fell quiet again, and they trudged along through the plains in silence aside from the constant buzzing from the cicadas. The cloudless sky allowed for the sun to continue to beat down on them. Celestia blinked sweat away from her brow.

Ahead of the group was a caravan train of two ponies, each lugging a large cart full of supplies behind them. They broke into a brisk trot to meet up with the caravan train, and after Celestia had exchanged a few words with one of the ponies, Celestia’s group fell in behind the two carts. Moonlight levitated one of the canteens out of the rear of the furthermost cart, and after she had given a healthy drink to Forza on her back, she passed the canteen back to Celestia and Firemane.

It took the caravan the rest of the morning to reach the base of the mountain, and Celestia, Firemane, and Moonlight said goodbye to the two ponies as they departed the caravan’s company. They resumed a brisk trot up the side of the mountain on a thin road that snaked itself all the way up towards Canterlot.

“You’re sure those two won’t alert any of the Flutterponies of your location, Your Highness?” Moonlight said, walking slightly behind Celestia.

“They are both from Stalliongrad,” Celestia said. “I appreciate your concern, Moonlight, but I suspect that there will be no trouble from those two.”

Moonlight nodded, and she fell in behind Celestia and Firemane once again. Celestia gazed back at Moonlight and Forza, and she gently bit her lower lip.

“How is she doing?” Celestia asked.

“I’m not sure.” Moonlight said, glancing at Forza’s face. “I can feel her heart beating against my back, but each breath she takes feels weak, even for a Flutterpony.”

“We’re almost to Canterlot. Once we’re inside the town, we’ll get her to the local clinic and see what they can do.”

Celestia sighed inwardly, and she looked over at Firemane. He didn’t seem to notice her gaze, though, as he continued to stare ahead. His damaged ear swiveled slightly as a breeze picked up.

In another ten minutes the trio approached a small, wooden palisade that was guarded by a young pony in the golden armor of a Royal Guard. When he spotted Celestia, he quickly dropped his spear and grabbed the rope to the town bell, ringing the bell a total of two times. Celestia nodded towards the guard as she passed through the entrance to the town, and she then led her group straight for the Canterlot clinic.

The building was small and modest, built out of stone like the rest of the buildings in the town, and painted a beautiful white. Celestia held the door open for Moonlight to slip through with Forza, and she watched as the unicorn trotted up to the front desk and started to speak with the nurse that was behind it. In no less than a minute, three other nurses emerged from deeper inside the clinic and hauled Forza off on a stretcher.

“So, did they say which room that Forza was being taken to?” Celestia asked, walking up to Moonlight.

“She has been taken to room one hundred fourteen, Your Majesty,” Moonlight said. “The nurse asked us to wait a while before going back to see her.”

Celestia sighed, and she looked down the hall Forza was taken before saying, “I guess she does need her rest.”

The door to the clinic burst open, and Celestia found herself in the grips of a powerful hug. She stumbled slightly from the impact, and looked to see that a dark blue body was latched onto hers. Luna rubbed her nuzzle into Celestia’s neck, and Celestia returned the embrace happily by wrapping one of her forelegs around her sister. The surrounding nurses stopped briefly to glance at Celestia and Luna, and each onlooker smiled before returning to their tasks.

“I’m so glad you have returned, ‘Tia!” Luna said, releasing her grip around Celestia. She looked between Moonlight and Firemane, but her smile slowly waned. “Where are the other three that went with you?”

Celestia sighed, and she motioned for everypony to follow her out of the clinic. Once they were all out into the streets of Canterlot, she said, “We ran into some difficulties during our mission. A Flutterpony happened across us, and in a matter of minutes the entire swarm that was stationed in Everfree City was upon us. In our attempt to escape, Fallen Star and Thunderhoof sacrificed themselves while the last fell victim to an ambush in the forest on our way back.”

Luna remained silent as they crossed through the square of Canterlot. A large, stone statue of King Sol stood in the center of the square. His massive wings were extended to their full glory, and he was rising back onto his hind legs. Celestia looked up at the statue, and she closed her eyes.

May you forever watch over the heavens, Father, Celestia thought. I miss you. 

The group exited Canterlot’s square, and Luna glanced over at Celestia and said, “You were successful in your rescue. Did you not find any other ponies?”

“Moonlight found Forza alive and unconscious in another cell,” Celestia said. “She is currently in the clinic being tended to by the nurses.”

“You found Forza?” Luna asked, astonished. “How did she escape Aun... Chrysalis?”

Celestia grimaced, and said, “I’m not sure, Luna.”

Moonlight Sonata trotted ahead of the group when they had reached her house, and she graciously opened the door to allow for everypony to enter. Her house was one of the bigger houses that had been built in Canterlot. It had large, spacious rooms with white walls and a wooden floor. The door closed behind everypony, and Celestia made her way onto one of the couches in the next room.

Firemane sat down next to Celestia, and she snuggled her head up under her chin, careful not to poke Firemane with her horn. Luna sat with Moonlight Sonata on the couch opposite from Celestia and Firemane. They all remained silent as the sun drifted across the sky. Luna shifted uneasily on the couch.

“‘Tia,” Luna said, staring at Celestia, “we need to begin looking for the Element of Harmony.”

Celestia sighed, and said, “Luna, you know we have been looking for the Element for months. There has been no trace of it anywhere. Have you found anything?”

“No,” Luna said, looking away.

“That’s what I thought. We need to focus our attention elsewhere. Discord is terrorizing Equestria as we speak. We can’t go trailing after some lost artifact while Equestria and its citizens die around us. We need to take action.”

“And how do you suppose we’ll do that?” Luna asked, a slight chill creeping into her voice. “Discord has an entire army at his back, along with Chrysalis being his ally. Flutterponies are roaming all over Equestria looking for us, but we need to take action?”

“I, too, but agree with Luna on this one,” Firemane added. “I’m sorry, but what plan do you have to stop Discord?”

“What else should we do? We can’t leave Equestria to the likes of Discord while we spend all of our time in hiding. We’ve been searching for the Element of Harmony for six months now, yet we haven’t even come close to gaining a clue to where it is. We need to do something to at least slow Discord down.”

“We have a meagre force at best, ‘Tia,” Luna said, fluffing her wings against her side. “We’ve been able to conduct some raids and spying missions on Chrysalis’ forces for information, but for us to try to launch an attempt to slow Discord’s efforts would mean for us to come out of hiding. That would only draw Discord’s attention in the wrong direction.”

Celestia ground her teeth together, but her wings relaxed and she looked away from Luna. The sun was still high in the sky outside, and the heat that had encompassed the town was now starting to seep into the house. She felt Firemane shift uncomfortably next to her, and she placed her head against his neck again.

Celestia was about to open her mouth when there came a knock on the door. She glanced over at Moonlight, who raised herself from the couch and trotted up to the entrance. Moonlight opened the door, and Celestia heard a whir of conversation flare up between two ponies. After a few minutes of Celestia trying to make out what the two were saying, Moonlight walked back into the room.

“There is a pony at the door who wishes to speak to both of you,” Moonlight said, glancing between Celestia and Luna. “He claims to be a part of the High Unicorn Council.”

Celestia looked at Luna with a raised eyebrow, and she lifted herself from the couch and followed Moonlight to the front door. Standing in the doorway was an elderly, gray unicorn with a frizzled white mane and tail. He had a small beard, and upon seeing Celestia, he smiled. Celestia trotted the rest of the way to the unicorn and gave him a quick hug.

“Orion, what are you doing here?” Celestia asked. “I had heard that all of the members of the High Unicorn Council had been eliminated.”

Orion’s face turned grim, and he said, “All but one, Your Majesty.”

Celestia looked away for a second, and then she motioned for Orion to enter Moonlight’s house. He complied, and shut the door behind him once he had stepped through. Celestia led Orion into the room where Luna and Firemane were sitting, and he paused in the doorway.

“Things are... much different now,” Orion said, his gaze falling onto Firemane.

“Change comes with time, and these times are dark, sir,” Firemane said.

“So they are,” Orion replied. “It seems you have no lost your wit, however.”

Firemane nodded, and Orion took his seat at the far end of the room in a large, comfortable chair. Everypony turned his gaze towards him, and he inhaled a deep breath.

“I have some information on the Element of Harmony,” Orion said.

Celestia’s breath caught in her throat, and she coughed slightly.

“How did you know we were looking for the Element of Harmony?” she asked.

“Your mother told me of the task she would give you before I left Everfree,” Orion said, looking over at Celestia. “She told all of the High Unicorn Council. When we left Everfree, we fled to the safety of Voltence where we thought that Discord wouldn’t go. Your mother never told us where she had hid the artifacts, so we spent months researching the magic of the Elements of Harmony and Chaos.

“We researched the magical discharge, the radiation, and the natural effects the artifacts gave off. There wasn’t much written on the subject, for magic is still a relatively elusive subject, especial Chaos Magic. However, we were on a lead on magical communication between an entity and the source of power it draws its magic from.”

Orion paused, and shifted his gaze from Celestia over to Luna.

“Discord interrupted our studies before we had any concrete information, and we were forced to flee Voltence before Chrysalis’ Horde attacked. In our escape, I was the only one of us to make it to Hoofington.”

Celestia looked at Orion, and said, “Would you happen to still have the notes you gathered from your research?”

Orion nodded his head and gestured towards his saddlebags he left at the entrance of the house.

“They are in those bags,” he said.

Celestia rose from her seat on the couch and she gathered up Orion’s bags in her magic, carrying them into another spacious room. There was a large blackboard at the very rear of the room, and a semi-circular couch was placed at the front of the room to look at the blackboard. Everypony else followed Celestia into the room and took their seats on the couch.

“Perhaps this will give us at least some kind of hint at what we can do,” Celestia said, levitating the first piece of paper out of Orions bag. She took a thumbtack from the piece of cork above the blackboard, and pinned the paper to the cork. She pinned each paper to the cork as she pulled them out, soon covering the entire top of the blackboard with papers full of Orions writing.

Luna rose from her seat on the couch and stood next to Celestia, looking over each piece of paper.

“Let’s gather what we know already,” Celestia said, taking a piece of chalk into her magic. “We know that both the Element of Harmony and the Element of Chaos were formed from the magical essences of the sun and moon respectively.”

Celestia divided the entire chalkboard into two sections, labeling one section “Element of Harmony” and one section “Element of Chaos.” She wrote as she spoke.

“Let’s start with the Element of Harmony. The artifact gathers its power directly from the raw magical energy of the sun. This magical energy is different than the magic that unicorns use daily because it takes the energy directly from the superheated, churning core rather than the radiation that hits the world through solar flares.”

Celestia paused, taking the moment of silence to draw a diagram of the sun and solar flares smacking into the world.

“So, by reading over Orion’s notes, it appears that the magic within the Element of Harmony would be confined to the artifact. There is no other outside force that can interact with the power unless...”

Celestia scanned over sections of Orions notes, and began writing again underneath the notes she had already written.

“Unless that outside force happened to have already harnessed the power of the sun,” Celestia said, looking back at her cutiemark. “Well, that explains my interaction with the Element all of those years ago.”

“But how do we locate the Element of Harmony?” Luna asked, examining Orion’s notes at the far end of the blackboard..

“It looks as though to interact with the Element of Harmony directly, you would need to unleash the power of the sun,” Celestia replied looking at a piece of Orions notes that was pinned in the middle of the board.

“Would either of you happened to be trained to use the power of the sun?” Orion asked.

Celestia and Luna turned towards Orion, and Celestia said, “No, we never received any training. Not even when we were being trained by Chrysalis.”

“Well, of course she didn’t teach you,” Orion said, raising himself from the couch. “What were Sol and Galactica thinking.”

Celestia watched as Orion paced back and forth in front of the couch, muttering to himself. Moonlight and Firemane were also watching Orion as he paced, and their heads followed his movements. Everypony was silent as Orion continued his mutterings.

“Why would you say that Chrysalis wouldn’t teach us to use the sun’s magic?” Luna finally asked.

Orion stopped, and he said, “Because the way Flutterponies harness magic is far different than how ponies harness magic. Even if she wanted to teach you, should couldn’t.”

Luna flicked her tail behind her and Orion returned to his pacing. Celestia turned back to the board, studying over everything she had written and Orion’s notes. Orions hoofsteps echoed melodically on the wooden floor, and Celestia’s head started to ache once she ground her teeth together.

“You’re going to need to find someone to train you to use the magic of the sun,” Orion said as he stopped pacing and faced Celestia. 

Celestia’s breath caught in her throat, and she quickly spun around towards Orion. Luna, too, quickly turned towards Orion, but neither of were able to formulate anything to say. Orion merely stared back at Celestia, his face a mask of stoicism. 

“Are there even any ponies left that could possibly teach Princess Celestia and Princess Luna how to use the magic from the sun?” Moonlight asked.

“I certainly couldn’t teach either of them,” Orion said, turning around towards Moonlight Sonata, “but I know of one pony left in Equestria that could teach Princess Celestia.”

“Wait, what about Luna?” Celestia asked, taking a few paces towards Orion. “Shouldn’t both of us learn how to wield the power of the sun?”

“That would not be necessary,” Orion said, stepping past Celestia and walking up to the blackboard. He took hold of the chalk in his magic and started writing all over the board underneath Celestia’s notes. “The Element of Harmony, aside from being the power of the sun, also accumulates the connections the wielder has with other ponies. If the bond the wielder has is particularly powerful with another pony, that other pony will be able to use the Element, too.”

“So, you’re saying that if only one of us learns how to use the Element of Harmony,” Luna said, watching as Orion continued to write, “then the other can just draw the power from the wielder?”

“Precisely,” Orion said, putting down the chalk and turning around, “and Celestia is going to be the one that needs to learn how to use it.”

“Because I have the initial bond with Element?” Celestia asked. “Who is this one pony who could train me?”

“She isn’t a pony,” Orion said, taking all of his papers off of the cork strip. “She’s a deer.”

Celestia and Luna looked at each other, Luna raising an eyebrow at her sister. Celestia turned back to Orion and asked, “I thought all of the deer liked to stay in Equedoe?”

“Generally, they do,” Orion said as he loaded all of his papers back into his saddle bags. “But this deer had the urge to travel the world beyond the Eternal Sea. She sailed here ten years ago, and has been wandering Equestria ever since.”

“And I’m to seek her out and ask for her to train me to use the sun’s magic?”

“Yes. Last I heard, she was traveling east towards the Night Guard state.”

Orion closed up his saddle bags and levitated them onto his back. He turned back to Celestia and Luna, and said, “And with that I must be off.”

“So soon?” Celestia asked. “wouldn’t you like to stay in Canterlot with us? There is plenty of room here for you to stay.”

“It would be best if the three of us don’t remain in the same place for too long,” Orion replied. “Discord knows that I am still present in Equestria, but he doesn’t know if you are even still on this side of the Eternal Sea.”

“Wait!” Luna said, galloping in front of Orion before he could reach the door. “If ‘Tia is to learn how to use the magic of the sun, what should I do?”

“I’m not sure, Luna,” Orion said, stepping around her and nodding his head. “You must decide what you are to do between yourselves.” He stopped in front of the door and turned, adding, “I am not sure when we shall see each other next, if we ever. Farewell, Celestia and Luna. Good luck to you.”

Orion opened the door to Moonlight Sonata’s house and left. The door shut behind him, and Luna sat back on her haunches and let out a sigh. Celestia walked over to the semi-circular couch and laid herself down next to Firemane, resting her head upon his back. The entire house was silent, and the sun began its descent across the sky.

Celestia felt the rise and fall of Firemane’s sides as he breathed, and she felt his tail as he caressed her back. He turned to look at her.

“Have you heard of anything from the Griffon Kingdoms?” Firemane asked.

“No,” Celestia said, lifting her head and eyeing Firemane quizzically. “Why do you ask?”

“Because the griffons would be a valuable asset to overthrowing Discord,” Firemane said. “The ponies of Equestria are too scattered to reunite and stand against him. We’re going to need to rely on outside sources.”

“What about the Night Guard?” Luna asked.

“They will soon be occupied with Discord,” Firemane said, looking towards Luna. “If what both you and Celestia have told me is true, then it’s only a matter of time until both Stalliongrad and Hoofington succumb to both Discord and Chrysalis.”

Celestia and Luna looked at each other, and Luna slowly nodded her head.

“I’ll go to the Griffon Kingdoms and see if they will be willing to help us against Discord,” Luna said.

“And I’ll go to towards the Night Guard state in search of this deer,” Celestia said, laying her head back on Firemane’s back. “I can only hope that she will be willing to train me.”

> Chapter 3: Departure
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elements Chapter 3

Celestia and Luna sat inside the Canterlot clinic, watching everypony going about their daily business. Although they stood out as the only alicorns in the waiting area, the only pony deterred by their presence was the receptionist, who would occasionally glance over at them. In the moments Celestia would establish eye contact with her, however, she would hastily look down to the papers on her desk. Looking out the window, Celestia saw that the sun had reached its pinnacle point in the sky. Its heat beat down upon the town again, and the temperature of the clinic started to increase considerably from the warmth radiating from the bustling ponies within.

Celestia blinked away a bead of sweat as it threatened to slide down along her eyelid. Her wings shuffled against her sides in irritation, and she glanced over at Luna to see that her eyes were darting around the clinic. Luna caught Celestia’s gaze, and she rolled her eyes before looking down at her hooves. Celestia looked down at her own hooves, too, and watched as the light glimmered from her shoes onto the clinic wall.

A door down the far hall of the clinic squeaked opened, and both Celestia and Luna jerked their heads up and looked over at the hallway. A commotion of voices echoed into the main room of the clinic. Celestia strained her ears to make out which voice belonged to who. She was about to raise herself from her seat when the two ponies who were conversing with each other left the back corridor.

A tall, white Flutterpony emerged with a smaller doctor from the back hallway. Celestia’s eyes widened, and she galloped over to Forza. Forza jumped slightly when she saw Celestia bounding towards her, but when she was pummeled by a hug from the princess, her foreleg eagerly wrapped around Celestia’s neck. Just as Celestia started pulled away, Luna jumped at Forza and wrapped her legs around both her and Celestia. Forza’s battered butterfly wings fluttered behind her.

“Princess Celestia, Princess Luna!” Forza exclaimed, smiling at the two princesses. “I... I never thought...”

“How are you feeling?” Luna asked.

Forza’s smile faltered as she looked back at her wings. She turned back to the princesses and said, “I am feeling well enough. After being confined to darkness for so long I am having some trouble adjusting to the light, and my whole body aches, but I have felt worse.”

Celestia’s smile waned, and she looked at the doctor standing next to Forza. The doctor was busy scribbling something down onto the clipboard she had in front of her, her eyes scanning over her notes methodically. The air around Celestia felt heavy, and she glanced over at Luna, whose wings shifted slightly.

The doctor finally looked up from her clipboard, and after glancing between Celestia and Luna, she said, “Oh! I’m sorry. Let me just finish up this paperwork, and then Ms. Forza is free to go.” 

Celestia nodded at the doctor, and she, Luna, and Forza followed her over the front desk. The doctor gave the clipboard to the nurse at the front desk, and after the nurse had scribbled something over the doctor’s notes, she hoofed the clipboard back. The doctor turned back to Celestia and Luna.

“You are free to leave,” she said. “Ms. Forza has told me that she wishes to speak to you about everything rather than have me do it.”

“Very well. Thank you, Doctor,” Celestia said. “We shall be off.”

Celestia, Luna, and Forza left the clinic and started to make their way towards Moonlight Sonata’s house. The heat from the sun was intense once they were in the streets, and both Celestia and Luna spread the wings to allow air to run through their feathers. Meanwhile, Forza’s eyes danced from each pony that walked by them, and Celestia noticed that some of the ponies that passed by gave Forza quizzical looks.

“Is there something wrong?” Celestia asked.

“Look at these ponies, Princess Celestia,” Forza said. “They walk with their heads held low and fear filling their eyes. When they look at me, they look at me as a reminder of what is beyond this town.”

“Is it because of your—” Celestia stopped, her eyes drifting back towards Forza’s wings. 

“Yes, I’ll never be able to use them again,” Forza interjected. 

Celestia’s eyes snapped towards Forza, and she searched her face. When Forza remained unfazed by Celestia’s gaze, she said, “I-I’m so sorry.”

“There is no need to apologize,” Forza said. They passed underneath the statue of Sol, and Forza looked up at Sol and muttered something before continuing, “Flutterpony wings do not grow back unless they are mended by the proper healer. Only the most powerful of our race could become healers.”

Celestia’s eyes wandered over Forza’s torn, damaged wings again. She hesitated a moment before asking, “Who is the most powerful Flutterpony?”

“Queen Chrysalis was,” Forza muttered.

Everypony fell silent again as they left Canterlot’s square. Moonlight Sonata’s house was just coming into view when they were nearly on the edge of the town, and Celestia motioned for them to quicken their pace. The heat of the sun had caused all of their coats to be slightly damp from sweat, and everypony heaved a sigh of relief when they had entered Moonlight’s house. 

Moonlight trotted down the stairs that were built in the middle of the house, and she stopped before Celestia, Luna, and Forza in the entrance of the house. She bowed low and smiled. 

“Welcome back!” she said. She looked over at Forza. “And you’re awake. I’m so glad.”

Forza nodded her head, and her forehoof brushed lightly against the wooden floor. She said, “I’m glad, too, Miss.”

“My name is Moonlight Sonata, Ms. Forza,” Moonlight said, offering her hoof to Forza. “I was the pony who carried you from Everfree to Canterlot.”

Forza took Moonlight’s hoof and asked, “You were the one who carried me?”

“That she was,” Luna chimed in, glancing at Forza.

“I offer you my sincerest gratitude, Ms. Moonlight,” Forza said, bowing. When Forza raised her head again, she gazed over at Celestia and asked, “Which brings up the question: how is it that you were able to rescue you me from Everfree?”

Celestia motioned for everypony to follow her into the room with the semi circular couch. Moonlight trotted around the room and started opening all of the windows. Even though the air began to circulate, and a breeze blowed gently through the room, the air did not cool in the slightest. Celestia, Luna, and Forza all sat down on the couch while Moonlight Sonata left the room.

“A few weeks ago,” Celestia began, spreading her wings out against her body, “a Royal Guard, one of the survivors from the battle at Everfree City, stumbled into Canterlot. After Luna and I had talked to him, we learned that Firemane could possibly still be held in the prisons underneath Everfree.”

Forza’s eyes darted between Celestia and Luna, and she asked, “Firemane was imprisoned in Everfree?”

Celestia and Luna both looked at each other. Luna’s jaw visibly clenched, and Celestia turned back to Forza and asked, “Wait, you didn’t know Firemane was present in Everfree Castle’s dungeon? You two were in the same cell block.”

“Not in all of my months of being confined to that cell did I know he was in the same cell block as me,” Forza said. Her eyes drifted down to her hooves. “I never heard anypony else down there until a little over a month ago. I... I would hear the mutant Flutterponies dragging somepony up and down the stairs out of the dungeon each day and into another cell. They never said anything to me, and they were always quiet.”

“Didn’t you try to communicate with them?” Celestia asked, her wings folding back up against her sides.

“I tried several times, but I never received a response.”

A song sparrow started to sing a peaceful melody outside of the window. Celestia turned towards the window, watching as the song sparrow sang. She felt the couch rustle underneath her body, and she turned to see that Luna and shifted her position on the couch.

“What led you to become unconscious?” Luna asked.

Forza sighed, her gaze shifting from her hooves to the blackboard that was covered with the notes from the previous day. Her torn wings moved lazily in the air.

“There are somethings I would not even share with General Reaper, Princess Luna,” Forza replied solemnly.

Celestia continued to stare out the window at the song sparrow, but she visibly grimaced. The sparrow flew away, and Celestia was left to stare out over the side of Canterlot. The sea of grass from the plains beyond remained unmoving from the lack of a breeze. The entire world was still and quiet.

“Those ponies earlier, when we were walking in the street, is Equestria really as bad as their eyes suggest?” Forza asked quietly.

Moonlight walked back into the room. She was carrying a tray with cups and a kettle of tea on it. She set the tea down on the table in front of the couch and took a seat next to Celestia.

“There has been much that has happened in the last six months,” Luna replied. “Ever since ‘Tia and I have gone into hiding after our mother teleported us here to Canterlot, Discord has been looking all over Equestria for the Element of Chaos. Not many cities are left that will openly stand against him.”

“And what of the Element of Harmony? Can you not use its power to stop Discord somehow?”

“We don’t know where it is,” Luna said, glancing at Celestia. “We do, however, have a lead on how to find it, and ‘Tia is going to pursue that lead.”

“You speak as if you are not going along with her,” Forza blinked, locking her wings together.

“No, I’m going to the Griffon Kingdoms to ask for help against Discord.”

Forza stared hard at Luna, and said, “So you wish to use the the might of the griffon armies against those of Discord and Queen Chrysalis? Very well, I’d like to accompany you.”

Celestia’s head snapped towards Forza and Luna’s eyes widened. She glanced at Celestia again.

“You can’t be serious,” Celestia said.

“Why should I not be?” Forza asked, raising an eyebrow at Celestia.

“You have only just awaken from being unconscious for who knows how long,” Celestia replied. “I watched you walk over here, Forza. You said yourself that your body still aches from your ordeals in the dungeons. You should rest and heal yourself.”

Forza sighed, and she levitated a cup of tea from the tray. Celestia, Luna, and Moonlight joined her.

“Even if you may be right, Princess Celestia,” Forza said, staring into her cup, “it is my desire to travel with Princess Luna to the Griffon Kingdoms. I swore an oath that day when I was inaugurated as one of the generals of Equestria to protect its royalty. So far I have failed my oath twice; once for your father and once for your mother. I do not plan to fail that oath a third time while the successors to the throne remain alive.”

Celestia fell silent, and she looked at Luna, whose eyes were cold and determined. Luna shifted her body so that she could face Forza.

“I’d be happy if you were to come with me to the Griffon Kingdoms, Forza,” Luna said.

Forza nodded her head towards Luna and took a sip of her tea. Celestia’s eyes bore into Luna’s, but Luna remained unfazed by Celestia’s conviction, and she broke contact with Celestia to look at Forza. Celestia felt the couch shift next to her.

“Your Majesty, if I may ask,” Moonlight said.

“Of course, Moonlight,” Celestia said, taking her eyes away from the window to look at Moonlight.

“I’d like to travel with you in search of the deer to train you.”

Celestia’s wings clenched against her sides, and she levitated the teacup away from her face. Her eyes fell upon Moonlight. She said, “I’d have to decline your offer, Moonlight. Your assistance during our mission in Everfree was more than I could have asked for from you. Your determination is commendable, but I don’t want you to put yourself in harms away again for my sake.”

Moonlight shook her head. “But you didn’t ask, Your Majesty. I volunteered.” She looked at Celestia sternly. “And like last time, I am well-aware of the possibility of danger.”

Celestia narrowed her eyes. “And that is your final decision?”

“That is my final decision,” she said, sitting upright. “Anything to ensure the safety of Equestria’s heirs.”

Celestia stared at Moonlight for quite some time, yet she smiled. “Then you may accompany me.” After tapping her chin with a forehoof, she added, “Actually, thinking about it more, the journey would be very lonely by myself. Thank you for volunteering.”

“You are not taking Firemane with you?” Moonlight asked, tilting her head.

“No,” Celestia said, looking away. “Although I wish I could take him with me, his superior tactical knowledge are going to be needed here.” She paused, swirling the tea in her cup before continuing, “I hate to ask it of him, but we’re going to need somepony to lead forces against Discord to slow down his search for the Element of Chaos.”

Moonlight Sonata nodded her head, and then brought her teacup to her lips to take a drink. Celestia did the same. The heat from the sun had lessened once a breeze started to pick up outside.

The front door to Moonlight Sonata’s house opened, and Celestia turned to see that Firemane walked in carrying saddlebags full of supplies. She raised herself from the couch and trotted over to him, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. Firemane nuzzled her in return, and he then trotted past her to drop off his saddlebags in kitchen.

Celestia trotted after Firemane, and when he finished laying the saddlebags on the floor, she said, “Firemane, there is something I need to speak to you about.”

“You don’t need to ask, Celestia,” Firemane said, turning around. “You can say anything to me that you wish.”

Celestia bit her lip and said, “I want you to stay here while I go searching for the deer to train me.”

Firemane’s feathers ruffled against his body, and he lifted an eyebrow while his ears folded behind his head. Celestia felt a lump rising in her throat and her heart began to beat faster.

“Why do you want me to stay behind?” Firemane asked.

“You make an excellent leader for the soldiers, Firemane,” Celestia pleaded. She touched her muzzle against Firemane’s, and added, “We need somepony to fight against Discord and slow him down. I can’t think of anypony who could take up this task. Our forces are stretched too thin, and the amount of leaders that remain in Equestria dwindle. I hate to ask it of you, but you are the only pony that I trust.”

“What about you?” Firemane asked. “You’re going on a journey across a darker Equestria. You’re going to be learning magic that regular unicorns can’t even perceive of doing. How will I know you’re safe?”

Celestia closed her eyes and said, “You won’t.”

A pair of hoofsteps clopped on the wooden floor behind Celestia, and she opened her eyes. She stared directly into Firemane’s orange eyes. He blinked, and she felt his lips press against hers. Celestia returned Firemane’s kiss.

“As much as I hate to lose you again,” Firemane said as he and Celestia broke from their kiss, “I’m not going to stop you. You’re right. I belong with the troops. I’ll buy you as much time as I can to retrieve the Element of Harmony.”

Tears welled up in Celestia’s eyes, but she blinked them away as she kissed Firemane again. They raised themselves onto their hind legs and held their hooves together. Celestia’s heart was thumping loudly in her chest, and her ears folded back against her head. Firemane’s breath was heavy, but both he and Celestia heard another pair of hoofsteps echo behind them. They broke their kiss and Celestia quickly turned around. 

“I’m sorry, ‘Tia,” Luna said, her cheeks tinged crimson, “but we should make arrangements for our departure.”


~~~


The sun was beginning to touch the western mountains that marked the remains of the Eternal Valley. Celestia stood at the edge of Canterlot on a rock outcropping, watching as her sun slowly descended from view. A slight breeze blew through her mane, and she felt cool air slip through the feathers of her wings. She shivered, and her ears swiveled around her head when she heard the wooden gate for Canterlot opening.

Celestia turned and trotted to the gate just as Luna, Forza, Moonlight, and Firemane were leaving the town. They all stopped, but nopony said a word to each other. Instead, they all gave curt nods and started to make their way down the mountain. The rocks of the mountain became tinted by the orange light of the sunset, and Celestia took her time to spread her wings and let them bask in the darkening light of the sun.

A trio of birds flew over the group as they moved down the mountain. Celestia looked up and saw that the birds twirled and danced around each other. She blew a few strands of hair away from her face. She glanced at Firemane and saw that he was also staring up at the birds, and she smiled. His eyes zipped back and forth while he watched the spectacle, and when the birds flew away he remained gazing in their direction. When Firemane’s attention returned to the group, he smiled at Celestia.

Once they came to the base of the mountain where the trail met the thin road, everypony stopped and stared directly ahead of them. The grass of the plains rippled from the breeze like the waves in the ocean, and the very top of the sun was just beginning to make its descent behind one of the mountain peaks. 

“This is where we part ways,” Firemane said quietly.

Celestia and Moonlight gazed south along the edge of the Drakenridge Mountain range. Their view was limited by a large mountain that rose in front of all the others. The pass through the mountains began just before reaching through the towering peak and snaked it’s way all the way to Stalliongrad. Luna and Forza looked in the opposite direction of Celestia and Moonlight, north towards the Northern Drakenridge Mountain range and the Griffon Kingdoms that lay beyond.

Celestia turned back and met Firemane’s eye. They both stared at each other as the breeze around them slowly died. Behind Firemane, Luna and Forza and turned back to face them, and Luna gently nodded her head.

Celestia closed her eyes and pressed her lips up against Firemane’s. The world around her fell still as she felt Firemane return her kiss. She breathed in his scent, and she held onto his kiss for as long as she could. When Firemane began to pulls his lips away, Celestia opened her eyes.

“I love you, Celestia,” Firemane said.

“I love you, Firemane,” Celestia replied.

Firemane straightened his posture, and he nodded towards both Luna and Forza before he started his ascent back up the mountain. Celestia watched Firemane go, and her wings shifted uneasily against her body once he began to fall out of sight behind a pile of rocks.

“You will see him again, ‘Tia,” Luna said, walking up to stand next to Celestia.

“I can only hope you are right, Luna,” Celestia said, refusing to take her eyes from the rock that Firemane had disappeared behind.

Celestia felt Luna’s muzzle rub up against her neck, and she looked down to see that a single tear had begun to slide down Luna’s cheek. She extended her wing around Luna’s back and gently kissed the base of Luna’s horn.

“We’ll see each other again, too, Luna,” Celestia cooed.

“I know, ‘Tia, I’m sorry,” Luna said.

“Don’t be,” Celestia said, looking up at Canterlot. “We both depart on missions that will decide the fate of Equestria. We will be confronted with unparalleled obstacles, powerful enemies, and haunting memories. For us to say that we will be exempt from danger would be absurd, but we must always hold on to what hope we have, Luna. We’re sisters, and we’ll defeat Discord no matter what it takes.”

The sun completely disappeared behind the western mountains, and Celestia closed her eyes when she felt a tear streak down her face. She felt Luna push herself from Celestia’s side, and she reopened her eyes to see that Luna was standing before her with a look of determination etched across her face.

“We should refrain from flying at all costs,” Luna said. “We would not want to attract attention from anypony.”

Celestia nodded, and Luna’s eyes softened significantly. Water formed from the corner of each sisters’ eyes.

“Good luck, ‘Tia,” Luna said, “and I hope we will see each other again soon.”

“Good luck to you, too, Luna,” Celestia said. “I love you, little sister.”

“I love you, too,”

Luna turned and departed with Forza, taking the thin road heading north to the Griffon Kingdoms. Celestia waited as both Luna and Forza eventually disappeared behind a patch of tall grass, and she turned her head to look up at the moon that rose overhead.

“Princess Celestia?” Moonlight Sonata asked. Celestia faced Moonlight and saw that she was standing at attention. “Shouldn’t we get moving? It would be best if we traveled as far as we could tonight.”

“Yes, let’s get going,” Celestia said. 

Celestia stretched her wings to their full size, flapping them a few times, and then brought them back against her sides. She fell in behind Moonlight as they took the road heading south. 

> Chapter 4: Dawn Breaks
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elements Chapter 4

Black clouds rolled across the sky in the early hours of the morning, cutting through the mountain tops heading east. The moon could not penetrate through the gloomy sky, which stretched for miles in every direction and completely encased the entire Equestrian Plains in darkness.

No creature was in sight, and not even the crickets that echoed during the nights were playing their songs. The air was still and lifeless, with only the sound of the soft patter of hoofsteps walking along a dirt road making its way through the night air. Celestia regarded the night with unease, her eyes darting in every direction while her wing muscles clenched powerfully together. Her tail swished back and forth slightly with each step she took.

The Drackenridge Mountains rose to the left of her, looming overhead with their massive, snow-capped peaks. The mountains jutted out of the ground like enormous arrowheads, piercing their way past the low-hanging, dark clouds. Their slopes were devoid of any life aside from the occasional small evergreen tree. Instead, they were gray and jagged, rocks sticking out from the sides of the mountains like thorns of their own. 

Celestia squinted up towards one of the mountains just below the clouds. She spotted a hole carved into the side of the peaks with a faint light escaping from within. The light flickered slightly, and Celestia quickly cantered up next to Moonlight Sonata and nudged her side. Moonlight glanced over at Celestia.

“Look up there,” Celestia whispered, nodding her head in the direction of the mountain.

Moonlight rotated her head to face where Celestia had nodded, and her head slightly bobbed side to side as she was scanning. Finally, she stopped moving, and continued to stare up at the hole in the side of the mountain. Celestia stared, too, and both ponies stopped walking.

“That cave could be home to a dragon,” Moonlight hissed.

“Or sheltering Flutterponies,” Celestia suggested, resuming their walk along the road. “We had best be on the lookout. Their skin will blend in easily with this night.”

Moonlight fell in behind Celestia. The dark clouds continued to pass quickly overhead, their puffy shapes rolling and changing as they fell victim to the winds. Celestia looked up at the sky, straining her eyes to see through the darkness at the clouds above. A raindrop fell onto her nose, and she shivered from the touch. Another raindrop tapped her ear, and then another touched her on the tip of her wings.

Moonlight looked up towards the sky and said, “Ever since Discord began rampaging through Equestria, the Equestrian weather teams have been unable to properly control the weather. Clouds roam as they please.”

“We had best find some shelter, then,” Celestia said, changing their pace from a walk to a brisk trot. “This doesn’t look like an ordinary storm, and it would be best if we weren’t caught when the worst comes to pass.”

Celestia and Moonlight came to a bend that twisted around some small evergreen trees, and they stopped in their tracks. They quickly leapt to the side behind the cover of the trees, pausing only for a moment to spot two Flutterponies and an earth pony mare ahead of them. The mare was cornered against a rock on the side of the road.

“What are those Flutterponies doing to that mare?” Celestia asked, peeking through the trees.

Moonlight peered with Celestia through the trees. The rain started to soak through their coats, and Celestia’s pink mane drooped over one of her eyes as she stared at the two Flutterponies.

“Whatever it is, it can’t be good,” Moonlight said, stepping back from the trees. “We should try to move closer.”

Celestia and Moonlight laid their bodies close to the ground and began to crawl closer to the Flutterponies. The tall grass kept their bodies hidden as they slunk closer, and soon the two Flutterponies’ voices came into range. Celestia perked her ears up.

“We’re not going to ask you again,” a Flutterpony said in a deep, raspy voice, “the two princesses must have come this way. We have reports from Everfree that the they were last seen in this vicinity.”

“I-I don’t...” the mare squeaked out, pressing her flank against the wall as the Flutterponies moved closer.

“You don’t know?” the other Flutterpony finished. His voice was higher pitched and nasally. “Perhaps we could make you remember, eh? There are many ways we could make you talk, some that you may not enjoy.”

Celestia heard a slap as one of the Flutterponies smacked the mare across the face. The mare cried out, and there was a little scuffle as she struggled under the grip of one of the Flutterponies. 

“What should we do, Your Majesty?” Moonlight asked, glancing over at Celestia.

“Hold her down,” the deeper voiced Flutterpony said coldly, “I want a piece of her.”

The mare started crying, only to have her mouth quickly muffled by the magic of the other Flutterpony. Celestia’s jaw clenched tightly together, and her wings unfolded slightly. The touch of the rain on her coat fell away, and her eyes pierced intently through the grass at the Flutterponies ahead of her.

“Get ready to ambush the two Flutterponies on my mark,” Celestia said bitterly, glancing over at Moonlight. “Kill them if you have to.”

Moonlight Sonata nodded, and both she and Celestia charged their horns and faced forward. The mare still tried to scream through the Flutterpony’s magic.

“Three, two, one, mark.”

Celestia and Moonlight raised themselves from the tall grass and shot bolts of magical energy at the two Flutterponies. The Flutterponies were knocked off of the mare, who quickly scampered away in their direction and took shelter behind the evergreen trees. Celestia charged her horn again.

One of the Flutterponies was already back on his hooves and he took a shot at Celestia. Celestia dodged the shot and leapt high into the air, letting off two volleys of magic at the Flutterpony. He easily dodged her attack and made several more attempts to hit her with his own magic. Celestia dived back to the ground, evading the green bolts of energy, and fired one powerful blast of magic that struck through the side of the Flutterpony’s neck.  

The Flutterpony collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. Celestia turned to see that Moonlight had already dispatched the other Flutterpony. The corpse had a hole through both its chest and its neck. Celestia turned back to the Flutterpony that was still gasping for breath and knocked it onto its back.

“Are there any other mutants around here?” Celestia asked coldly. 

The Flutterpony’s eyes widened, and he coughed one last time before laying his head back on the ground and exhaling. Celestia cursed and began pressing her hooves harder against the Flutterpony’s chest. When he refused to respond, she levitated the the corpse to join the other one that Moonlight had taken care of. Just as she had laid the Flutterpony on top of the other, there was a tiny squeak behind both Celestia and Moonlight, and they slowly turned around to see the earth pony mare standing before them.

“I-I wanted to th-thank you, Your maj-” The mare stopped when she saw Celestia tilt her head at her. She took a step back, holding one of her forehooves up against her chest.

Celestia’s eyes softened, and her gaze fell onto a scrape that marked the mare’s cheek. She asked, “They didn’t hurt you, did they?”

“N-no, Your Majesty,” the mare replied. She shivered as the pounding of the rain intensified.

“We had best find some shelter,” Moonlight said, eyeing the mare in front of them. 

“I live in a village not too far from here,” the mare suggested, looking towards the mountain pass behind Celestia and Moonlight. “I could offer you both a place to stay for the night. It is the least I can do.”

“We could not ask that of you,” Celestia said, shaking her head. “I fear that there will be more Flutterponies behind these two.” She gestured her head towards the two corpses piled on top of each other. “It would be best if we find some place on our own to stay dry.”

“Please, Princess,” the mare said, taking a few steps towards Celestia, “there must be some way that I can thank you. I have more than enough room in my house to accommodate the both of you.”

Celestia eyed the mare warily, and she threw a side glance at Moonlight, who returned the glance with a shrug. Celestia opened her mouth, but a roar of thunder echoed in the distance, and everypony snapped their necks in the direction of the sound. Celestia ruffled her feathers against her sides.

“Let’s get moving,” Celestia said.

The earth pony trotted in front of both Celestia and Moonlight, and she led them towards the pass that stuck out from the mountain range. Another rumble of thunder rolled through sky above, and the rain continued to pour around them all as they walked. Celestia cantered up closer to the mare.

“I don’t think I ever caught your name,” Celestia said.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Your Majesty!” the mare said, stopping and turning around to bow low in front of Celestia. Celestia took hold of the mare’s chin gently in her magic and raised it up.

“There is no need to apologize,” Celestia said, motioning for the mare to continue their trek towards the pass. “Let us keep moving. The faster we are out of this rain the better.”

The mare nodded slightly and they quickly resumed their trot towards the pass. She glanced behind her at Celestia and Moonlight and said, “My name is Autumn Lullaby, Your Majesty.”

“Autumn Lullaby,” Celestia mused. “That is a beautiful name.”

“My mother named me,” Autumn said, swishing her tail back and forth. “She thought it was fitting because my coat reminded her much of the gentleness of the autumn season.”

“A suitable name, I think,” Moonlight said, trotting up next to Celestia. “I have to ask, what were you doing out here this late into the night?”

“I’m the local herbalist at my village,” Autumn replied, looking back at Moonlight. Her ears folded back when Moonlight looked away, and she continued, “I was out looking for some fresh herbs to help a young colt who recently contracted the feather flu. When I was on my way back, I was ambushed by those Flutterponies.”

The group stopped before the entrance to a massive canyon that bore through the middle of a mountain. The sides of the mountain bowed in slightly, giving the canyon an eerie look as if somepony was peering through a looking-glass. Torrents of water fell from the tops of the canyon, creating miniature waterfalls that Celestia, Moonlight, and Autumn cautiously stepped through. 

The area was nearly devoid of trees on either side of them, leaving everypony to stare at the dull gray and brown walls of the canyon. Enormous cracks snaked their way to the tops of the rocks, cutting apart the formations and collecting water to pour out of the bottom like a spout. Celestia spread her wings and shook her feathers.

“It’s not much further,” Autumn said to Celestia and Moonlight behind her. “My village lies in a clearing up ahead.”

Another blast of thunder echoed overhead, and everypony paused in their stride to look up at sky. Trails of electricity rippled through the clouds, illuminating the night sky in fading incandescent light. Celestia felt Autumn back up against her side, and she instinctively extended a wing around the mare. 

“I take back what I said about these clouds,” Moonlight said as everypony resumed walking towards Autumn’s village, “this cannot be due to the absence of the Equestrian weather teams. They look to be fueled by powerful magic for ripples of electricity to snake its way through the clouds like that.”

“Discord must know that Luna and I remain in Equestria,” Celestia said, continuing to shield Autumn underneath one of her wings. “We should get to shelter.”

Everypony broke into a brisk trot to quickly close the distance between them and the village ahead. The village was small and propped up against the side of the canyon, with small wooden huts placed throughout and a stone tower in the middle. More ripples of electricity blasted through the clouds above, and thunder pounded in Celestia’s ears even as they passed by the first house. Autumn led Celestia and Moonlight to the very far side of the village, and she quickly pushed the door to her house open to allow them to enter. She closed the door behind them, Celestia and Moonlight’s eyes drifted around the room.

The room everypony was in was small and cozy, with two couches set facing across from each other in the center. A fireplace lay far in the back of the house, and off to the right was a kitchen and a hallway that led to a bedroom. Candles were lit in various places around the house, giving a dark and warm light to slightly brighten the walls. Autumn inhaled deeply and looked at Celestia.

“I should go tell the village mayor of your arrival,” Autumn said, raising herself back to her hooves. “I’ll be back shortly. Make yourselves at home. There is food in the freezer box in the back of the house, and I have freshwater in a trough next to it.”

Autumn motioned to leave, and just as she placed one of her forehooves on the door Moonlight said, Her Majesty and I didn’t say this before, but thank you again for offering your homes to us as shelter.”

Autumn grinned, looking at Moonlight and then at the Princess. She bowed her head, then stepped outside, shutting the door behind her.

Celestia raised herself to her hooves and watched as Autumn slowly disappeared into the thick sheets of rain as she made her way towards the tall building in the center of the village. Behind her, Moonlight pushed herself to her hooves and walked into the kitchen. When she returned to the room, she was carrying a couple of towels in her magic.

“Let’s get ourselves dried off,” Moonlight said, levitating two towels over to Celestia, who quickly took them and began drying herself off. “We should get some sleep before we move out again.”

Celestia nodded and turned to look back out the window at the dark sky above. Another wave of electricity rippled through the clouds, followed by an ear-splitting thunder.


~~~




Princess Luna stared from the safety of the small tree line towards a prisoner caravan that was rolling through the dark, rainy night. There were three carts, each filled with four to five ponies that were all shackled to the metal bars on the sides. The carts were flanked each by armored Flutterponies with a behemoth at the front of the caravan. Behind the caravan were two other Flutterponies who stayed back by a couple of cart lengths.

A crash of thunder echoed above, but Luna remained unfazed as her eyes pierced through the trees. Her light blue mane draped lazily over one of her eyes, and her tail stuck to the back of her hind legs from being soaked. The rain fell lightly around her, however, from the slight tree cover that loomed over her head. 

One of Luna’s ears swiveled around when she heard a few leaves rustle behind her, and she felt another body slide up against hers to also peer out of the treeline. Forza’s red magic gripped one of the branches that was impeding their vision, and she lifted it away from their eyes.

“How many do you think there are?” Forza whispered.

“By my count, there looks to be a total of fourteen prisoners,” Luna replied, her eyes falling onto the Flutterponies who made up the rear guard. “This caravan is larger than the ones that have come before it. Discord must be rounding up anypony who so much as thinks of resisting his power.”

The caravan began to turn around a corner in the road, and was slowly disappearing behind a patch of tall grass. Luna’s eyes still remained on the two Flutterponies who were trailing far behind the caravan, and she gently grabbed hold of the branch Forza was holding and brought it back down. She stepped away from the treeline.

“Let’s follow the caravan,” Luna added, glancing at Forza. “If we’re lucky, we can capture the two Flutterponies who lag behind. I’m sure that they will not even be noticed as missing if we’re quiet.”

Forza nodded at Luna, but her eyes were cold and her tattered wings were locked together. She said, “I follow you, Your Majesty. Lead the way.”

Luna slipped out of the tree line, shortly followed by Forza, and lowered her body to stay below the tall grass. The rain fell heavily around around them, once again soaking Luna’s coat, mane, and tail. She flicked her tail back and forth, keeping it from sticking against her hind legs, while she had her head tilted to one side to prevent her mane from sliding onto the other side of her face.

When they reached the road, Luna and Forza poked their heads out of the tall grass and stared down the road in time to see the two Flutterponies disappear behind the patch of tall grass. They hopped across the road and continued to slink towards the caravan. Luna kept her eyes strained on the tops of each of the carts as they rolled along the road.

As Luna and Forza reached the edge of the grass next to the caravan, they paused and listened as the heavy, wooden wheels rolled across the ground. The armor from the Flutterponies clinked noisily together, and the behemoth at the front of the caravan let off a loud snort. Luna’s wings clenched tightly against her sides, and her eyes darted back and forth between the gaps in the blades of grass.

Just as the last of the Flutterponies from the caravan passed by, a pair of voices came into range. Luna’s ears perked up, and she could make out that one of the voices was deep and powerful while the other was gruff and slow. 

“What do you think the Queen is planning this time?” the deeper voice said. “This storm is no ordinary storm, that much is obvious. Every time you look towards the Drakenridge Mountain pass you can see surges of electricity shoot through the clouds.”

“Aye, I have seen it, too,” the gruff voice said. “It is strange weather, I must agree, but you are worrying about this too much. Don’t tell me you already have another conspiracy theory forming in the thick skull of yours.”

Forza crept up next to Luna and gave her a side glance. Luna slowly nodded her head, and her eyes drifted back to the road ahead of her. The two Flutterponies started to walk in front of them.

“As a matter of fact, I do,” the deeper voice replied. “The Queen or Discord must have discovered something recently that is bringing their full attention. Didn’t you hear about the reports coming back from Everfree? Supposedly the two pony princesses freed two of the most high value prisoners we had.”

“I did hear about that rumor,” the other voice said skeptically. “Did you give any thought to it, though? How could two foals slip through Everfree City’s defenses and break out those prisoners? I think it’s all a load of rubbish.”

Luna was the first to slip out from the tall grass, closely followed by Forza. The two ponies slowly crept up behind the Flutterponies, igniting their horns.

“I’ve been hearing the rumors from the officers themselves,” the deeper voiced Flutterpony said. “I, too, only thought they were rumors until—”

Luna and Forza wrapped their magic around the two Flutterponies’ mouths and then smashed their heads together. The two Flutterponies slumped against each other, and quickly Luna and Forza dragged the two bodies into the tall grass. Luna laid the first Flutterpony on his back and glanced over at Forza.

“Block his magic and keep his mouth shut,” Luna ordered.

Forza nodded, covering both the Flutterpony’s horn and mouth in her own magic. The other Flutterpony coughed underneath Luna, and she pressed her forehoof down onto his chest. The Flutterpony weezed  and looked up at Luna with large eyes.

“Don’t even try to cry out or I’ll kill you on the spot,” Luna hissed, lighting her horn up and encasing the Flutterpony’s horn in her own magic. The Flutterpony struggled under Luna’s hoof, but she only pressed her hoof down harder onto his chest, eliciting a gasp from the Flutterpony.

“What is it... that you want?” the Flutterpony asked through coughs.

“Where are you taking the prisoners?” Luna asked coldly. 

“T-to Manehatten.” The Flutterpony inhaled a large breath when Luna released her hoof slightly.

“Why are they being taken to Manehatten?” Luna asked.

“Why would you like to know?”

“Is it not obvious?” Luna constricted her grip on the Flutterponies horn, causing him to yelp and jerk under her hoof. “Tell me why they are being taken to Manehatten.”

“Th-the iron quarries!” the Flutterpony gasped. “They are being taken to Manehatten to work on the iron quarries.”

The Flutterpony underneath Forza’s hoof shot his comrade a glance, and Luna’s lips curled into a snarl as she brought her face closer to her captive’s face. 

“Am I being lied to?” Luna asked, slowly shifting her gaze over towards the other pony. “I didn’t particularly like his gaze when he glanced over here at you.” Luna snapped her head back to the Flutterpony underneath her. “I will ask you once more: why are the prisoners being taken to Manehatten?”

The Flutterpony spat in Luna’s face, and she recoiled sharply before bringing her hooves down up his chest. She heard a snap, and the Flutterpony began to cough violently. Blood shot out of his mouth onto her coat. She took a step back, watching as his coughing degenerated into gasping. Finally, he lay his head back on the ground and exhaled. Luna swore under her breath.

“One of his ribs must have punctured his lungs,” Forza said evenly, casting her cold eyes onto Luna. “Let me do the interrogation.”

Luna nodded her head, and Forza looked at the Flutterpony underneath her. She asked, “I’m sure you know who I am, correct?” When the Flutterpony nodded his head quickly, she continued, “Then you know of the power I possess and of the generosity I can offer. Answer Princess Luna’s question and I’ll make it worth your while.”

Forza slowly dissipated the magic that surrounded the Flutterpony’s mouth, who hesitated for a moment before saying, “I’m not entirely sure why Discord and Queen Chrysalis are taking prisoners to Manehatten, but from what I have heard there is a secret laboratory that Queen Chrysalis has recently constructed for military purposes. I hear that none of the prisoners that go into the laboratory come out again.”

Forza threw a side glance at Luna, but Luna was busy staring at the Flutterpony with her teeth grinding together. “You’re telling the truth?” she asked.

“I swear to you I am!” the Flutterpony pleaded.



Luna turned and stared out across the plains at the caravan that was just falling out of view. A roar of thunder rumbled across the sky, and she asked, “Are we really going to keep him alive?”

Forza stepped in front of Luna towards the road. Luna quickly followed behind her, and they cut across the road and began to walk through the tall grass again in the direction of the caravan.

“There comes a time when a pony must stay their hoof, Princess Luna,” Forza said, flicking her tail behind her. “Although that mutant may be our enemy, he deserves a chance to live just like everypony else. We cannot prance around as if we are the harbingers of justice. We only knew him through the words he spoke, and they seemed sincere enough.”

Luna cantered alongside Forza and said, “And what if he runs to Queen Chrysalis and tells her of what transpired minutes ago?”

“What if he does?” Forza side glanced Luna with an inquisitive stare. “We will be long gone before anything can be done. He is just another casualty, victim to Chrysalis and Discord’s manipulation.”

Luna ground her teeth together when Forza looked away. The rain fell irritably onto her coat, and she shifted her wings uneasily. Her eyes fell onto the prisoner caravan across the plains, and she watched as the top of the carts rose and fell with the dips and the bumps in the road. A slight wind picked up, causing the rain to blow into Luna and Forza’s backs.

“What do you think the laboratory in Manehatten is being used for?” Luna asked.

“I don’t have a clue, Your Majesty,” Forza said, “but if the Flutterpony is correct, and if these prisoners that enter the laboratory will never see the light of day again, I suspect that we don’t have much time to act before this caravan reaches Manehatten.”
> Chapter 5: Bitterness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elements Chapter 5

“Princess Celestia, Miss Moonlight, you need to wake up!”

Celestia’s head bolted upright from the couch that she had been sleeping on. Autumn Lullaby stood by the front door panting with her brown hair in a mess of tangles. The sky outside was still dark, and when Celestia looked at the clock, it read five o’clock in the morning. Her gaze shifted back to Autumn.

“What is the matter, Autumn?” Celestia asked, raising herself from the couch. Across from her, Moonlight was doing the same.

“Flutterponies have come to the village to do an extensive search,” Autumn cried, leaping in front of Celestia and looking up. Celestia glanced out of the window, but when she didn’t catch sight of any Flutterponies, she looked back down at Autumn.

“We need to get you out of here before they find you,” Autumn continued, tears welling up in her eyes. “I lost count of how many Flutterponies are outside of the village. There looks to be dozens.”

Celestia’s eyes darted to Moonlight, who returned the glance Celestia gave and trotted over to the window. A bell rang out through the town, and Celestia’s ears folded back against her head.

“We should not have come here,” Celestia muttered. The bell continued to ring throughout the village, waking the residents and having them step outside of their homes. Celestia said, “Is there any place to hide in the mountain behind us?”

Autumn Lullaby shook her head, and Celestia swore under her breath. She began pacing back and forth in the middle of the room while Autumn looked on, biting her lower lip.Meanwhile, Moonlight continued to stare out the window towards the center of town, her tail swishing from side to side. The residents of the town started to gather in the center, followed shortly by some of the Flutterponies who had arrived on the outskirts.

“We’re going to need to sneak out of town,” Celestia said, ruffling her feathers against her sides while she paced. “The village is small, and there isn’t much cover when we are moving from house to house, but if we stay along the edges we may be able to avoid being seen.”

Moonlight’s head snapped around back to Celestia, and she asked, “Do you have any idea what these Flutterponies are going to do to these villagers if they find out they allowed us to stay here for the night?”

The bell outside stopped ringing, and the air around Celestia began to feel heavy. Autumn fell back onto her haunches and closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face. Celestia’s wings drooped slightly, and she sat down next to Autumn and extended one of her large wings around the mare. Moonlight sighed, stepping away from the window and joining Celestia and Autumn on the floor. 

“We have to try, Moonlight,” Celestia said softly. “If we stay here we would be discovered as soon as the Flutterponies searched Autumn’s house. There is a huge possibility that we will be discovered in our attempt to escape, but-”

Autumn broke into sobs. Celestia jumped from the mare shaking next to her, but she used her wing to lean Autumn up against her side.

Moonlight inhaled deeply, and she glanced at Celestia before saying, “Autumn, there are no words that can express my gratitude for allowing both Princess Celestia and I to stay in your house for the night.” She paused, watching as Autumn looked at her before continuing, “There is one last thing that we wish for you to do for us before we depart.”

Autumn stared at Moonlight while tears continued to roll down her face. Moonlight bit her lip and glanced at the clock. Only three minutes had passed, and she turned back to Autumn and said, “We need to you distract the Flutterponies for us in anyway possible.”

“H-how am I supposed t-to do that?” Autumn asked, sitting upright and blinking the last of her tears away. 

“I don’t know,” Moonlight said, looking away. “The princess and I need an escape route, but we’ll be easily caught if the Flutterponies are searching through the village for any trace of us. If we can get somepony to stall the search long enough, we will have a better chance of escape.”

Autumn looked down at her hooves, shifting them back and forth. The dull ticking from the clock on the wall filled the room, and Celestia’s heart beat heavily inside her chest. Her eyes stayed locked on Autumn, whose wet cheeks glistened from the dull light shining through the windows. Moonlight rose from her seat next to Autumn and trotted back over to the window, her tail swishing back and forth once again.

“I will distract them,” Autumn said quietly, taking a deep breath and adding, “we have no other option. If you two are to escape, you’re going to need my help to do it.” She prodded under her chin with a hoof. “And maybe I can get the mayor to help me.”

“Thank you,” Celestia said, tightening her wing around Autumn and kissing her on her forehead. “What you are doing for us goes beyond any gratitude I could offer.”

“Without King Sol or Queen Galactica, Equestria is living in a nightmare,” Autumn said, gently brushing her head up against Celestia’s neck. When Celestia didn’t move away, Autumn continued, “Discord and Queen Chrysalis need to be stopped, and right now you and Princess Luna are the only ones who have a chance at stopping them. I’ll do whatever I can, Your Majesty, to see you return to power.”

Celestia hugged Autumn in a tighter embrace. They rose to their hooves, and Autumn was the first to step outside of the door. She glanced on either side of the house, and when she took a few more paces outside, she turned and motioned for Celestia and Moonlight to follow her. Celestia came first, with Moonlight following right behind her and closing the door.

“If you move along the west side of the village, you’ll have less of a chance of being noticed,” Autumn whispered, looking towards a group of huts towards the right. “Undergrowth is more plentiful there. I’ll try to distract the Flutterponies for as long as I can.”

Celestia nodded her head and said, “Be careful, Autumn.”

Autumn looked down at her hooves, scraping them against the ground. Moonlight gave Autumn one last look before trotting over to the western side of the village.

“Good luck, Princess Celestia,” Autumn said.

Celestia and Autumn separated, and Celestia joined Moonlight behind one of the huts. They began to creep around the hut, and then slunk down low to the grass to pass behind some vegetation. Celestia’s ears perked up when she heard dull chatter in the distance, but the voices were muffled and she could only make out a deep growl coming from one of the Flutterponies.

They slipped behind another hut and then dipped low under a window. Moonlight halted at the edge of the house and peered her head around the corner. She remained motionless for some time, and then slowly brought her head back around the corner and looked back at Celestia. Her eyes were cold.

“You might want to take a look at this, Your Majesty,” Moonlight said.

Celestia slowly sidled up alongside Moonlight, and together they peered around the corner towards the center of the village. There was one Flutterpony that stood out from all of the rest. He was large and had massive, red wings that reflected the light from the sconces throughout the village. He had scars littering his body, and one of the sharp teeth that hung from the front of the Flutterpony’s mouth was missing. 

“Blackheart,” Celestia hissed, pulling herself back around the corner. “This is not good. Chrysalis knows exactly where we are.”

“We have the elite of the Eternal Valley’s military on our tails,” Moonlight whispered, drawing her head back behind the hut as well. “How did they know we were here?”

Celestia’s horn lit up, and her ears became encased in her golden magic. She closed her eyes and rotated her ears to face directly in front of her.

“We are looking for Princess Celestia,” Blackheart growled. “I’m sure you all have heard the reports by now that there was an attack on Everfree City. She was last spotted exiting Everfree Forest two days ago.”

“We have not seen anything, Your Highness,” Autumn said. “There has been no pony that has stopped by our village for days.”

“Is that so?” Blackheart replied. “Why is it that a few of my scouts found two Changeling bodies only a kilometer from here?”

Moonlight glanced back at Celestia, raising an eyebrow and asking, “Changelings?”

“W-we did not know that there had been a killing around these parts, sir,” Autumn said, her voice shaking.

“Both Changelings have scorch marks on their bodies,” Blackheart said coldly, “obviously from magical discharge. I don’t see any unicorns present in this village, and even so, I highly doubt that a loathsome pony could take on a Changeling, let alone two.”

Celestia opened her eyes and nodded at Moonlight. “Let’s move before this turns ugly. We can’t still be here when Blackheart begins his search.”

Celestia and Moonlight slipped across to the next house, but they stopped in their tracks. Ahead of them was a brown earth pony stallion peering around the corner towards the center of the village. Moonlight took a few steps forward to behind the stallion, and she gently tapped him on his hind leg. The stallion jump and spun around, his eyes going wide when he gazed at Celestia.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” Moonlight whispered, raising her hoof up towards the stallion.

“Moonlight,” Celestia said, charging her horn. “I don’t think that is a pony.”

The stallion in front of them suddenly encased himself in a green ball of energy, stripping away his features to replace them with that of a Changeling. It screamed at Moonlight, only for the mare to fire off her own magic through the back of the Changelings head and into the walll of the house next to them. 

Several more Changeling screams erupted from the center of the village, and Celestia and Moonlight peered around the corner to find Blackheart staring directly at them. He raised a hoof, uttering an ear piercing scream, causing the Changelings in the village center to charge for Celestia and Moonlight. He then turned back to Autumn, who was cowering against the ground. His lips curled into a twisted smile, and he lowered his head.

“You know the price for treason,” he said gently.

Before Autumn could utter a single word, Blackheart released a bolt of magic to pierce through her skull. The mare fell limp against the ground, and the rest of the villagers began running in every direction away from the village center. They fled into their houses and the building at the center of the village, only to be followed by the Changelings, who chased after them and started tearing every building apart to get to their prey.

Celestia released a bolt of magical energy at a Changeling approaching her, grazing across its neck and sending it colliding with the building next to her. She stared directly at Blackheart, her cold eyes meeting his. 

“Celestia!” Moonlight shouted, firing off two volleys of magic at a Changeling that was attacking them from the right. “We can’t stay here!”

Celestia’s gaze drifted from Blackheart’s eyes to a Changeling who was trying to flank them from the left. She fired three magical bolts through its chest and the Changeling fell short at Celestia’s hooves. She glanced at Blackheart one last time before she turned and began to gallop away from the village, closely followed by Moonlight. 

The smell of charred wood started to fill the air, and after Celestia looked back at the village, fires started to rise up from some of the huts. Changelings followed closely behind them, leaping into the air and using their powerful wings to close the distance between them and Celestia and Moonlight. Celestia turned, charging her horn and releasing a blinding flash of light that seared the fragile wings off of the Changelings, causing them to collapse to the ground. 

Celestia gazed at the village one last time, watching as the smoke from the fires rose up to meet the dark clouds overhead.

“I’m sorry, Autumn,” Celestia said, turning and galloping after Moonlight just as another wave of Changelings gave pursuit. 


~~~




Princess Luna gazed up at the dark sky overhead, watching as the clouds shifted and twisted at the mercy of the winds above. Light from the rising sun barely pierced through the blanket above, and a light rain started to pick up again. Luna blew part of her mane away from her face and looked back down at the caravan ahead of her.

Luna and Forza remained hidden in the tall grass, with Luna taking up watch while Forza slept on the ground next to her. The caravan had stopped for the remainder of the night, and when the two rear guards had failed to show up, a few of the caravan guards went in search of them only to return empty hoofed. One of Luna’s ears swiveled towards Forza when she heard the mare scrunch tighter into a ball next to her. 

Forza’s eyes flicked open, and she slowly raised herself into a sitting position and yawned. Her eyes drooped slightly, and her white coat was dirtied from lying on the damp ground. Luna threw a side glance over at Forza, who didn’t return the glance and continued to gaze at the caravan ahead of them.

“You only slept for thirty minutes,” Luna whispered, looking back at the caravan.

“If only I could sleep, Your Majesty,” Forza replied sharply.

Luna’s eyes narrowed when she saw one of the caravan guards walk in front of a cart. “Is there something that troubles you?”

Forza remained still, but when Luna glanced her once more, Forza flinched under her gaze. She looked down at the ground, her eyes shifting back and forth across her tattered hooves. The rain gently tapped both mares, soaking their coats once again.

“Sometimes I wonder if what I am doing is right,” Forza said. “Joining the Equestrian military, fighting alongside your father in the Eternal Valley, returning to Everfree. I look back on my choices and can’t find any reason behind them aside for undying loyalty to those who I love. I should be one of them”—Forza nodded her head towards the caravan—“or I should be dead.”

Luna’s eyes softened and she opened her mouth, but quickly closed it again. Forza looked back up and stared at Luna.

“I do not ask for pity or sympathy,” Forza continued. “We make these choices for ourselves. There is no need for us to dwell on our past, yet we must come to terms with what we have done.”

Forza’s eyes shifted to in front of them, and she raised herself to her hooves. Luna followed Forza’s gaze, and she saw that the caravan had begun to move again. She crouched low to the grass and clenched her wings tightly against her sides.

“The caravan moves again,” Forza said, lowering herself next to Luna. “Good luck to you, Your Majesty.”

“Good luck, Forza,” Luna replied, nodding her head.

Forza crept along with the caravan, using the tall grass to keep her concealed from the Flutterponies walking alongside carts. Luna watched as Forza disappeared from view, and then she slowly slunk to the edge of the grass and peered out into the road. The cart was beginning to vanish behind the next bend, so she quickly scampered across the road.

Luna lay herself low against the ground and quickly skirted through the grass after the caravan. She came up against the caravan and looked to her side. A Flutterpony dressed in ornately decorated silver plate strode alongside the cart closest to her, his armor clanging quietly together with each step. His black chitin body shone dimly from the light rain.

The behemoth at the front of the train snorted, and Luna picked up her pace to move ahead of the caravan. A pair of large boulders on either side of the road came into view, and she quickly took her place on the other side of the boulder away from view of the Flutterponies. She looked across the way and spotted Forza, whose cold eyes bore into her own. Luna nodded towards Forza and charged her horn. 

The rumbling of the carts became louder as they approached, and Luna closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, her ears swiveling in every direction, catching the sounds of the wooden wheels, the metal armor, and the heavy breathing of the behemoth. When her eyes opened again, the first of the carts was almost completely past the two boulders.

Luna released a bolt of magic at the guard directly in front of her, shooting in the gap between the Flutterpony’s helmet and his chest plate. He was blasted back against the cart and fell lip on the ground, a sizable burn running up the length of his neck. The other Flutterponies brought the caravan to a halt just as Forza had completed her kill on the other side, and attempted to scatter as Luna and Forza continued to release more magic at them. 

Another Flutterpony quickly fell to a bolt of magic between the eyes. The Flutterponies returned fire, and Luna dashed behind the boulder, watching as their green energy zipped past her on both sides. She spread her wings and gave them a flap, leaping into the air to reach the top of the boulder. Before she could reach the top, however, a scream erupted from one of the Flutterponies and the fire in her direction ceased.

Luna peered over the top of the boulder, watching as Forza dashed from her position at one of the Flutterponies, kicking him in the face with a forehoof while she shot a blast of magic at another. The chest armor from the Flutterpony dented from Forza’s magic, and he bent over and coughed frantically while Forza finished the other Flutterpony off. 

Before Forza could release another blast of magic at the Flutterpony keeled over, she was violently rammed in the side by the behemoth. She flew threw the air and smacked heavily against the boulder closest to her. Luna leapt into the air and dived straight for the behemoth, colliding into the side of the massive beast. Her horn dug straight into its side, and she quickly pulled her horn out before the behemoth could drive her into one of the carts, knocking it over. 

Luna turned to face the behemoth, its black blood dripping from her horn. The behemoth staggered slightly before opening its mouth and giving a deafening roar. Luna’s ears folded back, but her eyes were cold and steely, piercing into the beast’s vehement gaze. It charged at Luna, but she deftly avoided the attack and released several volleys of magic into the beast’s side.

The behemoth let out a roar and quickly spun around to charge Luna again. She attempted to dodge the beast once more only to have her rear leg caught by its forehead. She was sent spinning through the air and crashed into the side of the fallen cart. Luna groaned, trying to raise herself to her hooves only to collapse again when pain shot through her leg. She looked back to see that her hind leg had an enormous gash running up along the length from the behemoth’s horn.

Luna snapped her head towards the behemoth as it snorted. A twisted smile etched across its face as it slowly started to creep towards her, and she frantically began to flap her wings. The ground impeded her process however, and Luna took to trying to fire bolts of energy at the behemoth. The beast merely shrugged the energy off of its chest as it approached.

Before the behemoth reached the overturned cart, Forza leapt on top of the beast and bit down on its horn, shaking her head back and forth until the horn ripped from its forehead. The beast screamed, swinging its head back and forth furiously. Forza held on, and she charged her horn before releasing a powerful beam of energy into the behemoth’s skull. It stopped swinging its head, and it slowly slumped to the ground with a heavy thud.

Forza rolled off of the behemoth, and she threw the final Flutterpony a glance as he lay on the ground wheezing before limping over to Luna. She eyed Luna’s injury, and she fell to her knees and lit up her horn.

“Hold still for a moment, Your Majesty,” she said, weaving her magic into the folds of Luna’s skin, “this will hurt.”

Luna bit down on her lip and stifled a groan as Forza used her magic to sew Luna’s skin back together. When the pain stopped, Luna looked back at her hind leg and noticed a long scar running up along its length. She moved her leg slightly, cringing from the dull pain that ran through her body. 

“We need to seek proper medical attention for the wound to heal,” Forza said, getting to her hooves and walking around to the other side of the fallen cart. “All I did was bind up the skin to stop the bleeding. Maybe one of the prisoners knows if there is a village nearby.”

Luna glanced at the fallen behemoth, and then back at Forza, and she raised herself to her hooves to walk over to the other cart that was still standing up right. She charged her horn and broke the lock, opening the iron-barred door so that she could step inside and free each pony individually from their shackles. Once she stepped outside of the cart after all of the other ponies had exited, she strode up to a young pegasus mare. 

“Thank you so much, Your Majesty,” the mare said, bowing low once Luna was standing directly in front of her. “I wish there was something I could offer you besides my thanks for saving everypony’s lives.”

Luna eyed the mare up and down, and said, “There is no need for thanks. Do you know if there is a settlement with an adequate medical facility nearby?”

The mare looked down at her hooves while her wings unfurled slightly against her body. “I... no, Your Majesty. Not that I know of. The closest settlement is Manehatten, and the city is heavily guarded and patrolled by the Changeling horde.”

“ ‘Changeling Horde?’ “ Forza asked, walking up next to Luna once the rest of the ponies had been freed from the overturned cart.

“It is what the Flutterponies call themselves now,” the mare replied, looking up at Forza. “It has something to do with this new magic they are being taught at the laboratory in Manehatten. It is where we were being taken, although I have no idea what purpose we could have served.”

Luna and Forza glanced at each other. Forza raised one of her eyebrows, and Luna looked back at the mare and said, “It would be best if you made your way back to Canterlot. The town is nine hours from here, but it would be safer than trying to take refuge in Manehatten.”

The mare bowed once again. “Thank you again, Your Majesty.”

Luna watched as the mare gathered up all of the prisoners from the caravan and started to lead them away towards the direction of Canterlot. The rain overhead started to pour down in heavy sheets, and once the prisoners had all left, Forza turned her attention to the Changeling who was still laying on the ground alive. She stood over him, and he slowly looked up at her with wide eyes before she used a single blast of magic to pierce through his throat.

“I thought you said that there comes a time when a pony must stay their hoof?” Luna asked, staring at the Changeling corpse at Forza’s feet. 

“There also comes a time when it is necessary to end suffering,” Forza replied, levitating the Changeling’s eyes shut and stepping away from the body.

Luna’s eyes followed Forza as she stepped past her and started to walk along the road. Luna trotted up next to her and asked, “You still care for them like they are friends, don’t you?” 

“Very much so,” Forza said, locking her wings together. “They were once my race, and I loved every single one of them. It pains me to see them twisted into these beasts. Nopony deserves such a cruel fate.”

Luna looked off into the distance, eyeing a pair of massive towers that rose into the sky, stabbing through the clouds. Lights ran up the length of the towers, acting as a beacon for any travelers who happened through the northern plains. A ripple of electricity shot through the sky around the towers, and Luna looked back at Forza.

“Manehatten is not too far away,” Luna said.

Forza gave Luna a gentle glance and said, “No, Your Majesty. Another time, perhaps, but not now. The griffons are needed, and if we do not have their help, then we have no hope in freeing Equestria, let alone discovering the mysteries behind this Manehatten Laboratory.”
> Chapter 6: Drackenridge Secrets
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elements Chapter 6

Celestia and Moonlight skirted around a corner just as a blast of magical energy struck the rocky wall next to them. An ear piercing scream echoed in the canyon behind, and Celestia nearly tripped over her own hooves as she resumed galloping down the canyon away from their pursuers. She looked back and saw a Changeling come barreling around the corner.

The Changeling spread its wings and lifted itself into the air, speeding through the canyon. Celestia turned and charged her horn, releasing a bolt of magic at the Changeling and striking its wings. The Changeling spun and crashed powerfully into one of the walls in the narrow cavern. Celestia turned back around and galloped after Moonlight, shooting another glance at the corner just as two other Changelings sped around it. She gave an exasperated sigh after she caught up to Moonlight.

“We can’t keep running from these things,” Celestia panted. “Stalliongrad is still too far away, we’ll be captured before we can even reach Dragonmount Peak.”

“I’m looking for a place to hide as we speak,” Moonlight replied, keeping her eyes directly in front of her.

Another roar rose up behind them, and Celestia looked back to see three Changelings galloping towards them. She faced forward again and looked up, scanning along the walls of the canyon while keeping pace with Moonlight. Her eyes locked onto a thick crack in the side of the wall, and she charged her horn and fired three bolts of energy at the cracks. The rockwall split, and Celestia dived just as the first of the boulders started to fall.

A cry echoed behind them, and Celestia turned and saw that two of the Changelings had been trapped under the falling rocks, while the third was lying against the side of the canyon unconscious. She looked forward again and trailed behind Moonlight as they sped around another corner.

“Wait!” Moonlight shouted, coming to a halt. Celestia quickly stopped and turned, trotting after Moonlight. They stopped in front of a large cave mouth that was covered by ivy and decorated in strange runic markings. The runes stretched around the entire mouth of the cave, and they were each carved deeply into the rocks. Celestia’s wings shifted uneasily against her side.

“What do these runes mean?” Moonlight asked, stepping forward.

“I don’t know,” Celestia said just as another roar echoed through the canyon. “And we don’t have much time to find out. Let’s get in the cave!”

Celestia and Moonlight ran into the cave, quickly becoming surrounded by darkness. Moonlight charged her horn in front of her, and together they began to jump over fallen rocks or slide around corners. Their hoofsteps echoed noisily on the cave floor, but at the head of the cave they heard the Changelings gallop past the mouth. Celestia and Moonlight held their position for a moment, listening intently as Changelings ran by the opening, and then they turned and started to make their way deeper into the cave.


~~~




“You’re sure they went into the caves?” Blackheart asked, staring at the massive, gaping hole in the side of the mountain. He eyed the runes around mouth of the cave, gently levitating vines of ivy out of the way if they happened to impede his eyesight.

“Yes, My Lord,” the Changeling replied, looking down at his hooves. “I witnessed both the princess and the little unicorn dash into the caves before the rest of the Assassins could catch up to them. Shall we go in after them?”

Blackheart stepped forward, straining his eyes to peer into the dark hole. Cold air blew against his greasy, dull red mane, and he released his magical grip on the ivy vines. His ears swiveled around his head, and he merely shook his head when he heard faint whispers echoing from deep inside the mountain. He locked his wings together and turned to the Changeling next to him.

“No, I will not risk anymore Changelings today,” Blackheart said, nodding his head for the Changeling to depart. He glanced back at the cave and added, “If the princess and the unicorn are lucky, they will be given a quick death by what lurks in the depths of Drackenridge.”


~~~




Celestia and Moonlight stopped next to a pair of stalagmites, and they leaned against the rock formations, panting. A dull trickle of water echoed around them, and the cavern they had been running down was very wide and tall, with large stalactites hanging from the ceiling like enormous spears. Celestia gazed up at the stalactites, watching as water dripped from their tips onto the floor. She heard Moonlight lift herself from the rocks next to her and trot forward.

“Do you know where we are?” Moonlight asked, shining her horn to look at one particular stalactite above her.

Celestia stared up at the stalactite as well, the dull lavender hue of Moonlight’s magic reflecting off of the rock to make it seem like the ceiling was purple. She said, “I don’t know, Moonlight. I have never heard of this place before, and neither of my parents ever gave of any mention of caves lying beneath the Drackenridge Mountains.”

“Should we move further into the cave? It doesn’t seem like the Changelings are giving chase.” Moonlight turned from gazing at the ceiling to look at Celestia.

Celestia glanced back the way they had come. Moonlight’s light stopped short at the corner further down the cavern, and she rustled her wings against the side of her body. A drop of water landed on Celestia’s wing, but she continued to stare into the corner, her ears twisting to face forward. Faint screams rang through the air, and her body felt cold.

Orange and red twisted before her eyes, and dull grey specks floated in the air to create a powerful and dangerous dance of heat and ash. Rain was immediately vaporized when it touched the flames. Innocent and bloody screams echoed together, composing a haunting piece fit for only the most malevolent halls. Celestia nearly stumbled taking a step back.

“Are you alright, Your Majesty?” Moonlight asked, rushing over and supporting Celestia with one of her shoulders.

“We should not have gone to the village,” Celestia said, slowly turning to look at Moonlight. “Those ponies, their homes, the foals—you saw how those blood thirsty Changelings ran after them. There is probably not a single pony left alive in that village.”

Moonlight looked away, but she continued to lean up against Celestia and said, “We could not have known what would happen, Your Majesty. Those ponies... they... Well, what could we have done?”

Tears streamed down Celestia’s eyes as she looked back down the corridor. “We were too clumsy. We left those bodies lying out in the open. We made it obvious which direction we took. We were careless, Moonlight. We placed the safety of that village into our hooves, and we foolishly tossed it around as if we’re petty gamblers.”

Moonlight sighed, and she rested her cheek on Celestia’s shoulder. Celestia turned her head and looked at Moonlight and said, “What did we do, Moonlight?”

“I don’t know, Your Majesty,” Moonlight replied quietly.

Water continued to drip from above, bringing a chill to the air that caused Celestia to shiver against Moonlight. The light from Moonlight’s horn started to dim, encompassing the two of them in a dull light that barely extended past their own bodies. Celestia looked around at the darkness, tears still running down her cheeks as the orange and red still twisted around. She opened her mouth, but quickly shut it again when a rumble echoed through the cave, shaking the floor beneath their hooves.

A loud crack reverberated from above, and Celestia and Moonlight quickly scooted to the walls of the cave. The rumble stopped, and none of the stalactites had fallen onto the floor. Celestia heart beat heavily in her chest, and slowly she and Moonlight edged themselves away from the wall and looked down the hall deeper into the caves.

“What was that?” Moonlight asked, brightening her horn and glancing at Celestia.

Celestia charged her horn as well, and began to step in front of Moonlight and descend further into the caves. “I’m not sure, but we should move quickly and find out before another of those earthquakes happen.”

Moonlight fell in behind Celestia, and together they carefully crept through the cave along one of the walls. Their hooves gently tapped along the floor, echoing off of the walls and causing Celestia to cringe. Another series of rumbles vibrated the cavern, and each time Celestia and Moonlight hugged against the wall. When the rumbling would end, they let out a sigh when no stalactites fell from the ceiling. 

After minutes more of traversing through the cave, Celestia and Moonlight came upon a massive chamber that could very well hold the size of half of Everyfree Castle. Celestia stared up at the ceiling, noting the enormous stalactites that descended, along with the thin waterfall in the center of the room that fell into a crystal clear pool. Off to Celestia’s right was a wide, carved ramp that sloped down to the bottom of the chamber. 

Celestia nodded her head towards the ramp, and she and Moonlight started to make their way down it. When they reached the bottom, Celestia quickly halted and stared at the pool at the center of the chamber. Ripples rolled through the pool from the clear water, but other than the splash of water, no other sound echoed around them. Moonlight stepped ahead of Celestia, giving her a queer glance and then trotted further into the room.

Celestia’s eyes followed Moonlight as she passed her, but they returned focus to the pool. She gingerly took a few steps forward, spreading her wings and giving them a few flaps. The wind from her wings disturbed the even ripples in the water, but nothing else came from the pool besides the splashing of the waterfall. Even so, Celestia remained away, staring.

“Your Majesty!” Moonlight called. Celestia turned to see that Moonlight was standing far from the pool on the other side of the chamber. “Come take a look at this.”

Celestia eyed the pool one last time, and then broke into a trot towards Moonlight. her eyes widened when she drew close, and her trot slowed to a brisk walk. Ahead of Celestia and Moonlight was a massive stone wall with the same runic markings from the mouth of the cave. The runes were etched along the entire side of the wall, raising up by fifty meters. Celestia gawked, taking a few more steps in front of Moonlight.

“I have never seen such writing before,” Moonlight said, watching as Celestia walked closer and closer to the wall.

“I don’t think anypony as seen this writing in hundreds of years,” Celestia said. “I remember seeing these same runes on a few translation pages in my parent’s study. I’m not sure what era they are from, but I doubt they are anything recent or you or I would be able to recognize it.”

“Do you think you would be able to read it?” Moonlight asked, stepping up next to Celestia.

Celestia’s eyes scanned over the runes. “I could try, but I’m not sure how well I would be able to translate this. I only briefly looked over my father’s notes.”

Celestia’s horn shone brighter and picked over the runes. The engravings were carved deep into the stone, allowing room for layers of dust to pile into the cracks. Celestia gathered air into her magical grasp and blew it against the wall, scattering the dust everywhere. She coughed briefly, and then illuminated one particular section of the wall.

“From the darkness spawns magic,” Celestia read, “the Overlord and Master to the Order of Time and Life itself. Wheels spin, and the Sun and the Moon do turn over in the heavens above, marking from when freedom ends and suffering begins. He who understands the wheels understands the Overlord and Master.”

Moonlight stepped up next to Celestia and asked, “What does it mean?”

I’m not sure,” Celestia said, looking at the runes underneath the line she had just read. “Tambelon rose from the wheels of magic, and broke from Time and Life itself to defy the darkness.” Celestia’s eyes widened as she read. “The Overlord and Master ruled over Tambelon, and brought upon those who would not break away unending pain and shadow.”

“I recognize that name,” Moonlight said, taking a step back.

Celestia turned her gaze towards the top of the wall. The shadows within the runes grew darker, and the chamber she stood in felt cooler. Her eyes rested on one particular rune, and she took a step back with Moonlight, spreading her wings. She inhaled a deep breath.

“We have stumbled upon the tomb of Grogar the Necromancer,” Celestia said quietly.

Behind them, the waterfall stopped splashing within the pool. Celestia was the first to turn around, and her head slowly drifted up. A massive creature rose from the pool, its head as large as Celestia herself. Sharp teeth stuck out as low as to its jawline, and as it continued to climb higher into the air, Celestia saw that it had no arms or legs. When the creature stopped rising from the pool, it was at least twenty meters tall and was armored all around with grey scales.

The serpent opened its eyes and looked down and Celestia and Moonlight. “Who enters?” 

Celestia glanced at Moonlight, and then she took a step forward. Her wings clenched tightly against her sides and her heart beat heavily in her chest as she said, “I am Princess Celestia, daughter of King Sol and Queen Galactica, and heir to Equestria.”

“Princess of Equestria?” the serpent said, leaning forward slightly. “I have not seen a pony in a very long time, let alone an Alicorn pony.”

Celestia looked the serpent up and down, and she noticed colorful feathers flattened against the back of its head. Her eyes widened, but she stood her ground and asked, “What are you?”

The serpent brought its head down so it was eye level with Celestia, and said, “A good question, young pony, and one you will have to find out for yourself. Tell me, what brings you beneath these mountains?”

Celestia took a step back, but the serpent followed her with its head. Its forked tongue flicked in and out of its mouth. The feathers behind its head shifted slightly as Celestia remained quiet.

“We... We were chased into a cave,” Celestia finally said, glancing at Moonlight. The serpent’s head didn’t move, and she added, “by a band of Changelings who sought to bring us harm.”

“Changelings?” the serpent asked, pulling its head back. “Never have I heard of a creature called a Changeling.”

“They are the remnants of the Flutterponies,” Celestia replied. “Twisted by magic used by an enemy.”

The serpent’s lips curled into a thin smile. “Whose enemy? Yours, or mine?”

I... I,” Celestia stuttered, raising one of her forehooves. The serpent slowly slithered the rest of its body out of the pool and began to encircle Celestia and Moonlight, who edged herself closer to Celestia away from the serpent’s sharp scales.

“Curious, though, to know of an old race becoming transformed,” the serpent mused. “Or extinct in this case. They really were beautiful with their shining, white coats and colorful wings. It is a shame they were taken from the world so soon.”

Celestia’s head followed the serpent’s as it snaked its way around her and Moonlight. “They were transformed by a draconequus who goes by the name of Discord.”

The serpent stopped and slowly turned its head towards Celestia. It said, “So some of the ancient magics still exist. I was wondering when they would start to reappear again.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow at the serpent, watching as it looked towards the rune covered wall. Its tongue flicked in and out of its mouth again, and the feathers on the back of its head fluttered slightly.

“What do you mean when you say ‘the ancient magics still exist?’ “ Moonlight asked, still hugging her body close to Celestia’s and looking up.

The serpent slowly looked down at Celestia and Moonlight again, and said, “Being you have that little knob on the top of your head called a horn, I’m sure you are aware that the essences of time and life themselves are molded and shaped by what everything here calls magic. From the beginning of Creation, magic has spurred on events through the ages and morphed the reality that is present today.

“However, there are entities that draw upon the inner workings of magic to try and disrupt these essences, imbalancing time and life.” The serpent looked directly at Celestia and said, “The moon and the sun battle for control over the essences, but they require outside sources to advance their schemes. Many are drawn to their calls, but only a few may wield the full power of their magic.

“The draconequus you mentioned is drawn to the moon’s power, but he does not seek to wield the power for his own gains. He is planning something more.” The serpent looked away from Celestia and began coiling around her and Moonlight again. Celestia’s feathers ruffled as she glanced at Moonlight.

“Why do you say that?” Celestia asked.

The serpent tightened its coil around Celestia and Moonlight, and slowly its head came to rest on its body, staying at them. Its tongue flicked inches from Celestia’s face. “The moon does as it wills, and those connected to it will feel its presence. They are guided along like a peasant is guided along by a leader, and those that defy its power will be silenced.”

Celestia looked down at her hooves, and she traced the rocks and cracks along the ground. The serpent looked on at Celestia for a few moments more, and then it uncoiled itself and slithered to the other side of the chamber. Moonlight’s eyes followed the serpent, and when it was a safe distance away, she gently pushed herself from Celestia’s side.

“Luna felt the power of the Element of Chaos...” Celestia muttered, her ears folding back against her head.

“Another question comes to mind,” the serpent said, turning to face Celestia and Moonlight. “Where is your sister?”

Celestia quickly met the serpent’s gaze, and her wings flared open. “What do you know of my sister?” she growled.

A hiss reverberated from the serpent’s throat, and it slowly began to crawl its way back across the chamber. Its eyes were dark, and its forked tongue flicked in and out of its mouth rapidly.

“We should never have given you mortals the power of the sun and the moon,” the serpent said coldly. “You may live ageless lives, but you can be slain just as easily as a unicorn or a griffon. I plan to undo the work we have done, and give this world back to the Shadow Realm where it rightfully belongs.”

“The Shadow Realm is only a myth,” Celestia said, charging her horn. Moonlight stood next to Celestia, but she took a step back when the serpent had crossed halfway across the room.

“Naive little pony, where do you think the moon’s chaotic power originates from? The moon is a massive hole in the heavens, releasing chaotic magic and increasing the entropy of time and life. The forces set in motion this present day have been caused by the magic from the Shadow Realm, and the moon attempts to lure mortals in order to share its chaotic magic and to degenerate the structure of reality.”

The serpent towered over Celestia, and slowly its head lowered until it was eye level with her. Celestia stood her ground, but her wings started to fold inward. The serpent continued, “Discord and Grogar are all just a means to an end for the moon. They carry out its plans, and in doing so, they are slowly dissolving the remaining harmonic magic left in this reality. What you know and love is slowly dying, becoming wiped from existence.”

Celestia eyes narrowed, but she dispersed the energy surrounding her horn and said, “If the moon’s power really is corrupting this reality, why do you seek to remove those that can harness the sun’s power as well?”

“Because any entity that can use the power of the sun can use the power of the moon. If you were to tap into chaotic magic, you would hear the call of the moon echoing within your mind. I cannot rely on any liabilities to remain, including this world that is fed by the two magics.”

Celestia took a step back, her wings unfolding again. “You want to destroy all forms of life that can wield the magic of the sun and the moon without giving us a chance to try and stop the Shadow Realm from spreading its influence. You mean to tell me that the thousands of years of work my parent’s have done protecting Equestria, and essentially the world, is for naught, and that their attempts to save all life is wasted?”

The serpent pulled its head back, its feathers flaring behind its head. “Your parents died trying to protect this reality from the Shadow Realm. That alone is proof that entropy is increasing, and that time and life are unraveling.”

“You forget that Luna and I still breathe,” Celestia said, scowling. “We have a chance to stop the Shadow Realm from consuming everything that is Harmony.”

The serpent’s eyes softened, but its feathers remained opened behind its head. “I am sorry, Princess Celestia, but I cannot give you that chance.”

Celestia and Moonlight barely managed to leap out of the way of the serpent’s strike. Celestia rolled and skidded to a stop, and she charged her horn, releasing bolts of magic at the serpents body. The magic bounced off of its hardened scales, causing Celestia to dodge some of her own magic attacks as they were reflected back towards her. 

The serpent began to rise back up from the ground, and Celestia caught a glimpse of Moonlight as she was dodging a few of her own attacks. Celestia flinched when the serpent snapped its head towards her, and she once again dodged its head as it smacked against the the wall. The entire chamber shook from the impact, and a few of the stalactites from the ceiling snapped off and plunged into the ground.

“Moonlight!” Celestia shouted, galloping away from the serpent as it started to rise once again. “Find a way out of here!”

Moonlight hesitated, watching as Celestia dodged another attack from the serpent. The entire room shook, with even more stalactites falling from the ceiling and impaling into the ground. The serpent rose again, and it continued its attack on Celestia, completely ignoring Moonlight. 

“Goodluck, Celestia,” Moonlight said quietly, and she then began galloping around the chamber away from the serpent and Celestia. Her eyes scanned over the walls, looking for anything that might be a way out.

Celestia leapt onto a large boulder, spread her wings, and took flight towards an outcropping. The serpent watched as she lifted herself into the air, and it quickly slithered over to a rock column, smashing its head and causing the column to topple directly in Celestia’s path. One of her wings caught onto the falling column, and she was brought back down to the ground before she was even half way towards the outcropping. 

Dust and rubble flew up all around Celestia as she collided with the floor, and pain shot through her spine from the impact on the hard ground. She groaned, rolling away from the rubble of the rock column, and got back onto her hooves with enough time to dodge another lunge from the serpent. 

The shock from the serpent’s head colliding with the ground knocked Celestia off of her hooves again, and she groaned while her wings hung limply from her side. The serpent’s head rose high above Celestia, and when she looked up she stared into its gaping mouth. She charged her horn, and when the serpent lunged she fired a beam of magic into the serpent’s mouth, watching as the yellow energy blew through its eye.

The serpent screamed, and it pulled back before it had reached Celestia. She rose to her hooves and made a dash towards the other side of the chamber. The roar from the serpent shook the walls, and stalactites from above rained down around Celestia as she crossed alongside the pool. She skirted this way and that, avoiding the falling rock formations and galloping over to Moonlight, who stood waiting near a large mouth to another cavern.

The chamber stopped shaking, and when Celestia glanced behind her she saw that the serpent was quickly closing the distance between them. She galloped as fast as she could, leaping over fallen rocks and zipping around massive rock columns. Explosions sounded behind her as the snake barrelled through the rock columns, and a dull roar started to reverberate from above while the ground shook.

The serpent made one last lunge at Celestia, but she safely dived into the cave before its jaws could clamp around her hind legs. The ground shook powerfully from the snake’s collision with the mouth of the cave, and the ceiling above Celestia and Moonlight started to crack and split. Both ponies quickly began to scurry away from the cave’s opening as rocks fell around them, and the roar of the serpent echoed off of the walls as the massive chamber began to collapse in on itself. 

Celestia and Moonlight galloped down the cavern, refusing to glance behind them even after the roar of the serpent stopped and the rocks ceased to fall around them. They flew around corners and ducked low under sections of the cave that had collapsed. Eventually, Celestia tripped over a rock and came tumbling roughly over the rocky ground. Moonlight skidded to a halt in front of Celestia.

“Your Majesty!” she cried, turning around and kneeling next to Celestia. “Are you alright?”

Celestia struggled back onto her hooves, and she leaned against Moonlight when the unicorn offered her side as a form of support. One of Celestia’s wings drooped against her side. Both mares were covered in dirt with tangled manes. 

“I’ll be fine, Moonlight,” Celestia said, cringing when she took a step forward. “We need to keep moving and get out of these caves.”

Celestia remained propped up against Moonlight, and the continued to slowly make the rest of their way through the tunnels. A horrid stench started to rise as they walked deeper into the cave, and soon Celestia and Moonlight came up to an iron grate blocking the exit of the cave. Moonlight grabbed hold of the screws holding the iron grate in place and pulled them out, causing the grate to fall backwards.

Moonlight helped Celestia lean herself against the cave wall, and when she looked Celestia over to make sure she wasn’t in pain, she slowly peered beyond the grate. 

“I think we stumbled upon a sewer, Your Majesty,” Moonlight said, taking a few steps forward.

The walls were curved into a circular shape, and in the center of the sewer ran a thin stream of sludge that filled Moonlight and Celestia’s nostrils with a sour smell. Moonlight’s ears twitched, and she looked up towards another grate on the ceiling. Hooves clopped over the grate, and a whir of voices echoed into the sewer from above. Moonlight started to turn back to Celestia, but her eyes caught on a plaque that was printed on the side grate she and Celestia had come from.

“You’re not going to believe this, Your Majesty,” Moonlight said, glancing from the plaque to Celestia, “but we have arrived in Stalliongrad.”
> Chapter 7: The Griffon Kingdoms
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elements Chapter 7

Luna walked through the grand hall of Everfree Castle, treading lightly on the blue carpet that ran the length of the corridor. Stained glass windows lined each side of the hall, with colorful, intricate depictions of Sol and Galactica adorning each window. The ceiling rose high above Luna, and curved into a massive vault with chandeliers dangling from long chains to shine light into every corner. Beautiful pictures of vines were carved into the ceiling above, snaking its way up and down the entire hall.

Nopony else was present in hallway, leaving Luna utterly alone. No form of sound echoed through the castle except for Luna’s hoofsteps, which reverberated off of the walls. When Luna tried to peer out of one of the stained glass windows, she was unable to see anything besides the colorful glass.

Massive doors lay ahead of Luna, marking the entrance to the throne room. More vines were etched into doors, swirling around themselves into massive spirals. Luna paused in front of the doors, observing the detail that went into carving out the leaves of the vines. After a moment, Luna charged her horn, and she grabbed onto the massive handles of the doors and pushed open.

The doors swung wide, and Luna was left staring into a void of swirling, magical energy and floating rocks. The magic twisted and turned every which way, taking on the role of looking like shooting stars streaking across a bright night sky. Luna slowly inched her way into the void, and the doors closed with a loud thud. When Luna looked behind her, the throne room doors had vanished.

Grinding her teeth together, Luna turned back around and stopped in her tracks. Sitting in the void at a wooden table was the black alicorn mare. She had a tea cup gripped in her magic, and she gently levitated it to her lips and took a sip. Luna ruffled her feathers against her sides as she began to advance carefully towards the table. The black alicorn glanced at Luna as she approached, her cold, turquoise eyes piercing into Luna’s own, and then returned to taking another sip from the tea cup.

When Luna finally reached the wooden table, the black alicorn said, “Good evening, Luna. Please, take a seat.”

The black alicorn’s voice was smooth and lustful, albeit commanding. Luna carefully sat down on a pillow across the table, and when she looked down she found that a cup with tea was waiting for her. She levitated the cup up, but didn’t take a sip.

“Why are you here?” Luna asked.

“I thought we should talk,” the black alicorn said, setting her cup down.

Luna narrowed her eyes and asked, “What is there to talk about? If you mean to come to try to convince me that ‘Tia wishes to betray me once more, then you will be sad to hear that I will not listen to any more of your fabrications.”

The black alicorn remained calm, but her cold eyes bore down into Luna’s own. She said, “I wish to apologize for my behavior.” Luna raised an eyebrow, but the black alicorn resumed speaking before Luna could say anything. “It was not right of me to try to accuse your sister of deceit when she has shown you nothing but kindness through these years we have known each other.”

"Why apologize now?” Luna asked, leaning forward slightly.

“I only wish to protect you, Luna, nothing more. I was afraid of your sister, and of how reckless she can be sometimes. You saw how she went headlong into the heart of the Changeling empire just to rescue her little coltfriend. I thought she might try to take you with her to Everfree.”

Luna leaned back and looked down at her cup. “Sometimes we need to take risks. Firemane is important to both of us, not to mention he would be a valuable asset to the resistance against Discord. What ‘Tia did was brave and dangerous, but it was not foolish.”

“Luna, she put other ponies at risk with her endeavor,” the black alicorn said, scowling. “Three of the ponies that went with her are dead. There had to have been some way other than that little operation she carried out.”

Luna set her own cup down and stared hard at the black alicorn. “There was no other way. We do not have the strength, we do not have the resources, we don’t have anything. Equestria is failing under Discord’s onslaught, and hundreds of ponies are dying by the day. We need every piece of help we can get, and if that means we have to take extraordinary risks, then ‘Tia and I will do it.”

Luna jumped slightly when the black alicorn’s tea cup shattered, and she stared at the pieces and saw that they were encased in dark blue magic. She looked back up at the alicorn and met her frigid gaze, shrinking back when she began to rise from her seat.

“You are just as reckless as your sister,” the alicorn said, walking around the table and standing over Luna. “You are a danger to those around you, and I pity those that you travel with.”

Luna fell onto her back when the black alicorn lowered her head to be level with Luna’s. She held her forehooves up in front of her, shielding herself if the alicorn attempted to attack her.

“You should be afraid, Luna. You are nothing but a runt. You are disposable, weak, and unsightly. You are another peasant cowering behind your sister’s wings. You are no leader. I am disappointed that it was you who was destined to control how and when the moon should rise. How and when I should rise.”

The alicorn extended her massive, crow-like wings. Her eyes began to sink into her head until they were replaced by black holes, and when she opened her mouth again, her smooth teeth had been replaced by jagged fangs. A long, forked tongue slowly extended towards Luna, who stared in horror as the alicorn edged closer to her.

“I am the true moon,” the black alicorn growled. “I am the pure moon. I am your Nightmare.”


~~~




Luna’s eyes flicked open, and she was left to stare at Forza’s dirty, red hooves. Her ears folded back and she closed her eyes again, taking a deep breath. The sky was dark above them, the black clouds from the previous day still present and rolling across the sky. Luna’s heart beat heavily in her chest, but after a few more deep breaths, it no longer filled her ears.

“You did not sleep well,” Forza said, staring out of the minimal tree cover she and Luna had used once day broke. They were at the foothills of the Northern Drackenridge mountains that marked the border between Equestria and The Griffon Kingdoms.

Luna rose to her hooves, looking at Forza and said, “No, I did not. Ever since I was a small foal, sleep has been hard to come by.”

Forza shot Luna a sideways glance, but Luna didn’t notice as she looked down at her hooves. A roll of thunder echoed off in the distance, causing Forza to snap her head back and look out of the tree cover once more.

“Is there something you wish to talk about?” Forza asked.

“Perhaps another time, Forza,” Luna said. “Thank you, though.”

The sky above Manehatten filled with electricity once more, shooting across the clouds and sending another blast of thunder echoing across the plains. The air was cold, and the wind sliced through Luna and Forza’s coats, but the rain had once again stopped. Luna’s ears remained folded back, and she shifted her wings uneasily against her sides.

“We should start out for tonight,” she said. “We are not too far from The Griffon Kingdoms, and it would be best if we arrived there before the nation is completely asleep.”

“As you say, Your Majesty,” Forza replied. She stuck her head out of the tree cover, looking on either side of her, and then slipped out onto the sloped plains. Luna followed her out, and she looked off to her left back across the plains and towards the mountain that held Canterlot. The town was invisible against the colorless side of the mountain, and she turned back around to trot after Forza towards the mountain pass. 

In a matter of minutes Luna and Forza had reached the mountain pass, a tall, wide canyon that was filled with all sorts of trees and shrubbery. The road to the Griffon Kingdoms snaked around the foliage, and split off in several directions for multiple routes around the hills that rose up in the canyon. Small creeks were etched in the ground, cutting their way through the canyon towards the massive Red Bone River that guarded the griffon borders beyond the Northern Drackenridge Mountains. 

Luna and Forza started to make their way along the road, passing underneath massive trees and walking over roots and vines that had started to creep onto the path. Luna walked behind Forza, and her eyes kept drifting back and forth between her torn butterfly wings and the scars and dirt that covered her slender body. Luna looked away, grinding her teeth together and clenching her wings against her sides.

“Why do you feel ashamed and look away?” Forza asked.

Luna jumped, and she stuttered, “I... I... You knew I was looking at you?”

“You did not try to hide the fact that you were looking at me,” Forza replied, glancing behind her. “I could feel your eyes on my back like a torrential downpour.”

“I’m sorry,” Luna said, looking down at her hooves and away from Forza’s gaze. Forza slowed her pace so that she walked alongside Luna, and Luna added, “There is something I want to ask you, although I do not know if it is right for me to ask.”

Forza sighed as she and Luna crossed over a wooden bridge, and she said, “You wish to know why I was not turned into a Changeling like the rest of my race, don’t you?”

Luna didn’t reply, instead glancing solemnly at the creek that rushed under the bridge. Birds gently chirped around them, singing their last songs before the full darkness of night fell in the canyon. Forza continued to stare directly in front of her, but her wings remained locked together and the coldness in her eyes had melted away.

“I... don’t know why I was not transformed into one of the Changelings, to be honest,” Forza said quietly. “I’m assuming that if Chrysalis really wanted to turn me into a Changeling, she could have easily asked for the help of Discord. Why she never did puzzles me.

“You see, during the battle at Everfree City, when I allowed for you and your sister to escape from Chrysalis, I fought against her in the streets. We traded magical blows with each other, pummeling ourselves into the buildings and the city street. Chrysalis fought with a ferocity I had never seen before, and her eyes were so twisted up in anger I did not even recognize who she was anymore.”

Forza paused, looking up towards the sky before continuing. “However, even with all that built up rage, she held back against me. Being that she had been my mentor ever since I was a foal, I knew the capability she possessed to easily strike me down. Instead, she wore me out with our battle, and inflicted several wounds across my body to immobilize me. Eventually, I collapsed from mere exhaustion.”

“So, Chrysalis took you prisoner instead of executing you there,” Luna said.

“Yes, I was taken below Everfree Castle where I was locked up for six months,” Forza said, grimacing. “For weeks I was taken to a separate part of the dungeon, and Chrysalis would try to gain information from me about your whereabouts. She would sometimes have me beaten in an attempt to gain information, but never did she turn me into a Changeling, or mention the fact that she would.”

Luna was staring at Forza, her jaw held slightly slack. She asked, “I could never imagine Chrysalis doing such a thing for enjoyment.”

Forza looked down at her hooves, stopping in the middle of the road. Luna stopped as well a bit ahead of Forza, and turned around. Forza said, “I believe she still thinks of me as her daughter. No matter what she has done to me over the past six months, never did she enjoy any of it. She is confused and broken, and she must consider her transformation to be an abhorrent curse more so compared to any other torture she subjected me to.”

Tears dripped from Forza’s nose, and Luna stepped forward and used her nuzzle to lift Forza’s head up. When Forza looked into Luna’s eyes, they hugged each other, and Forza added, “She still loves me, Luna.”

“Chrysalis is a mother,” Luna whispered, “and she will do anything to protect her children against those that wish to do them harm.”

I only wish to protect you, Luna, nothing more. I was afraid of your sister, and of how reckless she can be. The vision of the black alicorn flashed before Luna’s eyes, and she stared into the two sunken abysses that were her eye sockets. Her sharp teeth were inches from Luna’s face, with black smoke dripping from the corners to her mouth. I am your Nightmare.

A twig cracked a short distance from the road, and both Luna and Forza’s ears snapped ahead of them. They broke from their embrace and turned towards where the sound originated from, both of their horns lighting up. Forza still had a steady stream of tears flowing down her face, but her muscles were tense and she stood defensively next to Luna. The bushes rustled behind them, and Luna whirled around, staring into the brush and awaiting with her wings extended on either side.

A griffon slowly walked out of the bushes in front of Luna. He was just as big as her, and his coat was dark brown with tiny, white freckles lining his back. His wings were massive but remained folded against the side of his body, although they extended far past his backside. He had a long, curved beak while three strips of red paint extended extended across the entire length of his face. Luna’s horn remained charged and she narrowed her eyes.

“There are two on this side,” Forza whispered.

The griffons remained silent, and Luna noticed that a spear was strewn across the back of the griffon in front of her. Slowly, she folded her wings back against her body and discharged her horn. Forza quickly did the same, and relaxed her posture only slightly.

“Strange to see a trio of griffons venture so far into Equestria,” Luna said, glancing at the two griffons behind her. One of the griffons was also dark brown while the other was white. Both had red paint across their face. 

“We could say the same about a rumored dead princess,” the griffon in front Luna said. He glanced at Forza and added, “Who happens to be accompanied by a remnant of an extinct race.”

The coldness of Forza’s eyes returned, and she glared at the griffon behind her, who didn’t take notice and instead looked back at Luna. He asked, “Why is it you two seek the road to the Griffon Kingdoms?”

“Why don’t you state your business in Equestria?” Luna replied. “You are encroaching onto our lands after all, if you are who you appear to be.” 

The griffon scowled. “Ever since the Flutterponies invaded Equestria, King Bloodbeak has been sending scouts to patrol this pass through the Northern Drackenridge Mountains. We happen to be that patrol tonight, along with five other griffons who are a bit further up the road.”

Luna raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why does Bloodbeak send so many to patrol the pass?”

“It didn’t used to be that way,” the griffon replied, looking towards the dark clouds that hung over Manehatten. A wave of electricity rippled through the sky. “The strange weather that has been approaching the borders of our nation has been unnerving, so more and more griffons are getting sent out per week to patrol this pass. We are told to guard the pass all the way towards its entrance as an extra precaution.”

“The Changelings don’t seem particularly interested in The Griffon Kingdoms right now,” Forza said, turning around. “Discord and Chrysalis are pushing their forces towards the border of the Night Guard State.”

“It’s the king’s orders,” the griffon said. “My name is Rikkard, by the way.”

Luna nodded her head towards Rikkard and said, “I suppose we should explain why we are traveling towards The Griffon Kingdoms. We wish to speak to King Bloodbeak on several matters.”

Rikkard stared hard at Luna, but he nodded at the two other griffons behind her and Forza. They saluted Rikkard, and then they took off towards the the entrance of the pass to the south. He watched the two griffons depart, then turned back to Luna and Forza and asked, “Why do you wish to speak to the king?”

“For reasons in which we do not wish to disclose until we have met with King Bloodbeak,” Luna replied, flicking her tail behind her.

Rikkard eyed Luna curiously. “I was on my way back to High Talon Rock for the night. I could escort you two the rest of the way if you wish.”

“That would be most appreciated, Rikkard,” Luna said, smiling. She glanced back Forza and saw that she still glared at Rikkard with frigid eyes.

Once Rikkard had already started to walk down the road ahead of Luna and Forza, Luna whispered, “Calm yourself, Forza.”

“How can I remain calm when I am insulted blatantly by a griffon,” Forza whispered back, staring into the back of Rikkard. “Their race is indecent and primitive. At least the Night Guards are respectful enough to formally address a guest.”

“These times are not bright,” Luna replied, looking at Rikkard as well. “The griffons are on edge from Chrysalis’ forces crawling across Equestria. Any traveler approaching their borders could be a Changeling.”

Forza growled, but she did not speak anymore. She and Luna trailed behind Rikkard as they twisted and turned around the many bends that made up the road through the mountain pass. The birds eventually stopped chirping, and the sky that hung over Manehatten vanished from view by the tall mountain peaks behind them. They passed over creeks and walked over hills, and Luna blew a few strands of her hair away from her eyes once a gently breeze gusted through the canyon.

In the distance, two enormous rock towers rose into the air. Rikkard looked behind him and said, “Once we pass through those spires, it is only another thirty minutes before we will reach High Talon Rock.”

Luna nodded, and the rest of their walk through the rock spires, as well as to the griffon’s capital city, continued in silence. High Talon Rock was built against the side of a mountain, and a massive, palisade wall surrounded the city in an incomplete circle. Large watchtowers were built along the palisade, as well as laying scattered across the city. Many of the buildings were simple huts made out of mud with thatched roofs, while in the center of the city was an extensive market that was filled with stalls and traders.

Griffons flew to and from the city, carrying all manner of items on their backs or in tow behind them. Luna watched the griffons intently, observing how they seemed to file into organized lanes similarly to a well used highway. Rikkard looked behind him and smirked when he saw Luna enthralled by the sites of the sky lanes.

“Not exactly like Equestria, is it?” he asked.

“I’ve never seen such a place,” Luna said, taking her eyes away from the sky lanes. “High Talon Rock is a highly organized city, yet it is vastly more simplistic compared to any of the cities back in Equestria.”

“Wait until you see the palace.”

Luna squinted, straining her eyes across the city. She scanned over the thatched roofs and market stalls, but she never laid her eyes on anything that resembled a palace. She said, “I don’t see anything of the sort.”

“The palace is built into the mountain,” Rikkard said, nodding towards the mountain that High Talon Rock was built against. “The only way to reach the entrance is to fly, although in recent years we have built a massive elevator that carries flightless ponies to the top. We used to have to carry guests to the top ourselves.”

Luna stared at the mountain, noticing the many holes that covered the southern side like a bee hive. Some griffons flew in and out of the holes, and straight down the center of the mountain was a long, thin structure that looked like a square tube. Luna looked back at Forza and saw that she, too, was staring at the city with large eyes. Forza’s torn wings flapped lazily.

“We will need to use the elevator to reach the top,” Luna said, returning her gaze on Rikkard again.

Rikkard glanced at Forza, and he nodded his head. The trio soon approached the walls of the city, and when they were standing in front of the giant, wooden gate, Rikkard pulled a string that rang a bell above them. A black griffon poked his head over the top of the wall, peered down at the group, and then disappeared back over the top of the palisade. After a few more seconds, the gate to the city began to slowly creak open enough to allow for them to pass through one at a time.

“Greetings Captain,” the black griffon said once they all had passed through the gate. “You have returned early from your patrol.”

“I stumbled across one of the Equestrian princesses and a Flutterpony,” Rikkard said, eyeing Luna in particular. “I felt it necessary to escort both of them to the city.”

The black griffon looked both Luna and Forza over carefully, and then said, “You had best get back to the patrol. You’re already on thin ice with the king.”

“I think I can handle it from here,” Rikkard said, fluffing his feathers against his body and slightly opening his wings. “If you think it is necessary to have another griffon on patrol, why don’t you take my place?”

The black griffon scowled, but he moved out of Rikkard’s way and allowed for them all to pass. Luna quickly trotted after Rikkard as he started out at a brisk pace, and she asked, “What did he mean when he said you were on thin ice with the king?”

“The king and I haven’t seen eye to eye lately,” Rikkard replied, leading Luna and Forza around a group of griffons who were standing around a market stall. “I have suggested a few things that he did not particularly take kindly to.”

They walked across the center of the market square, squeezing their way past scores of griffons as they crowded around stalls and vendors. Luna noticed that there were a few ponies and even a zebra or two among the throng, but she didn’t stop to speak to them as Rikkard continued his trot. She glanced back at Forza, who looked uneasily to her right and left as they cleared the market.

“Do you mind if I ask what it is you two do not agree on?” Luna asked once the roar of the market square died away.

“I have a hunch the topic will come up when you speak with the king,” Rikkard said, looking behind him. “It isn’t much further to the throne room now. Just a short elevator ride to the top and then a quick walk through the mountain’s corridors.”

Luna, Forza, and Rikkard all piled into the elevator and a griffon gently shut the wooden door behind them. Rikkard nodded, and the griffon stepped over to a lever next to the elevator and pulled. The wooden car jolted, and the entire contraption began to ascend the mountain. Luna looked up and saw that thick ropes were connected to the top of the car, as well as a massive pulley system at the top of the elevator was pulling the car up. 

“How long did it take for you to construct this elevator?” Forza asked.

“We’ve had the plans and blueprints to make such a contraption for over ten years,” Rikkard said, looking up, “but it was only recently that we implemented the elevator. It took us a total of three months to put the whole thing together, and the elevator has now been in service for two years.”

“I have to admit, to build this in only three months is an impressive feat,” Forza said. “The height of the elevator itself is striking.” A gentle breeze picked up, rocking the elevator side to side. Both Luna and Forza tensed and spread their legs, balancing themselves on the elevator floor, and Forza added, “Although it does feel a little intimidating.”

Rikkard smirked, and he stood entirely unfazed by the elevator’s rocking and said, “Constructing such a building is costly, so there were some budget cuts made for the sturdiness of the elevator. Believe me when I say that this elevator is safe, though.”

When the elevator came to a stop halfway up the mountain, Luna and Forza nearly ran out of the car onto the solid ground of the outcropping. Rikkard stepped off after them, and another griffon pulled the lever next to the elevator to start its descent back down the mountain. Luna’s heart was pounding in her chest, but she began to breathe easier when another gust of wind picked up.

“The throne room is just at the end of this corridor,” Rikkard said, walking past Luna and Forza. “Although the time for the king to see guests is long past over, I’m sure that he will make an exception for you two.”

Luna and Forza fell in behind Rikkard, and they shortly arrived at the throne room doors. Two large griffons dressed in thick, shining plate armor stood at attention in front of the doors. They held tall spears on either side of them, but when Rikkard approached, they stepped aside and opened the doors. Rikkard nodded his thanks towards the two griffons before taking Luna and Forza into the throne room.

They entered a chamber that had numerous holes in the ceiling to allow beams of light to poke through. Large tapestries adorned the walls with depictions of coat-of-arms for some of the most prominent griffon families in the kingdom. Bleachers were set up on either side of the chamber to accommodate nearly a hundred griffons at one time, and at the far end of the chamber sat a large throne chair.

As Luna approached, she observed that the throne chair was made out of the bones of various creatures, and a slight shiver ran along her back. She glanced at Forza, but she had composed a stoic mask and only allowed her cold eyes to reveal any tinge of emotion. Luna turned back towards the throne chair, gazing at the griffon who sat in it.

King Bloodbeak was large and had a reddish brown coat. He had scars littered all over his body, as well as missing one of his talons from his front legs. His lion’s tail was shorter than most other griffons, and the tuff of hair at the end of the tail was missing. Bloodbeak was currently speaking to one of the griffons to his left, and he ignored Rikkard, Luna, and Forza when they approached the throne chair. 

“What do you mean to tell me that the Night Guard is unable to trade with the Griffon Kingdoms?” Bloodbeak asked the griffon next to him.

The griffon shuddered under Bloodbeak’s booming voice, and said, “They say it is too risky to send their trade caravans, sir. With Queen Chrysalis’ forces sweeping across Equestria constantly, the last few caravans that Lord Regent Outcry sent have been attacked and sacked.”

Bloodbeak sighed and slumped back in his chair. “Resume negotiations with the Night Guard State. Perhaps we could try to have the caravans take the longer route along the Equestrian border. Go!”

The griffon quickly took flight and shot out of one of the holes in the ceiling. Bloodbeak watched him go, and then turned towards Rikkard, Luna, and Forza. His eyes narrowed, and he slowly rose from his chair and took a few steps forward. Luna eyed him suspiciously, extending her wings slightly after he had taken two steps.

“Why did you bring them here?” Bloodbeak asked Rikkard coldly. 

“They wish to speak to you, My Lord,” Rikkard replied calmly. “A patrol I was leading found them taking the pass from Equestria to The Griffon Kingdoms.”

Bloodbeak looked Luna up and down, and she straightened her posture as well as extended her wings completely. He snorted, and then turned to walk back to his throne chair. His tail flicked irately behind him.

“I thought I told you to turn away the two princesses if they did happen to show up,” he said, sitting back in his chair and glaring at Rikkard. “If Chrysalis were to find out that one of the princesses was here in the Griffon Kingdoms, she would surely rally her forces and assault High Talon Rock.”

“I apologize, King Bloodbeak,” Rikkard said, bowing slighty, “but it would have been folly to resist both an alicorn and a Flutterpony if they decided they wanted to speak to you desperately.”

Bloodbeak growled, and he turned towards Luna and said, “Whatever business you have here in the Griffon Kingdoms, do it now and then leave.” 

Luna stared directly into Bloodbeaks eyes, and she stood defiantly before him. The throne room was dark as none of the sconces lining the walls had been lit, casting Luna’s face in shadow while Bloodbeak’s face was dimly lit by the thin amount of moonlight that managed to pierce through the clouds and into the chamber. 

“I ask for the assistance of the griffons to aid my sister and I against the forces that occupy Equestria,” Luna said.

Bloodbeak’s face darkened, and he leaned forward in his chair and said, “You can’t be serious.” When Luna remained unfazed, he scowled and rose from his seat. “Who are you to call upon the griffons to aid you in a lost cause? You want me to amass the griffons to go to war against an army that is vastly larger and, possibly, more well equipped than ours?” 

“What I ask of you, King Bloodbeak, is to help aid a nation that is in great peril,” Luna said flatly. “Only a short while ago, my father, King Sol, had set up negotiations with The Griffon Kingdoms, securing a powerful trade route that connected this nation, Equestria, and The Night Guard State. The only thing he asked for in return was when you were called upon to help either nation, you would heed that call.”

Bloodbeak slowly approached Luna, and Forza’s lips curled into a snarl. Bloodbeak said, “Your father is dead, Luna. Equestria is dead, fallen to the might of the Eternal Valley’s armies. You are clinging onto hope that has already been extinguished everywhere you turn. Why do you wish to get others involved in this little game you and your sister play?”

“You are already involved in this game. Don’t you see what Discord’s plans are? He quickly dispatched the largest threat to his conquest: Queen Chrysalis and the Eternal Valley. He then made his move onto Equestria, obliterating Everfree City and killing both of my parents, as well as attempting to kill Celestia and I. Right now he is cleaning up the rest of the Equestrian cities, pushing towards the borders of the Night Guard State. Where do you think he will turn to next?”

Bloodbeak’s face softened, and he raised an eyebrow. “You think he will conquer The Night Guard State, the nation with the strongest military in the known world? How can you be so sure?”

Luna tucked her wings in back against her sides, and said, “Years ago, my mother and father created two artifacts that are able to harness and contain the raw magical energy of the sun and the moon. Discord was drawn to this source of power, and in his attack on Everfree City, he sought to steal the artifact that held the moon’s power: the Element of Chaos.

“However, before Discord had even arrived at the city, my mother had hidden the two artifacts away.” Luna paused, watching as Bloodbeak scratched under his chin with one of his talons. “Unfortunately, when my mother hid the artifacts, she did not disclose their whereabouts to my sister or I. Instead, for the past six months, we have been using all of our available resources to locate one of the artifacts: the Element of Harmony. With its power alone, we could successfully stop Discord and Chrysalis.”

“So why are you here now?” Bloodbeak asked, walking around Luna. “Why are you asking for our aid instead of looking for the Element of Harmony?”

“We need a distraction,” Luna replied, watching as Bloodbeak circled around her and Forza. “My sister has already gone after the Element of Harmony, but we cannot battle Discord and Chrysalis alone with the meagre amount of organized forces left in Equestria. That’s why I come to you, to ask for your help.”

Bloodbeak continued to pace around Luna and Forza. He stared at the ground, muttering to himself. Forza eyed Bloodbeak carefully, but she no longer scowled at him as he walked by her. Rikkard stood at attention on the side of the chamber, hardly moving a centimeter since Luna began speaking with Bloodbeak.

“You ask for me to lead my subjects to war that we very well may lose,” Bloodbeak finally said, stopping in front of Luna. “Equestria calls for the aid of the griffons, the Night Guard State calls for the aid of the griffons.”

Bloodbeak paused, glancing at Rikkard, who slouched his posture as his face fell. Rikkard opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Bloodbeak said, “The griffons shall not answer the call to aid. I am sorry, Princess Luna, but this is a war that we cannot fight in.”

Luna’s face fell, and her wings slumped to her sides. She tried to meet Bloodbeak’s eyes, but every time she gazed at him he turned away. Tears started to well up in her eyes, and she finally looked down at her hooves, allowing for one of the tears to roll along her cheek.

“You... You can’t just leave Equestria in the clutches of Discord,” Luna said quietly. “Without you, everything that everypony has known and loved will be wiped from existence forever.” Bloodbeak remained silent, staring at Luna. She raised her head back up and added, “Please, Bloodbeak, we need your help.”

Luna stared hard into Bloodbeak’s eyes, but the king merely shook his head and turned, walking back towards the throne chair. Luna’s head sank once more, and as she turned to leave, Forza placed a hoof on her shoulder. Luna’s eyes lifted, but Forza was staring at Bloodbeak when she said, “What if Luna were to complete Twilight Gauntlet?”

Bloodbeak and Rikkard’s heads jerked towards Forza, and Bloodbeak slowly strode up to her. He towered over her, but Forza remained fixed in her spot. 

“No,” Bloodbeak said, “I will not allow her to participate in the Twilight Gauntlet. She is not a griffon, nor would she have the capability to handle such a test even if she was.”

“Pardon, My Lord,” Rikkard said, stepping forward, “but the Twilight Gauntlet admits anyone who so wishes to participate. She has as much eligibility as you or I.”

Bloodbeak whirled around, but before he could say anything Luna asked, “What is the Twilight Gauntlet?”

“It is a series of tests that push your body to the limit against other griffons or foes,” Rikkard replied. Bloodbeak turned back around with his face contorted into a snarl. “It lasts for three days, and you are given six challenges that you are to complete. You are not given a time limit, but there is a punishment if you fail any of the tests.”

“What is the punishment?” Luna asked, eyeing Rikkard curiously. 

“Death,” Rikkard said quietly. “Not by us griffons, but by the tests itself. Each test is a fight for your own survival, so if you fail to complete any of them, you will be subjected to whatever horrors you are to face.”

“And what if I were to complete all of the tests?”

“You would have one, undeniable request that you may give to the griffons,” Bloodbeak said coldly, his feathers ruffling against his sides.

Luna looked down at her hooves, and her wings flared out on either side of her. Bloodbeak and Rikkard stared hard at Luna, watching her intently as she thought. The chamber was deathly silent, only being interrupted every time Bloodbeak took a breath. Forza shifted uneasily next to Luna.

“You are just as reckless as your sister.” 

Luna cringed, and she was about to take a step back when a vision flashed before her eyes. She saw the cherry blossoms of Everfree Castle’s gardens, the pink flowers blowingly lazily in the gentle wind. The sky was clear, and the birds were chirping their beautiful songs. She heard the sounds emanating from the market place, with all of the ponies running to and fro on their daily business.

Luna’s heart fluttered from the spectacle, and slowly joy and determination started to fill her heart and her eyes. Foals ran playfully through the streets, closely being followed by their mothers or fathers who chased after them. Ponies happily greeted each other as they walked, while others stopped to chat with a neighbor or a close friend. 

“Sometimes we have to make sacrifices,” Luna said, looking up. “I rule a nation alongside my sister; a nation that is broken and failing under the tyrannical grip to Discord. Equestria was once a beautiful land teeming with lush nature, happy citizens, and undying love, and I plan to restore it back to its former glory, or I will die trying.”

Luna took a deep breath. Forza stood proudly, Rikkard stared quizzically, and Bloodbeak scowled, turning and returning to the throne chair. 

“I wish to run the Twilight Gauntlet.”
> Chapter 8: On the Trail
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elements Chapter 8

Celestia and Moonlight stood in the sewer, staring up at the grate above them. The sun was beginning to set, causing a gentle beam of light to radiate down into the slimy floor. Ponies walked to and fro over the grate, and the sounds from Stalliongrad above echoed down into the sewer. Celestia leaned heavily on two of her legs, and she glanced back at her hind leg and saw multiple gashes running up to her flank. She cringed when she attempted to put more weight onto the leg.

“We need to seek some medical attention,” Moonlight said, staring at Celestia. “I’ll run above ground and see who we can fetched to help get you out of here.”

Before Moonlight could turn to leave, Celestia said, “No, Moonlight. The less ponies that know that I am in Stalliongrad, the better. Word would get out quickly if I were to be discovered, and no doubt Discord will begin to move the Changelings onto Stalliongrad faster than we want. Try to see where we are and we’ll plan from there.”

Moonlight gazed at the gashes along Celestia’s hind leg, and she cringed slightly before turning and galloping off further down the sewer. Celestia listened as the thudding of her hooves disappeared around a corner, and then she slumped up against the curved wall of the sewer. She glanced back at her leg, scanning the open folds of skin with disgust.

Celestia sat down on the sewer floor and extended her mutilated leg out across her. Her horn lit up, and very gently her magic started to grip the folds of skin. Celestia took a deep breath, and she pulled the wounds closed on her leg, causing pain to course through her body. She swallowed a scream that began to rise in her throat, and when she managed to close the wounds, she thread magic through her skin to act as stitches. Once she finished, she looked at her work.

The magical stitches were twisted in different directions, and Celestia’s skin felt stretched when she moved her leg back and forth. She slowly rose back onto her hooves, keeping weight off of her hind leg. She began to take a few steps towards the direction Moonlight had gone, but she quickly stopped when hoofsteps started to echo off of the walls down the sewer.

Moonlight reappeared around the corner she had departed from, and she stopped in her tracks when she saw Celestia’s leg.

“Did you...” Moonlight said slowly, her eyes drifting back up to Celestia’s.

“It will help keep the wounds from getting infected,” Celestia said, grimacing when she took a step forward.

“I don’t think...” Moonlight trailed off when Celestia took another step. “We should find medical attention as quickly as possible. We’re lucky, this sewer is located directly below the Stalliongrad Library, which lies across the street from the National Equestrian Hospital.”

Celestia’s eyes widened, and she said, “Take me to the Stalliongrad Library.”

“But shouldn’t you get your leg looked at first?” Moonlight asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Bring one of the nurses from the hospital over to the library,” Celestia said, limping past Moonlight. “Hospitals keep records of those who are admitted. It’s safer if one of the nurses came to me.”

Moonlight eyed Celestia carefully as she passed, and then fell in next to her. Celestia limped slowly down the sewer, and eventually she had began using Moonlight for support once again when the pain in her leg intensified. Moonlight leaned up against Celestia, and she lit her horn up once they started to pass through a darker section of the tunnel.

“Your Majesty,” Moonlight said. “I’ve been meaning to ask, who was the serpent back in the caves underneath Drakenridge Mountains? He said you knew who he was, even though he never gave his name or a hint of his identity.”

Celestia cringed when she slipped slightly on the smooth cement of the sewer, and she said, “I can’t help but think the serpent was none other than Quetzalcoatl, one of the ancient Gods of Creation. How he was still alive, I have no idea. My mother once told me how she vanquished the beast, but now that we have discovered him still alive, perhaps he was only merely imprisoned.”

“How could he stay imprisoned beneath Drakenridge?” Moonlight asked, stepping lightly over a patch of sludge. “I saw no chains holding him back, and he seemed as if he could leave the mountain as he pleased with how persistent his attacks were against you.”

“I’m hoping to find out at the Stalliongrad Library. The archives of the library are extensive, and it is the biggest library in all of Equestria. I’m bound to find some sort of history on him.”

“What about the deer and finding the Element of Harmony?” Moonlight asked, stopping in front of a staircase that led up to a heavy door.

“That is where I need your help, Moonlight,” Celestia said, looking down at Moonlight. “I need you to travel around Stalliongrad and see if you can find any trace of where the deer is heading. This city’s population is staggering, even after when Germaney laid siege. I’m sure at least somepony knows of her whereabouts, if not a couple thousand.”

“What about you?” Moonlight asked, slowly helping Celestia make her way up the steps. “Are you sure you will be alright without somepony to help you with your leg?”

“I’ll be fine, Moonlight,” Celestia said, panting when they reached the top of the stairs. “Once a nurse from the hospital takes a look at me, I can use my magic to ease the pain from my leg. In the meantime, let’s get inside the library.”

Moonlight led Celestia around to the back of the library, and Moonlight lit up her horn, using her magic to weave into the lock and push the door open. They stepped inside, letting the back door close behind them, and they walked over to a corner where Celestia sat down. Moonlight looked over Celestia’s leg one last time, and then she galloped back out of the door again.

Celestia shifted uneasily and leaned her head up against the wall. She was in a small storage room that was filled with old dusty books, and in the corner was a pile of large, rolled maps propped against the wall. The room was dark, with only the light from the crack underneath the the back door and the door into the library shining along the floor. Celestia sighed, and she slowly extended her hind leg out when a dull pain started to throb through her body.

The door into the library clicked and slowly began to swing open. Celestia skirted behind one of the tall bookshelves full of books, and she peered her head around the corner. A pale green earth pony with a gray mane and tale edged her way into the storage room. She held a candle in her mouth, the dim light illuminating the many books that filled the bookshelves. She stopped at one particular bookshelf, placed the candle on a small sconce, and grabbed a book from the third shelf in her mouth. When she turned back around, Celestia’s mouth dropped.

“Meadow Free?” Celestia asked, inching herself further from the the bookshelf.

Meadow Free dropped the book in her mouth, and her head snapped towards Celestia. She stood frozen, staring while the light from the candle flickered on and off of her face. She took a step forward.

“Celestia?” she asked. When Celestia began to slowly rise to her hooves, Meadow Free bounded the rest of the way to her and helped her up. “You are a total mess! Look at your leg, and look at your wings. What are you doing here?”

Celestia stumbled slightly when she was back on her hooves, and she said, “It’s a long story, Meadow Free. I’ll be sure to tell you, but right now I’m waiting for a companion to come back from the hospital with one of the nurses.”

“Let’s move you out into the lobby,” Meadow Free said, leading Celestia out of the storage room. “I just closed the library up, so there should be nopony left in the whole building besides us two.”

“You closed the library up?” Celestia asked, glancing down at Meadow Free.

“Yes. When Regality and I fled Everfree City before the... uh, the battle, we took the road to Stalliongrad, figuring that it would be the safest place to stay while the Changelings are roaming about. I quickly found a job as the assistant librarian here at the Stalliongrad Library, and Regality found a job on the city watch as one of the tower guards.”

Meadow Free led Celestia onto one of the couches in the main lobby, and she quickly fetched some blankets that were underneath a coffee table. She carried them over to Celestia, but Celestia shook her head and smiled. 

“I’m not cold, Meadow Free,” Celestia said. “But thank you for the offer.” 

Meadow Free nodded, and she instead laid the blankets across the floor. She then sat on the couch next to Celestia and started looking over her wounds on her hind leg. 

“Where did you get these?” she asked, glancing up at Celestia.

“Well, it’s the precise reason why I am here,” Celestia said. “I have reason to believe that my companion, Moonlight, and I ran into Quetzalcoatl while we were beneath the Drakenridge Mountains, and so I want to try to find out if my suspicions are correct.”

“You think you found Quetzalcoatl?” Meadow Free asked, raising her eyebrows. “From what I know from my history classes years ago, he was the God of Creation who wished to undo all of the work done to time and life. What happened to him?”

“He attempted to kill me,” Celestia said, looking away. “And in his attempt, he caused to entire cavern he was in to collapse on top of him. Moonlight and I nearly escaped, and during my evasion of his attacks, he inflicted several wounds across me.”

Meadow Free’s ears swiveled in place, and she jumped from the couch and said, “That must be your companion and the nurse now. I hear somepony opening the door to the storage closet.”

Celestia’s ears folded back as Meadow Free trotted towards the back of the library. She heard the back door out of the storage room close just as Meadow Free disappeared around a corner. A few voices rose from the back rooms, and in a few minutes Meadow Free reemerged with Moonlight and a white earth pony in tow. Moonlight galloped ahead of the others and skidded to a halt in front of Celestia.

“Oh! Good, you’re okay,” Moonlight said, her eyes landing on the wounds on Celestia’s leg. “I was worried when I didn’t find you in the storage room. I wasn’t sure if somepony found you or you had wanted to try to venture around on your own.”

Celestia smiled, and she glanced at Meadow Free and said, “Well, somepony did find me. I suppose she must have heard the back door open when we first entered the library and went to investigate.”

Moonlight quickly turned around, and she started to gingerly rub one of her forehooves across the other. Meadow Free smiled at Moonlight, who sheepishly smiled back. 

“I, uh... I guess I didn’t properly introduce myself,” Moonlight said. “My name is Moonlight Sonata.”

“We all fret when the pony we are supposed to be watching over suddenly disappears,” Meadow Free said, glancing at Celestia. “My name is Meadow Free, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

Moonlight nodded at Meadow Free, and then her eyes widened. She spun around to face the nurse, who still stood a bit away from the other ponies. She was carrying a large medical bag in her mouth, and she wore a white cap on top of her mane. Without waiting for Moonlight to say a word, the nurse stepped over to Celestia and dropped the medical bag on the edge of the blankets Meadow Free had strewn out.

“Uh, hello, Your Majesty,” the nurse said, blushing slightly. “My name is Golden Cure. Do you think you could move onto the blankets for me?”

“Of course,” Celestia said. She started to rise from the couch, but she stumbled slightly when she started to put some of her weight onto her hind leg. The nurse quickly leapt up next to Celestia and pressed herself up against the princess’ side, becoming a makeshift crutch for the princess. She lead Celestia over to the blankets, and moved out of the way when Celestia collapsed.

Golden Cure rushed over to her medical bag and ripped it open. Celestia watched as the nurse pulled out bandage wraps, tweezers, a scalpel, cotton balls, and a surgical suture. Golden Cure picked up all of the supplies and kneeled over Celestia. She sighed, looking at the princess’ leg up and down.

“Did you try to seal these wounds yourself?” the nurse asked, pulling a face mask over her mouth.

Celestia nodded, and Golden Cure bent over and picked up the tweezers in her mouth. She began to cut the stitches Celestia had magically made earlier, causing the skin around the wounds to go lax. When all of the stitches had been cut, the nurse set the tweezers down and began to pull the strings out of Celestia. Tingling sensations shot up Celestia’s leg when each string was pulled out, and she bit her lip.

“Can one of you hold that?” Golden Cure said, nodding at a bottle of hydrogen peroxide sticking out of the top of her medical bag.

Moonlight grabbed the hydrogen peroxide in her magic and held it next to Golden Cure. The nurse picked up a cotton ball, placed it on top of the hydrogen peroxide bottle, and turned it over, soaking the cotton ball. She then dragged the ball across Celestia’s wounds, and Celestia cringed slightly.

“Moonlight, do you think you could give the bottle to Meadow Free?” Celestia asked once Golden Cure tossed the cotton ball she had been using away. When Meadow Free stepped forward, Moonlight gave her the bottle and then skirted around the two mares to stand in front of Celestia. 

“I need you to go out and try to find out about the whereabouts of the deer,” Celestia added, wincing again when Golden Cure started going over her wounds with another cotton ball. “Search everywhere. The sooner we depart from Stalliongrad, the better.”

Moonlight’s gazed shifted to Meadow Free and Golden Cure, and Celestia shook her head and said, “I’ll be alright, Moonlight. Don’t worry. I trust Meadow Free with my life. Please, go look for the deer.”

Moonlight nodded, and she bowed low in front of Celestia before departing for the back of the library. The door closed quietly behind her, and Celestia looked back at Meadow Free and Golden Cure. The nurse had already tossed the other cotton ball away, and she was replacing her face mask. Meadow Free set the bottle down.

“Where did you find somepony like her?” Meadow Free asked. “She’s like your own personal bodyguard.”

“She gave Luna and I a place to live when we escaped from Everfree,” Celestia said. “She reminds me of you quite a bit, you know. Protective, gentle, and motherly. You can’t say you didn’t get that impression at first.”

Meadow Free chuckled. “Well, I guess you’re right.” She glanced at Golden Cure, watching as the nurse picked up the surgical suture and started to thread the needle. “It looks as if you might be stuck on the floor a while longer. Is there anything you need?”

“Could you find me anything and everything you have on Quetzalcoatl and Grogar the Necromancer?” Celestia asked, wincing when Golden Cure started to stitch up the first of her wounds. “There are a few things that I need cleared up.”

“Cleared up?” Meadow Free asked. raising an eyebrow. “What else did you discover below the Drakenridge Mountains?”

“That’s what I want to find out. If you find me anything, I’ll try to answer as many questions as I can.”


~~~




By the time Golden Cure had finished stitching and wrapping Celestia’s wounds up, a large stack of books had been gathered on the floor by Meadow Free. Celestia levitated the first of the books in front of her, and she used a quill to write down her ideas onto a clipboard. She had already filled up an entire page, and she flipped the paper over to begin writing on another as her eyes scanned across the tiny print in the book.

Meadow Free scurried around the library, but as the minutes dragged on into an hour, she failed to find any additional books Celestia could use. She had managed to gather five books in total before she came trotting back to Celestia and Golden Cure. She sat down on the floor and grabbed one of the books from the stack, flipping it open and beginning to read.

Celestia’s eyes squinted as she read one particular book titled A Substantial Report on the Conceptualization of Magic and Time. She flipped through page after page, scanning the lines as quickly as she could until she came upon a word or two that caught her eye. She barely noticed as Golden Cure began to close up the medical bag and turn towards Celestia.

“That should be everything, Your Highness,” Golden Cure said, bowing. “I hope I didn’t cause any distress with my work. I haven’t been working for very long, but I did the best that I could do.”

Celestia looked up from her book and smiled. “No no, you did a wonderful job, Nurse Cure. I hardly even noticed that you had been here now that I had a few books to read.”

Golden Cure blushed, and she began to turn to leave when she was stopped by a tug on her tail. She turned and saw that Celestia’s horn was alight, and that the tip of her red tail had been surrounded by the princess’ magic. 

“I couldn’t just let you go without paying you for your services first,” Celestia said. “If you go to the bank any time soon and ask to see the bank manager, give him or her this.” She levitated a piece of paper towards the nurse, whose eyes went wide when she started to read over its contents. “Please don’t hesitate to use it. I’m sure ten thousand bits will be sufficient.”

Golden Cure tucked the note into her medical bag and bounded over to Celestia, giving her a huge hug. Her eyes widened quickly, but the guilt that started to flood her eyes melted away when she felt Celestia extend one of her hooves around her. 

“Thank you so much, Your Majesty!” Golden Cure exclaimed, releasing the hug. “I don’t know what to say.”

Celestia smiled once again and said, “I think it would be best if you return to your job before you have been gone for too long.”

Golden Cure’s cheeks flushed, and she nodded and turned to depart out the back of the library. Celestia watched as the nurse disappeared around the back corner, and listened as the door shut behind her. She levitated her book back up in front of her.

“Ten thousand bits?” Meadow Free inquired, her muzzle still buried in her own book. 

“Times are tough,” Celestia replied. “Besides, the little extra bit of money should refrain her from telling anypony else that I am here in Stalliongrad.”

A loud squawk echoed from the second floor of the library, and Celestia’s head snapped up towards the balcony that looked out the lower level. She saw a large birdcage sitting atop the railing that contained a large, red and orange bird inside of it. Her heart began to flutter. She snapped her head towards Meadow Free.

“You have Philomena with you?” Celestia asked enthusiastically.

Meadow Free’s eyes widened, and she said, “Oh! I’m sorry Celestia! I meant to tell you that I took her with me when Regality and I departed Everfree City.”

Meadow Free jumped to her hooves and galloped over to the staircase on the far side of the library. She bounded up the steps, then sprinted over towards the cage where she unlatched the door. Philomena pushed the door open, and then she shot straight out of the cage and dived for Celestia. The phoenix slowed its descent, and gently landed on top of Celestia’s head.

Celestia beamed, and she bent her head back so she could scratch the tip of her horn against Philomena’s belly. The phoenix cooed in delight, and she ruffled her feathers slightly.

“She’s been moping around the library ever since we arrived in Stalliongrad,” Meadow Free said after she had trotted back down to the first level. “I tried everything to cheer her up. From buying her favorite treats to taking her on long breaks to fly around the parks here in the city, nothing seemed to cheer her up enough to have her feathers shine so brightly as they do now.”

“I’m so glad I can see her again,” Celestia said. Philomena gently bit down on the tip of Celestia’s horn, and she shuddered. “Okay, that is enough of that Philomena.” The phoenix squawked, jumping off of Celestia’s head and onto her back.

Meadow Free plopped down on the floor in front of the book she had been reading. She began to look back down at the book when a gurgle rose up from over by Celestia. She lifted her head, staring quizzically at the princess. 

“When was the last time you have eaten?” Meadow Free asked.

“Um...” Celestia said, shrinking back. “Three days ago.”

Meadow Free rose back to her hooves. “I’ll go get something for us to eat. You keep reading.”

Celestia rolled her eyes, smiling. “Yes, Meadow Free.”

When Meadow Free had disappeared into the back of the library, Celestia picked the book she had been reading. She flipped through more and more pages, her eyes shooting across the pages. Occasionally her eyes would stop, and she read through a particular excerpt from the book, but she would resume flipping pages once again when the excerpt disinterested her.

Philomena yawned behind Celestia, causing Celestia to yawn with her. She flipped more lazily through the pages, her eyes scanning slowly over each word. Her ears perked when there was some clattering coming from the back of the library, but her eyes remained glued to the book in front of her. She was about to turn another page when a word caught her eye.

Quetzalcoatl.

Celestia began to slowly read over the page, and she dipped her quill in the inkpot next to her. She furiously wrote while she was reading along the page. Celestia hardly noticed Meadow Free return from the back of the library with a tray full of food as she turned the page of the book.

“Found something?” Meadow Free said, setting the tray down in between them.

“I think I have,” Celestia said without looking up. “There is this massive section on Quetzalcoatl and the creation of chaotic magic. It’s all speculative, but it’s the best we will find most likely.”

“What does it say?”

Celestia finished scribbling the last bit of her notes onto the clipboard. She put the book down and levitated the clipboard in front of her.

“According to a deer by the name of Dragher’nok,” Celestia said, “there existed an age when the only things present were the essences of Time and Life themselves. There was a void that made up the entirety of the universe that we know of today, and that void had been condensed down to the size of a singularity. 

“However, within that singularity, four beings were created from Time and Life. Entities with immense power caused the singularity to explode out into the emptiness beyond it, filling everything with magic, time, and life.” Celestia paused, looking at her notes. “As the universe continued to fill, these entities started to work with the magic that had been confined within the singularity. They created stars, planets, physics, and they were able to shape the essence know as Life into tangible beings.”

“This sounds very similar to the secular theory on the universe’s creation,” Meadow Free said, scratching her chin with a hoof. 

“Yes,” Celestia replied, nodding. “All you would have to do is replace a few words and the theories would be identical.”

“Coming from a deer, this is intriguing. They are known for their traditional beliefs, as well as the accuracy their beliefs hold. Is there more?”

“One of the entities came to be known as Quetzalcoatl, the God of Light,” Celestia continued. “He was the first to begin weaving the essence of Life to shape physical entities that may draw upon its source. He was soon followed by the other three, and together they created the world, the sky, and the world’s inhabitants.

“However, complications arose when they neared completion of their weaving. The world’s inhabitants seemed to be able to draw upon the magic of Time and Life themselves, allowing them to progress as individuals. An argument broke out between the four gods over how the inhabitants were able to draw upon the magic, with each accusing the other of giving the ability to wield magic.”

Meadow Free lifted her sandwich to her lips and took a bite, listening intently as Celestia continued, “Eventually one of the gods murdered another, convinced that he had been the one to give mortals the powers of the immortals. For her crimes, the murderer had her power stripped and confined within a powerful essence that we know as the moon today.”

Celestia paused, staring hard at her notes. “Wait a minute, Luna’s nightmares...”

“What about Luna’s nightmares?” Meadow Free asked. “You don’t think...”

Celestia glanced at Meadow Free, her eyes dark, “She is tied to the Element of Chaos. That black mare could very well be the God who murdered that which gave us mortals the ability to use magic.”

“What else did you find?” Meadow Free asked, putting her sandwich down.

“There is some more,” Celestia said, looking back at the clipboard. “When the murderer had been banished to the moon, the two remaining gods broke into another argument whether or not the mortals should have the magic taken away from them. Quetzalcoatl favored stripping them of their magic, but the other god refused to cooperate.

“Quetzalcoatl was furious, and he used to same power that banished the murderer to the moon to banish the other god to what we now know as the sun. However, in his efforts, he lost his last chance to fully strip the mortals of their magic powers. With no other god to support him if he were to make the attempt to take the mortal’s magic, he instead started to divide the reality of Time and Life. He separated the two magics into separate realities, cutting the mortals off from being able to use any source of chaotic magic.”

Celestia put the clipboard down slowly while also raising the sandwich Meadow Free had made for her to her lips. The mare across from her stared at Celestia.

“What did Quetzalcoatl tell you when you found him below the Drakenridge Mountains?” Meadow Free asked.

After Celestia had taken a bite of her sandwich, she said, “He told me how chaotic magic was leaking into this reality through the moon, and that the essence on the moon tries to use those that can wield magic to help bring chaotic magic back.” Celestia levitated another book in front of her as she took another bite, and then she said, “I still don’t know why he was only banished and trapped below Drakenridge rather than vanquished.”

Meadow Free looked back down at her book, scanning over the words on the page. “That may very well only be a question your mother or father could answer. I don-”

The back door to the library opened, and Celestia and Meadow Free whipped the heads around while their ears perked. Moonlight came trotting out of the back of the library, a confident smile stretched across her face. Celestia relaxed, watching as Moonlight approached while Meadow Free returned to reading the book in front of her. Philomena shuffled her wings behind Celestia, and then closed her eyes.

“Did you find the location of the deer already?” Celestia asked, gently setting the book down. 

“After visiting a few of the taverns nearby,” Moonlight started once she had sat down in front of Celestia, “I found one particular owner who said he had seen a deer pass through Stalliongrad who met our description. She left Stalliongrad only yesterday, although the owner didn’t know where she went, but he knows a pony who might know.”

Celestia slowly set her sandwich down. “Who is this pony?”

“He is the owner at a brothel only half a kilometer from here. Apparently the deer stayed at the brothel while she was visiting Stalliongrad.”

“You mean to say that this deer stayed at Starlight Spectacle?” Meadow Free asked, looking up from her book. “The largest and most revered brothel in Stalliongrad?”

“It would seem so,” Moonlight said. “I went over to Starlight Spectacle, asking for the manager of the establishment. He said he would answer my questions, but only if he spoke to the princess while doing so.”

Celestia wings shifted uneasily against her sides. “How does he know I’m here in Stalliongrad?”

“I don’t know, Your Majesty,” Moonlight said, “But he is our best bet at finding out where the deer went.”

Celestia closed the book in front of her. “Then we had best go speak to this manager. If he is telling the truth and knows where the deer is going, then we should be able to leave Stalliongrad by morning.”

> Chapter 9: Let the Games Begin
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elements Chapter 9

Rays of light shone through the carved slits in the walls, filling the room with a substantial amount of light. Luna squinted when one of the rays of light streaked across her eyes as she lay awake in her bed staring at the Flutterpony who slept next to her. Forza’s chest rose and fell steadily, and her face remained peaceful while she lay faced towards Luna. 

Luna rolled onto her back. The sounds of High Talon Rock echoed from the city below, quietly filling the room with muffled shouts, squawks, and conversation. She and Forza lay in one of the guest rooms of the castle, which contained a single bed, a drawer, a closet, and a balcony that opened up for a view of the city and mountains beyond. 

You do not sleep.

Luna’s ears perked up, and she glanced at Forza only to see that the Flutterpony remained asleep. She looked back up at the ceiling. You can now speak to me out of my dreams?

I always could, the black mare’s voice said, but I never chose to. There was never a reason.

And there is a reason now? Luna asked. 

There is, in fact. Remember what I told you about being reckless?

I do not care to listen. Luna’s face contorted into a frown and she began to count the cracks that ran through the ceiling.

Do not be such a foal, Luna, the black alicorn said, a hint of irritation creeping in her voice. Do you have any idea what you are getting involved in? You’re putting your life at risk so that you may save a failing nation. You’re sacrificing yourself in hopes that you may give these unthankful mortals a chance to continue mulling about.

Equestria is not failing, Luna growled. Have you not seen the spirit that still holds strong in everypony? We may be beaten, and we may have lost more than anypony could have dreamed, but we have not lost everything.

Pack up and run, Luna, the black mare said calmly. Retreat north. Retreat to the Crystal Empire. Seek shelter with them. Don’t stay here and try to save this dead nation.

Why the Crystal Empire? Luna asked. They have shunned the rest of the world, refusing to integrate with the rest of us for fear that we may somehow corrupt the Crystal Heart. Why would they allow for ‘Tia and I to enter their kingdom and take shelter?

There was no response. Luna growled audibly, and she rolled back onto her side to face Forza, her eyes coming into direct contact with Forza’s own. Her breath caught in her throat as the Flutterpony’s cold eyes bore into her’s. 

“I-I’m sorry that I woke you,” Luna said quietly.

“You didn’t wake me,” Forza said, lifting her head. “I have been awake for awhile now, and so have you. Why do you not sleep?”

“It’s...” Luna started, staring at Forza, whose dark, red eyes searched her face. Luna looked away, grimacing up at the ceiling. “It’s not something I’d like to particularly talk about.”

Forza scooted closer to Luna, and she reached one hoof around Luna to pull her back onto her side. Their muzzles were centimeters away from each other, and Luna could feel Forza’s gentle breath blow on her face. Their eyes locked.

“You said that last time,” Forza said, “yet you are visibly bothered by an internal battle you are having with yourself.” Luna tried to look away, but Forza’s eyes forced her own in place. “There is only so long that you can hide what it is that tears you apart. Do not let your pride or determination distance those who wish to help you.”

Luna opened her mouth, but she was interrupted when there came a sharp rap on the door. Forza’s eyes narrowed, and she slowly turned over and rose herself from the bed. Luna did the same, and she walked up behind Forza when the Flutterpony opened the door. Rikkard was standing outside dressed in painted griffon platemail. He had a long Runka spear strapped across his back.

“Good morning ladies,” Rikkard said, bowing. Forza opened the door more, allowing for Luna to stand next to her. “I have come to tell you that the preparations for the Twilight Gauntlet have been made, and that you have been requested to meet King Bloodbeak at the first trial. If you have anything you wish to do today, I suggest that you do so now.”

“No, we are ready,” Luna said quickly. Forza shot her a side glance.

Rikkard nodded his head, and he turned from the door and started to walk down the hall. Luna stepped into the hall and fell in behind Rikkard, shortly followed by Forza, who shut the door behind them and strode up next to the princess. They quickly arrived at the elevator, piling in before the griffon at the lever could shut the door. After giving the elevator a brief glance, the griffon pulled the lever and spurred on the elevator’s descent. 

“Is there anything you can tell me about these upcoming trials?” Luna asked Rikkard, steadying herself after the initial jolt of the elevator’s descent.

“I cannot discuss anything about the trials prior the event,” Rikkard replied grimly. “Any information can give cause to either give you an unfair advantage over the test or lower your confidence.”

“Lower my confidence?”

“The Twilight Gauntlet does reward failure with death,” Rikkard’s voice was quiet, and he refused to look at either Luna and Forza. “I did state so before.”

Luna looked uneasily at Forza, and the rest of the descent down the mountain continued in silence. The elevator jerked to a halt and was locked in place by the griffon at the bottom of the mountain. Rikkard stepped off first, nodding thanks to the griffon then leading Luna and Forza alongside the mountain. The streets were filled with griffons and ponies, but Rikkard walked through the throng quickly.

They came upon a gate, smaller to the gate they had initially passed through, and the griffon standing guard hurriedly ushered them through. Beyond the gate was a large expanse of rolling grasslands with large, snow capped mountains in the distance. Rikkard continued to lead them alongside the mountain, across a large river, and then towards the edge of a dense forest that bordered the Northern Drakenridge Mountains. At the edge of the forest stood a large crowd of griffons and ponies who were all kept a far distance away from the treeline. 

King Bloodbeak stepped forward as Luna approached, and he scowled when Luna graciously bowed before him. Rikkard stood next to Bloodbeak with the Runka spear unsheathed and held out in front of him.

“I am putting my nation at a great risk for allowing you to attempt the Twilight Gauntlet,” Bloodbeak said in a hushed growl. “Know that I will be watching you, Princess Luna. If I catch a hint of any deceit, I will personally throw you out of my kingdom. You have a nation to protect, and so do I.”

Luna glared at Bloodbeak. “Your message has been duly noted.”

Bloodbeak stepped back, allowing for Rikkard to take his place. “Before we begin the trials, there is a set of rules that must be followed in order for this to be considered a legitimate run of the Twilight Gauntlet. First, you are not allowed to use your magic at any point during the gauntlet.”

Luna’s ears folded back, but she listened as Rikkard continued. “Second, when you begin any of the trials, you are not allowed to leave the vicinity of the trail area until the test has been completed. The test areas are typically very large, however, so there should be no problem.

“Lastly, you are permitted to use this,” Rikkard pushed the Runka spear in front of Luna’s face, and she gingerly gripped the spear in her teeth. “You may use the spear in anyway you wish, but be warned, you are only given one spear. If it is ever broken or lost, you will not be given a new one.” Luna placed the buttend of the spear on the ground and propped it against her shoulder. “That being said, you may use anything in the environment you wish. Remember: this is a fight for survival, so anything I did not list off as a rule is permitted.”

Luna nodded her head, signally for Rikkard to continue. “Right, then. Now that that is out of the way, I’ll present you with the first trial.” Rikkard stepped to the side and lifted one of his talons towards the forest. “In the forest lies a brood of giant spiders who remain hostile to any who step foot behind the treeline. During this time of the year, the broodmother lays her eggs somewhere inside the forest, and the spider eggs are important ingredients for some of the Griffon Kingdom’s finest dishes. Your task is to enter the forest, find the broodmother’s lair, and steal three of the eggs.”

Luna stared at the massive treeline before her. The foliage inside looked dark, more so than what the shade from the tree canopy could cover. The bark from the trees was old, and dull groans rumbled through the forest when a breeze kicked up around everyone. Luna’s eyes hardened as she looked back at Rikkard.

“How will I be able to carry the eggs out of the forest?” she asked.

“You must find that out on your own,” Rikkard replied, stepping away. “You may begin when you are ready.”

Luna pushed the Runka spear from her shoulder and quickly gripped it in her mouth. She took a step forward, but she stopped and turned around. Forza was staring at her. The Flutterpony’s eyes no longer sent shivers down her spine, and she nearly dropped the spear from her mouth. 

“Good luck, Princess Luna,” Forza said.

Luna nodded, and she slowly turned away and made her way past the dense shrubbery of the forest. The air felt heavier behind the treeline, causing Luna to pause before she tread any further into the forest. Dark vines of ivy wrapped around tree trunks and held limply from branches all around her. No light penetrated through the tree canopy, shrouding the entire forest in dim, hazy shadows.

A twig cracked underneath Luna’s hoof, breaking the eerie silence that added to the stillness of the air. She paused, ears swiveling around her head in every direction. Her eyes remained locked in front of her, straining to pierce through the darkness of the forest. When she saw that nothing in the forest moved besides the dense particles of air floating in front of her face, however, she gingerly glanced down at her hoof and moved on.

Luna treaded across the leaf-covered ground, snaking her way around thorny plants and low hanging branches that impeded her path. She carefully watched the ground as he moved underneath her hooves, scanning for any thin branches that could potentially snap under her weight. 

A small creek came threaded through the dense forest ahead of her. Luna made for the water to cross it, but before she reached the creek, there was a gentle rustle from the bushes on the other side. Luna slid her body against the side of a wide tree trunk and slowly began to peer around the trunk. She eyed the bush carefully with the spear gripped tightly in her mouth. 

After another rustle from the bush, a rabbit hopped from beneath the shrubbery and stopped before the creek. It began to lap up the water that flowed down stream, and Luna let out a sigh of relief, tucking the spear underneath her wing. She watched the rabbit for a few seconds more, and then she took a deep breath and stepped out from the tree trunk.

Before she could move any closer to the rabbit, a massive spider burst from the undergrowth and snatched the rabbit up in its jaws. The rabbit had hardly enough time to let out a squeak as the spider sunk its fangs into the rabbit’s stomach. Luna gasped, quickly sliding back behind the tree trunk and grabbing the spear in her teeth once again.

The spider turned back around from the tree and disappeared into the dense shrubbery. Luna waited, listening intently to the silence that had descended upon the forest again. Once she was certain that the only sound that filled her ears was from the creek, she stepped out from the tree trunk and bounded towards the edge of the water.

“That thing was nearly as big as I was,” Luna whispered to herself, glancing at the small spots of blood that coated a few of the rocks. She looked back up and spotted that some of the leaves the spider had disappeared behind were crinkled. “I bet that spider took the rabbit back to the broodmother’s lair.”

Luna dashed into the bushes, following after more crinkled leaves or minor scrapes against various tree trunks. The spider’s trail led her across more creeks, around tall rock formations, and even through a tall, abandoned wooden building. She had taken to flying towards the end of the trail, and she landed back onto the ground as the mouth of a massive cave came into view.

The cave mouth had numerous vines dangling in front of it, almost shrouding the large, gaping hole from anyone who happened to tread by it. Luna dived behind a few rocks that were a ways off from the cave, and she peered over the edge of the rocks towards the cave mouth. Another spider slowly made its way out of the cave, allowing for the vines to brush over its body. It paused, looking around the entrance to the cave.

Luna’s ear twitched when she heard a twig snap in the distance, and she watched as the spider twisted its body towards the sound. It sped off into the forest, leaving Luna alone at the mouth of the cave again. She glanced in the direction the spider had gone off to one last time, and then lifted herself from her hiding spot and trotted towards the mouth of the cave.

The vines parted easily for Luna as she stepped into the grotto. The ground squished under her hooves, and when she pressed her body up against the wall, a thick coat of slime rubbed over her wing. Luna recoiled, cringing from the strange sensation that the muck sent through her wing. She tried to whip the substance on her feathers off, but she soon gave up after a few powerful shakes of her wing failed to remove any of the slime. 

Luna huffed, took the Runka spear from underneath her other wing, and made her way deeper into the cave. A few shrubs grew along the sides of the wall, forcing Luna to make her way around them to avoid disturbing the deadening leaves. The stench from deeper inside the cave began to seep into her nostrils, and she had to suppress a gag that started to rise within her throat. 

This cave smells like I just walked into a room full of hundreds of plants of stinkweed, she thought to herself.

Luna rounded a corner and stopped in her tracks. Before her was a massive, dimly lit cavern. The chamber was circular in shape, with many holes filling the walls that were large enough to allow for one of the giant spiders to pass through individually. Below her was the source of light: thousands of glowing, green eggs filled the pit. Each egg seemed to pulsate like it had its own, beating heart.

Glancing around, Luna spotted a small slope carved into the side of the cavern that descended down into the pit. After checking each of the holes and failing to spot any giant spiders within the chamber, Luna started to make her way down. Before she reached the bottom, she grabbed a fern that was growing alongside the wall in her teeth and carried the plant with her to the first set of spider eggs she came across.

Luna sat down on the squishy ground and began tying the fern leaves together, making a small, makeshift basket that could easily fit three of the spider eggs inside it. She grabbed a vine that dangled next to her and used it to tie the end of the basket together. After testing its sturdiness, Luna picked up three of the eggs and placed them into the basket, closing it and then securing it closed with the vine. She then took the remaining piece of the vine and used it to tie the basket to her back.

Just as Luna finished tying the basket to her back, a deep hiss boomed from one of the holes above her. She quickly dashed behind some eggs, keeping herself low to the ground and pulling out the Runka spear. Glancing up, Luna spotted that a massive, purple spider started to make its way down into the pit.

The spider reached the bottom of the pit in a matter of seconds, landing on the squishy floor with a thud that shook the cavern walls. Luna peered around one of the eggs, and she watched as the spider rushed over to the far side of the pit. It used its foremost legs to begin sifting through the many eggs that were in front of it. Luna’s heart beat in her throat, and her ears folded back when more hisses and growls echoed from the spider.

When the broodmother failed to turn around, Luna started to crawl from out behind the eggs and jumped up onto the ramp to the top of the pit. She glanced once more behind her, and found that the spider was still concentrated on looking through the eggs on the far side of the pit. She took a deep breath, starting to slowly climb up the ramp towards the cave opening above.

Halfway up the ramp, Luna stepped onto a loose patch of rocks, slipping slightly and releasing some loose pebbles to slide down the side of the pit. She cringed, and quickly pressed herself up against the wall. The spider stopped sifting through the eggs in front of it, but after giving an irritated grunt, it returned to its task. Luna sighed in relief.

She made a dash the rest of the way up the ramp, trodding as carefully as she could over the rocky ground. When she finally reached the top of the ramp, she hid behind a few ferns that shrouded the actual view of the cave from the bottom of the pit. Her ears rotated in place, and she noticed that the entire pit had gone silent. 

Luna poked her head out from the bushes to peer down into the pit. The massive, purple spider was nowhere to be seen. Her eyes widened, and she ducked back into the bushes, panting.

Where did that thing go? Luna asked herself. How can something so massive just disappear without making a sound.

A pebble tumbled to the ground behind Luna, and she slowly turned around, meeting the eight eyes of the purple spider. She hardly managed to grip the spear in her mouth in time before two of the legs from the spider pushed her off of the edge of the pit. Luna landed in a pile of spider eggs, breaking through the soft shells and covering her body in the sticky, green bile inside of them. She looked up, and managed to scramble away before the spider could land directly on top of her.

Luna got back to her hooves, clutching the spear in her teeth. The spider made a lunge at her, but Luna quickly dodged the attack and thrust the spear into the side of the spider’s head. The beast reared back, screaming in agony and pulling Luna with it as she still clutched onto the weapon. She was thrown against the rocky wall of the pit, and upon contact, she lost grip of the spear, sending it flying across the cavern.

The spider charged Luna, and she rose to her hooves and dodged the massive beast as it collided head first into the pit wall. Luna scrambled over to the Runka spear, picking it back up into her teeth and making a dash for the ramp. The broodmother regained its balance, quickly pursuing after Luna and closing the gap quickly between them.

Before the broodmother had time to snap at Luna with its fangs, she leapt into the air, spread her wings, and banked sharply away to quickly shoot up to the top of the cave. The spider screamed behind her, and when Luna landed at the top of the pit, she galloped into the cave’s mouth.

Luna sped through the cave, and she soon burst through the original entrance back into the forest. There were more hisses and growls emanating from all around her, but Luna ignored them as she leapt back into the dense foliage and made her way back to the challenge’s starting point. Bushes and twigs cracked behind her under the weight of the spiders that gave pursuit.

Luna’s heart pounded in her ears, and desperate pants escaped from her mouth as she still clutched onto her spear. The eggs in the basket on her back bounced heavily while she galloped, leaving bruises across her skin. She was just about to reach the first creek she came across when she entered the forest when a leg from a spider extended and tripped her.

The creek was frigid as Luna tumbled out of the bushes and into the water. She quickly picked her spear back up and turned to face two spiders as they emerged from the bushes. One of the spiders already made to lunge at Luna, but before it could sink its teeth into her, she leapt up over the spider and landed on it’s back. The spider let out an ear-piercing hiss just as Luna turned and drove her spear into the center of its head.

The spider jerked upward, sending Luna flying through several branches of the tree behind her. The spider continued to rear backwards, and eventually it fell over onto its back and curled up into a ball. The other spider took one look at its slain partner, and it turned to charge Luna.

Luna groaned as she got back onto her hooves. She picked the spear back up in her teeth and leapt to the side before the spider had a chance to run her down. Weaving around to the back of the spider, Luna lunged with the spear at its abdomen, only to miss when the spider turned around and causing her to strike through one of its legs. The spider smacked Luna with another one of its legs, pushing her back into the creek. 

Instead of pursuing the attack, the spider hissed at Luna and vanished back into the forest. The princess watched it disappear, and after remaining in place and listening to the forest intently for several minutes, she tucked the Runka spear back under her wing. Walking over to the spider, she glanced at the wound on the top of its head, sighing and then making her way back towards the edge of the forest.

When she emerged from the treeline, a roar of cheers rose up from the crowd of griffons and ponies when they saw the basket of eggs on Luna’s back. Forza bounded up to Luna and embraced her in a tight hug, in which Luna responded with a hug of her own. Rikkard stood behind Forza, a slight smile stretched across his face.

“Glad to see you have returned with the eggs, Princess Luna,” Rikkard said once Forza and Luna broke from their hug. 

Luna untied the straps from the basket with her magic and levitated the basket over to one of the griffon guards, who quickly took the eggs began to walk back to High Talon Rock. When she was free of the eggs, Luna glanced over at Bloodbeak, who glowered back at her. 

“Would you like to clean up any wounds or... yourself before we move onto the next test?” Rikkard asked.

Luna looked down at herself, and the over at Forza and noticed that the Flutterpony now had some of the green bile on her coat. Forza rolled her eyes, and Luna said, “No, let us move onto the next challenge. There will be time to clean myself up when I have completed the second test.”

Bloodbeak growled and turned away to begin the trek to the next challenge.


~~~




After traversing for several hours across the grasslands of the Griffon Kingdoms, an enormous gorge came into view. The canyon looked to drop at least ninety meters into a thick bank of fog, which shrouded everyone’s view from being able to tell exactly how far down the canyon went. Caves lined either side of the canyon, and the walls were lined with hundreds of rock outcroppings that made it possible to at least attempt to walk along its sides. The troop came to a halt.

As several ponies and griffons walked to the edge of the gorge to look down, Bloodbeak and Rikkard both stepped forward towards Luna and Forza. Bloodbeak’s scowl had not lightened since they had left the forest, causing Luna to flair her wings. Rikkard held a thick rope around his neck.

“For your next test,” Rikkard said, motioning for two griffon guards to walk over, “you shall traverse Quarray Gorge to recover an artifact that has been placed at the end of gorge. However, because you have the ability of flight, you will be fitted with this rope to handicap yourself.”

The two guards stepped forward, taking the rope from Rikkard and tying it around Luna’s wings once she folded them back against her sides. Her eyes narrowed, but she did not flinch when the talons from the two guards scraped across her sides and on her wings. When the two guards were finished, she gave an experimental tug against the rope, failing to break the rope’s bonds. 

“Fit to your liking?” Bloodbeak asked. 

Luna looked away from Bloodbeak, instead focusing on Rikkard as he said, “If you follow me, I shall take you to the starting position.”

Luna and Forza walked behind Rikkard as they headed towards the edge of the canyon. Small cheers rose up as Luna passed groups of ponies. Ponies and griffons alike waved at Luna, some even attempting to reach out and touch the princess or the Flutterpony as they passed by. Luna simply nodded her head in return to the crowds cheers. 

When they reached the edge of the canyon, Luna peered over and noticed that there was a set of crudely cut stairs descending to the first of the rock outcroppings. Luna backed away from the edge and faced Forza and Rikkard.

“You may begin whenever you wish,” Rikkard said. He turned and started to walk back towards Bloodbeak. 

“I have a feeling Quarray Gorge is named for the Quarray Eels that inhabit those caves,” Forza said, looking at one of the caves on the far side of the canyon. “I, uh... I hope you will be careful.”

Luna raised an eyebrow. “When did you turn soft?”

Forza’s cheeks reddened, and she grimaced, but her eyes still remained warm to Luna’s gaze. “I have not turned soft, I just wish for you to be safe. You cannot save Equestria if you are... dead.”

“I’ll be okay,” Luna said, stepping forward and wrapping one hoof around Forza. “I’ll make it through the entire Twilight Gauntlet.”

Luna pulled away from Forza, and the two nodded at each other before Luna turned to make her way down the stairs to the first rock outcropping. The steps were small, and several rocks scattered and fell down the edge of the canyon into the mist. Luna looked over the edge once she had reached the ledge. 

“I can only imagine that this canyon spans much further down than this mist,” Luna said to herself. She backed away from the edge. “Just don’t look down.”

Luna leapt from ledge to ledge, securely placing each hoof down on the rocks before making another leap to the next ledge. She hopped onto small outcroppings that barely held her, cracking under her weight, and she hopped onto massive outcroppings that gave her enough room to have a running start. Whenever she spotted a cave on the next rock she was going to leap to, Luna tried hopping to a rock below the cave or backtracking to find another route around.  After what seemed like an hour, however, the muscles in her legs began to strain to continue to push her to the next ledge, and eventually she sat down next to the canyon wall when she leapt onto one very large rock.

Across from the rock outcropping was one of the large caves that were located throughout the canyon. Luna stared at the darkness within the cave, but when nothing emerged, she got back onto her hooves and made her way to the other side of the rock. 

On the rock that was closest to her, another cave was built into the side of the mountain. Luna shook her head and looked down, spotting a rock that was further off.

“If I make a running jump, I’m sure I will be able to make it,” she said to herself.

Luna began to slowly backup on the rock, but before she had even made it halfway across, the entire ledge cracked. Luna held her ground, her legs shaking violently as the ledge cracked once more. 

“Horsefeathers,” Luna said to herself. “I’m not going to make it.”

She eyed the ledge with the cave warily. The sound of her thumping heart filled her ears as another crack erupted from the far side of the ledge. Luna’s legs tensed, and just as the entire outcropping began to fall, she made a running jump for the ledge in front of her. When her hooves left the rock, the ledge broke from the canyon wall and plunged into the mist below.

Luna’s hooves easily landed on the next ledge, but before she had time to steady herself on the rock, a massive, pink eel emerged from the cave. It snarled and lunged at Luna, who deftly dodged the attack by hopping over the eel to the other side of the ledge. However, she stopped in her tracks when she saw that there were no other rocks that she could jump to from the ledge she was on. She glanced across the canyon for a second and spotted a ledge on the far side halfway down towards the mist. 

The quarray eel turned around and made another lunge at Luna, but before it could snap its jaws around her, Luna leapt towards the far ledge. Her stomach felt like it was in her throat as she descended through the air, and her wings pushed against the rope in an attempt to free themselves.

As Luna collided with the outcropping, she let out an agonizing scream as she landed on her wing. The force from the collision shook the entire rock, and the ledge began to fall away from the canyon wall. Luna rose back to her hooves as quickly as she could, and just as the rock was turning over and dove into the abyss, she leapt towards another outcropping.

A quarray eel emerged from the cave next to the ledge. Luna barely managed to steady herself as she was pushed back from the initial velocity of the eel leaving the cave, and she skirted around the eels body when it made to attack her. Another rock ledge lay before her, and before the eel had time to turn for another attack, she jumped.

Luna stumbled when she reached the ledge, tumbling over onto her damaged wing and crying out once again. She looked back, staring in horror as the quarray eel began to make its way onto the ledge she was on. Luna grabbed her Runka spear in her mouth and scrambled to her hooves, wincing when she tripped over herself and bumped against the canyon wall. 

The eel lunged at Luna. She easily dodged the massive beasts attack, causing it to collide with the canyon wall. A crack began to creep its way up the side of canyon, shortly followed by several other cracks branching out in every direction. Luna’s eyes widened, and she made a dash for the far side of the rock. 

Rocks began to tumble from high above the canyon, crashing down up the rock outcropping. An elongated boulder landed in front of Luna, and it tipped over and crashed onto a ledge a few meters away, creating a small bridge. She scrambled over the bridge while more rocks rained down over her. 

The quarray eel slithered after Luna, but before it could crawl over the same bridge, a boulder fell down on top of its head, snapping the bridge in half and pulling the eel down into the mist. Luna continued to gallop across the rock, and she leapt from the edge of the rock onto a thin ridge that ran along the side of the canyon. Without looking back, Luna sped across the ridge as fast as she could, evading rocks as they fell from the ledge above her. 

The ridge angled up towards the top of the canyon, but before it reached the canyon’s edge, the path narrowed and Luna was forced to jump to another rock outcropping far below her. She flew through the air, letting go of the spear that was still in her mouth before she crashed into the rock. Luna released another agonizing cry when one of her hooves landed on the spear, and she rolled to the edge of the rocks.

“Shit,” Luna panted, crawling back to the center of the rock. She looked back at her hind leg.

The spear was still stuck in her, with the tip of the spear point sticking through the other side of her leg. Luna twisted around and gripped the shaft of the spear in her teeth.

“Okay,” Luna said to herself. “One. Two. Three.”

Luna yanked the spear from her leg, inciting another scream to pierce the canyon. The metal slid out easily through her flesh, quickly slipping from the back of her leg. When she finished, her whole body was convulsing, and she dropped the spear. 

Smoke and dust rose from the mist and the walls of the canyon behind Luna. She looked back at the caves she had escaped from, and her heart dropped. All of the rock outcroppings she had escaped from had now disappeared, leaving a massive, open chasm between her and the path back to the starting position.

“How...” Luna started. “I... There has to be another way back.” She dragged herself to the canyon wall, taking the spear with her. A few pebbles falling from the aftermath of the collapse echoed through the canyon.

“Okay, everything will be fine,” Luna whispered to herself, looking back at the stab wound through her leg. Blood dribbled out of the wound. “I think I will be fine.”

Luna slowly got back onto her hooves, taking the spear in her mouth and limping towards the edge of the rock. A short distance below her was another rock that was connected to a staircase leading down into the mist. 

“It shouldn’t be far now,” Luna panted. “Those stairs have to lead to the artifact.”

Luna took a deep breath, and she jumped down onto the rock, grunting and rolling away from the wound on her hind leg. She struggled to get back to her hooves, slipping and falling back onto her side. Luna groaned, dragging herself to the canyon wall again and using it to gradually allow herself to raise back to her hooves. She limped to the top of the stairs.

As the stairs submerged into the misty gorge, Luna strained her eyes to see the steps that were in front of her. She carefully tredded onto each step that had been carved into the side of the canyon, testing the stability of the staircase. The water from the mist slicked the rocks all around the canyon, leaving the entire staircase slippery. One of Luna’s hooves slipped on a step, but she quickly caught herself with her other hoof before she could go tumbling off of the side into the canyon.

The mist started to clear when Luna reached the bottom of the staircase. Dense vegetation decorated the walls of the canyon, shrouding the once gray scenery with multiple hues of green and blue. Thick, green particles floated through the air all around Luna, brightening the dimly light canyon. 

Luna peered over the edge of the ridge the staircase had descended onto, and her eyes widened as she stared into a black abyss. The bottom of the trench was invisible with light being unable to pierce much further than below the mist above her head. She stepped back from the ridge, turning and looking ahead of her.

A massive altar carved into the side of the canyon wall stood on the end of the ridge. Dirtied, gold embroidery decorated the sides of the altar, while green vines and shrubbery were encasing everything that lay around the altar’s base. Luna walked along the ridge and up to the pedestal, eyeing the golden dragon’s talon that had been placed at the top. After checking either side of the walls for the altar, Luna winced as she raised herself onto her hind legs to grab the talon. 

When she got back onto all four hooves, Luna spat the talon out and inspected it. “So this is the artifact I was supposed to have gotten?”

A few thumps echoed through the canyon as something landed on the ridge outside of the altar. Luna drew her Runka spear and started to make her way out of the altar.

“Do you think she fell into the canyon?” a voice asked. “You saw the massive landslide back there.”

“We heard the landslide, Baltar, but I don’t think she did,” Rikkard replied. “We have to keep checking.”

Luna dropped the spear and trotted out from the altar, startling the two griffons on the ridge. Rikkard’s eyes widened.

“Princess Luna, you’re alive?” he asked. “And I see you found the altar as well.” He noticed the limp in Luna’s walk as she approached him, and he added, “Although it seems you didn’t walk completely unscathed from the landslide.”

Luna stopped before the two griffons and looked back. Blood soaked her leg and hoof, and she said, “I think I’ll be able to make the trip back.”

“How do you expect to make the trip back when all the paths have been ripped from the sides of the canyon?” Rikkard asked. “You have found the artifact already, proving your worth for this trial. Baltar and I can take you back to the starting point.”

“I won’t be disqualified?” Luna asked.

“No, you won’t,” Rikkard replied. “The king will need some coaxing, but after he says the damage done to both the cave and your leg, he’ll relent.” He stroked his chin with a talon. “Not to mention you have already received a large following from both the ponies here in the Griffon Kingdoms and some griffons.”

Luna made to hop onto Baltar’s back, but before she could take a step towards him, his eyes widened and he dropped onto his belly as he was dragged off of the side of the ridge. Rikkard spun around, backing up next to Luna while two large arms gripped at the rock. A gray, stone-like creature with long pointed ears and massive wings lifted itself over the ridge, snarling while it held Baltar in the grips of one of its feet.

“What is that thing?” Luna asked, backing into the altar with Rikkard.

“Gargoyle,” Rikkard spat, picking up Luna’s Runka spear. “We need to get out of here now before more show up.”

Before Rikkard had a chance to attack the gargoyle in front of them, Baltar lifted his head and sunk his beak into the gargoyle’s feet. The beast screamed, and it twisted around and shook its foot to throw Baltar off. The griffon held on tightly however, snapping his beak along the gargoyle’s feet, who finally reached down to grab Baltar only to have its head wrapped by the griffon’s forelegs. Baltar pulled the gargoyle with him, sending them both into the black abyss below.

Rikkard swore under his breath. “Now’s our chance. Quickly, hop onto my back before more of those things show up.” Luna jumped onto Rikkard’s back, and the griffon took a running jump and soared into the air and out of the canyon.


~~~




The congregation of ponies and griffons came into view as Rikkard flew quickly over the canyon. Luna rode on the griffon’s with her forelegs wrapped around his neck and dragon talon in her mouth. The misty depths of the canyon passed under them, but Luna hardly noticed their approach as her eyes struggled to stay open. The blood from her leg continued to dribble out over her hoof and onto Rikkard’s fur.

There was a wave of cheers that rose through the throng of ponies and griffons when Rikkard landed, but when Luna rolled off of the griffon’s back and landed stiffly in the dirt, everyone grew silent just as quickly. Forza galloped up to Luna, quickly followed by two other griffons who each carried bags full of medical supplies.

“Damn it, Luna,” Forza whispered as she yanked one of the bags from a griffon and began pulling supplies out. “You were supposed to have been careful.”

Rikkard stopped the griffon before he could reach for the bag Forza had taken from him, and then walked up to Bloodbeak as the king approached. The king had a smile stretched across his face.

“So, it seems like the pony princess gave up already,” Bloodbeak sneered. His face dropped, however, when he noticed one griffon was missing. “Where is Baltar?”

“Dead, My Lord,” Rikkard replied. “Slain by a gargoyle.” Rikkard pulled the dragon talon out and held it in front of Bloodbeak. “And I’ll have you know that the princess was successful in this trial, as we found her already at the altar with the dragon talon recovered. The reverberations we heard came from a massive landslide that she happened to be caught in. There was no way for her to successfully return with the artifact, so I safely flew her back.”

Everyone was staring at Bloodbeak and Rikkard, and Bloodbeak said, “You can’t possibly expect me to grant the princess a victory. She didn’t return on her own.”

“Look at her,” Rikkard said, turning and pointing at Luna and Forza, “if she had the ability to attempt the trek back on her own, she would have died from blood loss before she was even halfway through the canyon.” A dull murmur snaked through the crowd. “Besides, the return trip on this particular trial is only so that we do not have to follow the participant and risk being ambushed by the quarray eels in the caves or the gargoyles that lurk beneath the mist. She’s lucky a swarm of those creatures didn’t arise from the depths of the gorge because of the landslide.”

Bloodbeak growled, looking past Rikkard at Luna and Forza. The Flutterpony lay over the princess, carefully wrapping medical tape around her leg. Luna’s eyes were open again, and she was staring at Bloodbeak with a blank expression. Their eyes met.

“She may have this victory,” Bloodbeak spat, snatching the dragon talon from Rikkard, “but know that I will not be so lenient with her with any further trials.” He turned and began to walk towards High Talon Rock. “I will return to the city and begin preparations for tomorrow’s trials. Make sure the princess returns to the city without dying.”

Luna gazed at Bloodbeak as he left. Her wings clenched tightly against her sides.

“His vehement behavior is irritating me, too, Princess,” Forza said, untying the rope that held Luna’s wings together. Luna stretched her wings, wincing slightly from the wing she fell on back in the canyon. She glanced back and noticed that a large bruise extended from the base all the way to halfway across the wing. 

“I’ll continue trying to heal you as best as I can when we get back to the city,” Forza said, turning and leaning herself up against Luna, “and we had best get back to the city quickly so I have enough time to do so. I have a feeling tomorrow’s trials are going to be far more difficult that the ones you faced today.”

> Chapter 10: There is More Than Just One Way to Dance
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elements Chapter 10

The streets of Stalliongrad were relatively empty during the early hours of the morning. Lights from apartments or businesses were all but extinguished, dimming the majority of the city apart from the street lamps that hung over the city streets. With the dark clouds still shrouding the entire landscape in darkness, the moon was unable to brighten the darkest alleys, allowing for ponies to scurry across the city undetected.

Celestia, Moonlight, and Meadow Free halted at the edge of one of the alleys, pausing when a pair of distant voices came into range. They all backed up against one of buildings and swiveled their ears to listen in front of them. The hoofsteps slowly approached, as well as the quiet clinking of metal upon metal.

“Did you hear the reports the other day about the commotion that happened in the Drakenridge Mountains?” A gruff voice asked.

“About the Changelings moving through the mountain pass?” a second quiet voice replied. “I heard that Blackheart was the one leading the strike force. Shouldn’t he be in the south attacking Voltenice?”

“No no, I mean the reports that one of the princesses was seen in the pass fleeing from those monsters.” Two Stalliongrad guards walked passed the alley.

“Oh, I’m, uh, not sure what to make of that. There have been numerous reports over the months about sightings of the Princesses all over Equestria, yet no one has confirmation if they are even still alive or not.”

“Why else would a small detachment of Changelings being running through the pass and burn a village?” Celestia grimaced. “They must have been chasing something.”

“Or maybe they were just a scou-”

The voices faded, and Moonlight was the first to step forward and peer out of the alley. She stared in the direction that two guards had taken before motioning for Celestia and Meadow Free to follow her across the street to the next alley. Once they were safely in the shadows again, Moonlight and turned to face Celestia.

“Why do you persist keeping your existence a secret?” Moonlight asked. “Ponies across Equestria are wondering whether or not you and Princess Luna are still alive. You heard the way those two guards spoke of you, you heard how defeated they sound now that all the leadership that had once ruled this nation is supposedly gone, replaced by the tyrants Discord and Chrysalis. Weren’t you the one who said that you wanted to take the fight to Discord?”

Celestia paused and sighed. “Yes, but that was before I learned that there was a chance to find the Element of Harmony. I would love to reveal to these ponies that I still draw breath here in Equestria, but you have to understand that in doing so, our chance at finding the Element of Harmony would be taken from us.” Celestia walked past Moonlight towards the other end of the alley, Meadow Free following her. “Discord knows what it is that Luna and I seek, but he does not know where we are. If we were to reveal ourselves at all, he would devote all of his strength to eliminating all possibilities of us achieving our goal. Instead, we must remain hidden to both sides of the conflict.”

Moonlight fell in behind Meadow Free and they all stopped at the edge of the alley. Celestia poked her head out, and after checking either side of the street for any pony in sight, sped across to the other alley. Ahead of them rose a sign titled “Starlight Spectacle.”

“But we have reached Stalliongrad, which protects the only two passes through the mountains,” Moonlight said. “Even if word of your location reached Discord’s ears, he would still need to make his way through one of the most heavily fortified and largest cities in Equestria.”

“What would that accomplish?” Celestia asked, looking back. “Stalliongrad would become besieged by the Changeling Horde before the most opportune time. Instead of having weeks to find the Element of Harmony and prepare for the battle against Discord, Luna and I would have a mere matter of days.”

“What Equestria needs right now is a hero,” Moonlight said, trotting passed Celestia, “not a leader.” They stopped at the end of the alley. “You two wait here, I’ll go speak to the owner and tell him you are here.”

Celestia and Meadow Free nodded at Moonlight, who turned and trotted towards the front door of the brothel. The establishment was painted a very dark shade of pink with neon lights decorated the edges and covering a massive sign with the building’s name on it. Pictures of moving ponies dressed in all sorts of revealing saddles adorned each of the windows that looked out onto the street, while the windows on the second story were tinted red with curtains shut behind them.

“How did you know about this place?” Celestia asked Meadow Free while she continued to stare at the neon lights around the brothel.

“Oh, word gets around pretty quickly in this city about all of the highlight attractions,” Meadow Free said, and she paused. “And, uh, Regality and I may have initially worked here for a time since the owner offers all of his “actresses” a place to stay.”

Celestia’s head snapped towards Meadow Free. “Wait, you worked here in this line of business?”

“For a time, yes. The librarian of the Stalliongrad Library quickly found out about my second job, though, but instead of firing me, he offered me a room he cleaned out for Regality and I.” Meadow Free gazed over at the Starlight Spectacle and added, “To be honest, working for this brothel wasn’t a nightmare like all of our parents tell us when we were foals. Sure, you may run into the creepy stallions who get a little too grabby, but aside from that, the mares that you work with are all fun and the owner is a fairly nice guy.”

“Why did you quit?”

“The hours were not nice and I was losing sleep over holding two jobs.”

A door on the side of the brothel opening, allowing for Moonlight to step through. She waved with her hoof over to Celestia and Meadow Free to come over to the brothel. Celestia checked either side of the street, and after seeing no ponies making their ways towards her, she galloped across the street with Meadow Free in tow. Moonlight waited for both of them to make it across the street before she dashed back inside the brothel, followed by Celestia and Meadow Free, who shut the door behind her.

Upon entering the brothel, Celestia was greeted by two beautiful mares who were both dressed in French maid outfits. Both mares looked to be twins with their large eyes and long, blonde hair. The only difference between the two was that one mare had a light tan coat while the other had a pale white coat. Celestia stopped before the two mares, and they looked at her and smiled the exact same smile. 

“Welcome to the Starlight Spectacle, Princess,” both mares said in unison. “Our master has been expecting you. Would you care if we showed you the way to his office?”

Celestia’s eyes drifted between the two mares. “Of course. Thank you.”

The twins motioned for Celestia, Meadow Free, and Moonlight to follow them down a narrow hallway towards the back of the brothel. The walls on either side of the party had been painted a dark neon pink, while strands of bright pink lights had been fixed into the corners of the ceiling. The lights dimmed the hallway considerably, creating a moody and relaxing atmosphere.

As they walked down the hallway, Celestia passed by ponies of all shapes and colors and genders idling within the doorframes. Some ponies were without clothes while others wore costumes as intricate as the twins ahead of her. Most ponies, however, wore simple costumes of lingerie that were meant to tease the customers who were waiting out in the main foyer, as well as the customers in the rooms on the second floor.

The twins stopped in front of a large set of double doors that were made of cherry wood and inlaid with complex, golden designs. Without knocking, the twins pushed the doors open and led the party into a large room that was decorated with all sorts of beautiful lamps, expensive curtains, and plush pink carpet. Celestia, Meadow Free, and Moonlight all took their seats on a row of three pillows that had been laid out in front of a large desk also made of cherry wood. Behind the desk sat a large charcoal-gray pony who was scanning through a stack of papers piled high to the right of himself.

The twins walked to either side of the charcoal-grey pony and whispered something into his ear. His ears perked up, and he lifted his eyes to look directly at Celestia, except that he seemed to stare past her. His eyes were grayed out, hiding their original color. One of the twins walked around the back of the charcoal-gray pony’s chair, and together they strode to a corner of room and stood.

“Good evening, Your Majesty,” the charcoal-gray pony said. “My name is Diamond Heist. I hope my two lovely ladies successfully welcomed you to my humble establishment.”

“They were very helpful, thank you,” Celestia replied. “However, you betray your success by calling this brothel a ‘humble establishment.’ “

“I only speak the truth, Your Majesty. I do not pride myself on the work that my employees or I do, I only wish to simply spread love and affection to all ponies that wish to seek it.” Diamond Heist smiled, and he pushed the papers he was previously scanning to the side of his desk. “But you did not come here to talk of the Starlight Spectacle now, did you?” His dull eyes still stared past Celestia. “No, you came here because you are on a mission of the utmost importance. A mission that could very well decide the future of Equestria?”

Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “Precisely; and I have been told that you are able to help me in that regard?”

“That I can,” Diamond Heist said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his forehooves. “You’re looking for a deer that goes by the name Izdihar al Nazari, correct?”

“We have not known of her name until now,” Celestia replied, shifting her wings against her sides, “but yes, we are looking for a deer. I am assuming that you know her location?”

“Oh, no no,” Diamond Heist said, chuckling. “I do not know where she is located at this precise moment, but I can tell you in which direction she had taken leaving Stalliongrad, and her destination.”

There was a pause for a moment, and Celestia asked, “Well, can you tell me where she is headed?”

Diamond Heist leaned forward, placing both of his hooves on the table. “Not until you do something for me first, my Princess. You see, although I only wish to spread love and affection through this brothel, I must also remember that I need to be a business pony at times. You know, rake in enough income to successfully pay the bills of this establishment, pay the wages for my beautiful employees, ensure the customers are happy, etcetera.”

Although Diamond Heist’s hooves moved as he spoke, his eyes remained fixed in the same position, staring directly through Celestia. “Sadly, it seems that with the recent siege that Stalliongrad underwent, and now this war between what remains of Equestria and these Changelings, many of the ponies that used to frequent the Starlight Spectacle have been staying at home and conserving what amount of bits they have left. Business has been slow these last few months, and paying the bills and my employees is beginning to become a little difficult.”

When Diamond Heist paused, Celestia turned her head slightly while still having one of her eyes trained on the brothel owner in front of her. “How am I supposed to help you get your customers back?”

“It’s simple,” Diamond Heist said, smiling, “I want you to dance for those ponies who are here in the brothel tonight.”

Celestia’s eyes widened, but before she could reply to Diamond Heist, Moonlight was already on all four of her hooves and asked, “You want the princess to do what!?”

Diamond Heist frowned. “It is not as if I am asking her to become a permanent member here at the Starlight Spectacle. All I wish is that she perform here for one night.”

“You’re asking for th-” Moonlight stopped mid-sentence when she felt the magic from Celestia’s horn clamp shut around her mouth. She spun around, staring at Celestia, who refused to look at her, instead focusing on Diamond Heist.

“How would me performing at the Starlight Spectacle bring back old customers?” Celestia asked, raising an eyebrow. “I can only imagine that the ponies who have failed to reappear wish to save their money in case this nation takes a turn for the worse.”

Diamond Heist smirked. “Don’t you see it, Princess? The ponies who view your performance tonight would hastily begin to tell all of their friends that they saw one of the Princesses of Equestria dancing on stage at the Starlight Spectacle. Not only would this prove to them that this brothel is still doing well, but you would also be setting an example that ponies should try to relax instead of hiding away in the houses in fear.”

Diamond Heist rose himself from his chair and began to walk around his desk. “You see, ever since Stalliongrad had been ravaged by Germaney all those months ago, this city’s citizens have been on edge and pessimistic. Many do not see the joys in life anymore, in partly due to many of them losing just about everything they had in the siege, but also because they were hit with the reality that perhaps Equestria is not the nation it has always been cracked up to be. The powerful cities and unstoppable military can crack when enough pressure is applied.”

He stopped in front of Celestia, turning to face her, but still staring through her body with his dull eyes. “You can only imagine how this current war is dampening their spirits.” He paused, scratching under his chin with a hoof. “I only wish to try to brighten this city’s spirits, but I have exhausted all of my other plans. Ponies don’t want incentives or promises in times like these; they don’t want a leader, a guardian, or a princess. What ponies want is a hero.”

Celestia’s eyes darted to Moonlight. The unicorn stood next to her, and she slowly began to sit back down onto her haunches. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Celestia’s drifted back to Diamond Heist. She studied over each of his facial features; searching his eyes, observing his mouth, and examining the muscles across his cheeks, but she found that he refused to betray any scheme that may be deeper than what he had told her just now. She furrowed her brow.

“What must I know before I move out onto the stage?” Celestia asked, raising herself to her hooves. Although she stood taller than Diamond Heist, the earth pony’s head failed to follow hers, instead still staring into her chest.

“Have you taken any dance lessons before?” Diamond Heist asked.

“I have had some training back when I lived in Everfree City,” Celestia replied. The two twins stepped forward from their corner, standing on either side of Diamond Heist.

“That is a start,” Diamond Heist said, taking a step back. “Sweetheart and Pearl Cream here shall teach you a more exotic form of dancing than what you are used to.” Celestia bit her lip, and Diamond Heist added, “Do not worry, Your Majesty. The form is simple and easy to pick up.”

Sweetheart and Pearl Cream stepped forward, sidling up alongside Celestia and leading her out of the office, quickly being followed by Meadow Free and Moonlight. Diamond Heist watched them go, and said, “Oh, and you’re going to need something to wear.”


~~~




“Now, try moving your hips side to side,” Sweetheart and Pearl Cream said in unison. They began to creep sideways across the floor, making sure to visibly move their flanks back and forth in the air with each step. Celestia watched the twins for a moment before she began to imitate them. The twins stopped shaking their flanks and watched Celestia, smiles stretching across their mouths.

“That was near perfect!” They both exclaimed. “We think you are just about ready to show off what you have learned on the dance floor.” They paused, bowing slightly. “When you are ready, just let us know.”

Celestia returned the twin’s smiles with one of her own. “Thank you two very much. If you could give me a moment, I think I am going to speak with my two friends before I start.”

Sweetheart and Pearl Cream nodded their heads and stepped away into one of the corners of the room. Celestia turned and trotted over to where Meadow Free and Moonlight sat. The unicorn was fast asleep on the couch, curled up tightly in a ball with her head resting on one of the plush, pink pillows. Meadow Free, on the other hand, had been watching Celestia through her brief training exercises with the twins. She beamed at Celestia as she approached, sliding off of the couch.

“You’re doing great, Celestia,” Meadow Free said. “I’m pretty sure that with those dance moves and that outfit, you’ll leave the entire audience awestruck.”

Celestia was wearing dark pink stockings that had black lace along the tops and little pink bow ties on each of the hooves. She wore a small, lacy pink saddle that left her wings to be free, and around her neck was a pink, lacy collar with a large heart strapped the front. Her tail was wrapped in a small, pink bow, and she also wore a much larger pink bow on the side of her head. Celestia stopped before Meadow Free and looked back at herself.

“I... never thought I would catch myself ever wearing something like this,” Celestia said, swishing her tail back and forth. She looked in front of her. “What am I getting myself into, Meadow Free?”

“I ask you the same question,” Meadow Free said. “Only two hours ago you told Moonlight that you didn’t wish to let Stalliongrad know of your presence. You thought it best that everypony believe that you had either fled Equestria of died sometime ago. Instead, you are about to walk onto a stage in the most popular brothel in Stalliongrad, perhaps all of Equestria, and perform a rather raunchy dance for your subjects.” Meadow Free cocked her head. “What made you change your mind?”

Celestia sighed. “I don’t know. After listening to Diamond Heist, and reflecting upon everything Moonlight has said to me these past months, I sometimes wonder if I’m making the right decisions.” She glanced at the clock. “I should get out there before it becomes any later. It would be best if Moonlight and I can leave Stalliongrad before first light.”

“You’re not taking Regality and I with you?” Meadow Free asked.

Celestia took a step back. “You wish to come along with us? What about your jobs here in Stalliongrad? You haven’t even spoken to Regality about any of this.”

Meadow Free chuckled, spinning Celestia around and leading her to the door that would take her backstage. “Perhaps we can speak of this later. I did leave a note back at the library explaining to Regality where I went. I’m sure she is on her way here right now.”

Before Celestia could utter another word, Meadow Free pushed her out of the doors onto the back of the stage. The music from the speakers beyond the curtains was deafening, blaring deep bass and electronic melodies into Celestia’s ears. Even so, above the sound of the music, roars of cheers could be heard from the crowd of ponies from the front room, yelling and applauding whichever mare or stallion happened to be on stage at the moment. Celestia’s ears folded back as she felt Sweetheart and Pearl Cream bump themselves on either side of her.

“We have you slotted to be the next mare to go on stage,” they both said. “Don’t worry or be nervous, Your Majesty. Just try to be yourself when you go on stage, and remember to try to let your emotions flow with your physical movements. This is just like any type of dancing you have done before, the only difference is the manner at which your emotions are portrayed.”

Celestia nodded, and the twins disappeared back through the door she had just come from. The music continued to boom into Celestia’s ears as she began to make her way to the curtain, and another loud cheer exploded through the crowd for the pony that was up on stage. Her wings ruffled uneasily against her sides, while her tail swished back and forth to the beat of the music.

As another minute dragged on, the music came to a quick stop and one last round of applause and cheers rang through the crowd beyond the stage. A baby blue earth pony mare with a silver mane and tail walked off the stage, stopping before Celestia and bowing, then continuing through the doors into the back of the brothel. Celestia nodded her head back to the earth pony, and she then took a deep breath, perking her ears and waiting for the announcement of her name.

After the cheering from the crowd of ponies had died down slightly, a stallion came rushing from the doors behind Celestia and ran out on stage. The room beyond the curtains quieted to a dull chatter.

“Unfortunately,” the pony on the stage began, “the hour for the Starlight Spectacle has grown late and we must be closing our doors very soon.” A wave of groans and complaints ran through the crowd. “But, before we hastily remove everypony from this establishment, we have one last treat in store. Tonight, a special pony has offered her services to give you all a magnificent showing of her skills in the art of dance. She is a dancer so regal, so exotic, and so rare, that never before has any brothel within the history of Equestria been graced with her presence. I give you: Princess Celestia of Everfree.”

The stallion stepped off to the side of the stage, allowing for Celestia to emerge from the curtains and walk towards the center of the stage. Everypony in the crowd stared wide-eyed as their princess finally made their way onto stage, with some ponies even having their jaws held slack. She stopped at the center stage, turning slightly and sliding forward on her forehooves to put her flank in the air. She opened her wings entirely, giving everypony a clear view of their size.

“Good morning, my little ponies,” Celestia said in her most seductive voice. A few more jaws dropped from the crowd. “Surprised at what you see?” She arched her back more and flicked her tail. She heard a pomf from the back of the room. Celestia smirked.

Once music started to fill the room from the many speakers located in the corners, Celestia slowly straightened her posture and strut to the other side of the center stage. She turned and raised her flank into the air once again, giving everypony on that side of the room a clear view. She heard gasps behind her, and upon glancing behind her, she saw that a few of the pegasi in the back were hovering in the air to have a better look. 

Celestia straightened her posture once again and turned, locking eyes with one of the floating pegasi and winking. The pegasi’s wings locked in place, causing him to plummet back to the floor with a loud thud. Celestia giggled and began to back up towards the center of the stage. Before she reached the center, she quickly scanned over the entire crowd watching her, and saw that everypony had their eyes strained on her.

The vocals of the song started, and she turned so that her her flank faced down stage, shaking it side to side in front of the crowd. A few cheers from the ponies rose up from the back of the room, and Celestia began to strut sideways towards the right of the stage just as Sweetheart and Pearl Cream showed her earlier. She accented the movement of her hips, forcing them to shake her flank more than normal and wiggle her tail.

When she reached the edge of the stage, Celestia spun around so the side of her body was facing downstage. She slowly walked back to the center of the stage, lifting her legs high into the air and pausing with each step, giving everypony a good look at each of her legs. As she made her back to the center, a pegasus Celestia had seen earlier in the hallway towards Diamond Heist’s office carried a pole and placed it into the small hole that had been carved into the stage. He winked at Celestia before flying off back towards a set doors that led to the back rooms of the brothel.

Celestia eyed the pole, and then she lifted herself onto her hind legs while placing both of her forelegs on the pole above her head. She spread her wings to their full length once again, eliciting more cheers to holler from the crowd of ponies. Celestia smiled, and she wrapped one of her forelegs around the pole to swing herself once around. When she stopped, she was leaning slightly away from the pole and bit her lower lip.

By now, the entire crowd of ponies was cheering Celestia on as she spun around the pole a few more times. She stopped with her back to the crowd and her flank out, shaking her tail back and forth and flicking it in front of one pony’s nose. The pony bit down on the tip of her tail, inducing a gasp to escape from Celestia’s lips. She spun around, pulling the tail from the pony’s mouth, and she lowered herself onto her stomach. She crawled closer to the pony who bit her tail, putting on the best bedroom eyes she could, and gently snapped right in front of the pony’s snout. The pony stumbled back, and she giggled before getting back to her hooves and prancing back to the pole.

Celestia was able to spin once more around the pole before the music stopped, sliding down the pole onto her rump and hugging the pole tight against her. An incredible roar of cheers and applause exploded from the crowd, and some of the ponies began to throw their bits onto the stage around Celestia. The princess rose back onto her hooves and bowed to all of her subjects, and then turned and began to walk back to the curtains. The cheers degraded to catcalls and whistles by the time she had disappeared behind the curtains.

When Celestia stepped through the door back into the practice dance room, Meadow Free turned and smiled at her. She rose from the couch and trotted across the room. 

“From all the commotion outside of these rooms, I can take a guess that you put on quite a show for all of those ponies,” Meadow Free said, stopping in front of Celestia.

“This is...” Celestia began, blushing slightly. “This is going to be an interesting story to tell Firemane, at least. I can’t imagine what he will think, especially since I went through with this plan.”

Meadow Free rolled her eyes. “You know Firemane is not of the jealous type. He’ll understand.”

Before Celestia could speak again, the door to the practice room opened and Diamond Heist stepped through with Sweetheart and Pearl Cream in tow. Both of the twins were smiling proudly while Diamond Heist had his own smirk stretched across his face. He bowed in front of Celestia.

“From the sound of the crowd alone,” he began, “they all would agree that you put on quite a show for them. I wish I could have been able to see it myself, but alas, my eyes have not been of use to me for many years.” He chuckled. “In any case, you have more than fulfilled your end of the bargain, so I guess it is my turn to fulfill mine.”

Celestia’s ears perked up, and she asked, “So you know where the deer departed to when she left Stalliongrad?”

“Oh yes, she told me as she was leaving,” Diamond Heist said. “It’s a curious place to go, I have to admit, even for a deer. Magic has always been beyond my understanding, but perhaps you will understand why she has gone where she has gone.”

Celestia’s eyes narrowed, and Diamond Heist coughed slightly before he continued. “What do you know of the Tree of Aeternitas?”

> Chapter 11: Attachments
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elements Chapter 11

“If you could stop squirming,” Forza said, glancing up at Luna. “The healing process is not going to accelerate if you continuously shift your leg around. In fact, it will probably slow down from all of the movement you are doing.”

Luna ground her teeth together and cringed when she felt the magical tendrils from Forza’s healing spell snake its way through her muscle. She sat on their bed while Forza sat next to her with her horn lit up in a deep red hue. The room was dark from the blackened night sky aside from the lone candle that sat upon the nightstool next to the bed. 

“I thought you didn’t know how to heal other ponies?” Luna asked through strained teeth. 

“I do not know how to heal grievous, permanent wounds,” Forza replied, remaining focused on Luna’s hind leg. “I do, however, know how to speed up the healing process to have wounds that would take a month to recover heal within a few hours. Besides, if we were to use one of your unicorn nurses, you would be screaming in agony. Their techniques are a little more... brutal.”

“Brutal?” Luna asked, raising an eyebrow. “How so?”

“Instead of repairing the tissue of the wound, many unicorns simply grow new tissue over the old and damaged tissue,” Forza said. “It is a very messy process, and generally takes longer than repairing the tissue that is already here.”

Forza’s eyes began to droop, but she quickly shook her head and regained focus on Luna’s leg. Luna winced when she felt more of the tendrils slide through her flesh, and she asked, “Would repairing tissue also require more energy than growing it back?”

“I’m fine, Princess,” Forza said, giving Luna a half smile. “You need to be as fit as you can be for the next two trials tomorrow.” 

Luna examined Forza more closely, observing that along with her eyes drooping, sweat soaked her body and she was shaking unsteadily. Forza’s breaths became more labored as she poured magic into Luna’s leg and the tendrils. Her mangled wings lazily hung against her sides. Luna placed a hoof on Forza’s shoulder, causing for the Flutterpony to disperse her magic and look at the princess.

“I think I’ll be fine, Forza,” Luna said with a smile. “You have done more than anypony could ask for.” When Forza sighed, the princess cocked her head. “Is there something wrong?”

“N-no, it’s nothing,” Forza said, looking away and laying her head down on her hooves. Her ears slowly folded back.

Luna frowned, and she turned to look down at her leg. The wound had been closed up with a small scar as wide as the spear’s head staining her body, and when she moved her leg closer to her body, she felt only a dull tickling sensation run up along the length of her leg into her spine. She shivered as she pulled all of her legs underneath her body, and she moved herself up to sit next to Forza. 

“Perhaps there are some things that we should discuss with each other,” Luna said. Forza merely glanced at Luna. “But we should discuss them later. You need to sleep, you can hardly hold your eyelids open.”

Luna charged her horn to use a small gust of wind to blow out the candle, plunging the room into darkness. She lay her head down on her hooves, but her eyes remained open as she stared out of the window across the room. The lights from High Talon Rock shone brightly against the dark sky, while the stars glistened magnificently over every visible corner of the land. 

“You were right, Princess,” Forza said quietly. Luna glanced at Forza, raising her head up, but instead of continuing she rolled over onto her side.


~~~




Luna stood in front of a large, gaping hole that had been dug into the side of a hill located within the steppe lands of the Griffon Kingdoms. She gripped her Runka spear tightly between her teeth, and her wings shifted uneasily against her sides as a cool breeze escaped from the cave. The air smelt stale, causing Luna to recoil slightly. Rikkard slowly walked up next to Luna. His face was completely expressionless, and when he came to a stop, the armor he wore clinked quietly.

A larger crowd of ponies and griffons had gathered for the second day of the trials, completely encompassing the starting position of the trial with six rows of attendees. A few pegasi and griffons floated above the crowd, while the rest remained content trying to peer over each other or hopping from the back row to catch a glimpse of the princess and the Flutterpony. Everypony was silent, waiting for Rikkard to speak.

After glancing behind him, Rikkard finally said, “Here we stand at the third trial of the Twilight Gauntlet. An impressive show you have put on thus far, Princess Luna.” When the princess didn’t look at him, he continued. “For this trial, you are simply to enter the caves and find the exit on the other side.”

“That is all?” Luna asked.

Rikkard nodded. “You may begin when you are ready.”

The griffon turned a left, allowing for Forza to slowly sidle up next to Luna. Her eyelids still drooped, and heavy bags hung under her eyes. Her coat had faded from its usual white and bright red colors. Luna placed the spear up against her shoulder and bit her lower lip, extending one wing around Forza and bringing her closer against her side.

“You should return to High Talon Rock, Forza,” Luna said. “You haven’t recovered after exerting yourself so much yesterday. Have one of Rikkard’s griffons take you back.”

“No, Princess,” Forza said coldly. “You’re going to need all the support you can get, and I want to be there to see you finish each and every trial. You...” Forza trailed off, looking down at her hooves.

Luna raised an eyebrow and asked, “I mean a lot to you, don’t I? Traveling with me to the Griffon Kingdoms, asking about my nightmares, talking to me about what you endured back in Everfree; you think of me more that just a companion.”

Forza sniffed. “We should talk about this later.” She lifted her head and and nuzzled her muzzle briefly underneath Luna’s chin. “You have a trial to complete.”

Before Luna could say anything more, Forza turned and trotted back towards the edge of the crowd between two large griffon guards. The princess gazed at Forza for a moment longer, eliciting a small smile from the Flutterpony, and then turned and made her way into the dark cave. Cheers and hollers erupted from the crowd as they watched Luna disappear, and their voices started to dwindle to dull shouts as she made her way further into the cave.

Quiet drips from the damp walls of the cave echoed through the air. Luna’s ears folded back when she felt water splash onto her forehead, and she visibly shuddered as the contact sent a shiver running down her spine. The rock underneath her hooves felt slick from the perspiration in the air, causing Luna to trod carefully when the cave descended further into the ground.

“There must be an underground water source around here somewhere,” Luna said, recoiling when another drop of water landed on her head. “I must be treading underneath a stream.”

The air began to feel heavier as the humidity within the cave increased, causing the water in the air to stick to Luna’s body. Each breath she took felt more laborious than the last, and the heat that rose added Luna’s own sweat to her already clammy coat. Her eyes had fully adjusted to the darkness below ground, allowing her to see the steam vapor that filled the space around her. Luna stopped in her tracks as a dull rumble filled the cave.

A vent several meters in front of Luna erupted, billowing superheated steam into the cave. She jumped back when she felt the rush of hot air brush against her body, and after a few seconds, pushed herself up against the wall of the cave when another vent exploded next to her. The hot air singed the tips of her fur. Without waiting another moment, she dashed forward over the vents.

Luna sped through the cave as quickly as she could, soaring over vents that temporarily lay dormant, while narrowing skirting around vents that discharged more steam into the air. More of her fur was burned from the searing water vapor, causing Luna to grit her teeth against the pain that shot through her body. Her skin felt like it was melting with each exploding vent she went around, and small blackened bits of fur were left if Luna was too close to the vents when they went off. 

As Luna neared a sharp turn in the cave that curved away from an overhanging precipice, she started to slow down, only to have her hooves slide out from under her and send her sliding towards the edge. Luna tried to use her hooves to catch onto something in vain, and she ended up careening off of the side of the cliff and into a shallow pool of water that barely rose above a pony’s hooves. The impact between the water and the ground sent a jolt of pain through Luna’s body.

The princess groaned as she tried to lift herself back onto her hooves. Water dripped from her body, and she staggered into a nearby stalagmite to support her. Her Runka spear still lay where she fell, and once the dull pain that pulsed through her body slowly subsided, she slowly made her way over and picked it up in her teeth. The water tasted metallic on Luna’s lips, and she coughed slightly with the spear in her mouth.

All around her were dozens of oddly shaped stalagmites that were shrouded by the darkness of the cave. Luna cocked her head at one stalagmite in particular, slowly making her way over to it and adjusting her eyes to the darkness. Her breath caught in her throat.

“Gorgon,” Luna whispered. In front of her was a pony turned completely to stone with a sword still gripped in her mouth. Luna spun around, making out the rest of the shapes of the other stalagmites around her. Ponies, griffons, and even zebras lay petrified, trapped within the stony tomb that had claimed their lives. A steam vent roared above Luna.

“Another pony makes her way into the caverns beneath the Griffon Steppe,” a feminine voice from behind Luna said, who gripped her spear and refused to turn around. Hisses of several dozen snakes echoed off of the walls of the cavern, sending chills up Luna’s spine. “I can see that you have already found my collection of prizes from over the years.”

“Prizes?” Luna asked coldly.

“Why yes,” the gorgon responded. Luna heard her slither closer. “Well, I guess only a few are. Some did fight back when they discovered what lay beneath the barren steppe, but they all were vanquished just as easily as the last.” She paused, and Luna felt the presence of something looming over her. “But you are different, young pony. I have never seen the likes of you before, nor have I felt so much... power radiating from one’s body.”

Luna’s ear twitched, and she slowly looked down at the water. She saw the reflection of the gorgon, observing as the strands of hair moved on their own, hissing like snakes. Other than that, however, the gorgon looked like any regular mare, with large eyes and two forehooves above the snake body. 

“Alicorns contain more power in their beings than unicorns,” Luna said, staring into the gorgon’s face in the reflection. “You might have encountered a few treading through these caves.”

“Yes, I may have encountered a few.” The gorgon leaned back and scratched under her chin with a hoof. “But this power you speak of, it feels... much different than the power that emanates from a unicorn. It’s darker and... and more volatile.”

Kill her.

Luna blinked. “What is your name?” she asked.

The gorgon retreated from behind Luna, slinking around some of the petrified ponies and griffons and reappearing in front of the princess. Luna looked the other way, avoiding looking the gorgon directly in the face, whose tongue flickered out gently, licking Luna’s cheek.

“Isthus, young alicorn,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “I would be pleased if you told me yours.”

“Princess Luna of Equestria,” Luna said, unfurling her wings. 

“Princess? Of Equestria?” Isthus retreated back slightly. “I am genuinely interested. What brings you out here to the Griffon Kingdoms?”

I said kill her.

Luna’s teeth ground together. “My homeland has been overrun by an enemy, so I am here requesting the aid of the griffons.”

Isthus pulled away from Luna and began to circle her slowly, causing Luna to look down at her hooves while her ears followed the gorgon. Luna gripped her spear even tighter in her mouth, grinding into the wooden handle.

“Why has this enemy of yours overrun your homeland?” the gorgon asked slowly.

She already knows. Kill her. Escape.

Isthus visibly flinched in her reflection in the water, and Luna’s eyes widened. Her teeth relaxed their grip on the spear handle, and she said, “You can hear her, too, can’t you?”

“I hear the moon calling within you, yes,” Isthus said, stopping behind Luna once again. “I can feel her dark magic residing in you. Dangerous and curious indeed. How did you acquire it?”

You’re wasting your time, nave. She wants nothing more than to add you to her private statuary. Kill her now.

“Why do you wish to know?” Luna asked, slowly turning her head.

When have I been wrong?

Isthus’s serpent hair ceased to hiss. “You wrong me, Princess, accusing me of deceit and hostilities.” Her tone was despondent. 

Luna stopped turning, and her wings began to retract back against her body. She stared at the water and the reflection of the gorgon, watching as Isthus looked down past her hooves. You were wrong about ‘Tia. Luna dropped her spear.

“How I acquired the power is irrelevant, Isthus,” Luna said. She faced the gorgon, looking away from her face and towards all of the petrified ponies and griffons around her. “Why did you petrify all of these ponies and griffons?”

“They were afraid, Princess,” Isthus replied with her eyes still downcast. “They thought of me as some kind of trophy,” she glanced at a griffon only a few meters away, “or they were too afraid to give me a chance.” Her eyes drifted onto a pegasus behind Luna. “For all of the years that ponies and griffons have been entering these caves, all of them stood ready to take my life, aside for one. Why you’re so different, why you have given me a chance to speak, I do not know.”

Luna took a step forward. “You remind me of somepony who is lost and outcast. Pensive. Nopony respects or even trusts them anymore, thinking that they are just some sort of masqueraded enemy.” Luna took another step forward, standing just below the gorgon. “But I know better.”

The gorgon looked up, staring Luna directly in the eyes.


~~~




Luna and Isthus stood near the exit to the caves, crouching low behind a rock. The sound of dull chatter echoed into the cave, causing Isthus’s ears to twitch back and forth. She nervously peered over the top of the rock towards the crowd of ponies and griffons waiting outside, while Luna carefully set her spear down against the side of the rock. She took a deep breath and nudged Isthus’s side.

“So, I have a feeling that if we were to both walk out of there together at the same time,” Luna said, “the griffon guards stationed would undoubtedly attack you on sight. What I was thinking was that I would emerge from the cave first and speak with Bloodbeak, and when you see me wave back into the cave, that will be your cue to come out.”

Isthus nodded her head, but her eyes remained worried and dilated. Luna leaned over and gently rubbed one of her hooves against the gorgon’s scales.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure they don’t hurt you,” Luna stood up and grabbed her spear in her mouth. “Besides, if they want to get to you, they’ll have to go through both me and an angry Flutterpony.”

Luna gave Isthus one last look and began to trot out of the cave. A wave of cheers and hollers blasted towards Luna when everypony first caught sight of her, and she quickly bowed before striding up to Bloodbeak, Rikkard, and Forza. Forza was smiling, bounding up to Luna and wrapping both of her hooves around the princess and giving her a hug. Luna dropped her spear and nuzzled the Flutterpony back.

Rikkard’s face still remained expressionless, but Bloodbeak’s face had contorted into both surprise and contempt. His claws dug into the ground, and when Luna and Forza broke away from their hug, he pushed forward and stood over Luna. 

“How did you manage to trek through the caves alive?” he asked. “As for that matter, how did you manage to trek through the caves completely unscathed aside from a few burns?”

Luna stared up at Bloodbeak with frigid eyes, flaring her wings out. “That is actually something I wish to speak to you about.” She paused, taking a deep breath and throwing Forza a side glance before continuing. “As you are probably aware, there is a gorgon that goes by the name of Isthus who lives in the caves. She has lived there for hundreds of years, shunning herself away from all of society because of the backlash she receives from her... differences.”

Bloodbeak stared at Luna quizzically, and even Rikkard began to raise an eyebrow as she continued.

“After speaking with her for some time, she has requested that I ask that you allow her to depart with me back to Equestria once the Twilight Gauntlet is over.”

Everyone who was in the vicinity fell silent, and those that continued to chatter grew silent, too, as word spread of Luna’s request. Forza glanced at the princess with warmth in her eyes, while Rikkard stared at her with awe. Bloodbeak, on the other hand, began to have his face turn a slight tinge of red.

“You want me to what?” he asked, his voice crescendoing. “You want to let that beast leave the caves? You want to let her roam free and potentially harm other creatures? You’re asking me to give up what is, perhaps, one of the most essential assets to the Twilight Gauntlet.”

Upon the last remark, a wave of chatter from the crowd rose. Luna looked on either side of her, observing as ponies and griffons alike conversed among themselves over what Bloodbeak had said. Her ears swiveled around listening in, and she smiled. 

“That is precisely what I am asking for,” she said, “and by the sounds of the ponies and griffons around you, it seems that they agree with my request.” A few nods and shouts of assent burst through the crowd. “So, what is your verdict, King Bloodbeak?”

Bloodbeak looked on either side of him at the crowd, and he leaned in closer to Luna. “I suggest that you undermine my authority no further, alicorn,” he said quietly. “I’ll see you at the next trial.”

Luna watched as Bloodbeak turned and headed off in the direction of the next trial. She watched him walk a bit further, and then she turned and waved with her hoof towards the cave. Isthus saw Luna’s hoof, and she began to slowly make herself towards the cave entrance. Gasps rung out through the crowd when she made her way into the light of the sun overhead, and many of the ponies and griffons shielded their eyes in case they met the gorgon’s gaze. Luna strode up to Isthus with Forza in tow, staring directly into her eyes.

“You are free to depart with me when we leave for Equestria, Isthus,” Luna said.

Isthus looked around at the crowds, biting her lower lip and sighing. “I don’t know if this is a good idea, Princess,” she said sadly.

Luna opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, she heard Forza say, “Do not care what they think of you, Isthus. The Princess and I are here to protect you.” She glanced back, noticing that a few ponies and griffons slowly began to avert their eyes towards the gorgon. “Just give them a little time.”


~~~




Luna, Forza, and Isthus arrived at the next trial, and stood staring out across the Griffon Steppe towards High Talon Rock. Behind them was a pit that was enclosed by net wrapped around pillars of dragon bone, creating an arena for all sorts of duels or games to be held. The arena had been built on the top of a tall rock spire that sat among the rolling plains of the steppe, allowing for everyone to gaze across the vast landscape of the Griffon Kingdoms. A slight breeze kicked up, rustling everypony’s mane and tails.

The hisses from Isthus’s mane quieted, and she asked, “Princess, who is this enemy that you fight?”

Luna placed the spear up against her shoulder and said, “They used to call themselves Flutterponies, Isthus.” She glanced at Forza, who continued to stare out across the Steppe towards High Talon Rock. “They were a peaceful race who strived to achieve love and unity among themselves as well as their allies. They had beautiful cities all across the Eternal Valley, and they had a beautiful and loving queen who cared for all of her subjects.

“Well, a dark and twisted force arose from seemingly out of nowhere, and using his powers, he twisted the Flutterponies into a shadow of their former selves known as the Changelings.” Luna paused, watching as Forza looked down at her hooves. “They... allied themselves with the dark force, and unleashed the full might of their armies upon Equestria, killing my parents and shattering our capital. After six months of my sister and I trying to find a plan, here I am, taking these trials so I can win the allegiance of the griffons.”

“Where is your sister now?” Isthus asked quietly. 

“I don’t know,” Luna replied. “Last we spoke, she was traveling east in search of a powerful artifact that would stop our enemy.”

Isthus looked over at Forza, watching as the Flutterpony looked down at her hooves and lazily fluttered her mangled wings back and forth. Luna also had her head lowered, but Isthus noticed that her eyes were locked on Forza. The gorgon lowered her head next to Luna’s ear and whispered, “I don’t know much that has happened between you two, but you should try to talk to her before the trial starts. I’ll be fine.”

Before Luna could reply, Isthus had already started to slither away to another position on top of the mountain. She sighed, turning to look over at Forza, who had sat down on her haunches and was back to staring out across the steppe.

“Are you doing okay?” Luna asked, sitting down next to Forza.

“I am thinking about Chrysalis again,” Forza said. “I... miss her.”

Luna looked off towards High Talon Rock. “I know, Forza.”

“I-I cannot do this anymore, Princess,” Forza said. “I feel so empty inside, like I have nothing left to fight for. There is nowhere for me to go, and there is almost no one left for me to follow. My whole life I have had somepony to look up to and fight for, but slowly all of those options for me are dwindling away.”

“For somepony who has lost much,” Luna said slowly, “you show more leadership than those who have everything.”

Forza chuckled. “Speak for yourself, Princess. You, who has lost her home, her nation, and her parents within the span of six months. I at least still have a mother.”

Luna flinched, and Forza’s eyes dropped as she said, “I am sorry. I should not have...”

“No, Forza,” Luna said, wrapping one of her wings around the Flutterpony. “See, you do have something to fight for. Chrysalis is out there, waiting for you to return to her. You can still fight to return to her, to get her back as your mother.”

Forza sighed. “Although you may be right, there is one other pony who I would rather fight for. Chrysalis may be my mother, but you are my friend. You are my beacon to get back to Chrysalis, and you are my sanctuary where I can find a home again. Chrysalis cannot grant what it is that I wish, but you can.”

Luna looked over at Forza and said, “Forza, I can’t guaran-”

“It does not matter, Luna,” Forza said, looking into Luna’s eyes. 

Luna opened her mouth, but she was stopped short by Rikkard’s talons scraping on the rock behind her. She turned.

“We await on you for the trial to start, Princess,” Rikkard said. He turned and started to walk back to Bloodbeak.

“Well, that’s my cue,” Luna said, rising to her hooves. “I guess... I guess I’ll see you after this trial.”

“Wait,” Forza said, getting to her hooves as well and holding a hoof out to stop Luna, who turned and faced her. She bit her lip and looked down at her hooves. “Be careful in there, Luna. I-I have a vague suspicion of what they have in store for you for this trial.”

Luna glanced back at the arena and cringed inwardly. “I can only imagine what awaits for me down in that pit.”

Forza leaned forward and planted a kiss at the base of Luna’s jaw, who froze from her touch. When she slowly started to pull away, Luna jerked her head towards Forza and bit her lower lip when she felt her face flush. Forza’s face remained impassive as she stared into Luna’s eyes, and she nodded towards the arena. 

“It’s good luck,” Forza said, walking past Luna, “for when you are in the arena.”

After watching the Flutterpony walking by her to stand at the edge of the arena next to Isthus, Luna started to make her way around the arena towards a tall set of doors. She stopped before the two guards who stood on either side of the doors and gave them a nod, signalling for both of them to slowly open the two doors just a crack so she could step into the arena.

The ground underneath her hooves felt like sand, sinking in slightly and leaving visible hoofprints as she treaded towards the center. A few rocks lay scattered across the arena, along with a few prickly shrubs that hardly provided any cover. Looking up, Luna could see the scores of ponies and griffons that made up guests who wished to see her participate in the Twilight Gauntlet. She spotted Forza and Isthus directly in front of her and nodded at them.

“Princess Luna,” Rikkard roared from his seat next to Bloodbeak, “for the fourth trial of the Twilight Gauntlet, and for the last trial of today, you are to prove to us your worth in the art of combat. You have battled against other enemies in the trials, but only after you have shown your worth defeating a beast of challenge, will you be recognized to continue on with the gauntlet.” He paused, nodding at a griffon who stood next to a lever. The griffon pulled the level, allowing for the gate on the far side of the arena to slowly open. “You have seen them before, and now you must kill one of them. Good luck, and may you fare well against a gargoyle.”

A deep snarl rumbled from behind the gates, and before either door could open half way, a massive hand grabbed onto the side of the door and forcefully pulled it open. The hinges bent and cracked, leaving the door to hang limply against the wall it had been shoved against. The other doored fared better, avoiding the destructive force behind the gargoyle’s other hand as the beast shot out from the darkness behind the doors and into the light of the arena. 

The gargoyle was larger than the one Luna had encountered in the gorge, standing much taller than her even as it stood hunched over. It’s entire body was a dark, sickly gray color, and massive wings protruded from its back with a wingspan three times as long as its body. A rat tail swished behind the gargoyle as it stared directly at Luna with its large, black eyes. 

Luna’s heart raced in her chest as she gripped her Runka spear tighter in her mouth. Her wings flared out, but they looked pitiful compared to the massive, leathery wing span of the gargoyle. The beast crept closer, saliva dripping from the corners of its mouth and onto the dusty floor of the arena.

When the gargoyle was within an arm’s length of Luna, it swiped its massive hands at her, forcing her to leap back to avoid its sharp talons. Luna dug her hooves into the ground, and when the gargoyle made for another attack, she bolted to the left to avoid its hand yet again. The gargoyle left an opening as it recovered from its second swipe, allowing for Luna to make a dash towards the beast with her spear pointed forward. She almost made it to the gargoyle’s belly, but as the spear was only meters away from puncturing its skin, she was slapped heavily to the side by the gargoyle’s massive rat tail. She slammed into a rock and the spear was knocked from her teeth.

Luna stumbled back to her hooves and lept to the side before the gargoyle could bring its massive body on top of the rock. She was separated from her spear, the gargoyle blocking any possibility of getting to it, so she bolted to the other side of the arena in the opposite direction. The gargoyle let out a roar, pursuing her and spreading its wings. The beast blasted off into the air once its wings had unfurled, casting a shadow across Luna and causing her to look up. Her eyes widened as the gargoyle descended upon her, and in a last ditch effort to move out of the way, she dug her hooves into the sand again to stop herself. 

The gargoyle plunged into the sand ahead of her, shaking the entire arena and throwing Luna off balance. She tried to scrambled back to her hooves, but before she had time to dash away again, the gargoyle’s tail lashed out against her and sent her flying into the wall of the arena. 

Luna groaned as she unsteadily rose back onto her hooves. The gargoyle’s growl rumbled in her ears as it slowly approached, treading over the sand on all fours with its wings flared and tail in the air. The princess spread her legs and lowered her head, pointing her horn directly at the beast’s mouth.

After a second’s pause, the gargoyle lunged forward, and Luna darted from next to the wall to underneath the gargoyle’s head. The beast tried to stop Luna’s advance by swiping at her again with one of its massive hands, but she deftly leapt over the attack and stabbed her horn up through the gargoyle’s chin. She quickly dislodged her horn before the gargoyle could rear back and hiss loudly. Again, it tried to swipe at her with its claws while she made a break for her spear, but she dodged those attacks, too, by skirting around its enormous hands.

Luna picked up her spear once she reached it and turned around, bringing up her spear just in time as the one of the gargoyle’s hands came crashing down on top of her. The spear punctured through the gargoyle’s hand, causing the beast to let out another deafening cry as it pulled its hand back. Luna dashed forward, pushing her spear deep into the gargoyle’s chest and twisting before pulling out.

Before she had time to react, Luna was slapped across the arena as one of the gargoyle’s hands finally made contact with her, its claws scraping across two of her legs. Luna rolled to a stop on the other side of the arena with her spear flying through the air and driving into the sand in front of her. She quickly got to her hooves when she saw the gargoyle charging her from across the arena, picking up her spear and launching into the air with just enough time to narrowly escape.

“Princess Luna!” 

Luna zipped out of the way as the gargoyle launched into the air again after her, and she spun around to see who was shouting at her. Forza was hopping into the air next to Isthus, fear stretched across her face. She saw that she had grabbed Luna’s attention, and she pointed in the direction of High Talon Rock. Luna’s breath caught in her throat.

Approaching the city was a massive column of black shapes, marching together in a line that stretched far into the pass that bordered the Griffon Kingdoms and Equestria. Bells rung faintly from the city, and griffons were pouring out of the castle catacombs into High Talon Rock to take their positions inside the city.

As the gargoyle made to make another lunge for her, Luna sped away from the beast again and flew as fast as she could over to Forza and Isthus.

“Luna!” Forza shouted again, “High Talon Rock is under attack by the Changelings. You need to get out of that arena now. A pair of griffon guards are over by the exit with the doors poised to open when you get near. Go!”

Before Luna could respond, she was grabbed by her tail and flung across the arena into the sand. Her spear had been knocked from her teeth again, and as she scrambled to retrieve it, she was pinned underneath one of the gargoyle’s hands while it reached over and picked the spear up. In its other hand, the spear snapped easily into two pieces and was discarded to the side. The gargoyle grinned, rows of sharp teeth visible and slaver dripping from its mouth.

Luna growled and charged her horn, shooting a beam of pure energy into one of the gargoyle’s eyes. The beast shrieked, rearing back and lifting Luna into the air with it. She struggled to release herself from the gargoyle’s powerful grip, and when merely slipping out of its hand failed, she charged her horn again and released several bolts of energy against it’s throat. Several holes ripped open as Luna’s magic punctured through the gargoyle’s skin, and the beast released Luna so that she fell heavily to the ground.

The gargoyle stumbled, gripping its throat with both of its hands as blood seeped through its fingers, and after it released a few guttural chokes, it collapsed to the ground and went limp. Without giving the gargoyle a second glance, Luna dashed over to the two doors and pushed one of them open. Forza and Isthus were waiting for her.

“Come on,” Forza said, falling in behind Luna as they galloped to the path that led down the mountain. “Bloodbeak and Rikkard have already left with the rest of the griffons and ponies who were able to fight. If we move fast, we might be able to catch up to them when they enter through the side gates.”

They started to speed down the mountain, and Luna was able to catch a glance of High Talon Rock and the army of Changelings that was still moving towards it.

“Where did they come from?” Isthus asked.

“I don’t know,” Luna replied, “but my guess is that we are going to have far less time to carry out our plans that ‘Tia and I calculated.”
> Chapter 12: Izdihar al Nazari
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elements Chapter 12

Hoofsteps echoed off of the broken walls of Everfree Castle, thumping their way down the hall towards the throne room. The many stained glass effigies of Sol and Galactica stood shattered and broken on either side of her, and the arched ceiling above groaned from the heavy weight of the stone and marble. Many of the pillars that once held up the ceiling were completely obliterated, while the few that still remained barely supported themselves after the extensive damage they had received from the changeling bombardment. The hallway was a desolate shadow of its former beautiful self.

Chrysalis tread carefully, her eyes locked on the throne room doors. She had once walked this hall before, back when she was making her last visit to Equestria to help Celestia and Luna train in defensive magic. She had spoken to Sol and Galactica about their daughters, their city, and their country, and then she had departed back to her homeland. Her former homeland, where the lands of ponies, Night Guard, and griffons couldn’t hope to match the pure beauty and magic that the Eternal Valley possessed. 

The queen gritted her teeth and pressed on, skirting around a fallen column. Her black, holed hooves became shaded grey as she kicked up the dust around her, and her tail had dirtied as it dragged along the floor. She cursed under her breath.

It wasn’t long until she was upon the two massive throne room doors. They were once regarded as the passageway to be greeted by the diarchy of Equestria, beautifully decorated in ornate vines, flowers, and poetry. Now the wood was cracked, the engravings chipped, and nopony lie beyond those doors to ask their citizen’s troubles and worries. 

Chrysalis sighed and pushed the doors open, sending a deafening creak to reverberate off of the throne room walls. The throne room itself had been desecrated. The tiles were cracked, the murals were gone, the pillars had fallen, and the massive window at the far side of the room had been utterly blown open, allowing for the cool air from outside to sweep in. In the spot where the two throne chairs had been sat only one, turned in the opposite direction to look out upon the ruined and shattered city.

“You requested to see me, My Lord?” Chrysalis asked, bowing deep towards the chair.

The chair spun around, revealing Sol to be sitting in its seat. Chrysalis’s mouth dropped, and her entire body froze in place.

“K-King Sol? I... I thought you were...” Chrysalis stuttered.

Sol teleported in front of Chrysalis, and she saw the mismatched, red eyes and manic, toothy grin spread across his face. Chrysalis looked away and grimaced, causing the false Sol to let out a dark chuckle. He somehow snapped his hoof, changing himself back into his true draconequus self.

“You should have seen the look on your face!” Discord guffawed. “You were all serious coming in here, and then when you saw Sol, your face was like...” He made an exaggerated face that resembled somepony in shock. When Chrysalis refused to laugh at him, he added, “Don’t be such a sourpuss, queeny. I’ve given you everything you’ve wanted: food for your ponies, a place to grow, and a new land since that old one you had is just some barren desert. Aren’t you at least a bit happy?”

Chrysalis flinched and looked past him and out the window. She sighed and said, “Yes. Yes, I am happy, Discord. You have... You have given me all that I wanted.”

Discord smiled, and he held Chrysalis’s jaw and forced her to look at him.

“Good. I would feel absolutely terrible if I wasn’t making ponies happy,” he said as he snapped his fingers, popping a lily into existence. He pinned it in Chrysalis’s mane. “Everypony deserves to be happy, even you.”

Discord turned and walked back to his seat. As he did so, the lily in Chrysalis’s hair began to shrivel up and wilt, and eventually it crumbled into ash. She struggled to hold back a tear from falling down her cheek. Discord sat back in his seat and crossed one leg over the other.

“Perhaps we should cut straight to the chase?” he asked, cocking his head. “You don’t seem to be in a very comedic mood today.” Discord snapped his fingers, magicking a martini glass of chocolate milk into his talons. He took a sip. “How are your changelings doing?”

“I thought you said we were going to cut to the chase, Discord?” Chrysalis said a bit coldly. 

“I am cutting to the chase,” Discord said, leaning forward. He frowned. “I have sent a detachment of your changelings to the Griffon Kingdoms in order to draw Princess Luna out of hiding there. With any luck, your changelings will rile them up a bit so we can stamp them out in one swift strike.”

Chrysalis’s ears folded back, and she sat back onto her haunches. “You... You did what? H-how many did you send?”

“Six thousand.”

“You sent... You sent six thousand of my changelings to fight the griffons,” Chrysalis said. Her body was shaking. “Six thousand to just fall upon the ranks of the spears and swords of the most brutal nation in the known world. They’re all going to die, Discord. Every single one of them.”

Discord leaned back in his chair, swirling the chocolate milk in his glass. “Yeah, you know, they are probably all going to die. It seems a bit senseless, doesn’t it?” He smiles and drinks the rest of the chocolate milk. “However, the real question here, Queen Chrysalis, is...” He snaps his fingers, teleporting directly in front of her and leaning his face in centimeters from her own. “...what fun is there in making sense?”

He teleported back to his chair and sat down. He was chuckling, and he waved Chrysalis off before swinging his chair back around to look out onto the city. Her whole body shook, and she slowly rose back onto her hooves and dragged herself out of the throne room with her head hung low. Discord’s laughter echoed off of the walls around her, and only stopped once the massive throne room doors shut.

Only then, when Chrysalis was away from Discord and alone in the hall, did she finally cry.


~~~




Celestia and her entourage stopped at the top of a hill overlooking Stalliongrad. Moonlight Sonata stood next to her, levitating a map in her telekinesis magic. Meadow Free and Regality were still climbing up the hill behind them, and Philomena circled the party overhead, keeping watch over the surrounding lands for ponies and changelings alike. 

Stalliongrad itself shone brightly from the morning sun. It’s massive, white and tan skyscrapers shimmered in the sunlight, and its short, white walls snaked unevenly around the city. A large river curved around the city and flowed southeast towards the Eternal Sea, stretching and becoming wider and wider until it broke into a delta. Beyond the river lay a vast steppe that stretched on for kilometers to the north and the northeast. 

Philomena squawked and swooped down, perching herself on Celestia back. The warmth from the phoenix's feathers shielded Celestia from the cool morning air, and she twisted her head so she could give Philomena a gentle nuzzle.

“Can we... Take a break?” Moonlight asked once she and Regality reached the top of the hill. “I’m not quite as young as I used to be.”

Celestia nodded her head. “I think we all should rest. We’ve been walking for two hours already.” She sat down and peered over Moonlight’s shoulder to see the map. “How far do you think we are from al Nazari?”

“Diamond Heist said that she left the city recently,” Moonlight said, “so I can imagine we are not far behind her if we can keep up the pace.” She glanced over at Meadow Free and Regality.

“Don’t worry about them,” Celestia said, following Moonlight’s eyes. “They’ll keep up. They managed to keep up with Luna and I when we were foals, so I have faith in them.”

Moonlight gritted her teeth, but relented and returned to studying the map in front of her. A huge range of mountains, an enormous sea of grass, and several rivers covered the map, detailing the surrounding areas around Stalliongrad. Celestia noted on the map that they were taking a road that led to a small farming town that al Nazari supposedly traveled to. They were nearly there; perhaps in another hour of walking they would be at the town’s outskirts.

Celestia’s ears perked as she heard the sounds of bells ringing across the plains from Stalliongrad. These were no ordinary church or clock tower bells, as they sounded more ominous and menacing in nature. She slowly rose to her hooves and unfurled her wings, shortly followed by Meadow Free and Regality as they took their places behind her. They stood for a moment, gazing out across the grassland towards the city to look for the source of the bells. 

Regality pointed towards a large black cloud, creeping out of the Drackenridge Mountains and moving closer to Stalliongrad. Everypony else squinted to try and get a better view.

“What is that?” Regality asked. “That doesn’t look like any kind of cloud I’ve seen before.”

They continued to stare at the black cloud as it seemed to shift and shimmer against the sun’s light. As it continued to pour out of the mountains, there were also black shapes that swam across the land out of the mountains as well. Celestia’s eyes widened.

“That’s no cloud,” she said, reaching into the saddlebags Moonlight had secured on her back. “No, no, this can’t be happening. It’s too early. We need more time.”

Meadow Free looked over at Celestia. “What’s wrong? What is that cloud?”

“Discord has accelerated his plans and is marching on Stalliongrad,” Celestia said, pulling out a quill, some ink, and a piece of paper. She began to write. “Luna and I had hoped that we would still have at least another week so that we could locate the Element of Harmony and rally the griffons to our side, but from the looks of it we have but a few days before Stalliongrad is totally over run.” 

“Judging from their numbers,” Moonlight said slowly, putting the map back into her saddle bags. “Discord has the entire changeling army swarming out of those hills. Fifty thousand changelings descending upon the last stronghold in Equestria. What a poetic last stand for all of ponykind.”

Celestia finished writing and rolled the message up before securing a string around it. She looked back at Philomena.

“I need you to take this to Firemane and tell him to gather the Equestrian Resistance immediately,” she said, giving the message to the phoenix. “He is more than likely in Canterlot, but if you can’t find him there, then I’m sure one of the guards of the town will tell you where he has gone.” She nuzzled Philomena. “Go.”

Philomena took off of Celestia’s back and flew towards the Drackenridge mountains, giving the troupe behind her one last squawk. Celestia watched her go for a few moments longer before she turned back to everypony else. She took a deep breath. 

“We’re going to need to pick up our pace if we want to catch al Nazari as fast as possible,” she said.

“Celestia, wait a moment,” Regality said, stepping forward. Celestia look urged her on. “The... The griffons and the Equestrian Resistance will not stand a chance against those numbers or their firepower. Have me go to the Night Guard State and rally the Night Guard to our cause.”

Celestia hesitated. “Every emissary we sent to the Night Guard State has never returned, whether it be because they were imprisoned or killed. The Night Guard are too fearful of the changelings to allow anypony to cross their borders.”

“But I’m a Night Guard, Celestia,” Regality said, spreading her bat-like wings. “If there is anypony that they would listen to it would be me. They could not refuse one of their kin, even under circumstances like this.” She took a step closer. “Celestia, we need the Night Guard’s army. Over sixty thousand spears would come to your aid if they listened to my plea.”

Celestia grit her teeth and looked back at the massive cloud approaching Stalliongrad. A massive, pink bubble expanded from the center of the city and spread out to its furthest walls, encasing everything and protecting against any attack used by the changeling’s themselves. The bubble pulsed, indicating that unicorns were constantly putting energy into the shield.

“Go, Regality,” Celestia finally said, keeping her eyes trained on Stalliongrad. “I wish you luck on your endeavor, and do no come back to Equestria until you have secured the Night Guard’s trust.”

Regality stood staring at Celestia for a moment before she straightened herself and gave a salute.

“Yes, Princess,” she said. She turned towards Meadow Free. “I know you’ll want to come with me, but... Your safety isn’t guaranteed once we reach the border. I couldn’t ask you to risk your life like that.”

Meadow Free nodded. “I-I know, Regality. Please, be careful.”

They hesitated a moment, then embraced each other in a hug. They whispered something between each other before Regality broke them from the hug and spread her wings, taking off and flying towards the border between Equestria and the Night guard state. They watched her go.

“We had best get moving,” Moonlight said, levitating the map back out of her saddle bags. “Every second we waste now is precious. Stalliongrad will not hold forever, so the sooner that we find al Nazari the better.”


~~~




The town came into view as the party reached the top of the next hill. Small, wooden houses and stores made of the center of the town, while the outskirts was surrounded by larger houses or windmills. Dead fields of hay stretched for kilometers in either direction, casting a mixture of brown and gold colors across the landscape. At the very center of the town was a large clock tower, although part of the roof had caved in on top of it.

“I don’t see any ponies moving around in the village,” Moonlight said, rolling the map up and putting it into her saddle bags. 

“That’s because the majority of ponies from the surrounding villages or towns packed up and took shelter in Stalliongrad,” Meadow Free said. “Once word reached this side of Equestria that the cities and strongholds were falling one by one to the changelings, many ponies didn’t feel safe anymore staying in their homes. Any other town or village we were to come across would look similar to this.”

A shiver ran down Celestia’s spine. She looked back at Meadow Free and Moonlight behind her.

“We had best get moving,” she said. “We’re not far behind al Nazari.”

The two nodded, and together they trotted the rest of the way to the village. Upon closer inspection of the buildings, it was obvious that no pony had lived at the village for months. Plants had overgrown, windows from several buildings had broken, and there was a distinct lack of fresh hoof prints over the dirt streets. Even the animals that have always coexisted with ponies had run away, leaving the town truly devoid of life.

Moonlight took point, trotting ahead of Celestia and charging her horn. A gentle breeze rolled through the town, ruffling Celestia’s feathers and disturbing everypony’s manes. They reached the center of the village.

“Perhaps we should split up,” Celestia said, looking up at the clock tower. “Maybe we’ll find some clues as to the next direction that al Nazari would have taken after passing through this town.”

“I’ll take the north end of town,” Moonlight said, nodding her head and then trotting around the clock tower.

After a moment, Meadow Free said, “I’ll go check out some of the outlying houses and mills.” 

Celestia nodded at Meadow Free, and then watched as she trotted off through an alley and into a field. She snorted.

“Looks like I’m taking the south end of town,” she muttered to herself.

After readjusting her wings to rest more comfortably against her sides, Celestia set off down the road that she had come in on. She kept her ears perked and eyes focused on scanning the windows of the buildings on either side of her, checking and making sure there was nothing suspicious or dangerous lurking within the shadows and waiting for her. Eventually she came upon a general store that sold all manner of goods. Taking a moment to peer into the windows on either side of the store, Celestia entered through the front door.

The general store was absolutely empty. Many of the items that were for sale on the shelves and walls had been taken or were left scattered on the floor. The furthest corners of the store were dark, and a thin layer of dust coated every inch of the establishment, sending tiny, suffocating particles up into the air with each hoofstep Celestia took. 

She walked to the back of the store, stopping in front of the back counter and looking over a few empty cans and bits that had been left out before the exodus. Upon closer inspection, Celestia noticed that the layer of dust that had covered the rest of the store was oddly absent from the money. Her whole body tensed, and her ears perked into full alert, listening for the faintest of disturbances that could emanate from anywhere within the store.

Low pitched clicking and chirping bounced off of the walls, sending shivers down Celestia’s spine. She turned around, unfurling her wings and looking around the store for the source of noise. The clicking came from every direction, driving Celestia’s rear back up against the counter behind her.

There was a thump behind her, and upon turning back around, Celestia came face to face with the blue eyes and long, sharp fangs of a changeling. It screeched, opening its maw wide to reveal two rows of sharp teeth and a long forked tongue. Charging her horn, Celestia was about to release a bolt of her magic down the changelings throat, but she was suddenly stopped as another changeling darted for her, careening into her side and sending them both crashing into the wall of the store.

Before Celestia had a chance to rise back onto her hooves, the changeling that had charged her was already snapping and her neck with its fangs. Celestia brought her foreleg up in front of her, causing the changeling to sink its teeth into that instead. She let out a yelp of pain and yanked her foreleg to the side, smashing the changeling into the wall next to her. It released its grip on her arm and slumped to the floor, groaning. 

Charging her horn again, Celestia was ready to release a blast of magic on the changeling’s forehead when she was interrupted again, this time by the changeling who had been behind the counter. It released several bolts of magic itself at her, causing her to lose her focus and shoot her own magic into the corner of the store. Celestia backed away from the changeling still reeling on the floor and took cover behind a row of shelves down one of the aisles. 

Small pangs of pain shot up Celestia leg, but she did her best to ignore them while she powered up her horn once again. The changeling continued to fire bolts of its magic onto her position, forcing her to remain behind the shelves to protect her against the onslaught.

After a few more moments, the changeling had ceased its attack, allowing for Celestia to raise herself up above the shelves and unleash her own torrent of magic. Her bolts of yellow energy obliterated the counter the changeling was hiding behind, overwhelming it almost immediately as her searing, hot magic cut through its chitin.

Another thump sounded from behind Celestia, and she had just enough time to whirl around and send a powerful beam of her magic through another changeling’s neck before it had the time to pounce on her. However, as she had her back turned, the changeling that had sunk its teeth into her foreleg returned to the foray, charging at Celestia again and driving its fangs into her hind leg. 

Celestia released another painful yelp and collapsed onto the floor. The changeling was immediately upon her, trying to have another go at her neck. She raised her hooves up in defense again, frantically pushing the changeling back with all of her might. She felt its hot, foul breath blowing down onto her face as it desperately lashed out at Celestia, screeching and clicking furiously.

Just as Celestia thought the changeling might finally break through her defenses, a powerful wave of wind swept over her, sending the changeling flying off of its back and colliding into the aisle shelves. It groaned and tried to rise back onto its hooves, but it was too late as Celestia had already charged her horn again and unleashed a beam of energy through the changeling’s cheek.

Celestia groaned, and strained to roll over onto her stomach. A pair of thin, brown hooves stepped into Celestia’s view, and she looked up. Standing in front of her was a small doe with a brown coat covered in white spots. She had a large, ornate staff slung across her back that had a glowing green orb attached the top. 

“Hold still, my princess,” the doe said, kneeling down next to Celestia. She took her hoof and closed her eyes. The green orb on the staff pulsed, and Celestia watched in awe as the bite wound on her foreleg healed within a matter of seconds.

“Your hind leg,” the doe said. 

Celestia complied, rotating her body so the doe could take hold of her leg.

“Princess Celestia!” 

Moonlight and Meadow Free came running into the store, Moonlight’s horn alight and Meadow Free carrying a plank of wood in her mouth. They stopped in their tracks when they saw the three changeling bodies and the doe kneeling over Celestia. The room smelt of scorched wood and cooking bodies. Meadow Free dropped the plank from her mouth and Moonlight discharged her horn.

“What happened here?” Meadow Free asked.

“Our princess ran into some trouble while scouring this store for my whereabouts,” the doe said as she finished up healing Celestia’s hind leg. “And I suggest that we all leave this town before more trouble arises.”

“You’re Izdihar al Nazari?” Celestia asked.

Multiple screeches rang out throughout the whole city. Moonlight whirled around and charged her horn, and Celestia and al Nazari quickly got back onto their hooves.

“It’s a little late to leave before more trouble,” Moonlight grumbled.

“Stand back,” al Nazari said, stepping in front of everyone else. The orb at the top of her staff was pulsing again.

Several changelings landed outside of the general store and advanced on the ponies who were standing behind the doorway. However, before they were able to get within meters of the entrance, a massive jet of air erupted from in front of al Nazari, blowing open the front of the store and slamming into the changelings, sending them across the street to collide with the far store.

“Run!” al Nazari shouted. 

The party dashed out of the general store and galloped down the street towards the north end of town. Changelings crawled out of the many houses and stores all around them, giving chase with their fangs bared and wings buzzing furiously. 

“We will lose them in the Necromancer’s Swamp!” al Nazari said.

She took the lead in front of the rest of the group, and they sped out of the town with a battalion of changelings trailing at their hooves.. 
> Chapter 13: Unification
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elements Chapter 13

A blood curdling scream pierced through the air as the tallest tower in High Talon Rock blasted apart under the heavy changeling bombardment. Large chunks of stone and wood fell onto the streets below, burying changelings and griffons alike under the debris. At the same time, green balls of fire rained down upon the griffon’s capital city, tearing apart rooftops and impaling the streets, replicating the feeling of an earthquake ravaging the landscape. Griffons and ponies fought against changelings through the streets, cutting each other down mercilessly. 

In the middle of the foray, Princess Luna unleashed a volley of her blue magic at a group of changelings that were congregating on the far side of the market place. The changeling’s position crumbled under her onslaught, their bodies ripping apart and blowing back into the buildings behind them. She snarled, taking cover behind a house before more changelings in a different part of the market place could get a lock on her. 

“Go!” she shouted to a group of griffon soldiers who hid behind the wall with her.

On her command, the griffons scaled the building onto the rooftop and spread their wings. On top of the roof the griffons had a perfect view of the changelings that remained in the market. They took off into the air above the other changeling’s position, and swooped in and tore through their ranks, quickly overwhelming the meagre defenses they had managed to set up. Screeches and screams filled the square once again, and changelings fell upon griffon spears and talons while the griffons themselves fell to the heated green magic and fangs of their enemy. 

Luna peered around the corner, watching with satisfaction as the last changeling defense in the market square collapsed. She dissipated the energy around her horn.

“Princess Luna!”

Luna spun around to see Forza and Isthus running towards her. Isthus had several burn marks over her scales and her hooves, while Forza had added some more scars to her already formidable collection. 

“The west wall has fallen!” Forza shouted, coming to a halt in front of Luna. “Rikkard is having all griffon and pony forces fall back to the market.”

“Set up a perimeter around the marketplace,” Luna ordered, nodding to a few griffons and ponies who were walking by them. “Defend any pony or griffon coming towards us. Give them enough time to get out safely. Isthus, come with me.”

Forza nodded and took off into the market, taking the griffons and ponies with her. Luna grit her teeth and trotted off down the street that would take her to the west wall. Isthus followed closely behind her, the snakes in her hair hissing maliciously. 

“Princess Luna,” Isthus began, silencing the snakes, “even with the aggressiveness of the changeling attack, their forces simply are not enough to take the city from the griffons. Even now their forces falter; the bombardment has fallen silent.”

Luna perked her ears and found that the changeling bombardment of the city had, indeed, ceased. Fighting still roared through the streets, but the main force of the changeling strike had already been defeated, torn apart by the savagery of the griffon’s defense. She picked up her pace and unfurled her wings.

“Even so, we cannot allow the changelings to gain the upper hoof in any part of the city,” Luna said. “Doing so would mean that we might lose more of the defense than otherwise.”

They rounded a corner and found that a group of griffons had their weapons drawn, huddled together with their spears pointing down another street. Luna made to gallop over to the group, but before she could reach them a changeling behemoth barreled through the griffons. Bodies flew in every direction, smashing into buildings or collapsing into heaps in the streets. Luna skidded to a halt.

“Princess, look out!” Isthus shouted from behind her.

The behemoth already caught sight of Luna and Isthus, and with a deafening roar it charged their position. Its hooves thudded on the dirt street, sending ripples through the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust behind it. A few of the spears and swords from the griffons protruded from its body in various spots, but the behemoth was entirely unfazed, bent on eliminating the alicorn and the gorgon.

Luna spread her wings and launched into the air, but Isthus was forced to remain on the ground. She braced herself, digging her serpent tail into the dirt and holding her hooves out in preparation for the behemoth’s charge. Her eyes narrowed, and the serpents in her hair slowly rose.

The behemoth rammed straight into Isthus, but its momentum was cut short as the gorgon plunged her hooves into the behemoth’s face. She struggled under the beast’s massive weight, her muscles straining to hold back its frantic attempts to gore her with its jagged horn. 

In a moment the behemoth was unable to move its legs anymore, and the desperate attack it had previously pressed on came to a sudden halt. Isthus shoved the behemoth away, watching it as it collapsed onto its side. Its hooves had been turned to stone under the powers of the gorgon’s magic, and Isthus did not hesitate for a second once the behemoth was on its side before sinking her teeth into its neck and crushing its larynx. The behemoth instantly ceased its struggling and lay limp in the middle of the street. 

Luna touched down next to the slain behemoth and Isthus, keeping her wings flared open. She glanced between the gorgon and her foe.

She’s a powerful ally. Keep her close.

Luna blinked. “We... We should keep moving, Isthus,” she said. “Let’s go.”

“Is something the matter, Princess?” Isthus asked as she fell in behind Luna once again.

“Everything is okay, don’t... don’t worry,” Luna replied, breaking into a brisk trot.

Luna and Isthus rounded one last corner and found that the entire west palisade had fallen apart with changeling drones running rampant through the streets. Griffons and ponies were cut down by the waves of changelings that were pushing their way through the broken walls, screaming and buzzing in every direction.

“Isthus, get back!” Luna shouted as a pair of changelings rushed their position. Luna charged her horn and quickly dispatched the two attackers. She then redirected the power that was building up in her horn to unleash upon one of the openings in the palisade. Her blue magic rained down on every changeling in the breach, tearing apart their ranks and ripping up the foundations and more pieces of the wall.

With part of the changeling assault nullified, griffons and ponies regrouped in front of Luna to brace themselves against the rest of the horde. Now that their enemies were no longer in disarray, the changelings crashed into the griffon and pony position like the ocean upon a cliff side. Drones slammed themselves into griffons and ponies alike, snapping at their necks and firing off bolts of their magic to try and break the wall of defense. Their efforts, however, were met by the frantic and brutal weapons, beaks, and hooves of the defenders as they were cut down and pushed back.

Another deafening roar arose above the battle. A massive changeling behemoth emerged from the wreckage of the walls, turning towards the defenders position. Its thick chitin hide glinted off of the sunlight, and its jagged horn protruding from its forehead sent shivers running down Luna’s spine. It snarled and grunted, and dug its hooves into the ground, preparing to charge.

Luna’s eyes widened, and she refocused her attacks on the enormous beast as it began its attack. She fired bolt after bolt of her magic at the behemoth, but it merely shrugged her attacks off as she was unable to pierce through its thick chitin.

“Break formation! Retre-” Luna shouted, but she was too late. The behemoth crashed through the ranks of the ponies and griffons, sending bodies flying in every direction. Screams of terror and agony filled Luna’s ears, and she took off into the air as quickly as she could before the monster could reach her. 

“Isthus! Help me bring it down!” Luna shouted.

The gorgon nodded, and she immediately focused her attention on the behemoth. The snakes in her hair rose into the air again, and her magic had begun to work on turning the behemoth’s legs to stone like the last. However, against her best efforts, Isthus was unable to halt the behemoth in time before it was upon her, and thrashing its head about, it slammed itself into Isthus and sent her careening into the palisade. Dust and splinters flew in every direction from the impact, and the behemoth stared at the palisade with a smile on its face.

Luna grit her teeth and dove at the behemoth. Her horn was fully alight, and she put both of her hooves out just before impact. Her hooves connected with the back of the behemoths neck, and the force of her dive shoved the beast into the ground beneath it. The ground cracked under the weight of the behemoth.

The behemoth lay motionless, its head twisted to a very peculiar angle. Luna jumped off of its back and looked over to where Isthus had impacted the palisade, but she was cut short in rushing over to her when the sounds of the rest of the battle returned to her. She turned her head towards what remained of the defender’s position.

The griffons and ponies had been overrun once again. Changelings had broken through their defenses and were tearing them apart, tackling, biting, and blasting away at every enemy they saw. The entire western wall defense fell apart.

A dozen changelings took notice of Luna standing in front of one of their fallen behemoth, and they slowly made their advance on her. Luna’s horn lit up again, but she refrained from letting loose any of her magic for fear that she will spur them into action. The changelings snarled and licked their lips, glaring and advancing on her with hungry, merciless eyes.

Just when Luna thought the group was going to attack, griffon screeches pierced through the air. All of the changelings turned to look and see that a full battalion of armored griffons descended upon them. In a matter of seconds they were wiped out by two of the griffons, while the rest of the battalion swooped in on the west wall defense, tearing apart the attackers with their talons and spears. 

One of the griffons that had come to her aid removed their helmet, revealing himself to be Rikkard. Luna’s horn dissipated the magic around it, and she turned to watch as the last of the changeling attackers were routed from High Talon Rock. 

“You’re not hurt, are you?” Rikkard asked, dropping his helmet and spear next to the fallen behemoth.

Luna opened her mouth and quickly closed it again when she heard the shuffling of wood and dust behind her. She spun around and dashed over to the splintered palisade wall where Isthus had crashed through. The gorgon emerged from the ruins of the wall before Luna could reach her. She groaned and staggered for a moment before she straightened herself out. Aside from a few scratches and chips across her scales, Isthus remained relatively unharmed.

“Are you okay, Isthus?” Luna asked, looking over Isthus’s body frantically.

“I’m fine, princess, do not worry about me,” Isthus said, relaxing for a moment. She stared past Luna at Rikkard. “I think it had best that you talk to him, instead.”

Luna glanced behind her and sighed. Looking at some cracked scales on Isthus’s side once last time, she turned back and walked over to Rikkard. The west wall had been cleared of all changelings by now, although the streets were littered with bodies from both sides of the conflict, while many of the buildings had either sustained heavy damage or completely collapsed. Small yells and screams still shouted from around the city, but the changeling army had been defeated and all that was left was the few stragglers routing from the city. 

“Take me to Bloodbeak,” Luna said once she was standing in front of Rikkard.

Rikkard hesitated a moment, then bowed his head and picked up his spear.

“He is in the market square,” he said, motioning for two of the armored griffons to follow him. “This way.”


~~~




The market was a mess of ponies and griffons running every which way, removing debris that had collected from the nearby buildings or bringing in wounded allies. Tents and beds were set up along the outermost perimeter of the market, while groups of armored griffons assembled in the center of the market in neat, ordered lines. In the front of the lines was a heavily armored griffon who was speaking to another griffon who was dressed in almost the exact same armor. Both had their wings flared, showing off their thick wing armor.

Luna trotted ahead of Rikkard and stopped before the two heavily armored griffons. They remained totally unawares of her presence as they continued to screech and bark at each other. The larger of the two griffons towered over the other as he shouted angrily at his subordinate. Only when Rikkard came up and touched the taller griffon on the shoulder did they both notice Luna. The larger griffon removed his helmet.

“I’m surprised you’re still here,” Bloodbeak said, dropping the helmet onto the ground.

“Don’t be so surprised,” Luna replied, “Equestrian’s honor their pacts.”

Bloodbeak’s face scrunched, and he stomped up to Luna. He stood over her, but she did not even flinch when a low growl escaped his throat.

“You’re already treading in dangerous waters, Princess Luna,” Bloodbeak said, narrowing his eyes. “Just days ago I told you what a risk it was sheltering you here, and today my worries and fears have come true. Queen Chrysalis has attacked the griffon empire with her horde to get to you, and to defend you and your precious ponies I lost over two hundred good griffon warriors. I suggest you think carefully about what you say next.”

“And with my staying here, my greatest fears have come true as well,” Luna replied coldly. “The changelings are on the move in Equestria, making their final advance upon the last places of sanctuary left for ponies. They will attack all that is left of a nation that you had once called your allies, even if it was for a short time.” Her eyes narrowed as well. “And where do you think those changelings will go to next?”

Bloodbeak backed off of Luna, but he still glared at her as he walked back to his troops behind him.  He remained silent, finally taking his gaze from Luna to stare out across the ranks of griffons in front of him.

Do not hesitate. Tell him what will become of his precious griffons if he should refuse to help.

Luna stepped up alongside Bloodbeak. “This is like no other war that has been fought before. What you saw today was just a taste of the horrors that will befall your kingdom if you choose to sit idly by. Those... things are no longer Flutterponies. They have been corrupted and destroyed by Discord’s magic, developing a hunger that can not be sated through normal means.”

She stared out across the griffon ranks as well. Even if they all wore armor and helmets, she sensed the determination and brutality emanating from their bodies. They lusted for battle and a chance to really defend their homeland. 

“An ally came to your aid today, and together you were able to beat back the invasion with much less losses than the enemy,” Luna added. “Imagine if you were to come to her aid today, and unleashed the full power of the griffons upon the enemy in one swift strike to eliminate their threat once and for all.”

Bloodbeak stared hard at his griffons. The muscles in his neck tensed, his beak ground together, and the feathers on the top of his head stood on end. A feral, heated rage crossed through his eyes, and he unslung the spear that he had on his back and slapped the butt end on the ground. All of the griffons in the market square immediate snapped to attention and gave their king a salute.

“Griffons,” Bloodbeak said, his voice barely audible to the ranks furthest away from him, “a short while ago I made a pact with the ponies to ally our two kingdoms in peace. We vowed to each other that if the other was in any sort of trouble at all, the other would hastily come to their rescue, and that we would fight the conflict back to back until neither of us remained standing.

“Today, the call has been heeded by the Equestrians, and ponies and griffons fought alongside each other in these now broken streets, fighting off waves of enemies until none remained standing. Together we bested the changeling threat, and forced their army to route from the Griffon Kingdom. However, six months ago, when the changelings had invaded Equestria, we failed to heed that same call.”

Bloodbeak paused, listening as a few of the armored griffons shifted uncomfortably, the metal clinking together. He took a deep breath.

“I intend to rectify that failure. Today, we take up arms against an enemy that has failed to show mercy to their enemies, and who threatens to destroy the very safety of our homeland. They threaten your lives, your lover’s lives, and your children’s lives. They threaten to destroy our walls, our castles, and our homes.”

A single, angry shout rose from the griffon ranks, shaking the ground with its intensity.

“We will not allow them to take our homes and our families,” Bloodbeak said a bit louder.

Another angry shout came from the griffons, louder than the last.

“Sharpen your spears, griffons!” Bloodbeak shouted, raising his spear into the air. “We march for war!”

A third and final shout boomed forth from the griffon ranks, threatening to deafen Luna’s ears. She remained unfazed, however, as she watched griffons leap into the air and fly in every direction, moving towards the different cities of the kingdom to call upon their armies. Bloodbeak lowered his spear.

You did well, Luna. You make a fine leader.

Luna grimaced, and she turned to walk back to the castle with Forza and Isthus trailing behind her.


~~~




The door to the elevator swung open and Luna, Forza, and Isthus all stepped out. The castle was nearly deserted with most of the guards out among the city cleaning up after the battle. They walked down the large main hall that led towards the throne room, then turned down a narrow hallway that led to Luna’s room. A single griffon guard stood outside of the room, and upon seeing Luna, he bounded over to her and gave her a salute.

“You have someone waiting for you inside, princess,” he said. He looked behind Luna and eyed Isthus warily. “He goes by the name of Firemane.”

“Firemane?” Luna blinked. “Thank you, you are dismissed.”

The griffon nodded and departed the group, walking back towards the hall that lead to the throne room. Luna glanced back at Forza with a quizzical look, then stepped forward and opened the door. Firemane was standing at the window that overlooked the city. He was garnished in full pegasus armor, although it was tattered in some places, and scrapes and dirt covered his entire body. His ears perked and he turned around.

“Firemane! It’s so good-” The expression on his face made Luna stop, and her ears folded back. “Is... Is there something wrong?”

A squawk echoed from the far corner of the room, and Philomena flapped her wings, soaring through the air and landing on Firemane’s back. She carried a letter in her beak in which she gave to Firemane. He walked over to Luna and presented the letter to her, which she took in her magic and opened it, reading over the contents.

“We have less time than we had hoped,” Firemane said dryly. “Discord and Chrysalis are moving on Stalliongrad as we speak. They have brought the entirety of the changeling force to assault this city.”

Luna dropped the note from her magic. Her eyes drifted across the ground and her wings clenched tightly against her sides.

“We have two days to get the griffons to Stalliongrad,” Luna said, looking up at Firemane. 

Firemane nodded. “The Equestria Resistance is already on the move to the city as we speak. We can only hope that they can hold out long enough until we can get there.”