Dungeons, Dragons, and a Little Friendship

by Lawrence Gander

Chapter 10

 
Applejack rummaged through another pile of books stacked upon a table, “Spike, are ya sure I set them down over here?”
 
Spike was busying himself by cleaning up the last mess of books Applejack had made, “I really don't know, I remember seeing them after I got up, but you had already gone off to the clinic. So now... I don't know, maybe Twilight moved them.”
 
Applejack didn't want to think about all the problems she was having at the clinic, not right now anyway. Just find your saddlebags, focus on the task in front of ya. Now think. You came in through the door, saw Andur, then... then... But she couldn't focus thanks to her tiredness coupled with her insomnia brought on by worry. She then got infuriated with herself, “JUST FOCUS!” she haphazardly slammed her head against the table to try and snap herself out of it.
 
Spike flinched when he heard the sound; he looked over to see Applejack nursing her head. Sheesh, overreact much? Spike rolled his eyes as he went back to sorting books. A door was then rapped upon from the outside, “Coming!” Spike shouted as he hopped off a small stool he was using to reach the higher shelves. I hope Twilight is OK, she galloped off looking all scared and concerned.
 
The door was soon opened, to reveal a smiling pink pony. “Hey Spike.” she said cheerfully.
 
“Hey Pinkie.” Spike casually responded as the happy pony hopped her way inside.
 
Applejack snapped to attention at hearing Pinkie's name, she turned looking frantic to her friend, “What happened!?” Before Pinkie Pie could finish taking a breath to speak, Applejack began blurting again, “It must be bad if you left, I'm sorry I'm taking so long I just can't find my saddlebags.”
 
“Oh is that all?” Pinkie Pie began hopping about the library, looking amongst the shelves.
 
“We don't have time to fool arou-”
 
“Found them.” Pinkie Pie stated whimsically as she tossed them over to her friend.
 
“How did...” she sighed and looked over to her friend, “They were under S, weren't they?”
 
“Nope, it was under kaAAaaay.” she said as her voice rose and fell saying the name of the letter.
 
Why would it- no, that doesn't matter! “Alrighty then, let's get back to the clinic.” Applejack quickly dawned her knapsacks around her midsection and was then galloping over to the exit. The door was open slightly to the outside world, so Applejack continued in her frantic pace knowing she could just barge through it; for she had no time to lose.
 

 
Twilight approached the door to her library. Using her magic she pulled the door open completely, only to witness Applejack almost upon her. Shock and surprise read on both their faces as Applejack smashed into Twilight, sending them both toppling out into the street in front of the library.
 
Twilight was the first to rouse herself, a groan breaking from her lips as she shakily stood back up. She looked over when she heard Applejack also groaning, Twilight thought she looked funny, and realized she was missing her hat. Which seemed to have found its way onto her head, she gently lifted it with her power and laid it back onto Applejack as she stood up. “Thanks... Next time would you mind listening or paying attention more though, I couldn't have been THAT hard to miss.” She said gruffly.
 
“Sorry Applejack, I've just been thinking and I needed to see you anyway.”
 
“No time Twilight, gotta get this over to the-” she absently swung at her saddlebags that weren't there, she frantically looked about and saw them and their contents spilled out on the street, the straps had not been tightened enough to last such a collision. She saw a broken bottle, with its reddish contents seeping into the ground as it gave off an aura while evaporating. Applejack took her hat off the top of her head and slapped it across the ground, “Hay seed, mule pies, 'n' horse apples! WHY!?”
 
Twilight had never heard her friend so angry before, “It'll be fine Applejack it’s just one potion-”
 
“No Twilight it isn't 'just one potion',” she said with annoyance in her voice, “Wait a minute.” hope seemed to beam in her eyes, “Twilight you still have yours right?”
 
“I had to make use of it.” She didn't like the look on Applejack's face, “Applejack?” she said with some worry.
 
“That's it.” she said looking down to the street.
 
“What?” Twilight had never seen Applejack look so distraught before, it was unsettling, it wasn't like her.
 
Applejack looked up into the sky for a moment to see where the sun was in the sky, it was hanging just past its apex marking the beginning of the afternoon. Water was welled up in her eyes when she looked back to Twilight, “Pinkie used hers on Andur, You had to use yours, mine is busted, Ted has probably used his fighting that monster.” she sniffed a bit, “It's been hours already, I know I can't have much time left. Fluttershy is probably at her cottage by now, Dash is off in Cantorlot. It would take too long to go get them.”
 
“Whoa, Applejack calm down.” Applejack was becoming more distraught as she continued.
 
“Now I just don't have any hope, Andur probably won't make it, and then we won't have a clue what to do with Ma.”
 
Twilight finally realized what Applejack was on about, “It'll be OK, it's not that bad-”
 
“Not that BAD!” Applejack's agitated expression focused on her, “Maybe you haven't noticed Twilight but there are some serious things happening around here! How am I supposed to explain it all to the family, and to Applebloom!?”
 
Applejack was holding back tears as she frantically continued, “How am I supposed to explain to her, that she won't be able to see Ma ever again!? How am I supposed to explain to her, that she won't even be able to say goodbye to her mother, because she turned into some kinda monster back from the dead! How am I supposed to tell her...” she was sobbing uncontrollably as she fell to the street, exhausted.
 
She pulled her arms over her face, holding back sobs she managed to continue, “How am I supposed to tell her that I failed them all, that all I had to do was find my stupid saddlebags and-” but she couldn't say another word.
 
“Hey, hey, don't get like that now.” Twilight pulled Applejack to her feet, and then gave her friend a hug.
 
“I don't think I can do it Twi' ” she sniffled as she was crying on her friends shoulder, “For once in my life I just can't see how I'm supposed to do it.”
 
“It's not easy, dealing with the undead, they bring about a unique type of suffering.” said a voice with a strange accent.
 
Applejack's train of thought was broken by the familiar sound, Twilight let her go as she turned around to see her hope standing in front of her, “Andur! You're alive... But-”
 
Twilight heard the distinctive sound of Spike manifesting a letter from the Princess, and decided to leave the two to their conversation.
 
Applejack continued, “-I saw you, you were infected, you wouldn't respond to anything.” she watched as he simply walked about the street, picking up her things and sorting them into her bags.
 
“Have you ever wondered why I fight Applejack?” he said as he turned around and picked her hat off the street; gently placing it on her head.
 
She just blankly stared at him like he was a specter.
 
Andur wandered past her, looking about at the various ponies who had stopped at the scene, “I never want to see another family torn apart like that.” He had a tinge of anger in his voice, “I never want to see that foolish lich's plans play through to fruition ever again.” He looked back to her, water was welled up in his eyes, “I never want to hear the cries of sons and daughters torn from their parents, and forced into a life never knowing their parents love, as long as I draw breath.”
 
His pupils started to glow intensely, “He will answer for his crimes, not just from me, but from the Donnahues, the Maeburns, the Luroneans, and all the countless other lives he has smashed to pieces in his thoughtless crusade.” Andur regained some measure of his composure, “So long as I exist, he will never know victory again. So Applejack, rest in peace for today, for your mother is well and you should seek respite while it lasts.” Andur then wandered off through the town.
 
Applejack just stood in the street, she didn't know what to do. She was so frantic to save her mother, having that burden just lifted from her seemed to leave her in a daze, a wonderful carefree daze. She then felt all the exertion she had been performing for the last day and a half slam into her, and all she wanted to do was lie down somewhere safe.
 
Twilight burst from the library door, she looked delirious. She galloped over to Applejack, “The Princesses are going to be here in a few hours, they want a private meeting in the library, and it’s a mess.” she said in a very worried whisper, “We need to get started cleaning right now and I don't even know where Fluttershy is... Do you know where Fluttershy is?”
 
“Um... I'm right here...” a timid voice spoke, she ignored the confused look of Twilight and continued, not making eye contact, “She was crying, and Andur told me to not worry about it and...” Fluttershy didn't continue for she felt she would be rambling.
 
Applejack finally found the strength to speak again, “I'm really sorry about the mess Twilight, but would it be alright if I took a nap or something in your room. I'm really beat.”
 
Twilight snapped out of her delirium for a second, “Sure Applejack, you've been through enough today.” Then she watched Applejack walk into the library, saddlebags in tow.
 

 
Applejack awoke from the guest bed in Twilight's room, a strange noise had interrupted her sleep. She could see the sun outside the window, so she had to have been out for a few hours.
 
A few musical hums drifted through the air in the room.
 
I know that song. Applejack rolled over in the bed to look towards the source of the song.
 
“Why Jackie, you’re already up.”
 
“Mom!” Applejack shot out of the bed, and hugged her mother. She wanted to say how much she loved her, how worried she was, but all she could do was cry as she held onto someone she had thought she lost.
 

 
Twilight was pacing around the library's main floor nervously, How in the world are we going to have a PRIVATE meeting in the middle of town! She was pulled from her train of through when she heard the door to her room open, out of which walked Applejack and her mother, both seemed very happy as they quietly made their way over to her.
 
“Thank you for allowin' me to stay until she woke.” Ma Smith gently said to her. “Now if you'll excuse me, I have a whole family of tearful reunions to get back to.” Applejack and her mother shared one last peaceful smile as she left the library, off to Sweet Apple Acres.
 
“So Twilight, it looks like everythin' is all ready for them.” Applejack noted.
 
“I guess... I just don't understand how it’s going to be private. The town pretty much survived two disasters in a row in the same day, everypony will want to see them if they know both of them are here.” Twilight said with a little worry.
 
“Well they are goddesses, I don't think we have to do any worryin' over what they are going to do.” Twilight seemed to take her friend's words to heart, and breathed a slight sigh of relief. “So why are they wantin' to see us again so soon, besides the disaster I mean.”
 
“Well the Princesses want to talk to the Dungeon Masters about what’s happened to them, what is happening with the Elements, and about this monster that's got those stallions all worked up also.”
 
“So it’s going to be a busy meeting?”
 
“Yeah, and it'll probably be the easier part of our day.”
 
Applejack looked confused by the statement, before she could ask another question there was a knock at the door. Twilight jumped a little and began pushing Applejack into her spot at the large table she had set up in the main floor of the library.
 
The door was knocked upon again, a little more agitated this time.
 
Twilight took a deep breath and calmed herself, “One minute.” she said as she trotted over to the door. Using her magic the door was pulled open towards the inside of the library, giving a bow to the expected guests.
 
“Well I know I’m awesome, good to see somepony else thinks so too.”
 
Twilight opened her eyes to the familiar voice, Rainbow Dash let out a snicker as she was frowned upon. “Well it’s nice to know you made it here, was the chariot too slow for you?”
 
“You could say that.” her friend said as she walked into the library.
 
Twilight took a few steps outside, looking about the afternoon skyline for any sign of the telltale golden chariot used to escort the royalty across Equestria.
 
“Hello, Miss Sparkle.” the voice of a professional said.
 
Twilight took her attention from the sky to look to the old stallion, “Oh, hello Cartanis, I didn't think you'd be one to just walk your way over here, considering you can teleport now.”
 
Cartanis chuckled. “My power is not infinite, even though it may seem at times, I'm still attempting to refill my reserve. Now I do believe I saw Rainbow Dash streak across the sky and land over here, and I would very much enjoy to be reunited with my clothes.” He uncomfortably shifted his weight around as if he was self-conscious of something.
 
“She just went inside, I'm sure everypony will be glad to see you’re alright.”
 
Cartanis left Twilight to her strange gaze as she scanned the sky and went inside the library. Inside he saw Rainbow Dash greeting her friends as she fished around inside her saddlebags for something, she then produced his hat from said bags. She then placed it upside down on a clear space of floor, flattened it, and widened the brim.
 
“Alright we're here.” She said as she backed away from it.
 
Rarity then appeared from the hat, “Thank goodness, it’s just so musty in there. Cartanis must do something about the ventilation, my hair is simply frazzled from-.” She then saw the blue unicorn in the room. “Hello Darling.” She said with all her charm, wearing a worried smile.
 
“I know it isn't perfect.” He said back, taking note of how she wasn't wearing her element. Cartanis then trotted over to his hat, “Hat! Heel!” As it reformed its shape and landed atop his head, he turned to ask Rainbow Dash if she had his robes in her saddlebags. Only to be flabbergasted by her concerned look.
 
Three sharp raps to his head later, he found out why. He sighed and took the hat off his head, before he had the chance to set it up properly the same dark blue alicorn mare from earlier dropped out of the hat. After landing with a thud and groaning, a soft chuckle could be heard emanating from the inside of the hat as well, “You must learn to be a little more patient in the future.”
 
The alicorn was shaking and trembling as she stood up. “I'm sorry if I don't enjoy small, dark, cold places.” she said with a mixture annoyance and fear.
 
As Cartanis finally managed to set up his hat correctly, the voice continued. “Now, now, you know why I had to do that, and you must admit it wasn't that bad facing your fears and having nothing bad happen.” Princess Celestia then materialized out of the hat. “You were doing quite well until the end there.”
 
“I guess...” the alicorn said with a blush.
 
Twilight rushed into the room, closing the door behind her. At first she was glad they had finally made it, but was concerned when she didn't see what she expected to see. “I don't mean to sound like a nag... but where is your guard.”
 
“It was written that we wanted a private meeting, or don't you remember?” Celestia chuckled at the worry on Twilight's face.
 

 
Rook exploded through the barrack's front door, “The Princesses are missing!” He waited for a moment, expecting the alarm to be sounded, for the guards placed on leave to immediately head for the armory, and for the veterans to prepare a search.
 
Instead he stood in horror as he watched them going back to their daily routine, the most veteran praetorian guards continuing with a card game.
 
Rook galloped over to them, “Sirs, I know I am new but my word must count for something.”
 
“Just calm yourself Rook, we all go through this from time to time.” the pegasus replied.
 
“I'm not having a nervous breakdown sir.”
 
“I don't doubt your mental acuity, I'm simply introducing you to the swing of things when dealing with Celestia. She isn't a normal VIP,” He chuckled somewhat, “I still remember that fiasco with her bird a few years back.”
 
“I hope her sister isn't the same way.” said another guard at the table as he played his hand. “Is she Rook?”
 
“Well, she likes books and keeps asking her assistants about...” but he shook himself out of it, “Can you just please tell me why we aren't freaking out right now?”
 
“Let me tell you a secret,” the first pegasus who talked to him began, “Celestia is a goddess, if you didn't pick up on that, she knows things, and has plans that we can't hope to understand. So every once in a while she pulls stuff like this, after a while you get used to it, and learn to only watch out for her when she's around.” He laughed, “Although I admit her Gala fiasco even had us expecting some kind of attack on the palace. We even made her take the emergency exit out of the palace, all according to her plan.”
 
“What did Targe call it?” one of the pegasi spoke up, “Oh yeah, the finest moment of princess Trollestia.”
 
Rook rolled his eyes and accepted the helpful advice, before he began to make his way back to his post.
 

 
Cartanis fastened the last button on his vest, “That's much better.” He was once again within his old robes, the various runes reigniting with power at the presence of their master.
 
“What's so special about them?” the dark blue alicorn asked.
 
“You already know about my enchantments to them, but I still enjoy their ability to alleviate my mind from its self-conscious state.”
 
“So you're insane without them?” she asked with a little concern.
 
“What? No, nothing like that. Let's just say that walking around as bare as can be is... frowned upon in my culture.” he dusted off his robes and adjusted his cuffs, “I must say you are a fine assistant, these things haven’t been cleaned in a while.”
 
“I'm not her assistant!” she said flabbergasted.
 
Celestia was smiling. “She prefers the term, significant minion.” she was shot a rather heated gaze from the smaller alicorn.
 
“Are all lesser alicorns so touchy?” Cartanis asked without picking up on any of it as he walked over to a book shelf.
 
“Look here you rapscallion, I am not in any way affiliated with Celestia in a sense of servitude, I am Luna!” Luna noticed that Cartanis had missed a step as he was looking through a selection of books, Maybe now he will show some more respect.
 
Cartanis' eyes scanned over the alicorn, he seemed to be lost in thought as well.
 
Luna waited for a moment, expecting an apology.
 
“Well then Luna, thank you for taking care of my robes, they are in fine condition.” He casually looked over to the door leading upstairs, “How long do you think they'll take.”
 
Luna was stunned; he didn't even seem phased by her declaration of divinity.
 
“It's a big decision Cartanis, you must know this yourself.” Celestia spoke.
 
Cartanis laughed slightly, “I admit, when Andur approached me with his idea all those years ago, I was reluctant to leave my job at the university. Let alone believe he was capable of it.” He looked back to Luna, “Would you humor me by answering a few questions?”
 
I'm not going to snap, that's wrong, just go with it. “Alright.” she said.
 
“I was wondering, are you still capable of performing your divine duties?”
 
Luna frowned for a second, “Yes.” she said with some restrained anger.
 
“Then may I ask why you are assumed in such a form?” Cartanis was lost in thought, not paying attention to the world around him.
 
“Excuse me?”
 
“You are in the form of a mortal alicorn, I understand that not many exist, you two may be the only ones. But this is a safe place to show yourself, why don't you?”
 
“What are you implying?” Her eyes narrowed.
 
“Something just doesn't add up. You shouldn't look like a child-”
 
“A CHILD!?” her voice boomed, “You insult my position, mock my predicament, and... and...” she sighed, took a deep breath to calm herself, and then looked to the terrified unicorn.
 
Cartanis watched as the powerful being looked at him with eyes that showed an ageless knowledge of the world.
 
“Excuse me, perhaps I am a child once again. I should be far more patient than this, and more understanding of a visitor from another world.” She helped him off the floor, “I need to let go of my anger, it consumed me once before, and I’ll never let it happen again.”
 
“So the elements did do something to you, but they shouldn't be able to change you in such a way.” Cartanis was in thought.
 
“You think you understand the elements? They are older than us, the royal sisters, how can you be so sure of yourself?”
 
“I don't claim to know them, I simply have theories that are currently in a state of flux. I think I understand them only to have more questions arise. There are too many holes in my knowledge of your history to figure out what they are capable of.” He looked up to Luna, “How did you damage yourself?”
 
Luna looked questionably to him.
 
“The Elements of Harmony, or one of them anyway, told your sister you had used forbidden magic and 'damaged' yourself. That they had to repair you. Do you remember what that could be? Whatever you could've done that turned you into Nightmare Moon?”
 
Luna backed away from him, her eyes shut tightly, she seemed to be holding back tears. “I'm sorry... I...” She turned from him, and trotted away to another corner of the room.
 
Cartanis tried to follow, but was stopped by Celestia. “I'm sorry Cartanis, but I can't allow you to try and bring that side of her up.”
 
Cartanis sighed, “I understand it is painful for her, but I need to know-”
 
“No, you don't understand her pain.” she interrupted, “You were not in the palace for the first few months after those events. When she would scream in her sleep, calling out for help, and beg for somepony to stop her.” Celestia looked into Cartanis' eyes, betraying her own wisdom. “Maybe one day, but for now you must let her decide when she is ready to begin her healing.”
 
Cartanis nodded in understanding, Perhaps I have forgotten what it is to be human... to care... “Would it be alright if I spoke with her, I read up on you sisters a while back. I think I can make it up to her.” Celestia allowed him to pass. As he closed on Luna she kept her face from him, he could see tear stains on the floor. “I didn't mean to dig at something so sensitive, I for one should know when an issue is off the table.” He scratched at the floor.
 
“It's alright, you had no way of knowing.” she gently wiped away the tears that were still in her eyes.
 
“Well I can't stand to see a beautiful girl... or mare I guess, cry.” He took off his hat, “So being the old nobleman I was raised to be, I'm making it up to you.”
 
Luna raised a curious eyebrow as she watched him open his strange hat upon the floor.
 
“If you would follow me.” He hopped down inside.
 
Luna approached the brim of the hat, but stopped at the edge apprehensively.
 
Cartanis reappeared, his head sticking out of the hole, “I would guess your claustrophobia has something to do with your time in the moon?” Luna scratched at one of her front legs and nodded. “Just take my hoof, it'll be fine, I promise.”
 
She took a deep breath, “Let's just get this over with.” She grasped his hoof, and was whisked away inside Heratio.
 
Celestia was heartened at the sight of her sister learning to trust others once again.
 

Fluttershy continued to look down to the floor of the room, making sure to not make eye contact with anypony in the room. Twilight had already told them about The Dungeon Masters warning, and what it could entail for them.
 
“Well I ain't letting this Dra'nahb guy get away with nearly turning the whole town into a bunch of shambling things, he's gonna get what's coming to him.” Fluttershy could feel the anger of her friend booming against the background noise.
 
Twilight’s concern was the next to bath itself over the atmosphere, like a soothing bell chime. “Dash, we can't just do this because we feel like this. Andur and Cartanis warned me, if we go down this road, if we let the elements change us so we can help them, there will be no going back. What about your dreams of joining the Wonderbolts, you can't just think short-term here, what will we do after all of this blows over.”
 
“I for one know what I'm doin'. Andur had a talk with me a few hours ago, and it's still buzzin' around in my head.” Applejack's determination was like a beacon, “I'm not ever goin' to let that creep get away with this, or any creep like him, even if I get turned into some kinda fire spitting superpony.”
 
Applejack sighed “I know I may never be able to go back to the farm, and just live out a simple life with a family of my own.” sadness rang out in her heart, then blossomed into warming hope. “But they need our help, they won't admit it, but they need it. Why else would the Elements have already changed Rarity and Fluttershy?”
 
Rarity spoke up with confidence beaming from her soul, “A lady such as myself cannot allow such crimes to go unpunished. This uncouth character needs to be taught a lesson, a lesson that we won't just sit down and take all of this bullying he's been dishing about. He needs to know that you don't mess with my Ponyville, and just walk away with your head held up high.”
 
Pinkie Pie spoke up, “Well I can't stand it anymore, I want to help too.” her emotions were all over the place, but Fluttershy could pick up on her good intentions.
 
“Pinkie, we can't just jump in-”
 
“I know Twilight, but it’s just not safe here anymore. How is anypony supposed to have fun and be happy if they aren’t safe? Why do you think I wanted you to help plan Eastavis? Because you would make it safer of course! I've always been about making ponies happy, that's what every party has been about.” sadness rang through the air, “Now they can't even be happy because monsters are running rampant in the streets, they don't even feel safe in their own hometown. I don't want that, I want them to be able to smile and be with their families without a care in the world.”
 
All the ponies had surprise emanating from them as they took the rather unexpected well thought out answer.
 
Twilight sighed, “Well it looks like we are mostly decided, I know I can't just sit idly by and study my books. You might need me, and I can't just sit here and let my friends go somewhere and fail because they would've needed me and my skills.” worry was in the air, it left high pitched notes as it floated about. “I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything happened to you girls because I wasn't there, I’ve got to give everything I got or else all of Equestria could be in danger.”
 
Fluttershy then felt their eyes on her, she could feel them judging, and anxiously awaiting her response. “I-I want to help... I really do... I just need some time to think... I need to talk to Andur...” She just wanted them to stop feeling at her, Andur told her about the danger of her power, but it was maddening to feel the world around her in this new way, she couldn't take much more.
 
“Are you OK Fluttershy?” She felt Rainbow Dash's worry and concern, it was bathing over her, infiltrating her mind and revealing her intent. She could hear her thoughts, sounding like a thousand buzzing bees that were made miniscule by larger more complex ideas which rang with the sound of thunder.
 
“JUST STOP!” Fluttershy snapped, her feelings manifesting into a wave of force that shot Rainbow Dash across the room.
 
The girls looked on in horror right before Rainbow Dash managed to use her wings to catch herself and gently float down to the floor, “Whoa! That was awesome!”
 
Applejack looked peeved at her friend’s careless words, but before she could speak Fluttershy started up again.
 
“No it isn't awesome, it’s maddening! The world is never quiet its always singing and ringing and all these other noises that I just want to stop.” she was sobbing slightly. “How am I supposed to take care of my animals when I snap like that.” she said with a whimper.
 
Fluttershy curled up on the floor, her arms over her head, trembling against the weight of it all.
 
Applejack trotted over to her friend, “Dash if you can't take this seriously then maybe you shouldn't be here.”
 
“What are you talking about?”
 
Fluttershy spoke up, “She's talking about your intentions Dash... All I have to do is concentrate for a few seconds, and I can feel your thoughts... I don't mean to... but you’re thinking so loudly...” She returned to her quite balled up form on the floor.
 
“I'm plenty serious about this!” she yelled back.
 
“Are you?” Applejack said, “or is this about something else?”
 
“Hey you're talking to Rainbow Dash remember, I never left you gals hanging before and I'm not starting now.”
 
“What are you fighting for Dash?”
 
“Huh?”
 
“Why will you be fighting? What's the point of all the danger!?” Applejack glared at her.
 
“Well... umm... I can't let you gals get hurt, and stuff...” her eyes darted around.
 
“What's it all about, is it still about the Wonderbolts? Do you think you can get famous from all this and have them ask you to join?”
 
“You know I'm not that shallow!” She yelled.
 
“Then what other reason is there?”
 
“Look I don't know OK! I just want to help and I can't stand being on the sidelines!” Dash snapped.
 
“This isn't about just a willingness to help Dash, I’m sure half the town would help us out right now. But you have to ask yourself why, you need to find out what it is you fight for. Until you do.” Applejack trotted over to Dash's saddlebags and took out a necklace.
 
“Hey!”
 
Applejack stared down her friend, who looked like she was ready to fight. “When we leave with the Dungeon Masters, we may not be coming back. Even if we do, how will you know that it will have all been worth it.”
 
“Of course it'll be worth it! We'll have saved Ponyville.”
 
Applejack glared, “What if some of us don't make it back, what if I don't make it. Then what? All you'll do is blame something, you will think I died for nothin', and you won't understand why I gave my life to make sure ya'll made it back. All it will do is sour you to the world.” Applejack grew concerned by Rainbow Dash's frown, “Will you be able to continue?”
 
“I... I don't know.” Rainbow Dash turned away from her friend, “Look, this is kinda heavy stuff.”
 
“It is Rainbow, that's why we can't just jump into this like its nothin'.”
 
“Would it be alright if I got some air, I don't think well all cramped up like this.”
 
“If you think it'll help, we'll still be here for a while.”
 
Rainbow Dash thanked them as she went outside and took off from Twilight's private balcony, arcing into the sky with the speed unlike any other.
 
Twilight looked over to Fluttershy, who had her arms protecting her eyes as she was still curled up on the floor. She opened her mouth to say something but was cut off.
 
“I'm fine Twilight... and I'm sorry I snapped... just stop staring at me, that only makes it worse.”
 
Twilight did her best to stare at a wall as she talked to her friend. “So what exactly is your power?”
 
“All Andur was able to tell me... before he had to take off after that monster.” She shuddered at the thought of her close encounter with the beast. “Was something about me being an... Ardent? I think he called it. A healer of the mind.... or... something.”
 
“So why no eye contact?”
 
“ 'Eye's are the windows into a beings heart and soul', was what he said. If I'm not careful, I might...” Fluttershy couldn't continue though. The words that Andur had used to describe what she could potentially do forced her to stop, she was terrified to think of herself as such a thing, or see herself as a danger to the ponies she cared for so greatly.
 
“Alright, it'll be OK.” Twilight did her best to sidewalk her way over to her friend and gently console her. “Do you think you could cope a little better if you had some time alone?”
 
“Yes” she meekly stated.
 
Twilight motioned for the girls to head downstairs, as they left Twilight got a hold of Rarity. “So what power do you have?”
 
“Cartanis left the palace before I was awake completely, and I didn't really notice anything different. He did catch me though before we got up here, and just told me to not make use of any new perception I might have, whatever that would mean.” She began waving her hoof in front of her face, “Do you think it's a little hot in here?”
 
Twilight was slightly shocked when she saw ice crystals forming in the air around Rarity.
 
Rarity sighed, “Much better.”
 
“Um Rarity...”
 
The crystals almost immediately evaporated as Rarity gave Twilight her full attention. “Is something the matter? My hair isn't changing color or something is it?” she frantically began combing through her mane as she carefully inspected it.
 

 
Rainbow Dash soared about the town, her mind buzzing with thoughts. How can I be so compelled to help if I don't know WHY!? That doesn't make any sense. I've got to have a reason!

She found her way over to a wayward cloud, and gently landed on it, taking a load off as she relaxed to watch the sun set. As she once again tried to think, a noise caught her attention, she turned to see a small orange pegasus filly buzzing her way onto the cloud. “Hey Rainbow Dash!” she said excitedly.
 
“Hey Scootalo,” the filly beamed at hearing Dash say her name, “are you sure you should be buzzing around like that. It's not the proper way to fly.”
 
“I know... my parents are always telling me to learn to glide properly. My wings are just still too small that's all.” she then returned to her excited state of mind. “So what are you doing up here? shouldn't you be going around slaying monsters and cool stuff like that with those other heroes?”
 
Rainbow dash wasn't blind, she knew that Scootalo practically worshiped her, but for once she found herself thinking about it differently. A question gnawed its way through her mind. “Why am I your hero Scoots?”
 
“Huh?” Scootalo looked confused by the question, “Well you know... your awesome and stuff!”
 
“What makes me so awesome?”
 
Scootalo thought for a moment, then remembered something, “That one time, when I first saw you after my family moved to Ponyville. I remember it.”
 
“And?”
 
“That day, I was new in town, nopony really knew me. I hadn't even learned to buzz around yet, my wings practically didn't even work.” her eyes beamed, “But then I saw you, flying around the town clearing out all those clouds, so fast, you were like bam, zoom, POW.” she kicked at a puff of the cloud and made it dissipate with her exuberance.
 
“It made me think...” Scootalo seemed to stop for a moment and drift into thought, “About all the cool things I could do when I learned to fly. All the places I could go see. I could be cool like you were, zooming around the skies making all of our lives better.” She smiled, “That's why you’re awesome!”
 
Rainbow Dash was stricken by her words, they made her think, probably more than any other thing had made her think before. Is that why I want to join the Wonderbolts? She thought about the first time she saw them, they had made her think the same way when she was a filly.
 
She thought about all the other fillies and colts in Ponyville. How they all played with each other, making believe of their possible futures. Finding out about their cutie marks and what they would do in their lives. All the things they would experience as they grew up, the friends they could make, and the adventures they could have.
 
She thought about how it could all be ended by one monster who no one else could stop, she finally knew what she had to fight for, what she had to defend with her very life. She stood triumphantly on the edge of the cloud, glaring out towards the Everfree, her eyes like that of an angry hawk. I'll show you what happens when you mess with foals who haven't even learned to live yet!
 
“Thanks Scoots.” she gently ruffled the filly's mane.
 
“You're welcome!” she stopped for a second, “Wait... for what?”
 
Rainbow Dash pushed the cloud near the ground and let Scootalo hop off, “I don't think you'll understand today, but one day, remind me to thank you again. Now you stay safe, ya hear me?”
 
“Umm OK.” Scootalo watched as Rainbow Dash shot off into the distance, back into town. When did she get all touchy feely?
 

Cartanis was surprised as he went over to the wall that hid Heratio's inner sanctum from the world; the puzzle was already almost halfway solved. “You didn't happen to-”
 
“I like to keep myself busy.” Luna interjected, “It helps keep my mind off of things.”
 
“Then let's finish this up.” Cartanis began shifting about the remaining stones, replacing the few Luna managed to mess up, but he still had far less to do considering it was her first time at the puzzle.
 
Luna would fidget every once in a while, jumping at ghosts in her mind.
 
As the final stone was set in place, the wall began to recede away as it had before, light shining through from the activity on the other side. “Looks to be that Heratio is done with the minor fixes.”
 
Luna eagerly wandered into the light of the new room, “Who?” A large glass monster soared through the air and stopped in front of her, she yelped and shot it across the large room with her power, smashing it against a far wall.

Cartanis' eyebrows raised in concern, “Remind me to never sneak up on you.”
 
“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I really shouldn't be that jumpy.” The glass monster reappeared in front of her, its brightly glowing edges flickering in the light of the room. Luna froze as if she expected swift retribution.
 
“So how goes things Heratio.” Cartanis casually stated as he trotted past Luna.
 
“Sir, please refrain from bringing omnipotent skittish types here, or at least warn them first.” It chimed back. “Repairs are complete, however the matter of the books remain, I do not have the capacity to restore them.”
 
“I'll get a dent in them yet Heratio, for now, register a new guest. Luna, if you would.”
 
“Registry accessed.” Heratio seemed to float as it was in processing. “User identified, ID saved.” Heratio floated over to Luna, “Enjoy the halls, I do hope you leave here wiser than when you arrived.”
 
Luna closed the distance between herself and Cartanis, “What is that thing?”
 
“Oh he's basically an automaton, I’m not sure if you know what that is-”
 
“I know plenty about automatons.” Luna stated.
 
“Really?”
 
“Quite sad, the state of Equestria's technology. There were things we had a millennia ago that they are just starting to rediscover now.”
 
“You must've really done a number on-” but he cut himself short, “Excuse me. I spend too much time with books and theories in my mind.”
 
“As do I.” Luna admitted.
 
“Now onto the main attraction.” Cartanis wandered around the brightly lit main room, the orbs of light cascading to show the ways about the halls. Luna followed as he went through an archway with a book identifier placed over it.
 
How impressive does he think his collection.. could... possibly...... But she stopped as she stood, her mouth agape at the expansive room before her.
 
As far as the eye could see, rows of books stood upon shelves, seemingly reaching up into the sky that didn't exist. “So I take it you are impressed?”
 
“What was your first clue?”
 
“I know you enjoyed knowledge, you were apparently far more technically savvy than your sister. Although I also read that you didn't seem to have such a way with the ponies under your rule.”
 
Luna chuckled a little, “Sis was always a much better leader than I was, but she was horrible with her paperwork. I'm surprised she stayed sane trying to keep up with it all after a thousand years”
 
“SO!” Cartanis slapped his hooves together with a clop, “Where would you like to start?”
 
Luna stopped for a moment and thought, but she was distracted by the mountains of ash around them. “What happened here?”
 
“Oh, a careless magician thought to impress the crowds with a show of daring do, and succeeded.” He scoffed. “In ruining over thirty percent of the collection.”
 
“How many books do you think you lost?”
 
Cartanis rubbed at his temples, “I don't really even know the count, even Heratio only spits approximations at me. I want to say about three thousand books, and only the gods know how many pages.”
 
Luna rubbed a hoof against her chin, she let her power flow out from herself for a moment, testing the ash piles with it. She could feel the telltale signs of her world's magic flowing through it, being a part of it as everything else around her was. “This should be simple enough.”
 
“What should be?” Cartanis watched as the alicorn's eyes began to glow intensely, her horn sparking with power. A nova of strange bluish light erupted from her person, as it crossed over the piles of ash it seemed to react. The various particles floated about the room, creating a fog of dust that seemed to slowly be getting lighter as it continued.
 
Cartanis continued to watch, making use of his own magic to try and track what was going on around him. He felt Luna as if she was everywhere at once, he realized that was impossible, but then thought about what if her consciousness was. The idea struck him as odd, yet he was still sensing her around him. The magic then began to coalesce clearly at certain points in the room, books appearing in the small spheres of bluish light. Before they floated to an empty shelf somewhere in the distance, each time this occurred the fog would get lighter, slowly revealing more of the room.
 
Eventually it subsided, and Cartanis felt Luna once again recede into her own physical form. “There we go, now what do you have on your world’s integration of magically powered technologies.”
 
Cartanis gently smiled at her, she had no idea how much work she had just saved him, how much knowledge she just restored to the world. “Thank you.”
 
Luna almost seemed surprised to hear the word, “I'm sure anypony with my level of power would've done something about it as well.” she said with a blush.
 
“How did you know how to do that by the way?”
 
“Are there creatures in your world that are capable of eating words off the pages of a book?” She asked curiously.
 
Cartanis shook his head, “Maybe, but none that I know of.”
 
“Then you have your answer.” Luna said, “Now about those technologies.”
 
“This way then, I'm sure Heratio will update you to VIP status for doing this.” Cartanis trotted happily through the various shelves, Luna close behind her eyes eagerly darting between the bindings of the tomes which held so much precious knowledge.
 

 
Andur approached another house, the last one that he had to visit. He sighed, It still never changes. He rapped upon the door, he waited for a moment before he heard the telling signs of residents within working with locks and fumbling with handles.
 
A mare answered the door, she jumped a little at seeing Andur before her.
 
“Is this the residence of Pebila and Dusty?” The look on her face betrayed the truth, I suppose word has gotten around.
 
The mare was shaking her head back and forth, mumbling something beneath her breath. When Andur produced the vial she broke down, unable to bear it.
 
“Do you have family that you could stay with?”
 
she shook her head as she took the vial of dust from him. “Sho-shouldn't you have two?” she wiped away at tears in her eyes.
 
“I'm sorry, Pebila wasn't amongst the dead.”
 
“So now she's a monster.” she looked to the verge of tears again. “She was just starting to really thrive... she had a coltfriend.”
 
“It's not over yet.”
 
The mare looked angrily at him, “Not over? My husband is a pile of dust in my hoof and my...” but she couldn't speak another word, “A fine job your doing, 'hero'.”
 
She attempted the close the door, but Andur stopped it. “Madam, I know you’re hurting, but you can't let this beat you.”
 
“Why shouldn't I? I've heard about this thing you’re after, you should've been able to stop it. Why did you hold back!?” She was jabbing her hoof into him, “Why didn't you save my little Pebs...” she then started to break down again.
 
“The circumstances that lead to all of this was out of my control until a few hours ago, don't think I'm not hurting too.”
 
“You? Hurting?” she scoffed, “You'll just move along once this all blows over, and I’ll be left to raise my colt alone while you go back to your own little life.”
 
Andur's gaze gave her pause, he laid down at her doorstep, looking her in the eye. He reached inside his strange bag, and pulled out a very old looking book. The leather cover was cracked and wrinkled from age, the paper was slightly yellowing from exposure to the elements. He gave her the strange book once she had set down the vial someplace safe.
 
She opened the book, each page was filled with strange names, names like The Lincolns and The Wellingtons. Some seemed the have been rewritten in their place countless times to refresh the markings on the paper.
 
Andur spoke, “Those are the names of every family that this monster I am after has hurt, I won’t forget a single one of them, I won't allow myself to become disenchanted to the suffering of others.” His defiant gaze spoke litanies of fury. “The cruel and the evil shall know fear in my presence, but those that are unrepentant, those that truly believe in their accounts of evil, shall find no mercy from my wrath. The book of Pelor, verse twelve.” He took the old book from her and flipped to a new section he had made in the back, “He shall know your name, he shall know every name in this book when he answers for his crimes.”
 
He looked to her one last time, “And before it is all over, when he thinks he has won, when he believes that you are willing to end your life. He will be smote to the ground as he witnesses you continuing in your life, finding joy in the little things, as you stand remorseless in your decision to stay alive.” He pulled out a writing utensil form his bag, “Now may I have your name?”
 

 
Fluttershy finally had a moment to herself, she could still perceive all of the emotions around her, but they were distant and faded. In this relative silence she prepared her mind, she made walls and fortifications. Slowly as she experimented the whispers in the background seemed to quiet. She fed the idea in her head that seemed to aid her in this endeavor.
 
I am Fluttershy, I am no other.
 
She repeated the mantra in her mind, each time it seemed to help her concentrate. She felt as though she could distinguish between each of the noise sources much more easily. The excited ringing of Pinkie Pie, the quiet calculations of Twilight, and her other friends as well. But one thing stood out, a serene chime was approaching the library, a mind that was at ease and prepared for a storm.
 
She was drawn to it, feeling the new sensation click in her mind. Now she felt as though she was flying, but she wasn't, she was still in Twilight's study. She could see images, the area outside the Library, and she was closing fast.
 
She shook herself out of it and felt the connection break, Rainbow Dash? She trotted over to a window and looked outside, and right where she left off she could make out the telltale rainbow streak of her friend as she began her final descent to the library door.
 
Fluttershy was more surprised by the fact that as she looked at Dash, her mind didn't seem to leap out of herself in an attempt to understand the noise or make it go away. She only heard the same emotion ringing clear from Rainbow Dash, it sang of its presence with clarity.
 
Confidence
 

 
Cartanis finally relented to Luna's veracious intellectual appetite, “I don't think I’ll be able to keep up with your questions anymore.”
 
Luna frowned as she shot him a curious look.
 
“I know quite a bit about my worlds magic, but after a time even my knowledge is going to run dry when faced with a reader of your magnitude.” Cartanis looked away, “and stop with that look, it pulls my heart strings tighter than a sad puppy.”
 
“Please, I'm not that cute.” Luna returned to the book she was reading about the use of psionic abilities. “I was just curious about the impacts of-”
 
“-of mind based powers being used on unprepared minds, yes I know.” He sighed, “That is not my strong suit, I'm more along the lines of explaining how a gem enchanted with fire can be used to replace coal in a steam engine. Zen and the principals of the mind are more Andur's domain.”

“Then may I speak to Andur?” Luna was already onto the next book from the pile that was created, already halfway through the first chapter before the question left her mouth.

“He will get here in his own time, he needs to do his thing about town of 'putting the minds and souls of the dead at ease'.” Cartanis' eyes snapped shut as he slapped a hoof to his face in frustration, “and I completely forgot my end of the plan.”
 
“Hmm?” Luna said, her attention drawn from the third chapter of the book.
 
“Nothing you need to worry about much, just a pegasus that needs some mental training wheels is all.” Cartanis trotted off back towards the main room, soon realizing Luna was following him. “You don't have to come with me, it's just a simple errand.”
 
“If it involves a Bearer of Harmony, I'm afraid it already involves me.” she said with regal authority.
 
“I should expect no less.” Cartanis then continued on his way, as Luna shot a sad glance back at the pile of unfinished books by the table she was seated at earlier. “May I ask why?”
 
“Besides the fact that my sister and I know very little about them, other than how they choose their avatars, we must do our best to understand them. I protested her choice to allow them to keep the elements with them, with the events of the past few days only causing me more concern about their power and that decision.”
 
Cartanis could tell she was holding something back, one side of him wanted to pepper her with questions, but another side was screaming about the danger to his person if he annoyed her too much. He decided on taking the route that would leave him less mangled and continued towards the storage rooms.
 
After they proceeded into an archway that was marked with a storage chest, past the gateway they were within a circular room that had other archways leading down long hallways, each with a different numeric symbol above it.
 
Luna took glances down the various rooms they were passing by. Mystical orbs of light floating within canals drawn upon the walls, which gave off a soft blue hue to everything. In some rooms she saw great slabs of metals, some rooms filled with more of it than others.
 
“So what are we here for?” she asked.
 
Cartanis stopped for a moment, “Well if I could remember which of these rooms Ted dedicated to his precious storage I would be better able to answer you.”
 
“You're lost? In your own sanctuary?” She felt a little panicked, the walls seemed to be closing in on her.
 
“No I'm not lost, I just forget whether it was room three-A or five-C that Ted used to store all of his various experiments and reference materials.” He began tapping his hoof against his head for a moment, trying to pound out the scattered thoughts so only what he needed to remember would remain.
 
Luna was doing her best to maintain her composure, the walls however were creeping in on her like a predator stalking a frightened calf. “Could we please move along?”
 
Cartanis looked back to her, even if she was putting on a brave face he could see the subtle twitches and hear the anxious hoof taps she was making. “Is everything-”
 
“Of course I’m fine, you’re alright, I’m alright. It’s all dandy, now which way to this place we're going.” she blurted out in a very hastened fashion.
 
One of Cartanis' eyebrows rose in a questioning manner, “I think I’ll try to pick up the pace. Heratio!” his voice echoed off the hallways. Soon a glimmer of light appeared and a floating monocle materialized in front of Cartanis.
 
“Yes?”
 
“Ted makes use of which storage room for his experiments?”
 
Heratio seemed to drift about as it accessed lists and storage data, “Room three-A, the Armory. There is a note added to this data packet, shall I read it.”
 
Cartanis sighed, “Do I want to hear it?”
 
“Probably not sir, but it's labeled as important.”
 
Cartanis gestured for Heratio to continue while he rolled his eyes. Ted's voice then seemed to emanate from Heratio's form, “Hello Cartanis, I know this must be you asking him this. I'll be short, first: please refrain from touching my things when I'm away unless it’s important, I make weapons of war not love. Second: you remember that bet? 'I won't forget the halls of my own hat' yeah and my mother was a ham-” but the message was cut short as Cartanis ordered Heratio to get on with it.
 
They followed Heratio out back into the circular main area right before the entrance to the central room. They went down the hallway with a numeric three above it, the very first room in view on the left was then entered.
 
Inside they seemed to enter a well lit hallway, not much longer than a few pony lengths.
 
“There doesn't seem to be anything here.” Luna noted the empty space.
 
“Heratio, bring up item collection three, sort for headwear.” Cartanis said aloud before turning to Luna, “Refrain from moving any part of yourself over the edge.”
 
Luna only had a second to question the statement before the loud noises of brick and mortar shuffling around them blocked out her thoughts for a moment. She peeked over the edge of what they were standing on, which was now a solid plank that stretched from the doorway to the wall on the other end. Looking over into the black abyss beneath them, she was quickly pulled back right before a rush of air met her face, a blur of objects began falling from an equally black abyss in the ceiling. It seemed chaotic and random, but Cartanis just looked on as though it were routine.
 
Eventually the chaos subsided, a few objects hung listlessly in the air, waiting for direction.
 
“Now Luna, this time, don't touch anything.” Cartanis said with his eyes locked onto hers as he began to scan the few items that remained.
 
“So, one gifted individual made all of these?”
 
“No. This is the storage Armory, we occasionally, well... more than occasionally; would find items of interest. Ted would confiscate them and keep them here in storage, he then tested them to find out their secrets of creation, using what he learned to try and make his own. He never tended to keep things that were safe though, but we still find uses for the stuff he is finished with.” Cartanis let out a triumphant cackle as he picked out a circlet from the lineup.
 
“That is for?”
 
“For Fluttershy's potentially catastrophic headaches.” Cartanis gently floated the circlet next to himself with his arcane power, too afraid to cross realms of magic on it.
 
Luna's gaze fell over the single piece of the circlet that drew her attention, besides the rather simple silver ringlet that was the device, the gemstone socketed into the forehead of it seemed to beckon to her.
 
Cartanis slapped her hoof away, concern evident across his face. “This is why I wanted you to stay behind.” the circlet floated behind him as he gazed into her eyes that blinked away at her confusion.
 
Luna looked slightly fearful in the direction of the device hidden by Cartanis' frame, “Why does it beckon like that.”
 
Cartanis' brow furrowed, his eyes scanning her cautiously. “Because your mind is broken.”
 
The allegation made Luna scoff, “What makes you so sure about that?”
 
“What happened Luna?” Cartanis' steely gaze pierced Luna's attempt at a dismissal. “What did you do to yourself all those centuries ago?”
 
Luna relented, “I don't know!” her eyes frantically darted about.
 
“Tell me!” Cartanis demanded.
 
“What gives you the right to make such demands?”
 
“Forces of Creation do NOT just alter the fabric of their creations on needless whim, you put the whole of your world in peril if they decided to intervene.” His eyes betrayed his concern alongside his indignation.
 
She relented, taking a deep breath before continuing. “I'm in a room, and there is this machine. Ponies are running about terrified. I'm the only one standing my ground, then it’s all just a haze.” she stamped her hooves against her head, “I just want to know what is real and what isn't! What is my memory and what the nightmare is!” she stared outraged at Cartanis, “How would you like it if you didn't know you were a monster! Was it you tearing apart ponies, or was it that foul whisper telling you to do it? Where did I begin and the monster end...”
 
Cartanis took the mad gaze he had gotten from Luna, he looked about as he sighed, then began to trot past her. “Seeking help is the first step, but your road is long and arduous. Tread it carefully Luna, for I think you'll find that monsters enjoy hiding in the dark; and our minds are surely where we keep our darkest secrets.”
 

 
Fluttershy had finally rejoined her friends in the main area of the library, their inner voices and feelings still rang out in the air, but it wasn't such a cacophony of noise anymore. So long as she concentrated and none of them made any kind of eye contact with her she could cope, but she too had to refrain from looking at much besides the floor.
 
Her friends were still talking to Rainbow Dash, who had apparently found out what she was fighting for all along. As happy as Fluttershy was for her friend, she herself wasn't sure if she was even going to be leaving with them.
 
What if one of them gets hurt trying to keep me safe? She knew that unlike some of her friends, that she would be less likely to be handy in a fight. All she knew is that she wanted to speak to Andur, who promised that after he got back from his Clerical duties, would help her understand and control her powers.
 
Voices then began to emanate from Cartanis' hat, Fluttershy was nearby and also happened to be the only one not engaging in conversation with someone.
 
“She's not a magic salve that will just cure your memories away or restore them. You'd be lucky enough to claw your way out of your own mind with one so inexperienced!”
 
It sounded like Cartanis, and he was somewhere between anger and impatience.
 
“What if you couldn't account for years of your existence, unable to tell what is nightmare and what truly happened?”
 
“It's too dangerous-”
 
Fluttershy's curiosity got the best of her, and she gazed into the hat to try and see what he was so angry about. A silvery blur shot past her head, causing her to squeak as she ducked to avoid it. A blue unicorn head appeared from the hole.
 
“-and I'm not risking the mind of...” Cartanis stopped as he realized he was staring right into the gaze of Fluttershy, goose bumps ran across the back of his neck, he tried to break contact but she was already firing her mind out defensively to the forces she couldn't understand. “Fluttershy you gosh, hursh-” but his words came out as a jumble of gibberish as he was falling through a space, hovering gently right above the ground.
 

 
Luna looked perplexed at Cartanis as he was thrashing about in his strange web of feather fall spells. “Is something the matter?” He didn't respond, only continuing in his seizure of painful twists, flailing his arms about at unseen horrors.
 
Shouts of terror and rage escaped his throat, echoing of the walls with their din of pain.
 
Concerned voices seemed to find their way to the edge of the exit, “What's wrong with Fluttershy, why is Cartanis screaming like that?”
 
Cartanis ceased his movements and looked over to Luna, teeth bared, his eyes alive with power. “D'or skie alumina ersk hupla.”
 
The strange language was deep and rumbling, invoking a fear that was far more primal than it was logical.
 
Cartanis had righted himself and was advancing towards Luna, “Uulesk op'neskih?” a ball of lighting, sparking and crackling against the area around it, eager for vengeance and destruction appeared before him. “Leska untaro idstad!”
 
Luna barely managed to dodge the ball of lightning as it exploded across the walls behind her, the energy arcing its way through cracks in the wall that it had made. “What is the meaning of this!?” She said, her powers ready to strike back.
 
The air around her seemed to glow slightly, thrumming with an unfamiliar power. A strange implement formed form the energy and attempted to impale her, even if the power was unfamiliar she could sense her world’s magic coursing through it giving the blade its shape, with a quick application of her magic she dispersed it.
 
Only to see its scattered energy reform at a distance, alongside dozens of other daggers and blades that began to form from the energy. Luna frantically began dispersing them as they closed, but they seemed to reappear as fast as she cast them away.
 
She teleported a few feet to dodge the swarm, but was stuck within the confines of the room, Cartanis had shut the gateway when they left, and he was standing in front of the only exit. His powers were mulling the ley lines, like an alien fog over the landscape, and she couldn't make out a path to the exit with so much interference.
 
She didn't want to hurt Cartanis he was obviously not in control of his actions, but she was running out of ideas. Luna prepared an old spell, one that would harm Cartanis, but hopefully not kill him. Her horn sparked with power, the air about her crackling as the power built up, but she stopped herself.
 
Cartanis was on the floor, crying, and mumbling something.
 
“What?”
 
He clutched at a series of loosened bricks, holding them in his front legs, “Why would they do this?”
 
Luna had no idea what he was on about, but this was possibly her only chance. She raced past him, his saddened eyes calling on her to answer him, before he returned to the estranged pile of rocks and gently caressed them.
 
“I can understand all the others, it's logical, but why...” He seemed to draw deep inside himself as Luna was quickly rising to the exit portal, and then Cartanis' cry cut the peace of the world, begging and pleading for an answer.
 

 
Luna shot out of the hat, almost flying into the concerned face of her sister. As Luna crash landed across the floor, a group of worried faces met her, but she had no time for their questions. “Which one of you is gifted with powers from their world?”
 
She didn't need their answers, as she noticed the only pony in the room not gawking at her entrance was in a trance wandering about the room in a lost daze.
 
“Where is the circlet?” Luna barked as she and a few other ponies began to scramble about looking for the item that was casually tossed from the hat. After a few minutes of desperate searching, they found it laying under a table. Luna quickly had them dawn the item onto Fluttershy.
 
With the circlet gently sitting on her head, the group waited anxiously for any sign. Only to have nothing happen, Fluttershy continued in her strange gaze but had ceased moving. Luna quickly checked back into the hat, only to see Cartanis passed out on the floor of the room, the area around him pot-marked with the aftereffects of various spells.
 
“What is going on?” the telltale voice of concern emanated from Celestia.
 
“I think I read up on this...” Luna quickly tried to remember the various chapters she had read, “We're going to need Andur, if Cartanis was telling the truth anyway.”
 

 
Andur was continuing down the street, taking note of the unnatural quiet of the town. All of the ponies had taken to locking themselves within their homes as soon as night approached.
 
I can't blame them, they no longer feel safe. Andur was lost in thought. They were so happy before, barely a care in the world. Now we come along and shake the tree so violently that they lay scattered, and unsure of their own futures. He looked up towards the night sky, the stars just starting to glint and sparkle. I don't know how, but I won't give up. Not until this whole mess is behind us, these ponies will know joy again. They will be safe within the confines of their town once more.
 
Andur was pulled from his thoughts when he saw a streak racing about the sky, darting in a haphazard pattern as it stopped in a spot every once in a while. He recognized the telltale rainbow streak of Dash as she continued in this strange pattern. His book humming broke his attention from the matter.
 
Oh you are not going to believe where I am right now. The shimmering green text proclaimed. I am also on my way back, there is no way I’m going on any farther alone. See you all in about an hour or two.
 
Andur was pulled from his thought by an impatient jab to his ribs, he turned and saw a small white mare pegasus with a pink mane. “Can I help you?”
 
The mare's wings seemed to recede into her form as a horn spontaneously grew from her head. The now unicorn spoke, “No time to explain.” the horn ignited with power as they flew along the ley lines of the world.
 

 
Andur reappeared in the Library, “I take it the matter is severe for a goddess to risk revealing her civilian form?”
 
Celestia shifted from her rather humble pony form back into her alicorn self, “You be the judge.”
 
Andur looked about the library, the only pony in the room was Fluttershy, the others had apparently left in a search for him. Luna then appeared out of Cartanis' hat, she noticed Andur and looked worriedly over to Fluttershy. “Can you fix this?”
 
Andur trotted over to Fluttershy, noticing the Circlet of Serenity adorned her head. He looked at her blank expression, “I don't think it's much to worry about, it’s just a defensive mechanism to stop her from hurting anything. She'll come out of it on her own.”
 
“OK now what about Cartanis.”
 
At hearing his friend’s name, he felt hairs stand on end at the back of his neck. The look he shot Luna made her cower slightly, he sighed, “I knew I should've taught her more.... but she was so insistent.” He returned with his harsh gaze, “Tell me what happened.”
 
Luna then divulged everything that had occurred previously.
 
“-and I tried everything the book said, but no matter how I say either of their names they won't respond.”
 
Andur silently looked between Fluttershy and then down into the hat where he could see Cartanis out cold. He calmly walked over to Fluttershy's body, and then closed his eyes in prayer.
 
By the power of the holy star in the sky from which your good graces fall, give to me the strength to journey through lands that seem far.
 
His power was reaching out from himself, greeting everything that it met.
 
Find this lost sheep, her mind frail and unready for this burden. Forgive me my misjudgment and grant her reprieve.
 
As his power met Fluttershy's form, it parsed itself through her, seeking out that which gave her body its will. That one thing that made matter alive with purpose, no matter how distant, a strand always remained behind the guide it home. Andur found that string, floating loosely out into the world. With his power he ignited it, causing its serene glow to light the land of souls like a beacon.
 
He maintained it, waiting patiently, he felt something tug on the line. A strange sound with it, like worried whisper that was barely audible. He whispered along the line of power, Fluttershy.
 
Like a dog might retreat to its master, a force shot along the path he had drawn, slamming into the body.
 
Fluttershy let loose a series of panicked breaths, distraught as she fell to the ground. “I didn't mean to do it...” she said meekly.
 
Luna stared at the sight, “How did-”
 
“When you cut off an Ardent during a mind link with a restrictor,” He tapped the circlet at her head. “You cut off her mind from her body. Luckily for Cartanis she had already found her way out of his mind, or else things could be a lot worse.” He groaned. “I never did like the idea of psionics, I prefer the soul not the mind. Now however, we are going to need to make use of what I know from the monks of the Order.”
 
Fluttershy looked up to Andur, surprised how she couldn't hear any of the regular sounds and emotions anymore.
 
Andur continued, “I know you must've seen some things in Cartanis' mind, and that you had no idea what you were doing, it's not your fault. Now we must repair what you have done, I can make use of your power, but you must be there to help me.” He helped her up, “Today is to be a learning experience, a trial by fire.”
 

 
They all watched as Andur took out another jar of strange ingredients, spreading the ashes amidst the other piles and markings he had made in the floor of the sanctuary's front door.
 
Applejack spoke up, “What the hay is making this heapin' mess gonna do for Cartanis?”
 
Andur closed the lid on the jar before returning it to his bag, then took a stride back to appreciate his work, “There are far more than just arcane rituals Applejack. This is an old one, known by the Peloric Order, and made use of by healers of the mind throughout my lands.” He gestured to various inscriptions upon the ground. “With this, one who is skilled in matters of the divine and souls, may aid one who is gifted with the mind to heal wounds inflicted on ones sanity.” He gestured towards the exit, “Now this may take a while, and you would all be better off doing something else besides pacing about with worry in this cramped space.”
 
As the various ponies began to take leave from the sanctuary, Andur turned to Fluttershy. “Are you prepared?”
 
Fluttershy looked to Cartanis, who was the center point of the strange diagram Andur had drawn. “It's all my fault.”
 
“Taking responsibility for the whole thing now are you?” Fluttershy looked up confused. “That is admirable, but I already said it wasn't entirely yours to begin with. I for one shouldn't have let my better judgment go, I should've pushed my case that you needed training immediately instead of letting my duty get the better of me.” He laughed slightly, “So I guess we are both guilty in a sense.” He reached for the circlet around her head, “Are you ready?”
 
Fluttershy nodded, and felt the various noises return as the circlet was removed from her head. She repeated her old mantra through her head, doing her best to ignore the waterfall of concern in the other room. A new presence made itself known, but it did not force itself on her like all the others. It seemed hesitant, as if seeking permission. She did her best to allow it through her mind, and felt it click with something within herself. As it did the noises around her ceased, and she was in peaceful serenity.
 
Your power is not to be feared, once you learn to use it, you should celebrate it.
 
Fluttershy recognized the voice as it echoed within her mind, she opened her eyes and witness the spectacle around her. The air smelled of incense as the floor ignited in brilliant light, Andur who lay next to her was aglow slightly in tandem with his strange rune work.
 
She didn't know how to describe it, but she seemed to be aware of Cartanis in the midst of it all, and she felt Andur reaching out to him. Carefully separating a strange force from the rest of the physical form. Now his mind shall be at peace.
 
Fluttershy felt that strange power again, like her mind was trying to leave herself, she recoiled and resisted. Not wanting to tear apart another mind again.
 
Calm yourself, I am here, there is nothing you can do to harm him now.
 
She relented to the kind words, it felt as if it shepherded her along, carefully coaxing her into the mind of the shell before her.
 

 
Fluttershy was once again in the strange place, as though there was a fog thick in the air, her vision was obscured. This time however, she was not alone, and she was not being attacked by a scared force that wished her gone.
 
Andur's familiar presence was with her, like a guiding light. He asked of her power things she had not thought possible. He showed her how to coax a memory from the vast fog, making it appear before her like a mote of light. At first her hand was held as the teacher showed her how it worked, connecting past memories to future ones in a course of logic and reasoning. Eventually she seemed to figure it out on her own, she did not know the memories, but the body she inhabited did. All she had to do was ask for it to assist her, and it gratefully responded.
 
Soon enough there was a web of memories in front of them, but a few seemed.... off somehow.
 
There's the problem. Andur's voice rang through the space.
 
Which is? Fluttershy's answered.
 
Those few right there, they are in a loop. A series of light motes were tangled within the net, giving off an eerie mixture of sound and feeling. Because they are messed up in such a way he is unable to perceive reality correctly, all we have to do is set them straight, and the rest should follow on its own.
 
So how do we go about that, they don't seem to want to listen to me like usual.
 
Technically the memories are listening, they are going where the mind tells them to. It just seems that the last time you were here, you rewrote the timeline of memories in his mind. So now we must experience them ourselves... to a degree. Then manually reconstruct them where they belong.
 
Fluttershy picked one of the tangled memories at random, and began the show.
 

 
Cartanis awoke in the sanctuary, coughing and hacking at the intense smell of incense in the room, “I think you may have overdone it Andur.”
 
“You must try to stop getting hurt so badly when I'm not around.” his friend retorted.
 
“Yes, well, I just seem to be a catalyst for these types of things.” He got up from the cold floor, shaking himself off.
 
Fluttershy looked at him, smiling at her work.
 
“I take it she isn't such a danger anymore?” Cartanis said aloud.
 
“She has far more to learn, but I suspect she can control herself far better now.”
 
Cartanis looked about the room, taking note of the damage he had done earlier. Fluttershy seemed to still be staring at him, “Is there something you want to say?”
 
“I'm sorry....” she quickly looked away.
 
“I got the low-life, don't worry about that.”
 
“Why would they...”
 
Cartanis interjected, heated anger in his voice. “Because the Theocracy is a bunch of tyrants who would kill an unborn child if they thought it would better enforce their rule!” He calmed himself, but he was still taking quickened breaths. “Those orphans were like my family...” He remembered the Tiefling he had cornered, the one who had given the order. “I was very simple with him, and unlike that blaggard, I showed a hint of mercy.” Cartanis approached the exit, not wanting to think of it anymore.
 
He turned to Andur, “I should've listened to you... they may have kept the peace, kept us safe from the outside world.... but sure enough, when they had the numbers.” He laughed slightly, “One day I find the university is burning, not a soul helping to douse the fire. All of them too afraid to resist or to listen to their better judgment about the Theocracy's motives...” He remembered the children he found, they had not died from the fire.

He felt Andur place a hoof on his shoulder, “We won't let another empire like that exist, these are good beings, they would never allow it.”
 
Fluttershy looked at the two stallions, lost in thought about their intertwined pasts. Can I allow myself to inaction? To watch a deadly fire burn, seeing the evil that caused it and just go about my day? “I'm going with you.” she said with confidence, then they both turned to the sudden outburst of noise, “Umm...” she began scratching at the floor, “because I won't let... something like that happen... so I’m... umm... ” They both chuckled at her exuberant shift in confidence from Fluttershy.
 
“Well that's one down, shall we see about the rest?” Andur said.
 
Cartanis was already at the exit portal, as he left and noticed the various happy faces to see him. Suddenly the world was tumbling about as he was tackled.
 
Cartanis felt his head locked under something's arm, before he could react a blunt force was applied to his head, followed by a bellowing warcry. “Noogie, noogie, noogie!”
 
“Ted! What is the meaning of this?” he struggled and attempted to break the hold, but was only grasped tighter.
 
“Somepony tells me you just lost a bet. Never going to get lost huh?” Ted retorted, returning to his friendly torture.
 
“I thought that bet expired a month ago!” Cartanis managed to say with what little breath he had as he continued to trya nd squeeze his way out of Ted's headlock.
 
“Did it?” Ted let Cartanis go, who fired in the opposite direction into a wall. “Well either way, bet is all paid up then.”
 
“Not quite yet...” Cartanis groaned as he stood up from his crash site.
 
“What would that mean-AAAAAAAH!” Ted began dancing about the room, frantically trying to remove his armor. As he finally undid the last clasp a few dozen ice cubes slide out from the estranged barding. Ted let out a content sigh as he turned back to Cartanis, “Very mature of you, I thought you were fifty-seven?”
 
“Says the ancient fey breed, who just gave me a noogie.” Cartanis rolled his eyes.
 
“I'm not ancient!” he said indigently, “I'm like a well-aged wine, ready for sampling with just the right hint of fermentation.” He raised his chin to Cartanis, “and the light-ale can't handle that I’m just a smidgen more sought after than he is.”
 
Cartanis bit his lip in thought for a moment, “You know with my unicorn magic, I might actually be able to turn you into a bottle of wine.”
 
“You wouldn't dare!?” Ted said with a worried look in his eye, as Cartanis crept towards him like a cat ready to pounce.
 
“I think that's enough bonding for you two in one afternoon.” said the authoritative voice of Andur.
 
“I suppose.” Cartanis returned to a more dignified stance, returning a smile to Ted, “Thanks.”
 
“For what?” Ted responded as he began attempting to dry out his armor.
 
“For taking my mind off things for a moment.”
 
“You're always taking things way too seriously.” Ted rolled his eyes, but secretly he was thinking, Just as planned.
 
They were all interrupted from their various conversations by the attention grabbing voice of Celestia. With all the various problems sorted, the meeting began in earnest.
 

 
“Thank you for your time, but I do believe my sister and I have caused enough of a headache for our guards as it is. So we shall be off.” Celestia brought her sister close to her, and in a flash of light they disappeared.
 
“I still don't see why they didn't do that to get here.” Rainbow Dash grumbled.
 
Rarity spoke up, “I believe Celestia mentioned something along the lines of it being, 'good therapy' for her sister to face her fears for a change.”
 
“Onto more important matters!” Ted exclaimed, “Who's going to be my chaperone?”
 
Andur raised an eyebrow, “Made up your mind so quickly now have you?”
 
“Of course I would love to be sent back, all alone, leading armies to possible victory. While ya'll rot in a cave, because you didn't have my wits to keep your spirits up when you fought DRA'MA-hb.” Ted posed regally as he finished his statement.
 
Andur turned to the Bearers of Hamrony, “And you have all made up your minds as well?” Each nodded as his gaze passed over them. “Then Cartanis, we should start preparing for any potential power gains these mares shall have.”
 
Cartanis welcomed the new objective and set about clearing his mind for the potentially monumental task ahead. “This should be interesting indeed.”
 
Andur stood, following Cartanis as he set up his hat. “We will help you however we can, but once midnight rolls around, you all leave to your respective homes for some shut-eye, we leave a few hours after morning.”
 
“Which of you need to go get your element?” Cartanis questioned.
 
“I think that'd be me 'n' Pinkie.” Applejack stated.
 
“We shall be here for a while, go with haste.”
 

 
Rainbow Dash finally opened her eyes after shielding them from the bright light, only to see that she was standing in a strange room. The walls white like marble, strange murals decorating the ceiling, and a fog that seemed to hang over everything.
 
“Wow Ted, your home is a lot more.... boring than I thought it would be.” Dash remarked about the relative quiet of the space.
 
Ted didn't respond he simply continued tracking something that caught his attention.
 
Rainbow Dash wasn't sure what to think, Ted would've totally taken a chance to crack a joke in there somewhere. She tried to make out what Ted was staring at, but he was looking straight at a wall. “I don't get it-” she was shushed by Ted.
 
Ted slowly turned as he followed the noise, eventually it became loud enough for Dash to make it out. It sounded like footsteps. Doors near to them burst open, Dash made an attempt to dodge them, while Ted simply allowed his ghostlike form to phase through it.
 
An Eladrin strode through the room with quiet confidence, his solid colored eyes betraying his race. He was followed by a female, an elf, hair like that of autumn leaves. The door behind them was shut at the behest of the Eladrin.
 
Then laughter began, triumphant laughter, the Eladrin began strutting about the room with ecstatic zeal. “I told you my dear, one week tops.”
 
The Elf rolled her eyes, “You do know that not all the houses agreed, and we are looking at a possible schism?”
 
“They shall whine, they may send assassins, nothing we haven't had to deal with before.” The Eladrin was pouring himself a drink. “Never cared for this lightweight stuff. Wish I could get some decent ale in the fey-wilds.”
 
“If you went and did that, I would doubt you'd be able to concentrate hard enough to remain lordly.”
 
The Eladrin laughed, “Fair point.” He took a swig of his drink, “Speaking of concentration, I need to see how the boys down in research are doing on that idea Ted sent our way.”
 
The Elf was staring at the floor.
 
“Now, now, my 'advisor' you can't act like that around your lord.” The Eladrin embraced her.
 
“They've done so much more us... and I wasn't even able to see him in person.”
 
“Shhhh.” The Eladrin looked in her eyes, “Let's go find-”
 
“-a poor roller to laugh at.” Ted finished as his father did as well.
 
The Eladrin picked at his ear for a moment, “Strange, I think someone was telling one of my jokes somewhere.” he then left the room with the elf.
 
Rainbow Dash looked at Ted, “Are you... sad?”
 
“That was a classic, he always used it to cheer me up.” He turned to her, “Those two were my home, and anyplace they were, I was comfortable with.” He then tapped at her rainbow lightning bolt necklace, “Now then 'Loyalty' I grow bored with this lack of joke potential atmosphere. Take us home.... PLEEEEEEASE!”
 
“Why do you stay?” Loyalty's empathetic voice spoke.
 
“You want a serious answer... out of me?” Ted began to laugh.
 
“What do you have to lose?” it retorted.
 
“Well I suppose...” He rubbed at his chin in thought. “They are far too serious.”
 
Ted could feel their combined confusion.
 
“They get to be like wound up bed springs, just so taught they are ready to snap and tear at each other’s throats. So I come along and...” He shrugged. “Make them settle down a little. Can't have the saviors of the world killing each other now can you? Besides there are some nice benefits to adventuring in a party anyway.”
 
Loyalty seemed to accept the answer, slowly growing brighter until once again they were in the familiar tunnel of energy.
 

 
Pinkie Pie waited eagerly, “How long have they been gone now?”
 
Cartanis sighed, and then took out his pocket watch. “Probably fifteen seconds since you asked me the last time.”
 
“That's almost nine minutes, I can't stand it!” she was eagerly jumping up and down, as excited as ever.
 
First she breaks a land speed record trying to go get her Element, now she's almost causing an earthquake with her incessant hopping. Cartanis couldn't fathom what damage Pinkie Pie may do with powers beyond her comprehension, he shuddered at the thought of such a chaotic soul becoming a sorceress; Please... PLEASE let her be something with an off switch.
 
Rainbow Dash and Ted gently floated to the ground of the dome-like ritual chamber within the Halls of Heratio, Pinkie Pie quickly ascended from the lower area that sat around the upper area like an audience section in a circular theater.
 
Pinkie Pie wanted to see Ted's cutie mark, it would help her plan of having a party themed to three new cutie marks be perfect. As she finally got within distance to see Ted, he had already covered himself in his green cloak.
 
Before Pinkie Pie could say anything, Ted interrupted, “Now I know you Miss Pie, and I know how you like to play games. So how about a skill check challenge.”
 
Pinkie Pie's eyes narrowed, sending a look that the situation was most definitely; accepted. “Okie Dokie Lokie.”
 
Ted cleared his throat, and then assumed his most prudent voice, while throwing his hooves about dramatically. “Good heavens young mare, whatever would possess you to violate my personal bubble.”
 
“Don't you know sir? Green attracts the wrath of the great Rarity-beast,” Pinkie Pie could hear Rarity roll her eyes in the distance of the room, “and if you don't take it off, your life will be in peril.”
 
Ted seemed to think, “Obviously you just want to see my magnificent manly mark,” he shushed Rainbow Dash as she went to correct him. “but I'm rather shy, so I plead to your better nature,” his eyes took on the aspect of a puppy's, “weave me awone...” he blinked a few times as his lip pouted.
 
Pinkie Pie seemed to be almost to tears, “OK, I'll leave you alone.”
 
Satisfied with his diplomatic response, Ted turned to leave, only to feel a sudden draft.
 
“Bluff leading to thievery! Check and ma-” but Pinkie Pie stopped, Ted was wearing a second green cloak. Or was he? Pinkie Pie looked at her hooves to see a note of paper
 
Nice roll lassie, but still not good enough.
 
Ted was walking away triumphantly, but noticed another paper on the floor in front of him. It read: That roll was a crit! You lousy cheater!
 
He noticed Pinkie Pie standing, unamused, next to him. “Have mercy pink one, it is not by my will that I deny you this.”
 
“Then who dares to try and stop me from celebrating the discovery of your destiny.” she said with a booming voice and a significant frown.
 
“None other than the Dungeon Marester, leader of us all.”
 
Pinkie Pie's eyes narrowed, “So it's him once again, we shall see who survives this time.” A strange energy seemed to be forming and distorting the air around Pinkie Pie, Ted began to go wide eyed.
 
He shook his hooves about trying to get her to stop, “Pinkie, for real, don't do that! If you break that, then you could break everything! The 'FOURTH' kind of everything.”
 
“You weren't being for real? Because I was.” Pinkie Pie said, the strange energy dissipating from the area.
 
“Look if it's so important to you, here.” Ted removed his cloak.
 
As those of other zebra, his mark was like a tribal tattoo, a collection of black lines that gave shape like a fingerprint, instead of an actual solid picture. An Anvil was embroidered on his skin, two smith hammers floated above it, crossed like a coat of arms.
 
“Not too surprising if you ask me.” Ted said, as he watched Pinkie Pie smile in victory.
 
“Bluffed your bluff with a bluff... and an intimidation.” She happily hopped along, back to rejoin her friends.
 
Rainbow Dash put a hoof to her face, I'm already having a hard enough time putting up with Pinkie Pie's weirdness.
 

 
Rainbow Dash paced about impatiently, “What's taking Andur?”
 
Ted rolled his eyes, “He wanted to go find an old friend.... as he said.”
 
Andur carefully walked into the room, a cloth wrapped item strapped to his back. As Rainbow Dash watched him approach, she could hear him mumbling under his breath. She wanted to ask why, but felt a strange feeling of reverence on the subject.
 
Andur ceased his prayers, he gently placed the item on the floor before her, respectfully unwrapping it and laying it bare. “Behold, Mezakesh, the Silent Judge.” At hearing its name, the spear ignited with power, light pouring from the inscriptions upon the pommel. Fire simmering along the edges of the blade, waiting with buried fury to meet the flesh of an enemy.
 
Andur continued, “It belonged to one of the Order's greatest Avenger's. When he was given a task, he set about it with the fury of an angel let loose amongst the demons of the abyss. Any that dared get between him and his target would be cast aside with righteous judgment, and the ones he took down would hear their crimes as he silently bested them in combat.”
 
He drew his eyes down in respect, “It was only through trickery that he was defeated, and he swore an oath of vengeance upon him. So great was his fervor when he broke his silence, that the trickster who felled him was smote to ash, and Mezakesh was bound to his weapon. Continuing in service to aid a just soul in seeking to right the wrongs of evil. Mezakesh entrusted himself to me, knowing that I would find a soul worthy of him.”
 
He stared into Rainbow Dash's eyes, “He shall train you, and make you a harrowing angel amongst the fields of the damned. Bringing the fire of the heavens, and purifying the darkness around you.”
 
Andur backed away slowly, with respect to the dormant soul of the weapon. Rainbow Dash looked at it, not entirely sure what to do next. She did the only thing she could think of doing, and reached over to grasp it in her hooves.
 
It felt light in her hooves, far lighter than she expected it to be. A voice found its way into her head, Give me a target.
 
“Umm, can I get a training target or something?” she said with some confusion over the presence within her mind.
 
A target of arcane force appeared before her, in a loose shape of an equine.
 
Rainbow Dash resisted the strange presence trying to make her move.
 
Hold on buddy, first we lay some ground rules!
 
Mezakesh ceased his advance on her mind.
 
First, I'm Rainbow Dash. Not your silly puppet. If I'm in a fight, it's going to be me calling the shots, not you!
 
Second, when you’re through teaching me, you never do this again. GOT IT! She put some mental anger into the last words.
 
There was a pause, as it considered her words. A fiery soul indeed. She heard the strange presence voice itself.
 
That's more like it.
 
It once again made a move on her mind, this time more respectfully. Then began to teach her the ways of fighting, how to harry and cripple your opponent. Taking away its ability to defend itself from your full wrath, slowly but surely making them unable to run from their punishment. Then how to deliver a finishing blow when they least expected it, like the final decree of a silent judge.
 
Now, I shall teach you how we Avenger's pursue our targets.
 
Rainbow Dash gleefully allowed it to send power rushing through her, she felt faster than light itself as she stepped between spaces. Chasing down the targets that Cartanis employed within the room.
 
The crowd watched in amazement, Rainbow Dash would be away from her target, letting it gain a lead. Then with a sly smile across her face, she would vanish in a misty light that had a tint of rainbow, reappearing in its path. She would slice away at it, causing it to lose some of its momentum. Each time the target would run Dash would give chase, and every time they were caught they left her a little weaker. Before the target could no longer retreat, and was smitten as she delivered a finishing blow. Smoke and ash rising from the positions of the targets, leaving Dash to stand triumphant in her practice
 
“Hold true to the tenets of our faith,” Andur began, “and you shall never fear in the loyalty of the Silent Judge or the power that flows through you now.” Andur closed his eyes, remembering what he needed to incite.
 
“Avert and prevent the suffering of others” A runic language seemed to hang in the air, bristling with power as Andur spoke. “Bring his light unto the darkness of evil, and be watchful against its motives. Show others mercy, when evil would seek brutality. Show compassion, where others give animosity. Give kindness, where others would shun and forget.” The words hung in the air, a large pronouncement of faith which gave weight to the decision. “Do you accept our way?” his voice seemed to boom with an otherworldly power.
 
Rainbow Dash paused for a moment, the thought of being tied down in such a way almost made her recoil. “What's the catch?” she asked with suspicion.
 
“So long as you seek his path, wish to do good in this world. Then you shall never be trapped, for he cannot stop your actions, only the guilt of your own mind will make a chain strong enough to tie down one such as you.” Andur spoke with conviction, holding forth only the truth of the matter.
 
She looked back with confidence, “Then I won't let evil get away, I'll chase it into its own den if I have to, if only to make Ponyville safe again.”
 
The runic language in the air coalesced into a single point, a shining star in the relative darkness of the room. “Then know his presence.” The light shot into Dash, igniting her soul, causing her vision to fade for a brief instant. Yet bringing with it a much clearer sense of her new found power. Before she had use of it, but now it had something more, it had direction. As her vision cleared she saw Andur helping her up, “Welcome to the Order, Sister Dash.”
 

 
Cartanis had been recording the time it took for full crossovers, each time it was successfully shorter, the shortest instant had been about thirteen seconds. Both participants reported that they had seen little other than the jolt of being ferried across the bridge.
 
Applejack stood in the center of the stage, waiting patiently as the ritual that was drawn chimed and glowed beneath her. “Anythin'?”
 
“Just be ready to think fast Applejack. We think we know what you are, but we need to be sure.”
 
“What the hay does-” but she stopped, ducking as she felt something about to hit her. She looked up to see her would be attacker, a small glowing sphere of force. “What was that for!?” Applejack looked up, to see some rather stunned faces. She looked between them, “Did I miss somethin'?”
 
Andur was the only one who spoke up, “I knew she had to be a Monk. Only a proper mind can make use of Zen like that.” He took the confused look of Applejack, “You basically just dodged a cannonball launched at point blank range, from your blind side.” Andur laughed slightly, “It wouldn't have done anything, so you can stop shooting daggers at me with your eyes.”
 
Ted reappeared from another room, a suit of armor on his back and a book in his mouth. He spit the book upon the ground, much to the chagrin of Cartanis, “I think the robes from that old order of dwarves should do nicely.” The large suit of metal fell from his back with a deep metallic clang against the floor; Ted took a moment to roll his eyes at the equine form it had taken.
 
Applejack looked concerned at it, “How does that classify as robes?”
 
“You'll see.” Ted went to pick up the book in his mouth, only to have Cartanis swipe it away with his magic and respectfully glide it over to Applejack.
 
“The Way of the Fist?” Applejack looked perplexed as she skimmed through it, “What the hay is a fist...” She him-hawed a bit, “Can I get the Equestrian version of this?”
 
Cartanis called Heratio into the room, and with only a point, sent him off on command. The book in Applejack's hoof was whisked away, scanned seemingly, and then a copy appeared.
 
“The Way of the Hoof.” Applejack smiled, “Now that's more my speed.” She looked concerned over to the armor one last time, “So about that.”
 
“Once you figure out how to access your Zen a little more freely, the robes will make much more sense, I promise.” Ted proclaimed as he heaped the armor in front of her. “It looks a lot heavier than it is.”
 
“Sure it is.” Applejack retorted in disbelief.
 
“Look, Andur may now things about the mind and all. But there is one thing I have in spades that most others lack having at all.” For a moment his eyes flashed into two orbs of pure grey. “Now I’m going to show you how a mind like yours works, because it isn't too different from the way I call the fey.” Ted removed the armor and book from the center stage. “Now close your eyes.”
 
Applejack shot him a suspicious look.
 
Ted laughed a bit, “Yes I'm going to do silly things to you in front of a large crowd of ponies, while still being a good guy. So please close your eyes, it's rather important.” Applejack relented and shut her eyes. “Now describe the room.”
 
“Well, it's made of stone-”
 
“Sorry, I wasn't being clear. Describe it to yourself.” Ted could feel Applejack roll her eyes under her lids.
 
Applejack thought of the space she inhabited, the stonework floor, the musty feel of the air, the stale smells. It was pictured in her mind just so, “So now what?”
 
“With this picture in your mind, you must bring it to life.”
 
“What?”
 
“Life is not static, it does not stand still. It constantly shifts and changes, that picture in your mind is a false representation of the world around you. Now you must find a way to bring it to life in your mind.”
 
Applejack mulled over his words, How do I bring a thought... a picture to life? Well I suppose that I'm not the only thing in here. She pictured her friends in the room where she remembered them being, as well as Ted and his friends. But something still seemed off, Why doesn’t it seem right?
 
Come on you simple earth pony, Ted thought to himself, you're so close. What is that one thing pictures lack, that one crucial element that gives life to something?!
 
She felt like something was just out of reach, What's wrong with it? The picture of them all in the room made sense, but she knew that something was off. Then she began to hear something, Ted was pacing around her, rather loudly. At first it distracted her, then it made her think, Wait a minute, Ted isn't where he was a minute ago.
 
Then it clicked. She moved Ted in her mind, every movement she heard worked in tandem with her mental picture, making a moving slide-show of sorts as she watched him move about her. Almost like she was staring right at him, while her eyes remained closed. She could feel the air moving about as he began to lightly glide about near her, filling in more gaps in her senses. The picture felt more and more like her own vision as more pieces fit together. She had a small grin of satisfaction.
 
Ted smiled, “Now block.”
 
“Huh?” Applejack didn't have a moment to spare as the picture in her head told her she was about to get hit square in the jaw, she ducked at the last minute. “What's goin' on!?” Before she could open her eyes, once again she felt her mind warn her to an incoming kick.
 
“I said block not DODGE!” Ted sounded angry.
 
Applejack threw herself backwards, taking care to avoid the edge that was plotted out in her mind's eye. She opened her eyes to only see blackness, What did he do? She then felt the brim of her hat pulled down tightly over her face. Before she could think to remove it, she had to prepare for Ted's next attack.
 
He was once again going for her face, but this time she was ready. She danced past his clumsy hook, with a loose spin she diverted the force of it away from herself, before planting her elbow into the side of his face. As Ted went off spinning to the floor, Applejack quickly popped the hat off her head for a moment. “What kinda horse apples did you eat, to think you could try that!?”
 
Applejack watched as Ted got himself up off the floor, not feeling too sorry for the little prankster. “Just a little motivational training is all.” He rubbed at his jaw, “I'm still not sure if it was worth it though.”
 
“So now you want to go for round two, mister big shot?”
 
“Not entirely, but now I want to see if you can pull that off again with the robes.”
 

[/][/][25][/][/]
 
Applejack struggled to move in the suit of plate-like armor that was four sizes too big for her, “Sheesh, it feels like I’m in a pair of iron stockades.”
 
“But you're not.” Ted retorted.
 
“Sure.” Applejack just glared at Ted, taking a moment to rest.
 
“I want you to take something I say seriously Applejack.”
 
“Which would be?” she raised a suspicious eyebrow at him.
 
“That sometimes our minds create barriers that don't exist.”
 
“Huh?”
 
Ted smiled at her confusion. “Just go with me for a moment. What prevents a... foal for the sake of argument, from walking about?”
 
“Well... they don't know how.”
 
“Exactly!” Applejack was surprised at the look on Ted's face, “And what prevents you from doing my little teleport trick?”
 
“Umm... I don't know how.” she stated with an unsure answer.
 
Ted put a hoof to his face, “No, you can't do what I do because it's a physical limitation. You don't have access to what I do naturally so you won't be able to ever do it. BUT,” He had strange look in his eyes. “We both share mental limitations, maybe it’s from lack of knowing, or maybe it’s from lack of a will to try. All I know is that somewhere in your noggin there is a power that allows you to overcome silly things like this special robe, and now you shall have to find it. You need to overcome your own apprehension of the impossible.” Ted's smile betrayed his wily nature. “Now try focusing again.”
 
Applejack closed her eyes, once again returning to the picture of the room in her mind. Only to feel a small gust of wind right above her head, That dirty snake took my HAT! She was about to open her eyes, No... that's just playin' into his hooves. He won't do anythin' to it, just focus.
 
She heard a tearing noise.
 
He wouldn't! She had to put her whole self into keeping her eyes shut, It's Ted, and he's probably just playin' a prank or somethin'.
 
The tearing noises grew louder, “You best hurry Applejack, every few seconds you're not moving, I'm going to tear larger shreds into this thing.”
 
She couldn't stand it anymore, her eyes shot open, slightly enraged and ready to give Ted a piece of her mind. She stopped to see Ted was actually tearing apart pieces of her hat, making it look like something had just got done using it as a scratching post, now she was actually angry. “Ted you stop that ya hear! I got that from-”
 
“From a tearful coming of age party with Ma and Pa, or perhaps a loving hand-me-down from your brother?” Ted tore another small section along the brim, “Doesn't change the fact that I'm trying to motivate you.”
 
“Fine just stop doin' that!” Applejack blurted.
 
“Getting angry won't get you to overcome this you know?” Ted looked into her eyes, looking strangely old as he did so. “Wasn't your family impossibly helped by Andur? Wasn't your mother in such a condition that there was no foreseeable way out? You have to realize that there is a power within you, something you didn't have before that will aid you in the following endeavors, and that armor is not going to be the least of your worries if you can't figure out the lesson for what it is worth...” Ted looked away indignantly, “If you can't figure it out, than you have little to no ho-ooofff.” He lurched forward, feeling a hoof implanted into his gut.
 
Applejack smiled as Ted looked her in the eye, her hoof planted into his stomach. The armor on her body was glowing, slowly folding in on itself as it began to fit her frame, looking more and more like studded brown cloth than indestructible steel.
 
A wily smile took hold of Ted's expression, “Part three.” Ted proclaimed as his breath returned. He quickly swiped at her, she dodged easily, and then gave a powerful flap to give himself some distance. He pulled the shredded hat firmly down on his head, “Get the hat back and I give you your diploma.” His wings slapped shut against his body, “And I won't even fly.”
 
“If you're gonna toy with an Apple,” she snorted and pulled a hoof across the ground, “then you best be prepared to mess with the whole tree!”
 
Applejack charged at Ted as he held what little ground he had on the stage, she then swung out her hind legs low, performing a roundhouse that Ted managed to easily skip over. She planted her feet into the ground, and rose to try and uppercut. As expected Ted dodged, but she quickly went into a flurry of punches and hooks.
 
“My, my,” Ted had to take a second to dodge, “This is far more ‘brawler like’ than I anticipated, and here I thought all monk's just instinctively knew martial arts.”
 
Applejack continued to throw her haymakers and jabs, just like Pa showed her, for when overzealous colts get too 'pushy' as he said. She tried different combinations, but Ted was either too fast for her slower hits, or just plain slippery with her faster ones; making them feel like they didn't even connect.
 
Then she felt her third eye kick in again, it was strange. It was like it revealed things to her, not the future or thoughts, but it would predict what was going to happen based on signals around her. The way Ted was moving his ankles to prepare for a shift in his weight, or how his torso would twist as he leaned back to dodge a punch. It led up into a chain of evidence that pointed her in the direction to go. She followed the instinct, as Ted once again began to bend his knees to duck, she quickly spun and went for a low kick which nearly slammed him in the jaw; right before he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
 
“That's cheatin!” She shouted as she returned to four hooves, hearing the far off laughter of Ted. Him and his blasted word games.
 
Applejack knew of Ted's ability to teleport, and what it generally entailed. How am I supposed to overcome that? He's definitely gonna keep doin' it until I'm too tired, and Ted's is definitely better at this than me.
 
Her third eye, or 'Zen', kicked in again. It showed her strange auras about the room, each one seemed slightly unique, and Ted's was still in her vicinity. It was strange how it felt familiar to her, how it almost felt like Andur’s power when he showed it to her. Of course! he needs an anchor of some sort. She turned and saw Ted reforming from a cloud of grayish smoke.
 
Ted tore a small hole into the hat, “You better learn a little faster Applejack, this is soon going to be far less a hat and more a fancy lampshade.”
 
Applejack knew what she had to do, once again she jabbed away at Ted, forcing him into a routine of dodges and parries. Once more he was forced to fall back to the fey as he barely missed her hay maker.
 
This time though she felt for his anchoring presence, and noticed it whisking it's way past her. She didn't know if she could do it, but pushed the doubt from her mind, she reached for that Zen power within her. It ignited through her for a split second, the world slowed, no longer was Ted moving absurdly fast through the other world. But only a brisk pace as he passed her, his misty form betraying a cocky smile.
 
She brought out a hoof into a concentrated punch, straight for his body, the new power seemed to surge into her attack. A strange calm in her mind as she focused on what needed to be done, as the blow connected with the spirit, her hoof did not pass through; put instead slammed into it with a thunderous clap. Throwing Ted from the other dimension back to reality, tumbling across the floor and off the stage as he was unprepared for the strike.
 
Applejack casually grasped her hat out of the air, and dawned it once more. She trotted over to Ted on the floor below her, placing a hoof on his gut just hard enough to entice a wince of pain from him. “What have we learned?”
 
“Don't mess...” He cringed as he tried to catch his breath, “with Apples”
 
Applejack accepted the answer, pulling her hat down tight, and trotted off with her head held high in victory.
 

 
Pinkie Pie stood, rather patiently, as she awaited instructions.
 
Cartanis was anxious as he handed her what he believed would help her, he had sensed the arcane power within her, and was only momentarily relieved to know she wasn't a sorceress.
 
Pinkie Pie looked at the strange instrument she held in her hooves, it looked like a dragon, down from its body that formed the base of the guitar, up to the neck which ended in the dragon spewing fire. All gilded in gold. “I don't really think this thing says 'Pinkie Pie', do you?”
 
What insolence!
 
Hi there, who are you. Pinkie pie welcomed the new voice in her head.
 
I am Girda, Bringer of Song. You think yourself worthy to wield me?
 
Nope, but it would be lovely to try. Pinkie smiled.
 
Then, Pinkie felt a presence in her mind, sifting through her memories. Play for me... Herdruption, by Band Hailin
 
Pinkie Pie summoned some of the strange power she had with her since she returned from her trip to the other world. A mystical runic guitar pick of pure energy formed in her hoof, and then she began to play.
 
“Hey I know this!” Rainbow Dash said aloud.
 
The music started slow, but for only a moment. It picked up speed, a cascade of climbing notes as it became faster.
 
The air felt electrified.
 
A slight pause, allowing the sound to echo into the room. Then Pinkie Pie picked up pace again, the notes flying a little faster this time. The sound echoing into a cascade of enticing music, faster and faster it went. The air was alive with bursts of electricity and lightning, with a pause Pinkie Pie sent the energy outward, causing many of the ponies’ hairs to stand on end.
 
“very nice Pinkie-” But Cartanis was interrupted.
 
“This is my favorite part.” Rainbow Dash said, “This is gonna be so awesome!”
 
It isn't over? He looked back to Pinkie Pie, sure enough she was getting ready for part two.
 
Just as the sound's echo had fallen, she began, this time at full speed. The notes tearing and burning through the air around her. Faster and faster she went, sparks tearing themselves from her hooves as they moved with blinding speed about the guitar neck, dancing from string to string. The audience stood in awe as the light form the fires diluted the brightest lights in the room, casting dramatic shadows upon the pink guitarist as she stood in the middle of the firestorm. The faster she went the greater the flames became, until eventually she let loose, Raising the guitar over her head she wielded it like an axe.
 
“Party! YEAH!” she swung Girda towards the floor at her feet, lost in the moment.
 
“Hit the DIRT!” Ted yelled, as everypony sank to the floor.
 
As Girda struck the floor, a concussive wave was released, the boom of sound caused the fires to rush outwards, striking at everything in their path. Pinkie Pie opened her eyes, panting from the adrenaline. She heard Girda in her mind, You. ARE. WORTHY!
 
Pinkie Pie gasped at Girda's new form, she had shattered its old body. Revealing an instrument that was like a heart shaped candy, the neck was a series of square tarts, ending in stylized streamers of licorice, with strings that may as well be indestructible cotton candy. “Now that's more my style.”
 
Should've known that one would be a Bard. Cartanis thought to himself, Just keep her from dancing and singing and I think I can prevent the apocalypse.
 
Rainbow Dash shouted over to her friend, her eyebrows still singed from the amazing performance, “I didn't know you played guitar Pinkie!”
 
“I dabbled here and there.” Pinkie casually said back. “Rock concerts are parties to” she thought out loud.
 

 
Cartanis bid all the others farewell as they left, Applejack seemed particularly absorbed in reading the book he had given her. Then he turned to the two remaining ponies with him. Rarity and Twilight. “It has been so long since I’ve had students to teach.” An aged and weary smile graced his scarred face.
 
“So then Rarity and me are?”
 
“Yes, arcana inclined individuals that, unlike Pinkie Pie, have some measure of control on their powers that is conscious.” He clopped his front hooves together, Now where to start? Ah yes!
 
Cartanis then concentrated upon his arcane might, bringing a soft glow to the entirety of the room, looking like a star filled veil was draped over everything. “This is arcana,” small plumes of fire and a few crystals of ice floated about the space. “with it, you can coax out the various elements from their hiding places in the planes. For Wizards such as myself, we have a talent for... gathering arcana with the use of training and some innate talent. We make use of it by creating spells from the various elements.”
 
“You Twilight, are as I suspected, not just a sorcery wielding unicorn; but also a sorceress by our worlds standards.” Cartanis sent out his power over her, as it connected, the air around Twilight glowed brightly; like she was a star amongst an ocean of lights. “You practically breath arcana, you might as well be arcana made flesh. Instead of calling the elements, you can create them out of thin air, giving you a much better conduit to them. Although since it becomes second nature to you, it might seem less likely that you would have the level of control wizards do.”
 
Twilight shot him a curious look about the statement.
 
“That is to say, you wield a battle axe, large, powerful and perfectly capable of deciphering friend or foe. Rarity and I wield daggers by comparison, with careful strikes and applications of our power, we slip our way past the enemies’ defenses to destroy them.” Cartanis chuckled, “Although we are known for sometimes getting a little showy about it.” His gaze returned to them, “So we shall begin.”
 

 
Cartanis was impressed at their progress, at the same time concerned, all the ponies that night had seemed to grasp alien concepts at a staggering rate, not to mention their rather extravagant level of power. The Elements didn't have anything to do with this... did they?
 
His attention returned to the two ponies, Rarity was still toying with the magic missile spell he had taught her but seemed to have trouble maintaining control. Twilight on the other hand, seemed to be holding herself back.
 
“This obviously calls for something special.” Cartanis' words echoed off the walls as he left to get something, “Just continue with the basics for now.”
 
Twilight turned to Rarity, “So how is it going on your end?”
 
“Well I remember what he said about treating it all like the way I weave fabric, but this stuff just keeps wanting to go off on its own, it won't just stay put without direction.” she huffed as the magic missile flew off and exploded against the wall. “I hope I am not prying Twilight, but you yourself seem to be rather... perturbed as well.”
 
“It's nothing... just... you know control and everything.” Twilight put on her bravest face as Rarity went back to work conjuring another missile. Just don't freak out, this is dangerous stuff, it's practically nitroglycerin compared to unicorn magic. Twilight went back to forming plumes of fire and trying to control their rate of growth and decay.
 
The two unicorns continued in their practice, until Cartanis returned with gifts.
 
“Rarity, for you I have this.” An old tome, that looked recently dusted, made its way to Rarity's curious eye. “One of my old spell books, tips and notes on how I cast my spells. Heratio saw to the lack of me needing it on my person at all times.”
 
“Thank you Cartanis,” she opened to a random page, “alright magic missile, prepare to be... I don't know, ‘something witty’ into oblivion.”
 
“As for you Twilight, I've seen you hold yourself back.”
 
Twilight scratched at the floor, “That obvious huh?”
 
“I understand fear, it's perfectly reasonable.” Cartanis sighed. “But we can't have it in the thick of battle, you can't hesitate for a moment when your power is needed. So...”
 
Twilight gasped, “No Cartanis... I couldn't take something like that.”
 
“I won't lie about its significance Miss Sparkle... but I don't need a thing like this. I've dealt with it a long, long, time ago.” He clutched it in his grasp one last time, his memories bleeding through his mind. “An ancient gauntlet doesn't show that I still love her, in fact she would be insulted if I greedily kept this away in an attempt to sooth myself, when it was in fact needed for something far more important.” It floated over to Twilight, when she touched it, the gauntlet reacted to her power. The rubies along its metallic surface igniting with fire.
 
Twilight knew how much it meant to Cartanis, “I'll honor it, don't worry about that.” She slipped it over her hoof, feeling it connect to her new power, keeping it in check and bringing it out where she was holding back.
 
Cartanis cleared his throat, throwing back painful memories, “Now let’s see what you've both really got.” The air once again flared up with arcana, the two inclined individuals once again set about practicing their skills to the tune of the master.
 

 
Ted had been leading them through the Everfree for hours, at the time they had left Ponyville the sun had been in the lower section of the skyline, but now it was sitting above them, high noon.
 
A conversation broke out between Andur and Cartanis, “You still think it was a good idea to have them leave their Elements behind?”
 
Cartanis looked over to him, “Yes, if they are so frightful of Dra'nahb and whatever he discovered or is capable of, to risk what they have done to give us and them the power to fight. Then we would only be putting powerful forces at risk when they would be unable to help.”
 
Ted let loose a triumphant, “Ta-da!” As he showcased a familiar clearing to the party.
 
Applejack looked up to Cartanis and Andur, who both seemed skeptical if not a little rattled. “What's the matter?”
 
Ted looked over to Applejack, “Hey where is your hat? It throws off your silhouette, even in the robes.”
 
Applejack scowled, “I made a promise, that's all I'm saying to you.” She trotted off in her studded cloth armor
 
Ted shrugged, “I suppose I deserve the cold shoulder.”
 
Andur got Ted's attention, “Are you sure?”
 
Ted smiled, “You don't believe it. I knew you wouldn't. Just wait till you see what's inside.”
 
“How long till they spot us?”
 
“How much do you like spelunking?” Ted questioned back.
 
Cartanis spoke up, “That cave wasn't more than a few dozen yards deep, how do you expect us to believe-”
 
“Apparently, something has been excavating since we first arrived.” He gestured to a torn up campsite in the field of broken trees. “It wasn't whatever poor saps had planned to explore before us, remind me to tally about another seven to Dra'nahb's approximate ghoul count. The tunnels I found within are far too organized to be done by ponies.”
 
The rest of the group finally broke from the tree line.
 
Dash with Mezakesh over her back spoke to Ted, “Oh yeah, thanks for remaking my Rainbow Armor Ted.” Rarity scoffed with her eyes, not sure why Dash had kept it in the first place.
 
“Well I did remove some of the more cosmetic bits, tossed in some padding in the open areas, and now you essentially have lightly plated leather armor with a little 'personal flair'” Ted proclaimed. “Just don't take a direct hit and you'll still be thankful at the end of the day.”
 
Rarity in her 'note-taken' version of Cartanis' robes was stopped by the wizard when he noticed something, “How far did you get into my old spell-book?”
 
“I almost read the whole thing, quite a few good notes I must say-” Cartanis stopped her before she could continue, pointing a nervous hoof to the glowing runes across the white fabric. “If you must.”
 
Cartanis quickly checked over the handful of runes embroidered across her blouse, he sighed with relief. “Congratulations Rarity, you have successfully fire, acid, frost, tear, wear, and age-proofed. Your little dress.” Rarity smiled happily that she had bested the inspection.
 
Twilight was wearing regalia which glinted with hidden power, Viranda's gauntlet set right above her hoof like an armored sleeve, which looked to be the only serious piece of armor she wore. “I hope this will do in a fight.”
 
“Just try to be the hammer and not the anvil.” Ted said over to her, “Although I still think you look like you're made out of glitter in that silly getup.”
 
“It doesn't sparkle that much.” she retorted, then whispered to Rarity, “does it?” Rarity shook her head.
 
Pinkie Pie emerged, looking like a rock star in all her studded leather while Girda was slung over her back, although she skipped out on the face paint. She was concerned it might upset the more delicate Fluttershy, who herself was wearing some simple harnesses covered by a cloak to hold various pockets of supplies. She was also wearing the same circlet from before, however this time it seemed to be aiding her power instead of trying to hinder it.
 
Andur looked about the familiar area, the trees had dried up and been dead for a few days, but it was definitely where they had entered well over a week ago. “Good thing we all packed for a few days worth of travel, underground can get maze-like quick.”
 
“Nine of us versus approximately twenty-seven ghouls, a vanguard creature, and a lich. Oh this shall be a story I shall enjoy embellishing.” Ted maniacally rubbed his hooves together.
 
“Let's just get on with it.” Cartanis said.
 
And off the group journeyed towards the mouth of the cave that was formed from the catastrophic event that had taken place well over a week ago. With their training intact, and their wills as strong as steel, the Bearers of Harmony have joined the Dungeon Masters in their quest. Now they shall be tried, by not only fire, but flesh and sacrifice.