//------------------------------// // Getting off on the Wrong Hoof // Story: Alistair the Hierophant // by LoosePartyCannon //------------------------------// As Celestia's sun rose over the horizon and blasted the scorched desert with its light, Twilight squinted as the golden rays flowing through the tiny windows stabbed her directly in the eyes. Her friends were struggling to stay awake, the late night patrol achieving little other than amazing Twilight as she examined the scattered ruins. Fluttershy and Rarity struggled to keep their eyes open, Rainbow Dash and Applejack seemed primed for anything but were obviously growing restless and Pinkie Pie, as always, was energetic thanks to the aid of sugary treats. Spike had long since fallen asleep, resting on an annoyed guard's saddlebag, and Starlight Glimmer was jotting down countless notes; whether she was sketching the ruins or writing her own opinions it seemed to keep her alert and active. Even the Princess, slouching and eyes bloodshot due to fatigue, felt driven to carry on by her sense of duty. Contrasting the Princess and her compatriots, the guards were a symbol of stoicism. Their armour was almost pristine, the few scratches and splashes of dust adding a sense of character to them, and their body language never hinted whether or not they were exhausted. Even during the early hours of the morning, Twilight's purple-plated guards and the seasoned frontiersmen were both ready for action. "Coffee, My Princess?" Thunderclap offered as she handed Twilight a metal cup of black coffee. The aroma of freshly made coffee caused her to sigh with slight glee, long night study sessions having long since addicted her to the beverage. "Yes please. Thank you." She thanked with a small smile and nod, getting a slight grin in return. "You're welcome, it doesn't taste great but it helps keep us awake." She warned, taking a long sip from her own mug with a slight scowl, as she pointed towards the small pot in the back corner of the larger transporter. With the blessing of extra space, the guards were occupying their time by tending to their weapons while Thunder inspected the face of her shield for the twentieth time. "This 'anomaly' you believe the Captain may have run afoul of, any idea what we can expect?" The Commander continued, drinking the rest of the foul coffee in an instant. "Well...There's a chance these bandits you've mentioned could be involved, perhaps a few wild animals made feral from the raw magic, maybe some old relics reanimated given the ruins everywhere." The Princess answered matter-of-factly, going through the list in her head. "We can handle animals and bandits...Old relics may be a challenge. Don't worry, we'll do most of the fighting anyway." Thunderclap guessed, examining her soldiers, before shrugging and going back to her bronze shield, the scratches and dents doing little to damage the decorative buffalo head design and the two massive spikes jutting out of it. "That all?" She continued, looking down at the wall of bronze. "Well... we're still unsure, but Princess Celestia worries this magical anomaly may be tied with an old foe of hers." She started, pondering if it was appropriate to share such information. "Something like Queen Chrysalis?" The Commander guessed, not looking away from her weaponry. "Not exactly. She fears it may be a sign that an old, powerful Mage from her past may have returned from the dead...She knows he's dead but it seems possible, given the uncanny amount of monsters or immortal beings coming back in recent years." She announced. This caused Thunderclap to halt, surprise flashing across her features for a second, before resuming her menial task. "Well… can't say I've ever taken on an Immortal Mage before but I'll do my duty. I appreciate your honesty My Princess." Thunderclap thanked with a nod and a small grin. "It's the least I can do given my sudden demands...How long until we've searched the whole desert?" She dismissed with a wave of her boot covered hoof before looking out the dust covered window behind her, examining the strange houses and ruined towers built into the slopes of the massive dunes. "Honestly, we've only gotten about halfway. If you want to go till we hit the coastline and do an in-depth search then we'd be out here for weeks, for now we're going to the border and turning back. This is the furthest we've gone out in almost a year and since we’re being thorough we may be out here for another day or two." She guesstimated with a grimace, the thought of several days on patrol in scorching heat already tiring her. "If that's what it'll take then so be it I suppose. We're not turning back without finding the source of this strange magic and finding Braeburn." She assured, the determined look in her eyes like a bulwark against the Commander's skeptic thoughts. "You're tenacious Princess Twilight, I'll given you that. We're coming across the largest set of ruins within our border, it'd be the wisest place to seek shelter if the Captain's platoon got delayed. We should be arriving in a few-" The Commander's words were halted as, with a wail, the transporter jerked to a stop. The operators in the cockpit were yelling out several warnings and demanding the engineers in the back get out immediately. With a small detail of guards, they departed out into the cool desert. The early morning sun cast the colossal dunes and the gleaming piles of rubble in an orange and purple haze, the twinkle of weathered metal and gems still present. As they emerged from the back of the armoured carriage the engineers rushed to the vehicle's engine and hurried back after a thorough search. "What's the status?" The Commander ordered, weapons ready. "The tracks have been severed, the engine blew a crystal and it's not starting with the replacement power source. It's dead." The engineer reported with a sigh as a murmur spread among the soldiers. "Do we know what caused it?" Starlight spoke up, her voice revealing she didn't think it was a coincidence. "No, it doesn't look like we drove into a trap or mine but the damage was too specific to be an accident and not so severe as to indicate it was related to an engine failure. Best guess is it may have been a very specific hex or spell, no way an explosive or sapper could've shut us down without making some noise or going at it for minutes." The stallion continued, listing off everything with a small nod. With a sigh, Thunderclap stood up. "Get your boots on and weapons drawn, this is obviously not a coincidence given everything we've been told so far about our operation. Whoever or whatever caused this is most likely in the ruins ahead so that's where we're heading. Grab your gear because we can't hold this position, don't wander off from the platoon, don't give away our position and don't let the Princess or the civilians get harmed. We're disembarking in two minutes." She ordered, strapping on her helmet and walking outside with her shield raised. "What the hey happened now?" Spike inquired, finally roused from his nap. "Something blew out the engine and we're walking the rest of the way. This is gonna suck." Rainbow groaned, walking outside with the few soldiers already prepped. "Ooh, this sand is going to absolutely ruin my coat!" Rarity mumbled as she begrudgingly disembarked while Pinkie playfully bounded out alongside her. "You okay 'Shy? You're shakin' like a leaf." AJ asked as she held out a hoof to the shaking mare who slowly reached out for it and got up. "I-I just hope we're not walking into a t-trap..." She meekly muttered as she stood behind the imposing Earth Pony, eyeing the seemingly endless expanse of desert for an unseen monster or murderer. "Don't worry hun, we'll get through this and make it home soon enough; not like we haven't faced worse." Her confident grin enabling the timid mare to stand a bit taller and even smile behind her mane. As the remaining members of the platoon and Twilight's guards disembarked the Princess couldn't help but feel minuscule among the ruins. The wastelands stretched on for miles in all directions, the scattered remnants of the old empire the only indication someone once lived in the forgotten plains. The remains of ancient stone walls still stood around them, their defense long since compromised and their stature reduced to little more than loose bricks and toppled stone yet they still stood in defiance of the howling winds. The uneven ground buried countless secrets and treasures lost to time, so many she wouldn't even know where to begin. Far to the East rested Appleloosa and the rest of Equestria, and in the opposite direction beyond countless dunes rested the coast; whatever resided past the silver waters was a mystery she wondered would ever be uncovered. The only thing that could be heard over the barking orders of the Commander was the soft, somber winds that blew over the shifting sands and through the archaic ruins. "A bit imposing, isn't it?" Starlight asked rhetorically as she nudged Twilight, causing her to drift back to reality. "Pardon?" "The ruins, I mean. Somehow that's still standing atop all of this." She added, pointed towards the towering, dilapidated castle ahead of them. Compared to the collapsed houses, fallen walls and destroyed statues the massive building was stunningly preserved. Although battered and broken beyond repair it still stood proudly in the sea of sand and nothingness. Its towers, although missing their peaks, tore through the sky and their windows still stood against the wind. The weathered walls still stood firmly in the sand and the ramparts and few external portions of the castle left standing invoked a presence of security and power, as if the ruins itself were unconquerable. Beyond the fallen walls and the remains of a city, the former citadel still stood. "It's beautiful...I wonder what it looked like all those years ago..." Twilight mused, finding the ancient architecture fascinating, causing Starlight to smirk. "Don't know if I'd call it beautiful but sure, why not...I'm positive this Alistair person is inside that thing, it's the only standing structure for miles." She asserted after chuckling at Twilight's fascination. Although it may have seemed impressive and looked long since deserted it felt like a thousand eyes were watching the pair from the far off windows high above. "Well, regardless of whether or not he is, I think we should hurry." The Princess ordered with a worried, somewhat panicked look, as she pointed at the massive sand storm brewing far off in the distance. It was far away and they'd be able to make the trek towards the run down structure but the raging wall of dust and shrapnel seemed powerful enough to flay them alive should they be caught in its winds. "Alright everyone, move out!" Thunderclap ordered, her voice booming over the quiet conversations and murmurs of the crowd, as she and everyone began trudging up the uneven slope with the raging wind at their backs. Although they knew they had to seek shelter, none were under the delusion that the castle promised refuge given the dangers they were expecting. "Get that door open! Now!" The Commander barked with a raspy voice, her throat bleeding from yelling over the incoming storm. Their cloaks and armour were stained with layers of dirt and sand, small wounds littered their bodies and though they had fortunately been able to block some of the larger pieces of debris, they weren't sure how much longer their luck would hold out. The weathered, gargantuan wooden door refused to budge no matter what they threw at it. The entire platoon, Twilight's guards, Applejack and even Twilight and Starlight's combined magical push couldn't even shake off the dust embedded on it. "I am not dying in the middle of nowhere! Who'll commemorate me out here?!" Rainbow screamed out as she rapidly pushed, punched and flew into it, her feverish assault only serving to tire her out. "What about the windows? Could someone fly in through one of them?!" Twilight suggested, sweat and sand dripping from her forehead. "Unless they can clear five stories and push open this hunk of wood alone, we'll be buried under layers of sand before they make it. Push you bastards, push!" Thunder retorted, dropping her shield to give it her all once more. Twilight tried to teleport inside, power radiating off her, only to feel a magical barrier repel her. Grunting from the magical drain, she began trying to form another plan. "This is real bad..." Starlight muttered, fear gripping her, as she slammed her magical might into the wall, causing a thud to sound out over the storm that was almost on top of them. "Everypony stand back!" Twilight warned, her eyes glowing violently as she summoned as much magic as she could muster into one massive thrust. Before she could materialize the magical battering ram, they heard the sound of a deafening thud ring out and they watched the old door begin to swing inwards, the thick layers of undisturbed dust raining down. "Get in! Quickly you fools!" They heard a old, weathered voice demand from within the darkened hall. Not needing any more encouragement, the swarm of Ponies grabbed their discarded gear and ran in through the gateway. As they cleared the threshold, the doors slammed shut behind them. "What in the name of the Gods are you all doing out here?! You could've been killed!" Twilight heard the decrepit voice exclaim, more out of shock than anger. Looking up after catching her breath, she came face to face with one of the oldest Ponies she'd ever seen. His fur and mane were muted and lacking in colour, his milky pale eyes gave the impression he was as blind as a bat and his tattered robes and worn staff looked as old as Celestia herself. He stood on shaking legs and his face gave signs of fatigue, no doubt due to his assistance in opening the colossal door, and he seemed almost as ancient as Granny Smith. Regardless, the stallion seemed to radiate an aura of power and wisdom. "I'm sorry to disturb you, thank you for letting us in. We've been looking for an Equestrian Captain but the name of Braeburn, he went missing days ago and he was suspected to have sought shelter somewhere in this area. Have you seen anypony like that? Yellow coat, bronze mane, always wears a hat?" She explained, describing the Stallion as best she could. "Ah, we thought someone would come along sooner or later. Yes, we found him a few days ago; if you'd like we can take you to him. I'm Faded Scroll by the way, and you are?" The strange Mage introduced himself with a warm smile and the groups sighed in relief at the welcome news. "Nice to meet you, I'm Princess Twilight Sparkle. Could you take us to him?" She grinned as a sense of accomplishment washed over her. She felt one step closer to completing her goal. For a split second, she thought she saw surprise and fear cross the old Stallion's features, but it was gone in an instant. "Of course, follow me." He said, nodding and leading the small band. The hall they found themselves in was dimly lit by torches lining the walls and the slim amount of light that fluttered in through the skylights high above. Three great metal bars with several runes etched into them were being slowly lifted back onto their stands, barring the door against the storm and anything else that could threaten them. "Is he safe? What happened to him?" Applejack asked with a slight tone of worry, rushing up next to the hobbling Pony who winced slightly at her loud voice. "Yes, he's safe now. When we found him he was rather...Well, badly hurt." He informed, an uneasy look adorning his features. "What do you mean?" Thunder asked, an eyebrow raised as she stood next to the Princess in case she needed to protect her from a sudden attack. "He told us his platoon was suddenly attacked by a pack of monsters, beings devoid of sense and sanity. He and his soldiers held out and killed many of them, but they were overwhelmed...When my master found him, he was barely hanging onto his life." Twilight and her friends gasped in horror at this revelation. "What happened to him?!" Applejack begged to know, terrified at the thought he could've almost died. "As I said, my master happened to find him while he was coming back to the Archive. He fought off the remaining beasts and found Braeburn surrounded by the dead. It was a close call and it took a lot of his energy, but my Lord saved him. In fact, yesterday he was healthy enough to help us hunt the remaining monsters out of the region. Along with the Captain, we were able to rescue two of his soldiers from the monster's den. He'll be delighted to go home, I'm sure." He guessed, grateful at the thought of the Equestrian Knight returning. "Thank you for your assistance. Could you possibly show us where the platoon was ambushed? We'd like to give their remains a proper burial." Thunderclap requested, disheartened at the staggering losses but glad to hear her Captain was still alive. "That may prove difficult as the monsters, well, relocated the remains...The Captain should be able to fill you in on the rest..." Faded Scroll explained with an apprehensive look, hoping to avoid explaining the fate of the departed. As they continued deeper into the abandoned fortress the pack of Equestrians were surprised at the sudden shift from ancient stonework and crumbling ruins to a tribal shanty town of sorts. Even in the early morning, robe-clad soldiers who more closely resembled a tattoo covered monk or Mage instead of any type of civilized Knight patrolled the haphazardly laid out paths, their faintly glowing eyes wide and alert. Stone hovels and tents decorated with ancient markings lined the roads, the occasional sign or symbol indicated the presence of a shop or craftsmare of some kind. The fallen stone pillars and deteriorated statues and effigies left behind after the old war were covered in childish graffiti and messages in a language lost to the Equestrians, telling them there were either children among the strange Ponies or simply childish Ponies. Something that shocked Twilight were the other races present in the crowd. Although Faded Scroll's clothing and the town were less than normal to her, the sight of Minotaurs, Zebras, Deers and even non-reformed Changelings caused her to stop in her tracks. "There are Changelings here?" Thunderclap stated with a stern look, holding her shield tighter as she expected them to pounce at any moment. "Yes, we let in any who share a similar goal in understanding the magical and unknown. I understand they may scare you, but can you please sheathe your dagger? Thank you." Faded requested, causing Thunderclap to halt as she ceased drawing her diminutive weapon. As she started to question how he could tell what she was doing without looking behind, they heard a voice call out somewhere ahead. "Faded Scroll, that you? You got any potions for hangovers?" They heard Braeburn groan from the small wooden table he was resting his head on, his eyes closed and hoof still wrapped around a massive mug of mead. "Braeburn?!" Applejack yelled, mirroring similar reactions from her friends and the Commander, delighted and relieved to finally find her missing cousin. Both perturbed and surprised by the loud chorus of voices, he opened his bloodshot eyes and looked up. "A-AJ? Commander?! What're y'all doing out here?" He asked, a wide grin adorning his disheveled features as he shakily stood up only to suddenly be embraced by his cousin. "We went looking for you, you've been gone for almost a week you idiot! We all thought you'd died." She informed, slightly upset at his carefree response. "Ah shucks, sorry to scare y'all. Truth is, it was pretty close out there, but I'm fine now...Uh, Commander...Report." He alleviated her concern with his usual, cocky but reassuring grin before separating from her and turning to the others. Although his fur and mane were a mess, his eyes still groggy, his armour missing somewhere in the crowd along with his ax and stetson and seemingly embarrassed to stand before his subordinates he still tried to act like the officer he was with a stern look and proper posture. "Town's still falling apart around us, morale dropped after you went missing and people are worried, but they'll no doubt love to hear we found our CO drunk in a tribal commune." She joked with a slight chuckle at his mess of a state, before saluting and taking on a stalwart appearance. "It's good to have you back Sir." "At ease Commander." "What happened? The Mage told us you were attacked by monsters, he said you almost died.” She asked straight-faced, though concern showed through her voice "That's the short of it. We were nearing the end of our patrol, the troops were complaining like usual and everything seemed normal...Then we got attacked from seemingly all sides. The drivers were killed in the first strike, some kind of magical explosion...We formed up and pushed through the initial wave of freaks and monsters...They were unlike anything we'd fought before...Soulless eyes, pale and rotten skin, sickness and bile pouring out of them...They were like the dead come back to life...We dispatched them easily but there was just so many of them. They overwhelmed us, they were endless...Then something resembling a Minotaur tossed me around like a ragdoll and I blacked out soon after." His eyes glazed over as he thought back to the attack, disgust and contempt in his voice. "Sweet Celestia..." Thunder gasped, horrified at the mental image. Their soldiers were equally horrified but their helms hid it. "I woke up here, alive but the last of my platoon. After a few days of waiting we formed a counterattack and tracked down their den. It was a grueling fight down there, but it was worth it. We destroyed the source of the monsters and I was able to save the two surviving soldiers, Brass Boulder and Lancer. They were in pretty rough shape but these folks are amazing healers. As you can see, they wanted to celebrate their victory and things got a bit… wild." He explained, gesturing to the small town square they were currently in. Ponies and other people were sleeping wherever they could, spilled food littered the ground and there was a distinct scent of sex and alcohol in the air. The houses around them looked as if they'd been painted with food and vomit and the colossal stairs at the other end of the square were covered in armoured Changelings. The Ponies found this odd, but decided not to comment to Braeburn or Faded Scroll. "Well...At least you're okay Captain." Thunder said with a disgusted groan, repulsed by the drunken mess surrounding them. "Where are the other survivors?" She continued, looking around to try and spot the privates in a ditch somewhere. "Oh, they're just-" "Ey Captain! These guys make some amazing-Oh crap!" Brass began, hobbling out of the medical tent with an empty mug in his hoof, before freezing at the sight of not only his Commander but the new Princess. "Huh, so somepony did come looking for us." Lancer mused as he exited as well and stood beside his squad mate, less spooked and more relieved. After ditching their mugs and fixing their appearance to seem like the noble warriors they were trained to be, they joined the motley platoon. "Gotta tell ya, I’m gonna miss you lot; y'all certainly knew how to make a Stallion feel right at home." Braeburn admitted with a grin, offering a hoof to Scroll who merrily accepted it and shook it with what strength he could muster. "It's merely what one should do when hosting a guest, think nothing of it." The old Mage dismissed with a beaming grin. "Hey, where's Wonder? I'd like to say bye before we leave." Braeburn asked, looking around the square hoping to spy the Snow White stallion somewhere in the drunken crowd. Twilight and her friends stopped in their tracks, an uneasy quiet hanging in the air. "Wait, who’s Wonder?" Twilight asked, her voice taking on a more questioning tone as she remembered Celestia’s warning. "Hey, what the hell's going on out here?" They heard a soft voice, but clearly agitated, call out above them all. Everyone turned towards the stairway and watched a cloaked Pony approach, a white horn jutting out of the shadows. "My Lord, I'm surprised to see you awake so early." Scroll exclaimed, shocked to see his master still standing after the rowdy party and the amount of alcohol he consumed. "I've got a liver of steel Fade, takes pure Minotaurian grog to drop me. Now, who're these people?" The stranger asked, gesturing towards the Equestrians. His odd phrasing continued to make Twilight uneasy. "My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle and these are my friends and guards, we're sorry to intrude but we were looking for Captain Braeburn and his platoon." Twilight introduced with a polite smile, pointing towards the two parties, though on the inside she was fearful she may be conversing with the creature her mentor warned her about. "Ah, I see. I apologise for the mess, my subjects can get pretty out of control." He apologised with a calm smile before pulling his hood back, causing Twilight to tense up. White fur, silver and brown mane and blue eyes, just as Celestia described. "My name's Wonderlust, and this is-" Before he could finish or anyone could react, Twilight dropped her head and shot out a beam of purple, crackling magic. "What the-?!" Braeburn cried out, stunned by what he just saw. Likewise, Faded Scroll snapped to attention and teleported next to his master. "Now that's just not nice. Let me guess, you're a friend of Celestia?" Alistair assumed, looking down at the hole in his chest with a raised brow and mild surprise. "Yes, and she told me everything Alistair, You can't fool me." She responded, anger and determination in equal measure in her voice. Realizing what was going on, the guards took point in front of her and her friends, establishing a wall of metal while Braeburn, Brass and Lancer stood on the sideline, baffled at what was going on. "Yet clearly she can. Didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to try to kill your host in his own castle?" He rhetorically asked with a voice filled with contempt as his body became formless and colourful. "What the hey is going on?!" Brass demanded to know, watching the Unicorn who saved his life take on an entirely new form. "Woah Nelly..." Applejack exclaimed as Alistair showed his true colours and morphed into his Human form. Clad in shining armour and a pristine cloak, his eyes crackled with energy and his face snarled down at them. He held a sword in one hand and a tome floating above his other. In that moment, they realized just what they were up against. "This is bad Princess, we've got no path of retreat." Thunderclap warned, looking around as she watched the slumbering crowd wake up and notice they were under attack. "Your guard's right, you're kinda screwed here 'Princess'." Alistair taunted, watching the town wake up, alarmed and fearful. "Twilight darling, that may not have been a smart idea..." Rarity reprimanded, horn glowing as she prepared for whatever was coming. Before anyone else could speak, they heard someone cry out in alarm and began barking orders. Everyone's attention was drawn to Snowfall and her brigade of warriors who were rushing into the square from the right side. "The Hierophant's under attack! Form up!" She ordered, her hand picked warriors taking point as they smashed their palms and hooves into the ground, causing a stone barrier to burst from the ground. As they created a defensive line, several guards either brandished their staves menacingly or held up rudimentary stone weapons. "This is really getting out of hoof..." Lancer stated the obvious, ducking behind a fallen pillar as he couldn't make sense of the incoming skirmish. "If you drop your weapons, I'll order my people to do the same and we can settle this like civilized people." Alistair offered, lowering his sword to his side and dimming the glow radiating off him. "How do we know you won't pounce on us when we do?" Rainbow Dash retorted, eyeing everything that moved. "Guess you'll just have to take my word. Not that you have much of a choice as you're vastly outnumbered..." He countered, gesturing towards the pockets of armed militants who were ready to go at a moment's notice. As the guards started counting the growing number of armed opponents, they also noticed the panicked civilians. "T-Twilight...There are children in the crowds..." Fluttershy pointed out, highlighting the scared kids and crying babies being held in the hands and hooves of parents running away into their huts. "Look, he might be a meanie but maayyyyyyybe we should not try and fight the immortal magic guy and his small army in a really cramped, crumbling building?" Pinkie suggested, surprisingly being the voice of reason as she backed away from the frontline. "I'm with Pinkie on this one, if we're lucky we can maybe de-escalate the situation." Starlight remained optimistic as she tried to persuade Twilight. Before anyone else could speak up, yet another interloper joined the fray. "You!" Chrysalis shouted, her disharmonious voice cutting through the muttering crowds as she and her Changelings stood high above the battleground on the second floor. "What is Chrysalis doing here?!" Thunderclap demanded to know, shifting her attention to the Queen. "How long has she been here?" Brass Boulder asked Braeburn, hoping someone knew what was going on. "My Lord, what're your orders?" Snow requested, looking back at her leader as she hefted her simple stone shield. "Hold your ground, I don't want anyone dying needlessly." He ordered, his words alleviating some of Snow and Twilight's fears. "If you won't tear them apart Alistair, I gladly will..." Chrysalis promised with a malicious tone as her elite guards prepared to descend onto the mass of prepared guards. "Stand down Chrysalis or I swear to the Gods I'll make you." Alistair threatened, his voice growing angered and stern as he eyed his old friend who was preoccupied with staring down at Starlight. As the situation grew with all sides bickering and debating, Braeburn tried to take stock of the situation. His savior was allied with Queen Chrysalis and was apparently an enemy of Equestria, He'd both aided and been aided by said enemy and now his own soldiers were about to get slaughtered once more while potentially killing innocent bystanders and the people he'd come to see as allies. Realising he had to act before the standoff turned bloody, he jumped over the small barrier he and his unarmed soldiers had rested behind and found himself standing in the middle of the room, all eyes on him. "Everyone, drop your weapons and stand down! This is pointless! I can't say I understand what's happening but I do know Wonderlust, or Alistair or whatever your name is, saved not only my life but Brass' and Lancer's as well. If it weren't for him, I'd be dead and buried under ten layers of sand. And I know y'all didn't come here to kill people but if you fight him you're going to get crushed and hurt plenty of innocent Ponies in the process. I don't know why Chrysalis is here, I only just found out she's even here, but it sounds like Alistair doesn't want her killing us either...Please, in the name of all that's good, put your damn weapons down and stop before we start killing each other." The Captain implored, his subordinates baffled at his sudden request while Alistair and his servants were stunned that an Equestrian Knight would back them up. "He's right, killing each other will get us nowhere and if My Lord demands it then I won't raise my hoof against any of you. I hope you'll all offer me the same courtesy." Faded Scroll agreed, lowering his staff as he stood aside Alistair who likewise sheathed his blade. "I really wasn't looking forward to killing people while hungover anyway." Snow shrugged while dropping her shield, causing it to lose the magic holding it together and crumble into nothing. As Twilight watched Alistair's forces uneasily lower their guard in a sign of peace, all while Braeburn looked ready to collapse from the terror of standing in between the two defensive lines, she noticed Chrysalis hadn't backed down. If anything, she seemed all the more ready to pounce as her horn crackled faintly in the dark. "If you can promise to help us should your guest attack us, we will agree to lower our weapons." Twilight negotiated, causing the Changeling Queen to cackle softly. "Fair enough, but that offer extends to you all as well; if anyone attacks anyone else I'll throw you into the sandstorm myself." He declared, eyeing the Princess and Queen who both stared back at him, relieved and furious respectively. "Okay, now that we're not going to kill each other...Now what?" Brass Boulder asked, his thick accent cutting the tense silence as he listened to the raging winds outside telling him they were all stuck inside. As everyone stood around with their weapons sheathed but guards raised, Alistair made an offer. "I was going to grab breakfast before you all showed up...Anyone else hungry?" He offered, scratching the back of his head as he weakly smiled and gestured gestured towards the direction of the dining hall. With little else to say or do and the sound of growling stomachs the only answer the leaders of each force needed, the mass slowly and uneasily followed him, hoping he wasn't leading them into a trap. To say the atmosphere within the lavish dining hall was tense would be an understatement. Guards were glaring daggers, daring each other to strike first while Alistair's uninvited guests sat at the extensive, beautifully carved table with him. On one end near the double doors sat Twilight and her entourage, nervously looking between them while the Princess stared straight ahead at her supposed enemy. Alistair seemingly didn't care, too busy carving apart his hearty meal while Chrysalis stared back at them, switching between Starlight and Twilight intermittently with pure contempt. Acting as a divide of sorts, Braeburn and Faded Scroll sat at the middle point of the table, a bronze candelabrum separating them. Snowfall and Thunderclap stood at the side of the rooms with their guards, both sides opting out of sitting down in favour of being prepared should another stand-off occur. Were it not for the raging winds outside that battered against the immaculate stain glass windows, they could've heard a pin drop on the other side of the room. "It's not poisoned." The Hierophant spoke up, his mouth full of cooked eggs and bacon, while reading a novel he somehow found on the way. "Pardon?" Twilight responded, confused at his sudden statement. "The food, it's not poisoned. It's rude to not eat something your host cooks for you." He continued, still engulfed in whatever he was reading. "Funny, that sounds like something someone would say if they had poisoned the food!" Rainbow countered, a scowl on her face as she sat a bit taller in her seat, causing the guards to flinch should she pounce. "Rainbow Dash, poison is a coward's tool, if I wanted to kill you I'd simply use my magic or sword." He assured with a flat tone, his words causing her to sit down once more. "How'd you know her name?" Rarity asked, trying to remember if he'd been introduced to them beforehand. "I'm a Telepath, it's not too hard to read someone's mind and find out simple things about them. Also, no the knives aren't sharp enough to be usable if a fight were to break out Applejack and yes, I do have hot chocolate available if you don't like coffee Pinkie Pie." He explained, waving it away with a flick of his wrist. Although the group was taken aback but his assurance, Pinkie seemed a lot happier than the rest. "How can you read somepony's mind? That's impossible!" Twilight refuted while she watched him begin brewing a pot of hot cocoa using his magic powers. "For you and most mortals, perhaps, but you're forgetting I'm a being of magic; if I want to understand something I need only set my mind to it. Hell, even Faded Scroll can read other's minds." He informed, finally looking away from his book and addressing Twilight directly before gesturing towards the old Stallion who was pouring a cup of coffee. "He is correct, when one has an extended life span and the magical gift or necessary materials it's very much achievable, though quite traumatic at first." Faded Scroll continued, closing his eyes as he rattled off a simplified lecture before taking a sip of his black coffee. "T-T-That's quite impressive." Fluttershy complimented, hoping a few niceties would alleviate the feeling of dread in the air. "Thank you, it took years to perfect and it's nice to know some still care about the art of magical study." Faded Scroll responded, a small smile on his face which helped to alleviate the timid Pony's worries. "This is pathetic, why are you playing nice with these cretins? They're Celestia's pawns! We should simply kill them and send their bodies back to their Princess..." Chrysalis demanded, glowering at Alistair before grinning at the idea of exacting revenge. "I'd like to see you try, last I checked you have a habit of blundering." Starlight jabbed, a small smirk on her face as she watched the Queen's snarling expression grow more intense. "You petulant, insignificant-!" Chrysalis began, her horn glowing with intense green light, before Alistair put a hand on her shoulder and softly pushed her back down. "Enough, if you truly want them dead then settle that another day. I don't want new blood spilled in my Archive." He ordered, a serious look on his face before going back to eating his food. The Queen growled, furious at his decision to be pacifistic but settled down regardless. "Oh, your chocolate's done by the way." Alistair announced, levitating a kettle full of hot chocolate to Pinkie Pie who gingerly took it from him. "Uh, thanks?" She thanked, somewhat polarized about how she should feel given how brazen Chrysalis was about wishing her pain. "Think nothing of it." He dismissed, going back to his food while magically pouring himself a cup of extremely sugary coffee. The room was relatively silent aside from the sound of knives and forks scraping against plates as the guest slowly started eating, all aside from Twilight who continued to stare. When Alistair noticed, he looked back at her. "Are you uncomfortable by my meal? I know most Ponies find people eating meat unpleasant." He guessed, sounding like he was worried he may have offended her while he gladly bit into a massive slice of meat. "No...You're nothing like I expected." She explained, an expression of confusion still plastered on his face. Her words caused him and Chrysalis to both laugh, though his was much less menacing. "And what, pray tell, did you imagine I'd be?" He asked, humouring her with a small smirk as he lowered his knife and fork onto his plate with levitation. "Dark, twisted, brooding and murderous. I imagined you'd be covered in jagged armour and using dark magic. I imagined you'd have a horde of cultist followers and be driven to kill every Equestrian you found." She explained, almost amazed at how normal he seemed compared to the previous villains she'd faced before. Once more, the pair laughed. "So...Like Chrysalis? Or perhaps Sombra? Give me some credit, not all of Celestia's old friends act the same." He jested, resuming eating his meal while Chrysalis rolled her eyes at Twilight's guess. "Well, after ya fight one dark magic wielding monster bent on destroying, corrupting, feeding off of or enslaving Equestria you start to assume they're all the same." Applejack half joked, half asserted with a shrug as Pinkie Pie and even a few knights nodded at her statement. "Fair enough, at some point I assumed all Griffins were evil as well. Took me a while to break that stigma." He shrugged, understanding how easily some accept false sentiments as truths. "Either way, I've been led to believe you're evil, you tried to kill Celestia and you're clearly friends with Chrysalis; I'd be loath to think of someone more villainous than her." Twilight interjected, agitated at Alistair's continued lack of hostility or care, before pointing towards Chrysalis who in turn smiled back at her. "And who told you that? Celestia herself? Yes, of course she believes I'm evil given our...History together. Personally, I couldn't care less what she thinks of me so long as she stays away from me." He replied with a frown, loath to have to keep mentioning her. "And yes, I considered Chrysalis a close friend. I can't say I know what your history is with her but she's saved my life countless times and although she can be rather...Blunt and undiplomatic, she's far more trustworthy than any other person I can think of. You most likely have a good reason to hate her, I don't." He defended, looking towards Chrysalis while speaking with a respectful tone. She genuinely smiled for a split second before adorning her usual wicked grin towards her perceived rivals. "That's, uh, surprisingly neutral of you. I was expecting we'd either be in a dungeon, fighting or on the way home already." Starlight chimed in, taken aback at how calm he was acting in spite of everything she'd heard about him. "Well, my teacher always told me to try and be impartial even if you're in a room full of Ponies hoping to kill you. Besides, killing all seven of you would accomplish very little in the long run." He explained, trying to be as rational as possible, while finishing his meal. "So says you." Chrysalis remarked under her breath, her ire rising along with her blood pressure as she came to the conclusion that her revenge may be stalled while he was present. "This is...surprisingly great news." Twilight proclaimed with a small grin, hoping she may return home with the chance to reform another Immortal. "Would you be willing to possibly talk with us again at a later date after we return to Equestria? I believe we could both benefit as leaders if I were to share some more modern information and technology and you-" Twilight began, laying out the groundwork for a mutually beneficial, possibly friendly trade of knowledge. "No." "Pardon?" She said, confused at his abrupt interruption as well as the monotone voice he had. "I repeat, no. Celestia made it abruptly clear she believes most of my Archive's knowledge isn't fit to be known when she tried to burn it to the ground." He started with a deadpan stare as he gestured to the still crumbling structure. "So I won't humour the idea of giving one of Celestia's pawns an inkling of my Archive, especially since I still consider you far from my allies." He continued, looking down as he began pouring yet another cup of coffee. "I see...If that's the case, then why are you letting us stay here?" She pressed, perturbed at idea of not having access to arcane knowledge. "Because any other option would most likely result in your death, unless you somehow can survive intense sandstorms. Were it not for the raging winds, I'd have you leave immediately." He explained calmly, his words causing more disdain than he expected if their growing scowls were anything to go by. "You'd try and force us into that?" Rainbow gawked, disbelieving his threat. "You wouldn't even get us back into the hall without a fight!" She boasted proudly, daring him to strike. "I'm sure." He said simply, condescension dripping from his words. "I wouldn't expect most mortals, let alone a Pegasus, to truly understand how powerful my magic is but I'm sure your Princess can sense my power. So rest assured, if I wanted you gone you'd be out in the wastes already." He guaranteed with an unnerving grin, looking towards Twilight to take notice how she reacted. "If you harm any of us, Princess Celestia will come after-" "If Celestia steps into my lands again I'll rip her limb from limb and feed her to the monsters." He interrupted, his expression unreadable but eyes aglow. "If she wishes to come and face me, perhaps to finish what she started, I'll destroy her and anyone she brings with her. If she tries to force my hand, attack Chrysalis or desecrate what little land I can still call home I'll do unto Equestria what she did unto Drachen-Tor and the Lion's Den; I know my words probably hold little sway over you lot, but you're Celestia's lapdogs and I know she'll understand the meaning of my promise." He assured, a small frown on his pale face while Chrysalis' smile grew with each violent word he uttered. "If you feel so strongly about her, why are we still alive?" Starlight shot back, unsure how she should feel watching her strange host shift from polite, to almost friendly, to the violent state he was in now. She thought his terroristic threats were little more than petty and empty jabs yet his dim, crackling eyes and unswayed expression gave her pause. "Because you're not my opponents, you're my opponent's pawns. You're short lived mortals and an untrained immortal who seem to think you compare to either Celestia, Luna or I. You have a lot to learn about your own kingdom 'Princess' and I can assure you, Celestia won't give you any answers. I'm not going to harm any of you, it's unnecessary barbarism and would accomplish nothing aside from angering her, I'd like to think we can simply tolerate each other's existence until you go home and we need not ever interact again. To this end, I'll give you shelter until the storm ends but afterward I wish you all to leave immediately." He decreed, laying out how he hoped the following events would take place. "In the meantime, try to avoid each other if there's nothing pertinent to discuss as I imagine we'd come to an impasse sooner or later." He advised, pushing his chair away from the table while using his magic to whisk away his plates, cups and kettles. "So what, we just avoid each other till we leave?" Starlight surmised, quizzical at his simplistic decision. "More or less. I have no desire to get to know you seven and I have this odd feeling none of you would agree with my...choice opinions on your Princesses or my association with Chrysalis so I believe it'd be best to simply stay out of each's way until you leave." He said as he stood up and straightened his robe. "If you need me, simply ask a guard, otherwise I'll be preoccupied. Stay out of the West Wing, it's where I reside and where Chrysalis is temporarily staying. Unless you have a death wish, I'd avoid her and her guards." He added at the end, remembering how vehemently she despised them. The Equestrians were in a state of confusion. They couldn't tell if they should be offended, furious, glad or fearful. All they knew for sure was that they weren't going to be taken hostage anytime soon and they had respite from the storm, albeit begrudgingly given. Their guards held their weapons tight and glared as Alistair and the Queen stood up and began to walk out through the doors at the other end of the hall. "When you're finished with your food, just leave them. Someone will deal with it." He waved off as he parted ways, leaving with his detail of guards. "You know Starlight, I wasn't able to properly thank you for how you foiled my plans. Don't worry, I'm sure we'll run into each other soon enough." Chrysalis ominously threatened with a fake smile as she stared down the Unicorn who stood her ground, refusing to show any sign of wavering composure or fear. As she departed, the dining hall was left in an uncomfortable silence as the group processed what they heard and what they'd been told. After an extended period of silence, Twilight stood. "Captain Braeburn." She started, drawing his attention away from whatever he was doing. "Yes Princess?" He responded, clearly conflicted between feeling betrayed, confused or to begin laughing from the constant barrage of misfortune. "We need to have a long, long talk." She said with an audible sigh of frustration and annoyance, brow furrowed and thoughts racing. She found herself having breakfast with one of Celestia's old enemies and now she was at a loss over what to do next. With little else, she felt a need to find out everything she could.