In our previous volume, Arc and his companions flew in the Lunar Destiny to the Griffon Kingdom in an attempt to learn about their griffon neighbors. However, Arc’s real mission was to find a way to take down Lord Goldstone for his crimes again Raven.
Arriving, they are met outside the city by Lieutenant Natalya. She leads them into the capital and to the Aviary, the nation’s seat of power. Escorting them to her superior, General Blackbeak, he greets Arc. Expressing a desire to see Equestrian fighting prowess, the general leads them to the Gladiator’s Arena. Natalya, eager to prove herself to her commanding officer, challenged all three of Arc’s companions. After being soundly defeated by each of them, the general stripped her of her rank and assigned her to Arc as his personal servant.
Returning to his room with his Honor Guards and Natalya, Arc reads over a book left to him on griffon etiquette. Enlisting the aid of Natalya, she aids him in relearning mannerisms. Wishing to see the city, Arc asks Natalya for a tour. She obliges and shows him their library and the Abysmal Abyss. Natalya tells them of their nation’s greatest treasure, the Idol of Boreas, and how it was lost.
Receiving an invitation to the head of the Council of Lord’s home for a party, Arc questions Natalya about the do’s and don’ts of such an event. Sending her away, he then quietly leaves the Aviary alone. Much to the chagrin of his friends. Cloaking, Arc heads for the library. Carefully picking up the rotting books with his magic, Arc levitates them into a box and stores them safely in his ring. Turning to leave, he spots the human from the apartment fire watching him from just inside the doorway! Quietly walking away, the stranger calls out to him, indicating that he can see Arc through his magic cloak. Warning him to be careful at the party tomorrow night, the stranger leaves the building and vanishes.
Arc and Cherry return to his room in the Aviary via magic portal. Ember and Flash Sentry are understandably unnerved to hear of his evening’s activities. He relays Wiseman’s message to them regarding the party tomorrow. Natalya escorts them to the estate of Lord Gestal. However, the guards at the gate do not find his name on the guest list. General Blackbeak arrives and vouches for Arc. The pair enter the party together and approach another of the guests, Chief Advisor Gunter. They speak for some time before Arc heads for the gardens for some air. A disturbance outside sees heavily armored robed griffons force their way into the mansion. The rebels insist that Lady Ashe, Lord Gestal’s daughter, come with them. Refusing, Lord Gestal and General Blackbeak move to defend her even though they are sorely outnumbered. Arc and his friends arrive and even the odds. Pushing back the rebels, Lord Gestal invites Arc into his office to speak with him. Introducing himself, Arc is informed that no invitation had been sent to him.
The next morning, Natalya leads Arc and his companions to a private training room for some exercise. Ordering her to spar as well, Natalya sheepishly faces off against Ember. However, she is too afraid to attack her. Eventually trading places with Ember, Arc himself faces Natalya. Telling her his “plans” to destroy her homeland, Natalya fights with everything she has! Arc eventually bests her, but not before seeing what the former lieutenant is really capable of.
Accepting another dinner invitation, Arc puts on his formal attire and is escorted to Chief Advisor Gunter’s estate. Arriving, he finds General Blackbeak there along with Lord Gestal and his daughter. A rather sullen looking griffon sits in the corner watching as they eat dinner. After the meal Arc volunteers to escort Lady Ashe home while the other guests chat. The walk to Gestal’s estate is without incident. Returning to the Aviary, Arc and company head for bed. Sleep evades Arc, and he decides to take a walk. Turning off the street to investigate a noise nearby, Arc is surrounded by rebels! They ask him to aid them in their fight against the government. Refusing, Arc Blinks up onto a nearby room before opening a portal back to his quarters.
The next morning Arc and the others head to a VIP viewing box to watch the various members of the military fight for promotions. Natalya is promoted to sergeant, but decides to fight to regain her lost lieutenant’s rank. Facing off against her opponent, she accidently cuts off the Trainer’s tail.
Leaving the VIP section Arc heads for the Locker Rooms to questions Natalya. He and the others find her crying in a storage closet. She informs them that the even was completely accidental. Arc offers to help the lieutenant as Natalya leads them to the medical facilities. Entering the room alone, Arc finds General Blackbeak seeing to his injured daughter. He offers to take them to Canterlot for the tail to be reattached. The general agrees and helps Arc wheel the gurney into the hallway. Calling for his Honor Guards, Arc opens a portal back to Canterlot Castle. The lieutenant is rushed into surgery. While they wait, Arc heads to the Audience Chamber to report the news to the princesses before leading them to the general. The surgery is successful and the patient heads to recovery.
As the general is escorted to his daughter’s side after supper, Arc is summoned to Princess Luna’s room for a conversation of utmost secrecy. They continue their earlier conversation on the status of Arc’s mission. He informs them on the rebels attempts to contact him and persuade
Equestria to back them. Then next morning the lieutenant awakens and demonstrates use of her tail.
Returning to the Aviary via magic portal, Arc accompanies Natalya back to her room. They find a large bag of bits along with an invitation to join the rebels. Natalya, understandably unnerved by this, accompanies Arc to see General Blackbeak. He presents an official note from the princesses asking for official diplomatic talks to begin. The general accepts the note and promises to bring the matter to the Council of Lords as soon as possible. While he waits, Arc heads to Abyssinia with his companions and Natalya. They find the land and its inhabitant doing much better. Natalya is approached by the guards as they attempt to arrest her. Arc forcefully requests an audience with the king and queen. They apologize profusely for his companion’s treatment, and explain that they have declared was on the Griffon Kingdom. Escorting their guests to the gardens, Arc is shown the aquaponics systems he sent them. The group enjoys some of the land’s bounty before the monarchs ask to speak in private. As the others leave, the queen tells Arc of Lord Goldstone’s proposal of exchanging sexual favors in exchange for preserves.
Arc tells them of his own mission with their enemies to take down Lord Goldstone, and convinces them to call off their war. King Felix writes a letter for Arc to return to the Griffon Kingdom with. He and his friends return to the Aviary via magic portal and immediately head for General Blackbeak’s office. Arc hands over the letter and watches happily as Lord Goldstone is notified.
The general informs Arc of the animosity between the Council of Lords and the military. They return to Arc’s room. As he leaves to take a shower, Natalya has a serious talk with Ember and Flash Sentry about Arc’s fiancé and past. Emerging from the bathroom, Arc opens a portal back to Ponyville. He then introduces Natalya to Pinkie Pie and cupcakes. They head for the Golden Oaks Library where Twilight shows Arc Auriel’s invention, the P.E.E.L.
Introducing Natalya to the concept of orphanages, she informs him of her country’s lack of such facilities. Leading them to the Little Hooves Orphanage, Arc introduces Natalya to Coco Pommel, whom explains how adoption works. Coco Pommel then tells them her own story of her past in the New Beginnings Orphanage under Matron Tempest. Arc leads the others downstairs as school is dismissed. Dinky runs over to her father and leads him to the kitchen where Derpy is. Together they help cook supper for the orphans. Afterwards, he invites Derpy and Dinky to Light’s Hope for the night. Showing Natalya to her room, Arc then leads his family back to his quarters for a talk. Inquiring about the school schedule, he invites them to Earth for Christmas. They agree. Arc heads into town to take care of an errand.
Heading for the Golden Oaks Library, Arc gives Twilight the box or ruined books from Griffonstone and invites Auriel to his base for a short trip the following morning. She agrees and he returns to his base. The following morning Derpy and Dinky head for the orphanage as Arc steps out for a few minutes. Ember and Sereb head for his room with Natalya. Auriel arrives and explains the invitation Arc extended. They enter Arc’s room and wait. A short time later Arc returns… with Auriel’s father! She is overjoyed as Arc brings the demon king to roughly his own size. They share a nice breakfast together.
Auriel and her father head for Sweet Apple Acres together with Ember and Arc to speak to Granny Smith about growing plants in Tartarus. As they approach, King Malevolence learns of Filthy Rich’s shameful treatment of his daughter. He chases the stallion off the property. Applejack invites them in. Granny Smith suggests trying Zap Apple seeds for Auriel’s project, and even gives her some. On the way back to the base they stop at the Golden Oaks Library so the king can see where his daughter lives and apologize to Twilight. Returning to Light’s Hope, King Malevolence tells Auriel about her mother, and how she was a human just like Arc!
That evening they return the king to Tartarus. After a tearful farewell Arc and Auriel return through the barrier. Returning Auriel to the library, Arc heads to Sweet Apple Acres to see what Applejack wanted. She tells him of her problems with the Rich family, and apologizes for her sexual advances some time ago.
Heading for the library early one morning, Arc finds the Mane 6 busy cooking breakfast together. He finds Auriel in her lab having difficulty with her project. After encouraging her, they head upstairs for breakfast. Afterwards Arc shows his friends the crystals that are embedded in his forehead and torso. Telling them of the events leading up to their appearance, Rarity comments on the color scheme being that of the Elements of Harmony. Twilight retrieves her element and holds it to Arc’s forehead. The pair of gems pulsate together. Lastly, he tells them of Cherry’s return and her inhabiting his armor. Pinkie becomes nervous as she learns of Cherry’s presence during her earlier talk with Arc. Cherry assures Pinkie that such things are just fine with her, as she can’t be there for Arc like a living mare could.
Much has happened. However, even more questions now swirl around our heroes. How will Raven feel about peace with the Griffon Kingdom? Can Arc trust Natalya? Who sent Arc the invitation to Lord Gestal’s party? What was Arbiter Ghaleon looking for at Chief Advisor Gunter’s estate? Has General Blackbeak really forgiven his former aide for the injury his daughter sustained? What was Lord Goldstone thinking when he made advances on Queen Fiona? Can King Malevolence’s words be trusted? How will Applejack safeguard her family’s land with such a large debt hanging over them? Will Pinkie and Arc even become an item?
Time will tell. Sooner or later… time will tell.