In our previous volume, Arc and Auriel emerge from the shower together and lie down on hospital beds. Arc is examined as Auriel sleeps and gets a clean bill of health. Asking Redheart about his Crimson condition he inquires whether or not he’s still himself inside. Getting some rest himself, Arc is awakened as his future herdmates run into the Infirmary. Assuring them he is alright, Daring Do having been awakened calls out. Pulling aside the curtain they spot a mare in a purple cloak and gray hat. She identifies herself as A.K. Yearling, a famous author known by the Mane Six (and especially Rainbow Dash). Arc recounts the story of his evening and how he ‘rescued’ the author from bandits while taking a walk with Auriel in the jungle. She asks to be transferred to a hospital, so Arc gives her a portal. Rainbow Dash shoves the entire bed though before returning to Arc’s bedside proudly. King Malevolence arrives and tells the group of the other use for the ‘Telepathy Orb’. Showing them their advanced enchanting abilities a visage of him giving the Idol of Boreas away many years ago plays out. Auriel ask Twilight is there might be peace between demons and ponies one day. Agreeing to try and move past the past they allow Arc to continue resting as the others cook breakfast.
Hammer awakens Arc sometime later. He and Auriel get up and head to the Cafeteria to have breakfast with the king and his friends. Talking about the past over a meal they decide to see the ancient palace themselves. Twilight decides to join the party against Arc’s wishes along with the rest of the Mane Six. As they enter the palace the ponies are surprised at the level of detail in the architecture. Entering the Throne Room they are greeted by a number of stones enchanted to mimic sunlight. Examining them they have a philosophical conversation on the deeper meaning of Dark Magic. As the do so however Sereb smells intruders. Arc orders him to bring them to him as Ember and Hammer join in the hunt. Returning some time later with the stallions from Caballeron’s group they are about to be taken into the Demon King’s custody as Auriel advises her father to extend leniency to them as a show of good will to Equestria. Allowing the stallions to leave via portal the king laments his choice. Twilight asks him to sit on the throne. Doing so, she officially declares his sentence in Tartarus served to completion. Wiseman enters and gives Arc a dark crystal. Telling him it can be used to store the energy used to power up the device he gave them earlier, he vanishes. Arc removes the device from his ring and shows it to the king. Telling Arc that it is a prototype magic dispersion unit, the king explains that it was meant to be a counter for Barrier Spells. Arc asks if it could be used to take down the barrier outside his base to which he is told it is too weak. Auriel and Twilight begin talking about ways to amplify it before being reminded that they need the king’s permission to take it. Giving it to Auriel, the king authorizes them to do with it what they will.
Leaving the palace, Arc requests a sigil be placed at the base of the stairs. The king agrees and Arc radios The Equinox to take off. Returning to Redemption Village via the sigil, Arc and company head for the Town Hall. Meeting with Mythic Honor they inform him of the demons being allowed to leave Tartarus. Escorting them to the Gates, Arc and Twilight dismiss the Equestrian forces and allow them to return to Canterlot. Mythic Honor helps by making a special sigil to connect to the one in the Great Demon Kingdom. However he informs them that it is only one way. As Arc is about to test it Auriel pushes him out of the way and dives through. Making a hasty sigil on the ground nearby Arc teleports back to the demon palace. He finds Auriel sitting on the ground waiting for him. Confessing that he was scared to lose her, the pair share a couple passionate kisses before returning to the Gates of Tartarus together. Returning, they make plans with the king and Twilight on how to handle the return of demons to their homeland. Auriel volunteers to return to Canterlot with Twilight and the others to help get the Magic Dispersion Unit designed.
Arc and Flash Sentry head to the workshop at the behest of Twilight to be briefed by Auriel on the status of the Magic Dispersion Unit. Explaining that the device will be about the size of a small airship and weigh a ton, Auriel tells them that she cannot make it any smaller. Continuing, she explains her new plan to integrate the device into The Equinox’s O.R.B. system. Twilight approves of the plan provisionally, informing her that the ship is Arc’s. Agreeing as well, Arc asks to speak to her privately. Taking Auriel to his quarters in the castle he sits her down and asks how she feels about the current project. Confused, Auriel does not understand until Arc comes out and asks her direction about her feelings regarding designing a weapon. Informing him that she believes it to be a tool of defense, Auriel reassures Arc that she has no problem with such a task. Leaving the room they part ways. Arc heads to Ashe’s office to speak to her. Sitting down together she asks why she hasn’t yet been arrested for killing Hero of Light Decimus. Arc informs her that she did what needed to be done. Telling her that the matter will be settled when they breech Light’s Hope, Ashe points out that Admiral Gaston is most likely inside. Asking him to respect their treaty, Ashe tells Arc of the language agreed upon whereas a griffon has the right to be taken into custody at the hands of their ambassador. Arc agrees to let her join the infiltration team on the condition that she obeys his every order. She agrees and asks if he will take Celestia alive or dead. Arc assures her that he wishes to take the errant princess into custody. However he also promises to do his duty to Equestria if the need arises.
Leaving Ashe’s office, Arc heads for the Dining Room. The guards redirect him to Twilight’s private quarters however before Arc learns that he is to wait outside. A Hoof Maiden bids him enter, as Twilight is running a bit late. Waiting for her inside the room, Twilight hurries inside. Telling Arc of a last minute audience she informs him of the griffon reinforcements rallying around Light’s Hope. Still hoping for a peaceful resolution, Twilight asks Arc about her job performance. He tells her to listen more and try to read ponies during audiences. Finishing their meal Arc stands and thanks Twilight for her time. Telling Arc that she has one hour before Kibitz comes to get her, she asks him to nap with her. Laying down together Twilight is soon fast asleep on Arc’s chest.
Kibitz enters Twilight quarters to rouse her for her afternoon duties. Seeing her sleeping with Arc he condemns her activities as being unbecoming of a princess. Arc assures the stallion that he did not hurt of violate Twilight in any way before getting up. Kibitz informs him that Ember wants to see him in Ambassador Brightwing’s office as soon as possible. Arriving, Arc is knocked by as Brightwing materializes in front of him. Ember opens the door and lets him in. Directing his attention to the bookcases Arc sees many complicated books line them. Asking Brightwing what their intentions are for the books, she answers that it is in an effort to learn. Leaving the office together Arc and Ember head to his quarters to talk as Brightwing does more magical experiments. Confessing to him that she is nervous regarding the upcoming attack, Ember is not reassured when Arc tells her of his plans to bring Ashe along. Telling him of her fears, Ember eventually gets to the matter of their future herd. Joking that she wants to be violated immediately after Rarity, Ember then lunges forward to passionately kiss Arc.
Waiting in the Audience Chambers with Twilight, Arc watches her pace back and forth as they wait for the test results of the new device. Sunburst, Auriel, and Stellar Flare hurry inside to report their success. Relieved, Twilight gives the stallion and mare new instructions as she asks Auriel for help with a personal matter. Asking Arc to join her for a formal dinner that evening, she recommends that he rest until then. Doing so, Arc is later awakened by Kibitz. After showering and donning his suit he and the elderly stallion wait for the appointed time on the balcony overlooking the city. Kibitz confides in him his own concern for his granddaughter, Raven. Telling Arc how she has changed since leaving to serve in Arc’s base, Arc does his best to reassure him that she will talk to him in her own time. Expressing his disdain for Flash Sentry, Kibitz wonders aloud just how he got to such a high position in so short a time. Not telling him that the stallion in question was the one whom prevented Raven from being raped, Arc tells Kibitz that Flash Sentry is exactly where he should be.
The appointed time arrives and Kibitz escorts Arc to Twilight’s room. Entering he finds Auriel standing there in the evening light waiting for him. A scroll nearby tells him that Twilight planned for Auriel to have her date time with Arc. Escorting her to the Dining Room, they sit down at a table for two to talk for a time. A few minutes later Saffron emerges from the Kitchen with two steaks. After leaving them to their meal the pair talk about their mothers and how they feel about them. Auriel wonders aloud as to what happened to hers while Arc tells his date of his mother’s negativity. Finishing their meal, Auriel leads Arc to the Royal Gardens. Looking around to make sure they are alone she crawls through a hold in the hedge and beckons Arc to follow her. Finding themselves at the top of a hill, Auriel pulls out what appears to be a wok and sits down in it. As Arc joins her, she takes the handles and the pair fly down the hill. Steering expertly Auriel navigates them to the bottom safely. Looking around, she pulls out a makeshift hammock and sets it up. Asking Arc to lie down in it, he does so. She joins him and talks about how she uses that spot as a respite from the busy castle. Eventually the sun sets and the pair fall asleep together.
Awakening in the cool night air, Arc makes a sigil and takes Auriel back to his room in the castle. Laying down next to her he too falls asleep. Sometime later that night however he is awakened by Auriel humping his leg vigorously. Carefully waking her up, Auriel smells her own arousal and assumes the pair had sex. Voicing her own hopes of being pregnant, Arc is forced to be Honest with her and say that they did not do anything. Offering to take as shower with her, the pair head for the bathroom together. Arc watches as Auriel allows her dress to fall to the floor before allowing her to help undress him. Getting into the shower they talk about having children together one day. Asking what Arc finds attractive about her, he answers and turns the question around. Eventually Auriel lays her head in Arc’s lap as the pair sit in the shower together.
Waking up together the next morning Auriel expresses her fear for Arc’s safely. After reassuring her that he is not going to do anything alone, Auriel moves to leave to recheck her equipment. Reminding her that she should get dressed first, Arc tosses her the dress. Heading for the Hanger a few minutes later Arc finds Twilight and Spike going over their supplies yet again. Telling her to take the rest of the day off, Arc escorts Twilight to her room and puts her to bed. After leaving Spike returns and is surprised to see that Twilight was so easy to convince. Arc offers to let the baby dragon join her like he did when they were much younger. Snuggling up to Twilight she pulls him into an embrace which he reciprocates.
Later that day Arc marches toward the Equinox on Sereb with Hammer and Auriel flanking him. Auriel voices her concerns that they have such a small force accompanying them. She is reminded that forces from all over the country have been arriving all day to join them. Walking up the gangplank Arc orders the troops lined up to board the ship. He looks at each and every soldier as they pass silently. As they are about to enter the ship themselves a small band of Elite Royal Guards run toward them and up the gangplank. With them is a heavily armored Twilight who announces that she is coming too. Arc tries to dissuade her but fails. Entering the ship together they head for the Bridge. Arc makes sure everyone is ready before ordering the ship to take off and head for Light’s Hope. He heads for his office to think, leaving the others confused at his actions. Hammer enters the office to speak to him about it. Confessing to her that his real intention was to be alone so he could write a farewell letter to Dinky, as he didn’t expect to survive the battle with Celestia. Furious, Hammer slams him into a wall for Arc blaming himself for what happened in Equestria and in her own life. Throwing him down onto the desk, Hammer jumps on top of him and confesses that she’s glad that those terrible things happened to her as it allowed them to meet and fall in love. Wrapping her arms around him and professing her undying love Hammer sobs uncontrollably.
Composing herself, she and Arc sit up. Opening a portal, Arc takes Hammer to his room and tosses some clothes to her. Telling her to put them on, Hammer wastes no time stripping then and there. After putting on the rather simple garments, Hammer watches as Arc pulls out an armor rack from his closet. Arc informs Hammer that he ordered special armor tailored just to her measurements made of pure mithril to keep her safe during the operation. Heading to the Bridge together Arc makes a speech to the crew telling them that if they fail today Equestria is doomed. As they approach the base a group of griffon airships takes flight and moves to attack formation. Opening a channel, Arc identifies himself and asks to speak with whomever is in charge. Arbiter Ghaleon responds and informs Arc that he heard Ashe was captured. Stepping forward Ashe refutes this claim as her father comes on the line. Personally leading the griffon forces, Gestal tells Arc that he was called directly by Decimus on the grounds of their past. Deciding to side with Arc’s forces, Decimus declares the griffons traitors and prepares his own forces to take on the newly formed pony/griffon army. Creating a perimeter with unicorns holding back the enemy, The Equinox lands and shuts off its engines. The combined might of the Earth pony defenders along with the marksmanship of the Unicorns keep the enemy from overwhelming the ship as Auriel charges the Magical Disruption Unit. Meanwhile Arc and his infiltration team stand on the deck waiting for their moment to attack. Twilight notices that Arc’s shield is very similar in construction to Flash Magnus’ shield from the history books. Unable to fully charge the device even with the aid of the Bloodstone, Auriel is about to fail when Brightwing arrives. Joining her in her task, the pair charge the weapon. Soarin orders the outriggers deployed to anchor the ship down. Thunderlane extends the cannon and Soarin orders them to fire.
Making a hole in the barrier, Arc Blinks his infiltration force through and into the Main Hall. Arriving they find it littered with innumerable dead bodies of Royal Guards. Checking for survivors they find none. Heading to the War Room Arc and company find Celestia unconscious and chained to the floor as Decimus and Gaston stand nearby. Ashe and Ember engage Gaston as Decimus puts up a barrier to trap Scootaloo inside with him. Challenging her to a duel, he is bested by the Scarlet Filly whom stabs him in the gut through his armor with the guardanium knife. As the barrier falls Arc pushes the stallion off of Scootaloo and beats him senselessly before showing him Toola Roola’s teddy bear. Levitating it to Scootaloo he proceeds to break the fancy furniture all around them and crush Decimus under the rubble to finish him off… again. Turning to his office with the others as Twilight unlocks Celestia’s chains they disable the barrier around the facility. Finding Twilight on the floor unconscious, Celestia suddenly turns into Chrysalis and faces them. Telling Arc that she merely wished to meet him for herself, she spits on his gauntlet sealing its power before fleeing as a hummingbird. Heading back to the Main Hall, Arc and the others face an opening dark portal. Sunset and Kane step out and face them heavily armed and armored. Bringing forth their leader, the true Celestia, she sees the carnage before her and immediately assumes it to be Arc’s doing. Arc pulls the Dagger of Eternal Slumber and orders Celestia to surrender or die. Approaching him she claims that he has won nothing.
Sunset presses a button on Raven’s desk setting of a number of large flashbangs. Taking the opportunity, Celestia knocks Arc through and outer wall and through a tree. Blasting her way out of Light’s Hope, Celestia rendezvous with friendly forces whom more to protect her. Calling for them to fight on, Celestia herself attempts to escape with Twilight on her back. However Shining Armor moves to stop her and save his sister. Trading blows with Celestia he eventually knocks the blade from her magical field. Kicking dust into his face, the mare prepares to capitalize on her move before Arc charges her. Knocking her away, Celestia blinds the entire battlefield before grabbing Twilight and running away into the forest. Gestal tells Arc to go after her with Shining Armor as he commands the battle in his stead. The pair run off after them as Ember and the others make their way out of the ruined Main Hall. Spotting Sunset attempting to go after Celestia, Sereb charges after Kane and stops the pair. Arc’s friends team up to take on Sunset and Kane but are slowly overwhelmed. Soarin calls for Rose to help them. Joining the fray, she analyzes Sunset’s battle tactics and advises the others on how best to fight her. Besting the mare, she opens a portal and escapes with Kane. Having failed to stop her, they move to help Arc’s forces end the battle quickly as Scootaloo goes after Arc with the Dagger of Eternal Slumber in her belt.
Meanwhile, Sereb catches up to Arc and Shining Armor. Helping them track down Celestia and Twilight they find the pair resting in a clearing. Celestia takes up a defensive position in front of Twilight. Ordering Shining Armor to protect her, he refuses and stands with Arc. Scootaloo arrives with the Dagger of Eternal Slumber, but is knocked away by Celestia. Going after her target, and the dagger, Celestia is stopped by Arc whom grabs both the filly and the weapon before returning to Twilight and the others. Seeing her student next to the weapon, Celestia loses her mind and begins charging up her Alicorn Magic. Luna arrives and attempts to cast a spell of some kind on her sister. It realigns her mind for but a moment. However as soon as she see Twilight again she begins charging. Turning to Arc, Luna asks him to kill Celestia before the magic within her destroys all of Equestria. Pointing out that they could do something in their Crimson forms, Luna raises the moon to block the sun. Cut off from her magical source, Celestia is staggered as Arc and Scootaloo look up at it and transform. Reaching out, they begin draining her energies together. Weakening her, but not enough to stop Celestia, Arc calls out to Scootaloo telepathically for the dagger. Taking flight, she tosses it to him. Winding up, Arc hits Celestia in the head with the hilt. She falls to the ground unconscious as Luna casts a strange spell on her. Arc verifies that she is alive and proceeds to take both Celestia and Twilight to his ship for medical treatment.
However many questions yet remain. What forbidden knowledge resides in the ‘Telepathy Orb’? How will the demons deal with their new lives outside of Tartarus? What is Celestia’s problem?! No, seriously… what’s her deal? Will Twilight be able to become that which she desires? When will Ember get what she wants from Arc? Will Kibitz ever learn the truth about what happened to Raven? Is Auriel actually a relaxation genius? Does she have some kind of shower fetish? Will Hammer and Arc ever be able to get together on a personal level? How did Brightwing know Auriel needed her help at that very moment? What is wrong with Celestia? Did Diva finally meet her end? Again, seriously, what the heck is wrong with Celestia?!
Time will tell. Sooner of later… time will tell.