//------------------------------// // CH: 4, The beginning Moon // Story: New Royalty: Two Princes' Journey into Equestria // by Praeco Nigrum //------------------------------// "Man, this looks like one hell of a party!" Devin said as he and Luna entered the nightclub. "I agree, although I'm not sure that those ponies need any more partying" Luna said as she saw two pegasus ponies swinging from a disco ball on the ceiling. "Nah, they're fine. Creatures with wings have hollow bones" Devon replied as he glanced up at the two pegasus ponies. "That is true, but you'd be surprised how much the average pegasus weighs, even the lightest ones weigh at least eighty five pounds" Luna said as the two pegasus began to swing the disco ball in circles. "I would've guessed less than that, but it really sheds some light on the subject" Devon said. "I suggest we go find a table. Standing in the middle of the doorway won't fare well with the other ponies" Luna said as she began walking along the edge of the crowd, quickly followed by Devin. "So, what's Equestria like besides nightclubs and castles?" Devon asked as they sat down. "There's a lot that we could talk about on that subject. Its a pretty normal country. There's cities along the coasts, towns every so often, farming plains in the west, mountain ranges dividing parts of the country and some of the borders, and there's the EverFree Forest" Luna said. "What's so special about the EverFree Forest?" Devon asked curiously. "It contains the ruins of the castle that belonged to the rulers of Equestria long before Celestia and I came to the throne" Luna explained. "I suppose that makes it a historical landmark, but what else?" Devon asked. "Its located in the center of Equestria, it’s said to contain magical powers that are far from understood, and there's rumors of strange tribes of ponies who live within the forest" Luna said with a shudder. "Why does that matter?" Devon asked. "The magic in there is very unstable. Its physically impossible to locate the ruins or and tribal towns within the forest more than three times in a lifetime" Luna said. Before Devon could ask another question, a barmare approached them and asked what they would like to order. "I'll have something light, maybe a shot of whiskey or something, with an order of hayfries" Luna said with a small, mischievous smile in Devon's direction. "Hmmm...I'll have one of those daffodil sandwiches, a side of hayfries, and I think I'll have a shot of the special mix" Devon said, reading his order off a menu. "Alrighty then, I'll bring out your orders in a jiffy, your majesties" the barmare said as she went back to the kitchen and bar area. "Did she just say 'your majesties'?" Devin asked incredulously. "Yes, but is there really a problem with that?" Luna asked, her eyes fluttering in innocence. "No, but it was a little weird, even though I was royalty were I came from" Devon said. "Its probably because Alicorns have always been royalty in Equestria" Luna explained. "Really, why's that?" Devon asked. "Because myself and Celestia's parents were the raisers of the sun and moon, and their parents before them, and so on. Therefore, Alicorns have always been reviewed as godlike, and the divine rulers of Equestria" Luna explained. "But what about other Alicorns? Surely when the population of Alicorns was higher not all of them were royalty" Devon stated. "No, they weren't. But many died out in the Discordian wars that took place during the reign of our parents, wiping out most of our race five millennia ago" Luna said sadly. "Wow, so you two were the only Alicorns around for five thousand years?" Devin asked incredulously. "Well, we had a sibling who wasn't an Alicorn, and she had a few children that spread out and formed a lineage that spawned one Alicorn. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, also known as Cadence, was born about twenty two years ago and she married Shining Armor, who used to be Captain of the Royal Guard, and we believe that her children will most likely be Alicorns" Luna said. "That's good, right?" Devin asked. “I suppose so” Luna said with a small sigh. “What’s wrong Luna?” Devin asked immediately. “Celestia and myself have been around for several millennia, yet there is more chance that our niece, who hasn’t even experienced a century of life yet, has found love and has a higher chance of having children before either of us” Luna said with a glance out the window at the sun. Before Devin could respond the barmare returned with their orders and Luna began to eat silently, and Devin quickly followed suit. Surprisingly, Devin finished his meal first and he sat there for a short while, staring at Luna with an expression that made him appear to be thinking deeply, but at the same time...uncertain? “Is something wrong Devin?” Luna asked when she noticed. “No, I’m just thinking about some things...” Devin replied as he glanced out the window and saw that sunset was coming soon. “I suppose we should go to those falls now, right?” Devin asked after the moment of silence. “That sounds like a good idea” Luna said and Devin swiftly got up and helped her out of her seat, and as they left Devin nodded his head at the DJ, who had been playing some really interesting music, and the DJ nodded back. ______________________________________________________ Celestia cast a shroud spell upon her and Cory once they had gotten to the train station, she was in no mood to deal with any of the reporters and such that would surely be waiting for them outside. Celestia had Rainbow Dash draped across her back as she and Cory, whom held Silent like a sleeping foal, made their way out of the tail end of the train. “Well, I can tell you don’t like having to deal with the Reporters and such just about as much as I do… if not more so.” Cory said chuckling. He made a shot leap off the back and turned around to gently help Celestia down, so that she wouldn't jostle her ‘package’. To which Celestia smiled graciously for. “Yes… they can be… Quite annoying sometimes…” Celestia gave a small sigh as they made their way towards the town proper, “But they do have their uses, like when to get a certain event out faster than a pegasus can fly…” “Yeah, but at least they don’t have cell-phones here…” Cory chuckled at the thought of how much gossip that would spread. “Hmm, yes, that would be rather unpleasant, though very helpful in other aspects.” ‘Tia said thoughtfully. “Yeah, but it seems your people do not need such headaches… especially when they seem to make them all their own.” Celestia looked over to him when his arm outstretched and stopped her from going any further. He then gestured to a large four headed creature running rampant across the outskirts of the town… chasing a few of her subjects. For which she had a good idea as to who they might be. Celestia sighed and looked about for a place to put Rainbow and Silent, Cory was just looking on in slight interest at the scene unfolding before him, though he didn’t show it, he was deftly afraid that something might happen to the ponies being chased by the creature. “Well, there seems to be a park bench over there we can set them down on… granted it won’t be comfortable, but we need to go help them now.” Cory said, pointing out a small park like area not far from them. They raced over and placed their charges on the bench before sprinting off in the direction of the beast. ______________________________________________________________________________ “RUN, RUN GUYS, IT’S ALMOST GOT US!” Spike yelled as he and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders ran from the hydra, They had gone into the forest to find some things they could base their marks off of, spike just went to make sure the girls were ok, and they fell into the bog and were now being chased by its resident hydra. “WE'RE’ RUNNIN’ SPIKE!” Apple Bloom yelled from his left, She was getting tired of all of their attempts at cutie marks ending in them getting in major trouble. It was getting real old real fast. “THEN HUSH UP AND RUN, SLOWPOKE!” Scootaloo yelled from Spike’s far right, Sweetie was on her left and spikes immediate right and she was the only one actually listening to their own advice. “SHUT YER’ PIE HOLE SCOOTS AND KEEP ON GOIN’!” Apple Bloom retorted as she jumped over a fallen log. There was a sudden beam of white light heading straight at them, it cut right in between Sweetie Belle and Spike and nailed the Hydra right in the chest, causing it to fly backwards a few hundred feet. The CMC and Spike saw who it was and shot right for her, Celestia and Cory had appeared right in their line of travel, making it to where they could intercept them in a matter of seconds. Now three whimpering fillies and one hyperventilating dragon were smothering them both. “Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!” Spike and the CMC cried out in cohesion, over and over again. They had been scared witless by their near death experience, though it wasn't over yet. there was a mighty roar and the Hydra got back up and glared daggers at the being that interfered with its afternoon snack. “I’ll handle this ‘Tia… you take the young ones someplace safe and hurry back… I don’t know how long I will be able to keep it occupied.” Celestia made to argue with him, but he turned around and gave her a look that would have even turned down a dragon in its intensity, I will not Fight you on this ‘Tia, YOU WILL take them to somewhere safe… and if this beast is still here when you get back you may help as you see fit.” He then began walking towards it. “Fine…” She sighed and teleported the others far away, she got them to the Golden Oaks Library, surprising a very distraught Twilight in the process. “Now… It’s just YOU and ME, BITCH… Any last words before I pummel ya?” Cornelius looked over his gigantic foe and deemed this fight…very one sided, in favor of the giant lizard thing. “I’m boned… sideways with a rusty hammer…” he muttered under his breath, trying incredibly hard to suppress his fear. The hydras four heads poised to strike, one got down to his level while the rest positioned to his left and right, with the last one going up somewhere above his head. He knew he was in for the fight of his life… and that he should pry run… but that wasn’t what the world needed of him for this fight. Then the head directly above him shot down, trying to take him in whole. He dodged out of the way and to the left where the second head was waiting, but he kicked it in the nose and made it recoil in pain. He then shot his hand out towards a good sized rock, lifting it up with his new powers, and chucked it, at around 400 miles per hour, right towards the left most head, it struck, but did little but piss off the Hydra. “Oh shit!” The other three heads then assaulted Cory, since the one he hit was still recovering, and he was trying not to get caught in their shark like maws. One of the mouths scraped his back with a pair of incisors and drew a bloody streak down him, tearing some of the flesh from his body in the process. His cry of pain alerted the Hydra to his imminent demise. “ROAR!” He yelled out, he spun while dodging another of the heads and kick one right in the eye, falling flat in his ass in the process. He then flipped back up onto his feet and ducked under one of the other heads. If anyone, or pony, were to look upon this fight, they would think they were watching a dance or even a choreographed routine, the fighting was so rough that both opponents were starting to get tired, but Cory being the far more gone than his Hydra counterpart. Cory then found an opening and rolled out of the tangle of necks and heads and out into a clear area. He assessed the situation and saw that he was bleeding severely from several spots on his person, the most painful and blood drenched being his back. There were two very long and very deep tears in his back, he knew he was going to be in bed for many weeks after this just from that injury. “Well lizard breath… Come and get me ya fucking newt!” Cory donned a wicked grin and charged at the Hydra, lifting a far greater amount of projectiles with his magic than he had ever done before, and some of them were far heavier than what he was used to, like a tree that he seemingly uprooted without any force and a boulder weighing around three tons. This show of power actually made the Hydra grow pale and shrink away from the being before it. Never before had it had a prey so adept at defending itself from it, and even to turn the tables on it was unheard of… but here was this bipedal creature with its arms outstretched, lifting hundreds of objects, each weighing anything from an ounce to over three tons. Cory saw that it was now cowering before him, so he slowed his charge and set his vast array of weapons down, gently, and made his way over to the Hydra. “You, you cower before the strength of someone greater than you… But why… you are a creature of myth and legend, capable of growing thousands of heads and beating even the Great Son of Zeus… yet you would bow and cower… tell me beast… why would you hunt such frail creatures as these ponies… they offer no sport…” Cory was talking to the creature as if it could understand him, and for all anypony else knew… it did. Celestia had teleported back to the clearing she had left her ‘friend’ only moments ago and had watched the whole fight unfold before her, the entire time unable to truly comprehend how Cory had done all of the things he had done. “Are you speaking with that, that Hydra, Cornelius… How do you know it is able to?” She was genuinely interested in what was going on, she had never seen anypony intimidate a Hydra, not even Fluttershy had been able to subdue one, and yet here was this man, a man she hardly knew, and he was talking, ‘TALKING’, to a Hydra as if it was something he did everyday. “‘Tia… there are things not even I will have knowledge of… I just felt that I should talk to it… and so far it has listened.” He turned back to his quelled opponent and outstretched a hand in its direction. The hydra looked at him funnily until it slowly drifted one of its heads over to rest against his outstretched palm. “Do you understand me, great beast?” The Hydra nodded one of its other heads in acknowledgement, at that Cory smiled broadly and rubbed at the soft spot between its eyes. The Hydra began to purr, yes purr, and close its eyes in slight pleasure. “I know you are hungry my friend… but you cannot feed on these fair creatures… Are we clear?” Cory gave it a stern fatherly stare, in response it nodded all four of its heads, granted the one he was petting made more of a bobbing motion so as not to dislodge his hand. “Good, Now run along my friend… and maybe we can see each other again in the future?” All four of the heads smiled at this, showing many razor sharp teeth, and Cory just grinned even more. after a few more minutes of rubbing and petting the Hydra's head Cory removed his hand and bid it goodbye. “I still wish to know how you did that…” Celestia walked up next to him and sat on her haunches, looking in the direction of the receding Hydra. “Oh, it was nothing… We both got pretty beat up though…” Cory winced and gasped in pain. At this Celestia looked over and blanched at the sight of all the minor wounds and the blood covering his body, but what almost made her toss her lunch was the two large gashes on his back. They ran from the top of his shoulder down to the small of his back. They oozed blood and clear fluids, which most likely was poisons and saliva from the Hydra. “We need to get you to a hospital!” She cried out right as he started to fall to the ground, for some reason there was still a smile lingering on his otherwise blank face. Just as she caught him in her magic, a flash of purplish light appeared behind her, signaling her star-pupil’s arrival. “Princess, what happened here!” Twilight cried out as she looked over at the fallen form of Cory, granted she had no clue yet who he was, “And why is that creature covered in so many cuts an-” she cut herself off when she saw the large gouges on his back. “Hush my student, help me get him to the hospital, he hasn’t much time before the poisons take full effect!” Princess Celestia said, rather smoothly considering. “Yes, Princess!” Twilight then charged up her horn and enveloped Cornelius in her magic alongside Celestia and the two of them then teleported to the hospital. ______________________________________________________________________________ The two ponies appeared in the waiting room of the Ponyville hospital, everyone in the room barely even blinked at the sudden appearance. Then they all saw that it was princess Celestia and twilight sparkle, along with some very heavily wounded creature. "We need to get a doctor over here now!" Twilight shouted, the nurse behind the counter ran off to grab one if the doctors while she and Celestia tended to Cory's wounds as best they could. "Princess what happened to this thing?" "His name is Cory, and we had stumbled upon the fillies and Spike when we got off the train... He had me teleport them away while he stayed and kept the hydra busy..." Celestia gave a slight shiver at what could have happened. 'I could have lost him... WE could have lost him...' She could not bare the thought of having to tell Luna and Devin that she had gotten his brother killed. "A hydra!" Twilight shrieked, she looked down at the creature named Cory and was in awe that he was able to stand up to a hydra and just end up with the wounds that he did. "The doctors will be able to save him princess, I hope..." Twilight could tell that her mentor was really attached it this being, she had never seen her so fearful for another being before, not even for one of her ponies. "I hope you're right, my student... I truly hope so..." Celestia and twilight got out of the way when a team of doctors and nurses blew into the room with a stretcher. They lifted Cory up onto it and wheeled him out of the room. Celestia tried to follow them out but was stopped by a pair of large stallions. She relented, barely, and went to sit with her student and friend. "Twi'!" A childlike voice said as the doors to the hospital burst open. The rest of the mane six rushed in, along with the CMC and Spike leading the way. "Hello, My Little Ponies..." They all heard and saw the princess, so they quickly bowed and got back to making their way over to their friend and princess. "Princess, what happened to Cory?" Rainbow and Silent asked. Silent had come in shortly after the rest of them, the two of them were off to Celestial left staring up at her in anticipation. “Who?” Pinkie bound over to them and asked excitedly. “Our friend,” Rainbow motioned to herself, Silent, and Celestia, “Me and Silent here found him and another stallion out by the EverFree… we had gone to the hospital and later spent a day at the castle, thanks to the Princess here…” She turned to Celestia, “But seriously… what’s happened to ‘im?” “We had just gotten off the train when we saw the fillies, and Spike, there,” she points a hoof at Sweetie belle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and spike, “Being chased by a Hydra on the outskirts of town…” The girls all gasp at this and glare at the four young one accusingly. “I had teleported the two of us into their path… Cory had me teleport them and myself to safety while he distracted the Hydra…” They all gasp at this, most of them did so in awe while fluttershy and the fillies, and spike, flinched at the thought of facing the Hydra. “He… he did what, now?” AppleJack asked, her mouth slightly ajar from the thought of what the princesses friend had done for her sister. “Like I said, he stayed to distract it… But, when I returned he was going toe to toe with it…” Most of the ponies in the room, those that could hear anyway, went bug-eyed at that, save Rarity, whom promptly fainted. “He was dodging all four of its heads, all the while delivering his own set of injuries against the beast…” this just drew even more gasps from her now captive audience, more so from Rainbow, Silent, and Scoots since they each kind of enjoyed the thrill of a good fight. “Y’all mean ta’ say, this friend ah yers’ went mano-e-mano with a hydra… and ev’n hurt the darn’d thang?” AppleJack asked, she was, along with everypony else, had fallen to her haunches and was completely captivated by what she was hearing, even if it sounded a little far fetched. But the fact that it was coming from the princess made it easier to swallow… but not by much. “Yes, Honest AppleJack, he did… Though that is also why he is here… During his scuffle with the Hydra it had gouged two large gashes across his back… It had been releasing venom at the time… but he fought through it…” She sighed, she remembered how Cory had just shrugged off the devastating blow and continued to fight the giant of a creature with tooth and hoofer nail. “Oh my…” Fluttershy gasped slightly, which was rather loud for her normal quiet self, she knew how deadly the venom from the Hydras could be. It was recorded that it could, if not treated, be able to take down an Alicorn. “I-i s-see why you b-brought him here… H-how long ago w-was his injury? Fluttershy tried with all her might not to stutter too badly, it was something she had been working on as of late. “Just five minutes ago…” Fluttershy sighed in relief at hearing that, she felt better knowing that the princess’ friend had most likely gotten there in time to be saved. “As I was saying… He was dodging their blows when a sudden opening was presented… He lept out and rolled for about twenty feet…” This got several oohs and ahs of discomfort from the gathered ponies, and dragon, “He then flipped up to his feet and stared right at the Hydra… He even through a few insults at it, some of which I didn’t understand, and then used his new magical abilities to lift-” Twilight went slightly more wide-eyed at that bit of knowledge, this new creature was able to use MAGIC! She was so excited! “-several large stumps and a couple of very large boulders… one of which was about the size of a cart…” Celestia, Twilight, and the recently awoken Rarity gawked at this, Celestia mostly just shivered. “He… he lifted… a cart sized boulder?!” Twilight asked incredulously, each of the girls mimicking her look of utter disbelief, though for different reasons. Fluttershy was shocked that he would raise a weapon at an animal, granted it was trying to eat him. “Oh my word, how could such a creature hove such magical prowess?!” Rarity said, quite astonished. “I don’t know, Generous Rarity… But, I know this… He will use his strengths for good… he has all but promised me this…” Celestia blushed somewhat at her own personal thought and raised a hoof to cough into. “Well, as I was saying… He then charged at the Hydra, caring all of arsenal of floating weapons with him…” The amount of gasping that was going on in that room was getting to the point that Celestia thought that the atmosphere was going to get thin or something… it was ridiculous! She chuckled softly and continued on with her tale. “But as he got closer he saw something in the Hydras eyes… Fear… even I could see it… He stopped his advance and dropped all of the objects behind him. then they both did the most unexpected of things…” Celestia paused in her telling of what had happened to gather a drink from the water cooler in the far corner of the room, she even got one for all of the ponies around her. “Here you are, My Little Ponies, I’ll continue in a few minutes… I need to let my palate moisten.” She, along with her enraptured audience, blushed slightly and went about drinking their waters. The ponies chatted amongst themselves about what they had learned, this being that the Princess had brought with her was powerful, and highly inclined to help her and her people… what they wanted to know was why, why was it there and would they always be able to call it friend? “Princess, that creature, Cory right?” Sweetie Belle asked, to which Celestia nodded, “Why do you think he helped us?” This question seemed to still the very air in the waiting room, all of the elements, the five or so patients, and even the three nurses stopped what they were doing so they could get an answer to a very interesting question. “Well little ones… Not too long ago… I was told of a very destroyed world… there, there seems to be no end to the suffering of others… not everyone is treated as an equal… and it seems Cornelius and Devin, the two new additions to our fine country, were apart of the upper class there…” this garnered a few raised brows and a pony urging the princess to go on. “He and Devin would find many different ways to spend their time with the general population, they were representatives of two different bordering countries…”Celestia said lastly in way of explanation, it garnered even more raised brows and the eventual wide eye. “So, they wer’ lahk the Fancy Pants o’ their countries?” AppleBloom asked, her country accent coming on fairly strong. “Hmm, I believe you could put it that way, my dear AppleBloom… they found joy in helping those less fortunate than themselves… It is quite honestly something our own upper class could learn from.” Celestia, along with most of the ponies in the room, excluding the CMC and Spike, chuckled at the slight made towards the nobility. “So, he helped us ‘Cause he could?” AppleBloom asked slightly awed by the selfless thought of this kind giant, or at least she remembered him as a giant… hmm. “Yes, He even helped me several times over the last two days…” Everypony gave her a weird look at that, making her stop short in her explanation. “He’s only been here two days Princess?” Spike spoke up, he was sitting on her right, in between Sweetie Belle and AppleBloom. “Yes, He and his friend Devin have only been here two days… Though they have both done great things in my eyes, and those of my sister… They are very honorable being. They also wish to stay and help watch over all of you. From what they have told me… their world is in a constant state of war… some of which dwarf what we ourselves have experienced throughout the entirety of our countries history… combined.” This news shook everypony that heard. To know that a beings so kind could come from a world covered in strife… it struck deep in every single one of them. ______________________________________________________________________________ "Well that's a stunning view" Devin said as he and Luna walked along while the sun was setting behind the castle at an angle that made the light shine through the colored windows of the main hallway and formed beams of colorful light along the mountainside. "Yes, it is quite amazing, isn't it?" Luna said as her glance moved from the park in front of them to the glorious view spreading across the mountainside. "I'll have to make sure I'm not ever in the castle at this time of day" Devin said as they continued to walk towards the park. "You would ensure that you would be outside everyday just to watch the sunset?" Luna asked incredulously. "Absolutely, especially on a perfect day like today" Devin said as he raised his head high into the air, closed his eyes and breathed in the summer air deeply. "I take it you enjoy nature then?" Luna asked. "At times, it just depends on my mood and the weather" Devin replied. “Why is that?” Luna asked, clearly uncertain of what he meant. “Well, if I’m sad, upset, or angry, I prefer to go out at night and look at the stars and moon. If I’m happy and feeling pretty good i like to be out in the sun and maybe take a walk through the woods. But if I’m having trouble thinking clearly, or just had an argument, then I tend to stay indoors until I feel better” Devin explained. "That's an interesting way of looking at things. Oh look, we're here" Luna said as they arrived at the small park. The park was average sized for a park in the city. It had a few benches and some trees, the occasional squirrel, and a few citizens walking through. But unlike most parks, there was a small waterfall towards the opposite end of the park near the mountainside. The water gently trickled down while birds were singing from the trees and there were still a few bees buzzing along from one flower to the next. "Wow, I can't imagine a better place to be, even if we're in a city" Devin said softly as he looked around, taking in all the nature around them. "I agree, and I can't remember of the last time anypony has ever said that" Luna said as she too looked at the nature around them. "Oh wow, the sun's setting" Devin said. Sure enough, the sun was going down beyond the plains between Canterlot and PonyVille. "And now you may view what I do for Equestria" Luna said as her horn became encased in its magical dark blue aura. Slowly the moon began to rise over the crest of the waterfall, casting a shimmering image across the small pool at the bottom. "Wow, that looks amazing" Devin said after a moment of standing there with a look of amazement on his face. "Thank you Devin, but it really isn't that special" Luna said with a blush. "Not that special? My dear Luna, you control when the moon rises and falls, how can you say that that is not of importance?" Devin asked incredulously. "No-pony really needs the moon, it is the sun that causes crops to grow, and it is the time when ponies are most active" Luna said sadly. "That may very well be, but the moon and the night serve a purpose as well. Without the break from the sun, the plants would wither and die. With the movement of the moon, ocean tides move in and out. If there were no moon, by what light would some night creatures live by and know that it is their time of day? My dear Luna, your moon is just as important as the sun and is even more so to me" Devin said, his voice full of compassion. "Thy moon is more important to thee than thy sister's sun? How is that so?" Luna asked, slipping into a medieval way of speech. "Because thy moon hath been an ally of thee whenever there hath been a time of sorrow or sadness. And art important to thee because of its great beauty that resembles the pony who doth control its way across the lands" Devin replied. Luna was left speechless. She had reverted to an almost completely different way of talking, and yet Devin had replied to her in the same way. And he had not only said that he loved the moon, but he had complimented her of her beauty. "Thou art a true stallion. You care not what somepony says, but thou seest thy beauty and ignores any faults" Luna said after a moment. "It is the way by which all should live, a way that hath been long forgotten. But the old ways can always be revived, it taketh but one pony to make all the difference to this world" Devin replied. "Oh, thank thee!" Luna cried out as she embraced Devin in a tight hug, which he gladly returned. "You are welcome my dear Luna. Know that I shall always be this way, and nothing shall ever change it" Devin said as they slowly drew apart. "Princess Luna, something has come up. I have an urgent letter for you from Princess Cadence in the Crystal Empire" a pegasus guard said as he quickly flew down to them and hooved the letter to Luna. Luna quickly read the note, a look of uncertainty upon her face that quickly changed to fear as she read the letter. "What does it say?" Devin asked after a moment of silence. "The empire is under attack and they require reinforcements. I must take a small force from here to the empire to help subdue some invaders" Luna said quickly, with an authoritative voice. "No" Luna turned to Devin and realized it was him that had spoken. He has a strange look in his eyes that looked like defiance. "What do you mean 'No'? I have to go, it is my duty as princess to go" Luna said. "Have you ever fought a battle? Do you know what the possible outcome could be?" Devin asked as the pegasus guard flew away to avoid any conflict that might occur. "No, not exactly, but what could possibly happen?" Luna asked after a moment. "Battles always end in casualties, and I will not take the chance of you being one of those casualties" Devin said sternly. "Well, then what do you suggest?! I can't not help!" Luna asked, her voice increasing slightly "I will take some troops while you remain here. I will not take the chance of losing you" Devin said. "That is very kind of you, but what should happen if YOU become a casualty?" Luna asked sadly. "Then I will die knowing that I kept you from the same fate" Devin replied proudly. Luna walked over to him with an angry expression, but it turned to sadness as she saw the look in his eyes that told her that his mind could not be changed. "Please, just return safely. I can not imagine life without you" Luna said as she embraced him. "I swear to you, that I will return as soon as possible" Devin said as he let go of her. ______________________________________________________________________________ They all stayed in the waiting room for several hours. it was about 8pm when they had finally gotten news of Cornelius’ condition. By then the only ones left were the Princess, Twilight, the CMC, Spike and the fillies' sisters. Everyone else had left to go and prepare for bed while the remaining ponies stayed to support Princess Celestia. “Princess?” A doctor walked in and spoke up. “Yes?” She looked over at the doctor. “We have finished working on your friend, Princess. But, he will have to stay overnight and be watched… there was enough venom in his system to have killed an elephant… three times over.” The doctor said solemnly causing everyone to go agape. “How did he live through that Sir?” Scootaloo asked as she got up from her spot on the couch. The rest of the CMC and Spike were on the couch, they had been covered by one of the princess’ wings. “We don’t know yet… but we have come to think that the brand of magic flowing through him is somehow keeping the venom from taking hold. But there was still some major damage done from the injuries to his back… his spine had been severed and almost all of his ribs were broken… it’s a Bucking miracle that he is still alive…” Everypony just stared at the doctor in silent awe and terror, Cory could be paralyzed, was one of the thoughts running through the sun goddess' mind. “Will he recover?” Twilight asked, more than just a little worried. “Well, if his magic holds up as it has.. we expect that he will be able to walk in about a week or two… all his other injuries should be healed in about two to three days.” the doctor said reassuringly. Everypony gave a collective sigh of relief. He was going to recover, eventually. “Is there anything we can do to help?” Sweetie Belle asked. everypony else nodded their heads vigorously, except the princess, she just stared at the stallion, waiting for instructions. “He will need lots of rest… he will also need somepony to check his back every other day, we don’t need him getting bed sores. Also, who ever takes him home will need to know that giving him a sponge bath every three days is mandatory…” At that most of the ponies blushed uncontrollably, mostly the princess, for obvious reasons. “Other than that, who ever takes him won’t have to do much but give him his medication.” At that the doctor smiled and left the room, which was still filled with red faced mares and four slightly confused children. ______________________________________________________________________________ "Devin, are you sure that you won't change your mind? I could send my nephew Prince Blueblood or maybe some of his cousins" Luna said as she continued her attempts to make Devin remain with her in Canterlot. "You know I won't change my mind dear Luna, even as tempting as it seems" Devin replied as he was walking down towards the train station, closely followed by a legion of guards with Luna at his side. "Isn't there anything that could persuade you to stay?" Luna begged as they continued walking towards the train station at the end of the road. "Probably not Princess, you have been trying to persuade him for the past ten minutes, and he hasn't shown the slightest indication that he will change his mind" one of the guards replied. "Devin, surely this can't just happen. The train engineer and conductor don't even operate at this time of day" Luna said quickly, running out of ideas fast. "Already taken care of, I had a pegasus guard fly ahead and wake them, along with delivering a large payment to transport us to the Crystal Empire" Devin said as he boarded the train and the guards filed in after him. "Do not worry my dear Luna, I shall return sooner than you would think possible" Devin said out of an open window. "But what shall I do while you are gone?" Luna demanded. "Dearest Luna, you are a princess, and quite a smart one. Surely you can keep yourself occupied for the short amount of time I shall be gone" Devin replied as the train whistle sounded, announcing their departure was beginning. "Good luck Devin, and please return safe" Luna said sadly as the train lurched into motion. "Worry not Princess Luna, I shall make sure he does not do anything that would put him in immediate danger" the commanding officer Devin had chosen to travel with him said. "Thank you Commander Blitz, I shall bold you to that promise" Luna said before the train began to slowly increase in speed to the point where Luna could no longer walk along beside it. Luna waved at the train for a moment until it disappeared down the tracks that led north, towards where the Crystal Empire resided. "He had better not do anything stupid" Luna muttered as she began the journey back to the castle, accompanied by three Unicorn guards. "Do not worry yourself too much Princess, he has an entire legion of our finest troops, and he is an Alicorn. He should be more than fine" one of the guards said to her as they co tinned the walk back to the castle. "I suppose you are right" Luna said with a sigh of defeat as she looked upward at her moon, hoping that Devin would be doing the same.