//------------------------------//
// Dark Research 
// Story: Of Blades and Demons 
// by GuardianofRoin 
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"Garble?! What are you doing here?!"

Spike was right to have been surprised. Last he saw of Garble and his friends was a good 20 years ago when he was taking part in the gauntlet of fire with Ember, err, now Dragon Lord Ember. The more mature red dragon rubbed the back of his head nervously, still a bit embarrassed by the stupid acts he and his friends took part in.

"Ah, right... Lets just say those were some crazy times. Anyway, last I heard you were always looking into dragon culture right? Well, I've been tasked with my trial for adulthood. I've been tasked with finding a source of a great darkness the elder has sensed and destroying it if possible. He did mention a similar darkness was felt more than twenty years  ago, the day that Nightmare Moon returned and your Elements of Harmony destroyed her. While you may not entirely like me, we have a bigger threat on our hands. I wish to ask for the help of the Elements. I wish for their aid in destroying another threat to both our nations."

Spike had indeed read about the trials but knew they were mainly adventures to help a dragon build their hoard, not often to test their ability as a leader. A dragon was always to go alone except when being tried to become the next Elder. Given this he decided to treat Garble as he would an emissary of the dragon empire.

"Well then, I'm afraid it will have to wait till morning. Twilight just fell asleep  a little  while ago and she needs her rest for tomorrow. As for the dark energy you were sent to find, well, we already noticed it. We have a squad of soldiers on route here to get supplies in Ponyville before heading out to investigate. You may as well sleep here for the night. Go ahead and take my room, up the stairs and second door on your left."

Garble was thankful for the offer and nodded. "Thanks Spike. Do you need a  hand getting the Princess up to her room?"
Spike chuckled to himself and shook his head. "Nah, Twilight spends most of her nights sleeping with her face in a book. Sometimes I think her having a bedroom is more a formality than anything else." Garble raised an eyebrow at that bit of information, having heard the newest Princess was a bit bookish but never realized just how much till now. "OK... Well, goodnight."

Spike nodded and got comfortable on the couch as Garble went upstairs and entered the room. With Spike's growth to a teenage dragon he had what seemed typical of a teenager, posters with different bands, some simple dressers, and a single full sized bed. As Garble reclined on the bed he couldn't help but ponder what action the Princesses were considering. "Why send a squad of guards to fight something like this? Are they some sort of elite unit? Maybe they just want to poke the nest to see what comes out before sending the real thing?" Garble was left to question if the squad was to protect the Elements on their journey, act as a stick to poke the hornet's nest, or take this threat on alone even as unlikely as that is. He would have to figure it out when the squad arrived in the morning, easing himself  to sleep.





Bladechaser had arrived at the train station before everypony else, deciding to check his equipment over again as he waited. Once he finished making sure his armor had no faults in the purple metal he went over his weapons. His sword was flawless as usual though he found himself lingering on the spear he now kept with him, remembering how his dad used to let him help with maintaining his spear.
Hey Blade, care to give your old man a hand with this spear? Always needed another set of hooves to get the point back on after sharpening."

"Sure thing dad! Like this right?"

"Just angle it a bit down and hold it steady.. back up a bit to help straighten it out. Blade, are you paying attention. Blade?"

"Blade!"

Bladechaser yelped out in surprise and held the spear out ready to fight only to hear a snickering Knightstar behind him. Apparently the unicorn got a good kick out of scaring the crap out of him. "Very funny Knight. I even forgot to laugh."

The unicorn chuckled despite his friend's glare, almost threatening to burn a hole right through his head.

"Oh come on now Blade, where’s the fun in NOT messing around with you every now and then?"

Knightstar's laughing was quickly interrupted by a wing slap to the back of his head, the expression immediately falling from his face. "...Sorry."

Roshie and Buck E Ball arrived soon after, all boarding the train as Buck tried to get them roped into another one of his experiments. "Listen, I just want someone to taste test the artificial Zap apple jam I made. It's not toxic or anything like that, just getting another pony's opinion. If this works we wont have to wait a year between getting our jam."

Knightstar finally relented and nodded, taking a jar and popping open the lid. "Alright, just what did you use to make the stuff anyway?" As Knightstar was about to take the first taste Buck began to list off the ingredients.

"Well I use sugar, some regular apple jam, hint of grape jelly, and liquid rainbows from Cloudsdale."

Blade smirked as Knightstar's tongue touched the jam, his face immediately flashing every color of the rainbow before ending on red. He rushed through each cabin searching for a bottle of water before he found it. About seven cars down. Once the unicorn had washed away the searing heat of the jam he walked into the booth to see Blade sipping on a bottle of water he had so carefully kept in his bag. As Knightstar glared at the pegasus Blade simply smirked.

"Now we're even."





Twilight groaned happily as she began to wake up, half expecting a page of her notes to be stuck on her face. When she instead felt the cool linens she smiled, figuring Spike had carried her up the stairs to bed. She couldn't be happier with how the library was rebuilt after Tirek destroyed it so long ago. It was only after a few years she knew a new library had to be built, deciding to oversee the reconstruction herself. She decided to make it a tree house, just like the last one. It would remain a testament to how Equestria could recover from any tragedy, no matter how dark. Even the grassy field where they had their fight was starting to grow lush with grass again. The tree house was just like how it was before, except a bit bigger to help make sure she had plenty of room for all the new books coming in.

She slowly got up and stretched her back and wings, having finally gotten used to them after years. Slowly getting up and placing her crown on her head she went to Spike's room to wake him up, knowing he could never get up on his own since he was now entering puberty as a dragon. "Spike! It's time to get up. You need to open up the library!" A gruff and deeper  voice responded.
"Just a few more minutes Mom."

The voice was somewhat foreign to Twilight, cracking the door open and taking a peek inside to see the red scales. Somehow they looked familiar. "Wait, you're not Spike!" Her lavender magic surrounded the dragon and rudely hoisted him into the air, slamming him into the nearby wall. The impact quickly woke him up to the situation at hand. His eyes wide open he saw a rather livid alicorn princess. "WHOA! Hold on a second! I'm an emissary from the dragon tribes on my trial. I was told to track down the source of a dark presence our elders have sensed. Spike offered  me his room to spend the night till I could speak with you."

Twilight's face eased slightly as he mentioned being an emissary of the dragons, taking it at face value since he too was aware of the dark power. "Normally I'd be questioning you for some document confirming this, but only government officials would know of the situation. We've already taken notice and are assembling a team to deal with the threat. However one thing still bugs me." Her memory was starting to come back to her, recalling some of the dragon's features from the dragon migration. "Where did you meet Spike? At the dragon migration?"

Garble heaved a sigh at the seemingly simple question. "Ya, was quite some time ago. Little guy really impressed me back then. Name's Garble."

That was all Twilight needed to hear. "YOU! You made Spike,  whom I see as a little brother, dive into a lava pit and try and steal phoenix eggs!! If I didn't have to worry about getting roasted by your friends back then I'd have- have- Well I don't know what the hay I'd do, but it would be BAD. Now give me one good reason not to send your scaly hide to the moon!"

Garble was breaking down into a cold sweat, feeling like he may wet himself in fear of the sparks emanating from Twilight's horn.

"Uhh, foolishness of youth?"

The sparks was soon focusing into a brilliant glow of magic before Garble interjected once more.

"Listen, we were stupid, we were young. We grew up and learned our lesson from that incident! My dad damn near tore my wing off when he heard about the phoenix eggs. I grew up after that and looked out for the younger dragons afterward, and I mean ACTUALLY looking out for them. No more hazing or acceptance trials. Just simply teaching them about growing up into adulthood."
Twilight's glowing horn subsided to it's normal strength, looking at Garble scrupulously for a few minutes to gauge how genuine he was. "I believe you."

Garble looked to the alicorn and smiled, heaving a sigh of relief before she continued.

"However, I still should punish you for putting Spike through all of that." Without even a flinch of effort she tossed Garble clean across the library and into the opposing wall just outside of Spike's door, the young purple dragon leaping up with a start at the commotion. However he saw the result, one he figured might happen in either two scenarios. Either Garble couldn't get out that he was an emissary, or he did and Twilight realized who he was. In both situations, he came to the same conclusion.

"I'll go get the first aid kit.."





Bladechaser and the others soon arrived at Ponyville station, Knightstar still glaring right at the back of Blade's head as Roshie led them to the rebuilt library in the center of town. They had heard about how Princess Twilight spent her most recent days living out of the library, working day and night to help get it back up and running. In addition, she was even taking up a job as the librarian until somepony else took the job. Needless to say, she would be stuck in that position for quite some time since all of the applicants could barely hand over a resume before they had to bow down in Twilight's presence. It had almost become a running gag with the guard in town, sometimes calling Twilight the Princess of Literature.

As they got close they heard a crash come from the library, dashing forward with weapons at the ready. It only took a minute before they barged in, the trio of guards surveying the scene to notice there was only one unfamiliar face: a red dragon who was currently being patched up by Spike. Bladechaser slung the spear onto his back, Roshie put her scythe away, and the energy building up in Knightstar's horn dissipated. "Everyone OK? What happened?"

Twilight simply hummed to herself as she came out with three hot cups of tea, seemingly quite hospitable despite what looked like the scene of either a serious accident or a beating with the red dragon still in the room. "Oh? Just getting even. It's a long story." Garble simply chuckled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head, wincing as he felt the muscle in his arm complain at the motion. Still, this was the princess, somepony they all knew they were loyal to and one they didn't want to mess with. Blade moved forward  and the others followed suit. Roshie stepped  forward and gave a nod to the others. "I'm Roshie, sergeant of the Night Guard. This is Bladechaser of Luna's personal guard, Sentinel Knightstar, and our scientific expert Buck E. Ball."

Each of the ponies nodded in turn, Twilight's gaze lingering on the pegasus for a moment.  She had been sent Bladechaser's file and knew about how close this hit to home. She was surprised he was even allowed  to take part on the mission at all. Still, Luna had a point. Bladechaser was the only pony alive who knew Grimm, the only one who could predict what he might do or where he would hide. Whether she liked it or not, they needed him.

"I thank you all for coming. As it would seem we also have some aid from the dragons. Garble here is an emissary from the dragon clans as well as the son of the chief elder. They too are concerned about this situation. From what intelligence has shown, we believe that Grimm has somehow obtained a remaining fragment of Nightmare Moon's power from after it was exorcised from Princess Luna when she first returned to Equestria. The Elements of  Harmony are being recalled back to Canterlot as a last line of defense. We believe this fragment of power will try and infect Princess Luna or one of the other alicorns. Keeping that from happening is of the highest priority. The Night Guard is distinguished for handing covert operations for the Princesses as well as sealing forbidden magics away.

"Bladechaser, Roshie, and Knightstar of you will take down Grimm and force the remaining power to retreat from his body. Buck; you, Knightstar, and Roshie will then create a temporary seal to secure the shard  of power until the Elements and I can come and permanently purge the evil energy. If it is determined Grimm was aware of his actions he will stand trial for his crimes. Otherwise he will receive treatment to recover from Nightmare Moon's influence."

"And if he can't be apprehended alive?" Blade cut in, drawing looks of concern from the others. Twilight sighed and knew this would come. Her gaze lightened as she turned to the pegasus. She knew how he was hurting inside. With her magic she could already peer into pony's minds. The pain and rage pouring off of Bladechaser could be felt without even reaching for it. "Bladechaser, I know how personal this is for you. You were assigned  to this mission because you sparred with him back when you were a kid. He is a near legendary swordspony even before the incident. You know his moves better than anypony and your record shows you are on par with his skill. You also know him personally. You'd have the best idea of where he'd go, what strategies he'd use. Your insight could make the difference between the success of the mission and chaos all over Equestria." Her gaze and tone became more serious, more commanding. This was no longer reassurances. These were orders. "That said, I don't want your emotions to get in the way of the mission. If your comrades report that you executed Grimm without provocation or move to kill from the start, you will be court marshaled and deemed unfit for duty. You will also be dishonorably discharged for executing a prisoner without cause. That said, if there is genuinely no alternative, then one death will be better than the deaths of Equestria's citizens. Am I understood?"
Blade remained stoic for several seconds before relenting. "Yes... Princess." As much as she would hate to admit it, that was probably the best Twilight would be able to get from him. "Very well. Bladechaser I'd  like you to take Garble to the guard station in town. He sent for his equipment to be prepared last night and should be ready soon. Knightstar, Roshie, and Buck. I want you to join me. I wish to go over the sealing spell you will use once Grimm has been captured and the corrupt magic removed from him. With the stakes this high we cannot risk it escaping." The four ponies nodded and went about their assignments, rage still burning in Bladechaser's eyes as he knew what this mission would come down to. Knowing that either he or Grimm would be dead. He could only hope that the heartless bastard suffers before the end.





A howl of pain emanated from the dark ruins below the mountains, a darkened and corrupted unicorn struggling against the wall to break free. His right eye was clear and looked no different from a normal pony, his left however was shrouded in a dark glow. He looked back at the monster responsible for this, making him into a puppet, for making him lose his mind all those years ago and turn on his friends. He stared back at the epitome of darkness, Nightmare Moon. "Why do you bother keeping me alive after all this time. You have everything you need, all  I know about Equestria's outdated  tactics, their old defenses, even your demonic recruits. Why cant you just let me die in peace?!"

The shroud of shadows stepped  forward, rubbing a taunting hoof against the struggling pony's cheek. "Why Grimm, I thought it was obvious. With you being my puppet, all of Equestria thinks you are responsible for every one of those atrocities. The sacking of Neighers, the disappearances in the neighboring villages, all attributed to you going mad and seeking power. Even that runt Bladechaser sees you as nothing but a monster."

The unicorn's eye shot open and looked at the darkness. "Blade, he's alive?" His voice held a long forgotten hope, knowing after he butchered his parents the boy was never spotted or found by the bandits, having figured he had been buried under some of the rubble. He always hoped he had survived somehow, that he was able to escape. The sadistic alicorn smirked.

"Oh? You never knew? He joined the guard in hopes of finding you, for making you pay after you killed his father and butchered his mother right in front of him. He was right there, in that hollowed tree when you ran your blade through sweet sweet Swiftwing.  Oh you were always angry at her, after turning you down and taking Gale instead, how jealous and furious you were with him for stealing your bride to be. You accepted my gift, hoping to kill her husband and win her heart." Grimm's fury mounted with each taunting word, his body tense and struggling against the tendrils. "Ironic isn't it? Taking my power to win the heart of the one you loved only to run it through with your sword. It's quite poetic really."

"ENOUGH!" Grimm broke free of the shadow tendrils and lunged for Nightmare Moon, only to be caught once more. Nightmare Moon simply chuckled and stepped forward. "As fun as these sessions are, we are getting off track. Yes, Blade is coming to find and kill you. However, when he finds you, you are going to kill him. You will kill him but not before slaughtering his precious little friends right in front of him." Grimm shook his head furiously, refusing to go along with such insanity. "No, you cant make me do that. I will NEVER do your bidding again!"

Nightmare Moon chuckled to herself, growing into maniacal laughter as her horn slowly grew closer to Grimm's head. "Ah, you seem to forget that I can. You are my little puppet, and I pull your strings." As soon as the horn made contact Grimm let out a blood curdling scream of agony, lasting several minutes as pure unrelenting darkness poured into his mind. He was dropped limp in the floor, slowly regaining consciousness. He opened his eyes, both black  as pitch as he arose. "Now my pet, find Bladechaser and his friends. End them for me."

The corrupted pony bowed low, prostrate as he obeyed the wish of his dark master. "Yes, my mistress."