//------------------------------// // Chapter 12: Revelation // Story: Darkness of Ages - Book 1: Greyhield // by YoungQuillMaster //------------------------------// “Is that all you have? There is a thing such a blocking you know? Your armor can’t be counted on to save your life every time you’re in a pinch.” The commander barked at his lackeys as they trained. “The troops are just tiered. They only awoke yesterday.” His second in command reminded him. “Then get in there and wake them up, Grahnthril!” The commander said as he grabbed a sword in his claws and threw it at his second in command, who quickly grabbed the blade as it flew by him. “Very well, General Gylom, I’ll wake them up.” Grahnthril said as he turned to the sparring troops. “Attention, all troops. The one who can beat me gets extra meat when we go for the mess hall.” At that the soldiers rushed their commander; who quickly began to beat them all back. Gylom watched, quite unimpressed as each soldier failed to even get close to touching his second in command. Gylom grabbed a long sword from the rack of weapons that hung on the wall and walked down slowly to the sparring soldiers. “Grahnthril…” He said in his gruff voice, catching his Colonel’s attention. Gylom swung his long sword at Grahnthril, who quickly raised his sword and blocked the attack, the sound of metal clashing echoing around the cave. “You best be giving that meat from your own rations.” Gylom finished, his lips parting to show his teeth in a menacing smile. Grahnthril returned the expression as he slipped out of the lock and readied himself to dive right back in, but as he launch himself he felt something wrap around his leg and cause him to fall. He looked back and noticed his adversary, a chain wrapped around his forearm that went to the heavy metal orb that had wrapped itself around his leg. “Glenn, it isn’t fair when you use you special equipment, you know?” Grahnthril asked as he tried to pull his leg from the loop. Glenn grabbed the chain, and with a mighty pull, Grahnthril found himself in the air upside down, looking at Glenn’s shins. “The battlefield is never fair, you must learn to adapt.” Glenn said in his low, raspy voice. With that Grahnthril met the ground abruptly as the chain around his leg was quickly removed. “I wonder how you became a colonel alongside Gylom. I knew him for his strict standards when I was younger.” “I still have my standards, but during our wait we weren’t exactly able to keep in shape, no matter how much we might have wanted.” Gylom replied, before finding a chain wrapping his arms to his side a causing him to fall towards Glenn. Glenn placed his foot on Gylom, and kneeled to eye level with the fallen General. “The capsules were enchanted to keep us in the condition we entered it in. The madrahciah confirmed this and also stated that it had worked flawlessly. You have no excuses to give that are worth two bronze pieces.” Glenn snarled at Gylom. “And one more question for you and your troop of performers.” “And what might that be, oh great General Glenn?” Gylom asked while rolling his eyes. “How many of your soldiers have I been able to replace without you noticing?” Glenn asked looking dead serious. “Wait… what? You replaced my troops?” Gylom asked, almost horrified at what his comrade in arms had suggested. “I suppose all twenty-seven replacement soldiers were successful in their tasks.” Glenn looked up at his troops with a smile. “Good work soldiers, return this general’s soldiers right away, we don’t want them falling any farther behind in their training.” The soldier’s all nodded and went to different areas of the training cave and released the original soldiers from their bonds, leaving Gylom gaping at how his warriors had been completely taken by surprise by Glenn’s. Glenn removed the chain from around Gylom and left him to figure out how these acts of replacement had happened under his snout while he and his stealth operatives walked away satisfied by their work. Luna stood waiting beside Celestia. By what she had heard, a rather important pony in the matters they were attending to was indisposed the moment, something she knew would never be accepted for a second in the old court, but then again things had changed, ponies had changed, Equestria had changed. “I hope things are well with him. I’m not sure how he’d handle a fully trained Royal Guard captain in combat.” Celestia muttered to herself out loud. “Who is attempting to handle a Royal Guard captain?” Luna asked, wondering what made Celestia seem so distant. It was true, her sister did go rather distant when in a rather intensive train of thought, and she always had, even when they were foals in the pony tribes. “Hmm… what? Was I muttering to myself again?” Celestia asked, her cheeks turning red as beets in stark contrast to her white coat. “Forgive me, I don’t wish to trouble you with such trivial matters.” Her sister replied brushing it off like anything else that had grabbed her attention she didn’t like her getting into, just like that one jar of extra chocolate chip cookies that one time. “Sister, you know that…” Luna began, only to be cut off by a chuckle from Celestia. “What did I say that you find humorous?” Luna asked, quite perplexed. “I’m sorry, it’s just I remember hearing this speech so many times before that it brings back the memories of the times you used it before.” Celestia explained, still chuckling a little, though she had regained most of her composure. “Then you know that a burden is easier carried when…” Luna attempted to begin again, only for Celestia to interject. “When, it is carried between two than when one carries it alone.” Celestia said in a manner that played satire on Luna’s almost overly serious manner. “Yes, yes, but this is so… so trivial that really it was just more of idle wondering than anything pressing. If it were a burden, it would be a sack of feathers.” Celestia state; a smile forming across her features. Luna huffed before returning to her own thoughts. Suddenly something came to her. “Celestia, you mentioned in passing you may have discovered what was that disturbance we felt in the heavens. Would you care to elaborate?” Luna asked. “Yes… I believe the primary suspect for the disturbances has been marked. It may come as a shock, but we have reason to believe that it was…” Suddenly Celestia was interrupted by a frazzled Twilight bursting through the doors to the nearly empty council hall. “Princess Celestia! Blaze is hurt, please, come quickly!” She blurted out and ran away before charging away again, leaving the two regal sisters to only follow her in confusion. “Who is this Blaze that your student refers to; somepony new to the court that I have yet to meet?” Luna asked as she followed as fast as she could. “No, Blaze is the colt you met earlier today that came with Twilight on the train this afternoon.” Celestia replied quickly. “Oh, you mean the Eternal colt?” Luna asked as they turned a corner and came to a flight of stairs, which they quite literally flew around, their wings nearly clipping the alabaster stones of the palace walls. “Yes, his name is Blaze Eternal. He apparently thought the guard had gone soft, and to prove it challenged the captain of the Royal Guard to a duel for rights to reform it.” Celestia said as they entered the medical area of the guard wing of the palace. They entered quickly behind Twilight, who had only slowed to a brisk trot at the request of a nurse that she rushed past. “Well by the sounds of it he didn’t fair to well. I doubt the victor also gained rights to go to the clinic with injuries.” Luna commented as they entered the room she could only guess was the colt’s habitation during his stay. For the second time that day, Blaze woke up with a thumping headache in an unknown bed. Brief passing memories of a fight with Bronze Buckler came and went, though the painful bruises that he felt all over him could’ve told him that easily that he had gone into a fight. He had to admit that he felt even worse than when he had after going through his routine with Flint. “What happened to him? He looks so swollen and bruised.” He heard Twilight’s voice. He let out a slight groan as he attempted to sit up. “Oh, you’re awake! How do you feel?” “To sum it all up: sore, lumpy, and a bit more black and blue all over.” He replied as he trudged through the pain. “What happened out there?” Twilight asked. “Must have been some fight to get you like this.” “I can answer that for you.” A voice came from the bed to Blaze’s left. He looked over and saw Bronze lifting himself in his bed, also looking a good bit more bruised. “We had a long hard fight that brought us both to are limits. I’d call refreshing to actually have a challenge like you come along, but then I’d have to forget all the bruises and small burn marks.” “But what happened to make him end up like this? I’m seeing a lot more than just simple battle fatigue and bruises from normal blow exchanged in training sessions.” Twilight asked, still eyeing Blaze with concern. “Easiest answer is that he went through Rage Shift, something even I couldn’t do, no matter what I did.” Bronze replied. “Ah, Rage Shift. Unicorn survival tool that activates in life threatening, or just stressful, situation mixed with a large amount of negative emotion and magic combine to make the unicorn a sort of ‘super unicorn’. I heard at one time a group of soldier had perfected the art of triggering it without the situation or emotion being required.” Twilight said interested. “And I am pleased to report that the captain won out in the end as much expected,” Platinum said as snobbishly as he could as he walked into the already crowded room, “Not even the colt’s parlor magic could best the captain’s skill in the art of combat.” He finished with a devilish grin toward Blaze. “Pen, you and I both know that that isn’t true.” Bronze stated almost angrily at the stallion. “Oh captain, you must be mistaken, you see, you surrendered after mere seconds after Blaze here fell unconscious, his swords hovering in place a few seconds before fading away. Am I not correct in this, captain?” Pen emphasized. “No, he fell after I yielded. He obviously dropped his shift after he heard me yield and so fell after the effects wore off.” Bronze stated, growing cross. “C-captain, surely those blows to the head have rattled your memory. He fell first; I can assure you of this.” Pen replied. “And so his REWARD,” Pen again emphasized dramatically, “Will be dealt out in kind. Correct, CAPTAIN?” He finished with an obviously fake smile. “No, he beat me, and so he gains the rights to reform the guard, and as such I urge you to give your medallion to him. Or do you wish to be found in possession of guard property without adequate permissions.” Bronze questioned angrily. “Y-you can’t be serious! Captain, are you telling me that this… this colt, has more permission than I? He isn’t even old enough to be IN the guard, much less IN CHARGE of it. I think your brain is still recovering from being used a drum. You won, and the colt is to serve out his agreed reward for losing.” Platinum reasoned. “Platinum, you might be our liaison and head trainer, but I'm the Captain of the Royal Guard. If you are found breaking any law it is within my right and duty to have to hunted and captured, put to trial. And if you are wearing a medallion that doesn’t belong to you according to your own word than I am well able to have three brigades hunt you down within the hour.” Buckler replied as he lifted his hoof towards the bell that hung by his bed. Platinum Pen stammered in disgust, and then gave a frustrated grunt as he used a hoof to remove the medallion that had been tucked under his formal vest and throw it onto Blaze’s bed. “Fine, what do I care if the world’s finest fighting force crumbles in the hooves of a colt? But when it happens don’t come crying to me.” Platinum said before bursting out of the room, brushing right past the princesses without really noticing. Blaze looked down at the medallion that sat on the cover of his bed. It had the seal of the royal sisters on one side and the Royal Guard insignia and some words in an inscription running around the rim in some old and most likely dead language on the other. “You mean that… he was the head trainer the whole time? I thought he was just the military liaison.” Blaze said as he lifted he medallion in his magic. “Indeed, he was the head trainer, only really used that power during the first year of his career. He tried to drastically ramp up guard training, and when ponies complained I believe he overcompensated and made us do even less before.” Bronze replied as he slumped back under the covers, giving a few small grunts as he passed over a few bruises. “Remember how I said you needed to be an example of the change you wish to exact in others?” “Yeah, I seem to remember something along those lines being said.” Blaze said; his memories of the past few minutes still a bit in the fog. “Well, Platinum is an example of what happens when you aren’t able to keep up with what you want to happen in others.” Bronze continued. “He almost instantly asked for more than he himself could give, and when others were angry with him he lowered the bar farther than it had been. If he had pushed us at the same relative pace he had pushed himself we would be alright with it, not matter what, if only he would be doing the same or more right alongside us.” Bronze rolled over to face Blaze. “If you intend to change the guard do it gradually and show you aren’t to above it to join the troops in the fray.” “A true leader doesn’t lead by causing others to bow before them, but by having others stand with them.” Celestia recited from memory. Blaze’s ear flicked slightly, something making him feel a bit uncomfortable, as if a bad memory had been slightly uncovered, but he moved on. “Basically,” Bronze concluded, “If you can keep up with the pace you set for the troops they’ll be willing to follow you anywhere.” “Alright, I’ll try and keep that in mind for later use.” Blaze said; his mind already working on over drive on how he would organize the guard’s training regimen. One thing he did know, if the army was filled with carbon copies of his skill set they’d still be short of Greyhield’s forces, and by what Bronze had just said, that meant he would have to start increasing his own regimen to make it so he could raise the bar for the guards without having them complain about him being lazy. “While this has been an interesting exchange; Blaze, I’d like you to be my guest for going to Greyhield’s summit. Twilight, I want you to look after Canterlot in our absence, you did show quite a bit of presence of mind during our last disappearance, and if Greyhield is planning on attacking while we are gone I’ll need you to be our armies main decision maker until we return.” Celestia said. “Celestia help us to last that long.” Bronze muttered under his covers, only loud enough for Blaze to hear, something Blaze was grateful for. The captain had been a decent pony for the time he had known him, which, admittedly, wasn’t very long at all. “Do you think you are well enough to travel?” Celestia asked, looking Blaze over. Blaze quickly shifted his way out from under the covers and stood up on his own legs without any supports. “I believe so. What is our guard escort looking like?” He asked as he shook himself up a bit. “We have arranged for a full division to escort us, and the E.U.P. has already confirmed the presence of five operatives for each of us, making fifteen in total.” Luna replied this time. “Wait… I’m getting E.U.P.’s guarding me?” Blaze asked. “I’m not royalty or anything even similar. Why would they guard such a low priority target like me?” “Because I asked them to,” Celestia replied. “And because you have more worth than you credit yourself for. Your father is waiting for you back home, but until such a time as you can return, you are in my charge, and I cannot allow you to fall into any harm.” Celestia finished. Blaze felt as if there was something else behind her already explained motives, but he had no ground to make such accusation, or even question her reasons. “Now, since you are a member of the guard in some right you’ll need a uniform.” Celestia teleported a pen and paper and wrote down a note before sending it away. “The castle tailors should have it finished by the time we return.” “I believe that if we are to make this trip,” Luna interjected, “We should probably make haste to the escort. I hear our guides seem to be getting slightly… agitated.” Luna then turned and quickly led the group out the door of the room, through the medical office, and out into the corridors of the castle. The three ponies exited into the castle courtyard where the escort waited for them, consisting of a carriage surrounded by Royal Guards with the reptilous near the main gates. “Your majesties, we are ready to leave when you are.” A soldier stated, approaching the trio. “And who is this colt?” He asked, looking Blaze over. “I’m the new head trainer for the guards.” Blaze replied simply. “I am coming along at the request of her majesty, and also to familiarize myself with the guards.” “Aren’t you a tad… young? No disrespect meant, I just think you might be a bit inexperienced.” The soldier stated, looking uncertain. “I have a good amount of experience; after all, I gained this position by defeating the Royal Guard captain.” Blaze replied. Turning to Celestia and Luna, Blaze continued, “If I may, I’ll march alongside the troops.” Blaze said, remembering Bronze’s advice to show his willingness to go into whatever his troops were. That was right… his troops, they were his responsibility now, it would be his fault if one of them fell during battle, a feeling he was not comfortable with. “Of course, but if at any time your wounds become too much to walk with be sure to take rest with us in the carriage.” Celestia replied with a smile. Blaze nodded, and quickly trotted up to take the forward position of the caravan. “Troops, this is our new head trainer, he will accompany us on this trip!” The guard he had met earlier shouted to the other guards around the carriage. Blaze looked over his shoulder at the troops, and was pleased to see they didn’t seem to entirely surprised, in fact, they seemed almost a bit more professional now; maybe it was just because they wanted to impress him so that he wouldn’t increase their training routine. Blaze looked forward again, and watched as the reptilous stood up to their full height, coming up a bit taller than Celestia, something that made Blaze feel a tad uneasy. “Lead on.” He said to the reptilous, which nodded in return and marched out the gate. Blaze entered a brisk trot, and heard the clopping of hooves, striking the stone walkway in unison, creating a thundering earthquake as they followed their guides. The mass passed through several of Canterlot’s main streets, gaining them several looks of concern, gasps of terror, and even a few screams from the foals. The reptilous didn’t seem angered at this, not even displeased, instead they seemed… pleased? The messenger almost seemed to revel in the looks of horror and fear as if they were the highest praise possible, yet another thing that made Blaze feel uneasy about these creatures. Eventually they exited Canterlot and were on the open road. Blaze’s sore muscles screamed at him as he walked on, the princess’ invitation to rest in the carriage becoming more and more tempting, but that would be a sign of weakness, if not in the eyes of other, in his own. He had to forcefully restrain himself from sighing out loud at how the new empire was so far away from any train station that they had to walk the whole way. It did make sense for Greyhield to situate himself far away from pony civilization. If he had a train track running in front of his castle it would be flooded with Royal Guards, and even if the Royal Guard were as bad and the reptilous as good as he thought, the castle would eventually fall, if not just because of being overrun with the constant conveyor belt of ponies going in. By midday they stopped for a rest and a change of carriage pullers. Blaze took the time to rest his screaming muscles as he closely watched the reptilous. He watched in disgust as one of them lifted a stick that had a rabbit stuck to the end. The monster took a bite out of it, and then another, finishing it off, swallowing it bones and all. Its tongue flicked around its snout, getting the last traces of meat off of its scales. Another one threw a bit of its rabbit to a passing lizard, which ate it happily. Blaze could only deduce that the reptilous respected all other reptiles as kin, treating them as brothers, not matter how big or small. “Am I the only one repulsed by their eating habits?” One of the guards whispered behind him. Blaze turned to see a small group of guards watching the beasts eating their meal in disgust. “I think we can all agree that it is grotesque, but we mustn’t let them see us as weak. We must keep face at all times, no matter what goes on around us.” Blaze stated simply. “Well, since they are carnivores, and…,” the guard gulped nervously as he watched one of the reptilous take out a dried strip of meat from his pack and munch on it idly, “And they are as good as speculated that they might just be luring us in as their rations for the next few weeks? I-I mean, isn’t it possible that since they eat basically anything else of meat they’d eat… well… ponies?” He choked out finally. “Yes, there is that possibility, but that is why we must keep face. If they see us as weak, easy targets they are more likely to have us for lunch, but if we show ourselves as strong and competent soldiers they’ll think twice.” Blaze replied. The guards looked at each other with nervous looks. “And the way you’re acting now you are the weakest and easiest target they’ve seen in their entire lives. So look like you are actually in the Equestrian military, a fighting force that is preached to be the greatest and strongest.” The soldier quickly stiffened, and went into a position of attention. “Better, but we’ll need to work on it when we return.” Blaze looked back to the reptilous as they finished their meals. Blaze turned in disgust and turned to walk towards the carriage. The new soldiers were strapped in, the previous soldiers now stationed on the carriage proper, sitting in several strategic positions so that nothing could approach without being seen. “Are we completely ready to move on?” Blaze asked the commanding officer. He nodded in reply as he settled into his seat, readying himself for the second part of this exhausting trip. “Alright troops, I want ten soldiers on each side and the rest of the soldiers split into two groups protecting the forward and back portion of the carriage.” The troops quickly scurried to their positions and went to a stiff attention when they had taken their positions. Blaze turned to the front and took his position at the head of the group. “If you are ready, lead on.” He said to the reptilous, that quickly put out their small fire and picked up their gear. “It will not be long, the castle is only a few hours journey from here.” The lead reptilous stated simply as he took the head position of his small group and began to walk off, expecting the ponies to follow. “Company, march!” Blaze shouted, and began marching again, his troops marching up right behind him, the rattle of the carriages wheels against the stone path telling him they were all moving again. It had been evening by the time they reached the location the reptilous identified as their destination, a mountainous ridge. Blaze could only guess that the castle was inside a ring of mountains, a rather secure place he admitted, but it also made entry for Greyhield’s troops quite tedious. “The path is far too narrow for the carriage, I suggest leaving it.” The lead reptilous said plainly, signaling to a small meadow near the base of a mountain. “Very well, I suppose we can walk the rest of the way.” Blaze walked back to the carriage as one of the guards jumped down from his perch on the roof and opened the door for him. He hopped up into it and looked at the princesses. “By what I’m being told we’re going to have to hoof it the rest of the way, the path is too narrow for the carriage.” “Very well, it was starting to get stuffy in here at any rate.” Celestia replied as she rose from her seat as her sister packed a book she had been reading away into a pouch on the wall of the carriage. Blaze got down from the carriage and stepped to the side, allowing the two princesses passage. Celestia jumped out and used her wings to glide a bit away from the exit so her sister could exit quickly. The guard closed the door and got back to his post. “I want twenty ponies on this carriage while we’re gone.” Blaze instructed. “Put it over in that meadow, and don’t let your guard down for a second. Rotate who is sitting and patrolling every two minutes, I don’t want a single one of you dozing off.” The soldier saluted and repeated the order to his fellow, who quickly began marching to the meadow and quickly began the first shift. A large group of ponies was still with them, but Blaze definitely felt that they were more exposed without the carriage and twenty ponies short. The reptilous signaled them to follow as he and his small group began to walk up the path that led up one of the tallest mountains. The mountain in question was so tall that its peek was well beyond even the clouds. Blaze looked at the princesses, and began to march, the soldiers quickly forming a small circular barrier around the two princesses who easily were twice the size of their guards. The path was rather thin, only large enough for maybe four ponies to walk shoulder to shoulder. Blaze had a feeling in his gut, a feeling that things weren’t exactly going to end well for them by the end of this. The entourage eventually reached the end of the path that, in opposition to what Blaze would have believed, instead of cutting between two mountains to the space inside the ring of mountains, went inside the mountain itself. The path had gone stop before they reached the clouds, but the air was still rather chilly, a lit frost clinging to the walls, small ice crystals, like beads, were woven into the surface of the moss that grew on the rocks around the entrance. Once inside, they were over whelmed by the sheer size of the main cave. The ground was made of stone bricks made from the same stone as the walls of the cave that bore clear claws marks. Blaze could feel the throbbing power that surged through the very rocks, as if the mountain was alive and he was just feeling its pulse. Tapestries hung from metal rods driven into the wall, displaying proud scenes of reptilous conquest against their own kind. The group eventually reached a large stair case, so large a dragon could probably walk through them and have ample space left. Sockets of missing stone were visible around its walls, places were gems were extracted. Blaze felt the air grow warmer as they descended deeper into the heart of the mountain, the pulsing only becoming only stronger as they went. When they finally reached the bottom, the two reptilous guards split off and went to what Blaze could only guess was the barracks, or maybe the training ground. The reptilous that led stopped and turned to the ponies. “Please wait here as I go to tell Greyhield of your arrival. I assume his minor lord shall come to greet you when the time comes.” He said and walked off before Blaze or anypony could say different. Blaze turned and walked to the princesses, the guard at the front parting allowing his passage. “What do you make of all this?” Blaze asked looking at the massive cavern, the floor no longer made of blocks but the same simple stone it had been mined from. “It is quite troubling how large Greyhield makes his fortresses. The dark energy doesn’t help the atmosphere either.” Celestia replied solemnly. “So I’m not the only one.” Blaze commented. “I really know what to expect from him. My father only told me he had faced him in battle and received his scars from the battle. My father only won the battle because Silver Lining and Golden Embroidery were there to help him.” “Well, I can say that we can only hope he is in a good mood. I doubt we’d live through one of his bad days.” Celestia replied, continually scanning the room around them. “Well, another thing I’d like to know is who he trusts to be his minor lord. As wise as my father made him out to be I doubt it would be something that didn’t have his absolute confidence. Butt, I guess we’ll meet them soon enough.” Blaze commented. “Yes, that is something that peeks…” Luna began, but trailed off as her eyes fixed on something. She touched Celestia and pointed out what she saw. Blaze turned as well, and saw what had Luna silenced. Before them stood a figure Blaze initially was a black pony, only to see that they had holes running straight through parts of their body, including their horn, and their wings were the same sickly green color and her mane and tail. Blaze tensed quickly, entering his battle stance even though he was unarmed. “Chrysalis, what are you doing here!?” Celestia said harshly. The changeling queen just smirked at the ponies. “Guards, to arms!” Blaze shouted, and in a show of precision, the guards in the outer ranks took out their shields and spears while the guards immediately around them drew swords. Blaze smiled; there might be hope for the guards yet at this rate. Chrysalis didn’t even flinch as a spear pointed its razor sharp point at her chest, the pony holding it keeping a straight expression, not showing any fear. “Such actions can and will be taken as a hostile maneuver and will be met with instant retaliation. I suggest you put away you oversized toothpicks.” Chrysalis said in her echoing voice. “Tell us why you are here and I might think about not ordering you run through at this very moment.” Blaze replied gravely. Suddenly the group of soldier was surrounded by changelings and reptilous that held their own weapons at the group that had appeared from seemingly nowhere. Chrysalis waved a hoof and the force stepped back a few paces and raised their weapons. “I am Greyhield’s minor lord, one of three in reality, but the other two are indisposed at the moment.” She replied coolly, pushing the spear closed to her with a gentle hoof. “I also have a message from Greyhield concerning your troop. He was no expecting that Luna to be here, and so states that she is not allowed into the chamber, that and the guard you have brought must stay outside as the dealings takes place. Your guest, however, is welcome to enter with you.” She finished with a snide smile. “What is this outrage!? You deny a princess of Equestria her right to be present at dealings concerning her own country?” Luna said in a burst of fury, her mane whipping about all the more violently. “I’d say I’m sorry about this, but that would be a lie. You see, the reptilous fear you in a way. They are cold blooded and realize you were the one hoping to bring eternal night, something they cannot live through. If he had known you were coming he would have had them removed from the inner chamber, but because he was not aware to this development, he did not do so.” Chrysalis explained. “Guards, please, disperse.” At that the changelings and reptilous vanished almost as quickly as they had arrived, each taking a different way out of the room. Celestia stared Chrysalis down, her anger only evident in her cold stare. “Fine, but I will take this matter up with Greyhield.” Celestia stated, keeping her voice even through an amount of self-control Blaze couldn’t imagine. “Very well, but I doubt he will change his mind on this matter, he is quite the abstinent force to oppose.” The changeling queen replied, turning towards two massive doors. “This way please.” With that she walked through a set of smaller doors that were built into the larger set. “Guard, give me your sword.” Blaze said to the guard nearest to him, who quickly detached his belt that had the sheath attached to it and strapped it onto Blaze, and then sheathed the blade with his magic. “I want a full perimeter set up around Luna, the row closest to the looking straight up. I don’t need any sneak attacks taking you all out. And everypony, don’t move from you positions. Any guard that does leave cannot return into position. We already know changelings are here, and I’m no psychic, so I can’t tell who is real or not, so stay alert at all times.” He finished, turning to walk up beside Celestia. “So, do you know what Greyhield is?” Celestia asked; her curiosity showing through her voice. Blaze shrugged as he came up beside her. “I only know what my father told me. He is a highly skilled user of magic, is a force to be reckoned with in battle, and he could probably take on Equestria alone if he felt so inclined. I can only suppose the reason he doesn’t is because of his age. I suppose he was in his prime in my father’s time, but after a thousand years in the stars he can’t be in the best of conditions.” Blaze replied as they entered the throne room. The floor had a mosaic made of gems of a dark figure that spewed fire flying over a town of pony, but even that part wasn’t the most grotesque, no, that would be the fact that the gold that made the ring around it was laced with pony bones. A gigantic throne made of a black stone sat on the other end of the room, its shadow making its presence all the more intimidating as it stretched from its place on the other end of the hall almost to the gigantic double doors. Chrysalis spread her wings and bowed before the gigantic throne, a low rumbling sound replying to her. “What is it Chrysalis?” A deep, rumbling voice asked her, its deep tones echoing about the chamber as a sickly green aura, Chrysalis’s aura, closed the pair of smaller doors, sealing the room completely from prying eyes and ears. “The princess and the colt have arrived, my liege.” She replied, her naturally echoing voice sounding minuscule in comparison to the previous one. “Very well, you may leave.” The first voice replied. Chrysalis lifted herself and left the room, giving Celestia and Blaze one last parting grin before closing the door behind her. Blaze looked towards the door for a few seconds after she left before finally turning back to the massive throne. Suddenly a part of the shadow that was on the throne’s seat moved as a massive figure rose and came down from its throne. Blaze took a step back as he realized what he was looking back. There before him was a beast well past Celestia’s height, almost three times by what Blaze could see. It spread its massive, dark, translucent wings that stretched almost from one side of the room to the other. He was now facing a dragon. “Greyhield, so the stories were true.” Celestia said, looking quite unfazed. “The midnight dragon, the dark scales of hatred. You really are quite the sight; words truly didn’t do you justice.” Celestia finished, and Blaze would have to agree. Greyhield, being the dragon he was, was taller than even Sugar Cube Corner. His wing span, that he so proudly displayed, was almost twice as wide as the old Golden Oaks library. “We have come, now what is it you wish to discuss at this summit?” Blaze question Greyhield; taking back his retreating step. “Ah, you must be the colt of Flame Eternal. Your journey through time and memory seems to have done little damage to your confidence and self-esteem.” Greyhield stated as he folded in his wings and cracked his gigantic neck, sending tiny explosions echoing through the hall. “Our business today is to be brief.” He continued as he shifted his gaze towards Celestia. “As ruler of the reptilous nation to the ruler of the Equestrian nation I command you to remove yourselves from this land.” He said darkly. Blaze lit his horn and put a light telekinetic grasp on his blade’s hilt. Greyhield quickly shifted his gaze towards Blaze before drawing in a breath and releasing a silent roar. Blaze’s magic suddenly imploded, his grasp instantly broken. “Explain your command, Greyhield.” Celestia said, her stance becoming more oriented towards comment. Greyhield swung his massive head to focus on the princess as he began to take steps towards her, closing the distance in a few moments. He lowered his gigantic head, his amber eyes focusing on the rather puny pony in front of him. “I give you a warning, leave all Equestria and take nothing with you. Do this by the fourth day of next month or face the wrath of all the reptilous, madrahciah, and changelings. If you are gone by then I might consider leaving you to live. But if you do not, well, let us say it simply, the green grasses of Canterlot and all of Equestria shall become a red as the evening sky.” Greyhield replied ominously. “I take this as a threat against Equestria, and as such I can retaliate in full against you and your kingdom.” Celestia countered. “Do you truly wish to wage war against all of Equestria?” She asked with a hiss. “I do, and all of the Crystal Empire as well. Remove yourself and your ponies and you may live to see another sunrise.” Greyhield replied, baring his massive teeth. “Equestria stands defiant, we will not leave, and you will not prevail against us.” Celestia stated plainly. Greyhield raised his head and turned to walk to his throne. He slowly laid down on it, his tail wrapping around his legs. He and the shadow soon became almost one mass, as his eyes remained the only thing visible to the two ponies. “The reptilous and all my armies will be on your door step on the appointed day. I recommend you not be near there when they arrive.” Greyhield stated calmly. “You may leave now.” With that Celestia turned, Blaze following her quickly. The two smaller doors opened, guarded now by two reptilous guards clad in such bulky armor that they could have just as well have been two reptilous in one suit. Blaze looked at the small band of soldiers that surrounded Luna, who sat ever vigilant. Blaze and Celestia entered the group quickly. “Alright troops, let’s move. Forward march!” Blaze commanded, the group responding, weapons still out as they head to the stairs. The group finally exited the cave and was walking down the path when Blaze noticed a shadow swooping past. He looked up and saw Greyhield land on the rather flat peak of his mountain. “Reptilous of my kingdom! On this day the Equestrians have sealed their fate!” His mighty voice boomed across the mountain, causing many of the guard to stop and look. “Keep moving, we don’t have time to waste.” Blaze ordered as the echoes of Greyhield’s voice faded. “Send word to the carriage to get ready for immediate departure.” He finished as a pegasus jumped off the path and glided down to the carriage. “On the fourth day of next month,” Greyhield continued after a moment of silence, “We will attack Canterlot!” Blaze could feel Greyhield’s gaze piercing right through him as he spoke. “Equestria will meet its final reckoning, and all will know the true victors, the ones who were truly meant to inhabit these lands!” As he finished, a mighty roar from all the reptilous shook the area as a chorus of hundreds upon thousands of yells of preeminent victory pierced the air, drowning out all other noise. Blaze readied himself for the journey back to Canterlot. This time there would be no break, this time there would be no change of guards, because this time, they were on the clock, and it was ticking far too fast. Twenty days was what they had, not including that day, and deep down inside, Blaze knew, the fields around Canterlot would not be green for too much longer.