> Fate's a Funny Thing
>  by Honest Wisdom
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Family
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I yawned and stretched. Something was supposed to happen today, the feeling nagged in the back of my head as I walked over to the bathroom. I took a bath and preened my wings. I flapped them twice and yawned again. I slouched down the stairs to see a large amount of decorations and ponies running around the castle. The most frequent was Twilight who looked like she was having a freak out.

Discord hangs from the perches set up around the palace and chuckles darkly at the Chaos. I Flew up to him and took a place next to him. He Snaps his fingers and makes some popcorn appear. "That better be butter-less." I glare at him. It had taken several weeks and an attempt at the Stare* to convince** him to slow down on all the treats. I even managed to convince him to start a magic-less Exercise regimen. And if he did snack excessively I just smacked him with a wing.

"Of course not!" He shouted appalled. "What kind of Draconequus do you take me for? I am insulted!" While he was acting offended I popped a kernel into my mouth.

"It's caramel coated." I grin. "I'll allow it. I won't Tell Fluttershy if you give me my own." Another red-and-white striped bucket popped into existence and I snatched it up. "Come here you delicious candy coated treat!"

I stuffed my head into the bucket and began munching happily. "Tho'," I ask through the Popcorn. "Waz gon on?"

Discord began to say something but Twilight ran past. "Cadence Is Coming!"

"Huh," I stifle a giggle at Discord's expression. "Really, And how is that important?"

Before he can answer Twilight runs past again triple-triple checking her checklist. "She's the best foalsitter ever and she's married to my BBBFF and she's a princess like me!" I snicker.

Discord Growls and a rain cloud appears over his head^*. I nudge him. "Conceal don't feel." I mumble. A smile plays at his lips and the Storm cloud doesn't disappear. I grab the cloud and break it in half.the cloud becomes lighter in color as I shove them out of the window.

"Sorry, I have a lot on my mind."

I munch on some Popcorn. "Wanna' talk 'bout it?" He blushed and I gasped. "It's about Flutters ain't it?"

He mumbles a response. I poke him in the ribs. "I'm thinking of asking her out."

It's all I can do to keep my magic under wraps. "Doitdoitdoitdoitdoit!" I Grab him by the horns and pull him close. "DO IT!!!"

He pushes me away with a slightly terrified look on his face. "Okay, okay. Geez' and I thought SunButt was obsessed with my love life." He rubs his lion arm with his eagle talon. "Or lack there of."

"Ha! No," I pat his shoulder. "I'm concerned about Flutters. She's almost a Hermit as it is. If it wasn't for her Friends she'd be shut up with her Animals all the time." A memory of her pet rabbit surfaced in my mind. i shuddered from fear. "I think Dating would be good for her, plus neither of you is good with people. You're adorable together!"





Fluttershy, Discord, A bear and I sat at a table with tea and cupcakes. I sipped my tea thoughtfully and watched the two across the table. The bear had magnificent manners, even engaging in civil conversation with discord, who for some reason understood every word/growl.

"And then what happened?" he asked the bear as Fluttershy refilled his teacup.

"Arrraugharr Grr roar." the Bear...Err... Growled? Yes, growled.

"No! That's horrible!"

Fluttershy giggled at the pair. I look at her. "What are they even talking about?"

"Fish." She sipped her tea calmly. It was amazing how such a strange sight was fine to her but the minute she was pointed toward something completely normal and she'll freak.

I grin evilly as a thought occurs to me. "Attention Everybody!" I stand on my hindlegs and clear my throat. "Salmon is better than carp. That is all." I sit back down. At that moment all Chaos breaks loose.





"Ahh, good times." I say fondly.

"Where are the Kumquats?" Twilight shrieks from some part of the palace.

Discord sighs. "It's just, I've never been on a date."

"Awww, you're like a baby." I pinch his cheek. "Don't Worry, Auntie Wisdom will teach you everything you need to know."

"...I'm two thousand years older than you."

"Firstly, don't make it about you, Whenever my boyfriends started droning on about themselves even when I didn't ask made me wanna..." I stop. "Moving on. Try taking her someplace special, not exactly romantic but you can try that if you want. Oh, and her Favorite flowers are tulips! Get her some of those. Maybe you can Get Bearry to help find a nice place to take her, you two made up right?"

"NEVER!!!" he shouted nearly launching me clear off the Perch.

I cough. "Okay then, Let's go ask Rarity."





"YOU'RE FIRST DATE??!!??" She screeches. Discord's mane is blown back stick straight. "WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING YOU'RE WHOLE LIFE? You don't date, you don't have a Job, Darling you simply must let me design an outfit for this momentous occasion."

"Actually," He begins, Before he says anything else he's wrapped in a light blue aura and dragged into the back room. "Save me!"

After a few minutes of screams, pleads for mercy, and power tools for some weird reason, Rarity emerges from the room victorious. "I... Have completed a masterpiece!"

Discord steps out off the room. I stare in amazement. "By Celestia, you're a miracle worker." 

The New Discord looks down at his outfit frowning "I feel silly."

I snap my talons and make the outfit appear, folded, in a box. "Thank's Rarity, What do we owe you?"

"Oh please, it's on the house. What are friends for?" She waves at us as we leave. "Applejack owes me Fifty bits as it is."

We wave back. "What did she mean by Fifty bit's?"

"Uhh..."





Twilight rubbed her temples. "I'm telling you, he's going to ask out Pinkie!"

Rainbow crossed her fore legs. "He obviously likes Celestia, I mean flowers! Come on!"

Rarity flipped her mane. "You two can't be more clueless! He and Fluttershy are soul mates! Have you seen the way they look at each other"

Applejack scoffed. "I'm with Rainbow on this one."

"I agree with Rarity!" I wave my claw in the air. "Let's make a bet, Fluttershy, Pinkie, or Celestia."

"Deal" The four ponies in the room exclaimed. Spike ended up holding the bits.





"She fixed Jackie's hat!" I stuff the box into his arms. "GoodluckGottagoBye!" I zoomed off before he can ask anymore questions.
> New faces
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

When I arrived at Twilight's palace She was speaking with a light pink Alicorn and a white Unicorn. "Hey Twi!"

She beamed at me. "Hey Wisdom! Cadence, Shining Armour, This is Wisdom."

The Unicorn's eye's widen in fear once I take a step towards Twilight. Before I know it I'm surrounded by guards pointing their spears at me.* My eyes narrow and I snap open my wings. The Earth rumbles under my claws as I rise to my hindlegs and take a fighting stance, my magic sparks up inside my heart and spreads through out my entire soul. "Try it, bub."

"Wisdom!" Twilight's voice cuts through my mind. She looks at Shining Armour. "Call them off!" 

He shrinks back like a scolded foal. "But... Twily.."

"Don't 'Twily' me!" I observe with an amused expression. Twi just bitched her older brother. This day couldn't get any better if it was raining bits! "Wisdom is my friend and she's done nothing rude or mean or attacked anyone in the four months she's been staying with me. Except for an incident with Discord a few months ago... but they made up!"

The Alicorn placed a hoof on Shining's shoulder. "Sweetie, give her a chance to talk. Besides, doubting Twilight never leads to anything good."

He grunted and the Guards stepped away, a bit eagerly. I walked up to the unicorn. We watch each other for a while. I grin. "I like him. He's tiny*, but amusing."

He spluttered. "Wha... I'm not... You're... I am not tiny!"

"Of course not," I whisper so Twilight can't hear. "You're married to an Alicorn, Can't think of any other reason to that." There are a few snorts from the guards. The married couple blushes fiercely. "Ha! Let's go in, I'm starved."





The two princesses make Shining and I sit next to each other. Spike comes in carrying a platter of dishes. Mine is covered in a dome so the delicious little beasties don't crawl into other people's lunch. The minute I remove the dome I hear the sound of retaching. "Ha!" I pick up a centipede as it tries to scurry away. "Weak." I crunch the bug in my beak. 

"Isn't it facinating! It turns out that Gryphons are Omnivorous, not Carnivores like they claim." Twilight exclaimed.

"I still need Protein, so I eat bugs so I don't have to go hunting all the time." 

"Really," Cadence asks, looking a little sick. "Why aren't you eating any fruit?"

"Fruit is Breakfast, Bugs are lunch, Seeds are snacks, veggies and fish are dinner." Spike sets down a bowl of gems and picks out a sapphire. "Twilight insisted on a schedule. It works fairly well, still don't like the fish though**." He muttered the last part.

Shining places a magic dome on his food as a few beetles try to get close to it. I snatch them up happily. "Most Gryphons act all big and tough in public. They pretend that they'll only eat fish or wildlife. Bugs are actually considered a delicacy in the higher classes."

"Urk... That's umm... very interesting." Shining says.

"I have an entire wing of my library dedicated to Gryphon Magic." I cough. Twilight grins like a mad mare. "It's fascinating."

Cadence and Shining look at me, intrigued. "Gryphon... Magic?" Shining asks.

I laugh nervously. Spike bolts out of the room and the Guards shift nervously. "Twi, I think you shouldn't have mentioned that." I looked down at my lunch. I sigh and use a gust of wind to clean up the bugs and cover them with the dome. 

Shining freaked out. "Guards!"

I laugh. "My specialty is Fire magic and I'm twice the size of anyone here, if I was going to hurt someone I would've done it already." He blushes and gestures for them to relent. "Besides, mages are fairly uncommon. we're considered freaks and normally banished from our Flocks." I ruffled my feathers and let out a bit of fire magic through my crest. "I have a new Flock, Here in Ponyville." I look him in the eyes. "When I was just a hatchling, my father trained me to kill ponies, he thought that I could be a valuable asset. but he forgot that mages are naturally non-violent, We have problems killing bunnies for Celestia's sake!"

"She teaches the foals how to control their inner magic and use it in useful ways, she even started giving Discord fighting styles. She's really good too." Twilight blurted. "He's been forgoing magic to do things on his own."

As if on que he appeared and whooped loudly, "She said yes!" He disappears again in a flash of light.

I grin. "Hey, Spike? How much does Twilight owe me?"

He burped up a scroll and checked it. "200 bits."

Twi grumbled and levitated a pouch over to me. "Twily!" Shining exclaimed.

I chuckle. "Go big or go home."





I guide the couple through the castle, their guards following on either side. "If you need anything during the night, pull one of those ropes, it'll alert spike and me. Are your guards gonna stick with you the entire trip?"

Shining nodded. "That's the idea."

"Well, looks like we'll finally have some use for the barracks. Here you two go, and the rest of you follow me." I start off toward the barracks and feel someone tug on my tail. I look back around and met Shining's eyes.

"I don't think so. Their staying close to us." He growled.

"Shining," Cadence started.

"Don't you dare try to pull rank on me." I snarl and step forward. "I'm tired, I'm late for training and I've been nothing but kind to you. You have a problem with me fine, but you let me do things my way and you're in the clear. Piss me off," I snap out my wings and summon a gust of wind. "And there'll be Tartarus to pay."

I look at the guards, "Come on. Princess Twilight would like you to stay in the barracks." I flip around and storm off, the Guards trying to make as little noise as possible.
> Fight and Make Nice
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I leap out of the way of a stray blast of air, under the right conditions air magic could be very lethal. Scootaloo was one of those conditions. Her magic was surging and she was powerful. It was amazing how long she was able to keep it under wraps. A simple meditation exercise and she was creating a mini tornado. "Scoots! I need you to listen very closely! Look deep inside yourself."

I heard a tiny voice call out from the vortex. "I can't."

"Scoots, I have confidence that you can. If you're powerful enough to make this then you're powerful enough to stop it." I hear the heavy hoof beats of the Guard. I spin around and flare my wings, "Stay back! She's surging!" I turn back to Scoots. "Scoots, look inside. You're magic is stitched into the very fiber of you're being, I want you to look at your heart, the place where all your magic flows together." The vortex begins to slow down. "You're magic will do as you ask if you're polite. Ask it to stem the tide, explain to it how much danger your friends are, it will obey you."

The vortex disappears and the dust settles. I fly over to Scoots and scoop her up. She hugs me tightly. "I'm sorry."

"I've never seen a unicorn cast a spell like that before." Shining says as he walks closer.

I glare at Shining. "She's a Pegasus you dolt." I look down at Scoots. "Let's get you back home."

"I don't wanna go home. I wanna watch you fight Discord." She smiles at me, her excitement making her exhaustion all but disappear. "It's fun watching his flank get handed to him."

I chuckle, forgetting the less than enjoyable audience that still hadn't left. "Only if you cheer me on."

"Deal!"

"Wait," Shining was still trying to wrap his head around what I said. "How can a Pegasus use magic? They don't have horns."

I roll my eyes at him. "I don't have a horn, I can use magic."

"That's debatable. I haven't seen any proof that you can." He stuck his nose up in the air like a pompous brat. My eye twitched, telling me what to do is one thing, but no one questions my magic.

Discord appears beside me. "Dis gon be good" He rubs his paw and claw together. "Let's watch." He makes some bleachers and teleports everyone except for me and Shining onto them. He raises a hoof-painted sign that reads 'Go Wisdom.' in back wards letters and cheers. Scoots stomps her hooves and cheers.

The Guards are temporarily confused but slowly figure out what's going on. When they try to move however, they find themselves stuck to the bleachers. "It's fine." Shining announces. "I can take her on my own." He lower his head and powers up his horn.

I stand up on my hind legs and start pacing. His eyes follow me closely, as if he'd trying to catch me powering up a spell. I decide  to take a physical approach. I beat my wings once and rocket into the air. He blasts a fireball at me and I bank right. I dive down at him and release Air magic through my wings to speed up my descent. He jumps right. I tuck in my wings and reach out to the earth below me. A large tree bursts out of the ground next to him and he stumbles away. I snap open my wings and make a sharp turn towrds him, barely missing the bleachers.

I slam into him full force and knock him to the ground. We tumble for a few feet and grind to a stop. I throw him off me and Slam him into the ground, leaving a dent in the rock. His horn flares and I get thrown several feet back. I roll to my feet and release some Fire magic through my wings. "Stick head!"

He blasts a wave of magneta magic at me. I leap out of the way. "Feather brain!"

"Raugh!" I charge forward, ready to gut him.

"WISDOM!!!" I stop and shrink. Fluttershy hovers over to us with an angry look on her face. "What are you doing? What would Twilight say if she saw you?" She put her hooves on her hips and narrows her eyes. I mumble out an apology as she swings around and looks at Discord. "AND YOU!! Are you collecting bets?"

He hides the bag of bits behind his back. "No. I was... confiscating them... Yes! Confiscating them from the people who were betting!"

"He bet that Wisdom would Kick Shining Armor's flank." Scoots chimed.

Flutters grabbed his ear and twisted. "Give them their bits back."

"Owowow... here... owow... OW!" He started handing back the 'confiscated' bits. I resisted the urge to laugh as best I could. Shining wasn't doing as well as I was.

"Ahahahaha!" He fell back. Fluttershy shot him The Stare. That shut him up. "Errr... sorry." Fluttershy flies off, Discord follows closely stammering apologies.

"I guess their date went well." I help Shining to his feet. "Come on, you look like you could use a drink, I know I could."

He blinked in confusion. "Uhh... sure."





I chug down another pint of Applejack's Finest. Scoots cheers loudly and Shining frowns. "Are you sure the Filly should be here?"

"Scoots, don't Drink till you're 20. And if you can't wait don't drink more than three pints, it'll make your brain cells die." I let out a loud belch. "Don't Drink and Fly."

"You do that all the time." She joked.

"Cause I'm crazy." I grin as Berry Punch slides me another drink. "Thank ye kindly. And a juice box for the Filly." I snort. "both of them." Scoots giggles at the last part.

Shining scoffed. "I'll take the strongest drink you got." He slammed some bits on the counter. 

I whistle in respect. "Looks like you grew a pair." He glares at me. "Alright." I slam my jug back down on the counter. "What's your deal?"

"What's my deal?!?" He growled at me. "You're a terrible influence on that Filly, you're rude, Obnoxious, inappropriate and a drunk."

"A Drunk?" We turn to Berry Punch who starts cleaning a mug. "This is only the third time she's been here, and when she does she only orders Non-Alcoholic Cider, like she's drinking now."

Shining looked down at my drink then back at me. "What?"

"And She's Really nice," Scoots interjects. "She's smart and funny and she teaches me these really cool flying tricks!"

"Didn't Twi ever teach you not to judge a book by it's cover. I was joking with you, that's how I act around friends. Jeez." I sipped my drink. "You're the one who was so uptight."

He looked down at his drink. "I... have bad experiences with... Gryphons."

"Figured. But like I said Mages are normally non-violent. I only fight with Discord to keep my edge and sharpen his. We're pretty close him and I. 'Battle is where two beings become the most intimate, those who fight together are bound by blood and sweat'."

"That's deep, who said that?"

"Warmage Gaia.  A Gryphon like me. She died during the Great Purge, protecting Hatchlings." I took another sip. "I think it's time my people came out of hiding." I cocked a brow at him. "Don't you?"
> Contemplation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I glide swiftly through the air. Alone this time, I checked my bag for stray foals before taking off. I close my eyes and feel the wind in my feathers. I felt an overwhelming urge... to be alone. for there to be complete silence, no wacky abominations, no panicking princesses, just the air and me.

I tuck in my wings in and fall. I feel completely and utterly calm, my mind and body releasing any negative emotions. When I open my eyes again I open my wings and tilt upward. The momentum makes me rocket upward. My wings roll in the familiar circular motion as i rise higher and higher, I break past the thick layer of clouds. I look up at the sky at the silver moon hanging in the sky like a Hearth's warming Ornament. 

Plopping down on a cloud and close my eyes. A cool breeze brushes past me. "Looks like you won't let me alone until I get the whole story, will you?"

My magic flares in response. It always felt like there where two beings coexisting in me. My magic had a mind of it's own, and could work at the most inconvenient times. The most I could do was hold it back or filter it.

"Fine." I open my wings and reach through my memories.





Soft, warm fur against my face. I felt safe, and happy. There was nothing wrong with the world, bad things would stay away with mother there. it didn't matter the terrified screams or cracking sounds, mom was there.





I snap out of the meditation. "That's not me. It can't be." Magic screamed at me. I wince and let myself get pulled under again.





"What sort of freaks are in the newest crop?" Large adult Gryphons stared at me. "That one looks pretty normal." the short one points out.

"Maybe it got mixed in by accident." the larger one offered.

The shorter one laughed. "Ha! Let's just take her to the boss." they pick me up and I feel warm fur again. I grab the feathers and nuzzle in closer. "Gahh... It's all clingy!"

"Here, I'll take her, I'm good with Hatchlings." I feel myself shift and look into a pair of eyes, that hold much more kindness then the other. "Hey there, what's your name?" He holds me close.

I open and close my mouth, no words come out. I want to say something but no words come out. words are hard and strange, I frown. The large Gryphon looks at his companion. "It looks like she's trying to say something. she seems like a smart little fella."

The Short one rolled his eyes. "It's probably dumber than a pile a rocks, which is still smarter than you."

The large one ignored him and tickled me. I giggle. "I think I'll call you Wisdom."





The ancient Gryphon eyed me with a strange curiosity. He lifted my wings and ran a talon between the feathers. he rubs his talon together. "The coloration is right, natural too."

Two more ancient gryphons pace around me, as if they were searching for something. "You can't believe the Goddess would choose a Mage to save her."

"Who are we to question her?" The first announces. "We are but mere mortals, we should be honored to be graced with the presence of the Chosen One."





I shoot up. "No!" I pant and look around. I was still laying down on my cloud. There was no one around to see me panic. I take a few breaths to calm myself and dive through the cloud to Twilight's palace.
> Attack on Sombra
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I observed the Palace from a distance. After much thinking i decided to stay outside for a while. Sort through things  a bit. I pace back and forth on the cloud, trying to think. If what happened in those memories is true than I need to start training my Magic more. Being the Chosen One, tends to get everyone to try and kill you. I giggle a bit then tun serious. But the whole point of my workouts with Discord is to train the Physical not the Magical. If I start practicing magic with him it'll just be stupid, with out a Magic ring he'll just turn me into a bug or something.

I stop pacing as a new thought occurs to me. What if I travel? It made perfect sense, Earth and Air magic required understanding of yourself and the environment you reside. Fire magic needed control and Emotions but those were already in check. Water magic was hard, i never quite got it but with travel and study I might be able to practice and learn more effective ways of using it.

Plus I thought. It wouldn't hurt to fill in some of those blank spaces on the map.

I open my wings to fly in. "But wait..." I stop myself. "How the hell am I going to fund that?" As I contemplated that idea I hardly noticed a black shadow looming over me. 

It crashed down on me like a massive wave. I felt like I was drowning, the darkness tightening against my body like a boa constrictor. I gasped and thrashed against the force of the shadow. After a while I began to feel weak and tired. I fell to my knees and collapsed. Before I left the waking world a heard something whisper in my ear. "Sleep... I can't have you interfering in my plans, Now can I?"





I awoke to the sounds of shouts. I try to raise my head but get a splitting headache, The hell? I wasn't drinking last night!... Or was I?

my thoughts were interrupted when I hear a... 

CRACK!!! KABOOM!!!!

I instinctively roll in the opposite direction of where the sound came. I was showered by dirt clods and ash. I open my eyes and see  the The Crystal guard regrouping for another attack. I follow their eyes and see Shining barking orders. i rise to my claws and limp over to him. "What's going on?"

He looked at me with shock. "What do you mean? Sombra has returned!" He pointed a hoof which I followed. I saw a shadowy barrier over the Palace. "Twilight and Cadence are trapped inside with that... Monster!" Anger clouded his face and his horn sparked. "when I get in there..."

"Calm yourself... Dark magic feeds off negative emotions." I close my eyes and thought of all the happy moments in my life in Equestria. Scoots' first flight, my first flight, all the lessons with Discord and the prank wars against Rainbow and Pinkie. I smile as I walk forward. I open my eyes. He'd need to keep out anypony with negative intent, I have to go in with an open and understanding mind. One more step and I was through.

I continued on, opening the door to the palace, strolling through the empty halls, and keeping a calm and serene shroud. Yes I was angry that he took Twilight, I was ready to rip him to shreds. but negative emotions would only bring more danger. A cloud formed in front of me, taking the shape of a unicorn and eventually a solid form.

"Hello, you must be Sombra." I say calmly, resisting the urge to brush his mane. IT WAS SO PRETTY! *ahem* moving along.

"How did you get past my shield!?!" He snarled. Aaaaannnnd pretty pony mane brushing fantasy ruined.

"Well, if you're going to be like that I'll just leave! And here I was, willing to teach you the secrets of my craft!" His angry look disappeared and was replaced by a look of curiosity. Hook. "Secrets of the universe laid bare for the taking. The power of Gods at your disposal!" Line. "But alas, you have rejected my presence, I must away." I swing around ready to 'leave'.

"Wait!" He reformed in front of me. "Don't go. Teach me." And Sinker, Thank you Rarity.

"We first... you'll need to surrender to mortality."

"What!" He roared. "You're trying to trick me!"

I stick my beak in the air. "Really?" I snap open my wings and release fire magic stored within my body. "And why would I need to do that?" I say using my magic to change the sound of my voice. "I could crush you now, you insolent whelp!" I close my wings and take a 'calming breath'. "Please step out of my way, I've had about enough of this" 

I sneak a peak at him. He's awestruck. "Wait." He bowed respectfully. "My apologies. Come with me we have much to discuss."





"You ready?"

"No..."

"Now?"

"Uhhh..."

I placed a claw against his chest. "Now... this spell is necessary fro one to truely grasp the magic i am about to teach you. I ask again, Are you ready?"

"Yes." I grinned.Good, good. I send magic through his body, I wrap my mind around his heart and look within. While what I said was not entirely true, gryphons do need a clean state when learning magic. I just can't wait to see the look on his face...

His body begins to shrink as I burn away the corruption, the smokey magic dissipates and his horn begins to take a shape more like a normal Unicorn's, the color fading into black. Eventually I pull away my claw and grin. "How do you feel?"

"I feel..." He squeaks. His eyes snap open, now an adorable green. "What in the name of Discord?" He galloped over to the mirror. "I'm a Foal!"

I can't hold it back anymore and gawff. He growls and tries to cast a counter spell. "You're too young to cast spells, and aren't you adorable!" I scoop him up and start tickling him with the knuckles of my claws. He struggles and giggles adorably. I coo over him for a few minutes before Twilight and Cadence rush in. "Hey Twi! Look a foal!" I hold him up for all to see.

"I'm the King of shadows! I am the darkness that flies through the night, I'm your worst nightmare brought to life!" Cadence joins me in cooing over baby Sombra. He was not happy about it. "What are you doing!?! Tremble before me!" 

"He's so fluffy!" we ignore him and fawn relentlessly. we turn to each other and grin evilly. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"He does deserve it."

"To the Carousel Boutique!" We say I unison as I teleport three of us away.
> The Tape Measure of Doom returns
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I shifted nervously. "Is this completely necessary?" The tape measure tightened around the base of my wings. I wince slightly. I hated getting fitted for clothing, but the end result was always very nice. Rarity made the Best Dresses in Equestria, it was a wonder she didn't have more customers.

Sombra pointed. "This is what you get for messing with the harbinger of darkness!" Pinkie continued to cuddle him. "RELEASE ME PEASANT!" He squirmed. 

"He's so cwte!" She exclaimed. Rainbow had sunglasses on with her arms crossed. She was trying really hard not to start cuddling baby Sombra. Applejack also seemed to be calm about the whole situation.

Fluttershy was cuddled up next to Discord who kept chuckling at Sombra's plight."I think it's nice that the Princesses are knighting you for saving Twilight and Cadence." Fluttershy said. Her ears folded back and she shrunk away. "That is, if it's okay with you."

"Yeah, it's pretty cool. But it really isn't that big a deal, I have to have control over my emotions to keep my magic under control." I yelped and glared at Rarity. "Easy!"

"Forgive me, but it's not everyday I get to make an outfit for someone to be knighted in!" She gasped. "I-de-a!" She dragged me behind a curtain and I was assaulted by clothes and acessories. I tried to squirm out of the way but was held in place by her magic. After a few minutes of being blinded by clothes and giant hats she pushed me back into the open.

Everyone gasped. Sombra's eye's bugged out of his head. "Wha.. how.. What?"

I look at my reflection. "Whoa!" I opened my wings and spun around. "Damn, I look good! Sombry's turn!"

Rarity grinned. "With Pleasure!" 

"Ahh!" The charcoal coated foal scurried toward the exit. A blue aura wrapped around him and carried him towards the curtain. "Help meeeee!"

"They're so cute at that age." Rarity helped me out of the outfit and placed it on a rack. I sat next to Applejack. "I hope he doesn't notice his Cutie mark is gone."

"I hope Applebloom doesn't notice it's not there!" Applejack exclaimed. "Can you imagine him on one of their adventures?" We both shuddered. "Anyway, are you sure about this whole going away thing?"

"Positive." I ruffle my feathers anxiously. The idea of exploration was as enticing to me as it was to Scoots. Maybe one day when she was older we could travel together. "Equestria is completely uninformed of the outside world. and there's so much that can be explored and colonized. Imagine if I found a new continent that had strange and exotic fruits, Equestria gets dibs and makes millions from trade."

"Ahh! She's styling my mane! Make it stop!" Sombra cried

"Besides," I continue. "It gives me a chance to find more practical applications for my magic other than battle."

"Does this mean you ain't gonna keep training Discord?"

"No, I'm leaving that to you."

"Wha.. Huh... Me?"

"More specifically, You and Rainbow. Have you noticed how Discord seems to be nicer after he spends time with Fluttershy?" I whispered.

"Yeah, cause he likes her." 

"He also spends a lot of time with Pinkie and is more cheerful. I have a theory, That the more time he spends with an Element of Harmony the more he'll express that specific Element. If he spends more time around you he'll be more honest. If he Spends time with Rainbow Dash he'll be more loyal."

"Oooh, I see." She tapped her chin. "What are you gonna have me teach him?"

"Strength, Rainbow Dash will teach him Endurance, Celestia knows he needs more of both." We giggle.

"Tada!" Rarity exclaimed.

"D'awwwwwww!" We all said.... Except Discord.

"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" he rolled around on the ground holding on to his sides.

Sombra was growled. "I hate my life." he was dressed in and adorable tux and a set of adorable boots.

"So... stinking... cute! I'm gonna explode." Pinkie scooped him up and started to cuddle him even more.

"Good." He snapped.





I picked up a book on Dragon Myths. Twilight had been kind enough to get them for me. Eventually we filled her entire library with books on pretty much every culture and science. Twilight's library was a fountain of knowledge that was free for all to partake. 

"You will suffer the Wrath of the master of shadows!" I look up and see Sombra standing atop the bookcase. He cackles and leaps off. I snap out my wing and catch him. "Damn you Gryphon! you've robbed me of my magic and forced me into this pathetic form!"

I reach into my saddle bags and pull out a chocolate bar. "Eat this and shut up." I set him on the bed and curl up next to him. I lay my wing over him and open my book. "Wait, how did you get into my room?"

He swallowed the chocolate in his mouth. "I followed you up here." he attacks the chocolate bar with gusto. I pat him on the head. He frowns at me. "Why did you turn me into a Foal?"

"I'm giving you a second chance, this time around you can be a different person. Or you can be a brat and I'll let Celestia and Luna banish you to the moon. Your choice." I turn to my book. 

I feel him bury himself deeper into my fur. "You're really warm."

I smile at him. "You're so cute!" I nuzzle him. "Just don't buck up this time around, kay?"

He traced a tiny hoof around on the sheets. "I can try, but I'm not sure I know how."

"Keep your nose clean, no dark magic, listen when Twilight asks you to do something." He frowned at the last one. "If you're good I'll make sure you don't get Pinkie as a Foalsitter. Or Cadence." 

His eyes widen in fear. "That sounds good. It's a deal. Can I get another chocolate bar?"

"You can." I grin at him. "But you may not." 

his ears fell. "May I get another chocolate bar?"

I grin and pull out another bar. "Yes you may." I hold it out of his reach. "What's the magic word?"

His eye twitched. "Please."

I pat him on the head and give him the bar. "Good boy."
> Knighting Disaster
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I dress in the silver and gold outfit Rarity made me. I look at myself in the mirror and gulp. Celestia and Luna were coming here. The diarchy of Equestria is coming to Ponyville, for me. I slap myself lightly. "Stop panicking, you met them at the party all those months ago and you didn't panic then."

I open my wings and fly down the stairs to the ballroom. The chairs were all set up for everypony to sit. I sigh and turn to make sure Sombra was staying out of trouble. "You, Gryphon!" I stop. "Yes you in the fancy outfit." I turn around to see a white stallion with golden hair. He was extremely bulky, a very false looking build, and wore a tux. "I'm looking for Princess Twilight, have you seen her."

I snort. "Who are you and why should I tell you where Twi's at?"

He stuck his nose in the air. "I am Prince Blueblood the 52nd, Nephew of Princess Celestia and Duke of Canterlot. Who are you?"

I smirk and stand on my hind legs. I place a claw on my chest and take on the most bratty voice I can conjure. "I am Warmage Honest Wisdom, daughter of Silvertail and Timid of the GoldenWing Clan, Friend to Twilight Sparkle, Personal Trainer of Discord, reformer of Sombra and future Knight of Equestria." I cracked open an eyelid. "You'll find her in the library." I fall back into the four legged stance. "Need somepony to show you where?"

"Hmph!" He stuck his nose even higher in the air. "I'm perfectly capable of finding my own way through the castle." He trotted off.

I shrugged and walked off to go find Sombra. "Where is that little trouble maker..."

"GET BACK HERE!" Twilight and Sombra turn a corner, Twi looking ready to send him to the moon.

"Ahhhh!!!! I'm the master of shadows! none can defeat me!" Sombra ran between my legs. "Save me Wisdom!"

I place a claw on Twilight's head, holding her off. "Hey Bluebutt! Found her."

"Blueblood!"

"Whatever. What did Sombra Do this time?"

Twilight's mane was a mess, she looked as though she was training for a marathon. Her coat was matted and feathers were rumpled. Her horn was lit up and the fierce look on her face told me she wasn't kidding around. I looked her right in the eye. A few minutes of a fierce battle of the wills, and the light from Twilight's horn faded. "He poured ink all over my lists and he ruined the banquet."

"Did not!"

"Did too!" 

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

I growled. Their bickering had been constant for the past few days. it was grating at my nerves. I snapped open my wings and screeched. "Enough!" Fire exploded out of my wings and a whirl wind of air blasted through the hall.

Silence. I calmly folded in my winds and take a deep breath. "Please stop arguing. Twilight, please be the bigger mare and act like the adult. While I'm gone I can't have you explode at him like that at something as small as a list. And Sombra, I need you to stop pestering Twilight. She defeated you, deal with it. And be nice to Spike, I've noticed you bullying him. While I'm gone I want all Three of you to be as civil as possible, No sending anyone to the moon Twilight." The two folded their ears down. "Apologize."

"I'm sorry for Ruining your stuff." Sombra said.

"I'm sorry for asking the girls to blast you with the rainbow." Twilight forced.

"Good." I look around and spot Blueblood whose jaw dropped to the floor. "Let's go fix Sombra's mess." I glare at the charcoal colt. "You're helping."

"Aww."





I keep calm as I could when the sword tapped each of my shoulders and Celestia declared me a Knight of the realm. Luna pinned a medal on my Outfit. I was genuinely terrified that she'd cut me with the blade. Afterwards I scolded Sombra for Trying to trip Celestia and joined the rest at the Banquet.

The doors opened and we paused. Cake coated the walls, the tabled were turned over to make makeshift barriers, and food was being flung from either side of the room. AppleJack cackled as she wailed Rainbow with a baked potato. Luna and Celestia were chasing each other and tossing bits of food at each other. Rarity was hiding from a barrage of food. Spike smeared Sweetiebelle's face with mac and cheese.

Discord of course was laughing his flank off. 

It was glorious. I grab some steamed cabbage and trow it at Discord.
> Setting off
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Twilight, really, you didn't have to." I blush furiously. Thank Noctus I had dark fur. 

She stomped her hoof. "I insist, Besides I called in a favor from an old friend. It was the least I could do."

"An Airship!?! Sweetie, the least you could do was get me a Compass or something! Instead you give me a job and a ship!" I look up at the hulking mass of a ship, It was of the steam powered variety Black with Gold trim. We walked up the plank towards the deck. "Seriously, Discord's present was more modest than this. Now that I think about, it Rarity's was too!" I think about the Magic Mirror and fancy saddlebag. Yep, definitely more modest.

"Well I never get a reason to use the Princess card, this was a Beta test, if you will."

"I'd say it's a success." I placed a claw on my crest. "This is too much!"

"Oh pish!" She waved it off. "It belongs to the crown, You work for the Crown." She gestured to the Equestrian and Ponyvillian Flags.

"All in the name of science." I mutter. The minute I mentioned I planned to travel to far off lands in the name of Equestria she practically exploded. I was starting to wish I hadn't told her and just left. "So where's the crew?"

"Down Here!" she ran down the stairs to the cabin. I follow her down. "Hello Everypony!" 

I looked around at the assortment of ponies from all three races. Including a familiar white Unicorn. "Hey, Bluebell."

"Blueblood!" He corrected.

"Whatever." I shrugged it off. "What are you doing here?"

He huffed and pointed at his Cutie Mark. "My Special Talent is cartography and navigation."

I cock my head to the side in a bird-like manner, "How'd ya get it? Ya don't seem like you get out much."

"That's none of your business." He snapped.

I rolled my eyes and turned to an Earth Pony. He had a cobalt mane with a grease stained gray coat. "Who are you and How'd you get roped into this new version of Tartarus?" I jerked my thumb (talon-thing) at Blueblood. Bluey, as he shall henceforth be referred to, just mumbled something incoherent and stomped off.

The Earth Pony chuckled. "The name's Grease Stain, I signed on looking for adventure and ended up hitched with Bluey over there..."

"Blueblood!" he shouted from the other room. Twilight giggled at the whole situation.

Grease Stain continued. "... My Special Talent is Machines."

"Cool!" I turned to a green unicorn with an orange mane. "What about you?"

"I'm the Cook, that's all ya gotta know." He rumbled. The room lapsed into an awkward silence. The rest of the crew shuffled under the tense atmosphere.

"Well," I declared to change the atmosphere. "When do we start off?"

Grease Stain cleared his throat, apparently speaking for the whole crew. "Whenever you're ready, You're the captain."

Hmm, Captain Wisdom. I like the sound of that. "Immediately," I said, straightening my posture to seem more regal. "I'd like to avoid any fanfare." I turn to Twilight. "Well, I guess this is goodbye."

She smiled weakly. "For now. We'll see each other in a year or so."

I hugged her abruptly. "Take care of Scoots. She's getting more powerful each day and I don't want her to get too far behind in her studies. Oh, and make sure Discord sticks to his training regimen, and keep me updated on Discord's and Fluttershy's relationship. And don't give Sombra too much chocolate, he'll get pudgy."

"Are you crying?" The lavender Alicorn queried. 

"Maybe." I wiped the tears out of my eyes. "Just be okay."

She squeezed me back. "I could ask you the same thing."





I waved goodbye to Ponyville as it passed beneath us. Discord, Fluttershy, Rainbow, and Scootaloo flew beside us. I hugged them and they went back to their homes. I leaped over the edge and flew a few circles around the entire ship. When I touched back down on the deck Grease Stain stood waiting for me. "What was that about fanfare?"

"I wanted to see how big it was."

"That's what she said!" Some of the Crew members cried out, realizing their mistake they returned to their work very diligently.

I grinned widely. "I'm surrounded by people who understand me!"

Bluey trudged up the stairs. "I'm surrounded by heathens."

I fly over to him and grin. "Lighten up, At least they don't spontaneously burst out into song and dance."

"You foal! You jinxed it!" He cried out.

oh... flying's always been my dream! I bursted out laughing as Bluey burst into tears.
> Travel
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I observe the ground below us as we speed along. Over the past two weeks we had managed to get to the edge of Equestria. Today we would dock and stock up on supplies. The crew was very tight knit and very friendly. Bluey and the Cook were oddities, they almost refused to associate themselves with Everypony else. I'd seen the Cook glaring at me or anypony near me. I think he just didn't like Gryphons for some reason.

We fly closer to the city and the crew runs around taking care of various things around the ship, some yelling and gesturing at others. I join in to make myself useful, my dexterous claws making swift work of the ropes. So far I hadn't told anypony about my Magic. That could make everypony hostile.

"Hey Wisdom, come check this out." Grease stain shouted from the crows nest. It was a ledge on the side of the balloon that served as a lookout point. I flew up. "Look through this." He holds out a telescope. I take it and peer through. In the far distance I spot a feint ripple in the distance. "I thought I saw somethin'." 

"There's definitely something out there." I grin at him. "That's why we're headed out that way next."

"We're gonna need a ton of supplies," He had a huge grin on his face, the Idea of discovery was a tempting prospect. If we succeeded in discovering a new Island/Continent we could be immortalized in history.

"Maybe pick up a few books while we're at it, looks like quite a travel. We wouldn't want those off duty to get bored." We both grin ecstatically. before now it felt like some good dream you didn't want to wake up from, but now it was really happening we were going to make history.





I trotted through town merrily, Bluey sticking his nose up in the air and somehow making his way without hitting anything. I waved happily at everypony we passed. They just stared at us. I turned the corner and entered a gem shop. The cashier smiled at Bluey and castes worried glances in my direction. "Hello my good sir, how may I help you?"

"Hey," I snapped. the Cashier flinched back. "You'll be dealing with me, he's just here so you don't try and swindle me. Nobles like him can tell the difference." I walked over to the counter and place my claws on the glass. "I need a magically infused sapphire cut to the shape of a six pronged star burst, like Princess Twilight's Cutie Mark."

The cashier seemed to grow a pair. "We don't patronize heathens such as yourself. Good Day."

I slam a bag of bits on the counter. his eyes widen. "Don't try and pull that Horseapples with me, I'm on a mission for Princess Twilight herself and I need that Gem in order to continue, so chop-chop." I let out a growl. He rushes to the back. I relax and look to Bluey. "How's that?"

"Don't forget what I need."

I roll my eyes. "It's just down the street, We'll get to it in a minute." The clerk gallops back into the room carrying a sapphire in his magic. I scrutinized the gem in my claws. I can feel the gentle magic under the surface of the gem. "Hmm.. How much do you think this is worth."

Bluey takes it in his magic and does the same. "I'd say this is about 70 bits."

I count out 70 bits and push them to the cashier. He trembles as he takes them. 

Bluey and I walk out happily. We ignore the crowd that stares as we walk toward the next Store. I open the door for him as he walks in. The Store owner looks up at us. She looks at Me and smiled, "Hello, ho can i help you today, We have a discount on rope."

I chuckle. "kinky. no I'm here for my friend... Wait, do you have machete's?"

She winced at my first comment and forced a smile. "Third aisle."

"See ya, Bluey." I bolt towards the aisle, giggling like a madmare.





"Is that thing completely necessary?" Bluey said, pointing a hoof at my machete.

"Of course." I wrap a wing around his barrel and bring him close. "We're going to traverse dangerous lands, meet hostile individuals, recover relics and we must be prepared for any outcome. This is History in the Making."

Bluey's mouth quivered. "you are a strange Individual."

"I'm just an Eccentric, Wanna fly to the ship? I'll carry you."

"uhh.."

"Too late." I picked him up and took off. I cackled manically as I soared over the city. Blueblood screams like a little filly as a pull off a barrel roll and then a swan dive. I bank right sharply and drop him on the deck of the ship, "And that is why you answer quickly." The crew laughs and continues loading supplies onto the ship. "I'll just give you a moment." 

Bluey stands shakily and tries to say something. His face turns a sickly shade of green and he runs towards the edge.
> The Flock
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I slid the gem into it's slot and sat back. the mirror turned cloudy as the Gem began to glow."Call Twilight." the fog on the mirror cleared and revealed the lavender Alicorn, hunched over the books she recently received through the mail. "'Sup Twi."

She jumped slightly and looked over. "Oh Wisdom, You got the mirror to work." She walked over to her side of the mirror. "Have you found anything yet?"

"Not yet. But we're headed west in hopes of finding a new continent. there's definitely something there. I'm sure that we'll discover a few islands along the way, Bluey will be sure to chart them."

"That's wonderful!"

"I have you to thank for that. If you hadn't provided the ship or the crew I wouldn't have been able to do so much. with them Bluey can chart the island, Grease Stain pilots the ship and i can offer a Detailed report of the environment with the help of Shimmering Rose the botanist."

She nodded. her smile began to fade. "Listen, since you left, Sombra has begun hanging out with the CMC..." She pouted. "Something happened with them and now he won't come out of his room."

I frowned, that couldn't be good. "Did you ask the girls?"

"That's just it, I asked Applejack for Applebloom and appearently she's acting the same way. When I asked Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, they said they had no idea."

My frown deepened. "I'll talked to him." I tapped the gem and the image faded. "Call Sombra." the fog swirled and I saw Sombra's room the colt was pacing his room angrily. "Hey Sombra, how's life?"

A book flew at the mirror and bounced off. "I hate it! First I'm defeated by a baby dragon and an idiot princess, then I come back to wreak my horrible revenge, then I'm fooled by some Gryphon who turns me into a foal and then makes me wear humiliating outfits and fulfill a motherly urge by coddling me constantly then I find that Pegasi and Earth ponies' can use magic in a far more potent form than Unicorns. Now you show up to rub it in my face." He finished and collapsed in a heap.

I waited a few seconds and spoke. "Are you done?"

"Yeah." he mumbled

"Well if I didn't know any better I'd think life was out to get you," I started. "But I happen to know that's not the case. It seems like life has given you more than enough chances to get your plot in shape." I narrowed my eyes at him. "Three times. You died twice. I think whatever deity is in charge of this universe has a vested interest in you shaping up and learning the Magic of Friendship. so stop sulking and tell my what in tartarus is up with you and Applebloom."

He flinched. "Well..."





I finished lecturing Sombra and tapped the gem. After the Cloudy look returned to the screen I headed up to the deck. I leaned on the banister and looked off into the distance, noticing a massive storm cloud coming our way at incredible speeds. 

I squinted and noticed something in the eye of the storm. I jumped over the ledge and flew up to the crows nest. I swung the telescope in the direction of the storm and saw and airship. The ship was heavily armed and flew a pirate flag. My heart beat-ted rapidly.

Rapidly knocking open doors and shouting I flew through the halls waking the crew. "Pirates!" Knocking down the door to my room, I grab my machete. the urge to protect the crew was burning in my veins. The Flock protects each other. When I returned to the top deck the entire Crew was preparing for an attack. The storm was already upon us, in my head I prepared the combat spells I would need.

"What in Celestia's mane is going on?" Bluey trotted over to me. "Why is everypony up?"

"Pirates." I rumbled. The rain was sliding off of my feathers. "There are mages on that ship."

"You mean Unicorns?"

"No, Gryphon Mages. like me." My wings snapped out in a hostile display. my crest began to rise. "I'm going."

"I'm coming with you." he demanded. His horn glowed, a bright flash followed by a sword clattering on deck. "And don't think of abandoning me here."

"Fine, but you do as I tell you, no screaming." I pick him up and let my wings release the pent up fire. The rain fizzes and evaporates when it hits the flames. I take off, ignoring the gawking stares as I leave.





I drop Blueblood on the deck and land with a thud, signaling our arrival. The magic thrums under my claws, a raw and powerful feeling. I could barely make a single cloud and this mage was making an entire storm. 

I blaze my wings even brighter to allow light for Bluey. A gryphon attacks me with a large sword. I rise to my hind legs and strike him between the wings. He howls and strikes for my legs. I chop off his arm with a single cut. 

Blueblood didn't seem to be having much trouble. He moved the sword with expert precision in his magic. he managed to move out of the way of blows and countered them in a very intricate fashion. He seemed like he didn't need my help.

I barreled through the crowd of Gryphons and busted down the door to the lower parts of the ship. Following the vibrations of magic I broke down any doors and cut down any guards in my way. I break down the door and my heart stops. A circle of hatchlings chained to each other huddle close to the wall in fear. A couple of unicorns and a dragon were thrown into the mix. 

I lower my wings and let my crest settle. "hey there, it's okay." I start to get closer.

A feral growl sounds through the room. A pair of glowing eyes appear and a mouth full of razer sharp teeth snap at me. I tumble back and snap open my wings. A emerald green dragon towers over me, chains keeping it fastened to the wall. I gulp and close my wings. "Stay away from them." he growls.

"I just want to get them out of here. I can help you too." I reach for the chains.

He laughs. "If i can't break them what makes you think you can." I place both claws on the chains and apply a large amount of fire magic through them. the chain glows red hot and snaps. He stares at me in awe. 

"Help me with the children."
> Dragons and Foals and Hatchlings, Oh My!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The dragon rubbed his wrists and walked over to the children. I break the chains off of the wall and he starts to break the cuffs. I whisper soothing words to the trembling children. One of the Hatchlings clings to my foreleg. I stroke his feathers. "Shhh... You're safe now." I looked at the Dragon "I'll teleport you all back to the ship. Tell Grease Stain that Bluey and I are comeing."

He nods and I begin to wrap the spell around them. A loud battle cry sounds through the room and a gryphon runs at us, battle ax raised. Before I can divert some of my magic to deal with the intruder a plank snaps out and smacks him in the face. One of the Unicorns horn was glowing with a pale green aura. She looked up at me with a fearful look in her eyes. I nodded and continued the spell.

I felt a pang in my chest. The magic faltered and I felt my magic grow. it happened again, and again. I screamed and tried to stop it. I looked up at the Dragon. "It's not going to work, Go!" he started to usher the children out of the room, Another wave of magic crashed down on me. My eyes felt like the were burning and I itched to release it all. It was the complete opposite of the Tirek incident. 

Once the foals were gone I felt like my skull was cracking open. I released a powerful screech and my magic tore through the hull of the ship. I stepped through the hole and felt the cold splashes of rain against my hot flesh. I willed all of the foals, the two dragons and Blueblood back to the ship. I tucked away my wings and jumped. 

As I fell a watched the storm dissipate and a final lightning bolt strike the balloon of the airship. I looked forward to connecting with the cool water below, my magic kept sparking out of control and my Wings began to burn.





I groaned and cracked open my eyes. Looking around I saw some of the Hatchlings and Blueblood. "Hey," I rasped. "Mind telling me what in Tartarus happened?"

"You blew up the airship than collapsed from magic exhaustion. A rather impressive display." He said. One of the Unicorn foals nuzzled him. He returned the gesture with a faint smile.

"Shit, that was me?" I grin. "Sweet."

"We had to fish you out of the ocean. Well, Greenscale did. He said something about Dragon Code."

"The Dragon? He still around?" Instinct made me wrap my wings around the Hatchlings. The tiny bundles of muscles and magic came closer, seeking the protection of the flock. some purred happily, others cheeped in contentedness. I settle deeper into the nest of hatchlings.

"Of course. We're miles away from any land in any direction. Other than a few barren islands there's nothing." He seemed a bit miffed. "I can't believe we signed up for a year of this."

I study his dejected expression and sigh. "Use the mirror. tap the gem and ask to see somepony," I close my eyes. the comfort of having hatchlings and foals nearby settled in and soothed the churning magic inside. I noticed that there was a great deal more than before. Beginning my meditation I looked deeper into myself, my magic was once no more than a simple well with a limited supply at all times. Now it felt like an endless ocean that churned and splashed wildly and was barely contained.

My conscience sank into the ocean, no need for air, I swam deeper and deeper looking for the end. after swimming for what felt like hours I noticed that it wasn't ever going to end and I knew why. Some how I'd tapped into the world's magic, literally an endless supply of magic in my claws. I let myself return to the waking world.

As I opened my eyes I looked into the eyes of a pearly white hatchling with striking gold eyes. They cocked their head to the side. "Why did you help us?"

I blink. "What?"

"If you helped us you must want something." she crossed her forelegs. "What do you want?"

I smiled and patted her head. "You're a protector. That's good, it means you've formed bonds with your Flock members. I don't want anything, I just didn't like that the bad people were using you. What's your name?"

"Snowy Pearl." She mutters. "I'm really good at water magic."

"That's good. Back home I have a ton of books on the subject that I can't make heads or tails of." The idea of learning more magic seemed to appeal to her. "Maybe when we get back I can show you." I nuzzled her and she purred. I looked up to see Blueblood asleep at the mirror. i leap over and bring him over. The hatchlings and foals giggle and climb over us. we formed a big pile of ponies and gryphons. i smiled. I was a part of Two growing Flocks.
> Contemplation: Part Two
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The foals were all fast asleep as was Blueblood. He seemed to have been quite taken with the children and they seemed to be warming up to him as well. It was better that way. If he didn't like children I would have no choice but to mistrust him. In gryphon culture hatchlings were closely protected and only the mothers in the flock were allowed access to them. They were the future of the  flock and the hopes of the species. As the Gryphon population dwindled more and more protection was focused around foals.

Several thousand years ago a dragon so much as passed the nest of of gryphon hatchlings and the mother would tastefully remove several vital parts of his or her anatomy, wings, fangs, or other things. all predators knew to stay away. Now we had traitors among our own. The idea that one of my own kind would lock up foals, simply for posessing strange abilities... it made my heart ignite with raw fury. A drake had taken better care of them than their own parents.

Just as that last thought passed through my mind the door opened to reveal the green dragon with yellow scales. We watched each other for a few moments before a jerked my head for him to enter. He closed the door behind him with a feint click. He padded over to the pony pile and eyed me. "Greenscale." He pointed at himself.

"Honest Wisdom. Just call me 'Wisdom'." i shifted slightly, careful not to knock over any of the foals on my back. "Thank's when we return to Equestria you can be on your way. I understand if you'll want to take the Hatchlings with you but the Foals will have to return to Equestria."

He nodded quietly. I smiled a bit. "You remind me of Somepony from home."

"Pony? You don't think of the Gryphon kingdom as your home?" He cocked his head to the side.

I chuckled. "I've always considered myself more Pony than Gryphon. I talk like them, eat like them, my flock is almost completely made of them." I sigh fondly. "They even saved my life when my magic was stolen."

He laid down in front of me. "You are a strange Gryphon. Most would want to pick me apart for being so close to their hatchlings."

I laughed. "Please, you knew them far longer than I have. together these Foals can make a thunderstorm the size of Mount Canterlot, if you wanted to hurt them you'd have to beat back the magic of Friendship." I giggled a bit at the last part.

He simply nodded. "How did you know how to find us?"

I winced. I should have known that soon someone would ask that. "I discovered a magic sensing spell in a few ancient tomes. It can be cast by practically anybody. the spell is very simple and easy to learn, a lot like a gem finding spell that unicorns use."

His eyes widened. "Unicorns can cast spells like that?"

I raise an eyebrow. "You're more concerned about unicorns finding gems than the fact that there's a Gryphon that can cast spells from all four categories?" he blushed. "I understand. Hand me that piece of coal." He does.

Clamping both claws down on the gem, I begin to apply force and lots of magic. Sweat begins to mat my fur and the heat inside my palms starts to become unbearable. I drop the newly formed gem, panting. It's not from magic exhaustion, more form channeling more than my body was used to. He stares at the cooling gem on the ground. "How..?"

"Magic." I wheeze. "Ah crud, i need a nap. enjoy." I promptly passed out.
> Land Ho!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The children scurried around, chasing each other and playing games. I sat in the crows nest watching the ocean beneath us for any sign of civilization, pony or otherwise. It would tell us if the land in the distance was inhabited or not. My wings were itching from not being preened properly and it was making me very irritable. I flapped them hard and loose feathers were blown away in the wind. Bluey was mapping our progress as well as the small barren islands beneath us. Greenscale was proving to be very helpful, flying down and collecting fish for the Gryphon Cubs, which I learned was the proper term for young Gryphons over a year old.

I pecked at a loose feather. "Stupid wings. Why can't you grow new feathers in a more attractive way?" plucking a feather from my wing the inching in that area subsided. "Itchy."

I notice something from the corner of my eye. I look over to see a bird perching on the railing. A few more fly up and join him(from his brightly colored feathers) I shoo them. The first flies up and perches on my head. "Go away!" I wave my arms erratically and they fly off. I relax and continue preening. I hear the flapping of wings and look up. I see birds of all types crowded on every possible perch. They all watch me intently. "Uh... Shoo." I wave them away.

A few of them land on me. "This will not end well." I mutter.





"AHHHHHHH!!!! GET'EMOFFMEGET'EMOFFMEGET'EMOFFME!!!" I flew away from the growing cloud of birds. "I threw my last cracker and they still won't leave me alone!"

Blueblood raced to keep up with me. "Why are they after me?!?!?!" A few mananged to catch up with him and started pecking his flank.

"I don't know!" I dodged a very presumptuous pigeon and banked sharply rump. "Maybe they like your Cutie Mark, they are Magpies."

"What the buck are magpies!?!?"

"Birds that like shiny things!"

"My cutie mark is not shiny!"

"It's a compass, compasses are shiny!"

"Ahhh! They're in my mane!"

"HELP ME!!!" I cried as the cloud of birds consumed me and carried me back to the crows nest.





Blueblood glared at me from across the table. "They preened your wings for you."

I continued to stare down at my plate. "I was so scared."

Greenscale settled down next to me. "We'll be landing soon, do you want anything?" he laid a wing over me.

"I-I'm okay, just... so confused."

"My mane, my beautiful mane." Blueblood lamented. I continued to stare down at my food. "But I have to admit, they did a good job on your wings."

I look down at them. Despite having a few empty patches from the removal of loose feathers they shimmer slightly in the light and lay flat against my body. "Thanks, If it matters, your mane looks pretty cool like that. It gives you a rugged badcolt look."

His ears perked up. "Really?"

"Yeah, hey, maybe you'll get a scar while we're here and complete the look." I nudge Greenscale.

"Hmm, oh yes. Wisdom says the mares like that sort of thing. Dragonesses prefer you actually fight for their honor."

"Gryphons prefer you be able to buck their brains out but right now I'll settle for the mares... or Dragon babes." A purr rumbled in my chest. The boys looked at me. I giggle. "I'll settle for you two if I have to."

They both blushed furiously and fidgeted. I stood. "Whelp, I'm done here." I stretched and strolled out of the room.





The cubs stuck close to me as we left the ship. They looked around in amazement at the massive towering trees and the lush plants that surrounded us. I smiled and nudged Snowy Pearl forward. "Go on, enjoy yourselves. Just be back before sunset, or I might raze this entire forest to the ground looking for you."

A few stepped forward timidly but the minute they heard a loud noise they bolted back to me and clung to my shadow. I sighed. "Looks like we have to do this the hard way, Who want's to play hide and seek?"

A few timid claws raised into the air. "Okay then, I'll count." I sit and cover my eyes with my claws. "One... two... three... Four." I listened to the sounds of scurrying hooves and claws. There were a few giggles and shushes but they were mostly silent. "Five," the rustling of a bush and more giggles. "Six," There was the sound of claws scraping against trees. "Seven, eight." I heard the faint flapping of wings. "Nine... ten, ready or not here I come."

I lowered myself into a hunting crouch and padded towards the nearest bush. I dived at the bush and snatched up Autumn Feather, a golden gryphon with blue edging on his wings. I nuzzled him and he let out a squeal of laughter. "Now you have to help me find the rest."





The game was over rather quickly so I left Autumn Feather in charge of being the seeker and went to help Shimmering Rose document new plants. After eating several fruit samples she politely asked that I go do something else, naturally I went to pester Blueblood. I walked next to him as we navigated the dense rainforest. "So Blues, you got a special somepony back home waiting for you? Or are you a loner?"

"I'd rather not talk about my personal life right now." He cut through the brush with my machete which he held in his magic. "Be a dear and climb up this tree to see how far we are from camp." I raised an eyebrow and opened my wings. He coughed, blushing from embarrassment. "Or fly, that's good too."

I smirk at him. "Ahh Bluey, you're so lucky you're cute."

"Don't call me Bluey." He muttered.

I lift my wings and take off with a single mighty flap of my wings. I dodged the larger branches and smashed through the small ones. I burst into the sunlight and glance around. All flying creatures have an instinct to tell them exact distances from a distances, something built deeply into our DNA to help us navigate. 

Nothing but trees in every direction. We couldn't have traveled that far so quickly. I fly higher and still don't see the camp. I fly back down and crash through the canopy. Blueblood was scribling down some notes in his notebook. "Well?"

"I couldn't see it."

His eybrows knitted together. "At all?" I nodded. "That can't be good."

I lay a wing on him. "Don't worry, I'll get us out of here." a low hiss sounded from the bushes and we could hear the sound of branches breaking. I looked up to see a hulking reptilian monstrosity towering over us. 

"The universe hate us doesn't it." Blueblood said, flatly.

"Eeyup."
> RUN!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Don't... move... a muscle." I felt Blueblood stiffen next to me. I kept steady eye contact with the creature. It was easily 30 feet tall, bipedial with long forarms that nearly scrapped the earth. It's muzzle lowered and sniffed me. I barely noticed since I was too distracted by the sharp spines along it's back. It cocked it's head to the side and I looked into the silvery orb. It's lips peeled back slowly to reveal dripping fangs longer than my foreleg. "When I give the signal... Run and don't look back."

"What about you?" he whispered.

"Don't worry about it." I slowly unfurled my wings and channeled some magic into them, pulling from my own reserves and not from the earth. The Creature roared in my face. "RUN!!!" I formed the magic and sent a ball of flame down it's throat. It screeched and coughed out smoke and blood.

Blueblood turned and galloped back the way we came. The thing looked up and started to run after him; deciding that I'm not worth the effort. I fly ahead of it and send a blast of high density air magic at it's eye. It stumbles away and screeches. I smirk, unaware of the massive tail that's sailing towards me. It smacks into me and throws me into the trunk of the tree.

I struggle to stand and watch the creature begin chasing Bluey again. I try to open my wings and find that one was broken. Growling, I took off on foot. I dodged the thrashing tail and clawed feet and jumped onto the leg. Sinking my talons into the flesh I dragged them down purposefully. The creature screeched again and tried to shake me from it's leg. the foreleg reached back and grabbed me. I thrashed and clawed against it's grip.

It dangled me above it's mouth and opened it's fanged mouth. I screamed as it released me. My functioning wing flapped uselessly and my healing magic sparked, attempting to heal the unset bone as it was. Something caught me and pulled me away from my doom. The jaws snapped shut, clipping a few hairs from my tail. It's eye zeroed in on me.

"H-Help." I muttered. the jaws opened again and snatched me from my saviors grip. I screamed from the pain of it's teeth tearing through my flesh. The jaws opened and I started to slip down it's throat. I sank my claws into the flesh in a last ditch effort. If I die you're coming with me.





I cracked open my eyes to see green. Just... green everywhere. I turned my head to the side and saw a small fire and a white Unicorn. I coughed. "What happened?"

He poked at the fire. "Well after that... thing swallowed you it collapsed. I managed to pry open it's jaws and found you practically swimming in it's blood. Completely ruined my coat. I fished you out and brought you to a river. I cleaned out your wounds and wrapped you up with some leaves and vines. For some reason some of the animals were kind enough to point out which were fit to eat and which weren't. there are some very peculiar creatures here and the few that want to eat us have stayed away after you killed that thing."

I look at my wing. closing my eyes my magic surged up obediently like a well trained puppy. I directed it through my wing and hissed in pain. The magic wove through my body stitching up wounds and cleaning up the shredded parts of my body. it wasn't very hard since Blueblood did a pretty good job for a rookie. "This might just become a regular occurrence. You should spend some time with the medic you do good work." I rasp through the pain. 

"thanks." He grabbed a leaf covered with fruit in his levitation and set it in front of me. "You should eat."

"What about you?"

He waves a hoof. "I had plenty, You haven't eaten all day."

I pick up a fruit and recognize it instantly. "Mangoes!" I swiftly slice off the skin and take a bite. "I luv teese tings!" 

Blueblood smiled. "Yes, they're quite good. I wasn't expecting to find any but I found quite a few of them."

I lick up the juice that dribbled down the side of my beak. "Deliciously messy. Worth it!"

We sit there in silence, Me devouring fruits and Blue making notes. "Hey blue." He looked up from his journal. I smile. "Thanks for saving me... And for the mangoes, I haven't had any in months."

He smiled back. "You're quite welcome, I don't think any of the foals would forgive me if I let you die anyway."

"Yeah, they love me." I smile and look up at the sky. A small patch of sky was visible and the stars twinkled merrily. we lapse back into silence but this time it feels more comfortable. 
> Getting back
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I squirmed around. "Blue, is this completely unnecessary!" 

He continues at a steady pace, completely undeterred by my complaints. "Of course it is, you've been injured, you shouldn't be moving around on your own."

"I keep telling you that I used my healing magic!"

"That's no excuse. What if it didn't heal properly? Or if you used too much energy and you collapse?"

"That doesn't mean you have to carry me in your magic!" I flapped my free wing, irate. His golden aura felt warm and comforting but I really wanted to walk. "And Rarity says you aren't a gentleman."

He snorted. "Only to gold digging harpies." I chuckled as he continued. "I have a persona to keep, but you've proven that you don't wish to use my status to gain prestige."

"Nope, I'm just horny." I giggle as his coat turns bright red. "Ahh, I love bugging you. So, Special somepony or no?"

He drops me unceremoniously in a pile of dead plants. "You're walking."

I sigh and shake my wings. I look around and notice he's already ahead. Trotting up next to him I grin mischievously. "You didn't answer my question."

"You don't have to know." He snapped.

I stuck my tongue out at him and flew up through the canopy. Glancing around I noticed the airship in the distance. I dive down and pluck Blueblood off the ground, taking off towards the ship. He yelped in surprise. "Told you I was better." I cackled and spun in the air, barely managing to miss the trunk of a tree. I laugh pulling him closer to keep him safe





I dropped Blue in the sand and tumble across the ground into the shallows of the ocean. Shaking some droplets off my coat I laugh. My breathing was heavy and uneven but I felt energized and alive. I rolled my wings and flicked some droplets at Blue.

He glared at me and his horn began to glow. A sphere of water floated up and sailed towards my head. I squeaked in alarm and flapped my soaked wings uselessly. thankfully the water orb sailed past my head and splashed back into the ocean. The Unicorn foals giggled and tried to copy Blue's technique. The Gryphon cubs picked up handfuls of wet sand. And so began the Water wars.

"Crush the pony rebellion!" I flung some seaweed at Blue, he yelped and retreated. "First stain, bwahahahahahaha!" Grabbing several water orbs in an air spell I sent them flying after my enemy. "Don't start what you can't finish!" I giggle and chase after him. Waterballs sailed between us, after getting too far from the water I traded for sandballs. Blue however had a larger range than me and he refused to relent. 

"Ha! Take that, ruffian." he hurled another orb and pegged me under a wing.

I collapsed in a fit of laughter, soaked to the bone. "Gah, I surrender." I throw my last sandball at his hooves. He lifted it in his magic and threw it at me. "PFffftt pffftbt" I squirmed and batted at my beak, now covered in wet sand. 

"Meanie head!" Blueblood was suddenly assaulted by Foals and cubs alike, it filled me with pride that they were working together despite their differences. After snorting a clump of sand out of my nose I rolled onto my belly and watched Blue be chased by the unicorns and Gryphons. The poor thing was completely helpless, especially after Greenscale decided to join in. It was fun and filled me with love for them, that feeling  was clear in my mind as a began to slip past consciousness.
> Natives
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The other me leaped to the side as a massive anvil crashed into the earth. One of the pink clouds followed her, zapping her with pale white lightning. She growled at the cloud and it seemed to back off. A loud and achingly familiar voice rung through the clearing. "What's wrong, G? I thought you loved my chaos." He lounged on a cloud, without a care in the world.

'G'  flew over to the cloud he laid on. "Dissy, what are you doing?" He opened his eyes and grinned. I noted that here he had two fangs.  His eyes were the same but they made me worried.

"Why, I'm just having a bit of fun! Isn't this fun?" He snapped his fingers and the roads turned to soap. A poor earth pony slipped and crashed into a tree which had turned into taffy. Discord howled with laughter while 'G' flew over to help the poor earth pony. She shot Discord a glare and his laughter disappeared. "You're no fun, ever since Gus died you've just abandoned me."

She scowled. "Is that what this is about? You're acting out because I'm not paying attention to you?"

He stroked his goatee. "Well, when you put it like that..."

She stomped her claw down on the checker board grass. "Well stop it! Master raised us better than this." She gestured around at the chaos.

Discord zoomed forward and growled at her. "Do you you have a problem with my chaos?" Before she could respond. "All you care about are those stupid ponies! Everyday you give everything you have to keep them safe and the next day the forget everything you've done for them! Why are they more worthy than Me?" "G' cowered away from him. 

"You're scaring me." she whispered. 

"I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!!!! You love ponies? What happens when I do this?" He snapped his fingers and a nearby pegasus changed colors. Their coat was dark gray and their eyes flashed a multitude of colors. The pegasus started running around yipping like a small dog. Discord snapped his fingers and the sun set causing the moon to come out.

"Discord, stop it!" She was backing away now, ready to bolt.

"No, go ahead 'sis'! Keep your ponies safe! Fight me!" he roared. 'G' ran, tears steaming down her face. 

I felt my self tugged after her and followed. After just a few steps the scene changed. We were in a dense forest and 'G' was guiding two Alicorns through the muck.  The shorter and darker one scowled at everything around her. 'G' seemed older and more mature here. "We're almost there princesses. The tree is his only weakness."

"You're doing the right thing." The white alicorn placed a hoof on her shoulder. "Lives will be saved."

'G' whirled around, her wings flared. "He's not evil! He's never killed anyone, it would go against his nature."

"He may not want to, but with the irregular sun and moon, ponies are going hungry and food is scarce." 'G' seemed to relax. I reached out and my claw passed through her harmlessly. The alicorn drew herself up, as if shedding some unseen weight. "Now, lead the way, miss Gaia."




I woke up to screaming. The body of an earth pony flew past my head and hit one of the trees with a wet smack. Something grabbed me and slammed me into a tree. Acting on instinct a struck at the form with all four legs, clawing with all my might. I cracked open my eyes to find myself held in place by a powerful golden aura. "Blue?" 

The whites of his eyes had turned yellow and a feint line of drool dribbled out of his mouth. His movements were mechanical as he stomped over to me. "Uughhh,"

Behind him I saw Greenscale fending off several other zombie ponies, the foals cowering behind him. Some of the braver Cubs tried using their magic to hold them off with less than helpful results. Snowy was blasting anything that came too close with sandballs and water while a unicorn shaped them beside her. Greenscale released a torrent of flame in the direction of the Zombie ponies while taking care not to hurt them too much. 

I felt the aura tighten around my throat. I gasp for air and flare my wings, ready to use my magic. 

Before I have a chance to ignite my magic, a pale blue unicorn trots calmly out of the forest and approaches Blue. She waved a hoof in front of his eyes and sighed. "You'll never knock her out at this rate, here." Her horn glowed "Let me help you." A large rock zoomed at my head... ow.




After spending several hours, slipping in and out of consciousness I managed to open my eyes. I felt a weight on my back and over my legs. when I attempt to raise my head a feel a hoof come down and press me back to the ground. "Hello, Wisdom, That's your name in this life right? Rather foolish seeing as there isn't an ounce of it in you." A sof,t elegant female voice purred.

"Who are you?" I rasp.

"Well no use in hiding that from you, you're going to die soon anyway. I am Concord, Spirit of order and favorite to His lord Prosper, Herald of the Golden age." She giggled. "Has a nice ring to it doesn't it, Spirit of Protection." Her giggles sent chills through my spine. I tried to open my wings and failed. "You won't be able to escape us this time, you die so that our King can be free."

A sickly yellow aura surrounded an object and floated it over to us. "Sanguinem et sacri usurpatores dirumpendum vincula rex resurget." A flash of gold and I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen. I heard Concord muttering under her breath. "Tolle eam, et cibus sanguis, in quo omnes conteretur."

Two Cinimon colored eyes snapped open just as I felt the cold claws of death start to sink in. An epiphany occured to me in that moment... DYING BUCKING HURTS!!
> Chivalry Ain't dead... Yet
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Concord helped Prosper shrug off the last of the once magical chains. She shot a glare at the limp gryphon watching for any remaining signs of life. If she could have it her way she'd crush the beast under hoof and relish in her death, but Prosper needed her. "Are you alright my lord?"

The Alicorn coughed and ruffled his wings. "Fine, but I'll need time to recover." he limped towards the cave exit before turning to look at the pale blue unicorn. "Are you coming?"

She forced a smile. "I'll be right with you." The alicorn nodded and left. The moment he was out of earshot her expression darkened and  she scowled at Wisdom. "Well, well, well. The mighty warrior brought down to the dirt, NightFall, First Captain of the Night Guard, Gaia, Warmage of the Gryphon Empire, Onyx Cloud, Queen of the Crystal Empire. You've always had to go and be the hero every time you saw an opportunity and all that ever did was get you killed. Over, and over again." Concord giggled. "And here I am, still in my first form while you thought it would be a good idea to travel the world and immortalize yourself in the History Books. That never works, Ponies can't even remember their Princesses, how do you expect them to remember you?"

Concord lit up her horn and a small sphere, "I got this from a friend of mine, she told me to shatter it at the hooves Of your greatest enemy and It'll cast a terrible curse on them. Enjoy." She trotted off and tossed the Orb at Wisdom. After a moment she realized she didn't hear the shattering of glass she spun around suspiciously.

A tall dark Alicorn Stallion with a ghostly mane held the cursed sphere in his magic. He eyed it casually while standing protectively over Wisdom's body. "Rather rude to curse and run." The orb shattered and curse dissipated. "Shoddily done too, She probably could've undone this the minute she reached half power. You need to think things through a bit more." He dropped the Shards of glass.

Concord's ears folded back as she flinched away from the God. "L-lord Thanatos. W-what are y-you doing here?"

He shrugged. "I felt a Spirit in anguish, It's my job to personally escort those souls to their next lives. they have a habit of getting lost." He looked down at Wisdom as she released her final breath. "Ah there we are." His horn glowed as he caught the soul before it could scamper off to whatever dark corner of the world it fancied. The bright flashing ball of energy and memories squirmed and fought against the magical grip until finally settling down and dimming a bit. 

Concord snapped out of her stupor and stomped her hoof. "You're taking her!?! Just like that? I had plans for her!"

He glanced at her and shrugged. "You'll get your chance. Go back to your patron, He need's you now." the God disappeared in a puff of smoke just as Concord charged at him.

She released a howl of frustration and the last of her influence shattered.



Discord snapped out of his cat nap as he felt something snap, shattering glass rang in his ears and his whole body shook from the imbalance. The feeling vanished as quickly as it came.

He flicked his tail and contemplated going to the princesses, after a few moments he shrugged and went back to sleep dismissing the idea completely.



Blueblood jolted out of his sleep. He felt sore, like his skin had been stretched out and used as a tent. He raised his head and nearly screamed like a filly at the carnage around him. Many of the ship's crew were sprawled about the beach, clawed open or burned beyond recognition.

He carefully got to his hooves, his legs wobbling. "Well, Well, Well, Prince Blueblood of the Solar Spirits rises again... Or should I call you Lord Ivory?" Blueblood snapped his head toward the voice, his horn aglow. Grease Stain sat before him with a cocky grin plastered across his face. "I'm pretty impressed that you survived. that means you either managed to resist Connie's magic or she has plans for you." He frowns. "You better hope it's not the second one."

"What happened here?" Blueblood growled.

"The beginning of the New Golden Age." He shrugged. "Sure, we had a few losses. But soon Our Lord will reach full power and wipe the usurpers clean from Equis." The greasy Earth Pony's mad grin never left his face. "And then he will rebuild it all in his image. 6,000 years of imprisonment and now he is free to bring the end of the Sun tyrant's riegn."

A clawed green hand shot out of the sand and snapped Stain's neck. Blueblood's ears folded down in fear as the sand fell away from the dragon's scales and Greenscale shook his massive, bat-like wings. the Dragon eyed Blueblood fro a moment. "You are a Spirit?"

He cleared his throat to speak. "I am."

The dragon smiled. "So am I."

"Really?" Blueblood squeaked. 

"Of Death."

"Oh dear." Blue fainted.



Twilight felt her wings go numb and her magic fizz out. her knees collapsed under her and she felt shockwaves of pain shoot through her horn and down her spine. It wasn't a magic surge, she had plenty of those before. This was something else... like somepony was causing it.

She heard distant whispers that seemed to call her name. they grew louder until they sounded like they were screaming in her ears. Pressing both hooves to her ears she called out for Spike, who barreled into the room with a concerned look on his face. Before she could say anything A single voice cut through the screams. Twilight Sparkle, Goddess of Magic and Friendship, Sister-soul of Shade, Bearer of the Element of Magic, My kin. The war approaches, Prosper will be more powerful than anything you've ever faced and even my sisters will fall when the time comes. In one years time you will be given the Spirit my Father says will save you all. I pray to you to raise her right.

Everything went silent.
> Attention readers!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


... Wisdom's Story is continued in Sombra Makes Friends. If you want more Wisdom-y good-ness just head on over there and watch the story unfold through four different POV's, Wisdom- excuse me, Gaia- included.


What? you thought she was dead? Nothing is what it seems! Death is only the beginning! War will rise, the Gods will fall! Which ones? I have no idea!